Comments (0)Palestinians Threaten to Pull Dead Sea from Contest
December 4, 2009Jerusalem
JTA Wire Service
Palestinian officials have threatened to withdraw from a competition to name the Dead Sea a world natural wonder.
The Dead Sea cannot be entered into the New Seven Wonders of Nature competition unless Israel, the Palestinians and Jordan all agree to take part.
Palestinian Authority Tourism Minister Khouloud Daibes sent an official letter to Israeli Tourism Minister Stas Misezhnikov saying the Palestinian Authority objects to “promoting the Dead Sea in the competition, alongside products like Ahava, which are produced illegally in the Israeli settlement on occupied Palestinian lands,” Ynet reported Wednesday.
Ahava produces lotions and bath crystals using Dead Sea minerals.
In July, the Dead Sea was among 28 sites named as finalists in the competition. The announcement came after PA President Mahmoud Abba signed a letter agreeing that the Dead Sea could be submitted jointly by Israel, Jordan and the Palestinian Authority.
Ahmandinejad: Israel Can’t Stop Iranian Nukes
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Israel cannot do a “damn thing” to stop his country’s nuclear program.
Ahmadinejad made the statement Wednesday in a televised speech, Reuters reported.
He called the International Atomic Energy Agency’s resolution approved last week censuring the country’s nuclear activity “illegal” and said it came “under pressure of a few superficially powerful countries.”
The IAEA resolution called on Iran to halt construction of a recently disclosed underground nuclear enrichment facility. In response, Iran’s parliament on Sunday approved the construction of 10 new uranium enrichment sites.
Lebanon Fires at Israeli Planes
The Lebanese army fired on at least four Israel Air Force planes flying over southern Lebanon.
Lebanese news media reported Wednesday that the anti-aircraft fire forced the Israeli planes to return to Israel, according to Ha’aretz.
Also Wednesday, the Lebanese government agreed to allow the terrorist organization Hezbollah to keep its weapons, in violation of the United Nations resolution that ended the 2006 Second Lebanon War.
Hezbollah reportedly has thousands of rockets and explosives hidden in southern Lebanon.
This story reprinted courtesy of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency.