9 December 2013 — VTJP
News
International Middle East Media Center
International Human Rights Day, Palestinian People’s Suffering Continues
IMEMC – On 10 December, the world celebrates the Human Rights Day, which was proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly in 1950 to review the international achievements in the field of universal respect, promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental liberties that are the core principles of International Bill of Human Rights, which States have repeatedly emphasized their legal and moral commitment, in cooperation with the United Nations (UN), to promote and respect for all human beings. …
Approaching Winter Threatens Gaza With Worsening Power Crisis
IMEMC – Egyptian Power Grid Disconnected Saturday An official from the Gaza Strip Power Authority (GSPA) expressed concerns, Sunday, that Gazans will have electricity for less than six hours a day, as winter approaches, the Ma’an News Agency has reported. …
Soldiers Uproot Olive Trees Near Bethlehem
IMEMC – Villages Isolated Near Hebron [Monday at Dawn, December 9, 2013] Local sources report that Israeli military bulldozers have uprooted more than 40 olive trees, in order to connect settler road #60 with the Cremisan Monastery in Beit Jala town, west of Bethlehem, and other areas. …
Settlement wastewater pumped in valleys, plains in Salfit district
12/9/2013 – SALFIT (Ma’an) – Settlers in illegal settlements in the central West Bank area have started to pump untreated wastewater into the valleys and plains near Palestinian villages in Salfit district, a local researcher said Monday. Khalid Maali told Ma’an that settlers took advantage of stormy weather to pump their sewage which mixed with rain water. Ariel settlement, he said, has pumped untreated….
Group: New Israeli excavations under al-Aqsa
12/9/2013 – JERUSALEM (Ma’an) – Israeli authorities started new excavations under the al-Aqsa compound in the Old City of Jerusalem, namely under the Chain Gate on the western side, according to the Jerusalem-based al-Aqsa Foundation for Endowment and Heritage. The group said in a statement that excavations were about 8 meters below a tunnel the Israelis had dug under the western part of the compound. Dozens….
WHO concerned over humanitarian health crisis in Gaza
12/9/2013 – BETHLEHEM (Ma’an) — The World Health Organization on Sunday expressed concern over a humanitarian health crisis in the Gaza Strip, as the health infrastructure struggles to cope with severe shortages in basic supplies.”The accumulation of shortages in basic supplies in Gaza is leading to rapid deterioration in the social determinants of health for the population of 1. 7 million Palestinians,” WHO said. Over….
Bethlehem man shot by Israel 9 years ago in critical condition
12/9/2013 – BETHLEHEM (Ma’an) — A man shot by Israeli forces nine years ago is currently in a critical condition after suffering from complications caused by the injury, his relatives told Ma’an. Muin al-Atrash, from Duheisha refugee camp in Bethlehem, was shot on March 22, 2004 during a demonstration protesting against the assassination of Hamas leader Sheikh Ahmad Yasin. His brother, Farid al-Atrash, a….
Bethlehem-area man hit by Israeli vehicle
12/9/2013 – BETHLEHEM (Ma’an) – A Palestinian man was injured Monday afternoon after he was hit by an Israeli vehicle in the village of Nahhalin west of Bethlehem in the southern West Bank. Director of the Bethlehem ambulance and emergency service Muhammad Awad told Ma’an that a Palestinian ambulance evacuated the victim to a Palestinian hospital. He added that the man’s family….
Dutch premier’s Israel trip hit by Gaza row
12/9/2013 – JERUSALEM (AFP) — A visit to Israel by Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte Sunday was marred by a dispute over a new security scanner on the Gaza border, an Israeli official said. Rutte was to have inaugurated the scanner on the border with the Gaza Strip, but the ceremony was put off because of the row.” Installation of the Dutch scanner, which would have been used….
PA, Israel, and Jordan to sign Red Sea-Dead Sea deal
12/9/2013 – JERUSALEM (AFP) — Representatives of Israel, Jordan and the Palestinian Authority will on Monday sign a “historic” agreement to link the Red Sea with the shrinking Dead Sea, an Israeli minister said. Energy and Regional Development Minister Silvan Shalom told army radio that under the agreement to be signed at the World Bank in Washington, water will be drawn from the Gulf of Aqaba at the….
Kerry security proposals will cause ‘total failure’ of talks
12/9/2013 – RAMALLAH (AFP) — US proposals on security presented by Secretary of State John Kerry will lead to the “total failure” of peace talks with Israel, a senior PLO official told AFP on Monday.” These ideas will drive Kerry’s efforts to an impasse and to total failure because he is treating our issues with a high degree of indifference,” said Yasser Abed Rabbo, a top….
Israeli forces detain 3 in Jenin refugee camp
12/9/2013 – JENIN (Ma’an) — Israeli forces raided Jenin refugee camp overnight Sunday and detained three people, PA security officials said. Majd Saadi, 24, Jumaa Abu Khalifah, 45, and Suleiman Abu al-Rub, 22, were arrested at 3. 30 a. m. after Israeli forces raided several homes in the eastern neighborhood of the camp. [END]
Settler attempts suicide near Salfit, local official says
12/9/2013 – NABLUS (Ma’an) — An Israeli settler on Monday tried to commit suicide in a rural area near Salfit in the northern West Bank, a local official said. Daoud Abdullah, public relations officer of Deir Ballut village, told Ma’an that locals noticed an Israeli car parked in a field near the village and notified Palestinian security officials. Palestinian security forces then approached the….
Abbas heads to South Africa to attend Mandela memorial
12/9/2013 – JERUSALEM (Ma’an) — President Mahmoud Abbas left for Johannesburg on Monday to attend the memorial service for the iconic South African leader Nelson Mandela. Presidential spokesperson Nabil Abu Rudeina, political affairs adviser Majdi al-Khalidi, and head of the PA’s general intelligence services Majid Faraj will accompany Abbas. More than 50 heads of state and government have confirmed their intentions to travel to….
Computer network at Rafah crossing breaks down
12/9/2013 – GAZA CITY (Ma’an) – The computer network at the Egyptian side of Rafah crossing broke down Monday morning after only one bus and one ambulance managed to cross into Egyptian territory, a Palestinian official said. Director of border crossings Mahir Abu Sabha told Ma’an that Egyptian officials at Rafah crossing notified their Palestinian counterparts that the computer network broke down. Hundreds of….
Man shot dead by PA police during attempted arrest
12/9/2013 – BETHLEHEM (Ma’an) — A man was shot dead by Palestinian Authority police during an attempted arrest by officers east of Bethlehem on Monday. Hasan Mubarak Abu Mheimeed was shot dead in al-Asakira village east of Bethlehem after resisting arrest, a PA police spokesman told Ma’an. A police statement said that Abu Mheimeed was hiding out in the village and tried to run….
Minister: 15 used cars companies suspended over tax evasion
12/9/2013 – JERUSALEM (Ma’an) – Palestinian Authority minister of transportation Nabil Dmeidi said Monday that 15 companies importing used cars were suspended over suspicions of forgery of customs data. Dmeidi highlighted that by concealing custom data the companies evaded payment of custom taxes to the Palestinian treasury. He said the decision to suspend 15 companies would serve to protect Palestinian citizens and public money. [END]
Egyptian forces ‘thwart car-bomb attacks’ in Sinai
12/9/2013 – EL-ARISH, Egypt (Ma’an) – Egyptian forces thwarted two booby-trap car attacks in Sheikh Zuweid in North Sinai district Sunday evening, an Egyptian military spokesman said. Maj. -Gen. Ahmad Ali told reporters that army sappers safely detonated a booby-trapped minibus before it arrived at a military base in Sheikh Zuweid. Another booby-trapped vehicle was safely detonated while it was parked at the side of a….
Obama, Raul Castro, Ban to address Mandela memorial
12/9/2013 – JOHANNESBURG (AFP) — A brace of world leaders including US President Barack Obama will address Nelson Mandela’s memorial, organizers said on Monday, the eve of the event. South African President Jacob Zuma will make the keynote address before a crowd in Soweto expected to reach 80,000, and millions more watching around the world. Other speakers include UN boss Ban Ki-Moon and Cuban President Raul….
Egypt Brotherhood chief in court as new trial begins
12/9/2013 – CAIRO (AFP) — Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood chief Mohammed Badie Monday attended the first session of his second trial, his lawyer said, marking his first public appearance since he was arrested in August. Badie, the Brotherhood’s Supreme Guide, appeared alongside 14 other members of the Islamist movement to face charges of inciting violence in the Cairo neighborhood of Bahr al-Aazam that led to….
