21 March 2013 — VTJP
News
International Middle East Media Center
Obama reiterates calls for two-state solution in Ramallah
IMEMC – On his second day of the first presidential visit to Palestine U.S. President Barack Obama met with the Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Ramallah. Although Obama condemned the rocket attacks that hit Sderot, yet, he insisted that the Israelis should not use this as an excuse to avoid negotiations, no more than the Palestinians should insist that Israel halt construction of Jewish settlements in the West Bank as a condition. …
President Oabama in Israel: “That so long as there is a United States of America, Ah-tem lo lah-vahd
IMEMC – United States President Barack Obama said there is a real chance for peace in the framework of the two-state solution. “I do not say peace guaranteed, but possible,” he said. …
Lawyer: Issawi too sick to attend hearing
3/21/2013 – RAMALLAH (Ma’an) — Samer Issawi is too sick to attend a hearing at Israel’s Ofer military detention center after 232 days on hunger strike, his lawyer said Thursday. Jawad Boulus said in a statement that Issawi’s doctors informed the court that Issawi’s medical condition was too serious for….
Israel closes Karem Shalom crossing
3/21/2013 – GAZA CITY (Ma’an) — Israeli authorities on Thursday decided to close the Karem Shalom crossing a few hours after opening it on Thursday morning, officials said. Nathmi Muhana, the director general of crossings, told Ma’an that Israel informed the Palestinian side that the crossing would be closed. He noted that dozens of….
Israel to limit Gaza fishing zone after rocket fire
3/21/2013 – BETHLEHEM (Ma’an) — Israel will reduce the Gaza fishing zone as punishment for Palestinians in the Gaza Strip following a rocket attack, the Israeli military announced Thursday.”In response to the rocket fire earlier this morning. . . the Prime Minister of the State of Israel, Mr. Benjamin Netanyahu, and the Minister of Defense, Mr. Moshe….
Lawsuit filed against Obama in Ramallah over journalist’s death
3/21/2013 – RAMALLAH (Ma’an) – On behalf of the family of a Reuters cameraman, Lawyers for Human Rightsfiled a lawsuit Wednesday against US President Barack Obama accusing the administration of responsibility for the death of Mazin Dana in Iraq during the 2003 invasion. The case was filed with the Palestinian public prosecution in Ramallah on behalf….
Ayman Sharawna’s mother arrives in Gaza
3/21/2013 – GAZA CITY (Ma’an) – The mother of ex-prisoner Ayman Sharawna arrived Thursday morning in the Gaza Strip to meet her son, who was deported there in a deal to end a long hunger strike. His mother first flew to Cairo and then to Gaza after Israeli authorities refused to grant her permission to travel….
Sharawna’s mother, brothers arrive in Gaza via Egypt
3/21/2013 – GAZA CITY (Ma’an) – “Our joy over Ayman’s release has been embittered because the occupation detained my brother Jihad,” says Salameh Sharwana, a brother of deported Palestinian prisoner Ayman Sharawna upon his arrival to the Gaza Strip. Sharawna’s mother and two brothers, Salameh and Zuheir arrived Wednesday afternoon in Gaza….
Obama in Palestine: How the day unfolded
3/21/2013 – US President Barack Obama and President Mahmoud Abbas leave after a joint news conference in Ramallah. (Reuters / Ammar Awad). 17:30 Here ends our live report of US President Barack Obama‘s visit to the occupied West Bank and Jerusalem. Tomorrow he heads to Bethlehem before an Israeli farewell ceremony at Ben Gurion International….
After Israeli backslapping, Obama faces Palestinian discontent
3/21/2013 – By Crispian Balmer and Steve Holland – JERUSALEM (Reuters) — US President Barack Obama faces a stony reception when he travels to the West Bank on Thursday for talks with Palestinian leaders who accuse him of letting Israel ride rough-shod over their rights to statehood. Obama has said he will not bring any new initiatives to try….
Analysis: The Obama factor
3/21/2013 – By Daoud Kuttab – The visit of US President Barack Obama to the Middle East is a welcome step. It has elevated interest in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict at a time when other regional issues have taken over world interest. Having the presidential office interested in this conflict needs a totally different approach to the conflict. Without….
Report: Abbas willing to accept secret settlement freeze
3/21/2013 – RAMALLAH (Ma’an) — President Mahmoud Abbas is willing to accept an unannounced settlement freeze in order to renew peace talks with Israel, The New York Times reported Thursday. Citing the talking points of an internal PLO document ahead of Abbas’ meeting with US President Barack Obama on Thursday, the report quoted Abbas as….
Palestinian officials secure release of Hebron brothers
3/21/2013 – HEBRON (Ma’an) – A security source told Ma’an on Thursday that the Palestinian district liaison office intervened for the release of two 13-year-old twins arrested a day earlier. The twins, Ahmad and Muhammad Abdul Mo’ti, were arrested by Israeli troops in Hebron’s Old City the night before….
Haniyeh: Obama visit to Palestine changes nothing
3/21/2013 – GAZA CITY (Ma’an) — Gaza-based premier Ismail Haniyeh of Hamas said Thursday he did not expect US President Barack Obama‘s visit to change the situation for Palestinians.”We believe American policies perpetuate the Israeli occupation and settlements in Palestine under the slogan of peace,” Haniyeh said in a statement. He added: “The….
Obama downplays settlements as main obstacle to peace
3/21/2013 – RAMALLAH (M
a’an) — US President Barack Obama on Thursday downplayed continued Israeli settlement building as an obstacle to the peace process, and he called on the Palestinians to resume talks. In a joint news conference in Ramallah, Obama said both sides should overcome their respective concerns about one another’s commitment to the….
Khamenei: Iran will destroy Israeli cities if attacked
3/21/2013 – DUBAI (Reuters) — Iran‘s most powerful authority said the Islamic Republic would destroy the Israeli cities of Tel Aviv and Haifa if Israel launched a military attack against it.” At times the officials of the Zionist regime (Israel) threaten to launch a military invasion but they themselves know that if they make the slightest….
Full text: Obama, Abbas remarks in Ramallah
3/21/2013 – The following is a White House transcript of remarks by President Mahmoud Abbas and President Barack Obama at a news conference at the presidential compound in Ramallah. PRESIDENT ABBAS: In the name of God, the Merciful, the Compassionate. Mr. President Barack Obama, I wish to warmly welcome you and your accompanying delegation to Palestine. Mr….
Gaza woman delivers 5 babies at East Jerusalem Hospital
3/21/2013 – JERUSALEM (Ma’an) – A Palestinian woman from the Gaza Strip on Wednesday gave birth to five healthy babies at a Jerusalem hospital. The woman delivered the quintuplets through a cesarean operation at al-Makassed Islamic Charitable Society Hospital in East Jerusalem. The babies’ grandfather told Ma’an that his daughter-in-law delivered three boys….
