Israel, Palestine - Gaza : news articles. [Archive]

accuracy

19-07-2009, 08:32 AM

COMMEMORATING FIVE YEARS OF APARTHEID

Apartheid five years on
Khalid Amayreh

http://desertpeace.files.wordpress.com/2009/07/w.jpg

The World Court ruled Israel’s annexation wall in the West Bank illegal in 2004, but with no pressure coming from the international community it has not been dismantled, writes Khaled Amayreh in the occupied Palestinian territories

This week marked the passage of five years since the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague issued its landmark ruling deeming the gigantic apartheid wall Israel has been building in the West Bank illegal under international law.

Though not complete, the bulk of the barrier has already been constructed. In addition to the massive eight-metre high concrete wall now meandering like a snake through the West Bank, the barrier also consists of a vast network of multi-layered fences with vehicle-stopping trenches.

The barrier is mostly located inside the West Bank, partly along the former 1949 Armistice line, and is largely built on confiscated Palestinian land. As of April 2006, the length of the barrier as approved by the Israeli government was 703 kilometres (436 miles).

On 9 July 2004, the ICJ ruled that the barrier violated international law. While acknowledging Israel’s right to protect its citizens, the World Court said the Jewish state ought to do so within the law and should compensate Palestinians for property lost or damaged by the building of the wall.

The ICJ urged the UN Security Council and UN General Assembly to consider further action to end the illegal Israeli activity.

Israel completely ignored the ICJ ruling, claiming the international court had no jurisdiction over the occupied Palestinian territories. Some Israeli officials tacitly accused ICJ judges of harbouring “anti-Semitism”.

Since then, the Israeli military occupation authorities continued to seize large swathes of mostly private Palestinian land for building the wall and creating “safe zones” around it, especially on the Palestinian side of the barrier.

It is widely believed that tens of thousands of acres of fertile Palestinian land have been formally or effectively confiscated as the barrier has been built. Some experts estimate that up to 10- 15 per cent of the West Bank area has been effectively annexed to Israel under the pretext of building the wall.

And when Palestinian farmers and peasants protest, even peacefully and non-violently, as in Nilin and Bilin in the central West Bank, the Israeli army routinely resorts to harsh tactics, including opening fire on protesters. Several Palestinians have been killed while demonstrating against the seizure of their lands and olive groves by the Israeli army. A number of foreign peace activists protesting have also been injured by Israeli fire.

Facing mounting international criticism over the construction of the barrier, Israeli officials often resorted to prevarication and outright lies, claiming that the barrier was merely a security measure designed to prevent potential Palestinian guerrillas from infiltrating into Israel and that it in no way constituted a political border. However, whenever Palestinian landowners petitioned Israeli courts challenging the legality of the land seizure, the Israeli government representative shamelessly argued that the wall was indeed a de facto border.

This deceptive tactic continues to be widely adopted in Israeli courts dealing with the wall and its ramifications, especially relating to Palestinians demanding access to their land on the “Israeli” side of the barrier.

More to the point, it has been clear during recent “peace” talks between Israel and the Palestinian Authority that Israeli leaders treat the barrier as constituting the ultimate western borders of a future Palestinian state. For example, Israel refuses to discuss the removal of any Jewish settlements located west of the annexation wall on the grounds that these colonies would eventually be annexed to the Jewish state.

Today, more than 60,000 Israeli settlers live in settlements located east of the apartheid wall and who demand the construction of periphery barriers around their colonies. However, under pressure from the US, Israel has effectively halted work on the so-called “finger enclaves” which extend deep into the Palestinian hinterland in the northern West Bank, especially in the Salfit region where some of the biggest settlements are located.

Last week, the UN urged Israel to “dismantle” the barrier and “make reparations for all damage suffered by all persons affected by the wall’s construction”. The call was made by UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navanethem Pillay and came on the fifth anniversary of the ICJ ruling.

Both UN agencies and non-governmental organisations dealing with the Palestinian issue have used the anniversary to bring attention to the massive losses Palestinians have suffered as a result of the barrier. Earlier this month, another UN official reiterated the international organisation’s “non-objection to the wall per se when it sticks to the Green Line,” the erstwhile 1967 armistice line between Israel and the West Bank.

The official spoke of the barrier’s “devastating humanitarian impact” on the Palestinian community, saying that up to 85 per cent of the structure was built inside the West Bank. As many as 40,000 Palestinians have found themselves living in “closed areas” that require Israeli permission to travel out of or to have friends or family enter. Another 200,000 Palestinians are surrounded on either three or four sides by the barrier; resulting in what Palestinian spokesman Mustafa Al-Barghouti called “nightmarish claustrophobia”.

According to one UN official, the wall constitutes an “interruption of Palestinian life in all aspects”, impacting both economic and social wellbeing. For many Palestinians affected by the barrier it has meant the imposition of a complex permit system to allow them to travel, restricting access to education, medical care and employment opportunities. The wall, they complain, cuts off neighbour from neighbour, children from their schools and kindergartens, patients from hospitals and farmers from their farms and fields.

For its part, Israel has been generally nonchalant with regards to the immense suffering and harm inflicted on the Palestinians as a result of the barrier. The Israeli propaganda machine often caricatures the gigantic structure as a mere “fence” between neighbours, ignoring the huge theft of Palestinian land carried out under the rubric of building the barrier. The Palestinians argue forthrightly that the “apartheid wall” is first and foremost an annexation barrier that is meant to steal Palestinian land under the pretext of security considerations.

This week, the PA marked the fifth anniversary of the ICJ ruling by calling on the international community, particularly the US and EU, to pressure Israel to dismantle the barrier. “This ugly barrier is devouring our land, disrupting the daily life of our people and making the attainment of the goal of creating a viable Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital impossible,” read a PA statement.

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accuracy

19-07-2009, 08:38 AM

GALLOWAY SPEAKS LIVE FROM GAZA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YMLHLAd8uws&feature=player_embedded

accuracy

19-07-2009, 08:41 AM

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_a-Su2SAnGYU/Sl4V9_PBDOI/AAAAAAAAKqA/Ja-K_MhFvTo/s400/e+3.jpg

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_a-Su2SAnGYU/Sl4V9nhbmnI/AAAAAAAAKp4/fKAie0GqpWQ/s400/e+4.jpg

accuracy

19-07-2009, 08:46 AM

IS ISRAEL HEADING TOWARDS FASCISM?

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_a-Su2SAnGYU/Sl2Zkjd_r4I/AAAAAAAAKpg/CoqxK-fhu8w/s400/early.jpg

Take a close look at the first three ‘warning signs’… look carefully at number 3.

Now read the following report and ask yourself if Israel is heading towards fascism or not….. YOU be the judge.

IDF soldier: Gazans were used as human shields to check militants’ homes
By Amos Harel, Haaretz Correspondent

The Israel Defense Forces used Palestinians as human shields during Operation Cast Lead last January despite a 2005 High Court ruling outlawing the practice, a Golani brigade soldier says. He says he did not see Palestinians being used as human shields but was told by his commanders that this occurred.

The soldier says his unit employed a variation of the practice, the so-called “neighbor procedure,” when it checked homes for Palestinian militants.

The soldier’s testimony appears in a collection of accounts being published this week by Breaking the Silence, an organization that collects IDF soldiers’ testimony on human rights abuses by the military. The Golani soldier gave similar testimony in a meeting with a Haaretz reporter.

The IDF Spokesman’s Office, for its part, says that “the IDF regrets the fact that a human rights organization would again present to the country and the world a report containing anonymous, generalized testimony without checking the details or their reliability, and without giving the IDF, as a matter of minimal fairness, the opportunity to check the matters and respond to them before publication.”

The soldier’s allegations relate to IDF conduct during fighting in the eastern part of Gaza City. The soldier, a staff sergeant, says that in his unit and others, Palestinians were often sent into houses to determine if there was anyone inside.

“The practice was not to call it ‘the neighbor procedure.’ Instead it was called ‘Johnny,’” the soldier said, using IDF slang for Palestinian civilians. The IDF employed this practice extensively during the second intifada, before it was outlawed by the High Court of Justice in 2005.

At every home, the soldier said, if there were armed occupants, the house was besieged, with the goal of getting the militants out of the building alive. The soldier said he was present at several such operations.

In an incident his commanders told him about, three armed militants were in a house. Attack helicopters were brought in. “They … again sent the [Palestinian] neighbor in. At first he said that nothing had happened [to the armed men],” the soldier said.

“Again they brought in attack helicopters and fired. They again sent in the neighbor. He said there were two dead and one still alive. They then brought in a bulldozer and began to knock the house down on him until [the neighbor] entered.” The soldier said he had been told that the only militant remaining alive was captured and turned over to the Shin Bet security service.

The Golani soldier also testified that his commanders reported incidents in which Palestinians were given sledgehammers to break through walls to let the army enter through the side of houses. The army feared that the doors were booby-trapped.

The soldier added, however, that although the unit commander justified the use of the so-called Johnny procedure, the commander said he was not aware that sledgehammers had been given to civilians or that weapons were pointed at civilians. The commander said the allegations would be looked into.

The soldier said he had heard of other instances in which Palestinian civilians were used as human shields. One time, for example, a Palestinian was put at the front of an IDF force with a gun pointed at him from behind. But the soldier said he had not seen this himself.

The IDF Spokesman’s Office said in a statement that on initial consideration, a few of the allegations appear to be similar to allegations published several months ago after a lecture by officers to cadets at a pre-military academy.

“Now, too,” the spokesman said, “a considerable portion of the testimony is based on rumors and secondhand accounts. Most of the incidents relate to anonymous testimony lacking in identifying details, and accordingly it is not possible to check the allegations on an individual basis in a way that would enable an investigation, confirmation or refutation.”

The spokesman said the Breaking the Silence report suggests that the organization might not be interested in a reliable comprehensive examination of the allegations, “and to our regret this is not the first time the organization has taken this course of action. The IDF is obligated to examine every well-founded complaint it receives.”

The spokesman also noted that allegations by Breaking the Silence containing specifics would be investigated.

“The IDF expects that every soldier and commander who suspects there was a witness to a violation of orders or procedures, and especially with respect to violations causing injury to noncombatants, will bring all of the details to the attention of authorized parties,” the spokesman said.

Source http://desertpeace.wordpress.com/

accuracy

19-07-2009, 08:51 AM

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_a-Su2SAnGYU/Sl2LI0jcl6I/AAAAAAAAKpI/NB0MnAVAuHk/s400/7-7-Russian-roulette.jpg

accuracy

19-07-2009, 08:55 AM

America…. the following is what you support when you support Israel….
Watch the video below and feel the love hate.
FROM ISRAEL, WITH LOVE~OBAMA CALLED A NAZI, “N”, MUSLIM

Israeli racists strike again, this time calling Obama a “Nazi” the “N” word and a “Muslim” They appear to hate everyone except themselves….SURPRISE!! They talk of Palestinians like “pets” saying the Israel gives them a better life. REALLY?? 2nd class citizens, house evictions, home demolitions, land burning, settler attacks, yeah, great life. I don’t need to say anything more, the video says it all.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ze5dbxPO8cU&feature=player_embedded

accuracy

19-07-2009, 09:18 AM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O-UWAc2cII4&feature=player_embedded

accuracy

19-07-2009, 09:31 AM

Could Israel be making these DU Weapons and what are the implications?

US manufactured weapons

http://www.paltelegraph.com/images/stories/gaza/US_manufactured_Weapons.jpg

Palestine, June 27, (Pal Telegraph) Most DU weapons manufactured in the United States show a distinct difference between conventional weapons and those that contain DU and other toxic elements such as Tungsten etc. The warhead clearly shows the Rod with a Sabot sitting just below the point. It must be clearly understood that despite any re classification that may have taken place by the US Government these truly are nuclear related weapons.

You can clearly see that the Israel's IMI is manufacturing weapons that are almost identical to the US weapons that are displayed in the left hand picture above

http://www.paltelegraph.com/images/stories/others/childgaza.jpg
Children of Gaza play amidst the ruins of their city but is it safe to do so?
Please read on.................................

http://www.paltelegraph.com/hot-topic/1215-could-israel-be-making-these-du-weapons-and-what-are-the-implications

accuracy

19-07-2009, 09:36 AM

jewifying palestinians

falsifying history to hebraize palestinians

by khalid amayreh

“the claim that there are jewish genes is ridiculous and unscientific,” asserts professor katalo.

Ramallah — experts are refuting an israeli researcher’s claim that palestinians are “ethnically jewish” as a fundamentally flawed theory that contradicts both science and history, while palestinians slammed it as part of a larger scheme to erase their identity.
“the claim that there are jewish genes is ridiculous and unscientific,” kamel katalo, professor of sociology at al-khalil university, told islamonline.net.

Tsvi misinai, an associate with israel’s ariel center for policy research (acpr), has come up with a thesis claiming that many palestinians are “genetically jewish”.

He alleges that the ancestors of today’s palestinians are decedents of the hebrews who did not leave after the romans sent the people into exile and were converted to islam during the ottoman era.

“after reading his booklet, i got the impression that the man makes strident generalizations and reaches spurious and completely erroneous conclusions based on questionable premises,” insists katalo.
He said one central flaw in misinai’s theory is that it has never been established that there are what he called “jewish genes.”

“indeed, if there was something like that, there would have been a unified definition of being jewish.

“if there were indeed unique jewish geneses, then what would explain the fact that there are jews of all races?”

ismail el-shindi, professor of islamic jurisprudence at al-quds open university, dismisses misinai’s claims as far-fetched.

“it is historically established that the jewish population in palestine under the ottoman rule, especially in the early period, was very small.”

he also refuted the claim that the ottomans compelled people to embrace islam.

“this is a totally mendacious claim. There is no compulsion in islam, and jews and christians as well as others were granted complete religious freedom under past islamic states.”

falsifying history

“they want to give an impression that jews had always maintained a sizeable presence in palestine, which is not true,” shindi insists.

Professor shindi describes misinai’s “totally concocted” theory as the latest chapter in an israeli scheme to rewrite palestinian history.
“they want to give an impression that jews had always maintained a sizeable presence in palestine, which is not true,” he insists.

“these people are the greatest falsifiers of history.”

muhammed masalmeh, a resident of the southern west bank town of dura, bushes off the israeli author’s theory as non-issue.

“this entire issue about people having jewish roots makes no sense to me,” masalmeh, who hails from a large palestinian clan which misinai says has jewish roots, told iol.

The 60-year-old palestinian stressed that even if he had jewish roots as misinai claimed, it would mean nothing to him.

“islam shapes a person’s entire identity. A muslim can’t have conflicting identities.”

muhammed yousef makhamra, an arabic teacher, hails from the makhamara clan living in southern al-khalil, another community misinai claims has jewish roots.

“i don’t think that my clan ever had any other identity besides the palestinian-arab-muslim identity.”

the clan has roots in both palestine and jordan and was always an integral part of the palestinian arab muslim community.

“we never maintained an esoteric, cultic or insular presence as jews do.”

makhamra believes misinai’s theory is nothing but a new plot to fabricate history to justifying the creation of israel in 1948 on the rubble of palestine.

“those standing behind him are trying to falsify history and give legitimacy to the israeli jewish occupation of our homeland.”

on april 18, 1948, palestinian tiberius was captured by menachem begin’s irgun militant group, putting its 5,500 palestinian residents in flight. On april 22, haifa fell to the zionist militants and 70,000 palestinians fled.

On april 25, irgun began bombarding civilian sectors of jaffa, terrifying the 750,000 inhabitants into panicky flight.

On may 14, jaffa completely surrendered to the much better-equipped zionist militants and only about 4,500 of its population remained, and israel was created on the rubble of palestine.

“having failed to liquidate the palestinian cause and dislodge us from our ancestral homeland, they are now trying to invent stories and narratives to achieve their old goals,” contends makhamra.

accuracy

19-07-2009, 09:54 AM

Straight out of Avigdor Lieberman’s Foreign Ministry: a new Internet Fighting Team! Israeli students and demobilized soldiers get paid to pretend they are just regular folks and leave pro-Israel comments on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and other sites. The effort is meant to fight the “well-oiled machine” of “pro-Palestinian websites, with huge budgets… with content from the Hamas news agency.” The approach was test-marketed during Israel’s assault on Gaza, and by groups like Give Israel Your United Support, a controversial effort to use instant-access technology to crowd-source Israel advocates to fill in flash polls or vote up key articles on social networking sites.

Read on....................

http://www.muzzlewatch.com/2009/07/14/that-angry-commenter-on-your-blog-may-actually-be-working-for-the-israeli-government/

accuracy

19-07-2009, 10:02 AM

Israel Traps Palestinians In Deprivation And Despair

By Stephen Lendman
7-16-9

Founded in Geneva, Switzerland in 1863, the International Committee of the Red Cross is an "impartial, neutral and independent organization whose exclusively humanitarian mission is to protect the lives and dignity of victims of armed conflict and other situations of violence and to provide them with assistance." It also tries "to prevent suffering by promoting and strengthening humanitarian law and universal humanitarian principles."

It's legally mandatd to do it under the 1949 Geneva Conventions and has had a permanent presence in Gaza since 1968. Currently 109 ICRC staff work there, including 19 expatriates. They remained throughout Operation Cast Lead and witnessed firsthand the carnage and destruction that took place.

Cooperatively with the Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS), they evacuated hundreds of people, some severely wounded in the conflict. As able, they also repaired power and water supply lines and provided hospitals with vital medicines and supplies. In addition, ICRC surgeons performed operations in Gaza's Shifa Hospital working alongside Palestinian doctors.

Post-conflict, ICRC and PRCS collected information on Israeli violations of international humanitarian laws. They also distributed vital items, including plastic sheeting, cooking sets, mattresses, blankets, hygiene kits, and more to over 72,000 Gazans whose homes were partially or totally destroyed.

ICRC is currently providing eight hospitals with medicines, other medical supplies, equipment, spare parts, and is helping with needed repairs. It's also fitting amputees with artificial limbs and offering needed physiotherapy.

It's helping to upgrade water and sanitation services to keep Gaza's water network running as best it can. It's aiding farmers and others with land rehabilitation, compost production, and "cash-for-work." It promotes international humanitarian law and calls on all sides to observe it.

In June 2009, it issued a report titled, "Gaza: 1.5 million people trapped in despair" that described the Territory as "look(ing) like the epicentre of a massive earthquake" in the wake of Operation Cast Lead and went on to detail how severely.

No Reconstruction Allowed - Public Health at Risk

Despite billions pledged for reconstruction, practically none of it has come because of Israel's tight embargo on virtually everything needed. As a result, thousands of displaced and destitute families live in cramped quarters with relatives or in tents as their only other alternative.

Some emergency repairs were carried out, but "only to the already unsatisfactory level prevailing before December 2008." Overall, the infrastructure is inadequate, overloaded, and subject to breakdown. Although chlorine is available to disinfect water, sewage and other waste matter seepage remains a major threat to public health. Each day, 69 million liters of partially or untreated effluent are pumped into the Mediterranean for lack of an ability to handle it.

Poor Access to Health Care

Gaza's health care system is in disrepair and can't adequately treat patients with serious illnesses. In addition, with the Territory under siege and a strict embargo imposed, most people can't leave to seek care elsewhere. Those allowed out endure a bureaucratic nightmare and wait months before permission is granted. For some, it's too late and for others their condition has worsened.

Twenty-six year old Do'aa is typical. She has pancreatic cancer, needs surgery, yet explains her despair. "At first, there was hope that I would be given an operation, but as time went by I stopped hoping. I am in pain and I know all too well that my disease is life threatening." She's waited six months for permission, so far not granted.

Reaching Jordan is no easy task. It requires passing through Erez crossing into Israel and doing it is arduous. ICRC describes the process:

"Patients on life-support machines have to be removed from ambulances and placed on stretchers, then carried 60 - 80 metres through the crossing to ambulances waiting on the other side. Patients who can walk unassisted may face extensive questioning before they are allowed through the crossing for medical treatment - or, as sometimes happens, before they are refused entry into Israel and turned back."

As for treatment in Gaza, everything needed falls short. What's available comes from the Palestinian Authority's (PA) Ministry of Health in the West Bank, but the supply chain is unreliable given obstacles that Israel imposes and tensions between Fatah and Hamas.

Getting imports is more complicated still because of embargo restrictions of even the most basic items like painkillers and X-ray film developers. Patients go wanting as a result, a serious problem for the most ill.

For those needing prosthetic appliances as well because getting them is a lengthy, arduous process. Fourteen-year old Gassan lost his older brother and both his legs. He loves football, but doctors told him he'd walk again. Six months later, he's still waiting for both of his limbs to be fitted.

A Strangled Economy

The combination of siege and Operation Cast Lead devastated Gaza's already fragile economy. On May 1, the Palestinian Chamber of Commerce reported that unemployment reached 65%, poverty hit 80%, and the longer isolation continues the higher these figures will go. Currently, about 96% of Gaza's industrial operations are shuttered, and over 80% of its residents depend on humanitarian aid and supplies from the World Food Program, UNRWA, and what comes in through tunnels from Egypt to survive.

A May 2008 ICRC household survey showed that over 70% of Gazans had personal incomes of $1 dollar a day excluding whatever humanitarian assistance they received. On average, Territory workers have to support six to seven other immediate family members and several others in their extended family. Cutting household expenses is essential, even at the cost of a healthy balanced diet, no longer affordable for most.

So cheap alternatives substitute for fruits, vegetables, meat and fish. Vitamin and mineral deficiencies result. Children, the elderly and sick are especially impacted. For youths it means stunted bone growth, improper teeth development, and a reduced capacity to learn. It makes everyone infection and illness-prone by lowering their resistance and destroying their overall state of well-being.

Most of the poor "have exhausted their coping mechanisms." Their savings are gone, and they've sold personal belongings, including jewelry, furniture, farm animals, land, fishing boats, cars and other possessions - anything to raise cash. They've cut back on food and other essentials as much as possible. Still their situation is grave. Israel is slowly sucking life out of 1.5 million people with no opposition stepping up to stop it.

Farming in the Danger Zone

Farm families comprise over one-fourth of Gaza's population, and they, too, been badly hit. "Exports of strawberries, cherry tomatoes and cut flowers used to be" important cash crops. No longer as they've been virtually halted. Farmers lost half their income and struggle to sell what they can internally at far lower prices than obtainable from exports to Israel or Europe.

Operation Cast Lead destroyed thousands of citrus, olive and palm groves as well as irrigation systems, wells and greenhouses. In addition, many farmers lack fertilizers and many seedling types. They also lost access to around 30% of their land, the portion inside a "no-go" buffer zone straddling Israel and Gaza. It extends up to a kilometer inside an Israeli-erected fence on which farmers risk being shot if they work there. Under these conditions, productive agriculture is severely curtailed and in some places not possible.

Fishermen has been just as hard hit by Israel's coastal restrictions extending up to six nautical miles offshore. Reduced catches have resulted as bigger fish and sardines, comprising 70% of earlier harvests, are found in deeper waters.

Trapped

ICRC states:

"People in Gaza are trapped. Because Israel has shut the crossing points, Gazans have scant opportunity for contact with relatives abroad or for further education or professional training." Palestinian staff members of international organizations, including ICRC, are also impacted.

The emotional fallout especially affects families whose relatives are imprisoned inside Israel. In June 2007, Israel stopped ICRC-supported visits of about 900 families and prevented spouses and children from staying close to their loved ones.

Students, professors, teachers, and health professionals also get no exit permission for education, training, seminars, and other skills and expertise-building methods. Ibrahim Abu Sobeih is a 24-year-old Gaza student. Pennsylvania's Clarion University awarded him a scholarship, but he can't attend. In frustration, he said:

"Being stuck here gives me a sombre view of the future. I would like to be educated and to make something of myself. I want to be able to help my family financially. But it is very difficult when I am trapped. I feel very angry and hopeless."

So do 1.5 million other Gazans - trapped in the world's largest open-air prison, under siege for over two years, getting way inadequate outside help, and none whatever from Western powers that support Israel's slow-motion genocide against a civilian population unable to stop it.

Stephen Lendman is a Research Associate of the Centre for Research on Globalization. He lives in Chicago and can be reached at <mailto:lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net>lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net.

Also visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com and listen to The Global Research News Hour on RepublicBroadcasting.org Monday - Friday at 10AM US Central time for cutting-edge discussions with distinguished guests of world and national issues. All programs are archived for easy listening.

Disclaimer
http://www.rense.com/general86/trps.htm

accuracy

20-07-2009, 11:25 AM

MUZZLING PRESS FREEDOM IN PALESTINE

http://desertpeace.wordpress.com/2009/07/18/muzzling-press-freedom-in-palestine/

accuracy

20-07-2009, 12:29 PM

http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/46069000/jpg/_46069036_icrc_house766x511.jpg

Also see the captions.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/8154275.stm

accuracy

20-07-2009, 12:32 PM

http://www.gulfnews.com/opinion/editorial_opinion/region/10332083.html

Gulf News
Published: July 16, 2009, 22:53

The Israeli assault on Gaza in January was an outrage against humanity. Israeli frustration and fury with Hamas led to the government allowing the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) to break its own rules and commit a wide variety of war crimes in an effort to punish the entire population and reduce Gaza to rubble.

The Israeli army deliberately caused huge damage from continually using excessive firepower, and it killed over 1,400 people in the 22-day conflict. The IDF used illegal weapons like white phosphorus shells which are banned in civilian areas by the Geneva Convention. Israeli soldiers used Palestinian residents as human shields, resting their rifles on the civilians' shoulders as the soldiers hid behind them and entered buildings which may have contained Palestinian military personnel.

This fetid moral atmosphere of revenge encouraged the Israeli troops to perform petty acts such as defecating in the wardrobes and chest of drawers of Palestinian homes, and drawing disgusting cartoons on the walls of children's bedrooms, all as part of their effort to destroy as much as possible during their 22 days in Gaza.

Breaking the Silence is an Israeli organisation dedicated to improving Israeli civil society, and it has just published a report based on testimony from 54 Israeli combat soldiers who participated in the Gaza War, and their damning statements reveal a clear shoot-first policy which was part of the overall strategy to seek revenge on all the inhabitants of Gaza for the continued rocket attacks on Israel by Hamas. One indication of the seriousness of the report is that the Israeli lobby has already leapt to deny it, but the report is part of a much wider body of evidence that shows how Israel deliberately broke international law and its own military rules to deliberately traumatise the entire population of Gaza. It should answer for its crimes.

accuracy

20-07-2009, 12:42 PM

Vatican teaching Hezbollah how to kill Jews, says pamphlet for IDF troops

Last update - 11:02 19/07/2009

The Pope and the cardinals of the Vatican help organize tours of Auschwitz for Hezbollah members to teach them how to wipe out Jews, according to a booklet being distributed to Israel Defense Forces soldiers.

Officials encouraging the booklet's distribution include senior officers, such as Lt. Col. Tamir Shalom, the commander of the Nahshon Battalion of the Kfir Brigade.

The booklet was published by the Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America, in cooperation with the chief rabbi of Safed, Rabbi Shmuel Eliahu, and has been distributed for the past few months.

The booklet, titled "On Either Side of the Border," purports to be the testimony of "a Hezbollah officer who spied for Israel."

"The book is distributed regularly and everyone reads it and believes it," said one soldier. "It's filled with made-up details but is presented as a true story. A whole company of soldiers, adults, told me: 'Read this and you'll understand who the Arabs are.'"

The copy obtained by Haaretz included a Pesach greeting from Shalom, "in the name of the Nahshon Brigade."

The story is narrated by a man named Avi, who says he changed his name from Ibrahim after he left Hezbollah and converted to Judaism. Avi says he was once close to Hezbollah leader Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah, and describes Hezbollah's purported close relationships with the Vatican and European leaders.

The IDF Spokesman's Office said in a statement: "The book was received as a donation and distributed in good faith to the soldiers. After we were alerted to the sensitivity of its content, distribution was immediately halted."

According to the book, Nasrallah was invited to join a delegation to tour France, Poland and Italy, including the Vatican. Nasrallah could not refuse an invitation from the Vatican, Avi explained: "We knew [the Pope] identified with Hezbollah's struggle."

The book describes the alleged visit of Hezbollah officials to Auschwitz, led by the Vatican: "We came to the camps. We saw the trains, the platforms, the piles of eyeglasses and clothes ... We came to learn ... Our escort spoke as he was taught. We quickly explained to him: Every real Arab, deep inside, is kind of a fan of the Nazis."

The booklet also describes how European politicians and journalists ostensibly work against Israel.

"Our escort introduced us to important figures who identify with our causes. Rich people, people with authority ... They allocate big budgets to all sorts of Israeli organizations that erode the standing of the IDF ... We have a special budget for encouraging politicians and journalists who serve our purposes. Every opinion piece that conforms to our position is rewarded generously."

Rabbi Shmuel Eliahu, the son of former Sephardi chief rabbi Mordechai Eliahu, is known for his extremist views, and was once charged with incitement to racism after calling for the expulsion of all Arab students from Safed College after a terror attack in the area.

The younger Eliahu was also behind an online video in which he described the "miracle of our matriarch Rachel," whom he claims appeared before Israeli soldiers in Gaza to warn them of booby-trapped buildings during Operation Cast Lead.

"In some of the places we went in Gaza there was a woman who warned them ... 'Did they tell you who I am,' she said, 'I am the matriarch Rachel," Eliahu says in the video. He claims his father confirmed the veracity of the story, and told him that he had prayed to Rachel: "I told her: Rachel, there's a war... Go to God, Blessed Be He, pray over the soldiers who sacrifice themselves for the People of Israel, so that they will strike and not be struck."

David Menahemov, an aide to Eliahu, claims the book is not fiction. "Avi is a real person and everything in the book is absolutely true," insists Menahemov. "It's a totally true story, I know the guy personaly. He's an Arab, who even though he converted still acts like an Arab. We helped him to write and to translate it. We changed a few details to protect him and his family."
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1101158.html

Unflipping believable.

This demonization of Arabs, wrapped around the "big lie" technique, is something you'd expect from the old USSR's playbook.

This is almost an incitement and an encouragement for every member of the IDF to go out and kill every Arab they can find, with the justification that "God wills it!"

Is this the outcome the IDF is hoping to achieve here?!?

eternal_spirit

20-07-2009, 12:46 PM

Why have two million Christians fled the Middle East in the last twenty years? One of the most important aspects of the Israeli-"Palestinian" conflict that has been overlooked is the plight of Christians in the Holy Land. Christians in the "Palestinian" territories have dropped from 15% of the Arab population to just 2% today! This Christian exodus is a result of many factors, including the fighting between Israelis and "Palestinians," the related decline in the economy, but perhaps most significantly, the religious persecution these Christians encounter from their Arab Muslim neighbors. This film (https://websecurise.com/payment/newPayment/CreditCard/login.asp?ResellerSiteID=7) is a documentary containing interviews with Christians as well as exclusive footage showing how dangerous their situation is under Islamic rule.

accuracy

20-07-2009, 12:49 PM

WHY JERUSALEM? ISRAEL’S HIDDEN AGENDA

at 8:55 am (Corrupt Politics, Ethnic Cleansing, Israel, Status of Jerusalem)

By Dan Lieberman

Israel’s plan to annex the whole of Jerusalem, part of its efforts at bolstering its international legitimacy, is being carried out without regard for legal, moral or historical considerations, writes Dan Lieberman* in occupied Jerusalem

http://weekly.ahram.org.eg/2009/956/_oldcity.jpg

Three huge granite stones rest comfortably on the top of Midbar Sinai Street in Givat Havatzim, Jerusalem’s northernmost district. Cut to specification, the imposing stones represent one of several preparations by the Temple Mount and Land of Israel Faithful Movement to erect a Third Temple on the Haram Al-Sharif Temple Mount. Since the Islamic Waqf owns and controls all the property on the Haram Al-Sharif, by what means can these stones be transferred to the Temple Mount and how can a temple be constructed there? Not by any legal means.

The stones are a provocation, which the Israel government refuses to halt. Neglect and passivity have led to a belief that an eventual Muslim reaction to the increasing provocations will give Israel an excuse to seize total control of the Holy Basin — the properties that Israel intends to incorporate into a greater Jerusalem.

