9 January 2012 — VTJP
News
International Middle East Media Center
Extreme Rain, Snow, Causes Floods, Casualties And Destruction
IMEMC – The Palestinian Civil Defense reported that the storm that is hitting Palestine, and nearby countries, have caused several casualties and excessive destruction of property as rainfall flooded more than 400 homes while four Palestinians were killed after they were swept by the flooding rain. …
Army Kidnaps Three Palestinians In Bethlehem
IMEMC – Israeli soldiers invaded, on Wednesday at dawn, Beit Fajjar town, south of the West Bank city of Bethlehem, and kidnapped four residents. …
Israeli wall traps rain, sewage in Palestinian town
1/9/2013 – QALQILYA (Reuters) – Heavy winter downpours have turned some Palestinian lands in the occupied West Bank into a morass of filth and flooding as an Israeli barrier blocks the waters from draining away. In Qalqilya, a town of 42,000 in the northern West Bank almost completely surrounded by the concrete wall, Khaled Kandeel and his family…. Related: 2009: Photos of flood damage in Qalqilya due to Wall and In photos: Floods, snow hit Palestine
2 women found dead in West Bank floods
1/9/2013 – TULKAREM (Ma’an) — Police and rescue workers on Wednesday found the bodies of two women killed after their car was swept away by floods in the northern West Bank. The victims were identified as Samah Kanan, 36, and Hana Al-Sarawi, 24, both from Nablus. They went missing on Tuesday evening, and were found on…. Related: Boat teams rescue families from Gaza floods and West Bank schools to stay closed on Thursday
Abbas, Mashaal meet Mursi, hold side-talks
1/9/2013 – CAIRO (Reuters) — Egyptian President Muhammad Mursi held separate meetings with the leaders of Palestinian factions Hamas and Fatah in Cairo on Wednesday, before the political chiefs sat together later in the evening. Palestinian and Egyptian officials said Mursi met President Mahmoud Abbas of Fatah and Khalid Mashaal of Hamas to discuss how to implement a…. Related: Abbas, Mashaal to meet during Cairo visit and Jihad official: Abbas to meet leader in Cairo
Abbas, Mashaal to meet during Cairo visit
1/9/2013 – CAIRO/GAZA (Reuters) — Egyptian President Muhammad Mursi plans to meet the leaders of Palestinian factions Hamas and Fatah on Wednesday in a renewed effort to help them heal their five-year-old feud, Palestinian and Egyptian officials said. The officials said Mursi would meet individually with President Mahmoud Abbas of Fatah and Khaled Mashaal of Hamas to…. Related: Jihad official: Abbas to meet leader in Cairo and Abbas, Mashaal meet Mursi, hold side-talks
Boat teams rescue families from Gaza floods
1/9/2013 – GAZA CITY (Ma’an) –Rescue crews used fishing boats to help 25 families trapped in a flooded plain in the southern Gaza Strip on Wednesday, amid icy storms have in the region this week. Civil defense spokesman Muhammad Al-Maathaneh said a low plain in Rafah was under water, and 300 homes were at risk…. Related: 2 women found dead in West Bank floods and West Bank schools to stay closed on Thursday
Rights groups concerned by Gaza death in custody
1/9/2013 – BETHLEHEM (Ma’an) — The death of a Palestinian man while in the custody of the Gaza government in recent weeks must be thoroughly and transparently investigated, human rights groups say. Atef Khamis Derbas, 52, was being held in the central Ansar prison in Gaza City for unpaid debts, before he died on Dec. 27….
Police: Man shot dead in Nablus village
1/9/2013 – NABLUS (Ma’an) — Palestinian police said on Wednesday evening that a 36-year-old man was shot dead in a village near Nablus. The man, whose identity was not disclosed, died at the scene in Salem village east of Nablus. Police are investigating the circumstances around the shooting. [END]
Opinion: EU should re-think its border assistance role
1/9/2013 – By Mahmoud AbuRahma – The European Union must abandon the idea of redeploying its border monitoring mission on Gaza’s border with Egypt, raised again by EU officials last month. The European Border Assistance Mission at the Rafah crossing (EU-BAM) will not aid the Palestinians or contribute to the attainment of peace. In fact, it….
Gaza govt workers to receive salaries Thursday
1/9/2013 – GAZA CITY (Ma’an) — Gaza’s minister of finance said Wednesday that all government workers would receive their salaries by Thursday. Security forces and civil servants can collect their monthly salary from post office and banks in the Gaza Strip. In the West Bank, public sector staff held a partial strike Wednesday and….
Right-wing millionaire is Israel campaign’s surprise star
1/9/2013 – JERUSALEM (Reuters) – A right-wing millionaire who says a Palestinian state would be suicide for Israel has emerged as the surprise success story of the country’s election campaign. So much so that Naftali Bennett, a former aide to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu who is said to have fallen out with his old boss, is….
PA hopes December summits will activate ‘safety net’
1/9/2013 – BETHLEHEM (Ma’an) — The Palestinian Authority hopes two regional meetings this month will see the promised Arab “safety-net” payments activated, a minister said Tuesday. The government will again ask for the $100 million-monthly pledge to be implemented, as Arab foreign ministers meeting in Cairo on Sunday and Saudi Arabia hosts a socioeconomic summit on….
Jihad official: Abbas to meet leader in Cairo
1/9/2013 – GAZA CITY (Ma’an) — An Islamic Jihad official said President Mahmoud Abbas will meet the group’s leader during his visit to Cairo as part of unity talks on Wednesday. Abbas will meet with Egyptian President Muhammad Mursi and Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal in separate talks on Wednesday. Khaled al-Batash said the president…. Related: Abbas, Mashaal to meet during Cairo visit and Abbas, Mashaal meet Mursi, hold side-talks
In photos: Floods, snow hit Palestine
1/9/2013 – Reuters / MaanImages – Heavy flooding in the northern West Bank and southern Gaza Strip has damaged hundreds of homes, officials said, while snowstorms blew through the southern West Bank on Wednesday. At least 17 people have died in the winter storm in Lebanon, Jordan, Turkey, Israel and Palestine. Meteorological agencies in Israel and Lebanon both called…. Related: West Bank schools to stay closed on Thursday and Boat teams rescue families from Gaza floods
Civil defense: 105 people treated during Gaza floods
1/9/2013 – GAZA CITY (Ma’an) — Over a hundred people needed medical treatment in southern Gaza on Wednesday due to severe weather conditions, the rescue service said. Emergency services treated 100 people on site during flooding near Rafah, and five people have been hospitalized, Muhammad Mathana, spokesman of Gaza’s Civil Defense service, told Ma…. Related:In photos: Floods, snow hit Palestine and 2 women found dead in West Bank floods
West Bank schools to stay closed on Thursday
1/9/2013 – BETHLEHEM (Ma’an) — West Bank schools will remain closed on Thursday as stormy conditions continue to wreak havoc in the region, the education ministry announced. Classes had already been cancelled on Wednesday amid icy storms in the West Bank. [END]
Teen dies of electric shock in Gaza
1/9/2013 – GAZA (Ma’an) — A 17-year-old boy was killed by an electric shock in southern Gaza on Wednesday, medics said. Badri Salih Abu Sanimeh died when he was repairing the electricity in his house, spokesman of Gaza heath ministry Ashraf al-Qidra said. [END]
Elderly woman killed in West Bank house fire
1/9/2013 – TULKAREM (Ma’an) — A 90-year-old woman died on Wednesday when her house was set ablaze by a gas heater in the northern West Bank, rescue teams said. Ameena Khamees Mutawafi was killed and her sister Amneh was wounded after the house fire in Nour al-Shams refugee camp east of Tulkarem. Civil defense representatives….
