Hello Everyone,

This week Israel and Germany signed a contract for the purchase of a sixth submarine for Israel's navy.

Germany manufactures some of the most advanced submarines in the world.

This sixth submarine, which Germany partly funded, will increase the capabilities and strength of the Israel Defense Forces in the face of the ever-increasing challenges it is facing – particularly Iran.

That strength will not only be one of military deterrence, but also intelligence gathering.

Israel is touting the agreement as reflecting the depth of Israel and Germany's relationship, as well as the German government's clear commitment to the State of Israel's security.

Israel's navy has been undergoing strategic changes that place it as the long (and increasingly silent) arm of the IDF, to secure the State.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu thanked German Chancellor Angela Merkel saying this step will help Israel meet it's considerable security needs in these current times and will, over time, greatly contribute to the security of the Jewish state.

Brian Bush Middle East Correspondent LeSEA Broadcasting

Dear Friends,

Chuck said you would receive an update on yesterday's double terrorist attack against Israeli embassies.

As mentioned on the Harvest Show, Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu has said Iran is responsible. For it's part Tehran says they have nothing to do with it.

Israeli interests are on highest alert around the world.

In Thailand three bombs went off in what is being described at this hour as a botched terror attempt.

There is a suspected Iranian national who has had his legs blown off in the occurrence.

One bomb went of in a house, another was thrown at a taxi that didn't stop for the man, and the third went off prematurely wounding five.

Israel is making the link that Iran is behind this event, but another theory says that his target was the Thai police.

There is no clear evidence pointing to Israeli interests as the target, but some offer the idea that this was part of a coordinated effort. Back in India an intelligence source is reported to have said that the blast's tracks there lead to Iran.

From New Delhi where the investigation is underway, pieces of the puzzle are coming together that may display that Iran is cooperating with local terrorist infrastructures – perhaps the same group that perpetrated Mumbai attack a few years ago.

The Indian Interior Minister has said that the "attack was perpetrated by well trained terrorists." The assessment is that the incidents in India and Georgia are part of a wider, multi-continental and multi-dimensional effort, intended to give to Hezbollah and/or to Iran a triple achievement: Revenge for the elimination of Imad Mughniyeh, the Hezbollah weapons buyer assassinated four years ago, revenge for the elimination of the Iranian nuclear scientists, and deterrence.

The concern here in Israel is that this is only the beginning.

Brian Bush Middle East Correspondent LeSEA Broadcasting

Hello Everyone,

The Chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Martin Dempsey is here now in Israel.

Gen. Dempsey wasted no time heading straight into meetings with the Israel Defense Forces top brass upon arriving. He also met with Defense Minister Ehud Barak and then with the President of the State of Israel Mr. Shimon Perez.

This morning Dempsey toured Vad Vashem, Israel's official holocaust memorial.

The message he touted through out was one of mutual interests between America and Israel, the deep friendship the two countries have, and then of course action on Iran.

It is true that the bond between Israel and America is very very strong. And in confronting the issue of a nuclear Iran, one can say that Europe is the missing element in pressuring Iran to alter it's course.

For some in Europe, the argument is that Israel is part of the problem.

Some of that reasoning stems from Israel's lack of going along with European thought, but one should distinguish that between this situation of nuclear weaponry in the hands of the Iranians.

And when one looks at the current statements coming out of Europe they are clear that Israel is not the issue.

Israel is facing the Iranian nuclear program and Iran's support for terrorism, more than ever.

Yesterday an alleged 10 man terror cell supposedly funded by Islamic Jihad in Syria (which means ultimately understood that the money was coming from Iran) was rounded up in the West Bank.

But the need is for cooperation with Europe alongside the cooperation that already exists with the US.

The career diplomats in Israel's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, who deal with diplomatic relations with Europe, are seemingly convinced that a clear message must be broadcast to Europe.

A nuclear Iran is a threat to you as it is to us.

Brian Bush Middle East Correspondent LeSEA Broadcasting

Hello Everyone,

There is much happening here in the Middle East, but if we have to choose one topic to discuss – it would be Iran.

The tipping event for much of this talk, as Chuck reported this morning on The Harvest Show, is the European Union expanding both Iranian entities and people to sanctions.

The big issue here is whether of not European countries will stop buying Iranian oil.

