14 June, 2011 — VTJP
News
International Middle East Media Center
Army Attacks Political Prisoners In Qidar Prison, Four Injured
IMEMC – Wednesday June 15, 2011 – 01:01, Israel soldiers attacked on Tuesday the Qidar Prison, and violently attacked Palestinian political prisoners before transferring more than half of them to the Ramon detention facility; at least four detainees were injured.
Israeli FM Calls New Peace Initiative ‘Naive’
IMEMC – Wednesday June 15, 2011 – 00:38, Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman told Israeli Army radio on Tuesday that focusing the international Mid-East policy on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict was, “naive.”
German Development Minister Visits Gaza
IMEMC – Wednesday June 15, 2011 – 00:05, German Development Minister, Dirk Niebel, visited the Gaza Strip, the stronghold of the Hamas movement, on Tuesday, and praised the reconciliation and unity agreement between the Fateh movement of President Mahmoud Abbas and Hamas.
Fateh, Hamas, Agree On New PM, To Hold Another Round Of Talks Tuesday
IMEMC – Tuesday June 14, 2011 – 23:43, On Tuesday, the Fateh and Hamas movements held in Cairo their first meeting to implement the National Unity Agreement, and agreed to hold the next round of talks next Tuesday, June 21.
Settlers Hurl Stones At Palestinian Homes In Hebron
IMEMC – Tuesday June 14, 2011 – 22:26, Dozens of fundamentalist Israeli settlers, living in the occupied West Bank city of Hebron, hurled on Tuesday at night, stones at five Palestinian homes in the city while chanting racist slogans and slurs at the Palestinian natives of the city.
Village Homes Demolished In Jordan Valley
IMEMC – Tuesday June 14, 2011 – 16:37, According to residents, ten Bedouin homes were demolished on Tuesday morning in the Jordan valley area, leaving dozens homeless.
Wells Demolished In Hebron
IMEMC – Tuesday June 14, 2011 – 16:25, The Ma’an News Agency reports that Israel demolished 5 wells in Hebron area on Tuesday morning.
17 Year Olds Abducted By Military
IMEMC – Tuesday June 14, 2011 – 16:13, The Israeli army abducted a 17-year-old boy from a village near Bethlehem, according to locals. Another was arrested near Nablus.
Lebanese PM Forms New Government
IMEMC – Tuesday June 14, 2011 – 12:55, Lebanese Prime Minister, Najib Mikati, has appointed a new 30 cabinet member Lebanese government. The new government is dominated by Hezbollah allies who hold 18 of the 30 cabinet positions.
10 homes bulldozed in Jericho valley
6/14/2011 – JERICHO (Ma’an) — The tin homes of ten Bedouin families in the Jordan valley were demolished on Tuesday morning, and power meters confiscated, residents said, leaving dozens homeless. The Bedouin hamlet of Fasayil, north of Jericho, was invaded by 14 Israeli military jeeps escorting two bulldozers at 6 a. m. , resident Wahid Ali told….
Detention campaign continues to target political leaders
6/14/2011 – QALQILIYA (Ma’an) — The fifth Palestinian political leader detained since the start of May, Fatah leader in Qalqiliya Muhammad Walwil and his brother were taken from their family home before dawn on Tuesday morning. The detention followed a home raid and search which family member said took place at 3 a. m. , prompting immediate….
Israeli forces demolish 5 wells in Hebron
6/14/2011 – HEBRON (Ma’an) — Israeli forces demolished five water wells in the southern West Bank city of Hebron on Tuesday morning, targeting a neighborhood in the city’s south. The wells belonged to the Al-Jamal family, brother of the owner Samir Abdul-Hamid Ma’an. Soldiers and crews from Israel’s Civil Administration….
UN refugee agency marks 5 years of Gaza siege
6/14/2011 – BETHLEHEM (Ma’an) — “If the aim of the blockade policy was to weaken the Hamas administration, the public employment numbers suggest this has failed,” a UNRWA spokesman said Tuesday as the UN marks Gaza’s fifth year under intense Israeli siege. Commenting on a report released by the UN agency charged with providing….
2 detained from Bethlehem village, families say
6/14/2011 – BETHLEHEM (Ma’an) — The families of two 17-year-old Bethlehem-area residents reported their abduction by Israeli forces overnight, saying the teenagers were taken to an unknown location after home raids on Tuesday morning. An Israeli military spokesman said two Palestinians were detained overnight, one from west of Bethlehem and a second from an area….
Red Cross donates stockpiled medicine to Gaza hospitals
6/14/2011 – GAZA CITY (Ma’an) — The Red Cross in Gaza announced Tuesday that it had donated all of the medicine in its local warehouses to public Gaza hospitals as the health sector remained in a shortage crisis. ICRC spokesman Omar Fery said warehouse managers were coordinating shipments with hospitals across the sector as they await….
Report: EU pushing Obama peace plan
6/14/2011 – TEL AVIV, Israel (Ma’an) — The European Union is advocating an international peace plan as an alternative to a unilateral Palestinian plan to secure state recognition at the UN in September, Israeli media reported Tuesday. In a letter to US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, UN chief Ban Ki-moon and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei…. Related: Germany warns against unilateral Mideast moves
Hamas and Fatah to meet Tuesday in Cairo
6/14/2011 – EL-ARISH, Egypt (Ma’an) — Egyptian security sources have told Ma’an that Fatah and Hamas representatives are scheduled to meet in Cairo on Tuesday to discuss the composition of a unity government. Azzam al-Ahmad, who leads the Fatah delegation and Mussa Abu Marzuk, the head of the Hamas delegation, arrived in Cairo on….
Rivals to ‘finalize’ unity govt next week
6/14/2011 – CAIRO (Ma’an) —Fatah and Hamas have agreed to form a unity government next Tuesday in the presence of President Mahmoud Abbas and head of Hamas Khalid Mash’al in Cairo. Both movements have agreed on the name of the next prime minister but did not announce it, Al-Jazeera reported. Salam Fayyad will…. Related: Fatah says unity govt to be announced next Tuesday
290 truckloads allowed through Gaza crossing
6/14/2011 – GAZA CITY (Ma’an) — Israel will allow the delivery of limited goods and humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip on Tuesday, Palestinian officials said. Raed Fattouh, a liaison official in charge of coordinating deliveries, told Ma’an that 290 truckloads would enter the coastal enclave through the Kerem Shalom border terminal. He said….
Report: Deputy Israeli FM visits Egypt
6/14/2011 – JERUSALEM (Ma’an) — Deputy Israeli Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon visited Egypt two weeks ago and met with top officials, Israeli daily Ma’ariv reported Tuesday. It is the first time since the country’s former leader Hosni Mubarak was toppled that such a high-ranking Israeli political official visited Egypt, the daily reported….
Report: Palestinians assist visit to flashpoint holy site
6/14/2011 – TEL AVIV, Israel (Ma’an) — With assistance from the Palestinian Authority, eight right-wing members of Israel’s parliament visited Joseph’s Tomb in the occupied West Bank on Tuesday, Israeli media reported. Hundreds of Palestinian officers were deployed on main Nablus traffic routes as the lawmakers entered the city on a guarded….
Germany warns against unilateral Mideast moves
6/14/2011 – RAMALLAH (AFP) — Germany believes unilateral moves would be “very counterproductive” to the Middle East peace process, Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle warned Tuesday. Westerwelle, who spoke at a joint news conference in the West Bank town of Ramallah with prime minister Salam Fayyad, did not specifically refer to plans to seek UN recognition and membership in…. Related: Report: EU pushing Obama peace plan
Israeli foreign minister: Man held in Egypt not a spy
6/14/2011 – JERUSALEM (AFP) — A US-Israeli citizen being held in Egypt on espionage charges is not a spy, Israel’s foreign minister Avigdor Lieberman told Israeli military radio on Tuesday.” I can say categorically that this student, who may have behaved bizarrely and irresponsibly, has no ties with Israeli, American or even lunar intelligence services,” Lieberman….
Fayyad: National unity is our goal
6/14/2011 – RAMALLAH (Ma’an) — After a public spat over his candidacy, Ramallah Prime Minister Salam Fayyad announced Tuesday that he was ready to accept the decision of unity negotiators in Cairo when they announce the make-up of the transitional government. In a press conference held with the head of the European Parliament Jerry Buzique, Fayyad….
Israel police train for mass Palestinian protests
6/14/2011 – JERUSALEM (AFP) — Hundreds of Israeli police are taking part in a training exercise in preparation for potentially large-scale Palestinian protests in September, a police spokesman said Tuesday.” There’s an exercise that the police are carrying out. . . in order to deal with public order, maintaining public order, and dealing with widespread disturbances,” spokesman Mickey….
