12 March 2014 — VTJP
News
International Middle East Media Center
Five Teenagers Injured during Clashes near Hebron
IMEMC – Palestinian sources reported that five Palestinian teenagers were injured on Wednesday during clashes with Israeli soldiers invading the southern West Bank town of Beit Omer near Hebron city. …
Israeli Naval Forces Opens Fire at Gaza Fishermen, 2 Held for Interrogation
IMEMC – On Tuesday, March 12, 2014, Israeli naval boats opened fire at Palestinian fishermen from Gaza, official Palestinian News Agency (WAFA) reports. …
Occupation Approves 387 New Settlement Units in Jerusalem, Demolishes Negev Village for 66th Time
IMEMC – The Israeli Housing Ministry approved, Tuesday, construction permits for 387 settlement units in Ramat Shlomo, to the south of occupied Jerusalem. …
Farmers Denied Access to Lands in Jordan Valley, Construction Halted near Hebron
IMEMC – Israeli forces, on Wednesday, prevented several people from entering their own agricultural plots in the area of Samra, to the east of Tubas, in the northern Jordan Valley, as a prelude to seize the land, according to local sources. …
Israel Demolishes Bedouin Structures near Jerusalem
IMEMC – Israeli bulldozers demolished, Wednesday morning, residential homes and barracks belonging to a Palestinian community in the East Jerusalem town of al-Eizariya. …
Dozens of Rockets Strike Southern Israel from Gaza
IMEMC – Dozens of rockets launched from the Gaza Strip landed in southern Israel, on Wednesday, a day after an Israeli airstrike killed three Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip. …
Israel Returns Remains Of Five Slain Palestinians
IMEMC – The Israeli Authorities handed, on Tuesday evening, the remains of five Palestinians who were buried at the Numbers Graveyard for many years. The bodies were moved to the Taybeh roadblock, in the northern part of the West Bank, before being handed over to the Palestinians. …
Three Killed In Beit Hanoun Explosion, Seven Injured
IMEMC – Nine Palestinians have been killed since Monday [Tuesday Evening, March 11, 2014] Palestinian medical sources said that three Palestinians were killed, and seven were injured, in an explosion which took place in a home in Beit Hanoun town, in the northern part of the Gaza Strip. …
Multiple Israeli airstrikes hit Gaza
3/12/2014 – GAZA (Ma’an) — Israeli air forces launched air strikes across the Gaza Strip late Wednesday, with no immediate reports of injuries. The Israeli air strikes came after Islamic Jihad said that it launched 130 rockets into southern Israel in response to Israel’s killing of three of its members on Tuesday. Israeli air strikes hit a number of military targets across the besieged…. Related: Dozens of rockets from Gaza strike southern Israel and Israel launches artillery strikes after dozens of rockets from Gaza
Dozens of rockets from Gaza strike southern Israel
3/12/2014 – BETHLEHEM (Ma’an) — Dozens of rockets launched from the Gaza Strip landed in southern Israel on Wednesday, a day after an Israeli airstrike killed three Palestinian militants in the coastal enclave. The al-Quds Brigades, the armed wing of Islamic Jihad, claimed responsibility for the operation, which it has named “Breaking the Silence.”The group said that it had launched 90 rockets into Israel on…. Related: Netanyahu: We will respond ‘forcefully’ to rockets and Israel launches artillery strikes after dozens of rockets from Gaza
Israeli court rules settler ownership of West Bank building
3/12/2014 – JERUSALEM (AFP) — An Israeli court on Tuesday ruled that Jewish settlers were the lawful owners of a long-disputed building in the heart of the occupied West Bank city of Hebron. The Supreme Court ruling brings an end to a legal dispute lasting nearly seven years, after the Palestinian Rajabi family said its four-story building had been taken over by Israeli settlers. Israeli settlements on occupied….
Israel launches artillery strikes after dozens of rockets from Gaza
3/12/2014 – BETHLEHEM (Ma’an) — Israel launched artillery strikes against the Gaza Strip as a barrage of rockets from the besieged coastal enclave hit southern Israel on Wednesday, with no reported injuries. An Israeli military spokeswoman told Ma’an that Israeli forces had launched “artillery fire” at two “terror locations in the northern and southern Gaza Strip” on Wednesday afternoon, in response to a volley…. Related: Dozens of rockets from Gaza strike southern Israel and Multiple Israeli airstrikes hit Gaza
Israel demolishes blind man’s home in Jerusalem-area village
3/12/2014 – JERUSALEM (Ma’an) — Israeli bulldozers early Wednesday demolished a residential building, a car wash, and a shop in an East Jerusalem village, a popular committee spokesman said. Hani Halabiyya, a spokesman for East Jerusalem’s popular resistance committees, told Ma’an that a large number of Israeli troops and military vehicles raided the Jabal al-Baba area of al-Eizariya village early Wednesday. Bulldozers….
Rightist lawyer, rabbis enter Aqsa compound
3/12/2014 – JERUSALEM (Ma’an) – Rightist Jewsish lawyer Yehuda Glick entered the al-Aqsa Mosque compound Wednesday along with two ultra-Orthodox Jewish rabbis escorted by Israeli police officers. Witnesses told Ma’an that the three entered the compound through the Moroccan Gate then they toured it before they climbed to the courtyard of the Dome of the Rock. Witnesses heard Glick and the rabbis discussing the….
5 injured after Israeli forces open fire on Beit Ummar protesters
3/12/2014 – HEBRON (Ma’an) — Five Palestinians were injured after Israeli forces opened fire with live and rubber-coated steel bullets during clashes in Beit Ummar north of Hebron. Spokesman for the Popular Resistance Committee against the Wall Mohammad Ayyad Awad in Beit Ummar said that Bashir Irzeeq Bashir Abu Ayyash, 16, was shot in the left thigh with a live bullet and was taken to Aliya….
Watch: Undercover forces, mounted policemen disperse Jerusalem protest
3/12/2014 – JERUSALEM (Ma’an) — Dozens marched through the streets of Jerusalem on March 2, calling for an end to peace talks and decrying the deaths of two Palestinians the week before. The demonstration was held in memory of Jihad Abd al-Rahman al-Taweel, who died on Feb. 27 weeks after being assaulted by prison guards, and Muatazz Washaha, a young man killed after Israeli forces fired….
Tent placed near Egypt embassy in Gaza to protest Rafah closure
3/12/2014 – GAZA CITY (Ma’an) – A high committee against the Gaza siege on Wednesday erected a tent in front of Egypt’s embassy in Gaza City to host activists demanding that Egypt reopen the southern Rafah crossing. Deputy speaker of the Palestinian Legislative Council Ahmad Bahar, who joined the inauguration of the protest tent, delivered a speech urging leaders of Arab countries to end….
Egypt ‘destroys 1,370 Gaza smuggling tunnels,’ says army
3/12/2014 – CAIRO (AFP) — Egypt’s military said Wednesday it has destroyed 1,370 smuggling tunnels under its border with the Gaza Strip, as Cairo’s ties remain sour with Hamas. Ties took a turn for the worse after the military ousted president Mohamed Morsi in July. The statement did not say when the tunnels were destroyed, but the military has poured troops into the adjacent….
Netanyahu: We will respond ‘forcefully’ to rockets
3/12/2014 – BETHLEHEM (Ma’an) — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Wednesday that Israel would respond “forcefully” against a volley of rocket fire launched against Israel, promising to maintain its security.” It appears that a rocket salvo came in response to the preventative (air force) strike yesterday. we will continue stopping attacks and hitting those who wish to harm us, and will act against them…. Related: Dozens of rockets from Gaza strike southern Israel and Israel launches artillery strikes after dozens of rockets from Gaza
UNRWA to employ fresh graduates from Gaza
3/12/2014 – GAZA CITY (Ma’an) – The UN’s Palestine refugee agency has decided to temporarily employ 210 fresh graduates from the Gaza Strip, says a spokesman of the director of UNRWA operations in the central Gaza Strip. Khalil al-Halabi added in a statement that 210 alumni who graduated in 2013-2014 from Palestinian universities would be hired for nine months at UN-affiliated schools in….