In America, there is discussion on freezing assets of Iranian central bank.

Here on the ground in Jerusalem a poll came out today showing 90% of Israelis are concerned about Iran.

The Israeli Defense Minister, Ehud Barak said that Israel is not afraid of Iran, and that it is possible that the country will be "put to the test".

He also stated that Israel is not interested in war with Iran but made it clear that the IDF will not stand by in the event of an existential danger. He went on to say "War is no picnic" and hinted that giving the US advance warning is not mandatory for Israeli action.

American officials have gone on record saying that they are not sure that Israel would warn the US regarding an attack on Iran.

Then there was the explosion in Iran that I reported on Wednesday, some here say it was indeed a secret attack on Iran.

This adds to the general sense of fear, because of the idea that if this could be called a 'limited' war - it is here.

If certain reports that the Isfahan nuclear facility was hit are correct, then it is no longer a result of a local fault or action, but rather a strategic strike - apparently the second within two weeks.

Brian Bush Middle East Correspondent LeSEA Broadcasting

Hello Everyone,

As Chuck said on yesterday's Harvest Show broadcast, lets bring you up to date on the tragic terror attack yesterday in the south of Israel.

This all happened in a fairly remote area down by Israel's southern most city Eilat which shares boarders with Jordan and the Sinai Peninsula that is controlled by Egypt.

At the time of this posting, eight Israelis have been killed and 30 wounded during what was a well-planned attack.

It has been reported that Israeli intelligence had some since of warning about the potential for an attack, and had raised their alert level, but nonetheless the estimated 20 perpetrators were able to move about and execute their plan.

Israeli Defense forces went to the air within hours targeting a group of leadership from the Popular Resistance Committee – killing six – including those who planned and authorized the attack, in Rafah which lies near the border with Egypt in the Gaza Strip.

Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu addressed the issue stating Israel will immediately respond with heavy force.

Today, again at the time of posting, we have had 10 rockets fired from Gaza into Israel with one serious injury.

There reportedly has been a suicide bomber from the PRC who blew himself up on the Egyptian side of the border with Gaza killing several Egyptian soldiers and wounding more.

Two Egyptian soldiers were mistakenly killed yesterday as the Israeli Air Force pursued terrorists involved in the shooting attack into the Sinai territory controlled by Egypt.

Be sure to tune in on Monday's Harvest Show where I'll have the details as they develop over the weekend.

Brian Bush Middle East Correspondent LESEA Broadcasting

Hi Everyone!

This morning, one ship of the second flotilla that intends to break the Israeli blockade and reach Gaza, has left it's Greek port for an undisclosed rendezvous point at sea.

Now Chuck Freeby was interested in the development of Israel's Government Press Office sending out a warning letter to foreign journalists not to participate in covering the story from the flotilla – so lets dive a little deeper into that.

Whatever the reason may be, and lets assume it is for the good, it seems that the situation may have backfired as the international media has been given a reason to score points against Israel in the game of persuasion of viewers on the eve of the departure.

But maybe it could work out to Israel's benifit...

The National Information Directorate somehow thought it best that foreign correspondents should be threatened and warned that 'participation in the flotilla is an intentional violation of Israeli law and is liable to lead to participants being denied entry into the State of Israel for ten years, to the impoundment of their equipment and to additional sanctions.'

It should be noted that a prominent Israeli journalist is sailing with the flotilla.

Some have said that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Bibi Netanyahu set this all up to make him and the State look like the 'good guys' by 'reconsidering the matter'.

To date, he has made a decision to allow for the embedding of foreign journalists on Israel Naval vessels as they enforce the blockade on the Gaza Strip. This has been a welcomed move.

Amidst the reports that there could be those intending resistance and even violence against soldiers boarding the ships in the flotilla – this could be a good thing.

If there were journalists onboard – one would hope that they would accurately report such incidence which would only serve to ruin the flotilla organizers declared statement that the participants are peaceful delivering humanitarian aid and gestures to the Palestinians.

It would be hard to justify a third flotilla if such an outbreak were to occur and it was documented by foreign journalists sailing aboard – and this perhaps should be Israel's tactical objective.

We'll continue to keep you abreast of the details as they develop.

