5 January 2014 — VTJP
News
International Middle East Media Center
U.S. Officials Destroy Flutes Of Famous Palestinian Musician
IMEMC – Boujemaa Razgui had his ney flutes taken from him by TSA and destroyed by US customs officials in New York. Boujemaa Razgui is a virtuoso ney player and longtime Al Andalus Ensemble (http://www.andalus.com) …
Israeli Settler Assaults 12-Year-Old Girl In Jerusalem
IMEMC – [Sunday Morning, January 5, 2014] According to media sources, an Israeli settler violently assaulted a 12-year-old Palestinian girl who was on her way to school this morning, in the old city of Jerusalem, reports Al Ray Palestinian Media Agency. …
Soldiers Assault Palestinians South Of Hebron
IMEMC – One arrested in Beit Ummar [Saturday Evening, January 4, 2014] Israeli soldiers violently assaulted several Palestinians in Um Al-Kheir village, east of Yatta, near the southern West Bank city of Hebron. …
Israel Claims Foiling Attack On Settlement Near Bethlehem
IMEMC – Israeli sources claimed that the army managed, late on Saturday evening, to foil an attack on the Migdal Oz Israeli settlement, in the Gush Etzion settlement block, west of the West Bank city of Bethlehem. …
Erekat: Kerry Presented Ideas, The Path is Still Long And Tough
IMEMC – [Saturday January 4, 2014] Member of the Executive Committee of the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO), Dr. Saeb Erekat, said that U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry held a meeting with President Mahmoud Abbas, and presented certain ideas, not initiatives, to advance direct political talks. …
Israelis begin construction on new settlement in central Hebron
1/5/2014 – HEBRON (Ma’an) — Israeli settlers began leveling a large tract of land in central Hebron in preparation for the construction of a new Jewish settlement outpost in the beleaguered southern West Bank city on Sunday. Israeli settlers escorted a bulldozer which uprooted fifty-year-old trees in the Tel Rumeida neighborhood near the city center, near an existing extremist right wing Israeli settlement. A Palestinian source….
Israeli forces raid Hebron village, attempt to demolish local oven
1/5/2014 – HEBRON (Ma’an) — Israeli troops stormed a village south of Hebron and assaulted three Palestinians on Saturday evening, locals said. During the raid, Israeli forces tried to demolish the village’s traditional oven, which produces bread for more than 50 residents. Tariq Hathalin told Ma’an that Israeli soldiers raided the semi-nomadic village of Um al-Kher east of Yatta and attacked him….
Israel denies freed prisoner entry to Jordan for medical treatment
1/5/2014 – RAMALLAH (Ma’an) — Israeli authorities told the Palestinian Red Crescent that newly released Palestinian prisoner Naim Shawamrah would not be allowed to enter Jordan for treatment, the Palestinian Prisoners’ Society said. Shawamrah, whose health has been deteriorating since before he was released from Israeli jails, was scheduled to head to Jordan for treatment mid-Sunday, Hebron PPS director Amjad al-Najjar said.”Everybody was surprised….
Israeli man physically assaults Palestinian girl in Jerusalem
1/5/2014 – JERUSALEM (Ma’an) — An Israeli man on Sunday assaulted a Palestinian girl in the al-Sharaf neighborhood of the Old City of Jerusalem, her father said. He said his daughter, 12-year-old Marah Munther Jalajel, was beaten by an Israeli “settler” on her way to school. She was walking with her cousin through al-Sharaf when the man attacked Marah, her father said.”The perpetrator fled….
Israeli forces say they foiled attack on settlement near Bethlehem
1/5/2014 – BETHLEHEM (Ma’an) — Israeli forces claimed they foiled an attack against the Israeli settlement of Migdal Oz south of Bethlehem on Saturday. An Israeli radio station quoted Israeli forces as saying that four Palestinians were detained in a vehicle near the settlement Saturday night. According to the report, knives and arms were found in the vehicle, and the Palestinians were taken for interrogation. More….
Italian solidarity delegation denied entry to Egypt after Gaza visit
1/5/2014 – GAZA CITY (Ma’an) — Egyptian authorities on Saturday evening denied Italian solidarity activists entry to Egypt and sent them back to the Gaza Strip after they waited three hours at the Rafah crossing, Gaza officials said. An official at the Palestinian side of the Rafah crossing told Ma’an that 23 Italian solidarity activists were asked to return to Gaza “because there were…. Related:‘Miles of Smiles’ aid convoy denied entry to Gaza
‘Miles of Smiles’ aid convoy denied entry to Gaza
1/5/2014 – GAZA CITY (Ma’an) — Egyptian authorities refused to allow an aid convoy headed for Gaza through the Rafah crossing, an activist committee said. A humanitarian aid convoy entitled “Miles of Smiles 24” was prevented from entering the coastal enclave despite special arrangements made previously with Egyptian authorities to enter on Saturday, deputy manager of a Gaza government committee against the siege Alaa al-Battah told…. Related:Italian solidarity delegation denied entry to Egypt after Gaza visit
Palestinian power company signs natural gas deal
1/5/2014 – BETHLEHEM (Ma’an) — Palestine Power Generation Company has signed a 20-year-deal with Israeli and American natural gas companies, the Palestinian Authority’s minister of energy said. Omar Kittaneh said that a power plant would be built in the West Bank on land designated by the Palestinian cabinet, and that bids for the project are now open. Partners in Israel’s Leviathan….
UNRWA employees strike in Gaza as protests held in West Bank
1/5/2014 – GAZA CITY (Ma’an) — Palestinian employees of the UN agency for Palestine refugees on Sunday went on strike in Gaza to protest the agency’s dismissal of workers and its refusal to increase salaries. The UNRWA teachers’ union condemned the agency’s recent termination of employees, specifically those who worked in development programs, a union official said at a press conference….
Palestinian officials arrive in Prague to follow investigation
1/5/2014 – PRAGUE (Ma’an) — A delegation from the Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has arrived in Prague to follow ongoing investigations into the Jan. 1 death of the Palestinian ambassador to Czech Republic. The Dutch deputy foreign minister updated Undersecretary to the Palestinian Foreign Ministry Taayseer Jaradat and his delegation regarding recent findings on Jamal al-Jamal’s death, a statement from the Palestinian embassy…. Related:Prague police: 12 weapons found in Palestinian envoy’s mission
Israel rejects US proposals on Jordan Valley
1/5/2014 – JERUSALEM (AFP) — Israel rejects any US-proposed security concessions for the Jordan Valley, a cabinet member close to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday, as US Secretary John Kerry visited the Middle East.”Security must remain in our hands. Anyone who proposes a solution in the Jordan Valley by deploying an international force, Palestinian police or technological means. . . does not understand the Middle East,” Intelligence Minister…. Related:Former Mossad chief: Jordan Valley not vital to Israel’s security
Former Mossad chief: Jordan Valley not vital to Israel’s security
1/5/2014 – BETHLEHEM (Ma’an) — The Jordan Valley is not “essential” for Israel’s security, a former director of Israel’s spy agency Mossad said on Friday. Meir Dagan told a crowd of Israelis in Kfar Saba in central Israel on Friday that the issue of the Jordan Valley is a purely political issue, according to the Hebrew language daily newspaper Maariv.” I don…. Related:Israel rejects US proposals on Jordan Valley
Pope to make first visit to Holy Land on May 24-26
1/5/2014 – VATICAN CITY (AFP) — Pope Francis sa
id Sunday he will make his first trip to the Holy Land, visiting Amman, Bethlehem, and Jerusalem from May 24 to 26.”In the climate of joy typical of this Christmas period, I would like to announce that from May 24 to 26, God willing, I will carry out a pilgrimage to the Holy Land,” Francis told crowds gathered in….
Kerry pledges ‘fair’ Mideast plan, briefs Arab allies
1/5/2014 – RIYADH (AFP) — Secretary of State John Kerry Sunday rejected Israeli and Palestinian claims of US bias as he made a whistlestop trip to Jordan and Saudi Arabia to woo support for his peace plan. Kerry promised any agreed plan would be “fair and balanced” and likened his efforts to broker a compromise between the conflicting demands of the two sides to a puzzle.” In the….
Prague police: 12 weapons found in Palestinian envoy’s mission
1/5/2014 – PRAGUE (AFP) — Investigators have found 12 weapons inside the Palestinian mission in Prague where a New Year’s Day explosion fatally wounded its envoy, police said Sunday. At the same time Prague police chief Martin Cervicek denied media speculation that an arsenal of more than 70 weapons had been kept at the embassy, but would not give details.” I firmly protest against false information…. Related:Palestinian officials arrive in Prague to follow investigation
PA to send medicines to Gaza
1/5/2014 – BETHLEHEM (Ma’an) — The Palestinian Authority Ministry of Health is set to send medicines and medical equipment to the Gaza Strip on Sunday, the minister of health said. Jawad Awwad told Ma’an that the shipment would include all kinds of medicines and equipment available in the West Bank. The shipment costs around six million shekels, he added. Separately, Awwad said that the….