Syrian rebels take towns near ceasefire line with Israel
3/21/2013 – BEIRUT (Reuters) — Syrian rebels have overrun several towns near the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights in the past 24 hours, rebels and a monitoring group said on Thursday, fueling tensions in the sensitive military zone.” We have been attacking government positions as the army has been shelling civilians, and plan to take more towns,” said Abu Essam….
Gaza teen dies after electrical shock
3/21/2013 – GAZA CITY (Ma’an) – An 18-year-old Palestinian teen was electrocuted on Thursday in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip. Medics told Ma’an that Badri Abu Sanimah died on the spot after he was electrocuted in his house. [END]
Egyptian soldier dies after hit by truck
3/21/2013 – EL-ARISH, Egypt (Ma’an) — A 22-year-old Egyptian soldier was killed on Thursday when he was hit by a truck in central Sinai, a security official said. Ihab Khaled Timsah, from Sohag, was hit by a truck in front of a military battalion near Sadr al-Hitan road, 25 km before Suez. The driver was….
US intelligence hasn’t determined Syria chemical weapons use
3/21/2013 – WASHINGTON (Reuters) — US intelligence agencies are investigating whether chemical weapons were used this week in Syria, as both sides of the two-year conflict claim, but have not made a determination yet, a US intelligence official said Thursday.” The intelligence community has not made an assessment at this point,” the intelligence official told Reuters on condition….
Syrian TV: Explosion hits mosque in central Damascus
3/21/2013 – BEIRUT (Reuters) — A large explosion hit a mosque in the center of the Syrian capital on Thursday, state television said, causing an unknown number of casualties. Syria TV, the state news channel, said a “terrorist suicide blast” hit the Iman mosque in central Damascus. Residents contacted in the area said they believed the explosion may….
TV: Pro-Assad cleric killed in Damascus mosque blast
3/21/2013 – BEIRUT (Reuters) — A blast at a mosque in central Damascus on Thursday killed the high-level cleric Mohammed al-Buti, state television said. Buti, believed to be in his 90s, was a staunch supporter of President Bashar Assad and the Imam of Damascus’s historic Ummayyad Mosque. [END]
Obama urges Israeli-Palestinian peace talks
AlJazeera 21 Mar 2013 – Despite call for action, US president delivered two very different messages to his audiences in Ramallah and Jerusalem.
PLO Animation: The Peace Process 101
Palestine News Network
It’s Up to Obama
Palestine News Network
Rockets landed in Southern Israel , no injuries reported
Palestine News Network
Demanding an international investigation into an alleged chemical weapons attack
Palestine News Network
The Obama factor
Palestine News Network
Palestinian Center for Human Rights
Penalising the Victim: Recent Israeli Measures to Deny Palestinian Civilians’ Right to Reparation
Palestinian Center for Human Rights
013)
Palestinian Center for Human Rights
Alternative Information Center
Seventh prison term for Israeli CO Natan Blanc
Alternative Information Center – Conscientious objector Natan Blanc sentenced to prison for the seventh time for his refusal to join the Israeli army. Image: Stencils and Pochoirs Natan Blanc, 19 years old from Haifa, arrived Thursday, 28.2.2013, to the Induction…
occupied Palestinian territory: New nets help fishermen in Gaza become self-reliant
Relief Web 21 Mar 2013 – Source: UN Development Programme Country: occupied Palestinian territory By Dania Darwish The Swedish Village, a remote village of fishermen in the far south of the Gaza Strip in the occupied Palestinian territory, is home to some 95 households living under…
World: Arab States agree position on HFA2
Relief Web 21 Mar 2013 – Source: UN International Strategy for Disaster Reduction Country: Egypt, Lebanon, occupied Palestinian territory, World, Yemen By Denis McClean AQABA, 21 March 2013 – Representatives from across the Arab world today called for continuity and further strengthening of the existing global…
occupied Palestinian territory: Penalising the Victim: Recent Israeli Measures to Deny Palestinian Civilians’ Right to Reparation
Relief Web 21 Mar 2013 – Source: Palestinian Centre for Human Rights Country: occupied Palestinian territory In February 2013, the Israeli Southern Central Court in Be’er Sheva dismissed 14 civil claims cases brought before it by the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR). These cases sought…
Jordan: Jordan: Obama Should Press King on Asylum Seeker Pushbacks
Relief Web 21 Mar 2013 – Source: Human Rights Watch Country: Jordan, occupied Palestinian territory, Syrian Arab Republic Palestinian Refugees, Single Men, and Undocumented Unlawfully Forced Back to Syria (New York, March 21, 2013) – Jordan is routinely and unlawfully rejecting Palestinian refugees, single males, and…
occupied Palestinian territory: West Bank wall and settlements an affront to Palestinian rights
Relief Web 21 Mar 2013 – Source: Amnesty Country: occupied Palestinian territory Israel’s fence/wall through the occupied West Bank cutting off Palestinians from their farmland, and the settlements that take over even more lands, are ongoing violations of international law, Amnesty International said today as US…
Obama urges Palestinians to join peace talks as Israeli settlements continue
The National 21 Mar 2013 – US president drops support for end to illegal Israeli settlements before talks, saying negotiations should continue “even if there are irritants on both sides”. Hugh Naylor reports from Ramallah
Cyprus comes up with new bailout moves to avert collapse
The National 21 Mar 2013 – Government presents a raft of new laws to avert economic collapse, with banks to stay closed from Tuesday to prevent a run on deposits. Michael Theodoulou reports from Nicosia
GCC countries must clamp down on wasted food, UAE experts says
The National 21 Mar 2013 – According to Nicholas Lodge, an agricultural expert at the Abu Dhabi-based consultancy, less waste is better than buying up land overseas.
Ocalan tells Kurds to down arms
The National 21 Mar 2013 – Jailed Kurdish rebel leader Abdullah Ocalan has ordered his troops to cease fire and withdraw from Turkey, in the best hope yet of an end to three decades of war that has claimed 40,000 lives.
Karabus case puts UAE medical liability law in focus
The National 21 Mar 2013 – The Karabus proceedings expose grey areas in the present legislation and highlight some doctors’ fears about being sued by patients.
Timeline of the case of Cyril Karabus
The National 21 Mar 2013 – The manslaughter charge against the South African doctor was launched long after girl’s death in 2002.
Slovakia to reopen UAE embassy soon
The National 21 Mar 2013 – Slovak foreign affairs minister says 2004 closure was ‘mistake’
Ban on two-pin plugs in UAE may be lifted
The National 21 Mar 2013 – Although the sale of electricals that use two-pin plugs was banned last year, authorities are now looking to provide more flexibility to retailers, particularly those that cater to tourists.
