22 April 2013 — VTJP
News
International Middle East Media Center
Palestinians Injured As Army Attacks Nonviolent Protest In Jerusalem
IMEMC – Monday April 22, 2013, Palestinian medical sources reported that a Palestinian youth was shot and injured in the face after Israeli soldiers attacked Palestinians holding a nonviolent protest in solidarity with Palestinian detainees, in Abu Dis town, in occupied East Jerusalem. Several Palestinians received treatment by field medics. …
PPS: “No Official Proposal To End The Case Of Eesawy”
IMEMC – Lawyer Jawad Boulos of the Palestinian Prisoners Society (PPS) stated Monday that Israel did not present any substantial offer to end the crisis of hunger striking Palestinian detainee, Samer Al-Eesawy, and added that what happened is a discussion of an Israeli proposal to release the detainee on October 15 2013. …
Lawyer: “Eesawy Conditionally Agrees To End His Hunger Strike”
IMEMC – Palestinian Minister of Detainees, Issa Qaraqe’, reported that hunger striking Palestinian detainee, Samer Al-Eesawy, expressed a conditional acceptance of an Israeli officer to end his strike in exchange for his release on October 10 this year, adding that no official agreement has been reached on the issue. …
Egypt: “We Captured Israeli Spy Cell”
IMEMC – Egyptian sources reported, Sunday, that the Egyptian police and security forces uncovered a cell that operated on behalf of Israel in the Sinai area in Egypt. …
Settlers Occupy Monastery, Raise Israeli Flag
IMEMC – On Friday, April 19, a group of extremist Israeli settlers occupied a Christian Monastery in a Palestinian village, near the central West Bank city of Ramallah, and raised an Israeli flag over it. …
Land owner says Israeli forces uproot 500 trees
4/22/2013 – NABLUS (Ma’an) — Israeli forces raided the Beit Dajan village in Nablus on Monday and uprooted 500 olive and almond trees, locals said. Gamal Kanan, 60, whose land the trees were planted on, said this was the third time Israeli forces had entered the al-Toyour neighborhood to uproot trees. He was told by troops….
Issawi relatives say assaulted by Israel police
4/22/2013 – JERUSALEM (Ma’an) — The sister and mother of long term hunger striker Samer Issawi said Monday that Israeli police assaulted them as they attempted to visit Issawi at an Israeli hospital. Shireen Issawi, the sister of Samer, told Ma’an that Israeli police assaulted them as they tried to enter Kaplan hospital to…. Related: Issawi: My detention is malicious and Israeli forces raid Issawi’s home town
Israeli vehicles enter northern Gaza, witnesses say
4/22/2013 – GAZA CITY (Ma’an) — Israeli military vehicles and bulldozers crossed into an area of farmland in the northern Gaza Strip on Monday, witnesses said. Locals told Ma’an that five bulldozers dug up agricultural lands east of Beit Hanoun. Saber al-Zaghain, a popular resistance coordinator, told Ma’an that Israel conducted dredging….
Issawi: My detention is malicious
4/22/2013 – JERUSALEM (Ma’an) — After 265 days on hunger strike, Samer Issawi on Monday told an Israeli judge that he will not take liquids and will boycott future court sessions at a hearing in Kaplan Medical Center.”I was sentenced by a Jerusalem court to eight months which ended in March, so I don’…. Related: Issawi relatives say assaulted by Israel police and Palestinian Arab Idol finalist says Issawi an inspiration
Israeli forces raid Issawi’s home town
4/22/2013 – JERUSALEM (Ma’an) — Israeli forces on Monday stormed the hometown of Samer Issawi and tore down a solidarity tent erected to support the hunger striker, witnesses said. Clashes erupted as Israeli forces took down the tent in East Jerusalem’s Issawiya, which was used to welcome supporters of Issawi. Israeli forces fired stun…. Related: Issawi relatives say assaulted by Israel police and Issawi: My detention is malicious
Nun says locals building illegally on monastery land
4/22/2013 – JERUSALEM (Ma’an) — The head of a monastery in East Jerusalem on Monday accused residents of al-Eizariyya of building illegally on church land. Al-Eizariyya residents are constructing buildings on the private lands of the Holy Monastery of Martha and Maria, “brushing aside all religious, social and national values,” said Sister Efpraxia.” This is a….
PA rejects increased army presence in flashpoint village
4/22/2013 – BETHLEHEM (Ma’an) — The Palestinian Authority rejected on Monday a request by Israel to bolster troop presence in a flashpoint Bethlehem village in Area C, the city’s governor said. Abed al-Fatah Hamayal said Israel wanted to increase its army’s presence in the Umm Rukba area of the al-Khader village after….
Israel admits ‘acted’ to stop arms reaching Hezbollah
4/22/2013 – TEL AVIV, Israel (AFP) – Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon on Monday implicitly confirmed Israel was behind a January strike on a weapons convoy in Syria, saying Israel had “acted” to stop advanced weaponry reaching militants. Speaking at a news conference with US Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel, Yaalon said Israel would not allow “sophisticated weapons” to….
Pentagon chief hails arms deal on Israel trip
4/22/2013 – TEL AVIV, Israel (AFP) — Pentagon chief Chuck Hagel and his Israeli counterpart on Monday hailed a major arms deal as a sign of “ironclad” US support for Israel after talks on Iran’s nuclear drive and Syria’s war. The US defense secretary, who has been accused of being too critical of Israel….
Israel to allow limited building supplies into Gaza
4/22/2013 – GAZA CITY (Ma’an) — Israeli authorities opened the Kerem Shalom goods crossing into Gaza on Monday for the limited transfer of building materials, a Palestinian Authority official told Ma’an. The building materials are earmarked for projects already under construction, PA liaison official Raed Fattouh said. Goods for other sectors and cooking gas….
Israel detains Hamas leader’s sons in raid
4/22/2013 – JENIN (Ma’an) — Israeli security forces detained the sons of a local Hamas leader overnight in the northern West Bank city of Jenin, locals said. Locals told Ma’an that Israeli troops raided Gamal al-Haija’s home and detained sons Abed al-Salam, Asem and Hamzeh. Their whereabouts are unknown, residents added. Teacher….
Female detainee freed from Israeli prison
4/22/2013 – BETHLEHEM (Ma’an) — Israel freed a female detainee on Sunday evening after a year in prison, a statement issued by the Detainees’ Center in Bethlehem said. Manar Zawareh called for the release of female detainees in Israeli prisons during an event organized by the center celebrating her release. She told gatherers that there….
