4 February 2014 — VTJP
News
International Middle East Media Center
Press Release: Israeli Forces Raid Ein Hijleh As Villagers Remain Steadfast
IMEMC – February 4, 2014 – Large numbers of Israeli soldiers and Border Police have made several attempts to raid the reclaimed village of Ein Hijleh and in return the villagers stopped their forced advancement into the center of the village. …
4800 Palestinians Currently Imprisoned Israel
IMEMC – February 4, 2014, Head of the Census Department at the Palestinian Ministry of Detainees, Abdul-Nasser Ferwana, said that Israel is currently holding captive around 4800 Palestinians in seventeen prisons, detention and interrogation centers. …
Israeli Army Attempts Takeover at Revived Ein Hijleh Village
IMEMC – Clashes with Israeli forces at Ein Hijleh started in the evening hours of Monday, February 3, when two Palestinians were injured during a fight with Israeli soldiers; one Palestinian had an arm fractured and the other fractured his ribs. Israeli forces prevented ambulances from entering the village to evacuate the wounded Palestinians to a nearby hospital. …
Israel Court Rules on Beit Jala Wall Route
IMEMC – Court demands explanation of case decisions Israel’s Supreme Court on Monday ordered the Israeli state to justify the route of the separation wall in Beit Jala’s Cremisan valley in an apparent indication that the proposed land seizure could be canceled. …
New Details on Peace Talks Suggesting Negev Offer to Palestinian Refugees
IMEMC – YNet News reported, on Sunday afternoon, that new information has been leaked from the latest peace talks which speak of the US suggesting that Palestinians get areas of Negev in return for settlement blocs. The offer is meant to satisfy West Bank Arab leaders, who will be expected to give up the notion of having a right of return. …
International Quartet in Support of Palestinian State Based on 1967 Borders
IMEMC – Hamas rejects Abbas proposal The International Quartet supports the creation of a Palestinian state based on the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capitol, a Palestinian official has stated. …
Israel To Allow Cement For Storm-affected Families
IMEMC – Turkish aid distributed Israeli occupation authorities on Tuesday agreed to allow a thousand tons of cement into Gaza for the families affected by Alex storm, a Gaza official said. Turkish aid distributed. …
Israeli Officer Killed By Friendly Fire
IMEMC – An Israeli officer was killed by friendly fire, Monday night, near the northern Gaza border, according to the Israeli army. …
Soldiers Sighted Spraying Racist Graffiti
IMEMC – Israeli soldiers, on Tuesday, sprayed racist graffiti on the walls of several Palestinian homes in the town of Beit Ummar, north of Hebron, according to a local activist. …
Fourteen Palestinians Kidnapped In West Bank
IMEMC – [Tuesday at Dawn, February 4, 2014] As part of their daily invasions and arrests, Israeli soldiers invaded various districts in the occupied West Bank, kidnapping at least fourteen Palestinians, after breaking into their homes. …
Israeli officers enter Aqsa compound, raid mosque
2/4/2014 – JERUSALEM (Ma’an) — Israeli intelligence officers entered the al-Aqsa mosque compound on Tuesday and raided the Dome of the Rock, witnesses and the Palestinian Authority Ministry of Endowment said. Around 30 intelligence officers entered the compound through the Moroccan Gate and toured different areas of the plateau before storming the Dome of the Rock and climbing to the roof, endowment ministry officials told Ma….
Israeli forces raid protest village in the Jordan valley
2/5/2014 – JERICHO (Ma’an) — Israeli forces on Tuesday raided the protest village of Ein Hijleh and fired live bullets, tear gas, and stun grenades at protesters there, a Palestinian lawmaker said. Mustafa Barghouthi said two people were lightly injured and treated on the spot. Barghouthi added that they raided the village to remove a sign which had the name of the village on it, and….
Israeli forces detain 18 Palestinians in overnight raids
2/4/2014 – NABLUS (Ma’an) — Israeli forces detained 18 Palestinians in arrest raids across the West Bank overnight Monday, locals and Israel’s army said. Israeli forces raided several neighborhoods in the Nablus village of Duma and detained Bashir Hisham Dawabsha, Ali Mahmoud Dawabsha, Mahmoud Labib Dawabsha, Musab abdul-Samee Dawabsha, Amir Khalid Dawbsha, Shakir Jaafar Dawabsha and Isam Inad Dawabsha. Locals said that 10 Israeli….
Nowhere to go: Palestinian families left without homes
2/4/2014 – Al-JIFTLIK (Ma’an) — Jan. 31 was an unforgettable day for Hayla Bany Maniya, a 42-year old Bedouin woman and mother of eight children, who has lived her entire life in the Jiftlik area of the Jordan Valley in the northern part of the West Bank. Known as Umm Mohammad, Hayla woke up to the sound of Israeli military bulldozers demolishing all thirteen sheds….
Israeli officer killed by friendly fire near Gaza border
2/5/2014 – BETHLEHEM (Ma’an) — An Israeli officer was killed overnight Monday by friendly fire near the northern Gaza border, Israel’s army said.”The IDF confirms an IDF officer was killed overnight following misidentified discharge during routine activity adjacent to the security fence in the northern Gaza Strip. The circumstances of the incident are being investigated,” an Israeli army spokeswoman told Ma’an….
Hamas redeploys forces along Gaza border
2/4/2014 – GAZA CITY (Ma’an) — The Hamas government in Gaza has redeployed security forces along its borders with Israel to prevent rocket fire, an interior ministry official said Tuesday. Islam Shahwan said that the interior ministry’s role is to “secure and fortify the home front and the agreements approved by resistance factions to realize our people’s interests, security and stability.” The….
Rafah crossing to operate for 3 days
2/4/2014 – GAZA CITY (Ma’an) — Egyptian authorities opened the Rafah crossing with Gaza on Tuesday, officials from Gaza’s Interior Ministry said. Two buses have crossed from the Gaza Strip to Egypt, Gaza officials said. The crossing will be open until Thursday with priority given to passengers who registered to travel between Jan. 30 and Feb. 1. Egypt has frequently closed the terminal since….
Palestinian village crippled by Oslo restrictions
2/5/2014 – HEBRON (Ma’an) – “Either you issue an Israeli construction license before Feb. 19, or your houses will be demolished,” Israeli forces have warned Palestinian residents in a village southwest of Hebron. Ribhi al-Hroub, his brother, and other residents live in the part of the village Deir Samit in the West Bank’s Area C, a designation according to the Oslo Accord of 1994….
Hope for Beit Jala residents after Israel court rules on wall
2/4/2014 – BETHLEHEM (Ma’an) — Israel’s Supreme Court on Monday ordered the Israeli state to justify the route of the separation wall in Beit Jala’s Cremisan valley in an apparent indication that the proposed land seizure could be canceled. Fifty-eight landowners, together with the Salesian convent and monastery, have battled for eight years against a 2006 Israeli military order to build the….
Erekat: No negotiations progress
2/4/2014 – BETHLEHEM (Ma’an) — PLO chief negotiator Saeb Erekat said a recent meeting with US Secretary of State John Kerry made no progress and a date for a framework agreement was yet to be set. Erekat said he held several meeting with Kerry in Washington, and the two discussed ways to push the peace process forward but there was nothing official to report so far….
Brazil ambassador reiterates support for Palestinian independence
2/4/2014 – BETHLEHEM (Ma’an) — The Brazilian ambassador to Palestine on Tuesday reiterated his country’s support for a free and independent Palestine. During a visit to Ma’an News Agency’s Bethlehem headquarters, Paulo Roberto Franca told Ma’an’s editor-in-chief Nasser Lahham that Brazil would continue to support the Palestinian people in their pursuit of freedom. Franca also discussed….
Israel to allow 1,000 tons of cement into Gaza
2/4/2014 – GAZA CITY (Ma’an) — Israel will allow the entry of 1,000 tons of cement into the Gaza Strip to help it recover from the last storm, the Palestinian Authority civil affairs minister said. Hussein al-Sheikh told Ma’an that 25 truckloads totaling about 1,000 tons of cement will enter Gaza starting Sunday and Monday. Al-Sheikh said he instructed the coordination committee in Gaza….
Peres praises Kerry after attacks by Israeli hawks
2/4/2014 – JERUSALEM (AFP) — Israel’s President Shimon Peres Tuesday praised John Kerry’s peace efforts, after Israeli hawks attacked the top US diplomat for warning of a growing boycott threat.”We thank (Kerry) for his efforts. We encourage him and hope to soon achieve positive results,” Peres said in remarks broadcast on military radio after two days of verbal attacks against the US secretary….
Lawyers start protests against ‘flabby judiciary’
2/4/2014 – RAMALLAH (Ma’an) – The union of Palestinian lawyers in the West Bank on Tuesday started protests against what they called the “flabby” Palestinian judiciary. A statement highlighted that lawyers decided to boycott all hearings in courts and DA offices on Tuesday. The union’s council will hold an emergency session next Saturday to determine what further protests should be taken in future, according….