Egypt police clash with pro-Morsi students
12/9/2013 – CAIRO (AFP) — Police fired tear gas Monday in clashes with Islamist students of Cairo’s Al-Azhar University who hurled stones and torched vehicles during a demonstration backing ousted president Mohamed Morsi, officials said. Violence in and around the university’s dormitory erupted when a few hundred students began protesting and poured onto nearby streets, security officials said. Four civilian and two police cars….
Kerry to Postpone Third Phase of Prisoners’ Release
Palestine News Network
Sumoud: The Struggle of Al-Araqib Against Prawer Plan
Palestine News Network
Palestinian Center for Human Rights
International Human Rights Day…. Palestinian People’s Suffering Continues
Palestinian Center for Human Rights
occupied Palestinian territory: Muslim bloc urges global community to back Palestinians
Relief Web 9 Dec 2013 – Source: Agence France-Presse Country: occupied Palestinian territory 12/09/2013 20:21 GMT CONAKRY, December 9, 2013 (AFP) – The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation called on the international community to support an independent Palestinian state as it opened a conference on Monday also…
occupied Palestinian territory: Israel, Jordan, Palestinians ink water-sharing deal
Relief Web 9 Dec 2013 – Source: Agence France-Presse Country: Israel, Jordan, occupied Palestinian territory 12/09/2013 21:49 GMT WASHINGTON, December 9, 2013 (AFP) – Israel, Jordan and the Palestinians signed a “historic” water-sharing initiative at the World Bank in Washington Monday that could protect the Dead…
World: El CICR presenta un presupuesto ambicioso pero realista para atender a las necesidades cada vez más grandes en 2014
Relief Web 8 Dec 2013 – Source: International Committee of the Red Cross Country: Afghanistan, Colombia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Iraq, Mali, occupied Palestinian territory, Somalia, Sudan, Syrian Arab Republic, World, South Sudan (Republic of) Ginebra (CICR) – Mientras que millones de personas en Siria,…
occupied Palestinian territory: In Excessive Use of Force, Israeli Forces Kill Palestinian Child in al-Jalazoun Refugee Camp, North of Ramallah
Relief Web 8 Dec 2013 – Source: Palestinian Centre for Human Rights Country: occupied Palestinian territory Ref: 123/2013 According to investigations conducted by the Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR), at approximately 16:30 on Saturday, 07 December 2013, dozens of Palestinian children gathered at the southern…
US ‘asking Palestinians for concessions’ to silence Israel over Iran deal
The National 9 Dec 2013 – US acquiescence to Israel’s security demands is aimed at ‘silencing the Israelis over the deal with Iran and achieving a fake progress in the Palestinian-Israeli track at our expense’, senior Palestinian official says.
Stick together for security, Saudi Arabia warns GCC
The National 9 Dec 2013 – With its decades-old US alliance strained over the Syria war and a nuclear deal with Iran, Saudi Arabia is calling on the Gulf countries to unite for their own self-defence.
Car bomb and roadside bombings kill 18 in Iraq
The National 9 Dec 2013 – Series of attacks, including a car bomb outside a cafe, kills at least 18 people.
Western Muslims fighting in Syria are using social media to attract recruits
The National 9 Dec 2013 – The very public accounts by the young men come as the West warns about the potential dangers posed by the flow of young Muslims to the brutal war.
Egypt’s Brotherhood chief in court as new trial begins
The National 9 Dec 2013 – Mohammed Badie, the Muslim Brotherhood’s Supreme Guide, appears alongside 14 other members of the movement to face charges of inciting violence that led to deadly clashes in July.
Experts thrash out details on Iran nuclear deal
The National 9 Dec 2013 – Technical experts from Iran, six world powers and the United Nations’ atomic watchdog meet to negotiate the details to implement last month’s landmark nuclear deal. Michael Theodoulou reports
Riot police deploy near protest sites in Kiev
The National 9 Dec 2013 – Hundreds of police in full riot gear flood into the centre of Kiev, raising fears of an imminent crackdown on mass anti-government protests in the Ukrainian capital.
Kurdish militants free abducted Turkish soldiers
The National 9 Dec 2013 – Four Turkish soldiers seized by Kurdistan Workers Party militants have been freed, ending a brief standoff that may have damaged a fragile peace process.
Mandela and Qaddafi, an enduring pan-African partnership
The National 9 Dec 2013 – Even when the Libyan leader was an international pariah, South Africa’s anti-apartheid leader continued to pay tribute to Qaddafi’s support for the armed struggle he once led. Alice Fordham reports
Almost 100 world leaders to attend Mandela’s funeral – but not Netanyahu
The National 9 Dec 2013 – Israeli prime minister cites travel and security costs of US$2 million as behind his decision not to attend Nelson Mandela’s funeral.
The widow who made a ‘decent man’ of Mandela
The National 9 Dec 2013 – Third wife, who barely left her husband’s bedside in the final six months of his life, has hardly been seen since his death.
Why Pakistan is still important to the US
The National 9 Dec 2013 – Strained relations between the United States and Pakistan will be on the agenda during defence secretary Chuck Hagel’s visit to Islamabad.
Al Qaeda-linked militants execute Syrian man for ‘blasphemy’
The National 9 Dec 2013 – Militants from Al Qaeda’s affiliate in Syria shoot man in the head after accusing him of blasphemy.
Dozens of activists and ex-MPs acquitted of storming Kuwait parliament
The National 9 Dec 2013 – ‘All the defendants were found not guilty’ of charges of storming a public building, assaulting police, resisting orders and damaging public property, in the ruling by judge Hisham Abdullah.
Overseas Filipino worker ban for new jobs in Yemen
The National 9 Dec 2013 – Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario said in a statement the government was also offering to repatriate an estimated 1,000 other citizens already employed there as medical workers or construction labourers.
Yingluck dissolves parliament, calls Thai elections
The National 9 Dec 2013 – Thailand’s prime minister announced today she will dissolve the lower house of Parliament and call early elections in an attempt to calm the country’s deepening political crisis.
Rare riot shocks Singapore’s Little India after worker’s death
The National 9 Dec 2013 – Singaporeans woke up to unfamiliar images of burnt cars and littered streets Monday after a fatal road accident triggered a riot by South Asian workers, the worst outbreak of violence in more than 40 years.
In pictures: Rioting in Singapore’s Little India
The National 9 Dec 2013 – The death of a worker sparked riots in Singapore’s Little India with vehicles set on fire in the worst violence to hit the city in 40 years.
Netanyahu using Iran as another excuse to put off peace with Palestinians
Ha’aretz – 9 Dec 2013
Professors call on American Studies Association to vote down Israel boycott
Ha’aretz – 9 Dec 2013
Knesset Speaker to represent Israel at Mandela memorial, in lieu of Netanyahu
Ha’aretz – 9 Dec 2013
Netanyahu: Israel and Palestinians aren’t close to final peace deal
Ha’aretz – 9 Dec 2013
Jews, survival and the zombie apocalypse
Ha’aretz – 9 Dec 2013
Was the United States really against Mandela?
Ha’aretz – 9 Dec 2013
Palestinians: Kerry appeasing Israel over Iran at our expense
Ha’aretz – 9 Dec 2013
UN: Israel to allow some construction materials into Gaza
Ha’aretz – 9 Dec 2013
Police arrest 11 allegedly tied to Israeli crime ring
Ha’aretz – 9 Dec 2013
Gazans release parody of Van Damme’s ‘epic split’ video
Ha’aretz – 9 Dec 2013
U.K. government warns British citizens against doing business in Israeli settlements
Ha’aretz – 9 Dec 2013
The Tel Aviv commuting trend that’s headed to a city near you
Ha’aretz – 9 Dec 2013
Netanyahu at a political turning point as coalition tensions intensify
Ha’aretz – 9 Dec 2013
When it rains it pours: Israelis brace for floods
Ha’aretz – 9 Dec 2013
Gaza struggles as Egypt tunnel blockade takes toll on business
Ha’aretz – 9 Dec 2013
Dutch ‘Big Brother’ producers buy 33% of Israeli TV franchisee
Ha’aretz – 9 Dec 2013
Mandela’s blind spot
Ha’aretz – 8 Dec 2013
Remove the stain of migrant detention
Ha’aretz – 8 Dec 2013
IDF seized West Bank house despite court ruling for Palestinian owners
Ha’aretz – 8 Dec 2013
Government will again succumb to Bedouin and Israeli Arabs
Ha’aretz – 8 Dec 2013
PM dismisses Lapid’s warning of coalition trouble if peace talks fail
Ha’aretz – 8 Dec 2013
What does ‘Israeli Apartheid’ mean, anyway?
