Vatican recognizes state of Palestine in new treaty - http://www.timesofisrael.com/vatican-recognizes-state-of-palestine-in-new-treaty/
Jerusalem says move not conducive to peace, will consider 'next steps,' after Holy See announcement ahead of weekend meeting between Pope, Abbas
The Vatican officially recognized the state of Palestine in a new treaty Wednesday, drawing criticism from Jerusalem.
The treaty, which was finalized Wednesday but still has to be signed, makes clear that the Holy See has switched its diplomatic relations from the Palestinian Liberation Organization to the state of Palestine.
The Vatican had welcomed the decision by the UN General Assembly in 2012 to recognize a Palestinian state.
But the treaty is the first legal document negotiated between the Holy See and the Palestinian state and constitutes an official recognition.
Israeli officials criticized the Vatican announcement.
"We're disappointed by the decision taken by the Holy See. We believe that such a decision is not conducive to bringing the Palestinians back to the negotiating table," Foreign Ministry spokesperson Emmanuel Nahshon told The Times of Israel.
"Israel will study the agreement and consider its next steps accordingly," a brief statement from the ministry said.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is due to see Pope Francis on Saturday before the canonization of two new saints from the Holy Land a day later.
The text of the treaty "deals with essential aspects of the life and activity of the Catholic Church in Palestine," a Vatican statement said Wednesday.
"Both Parties agreed that the work of the Commission on the text of the Agreement has been concluded, and that the agreement will be submitted to the respective authorities for approval ahead of setting a date in the near future for the signing."
Hezbollah hiding 100,000 missiles that can hit north, army says - http://www.timesofisrael.com/hezbollah-hiding-100000-missiles-that-can-hit-north-army-says/
If war breaks out, IDF warns, Israel will strike at south Lebanon's rocket arsenals, wherever they are placed
The Lebanese group Hezbollah has built up a massive arsenal of rockets and other advanced weapons in Shi'ite villages of southern Lebanon, a senior Israeli intelligence official said Wednesday, warning civilians would be at risk if war breaks out.
According to the official, Hezbollah has an estimated 100,000 short-range rockets capable of striking northern Israel, several thousand missiles that can reach Tel Aviv and central Israel and hundreds more that can strike the entire country.
Most of the weapons have been transferred to Lebanon through war-torn Syria, coming from Hezbollah's key allies, the Syrian government and Iran, he said.
The official showed reporters satellite photos of what Israeli intelligence believes are Hezbollah positions in dozens of Shiite villages in southern Lebanon.
The photos were marked with dozens of red icons, signaling what are believed to be missile launchers, arms depots, underground tunnels and command posts.
The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity under military guidelines, said an estimated 200 villages have been turned into "military strongholds."
One photo showed the village of Muhaybib, with a population of around 1,000 people and 90 buildings, of which more than a third had been marked as Hezbollah assets. In the larger village of Shaqra, with some 4,000 people, Israeli intelligence identified Hezbollah targets in around 400 out of some 1,200 buildings.
The army refused to allow publication of the images.
If war breaks out and Hezbollah fires missiles at Israel, these buildings will be targeted by Israel's air force, the official said, adding that Israel would give civilians time to evacuate.
Israel and Hezbollah fought a month-long war in 2006 that killed some 1,200 Lebanese, including hundreds of civilians, and 160 Israelis and caused heavy damage to Lebanon's infrastructure.
Though another Israel-Hezbollah war is always possible, analysts say the group has no interest in renewing hostilities while it is busy fighting alongside President Bashar Assad's forces against rebels trying to topple him in Syria.
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