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Israel: Syria Deploying Thousands of Rockets on Border
by Ron Bousso
 Syria has positioned on its border with Israel thousands of rockets capable of striking major towns across northern Israel, Israeli military and government sources said. This deployment, coupled with other recent reports of Syrian troop mobilization, is seen in Israel as an indication that Damascus may be preparing for future "low intensity warfare," they said. "We have noticed that in recent months Syria has deployed hundreds, possibly thousands, of medium- and long-range rockets along the border," one military source said. (AFP/Yahoo)
See also Syria Arms for War - Aluf Benn
In an interview, former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he tends to accept the Mossad's assessment that Syria is not heading toward peace. Netanyahu quotes intelligence assessments that the Syrian military acquisitions budget has increased tenfold. (Ha'aretz)
See also No Syrian Movements on Border, Says IDF (Ynet News)
U.S. Calls UN Human Rights Council 'Anti-Israel'
 For the second year in a row, the United States has decided not to seek a seat on the UN Human Rights Council, the State Department said last week, accusing the panel of an anti-Israeli bias. Spokesman Sean McCormack said the Council has had a "singular focus" on Israel, while countries such as Cuba, Myanmar and North Korea have been spared scrutiny. The most senior Republican member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, supported the administration decision. "Rather than standing as a strong defender of fundamental human rights, the Human Rights Council has faltered as a weak voice subject to gross political manipulation," she said. (AP/Jerusalem Post)
School Linked to Hamas Gets U.S. Cash
by Joel Mowbray
 Millions of dollars in U.S. foreign aid have been given in the past several years to two Palestinian universities - one of them controlled by Hamas - that have participated in the advocacy, support or glorification of terrorism. The funding - principally in scholarships to individual students - is being eyed by several members of Congress and their aides, who say it may violate U.S. law. The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) has provided more than $140,000 in assistance to the Hamas-controlled Islamic University in  Gaza - including scholarships to 49 of its students - since Congress changed the law in 2004 to restrict aid to entities or individuals "involved in or advocating terrorist activity." (Washington Times)
See also Exhibit Glorifying Terror at Palestinian University (YouTube)
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IDF: Hamas Terrorists Boosted by New Ability to Travel Abroad
by Avi Issacharoff
 "Boosted by their newfound ability to travel abroad, Hamas militants have been going back and forth to hostile countries for training," IDF Southern Commander Maj.-Gen. Yoav Galant said last week. "They are sending activists to Syria, Lebanon, Iran. And the  opposite. People from Iran come inspect the situation in the area, give them the proper training and coaching, examine them and see if they hit the target they gave them." Galant said the training and technology from Iran has enabled Hamas to grow from a ragtag militia into a well-organized group resembling an army - complete with special forces for surveillance, snipers, and explosive experts. Galant also called the Gaza cease-fire a tactical move for Hamas to strengthen itself. (Ha'aretz)
See also Israeli Commander: Hamas Growing Stronger (AFP/Yahoo)
See also Israel: Iran Is Training Hamas by Steven Erlanger (New York Times)
Hamas Leader: Israel Recognition Never
 A senior Hamas leader told Iran last week that the Palestinian group would never recognize Israel as a sovereign state. State-television IRIB quoted visiting Hamas politburo head Khalid Mashal as telling Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in Tehran that his group would never recognize the “Zionist state” and would continue resistance against Israeli occupation. Ahmadinejad in turn urged Mishal to keep up resistance against Israel and end political infighting in the Palestinian territories. (Gulf Times)
See also Hamas Leader, Ahmadinejad Meet to Plan Next Steps by Dudi Cohen (Ynet News)
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