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Taliban Offer Exchange for Body of U.S. Sailor
The Taliban have offered to exchange the body of an American sailor killed on Friday for Taliban fighters being held by U.S. forces in Afghanistan. Two servicemen from the U.S. navy went missing on Friday and an intense search has been underway since then. The two reportedly left their base inside of Taliban territory without permission and were not heard from since that time. It was later reported that it appeared that one of the pair was killed and his body taken from the scene. On Sunday, the Taliban acknowledged the ambush and made the offer to exchange the body of the dead sailor but told Afghan officials that permission from higher authorities was necessary before discussing return of the sailor who is still alive. One other U.S. serviceman is known to be in Taliban captivity. Friday was a bloody day for U.S. forces: five other Americans were killed in fighting with the Taliban on Friday.
Western Leaders Turn Up Pressure on ‘Abbas to go to Direct Talks U.S. President Barack Obama and Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu are being backed-up by western leaders in their efforts to persuade Palestinian leader Mahmoud ‘Abbas to agree to direct negotiations with Israel. ‘Abbas’s phone was ringing over the weekend as French President Nicolas Sarkozy, Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi and German Chancellor Angela Merkel all took turns at trying to convince ‘Abbas to elevate the level of talks from indirect to direct. The Palestinian Authority chief had drawn lines in the sand, refusing to go “direct” unless Netanyahu agrees to an absolute freeze on building in Israeli communities located on land acquired in the 1967 war; acknowledges that any final agreement will be predicated on pre-1967 borders; and agrees to allow an international force to enforce the borders. Netanyahu also received a character-reference last week when after hosting Prime Minister George Papandreou, the Greek leader made a similar plea to ‘Abbas and told him that Netanyahu is “serious.” Nevertheless, there are no indications so far that the pressure is having any effect on ‘Abbas.
U.N. Human Rights Council to Investigate Flotilla Affair; Israel Will Not Cooperate The United Nations Human Rights Council is expected to announce this week that it will launch a formal investigation into the May 31 Gaza flotilla affair – an announcement that Hamas has already says it welcomes. But Israel is making it clear that it will not cooperate with the Council, citing its record of hostility against the Jewish state. Repercussions over a Council investigation into Israel’s Gaza Strip military operation in December 2008 and January 2009 still linger, with Israel insisting the mandate given to the investigative body was lopsided and pro-Hamas. Israel is, however, considering cooperating with a second U.N.-related committee: one appointed by Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to review Israel’s own internal investigation by the Turkel Commission and a parallel investigation being carried out by Turkey. On Saturday, a spokesman for Hamas termed a U.N. call for Gaza activists to use overland routes rather than sail for the Gaza port as “a scandal” and “collusion with the Israeli occupation.”
Iran Announces New Nuclear Project: Development of Fusion Reactor Rather than bowing to international pressure to curb its nuclear development program, Iran has announced a new project: a nuclear fusion reactor. On Saturday, Iran’s nuclear chief announced that, “The scientific phase of the fusion energy research project is being launched with no budgetary limitation.” The head of Iran's Nuclear Fusion Research Center told an Iranian news agency that, “We need two years to complete the studies on constructing and then another 10 years to design and build the reactor.”
Hamas Claims ‘Abbas Forces Kidnapped and Beat Hamas Legislator’s Sons The Palestinian news agency PIC is reporting an allegation by Hamas that forces loyal to Palestinian Authority head Mahmoud ‘Abbas, who also heads Fatah, have kidnapped two sons of a Hamas legislator. The action allegedly took place on Friday in the West Bank town of Shoyoukh, and included the detention of seven others. Hamas accuses the ‘Abbas forces of beating the sons of MP Samira Halaika, according to the report. Hamas also claims Fatah has launched an “arrest campaign” aimed at Hamas supporters who have been demonstrating against Israel at the villages of Bilin and Nilin, where weekly protests against Israel’s security barrier are held. The report claims that Hamas charges Fatah tortured the detainees to force confessions that they hurled Molotov cocktails at Israeli troops during the demonstrations.
Germany Balks at Funding for Israeli Submarine Germany will not provide funding for Israel’s purchase of a sixth submarine, placing the sale in doubt. Israel had expected the Germans to provide as much as one-third of the purchase price of a $1.6 billion arms package that includes a Dolphin-class diesel sub, two warships and torpedoes. The Germans did underwrite the cost of five other subs already in Israel. But Germany is facing its own financial crisis and is cutting back on government expenditures. According to Defense News, which broke the story, Prime Minister Netanyahu made a personal plea to German Chancellor Angela Merkel for financial assistance in making the purchases, but Merkel reportedly turned the Israeli prime minister down. A German government spokesman refused to comment when asked whether the two governments are still discussing the proposed sale.
Israeli Natural Gas Exploration Denied Funding Plans for Israel to begin production from a large natural gas field located off the Mediterranean coastline received a setback when the cabinet failed to allocate funding for the project. The Infrastructures Ministry had requested $6.5 million for the requisite survey needed to determine the location of a terminal to receive the gas, but faced with the need to slash the budget, the cabinet passed on the request. The ministry said afterward that it will take another year before the offshore alternative will be established. 2012 had been the target date for production.
Rockets Fall is Southern Israel Of four rockets that fell inside of Israel on Saturday, authorities are most concerned about one that appears to have been manufactured outside of the Gaza Strip and smuggled in. Neither the rockets nor two mortar shells that also fell inside of Israel caused any injuries or damage. Last week, the army announced that the Iron Dome anti-missile system is ready for deployment, but when that will happen and where the deployment will be remain unknown.
Blair Critic to Appear Before Iraqi Commission Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair will be feeling the heat this week when one of his most vocal critics takes the witness stand at the government’s Iraqi inquiry. The Chilcot panel is looking into how and why the Blair government came to participate in the American-led operation to overthrow former dictator Saddam Hussein. Hans Blix, who headed the United Nations team that searched for weapons of mass destruction and who has been openly critical of Blair’s actions, will take the stand on Tuesday. Also scheduled for appearances before the Chilcot panel this week are former heads of the British military.
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