Putin Assures Bibi -- Iran Deal is Good

By Micah Halpern

I've Been Thinking:

The Kremlin released a statement about a conversation that took place between Vladimir Putin and Benjamin Netanyahu. The purpose of the conversation was to assure Netanyahu that the Iranian deal will not lead to a nuclear Iran and that the deal will provide for a safer Middle East.

According to the statesmen Putin told Netanyahu that the agreement includes "solid guarantees that the Iranian nuclear program will be exclusively peaceful."

It continued to explain "that implementing it would positively impact the security and stability of the Middle East."

There can be no doubt that Netanyahu does not believe that Putin is correct. Israel is in the midst of mounting a serious battle to convince the few Democratic members of Congress to nix the Iranian deal and this conversation has not changed or swayed that campaign in
the least.

Netanyahu knows that Putin and Russia do what is best for Putin and Russia. And he realizes that Putin wants calm in the Middle East and does not want Iran to have nuclear weapons.

And yet, despite the assurances and the knowledge conveyed by Putin, Netanyahu is not convinced that Russia, the United States and the deal can keep Iran nuclear weapons free. Not collectively and certainly not individually.

Micah@MicahHalpern.com 

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Jews Compete in Berlin Stadium Hitler Built

By Micah Halpern

I've Been Thinking:

The Jewish Olympics, the European Maccabi Games, are being played in Berlin. Hard to imagine ---but true.

Not just are the games being played in Berlin, the games are being played in the same stadium that Adolf Hitler built for the 1936 Olympics. 2,100 proud and strong Jews playing Olympic games in Hitler's Germany.

This is a powerful image. Hitler used the stadium to propagandize his vision. It was there in that stadium that that Hitler created pageants and huge pyrotechnical performances all in order to glorify the racist message of the superiority of their Teutonic Aryan philosophy.

Today Europe is undergoing a resurgence of anti-Semitism. But because of these Jewish Olympic games, because of the Maccabi games, European leaders are coming out to join in a celebration of Jewish life and Jewish creativity.

Micah@MicahHalpern.com 

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Pollard Release

By Micah Halpern

I've Been Thinking:
Jonathan Pollard's lawyers announced yesterday that the parole board decided to free Pollard on November 21 of this year, the 30th anniversary of his imprisonment.

The US Department of Justice has not challenged the decision - so without resistance Pollard may see his freedom in just a few short months.

Pollard told the parole board on July 7 that he had a job lined up and a place to live in New York City.

The job and NYC seem to be terms of his parole. Israel and others are hoping that they can convince the board to permit him to leave the United States and go to Israel.

As of now that does not seem to be in the cards.

The announcement by lawyers representing Jonathan Pollard, closely followed by comments from
Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, are all signs that seem to imply that this is a done deal.
However, I must point out that there were times in the past when Pollard was nearly set free and then, at the last minute, the deal was cancelled.

I am hopeful that this time will be different, but I will be convinced only when I see Jonathan Pollard leave prison as a free man.

Micah@MicahHalpern.com 

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Russia & Turkey Talk About the MidEast

By Micah Halpern

I've Been Thinking:

The Kremlin held a press conference yesterday to summarize an important conversation that took place on Sunday between Putin of Russia and Erdogan of Turkey.

According to the statement released by the Kremlin, the two leaders had an important telephone conversation. The topics under discussion included the situation in the Middle East. They spoke about Iraq and Syria and most especially, they spoke ISIS.

They also discussed the spread of terror and the need to fight
terrorism.

The most important component of their discussion was Russia's interest in uniting the various countries in the region to confront ISIS and to fight extremism.

The Kremlin spokesman said that in the Sunday conversation the leaders "exchanged opinions on the situation in the Middle East, first of all in Syria and Iraq, in the framework of stepping up multilateral and bilateral coordination with the aim of increasing efficiency of countering threats from the Islamic State."

"It was stressed that consolidation of efforts of all interested countries is necessary on the basis of international law to successfully fight the spread of terrorism and extremism."
This is important stuff - especially coming, in unison, from Russia and Turkey.

Micah@MicahHalpern.com 

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Iran's Mullahs Are Against the Deal

By Micah Halpern

I've Been Thinking:

Iranian religious leadership has a very interesting "take" on the nuclear agreement.

It seems that religious leadership in Iran believes that the agreement is a trap. They think it is a lure with promises of great economic rewards. And they think that what the United States, Israel and all the other nations who were forcing the agreement really want - is a change of leadership in Iran.