Dozens hold demonstration against division in Gaza
2/4/2014 – GAZA CITY (Ma’an) — Dozens of activists from a national committee to end the political division in the occupied territories held a demonstration in a Gaza City square on Tuesday. Participants raised Palestinian flags and signs demanding that Fatah and Hamas end the division and achieve reconciliation after a split in 2006 which divided the West Bank and Gaza under rival governments. Activist Huda….
Construction union suspends strike
2/4/2014 – NABLUS (Ma’an) — The union of construction material manufacturers will suspend a strike of concrete factories starting on Tuesday, union member Khalil Assaf told Ma’an. He said the union gave up in its conflict with the Palestinian Commercial Services Corporation, which is the leading distributer of cement in the West Bank, after the price of each cement ton was raised by 18….
Hundreds evacuated fom Yarmouk refugee camp
2/4/2014 – BETHLEHEM (Ma’an) – Hundreds of patients, injured people, children and pregnant women have been evacuated from the Yarmouk refugee camp in Damascus to hospitals in nearby neighborhoods, a Syria-based Fatah official said. The movement’s foreign relations officer in Syria Muhammad Abu al-Qasim told Ma’an on Monday that “every Palestinian refugee who wanted to leave the camp was evacuated.” About 100….
Palestinians flee hunger and hell of besieged Syria camp
2/4/2014 – DAMASCUS (AFP) — Khulud Shehab’s withered hands push two of her children out of Yarmouk in southern Damascus, anxious to flee the hell and hunger of the Palestinian refugee camp as fast as possible. For seven months, the Syrian army has imposed a punishing siege on the camp to try to force out rebels holed up inside. Khulud and her family are among the….
Missing toddler found dead in Gaza
2/4/2014 – GAZA CITY (Ma’an) — Gaza police on Tuesday found the dead body of a toddler buried in an area west of al-Nusairat. Spokesman for the police Ayub Abu Shaar said Hadeel al-Souri, who was reported missing on in late December, was found dead. An investigation into her death was opened, Abu Shaar said. [END]
UN food program cuts back as $1 bn shortfall looms
2/4/2014 – SYDNEY (AFP) — The UN’s World Food Program is scaling back projects in a number of countries as it confronts a $1 billion funding shortfall, with costs mounting for missions such as Syria, its director said Monday. Ertharin Cousin is in Australia as part of a tour to drum up support for the United Nations agency among donor nations and the private sector to….
Egypt army kills 21 gunmen in Sinai raids
2/4/2014 – CAIRO (Ma’an) — The Egyptian army shot dead 21 gunmen affiliated to a radical Takfiri group in north Sinai on Tuesday, a security official said. Egyptian forces launched a crackdown against two suspected “terrorist” cells in the villages of Juz Abu Raad and al-Wadi al-Akhdar in the central Sinai peninsula, the official told Ma’an. Fierce clashes broke out between Egyptian forces and….
UN airlifts aid to northeastern Syria
2/4/2014 – GENEVA (AFP) — The UN World Food Program on Tuesday said it was airlifting supplies to northeastern Syria, where raging violence has made it nearly impossible to truck aid in.”WFP started airlifting on Tuesday enough food to feed close to 30,000 displaced people for a month from Iraq to Qamishli in northeast Syria,” spokeswoman Elisabeth Byrs said.”This is for people who otherwise would be….
Journalists protest Egypt jailing of Jazeera colleagues
2/4/2014 – NAIROBI (AFP) — Scores of supporters of Al-Jazeera journalists jailed in Egypt demonstrated on Tuesday in Kenya, the base of one of the detained reporters.”Being a journalist is not a crime,” the crowd of around a 100 shouted outside the Egyptian embassy in Nairobi, in a peaceful protest watched over by armed police. The detained journalists, who have been locked up for more than a….
Policeman, militants killed in Tunis firefight
2/4/2014 – TUNIS (AFP) – A firefight between security forces and suspected Islamists holed up in a building in a Tunis suburb has left one policeman and up to four militants dead, the interior ministry said Tuesday. The standoff, which began Monday afternoon, was not yet over, a ministry spokesman told AFP, adding that so far a policeman and “between two and four terrorists” had been killed. Special….
International Solidarity Movement
Zionism is a ‘false theology,’ says new Presbyterian study guide
2/4/2014 – International Solidarity Movement – The Electronic Intifada, Joe Catron, Gaza City, Occupied Palestine – In five months, the Presbyterian Church (USA) will consider divestment from three US companies with Israeli military contracts, at its general assembly in Detroit. A new study guide published by the church and compiled by its Israel/Palestine Mission Network has turned a critical eye on the Zionist ideology behind the Israeli policies the divestment measure aims to challenge…. Related: The Electronic Intifada
occupied Palestinian territory: Special Focus: Gaza Strip – Is the closure of the tunnels from Egypt further suffocating the Gaza economy? February 2014
Relief Web 4 Feb 2014 – Source: World Food Programme Country: Egypt, occupied Palestinian territory • Since 2007, the siege of Gaza’s territory contributed to the development of a non-sustainable economy, dependant on foreign aid and underground trade. • The closure of the tunnels by Egypt…
World: Global Emergency Overview Snapshot 28 January – 04 February
Relief Web 4 Feb 2014 – Source: Assessment Capacities Project Country: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bolivia (Plurinational State of), Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Côte d’Ivoire, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Guinea, Haiti, Iraq, Jordan, Kenya,…
Lebanon: Lebanon RRP5 Update – December 2013: Education
Relief Web 4 Feb 2014 – Source: UN Children’s Fund, UN High Commissioner for Refugees Country: Lebanon, occupied Palestinian territory, Syrian Arab Republic NEEDS As the 2013/2014 school year begins, there are approximately 280,000 3-18 year old Syrian refugee children registered with UNHCR in Lebanon, and…
occupied Palestinian territory: Military Choking Palestinian Village, Planning Tourist Site
Relief Web 4 Feb 2014 – Source: Human Rights Watch Country: occupied Palestinian territory Draconian Curbs on Building, Working, Access to Essentials of Daily Life (Jerusalem) – The Israeli military is severely harming livelihoods in a Palestinian village in the West Bank that it plans to…
Philip Seymour Hoffman death highlights rise of heroin addiction in US
The National 4 Feb 2014 – US saw 3,038 heroin overdose deaths last year while percentage of addicts seeking treatment rose from 10 per cent in 2011-12 to 25 per cent over the past year.
Britain confirms advising India ahead of 1984 raid on Golden Temple
The National 4 Feb 2014 – British foreign minister William Hague says SAS officer flew to India months before June 1984 assault, but Indian army ignored his advice.
Iran food initiative spurs confusion
The National 4 Feb 2014 – Last-minute changes to an Iranian government scheme to provide lower-income citizens with food has left many confused.
Mix-up delays start of peace talks with Pakistani Taliban
The National 4 Feb 2014 – Pakistani Taliban delegation says government negotiators failed to show up, while government says it was waiting for confirmation of who would be representing the militants.
Tunisia stand-off ends with 8 dead
The National 4 Feb 2014 – A day-long standoff ended on Tuesday when Tunisian security forces stormed two houses occupied by militants, killing seven.
Social media transforms Saudi citizens relationship with rulers
The National 4 Feb 2014 – Saudi Arabia has the world’s largest proportion of people using Twitter. Social media is giving a new voice to citizens and prompting fresh debates.
Election coverage shows growth of new Afghan media
The National 4 Feb 2014 – Media outlets in Afghanistan have proliferated after the Taliban were driven from power 2001. There are dozens of TV channels, more than 100 radio stations, and hundreds of nwspapers.
Saudi religious police vow to remove extremists from ranks
The National 4 Feb 2014 – Sheikh Abdullatif Al Sheikh, the head of Saudi Arabia’s religious police, has vowed to remove extremists from among their ranks.
Zionist emissaries employed abroad can now vote for Knesset
Ha’aretz – 4 Feb 2014
Israel fails to implement dozens of laws
Ha’aretz – 4 Feb 2014
Cancer causes one in four Israeli deaths, new statistics show
Ha’aretz – 4 Feb 2014
Presidential election? The Afghans are awaiting their next civil war
Ha’aretz – 4 Feb 2014
Rabbis to Kerry: Cease mediation or face divine retribution
Ha’aretz – 4 Feb 2014
Is Netflix on its way to Israel, officially?
Ha’aretz – 4 Feb 2014
Herzog: Half of workers earn only 5k a month – something isn’t working
Ha’aretz – 4 Feb 2014
More Israeli soldiers reporting sexual harassment
Ha’aretz – 4 Feb 2014
After Dylan Farrow’s sex abuse accusation, should Hollywood revoke Woody Allen’s Oscar?
Ha’aretz – 4 Feb 2014
After Dylan Farrow’s sex abuse accusation, should Hollywood revoke Woody Allen’s Oscar?
