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The Sunday Times: Libyan Terrorist Released to Promote Oil Deal
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British Justice Secretary Jack Straw told his Scottish counterpart that the decision to release Lockerbie bomber Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed Al-Megrahi was made in order to facilitate “wider negotiations” and the “overwhelming interests of the United Kingdom”. The “interests” at hand are an estimated $24.5 billion worth of revenue the British Petroleum stands to make from a deal with the Libyan government involving the discovery of offshore oil-fields. The deal had been blocked by the Libyan government until the Brown administration had arranged for the release of Al-Megrahi. The Sunday Times (London) has revealed details of the affair in Sunday’s edition, publishing correspondence between Straw and counterpart Kenny MacAskill in Scotland. And despite denials by BP that the terrorist’s release was linked to the BP contract, the newspaper quoted a government advisor, a Libyan Lawyer, who confirmed the scenario. Emerging details bear striking similarity to the British government’s abortion of the 2008 investigation into massive bribes paid to Saudi Arabian officials by the defense giant BAE after the Saudis threatened to take their business elsewhere unless the investigation was halted.
Der Spiegel: Netanyahu Requested German Mediation in Shalit Case The German magazine Der Spiegel is reporting that German mediators are working to put together a deal between Israel and Hamas that would see the repatriation of captured soldier Gilad Shalit and the release of hundreds of Hamas members being held by Israel. The magazine says that it was the Israelis who requested German mediation. The Germans have taken this role on before, most recently in the case of the two soldiers captured by Hizbullah, the trigger behind the 2006 war in Lebanon. Der Spiegel lays out a deal almost identical to the framework Israel’s previous government was working with – 450 Hamas prisoners for Shalit – but adds a goodwill gesture of additional releases after the deal is concluded. The magazine says Hamas has three days in which to respond to the offer. Israeli officials, meanwhile, have told an Arabic-language newspaper based in London that rumors of an imminent deal are being spread by Hamas in an effort to embarrass Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu if the deal fails to close.
Israeli Jets Destroy Smuggling Tunnel After Gazan Rocket Attack The firing of a Qassam rocket from the Gaza Strip into Israel on Saturday evening brought an airborne attack over a smuggling tunnel in the northern part of Gaza in the early hours of Sunday morning. The Israeli army made a point of indicating that the tunnel was dug by various factions other than Hamas, and that it was dug in order to facilitate a terrorist attack rather than in order to smuggle food or supplies. The Palestinian missile caused no injuries or damage. In an unrelated development, Hamas officials are investigating the cause of two explosions set off inside the Gaza Strip early Sunday morning. One exploded inside the Ansar-2 prison and the second inside the compound of what was Palestinian Authority head Mahmoud ‘Abbas’s home until Hamas took control of Gaza.
Phalange Leader in Lebanon Calls for Indirect Talks with Israel Over Borders Lebanese Phalange Party leader Amin Gemayel has called for indirect talks with Israel to settle issues related to the countries’ common border. Gemayel made his remarks in a speech delivered at Sao Paolo University in Brazil. In Beirut, meanwhile, Gemayel’s party colleague Sejaan Azzi told the Daily Star newspaper that Resolution 1701 – the document that ended the 2006 war in Lebanon between Israel and Hizbullah – called for proper demarcation of the border. Therefore, he said, involving a third-party such as the United Nations or another nation is acceptable. Azzi made it clear that the talks would be limited to the border issue and should not be construed as “peace negotiations,” which would require the addressing of issues such as the Palestinian “right of return.”
Palestinian-Israel Trade Grows Steadily Trade between Israel and the Palestinians continues to grow at a steady pace despite political and security tensions; and despite the world economic crisis. Israeli Customs Administration reported last week that trade for this year will reach $5 billion. The figure includes $3.6 billion in Israeli-Palestinian trade plus $1.1 billion in Palestinian imports and exports.
Smith Poll: Only 4% of Israelis View Obama as “Pro-Israel” A mere 4% of Israelis view U.S. President Barack Obama as being “pro-Israel” and 51% believe his is “pro-Palestinian” according to a new Smith Research poll. Only two months ago, a Smith poll showed 6% believed Obama was “pro-Israel”. In response to reports that Israel is offering a one-year temporary freeze on building in communities on post-1967 land, the Smith poll showed 50% of Israelis oppose the offer and 41% support it.
Mumbai Arrest Toll Rises to Seven Pakistani security agencies now have seven suspects in custody for last November’s terrorist attacks in Mumbai. The latest two suspects were revealed during court proceedings involving the first five suspects. 166 people died in the series of attacks which were carried out simultaneously in the Indian city. India is demanding that Pakistan focus its attention on capturing the leaders of the Lashkar-e-Taiba group that it claims were behind the attacks. Fallout from the attacks include a halt in peace talks between India and Pakistan. The trial is being held behind closed doors.
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