Runaway Judge Dan Cohen remanded for four days
Ha’aretz – 21 Mar 2013
Kiryat Malakhi mayor convicted of sexual harassment, resigns post
Ha’aretz – 21 Mar 2013
Remedia food technologist given 2.5 years over baby-formula deaths
Ha’aretz – 21 Mar 2013
High Court: Rabbinical Court not authorized to address post-divorce matters
Ha’aretz – 21 Mar 2013
With rocket launches at Sderot, Hamas shows it makes the rules
Ha’aretz – 21 Mar 2013
Iran’s Khamenei: We will destroy Israeli cities if attacked
Ha’aretz – 21 Mar 2013
Obama: Israeli settlements hinder chance of deal with Palestinians
Ha’aretz – 21 Mar 2013
Justice Danziger recuses himself in Ramat Gan mayor bribery case
Ha’aretz – 21 Mar 2013
Gaza rockets slam southern Israel during Obama visit
Ha’aretz – 21 Mar 2013
Israeli woman dies during routine hernia operation, Health Ministry investigating
Ha’aretz – 21 Mar 2013
Shared dreams
Jerusalem Post 21 Mar 2013 – The vast majority of Israelis share the dream of seeing both Israelis and Palestinians flourish in free, democratic states of their own. Unfortunately, the majority of Palestinians still do not.
EU budgets 7m. euros for PA development of Area C
Jerusalem Post 21 Mar 2013 – European aid coordinated with Israeli steps to provide infrastructure for Palestinian villages in area under IDF control.
Analysis: How would Obama’s speech play in Ramallah, Gaza?
Jerusalem Post 21 Mar 2013 – While the US president’s speech got roaring applause in Jerusalem after providing his listeners with a balanced amount of honey and vinegar, the question remains whether this was the audience Obama needs to convince.
First love, then war?
Jerusalem Post 21 Mar 2013 – When Obama acts decisively against Isfahan and Fordow he’ll gain our trust. The president shouldn’t expect Israelis to become “pliant” because he gave a few good speeches.
Man wrongly convicted of rabbi’s murder freed
Jerusalem Post 21 Mar 2013 – New York man released after 23 years in prison when his conviction was vacated as a miscarriage of justice.
Bennett: A nation cannot occupy its own land
Jerusalem Post 21 Mar 2013 – Obama‘s speech was met with mixed reactions; Tibi says Obama attacked “right-wing narrative of occupation.”
Realistic unreality
Jerusalem Post 21 Mar 2013 – It seems that the modern world has brought openness, candidness and realism. Our lives are more and more exposed to the true state of things, right?
Sinai Today: Open letter to Obama
Jerusalem Post 21 Mar 2013 – Mr. President, destiny is calling you to an historic reckoning on behalf of a generation of world leaders and their nations.
Mass gratitute: Parshat Tzav – Shabbat Hagadol
Jerusalem Post 21 Mar 2013 – A person who was saved out of the grasp of danger feels a deep need to share his feelings of gratitude with those around him.
Peres bestows on Obama the Medal of Distinction
Jerusalem Post 21 Mar 2013 – Obama given Israel’s highest honor at state dinner.
Obama unveils credible threat against Iran: Israel
Jerusalem Post 21 Mar 2013 – The US president’s visit is not meant to hold Israel back.
Abbas: PA, US are ‘partners’ in pursuit of peace
Jerusalem Post 21 Mar 2013 – PA president thanks US counterpart for commitment to peace; Obama: Palestinians deserve a state of their own.
Jerusalemites react to Obama’s visit to city
Jerusalem Post 21 Mar 2013 – “It’s very nice to have Obama here so he can feel what it’s like when rockets are launched at us.”
Top 5 Passover activities in Jerusalem
Jerusalem Post 21 Mar 2013 – There are a whole host of enriching events suitable for different ages taking place in the capital during the the holiday.
UN to investigate alleged Syria chemical arms attack
Jerusalem Post 21 Mar 2013 – Secretary-General Ban makes announcement after Syrian gov’t request probe into allegations that chemical weapons were used.
Khamenei: Iran will destroy Tel Aviv if attacked
Jerusalem Post 21 Mar 2013 – Iran‘s Supreme Leader says Islamic Republic would destroy Tel Aviv, Haifa if Israel launches a military attack against it.
IDF probe finds technical failure led to Cobra crash
Jerusalem Post 21 Mar 2013 – Deadly Cobra helicopter crash which killed two IAF pilots caused by technical failure, according to IDF investigation.
Kiryat Malachi Mayor convicted of sexual harassment
Jerusalem Post 21 Mar 2013 – Moti Malcha charged with sexual harassment of two different women; commits to resigning in plea deal.
The Weekly Schmooze: A very Broadway Pessah
Jerusalem Post 21 Mar 2013 – Jewish culture news worldwide: “Wicked” and “Les Misraebles” meet Pessah; DIY gangsta haggada; Obama‘s fake-mustache options.
Palestinians accuse Obama of siding with
Israel
Jerusalem Post 21 Mar 2013 – Some 150 demonstrators chant anti-American slogans, say they seek weapons, not presidential visits as Obama lands in Ramallah.
Abbas: PA, America ‘partners’ in pursuit of peace
Jerusalem Post 21 Mar 2013 – Palestinian Authority president thanks US counterpart for commitment, saying the two are partners in pursuing peace; Obama says he will not give up on a two state solution, “no matter how hard it is.”
‘Spider Man’ schedule altered on haredi request
Jerusalem Post 21 Mar 2013 – Filming schedule of “The Amazing Spider Man 2” changed in response to request by Orthodox community of Williamsburg.
WATCH: Obama, Netanyahu view Dead Sea Scrolls
Jerusalem Post 21 Mar 2013 – On second day of his Middle East tour, US president visits the Israel Museum, technology exposition.
Syrian rebels take towns near Israel ceasefire line
Jerusalem Post 21 Mar 2013 – Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says rebels have overrun several towns near Golan Heights, attacking gov’t positions.
Obama to talk peace at Abbas meeting in Ramallah
Jerusalem Post 21 Mar 2013 – US President Barack Obama travels to Ramallah for talks with Palestinian officials as some 150 Palestinian demonstrators gather to protest visit.
Israel awaits Abbas response to Kassam attacks
Jerusalem Post 21 Mar 2013 – Israel watching “very closely” to see if PA president will condemn Kassam rocket fire on Sderot in conference with Obama.
IDF decreases Gazan fishing zone after rockets
Jerusalem Post 21 Mar 2013 – In response to rockets fired earlier in the day, Defense Minister Ya’alon decides to limit Gaza naval activity.
Two rockets slam into Sderot during Obama visit
Jerusalem Post 21 Mar 2013 – Rockets fired from Gaza land in South, causing damage.
Roger Waters: Boycott against Israel is ‘way to go’
Jerusalem Post 21 Mar 2013 – Former Pink Floyd bassist asks fellow musicians to join BDS campaign against Israel, calls Israel an “apartheid regime.”