For decades, the Israeli authorities have spoken of a united Jerusalem — suggesting a spiritual quality to their message — as if Israel wanted the home of the three monotheistic faiths to be solid and stable. By being guided from one central authority, a united Jerusalem would also offer the preservation of a common and ancient heritage.

However, by stressing the word `united`, Israel disguises the lack of a supporting and verifiable historical narrative that could bolster its thrust to incorporate all of an artificially created Greater Jerusalem within its boundaries. Coupled with inconsistencies and contradictions, Israel`s eagerness to create a Greater Jerusalem under its total control becomes suspect. The intensive concentration on a `united` Jerusalem reveals a hidden agenda that debases Jerusalem`s religious ingathering and heightens division, hatred and strife.

Examine the Holy Basin. The Holy Basin contains well- marked Christian and Muslim institutions and holy places that have had historical placement for millennia. Although people of the Jewish faith had a major presence in Jerusalem during the centuries of Biblical Jerusalem, which included rule by King Hezekiah and control by the Hasmonean dynasties, their control and presence were interrupted for two millennia.

Extensive commentary has enabled these 2000 years of lack of control and presence to seem as if they never happened and that today is only a short time from the years of Hezekiah. Some remains of Jewish dwellings and ritual baths can be found, but few if any major Jewish monuments, buildings or institutions from the Biblical era exist in the `Old City` of today`s Jerusalem. The often-cited Western Wall is the supporting wall for Herod`s platform and is not directly related to the Second Temple. No remains of the Jewish Temple have been located in Jerusalem — not even a rock.

According to the religious writer Karen Armstrong, Jerusalem Jews did not pray at the Western Wall until the Mamluks allowed them to move their congregations from a dangerous Mount of Olives and pray daily at the Wall in the 15th century. At that time she estimates that there may have been no more than 70 Jewish families in Jerusalem. After the Ottomans replaced the Mamluks, Suleiman the Magnificent issued a formal edict in the 16th century that permitted Jews to have a place of prayer at the Western Wall.

The only remaining major symbol of Jewish presence in Jerusalem`s Holy City is the Jewish quarter, which Israel cleared of Arabs and rebuilt after 1967. During its clearing operations, Israel demolished the Maghribi Quarter adjacent to the Western Wall, destroyed the Al-Buraq Mosque and the Tomb of the Sheikh Al-Afdhaliyah, and displaced about 175 Arab families.

Although the Jewish population in previous centuries comprised a large segment of the Old City (estimates have 7,000 Jews during the mid-19th century), the Jews gradually left the Old City and migrated to new neighbourhoods in West Jerusalem, leaving only about 2,000 Jews in the Old City. Jordanian control after the 1948 War reduced the number to zero. By 2009, the population of the Jewish quarter in the Old City had grown to 3,000, or nine per cent of the Old City`s population. The Christian, Armenian and Muslim populations are the principal constituents and their quarters contain almost the whole of the Old City`s commerce.

In an attempt to attach ancient Israel to present day Jerusalem, the Israeli authorities continue to attach spurious labels to Holy Basin landmarks, while claiming the falsification is due to the Byzantines. King David`s Tower`s earliest remains, for example, were constructed several hundred years after the Bible dates David`s reign. It is a now an obvious Islamic minaret. King David`s Citadel`s earliest remains are from the Hasmonean period (200 BCE). The citadel was entirely rebuilt by the Ottomans between 1537 and 1541.

King David`s tomb, located in the Dormition Abbey, is a cloth-covered cenotaph (no remains) that honours King David. It is only an unverified guess that the casket is related to David. The Pools of Solomon, located in a village near Bethlehem, are considered to be part of a Roman construction during the reign of Herod the Great. The pools supplied water to an aqueduct that carried water to Bethlehem and Jerusalem. The Stables of Solomon, under the Temple Mount, are assumed to be vaults that King Herod built in order to extend the Temple Mount platform. Absalom`s Tomb is obviously a Greek sculptured edifice and therefore cannot be the tomb of David`s son.

The City of David contains artefacts that date from before and during David`s time. However, some archaeologists maintain that there is an insufficient number to conclude any Israelite presence, including that of King David, before the late ninth century. In any case any Israelite presence must have been in a small and unfortified settlement.

The Jerusalem Archaeological Park within the Old City, together with the Davidson Exhibition and Virtual Reconstruction Centre, tell the same story. Promising to reveal Hebrew civilisation, the museums in fact shed little light on their subject. The Davidson Centre highlights a coin exhibition, Jerusalem bowls and stone vessels. The Archaeological Park in the Old City contains among many artefacts, including Herodian structures, ritual baths, a floor of an Umayyad palace, a Roman road, Ottoman gates and the façade of what is termed Robinson`s Arch, an assumed Herodian entryway to the Temple Mount. However, the exhibitions do not reveal many, if any, ancient Hebrew structures or institutions of special significance.

Reliable archaeologists, after examining excavations that contain pottery shards and buildings, have also concluded that the archaeological finds do not substantiate the biblical history of Jerusalem and its importance during the eras of a united Jewish kingdom under David and Solomon.

Margaret Steiner, for example, in an article entitled `It`s Not There: Archaeology Proves a Negative` in the journal Biblical Archaeology Review for July/August 1998, states that `from the tenth century BCE there is no archaeological evidence that many people actually lived in Jerusalem, only that it was some kind of public administrative centre… We are left with nothing that indicates a city was here during their supposed reigns [of David and Solomon] …It seems unlikely, however, that this Jerusalem was the capital of a large state, the United Monarchy, as described in Biblical texts.`

West Jerusalem is another matter. With banditry prolific and the Old City gates closed before nightfall, living outside the city gates did not appeal to the population. However, the wealthy philanthropist Moses Montefiore wanted to attract the Jewish population to new surroundings, and he constructed the first Jewish community outside the Old City — Yemin Moshe`s first houses were completed in 1860. From that time onwards the Jewish presence played a role in creating a West Jerusalem.

Other institutions — Greek Orthodox, Catholic, Russian Orthodox and Muslim — soon ventured forth and began to own property in the evolving West Jerusalem.

In 1948, after the Israeli army seized control of West Jerusalem, the new Israeli government confiscated all West Jerusalem property owned by Muslim institutions. The reason given was that this was `enemy property`. Few Muslims and no mosques remain in today`s West Jerusalem.

However, there was a contradiction. By attacking and ethnically cleansing the Christian Arab communities of Deir Yassin and Ein Kerem, Israeli forces characterised Christian Palestinians as their enemy. Nevertheless, Israel did not confiscate Christian properties, many of which are apparent in West Jerusalem. The Greek Orthodox Church owns extensive property in West Jerusalem, much of which is marked by its `T…` symbol, interpreted as the word `sepulchre`.

Another contradiction is that Israel has cared for the Jewish cemetery on the Mount of Olives and expanded it as a heritage site. Part of the famous Muslim Mamilla Cemetery in West Jerusalem has been classified as refugee property and is being prepared for demolition to build the new Museum of Tolerance.

East Jerusalem reveals more contradictions. The repeated warning by Israeli leaders that co-existence is not feasible and that it is necessary to separate the Jewish and Palestinian communities is contradicted by Israel`s desire to incorporate East Jerusalem into Israel. Incorporation would mean accepting somewhere between 160,000 and 225,000 Palestinians into a Jewish state.

Or would it? Whereas the older historical Jewish neighbourhoods in West Jerusalem have had their characters meticulously maintained, or have been rebuilt in their original style, the older Arab neighbourhoods in East Jerusalem have been entirely neglected (all of Arab East Jerusalem is neglected) or destroyed. How much deterioration and destruction can Palestinians absorb before they decide to leave?

Construction of Jewish homes in East Jerusalem Arab neighbourhoods proceeds, and the destruction of Arab homes, either declared to have been illegally constructed or illegally purchased, continues. On 44 dunums of land confiscated from Palestinian families, a private company has constructed the gated community of Nof Zion, and conveniently separated Palestinian Jabal Al-Mukabir from other parts of East Jerusalem. No Arabs need apply. The million-dollar condominiums are advertised for American investors.

The Israeli Ministry of Interior has approved a plan to demolish a kindergarten and wholesale market in East Jerusalem`s Wadi Joz neighbourhood in order to construct a new hotel close to the Old City and near the Rockefeller Museum. The result will be the destruction of an Arab neighbourhood and its replacement by Jewish interests, which will one day join other Jewish interests.

These are only two examples of a master plan to replace the centuries-old Arab presence in East Jerusalem with a modern Jewish presence. The ancient Arab presence is further subdivided by the Annexation Wall, which runs through the East Jerusalem landscape and detaches East Jerusalem from the West Bank, making it unlikely that a Palestinian state could have its capital in East Jerusalem.

The master plan extends the boundaries of Jerusalem to include the large Israeli settlement (city) of Maale Adumim. Between Maale Adumim and East Jerusalem, Israel proposes to construct the E1 Corridor, which would join the settlements in a ring and add to the separation of East Jerusalem from the West Bank. The E1 Corridor will divide the northern and southern West Bank and will impede direct transit between Palestinian Bethlehem, which is south of E1, and Palestinian Ramallah, which is north of E1. Construction of the E1 corridor, portions of which are owned by Palestinians, could thus prevent the formation of a viable Palestinian state.

If Israel is destroying Jerusalem`s heritage and subjugating its spiritual meaning, why does Israel want to unify Jerusalem?

Israel is a physically small and relatively new country with an eager population and big ambitions. It needs more prestige and wants to be viewed as a power broker on the world stage. To gain these things Israel needs a capital city that commands respect, contains ancient traditions and is recognised as one of the world`s leading cities. Almost all of the world`s principal nations, from Egypt to Germany to Great Britain, have capitals that are great cities. To succeed in its objectives, Israel wants an oversized Jerusalem that contains the Holy City.

However, that is not all. Jerusalem has a significant tourism market that could be expanded. It could provide new commercial opportunities as an entry to all of the Middle East. An indivisible Jerusalem under Israeli control would be worth a lot of shekels.

Israel competes with the United States as the focus of the Jewish people. It needs a unified Jerusalem to gain recognition as the home of Judaism. By controlling all the holy sites, Israel would command attention from Muslim and Christian leaders. These leaders would be forced to talk with Israel, and Israel would have a bargaining advantage in disputes.

Whatever Israel gains the Palestinians are denied. Even if Israel agrees to the establishment of a Palestinian state, it will direct its policies to limit the effectiveness of that state. Since East Jerusalem and its holy sites greatly benefit the Palestinian economy and increase Palestine legitimacy, Israel will do everything it can to prevent East Jerusalem being ceded to the new state of Palestine. An `indivisible` Jerusalem is part of that effort.

West Jerusalem only gives Israel a north/south capital. An undivided Jerusalem would give Israel a forward look towards an east/west capital, or a centralised capital for the land of previous biblical Jewish tribes.

Zionist socialist ideals and the cooperative Kibbutzim movement received support from idealistic people across the world for many years. Israel`s attachment to the tragedy of the Holocaust extended that sympathy and support. With the end of the Zionist dream, the decline of kibbutz life, and the vulgarising of the Holocaust, Israel needs a new symbol of identity that will capture world attention.

If Israel has legitimate claims to Jerusalem, then those claims should be heard and discussed in a proper forum. However, that is not the process that is underway. Instead, the Israeli government is using illegal and illegitimate procedures, as well as deceitful and hypocritical methods, to force its agenda. Israel is not so much presenting its case as exerting its powers to trample all legal, moral and historical considerations.

In the Museum of the Citadel of David there is an inscription: the land of Israel is in the centre of the world, and Jerusalem is the centre of the land of Israel.

This self praise was echoed at a West Jerusalem coffee house recently during a conversation I had with several Israelis. A youthful Israeli sitting at the table abruptly entered the conversation with the words `the world looks to Jerusalem. Jerusalem is the centre of the world, and Jerusalem is the capital of Israel. Everyone needs Jerusalem, and they will need to talk with Israel.`

That is why Israel desperately wants its Greater Jerusalem.

* The writer is editor of Alternative Insight, a Web-based newsletter.

http://desertpeace.wordpress.com/2009/07/19/why-jerusalem-israels-hidden-agenda/

accuracy

20-07-2009, 12:52 PM

accuracy

20-07-2009, 12:59 PM

Israel rejects US demand to halt east Jerusalem project

http://rawstory.com/news/afp/Israel_rejects_US_demand_to_halt_ea_07192009.html

Published: Sunday July 19, 2009

Israel on Sunday rejected a United States demand to stop a building project in annexed east Jerusalem, in the latest dispute between the close allies over the prickly issue of Jewish settlements.

Referring to the project in east Jerusalem's Sheikh Jarrah neighbourhood, hawkish Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the government would not place restrictions on Jewish residents in a city that the state considers to be its capital.

"We cannot accept the idea that Jews will not have the right to live or to build anywhere in east Jerusalem. We cannot accept such restrictions," Netanyahu said at the start of the weekly cabinet meeting.

"Unified Jerusalem is the capital of the Jewish people and the state of Israel. Our sovereignty over it is unquestionable," he said, adding that Palestinian residents could buy houses throughout the city.

Israel's ambassador in Washington, Michael Oren, was summoned to the State Department at the end of last week and was told the project, which aims to build homes on the site of the former Shepherd Hotel, should be halted, an Israeli official told AFP on condition of anonymity.

There was no immediate US comment on the report.

Senior Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erakat told AFP that "there is no middle solution on the issue of settlements. Israel must stop them immediately, both in the West Bank and Jerusalem."

The project is on a site known to Palestinians as Karm Al-Mufti, which had once belonged to the Grand Mufti of Jerusalem Amin al-Husseini, and in 1985 was bought by American millionaire Irving Moskowitz.

According to Israeli media, Moskowitz has previously financed settlement projects in east Jerusalem and in the occupied West Bank.

The Sheikh Jarrah project, located near Israeli government buildings and the British and US consulates in east Jerusalem, received a building permit from city hall three months ago, said the Maariv daily.

In a statement, the municipality said "the acquisition of the land that includes the Shepherd Hotel was legal... according to the High Court of Israel, Jews, Muslims and Christians alike can purchase land in all parts of the city of Jerusalem."

The international community considers Jewish neighbourhoods in mostly Arab east Jerusalem to be Israeli settlements, and the issue is one of the main obstacles in the hobbled Middle East peace process.

Israel captured east Jerusalem from Jordan in the 1967 Six Day War and later annexed that part of the city in a move not recognised by the international community.

It sees all of Jerusalem as its "eternal, undivided" capital and does not consider construction in east Jerusalem to be settlements.

The Palestinians want to make the east of the city the capital of their promised state, and vigorously oppose all settlement construction in east Jerusalem, home to some 200,000 Jewish Israelis and 268,000 Palestinians.

Under US President Barack Obama, Washington has repeatedly pressed Israel to stop all settlement activity, something that Netanyahu has so far rejected.

The Palestinians have refused to restart peace negotiations with the Israelis unless all settlement activity ends.

Memo to President Obama: what did I tell you, Mr. President?!?

Netanyahu has decided that his response to the request to halt this settlement is going to be to spit in your face, and tell you it's raining.

Of course, no matter how intently you're spat upon, you'll never stop sending those checks to Israel, right?!?

No matter how deeply Israel is publicly humiliating you and your administration, you'll just keep on sending those checks, and continuing to validate bad behavior on the part of the Israeli administration, right?!?

And what is wrong with this picture, Mr. President?!?

Everything.

accuracy

23-07-2009, 11:19 AM

Z Street - The New Zionist Extremist Group
Zionism is corrosive, destructive, racist, extremist, undemocratic and hateful

By Stephen Lendman
7-23-9

On July 6, co-founders Lori Lowenthal Marcus and Allyson Rowen Taylor announced: "Z Street is launched, Will end J Street Treason." More on that below.

Continuing they said: "welcome to Z street! No more appeasement, no more negotiating with terrorists, no more enabling cowards who fear offending more than they fear another Holocaust. Z STREET is for those who are willing not only to support - but to defend - Israel, the Jewish State."

Never mind that no nation threatens Israel nor has for decades. It's a regional superpower - nuclearized and defended by the world's fourth most powerful military, armed with the latest state-of-the-art weapons and technology, and not reluctant to use them.

Its only adversaries are self-made and are needed to justify oppression, a culture of violence, an ethnocracy, exclusivity, privilege, and Jewish exceptionalism over others deemed inferior, legitimate enemies, and terrorists.

Zionism is corrosive, destructive, racist, extremist, undemocratic and hateful.

-- it claims Jewish supremacy, specialness and uniqueness as God's "chosen people;"

-- espouses violence, not peaceful coexistence;

-- confrontation over diplomacy;

-- strength through militarism, intimidation, and naked aggression;

-- is what Joel Kovel calls "a machine for the manufacture of human rights abuses" led by real terrorists posing as democrats;

-- what others say is repugnant, indefensible, destructive and malignant; and

-- what author Alan Hart calls "the real enemy of the Jews;"

-- an ideology contemptuous of Judaism's moral values and ethical principles;

-- the driving force behind a re-awakened anti-Semitism; and

-- a monster that's consuming its host and threatening humanity.

That's what Z Street supports.

Its Founders Have Disturbing Resumes

Based in Philadelphia, Lori Lowenthal Marcus writes about Israel and the Middle East for media outlets like the pro-Israeli American Thinker. She's also affiliated with the extremist Zionist Organization of America (ZOA).

From Los Angeles, Allyson Rowen Taylor is associate director of the 2001-founded Stand With Us, a pro-Israeli front group calling itself:

-- "an international education organization that ensures that Israel's side of the story is told in communities, campuses, libraries, the media and churches through brochures, speakers, conferences, missions to Israel, and thousands of pages of Internet resources."

In other words, it's a pro-Israeli mouthpiece promoting Zionist extremism at the expense of truth and an equitable resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Some of Taylor's Amazon book review comments give her away:

-- on (Fox News) Sean Hannity's "Let Freedom Ring: Winning the War of Liberty over Liberalism," she "wonder(s) if anyone other than those who respect and understand the issues of Jihad, Marxism and 'Facism' will read this book. But I recommend it....I love Sean."

-- on John Mearsheimer's "The Israel Lobby and US Foreign Policy," she rants about authors blaming everything on Jews. This "book should have been funded by Henry Ford, or the 'Thrid' Reich. Even Norman Finkelstein, a staunch hater of the Israeli State, found flaws in this sad excuse for a book....Give me a break, 'Anti Semites' are just 'anti Semites,' " and

-- on Jimmy Carter's "Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid," she calls the book "a mess....This is a work of a man who 'clarly' is in cahoots with the radical Islamofacists..it should be filed in the 'fiction' section of the library."

Taylor is also CEO and president of the August 2008-founded People Against Hate Speech, another pro-Israeli front group affiliated with the Simon Wiesenthal Center, notoriously pro-Zionist with over 300,000 global members and support from prominent figures like George W. Bush, Barack Obama, Senator Charles Schumer and Hillary Rodham Clinton.

Z Street's Charter

"Z STREET is an organization of Zionists who join together at this time of great danger to the Jewish State of Israel and, increasingly, to world Jewry.

Fact check: Israel creates its own enemies through extremism, lawlessness, wars of choice, and decades of contempt for Palestinians, other Arabs and Islam.

"I. Z STREET proudly asserts the right of the Jewish people to a state."

Fact check: Israel denies one to Palestinians, occupies their land, and expropriates it for its own use in violation of international law.

"II. Z STREET proudly reclaims the words 'Zionist' and 'Jewish State' as ones to wear with pride, in direct opposition to their recent branding as shameful or impolite terms."

Fact check: Zionism's extremist, destructive ideology is explained above.

"III. Z STREET maintains that Jews have the right to live anywhere in the world, including, and especially, within greater Israel."

Fact check: Palestinians are denied all rights, including to live securely on their own land in their own country in peace.

"IV. Z STREET is dedicated to maintaining and strengthening the Jewish State of Israel in the firm belief that there can be no compromises or agreements with, and no concessions to, any Terrorist Entity or any individual Terrorists."

Fact check: For over six decades, Israel has committed slow-motion genocide against indigenous Palestinians who want peace, not conflict; are willing to recognize the Jewish state in return for their own; and who deserve equal rights to Jews and all others, but are denied them by an oppressive occupier.

"V. Z STREET is dedicated to rejecting and refuting the condemnation of any actions taken by Israel which are not similarly condemned when taken by any other individuals or political entities."

Fact check: Israel acts lawlessly, chooses violence over peace, and calls legitimate self-defense "terrorism."

"VI. Z STREET is dedicated to constantly and consistently declaring and affirming the facts which fully support the legal, moral and historical right of the Jewish State to exist in peace and security without physical or verbal assault against its sovereignty or legitimacy. This necessarily entails adamantly opposing the dismantling of and/or handing over territory to any other entity or entities."

Fact check: Israel demands special rights as "God's chosen people" but denies any to indigenous Palestinians. In addition, its settlements and human rights abuses violate international law.

"VII. Z STREET is dedicated to constantly and consistently declaring and affirming the facts that reveal the fallacious narratives of Terrorist Entities, Terrorists, and their supporters undermining the legal, moral and historical right of the Jewish State to exist in peace and security without physical or verbal assault against its sovereignty or legitimacy."

Fact check: The "narratives" are true, and so-called "Terrorists" are, in fact, peace-loving people who by law may defend themselves when attacked.

"VIII. Z STREET insists that terrorists or other threats against Israel be unequivocally condemned, and that those members of the world community failing to actively condemn those threats also be branded as active or passive supporters of a second genocide against the Jewish people."

Fact check: Israel is the region's real terrorist threat.

"IX. Z STREET declares that Israel's respect for women's, religious and other minorities' rights, provides a welcome beacon - particularly in the Middle East - to be acknowledged and respected by all people of good will."

Fact check: Israel promotes Zionist extremism, demeans Arabs and Islam, and calls Muslims "Islamofascists."

"X. Z STREET recognizes the existence of 22 officially Muslim countries and 19 Christian countries, whose status the world does not challenge, while only Israel, the Jewish State, is demonized for asserting its legitimate right to be a religion-affiliated State, and which religion, Judaism, is the world's oldest monotheistic faith."

Fact check: Israel denies equal rights to its non-Jewish citizens, a practice found nowhere else in the civilized world.

"XI. Z STREET recognizes the value of other Zionist organizations whose activities include lobbying, producing publications, the sponsorship of scholars and scholarship centers, honoring generous donors and/or other important programs. Z STREET is not intended to supercede those other Zionist organizations. Z STREET is intended to serve as an alternative to many mainstream and other Jewish organizations that, to meet donors' requirements or for ideological reasons, cannot affirm the principles set out in the Z STREET Charter."

Fact check: All Zionist organizations are extremist, hateful, and preach Jewish supremacy over Islam and Muslims.

"XII. Z STREET has no need to, and will not negotiate with, nor seek to gain the approval from, any government, Israeli or Diaspora organization, or individuals supporting the diminution or weakening of Israel either because of ideological conviction, animosity towards a strong, Jewish State, cowardice, or the misguided belief that compromise with Terrorist Entities can lead to peace in the Middle East or global peace."

Fact check: Like Israel, Z Street is uncompromisingly hard line, extremist, militant and racist.

"XIII. Z STREET will serve as an educational force that will FIGHT WITH FACTS. Z STREET undergirds its positions with facts and provides that essential ingredient to exponentially increasing its membership ranks."

Fact check: Z Street distorts facts to fit its ideology and attract new extremist members.

"XIV. Z STREET is a new, entirely volunteer organization for those who affirm the foregoing and dedicate themselves to upholding and ensuring respect for these principles. Its primary purpose of which is to provide a proud banner for Zionists behind which to rally."

Fact check: Z Street supports Zionist extremism, militancy and racism. It demeans other views and affirms that "Israel is the homeland of the Jewish people," no others, "and must remain a Jewish state." It challenges critics as neo-Nazis and calls persons, groups, or entities defending themselves against Israeli aggression "terrorists." It champions Jewish exceptionalism and demeans Arabs as inferior Islamofascists.

It believes Jews have colonization rights to dispossess indigenous Arabs for a "greater Israel" in all Judea, Samaria, the Golan, Jerusalem and Gaza.

Z Street's Opposition to J Street

Z Street was founded to counter more moderate Jewish organizations like Americans for Peace Now and J Street, a US-based Israeli advocacy group. Founded (in April 2008) by its Executive Director Jeremy Ben-Ami, it calls itself "The new address for Middle East peace and security (as) the political arm of the pro-Israel, pro-peace movement" and says:

"(It) was founded to promote meaningful American leadership to end the Arab-Israeli and Israeli-Palestinian conflicts peacefully and diplomatically. (It) support(s) a new direction for American policy in the Middle East and a broad public and policy debate about the US role in the region."

It represents Jews and non-Jews "who support Israel and its desire for security as the Jewish homeland, as well as the right of the Palestinians to a sovereign state of their own - two states living side-by-side in peace and security....based on the 1967 borders with agreed reciprocal land swaps (and) resolution of the refugee issue within the new Palestinian state and in current host countries."

It supports "a new regional approach to cooperation and security;" diplomatic solutions over military ones; multilateral conflict resolution, including with Iran; an equitable Israeli-Syrian peace agreement; dialogue instead of confrontation; and for America to provide leadership to achieve it.

It "oppose(s) alliances with the religious right or any radical religious ideologues in the name of supporting Israel as well as efforts to demean and fan fears of Islam or of Muslims." It omits Zionism or Zionist goals in its Statement of Principles, Issues, Policy, and Actions.

Executive Director Ben-Ami held a number of senior positions as Bill Clinton's Deputy Domestic Policy Advisor and Howard Dean's presidential campaign Policy Director. He's also been a senior vice president at Fenton Communications and was communications director for the pro-Israeli New Israel Fund. His father was born in Israel, and much of his family still lives there.

On October 27, Z Street supporters plan a pro-Israeli White House rally at the same time J Street holds its first annual meeting in Washington - the organization it accuses of "Treason."

Co-founder Marcus said, "the presence of Z Street will ensure that the true Zionist voice will be heard: that we will not stand by quietly as apartheid is imposed on Jews in the Israeli territories, and we will not stand by quietly as the Iranians continue racing madly towards obtaining weapons to wipe whole peoples off the globe while politicians send polite letters and invitations to parties."

Co-founder Taylor added: "This grass roots effort will compete for media attention with the slick packaging of several well-funded anti-Zionist organizations (specifically J Street), and unless those of us who are committed to maintaining a strong, unified Jewish State of Israel stand up and speak out together, the weak will continue to appear strong and the strong will continue to appear weak."

In October on Washington streets, Z Street's extremism will be vocal in full public view against J Street's message of peaceful resolution and equity for all sides of the Middle East conflict.

Stephen Lendman is a Research Associate of the Centre for Research on Globalization. He lives in Chicago and can be reached at lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net.

Also visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com and listen to The Global Research News Hour on RepublicBroadcasting.org Monday - Friday at 10AM US Central time featuring cutting-edge discussions with distinguished guests on world and national issues. All programs are archived for easy listening.

accuracy

23-07-2009, 11:24 AM

Israel to demolish 23 illegal settlements in one day

guardian.co.uk, Tuesday 21 July 2009 19.01 BST

http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/About/General/2009/7/22/1248225047002/A-Jewish-settler-stands-n-001.jpg

Israel is planning to remove 23 "illegal outposts" from the West Bank in the course of a single day in response to mounting US demands that it halt all settlement activity, it was reported today.

These outposts are defined as illegal by the Israeli government because they have not received planning permission. But under international law all settlements built on occupied territory are illegal. According to the Ha'aretz newspaper the outposts, housing 1,200 people, will all be evacuated and dismantled simultaneously following a decision by the Likud prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu.

The Israeli army denied receiving any orders for a "lightning evacuation". Settler spokesmen warned of a furious response if any such move took place.

Israel has only twice evacuated Jewish settlements since the 1967 war: in 1981 when the Sinai desert was returned to Egypt, and in 2005, when Israel unilaterally withdrew troops and settlers from the Gaza Strip. Removing settlers from the West Bank will be far more controversial.

Israel has told the US it would remove "illegal" outposts built after March 2001. The current activity is in response to unprecedented pressure from Washington, where President Barack Obama has departed sharply from the informal acquiescence of the Bush administration.

Dan Meridor, a deputy prime minister with a reputation for moderation, insisted that tacit "understandings" with Bush still bound the Obama administration.

Netanyahu has insisted that construction must be permitted in existing settlements to accommodate what he calls "natural growth" in their populations. In all, nearly 500,000 Israelis now live in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, both claimed by the Palestinians as part of their future independent state.

Tensions have flared in recent days since Netanyahu said the US had no right to demand that Israel halt plans to develop 20 apartments in the East Jerusalem neighbourhood of Sheikh Jarrah. On Monday, campaigners protesting at the planned eviction of Palestinian families to make way for it appealed to Obama to stop the settlement.

Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian president, said today: "What is required from Israel is to freeze all settlement activity. When Israel meets these demands, we will be ready to go to the final negotiations."

France's foreign minister, Bernard Kouchner, meanwhile summoned the Israeli ambassador to Paris to complain about Jewish settlements. "These activities must be stopped," warned Kouchner, "otherwise there will be no chance to found an independent Palestinian state that administers itself and also guarantees Israel's security."

Britain's foreign office minister, Ivan Lewis, told MPs: "Israel should freeze all settlement activity, including the natural growth of existing settlements, and dismantle all outposts erected since March 2001."

Sweden, current president of the EU, also urged Israel "to refrain from provocative actions in East Jerusalem, including home demolitions and evictions." It added: "Such actions are illegal under international law."

accuracy

23-07-2009, 11:32 AM

Israel's barrier to progress

Far from protecting anyone, the controversial separation wall can only give a false sense of security

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/jul/22/israel-wall-security-palestine

Wednesday 22 July 2009

In many parts of the West Bank, Israel's much-vaunted separation wall is conspicuous by its absence; Ha'aretz reports that only around 60% of the barrier has been completed will come as no surprise to those who spend time in the area around the project's proposed route.

In places such as the South Hebron Hills, the only obstacles separating thousands of Palestinians from Israeli communities are sporadic flying checkpoints thrown up by the army, or flimsy, unguarded wire fences ostensibly keeping the terrorist hordes at bay. If mainstream Israeli thinking is to be believed, the "security" wall is vital for the safety of Israel's citizens, the implication being that scores of would-be bombers are daily banging their heads against a concrete wall as they try desperately to reach Israeli cities to unleash carnage on unsuspecting women and children.

However, the facts simply don't add up. If 40% percent of a mosquito net was removed, the remaining mesh would have no protective effect, since the insects would simply sail through the hole and get on with their blood-sucking task unimpeded. Yet, according to the Israeli authorities, that is not the case when it comes to the separation wall, and millions of Israelis are all too eager to swallow the lie in order to achieve a deceptive peace of mind.

At the end of a trip to Nablus, I was shown first-hand how simple it is to circumnavigate the wall and checkpoints and enter Israel entirely at will, and without encountering a single soldier or slab of wall. If it was that easy for me by day, it would be even easier for a militant by cover of darkness, and the same is true throughout the porous perimeter across the West Bank.

Travelling unchecked to and from Bethlehem, Bet Jalla and other towns to the immediate south of Jerusalem is child's play for determined tourist or terrorist alike, yet statistics have shown a marked decrease in suicide attacks – suggesting that something other than the non-existent barrier is preventing such atrocities taking place around the clock.

Some believe that Hamas are responsible for the reduction in bombings, having never rescinded their declared hudna on suicide attacks shortly after coming to power. Others believe that the Palestinians realised that suicide bombings were a failed policy, in that they simply gave Israel justification for further land-grabs and heightened security measures in response to the attacks.

One activist to whom I spoke commented that the Shin Bet's network of informants was in fact the most effective tool Israel had in preventing suicide bombings, noting that the massive unemployment rate in the West Bank drove more and more Palestinians to desperate measures, such as collaboration, in order to supplement their meagre incomes.

Whether the near-cessation of suicide attacks is down to a policy of ceasefire or an increase in informers tipping off the Israeli authorities, the wall itself has very little effect on the statistics. If anything, it increases the likelihood of renewed violence against Israeli citizens in the long term, thanks to its crippling impact on life for Palestinians affected by the route of the barrier, and their belief that their situation is unlikely to ever improve.

