The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Isreal

  • Cleric to FG: Don’t take sides in Isreal, Palestinian war

    Cleric to FG: Don’t take sides in Isreal, Palestinian war

    Founder and Lead Pastor of the Transforming Church, Rev. Sam Oye, has advised the federal government not to take sides in the Isreal, Palestinian war.

    The cleric said FG should rather play the role of a mediator with other world leaders in finding lasting solutions to the age-long conflict.

    Oye gave the advice while briefing reporters ahead of the church’s annual programme tagged “The Encounter” slated for Friday, November 3.

    He said the programme was aimed at inspiring Nigerians to have hope despite the current economic challenges facing the country.

    While advising the government to take the path of mediation, instead of identification, Oye said peace between Israel and Palestine is necessary for global peace.

    He said: “I believe that Nigeria as a country has its political stance on matters like this. I am not privy to the details of that in terms of our bilateral relationships with Israel and the Palestinians. Now, one of the things that I want to say is that there are Christians in Palestine and there are Christians in Israel. There are Muslims in Israel and there are Muslims in Palestine.

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    “The whole idea which is powered by ignorance is an assumption that Palestine is all about Muslims forgetting that right there in the Gaza Strip, we have Christians there too. So I would say rather than take sides, why don’t we just help resolve the conflict?

    “So I will say Nigeria should follow the path of mediation, not the part of identification. I will not suggest that Nigeria identifies with Palestine or identify with Israel. I will say Nigeria should mediate to make sure that there is peace between Israel and Palestine. It’s very important that there’s peace between both countries

    “Whatever has to be done, whatever role we can play, I will encourage we play such role but I will not encourage Nigeria to take side. For humanity’s sake, let us all work together towards peace and reconciliation”.

    Explaining the reason for the programme organised by his church, the religious leader lamented the high rate of depression and suicide in the country.

    According to him, there is no better time to refocus people’s energy and minds than the time of turbulence.

    He said: “The encounter has been an annual programme of our church and the practice for the past 10 years. It is all about inspiring people. Most times, the most depressing part of the year is always towards the end of the year when many dreams and goals people think they would achieve are not forthcoming.

    “We realise that there is a high rate of depression and suicide this time and we thought that there is no better time to refocus people’s energy and minds to let them know that there is something to be thankful about both now and years to come. So The Encounter is that period of inspiration. It is a time when we gather to inspire hope in people and we do that through the instrument that is universal which music is.

    “We bring people together in an atmosphere where they got to listen to those singers they like to listen. This year’s edition will be different. It is now public knowledge that depression is so high in this country because of the economy and political situation. Our people are committing suicide like never before. There is depression, hopelessness, banditry, naira fall and all that.

    “We are facing multiple problems at this time. But there is one thing that uplifts an average Nigerian which is good Music. What we are trying to do is to put everyone together and get inspired by God. This year our goal is to make sure that an average that comes to the event is encouraged.

    “One of the things that has really encouraged us from our last editions is that people have testified that they found solutions to their problems by attending this programme. Above that, we believe that people come here and receive both physical and mental healing”.

    He said the church had reached out to government officials, especially those in the security sector, saying the programme was also to prompt the government to take the issue of insecurity seriously.

    “I have reached out to the person in charge of military operations and I am expecting him to come. Security is a collective thing. It is about all of us finding the coming

    “People go into crazy things because they have lost hope in the country. We trust that most of the people in the security sector attend the programme and when they hear us pray, they will know that there is something of great concern. If they doing their job, perhaps we won’t be talking to God about security.

    “When people pray to God for security, it is a stylish indictment of the entire security architecture in the country. When people are turning to God for safety, it means they have lost hope in the government”, he added.

  • 130 Borno Christian pilgrims to fly from Kano-Israel

    130 Borno Christian pilgrims to fly from Kano-Israel

    The Nigeria Christian Pilgrim Commission (NCPC) has said 130  Christian Pilgrims would fly from Kano  to Israel.

    The flight which would be the first from Aminu Kano International Airport is scheduled for Thursday, 18th May, 2017.

    The Executive Secretary of the Commission, Reverend  Tor Uja in a statement in Abuja on Wednesday noted that the 130 intending Christian pilgrims flying from Kano are from Borno state.

    Uja who commended the Governor of Borno State, Kashim Shettima for his pilgrimage support for Christians  in Borno state, added that trip is one of the steps to healing for those that have been ravaged by unnecessary war.

    The Commission formally commenced the airlift of intending Christian pilgrims for the Easter pilgrimage exercise on 9th May, 2017, at the Lagos International Airport.

    The first batch of Christian Pilgrims are expected  to arrive Nigeria today 18th May from Israel.

    In addition to the Borno Pilgrims, the flight from Kano will also include intending Pilgrims from FCT, Kano, Niger, Kaduna, Nasarawa, Enugu and Gombe who will be flown from Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja to join the Borno contingents in Aminu Kano International Airport for onward departure to Israel.