Fatah says unity govt to be announced next Tuesday
6/14/2011 – BETHLEHEM (Ma’an) — A unity government will be announced next week after Hamas and Fatah agreed on its members, Fatah spokesman Azzam Ahmed told the official Palestinian Authority news agency Tuesday…. Related: Rivals to ‘finalize’ unity govt next week
Police say drug dealer detained in Tulkarem
6/14/2011 – TULKAREM (Ma’an) — PA police said Tuesday that one drug dealer was arrested after being “caught red handed,” a report explained. The public relations office of the Tulkarem police department said civilians alerted police to the presence of a known drug dealer, who was seen with large quantities of hashish in his car. Police….
Jordan king promises parliamentary reform
6/14/2011 – AMMAN, Jordan (AFP) — King Abdullah II on Sunday vowed reforms leading to parliamentary government and a tougher fight against anti-corruption, warning against “chaos” and the media creating a climate of “hatred.” In his first televised address since pro-reform protests began in January, the king pledged a new electoral law that would result in “a parliament….
Arab League divided over Syria membership
6/14/2011 – CAIRO (Ma’an) — Egyptian daily newspaper Al-Ahram said Tuesday that the Arab League is divided as to whether Syria should be suspended from upcoming meetings. According to informed sources cited by the paper, some members have questioned whether Syria should be allowed to participate in meetings of the League Council, as well as other….
Deadly violence as Syria faces global backlash
6/14/2011 – DAMASCUS (AFP) — Six civilians were killed Tuesday and tanks were deployed near Syria’s border with Iraq, activists said as President Bashar al-Assad came under sharp pressure to halt a crackdown on democracy protests. The latest deaths came after fresh protests erupted in the eastern town of Deir Ezzor, a human rights activist said….
In Gaza, young Palestinians lead a global movement
Palestine Note 14 Jun 2011 – Joe Catron – On a warm, sunny afternoon, I met Eman Sourani and Rana Baker in an airy outdoor caf?© several blocks from the port of Gaza. Both are members of the Palestinian Students’ Campaign for the Academic Boycott of…
10 homes bulldozed in Jericho valley
Palestine Note 14 Jun 2011 – Ma’an – The tin homes of ten Bedouin families in the Jordan valley were demolished on Tuesday morning, and power meters confiscated, residents said, leaving dozens homeless. The Bedouin hamlet of Fasayil, north of Jericho, was invaded by 14 Israeli…
Palestinian Unity Effort Shows Cracks as Factions Disagree Over Choosing Leader
Palestine Note 14 Jun 2011 – New York Times – Fatah and Hamas so far disagree on who should lead a unity government, a possible sign of discord before talks scheduled to start in Cairo on Tuesday, prompting Palestinian officials and analysts to question the durability…
Tunisian ex-president to be tried
Palestine Note 14 Jun 2011 – BBC News – Tunisia’s ousted President Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali, who fled to Saudi Arabia in January, is to go on trial in absentia on 20 June. Announcing the date, interim Prime Minister Beji Caid Essebsi said Saudi Arabia had…
Gaza Siege: Five Years On
Palestine Note 14 Jun 2011 – New UNRWA report shows nearly half of all Gazans jobless BBC News – Gaza’s unemployment rate was among the world’s highest, at 45.2% in late 2010, the UN has found, as Israel’s blockade of the territory enters its fifth year….
Mahmoud Abbas; Another U-Turn ?
Palestine Note 13 Jun 2011 – Mahmoud Abbas like his predecessor Arafat and the entire PLO leadership, never held accountable to any one or by any one, will for sure disregard all the advice and the momentum leading to September and announce a U-Turn at the…
In Pictures: Marchers flood Sanaa streets
AlJazeera 14 Jun 2011 – Lacking any clear news about President Saleh’s health, resurgent Yemeni protesters rally in the capital.
Fatah and Hamas to hold talks in Cairo
AlJazeera 14 Jun 2011 – Agreement reportedly reached on release of prisoners, with announcement of new government expected by leaders next week.
Ex-Guantanamo prisoner held in Egypt
AlJazeera 14 Jun 2011 – After a decade in detention, Adel al-Gazzar arrested on his return home on what his lawyers call “trumped-up charges”.
Syrian troops ‘widening’ crackdown
AlJazeera 14 Jun 2011 – Security forces said to be pushing towards northern town of Maarat al-Numaan as new videos show army unit defecting.
Sudan air attacks causing ‘huge suffering’
AlJazeera 14 Jun 2011 – Civilians bearing brunt of Khartoum’s intensive bombing in South Kordofan, on the southern border, the UN says.
Attackers storm government building in Iraq
AlJazeera 14 Jun 2011 – At least eight people dead after armed men explode car bombs outside building and briefly take hostages in Baquba.
UNRWA’s Saturdays Days for Fun concluded in Balata School Festival
PNN – Nablus – UNRWA Media to PNN – In an effort to celebrate the achievements of the Saturdays days for learning, UNRWA schools in the north have organized a festival in Balata Basic…
State Audit and Bethlehem Governer Visit PNN
PNN – Bethlehem – PNN – Director General of State Audit and Administrative Control Bureau, Jamal Abu Baker, along with Bethlehem Governer Abdul Fatah Hammail, visited the headquarters of PNN on Tuesday. Abu Baker…
Israeli FM Calls New Peace Initiative ‘Na?ɬØve’
PNN – Tel Aviv – PNN – Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman told Israeli Army radio on Tuesday that focusing the international Mid-East policy on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict was, na?Øve. Lieberman pointed to events…
EU Advocates Peace Plan Based on Obama’s Speech
PNN – Brussels – PNN – The European Union is calling for an urgent Quartet meeting to advocate an international peace plan ahead of the Palestinian’s UN bid for statehood in September, Haaretz reported…
The Sad Face of a Boy Who Had his Bike Stolen in the Middle of the Night
PNN – By Vicky Orwel – PNN Exclusive – When your neighbor steals your bike and you see them riding around the streets enjoying it and as happy as can be, what do you…
Gaza Unemployment at 45% After Five Years of Blockade
PNN – Gaza Strip – PNN – After five years of the Israeli blockade, Gaza’s unemployment rate is at 45 per cent, said a report by a UN refugee agency released on Tuesday. The…
International Solidarity Movement
Gaza: young Palestinians lead a global movement
6/14/2011 – International Solidarity Movement – Palestine Chronicle, Joe Catron – On a warm, sunny afternoon, I met Eman Sourani and Rana Baker in an airy outdoor caf?ɬ© several blocks from the port of Gaza. Both are members of the Palestinian Students’ Campaign for the Academic Boycott of Israel (PSCABI). Sourani, a 22-year-old English literature student at Al-Aqsa University, cofounded…. Related: Palestine Chronicle
Armed settlers harass the villagers of Qusra, a village south east of Nablus in the West Bank
6/14/2011 – International Solidarity Movement – International Solidarity Movement – On Saturday June 11, six or seven armed settlers accompanied by the Israeli military entered the Palestinian village of Qusra and harassed villagers. Before they escaped they threw stones at a village truck smashing the side glass and cracking the windscreen. At approximately 5. 00pm, the Imam of the mosque in Qusra….
A call from Gaza in support of the Freedom Flotilla II
6/13/2011 – International Solidarity Movement – 12 June 2011, Gaza – We the Palestinians of the Besieged Gaza Strip, on this day, five years after closures began on Gaza , are saying enough inaction, enough discussion, enough waiting – the full siege on the Gaza Strip must end. Shortly after 2006 democratic election which were supervised by people and bodies from the international community….
Interviews from Al Masara resistance
6/13/2011 – International Solidarity Movement – 13 June 2011, Al Masara Resistance – Interview with Hasan Brijia, a member of the Popular Struggle Committee – I am Hasan, 43 years old and father of 7 children. I currently work in the Ministry against settlements and the Wall, which was established a few years ago. I, Mahmoud and Juma started to organize some resistance…. Related: Al Masara Resistance
Can you defeat a State?
14 Jun 2011 – Gaza, (Pal Telegraph) – “I just take it as a challenge, the louder the bomb, the more engrossed in my book I become, the more intense the shooting, the more pages I’m determined to read. And they just lose.”
Israel demolishes water wells near Hebron
14 Jun 2011 – West Bank, (Pal Telegraph)-Israeli occupation forces stormed Tuesday the southern suburb in Hebron and started demolishing water wells that were designed to collect rain water.
UNRWA: unemployment crisis in Gaza rises to 45%
14 Jun 2011 – Gaza strip, (Pal Telegraph)-A recent report issued by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian refugee(UNRWA) stated that the general unemployment rate in the second half of 2010 has reached 45.2% which is considered one of the highest rates in the world.
Israeli forces storm Palestinian houses in Hebron
14 Jun 2011 – West Bank, (Pal Telegraph)-Israeli occupation forces stormed and inspected several Palestinian houses in the southern West Bank city of Hebron and erected military checkpoints at the main junctions.