Man found dead in Gaza home
1/9/2013 – GAZA CITY (Ma’an) — A 27-year-old man was found dead in his home in northern Gaza on Wednesday. Police have opened an investigation into the death in Beit Lahiya. [END]
4 Gaza relatives killed in Egypt car crash
1/9/2013 – GAZA CITY (Ma’an) — Four members of a Palestinian family from Gaza were killed and another two wounded in a car crash in Egypt on Wednesday, locals told Ma’an. Khaled Lahham, 27, and relatives Yosra, 55, Amneh, 48, and Basmah, 25 all died in the accident in Asyut in central Egypt. Family….
Israeli police say 2 held for heroin smuggling
1/9/2013 – BETHLEHEM (Ma’an) — Israeli police on Wednesday arrested two suspects they said were caught smuggling 20kg of heroin through Jordan’s border with south Israel. The pair, from the Negev, were chased by forces near the Eilat border crossing with Jordanian Aqaba, Israeli police said. [END]
Exhausted Egyptians count cost of political turmoil
1/9/2013 – ZAGAZIG, Egypt (Reuters) — These days, craftsmen, shopkeepers and other inhabitants of the Egyptian Delta town of Zagazig are often too busy making ends meet to ponder why life seems to be getting harder every day. But when, exhausted, they finally come home and sit down to their evening meal, conversations inevitably turn to growing hardship….
Officials: Egypt parliamentary election seen in April
1/9/2013 – CAIRO (Reuters) — Egypt, battered by political turmoil and an economic crisis that has sent the local currency tumbling, will hold a parliamentary election in April, officials said on Wednesday. Under Egypt’s new constitution approved by a referendum last month, President Muhammad Mursi must set an election date within 60 days of when he….
Syrian refugees at mercy of winter storms on Lebanese coast
1/9/2013 – QOBBAT BESHOMRA, Lebanon (Reuters) — Sayyad Ali fled Syria two weeks ago and now lives with his wife and two children in a leaky tent of wood and plastic sheeting surrounded by ankle-deep mud in a lot in northern Lebanon. The 27-year-old former construction worker built the shelter well, but the thin walls are scant….
Freed Iranians arrive in Damascus after prisoner swap
1/9/2013 – DAMASCUS/ISTANBUL (Reuters) — Forty-eight Iranians freed by Syrian rebels in exchange for more than 2,000 civilian prisoners held by the Syrian government arrived in central Damascus on Wednesday, a Reuters witness reported. The Syrian government has not referred to the prisoner swap and the whereabouts of the civilian prisoners was not immediately known. Opposition groups….
Saudis behead Sri Lankan housemaid for killing of infant
1/9/2013 – JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia (Reuters) — Saudi Arabia beheaded a young Sri Lankan housemaid on Wednesday after rejecting appeals by her home country against her death sentence for the killing of an infant left in her care in 2005, Saudi and Sri Lankan authorities said. The Saudi Interior Ministry said in a statement run by the official….
Syria opposition welcomes Brahimi comments criticizing Assad
1/9/2013 – LONDON (Reuters) — Syria’s main opposition group the Syrian National Coalition on Wednesday welcomed comments by international peace envoy to Syria Lakhdar Brahimi criticising Syrian President Bashar Assad. Brahimi earlier told the BBC a speech by Assad on Sunday was a “lost opportunity” to end the crisis in Syria and that Assad’s….
Netanyahu Pledges Not to Cede More Land to Palestinians
Palestine News Network
IOF Claims it Nabs 2 Cells in the West Bank
Palestine News Network
Missing Palestinian Driver of 2 Women who Died in Flood Found
Palestine News Network
103 Palestinian Detainees Moved to Rimon Israeli Prison
Palestine News Network
“State of Palestine” Term to be Included on Official Documents
Palestine News Network
Turn on Al Jazzera Channel
Palestine News Network
Dr. Ashrawi: Europe Could Bring an End to Israeli Illegal Occupation and Settlement
Palestine News Network
Popular Committees to Hold the First Popular Struggle Camp in the Jordan Valley
Palestine News Network
International Solidarity Movement
Israeli soldiers violently break into five homes in the Al Ayn Camp
1/9/2013 – International Solidarity Movement – January 9th, 2013, Al Ayn Refugee Camp, Occupied Palestine – Hundreds of Israeli soldiers in 27 military jeeps violently broke in and ransacked five homes in the Al Ayn refugee camp, Nablus. They caused widespread destruction in the houses involved in the raid. No arrests were made. Weam Reda Khaled, a woman whose house was ransacked….
