10 August , 2011 — VTJP
News
International Middle East Media Center
Fatah Report Claims Dahlan Poisoned Arafat and Stole Millions
IMEMC – Wednesday August 10, 2011 – 13:00, An official Fatah report claims that former Gaza security chief, Mohammad Dahlan, was responsible for the poisoning of Yasser Arafat. It also accuses Dahlan of stealing millions of dollars in US aid money.
Six People Detained As Israeli Army Chases Non-Violent Protestors into Homes at Walaja
IMEMC – Wednesday August 10, 2011 – 12:26, The Israeli army responded to a non-violent protest at Al-Walaja on Wednesday with gas and sound bombs. They detained five Israelis and one Palestinian, chasing the protestors from the olive grove into the village.
Population of Gaza fears Israeli invasion in midst of communication blackout
IMEMC – Wednesday August 10, 2011 – 08:03, Late Tuesday night, residents throughout Gaza lost internet, cell phone and landline phone service, creating a communication blackout similar to one which occurred just before a massive Israeli invasion in 2008. The blackout sparked fear among Gaza residents that an Israeli invasion might be underway.
Rightists enter Aqsa mosque compound
8/10/2011 – JERUSALEM (Ma’an) — Religious and right-wing Israelis entered the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound Tuesday guarded by Israeli security forces, the Al-Aqsa Foundation for Waqf and Heritage said. Around 100 Israelis toured the mosque area on the day which they believe marks the destruction of a biblical temple, leading to minor scuffles with Palestinians in the….
Hamas: No improvement at Rafah crossing
8/10/2011 – GAZA CITY (Ma’an) — Gaza Interior Ministry deputy Kamel Abu Madi said Wednesday there had been no improvements at the Rafah border crossing with Egypt.” The working procedures at the Rafah crossing are as usual and no improvement has occurred,” Abu Madi said. He added that Egyptian authorities were still preventing Palestinians who had…. Related: Call from Gaza: open the Rafah crossing permanently and unconditionally
11 detained at rally near Bethlehem
8/10/2011 – BETHLEHEM (Ma’an) — Israeli forces detained 11 protesters Wednesday afternoon during a rally in the village of Al-Walaja, near Bethlehem, the village committee and Israel’s army said. Alaa Darras, a member of the village’s local committee against the wall, said Israeli troops dispersed the rally using tear gas and stun….
Internet, phone service restored in Gaza
8/10/2011 – RAMALLAH (Ma’an) — The Palestinian telecommunications company Paltel said Wednesday technicians were working to renew services to the Gaza Strip following an unprecedented outage overnight. Paltel executive manager Ammar Al-Aker told Ma’an that Israeli bulldozers destroyed a fiber-optics cable near the border that cut mobile, Internet and international landline services for over….
Turkey condemns Israeli settlement expansion
8/10/2011 – ANKARA, Turkey (Ma’an) — Turkey on Tuesday condemned Israel’s decision to expand the illegal Har Homa settlement in occupied East Jerusalem, the Turkish daily Hurriyet reported. Turkey’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement that Israel’s approval of plans to build 900 Jewish-only homes in the occupied city further….
Marwan Barghouti warns of protests if US wields veto
8/10/2011 – CAIRO (AFP) —A Palestinian leader jailed in Israel has warned Washington that vetoing a Palestinian state at the United Nations would spark huge regional protests, Egypt’s official MENA news agency reported Wednesday. Marwan Barghouti, a leading member of the dominant Fatah party convicted of organizing attacks against Israelis during the second intifada, gave…. Related: Congressman: US ready to veto recognition bid
Fatah: Israel trying to create chaos for PA
8/10/2011 – RAMALLAH (Ma’an) — Israel ignores international law and agreements and supports settlers to create chaos for the Palestinian Authority to complete its settlement project, a Fatah spokesman said Tuesday. Osama Al-Qawasmi said the PA would continue to build state institutions despite obstacles created by Israel. The international community has praised the government’s….
Congressman: US ready to veto recognition bid
8/10/2011 – JERUSALEM (Ma’an) — US representative Steny Hoyer said Wednesday that the Obama administration would use its veto at the UN Security Council if Palestinians move forward with a bid for recognition in September. Hoyer, the Democratic Whip of the House of Representatives, is in the region leading a congressional delegation sponsored by a pro-Israel…. Related: Marwan Barghouti warns of protests if US wields veto
Erekat: UN bid not coordinated with Hamas
8/10/2011 – BETHLEHEM (Ma’an) — There has been no coordination between Fatah and Hamas over the Palestinian UN bid for statehood in September, PA official Saeb Erekat told Ma’an on Wednesday.”Unfortunately, there has been no coordination so far with Hamas, but the door is open and we welcome them any time.”The PA…. Related: Az-Zahhar: Unity ‘worthless’ until government formed
Palestinian university ranks seventh in Arab world
8/10/2011 – NABLUS (Ma’an) — An-Najah University in Nablus ranks seventh in a list of the top 100 universities in the Arab world, according to findings published by Spanish public research body CSIC. An-Najah is ranked as the top Palestinian university and is among the top 5 percent of 22,000 universities worldwide, a study published by….
Witnesses: Israeli army detains 2 teens in Beit Ummar
8/10/2011 – HEBRON (Ma’an) — Israeli forces detained two Palestinian teenagers overnight Tuesday in the West Bank town of Beit Ummar, locals said. Soldiers detained Ahmad Jawabreh, 15, and Muhammad Eqtet, 16, after raiding their homes, popular committee spokesman Muhammad Awad told Ma’an. Awad said a Molotov cocktail had been thrown at an army….
Prisoner granted access to medical equipment
8/10/2011 – RAMALLAH (Ma’an) — The Israeli prison administration will allow a Palestinian prisoner suffering from severe diabetes access to vital medical equipment, the Palestinian prisoners’ society said Wednesday. Ahmad Asfour, 23, will be connected to a machine which injects insulin into his body. The decision came after the prisoners’ society sent a letter….
Campaign for UN bid launched in Ramallah
8/10/2011 – RAMALLAH (Ma’an) — The national campaign to support Palestine’s bid for membership of the United Nations was launched Tuesday in Ramallah. Representatives of civil society, unions and youth activists met for the first meeting of the campaign’s preparatory committee. The campaign aimed to intensify efforts to garner support for Palestine…. Related: Congressman: US ready to veto recognition bid
Az-Zahhar: Unity ‘worthless’ until government formed
8/10/2011 – BETHLEHEM (Ma’an) — Hamas leader Mahmoud Az-Zahhar said Tuesday that reconciliation meetings with Fatah were “worthless” until the parties reached an agreement to form a unity government. Hamas and Fatah met in Cairo on Sunday to discuss ways to implement the reconciliation agreement signed in late April. The landmark unity deal was set to…. Related: Erekat: UN bid not coordinated with Hamas
Israeli protest leader says UK riots ‘warning sign’
8/10/2011 – JERUSALEM (AFP) — Leaders of Israel’s social protest movement on Wednesday called for more demonstrations this Saturday while warning that riot-swept Britain shows what can happen if public discontent gets out of hand. Protest organizers on Wednesday called for more protests over the coming weekend, but not in Tel Aviv, scene of mass rallies….
Gaza crossings unaffected by telecoms shutoff
8/10/2011 – GAZACITY (Ma’an) – The coordinator of the crossings authority Raed Fattouh said Wednesday the Kerem Shalom crossing would open partly for 300 trucks containing aid for the trade and agriculture sectors. He added that 99 trucks of gravel for UN projects and cooking gas would enter. On a related note, general-director of the Palestinian….
Clergy welcome scholars at annual theological conference
8/10/2011 – BETHLEHEM(Ma’an) — The sixth international theological conference opened Monday in Bethlehem, as theologians and intellectuals gathered from more than 17 countries and various Christian denominations. The mayor of Bethlehem, a representative of President Mahmoud Abbas, and the minister of tourism arrived on behalf of the government, and clergymen Munib Younan and Atallah Hanna….