In the meantime, many settlers are up in arms about the route of the wall, claiming that they have been "abandoned" behind the barrier by the Israeli authorities. They claim that they have no protection from attacks at the hands of Palestinian militants, despite the army maintaining a presence wherever Jewish settlers set up shop in the West Bank.

The defence minister Ehud Barak is "determined to complete the security fence, despite the delays", according to reports, although legal challenges and diplomatic pressure appear to have put paid to any major construction efforts for the foreseeable future. Settlements, as well as the infrastructure supporting their existence, are too hot a topic at present for the Israeli authorities simply to take unilateral decisions about where to place the wall or how to fence in those communities currently bereft of barricades.

Instead of burying their heads in the sand and pretending that all is well in terms of Israelis' security as a result of an incomplete wall, Israel's leaders ought to be worried about the consequences of continuing their policies of intransigence towards the Palestinians. The cyclical nature of the conflict means that the relative calm of today is by no means guaranteed to continue into the future.

Stifling the Palestinians of the means to provide for their families, whether by denying them freedom of movement or by brazenly taking their land from under their noses, ensures another generation will grow up resenting Israel and eventually resorting to violence as a way of expressing their rage.

Despite such tactics not being in the best interests of the Palestinian people, the fact that they have seen no progress even when they put down their arms means that the dam will inevitably burst again soon. When it does, the inefficacy of Israel's half-built wall will be plain for all to see, as too will the half-hearted measures at rapprochement which have hampered peace efforts for years and decades gone by.

accuracy

23-07-2009, 12:18 PM

Obama's 'Self-Hating Jews' Thwarting Zionist Expansion

Who is to blame for the latest dispute with the United States over the new neighborhood going up in Jerusalem's Sheikh Jarrah area? Mayor Nir Barkat? Certainly not. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who stood behind him? Ridiculous. Any child knows that everything is the fault of other Jews: Rahm Emanuel and David Axelrod, two American administration officials who are inciting President Barack Obama against their own people.

This is not the first time that "self-hating Jews" have given us trouble. In negotiations over the separation of forces agreement in the 1970s, U.S. secretary of state Henry Kissinger, the scion of a family of Jewish refugees who had escaped from Nazi Germany, earned the anti-Semitic epithet "Jewboy" in Israel. At the end of the 1980s, when president George H.W. Bush dared to argue that the peace process does not jibe with settlement expansion, the Shamir government instigated a campaign against "the 'Jewboy' trio": Dennis Ross, Aaron Miller and Dan Kurtzer. Now it is the turn of Obama's Jewish confidantes to be the scapegoats.

It is easy to imagine what an uproar there would be in Jerusalem if an Arab leader or newspaper dared to claim that an American president was favorable to Israel because of the influence of a Jewish adviser. Netanyahu, who spent many years in the United States, knows very well the extent to which Jewish administration officials in key positions are sensitive to the slightest hint of dual loyalty - to their birthplace and their historic homeland. It turns out that for him, politics bends the iron-clad rule that "all Jews are responsible for one another."
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To satisfy the settlers, he permits himself to hurt people whose only sin is that they are trying to promote the goals enshrined in the platform of his senior coalition partner - the Labor Party.

We want our Jews in the administration to be blind to the settlements and deaf to the complaints of the Arabs. Take Elliott Abrams, for example, who was in charge of Middle East affairs in the Bush administration. Abrams, who is identified with the neo-conservative right, made an important contribution to legitimizing a good many dubious Israeli acts. He was an excellent salesman for the "no partner" theory, and the guiding spirit behind the indulgent policy toward the flourishing of settlements. He recently publicly criticized the two-state vision of the president who had hired him, among other things, to promote that vision.

Back during his election campaign Obama made it clear that he did not have to join Likud to be a friend of Israel. Opinion polls in the United States revealed that the views of most Jews are closer to the attitudes of organizations like the Reform movement, American Friends of Peace Now and J Street, which support a two-state solution and eschew Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman's doctrine - and above all, largely object to the settlements.

The conversation Obama held with representatives of the Jewish community last week confirms that Netanyahu is drafting them for the wrong war. Even his oldest supporters did not attack the president's position on the settlements, and made do with a complaint about the high profile given to disputes over the issue of natural growth in the settlements. One of the guests at that meeting said that history showed that exposing the differences between the U.S. and Israel does not help to advance peace.

"This was not my reading of the lessons of the last eight years," Obama responded without flinching. Moreover, he said he would not shy away from a willingness to pressure all parties, including Israel, if that is in the best interests of the United States and Israel. Obama did not hesitate to tell his Jewish interlocutors that beyond the special commitment to Israel's security, his policy would be completely even-handed. If it became necessary, Obama said, he would speak to Israelis, as he had done to the Arab and Muslim world, to help them to achieve some kind of self-reflection.

Obama has internalized what his predecessors refused to understand: the traditional supporters of the Israeli right are growing old, or losing their relevance. They are giving way to younger, liberal forces who identify with Obama's values. In the "best" case, Netanyahu's incitement against the "self-hating Jews" will do to them what his whispered comment in the ear of Rabbi Kaduri "those leftists are not Jews" did to Israelis a decade ago - it turned them against him

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1101415.html

accuracy

23-07-2009, 12:25 PM

"Operation in Afghanistan is rooted in Israel"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ddgm0ScSnx4

accuracy

23-07-2009, 12:47 PM

Israeli cell phone ad parody that Israeli apologists are up in arms about

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wy3wvPmej2U&feature=player_embedded

Parody #1 (love the portrayal of the American stooges)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WSDfVVmP2vc&feature=player_embedded

Parody #2

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fm-OEhNZJq4&feature=player_embedded

Media coverage of the commercial:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YBSHbpiOs5Y&feature=player_embedded

accuracy

24-07-2009, 01:12 PM

The words of a tough and eloquent boy in the middle of a street in Gaza...sharing with us his life and his fellowmen outrageous situation.
He looks no more than 6 years old,yet his words will haunt you forever.

"no food, no games, no TV programs for children..this is a seige!"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=otcQ2x6WG-o

accuracy

24-07-2009, 01:30 PM

Israel Kills Palestinian Boys, Steals Organs For Transplants

Teheran Times.com
1-9-2

AL-KHALIL (IRNA) - The Zionist state has tacitly admitted that doctors at the Israeli forensic institute at Abu Kabir had extracted the vital organs of three Palestinian teenage children killed by the Israeli Army nearly ten days ago.

Zionist Minister of Health Nessim Dahhan said in response to a question by Arab member of the Zionist Parliament 'Knesset', Ahmed Teibi, on Tuesday that he couldn't deny that organs of Palestinian youths and children killed by the Israeli forces were taken out for transplants or scientific research.

"I couldn't say for sure that something like that (taking out the organs) didn't happen."

Teibi said he had received credible evidence proving that Israeli doctors at the forensic institute extracted such vital organs as the heart, kidneys, and liver from the bodies of Palestinian youths and children killed by the Israeli Army in Gaza and the West Bank.

The Israeli authorities normally detain the bodies of martyred Palestinians for a few days without any explanation.

The Israeli Army on December 30 killed three Palestinian boys, aged 14-15 near Khan Younis in unclear circumstances.

The army issued conflicting reports on the killing, while Palestinian sources charged that Israeli troops murdered the three unarmed boys in cold blood.

The bodies of the three boys were handed over to the Palestinians for burial on 6 January.

However, shortly before burial, Palestinian medical authorities examined the bodies and found out that the main vital organs were missing from the bodies.

The Israeli media have nearly completely ignored the affair.

(IRNA)

accuracy

24-07-2009, 01:43 PM

WHEN REMEMBERING IS NOT ENOUGH? ~~ INTERVIEW WITH HEDY EPSTEIN

July 23, 2009

In the following interview, Hedy Epstein makes the statement that she 'is not a Saint�� some of us disagree with her on that point.

This Free Gaza video is an interview with a great woman, Hedy Epstein, just turned 85. She has dedicated her life to working for peace and human rights. In June she was going to sail to Gaza with the other 21 volunteers on board the Spirit of Humanity. But she was attacked just days before she was to leave for Cyprus. She was walking home, when she was thrown on the ground, cutting both knees and gashing her chin. She talks to us from her home in St. Louis, Missouri.

The motivation for this attack was pretty clear; from Israel's perspective, having an elderly Jewish peace activist as part of the "Spirit of Humanity" team, bound for Gaza, would be an extreme embarrassment.

So she was attacked, conveniently,just in time to keep her off the boat.

But what whoever orchestrated this attack should have known was, this wasn't going to keep Hedy from talking, and getting heard, internationally.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=60XVfEow4M0

http://uruknet.com/?p=m56275&hd=&size=1&l=e

accuracy

24-07-2009, 01:54 PM

Gaza blockade: �We are captive and slowly suffocating�

By Steve Weaver, ACT/Church World Service last update 24/07/2009

http://uruknet.com/pic.php?f=23gaza-blockade.jpg

JERUSALEM -- When talking to people in Gaza about the difficult humanitarian, economic and infrastructure conditions under which they live, one quickly realizes that the 22-day assault that ended early this year was only the most recent, although especially brutal, chapter in a longer context of occupation and blockade.

An already difficult situation following 40 years of occupation became significantly worse in June 2007 when Israel imposed a severe blockade following the takeover of Gaza by Hamas.

"It is killing us slowly," says Constantine Dabbagh of the Middle East Council of Churches' Palestinian Refugee Service Department (DSPR) in Gaza. "People can't get out. People can't get in. We can't get what we need. Families are separated. We are captive and slowly suffocating."

The objective indicators are sobering. Even before the recent war nearly 80 percent of Gaza residents were living below the official poverty line, less that $2.30 per day, according to the World Bank.

The United Nations estimates that 98 percent of private businesses have closed and more than 100,000 people have lost their jobs since June 2007, with total unemployment at about 45 percent. According to the UN Development Program women have been especially hard hit with only 11.5 percent participating in the job market, one of the lowest rates in the world.

ACT International members are working in Gaza to address both emergency needs resulting from the assault as well as the long term crisis. Medical services, vocational training, cash assistance, provision of food and nutritional supplements, support for home repairs, and psychosocial programs are some of the ways ACT members are supporting local communities in their effort to recover from the war and manage the long term consequences of occupation and blockade. But the crippling blockade is impacting those efforts.

A near total embargo on construction materials is having a grim affect on the newly homeless. About 1,800 people now live in Camp Dignity, in northern Gaza, after their homes were destroyed nearby. This is only one of many temporary solutions the newly displaced in Gaza have been forced into.

According to the UN over 4,200 homes were demolished during Operation Cast Lead, with an additional 14,000 damaged. "The blockade on reconstruction materials causes great difficulty to start up ACT appeal initiatives targeting repairs and reconstruction of homes, schools, community buildings, and clinics," says Dirk Lackovic-van Gorp of International Orthodox Christian Charities (IOCC).

Partners of ACT report a long list of challenges affecting their programs as a result of the blockade. Suhaila Tarazi, of Al Ahli Hospital, reports a range of items, from the mundane to the highly technical, the hospital has difficulty accessing. Detergent for washing machines, plastic cups, toilet paper, paper sheets for beds are all in short supply. "This is a hygiene and sanitation issue for a hospital," Tarazi said.

The hospital has been depending on one X-ray developing machine. It is eight years old and doesn't work properly. They have been trying to get a new one for the last 5 months but have been unsuccessful. The hospital received an endoscopy sterilizing machine from USAID in March. "But we can't get the special gas required for the sterilization process, so it is sitting unused," Tarazi said. "I extremely fear hearing about a piece of equipment failing, because it means it will go into storage for lack of spare parts."

It isn't only the embargo on supplies and parts that is affecting the Al Ahli Hospital. The inability of cancer patients to get travel permits to Jerusalem or Egypt is also having an impact on the hospital. "Now doctors have to make critical treatment decisions based on less information. It puts patients' lives in more danger and increases the hospital's exposure to lawsuits," said Tarazi.

DSPR is feeling the effect at their vocational training centers where young Gazans are learning valuable skills. At the metal working training center in Gaza City, DSPR has had to modify certain projects due to the scarcity of resources. Prices of all metals, including scrap, have increased considerably. At the electrical training center in Khan Yunis the director, Mahmoud Abulibda, notes the cost of supplies has tripled. "A spool of copper wire that used to cost 24 shekel now costs 85 shekels," he says. "We've had to drop some lessons, combine others and reuse materials."

The blockade is also affecting the provision of basic food items, said Lackovic-van Gorp of IOCC. "The blockade on randomly selected food items -- for no apparent reason or rationale -- causes considerable delays in the transport of food and non-food commodities into Gaza," he said. "Items blockaded over the past two months have included pasta, jam and tahini. Such bans cause additional work to repackage parcels and sometimes necessitate modifying contracts with suppliers."

DSPR's clinic in Al Shija'ia was bombed by an Israeli air strike in January and reduced to rubble. As a temporary solution the clinic is operating out of a temporary building. But this space, in need of renovation, is also being affected by the blockade. "A bag of cement that cost 20 shekels before the blockade now costs 200", says Dr. Salim Al Abadlah, DSPR Medical Coordinator. "And there are no windows." And so part of the temporary space sits unfinished and unused, waiting for the most basic construction materials.

The Greek Government, through its Consul General in Jerusalem, has generously agreed to build a new clinic when land is found for the new construction. But finding the materials for construction could prove challenging given the near total blockade on construction materials since June 2007.

When asked when they might be able to build the clinic Dr Abadlah, shrugs and says, "Maybe two months, maybe two years, maybe two decades. We don't know."

Steve Weaver is the Middle East regional coordinator for Church World Service. After being based in Palestine/Israel for three months, he offers this personal reflection on the effect Gaza blockade on the lives of Palestinians and the work of ACT International members on the ground.

Media contact:

Peter Hovring, Communications Officer (interim)
(office: +41 22 791 6039 / mobile: +41 79 681 1868 / act@act-intl.org )

Action by Churches Together (ACT) International is a global alliance of churches and related agencies working to save lives and support communities in emergencies worldwide.

http://uruknet.com/?p=m56278&hd=&size=1&l=e

accuracy

25-07-2009, 10:24 AM

Thank you (someone) for the 5 star rating of this thread.

Please feel free (or anyone else) if you want me to " broadcast" anything, just let me know.

:)
accuracy

accuracy

25-07-2009, 11:21 AM

Translation: Israel is terrified that if Hamas does control aid into Gaza, it might actually get to the people who so desperately need it!

by Maayana Miskin

IsraelNN.com) Defense officials expressed concern this week over recent developments in Gaza, particularly reports that Hamas is intimidating humanitarian organizations, and has begun working more closely with the United Nations. There is evidence to suggest that Hamas may get its hands on billions of dollars meant as humanitarian aid for Gaza civilians, they said.

Reports that Hamas has threatened UN workers in Gaza began to surface months ago. During Operation Cast Lead, Hamas stole truckloads of supplies, some of which were later returned.

According to the Hebrew-language daily Maariv, pressure got so bad in recent weeks that the UN's Gaza chief, John Ging, fled the area for fear of his life. The threats were made by members of Hamas who told Ging to ensure that aid money would be directed to individuals specified by Hamas, the paper said.

The UN's Relief and Works Agency is the largest international organization operating in Gaza, and Hamas is increasing pressure on the group in an attempt to control its budget. UNRWA receives hundreds of millions of dollars each year, mostly from the European Union.

Hamas puts pressure on other groups as well. Hamas announced in the local Gaza paper Filisteen a warning that any organization that fails to heed Hamas orders will be forced out of Gaza.

The pressure appears to have worked. According to defense officials, UN workers have been meeting with senior members of Hamas to coordinate the distribution of international aid contributed in the wake of Operation Cast Lead.

Israel has sent evidence of Hamas pressure on aid groups to the United States, in order to warn the U.S. that its own funds could be misappropriated as well. The U.S. has pledged $900 million to rebuild Gaza buildings destroyed during Cast Lead.

Israeli officials said they are attempting to create a mechanism that would allow aid to be sent to Gaza while ensuring that the funds would not fall into Hamas' hands. However, officials did not express optimism over the chances that any such system would be fully effective.

UN: Distribution Based on Need
UN workers in Gaza disputed charges that Hamas pressure was affecting UN policy. Aid is distributed according to humanitarian need only, they said.

In response to reports that Ging had fled the area, UN officials said Ging had indeed left Gaza, but has since returned.

http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/132559

accuracy

25-07-2009, 11:27 AM

MUST READ~CRITICIZING ISRAEL TO BE ILLEGAL

24 July 2009

New Report out ~Today Israeli Zionists are tightening their grip even MORE on our freedom of speech.Israel will use this to take the cause to America next. Very serious stuff to report today, we are loosing our right to free speech against Israel. A Zionist “think tank” in England that has US ties is submitting a report to re-define the term “Anti-Semitism” and make those “new terms” illegal. Sit down, take a deep breath and get ready to be stunned. I came across this recent 38 page PDF publication which is being submitted to the British Government from the European Institute for the Study of Contemporary Antisemitism (EISCA) the Zionist think-tank which sets out to “monitor” Anti-Semitism in the “World.” This will be used against the Government, the Media, Universities and hundreds of Pro-Palestinian organisations, not to mention blogs and any protests the public decide to hold against the Zionist state Military actions in Palestine.

This group has influential power within the British Government, indeed, one Rt Hon Denis MacShane, MP, is the Chairman of the group.

They have just delivered a “new” report In which they are “re-defining” Anti-Semitism to include just about anything one may say to criticize Israel. Such as Anti-Zionism; Holocaust denial and Holocaust related abuse; conspiracy theories; dual loyalty and the blood libel. More importantly, they take this one step further and are now including “Zionism” in this definition.

The report calls for the adoption of this new definition into law, which would then make it a “crime” to discuss or use any of the phrases, terms, arguments, theories or cases covered this new “definition.” They want the UK to adopt the EUMC (now the European Agency for Fundamental Rights [FRA]) definition of “anti-Semitism” so as to outlaw the use of the word “Nazi” when referring to Israel, its government, and Zionists. But that is NOT all they are after, there are many more “demands” which are quite shocking indeed, such as any conspiracy theories about Israel and 9-11, Zionism, or the Israeli Lobby in American Politics control in Washington. Additionally they want your Children to be “re-educated when they attend University (Sounds like Nazi’s to me!) They are also calling for media controls as well. Almost all criticism of Israel AND/OR Zionism will be “branded” as Anti-Semitism and illegal, so keep reading. This definition will target all aspects of discussion on the Israel/Palestine conflict, including media, universities, demonstrations, freedom of speech and much more. Here are excerpts of the new “Zionist Big Brother” PDF report:
STRUCTURE OF THE REPORT
The report of the All-Party Parliamentary Inquiry into Antisemitism drew attention to five themes of antisemitic discourse: anti-Zionism; Holocaust denial and Holocaust related abuse; conspiracy theories; dual loyalty and the blood libel. This report combines them into one overarching theme- playing the Nazi card.
So as we can see, every single aspect of this new form of censorship will now come under one all encompassing heading of "Playing The Nazi Card" So they are effectively lumping hundreds of very real and accurate criticisms against the IDF, the State of Israel, the Gaza Genocide, the Israeli Government and any one critical of Zionism into one little sentence with the word "Nazi" in it. How clever!! Therefore you MUST remember when reading this below that each time they use the phrase "Using the Nazi Card" they are including ALL of this as well: Any criticisms against the IDF, the State of Israel, the Gaza Genocide, the Israeli Government and any one critical of Zionism That is the danger in what they are attempting here folks. With that in mind keep reading:
THE NAZI CARD
In the case of the United Kingdom, the All-Party Parliamentary Group Against Antisemitism recommended that the working definition be “adopted by the government and law enforcement agencies”.

When the Nazi card is played against the Israeli State, its leaders, its military practices, or its founding ideology of Zionism, it is clearly antisemitic.

Four different variants of the problem are examined in the report:
- The Nazi card as abuse against Jews.
- The Nazi card as abuse against the collective memory of the Holocaust.
- The Nazi card in the casting of Jews as conspirators and collaborators with the Nazis.
- The Nazi card manifest in discourse about Israel and Zionism.
Each of these variants of the Nazi card has harmful consequences that constitute a significant common denominator and the rationale for why this type of discourse needs to be addressed. (note that Zionism is now included in the Definition)
GAZA PROTESTS:
Placards carrying images of swastikas superimposed on the Star of David and the Israeli flag were commonplace in street-level protests about the recent Israeli military actions and the conflict in Gaza in December 2008 and January 2009. Allusions between Nazi genocidal practices and the activities of the Israeli state were also drawn in some of the speeches at protest meetings and press commentary on the conflict.
AND THIS WONT BE ALLOWED ANY MORE:
Richard Falk, the then incoming United Nations special rapporteur on human rights in the Palestinian territories, published an article in 2007 titled ‘Slouching toward a Palestinian Holocaust’ whereby, for instance, Palestinian territories have been compared to the “Warsaw ghetto”, Libya’s deputy UN ambassador, Ibrahim Dabbashi, reportedly drew a comparison between conditions in Gaza and the concentration camps of Nazi Germany. This occasion was not the first time officials associated with the UN had drawn parallels between Israeli military actions and atrocities committed by the Nazis.
UNDERSTANDING AND ADDRESSING ANTISEMITIC DISCOURSE
The project’s aims were to:
● Identify and illuminate the main component parts of antisemitic discourse.
● Include an examination of how criticism of Israel and Zionism can crossover into and become polluted by antisemitism through the expression or assumption of core antisemitic concepts.

THE CONSEQUENCES OF ANTISEMITIC DISCOURSE
This report attempts to shift the focus of analysis of contemporary antisemitism onto new ground: away from labelling and defining the problem to an understanding of the consequences of discourse against Jews, Israel and Zionism.
YOU CANNOT CRITICIZE ZIONISM:

PLAYING THE NAZI CARD AGAINST ISRAEL AND ZIONISM
One of the most challenging components of antisemitic discourse in general, and the discursive theme of the Nazi card in particular, concerns the problem of when the Nazi card is played against Israel and its founding movement, Zionism.

INTRODUCTION: THE NAZI CARD AS ANTISEMITIC DISCOURSE
Playing the Nazi card refers to the use of Nazi or related terms or symbols (Nazism,
Hitler, swastikas, etc.) in reference to Jews, Israel, Zionism or aspects of the Jewish experience.

● It would be timely for the government to commission a rapid evidence assessment into the practical experience of using the criminal law against racist and antisemitic speech in countries where such provisions have been established.

● The Home Office, in consultation with the Association of Chief Police Officers and the Crown Prosecution Service, should prepare and issue guidance for police forces and crown prosecutors about the circumstances in which playing the Nazi card, and other forms of antisemitic discourse, amounts to unlawful incitement to racial hatred.
COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES ARE TARGETTED:
UNIVERSITIES-RE-EDUCATION OF YOUR CHILDREN:
UK universities and colleges should be encouraged to debate and utilise the European Monitoring Centre on Racism and Xenophobia (EUMC) working definition of antisemitism to inform their race equality and harassment policies.

● In seeking advice from scholars with experience in the matter, the government should commission and promote educational materials for university-level
lectures/seminars/workshops on Holocaust denial which examine how Holocaust denial in its explicit and more subtle manifestations constitutes antisemitic discourse.

● The European Institute for the Study of Contemporary Antisemitism should produce a model statement that refutes the Nazi card point-by-point so that it can aid and inform those who seek to challenge it.(Soon the Government will be paying for these to be handed out to every kid at University!)
No more talking about AIPAC,the Jewish-Zionist Lobby, it's influence, Jane Harman affair, Israeli spies, all will be considered "anti-Semitic" soon:
JEWISH/ZIONIST LOBBY IN AMERICA
It has been suggested that in recent discourse regarding the alleged role of Zionists or an Israel lobby in Western societies, the language and terms of reference used to depict their alleged actions has sometimes been reminiscent of language and themes similar to those identified by Klug when discussing the traditional depiction of the conduct of the mythical Jew. Zionists and
The Zionist lobby have periodically been depicted as conspirators, controllers of the media, and of wielding undue power and influence over governments. It might therefore be suggested that such sentiment, when echoing traditional antisemitic conspiracy theories but ostensibly targeting Zionists is likewise not grounded in any real sense of ‘what they are,’ but has similarly come to reflect a discourse of hatred against Zionists as ‘Zionists’.
AND DON'T BE TALKING ABOUT BERNIE MADE-OFF ANYMORE EITHER,MORE HERE:
In addition to such conspiracies that allege Jewish and Israeli hands behind major international calamities have been references to longstanding antisemitic conspiracy theories alleging orchestrated Jewish control of world financial markets.
And they are going after the Media:
THE PRESS AND MEDIA:
The media in Britain have also played a hand in reproducing antisemitic conspiracy theories - even inadvertently. Most famously, the cover of the 14January 2002 edition of the New Statesman used a large glistening golden Star of David piercing a prostate Union Jack and the words ‘A kosher conspiracy?...Britain’s pro-Israel lobby’.

The Press Complaints Commission should be encouraged to utilise the EUMC working definition of antisemitism to inform guidance in its Code of Practice

● The National Union of Journalists at national and branch level should be encouraged to debate and utilise the EUMC working definition of antisemitism to inform guidance about how particular discourse can lead to hatred or discrimination against Jews.

● The Press Complaints Commission should be encouraged to utilise the EUMC working definition of antisemitism to inform guidance in its Code of Practice about how particular discourse can lead to hatred or discrimination against Jews.

● When the Nazi card is played as abuse against Jews individually or collectively, it involves a discursive and targeted hurtful act of raw explicit insult and potentially serves as a threat of future violence.
So, How insane is that statement, they are calling for a law to be passed to stop a violent crime that may not take place, or has not taken place yet? So perhaps we should start arresting people who "may" in future commit a crime because of their thoughts and opinions? ZIONIST BIG BROTHER STATE COMING SOON TO YOU
● When the Nazi card is played as abuse against the collective memory of the Holocaust, the offender ‘de-Nazifies’ the role of the Nazis and casts Jews as conspirators.

● When the Nazi card is played by casting Jews as conspirators and collaborators with the Nazis, Jews are portrayed as beneficiaries of Nazi genocidal policies.

● When the Nazi card is played against Israel and Zionism, Israel as a state is cast in the role of the Nazis with Palestinians cast as victims of eliminationist policy and practice.
So in the above statements they make it crystal clear, the “Holocaust” excuse will “never” end. In other words, there will never come a time when it can be viewed as a historical event, and there will never come a time when you can be critical of it, or have an opposing opinion of that historical event. Now, to effectively rule that people cannot have their own opinions or questions, no matter how far out, is just another form of Big Brother Control of the masses by Israel world wide. Taking that one step further, what about people who believe that 9-11 was an inside job and that Jews were involved. So, that “form” of thought will also be outlawed as illegal. SEE HERE:
In the aftermath of several recent international terrorist attacks, allegations of Jewish conspiracies spread. Since the events of 9/11, antisemitic conspiracy theories have variously alleged that Jews or Zionists were responsible for the attacks or were aware of the attacks in advance. Together with such allegations has been the suggestion that thousands of Jews were secretly warned not to arrive at work on the day of the 9/11 attacks.
AND THIS WILL ALSO BECOME ILLEGAL AS WELL:
JEWS AS CONSPIRATORS AND COLLABORATORS WITH THE NAZIS
Conspiracy theories about Jews have historically provided the mainstay of antisemitic discourse. New conspiracies are promoted with varying malevolence often in reaction to prevailing social, political and economic calamities. Once given life, the conspiracy theories become part of the everyday ideology and discourse of what it is to be a Jew.
Can't have the truth about the Genocide in Gaza being reported in public, people may find out the truth!AND THEY WILL BE GOING AFTER BOOKS AS WELL, SO WATCH OUT:
In one of the earliest British contributions to the Holocaust-denial literature, Did Six Million Really Die? The Truth at Last,38 published in 1974, Richard Harwood claimed that the “deception” committed by “the Jewish people” had brought an “incalculable benefit” in that the “alleged extent of their persecution quickly aroused sympathy for the Jewish national homeland they had sought for so long”.

“The language is significant - ‘hoax’, ‘swindle’, ‘racket’ -
All in themselves implying ‘Jew’ through the historical accumulation of antisemitic connotations (money grabbing, Jewing, Shylock, etc.)”.41
PROTOCOLS OF THE ELDERS OF ZION (also will be illegal)

The Protocols of the Elders of Zion, and Henry Ford’s The International Jew, are exemplars of such a depiction of the Jew. And more recent conspiracy theories about Jews manifest this malevolent discursive characterisation.
AND LASTLY, MORE EXPRESSIONS THAT WILL BECOME ILLEGAL:
● Making mendacious, dehumanising, demonising, or stereotypical allegations about Jews as such or the power of Jews as collective - such as, especially but not exclusively, the myth about a world Jewish conspiracy or of Jews controlling the media, economy, government or other societal institutions.
LOOKOUT, that sweeping statement covers everything about the Zionist Lobby's control inside America. So, will we see books such as THIS by JOHN MEARSHEIMER and STEPHEN WALT and books like THIS by James Petras becoming illegal under the guise of "Anti-Semitism"?? MORE...
● Accusing the Jews as a people, or Israel as a state, of inventing or exaggerating the Holocaust.

● Accusing Jewish citizens of being more loyal to Israel, or to the alleged priorities of Jews worldwide, than to the interests of their own nations.
Don't you love that one? If it was even remotly NOT true we'd not have AIPAC, ZOA, ADL and hundreds of other "lobby" groups contolling America and it's worldwide policies! They advocate for ISRAEL not AMERICA. AIPAC spies and Jane Harman anyone? Sadly there's more:
● Denying the Jewish people their right to self-determination, e.g. by claiming that the existence of a State of Israel is a racist endeavour.

● Using the symbols and images associated with classic antisemitism (e.g. claims of Jews killing Jesus or blood libel) to characterise Israel or Israelis.

● Drawing comparisons of contemporary Israeli policy to that of the Nazis.
Please pass this post on...If you are NOT Angry then you are NOT paying attention. BIG BROTHER is already here, in the name of worldwide Zionism! READ IT ALL HERE
written by irish4palestine

http://irish4palestine.blogspot.com/2009/07/must-readcriticizing-israel-to-be.html

accuracy

25-07-2009, 11:36 AM

Israel rejects French demand on peace

Fri, 24 Jul 2009 06:00:10 GMT

http://www.presstv.ir/photo/20090724/fazeli20090724100223468.jpg

The Israeli government has rejected France's demand to halt Jewish settlement activity and to reopen border crossings into the impoverished Gaza Strip.

"A solution to the settlements can only be reached through a comprehensive and final peace agreement," Israel's foreign ministry spokesman Yigal Palmor told AFP on Thursday.

Palmor instead called on France to persuade the Palestinian Authority to resume the stalled peace talks with Israel.

"In order to promote peace, France would do well to persuade the Palestinian Authority to resume negotiations," he added.

Palestinian say they will not resume the talks until Tel Aviv puts an end to its expansionist policies. Israel has been refusing to heed international calls even form its closest allies including the US to stop its illegal settlement activity.

Israel wants to continue its settlement activity in the occupied West Bank to keep up with what it calls the "natural growth” of the Israeli population. The issue has been widely considered as the main obstacle in the way of the Israeli-Palestinian peace process.

The settlements are built on the land Israel occupied in the 1967 Middle East war and are in violation of the Fourth Geneva Convention, which says the occupying power is not allowed to transfer citizens from its own territory to the occupied territory.

Regarding the Gaza Strip, Palmor said that Israel's blockade of Gaza was the result of "the state of war imposed by Hamas" as well as the "detention for more than three years of soldier Gilad Shalit."

On Thursday, France summoned the Israeli ambassador to France, Daniel Shek, to demand an immediate freeze on settlement activities and for the crossings into Gaza to be reopened to allow Gaza rebuild itself after Israel's deadly war in January.

Paris wants "an immediate freeze on settlement activities, including in east Jerusalem," the French ministry spokesman Eric Chevallier said.

Israel must also re-open border crossings into Gaza, blocked since the Hamas resistance movement took power in 2007, "on a regular basis to allow Gaza to rebuild itself and life to return to normal," Chevallier added.