Photo Story: Hajazi family – Jabalia Refugee Camp, Gaza
1/9/2013 – International Solidarity Movement – January 9th, 2013, Gaza Strip, Occupied Palestine – Amna Hajazi (43) sitting on her bed in a rented room in Jabalia refugee camp, after her home was destroyed by a bomb. On November 19th 2012, a missile hit her home, killing two of her sons – Mohammad (4) and Suheen (2) – and her husband Fu…. Related: Photos: Desde Palestina
Lebanon: Aider les réfugiés les plus vulnérables
Relief Web 9 Jan 2013 – Source: European Commission Humanitarian Aid department Country: Lebanon, occupied Palestinian territory 18/12/2012 – Plus de 280 000 Palestiniens vivent dans des camps et des campements non officiels répartis sur le territoire libanais. Leur statut constitue le principal facteur déterminant le…
013) (EN/AR)
Relief Web 9 Jan 2013 – Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs Country: Afghanistan, Egypt, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, occupied Palestinian territory, Pakistan, Qatar, Syrian Arab Republic (the), Turkey, United Arab Emirates (the), Yemen Situation overview: Consolidated and Flash appeals in the…
occupied Palestinian territory: Israel ‘legalises’ wildcat settler outpost: Peace Now
Relief Web 9 Jan 2013 – Source: Agence France-Presse Country: occupied Palestinian territory 01/09/2013 15:46 GMT JERUSALEM, Jan 9, 2013 (AFP) – Israel has quietly “legalised” an unauthorised settlement outpost in the West Bank, the Peace Now settlement watchdog said on Wednesday, in the sixth such…
occupied Palestinian territory: Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) Raises Its Response to the Higher Alert
Relief Web 9 Jan 2013 – Source: Palestine Red Crescent Society Country: occupied Palestinian territory (Al Bireh – 8/1/2013): Last night, PRCS’ Disaster Management Unit raised its response level to the higher alert due to the adverse weather conditions causing widespread flooding. The PRCS National Disaster…
Syrian Arab Republic (the): Middle East and North Africa: Humanitarian Bulletin Issue 05 | November – December 2012 (EN/AR)
Relief Web 9 Jan 2013 – Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs Country: Afghanistan, Egypt, Lebanon, occupied Palestinian territory, Pakistan, Somalia, Syrian Arab Republic (the), Yemen HIGHLIGHTS Humanitarian actors in the MENA region seek to foster greater collaboration, emphasizing the importance of partnerships…
French president to speak at Abu Dhabi summit launch
The National 9 Jan 2013 – Francois Hollande will deliver a keynote speech at the official inauguration of Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week next week.
Abu Dhabi judge tells lawyers to take cases more seriously
The National 9 Jan 2013 – Appeal Court judge’s statement prompted by lawyer’s failure to attend the hearing of a man sentenced to death.
Abu Dhabi’s 500 million gallon question
The National 9 Jan 2013 – A trial, expected to start in Abu Dhabi later this year, could shed more light on a perplexing water-budgeting issue.
Sharjah site unravels 2,000-year-old human remains
The National 9 Jan 2013 – Sharjah site holds evidence of trade with Greece from 2,000 years ago
UAE women show their colours for Gulf Cup
The National 9 Jan 2013 – Experts say female football fans represent a progression of Emirati women’s role in society.
UAE’s anti-corruption measures praised
The National 9 Jan 2013 – An international team of experts is evaluating the UAE’s compliance with the United Nations Convention Against Corruption and will identify ways of improvement.
‘I wanted to marry girl who died’: man tells UAE court
The National 9 Jan 2013 – Man accused of illicit relationship with girl he texted before she fell to her death from a balcony tells court he planned to marry her.
Al Ain residents told to get rid of illegal veggie patches
The National 9 Jan 2013 – The Al Ain Municipality has launched a campaign to remove all illegal gardens from the city.
LIVE BLOG: Biggest winter storm in decade slams Israel
Ha’aretz – 9 Jan 2013
Shas to shelve controversial ‘conversion star’ campaign ad
Ha’aretz – 9 Jan 2013
Ariel University’s status endorsed by less than half of national educational body
Ha’aretz – 9 Jan 2013
In Syria, chemical weapons – and talks – are off the table
Ha’aretz – 9 Jan 2013
Former IDF navy chief: Chuck Hagel is a friend of Israel
Ha’aretz – 9 Jan 2013
In the world of election broadcasts, English is the language of Israel’s enemies
Ha’aretz – 8 Jan 2013
As Fatah, Hamas meet, PM vows not to cede land
Jerusalem Post 9 Jan 2013 – PM meets with Dayan after settler leader endorses him; asserts Hamas would seize any territory Israel evacuates.
Iran may try to grab Damascus’s enriched uranium
Jerusalem Post 9 Jan 2013 – Israeli-US cooperation on Syria subject of conversation as PM meets visiting US lawmakers.
Weather kills two women in West Bank crash
Jerusalem Post 9 Jan 2013 – Police, IDF rescue 90 people trapped by floods, snowfall; 20,000 in Hadera lose power.
Jerusalem of white: Hail, sleet and heavy snow
Jerusalem Post 9 Jan 2013 – Fire and Rescue Services respond to more than 500 calls for assistance in the capital; heavy snow causes police to close of Jerusalem-Tel Aviv as municipality orders early dismissal from schools.
Terror victims can appeal on body transfers to PA
Jerusalem Post 9 Jan 2013 – Almagor: Previous policy tantamount to adopting Palestinian view that terrorists were legitimate fighters.
Toeing the line
Jerusalem Post 9 Jan 2013 – Readers should be aware that news coverage is likely to be colored by political bias of a paper, which in turn is influenced by its ownership.
Egypt’s grand mufti opposes radical preacher
Jerusalem Post 9 Jan 2013 – Ruling that shaving a beard is unrelated to Shari’a law comes after preacher calls for radical implementation of Muslim law.
My dream about Israeli-Arab voters
Jerusalem Post 9 Jan 2013 – The focus of the vocal Arab political sector is not economic or social advancement within Israel.
Fundamentally Freund: Britain’s Falkland follies
Jerusalem Post 9 Jan 2013 – Before Britain dares to criticize Israel, it should take a long, hard look in the mirror.
Will the US stop helping al-Qaida in Syria?
Jerusalem Post 9 Jan 2013 – By empowering legitimate groups with the firepower to achieve results, Obama could have removed the space for al-Qaida to operate.
Media Comment: ‘Next year in Palestine’
Jerusalem Post 9 Jan 2013 – Where is Israel in outrageous media attacks? Where is the Israeli ambassador to Switzerland who should publicly defend Israel?
President Morsi, visit Jerusalem!
Jerusalem Post 9 Jan 2013 – Morsi could repair his battered int’l image after recent protests in Egypt by enhancing his role as a responsible arbitrator.
Rain, wind, snow rage through Israel for 5th day
Jerusalem Post 9 Jan 2013 – Lake Kinneret’s water levels continue to surge, reaching a rare 2.5 meters from its capacity; temperatures to continue dropping.
Obama to nominate Jack Lew as Treasury chief
Jerusalem Post 9 Jan 2013 – Orthodox Jew White House chief of staff is expected to replace Timpthy Geithner; Senate is expected to approve appointment.