Ha’aretz – 8 Dec 2013
Israel, a country that changes enemies like you change your clothes
Ha’aretz – 8 Dec 2013
Netanyahu’s Mandela manipulation
Ha’aretz – 8 Dec 2013
Israel tells Holland: Security trumps prosperity when it comes to Gaza scanner
Ha’aretz – 8 Dec 2013
‘I was strip-searched, refused entry to event with Netanyahu’
Ha’aretz – 8 Dec 2013
Army accuses soldier under house arrest of deserting
Ha’aretz – 8 Dec 2013
Anti-migration bill passes final vote in Knesset
Jerusalem Post 9 Dec 2013 – Law allows state to detain some migrants in prison for up to 1 year; others can be detained in “open facilities.”
Gay divorce approved for second time in Israel’s history
Jerusalem Post 9 Dec 2013 – Court sidesteps issue of gay marriage since not clear Israeli law could recognize it.
Pink Floyd co-founder Waters draws parallels between Israel, Nazi Germany
Jerusalem Post 9 Dec 2013 – Waters defends his cultural boycott of Israel, referring to state as a racist apartheid regime that is guilty of ethnic cleansing.
Abutbul should step down
Jerusalem Post 9 Dec 2013 – At the end of the day, a court-mandated revote would help rebuild faith in Israel’s democratic institutions.
Obama’s four-state solution
Jerusalem Post 9 Dec 2013 – Israel has no reason to withdraw from Judea and Samaria. Absorbing the areas into sovereign Israel will not endanger the country demographically.
Iran’s Zarif says nuclear deal dead if US passes new sanctions
Jerusalem Post 9 Dec 2013 – In ‘Time’ interview, Zarif says new congressional sanctions will kill Geneva deal, even if they do not go into effect for 6 months: “We do not like to negotiate under duress.”
Zahar: Hamas renewed ties with Iran following Rouhani election
Jerusalem Post 9 Dec 2013 – Senior Hamas official says organization will not be bound by “Oslo 2”; claims that Abbas does not represent Palestinians.
The region: Party like it’s 1939
Jerusalem Post 9 Dec 2013 – Despite the thinnest of veneers, 2013 is much like 1929, 1941, 1948, 1979, 2000-2004, etc., as far as Israel’s place in the Middle East goes.
Why Obama won’t pardon Pollard
Jerusalem Post 9 Dec 2013 – The current US President has never commuted a life sentence for anyone and doesn’t appear open to changing his policy.
The ‘stupid Israeli’ within me
Jerusalem Post 9 Dec 2013 – And as Mahatma Gandhi said: Be the change that you wish to see in the world. I am following his advice and loving the stupid-Israeli within me.
New EU/Morocco fisheries deal and its implications for Israel
Jerusalem Post 9 Dec 2013 – EU has been under strong pressure to sign the deal because of Spanish and French interests in the fish in West Bank.
Esther Streit-Wortzel – My connection to Israel
Jerusalem Post 9 Dec 2013 – My acclimation to life in Israel after I made aliya in 1984 was softer, in part, due to Streit-Wortzel’s wonderful books.
‘Csardas Princess’ gets the royal treatment
Jerusalem Post 9 Dec 2013 – Yvonne Kalman, daughter of Hungarian Jewish composer Emmerich Kalman, promotes his operetta coming to Tel Aviv later this week.
Finance Committee approves doubling property taxes on ‘ghost apartments’
Jerusalem Post 9 Dec 2013 – Nation’s approximately 47,000 owned but uninhabited residences have drained economy, created cost prohibitive market and stymied supply for young residents.
PA says no agreement with Israel without release of prisoners
Jerusalem Post 9 Dec 2013 – Yasser Abed Rabbo blasts US for asking PA to make security concessions, criticizes Kerry for trying to “appease” Israel.
Police: Organized crime figures placed grenade outside Beitar owners house as extortion attempt
Jerusalem Post 9 Dec 2013 – October incident came after Tabib did not pay extortionists linked to well known crime organization in central Israel, police reveal.
After Netanyahu, Peres back out, Israel sends Edelstein to Mandela funeral
Jerusalem Post 9 Dec 2013 – Knesset Speaker to head Israeli delegation at memorial as PM, Peres can’t attend for financial, security reasons.
Haredi radicals protest detention of yeshiva students outside IDF prison
Jerusalem Post 9 Dec 2013 – Protesters say they are willing to “give up their lives” for the struggle against haredi enlistment to the army.
Iran says it produced laser guided ballistic missiles with increased range
Jerusalem Post 9 Dec 2013 – Iranian President says world powers have admitted failure in stopping Iran’s nuclear progress.
Egyptian army in Sinai kills Islamist with ties to Israel attacks
Jerusalem Post 9 Dec 2013 – Fight against terror continues in Sinai as Egyptian troops thwart two suicide car bomb attacks.
Netanyahu, Lapid kill coalition crisis on peace process
Jerusalem Post 9 Dec 2013 – PM says any peace deal with Palestinians will come to referendum after Lapid, Bennett’s perceived clash on peace talks.
Israel approves transfer of construction material to Gaza for UN project
Jerusalem Post 9 Dec 2013 – Security source tells ‘Jerusalem Post’ goods will be supervised to ensure they do not end up in the ‘wrong hands’.
Exclusive: Military brass seeks to reassure field commanders over training
Jerusalem Post 9 Dec 2013 – Due to NIS 1.75 billion cut in defense budget, training reduced significantly ; Army source: “Those who trained les
s will be compensated.”
Exclusive: Israel, Jordan, PA to sign trilateral water swap, sales agreements
Jerusalem Post 9 Dec 2013 – World Bank’s Water Practice division tells Jerusalem Post deal will increase Israel’s water sales to PA by 20 million cubic meters annually.
Ya’alon: Every Iranian embassy in the world is a base for terrorism
Jerusalem Post 9 Dec 2013 – Defense Minister says Iranians have built a terror infrastructure in South America, designed to target Jews, Israelis.
Israel to hold its first int’l cyber security conference
Jerusalem Post 9 Dec 2013 – Conference an attempt to advance field that Netanyahu has pegged as an area of potential economic growth for Israel.
OPCW: Hard to remove all chemical weapons from Syria by December deadline
Jerusalem Post 9 Dec 2013 – Syrian army recaptures road needed to ship out chemical arsenal; “The road is open but not safe,” says monitoring group.
Peres credits Guatemala with partial responsibility for birth of Israel
Jerusalem Post 9 Dec 2013 – Otto Perez Molina is first Guatemalan president to pay official visit to Israel; says hopeful for successful outcome of peace process.
PLO official: Kerry appeasing Israel over Iran
Jerusalem Post 9 Dec 2013 – Yasser Abed Rabbo blasts US for asking PA to make security concessions in peace talks to silence Israel’s criticism of Iran diplomacy.