HRF/DT

http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=101499&sectionid=351020202

accuracy

25-07-2009, 11:59 AM

IN GAZA ~~ MOURNING THROUGH ART

July 24, 2009

Gaza artist, survivor finds power in paint
By Eman Mohammed

http://electronicintifada.net/artman2/uploads/2/090723-eman-gaza-2.jpg

Palestinian artist Ziad Deeb next to an image that he made of his family members killed during Israel’s attacks on Gaza last winter

From the entrance of the house, one can observe the whole tragedy. On 6 January 2009, an Israeli artillery shell landed in the front yard of the Deeb family home in the Jabaliya refugee camp in the northern Gaza strip. A large, wide hole in the ground and two missing walls are all that remain. Sitting in his wheelchair in the corner, Ziad, 22, is the last survivor of the Deeb family. He lost both legs during the attack, and 10 relatives were killed including his father, grandmother, brothers, nieces and nephews.

Ziad choose a different and unlikely way to mourn. He was a graduate of Gaza’s College of Fine Arts when Israel’s winter invasion began. When it was over, he started drawing — on wood, on the walls of the city streets, in front of destroyed government buildings, and public squares.

Ziad explained that his art is “the best way I can express myself.” He added that, “It took me only seconds to look around and see my family members drowning in their own blood. I didn’t hear the explosion, it was only a loud whistling sound, and dark smoke blocked my vision. But I could smell the strong odor of blood and when I tried to move myself I saw my legs ripped apart. Then the smoke became less and I saw everyone around me was dead and I thought I was too.”

http://electronicintifada.net/artman2/uploads/2/090723-eman-gaza-3.jpg

Ziad says that memories of the massacre inspire him “to keep painting more and more, I believe this is the only thing that can’t be taken away from me and my disability can’t be an obstacle.” He adds that “as weird as it might sound, this ugly memory urges me to go further with my arts. If I can’t be heard, my paintings can be seen. I draw for...

http://electronicintifada.net/artman2/uploads/2/090723-eman-gaza-4.jpg

peace, now that’s how much I believe in the power of colors, paintbrushes and art itself.”

Mohammed Deeb, 33, Ziad’s uncle was only few meters away when the attack occurred. Ziad now lives with his uncle who helps him to move around and tries to help him live something like a normal life. Mohammed expressed his admiration of his nephew’s courage stating that, “He survived a catastrophe. I have no idea how he got this strength, but I do believe God gave him patience and creativity to overcome such a difficult ordeal. His art is unique in Gaza.” He added with teary eyes that, “He is special, there is no doubt about that.”

In spite of the tragedy, Ziad still enjoys spending time with his friends and playing the oud and other musical instruments. As his uncle explains, “they took his family’s life but they couldn’t take the life out of him.”

Ziad showed his excitement for new art projects and exhibitions he is planning to participate in by starting new techniques of wood-based carvings copied from paper paintings in color and black and white. He explained that “I have dreams to pursue, if not for myself, then for the memory of my family. They are in a better place, I just know this for a fact. Losing them caused me wounds that can never heal but I won’t allow the sadness to defeat me. In the end that’s what it takes to make great art, to never be defeated.”

All images by Eman Mohammed.

Eman Mohammed is a Jordanian-Palestinian freelance photojournalist and reporter based in the Gaza Strip since 2005.

Source
http://desertpeace.wordpress.com/2009/07/24/in-gaza-mourning-through-art/

accuracy

25-07-2009, 12:02 PM

Keep up the good work, Ziad. :D

accuracy

25-07-2009, 12:41 PM

Breaking The Silence - Testimonies Of Israeli Soldiers

By Stephen Lendman
7-24-9

"Breaking the Silence is an organization of veteran Israeli soldiers that collects anonymous testimonies of soldiers who served in the Occupied Territories during the Second Intifada." They recount experiences that deeply affected them, including abusing Palestinians, looting, destroying property, and other practices "excused as military necessities, or explained as extreme and unique cases."

They believe otherwise in describing "the depth of corruption which is spreading in the Israeli military" to which Israeli society and most Western observers turn a blind eye. "Breaking the Silence" was established to force an uncomfortable reality into the open to "demand accountability regarding Israel's military actions in the Occupied Territories perpetrated by us in our name."

Its new booklet features 54 damning testimonies from 30 Israeli soldiers on their experiences in Operation Cast Lead. They recount what official media and government sources suppressed with comments like:

"You feel like an infantile little kid with a magnifying glass looking at ants, burning them."

Another referred to "not much said about the issue of innocent civilians." Anyone and anything were fair game, and laws of war went out the window.

They explained wanton destruction, crops uprooted, human slaughter, women and children killed in cold blood, illegal weapons used, free-fire orders to shoot to kill anywhere at anything that moved, and using civilians as human shields.

Israeli commanders refuted their accounts as groundless, but B'Tselem reported that the military "refused to open serious, impartial investigations," even when provided with detailed information, including victims' names, exact dates, and precise locations of incidents.

On its own, B'Tselem collected testimonies from Gaza residents in which 70 Palestinian civilians were killed, over half of them children. Israeli military sources were unresponsive, except to acknowledge receipt of some information, nothing more or that a serious investigation would be conducted. It never was.

Anonymous Testimonies to Protect Soldiers from Recriminations - First >From Earlier Operations

A Nachal unit first sergeant recounted Israeli tanks entering a West Bank village and crushing a car beneath the treads. "Yes, I saw it from the APC we were in. I peeped out. Suddenly we heard a car being crushed....I can't understand why a tank should run over a car when the road's open." It wasn't an isolated incident. It happens often, wanton destruction for its own sake.

He also said that "When we got back from that operation, we had loot so to speak. There were IDs confiscated, uniforms, Kalachnikovs. For army intelligence."

A Nachal elite unit first sergeant said missions were explicitly intended to harass people. Homes were entered, arrests made. "At various points while closing in on a house there are varying open-fire instructions. When the whole house is surrounded, crews placed all around it, the guy who runs out of the house is considered an 'escaper' and must be stopped. If he exits running in a suspect manner (he) must be shot (and) kill(ed). Shot to be stopped: in other words, shoot to kill."

When entering villages, armed Palestinian policemen "at certain points in time....were considered enemy troops (so) we had to shoot to kill if we saw any." Orders were to shoot when in doubt. In describing the atmosphere and command orders, they were "Kill, kill, kill, kill. We want to see bodies."

He explained his anti-terrorism training saying: "Terrorist in sight, that's what it's called, when you run into them. It's some sort of code. It used to be 'hostages.' So you reach the terrorist, you confirm the kill. You don't confirm the kill, you confirm the guy has been 'neutralized,' no chance of his getting back to you because he's been shot in the head. That's confirming he's neutralized."

A 401 Armor unit staff sergeant described the freedom he had to fire a lot - "automatic fire, directed at the whole city, at houses and at doors, was something that everybody did, not just me. I do not know why I did it. I (had) a gun. I did not think. In the army I never thought. I did what I was told to do. And besides, everybody did it. That was the custom - officers and such, everybody knew."

A Battalion 55 Artillery corp first sergeant said when his unit "return(ed) from operations we would throw stun and smoke grenades into the bakeries that opened between 4:00 and 5:00 am because people in the village threw stones....Once I fired over 1500 rounds from a machine gun at the houses in the city." Nobody cared, it was just at Palestinians.

An Armoured Corps first sergeant recounted earlier Gaza and West Bank operations for the "main purpose (of) either demolish(ing) terrorists' houses or places where they manufacture mortars, and other such stuff, or...You would come in and ruin everything you see." At times, "open-fire orders (were to kill) every person you see on the street....kill him....shoot to kill. Don't mind whether he has or has no gun on him."

Operation Cast Lead Testimonies

One soldier said:

"....In training you learn that white phosphorus is not used, and you're taught that it's not humane. You watch films and see what it does to people who are hit, and you say, 'There, we're doing it too.' That's not what I expected to see. Until that moment I had thought that I belonged to the most humane army in the world."

Other testimonies describe white phosphorous used in densely populated neighborhoods, wanton killing and destruction "unrelated to any direct threat to Israeli forces, and permissive rules of engagement that led to the killing of innocents."

More comments reflected the "moral deterioration" of the army and Israeli society, even affecting the rabbinate that blessed mass slaughter and destruction prior to engagements.

Soldier testimonies bear witness to disturbing Israeli values "on a systemic level." Operation Cast Lead's rein of terror was "a direct result of IDF policy, and especially (its) rules of engagement (that sanction) shoot (first) and (don't) ask questions."

Breaking the Silence participants offered their testimonies as "an urgent call to Israeli society and its leaders to sober up and investigate anew the results of our actions....(a disturbing) slide together down the moral slippery slope" that affects them and all Jews globally.

Testimony 1 - Human Shield

People are called "Johnnie. They're Palestinian civilians" in Gaza neighborhoods. In checking out houses, "we send the neighbor in, the 'Johnnie,' and if there are armed men inside, we (use) 'pressure cooker' procedures....to get them out alive....to catch the armed men." When necessary, combat helicopters are called in to fire anti-tank missiles at civilian homes. Then send a "Johnnie" in to check for dead and wounded.

In one home, two were dead and another alive, so supersized Caterpillar D-9 bulldozers start "demolishing the house over him until the neighbor went in" and got him out.

Human shields were also used to check for booby-traps and perform other services. "Sometimes the force would enter while placing rifle barrels on a civilian's shoulder, advancing into the house and using him as a human shield. Commanders said these were the instructions and we had to do it."

Testimony 2 - House Demolitions

Residential buildings at strategic points were taken over by force. Neighborhoods were described with "lots of destroyed houses....ruins....more and more ruins, and even the houses still standing, most of them kept getting shelled...." Other houses were blasted....blown "up in the air" with explosives.

"Operational necessity" sometimes meant a whole neighborhood was destroyed so as "not to jeopardize Israeli soldiers (and with) the day after" in mind, meaning to disrupt Gaza life to the maximum and leave it that way after forces pulled out.

Testimony 3 - Rules of Engagement

Descriptions included "enter(ing) a yard and out of sheer fear the family was waiting in an exposed spot - a father, grandfather, young mother and babies. As we were coming in, the commander was firing a volley, and mistakenly killed an innocent. We got to the house....he goes in with live fire....the family was hiding from the bombings....he happened to kill an elderly guy....it really seems insane....if I look at it from the (other) side, there are people who deserve to go to jail."

Testimony 4 - Rules of Engagement & Home Occupation

Tactics taught are "dry" and "wet" entries. In Gaza, there was "no such thing as a dry entry. All entries were wet," meaning free-firing with missiles, tank shells, machine guns, grenades, everything. On the ground, wet entry orders were to "shoot as we enter a (house or) room (so) no one there could fire at us."

Testimony 5 - Atmosphere

What "bothered me? Many things....all that destruction. All that fire at innocents. This shock of realizing with whom I'm in this together....the hatred, and the joy of killing....I killed a terrorist....blew his head off....There's nothing to hold you back." They're just Arabs.

Testimony 6 - Bombardment

The new 120mm Mortar was used in Gaza with "95 - 100%" accuracy. When it hits, it scatters shrapnel all around. It was used against neighborhoods. Innocents were hit, and "our artillery fire there was insane...."

"Most of the time firing was for softening resistance I think....We simply received orders. If we hit terrorists, then I guess that was the purpose."

Testimony 7 - Rules of Engagement

The commander stressed using "fire power" from the air and on the ground. "You see something and you're not quite sure? You shoot....Fire power was insane. We went in and the booms were just mad. The minute we got to our starting line, we simply began to fire at suspect places....a house, a window....In urban warfare, anyone is your enemy. No innocents." Houses were taken over with soldiers positioned inside "according to plan."

Testimony 8 - Rules of Engagement & Use of White Phosphorous

Some of the younger soldiers "think it's cool to wield such power with no one wanting to rein them in. They (were given) permission to open fire" even at most people who "definitely (are) not terrorists." Free fire used all weapons against "everything (including) houses," whether or not they looked suspect. "I know (that some) crews....even fired white phosphorous. Our battalion mortars (and tanks) were also using phosphorous."

Sometimes an order was given: "Permitted, phosphorous in the air." At times, it was used "because it's fun. Cool. I don't understand what it's used for."

Testimony 9 - Rules of Engagement & House Demolitions

"From the onset....the brigade commander and other officers made it very clear to us that any movement must entail gunfire" with or without being shot at. Alerts were given about a suicide bomber or sniper in the area, but "none of (these) materialized as far as our company was concerned."

"Houses were demolished everywhere." They were fired at "with tremendous power. We didn't see a single house that remained intact....The entire infrastructure, tracks, fields, roads (were) in total ruin." D-9 bulldozers demolished everything "in our designated area. It looked awful, like in those World War II films where nothing remained. A totally destroyed city."

Testimony 10 - Briefings

Formal briefings covered "going off to war (and in war) no consideration of civilians was to be taken. Shoot anyone you see....this pretty much disgusted me. There was a clear feeling, and this was repeated whenever others spoke to us, that no humanitarian consideration played any role in the army at present."

Language used in one briefing was something like: "Don't let morality become an issue. That will come up later. Leave the nightmares and horrors that will come up for later, now just shoot."

Testimony 11 - Use of White Phosphorous & Rules of Engagement

"We walked (with another battalion) and saw all the white phosphorous bombs....we saw glazing on the sand (resulting) from white phosphorous (use), and it was upsetting." Houses were targeted and many around them were destroyed with people inside them.

Testimony 12 - Rules of Engagement

Moving into an area, orders were to "hold the junction, control it." Vehicle movement wasn't allowed and those advancing were fired on. Whole areas were abandoned. In entering houses, strict procedure is followed, including "setting red lines. It means that whoever crosses this line is shot, no questions asked." Orders always were shoot to kill, including women and children.

Testimonies 13 and 14 - Rules of Engagement

Houses were entered with gunfire and taken over. Some civilians were killed. Anyone out at night was called a terrorist even if it was clear he had no weapons.

Testimonies 15 and 16 - Rabbinate Unit

Promoting "Jewish Awareness," rabbis talked with soldiers and gave out materials, the Book of Psalms and some brochures. War got a religious tone against "four enemies:" Hamas, Iran, the Palestinian Authority even though it doesn't control Gaza, and Arab citizens of Israel. Rabbinate briefings said "they (all) undermine us."

Also that Israel was fighting a "war of choice, (a) holy war (with) differing rules." The message "aimed at inspiring the men with courage, cruelty, aggressiveness (and feeling) no pity, God protects you, everything you do is sanctified....Palestinians are the enemy....everyone."

Soldiers were told to be "crusaders," to have a "proper fighting spirit," and show no mercy. Distributed pamphlets said: "Palestinians are like the Philistines of old, newcomers who do not belong in the land, aliens planted on our soil which should clearly return to us."

One man introduced as Rabbi Chen presented his talk in points, also covered in pamphlets. First was "the sanctity of the People of Israel. He put it this way: he said while going in there, we should know there is no accounting for sins in this case." In other words, "whatever we do is fine."

Another point referred to the "sons of light" waging war against the "sons of darkness" to turn the IDF into a messianic force in a battle of good versus evil.

Testimony 17 - House Demolitions & Rules of Engagement

"Pressure cooker" tactics were used. D-9 bulldozers "worked nonstop to raze orchards and take down houses suspected of containing tunnels" or stopping sniper fire. "The feeling is it's all sand dunes, all the streets were destroyed and there were shell pits from the bombings before the ground offensive." After a week, "our officer decided he'd hold a grenade-launching practice....So we went into a house next door, took an inner room, and each person came along and threw a grenade inside. The house was totally devastated."

Testimony 18 - Briefings & Rules of Engagement

Before the operation began, the battalion commander "said we were going to exercise insane fire power with artillery and air force....There were no clear red lines. In urban areas it's very much at the commanders' own discretion....we were told to enter every house (using) live fire....a grenade or two, shooting, and only then we enter."

Testimony 19 - Bombardment

It was designed "to gain control of the area....The whole cover thing starts, massive fire, auxiliary fire, and then my company goes it....In the first phase, we open fire in every zone." Every house in a designated area is entered....At the end of the day the platoons are set up in the houses. Each house becomes a small army outpost with positions...." Then other houses are occupied and searched. Families inside were assembled in one room, then told to leave and walk into the city. In some houses, the men were gathered together and shackled.

Testimony 20 - Rules of Engagement

"Our objective was to split the Gaza Strip, fragment it," take total control.

Testimony 21 - Briefings & Rules of Engagement

The commander said don't "feel bad about destruction because it is all done for the safety of our own soldiers." If someone is suspect, "we should not give him the benefit of the doubt. Eventually this could be an enemy, even if it's some old woman approaching the house. It could be an old woman carrying an explosive charge."
We had constant reports about suspect women or pairs, stuff like that, but never ran into any.

"There are two phases: there's the primary phase of taking objectives....whatever is suspect is targeted for fire." Youngsters in the ranks "are out for action and most of them have pretty racist views....some of them say (they) don't want wars, but what can (they) do, this is how things are and we'll never have peace with the Arabs." Those with more moderate views are in the minority. For most soldiers, "there are two possibilities: either you're terribly scared or terribly gung-ho. Better gung-ho than frightened, for this way you can do a better job of it."

Testimony 22 - Bombardment

One home "was known as a Hamas activist's house. This automatically gets acted upon...the house was bombed while these guys were inside. A woman came out, holding a child, and escaped southward." Reports were that people inside were unarmed. "But that's not the point. The point is that four men standing outside the house conferring look suspect."

Testimony 23 - Rules of Engagement & Home Searches

"In routine work there are outposts, windows, observation posts and stairs....you go out, take the house, spend (enough time) inside, then go back to the same house or to another one....You're also told to wreck floor tiles to check for tunnels. Television sets, closets (everything). Many explosive charges were found, they also blew up, no one was hurt."

Before going in you shoot....we didn't really need to shoot after the tank had wrecked the house....Physically the houses were ruined." In some, drawings were made on walls, even with lipstick, and "the closets were all trashed. It sounded retarded....you go into a house and turn it all inside out."

Testimony 24 - Briefings & House Demolitions

Initial briefings by commanders never mentioned "the lives of civilians (or) showing consideration to civilians." Here it wasn't mentioned. "Just the brutality, go in there brutally....In case of any doubt, take down houses. You don't need confirmation for anything...."

D-9 operators "cannot show consideration. If he's ordered to demolish a house, he" does it...."houses and agricultural areas as well, orchards and hothouses." At the end of the operation, the commander said "We demolished 900 houses....a really huge number. We demolished a lot."

Testimony 25 - Briefings & Rules of Engagement

"The battalion commander said there would be lots and lots of terrorists and we should really watch out but don't worry, everyone will have taken plenty of people down (because) insane fire power (gives us an) advantage over them."

Testimony 26 - Briefings & Rules of Engagement

Before going in, "the battalion commander....defined the operation goals: 2000 dead terrorists, not just stopping the missiles launched at (Israeli) communities around the Gaza Strip. He claimed this would bring Hamas down to its knees....No one said 'kill innocents.' " But orders were for the army to kill everyone thought to be suspect.

"The issue of civilians became irrelevant as soon as you'd enter combat - the rules change. You shoot. It's war. In war no questions are asked."

Testimony 27 - House Demolitions

Suspect houses were targeted with white phosphorous shells "to serve as an igniter, simply make it all go up in flames," and in the process destroy weapons and tunnels.

Testimony 28 - Rules of Engagement

Neighborhoods were cleaned out, areas "where infantry had not yet entered." After going in, "terrorists" were identified and killed. "We kept working with snipers, infantry 'straw widows,' where they identify targets for you and you fire shells....You shoot even if (targets not) identified."

Testimony 29 - House Demolitions & Bombardment

In controlled areas, orders were "to raze as much as possible....Such razing is a euphemism for intentional, systematic destruction, enabling total visibility....so no one could hide anything from us" and operational objectives could be accomplished - destroying suspected booby-trapped houses and tunnels. Also leaving behind minimal infrastructure after the operation was concluded.

The destruction in Gaza "was on a totally different scale (than anything) I had previously known....the ground was....constantly shaking. I mean, there were blasts all the time. Explosions were heard all day long, the night was filled with flashes, an intensity we had never experienced before. Several D-9 bulldozers were operating around the clock, constantly busy....What is a suspect spot? It means you decided it was suspect and could take out all your rage at it."

Testimony 30 - House Demolitions & Bombardment

Most "mosques were demolished. (Our) brigade commander (said) we should not hesitate to target mosques. Nothing is immune, nothing and no area. He explicitly mentioned mosques....If you see sand bags, you shoot without the shadow of a doubt....You run into a curve in the road and know there's an angle from which you cannot monitor a certain area, first you shoot, see if anything happens, then you proceed....If you don't know what's in a building, you fire at it. Such were the general instructions...."

Testimony 31 - Rules of Engagement

"We weren't told outright to shoot anything we saw moving but that was the implication. I asked, 'What if I see a girl outside?' She has no business being outside. 'So what do I do?' Check if she's armed - then shoot her." For anyone engaged at short range, it's "understood from (our) briefing that it's better to shoot first and ask questions later."

Testimony 32 - Briefings

"There was less talk of values, more of professionalism, not a moral issue." The atmosphere placed little value on Palestinian lives. Jewish ones were another matter.

Testimony 33 - Rules of Engagement

"We fired rounds at houses in front of us (in) which we didn't see movement....But these were houses that we identified as looking out over us. We fired into windows, before the ceasefire....everyone started shooting. I heard this happened in other areas as well."

Testimony 34 - Rules of Engagement

Even though Israeli forces faced no resistance on entering Gaza, orders were that everyone is suspect. "There is no such thing as suspect arrest procedure. If I detect a (possible threatening) suspect - I shoot (to kill)."

Commander briefings stressed "aggressive action," protecting soldier lives, and having no regard for civilians. They're all suspects.

Testimony 35 - Vandalism

Soldiers "took out notebooks and text books and ripped them. One guy smashed cupboards for kicks, out of boredom....The deputy company commander's staff wrote 'Death to Arabs' on their walls." Lip service only was paid to looting. Don't ask, don't tell was how it was.

Testimony 36 - Rabbinate Unit

They gave pep talks and handed out booklets about "the importance of serving the People of Israel who have been persecuted all these years and (are) now back in (their) homeland and need to fight for it." The usual hot button issues were mentioned - the Holocaust, defending God, and the rights of Israeli Jews. Arab ones don't matter.

Testimony 37 - House Demolitions & Vandalism

Houses were entered with live gunfire, grenades, and other destructive force. Extensive damage was done. Soldiers inside did much more. They had no regard for "even the simplest most basic sanitary stuff like going to the toilet, basic hygiene. I mean you could see they had defecated anywhere and left the stuff lying around." No one cared.

Testimony 38 - Rules of Engagement & House Demolitions

"The amount of destruction was incredible....Not one stone left standing over another. You see plenty of fields, hothouses, orchards, everything devastated. Totally ruined. It's terrible. It's surreal....in my own company there were plenty of people who fired just for the hell of it, at houses, water tanks. They love targeting water tanks." D-9 operators also...."love to demolish, and when the commander sends them off, 'Go take down that house,' they're happy."

Testimony 39 - Vandalism

Doors inside houses were blasted open. Contents were smashed, television and computer screens. Things of value were looted. "The guys would simply break stuff. Some were out to destroy and trash the whole time. They drew a disgusting drawing on the wall. They threw out sofas. They took down (pictures) just to shatter (them)." They did what they wanted. Who'd stop them? The assumption was "everyone is a terrorist (so) it's legitimate to do just anything we please."

Testimony 40 - Bombardment

Targeted houses were bombed, destroying others nearby. Indiscriminate bombing was commonplace.

Testimony 41 - Bombardment

Helicopters and UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles) were directed against suspect houses. "I'm not certain what is considered suspect and what proper rules of engagement are. We responded to anything that seemed suspect to us." In one area, all houses were fired on. "There was massive fire."

Testimony 42 - Home Demolitions & Use of White Phosphorous

Shells were fired at a house suspected of being booby-trapped. "Then some order arrived to ignite it. The way to do that was to actually fire phosphorous shells from above. (It) ignites the whole house."

Testimony 43 - Rules of Engagement

"One guy said he just couldn't finish this operation without killing someone. So he killed someone...." It was war.

Testimony 44 - Vandalism

Houses were cleared with live fire and people inside taken away. There was no control. Soldiers did what they wanted. At times, they "went crazy." They did "unnecessary damage to property, smashing stuff, looting. Commanders didn't care.

Testimony 45 - House Demolitions & Vandalism

More demolitions. Another neighborhood ruined. "Some of the houses had been demolished because they sheltered armed combatants, other(s) suspected of having tunnels underneath, yet others blocked our line of vision....they were taken down, whole orchards were razed."

Testimony 46 - Vandalism

"In primary searches for weapons, we go in and then suddenly a guy opens a cupboard, sees china and begins to throw it all on the floor (to) show it to the Arabs." Stuff was thrown out windows and walls written on also.

Testimony 47 - House Demolitions

"It was amazing." So many were destroyed that "At first you go in and see lots of houses. A week later, after the razing, you see the horizon further away, almost to the sea. They simply took down all the houses around so the terrorists would have nowhere else to hide." All around you see rubble.

Testimony 48 - Briefings

Briefing stressed "going in there and getting things back in order," that, of course, meant terrorizing Gazans into submission. "An army that does these things, that takes apart houses because there was sporadic shooting nearby, is an unprofessional army."

Testimony 49 - Bombardment

Soldiers were forbidden to go up on rooftops because helicopters, planes, and UAVs fired on persons detected there. "Whoever climbed to the roof was doomed."

Testimony 50 - Rules of Engagement

All Palestinians were suspects, so even ones waving white flags were shot. "The soldiers were made to understand that their lives (mattered), and that there was no way (they'd risk being killed) for the sake of leaving civilians the benefit of the doubt. We were allowed to fire in order to spare our lives." Orders were to shoot at everyone, "even an old woman - take them down."

Testimony 51 - Human Shields

Some soldiers were worried about moral issues like using people as human shields. "Personally I'm unhappy about it....I certainly don't intend to serve in the Occupied Territories any longer....I'm not feeling good....having been there and taken part in (operations making him) very uneasy....You always have another option."

Testimony 52 - House Demolitions

"....most of the destruction that went on....was not necessary....the battalion commander said that as far as we were concerned this was war."

Testimony 53 - Rules of Engagement

...."at a certain time soldiers (use) a machine gun, rifle and grenade launcher (to) take a house....and target it for a blast of deterrent fire. The idea is to sow confusion, keep shifting the direction of warfare."

Testimony 54 - Atmosphere

"Going in, the atmosphere was 'gung-ho' and the whole country was behind us. While inside, all of that disappeared....Listen, coming out of there I did not feel any heroic elation or sacrifice, just that it was sickening and unglamorous and boring and stupid. People suffered....human beings become nothing....It is impossible to conceive of such an extent of suffering as that which we inflicted on Gaza....that is what I take with me in particular, how people can be indifferent to suffering or see it as trivial."

Final Comments

Defense minister Ehud Barak claims Israel has "the most moral army in the world." The above testimonies say otherwise. They show:

-- deep moral degradation;

-- insensitivity to human lives and suffering;

-- clear evidence of indiscriminate slaughter and destruction for its own sake;

-- civilians targeted like combatants;

-- women and children treated no differently than men;

-- the elderly, the very young, it didn't matter;

-- being Palestinian makes them terrorists;

-- rules of engagement were "shoot first and ask questions later" if at all.

For over six decades, Israel defiled international law by committing the most egregious crimes of war and against humanity against Palestinian civilians and neighboring Arab states. The world community hardly blinks.

Stephen Lendman is a Research Associate of the Centre for Research on Globalization. He lives in Chicago and can be reached at <mailto:lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net>lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net.

Also visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com and listen to The Global Research News Hour on Republic Broadcasting.org Monday - Friday at 10AM US Central time for cutting-edge discussions with distinguished guests on world and national issues. All programs are archived for easy listening.

Disclaimer

accuracy

26-07-2009, 10:02 AM

Documentary sparks uproar at Jewish film fest

Matthai Kuruvila, Chronicle Staff Writer

Saturday, July 25, 2009

The San Francisco Jewish Film Festival has come under siege after deciding to show a documentary about Rachel Corrie, a Washington state 23-year-old killed in 2003 while trying to prevent an Israeli military bulldozer from demolishing a Palestinian's home.

Whether Corrie naively put herself in harm's way in support of terrorists or was intentionally killed by the Israeli military is the nexus of the controversy.

http://imgs.sfgate.com/c/pictures/2009/07/24/ba-corrie11_ph_421182764_part1.jpg

Compounding the issue, festival organizers invited Corrie's mother, Cindy, to speak after today's showing at the Castro Theatre of the film "Rachel." It is one of 71 films at this year's festival, which includes two films profiling kidnapped Israeli soldiers.

The reaction has been outrage. The festival board's president stepped down from her role, opening-night ceremonies were boycotted by some, and Israel Consul General Akiva Tor said it was a "big mistake to invite Mrs. Corrie."

At the core of the debate are questions about how broadly Jews can discuss Israel within their own community - and how Jews represent Israel to the broader world. It is also overlaid with accusations of the "new anti-Semitism," prejudice that is disguised as particular criticisms of Israel, the only Jewish state.

"The furor is much larger than this one film or this one speaker," said Peter L. Stein, the festival's executive director. "It reveals a rift in our community that we all need to help understand and hopefully heal."

Family feud
The 29-year-old festival is the oldest and largest Jewish film festival in the nation, yet it's also like a small family. The film festival's board includes members with close links to both the accusers and those accused of the new anti-Semitism.

Allegations of new anti-Semitism have been particularly vociferous from the Koret and Taube foundations, longtime backers of the festival. The foundations criticized Jewish Voice for Peace and the American Friends Service Committee, a Quaker organization widely considered to be on the vanguard of Christian pacificism. The festival had asked the two groups to promote "Rachel" within their constituencies. The two Jewish foundations issued a joint statement labeling the Quaker and Jewish peace organizations as "two virulently anti-Israel, anti-Semitic" groups associated with "groups that aid and abet terror against the Jewish state."

Mervyn Danker, San Francisco director of the American Jewish Committee, also called the Quaker group "virulently anti-Semitic" because it had co-hosted - with other Christian pacificists - a dinner with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. The Iranian president has called the Holocaust a myth and declared that "Israel must be wiped off the map."

"This goes beyond the acceptable realms of open discourse," said Danker.

The Quaker group
Mark Graham, external affairs director for the Philadelphia-based American Friends Service Committee, said his organization doesn't support "anything that aids and abets terror," nor does it have any boycotts against Israel.

"We're a Quaker pacificist organization, in our founding and our roots," he said. "Things that promote violence, such as arms sales, are things we're against."

As for the dinner with Ahmadinejad, Graham said, "fundamental in the DNA of this organization is that differences can be resolved through dialogue. Having a dinner was one way to have a dialogue."

Cindy Corrie, meanwhile, said she was surprised at the uproar at this festival, which did not happen at a screening of "Rachel" at the Tribeca Film Festival in New York.

"I don't think it has a whole lot to do with me," she said. "It has more to do with the discussion that is happening within the Jewish community and how that discussion has grown - which is a very healthy thing."

For more information about "Rachel" and the San Francisco Jewish Film Festival, go to www.sfjff.org.

E-mail Matthai Kuruvila at mkuruvila@sfchronicle.com.

This article appeared on page C - 1 of the San Francisco Chronicle

Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/07/25/BAHE18UIR6.DTL#ixzz0MLn7R4Tt

accuracy

26-07-2009, 11:18 AM

Blake Lambert, Foreign Correspondent

Last Updated: July 23. 2009 11:31PM UAE / July 23. 2009 7:31PM GMT

TORONTO // A new exhibit featuring the Dead Sea Scrolls at Canada’s largest museum has ignited Palestinian claims of cultural theft.

The Royal Ontario Museum (ROM), in partnership with the Israel Antiquities Authority, is displaying 17 of the scrolls, including four for the first time, until Jan 3.