Dozens protest at UN office in Gaza City
4/22/2013 – GAZA CITY (Ma’an) — Dozens of people gathered outside the UNRWA offices in Gaza City on Monday to protest the suspension of aid by the agency for Palestinian refugees. Protestors told Ma’an that they would continue to protest until their demands were met. The UN agency stopped food deliveries after dozens of…. Related: UN to distribute food in Gaza on Wednesday
Palestinian Arab Idol finalist says Issawi an inspiration
4/22/2013 – BETHLEHEM (Ma’an) — Muhammad Assaf, a Palestinian finalist in the TV singing contest Arab Idol, says he is inspired by long-term hunger striker Samer Issawi and would trade winning the competition for the prisoner’s freedom.” I am conveying Palestine’s message to the world, and if I had to choose between….
UN to distribute food in Gaza on Wednesday
4/22/2013 – GAZA CITY (Ma’an) — UNRWA will start distributing food aid to refugees in Gaza on Wednesday, a spokesman for the UN agency for Palestinian refugees said Monday. UNRWA has started moving food to its 12 distribution centers across Gaza, Adnan Abu Hasnah told Ma’an. The agency had suspended food aid after protesters…. Related: Dozens protest at UN office in Gaza City
Gunmen open fire at Jerusalem Electricity Company
4/22/2013 – JERUSALEM (Ma’an) — Unidentified gunmen opened fire on Sunday at the Jerusalem Electricity Company’s office in Eizariya, east Jerusalem, a source said. JEC said it was taking the necessary steps to protect its employees from violence. This is the second attack against the office in April, after an employee was shot at….
Palestinian, Egyptian families clash in el-Arish
4/22/2013 – EL-ARISH, Egypt (Ma’an) — Clashes between an Egyptian family and a Palestinian family continued for the second night on Monday in el-Arish in Egypt’s Sinai. Two people have been seriously injured in ongoing clashes between Palestinians from the Munthir family and Egyptians from the Eisawi family, an offshoot of the al-Fawakhiriya tribe….
Israel, Turkey discuss flotilla compensation
4/22/2013 – ANKARA (AFP) — Israeli and Turkish officials on Monday began talks on compensation over a deadly Israeli raid on a Gaza-bound aid ship, a crucial step towards restoring the once-solid ties between the two countries. Israel last month finally made a formal apology for the botched 2010 raid in which its troops killed nine Turkish activists….
Gaza ministry closes 200 car shops
4/22/2013 – GAZA CITY (Ma’an) — The Hamas government on Monday shut down 200 shops selling cars and car parts in the Gaza Strip because they were unlicensed, the Transport Ministry said. The ministry’s motoring department cooperated with police and municipalities and police to close down 50 car dealerships and around 150 shops selling….
Hamas slams PLO accusations of ‘Talibanization’
4/22/2013 – GAZA CITY (Ma’an) — Hamas on Monday slammed the Palestine Liberation Organization over its use of “inappropriate inciting terminology” as the PLO called on Hamas to annul legislation it has passed in Gaza. The PLO Executive Committee on Monday issued a statement accusing Hamas of “Muslim Brotherhoodization” and “Talibanization” over new laws it has….
April showers may harm olive harvest, official warns
4/22/2013 – RAMALLAH (Ma’an) — Heavy rainfall across the Palestinian territories over the past two days may have a negative impact on this year’s olive harvest, a Palestinian Authority Ministry of Agriculture agronomist told Ma’an. The late April downpour may also be harmful to the country’s grain crops, Ibrahim Qteishat….
Gaza to import chickens from Egypt to ease shortages
4/22/2013 – GAZA CITY (Ma’an) — The Ministry of Agriculture in Gaza on Monday decided to import chickens from Egypt to ease shortages in the enclave. The ministry will import between 10,000 and 20,000 chickens a day, the head of the ministry’s marketing department Tahseen al-Saqqa told Ma’an. Al-Saqqa said the shortages….
A culinary memory book that tastes like Gaza
4/22/2013 – When the average American thinks about Gaza, it’s likely their first thoughts will be of Hamas, the blockade or issues of governance. It’s considerably less likely that their thoughts would be of a local lentil recipe, the trio of spices used in Gazan cuisine (cumin, garlic and dill) or how a….
Syria opposition chief vows to quit over world ‘inaction’
4/22/2013 – DAMASCUS (AFP) — Syrian opposition chief Ahmad Moaz al-Khatib is determined to step down in the face of what he sees as world “inaction” as government forces recapture territory from the rebels, colleagues said on Sunday. Troops loyal to President Bashar Assad made advances outside the capital and near the Lebanese border, and a watchdog said….
Syria rebels warn Hezbollah fight role ‘declaration of war’
4/22/2013 – ISTANBUL (AFP) — Hezbollah’s role in fighting in the central Syrian province of Homs is a “declaration of war against the Syrian people,” the newly appointed head of the opposition National Coalition warned on Monday.” What is happening in Homs is a declaration of war against the Syrian people and the Arab League should….
Egypt security seize weapons, drugs in Sinai raid
4/22/2013 – EL-ARISH, Egypt (Ma’an) — Egyptian security forces on Monday discovered weapons and drugs in a raid near Nekhel city in Sinai. Forces found a five-acre field of opium and two acres planted with cannabis in a desert area near Nekhel, as well as a stash of weapons including three machineguns, a handgun, a sniper….
Palestinian prisoner to end hunger strike
AlJazeera 22 Apr 2013 – Samer al-Issawi, held by Israel, agrees to end eight-month fast in exchange for early release.
Over Half Million Hotel Guests in 2012, says Statistics Bureau
Palestine News Network
Episcopal Church Makes Positive Investment in the Palestinian Economy
Palestine News Network
Palestine Marathon Holds Message to the World
Palestine News Network
Palestinian Short Film to Compete at Cannes Film Festival
Palestine News Network
Abbas to Visit Austria at End of April
Palestine News Network
Asharq Alawsat: Erdogan is not Likely to Postpone His Trip to Gaza
Palestine News Network
Abbas Meets with Turkish Counterpart in Istanbul
Palestine News Network
Newspapers Review: Reconciliation Efforts Focus of Dailies
Palestine News Network
IOF Forces Arrest 10 Palestinians from Jenin, Bethlehem
Palestine News Network
Settlers Uproot Trees in Hebron
Palestine News Network
Weather Forecast: Relatively Cold Weather
Palestine News Network
Abbas Meets with Kerry and Jordanian, Egyptian Ministers in Istanbul
Palestine News Network
Palestinian Center for Human Rights
PCHR convenes international legal conference in Malaga
Palestinian Center for Human Rights
International Solidarity Movement
Residents of Qusra village on the road to recovery after attacks by settlers
4/22/2013 – International Solidarity Movement – 22nd April 2013, International Solidarity Movement, Qusra, Occupied Palestine, By Team Nablus – Helmi Abdul Azeez Hassan was shot with live ammunition by a settler on 23rd February at short range and came very close to death. He spent nine days unconscious before he woke up in hospital only to be interrogated and accused of throwing….