The struggle to remain in south Hebron hills
Uruknet 9 Dec 2013 – December 8, 2013- A shepherd, an activist, and a father of seven, Mr. Hafez Hreini also serves as the coordinator for the Popular Struggle Coordination Committee (PSCC) in the south Hebron hills. Last week, he welcomed the Palestine Monitor to…
Qatar Changing Policy on Syria to Avoid Being Marginalized by S. Arabia
Uruknet 9 Dec 2013 – December 8, 2013- Doha has adopted a series of decisions to change its strategy on Syria after it lost the main role in leading the war of insurgency against the government of President Bashar al-Assad to the Saudis and after…
Oman rejects Saudis call for Gulf union
Uruknet 9 Dec 2013 – December 8, 2013 – Oman voiced its objection Saturday for upgrading the Gulf Cooperation Council to a union of six nations, an idea that was previously suggested by regional heavyweight Saudi Arabia. “We are against a union,” Omani Foreign Minister…
Iran, Afghanistan agree to sign cooperation agreement
Uruknet 9 Dec 2013 – December 8, 2013 – Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and his Afghan counterpart Hamid Karzai agreed on Sunday to sign a cooperation and friendship agreement and tasked their foreign ministers to work it out. Karzai paid a one-day visit to Tehran…
In Excessive Use of Force, Israeli Forces Kill Palestinian Child in al-Jalazoun Refugee Camp, North of Ramallah
Uruknet 9 Dec 2013 – December 8, 2013 – According to investigations conducted by the Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR), at approximately 16:30 on Saturday, 07 December 2013, dozens of Palestinian children gathered at the southern entrance of al-Jalazoun refugee camp, north of Ramallah,…
Israel s Historic Disregard for Lives and Rights of Negev Bedouin
Uruknet 9 Dec 2013 – December 8, 2013 – The controversy over Israel s Prawer plan to dispossess 30-40,000 Negev Bedouin of their traditional lands and congregate them in reservation-style accommodations brought back to an Israeli friend the nightmare memory of a horrific incident in…
Zionism in Service of Fossil Fuel Extraction
Uruknet 9 Dec 2013 – December 8, 2013 -With Israel branding itself as a model of environmental sustainability, many overlook the Zionist lobby s support for extreme fossil fuel extraction in North America, from fracking to offshore drilling. Historically, Israel has helped the US secure…
“We don t have the luxury to wait” for Israel to change on its own, says Ilan Pappe (Video)
Uruknet 9 Dec 2013 – December 8, 2013 – Few, if any, historians have done more to unearth the truth about Israel than Ilan Pappe. His 2006 book The Ethnic Cleansing of Palestine documents how the uprooting of more than 750,000 Palestinians was the direct…
Credibility of the Ruling Elite is Being Shredded Chris Hedges on Reality Asserts Itsel
Uruknet 9 Dec 2013 – December 8, 2013 – ….And so what you have in a pre-revolutionary society, which I think we re in, is a kind of invisible revolution, whereby the state, the ideology of the state, in this case capitalism, the fiction of…
The Israeli sniper shot my son as if he hunted a bird : Wajih Wajdi Al-Ramahi, 14, killed while standing outside of West Bank school
Uruknet 9 Dec 2013 – December 8, 2013 – An Israeli sniper killed a child yesterday. Wajih Wajdi Al-Ramahi, 14 was shot in the back by while walking in front of a school in Jalazoun refugee camp near Ramallah. Thousands of mourners turned out for…
Top US Psychologist Allegedly Met with James Mitchell in Days Before Zubaydah Torture
Uruknet 9 Dec 2013 – December 8, 2013- America 2013: A top U.S. psychologist touting “Positive Psychology” is to be a keynote speaker at a huge Southern California conference on psychotherapy. Other speakers include psychiatry heavies Aaron Beck, Irvin Yalom, as well as Nobel laureate…
Are British Spies Complicit in US Drone Strikes? Court of Appeals Takes Case
Uruknet 9 Dec 2013 – December 8, 2013 – An unprecedented attempt to discover if British officials are complicit in the CIA drone campaign in Pakistan reached the Court of Appeal this week. The case is brought by Noor Khan, a Pakistani tribesman whose father…
The US killed my brother with a drone. I want to know why
Uruknet 9 Dec 2013 – December 8, 2013 -I am writing today as a grieving brother, haunted by questions about Ali al Qawli s death and the complicity of the United States and the Yemeni governments in bringing it about. My brother Ali died on…
Baghdad Takes the Brunt of Attacks That Leave 61 Dead, 214 Wounded
Uruknet 9 Dec 2013 – December 8, 2013 – At least 61 people were killed and 214 more were wounded in fresh violence around the country. The Baghdad region experienced the most bombings. In Baghdad, six people were killed and 19 more were wounded during…
21st century colonialism: Israeli policies in the Negev and Galilee
Uruknet 9 Dec 2013 – December 8, 2013- In December 2000, the first Herzliya Conference took place, a now annual event and regular fixture in the diaries of politicians, military officials and defense industry figures from Israel and around the world. The report produced after…
Peres says willing to meet with Rouhani, stresses that Iran is not their enemy
Uruknet 9 Dec 2013 – December 8, 2013- Israeli President Shimon Peres said on Sunday that he does not have any problem meeting with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, stressing that Israel and Iran are not enemies. In an interview with CNN s Richard Quest at…
U.S. security plan : Another decisive cave-in to Netanyahu
Uruknet 9 Dec 2013 – December 8, 2013- Halfway through the scheduled nine-month Israeli-Palestinian peace talks, there s been a break in the action, or rather the inaction: the Obama administration, once again, has sought to end the deadlock by backing Netanyahu s illegitimate demands…
Report: 40,000 Bedouin will be evicted from homes under Prawer Plan
Uruknet 9 Dec 2013 – December 8, 2013 – Up until now, very few details have been released about how many people and how much land will be affected by the Prawer Plan. Knesset Internal Affairs Committee chairperson MK Miri Regev revealed details of a…
Here is why deconstructing Zionism is important To criticise Zionism means to demand justice for its victims.
Uruknet 9 Dec 2013 – December 8, 2013 -The final sequence of Eran Riklis poignant 2008 film Lemon Tree, based on actual events, is symptomatic of the hidden dynamics of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Israel s defence minister, who moves with his family to a new…
Explosive device left by Israeli forces injures Palestinian teen
Uruknet 9 Dec 2013 – December 8, 2013 — A teenager was seriously injured on Sunday after an unidentified device exploded south of Hebron, medics told Ma an.Medics said that a device left by Israeli forces in an area east of Yatta exploded and injured…
Did He Jump or Was He Pushed? The Mandela Years in Power
Uruknet 9 Dec 2013 – December 7, 2013 – The death of Nelson Mandela, at age 95 on 5 December 2013, brings genuine sadness. As his health deteriorated over the past six months, many asked the more durable question: how did he change South Africa?…
Syria News – December 7, 2013 (Warning: Graphic Videos)
Uruknet 9 Dec 2013 – December 7, 2013 -By the end of Saturday the Coordination Committees were able to document 123 martyrs including 25 children, 11 women and 4 martyrs under torture: 59 martyrs were reported in Damascus and its Suburbs, 26 in Aleppo, 16…
Interview with Roger Waters: It s a duty for artists to speak out
Uruknet 8 Dec 2013 – December 7, 2013 – … The situation in Israel/ Palestine, with the occupation, the ethnic cleansing and the systematic racist apartheid Israeli regime is unacceptable. So for an artist to go and play in a country that occupies other people s…
Two Spanish journalists held by Al-Qaeda group in Syria: newspaper
Daily Star 9 Dec 2013 A radical group linked to Al-Qaeda kidnapped two Spanish journalists in Syria in September, El Mundo newspaper reported on Tuesday.
Sudan, Egypt, Ethiopia dam talks ‘successful’
Daily Star 9 Dec 2013 Water ministers from Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan on Monday “successfully” held talks on an Ethiopian dam project, Sudan’s minister said, after Egypt’s objections delayed formation of a committee to implement expert advice.
Iran foreign minister says nuclear deal dead if U.S. passes new sanctions
Daily Star 9 Dec 2013 Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif warned that the Iranian nuclear deal would be dead if the U.S. Congress imposes new sanctions, even if they do not take effect for six months, Time Magazine said on Monday.
Israel, Jordan, Palestinians sign water agreement
Daily Star 9 Dec 2013 Israel says it has signed an agreement with the Palestinians and Jordan to build a pipeline channeling water from the Red Sea to the Dead Sea.
Israel says Iran embassies used as ‘terror bases’
Daily Star 9 Dec 2013 Israel’s defence minister on Monday accused Iran of using its embassies as terrorist bases and transferring guns and bombs through diplomatic pouches, without providing evidence for the claims.
Association warns of building collapse due to winter storm
Daily Star 9 Dec 2013 The Landlords Association warned Monday of old buildings collapsing as a result of the rough winter storm expected to hit Lebanon this week.
Yemen: US drone strike kills 3 al-Qaida suspects
Daily Star 9 Dec 2013 A Yemeni security official says a U.S. drone strike in southern Yemen has killed three al-Qaida suspects.
U.N. to inspect Libya’s uranium stocks amid worsening security
Daily Star 9 Dec 2013 A U.N. nuclear team will visit Libya this month to assess the safety of thousands of barrels of milled uranium – known as yellowcake – amid concerns about the country’s deteriorating security situation, a U.N. official…
Israeli top leaders not attending Mandela funeral
Daily Star 9 Dec 2013 Neither Israel’s prime minister nor president will attend South Africa’s commemorations of the late Nelson Mandela this week, officials said, a notable absence at events expected to draw more than 70 world leaders.
Leader of Egypt Brotherhood in court for 1st time
Daily Star 9 Dec 2013 The leader of Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood has appeared in court for the first time, facing – along with 14 other leaders of the group – charges of inciting murder during protests this summer.
Report: Chinese hackers spied on Europeans before G20 meeting
YNet News, 9 Dec 2013 – ….
MK: Infiltrator Prevention Bill a ‘mask of lies’
YNet News, 9 Dec 2013 – ….
US: South Carolina sheriff refuses to lower flag for Mandela
YNet News, 9 Dec 2013 – ….
US Government sells remaining stake in GM
YNet News, 9 Dec 2013 – ….
No more excuses
YNet News, 9 Dec 2013 – Op-ed: Military plan devised by US experts robs Netanyahu of his security arrangements argument ….
US-Israeli Jews’ intermarriage rate up
YNet News, 9 Dec 2013 – First study of its kind released by Israeli American Council finds 17% of children of Israeli Jews who have lived in America for over decade have married non-Jews, compared to 8% in parents’ generation ….