Ambitious plans to boost transport, trade infrastructure
8/10/2011 – RAMALLAH (IRIN) — Developing transport and trade infrastructure in the occupied Palestinian territory is the focus of a growing number of proposed donor and Palestinian Authority projects, but it remains to be seen how many of them will ever come to fruition. Increasing trade has been marked by the World Bank as key to sustainable private….
Syrian forces kill 17 in Homs as outrage mounts
8/10/2011 – DAMASCUS (AFP) — Syrian security forces shot dead 17 people in the protest hub of Homs on Wednesday, while withdrawing from the city of Hama, as Washington turned up the heat on embattled President Bashar Al-Assad. On Tuesday, a defiant Assad had pledged to pursue a relentless battle against “terrorist groups,” seemingly oblivious to the mounting….
Riots spread across England as London calms
8/10/2011 – LONDON (AFP) — England’s worst riots in a generation spread to more cities Wednesday with three people killed while reportedly defending their community, though London was quiet after extra police swamped the streets. As the nation endured a fourth night of unrest, youths rampaged through the center of Manchester burning and looting shops in….
Riots ‘fightback’ has begun, says British PM
8/10/2011 – LONDON (AFP) — Prime Minister David Cameron said a “fightback” was underway Wednesday after four nights of violent riots as he authorized police to use water cannon for the first time in mainland Britain. With England’s worst riots in a generation spreading to the northwest city of Manchester and three people being killed while….
Egypt government proposes anti-discrimination law
8/10/2011 – CAIRO (AFP) — Egypt’s government on Wednesday proposed an anti-discrimination amendment to its criminal code, mostly aimed at the troubled Christian minority which has been the target of sectarian attacks. The bill, which the caretaker cabinet published a draft of on its Facebook page, would make discrimination a crime punishable by at least three….
Trial resumes of relatives of Tunisia’s ousted leader
8/10/2011 – TUNIS (AFP) — Prosecutors demanded harsh punishments for 23 relatives and allies of Tunisia’s ousted president, accused of trying to flee the country with jewels and cash, as their trial ended Wednesday. There was tight security at the Tunis court, where defense lawyers asked judge Faouzi Jbeli to dismiss the charges in a case….
Ahmadinejad: Britain crackdown unacceptable
8/10/2011 – TEHRAN (AFP) — Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad strongly condemned on Wednesday what he called the “savage” crackdown by British police on rampaging youths, the state television’s website reported.” This savage treatment of people is absolutely unacceptable, and British statesmen must hear the voice of the people and grant them freedoms,” Ahmadinejad was quoted as….
Did Turkey’s Calls for End to Violence in Syria Have an Effect?
Palestine Note 10 Aug 2011 – While troops have withdrawn from Hama, reports detail new offensives near Turkish border Los Angeles Times – Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan delivered a firm message to the regime in Damascus on Wednesday afternoon, urging the increasingly isolated yet…
Ambitious plans to boost oPt transport, trade infrastructure
Palestine Note 10 Aug 2011 – IRIN- Developing transport and trade infrastructure in the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt) is the focus of a growing number of proposed donor and Palestinian Authority (PA) projects, but it remains to be seen how many of them will ever come…
Israel’s rights groups condemn ‘Jews only’ businesses
Palestine Note 10 Aug 2011 – The National- We don’t employ Arabs – so dozens of companies listed in Israel’s Yellow Pages plainly state. The businesses, which include a bus firm, plumbers, electricians and a removal firm, openly advertise under the banner of “Hebrew labour” -…
Rightists tour Aqsa mosque compound
Palestine Note 10 Aug 2011 – Ma’an- Religious and right-wing Israelis entered the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound Tuesday guarded by Israeli security forces, the Al-Aqsa Foundation for Waqf and Heritage said. Around 100 Israelis toured the mosque area on the day which they believe marks the destruction…
Hamas: No improvement at Rafah crossing
Palestine Note 10 Aug 2011 – Ma’an- Gaza Interior Ministry deputy Kamel Abu Madi said Wednesday there had been no improvements at the Rafah border crossing with Egypt. “The working procedures at the Rafah crossing are as usual and no improvement has occurred,” Abu Madi said….
Palestinians blame Israel for Gaza blackout
Palestine Note 10 Aug 2011 – Al Jazeera- Internet and phone services were shut off in Gaza late on Tuesday night, putting the blockaded territory into an information blackout for around 12 hours. Palestinian telecommunications officials blamed Israeli bulldozers for severing fibreoptic lines into Gaza, but…
Yemeni president ‘to return home’
AlJazeera 10 Aug 2011 – State news agency says Ali Abdullah Saleh to return to Yemen from Saudi Arabia after recovery period.
Syria expands offensive near Turkey border
AlJazeera 10 Aug 2011 – Tanks storm two northwestern border towns, local residents say, as international community steps up pressure on Assad., Eleven people detained after clashes erupt during protest against building of separation barrier in village of Walaja.
Israeli protesters query cost of settlements
AlJazeera 10 Aug 2011 – As socio-economic protests enter their third week, settlement spending is coming under public scrutiny.
Palestinians blame Israel for Gaza blackout
AlJazeera 10 Aug 2011 – Internet and phones shut off for around 12 hours after Israeli bulldozers cut fibre optic line, company officials allege
Six Detained as Army Clamps Down on Non-Violent Protestors in Al-Walaja
PNN – Bethlehem — PNN – A non-violent protest at Al-Walaja near Bethlehem today resulted in six activists being detained by the Israeli Army and many others being subjected to tear gas inhalation and…
East Jerusalem Settlement Expansion Plans Criticized by EU, US
PNN – Washington DC – PNN – The US State Department stated Tuesday that it was “deeply concerned” by plans for 930 homes to be built in an East Jerusalem settlement. The EU’s foreign…
Hamas: Shalit Deal Still On
PNN – Gaza – PNN – Top Hamas official Moussa Abu Marzouk has made clear that Hamas are still willing to make a prisoner swap deal involving Israeli Soldier Gilad Shalit. Marzouk speaking to…
Fatah Accuses Dahlan of Killing Arafat
PNN – Ramallah – PNN – Top Fatah leaders released a report on Sunday saying former Gaza security chief Mohammad Dahlan was responsible for poisoning former Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat. Arafat died in a…
International Solidarity Movement
They try to steal our history, not just our land
8/11/2011 – International Solidarity Movement – 9 August 2011, International Solidarity Movement, West Bank – The demonstrations in Nabi Saleh started the 21 of November 2009, afterthe illegal settlement of Halamish expanded, costing locals in land andtheir source of water for home and agricultural use, a spring declared holy by the settlers. Sincethe beginning of the demonstrations the village faced outstanding repression…. Related: YouTube: Video interview with Manal Tamimi and Nabi Saleh consumed with raids while fasting
Call from Gaza: open the Rafah crossing permanently and unconditionally
8/10/2011 – International Solidarity Movement – Today, a call demanding the re-opening of the Rafah Crossing between Egypt and Palestine has come from Gaza. It is propelled by support from Egypt and has been endorsed by dozens of organizations, citizens’ groups, associations and coalitions in many countries, as well as by distinguished international personalities. The call to action underscores the…. Related: Hamas: No improvement at Rafah crossing
Nabi Saleh consumed with raids while fasting
8/10/2011 – International Solidarity Movement – 9 August 2011, International Solidarity Movement, West Bank – Following the unusually short demonstration on the first Friday ofRamadan, the Israeli army raided the village of Nabi Saleh just beforeIftar, the Muslim time for breaking fast during Ramadan, resulting in the detaining of a 14 year old boy forapproximately two hours and an excessive amount of…. Related: They try to steal our history, not just our land
Report on mission program achievements – Week of August 9, 2011
Relief Web 10 Aug 2011 – Source: US Agency for International Development Country: occupied Palestinian territory Internships get Palestinian Media Graduates on the Air and onto Pages: Recently, media graduates undertaking internships supported by USAID’s Youth Empowerment Program helped produce a series of 16 programs on…
Analysis: Ambitious plans to boost oPt transport, trade infrastructure
Relief Web 10 Aug 2011 – Source: Integrated Regional Information Networks Country: occupied Palestinian territory RAMALLAH, 10 August 2011 (IRIN) – Developing transport and trade infrastructure in the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt) is the focus of a growing number of proposed donor and Palestinian Authority (PA)…
Settlements or Peace?