As Fatah, Hamas meet, Netanyahu vows not to cede more land
Jerusalem Post 9 Jan 2013 – Prime minister criticizes Abbas for meeting with “terrorists trying to annihilate Israel,” asserts Iran, Hamas would seize any territory Israel evacuates.
Aleppo residents apathetic following Assad speech
Jerusalem Post 9 Jan 2013 – A collapse of daily life leads many Syrians to struggle to get food and medicine.
Shas agrees to pull controversial campaign ad
Jerusalem Post 9 Jan 2013 – Following a request from Election C’tee chairman Rubenstein, the party agrees to withdraw commercial “for the sake of peace.”
JDC-Israel expands project for the disabled
Jerusalem Post 9 Jan 2013 – Over 1 million disabled adults currently live in Israel; Kahlon applauds project as one which helps disabled to integrate.
Looking Obama-esque, PM surveys storm management
Jerusalem Post 9 Jan 2013 – Netanyahu radiates sense that he is on top of the situation as storms continue to pummel the country.
Amid persecution, Yemeni Jews face extinction
Jerusalem Post 9 Jan 2013 – In twon of Raida, Where hundreds of Jewish families once resided, only four families remain.
IDF nabs 2 terror cells linked to West Bank rioting
Jerusalem Post 9 Jan 2013 – Security forces arrested in November members of both terror cells allegedly behind a series of violent disturbances in the West Bank.
Syria swaps prisoners for rebel-held Iranians
Jerusalem Post 9 Jan 2013 – Assad regime releases 2000 civilian prisoners in exchange for 48 Iranians seized last August by the Syrian rebel al-Baraa brigade.
Israelis deserve to be disturbed during dinnertime
Jerusalem Post 9 Jan 2013 – It’s a detriment to Israeli society that grass-roots campaign voter-contact is absent so close to the elections.
Palestine: Abbas, attitude and annexation
Jerusalem Post 9 Jan 2013 – Abbas’ recent decree consigning PA to the dustbin of history may have further distanced his dream of statehood.
Jan Fischer: Europe’s 1st Jewish president?
Jerusalem Post 9 Jan 2013 – Czech ‘Joe Liberman’ is neck and neck in the polls with another former government head as nation holds first round of elections.
Snow falls in J’lem; Israel braces for fresh deluge
Jerusalem Post 9 Jan 2013 – 2 cm of snow accumulates in Jerusalem neighborhoods; police assist 70 people endangered by rising water levels on roadways.
‘Concern over possible uranium stockpile in Syria’
Jerusalem Post 9 Jan 2013 – ‘Financial Times’ reports that up to 50 tons of enriched uranium may be in Syria, a stockpile large enough for five atomic bombs.
Ex-Shin Bet head: Stalled talks could spark intifada
Jerusalem Post 9 Jan 2013 – Yesh Atid candidate Ya’acov Peri warns despair in West Bank, diplomatic stalemate, could lead to Palestinian uprising.
What makes Chuck Hagel a true friend of Israel | Chris McGreal
The Guardian 9 Jan 2013 – The defense secretary nominee is right: Israel’s interests are not served by kneejerk US backing of ever more rightwing coalitions The rising star of the Israeli right, Naftali Bennett, told the Guardian on Monday , he wants…
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The Guardian 9 Jan 2013 – Follow how the day unfolded as Syrian rebels released 48 Iranians in exchange for 2,130 political prisoners in Syria Matthew Weaver
The new line on the State of Palestine passport
Uruknet
Book Review: Obama’s War Against Libya
Uruknet
Don’t Play Apartheid Israel: Summary of 2012 Cultural Boycott
Uruknet
BDS campaigners cost Veolia 4.7bn in London
Uruknet
Obama names head of drone assassination program to lead CIA
Uruknet
U.N. unable to get food to 1 million hungry Syrians
Uruknet
Iraqi MP states: No Rape in Iraqi Prisons, but Consensual Sex Between Inmates and Policemen
Uruknet
Peace Now: Israeli govt secretly approved settler outpost
Uruknet
Exclusive: As Gitmo Turns 11, Al Jazeera’s Sami al-Hajj on 6-Year Ordeal of U.S. Detention, Torture
Uruknet
‘This is war propaganda, and you are the target’–latest anti-Muslim subway ads get another makeover
Uruknet
Hamas flagship university grooms Hebrew teachers
Daily Star 9 Jan 2013 Hamas‘ flagship university in Gaza has a new diploma on offer – Hebrew, the official language of its arch-foe Israel.
Russia: West should consider Assad’s proposals
Daily Star 9 Jan 2013 Syrian President Bashar Assad’s proposals for ending his country’s civil war should be taken into account by the international community, Russian officials insisted Wednesday.
Saudi teen married off to 86-year-old gets divorce
Daily Star 9 Jan 2013 A 15-year-old Saudi girl who was forced to marry an octogenarian has been granted a divorce after a local human rights group intervened, the watchdog said on Wednesday.
Turkey holds plane en route to Iran
Daily Star 9 Jan 2013 Turkey has been holding for several days a cargo plane en route from the United Arab Emirates to Iran after its crew refused to document its load, a customs ministry official told AFP on Wednesday.
Egypt rallies after Qatar loan
Daily Star 9 Jan 2013 Egypt’s bourse hit a fresh 10-week high on Wednesday after a $2.5 billion financial lifeline from Qatar spurred Cairo investors to buy equities.
Iranians freed in major prisoner swap in Syria
Daily Star 9 Jan 2013 Rebels freed 48 Iranians on Wednesday in exchange for more than 2,000 prisoners, including women and children, held by Syrian authorities.
Gulf rulers take sharper aim at Web dissent
Daily Star 9 Jan 2013 Something unusual happened on Kuwait’s normally boisterous online universe after back-to-back convictions this week for insulting the emir on Twitter: There was hardly a mention in apparent fear of being next.
Israel ‘legalizes’ wildcat settler outpost: Peace Now
Daily Star 9 Jan 2013 Israel has quietly “legalised” an unauthorised settlement outpost in the West Bank, the Peace Now settlement watchdog said on Wednesday, in the sixth such move within a year.
Libya to secure oil ports after disruptions
Daily Star 9 Jan 2013 Libya’s oil ministry has reached agreement with the country’s army chief and defence and interior ministries to secure exporting terminals.
Obama to nominate Jack Lew for Treasury
Daily Star 9 Jan 2013 President Barack Obama was expected to name Washington veteran Jack Lew as his next Treasury chief as early as Thursday, stocking his team for the next budget showdown with Republicans.
Syria envoy says Assad can’t be part of new government
YNet News, 9 Jan 2013 – ….
