October 19, 2006 (JERUSALEM) - Israel's prime minister delivered his strongest comments yet on Iran's nuclear program, warning Thursday that Tehran would have "a price to pay" if it does not back down from its atomic ambitions and hinting that Israel might be forced to take action.
Ehud Olmert did not specifically threaten to cripple Iran's nuclear program in a military strike, as it did 25 years ago in Iraq when it bombed an unfinished nuclear reactor there. But he repeated what he said a day earlier after meeting Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow -- the Iranians "have to be afraid" of the consequences of their intransigence.
"They have to understand that if they object to every compromise, there will be a price to pay," Olmert said on a flight back to Israel after a three-day trip to Moscow.
Israel rejects Tehran's claim that its nuclear program is peaceful, designed solely to produce energy. In the past, Israel has said it would not lead a campaign against Iran's nuclear program, but would act in concert with world powers that are similarly worried.  
But with Iran rejecting various compromise proposals and insisting on enriching uranium -- a process key ...   more »

Thousands of ultra-Orthodox protest at Jerusalem’s Sabbath Square against holding of 2006 Gay Pride Parade in city; ‘war in Lebanon broke out as soon as the parade was announced,’ haredi man says. Head of Eda Haredit rabbinic court: We did not succeed in Lebanon due to promiscuity in Holy Land
Thousands of ultra-Orthodox protested at Jerusalem’s Sabbath Square Wednesday against the holding of the 2006 Gay Pride Parade in the city, with most of them linking the parade to the recent war in Lebanon.
The parade is scheduled to take place on November 10.   
“The war in the north broke out as soon as the parade was announced,” a Mea Shearim resident told Ynet.  
The parade was canceled due to the war, but gay rights groups acted to set another date for the parade since the fighting has ceased.
Extreme Right   
Marzel declares 'holy war' against gay parade / Ynet  
Compromise reached between gay rights groups, police, Jerusalem Municipality, and State Prosecution to hold gay parade on November 10. Extreme rightist threatens to thwart event      
“Rabbis are fearful of another war,” the haredi said, adding that a special request has been forwarded to Diaspora Jews ...   more »

Ri Chan Bok Says Talks Can Continue If Sanctions Are Lifted
Oct. 19, 2006 — - If President Bush continues to ask North Korea to "kneel," war "will be inevitable," and it would begin on the Korean Peninsula, North Korean Gen. Ri Chan Bok told "Good Morning America" anchor Diane Sawyer, in an exclusive interview inside North Korea.
President Bush wants the country to kneel down, Ri said, and North Koreans cannot agree with that.
Sawyer visited the general in a ceremonial hall.
For decades, the general has been in charge of the flash point demilitarized zone, the 2.5-mile stretch between North Korea and South Korea.
In the interview, Sawyer read Ri the president's statement warning of grave consequences for North Korea should the nation continue nuclear testing or transfer nuclear technologies to third-party countries.
She asked whether the general had a reaction.
Ri told Sawyer that he didn't tend to believe what Bush said.
"Can the general guarantee or reassure the American people that this nuclear information will not be passed to terrorists?" Sawyer asked.
"We have nuclear weapons to defend our country and our people," he said.
The general said he could guarantee that these weapons were to ...   more »

By Alireza Ronaghi
TEHRAN (Reuters) - Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad warned Europe on Friday it was stirring up hatred in the Middle East by supporting Israel and said it "may get hurt" if anger in the region boils over.
"You should believe that this regime (Israel) cannot last and has no more benefit to you. What benefit have you got in supporting this regime, except the hatred of the nations?" he said in a speech broadcast on state radio.
"We have advised the Europeans that the Americans are far away, but you are the neighbors of the nations in this region. We inform you that the nations are like an ocean that is welling up, and if a storm begins, the dimensions will not stay limited to Palestine, and you may get hurt," he said.
Ahmadinejad caused outrage in the West last year by calling for Israel to be "wiped off the map", echoing comments by the Islamic Republic's late founder, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini.
He has not since repeated that phrase but regularly launches verbal attacks on Israel, whose right to exist Iran has not recognized since the 1979 Islamic revolution.
Iran is accused by the West of seeking to ...   more »

Iran's president has warned that Muslims around the world will take revenge on states who supported Israel against the Palestinians.
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad again questioned the extent of the Holocaust, when German Nazis murdered six million Jews.
Israel was founded on "claims about the Holocaust" for which the Palestinians were paying the price, he told a rally.
He was speaking on Jerusalem Day, when there are large demonstrations in Iran in support of the Palestinians.
BBC Tehran correspondent Frances Harrison says the tone of the speech was hardline, even by Mr Ahmadinejad's standards.
Implicit threat
Mr Ahmadinejad called Israel's leaders a "group of terrorists" and appeared to threaten any country that supports it
 Even if we assume the Holocaust is true, then why should the Palestinians pay the price for it
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad  
"You imposed a group of terrorists... on the region. It is in your own interest to distance yourself from these criminals... This is an ultimatum. Don't complain tomorrow."
The "ultimatum" was directed at European states in particular.
"We have advised the Europeans that the Americans are far away, but you are the neighbours of the nations in this region," Mr Ahmadinejad said.
"We inform you that the ...   more »

I received this article of news in my e-mail, and it's detailing the strange tale of Bahaa El Din Al Akkad, a 57 year old egyptian, ex-muslim sheikh who converted to christianity more than a year ago, and was therefore arrested by State Security and thrown in Jail. No real charges, except "Blasphemy against Islam", which is a bullshit charge anyway as any of you may imagine.
At first I was skeptic about the story, considering that the source isn't exactly credible or unbiased. However, 2 things made me reconsider: 1) The redicilous amount of detailed information that the report included, and 2) While not every christian convert is likely to be arested and thrown in jail, it would make sense for State Secuirty to arrest this guy: He used to be in Tabligh and Daawa (which is the movemnet to spread the word of Islam and convert people) and he used to preach in a Mosque. If word of his conversion came out, it could cause a huge ruckus in Egypt and inflame lots of different people. Hell, he would get killed, and that would spark the debate on why muslims can't convert to christianity to begin with, the ...   more »