Maliki plans to cut size of Iraq’s government to improve efficiency
The National 14 Jun 2011 – Iraqi prime minister¬øs move may upset delicate balance of power as he trims most of 15 unnecessary ministries that are without a portfolio.
Syria watches closely what the world thinks of its problems
The National 14 Jun 2011 – Syrian analysts say opposition groups and Syria’s government are carefully watching conditions in Libya, for if Qaddafi is finished soon, Syria will start to worry about being next on the list for Western intervention.
UN report shows half of Gaza’s workforce is jobless
The National 14 Jun 2011 – Agency’s figures, released on fifth anniversary of Israeli blockade, show wages have dropped by more than a third since 2006 clampdown, with 45% of Gazans unemployed in the second half of last year.
Opposition says new government means Lebanon ‘taken hostage’ by Hizbollah and Syria
The National 14 Jun 2011 – Opposition March 14 coalition members say the new cabinet, dominated by Hizbollah and its allies, is cconfrontational, for being what some described as one-sided and too closely linked to Syria.
Fatah and Hamas set new date for talks on prime minister
The National 14 Jun 2011 – Fatah had said it wants to retain prime minister Salam Fayyad to head the new unity government, but the nomination was immediately rejected by Hamas.
Bomb kills Saleh general as GCC meets to discuss Yemen’s future
The National 14 Jun 2011 – The GCC, which has seen Ali Abdullah Saleh back out of deals it struck to ease him from office on three occasions, will meet today in Riyadh, almost certainly to discuss Yemen’s turmoil, said analysts.
US makes a drone attack a day in Yemen
The National 14 Jun 2011 – Increase in drone attacks is part of a US strategy to employ more drones to curb what it believes is a growing terror threat in Yemen.
Inquiry into alleged abuse of Iraqis by UK troops grinds to halt
The National 14 Jun 2011 – The Iraq Historic Allegations Team, established eight months ago to resolve abuse claims by more than 140 Iraqis, has interviewed just one person and is ‘a complete and utter shambles’ according to a lawyer representing the Iraqis.
US position on Syria evolves towards ramping up pressure on Assad
The National 14 Jun 2011 – At the United Nations a US-backed draft resolution condemning the Syrian government is circulating, suggests that the US has given up on the notion that Bashar al Assad will pursue reforms.
Suicide bombers and gunmen attack Iraq provincial council building
The National 14 Jun 2011 – Attack ‘bears hallmarks of al Qa’eda’ as gunmen disguised as Iraqi forces storm main gate, with at least eight people killed and about 25 more wounded.
US-born ex-paratrooper held in Egypt ‘not a spy’ says Israel
The National 14 Jun 2011 – Ilan Grape ‘has no connection to any intelligence agency, not in Israel, not in the US and not on Mars’, Israel’s foreign minister, Avigdor Lieberman, tells Army Radio.
Nurit Gertz / What the world really thinks of Lieberman
Ha’aretz –
Barak: Syria’s Assad has lost his legitimacy
Ha’aretz – The defense minister says during press conference that Syria’s embattled leader would remain very weakened if he were to remain in power.
Palestinians to unveil new Hamas-Fatah unity government next week
Ha’aretz – Hamas deputy politburo head Mousa Abu Marzook says the name of the new prime minister and new cabinet members will be revealed next Tuesday in Cairo during meet between Fatah’s Abbas and Hamas’ Meshaal.
Report: Document reveals Nakba Day clashes planned by Syria government
Ha’aretz – In his blog on the website of the U.K.’s Daily Telegraph newspaper, Michael Weiss reveals official Syrian document describing the dispatch of 20 buses sent to infiltrate Israel’s border with Syria on the day when Palestinians mourn the creation of Israel.
Libya rebels make gains against Gadhafi forces in Tripoli
Ha’aretz – NATO resumes bombing in east Tripoli as rebels push back pro-Gadhafi forces in the western part of capital.
Israel diplomats meet suspected Israeli spy arrested in Egypt
Ha’aretz – Foreign Ministry spokesman Yigal Palmor said that Ilan Grapel, arrested by Egypt for allegedly spying on behalf of Israel, is in good condition and that Israel will continue to work for his immediate release.
Germany: Unilateral declaration of Palestinian state counter-productive
Ha’aretz – Germany’s Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle tells reporters in Ramallah that Germany supports the right of Palestinians to build their own state, but ‘negotiations are the right way.’
IDF chief rules in the name of God for prayer over fallen soldiers
Ha’aretz – The ruling followed an ongoing argument between religious and secular groups on whether the prayer at these memorials should open with ‘May God remember’ or ‘May the people of Israel remember.’
Palestinians break off unity talks without agreement over new PM
Ha’aretz –
Man killed in central Dimona shooting
Ha’aretz – The 47-year-old victim is said to have been well known in Dimona’s community; police have yet to make any arrests in connection with the murder.
Eritrean volcanic ash cloud heading toward Israel
Ha’aretz – According to current estimations, the ash cloud is moving high in the atmosphere, and probably won’t cause any travel disruptions or changes in the quality of air.
Legal experts: Ilan Grapel fortunate to be US citizen
Jeruslalem Post 14 Jun 2011 – Former Foreign Ministry legal counsel Alan Baker says Israeli being held in Cairo just a “diversion” from Egypt’s domestic crises.
Lawmakers visit to Joseph’s Tomb 1st time in over decade
Jeruslalem Post 14 Jun 2011 – MKs have daytime visit at tomb for first time since 2000; Danny Danon: “Those who give up on [tomb], give up on our right to the country.”
Clinton slams Damascus, Tehran for bloody crackdown
Jeruslalem Post 14 Jun 2011 – Assad’s forces head for second northern protest town; Turkey says 8,538 refugees have crossed the border, more than half of them children.
Deadly shooting in Lod leaves locals on edge
Jeruslalem Post 14 Jun 2011 – Woman killed in attack that was likely result of dispute between Arab clans; in Dimona, 43-year-old man shot to death, execution-style.
Analysis: Making Israel the source of all trouble, again
Jeruslalem Post 14 Jun 2011 – Instability in Egypt? Not the new gov’t’s fault. It is Israel. The bloody crackdown in Syria? Not the work of the ruthless Bashar Assad. It is all Israel.
US, EU officials in Israel work to stop Palestinian UN move
Jeruslalem Post 14 Jun 2011 – German FM says “Unilateral steps are counterproductive, we ask everyone not to go on this path”; source close to Netanyahu: Stopping Hamas-Fatah unity deal key to resuming talks; PM set to defend policies in Knesset.
The spy ‚Äòscandal’ that so obviously isn’t
Jeruslalem Post 14 Jun 2011 – If the Grapel scandal is an indication of where the Arab Spring’s winds of change are headed, the portents are dismal indeed.
The real reason for Palestinians’ water crisis
Jeruslalem Post 14 Jun 2011 – It is not the different lifestyles we lead, it is the discriminatory water policies.
Erdogan to Assad: Stop the violence, implement reforms
Jeruslalem Post 14 Jun 2011 – Turkish PM demands Syrian president set timetable for reforms, halt violence, as Assad calls to congratulate Erdogan on election win.
No Holds Barred: Anthony Weiner’s death wish
Jeruslalem Post 14 Jun 2011 – The disgraced congressman needs help to overcome self-destructive tendencies that will consume him if he ignores them
An open letter to Norwegian FM Jonas Gahr St??re
Jeruslalem Post 14 Jun 2011 – Mr. Foreign Minister, your statement seems to fly in the face of both your training as a military officer and your country’s own World War II history.
Yalla Peace: The challenges of Arab-Jewish matrimony
Jeruslalem Post 14 Jun 2011 – Every week I receive an e-mail from Jews and Arabs asking me for advice on how to make their relationships and marriages work.
NGOs to hold counterpoint to UN Durban commemoration
Jeruslalem Post 14 Jun 2011 – Twenty-five NGOs to hold parallel summit next door to UN at the anual opening session of the General Assembly in New York.
Hamas, Fatah reach deal on makeup of unity government
Jeruslalem Post 14 Jun 2011 – Ramallah official refuses to confirm report Fayyad won’t serve in next gov’t; Fatah fears PA leadership without him will lead West to suspend aid.
Egypt’s interim rulers learn the democracy game
Jeruslalem Post 14 Jun 2011 – As Egypt’s military ruling council is quickly discovering, Facebook polls and other tools of direct democracy often fall flat.
Barak to Chinese counterpart: Assad’s lost his legitimacy
Jeruslalem Post 14 Jun 2011 – Defense minister discusses Iran, Syria and Israeli-Palestinian conflict in Beijing; says Israel must transfer more area to the PA.
‘Letter supposedly shows Syria role in Nakba clashes’
Jeruslalem Post 14 Jun 2011 – Apparently leaked to ‘Telegraph’ blogger by local Syrian official, letter gives orders allowing protesters to reach, cross Israeli border.
