Israel's move toward early Election may shelve any attack on Iran

Two top Israeli security officials said Wednesday that the prospect of early national elections will have no influence over a decision over whether to strike Iranian nuclear sites.

Some say Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is unlikely to risk his reelection by striking Iran. The Iran issue could also lead to a divisive campaign.

Israel'smove toward early elections is the latest sign that its threatened attack against Iran's nuclear facilities is unlikely to take place in the coming months.

The Israeli military said Wednesday it has closed its investigation into the shelling deaths of 21 members of a single Palestinian family and would not file any charges in what was one of the gravest incidents in the 2009 war in the Gaza Strip.

The military's move, which exonerates Israeli soldiers from any responsibility in the killings, outraged relatives of the killed Palestinians and the Israeli human rights group that had pressed for the investigation. They said the findings proved the army is not capable of investigating the conduct of its soldiers.

Longtime grasshoppers know I've been skeptical about Israel actually 

carrying through on threats to strike Iran in an attempt to 

degrade the Iranian nuclear weapons program

"We are talking about a crime against civilians," said Salah Samouni, 34, whose 2-year-old daughter was killed when Israeli shells slammed into the Gaza City house where the family had gathered.

Though no final decision has been made about moving up national elections slated for next year, the Knesset, or parliament, is talking about dissolving this month and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to announce as soon as next week an election date in September.

Some officials predict the chances of an Israeli airstrike against Iran will decrease because a divisive political campaign would paralyze the government and focus attention on domestic issues.

"He can't do anything before elections," said Knesset member Daniel Ben-Simon of the Labor Party. "He's a lame duck. Nothing will be decided before the vote."

Both Defense Minister Ehud Barak and Deputy Prime Minister Moshe Yaalon said in published comments on Wednesday that policy toward Iran will be based solely on strategic interests.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu signaled this week that he may call parliamentary elections a year ahead of schedule, casting additional uncertainty over any Israeli military plans.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to announce as soon 

as next week an election date in September.

Israel considers Iran a threat to its existence because of its nuclear and missile development programs, frequent reference to Israel's destruction by Iranian leaders and Iran's support of violent anti-Israel groups in Lebanon and Gaza.

Israel has been warning for years that Iran is trying to construct nuclear bombs. Iran insists its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes.

Echoing Barak's sentiments was Deputy Prime Minster Moshe Yaalon. "The election will not be a consideration in the Iranian issue. If we need to make decisions we will make them," he told the Maariv daily.

There has been a precedent to big military offensive prior to an election.

Police probe over mortuary mix-up. Family appalled at the blunder.

A council has called in the police after the body of a former soldier who died in police custody turned up in a mortuary more than a decade after he was believed to have been buried.

Hundreds of mourners attended the funeral of ex-para Christopher Alder - who died in controversial circumstances in police custody - in November 2000.
But staff who went to collect the body of a woman for a funeral last Friday were stunned when they discovered Christopher's body in her place.

 Nigerian Grace Kamara died in 1999 but she had no relatives in this country and her funeral was delayed.
It was finally arranged for last week but when the staff went to collect her they discovered the body of 37-year-old Christopher.
His family were appalled at the blunder.
Sister Janet said: ""I'm in shock - this is an absolutely disgusting situation.
Christopher Alder, 37, choked to death while handcuffed and lying on the floor of a police station in Hull, in the early hours of April 1 1998.
It now appears a Hull pensioner called Grace Kamara was buried in his place in 2000.
Mrs Kamara is understood to have died from natural causes in 1999 but her burial was delayed and finally scheduled for Friday.
It appears the blunder was only discovered because her friends and family asked to see the body and Mr Alder's remains were found in its place in the mortuary.
On Sunday Nicola Yates, chief executive of Hull City Council, apologised and launched an investigation.
Now she says the police are being brought in.
She said: "As chair of the multi-agency group dealing with the tragic circumstances around Grace Kamara and Christopher Alder, I have requested that the police undertake a criminal investigation into this extremely distressing case.
"As I said last night, I am appalled and distraught at what we have learned and my first priority has been to make sure the families involved are kept informed and given the necessary support.
"It is vital that the families and the public get a clear view of the facts and understand what happened. A thorough police investigation will make sure this happens. Now that the police are carrying out a formal investigation it would be inappropriate for me to comment further."
"Hull City Council is both appalled and distraught at what it has learnt and in conjunction with Hull and East Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust, is undertaking a full and thorough investigation.
"At the present time our main priority is to inform and support the families of those affected. We expect further information to be available later."

Birthday in tears

Birthday celebration in tears

Two T-shirts, far left, meant for the surprise 19th birthday celebration of slain Tipu Sultan. Father, sister and mother of slain college student Kamruzzaman Kanto shed tears, top, together at their home in Darussalam in the capital Dhaka. His birthday was yesterday.

His sister bought two new T-shirts and was planning to order a cake for his 19th birthday. The family made all the preparations to give him a big surprise that birthday party turned into a home of mourning yesterday.

Tipu Sultan, one of the six students beaten to death by a mob on Monday, was only two days away from his 19th birthday.

“We didn't tell him anything, as we wanted to surprise him,” said his sister Anar Koli, a Dhaka University student.

“What am I going to do with these T-shirts?” she asked reporters at their Shyamoli residence in the capital and broke into tears.

 “Since Tipu was the youngest [among two brothers and a sister] my mother often fed him with her own hands,” said Sheikh Farid, Tipu's elder brother.

Several hundred students and teachers of Tejgaon College also formed a human chain in front of the college protesting the killing of Tipu Sultan, a first year student of management department. They called for punishment of his killers.

College Principal Prof Abdur Rashid told the media that Tipu was an innocent boy.

 “On his birthday, we demand punishment of Tipu's killers,” said Sumon Mahmud, his friend from the college.

 “None of my boys were robbers. They were never involved in any kind of criminal activities,” he said. “We want proper investigation so that the actual fact is unearthed paving the way for justice.”

“Why my son was killed in this way? He is one of the brilliant students of English medium and he was not involved in any kind of crimes. I want justice,” his father Aminur Rahim said.

Hundreds of people broke into tears seeing his body. his mother said. “My son was innocent; he has never done anything wrong.” He was buried on Monday night.