Tag: Jerusalem

  • Fall of Jerusalem

    Fall of Jerusalem

    The Fall of Jerusalem during the Ottoman Empire occurred in 1917 during World War I. The Ottoman Empire, which was aligned with the Central Powers, was engaged in conflict with the Allied Powers, including British forces in the Middle East. Jerusalem, a city of significant religious and historical importance, was part of the Ottoman Empire at that time.

    In 1917, General Edmund Allenby led British and Empire forces in the Sinai and Palestine Campaign against the Ottoman forces. The campaign aimed to capture strategic territories in the Middle East, including Jerusalem. On December 9, 1917, British forces approached Jerusalem, and the Ottoman garrison in the city, under the command of Mayor Hussein al-Husseini, surrendered to the British without significant resistance.

    General Allenby, in a symbolic gesture, entered Jerusalem on foot through the Jaffa Gate on December 11, 1917. This event marked the end of Ottoman rule in Jerusalem after centuries of control. The fall of Jerusalem was a pivotal moment in the Middle Eastern theater of World War I, and it had significant implications for the subsequent geopolitical developments in the region.

    After the fall of Jerusalem, the British Mandate for Palestine was established, and the League of Nations granted Britain the mandate to govern the territory. The fall of Jerusalem is remembered for its historical, cultural, and religious significance, as the city holds sacred sites for Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.

    The Battle of Jerusalem occurred in Palestine Campaign during World War I between British Empire against the Ottoman Empire. Fighting for the city developed from 17 November, continuing until surrender of the Holy city in 30 December 1917. After the fall of Ottoman ‘Gaza Line’ between Beersheba and Gaza in October-November 1917. Ottoman retreated north and form defensive line between Aqaba in the Red Sea and Jafa in mediterranean coast. Port cty of Aqaba quickly fell to the British backed Hashemite rebels in July. Whle the Ottomans defended itself fron two front attack from British advance in Sinai and Hashemite rebel attack from Hejaz.

    This series of battles was successfully fought by the British Empire’s XX Corps, XXI Corps,Desert Mounted Corps and Hashemite rebels against strong opposition from the Yildirim Army Group’s Seventh Army in the Judean Hills and the Eighth Army north of Jaffa on the Mediterranean coast. The loss of Jaffa and Jerusalem, constituted a grave setback for the Ottoman Empire.

    Fall of Jerusalem ottoman history

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  • Netanyahu’s Last Battle

    Netanyahu’s Last Battle

    Dr. Abdullah Manaz : The MiddleEast Analyst

    The most important development in the last Palestine & Israel war was the results of opinion polls regarding the elections to be held in Gaza and the West Bank. It was clearly understood that the Fetih Movement would lose both the Presidency and its majority in the Assembly in these elections. This situation alarmed both Palestinian President Abbas and Netanyahu.

    The first step came from Abbas and postponed the elections to an uncertain date. Then Netanyahu stepped up his plan to evict Palestinians around Jerusalem from their homes. He took action to evacuate the homes of about 500 Palestinians in the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood. Radical Jewish Groups also started demonstrations and riots in this neighborhood. However, they encountered resistance from the Palestinians that they never expected. Netanyahu increased his pressure without understanding the religious importance of the month of Ramadan for Muslims. Netanyahu announced on Sunday (May 9th) that the Israeli army will hold a major military exercise in the Lebanese border, the West Bank and Gaza. This was actually the first announcement of the war. The attack of Israeli security forces on the Aksa Mosque ignited the fuse of the bomb. Hamas responded with the same harshness to Netanyahu’s attempt. It announced that if the Israeli Army does not withdraw from the Holy Land, they will respond strongly. Indeed, Hamas fired more than 1000 rockets at Israeli targets overnight.

    The range of Hamas Rockets varied between 70 and 100 km. Such an attack came as a surprise to Israel. The rockets that reached TelAviv have killed 5 Israelis and injured dozens so far. A great panic started within the Israeli Police. On the evening of May 11, Palestinians demonstrated in all Israeli cities. Especially in the city of Lid, the Israeli Police lost control and a state of emergency was declared.