Section of Route 443 is blocked
YNet News, 9 Jan 2013 – ….
Back to the Road Map?
YNet News, 9 Jan 2013 – Op-ed: Creation of Palestinian state with provisional borders may prevent looming disaster ….
PM seeks to compensate citizens for storm damages
YNet News, 9 Jan 2013 – ….
2 women hospitalized due to swine flu
YNet News, 9 Jan 2013 – ….
2 men hit by bus; announced dead
YNet News, 9 Jan 2013 – ….
Stones and stereotypes
YNet News, 9 Jan 2013 – Op-ed: Yeshiva boys attacked lesbian teen despite haredi education, not because of it ….
Israel a pawn in Washington’s political game
YNet News, 8 Jan 2013 – Republicans, Democrats spar over Chuck Hagel’s appointment as defense secretary citing his Israel record; but as senator, Hagel consistently voted in favor of military aid to Israel ….
IAF, Navy rescue people stranded by floods
YNet News, 8 Jan 2013 – Floods caused by heavy rains see emergency services ask Unit 669, INF teams to help extract people stranded in various locations in Israel ….
Ex-security chief sees risk of Palestinian uprising
YNet News, 8 Jan 2013 – Former Shin Bet Chief Yaakov Peri says Israel must make peace talks a priority; stresses it’s the only solution to rising tensions vis-?-vis Palestinians ….
Israel Prize laureate Prof. Zvi Yavetz dies
YNet News, 8 Jan 2013 – World renowned historian, who specialized in ancient Rome, passes away at 88. He was co-founder of Tel Aviv University ….
State: Universal draft not best for IDF
YNet News, 8 Jan 2013 – In brief filed with High Court over petitions demanding the immediate draft of yeshiva boys State argues that expanding current draft ‘is not feasible’; will strain IDF’s resources and may impede primary missions ….
UN: Million Syrians short of food
YNet News, 8 Jan 2013 – New report by UN World Food Program underscores dire situation in war-torn country; appeals for $1.5 billion in aid ….
Fighting flares in Palestinian camp in Damascus
YNet News, 8 Jan 2013 – Palestinian representatives say five killed in Yarmouk camp, call for immediate cease-fire ….
Iran says it’s hopeful on Hagel nomination
YNet News, 8 Jan 2013 – Tehran says Hagel’s appointment as US defense secretary could improve relations between Iran and US; expects ‘practical changes’ to US policy ….
Palestinian Information Center
The moral bankruptcy of the Arab Left
PIC – they are the first to question the validity of the elections if they lose. They would even try to incite the army to intervene and carry out a coup against democracy and the will of the people.
Documenting the torture of a Palestinian boy in occupation jails
PIC – Ahrar center for prisoners studies and human rights has documented the testimony of the child Saddam Al-Jabrai,14, about his detention period, as he was arrested on 7 December 2012.
Haniyeh hopes success for meeting between Meshaal and Abbas in Cairo
PIC – Gaza Premier Ismail Haniyeh expressed his hope for the success of national reconciliation meetings, which will be held in Cairo between Khaled Meshaal, and Mahmoud Abbas, on Wednesday.
Calls for Egypt and Jordan to open their doors before Palestinian refugees
PIC – The workgroup for Palestinians in Syria demanded the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs to allow Palestinians fleeing the fighting in Syria to get Visas..
IOA extends detention of a Palestinian youth
PIC – The Israeli Magistrate’s Court extended yesterday the detention of Ashraf Masri, despite his serious health condition and the severe pain he suffers from, as he was attacked by the undercover unit.
Polar air mass to hit Palestinian territories
PIC – The weather on Wednesday was cold, rainy and cloudy with a significant drop in temperature caused by the polar air mass that hit the area accompanied by thunder and rain storms.
IOA tightens Abu Sissi’s isolation after the aggression on Gaza
PIC – Dirar Abu Sissi, the only isolated prisoner in Israeli jails, confirmed that the prison administration has tightened its measures in isolating him since the recent aggression on Gaza.
AOHR calls to end the administrative detention
PIC – AOHR called for a wide Parliamentary movement to address administrative detention policy used by the Israeli intelligence to detain Palestinian citizens, deputies and ministers.
Rizqa: We wish success for Mishaal-Abbas meeting in Cairo
PIC – Dr. Yousef Rizqa, political advisor to the Prime Minister, wished success for the reconciliation meeting between Mishaal and Abbas in Cairo today.
Mossa: Al-Sakni’s issue is purely criminal case
PIC – Member of the monitoring and human rights committee in the Palestinian Legislative Council, Yahya Moussa, confirmed that the issue of the detainee Zaki al-Sakni is a purely criminal case.
Transportation Strike Paralyzes West Bank
WAFA – 9 Jan 2013
Israelis Arrest Seven Palestinians in West Bank
WAFA – 9 Jan 2013
Bodies Retrieved of Two Women Killed in Flood
WAFA – 9 Jan 2013
Ashrawi Urges Europeans to End Israeli Occupation
WAFA – 9 Jan 2013
PEX Report: Al-Quds Index Up
WAFA – 9 Jan 2013
Weather Forecast: Cold with a Chance of Snow
WAFA – 9 Jan 2013
IHT Special: U.A.E. Plans to Limit Lending to Home Buyers
New York Times 9 Jan 2013 – The new rule would mean that prospective expatriate home owners would only be able to borrow 50 percent of the value of a property from a bank for their first home.
IHT Special: Egypt Tinkers With Exchange System in Bid to Level Economy
New York Times 9 Jan 2013 – The Egyptian pound fell to a record low Wednesday, following the decision by the central bank to introduce a dollar auction system to try to prop up the Egyptian pound.
Iranian Captives Freed in Major Prisoner Exchange in Syria
New York Times 9 Jan 2013 – More than 2,000 prisoners held by the Syrian authorities were being released in return for 48 Iranians held by rebels for months, Turkish and Iranian news reports said.
Online Banking Attacks Were Work of Iran, U.S. Officials Say
New York Times 9 Jan 2013 – The skill required to execute the attacks convinced American officials that Iran was behind them, likely in retaliation for economic sanctions and online attacks by the United States.
Jihadi Group Says It Stands With Other Syrian Rebels
New York Times 9 Jan 2013 – The Nusra Front has won respect in battle, but its extremism worries many.