US research: Doing housework good for health
Jerusalem Post 20 Mar 2013 – Cleaning for Passover, washing dishes, doing laundry, chores helps reduce obesity, says Dr. Michael Yonash.
Obama tells Israelis: ‘peace with Palestinians is possible’ – live updates
The Guardian 21 Mar 2013 – Follow live updates as Barack Obama condemns Israeli settlement activity and the latest rocket attacks by Hamas militants Matthew Weaver Jim Newell
Obama wins few friends on flying stop to West Bank
The Guardian 21 Mar 2013 – US president’s visit lasted little more than four hours, most of it spent inside heavily-guarded presidential compound In Jerusalem the streets were decorated with Stars and Stripes for the visit of Barack Obama. Officials even created…
Obama shows emotional and political intelligence with Jerusalem speech
The Guardian 21 Mar 2013 – US president appeals to Israeli emotions with talk of persecution and pioneers – but critics accuse him of lacking substance Barack Obama pulled off quite a trick in his Jerusalem speech – appealing to ordinary Israelis…
Barack Obama’s mission for Israel | Aluf Benn
The Guardian 21 Mar 2013 – The US president has learned from his first-year follies. But are we Israelis smart enough to listen to his message? Four years ago, Barack Obama skipped Jerusalem during his first presidential trip to the Middle East….
Obama calls Israeli settlements in West Bank ‘not conducive’ to peace process – video
The Guardian 21 Mar 2013 – Barack Obama arrives in Ramallah, West Bank, on Thursday for talks with the Palestinian president, Mahmoud Abbas
Obama calls on Israelis to be bold in seeking peace with Palestinians
The Guardian 21 Mar 2013 – President tells youngsters that responsibility for peace – which includes an independent Palestine – rests on their shoulders President Barack Obama made a powerful and impassioned argument for peace between Israel and the Palestinians, telling an…
Obama’s Jerusalem speech interrupted by heckler: ‘it makes me feel at home’
The Guardian 21 Mar 2013 – Momentary interruption in president’s statement to Israeli audience drowned out by cheers from the audience Follow continuing coverage in our live blog American presidents abroad have faced worse. No shoes were thrown and no one barfed…
Barack Obama’s speech in Jerusalem – full text
The Guardian 21 Mar 2013 – President tells Israelis at Jerusalem Convention Centre: ‘Palestinians have a right to be a free people in their own land’ Prepared text of Barack Obama‘s speech at the Jerusalem Convention Centre on 21 March, 2013 Shalom….
Obama skips West Bank’s daily grind on Middle East trip
The Guardian 21 Mar 2013 – US president takes helicopter from West Jerusalem to Ramallah, as Palestinians use huge banners to convey message Barack Obama‘s journey between leafy West Jerusalem and the dusty, rubbish-strewn Palestinian city of Ramallah took just six minutes…
Barack Obama: Israeli settlement activity not constructive to peace
The Guardian 21 Mar 2013 – US president criticises Israel but urges Palestinians to drop demand for settlement freeze before peace talks can resume Barack Obama has voiced opposition to Israeli settlement-building but pressed the Palestinian president, Mahmoud Abbas, to drop his…
OP-ED: Genuine Constitutional Monarchy Is the Only Way Out for Al Khalifa
IPS As the Bahraini and international media continue to dissect the meaning of Crown Prince Salman’s appointment as first deputy prime minister, powerful factions within the ruling Al-Khalifa family must be pondering the future of their rule. It’s interesting to note that no prominent royals congratulated the crown prince on the…
PKK Leader Calls for Ceasefire in Turkey
IPS Abdullah Ocalan, the jailed Kurdish rebel leader, has issued a long-awaited ceasefire declaration that would be a major step towards ending a 30-year conflict that has cost around 40,000 lives in Turkey. The ceasefire announced on Thursday, which coincides with the Kurdish New Year, or Newroz, also calls for the…
America’s Genocidal Iraq War
Uruknet
Hillary Clinton’s ‘hacked’ Benghazi emails: FULL RELEASE
Uruknet
“I risk my life when I go fishing, but what choice do I have?”
Uruknet
The Anniversary of the Invasion of Iraq
Uruknet
013: Iraqi Resistance, American Dirty War, and the Remaking of the Middle East – PART 2
Uruknet
Obama praises Israel to high heavens as Israeli and American elite cement ‘unbreakable’ alliance
Uruknet
In south Egypt, fears over Islamist vigilantes
Uruknet
Qatari PM Underlines Iran’s Vital Role in Region
Uruknet
Ten Years Later, U.S. Has Left Iraq with Mass Displacement & Epidemic of Birth Defects, Cancers
Uruknet
Journalists attacked in Egypt over the weekend
Uruknet
Jihadists from Syria rival al Qaeda threat, say UK police
Daily Star 21 Mar 2013 Islamist militants are less capable of organising plots on the scale of 9/11 but small groups of jihadists returning from Syria pose a grave threat to British security, the country’s two most senior counter-terrorism officers said…
US drones kill four in Pakistan: officials
Daily Star 21 Mar 2013 US drones fired two missiles at a vehicle in Pakistan’s northwestern tribal belt Thursday, killing four militants, security officials said.
U.N. condemns Mali rights abuses, to step up monitoring
Daily Star 21 Mar 2013 The United Nations condemned human rights crimes committed in northern Mali by “rebels, terrorist groups and other organised transnational crime networks” and agreed to appoint an independent monitor for the West African country.
Blast kills 17 at Pakistani camp for displaced people
Daily Star 21 Mar 2013 At least seventeen people were killed by a car bomb as they waited for food at a camp in northwest Pakistan for those displaced by fighting between government forces and Islamist militants, police said.
White House will not rest on gun laws: Biden
Daily Star 21 Mar 2013 The White House will keep pushing for tough new gun ownership laws despite lack of support in Congress, Vice President Joe Biden said Thursday, urging politicians to show “courage” for the sake of shooting massacre victims.
Mob kills alleged thief in Egypt vigilante attack
Daily Star 21 Mar 2013 Villagers in Egypt‘s Nile Delta killed a man suspected of trying to steal a car Thursday in the country’s latest incident of vigilante violence.
FIFA helps football return to Iraq, Syria
Daily Star 21 Mar 2013 FIFA’s ruling executive committee has taken steps to support football in Iraq and Syria.
Egypt: Libya demands handover of ex-regime members
Daily Star 21 Mar 2013 An Egyptian security official says a Libyan intelligence delegation has arrived in Egypt to negotiate the handover of wanted members of the former dictator Moammar Gadhafi’s regime.
UN to probe alleged chemical weapons use in Syria
Daily Star 21 Mar 2013 The United Nations will investigate the possible use of chemical weapons in Syria, which would amount to a crime against humanity, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon announced Thursday.
France’s Sarkozy investigated in party funding affair
YNet News, 21 Mar 2013 – ….