‘Letter supposedly shows Syrian role in Nakba clashes’
Jeruslalem Post 14 Jun 2011 – Apparently leaked to ‘Telegraph’ blogger by local Syrian official, letter gives orders allowing protesters to reach, cross Israeli border.
Gov’t employee suspected of taking bribes for visas
Jeruslalem Post 14 Jun 2011 – Interior Ministry employee is arrested for issuing fraudulent visas to African migrants in exchange for thousands of shekels in bribes.
Clinton: ‘Iran is supporting Syrian assaults on protesters’
Jeruslalem Post 14 Jun 2011 – US secretary of state releases statement after Iran accuses “America and the Zionist regime” of meddling in Syria.
Azzam Azzam offers advice for accused spy in Egypt
Jeruslalem Post 14 Jun 2011 – Israeli-Druse man who was imprisoned for 8 years in Egypt tells the ‘Post’: “I’d tell [Ilan Grapel] not to worry, you are an American.”
Lieberman to EU: Recall your ambassadors from Syria
Jeruslalem Post 14 Jun 2011 – In meeting with German FM, Lieberman says “Assad should resign as early as possible”; Westerwelle reiterates support for peace talks.
Israeli diplomats in Cairo meet with suspected spy
Jeruslalem Post 14 Jun 2011 – According to Foreign Ministry, Ilan Grapel is in good condition; Jerusalem working behind the scenes for his release.
Document supposedly shows Syria role in border clashes
Jeruslalem Post 14 Jun 2011 – Apparently leaked to ‘Telegraph’ blogger by local Syrian official, letter gives orders allowing protesters to reach, cross Israeli border.
Hura Beduin grant Peres title of ‘Sheikh’ during visit
Jeruslalem Post 14 Jun 2011 – Peres says Hura is a prime example of Negev Beduin development, says he supports Golberg report to incorporate Beduin communities.
From ash to rain, weird weather across country
Jeruslalem Post 14 Jun 2011 – A cloud of volcanic ash from an Eritrean volcano reaches Eilat while residents of the North cope with unseasonal rain.
Iran accuses West, Israel’s allies, of meddling in Syria
Jeruslalem Post 14 Jun 2011 – Tehran charges that “America and the Zionist regime” are provoking terror, aiming to sabotage operations in Syria.
Saudi King decrees: Lingerie sales are women’s work
Jeruslalem Post 14 Jun 2011 – As unemployment hits 10%, new law prohibits men from selling women’s clothing, attempts to create more jobs for female population.
UN: Soot, smog curbs quick way to combat warming
Jeruslalem Post 14 Jun 2011 – Limits on pollutants help cut emissions; low-cost measures can protect human health and boost crops.
Israeli software protects kids from pedophiles
Jeruslalem Post 14 Jun 2011 – United Parents protects from cyber bullies, predators by sending alerts when it detects suspicious relationships on your child’s computer.
Syria, Libya and Middle East unrest – live updates
The Guardian 14 Jun 2011 – Syria: fears grow for eastern city of Deir Azzor – Yemen president ‘badly burned’ and condition ‘tragic’ – Tripoli residents starting to criticise Gaddafi openly – Jordan king says elections for PM in two or…
Gaza jobless rate at 45%, five years into blockade
The Guardian 14 Jun 2011 – UN aid agency report criticises Israel for ‘a man-made policy which deliberately impoverishes so many’ The Gaza Strip enters its fifth year of a full Israeli blockade by land, air and sea on Tuesday with unemployment…
Four Months into Uprising, Syria Still Plagued by Unknowns
IPS Journalists, analysts, and policymakers have struggled to separate truth from fiction as the political situation in Syria steadily deteriorates. The lack of accurate, credible information has mired the Syrian situation beneath a fog of war that has complicated the
world’s understanding of the regime, its opposition, and the realities behind…
AP source: Drone base set for Persian Gulf region
Uruknet June 14, 2011 – The United States is building a secret CIA air base in the Persian Gulf region to target terrorists in Yemen, preparing for the possibility that an anti-American faction may take over Yemen and ban U.S. forces from hunting a lethal al-Qaida faction there, The Associated Press has learned…The new CIA base provides a backstop,…
Haunted by Homicide: Federal Grand Jury Investigates War Crimes and Torture in Death of ‘the Iceman’ at Abu Ghraib, Plus Other Alleged CIA Abuses
Uruknet June 14, 2011 – It has been nearly a decade since Manadel al-Jamadi, an Iraqi prisoner known as “the Iceman” – for the bungled attempt to cool his body and make him look less dead – perished in CIA custody at Abu Ghraib. But now there are rumbles in Washington that the notorious case, as well as other…
Time Is On Our Side
Uruknet June 14, 2011 – …At that historical juncture, 32 years ago, the Iranian counterrevolution won (just like it may win in Egypt or Tunisia or Syria or Yemen, etc.). However, the counterrevolution didn’t win in one quick step. It took a good decade before it had stabilized itself. And during that decade, the regime literally fought street battles…
Gaza Border ‘Opening’ is Just Rhetoric
Uruknet June 14, 2011 – For most Palestinians, leaving Gaza through Egypt is as exasperating a process as entering it. Governed by political and cultural sensitivities, most Palestinian officials and public figures refrain from criticising the way Palestinians are treated at the Rafah border. However there is really no diplomatic language to describe the relationship between desperate Palestinians -…
More NATO “Humanitarian Intervention” The Bombing of Al Fateh University, Campus B
Uruknet June 14, 2011 – Since coming to Tripoli to see first hand the consequences of the NATO military operations, it has become clear to me that despite the ongoing silence of the international press on the ground here in Libya, there is clear evidence that civilian targets have been hit and Libyan civilians injured and killed. This Tuesday…
Chavez’s Right Turn: State Realism versus International Solidarity
Uruknet June 14, 2011 – … In line with this Right turn, the Chavez regime fulfilled Santos’ requests – arresting FARC/ELN guerrillas, as well as a prominent leftist journalist, and extraditing them to a state which has had the worst human rights record in the Americas for over two decades, in terms of torture and extra-judicial assassinations. This Right turn…
Libyan war: Just another bailout for the banking class
Uruknet June 14, 2011 – … On the same day that our president took us to war, the Libyan rebels set up their own oil company to do business with the Western capitalist countries in place of the now outlawed by NATO Libya National Oil Corporation. Also, on the same day Libyan rebels set up a new central bank that…
Remote Control Killing Like Sport
Uruknet June 14, 2011 – ACLU National Security Project director Hina Shamsi calls Predator drones “targeted international killings by the state.” On February 8, 2010, she and Law Professor Philip Alston’s London Guardian article headlined, “A killer above the law?” saying: Sanitized killing on the cheap leaves disturbing issues unanswered, including a program shrouded in secrecy, no accountability, and…
Six killed, tanks near Iraq as Syria faces backlash
Uruknet June 14, 2011 – Six civilians were killed Tuesday and tanks were deployed near Syria’s border with Iraq, activists said as President Bashar al-Assad came under sharp pressure to halt a crackdown on democracy protests. The latest deaths came after fresh protests erupted in the eastern town of Deir Ezzor, a human rights activist told AFP and troops…
Raed Salah: Israel preparing to complete the ethnic cleansing of Palestinians
Uruknet June 14, 2011 – In an exclusive interview with the Middle East Monitor, the head of the Islamic movement in Israel, Shaykh Raed Salah, has warned that, “The Israelis are laying the foundations so that the prevailing atmosphere will be “right” for the completion of the ethnic cleansing of Palestinians which started in 1948 and has been on-going…
US: $6.6bn in Iraq aid ‘may have been stolen’
Uruknet June 14, 2011 – Years after American auditors said they had lost track of vast sums of reconstruction cash for Iraq in the wake of the ousting of Saddam Hussein they are now admitting for the first time that much of it was almost certainly stolen. In a revelation that is stirring anger both on Capitol Hill and…
After Running Out Of Anesthesia, All Surgeries In Gaza Put On Hold
Uruknet June 14, 2011 – Dr. Atef Al Kahloot, head of the Medical Services in the Gaza Strip, reported Monday that all surgeries in hospitals across the coastal region have been put on hold until further notice as they ran out of anesthesia medications and supplies. Al Kahloot stated that all hospitals and medical centers in the Gaza Strip…
SYRIA: Video footage claims to show army defections, conditions of displaced families, and continued protests
Uruknet June 14, 2011- Amateur video footage continue to emerge from the chaos and violence in Syria despite the Syrian authorities’ attempts to impose an information blackout on protest-stricken and violence-hit areas across the country. Media reports and activist accounts said Tuesday that Syrian troops were headed toward the northern protest town of Maarat al-Numaan on the Damascus-Aleppo highway…
The case for UN recognition of Palestine
Uruknet June 14, 2011 – Mahmoud Abbas, chairman of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) and President of the Ramallah-based Palestinian Authority, affirmed in The New York Times on 17 May 2011 that “this September, at the United Nations General Assembly, we will request international recognition of the State of Palestine on the 1967 border and that our state be…