Ha’aretz – 4 Feb 2014
Rice tweets: Israel, we’re mad as hell and not going to take it anymore
Ha’aretz – 4 Feb 2014
Rice tweets: Israel, we’re mad as hell and not going to take it anymore
Ha’aretz – 4 Feb 2014
High Court cuts yeshiva funding for Haredi draft-dodgers
Ha’aretz – 4 Feb 2014
Israel rejects U.S.-Palestinian proposal for anti-incitement panel
Ha’aretz – 4 Feb 2014
Israel indicts Palestinian for working with Al-Qaida, holding biological weapons
Ha’aretz – 4 Feb 2014
Peter Beinart’s disdain for ‘Jewish leaders’ is misplaced
Ha’aretz – 4 Feb 2014
SodaStream wins new customer – in Canadian cabinet
Ha’aretz – 4 Feb 2014
Austrian far-right politician compares protest against his party to Kristallnacht
Ha’aretz – 4 Feb 2014
Jordanian FM: Palestinians don’t need to recognize Jewish state
Ha’aretz – 4 Feb 2014
Singer Eyal Golan proclaims innocence in sex scandal
Ha’aretz – 4 Feb 2014
Are your views ‘pro-Israel’ enough for your JCC?
Ha’aretz – 4 Feb 2014
Bennett threatens to bolt coalition if Kerry deal ‘inconsistent’ with his values
Ha’aretz – 4 Feb 2014
Orthodox feminist group breaks ranks with Women of the Wall
Ha’aretz – 4 Feb 2014
Israeli officer killed by friendly fire near Gaza security fence
Ha’aretz – 4 Feb 2014
For Czech deer, the Cold War isn’t over
Ha’aretz – 4 Feb 2014
Israeli lawmaker proposes nixing the presidency
Ha’aretz – 4 Feb 2014
Rare white lion triplets born in Poland
Ha’aretz – 4 Feb 2014
Touching evil: A visit to Stalin’s dacha in Sochi
Ha’aretz – 4 Feb 2014
4 of 5 fastest-growing defense markets are in Mideast, report shows
Ha’aretz – 4 Feb 2014
Susan Rice blasts Israel for criticizing Kerry
Ha’aretz – 4 Feb 2014
Report: Unfit conditions at Saharonim migrant detention center
Ha’aretz – 3 Feb 2014
Netanyahu could learn from Sharon’s realistic approach to Zionism
Ha’aretz – 3 Feb 2014
Senior Israeli officials: Deal with Turkey possible within days
Ha’aretz – 3 Feb 2014
Facebook at 10: For Israel, it’s a dark mirror and a vulgar town square
Ha’aretz – 3 Feb 2014
Boycotting reality
Ha’aretz – 3 Feb 2014
Palestinian punishment, a fact of life
Ha’aretz – 3 Feb 2014
IAA revamps Dead Sea Scrolls website
Jerusalem Post 4 Feb 2014 – Improved version of digital library has 10,000 high-quality new photographs.
Analysis: Publicizing ministerial committee votes-Transparency or populism?
Jerusalem Post 4 Feb 2014 – Is the fight over publicizing how ministers vote on the Ministerial Committee for Legislation about transparency or populism?
Four suspects in Petah Tivka car bombing appear in court
Jerusalem Post 4 Feb 2014 – None of the four men are major organized crime figures or investigative targets of Israel Police, rather “members of a local gang,” police say.
Turkish official: Progress with Israel, but still no agreement
Jerusalem Post 4 Feb 2014 – Reports claim Israeli-Turkish compensation agreement for the nine Turks killed on the Mavi Marmara in 2010 could come soon; Israel tight-lipped.
Center field: Anne Heyman
Jerusalem Post 4 Feb 2014 – Model Young Judaean, Zionist, human being .
Borderline Views: Israeli citizens residing in a Palestinian state Prime Minister
Jerusalem Post 4 Feb 2014 – Perhaps this is Netanyahu’s secret strategy – start a debate and heated public argument around the idea of territorial exclaves, so that the more it is discussed, the more it becomes acceptable.
Terra Incognita: The myth of the ‘veteran-immigrant’ divide
Jerusalem Post 4 Feb 2014 – One in five Israelis think Jewish immigrants are a bad influence on the culture of Israel.
Hamas renews opposition to peace talks with Israel
Jerusalem Post 4 Feb 2014 – Hamas official says Palestinians won’t accept any agreement Abbas signs with Israel; senior Hamas official in West Bank criticizes Abbas for saying he would agree to deployment of NATO troops in future Palestinian state.
German chancellor Merkel official meets members of Neturei Karta sect
Jerusalem Post 4 Feb 2014 – Sect infamous for seeking to destroy Israel; purpose of meeting unknown, Jerusalem requests clarification for German government about session.
Senior German official meets with Natorei Karta
Jerusalem Post 4 Feb 2014 – Sect infamous for seeking to destroy Israel; purpose of meeting unknown, Jerusalem requests clarification for German government about session.
Baghdad’s Apache gunship deal
Jerusalem Post 4 Feb 2014 – Recently, the US Congress approved the White House’s plans to sell AH-64 Apache gunships to Iraq.
Knesset panel approves defense budget, but IDF asks for more
Jerusalem Post 4 Feb 2014 – Committee calls to find NIS 750 million that are missing; IDF Chief of Staff says defense establishment in difficult budgetary year.
Zilber’s music
Jerusalem Post 4 Feb 2014 – Zilber, who has over the past four decades composed and performed some of Israeli music’s greatest hits, has become known for his extreme right-wing political opinions.
State Control Committee: Bituach Leumi must change its procedures to ease hardships on the disabled
Jerusalem Post 4 Feb 2014 – Knesset meeting portrays dismal picture of NII medical committees’ handling of individuals eligible for disability benefits.
Housing plan will double size of Rosh HaAyin
Jerusalem Post 4 Feb 2014 – Gov’t to spend NIS 2.2 billion on investments, at a loss
Edelstein: Government negligence in upholding law is intolerable
Jerusalem Post 4 Feb 2014 – Knesset Speaker, Legal Advisor demand government pass regulations, stop ignoring laws passed by legislature.
Hadassah doctors strike over management’s ‘unilateral action’
Jerusalem Post 4 Feb 2014 – Doctors are protesting against “unilateral changes by management” and the financial troubles that have hounded HMO for almost a year.
Cancer most common cause of death in Israel
Jerusalem Post 4 Feb 2014 – In the next two decades, the number of people around the world expected to get cancer will rise 75 percent and reach 25 million annually.
National Council approves promotion of 30 sites for wind farm construction
Jerusalem Post 4 Feb 2014 – The National Council for Planning and Building decides to promote the construction of large wind farms and turbines on 30 sites around the country.
Families facing eviction from Givat Amal homes begin hunger strike in capital
Jerusalem Post 4 Feb 2014 – Protesters: Israeli business mogul who bought land from government to develop high-end residential tower and community refuses to compensate families.
Haredi daily rages against ‘worthless’ opponents over secret recordings scandal
Jerusalem Post 4 Feb 2014 – “They do not shy away from criminal and deceitful methods to harm the rabbinic emissaries.”
Green Knesset project marches on
Jerusalem Post 4 Feb 2014 – Legislature installs electric car charging spots, bans plastic bottles from discussions.
Key senator: Sanctions after Iran talks fail might be too late
Jerusalem Post 4 Feb 2014 – Pushback against White House during Senate hearing on Iran as senators say Tehran still conducting nuclear research during negotiations.
Haredi draft: High court interim order blocks funding for some yeshivas
Jerusalem Post 4 Feb 2014 – Decision evokes angry denunciations from ultra-Orthodox lawmakers; Haredi MKs: Court is creating “bloody civil war.”
Mks and activists to Knesset: Date-rape drugs must be treated seriously
Jerusalem Post 4 Feb 2014 – Knesset Committee for the Advancement of Women discussed issue, hears that doctors and nurses are “unfamiliar” with date-rape drugs.
SodaStream slumps amid West Bank factory furor
Jerusalem Post 4 Feb 2014 – Israeli company’s stock drops in wake of Scarlett Johanssen’s choice to represent SodaStream over Oxfam.
Green Police raids Kiryat Gat facility for illegal pesticide production, marketing
Jerusalem Post 4 Feb 2014 – Environmental Protection Ministry investigates production of dangerous chemical preparations and pesticides by Or Hayeshua factory.
Report: Hamas leadership prevents military wing from attacking Israel
Jerusalem Post 4 Feb 2014 – Retaliation for IAF strikes had been planned for last week, leaders veto move; Hamas re-deploys rocket prevention force on border.
Shin Bet chief: Failed peace talks won’t bring more terror
Jerusalem Post 4 Feb 2014 – Yoram Cohen says terrorism on rise, with 1,700 attacks in 2013 and increase in “popular terror” in West Bank.
