Iranian-Backed Group “Al-Sabirin” members Arrested in Bethlehem.

Iranian-Backed Group “Al-Sabirin” members Arrested in Bethlehem. (Aawsat).

Ramallah- Palestinian security forces in the West Bank managed to abort an attempt on establishing an infrastructure for the “Al-Sabirin [The Patient] for the Victory of Palestine.”. The movement is present in Gaza and is known for its direct affiliation with the Iranian regime.

Security sources told Asharq Al-Awsat that five activists affiliated with the newly-founded movement in Bethlehem, located east of the West Bank, were arrested. They had received funds from “Al-Sabirin” in Gaza, and are presumed to harbor intentions of establishing movement units in the West Bank.

Sources clarified that this is not the first time the Iranian government has attempted to form armed factions in the West Bank. During the Second Intifada, they tried to support militant factions via the Lebanese Hezbollah, yet they failed.

“Al-Sabirin” is a movement that was launched in Gaza, over two years ago. Hisham Salem, founder of the movement, is an ex-Islamic Jihad leader and one of those who broke away from their factions to launch movements supported by Iran.

It is believed that the arrested activists in Bethlehem belong to families who had previously converted to Shi’itism. Moreover, Salem did not hide the presence of “Al-Sabirin” agents in both the West Bank and Jerusalem.

Salem said that he had received full-on support from the Iranian government, just the way Hezbollah did. Salem clarified that his movement is not a Shi’ite one; however Palestinians, especially in Gaza, found his declaration hard to believe.

Sources also told Asharq Al-Awsat that Iranian support flowing in for “Al-Sabirin” clearly defines the orientation of the movement.

Many consider Salem a mere Iranian proxy promoting Shi’itism across the Gaza Strip. Other Islamic movements and the Salafists had broadcasted several times videos in which events and rituals relevant to the Shi’ite sect being held in Gaza. What makes accusations real for observers, is the YouTube videos showing Salem talking about historical events that are important to Shi’ites, such as the battle of Karbala and the killing of Imam Hussein.

Palestinians are concerned that movements like “Al-Sabirin” will lead to an outbreak of sectarian strife in the Gaza Strip.

Israeli Shin Bet arrests ISIS-influenced cell in West Bank.

Israeli Shin Bet arrests ISIS-influenced cell in West Bank. (JPost).

The Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) arrested a Hebron-based terrorism cell in November that was affiliated with the Islamic State, security forces announced on Sunday.

The cell planned to carry out a range of terrorist attacks, the Shin Bet said, and detonated a bomb in an attempted attack against the IDF, which failed to cause injuries.

Members of the cell are all residents of Hebron, the Shin Bet added, naming three men in their eary 20s. Read the full story here.

Shin Bet arrests Islamic State-linked #terrorcell in Hebron #IDF #terrorism http://t.co/4ORRLQHujg pic.twitter.com/ycpTx91vtA

— Terrorism Updates (@terrorism_info) January 4, 2015

Israel - Two suspected Murderers of Jewish teens Killed in West Bank Raid.

Israel - Two suspected Murderers of Jewish teens Killed in West Bank Raid. (Ynet).

In a joint operation with the IDF and Israeli SWAT teams, Shin Bet operatives located and killed Amar Abu-Eisha and Marwan Kawasmeh early this morning - two of the suspects involved in the kidnap and murder of Gil-Ad Shaer, Naftali Frenkel, and Eyal Yifrach in June. Hamas confirmed their deaths and praised the two for a lifetime of “sacrifice.”

Elior Levy reports for Ynet that according to the official Shin Bet announcement, security forces arrived at the suspected location in the West Bank in an effort to arrest the two men, when a firefight broke out during which both suspects were killed.

It was also cleared for publication by the Shin Bet that Bashar Kawasmeh, Mahmed Kawasmeh, and Taar Kawasmeh, the sons of the third suspect, Arafat Kawasmeh, who’s already in custody, were arrested overnight.

Hamas’ spokesperson abroad, Hussam Barduan, confirmed the killing, saying “Two members of the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, Amar Abu-Eisha and Marwan Kawasmeh, were killed after a long life of sacrifice and giving. This is the way of the resistence and we follow in its wake step after step.”

IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Benny Gantz also commented on the killing, saying “on the eve of Rosh HaShanh,  Operation Brother’s Keeper, which began on June 13th, has ended. We promised the Shaer, Frenkel and Yifrach families we would get the murders of their sons, and this morning we did it.”

The Shin Bet has spent months searching for Kawasme (29) and Abu-Eisha (32), terrorists from the Chevron area, after they were named as the killers of the three teens, who were grabbed and shot dead near a settlement on June 12. Read more at Ynet.

