Israel & Turkey: Reunited by Heron Aircraft

The Turkish newspaper Hurriyet reports that the "Heron crisis", the unmanned aircraft that were supposed to be delivered by Israel to Turkey in May 2008, has been resolved. The first six Herons, out of a total of 10 to be shipped, will be delivered to Ankara in April, with a formal announcement likely duing Israel's Defense Minister Ehud Barak's visit to Ankara in January.

Initially, the delay in the deal was technical --- the Israelis said that the Herons would climb to 30,000 feet, but the actual altitude was 22 thousand feet --- but the more significant complication was the tension between the two countries after Israel's offensive in the Gaza Strip last December.

Meanwhile, Muharrem Dortkasli, director-general of the Turkish Aerospace Industry stated that Israel Aerospace Industries and Elbit will pay a penalty of between $10 million and $15 million to retain the contract after the two-year delay in compleition.

Middle East Inside Line: Obama and Congress in War over F-22s to Israel?

US President Barack Obama has signed a defense spending bill that includes $202 million in funds for Israel's missile defense programs developed in coordination with the United States. The bill does not contain funding, however, for the F-22 stealth bombers which Israel wants but whose export is prohibited by current law.

The Jerusalem Post contends, "Though the F-22 bomber was originally included in the bill --- sparking a veto threat --- the final version cut the allocation in a political victory for Obama" over Congress. The Administration claimed the aircraft were too costly and unnecessary given the asymmetrical military challenges faced by Israel.

The Post claims, however, that there was a balancing victory for Israel and Congress, with the overall amount of defense aid increased.

Today on EA - Monday 21 December 2009

Iran: Grand Ayatollah Montazeri's funeral, attended by hundreds of thousands, dominates the news. Our liveblog will keep you up to date with the news, and we have video footage from the funeral in Qom and demonstrations in other cities. There is also video and English translation of an interview with Montazeri's son Saeed, speaking about his late father's last words and views.

A guest blog from Iran Review offers an in-depth look at Tehran's current perspective on nuclear talks.

Israel: Following a meeting with Egypt's intelligence chief Omar Suleiman, Israel's Foreign Minister Lieberman made the stunning statement:  "Egypt has more to fear from Iran than we do".

Israel/Palestine: Ali Yenidunya reveals that Hamas "provided evidence" for the British arrest warrant for Israeli opposition leader Tzipi Livni.

Israel: Lieberman "Egypt Has More to Fear from Iran than We Do"

On Sunday, Egyptian intelligence chief Omar Suleiman met Israel's foreign minister Avigdor Lieberman, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, President Shimon Peres, and Industry, Trade and Labor Minister Benjamin Ben-Eliezer.

Barak said: "We're always happy to see him. I hope we have fruitful talks here." He and Suleiman talked about the "central role" of Egypt in talks with Palestinians, Egypt's wall on  the Gaza border preventing smuggling, the Iranian "threat",  and the kidnapped Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit.

The most striking part of the visit came true at the end of the meeting between Lieberman and Suleiman. Lieberman stated that "Egypt has more to fear from Iran than we do." He added, "The greatest danger in the Middle East today is Iran, which is a greater threat to moderate Arab nations than to Israel. Tehran is attempting to duplicate the model of Hezbollah in Egypt, Jordan, and Yemen."

Israel-Palestine: Hamas "Provided Evidence" for Arrest Warrant for Livni

According to Agence France Presse, a committee was set up by Hamas to aid European lawyers to investigate war crimes allegedly committed during the Gaza offensive in last December.

Judge Diya al-Madhun, the head of the committee, said:

We provide documents, reports and evidence of crimes to all international bodies aiding the Palestinian people in bringing Israeli civilian and military leaders to trial and issuing warrants for their arrest.

We have provided a group of independent lawyers in Britain with documents, information and evidence concerning war crimes committed by Israeli political and military leaders, including [opposition leader Tzipi] Livni.