The scrolls contain the earliest written sources for the Old Testament as well as prayers, biblical commentary and religious laws that served as the foundations for Judaism and Christianity.

http://www.thenational.ae/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=AD&Date=20090724&Category=FOREIGN&ArtNo=707239848&Ref=AR&Profile=1014&MaxW=300
Parts of the War Scroll, one of the non-biblical Dead Sea Scrolls, are included in the exhibit at the Royal Ontario Museum. Courtesy Israel Antiquities Authority

The scrolls contain the earliest written sources for the Old Testament as well as prayers, biblical commentary and religious laws that served as the foundations for Judaism and Christianity.

Titled Words that Changed the World, the collection includes fragments of Genesis, Deuteronomy, Psalms, Daniel and Isaiah and the War Scroll, one of the first found.

The facts regarding the discovery of the scrolls in 11 caves north-west of the Dead Sea in the Jordan Valley’s Wadi Qumran between 1947 and 1956 are not in dispute by Palestinians.

The problem for Palestinian Authority officials, who contacted ROM executives in April, is that the exhibition contains artefacts illegally acquired by Israel when it annexed East Jerusalem in the 1967 war.

The PA’s archaeological department said it was important for Canadian institutions to be responsible and act in accordance with their country’s obligations.

“I’m not saying those scrolls are not Jewish and Christian in nature,” said Issam al Ahmed, the executive director of Palestine House, an educational and cultural organisation in the Toronto area. “But they were discovered prior to the Israeli occupation and they were exhibited in the Rockefeller Museum in East Jerusalem in Palestine.”

After the 1967 war, the Israelis moved the scrolls to the Shrine of the Book at the Israel Museum in Jerusalem.

Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East, a Montreal-based advocacy group, argues that ROM’s partnership with the Israeli body violates Canada’s obligations under the conventions of Unesco, the UN body that helps to conserve mankind’s heritage, regarding the protection of cultural property.

According to its interpretation, Canada cannot import cultural property from an occupied territory and must, if possible, take that property into custody and return it to the competent authorities at the end of hostilities.

The Palestinian Authority’s objection surprised the ROM.

Its officials said the Israel Antiquities Authority had previously lent the Dead Sea Scrolls to 20 major cultural institutions, including the Vatican Apostolic Library, the Library of Congress in Washington, DC, the New York Public Library and the Canadian Museum of Civilization.

But Thomas Woodley, the director of Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East, said it was probably just a matter of time before the Palestinian Authority caught up with the issue.

“If the Palestinian state is ever going to be established, tourism is going to be an important part of the economy,” he said. “By cultural heritage laws of today, the Palestinians would be caretakers.”

Mr Woodley suggested the question of custodianship is symbolic of a much larger problem: there are active archaeological sites managed by Israel in the West Bank.
His group and Palestine House had called for the cancellation of the Dead Sea Scrolls exhibition before its launch on June 27 and met with ROM executives.

Mr al Ahmed said the museum offered to include the Palestinian perspective in its literature on the scrolls, which never happened. Palestine House then rejected the ROM’s offer for a cultural corner to exhibit Palestinian artefacts because of the Israel Antiquities Authority’s participation.

Meanwhile, Mr Woodley’s group produced a report suggesting modifications to the exhibition’s history, the inclusion of a map, pointing out “glaring” issues in the copy of the materials and providing names of speakers to reflect the Palestinian narrative. In particular, the report pointed out that Palestine and Palestinians were “conspicuously absent” from the ROM’s narrative and Judea, an Israeli term, is the reference for the southern West Bank.

Notwithstanding the claims of theft, the ROM said it “remained satisfied that the exhibition is lawful”.

As for concerns of bias, William Thorsell, the chief executive and director of ROM, wrote to the Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East that its proposed materials would inject “contemporary political content” into the project.

“This exhibition creates the ground for a constructive conversation among people of various faiths about shared roots and values,” wrote Mr Thorsell.

That view certainly appeals to Toronto’s Jewish community.

“It verifies a Jewish presence in Israel that dates back thousands of years,” said Howard English, the vice president of corporate communications for the United Jewish Appeal of Greater Toronto.

He described the exhibit as a gift to the people of this city, which they should visit in large numbers.

To the ROM’s delight the exhibition has been a success.

More than 18,000 people visited the Dead Sea Scrolls in the first nine days, exceeding attendance projections by 52 per cent.

Nevertheless, protests have taken place in front of the museum.

Palestine House called for a boycott, but Mr al Ahmed said it is hard to measure if people are listening.

Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East is now examining the issue to see if it can sue the Canadian government to fulfil its obligations under international law.

“What’s the point of international law? It’s to prevent the theft of cultural heritage,” Mr Woodley said. “Are we respecting the principle? I don’t think the ROM is.”

blambert@thenational.ae
http://www.thenational.ae/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090724/FOREIGN/707239848/1014/NEWS

accuracy

26-07-2009, 11:28 AM

Israel giving key Jerusalem site to settlers - activists

July 24, 2009

OCCUPIED JERUSALEM (AFP) - Israel has handed control over much of a key Palestinian area in annexed East Jerusalem to hardline settler groups in a creeping takeover kept away from public scrutiny, a report by an activist group said on Thursday.

Government bodies have transferred both private Palestinian property and national parks in the Silwan neighbourhood outside the walls of the Old City to the settler organisation Elad, said Ir Amim, a non-profit group specialising in Jerusalem issues.

"It was done in the dark, in flagrant violation of the rules of good government and in some cases in violation of the law, without open and official decisions by the government or Knesset and without public discussion, inquiry or scrutiny," said the report entitled "Shady Dealings in Silwan". Elad is dedicated to expanding Jewish ownership in Arab areas of East Jerusalem, which Israel captured from Jordan in 1967 and annexed in a move not recognised by the international community.

In Silwan, Elad has acted as an arm of the government for the past 20 years to gain control over a quarter of the land along its main thoroughfare, Wadi Hilweh or City of David.

"Silwan is a keystone to a sweeping and systematic process whose aim is to gain control of the Palestinian territories that surround the Old City, to cut the Old City off from the urban fabric of East Jerusalem and to connect it to Jewish settlement blocs" in the northeast, it said.

Elad's impact in Silwan is hard to miss - dominating the city's poorest neighbourhood is a gleaming new visitors' centre and the Walls of Jerusalem national park, an archaeological exhibition.

In theory, the park is owned by the government, but the operator is Elad.

"The site is technically run by the Nature and Parks Authority but all the tour guides are actually Elad people," says Ir Amim activist Orly Noy.

"People arrive here thinking they are at a regular government-run tourist site. What they are actually hearing is the settlers' agenda." The Parks Authority entrusted the running of the site to Elad in 1997 in what the report said was an opaque transaction instead of an open tender as required by law.

When the National Antiquities Authority discovered that important archaeological remains had been transferred to settlers, it objected and in 1999 the move was overturned in the high court.

But despite this verdict, the Parks Authority in 2002 handed control of the area back to Elad.

Elad wants to turn the Arab neighbourhood, where it says the palace of the biblical King David once stood, a claim disputed by most archaeologists, into a new Jewish heartland.

Such a move could spark violence, as Silwan's location makes it a potential tinderbox in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

It lies outside the walls of Al Haram Al Sharif, the Noble Sanctuary known to Jews as the Temple Mount, which is Judaism's holiest and Islam's third-holiest site and where a change in the status quo could provoke conflict.

"It's like giving matches to pyromaniacs," says Noy.

Elad's hold on Silwan extends far beyond the walls of the park, with white and blue Israeli flags fluttering over several homes once owned by Palestinians.

Some properties were simply sold to Jewish groups. But the report said others were often acquired by dubious means, including using forged documents.

Elad was founded and run by David Be'eri, a former deputy commander of an elite special forces unit in the Israeli army.

With Elad, he runs a ring of agents, including local Palestinians and at least one police officer, to scout opportunities to buy Arab houses, probing for weak points such as disputes between neighbours or debts.

Since the late 1980s Be'eri has worked with the Jewish National Fund (JNF) - a quasi-governmental body that buys and develops land for Jewish settlement - to evict Palestinians in Silwan, the report said.

Under an unwritten pact, Elad would agree to cover compensation for Silwan families which the JNF would then evict and then allow Elad to lease the homes to settlers at token cost, it said.

Elad has not moved settlers into all the houses it has bought for fear of sparking violence, the report said.

"If they moved in you would see blue and white all across Silwan," Noy said.

Elad representatives declined to comment on the report.

24 July 2009

http://uruknet.com/?p=m56328&hd=&size=1&l=e

accuracy

26-07-2009, 11:38 AM

The Heart of the Israel/Gaza Conflict: What Does Gaza Have that Israel Desperately Needs?

Thursday, 23 July 2009 19:57 Added by PT Editor Sarah Price

http://www.paltelegraph.com/images/stories/others/Mari_B_Platform.jpg

Gaza, July 24, (Pal Telegraph) - Since British Gas (BG) first discovered huge offshore reserves of natural gas in Gazan waters Israel has attempted to dictate and secure the future of these reserves.

At one stage they almost signed up for the entire reserve but then political change took place in Gaza when Hamas came to power. This was a severe blow to the Israeli Government which had by now established a war footing.This was confirmed back in 2007 when Lt-Gen. (ret) Moshe Yaalon published an article in the Jewish Center for Public Affairs (Vol 7, No 17 19 October 2007) titled: Does the Prospective Purchase of British Gas from Gaza's Coastal Waters Threaten Israel's National Security? It was in this article that he quoted the following: "It is clear that without an overall military operation to uproot Hamas control of Gaza, no drilling work can take place without the consent of the radical Islamic movement".

After exhaustive talks with BG the Israelis started to lose ground and realised that these huge reserves of gas could disappear from their grasp and be piped to Egypt for conversion to Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) for export to the UK/USA. In January of 2008 BG had given up all hope of negotiating a deal and closed down their offices in Israel.

By mid 2008 Israel had already started up talks to create a cease fire with Hamas in the Gaza Strip. What was ironic was the fact that during this same time Israel was planning a strike on Gaza. It was at this stage that the then Prime Minister, Tony Blair came on the scene and asked the Israeli Government to urgently re- commence talks on the gas issue (despite a deal that had already been struck with the Egyptians).

The Israeli Government then decided to postpone the attack on Gaza as they realised that if they went in prematurely it could turn the Central Government of Palestine against them and thus cause any further talks to fail. The Israelis urgently asked BG to come back to the table to continue talks on the gas issue but again talks failed. By this time the fate of Gaza was sealed.

What was so interesting about these talks was the fact that the Knesset had vigorously refused to accept any natural gas directly from the Palestinians. Two offshore options had been planned:

1. To pipe the gas from the Gaza field directly to Ashkelon.
2. To pipe the gas to el-Arish, Egypt and then via subsea pipe to Ashkelon.

Again we see the ridiculous levels of pride in not accepting anything from your enemy and yet in commissioning option two they would still be taking gas from Palestine but carefully disguised as Egyptian gas. We have seen this same situation in the friction between Israel and Iran when again Israel stated it would never take crude oil directly from Iran. However, Israel does still buy crude oil from Iran via the Netherlands. The tankers arrive, as the Port of Rotterdam for example, where the Israeli commercial agents then purchase the entire load which then transits to Haifa!

As we have seen around the world most of the wars or conflicts are hinged on economic greed for natural resources. We have seen this play out in Iraq and again in Afghanistan. This scenario was to be repeated in Gaza in the hope of removing Hamas, allowing Israel to gain access to its offshore wealth. Thus the IDF carried out a totally disproportionate attack on Gaza in December 2008 by land, sea and air.

http://www.paltelegraph.com/images/stories/others/white_phosphorous.jpg

This bombardment became a testing ground for both US and Israeli weapons which would have severe consequences on the residents of the Gaza Strip. Most of the weapons used on Gaza were in violation of the Geneva Convention. The onslaught started with Star Shells to illuminate the target areas followed rapidly by extensive use of White Phosphorous (WP), which in itself has terrible consequences for those trapped beneath its rain of terror. This was then followed by a vast array of weaponry that was delivered by air from aircraft, helicopter and drones.

http://www.paltelegraph.com/images/stories/others/Apache.jpg

The Apache helicopter fires a multitude of missiles and rounds from its Gatling Gun which uses Depleted Uranium (DU). The overhead jet fighters use an assembly of stand off weapons which contain DU and also what one could only refer to as "Dirty Bombs". On the marine side we also have an array of DU weaponry including missiles and the rapid fire Phalanx gun which are fitted to the Israeli Sa'ar Class Corvettes.

Despite the terrible loss of life that occurred in Gaza during Operation Cast Lead the trauma for its residents is not yet over. As a result in the use of Uranium based weapons the Israeli IDF has contaminated the Gaza Strip with terrible consequences. This evil act of slow genocide will continue to work its way through the population of Gaza, not only as a result of the immediate attack but also as a result of secondary contamination.

http://www.paltelegraph.com/images/stories/others/Harpoon_Missile.jpg

http://www.paltelegraph.com/images/stories/others/Phalanx_copy.jpg

Israelis killing Israelis

What I find so ironic is that when such weapons were used in Lebanon (2006) by the IDF they were also contaminating their own forces and the entire Northern Israel region. Now that they have used these same weapons on Gaza they have again contaminated their own forces and added Central, Southern Israel, West Bank and other adjacent countries to their lethal list. This weaponry is indiscriminate and does not respect international borders.

Whilst on the subject of uranium contamination I would also like to point out that such contamination is generated during test firing and military exercises which again spreads its lethal dose on both those using the weapons and the adjacent populations locally and cross border.
It has also been a point of discussion that such weapons were also tested/used some time ago in other fields of engagement which when added to their on- going usage can result in total contamination of the entire region and beyond. If Israel (with US assistance) attacks Iranian Nuclear Facilities then we are looking at a huge secondary contamination of the entire Middle East with consequences beyond imagination.

I am totally convinced that in the event of such an attack, the US will have to assist Israel to carryout it out. The US would offer Spy Satellite Support, possible in-flight refueling and an assortment of weaponry which include both Depleted and Enriched Uranium. Weaponry required for such a long distance, complicated and extremely dangerous operation may include any combination of the following:

Missiles - Harpoon, Popeye, Cruise and AGM-130.
Bombs - GBU-28, GBU-31, BLU-109, BLU-122 and
Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP)

http://www.paltelegraph.com/images/stories/others/Gaza_Bomb.jpg

Add all this to Israeli's own secret arsenal of "Dirty Weapons" and we are looking at a potential catastrophic war with reprisal attacks being carried out against Israel.

The Iranian threat has been concocted by both the United States of America and Israel and flawed by tunnel vision. As usual we see imperialism at its "best" whereby one country wants to control both the natural resources of another and its decision making. We saw this same approach carried out against Pakistan, India, and North Korea. The feedback from world experts is that Iran is not a threat to the West.

This inter-connection of greed, power and human destruction described above, is a sure remedy for Armageddon. Israel, Gaza and Lebanon have become places where it is very dangerous for the ordinary person to live, as the ecosystems are all contaminated. An end must be brought to human greed and the genocidal weapons put at its service. Irreversible damage has already taken place, but we shall be able to contain some of it, if no further destruction occurs using such weapons. There must be a complete and absolute ban on all and any weapons made containing uranium.

Peter Eyre, Middle East Consultant

http://www.paltelegraph.com/opinions/editorials/1515-the-heart-of-the-israelgaza-conflict-what-does-gaza-have-that-israel-desperately-needs

accuracy

26-07-2009, 12:13 PM

Iran vows to hit Israel's atomic sites if attacked

Sat Jul 25, 2009 7:42pm IST

http://in.reuters.com/resources/r/?m=02&d=20090725&t=2&i=10996584&w=192&r=img-2009-07-25T194330Z_01_NOOTR_RTRMDNC_0_India-413100-5

By Parisa Hafezi
TEHRAN (Reuters) - The Revolutionary Guards said on Saturday that Iran would strike Israel's nuclear facilities if the Jewish state attacked it, state television reported.

"If the Zionist Regime (Israel) attacks Iran, we will surely strike its nuclear facilities with our missile capabilities," Mohammad Ali Jafari, Guards commander-in-chief, told Iran's Arabic language al-Alam television.

The Revolutionary Guards are the ideologically driven wing of Iran's military with air, sea and land capabilities, and a separate command structure to regular units.

Iranian leaders often dismiss talk of a possible strike by Israel, saying it is not in a position to threaten Iran, the world's fifth-largest oil exporter. They say Iran would respond to any attack by targeting U.S. interests and Israel.

"We are not responsible for this regime and other enemies' foolishness ... If they strike Iran, our answer will be firm and precise," state television quoted Jafari as saying.

The United States, Israel and their Western allies fear that Iran is enriching uranium with the aim of producing nuclear weapons and have not ruled out military action if diplomacy fails to resolve the row.

Iran says it is pursuing only a nuclear power generation programme.

Israel, widely believed to be the Middle East's only nuclear power, has repeatedly described Iran's nuclear programme as a threat to its existence. Iran refuses to recognise Israel.

"NOT SCARED"

Jafari said Israel was entirely within the reach of Iran.

"Our missile capability puts all of the Zionist regime (Israel) within Iran's reach to attack," Jafari said. "The Zionist regime is too small to threaten Iran."

Military experts say Iran rarely reveals enough detail about its new military equipment to determine its military capabilities.

Israel has so far quietly acceded to Washington's strategy of talking to Tehran about curtailing its sensitive nuclear work.

Israel believes that a multi-level missile shield underwritten by the United States would protect the country against possible missile attacks.

Jafari said such a shield could only protect Israel "in a limited way".

"But they will have no answer when Iran bombards them (and) sends a great number of its missiles," he added.

President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said in May Iran had tested a missile that defence analysts say could hit Israel and U.S. bases in the Gulf. Washington said the test was a "step in the wrong direction" to remove concerns over its nuclear work.

Iran has repeatedly threatened to close the Strait of Hormuz, conduit for about 40 percent of globally traded oil, if it is attacked. The U.S. military says it will prevent any such action.

Military experts say Iranian missiles often draw on technology from China, North Korea and other countries.

Israel has three German-made submarines that are widely assumed to carry nuclear missiles.

One of the submarines sailed from the Mediterranean, via the Suez Canal, to Israel's Red Sea port of Eilat in early July, seen as a signal to Iran of the long reach of its arsenal.

Jafari said Iran "was not scared" of Israel's military capabilities. "It is part of the psychological war that the West has launched against Iran," he said.

Ahmadinejad, who has called for Israel to be wiped off the map, was re-elected in a disputed June 12 presidential vote that stirred the largest display of internal unrest in the country since the 1979 Islamic revolution.

http://in.reuters.com/article/email/idINIndia-41310020090725?pageNumber=1&virtualBrandChannel=11584

accuracy

26-07-2009, 12:23 PM

US transfers $200 million in aid to PA

Sat, 25 Jul 2009 10:14:33 GMT

The United States has announced transferring a $200 million aid package to the Western-backed Palestinian Authority to help ease a growing budget deficit.

US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton made the announcement in a video conference with Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad based in the West Bank.

Fayyad was appointed prime minister by acting Palestinian Authority Chief Mahmoud Abbas after the democratically-elected Hamas government took control of the Gaza Strip. People in the already impoverished Palestinian sliver have been suffering from a tight Israeli-blockade following the takeover for their steadfast support of Hamas resistance movement.

Fayyad said that the reasons for the shortfall include Israel's restrictions on the Palestinian economy, the border blockade of the Gaza Strip and the failure of some donor countries to make good on their aid pledges.

The money is not new assistance, but part of 900 million U.S. dollars in U.S. funds that Clinton pledged at a donors conference in Egypt's Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh in March, an official told Reuters.

With Friday's aid transfer, donor countries have given the Palestinian government $606 million in budget support this year, covering only about one-third of the estimated deficit of $1.45 billion for 2009, Fayyad said.

"We have received aid, but not enough to deal with our needs, and we faced sharp economic difficulties throughout the last months," Fayyad told reporters.

During the conference Clinton expressed support for the Palestinian Authority and called on all nations to support Mahmoud Abbas' government.

"I call on all nations that wish to see a strong, viable Palestinian state, living in peace and security with its neighbors to join us in supporting the Palestinian Authority. The Palestinian Authority has proven to be a reliable partner for peace," she said.

Washington pledged in March during a donor's conference in Egypt to transfer $900 million to Palestinian Authority.

MSH/DT

accuracy

30-07-2009, 11:46 AM

Israeli tanks, bulldozers roll into Gaza

Wed, 29 Jul 2009 16:24:36 GMT

http://www.presstv.ir/photo/20090729/esmaeeli20090729203258421.jpg

The Israeli army has launched another cross border attack on the Gaza Strip, opening fire on villagers' homes south of the impoverished sliver.

Israeli tanks and bulldozers rolled hundreds of meters deep into the strip on Wednesday and flattened cultivated fields in Al Qararra town in southern Gaza.

According to witnesses several Palestinian homes were damaged in the attack but there were no reports of casualties. Four tanks and two bulldozers conducted the attack.

Palestinian sources say the invading Israeli troops were forced to retreat after they faced resistance from Palestinian fighters.

HE/MMN

accuracy

30-07-2009, 12:14 PM

The Palestinian Centre For Human Rights
(PCHR) 2008 Annual Report

By Stephen Lendman
7-29-9

Established in 1995, PCHR functions independently in Gaza and enjoys "Consultative Status" with the UN's Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). It's also an affiliate of the International Commission of Jurists-Geneva, the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) in Paris, the Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Network in Copenhagen, the Arab Organization for Human Rights in Cairo, and the International Legal Assistance Consortium (ILAC) in Stockholm.

Palestinian lawyers and human rights activists established it to:

-- "protect human rights and promote the rule of law;"

-- create, develop and promote a democratic culture in Palestinian society; and

-- work for Palestinian self-determination and independence "in accordance with international law and UN resolutions."

PCHR is an "independent legal body dedicated to the protection of human rights, the promotion of the rule of law, and the upholding of democratic principles in the Occupied Territories." It issues documents, fact sheets, and reports like its latest 2008 Annual Report - divided in two parts.

Part One assesses the overall human rights situation in the Occupied Palestinians Territories (OPT) throughout 2008. Because they affect regional peace overall, this article focuses solely on Israeli crimes, not those committed by Palestinian elements in Gaza and the West Bank that pale by comparison. Part Two covers PCHR's local and international efforts over the same period.

Israeli Violations of Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law - Excessive Use of Force, Killings, and Other Violations of the Right to Life

Throughout 2008, the Israeli Occupation Force (IOF) repeatedly violated international law with regard to excessive force, willful killings, wanton destruction, and other right to life abuses against Palestinian civilians.

During the first five days of Operation Cast Lead alone, dozens of air strikes killed 411 Palestinians and wounded 996 others, many seriously. "Contrary to Israeli claims, the majority of victims were unarmed civilians," including 13 women and 38 children.

Over the entire 22-day period, the IOF killed 1417 Palestinians, including 1181 non-combatants. Of these, 926 were unarmed civilians (including 313 children and 116 women) and 255 police officers, 240 on the first day, including dozens in formation and vulnerable at their graduation ceremony. The number of wounded totaled 4336, the great majority being civilian men, women, and children.

Throughout 2008, the IOF committed willful killings and right to life violations, especially in the first six months. Numerous air strikes and incursions targeted civilians in Gaza. Extra-judicial assassinations also against persons accused of involvement in "hostilities against Israel," including anyone acting legitimately in self-defense as international law allows. From January through June, the IOF killed 409 Palestinians, including 225 civilians, 58 of whom were children and 16 women. Another 741 Palestinians were wounded.

On June 19, a six-month Tahdey'a (lull) was declared on the following terms:

-- Israel would stop attacking Palestinians, including shelling and extra-judicial assassinations; also, Gaza's border crossings would be gradually reopened to allow free movement in and out of people and goods; and

-- Palestinians would cease resistance attacks.

They complied but Israel reneged. The IOF greatly reduced its attacks but kept Gaza under siege. By October, Israeli incursions and targeted killings increased. Palestinians responded modestly in self-defense. By late December, Operation Cast Lead was launched, a clear case of premeditated, unprovoked aggression in violation of international law.

Throughout 2008 in the West Bank, repeated incursions and targeted executions continued, including during the Tahdey'a, mostly by IOF undercover units. In total, 42 Palestinian civilians, including 9 children, were killed.

PCHR 2008 tallies show 868 Palestinians died at the hands of the IOF and Israeli settlers - in Gaza and the West Bank combined. Another 2260 Palestinians were wounded. From the beginning of the September 2000 Intifada through 2008, Israel killed 5287 Palestinians, mostly civilian men, women and children. In addition, over the same period, "tens of thousands of Palestinians" were wounded, hundreds sustaining permanent disabilities.

According to eye-witness accounts, the IOF used excessive and disproportionate force against Palestinian civilians, a practice ongoing for over six decades through bombings, shellings, targeted killings, incursions, and attacks by Israeli settlers. In the first five days of Operation Cast Lead (and continuing for another 17 in 2009), Israel used massive air, ground, and sea power against a defenseless civilian population trapped inside Gaza under siege.

On the day after the Operation ended, attacks continued daily. One instance among many involved the IOF bombing of a five-story Gaza building near the Palestinian Governmental Complex in the densely populated Tal al-Hawa neighborhood - completely destroying it. Flying debris and shrapnel killed a woman on her way to a wedding and injured 46 others, including 19 children and three women. A large number of other houses and vehicles in the area were damaged.

Below are a few examples of 2008 attacks:

-- on February 5, a surface-to-surface missile targeting the Palestinian riot control police workplace in 'Abassan village, east of Khan Yunis, killed seven police officers and injured another; and

-- on February 7, 23, and March 1, the IOF killed eight members of one family, wounded another eight, and killed and wounded seven others.

Repeated attacks throughout the year were similar, mostly against civilian men, women and children.

Incursions into Palestinian Communities

Continuing its decades-long practice, Israel repeatedly conducted incursions into the OPT in 2008. In Gaza, they were particularly intensive from January through June, killing nearly 200 Palestinians before Operation Cast Lead began in December. Israel's pretext - to arrest wanted Palestinians and destroy home-made rocket launching sites and weapons. These are grievous war crimes for which Israel must be held responsible.

Significant examples:

From February 29 - March 2, the IOF conducted Operation Warm Winter, a wide scale offensive in Jabalya and surrounding areas using "their full-fledged arsenal and....excessive force without any consideration" for civilian Palestinian lives. Air strikes preceded a ground invasion. As a result, dozens of non-combatant lives were lost or wounded, including women and children. Also, ambulances and medical crews were attacked, and many houses and large areas of agricultural land destroyed - wantonly and maliciously.

The total death toll was 69, including 21 children and two women. Another 175 were wounded, including 44 children and six women.

On January 2, the IOF attacked the al-Shojaeya neighborhood in Gaza City. Clashes followed killing six Palestinian resistance fighters and wounding a seventh.

On January 3, the IOF killed seven Palestinians in al-Zanna and al-Qarara east of Khan Yunis, including a woman, her two sons, her daughter, and her nephew.

On January 15, the IOF killed 17 Palestinians and wounded another 30 during an incursion into the al-Shojaeya and al-Zaytoun neighborhoods in Gaza City.

In the West Bank on January 3, the IOF conducted a three day operation in Nablus and neighboring refugee camps, wounding 38 Palestinians and arresting 31 others. Indiscriminate firing occurred against "anything that moved," including medical crews, ambulances, and hospitals.

Repeated other incursions were made against numerous towns, villages and neighborhoods. Deaths and injuries resulted, including to innocent bystanders too close to the action, many of them women and children.

Extra-Judicial Assassinations

In 2008, the IOF committed them by bombing civilian establishments, houses and cars in Gaza and with West Bank undercover units. Israel's High Court and top government officials approved the practice in violation of international law.

Throughout the year, PCHR documented 53 assassinations, including 44 targeted persons - 31 in Gaza and 13 in the West Bank. In addition, dozens of civilians were wounded. From September 2000 through 2008, the IOF extra-judicially executed 743 Palestinians, including 513 targeted and 230 bystanders.

One example illustrates many. On March 12, four Palestinians in a car in the center of Bethlehem were intercepted by members of an IOF undercover unit. They opened fire at close range killing the four instantly and continued firing indiscriminately to secure their withdrawal.

In other cases, Israeli aircraft fire missiles at homes, vehicles, or other targets where wanted individuals are believed to be located. Often, innocent bystanders, including women and children, are killed or wounded and property destroyed.

Killing Palestinian Children

In 2008, the IOF killed 108 children, 99 in Gaza and nine in the West Bank. >From September 2000 through 2008, the total was 919 children or nearly one-fourth of Palestinian deaths. The IOF has a history of willfully killing children and women - easy pickings for intrepid Israeli soldiers and airmen.

One instance is typical. On April 16, an Israeli aircraft fired two missiles at a number of Palestinian civilians gathered near al-Ihsan Mosque, about 300 meters away from where IOF troops were deployed. Nine deaths resulted, including six children, and 12 others were wounded.

Attacking Medical Crews

The IOF repeatedly attacks clearly marked ambulances and medical workers, grievously in violation of international law. PCHR documented three killings in 2008 and 27 since September 2000. Numerous others were wounded, some seriously - while they were carrying out their humanitarian mission to help the injured and dying.

Attacking Journalists

They're willfully targeted to prevent coverage of human rights violations, including killings, denial of access to certain areas, entry into Israel or territory under its control, detention, confiscation and destruction of property, beatings, harassment, and intimidation. An October 2008 Reporters without Borders report placed Israel among "countries that extensively violate press freedoms, especially in areas beyond its borders."

In 2008, one journalist was killed and another 28 wounded. Since September 2000, the toll was nine deaths and at least 170 injured.

Closure and Prevention of Free Movement

Throughout 2008, the West Bank remained militarily occupied and Gaza continued under a medieval siege with access to vital food, medicines, fuels, electricity, and other essentials denied beyond woefully spotty and limited amounts. The result has been a humanitarian disaster with no signs of abating well into the new year. Besides the effects of Operation Cast Lead, the toll includes:

-- 80% of Gazans impoverished;

-- unemployment exceeding 55%;

-- movement in or out of the Territory denied even for emergency humanitarian needs;

-- permission denied to travel, work or study abroad;

-- Palestinians trapped on the Egyptian side of the Rafah International Crossing Point (into Gaza) refused reentry or restricted by long delays under severe humanitarian conditions;

-- intolerable shortages of everything; too little food to sustain nutrition; inadequate medicines and equipment for health and life; and fuel and power restrictions for heat, electricity, vehicles, hospitals, and workplaces;

-- severe movement restrictions in the West Bank by imposing hundreds of checkpoints, barriers, the Separation Wall built on stolen Palestinian land, and hundreds of kilometers of for-Jews only roads; overall, about one-third of the West Bank, including Occupied East Jerusalem, is inaccessible to Palestinians without IOF-issued permits that are extremely hard to get; the result is increasingly isolated Palestinian communities, cut off from each other, including farmers from their land; the sick from access to care; and everyone from family, friends, and a normal life people in the West take for granted;

-- the West Bank and Jerusalem totally cut off from Gaza;

-- Gazans denied essential industrial, agricultural, construction, transportation, fuel and power, and basic raw material needs; and

-- overall, the collective punishment of the civilian population causing "a chronic deterioration in all aspects of....life" that's decimating the lives of 1.5 million Gazans trapped in the world's largest open-air prison and being slowly suffocated.

Throughout 2008 and earlier, Gazan cities, villages, and refugee camps were paralyzed under a state of siege that continues unabated. Living conditions deteriorated steadily. UNRWA was forced to curtail its humanitarian and food distribution programs for days. Around 15 drinking water wells stopped, causing water shortages for more than 100,000 people. Another 125 water reservoirs were also affected. Transportation as well with 85% halted for lack of fuel. Wastewater treatment plants were forced to dump their untreated water in the sea. Additional environmental contamination occurred. Flour mills shut down. Warehouses ran out of flour and wheat. Most production stopped, and Gaza's economy collapsed.

Gaza's border crossings have been closed for over two years under Israel's collective punishment policy. The humanitarian effect is disastrous - against a civilian population oppressed for being Palestinians and for having elected the wrong government.

Throughout the year, hundreds of Gazans were denied access to Israeli and West Bank hospitals, including in Jerusalem. Nor to Arab ones in Egypt or elsewhere. As a result, 29 died and 50 since the tightened siege began in June 2007, including 17 women and 10 children.