In photos: Thousands bury slain Beitin youth Saji Darwish
3/12/2014 – Thousands turned out for the funeral of 18-year-old Saji Darwish in the central West Bank cities of Birzeit and Beitin on Tuesday, a day after Israeli forces shot him dead near Ramallah. The funeral procession began at the Palestine Medical Center in Ramallah, where the youth’s shrouded corpse was placed in an ambulance. (MaanImages/Office of Public Relations of Birzeit University) Israeli….
PLO, PA denounce ‘extrajudicial’ Israeli killings
3/12/2014 – BETHLEHEM (Ma’an) — The Palestinian Liberation Organization and the Palestinian Authority condemned the killing of six Palestinians by Israel in recent days, warning that the violence undermines the ongoing peace negotiations. PLO Executive Committee Member Dr. Hanan Ashrawi strongly condemned the killing of six Palestinians in a twenty-four hour period ending Tuesday, accusing Israel of creating “a culture of violence” and being “bent on….
Cameron in Israel to talk peace, Iran
3/12/2014 – JERUSALEM (AFP) — British Prime Minister David Cameron arrived in Israel on Wednesday for a two-day visit during which he will meet Israeli and Palestinian leaders to discuss the peace talks and Iran. It is Cameron’s first official visit since the Conservative leader took over as premier in 2010. After landing at Ben Gurion airport near Tel Aviv, Cameron went straight to Jerusalem to….
Jordan MPs demand government free killer of Israeli girls
3/12/2014 – AMMAN (AFP) — The lower house of Jordan’s parliament, incensed over the shooting death of a Jordanian judge by Israeli soldiers, demanded Wednesday that the government free a soldier who murdered Israeli schoolgirls in 1997. In a non-binding resolution, all 150 members of the lower house said “we demand that the government release Jordanian soldier Ahmad Dakamseh from jail.”Dakamseh had opened fire on….
Israel MKs pass law to conscript ultra-Orthodox Jews
3/12/2014 – JERUSALEM (AFP) — Israeli MPs on Wednesday voted through a law which will compel ultra-Orthodox Jews to either serve in the military or perform national civilian service. The bill was voted through by 65 to 1 in a poll broadcast on Israel’s parliamentary television channel. The lone dissenting vote was cast by an MP from the far-right Jewish Home who broke coalition discipline to….
Libya PM ousted after tanker escapes to sea with rebel oil
3/12/2014 – TRIPOLI (AFP) — Libya’s premier was ousted by parliament after a tanker laden with crude oil from a rebel-held terminal broke through a naval blockade and escaped to sea, underscoring the weakness of the central government. A no-confidence motion was approved by 124 of the 194 members of the General National Congress, four more than the majority required, MPs said. The ousted prime minister….
Tens of thousands flock to Turkey protest teen’s funeral
3/12/2014 – ISTANBUL (AFP) — Tens of thousands of people flocked Wednesday to the funeral of a teenage boy who died from injuries suffered during last year’s anti-government protests that swept the country, an AFP photographer said. Berkin Elvan, 15, died on Tuesday after 269 days in a coma.” Berkin’s murderers are the AKP police,” protesters shouted, referring to the ruling Justice and Development Party. [END]
Israeli jets hit Gaza after heavy rocket fire
AlJazeera 12 Mar 2014 – Bases of Hamas and armed wing of Islamic Jihad targeted following most intense barrage since 2012 conflict.
Israel passes ultra-Orthodox draft law
AlJazeera 12 Mar 2014 – Ultra-Orthodox Jews face imprisonment if they try to evade military conscription, under terms of new law.
Palestinian Center for Human Rights
Israeli Forces Kill a Judge in Cold Blood at al-Karamah Border Crossing with Jordan
Palestinian Center for Human Rights
occupied Palestinian territory: Ban strongly deplores latest rocket attacks on Israel from Gaza
Relief Web 12 Mar 2014 – Source: UN News Service Country: occupied Palestinian territory 12 March 2014 United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon strongly condemned today s multiple rocket attacks from Gaza against Israel, for which Islamic Jihad has claimed responsibility. While the extent of damage and…
occupied Palestinian territory: FEATURE-Palestinian shepherds bitter at rise in Israeli demolitions
Relief Web 12 Mar 2014 – Source: Reuters – AlertNet Country: occupied Palestinian territory Shepherds in Jordan Valley focus of demolition efforts Strategic area key issue in peace talks Rights groups slam Israel, which says dwellings illegal By Allyn Fisher-Ilan EIN EL HILWE, West Bank, March…
Syrian Arab Republic: UK Aid Syria Response – 11th March 2014
Relief Web 12 Mar 2014 – Source: Department for International Development Country: Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, occupied Palestinian territory, Syrian Arab Republic, Turkey, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland As conflict continues in Syria, millions of people are in desperate need of assistance. The…
occupied Palestinian territory: Aid money follows the cameras, which is why Palestine is suffering so badly
Relief Web 12 Mar 2014 – Source: Guardian Country: occupied Palestinian territory, Syrian Arab Republic Margot Ellis Underfunded emergency programmes are limiting relief efforts, which could have far-reaching political consequences. Read the full story on the Guardian .
occupied Palestinian territory: Israeli warplanes strike back over Gaza rocket salvo
Relief Web 12 Mar 2014 – Source: Agence France-Presse Country: occupied Palestinian territory 03/12/2014 22:28 GMT GAZA CITY, March 12, 2014 (AFP) – Israeli warplanes pounded 29 Palestinian targets in the Gaza Strip Thursday night in response to heavy Palestinian rocket fire into the Jewish state…
Lebanon: A better shelter for refugees from Syria in Palestinian Gatherings in Lebanon
Relief Web 12 Mar 2014 – Source: UN Development Programme Country: Lebanon, occupied Palestinian territory, Syrian Arab Republic UNDP helped 25 Palestinian families from Syria living in tented settlement move to rehabilitated and equipped rooms in a collective center in Sekke Gathering, an Adjacent Area to…
Gaza militants fire rockets at Israel in response to deadly air raid
The National 12 Mar 2014 – The attacks were claimed by Islamic Jihad, which said it had fired 90 rockets at Israel in response to an air raid on Tuesday that killed three of its militants in southern Gaza.
Egyptian military says it destroyed 1,370 Gaza smuggling tunnels
The National 12 Mar 2014 – The tunnels, under the town of Rafah, are used to transfer food, fuel and consumer products into the densely populated Palestinian enclave.
New York mayor says explosion caused by gas leak
The National 12 Mar 2014 – At least two women were confirmed dead in the explosion and collapse of a New York building, with more people still missing.
Turkish police and protesters clash after funeral of teen killed by tear gas canister
The National 12 Mar 2014 – Scuffles broke out when police tried to prevent a group of protesters from gathering on the city s Taksim Square, the epicentre of last June s mass protests.
Islamist publisher finds his books confiscated at Saudi book fair
The National 12 Mar 2014 – Nawaf Al Qudaimi found his stall closed at the annual Riyadh Book Fair because they violated the kingdom’s laws.
Swiss investigate Uzbekistan s first daughter for money laundering
The National 12 Mar 2014 – Gulnara Karimova had been shielded by diplomatic immunity until last July, when she was removed from her position as Uzbekistan s ambassador to the United Nations.
Iran s Rouhani in Oman for talks with Sultan Qaboos
The National 12 Mar 2014 – Hassan Rouhani is the first Iranian leader to visit Oman since 2007. Muscat reportedly hosted secret talks between the US and Iran that led to a landmark interim agreement over Tehran’s nuclear programme.
Six people killed in three-car crash in Thailand caused by wild elephant
The National 12 Mar 2014 – A police official in Thailand said the elephant had come down from a mountain and was probably searching for food when a van crashed into it.
