Chuck Hagel moved one step closer to appointment as the next US Defence Secretary Tuesday, after a narrow majority of votes at a crucial Senate Armed Service Committee session passed the process on to full consideration by the Senate executive session Thursday to be followed by a full vote by the floor.
Polish MEP Michał Tomasz Kaminski called on EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton to step up Europe’s efforts to designate Hezbollah a terrorist organisation after last week’s Bulgarian’s report that the Lebanese group was behind the terrort attack on Israeli tourists in Burgas in July 2012.
EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton offered her “heartfelt condolences” to the 14 confirmed victims of an attack on a Turkish-Syria border crossing Monday, as she “strongly condemned” the attack and committed the EU’s assistance to “Turkish authorities in the fight against all forms of terrorism”.
US President Barack Obama briefly reflected on his forthcoming Israel visit in his State of the Union address Tuesday, as he committed to defending Israel’s security and seeking “lasting peace” in the Middle East.
“Calling Hezbollah a charity is like calling al-Qaida an urban-planning organization because of its desire to level tall buildings,” Israel’s Ambassador to the UN Ron Prosor told a UN Security Council open debate on the protection of civilians in armed conflict.
White House spokesman Jay Carey insisted in a press briefing Monday that despite mounting opposition amongst the former Senator’s peers, “we believe firmly that Senator Hagel will be confirmed as the next Secretary of Defense”.