    According to the statement: “The Commission plans to have about four flights for the ongoing Easter pilgrimage to Israel which also include one Rome bound flight.”

    “In all, about 1000 pilgrims will be airlifted to Israel for this year’s Easter pilgrimage exercise and out of this number, about 200 of them will be visiting Rome before proceeding to Israel to continue their pilgrimage exercise,” Uja stated

  • Israel pledges to assist Nigeria to tackle cyber crimes

    Israel has pledged to assist Nigeria in tackling cyber-crime and internal security through the use of latest technology.

    Israel’s Ambassador to Nigeria, Guy Feldman, made the promise at a Conference on Homeland and Cyber Security in Abuja on Friday ‎.

    The envoy, who decried the‎ menace of cyber-crimes across the world, stressed the need for all hands to be on deck to address the trend in Nigeria.

    He said Israel, although a small country had vast experience in cyber security due to its technology and human capital development.

    Feldman described Nigeria as the “Lion of Africa’’ which deserves all the supports from the international community to evolve a virile and prosperous nation.

    “Israel as a country has suffered from cyber-attacks, but it is not a problem for us but a challenge. Th‎is is because we have the technology and human resources to deal with the challenge’’, he said.

    He emphasised the need to deploy hi-tech technology, surveillance cameras and security gadgets to strategic financial and oil sectors.

    He said both countries were already discussing on how to strengthen ties and enhance business/security relations. ‎ He said that Nigeria could use the current recession and drop in oil prices to diversify its economy and focus on agriculture.

    “Nigeria is blessed with a lot of arable land, water, natural resources and population unlike Israel which is a small country’’, he said.‎ ‎ The Minister of Interior, retired Lt.-Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazau stressed the need for cyber security to safeguard the nation.

    Represented by retired Brig.-Gen. Saleh Bala‎, Dambazzau said Nigeria would continue to collaborate with Israel and other foreign countries to develop the nation.

    Mr Aviad Marco, an Israeli security expert, who delivered a lecture on Tackling Cyber Crime, described the phenomenon as a new form of terrorism.

    Marco said that the activities of hackers, especially on sensitive database of a country could bring a country down if not checkmated.

    He said Israel was ready to support Nigeria in fortifying its sensitive data base and protect critical national assets, using the latest technology.

    Marco said that Israel had collaborated with the Lagos state government in addressing some of its security and traffic issues and was ready to do same with the Federal Government.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the conference which was jointly organised by the Israeli embassy and the Ministry of Interior was attended by security experts and Non-Governmental Organisations.

  • Iran tests more missiles to hit Israel

    Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) test-fired two ballistic missiles on Wednesday morning that it said were designed to be able to hit Israel, defying a threat of new sanctions from the U.S.

    The launches followed the test-firing of several missiles on Tuesday as part of a major military exercise that the IRGC says is intended to show Iran’s deterrent power and ability to confront any threat.

    On Wednesday, the IRGC fired two Qadr missiles from northern Iran which hit targets in the southeast of the country 1,400 km (870 miles) away, Iranian agencies said.

    The nearest point in Iran is around 1,000 km from Tel Aviv and Jerusalem.

    “The reason we designed our missiles with a range of 2000 km is to be able to hit our enemy the Zionist regime from a safe distance,” Brig. Gen. Amir Hajizadeh said.

    Israeli officials had no immediate response to the Iranian launches, which come as Israel hosts U.S. Vice President Joe Biden for talks on regional issues.

    Last week, the allies concluded a joint missile defence drill in Israel.

  • Israel deploys soldiers to cities

    Israeli authorities on Wednesday deployed hundreds of troops nationwide following a series of shooting and stabbing attacks by Palestinians.

    Peter Lerner, Spokesman for the Israel Defence Force (IDF), in a statement said in addition to the deployment, it would engage six companies to reinforce the police.

    The exact number of soldiers was not disclosed, but the move follows a security cabinet meeting that ended early Wednesday.

    The cabinet also decided that police will seal off Arab neighbourhoods in east Jerusalem, and demolish the homes of suspected terrorists as well as revoke their permanent residency.

    On Tuesday, Palestinian attackers went after Israelis with knives and – in one instance – a gun, leaving three Israelis dead and 22 injured in separate assaults on a “Day of Rage” declared by Palestinian groups.

    Two of the attackers were killed and three injured.

    Seven Israelis have been killed and many injured in a wave of Palestinian knife attacks this month, while 18 Palestinians from the West Bank and Jerusalem have been killed.

    More than half of the 18 Palestinians were either shot dead after or during attempts to stab Israelis.

     

     

  • Hamas leader upbeat on talks with Israel

    Hamas leader upbeat on talks with Israel

    Khaled Meshaal, leader of the militant Hamas movement, on Friday said there were talks ongoing with Israel to reach a truce, though there was no agreement to date.

    Israel on Monday had denied there were direct or indirect talks with the Islamic movement which controls the Gaza Strip.

    “They seem positive but we have not reached an agreement yet,’’ Meshaal said.

