LATEST DEBKA EXCLUSIVE REPORTS.

Summary of DEBKA Exclusives, February 3, 2012

Lapid demands Foreign Affairs. Bennett, Religious Affairs DEBKAfile Exclusive Report 25 Jan. The new arrival to Israeli politics, Yair Lapid and his Future (Yesh Atid) party, have kicked off the bargaining for joining  Binyamin Netanyahu’s next government armed with a substantial shopping list for jobs and other demands. DEBKAfile: He wants the foreign ministry for himself, the right to veto the prime minister’s choice of defense minister, in case it is Avigdor Lieberman, and three more portfolios. He also says the cabinet must not exceed 18 posts, with no deputy ministers. Naftali Bennett wants Religious Affairs.  Both Lapid and Bennett put Netanyahu in a tough spot. He is conducting parallel negotiations with the religious parties. Senior Likud officers were heard grumbling: “Anyone would think Yesh Atid had won 61 seats – not 19.” January 26, 2013 Briefs: French-led Malian troops control Gao The Islamist stronghold of North Mali has been retaken by French-led troops, the French defense ministry announced Saturday. They moved into the town after securing the airport and a strategic bridge to the south. Dozens killed in Port Said over 21 soccer death sentences Violent rampages erupted in the city after 21 hooligans were sentenced to death over a soccer stadium riot last year in which 74 fans were killed. The violence in Port Said came on top on the anti-government protests which swept Egyptian cities Friday leaving at least 10 dead and more than 500 injured on the second anniversary of the Tahrir revolution. Iranian-Hizballah convoy blown up on Syrian Golan DEBKAfile Exclusive Report 26 Jan. At least eight officers were killed in a mysterious twin-car bomb explosion Friday, Jan. 25 at Syrian regional intelligence headquarters in Quneitra on the Syrian side of the Golan Heights. Some of the fatalities were Syrian, but Western intelligence sources disclosed to DEBKAfile that most were high-ranking Iranian Al Qods Brigades and Hizballah officers. The incident sent tensions shooting up on the Israeli and Jordanian borders with Syria and may delay Bashar Assad’s all-out offensive against Syrian rebels - planned with Iranian aid. Thursday, Jan. 24, Israel’s Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Benny Gantz and Military Intelligence Director Maj. Gen. Aviv Kochavi ceremonially promoted Col. G., commander of the elite Sayeret Matkal, to the rank of major general in recognition of his unit’s “outstanding covert operations overseas.” January 27, 2013 Briefs: Israeli bus under fire between Anatot and Hizmeh checkpoint There were no casualties on the bus which came under Palestinian fire on the road between Anatot and the Hizme checkpoint northeast of Jerusalem Sunday night. At the Tapuah junction south of Nablus, Israeli border guards found seven pipe bombs and knives in a car. The two Palestinians in the car said they intended blowing up the junction. Iron Dome anti-missile batteries deployed in northern Israel The Israeli Defense Forces announced Sunday that Iron Dome anti-missile batteries have been posted to fortify security in northern Israel and the big port of Haifa. Morsi declares emergency, curfew in Port Said Egyptian President declared an emergency and curfews in Port Said, Suez and Ismailia Sunday night at the end of four days of violent clashes in those and other towns including Cairo.  Netanyahu: Acute security perils won’t wait for new government Addressing the weekly cabinet meeting in Jerusalem, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu said Sunday he is aiming for a broad-based government coalition able to cope first and foremost with the many security perils facing the country - some of the worst it has ever faced - from the east, north and south: Iran, its nuclear program and its satellites, Syria’s lethal weaponry and the Arab turmoil around us “won’t wait till we put together a new cabinet," he said. "If Israel isn't strong and resolute enough to meet these challenges on its own, no one will come to its aid,” he stressed. “But I am convinced we are up to it.” DEBKAfile: East referred to Iran, north to Syria and Hizballah and south, to Al Qaeda. Iran weighs provoking Syrian-Israel clash. Iron Dome posted in North DEBKAfile Exclusive Report 27 Jan. Tehran is looking seriously at a limited Syrian-Lebanese clash of arms with Israel – possibly using Bashar Assad’s chemical weapons as a trigger, DEBKAfile discloses.  A clash would serve Tehran by sidetracking Israel from striking Iran’s nuclear facilities and help spin out its nuclear talks with the Six Powers. Israel has got plans ready for current military challenges.  Defense Minister Ehud Barak spoke of over the weekend of a “surgical operation” against Iran. January 28, 2013 Briefs: Fleeing Islamists burn priceless Timbuktu library As French-led Malian troops captured the airport of the world heritage town of Timbuktu Monday, fleeing Islamists set fire to the Baba Ahmed Institution and its priceless ancient manuscripts. At Gao, jubilant inhabitants danced and sang in the streets to celebrate their liberation from brutal Islamist rule Sunday. The Islamists and Mali rebels are pulling back into the Sahara desert and are feared regrouping for guerilla warfare. Jewish community up in arms over Iran’s inclusion in bombing probe Argentine Jewry are protesting the agreement Foreign Minister Hector Timerman signed Sunday with his Iranian counterpart Ali Akbar Salehi for a joint investigation of the 1994 Buenos Aires Jewish community center bombing which killed 85 people and injured more than 300.  Over the years, Argentine prosecutors have formally accused six Iranians of masterminding the attack, among the Iran’s defense minister Ahmed Vahidi. Tehran has always refused to make them available. The agreement permits suspects to be interrogated by Argentinean justice officials – but only in Tehran. President Cristina Fernandez defended the deal as “historic” and “guaranteeing due process.” Fifth day of clashes in Egypt. One person killed Egypt’s opposition bloc rejected President Mohamed Morsi’s call for dialogue after he instituted a state of emergency and curfews in Port Said, Suez and Ismailia Sunday night. More than 50 people have died since Friday, the second anniversary of the Egypt’s Tahrir revolution against Hosni Mubarak. US: Syria’s neighbors must cope with chemical threat DEBKAfile Special Report 28 Jan. DEBKAfile: The military onus for coping with Syrian chemical peril is being passed by Washington to Turkey, Jordan and Israel. US assistance will be confined to setting targets, providing intelligence and coordinating Israeli-Turkish-Jordanian military operations if necessary to take control of the dangerous arsenal.  Obama in an interview Monday said: “In a situation like Syria, I have to ask: can we make a difference in that situation? Could it trigger even worse violence or the use of chemical weapons?”