Hospital: Ex-Israel PM Sharon faces ‘imminent’ death
1/5/2014 – TEL AVIV (AFP) — Former Israeli prime minister Ariel Sharon was on Sunday facing “imminent” death, the Tel Aviv hospital where he is in critical condition said. The health of the 85-year-old Sharon, who was dubbed “the Bulldozer” both for his style and physique, has been worsening since Wednesday when he suffered serious kidney problems after surgery. And on Sunday, the director of Tel Hashomer….
Fatah: Hamas will not allow anniversary celebration in Gaza
1/5/2014 – GAZA CITY (Ma’an) — A Fatah spokesman on Sunday said that Hamas refused to allow the faction to hold an official celebration for its 49th anniversary in Gaza. Spokesman Hasan Ahmad said in a statement that Fatah asked to hold a celebration in al-Katiba or al-Saraya square, but that Hamas refused. On New Year’s Eve, Fatah held an unofficial gathering at Unknown….
Family brawl breaks out on a street in Hebron
1/5/2014 – HEBRON (Ma’an) — A family brawl broke out on the street of a southern West Bank town on Saturday, eyewitnesses told Ma’an. Locals said a fight broke out between two brothers on a street in Hebron, and one of them pulled out a knife and stabbed the other. Their father became hysterical when he saw his sons fighting, witnesses said, and he….
2 Palestinian women die in car accident near Dead Sea
1/5/2014 – BEERSHEBA (Ma’an) — Two Palestinian women in their fifties were killed Sunday in a car accident near the Dead Sea, medical sources told a Ma’an reporter in the Negev. Four other people were injured including one seriously injured in the accident. A spokesperson for the Israeli ambulance service said the accident occurred at 12:40 p. m. [END]
Ministry: West Bank cigarette prices expected to increase
1/5/2014 – BETHLEHEM (Ma’an) — Cigarette prices in the West Bank are expected to rise slightly after Israel brought up prices by 0. 28 shekels per pack, a Palestinian Finance Ministry official said. Bandi Dahdah, who is in charge of custom tax department, told Ma’an Saturday that Palestinian merchants “have the right” to determine prices for cigarettes because of their status as luxurious commodities….
Study: 40% of cigarettes consumed in West Bank sold ‘illegally’
1/5/2014 – RAMALLAH (Ma’an) — A large percentage of cigarettes consumed in the Palestinian market are made from local tobacco and sold through informal means, a local study has showed. The study, by Alpha International for Research, Polling and Informatics, suggests that about 45 million cigarette packs are sold illegally in the West Bank every year, which means the Ministry of Finance is losing 400-450….
Angry Lebanese protest against attack on priest’s library
1/5/2014 – TRIPOLI, Lebanon (AFP) — Hundreds of Lebanese took to the streets of the northern city of Tripoli on Saturday to protest the torching of a decades-old library owned by a Greek Orthodox priest. The demonstrators held up banners that read “Tripoli, peaceful town” and “This is contrary to the values ? ? of the Prophet,” in reference to the Muslim Prophet Mohammed. Assailants set alight the Saeh library….
Analysis: Egypt going from bad to worse
1/5/2014 – Lawrence Davidson is a retired professor of history at West Chester University and the author of a number of books focused on the history of US foreign relations with the Middle East. – Part I — Going from Bad to WorseThis past week the confrontation between Egypt’s ruling regime and the country’s Muslim Brotherhood intensified. In case anyone is inclined to get the….
Iraqi forces ‘readying major attack’ to retake Fallujah
1/5/2014 – FALLUJAH, Iraq (AFP) — Iraq is preparing a “major attack” to retake militant-held Fallujah, a senior official said on Sunday, spelling a new assault for the western city where US forces repeatedly battled insurgents. Washington said it would help Baghdad in its battle against al-Qaeda-linked militants but that there would be no return of US troops. The takeover of Fallujah and parts of provincial capital Ramadi….
Wahhabi militants kill 50 Syria rebels in new front
1/5/2014 – BEIRUT (AFP) — Wahhabi militants killed at least 50 rival rebels Sunday in a new front in Syria’s brutal war, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said, citing insurgents and medics. The rebels were killed in fighting, car bombings, and also summary executions by forces loyal to the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant. ISIL, an al-Qaeda affiliate, moved into Syria in late….
AlJazeera
Thousands of asylum see
kers protest in Israel
AlJazeera 5 Jan 2014 – Protesters call for Israel to give them refugee status, and condemn the detention of hundreds of African asylum seekers.
Pope Francis to visit the Holy Land
AlJazeera 5 Jan 2014 – Pope Francis will make his first trip to the Holy Land, visiting Amman, Bethlehem and Jerusalem from May 24 to 26.
occupied Palestinian territory: Increased cross-border violence in Gaza results in fatalities, injuries to children
Relief Web 4 Jan 2014 – Source: Defence for Children International/Palestine Section Country: occupied Palestinian territory Hala Ahmad Salman Abu Sabikha, 2, sustained fatal injuries to her head and chest when an Israeli tank targeted her home in Al-Mughazi refugee camp, central Gaza, on December 24….
Al Qaeda in Iraq reasserts itself as war in Syria drives regional conflict
The National 5 Jan 2014 – Al Qaeda’s Iraq faction is already a major player in the Syrian conflict. This past week, it dramatically reasserted itself in Iraq by seizing parts of the western Anbar province.
At least 18 killed in Bangladesh election violence
The National 5 Jan 2014 – More than 100 polling centres attacked as opposition boycott leaves more than half of parliamentary seats uncontested.
Rescuers race to find 20 still trapped in India building collapse
The National 5 Jan 2014 – Indian rescuers were racing Sunday to try to save up to 20 people still feared trapped in the ruins of a partially-constructed building that collapsed “like a pack of cards”.
Palestinian ambassador s death recalls days of Israeli secret agents in Europe
The National 5 Jan 2014 – The murky circumstances surrounding the death of Jamal Al Jamal, former Palestinian ambassador to the Czech Republic, remind many of the days when Israeli assassination teams operated in Europe, Colin Randall reports.
Iraqi government kills 25 militants in Ramadi
The National 5 Jan 2014 – Iraq’s government is preparing to retake the cities of Ramadi and Fallujah, which were overrun by Al Qaeda-linked militants and local tribesmen.
Kerry counters claims of bias in Palestinian-Israeli peace talks
The National 5 Jan 2014 – The United States secretary of state, John Kerry, on Sunday held talks with Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah and said any plan for Palestinian-Israeli peace would be “fair and balanced”.
Saudi Arabian Airlines jet makes emergency landing at holy city
The National 5 Jan 2014 – A Saudi Arabian Airlines jet made an emergency landing in Muslim holy city Medina in the west of the kingdom on Sunday, injuring 29 people, an aviation authority spokesman said.
Iraqi security forces preparing major attack to retake Fallujah from militants
The National 5 Jan 2014 – Iraqi security forces have announced preparations for a major attack to retake the city of Fallujah from Al Qaeda-linked militants, according to a senior government official.
Fallujah reflects Maliki s sectarian politics in Iraq
The National 5 Jan 2014 – An Al Qaeda-linked group taking control of Fallujah is the result of complex forces underway in Iraqi society rather than just another legacy of the US invasion.
Pope Francis to make first Middle East visit in May
The National 5 Jan 2014 – Pope Francis was invited to visit the Holy Land by Israel and the Palestinian president, Mahmoud Abbas, who said he would walk in the footsteps of Jesus Christ .
Indian driver accused of raping woman travelling with infant daughter
The National 5 Jan 2014 – The incident comes barely a week after India marked the first anniversary of the death of a student who was gang raped on a New Delhi bus in an attack that sent shockwaves across the nation.
Pope Francis announces May visit to Holy Land
The National 5 Jan 2014 – Pope Francis announced on Sunday that he will make his first trip to the Holy Land, visiting Amman, Bethlehem and Jerusalem from May 24 to 26.
Video: Parts of the Midwest US under a deep freeze
The National 5 Jan 2014 – Severe weather blows through parts of the Midwest US, delaying travelers, freezing roadways, and closing schools.
Video: Top fish fetches $70k at Tokyo auction
The National 5 Jan 2014 – Tokyo’s first tuna auction of the year lures buyers eager to reel in a winning catch.
In pictures: Snow batters the US as temperatures plummet
The National 5 Jan 2014 – A major winter snowstorm named ‘Hercules’, forced New York City public schools to close, cancelled hundreds of flights at airports and is bringing below freezing temperatures to the Midwest and mid-Atlantic to the Northeast.
Video: NATO convoy bombed outside Kabul s diplomatic quarter
The National 5 Jan 2014 – Security sources say a NATO military convoy is bombed outside its base in Kabul’s diplomatic quarter, although no troops are hurt.
