77% of Israelis unsatisfied with Olmert

According to a survey carried out by the Dahaf institute, 77% of Israelis are unsatisfied with the performance of Prime Minister, Ehud Olmert. The survey encompassed 420 interviewese and these are the results:

Only 23% said that Olmert's performance is "Good" or "Excellent".

69% responded that Olmert's leadership ability is poor.

62% said that Olmert does not handle pressure well.

74% answered that Olmert's decision making capabilities are not good.

60% do not appreciate Olmert's character in terms of honesty.

Olmert suffered great criticism and a plummet in public opinion of him after the war with Hezbollah last summer and various corruption scandals in which he was supposedly involved.

Dan Halutz: I will resign if found at fault by war investigatory committee

IDF Chief of Staff, General Dan Halutz, said that he will step down if found at fault by the Vinograd comittee. The Vinograd committee is investigating the war with Hezbollah last summer which ended with unfavorable results to Israel.

Chief of Staff, Dan Halutz, who is under great public criticism for his command of the war, said that he will resign if found at fault by the Vinograd committee.

Israel's northern cities and towns were bombed for over a month in the war and Israel lost over 130 soldiers. Two top officers had already resigned their posts in the IDF, but Dan Halutz refused to step down.

Violence in Gaza

A day of resumed violence in Gaza and a return to kidnapping. Fatah and Hamas return to kidnapping each other members.
At least 4 Fatah operatives and 18 Hamas militants were kidnapped today in Gaza. 7 of the 18 Hamas kidnapees had already been released, but it is feared that the situation is on the brink of explosion.
This afternoon, a French photographer was kidnapped by masked men. It is yet unclear which organization is responsible for the kidnapping.
President Abu Mazen ordered security forces to search for the photographer.
In another incident, two mortars were fired on the house of a senior Fatah officer.

Gilad Shalit is close to being released

Kidnapped Israeli soldier, Gilad Shalit, who is being held captive for the past six months by Hamas in Gaza is to be released soon, according to Palestinian media.

The deal shall be announced in the forthcoming meeting between Ehud Olmert and Abu Mazen which is scheduled for this Thursday. According to the Palestinian media report, in the first stage, Hamas will deliver a tape proving that Shalit is alive and Israel will release several hundreds low scale Palestinian prisoners. Afterwards, Shalit will be delivered to Egyptian hands and Israel will release higher scale prisoners in return.

Ehud Olmert's spokesperson said that no breakthrough has been reached.

Thousands visit Saddam's grave

Thousands of Iraqis, mostly Sunni, made the pilgrimage today to Saddam Hussein's grave in the town of Ouja, on the outskirts of Tikrit.

Saddam was buried in his home town, a few miles from the graves of his sons Uday and Kusay who were killed by American troops.

Saddam was hanged yesterday after an Iraqi tribunal sentenced him to death for the murder of more than a hundred people in Iraq. The complete extent of Saddam's crimes was not raised in the trial, but he is responsible for the death of over a million people.

A day of death following Saddam's hanging

At least 4 car bombs detonated in Iraq today, claiming over 60 lives and causing over 100 injuries. The explosions follow Saddam Hussein's execution earlier this morning. Saddam's followers of the Sunni faction in Iraq swear to keep fighting against the Americans and Shi'ites in Iraq.

Saddam's lawyer predicted that violence will follow the hanging of Saddam and that all those who were involved in his execution will pay dearly for their participation in it.

Mixed feelings over Saddam's execution

Shi'ites celebrated in the streets of Baghdad as news of Saddam's death circulated. Sunnis, however, mourned their leader's passing. Kurdish leaders also expressed satisfaction at the death of the "Butcher of Baghdad" and expressed the hope that his demise shall mark the turning of a new leaf in Iraq and an end to the internal bloodshed.
Sunnis criticized the time of execution, on the Muslim Holiday of Sacrifice. It is believed that Iraqi officials simply did not wish to wait fearing a wave of kidnappings and rescue attempts.

Saddam Hussein has been hanged

Saddam Hussein, Iraq's dictator who ruled the country between 1979-2003 was executed this morning in Iraq.

Saddam who led his country to an 8 year war with Iran and to the first Gulf War by his invasion of Kuwait in 1990, was hanged this morning.

Saddam, who is responsible for the death of hundreds of thousands of Iraqis, Kurds, Iranians, Kuwaitis and others was toppled by the US army in the second Gulf War. Saddam faced trial in an Iraqi tribunal and was found guilty of murder.

Saddam whose request to face a firing squad was denied, refused to wear a blindfold and did not resist his execution.

Officials of the Iraqi government who witnessed the execution danced in rejoice around the body in what many view as a horrible spectacle.

A day of rockets in the south of Israel

10 Qassam rockets landed today in the south of Israel. All the rockets were launched by Palestinian Terrorists in the Gaza Strip. Today's barrage brings the total of Qassam rockets since the ceasefire was proclaimed to over 70.

The 10th rocket landed in a kibbutz and caused panic. All over the Western Negev sirens blared today as 10 rockets fell around several towns and kibuttzes in the western Negev. How Israel would respond to this escalation is yet unclear, but residents of the Western Negev are screaming for military action against the rocket launchers.

Saddam has been delivered to Iraqi officials

The Americans delivered Iraq's former dictator, Saddam Hussein, to Iraqi officials.

Saddam has been sentenced to death by an Iraqi tribunal for his crimes when he held the position of Iraq's president.

Last minutes attempts to secure a stay of sentence by Saddam's lawyers failed. It is believed that Saddam will be executed in the coming hours.