Tel Rumeida settlers occupy Palestinian land by cutting down trees and farming the land
4/22/2013 – International Solidarity Movement – 21st April 2013, International Solidarity Movement, Hebron, Occupied Palestine, By Team Khalil – Settlers from the Tel Rumeida area in Hebron gradually cut down 15 almond trees on privately owned Palestinian land over the last two weeks. The settlers also installed an irrigation system and planted seeds with the clear intention of taking over the land….
Is there a doctor in the house? In Pakistan, quite possibly
The National 22 Apr 2013 – Pakistan’s medical schools are filled with women but only about half them go on to practise, or further study, after qualifying.
Surviving Boston bombing suspect charged
The National 22 Apr 2013 – Dzhokhar Tsarnaev has been charged with using a weapon of mass destruction and malicious destruction of property resulting in death, and could face the death penalty.
Panetta in UAE: Pressure on Iran’s nuclear programme will grow after June
The National 22 Apr 2013 – The former US defence secretary Leon Panetta expects greater pressure on Tehran’s nuclear programme after it holds its presidential elections.
UN nuclear agency in talks with Tehran
The National 22 Apr 2013 – Agency wants Iran to set a date for discussions on resuming investigation as Washington stresses the importance of diplomacy in ending stand-off.
Dispelling myths about child abuse
The National 22 Apr 2013 – Speakers at lectures for the International Child Abuse Prevention Month dispel wrong ideas about child abuse.
Research centre for freshwater resources being built at Fujairah wadi
The National 22 Apr 2013 – A research centre focusing on freshwater resources is to be built near the Wadi Wurayah protected area in Fujairah.
Almost 200 killed in gun battles in Nigeria
The National 22 Apr 2013 – Most of the victims of the violence, which started on Friday in the north-east village of Baga, are civilians.
Second man arrested over rape of girl, 5, in India
The National 22 Apr 2013 – A 19-year-old garment factory worker joins 24-year-old arrested over the abduction, rape and attempted murder of five-year-old child.
Hegal’s visit shows Israel, U.S. coordinated on the major issues
Ha’aretz – 22 Apr 2013
Iranian suspected of planning terror attack on Israeli embassy arrested in Nepal
Ha’aretz – 22 Apr 2013
Republican group lambasts ‘unconscionable’ Kerry comparison between Mavi Marmara and Boston terror
Ha’aretz – 22 Apr 2013
Report: Palestinian prisoner to end hunger strike in return for early release
Ha’aretz – 22 Apr 2013
U.S. State Department report criticizes Israeli treatment of African refugees
Ha’aretz – 22 Apr 2013
State of emergency extended, again
Ha’aretz – 22 Apr 2013
Congolese man charged with killing Netanya woman over NIS 200 dispute
Ha’aretz – 22 Apr 2013
Palestinian hunger-striker refuses to participate in trial, likens health to Holocaust victim
Ha’aretz – 22 Apr 2013
Yair Lapid tells ultra-Orthodox lawmakers: You don’t own Israel
Ha’aretz – 22 Apr 2013
MK boycotts Israeli clothing chain Fox for employing supermodel Bar Refaeli
Ha’aretz – 22 Apr 2013
Airport strike to end as agreement is reached with El Al, treasury says
Ha’aretz – 22 Apr 2013
Knesset panel to decide whether ailing Israeli Arab city still needs trustee
Ha’aretz – 22 Apr 2013
Knesset to discuss Armenian genocide while Israelis negotiate in Turkey
Ha’aretz – 22 Apr 2013
Israel withdraws opposition to allowing aliyah by ‘Jews of the Amazon’
Ha’aretz – 22 Apr 2013
Netanyahu approves Sharansky’s proposal for egalitarian prayer section at Western Wall
Ha’aretz – 22 Apr 2013
New Israeli implant brings high hopes for back pain relief
Ha’aretz – 22 Apr 2013
Greenpeace: Israel can generate half its electricity without polluting
Ha’aretz – 22 Apr 2013
‘Anarchy in Sinai and no solution in sight’
Jerusalem Post 23 Apr 2013 – Analysis: Mubarak’s fall and the subsequent decline of the central authority have only made matters worse in Sinai.
Nazareth industrial park show’s hi-tech potential
Jerusalem Post 23 Apr 2013 – President Peres one of keynote speakers at dedication ceremony for the Nazareth Industrial Park.
Injured vulture healing in Israel thanks to int’l effort
Jerusalem Post 22 Apr 2013 – International cooperation between Israelis, Jordanians and Germans ends in rescue of injured Egyptian Vulture in Jordan.
Greenpeace: End fuel subsidies, set binding targets
Jerusalem Post 22 Apr 2013 – Israel can reduce power demand significantly in the coming years and help avert the effects of climate change, according to new report.
Peres and Hagel discuss US-Israel cooperation
Jerusalem Post 22 Apr 2013 – President and visiting secretary of defense agree that scientific innovation is far more effective than foreign aid.
Druckman tapped to broker choice for chief rabbi
Jerusalem Post 22 Apr 2013 – No agreement made within the Bayit Yehudi party over the party’s choice of candidate for the post of Ashkenazi chief rabbi.
Palestinian hunger striker’s hearing delayed
Jerusalem Post 22 Apr 2013 – Israeli authorities reportedly offer deal to Issawi, where he would end hunger strike in exchange for a six-month sentence.
Secret cooperation more likely with Jordan than Turkey
Jerusalem Post 22 Apr 2013 – Analysts find it difficult to believe that Turkey would cooperate with Israel on any attack on Iran or anything seen as facilitating one.
Analysis: Show me the money
Jerusalem Post 22 Apr 2013 – A look at the legal context of the Israel-Turkey compensation negotiations.
Boston Islamic group confirms outbursts by suspect
Jerusalem Post 22 Apr 2013 – Islamic Society says bombing suspect disrupted sermons but never expressed any hint of violent sentiments or behavior.
Earth Day: Lights go out atop dump-turned-oasis
Jerusalem Post 22 Apr 2013 – For a few moments, the top of dump-turned-oasis Ariel Sharon Park – where Earth Day celebrations are occurring – goes entirely black.
IDF chief Gantz: Iran is the main focus of our activities
Jerusalem Post 22 Apr 2013 – Gantz tells security conference in TA, “Iran must be pressured on its nuclear program and global terrorist activities”; says Iran, Hezbollah involved “up to their neck” in attempts to safeguard Syrian regime.
Realpolitik apology
Jerusalem Post 22 Apr 2013 – Obama handed the phone to Prime Minister Netanyahu, who proceeded to apologize for the “tragic results” of the Mavi Marmara.
The opening of a Spanish consulate in Gaza
Jerusalem Post 22 Apr 2013 – Many issues that will presumably accompany the upcoming visit to Israel by the foreign minister of Spain, Jose Manuel Garcia-Margolo.
Iranian using fake Israeli passport nabbed in Nepal
Jerusalem Post 22 Apr 2013 – Israeli Embassy in Kathmandu apprehends Iranian man who made “frequent, suspicious visits” to the embassy area.
