JEWISH KING JESUS IS COMING AT THE RAPTURE FOR US IN THE CLOUDS-DON'T MISS IT FOR THE WORLD.THE BIBLE TAKEN LITERALLY- WHEN THE PLAIN SENSE MAKES GOOD SENSE-SEEK NO OTHER SENSE-LEST YOU END UP IN NONSENSE.GET SAVED NOW- CALL ON JESUS TODAY.THE ONLY SAVIOR OF THE WHOLE EARTH - NO OTHER. 1 COR 15:23-JESUS THE FIRST FRUITS-CHRISTIANS RAPTURED TO JESUS-FIRST FRUITS OF THE SPIRIT-23 But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming.ROMANS 8:23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.(THE PRE-TRIB RAPTURE)
AMERICAN HOSTAGE EDAN ALEXANDER RELEASED BY HAMAS DEATH CULT MURDERERS.
INVENTION OF THE ATOMIC BOMB.
2 PETER 3:10-11
10
But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which
the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements
(NUKES) shall melt with fervent heat,(BLAST) the earth also and the
works that are therein shall be burned up.(BUT ITS NO END OF THE WORLD
HOGWASH)
11 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved,(BY
NUKES INCLUDING 3 BILLION PEOPLE) what manner of persons ought ye to be
in all holy conversation and godliness,
NUCLEAR WEAPONS WILL BE USED.
JESUS
SHED HIS BLOOD FOR US THAT WE CAN BE SAVED FOREVER.AND DURING WW3
PEOPLES BLOOD WILL BE SHED AS A JUDGEMENT FOR HATING HIM AND ISRAEL.GOD
IS NOT MOCKED.
ZEPHANIAH 1:2-3
2 I will utterly consume all things from off the land, saith the LORD.
3
I will consume man and beast; I will consume the fowls of the heaven,
and the fishes of the sea, and the stumblingblocks with the wicked; and I
will cut off man from off the land, saith the LORD.
PSALMS 97:3
3 A fire goeth before him, and burneth up his enemies round about.
EZEKIEL 5:15-17
15
So it shall be a reproach and a taunt, an instruction and an
astonishment unto the (ARAB/MUSLIM) nations that are round about
thee,(ISRAEL) when I shall execute judgments in thee in anger and in
fury and in furious rebukes. I the LORD have spoken it.
16 When I
shall send upon them the evil arrows of famine, which shall be for their
destruction, and which I will send to destroy you: and I will increase
the famine upon you, and will break your staff of bread:
17 So will I
send upon you famine and evil beasts,(WHEN RUSSIA/MUSLIMS GET DEFEATED
THIER BODIES GET EATEN BY BIRDS,ANIMALS IN ISRAEL MIGRATION SEASON) and
they shall bereave thee; and pestilence and blood shall pass through
thee;(NUKES) and I will bring the sword upon thee. I the LORD have
spoken it.
REVELATION 14:18-20
18 And another angel came out
from the altar, which had power over fire; and cried with a loud cry to
him that had the sharp sickle, saying, Thrust in thy sharp sickle, and
gather the clusters of the vine of the earth; for her grapes are fully
ripe.
19 And the angel thrust in his sickle into the earth, and
gathered the vine of the earth, and cast it into the great winepress of
the wrath of God.
20 And the winepress was trodden without the
city,(JERUSALEM) and blood came out of the winepress, even unto the
horse bridles, by the space of a thousand and six hundred furlongs.(200
MILES) (THE SIZE OF ISRAEL)
ISAIAH 66:15-18
15 For, behold,
the LORD will come with fire,(NUKES) and with his chariots like a
whirlwind, to render his anger with fury, and his rebuke with flames of
fire.
16 For by fire and by his sword will the LORD plead with all flesh: and the slain of the LORD shall be many.
17
They that sanctify themselves, and purify themselves in the gardens
behind one tree in the midst, eating swine's flesh, and the abomination,
and the mouse, shall be consumed together, saith the LORD.
18 For I
know their works and their thoughts: it shall come, that I will gather
all nations and tongues; and they shall come, and see my glory.
ISAIAH 26:21
21
For, behold, the LORD cometh out of his place to punish the inhabitants
of the earth for their iniquity:(GOD/ISRAEL HATE AND BRAKING OF HIS
COMMANDMENTS) the earth also shall disclose her blood, and shall no more
cover her slain.(WW3,1/2 earths population die - 3 BILLION).
ISAIAH 13:6-13 KJV
6 Howl ye; for the day of the LORD is at hand; it shall come as a destruction from the Almighty.
7 Therefore shall all hands be faint, and every man's heart shall melt:(FROM FRIGHT)
8
And they shall be afraid: pangs and sorrows shall take hold of them;
they shall be in pain as a woman that travaileth: they shall be amazed
one at another; their faces shall be as flames.
9 Behold, the day of
the LORD cometh, cruel both with wrath and fierce anger, to lay the land
desolate: and he shall destroy the sinners thereof out of it.
10 For
the stars of heaven and the constellations thereof shall not give their
light: the sun shall be darkened in his going forth, and the moon shall
not cause her light to shine.
11 And I will punish the world for
their evil, and the wicked for their iniquity; and I will cause the
arrogancy of the proud to cease, and will lay low the haughtiness of the
terrible.
12 I will make a man more precious than fine gold; even a man than the golden wedge of Ophir.
13
Therefore I will shake the heavens, and the earth shall remove out of
her place, in the wrath of the LORD of hosts, and in the day of his
fierce anger.
ISAIAH 24:17-23 KJV
17 Fear, and the pit, and the snare, are upon thee, O inhabitant of the earth.
18
And it shall come to pass, that he who fleeth from the noise of the
fear shall fall into the pit; and he that cometh up out of the midst of
the pit shall be taken in the snare: for the windows from on high are
open, and the foundations of the earth do shake.
19 The earth is utterly broken down, the earth is clean dissolved, the earth is moved exceedingly.
20
The earth shall reel to and fro like a drunkard, and shall be removed
like a cottage; and the transgression thereof shall be heavy upon it;
and it shall fall, and not rise again.
21 And it shall come to pass
in that day, that the LORD shall punish the host of the high ones that
are on high, and the kings of the earth upon the earth.
22 And they
shall be gathered together, as prisoners are gathered in the pit, and
shall be shut up in the prison, and after many days shall they be
visited.
23 Then the moon shall be confounded, and the sun ashamed,
when the LORD of hosts shall reign in mount Zion, and in Jerusalem, and
before his ancients gloriously.
2 TIMOTHY 3:1
1 This know also, that in the last days perilous (DANGEROUS) times shall come.
JOEL 2:3,30
ZECHARIAH 14:12-13
12
And this shall be the plague wherewith the LORD will smite all the
people that have fought against Jerusalem; Their flesh shall consume
away while they stand upon their feet,(DISOLVED FROM ATOMIC BOMB) and
their eyes shall consume away in their holes,(DISOLVED FROM ATOMIC BOMB)
and their tongue shall consume away in their mouth.(DISOLVED FROM
ATOMIC BOMB)(BECAUSE NUKES HAVE BEEN USED ON ISRAELS ENEMIES)(GOD
PROTECTS ISRAEL AND ALWAYS WILL)
13 And it shall come to pass in that
day, that a great tumult from the LORD shall be among them; and they
shall lay hold every one on the hand of his neighbour, and his hand
shall rise up against the hand of his neighbour.(1/2-3 BILLION DIE IN
WW3)(THIS IS AN ATOMIC BOMB EFFECT)
EZEKIEL 20:47
47 And say
to the forest of the south, Hear the word of the LORD; Thus saith the
Lord GOD; Behold, I will kindle a fire in thee, and it shall devour
every green tree in thee, and every dry tree: the flaming flame shall
not be quenched, and all faces from the south to the north shall be
burned therein.
ZEPHANIAH 1:18
18 Neither their silver nor
their gold shall be able to deliver them in the day of the LORD'S wrath;
but the whole land shall be devoured by the fire of his jealousy: for
he shall make even a speedy riddance of all them that dwell in the land.
MALACHI 4:1
1
For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven;(FROM ATOMIC
BOMBS) and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be
stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the LORD of
hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch.
REVELATION 8:7
7
The first angel sounded, and there followed hail and fire mingled with
blood, and they were cast upon the earth: and the third part of trees
was burnt up, and all green grass was burnt up.
REVELATION 9:18
18
By these three was the third part of men killed,(2 BILLION) by the
fire, and by the smoke, and by the brimstone, which issued out of their
mouths.(ATOMIC BOMBS)(RUSSIA CHINA DESTROYED BY ISRAELS ATOMIC BOMBS)
REVELATION 16:12-16
12
And the sixth angel poured out his vial upon the great river
Euphrates;(WERE WW3 STARTS IN IRAQ OR SYRIA OR TURKEY) and the water
thereof was dried up, that the way of the kings of the east might be
prepared.
13 And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of
the mouth of the dragon,(SATAN) and out of the mouth of the beast,(WORLD
DICTATOR) and out of the mouth of the false prophet.(FALSE POPE)
14
For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth
unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to
the battle of that great day of God Almighty.(WERE 2 BILLION DIE FROM
NUKE WAR)
15 Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.
