Israel and Azerbaijan closer ties

The desire of two key Muslim states to strengthen cooperation with the Jewish state has won out against a campaign of pressure from Israel's enemies in the Islamic world. In a state visit to Azerbaijan over the weekend, members of President Shimon Peres's delegation learned of concerted efforts by the Iranian regime to torpedo the event. According to a senior Israeli official traveling with the president, this apparently included a demand by the Iranian military's chief of staff, while on a visit to the county a month earlier, to cancel the Israeli state visit.

The reports of the demand ran in the Azeri press. The Iranian government has not responded to them.The Israeli delegation also visited Kazakhstan, but Azerbaijan is particularly susceptible to pressure from Iran, its southern neighbor. With about a 10th of Iran's population, it shares with the Islamic republic both a long border and a Shi'ite populace. It also has to take into account a sizable Azeri minority living in Iran when it determines its policy toward its larger neighbor.

Yet, despite these realities, "Azerbaijan took a brave step [in proceeding with the visit], and I salute the president [Ilham Aliyev] for resisting these pressures," said Trade and Industry Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer, who is accompanying Peres on the trip.

According to a member of Peres's entourage, "There are clearly special security issues when the president visits a country, however friendly, whose borders are not closed to Israel's most bitter enemies."

Iranians defy Supreme Leader

Iranians have defied the call of the supreme leader Khamenei and continue to be on the streets. The voice of the streets are being heard and the Iranian, mainly youths are fed up with the regime and the corrupted supreme leader who has called the election of Ahmadinejad as divine. Amateur video broadcasted around the world the fate of a young girl who was killed by a militia when she was walking along the street in Tehran with her father. This has become an extremely delicate issue and is fuelling the Iranians to seek for their freedom and maybe to outcast the regime. The manifestation of this kind is the first since the Islamic revolution in 1979 and the people are heading towards another revolution now.

At least 19 people were killed by gunfire from government forces during the demonstrations in Teheran, Shiraz and Isfehan on Saturday, CNN reported based on eyewitness accounts of medical officials in Teheran's hospitals. CNN also quoted unconfirmed reports that put the actual death toll at 150. A week of massive street protests over the results of Iran's presidential elections escalated into open defiance of the entire regime on Saturday, when thousands took to the streets of Teheran chanting "Death to the Dictatorship."

Ignoring the Friday warning by Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei to call off the protests and accept the official contention that incumbent Mahmoud Ahmadinejad won the June 12 elections, Reformist opposition leader Mir Hossein Mousavi insistently renewed his demand that the vote be annulled, and indicated that he was prepared for "martyrdom" should he lose his life as a consequence of his and his supporters' defiance.

"We have received word from Mousavi that if he is arrested or disappears, the people should go out on a nationwide strike," one source in Teheran told this correspondent, and expressed the conviction that the former prime minister's life was now in danger. Another Iranian source, in comments reported by Reuters, said Mousavi had given a public address in southwestern Teheran in which he "said he was ready for martyrdom and that he would continue his path."

Iranian student's open letter

Salaam, sorry if I didn't answer to your e-mails. The Internet connection is extremely slow these days... Yahoo messenger, MSN, text messaging, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and all reformist and networking Web sites are filtered. (I just got to briefly log in to Facebook last night with a "filtershekan.") There are rallies every day... organized by word of mouth from one event to the other, and then by phone calls, and strangers just telling you to show up as they pass you by or as you are waiting behind red lights. Yesterday, it was supposed to be from Enghelab to Azadi, but it literally started at Emam Hossein Sq. (Fooziyeh) and spread all the way to Ekabatan. The number of protesters should be estimated in the millions. They were from every layer of society.
Southern Teheranis, Northern rich kids, Chaadoris, Ghertis, Hizbullahi, young, old, kids, etc. A huge sample of the Iranian nation, with all its diversity, was there, determined to make a change. They feel betrayed and insulted.

Helicopters were flying over our heads to assess the crowd. People would wave at them and whistle and making sure they were seen so that they report their presence to the authorities (or authority). The radio and TV warned people all day long not to attend, as the rally didn't have the "permission from the Ministry of Interior" and warned of serious consequences if it took place, but no one cared. Everybody went. The Yegaan vijeh (anti-riot police) first tried to intimidate people as they were gathering, but the immensity of the crowd then made them back up and hide in a nearby police station. Today, the rally is supposed to be at Meydoon Vali Asr. There are words that the next one will be in front of Sedaa o Sima (National TV station).

Yesterday the rally was calm and peaceful until the crowd started to disperse at the end. Then the Lebaas shakhsi (armed thugs without uniform) and some anti-riot units showed up with more confidence. They started a fire in one corner of Azadi to attract and entrap the most enthusiastic of protesters, then started firing tear gas and shooting. I didn't see it myself, but I heard that a man was shot in the eye. Chants were all either conducted against Ahmadinejad or in support of Mousavi. Nothing more "sensitive" than that. It's what I call "smart protest." People are extremely vigilant about what to say... Some chants were a little more "personal" and a bit more offensive to Ahmadinejad.

Mousavi, [former president Muhammad] Khatami, [his brother] Muhammad Reza Khatami, [Teheran Mayor Gholamhossein] Karbaschi, Masjed Jamei, [former vice president Muhammad Ali] Abtahi, [reformist Mahdi] Karoubi all showed up. I missed Mousavi's speech, but Abtahi was just a few meters away from where we were. People cheered them a lot.

Apart from rallies, people cry "Allahu Akbar" every night around 9 p.m. from rooftops and cars (well, it is supposed to be 9 p.m., but Iranians are always late. So they really start around 9:30). There are also sporadic riots and tire-burning in town. Night riots are much more violent. Sa'adat Abad, Shahran, Yousef Abad are some of the hottest corners. Universities are really tense, too. Police and thugs have already stormed dorms a couple of times and seriously wounded students.

As for casualties, all we hear is rumors. I can't confirm any... One thing that I can tell with certainty is that people are really determined. They all say there is no stop to this until they get results... Girls are extremely active in all these rallies (a little less in night riots where patches of young men are more visible). They courageously charge anti-riot police, chant slogans in front of them, lead the crowd, etc., but they are equally beaten too. The police seem to have no limit in the use of force. They are disproportionately violent. They don't use fire weapons, but they don't go easy on you with their clubs. They literally beat up protesters to death if they don't get rescued by fellow protesters or somehow break away and run.

The level of brutality is exceptional, but it is amazing to see how people stand up to them. I heard from many witnesses that thugs were brought by bus from smaller cities to assist police in the crackdown... I estimate that more people will show up for today's rally compared to yesterday. The word is that everyone should wear black with green bracelets or scarfs. The good thing about Vali Asr square is that it is right in "downtown" Teheran. It would be such a show of force by people. The national TV can't just keep ignoring it. (Not one single word of yesterday's rally was reported last night, except a really short footage showing Mir Hossein standing on his car to talk to his "supporters" that "contest" the results. The camera didn't zoom out one bit to show the immensity of the crowd...).