The religious leaders think that the entire purpose of the agreement is to entice Iran into understanding Western ways so that they will view the world outside of Iran as beneficial to the masses in Iran.

They fear that those Iranians who yearn for improved economic and cultural exchanges with the outside world will - because of the nuclear agreement, immediately see and understand the new status Iran has achieved.

Iranian religious leadership may not be so far off.

And Iranian religious leadership is petrified that their assessment will come true.
If their fears are realized, it means that they, the religious leadership of Iran, would be ousted and their values and their stranglehold on the youth, the culture and the economy of Iran would be vaporized.

So, why did Rouhani receive permission from the Supreme Leader of Iran to sign off on the deal, and why has the rest of Iranian religious leadership remained quiet until now? The answer is that the religious leaders in Iran understood how important it was to lift the sanctions and improve their economy. Now that it is a done deal, they will clamp down on the hopes and dreams of reformers and youth attempting to use this agreement as a springboard to freedom.

Iranian religious leadership is telling the United States -- "We see your games and understand you moves."

This is the only way we can interpret the numerous comment made by the Supreme Leader immediately before and since the announcement of the nuclear agreement.

Micah@MicahHalpern.com 

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Israel Gives Jordan 16 Cobra Helicopters

By Micah Halpern

I've Been Thinking:

Israel gave Jordan 16 Cobra helicopters.

The helicopters are all originally US made and were part of a US arms deal. But these Cobras have since been retired. The United States needed to sign off on the transfer of these Cobras to Jordan.

The purpose of the gift from Israel to Jordan is to help Jordan patrol its borders with Syria and Iraq.
For that purpose, these helicopters are perfectly adequate.

These borders are porous and ISIS and al Qaeda have used the holes to penetrate into Jordan. Without a doubt ISIS and Al Qaeda want to destabilize Jordan.

It is in the best interest of Israel to secure those borders and to make certain that Jordan remains stable.

With this arms deal everyone win. The United States is happy that there is real cooperation between Jordan and Israel on regional matters. Israel is happy because it adds to their credibility and stability. Jordan is happy because it is seriously protecting itself from ISIS and al Qaeda.

This is what you call a no brainer.

Micah@MicahHalpern.com 

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Turkey & ISIS

By Micah Halpern

I've Been Thinking:

The Syrian border with Turkey has become very hot lately. There have been serious skirmishes and exchanges of fire between ISIS on the Syrian side and Turkey firing back from their side.

A Turkish soldier was killed and another wounded in the exchange of fire.

Turkey also scrambled their air force and sent fighter jets to the area. The jets fired and struck ISIS targets.

Finally, there are unconfirmed reports that the Turks have given a green light to the United States, saying that they will host US fighter jets that will attack ISIS in Syria.

Until now the Turks have said that they will not host the US military and their fighter jets. But things have changed. Turkey is clearly an SIS target. ISIS wants to destabilize the entire region - and that includes Turkey.

The United States does not need to take off from Turkey. The mission was not hampered or limited in any way because of the reluctance of Turkey up until now. This is as much about diplomacy as it is about military maneuvering.

The area is very small. But this new ability to take off and land in Turkey will improve some angles and allow for better dexterity with the air strikes.

Micah@MicahHalpern.com

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Anti Semitism in Soccer

By Micah Halpern

I've Been Thinking:

The world of soccer is starting to take the scourge of anti- Semitism seriously.

The UEFA, which stands for the United European Football (Soccer) Association, has punished Croatia for anti-Semitic and racists acts.

A swastika was painted on the playing field of Croatia before a game against Italy.

The Football Association punished Croatia in several different ways:
# 1: Croatia was docked a point
# 2: the next two qualifying matches Croatia plays at home will be played without fans in an empty stadium
# 3: Croatia may not play in the city of Split
# 4: the Croatian team was fined 100,000 Euros ($110,000)

These penalties might seem small, but they actually touch the fans and the owners much more than the players. The players were not responsible for the swastika. The fans were responsible and the fans will not be able to watch their team play.

The penalties are a lesson for everyone. They were put in place to teach everyone that these kinds of expression cannot be tolerated in civilized society - and that includes football.

Micah@MicahHalpern.com 

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Israel Mum on US Gifts After Iran Deal

By Micah Halpern

I've Been Thinking:

US Secretary of Defense Ash Carter departed Israel and traveled to Saudi Arabia.