OP-ED: Egypt’s Revolution Teeters as Sisi Seeks the Presidency
IPS By Emile Nakhleh WASHINGTON, Feb 4 2014 (IPS) Abdul Fattah al-Sisi is set to run for president and is expected to win handily. The ruling junta and the interim government have taken several steps to make this happen. Interim President Adly Mansour recently promoted Sisi to Field Marshal, the highest…
The Constant Presence of U.S. Drones in the Sky Traumatize and Ruin Lives on the Ground
Uruknet 4 Feb 2014 – February 2, 2014 – Nabila s drawings are like any other nine-year-old s. A house rests besides a winding path, a winding path on which wander two stick figures. Tall trees, rising against the back drop of majestic hills. Clouds…
Palestinian family struggles to survive after repeated home demolitions
Uruknet 4 Feb 2014 – February 3, 2014 – “Watch out! The bulldozers and the jeeps are coming.”Shirin Salamein heard the warning from one of her neighbors as she finished milking her sheep and goats close to her home. She lives in the village of…
Settlers uproot more than 1,000 olive saplings near Ramallah
Uruknet 4 Feb 2014 – February 2, 2014 — Jewish settlers on Sunday vandalized private Palestinian agricultural lands north of Ramallah and uprooted more than 1000 olive trees and newly planted saplings, a Palestinian official said.Ghassan Daghlas, a Palestinian Authority official who monitors settlement-related activities…
PCHR and IDMC Issue Report on Israeli Violations in Access Restricted Areas
Uruknet 4 Feb 2014 – February 2, 2014 – On 01 February 2014, the report “Under Fire” issued by the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR) and the Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC) was launched in London. The report addresses the Israeli violations in Access…
Syria News – February 2, 2014 (Warning: Graphic Videos)
Uruknet 4 Feb 2014 – February 2, 2014 — By the end of Sunday the Coordination Committees were able to document 136 martyrs including 27 children, 12 women and 8 martyrs under torture: 88 martyrs were reported in Aleppo; 24 in Damascus and its Suburbs;…
Good News and Bad from Palestine
Uruknet 4 Feb 2014 – February 2, 2014 – First the good news. There s much to report. On November 29, 2013, the UN General Assembly designated 2014 as the International Year of Solidarity with the Palestinian people. A previous article asked why this year?…
Military Resistance 12B2 Sheepless in Seattle and More[1]
Uruknet 4 Feb 2014 – February 2, 2014 – Pew Research Center poll underscore the erosion in support for the invasions of Iraq and Afghanistan and the loss of faith in the outcome of the wars, both launched in the aftermath of the Sept. 11,…
Iran FM Zarif, meeting Kerry, says not authorized to discuss Syria Read more
Uruknet 4 Feb 2014 – February 2, 2014 – Secretary of State John Kerry met with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference for just over an hour Sunday. They discussed upcoming comprehensive Iran nuclear negotiations set to…
On Trial, Drone Protester Proves Wrong People Charged
Uruknet 4 Feb 2014 – February 2, 2014 – Closing Argument presented on Janurary 31, 2014, by Judith Bello on trial as of those who protested at Hancock Air Base in New York State on October 25, 2012: …You have heard testimony that Weaponized Drones,…
George Washington, The Pentagon, and the CIA
Uruknet 4 Feb 2014 – …Not even in George Orwell s “1984” was Big Brother watching everybody in the world the way Uncle Sam is now watching you, yes you, and you and you and you and you and you.We have come so far from…
Muhammed Mubarak, 20, killed by Israeli military
Uruknet 4 Feb 2014 – February 2, 2014 – On the 30th of January, 20 year-old Muhammed Mubarak, a resident of Jalazone refugee camp, was killed by the Israeli military after he was shot from a close distance. He was working as a traffic controller…
SodaStream violates International Law
Uruknet 4 Feb 2014 – February 2, 2014 – After significant press coverage of the situation, Scarlett Johansson made the decision to step down from her position as an ambassador for Oxfam, over a “fundamental difference of opinion” with the charity, according to Haaretz. Johansson…
Settlers Uproot Hundreds Of Trees In Nablus, Ramallah
Uruknet 4 Feb 2014 – February 2, 2014 – [Sunday, February 2, 2014] Israeli settlers invaded Palestinian orchards in the West Bank districts of Nablus and Ramallah, uprooting more than 1,425 olive trees and saplings.Ghassan Daghlas, a Palestinian official in charge of Israeli Settlements File,…
Between Normal and Abnormal: A Day in Aida Camp
Uruknet 4 Feb 2014 – February 2, 2014 -“This is normal, we got used to it!” Salah, the Director of Lajee Center responded to me when I comment that the center smells like tear gas even though the clashes had not started yet. Lajee Center (…
How would Arafat and Habash React to Events in Yarmouk?
Uruknet 4 Feb 2014 – February 2, 2014 -There is this damning obsession with how would certain dead leaders behave in current circumstances. Perhaps this obsession is borne out of an understandable yearning for a charismatic political figure that would unite the Palestinians under one…
Israel repeatedly forbids call to prayer because it annoys settlers
Uruknet 4 Feb 2014 – February 2, 2014– Israeli forces forbade the Islamic call for prayer at the Ibrahimi Mosque in Hebron 49 times in the month of January because it “annoyed” Jewish settlers, according to an official from the Palestinian Authority ministry of endowments….
Iraqi Army Bombs Falluja, Prepares for Ground Assault
Uruknet 4 Feb 2014 – February 2, 2014 – The Iraqi army intensified its shelling of Falluja on Sunday in preparation for a ground assault to regain control over the city, which has been under the control of militants for a month. Mostly Sunni Muslim…
In Gaza, remembering the sick Palestinian political prisoners in Israeli jails
Uruknet 4 Feb 2014 – February 2, 2014 – At this week s Gaza sit-in in solidarity with political prisoners in Israeli jails, the focus was on the sick prisoners. The Palestinian political prisoners in need of medical care number about 1,000, and the lives…
Iraqi Army Bombs Falluja, Prepares for Ground Assault
Uruknet 4 Feb 2014 – February 2, 2014 – The Iraqi army intensified its shelling of Falluja on Sunday in preparation for a ground assault to regain control over the city, which has been under the control of militants for a month. Mostly Sunni Muslim…
Why the Boycott Movement Scares Israel
Uruknet 4 Feb 2014 – February 2, 2014 -If Secretary of State John Kerry s attempts to revive talks between Israel and the Palestinian Authority fail because of Israel s continuing construction of illegal settlements, the Israeli government will likely face an international boycott “on…
Iran FM Zarif, meeting Kerry, says not authorized to discuss Syria Read more
Uruknet 4 Feb 2014 – February 2, 2014 – Secretary of State John Kerry met with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference for just over an hour Sunday. They discussed upcoming comprehensive Iran nuclear negotiations set to…
Christie, Clapper and other Officials who should be in Jail instead of Snowden
Uruknet 3 Feb 2014 – February 2, 2014 – The vindictiveness toward Edward Snowden in official Washington has nothing to do with law-breaking and everything to do with the privileges of power. The powerful in Washington may spy on us, but we are not to…
Israeli Columnist Calls for Extermination of Palestinians
Uruknet 3 Feb 2014 – February 2, 2014 – …Schein has in effect called upon his fellow Israelis to harken back to the Bible s tribal blood feuds and not just ethnically cleanse, but exterminate the Palestinians. He has called for genocide. With a wink…
Chemical weapons deal strengthened Assad: U.S. intelligence chief
Daily Star 4 Feb 2014 Last year’s agreement to eliminate Syria’s chemical weapons left President Bashar al-Assad in a strengthened position, and there appears little chance rebels will soon force him from power, the U.S. intelligence chief told Congress on Tuesday.
White House urges Egypt to release detained journalists, academics
Daily Star 4 Feb 2014 The White House said on Tuesday that it is deeply concerned about a recent crackdown by the Egyptian government on journalists and academics.
Egypt: nearly 200 mostly Islamists sent to trial
Daily Star 4 Feb 2014 Egypt’s prosecutor general is referring nearly 200 people to trial, including top leaders of the ousted president’s Muslim Brotherhood group, over accusations including murder, forming armed gangs and orchestrating jailbreaks.
Iran president says ready for final nuclear talks
Daily Star 4 Feb 2014 Iran’s official IRNA news agency is quoting President Hassan Rouhani as saying his country is ready for final nuclear talks with world powers.
Libya says Kadhafi regime’s chemical weapons all destroyed
Daily Star 4 Feb 2014 Libya has completely destroyed the chemical arsenal it inherited from the ousted dictatorship of Moamer Kadhafi, Foreign Minister Mohamed Abdelaziz announced on Tuesday.
UN: 2 staffers detained in Syria freed, 19 held
Daily Star 4 Feb 2014 The United Nations says two U.N. staff members detained in Syria have been released in the last few days, but 19 are still being held.
Failed peace talks won’t bring more violence: Israel
Daily Star 4 Feb 2014 The failure of peace talks with the Palestinians would not lead to an increase in violence, the head of Israel’s domestic security agency said Tuesday.
Iran nuclear deal ‘not perfect’ but buys time, top U.S. official
Daily Star 4 Feb 2014 An initial agreement to curb Iran’s nuclear program was “not perfect” but it bought time to try to secure a comprehensive deal, a top U.S. official said on Tuesday in response to sharp criticism from Congress.
Saudi journalist jailed 12 years for ‘disobeying ruler’
Daily Star 4 Feb 2014 A Saudi court sentenced a journalist to 12 years in prison Tuesday for “disobeying the ruler” and accusing the kingdom of creating terrorism in televised remarks, state media reported.