    Netanyahu claimed that Hamas would pay a huge price. Warplanes hit hundreds of targets in Gaza on May 11-12. Around 50 Palestinians have died so far. 13 of them are children and 4 of them are women.

    Although Netanyahu spoke harshly, he contacted Cairo and the United Arab Emirates and offered to mediate with Hamas. Hamas, on the other hand, refused mediation offers and declared that they “do not trust the Israeli government and are ready for a great war”. The Kassam Brigades, which are the Special Military Units of Hamas, said that: “Some of their commanders were martyred in Israeli attacks and they will hit an important target every day”.

    It is the first time that Israel has faced such strong Palestinian resistance. Many Zionist writers within Israel and in the US admit that “Israel fell short for the first time”.

    Although Netanyahu succeeds in staying in the Government by going to early elections last years, this time he will not be able to do so. This war seems to be Netanyahu’s Final War. The Israeli people are tired of the war, with the exception of some radical groups. Especially 17-year-old youth recruited into the army complain of long military service periods. The New Generation aspires to live in peace with the Palestinian people with whom they live on the street.

  • Armenian Australian church leader ‘was a KGB spy’

    Armenian Australian church leader ‘was a KGB spy’

    Phillip Dorling

    A highly respected Australian church leader was a KGB spy, according to newly released Russian intelligence archives.

    Archbishop Aghan Baliozian, Primate of the Diocese of the Armenian Church of Australia and New Zealand, was listed as a KGB agent, codenamed “Zorik” in the papers of former KGB archivist and defector Vasili Mitrokhin, which were released by the UK’s Churchill College Archive last month.

    Born in Syria in 1946, the late Archbishop Baliozian arrived in Australia in 1975 to serve as Vicar General of the diocese of the Armenian Church before being appointed as Primate of Australia and New Zealand in 1982.

    A highly respected religious leader and a well-known figure in Chatswood, Sydney, Archbishop Baliozian was strongly committed to ecumenism, working for cooperation and greater unity between Christian churches.

    He was the first president of the National Council of Churches in Australia from 1994 to 1997 and president of the NSW Ecumenical Council from 2005 to 2007. He represented the Armenian Church at the World Council of Churches.

    Archbishop Baliozian was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia in 1995 “in recognition of service to the Armenian community” and the Centenary Medal in 2001, again for community service.

    However, Mitrokhin’s papers on KGB espionage operations in Australia allege Archbishop Baliozian was recruited by Soviet intelligence in 1973 while undertaking theological studies in Yerevan, the capital of Armenia, then part of the Soviet Union.

    According to Mitrokhin’s notes of Soviet state security files, Aghan Baliozian went on to work as a KGB agent while studying and teaching in Jerusalem in 1974, and maintained “ongoing communications in three countries”. He continued contact with the KGB after he transferred to the Armenian Church in Australia, according to the papers.

    However, Mitrokhin’s papers also suggest that his performance in Australia was considered unsatisfactory. The third department of the KGB’s foreign intelligence directorate, responsible for operations in Australia, concluded Archbishop Baliozian had “insufficient operational training” and eventually discontinued his employment.

    The precise terms of Archbishop Baliozian’s separation from the KGB are not recorded in Mitrokhin’s notes and it is not known whether he had any further dealings with Soviet intelligence in the 1980s.

    Mitrokhin’s notes of KGB files record Soviet state security’s extensive efforts to recruit clergy as agents and informants, especially in churches with a significant presence in the former Soviet Union.

    British intelligence historian Christopher Andrew, who collaborated with Mitrokhin on two books, claims that, during the Cold War the KGB recruited a number of representatives on the World Council of Churches, mainly from the Russian Orthodox Church but from other denominations as well, in successful efforts to influence the Council’s policies.