Pray for protesters and for the country. Your support means a lot, as people happily tell each other how Iranians abroad are gathering around embassies to support them. Internet sites are filtered here, so please inform people inside of events and rallies by e-mail if you hear of any. I testify with confidence that this is the most authentic, grassroots and beautiful movement from the people, by the people and for the people. No outside force, no money, no conspiracy is involved.

It's all about people telling each other where to gather next time, pledge to show up and keep their promise. There is a spirit of fraternity, determination, resistance, courage, solidarity and generosity that no words can describe. I thank God to have seen this in my lifetime, and I wouldn't trade it for the world.

Les Américains désavouent Obama

Même si elle reste élevée, la cote de popularité du président américain baisse. Une majorité de citoyens se montrent critiques sur plusieurs de ses choix. Près de cinq mois après son arrivée à la Maison-Blanche, la lune de miel entre Barack Hussein Obama et les Américains semble toucher à sa fin. La cote de popularité du 44e président reste certes élevée (56%), mais recule de 5 points en un mois, selon deux sondages, NBC News/Wall Street Journal et New York Times/CBS News publiés jeudi.

Un décalage se dessine entre cette popularité élevée et la perception que les Américains deviennent critiques sur plusieurs décisions. C'est auprès des électeurs indépendants qu'il perd le plus de points, en passant de 60% d'approbation de sa politique à 46%.

Premier sujet de désapprobation : General Motors. 56% des Américains ne voient pas d'un bon œil l'intervention financière de l'Etat pour sauver le géant de l'automobile en dépôt de bilan. Seuls 35% se déclarent favorables. 69% sont «beaucoup» ou «plutôt» préoccupés par cette initiative.

Au plan économique toujours, 58% des personnes interrogées estiment que le président et le Congrès ne devraient pas creuser le déficit public. 46% d'entre elles estiment toutefois que la responsabilité de ce déficit incombe à son prédécesseur George W. Bush.

Second sujet de discorde : la décision de fermer Guantanamo d'ici à janvier. Plus de la moitié des Américains (52%) s'y opposent, contre 39% favorables. Huit personnes sur 10 redoutent notamment que les détenus restitués à d'autres pays puissent fomenter de futures attaques aux Etats-Unis.

L'interdiction des méthodes musclées d'interrogatoires considérées comme des actes de torture (comme la simulation de noyade) ne remporte pas non plus un franc succès : à peine 48% saluent cette initiative, contre 41% qui s'y opposent.

À noter que la nomination de la première juge hispanique à la Cour suprême a été en revanche plutôt bien perçue : même si Sonia Sotomayor est encore très peu connue du public, 74% des personnes interrogées affirment qu'il est important la plus haute juridiction reflète la diversité des Etats-Unis.

Source; Le Figaro

Khamenei threatens to exile Mousavi

Iranian reformist Mir Hossein Mousavi was given an ultimatum by the Islamic Republic's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in a call to support the re-elected regime of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the London Times reported Friday morning. Khamenei made it clear to Mousavi that if he failed to report to Friday prayers at Teheran University, during which he planned to deliver a sermon calling for national unity, the oppostion leader would be exiled.

Khamenei is expected to be assisted by "an army of Islamic volunteer militiamen" during the sermon. According the report, Khamenei made the demand while meeting with the representatives of candidates of the national elections that Mousavi had claimed were rigged.

The Mystery of the Mother Church

There are apocryphal traditions and legends which claim that Jesus visited some of the ancient pre-Christian mystery temples and wisdom schools, for example, in Egypt and India. It may be significant to note that just few miles from Elilean Isa, on the mainland of the Scottish Isle of Skye, close to Dunvegan, is to be found an extensive ancient site of religious worship known as the Temple of Anaitis. Its close proximity to the Island of Jesus could suggest that Jesus (Isa) may have visited this pre-Christian mystery temple.

Sprinkled across the Highlands and Islands of Scotland, often in remote places, are to be found curious ancient sites of religious worship known by Gaelic name of Annat or Annait which were seen as places of worship relating to Mother Church. These Annat sites appear to be pre-Christian and apparently relate to the worship of Anaitis, the Goddess of the ancient East. In the old Hebrew-Phoenician pantheon, Anaitis or Anath was the sister of the sun god Baal or Bel who was also worshipped in the Celtic regions of the British Isles, Particularly Scotland and Ireland by the Lighting of the Belfane fires.

Anaitis, from whence, in all probability, is derived the Gaelic term annat, was a pre-Christian female deity or goddess who was worshipped not only in Egypt but also in Asia Minor. Along with Baal, she was one of the leading deities worshipped by the Canaanites. She was also worshipped in Anatolia and Armenia, both in Asia Minor. According to Jocob Bryant, many places were styled An-ait…some of these were so called from their situation; others from the worship there established. The Egyptians had many subordinate deities, which they esteemed so many emancipation from their chief god. These derivations they called fountains and supposed them to be derived from the sun; that they looked upon as the source of all things. Hence they formed Ath-El and Ath- Ain, the Athela and Athena of the Greeks. These were two titles appropriate to the same personage, Divine wisdom, as Divine Wisdom was sometimes expressed Ath-Ain, so, at other times, the terms were reversed and the Deity constituted called An-Ait. Temples to this goddess occur at Ecbatana in Media, also in Mesopotamia, Persis, Armenia, and Cappadocia where rites of fire were particularly observed. She was not unknown among the ancient Canaanites; for a temple called Beth- Anath is mentioned in the book of Joshua. Equally to add that ten of thousands of years before the arrival of Indo- European speaking people during the Stone Age and the Bronze Age, it was not God who was worshipped but rather a Great Goddess who reigned supreme in the European religion

Is the fraud allegation just an excuse?

The alleged voting irregularities in Iran are no different than the mishaps which occur in democratic countries, and then the latest developments further highlight the notion that the current tensions have less to do with the election results per se. At the most, allegations of voter fraud are just an excuse, or a pretext. The power struggle behind the scenes, which is important in and of itself, between Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and former president Hashemi Rafsanjani does not lay at the heart of the matter. Khamenei and Rafsanjani are in a tug-of-war for influence, control, and power within the regime. Indeed, Rafsanjani is perceived by Khamenei and Ahmadinejad as the individual backing Mousavi and the reformist camp. But Rafsanjani, Khamenei, and Mousavi are all products of the Islamic Revolution. They are protégés of the founder of the Islamic Republic, Khomeini. Their goal is not to change the character of the Islamic regime. But the supporters that have rallied around Mousavi have other goals in mind. This is a coalition of students and young people whose future holds limited opportunities for meaningful employment, women who have been marginalised from the public landscape, and a middle class that has taken up the cause of human rights. They are not willing to settle for the crumbs that have been sent their way by Khamenei, who is now proposing a partial recount of the votes, perhaps even new elections. They want freedom and democracy. Some of them wish to go further, demanding that Iran become a full-fledged democracy. Khamenei, Ahmadinejad, and the Revolutionary Guards, the pillar on which the regime's power rests, all understand the dilemma with which they have to deal: if they give the order to brutally crack down on the riots, which have already spread to other cities, they are liable to ignite an even bigger conflagration. If they do not suppress the demonstrations, they will be perceived as weaklings who blinked first. In turn, this could whet the appetites of the demonstrators, perhaps moving them to issue more demands. Iran has reached its fork in the road. The direction in which it turns depends only on the working class. The demonstrators today are those from the middle class, those who are not deprived and who are now working towards attaining freedom and liberty. If they gain the support of the working class, the weaker sectors of the society, the poor, the texture of the campaign will take on a completely new dimension. The demand for freedom will be coupled with the demand for bread. In this case, it is difficult to assess whether the regime can withstand such a development.