16 And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon.
17
And the seventh angel poured out his vial into the air; and there came a
great voice out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, It is
done.
JOEL 3:2 (YOU WANNA DIVIDE JERUSALEM IN HALF (HALF OF EARTHS POPULATION KILLED AS A RESULT)
02-I
will also gather all nations, and will bring them down into the valley
of Jehoshaphat, and will plead with them there for my people and for my
heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations, and parted
my land.
PROOF HALF ON EARTH DIE DURING THE 7 YR TRIBULATION PERIOD (8 BILLION ON EARTH)
REVELATION 6:7-8 (8 BILLION- 2 BILLION = 6 BILLION)
7 And when he had opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth beast say, Come and see.
8
And I looked, and behold a pale horse:(CHLORES GREEN) and his name that
sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given
unto them over the fourth part of the earth,(2 BILLION) to kill with
sword,(WEAPONS) and with hunger,(FAMINE) and with death,(INCURABLE
DISEASES) and with the beasts of the earth.(ANIMAL TO HUMAN DISEASE).
REVELATION 9:15,18 (6 BILLION - 2 BILLION = 4 BILLION)
15 And the four(DEMONIC WAR) angels were loosed,
18
By these three was the third part of men killed,(2 BILLION) by the
fire, and by the smoke, and by the brimstone, which issued out of their
mouths.(NUCLEAR ATOMIC BOMBS)
HALF OF EARTHS POPULATION DIE DURING THE 7 YR TRIBULATION.(THESE VERSES ARE JUDGEMENT SCRIPTURES NOT RAPTURE SCRIPTURES)
LUKE
17:34-37 (8 TOTAL BILLION - 4 BILLION DEAD IN TRIB = 4 BILLION TO JESUS
KINGDOM) (HALF DIE DURING THE 7 YR TRIBULATION PERIOD JUST LIKE THE
BIBLE SAYS)(GOD DOES NOT LIE)(AND NOTICE MOST DIE IN WAR AND
DISEASES-NOT COMETS-ASTEROIDS-QUAKES OR TSUNAMIS)
34 I tell you, in
that night there shall be two men in one bed; the one shall be taken,(IN
WW3 JUDGEMENT) and the other shall be left.(half earths population 4
billion die in the 7 yr trib)
35 Two women shall be grinding together; the one shall be taken,(IN WW3 JUDGEMENT) and the other left.
36 Two men shall be in the field; the one shall be taken,(IN WW3 JUDGEMENT) and the other left.
37
And they answered and said unto him, Where, Lord? And he said unto
them, Wheresoever the body is, thither will the eagles be gathered
together.(Christians have new bodies,this is the people against
Jerusalem during the 7 yr treaty)(Christians bodies are not being eaten
by the birds).THESE ARE JUDGEMENT SCRIPTURES-NOT RAPTURE
SCRIPTURES.BECAUSE NOT HALF OF PEOPLE ON EARTH ARE CHRISTIANS.AND THE
CONTEXT IN LUKE 17 IS THE 7 YEAR TRIBULATION OR 7 YR TREATY PERIOD.WHICH
IS JUDGEMENT ON THE EARTH.NOT 50% RAPTURED TO HEAVEN.
MATTHEW 24:37-42 (THESE ARE JUDGEMENT SCRIPTURES-SURE NOT RAPTURE SCRIPTURES)
37 But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
38
For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and
drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe
entered into the ark,
39 And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
40 Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken,(IN WW3 JUDGEMENT) and the other left.
41 Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken,(IN WW3 JUDGEMENT) and the other left.
42 Watch therefore:(FOR THE LAST DAYS SIGNS HAPPENING) for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.
NAHUM 3:13
13
Behold, your troops are women in your midst. The gates of your land are
wide open to your enemies; fire has devoured your bars.
DR DOCTORION-ANGEL OF THE MIDEAST
"The
angel showed me that the United Nations shall be broken in pieces
because of the crisis in the Middle East. There shall be no more United
Nations. The angel with the sickle shall reap the harvest.
FIRST ANGEL: ASIA
But
the angel said: "Millions will die in China and in India. Nation will
be against nation, brother against brother. Asians will fight each
other. Nuclear weapons shall be used, killing millions."Twice I heard
the words, "Catastrophic! Catastrophic!"Then the angel said, "Financial
crisis will come to Asia. I will shake the world."I was trembling while
the angel was speaking.
SECOND ANGEL: MIDDLE EAST
Then I saw that
the second angel had a sickle in his hand, such as is used in
harvesting.The second angel said: "Harvest time has come in Israel and
the countries all the way to Iran."I saw those countries in a few split
seconds."All of Turkey and those [inaudible] countries that have refused
me and refused my message of love shall hate each other and kill one
another."I saw the angel raise the sickle and come down on all the
Middle East countries. I saw Iran, Persia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, all of
Georgia - Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Israel, all of Asia Minor - full
of blood. I saw blood all over these countries. And I saw fire; Nuclear
weapons used in many of those countries. Smoke rising from everywhere.
Sudden destruction – men destroying one another. I heard these
words:"Israel, Oh Israel, the great judgment has come."
THE
LAST AMERICAN HOSTAGE EDAN ALEXANDER HAS BEEN SET FREE AFTER 584 DAYS
FROM PEDOPHILE DEATH CULT HAMAS.HES BEEN LOOKED AT IN HOSPITAL. AND HIS
PARENTS IN TENAFLY NJ. ARE WAITING FOR HIS RETURN.
Lapid:
Edan Alexander was released because he is American-"Those who remain in
Hamas tunnels are Israeli citizens. They were not released because the
Israeli government did not make a deal to free them." - Yair Lapid-By
ELIAV BREUER-MAY 12, 2025 17:30
The release of hostage soldier
and US citizen Edan Alexander is “simultaneously joyful yet
heartbreaking,” opposition leader MK Yair Lapid said in a press
conference ahead of his Yesh Atid party’s weekly meeting in the Knesset
in Jerusalem on Monday.“Joyful because we are happy to see every hostage
return home to their family, to their parents, saved from the horrors.
Whoever can be brought back—must be brought back. Heartbreaking because
Edan Alexander was released because he is an American citizen, in
negotiations conducted by the American administration. Those who remain
in Hamas tunnels are Israeli citizens. They were not released because
the Israeli government did not make a deal to free them. The hostages
are ours, and the responsibility for their return lies with the
government," Lapid said.The opposition leader added that Alexander’s
release indicated a “diplomatic failure with implications that endanger
the security and well-being of the entire State of Israel," since they
indicated that “Americans are sick of [Prime Minister Benjamin]
Netanyahu.”"The Trump administration is acting today without
coordination and without listening to Netanyahu. They have reached a
ceasefire with the Houthis in Yemen behind his back, are conducting
dangerous negotiations with the Iranians, promoting a Saudi nuclear
program, and making a hostage deal only for their own citizens," Lapid
said.National Unity chairman MK Benny Gantz made a similar comment,
saying that it was “gut-wrenching” seeing Israel being “dragged along
instead of taking initiative to bring back all its hostages.”Gantz
accused Netanyahu of “privatizing national security” by leaving the
hostage effort to the Americans."I am telling you with certainty that
the American administration is determined to advance normalization with
Saudi Arabia as well as other major and significant countries in the
region,” Gantz said.“Either we complete a strategic transformation:
strengthen the axis against Iran, eliminate its military nuclear
capability, and become part of a massive diplomatic initiative led by
the United States in the region—or we will be left behind.”“We must not
miss the opportunity to change the Middle East because of political
considerations," Gantz said.
Israel attacks Yemen’s Hodeidah,
Houthi interior ministry says-Earlier, the IDF warned people to evacuate
three ports controlled by the Houthis-By Emanuel Fabian-MAY 11,25
Israel
attacked Yemen’s Hodeidah port Sunday evening, after the Israeli army
said it warned people at three ports under Houthi control to evacuate,
the Houthi interior ministry said.There were no immediate details on the
results of the strikes.The IDF had issued an “urgent” evacuation
warning to the three Houthi-controlled ports. In a post on X, the IDF’s
Arabic-language spokesman Col. Avichay Adraee warned those at the Ras
Isa, Hodeidah, and Salif ports on the western coast to evacuate.“Due to
the Houthi terror regime’s use of ports for its terror activities, we
urge all those present at these ports to evacuate and stay away from
them for your own safety until further notice,” he said.The warning came
after the Houthis fired several ballistic missiles and drones at Israel
in recent days, since the Israeli Air Force struck the
Houthi-controlled airport in Sanaa and several other facilities last
week.On Friday afternoon the Houthis fired a ballistic missile that
triggered sirens across central Israel. The Israel Defense Forces
reported that the missile was successfully intercepted by air
defenses.Defense Minister Israel Katz warned then that Israel would
respond. “The Houthis continue to launch Iranian missiles at Israel. As
we promised, we will respond, strongly in Yemen and anywhere else
necessary,” he said in a statement.The Friday attack came three days
after the US announced that it had reached a ceasefire with the Yemeni
terror group.Houthi officials made clear that the deal, in which they
agreed to stop targeting US maritime activity in the Red Sea in exchange
for an end to weeks of intense US airstrikes, did not include any
agreement to stop firing at Israel or ships linked to the Jewish
state.On Wednesday, the IDF said a missile fired by the Houthis crashed
outside Israeli territory. Earlier in the day, the IDF said it had
downed a drone launched from Yemen.The attacks came after Israel carried
out two days of heavy sorties targeting infrastructure controlled by
the Houthis in response to the missile that struck Ben Gurion Airport.