    Archbishop Baliozian died in September 2012. More than 600 people attended his funeral at the Armenian Apostolic Church in Chatswood, including three archbishops from Jerusalem, India and Armenia.

    Many NSW political figures paid tribute to the archbishop, with Liberal MP Jonathan O’Dea applauding his commitment to inter-religious dialogue as well as his abilities as an orator.

    “Always approachable and gregarious, the archbishop was captivating as a speaker… He would simply speak from the heart, capturing the attention of young and old in his congregation and developing a strong and loyal following,” Mr O’Dea told the NSW Parliament.

    m.smh.com.au, August 12, 2014

  • Turkey condemns Israeli attack on Muslims at Jerusalem Mosque

    Turkey condemns Israeli attack on Muslims at Jerusalem Mosque

    The FINANCIAL — The Turkish Foreign Ministry has condemned Israeli police who fired stun grenades to disperse Palestinian woshippers who had thrown rocks at them after Friday prayers at the al-Aqsa Mosque compound in Jerusalem’s Old City.

    “We strongly condemn the Israeli forces who violated international law by raiding one of Islam’s holiest sites and preventing Muslims from performing their religious duty,” the ministry said in a statement on Friday, adding that Turkey is closely monitoring increasing attacks by Israeli forces against sacred sites of Muslims.

    Dozens of Israeli officers entered the politically sensitive area, one of Islam’s holiest sites, to break up several hundred protesters, according to TODAY’S ZAMAN.

    A number of policemen were slightly hurt, a police spokesman said, and Palestinian media said at least 15 protesters were injured.

    A surge in violence in the occupied West Bank over the past several weeks has raised concern in Israel that a new Palestinian uprising could erupt.

    via The FINANCIAL – Turkey condemns Israeli attack on Muslims at Jerusalem Mosque.

  • Turkey condemns Israel over Jerusalem settlements

    Turkey condemns Israel over Jerusalem settlements

    On Friday Turkey strongly condemned the Israeli proposal to build 1,300 apartments in East Jerusalem, throwing a wrench into peace talks, which had resumed in September after an interruption of nearly two years.

    Foreign Ministry spokesman Selçuk Ünal said Turkey strongly condemns Jewish settlements in East Jerusalem despite repeated calls from the international community to halt the illegal settlements.

    Ünal said such activities would lead to failure in efforts for resumption of peace talks in the region.

    Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said he won’t renew a 10-month ban on construction in West Bank settlements that expired in September, and he will not curb building in East Jerusalem. This week, Israel’s announcement that it is moving ahead with plans for 1,300 new apartments for Jews there set off a harsh public exchange with the US and the EU.

    “Attempts to change demographic structure, status and cultural identity of Jerusalem raise concerns,” Ünal stressed, adding that Turkey expects Israel to halt its settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem and avoid taking unilateral steps that would negatively affect talks on final status.

    via Today’s Zaman, your gateway to Turkish daily news.

  • Israeli army chief visits Turkey amid tension

    Israeli army chief visits Turkey amid tension

    JERUSALEM, March 15 (Xinhua) — Israeli army chief headed for Turkey Monday morning for a one-day visit amid tension between the two countries.

    Gabi Ashkenazi, Israel Defense Forces (IDF) chief of the general staff, is scheduled to take part in a NATO conference on terrorism and international cooperation, and hold a meeting with his Turkish counterpart during the trip, IDF said in a statement.

    It is the first time in five years that an Israeli army chief has visited Turkey, according to the statement.

    The once close ties between Israel and Turkey were strained after the Jewish state launched a massive attack at the Gaza Strip at the end of 2008.

    Turkish military cancelled a joint air force drill with Israel last October due to the offensive.

    The relation hit a freezing point when Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister Daniel Ayalon in January humiliated Turkish ambassador to Israel by deny the latter a handshake and sitting him on a lower chair at a meeting.

    An IDF spokesperson told Israeli army radio on Monday that Ashkenazi’s visit “is on the military-strategic level, not a diplomatic level.”

    xinhua net