International humanitarian law prohibits collective punishment, including closure. Artcle 33 of the Fourth Geneva Convention "relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War" states:

"No protected person may be punished for an offense he or she has not personally committed. Collective penalties and likewise all measures of intimidation or of terrorism are prohibited."

Article 12(1) of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights states that "everyone lawfully within the territory of a State shall, within that territory, have the right to liberty of movement and freedom to choose his residence."

For over 60 years, Israel repeatedly, systematically, and willfully flouted international laws and norms with impunity. The result has been incalculable numbers of human deaths, suffering, and destruction to many tens of thousands of innocent Arab people who when they resist in self-defense are called "terrorists."

Arrests, Torture and Other Forms of Cruel and Inhuman Treatment

At year end 2008, from 9000 - 12,000 or more Palestinians were in Israeli detention facilities (mostly inside Israel), including at least 248 children and 69 women - in violation of the Fourth Geneva Convention that obligates an occupier to intern arrested persons inside the territory in question and only for just cause.

Israel continues to arrest anyone thought to represent a threat, including political leaders and ordinary civilian men, women and children. At year end 2008, at least 40 elected members of the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC) were imprisoned, mostly from Hamas' Change and Reform parliamentary bloc. Included are Dr. 'Aziz al-Dweik, PLC Speaker, and Dr. Mahmoud al-Ramahi, PLC Secretary. Many were tried and unjustly sentenced to months or years in prison for belonging to the wrong political party.

Torture and Ill-Treatment

International laws leave no ambiguity on torture. It's prohibited at all times, under all circumstances, against anyone for any reason, with no allowed exceptions ever. Article 13 of the Third Geneva Convention (on the Treatment of Prisoners of War) states:

Prisoners "must at all times be humanely treated. Any unlawful act or omission by the Detaining Power causing death or seriously endangering the health of a prisoner of war in its custody is prohibited...."

Third Geneva's Article 17 states:

"No physical or mental torture, nor any other form of coercion, may be inflicted on prisoners of war" for any reasons whatsoever.

Fourth Geneva's Article 27 states:

Protected persons under occupation "shall at all times be humanely treated, and shall be protected especially against all acts of (physical and mental) violence or threats thereof...."

Fourth Geneva's Articles 31 and 32 prohibit torture and other "measures of brutality...."

All four Geneva Conventions have a Common Article Three requiring all non-combatants to be treated humanely at all times.

Even Section 277 of Israel's 1977 Penal Law prohibits torture by providing criminal sanctions against its use. Its language is very similar to the UN Convention against Torture that bans force, violence, or threats against anyone for purposes of extracting a confession or to obtain information relating to an offense.

Nonetheless, torture and degrading treatment are official Israeli policy, freely practiced against most Palestinian detainees. PCHR cited numerous ways:

-- violent beatings and insults in detention and during interrogations;

-- blindfolding and hitting detainees, especially in the face and abdomen;

-- strangling to cause extreme breathing difficulties;

-- humiliations and insults;

-- forcibly removing hair and beards;

-- hanging detainees by their feet, then beating them on sensitive body parts such as the genital area;

-- bridging under which three interrogators carry a detainee using chains, with his or her face down;

-- sexually abusing detainees - in some cases raping them with iron bars;

-- Shabeh - the practice of tying prisoners so they can't sit, stand, or kneel, or tied to a chair with their arms pulled back for hours or days at a time; the pain and pressure on joints becomes excruciating;

-- handcuffing or other shackling tight enough to restrict circulation and inflict pain; also tying hands and legs with plastic chains to cause pain;

-- employing various stress positions, including:

(1) the forced "banana" one involving bending the back in a painful arch while the body is extended horizontally to the floor on a backless chair with arms and feet bound beneath it;

(2) forced "frog" crouching on tiptoes with cuffed hands behind the back accompanied by shoving or beating until detainees lose balance and fall forward or backward; and

(3) detainees made to stand on tiptoes for prolonged periods.

-- sleep deprivation for long hours; and

-- other abusive practices, clearly prohibited under international law and that no civilized society should practice, let alone routinely against most detainees - up to 80% or more by some estimates.

The Public Committee against Torture in Israel says that detainees are first examined by a doctor who certifies they're healthy enough to withstand harsh interrogation methods amounting to torture. The Israeli judiciary sanctions it, including the High Court and top government officials.

Abusive ill-treatment continues throughout detention during which necessary medical care is denied, access to legal counsel obstructed and limited, and family visitations severely restricted or not allowed.

Administrative Detention

Hundreds of innocent Palestinians are arrested and held without charge or trial in administrative detention - for up to 36 months, then indefinitely renewed. At year end 2008, it affected at least 900 Palestinians by IOF issued orders.

This practice violates Article 78 of the Fourth Geneva Convention that states:

"If the Occupying Power considers it necessary, for imperative reasons of security, to take safety measures concerning protected persons, it may, at the most, subject them to assigned residence or to internment (that) include(s) the right of appeal (to) be decided with the least possible delay."

Detention According to the "Illegitimate Combatants Law"

Following the IOF's summer 2005 Gaza redeployment, Israel enacted an "Illegitimate Combatant" law applying to protected Palestinian civilian prisoners to justify detaining them. It lets the IOF Chief of Staff issue an arrest warrant against anyone so designated.

It's the same idea as America's 2006 Military Commissions Act definition of an "unlawful enemy combatant," applied to anyone the president claims is "engaged in hostilities against the United States who is not a lawful enemy combatant." Neither the Israeli or US position has any legitimacy in international law.

Palestinian Detainee Deaths in Israeli Jails

In 2008, at least two occurred, likely from abuse and medical negligence. Detained Palestinians with chronic illnesses, like diabetes or heart conditions, deteriorate badly during prolonged incarcerations, especially when subjected to torture and other abusive treatment. The situation may be life threatening if proper medical care is denied or inadequate.

Settlement Activities and Attacks by Settlers against Palestinian Civilians and Property

Israeli settlements are illegal under international law. Expanding them compounds the problem. They continue nonetheless, and during 2008, the IOF and civil authorities, such as the Municipality of Jerusalem, Ministry of Housing, Ministry of Interior, and Higher Council of Organization, took bids for constructing 2400 West Bank housing units. Approval was also given for 6570 units in East Jerusalem and suburbs. In all, 8970 new units were approved and/or started in 2008, mostly in East Jerusalem on seized Palestinian land.

Confiscation of Palestinian Civilian Property

This longstanding practice continued throughout 2008 - for settlement expansions in violation of international law. Israel's High Court supports the practice, and in "PCHR's view....has turned (it) into a tool to legalize illegal Israeli measures and settlement activities in the OPT."

Judiazation of East Jerusalem

The practice remains ongoing - to replace an Arab population with a Jewish one. The Israeli government cut off the city from its Palestinian extension in the West Bank, expanded settlements inside and around the city, and used the Separation Wall to seize more land.

Throughout 2008, the Municipality of Jerusalem continued to demolish Palestinian homes under false claims of unlicensed construction - by people on their own land to make way for Jewish expansion.

Judaizing Arab East Jerusalem began by annexing it to Israel, confiscating Palestinian property, establishing Jewish settlements, building the Separation Wall, preventing new Palestinian home construction, and demolishing existing ones. The idea is to transform all of Jerusalem into a Jewish city with at most a small, marginalized and segregated Arab population denied all rights afforded Jews in hopes they'll leave voluntarily and make Israel's job easier.

Attacks by Israel Settlers against Palestinian Civilians and Property

Israeli settlers do it with near-impunity, including by shootings, running down civilians with vehicles, and destroying or damaging Palestinian property. In 2008, settlers killed five Palestinian civilians. Since September 2000, the total was 45.

"Attacks by Israeli settlers often take place before the eyes of IOF, which even protect them." Palestinian complaints get short shrift enough to encourage settlers to keep doing it, knowing they can get away with murder. In 2008, PCHR documented 170 settler attacks in the West Bank cities of Hebron, Nablus, Ramallah, Qalqilya, Jerusalem, Salfit, Bethlehem, and Jenin:

-- 48 harassments;

-- 36 against houses;

-- 34 against farmers and shepherds and their property;

-- 13 shootings;

-- seven against religious sites;

-- five involved vehicles running down Palestinians; and

-- 27 others involved road closings, stone-throwing, and other abuses.

Israeli settlers openly carry (and use) automatic weapons like people in the West use cell phones.

Destruction of Houses and Other Civilian Property

For decades and throughout 2008, the IOF continued destroying Palestinian houses and property, especially in East Jerusalem. This constitutes a grave breach of Fourth Geneva's Article 53 that states:

"Any destruction by the Occupying Power of real or personal property belonging individually or collectively to private persons, or to the State, or to other public authorities, or to social or cooperative organizations, is prohibited, except where such destruction is rendered absolutely necessary by military operations."

In addition, Article 147 prohibits the "extensive destruction and appropriation of property, not justified by military necessity and carried out unlawfully and wantonly."

Such attacks constitute illegal collective punishment as defined under Fourth Geneva's Article 33 that states: "No protected person may be punished for an offence he or she has not personally committed."

Nonetheless throughout 2008 and earlier, Israel wantonly and maliciously attacked civilian property, including homes, schools, industrial and commercial facilities, public buildings, and farmland using illegal pretexts as justification.

Last year, PCHR documented 216 houses destroyed prior to Operation Cast Lead - 107 in the West Bank and 109 in Gaza. Also, 680 houses were badly damaged and 3424 donums of agricultural land razed. Numerous other structures were also destroyed to make way for Jewish ones or in retaliation for claimed provocative Palestinian acts, either exaggerated or false.

The West Bank's Separation Wall

In June 2002, the Sharon government began constructing it as another form of land theft, harassment, and policy of containing Palestinians in isolated cantons under the false claim of security.

In the past seven years, construction proceeded inside the West Bank, rather than along the Green Line separating the Territory from Israel. On July 9, 2004, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled the construction violated international law. It ordered it halted, existing sections demolished, and for Palestinians to be compensated for harm done them. Israel ignored the ruling and continues new construction on annexed Palestinian land.

The Wall around Jerusalem

Construction in 2008 focused mainly around Jerusalem, according to Israeli Municipality of Jerusalem plans - building it along the city's municipal border. Work in the south, north, and east is part of a settlement project called the "Jerusalem envelope," running about 50 kilometers. In late December, prime minister Olmert ordered this portion completed by 2009 because it's "necessary for Israel's security." When finished, it will be 164.5 kilometers long, two-thirds of which was completed by year end. When completed, the entire Wall will exceed 700 kilometers.

Free Movement Restrictions Imposed on Palestinian Farmers

The IOF imposed severe restrictions on both sides of the Separation Wall, including limited gate opening hours that restrict farmers from free access to their land. They must also obtain permits to reach it on the other side of the barrier, and to get them, must be a registered owner - nearly impossible for many as most farmland is registered to deceased people, and their heirs don't all live in the West Bank or near the land in question.

As a result, thousands of Palestinians can't easily work their fields or market their crops when harvested. Farming is a major source of income in Palestinian communities along the Wall's route. Harming it has had an enormous detrimental affect to already beleaguered Palestinians, driving many more of them into poverty.

The Absence of Justice in Israeli Courts and Efforts to Prosecute Israeli War Criminals in International Ones

Justice for Palestinians in Israeli courts, especially military ones, is nearly impossible because of laws protecting Jews alone. "Through its long experience, PCHR has concluded that the Israeli judiciary is used to provide legal cover for the IOF to commit war crimes against Palestinian civilians, and that it is a means used to avoid resorting to the international justice directly under the pretext of the existence of a just Israeli national judiciary."

As a result, PCHR and other international legal and human rights organizations resort to "international legal means to prosecute Israeli war criminals." On June 24, 2008, PCHR filed a lawsuit at the National Court of Spain, the country's highest judicial council, against seven former senior Israeli military officials, all accused of committing war crimes in Gaza in July 2002. The Spanish Court accepted the case as a first step toward launching a formal prosecution.

In May 2008, PCHR worked with Dutch law firm Bohler Franken Koppe Wijngaarden (BFKW) to submit a complaint to the prosecutor's office asking that Ami Ayalon (currently Minister without Portfolio in Israel) be arrested and prosecuted in the Netherlands regarding the torture of Khaled al-Sharmi in 1999 - 2000 when he was Shin Bet Director, the Israeli General Security Service.

In October, PCHR petitioned the Court of Appeal in the Hague for an Order requiring the Prosecutor to start a criminal investigation and issue an extradition order or international arrest warrant. Getting any nation to challenge Israel is daunting at best. In all previous cases when arrest warrants were issued, executive bodies were so hesitant that no follow-through occurred in time, allowing suspects to flee to safe havens. PCHR and other committed groups continue pursuing justice anyway. It's just a matter of time before they and others succeed.

On June 30, 2009, a PCHR press release explained that the "the Spanish Appeals Court voted 14 - 4 in favor of closing the (National Court's) investigation into the" July 2002 attack. The resolution was voted on but not issued. It marks a "major setback in the pursuit of international justice and victims' rights....To date, neither the State of Israel nor individuals accused of committing war crimes have been brought" to justice. PCHR will appeal to the Spanish Supreme Court.

PCHR's Commitment to Human Rights and Social Justice

Throughout 2008 and currently, PCHR focused on the following issues:

-- stepped-up efforts to bring Israeli war criminals to justice before an international tribunal; as explained above, on June 24, 2008, PCHR filed a lawsuit at the National Court of Spain against seven senior Israeli military officials; also, an arrest application was submitted to Dutch authorities for Israel's former Shin Bet director;

-- cooperative efforts with civil society organizations over the deteriorating human rights situation in Occupied Palestine; in November, PCHR and other organizations co-hosted a human rights conference in Cairo - focused on extra-judicial assassinations and prosecuting Israeli war criminals; other efforts aim to restore Palestinian unity against a common adversary, getting political prisoners released, lifting Gaza's siege, ending the death penalty, and working for peace and Palestinian self-determination;

-- overall coordination and cooperation with other human rights organizations to make their combined efforts more effective;

-- overall cooperation with international civil society organizations; and

-- promoting activities related to gender issues that often get far too little attention.

PCHR also provides legal aid for Palestinian prisoners in spite of the enormous obstacles in doing it effectively given that Israel affords Palestinians no chance for justice. Still, PCHR represents them in court, visits them as able, submits complaints and appeals, and tries to stop torture and ensure medical aid and better detention conditions are provided. PCHR also seeks compensation for victims of injustice and represents them on numerous other issues such as denying them free movement, including for vital medical care.

Overall, PCHR and similar human rights organizations address the "essential (unresolved) elements of the Palestinian issue - the right to self-determination, the right to an independent Palestinian state with its capital in Jerusalem, the right of return for Palestinian refugees, and the right to remove illegal Israeli settlements from the Occupied Territories."

International laws affirm these rights, but for Palestinians they're unfulfilled. Peace, justice, and democratic freedom as well. As a result, PCHR and others keep working "to protect (and restore) Palestinian human rights from ongoing violations by the Israeli government and courts," and to demand that an uncaring world community address these issues.

Stephen Lendman is a Research Associate of the Centre for Research on Globalization. He lives in Chicago and can be reached at <mailto:lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net>lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net.

Also visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com and listen to The Global Research News Hour on RepublicBroadcasting.org at 10AM US Central time for cutting-edge discussions with distinguished guests on world and national issues. All programs are archived for easy listening.

Disclaimer

accuracy

31-07-2009, 01:31 PM

Israeli Massacres:

Details and Numbers

Although the Image that Israel distributes about herself is that of an oppressed nation, it is with heavy hearts that we present these crimes that stand for themselves for the brutality of the Israeli Army and the heartlessness of its soldiers who seem to have a thirst for blood. It is for the hope that the world may see a clearer picture that we present these painful facts. It is interesting to notice that today's media does not dwell on these crimes as they do on the Holocaust. They are reported in the news for a week or two and then swept into the sea of oblivion. Those who attempt to revive the true history of Israel are charged of being anti-Semitic. So with the hope to keep those memories in mind we present this shameful history of Israel that seems to have found that the role of Goliath is more interesting than that of David.

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The following list of massacres is by no means exclusive, but they reflect the nature of the Zionist occupation of Palestine and Lebanon and show that massacres and expulsions were not aberrations that happen in any war, but organized atrocities with only one aim, that is to have a Zionist state which is 'goyim rein'.
The King David Massacre
The Massacre at Baldat al-Shaikh
YEHIDA MASSACRE
KHISAS MASSACRE
QAZAZA MASSACRE
The Semiramis Hotel Massacre
The Massacre at Dair Yasin
NASER AL-DIN MASSACRE
THE TANTURA MASSACRE
BEIT DARAS MASSACRE
THE DAHMASH MOSQUE MASSACRE
DAWAYMA MASSACRE
HOULA MASSACRE
SHARAFAT MASSACRE
Salha Massacre
The Massacre at Qibya
KAFR QASEM MASSACRE
Khan Yunis Massacre
The Massacre in Gaza City
AL-SAMMOU' MASSACRE
Aitharoun Massacre
Kawnin Massacre
Hanin Massacre
Bint Jbeil Massacre
Abbasieh Massacre
Adloun Massacre
Saida Massacre
Fakhani Massacre
Beirut Massacre Sabra And Shatila Massacre
Jibsheet Massacre
Sohmor Massacre
Seer Al Garbiah
Maaraka Massacres
Zrariah Massacre
Homeen Al-Tahta Massacre
Jibaa Massacre
Yohmor Massacre
Tiri massacre
Al-Naher Al-Bared Massacre
Ain Al-Hillwee Massacre
OYON QARA MASSACRE
Siddiqine Massacre
AL-AQSA MOSQUE MASSACRE
THE IBRAHIMI MOSQUE MASSACRE
THE JABALIA MASSACRE
Aramta Massacre
ERETZ CHECKPOINT MASSACRE
Deir Al-Zahrani Massacre
Nabatiyeh (school bus) Massacre
Mnsuriah Massacre
The Sohmor Second Massacre
Nabatyaih Massacre
Qana Massacre
Trqumia Massacr
Janta Massacre
24 Of June 1999 Massacres
Western Bekaa villages Massacre:

The King David Massacre:

The King David Hotel explosion of July 22, 1946 (Palestine), which resulted in the deaths of 92 Britons, Arabs and Jews, and in the wounding of 58, was not just an act of “Jewish extremists,” but a premeditated massacre conducted by the Irgun in agreement with the highest Jewish political authorities in Palestine-- the Jewish Agency and its head David-Ben-Gurion.
According to Yitshaq Ben-Ami, a Palestinian Jew who spent 30 years in exile after the establishment of Israel investigating the crimes of the “ruthless clique heading the internal Zionist movement,”
The Irgun had conceived a plan for the King David attack early in 1946, but the green light was given only on July first. According to Dr. Sneh, the operation was personally approved by Ben-Gurion, from his self-exile in Europe. Sadeh, the operations officer of the Haganah, and Giddy Paglin, the head of the Irgun operation under Menachem Begin agreed that thirty-five minutes advance notice would give the British time enough to evacuate the wing, without enabling them to disarm the explosion.
The Jewish Agency’s motive was to destroy all evidence the British had gathered proving that the terrorist crime waves in Palestine were not merely the actions of “fringe” groups such as the Irgun and Stern Gang, but were committed in collusion with the Haganah and Palmach groups and under the direction of the highest political body of the Zionist establishment itself, namely the Jewish Agency.
That so many innocent civilian lives were lost in the King David massacre is a normal part of the pattern of the history of Zionist outrages: A criminal act is committed, allegedly by an isolated group, but actually under the direct authorization of the highest Zionist authorities, whether of the Jewish Agency
during the Palestine Mandate or of the Government of Israel thereafter.

The following is a statement made in the House of Commons by then British Prime Minister Clement Attlee:
On July 22, 1946, one of the most dastardly and cowardly crimes in recorded history took place. We refer to the blowing up of the King David Hotel in Jerusalem.
Ninety-two persons lost their lives in that stealthy attack, 45 were injured, among whom there were many high officials, junior officers and office personnel, both men and women. The King David Hotel was used as an office housing the Secretariat of the Palestine Government and British Army Headquarters. The attack was made on 22 July at about 12 o’clock noon when offices are usually in full swing. The attackers, disguised as milkmen, carried the explosives in milk containers, placed them in the basement of the Hotel and ran away.

The Chief Secretary for the Government of Palestine, Sir John Shaw, declared in a broadcast: “As head of the Secretariat, the majority of the dead and wounded were my own staff, many of whom I have known personally for eleven years. They are more than official colleagues. British, Arabs, Jews, Greeks, Armenians; senior officers, police, my orderly, my chauffeur, messengers, guards, men and
women-- young and old-- they were my friends.

“No man could wish to be served by a more industrious, loyal and honest group of ordinary decent people. Their only crime was their devoted, unselfish and impartial service to Palestine and its people. For this they have been rewarded by cold-blooded mass murder.”

Although members of the Irgun Z’vai Leumi took responsibility for this crime, yet they also made it public later that they obtained the consent and approval of the Haganah Command, and it follows, that of the Jewish Agency.

The King David Hotel massacre shocked the conscience of the civilizedworld. On July 23, Anthony Eden, leader of the British opposition Conservative
Party, posed a question in the House of Commons to Prime Minister Atlee of the Labor Party, asking “the Prime Minister whether he has any statement to make on the bomb outrage at the British Headquarters in Jerusalem.” The Prime Minister responded:
“…It appears that, after exploding a small bomb in the street, presumably as a diversionary measure-- this did virtually no damage-- a lorry drove up to the tradesmen’s entrance of the King David Hotel and the occupants, after holding up the staff at pistol point, entered the kitchen premises carrying a number of milk cans. At some stage of the proceedings, they shot and seriously wounded a British soldier who attempted to interfere with them. All available information so far is to the effect that they were Jews. Somewhere in the basement of the hotel they planted bombs which went off shortly afterwards. They appear to have made good their escape.
“Every effort is being made to identify and arrest the perpetrators of this outrage. The work of rescue in the debris, which was immediately organized, still continues. The next-of-kin of casualties are being notified by telegram as soon as accurate information is available. The House will wish to express their
profound sympathy with the relatives of the killed and with those injured in this dastardly outrage.”

Please see link, for hyperlinks.
http://www.soundofegypt.com/palestinian/adult/massacres.htm

accuracy

31-07-2009, 01:35 PM

Israeli troops open fire on Palestinian homes in Khan Younes

GAZA, July 30 (KUNA) -- Israeli forces opened fire on Thursday at Palestinian homes in the eastern district of Khan Younes, southern Gaza Strip.
Sources told KUNA that Israeli armory vehicles, stationed at the borders between Gaza Strip and Israel, opened fire randomly at Palestinian farmers and their houses in the district of Farheen.
None of the farmers were wounded, but several houses sustained material damage, the sources added.
Earlier today, Al-Quds Brigades, the military wing of Islamic Jihad, claimed responsibility for attacking Israeli troops in the northeastern Khan Younes district of Qarara. It said the Israeli troops were infiltrating Palestinian property. (pickup previous) mzt.ema KUNA 301039 Jul 09NNNN

http://www.kuna.net.kw/NewsAgenciesPublicSite/ArticleDetails.aspx?id=2017114&Language=en

accuracy

31-07-2009, 01:41 PM

Netanyahu says Gaza crossings to be shut

http://photos.upi.com/story/t/d12102697472439f0151257edd502fff/Netanyahu-says-Gaza-crossings-to-be-shut.jpg

Published: July 30, 2009 at 7:46 AM

JERUSALEM, July 30 (UPI) -- Gaza border crossings will remain closed until kidnapped Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit returns home, Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu said.

Netanyahu made the statement at a meeting with visiting U.S. National Security Adviser James Jones in Jerusalem Wednesday night, Israeli media reports said.

Netanyahu stressed humanitarian assistance will continue to be transferred to the Gaza Strip daily, Israeli media reports said.

Israel Wednesday permitted the transfer of cement and construction material into Gaza for the first time since Operation Cast Lead, the army said.

A decision by Defense Minister Ehud Barak and Netanyahu to allow the building products through does not signify a change in government policy, Maariv quoted a government official as saying.

The cement is designated for three projects in Gaza -- a sewage plant, a flour mill and renovation of a British cemetery, Ynentews.com said.

© 2009 United Press International, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

accuracy

31-07-2009, 01:49 PM

30th July Video Free Gaza news Is Israel guilty of piracy

and the US did absolutely nothing about it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mpqnMrLv1bQ

accuracy

31-07-2009, 01:57 PM

You dare to call me a terrorist,while you look down your guns?

30Jul09

“A state which forcibly subjugates a people to colonial or alien domination is committing an unlawful act as defined by international law, and the subject people, in the exercise of its inherent right of self-defense, may fight to defend and attain its right to self-determination.“
[UN Charter art. 51]

Self Defense,scorned and unsavory,has been left helpless against international charges of terrorism,hate and insurrection.
Yet we see that resistance,in the history of many nations, against a foreign force which violates a country’s sovereignty has always been a moral obligation and right inextricably related to the human right to “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.”

Resistance against tyranny and all forms of injustice is at the heart of the duties of any nation or people, and a nation’s defense of its people and territory is the most important demonstration of its sovereignty -thus should precede any other consideration.

Speaking in terms of the revolutionary resistance of the United States of America the Sons of Liberty are the first to proudly come to mind.
The Sons of Liberty contributed on many levels,with their passionate fervor and their men, to the Revolutionary army. They continued their watchfulness of the Colonies for supporters of the Crown throughout their entire history and their deep contribution to the cause of American Independence cannot be underestimated.

The Sons did not sit idle whilst their people were being persecuted,instead they used every conceivable method available to them to achieve their ultimate goal of independence. These methods included enthusing the masses into action. They organized demonstrations, forced officials of the Crown to resign, circulated petitions, published newspaper articles and distributed handbills and of course – they did not once hesitate to employ force when necessary.

It is now 2009 and any such idea of having a revolt or revolution is shunned or rejected as a temporary need or a means to fulfill a unwarranted desire.
But to those who question a human beings natural right to resist and defend his or herself let me ask you this -
Where would the Irish be if they had sat idle during the invasion of Ireland by the Norman king of England Henry II?
Where would the United States be if it were not for the revolutionary might of the Sons of Liberty in 1773?
Where would South Africa be,were it not for those who resisted colonialism and occupation?

Revolutions are not 1970’s hippie movements that involve flowers,tie-dye shirts and chanting – revolutions can be aggressive and violent.
But this is where many of you draw the line,backing away from admitting that yes it is often times necessary for a human being to defend his or herself through means of violence and physical defense.

I myself do not abide by the ‘turn the other cheek‘ method of diplomacy – nor does Israel or the United States of America.
When you sting my cheek with the iron fist of colonialism and occupation I shall sting both of your cheeks with the burning flame of revolt and revolution.

If someone,anyone,dares to strike at my mother would I tell her to just ‘turn the other cheek’ – not on my life – no sane individual can tell me that they would not choose to fight aggressively against the perpetrator of such an action.

So,why are the Palestinians any different?

In Palestine when a little girl is buried beneath the rubble of her house,her sister killed by flying Israeli shrapnel and her mother paralyzed under piles of concrete what do you think the father will do?
Does he not have the right to defend himself and his family against Israeli aggression?

How can we claim to be a civil society yet reject the right to defend ourselves through any means necessary?

The hypocrisy in the West in terms of this subject is flabbergasting and sickening to say the least.
In the state of Texas if an individual trespasses on my front lawn I am able to fire at them,wherein I may even kill them – but the same Texans who hold tightly onto their guns will just as soon turn around and call a Palestinian a “terrorist” for using homemade rockets while under siege.

In Israel if I am a member of the IDF or the general Israeli population I am given the right to bear arms,American weaponry,and the right to use illegal chemical warfare against a weak occupied people.
I am allowed to keep children imprisoned with no bail,only enough food to survive and if I am part of the government I see it permissible to bar any humanitarian aid from entering the occupied territories.

Yet – through all of this,we still have people so mentally stubborn that they dare reject the idea of resisting against such people.
While the whole word is burning around you,don’t you dare question it?
Do you not,for an instant,ask yourself what you can do to aid those dying around you?

Are we so pathetic that the very idea of defending yourself is swiftly considered an act of terrorism?

If we are to apply the Western definition of terrorism as it is given to us in the media then the following people should have been considered terrorists of the highest order:

1.Samuel Adams
2.Paul Revere
3.John Adams
4.John Hancock
5.Patrick Henry
6.John Adams
7.George Washington
8.John Adams
9.Thomas Jefferson
10.John Jay
11.James Madison
12.Alexander Hamilton. etc

Lyrics to the song Joe McDonnell [an Irishman who died while on hunger strike in 1981]:

“And you dare to call me a terrorist, while you look down your guns,
When I think of all the deeds that you have done.
You have plundered many nations, divided many lands,
You have terrorised our people, you ruled with your iron hand,
And you brought this reign of terror to my land. “

While Israel occupies a land and massacres a whole people and while the United States occupies two lands of two people – you dare call us terrorists?

http://politicaltheatrics.com/2009/07/30/you-dare-to-call-me-a-terroristwhile-you-look-down-your-guns/

accuracy

31-07-2009, 02:03 PM

GAZAN DOCTOR MAKES A HOUSE-CALL……. TO HER OWN HOME!

http://electronicintifada.net/artman2/uploads/2/090728-elfarra-gaza.jpg

As soon as I arrived home I felt a great relief, if that is the right word. I have been unable to return to Gaza before because of Israel’s winter invasion and the ongoing siege. I am not sure that the word relief summarizes my intense and conflicting emotions. Mixed feelings of relief, happiness, but also disorientation continued to overwhelm me. Gaza my beautiful home, yes my beautiful home, my beautiful people, who are trying so hard to live. To continue from one day to another. Despite the odds, the hardships, the deaf ears of the world.

The same day I arrived home, 9 July, I could see from my balcony the rubble of what at one time was Yasser Arafat’s headquarters. The whole building was completely demolished, leveled to the ground, blowing out the windows on one side of my apartment building. It is the same place where one of my cousins was killed the first day of Israel’s assault in December.

I now see a different Gaza, and it is not the Gaza I have known, it is like a city after an earthquake.

Many of the historically important buildings were leveled to the ground. I decided to postpone my field visits to the different areas where the assaults were the most savage and brutal. I thought it might be a good idea to wait for the arrival of the delegation of US citizens who were due to cross the border.

In the meantime, I met some dear friends and coworkers who came to say hello. All of them were loaded with war stories and the panic they faced during the attacks against Gaza. One friend who was a political prisoner, who spent 15 years in the Israeli jails said to me, “I never felt afraid of anything there like the fear I felt this time.” I find it strange to even write this sentence, but while we Palestinians are determined to continue our struggle, the reality is that this assault against Gaza was severe and fierce, and cannot be forgotten — we will feel its effects as a people for a long time.

Our friends from the US were only granted visas from Egypt to visit Gaza for 24 hours. As I waited I pondered, “How can we condense or begin to understand what children, women and men went through during 23 days of the assault in a 24 hours visit?”

Upon the arrival of the Viva Palestina US delegation, I sat at the borders to receive the delegation with some colleagues from PNGO (Palestinian Non-Governmental Organizations’ Network). It was a touching and affectionate moment for me, to see American, British, and French activists of different ages and ethnicities united under one goal and voicing to the world: “Gaza you are not alone, you are not forgotten, despite the shameful stand of the governments of the world, we stand with you, the people of Gaza!”

We had to get to work immediately, and were fortunate to have a solid team of colleagues. I was accompanied by Barbara Lubin, Director of the Middle East Children’s Alliance (MECA), Reem Salhi, an activist lawyer and human rights advocate, Danny Muller, a MECA colleague, Travis Wilkerson, a filmmaker and professor, Jaiel Kayed, a Palestinian-American computer expert, Talal Abu Shaweesh, Director of New Horizons, and Mohammed Magdalawi, a student from Gaza and MECA volunteer.

In the Nuseirat refugee camp, we were invited by New Horizons to see the activities of their project loosely translated as “Let them Play and Heal,” a program treating childhood trauma sponsored by MECA. The project involves activities for mothers and their children to help the children recover after the war trauma. There were around 500 kids, 6-12 years old boys and girls with their mothers attending. We had the chance to see the little faces of hundreds of happy children, singing along with a traditional debka dance performance.