The fiery reprisals destroyed the international airport in the capital
Sanaa, and caused heavy damage to a port in Hodeida and several power
stations and a cement factory, officials said.The Houthis — whose slogan
calls for “Death to America, Death to Israel, [and] a Curse on the
Jews” — first began attacking Israel and maritime traffic in November
2023, a month after the October 7 Hamas massacre.The Houthis held their
fire when a ceasefire was reached between Israel and Hamas in January
2025. By that point, they had fired over 40 ballistic missiles and
dozens of attack drones and cruise missiles at Israel, including one
that killed a civilian and wounded several others in Tel Aviv in July,
prompting Israel’s first strike in Yemen.Since March 18, when the IDF
resumed its offensive against Hamas in the Gaza Strip, the Houthis have
launched some 29 ballistic missiles and at least 10 drones at Israel.The
sirens warning of missile attacks have sent hundreds of thousands of
Israelis rushing to shelters at all hours of the day and night.
Trump
Mideast visit: Israel shifts from central player to distant observer -
analysis-Netanyahu has no compelling offer for a US president focused on
outcomes. Trump is pressing ahead with his priorities — and that is
what matters.By ANNA BARSKY-MAY 12, 2025 11:56
US President
Donald Trump is set to meet Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin
Salman on Tuesday. An expanded session in Riyadh will include
Palestinian Authority chairman Mahmoud Abbas, Lebanese President Joseph
Aoun, and Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa. For Israel, this development
is troubling on several fronts.Abbas is not attending because he
insisted on coming. Rather, he was invited by the crown prince. He will
be part of a larger group of Arab leaders meeting the US president
during his visit to Saudi Arabia.This invitation is a deliberate move,
intended to place critical regional issues directly before Trump. The
crown prince is sending a message: The PA cannot be bypassed, despite
Israel’s attempts to do so.It is as though Salman is saying: You want to
talk to us? We’re open to that. You want trade and big deals?
Absolutely. To be clear, there’s also a political dimension: There is no
bypass around Ramallah. Abbas is part of the delegation. He’s one of
us. You must see the region as we do, not as the Israelis present
it.That message is taking form, and the White House has not objected to
it. Nor was it expected to. Trump appears untroubled by the development –
and that, precisely, is Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s problem.The
facts are clear: Trump will meet Abbas during his regional tour, but
not Netanyahu.The Saudi insistence on Abbas’s participation is not
merely a domestic signal or a gesture to the broader Arab world. It
reflects changing regional political and security dynamics, and they are
not working in Israel’s favor.Saudi demands, initially raised in
response to the Israel-Hamas War, have escalated further in recent
weeks.Two key decisions by the US contributed to this: The move to end
military operations against the Houthis, despite their continued
ballistic missile attacks on Israel, and the push to advance major
US-Saudi agreements without conditioning them on normalization with
Israel.Regardless of Trump’s intentions, the regional message is
unmistakable: America is stepping back, leaving Israel to manage its own
threats. The US is no longer Israel’s “Iron Dome.” That is the current
reality, whatever anyone may claim.Trump's sidelining reduces Israel's
relevance in the region-Israel’s regional position has deteriorated.
Unlike before October 7, 2023, normalization with Israel now requires
tangible returns, not vague or symbolic gestures. Even slogans are
beyond Netanyahu’s capacity in 2025.In this shifting landscape, the
crown prince faces challenges regarding his image. He is under growing
criticism, even without actively pursuing normalization with
Israel.Earlier remarks he made continue to draw scrutiny, and current
events in Gaza – viewed by many in the Arab world as genocidal – only
increase the pressure on him. He must demonstrate solidarity with the
Arab cause, not just economic alignment with Washington.Abbas’s
invitation also serves another purpose. A photograph of the Palestinian
leader alongside fellow Arab heads of state and the US president could
offer the crown prince political cover – a symbolic gesture legitimizing
any US-Saudi deal in Arab public opinion.That is the underlying point –
and it is no longer about Israel. Who in the region would factor in
Israel, when even the US president appears disengaged, be it concerning
the Houthi threat or the Saudi deal?In the Middle East, weakness is
quickly noticed. Egypt is not rushing to approve a new Israeli
ambassador, nor is it sending one to Tel Aviv. That is no
accident.Trump, acting according to a pragmatic and transactional
approach, may not recognize the damage that is being done to Israel in
terms of image and strategy.If normalization is no longer a condition
for US-Saudi ties, Israel’s role is diminishing. Riyadh can obtain trade
and possibly nuclear deals without needing to talk about
Israel.Israel’s diplomatic relevance is slipping. Its standing is at a
historic low. Netanyahu has no compelling offer for a US president
focused on outcomes.Trump is pressing ahead with his priorities – and
that is what matters.Whether or not Abbas is present in Riyadh means
little to Trump. Nor does Netanyahu’s opinion. The American president
has not shifted his stance. His priorities and methods remain
consistent. That Israelis are surprised – that is their problem, not
his.Trump expects partnerships to yield concrete benefits. That view
shaped his first term. In that case, guided by Jared Kushner, this led
to the Abraham Accords. That was a measurable success, and it persuaded
Trump.Today, however, Israel has no new initiative to offer. Its role
has shifted from being a central player to a distant observer.
Trump's
Middle East visit to trigger historic arms race, strengthen US economy
with F-15EX deals-Upon learning of Boeing’s plan to develop this new
aircraft, the Pentagon quickly recognized it as the ideal replacement
for the three US Air Force divisions currently operating the F-15.-By
AVI ASHKENAZI-MAY 12, 2025 03:07
US President Donald Trump’s
visit to the Middle East is set to spark one of the largest arms races
in modern history. At the center of the negotiations is a significant
military resupply deal with Saudi Arabia, which seeks to purchase a
variety of missile systems for defense and offense, Hercules transport
planes, combat helicopters, and transport helicopters. However, the
focal point of the deal will be the F-15EX fighter jet. Saudi Arabia
currently operates a large fleet of F-15s, with two versions: 84 F-15SA
planes purchased years ago and several dozen F-15SR models, which are
now considered outdated.About a year ago, Saudi Arabia announced plans
to acquire 54 F-15EX jets, with the option to add up to eight more
squadrons to replace the older models in its fleet. Over the course of
the deal, it’s expected that the kingdom will eventually acquire around
200 F-15EX jets.Accompanying Trump on his tour of the Middle East are
prominent American industrialists, technologists, and arms
manufacturers, including Paul Lemmo, the CEO of Sikorsky, which
manufactures the Black Hawk helicopter, and Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg.
During the trip, the two CEOs are scheduled to meet with defense
officials from Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, and Oman to finalize significant
contracts for aircraft, helicopters, and weapons systems. The F-15EX is
expected to be a central feature of these discussions.The F-15EX is the
US military’s next-generation fighter jet, developed for the Qatari Air
Force under the name F-15QA.Upon learning of Boeing’s plan to develop
this new aircraft, the Pentagon quickly recognized it as the ideal
replacement for the three US Air Force divisions currently operating the
F-15. The jet is known for its impressive flight capabilities, the
ability to carry 17.5 tons of weapons and missiles, and its cutting-edge
radar system that can detect distant targets and relay information to
other aircraft and ground-based weapon systems.Israel, after delays due
to political factors involving Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, is on
the verge of signing a deal to purchase its first squadron of F-15EX
jets in the coming weeks or months.Israel will receive approximately 25
aircraft over the next few years, at a cost of $2.5 billion—$100 million
per jet. Israel’s purchase is slightly more expensive than other
countries due to additional components that the Israeli government wants
included in the aircraft.F-15EX poised to revolutionize military
aviation-This new fighter jet is poised to revolutionize military
aviation. A growing number of countries are keen to acquire the F-15EX,
driven by global conflicts and the increasing demand for advanced
weaponry. The ongoing war in Ukraine, tensions surrounding the
Israel-Hamas conflict, and other geopolitical challenges have fueled an
international arms race.Boeing’s client list for the F-15EX includes
Japan, South Korea, Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand, Egypt, Qatar (which
was the first country to buy the jet), as well as several Gulf states,
including Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Oman.Poland has also joined
the arms race, looking to acquire multiple squadrons of F-15EX jets,
along with its recent purchase of 86 Apache helicopters—leaving Israel
to wait for its Apache helicopters, as Poland will receive the first
deliveries.Trump is spearheading an unprecedented effort to strengthen
the US economy in both the immediate and long-term future. Alongside the
military deals with Saudi Arabia and the Gulf States, the US is
expected to sign civilian contracts worth between $600 billion and $1
trillion with the Saudis alone.These include AI technology, nuclear
power plant construction, alternative energy systems, tourism projects,
and more. This week, Trump may ignite both an arms race and a trade
competition between the US, Europe, and China, all while overshadowing
the volatility in US stock markets.