The Lede Blog: The Scent of Supreme Leadership
New York Times 9 Jan 2013 – The Washington Post’s man in Tehran, Jason Rezaian, has discovered the perfect gift for pious Iranians who like to smoke in their cars: an air freshener in the image of Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Contractor Settles Case in Iraq Prison Abuse
New York Times 9 Jan 2013 – The American contractor, hired by the military to provide translation services, has agreed to pay a total of $5 million to scores of detainees at the Abu Ghraib prison.
US-Chinese cooperation could crack OPEC cartel
Globes Energy & Water – IAGS co-director Dr. Gal Luft tells “Globes”: OPEC power will only be broken if the US and China cooperate in developing alternatives to oil for transportation.
Energy exploration cos are top stock picks
Globes Energy & Water – “Globes” looks at Israel’s energy exploration sector, which will come of age in 2013.
IEC CEO: Situation under control
Globes Energy & Water – Eli Glickman: Electricity will be restored in Hadera in a few hours.
Ruth Parasol buys Herzliya home for NIS 72m
Globes Main News – The California-born founder of PartyGaming, who has Israeli citizenship from her father, has moved to Israel.
Kinneret water level rises 110 cm
Globes Main News – The current storm has swelled water flows in rivers in central Israel almost to the records set in the 1991-92 rainy season.
Storm damage estimated at NIS 1b
Globes Main News – Association of Local Authorities chairman Shlomo Bohbot is demanding government aid.
Wed: Mellanox freefall continues
Globes Main News – Mellanox was the biggest loser on the Tel Aviv 25 Index today but the Infiniband developer failed to drag down the market, which was boosted by Israel Corp.
Kamada to raise $50m on Wall Street – report
Globes Main News – “Bloomberg”: The company has hired Morgan Stanley and Jeffries group to arrange a sale of stock in the US.
Stella Handler leaves Hot
Globes Main News – The move follows the communications company’s delisting, meaning the likely diminishing of Handler’s chairmanship role.
Yuval Steinitz: New taxation won’t help
Globes Macro Economics – The Finance Minister told “Bloomberg” regarding the budget deficit: If government revenues go up dramatically, it won’t help.
Such were the joys of my Muslim education
Mondoweiss – A British Muslim woman was sentenced to life in prison this week for killing her son accidentally in the course of beating him. Sara Ege was forcing him to learn the Quran by rote when the death occurred. I find it hard to summon the contempt…
Jim Crow in our time: ‘NYT’ credits Israeli poll that excludes 20% of population who aren’t Jewish
Mondoweiss – Shimon Peres is the new honey-bunny of American liberals, the anti-Netanyahu. Chris Matthews adored him last night. And The New York Times has a big piece on Peres by an… Israeli journalist, Ronen Bergman. Writes Bergman: Peres is Israel’s elder statesman, who, very late in his…
Stanley Jordan’s withdrawal, and the worldliness of jazz
Mondoweiss – Most of us know by now that American jazz/jazz fusion guitarist and pianist Stanley Jordan has cancelled his performance at the Red Sea Jazz Festival in Eilat, Israel that was scheduled for 17-19 January. This is a good thing on several levels. As Rima Najjar Merriman,…
In choosing Hagel, an antiwar president gets backup from the new Israel lobby
Mondoweiss – When Obama nominated Chuck Hagel Monday, I was jubilant for one reason: The military option is off the table, we will not attack Iran. Obama’s speech endorsing Hagel was defiant and anti-war. His face was mottled, in a way I’ve never seen it before, a signal…
John Brennan, assassin
Mondoweiss – Brennan protest at the White House Monday, organized by Code Pink, photo by TCHallMedia In October 2011, 16-year-old Tariq Aziz attended a gathering in Islamabad where he was taught how to use a video camera so he could document the drones that were constantly circling over…
Palestinian seeking to visit her jailed brother is strip-searched, robbed and finally allowed to see him from afar
Mondoweiss – BETHLEHEM (Ma‘an) 8 Jan — After the Israeli government gave official sanction to three settler outposts last year, a fourth illegal community has been included in the boundaries, an Israeli peace group said Tuesday. All Jewish settlements in the West Bank are illegal under international law. …
Let It Snow — in Israel
The Foward Breaking News 9 Jan 2013 – Snow and hail began falling in the Jerusalem area and continued to fall in the north of the country. Click here for the rest of the article…
Right-Wing Millionaire Is Surprise of Israel Vote
The Foward Breaking News 9 Jan 2013 – A right-wing millionaire who says a Palestinian state would be suicide for Israel has emerged as the surprise success story of the country’s election campaign. Click here for the rest of the article…
Egypt Pushes Palestinian Factions for Unity
The Foward Breaking News 9 Jan 2013 – Egyptian President Mohammed Mursi plans to meet the leaders of Palestinian factions Hamas and Fatah on Wednesday in a renewed effort to help them heal their five-year-old feud, Palestinian and Egyptian officials said. Click here for the rest of the article…
Ghana: Prez Mahama Promises Improved Ties With Iran
allAfrica.com 9 Jan 2013 – [Ghanaian Chronicle]President John Dramani Mahama on Monday promised to invigorate and strengthen relations that had over the years existed between Ghana and Iran. “In the areas of oil and gas, agriculture, health and education, Ghana will strengthen our relations with Iran to share their experiences,” he…
Shas Ad: A True Jew Won’t Kiss a Russian Shikseh
The Magnes Zionist 9 Jan 2013 – For those of you don’t understand Hebrew, here’s the gist of this election ad. A wedding is taking place between two Israelis, one clearly Russian and one clearly of Mizarahi (a.k.a. Sephardi) extraction. It turns out that the Russian is waiting for her conversion to Judaism…
Iranians held in Syria released
BBC 9 Jan 2013 – Forty-eight Iranians held hostage by Syrian rebels since August are freed, reportedly in exchange for 2,130 prisoners held by the Syrian authorities.
Hamas and Fatah hold key talks
BBC 9 Jan 2013 – The leaders of the Palestinian groups Fatah and Hamas hold talks in the Egyptian capital, Cairo, to try to heal their rift.
Tappin jailed in US for arms deal
BBC 9 Jan 2013 – Extradited British businessman Christopher Tappin is handed a 33-month prison sentence by a court in Texas after admitting selling weapon parts to Iran.
Court in Gaza imprisons militant
BBC 9 Jan 2013 – A Hamas-run court in the Gaza Strip has sentenced a leader of a militant group associated with the rival Fatah movement to 15 years in jail.