Pride in Obama’s pro-Israel diplomacy
YNet News, 21 Mar 2013 – Op-ed: Prominent Jewish leader says American president has gone above and beyond to defend Israel’s rights ….
Sectarian clashes kill 3 in north Lebanon city
YNet News, 21 Mar 2013 – ….
Police: Evidence supports claim of judge’s child abuse
YNet News, 21 Mar 2013 – ….
Senators seek to target Iranian business in euros
YNet News, 21 Mar 2013 – ….
Coca-Cola: No ‘kosher for Passover’ Coke in California
YNet News, 21 Mar 2013 – ….
A president of words
YNet News, 21 Mar 2013 – Op-ed: Instead of bringing real peace plan to Middle East, Obama chooses to do nothing but talk ….
American insistence inexplicable
YNet News, 21 Mar 2013 – Op-ed: Formal peace agreement between Israel and the Palestinians would only lead to more hatred ….
Obama refuses to meet delegation of prisoners’ families
PIC – Director of Palestinian Prisoners Society Qaddoura Fares confirmed that U.S. President Barack Obama has refused to meet a delegation from families of prisoners in Israeli jails.
Refugees Department in Hamas: UNRWA’s trips are “suspicious”
PIC – Department of Refugee Affairs in Hamas movement issued on Thursday a press release in which it says that the trips organized by UNRWA for the children of Palestinian refugees are “suspicious”.
Nunu: We will cooperate with Egyptian judiciary regarding the Rafah crime
PIC – Taher Nunu asserted that the document, which was published about involvement of members of Hamas in the killing of Egyptian soldiers in Rafah last year, is fabricated.
Palestinian complaint filed to arrest Obama upon his arrival in Ramallah
PIC – The democratic press assembly in Palestine filed a complaint with the Palestinian attorney general in Ramallah against Barack Obama calling for arresting and bringing him to justice.
Sharawne’s mother arrives in Gaza
PIC – The mother of released hunger striker Ayman Al-Sharawne and two of his brothers arrived in Gaza via Rafah crossing on Thursday.
Jerusalemite rejection of the American position supporting the occupation
PIC – The Jerusalemite national and Islamic forces called on Tuesday to end the Palestinian division, to confront Israeli violations in Jerusalem, and to reject the U.S. position in support of occupation.
Issawi refuses to take vitamins in coincidence with Obama’s visit
PIC – Ofer Military Court will hold today a hearing to look into the issue of Samer Issawi who went on a hunger strike since August 1st, 2012, PPS’ lawyer Jawad Boulos declared.
Hamas delegation visits the protesters outside UNRWA HQ in Beirut
PIC – A Hamas movement’s delegation headed by Raafat Morra, the movement’s political official, visited on Wednesday the displaced Palestinian refugees from Syria protesting outside UNRWA HQ.
Obama Speaks to Palestinian Students, Watches Folk Dance
WAFA – 21 Mar 2013
Palestinians Deserve an Independent State, Says Obama
WAFA – 21 Mar 2013
Israel Controls Renewable Water Resources, says Statistics Bureau
WAFA – 21 Mar 2013
Abbas Condemns Violence, including Rocket Firing
WAFA – 21 Mar 2013
Abbas Receives Obama in Ramallah
WAFA – 21 Mar 2013
Obama, in speech, tells Israel its future depends on a Palestinian state
LA Times 21 Mar 2013 – University students in Jerusalem cheer his soaring address, which could signal his intent to renew an American-led peace initiative. JERUSALEM — Evoking the Jewish people’s biblical struggle for freedom, President Obama called upon Israelis Thursday to sweep aside deep skepticism and embrace a Palestinian state…
Obama offers assurances during Israel visit
LA Times 20 Mar 2013 – The president and Netanyahu aim to project unity, but their differences over Iran‘s nuclear program remain evident. JERUSALEM — In a much-anticipated visit laden with symbols of friendship and words of assurance, President Obama and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attempted to set aside past differences…
The Lede: Video Highlights From Obama’s Speech in Israel
New York Times 21 Mar 2013 – President Obama outlined his case for a future Israel at peace with the Palestinians in Jerusalem on March 21, 2013.
U.N. to Investigate Chemical Weapons Accusations in Syria
New York Times 21 Mar 2013 – An inquiry will begin “as soon as practically possible” over allegations that the weapons were used in Aleppo Province, said the Secretary General Ban Ki-moon.
The Lede: Egyptian Activists Defend Use of Force Against an Unreformed Police Force
New York Times 21 Mar 2013 – In their latest video, the activists of Cairo’s Mosireen film collective argue that violent resistance to an unreformed police force is not only justified, but also necessary.
Pro-Assad Cleric in Syria Is Killed in Blast
New York Times 21 Mar 2013 – The cleric, Mohammad Said Ramada al-Bouti, was the most important religious figure to be killed so far in the Syrian civil war.
Document Suggests Abbas’s Desire to Resume Israeli Talks
New York Times 21 Mar 2013 – The shift in the stance by the Palestinian president, Mahmoud Abbas, was laid out in a draft set of talking points in advance of his private meeting on Thursday with President Obama.
The Lede: Israeli Beauty Queen Next in Line to Press Obama to Release Spy
New York Times 21 Mar 2013 – Israeli politicians have tried and failed to convince President Obama to release Jonathan Pollard, a former United States Navy intelligence analyst serving a life term in a North Carolina prison for spying for Israel. Now it is Miss Israel’s turn.
At War Blog: Pentagon Wants $49 Million to Build New Prison at Guantánamo
New York Times 21 Mar 2013 – The United States Southern Command has requested $49 million to build a new prison building for “special” detainees at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, on top of other renovations it says are necessary since Congress has decided to keep it open indefinitely.
Obama Lays Out Case for Israel to Revive Peace Talks
New York Times 21 Mar 2013 – In a carefully crafted speech that was enthusiastically welcomed by a youthful audience of Israelis, President Obama advocated a vision of a future Israel at peace with the Palestinians.
O’seas underwriters to give IEC $500m bridge loan
Globes Energy & Water – The loan is a condition of the underwriting tender won by Citi and Barclays Capital.
IEC workers leader: There will be no reform
Globes Energy & Water – Israel Electric Corp. workers committee chairman Miko Tzarfati was responding to a board decision to liquidate a fund securing pension rights.
Zadik Bino selling block of Paz shares
Globes Energy & Water – The sale is of a bock worth NIS 150-200 million.
Better Place and Zim widen Israel Corp’s loss
Globes Main News – Electric car venture Better Place doubled its loss in 2012, while $133 million was set aside for shipping company Zim’s debt settlement.
Obama: You are not alone
Globes Main News – In the main public event of his visit, the US president called on young Israelis to pressure their leaders to make peace with the Palestinians.
Accel Partners raises $475m Europe, Israel focused fund
Globes Main News – Accel London IV will invest in consumer Internet, big data, cloud, SaaS and mobile.