Video: Chinese warship in Cyprus to help remove Syrian chemical weapons
The National 5 Jan 2014 – A Chinese frigate that will assist a joint Danish-Norwegian task force to transfer Syria’s chemical weapons out of the country docks in a Cyprus port.
Video: Indian rescue crews pull bodies from building collapse in Goa
The National 5 Jan 2014 – Rescue operations begin after a three-story, under-construction building collapses in India’s western Goa province.
Their blood is cheap
Ha’aretz – 5 Jan 2014
Lieberman’s dangerous proposal
Ha’aretz – 5 Jan 2014
Munich may install banned stone-sized memorials for Holocaust victims
Ha’aretz – 5 Jan 2014
Israeli doctors perform country’s first intestine transplant
Ha’aretz – 5 Jan 2014
Israel’s largest conglomerate gets new masters as Dankner raises white flag
Ha’aretz – 5 Jan 2014
Palestinians become first customer of Israel’s Leviathan gas field
Ha’aretz – 5 Jan 2014
U.S. rabbis: We didn’t advise Israel’s Rabbinate to disregard Avi Weiss’ testimony
Ha’aretz – 5 Jan 2014
Tariffs to be lifted on imported fruit and vegetables
Ha’aretz – 5 Jan 2014
Below-zero temps push into U.S. Midwest, Northeast
Ha’aretz – 5 Jan 2014
Holocaust film premiering – in Warsaw
Ha’aretz – 5 Jan 2014
Ehud Barak to state: Pay my legal fees in ‘Harpaz affair’
Ha’aretz – 5 Jan 2014
Yefeh-nefesh: A bleeding-heart liberal in a dark alley
Ha’aretz – 5 Jan 2014
Battle erupts in cabinet over future of peace talks amid Palestinian incitement
Ha’aretz – 5 Jan 2014
Spat erupts in cabinet over future of peace talks amid Palestinian incitement
Ha’aretz – 5 Jan 2014
NY Post on slain Haredi developer: ‘Who didn’t want him dead?’
Ha’aretz – 5 Jan 2014
IDB Holding jumps 19% on slow Sunday session
Ha’aretz – 5 Jan 2014
Libelous Facebook post costs Israeli woman $3,400
Ha’aretz – 5 Jan 2014
Learning to love Ariel Sharon
Ha’aretz – 5 Jan 2014
Isaac Herzog expected to focus on peace at Labor convention
Ha’aretz – 5 Jan 2014
North America storm not affecting Israel-U.S. flights
Ha’aretz – 5 Jan 2014
Tens of thousands of African migrants protest in central Tel Aviv
Ha’aretz – 5 Jan 2014
Pope Francis sets date for Israel visit: May 24-26
Ha’aretz – 5 Jan 2014
Ariel Sharon’s doctors say he is clinging to life, ‘fighting like a lion’
Ha’aretz – 5 Jan 2014
Former Mossad chief: Jordan Valley not a vital Israeli security asset
Ha’aretz – 5 Jan 2014
Lieberman: Some Israeli Arab towns must be made part of Palestine under peace deal
Ha’aretz – 5 Jan 2014
Netanyahu’s outburst, Kerry’s optimism: How fear yields progress at crunch time
Ha’aretz – 5 Jan 2014
Citing progress, Kerry may extend visit for further talks with Netanyahu, Abbas
Ha’aretz – 4 Jan 2014
Defense Ministry opposes bill that would increase Knesset supervision
Ha’aretz – 4 Jan 2014
Israeli army may cut jail time for deserters in half
Ha’aretz – 4 Jan 2014
Israeli ministers to vote on new bill to curtail West Bank settlement construction
Ha’aretz – 4 Jan 2014
The poor must have their say
Ha’aretz – 4 Jan 2014
The reviver of the Hebrew language
Ha’aretz – 4 Jan 2014
Israeli nuclear ambiguity as an illusion
Ha’aretz – 4 Jan 2014
Why the Israeli public loved Ariel Sharon
Ha’aretz – 4 Jan 2014
Big breakfast can help women fight infertility, research shows
Ha’aretz – 4 Jan 2014
11 arrested following assault on transgender woman in Tel Aviv
Ha’aretz – 4 Jan 2014
Provost delegation from US universities arrives to explore academic partnerships
Jerusalem Post 5 Jan 2014 – The delegation includes experts in the fields of women and gender, research and treatment for cancer and other diseases.
Agriculture theft in Israel drops 25 percent in 2013
Jerusalem Post 5 Jan 2014 – In comparison to 2012, 2013 showed a 14.5% drop in the number of cattle- and sheep-stealing incidents, the police said.
Fruit growers to receive NIS 50m. compensation for severe weather in 92
Jerusalem Post 5 Jan 2014 – During the winter of 1991 to 1992, storm conditions were grave enough to be deemed a natural disaster that caused heavy damage to agriculture.
Lapid, Shamir lower import tariffs on vegetables after crop damage from storm
Jerusalem Post 5 Jan 2014 – The ministries will eliminate duties on 3,000 tons of apples and 8,000 tons of pears through the end of 2014.
Iran s Chabahar port transforms its position
Jerusalem Post 5 Jan 2014 – “While India will secure cost-effective access to markets vital for its future economic growth, Iran will secure a position in the world economy less vulnerable to international pressure.”
Health minister was asked not to bury Sharon on his ranch
Jerusalem Post 5 Jan 2014 – Former prime minister’s heartbeat, blood pressure stabilized but he remains in critical condition.
Kerry seeks support for peace process from Saudi, Arab League
Jerusalem Post 5 Jan 2014 – Fatah official says Kerry proposed the idea of a “greater Jerusalem” as a capital for two states. The proposal does not consider east Jerusalem as part of the “territories occupied in 1967” and would destroy US peace efforts.
Czech expert: Palestinians may have used Czech Republic for weapons transit
Jerusalem Post 5 Jan 2014 – Former Czech chief-of-staff: “Maybe the affair in question involves a well organized weapons and explosives distribution network.”
Herzog questions whether Netanyahu has a spine
Jerusalem Post 5 Jan 2014 – New Labor leader vows to reclaim the premiership for his party, challenges PM to make peace with Abbas.
Paris mayor latest politician to call for ban on French comic
Jerusalem Post 5 Jan 2014 – Mayor likens Dieudonne to criminal who “defends crimes against humanity”; comedian’s theater target of bomb threat.
Tensions persist between RCA and Chief Rabbinate
Jerusalem Post 5 Jan 2014 – Chief Rabbinate says US rabbi’s stance on certain issues in Jewish law was not in accordance with Orthodox Judaism.
Kerry vows Israeli-Palestinian peace deal will be ‘fair, balanced’
Jerusalem Post 5 Jan 2014 – US secretary of state says path to securing peace deal is becoming “clearer, more defined.”
Tens of thousands of asylum seekers march in Tel Aviv demanding rights
Jerusalem Post 5 Jan 2014 – Demonstration marks beginning of three-day strike; African migrants call on state to recognize asylum requests.
Palestinians pour cold water on Kerry’s optimism about peace talks
Jerusalem Post 5 Jan 2014 – Fatah official says Kerry proposed the idea of a “greater Jerusalem” as a capital for two states. The proposal does not consider east Jerusalem as part of the “territories occupied in 1967” and would destroy US peace efforts.
‘Revolutionary’ change to gag orders voted down by ministers
Jerusalem Post 5 Jan 2014 – Labor MK Nachman Shai says current laws are irrelevant in age of Internet leaks, “ignore reality.”
Syrian opposition fractures
Jerusalem Post 5 Jan 2014 – Rebel groups fight Islamic extremists in Syria’s north.
Israeli celebrity chef injects taste of Tel Aviv into Jewish heart of Paris
Jerusalem Post 5 Jan 2014 – Eyal Shani’s Miznon is becoming hugely popular with Israelis and French Jews thanks to its Tel Aviv feel and audacious mission to pack Paris into a pita.
The art and science of tolerance
Jerusalem Post 5 Jan 2014 – Moshe Kantor s art collection aims to present the contribution of artists of Jewish origin to Russian culture and to promote tolerance.
Netanyahu: Palestinian incitement spurs Mideast conflict
Jerusalem Post 5 Jan 2014 – PM, defense minister indicate the Palestinian refusal to recognize Israel as Jewish state is deterring peace.
Red-Dead fairy tales
Jerusalem Post 5 Jan 2014 – The trilateral water exchange signed between Israel, the Palestinian Authority and Jordan fails to solve the problems of the Dead Sea.
Viewpoint: The best alternative
Jerusalem Post 5 Jan 2014 – The Red Sea-Dead Sea Conveyance project trumps all other options to save the Dead Sea and it is a pity that various organizations continue to mislead the public.
Cyndi Lauper proves herself time after time in Tel Aviv
Jerusalem Post 5 Jan 2014 – Iconic singer lets her true colors shine through on Saturday night at the Nokia Arena in Tel Aviv.
