AIPAC'S LIES
IAEA: Syrian Site Strongly Resembled Atom Plant
The IAEA said the site resembled a nuclear reactor.
A new report from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said a secret Syrian complex destroyed by Israel last year strongly resembled a nuclear reactor and urged Damascus to cooperate more with U.N. inspectors, The Washington Post reported. The report also noted that Syria had gone to great lengths to alter the site before admitting outsiders, but failed to cover-up significant amounts of natural uranium—the fuel used by North Korea in its own reactor. American officials previously claimed that the Syrian site was designed with assistance from Pyongyang. Thus far, Damascus has denied any secret nuclear activity and has said it would not allow further visits to the site by U.N. inspectors under any circumstances. Despite the destruction of the nuclear reactor, Syria maintains the largest stockpile of WMD in the Arab world—based on its ability to domestically produce nerve gas and other chemical weapons, along with research into various biological weapons.
Islamic Jihad: Hamas to Replace Abbas
Hamas said it intends to oust Abbas.
Hamas intends to challenge the authority of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in January of 2009, setting the stage for a renewed showdown between the terrorist group and the moderate leadership of the Palestinian Authority (PA), the Israeli newspaper Ha'aretz reported. Though Abbas has indicated his desire to run for another term when parliamentary elections are held in 2010, Mohammed al-Hindi, a leading Islamic Jihad figure in Gaza, said Hamas will soon recognize Sheikh Aziz al-Dweik as president of the PA. Dweik, a Hamas member who serves as speaker of the Palestinian Legislative Council, is currently in an Israeli prison for his involvement in terrorist activity. Hamas, which seized control of Gaza in a violent coup in June 2007, faces international isolation until it recognizes Israel, renounces terrorism and accepts previous Israeli-Palestinian agreements.
Israel to Free 250 Palestinian Prisoners in Goodwill Gesture
Israel has released prisoners to bolster Abbas.
In an effort to bolster Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert announced Monday that Israel would release 250 Palestinian prisoners at the beginning of December, the Israeli Web site Ynet reported. Most of the prisoners – who will be forced to sign a commitment that they will not return to terrorism – belong to Abbas' Fatah faction. None belong to Hamas or Islamic Jihad. Despite the risks to its security, Israel has freed hundreds of prisoners, removed checkpoints and roadblocks and allowed the deployment of armed PA police in the West Bank, all in order to demonstrate its commitment to peace with the Palestinians. The PA must match Israel's commitment to peace by isolating Hamas, fighting terrorism and laying the groundwork for historic political compromise.