Thu: Tel Aviv 25 down 0.1% on week
Globes Main News – Bank Leumi’s share price slumped after reporting a higher than expected loss, while Israel Corp. was also down after reporting losses.
Leumi Q4 losses far exceed profit warning
Globes Main News – The bank lost NIS 259 million in the final quarter of 2012 after setting aside NIS 400 million for a fine in a US tax authority probe.
Israel to Obama: Be Gentle With Me
Tikun Olam – Jodi Rudoren’s survey piece about Israeli public opinion as the backdrop to Barack Obama’s arrival in Israel is a total bunch of mush, from the sources she chose to offer as a representative sampling of Israelis, to the substance of what they say. The first troubling…
As Obama visits Ramallah, Palestinians vent anger over US policy and political prisoners
Mondoweiss – A Palestinian demonstrator holds up a poster against President Obama outside the Palestinian Authority’s compound as police block the road (Photo: Alex Kane/Mondoweiss) Palestinian protesters in Ramallah vented their anger at Barac
k Obama today as about 200 demonstrators took to the streets to urge Obama to…
Day Two of Obama in Israel/Palestine — Obama visits Ramallah and addresses the Israeli people
Mondoweiss – Watch President Obama‘s speech to students at the Jerusalem International Convention Center: JOIN THE LIVE CHAT VISIT WHITEHOUSE.GOV Here is the segment of Obama‘s talk that focused on the peace process from his prepared remarks. He went off script a bit to talk about how Palestinian…
Returning to Iraq after war and exile
Mondoweiss – Ten years ago today, I remember sitting in front of the television watching the sky turn bright yellow from the massive blasts. Slowly, I turned away from the screen to see my parents’ reaction: absolute silence. That was the first time I had seen my parents…
While the occupier is occupied, Palestinians reclaim a protest village
Mondoweiss – Children at protest village Bab al Shams While Barack Obama is making headlines in his first visit to Israel and the West Bank as president, in the hills of Jerusalem, Palestinian activists have quietly rebuilt a protest encampment that was raided and demolished in January. Bab…
What’s the point of this trip?
Mondoweiss – Netanyahu mimics Obama or vice versa, White House photo by Pete D’Souza What is the point of this trip? I have no idea, except for Obama to say the name Bibi ten times , as he did yesterday during their press briefing, on this their tenth meeting. “…
Pink Floyd Frontman Roger Waters Takes Credit for Stevie Wonder’s Snub of IDF Gala
The Foward Breaking News 21 Mar 2013 – Pink Floyd’s Roger Waters took partial credit for Stevie Wonder’s decision to pull out of performing at a Friends of Israel Defense Forces event. Click here for the rest of the article…
‘Rock Star’ Barack Obama Wins Over Young Israelis With Call for Peace
The Foward Breaking News 21 Mar 2013 – President Barack Obama was given a rapturous reception by Israeli students on Thursday as he made a rousing call for peace with the Palestinians, but his lofty oratory got lower marks beyond the conference hall. Click here for the rest of the article…
Barack Obama Appeals Directly to Israelis To Think of Palestinians, Push for Peace
The Foward Breaking News 21 Mar 2013 – President Obama appealed directly to the Israeli people to put themselves in the shoes of stateless Palestinians and recognise that the expanding occupation blocks peace. Click here for the rest of the article…
Hungary Journalist Returns Prize, Lashes at Israel
The Foward Breaking News 21 Mar 2013 – A Hungarian television journalist said he would return an award he was given last week after he was accused of anti-Semitism and the government said it gave him the award by mistake. Click here for the rest of the article…
Tunisia: Tunisian Plane Carrying Humanitarian Aid to Syrian Refugees Arrives in Jordan
allAfrica.com 21 Mar 2013 – [Tunis Afrique Presse]Tunis -A Tunisian plane carrying humanitarian aid to Syrian refugees in Jordanian camps landed, Tuesday evening at “Queen Alia” airport in Amman.
Obama is not Welcome
Palestine Solidarity Project 21 Mar 2013 – Yesterday, US President Barak Obama arrived in Israel for the first time during his presidency. All week protest against the US President have been taking place across the West Bank. Palestinian activists are apposing the visit by the US president because of his unhindered support for…
Obama urges return to peace talks
BBC 21 Mar 2013 – Barack Obama urges Israelis and Palestinians to return to peace talks as he makes his first visit to Israel and the West Bank as US president.
Syria cleric among mosque bomb dead
BBC 21 Mar 2013 – At least 42 people, including a leading pro-government cleric, are killed by a blast at a mosque in the Syrian capital, Damascus, say state media.
Gaddafi family ‘not in Algeria’
BBC 21 Mar 2013 – Three of Col Muammar Gaddafi’s children and his widow have left Algeria, its ambassador to Libya says.
Arab is Not the New Black
Al-Akhbar Blogs 21 Mar 2013 – Having lived in upstate New York for the past two years, racial discrimination has become the center of my life. Back in Kuwait, the discrimination I faced as a stateless individual was harsh, but different. In the US, I’m either discriminated against for looking like a…
Why the Rush to Form a Syrian Opposition Interim Government?