Long-run educational benefits for children through breastfeeding

Breastfed babies seem more likely to do well at high school and to go on to attend college than infants raised on a bottle, according to a new U.S. study. Professors Joseph Sabia from the American University and Daniel Rees from the University of Colorado Denver based their research on 126 children from 59 families, comparing siblings who were breastfed as infants to others who were not.

By comparing siblings, the study was able to account for the influence of a variety of difficult-to-measure factors such as maternal intelligence and the quality of the home environment.The study, published in the Journal of Human Capital, found that an additional month of breastfeeding was associated with an increase in high school grade point averages of 0.019 points and an increase in the probability of college attendance of 0.014.

"The results of our study suggest that the cognitive and health benefits of breastfeeding may lead to important long-run educational benefits for children," Sabia, a professor of public policy who focuses on health economics, said in a statement."But this is just a start. Much work remains to be done to establish a definitive causal link."

Sabia said the study, using data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health, was the first to use sibling data in order to examine the effect of breastfeeding on high school completion and college attendance."By focusing on differences between siblings, we can rule out the possibility that family-level factors such as socioeconomic status are driving the relationship between having been breastfed and educational attainment," said Rees, an economics professor.

Former President Khatami arrested

There are reports that the former President of Iran Mr. Khatami has been arrested following the aftermath of the fraudulent election result leading to unrest through the country. Mr Khatami, himself a former reformist president supported the defeated candidate Mr. Moussavi in the most controversial election last Friday in Iran. Earlier his brother was also arrested. There are manifestation going on in Tehran and reports coming from inside Iran is confirming that the tension is growing and would be worse since the last rioting in 1999 lead by students. It is being reported that 15 people have been killed so far and hundreds arrested. The European Union has expressed concerned of this unrest and massive fraud and the Vice-president of United States in a statement said, he has doubt on the election's results.

Iran Political unrest in pictures

Following the fraudulent election in Iran, social and political unrest has threatened the country. Who is behind the election fraud, not certainly only Ahmadinejad but also the Khomeini who is the supreme leader of the Islamic republic. He has unlimited power and the president is only his "secretary". So, is it that the Supreme leader himself is corrupted, Is this unrest in Iran a direct message of confrontation with him for more liberty. Are Iranians fed up with the 1979 Revolution and ready to reverse the totalitarian regime? Let's have scence of the unrest through these pictures;

Unrest in Iran following fraudulent election result

Following the heaviest unrest in Teheran for years sparked by Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's presidential election victory, Mir Hossein Mousavi (Prime Minister between 1980 – 1989 and a reformist), the main election challenger who had earlier rejected the results as fraudulent, was put under house arrest. Some reports said Mousavi had been detained en route to see Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. In addition, more than 100 reformists including Mohammad Reza Khatami, the brother of former Iranian president Mohammad Khatami were arrested on Saturday night, leading reformist Mohammad Ali Abtahi told Reuters on Sunday. "They were taken from their homes last night," former vice president Abtahi was quoted as saying.

On Saturday, three protesters were reportedly killed by police in the capital following official Iranian claims that Ahmadinejad's had won Friday's presidential elections by a landslide of 62.6%, but many sections of central Teheran appeared calmer after midnight, with no signs of open clashes. However, the mood remained tense. Large groups of riot police patrolled the streets, moving along drivers who had been honking their horns in apparent protest.

Hashemi Rafsanjani, a former president and head of the Expediency Council - Iran's top political arbitration body, resigned from his office, reportedly in protest over the results. Mousavi's supporters clashed with police and set up barricades of burning tires throughout Saturday. By nightfall, cell phone service appeared to have been cut in Teheran, as helmeted police on foot and others on buzzing motorcycles chased bands of protesters. Officers beat protesters with swift blows from their truncheons and kicks with their boots. Some of the demonstrators grouped together to charge back at police, hurling stones. Plumes of dark smoke streaked over the city. Protesters also torched an empty bus, engulfing it in flames on a Teheran street.

Ahmadinejad, in a nationally televised victory speech, accused the foreign media of coverage that harms the Iranian people and promised "a bright and glorious future" for Iran. Several hundred demonstrators, many wearing the trademark green colors of pro-reform candidate Mousavi's campaign - chanted "the government lied to the people" and gathered near the Interior Ministry, as the final results were announced. It gave 62.6 percent of the vote to Ahmadinejad and 33.75% to Mousavi, a former prime minister who has become the hero of a youth-driven movement seeking greater liberties and a gentler face for Iran abroad. Turnout was a record 85 percent of the 46.2 million eligible voters.

Sara Hasani, a young Iranian who led Mousavi's green campaign in her local neighborhood, alleged that "the government robbed us of Mousavi's victory." It was "simply not possible" that Ahmadinejad had won, she said. "They cannot give us hope and take it away from the people. It appears Ahmadinejad has successfully manipulated the campaign scene better than we thought. Our votes are meaningless. It's a cruel joke," she said.

Khamenei closed the door on any chance he could use his limitless powers to intervene in the disputes. In a message on state TV, he urged the nation to unite behind Ahmadinejad, calling the result a "divine assessment." But Mousavi rejected the result as rigged and urged his supporters to resist a government of "lies and dictatorship."

"I'm warning that I won't surrender to this manipulation," said a statement on Mousavi's Web site. "The outcome of what we've seen from the performance of officials ... is nothing but shaking the pillars of the Islamic Republic of Iran's sacred system and governance of lies and dictatorship."

Mousavi warned "people won't respect those who take power through fraud." Mousavi appealed directly to Khamenei to intervene and stop what he said were violations of the law. Khamenei, who is not elected, holds ultimate political authority in Iran and controls all major policy decisions. Mousavi's campaign headquarters urged people to show restraint.

An apparently skeptical Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said the US hopes the outcome of the election reflects the "genuine will and desire" of the Iranian people. White House press secretary Robert Gibbs said the US administration is paying close attention to reports of alleged election irregularities.

The clashes in central Teheran were the more serious disturbances in the capital since student-led protests in 1999. They showed the potential for the showdown to spill over into further violence and challenges to the Islamic establishment. The demonstrations began Saturday morning shortly before the government announced the final results. Protesters set fire to tires outside the Interior Ministry and anti-riot police fought back with clubs and smashed cars.
An Associated Press photographer saw a plainclothes security official beating a woman with his truncheon. Italian state TV RAI said one of its crews was caught in the clashes in front of Mousavi's headquarters. Their Iranian interpreter was beaten with clubs by riot police and officers confiscated the cameraman's tapes, the station said.

On another main street of Tehran, some 300 young people blocked the avenue by forming a human chain and chanted "Ahmadi, shame on you. Leave the government alone." There were also protests in the southern city of Ahvaz in the oil-rich province of Khuzestan, where Mousavi supporters shouted, "Mousavi, take our votes back!" witnesses said.