Vatican surveys find Catholics reject sex rules
YNet News, 4 Feb 2014 – ….
Israel’s security is not an illusion
YNet News, 4 Feb 2014 – Op-ed: Kerry should be reminded of what happened to the terrorists who murdered our athletes in Munich – Israel settled the score with every single one of them ….
Obama meets with top US commander in Afghanistan
YNet News, 4 Feb 2014 – ….
Libya says all chemical weapons destroyed
YNet News, 4 Feb 2014 – ….
12 Shoah survivors celebrate bar mitzvah
YNet News, 4 Feb 2014 – Decades after surviving Holocaust, five men and seven women mark their coming of age in Haifa ceremony. ‘At the age of 13 I was in Auschwitz,’ one of them says. ‘There wasn’t really anyone to talk to about celebrations’ ….
UN: 2 staffers detained in Syria freed, 19 held
YNet News, 4 Feb 2014 – ….
Senior security source: We’re also tired of haredi enlistment law delay
YNet News, 4 Feb 2014 – ….
Back to Auschwitz to prove we won
YNet News, 4 Feb 2014 – Op-ed: Is there a more symbolic way than the Knesset delegation to Auschwitz of showing the world that the Jews overpowered Hitler? ….
Bennett, leave the coalition now!
YNet News, 4 Feb 2014 – Op-ed: Quitting government may be Habayit Hayehudi’s only chance of stopping suicidal agreement with Palestinians ….
UK bans ‘anti-Semitic’ French comic
YNet News, 4 Feb 2014 – On grounds of public security, Britain’s interior ministry slaps exclusion order on Dieudonne M’bala M’bala after he reportedly planned to visit country to support Nicolas Anelka in footballer’s ‘quenelle’ row. Dieudonne responds by giving Queen Elizabeth II his trademark Nazi-like salute ….
Byzantine period well uncovered in Tel Aviv construction site
YNet News, 3 Feb 2014 – Water well dated from Byzantine period unearthed during construction of medical clinic building. Work on site to continues ….
State Department: Kerry expects anyone not to distort his words
YNet News, 3 Feb 2014 – Following Kerry’s warning of boycott expansion last week, public opposition to his stance, US says secretary has always been in support of Israel, in ‘staunch opposition to boycotts’ ….
Iran unveils new home-made communication satellites
YNet News, 3 Feb 2014 – Islamic republic presents one satellite to bolster wireless connections, one to improve high-resolution documentation ….
Growing concern in Israel over BDS
YNet News, 3 Feb 2014 – With calls to boycott Israel on the rise, media reports say Israel considers hiring PR company to polish image. ‘Israel is getting nervous far too late’, says head of Israeli organization that fights BDS ….
Report: 1 in 8 IDF women soldiers experienced sexual assault in 2013
YNet News, 3 Feb 2014 – Far-reaching report finds cases of sexual harassment rose to 561 in 2013; number of men who said they were assaulted rises by 5% from 2012 ….
IN PICTURES: Iran hit by biggest snowstorm for 50 years
YNet News, 3 Feb 2014 – Red Cross says it has rescued 11,000 trapped by snow; weather triggers power cuts, closes schools and opens emergency shelters ….
Explosion rattles suburb of Beirut
YNet News, 3 Feb 2014 – Explosion caused by suicide bomber hits neighborhood in Beirut’s southern suburbs, Hezbollah stronghold. Security officers report two people dead, one of them the suicide bomber, six wounded ….
Israel moves to make kashrut process more kosher
YNet News, 3 Feb 2014 – Supervisors will be employed by external companies instead of restaurant owners, eliminating possibility of conflict of interest, turning blind eye to shortcomings ….
Al-Qaeda disavows spin-off Syrian group
YNet News, 3 Feb 2014 – Al-Qaeda says that Islamic State in Iraq and Levant ‘is not al-Qaeda,’ pointing instead to Al-Nusra Front as its official Syrian branch. Statement highlights rebel-jihadist tensions in war torn Syria ….
Clinton warns new Iran sanctions could upend talks
YNet News, 3 Feb 2014 – Former US secretary of state Clinton supports Obama’s position on new congressional Iranian sanctions, saying that ‘we must give diplomacy a chance, while keeping all options on the table’ ….
Iranian FM tells Munich conference: Holocaust was tragically cruel
YNet News, 3 Feb 2014 – Iranian foreign minister says the Holocaust ‘should not happen again’, but links comments to rebuke of Israel over Palestinian issue; remarks are part of larger shift in Iranian regime’s public face ….
Palestinian Information Center
Hamas hails mounting European economic boycott of Israel
PIC – The Hamas Movement welcomed the growing European economic boycott of Israeli firms and institutions and described it as a right step to pressure Israel to stop its settlement activities.
UNRWA: The food aid we trickled into Yarmouk camp is a drop in the ocean
PIC – The UNRWA described it humanitarian aid which found its way recently into Al-Yarmouk refugee camp, south of Damascus, as a drop in the ocean and insufficient.
IOF soldiers arrest 16 citizens in West Bank
PIC – The Israeli occupation forces (IOF) arrested at dawn Tuesday 16 citizens from different parts of the occupied West Bank, after confiscating computers and mobile phones from their houses.
Ofer prison administration refuses to provide treatment for captive Natshe
PIC – Tadhamun Foundation for Human Rights stated that the Israeli Ofer prison administration is still refusing to provide treatment to patient captive Nabil Natshe, from al-Khalil.
Israeli violations against education in West Bank
PIC – Palestinian Education Ministry in occupied West Bank has issued a report documenting Israeli violations against the education system in 2013.
12th Palestinians in Europe conference to kick off next May in Paris
PIC – Palestinian organizations in Europe declared their initiation of the preparatory procedures for the holding of the 12th Palestinians in Europe conference in Paris on the third of next May.
Ministry of Justice: Israel continues plans to deport Jerusalemites
PIC – The Palestinian government in Gaza warned of the Israeli persistent plans that aim to deport the Jerusalemites from their city, and appealed to the Arab and Islamic Nation to intervene.
IOA expands new outpost near Bethlehem
PIC – The Israeli occupation authorities set up on Monday night two mobile homes on the lands of al-Khader village to the south of Bethlehem.
Clashes erupt after Israeli break-in into Dome of Rock
PIC – In a provocative precedent, Israeli intelligence officers broke into the Dome of Rock Tuesday morning under heavy Israeli police protection.
Hamas slams Abbas’s recent remarks to New York Times newspaper
PIC – Hamas strongly denounced Mahmoud Abbas for his recent remarks to a US newspaper and said that the views he expressed poses a threat to Palestinian cause and only represents himself.
Cabinet Approves $4.2 Billion Budget for 2014
WAFA – 4 Feb 2014
Israeli soldiers Spray Racist Graffiti on Homes near Hebron
WAFA – 4 Feb 2014
After Stereotyping Arabs in Last Year’s Super Bowl Ad, Coke Promotes Diversity
WAFA – 4 Feb 2014
Palestinians Working in Settlements are Captive Labor Force, says Official
WAFA – 4 Feb 2014
Court Ruling Gives West Bank Convent Temporary Reprieve
WAFA – 4 Feb 2014
Army Crackdowns on Protesters at Jordan Valley Road
WAFA – 4 Feb 2014
Elderly Woman among 15 People Arrested in West Bank
WAFA – 4 Feb 2014
Company to Centralize Energy Sector on Road to Independence
WAFA – 4 Feb 2014
Dutch reporter flees Egypt to escape prosecution
LA Times 4 Feb 2014 – CAIRO — A Dutch reporter left Egypt on Tuesday after learning she was one of four foreign journalists accused by Egyptian prosecutors of terrorism-related charges, the Dutch Foreign Ministry said.
Meet Chechclearr, the Web-savvy foreign Islamic militant in Syria
LA Times 4 Feb 2014 – ‘Media is half of jihad,’ posts the prolific Chechclearr, who seems to relish his role as a self-appointed propagandist for Al Qaeda-linked factions in Syria. BEIRUT — He loves sushi, AK-47s and rocket-propelled grenades.
Pakistani Side Fails to Show Up at Taliban Peace Talks
New York Times 4 Feb 2014 – Pakistani government representatives’ failure to appear on Tuesday for the scheduled start of peace talks with the Taliban is the latest episode in a process that has been characterized by confusion, contradiction and delays.
At Least 10,000 Children Killed in Syria, U.N. Estimates
New York Times 4 Feb 2014 – The United Nations report, quietly presented to the Security Council last week, details torture, abduction and grave abuse of children by both sides in the conflict.
U.S. Ambassador to Syria Robert Ford to Retire: Sources
New York Times 4 Feb 2014 – U.S. Ambassador to Syria Robert Ford is retiring at the end of the month, current and former U.S. officials said on Tuesday.
U.S. Representative to Syrian Opposition Is Retiring
New York Times 4 Feb 2014 – As the American ambassador in Damascus, Robert S. Ford was active in challenging President Bashar al-Assad’s crackdown on the emerging political opposition in Syria.