In pictures: Suicide attack in Kandahar
The National 12 Mar 2014 – Police officials said three insurgents who tried to storm the former headquarters of Afghanistan s intelligence service in southern Kandahar died in a gun battle with security forces.
In pictures: Frustrations mount as search for missing plane enters fifth day
The National 12 Mar 2014 – Indian officials said that Malaysia has asked for its assistance in searching for the missing Malaysian Airlines jet, widening the search to an area near the Andaman Sea.
Europe and US on collision course over Parmesan cheese
The National 12 Mar 2014 – As part of trade talks, the European Union wants to ban the use of European names like Parmesan, feta and Gorgonzola on cheese made in the United States.
Malaysia criticised over handling of missing jet crisis
The National 12 Mar 2014 – Indian officials said that Malaysia has asked for its assistance in searching for the missing Malaysian Airlines jet, widening the search to an area near the Andaman Sea.
Rampaging fat cat attacks baby and takes US family hostage
The National 12 Mar 2014 – The ferocious feline first went for the seven-month-old baby, prompting owner Lee Palmer to kick the animal up the backside, but that served only to antagonise it further forcing him to call 911.
Nine things that don t add up about Malaysia Airlines flight MH370
The National 11 Mar 2014 – 1″ The plane was a Boeing Co. 777, one of the most reliable jets in the air. 2″ Why did it turn around before disappearing? That means the plane deviated from its planned route. 3″ With today s technology, how is it possible for the plane to vanish without a distress call? When they do disappear suddenly, it s typically because of an event such as a massive engine failure or explosion. Yet, that would create widely scattered, and visible, debris.
Chinese satellite sees possible sign of missing Malaysian plane
Ha’aretz – 12 Mar 2014
Rage in Jordan grows over judge s killing
Ha’aretz – 12 Mar 2014
Key witness aimed gun at Palestinian teen during police interview
Ha’aretz – 12 Mar 2014
Health Ministry to put Tylenol behind counter
Ha’aretz – 12 Mar 2014
UN’s Ban Ki-moon strongly deplores heavy rocket barrage on Israel from Gaza
Ha’aretz – 12 Mar 2014
UN’s Ban Ki-moon strongly deplores heavy rocket barrage on Israel from Gaza
Ha’aretz – 12 Mar 2014
Hadassah early retirees still waiting for their pensions
Ha’aretz – 12 Mar 2014
The problem with boycotting Israeli universities
Ha’aretz – 12 Mar 2014
Katz vs. Dogz: Iconic N.Y. deli sues food trucks in name dispute
Ha’aretz – 12 Mar 2014
Diplomats: UN Security Council discussing Ukraine resolution
Ha’aretz – 12 Mar 2014
Kerry: Trust between Israel, Palestinians at all-time low
Ha’aretz – 12 Mar 2014
The important difference between ‘chained’ wives in Israel and abroad
Ha’aretz – 12 Mar 2014
Gaza militants fire barrage of rockets into southern Israel
Ha’aretz – 12 Mar 2014
Egypt: We’ve destroyed 1,370 tunnels into Gaza
Ha’aretz – 12 Mar 2014
Thousands clash with police as Turkish teenager buried
Ha’aretz – 12 Mar 2014
Israeli settler group buys property in heart of East Jerusalem
Ha’aretz – 12 Mar 2014
Israel passes law requiring referendum on land concessions
Ha’aretz – 12 Mar 2014
Knesset passes new draft law, which includes Haredi conscription
Ha’aretz – 12 Mar 2014
Following spate of army killings, Palestinian official blasts Israeli ‘culture of violence’
Ha’aretz – 12 Mar 2014
Shula Zaken sees the light
Ha’aretz – 12 Mar 2014
At least two dead in Manhattan building collapse
Ha’aretz – 12 Mar 2014
Cameron: Israel is Jewish homeland, will not be challenged by boycotts
Ha’aretz – 12 Mar 2014
No bull: Israel’s surprising new export
Ha’aretz – 12 Mar 2014
Why John Kerry s peace mission should worry liberal Zionists
Ha’aretz – 12 Mar 2014
Cameron’s address to the Knesset
Ha’aretz – 12 Mar 2014
LIVE BLOG: British PM Cameron addresses Israel’s Knesset
Ha’aretz – 12 Mar 2014
Is America really an honest broker in the peace process?
Ha’aretz – 12 Mar 2014
Cameron to tout benefits of peace in Knesset address
Ha’aretz – 12 Mar 2014
No leftism allowed at right-wing group s pre-army tours, Israelis say
Ha’aretz – 12 Mar 2014
Norwegian Cruise Line drops Tunisia over anti-Israel discrimination
Ha’aretz – 12 Mar 2014
Cameron s undiplomatic welcome
Ha’aretz – 12 Mar 2014
Cameron visiting to shore up base, not press Israel on peace
Ha’aretz – 12 Mar 2014
Samuel Lewis, Camp David-era U.S. ambassador, dies
Ha’aretz – 12 Mar 2014
No plea bargain for Pinto
Ha’aretz – 12 Mar 2014
Maariv for sale again, third of workers put on unpaid leave
Ha’aretz – 12 Mar 2014
Haredi incumbent wins Beit Shemesh repeat election
Ha’aretz – 12 Mar 2014
Israel’s apology for an all-too-common-death: It’s different when it’s Jordan
Ha’aretz – 12 Mar 2014
OECD: Israel life expectancy high, medical spending low
Ha’aretz – 11 Mar 2014
Poverty, Google buses and conflicted Jews in San Francisco
Ha’aretz – 11 Mar 2014
The Defense Ministry and IDF are one (insatiable) hand
Ha’aretz – 11 Mar 2014
Comptroller places blame for 2013 flooding at Beit Hefer on Defense Ministry
Jerusalem Post 12 Mar 2014 – The 1994 barrier, built inside the West Bank, included an opening for the river, which originates in the Nablus area and runs some 30 km. to the stretch near Beit Hefer, which is within the pre-1967 lines.
Former Nazareth deputy mayor Ali Salam beats incumbent again
Jerusalem Post 12 Mar 2014 – Salam, a Muslim, received 27,666 votes and Jaraisy, a Christian, received 17,266 and 38% of the vote.
Washington Watch: Talking tachlis with Abbas
Jerusalem Post 12 Mar 2014 – Abbashas long hidden behind his weakness to deflect pressure to make the same kind of difficult decisions being demanded of Netanyahu.
This academic year s war for and against Israel on campus
Jerusalem Post 12 Mar 2014 – “We are losing, and I believe it s because we have become our own worst enemy in fighting among ourselves and not presenting ourselves as a unified force.”
Soil, groundwater contamination persists at military sites, charges state comptroller
Jerusalem Post 12 Mar 2014 – Air force base in Lod and Rafael defense institute near Acre cited for inaction by report.
State comptroller: Offshore gas facilities remain at risk
Jerusalem Post 12 Mar 2014 – IDF protection of vital energy sites “incomplete,” says latest report from Joseph Shapira.
Terra Incognita: Will Erdogan ever overreach?
Jerusalem Post 12 Mar 2014 – When will his reach finally exceed his grasp, resulting in it all coming crashing down around him?
Progress on UN development goals marred by honor system
Jerusalem Post 12 Mar 2014 – Gender inequality persists and women continue to face discrimination on all fronts.
IAF strikes dozens of Gaza targets after rocket attack
Jerusalem Post 12 Mar 2014 – Israel responds to volley of at least 40 rockets fired by Islamic Jihad at communities in the South; air strike follows IDF shelling of 2 terror infrastructure targets in Strip; no casualties reported on Israeli side.
Friends of the IDF raises $20 million at New York gala
Jerusalem Post 12 Mar 2014 – Some 1,400 supporters of the IDF declare their love of Israel, the young people who defend it for the FIDF s annual New York gala.