Dressed as bleeding effigies
of Bibi, Trump, 10,000 pro-Palestine protesters rally in Madrid -This
came just two days before the European Jewish Association Annual
Conference, which began in Madrid on Monday.-By MATHILDA HELLER-MAY 12,
2025 18:48
More than 10,000 protesters marched against “the
genocide in Palestine” in Madrid two days before the European Jewish
Association Annual Conference, which began there on Monday.The protest
was organized by the Solidarity Network Against the Occupation of
Palestine (RESCOP) under the slogan “Move for Palestine.” The group,
alongside Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions Spain, said 100,000 people
attended. Spanish media estimates were much smaller.The protesters
called on the Spanish government to divest from Israel, including “No
buying, no selling, no transport of weapons or military material in
Israel.”Most sported keffiyehs, but others dressed in effigies of US
President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, covered in
fake blood, or waved Palestinian, Syrian, or Lebanese flags.Lidón
Soriano, a spokesperson for RESCOP, told the rally: “After 19 months of
unprecedented brutality in the genocide that Israel has been committing
against Palestine for decades, we have decided to hold this
demonstration, as our demands are not reaching the Spanish government
with sufficient clarity.”Politicians also joined the march, including
the leader of the Podemos political party, Ione Belarra, who took to
the podium to call Netanyahu “the Hitler of our time.”“Zionism is giving
a terrifying history lesson, doing to the Palestinian people what the
Nazis did to the Jews,” she added.The head of the Palestinian Prisoners
and Freed Prisoners Affairs Authority, Raed Abu Al-Hummus, who was
already in Spain as part of an official visit, told protesters: “What we
witnessed today in Madrid is a testament to the power of global
conscience.”He added that he hopes to see similar mobilizations across
European capitals, as “grassroots pressure is essential to compel
governments to take meaningful action in the face of ongoing
atrocities.”Buses brought protesters from across Spain, including from
BDS movements in Galicia and Valencia. El PaÃs reported that the mass
rally was preceded by “15 weekends of decentralized protests in more
than 100 municipalities across the country.”Defense fair protest-On
Sunday, 12 pro-Palestinian individuals were arrested by Madrid police
after protesting the International Defense and Security Exhibition of
Spain, held annually in Madrid.One of the organizing groups, Desarma
Madrid, told El Salto, “We carried out a nonviolent direct action, which
we do every time this fair is held, even more so given the genocide
being committed in Gaza and the war in Ukraine.”The activists carried
signs with the names of countries and territories involved in armed
conflicts, including Yemen, Lebanon, Myanmar, Sudan, and Ukraine, poured
blood over themselves, and then lay on the ground.This happened despite
the fact that Israel was banned from the fair.
US conservative
strategist warns of ideological war undermining Israel-Coates outlines
what she describes as a war not just of bullets, but of narratives—one
being waged on US college campuses as much as on Middle Eastern
battlefields. By FELICE FRIEDSON/THE MEDIA LINE-MAY 12, 2025 18:02
Victoria
Coates, vice president of the Davis Institute for National Security at
the Heritage Foundation and a former Trump administration official,
discussed the ideological and strategic challenges Israel and the US
face in the wake of the October 7 Hamas attacks during an interview with
The Media Line.In her newly released book, The Battle for the Jewish
State: How Israel and America Can Win, Coates outlines what she
describes as a war not just of bullets, but of narratives—one being
waged on US college campuses as much as on Middle Eastern battlefields.
“It seemed natural and right that Israel would respond to the folks who
had attacked them so brutally, and that America would stand with
Israel,” she told TML. “Instead, what we saw were these extraordinary
demonstrations in favor of Hamas in America.”According to Coates, such
demonstrations are rooted in academic indoctrination, with students
being “preprogrammed” by their professors to be sympathetic to the
Palestinian cause. She identified a dominant ideology she calls “settler
colonialism,” which she believes targets Israel first, and the US
second.This is part of a broader problem regarding Israel’s messaging,
Coates argued, which includes the absence of clear messaging following
past Israeli military victories. “After the Independence War, the 1967
war, the 1973 war, we didn't just announce that Israel had won, that
this wasn't some kind of stalemate or truce,” she said. “This was an
Israeli victory, that they had defeated all of the nation-states that
had arrayed against them, and that the nation-states themselves were
going to stop doing it because it was expensive, and they lost, and they
didn't like it. But the problem is nobody actually did that
declaration.”“We can be magnanimous in victory, but it has to be clear
that there's a winner and a loser, or else the conflict will go on
forever,” she continued. “It's now half a century since the last real
war against Israel, a nation-state war against Israel, and we're still
stuck in this artificial construct that the Palestinians are something
that they're not.”She also reflected on her brief tenure as head of the
Middle East Broadcasting Networks under the US Agency for Global Media, a
position she held during the final days of the first Trump
administration.“It was in a way set up for failure,” Coates said. “They
can only broadcast in Arabic. They don't allow translation … so
Americans can't see what their dimes are paying for.” She criticized the
network for drifting from its post-9/11 mission and publishing content
that is “counter to our interests.”Addressing the broader information
war, Coates believes the Middle East remains a “conservative community”
that is being inundated with “very liberal, very woke programming” from
outlets like the BBC and Sky Arabia.“There is potentially an information
role for the US government, but we need it to be completely transparent
and unapologetic about what it is,” she said.Coates described the
US–Saudi relationship on energy and security as having the potential for
a “golden age,” emphasizing the strategic significance of shared energy
responsibilities. “If [Iran] gets [a nuclear weapon], one of their
first targets … might be Saudi energy facilities. That would be a
catastrophe,” she said. Although the US no longer depends heavily on
Saudi oil, Coates warned that regional disruption would spike global
energy price
Heathrow Airport worker runs charity tied to
Hezbollah in Lebanon - report-According to the report, Harake, 29,
operates Zayir UK, an unregistered charity that has raised over £300,000
in funds for Lebanese aid. By JERUSALEM POST STAFF-MAY 11, 2025 10:48
Hussain
Harake, a security guard at a British Airways lounge in Britain's
Heathrow Airport, had his security clearance taken away after he
eulogized Hezbollah terrorists on social media, The Sunday Times
reported. According to the report, Harake, 29, operates Zayir UK, an
unregistered charity that has raised over £300,000 in funds for Lebanese
aid. Part of the fundraising for the charity, of which his wife, Zeinab
Basma, an NHS doctor, is the president, has occurred on university
campuses in the UK. “The charity, Zayer, is split into different
departments … we have a department for children, which is organised with
the social work of Hezbollah," Harake told the Hezbollah-owned Al-Manar
upon founding the charity in 2021, according to The Sunday Times.
Harake's sister has also told an Arab news outlet, “Within Lebanon, we
co-operate with all the religious institutions, civil society
organisations and social work entities within Hezbollah.”The charity,
according to The Sunday Times, has been supported by British preacher,
Hussain Makke, who, attending former Hezbollah head Hassan Nasrallah's
funeral eulogized him as “a person who is regarded by much of the world
as its greatest freedom fighter of the last century."After Australia
rescinded his visa due to his comments, Harake's wife subsequently said
the charity had since "cut ties" with the preacher. Among Harake's
social media posts praising the terror group was a photo near the tomb
of a Hezbollah terrorist who had volunteered at an affiliate of Zayir UK
in Lebanon. In 2016, Harake established the Zayer Charity Association, a
parent body of Zayir UK, whose registered address is in Beirut's
southern suburbs of Dahiyeh. The Zayer Charity Association Facebook page
includes posts such as a eulogy for Nasrallah following his killing by
the IDF in September and a call to attend his funeral in February, "as
an expression of loyalty and social solidarity," according to the
report. The Sunday Times further noted that both posts have since been
deleted. Harake couple responds to report -The report cited Harake's
wife as saying no cash had been sent to Lebanon, but rather “We sent
containers full of parcels during the [2023-24] war. We did a baby milk
campaign; we’ve done a nappies campaign; we sent tents.“This failed
smear attempt against us is part of a broader campaign of penetration by
the state of Israel within Britain, which, not content with its
genocidal war against Lebanese people in their homeland, seeks to harass
and defame them abroad," the Harake couple were quoted as saying.
“Zayir UK operates in accordance with UK law. It has provided essential
aid to all Lebanese communities facing economic hardship, and it has no
political affiliations."More recently, Zayir has provided food and
medicine to Lebanese victims of Zionist ethnic cleansing. We remain
steadfast in supporting victims of genocide, and our vital humanitarian
work will not be deterred by malicious actors serving a hostile foreign
regime," they reportedly added.