IDF, here I come
YNet News, 9 Dec 2013 – Op-ed: College graduate explains why he left cushy life in NY to start strict, unpleasant military life in Israel ….
Palestinian Information Center
Israel must rein in its Nazi-minded Jews
PIC – Brashly racist Jewish youths, calling themselves “Paying the Price Gang”, vandalize Arab property especially in Arab localities adjacent to Jewish settlements on both sides of the Green Line.
Abu Marzouk renews rejection of Quartet conditions
PIC – Member of Hamas Political Bureau Mousa Abu Marzouk said that U.S. President Barack Obama and US Secretary of State John Kerry’s statements prove US role in deepening the Palestinian internal division.
IOF bulldozers destroy 40 olive trees
PIC – Israeli occupation forces (IOF) unleashed their bulldozers in Walaja village, west of Bethlehem, on Monday morning and destroyed 40 olive trees.
Kerry defers release of more prisoners to urge Abbas to accept his plan fully
PIC – John Kerry decided to shelve the release of the third batch of Palestinian prisoners in order to pressure Mahmoud Abbas to soften his positions in the peace talks with Israel.
Khudari appeals for providing urgent medical aid to Gaza
PIC – MP Jamal Al-Khudari appealed to the ministers of health in all countries of the world to save the health sector in the besieged Gaza Strip and urgently provide its hospitals with medical supplies.
Israeli arrests and demolition notices in al-Khalil
PIC – Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) arrested on Monday morning a Palestinian young man from al-Khalil and issued two demolition notices against two houses in Yatta town in al-Khalil southern West Bank.
Raymond prison prevents family visits to 12 Jerusalemite prisoners
PIC – The Israeli Raymond jail administration blocked family visits to 12 Jerusalemite prisoners scheduled on Sunday, Prisoners’ Studies Center revealed.
Haneyya: Ending occupation is our strategic goal
PIC – Palestinian Prime Minister in Gaza Ismail Haneyya said that the Israeli occupation authorities (IOA) have adopted a strategic decision to eradicate Hamas movement.
Ahrar: Most of the female detainees in Hasharon suffer bad health conditions
PIC – Al-Ahrar center for prisoner studies and human rights said that most of the Palestinian women in Hasharon jail suffer from different diseases and do not receive proper medical care.
Warnings of increasing power cuts in Gaza
PIC – Deputy Chairman of the Gaza Energy Authority, Fathi al-Sheikh Khalil, warned of increasing power cuts in Gaza Strip, and reminded that electricity is only available for six hours per day.
Italy Follows EU Policy in the Middle East, says Foreign Minister
WAFA – 9 Dec 2013
Police Kill Palestinian during Arrest
WAFA – 9 Dec 2013
Official Denounces Israeli Installation of Cameras in Al-Aqsa
WAFA – 9 Dec 2013
Abbas to Attend Mandela’s Funeral
WAFA – 9 Dec 2013
PLO Official Says Israel Wants to Divide Al-Aqsa Mosque
WAFA – 9 Dec 2013
WHO Concerned over Gaza’s Health Crisis
WAFA – 9 Dec 2013
UN Official says Situation in Gaza Remains Concerning
WAFA – 9 Dec 2013
Officials Warn against Delay in Prisoners Release
WAFA – 9 Dec 2013
Israel Destroys Agricultural Land near Bethlehem
WAFA – 9 Dec 2013
Abu Rudeineh: No Solution without Prisoners, Jerusalem
WAFA – 9 Dec 2013
Rights Groups Want Israel Held Accountable for its Acts
WAFA – 9 Dec 2013
Weather Forecast: Cold with Scattered Showers
WAFA – 9 Dec 2013
Syrian army reportedly seizes third town along key north-south highway
LA Times 9 Dec 2013 – BEIRUT – Syrian government forces have regained control of a strategic town along the nation’s major north-south highway, state media reported Monday, as troops advanced in a sweeping offensive designed to secure the route and sever opposition supply lines from nearby Lebanon.
Agency ridding Syria of chemical weapons warns deadline to be missed
LA Times 9 Dec 2013 – The international effort to remove and destroy Syria’s chemical weapons is likely to miss its Dec. 31 deadline for getting the most toxic of the poison gases out of the war-torn country, the mission chief said Monday.
Muslim Brotherhood leader Badie brought before Egyptian court
LA Times 9 Dec 2013 – CAIRO — A group of high-ranking members of the Muslim Brotherhood were brought before an Egyptian court on Monday and promptly emulated their deposed leader, Mohamed Morsi, by insisting that the Egyptian legal system had no authority over them.
Atheists Face Death in 13 Countries, Global Discrimination: Study
New York Times 9 Dec 2013 – In 13 countries around the world, all of them Muslim, people who openly espouse atheism or reject the official state religion of Islam face execution under the law, according to a detailed study issued on Tuesday.
Middle East Water Deal Brings Red Sea-Dead Sea Pipeline One Step Closer
New York Times 9 Dec 2013 – Israel, Jordan and the Palestinian Authority on Monday signed a water-sharing agreement that includes the building of a desalination plant on the Gulf of Aqaba and a pilot study for a pipeline linking the Red Sea with the Dead Sea, the World Bank said.
Egypt to Hold Mid-January Constitutional Referendum: Minister
New York Times 9 Dec 2013 – Egypt will hold a referendum on a new constitution in the middle of January, a government minister said on Monday.
Iran Foreign Minister Says Nuclear Deal Dead if U.S. Passes New Sanctions
New York Times 9 Dec 2013 – Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif warned that the Iranian nuclear deal would be dead if the U.S. Congress imposes new sanctions, even if they do not take effect for six months, Time Magazine said on Monday.
State Funerals Offer Moments for Diplomacy
New York Times 9 Dec 2013 – As world leaders bury hatchets for the day and unite in paying respects to Nelson Mandela, the late South African leader may have a chance to promote peace, in death as he did in life.
Israel to Allow Building Materials Into Gaza
New York Times 9 Dec 2013 – After an eight-week hiatus, construction materials will be allowed in again starting Tuesday, but only for United Nations projects.
A Rare Middle East Agreement, on Water
New York Times 9 Dec 2013 – Israel, Jordan and the Palestinian Authority agreed to build a Red Sea-Dead Sea water project, including a brine pipeline and desalination plant, that is meant to benefit all three parties.
U.S. Senators Prepare Legislation to Pressure Iran
New York Times 9 Dec 2013 – Two U.S. senators are preparing legislation to impose new sanctions on Iran in six months if an interim deal on the Islamic Republic’s nuclear program goes nowhere, penalties that Iran’s foreign minister has said would kill the agreement.
Saudi Call for Gulf Arab Union Faces Hurdles at Summit
New York Times 9 Dec 2013 – Saudi Arabia’s dream of binding the Gulf Arab states into a union will get a skeptical hear
ing at a summit this week, with differences over Iran, Egypt and Syria demonstrating that the Gulf’s absolute monarchs do not all speak with one voice.
Hagel Orders Airlift for Central African Republic
New York Times 9 Dec 2013 – Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel has ordered the U.S. military to transport troops from Burundi into the Central African Republic to help quell the latest upsurge in violence there.
Israeli Leader Backs Out of Mandela Funeral
New York Times 9 Dec 2013 – Fresh off a series of scandals over his high-flying lifestyle and expensive habits, Israel’s prime minister says he will skip Nelson Mandela’s funeral on Tuesday due to the high cost of the trip.
Mandela Memorial 1 of Largest in Generations
New York Times 9 Dec 2013 – Nearly 100 foreign leaders and tens of thousands of South Africans are expected to gather at a Soweto soccer stadium Tuesday to pay their last respects to former President Nelson Mandela, making the memorial service one of the largest and most prominent such gatherings in generations.
IAEA Will Inspect Libya’s Yellowcake Stockpiles
New York Times 9 Dec 2013 – An inspection team from the U.N.’s nuclear agency will visit Libya to assess the thousands of barrels of yellowcake uranium that reportedly are being stored in a former military facility amid a “precarious” security situation in the country.
U.S. Drone Strike Kills Three in Yemen: Local Official
New York Times 9 Dec 2013 – Missiles fired from a U.S. drone killed at least three people travelling in a car in eastern Yemen on Monday, a local official said.