Jordanian ties
Jerusalem Post 12 Mar 2014 – Regardless of the outcome of the investigation, the goal for both countries should be to put the incident behind them.
Survey: 86% of Israelis satisfied with life
Jerusalem Post 12 Mar 2014 – Fifty-six percent of respondents said they were satisfied with their financial situation despite the soaring cost of living, particularly in housing and food.
Silvan Shalom expected to enter presidential race soon
Jerusalem Post 12 Mar 2014 – Likud sources says national infrastructure, energy and water minister likely to join candidates for election to be held in May or June.
How an Iranian changed Israel s electoral laws
Jerusalem Post 12 Mar 2014 – In 2003, billionaire philanthropist Izak Parviz Nazarian put down money to start an NGO, which has been pushing the agenda as a matter of good governance since.
Congolese humanitarian Rose Mapendo brings message of peace to Israel
Jerusalem Post 12 Mar 2014 – Global human rights activist, survivor of genocide recently arrived in Israel to give speech marking International Women’s Day.
Hanegbi to lead Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee
Jerusalem Post 12 Mar 2014 – Panel has not had a permanent chairman since Avigdor Liberman left post to become foreign minister in November.
Meet the new (Jewish) Bachelorette
Jerusalem Post 12 Mar 2014 – Andi Dorfman, 26-year-old from Atlanta, won hearts and headlines when she eliminated herself from ‘The Bachelor’ just before the final rose.
Some hard questions about the Western European double standard against Israel
Jerusalem Post 12 Mar 2014 – The time has come to point an accusing finger at Western European accusers who try to isolate Israel by imposing boycotts, divestments and sanctions.
Distant star plays ‘peek-a-boo’ with TAU astronomers
Jerusalem Post 12 Mar 2014 – Astronomers see star some 50 light-years from Earth covered by celestial body in the solar system that belongs to the family of Pluto.
Knesset passes first Basic Law in 22 years: Referendum on land concessions
Jerusalem Post 12 Mar 2014 – Law requires a referendum on any treaty that entails giving up land to which Israeli law applies.
Comptroller report slams deficiencies, lack of preparedness in Israel’s defense
Jerusalem Post 12 Mar 2014 – Shapira’s report cites deficiencies relating to elite navy unit, readiness of reserves, unpreparedness for chemical weapons attack.
Liberman in response to rocket attack: Israel should take over Gaza
Jerusalem Post 12 Mar 2014 – Netanyahu vows Israel will continue to hit hard at those trying to attack; US condemns onslaught of rocket fire from Gaza.
Jordanian parliament threatens to topple gov’t if Israel not punished
Jerusalem Post 12 Mar 2014 – After IDF shooting of Jordanian judge on Monday, lawmakers demand downgrade of diplomatic ties, release of Jordanian who killed 7 Israelis.
Comptroller: Parts of IDF unprepared for chemical weapons attack
Jerusalem Post 12 Mar 2014 – Declassified report slams IDF for having insufficient gas masks for one of the branches of the armed forces.
Israeli fruit seized from Saudi market
Jerusalem Post 12 Mar 2014 – The Arab League’s boycott of Israel has been in place since 1948, although its enforcement varies by country.
Iran hosts Syria conference of Assad sympathizers
Jerusalem Post 12 Mar 2014 – The meeting appeared to mirror “Friends of Syria” conferences in which Western and Arab nations pledged political and financial support for the rebels.
Cameron in Knesset trumpets benefits of peace, rather than chiding Israel on settlements
Jerusalem Post 12 Mar 2014 – British leader makes first visit to Israel as PM, vowing before Knesset to support Israel’s right to defend itself.
Iran and Russia sign on to build more nuclear plants at Bushehr
Jerusalem Post 12 Mar 2014 – Deal includes two desalination plants and is reportedly in exchange for oil; Russia built first and only reactor at Bushehr.
David Cameron visits Binyamin Netanyahu in Israel – video
The Guardian 12 Mar 2014 – The prime minister, David Cameron, holds a joint press conference with the Israeli prime minister, Binyamin Netanyahu, during a visit to Israel
Aid money follows the cameras, which is why Palestine is suffering so badly | Margot Ellis
The Guardian 12 Mar 2014 – Underfunded emergency programmes are limiting relief efforts, which could have far-reaching political consequences The tragedy unfolding in Syria has rightly stolen the international headlines. The sheer scale of the suffering cries out for coverage. The UN…
David Cameron says he would oppose boycott of Israel in speech to Knesset
The Guardian 12 Mar 2014 – British PM sets out vision of peace but avoids discussion of upcoming talks as he addresses Israeli parliament David Cameron has made a passionate appeal to the Israeli parliament for its leaders to recognise the dividend…
Cameron to map out economic case for two-state solution in Middle East
The Guardian 12 Mar 2014 – Prime minister to use set-piece speech to Knesset on first visit to Israel to urge compromises on Israeli and Palestinian sides David Cameron is to use a set-piece speech to the Israeli parliament on Wednesday to…
Syria migrant jailed for fleeing Malta
Daily Star 12 Mar 2014 A Syrian migrant who survived the tragedy in Lampedusa in October 2013 was jailed for six months Wednesday after he fled Malta illegally.
Obama calls for a ‘rethinking’ on Crimea vote
Daily Star 12 Mar 2014 President Barack Obama expressed a glimmer of hope Wednesday that a referendum on the future of Ukraine’s Crimean Peninsula can be halted, as he met with the new leader of the former Soviet republic.
Kerry says will decide shortly on resuming aid to Egypt
Daily Star 12 Mar 2014 U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said on Wednesday he will decide “in the days ahead” whether to resume U.S. aid to Egypt after suspending the funds last year over the ouster of President Mohamed Mursi…
Israeli warplanes strike back over Gaza rocket salvo
Daily Star 12 Mar 2014 Israeli warplanes hit a number of targets in the Gaza Strip Thursday night in response to heavy Palestinian rocket fire into the Jewish state earlier, Palestinian eyewitnesses said.
Egypt prosecutor: Islamists arrested in Gulf
Daily Star 12 Mar 2014 Egypt’s top prosecutor said he was informed on Wednesday that Saudi Arabia and Kuwait have arrested two members of the Muslim Brotherhood, one a leading figure, after Cairo put an international arrest warrant on them on…
Obama says Russia faces costs over Ukraine intervention
Daily Star 12 Mar 2014 President Barack Obama warned Russia on Wednesday the West would be forced to apply a cost to Moscow if it fails to change course in its dispute with Ukraine, in a high-profile show of support for…
Ukraine PM tells Obama that Kiev will never surrender
Daily Star 12 Mar 2014 Ukraine’s new interim leader Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk warned Russia on Wednesday that his government would “never surrender” in its fight to protect his country’s sovereignty.
Syria closes embassies in Kuwait, Saudi: diplomats
Daily Star 12 Mar 2014 Syria has decided to close its embassies in Kuwait and Saudi Arabia because they have refused to accept the accreditations of its envoys, diplomats posted in Damascus said on Wednesday.
Syria cultural heritage in peril from war, looting: UN
Daily Star 12 Mar 2014 The United Nations on Wednesday appealed to warring factions in Syria’s bloody civil war to protect the country’s cultural heritage, warning of widespread looting and damage at historical sites caught up in the conflict.
Ukrainian PM arrives at White House for Obama talks
Daily Star 12 Mar 2014 Ukraine’s Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk arrived at the White House on Wednesday to accept President Barack Obama’s personal stamp of approval for the government in Kiev.
Hamas says Israel responsible for ‘escalation’
Daily Star 12 Mar 2014 Hamas said Wednesday it holds Israel responsible for any “escalation” in the Gaza Strip, after militants from Islamic Jihad fired more than 50 rockets at the south of the Jewish state.
Syria Kurds hold mass funeral for suicide bomb victims
Daily Star 12 Mar 2014 Thousands of people attended a funeral in the northern Syrian city of Qamishli on Wednesday for nine victims of a triple suicide bombing, a monitoring group said.