Saddam is to be hanged.

Israel shall not release prisoners for the Muslim holiday

Despite reports to the contrary, Israel shall not release Palestinian prisoners before the Muslim Holiday of Sacrifice. The release was destined to be a gesture towards Palestinian President, Abu Mazen, for his stand against Hamas and his expressed desire to resume negotiations with Israel.
Members of Olmert's staff said that if the Palestinians had adhered to the ceasefire, a release would have been made. The Palestinians have launched more than 60 rockets from Gaza since the ceasefire was proclaimed.
It is believed that Olmert withdrew his offer to Abu Mazen due to Israeli public opinion who will not look kindly upon prisoners release while IDF soldier, Gilad Shalit, is still held by Hamas.

Olmert adresses graudates of IAF

In the graduation ceremony of the new pilots of the Israeli Air Force (IAF), Prime Minister, Ehud Olmert, spoke of Israel's desire for peace.

Olmert said that Israel remains attentive to any peace overture or threat made by neighbouring countries.

Olmert went on to say that if Israel's neighbours truly desire peace they will find a partner in Israel.

Olmert stressed that any form of peace is dependant upon Israel's strength and military capabilities.

Abu Mazen called for "Serious talks"

At the end of a meeting with Egypt's president, Mubbarakm Palestinian president, Abu Mazen, called for the establishment of additional channels of negotiation between Israel and the Palestinians. Abu Mazen called for behind the scenes talks, chaperoned by a member of the Quartet (US, Russia, Europe, UN) to discuss the urgent issues of the day and the outline of a permanent solution.

2,000 rifles to Palestinian moderates

Israel authorized the delivery of 2,000 rifles to Abu Mazen's troops in Gaza. The shipment was delivered last night.
The shipment included 20,000 ammunition clips in addition to the rifles. The shipment was passed through one of the border passes between Gaza and the Siani desert.
The shipment is intended to assist Abu Mazen in his power struggle with Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Last week a smaller shipment of 300 rifles was delivered to the presidential guard in Ramallah.
Hamas denounced the shipments as blatant attempts to interfere in internal Palestinian issues.

Olmert authorized action against rocket launchers

Following yesterday's rocket attack in which two teenagers were hurt, one of them critically, Prime Minister Olmert and Security Minisert Peretz authorized use of force against rocket launchers.

Israel has not responded towards rocket launches from the Gaza Strip since the ceasefire was declared a month and a half ago. In the past few days the launches increased in number and yesterday took their human toll.

The IDF and other security forces have been given leave to act against the rocket launchers specifically but otherwise to maintain the ceasefire with the Palestinians.

Olmert wishes to maintain a relative calm in order to keep Hamas out of the fighting. Islamic Jihad is responsible for the 60 rockets which were launched since the ceasefire was proclaimed.

Two teenagers gravely injured by Qassam

It is safe to say that the ceasefire between Israel and the Palestinians is at an end or so it will be come morning.
Two 14 year old boys who were studying together for an exam were struck by the Qassam rocket which landed this evening in Sderot. The two boys were struck by shrepnel, one in the right foot and the other suffered massive injuries. The two boys were rushed to hospital. One of them is in critical condition.
Olmert will convene an emergency session of the cabinet tomorrow in order to decide upon an adequate response to this attack. Over the past few days, growing voices within Israel's political and military arena called for an end to the restraint Israel has imposed upon itself. It is safe to say that this shall now come to pass.
This was the 7th Qassam launch out of Gaza today. Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility for the attacks.

Sadam will be executed in 30 days

The Iraqi court of appeals decreed today that the death penalty to which the former president of Iraq, Sadam Hussein, will remain. The court gave the Iraqi government leave to schedule the execution anytime within the next 30 days. After 30 days the sentence will have to be carried out.

Israel FM: Syria is willing to negotiate with Israel

The chief of the research division in the Israeli Foreign Ministry joins the CO of the intelligence research division and states that Syria is willing to negotiate with Israel.
Syrian President, Bashar Assad, met today with US Senator, Arlan Spector. The two discussed the situation in Iraq among other issues. Spector will journey to Israel tomorrow and meet with the FM, Tzipi Livni.
Syrian sources threatened Israel with "surprises" should it attack Syria. These same sources doubted that the negotiations between the two countries will resume in 2007. The sources blamed Olmert's government and the negative role the US administration is playing for the dormant negotiation.

6 Qassam rockets launched today

A Qassam rocket landed today in a strategic installation in the industrial zone of the city of Ashkelon. The rockets caused damage to buildings but no injury.

Earlier, 4 rockets were launched at the city of Sderot and another at a nearby Kibbutz. Several people suffered shock but no bodily injuries were reported.

Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility for all the rockets. Islamic Jihad has been ignoring the ceasefire which was declared between Israel and the Palestinians and is trying to destroy the relative calm which ensued due to it.

Several cabinet ministers in Israel call for an end to the restraint policy which Israel has maintained throughout the ceasefire.

Adbullah: Israel is not as powerful as we thought

In an interview to a Japanese newspaper, Jordan's king Abdullah spoke on the Middle East. Abdullah stated that the war with Hezbollah last summer showed that Israel is not as powerful as was previously thought and that the region views the war as one in which Israel lost. He said that he feared that the war may lead other countries to believe that the way of force is the only way to come to terms with Israel and hoped that Israel will take steps to calm the flaring tempers in the region.
Abdullah expressed the view that the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is the crux of the matter.
Abdullah predicted that 2007 will see 3 civil wars in the Middle East: Iraq, Lebanon, and in the Palestinian Terriotories.