Hamas is outraged that one of its top leaders was assassinated in the heart of the Gulf, with the terror group blaming the Israeli Mossad, warning other leaders of potential assassination attempts, and vowing revenge.

The Israeli government has not commented, as to be expected, but all the signs point to Israeli intelligence as the likely culprit. Agents reportedly drugged the Hamas official in a room before extracting vital security-related information and, finally, concluding the incident with an assassination.

Targeted assassinations by Israel are nothing new. The Mossad is known for using rather complicated methods and very rarely getting caught. (Israel attempted to poison Hamas leader Khalid Meshal in Jordan some years back, but the agents were caught. Israel, in order to secure the release of the agents and avert an international incident, provided Jordan with the antidote to the poison.) One technique used by the Mossad, allegedly, is the use of sophisticated laser technology. Undercover agents on the ground shine a laser pointer at a target. Then, Israeli aircraft fire laser-guided missiles in a precision strike on the target to limit civilian casualties.

In order to gain access to Dubai, the site of the latest assassination, the agents (currently assumed to be Israel, although there is no confirmation) used Irish passports.

After the army, Israelis travel the world, often finding themselves in South America, India, and Japan. Some, though, travel to Ireland and other parts of Europe.

Regardless, I have never heard an Israeli able to pull off a decent Irish accent. And that feat for an Israeli might be more impressive than the laser-guided missile assassinations.

As readers know because I write about this on a far too regular basis, the Palestinians are embarking on a state building initiative that would erect institutions in the territories for a future state. This effort has been dubbed as unilateral actions and the Palestinians taking control of their destiny (cue music from Star Wars).

In order to supplement the Palestinian Authorities state building efforts, the Palestinian administration released a report last week that outlines various institution building priorities for 2010, many of which focus on security. These priorities include training and security infrastructure development.

However, until the Palestinians complete their institution building efforts, they still need help. And the United States and the United Nations are more than willing. The State Department announced today that it will provide $40 million to supplement the U.N. Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East in order to support the group’s humanitarian and emergency services. UNRWA’s efforts compose some of the institutions that Palestinians need to erect themselves, albeit an effective security apparatus and economic system are at the top of the list.

Similarly of note, are comments from Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad on his institution building campaign. He acknowledges that the initiative is a unilateral move for Palestinians to take ownership of their future. As transcribed by Middle East Progress, Fayyad said at a recent conference:

“That exercise we have embarked on related to getting ready for statehood was ascribed by some as a source of concern on the grounds that it is or represents unilateralism by the Palestinians. And I’m here to tell everyone that indeed it is–it is unilateral, as it should be, because it’s about building a Palestinian state, it’s about getting ready for Palestinian statehood, and the state that is being built here is a Palestinian state and if we Palestinians don’t build it, who is going to build it for us? This is not about declaring a state, it’s about getting ready for one. And the program we have embarked upon was not supposed to be in lieu of the political process, it was supposed to reinforce it. These two paths are mutually reinforcing. The political process path is absolutely necessary because that’s what’s going to bring about an end to the occupation. That involves negotiations with the help of the international community, with a key role played by the United States and has been for a long period of time, acting on its own behalf, on behalf of the Quartet and international community at large. …

“The path we’re taking … by mid-2011 … by then we will have amassed a critical mass of positive change on the ground consistent with the emergence of the Palestinian state, to where if the political process, the other track, will not have produced the end of occupation that we all desire, that critical mass or positive change on the ground consistent with the emergence of Palestinian state will exert so much pressure on that political process to produce the end of occupation … it’s been described as bottom-up … for it to succeed there is the top-down that is required in the sense of political horizon to give us, but also to give our partners in the international community who’ve been investing in this process, trying to make it happen, that sense of possibility, because like us they’re not interested in continuing to invest in a process–not only financially and economically but also politically and even morally–if they did not really get sense of possibility.”

A war has been brewing in Israel and battles have been fought- in the food fight that is.

Recently, Lebanese chefs have tried to reclaim hummus by breaking the world record for creating the largest vat of the chickpea-mush. Israeli chefs countered and used an unused satellite dish to claim the title as their own.

Now, Israeli cooks are apparently snagging a Syrian dish as Israeli, although I have never heard of nor tasted this product (but I want to!). At issue is the freekeh grain that contains more protein, fiber and vitamins than other grains. In a recent article on Israel’s use of the grain, the author points to the product as a symbol of sharing regional dishes and similarities with neighbors. The author writes:

“Unique flavor and beneficial properties aside, freekeh is mainly a symbol of Israel’s growing awareness of local food traditions, customs, and ingredients. It is also a reminder of how much more we need to look at the gastronomic treasures we share with our neighbors.”

