US Army leaves Israeli trophy behind?
Published April 26, 2006SoccerDad informs me of the hard to process news regarding the new superlative Mobile Missile Defense System developed by Rafael Israel..
Globes: US Army rejects Israeli armor protection system
Ran Dagoni, Washington 25 Apr 06 15:22The rejection comes despite a successful test of Rafael’s Trophy Active Protection System.
The US Army has rejected the Trophy Active Protection System for armored fighting vehicles developed by Rafael Armament Development Authority Ltd., despite a successful live fire test on March 30.
The Trophy system was intended for US Army Stryker 8×8 combat vehicles in operations in Iraq, where they are convenient targets for attackers using advanced rocket propelled grenades (RPGs). The live fire test was carried out at the US Naval Surface Warfare Center in Dahlgren, Virginia, on an Israeli Trophy-equipped Stryker flown to the US for the test.
An Israeli defense industry source told “Globes”, “The test was a great success, but the US Army was not convinced. The US Army is locked onto another system being developed by Raytheon (NYSE: RTN), which offers a comprehensive solution to all armored personnel carrier (APC) armor problems. Its only disadvantage is that it will not be ready for production and installation before 2010 or 2011.”
The Trophy system is liable to fall victim to a bureaucratic clash between two US Department of Defense agencies: the Office of Force Transformation (OFT), which is promoting the Trophy system for installation on US Army Strykers; and the US Army high command, which opposes the Israeli system and prefers Raytheon’s solution, even though it is not ready for immediate deployment.
Shame in Italy
Published April 26, 2006WWII Italian Liberation Day celebrations feature the burning of the flag of Israel
*Updated below April 28
I’ve blogged a few times recently about the Italian election, and the subsequent results on Italy & Israel’s recent warm ties & relationship. Again, that relationship is showing more signs of strain with a new Italian Left Wing Govt who’s coalition includes radical left wing components, Communists and virulent anti Israel hatreds..
Then – Italy Under Silvio Berlusconi 11.03.05
YNET: Italians rally for Israel
Pro-Israel demonstration held in Rome following recent statements made by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad saying Israel ‘should be wiped off the map.’ Rome mayor: It is only natural that a city that advocates peace and dialogue object to any kind of intolerance
A pro-Israel demonstration was held in Rome Thursday following recent statements made by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad saying Israel "should be wiped off the map."
Approximately 15,000 people participated in the rally, which was accompanied with chants of "viva Israel! viva freedom!" the website of the Italian newspaper La Republica reported. The rally was concluded with the singing of the Israeli national anthem, "Hatikvah." [...]
Protesters included right and left-wing politicians, local celebrities and Walter Veltroni, the mayor of Rome.
Now – Italy under new PM Prodi 26.04.06
Italy: Israel angry at burning of flags
Ambassador to Rome says he was filled with ‘Shame, rage’ after two Israeli flags were burned during demonstration commemorating liberation of Italy at end of World War Two; demonstrators also shouted ‘Zionists, assassins’ and ‘free Palestine’ [...]
The flags were set ablaze by a small group of left-wing demonstrators, who also shouted "Zionists, assassins" and "free Palestine" at a Jewish delegation which took part in the largely peaceful march in Milan on Tuesday.
Centre-left leader and prime minister-in-waiting Romano Prodi strongly condemned the incident, which added to political tensions after his narrow victory in this month’s election.
Prodi’s centre-right rivals accused him of hypocrisy, saying his broad coalition included anti-Israel activists.
"As a Jew and an Israeli, I was filled with shame and rage yesterday at the sight of the barbaric behavior by the ‘fascists’ of the extreme left," Israeli ambassador Ehud Gol said in a strongly worded statement.
The Vatican newspaper called the trampling and burning of Israeli flags a "disgusting" offense to all Jews. [...]
Photo credit: AP
Prodi who is optimistic about EU dialogue with Hamas terrorists has in less than two weeks presided on now over two foreign policy embarrassments regarding Israel, one his own doing, and one thanks to his hard left wing coalition supporters, this is Italy not Iran or Pakistan, or Hamastan..
BBC: The anti-Israel demonstrations were reportedly prompted by the presence of Israeli flags in honour of the Jewish Brigade, whose members died helping to liberate Italy.
New Eye in the Sky
Published April 25, 2006Israel with little fanfare had a successful satellite launch today, based out of Russia.
The Erosb is the second launch of this class of satelite, a daytime only optical machine capable of some nifty look down ability. The launch, to keep an ever vigilant eye on Iranian developments.
LAUNCHED FROM RUSSIA - Reuters
Like its predecessor in 2000, Eros B is set to be launched from the Svobodny Cosmodrome in the Russian Far East later on Tuesday using a Russian Start-1 rocket.
It will orbit the Earth at a height of about 310 miles and will circle the globe roughly every 95 minutes, ImageSat said.
The Eros satellites, which weigh under 770 lb, are among a number of small, lightweight satellites which Israel’s space industry has perfected, Eckhaus said.
Because of the country’s geographical location and small size, the space industry generally favors smaller payloads that can more easily be launched from Israeli territory.
"The fact that we are launching the satellite in Russia means that we can do so with the Earth’s rotation and makes it more effective and gives it a longer life span," Eckhaus said.