Obama and Kerry drop talk of Palestinian state for ‘state institutions’ and ‘transition’
Mondoweiss – U.S. President Barack Obama (L) arrives to speak with Israeli-American media tycoon Haim Saban about negotiations with Iran in Washington December 7, 2013. (Photo: James Lawler Duggan/Reuters) Secretary of State John Kerry said Saturday that Palestinian citizens of Israel are a “demographic threat” to the Jewish…
Honor Mandela by viewing Palestine with the same moral clarity as apartheid South Africa
Mondoweiss – This post by UCLA graduate student Rahim Kurwa originally appeared on his Tumblr. In today’s edition of the Daily Bruin you can read wonderful interviews with Professors at UCLA who were a part of the 1970s and 1980s struggle against apartheid in South Africa. Apartheid is…
Kerry threatens to delay Palestinian prisoner release if PA refuses US/Israel demands
Mondoweiss – Kerry and Abbas meeting in better times. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, left, speaks with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, in Bethlehem, Nov. 6, 2013. Photo by AP Yesterday, Maariv (Hebrew) said that U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry pressured the Palestinian Authority by threatening to…
Help send Netanyahu to the Mandela memorial!
Mondoweiss – HELP CHEER UP THIS MAN!: Netanyahu getting the news that Israel doesn’t have money to send him to South Africa. Dear Mondoweiss Readers, Desperate times, call for desperate measures. As you’ve surely heard by now Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will not be attending Nelson Mandela’s…
World Bank to finance Red Sea-Dead Sea conduit
Globes Energy & Water – The 180-kilometer pipeline, which will be laid along the Jordanian side of the Arava, will cost $200-400 million.
Israel Corp.’s Qoros opens first European car showroom
Globes Main News – The joint venture with China’s Chery Automobile Co. has opened a showroom in the Slovakian capital Bratislava.
Netanyahu urges cancelling companies tax hike
Globes Main News – Finance Minister Yair Lapid and ministry officials will reassess whether the tax cut will be possible during 2014.
Teva shareholders mull moving HQ from Israel
Globes Main News – Several foreign shareholders want to amend Teva’s articles of incorporation, to allow moving the company’s headquarters.
“Globes” readers rate home prices strategic threat
Globes Main News – 31% of “Globes” Hebrew website readers think the real estate bubble is the greatest threat to Israel’s economy. Security problems rate low.
Fischer: Exports more important than home prices
Globes Macro Economics – “Exports are more important than handling the price of housing; I miss Israel.”
Remember Mandela’s actions, Kerry urges Palestinians and Israelis
Mondoweiss – From Israeli Apartheid ‘s Facebook page: A Palestinian man holds a portrait of late South African president Nelson Mandela as he stands in front of Israeli soldiers during clashes between youths and the army following a weekly protest against Israeli occupation in the West Bank village…
Man of zeal?
Mondoweiss – Gal Gadot The news out of Hollywood is that Gal Gadot, an Israeli model/actress, will be playing Wonder Woman in a “Man of Steel” sequel due out next year: [Director Zack] Snyder praised Gadot as an “amazing” actress who possesses “that magical quality that makes her…
Mon: Telcos pull TASE down
Globes Main News – Partner, Cellcom, and Bezeq all fell, but Oil Refineries continued its recovery.
Mondoweiss: Jewish establishment stays silent on Israeli plan to forcibly displace Bedouins
Jewish Voice for Peace – JVP’s Rabbi Alissa Wise comments in Alex Kane’s article covering the Jewish response to the Prawer Plan. Jewish establishment stays silent on Israel
i plan to forcibly displace Bedouins , Alex Kane, Mondoweiss , December 7, 2013. Jewish Voice for Peace members protest against the Prawer Plan in Boston. (…
Nochi Dankner still fighting to retain IDB
Globes Main News – Dankner aide: He will not give up so quickly, certainly not before utilizing every means, especially legal action, to appeal yesterday’s results.
CareFusion invests $100m in CME
Globes Main News – CareFusion will buy a 40% stake in Caesarea Medical Electronics, which produces infusion pump systems.
Shekel strongest against dollar since August 2011
Globes Main News – Market sources are waiting for the Bank of Israel to intevene as manufacturers fear the effect of the strong shekel on exports.
Fallows: A free society must reckon with Blumenthal’s book, as it did with ‘Grapes of Wrath’ and ‘Gentleman’s Agreement’
Mondoweiss – Video streaming by Ustream Last week in a breakthrough, Max Blumenthal spoke at the New America Foundation , and Jim Fallows was there and has published surely the most important piece on Blumenthal’s book yet, inasmuch as he has broken the mainstream taboo on Goliath and called…
Environmental group warns pipeline will destroy Dead Sea
Globes Energy & Water – Adam Teva V’Din: Piping water from the Red Sea will lead to the destruction of the Dead Sea’s unique ecosystem.
NBC features Peres’s support for apartheid as Mandela ‘languished in damp prison’
Mondoweiss – Peres and Mandela A lot of folks are noticing Israeli president Shimon Peres’s bald hypocrisy in celebrating Nelson Mandela when he once helped to prop up the apartheid regime in South Africa. We did so over the weekend. So did Chris McGreal of the Guardian, who…
Defying Hillel rules, Swarthmore chapter invites anti-Zionists to come on in
Mondoweiss – Hillel logo Two weeks ago, an Israeli speaker was barred from Harvard Hillel because he was sponsored by a Palestinian solidarity committee. Over the weekend the Swarthmore College Hillel responded with a stunning and unanimous declaration: We defy Hillel International’s rules. Here are two statements. First,…
CEOs say Israeli economy in good shape
Globes Macro Economics – 70% of executives believe that the economic situation is “Good” or “Normal”.
This is huge: Swarthmore Hillel breaks with Israel policy
Muzzlewatch – Our friends at the Open Hillel campaign have won a landmark victory in their efforts to transform campus Hillel chapter into spaces that welcome all Jews, instead of marginalizing those who oppose Israel’s discriminatory policies. The passage of this resolution by the Swarthmore Hillel Student Board…
OECD head Gurria: Don’t waste gas money
Globes Macro Economics – OECD Secretary General Angel Gurria: Growth must be invested in narrowing gaps and reducing poverty.
Eugene Kandel: Israel and China complement each other
Globes Macro Economics – Speakers at the session on China and the BRICs at the Israel Business Conference said emerging economies need
1,500 laid off in third quarter
Globes Macro Economics – There was a 0.4% drop in the number of workers in industry between July and September.
Israeli families spending more to stand still
Globes Macro Economics – Almost six of every ten Israeli families believe that they had to spend more in 2013 to maintain their standard of living.
Thousands mourn Wajih Wajdi al-Ramahi, 14, following ‘assassination’ by Israeli military
Mondoweiss – Violence / Raids / Clashes / Suppression of protests / Illegal arrests Thousands mourn child shot dead by Israeli sniper in al-Jalazun [photos] RAMALLAH (Ma‘an) 8 Dec — Thousands of mourners turned out on Sunday for the burial of Wajih Wajdi al-Ramahi, a 14-year-old Palestinian boy who was shot dead…
Lapid: We must ensure peace talks succeed
Globes Macro Economics – “Failure will be ruinous for the Israeli economy and every Israeli citizen.”
Deficit shrinks further
Globes Main News – The cumulative deficit for the past 12 months totaled NIS 31.7 billion, 3% of GDP.
Israel, Jordan, PA to sign Red-Dead Sea conduit agreement
Globes Energy & Water – A pipeline will carry 100 million cubic meters of water a year from the Red Sea to the Dead Sea;
Shibley Telhami: Where is the Israeli Public on Iran?
Sabbah report 9 Dec 2013 – The Israelis are using their opposition and anger with Obama as an opportunity to build strategic relations with similarly angry Arab Gulf states. Moreover, the Israeli fear of Iran goes far beyond its nuclear capabilities. The result the new poll suggests that Israeli public is deeply…
Swarthmore Hillel Defies Headquarters on Boycott Israel Program Restrictions
The Foward Breaking News 9 Dec 2013 – Swarthmore College’s Hillel student board voted unanimously Sunday to defy Hillel International’s guidelines for Israel-related programming, condemning them for repressing free speech on Israel for Jewish students on campus. Click here for the rest of the article…
UN to check Libya uranium stockpiles
BBC 9 Dec 2013 – The United Nations says nuclear inspectors will visit Libya to assess its uranium stockpiles, amid concerns about fragile security in the country.
U.S. Asking for Concessions in Peace Talks to Appease Israel, Palestinian Official Says
The Foward Breaking News 9 Dec 2013 – A senior Palestinian official said the United States was asking Palestinians to make security co
ncessions in peace talks with Israel in order to silence the Jewish state’s criticism of world power diplomacy over Iran’s nuclear program. Click here for the rest of the article…
Deal could ‘refill’ drying Dead Sea
BBC 9 Dec 2013 – Israel, Jordan and the Palestinian Authority sign a water co-operation pact aimed at one day replenishing the rapidly drying Dead Sea.