American Jewish leaders: Stop the rot now
Jerusalem Post 22 Apr 2013 – CANDIDLY SPEAKING: Many consider it a wake-up call and believe that alarm bells should be ringing at major Jewish organizations.
Canada thwarts ‘al-Qaida backed’ terrorist attack
Jerusalem Post 22 Apr 2013 – Canadian police arrest two men over al-Qaida-supported plot to derail a VIA passenger train.
Who murdered Asher and Yonatan?
Jerusalem Post 22 Apr 2013 – Did other agencies of the US government know if Arja worked for US-funded PA intelligence organizations?
The language of terror
Jerusalem Post 22 Apr 2013 – The Boston Marathon attack, the first successful terror bombing in the US since 9/11, was designed for maximum effect.
No Holds Barred: And hate the sinner, too
Jerusalem Post 22 Apr 2013 – Tragedies like the outrageous terrorist bombing in Boston this week, continue to take place is because it doesn’t have enough hate.
Borderline Views: Remembering the Soviet refuseniks
Jerusalem Post 22 Apr 2013 – The refusenik movement sprang to life following the Six Day War.
Assad urges Lebanon to help fight his foes
Jerusalem Post 22 Apr 2013 – Lebanon cannot shield itself from the Syrian civil war, Assad tells a Lebanese delegation visiting his country.
Cyprus ‘Czech-mated’
Jerusalem Post 22 Apr 2013 – A sovereign state was bullied into accepting a diktat – in the case of Czechoslovakia the loss of a third of its territory to Nazi Germany.
Israeli delegation has ‘good’ talks in Ankara
Jerusalem Post 22 Apr 2013 – Israeli, Turkish delegations agree on mechanism to calculate the compensation for families of flotilla victims.
My first Remembrance Day
Jerusalem Post 22 Apr 2013 – This country has welcomed me with open arms and given me so much. It gave me a connection to a people and heritage I never knew.
Five questions for Claude Lanzmann
Jerusalem Post 22 Apr 2013 – ‘Shoah’ was screened at Jerusalem Cinematheque over course of two evenings, and Lanzmann stayed after each screening, discussing the films.
Kerry compares Boston and Mavi Marmara victims
Jerusalem Post 22 Apr 2013 – US Secretary of State compares the two tragedies saying he has “deep feelings when violence happens”; MKs refuse to comment.
Boston bombing suspect charged with using WMD
Jerusalem Post 22 Apr 2013 – Dzhokhar Tsarnaev charged with using weapons of mass destruction that could result in the death penalty.
Lapid blasts haredim in maiden Knesset speech
Jerusalem Post 22 Apr 2013 – Finance minister vows to recruit a lot of yeshiva students to IDF service; Knesset rejects 6 no-confidence motions.
Expert tells passengers how to recover from strike
Jerusalem Post 22 Apr 2013 – “Most importantly, strike victims have to understand that when the strike is over they must move quickly to rebook their tickets.”
Bethlehem Marathon’s inaugural race – video
The Guardian 22 Apr 2013 – Palestinian runners and those from elsewhere in the world compete in the first ever Bethlehem Marathon in the West Bank
‘Tell Us About Jail – Just In Case’
IPS “Three interrogators questioned me for three hours. I was handcuffed. They beat me, slapped me, kicked me, boxed me, accused me of throwing stones; played a video of a demonstration. I denied I was there. So again, they beat me up,” recounts Zein Abu-Mariya, 17, seated on a sofa next…
British Prisoner Shaker Aamer May Die in Guantanamo Because of Secret Detention Deal
Uruknet
Beit Ummar family endures Israeli imprisonment of two teen sons
Uruknet
UNICEF tones down report on child detainees in wake of Israeli pressure
Uruknet
FIVE HANCOCK DRONE RESISTERS FOUND GUILTY
Uruknet
As strikes continue opposition grows and broadens
Uruknet
The silence of the Muslim Brotherhood
Uruknet
Another Gruesome Massacre Near Damascus
Uruknet
US Admits 16 Guantanamo Detainees Being Force-Fed
Uruknet
Settlers harass Palestinian residents of Hebron as soldiers watch on
Uruknet
Israeli military chief: Syrian front could heat up
Daily Star 22 Apr 2013 Israel’s military chief warns 40 years of quiet along the Syrian frontier could be in danger.
Moscow says EU aid to Syria rebels ‘counter-productive’
Daily Star 22 Apr 2013 Russia said Monday that a decision by the EU to ease an oil embargo against Syria in favour of the rebels fighting President Bashar al-Assad was “counter-productive”.
Police: 2 arrested in Canada terror plot
Daily Star 22 Apr 2013 Two men were arrested and charged with plotting a terrorist attack against a Canadian passenger train with support from al-Qaida, police said Monday.
Turkey finds Kerry comments diplomatically wrong
Daily Star 22 Apr 2013 Turkey has criticized U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry for publicly urging Turkey’s prime minister not to visit the Gaza Strip in May.
Israel, Turkey find way forward on flotilla money
Daily Star 22 Apr 2013 In a step toward restoring ties, former allies Turkey and Israel agreed Monday on the “methods and principles” of working out compensation payments for the victims of a deadly 2010 Israeli raid on a Gaza-bound aid…
Syria opposition names Sabra interim chief
Daily Star 22 Apr 2013 The Syrian National Coalition named veteran dissident George Sabra as caretaker leader of the main opposition grouping on Monday, following the resignation of Ahmed Moaz al-Khatib.
FBI: No ricin found in home of Mississippi suspect
Daily Star 22 Apr 2013 Investigators say they haven’t found any ricin in the house of Mississippi man accused of mailing poisoned letters to President Barack Obama, a U.S. senator and a local judge.
U.S. soldier pleads guilty to murder in Iraq
Daily Star 22 Apr 2013 A U.S. soldier on Monday pleaded guilty to murder for shooting dead five fellow servicemen at a military counseling center in Iraq in a plea deal with military prosecutors to avoid the death penalty.
Egypt’s Mursi in crisis talks with judges over reform
Daily Star 22 Apr 2013 Mursi held crisis talks with the country’s top judges on Monday after the justice minister resigned over demands by the ruling Muslim Brotherhood for a “purification” of the judiciary.
Red Cross: At least 187 killed in Nigeria violence
YNet News, 22 Apr 2013 – ….
Haredim taught to reject State
YNet News, 22 Apr 2013 – Op-ed: Why should we expect haredim to enlist in IDF when their schools teach them to reject national symbols? ….
Palestinian prisoner gains deal from Israel to end 8-month fast
YNet News, 22 Apr 2013 – ….
Chile says burned Chinese ship sinks in Antarctic
YNet News, 22 Apr 2013 – ….
