HAARETZ: Iran using Hezbollah as diversion from nukes

Amos Harel and Avi Issacharoff

Does a Christian Phalange leader in Lebanon know something that Israeli newspaper readers do not know? In a statement published in Lebanon, Dr. Samir Ja'ja claims that Hezbollah may involve his country in a war in the near future. He also warned that the Lebanese home front is far less prepared than its Israeli counterpart for war and therefore the civilian population in his country will bear the brunt of any future round of fighting...(Haaretz).

Full Article: http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1151926.html

HAARETZ: Hamas founder's son worked for Shin Bet for years

Avi Issacharoff

...Mosab Hassan Yousef is the son of Sheikh Hassan Yousef, a Hamas founder and one of its leaders in the West Bank. The intelligence he supplied Israel led to the exposure of a number of terrorist cells, and to the prevention of dozens of suicide bombings and assassination attempts on Israeli figures.

The exclusive story will appear in this Friday's Haaretz Magazine, and Yousef's memoir, "Son of Hamas" (written with Ron Brackin) will be released next week in the United States. Yousef, 32, became a devout Christian 10 years ago and now lives in California after fleeing the West Bank in 2007 and going public with his conversion...(Haaretz).

Full Article: http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1151941.html

THE DC: Turkey’s position in facing a nuclear Iran

Tülin Daloglu

...So the question becomes how these nations will cope with a nuclear Iran. The Arab world—at the very outset—seems to be pleased to see a growing Turkish role in the region as a strategic counterbalance to Iran...

...In fact, Turkish calculation on sanctions is heavily relied on the assumption that Russians and Chinese won't allow such a UN Security Council resolution be accepted. If they do, Turkey's position will be difficult. As a non-permanent UN Security Council member, it will either decide to break-away from its traditional Western allies or it will follow the course. Either way, Turkey's stakes will be high. Iranian regime has more opportunity to harm Turkey more than it can cause harm in the U.S. or Europe.  Or Turkey will turn its back to the Western world...

...As much as none likes to admit, the Gulf countries might even be relieved by an Israeli military operation against Iranian facilities. When Israel attacked a nuclear site in Syria, the Arab world didn't register much protest. All in all, it is that mindset which will determine whether the nations of the Middle East will accept Israel as a real partner in peace, or whether they will accept a nuclear Iran...(THE DC).

Full Article: http://dailycaller.com/2010/02/24/turkeys-position-in-facing-a-nuclear-iran/

IRAN: NIOC to issue $1 Billion of energy bonds

PRESS TV: Iran to issue $1 billion of energy bonds in coming days

...Seifollah Jashnsaz said on Tuesday that the bonds are expected to be issued in the "coming days" since Iran's Finance Ministry and the Central Bank of Iran finally reached an agreement on the proposal...(Press TV).

Full Article: http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=119355&sectionid=351020103

IRAN: Jundallah leader tracked down by Iranian security forces, evidence of ties to U.S. to be revealed

PRESS TV: Iran to reveal evidence of Jundallah ties with US

...The leader of the Jundallah terrorist group was on a flight from the United Arab Emirates to Kyrgyzstan when he was tracked down by Iranian security forces on Tuesday. An informed source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told Press TV that Rigi and one of his deputies were captured after Iranian security forces forced their plane to land at an airport in the Persian Gulf city of Bandar Abbas. Iranian security forces said he was at a US base in Afghanistan 24 hours before his capture and had a forged Afghan passport issued by the US in his possession when he was detained...(Press TV).

Full Article: http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=119341&sectionid=351020101

LEBANON: Hezbollah slams Israeli plans to restore holy site in the West Bank

NAHARNET: Hizbullah Slams Israeli Plan for West Bank Holy Sites

..."This is yet another example of aggression against Muslim holy sites and an attack on the dignity of 1.5 billion Muslims around the world," the group said in a statement.

"It is a clear display of the enemy's arrogance and disregard for international norms and values... and we call on Arab and Islamic nations to unite against this occupation."

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sparked outrage on Sunday when he said he hoped to include Rachel's Tomb in Bethlehem and the Tomb of the Patriarchs in Hebron in a national heritage plan...(Naharnet).