We then visited the al-Bureeg School, where MECA has implemented water purification and desalinization systems to provide clean drinking water for schoolchildren. This is one of three water treatment projects MECA has recently implemented in the refugee camps, and we aim to build many more with the help of our friends and allies. We then moved to the north and while the van was going on, we could clearly see many demolished homes everywhere, and tent cities around the homes where families now lived.

We could not miss the Zaytoun area, where one of the many tragic events of the war occurred at the home of the Samouni family. The van went through neighborhood after neighborhood, through areas of vast destruction. How can I convey to you what I have seen in the little faces, eyes of sadness mixed with hope and excitement? On top of that some of the kids who had broken or missing arms and legs, post-operative scars, who are living in the rubble of their former homes, and with their little voices they tried to tell us their stories.

I listened to their stories. I stopped writing about the rest of our activities, the rest of our day, the rest of my return home. At that moment I felt, and still feel, “I don’t want to hear or listen, I just want to cuddle these children and help them to forget.” But I want the world to remember what was done here in Gaza, and that those of who are picking up the pieces, as hard as we try, we cannot forget.

Mona El-Farra is a physician by training and a human rights and women’s rights activist in practice in the occupied Gaza Strip. Her blog is From Gaza, with Love.

Source
http://desertpeace.wordpress.com/2009/07/30/gazan-doctor-makes-a-house-call-to-her-own-home/

accuracy

31-07-2009, 02:08 PM

Settlers undermining legitimacy of Israel's existence

Fri., July 31, 2009

The representatives of the settler organizations have recently declared their intention to establish 11 new settlements in the territories, including some, according to media reports, on privately-owned Palestinian land. The operation is being depicted as having been inspired by the 11 tower and stockade communities in the northern Negev that were established just before Yom Kippur in 1946. This is not the first time the settlers have compared their efforts to the settlement activities that provided the foundation for the establishment of the state. There is no basis for such a comparison, which is nothing more than an act of forgery and fraud.

The basic difference between the two undertakings is that the settlement project that preceded Israel's establishment was intended to create the territorial basis for the future Jewish state. It wasn't intended to deprive the Arabs of everything that was left or, for that matter, their right to a state of their own alongside the Jewish state.

The 11 settlements in the northern Negev, meanwhile, were meant to ensure the inclusion of the Negev in the Jewish state upon the expected partition of the Land of Israel into a Jewish state and an Arab state.

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1103989.html

accuracy

01-08-2009, 11:40 AM

FATAH: DON’T ALLOW DAYTON TO CONTROL YOUR CONVENTION

July 31, 2009 at 7:06 am (Associate Post, Corrupt Politics, Fatah, Israel, Palestine, Palestinian Authority)

http://desertpeace.files.wordpress.com/2009/07/fatah.jpg

By Khalid Amayreh in the West Bank

I think it would be safe to say that virtually all Palestinians, including Hamas, would like to see Fatah’s upcoming Congress succeed in rehabilitating the movement, mainly by extricating it from the quagmire of corruption, treachery and “security coordination” with Israel, the Nazi-like occupier of our homeland and tormentor of our people.

Fatah is a large movement and its role in leading Palestinian struggle against Zionist colonialism can’t be denied. But it is also true that for many years Fatah has been metamorphosed into a “contra force” working, knowingly or unknowingly, against the national interests of the Palestinian people.

Fatah officials and spokesmen would vociferously deny such descriptions. However, the facts speak for themselves. The ongoing inquisition against Hamas in the West Bank , which is fully coordinated with the Israeli occupation army, serves as a clarion proof underscoring to the extent to which Fatah has deviated from its original goals.

This disgraceful de facto alliance between the Fatah-dominated Palestinian Authority (PA) against the forces of resistance effectively transforms the American-backed and American-funded security forces into a quisling entity, a Palestinian Judenrat.

I know the words might be harsh and painful, but truth must be told, even at the expense of upsetting and alienating many people. A painful treatment is often necessary to eradicate a malignant malady.

The original raison d’etre of Fatah had always been to liberate Palestine and enable Palestinian refugees, brutally uprooted from their ancestral homeland, to return home.

However, since the scandalous Oslo Agreement, Fatah’s main function has been redefined and re-oriented toward fighting “the enemies of peace” and “the extremists” in order to obtain a certificate of good conduct from the criminal Zionists and their western supporters and allies.

Many important but gullible Fatah leaders thought naively that Israel might award them a state in return for doing Israel ’s bidding.

However, instead of getting a Palestinian state with al-Quds as its capital, as the Olso-era mantra was constantly invoked, Israel dotted the West Bank with hundreds of malignant colonies, stepped up ethnic cleansing in East Jerusalem and nearly succeeded in redefining the Palestinian cause from a struggle against foreign occupation and apartheid into a Palestinian-Palestinian conflict between Fatah and Hamas.

This scandalous Kafkaesque distortion of the Palestinian struggle wouldn’t have occurred had the free-minded Fatah leadership prevented certain thugs within the movement, who acted on America’s and Israel’s beck and call, from igniting inter-Palestinian civil war which eventually forced Hamas to oust the criminal provocateurs from the Gaza Strip.

We do hope that it is not too late for the free-minded forces within Fatah to rectify the situation and fix the immense damage done by the saboteurs and apostates who disguise themselves as Palestinian patriots while having the heart and mind of a traitor.

Today, Fatah faces a host of complicated problems endangering the very survival of the movement as a liberation movement.

First, Fatah must deal with the aftereffects of the death of Yasser Arafat who, despite all his mistakes and shortcomings, managed to preserve the cohesion of the Palestinian national movement.

Now, a new power structure has been created, a power structure that views national resistance against the Israeli occupation as anachronistic and even repugnant.

More to the point, this power structure would be willing to go to any extent to safeguard its criminal interests. Needless to say, the current police-state apparatus in the West Bank shows that the Ramallah junta and its numerous cohorts and hangers-on can’t be entrusted to deal with the national burden. They are simply too subservient to Israel and too enslaved by their own parochial interests to honestly represent the true collective conscience of the Palestinian people and its enduring struggle for freedom and Justice.

Hence, it is amply wrong for the free-minded forces within Fatah to think that the sole goal behind “security coordination” with Israel is to fight or eradicate Hamas.

In truth, the real goal is to intimidate, suppress and if necessary eliminate any opposition to any attempted liquidation of the Palestinian cause. Therefore, the free men and women within Fatah who might be tempted to say “NO” to an imposed deal, which would perpetuate the Israeli domination over Palestinian land and life , would be crushed by the faithless soldiers of Dayton who have been brainwashed into believing that the enemy of the Palestinian people is “Hamas and the forces of resistance,” not Israel.

Second, the free-minded forces within Fatah must also recognize that during the past few years a huge bureaucracy of Fatah officials, clerks, operatives, security commanders and business people whose interests and financial and economic well-being depend largely on the preservation of the status quo, namely the persistence of the master-slave relationship between Israel and the PA.

These people would fight tooth and nail to prolong or even perpetuate the present situation, namely PA subservience to and subjugation by the Israeli occupation.

One more point, it is an open secret that Fatah’s financial survival depends to a large extent on the coffers of the American-backed government of Salam Fayyad. Hence, any genuine effort by Fatah to deliver itself from the American-Israel stranglehold would be strongly resisted by the Fayyad government.

Indeed, there are those who believe that one of the main reasons for the creation of the Fayyad government is to emasculate and “domesticate” Fatah. Unfortunately, their view has been largely vindicated by events in the past few years.

This means that Fatah can’t exercise its free will, even if it wants to, as long as it remains financially dependent on the Fayyad’s government’s coffers. Which will eventually force Fatah to choose either of two choices, to coalesce into the PA government structure and kiss all pretensions about resistance good by, or be financially independent in order to be politically free and able to resist Israeli dictates.

In the final analysis, you can’t say “No” to the hands that feed you.

Fatah should devote itself to ending the rift with Hamas as soon as possible mainly by purging its ranks of Israel’s agents, and, sadly, they are many.

Fatah should realize that it alone can’t attain the goals of liberation and independence. This is why one of the central goals of the Fatah convention should be to mend relations with Hamas and restore Palestinian national unity

It is simply unacceptable and scandalous for a liberation movement to have some of its leaders telling Israeli occupation army commanders that “We are allies, and our goals are the same, and our common enemy is Hamas.” Some years ago, those uttering such words would have met a harsh fate.

This is why such people shouldn’t stay in their jobs, let alone in Fatah, for one minute.

In the final analysis, the real contradiction is between us, the Palestinian people, and Israel , the Nazi-like occupier of our country, not among ourselves. This is what every Palestinian, including every member of Fatah, ought to understand.

http://desertpeace.wordpress.com/2009/07/31/fatah-dont-allow-dayton-to-control-your-convention/

accuracy

01-08-2009, 11:50 AM

Friday, July 31, 2009

http://english.aljazeera.net/mritems/Images//2009/1/12/20091121265505580_5.jpg
Israel had initially denied using white phosphorus, a chemical agent that causes severe burns [AFP]

Israel has admitted to using white phosphorus during its war on the Gaza Strip earlier this year, but says it did so in accordance with international law.

The admission came in a 163-page document published by the Israeli foreign ministry on Thursday ahead of a UN report next week.

The Israeli army "used munitions containing white phosphorus" in Gaza, the document said, but it denied violating international law, saying it had not fired such weapons inside populated areas.

Al Jazeera's Sherine Tadros, reporting from Jerusalem, said the Israeli army had initially denied using white phosphorus, a chemical agent that causes severe burns.

"During the war, when we first started seeing the white phosphorous, the Israeli army said that everything it was using was in compliance with international law; it would not tell us whether or not it was using it," she said.

Legitimate use

"As the campaign went on, it became very obvious [on television] that it was being used and the Israeli army, as well as government spokesmen, told us that it was being used," our correspondent said.

"The caveat that the Israeli army pressed on was that it was being used within the rules of war; that meant it was not being used amid a civilian population and that it was being used to provide a smokescreen legitimately, as opposed to illegitimately."

International law permits the use of white phosphorus as an "obscurant" to cover troop movements and prevent enemies from using certain guided weapons.

The Israeli government report follows charges from the UN and human rights groups that Israeli forces committed war crimes and violated international law during the operation.

UN officials have also said that they have evidence that white phosphorus was used in an attack on the UN relief agency's main building in Gaza that left three people injured.

But the government defended its military campaign as a "necessary and proportionate" response to Hamas rocket fire at Israel.

"Israel had both a right and an obligation to take military action against Hamas in Gaza to stop Hamas' almost incessant rocket and mortar attacks," it said.

Misconduct investigation

The Israeli government also said it is investigating 100 complaints of misconduct by its forces during the three week war that began on December 27.

Our correspondent said the report follows several testimonies from witnesses and human rights organisations about the Israeli military's conduct.

"What we've seen in the past few months since the end of the war are various human rights reports from Amnesty International, the United Nations, Human Rights Watch, as well as testimonies coming out from army soldiers themselves," she said.

"What really ties all of these reports together is the idea that there was no proportionality and a deliberate use of force against the civilian population in Gaza."

Israeli 'acknowledgment'

John Ging, the head of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) in Gaza, welcomed the report as an "acknowledgment that an investigation has to be done into what happened" during the conflict.

But he told Al Jazeera that the process has taken "far too long".

"What we actually need is an independent investigation that is credible for both sides," he said.

"The litmus test is that [any investigation] has to be credible to both sides. As is well documented, both sides have certain concerns and they have to be addressed.

"We have to see the rule of international law applied and upheld, even-handedly, with the confidence of both populations."

Israel has consistently said its troops respected international law during the war which ended in January.

Palestinian officials say 1,417 Palestinians were killed, including 926 civilians.

But Israel says that the number killed is considerably lower, and that only 295 of the dead were civilians.

http://english.aljazeera.net/mritems/Images//2009/6/14/20096145149417734_5.jpg
Human rights groups have charged the Israeli army with violating international law during the war [AFP

http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2009/07/200973020830886898.html

accuracy

01-08-2009, 01:56 PM

http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/46136000/gif/_46136660_gaza226gettybody.gif

An Israeli government report has said that the Israeli military campaign in Gaza earlier this year was "necessary and proportionate".

The war and its conduct have been widely criticised, with Israel and Hamas accused of war crimes.

Palestinian sources say about 1,400 Gazans died in the conflict. Thirteen Israeli died.

The report said 100 inquiries had been launched into the conduct of soldiers and 14 criminal investigations opened.

According to the United Nations, the Israeli military campaign left more than 50,000 homes, 800 industrial properties and 200 schools damaged or destroyed, as well as 39 mosques and two churches.

The UN Human Rights Council has appointed former South African judge Richard Goldstone to investigate whether war crimes were committed during the conflict.

Israel has declined to co-operate, accusing the UN Human Rights Council of bias against it.

DIFFERENT DEATH TOLLS
Palestinians killed during Israeli military offensive in Gaza, 27 Dec to 18 Jan - Palestinian claims followed by Israelis claims:
Total dead: 1,434 / 1,166

Fighters: 235 / 710-870

Non-combatants: 906 / 295-460

Women: 121 / 49

Children under 16: 288 / 89
Sources: Palestinian Centre for Human Rights and Israeli Defence Intelligence Research Dept

Israel soldiers speak out on Gaza
Amnesty details Gaza 'war crimes'
Israelis 'followed law in Gaza'

Allegations persist against the Israeli military about killings of unarmed civilians, the use of civilians as human shields and indiscriminate destruction of property.

Israeli officials insist troops went to great lengths to protect civilians, that Hamas endangered non-combatants by firing from civilian areas and that homes and buildings were destroyed only when there was a specific military need to do so.

The conflict lasted for 22 days, ending on 18 January.

'Incessant' rockets

"Israel had both a right and an obligation to take military action against Hamas in Gaza to stop Hamas' almost incessant rocket and mortar attacks," the report, issued on Thursday, said.

It says 12,000 rockets and mortars were fired at Israel between 2000 and 2008 - nearly 3,000 in 2008 alone.

The report explains that damage caused to UN facilities by Israeli strikes should be blamed on Hamas, which Israel says set up rocket launchers nearby.

Allegations that dozens of Palestinian civilians were killed or wounded by white phosphorus shells are dismissed.

The report detailed steps aimed at limiting civilian casualties. It says 2.5 million leaflets were dropped and 165,000 phone calls made warning civilians to leave areas that would be targeted.

It also says that humanitarian aid was allowed into Gaza throughout the conflict.

Palestinians have said it was not safe to leave their homes to try to escape fighting and shelling, that they were unable to access the humanitarian aid.

accuracy

09-08-2009, 10:13 AM

SICK PHOTO OF THE WEEK ~~ SETTLER POSTER CHILD

http://desertpeace.files.wordpress.com/2009/08/settlers-poster-child1.jpg

A poster for a campaign launched by the Binyamin Citizen’s Committee protests American pressure to freeze settlements.

accuracy

09-08-2009, 10:22 AM

ISRAELI OCCUPATION NOW CLOSED OFF TO PUBLIC VIEW

August 8, 2009

http://desertpeace.files.wordpress.com/2009/08/street-closed1.jpg

Reporters attempting to cover the plight of the East Jerusalem evicted families are meeting with stiff opposition from the local police…..
“These streets are closed to the public”!
“This is a special area”!

Just what is Israel trying to hide from you? The ‘only democracy in the Middle East’ where the press is censored….. makes one wonder what else the Israelis are hiding from us. It seems so ironic that the police are doing everything in their power to protect the ‘rights’ of the criminals rather than the innocent victims.

The following short report and short video is AlJazeera’s attempt to present the situation as it is…..

Evicted Palestinians
sleep rough in protest

The Hanouns, a Palestinian family evicted by Israeli authorities from their home in East Jerusalem, are protesting their eviction by sleeping on the street outside the house that was for decades their home.

Al Jazeera’s Jacky Rowland reports from the Sheikh Jarrah neighbourhood in occupied East Jerusalem where the Hanouns are sleeping rough in protest.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UZ44JBqApks

accuracy

11-08-2009, 12:52 PM

http://www.rense.com/1.imagesH/zstomp_dees.jpg

accuracy

11-08-2009, 12:59 PM

Aug 10th, 2009 by kawther.salam

he Palestinian Authority and Hamas movements have trespassed all the limits with their continuous arrests and torture of political activists, and then killing many of them them in their jails. The attitude of these two movements is now similar to what the Israeli occupation has done and is still doing against the Palestinians in occupied Palestine. The Palestinian National Authority and Hamas have increased the incarceration of political activists, and committed hundreds of politicians, political activists and resistance members into their respective jails.

http://www.kawther.info/wpr/wp-content/uploads/Jonaid-jail.jpg

Please read on.........................

http://www.kawther.info/wpr/2009/08/10/death-of-political-prisoners-in-palestine

accuracy

12-08-2009, 09:50 AM

August 11, 2009

By Najwa Sheikh

http://www.paltelegraph.com/images/stories/gaza/gaza_port_021.jpg

Gaza, Another hidden but very painful part of the Palestinian sufferings is the story of families scattered around the world, many of whom have settled in different countries, after they fled in 1948. They have different lives and lost many of their childhood memories.

Childhood memories are the events and experiences lived with our sisters and brothers. They are the special moments in time that one cannot ignore or forget; they are experiences bound by the ties of brotherhood. The memories shared with my brothers and sisters are for us, which as a family we ordinarily would enjoy recalling and reliving. Recollection of the dear memories of our childhood would be possible if we were not separated by such a distance.

My own relatives are scattered across Saudi Arabia, Libya and Lebanon. Neither my parents nor I know anything about their children or lives, how they look, or the type of life they live. There are, however, rare telephone calls from time to time.

A week ago my mother-in-law received the news that one of her brothers died in Kuwait. I was surprised of course because it was the first time I had heard of him. It seems that he, like many other Palestinians who have left long ago, made his life outside of Gaza and lost connection with his roots. My mother-in-law, though not remembering his image, was very sad to receive this news, wishing she had the chance to share with him again the old childhood memories. She longed for not being able to know him better or to see face after 70 years. My mother-in-law wished for being to make fun and tease, as brothers and sisters do irrespective of age, once more.

The same story can be told of my other family members. Separation of physical distance and the loss of contact has only brought more pain and suffering. The saddest part of this that our old memories have faded and our present life is filled with no memory or shared experiences that come with families who age together.

I remember when my uncle passed away five years ago, who I had never met or talked with, there was no feelings of sadness or sense of loss. It is not that my heart is made of stone. I had not one single memory with or even an image in my mind of my uncle. Will my brothers children living abroad also feel the same?

I have two brothers living outside of Gaza. They are married and have children. Even though we talk on the phone, there are no memories to share. I cannot say anything about their hobbies; what they like or dislike; or choose gifts because of not knowing their favorite colors or the toys they like most. They too cannot say anything about me, their other aunts, or grandparents. My brothers’ children will feel the same as I felt for when my uncle departed this world.

As time fades away and age descends, I too will forget the image of my brothers as my mother did when my uncle passed away. I too will not be able to laugh, tease and make fun of them as they grow old with age. One day I too will receive similar news that my father and my in-laws received. Will I grieve, cry, able to share our childhood memories or my sadness be kept inside? The physical distance only increases the suffering of all Palestinian families living apart.

Najwa Sheikh

A Palestinian PT special writer living in the Gaza Strip
http://desertpeace.wordpress.com/2009/08/11/gazas-lost-memories/

accuracy

12-08-2009, 09:57 AM

THIRD PALESTINIAN PRISONER DIES OF ALLEGED TORTURE IN (PALESTINIAN) LOCK-UP THIS YEAR

August 11, 2009

Fadi Hamadneh

http://www.palestine-info.co.uk/en/DataFiles/Cache/TempImgs/2009/2/images_News_2009_08_11_torture-signs-haytham-amr_300_0.jpg

Torture marks on the body of Haitham Amr

By Khalid Amayreh

On Monday, 10 August, it was revealed that Fadi Hamadneh, died at the notorious Juneid lockup in Nablus . The circumstances of his death remain unclear as of the time of preparing this report, but his family and relatives are accusing security agents of the Western-backed Palestinian Authority (PA) of torturing him to death.

Hamadneh’s brother dismissed the official PA narrative that he committed suicide in his cell as “hogwash” and “blatant lies.”

He pointed out that his brother was a religious man and that it was inconceivable that he would embark on committing suicide. Suicide is a grave sin in Islam.

Hamadneh is the third Palestinian detainee to die as a result of alleged torture in PA custody this year.

Last week, Kamal Abu T’iema, a 45-year-old school teacher from the Fawwar Refugee camp near al Khalil, succumbed to a massive stroke he had suffered, reportedly as a result of relentless torture and harsh beating at the hands of PA interrogators in al-Khalil ( Hebron ).

In June, Haitham Amr, a nurse at the Ahli Hospital in Hebron , was beaten to death at the hands of the Mukhabarat (General Intelligence) interrogators in Hebron .

The scars of torture and his bluish body showed beyond doubt that he died of torture and that PA claims to the contrary were just brash lies.

PA security officials then claimed that he fell to his death from the third floor, a concocted lie meant to cover up the ghastly crime. Unfortunately, perjury is not treated as a crime in the PA enclaves, especially if the liars happen to be influential members of the security agencies.

The PA did order an investigation into Amr’s death. However, until now, no formal autopsy report as to the circumstances surrounding his death has been published. This alone caricatures the appalling status of the Justice system in the West Bank.

Even the routinely fabricated claim that a given victim of torture committed suicide should be utterly rejected as an excuse. After all, young people in the prime of their lives don’t just commit suicide out of nothing.

Actually, one doesn’t have to be a great psychologist or psychiatrist to realize that only deathly circumstances and macabre maltreatment of detainees push some of them to take their lives. People’s ability to withstand torture varies from one person to the other, and some people just can’t take anymore.

Torture is officially banned in PA jails and interrogation centers. PA officials, including Chairman Mahmoud Abbas and his Prime Minister Salam Fayyad routinely declare that torture doesn’t exist in the PA enclaves.

Moreover, the PA government had issued clear instructions banning the use of torture. However, torture, in its most barbaric forms, continued to claim more and more innocent victims.

The killing of detainees by way of torturing them to death is not done by mistake. It is rather a deliberate and sadistic policy aimed at exacting revenge on Hamas supporters in the West Bank.

Inmates who have been released from PA jails and interrogation centers speak of hair-raising experiences in interrogation chambers. The torture takes many forms including the notorious shabh, sever beating, hanging for prolonged periods and sleep deprivation.

In some extreme cases, inmates are forced to sit down on broken bottles which cause serious mutilation to their rectums.

Having said that, it is important to point out that the PA leadership is not the only villain here. The European Union, the United States and others donors have a great share of the blame for these hideous crimes.

We all know that the PA is nearly completely dependent on foreign financial aid for its very survival. Indeed, the interrogators and torturers who knowingly and deliberately kill these unwept detainees receive their salaries from western and other donors. In other words, the European and American tax-payers are effectively funding torture in PA jails and interrogation centers.

This writer has repeatedly urged EU officials to exert pressure on the PA government to make genuine and decisive efforts to end torture.

However, all my calls apparently fell on deaf ears as the EU has been silent as if the issue of torture was irrelevant and didn’t constitute a moral priority.

This is why, the victims of torture and their families should explore the possibility of suing the foreign donors and bankrollers of the PA for compensation and punitive damages.

It is really sad that EU states which don’t stop preaching to us on the virtues of democracy and human rights happen to be willing accomplices to murder.

Now, for the umpteenth time, we call on EU ambassadors and diplomats in the occupied Palestinian territories to raise this paramount issue with PA leaders.

Do it now before more innocent people are lost to these dark chambers in Nablus and Ramallah and Hebron .

Your silence and indifference will only be construed by the PA and its human rights-unfriendly security agencies as amounting to condoning and encouraging torture.

So, on behalf of the bulk of Palestinians who value freedom and human rights, especially the right to life, I want to communicate the following message to Europeans and Americans and others who keep the PA afloat:

Please don’t kill us by your money, don’t fund torture, and don’t bankroll human rights violations in our tormented country. Be true to your own declared values and ideals.

We already have had more than enough of Israeli savagery and barbarianism at the hands of the Israeli occupation army and the Nazi-like Jewish settlers.

So, must we be further tormented, tortured and killed by our own people who claim to be protecting us and safeguarding our vital interests?

http://desertpeace.wordpress.com/2009/08/11/third-palestinian-prisoner-dies-of-alleged-torture-in-palestinian-lock-up-this-year/

accuracy

12-08-2009, 10:10 AM

11Aug09

http://politicaltheatrics.files.wordpress.com/2009/08/pool6.jpg

As reported from journalist Jonathan Cook,in Nazareth – August 11th,2009:

An Arab couple whose one-year-old daughter was expelled from an Israeli day-care centre on her first day are suing a Jewish mother for damages, accusing her of racist incitement against their child.

Maysa and Shua’a Zuabi, from the village of Sulam in northern Israel, launched the court action last week saying they had been “shocked and humiliated” when the centre’s owner told them that six Jewish parents had demanded their daughter’s removal because she is an Arab.

In Jewish schools Arab children are prevented from being taught their own language, history or even culture. Their very identities must be sacrificed in order for them to be permitted education in the school system found in Israel.

If one is to play devil’s advocate and assume that the recent situation in the Jewish daycare center was isolated there is overwhelming evidence that says otherwise.
Only last September, the Adalah legal centre for Israel’s Arab minority had to force the municipality of the mixed city of Ramle, near Tel Aviv, to register an Arab boy in a Jewish kindergarten close to his home.

The mayor, Yoel Lavi, had earlier told the boy’s parents that he could not be admitted because he was an Arab and that the kindergarten served only Jewish children.

Along with the event which transpired just yesterday,August 11th 2009, we have another sickening racial issue to bring up that occurred at an Israeli swimming pool.

According to the International Middle East Media Center:

A trip for some 250 children from Al Jish village, near Safad north of the country, had to be cut short after the manager of a Jewish-run swimming pool refused to allow the organizers of the Jish Church Summer camp, play Arabic music.

As soon as the organizer of the trip put on Arabic music and went to fill some drinking water, he noticed that the music had stopped, he went back and the instructors told him that they were asked to stop the Arabic music and were instead given a Hebrew music CD.

The trip organizer approached the club manager, Shemi Namimi, and asked him about what is going on, and then the directors said “do not put Arabic music, but you can play Hebrew music”, the Ynet reported.

But the manager of the pool stated that “There will be no Arab music ”. After he heard the response, the children were called to leave the pool.

The children were crying, upset and had to wait for an hour until the buses returned from Nazareth. After loading them to the buses, they drove to a swimming pool in Nazareth

Israeli swimming pools around the state always play Hebrew music in addition to playing music in English and sometimes in other languages depending on the nationality of those visiting the swimming pools. But apparently when it comes to Arabic, it becomes policy to stop it any such music from being heard.

1950’s segregation of Blacks from the racist White populace in the United States is seen as vile and sickening in todays’ society,especially by the African American community who suffered physically,mentally and emotionally from such racist acts of segregation.

Do we need “Jew’s Only” or “Arabs Only” signs to be placed in Israel in order to see the disturbing similarities between the racist divide in America that was rampant in the early and late 1950’s and the current state of Israel?

Americans need to wake up and smell the Apartheid brewing in the iniquitous state of Israel,unless they enjoy being the ones funding Israel and this putrid racism.

http://politicaltheatrics.com/2009/08/11/daycare-center-in-israelno-arabs-allowed/

accuracy

16-08-2009, 10:10 AM

by Jonathan Cook, August 15, 2009

TZIPORI, Israel — Amin Muhammad Ali, a 74-year-old refugee from a destroyed Palestinian village in northern Israel, says he only feels truly at peace when he stands among his ancestors’ graves.

The cemetery, surrounded on all sides by Jewish homes and farms, is a small time capsule, transporting Mr Muhammad Ali — known to everyone as Abu Arab — back to the days when this place was known by an Arabic name, Saffuriya, rather than its current Hebrew name, Tzipori.

Unlike most of the Palestinian refugees forced outside Israel’s borders by the 1948 war that led to the creation of the Jewish state, Abu Arab and his family fled nearby, to a neighborhood of Nazareth.

Refused the right to return to his childhood home, which was razed along with the rest of Saffuriya, he watched as the fields once owned by his parents were slowly taken over by Jewish immigrants, mostly from eastern Europe. Today only Saffuriya’s cemetery remains untouched.

Despite the loss of their village, the 4,500 refugees from Saffuriya and their descendants have clung to one hope: that the Jewish newcomers could not buy their land, only lease it temporarily from the state.

According to international law, Israel holds the property of more than four million Palestinian refugees in custodianship, until a final peace deal determines whether some or all of them will be allowed back to their 400-plus destroyed Palestinian villages or are compensated for their loss.

But last week, in a violation of international law and the refugees’ property rights that went unnoticed both inside Israel and abroad, Benjamin Netanyahu, the prime minister, forced through a revolutionary land reform.

The new law begins a process of creeping privatization of much of Israel’s developed land, including refugee property, said Oren Yiftachel, a geographer at Ben Gurion University in Beersheva.

Mr Netanyahu and the bill’s supporters argue that the law will cut out a whole level of state bureaucracy, make land transactions simpler and more efficient and cut house prices.

In practice, it will mean that the 200 Jewish families of Tzipori will be able to buy their homes, including a new cluster of bungalows that is being completed on land next to the cemetery that belonged to Abu Arab’s parents.

The privatization of Tzipori’s refugee land will remove it from the control of an official known as the Custodian of Absentee Property, who is supposed to safeguard it for the refugees.

"Now the refugees will no longer have a single address — Israel — for our claims," said Abu Arab. "We will have to make our case individually against many hundreds of thousands of private homeowners."

He added: "Israel is like a thief who wants to hide his loot. Instead of putting the stolen goods in one box, he moves it to 700 different boxes so it cannot be found."

Mr Netanyahu was given a rough ride by Israeli legislators over the reform, though concern about the refugees’ rights was not among the reasons for their protests.

Last month, he had to pull the bill at the last minute as its defeat threatened to bring down the government. He forced it through on a second attempt last week but only after he had warned his coalition partners that they would be dismissed if they voted against it.

A broad coalition of opposition had formed to what was seen as a reversal of a central tenet of Zionism: that the territory Israel acquired in 1948 exists for the benefit not of Israelis but of Jews around the world.

In that spirit, Israel’s founders nationalized not only the refugees’ property but also vast swathes of land they confiscated from the remaining Palestinian minority who gained citizenship and now comprise a fifth of the population. By the 1970s, 93 per cent of Israel’s territory was in the hands of the state.

The disquiet provoked by Mr Netanyahu’s privatization came from a variety of sources: the religious right believes the law contravenes a Biblical injunction not to sell land promised by God; environmentalists are concerned that developers will tear apart the Israeli countryside; and Zionists publicly fear that oil-rich sheikhs from the Gulf will buy up the country.

Arguments from the Palestinian minority’s leaders against the reform, meanwhile, were ignored — until Hezbollah’s leader, Hassan Nasrallah, added his voice at the weekend. In a statement, he warned that the law "validates and perpetuates the crime of land and property theft from the Palestinian refugees of the 1948 Nakba".

Suhad Bishara, a lawyer from the Adalah legal center for Israel’s Palestinian minority, said the law had been carefully drafted to ensure that foreigners, including wealthy sheikhs, cannot buy land inside Israel.

"Only Israeli citizens and anyone who can come to Israel under the Law of Return — that is, any Jew — can buy the lands on offer, so no ‘foreigner’ will be eligible."

Another provision in the law means that even internal refugees like Abu Arab, who has Israeli citizenship, will be prevented from buying back land that rightfully belongs to them, Ms Bishara said.

"As is the case now in terms of leasing land," she explained, "admissibility to buy land in rural communities like Tzipori will be determined by a selection committee whose job it will be to frustrate applications from Arab citizens."

Supporters of the law have still had to allay the Jewish opposition’s concerns. Mr Netanyahu has repeatedly claimed that only a tiny proportion of Israeli territory — about four per cent — is up for privatization

But, according to Mr Yiftachel, who lobbied against the reform, that means about half of Israel’s developed land will be available for purchase over the next few years. And he suspects privatization will not stop there.