Bob Filner Sentenced to Home Confinement and Three Years Probation
The Foward Breaking News 9 Dec 2013 – Former San Diego Mayor Bob Filner, who resigned amid sexual harassment accusations, was sentenced to three months of home confinement and three years probation for acts against three women. Click here for the rest of the article…
U.K. Warning Business Community To Steer Clear of With West Bank
The Foward Breaking News 9 Dec 2013 – The British government is warning the business community to steer clear of Jewish settlements in the West Bank. Click here for the rest of the article…
Thousands Mourn Child Shot Dead by Israeli Sniper in al-Jalazun
Palestine Solidarity Project 9 Dec 2013 – From Ma’an News Agency: RAMALLAH (Ma’an) — Thousands of mourners turned out on Sunday for the burial of Wajih Wajdi al-Ramahi, a 14-year-old Palestinian boy who was shot dead by Israeli forces near al-Jalazun refugee camp while he was walking home from school on Saturday. Al-Ramahi…
Egypt’s Brotherhood leader in court
BBC 9 Dec 2013 – Muslim Brotherhood leader Mohammed Badie appears in court in Egypt for the first time since his arrest in August.
UK government warns businesses about illegal Israeli settlement enterprise
Global BDS 9 Dec 2013 – The UK government has published guidance warning businesses about the problems and risks associated with doing business with illegal Israeli settlements and related activities in occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem. Published on the Israel page of the British Department of Trade and Industry website, the…
Syria army holds Damascus-Homs road
BBC 9 Dec 2013 – Syrian government forces are reported to have taken control of the motorway linking Damascus with Homs, as well as the nearby town of Nabak.
Tunisia: Future of Palestinian Cause Hinges On National Reconciliation (ben Jaafar)
allAfrica.com 9 Dec 2013 – [Tunis Afrique Presse]Doha -President of the National Constituent Assembly (NCA) Mustapha Ben Jaafar said the future of the Palestinian cause hinges on the ability of the political elite to overcome their divergences to achieve a real national reconciliation.
Egypt: FM Holds Important Talks With Bahraini King
allAfrica.com 9 Dec 2013 – [Egypt Online]King Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa on Saturday 7/12/2013 received at Gudabiya Palace Egyptian Foreign Minister Nabil Fahmi, who conveyed greetings from Egyptian President Adli Mansour and good wishes to the King and further progress and prosperity to Bahrain.
Egypt: UN Urges Holding Conference On Middle East Nuclear-Free Region
allAfrica.com 9 Dec 2013 – [Egypt Online]Egyptian envoy to the United Nations in New York Ambassador Moataz Ahmadein Khalil said that the UN General Assembly adopted two draft resolutions sponsored by Egypt.
UN to check Libya uranium stockpiles
BBC 9 Dec 2013 – The United Nations says nuclear inspectors will visit Libya to assess its uranium stockpiles, amid concerns about fragile security in the country.
Deal could ‘refill’ drying Dead Sea
BBC 9 Dec 2013 – Israel, Jordan and the Palestinian Authority sign a water co-operation pact aimed at one day replenishing the rapidly drying Dead Sea.
Kuwaitis cleared of parliament raid
BBC 9 Dec 2013 – Seventy opposition activists, including nine former MPs, are acquitted of storming the parliament building in the Gulf state of Kuwait two years ago.
Egypt’s Brotherhood leader in court
BBC 9 Dec 2013 – Muslim Brotherhood leader Mohammed Badie appears in court in Egypt for the first time since his arrest in August.
Syria army holds Damascus-Homs road
BBC 9 Dec 2013 – Syrian government forces are reported to have taken control of the motorway linking Damascus with Homs, as well as the nearby town of Nabak.
Syria asks UN to censure Riyadh for backing jihadists
Al-Akhbar News 9 Dec 2013 – Men make their way through the debris after an air strike by government forces on the Syrian city of Aleppo on November 28, 2013. (Photo: AFP – Mohammed al-Khatieb) Syria’s government has called on the United Nations to make efforts to stop what it says is…
Road to Geneva II: Will Divided Syrian Opposition Attend?
Al-Akhbar News 9 Dec 2013 – A rebel fighter from the Free Syrian Army holds a position with a Belgium made FAL rifle at a front line in the Salah al-Din neighbourhood of the northern Syrian city of Aleppo, on December 1, 2013. (Photo: AFP _ Mohammed Al-Khatib). A rebel fighter from…
Syrian War Boosts Demand for Lebanese Tobacco
Al-Akhbar News 9 Dec 2013 – With demand increased to more than 15,000 cartons of Cedars a month, it became urgent to develop the industry in Lebanon. (Photo: Marwan Tahtah). With demand increased to more than 15,000 cartons of Cedars a month, it became urgent to develop the industry in Lebanon. (Photo:…
Lebanon: Hezbollah Media Apologize to Bahrain Regime
Al-Akhbar News 9 Dec 2013 – Bahraini women shout slogan during clashes with riot police following the funeral of Ahmed Abdul Ameer in the village of Sanabis, west of Manama, on November 30, 2013. (Photo: AFP – Mohammed al-Shaikh). In a surprising development, Hezbollah’s media arm apologized to the Bahraini state for…
Iraq cafe car bomb kills many
BBC 9 Dec 2013 – A car bomb near a cafe in central Iraq kills at least 11, officials say, while eight more people die in unrelated attacks in and around Baghdad.
Lebanon: Those Responsible for Bahrain Apology Must Resign
Al-Akhbar Opinion 9 Dec 2013 – A Bahraini anti-government protester gestures in front of riot police on an overpass near Pearl roundabout on March 13, 2011 in Manama, Bahrain.(Photo:AP – Hasan Jamali). A Bahraini anti-government protester gestures in front of riot police on an overpass near Pearl roundabout on March 13, 2011…
Moroccan police attack protest against EU fishing deal
Al-Akhbar News 9 Dec 2013 – Moroccan police violently suppressed a peaceful protest in the Western Sahara against a planned EU fishing accord with Rabat that covers the disputed territory’s waters, witnesses said Monday. About 50 demonstrators, many of them women, gathered in the Laayoune city center on Saturday evening carrying banners…
Somalia jails rape victim for “defamation”
Al-Akhbar News 9 Dec 2013 – A Somali court on Monday sentenced to jail a woman who said she was raped and two journalists who broadcast her story, saying they were guilty of defamation and insulting state institutions. The 19-year old woman, who is also a journalist, was handed a suspended six-month…
The Saudi artist with one million Instagram followers
BBC 9 Dec 2013 – The female sculptor from Saudi Arabia with one million followers
Kuwait acquits 70 opposition activists over storming parliament
Al-Akhbar News 9 Dec 2013 – Kuwait’s lower court on Monday acquitted 70 opposition activists including nine former MPs of charges of storming the parliament building in the oil-rich Gulf state two years ago. “All the defendants were found not guilty” of charges of storming a public building, assaulting police, resisting orders…
Car bomb kills 11 in northern Iraq
Al-Akhbar News 9 Dec 2013 – A car bomb exploded near a cafe in northeastern Iraq on Monday, killing 11 people and wounding 23, police said, as the country grapples with its deadliest violence in at least five years. The explosion took place in Buhriz, 35 miles northeast of Baghdad, close to…
Netanyahu to skip Mandela funeral to “save money”
Al-Akhbar News 9 Dec 2013 – A Palestinian youth holds a portrait of late South African leader Nelson Mandela, during a candle vigil in Gaza City on December 8, 2013. (Photo: AFP – Mahmud Hams) Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has decided not to attend a memorial service for ardent Palestinian supporter…
Articles
Here is why deconstructing Zionism is important
Michael Marder, Al Jazeera 12/8/2013
To criticise Zionism means to demand justice for its victims.
The final sequence of Eran Riklis’ poignant 2008 film Lemon Tree, based on actual events, is symptomatic of the hidden dynamics of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Israel’s defence minister, who moves with his family to a new house on the occupied West Bank, deems the neighbouring lemon grove of a Palestinian widow Salma Zidane, a security threat. His legal team files a motion to uproot Zidane’s lemon trees in a case that reaches Israel’s Supreme Court.
The Court’s decision is truly Kafkaesque: The trees are to be “pruned” to a height that would not exceed fifty centimetres off the ground in order to allow for an unobstructed view of the territory. In the final sequence, we see the defence minister standing in front of a concrete wall separating his backyard from his Palestinian neighbour’s grove.
As the camera zooms into and sweeps over the wall – in a cinematic transgression of boundaries, “separation fences”, and apartheid lines – it reveals Salma Zidane wistfully walking on the other side, amid the maimed stumps of her trees.