Relief Web 10 Aug 2011 – Source: MIFTAH Country: occupied Palestinian territory By: Meg Walsh for MIFTAH For the past few decades, negotiations and attempts at the “peace process” have been occurring intermittently. The asymmetrical relationship that exists between Israel and Palestine, occupier and occupied, has…
AusAID and UNICEF improve the lives of girls in the Palestinian Territories
Relief Web 10 Aug 2011 – Source: Australian Agency for International Development , Government of Australia Country: occupied Palestinian territory , Australia AusAID and UNICEF are working together to provide schools in the West Bank and Gaza with adequate water supplies and sanitation services. Two years ago, more…
New IOCC Program To Improve Food Access For Isolated Families In The Gaza Strip
Relief Web 10 Aug 2011 – Source: International Orthodox Christian Charities Country: occupied Palestinian territory Baltimore, MD (IOCC) ‚Äî More than 10,000 children and their parents in the Gaza Strip will soon have better access to reliable food sources through a new program launched by International…
Israel Army Arrest 4 kids in Hebron
10 Aug 2011 – Hebron, (Pal Telegraph) – Israeli forces detained 4Palestinian teenagers overnight Tuesday in the West Bank town of Beit Ummar, locals said.
UAE proves popular for potential migrant workers
The National 9 Aug 2011 – Challenge will be to attract professionals, says report’s authors.
Omani paper faces court case
The National 9 Aug 2011 – An Omani daily newspaper faces closure after it published an article accusing the minister of justice of not paying an employee his financial entitlements, its editor said yesterday.
Iraqi religious leader urges US to end its ‘invasion’ of Iraq
The National 9 Aug 2011 – Muqtada Al Sadr has called for US forces to return home to their families in a rare English message that threatens violence but also appeals to Christian sentiment.
Marches held across Israel as social protests enter fourth week
Ha’aretz – Homeless protesters in Holon burn tires and block roads after being ordered to dismantle tents; first Arab protest held in Haifa.
Western diplomat: UN statehood bid will harm U.S.-Palestinian Authority ties
Ha’aretz – Diplomat says that Israel, PA should continue security cooperation and avoid steps that could deteriorate into violence.
Israel denies it agreed to discuss a nuclear-free Middle East
Ha’aretz – Israeli sources deny reports by the Associated Press reported Israel and Arab countries agreed to hold a conference hosted by the International Atomic Agency.
Report: Syrian forces attack district in Homs, kill 11
Ha’aretz – Hama under government control following week of brutal crackdowns; Turkish PM says tanks withdraw from Hama, hopes development will allow Syria to take ‘steps towards reform’; Report: troops seize control of Deir el-Zour.
Wall Street stocks fall sharply, threaten to aggravate European debt crisis
Ha’aretz – A day after significant gains, Wall Street stocks fall by 4 percent; President Sarkozy cuts short his vacation and calls emergency meeting.
Cameron vows crackdown as rioting spreads across the U.K.
Ha’aretz – Shopkeepers and residents in London and other cities were reported to be organizing vigilante groups to protect their property.
Yossi Melman / Israelis run through Tel Aviv for social justice
Ha’aretz – On a hot, humid August night in Tel Aviv, one group of social protesters got their sneakers on and hit the road with a long-distance run they hoped would make a difference.
American-Jewish poet Phillip Levine named U.S. Poet Laureate
Ha’aretz – Phillip Levine, born to Russian-Jewish immigrant parents, has authored 20 collections of poems, is the recipient of the Pulitzer Prize.
Peres: Israel-Palestinian peace still possible
Ha’aretz – President Peres tells visiting U.S. congressional delegation that both sides understand that negotiations must resume before UN General Assembly session next month.
Hamas official: Internal Israeli pressure will spark movement on Shalit deal
Ha’aretz – Moussa Abu Marzouk tells London-based Al-Hayat that Hamas is interested in deal on captured IDF soldier, but group’s stance unchanged.
Rothschild campsite is voice for demobilized Druse soldiers
Jerusalem Post 10 Aug 2011 – Press release says camp set up so “people would hear the cry from our community, who need to find a suitable solution to the housing crisis.”
Banks drag Wall Street lower as fear returns
Jerusalem Post 10 Aug 2011 – S&P 500 declines 4% over fears Europe debt crisis will cause French banks collapse, spill over into US financial sector.
The real lesson of Tisha Be’av: Jerusalem could fall again
Jerusalem Post 10 Aug 2011 – Hatred by the Labor-Zionist movement toward the capitalist Revisionist-Zionists could have been put toward saving European Jewry.
S. Daniel Abraham to ‘Post’: Protests not political
Jerusalem Post 10 Aug 2011 – Dovish US millionaire denies Hebrew media interpretation that his donations make housing demonstrations political.
Why civil marriage is good for the Jews
Jerusalem Post 10 Aug 2011 – How long can the entire population be hostage to the demands of the Orthodox establishment?
Media Comment: Rachel is weeping
Jerusalem Post 10 Aug 2011 – The ‘Kol Barama’ radio station claims that its programs are based on listening to the public and creating a dialogue with it.
Israel’s credit rating
Jerusalem Post 10 Aug 2011 – John Donne: no economy is an island entire of itself; every economy is a piece of the intercontinental totality, a part of the main.
Do we need another Greece?
Jerusalem Post 10 Aug 2011 – The tent-dwellers’ revolt calls for the enforcement of ‘the will of the people'(like all autocrats). It refuses to rely on democracy.
Political reactions to the social protest
Jerusalem Post 10 Aug 2011 – Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu reacted to the public protest in a manner that raises serious doubts about his political instincts.
Fundamentally Freund: It’s the oligopoly, stupid!
Jerusalem Post 10 Aug 2011 – The committee will hold a series of discussions before presenting concrete proposals to the socio-economic cabinet headed by Steinitz.
Candidly Speaking: J Street’s soft sell for the uninformed
Jerusalem Post 10 Aug 2011 – It’s unconscionable for American Jews to canvass their government to force Israel to act contrary to its will regarding national security.
The root causes of the British riots
Jerusalem Post 10 Aug 2011 – Many of the youths taking part in these disturbances are not poor at all; They are mostly of a middle or lower-middle-class background.
Syrian forces kill 15 as US slaps sanctions
Jerusalem Post 10 Aug 2011 – Syrian rights group says armored vehicle stormed district of Homs, killing 15 people in crackdown of anti-Assad protests; White House is watching events “with horror”; US sanctions Syrian bank, cell phone operator.
Syria uprising stirs old divisions in neighboring Lebanon
Jerusalem Post 10 Aug 2011 – Beirutis rally against Assad’s crackdown; Protesters in Syria burn Hezbollah flags as Nasrallah stands behind Damascus.
Diplomatic pressure on Assad gaining momentum
Jerusalem Post 10 Aug 2011 – Syrian president shows no signs of letting up violent crackdown on anti-regime protesters; Analyst: Turkey has largest sway over Assad.
Holon: Tent activists burn couch, tires to block roads
Jerusalem Post 10 Aug 2011 – Residents of tent city in Jesse Cohen slum vow to attack police, go down fighting if campsite is forcibly evacuated.
Hillel to launch its own tents for Israel
Jerusalem Post 10 Aug 2011 – In America, Hillel announced plan to set up tents at 20 campuses for respectful dialogue about Israel and Middle East issues.
