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Brussels joins the chorus: EU concerned over US bill on Russia sanctions, warns of 'unintended consequences'


RT
Sun, 23 Jul 2017 14:52 UTC
EU building
© John Thys / AFP
Brussels has urged US lawmakers to coordinate their anti-Russia actions with European partners, as Washington steams ahead with a new bill to expand sanctions against Moscow. "Unilateral measures" could undermine transatlantic unity and have "unintended consequences," the EU warned.

On Saturday, US Republicans and Democrats reached agreement to clear any further hurdles for proposed legislation which seeks to apply additional sanctions on Russia. The measure, if signed into law, will also give Congress veto powers to block any easing of Russian sanctions by the president.

Restrictions against Moscow are part of the Countering Iran's Destabilizing Activities Act, aimed not only at Tehran, but also North Korea. Passed by the Senate last month, the measures seek to impose new economic measures on sectors of Russia's economy.
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Star of David

Review of Ilan Pappe's Book: Ten myths about Israel

Dr. Ludwig Watzal
Global Research
Sun, 23 Jul 2017 14:39 UTC
zionist israel
Particularly, in the US and some European States, the Israeli and Zionist versions of history are widespread. Israel's narrative relies on a collection of myths aimed at bringing the moral right and the ethical behavior of the Palestinians into twilight and making their claim to their country appear as illegitimate. Israel's negation of Palestinian existence in the Land of Palestine is, however, a falsification of history.

"Ten Myths About Israel" came out in Germany in 2016 under the title "What's wrong with Israel? The Ten Main Myths of Zionism". The mainstream media ignored it, which could also be the case in the US. It's sad but that how media power works in favor of Israel.

Israeli historian Ilan Pappe, who lives in exile in Britain, deals in this book with the myths of Zionism and exposes them as legends consisting of half-truths and fabrications of history. The Zionist narrative has only little to do with historical reality and truth.
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Info

Iran and Iraq sign memorandum boosting military cooperation


RFE/RL
Sun, 23 Jul 2017 14:48 UTC
Haidar al-Abadi
© epa
Iran and Iraq have signed an agreement to boost military cooperation and counter "terrorism and extremism," a deal likely to trigger concerns in the United States.

Iranian news agencies reported that the memorandum of understanding signed by the two countries' defense ministers on July 23 also covers border security, technical and military support, and logistics and training.

Iran and Iraq fought a bloody 1980-88 war during the reign of Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein. But bilateral ties have improved after Hussein was ousted in 2003 and a government led by Shi'ite Muslims took power in Baghdad. Iran is a predominately Shi'ite nation.

U.S. President Donald Trump, a vocal critic of the 2015 deal with world powers to lift some sanctions on Iran in exchange for curbs on its nuclear program, has taken a hard line on Tehran since he took office in January.

His administration has accused Iran of stoking unrest across the Middle East by supporting terrorist groups in Iraq, Syria, Yemen, and Lebanon.
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Star of David

IDF opposes Iranian presence in de-escalation zone in Southern Syria


Sputnik
Sun, 23 Jul 2017 14:42 UTC
Syrian battle map in Russia
© AFP 2017/ Vasily MAXIMOV
Israel opposes the Iranian presence near its border in de-escalation zone in the southern regions of Syria, a spokesman for Israel Defense Forces (IDF) told Sputnik Sunday.

In early July, a de-escalation zone was established in the southwestern part of Syria in the districts of Deraa, Suweida and Quneitra. On Saturday, an agreement on the Eastern Ghouta deescalation zone near Damascus, north of the southwestern zone, was signed. Secretary of the opposition Popular Diplomacy Movement Mahmoud Afandi told Sputnik that the monitoring of the zone was likely to be carried out by the United States and Russia without Iran.

"The Israeli army's position on the ceasefire in southern Syria follows the political position of the Israeli government... We reject any Iranian presence on the border with Israel and will work on this issue according to the decisions made by the political leadership," head of the IDF Spokesperson's Arabic desk Avichai Adraee said.
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Rocket

IDF says rocket launched into Israel from Gaza Strip - another dud, no one injured


RT
Sun, 23 Jul 2017 14:31 UTC
rockets launched from the Gaza Strip towards Israel
© Amir Cohen / ReutersSmoke trails are seen as rockets are launched from the Gaza Strip towards Israel as seen from the Israeli border
A rocket was launched from the northern Gaza Strip early Sunday morning, according to the Israeli Defense Force (IDF).

The weapon "exploded mid-air," according to the IDF announcement posted on Twitter.

No one was injured in the alleged attack, the Israeli military said, without immediately providing any further details.