Two more Gaza rockets fired at southern Israel
YNet News, 12 Mar 2014 – ….
AIPAC is not what it used to be
YNet News, 12 Mar 2014 – Op-ed: Obama’s absence from this year’s AIPAC conference marks Jewish lobby’s decline in eyes of US administration. ….
After IAF attack: Parts of Rafah lose electricity
YNet News, 12 Mar 2014 – ….
IDF Spokesperson: 29 terror targets across Gaza hit by IAF
YNet News, 12 Mar 2014 – ….
Palestinians: IAF attacking two Islamic Jihad outposts
YNet News, 12 Mar 2014 – ….
Snow falls on Hermon Mount, site to open for visitors if weather permits
YNet News, 12 Mar 2014 – ….
What lies behind PA refusal to recognize Jewish state?
YNet News, 12 Mar 2014 – Op-ed: Abbas, rest of Palestinian officials still deny that Jews are a national group entitled to its own state. None of them has really given up on their years-long ambition to overpower State of Israel. ….
The truth about Israel
YNet News, 12 Mar 2014 – Op-ed: For millions of Jews, Muslims and Christians, Israel is a safe haven in a very scary region. ….
Holocaust haunts French railway’s bid for US contracts
YNet News, 12 Mar 2014 – SNCF trains were used by Nazis to transport Shoah victims to Auschwitz, other concentration camps; victims still seeking compensation. ….
Palestinian Information Center
IOF destroys houses, installations east of Jerusalem, displaces inhabitants
PIC – Israeli occupation forces (IOF) razed houses and installations for Arab Jahalin tribe inhabiting east of occupied Jerusalem on Wednesday and rendered them homeless.
An international campaign demands expelling Israel from FIFA
PIC – British and Irish activists launched two global electronic campaigns in solidarity with the Palestinian football players in order to expose the practices of the IOF against sportsmen.
IOA approves construction of 387 new settlement units in Jerusalem
PIC – The Israeli occupation authorities announced launching a settlement project to build 387 settlement units in Ramat Shlomo, on the lands of Shuafat in occupied Jerusalem.
Deterioration in 4 hunger strikers’ health condition
PIC – Health condition of four Palestinian hunger strikers has dramatically deteriorated due to Israeli medical negligence especially that they have been on hunger strike for more than 63 days.
Photojournalist injured in violent clashes in Bab al-Hetta
PIC – Violent clashes erupted on Tuesday afternoon between Jerusalemite youths and Israeli soldiers and resulted in the injury of a press photographer with a rubber bullet.
Settlers raze agricultural land, cut down trees in northern WB
PIC – Israeli bulldozers razed agricultural lands in Yasuf town east of Salfit city to expand Tafuh settlement near Za’atara military checkpoint.
Patient dies due to continued Gaza siege
PIC – The Palestinian sick woman Asia Sharateha died after Israeli authorities prevented her access to the West Bank via Erez checkpoint to receive treatment due to her health deterioration.
IOF soldiers serve notifications for the demolition of two water wells
PIC – Israeli occupation forces (IOF) served notifications in Khirbat Al-Fakhit hamlet near Yatta town in Al-Khalil on Tuesday for the demolition of two water wells.
Army Denies Farmers Access to their Land in Jordan Valley
WAFA – 12 Mar 2014
PEX Report: Index Down again
WAFA – 12 Mar 2014
Israel Arrests Eight People from West Bank Areas
WAFA – 12 Mar 2014
Israeli Forces Demolish Bedouin Dwellings near Jerusalem
WAFA – 12 Mar 2014
Weather Forecast: Country Affected by Low Pressure, Cold Front
WAFA – 12 Mar 2014
Confrontations near Jenin
WAFA – 10 Mar 2014
Heavy Barrage of Rockets From Gaza Hits Southern Israel
New York Times 12 Mar 2014 – Israel retaliated Wednesday night after a barrage of 60 rockets fired from the Gaza Strip rained down on the southern part of the country.
Israel Restricts Exemptions From Military Service
New York Times 12 Mar 2014 – After years of heated debate, Parliament approved legislation to phase out exemptions for many of the ultra-Orthodox students at religious seminaries.
World Briefing: Gaza: Explosives in a House Kill 3
New York Times 11 Mar 2014 – An explosion on Tuesday at a house in Beit Hanoun, a town in the northern Gaza Strip, killed three people and wounded at least seven others, the Gaza Ministry of Health said.
Gaza heats up: Israel bombards coastal enclave under siege with multiple airstrikes
Mondoweiss – A picture taken from the southern Israeli border with the Gaza Strip shows smoke billowing following an Israeli air strike inside the Palestinian territory on November 21, 2012. The immediate cause of the latest round of fighting in the Gaza Strip, which featured rockets and mortars…
Keep Pressure on Illinois State Legislature to Kill Anti-Boycott Bill
Jewish Voice for Peace – Bill Did Not Go Forward March 4th – Keep Up Pressure on Illinois State Legislature to Kill the Anti-Boycott Bill March 12, 2014 Illinois State Senate Bill 3017 would deny funding to public universities that participate in a boycott of Israeli academic institutions. It would, for…
Amended anti-boycott bill in Maryland removes financial penalties, labels BDS as racist
Mondoweiss – A controversial anti-boycott Israel bill in Maryland has been amended to remove financial penalties and the prohibition on public funds to groups that support boycotting Israel, according to activists in the state. The original legislation would have prohibited the spending of public funds for travel expenses or…
Open letter from NYC Iranians to Mayor de Blasio: When you stand by AIPAC, you do not stand by us
Mondoweiss – Bill de Blasio calling for boycott against Iran when he was NYC Public Advocate. (Photo: Sam Levin ) The following letter was shared with Mondoweiss: Dear Mayor Bill de Blasio, We are a group of Iranians and Iranian-Americans living in New York City. We are firmly committed…
Northeastern SJP will not be silenced or intimidated : SJP responds to suspension from Northeastern University
Mondoweiss – A pattern of discrimination continues at Northeastern University with two students facing the possibility of expulsion and the university s Students For Justice in Palestine (SJP) chapter already suspended. As if banning Palestine-related activities from campus and denying SJP all use of campus resources weren t chilling enough,…
Uri Ariel – We’ll market tens of thousands of homes
Globes Main News – The housing minister told the “Globes” Real Estate Conference that he will lower prices.
Leviathan partners, gov’t argue over lease
Globes Main News – The government wants the right to restrict gas exports in favor of the domestic market.
President’s budget reaches NIS 55m
Globes Macro Economics – President Shimon Peres salary was NIS 692,000 in 2012, or NIS 57,600 a month.
Offshore gas platforms vulnerable to attack
Globes Main News – State Comptroller: Government foot-dragging means the IDF can only provide partial protection.
Review of recent NYT corrections raises doubts about paper s commitment to getting the facts right in Israel/Palestine
Mondoweiss – New York Times headquarters. (Photo: Wikipedia) Can The New York Times , probably the US s most influential media outlet, get basic facts right in its coverage of Israel and Palestine, and does it have an objective and accountable process in place to correct factual errors when they…
Leviev sells 8% more of Fox fashion chain
Globes Main News – Leviev has sold 15% of his 20% stake in Fox, making a 500% return.
Lapid: Home prices will fall in 2015
Globes Main News – Finance Minister Yair Lapid told the “Globes” Real Estate Conference that housing supply will exceed demand this year.
The raiding of the village of Ein Hajlah
Mondoweiss – Ein Hajlah village eviction (Photo: Samer Nazzal) It was secretly reported that youth resistance activists in Palestine decided to return to the Palestinian village of Ein Hajla, the residents of which were evicted during the 1967 war. Ein Hajla is mostly Canaanite land owned by the Orthodox…
A new wave of conscientious objection in Israel reaches out to new constituencies
Mondoweiss – Dafna Rotstein (left) and Roni Lax, two of the refuseniks who signed the letter to Prime Minister Netanyahu. (Photo: Activestills) This weekend the Israeli media reported on the appearance of a new Conscientious Objectors Letter the latest in a long line of such…
Priceline acquires Qlika for $15-20m
Globes Main News – Qlika’s micromarketing technology will help Priceline create better targeted tourism services online ad campaigns.