It was not clear how many Iranians were even aware of Mousavi's claims of fraud. Communications disruptions began in the later hours of voting Friday, suggesting an information clampdown. State television and radio only broadcast the Interior Ministry's vote count and not Mousavi's midnight news conference. After night fell, Teheran's cell phone network appeared to be down. When users tried to call cell phones, a message appeared on their phones saying "error in connection."

Nationwide, the text messaging system remained down Saturday and pro-Mousavi Web sites were blocked or difficult to access. It was also difficult to access social networking sites such as Facebook, which Mousavi's campaign used to galvanize supporters.

Ahmadinejad called on the public to respect the vote and attacked the foreign media's coverage. "All political and propaganda machines abroad and sections inside the country have been mobilised against the nation," he said in a televised address. "They have launched the heaviest propaganda and psychological war against the Iranian nation. Many global networks continuously worked, employing very complicated methods that work against our nation and arranged a full-fledged battle against us."

Without mentioning the unrest on the streets, Ahmadinejad proclaimed that "a new era has begun in the history of the Iranian nation... A bright and glorious future is ahead ... I invite everyone to join me in constructing Iran," he said. Interior Minister Sadeq Mahsouli, who supervised the elections and heads the nation's police forces, warned people not to join any "unauthorized gatherings." The powerful Revolutionary Guard cautioned Wednesday it would crush any "revolution" against the Islamic regime by Mousavi's "green movement." Police stormed the headquarters of Iran's largest reformist party and arrested several top reformist leaders, said political activists close to the party.

The election outcome will not sharply alter Iran's main policies or sway major decisions, such as possible talks with Washington or nuclear policies. Those crucial issues rest with the ruling clerics headed by Khamenei. But the election focused on what the office can influence: boosting Iran's sinking economy, pressing for greater media and political freedoms, and being Iran's main envoy to the world.

Iran does not allow international election monitors. During the 2005 election, when Ahmadinejad won the presidency, there were some allegations of vote-rigging from losers, but the claims were never investigated. Allegations are widespread that foul play and sabotage impacted the final outcome. Some Iranians are asserting that there were insufficient polling stations and shortages of ballot papers in pro-Mousavi neighborhoods that voters were preventing from casting their ballots by the authorities and that ominous threats were issued that the regime would lash out if Ahmadinejad were to lose.

The "green" Mousavi campaign network was aware of such dangers ahead of Friday's polling and even warned supporters to cast their votes in schools rather than mosques. But the word from his camp is that it was also hamstrung by government interference in his supporters' Internet communications, and that his representatives were not allowed to monitor the voting in some areas. To their misfortune, it is being charged, they were left outside to watch Ahmadinejad's officials direct proceedings.

There are also reports of Iranians being locked out of polling booths in certain provinces while poorer voters, widely regarded as the incumbent president's largest and most dependable group of supporters, lined up with ease to cast their ballots at local mosques. There were even rumors that pens provided at polling stations were filled with disappearing ink. Supporters of Mousavi and fellow reformist challenger Mahdi Karroubi were urged to bring their own. Interior Minister Mahsouli disputed that there were problems; however, Khamenei urged voters, as he cast his ballot Friday, "Don't pay attention to the rumors."

"Deep down I knew Ahmadinejad was promised another four years by the Supreme Leader, but I didn't want to believe it," added a young man who said he had been prevented from voting because the authorities "ran out of ballots."

"Now when I look at Ahmadinejad's behaviuor throughout his campaign," he went on, "it is obvious that he was already preparing for his next term. His last three weeks, for example, have been filled with diplomatic meetings in Pakistan, Iraq, Afghanistan and Turkey. We all should have known the dictator is here to stay."

Mousavi favours trying to repair ties to the US and economic liberalisation. His supporters said Saturday they fear Ahmadinejad, who publicly clashed with his rival over domestic and international issues in a campaign remarkable for the candidates' personal feuding and the intensity of their respective supporters’ street rallies, would now move to unseat reformist figures from positions of influence.

Hizbullah's men arrested in Azerbaijan

Two Hizbullah operatives arrested recently in Azerbaijan for allegedly plotting to attack the Israeli Embassy were caught with Iranian passports and were working on behalf of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards as well as al-Qaida, Azeri news reports have reported. According to new details revealed this week, the two men - identified as Karaki Ali Muhammad and Najmaddin Ali Huseyn - were caught with Iranian passports that they used to enter Azerbaijan.

In addition to the embassy, the cell planned to attack a Jewish community center in Baku as well as the Gabala Radar Station that Russia leases from Azerbaijan and is located in the north of the country. Four Azeri citizens have also been arrested, for allegedly providing the two Lebanese terrorists with logistical support. Azeri police reportedly caught the terrorists with explosives, cameras, pistols equipped with silencers, and reconnaissance photos. The two leaders of the cell were sent to Azerbaijan by Hizbullah and al-Qaida leaders in Lebanon, according to one report.

Mieux connaitre votre type de peau pour le proteger

Aujourd’hui, connaitre son type de peau est important pour choisir des produits de soins spécifiques et adaptés, mais ceux-ci ne contiennent pas les mêmes principes actifs. Les différents types de peau ? Contrairement aux idées reçues qui ont longtemps laissé croire que si l’on avait la peau grasse, il n’était pas nécessaire de l’hydrater, sachez que c'est totalement faux ! Une peau grasse a autant besoin d'hydratation qu'une peau sèche, mais les ingrédients cosmétiques composant le produit ne seront pas les mêmes. Dans un produit pour peau sèche, une huile (de noyau d’abricot par exemple) peut être présente. Ce qui ne conviendra pas du tout à une peau grasse, qui a déjà bien assez de sébum, voire parfois trop. Nous vous proposons de connaitre votre type de peau en moins d'une minute. Indices pour une peau sèche : Votre visage est sensible au vent, au froid… aux agressions extérieures, devient vite rouge et ne reflète que peu la lumière. Elle parait asséchée et manque d’élasticité. Elle est sujette aux gerçures et tiraille souvent... Indices pour une peau grasse : Vous constatez que l’aspect de votre peau est brillant, principalement le front, le nez et le menton (zone appelée « médiane » ou « T ») et que les pores de votre peau sont dilatés. Vous avez des boutons et des points noirs sur cette même zone... Indices pour une peau mixte : Les côtés de votre visage (des tempes au bas des joues) sont du type peau sèche mais votre zone médiane correspond au type peau grasse. Indices pour une peau sensible : Votre visage s’irrite très facilement et devient rouge après l’application d’après-rasage, ou d’un parfum . Elle est sujette à des coups de soleil importants. Vous avez comme de petits vaisseaux rouges (couperose) qui apparaissent sur les joues et sur le nez (principalement de chaque côté des narines). Indices pour une peau normale : Elle ne présente aucune des caractéristiques flagrantes citées ci-dessus. Elle est souple, sans imperfections ni boutons fréquents. Connaissant maintenant votre type de peau, vous n’aurez plus d’excuses pour ne plus choisir les produits adéquats.