Knesset extends order aimed to curb Arab, Palestinian reunions
YNet News, 22 Apr 2013 – ….
Ya’alon to visit US
YNet News, 22 Apr 2013 – ….
Bleak outlook for Ahmadinejad camp?
YNet News, 22 Apr 2013 – Analysis: Publicizing corruption scandals may be only remaining card Iran’s flamboyant president has left to defend himself ….
Israeli novice lawmakers feel their way
YNet News, 22 Apr 2013 – Domestic issues take center stage as Knesset opens summer session. ‘It is difficult for a sitting PM to deal with someone who has already said he would like to be PM,’ political scientist says ….
Boston terrorist’s wife, the girl next door
YNet News, 22 Apr 2013 – Katherine Russell was the typical American teen who dreamed of going to college. At 21, she met Tamerlan Tsarnaev, left school, converted to Islam and had baby. Police reports reveal husband arrested for assaulting her ….
Arkia CEO to Lapid: We must end this strike
YNet News, 22 Apr 2013 – Gadi Teper urges meeting to resolve crisis caused by open skies deal with EU. Finance minister claims strike unnecessary while airlines demand State to fully fund security expenses ….
Iran uses cross-dressing as punishment
YNet News, 22 Apr 2013 – Convict in Kurdish city of Mehran forced to dress in women’s clothes in public procession. Feminists hit streets in protest ….
Former AG: Settlements worse than Darfur
YNet News, 22 Apr 2013 – Michael Ben-Yair, attorney general between 1993-1996 posts on Facebook: ‘Settlements are the most evil and immoral act since World War II’ ….
Next generation of ultra-Orthodox recruits
YNet News, 22 Apr 2013 – Despite challenges, IDF decides to form additional Nahal Haredi battalion to be completely operational, identical in size to existing Netzah Yehuda Battalion ….
Congo national charged with murdering woman over NIS 200
YNet News, 22 Apr 2013 – Aritzia Songo allegedly strangled, threw Zehava Chakol out of window after she demanded he pay small debt, threatening to shout rape if he didn’t ….
Ya’alon on Iran threat: Israel prefers diplomatic solution
YNet News, 22 Apr 2013 – In joint press conference with American counterpart, defense minister says diplomacy is preferable route to stopping Iran’s nuclear program. Hagel: US provides Israel with air supremacy in Middle East ….
Western world must wake up
YNet News, 22 Apr 2013 – Op-ed: When will Americans use their power, brains to lower flames of terror in destructive half of world? ….
Massacre reported in Syria; ‘566 bodies found’
YNet News, 22 Apr 2013 – Opposition activists report highest number of victims discovered in single day since Syrian civil war began ….
Boston bombing suspect questioned by authorities
YNet News, 22 Apr 2013 – Dzhokhar Tsarnaev whose tongue was injured in gunshot to throat before his arrest, regains consciousness, responds in writing to questions ….
Rebels: Assad forces ‘massacre’ 85 in Damascus suburb
YNet News, 21 Apr 2013 – Assad’s army launches devastating attack on makeshift hospital near Damascus, leaving 85 dead, including women, children ….
Egyptian general: Israeli spy ring uncovered in Sinai
YNet News, 21 Apr 2013 – Official confirms reports that local security forces expose espionage ring of nine people transferring information to Mossad ….
Sick prisoner refuses to take medication
PIC – A Palestinian prisoner in Israeli occupation jails has been refusing to take his medication for the past five days in protest at the prison administration’s policy of deliberate medical neglect.
AFEH warns of repeated storming of Aqsa mosque in military uniform
PIC – Aqsa Foundation for Endowment and Heritage (AFEH) has warned of the consequences and goals of the repeated storming of the Aqsa mosque by Israeli soldiers in uniform.
Fire erupts in Kedar prison, suffocation cases reported
PIC – Hebrew media reported that 19 Palestinian prisoners and an Israeli policeman were hurt when fire broke out in the Israeli prison Ohli Kedar in Beersheba.
The release of the female prisoner Zawahra after 7 months in custody
PIC – The Palestinian female prisoner Manar Zawahra, 20, from Bethlehem in the southern West Bank, was released on Sunday after spending her sentence, about 7 months in Israeli jails.
Bardawil: American pressures to cancel Erdogan’s visit to Gaza
PIC – The leader in Hamas movement, Salah Bardawil, confirmed that the movement’s Political Bureau has held in Doha its first meeting, after its Internal elections.
IOF tried to blackmail Palestinian patient at Beit Hanoun crossing
PIC – A Palestinian patient revealed that the Israeli officers tried to blackmail him at Beit Hanoun crossing to provide them with information about one of the resistance in return for medical treatment.
The mother of captive al-Nouri calls for uniting Palestinian efforts
PIC – The mother of prisoner Jamal Al-Nouri called on the Palestinian people in Gaza, the West Bank and in the Diaspora to unite their efforts to end the prisoners’ suffering.
Ahrar: Israeli racist decision to separate between Palestinian prisoners
PIC – Fouad Khuffash, director of Ahrar Center for Prisoners Studies, criticised the Israeli Prison Service’s decision to separate between prisoners from Jerusalem, West Bank, and Gaza prisoners.
Jewish settlers attack Issawi’s family
PIC – Jewish settlers attacked on Monday morning the family of detained hunger striker Samer Issawi in front of the hospital.
Madhoun: Erdogan’s planned visit to Gaza will have great dimensions
PIC – Writer and political analyst Ibrahim Al-Madhoun said that the intended visit of Turkish premier Recep Erdogan to Gaza, if it takes place, would have huge political significance for several reasons.
Clashes Erupt in Jerusalem Rally, Leading to Injuries
WAFA – 22 Apr 2013
No Official Israeli Proposal to End Issawi’s Strike, says PPC
WAFA – 22 Apr 2013
Over Half Million Hotel Guests in 2012, says Statistics Bureau
WAFA – 22 Apr 2013
Abbas to Visit Austria at End of April
WAFA – 22 Apr 2013
Palestinian Short Film to Compete at Cannes Film Festival
WAFA – 22 Apr 2013
Abbas Meets with Turkish Counterpart in Istanbul
WAFA – 22 Apr 2013
Israel Arrests 4 Palestinians from Hebron Area
WAFA – 22 Apr 2013
Israel Arrests 10 in West Bank, Summons 6 Others
WAFA – 22 Apr 2013
Egypt street vendors, store owners say Morsi is bad for business
LA Times 22 Apr 2013 – Crime and blackouts cast a pall over a slum near the pyramids. Things could get worse when expected cuts in subsidies for fuel and bread begin. GIZA, Egypt — The woman with crates of unsold tomatoes breathed in the boisterous music of slum life: creaking…
John Kerry asks Turkish leader to delay Gaza trip
LA Times 22 Apr 2013 – The secretary of State also acknowledges frustration with the slow delivery of U.S. aid to Syrian rebels. ISTANBUL, Turkey — Secretary of State John F. Kerry urged Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan to delay a planned visit to the Gaza Strip, saying it could…
Egypt justice minister resigns after protests
LA Times 21 Apr 2013 – Justice Minister Ahmed Mekki’s move comes as Islamists seek to oust judges deemed to be foes of President Mohamed Morsi. A Cabinet reshuffle is planned. CAIRO — Egypt’s besieged justice minister has submitted his resignation after protests over the weekend by Islamists, who want to…
Human Rights Watch Says Syria War Spilling Into Lebanon
New York Times 22 Apr 2013 – A report by Human Rights Watch faulted both sides in the Syria conflict for increasing cross-border attacks.