Barnard removes SJP banner calling on students to Stand for Justice, Stand for Palestine
Mondoweiss – On March 10th, Columbia Students for Justice in Palestine hung a banner on Barnard Hall. The banner was placed after members of C?SJP went through the required bureaucratic channels and processes in order to give voice and presence to our week?long events as part of Israeli…
Eilat Port ships containers via Aqaba
Globes Main News – The Jordanian port has become an important adjunct to Eilat Port since its privatization.
United Methodist General Board of Church & Society issues call to boycott SodaStream
Mondoweiss – The United Methodist General Board of Church & Society ( GBCS ), one of four international general program boards of The United Methodist Church released this statement announcing their call to boycott SodaStream: Logo: General Board of Church & Society of The United Methodist CHEVY CHASE, Md. …
NPR denies the Nakba
Mondoweiss – Robert Siegel, from NPR s site . Yesterday National Public Radio s Robert Siegel did an imaginative piece about how history would have worked out differently in the 20th century if there had been no World War I. And of course, before long he came to Palestine, an Ottoman…
Food sales down 4.5% in February
Globes Main News – FMCG sales fell 4.5% in February, after falling 1.8% in January.
Knesset passes Equal Service Law
Globes Main News – Beginning in 2017, 74% of yeshiva students will be drafted into the IDF each year.
Tamar partners sign $1b gas contracts
Globes Main News – The partners will supply 4.5 BCM of gas to the Alon Tavor and Ramat Gabriel power stations.
Israeli Foreign Ministry Targets Palestinian Evangelical Conference Attendees
Tikun Olam – Yesterday, the Christ at the Checkpoint conference began in Bethlehem. It brought together evangelical Christians from around the world who are supportive of the Palestinian Christian community. As you know, Israel believed it had the evangelical movement sown up via pastors like John Hagee and his…
Knesset passes Governance Law
Globes Macro Economics – The Knesset seat electoral threshold will rise to 3.25%.
Israeli planes bombard Gaza targets
BBC 12 Mar 2014 – Israeli warplanes attack Palestinian targets in the Gaza Strip in response to a militant rocket barrage into southern Israel, the military says.
Plight of Jewish ‘chained women’
BBC 12 Mar 2014 – The plight of Jewish wives who cannot get a divorce
IDF Air Force Strikes 29 Gaza Sites After 40 Rockets Hit Southern Israel
The Foward Breaking News 12 Mar 2014 – Israel s Air Force attacked 29 sites in the Gaza Strip after more than 40 rockets and mortars were fired from Gaza at communities in southern Israel. Click here for the rest of the article…
Britain’s David Cameron Vows To Battle Anti-Israel Boycotts
The Foward Breaking News 12 Mar 2014 – British Prime Minister David Cameron told Israeli lawmakers that his country would work against international boycotts and sanctions against Israel. Click here for the rest of the article…
Samuel Lewis, Man of Uncommon Judgment, Gone When We Need Him Most
The Forward New 12 Mar 2014 – Sam Lewis was not just another career diplomat, especially when it came to Israel. Aaron David Miller says America has lost a man of uncommon judgment when we need him most. Click here for the rest of the article…
Today, 12.3.2014, the Israeli Occupation Forces shot three youth in Beit Ommar
Palestine Solidarity Project 12 Mar 2014 – Today, 12.3.2014, the Israeli Occupation Forces shot three youth in Beit Ommar with live bullets. Basheer Izreeq Abu Ayyash, a 16 years old boy was wounded in his left thigh. Another youth was shot in the stomach. Two men were wounded from rubber bullets. In the…
Co-operation and controversy in Iran
BBC 12 Mar 2014 – Ashton visit to Iran sparks co-operation and controversy
Gaza Rocket Barrage Hits Israeli Cities
The Foward Breaking News 12 Mar 2014 – A heavy rocket barrage from the Gaza Strip struck southern Israel on Wednesday, police said, a day after Israeli forces killed three Palestinian militants in the enclave. Click here for the rest of the article…
Ukraine Jewish Leaders Blast Israel for Soft Line on Crimea
The Foward Breaking News 12 Mar 2014 – A Ukrainian Jewish leader opposed to the Russian takeover of Crimea failed to drum up support this week from Israel, which is sitting out the crisis pitting its U.S. ally against Moscow. Click here for the rest of the article…
US Methodist General Board of Church & Society calls for SodaStream Boycott
Global BDS 12 Mar 2014 – CHEVY CHASE, Md. The United Methodist General Board of Church & Society (GBCS) has issued a call to boycott SodaStream, a countertop carbonation device produced illegally in the occupied West Bank of the Palestinian Territories. The decision to engage in the boycott of SodaStream was…
Silicon Valley accord recycles myth of Israel s green record
Global BDS 12 Mar 2014 – In another effort to secure Israel s image as a leader in technology and green industries, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu this week visited Silicon Valley to sign a cooperation agreement with Jerry Brown, the governor of California . The agreement describes its purpose as establishing a formal relationship …
Israel ends army draft exemptions
BBC 12 Mar 2014 – Israel’s parliament approves legislation that will end exemptions from military conscription for ultra-Orthodox Jewish seminary students.
Uganda: Ugandan Women Attend Turkey Business Show
allAfrica.com 12 Mar 2014 – [Observer]A delegation of Ugandan women entrepreneurs recently attended a business conference in Turkey that nurtured their skills in business management.
Boycott New Balance and Crowne Plaza over their sponsorship of apartheid marathon
Global BDS 12 Mar 2014 – March 12, 2014, Occupied Palestine The Palestinian BDS National Committee (BNC), the largest coalition of Palestinian civil society unions, political parties and organisations, calls on people of conscience around the world to take concrete measures to boycott and/or work towards divestment from US footwear manufacturer…
Egypt: Interior Minister Voices Cairo’s Appreciation for Saudi Stance Supporting Egypt Against Terror
allAfrica.com 12 Mar 2014 – [Egypt Online]Egyptian Interior Minister Major General Mohamed Ibrahim has voiced appreciation for the Saudi stance supporting Egypt in its efforts to combat terrorism.
Egypt: FM Partakes in Al-Palestinian Committee Meeting
allAfrica.com 12 Mar 2014 – [Egypt Online]Foreign Minister Nabil Fahmy took part on Monday 10/3/2014 in a joint meeting of the Arab League and the United Nations Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People.
Egypt: PM Meets UAE FM
allAfrica.com 12 Mar 2014 – [Egypt Online]Prime Minister Ibrahim Mehleb received on Monday 10/3/2014 UAE State Minister for Foreign Affairs Anwar Qarqash.
How bad are Iraq’s sectarian tensions?
BBC 12 Mar 2014 – Mark Urban examines the state of sectarian tensions
PM’s belief in Israel ‘unbreakable’
BBC 12 Mar 2014 – David Cameron says his belief in Israel is “unbreakable” as he urges the country’s MPs to pursue a deal with Palestinians to end all conflict.
Spain arrests Lebanese “mayor” who tried to buy liver from poor immigrant
Al-Akhbar News 12 Mar 2014 – Police in Spain arrested a rich Lebanese man suspected of trying to buy the healthy liver of a poor immigrant to receive it as a transplant, officials said Wednesday. They said it was the first such organ trafficking racket uncovered in Spain, which is a pioneer…
Senate bill seeks to preserve Russian help on Iran, Syria
Al-Monitor 12 Mar 2014 – The US is moving ahead with new sanctions on Russia, despite needing the Kremlin s cooperation on a host of Middle East issues.