Syria battles uncontrolled
forest fires in coastal mountains-While no injuries or structural damage
have been confirmed, firefighting efforts continue to be hampered by
rugged terrain, limited resources, and hot, dry conditions.By THE MEDIA
LINE STAFF-MAY 11, 2025 22:52
A series of wildfires that began
Wednesday have scorched over 30 hectares (74 acres) of forest in Syria’s
Latakia province, the Syrian Civil Defense reported on Sunday.While no
injuries or structural damage have been confirmed, firefighting efforts
continue to be hampered by rugged terrain, limited resources, and hot,
dry conditions.Authorities have not yet determined the cause of the
fires. The Civil Defense pointed to strong winds, extreme heat, and
lingering wartime hazards as complicating factors.The mountainous
terrain in the coastal region has made access to fire zones difficult,
slowing the delivery of equipment and water.Ali Assi, who oversees
administrative and technical services in Latakia, said the fire remains
active after four days, and local crews are still waiting on additional
support.“We’ve contacted neighboring municipalities from Aleppo,
Tartous, and Hama to send reinforcements,” Assi told the Chinese news
agency Xinhua. “The fire has spread over dozens of dunams, and we’re
still awaiting the arrival of heavy machinery to support
operations.”Western Syria is no stranger to seasonal wildfires-Syria’s
western regions are no strangers to seasonal wildfires, especially
during prolonged dry spells.But years of conflict have left many areas
with limited emergency infrastructure, making containment efforts more
difficult.Forested and agricultural areas in Latakia are especially
vulnerable during the summer months, and the growing frequency of
wildfires has raised concerns about environmental and economic losses in
rural communities.
India, Pakistan ceasefire holds after early violations.
Poonch,
India, May 11 (AFP) May 11, 2025-A ceasefire appeared to hold on Sunday
between India and Pakistan, hours after the nuclear-armed rivals
accused each other of violating a truce that brought them back from the
brink of all-out war.The ceasefire was agreed on Saturday after four
days of missile, drone and artillery attacks which killed at least 60
people and sent thousands fleeing, in the worst violence since India and
Pakistan's last open conflict in 1999.The "full and immediate" halt to
hostilities was unexpectedly announced by US President Donald Trump on
social media, who said that it followed a "long night of talks mediated
by the United States".Early on Sunday India's foreign secretary said
that New Delhi had retaliated after Pakistan's "repeated violations" of
the truce.Pakistan said it "remains committed" to the ceasefire and that
its forces were handling violations by India with "responsibility and
restraint".Residents of several villages along the Indian side of the
Line of Control, the de-facto frontier of divided Kashmir, said heavy
Pakistani shelling resumed hours after the ceasefire announcement.Bairi
Ram's four-room house in the village of Kotmaira was reduced to rubble
in shelling and three of his buffaloes were killed."Everything is
finished," he said.- 'Fragile peace' -But by later in the day a senior
security official in Muzaffarabad in Pakistan administered-Kashmir said
there were "intermittent exchanges of fire" but that situation was
"quiet since the morning".Hazoor Sheikh, 46, who runs a store in the
main market in the border town of Poonch, which was the worst-hit in
India during the fighting, was one of the first to reopen his shop on
Sunday."Finally, after days, we could sleep peacefully," said Sheikh.At
least 12 Poonch residents were killed at most of the 60,000-strong
population had fled in cars, on buses and even on foot.On Sunday people
were starting to come back, although some remained worried that the
ceasefire would not last."Every time India has agreed to such an
agreement, Pakistan has ended up violating it," Poonch resident Hafiz
Mohammad Shah Bukhari, 49, told AFP.This was echoed on the other side by
Kala Khan, who lives in Chakothi in Pakistan-controlled Kashmir and who
hid with neighbours in a bunker."India is a deceitful neighbour. You
can never trust it," said Khan told AFP. "I have absolutely no faith in
India; I believe it will strike again."Praveen Donthi, a senior analyst
with the International Crisis Group, was also sceptical."Things are
going to remain hostile. Things are going to be difficult," he
said.Pro-military rallies were held in cities across Pakistan on Sunday,
with the country's green and white flag draped from buildings and
cars.- 'Terrorist camps' -The alarming spiral towards all-out conflict
began before dawn on Wednesday, when India launched missile attacks
destroying what it called "terrorist camps".This followed an attack on
tourists in Indian-administered Kashmir on April 22 that killed 26
people and which India accused Pakistan of backing.Pakistan firmly
denied any involvement and called for an independent
investigation.Islamabad immediately responded to the strikes with heavy
artillery fire and claimed to have downed five fighter jets -- something
India has not commented on -- before it said it launched its own
strikes on Indian cities on Saturday.Militants have stepped up
operations in Kashmir since 2019, when Indian Prime Minister Narendra
Modi's Hindu nationalist government revoked the region's limited
autonomy and took it under direct rule from New Delhi.Divided
Muslim-majority Kashmir is claimed in full by both countries, who have
fought several wars over the territory since their independence from
Britain in 1947.- 'Positive step' -Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz
Sharif said on X that his country -- which has long sought international
mediation in Kashmir -- "appreciates" the US intervention.India has
consistently opposed mediation, however, and observers were sceptical of
the truce.News of the ceasefire was met with relief from countries
including Britain and Iran, as well as the United Nations.China, which
borders India and Pakistan, said it was "willing to continue playing a
constructive role" and remained concerned with any escalation, according
to state-run news agency Xinhua."The days ahead will be critical to see
whether the ceasefire holds and gives way to relative normalcy," read
an editorial in Dawn, Pakistan's leading English language
newspaper."While foreign friends can certainly help create a conducive
atmosphere, it is Islamabad and New Delhi that will have to do the heavy
lifting themselves to secure peace."burs-stu
Indian teams defuse bombs in Kashmir border areas.
Uri,
India, May 12 (AFP) May 12, 2025-Expert teams on Monday defused
unexploded bombs in India's border areas with Pakistan before letting
displaced Kashmiri villagers return home following a ceasefire between
the nuclear-armed foes.Tens of thousands of people living on the Indian
side of the divided Himalayan territory fled last week to escape intense
artillery bombardment that reduced many homes to rubble.A truce
announced Saturday ended four days of missile, drone and artillery
attacks which killed dozens in India and Pakistan and was their worst
conflict since 1999.Police had issued written statements warning people
"NOT to under any circumstances approach, touch, tamper with, or attempt
to move any suspicious object resembling an explosive shell or
device."Bomb disposal squads fanned out in Uri, near the de facto border
with Pakistan, to ensure homes were completely safe before the
inhabitants returned."We started at homes where people had reported
unexploded ordinance," senior police officer Gurinderpal Singh told
AFP.Singh declined to specify how many teams had been dispatched or
where.- Delicate task -"Every piece of ordinance is unique and needs to
be handled very carefully," Singh said, adding that displaced villagers
were only being allowed back into "areas that have been
cleared."Hundreds of border residents sheltering in government buildings
were anxious to go home, waiting for authorities to declare their
villages safe."We were happy that a ceasefire happened and wanted to go
home right away," Mohammad Shafiq, a resident of Mohra village told AFP
at a shelter around 30 kilometres (20 miles) from his house.His family
of five was evacuated by the army after a bomb exploded in their village
last week."But officers told us not to return until any unexploded
mortar shells were removed," said the 47-year-old.Mareena, a 28-year-old
mother of three, said she let her sheep out into the open before an
army truck evacuated them to the shelter at Boniyar, around 50
kilometres from her border home.- 'I want to go back' -"I don't know
what has happened to my house," Mareena said. "I want to go back but I
am not confident yet. Anything can happen -- we saved our lives with
great difficulty."Even those whose houses were destroyed by artillery
shells were desperate to return.Basharat Hussain, 35, packed his family
of nine in a car to make the journey home."We want to go and see what
can be salvaged and rebuilt," Hussain told AFP as he waited near an army
checkpoint, pleading with soldiers to let them go ahead."We also have
to look for our cows and other belongings," he said, showing a video of
his damaged home sent to his phone.Local reports said six of around 35
bombed villages in Uri were declared safe on Monday for residents to
return.Videos showed authorities taking some displaced families from a
shelter in buses back to their villages.Muslim-majority Kashmir has been
divided between India and Pakistan since their independence from
British rule in 1947.They have since fought three wars over the disputed
and divided territory they administer in parts.The latest fighting
threatened to spiral towards all-out conflict before dawn on Wednesday,
when India launched missile attacks destroying what it called "terrorist
camps" in Pakistan and part of Kashmir Islamabad controls.The fighting
followed an April 22 attack on tourists in Indian-controlled Kashmir,
which killed 26 civilians.India accused Pakistan of backing the attack
but Islamabad denied involvement and immediately responded to the
strikes with heavy artillery fire, fanning the latest conflict.Militants
opposed to Indian rule in Kashmir have stepped up attacks on security
forces since 2019, when Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Hindu
nationalist government revoked the region's limited autonomy and imposed
direct rule from New Delhi.
Space Laser Communication Terminal Prototypes Enter Phase 2 for Advanced On-Orbit Crosslink Compatibility by Clarence Oxford.