We do not know what actually happened in Israel. People there have been uncharacteristically tight lipped about the meetings.

But we think that things went well.

What we do know is that Prime Minister Netanyahu told everyone not to talk about and not even entertain or discuss any list of potential gifts that the US might provide Israel in order to ease the pain of the Iranian deal.

The PM clearly feels that any discussion of US treats will hurt the Israeli argument in Congress. Netanyahu does not want Congressional leaders to think that Israel came to grips with the Iran deal so there is no problem if they support the deal.

In Saudi Arabia Carter is talking about Iranian aggression and the battle against ISIS. Also on the agenda is cyber terror.

Saudi Arabia and the US have many mutual interests. But do not for a minute think that Saudi Arabia trusts the United States.

Micah@MicahHalpern.com 

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Hamas Shuts its Electricity

I've Been Thinking:

In Gaza, yesterday, Hamas stopped producing electricity. This is the second time since March that Hamas stopped producing electricity.

Hamas blamed the stoppage on the PA. They said they stopped the electricity because of a fuel tax demanded of them by the Palestinian Authority.

The electrical plant in Gaza produces electricity from diesel. Most of the diesel comes from the PA.
The PA has stopped providing the diesel because Hamas cannot pay for it. That fee, the cost of diesel, is what Hamas is calling the fuel tax.

In March when this happened Qatar coughed up $10 million. That money paid the back payment and covered the bill - until now. But now, in July, the Qatari money has dried up.

Even before this money crunch, electricity in Gaza was blacked out for 12 hours each day. Now there will probably be only 6 hours of electricity per day for Gazans.

Many people in Gaza use electric generators. They are the richest people in Gaza.

Micah@MicahHalpern.com 

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Pollard May Be Part of the Iran Deal

By Micah Halpern

I've Been Thinking:

Rumors abound -- one of them is that part of the so-called "carrot" Israel will be given as a result of the Iran deal is the release of Jonathan Pollard!!!!

The United States Department of Justice is saying that they will not object to the release of Pollard in
November of this year, when he reaches his 30th year in prison.

While the potential release of Pollard makes sense, it in no way makes the Iran deal any less risky. It does, however, make the bitter pill a little easier to swallow.

For years the idea of releasing Pollard from the US prison where he has been serving time after being convicted of spying against the United States has been dangled in front of Israel. Each time, it turned out to be nothing more than a diplomatically orchestrated gimmick.

The US Administration knows that, from the point of view of Israel, this deal with Iran needs to be sweetened. Israel will certainly present a huge shopping list to the United States. Most of the items on that list will be on the security side.

Pollard is an entirely different matter. His release might make Israelis more comfortable with the deal. But if it does not happen, their frustration will reach new heights.

Micah@MicahHalpern.com 

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How The White House Thinks About Iran

By Micah Halpern

I've Been Thinking:
For several days now I have been wracking my head trying to understand how the White House could be so convinced that the deal with Iran was a good deal.

Everywhere I looked I saw flaws and problems.

But I think that I have now figured out what the Administration sees. I still vehemently disagree - but
I understand their thought process.

Here is the White House point of view. They want to stop the production of a nuclear weapon - not permanently, just for the next 15 years.
In order to prevent a bomb from being dropped over the next 15 years the president and his staff put two essential items in the agreement.

The agreement reduces the number of centrifuges in Iran from 20,000
to 50 or 60 and all of these will be the old IR-1 type centrifuges.

The agreement also demands that Iran reduce the amount of uranium from 10 tons of low enriched uranium 3.5% to 300 kilos. This will make it hard to create a bomb because an effective nuclear bomb needs 90%-95% enriched uranium. About one ton of uranium is what you need to make a single weapon.

Not as important to the White House but also stipulated in the agreement is that the arms embargo stay in place for another 15 years.

Now, if Israel was to initiate a military strike they would only delay the capability of Iran to develop their bomb by 7 or 8 years, at most 10 years. The White House thinks that what they have accomplished is a much better deal.

The White House is also wishfully hoping that, within the next 15 years, there will be a regime change in Iran. And therefore, they believe that their plan is the best plan to keep the region safe.

Again, I disagree.

Micah@MicahHalpern.com 

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Deal from Iran's POV

By Micah Halpern

I've Been Thinking:

Let me tell you what Iranian leaders are saying about this historic agreement. Let me take you behind the beyond the celebrations in the streets.