No Bunker-Buster Bomb in Israel’s U.S. Arms Deal
New York Times 22 Apr 2013 – The Israelis said they would need such a weapon if they were to attack Iran’s underground nuclear fuel enrichment site.
Police Under New Scrutiny After Activist Dies in Egypt
New York Times 21 Apr 2013 – The death of Mohamed el-Gindy has underscored one of the most vexing challenges facing the new government: how to tame Egypt’s unaccountable and despised security forces.
Syrian Troops Move on Town Near Damascus
New York Times 21 Apr 2013 – Syrian opposition activists said Sunday that government forces had killed at least 80 people in Jdaidet al-Fadl and then made mass arrests as residents tried to bury the bodies.
Kerry Urges Erdogan to Postpone Gaza Trip
New York Times 21 Apr 2013 – Secretary of State John Kerry expressed concern that a visit by Turkey’s leader could harm efforts to restart the Israeli-Palestinian peace process.
Treasury proposes reducing no. of municipal water cos
Globes Energy & Water – Replacing the 57 municipal water companies with 15 regional companies will save NIS 500 million a year, and result in a 5% cut in water rates.
Delek Energy seen making $2b Wall Street offering
Globes Energy & Water – The bond offering is partly to recycle $800 million debt taken to finance development of the Tamar natural gas field.
Airport strike ends after security costs agreement
Globes Main News – The finance ministry will up its share of security costs for El Al, Arkia and Israir from 70% to 97.5%, as part of the Open Skies agreement.
Lapid proposes NIS 18b cuts, NIS 5b tax hikes
Globes Main News – Minister of Finance Yair Lapid’s budget proposal sets the deficit target for 2014 at 3-3.25% of GDP.
G4S quits Israel West Bank operations
Globes Main News – The “Financial Times” reports that global security firm G4S is divesting from contracts in the West Bank and at IDF checkpoints.
Mon: Israel Chemicals fails to lift market
Globes Main News – Israel Chemicals rose another 2% on the day’s biggest turnover, but the banks continued to fall.
Check Point ahead on profit but revenue misses
Globes Main News – The network security company posted non-GAAP earnings per share of $0.79 on revenue of $322.7 million in the first quarter.
Manufacturers oppose standards reform
Globes Macro Economics – Manufacturers are furious over Economy Minister Naftali Bennett’s plan to exempt importers from the requirement to obtain Israeli standards.
Import reforms aim to cut prices
Globes Macro Economics – The reform aims to eliminate the need to set up special production lines for goods designated for the Israeli market.
Now the government decides, not the Histadrut
Globes Macro Economics – The Open Skies decision was a slap in the face for Ofer Eini, but he needs to reserve his strength for bigger battles ahead.
Hagel: New deal allows IAF long range capabilities
Globes Aerospace & Defense – US Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel said in Tel Aviv that the new weapons that the US is selling Israel will ensure its air superiority.
In historic decision, AAAS votes to support boycott of Israeli academic institutions
Mondoweiss – Association for Asian American Studies Annual Conference April 2013 Big news out of Seattle this weekend. At the Annual Conference of the Association for Asian American Studies ( AAAS ) members voted for a resolution endorsed by 800 academics in support of boycotting Israeli academic institutions in solidarity…
Kerry likens Boston victims to ‘Mavi Marmara’ victims
Mondoweiss – U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry listens to a question as he speaks to the media April 21, 2013, Istanbul, Turkey (Photo: AP) Read more here: http://www.adn.com/2013/04/20/2873349/kerry-pushes-turkey-israel-rapprochement.html#storylink=cpy At a press conference in Istanbul yesterday, attempting to bring about rapprochment between Israel and Turkey, US Secretary of State…
‘Arabs, I hate Arabs!’–Independence Day and just another day in Jerusalem
Mondoweiss – Israelis celebrate Israel’s 65th Independence Day on the streets of Jerusalem, Monday, April 15, 2013 (Photo: Miriam Alster/Flash90/Times of Israel) “Do you speak Hebrew,” he asked in me (in Hebrew). “No, but I speak Arabic. Do you speak Arabic?” I replied (in Arabic) to the drunk…
Video shows Israeli police allegedly using Palestinian youth as a human shield
Mondoweiss – In an effort to document the longstanding Israeli practice of exploiting Palestinian youths to protect their occupation forces, Defence for Children International Palestine (DCI-Palestine) released this video of the Israeli Border Police. It allegedly shows a Palestinian teenager being forced to act as a human shield….
Israeli arts high school cuts Palestinians from David Grossman’s call for peace
Mondoweiss – Israeli novelist David Grossman lost his son in the Lebanon war in 2006 and later that year gave a speech marking the 11th anniversary of Yitzhak Rabin’s assassination. Last week a Tel Aviv high school for the arts marked Israel’s memorial day with a reading from…
Israeli Doctors Made Key Difference in Boston
The Foward Breaking News 22 Apr 2013 – Minutes after a terrorist attack killed three at the finish line of the Boston Marathon, doctors and nurses at the city’s hospitals faced a harrowing scene – severed limbs, burned bodies, shrapnel buried in skin. Click here for the rest of the article…
Thousands Protest Anti-Semitism in Budapest
The Foward Breaking News 22 Apr 2013 – Tens of thousands of protesters marched in Budapest against anti-Semitism, as Hungarian police prevented a neo-Nazi demonstration for the third time in two weeks. Click here for the rest of the article…
Israel Hints at New Patience on Iran
The Foward Breaking News 22 Apr 2013 – Israel suggested on Monday it would be patient before taking any military action against Iran’s nuclear programme, saying during a visit by U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel there was still time for other options. Click here for the rest of the article…
Giant Arms Sale Will Ensure Israel Rules Air
The Foward Breaking News 22 Apr 2013 – Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel on Monday met Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon and finalized the sale of an undisclosed number of Bell Boeing V-22 transport helicopters and other U.S. military equipment including Boeing KC-135 inflight refueling planes, advanced radar systems for fighter planes and anti-radiation missiles…
Sex Trade, Then and Now
The Forward Editorial 22 Apr 2013 – FORWARD EDITORIAL : Sex slavery was once a plague on the Jewish Lower East Side. A century later, women are still suffering the same injustice — or worse. Click here for the rest of the article…
South Africa: Brutal Attacks Against Innocent Pro – Palestinian Activists Outrageous
allAfrica.com 22 Apr 2013 – [COSATU]The South African Municipal Workers Union (SAMWU) is outraged to have learnt about the attack of innocent South African pro-Palestinian activists who were protesting at a concert held at Gold Reef City Casino, Johannesburg this week.