Los
Angeles CA (SPX) May 12, 2025-The United States Space Force's (USSF)
Space Systems Command (SSC) has awarded contracts to CACI, General
Atomics, and Viasat as part of Phase 2 of the $100 million Enterprise
Space Terminal (EST) program. This phase aims to advance the development
of space laser communication terminal prototypes, promoting long-range,
resilient space communications. The contracts were issued through the
Space Enterprise Consortium (SpEC) Other Transaction Authority (OTA),
supporting the SSC's objective to enhance the industrial base for
advanced space technologies.The selected companies were chosen from four
initial competitors that completed Phase 1 of the program, which
included successful Preliminary Design Reviews (PDRs) from each. This
progression to Phase 2 supports SSC's goal of fostering innovation while
controlling costs by maintaining competitive pressure. The selection
criteria included factors such as cost, schedule, and performance,
ensuring the best value for the government.The EST program focuses on
establishing crosslink compatibility among future space systems through
standardized enterprise waveforms. These terminals are designed to be
low in size, weight, power, and cost (SWaP-C) while supporting the
broader MILNET space data network, which aims to create a resilient
space mesh network capable of providing diverse communication paths. The
program also leverages prior Department of Defense (DoD) and commercial
investments to develop enterprise waveforms optimized for Beyond Low
Earth Orbit (bLEO) communications."I'm pleased with the progress on the
EST program so far. The EST prototypes are foundational elements to the
future space data transport network that we are building," said USSF Lt.
Col. Jeffrey Fry, MILNET Program Manager for SSC's Space Domain
Awareness and Combat Power Program Executive Office. "The ESTs will
implement a common waveform so all satellites carrying these terminals
can talk to each other. This is important as the network of satellites
carrying EST-compatible terminals will provide diverse communication
paths for data that is critical to our national security and our way of
life."
Indian teams defuse bombs in Kashmir border areas.
Uri,
India, May 12 (AFP) May 12, 2025-Expert teams on Monday defused
unexploded bombs in India's border areas with Pakistan before letting
displaced Kashmiri villagers return home following a ceasefire between
the nuclear-armed foes.Tens of thousands of people living on the Indian
side of the divided Himalayan territory fled last week to escape intense
artillery bombardment that reduced many homes to rubble.A truce
announced Saturday ended four days of missile, drone and artillery
attacks which killed dozens in India and Pakistan and was their worst
conflict since 1999.Police had issued written statements warning people
"NOT to under any circumstances approach, touch, tamper with, or attempt
to move any suspicious object resembling an explosive shell or
device."Bomb disposal squads fanned out in Uri, near the de facto border
with Pakistan, to ensure homes were completely safe before the
inhabitants returned."We started at homes where people had reported
unexploded ordinance," senior police officer GurinderpalSingh told
AFP.Singh declined to specify how many teams had been dispatched or
where.- Delicate task -"Every piece of ordinance is unique and needs to
be handled very carefully," Singh said, adding that displaced villagers
were only being allowed back into "areas that have been
cleared."Hundreds of border residents sheltering in government buildings
were anxious to go home, waiting for authorities to declare their
villages safe."We were happy that a ceasefire happened and wanted to go
home right away," Mohammad Shafiq, a resident of Mohra village told AFP
at a shelter around 30 kilometres (20 miles) from his house.His family
of five was evacuated by the army after a bomb exploded in their village
last week."But officers told us not to return until any unexploded
mortar shells were removed," said the 47-year-old.Mareena, a 28-year-old
mother of three, said she let her sheep out into the open before an
army truck evacuated them to the shelter at Boniyar, around 50
kilometres from her border home.- 'I want to go back' -"I don't know
what has happened to my house," Mareena said. "I want to go back but I
am not confident yet. Anything can happen -- we saved our lives with
great difficulty."Even those whose houses were destroyed by artillery
shells were desperate to return.Basharat Hussain, 35, packed his family
of nine in a car to make the journey home."We want to go and see what
can be salvaged and rebuilt," Hussain told AFP as he waited near an army
checkpoint, pleading with soldiers to let them go ahead."We also have
to look for our cows and other belongings," he said, showing a video of
his damaged home sent to his phone.Local reports said six of around 35
bombed villages in Uri were declared safe on Monday for residents to
return.Videos showed authorities taking some displaced families from a
shelter in buses back to their villages.Muslim-majority Kashmir has been
divided between India and Pakistan since their independence from
British rule in 1947.They have since fought three wars over the disputed
and divided territory they administer in parts.The latest fighting
threatened to spiral towards all-out conflict before dawn on Wednesday,
when India launched missile attacks destroying what it called "terrorist
camps" in Pakistan and part of Kashmir Islamabad controls.The fighting
followed an April 22 attack on tourists in Indian-controlled Kashmir,
which killed 26 civilians.India accused Pakistan of backing the attack
but Islamabad denied involvement and immediately responded to the
strikes with heavy artillery fire, fanning the latest conflict.Militants
opposed to Indian rule in Kashmir have stepped up attacks on security
forces since 2019, when Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Hindu
nationalist government revoked the region's limited autonomy and imposed
direct rule from New Delhi.
Iran warns European powers against 'strategy of confrontation'.
Paris,
May 11 (AFP) May 11, 2025-Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi
warned European powers against a "strategy of confrontation" over
Tehran's nuclear programme, according to comments published in a French
weekly on Sunday.French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said in late
April that France, along with Germany and Britain, "will not hesitate
for a single second to reapply all the sanctions" scrapped a decade ago
if European security is threatened by Iran's nuclear activities."This
strategy of confrontation risks provoking a global nuclear proliferation
crisis that would primarily affect Europeans themselves," Araghchi said
in comments published by French weekly Le Point.Araghchi said he was
ready to travel to Paris, Berlin and London "to begin a new chapter."He
deplored the fact that the so-called "snapback" mechanism provided for
in the 2015 agreement, enabling UN sanctions to be reinstated in the
event of Iran failing to meet its commitments, was "now being used as a
diplomatic lever", whereas it was "initially designed as a tool for
settling disputes as a last resort.""Iran has made its position clear,"
said Araghchi, stressing that Iran has warned global powers that
"abusing the 'snapback' mechanism will have consequences -- not only the
end of Europe's role in the agreement, but also an escalation of
tensions that could become irreversible.""The E3 must ask itself how it
has reached this impasse," he said, referring to France, Germany and
Britain."Instead of adjusting their strategy, they have adopted a
confrontational stance -- invoking human rights or Iran's legitimate
relations with Russia as pretexts for distancing themselves
diplomatically."The comments were published as Iran and the United
States kicked off their fourth round of nuclear talks in Muscat.The
negotiations follow earlier rounds that began nearly a month ago,
marking the highest-level contact between the two foes since Washington
withdrew in 2018 from the nuclear deal, during President Donald Trump's
first term.
Iran is preparing for Russian President Vladimir
Putin to visit, Tehran says-"Putin's trip to Tehran is currently being
worked out, preparations are underway," Mohajerani was quoted as saying
by RIA.By REUTERS-MAY 12, 2025 15:47
Iran is preparing for a
visit by Russian President Vladimir Putin, Iran's government
spokesperson, Fatemeh Mohajerani, was quoted by Russia's state RIA news
agency as saying on Monday."Putin's trip to Tehran is currently being
worked out, preparations are underway," Mohajerani was quoted as saying
by RIA. There was no immediate comment from the Kremlin.The
Russian-Iranian relationship-Putin held talks with Supreme Leader
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in Iran in 2022, the Kremlin leader's first trip
outside the former Soviet Union after he sent tens of thousands of
troops into Ukraine on February 24 of the same year.While Moscow has
bought weapons from Iran for its war in Ukraine and signed a 20-year
strategic partnership deal with Tehran earlier this year, their
relationship since the 16th century, when Muscovy officially established
relations with the Persian Empire, has at times been troubled.Iranian
officials say that Moscow often talks tough but is wary of getting
dragged into a major war in the Middle East, despite Russia's foray into
Syria in 2015.Unlike some deals Russia has struck with other countries,
the strategic partnership deal signed between Iran and Russia earlier
this year did not include a mutual defense clause.
Syria leader to miss Arab summit in Iraq: diplomatic source.
Baghdad,
May 12 (AFP) May 12, 2025-Syria's interim president, Ahmed al-Sharaa,
will not attend an upcoming Arab League summit in Baghdad, an Arab
diplomatic source said Monday, as powerful Iraqi politicians have
rejected hosting a former jihadist leader.Sharaa, whose Islamist group
spearheaded the offensive that toppled Syria's longtime ruler Bashar
al-Assad in December, was imprisoned for years in Iraq on charges of
belonging to Al-Qaeda following the 2003 US-led invasion.The Iraqi
government has invited Sharaa for the meeting planned for Saturday, but
he "will not attend the Arab Summit", the diplomatic source told AFP on
condition of anonymity.Instead, Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani will
lead the Syrian delegation.Several powerful Iraqi politicians have
voiced opposition to Sharaa's planned visit to Iraq.They include former
prime minister Nuri al-Maliki, a leading member of Iraq's main pro-Iran
coalition that holds a parliamentary majority.Armed groups aligned with
Tehran have also joined the call against Sharaa, including the powerful
faction Kataeb Hezbollah which has previously fought in Syria alongside
Assad's forces.Several Iraqi security sources told AFP that an old
arrest warrant for Sharaa from his time as a member of Al-Qaeda remains
in place.However, authorities seek good relations with Syria's new
leadership to help maintain regional stability, the sources said.The
fall of Assad, who was a close ally of the government in Baghdad, has
complicated relations between the neighbouring countries.Iraq, where the
majority are Shiite Muslims, remains deeply scarred by decades of
conflict following the US-led invasion, which triggered sectarian
violence and the rise of Sunni jihadist groups including Al-Qaeda and
the Islamic State.