Iranian president Rouhani said the following in a press conference: "We didn't ask for charity. We asked for fair, just, and win-win negotiations." He also said that sanctions never worked on Iran.

Consider that his hah-hah moment.

Then Rouhani used the moment to make an important point about international diplomacy by attacking Israel. He said: "Today the people of Gaza, Lebanon, Qods (Jerusalem) and West Bank are also happy because the endeavors of the Zionist regime were defeated."

He said: "Neighboring countries! Do not be deceived by the Zionist regime."
Iranian state news agencies reported that the deal would not touch any nuclear facilities and all of them are up and running - including research facilities. Additional reports said that R&D on centrifuge improvement would continue.

The reports said that all bans on dual purpose imports would be lifted. Machinery and technology that had industrial and nuclear purposes would now be permitted in. And sanctions would be lifted.

The reports also spoke of unfreezing Iranian funds. That is about $1.4 billion in found money for Iran.

All this will have a huge, positive, impact on Iran. This agreement catapults Iran into a leadership position in the region and in the world.

Micah@MicahHalpern.com 

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Finally the Iran Deal

By Micah Halpern

Wednesday July 15, 2015

I've Been Thinking:

The newly-signed nuclear agreement raises more questions than can possibly be answered. But we have got to start somewhere.

So, here is one of the biggest questions I have about the Iranian deal: Why are the Iranians dancing in the streets now that the agreement has been finalized?

The best reason I can give is that now that the stifling sanctions will be lifted, Iranians will have clear access to the West and billions of dollars of new income.

That is just one reason. The Iranians have many, many more reasons to feel elated. For example, by now we have all heard about the 24 day notice that Iran will get before inspections take place and we know that the Iranians have the option to reject the requests and instead have a hearing of the committee from the P5+1 and Iran.

But did you also know that:

Iran can have 300 kg of enriched uranium.

Iran need not shut down, seal or freeze any sites.

Iran can have 5400 centrifuges in Natanz and 1000 in Fordow.

Iran need not come clean about their past violations.

Iran does not need to stop its surface to air missile program.

Iran will continue its nuclear R&D.

Iran's heavy water plant in Arak will continue to operate.

In other words, not only did Iran get everything it wanted out of this agreement, but the West got almost nothing in the agreement.

And as for Israel, well, Israel needs to improve the relationship with Obama and his entire administration.

More crucial and to the point, Israel must improve their intel and their anti-missile program. Iran is sprinting towards outfitting themselves and their friends with nuclear potential. And we all know where they will aim during target practice.

Micah@MicahHalpern.com 

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Assad & Hezbollah Take Momentum Away from ISIS

By Micah Halpern

I've Been Thinking:

The tide is once again shifting in Syria. The position of power is once again firmly in the hands of Assad and Hezbollah.

A few weeks ago we noted that ISIS had made serious advances in Syria, but in a pretty quick turnabout, Assad and Hezbollah successfully repelled ISIS and al Qaeda and they are now in control of nearly every large city and every major highway in the country.

It was reported today that two leaders of ISIS were killed by an air attack in Syria.

In addition, Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah went on Youtube and shouted that ISIS has a choice - leave Syria or be killed in Syria.

Nasrallah and Hezbollah are taking advantage of the momentum.

There is no doubt that Hezbollah and Assad forces will search out and seek revenge on ISIS and al Qaeda fighters. No prisoners will be taken. Anyone found hiding or defeated in battle will be butchered and paraded as examples of what happens to those who dare to cross President Bashar Assad and Hezbollah.

Hezbollah cannot quite do it, but they will try to match the brutality of ISIS. They must publicly display acts of brutality in order to regain the sense of honor they lost over the past year as ISIS inspired fear crept into the hearts of many local Syrians.

Micah@MicahHalpern.com 

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Iran Deal

By Micah Halpern

I've Been Thinking:

It seems as if some time today, Monday, there will be an announcement out of Vienna celebrating the signing of a deal with Iran.

On Sunday, a senior Iranian official told Reuters that --- "The deal is within reach today ... but some issues remain that need to be resolved by foreign ministers."

The Europeans are saying that a deal will certainly be announced on Monday, the Americans are a bit more cautious. The Americans say they are hopeful.

Whatever the deal actually is, whenever the announcement is made, we will have to look over the deal very carefully. What is written down is not always what was verbally stated.

The last agreement for the temporary agreement that was presented in March was so ambiguous it was impossible to understand. For the Iranians, that was the point.

