The Middle East

UN’s Nuclear Watchdog Worried about Iran

By Bobby Rajabi
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

VIENNA, Austria – On February 18 the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the nuclear watchdog of the United Nations, announced that they were concerned that Iran was working on a nuclear warhead. The IAEA, based in Vienna, has been investigating for a number of years reports claiming that the Islamic Republic was involved in weapons research. Based on the UN’s announcement, the United States has voiced renewed concern in Iran’s nuclear program.
The report was prepared by the thirty five members of the IAEA. The chief of the agency, Yukiya Amano, explained that “the information available to the agency…raises concerns about the possible existence in Iran of past or current undisclosed activities related to the development of a nuclear payload for a missile.” The report differs greatly from a US report that said that Iran had suspended such activities in 2003.
Iran continues to deny any interest in developing nuclear weapons. However, the report suggests that Iran’s continual attempts to avoid agency probes for signs of a cover-up “give rise to concerns about possible military dimensions to Iran’s nuclear program.” Additionally, the report suggest that intelligence supplied by the United States and other IAEA member states on Iran’s attempts to mask their activity under the guise of a civilian program in order to move towards a weapons program was compelling.
The report was the first by Yukiya Amano and appears to be more directly critical than those prepared by his predecessor, Mohammed El Baradei. It will be put forth to the governing body at a March 15. The report also reiterated evidence that Iran appeared to have tested ways of detonating weapons. It also described the escalating steps taken by Iran, including enrichment to twenty percent, its acknowledgement of an enrichment plant in Qom, its effort to metalize uranium and Iran’s rejection of a plan to enrich uranium outside the country.
The IAEA report calls for Iran to cooperate with IAEA investigators “without further delay.” Iran’s resistance has added to concerns “about possible military dimensions” in the Islamic Republic’s nuclear program.
For more information, please see:
 
BBC – Iran Nuclear Missile Fear Raised by UN Report – 18 February 2010
New York Times – IAEA Suspects Iranian Weapons Nuclear Weapons Activity – 18 February 2010

U.N.: Israeli Blockade on Gaza Tightening

By Meredith Lee-Clark
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

GAZA CITY, Gaza – The United Nations released a report on February 17 saying that Israel has tightened its blockade on the Gaza Strip, and reiterated its call for Israel to immediately open the territory to allow much-needed humanitarian supplies into Gaza.  The U.N. document was the latest in a string of calls from humanitarian groups both in and outside of Gaza, claiming that conditions in the Gaza Strip are worsening as the cost of shipping supplies into Gaza has skyrocketed.

Israel began its blockade on Gaza three years ago, after the Islamist party Hamas was voted into office in the Gaza legislature, ousting Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas’ Fatah Party.  Israel has refused to recognize the Hamas government or any official contact with the government in Gaza.  The blockade became noticeably tighter after the Israeli military’s Operation Cast Lead during the winter of 2008-2009.  Since the end of open hostilities in January 2009, Israel has allowed minimal shipments into Gaza for food, medicines, and other basic necessities. 

But critics have claimed that the trickle of supplies is insufficient to meet the needs of those living in Gaza.  Operation Cast Lead destroyed or damaged fifteen of Gaza’s twenty-seven hospitals, as well as forty-three of Gaza’s one hundred-ten health-care facilities.  The offensive flattened much of the Gaza infrastructure, and Gazans have been unable to get construction supplies through the blockade.  The blockade also extends out to sea, as Gazan fishermen have been limited to only a few square miles of their once-expansive fishing grounds, leaving that portion of the Mediterranean Sea almost completely empty of fish.

Additionally, the Gaza Energy Authority, the sole energy supplier in Gaza, announced on February 13 that it was unable to get ample fuel through the blockade and was uncertain whether it would be able to continue supplying energy for more than the next twenty-four hours.  As it released its statement, it had already shut down a generator and its output was at fifty percent.

Gazan health organizations also reported that 386 Gazans have died as a result of the blockade so far.  The assembly of health unions in Gaza told journalists on February 18 that several Palestinian children have died of suffocation because of malfunctioning power generators.

For more information, please see:

Al-Jazeerah – Health Unions Warn of Israeli Blockade Impacts on Lives of Gaza Patients – 18 February 2010

Zee News – Israel Blocks Gaza Strip Further:  United Nations – 18 February 2010

UN News Centre – Israel Tightens Vice on Gaza Strip, UN Reports – 17 February 2010

Digital Journal – Gaza Pleads for an End to the Israeli Blockade of Fuel Supplies – 13 February 2010

Yemeni Release Saudi Captive

By Ahmad Shihadah

Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

SA’NA, Yemen – Northern rebels in Yemen handed over a captured Saudi soldier captured to Yemeni government mediators, the latest sign that a six-year-old conflict is calming down.

The Saudi Press Agency quoted Saudi ambassador to Yemen Ali al-Hamdan as saying the soldier was brought from the northern province of Sa’ada, the rebel stronghold, to the embassy in Sa’na by helicopter. He will be sent back to Saudi Arabia later, the ambassador said.

A Yemeni official said the soldier was handed over to a committee, which supervises a cease-fire reached last week between Yemeni government and the Shi’ite rebels, known as Houthis. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to talk to the media.