Relatives of Disputed Guant?°namo Suicides Speak Out As Families Appeal in US Court
Uruknet June 14, 2011 – Late on Sunday evening, I publicized a conference call taking place on Monday to discuss an appeal in a court case brought by the families of two of the three men who died at Guant?°namo on June 9, 2006 under mysterious circumstances. The supposed triple suicide of the three men – Yasser Talal al-Zahrani,…
Two U.S. troops killed in Iraq
Uruknet June 14, 2011 — Two U.S. service members were killed Monday during operations in southern Iraq, the U.S. military said Tuesday. There were no further details about the incident, and their names are being withheld pending notification of next of kin…
Yet another illegal war – now in Yemen
Uruknet June 14, 2011 – Both The Wall Street Journal and The Washington Post report today that the Obama administration is planning to exploit the disorder from the civil war in Yemen by dramatically escalating a CIA-led drone bombing campaign. In one sense, this is nothing new. Contrary to false denials, the U.S., under the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize…
UN marks 5 years of Gaza siege
Uruknet June 14, 2011 – “If the aim of the blockade policy was to weaken the Hamas administration, the public employment numbers suggest this has failed,” a UNRWA spokesman said Tuesday as the UN marks Gaza’s fifth year under intense Israeli siege. Commenting on a report released by the UN agency charged with providing care and services for the…
Obama promotes corporate profits in the name of job creation
Uruknet June 14, 2011 – In the face of rising unemployment, a disastrous jobs report for May and a contraction in economic growth in the US and internationally, President Barack Obama made it clear at a meeting Monday with his Jobs and Competitiveness Council that no government measures will be taken to create jobs or provide serious relief for…
Trying to drown Syria’s revolution in blood
Uruknet June 13, 2011 – …The hope for the Syrian revolution lies with the women and men who began the struggle by protesting for democracy and dignity and against the torture and murder of their children. The workers who participated in demonstrations and strikes, the soldiers who mutinied against their commanders, the mothers who ignored threats to expose the…
New Egypt? 7,000 civilians jailed since Mubarak fell
Uruknet June 13, 2011 – Egypt’s military rulers told human rights advocates Monday that at least 7,000 civilians have been sentenced to prison terms by military courts since Hosni Mubarak was ousted – an astoundingly high number likely to fuel debate over how much the revolution has changed the country. Advocates said the military promised to review the cases…
Israel’s Government Authorises Mining of Natural Gas off Gaza Shore
Uruknet June 14, 2011 – The Israeli Ministry of Infrastructure has demanded permission from the gas company Nobel Energy to start working in developing the natural gas field that was found off the Gaza Strip shoreline, under the pretext that Israel fears gas shortages in the coming year. Gaza City coast lineIn a press statement on Monday, the Israeli…
Israel’s Threats: Will Gaza Flotilla Be Safe?
Uruknet June 14, 2011 – It was a simple question. On 27 March I wrote to my Member of Parliament asking: ‘What is the British Government planning to do, please, to safeguard British subjects (and indeed the other humanitarians) sailing with the flotilla on its peaceful mission to Gaza?’ The Government had been only too happy, I said, to…
Ankara revisits Syrian policy
Uruknet June 13, 2011 – Only a day after its general elections, Turkey has begun a substantial re-evaluation of its Syrian policy, as more than 7,000 Syrians have now fled to Hatay while another 15,000 mass near the border, according to reports. “Turkey will keep engaging with Syria [to urge it to enact reforms and abstain from violence], but…
In Gaza, young Palestinians lead a global movement
Uruknet On a warm, sunny afternoon, I met Eman Sourani and Rana Baker in an airy outdoor cafe’ several blocks from the port of Gaza. Both are members of the Palestinian Students’ Campaign for the Academic Boycott of Israel (PSCABI). Sourani, a 22-year-old English literature student at Al-Aqsa University, cofounded the group after Operation Cast Lead in January 2009,…
Rebels make gains, NATO leaflet drop slows push
Daily Star 14 Jun 2011 Libyan rebels made fresh gains on the western front Tuesday, pushing back forces loyal to leader Moammar Gadhafi in a string of clashes that brought them closer to the capital Tripoli.
Tanks, troops move to snuff out Syria resistance
Daily Star 14 Jun 2011 Syrian tanks and the government’s most loyal troops pushed into more towns and villages Tuesday, trying to snuff out any chance that the uprising against President Bashar Assad could gain a base for a wider armed…
Next Karam spy hearing court date set for July
Daily Star 14 Jun 2011 Lebanon’s military tribunal set a new court date in the case of Brig. Gen. Fayez Karam for July 28, following Tuesday’s hearing which was attended by Free Patriotic Movement MPs. Karam.
Syrian envoy: New Cabinet will strengthen Lebanon
Daily Star 14 Jun 2011 Syria’s ambassador to Lebanon, Ali Abdel-Karim Ali, said the formation of a new government in Lebanon would positively strengthen the country’s stability and consequently in the interests of Syria.
STL most serious challenge Mikati faces
Daily Star 14 Jun 2011 The new government of Prime Minister Najib Mikati will struggle to tackle its most serious challenge: A U.N.-backed tribunal, and its expected indictment, into the 2005 assassination of statesman Rafik Hariri, analysts said Tuesday.
Iran welcomes Cabinet, U.S. House waves stick
Daily Star 14 Jun 2011 The Iranian leadership congratulated Lebanon on the successful formation of a new Cabinet, as a leading U.S. lawmaker threatened to halt financial assistance to the country.
Rai: No follow-up meeting on Christian issues held
Daily Star 14 Jun 2011 The Maronite patriarchate’s media office denied Tuesday that a meeting of a follow-up committee tasked with addressing issues of concern to Lebanon’s Christian community had been held.
Future slams Mikati as cloak for Hezbollah government
Daily Star 14 Jun 2011 The Future Movement blasted Prime Minister Najib Mikati Tuesday, saying he acted as a fa?ßade to a Hezbollah-controlled government, one day after its formation.
New foreign minister stresses Lebanon’s neutrality
Daily Star 14 Jun 2011 The new government will strive to remain neutral in the face of regional instability, newly appointed foreign minister Adnan Mansour said Tuesday, in a veiled reference to Lebanon’s opposition to any international action against Syria.
Thorny issues besiege Cabinet
Daily Star 14 Jun 2011 The new Cabinet will hold its first meeting Wednesday to form a committee designed to draft a policy statement outlining the government’s position on divisive issues such as Hezbollah’s arsenal and the U.N.-backed Special Tribunal for…
Lebanese voice jaded expectations about formation of new Cabinet
Daily Star 14 Jun 2011 After a Cabinet was announced Monday, ending a five-month political deadlock, Lebanese offered a dismal appraisal of the new government’s ability to address the challenges facing the country.
Robin Vincent, STL’s first registrar passes away
Daily Star 14 Jun 2011 Robin Vincent, the first registrar of the United Nations-backed tribunal into the death of former statesman Rafik Hariri has died, the court announced Tuesday.
Infringement disrupting municipal council: Hamad
Daily Star 14 Jun 2011 Beirut’s Mayor Bilal Hamad said Tuesday there are several problems disrupting the work of the municipal council due to some infringements on its authority.
Army calls on all Lebanese to take forest fire measures
Daily Star 14 Jun 2011 The Lebanese Army called on the Lebanese to take the necessary preventive measures to reduce the risk of forest fires with the start of the summer season.
Israeli army vehicles cross Blue Line into Lebanon
Daily Star 14 Jun 2011 Two Israeli army vehicles crossed the border’s Blue Line 30 meters into Lebanon’s Shebaa Farms area Monday afternoon, the Lebanese Army said in a statement Tuesday.
Activists urge ministers to resign to make way for women
Daily Star 14 Jun 2011 Several ministers should resign to make way for women to take part in the newly formed Cabinet, activist Hayat Arslan said Tuesday.
Border shepherds in Syria’s crosshairs
Daily Star 14 Jun 2011 The unrest in Syria is leading to tensions between Lebanese shepherds and Syrian troops deployed in the hills above the Bekaa village of Kfar Zabad, traditionally a route used by cross-border smugglers.
Attack on Iraq council building kills 8
Daily Star 14 Jun 2011 Gunmen and suicide bombers stormed a provincial council in central Iraq Tuesday after exploding a car bomb outside, killing at least 8 people before Iraqi forces retook the building with help from U.S. troops.
Abdullah II: May take 2-3 years for elected PM
Daily Star 14 Jun 2011 Jordan’s King Abdullah II said Tuesday it may take at least two or three years to put in place an elected government to replace a royally appointed one.
Syrians cross border to seek bread for families
Daily Star 14 Jun 2011 Dozens of frightened Syrians with mud covering their boots and clothes clambered to a Turkish village Tuesday to find bread for families waiting across the border in Syria in sodden makeshift camps.