Al-Akhbar Opinion 21 Mar 2013 – Syrian opposition members congratulate Syria‘s National opposition’s new elected prime minister Ghassan Hitto (R) on 19 March 2013 at a Syrian opposition meeting in Istanbul. (Photo: AFP
– Ozan Kose) Syrian opposition members congratulate Syria‘s National opposition’s new elected prime minister Ghassan Hitto (R) on 19…
Lebanon: Regime in Crisis and the Opportunity for Change
Al-Akhbar Opinion 21 Mar 2013 – Change is possible only when the existing regime becomes seriously debilitated and cannot operate effectively for any number of reasons (Photo: Haytham Moussawi) Change is possible only when the existing regime becomes seriously debilitated and cannot operate effectively for any number of reasons (Photo: Haytham Moussawi)…
Egypt’s Brotherhood granted NGO status
Al-Akhbar News 21 Mar 2013 – The Egyptian government has officially granted the Muslim Brotherhood non-governmental organization (NGO) status, Social Affairs Minister Nagwa Khalil said Thursday. The move comes a day after an advisory body to the Supreme Administrative Court declared the party an “unlawful entity” and recommended its dissolution. The non-binding…
Suspected Egyptian car thief lynched
Al-Akhbar News 21 Mar 2013 – Egyptian villagers lynched a suspected car thief on Thursday, security sources said, in the latest in a spate of such vigilante killings at a time of growing lawlessness. The official said the man hanged from a tree in the Ezbat al-Gindy had tried to steal a…
Hebron: Revolting Against the PNA and the Occupation
Al-Akhbar News 21 Mar 2013 – An Israeli soldier disperses a group of Palestinian and foreign protesters in the old city center of Hebron in the occoupied West Bank, as many Palestinians across the West Bank and Gaza demonstrated on 20 March 2013 against a visit by US President Barack Obama to…
UN to launch probe into Syria chemical weapons claims
Al-Akhbar News 21 Mar 2013 – UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Thursday announced that the United Nations will launch an investigation as requested by the Syrian government into allegations that chemical weapons were used in Syria. “I have decided to conduct a United Nations investigation into the possible use of chemical weapons…
Kurdish rebel leader tells fighters to disarm
Al-Akhbar News 21 Mar 2013 – Jailed Kurdish rebel chief Abdullah Ocalan called Thursday for a ceasefire, telling his fighters to lay down their arms and withdraw from Turkey, raising hopes for an end to a three-decade conflict that has cost tens of thousands of lives. “A door is opened from armed…
Iraq: Stories of Betrayal Swirl Around Fall of Baghdad
Al-Akhbar News 21 Mar 2013 – An election campaign banner of Iraq‘s State of Law coalition sits on the plinth of Saddam Hussein’s statue in Baghdad on 20 March 2013. (Photo: AFP – Ahmad Al-Rubaye) An election campaign banner of Iraq‘s State of Law coalition sits on the plinth of Saddam Hussein’s…
Samir Geagea Interview: An Election Agreement is Close
Al-Akhbar Politics 20 Mar 2013 – Samir Geagea, leader of the Christian Lebanese Forces, speaks during a news conference at his house in Maarab village, north of Beirut, 12 October 2010. (Photo: Reuters – Mohamed Azakir) Samir Geagea, leader of the Christian Lebanese Forces, speaks during a news conference at his house…
Syria Opposition PM: A Man the West Can “Deal With”
Al-Akhbar Politics 20 Mar 2013 – Syrians gather around vegetable carts at a local market in Maarat al-Numan, in the northwestern province of Idlib, on 20 March 2013. (Photo: AFP – Bulent Kilic) Syrians gather around vegetable carts at a local market in Maarat al-Numan, in the northwestern province of Idlib, on…
Obama urges return to peace talks
BBC 21 Mar 2013 – Barack Obama urges Israelis and Palestinians to return to peace talks as he makes his first visit to Israel and the West Bank as US president.
Syria cleric among mosque bomb dead
BBC 21 Mar 2013 – At least 42 people, including a leading pro-government cleric, are killed by a blast at a mosque in the Syrian capital, Damascus, say state media.
Gaddafi family ‘not in Algeria’
BBC 21 Mar 2013 – Three of Col Muammar Gaddafi’s children and his widow have left Algeria, its ambassador to Libya says.
Saudi Shia leaders criticise arrests
BBC 21 Mar 2013 – A number of Shia community leaders in Saudi Arabia sign a statement condemning the recent arrest of 16 Shia citizens on allegations of spying.
Articles
Obama the tourist seeks Israel Lobby approval
Yasser Al-Zaatreh, Middle East Monitor (MEMO) 3/19/2013
It has become a tradition amongst American presidents to begin their period of office by visiting Israel, especially over the past three decades during which time the Israel Lobby has clearly taken control of American politics. Democratic or Republican, it would be exceptional to see any American president ever depart from this rule.
So is Barack Obama exceptional? He has waited until the start of his second term before making the political pilgrimage to Israel but little is expected of him. Hence, to say that a US President is less prone to Israel Lobby pressures during his second term would not be entirely accurate. The Lobby can pursue him in different ways and stir up a lot of trouble for his party, something that no incumbent would wish on his successor.
As such, we can say that Obama is visiting Israel to ask for approval for the Lobby’s paymasters in Tel Aviv, not to dictate terms and conditions on a country in receipt of more foreign aid from America than any other in history, despite the obvious leverage that such largesse gives him. Clearly, Obama understands that Benjamin Netanyahu has more supporters in the US Congress than the US President has, and there is no need to create problems for himself.
According to New York Times columnist Thomas L Friedman, Obama will thus be the first US President to visit Israel “as a tourist and not as a peace mediator”, which lowers the expectations of this trip.
He will visit the Holocaust Museum and cry over the Nazis’ victims. He will most likely visit the Al-Buraq or “Wailing” Wall and might even place a prayer note in it and wear a kippah to be polite to his Jewish hosts. His visit to Ramallah will not create tension for the Israelis, even though it has been said that it might be cancelled in exchange for not visiting the Knesset; the satisfaction of the Palestinian Authority officials with their state under occupation is an Israeli objective…. more.. e-mail
Giving the occupation an expiration date
Dahlia Scheindlin And Noam Sheizaf, +972 Magazine 3/19/2013
A way out of the diplomatic dead end.
The Israeli-Palestinian negotiation process has reached a dead end. The two-state paradigm has been deemed unrealistic so many times, that mentioning it creates cynicism and bitterness in both societies. But a generally agreed alternative to the principle of partition has not yet emerged.
We therefore suggest a new framework for diplomatic engagement, one that carries with it a clear deadline.
Without diminishing the many facets, layers and problems in the conflict (refugees, land, control over resources, holy sites, sovereignty and national self-determination), one issue is the most urgent and pressing for the region, and it is also the most obvious: ending the military occupation.
Under the current circumstances, even international and local actors’ best intentions in seeking to resolve the conflict have no direction. New political negotiations are likely to be fruitless, disappointing and as a result, dangerous.
Ending the occupation is key to advancing any comprehensive solution, and it carries a special moral urgency.
Defining a unique problem
The occupation presents a unique problem. Israel’s control over Palestinians is an infinite source of violence and instability. It generates daily rage among Palestinians and leaves no one untouched. It crushes any possibility for sustainable economic viability or dignified livelihood. Palestinians are unable to build genuine political institutions, because they are all subject to the sovereignty of Israeli military law. more.. e-mail
Target of a Smear Campaign
M. Shahid Alam, CounterPunch 3/18/2013
Setting the Record Straight
In April 2012, Americans for Peace and Tolerance (APT), a Zionist organization headed by Charles Jacobs, began a smear campaign against Muslim students, the staff of Spiritual Life Center, and some faculty at Northeastern University.
The APT posted three videos on the internet accusing Muslims students at Northeastern University of advocating ‘Islamic extremism’ and concocting charges of anti-Semitism against several members of the faculty and staff of the Spiritual Life Center at Northeastern University. I was one of the principal targets of these smears. After launching the videos, the AMP has used a variety of tactics to bring pressure on Northeastern University to ‘punish’ the faculty it had targeted in one of its smear videos.
When this campaign persisted I decided to write a letter to the President of Northeastern in November 2012 providing some background to AMP’s smear campaign. At the time I had no intention of circulating this letter more widely. However, since AMP has persisted in its smear campaign against me, I think it proper to publish this letter to set the record straight. Here is the text of the letter (partly revised) that I sent to President Aoun of Northeastern University.