DRAMATIC FOOTAGE: Israeli SWAT team hunting Palestinian murderers of three Israeli teens today. http://t.co/og62SY2ex0

— Israel News Feed (@IsraelHatzolah) September 23, 2014

Funeral of Amer Abu Eisheh & Marwan Qawasmeh, who kidnapped and murdered 3 Israeli teens, killed this morning by IDF. pic.twitter.com/K1gXDhhKbN

— Israel News Feed (@IsraelHatzolah) September 23, 2014

EU Foreign Policy Chief Catherine Ashton Wants Settlement Goods Labeled.

EU Foreign Policy Chief Catherine Ashton Wants Settlement Goods Labeled.(Fars).EU Foreign Policy Chief Catherine Ashton called for correct labeling of products imported from Israeli settlements in a move which could be a precursor to a ban on such products in response to Israel's settlement activities on the occupied territories.

The European Union is intensifying its efforts toward labeling Israeli goods produced beyond the pre-1967 lines - in the Golan Heights, and across the so-called Green Line in East Jerusalem and the West Bank - as not having originated in Israel.

The move could be a precursor to a ban on such products, though insiders do not consider this likely in the foreseeable future, The Times of Israel reported Friday.

In a new letter to the foreign ministries of the 27 member states, EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton called for the full implementation of existing EU legislation according to which products from West Bank settlements and the Golan Heights and East Jerusalem do not receive the same treatment as products from areas the EU recognizes as Israeli territory.

To date, the existing EU legislation - designed to express the union's frustration over Israel's settlement policies and the stalemate in the peace process - has not been implemented. Ashton's letter marks a significant push within the EU to label settlement products as such.

"The EU and its member states have a clear position on settlement activities in the occupied territories. Closely linked to this is the question of products imported into the EU originating beyond Israel's pre-1967 borders and their correct labeling on the EU market," Ashton wrote in text of the letter quoted by Maariv on Friday.

Some EU member states have already introduced voluntary national guidelines on the labeling of such products and others are currently planning to do so, Ashton wrote. "An increasing number of member states" have been calling to formulate and implement EU guidelines "in a coherent manner," she added.

In a new report sent to Brussels and foreign ministries in the 27 member states, the consuls general, who are stationed in East Jerusalem and Ramallah, called on the EU to "prevent, discourage and raise awareness about problematic implications of financial transactions including foreign direct investments, from within the EU in support of settlement activities, infrastructure and services," Haaretz reported Wednesday.Read the full story here

Obama's New BFF Morsi to reportedly send security delegation to Israel.

Obama's New BFF Morsi to reportedly send security delegation to Israel.(TOI).Egypt will send a security delegation to Israel in the coming days for talks reportedly centered on the Egyptian-brokered Israeli-Hamas truce and on opening the Gaza border, the Palestinian Ma’an news agency reported on Monday.
According to an anonymous Egyptian security official, Egypt will push for Israel to allow commercial goods to enter Gaza via the Gazan-Egyptian border. Egypt and Israel maintain security cooperation regarding the Gaza Strip’s borders.
The meeting comes several days after two separate visits by Israeli delegations to Cairo for what are being called indirect talks with Hamas.
“Israel has agreed to allow entry of construction material from Qatar, which the Israelis refused before,” the Egyptian official said. “This reflects that both sides have been holding talks behind the scenes to avoid alerting the public in Egypt, which refuses cooperation with Israel and the United States.”
Last week, it was reported that Israeli and Egyptian defense officials met at the Cairo airport for general talks on regional security issues, and that such meetings, which also include indirect negotiations between Israel and Hamas via Egyptian intermediaries, have been going on for several weeks.Read the full story here.

Official: Israel 'serious' about cutting West Bank power.

                                 Weapons are expensive......................So is Electricity

Official: Israel 'serious' about cutting West Bank power.(Maan).Israeli and Palestinian officials will meet this week to discuss the Palestinian electric company's debts and set a payment schedule to postpone blackouts in the occupied West Bank. Palestinian Energy Authority director Omar Kittaneh and the director of an Israeli company will attend the meeting, said Hisham al-Omari, the director of the Jerusalem Electric Company. Al-Omari said the Israeli electric company is demanding back payments and is serious about cutting off electricity to Ramallah, Bethlehem Jericho and parts of Jerusalem if payments are not received. The Jerusalem Electric Company owes about 415 million shekels ($104 million), he said. Al-Omari blamed the Palestinian Authority for failing to seek payments from refugee camps and said the company could not take responsibility for the camps, which are exempted from paying for electricity. "The PA should take financial responsibility for the refugee camps. The camps are part of us, and they have to take responsibility and pay their bills," he said. Al-Omari will meet with the minister of finance, Nabil Qasis, and energy authority director Kittaneh to resolve the issue, he said.Read the full story here.

Israel Palestinian Conflict: The Truth About the West Bank

HT:IsraelMatzav.