U.N. Report Details Child Abuses by Syria Rebels, Government Troops
New York Times 4 Feb 2014 – Western-backed opposition groups in Syria are recruiting refugee children in neighboring countries and Syrian government forces are detaining and torturing children with rebel links, U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon said in a report on Tuesday.
Libya Says All Chemical Weapons Destroyed
New York Times 4 Feb 2014 – Libya’s Foreign Ministry said Tuesday the country’s caches of chemical weapons, including bombs and artillery shells filled with mustard gas, have been completely destroyed.
White House Urges Egypt to Release Detained Journalists, Academics
New York Times 4 Feb 2014 – The White House said on Tuesday that it is deeply concerned about a recent crackdown by the Egyptian government on journalists and academics.
The Lede: Dutch Reporter Is Forced to Flee Egypt as Pursuit of Al Jazeera Journalists Snares More Victims
New York Times 4 Feb 2014 – Al Jazeera condemned what it described as “an attempt to demonize” two of its reporters, Peter Greste and Mohamed Fahmy, with the release of video recorded during their arrest in December in Cairo.
Iraqi Militant Leader Refused to Fall Into Line
New York Times 4 Feb 2014 – He has commanded a relentless bombing campaign against Iraqi civilians, orchestrated audacious jailbreaks of fellow militants and expanded his hard-line Islamist organization’s reach deep into neighboring Syria.
Chemical Weapons Deal Strengthened Assad: U.S. Intel Chief
New York Times 4 Feb 2014 – Last year’s agreement to eliminate Syria’s chemical weapons left President Bashar al-Assad in a strengthened position, and there appears little chance rebels will soon force him from power, the U.S. intelligence chief told Congress on Tuesday.
Russia Says Syria Will Export Chemicals by March 1
New York Times 4 Feb 2014 – Russia’s pledge came after international criticism of the Syrian government for missing deadlines in a deal to destroy its arsenal of chemical weapons.
U.S. Says Russia-Iran Oil-For-Goods Will Not Go Ahead for Now
New York Times 4 Feb 2014 – A top U.S. official said on Tuesday an oil-for-goods swap between Russia and Iran would not go ahead for now after the United States raised concerns with both Tehran and Moscow, warning it could be subject to U.S. sanctions.
More Than a Dozen Killed in Attacks in Baghdad Area
New York Times 4 Feb 2014 – A series of attacks, including in the secured government area, rocked the Iraqi capital, while violence continued in restive Anbar Province.
Two Rockets Hit Baghdad’s Green Zone, Car Bombs Kill 10
New York Times 4 Feb 2014 – Rockets hit Baghdad’s heavily fortified “Green Zone”, home to the prime minister’s office and several Western embassies, on Tuesday and car bombs elsewhere in the capital killed 10 people, police and medical sources said.
Open letter criticizes anti-boycott bills as threat to public debate
Mondoweiss – Image via WaronWant.org Corey Robin and Henry Farrell are two scholars who have opposing views on the academic boycott of Israel. But when it comes to the anti-boycott bills being debated in the New York legislature , which would cut off state aid to academic groups that…
E-cigarette co Green Smoke partners rake in nearly $110m
Globes Main News – Green Smoke’s partners Robert Levitz, Sam Kapuano and Ori Adivi, will reap almost the full proceeds from the sale to Altria.
IMI’s Asian contracts worth $500m
Globes Main News – Contracts include upgrades of military platforms, and sales of heavy munitions.
IAI to unveil Katana unmanned ship at Defexpo
Globes Main News – The Katana was designed to protect critical infrastructures, including ports, undersea pipelines, oil and gas rigs.
FIMI becomes Gilat Satellite’s largest shareholder
Globes Main News – FIMI bought shares from York Capital for $10.1 million.
Jewish groups used anti-semitism smear to try to stop boycott debate — Holocaust scholar who heads MLA
Mondoweiss – Marianne Hirsch, photo at Columbia University site Sad and amazing piece at the Chronicle on Higher Education from Marianne Hirsch, a Columbia professor and Holocaust scholar who is president of the Modern Language Association, on the campaign against her and the organization for even discussing the…
Hadassah doctors go on strike
Globes Main News – The doctors are protesting the hospital’s recovery plan and 50% pay cut.
NICE Systems appoints Barak Eilam CEO
Globes Main News – Eilam has served as president of NICE Americas for 18 months.
‘NYT’ highlights AIPAC’s first failure in 30 years, as de Blasio and Hillary jump on Iran bandwagon
Mondoweiss – Hillary Clinton Jeez Louise, The New York Times has published a big story on the political failure of the leading Israel lobby organization, AIPAC (American Israel Public Affairs Committee). The Times says AIPAC has lost for the first time in 30 years in failing to ramp…
Anti-Boycott Bill Delayed in the New York State Assembly after Strong Show of Opposition
Jewish Voice for Peace – In a surprising development that seems to have reflected an outpouring of constituent concern, the New York State Assembly delayed an effort to pass legislation that would undermine academic freedom and free speech. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 4, 2014 New Yorkers Fight to Protect First Amendment…
Will there be an empowered Palestinian collective?
Mondoweiss – John Kerry and Mahmoud Abbas in Ramallah last month This is part of Marc H. Ellis’s “Exile and the Prophetic” feature for Mondoweiss. To read the entire series visit the archive page. NATO can stay “for a long time, and wherever they want, not only on…
Strauss acquires Romania’s Amigo coffee for $20m
Globes Main News – Strauss is buying exclusive rights to the Amigo brand in Romania and Bulgaria.
Flug: Arab community becoming more dynamic
Globes Macro Economics – Karnit Flug: “There is a sense of something changing in the past 3-4 years.
“Exchange rate more worrying than boycott”
Globes Macro Economics – Manufacturers Association president: Fewer than 10 enterprises are exposed to a boycott.
Activists prevent Israeli military from entering Jordan Valley protest village Ein Hijleh
Mondoweiss – Protest camps Israeli forces threaten Ein Hajla encampment, detain 9 BETHLEHEM (Ma‘an) 2 Feb — Palestinian and international activists at the Ein Hajla protest encampment in the Jordan Valley repulsed three attempts by Israeli forces to enter the village overnight, while nine activists from Jerusalem were…
Bill targeting academic groups that boycott Israel halted in New York Assembly
Mondoweiss – Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver. (Photo: Associated Press/Mike Groll) There was little notice last week when the New York State Senate took up legislation to prohibit state aid from flowing to academic groups that boycott Israel. It passed quietly–and overwhelmingly. But when the same legislation started making…
Could the Islamic winds be shifting?
Globes Main News – Egyptian leader all-Sisi’s call for a modern Islam has not met the opposition one might have expected.
What’s cooking between Radware and Cisco?
Globes Main News – The collaboration between the two companies fails to get the attention it deserves.
Are cracks showing between Elsztain and Ben-Moshe?
Globes Main News – An argument broke out between the two at a meeting at Menorah Mivtachim.
Israeli Diplomats in South Africa (1964) on Boycott: Shades of BDS!
Tikun Olam – 1964 Israeli diplomatic memo on the efficacy of the sanctions movement against South Africa Thanks to Yigal Arens for posting this amazing portion of an Israeli diplomatic memo from its South African legation in Capetown. It was written in 1964 at the early stages of the…
Now Maryland Legislators Want to Punish American Studies Scholars in My University
The Magnes Zionist 4 Feb 2014 – First the New York State Senate passed a bill prohibiting American Studies departments in public universities from using state funds to be institutional members of the American Studies Association, or to reimburse scholars for travel expenses to their conferences – this in retaliation to the ASA’s…
US condemns Aleppo barrel bomb raids
BBC 4 Feb 2014 – US Secretary of State John Kerry condemns the use of barrel bombs in the Syrian city of Aleppo, as forces loyal to President Assad step up attacks.
US urges Egypt to free journalists
BBC 4 Feb 2014 – The US calls on Egypt to release three al-Jazeera journalists detained by the authorities in December on charges of collaborating with “terrorists”.
Israeli Group of Orthodox Feminists Opposed to Kotel Egalitarian Prayer Area
The Foward Breaking News 4 Feb 2014 – An Israeli group of Orthodox feminists voiced its opposition to moving non-traditional women’s prayer to a new egalitarian area. Click here for the rest of the article…
State Department Issues Travel Warning for American Visiting Israel
The Foward Breaking News 4 Feb 2014 – The U.S. State Department issued an updated travel warning for Americans visiting Israel. Click here for the rest of the article…
Libya ‘destroys all chemical arms’
BBC 4 Feb 2014 – Libya had destroyed all its chemical arsenal as of 26 January, the country’s foreign minister announces.
Jewish Groups Sit On Fence as John Kerry Readies Middle East Peace Framework
The Forward New 4 Feb 2014 – As the Obama administration prepares to unveil a framework plan for peace between Israel and the Palestinians, Jewish groups have responded by laying low. Click here for the rest of the article…
Settlement Business Owners Unfazed by Boycott Surge After SodaStream Feud
The Forward New 4 Feb 2014 – Psagot Winery produces 200,000 bottles of wine at its vineyard in a Jewish settlement in the West Bank. Its owner isn’t worried about losing business but Click here for the rest of the article…
Syria ‘to ship chemicals by March’
BBC 4 Feb 2014 – Russia says Syria should ship all its chemical weapons abroad by March, and that the government will attend the next round of peace talks in Geneva.