The symbolic identification between the lemon grove and the stateless Palestinian people is obvious. But what does the Supreme Court decision mean in this context? Does it not imply that, whenever they are not altogether uprooted, expelled from their houses, and forcibly removed from their land, Palestinians find themselves in an impossible situation of barely remaining alive, no more than fifty centimetres off the ground? Does it not suggest that, even if they are to keep the roots tethering them to Palestine, their growth will be stunted and they will bear no fruit?
The concrete wall casts everything around it in its own image, rendering the world it divides uninhabitable and hence world-less, lifeless and sterile…. more..e-mail
Struggle for liberation, not independence
David Letwin, Jews for Palestinian Right of Return, Alternative Information Center 12/3/2013
Interview with Haidar Eid
David Letwin: Many Palestinian solidarity activists in this country put their main efforts into opposing the 1967 occupation and more recently, Israel’s siege of Gaza. But you and other Palestinians have argued that Palestinian refugees’ right to return is at the core of the struggle for justice. Why is this?
Haidar Eid: Zionist dispossession and oppression of Palestinians does not begin with 1967. It goes back to 1948, when more than 750,000 Palestinians were ethnically cleansed from villages and towns in Palestine, and were deported to neighbouring countries: Jordan, Lebanon, Syria ,Gaza and the West Bank to make way for an apartheid “Jewish state.”
Then, in 1967, Israel occupied the Gaza Strip, the West Bank and Eastern Jerusalem, which represents the remaining twenty-two percent of historic Palestine.
As a result of this systematic and ongoing ethnic cleansing, fully two-thirds of the Palestinian people are refugees entitled to their right of return to their original homeland, in accordance with United Nations resolution 194. This is the root of the Palestine issue.
Solidarity supporters that only take the cause back to 1967 are ignoring the source of the problem, and reflecting the Zionist Left in Israel, which wants separation of Palestinians from Israeli Jews.
David Letwin: Can this central right of return be realized if there is a Jewish state anywhere in historic Palestine?
No, that is an impossibility. Zionism, by nature, is an exclusionary ideology that doesn’t accept the “Other.” And the “Other,” in Zionist ideology, is the Palestinian — the Arab in the historic land of Palestine…. more.. e-mail
The ’long journey’ to Palestine
Ghada Karmi, Al Jazeera 12/9/2013
Resolution 194 continues to haunt the Palestinian-Israeli conflict 65 years after it was passed.
This December will be remembered as the month which saw Nelson Mandela’s passing, a landmark event ending the epic life of a man who left a legacy of compassion for all who suffered injustice, not least the Palestinians. He spoke about the “injustice and gross human rights violations being perpetrated in Palestine”, and famously asserted, “We know too well that our freedom is incomplete without the freedom of the Palestinians…” It is a fitting coincidence that this same month also marks the anniversary of an international attempt to reverse that most egregious and persistent of all the injustices done to Palestinians: Their displacement and dispossession in 1948.
On December 11, it will be 65 years since the United Nations General Assembly passed Resolution 194, which called on the newl
y formed Israeli state to repatriate the displaced Palestinians, “wishing to live in peace with their neighbours…at the earliest practicable date”, and to compensate them for their losses. A Conciliation Commission was set up for the purpose of overseeing the reparation.
Though it was never implemented, Resolution 194 is the legal basis for the “right of return” to which Palestinians have clung for 65 years. In the decades since it was passed, the Palestinian refugees, far from going home, went on to become a semi-permanent feature of the Arab landscape, inhabiting camps, out of sight and frequently out of mind. With the world’s attention currently focused on the refugee crisis in Syria, they have slipped even further from view.
Forgotten, again
The Syrian crisis is truly tragic, but it is well to remember that it does not involve Syrians only. Among the 2 million Syrians estimated to have been displaced in the conflict since 2011, there are some 270,000 Palestinians, or about half the 540,000 who used to live in Syrian UN camps, made refugees now for a second time…. more.. e-mail
An Interview with Roger Waters
Frank Barat, CounterPunch 12/6/2013
On Music, the Political Role of Artists and His Activism for Justice Around the World, Including in Palestine.
Frank Barat: When did you make the decision to make the Wall tour (that ended in Paris in September 2013) so political ? And why did you dedicate the final concert to Jean-Charles De Menezes ?
Roger Waters: The first show was October 14th 2010. We started working on content of show with Sean Evans in 2009. I had already decided to make it much broader politically than it had been in 1979/80. It could not be just about this whinny little guy who didn’t like his teachers. It had to be more universal. That’s why ‘fallen loved ones’ came into it (the shows are showing pictures of people that died during wars) trying to universalise the sense of grief and loss that we all feel towards family members killed in conflict. Whatever the wars or the circumstances, they (in the non western world), feel has much lost as we do. Wars become an important symbol because of that separation between ‘us and them,’ which is fundamental to all conflicts. Regarding Jean-Charles, we used to do Brick II with three solos at the end and I decided that three solos was too much, it was boring me. So sitting in a hotel room, one night, I was thinking about what I could do instead of that. Somebody had recently sent me a photograph of Jean-Charles De Menezes to go on the wall. So he was in my mind and I thought that I should sing his story. I wrote that song, taught it to the band, and that’s what we did.
FB: A lot of artist would say that mixing arts and politics is wrong. That their goal is only to entertain. What would you say to those people?
RW: Well it’s funny you should say that because I just finished yesterday the text of a new piece which will be a new album of mine. It’s about a grandfather in Northern Ireland going on a quest with his grandchild to find the answer to the question: “Why are they killing the children?”…. more.. e-mail
Theses on Zionism
Electronic Intifada: 9 Dec 2013 – Anti-Zionists have interpreted the Zionist project, the point however is to undo it. more..
Interview with Mike McCormick, Mind Over Matters, on Gaza
In Gaza: 9 Dec 2013 – Mike interviewed me early Sat Dec 7, 2013, on the situation in the Gaza Strip. Listen here: Mind Over Matters , KEXP 90.3 FM Seattle, Dec 7, 2013 Filed under: gaza randommore
Nelson Mandela, Palestine and the Fight against Apartheid
Palestine Chronicle: 9 Dec 2013 – By Kim Bullimore Nelson Mandela, a courageous resistance fighter is dead. Mandela died on December 5, aged 95. He devoted his entire life to the struggle for his people’s freedom, spending 27 years in prison for both his unarmed and armed resistance to South Africa’s brutal and racist apartheid regime. With the death of this courageous resistance fighter, we are now greeted with a sickening spectacle which whitewashes his history and the fact that Mandela was first and foremost a freedom fighter. Politicians and commentators in Australia, the USA, the UK, Israel, Europe and elsewhere, many of whom who had previously labelled him a terrorist, supported his incarceration and the South African apartheid regime, are now pretending they did no such thing and are falling over themselves to laud him as a hero, a great man and a man of peace. Their eulogies whitewash the South African anti-apartheid struggle and…more
Dear Mayor, Thank You, But No Thank You
Palestine Chronicle: 9 Dec 2013 – By Sam Bahour It was recently reported in The Daily Jewish Forward ( Bloomberg To Dedicate $1M Genesis Prize to Boosting Israeli-Palestinian Trade , Josh Nathan-Kazis, December 02, 2013) that New York City Mayor and billionaire, Michael Bloomberg, was awarded the first-ever Genesis Prize, $1 million “which is meant to honor an exceptional Jew.” In his acceptance speech, given at an official Hanukkah party in New York, Mayor Bloomberg remained true to U.S. Jewish American politics and thus, before making his speech, cleared his intention to donate the money to “promote commerce between the people in Palestine and the people in Israel” with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. As a Palestinian American businessman on the ground in the occupied Palestinian territory for twenty years, I did not know whether to laugh or cry at this seemingly generous announcement. This well-intentioned act is flawed for several reasons. First, “commerce between the people in…more
The Real Lessons from the Life of Nelson Mandela
Dissident Voice: 9 Dec 2013 – The press has echoed for days with admiration for Nelson Mandela and his genuinely heroic fight against the apartheid government of South Africa. There have been many recollections of the brutal quality of that government, all perhaps carrying an unstated sense of how could people live that way? As I listened on the radio, I couldn’t help thinking of the common human frailty which sees us caught up in gasping over and memorializing what is past while ignoring much the same thing that is present, as on what is called Remembrance or Armistice Day, we’ve recalled for the best part of a century the terrifying experiences of a war which was to end all war, while yet marching on to even more brutal and murderous conflicts. This seems contrary to logic, and it certainly works against the interest of institutionalizing and making permanent what it is that we praise, but…more
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The New Dark Age 
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