Does QEII have an ancient Jewish tie?

Does Queen Elizabeth have an Ancient Jewish tie? The answer to this question can be analysed through understanding the way she was crowned. The very coronation of the British monarch reveals the true background to the Windsors and their predecessors. When the Queen was crowned Elizabeth II on June 2nd 1953, all the regalia of the ceremony, the crowns, sceptres, gowns, orb and bracelets, were taken from the Tower of London and kept overnight in the Jerusalem Chamber at Westminster Abbey.

This chamber is where the scholars met to translate the King James ‘authorised version’ of the Bible under the overall supervision of Sir Francis Bacon and Robert Fludd, the Grand Master of the Priory of Sion. The British Royal family still holds the copyright for this! The Jerusalem Chamber is panelled with cedar wood brought from Lebanon because that was the wood said to be used to build Solomon’s Temple. The tapestry in the chamber depicts the Judgement of Solomon. Westminster Abbey, the ‘Christian cathedral’, is in fact a Pagan temple. Even the floor is made of black and white squares like a Freemasonic temple.

At the start of the ceremony in 1953, the Queen sat on the Coronation Chair and under her bum was the Stone of Destiny which Edward I had stolen from Scone (pronounced ‘scoon’) Abbey in Scotland in 1246. The Stone was brought to Ireland from Israel via Egypt and is also known as Jacob’s Pillar or Pillow. I think the basic theme of that is correct, but there is a great deal more to know about the detail and its true significance. The Archbishop of Canterbury turned to the north, south, east, and west (the four points of the Pagan cross) and the congregation shouted “God save the Queen”. This was symbolic of the story in the Old Testament describing the crowning of ‘Saul’ as King of Israel when people shouted “God save the King”.
This cry can be found eight times in the Old Testament when the Kings of Israel are crowned. The Queen sat in the Coronation Chair holding the Egyptian symbols, a sceptre and a rod. On the top of the sceptre is the Maltese Cross and on the rod is a dove. She also later holds an orb with a Maltese Cross on the top, the same as those used by the Dutch wing.

Queen Elizabeth is seen as a symbolic successor to the legendary founder of Babylon, Queen Semiramis, who was symbolised as a ‘dove’. The Queen was also anointed with oil at her Coronation, the ancient Aryan tradition, which goes back thousands of years. The word ‘Christ’ means the ‘anointed one’ and also “The King”. The oil at the Queen’s coronation was the same mixture as that used in the ancient Middle East. It was carried in a gold vessel called the Ampulla made in the form of a dove.

This is symbolic of the messeh fat used in Egypt by the Royal Court of the Dragon. The anointing at the Coronation is supposed to elevate the monarch to the rank of High Priest, in this case, appropriately, High Priestess of the Church of England as well as head of state.

While this was happening, the Archbishop of Canterbury said:
“As kings, priests, and prophets were anointed: and as Solomon was anointed by Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet, so be thou anointed, blessed and consecrated Queen over the peoples, whom the Lord thy God hath given thee to rule and govern...

The crown used in the ceremony goes back to the time of Edward the Confessor. He was the King of England who built the original Westminster Abbey in 1065 and later the present one was begun by the Templar controlled, Henry III. Edward died in 1066, the very year that William the Conqueror and his St Clair supporters invaded England and won the Battle of Hastings under instructions from the Black Nobility of Venice.

The Coronation Crown is set with 12 jewels along with two depictions of the Maltese Cross. In the Levite-authored Exodus we hear of the Breastplate of Aaron which is set with 12 stones. The same stones, in the same order, appear in the British crown. The Archbishop placed his hands between the Queen’s to pay homage to the new head of his Church and he kissed her right hand. Then he said:
“The Lord Almighty... establishes your throne in righteousness that it may stand for evermore, like as the sun before him and as a faithful witness in Heaven.”

This is almost a repeat of the words used in God’s covenant with David in the Old Testament. The ‘Lord Almighty’ was formerly El Shaddai or Ishkur, the son of Marduk, who is claimed to have been the son of the Anunnaki Assembly, Enki, who, according to the Sumerian Texts as translated by Zecharia Sitchin, was the one who created the human-Anunnaki hybrids with Ninkharsag.

Shooting at US Holocaust Musuem

An American white supremacist opened fire at the US Holocaust Memorial Museum Wednesday, killing a security guard before being shot himself, according to initial reports. The shooter was named as James Von Brunn by a law enforcement official, pending confirmation and speaking on condition of anonymity, who noted that his car had been found near the museum. Both Von Brunn and the security officer, named as Stephen T. Johns, were rushed to hospital following the shootout, which took place at midday. Von Brunn was described by officials as in "grave condition." A Washington Fire Department spokesman said that a third person had been lightly wounded in the exchange, in which two officers fired back at the assailant.

Following the attack, President Barack Obama reacted with shock, saying that the act demonstrated the need to fight anti-Semitism. Bystanders described a scene of fear and chaos as they heard security officers yell at hundreds of students, tourists and museum staff to flee the premises.

Public safety officers then secured the perimeter and cut off vehicles from the site. FBI agents are helping with the investigation, as authorities said they were checking for possible terror connections.

Von Brunn is a well-known white supremacist, Mark Potok of the Southern Poverty Law Center told CNN, referring to a Web site and publications he produced over several years in which he has "raged" against Jews and blacks. He noted that Von Brunn had been arrested in the past in connection to hate crimes.

Several Jewish and Israel groups expressed alarm at the news. "We are shocked and saddened by today's shooting incident at the US Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington. The Embassy of Israel condemns this attack and is closely following the situation," the embassy said in a statement.

In Jerusalem, Diaspora Affairs Minister Yuli Edelstein said, "This evening's incident is, regrettably, yet another proof that anti-Semitism and Holocaust denial are still alive and well. Israel must fight these phenomena in the domestic arena, in the international arena, in the legal arena, in academia and in the media, and must demand that the rest of the world say 'No!' to incidents such as this."

Referendum on Ahmadinejad ahead of Iranian Election on 12 June

The world will be closely watching the Iranian election and how does Iranians vote on 12th June. A win by Holocaust denial Mahmoud Ahmadinejad will bring no change into the current rogue regime which poses a nuclear threat to Europe, Israel and its Sunni Arab countries. However, if without corrupt practices in this election leads to Mousavi’s win, a little change might be expected but it will not change significantly the nuclear threat it poses and whether the Supreme Leader will accept to halt the nuclear programme. Only after the official results that will be declared, we will be able to know whether Ahmadinejad has been able to stand the heat of reformers that propose change in the current Islamic regime.

Those old enough to remember compare the atmosphere on Tehran's streets ahead of Friday's election to the heady days of Iran's revolution 30 years ago. For a week now, the capital's main arteries have been clogged by tens of thousands of supporters of opposition presidential candidate Mir-Hossein Mousavi, often in cars and on motorbikes, waving large green banners, stretching their torsos out the windows to dance to blaring techno beats composed for the candidate, urging a vote for the man best placed to unseat President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
It's a late surge, to be sure, and the electric atmosphere on the streets has taken many by surprise, given the years of apathy and disillusionment that followed the failure of the reform movement led by former President Mohammed Khatami. Despite widespread dissatisfaction with Ahmadinejad's performance in office, a little more than a week ago, opinion polls showed Ahmadinejad ahead of Mousavi. And opposition supporters were depressed by what at first appeared to be Ahmadinejad's victory in the country's first-ever TV debates, as he accused both of his reformist rivals, Mousavi and Mehdi Karroubi, of being part of a corrupt political establishment.