Iran MPs call foul on Ahmadinejad’s sports minister
Daily Star 14 Jun 2011 Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad angered lawmakers Tuesday when he questioned their authority, even as he finally gave in to their demand to create a sports ministry.
Nervous Iraqis buying more assault rifles, pistols
Daily Star 14 Jun 2011 Saadoun al-Sahil already had an AK-47 assault rifle at home but just didn’t feel safe.
Lieberman: Israeli held in Egypt is no spy
Daily Star 14 Jun 2011 Israel’s foreign minister said Tuesday that a U.S.-born Israeli arrested in Egypt on espionage charges is not a spy, offering the first official Israeli comment on the case.
Palestinian rivals to finalize unity government next week
Daily Star 14 Jun 2011 Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas will meet Hamas chief Khaled Mashaal in Cairo next week to finalize a new government put together by the two factions, a top official of his Fatah movement said Tuesday.
Egypt’s Sufis see Islamist threat after Mubarak
Daily Star 14 Jun 2011 Down the narrow alleyways of Cairo’s Sayidda Zeinab neighborhood, 100 men sway their heads and clap in rhythm as they invoke God’s name.
West cheers death of top Al-Qaeda chief, but Somali chaos endures
Daily Star 14 Jun 2011 Hailed as a counterterrorism triumph of global importance, the killing in Somalia of a top Al-Qaeda plotter will do nothing in the short-term to stabilize the world’s most profoundly failed state.
Khartoum strikes South Sudan border after Abyei deal
Daily Star 14 Jun 2011 Khartoum stepped up airstrikes in South Kordofan on the South Sudan border Tuesday, causing huge suffering to the civilian population and endangering emergency aid, the United Nations said.
Saleh says he’s recovering well from attack
Daily Star 14 Jun 2011 Yemen’s state news agency said wounded President Ali Abdullah Saleh, who has not been seen in public since a rocket attack on the presidential palace, spoke by telephone with Saudi King Abdullah Tuesday.
Turkey prepares for new Cabinet formation after polls
Daily Star 14 Jun 2011 Prime minister of Turkey handed in his government’s resignation Tuesday in the wake of his electoral victory, paving the way for a reshuffle of the Cabinet that will seek to replace the military-era constitution.
Somalia’s prime minister says he won’t quit office
Daily Star 14 Jun 2011 Somalia’s prime minister said Tuesday that he would not resign despite an agreement calling for his ouster to allow for a transitional government.
Lebanon court sets new date for army general’s spy case
Daily Star 14 Jun 2011 Military tribunal sets July 28 for Brig. Gen. Fayez Karam’s court date after hearing testimony regarding senior FPM leader’s health.
UN Hariri tribunal key test for new Lebanon govt
Daily Star 14 Jun 2011 The first test for Lebanon’s new prime minister will be how to handle a UN court likely to indict members of Syrian- and Iranian-backed Hezbollah, which along with its allies now dominates the government, analysts say.
Lebanon will stay neutral in face of conflict: Lebanon’s FM
Daily Star 14 Jun 2011 Foreign policy will remain neutral in the face of conflict while establishing relations with all countries especially neighboring ones, newly appointed Foreign Minister Adnan Mansour told The Daily Star Tuesday.
World reacts to Lebanon’s Hezbollah-led government
Daily Star 14 Jun 2011 Iran has congratulated Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati on his new government, in which Hezbollah and its allies hold the majority, the official IRNA news agency said Tuesday.
Six killed, tanks near Iraq as Syria faces backlash
Daily Star 14 Jun 2011 Six civilians were killed Tuesday and tanks were deployed near Syria’s border with Iraq, activists said as President Bashar al-Assad came under sharp pressure to halt a crackdown on democracy protests.
West fails to mobilise world over Syrian crackdown
Daily Star 14 Jun 2011 Individually, Western capitals have issued stern condemnations of Syria’s brutal crackdown on its citizens, but together they have failed to bring coordinated diplomatic pressure to bear.
Syrian forces head for second northern protest town
Daily Star 14 Jun 2011 Syrian troops using tanks and helicopters pushed towards a northern town on Tuesday after arresting hundreds of people in villages near Jisr al-Shughour, residents said, as more refugees fled to Turkey.
Over 8,000 Syrians refugees in Turkey: Turkish source
Daily Star 14 Jun 2011 The numbers of Syrians camped in Turkey after fleeing their government’s brutal crackdown on pro-democracy demonstrations rose to 8,538 Tuesday, a Turkish official said.
Libyan rebels face setback after refinery hit
Daily Star 14 Jun 2011 Libyan rebels faced new obstacles in their campaign to march on Tripoli after shelling from Moammar Gadhafi’s forces damaged an oil refinery in the insurgent stronghold of Misrata, disrupting fuel supply lines.
Israel crosses blue line into Shebaa Farms
Daily Star 14 Jun 2011 Two Israeli army vehicles crossed blue line 30 meters into Lebanon’s Shebaa Farms area Monday afternoon, the Lebanese Army said in a statement Tuesday.
Fatah, Hamas to unveil new cabint next week
YNet News, 14 Jun 2011 – Faction leaders set to converge in Cairo next Tuesday to announce new….
PM: PA’s UN statehood bid stalls talks
YNet News, 14 Jun 2011 – Netanyahu says reigniting Israeli-Palestinian peace process while Fatah still….
FM opposes military op in Syria
YNet News, 14 Jun 2011 – Avigdor Lieberman thinks international community has ‘plenty of other ways to….
Cairo: Israeli consul meets with ‘spy’ Grapel
YNet News, 14 Jun 2011 – Embassy representatives visits Ilan Grapel, says he is ‘doing well’. Diplomats….
Jewish retiree murdered in Rome
YNet News, 14 Jun 2011 – While PM visits Italian capital, 74-year-old Jewish man is stabbed at entrance….
State earmarks mass grave sites in case of national disaster
YNet News, 14 Jun 2011 – Israel’s National Planning and Building Board earmarks eight sites for mass….
Rightist MKs visit Joseph’s Tomb
YNet News, 14 Jun 2011 – Knesset delegation tours Nablus site during daytime for first time since year….
Iran accuses West of meddling in Syria
YNet News, 14 Jun 2011 – Foreign Ministry says US, Israel provoking terror groups in Syria to carry out….
Rivlin: Public service shouldn’t favor ex-soldiers
YNet News, 14 Jun 2011 – Knesset speaker slams Lieberman bill aiming to give preference to those who….
Obama slammed for soft approach to Syria violence
YNet News, 14 Jun 2011 – US president’s critics say he’s not doing enough to stop brutal crackdown in….
Report: Hamas nominates Haniyeh to head government
YNet News, 14 Jun 2011 – Palestinian factions to discuss makeup of transitional government, identity of….
Report: Grapel met with Muslim Brotherhood men
YNet News, 14 Jun 2011 – Egyptian Media outlets claim Israeli-American arrested in Cairo presented….
Palestinian Information Center
Jerusalem education fund created during Amman conference
PIC – A specialized fund to urgently support Jerusalem’s culture and education sectors was established during a conference on the holy city in Jordan’s capital Amman.
IOF soldiers torch hundreds of Palestinian dunums
PIC – Israeli occupation forces (IOF) set hundreds of dunums of cultivated land west of Ramallah city and near the racist, separation wall on fire.
MP Mansour says Nablus attack a message for Cairo meeting
PIC – MP Mona Mansour has called on Mahmoud Abbas to issue orders freeing all political prisoners, saying it is inconceivable that Palestinians would be held in both Israeli and Palestinian jails.
IOF soldiers destroy Bedouin tents
PIC – Israeli occupation forces (IOF) tore down Bedouin tents and tin homes in Fasayel Al-Wusta area in the Jordan Valley on Tuesday morning rendering ten families homeless.
Resheq: Hamas committed to unity, seeks end to political arrests
PIC – Hamas politburo official Izzat al-Resheq said his party is determined to follow through with the reconciliation deal signed with Fatah, but the West Bank political prisoners issue must be finalized.
Israeli Knesset members, fanatics storm Nabi Yusuf in broad daylight
PIC – Israeli Knesset members and fanatics stormed the Nabi Yusuf shrine in Nablus city on Tuesday morning for the first time in broad daylight under protection of Palestinian police.
IOF razes five wells, arrests seven Palestinians in West Bank
PIC – Clashes erupted as Israeli occupation forces began Tuesday razing five private wells in Harayiq south of Al-Khalil city and rounded up several Palestinians across the West Bank.
UN official: Blockade failed to weaken gov’t in Gaza
PIC – The Israeli blockade of Gaza Strip has failed to weaken the Hamas-led government and only succeeded in making the poor poorer, UNRWA spokesman Chris Gunness said in a press release on Tuesday.
Hamas, Fatah resume talks in Cairo next Tuesday in presence of Abbas, Mishaal
PIC – Representatives of Hamas and Fatah factions concluded a meeting in Cairo on Tuesday with no apparent progress in their reconciliation talks.