Judge upholds Ben Moshe-Elsztain IDB settlement, stays implementation at Dankner’s request
Jerusalem Post 5 Jan 2014 – According to ruling, businessman has the financial wherewithal to take control of conglomerate; Dankner.
Liberating Lebanon
Jerusalem Post 5 Jan 2014 – Hezbollah achieved a certain acceptability in Lebanese society following Israel’s withdrawal in May 2000 from the buffer zone it had established along the border.
Pope Francis announces plans to visit Middle East in May
Jerusalem Post 5 Jan 2014 – Pontiff says will make trip to Israel, Jordan, Palestinian territories May 24-26; trip will be 4th-ever papal visit to Israel.
Abducted Hasidic landlord’s body found in New York dumpster
Jerusalem Post 5 Jan 2014 – Police say real estate developer Menachem Stark was suffocated before his body was placed in dumpster, burned.
Sharon continues fighting for his life, says hospital
Jerusalem Post 5 Jan 2014 – Hospital chief gives latest update on former premier’s condition; says not optimistic, possibly more pessimistic than before.
Liberman: No accord with PA without land, population swaps
Jerusalem Post 5 Jan 2014 – Nobody will be expelled from their homes or dispossessed of his possessions, foreign minister says.
Kerry says Iran could help with Syria peace talks
Jerusalem Post 5 Jan 2014 – US secretary of state says Islamic Republic could help on sidelines on Geneva 2 conference to find solution to ongoing Syrian conflict.
John Kerry thanks Saudi king for ‘enthusiastic support’ for peace effort
The Guardian 5 Jan 2014 – US secretary of state briefs Arab ally on efforts to broker Israeli-Palestinian deal
Illegal weapons found in Palestinian embassy in Prague, police say
The Guardian 5 Jan 2014 – Czech police investigating embassy complex where ambassador Jamal al-Jamal was killed on Wednesday when safe exploded A total of 12 illegal weapons have been found at the Palestinian embassy complex in Prague where a possible booby-trapped…
Pope Francis to visit Israel, West Bank and Jordan
The Guardian 5 Jan 2014 – Pontiff announces that he will journey to Holy Land, just as John Kerry returns from latest push for peace in the region Pope Francis has announced that he will travel to Israel, the West Bank and…
Gaza youths go on hunger strike in solidarity with Syria s refugees
Uruknet 5 Jan 2014 – January 4, 2014 – Gaza youth group launched on Saturday morning a day of hunger strike in solidarity with Palestinian refugees in Syria under slogan “I Starve For Them”. The event took form in a sit-in held in front of…
Israel denies freed prisoner entry to Jordan for medical treatment
Uruknet 5 Jan 2014 – January 4, 2014 — Israeli authorities told the Palestinian Red Crescent that newly released Palestinian prisoner Naim Shawamrah would not be allowed to enter Jordan for treatment, the Palestinian Prisoners Society said.Shawamrah, whose health has been deteriorating since before he…
The Syrian Double Revolution and the Euro-Leftist Double Impotency
Uruknet 5 Jan 2014 – January 4, 2013 – Since the beginning of the Syrian Revolution many radical Leftist groups and networks, both on the international and local levels in Europe and around the world, have engaged in a heated debate on wether to support…
Iraqi Sunni tribes call for their sons to quit the army
Uruknet 5 Jan 2014 – January 4, 2014 -On Friday chief tribal leader Sheikh Ali Al-Hatem called on all Iraqi tribes to withdraw their sons from the Iraqi army until the latter releases the kidnapped parliamentarian Ahmed Al-Alwani and stops targeting Sunni residents.Al-Hatem, who is…
The Battle between ISIS and Syria s Rebels
Uruknet 5 Jan 2014 – January 4, 2014 – A major confrontation has broken out between the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) and Syria s other rebel militias. It is being led by two newly organized coalitions, called Jaysh al Mujahidiin and the…
In 2013 Israel arrested 1,450 Jerusalemites, including 450 children
Uruknet 5 Jan 2014 – January 4, 2014 – In its annual report, Wadi Al-Hilwa and Silwan Information Centre have said that the Israeli occupation arrested 1,450 residents from Jerusalem in 2013, including 450 children and 25 women. They have displaced 446, destroyed 95 shops…
The Syrian Double Revolution and the Euro-Leftist Double Impotency
Uruknet 5 Jan 2014 – January 4, 2013 – Since the beginning of the Syrian Revolution many radical Leftist groups and networks, both on the international and local levels in Europe and around the world, have engaged in a heated debate on wether to support…
The ASA won t be bullied
Uruknet 5 Jan 2014 – January 4, 2014- THE AMERICAN Studies Association (ASA) is facing down the predictable backlash against its historic mid-December resolution in support of the academic boycott of Israel. Almost immediately after the overwhelming 2-to-1 passage of the resolution, the ASA faced…
Kerry s Quest for an Israel-Palestinian Peace: What You First Need to Know
Uruknet 5 Jan 2014 – January 4, 2014 – I recently read “What Went Wrong: The Collapse of the Israeli Palestinian Peace Process,” which appeared (behind a firewall) in Political Science Quarterly in the summer of 2001. I ve not seen anywhere a more careful…
Accountability and justice for Iraq
Uruknet 5 Jan 2014 – January 4, 2014- We, the people of the so-called western democracies, must accept accountability for the wars of aggression, including 13 years of genocidal UN sanctions on Iraq. Only then can justice for the people of Iraq be properly addressed,…
2013: Another year of slaughter in Iraq claims the lives of at least 21 media professionals
Uruknet 5 Jan 2014 – January 4, 2014 – In Iraq, at least 404 media professionals have been killed since the US invasion in 2003, among them 374 Iraqis, according to The BRussells Tribunal statistics. The impunity in Iraq is far worse than anywhere else…
Iraq: Investigate Violence at Protest Camp Fighting Erupts in Anbar Province After Security Forces, Protesters Clash
Uruknet 5 Jan 2014 – January 4, 2014- Iraqi authorities should immediately order a transparent and impartial investigation into violence between security forces and antigovernment protesters in the western city of Ramadi. The fighting on December 30, 2013, left 17 people dead. The investigation should…
Syria News – Janaury 3, 2014 (Warning: Graphic Videos)
Uruknet 5 Jan 2014 – Janaury 3, 2014 – By the end of Friday the Coordination Committees were able to document 87 martyrs including 7 women and 5 children: 34 martyrs were reported in Daraa; 29 in Aleppo; 15 in Damascus and its Suburbs; 5…
Nouri al-Maliki s assault on Anbar continues
Uruknet 5 Jan 2014 – January 4, 2014 – That s AFP s video report and, to be clear, the man, Faraj Asim, holding the mortar round and pointing out this is a residential home? His brother s residential home. That mortar round came from…
Moddi cancels Tel Aviv gig after appeal from Gaza
Uruknet 5 Jan 2014 – January 4, 2014 – Norwegian musician Moddi has canceled a scheduled Tel Aviv show following a call from Palestinians in Gaza, echoed by solidarity activists. In his powerful statement, Moddi explains that “Although music can be a unique arena for…
How agriculture is used to take over West Bank land
Uruknet 5 Jan 2014 – January 4, 2014 -The Zionist ideal of Jewish agriculture in the Land of Israel reached the occupied West Bank within months of the end of the 1967 War. The agricultural takeover of large swaths of land requires relatively few resources…
Syria News – Janaury 3, 2014 (Warning: Graphic Videos)
Uruknet 5 Jan 2014 – Janaury 3, 2014 – By the end of Friday the Coordination Committees were able to document 87 martyrs including 7 women and 5 children: 34 martyrs were reported in Daraa; 29 in Aleppo; 15 in Damascus and its Suburbs; 5…
Lynne Stewart Arrives Home
Uruknet 5 Jan 2014 – January 3, 2014 – She s free at last. On New Year s day, she arrived at LaGuardia Airport. Deliverance took much too long. She s back where she belongs. She s home with loved ones, friends and supporters. “It…
1,873 Palestinian refugees killed in Syria till the end of 2013
Uruknet 5 Jan 2014 – January 3,2014 – The Action Group for the Palestinians in Syria reported that 1, 873 Palestinian refugees had been killed in Syria since the start of Syria s conflict and until the end of 2013. In its annual report, the…
In Kabul, children are rented out to beggars
Uruknet 5 Jan 2014 – January 3, 2014- Begging on the street has spawned a vicious practice: beggar mafia are renting children in Kabul, and drugging them with opium to ply their trade. Afghan cities also see Pakistani beggars in the summer, reveals an investigation…
Israel aims to silence growing international criticism with Texas A&M deal in Nazareth
Uruknet 5 Jan 2014 – January 3, 2014 -Two months ago officials from Israel and Texas made an unexpected announcement, unveiling an ambitious plan to build in Israel the first branch of an American university, at a probable cost of $100 million.The greatest surprise of…
Obama s Afghanistan plan: More war
Uruknet 5 Jan 2014 – January 3, 2014 -The White House s push for another 10 years (at least) in Afghanistan – already the nation s longest war – could make waves.The administration is pushing for a security deal with the Afghan government that would…
Syrian Rebels Wage New Battle Against Al-Qaeda Affiliate ISIS
Uruknet 4 Jan 2014 – January 3, 2014 – Fighting broke out between Syrian rebels and ISIS factions in northern Syria on Friday, as protestors took to the streets to shout slogans against both Bashar Assad and ISIS, and calling for ISIS to leave Syria.”The…
Military Resistance 12A3 Auld Lang Syne
Uruknet 4 Jan 2014 – January 3, 2014 – … More than 100 people were killed Friday as Iraqi police and tribesmen battled militants who took over parts of two Anbar provincial cities. Police fought in Ramadi and Fallujah on Friday officials said, adding that they…
Kerry proposes another sticking plaster for Palestine s running sore
Uruknet 4 Jan 2014 – January 3, 2014- During his tenure as Secretary of State, John Kerry has placed an emphasis on the Israel-Palestine peace process – or, more accurately, on restarting the peace process, which has been totally stalled for some years. It was…
Syria Protests January 3, 2014, Friday of the Martyr Abu Rayyan, the Victim of Betrayal A Video Roundup
Uruknet 4 Jan 2014 – January 3, 2014 – On the Friday of “the Martyr Abu Rayyan, the Victim of Betrayal” a massive day of rage against by Islamic State in Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS) has exploded in liberated areas of Syria, mainly in northern…
Syria opposition re-elects Jarba as leader
Daily Star 5 Jan 2014 Syria’s main opposition National Coalition re-elected Ahmad Jarba as its leader during a general assembly meeting in Istanbul on Sunday, the coalition said in a statement.