Kazakhstan to dredge port for key China-EU trade route.
Astana,
Kazakhstan, May 12 (AFP) May 12, 2025-Kazakhstan will start dredging
part of the Caspian Sea around its main port to increase capacity for a
crucial transport route linking Asia and Europe, a spokesperson told AFP
on Monday.The Trans-Caspian trade route, also known as the "Middle
Corridor", allows goods to flow from China to Europe while bypassing
Russia.The work, expected to be finished this year, will "increase the
load capacity of ships in the port of Aktau and transport along the
Trans-Caspian transport route", a spokeswoman from Kazakhstan's
transport ministry told AFP.Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the
imposition of massive Western sanctions have pushed Europe to look at
alternative ways of securing imports from China and the rest of Asia.The
route crosses Central Asia, the Caspian Sea, the Caucasus and then
Turkey.The European Union announced earlier this year it would invest 10
billion euros ($11 billion) to develop the route through Central
Asia.Freight volumes are expected to triple by 2030 to 11 million tonnes
if infrastructure can be improved, according to the World Bank.But
falling water levels in the Caspian Sea -- which needs to be traversed
to get from Central Asia to the Caucasus -- jeopardise the route's
viability.Shallower waters make it trickier for larger vessels to ferry
cargo."If we do not carry out dredging work by the end of the year and
the sea level continues to fall, navigation will remain inefficient," an
official at the Aktau port told Kazakh state media earlier this
month.Kazakh scientists reported in January an "acceleration" in
declining water levels.The Caspian Sea, larger than Germany, is
surrounded by Russia, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Iran and Azerbaijan.
China hosts Latin American leaders in move to deepen ties
Beijing,
May 12 (AFP) May 12, 2025-China on Monday welcomed Latin American
leaders and officials to Beijing as it seeks to draw the region closer
in response to the trade war with the United States.Beijing has stepped
up economic and political cooperation with Latin American nations in
recent years and has urged a united front against US President Donald
Trump's recent maelstrom of tariffs.Two-thirds of Latin American
countries have joined Beijing's trillion-dollar Belt and Road (BRI)
infrastructure programme, and China has surpassed the US as the biggest
trading partner of Brazil, Peru and Chile, among others.The forum
between China and the 33-member Community of Latin American and
Caribbean States (CELAC) is due to formally begin on Tuesday.A notable
attendee is Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who arrived
in Beijing on Saturday for a five-day state visit.Lula has sought to
improve ties with both China and the US since returning to power in
early 2023.Brazilian exports to China reached more than $94 billion last
year, according to the United Nations Comtrade Database.The South
American agricultural power sends mainly soybeans and other primary
commodities to China, while the Asian giant sells semiconductors,
telephones, vehicles and medicines to Brazil.On Monday, Chinese foreign
minister Wang Yi hosted his Cuban counterpart Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla,
Venezuela's Yvan Gil, Peru's Elmer Schialer and Uruguay's Mario Lubetkin
for talks at Beijing's ornate Diaoyutai State Guesthouse.Other expected
participants in the forum include Colombian President Gustavo Petro and
Chilean President Gabriel Boric.Petro said last week that he would sign
a "letter of intent" to join the BRI when he meets Chinese President Xi
Jinping in the coming days.Xi will address the summit at its opening
ceremony on Tuesday, according to Beijing's foreign ministry.A senior
ministry official said on Sunday that Beijing had "always approached the
development of China-Latin America relations from a strategic and
long-term perspective"."The people of Latin America and the Caribbean
seek to build their own homeland -- not to serve as the backyard of any
other country," Miao Deyu told a press conference.China was "willing to
strengthen communication and coordination with Latin American countries"
in the face of US tariffs, and "jointly work to... oppose unilateralism
and economic bullying", Miao said.
Trump to accept lavish jet from Qatar as Air Force One: reports.
Washington,
May 11 (AFP) May 11, 2025-Donald Trump plans to accept a luxury Boeing
jet from the Qatari royal family for use as Air Force One and then
continue flying in it after his tenure, despite strict rules on US
presidential gifts, media reported Sunday.Calling the plane a "flying
palace," ABC News, which first reported the story, said the Boeing 747-8
jumbo jet would possibly be the most expensive gift ever received by
the American government.Qatar swiftly sought to downplay the uproar,
saying reports describing the jet as a gift "are inaccurate.""The
possible transfer of an aircraft for temporary use as Air Force One is
currently under consideration between Qatar's Ministry of Defense and
the US Department of Defense," said Ali Al-Ansari, Qatar's media attache
to Washington, stressing that no decision had been made.The US
Constitution prohibits government officials from accepting gifts "from
any King, Prince or foreign State," in a section known as the emoluments
clause.But Trump would skirt the law by handing the jet to his
presidential library after he leaves office.The plan is to be announced
as Trump travels to three Middle East countries this week, including
Qatar, reported ABC and The New York Times.Acceptance of the gift has
raised ethical questions from both sides of the political aisle as it
appears to flout laws set up to stanch government corruption-Laura
Loomer, a far-right ally of Trump, said accepting Qatar's plane would be
a "stain" on the administration."We cannot accept a $400 million 'gift'
from jihadists in suits," she posted on X. "The Qataris fund the same
Iranian proxies in Hamas and Hezbollah who have murdered US Service
Members."The White House and Department of Justice, however, believe the
gift is legal and not a bribe because it is not given in exchange for
any particular favor or action, sources told ABC.And it is not
unconstitutional, they say, because it will first be passed to the US
Air Force before being turned over to the presidential library, thereby
never being gifted to an individual.The White House did not immediately
respond to an AFP request for comment.- 'Wildly illegal' -The Democratic
National Committee said the move was proof of Trump using the White
House for personal financial gain."While working families brace for
higher costs and empty shelves, Trump is still focusing on enriching
himself and his billionaire backers," the DNC said in an email to
supporters.Multiple Democratic lawmakers blasted the plan.Senator Chris
Murphy called it "wildly illegal," while Representative Kelly Morrison
said such a gift amounts to "corruption in plain sight" and an unethical
"bribe" forbidden by the US Constitution.Trump reportedly toured the
Qatari-owned jet in February when it was parked at the Palm Beach
International Airport.The US president has long been unhappy with the
Air Force One jets -- two highly customized Boeing 747-200B series
aircraft.Earlier this year Trump said his administration was "looking at
alternatives" to Boeing following delays in the delivery of two new
models.The aerospace giant agreed in 2018 to supply two 747-8 aircraft
by the end of 2024 for $3.9 billion -- both ready to transport whoever
occupied the White House at that time.But a subcontractor went bankrupt
and the coronavirus pandemic disrupted production, forcing Boeing to
push back delivery to 2027 and 2028.Although the plane the Qataris are
offering is reportedly over 10 years old, a new Boeing 747-8 costs
around $400 million, experts said.The aircraft must additionally be
outfitted with extensive communications and security upgrades before it
becomes Air Force One.
Netanyahu, Witkoff, and Huckabee meet,
discuss hostage release framework and ceasefire negotiations-In the
meeting, the three leaders discussed the IDF's expansion of military
operations in Gaza.By JERUSALEM POST STAFF-MAY 12, 2025 16:38
Prime
Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with US special envoy to the Middle
East Steve Witkoff and the US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee on
Monday.Netanyahu is set to meet with ministers and senior Israeli
defense leaders to brief them on his meeting with Witkoff, Israeli
officials told The Jerusalem Post.The three discussed the latest efforts
to implement Witkoff's outline for the release of Israeli-American
hostage Edan Alexander ahead of a widened expansion of military
operations in Gaza, a statement from the Prime Minister's Office (PMO)
noted. US hostage envoy Adam Boehler arrived in Israel on Monday with
the Alexander family ahead of Edan's release, which will reportedly
occur around 6:30 p.m. Netanyahu thanks Trump for securing hostage's
release After the three leaders met, Netanyahu called US President
Donald Trump and thanked him for his assistance in securing Edan
Alexander's release from Hamas captivity. The release from the PMO noted
that "President Trump, for his part, reiterated his commitment to
Israel as well as his desire to continue the close cooperation with
Prime Minister Netanyahu."Israel will continue to hold negotiations
under fire, the release noted. This comes as Israeli-American hostage
Edan Alexander is set to be released on Monday evening. Us officials
told Israel that this will kickstart a new round of negotiations, the
PMO noted in a Sunday night release. Netanyahu announced on Monday that
he will be sending a delegation of negotiators to Doha to begin talks.