Remand extended in Rabbi Abuchatzeira stabbing
Jerusalem Post 10 Aug 2011 – Decision to extend Dahan’s remand based on suspicions against him; Psychiatric evaluation indicates that he is a danger.
PM: UN recognition of Palestine will harm future peace
Jerusalem Post 10 Aug 2011 – Netanyahu meets US Democratic congressmen delegation, says Israel committed to peace through negotiations without preconditions.
Egypt’s Moussa campaigns for president, vows change
Jerusalem Post 10 Aug 2011 – Biggest challenge for ex-Arab League chief, Mubarak’s foreign minister through 1990s is to prove he is not part of the old system.
‘Cameron has lost legitimacy, should go,’ Libya says
Jerusalem Post 10 Aug 2011 – Libyan calls UK handling of riots “repression…against peaceful protesters”; Ahmadinejad: Police’s “savage treatment” not acceptable.
‘More doctor visits reported in years after Sept. 11’
Jerusalem Post 10 Aug 2011 – Researchers find that doctor-diagnosed illness climbed by 18% in first 3 years after event, cite stress from “collective trauma” of terrorist attacks as cause.
Attias announces free land for student housing
Jerusalem Post 10 Aug 2011 – Activists warily support initiatives, which include construction tenders for contractors offering lowest bid.
Innovative company brings light to third world countries
Jerusalem Post 10 Aug 2011 – Globe Light and Water Systems has developed a new standalone light fixture that relies solely on solar energy, rather than on gov’t-run power plants.
Erdogan: We gave Syria clear message to stop bloodshed
Jerusalem Post 10 Aug 2011 – Turkish PM says he hopes Damascus will take steps towards reform within 10-15 days; comments come as Syrian tanks storm two towns.
Revived Mujahidin faction emerges in the Gaza Strip
Jerusalem Post 10 Aug 2011 – Ansar Al-Mujahidin says it wants to bridge divisions between Hamas and Fatah; “rise of jihadist groups in Gaza creating headache for Hamas.”
Averting bridge disasters: New technology can save lives
Jerusalem Post 10 Aug 2011 – A newly developed early warning system could save hundreds: UMD sensors offer instant, affordable warnings.
Healthy Eating: Mirror image foods
Jerusalem Post 10 Aug 2011 – Some foods look alike on the outside, but are they the same on the inside? Find out how these fruits and vegetables match up on this round of food fights.
Lawyer: Katsav was already tried by cannibalistic media
Jerusalem Post 10 Aug 2011 – In second day former president’s appeal in rape conviction, Katsav interrupts judges, says a regular citizen wouldn’t have been charged.
CITYbites: A delicious mix of Israeli and Arab cuisine
Jerusalem Post 10 Aug 2011 – Small and intimate, Alma offers a rich bar, cocktails and a Jerusalem wine menu composed of bottles from local wineries.
IBSA Coalition an Emerging Player in Global Diplomacy
IPS The beleaguered government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has so far defied the Security Council, ignored appeals by U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, rejected pleas from neighbouring Turkey and the Arab world, and summarily dismissed the threats and sanctions by Western powers.
LIBYA: Where Resistance to Gaddafi Runs High
IPS Recent victories in Libya’s western mountains have led to a brief reprieve from violence and local fighters and civilians are slowly trying to piece their lives back together.
MOROCCO: Arab Spring Brings Little for Women
IPS Since the beginning of protests in Morocco on Feb. 20 women have been at the vanguard. Many of the spokespersons of the protest movement have been women – observers and activists see this as a new phase of feminine emancipation in this North African country.
Palestinians Prisoners Languish in Administrative Detention
IPS “I’m sick with worry about my daughter. I’m afraid of what they are doing to her. She has done nothing to deserve this. If they have anything against her why don’t they bring her to trial?” Yehiya Al Shalabi asked IPS rhetorically.
Qaddafi son, reported killed, appears on TV (video)
Uruknet August 10, – Libyan state television on Wednesday broadcast images of a man it said was Muammar Qaddafi’s youngest son, footage that looks to undercut rebel claims of his death at a time when the opposition is showing signs of strain and disarray six months into its battle with the Libyan leader. The images of Khamis Qaddafi, who…
Dozens of Saudis held in Syria
Uruknet August 10, 2011 – Saudi citizens have been arrested in Syria for no apparent reason, a human rights official has claimed in Riyadh. “There is no justification for the arrest of dozens of Saudis in various cities in Syria apart from the fact that they are Saudi citizens,” Chairman of the National Society for Human Rights (NSHR) Muflih…
Gaza : 16 hours of isolation
Uruknet August 10, 2011 – For people cut off from the rest of the world from the sea, air, and land, mobile services and internet are virtually the only proxies to communicate with the virtually “outside” world. Yesterday around seven pm, I noticed that the internet was logged on, but there was no connection. The router at my house…
Congressman: US ready to veto recognition bid
Uruknet August 10, 2011 – US representative Steny Hoyer said Wednesday that the Obama administration would use its veto at the UN Security Council if Palestinians move forward with a bid for recognition in September. Hoyer, the Democratic Whip of the House of Representatives, is in the region leading a congressional delegation sponsored by a pro-Israel lobby group, the…
NATO urged to investigate civilian deaths during Libya air strikes
Uruknet August 10, 2011 – NATO must take all necessary precautions to avoid civilian casualties during military operations, Amnesty International said today, after allegations by Libyan officials loyal to Colonel Mu’ammar al-Gaddafi that 85 people were killed during an air strike on Monday night. The organization called on NATO to thoroughly investigate allegations of the deaths of unarmed civilians…
Syria News – August 9, 2011 (Videos)
Uruknet August 9, 2011 – Syria: martyrs toll rose today to 34 martyrs, amog them is 11 children. Among them: 3 martyrs in Idlib Suburbs, 2 in Erbeen, 3 in Homs and 2 of them are in Hawleh, 4 in Deir Ezzor, 2 in Hilfaya, 12 in Soran, 5 in Taybat Imam in Hama Suburbs, 2 in Hama, 1…
Libya: Refugees and Human Trafficking
Uruknet August 9, 2011 – The Libyan Civil War has unleashed an epic outpouring of foreigners who had been living and working in Libya, especially from impoverished African nations. A May report by the International Center for Research and Study on Terrorism and Aide to Victims of Terrorism (CIRET-AVT) and the French Center for Research on Intelligence (CF2R) addresses…
Torture Charges Go Forward Against Bush-Era Defence Secretary
Uruknet August 9, 2011 – On Apr. 16, 2006, for reasons still unknown to them, two U.S. contractors in Iraq’s Red Zone were handcuffed, blindfolded and transported to Camp Cropper, a U.S. military facility located a few miles from Baghdad International Airport. There, Donald Vance, a Navy veteran from Illinois and Nathan Ertel, a U.S. government contractor hailing from…
Iraq snapshot – August 9, 2011
Uruknet August 9, 2011. Chaos and violence continue, the UN’s new report on Iraq is damning (where’s the media?) including the section on the abuse of prisoners, Steve Inskeep didn’t know war was costly (and tries to “demonize” — Barney Frank’s term Social Security), Kirkuk’s governor says Iraq needs US military members, and more….Through various visits to detention centres…
Australia’s repression of BDS movement coordinated with Israel
Uruknet August 9, 2011 – In the largest show of support for the Palestinian-initiated boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) campaign so far in Australia, more than 350 persons marched on 29 July in solidarity with the Palestinian struggle – and in opposition to an attempt by Victorian Police to criminalize Palestine solidarity activism in Melbourne. A month earlier, on…
Military Resistance 9H4: a Particularly Friendly Sgt
Uruknet August 8, 2011 – For the second time in a week, a joint Iraqi-American raid aiming at insurgents resulted in the killing of civilians. Witnesses in the village of Ishaqi, just south of Tikrit, said Iraqi and American forces opened fire on civilians and threw hand grenades early Friday morning as they conducted the raid. The villagers say…
Israeli Army Invades Nabi Saleh Firing Live Ammunition and Gas Bombs
Uruknet August 8, 2011 – Reports from Tamimi Press indicate that Sunday evening the Israeli army invaded the Palestinian town of Nabi Saleh in the West Bank. They fired live ammunition and gas bombs and clashed with local youth. The Israeli forces were described as “firing ammo and gas canisters indiscriminately on homes.” There were a number of clashes…
Assad admits mistakes
Daily Star 10 Aug 2011 Syrian President Bashar Assad admitted that some mistakes had been made by security forces, in a meeting Wednesday with a delegation from U.N. Security Council members Brazil, India and South Africa, the nations said…
Jumblatt’s Syria talks unreported by state media
Daily Star 10 Aug 2011 Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblatt held talks in Damascus Wednesday with Maj. Gen. Mohammad Nassif, the assistant of the Syrian vice president, on the latest political developments, a statement released by the PSP press office…
MPs exchange volleys in power plant debate
Daily Star 10 Aug 2011 Parliament saw heated debate during Wednesday’s legislative session, as lawmakers argued for around two hours over a draft law that would allow the Energy and Water Resources Ministry to raise a $ 1.2 billion fund to build…
ISF destroys 90 more dunams of cannabis
Daily Star 10 Aug 2011 Another 90 dunams of cannabis fields were destroyed as part of the government’s campaign against illegal cultivation, the Internal Security Forces announced Wednesday.