After the deal gets signed we will look it over. Then comes the insight.

Micah@MicahHalpern.com 

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Iran's Supreme Leader on the US

By Micah Halpern

I've Been Thinking:

Iran's Supreme Leader was speaking to a student group yesterday. A student asked him what would happen to the battle against global arrogance if they sign an agreement with the United States.

The Grand Ayatollah Khamenei responded by explaining that the battle against global arrogance cannot be interrupted and it must continue.

Khamenei said "Fighting global arrogance is the core of our revolution and we cannot put it on hold. Get ready to continue your fight against the global arrogance."

Simply and clearly put the Iranian leader said:
"The US is the true embodiment of the global arrogance."

This is how Iranian leadership views the United States.

There is no other way to interpret the Iranian message.

Micah@MicahHalpern.com 

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Pope Calls it Genocide

By Micah Halpern

I've Been Thinking:

Pope Francis is in Boliva. In a speech he delivered while there the pope spoke about a genocide being perpetrated against Christians in the Middle East.

He has been silent on this matter until now.

The Pope said: "Today we are dismayed to see how in the Middle East and elsewhere in the world many of our brothers and sisters are persecuted, tortured and killed for their faith in Jesus."

"In this third world war, waged piecemeal, which we are now experiencing, a form of genocide is taking place, and it must end."

There is no doubt that, throughout the Middle East, ISIS and al Qaeda as well as many other Islamic groups are targeting Christians and Christian sites.

There was a fear that speaking up would put people and property at risk. Actually, the Vatican had been trying to stem the tide of hatred by befriending non-friendly groups hoping that ultimately, everyone could live together in peace.

That plan has not been working out.

The new Vatican policy: Speak up, speak out and stop the genocide of Christians in the Middle East at the hands o Muslims.

Micah@MicahHalpern.com 
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2 Israelis in Gaza

By Micah Halpern

I've Been Thinking:

The gag order was lifted yesterday. Now we know that two Israelis are in Gaza. One, an Ethiopian, has been there since September, the other, a Bedouin, since April.

Hamas admits to having the Bedouin, but says it knows about - but does not have, the Ethiopian. This sounds like the truth. And that is not good news.

During the operation against Gaza last summer, one of the most important objectives from the Hamas point of view was to capture an Israeli soldier - alive. The Ethiopian could not be an Israeli soldier, he is a learning disabled adult and that becomes immediately recognizable to anyone who meets him.

His name is Avraham Mangisto and he was walking on the beach and crossed the border into Gaza. When soldiers saw him they shouted, to no avail to get his attention, a helicopter was even dispatched to find him. The soldiers saw him walk up to a group of Gaza fisherman and that was the last time he was seen by Israelis.

If Islamic Jihad or ISIS took him, then the situation is very grim. If any other Islamic group has him the scenario is even worse.

The reason the entire situation was not made public before this was to make certain that Hamas, or other terrorists, did not turn it into an international bargaining war. Hamas wants the release of prisoners in Israeli jails. Because Israel was not even acknowledging the situation, there was the opportunity to try to locate the captors through back channels.

Even members of the Israeli security cabinet were in the dark about the situation. They found out about it only from online coverage which was first released on YNET.

Now it seems that all informal avenues have been exhausted. Now Israel is ready to admit that the situation is grave, very grave.

Micah@MicahHalpern.com 

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Hamas is Rebuilt and ISIS in Gaza

By Micah Halpern

I've Been Thinking:

It has been a year since last summer's conflict between Israel and Gaza.

According to sources in Israel's southern command, Israel "is in a race against Hamas {over} who will learn the lessons of Protective Edge faster."

That is scary. The source told YNET that Hamas has nearly re-attained the level and capacity they were at pre-Operation Preventive Edge. That means that within the year Hamas has restored and rebuilt their arms and rocket capability.

"Hamas is getting closer to finishing restoring its stock of mortar shells and short-range rockets ...
They don't yet have the amount of medium and long-range rockets (that can reach Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, and further north) it had. Hamas will not give up the ability to fire rockets deep into Israel in the next war, because to them, a routine of sirens and emergency situation in Tel Aviv is an achievement."

Now there is another factor operating in Gaza -- ISIS.

Every success ISIS has whether it be in the region, anywhere in the Middle East, or in Europe, it magnifies their cause and draws more recruits.