    The Hamas leader said that while there had been an effective truce in Gaza since 2014, the situation was not tolerable for residents of the enclave, who lived under a tight blockade.

    He stressed that the armed movement would not give up its weapons as long as the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories continued.

    Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair had reportedly met with Meshaal in recent months about a possible longer term ceasefire.

    Since 2008, Israel has fought three wars in Gaza with Hamas and other factions, leaving thousands of people dead, mostly Palestinian civilians, according to data from the United Nations and human rights groups.

  • Israel arrests most-wanted Jewish extremist

    Israel arrests most-wanted Jewish extremist

    Israel has arrested Meir Ettinger, who tops the Shin Bet internal security organisation’s list of most-wanted Jewish extremists, for alleged involvement in “criminal nationalist activity”.

    Ettinger, the 24-year-old grandson of late Jewish extremist Rabbi Meir Kahane, is scheduled to appear before a court in the northern town of Nazareth to have his remand extended, police spokeswoman Luba Samri said on Tuesday.

    Samri said that he was arrested on Monday.

    Kahane was the founder of the ultra-right Kach party, which was outlawed by Israel as a terrorist organisation in the 1980s.

    He was shot dead by Arab gunmen in a New York hotel in 1990.

    The Y-net news site published a document in which Ettinger purportedly advocated attacking Palestinians and vandalising sensitive Muslim and Christian holy sites, in order to create a major “revolution” and bring down the state of Israel.

    Ettinger has been arrested multiple times in the past and served restraining orders banning him from entering the West Bank.

    He had been living in Safed, northern Israel.

    New measures approved by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s security cabinet could mean that prosecutors have more success in keeping him behind bars.

    Among others, the security cabinet authorised administrative detention orders for Jewish extremists.

    Commonly used against Palestinian militants, meanwhile administrative detention allows the arrest of a person deemed a security risk, even before he commits a crime.

    Attorney Yuval Zemer slammed the arrest as a “public relations” stunt, in the wake of an arson attack in a northern West Bank village that killed an 18-month-old and critically injured his parents and his 4-year-old brother.

  • Israel pledges to support Nigeria fight Boko Haram, corruption

    Israel pledges to support Nigeria fight Boko Haram, corruption

    Israel has promised to assist Nigeria in fighting corruption and terrorism and also help to develop the agriculture sector.

    This is contained in a statement issued by Mallam Garba Shehu, Director, Media and Publicity, APC Presidential Campaign Organisation, on Monday in Abuja.

    The statement said the pledge was contained in a congratulatory letter signed by the Israeli President, Reuven Rivlin, to the President-elect, retired Maj.-Gen. Muhammadu Buhari.

    “The two countries face similar dangers and challenges in the daily struggle against those who wanted to terrorise their citizens.

    “The latest news regarding the Boko Haram-ISIS alliance underscores the need for like-minded countries to unite in the fight against such radical terrorist organisations.

    “I assure you that in this important campaign, Israel stands shoulder-to-shoulder with Nigeria,’’ the statement quoted the Israeli leader as saying.

    It expressed the hope that under Buhari’s leadership, the ties between both countries would become stronger.

    ”I wish you every success in the challenging task ahead and trust that under your presidency, the relationship, friendship and cooperation between Nigeria and Israel will continue to expand and strengthen,’’ it said.

  • President Jonathan back from pilgrimage in Israel

    President Jonathan back from pilgrimage in Israel

    President Jonathan with Senator Adeyemi & FCT Minister Mohammed Monday morning on arrival from Israel.
    President Jonathan with Senator Adeyemi & FCT Minister Mohammed Monday morning on arrival from Israel.

  • Chibok: Jonathan accepts Isreal’s offer to send experts

    President Goodluck Jonathan has accepted the offer by Israeli Prime Minister, Mr. Benjamin Netanyahu to send a team of Israeli counter-terrorism experts to assist in the ongoing search and rescue operations for the abducted Chibok girls.

    Special Adviser to President on Media and Publicity, Dr Reuben Abati   in a statement confirmed that Netanyahu made the offer  in a telephone conversation with President Jonathan on Sunday afternoon to convey his country’s sympathy and solidarity with Nigeria.

    The President briefed Mr. Netanyahu on actions already being taken by Nigeria’s armed forces and security agencies to locate and rescue the girls, saying that Nigeria would be pleased to have Israel’s globally-acknowledged anti-terrorism expertise deployed to support its ongoing operations.

    Mr. Netanyahu who according to Abati  expressed Israel’s total condemnation of the mass abductions, said that the team of experts from his country who will soon arrive in Nigeria, will work in collaboration with teams from the United States and Britain who are already in the country and their Nigerian counterparts to intensify the search for the girls.

    The Isreali PM  reaffirmed Israel’s willingness to give the government and people of Nigeria all possible support and assistance to overcome terrorism and insecurity.

    President Jonathan said  he was very optimistic that with the entire international community deploying its considerable military and intelligence-gathering skills and assets in support of Nigeria’s efforts to find and rescue the abducted Chibok girls, success will soon be achieved.