Police arrest 2 suspect thieves 1 confesses
Daily Star 10 Aug 2011 The police have apprehended two suspected thieves who were active in Beirut and Mount Lebanon, it was announced Wednesday. Two 26-year-old men were caught by a Jounieh branch of the Judicial Police.
Interior Ministry: Respect laws on car number plates
Daily Star 10 Aug 2011 The Interior Ministry called on the public Wednesday to abide by the traffic laws regarding the proper number plates that should be displayed on cars and warned that security forces would crackdown on violators.
Dar al-Fatwa appeals for funds for Somalia
Daily Star 10 Aug 2011 Dar al-Fatwa is launching a relief campaign to collect funds for Somalia, in the face of a famine that led to the death of thousands of who most are children…
Sidon residents protest water and power outages for 3rd day
Daily Star 10 Aug 2011 Residents of Sidon continued their protests for a third day against ongoing power and water outages in the city, as some voiced hope services would be restored Thursday.
Tyre tries to defend World Heritage status
Daily Star 10 Aug 2011 In Tyre, the city’s past is very much present. A fisherman in shallow waters stands near massive stone columns that are only partially covered by the Mediterranean.
Mansourieh residents hold more protests against electricity grid
Daily Star 10 Aug 2011 A controversial project to install a high-tension electricity grid in Metn might be met with more street protests, as rival political parties seek the support of local residents.
Arab League calls for preservation of unity
Daily Star 10 Aug 2011 Arab League Ambassador to Lebanon Abdel-Rahman Solh said Wednesday that the Arab League was keen on preserving unity among all Arab countries, particularly Syria…
Sayegh: Only a just state protects the Christians
Daily Star 10 Aug 2011 Former minister and Kataeb (Phalange) official Salim Sayegh said the only guarantee for Christians in Lebanon or Syria lies in a just state rather than a military regime that threatens all its factions.
Geagea: Jumblatt acts like Sergeant Schultz
Daily Star 10 Aug 2011 Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea has described Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblatt as the American television sitcom character Sergeant Schultz.
Sidon clerics urge solidarity with Syrian uprising
Daily Star 10 Aug 2011 Sidon looks set to join Tripoli with Friday protests in support of the uprising in Syria. A gathering of Islamic religious scholars from Sidon Wednesday urged all Muslims to participate in demonstrations to support the Syrian…
Release of 16 Islamists on bail not political: judicial source
Daily Star 10 Aug 2011 A total of 16 detainees with connections to the Islamist militant group Fatah al-Islam were released on bail Tuesday and Wednesday.
Hezbollah slams March 14 for ‘misleading’ the media
Daily Star 10 Aug 2011 Hezbollah accused the March 14 Secretariat General Wednesday of leaking false information to Western media outlets in a bid to tarnish the party’s image.
Future Movement still absent from Tripoli anti-Assad protests
Daily Star 10 Aug 2011 The Future Movement has yet to participate in demonstrations in the northern city of Tripoli in support of the Syrian people, leaving it to Islamist groups to protest the violent crackdown by Damascus.
STL: Lebanon still must cooperate with tribunal
Daily Star 10 Aug 2011 The U.N.-backed court probing the 2005 assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri said Wednesday that Lebanon’s obligation to assist the tribunal in apprehending suspects still stands…
Jordan court commences trial of 150 hard-line Islamists
Daily Star 10 Aug 2011 Jordan’s state security court Wednesday began the trial of 150 Muslim hard-liners charged with attempting to undermine the country’s security and injuring 83 policemen during a protest.
Barghouti warns of protests if U.S. wields veto at U.N.
Daily Star 10 Aug 2011 A Palestinian leader jailed in Israel has warned Washington that vetoing a Palestinian state at the United Nations would spark huge regional protests, Egypt’s official MENA news agency reported Wednesday.
Outbreaks of fighting reignite civil war jitters in Yemeni capital
Daily Star 10 Aug 2011 In Sanaa’s battle-scarred Hasaba neighborhood, the distant chanting of protesters demanding the removal of President Ali Abdullah Saleh is punctuated by gunfire nearby, reminding residents that Yemen’s torment may be far from over.
Yemeni officials, tribes announce Taiz cease-fire
Daily Star 10 Aug 2011 A new truce has been reached in Taiz, Yemen’s second largest city which has been the scene for sporadic clashes between troops and armed tribesmen backing pro-democracy protests, officials and tribal sources said Wednesday.
‘Killed’ Gadhafi son appears on Libyan TV
Daily Star 10 Aug 2011 Libyan state television broadcast images Wednesday of a man it said was Moammar Gadhafi’s youngest son in an attempt to refute rebel claims that he had been killed in a NATO airstrike.
‘Calm’ restored to ghost city Hama as army leaves
Daily Star 10 Aug 2011 Dozens of Syrian army vehicles packed with soldiers left the flashpoint protest hub of Hama on Wednesday, 10 days after storming the central city to fight armed groups, an AFP correspondent reported from the city.
Trial begins for 23 of Ben Ali’s associates
Daily Star 10 Aug 2011 Prosecutors demanded harsh punishments for 23 relatives and allies of Tunisia’s ousted President Ben Ali, accused of trying to flee the country with jewels and cash, as their trial ended Wednesday.
Iraq’s Sadr says Iran will not hand over militant
Daily Star 10 Aug 2011 Anti-American Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr said Wednesday that Iran has refused to hand over a militant known as the Shiite Zarqawi, a former commander in his militia, to face justice in Iraq.
Freed Bahraini detainees still to face trial
Daily Star 10 Aug 2011 Bahrain has released more than 100 detainees who had been facing military trials over their roles in anti-government protests earlier this year, but some of them will still be prosecuted in civilian courts, one of those…
Turkish army commander jailed over conspiracy
Daily Star 10 Aug 2011 A retired Turkish army commander, indicted as the number one suspect, has been jailed pending trial on charges of orchestrating an Internet campaign to discredit the ruling AK Party, state media said.
Obama says Syria would be better without Assad, sanctions imposed
Daily Star 10 Aug 2011 President Barack Obama believes Syria would be better off without President Bashar Assad and the United States plans to keep pressure on the Syrian government, the White House said.
Sidon residents stage second day of protest against power outages
Daily Star 10 Aug 2011 Sidon residents block roads with burning tires in the second day in a row of protests against power outages, preventing Civil Defense personnel from putting out the fires.