Turkish photographer freed in Syria: report
Daily Star 5 Jan 2014 A Turkish photographer kidnapped while covering the civil war in neighbouring Syria has been freed, Turkey’s state news agency said Sunday.
U.S. Congress to begin 2014 with jobless benefits battle
Daily Star 5 Jan 2014 The U.S. Congress begins what promises to be another highly combative year on Monday with a showdown over a White House-backed bid to renew unemployment benefits for 1.3 million Americans.
Kerry pledges ‘fair’ Mideast plan, briefs Arab allies
Daily Star 5 Jan 2014 Secretary of State John Kerry Sunday rejected Israeli and Palestinian claims of US bias as he made a whistlestop trip to Jordan and Saudi Arabia to woo support for his peace plan.
Syrian rebels battle Al-Qaeda-linked fighters
Daily Star 5 Jan 2014 Syrian opposition fighters seize a compound garrisoned by an Al-Qaeda-linked rebel faction, in some of the most serious infighting to date within the vast array of rebel groups trying to topple President Bashar Assad, activists say.
March 14 wants Lebanon under Israel s control: Raad
Daily Star 5 Jan 2014 Hezbollah MP Mohammad Raad defends his party s military intervention in Syria and accuses the March 14 coalition of seeking to turn Lebanon into an Israeli or American protectorate.
Defected Syria PM ‘could become opposition president’
Daily Star 5 Jan 2014 A Syrian former premier who defected from President Bashar Assad’s regime in 2012 is a frontrunner to head the main opposition National Coalition, a dissident tells AFP.
Majid died of natural causes: Lebanon minister
Daily Star 5 Jan 2014 Deteriorating health led to the death of Majid al-Majid, the leader of an Al-Qaeda linked group that claimed responsibility for the Iran Embassy bombing in Beirut, the caretaker justice minister says, citing a medical examiner s report.
Iran exiles call for UN probe into dissident deaths in Iraq
Daily Star 5 Jan 2014 An exiled Iranian opposition group calls for the United Nations to probe the deaths of dozens of Iranian dissidents in Iraq, which it blames on the Tehran-friendly government of Baghdad.
Family of three seriously wounded in hit and run accident
YNet News, 5 Jan 2014 – ….
Traffic police help two women in labor to reach hospital
YNet News, 5 Jan 2014 – ….
Celebrating murderers’ freedom?
YNet News, 5 Jan 2014 – Op-ed: World’s silence over release of Palestinian ‘heroes’ is a sad reflection of moral depravity of 21st century ….
Egypt convicts activists in one case, opens probe into another
YNet News, 5 Jan 2014 – ….
Plane crashes in Aspen, Colorado, crews respond
YNet News, 5 Jan 2014 – ….
Fighting between Iraqi troops, al-Qaeda kills 34
YNet News, 5 Jan 2014 – ….
Israeli rabbis stand up for Rabbi Avi Weiss
YNet News, 5 Jan 2014 – Prominent religious-Zionist rabbis call on Chief Rabbinate to recognize American Orthodox rabbi rather than question his commitment to Jewish Law. ‘When Rabbi Weiss says a person is Jewish that person is Jewish,’ says Tzohar Chairman Rabbi David Stav ….
How I learned to love Arik
YNet News, 5 Jan 2014 – Op-ed: Former Prime Minister Ariel Sharon’s personal secretary explains how she turned from a strong critic into an ardent fan ….
All-out war in Lebanon
YNet News, 5 Jan 2014 – Analysis: Battles between armed gangs in Beirut could affect relative calm on Israel’s northern border ….
Nazi hunters call for protests against French comic
YNet News, 5 Jan 2014 – Serge and Beate Klarsfeld want people to ‘rise up’ to protest against Dieudonne over his vitriolic brand of humor targeting Jews. ‘His shows are anti-Semitic political rallies,’ Nazi-hunting family says ….
Israel’s African refugees to hold general strike
YNet News, 4 Jan 2014 – Israel’s 53,000-strong community of African asylum seekers will hold a general labor strike Sunday in protest of the government’s policy. ‘People are desperate and scared, we are barred from renewing visas and then arrested for not having a visa’ ….
Will Israel release Israeli-Arabs prisoners? Netanyahu refuses to commit
YNet News, 4 Jan 2014 – After releasing three rounds of Palestinian prisoners as part of US-brokered peace talks, fourth and final round contains eight Israeli-Arabs convicted of murderous acts of terror. But Netanyahu’s office refuses to confirm or deny reports of their release. Read full list: ….
Al-Qaeda group takes responsibility for Beirut bombing
YNet News, 4 Jan 2014 – Al-Qaeda-linked Syrian rebel group takes responsibility for Beirut attack against Hezbollah while its operatives are slaughtered in Syria by opposing rebels. ….
Kerry: Israel, Palestinians make progress towards framework deal
YNet News, 4 Jan 2014 – After Saturday meeting with Abbas, US Secretary of State John Kerry says Israel and the Palestinians have made progress towards a framework peace agreement, but are not there just yet. ….
Transgender woman attacked by gang of masked men
YNet News, 4 Jan 2014 – Group of men in their twenties assault transgender prostitute with pepper spray, tell police it was a harmless prank ….
Top al-Qaeda commander dies in Lebanese jail
YNet News, 4 Jan 2014 – Majid al-Majid, leader of Abdullah Azzam Brigades responsible for rocket fire on Israel, dies of kidney failure at secret prison location ….
Key Syria opposition bloc rejects Geneva talks
YNet News, 4 Jan 2014 – Influential Syrian National Council reaffirms refusal to attend peace summit, as world struggles to execute difficult chemical weapon removal operation ….
First female law office opens in Saudi Arabia
YNet News, 4 Jan 2014 – Four women granted licenses in October found first legal practice focused on women’s rights ….
Palestinian Information Center
Hamas doesn’t blow up churches
PIC – It is really hard to believe that Hamas which is struggling to survive an evil Israeli blockade would want to provoke the criminal coup-makers in Cairo.
Bardawil: We will not accept Kerry’s plan
PIC – Hamas leader Dr. Salah Bardawil warned that US secretary of state John Kerry’s plan to push forward the Israeli-Palestinian negotiations aims to liquidate the Palestinian cause.
IOA closed Karm Abu Salem crossing 150 days in 2013
PIC – Union of Palestinian traders reported that the Israeli occupation authorities (IOA) closed the Karm Abu Salem crossing, Gaza’s sole commercial crossing, 150 days during the year 2013.
IOF soldiers attack civilians in Yatta
PIC – Israeli occupation forces (IOF) attacked citizens in Um Al-Khair hamlet near Yatta town, south of Al-Khalil, on Saturday night.
IOF claims foiling attempt to infiltrate settlement
PIC – The Israeli occupation forces (IOF) foiled an attempt by Palestinians to infiltrate the settlement of Migdal Oz in Gush Etzion settlement complex, the Israeli radio claimed on Sunday.
Palestinian prisoner loses his eyesight due to medical neglect
PIC – Official sources confirmed that the Palestinian prisoner Eyad Nassar, who is held in Rimon jail, lost his eyesight due to the deliberate medical neglect adopted by the prison administration.
Report: 230 Israeli violations against journalists in 2013
PIC – The Israeli occupation forces (IOF) carried out more than 230 violations against Palestinian journalists in 2013, the information center of the Palestinian government in Gaza stated in a report.