Israel is only able to launch small satellites westwards over the Mediterranean Sea — opposite to the Earth’s rotation — because it cannot risk rockets flying over its Arab neighbors to the east or debris falling on their territory [...]
It should be noted the launch was a success, mazal tov!
This little baby will be spinning round the planet thankfully, but it is not as advanced as Israel’s Offek5 satellite, the big boy on campus. Israel lost an additional Offek class satellite last year on launch (I think it was) sadly before it could get to orbit, so this smaller optical eye will enhance capabilities for the time, Israel is going to need it in order to stay abreast of any or all threats developing.
Mofaz weighs in..
Continue reading
Israel’s little miracles
Published April 25, 2006It’s Yom Hashoa, or Holocaust Remembrance Day today and of course having been touched by this tragedy personally the day certainly carries meaning for me. I was looking at Haaretz and saw an update to the effect that the young American who was critically injured in the TA Suicide Bombing attack has emerged from his coma after 9 days.. Still a long way to go, but these little miracles are a good start! He’s only 16 years old, he’s got a long life ahead.
Sadistic Sinai Slaughter
I was also surprised (in a good way) watching Israeli news that no Israelis had been badly hurt or killed in the vicious triple bombing in the Egyptian Sinai last night. Terrible what’s going down in the desert, this is the 3rd Sinai Al Qaeda attack. Now one begins to wonder if operational support of any kind may be coming from the Gaza Strip going forward, Al Qaeda is becoming active there and unlike Vegas, what happens in the Sinai doesn’t nec. stay in the Sinai..
Over 30 innocents killed and a hundred wounded by terrorist scum. Last I checked it was confirmed two of the bombs were martyrdom attacks. I’m also thinking about the Bin Laden tape from two days ago, was a signal hidden in the message? Timing seems very tight indeed, seems pretty plausible.
Hamas persona non grata in Jordan
Published April 25, 2006
The Jordanians are furious over a plot to target senior Jordanian figures by Hamas’ Damascus head office. Hamas is not only blowing stuff up now, they apparently burn bridges too!
YNET via AP: Jordanian government spokesman says terror group members arrested last week were in final phase of plotting attack on Jordanian targets under orders from Syria
Terrorists arrested last week were in the final phase of plotting an attack on Jordanian targets under orders from a Hamas official in Syria, government spokesman Nasser Judeh said Tuesday.
Judeh would not say how many activists had been arrested or what their nationality was.
"They received instructions from Hamas leaders, specifically an official from the military wing of Hamas movement who is currently in Syria," He told The Associated Press. He declined to identify who this leader was.
The activists had "Reached the implementation phase of operations that targeted Jordanian institutions and public figures," he said
Weapon seizures, arrests, and sagging support for the Hamas. ‘Keep Moving’ Mashal doing a masterful job of screwing Haniyeh, but GOOD!
Abbas finally gets angry at something!?
Abbas: Meshal is a ‘civil war monger’
By Arnon Regular
Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas launched an unprecedented attack against Hamas in interviews with anti-Syrian newspapers in Jordan and Lebanon and CNN-Turk that were released yesterday. Abbas implicitly threatened to disband the Hamas government, and called Hamas’ political leader Khaled Meshal a "civil war monger" for trying, under Syrian influence, to ignite internal Palestinian warfare.
Abbas, who is on a visit to Turkey, also hinted yesterday for the first time that he can disband the government.
"The constitution gives me clear and definite authority to remove a government from power, but I don’t want to use this authority," he said in the CNN-Turk interview that was broadcast yesterday, but recorded before his arrival in Turkey Sunday. "Everyone should know that by law this power is in my hands."
Abbas added that "Hamas has to face the facts and establish communication with Israel," or the Palestinian people would be left to starve due to the party’s policies that have led to a cut of funding from the United States and European Union.
"Without help, we can’t stand on our feet long," he warned. [...]
Haaretz
PLO vs Hamas: Sibling rivalry?
Published April 24, 2006I was talking to my bro on the phone and he asks me (I’ll paraphrase here):
How come you didn’t have anything on the terrorist named chief of Palestinian Security, what is this total silence at the hashmonean?
This being a reference to the Hamas Terrorist made Palestinian Security Chief (Reuters), as well as rub about my lack of posts over Passover.. Apparently, the mass exodus of the Jewish people from bondage through legendary plagues, leading up to the giving of Gd’s laws to the people (a profound act which helped shape the modern world as we know it today), does not constitute reason enough for me to skip a few blogging days lol 
While I’m playing with my brother somewhat here who was playing with me, I’d like to reveal a reason I have not posted this tidbit for comment. When a Terrorist Organization appoints a Terrorist to lead security it is an expected move, I have not deluded myself at all as to whom would control the Palestinian security services with Hamas in power, terrorists that’s who! I found other aspects much more relevant..
The only newsworthy bit I gleaned from this issue so far, is that Hamas has written their new security chief a death warrant.
We’ve been given a glimpse at what will probably be the 1st Hamas terrorist in Govt to be liquidated <— that’s the real headline.
It should have read:
Hamas issues death warrant – Dead man walking appointed to head security.
Now every time this guy so much as passes gas, the Shin Bet will know about it and knowing the Israelis.. maybe even be able to pre-emptively avert their nose.
Hashmonean safety tip of the week
This is not the guy you want to be setting up a new carpool route with.
That's me, I'm part of the vast global Zionist Conspiracy you often 'read' about ;)