Joseph Massad: Palestinians, Egyptian Jews and propaganda
Sabbah report 9 Jan 2013 – Concomitant with these rumours is the Egyptian government’s and the opposition’s race to please the United States and its Zionist lobby. While the very same Issam al-Aryan spoke about the tragedy of the Jewish holocaust while in the US on a Muslim Brotherhood promotional trip in…
Khaled Abu Toameh: Israel’s Palestinian propagandist
Sabbah report 9 Jan 2013 – Khaled Abu Toameh is symbiotically linked to some of Israel’s and the United States’ most right-wing, anti-Arab and neo-conservative bodies. One of these is The Jerusalem Report, which comes under the corporate umbrella of the Israeli right-wing Jerusalem Post Group. According to Wikipedia, Abu Toameh is…
SodaStream Wants You to Host Fizz Parties to Support Occupation
US Campaign to End the Occupation 9 Jan 2013 – People are being encouraged to host a SodaStream Fizz & Football House Party as part of SodaStream’s advertising campaign during the Super Bowl. Use #SodaStreamParty and #BoycottSodaStream on Twitter to let people know all that is wrong with SodaStream . Also, make sure to submit your video…
With Kuwait Twitter Arrests, the Emir’s Gloves Come Off
Al-Akhbar Blogs 9 Jan 2013 – read more
Israel sanctions illegal West Bank settlement: NGO
Al-Akhbar News 9 Jan 2013 – Israel has quietly “legalized” an unauthorized settlement in the West Bank, an Israeli watchdog said on Wednesday, in the sixth such move within a year. Peace Now’s Hagit Ofran said the move to legalize the Nofei Nehemia outpost, south of the Palestinian city of Nablus, was…
Bye-Bye, Mr. Wright: Spinneys Sacks its CEO
Al-Akhbar News 9 Jan 2013 – Workers insisted on exposing Wright’s widespread violations of their basic rights, as well as Spinneys practices that were illegal under Lebanese law. (Photo: Marwan Tahtah) Workers insisted on exposing Wright’s widespread violations of their basic rights, as well as Spinneys practices that were illegal under Lebanese…
Before Israel, a Look at Jews in Egyptian Cinema
Al-Akhbar News 9 Jan 2013 – An Egyptian protester holds documents he snatched from the Israeli embassy in Cairo, on Saturday, 10 September 2011. (Photo: AP) An Egyptian protester holds documents he snatched from the Israeli embassy in Cairo, on Saturday, 10 September 2011. (Photo: AP) Historians may differ as to when…
Saudi beheads Sri Lankan maid
Al-Akhbar News 9 Jan 2013 – Saudi Arabia on Wednesday beheaded a Sri Lankan maid convicted of murdering her employer’s baby, the interior ministry announced, despite calls for a stay of execution. Rizana Nafeek smothered the infant to death after an argument with the child’s mother, her employer, the ministry statement carried…
Justice for the Disappeared in Yemen?
Al-Akhbar News 9 Jan 2013 – Boys and men working in ferrying goods wait to be hired at a marketplace in Old Sanaa city 8 January 2013. (Photo: Reuters – Khaled Abdullah) Boys and men working in ferrying goods wait to be hired at a marketplace in Old Sanaa city 8 January…
Civil servants, drivers strike across West Bank
Al-Akhbar News 9 Jan 2013 – Palestinians walk in the streets in the village of Halhoul, near the West Bank town of Hebron, following the first snow fall of the year on 9 January 2013 amid a transportation strike. (Photo: AFP – Hazem Bader) Palestinian workers began a two-day partial strike across…
The Itinerary of a Globe-Trotting President
Al-Akhbar Politics 9 Jan 2013 – Foreign travel by officials costs the Lebanese state more than industry, culture, or sports. (Photo: Haytham Al-Moussawi) Foreign travel by officials costs the Lebanese state more than industry, culture, or sports. (Photo: Haytham Al-Moussawi) A guided tour through Lebanese President Michel Suleiman’s international trips. At a…
Assad’s Speech and the Backstage Plan
Al-Akhbar Politics 8 Jan 2013 – Syrian government on 8 January 2013, during a meeting in Damascus to discuss the President’s speech which set out his terms for peace earlier in the week. (Photo: AFP – SANA) Syrian government on 8 January 2013, during a meeting in Damascus to discuss the President’s…
On the Ground, a New Military Strategy for the Regime
Al-Akhbar Politics 8 Jan 2013 – TV monitors broadcast the live feed from a camera situated on an electrical car (unseen), used by fighters for spying on Syrian forces in the Bab al-Nasr district of Aleppo’s Old City, on 7 January 2012. (Photo: AFP – STR) TV monitors broadcast the live feed…
Iranians held in Syria released
BBC 9 Jan 2013 – Forty-eight Iranians held hostage by Syrian rebels since August are freed, reportedly in exchange for 2,130 prisoners held by the Syrian authorities.
Hamas and Fatah hold key talks
BBC 9 Jan 2013 – The leaders of the Palestinian groups Fatah and Hamas hold talks in the Egyptian capital, Cairo, to try to heal their rift.
Sri Lankan maid beheaded in Saudi
BBC 9 Jan 2013 – Saudi Arabia beheads a Sri Lankan domestic worker for killing a baby in her care in 2005 in a case that is widely condemned by rights groups.
Bahrain rights activist in court
BBC 9 Jan 2013 – A leading human rights activist in Bahrain, who was arrested at an illegal gathering in December, makes his first appearance in court.
Tappin jailed in US for arms deal
BBC 9 Jan 2013 – Extradited British businessman Christopher Tappin is handed a 33-month prison sentence by a court in Texas after admitting selling weapon parts to Iran.
Court in Gaza imprisons militant
BBC 9 Jan 2013 – A Hamas-run court in the Gaza Strip has sentenced a leader of a militant group associated with the rival Fatah movement to 15 years in jail.
Articles
When did India Become Part of Israel’s Stable?
Dr. Paul Larudee, CounterPunch 1/9/2013
Amazing stuff, India ink. A few drops spread vigorously with a roller for several minutes on an iron plate are enough for eight sets of fingerprints and two sets of handprints on four ancient double-sided and folded Indian police fingerprint forms. By contrast, the mug shot was taken with a digital camera. After that, I was issued an official deportation order, for which I signed to acknowledge receipt. My passport remained in police custody until I got to the security check at the airport, when it was returned to me.
My crime? I had spoken to an audience of 22,000 youth at a Student Islamic Organization conference in Kerala State without having a visa that authorized public speaking or conference participation. India is perhaps the only “democracy” where free speech for foreigners depends upon the visa they are carrying. In fact, it is probably the only such country that has no visit visa category at all, and which has one of the most convoluted, bureaucratic and invasive visa application procedures this side of North Korea.