IOA blocks travel of 22 citizens in one week
PIC – The Israeli occupation authority (IOA) last week blocked the travel of 22 Palestinian citizens, via Karame crossing, to Jordan for ‚¨ Ssecurity reasons‚¨ ù.
“No to Incitement” slams Al-Jadeed channel for inciting against Palestinians
PIC – The Palestinian campaign against media incitement (No to Incitement) strongly denounced the Lebanese channel Al-Jadeed for its persistence in fabricating lies against the Palestinians in Lebanon.
Israeli Forces Orders Demolition of Several Houses, shops in Silwan
WAFA – 5 Jan 2014
Settler Attacks Minor Student in the Old City of Jerusalem
WAFA – 5 Jan 2014
Abbas Welcomes Visit of Pope Francis to Holy Land
WAFA – 5 Jan 2014
Israeli Forces Set Up Mobile Homes on Land near Hebron
WAFA – 5 Jan 2014
Israeli Forces Arrest Four youths in Jerusalem and Bethlehem
WAFA – 5 Jan 2014
Weather: Minor Drop in Temperature
WAFA – 5 Jan 2014
African migrants protest in Tel Aviv, demand better treatment
LA Times 5 Jan 2014 – JERUSALEM In an unusual show of strength by one of the weakest groups in Israeli society, thousands of African migrants demonstrated in Tel Aviv on Sunday to protest their treatment by the Israeli government.
Egyptian crackdown targets secular activists as well as Islamists
LA Times 5 Jan 2014 – CAIRO — In a case that was seen as part of a broadening crackdown on secular activists, a brother and sister who were active in the uprising against Hosni Mubarak were given suspended one-year jail terms on Sunday in connection with an attack on a…
Western-Backed Syrian Opposition Re-elects Jarba as Leader
New York Times 5 Jan 2014 – Ahmad al-Jarba was re-elected as the Western-backed Syrian opposition’s leader for a second six-month term on Sunday, coalition members said, defeating former Syrian prime minister Riyad Hijab.
Factbox: Key Issues That Will Help Define Congress in 2014
New York Times 5 Jan 2014 – The U.S. Congress begins its legislative year on Monday with an emphasis on economic and fiscal affairs, including legislation to fund the government beyond January 15 and the likely confirmation of Janet Yellen as the first woman to head the Federal Reserve.
U.S. Ex-Homeland Security Official to Advise U.N. on Iran Dissidents in Iraq
New York Times 5 Jan 2014 – U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has named former Deputy U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Jane Holl Lute as his special adviser to help with the relocation of a group of Iranian dissidents in Iraq to new countries, the U.N. said on Sunday.
Power Vacuum in Middle East Lifts Militants
New York Times 5 Jan 2014 – The bloodshed that has engulfed Iraq, Lebanon and Syria exposes the emergence of a post-American Middle East in which no broker has the will or power to contain the region s sectarian hatreds.
Syria Rebels Push Al Qaeda Back; U.S. Open to Iran Role
New York Times 5 Jan 2014 – Syrian rebel fighters loyal to al Qaeda ceded ground near the Turkish border to rival Islamists on Sunday, activists said, in what seemed to be a tactical withdrawal to end clashes between Syrian- and foreign-led opponents of President Bashar al-Assad.
Former Syrian PM Runs for President of Exiled Political Opposition
New York Times 5 Jan 2014 – Former Syrian prime minister Riyad Hijab is running for the leadership of the Western-backed political opposition in a bid to make the fractious rebel movement more credible ahead of political peace talks.
Egypt Bars Canadian Shi’ites From Entering
New York Times 5 Jan 2014 – Egypt stopped 61 Canadian Shi’ite Muslim pilgrims from entering the country and decided to hold them at Cairo airport until their onward flight, security officials said on Sunday.
Yemen Refuses to Extradite Politician Sought by US
New York Times 5 Jan 2014 – Yemen’s president has refused to extradite the head of an ultraconservative political party who the United States has accused of financing al-Qaida.
Sniper Fire Kills One as Clashes Flare in Lebanon’s Tripoli
New York Times 5 Jan 2014 – One man was shot dead and six people were wounded in clashes on Sunday in the northern Lebanese city of Tripoli between districts that support rival sides in neighboring Syria’s civil war.
Czech Police Find 12 Weapons at Palestinian Mission: Report
New York Times 5 Jan 2014 – Czech police found 12 weapons, including pistols and sub-machine guns, at the Palestinian mission in Prague after an explosion killed the ambassador at his residence last week, the police chief was quoted as saying on Sunday.
US Embassy Issues Warning to Americans in Lebanon
New York Times 5 Jan 2014 – The United States Embassy in Beirut is urging Americans in Lebanon to avoid hotels, Western-style shopping malls, grocery stores and social events where U.S. citizens congregate, saying such sites are likely targets for terrorist attacks.
Thousands of African Migrants Protest Israel Detention Policy
New York Times 5 Jan 2014 – Thousands of African migrants, many holding banners demanding freedom for compatriots jailed as illegal job-seekers by Israel, protested on Sunday in a main Tel Aviv square against a new open-ended detention law.
Iraqi Air Force Strikes City to Try to Eject Al Qaeda
New York Times 5 Jan 2014 – Iraqi government forces battling an al Qaeda offensive launched an air strike on Ramadi city on Sunday killing 25 Islamist militants, according to local officials.
Treasury surplus should help businesses
Globes Macro Economics – If the treasury’s coffers are spilling over, why not reduce the companies tax and encourage jobs, growth, and investment in the Israeli economy?
Court clears Ben-Moshe to take over IDB
Globes Main News – The ruling reaffirms the previous decision to take IDB from Nochi Dankner and hand control to Eduardo Elsztain and Moti Ben-Moshe.
Labor sanctions disrupt Israel Chemicals exports
Globes Main News – Israel Chemicals unions instructed employees not to load or unload phosphates and potash cargos at Ashdod Port.
Moti Ben-Moshe: I was being blackmailed
Globes Main News – Nochi Dankner’s spokesman has denied allegations that Ben-Moshe was pressed to add Dankner to his company.
Leviathan partners sign Palestinian gas deal
Globes Energy & Water – The partners signed a $1.2 billion contract with the Palestine Power Generation Co. – the first export contract for the offshore natural gas field.
Sun: Leviathan partners lift market
Globes Main News – Delek and its energy units, and Ratio, rose on reports of a Palestinian natural gas export deal.
Editorializing
Mondoweiss – The New York Times is plainly uncomfortable with the vote by the American Studies Association in favor of boycotting Israel. Check out this double standard on the turnout issue. First, the Times on Bill de Blasio s victory last November, reporters Javier Hernandez and David Chen: Jerry…
This is a conflict felt around the world, Kerry says on his tenth trip
Mondoweiss – Kerry s note in Netanyahu s guestbook Random notes from news coverage of the peace talks. What common mistake did John Kerry make in his note in Netanyahu s guest book, tweeted by the State Department ? Got the year wrong. And notice the language: We have a good deal…
Exports flat for second straight year
Globes Macro Economics – Exports of goods and services, excluding start-ups, totaled $92.5 billion in 2013, the same as in 2012, reports the Israel Export Institute.
Nakash bros. seen leaving Dankner-Granovsky group
Globes Main News – The Nakash brothers had pledged NIS 250 million. Last week the Williger brothers signalled they were on the way out.
Kitov jumps on FDA approval delay for Phase III clinical trial
Globes Main News – Kitov: We do not expect a delay in the start of the clinical trial for the hypertension drug, scheduled for the first half of 2014.
Unemployment stable
Globes Macro Economics – The number of unemployed registered with the Employment Service declined by 0.2% to 198,800 in November, in trend figures, from 199,300 in October.
Paz distributes NIS 250m dividend
Globes Energy & Water – The dividend of NIS 0.246 per share gives an annual dividend yield of 4.4%.
When innovation means a refrigerator
Globes Macro Economics – Jamshyd Godrej believes economic development in India must go hand in hand with environmental and social awareness.
Strauss ousts Strauss Coffee CEO Todd Morgan
Globes Main News – Morgan will be replaced by Strauss Group EVP business development, strategy and development Tomer Harpaz.
Further BoI intervention lifts shekel-dollar rate to 3.5
Globes Main News – The Bank of Israel again intervened in the market on Friday, buying $50-100 million.
Kinneret misses out on December rainfall
Globes Macro Economics – The Kinneret’s water level rose by just 11 centimeters during December to 211.29 meters below sea level.
Arrow 3 completes successful flight trial
Globes Aerospace & Defense – The interceptor missile is being jointly developed by Israel Aerospace Industries and Boeing.