Last month, Yemen’s Shi’ite rebels offered Saudi Arabia, the world’s top oil exporter, a truce and said they had left the kingdom’s territory. Riyadh later declared victory over the rebels.

In addition to fighting the rebels, Yemen is battling southern separatists and al Qaeda, which has made the country its regional base. The Nigerian accused of trying to blow up a U.S. passenger plane in December had links to Yemen.

Riyadh and Western powers fear impoverished Yemen may become a failed state and that al Qaeda could exploit the chaos to use the country as a base for attacks in the region and beyond.

For More Information, Please See:

 

Al-Jazeera – Yemen Houthis Free Saudi Captive – 15 February 2010

 

AP – Yemeni Rebels Release Saudi Soldier – 15 February 2010


The Washington Post – Yemen Rebels Hand Over One Saudi Soldier: Al Jazeera – 15 February 2010


BCC – Yemen Rebels Begin Handover of Saudi Arabian Soldiers – February 2010

Iran Considers Family Visit and Release of US Hikers

By Bobby Rajabi
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

TEHRAN, Iran – On February16 Iran’s top human rights official confirmed that Iranian officials were considering allowing the families of three detained Americans to visit them in prison. The three hikers were detained after allegedly crossing into the country illegally in July of last. Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad also said that he was hopeful that the case of the hikers would be resolved and they they would be freed.

The mothers of the three hikers recently wrote to President Ahmedinejad, requesting a visit. Mohammad Javad Larijani, the head of Iran’s High Council of Human Rights said that the mothers’ request had a good chance of being approved. Larijani spoke in Geneva at a UN review of Iran’s human rights record and said, “we recommend that the families should be able to see them and I hope that this be done.”

The three hikers were arrested on July 31, 2009. Shane Bauer, Sarah Shroud and Josh Fattal say that they were hiking in Iraq’s northern Kurdistan region when they accidentally crossed in the border into Iran. The three were accused of spying on the Islamic Republic and illegal entry. Their families insist that they had no intention of entering Iran. They have had been allowed to make any phone calls to the hikers in jail. Their mothers also said they want to meet the Iranian President to explain why they should be released.

Iran’s foreign minister announced in December 2009 that the three Americans would be tried in court, but failed to say the specific crime they would be charged with. President Ahmadinejad repeated on February 16 that the final decision regarding the US hikers rested with the judiciary. He said that, “we are eager to see them released but it depends on the crime they have committed and the judge’s verdict.”

Ahmadinejad also indicated that the fate of the US hikers should be tied to that of Iranians jailed in the United States. Iran claims that eleven Iranians are being held in the US, including a missing nuclear scientist and a former deputy defense minister who hasn’t been seen since 2007. However, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has said that no prisoner exchange discussions had taken place between the two countries.

For more information, please see:

AP – Iran Mulling Family Visit For Detained Americans – 16 February 2010

BBC – US Hikers’ Mothers May Be Allowed to Visit Iran – 16 February 2010

Reuters – Ahmadinejad Says Hopeful on Detainees in Iran/US – 16 February 2010

Tensions Between Israel and Lebanon Escalate

By Brandon Kaufman
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

BEIRUT, Lebanon– Nabih Berri, a Parliament Speaker in the Lebanese government, urged France to take a “firm stand” to stop Israel from launching an attack on Lebanon.  “In view of its ties and influence, we demand France take a firm stand to prevent Israel from attacking Lebanon… and from turning Lebanon into an arena for regional proxy wars,” Berri said while visiting with Gerard Larcher, a member of the French Senate.

Berri’s statements come amid heightened concern over Israeli warnings that all of Lebanon, including the Lebanese Cabinet, would be targeted in the event of a Hezbollah attack on Israel.  In a poll conducted by ABC News, an overwhelming number of people feel that conflict with Israel is looming.  Despite such sentiments, neither side wants to be guilty of starting the next war, but people in Lebanon say tension is now so high that the smallest incident may trigger the start of hostilities.

Prime Minister Saad Hariri described Israeli threats and military activity as “escalating” and “really dangerous” in a recent interview.

Additionally, Syrian President Bashar Assad has said Damascus would back “the government and people of Lebanon against any possible Israeli aggression launched on Lebanon.” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has since sought to ease tensions, saying his country wants peace with all its neighbors.

Earlier this year, Netanyahu accused Beirut of allowing Hezbollah to smuggle weapons into Lebanon in “blatant violation” of U.N. Security Council Resolution 1701, which ended the summer 2006 war.  The Israelis fear Hezbollah’s growing arsenal of long range rockets.  Today, Hezbollah has somewhere between 40,000 and 50,000 missiles, many more than they had on hand when hostilities broke out during the summer war a few years back.  In light of the threat posed by Hezbollah, Israeli officials have warned repeatedly in recent weeks that any attack by that group will spark a tough response.

The 2006 war lasted for 33 days, and in the end there were over 1,200 casualties, many of which were civilians.

For more information, please see:

ABC News- Are Lebanon and Israel Headed for War– 15 February 2010

The Daily Star- Berri Urges France to Take a Firm Stand Against Israeli Aggression– 15 February 2010

AFP- Lebanese Army Fires on Israeli Fighter Planes– 14 February 2010