Adopting the style of a populist demagogue, Ahmadinejad hasn't allowed facts to spoil a good argument. In public appearances, for example, he has repeatedly claimed that Iran's inflation rate is 15%, whereas the country's Central Bank puts it at 25%. He insists, against the evidence, that unemployment and the country's disparity in wealth are both on the decline, and he casts himself as an Iranian Robin Hood, depicted on banners as bowing to poor old farmers and deprived children. And in a neat trick for an incumbent, he styles himself as an insurgent outsider: "For four years, power has been out of their hands," says one Ahmadinejad campaign ad. "If we stay for another four years, we will forever eliminate the gang of power and wealth and rescue the revolution completely."

Following his pummeling of opposition candidates in the debates, the President's supporters roamed the streets of Tehran, flush with confidence, brandishing the Iranian flag. But instead of throwing in the towel, Ahmadinejad's challengers went on the offensive. Mousavi, Karroubi and Mohsen Rezai, a conservative challenger, turned their debates with one another into condemnations of Ahmadinejad.

"We are dealing with an astonishing phenomenon here," said Mousavi in one debate. "We're dealing with someone who looks you in the eyes and says white is black ... He has turned the country into a place full of lies and hypocrisy."

That charge turned into a rallying cry for Mousavi supporters, who have taken to chanting "Liar! Liar!" whenever they encounter the President's backers. When he faced Rezai, a former Revolutionary Guard commander, in the final debate on Monday, Ahmadinejad appeared less confident. Rezai challenged the President on the economic numbers, saying, "People, after all, live in this country. They experience inflation. They know the price of things."

The hostile political atmosphere appears likely to ensure a high turnout. "A lot of people who have never voted are planning to vote," says University of Tehran professor Nasser Hadian. "This is a referendum on Ahmadinejad. It's more a movement against the President than anything else."

Ahmadinejad's supporters remain confident, however. On Monday, tens of thousands gathered to hear the President speak at a large mosque in central Tehran. Although many were clearly recognisable by their dress as religious conservatives and members of the basij militia, there were also liberally dressed attendees throwing their support to Ahmadinejad.

A new poll conducted by a group of university researchers predicts a Mousavi win in the first round with 54% of votes, compared to 24% for Ahmadinejad. The poll predicts an unprecedented turnout of 84%. Still, Abtahi told, "It all depends on voters' participation rate. The great crowd of Mousavi supporters has to translate into votes on Friday. Let's hope those young girls and boys aren't more interested in getting each other's phone numbers than they are in voting."

AP contributed to this report

Obama's Cairo address in cartoon

source: M. Lucas

IAEA, Japanese Diplomat favoured

A veteran Japanese diplomat emerged as the favourite to succeed Mohamed ElBaradei as head of the UN nuclear agency after the latter's disastrous terms of office unable to resolve the Iranian nuclear threat and that of North Korea. Most agency board member nations backed him against four other candidates in an informal poll Tuesday. Yukiya Amano received 20 votes from the International Atomic Energy Agency's 35-nation board, diplomats inside the closed meeting said. South Africa's Abdul Sabad Minty was second with 11 votes in the nonbinding poll, while Spain's Luis Echavarri was third with four ballots, the diplomats said. There was no support for Belgiun candidate Jean-Pol Poncelet or for Ernest Petric of Slovenia. The diplomats demanded anonymity for divulging the confidential results.

Criticism can't hurt me

Many of us are indifferent to criticism and I am too but one thing is sure; most of us take the little jibes and javelins that are hurled at us far too seriously. I have been criticised for my stances and views on many matters. Some say, that i am over liberal, others address me as Zionist and so on. However, this has always made me focus on my work and I am happy that I never changed my values and principles on which my preconceived ideas are based on. As it is siad critics are the best awards of the public.

I realise that people are not thinking about you and me or caring what is said about us. They are thinking about themselves. Even if you and I are lied about, ridiculed, double-crossed, knife in the back and sold down the river by one out of the five of every intimate friends, let's not indulge in an orgy of self-pity. Instead, let's remind ourselves that what precisely happened to Jesus and his life life that has been corrupted by Roman Church. However, truth remains the truth in whatever circumstances and it always surfaces at the right time.

I discovered few years ago that although I could not keep people from criticising me unjustly, I could do something infinitely more important. I could determine whether I would let the unjust condemnation disturb me. Let's clear about this: I am not advocating ignoring all criticism. Far from it. I am talking about ignoring only unjust criticism. Former President Bush has been criticised very much but what difference does it makes. He initiated a war against terrorism and kept America and its citizens safe during his mandates. All what counts is the work to get done whether others appreciate or not. As such never be borthered by what people say, as long as you know in your heart you are right.

When you and I are unjustly criticised, just remember that " Do the very best you can and then put up your old umbrella and keep the rain of criticism from running down the back of your neck."

Aki

Who really discovered America?

Prince Henry commissioned Antonio and Nicolo Zeno, the brothers of Carlo Zeno "the Lion" of Venice, to draw a map of the north Atlantic region. The resulting "Zeno Map" was so accurate that sailors of all nations used it for the next 300 years. Recently the military aerial photographic maps have found thirty-seven points of identity with the Zeno Map! In addition, Henry Sinclair reassigned some of his land holdings to his brothers, in case he should not return from this dangerous voyage.

In 1398, Prince Henry set sail with 200-300 men in twelve tiny ships. Antonio Zeno was the navigator and recorder of the fleet's log, which is called the "Zeno Narratives." The voyage took the explorers to Faeroes, Iceland, Greenland, Newfoundland, Nova Scotia and to New England. They had harmonious contacts with the Micmac Indians throughout at least one year. Several archaeological artifacts remain to validate their miraculous adventure. They are the Zeno Narratives and Zeno Map, a Venician cannon in Nova Scotia, the Micmac Indian legends, and a rock carving in Westford, Massachusetts. Some researchers believe that Sinclair and his group built the Newport Tower in Rhode Island. Antonio Zeno reported about Henry Sinclair, "If ever there was a man who is worthy of a mortal memory, it is this man [Henry Sinclair] because of his great bravery and goodness".

Unfortunately, Henry returned and was soon slain in an ambush in Orkney. It is thought that his assassination was ordered by the Hanseatic League to rid itself of such a powerful rival. To make sure that Prince Henry Sinclair's trans-Atlantic achievements were not followed up, the Hansea arranged to have Sinclair's son, also named Henry, arrested at sea while escorting the Crown Prince of Scotland to France for safekeeping. Henry and the King's son were confined for the next fourteen years in an English prison. His other son, William grandson, was content to live in regal comfort in his Rosslyn Castle, where he designed and constructed Rosslyn Chapel. It was adorned with stone carvings, including corn and cactus, not here-to-for known in the Old World. Antonio Zeno also died immediately upon his return voyage. Only Prince Henry's daughter, Elizabeth is credited with passing the story of the epic voyage along to her son, John. He proudly told his in- laws, one of whom was the wife of Christopher Columbus! Later, the Zeno Narratives were discovered, providing the world with a more definitive report of Prince Henry's voyage.