Netanyahu mouthpieces McCain and Graham crash Kerry s Jerusalem party
Mondoweiss – John Kerry said it would be hard negotiating Middle East peace. But did he expect Sens. John McCain, Lindsey Graham and John Barrasso to show up in Jerusalem? Even Jane Harman derided the Republican senators for mixing up domestic politics and foreign policy
Throwing gasoline on bystanders school presidents condemnations of boycott ignore Palestinian rights
Mondoweiss – The American Studies Association followed a democratic process in voting for boycott of Israel. In condemning the ASA, 100 school presidents seem to have followed a dictatorial process
Jewish establishment slams MLA boycott panel for not including Israel advocates
Mondoweiss – Major Jewish groups are criticizing the Modern Language Association over a panel on the boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) movement being held at the group’s conference next week. The American Jewish Committee, Hillel and the Israel on Campus Coalition have slammed the MLA for refusing to…
Questioning Obama s nerve, Oren imagines massive bombing campaign to flatten all of Iran
Mondoweiss – Because Obama failed to threaten ‘pinpoint’ strikes on Iran now to stop Iran’s nuclear program, Israeli ambassador Michael Oren suggests, then later ‘you re going to flatten all of Iran’ with a massive bombing campaign
Israeli champion of tolerance and multiculturalism suggests medal of honor for army torturer
Mondoweiss – What does progressive mean in the context of apartheid? Israeli musician Idan Raichel, known for incorporating Arab and African music and musicians into his act, took to Instagram the other day to suggest that a notorious Israeli interrogator accused of sodomizing a detainee with a baton…
Tear-gas canister lands in 85-year-old Palestinian man s house, and suffocates him
Mondoweiss – Violence / Raids / Clashes / Suppression of protests / Illegal arrests West Bank Elderly man dies after inhaling tear gas fired by Israeli forces QALQILIYA (Ma an) 2 Jan An 85-year-old man died overnight Wednesday after inhaling excessive amounts of tear gas fired by Israeli forces in the Qalqiliya…
Defending Zionism under the cloak of academic freedom
Mondoweiss – Wesleyan University president Michael Roth’s attack on the American Studies Association (ASA) boycott of Israel received a lot of attention. What those passing around Roth’s article miss is that he either misread or misrepresented the resolution s carefully considered language. The truth of the matter is that…
Pope Francis to visit Holy Land
BBC 5 Jan 2014 – Pope Francis announces his first trip to the Holy Land, from 24-26 May, when he will visit Amman, Bethlehem and Jerusalem.
Israeli Bus Bomb Resembles Boston Marathon Set Up
The Foward Breaking News 5 Jan 2014 – The bomb that exploded last month on a public bus in Bat Yam after the passengers had been evacuated closely resembled the bomb used in the Boston Marathon attack. Click here for the rest of the article…
Dozens hurt in Saudi jet landing
BBC 5 Jan 2014 – A Saudi Arabian Airlines Boeing 767 flying from Iran makes an emergency landing in Medina, injuring 29 people, three seriously, officials say.
African migrants protest in Israel
BBC 5 Jan 2014 – Thousands of African migrants rally in the city of Tel Aviv to protest against their treatment by the Israeli government.
Thousands of African Asylum Seekers Protest Israel’s Expulsion Bill
The Foward Breaking News 5 Jan 2014 – Hundreds of African migrants in Israel, who are seeking asylum in the Jewish State, protested against the government for ignoring their asylum requests and placing then in detention facilities. Click here for the rest of the article…
Ariel Sharon Takes Turn for Worse and Clings To Life, Say Doctors
The Foward Breaking News 5 Jan 2014 – Former Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, in a coma since a 2006 stroke, is clinging to life after his condition took a turn for the worse last week, the head of the hospital treating him said on Sunday. Click here for the rest of the article……
‘Pessimism’ over Sharon’s survival
BBC 5 Jan 2014 – Doctors treating Israeli ex-PM Ariel Sharon, whose condition worsened last week, say they are more pessimistic about his chances of survival.
For a Two-State Solution? Boycott Ariel
The Forward Leonard Fein 4 Jan 2014 –
Reform, security in Saudi Arabia
Al-Monitor 13 Jul 2014 – In an attempt to avert internal reform, Saudi Arabia has become increasingly involved in regional issues, but this has only complicated domestic and international matters for Riyadh.
VIDEO: Iraq targets al-Qaeda militants
BBC 5 Jan 2014 – An Iraqi government operation appears to be under way to retake areas seized in recent days by militants linked to al-Qaeda.
Pope Francis to visit Holy Land
BBC 5 Jan 2014 – Pope Francis announces his first trip to the Holy Land, from 24-26 May, when he will visit Amman, Bethlehem and Jerusalem.
Residents flee Fallujah amid blitz
BBC 5 Jan 2014 – Thousands of people flee Fallujah amid intense bombardment by Iraqi government forces, who lost control of the key city to al-Qaeda-linked militants.
African migrants hold mass rally against Israeli detention
Al-Akhbar News 5 Jan 2014 – An estimated 30,000 African migrants stage a protest in Tel Aviv on January 5, 2014 against detention and Israel’s refusal to grant them asylum. (Photo: AFP – Jack Guez) An estimated 30,000 African migrants stage a protest in Tel Aviv on January 5, 2014 against detention…
Dozens hurt in Saudi jet landing
BBC 5 Jan 2014 – A Saudi Arabian Airlines Boeing 767 flying from Iran makes an emergency landing in Medina, injuring 29 people, three seriously, officials say.
African migrants protest in Israel
BBC 5 Jan 2014 – Thousands of African migrants rally in the city of Tel Aviv to protest against their treatment by the Israeli government.
Human remains fall from sky over Saudi Arabia
Al-Akhbar News 5 Jan 2014 – Human body parts fell from the sky in the city of Jeddah Sunday, with police saying they could be the remains of a person trapped in an airplane’s wheel bay. “Police received a telephone call at 2:30 am from a witness reporting the fall of human…
Egypt jails 12 activists for “attacking” political office
Al-Akhbar News 5 Jan 2014 – Twelve prominent Egyptian dissidents were given one-year suspended jail terms on Sunday for alleg
edly attacking the campaign headquarters of defeated presidential candidate Ahmed Shafik during the 2012 election in a verdict widely seen as political. The activists include siblings Alaa Abdel Fattah and Mona Seif, leading…
Netanyahu accuses Palestinians of “inciting hatred”
Al-Akhbar News 5 Jan 2014 – sraeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu chairs the weekly cabinet meeting at his office in Jerusalem on January 5, 2014. (Photo: AFP – Abir Sultan) sraeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu chairs the weekly cabinet meeting at his office in Jerusalem on January 5, 2014. (Photo: AFP -…
One killed, four injured in North Lebanon fighting
Al-Akhbar News 5 Jan 2014 – One man was killed and four people wounded in an overnight gun battle between rival neighborhood in the northern Lebanese city of Tripoli, state news reported Sunday. Hundreds have been killed in waves of brutal Syria-related clashes between the neighborhoods of Bab al-Tabbeneh and Jabal Mohsen…
Five reasons 2014 could be tough year for Erdogan
Al-Monitor 5 Jan 2014 – While 2013 was an annus horribilis for Erdogan and his Justice and Development Party (AKP), 2014 could be worse.
Erdogan s ex-confidant Bayraktar: Will he speak?
Al-Monitor 5 Jan 2014 – Erdogan Bayraktar, Turkey s proverbial contractor-in-chief for a decade, who resigned from his post in the government after his son was briefly detained on corruption charges, and called on PM Erdogan to follow suit, is seen as the black box of government s mostly unaudited business.
Kerry: US to “help” Iraq fight al-Qaeda
Al-Akhbar News 5 Jan 2014 – An image grab taken from a video released on January 4, 2014 by the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria’s al-Furqan Media allegedly shows ISIS fighters marching at an undisclosed location. (Photo: AFP PHOTO / aL-Furqan) An image grab taken from a video released on January 4,…
Sadr calls on Maliki to visit protest sites in Anbar
Al-Monitor 5 Jan 2014 – In an interview with Al-Hayat, Iraqi cleric Muqtada al-Sadr speaks about increasing sectarian conflict in Iraq and the region, and confirms that he would not participate in a future civil war under any circumstances.
Hospital: Ariel Sharon’s death “imminent”
Al-Akhbar News 5 Jan 2014 – Former Israeli prime minister Ariel Sharon was on Sunday facing “imminent” death, the Tel Aviv hospital where he is in critical condition said. “Our general assessment is there is no way to overcome this crisis … I am perhaps more pessimistic than I was before,” Zeev Rotstein,…
‘Pessimism’ over Sharon’s survival
BBC 5 Jan 2014 – Doctors treating Israeli ex-PM Ariel Sharon, whose condition worsened last week, say they are more pessimistic about his chances of survival.
Syria s Muslim Brotherhood: Past and present
Al-Monitor 5 Jan 2014 – It is necessary to analyze the history of Syria s Muslim Brotherhood to understand its role in the current crisis.
Tunisian opposition head: Progressive forces in Arab world must coordinate
Al-Monitor 5 Jan 2014 – In an interview with As-Safir, Hamma Hammami, the secretary general of the Tunisian Workers Party and spokesman for the opposition popular front, speaks about recent developments in Tunisia and the country s future.