Brian Bush Middle East Correspondent LeSEA Broadcasting

Hello Everyone,

Well – there is so much pressing news it is hard to decide which story to expand on...

But of note is the fact that today for five minuets this country came to a halt to remember the five years that the Israeli soldier Gilyad Shalit has been held by Hamas in Gaza.

From the highways to the Knesset: Daily routines throughout the country to stop at 11:00. Thousands blocked highways and junctions in call to free abducted soldier.

Israel's Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu has long insisted that in any deal to free Shalit that he will not release those who have murdered Israelis to the West Bank.

Lastly, the Chief of Staff for the Israel Defense Forces, did not participate in the five minuets observance.

Second story of note today is that Israeli commandos intercepted a ship bound for Egypt that Israel says is carrying arms for use against Israel by militant groups in the Gaza Strip.

The vessel originated in Turkey, went to Syria, then was boarded today 200 miles off the coast in international waters. There was no resistance from the crew and the vessel was being taken to the Israeli port of Ashdod where a detailed inspection of the cargo would be carried out.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said the source of the weapons was Iran.

This is the latest in acquisitions upon the high seas where Israel's Navy has intercepted weaponry it says was bound for Gaza since the year 2000. Israel now routinely boards ships in the open waters in an effort to deter weapons shipment to Gaza.

And lastly, we can not but mention the growing catastrophe in Japan as the levels of radiation increase from their stricken Nuclear reactors.

Israel has now recalled diplomats' families as the radioactive cloud is en route to Tokyo – it's level of radiation – 10 times above normal allowances for human health.

Brian Bush Middle East Correspondent LeSEA Broadcasting

Hello Friends,

A few blogs ago I reported on the United Nations announcement that the inquiry into the flotilla incident was underway.

Today Israel released three of the Turkish aid ships that tried to break the Gaza blockade two months ago. This including the Mavi Marmara where the incidence of violence occurred.

Israel's Defense Ministry released a statement saying that three Turkish towing ships would take three vessels anchored in Israel.

The Turkish government had requested the boats be released several times. There are still three non-Turkish vessels that are still being held in Israel.

The other flotilla ship that went towards Gaza days after the events which took the lives of 9, the Irish flagged Rachel Corrie, also remains under Israeli control.

Meanwhile on land, a committee member of the Israeli commissioned inquiry into the incident has spoken with the members of the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee stating that the Israeli Defense Forces are responsible for the flotilla situation, not the political leadership of the State. These are the first solid comments ascribing a direction of fault into that fateful day in May.

Brian Bush Middle East Correspondent LeSEA Broadcasting

Hello Everyone,

The Turkish Aid Flotilla incident from May 31st continues to make news – and will now for the months ahead.

Where are we at right now?

Israel has conducted one military investigation, and has begun another government commissioned inquiry. Turkey for it's part has an investigation as well.

But it is the United Nations Commission that is now formed and soon to commence, with the former Premier of New Zealand, Mr. Geoffrey Palmer at the helm, that is the media catch right now.

All parties involved have been re-releasing their sides of the story to the press and the world in order to put opinion on their side.

Israel announced yesterday, both via the Defense Minister Ehud Barak, and then at an Official news conference where the Prime Minister, Mr. Bibi Netanyahu, announced that Israel will officially cooperate in the Investigation. Mr. Netanyahu again reiterated that the action of the aid flotilla was to bring terror and that it sought a confrontation.

This is in contrast to, most recently the Israeli Military Operation Cast Lead in Gaza, other International investigations particularly emanating from the UN where Israel has not cooperated in investigations.

Mr. Palmer has cautioned that his task is a sensitive one, and that things will be a challenge. How it is understood that the process will work, is that the commission will have a panel who will review the reports provided to them by both Israel and Turkey. There will be both a Turkish and Israeli representative in the commission. At this point it is not clear just how the mechanics of this will work, but most probably we will see a review, questions will be pursued and investigation done, with a conclusion submitted to the Secretary General of the UN - and no doubt to the world's press.

Israel for it's part, will push its right to defend the blockade's in confronting the flotilla in international waters. Turkey, does not really have a specific argument to push as it was not an official government action on their part, except for the fact that it was it's citizens who were killed by Israel's naval forces.

Brian Bush Middle East Correspondent LeSEA Broadcasting