Hillary Clinton's troubling transformation

When Hillary Clinton was New York's junior US senator from 2001 to 2009, she was a vocal supporter of Israel. She was especially strong on Jerusalem, stating in a September 2007 position paper that she believed "Israel's right to exist in safety as a Jewish state, with defensible borders and an undivided Jerusalem as its capital, must never be questioned." Her spokesman even said "this paper is a reflection of her consistent policy... that hasn't changed." In June 2004, Clinton voted for the Senate resolution endorsing President George W. Bush's letter to Prime Minister Ariel Sharon that envisaged Israel retaining "major Israeli population centres" in Judea and Samaria and "defensible borders" in any final peace agreement.

Clinton also repeatedly warned of the monumental dangers of Palestinian incitement to hatred and murder of Jews in their schools, media and mosques as having "dire consequences for peace for generations to come." Clinton even said, "It is clear that the Palestinian Authority, as we see on PA TV, is complicit" in terrorist attacks and that we should condition US aid to the PA on a "cessation of Palestinian propaganda and hateful rhetoric." It has taken only a matter of months to confirm that Secretary of State Clinton bears little resemblance to Senator Clinton on Israel issues.

NOW, SHE enthusiastically supports an unconditional increase in US aid to the PA and Gaza, of $900 million annually, a significant increase. She also demands a total freeze on all Jewish building in Judea and Samaria and eastern Jerusalem. Interviewed on Al-Jazeera TV on May 19, Clinton said, "We want to see a stop to settlement construction, additions, and natural growth - any kind of settlement activity. We made that very clear. I reinforced that last night at a dinner with Prime Minister Netanyahu." She reiterated this even more strongly on May 27 in Egypt: "not some settlements, not outposts, not natural growth exceptions... And we intend to press that point."

She also states publicly that the Obama administration will condition at least some of its efforts to prevent Iran becoming a nuclear power on Israel's willingness to bow to pressure to make concessions to the same PA she once described as "complicit" in terrorism and incitement. Speaking in April before the House Appropriations Committee, Clinton said that "for Israel to get the kind of strong support it's looking for vis-a-vis Iran it can't stay on the sideline with respect to the Palestinian and the peace efforts, that they go hand-in-hand.

Also, already in March, Clinton demanded Israel allow illegally built Palestinian Arab homes in eastern Jerusalem and prohibit legal building of Israeli/Jewish homes in eastern Jerusalem. Such Jewish construction, she said, was "unhelpful." Suddenly, parts of an "undivided Jerusalem" are places where Jews may not move or build, even though Jews were a majority in eastern Jerusalem from the mid-1800s until 1948, when Jordan forced Jewish residents to flee, and are now a majority once again.

Jerusalem has always been the religious, historical and political capital of the Jewish people. Clinton justifies her criticism of Jewish building by reference to the 2003 road map peace plan, which she claims Israel is not fulfilling.

Yet she doesn't mention unfulfilled Palestinian road map obligations that were supposed to occur simultaneously, including an end to the incitement, confiscating illegal weapons, cutting off all funding to terror groups and an immediate call for an end to all violence.

THESE VIOLATIONS were once taken seriously by Clinton - especially incitement. As she put it in an October 2003 Senate committee hearing at which I testified, "How can you think about building a better future, no matter what your political views, if you indoctrinate your children to a culture of death?" And again, in February 2007: "We must stop the propaganda... in idealizing for children a world without Israel, children are taught never to accept the reality of the State of Israel... We cannot build a peaceful, stable, safe future on such a hate-filled violent and radical foundation. In the years since... there has still not been an adequate repudiation of this by the Palestinian Authority."

Today, however, Clinton says nothing about incitement to hatred and murder. Thus, when interviewed this month on a PA-TV teen show and asked, "What would you do if your daughter was unfortunate enough to have been born under occupation, born deprived of freedom and liberty?" Clinton legitimized the question's false premise and actually helped incite hatred against Israel by not refuting it while also ignoring the fact that 98 percent of Palestinians actually live under the PA or Hamas, not Israeli control.

She merely responded that she would give her the "best education I could for her... I would never give up on the dream of a Palestinian state." That an alarming number of Palestinian parents have encouraged their children to become suicide bombers was somehow lost from Clinton's response.

In short, Secretary of State Clinton is deaf to the words that US Senator Clinton once passionately uttered. It is notable that her recent criticisms of Israel impelled New York Assemblyman Dov Hikind to observe, "I liked her a lot more as a senator from New York... Now, I wonder... who the real Hillary Clinton is."

The writer is president of the Zionist Organization of America.

Hamas risking another Cast Lead Op II

If Hamas continues to assist terrorist groups with attacks against Israeli Defense Force (IDF) soldiers, it will risk facing "Operation Cast Lead II," a top IDF commander warned. Lt.-Col. Avinoam Stolevitch's comments came after a group of around 10 Palestinian gunmen armed with "huge amounts of explosives" launched a failed Gaza border assault at the Karni Crossing.

"We are slowly beginning to understand the magnitude of [the threat from the Gaza Strip]," Stolevitch told Army Radio, adding his evaluation that the terrorists had planned a "large explosion to provide cover for a kidnapping" in Monday morning's attack.

A security source told that the terror cell used the cover of morning fog for their attempt, as well as booby-trapped horses. At least four terrorists were killed in the ensuing exchange of fire with the IDF. No Israeli soldiers were wounded in the incident. The terror cell belonged to the Janud Ansar Allah (Soldiers Loyal to Allah) organisation, a small group which is linked to Iran and Hizbullah, the security source added.

Members of the cell, some of whom had suicide bomb belts strapped around their bodies, led the horses from trucks and began planting explosive devices along the fence. They were identified by IDF soldiers on patrol, of Golani's 13th Battalion. The gunmen proceeded to open fire on the troops, while mortar fire from deep within the Gaza Strip was also directed at the soldiers.
Soldiers returned fire, and called for backup. At first, tanks were dispatched to the scene, and fired on the terror cell. Air Force combat helicopters then joined the fight, also firing on terrorist targets from above.

"A very big terror attack was thwarted," the security source said. "These terrorists were armed with a huge quantity of explosives. They launched a combined attack, using mortars, and attempted to approach the border fence with booby-trapped horses to harm our soldiers, before firing on our force."

"Hamas did not carry out this attack but they certainly provide general coverage for these small groups," the source continued, adding that it was too soon to know whether the cell had planned to kidnap soldiers. "The area turned into a war zone," the source said.

"Southern Command forces are prepared for these types of attacks, and are aware of the dangers present in the morning fog. There is always the chance terrorists will try to use it for an attack," he added.

Defense Minister Ehud Barak praised the army's "effectiveness" in foiling the attack, and said it was quite possible that one of the aims of the assault was to kidnap an IDF soldier, a claim made by Hamas television.

