JERUSALEM – Reuters Israel’s defense minister said on April 22 a Palestinian scientist shot dead in Malaysia was a rocket expert and “no saint,” but dismissed suggestions by Hamas that Israel’s Mossad spy agency assassinated him. Two men on a motorcycle fired 10 shots at Fadi al-Batsh, an engineering lecturer, in Kuala Lumpur on April 21, killing him on the spot, the city’s police chief, Mazlan Lazim said. Hamas, which rules the Gaza Strip, said one of its members had been assassinated in Malaysia. Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh said Mossad had been behind past attempts to kill Palestinian scientists, and the attack on Batsh “follows this sequence.” Israeli Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman said it was likely that Batsh was killed as part of an internal Palestinian dispute. “We heard about it in the news. The terrorist organizations blame every assassination on Israel - we’re used to that,” Lieberman told Israel Radio. … [Read more...] about Israel denies reports it killed Palestinian in Malaysia
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Times letters: GP merger and Israel
PUBLISHED: 08:00 22 April 2018 Buckingham Road Surgery is to merge with Law Medical Group: Picture: GOOGLE Archant Letters, contributions and comments sent in from Times’ readers this week. GP’s merger is a disgrace Mrs Margaret Akers, Ridley Road, Harlesden, writes: I am writing in response to the article in the Kilburn Times, March 29, concerning the amalgamation of the Buckingham Road Medical Surgery with the Law Medical Surgery. It states patients were consulted and were happy with the outcome. But the first my friend and I knew about this was about six weeks before the closure when the information was given to me by the pharmacist in the chemist in Harlesden. The only information from Buckingham Road Surgery was a letter we received about 10 days before they closed. We were never consulted or given any information prior to this and I can’t say either of us is happy. I find this pretty disgraceful with little regard for the patients. Israel not to blame David … [Read more...] about Times letters: GP merger and Israel
Thousands rally in Tel Aviv to protect Israel from turning into ‘Netanyahu state’ (VIDEO)
Alarmed and angered by a draft bill that would strip Israel’s Supreme Court of the power to overturn laws, thousands of activists have staged a protest in Tel Aviv, accusing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of a power grab. Chanting slogans against the Israeli PM, hundreds of anti-government activists marched down the streets of Tel Aviv holding banners. “'Bibi take your hands off the supreme court', 'Corrupted, you don't have a mandate' and 'Bibi, organized crime, leave the supreme court alone',” they shouted. Israeli nationalists rage & burn Palestinian flag outside joint Memorial Day service (VIDEO) The Knesset’s next parliamentary session, which starts on April 29, will debate and vote on the bill, designed to curb the High Court’s power. If adopted, the bill, based on the so-called ‘British model’, would allow only the Israeli parliament to cancel or change laws, limiting the Supreme Court's power to override the Knesset in … [Read more...] about Thousands rally in Tel Aviv to protect Israel from turning into ‘Netanyahu state’ (VIDEO)
Turkey, Israel to try to finalize gas deal by year end
Turkey and Israel agreed to try to conclude the inter-governmental umbrella agreement that will enable the construction of the Turkey-Israel pipeline by the end of this year, Israel's Minister of National Infrastructure, Energy and Water Resources, Yuval Steinitz said on Wednesday. Speaking at the ministerial session organized on the sidelines of 22nd World Petroleum Congress in Istanbul, of which Anadolu Agency is the global communication partner, Steinitz confirmed that he just had a very constructive meeting with his Turkish counterpart, Berat Albayrak. "We decided after four rounds of talks to accelerate our talks and try to conclude the government-to-government umbrella agreement that will enable the construction of Israel-Turkey pipeline before the end of this year. We are making enormous efforts to conclude it," he said. "Hopefully Mr. Albayrak will also pay a visit to Israel this year in 2017, which will help us … [Read more...] about Turkey, Israel to try to finalize gas deal by year end
Israel’s Mossad accused of assassinating Palestinian ‘rocket scientist’ in Malaysia
The family of a Palestinian lecturer, allegedly linked to a Hamas drone and rocket program, has accused Mossad of his murder in Kuala Lumpur. Malaysian authorities have also hinted at potential involvement of foreign intelligence. The Palestinian, identified as Fadi Mohammad al-Batsh, was assassinated in the Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur on Saturday. Two suspects had awaited the victim for some 20 minutes and then gunned him down, fleeing the scene on a motorcycle, according to local police. “The suspect fired 10 shots, four of which hit the lecturer in the head and body. He died on the spot. The police also found two empty bullet shells there,” Kuala Lumpur Police chief Mazlan Lazim told reporters. Al-Batsh, a 35-year-old lecturer with a private university, reportedly served as an imam at a local surau, a smaller Malaysian variant of a mosque. The police chief said the investigators would look into all possible theories on the events, including the potential involvement … [Read more...] about Israel’s Mossad accused of assassinating Palestinian ‘rocket scientist’ in Malaysia