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Israelis Skeptical About Netanyahu Coalition
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Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu’s national unity coalition may command the support of 80% of Israel’s Knesset members, but among the public the new coalition is far less popular. An opinion poll conducted for the Ha’aretz daily found that 63% of the public see only political motivation behind opposition leader Shaul Mofaz’s decision to join Netanyahu’s government. Just 23% say they believe it was done for the good of the country. Half of those polled (51%) expressed skepticism that the new coalition would make good on its promises, which include a law requiring ultra-Orthodox Jews to perform national service, changing the system of government and advancing Palestinian peace talks. At a joint news conference with Mofaz, Netanyahu defended the new coalition, whose creation abruptly put an end to the early elections he had pursued, saying the huge parliamentary majority would give his government the tools it needs to pursue its agenda. “The State of Israel needs stability," he said.
Annan Warns Syria Edging Toward Civil War United Nations-Arab League Syria mediator Kofi Annan warned that the country is at risk of descending into full civil war. “There is a profound concern that the country could otherwise descend into full civil war, and the implications of that are frightening," he told the UN Security Council on Tuesday, saying that peace remains elusive nearly a month after a nationwide truce he brokered went into effect. Speaking to reporters in Geneva, Annan said there were “worrying episodes of violence by the government” in Syria as well as attacks by the opposition in violation of the truce. Meanwhile, Washington declared it was stepping up “non-lethal” aid to the opposition. The Obama administration has been giving the Syrian opposition logistical and communications help, but it has shied away from providing arms in the 14-month-old conflict. Up to 1.5 million Syrians are in urgent need of food, water, shelter and sanitation as parts of the embattled country descend into civil war, Jakob Kellenberger, president of the International Committee of the Red Cross, said.
Al-Qaida Hands Bomb to CIA Double-Agent An innovative and highly sophisticated underwear bomb developed by Al-Qaida was handed over to the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) by a double-agent, it was revealed by officials on Tuesday. It was the third time in three years that efforts by the terrorist group’s Yemeni bomb makers to smuggle devices through airport security and detonate them over U.S. skies failed. The most recent failure, officials said, occurred last month when Al-Qaida entrusted its latest device to a Saudi double agent working with the CIA. He delivered the bomb to the U.S. government and handed al-Qaida its latest setback. Citing a senior American official, The New York Times said the non-metallic device was sewn into “custom fit” underwear and could be detonated two ways, which may have been an attempt to prevent a repeat of the failed 2009 Christmas Day bombing.
Iraqi Vice President on the Lam The international police network Interpol has issued a Red Notice alert for Tariq Al-Hashemi, Iraq's fugitive vice-president, on suspicion of “guiding and financing terrorist attacks.” But Al-Hashemi, who is being tried in absentia in Baghdad on charges of leading a death squad, said in a statement on Tuesday that he was ready to appear in court if a fair trial and his security could be guaranteed. Last known to be in Turkey, he and his bodyguards face some 150 charges, including the alleged killing of six judges and other senior officials, according to an Iraqi judicial spokesman. The decision to charge the senior Sunni Arab politician led to a political crisis that saw the vice president's bloc boycott cabinet and parliament over accusations that Nuri Al-Maliki, Iraq’s Shiite prime minister, was monopolizing power. Hashemi wrote on his website on Tuesday that he was awaiting a “political solution” to the stand-off.
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