Friday, July 20, 2012

07/20/12

* Al-Aqsa Sheikh: Jerusalem will be Muslim Forever Sheikh Yusuf Salameh, a preacher at the Al-Aqsa Mosque, denounced on Thursday a statement by Israel's Attorney General that Israeli law must be applied to the Al-Aqsa Mosque complex in Jerusalem.

* Russia, China veto of Syria sanctions spark West's outrage Russia and China on Thursday vetoed a UN Security Council resolution on Syria for the third time.

* Israel eases West Bank travel restrictions for Ramadan To mark the start of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, Israel is easing travel restrictions for West Bank Palestinians.

* Russia official: Assad ready to step down from power; Syria denies Syrian President Bashar Assad has accepted that he will have to leave power, but will only leave in an orderly way.

* Israel threatens a 'heavy price' for Iran after deadly Bulgaria bus bomb Israel yesterday fuelled fears of a further escalation in the already high tensions with Iran by promising to "exact a heavy price" from the perpetrators of the suicide bombing which killed seven people in Bulgaria.

* Bundestag approves Spanish bailout with large majority The German Parliament on Thursday (19 July) approved a bailout for the Spanish banking sector of up to 100 billion.

* Massive protests in Spain against austerity cuts Tens of thousands of angry Spaniards protested in 80 cities throughout Spain on Thursday against the government's latest austerity package.

* London 2012: Coe promises 'safe and secure Games' London 2012 chairman Lord Coe has promised a "safe and secure Games" despite the security guards fiasco.

* US military allowed to wear uniforms at gay pride march The US military will for the first time allow its members to wear uniform at a gay pride march.

* Is There a 'Presbyterian War on Israel'? On July 6, after much speculation, the Presbyterian Church (USA) narrowly rejected a proposal to divest its portfolio from companies that supply equipment to Israel.