Full Article: http://www.naharnet.com/domino/tn/NewsDesk.nsf/getstory?openform&E4FFB0FE8FC1C5A8C22576D30065E209

IRAN: Tensions run high prior to Assembly of Experts Meeting

ROOZ: Tensions Intensify Ahead of Assembly of Experts Meeting

The seventh conference by Iran's Assembly of Experts on Leadership - a body that is constitutionally charged with supervising the conference opens its session tomorrow while the faction supporting the administration in the Majlis, along with several prominent right-wing hardline figures affiliated with the military-security apparatus has intensified its attacks on Hashemi Rafsanjani, the Assembly's chairman while also stepping up its defense and praise of ayatollah Khomeini's positions...(ROOZ).

Full Article: http://www.roozonline.com/english/news/newsitem/article/2010/february/24//tensions-intensify-ahead-of-assembly-of-experts-meeting.html

BABYLON & BEYOND: What Rafsanjani wants

BABYLON & BEYOND: IRAN: What does Ayatollah Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani really want?

..."A frontier separates those loyal to the revolution from norm-breakers standing against the supreme leader," Rafsanjani said during a meeting Tuesday of the Assembly of Experts, which he heads. "Today, the supreme leader could be the only pivot for unity and solidarity in the country. We can reach our objectives if he pushes ahead with this mission and others help him."...

...More likely than not, the 75-year-old Rafsanjani is himself under a lot of pressure and just treading water, hoping not to alienate either side too much in hopes of surviving the consequences of the ongoing political rift within the establishment...(LAT).

Full Article: http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/babylonbeyond/2010/02/iran-whatever-rafsanjani-wants.html

U.S.: Contingency plans prepared if withdrawal from Iraq is delayed

WASHPOST: U.S. plans for possible delay in Iraq withdrawal

...Under a deadline set by President Obama, all combat forces are slated to withdraw from Iraq by the end of August, and there remains heavy political pressure in Washington and Baghdad to stick to that schedule. But Army Gen. Ray Odierno, the top U.S. commander in Iraq, said Monday that he had briefed officials in Washington in the past week about possible contingency plans...(Washington Post).

Full Article: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02/22/AR2010022202933.html

AFGHANISTAN: Karzai takes control of voting fraud panel

AP: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02/23/AR2010022300720.html?wprss=rss_world/wires

ISRAEL: New drone fleet that can reach Iran unveiled

AP: Israel unveils new drone fleet that can reach Iran

Israel's air force on Sunday introduced a fleet of huge pilotless planes that can remain in the air for a full day and could fly as far as the Persian Gulf, putting rival Iran within its range. The Heron TP drones have a wingspan of 86 feet (26 meters), making them the size of Boeing 737 passenger jets and the largest unmanned aircraft in Israel's military. The planes can fly at least 20 consecutive hours and are primarily used for surveillance and carrying diverse payloads...(AP via MYWAY).

Full Article: http://apnews.myway.com/article/20100221/D9E0PR5G0.html

THE MEMRI BLOG: Syrian Foreign Minister: We Will Not Allow IAEA Inspectors to Visit Additional Facilities

Full Post: http://www.thememriblog.org/blog_personal/en/25014.htm

U.S.: Marjah is opening battle in Afghanistan says Patraeus

RFE/RL: Petraeus: Marjah 'Opening Battle' In Afghanistan

...General David Petraeus told NBC television's "Meet The Press" that the campaign probably will last 12 months to 18 months and is part of the revised U.S. strategy for fighting insurgents in Afghanistan. Petraeus, the head of the U.S. Central Command, gave no estimate for how long the Marjah operation might last...(RFE/RL).

Full Article: http://www.rferl.org/content/Petraeus_Marjah_Opening_Battle_In_Afghanistan/1964482.html

BBC: Oil price reaches six-week high as dollar weakens

Full Article: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/8527679.stm

ISRAEL: Netanyahu authorized assassination in Dubai says report

HAARETZ: Report: PM approved Dubai assassination in early January

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu authorized in early January the assassination of Hamas commander Mahmoud al-Mabhouh, according to a report published in the Sunday Times. Based on information obtained from "sources with knowledge of Mossad," the paper reported that Netanyahu gave Mossad chief Meir Dagan the green light for the Dubai operation during a meeting at the Midrasha - the intelligence agency's headquarters, in the northern suburbs of Tel Aviv...(Haaretz).

Full Article: http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1151245.html