[ 25/07/2010 - 05:41 PM ]

OCCUPIED JERUSALEM, (PIC)--

Shaikh Raed Salah, the head of the Islamic Movement in the 1948 occupied lands, warned Sunday that the Israeli occupation government could trigger a regional war that would lead to a global war and use the situation in order to demolish Al-Aqsa Mosque.

Before going to Ayalon prison to serve his imprisonment term, Shaikh Salah also told a news conference today that 2010 is very critical to Al-Aqsa Mosque and Israel could divide it between Muslims and Jews during the second half of this year.

He appealed to the Arab and Muslim nations to necessarily defend the Aqsa Mosque against Israel's coming plans.

Shaikh Salah started on Sunday serving a five-month imprisonment sentence passed against him by an Israeli court that claimed he insulted an Israeli policeman during a protest in occupied Jerusalem in 2007.

After the news conference, Shaikh Salah was seen in Um Al-Fa'hm city being escorted by a large number of Palestinians and Arab Knesset members as he was going to Ayalon prison to spend five months.

For its part, the Hamas Movement strongly denounced the detention of Shaikh Salah, a prominent defender of the Islamic holy sites in Jerusalem, and considered the Israeli action as a step aimed at Al-Aqsa Mosque and the holy shrines.

Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri stated in a press release on Sunday that Israel wants to prevent Shaikh Salah from assuming his role in defending the Islamic holy sites, but he said that his detention would fail to bar the Palestinian people from protecting their mosques.

Dr. Aziz Al-Duwaik, the speaker of the Palestinian legislative council (PLC), also deplored the imprisonment of the Sheikh, and said that the detention of a national figure like Shaikh Salah was aimed at keeping him away from his role in confronting Israel's Judaization activities in the holy land.

Israel threatens Lebanon with invasion

Press TV, Mon, 26 Jul 2010 14:30:26 GMT

 The Israeli occupation government so-called defense minister, Ehud Barak, has warned that Tel Aviv would strike directly at the Lebanese government, should violence breaks out the next time.

In an interview with the Washington Post published Monday, the minister said "if it happens that Hezbollah will shoot into Tel Aviv, we will not run after each…launcher of some rocket in all Lebanon. We'll see the government of Lebanon responsible."

"We will see it as legitimate to hit any target that belongs to the Lebanese state, not just to Hezbollah," said Barak.

Lebanon's Hezbollah resistance movement, however, has repeatedly dismissed the accusations that it fires rockets into Israel.

The movement says such allegations are part of Israeli propaganda which aims to justify another invasion.

The Israeli regime has launched two wars against Lebanon in 2000 and 2006. The second round of the all-out offensives killed about 1,200 Lebanese -- mostly civilians.

However, Tel Aviv on both occasions fell short of achieving any of its objectives and Hezbollah forced the Israeli military into retreating.

Tension between Lebanon and Israel has increased in recent months as Beirut arrested several people on suspicion of spying for Tel Aviv.

Dozens of people, including members of Lebanon's telecommunications personnel, have been arrested since last year on suspicion of collaborating with the Israeli spy agency, Mossad.

AGB/MTM/MMN

Iran warns Israel against wrong move

Press TV, Mon, 26 Jul 2010 08:56:20 GMT

Iranian Defense Minister Brigadier General Ahmad Vahidi has warned Israel that “any injudicious action” will lead to the annihilation of the Tel Aviv regime.

“Any injudicious action of Israel will trigger the countdown of its destruction,” General Vahidi told reporters on the sidelines of a cabinet session on Monday.

“Israel is facing many setbacks in resolving its domestic, regional and international problems. Therefore, it is trying to get rid of this heavy burden through putting the blame on others,” he went on to say.

The Iranian defense minister reiterated that public pressure on Israeli officials has prompted them to have some false illusions in their minds.

Israel has repeatedly voiced its determination to stop Iran's nuclear program, even through military means.

Aggressive Israeli efforts against Iran's nuclear program come despite widespread reports of its possession of over 200 nuclear warheads that was acquired with blessings from Tel Aviv's Western sponsors. Israel has refused to sign or commit to any international atomic regulatory treaties.

Tehran says its nuclear program is completely peaceful and has never been diverted to weapons production.

AO/DB/HRF