With the Israel-Syria peace track on the fritz, Syria might take issue with newest fad in Israeli cuisine. I wonder if the Guinness Book of World Record has a section for largest vat of freekeh?

The Jewish and pro-Israel agendas do not always correlate, but the lobbying organizations often promote similar measures and advocate identical approaches from the U.S. government. JTA surveyed the major lobbying organizations on their agendas for 2010, with the major common theme being advocacy to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon. The U.S. is currently debating sanction on the regime and some indications point to a potential pending military strike on the country.

The issue of an Iranian nuclear program is not just an issue that affects Israel, it uniquely impacts Jews as well. The Iranian regime has dismissed the Holocaust as a hoax and expressed anti-Semitic sentiments that are unrelated to Israel. And, clearly, the regime has also called for the destruction of Israel and, by obtaining nuclear weapons, Iran would threaten Israel and the entire region.

Notable excerpts from the survey include-

AIPAC:

“We are at a critical juncture in efforts to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons capability. As the U.S. works with our allies to pass additional U.N. Security Council sanctions, it’s critical that the administration take immediate steps to ratchet up pressure on the regime.”

American Jewish Committee:

“As for President Obama, 2010 could be the make-or-break year for the Iranian nuclear program. It will be a time of extraordinary testing of the Obama Administration. A laudable effort to reach out to Tehran was spurned, and a reasonable proposal on nuclear fuel was rejected by Iran. Now it’s time to get tough, summon all the diplomatic clout of the U.S. to mobilize allies and convince Iran that Washington means business. This may well be the supreme foreign policy test facing the president. He must succeed.”

American Jewish Congress:

“No issue ought to be higher on the Jewish agenda than stopping Iran from developing nuclear weapons. The U.S. Senate and House of Representatives have approved separate versions of the Iran Refined Petroleum Sanctions Act; they need to be reconciled.

The administration urgently needs to assemble international support for effective sanctions.”

ADL:

“Congress should put America’s commitment to halt Iran’s nuclear quest into action by enacting crippling sanctions legislation to complement multilateral efforts. Congress also plays a vital role in sustaining U.S. support for Israel’s right to live in peace and with security.”

B’nai B’rith International:

“2010 needs to be the year of decision on Iran — perhaps the final chance to stop Tehran’s march to develop a nuclear weapon. Iran’s quest for nuclear arms is a major cause of instability in the world today. Lawmakers must use this session to advance strong U.S. leadership on unified, international sanctions against the Iranian regime.

Congressional action transmits a message of magnitude to other world bodies. Iran should be a priority item and Congress must implement harsh sanctions against a regime that repeatedly defies international protocols.

The world cannot wait indefinitely for Iran to quell its nuclear ambitions. It won’t. Harsh sanctions, backed by real penalties and isolation, are clearly in order. We cannot allow a Holocaust-denying leader who wants to destroy Israel, who captured his office in a rigged election and who suppresses his own people with human rights violations the tools to carry out his threats.”

Jewish Council for Public Affairs:

“The JCPA has numerous domestic and international concerns, including preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons and protecting the most vulnerable in our society from hunger and homelessness. However, the most pressing domestic need in the United States today is the need to help the unemployed return to work and continue our nation’s economic recovery. This includes investing in green jobs, improving public education and work training programs, and targeting new investment to populations and regions that have been disproportionately affected by the recession. Congress and the administration must look for ways to encourage job growth in every sector of the economy, and no proposal to reduce unemployment should be discounted or ignored. Returning Americans to work is not a Republican Party or Democratic Party mantra, but vital for the continued economic recovery of this country.”

Zionist Organization of America:

“If it becomes clear sanctions against Iran aren’t working, Congress may give support to Israel and the United States to take military action.”

Israeli films have garnered significant attention in the past, particularly with the internationally acclaimed Waltz with Bashir that depicted Israel’s role in the Beirut during the early 80’s. As a follow up that movie, the film Lebanon provided a glimpse into a tank and the claustrophobia of Israeli soldiers during war. Prior to release of both these films, the movie Beaufort garnered significant attention as well.

Well, on to the next. For the third straight year, an Israeli film was nominated for an Academy Award, this time for the film Ajami in the best foreign film category.

The movie, about the Arab sector of Tel Aviv, Jaffa, was co-directed by Israeli and Palestinian film makers.