Egypt: Qatar’s Offers to Help Egypt Restore Looted Assets
allAfrica.com 22 Apr 2013 – [Egypt Online]Qatari Prosecutor General Ali al-Merri, in his capacity as UN special advocate on stolen asset recovery, offered to help Egypt restore its funds smuggled outside the country by former regime figures, said Public Prosecution spokesman Mostafa Dewidar.
Gunmen abduct bishops in Syria
BBC 22 Apr 2013 – Militants in a rebel-held area of northern Syria abduct two bishops travelling from the Turkish border back to the city of Aleppo.
EU states ease Syria oil embargo
BBC 22 Apr 2013 – EU member states agree to ease an oil embargo on Syria to allow opponents of President Bashar al-Assad to sell crude.
US in major arms deal with Israel
BBC 22 Apr 2013 – The United States is to equip Israel with a range of advanced missiles and fighter jets, new defence chief Chuck Hagel has said on a visit to Jerusalem.
Assad says Qusayr main battleground: Lebanese official
Al-Akhbar News 22 Apr 2013 – Syrian women walk past the destruction at Dar Al-Shifa hospital in the northern city of Aleppo on on 21 April 2013. (Photo: AFP – Miguel Medina) Syria’s “main battle” at present is raging in the Qusayr area, touching Lebanon’s northeastern border, President Bashar al-Assad reportedly told…
Lebanon: Capitalist Cabal Demands Government Representation
Al-Akhbar News 22 Apr 2013 – Lebanon has never seen a government challenge the capitalists and their interests. (Photo: Marwan Tahtah) Lebanon has never seen a government challenge the capitalists and their interests. (Photo: Marwan Tahtah) The meeting last Wednesday between prime minister designate Tammam Salam and a delegation from the Economic…
Syrian Army Surrounds Strategic Town of Qusayr
Al-Akhbar News 22 Apr 2013 – A Syrian Army truck patrols the area past dirt barriers which separate Lebanon from Syria in the Bekaa Valley region of al-Qaa in eastern Lebanon on 21 October 2011. (Photo: AFP – Joseph Eid) A Syrian Army truck patrols the area past dirt barriers which separate…
Saudi Control of Lebanon: A Little Tourism and Sympathy
Al-Akhbar News 22 Apr 2013 – The spokesman for the Saudi minister of interior General Mansour Turki is given a tour alongside other media representatives of a new centre for the rehabilitation of suspected “terrorists” and potential al-Qaeda recruits in Riyadh on 9 April 2013.(Photo: AFP – STR) The spokesman for the…
Eritrean pilot, fetching jet stolen by defectors, defects
Al-Akhbar News 22 Apr 2013 – A military pilot sent by Eritrea to Saudi Arabia to reclaim a jet stolen by two fellow officers when they flew to seek asylum, has herself defected, Saudi media reported on Monday. The pilot, who holds the rank of captain, told the authorities in Jizan province…
Qatar sentences man to lashes for drinking alcohol
Al-Akhbar News 22 Apr 2013 – A Qatari court has sentenced a foreign hairdresser from an unspecified Asian country to 40 lashes over consuming alcohol in the Gulf state, a local daily reported on Monday. He was arrested after another man accused him of harassing his domestic worker by throwing a piece…
Palestinian Couples Separated by Israel’s Racist Laws
Al-Akhbar Series and Features 21 Apr 2013 – An Israeli soldier checks Palestinians as they cross an Israeli checkpoint in the occupied West Bank city of Hebron to go to the Ibrahimi Mosque or the Tomb of the Patriarch on 25 March 2013. (Photo: AFP – Hazem Bader) An Israeli soldier checks Palestinians as…
Gunmen abduct bishops in Syria
BBC 22 Apr 2013 – Militants in a rebel-held area of northern Syria abduct two bishops travelling from the Turkish border back to the city of Aleppo.
Court victory for Kuwaiti opposition
BBC 22 Apr 2013 – A prominent Kuwaiti opposition leader is granted bail pending appeal against a five-year jail sentence for insulting the emir.
Godolphin trainer in ‘doping error’
BBC 22 Apr 2013 – Godolphin trainer Mahmood Al Zarooni faces an inquiry after anabolic steroids are found in 11 of his 45 horses.
EU states ease Syria oil embargo
BBC 22 Apr 2013 – EU member states agree to ease an oil embargo on Syria to allow opponents of President Bashar al-Assad to sell crude.
Bahrain activist ‘denied treatment’
BBC 22 Apr 2013 – The wife of jailed Bahraini human rights activist Nabeel Rajab tells the BBC he is being denied medical treatment for a back injury
US in major arms deal with Israel
BBC 22 Apr 2013 – The United States is to equip Israel with a range of advanced missiles and fighter jets, new defence chief Chuck Hagel has said on a visit to Jerusalem.
Articles
Israel’s ‘Dove’ and Hawk in its War against Iran
Muhammad Sahimi, Antiwar.com 4/22/2013
It has been abundantly clear to those who closely follow the political developments in the Middle East that, for at least two decades, Israeli politics has been moving continuously toward extreme, reactionary right. The left, and the center-left represented by the Labor Party, have been marginalized, and the relatively moderate elements of the old Likud Party have left it. As a result, Israeli politics are now dominated by the extreme groups and figures, ranging from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu – the hawk of Israeli politics – and his like-minded supporters that are still with what remains of Likud, to Yisrael Beiteinu (the Jewish Home) and the ultranationalist religious groups. Such environment has allowed men like former foreign minister Avigdor Lieberman – a “neo-fascist … a certified gangster … the Israeli equivalent of [Austria’s racist politician] Jörg Haider” – who founded Yisrael Beiteinu to rise to power in Israel. Even Netanyahu’s electoral setback in the January did not present any significant break from the rightward movement of politics in Israel; it actually represented a left turn to the extreme right.
A constant feature of Israeli politics is that much of it is based on myths. The list of such myths is actually very long, but here is a sample. Anyone who opposes Israel’s occupation of the Palestinian lands and urges its people to resist it is opposed to the “peace process,” a mythical process that has not yielded any tangible benefits for the Palestinians and their dream of having their own independent state. Anyone that does not believe that Iran and its non-existent nuclear weapon program represent an “existential threat” to Israel is an “appeaser” of the Islamic Republic, even though many former high security officials in Israel have rejected such a notion of the threat..