Is Turkey sending weapons to Syria under guise of aid?
Al-Monitor 5 Jan 2014 – The controversy over a truck carrying weapons that was stopped on its way to Syria goes beyond the question of whether or not Turkey is supplying arms to the Syrian opposition under the guise of humanitarian aid.
VIDEO: Female fighting force of the PKK
BBC 5 Jan 2014 – The BBC’s Jihar Gol is granted rare access to the female commanders of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK).
The three-month flight along the Nile
BBC 4 Jan 2014 – The mechanic behind a famous flight along the Nile
Kerry’s elusive framework for Israeli-Palestinian security
Al-Monitor 3 Jan 2014 – US Secretary of State John Kerry recognizes that Israel will only accept a deal that will strengthen Israel s security in the Jordan Valley.
Articles
Diplomacy takes precedence over violations of international law
Ramona Wadi, Middle East Monitor (MEMO)1/3/2014
A recent report in the Times of Israel illustrates the emphasis which Israeli officials place upon diplomatic rhetoric, instead of expounding upon the prevailing expansionism associated with the Zionist settler-colonial state. The regular approval of further settlement construction in retaliation for the release of Palestinian political prisoners has portrayed the futility of embarking upon peace negotiations brokered by the US in favour of Israel. In another demonstration of the state’s apparent impunity, Israeli officials have decided to announce the pending settlement construction approval after US Secretary of State John Kerry leaves Israel, lest it should be perceived as “inappropriate”. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to authorise settlement construction beyond the Green Line in occupied Jerusalem and the West Bank.
Diplomacy retains its superiority as the focus shifts from the actual settlement expansion to the timing of the announcement. Despite the illegality of the settlements under international law, Israel’s allies in the international community remain committed to protecting the growth of the Zionist state, providing that announcements are made within an appropriate timeframe. Prior to the decision to wait until Kerry’s departure, the European Union commented upon the probability of settlement construction announcements, stating, “There will be very little understanding from the European governments to any announcements of construction in the disputed [sic] territories.” (Note that the territories have shifted from being “occupied” to “disputed”!) There is no tangible opposition to settlement construction from the international community, only a concern that Israel will be perceived as the instigator in disrupting talks destined to restrict Palestinian rights and memory.
Linking the Palestinian prisoners’ release with settlement construction has been denounced by the Palestinian Authority Minister for Prisoners’ Affairs, Issa Karake, who declared the forthcoming announcement an “inappropriate Israeli stunt that is not conducive to peace talks”. Israeli Defence Minister Moshe Ya’alon suggested the existence of an underlying agenda with regard to the prisoners’ release, despite vociferous Israeli opposition, stating that the decision “stems from broader considerations”. At a glance, the broader consideration would entail the bequeathing of a sliver of rights for Palestinians in return for further degradation of rights for all Palestinians whose identity has been denied.more..e-mail
Emigration of settlers from Palestine increases year after year
Mahmoud Omar, Middle East Monitor (MEMO)1/5/2014
Israeli statistics indicate that during the past year, there has been a rising number of Jews emigrating from the Palestinian territories occupied since 1948, while the process of bringing in Jews from various areas of the world into the Zionist state is very slow, which demonstrates that the living conditions experienced by Israeli settlers on Palestinian lands are difficult.
Various reasons, including economic, social and other concerns related to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and the growing security risks of living in a Zionist state, have made life in historic Palestine intolerable for many Jews, who subsequently search for homes in other countries around the world.
The Hebrew newspaper Maariv reported that the Israeli Government now “intends to implement a scheme that involves the transfer of tens of thousands of French Jews to live in Israel”.
The newspaper reported last Friday that the implementation of the planned transfer of Jews from France to Israel will occur during the first four months of 2014, according to data compiled by the ministry of diaspora.
The ministry said that this past year has seen the emigration of tens of thousands of Jews to the United States, Britain and Canada, while only three thousand Jews immigrated to Israel.
The newspaper also indicated that a few months ago, the Israeli authorities formed a team concerned with studying the affairs of the Jews in the “diaspora” to understand the reasons behind why Jews immigrate to countries other than the Israel. After completing this study, they came out with the understanding that in order to divert immigration to Israel, they must provide places of work, housing and organise the acceptance of immigrants into Israeli educational institutions.more..e-mail
Democracy allows criticism
Daoud Kuttab, Arabic Media Internet Network (AMIN)1/2/2014
The comment was off the cuff, but the result was angry and violent. The commentator was Jordanian oud player Tareq Jundi; the remark wa
s about the coldness at the Al Hussein Cultural Centre.
It seems that the diesel hasn t arrived at the theatre from the government, he said complaining about the fact that the theatre hall was extremely cold.
The concert was a charity show for the rising Jordanian artist Ghai Irsheidat. Some staff at the centre came screaming at Jundi for cursing the government and chairs were thrown at the artists who were saved by some of their loyal fans.
Ghai and the musicians decided to file a complaint at the police station, only to discover that the centre had filed a complaint accusing the musicians of having insulted the government and defamed the national flag. In the end both sides dropped their charges.
What happened on the last days of 2013 at the Al Hussein Cultural Centre was not new. In many cases artists and public figures complained that the centre, which belongs to the Greater Amman Municipality, has become a place for bullying and political partisanship.
The centre s director denied permission to a local organisation to hold a debate on the nuclear programme because the centre doesn t do politics .
In the past, and under a different management, the centre used to be the venue for numerous debates by that same organisation.more..e-mail
Now it s Middle Eastern regimes fighting al-Qa ida, while the US ties itself up in knots
Robert Fisk, The Independent1/5/2014
This is Arab unity as we have never seen it before. But watch out
And so, for the first time in recent history, it seems that the war against terror and specifically against al-Qa ida is being fought by Middle East regimes rather than their foreign investors.
Sure, American drones still smash into al-Qa ida operatives, wedding parties and innocent homes in Pakistan. But it s General al-Sisi of Egypt, President Bashar al-Assad of Syria, Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki of Iraq, President Hassan Rouhani of Iran even powerless President Michel Sleiman of Lebanon who are now fighting terrorists .
It shows how powerful the bad guys have become that mutually antagonistic dictators and satraps can gang together against America s enemy. This is Arab unity as we have never seen it before. The Ottoman Empire lives again. But watch out.
You need to put on a tin hat to avoid the ironies crashing out of the sky. John Kerry now the most outrageously funny Secretary of State in US history, he who promised an unbelievably small airstrike against Syria says America supports the secular rebels against Assad, who are fighting the Islamist rebels who are fighting against Assad even though the US still wants the overthrow of you guessed it Bashar al-Assad.
Meanwhile the Saudis are still pouring money into Syria to help the al-Qa ida-associated Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (Isil) against whom Bashar and the secular Free Syrian Army are now fighting while the Saudis also contribute billions to Sisi s army in Egypt which is fighting identical al-Qa ida-linked terror in Sinai and now, it appears, in Cairo itself. And if you are confused by all this, try Lebanon.more..e-mail
Are we attending a university, or a cold, faceless corporation?
Electronic Intifada: 5 Jan 2014 – University officials must divest from companies that profit from Israeli war crimes.more..
Gaza Speaking tour, USA, 2014
In Gaza: 4 Jan 2014 – Friends, Justice Supporters, I will embark on another speaking tour in Feb 2014, please see feedback from my 2013 talks . But folks in my previous talks have said, you need to reach out to larger audiences, beyond the choir . Please help me do so. I m just one person with some experiences and journalistic publication reaching out, striving to overcome the massive power imbalance and Zionist lobby. If you have contacts, ideas, please message or email me. I m a grassroots girl and dedicated to the truth. Justice before peace. Eva Eva Bartlett s presentation on Gaza should be heard by every American, including every single member of Congress. I am quite sure that they would end the American taxpayers financial support of the Israeli Occupation of Palestine if they only knew the horrors our money was paying for. Bartlett spoke beautifully, in a clear, articulate voice, presenting all the details of Israeli…more
Beholding 2014: Shaping Hopes for the Future
Palestine Chronicle: 5 Jan 2014 – By Richard Falk 2013 was not a happy year in the chronicles of human history, yet there were a few moves in the directions of peace and justice. What follows are some notes that respond to the mingling of light and shadows that are flickering on the global stage, with a spotlight placed on the main war zone of the 21st century the Middle East, recalling that Europe had this negative honor for most of the modern era except for the long 19th century, and that the several killing fields of sub-Saharan Africa are located at the periphery of political vision, and thus their reality remains blurred for distant observers. Also relevant are the flaring tensions in the waters around China in relation to territorial disputes about island ownership, especially Diaoyu/Senkaku pitting China against Japan, and reminding us that some old wounds remain unhealed. Many persons in many places suffered greatly,…more
More material available from Vermonters for a Just Peace in Palestine/Israel –www.vtjp.org
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The New Dark Age 
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