SodaStream Stock Plunges Amid Controversy
The Foward Breaking News 4 Feb 2014 – SodaStream, under fire for operating a factory in the West Bank, has seen its stock drop to the lowest level in more than a year. Click here for the rest of the article…
Egypt: Saudi Newspapers – Supporting Egypt Necessary to Protect National Security of Region
allAfrica.com 4 Feb 2014 – [Egypt Online]The Saudi Okaz newspaper said Egypt’s security is necessary for the whole Arab region.
Egypt: Biblawy Heads for Saudi Arabia
allAfrica.com 4 Feb 2014 – [Egypt Online]Prime Minister Hazem al-Biblawy accompanied by a delegation of ministers left on Tuesday 4/2/2014 for Saudi Arabia for talks on bolstering bilateral relations in all fields.
Egypt: Egypt Summons Qatar’s Charge d’Affaires
allAfrica.com 4 Feb 2014 – [Aswat Masriya]Cairo -Egypt’s foreign ministry summoned Qatar’s charge d’affaires on Tuesday to stress the importance of extradition requests made by Egypt and the Interpol.
Israeli Olympic Skaters Find Unlikely Home in New Jersey Training Center
The Forward New 4 Feb 2014 – A New Jersey training center has become the unlikely epicenter of Israel’s Winter Olympics team, or at least its figure-skating component. Click here for the rest of the article…
Theater J Backed by Drama in Feud Over ‘The Admission’
The Foward Breaking News 4 Feb 2014 – The Dramatists Guild of America has come out in strong support of a controversial Israeli play to be performed at Washington D.C.’s Theatre J, which is partially funded by the Jewish Federation of Greater Washington. Click here for the rest of the article…
Egypt: Bahraini Journalist Jailed for Four Days Due to Preparing Report About Book Fair
allAfrica.com 4 Feb 2014 – [HRInfo]Cairo -Nasr City Prosecution jailed Bahraini journalist “Firas Mohamed Abdel Hamid Mohamed” for 4 days pending investigation over charges of possessing recordings, videos and camera. The recordings call for suspending the provisions of Constitution and law, preventing state institutions and public authorities from doing their work,…
VIDEO: Syrians flee barrel bomb attacks
BBC 4 Feb 2014 – The Syrian opposition has called on Russia to restrain the Syrian regime following the sustained use of barrel bombs in civilian areas.
US Army in recruitment fraud scandal
BBC 4 Feb 2014 – Two generals and dozens of colonels are among hundreds implicated in a US military fraud involving recruitment fees during the Iraq war, officials say.
Italy migrant increase ‘incessant’
BBC 4 Feb 2014 – More than 2,000 migrants landed on Italian shores in January, a tenfold increase on the same month last year, official figures show.
Seven militants killed in Tunis raid
BBC 4 Feb 2014 – A man suspected of being involved in the assassination of two prominent Tunisian opposition figures is among militants killed in a police raid in Tunis.
Al-Qaeda and ISIS: The Renunciation of Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi
Al-Akhbar News 4 Feb 2014 – A rebel fighter carrying a weapon rides his bike on February 3, 2014 in a street in the northeastern city of Deir Ezzor. At least 36 people were killed on February 2, 2014. (Photo: AFP- Ahmad Aboud). A rebel fighter carrying a weapon rides his bike…
Lebanon: Illegal Dumping Pollutes Litani River Towns
Al-Akhbar News 4 Feb 2014 – “Pumping stations down the river won’t be able to pump water unless the amount of sand falls below 20 percent. As of today, this amount is increasing daily, currently reaching 80 percent. This has happened earlier and it is happening in winter, despite the lack of…
Is there a conflict between football and religion?
BBC 4 Feb 2014 – Is there a conflict between religion and football?
Bicycles of Amsterdam: The Emperors of the Streets
Al-Akhbar News 4 Feb 2014 – In Amsterdam, the bicycle is a landmark of the city. In narrow alleys or along the wide canal banks, on the backs of cars or parked by cafes, they are ubiquitous. (Photo: Marwan Tahtah). (Photo: Marwan Tahtah). (Photo: Marwan Tahtah). (Photo: Marwan Tahtah). (Photo: Marwan Tahtah). (…
Deadly gunfight in Tunisian capital leaves eight dead
Al-Akhbar News 4 Feb 2014 – A firefight between security forces and suspected Islamists holed up in a building in the Tunisian capital left a policeman and seven militants dead, the interior ministry said on Tuesday. “Seven terrorists died. A member of the National Guard was killed and another wounded,” a ministry…
Extremists in Saudi religious police
BBC 4 Feb 2014 – The head of Saudi Arabia’s feared religious police – the “mutawa” – admits the force contains some extremists and promises to remove them.
Saudi Arabia beheads two for murder
Al-Akhbar News 4 Feb 2014 – Saudi authorities beheaded two citizens on Tuesday after convicting them of two separate murders, the interior ministry said, bringing the number of executions in the kingdom this year to seven. Abdulellah al-Otaibi was executed in the western city of Taif after he was convicted of stabbing…
We Are Not OK: We Are OK
Al-Akhbar Blogs 4 Feb 2014 – Last Saturday, I had the luxury of watching two performances in Beirut. At 5 pm I watched a pre-run of Zoukak’s “Heaven,” a show you will be able to attend at their studio in Beirut next week. At 8:30 pm I attended a dance performance titled…
Prime Minister Designate: Cancel the Ministerial Rotation
Al-Akhbar Opinion 4 Feb 2014 – If there is one person among the current political leaders who can make a decision, just for once, that will pay off in the face of this tragedy, it is Prime Minister-designate Tammam Salam.(Photo: Marwan Tahtah) If there is one person among the current political leaders…
Artists stage drawing campaign calling for release of jailed Tunisian cartoonist
Al-Akhbar News 4 Feb 2014 – Artists from a dozen countries Tuesday launched an online campaign called “100 drawings for Jabeur” Mejri in support of the Tunisian jailed in 2012 for posting caricatures of the Prophet Mohammed online. The launch of the campaign comes nearly two weeks after Tunisia adopted a new…
Israeli officer kills fellow soldier in Gaza after mistaking him for a “terrorist”
Al-Akhbar News 4 Feb 2014 – An Israeli army officer was killed overnight in a friendly-fire incident along the Gaza border after having been mistaken for a “terrorist,” the military said on Tuesday. The officer, 21-year-old captain Tal Nachman, had been taking part in a “routine operation” near the border fence between…
Egypt calls on Qatar to hand over Brotherhood fugitives
Al-Akhbar News 4 Feb 2014 – Foreign journalists hold banners as they march to the Egyptian Embassy to show support to Peter Greste, an Australian journalist who was arrested and detained in Cairo while on assignment for Qatar-based Al-Jazeera network, on December 29, 2013, in Nairobi, on February 4, 2014. (Photo: AFP…
Jordan in need of labor law reform
Al-Monitor 4 Feb 2014 – Government restrictions and outdated labor laws have restricted workers’ rights in Jordan.
Jordan faces growing Salafist-jihadist threat
Al-Monitor 4 Feb 2014 – As the Syrian war rages to the north, Jordan is increasingly affected by extremist groups and must work with other countries to put an end to Salafist-jihadist activism on the part of Jordanian nationals.
SodaStream is wrong target for Oxfam’s Israel boycott
Al-Monitor 4 Feb 2014 – Boycott threats against Israel’s SodaSteam company will achieve the opposite of advancing peace, by destroying an example of Israeli-Palestinian commercial cooperation and depriving hundreds of Palestinian families of their livelihoods.
Israel does not have to become a third world country
Al-Monitor 4 Feb 2014 – Israel must change its excessively centralized model, whereby only a notably small group enjoys the fruits of economic growth, while the rest of the population is denied a share of the pie.
US Working Group gives wrong advice on Egypt
Al-Monitor 4 Feb 2014 – A distinguished group of US experts on Egypt offers the wrong advice on Egypt.
UAE president ‘stable’ after stroke
BBC 4 Feb 2014 – The president of the UAE is in a “stable and reassuring” condition after surgery following a stroke late last month, his half-brother says.
Prominent Egyptian journalist resigns over censorship
Al-Monitor 4 Feb 2014 – Belal Fadl, a prominent journalist for the Egyptian daily Al-Shorouk, has resigned after the newspaper’s management refused to publish an article concerning Defense Minister Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Sisi.
Turkey-Israel ties may be linked to gas pipeline
Al-Monitor 4 Feb 2014 – Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan is inching toward normalization of Turkey-Israel relations.
Gaza factions limit cellphone use to avoid Israeli assassinations
Al-Monitor 4 Feb 2014 – Hamas and Islamic Jihad have instructed their members to minimize their use of cellphones, as they are monitored by Israel to pinpoint assassination targets.
