“Netanyahu is preparing for war against Iran and Hezbollah in the coming spring, when the snows melt and the clouds clear. Evidence of this is the additional defense budget and the home front’s preparations for a confrontation. And even if in the end Netanyahu doesn’t strike, he must be ready. It is better for Israel to fight on fewer fronts and neutralize enemies through diplomacy.”
–Aluf Benn in Haaretz.
Iran’s Press TV reports an indignant confirmation/denial of Israel’s claims about a boatful of arms intercepted at sea.
Jersualem Post: Ship proves Goldstone Report encourages terror.
Asharq Alawsat: Israel’s fear of Goldstone.
Amid reports of clashes between police and anti-government demonstrators as the country celebrates the taking of the U.S. Embassy hostages 30 years ago, this video shows the faces of the country’s reform movement.
Why NATO ally and moderately Islamic Turkey leans toward the mullahs.–Gulnar Aybet in Today’s Zaman (Turkey)
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty © 2009 sees a “high-level split” in the Islamic Republic, as the government prepares to respond Thursday to the Western nuclear monitoring proposals after missing a Tuesday deadline
“The press that belong to the government and other government-controlled bodies want to portray even a short-term solution to the nuclear crisis as a major achievement for Iran so that through that they can face the legitimacy crisis [the government] is facing inside the country,” says former Iranian diplomat Mansour Farhang.
The pro-regime Tehran Times is so blatant about it as to be unconvincing. Press TV reports the barely veiled threats of the Supreme Leader against “certain figures.”
They’re called Jundallah, organized and armed Sunnis from the impoverished southeastern part of the country who say they are oppressed by the Shiite state. The group’s leader, Abd Al-Malek Al-Rigi, spoke to Al-Arabyia television in October 2008
“Even in countries that are hostile to Islam, like the U.S., Britain, and other countries – perhaps even in Israel – you are allowed to preach your own religion. But the Sunnis in Iran are deprived of these basic rights.”
–via the pro-Isreal MEMRI.
What Sunni-Shiite violence in Iran means for Lebanon–Daily Star, Lebanon
So says Deutsche Welle, the German public broadcasting outlet.