Ongoing violence traps Jabal Mohsen residents
Al-Akhbar News 12 Mar 2014 – A car’s windshield has been smashed as part of a string of attacks on the residents of Jabal Mohsen, in the northern Lebanese city of Tripoli. (Photo: Haitham Moussawi) A car’s windshield has been smashed as part of a string of attacks on the residents of…
Islamic Jihad fires dozens of rockets over Gaza frontier
Al-Akhbar News 12 Mar 2014 – Mourners carry the body of Shaher Abu Shanab (C), one of three Palestinian fighters from the Islamic Jihad’s armed wing, the Al-Quds Brigades, who were killed in an Israeli air strike, during his funeral in Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip, on March 11, 2014. (…
Algerian police halt demonstration against Bouteflika
Al-Akhbar News 12 Mar 2014 – Algerian police prevented opposition leaders from marching on Wednesday to demand a boycott of next month’s election, in which President Abdelaziz Bouteflika is seeking a fourth term in power. Bouteflika, 77, registered his candidacy for the April 17 vote last week, one of the few times…
New Israeli laws could have detrimental effect on Palestinians
Al-Akhbar News 12 Mar 2014 – A woman holds up the Palestinian flag during clashes with Israeli soldiers close to the Jewish settlement of Beit El, in the Israeli occupied West Bank, on March 11, 2014. (Photo: AFP- Abbas Momani) A woman holds up the Palestinian flag during clashes with Israeli soldiers…
Contradictions in Syria s reconciliation process
Al-Akhbar News 12 Mar 2014 – A Syrian flag flutters outside a military barrack in the devastated Baba Amr neighbourhood of the central restive city of Homs on May 2, 2012. (Photo: AFP-Joseph Eid) A Syrian flag flutters outside a military barrack in the devastated Baba Amr neighbourhood of the central restive…
UAE summons Iraq envoy over Saudi terrorism accusations
Al-Akhbar News 12 Mar 2014 – The United Arab Emirates summoned Iraq’s ambassador on Wednesday to protest accusations by Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki that Saudi Arabia was supporting terrorism, state media reported. State Minister for Foreign Affairs Anwar Gargash handed ambassador Mowafak Mahdi Abboud a memorandum protesting Maliki’s “claims that Saudi Arabia…
Egypt says it destroyed 1,370 Gaza tunnels
Al-Akhbar News 12 Mar 2014 – Egypt’s military said Wednesday it has destroyed 1,370 smuggling tunnels under its border with the Gaza Strip, as Cairo’s ties remain sour with the Hamas movement that rules the Palestinian enclave. Ties took a turn for the worse after the military’s July ouster of Islamist president…
Massive crowds bid farewell to Berkin Elvan
Al-Monitor 12 Mar 2014 – Berkin Elvan, who on June 16 was hit in the head by a tear gas canister, died on March 11, becoming the symbol of people seeking justice.
Lebanon s former aid chief: Millions spent to fund Tripoli fighting
Al-Akhbar News 12 Mar 2014 – Ibrahim Bashir, former secretary general of Lebanon’s Higher Relief Committee who is now under investigation. (Photo: Al-Akhbar) Ibrahim Bashir, former secretary general of Lebanon’s Higher Relief Committee who is now under investigation. (Photo: Al-Akhbar) In a moment of surrender, former secretary general of Lebanon s Higher Relief…
Algerian forces raid, shut down opposition TV station
Al-Akhbar News 12 Mar 2014 – Algerian private television channel Al Atlas TV, which has strongly criticized the government, said on Wednesday that it had been ordered to stop broadcasting after police raided its headquarters. Al Atlas information director Ghoul Hafnaoui told AFP that the satellite channel went off the air in…
Erdogan’s silence shows absence of moral compass
Al-Monitor 12 Mar 2014 – Why has Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan not yet expressed contrition or condolence for the death of Berkin Elvan?
Israeli parents protest sexy Purim costumes for kids
Al-Monitor 12 Mar 2014 – Israeli parents rebel against the growing phenomenon of sexy Purim carnival costumes for children, forcing manufacturers to draw back their ads in the papers.
Ennahda most united party in Tunisia
Al-Monitor 12 Mar 2014 – While political parties in Tunisia are clashing, Ennahda stands out as the only united party by keeping its internal differences to itself, and launches what seems to be an early electoral campaign.
Economic chaos at Iraq’s Anbar border crossings
Al-Monitor 12 Mar 2014 – The security situation in Iraq’s Anbar province has pushed security forces to close the border crossings on several occasions, impeding the movement of trucks transporting goods into the country and inflicting losses on traders.
Lebanon’s March 14 bloc takes stock on ninth anniversary
Al-Monitor 12 Mar 2014 – As the ninth anniversary of the March 14, 2005 demonstrations in Lebanon approach, the March 14 movement is faced with both challenges and opportunities.
Cab drivers in Baghdad driving under the influence
Al-Monitor 12 Mar 2014 – In Baghdad, some taxi drivers drink alcohol while driving at night, with security officers often turning a blind eye.
Watch Al-Monitor/NewsHour Trendlines on Ukraine and the Middle East here
Al-Monitor 12 Mar 2014 – The latest PBS NewsHour/Al-Monitor Trendlines web special deals with the consequences of the crisis in the Ukraine for US-Russia relations and the Middle East.
Banksy marks Syria third anniversary
BBC 12 Mar 2014 – Reclusive British street artist Banksy reworks one of his most celebrated pieces to mark the third anniversary of the ongoing conflict in Syria.
Ashton, Iranian officials disagree on Syria
Al-Monitor 12 Mar 2014 – The visit of EU foreign affairs and security policy representative Catherine Ashton to Iran included discussions on Syria, which highlighted the two sides’ differing perspectives on the nature of a political solution.
Libya ex-PM Zeidan ‘leaves country’
BBC 12 Mar 2014 – Former Libyan PM Ali Zeidan has left the country, reports say, despite a travel ban being imposed after he lost a confidence vote in parliament.
No reconciliation so far with Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood
Al-Monitor 12 Mar 2014 – As both the Muslim Brotherhood and much of the Egyptian public seem opposed to a reconciliation between the Brotherhood and the current regime, questions arise concerning the future of the group.
Tunisia: Ben Ali’s supporters are back
Al-Akhbar Politics 12 Mar 2014 – Police arrest a demonstrator as supporters of Tunisia’s Ennahdha party protest outside the Prime Minister’s headquarters in Tunis on February 28, 2014 calling for the release of Imed Dghij, the leader of the League for the Protection of the Revolution. (Photo: AFP-Fethi Belaid) Police arrest a…
What lies behind ultra-Orthodox embrace of Labor leader?
Al-Monitor 12 Mar 2014 – Shas chairman Aryeh Deri s announcement of support for Isaac Herzog in his run for prime minister may be just spin, but it does reflect the deep political shifts underway among the ultra-Orthodox.
AUB: A student uprising on the horizon?
Al-Akhbar Politics 11 Mar 2014 – Students hold a placard with “Down with the Doorman Regime” written in Arabic, as a reference to AUB President Peter Dorman during the March 11 protests. (Photo: Al-Alkhbar) Students hold a placard with “Down with the Doorman Regime” written in Arabic, as a reference to AUB…
Russian ambassador upbeat over Lebanon and Syria, warns West over Ukraine
Al-Akhbar Politics 11 Mar 2014 – The Russian ambassador to Lebanon, Alexander Zaspikin. (Photo: Marwan Tahtah) The Russian ambassador to Lebanon, Alexander Zaspikin. (Photo: Marwan Tahtah) Russia does not differentiate between the conflict in Ukraine and the battle in Syria. According to the Russian ambassador in Beirut, Alexander Zaspikin, Russia is keen…
Articles
One Year On: The campaign to end Ben & Jerry s complicity with Israel s occupation
Mark Hage, Vermonters for a Just Peace in Palestine/Israel, Middle East Monitor (MEMO) 3/12/2014
On 13 March 2013, Vermonters for a Just Peace in Palestine/Israel (VTJP) launched an international campaign calling on Ben & Jerry’s, an iconic leader of the socially responsible business community, to stop marketing, catering and selling ice cream in Israel’s illegal settlements in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem.
