Iran: To veil or not to veil

During a two-week visit to Iran in November, Sharmine Narwani witnessed women of all ages walking freely on the streets without the hijab. But, what we're not told, is that they have been doing so for years.

Article: thecradle.co/Article/Colu…

Lebanon: A scuffle took place at a cafe in Tyre in the wake of the Brazilian loss at the World Cup.

🇨🇳 🤝 🇵🇸 “China and Palestine enjoy a time-honored friendship... No matter how the international and regional situation may change, China firmly supports the just cause of the Palestinian people and will always stand with them.” — President Xi Jinping

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Social work in Hezbullah provided a donation of diesel fuel to operate 7 water stations in Byblos and Keserwan on the occasion of Christmas and New Year.

Israeli lawmaker and a member of Benjamin Netanyahu's new majority coalition:

“If it's (a choice between) 1 Israeli mother crying, or 1,000 Palestinian mothers crying... 1,000 Palestinian mothers will cry"

The Israeli army launched a surprise three-day drill dubbed "Hot Winter II", focused on fighting on the northern frontier [Lebanon & Golan Heights].

About 8,000 connoscripts and 5,000 reservists troops will participate.

Palestine: Jenin battalion founder, Muhammad al-Saadi, chanting a song made for Hezbullah's Martyrs and inspired by Ashoura.

Hezbullah and PIJ share a strong bond since the 1990's.

Beirut: Scuffles in Achrafieh as locals beat up a parade celebrating the victory of Morocco earlier today.

The parade was carrying Moroccan, Palestinian, and allegedly Syrian flags.

“During the exercise, forces will practice dealing with being deployed in a sudden manner, in the face of operational scenarios in the northern arena, with an emphasis on the readiness of the logistics array, and cooperation between the ground forces units,” the Israeli army said

⋯ Earlier this month, the IDF’s 99th Division wrapped up a drill simulating sudden fighting on the northern frontier, and the Israeli Air Force conducted a series of joint aerial exercises with the US military simulating strikes against Iran Hezbullah.

Now: Israeli snipers murdered a 15-year-old girl in Jenin, West Bank during their raid in the city.

Three other injuries are reported.

⋯ CCTV footage of Majidreza Rahnavard, murdering two people and injuring four others, according to Iranian media.

The evidence was presented to court and was convicted based on it.

Reserve Israeli army officers and residents of the northern settlements on the Lebanese-Palestinian border, voiced their dissatisfaction in the delays to build bunkers and shelters, ahead of any possible confrontation with Hezbullah.

⋯ Senior researcher at an Israeli institute, Brigadier General Dr. Meir Elran, wrote that the Israeli army has completed bunkers only in the settlement of Kfar Yuval.

That's one out of 21 promised to be shielded since July 2018. That's 4 years ago.

⋯ Elran added that "it is impossible to explain why the government does not fulfill its obligation to provide the residents of the north with the protection they require in the face of the obvious threats from Hezbullah."

⋯ He continued to say "it is not possible to bridge the puzzling gap between the talk of Hezbullah's strengthening of its offensive weapons and the lack of our basic defensive response." End.

⋯ In reality what's actually happening, is that the Israeli army knows very well that all northern settlements will be depopulated in the upcoming war.

They prefer to allocate this money elsewhere, and not waste it on building shelters that won't be used by Israelis.