Israel killed more Islamic Jihad terrorists attempting launch rockets at Israeli Civilians. It has also said the international community is now closer to considering a military option in detering Iranian Nuclear Weapons programs.
Syria bombarded its protesters as it released previous political prisoners and the Arab League defends it against foreign intervention in the wake of the violence.
2.5 Million Muslims have descended on Mecca as part of their bid to become Haji's.
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Hajj is the oldest and most sacred ritual of Islam. The pilgrimage focuses on the holy city of Mecca, the birthplace of the Prophet Muhammad.
Saudi Crown Prince Nayef bin Abdel Aziz said a record 1.8 million foreign pilgrims had arrived the kingdom as of Friday. He said they represented 183 nationalities. The foreigners will join hundreds of thousands of Saudi Muslims who are taking part in the ritual.
Most pilgrims visit the holy mosques in Mecca and nearby Medina, where Mohammed was buried more than 1,400 years ago. They also gather on Mount Arafat, where the prophet is said to have delivered his last sermon.
The Hajj will end on Sunday with Eid al-Adha, or the Festival of Sacrifice.
U.S. President Barack Obama issued a statement Saturday wishing Muslims worldwide a happy Eid and saying their accompanying acts of charity join the international community's relief efforts around the world.
The Hajj is one of the five pillars of Islam — one which every Muslim most fulfill, if possible, during his or her lifetime.
Syrian activists on Saturday reported more violence in the restive city of Homs, with at least 10 people killed after government forces used heavy artillery against protesters.
It was the fourth consecutive day that activists said government forces continued to pound the Baba Amr district of Homs.
The violence came on the same day as Syrian officials announced the release of 553 anti-government protesters as part of of an amnesty for Eid al-Adha or the Feast of Sacrifice.
Under the deal announced by Syrian interior minister Friday, the government would grant amnesty to those guilty of bearing arms, but not responsible for killing anyone, if they turn themselves in. Shortly after the announcement, U.S. State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland urged Syrians not to accept the offer.
On Saturday, the Syrian government condemned Nuland's comments as “irresponsible” and accused her of supporting “armed groups” who were carrying out acts of violence against civilians.
In Cairo, meanwhile, Arab League head Nabil al-Arabi deplored the ongoing violence and warned Damascus that its failure to abide by an Arab peace plan would be a “catastrophe for both Syria and the region.” But he also said that Arab states were opposed to “foreign intervention.”
Western countries, such as the United States and France, have questioned Damascus' commitment to the Arab League plan brokered on Wednesday that calls for a halt to violence and talks between the government and the opposition.
On Friday, activists said security forces killed at least 19 people as anti-government protesters rallied across the country.
The United Nations says the number of people killed during the eight-month uprising against President Bashar al-Assad has topped 3,000.
The Syrian government has blamed much of the unrest on “terrorists” and gunmen.
Israel has carried out an air strike in the Gaza Strip against terrorists as they were preparing to fire rockets into Israel.
Medical sources said one member of the Islamic Jihad terrorist group was killed and three others wounded in Saturday night's attack targeting Khan Yunis in southern Gaza. There was no immediate word on the condition of the wounded.
An Israeli military spokesman confirmed that an aircraft had fired on Palestinian terrorists.
The terrorist group fired about 20 rockets into Israel a week earlier, killing one Israeli civilian and wounding several others. That rocket attack triggered Israeli strikes into Gaza that killed nine Islamic Jihad members.
Meanwhile,
Israeli President Shimon Peres says the international community is closer to pursuing a military option to deal with Iran's nuclear program than it is to finding a diplomatic solution to the threat.
Mr. Peres told Israel's channel 2 TV Friday world leaders need to “fulfill their promises'' to stop Iran.
On Thursday, President Barack Obama said Iran's nuclear program poses a “continuing threat” and called for a need to maintain “unprecedented international pressure” on Tehran to meet its nuclear obligations.
The International Atomic Energy Agency is due to release a report on Iran's nuclear program next week.
Western powers suspect Tehran of developing nuclear weapons and have imposed sanctions in an attempt to curb its program.
Iran, which opposes Israel's existence, says it is enriching uranium only to power reactors for electricity generation.
Israel held an emergency civil defense drill Thursday, mimicking a foreign missile attack, as Israeli media reports speculated on the possibility of an Israeli strike against Iran's nuclear facilities.
Speculation rose this week after reports that Israeli leaders were seeking a timetable for a possible strike on Iran.
Israel test-fired a missile Wednesday that Israeli media said was capable of carrying a nuclear warhead. There were also reports of an Israeli air force exercise over the Mediterranean Sea. VoA