One year later, we have not yet called for a full boycott, because our thrust is still to convince Ben & Jerry’s to recognise that it cannot be a company famous and respected for ethical business practices and also be complicit with Israel’s military occupation.
The unholy alliance between commerce and occupation makes a mockery of Ben & Jerry’s social mission and history of funding and advocating for progressive causes. Its Israeli franchise’s business with Jewish-only settlements is possible only because a brutal regime of occupation and collective punishment, including land and water expropriation and severe movement restrictions, has been established in violation of international law.
To be fair, Ben & Jerry’s is not a corporate predator in Palestine in the vein of Motorola, Hewlitt Packard, Caterpillar or scores of other companies with ties to Israel’s military and police. But that’s not the point. The simple, unsavoury fact is that Ben & Jerry’s franchise in Israel, like many other businesses, benefits directly from an entrenched political, legal and economic system of occupation, colonisation and racial segregation.
Peace, Love & Occupation?
VTJP began investigating the company’s links to Israeli settlements in 2011 and had its first face-to-face dialogue with management in 2012…. more..e-mail
Israel stokes holy row over mosque
Ramzy Baroud, Asia Times 3/12/2014
Something sinister is brewing around and below Al-Aqsa Mosque in East Jerusalem – it has all the hallmarks of a familiar Israeli campaign to strip the mosque of its Muslim-Arab identity. This time around, however, the stakes are much higher.
The status of al-Aqsa is unparalleled within the context of Muslim heritage in Palestine. It is also the third holiest Muslim shrine anywhere. Equally as important, it is a symbol of faith, resistance and defiance. Its story of struggle and perseverance goes hand in hand with the modern Palestinian struggle for rights, freedom and identity.
In a statement released on March 7, the Palestinian Ministry of Awqaf and Religious Affairs said Israeli forces carried out 30 attacks against Al-Aqsa Mosque and other holy sites during the month of February alone. Most of the attacks targeted Al-Aqsa itself. While the recurring violations at Al-Aqsa were led by Jewish settlers, according to the statement, they have done so under the watchful eye, protection and support of the Israeli police and army.
The most alarming aspect of these attacks is their political context, which indicates that a great degree of coordination is underway between politicians, security forces and Jewish settlers.
In anticipation of a Palestinian backlash, on March 4 an Israeli court sentenced Islamic leader Sheikh Rade Saleh to eight months in prison for “incitement”. The Sheikh is the most outspoken Palestinian leader regarding the danger facing Al-Aqsa. Why silence Sheik Saleh now when the attacks against al-Aqsa are at an all time high.
On February 25, 1994, US-born Jewish extremist Baruch Goldstein stormed into the Ibrahimi Mosque in the Palestinian city of al-Khalil (Hebron) and opened fire. The aim was to kill as many Arabs as he could. more..e-mail
Carving Palestinian land
Jessica Purkiss, Middle East Monitor (MEMO) 3/12/2014
Yesterday, seven men from the village of Anata in the West Bank stood in court. While the specific charges against them were unknown, the crime that has put them in front of a military judge is their attempt to reclaim land that they allege was stolen by a settler.
According to the alleged land owners, a lone settler was found to have erected a fence around their land and had begun cultivating the area. They were alerted to the confiscation of some 400 dunams of land in July 2013 and decided to take action after months of waiting for a response from the Israeli authorities.
On Monday, one hundred frustrated Anata residents came to the site to destroy the fence and plant tree saplings. The action had barely begun when Israeli police intercepted, arresting 11 protestors and injuring three. Two of the injured were hospitalised but released the same day.
After discovering the confiscation in July, the men had to enter the Ma’ale Adumim settlement, entrance of which is forbidden to Palestinians without prior special permission, in order to submit a complaint. They then reportedly obtained documents from the Beit El confirming that they were technically the registered owners of the area in question.
Anata, as with many places in the West Bank, has experienced a complex exercise of carving. During the Jordanian occupation of the West Bank, the Jordanian authorities carried on a process initiated by the British Mandate of systematic registration of land in a land registry by a procedure known as “land settlement”. In a land settlement procedure, a large area – usually the lands of an entire village or a single block – is registered after the rights in the land have been investigated, in line with the local law.more..e-mail
Palestinian and proud: Celebrating International Women s Day in Gaza
Abeer Ayyoub, +972 Magazine 3/10/2014
In honor of International Women s Day, Abeer Ayyoub pays respect to her mother, who taught her that being a woman in Gaza is as much about liberation as it is about survival.
Although March 8th has always marked International Woman s Day, this year was the first time I ever felt like it belonged to me as a Palestinian woman. Perhaps it is because I recently turned 25, or perhaps it is because of the awareness I have gained regarding my role as a Palestinian woman living in Gaza.
Early on, I felt that I had to become a great woman with an impact on my society, especially after I realized that my mother had always tried to bring out the best in me and my nine siblings. Despite being simple housewife, my mother was the one who helped me during my first three years in elementary school. Without her support, I would have never been able to become one of the best students in my class.
I graduated from high school with top honors, after which I was accepted to study English literature at a local university in Gaza. In 2007, Israel imposed a siege on the Gaza Strip, causing great economic distress to the people there. My family was no exception. My parents could not afford to pay mine or my sister s college tuition, so instead of leaving me in the middle of my degree, my mother sold all of her gold jewelry to allow us to continue studying.
But that s just the tip of the iceberg. My mother is a woman who had to raise her children under occupation. She had to protect us during both intifadas on our way to school, at a time when confronting Israeli soldiers was a part of our daily life. She had to deal with our fears during Operation Cast Lead and Pillar of Defense, as well as during countless days of escalation between the two sides. more..e-mail
Gaza youth defied smell of death to form popular band
Electronic Intifada: 12 Mar 2014 – The Watar Band was formed following Operation Cast Lead, Israel s murderous assault in late 2008 and early 2009. more..
Al-Aqsa vs. Israel: The Lurking Danger Beneath
Palestine Chronicle: 12 Mar 2014 – By Ramzy Baroud Something sinister is brewing around and below al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied East Jerusalem, and it has the hallmark of a familiar Israeli campaign to strip the Mosque of its Muslim Arab identity. This time around, however, the stakes are much higher. The status of al-Aqsa mosque is unparalleled within the context of Muslim heritage in Palestine itself. It is also the third holiest Muslim shrine anywhere. But equally as important, it is a symbol of faith, resistance and defiance. Its story of struggle and perseverance goes hand in hand with the very modern Palestinian struggle for rights, freedom and identity. Praying at al-Aqsa at times seems like an impossible feat. Many Palestinians lost life or limbs simply trying to gain access to the mosque. In a statement released on March 7, the Palestinian Ministry of Awqaf and Religious Affairs said Israeli forces carried out 30 attacks against…more
Al-Aqsa vs. Israel: The Lurking Danger Beneath
Dissident Voice: 12 Mar 2014 – Something sinister is brewing around and below al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied East Jer
usalem, and it has the hallmark of a familiar Israeli campaign to strip the Mosque of its Muslim Arab identity. This time around, however, the stakes are much higher. The status of al-Aqsa mosque is unparalleled within the context of Muslim heritage in Palestine itself. It is also the third holiest Muslim shrine anywhere. But equally as important, it is a symbol of faith, resistance and defiance. Its story of struggle and perseverance goes hand in hand with the very modern Palestinian struggle for rights, freedom and identity. Praying at al-Aqsa at times seems like an impossible feat. Many Palestinians lost life or limbs simply trying to gain access to the mosque. In a statement released on March 7, the Palestinian Ministry of Awqaf and Religious Affairs said Israeli forces carried out 30 attacks against Al-Aqsa Mosque and…more
More material available from Vermonters for a Just Peace in Palestine/Israel – www.vtjp.org
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