Iraqi orders are to kill, not capture, terrorists
Al-Monitor 4 Feb 2014 – The order to kill captured gunmen instead of arresting them stirs a political and moral debate in Iraq.
Turkish defense firm concerned about Chinese deal
Al-Monitor 4 Feb 2014 – The Turkish defense firm Aselsan is worried that the recent decision to award a long-range missile contract to China could harm its ties with Western states, while it works to find an underwriter for the deal.
Turkish power struggle leaves new questions on Kurdish issue
Al-Monitor 4 Feb 2014 – The AKP-Gulen power struggle has raised new questions about the killings in Paris in January 2013 of three Kurdish activists.
Saudi Arabia’s anti-terror law not enough
Al-Monitor 4 Feb 2014 – The kingdom can and should do more to prevent Saudis from joining terrorist forces in Syria and elsewhere.
Syria stalls on chemical weapons
BBC 4 Feb 2014 – Did Syria ever intend to hand over its chemical weapons?
Suicide bomber strikes Lebanon’s Choueifat
Al-Akhbar Politics 3 Feb 2014 – A man wearing an explosive belt boarded a public minibus in Choueifat and blew himself up. (Photo: Haitham Mousawi). A man wearing an explosive belt boarded a public minibus in Choueifat and blew himself up. (Photo: Haitham Mousawi). Updated at 10:00 pm: A suicide bombing took…
The SSNP ‘Hurricane’ in the Syrian Conflict: Syria and South Lebanon Are the Same Battlefield
Al-Akhbar Politics 3 Feb 2014 – Many SSNP members fled to the city, while others moved to Suweida and Damascus. In addition, SSNP members were kidnapped and executed.(Al-Akhbar). Many SSNP members fled to the city, while others moved to Suweida and Damascus. In addition, SSNP members were kidnapped and executed.(Al-Akhbar). For the…
Articles
Zionism is a ‘false theology,’ says new Presbyterian study guide
Joe Catron, Electronic Intifada 1/31/2014
In five months, the Presbyterian Church (USA) will consider divestment from three US companies with Israeli military contracts, at its general assembly in Detroit.
A new study guide published by the church and compiled by its Israel/Palestine Mission Network has turned a critical eye on the Zionist ideology behind the Israeli policies the divestment measure aims to challenge.
Zionism Unsettled, as the pamphlet is titled, offers much value to any Palestine activist who has not considered the ramifications of Zionism as an ideology.
Its 74 pages sketch both Zionism’s historical outlines and its complex relationships with the Christian and Jewish faiths. A companion DVD offers further commentary.
“With Zionism Unsettled, we are hoping to shine a light on the effects of Zionism as a political ideology that is justified by appeal to selective biblical texts,” Walt Davis, co-chairperson of the IPMN’s education committee and Zionism Unsettled project coordinator, told The Electronic Intifada.
“There’s a good deal of examination of various theologies in Zionism Unsettled, but through the lens of how they have been affected by a nationalist ideology,” Davis added.
“The problem now is that the issue is no longer just a secular political ideology; it has become an ideology infused with biblical and theological justifications. Therefore it now needs to be examined through a theological lens too.” — See also: Zionism Unsettledmore.. e-mail
Palestinian family struggles to survive after repeated home demolitions
Nancy Hawker, +972 Magazine 2/4/2014
The Jordan Valley village of Hadidiya is no stranger to human rights violations by Israeli authorities. This is the story of one family whose life and livelihood have been affected by home demolitions, time and time again.
Shirin Salamein heard the warning from one of her neighbors as she finished milking her sheep and goats close to her home. She lives in the village of Hadidiya, behind the Israeli settlement of Ro’i in the West Bank.
“I was about to start making cheese, and there was not enough time to get everything out of the way,” she told us. “The children, the livestock, food: we had no time. The sheep were all scattered over the land. We had to rebuild everything. Thank God, we survived.”
The village of Hadidiya in the northern Jordan Valley and located in Area C (under full Israeli civil and military control), is home to around 150 people. Living in tents and shacks, the local shepherds make a living on the reddish, rocky earth.
Shirin’s family has become used to demolitions. Their homes and the buildings were knocked down by the Israeli army twice in the summer of 2013 – and four times before that.
The young mother invited me to her tent to meet her family. Clotheslines criss-crossed the “room” laden with clean wet laundry. On the floor there was a mattress and under a heavy blanket two small children.
Caring for her children hasn’t been easy, particularly in the summer heat when their home was demolished. According to the Israeli army, the simple shacks, tents and animal pens are illegal because they do not conform to Israeli plans for the area, which is under complete military jurisdiction. more.. e-mail
PCHR and IDMC Issue Report on Israeli Violations in Access Restricted Areas
Palestinian Center for Human Rights 2/2/2014
On 01 February 2014, the report “Under Fire” issued by the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR) and the Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC) was launched in London. The report addresses the Israeli violations in Access Restricted Areas (ARA) in th
e Gaza Strip. It highlights the suffering experienced by civilians, farmers and fishermen due to restrictions imposed on the freedom of movement in those areas, the frequent targeting of civilians with live ammunition, house demolitions and restrictions imposed on fishing areas. The report was launched in London and lawyer Raji Sourani, Director of PCHR, participated in the event via Skype. The report reveals the negative impacts of the imposition of the ARA in land and sea along the border area. The report highlights the farmers inability to access their lands, totalling 62.6km2, i.e. 35% of the agricultural lands in the Gaza Strip or 17% of the whole area of the Gaza Strip. The report also addresses the Israeli denial of the right to fish in 85% of the fishing area according to Oslo Accords. Statistics and data are provided on the losses in lives and property due to the Israeli practices in that area. The report also tackles the financial and economic loss that afflicts civilians, farmers and fishermen and which is further exacerbated by the closure. The report indicates that the cease-fire agreement between Israel and Hamas in 2012 did not help in altering the situation in ARA. The report draws attention to the fact that Israeli forces use live ammunition when targeting civilians in the ARA without taking into consideration the principles of distinction and proportionality, which is considered a grave breach of the Fourth Geneva Convention. The report emphasizes that Israel does not respect the international standards related to the use of force and in many instances, directly resort to the use of lethal force. — See also: Full Report more.. e-mail
Tale of Palestinian family torn apart by prison brought to London stage
Emily Lawrence, London, Electronic Intifada 1/28/2014
For Palestinians growing up in the militarily occupied West Bank, the threat of imprisonment in an Israeli jail is a constant and very real fear.
Since the occupation began in 1967, an estimated 40 percent of the male population has been detained under military orders. Of those, thousands have been held in a procedure known as administrative detention, in which prisoners are held indefinitely without charge or trial.
This is the theme of The Keepers of Infinite Space, a new London play written by Omar El-Khairy and directed by Zoe Lafferty. It follows the story of Saeed (played by Edmund Kingsley), a bookshop owner from Nablus, who is arrested, thrown into an Israeli prison and has his sentence renewed indefinitely.
It soon unfolds that his father Khalil (Hilton McRae), now a property developer, was held in the same prison in the 1990s for his involvement in the Palestinian resistance. The play primarily examines the brutal treatment and torture of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails, as well as drawing on a range of other issues surrounding the occupation.
The cast was made up primarily of British actors, which seemed an unusual casting choice given the subject matter. While it may have been preferable to see Palestinian actors take on the roles, it was perhaps intentionally jarring for a largely British audience to hear familiar British accents and dialects in such an unfamiliar, brutal environment.
Merciless
For the most part the play makes uncomfortable viewing. Scenes of beatings, humiliation and torture, both physical and psychological, are all the more unsettling for being grounded in the real experiences of Palestinian prisoners. more.. e-mail
Palestinians dodge Israeli soldiers to retake village in occupied West Bank
Electronic Intifada: 4 Feb 2014 – Ein Hijleh was forcibly depopulated by Israel in 1967. Palestinians are reclaiming the land, linking it to their history and heritage. more..
How “historic” Israel-Jordan water deal leaves Palestinians high and dry
Electronic Intifada: 4 Feb 2014 – Palestinians and Jordanians may end up buying back water from Israel, that should rightfully be theirs, at grossly inflated prices. more..
War Crimes Tour of Palestine
Dissident Voice: 4 Feb 2014 – At the black heart of Israel’s 65-year destruction of Palestine is the Jewish National Fund (JNF) which once went by the more germane, Jewish COLONIAL Trust; an opportunistic real-estate jackal that has aggressively engaged in Zionist chicanery throughout the ancestral land of Palestine. From its inception in 1901, JNF’s mission of the theft of Palestinian land for the Jews-only Greater (Eretz) Israel is racist, colonial, criminal (colonial expansion is a war crime under Article 8.2(b)(viii) of the Rome Statute) and bloody. Max Blumenthal writes : JNF director Yosef Weitz was instrumental in hatching Plan Dalet , the campaign to ethnically cleanse at least 400 Palestinian villages and expel their residents in 1947 and 1948. After the war of 1948, Weitz orchestrated the planting of hundreds of thousands of non-native trees west of Jerusalem to cover up the scores of villages that had just been ethnically cleansed by Zionist militias. These days, to…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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