But, one of the greatest myths is that the Israeli President Shimon Peres is a “moderate,” a “man of peace,” and a “dove,” presumably because he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1994…. more.. e-mail
Jahalin Bedouins face new eviction
Sergio Yahni, Alternative Information Center 4/21/2013
Israel is planning on evicting the Jahalin Bedouins from their settlements in the Jerusalem periphery to the Jericho area of the Jordan Valley. Israel’s Civil Administration suggests this plan is being conducted in cooperation with the Palestinian Authority, and that a Palestinian construction company has already been awarded a project to build 800 housing units in the Jericho area.
Israeli efforts to evict the Jahalin Bedouins from their settlements in the area of Khan Al Akhmar in the Jerusalem periphery began already in the early 1990s to facilitate construction and expansion of Ma’ale Adumim, now the third largest settlement in the West Bank with a population of some 39,000. Throughout the 1990s Israel issued between 100-120 military or court orders for eviction of the Jahalin Bedouins.
In 1996 some 4,000 members of Jahalin were evicted. In 1998, however, an appeal to the Israeli High Court resulted in a deal between Israel’s Civil Administration and representatives of 35 Jahalin families, who were permitted to “lease state lands” that originally belonged to the Palestinian town of Abu Dis. Thus, the village of ‘Arab al-Jahalin was founded.
The presence of other Jahalin communities in Area E1, to the north of Ma’ale Adumim, was tolerated, although the risk of eviction never passed.
In 2012, plans to relocate those living in Area E1, together with 22 other communities for a total of 2,300 people – to Arab al-Jahalin village were dropped and Israel’s Civil Administration began to search for a different location.
The Jahalin Bedouins are originally from the Tel Arad area in the northern Naqab (Negev), but were evicted from the area in the early 1950s by the Israeli army…. more.. e-mail
Why is Israel pursuing released prisoners in the West Bank?
Dr Adnan Abu Amer, Middle East Monitor (MEMO) 4/22/2013
“The West Bank is strategically significant to the Palestinian forces on a number of levels and poses a serious threat to Israel…”If Israel could go back in time to October 2011, it wouldn’t have gone through with the exchange agreement with Hamas and released 1,000 of their detained senior members, returned 111 detainees to their homes in the West Bank (45 of which are in Jerusalem), and exiled 163 others to the Gaza Strip for long periods of time in exchange for releasing the detained soldier. Exchange deals
We make this assumption in light of the continued arrest campaigns carried out by the Israeli intelligence agencies and army against the released prisoners in the West Bank. They do so on the grounds that the former prisoners have resumed armed activities, claiming that the main motive driving them to think of capturing Israeli soldiers is the presence of a historical precedent posed by Israel’s yielding to Hamas in the last deal. They believe they can recreate that deal in order to release those still behind bars.
This drove Palestinians to warn against operations targeting released prisoners, after considering these operations an incitement campaign headed by the Shabak, who accused the Palestinians of directing and funding armed operations, especially attempts to capture Israeli soldiers, linking it to their presence in Gaza and the increased number of operations against the army away from watchful eyes.
In addition to this, the Shabak considered exiling prisoners from the West Bank to Gaza a huge mistake because this places them away from observation and detention measures…. more.. e-mail
Obama’s Syrian Horror
Saul Landau, CounterPunch 4/22/2013
Feigned Outrage
President Obama has fueled Syria’s civil war flames and lied to Congress about his “modest” role in that conflict. Between 2002 and 2007, I visited Syria four times. I drove through the fertile valleys that parallel the Mediterranean coast, and to the Golan Heights’ barbed-wired border with Israel.
Sunnis, Shias, Kurds, Christians and even Jews reassured me: Assad’s government encouraged free religion but had not practiced democratic politics. During the Arab Spring his failure to reform got his government into trouble. Instead of dialoguing with Syrian protestors, he tried to cover the holes of his authoritarian government’s façade. Then Saudi Arabia and Qatar, not models of democracy, supplied money and arms, and foreign troops into Syria to intensify the conflict. Washington and Western Europe, with their oily regional partners, began fueling a war that has taken 70,000 Syrian lives, and left one million plus refugees.
Obama assured Congress that Washington only supplied minimal non-lethal aid to the “Free Syrian Army,” while simultaneously ordering the CIA to supervise large weapons shipments to the rebels, including some who were sworn enemies of the West with extremist Islamic perspectives. Photos and horror stories show ruins where homes and public buildings once stood, dramatize famine where restaurants and markets once offered abundant food. Why has Obama directed this death march in which Washington “helps” rebels allied to right wing Islam? These are sectors that, should they prevail in the war, could and would turn these weapons against the very governments that supply them.
The New York Times revealed Obama’s lies about the U.S. role in this war, and, about Washington’s level of participation. U.S. efforts have far exceeded what the President has admitted. The CIA has funneled and distributed large weapons shipments to the rebels – more than 3,500 tons worth to date…. more.. e-mail
Map of destroyed villages aims to teach Israelis about Nakba
Electronic Intifada: 22 Apr 2013 – On the 65th anniversary of Israel’s establishment, the group Zochrot is spreading the truth about the Nakba — in Hebrew.more
Palestinian Arab Idol finalist says Issawi an inspiration
In Gaza: 22 Apr 2013 – ( Ma’an News ) — Muhammad Assaf, a Palestinian finalist in the TV singing contest Arab Idol, says he is inspired by long-term hunger striker Samer Issawi and would trade winning the competition for the prisoner’s freedom. “I am conveying Palestine’s message to the world, and if I had to choose between winning the Arab Idol title and the freedom of Samer Issawi, I would choose freedom for the Palestinian hero whose steadfastness is peerless and I can’t compare myself to it,” Assaf told Ma’an. Speaking from Beirut, the singer from Gaza City said that he considers himself an “ambassador of Palestinian art,” who wants to convey a positive image of Palestinians, despite Israeli occupation and oppression. Arab audiences are happy to see a Palestinian singing different genres of music rather than just patriotic songs, he said, adding that he has been receiving support from his fans in the Arab world….more
The Truth Will Set Us Free?
Dissident Voice: 22 Apr 2013 – I was brought up in a country that believed itself to be open and tolerant. Indeed after the Second World War Germany undertook to transform guilt into responsibility. For me, it was always clear that our commitment to those “inviolable and inalienable human rights” 1 as well as freedom of speech, 2 were the most precious values and lessons to be drawn from our problematic past. This is why, three months ago, I was dismayed to discover that Freiburg University, one of our oldest German universities, banned an event hosting renowned Paris University Professor Christophe Oberlin who was scheduled to talk about plastic surgery in Gaza. Freiburg University hosts all kinds of political events, especially and regularly events organized by notorious Israeli Hasbara outlets such as the German Israeli Society and the Zionist Anti-Deutsche . And, if this is not enough, invitations to German Israeli Society events are often publicised by…more
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The New Dark Age 