"The results speak for themselves, and prove the preparedness and the alertness of our forces along the Gaza border," Barak told a Labor faction meeting. "I hope that all future operations end with the same type of result." Ismail Haniyeh, who heads Gaza's Hamas government, praised the attackers as "martyrs," and said the violence confirmed Israel's "aggressive intentions" toward the Palestinians.

Following the attack, Israel closed the Karni crossing, the main commercial terminal between Israel and Gaza, as well as the Nahal Oz fuel depot. However, 30,000 vaccine units against foot-and-mouth disease were transferred to Gaza via the Erez crossing, despite the thwarted attack. The IDF said that 125,000 units had been supplied to the Strip in the last three months in three separate transfers, due to the importance of preventing the outbreak of the disease. In addition, 140 truckloads of humanitarian aid were scheduled to be transferred via the Kerem Shalom crossing.

JP and AP contributed to this report

Royal seal impression found in Jerusalem

A large building that dates to the time of the First and Second Temples, in which there was an amazing wealth of inscriptions, was discovered in a salvage excavation conducted by Zubair Adawi, on behalf of the Israel Antiquities Authority, in the village of Umm Tuba in southern Jerusalem (between Zur Baher and the Har Homa quarter), prior to construction work by a private contractor.

Considering the limited area of the excavation and the rural nature of the structure that was revealed, the excavators were surprised to discover in it so many royal seal impressions that date to the reign of Hezekiah, King of Judah (end of the eighth century BCE). Four “LMLK” type impressions were discovered on handles of large jars that were used to store wine and oil in royal administrative centers. These were found together with the seal impressions of two high ranking officials named Ahimelekh ben Amadyahu and Yehokhil ben Shahar, who served in the kingdom’s government. The Yehokhil seal was stamped on one of the LMLK impressions before the jar was fired in a kiln and this is a very rare instance in which two such impressions appear together on a single handle.

Another Hebrew inscription, 600 years later than the seal impressions of the Kingdom of Judah, was discovered on a fragment of a jar neck that dates to the Hasmonean period. An alphabetic sequence was engraved with a thin iron stylus below the vessel’s rim in Hebrew script that is characteristic of the beginning of the Hasmonean period (end of the second century BCE). The letters hay to yod and a small part of the letter kaf were preserved on the shard. Similar inscriptions bearing alphabetic sequences were discovered in the past, usually on ostraca (inscriptions written in ink on pottery shards) or engraved on ossuaries (stone receptacles in which human bones were buried). The alphabetic inscription that was discovered in this instance is unique and the significance of it requires further study: was this a “writing exercise” done by an apprentice scribe or should we ascribe to it some magical importance?

The remains of the large building included several rooms arranged around a courtyard. Pits, agricultural installations and subterranean silos were hewn inside the courtyard. A potter’s kiln, a large columbarium cave in which there is a rock-hewn hiding refuge, pottery vessels, etc were also discovered inside the built complex. The pottery vessels that were recovered from the ruins of the building indicate it first dates to the end of the Iron Age (the First Temple period) in the eighth century BCE. Following its destruction, along with Jerusalem and all of Judah during the Babylonian conquest, Jews reoccupied it in the Hasmonean period (second century BCE) and it existed for another two hundred years until the destruction of the Second Temple. During the Byzantine period the place was reinhabited as part of the extensive rural settlement of monasteries and farmsteads in the region between Jerusalem and Bethlehem.

Some three years ago the impressive remains of a monastery from this period were excavated that together with the remains of the current excavation confirm the identification of the place as “Metofa”, which is mentioned in the writings of the church fathers in the Byzantine period. The name of the Arab village, “Umm Tuba” is therefore a derivation of Byzantine “Metofa”, which is Biblical “Netofa” and is mentioned as the place from which two of David’s heroes originated (2 Samuel 23:28-29).

The Warrior Kings and the Merovingians

The Visigoths were adherents of the Aryan, which denied the divinity of Jesus but simply viewed him as human. Their descendants founded the Merovingian dynasty, which ruled Gaul until the death of king Dagobert II.

The Bibliotheque Nationale in Paris contains a facsimile produced by the monk Lucerius of the highly reputed Fredegar's Chronicle - an exhaustive 7th-century historical work of which the original took 35 years to compile. A special edition of Fredegar's manuscript was presented to the illustrious Nebelungen court and was recognised by the state authorities as a comprehensive, official history. Fredegar, who died in the year 660, was a Burgundian scribe, and his Chronicle covered the period from the earliest days of the Hebrew patriarchs to the era of the Merovingian kings. It cited numerous sources of information of cross-reference, including the writings of St Jerome (translator of the Old Testament into Latin), Archbishop Isidore of Seville and Bishop Gregory of Tours.

Christ’s descendent intermarried with the Royal Franks to found what eventually became the mystical Merovingian Dynasty. Ergo, the real mission of the Templars and Priory of Sion: to safeguard not just the treasure of the Crusades, but to preserve the Grail and the dynastic legacy of Christ.

"'Sang réal' has been traditionally interpreted as the 'Holy Grail’, that, Mary Magdalene carried to the Jewish kingdom of southern Gaul including Rennes-le-Château. Mary Magdalene was the wife of Jesus and that what she brought was not a vessel but the royal seed of David in her womb. The Merovingians were considered in their day to be quasi-mystical warrior-kings vested with supernatural powers.

Up until recently, little was known about these longhaired kings, as they inhabited that historical epoch derided as the 'Dark Ages'. The founder of the royal line, Merovech, was said to be of two fathers - his mother, already pregnant by King Chlodio, was seduced while swimming in the ocean by a 'Quinotaur,' whatever that was, and Merovech was formed somehow by the commingling of Frankish blood and that of the mysterious aquatic creature. Like the Nazoreans of old, the Merovingian monarchs never cut their hair, and bore a distinctive birthmark - said to be a red cross over the shoulder blades or even in their belly or both which still continues today. Their robes were fringed with tassels, which were said to carry magical curative powers. They were known as occult adepts, and in one Merovingian tomb was found such items as a golden bull's head, a crystal ball, and several golden miniature bees. And strangely, many skulls of these monarchs appear to have been ritually incised, that is trephanned.

The Merovingians were 'sacred kings' who reigned but did not rule, leaving the secular governing function to chancellors known as the Mayors of the Palace. It was the one of the Mayors, Pepin the Fat, who founded the dynasty that came to supplant them - the Carolingians."

The Merovingians traced their ancestry back to the Benjamites who, according to legend, has fled from Israel to Arcadia in Greece. One of the more mysterious footnotes in history is the story of the Principality of Septimania. Granted by Peppin III to the large Jewish population in the south of France, its first king, Theodoric, claimed descent not only from the Merovingian Kings, but lineal descent from King David himself. Both the king and the Pope acknowledged this pedigree. His son, Guillem de Gellone, was a great, almost legendary hero about whom no less than six medieval epics were written. He is closely linked with the Grail family. . His descendant, 17 generations later, was Godefroi de Bouillon, leader of the First Crusade who was, by the Pope, made King of Jerusalem."