Not that the visa restrictions are always enforced. However, the myriad regulations and procedures (“for public protection”) permit the security apparatus to control individuals and events at their discretion without having to cite the true reasons for their enforcement. Every effective police state knows the drill.
In my case, I used a tourist visa, because the conference visa is a truly onerous procedure unless it is a state-sponsored event. In fact, that is the only type of conference participation permitted, because even private groups must seek state sponsorship in order to bring speakers from outside. In today’s India, however, state sponsorship is hardly a routine bureaucratic procedure. more.. e-mail
EU should re-think its border assistance role
Mahmoud Aburahma, Ma’an News Agency 1/9/2013
The European Union must abandon the idea of redeploying its border monitoring mission on Gaza’s border with Egypt, raised again by EU officials last month.
The European Border Assistance Mission at the Rafah crossing (EU-BAM) will not aid the Palestinians or contribute to the attainment of peace. In fact, it defeats the EU’s own declared goals in the region.
Instead, the EU should seek to play a more meaningful role that supports peace as well as justice, without playing into Israel’s phony security game.
By insisting on the redeployment of the mission at Gaza’s Rafah crossing, it appears that the EU cherishes the idea of having a role on the ground, more than realizing its strategic interests and goals in the region.
To be consistent, the EU must press for a genuine role that supports its vision of the two-state solution by facilitating Palestinians’ movement between the two Palestinian regions of Gaza and the West Bank.
Helping or hurting?
The EU-BAM is no longer needed. The Rafah crossing is open and it is working to the maximum capacity that the situation allows for. On average, 800 Palestinians cross into Egypt daily; and while this is far from ideal, it at least meets the most urgent needs of a significant number of Gaza residents who need to travel abroad. more.. e-mail
A contribution to the endless debate on Israeli settlements
Nicola Perugini, Al Jazeera.com 1/6/2013
The horizon of human rights “could not be sufficient alone to achieve liberation from settler colonialism”.
In a recent article in the Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronot, columnist Rafael Castro writes:
“We will not dwell on Jewish historical rights over Judea and Samaria. These have been elucidated elsewhere and are well-known to most readers. It is high-time to discuss the rights of Jews to reside in the West Bank in terms of human rights. Is this a joke?”
The author stresses the necessity of a paradigm shift in the Zionist conception of settling in Palestine and tries to highlight the central role that the utilisation of the human rights discourse could play in the legitimisation of the Israeli colonial project. The equation on which the new paradigm is constructed is that any settlement evacuation corresponds to an ethnic cleansing operation. Castro’s attacks are aimed both at a generic “intolerant Arab/Palestinian” and the NGO pacifists accused of political relativism:
“If Jews were once again denied the right to reside in England or Spain these pacifists would be appalled. At the same time these pacifists deny analogous rights to Jews who have for decades resided peacefully in West Bank towns like Efrat and Ariel.”
In spite of the irony that an historically corroborated and sophisticated practice of colonisation such as the Israeli one could be labelled as human rights enforcement – the “human right to the colony”, as I defined it in a recent article written with my colleague Kareem Rabie – Castro’s argument should be taken very seriously. It is perhaps the new frontier of the Israeli struggle on the colonial frontier. more.. e-mail
Denying Palestinian rights is the core issue in Israeli elections
Rashid Shahin, Ma’an News Agency 1/5/2013
For the Palestinians, especially in the occupied territories, Israeli elections always mean an acceleration of actions against them; it means more violations of human rights, collective punishment, more arrests, land confiscation and other unjust measures. In general, it is an unpleasant event.
Israeli political parties compete between each other as to how they will deal more harshly with the Palestinians, how they will create more obstacles before the peace settlement and obstruct peace negotiations, and how they will frustrate the ambitions of the Palestinians to have their own independent state.
After 45 years of occupation and more than six decades of conflict between Palestinians and Israelis, Palestinian people and leaders are familiar with the goals of Israel.
When Britain granted the Jewish people what is known as the “Balfour Declaration”, the goal was to create an entity to serve the United Kingdom’s colonialist interests in the region, and to get rid of the Jewish people living in Britain, and in Europe in general.
Under many slogans and justifications, Jewish people around Europe were convinced, manipulated and in many cases dragged or pushed to migrate to historical Palestine, which they were told is their promised land and the land of their ancestors, despite the fact that they were Europeans, and Europe was their home and their ancestors lived and died there.
The goal for the British and Zionist leaders was clear, their intention was to build a colonialist entity more than anything else. — See also: Endless ‘debate over two-state solution’ is cover for the real story, annexation of West Bank more.. e-mail
Israel’s wall will destroy my birthplace, Battir
Electronic Intifada: 9 Jan 2013 – Hasan Abu Nimah Amman 9 January 2013 A world heritage site is under threat from ongoing colonialism.more
Where are the Nobel Poets of Santiago? – A Poem
Palestine Chronicle: 8 Jan 2013 – By Ramzy Baroud It was here that Salvador Allende died for our sins Some say his own But the Republic was torn to shreds by Nixonian men with stiff faces Cold hearts And loud bombs Death caravans roamed the streets And women fled to heaven looking for missing children And also here I discovered that Santiago is still full of life, and treachery It was here that Neruda wrote his ‘Song of Despair’ Though he lied His name was never his own You also changed your name Hid your face behind a mask of tears Stood with the ‘others’, angry, in military fatigue And denounced my communist love of music Where are the noble poets? They ran away when the military took over Now they write secret verses from Antarctica Their voices muffled Their words veiled Timeworn No encryption can solve their mystery Here I learned to trust everyone, but…more
Mleeta, Khiam, Sabra, Shatila and other Resistance
Dissident Voice: 9 Jan 2013 – Lebanon is incredible – an intoxicating blend of natural beauty, rebellious spirit, pious clarity, tolerance, wild night life and unbelievable hummus. I landed in Beirut four days ago. The purpose of my visit wasn’t all that clear. I knew that a talk and a musical performance were scheduled by Almayadeen TV , but I never expected such a spiritually transforming experience. It was my second visit to the country. Thirty years ago I crossed the Lebanese border along with an IDF convoy escorted by tanks and armed vehicles. Then I was an occupier, this time I came with only my saxophone and a desire to share my thoughts and deliver some beauty. But it didn’t take me a couple of hours to realise that Lebanon is much more than just humus, shisha, the sea and some captivating rural scenery. Early on Friday we left Beirut for the south. Our first stop was Mleeta…more
More material available from Vermonters for a Just Peace in Palestine/Israel – www.vtjp.org
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