Tel
Aviv startup pulls in $110 million to become the ‘Microsoft of quantum
computing’-Classiq has built a software platform to facilitate
programming for quantum computers, which have the massive computational
horsepower needed to address complex real-world problems-By Sharon
Wrobel-Today, 5:23 pm-MAY 12,25
Israeli quantum software startup
Classiq Technologies has secured $110 million from investors, as the
global race to develop practical and useful software to make quantum
computing more workable and accessible heats up.The financing round was
led by global venture capital fund Entrée Capital, with participation
from Norwest, NightDragon, Hamilton Lane, Clal, Neva SGR, Phoenix,
Team8, IN Venture, Wing, HSBC, Samsung Next and QBeat. To date, Classiq
has raised a total of $173 million in capital from investors.Founded in
2020 by CEO Nir Minerbi, CTO Yehuda Naveh and his son CPO Amir Naveh,
Classiq has developed a software operating platform that works across
all major types of quantum hardware. The platform is tailored to help
data scientists, computational scientists, and engineers work on quantum
algorithms and build programs and applications with high-performance
computational power that hold the promise of speeding up solutions to
today’s most complex real-world problems.“We are building the Microsoft
of quantum computing – a software layer that powers the next generation
of quantum applications, just as Microsoft did for classical computing,”
said Classiq’s Minerbi. “Microsoft’s Windows made computers easier to
use and allowed millions of people to build software without worrying
about the machine underneath.”“Quantum computing is at a similar point
today as personal computing was back then: It’s powerful but hard to
use… and we are delivering the essential software stack to empower the
development of real-world quantum applications,” he added.The platform
simplifies the creation and design of complex quantum circuits and is
geared to allow businesses and organizations without in-house quantum
experts to build quantum applications that can resolve complex
calculations in areas such as the automotive industry, automation,
finance, and drug discovery in the pharmaceutical industry.Quantum
computing harnesses quantum mechanics and abstract physics to perform
numerous calculations at once to rapidly solve problems that are too
complex for the most powerful classical computers to handle. Quantum
computers process exponentially more data compared to classical
computers, using quantum bits, or qubits, the basic unit of quantum
information.Minerbi said that the newly raised funds will be used to
advance the startup’s global expansion across Europe, Asia, and North
America, as it seeks to become the “standard development platform for
quantum applications across industry, government, and academia.”
Classiq, which employs 65 people, plans to double its workforce over the
coming year.Its customers include BMW, Rolls-Royce, Citi, Deloitte,
Toshiba, HSBC, and Sumitomo. Classiq has inked partnerships with cloud
providers Microsoft Azure Quantum, AWS Braket, Nvidia, and Google
Quantum Cloud. In addition, the startup’s platform is integrated into
the curriculum of top-tier universities and academic institutions that
offer quantum computing courses and research, including MIT in the US
and UCL in the UK.Classiq was selected last year to be part of the
country’s first quantum computing center (IQCC), funded by the Israel
Innovation Authority. The center was established in June to help Israel
compete in the global race to develop practical quantum computing
capabilities.The launch of the IQCC comes as countries like China, the
United States, Germany, India, and Japan are pouring huge funds into
developing their exclusive quantum abilities, vying for supremacy in
what promises to be the new age of computing.Israel is home to 22
quantum computing startups, according to Startup Nation Central data.
Quantum computing startups this year raised about $289 million in fresh
capital, including Classiq’s financing round and the $170 million in
funding secured by Quantum Machines. In 2024, investments in quantum
computing startups in Israel reached $82 million, up from about $42
million a year earlier.
Gaza at risk of famine (lies and
deceptin) if Israel doesn’t lift ban on aid — food security
group-International authority, which made incorrect assessment last
year, says nearly half a million Palestinians face starvation, with
communal kitchens virtually the only food provider-By AP and ToI Staff
Today, 5:04 pm-MAY 12,25
The Gaza Strip is at critical risk of
famine if Israel doesn’t lift its blockade and stop its military
campaign against Hamas, food security experts said in a stark warning on
Monday.Outright famine is the most likely scenario unless conditions
change, according to findings by the Integrated Food Security Phase
Classification, a leading international authority on the severity of
hunger crises.Nearly half a million Palestinians are in “catastrophic”
levels of hunger, meaning they face possible starvation, the report
said, while another million are at “emergency” levels of hunger.However,
the organization has been mistaken in its assessments before. In June
2024, it admitted that its assumption that famine would take place
earlier that year was wrong. In February, a review conducted by the UK
Lawyers for Israel organization into allegations of famine by
international review bodies found that no famine had taken place during
the war, and that such reports were inaccurate.Israel has banned any
food, shelter, medicine, or other goods from entering the Palestinian
territory for the past 10 weeks, as it carries out waves of airstrikes
and ground operations. Even before the war, Gaza’s population of around
2.3 million people relied almost entirely on outside aid to survive,
with a United Nations report in 2022 noting 60 percent of Palestinians
in the Strip require assistance.Food supplies are emptying out
dramatically. Communal kitchens handing out cooked meals are virtually
the only remaining source of food for most people in Gaza now, but they
too are rapidly shutting down for lack of stocks.Thousands of
Palestinians crowd daily outside the public kitchens, pushing and
jostling with their pots to receive lentils or pasta.“We end up waiting
in line for four, five hours, in the sun. It is exhausting,” said Riham
Sheikh el-Eid, waiting at a kitchen on Sunday. “At the end, we walk away
with nothing. It is not enough for everybody.”The lack of a famine
declaration doesn’t mean people aren’t already starving, and a
declaration shouldn’t be a precondition for ending the suffering, said
Chris Newton, an analyst for the International Crisis Group focusing on
starvation as a weapon of war.“The Israeli government is starving Gaza
as part of its attempt to destroy Hamas and transform the Strip,” he
said.Israel demands a new aid system-The office of Prime Minister
Benjamin Netanyahu did not respond to a request for comment. The army
has said that enough assistance entered Gaza during a two-month
ceasefire that Israel ended in mid-March when it relaunched its military
campaign.Israel says the blockade aims to pressure Hamas to release the
59 hostages it still holds. It says it won’t let aid back in until a
new system giving it control over distribution is in place, accusing
Hamas of siphoning off supplies.The United Nations denies substantial
diversion of aid is taking place. It says the new system Israel
envisages is unnecessary, will allow aid to be used as a weapon for
political and military goals, and will not meet the massive needs of
Palestinians.The United States says it is working up a new mechanism
that will start deliveries soon, but it has given no timeframe. The UN
has so far refused to participate, saying the plan does not meet
humanitarian standards.The plans involve providing aid by using private
American security contractors to secure aid distribution hubs within the
Strip. According to officials briefed on the plan, five to six thousand
vetted representatives will be allowed to travel on foot to the aid
hubs once every two weeks in order to pick up a roughly 40-pound box of
food for their families.Monday’s report said that any slight gains made
during the ceasefire have been reversed. Nearly the entire population of
Gaza now faces high levels of hunger, it said, driven by conflict, the
collapse of infrastructure, destruction of agriculture, and blockades of
aid.Commenting on the report, the head of the UN Food and Agriculture
Organization said any delay in restoring the flow of aid is “bringing us
closer to famine.”“If we fail to act, we are failing to uphold the
right to food, which is a basic human right,” FAO Director-General QU
Dongyu said.The Hamas-led massacre that sparked the war saw thousands of
terrorists storm southern Israel to kill some 1,200 people, mostly
civilians, and take 251 hostages.The Hamas-run Gaza health ministry says
more than 52,000 people in the Strip have been killed or are presumed
dead in the fighting so far, though the toll cannot be verified and does
not differentiate between civilians and fighters. Israel says it has
killed some 20,000 combatants in battle as of January and another 1,600
terrorists inside Israel on October 7.Israel has said it seeks to
minimize civilian fatalities and stresses that Hamas uses Gaza’s
civilians as human shields, fighting from civilian areas including
homes, hospitals, schools, and mosques.Three criteria for declaring
famine-The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification, set up in 2004
during the famine in Somalia, groups more than a dozen US agencies, aid
groups, governments, and other bodies.It has only declared famine a few
times — in Somalia in 2011, and South Sudan in 2017 and 2020, and last
year in parts of Sudan’s western Darfur region. Tens of thousands are
believed to have died in Somalia and South Sudan.It rates an area as in
famine when at least two of three things occur: 20 percent of households
have an extreme lack of food, or are essentially starving; at least 30%
of children six months to five years suffer from acute malnutrition or
wasting, meaning they’re too thin for their height; and at least two
people or four children under five per every 10,000 are dying daily due
to starvation or the interaction of malnutrition and disease.The report
found that the first threshold was met in Gaza, saying 477,000 people —
or 22% of the population — are classified as in “catastrophic” hunger
for the period from May 11 to the end of September, and another million
area at “emergency” levels, meaning they face very large gaps in food
and high levels of acute malnutrition.The malnutrition and death
thresholds were not met. The data was gathered in April and up to May 6.
Food security experts say it takes time for people to start dying from
starvation.The report warned of “imminent” famine in northern Gaza in
March 2024, but the following month, Israel allowed an influx of aid
under US pressure after an Israeli strike killed seven aid
workers.Malnutrition is rising-Aid groups now say the situation is the
most dire of the entire war. The UN humanitarian office, known as OCHA,
said on Friday that the number of children seeking treatment at clinics
for malnutrition has doubled since February, even as supplies to treat
them are quickly running out.Aid groups have shut down food distribution
due to a lack of stocks. Many foods have disappeared from the markets,
and what’s left has spiraled in price and is unaffordable to most.
Farmland is mostly destroyed or inaccessible. Water distribution is
grinding to a halt, largely because of a lack of fuel.
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