The alleged projectile was reportedly headed to the Ahskelon coastal region in southern Israel, the Times of Israel reported.
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Info

Doha expects Moscow to become one of Qatar's major economic partners


Sputnik
Sun, 23 Jul 2017 14:26 UTC
Doha, Qatar
© REUTERS/ Stringer
Qatari Ambassador to Russia Fahad Mohammed Attiyah said in an interview with Sputnik that Moscow will become one of Doha's major economic partners.

The Gulf crisis would influence economic cooperation between Russia and Qatar, making Moscow one of Doha's key partners, Qatari Ambassador to Russia Fahad Mohammed Attiyah told Sputnik.

"We are now going to have a new economic outlook, strengthen the existing partnership that we have with Russia and with other nations, and build a more resilient economy, which partly demands more self-reliance and also partly involves further engagement and diversification from being dependent to certain countries. And Russia is definitely one of those countries that will be, I would say, one of the major partners in this future economic plan," the ambassador said.

In June, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt cut off diplomatic relations with Qatar over allegedly supporting terrorism and interfering in domestic affairs of the countries. Kuwait acts as the mediator in the crisis.
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Dunford says Turkey purchasing Russian S-400 air defense systems would concern Washington


RT
Sun, 23 Jul 2017 14:21 UTC
S-400 Triumph missile launcher
© Ramil Sitdikov / Sputnik
Ankara procuring the advanced S-400 anti-missile system from Russia would become a matter of concern for Washington, Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff Joseph Dunford said, dismissing reports of the purchase as "incorrect."

"There was a media report that was incorrect. They have not bought the S-400 air defense system from Russia. That would be a concern, were they to do that, but they have not done that," General Dunford said Saturday at the Aspen Security Forum in Colorado.

Russia and Turkey have been discussing the contract since November 2016, with top officials from both sides confirming at different times the deal has been "agreed upon" and "having arrived at the final decision point." Since Ankara is reportedly seeking a loan to get the systems, "the current discussion refers to financial issues," according to Rostec CEO Sergey Chemezov.
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Attention

'Campaign for Jerusalem has begun': Israeli media reports Fatah vows to win control of Al-Aqsa mosque


Sputnik
Sun, 23 Jul 2017 13:06 UTC
Dome of the Rock
© REUTERS/ Eliana Aponte/File Photo
President of the Palestine Authority Mahmoud Abbas has called for a fight to "take control of Al-Aqsa" and to conquer a "racist Israeli plot."

Abbas spoke July 21 at a meeting of Palestinian leaders in the West Bank city of Ramallah, announcing that all contact with Israel would be frozen.

According to a statement from the Palestinian Authority's ruling party Fatah, the "campaign for Jerusalem has effectively begun, and will not stop until a Palestinian victory and the release of the holy sites from Israeli occupation," cited by the Times of Israel.

In a Saturday statement, Fatah spoke glowingly of Palestinians who protested in Jerusalem on Friday. The protests turned violent, according to the Jerusalem Post, with three protesters killed by Israeli law enforcement and some 200 wounded.
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Propaganda

Bad translation fake news alert: Putin as president for life

Denis Churilov
Fort Russ News
Sun, 23 Jul 2017 13:01 UTC
The Hill tweet
Fake news alert! In reality, Putin was asked about his plans after he leaves his position as the President. Putin said that he is not yet sure whether he wants to leave the post just yet ("Я еще не решил, хочу ли я уйти с поста президента"; literally "I have not decided whether I want to leave the Presidential position yet"). He said nothing about staying president for lifetime. It was quite obvious from the context that he was talking about the 2018 Elections.

It's either that the Hill has terrible translators who fail to perform their job adequately or they are deliberately misinforming/brainwashing their audience and creating the narrative that would present Putin as a dictator who disregards the law and proclaims himself a lifetime ruler. Either way, it's a textbook example of a fake news.
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Newspaper

Dirty laundry: US dishes dirt on Saudis to flush Gulf blockade on Qatar

Finian Cunningham
RT
Sun, 23 Jul 2017 12:47 UTC
Gulf nation leaders
© Getty Images
It's been a bad week for the Saudi rulers in the US media. A slew of embarrassing stories got wide coverage, with the seeming intention of undermining Saudi Arabia and its Gulf allies. Not coincidentally, the Saudi-led bloc then capitulated in its standoff with Qatar.

The row between Qatar and the other Gulf states of Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and Bahrain has been the worst flare up in relations among the US-backed oil and gas monarchies going back many years.

All of the energy-rich sheikhdoms are American allies, or more accurately, client regimes. The prolonged rift in which the Saudi-led bloc was supported by Egypt and a few other Arab nations was at the same time posing a danger to American strategic interests in the vital region.
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