Parliament approves bills on military benefits, new prisons
Daily Star 10 Aug 2011 Parliament approved a bill affecting military benefits Wednesday, and another to establish new prisons in a bid to resolve the problem of overpopulation in the Lebanon’s prisons
Recall Lebanon ambassador to Syria: March 14
Daily Star 10 Aug 2011 March 14 general secretariat asks President Michel Sleiman to summon Lebanon’s ambassador to Syria from the country and not place Lebanon in confrontation with other Arab countries over violence there.
Syrian government appears to have full control of Hama
Daily Star 10 Aug 2011 Government takes journalists on guided tour as Syrian troops move into the northwestern village of Sarmin and Turkish foreign minister urges Assad to stop killing protesters.
US lawmaker urges Palestinians to drop UN bid
Daily Star 10 Aug 2011 A leading US Democrat on Wednesday said that Congress was united in its opposition to a Palestinian bid for UN membership and called for a speedy resumption of peace talks with Israel.
Gaza cut off after phone cable severed
Daily Star 10 Aug 2011 An Israeli army bulldozer has damaged a communications cable and cut all phone and Internet networks in the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip, Palestinian officials said on Wednesday.
Lebanon should have placed sanctions on Syria: Geagea
Daily Star 10 Aug 2011 A capable country would place sanctions on the Syrian government for the violent crackdown on anti-government protesters, Lebanese Forces leader says.
Families of Roumieh prisoners stage protest in Beirut
Daily Star 10 Aug 2011 Families of Roumieh prisoners stage a demonstration in Downtown Beirut to demand more rights for inmates as Parliament meets to discuss a proposal to build extra prison facilities.
Turkey’s Erdogan expects Syrian reforms within 15 days
Daily Star 10 Aug 2011 Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan said on Wednesday he hoped Syria would take steps towards reform within 10-15 days.
Syrian army quits Hama after 10-day raid: AFP
Daily Star 10 Aug 2011 Dozens of Syrian army vehicles packed with soldiers left the flashpoint protest hub of Hama on Wednesday 10 days after storming the central city to fight “armed groups,” an AFP correspondent saw.
Lebanon cannot afford to meddle in countries’ affairs: Mikati
Daily Star 10 Aug 2011 Lebanon cannot afford to take sides in any country’s internal affairs, Prime Minister Najib Mikati says.
Veolia, major target of Palestinian BDS campaign, in financial crisis
Stop The Wall – Aug 10, 2011— Only days after losing out on another lucrative contract in London, French waste and water company Veolia on Thursday announced it would scale back its operations in several countries after
In solidarity with our Norwegian friends
Stop The Wall – Jul 27, 2011— Last week, dozens of people, including youth, were killed in Norway. The deaths were the result of a brutal attack by one individual, Anders Behring-Breivik. Immediately, we at Stop the Wall acted in solidarity with the victims, their family, and the nation of Norway by sending the following letter. [
Can UK riots spill over to Israel?
YNet News, 10 Aug 2011 – Piccadilly Square vs. Habima Square: At this stage of the global news cycle it seems any country around the world could find itself engulfed by a wave of social protest … ….
Court reverses conviction of Kfir Brigade soldier
YNet News, 10 Aug 2011 – The military appeals court on Wednesday reversed the conviction of a Kfir Brigade paramedic charged with attacking Palestinian residents during 2008 operational activity … ….
Israelis in UK advised to stay vigilant
YNet News, 10 Aug 2011 – The Foreign Ministry has avoided issuing a travel warning to the United Kingdom, instead opting to advise Israeli tourists to remain alert and avoid riot centers. … ….
IDF chief joins brigade’s surprise inspection
YNet News, 10 Aug 2011 – IDF Chief of Staff Benny Gantz on Wednesday showed up for a surprise inspection in the Binyamin Brigade as part of preparations for expected riots in September as the … ….
US hits Syrian bank, cellular firm with sanctions
YNet News, 10 Aug 2011 – The Obama administration slapped sanctions Wednesday on Syria’s largest commercial bank and cell phone operator as it moved to demand the end of four decades of … ….
Holon residents torch furniture, tires
YNet News, 10 Aug 2011 – Some 100 residents from Holon’s “Jesse Cohen” neighborhood blocked one of the city’s main roads on Wednesday, setting fire to furniture and tires and calling out: “The … ….
Israel: We never agreed to discuss nukes
YNet News, 10 Aug 2011 – Israel and Arab nations have tentatively accepted an invitation by the UN nuclear agency to discuss a Middle East free of atomic arms, The Associated Press reported … ….
Erdogan wants Syrian reforms in 15 days
YNet News, 10 Aug 2011 – Turkish prime minister sends clear message to President Assad: Stop all….
Shapiro visits Iron Dome battery
YNet News, 10 Aug 2011 – Video: New American ambassador to Israel: US committed to developing missile….
Students: UK riots should serve as a warning to Netanyahu
YNet News, 10 Aug 2011 – Student Union stresses that ‘as long as we are part of the social protest’s….
Analysis: Syria’s crackdown hits ally Hezbollah’s image
YNet News, 10 Aug 2011 – Syrian uprising major blow to popularity of organization seen as Assad’s number….
UN: Lebanon, Israel not seeking conflict over sea border
YNet News, 10 Aug 2011 – UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon Michael Williams says ‘neither of them are….
Police calm London, but riots flare across UK
YNet News, 10 Aug 2011 – Police triple deployment, calming London, but report more than 1,100 arrests….
Crippled terrorists back in action
YNet News, 10 Aug 2011 – Islamic Jihad military wing hold all-in-one PR campaign, military maneuvers —….
Decade later, Sbarro attack still haunts victims
YNet News, 10 Aug 2011 – ‘Israeli society has repressed attack, but in my family death is inseparable….
Syrian minister dispels rumors of death
YNet News, 10 Aug 2011 – Deposed defense minister appears on state-owned TV, says still loyal to Assad,….
Katsav bursts out at judge during appeal hearing
YNet News, 10 Aug 2011 – Former president’s attorneys argue against sexual harassment convictions in….
‘No faith in Trachtenberg team’
YNet News, 10 Aug 2011 – Leaders of protest movement: We will not enter negotiations that would only….
Palestinian Information Center
Palestinian old woman wounded in IOF shooting
PIC – 10/08/2011 – 10:31 AM
Israeli military prosecutor demands banishment of Palestinian minor
PIC – 10/08/2011 – 10:44 AM
IOF arrests Al-Jazeera correspondent, 5 Palestinians in Al-Khalil
PIC – Israeli occupation forces (IOF) detained Samer Allawi, Al-Jazeera TV network’s correspondent in Afghanistan, while leaving the West Bank en route to Jordan.
MPs: Palestinians tired of promises, want real reconciliation
PIC – Hamas MP Hassan Yousef said Tuesday that the Palestinians are “tired of promises” and want to see the Palestinian reconciliation implemented on the ground.
Turkey warns of worse to come in ties with Israel
PIC – Turkey has warned of taking further diplomatic measures should Israel continue to change the demographic status of occupied East Jerusalem by building more settlements.
Mishaal confers with Qatari Emir on Palestine developments
PIC – A senior delegation of Hamas led by its supreme leader Khaled Mishaal arrived in the Qatari capital Doha on Tuesday on an official visit.
Israeli police arrest four Jerusalemite minors
PIC – Israeli police forces stormed the Bustan suburb in Silwan town in occupied Jerusalem at dawn Wednesday and arrested four minors, local sources said.
Jewish settlers infiltrate Al-Khalil under police protection
PIC – Dozens of Jewish settlers leaked into downtown Al-Khalil on Tuesday to perform religious rituals at a local shrine amid the Palestinian population there.
Communications cut off in Gaza Strip
PIC – All forms of telecommunications as well as electricity were suddenly cut off in the Gaza Strip on Tuesday night.
Health ministry: Cancer patients are exposed to pharmaceutical piracy
PIC – The Palestinian ministry of health said patients with leukemia and cancer tumors in Gaza hospitals are exposed to what it described as “pharmaceutical piracy” threatening their lives.