Sources estimate that there are 1,000 ISIS members. That is huge - especially because ISIS is about to make a play for more recruits and to oust Hamas from leadership in Gaza.

Micah@MicahHalpern.com 

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US Trained on 60 Syrians So Far

By Micah Halpern

I've Been Thinking:

Remember the brilliant plan that the United States hatched to train Syrian fighters to battle ISIS and al Qaeda?

The original plan was to train 5,400 Syrian fighters every year.

These fighters were to be the future of Syria. First, they were going to defeat ISIS and al Qaeda and then they would take over Syria and oust Assad. That was the plan.

Well, so far, only 60 Syrians have been trained. That's right - 60. I did not forget to put the zeroes on.

We know this because it is the testimony that US Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter gave before Congress yesterday. Carter says, and rightly so, that the difficulty is vetting the fighting to make certain that they are not the enemy. If they made a mistake in choosing fighters, the US would be training and arming people who, in the end, would be fighting for the other side.

The real problem is that most people fighting in Syria are the enemy.

Very few Syrians can pass the vetting process. Not because it is so rigorous --- but because most people were at one time or are currently affiliated either with ISIS, al Qaeda or Assad.

In his prepared remarks to Congress the secretary of defense explained that the United States is trying to streamline the program and to enable the vetting process to find and train more appropriate recruits.

Carter put it this way: "We are also refining our curriculum, expanding our outreach to the moderate opposition, and incorporating lessons learned from the first training class."

Suffice it to say the United States needs another program. This one is not going anywhere.

Micah@MicahHalpern.com 

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ISIS Smuggling Members into Europe

By Micah Halpern

I've Been Thinking:

Europe may be slowly waking up.

The European Union prosecutor held a special press conference to inform journalists that ISIS is using ships not only to smuggle people but also to secretly smuggle ISIS members into Europe.

Journalists were also told that ISIS is earning money smuggling people.

ISIS is smuggling illegals across the Mediterranean into Europe.

Obviously, the ISIS members are entering Europe to organize, raise money and recruit. They are also there to motivate and plan attacks.

Eurojust is an EU agency that tries to coordinate with EU members on issues of terror, cyber crime and illegal immigration. According to the Associated Press, the director of Eurojust, Michele Coninsx, has information about ISIS and their smuggling operation. She did not want to reveal too much information, but made it perfectly clear that it is happening.

I found it interesting that, according to the coverage, EU leadership did not want to venture a hypothesis as to why ISIS was smuggling people into Europe.

The answer should be clear. ISIS wants to attack Europe!

Micah@MicahHalpern.com 

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Jordan Finds Terror Cell

By Micah Halpern

I've Been Thinking:
Newspapers in Jordan today are reporting that a major terror attack was averted. The authorities arrested a man with Iraqi Norwegian citizenship who was in possession of 45 kg, equivalent to 100 pounds, of explosives.

The media says that this attack would have been the worst terror attack in a decade.
The first judicial hearing for the suspect will take place in Jordanian security court on Monday.

The terrorist is believed to belong to a group called Bayt ul Maqdis. This is a common name for many terror groups - but all of the groups with this name are not connected to each other.

Bayt al Maqdis is another Arabic name for Jerusalem.

The discovery of this group is very important - and not just because this discovery saved lives. Finding this man and his group will lead authorities on a path to discovery of other terror cells and of arms and of explosive suppliers.

This is a big step in the fight against ISSI and other groups taking hold in Jordan and in the region.

Micah@MicahHalpern.com 

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ISIS Plots To Take Over Gaza

By Micah Halpern

I've Been Thinking:
ISIS has announced that they are plotting to remove Hamas from power in Gaza.

ISIS posted a video on Youtube of a masked man addressing the "Tyrants of Hamas" i.e. Hamas, saying:

"We will uproot the state of the Jews (Israel) and you and Fatah, and all of the secularists are nothing and you will be over-run by our creeping multitudes."

He continued -- "The rule of sharia (Islamic law) will be implemented in Gaza, in spite of you. We swear that what is happening in the Levant today, and in particular the Yarmouk camp, will happen in Gaza,"

The speaker said that after all this time Hamas has not succeeded in applying any Islamic law in Gaza and now Hamas are clamping down on groups attacking Israel. In the eyes of ISIS, that is definitely not a good thing to be doing.

ISIS wants to topple Hamas because, in their eyes, Hamas is simply too liberal.

Micah@MicahHalpern.com 

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