German minister visits Gaza, praises reconciliation
PIC – German Development Minister Dirk Niebel has said that the Fatah-Hamas reconciliation agreement was an important step forward and could play a key role in implementing the two-state solution.
Drug shortage halts all surgerical operations in Gaza Strip
PIC – 14/06/2011 – 09:56 AM
Buzek: Gaza siege must end
PIC – 14/06/2011 – 09:58 AM
MP: No success for elections without freedom
PIC – 14/06/2011 – 10:02 AM
Abbas, Mishal to Join Talks on Tuesday for Final Meeting on Government
WAFA
OPINION: Rebuilding a Future in Palestine: It Starts With You
WAFA
EU Parliament President says Israel’s Security Top Priority
WAFA
Fayyad tells German Minister Palestinians Seeking Sovereign State
WAFA
Gaza Community Organizations Demand Medical Supplies
WAFA
Israeli Police Continues Arrests in Golan Heights
WAFA
Fatah and Hamas Resume Talks to Achieve Reconciliation
WAFA
Newspaper Review: Dailies Focus on Abbas’ Meeting with Saudi King Abdul-Aziz
WAFA
Cost of Living Index Decreased in May
WAFA
Reasonable Conjecture on Israel’s Changing Demographics – An Analysis by Dr. Lawrence Davidon
Intifada-Palestine: 14 Jun 2011 – by Lawrence Davidson Part I – Israeli Jews Are Voting With Their Feet If the historical goal of the state of Israel is to provide the world’s Jews a secure national home, a place of refugee in a world of real… more
In Gaza, Young Palestinians Lead a Global Movement
Intifada-Palestine: 14 Jun 2011 – by Joe Catron On a warm, sunny afternoon, I met Eman Sourani and Rana Baker in an airy outdoor caf?© several blocks from the port of Gaza. Both are members of the Palestinian Students’ Campaign for the Academic Boycott of Israel (… more
Alleged ‚ÄòSPY’ in Egypt is US Citizen, IDF Paratrooper
Intifada-Palestine: 14 Jun 2011 – By YAAKOV KATZ Jerusalem Post Ilan Grapel, alleged Mossad spy who was arrested in Egypt fought in 2nd Lebanon War; Egypt claims Grapel incited youth to sectarian strife. Ilan Grapel, the alleged Mossad agent arrested on Sunday in Egypt, is an… more
Will the Gaza Flotilla be Safe from Israel’s Murderous Threats?
Intifada-Palestine: 13 Jun 2011 – Stuart Littlewood by Stuart Littlewood It was a simple question. On 27 March I wrote to my Member of Parliament asking: “What is the British Government planning to do, please, to safeguard British subjects (and indeed the other humanitarians) sailing with… more
Iraqi widow finds solace in school
LA Times 14 Jun 2011 – Sarah, a former interpreter for U.S. forces in Iraq, found her life torn apart when her husband was slain. For her, picking up the pieces has meant raising two boys and completing her undergraduate degree. Sarah cries less now. The tears lurk just beneath the…
Attack on Iraqi provincial government building kills 8
LA Times 14 Jun 2011 – A car bomb blast allows five suicide bombers to storm the council offices in Diyala province, similar to an assault in Salahuddin province in March. Meanwhile, the U.S. announces that two American soldiers were killed in Iraq this week. Gunmen stormed the local council offices…
24 Libya rebels killed in fierce fighting in Port Brega
LA Times 13 Jun 2011 – Moammar Kadafi’s forces have managed to hold out in Port Brega, where clashes left 28 rebels wounded. Rebel officials say another Kadafi aide, Sassi Garada, has abandoned the regime and fled to Europe. Clashes near the Libyan city of Port Brega left two dozen antigovernment…
Fleeing Syrians Take Refuge Along Border With Turkey
New York Times 14 Jun 2011 – Hundreds of Syrians displaced by a ferocious military crackdown fled to the border by tractor, truck and foot, residents said.
Iraqi Militants Kill 7 at Provincial Offices
New York Times 14 Jun 2011 – A small team of gunmen and suicide bombers attacked the provincial council offices in northeastern Iraq, the latest in a string of brazen assaults against authorities.
U.N. Charts High Jobless Rate in Gaza
New York Times 14 Jun 2011 – A report shows unemployment in Gaza standing at 45.2 percent for the second half of 2010, one of the highest rates in the world.
In Lebanon, New Cabinet Is Influenced by Hezbollah
New York Times 14 Jun 2011 – After months of dispute, Prime Minister Najib Mikati announced a government dominated by members and allies of the Shiite militant group Hezbollah.
Qaddafi Settles for a Draw, at Least in a Game of Chess
New York Times 14 Jun 2011 – The beleaguered Libyan leader Col. Muammar el-Qaddafi poured out his thoughts to the head of the international chess federation during a game in Tripoli.
East Jerusalem: Six Voices
B’tselem 14 Jun 2011 – 14 June ’11 http://btselem.org/jerusalem/201012_guardian_project_index In this innovative project, B’Tselem and the Guardian gave six Palestinians and Israelis cameras to create video diaries of their lives in occupied East Jerusalem, under the shadow of the settlement enterprise. The diaries offer a glimpse into the impact of the volatile reality on their lives.
PCHR is Concerned over Fatah Activists being Summoned in the Central Gaza Strip by ISS in Spite of the Reconciliation
Palestinian Center for Human Rights Tuesday, 14 June 2011
AIC Video: Bedouin Prawer Report
Alternative Information Center – In early June, the Israeli government unveiled a proposal to deal with so-called “Bedouin settlement” issues in the Naqab (Negev) desert.
The West Bank Settlements and the Separation Barrier – June 2011
Relief Web 14 Jun 2011 – Source: Israeli Information Center for Human Rights in the Occupied Territories Country: occupied Palestinian territory
Children Affected by Armed Conflict – Israel & the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt), May 2011
Relief Web 14 Jun 2011 – Source: UN Children’s Fund Country: Israel , occupied Palestinian territory Since 2007, a UNICEF-led working group has consolidated efforts to report on the impacts of armed conflict on children in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt). Members of the working…
Israeli blockade of Gaza hurts employment and wages, UN report says
Relief Web 13 Jun 2011 – Source: UN News Service Country: Israel , occupied Palestinian territory Unemployment in the Gaza Strip remains among the highest in the world and real wages have continued to decline every year since Israel imposed a blockade of the area, according to…
Retirement giant CREF runs away from shareholders, moves annual meeting to Charlotte, NC
Jewish Voice for Peace – June 14, 2011
How Israel deals with nonviolent Palestinian protest
Mondoweiss – Watch this video from Nabi Saleh: You might recognize the woman in the video. She is the same mother who fought as her 11-year old child was abducted by the Israeli military (video below). This is yet another tactic Israel has used to try to break…
Tales of a fourth grade Zionist
Mondoweiss – The Awl has run a wonderful piece by Village Voice film editor Allison Benedikt on coming to reconsider everything she was taught growing up about Israel. The piece begins when Benedikt is in third grade, and discusses the special role that Jewish summer camps played in…
Magal receives airport surveillance follow-on order
Neged Neshek – Magal Systems has received a $5.6 million order for its DTR perimeter intrusion detection system. It will be integrated with an existing Magal System at an unnamed Eastern Europe nation. Magal signed a contract in 2009 for airport perimeter surveillance, this is likely a follow-on contract…
FDF mini-UAV tender down to two occupation models
Neged Neshek – The Finnish Defence Forces selection of a mini-UAV for their armed forces has been narrowed to two finalist, both Israeli firms with deep connections to the occupation. The two finalists are BlueBird Aerosystems’ SpyLite and Aeronautics Defense Systems’ Orbiter 2. For more background see my &…
IAI subsidiary working with Canadian private military firm
Neged Neshek – Mississipi-based Stark Aerosapce – a subsidiary of Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) – has produced a new persistent surveillance system with the Canadian private military firm MDA for the collection of intelligence via UAVs in Afghanistan to whomever wishes to purchase it. Since 2008, MDA & IAI…
UN: As Gaza siege enters its fifth year, unemployment stands at 45%
Mondoweiss – From UNRWA’s Gaza blockade anniversary report : As the Gaza blockade moves into its fifth year, a new report by the UN’s agency for Palestine refugees, UNRWA, says broad unemployment in the second half of 2010 reached an unprecedented 45.2 per cent, one of the highest in…
In Gaza, young Palestinians lead a global movement
Mondoweiss – On a warm, sunny afternoon, I met Eman Sourani and Rana Baker in an airy outdoor café several blocks from the port of Gaza. Both are members of the Palestinian Students’ Campaign for the Academic Boycott of Israel (PSCABI) . Sourani, a 22-year-old English literature student at…
Rightwing Israelis stage race-baiting action, bringing Sudanese refugees to posh Tel Aviv pool
Mondoweiss – Picture is from nrg online . And here’s a video of the action . And the report in the Jerusalem Post : Right wing activist Itamar Ben-Gvir and MK [Member of Knesset] Michael Ben-Ari (National Union) brought dozens of Sudanese refugees to the pool at Tel Aviv’s Gordon Beach…
Russian Oligarch Buys 20% Interest in Haaretz
Tikun Olam – Leonid Nevzlin with Bibi Netanyahu Leonid Nevzlin , former business associate of imprisoned Russian oil tycoon Mikhael Khodorkovsky, who fled Russia for Israel when the latter was arrested by the authorities, has bought a 20% stake in Haaretz , investing $40-million in the company (amazing to think that…