PA proves ‘unserious’ about reconciliation
PIC – Palestinian MP Ahmed Abdul-Aziz Mubarak (Ramallah) said Wednesday that continued persecution of Hamas in the West Bank concludes that the Palestinian Authority has no control over its security forces.
Number of West Bankers who refuse to comply with summonses on the rise
PIC – The number of Palestinian citizens who jointed the youth campaign against summonses issued arbitrarily by the Palestinian authority security apparatuses in the West Bank has risen.
Fatah: Palestinian UN Bid Protects Peace from Israeli Policy to Destroy It
WAFA
Prisoner Transferred to Hospital in Critical Condition
WAFA
Israeli Soldiers Injure 3 Palestinians, Arrest 10 Foreign Solidarity in Anti-Wall Protest
WAFA
Israel Arrests Four Palestinians in Hebron
WAFA
Asqalan Prisoners Boycott Clinic, Medicine for Eighth Day
WAFA
Rights Group Condemns Israeli Arrest of Al-Jazeera Journalist
WAFA
Union Official Criticizes Government Failure to Solve Financial Crisis
WAFA
Cabinet Discusses Difficult Financial Crisis
WAFA
Newspapers Review: Syria’s Turmoil Dominates Front Page in Local Dailies
WAFA
“Could Arab (Palestinian) Staying Power Ultimately Defeat Zionism?”
Intifada-Palestine: 10 Aug 2011 – By Alan Hart That was the headline over a recent post by David Hearst for The Guardian’s Comment Is Free space. It began: “There is an Arabic word you come across a lot when Palestinians talk about their future. Sumud means… more
81 Congressmen to Visit Israel in Coming Weeks
Intifada-Palestine: 10 Aug 2011 – Are They Americans? Definitely! EDITORS NOTE: Eighty-one congressmen, about 20 percent of the US House of Representatives, will visit Israel for week-long trips sponsored by American Israel Education Foundation in next three weeks during Congress’s summer recess. The first group of… more
Cultivating Violence — An Analysis by Dr. Lawrence Davidson
Intifada-Palestine: 10 Aug 2011 – by Dr. Lawrence Davidson Part I — Israel and its “right-wing Zionists” By now the world is aware that, despite the ardent wishful thinking of the Western media, the terrorism that struck Oslo on 22 July 2011 was not perpetrated by… more
Syrian Forces Press Assaults Despite More Sanctions
New York Times 10 Aug 2011 – Defying international calls for restraint and a new set of American financial sanctions on Wednesday, Syria continued military assaults on restive locales, killing at least 35 people.
Al Jazeera Changes Plan to Rerun Documentary
New York Times 10 Aug 2011 – A film about the crackdown on pro-democracy protests in Bahrain was shown once, but drew complaints from Bahraini authorities.
Memo From Beirut: In Tumult, New Hope for Palestinian Cause
New York Times 10 Aug 2011 – One of the most striking manifestations of change amid the Arab revolts is an emerging optimism for the fate of Palestinians.
Low voter registration for the Tunisian Constituent Assembly elections
WSWS – The lack of popular interest in the Constituent Assembly elections is a devastating verdict on the Tunisian Transitional Government’s attempts to give itself a veneer of pseudo-democratic legitimacy.
Largest-ever social protests in Israel
WSWS – Over a quarter million people took to the to the streets Saturday in the largest social protest in Israel’s history, against spiralling living costs and soaring rents that are making it impossible for working people to make ends meet.
Protests over social conditions continue in Israel
WSWS – Benyamin Netanyahu, Israel’s prime minister, faces his biggest political crisis since taking power more than two years ago, as protests continue following last Saturday’s demonstrations.
The Israeli protests and the reemergence of the working class
WSWS – Saturday’s mass demonstration in the streets of Tel Aviv powerfully illustrates the reemergence of the international working class as the most important force in world politics.
NATO airstrike kills dozens of civilians east of Tripoli
WSWS – The Libyan government charged Tuesday that a NATO airstrike killed 85 civilians near Zlitan, 90 miles east of the capital Tripoli on the Mediterranean coast.
Hillel fears it is being ‘marginalized’ by young Jews because of its fierce support for Israel
Mondoweiss – Inspired by the Israeli tent protests, Hillel, a militantly pro-Israel Jewish campus life organization, is going to put up tents on 20 campuses this fall for students to talk about Israel. The quote in my headline, from Hillel’s president, at the end of excerpt, is another…
Savage murder of musician Ibrahim Qattush shows Syria’s dictatorship is brutish, uncouth, macabre
Mondoweiss – Beautiful piece on Syria by Rana Kabbani in the Guardian. What an amazing transformation Syria is undergoing, and more and more people say, Assad is finished. It is only a matter of how long and how much cruelty he subjects his society to. Makes Mubarak’s “no-mas”…
White House edits photo caption, taking Jerusalem out of Israel
Mondoweiss – Good catch by the unreconstructed neocons at the Weekly Standard : two hours after Daniel Halper posted a White House caption from more than a year ago that characterized Jerusalem as part of Israel— Vice President Joe Biden laughs with Israeli President Shimon Peres in Jerusalem, Israel,…
Progressive Jewish congregation will host ‘conversation’ on boycott (a year after it decided issue was too hot)
Mondoweiss – This is significant. A year after a very progressive Brooklyn congregation decided to sidestep a boycott debate as too inflammatory, it will have that debate after all. At the time, I remember writing, Why is it that churches have to host these debates? What’s wrong with…
The story of Silwan
Mondoweiss – VIDEO: Silwan targeted AIC 9 Aug — Over 55,000 Palestinians live in Silwan, 50 percent of whom are under the age of 18. In recent years, Jewish-Israeli settlers have gradually moved into the neighborhood, bringing with them private security guards, and an increased Israeli police and…
David Grossman on J14
Tikun Olam – Thanks to Sol Salbe for translating David Grossman’s magnificent meditation on the meaning of the J14 movement. It is titled Window on a New Future (Hebrew) published in Yediot on August 5th: Last Saturday night, at the Jerusalem demonstration, I looked around and saw a…
Intern for RCF!
Rachel Corrie Foundation 9 Aug 2011 – by Maya Harris Last November, I contacted RCF in my search for an internship for my Student Originated Studies program at The Evergreen State College (TESC). I was interested in learning how a non-profit functions and benefits its community, and of all of the organizations I…
Sumud — Corrie Trial Update
Rachel Corrie Foundation 9 Aug 2011 – by Cindy Corrie “A lawsuit is not an event for the sprinter.” Mickey Rathbun On July 10, my family returns to Haifa District Court for a closing session in the civil trial in my daughter Rachel’s case. Pinhas Zuaretz, Brigade Commander in charge of Southern Gaza…
BDS in Action: Peace Works ’11
Rachel Corrie Foundation 9 Aug 2011 – by Zora Djenohan Conference goers celebrate the installation of a BDS leaf at the Olympia Rafah Solidarity Mural. To purchase this picture, view videos, and read the summary report click here – Photo courtesy of Robert Whitlock. With the bittersweet passing of the 2011 Peace Works…
The Myth of Israeli Stability
Arab American Institute 10 Aug 2011 – If there is one thing Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu is known for, besides accommodating the radical right’s colonization of the West Bank, it is his frequent use of platitudes about Israel’s exceptionalism. Bibi recently flaunted Israel’s exceptional stability in a region rocked by mass protests, shortly…
Israel uses drones to watch offshore gas fields
Middle East Monitor 10 Aug 2011 – The Israel Defence Forces have deployed unmanned drones to watch over offshore gas fields for fear of an attack by Lebanon’s Hezbollah. Reports in the Jerusalem Post claim that the decision to deploy drones was made in order to maintain a 24-hour presence over the site…
Israel is accused of using illegal settlements to divert attention from domestic issues
Middle East Monitor 10 Aug 2011 – A member of the Palestinian Legislative Council member has accused the Israeli government of trying to divert attention from its domestic crises at the expense of the Palestinian people. Mr Qais Abdul Karim, known as Abu Laila, has claimed that the real reason for further construction…
PA negotiator denies delay in bid for UN recognition
Middle East Monitor 10 Aug 2011 – The Palestinian Authority’s chief negotiator has denied media reports that the PA might delay its bid for United Nations recognition for an independent Palestinian state. According to Saeb Erekat, who is also a member of Fatah’s Central Committee, “The Palestinian recognition train has already left the…
What would UN recognition of a Palestinian state mean?