* * *
It has come to my notice that Mr. Charles Jacobs – head of Americans for Peace and Tolerance – has been circulating letters among NU faculty and administration that make baseless charges against me. I am concerned about the damage to my reputation and to the reputation of the university from these charges, which is why I am writing to you. In this letter I briefly outline the main charges, and provide you with my key points to refute them. more.. e-mail
Obama’s dangerous Iran nuclear gambit
Kaveh L Afrasiabi, Asia Times 3/18/2013
US President Barack Obama has engaged in a potentially dangerous gambit by stating categorically that in the US‘s view Iran is “over a year or so” from developing nuclear weapons. While it is bound to ingratiate his administration with the pro-Israel lobby, Obama‘s statement on the eve of his trip to Israeli may come to haunt him in the near future in the event the current diplomatic efforts to end the Iran nuclear standoff fail to reach a breakthrough.
In an interview with Israeli TV ahead of his visit on Wednesday, Obama said Iran is ”over a year or so” away from being able to develop a nuclear weapon and that the US will use ”all options” to stop it. ”Right now, we think it would take over a year or so for Iran to actually develop a nuclear weapon, but obviously we don’t want to cut it too close,” Obama told Israel’s Channel 2 on Thursday.
There are in fact two ways to interpret Obama‘s statement. On the one hand it could be calculated to extend diplomacy with Iran another year and, on the other, as the opposite; to short-circuit diplomacy and impose an artificial deadline directed toward the “military option”. The Obama “doublespeak” cuts both ways, but the upper hand belongs to the hidden preference for a designed stalemate that would obviate the present efforts at negotiations, which have reached a crucial turning point, in light of this week’s meeting of experts in Istanbul and the planned Almaty II talks next month.
Theoretically, all the main elements for a deal are falling into their places: Iran is ready to stop the 20% uranium enrichment and finalize a modality for cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), in return for a quid pro quo lifting of major sanctions levied by the Western governments. Since last March’s meeting in Istanbul, both sides in the multilateral talks have agreed to adopt the framework of the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), and this has resulted in the slow but steady recognition of Iran‘s “inalienable nuclear rights”. In a word, we are on the verge of the beginning of the end of the Iran nuclear crisis. more.. e-mail
The PLO has failed Palestinians; let’s start again from scratch
Electronic Intifada: 21 Mar 2013 – Osamah Khalil 21 March 2013 We won’t achieve democracy with a movement that’s not democratic.more
The Sociocide of Iraq by Bush and Cheney
Palestine Chronicle: 21 Mar 2013 – By Ralph Nader Ten years ago George W. Bush and Dick Cheney, as war criminals, launched the sociocide of the people of Iraq – replete with embedded television and newspaper reporters chronicling the invasion through the Bush lens. That illegal war of aggression was, of course, based on recognized lies, propaganda and cover-ups that duped or co-opted leading news institutions such as the New York Times and the Washington Post. Wars of aggression – this one blowing apart a country of 25 million people ruled by a weakened despot surrounded by far more powerful adversaries – Israel, Turkey and Iran – are major crimes under international law and the UN Charter. The Bush/Cheney war was also unconstitutional, never declared by Congress, as Senator Robert Byrd eloquently pointed out at the time. Moreover, many of the acts of torture and brutality perpetrated against the Iraqi people are illegal under various federal…more
Palestine Youth Orchestra: A Bridge to the World
Palestine Chronicle: 21 Mar 2013 – By Tariq Shadid Not everything in the Middle East, or more specifically in Palestine, is about politics. In this occupied nation, people are not only struggling for liberation and independence, but also to live a life that is as normal as possible under the difficult circumstances of Israeli oppression, persecution and segregation. People who are politically engaged may be inclined to dismiss such efforts of ordinary life as being of minor relevance, or may perhaps even entertain a negative view towards any activities that draw attention away from the struggle. This way of thinking may be understandable from an emotional point of view, but misses some important points which become obvious when the subject is approached from a more rational angle. The Palestine Youth Orchestra was established by the Edward Said National Conservatory of Music, aiming to bring together Palestinian musicians from all over the world into an ambitious collective…more
Obama Visit and Israeli Penchant for Conflict
Palestine Chronicle: 21 Mar 2013 – By Jamal Kanj President Barack Obama’s visit to the Middle East has coincided with the 10th anniversary of the killing of American peace activist Rachel Corrie. She was murdered by an American-made and financed Israeli bulldozer on March 16, 2003. It is unlikely the President or any in his entourage will remember the young American citizen, but according to the Israeli Ambassador, his government plans to broach the subject of convicted Israeli spy Jonathan Pollard. As part of his “listening” tour, Obama must pay homage to the choreographed Hall of Remembrance at Yad Vashemm honouring the victims of European Holocaust. For contemporary suffering, from Yad Vashemm the President should peek across the prairie for traces of Deir Yassin’s massacre or take a five-mile detour to a Palestinian refugee camp, a living museum and br
eathing testament of Israeli malevolence. While this deserving tribute is doubtful, in his helicopter ride to Bethlehem…more
Israel’s Proconsul to Canada Faces Political Defeat
Dissident Voice: 21 Mar 2013 – Though it’s been said, it bears repeating: Stephen Harper owes his political existence not to talent or popularity, but to the political exhaustion and enfeeblement of the opposition Liberal Party. After three majority governments under the strong leadership of Jean Chrétien, the Liberals spiralled into dissension and irrelevance under a succession of weak stewards—Paul Martin, Stéphane Dion and Michael Ignatieff—and became co-opted. With the Liberals politically neutered and the NDP preoccupied with making electoral gains at the Liberals’ expense, Harper and his henchmen have had free rein to impose a zionist/corporatist dictatorship on the country. As they proceed to bully Parliament, eviscerate federal legislation, and wage war on our democratic political culture, Canadians might sense what life must have been like for Spaniards, Germans, Italians and other nationalities in the 1930s as they watched their countries succumb to fascism. Yet, despite the pervasive gloom that has hung over this country…more
Travesty of Saudi Dirty Tricks Against Iran
Dissident Voice: 21 Mar 2013 – Saudi claims of “busting a spy ring” involving Iranian and Lebanese nationals this week smell of yet more dirty tricks by the creaky House of Saud. But the repeated formula for attempting to smear Iran used by the Saudis and their Western and Israeli partners is in danger of becoming a parody. Saudi authorities detained 18 individuals across the kingdom this week, who, it is claimed, were working for a “foreign state” in a plot to target vital installations. “Sixteen Saudis, an Iranian and a Lebanese were arrested in coordinated and simultaneous operations in four regions of the kingdom,” including the capital Riyadh and the holy city of Mecca, the Saudi interior ministry said in a statement. Wow. Do you feel the bombast in those words “coordinated and simultaneous operations”? The suspects “gathered information on vital installations which they provided to the country” they had been working for, added the…more
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