Israeli Entrepreneurs, Fearing BDS and UN Recognition of Palestine, Announce New Peace Initiative
Tikun Olam – Caption: ‘Bibi Take the initiative, stop being dragged, start leading’ In a sign of the rising specter of BDS and its potential impact on Israel’s export driven economy (50% of its value is in exports), a group of 80 of the nation’s most important business leaders,…
Guardian series of videos by Palestinians in East Jerusalem
The Only Democracy? JVP 14 Jun 2011 – If, like me, you are disgusted by the minstrelry of Tom MacMaster pretending he was a queer Syrian woman here’s a good antidote. The Guardian has published a series of videos made by Palestinians and Israelis in occupied East Jerusalem who were given cameras by the…
‘Lasting Peace Only Possible with Hamas On Board’
Middle East Monitor 14 Jun 2011 – Open Letter on Middle East Policy Palestinian Unity Is a Prerequisite for Peace with Israel A new Palestinian government is expected to be formed soon as a result of the agreement recently signed between the main Palestinian factions — Fatah and Hamas. The new, transitional government…
Raed Salah: Israel preparing to complete the ethnic cleansing of Palestinians
Middle East Monitor 14 Jun 2011 – EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW In an exclusive interview with the Middle East Monitor, the head of the Islamic movement in Israel, Shaykh Raed Salah, has warned that, “The Israelis are laying the foundations so that the prevailing atmosphere will be “right” for the completion of the ethnic cleansing…
Security forces disrupt West Bank rally
Middle East Monitor 14 Jun 2011 – EXCLUSIVE PICTURES Residents of Palestinian politicians detained in Israeli prisons yesterday staged a rally in Martyrs Square, Nablus, to demand their release. Several officials including parliamentarians joined the wives and children of the detained politicians and activists. They carried placards and shouted slogans calling for an…
Germany’s Development Minister visits Gaza
Middle East Monitor 14 Jun 2011 – EXCLUSIVE PICTURES Germany’s Development Minister, Dirk Niebel, today visited the Gaza Strip. He held a press conference at the beginning of his tour during which he stressed the need to end the siege of the territory; noting that there would be no economic development before the…
Syria steps up protest crackdown
BBC 14 Jun 2011 – Syrian tanks fan out around towns and villages near the Turkish border, widening a crackdown on a 12-week anti-government protest.
Egypt ‘spy’ is US student: Israel
BBC 14 Jun 2011 – The Israeli foreign minister, Avigdor Lieberman, says a suspected Mossad spy detained in Egypt is actually a dual US-Israeli student.
Will the Gaza flotilla be safe from Israel’s murderous threats?
Sabbah report 14 Jun 2011 – Stuart Littllewood highlights the British government’s willful failure to take measures to protect UK nationals intending to take part in the upcoming humanitarian flotilla to Gaza, and laments the failure of the various flotilla organizers to engage the mainstream media or even to answer emails.
Egypt, Great sit-Fri July 8 — event Created By Libertarian socialist movement [machine translation]
A-infos 14 Jun 2011 – Fact, this is not an invitation to march, nor for celebration in the field, it is a direct invitation to sit in. Yes, sit directly, which means Open-ended sit in every field in Egypt. —— Why? —— Because we have the revolution demanding needs of the…
Articles
A call from Gaza in support of the Freedom Flotilla II
International Solidarity Movement6/13/2011
2 June 2011, Gaza
We the Palestinians of the Besieged Gaza Strip, on this day, five years after closures began on Gaza , are saying enough inaction, enough discussion, enough waiting – the full siege on the Gaza Strip must end.
Shortly after 2006 democratic election which were supervised by people and bodies from the international community, nations formerly supporting aid and cultural organizations in Gaza withdrew their support. In mid-2007, our borders, controlled by Israel and Egypt, fully closed, locking Palestinians within and preventing imports and exports from crossing our borders.
From December 27 2008 to January 18 2009, Israel waged an all-out slaughter on Gaza, killing over 1500 Palestinians, the vast majority innocent civilians and among them over 430 children, and destroying thousands of homes, businesses, factories and buildings including universities, schools, hospitals and medical care facilities, and damaging vast tracts of our water and sanitation system.
Two and a half years following the cessation of Israel’s attacks, almost no homes and few buildings have been rebuilt, our sanitation and sewage system is more dire than ever, raw waste continues to be pumped into our sea –for want of proper treatment facilities –polluting our water and the fish along the coast which fishermen are forced to harvest –banned from entering the 20 nautical miles of sea accorded to Palestinians under the Oslo agreement–contaminating our drinking water and food supply. more.. e-mail
Gaza: Young Palestinians Lead a Global Movement
Joe Catron, Palestine Chronicle6/13/2011
On a warm, sunny afternoon, I met Eman Sourani and Rana Baker in an airy outdoor caf?© several blocks from the port of Gaza. Both are members of the Palestinian Students’ Campaign for the Academic Boycott of Israel (PSCABI). Sourani, a 22-year-old English literature student at Al-Aqsa University, cofounded the group after Operation Cast Lead in January 2009, while Baker, a 19-year-old blogger and a business administration student at the Islamic University of Gaza, joined it during Israeli Apartheid Week, a global event in March 2011.
PSCABI is the student arm of the Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel (PACBI), itself part of the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) National Committee. Since its July 2005 founding by Palestinian organizations from Israel, the occupied Palestinian territories, and the diaspora, BDS has grown into a formidable global movement with an impressive record of victories.
In the last month alone, the University and College Union (UCU) and the University of London Union (ULU), respectively the largest academic labor union in the United Kingdom and the largest student union in Europe, voted to support it and sever their ties with Israeli institutions; UK Prime Minister David Cameron quietly resigned his post as Honorary Chairman of the Jewish National Fund, implicated in the ethnic cleansing of Palestinian lands; students at the United States’ DePaul University voted by a nearly 80% margin (although without reaching the necessary quorum) to remove Sabra hummus, linked to the Israeli military, from their campus; the French-Belgian bank Dexia announced the impending sale of its Israeli subsidiary, “even at a loss;” and musicians Andy McKee and Marc Almond cancelled appearances in Israel.
Although not all acknowledged the role of the campaign in their decisions, each was a target of it. Meanwhile, battles rage against the US pension fund TIAA-CREF; Israeli national institutions like the Histadrut and State of Israel Bonds…. more.. e-mail
Growing momentum
Jamal Juma interview, Bitterlemons6/13/2011
On the subject: Palestinian refugees and Arab revolution – an interview with Jamal Juma
bitterlemons: What do you think has been the impact of this year’s demonstrations held on the occasions of the 1948 Nakba, when Israel was created and hundreds of thousands of Palestinians lost their homes, and 1967 Naksa marking the occupation of the rest of historic Palestine?
Juma: It is not distant from the Arab revolutions and the situation in the region. The momentum that has been created there is also affecting and influencing Palestinian society and the Palestinian people. The most important thing about what happened on Nakba day was the participation of Palestinian people from outside. This is [usually] very sharply restricted. The Palestinian people and this young generation came to tell the world and to tell Israel and even the Palestinian Authority that “we are still here and we want to come back to our homeland. We are practicing it this time, not just calling for it.”
The Naksa was a kind of continuation. They wanted to say, “we came with empty hands, just carrying the slogans that we want to return back to our homes and you killed many of us, but you won’t stop us from continuing the steps that we started, calling for rightful return.” The Naksa day protest was to make sure this message continued.
bitterlemons: Were you on the ground in the West Bank? What was the feeling in the air?
Juma: The Campaign to Stop the Wall was one of the organizers of the demonstrations. First, many of the calls were to have a demonstration on the Manara [Ramallah’s central square], but everyone knew that there were going to be marches towards [Israel’s] borders [from other countries]…. more.. e-mail
US citizen in Jerusalem arrest video speaks to EI
Electronic Intifada: 14 Jun 2011 – Maureen Clare Murphy The Electronic Intifada Lucas Koerner, the young American Jewish university student shown violently arrested in a Jerusalem Day video, speaks to The Electronic Intifada about his activism and what happened after his arrest.more
More material available from Vermonters for a Just Peace in Palestine/Israel – www.vtjp.org
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