Middle East Monitor 10 Aug 2011 – There is no doubt about the importance of the UN recognising Palestine as a state, and more importantly its acceptance as a full member state. If such recognition is given in September, it will confirm the importance of activating the option of international legitimacy. However, we…
Articles
‘Prisoners’ of Israeli airspace
Alaa Tartir, Ma’an News Agency8/10/2011
I never thought it was possible to be in prison in the sky. I always thought that prisons needed to be on the ground.
I also never thought that the prison could move and even fly: I always believed that cells needed to be rooted in the ground.
However, these two assumptions which I have believed for the last 26 years proved recently to be ‘wrong.’
On a recent journey from Ramallah to London — of course through the compulsory Amman route as the West Bank is not allowed an airport — I experienced a new form of Israeli detention, this time in Israeli airspace.
It was an unpleasant experience, as passengers were forbidden from fulfilling basic human needs such as using the toilet, receiving food or water, or moving between seats to chat with friends.
I am fully aware that the denial of these basic human needs does not compare with the everyday violations of human rights that the Palestinians suffer on the ground due to the Israeli occupation, or with other violations of human rights in the wider region.
It may even seem ironic or silly to raise such issues in the context of the Arab Spring, while Syrian civilians are being killed and as thousands of Israelis demand social justice from their own unjust system.
But, while traveling, I was puzzled by a simple question: How many people from all over the world are imprisoned everyday in Israeli airspace? more.. e-mail
Could Arab staying power ultimately defeat Zionism?
David Hearst, The Guardian8/5/2011
Abbas’s UN appeal, combined with the civil rights fight inside Israel, is changing the nature of the Palestinian struggle
There is an Arabic word you come across a lot when Palestinians talk about their future. Sumud means steadfastness, and it has turned into a strategy: when the imbalance of power is so pronounced, the most important thing to do is to stay put.
Staying put against overwhelming odds is regarded as a victory. But it is more than just a word. It’s the look in Rifqua al-Kurd’s eyes as she fights eviction in Sheikh Jarrah, East Jerusalem. She lives out of boxes, because when the police throw her out and the settlers move in she doesn’t want the clothes thrown into the street. Sumud is the tenacity with which Mohammed Hussein Jibor, a farmer, clings to a rock-strewn patch of land in the South Hebron hills in 38 degrees heat. His water cistern has been destroyed three times this year because he does not have a permit for it, even though the court acknowleges it is his land. Sumud sums up the attitude of the Bedouin struggling to stay in 45 unrecognised villages in the Negev, without a supply of water, electricity or schools. Once the entire Negev was theirs, now only 6% is. Israel wants to put the Bedouin in townships while establishing 130 Jewish villages and agricultural settlements on the land. Talab al-Sana, their MP, says: “They want Jews to be Bedouin and Bedouin to be Ashkenaz [European Jews].”
Sumud crops up in some unexpected places — not only East Jerusalem, the West Bank or Gaza, but in Jaffa, Lod, and in Arab communities all over Israel among people who have nominally the same rights as any other citizen. As September looms and with it the attempt by the Palestinian president, Mahmoud Abbas, to get a declaration of statehood from the UN, the spotlight has swivelled on to these. more.. e-mail
The road to New York goes through Lebanon and Qatar
Bassam Abu Eid, Ma’an News Agency8/10/2011
BETHLEHEM (Ma’an) — As the Palestinian UN bid for recognition approaches in September, two Arab countries will hold key positions in both the Security Council and General Assembly, adding momentum to Palestinian diplomatic efforts to gain statehood.
Lebanon is set to head the Security Council and Qatar will be rotating president of the General Assembly.
Lebanon is expected to upgrade the diplomatic status of Palestine to embassy level on Aug. 16 when President Mahmoud Abbas visits Beirut. The Palestinians also count on Lebanon, as president of the UN Security Council during September, to overcome any procedural obstacles the September bid might face.
The PA will also count on Qatar, who will head the UN General Assembly in September, to ensure that all legal procedures at the international body are facilitated as best possible. Having an Arab country as head of the General Assembly will also certainly help the momentum of the Palestinian bid.
Foreign Minister Riyad Al-Maliki revealed Wednesday, in an exclusive telephone call with Ma’an, that Lebanon would upgrade the diplomatic status of Palestine to embassy level. That step, he explained, will be taken either before, or after President Abbas’ expected visit to Beirut next week. Abbas will urge the Lebanese officials to do their best to help the Palestinians with the UN bid.
“This step by Lebanon will support the September bid,” he said. — See also: Congressman: US ready to veto recognition bid more.. e-mail
Sources of fun dwindle for Gaza’s children
Electronic Intifada: 10 Aug 2011 – Eva Bartlett The Electronic Intifada Gaza City Palestinian families in Gaza are keen for a change and some leisure activity in their lives encaged and under siege.more
Gaza. Somalia. Humanity Lives on
Palestine Chronicle: 10 Aug 2011 – By Ramzy Baroud I remember how exhilarated I felt when I was told I was old enough to fast for the month of Ramadan. My feelings had little to do with abstention from food and drink between dawn and sunset each day. For a child, there is little joy in that. The meaning and implications for me were much greater. I believed that the occasion signaled I had now become a man. I wanted to share this news with all my brothers, friends and neighbors. Three days into the fast, lethargy set it. The end seemed near. Although I fared well in my first attempt at fasting for an entire month, I had my weak and reprehensible moments. I hid in dark corners with my favorite snacks: a cucumber, a tomato, a loaf of pita bread. To be caught would be shameful and degrading, a regression back into childhood, a…more
The Tent Protests in Israel
Palestine Chronicle: 10 Aug 2011 – By Jeff Halper The demonstrations currently roiling Israel constitute a grassroots challenge to Israel’s neo-liberal regime. Beginning as an uprising of the middle classes — especially young people who have trouble finding affordable housing — it has spread to the working class, the poor, and the Arab communities as well, though not the religious as yet. Many of the working sectors have joined the three-week protest: doctors, single mothers, parents demanding free education, taxi drivers upset with the price of petrol, even the police. The Histadrut, Israel’s general trade federation, and many municipalities have joined as well. Last night’s protests brought some 320,000 people into the streets. The big argument is whether it should be “political” or not. I attended the demonstration last Saturday night, and while the main slogan was “We demand social justice,” (although chants of “Mubarak, Assad, Netanyahu” could also be heard), it was clear that most…more
Refusing to Be Enemies – Book Review
Palestine Chronicle: 10 Aug 2011 – By Jim Miles Refusing to be Enemies – Palestinian and Israeli Nonviolent Resistance to the Israeli Occupation. Maxine Kaufman-Lacusta. Ithaca Press (Garnet Publishing, Reading, UK), 2011. Israel has always indicated that there is no partner for peace in its relationships with the Palestinian people. Refusing to be Enemies refutes that idea solidly through its investigation into the non-violent resistance movement taking place in Palestine and in Israel. It also clarifies the nature of the Palestinian resistance and the nature of what non-violence truly stands for. As cited from Mohammed Khatib, “what the state of Israel fears most of all is the hope that people can live together based on justice and equality for all.” A forward by Ursula Franklin points out that “it is the violent response, the abnormal, that is recorded, and analyzed and taught.” It is also the corporate media that finds the violence agreeable to its narrative…more
More material available from Vermonters for a Just Peace in Palestine/Israel – www.vtjp.org
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The New Dark Age 
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