"Once this red line has been crossed, there is nothing to stop the government passing another law next year approving the privatization of the rest of the developed areas," he said.

Ms Bishara said among the first refugee properties that would be put on the market were those in Israel’s cities, such as Jaffa, Acre, Tiberias, Haifa and Lod, followed by homes in many of the destroyed villages like Saffuriya.

She said Adalah was already preparing an appeal to the Supreme Court on behalf of the refugees, and if unsuccessful would then take the matter to international courts.

Adalah has received inquiries from hundreds of Palestinian refugees from around the world asking what they can do to stop Israel selling their properties.

"Many of them expressed an interest in suing Israel," she said.

A version of this article originally appeared in The National, published in Abu Dhabi.

http://original.antiwar.com/cook/2009/08/14/israel-begins-sell-off-of-refugees-land/

accuracy

16-08-2009, 10:17 AM

GOOGLE GOING PALESTINIAN

August 15, 2009

http://desertpeace.files.wordpress.com/2009/08/palestine-net6.jpg

Now this is humorous… Google, the zionist controlled and operated search engine has opened a domain for Palestinians.

Google, the same outfit that censors pro Palestinian news sites on their engine, that shuts down pro Palestinian Blogs has opened a domain for Palestinians.

Will this domain pick and chose what Palestinians will be able to find on this domain? Will Google only allow pro Israeli views to be downloaded on this new site?

There is an old saying….’Beware of zionists bearing gifts’…. originally known as ‘Beware of Greeks bearing gifts’.

Palestinians get Google domain
Jerusalem — The Internet search engine Google has opened up a domain for Palestinians living in the West Bank and Gaza, Palestinian media said.

The new domain provides Arabic speaking Internet users with Palestinian service providers, access to Google Arabic, the Palestinian Maan news agency quoted the company as saying.

Until now Palestinian Internet users had to rely on Egyptian or Jordanian domains when searching for Arabic sites.

The new Google domain allows users to access more locally relevant content, Maan said.

The new service started Thursday and automatically redirects Palestinian users to the new domain.

Google has more than 160 domains worldwide, the news agency said.

Source

http://desertpeace.wordpress.com/2009/08/15/google-going-palestinian/

accuracy

16-08-2009, 10:24 AM

http://www.stopthewall.org/downloads/cover100.jpg

http://www.stopthewall.org/downloads/pdf/UnderOccupation.pdf

accuracy

16-08-2009, 10:32 AM

Who profits from Israeli occupation?

Boycotted by activists, the Israeli company AHAVA is backed by one of Israel's most powerful families

August 10, 2009

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L32Nama7ad8

accuracy

16-08-2009, 10:38 AM

UN report accuses Israel of Gaza violations

By Harvey Morris at the United Nations

Published: August 15 2009 02:30 | Last updated: August 15 2009 02:30

A United Nations probe into Israel’s actions during its invasion of the Gaza Strip at the turn of the year points to serious violations of international humanitarian law, the world body’s human rights commissioner said on Friday.

A report by Navi Pillay, UN Human Rights commissioner, said: “significant prima facie evidence indicates that serious violations of international humanitarian law as well as gross human rights violations occurred during the military operations.

She said the situation had been compounded by the continuation of a blockade on Gaza that was in place before Israel launched Operation Cast Lead between December 27 and January 18 in response to Palestinian rocket attacks on southern Israel. Human rights officials estimated more than 1,200 Palestinians died in the invasion.

Ms Pillay’s report will be presented to the UN General Assembly in New York next month. It is separate from a special inquiry established under the chairmanship of Richard Goldstone, a South African judge, and due to be published soon.

Israel declined to co-operate with either investigation and the findings are not binding on member states. The Human Rights Council has long been criticised by Israel and the US as a forum for partisan attacks on Israel. The Obama administration, however, reversed a boycott of the Geneva-based body and the US was elected to it in May.

The UN inquiry team’s findings also said reports indicated Hamas had conducted a large number of extrajudicial executions, beatings, torture and ill-treatment against alleged collaborators and Fatah supporters during and after the Israeli operation in Gaza.

Ms Pillay’s report linked Israel’s actions in Gaza to a culture of impunity. “While these violations are of deep concern in their own right, the nearly total impunity that persists for such violations …is of grave concern, and constitutes a root cause for their persistence.”

An internal Israeli inquiry into events in Gaza concluded in April there had been no violations of international law.

The Pillay report follows allegations this week by Human Rights Watch that during the Gaza operation Israeli soldiers opened fire on at least seven groups of Palestinian civilians who were carrying white flags, killing 11 people.

On the general situation in the occupied Palestinian territories, Ms Pillay said: “Reported human rights violations during the reporting period include arbitrary detentions; torture and ill-treatment; extrajudicial executions; forced evictions and home demolitions; settlement expansion and related violence; as well as restrictions on freedom of movement and freedom of expression.”

She said impunity extended to violent settlers in the West Bank. She expressed concern at instances where the armed forces “acquiesce or even co-operate with settlers in committing violent acts against Palestinians”.
.Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2009. You may share using our article tools. Please don't cut articles from FT.com and redistribute by email or post to the web.

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/09a9598c-88f9-11de-b50f-00144feabdc0.html?nclick_check=1

accuracy

17-08-2009, 12:06 PM

Israeli army shoots, gasses MK at anti-wall rally in Bil'in

August 16, 2009

http://atheonews.blogspot.com/2009/08/israeli-army-shoots-gasses-mk-at-anti.html

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_TnDThSQGhrI/SohMnJROEyI/AAAAAAAABNo/TcfhP3xtUaM/s320/58072_200x150.jpg

Bethlehem - Ma’an - Israeli Knesset Member from the Democratic Front for Peace and Equality Dove Hannen was one of hundreds of international and Israeli peace activists who participated in the weekly anti-wall protest in the village of Bil'in on Friday.

Hannen was tear gassed, shot at with rubber-coated metal bullets and subjected to sound bombs by soldiers from his country’s military as he marched with Palestinian villagers and internationals toward the Israeli separation wall being built on the village lands.

********************************

accuracy

17-08-2009, 12:15 PM

‘EXPOSE’ OF THE CENTURY

August 16, 2009

http://desertpeace.files.wordpress.com/2009/08/everyhumanhasrights-badge.jpg

OMG! OMG!! OMG!!! Can you imagine that the Human Rights report dealing with Israeli war crimes in Gaza was ”written by Palestinians in Ramallah” and “screened by Palestinian lawyers in Geneva in order to satisfy Palestinian diplomats on the Human Rights Council.”

How dare they!
It should have been members of Israels Right wing government that prepared that report…. then it definitely would not be biased!
What CHUTZPAH on the part of the Palestinians!

‘UN Gaza report written by Palestinians’
By TOVAH LAZAROFF

The latest United Nations anti-Israel report was written solely “to appease the Arab-controlled Human Rights Council,” Aharon Leshno Yaar, Israel’s ambassador to the UN in Geneva, said on Saturday.

http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?blobcol=urlimage&blobheader=image%2Fjpeg

Israel’s ambassador to the UN in Geneva, Aharon Leshno Yaar at the European headquarters of the United Nations in Geneva.
Photo: AP [file]

He spoke with The Jerusalem Post by phone, a day after UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay submitted a report on what she termed “grave violations of human rights in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, particularly due to the recent Israeli military attacks against the occupied Gaza Strip.”
Her 34-page report was created at the request of the Human Rights Council in a special session it held on Israel in January.

The report will be presented to the council on September 29, along with a separate report that is being compiled by South African jurist Richard Goldstone.

Leshno Yaar said Pillay’s report was “written by Palestinians in Ramallah” and “screened by Palestinian lawyers in Geneva in order to satisfy Palestinian diplomats on the Human Rights Council.”

It was “totally biased” and based on unsubstantiated information, he said. “It ignores the facts and the Israeli positions.”

“As far as Israel is concerned, we trust our military, we trust our legal system and we are ignoring this report,” Leshno Yaar said.
In her report, Pillay said, “There is significant evidence which indicates that serious violations of international humanitarian law, as well as gross human rights violations occurred during the the military operations of 27 December 2008 to 18 January 2009.”

She also accused Israel of harming unarmed civilians and of violating the rules of war with its “blockade” of the Gaza Strip.

Pillay said Israel’s closure of its passages into Gaza for all but humanitarian goods amounts to collective punishment of civilians, which is prohibited under the Geneva Conventions on the conduct of warfare and occupation.

She cited the conventions’ requirement that “no protected person may be punished for an offense he or she has not personally committed. Collective penalties and likewise all measures of intimidation or of terrorism are prohibited.”

Pillay urged Israel to ease restrictions immediately “with a view to the complete lifting of the blockade and other restrictions.”

Pillay also called on Israel to “stop its expansion of settlements, which are illegal” and to punish all settlers who attack Palestinians.

She also expressed concern that Israel had not complied with the International Court of Justice’s 2004 advisory opinion against the security barrier, which stated that its construction in the West Bank was illegal.

She called for Israelis and Palestinians to receive building permits “in a nondiscriminatory manner” in east Jerusalem and the West Bank.

Source
http://desertpeace.wordpress.com/2009/08/16/expose-of-the-century/

accuracy

17-08-2009, 12:24 PM

"Myspace Jews" group discussing Obama protests in Jerusalem

Wow these people are truly insane!

Webmaster's Commentary:
I am reading all the comments about telling the USA to @#%$ off, but not one single comment about refusing the billions in US tax dollars Israel gets every single year.

Israel likes to pretend it is an independent nation, but until it is willing to live without that US economic life support, then it's just another parasite.

Check out this forum:-

http://www.rys2sense.com/anti-neocons/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=19514

accuracy

19-08-2009, 12:28 PM

Top Sweden newspaper says IDF kills Palestinians for their organs

19/08/2009

A leading Swedish newspaper reported this week that Israeli soldiers are abducting Palestinians in order to steal their organs, a claim that prompted furious condemnation and accusations of anti-Semitic blood libel from a rival publication.

"They plunder the organs of our sons," read the headline in Sweden's largest daily newspaper, the left-leaning Aftonbladet, which devoted a double spread in its cultural section to the article.

(Click here for the original article in Swedish)

The report quotes Palestinian claims that young men from the West Bank and Gaza Strip had been seized by the Israel Defense Forces, and their bodies returned to the families with missing organs.

"'Our sons are used as involuntary organ donors,' relatives of Khaled from Nablus said to me, as did the mother of Raed from Jenin as well as the uncles of Machmod and Nafes from Gaza, who all had disappeared for a few days and returned by night, dead and autopsied," writes author Donald Boström in his report.

Boström's article makes a link to the recent exposure of an alleged crime syndicate in New Jersey. The syndicate includes several American rabbis, and one Levy Izhak Rosenbaum, who faces charges of conspiring to broker the sale of a human kidney for a transplant.

(Click here for the opinion piece in Swedish)

Boström also cites an incident of alleged organ snatching from 1992, during the time of the first Palestinian intifada. He says that the IDF seized a young man known for throwing stones at Israeli troops in the Nablus area, who was shot in the chest, both legs, and the stomach before being taken to a military helicopter which transported him to "a place unknown to his loved ones".

Five nights later, Boström says, the young man's body was returned, wrapped in green hospital sheets.

"The sharp sounds from the shovels were mixed with the occasional laughter from the soldiers who were joking with each other, waiting to go home. When Bilal was put into his grave, his chest was revealed and suddenly it became clear to the present what abuse he had been put through. Bilal was far from the only one who was buried cut-up from his stomach to his chin and the speculations about the reason why had already started," he writes.

But the liberal Sydsvenskan - southern Sweden's major daily - had harsh criticism for the rival paper, running an opinion piece under the headline "Antisemitbladet" (a play on the name Aftonbladet).

"We have heard the story before, in one form or the other. It follows the traditional pattern of conspiracy theory: a great number of loose threads that the theorist tempts the reader to tie into a neat knot without having been provided with any proven connection whatsoever," writes leading columnist Mats Skogkär of Sydsvenskan.

"Whispers in the dark. Anonymous sources. Rumors. That is all it takes. After all we all know what they [the Jews] are like, don't we: inhuman, hardened. Capable of anything," the opinion piece says. "Now all that remains is the defense, equally predictable: 'Anti-Semitism' No, no, just criticism of Israel."

The Foreign Ministry reacted angrily on Tuesday to the report. Ministry spokesperson Yigal Palmor said the newspaper's decision to publish the story is "a mark of disgrace" for the Swedish press.

"In a democratic country, there should be no place for dark blood libels out of the Middle Ages of this type," Palmor said. "This is an article that shames Swedish democracy and the entire Swedish press."

A Foreign Ministry official said that Israel's embassy in Stockholm have communicated a harsh condemnation to the Swedish government and the newspaper itself.

Anna Ekström and Mikael Tossavainen contributed to this report .

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1108384.html

accuracy

19-08-2009, 12:35 PM

Fake Al Qaeda Actors EXPOSED! Adam Gadahn & Yousef al-Khattab

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GsUtvOW6SR0

accuracy

21-08-2009, 12:22 PM

Gaza: Where cancer sufferers get only painkillers

http://uruknet.com/pic.php?f=19-gaza-c-200908181405110359.jpg

Photo: Erica Silverman/IRIN
Ismail Ahmed, 66, from Shujayah, lies in the cancer unit of As-Shifa, Gaza’s primary hospital. His catheter for urination flows into a wastebasket due to a lack of medical supplies at the hospital

GAZA CITY, 19 August 2009 (IRIN)- Arafat Hamdona, 20, has been confined to the cancer unit of As-Shifa, Gaza’s primary hospital, since he was diagnosed with maxillary skin tumours in June 2008. Red lesions protrude from his face, his features are distorted and his eyes swollen shut.

In April, Arafat was permitted to travel to Augusta Victoria Hospital in East Jerusalem where he received three series of chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatment. He was scheduled to return for further treatment, but has not been granted permission by the Israeli authorities to leave Gaza.

"He is only given pain killers," said Arafat’s father, Faraj Hamdona, explaining that that is all As-Shifa has to offer.

According to a July 2009 report published by the World Health Organization (WHO) in Jerusalem, Gaza doctors and nurses do not have the medical equipment to respond to the health needs of the 1.5 million people living in the Gaza Strip.

Medical equipment is often broken, lacking spare parts, or outdated.

WHO attributes the dismal state of Gaza’s healthcare system to the Israeli blockade of the territory, tightened in June 2007 after Hamas, considered a terrorist organization by the West, seized control. The poor organization of maintenance services in Gaza compounds the problem, reports WHO.

Medical equipment sits idle

Some 500 tons of donations of medical equipment which flooded the Strip after Israel’s military offensive ended on 18 January sits idle in warehouses. Few donors consulted the health ministry or aid agencies working in Gaza to find out what provisions were needed. According to the health ministry, 20 percent of the donated medications had expired. WHO said much of the equipment sent was old and unusable due to a lack of spare parts.

WHO also said suppliers were unable to access medical equipment for repairs and maintenance and "since 2000, maintenance staff and clinical workers have not been able to leave the Strip for training in the use of medical devices".

The Israeli Defence Ministry says it is not obliged to allow into Gaza anything other than basic humanitarian supplies necessary for survival, and is concerned certain medical technology could be used for other more sinister means. Gaza’s only other connection to the outside world is its border crossing with Egypt, which is closed most of the time.

The lack of proper medical care in Gaza can have dire consequences.

"The largest number of deaths due to the siege is among cancer patients," Gaza deputy health minister Hassan Halifa said. "Radiotherapy for cancer patients is not available due to the lack of equipment, and chemotherapy is generally not available due to the lack of drugs."

Lack of drugs, medical supplies

In July, 77 out of 480 essential drugs and 140 out of 700 essential medical supplies in Gaza’s health ministry were out of stock, according to WHO.

Ismail Ahmed, a 66-year-old from Shujayah, also lies in the cancer unit of As-Shifa, with a catheter for urination flowing into a wastebasket.
There are not enough IV [intravenous] bags. The nurses put blood into plastic water bottles to transfer into my IV bag.

"We lack necessary equipment for the patients," Abdullah Farajullah, a nurse at the unit, said.

Suffering from bladder cancer, Ismail requires blood transfusions.

"There are not enough IV [intravenous] bags. The nurses put blood into plastic water bottles to transfer into my IV bag," Ismail said.

Due to a lack of equipment, he has been on a waiting list for over a month to have a CT (computed tomography) scan, and requires an MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) - although Gaza lacks a single working MRI scanner, according to WHO.

As-Shifa lacks equipment for basic blood tests. Patients rely on family members to take their blood to certain clinics for testing.

Limited electricity

Another problem for medics in Gaza is the irregular electricity supply, which affects sensitive medical equipment such as incubators and kidney dialysis machines.

Hospitals in Gaza use uninterruptable power supply (UPS) systems as backups, but they require batteries which are often not available due to border closures with Israel and Egypt, according to WHO.

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is funding and supplying 30 percent of medications and medical supplies in Gaza, said communications officer Mustafa Abu-Hassanain in Gaza.

"Most of the other 70 percent comes from the health ministry in Ramallah, paid for by the Palestinian Authority budget," said Tony Laurance, head of WHO’s West Bank and Gaza Office in Jerusalem.

There is a dialogue between the health ministry in Gaza and the ministry in Ramallah (under Fatah’s control). Deliveries must be approved by the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT), a unit of the Israeli Ministry of Defence, before being allowed into Gaza, explained Laurance.

This supply chain is unpredictable and exacerbated by the conflict between Fatah and Hamas.

es/ed/cb
http://uruknet.com/?p=m57115&hd=&size=1&l=e

accuracy

21-08-2009, 12:36 PM

Israel Absolves Itself of Responsibility for Brain-Damaged American Peace Activist
Richard Silverstein

http://desertpeace.files.wordpress.com/2009/08/tristan.jpg

If it weren’t so tragic, it would actually be entertaining to watch Israel work every possible legal and political angle to get its way in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The IDF, intelligence agencies, and military lawyers would put those of Kafka’s The Trial to shame. And they’ve worked their magic once again in the case of Tristan Anderson, American peace activist who was shot in the head at an anti-Separation Wall demonstration several months ago, suffering serious brain injury for which he is still hospitalized. It simply would not do for Israel to accept any responsibility for assaulting and nearly killing an unarmed, non-violent protestor who posed no threat to Israeli personnel. As a matter of principle, Israel believes it must refuse comfort to its enemies, even if Israel itself has inflicted the suffering. Thus we learn that the government has informed Anderson’s Israeli lawyers that he was shot under an “act of war.” This seems to be the equivalent in insurance lingo of an “act of God.” In other words, in the midst of war all sins are excused and no one is responsible no matter how heinous the act. Just witness the IDF’s approach to the Gaza war. Plenty of incidents verging on war crimes but somehow the army comes out smelling like a rose: it was an act of war, don’t you know.

The idea that an Israeli army facing a melange of Palestinian and international demonstrators armed with nothing more than the shirts on their backs and the sounds of their own voice constitutes an act of war is an insult to the world’s intelligence. Yes, some demonstrators at Bilin do throw rocks at heavily armed IDF soldiers who have rarely endured so much as a scratch. But Tristan Anderson was not one of these and there was absolutely no violence in the area when he was attacked.

Further, after B’Tselem admonished the IDF and insisted it direct its forces NOT to fire high velocity tear gas canisters at demonstrators’ bodies (heads, actually) as is its custom, no action has been taken. This would be the equivalent in a civil action where a defendant not only causes injury to the plaintiff but refuses to correct the dangerous condition that caused the injury. Any lawyer fresh out of law school could tell you that’s a recipe for a major financial penalty.

Israel has already agreed to pay the filmmaker James Miller’s family a $2.2-million settlement after the British attorney general threatened legal action against the government if it didn’t take heed. I expect the same thing will happen in this case, especially if the U.S. government acts as boldly as the Brits did (and they should). And I say more power to the Anderson family. If Israel can’t be made to see reason through moral suasion then stick it to them in the pocketbook. Enough of these settlements and maybe a few Israelis will begin to wonder why maintaining the Occupation is so costly. Whatever it takes.

Source via Uruknet

http://desertpeace.wordpress.com/2009/08/20/denial-is-more-than-a-river-in-the-middle-east/

accuracy

22-08-2009, 11:22 AM

Fri, 21 Aug 2009

The family members of a US peace activist, who was hit by an Israeli high-velocity tear gas canister on his head in the West Bank, have vowed to file a lawsuit.

http://www.presstv.ir/photo/20090821/tarapour20090821042854640.jpg
Tristan Anderson

After the incident, the Israeli government said that they could not be held responsible for such an act committed by their soldier as the victim was injured at a demonstration against the separation wall (also known as the Apartheid Wall) in the West Bank village of Ni'lin.

Although Tristan Anderson's shooting occurred during a civilian demonstration, Tel Aviv has labeled the protest in question as 'an act of war'.

There were no armed hostilities involved in the March 13, 2009 demonstration, in which Anderson was shot.

Just one month after Anderson's case, Bassem Abu Rahme, an organizer with the Anti-Wall campaign in Bil'in village, was fatally shot in the chest with a tear gas canister.

The Andersons' lawyer, Michael Sfard, believes that branding a civil demonstration as an 'act of war' could only mean that Israel is at war with civilians.

"International law identifies the incident as a clear case of human rights abuse. We will pursue this matter and take the government of Israel to court," Sfard said.

Anderson remains hospitalized and in a severe condition five months after being shot with little hope of recovery in sight.

FTP/SME/MMN
http://www.presstv.ir/classic/detail.aspx?id=104094&sectionid=351020202

accuracy

25-08-2009, 11:22 AM

Six Jewish Companies Own 96% of the World’s Media

March 16, 2009

The power of lies, deceptions and disinformation as Americans pay the price of collective stupidity.
“You know very well, and the stupid Americans know equally well, that we control their government, irrespective of who sits in the White House. You see, I know it and you know it that no American president can be in a position to challenge us even if we do the unthinkable. What can they (Americans) do to us? We control congress, we control the media, we control show biz, and we control everything in America. In America you can criticize God, but you can’t criticize Israel…”

The largest media conglomerate today is Walt Disney Company, whose chairman and CEO, Michael Eisner, is a Jew. The Disney Empire, headed by a man described by one media analyst as a “control freak”, includes several television production companies (Walt Disney Television, Touchstone Television, Buena Vista Television), its own cable network with 14 million subscribers, and two video production companies. As for feature films, the Walt Disney Picture Group, headed by Joe Roth (also a Jew), includes Touchstone Pictures, Hollywood Pictures, and Caravan Pictures. Disney also owns Miramax Films, run by the Weinstein brothers. When the Disney Company was run by the Gentile Disney family prior to its takeover by Eisner in 1984, it epitomized wholesome, family entertainment. While it still holds the rights to Snow White, under Eisner, the company has expanded into the production of graphic sex and violence. In addition, it has 225 affiliated stations in the United States and is part owner of several European TV companies. ABC’s cable subsidiary, ESPN, is headed by president and CEO Steven Bornstein, a Jew. This corporation also has a controlling share of Lifetime Television and the Arts & Entertainment Network cable companies. ABC Radio Network owns eleven AM and ten FM stations, again in major cities such as New York, Washington, Los Angeles, and has over 3,400 affiliates. Although primarily a telecommunications company, Capital Cities/ABC earned over $1 billion in publishing in 1994. It owns seven daily newspapers, Fairchild Publications, Chilton Publications, and the Diversified Publishing Group. Time Warner, Inc, is the second of the international media leviathans. The chairman of the board and CEO, Gerald Levin, is a Jew. Time Warner’s subsidiary HBO is the country’s largest pay-TV cable network. Warner Music is by far the world’s largest record company, with 50 labels, the biggest of which is Warner Brothers Records, headed by Danny Goldberg. Stuart Hersch is president of Warnervision, Warner Music’s video production unit. Goldberg and Hersch are Jews. Warner Music was an early promoter of “gangsta rap.” Through its involvement with Interscope Records, it helped popularize a genre whose graphic lyrics explicitly urge Blacks to commit acts of violence against Whites. In addition to cable and music, Time Warner is heavily involved in the production of feature films (Warner Brothers Studio) and publishing. Time Warner’s publishing division (editor-in-chief Norman Pearlstine, a Jew) is the largest magazine publisher in the country (Time, Sports Illustrated, People, Fortune). When Ted Turner, a Gentile, made a bid to buy CBS in 1985, there was panic in media boardrooms across the nation. Turner made a fortune in advertising and then had built a successful cable-TV news network, CNN. Although Turner employed a number of Jews in key executive positions in CNN and had never taken public positions contrary to Jewish interests, he is a man with a large ego and a strong personality and was regarded by Chairman William Paley (real name Palinsky, a Jew) and the other Jews at CBS as uncontrollable: a loose cannon who might at some time in the future turn against them. Furthermore, Jewish newsman Daniel Schorr, who had worked for Turner, publicly charged that his former boss held a personal dislike for Jews. To block Turner’s bid, CBS executives invited billionaire Jewish theater, hotel, insurance, and cigarette magnate Laurence Tisch to launch a “friendly” takeover of the company, and from 1986 till 1995 Tisch was the chairman and CEO of CBS, removing any threat of non-Jewish influence there. Subsequent efforts by Turner to acquire a major network have been obstructed by Levin’s Time Warner, which owns nearly 20 percent of CBS stock and has veto power over major deals. Viacom, Inc, headed by Sumner Redstone (born Murray Rothstein), a Jew, is the third largest megamedia corporation in the country, with revenues of over $10 billion a year. Viacom, which produces and distributes TV programs for the three largest networks, owns 12 television stations and 12 radio stations. It produces feature films through Paramount Pictures, headed by Jewess Sherry Lansing. Its publishing division includes Prentice Hall, Simon & Schuster, and Pocket Books. It distributes videos through over 4,000 Blockbuster stores. Viacom’s chief claim to fame, however, is as the world’s largest provider of cable programming, through its Showtime, MTV, Nickelodeon, and other networks. Since 1989, MTV and Nickelodeon have acquired larger and larger shares of the younger television audience. With the top three, and by far the largest, media companies in the hand of Jews, it is difficult to believe that such an overwhelming degree of control came about without a deliberate, concerted effort on their part. What about the other big media companies? Number four on the list is Rupert Murdoch’s News Corporation, which owns Fox Television and 20th Century Fox Films. Murdoch is a Gentile, but Peter Chermin, who heads Murdoch’s film studio and also oversees his TV production, is a Jew. Number five is the Japanese Sony Corporation, whose U.S. subsidiary, Sony Corporation of America, is run by Michael Schulhof, a Jew. Alan Levine, another Jew, heads the Sony Pictures division. Most of the television and movie production companies that are not owned by the largest corporations are also controlled by Jews. For example, New World Entertainment, proclaimed by one media analyst as “the premiere independent TV program producer in the United States,” is owned by Ronald Perelman, a Jew. The best known of the smaller media companies, Dreamworks SKG, is a strictly kosher affair. Dream Works was formed in 1994 amid great media hype by recording industry mogul David Geffen, former Disney Pictures chairman Jeffrey Katzenberg, and film director Steven Spielberg, all three of whom are Jews. The company produces movies, animated films, television programs, and recorded music. Two other large production companies, MCA and Universal Pictures, are both owned by Seagram Company, Ltd. The president and CEO of Seagram, the liquor giant, is Edgar Bronfman Jr., who is also president of the World Jewish Congress. It is well known that Jews have controlled the production and distribution of films since the inception of the movie industry in the early decades of the 20th century. This is still the case today. Films produced by just the five largest motion picture companies mentioned above-Disney, Warner Brothers, Sony, Paramount (Viacom), and Universal (Seagram)-accounted for 74 per cent of the total box-office receipts for the first eight months of 1995. The big three in television network broadcasting used to be ABC, CBS, and NBC. With the consolidation of the media empires, these three are no longer independent entities. While they were independent, however, each was controlled by a Jew since its inception: ABC by Leonard Goldenson, CBS first by William Paley and then by Lawrence Tisch, and NBC first by David Sarnoff and then by his son Robert. Over periods of several decades, these networks were staffed from top to bottom with Jews, and the essential Jewishness of network television did not change when the networks were absorbed by other corporations. The Jewish presence in television news remains particularly strong. As noted, ABC is part of Eisner’s Disney Company, and the executive producers of ABC’s news programs are all Jews: Victor Neufeld (20-20), Bob Reichbloom (Good Morning America), and Rick Kaplan (World News Tonight). CBS was recently purchased by Westinghouse Electric Corporation. Nevertheless, the man appointed by Lawrence Tisch, Eric Ober, remains president of CBS News, and Ober is a Jew. At NBC, now owned by General Electric, NBC News president Andrew Lack is a Jew, as are executive producers Jeff Zucker (Today), Jeff Gralnick (NBC Nightly News), and Neal Shapiro (Dateline). The Print Media After television news, daily newspapers are the most influential information medium in America. Sixty million of them are sold (and presumably read) each day. These millions are divided among some 1,500 different publications. One might conclude that the sheer number of different newspapers across America would provide a safeguard against Jewish control and distortion. However, this is not the case. There is less independence, less competition, and much less representation of our interests than a casual observer would think. The days when most cities and even towns had several independently owned newspapers published by local people with close ties to the community are gone. Today, most “local” newspapers are owned by a rather small number of large companies controlled by executives who live and work hundreds or ever thousands of miles away. The fact is that only about 25 per cent of the country’s 1,500 papers are independently owned; the rest belong to multi-newspaper chains. Only a handful are large enough to maintain independent reporting staffs outside their own communities; the rest depend on these few for all of their national and international news. The Newhouse empire of Jewish brothers Samuel and Donald Newhouse provides an example of more than the lack of real competition among America’s daily newspapers: it also illustrates the insatiable appetite Jews have shown for all the organs of opinion control on which they could fasten their grip. The Newhouses own 26 daily newspapers, including several large and important ones, such as the Cleveland Plain Dealer, the Newark Star-Ledger, and the New Orleans Times-Picayune; the nation’s largest trade book publishing conglomerate, Random House, with all its subsidiaries; Newhouse Broadcasting, consisting of 12 television broadcasting stations and 87 cable-TV systems, including some of the country’s largest cable networks; the Sunday supplement Parade, with a circulation of more than 22 million copies per week; some two dozen major magazines, including the New Yorker, Vogue, Madmoiselle, Glamour, Vanity Fair, Bride’s, Gentlemen’s Quarterly, Self, House & Garden, and all the other magazines of the wholly owned Conde Nast group. This Jewish media empire was founded by the late Samuel Newhouse, an immigrant from Russia. The gobbling up of so many newspapers by the Newhouse family was in large degree made possible by the fact that newspapers are not supported by their subscribers, but by their advertisers. It is advertising revenue–not the small change collected from a newspaper’s readers–that largely pays the editor’s salary and yields the owner’s profit. Whenever the large advertisers in a city choose to favor one newspaper over another with their business, the favored newspaper will flourish while its competitor dies. Since the beginning of the 20th century, when Jewish mercantile power in America became a dominant economic force, there has been a steady rise in the number of American newspapers in Jewish hands, accompanied by a steady decline in the number of competing Gentile newspapers–primarily as a result of selective advertising policies by Jewish merchants. Furthermore, even those newspapers still under Gentile ownership and management are so thoroughly dependent upon Jewish advertising revenue that their editorial and news reporting policies are largely constrained by Jewish likes and dislikes. It holds true in the newspaper business as elsewhere that he who pays the piper calls the tune.

accuracy

25-08-2009, 11:24 AM

Three Jewish Newspapers

The suppression of competition and the establishment of local monopolies on the dissemination of news and opinion have characterized the rise of Jewish control over America’s newspapers. The resulting ability of the Jews to use the press as an unopposed instrument of Jewish policy could hardly be better illustrated than by the examples of the nation’s three most prestigious and influential newspapers: the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, and the Washington Post. These three, dominating America’s financial and political capitals, are the newspapers which set the trends and the guidelines for nearly all the others. They are the ones which decide what is news and what isn’t, at the national and international levels. They originate the news; the others merely copy it, and all three newspapers are in Jewish hands. The New York Times was founded in 1851 by two Gentiles, Henry Raymond and George Jones. After their deaths, it was purchased in 1896 from Jones’s estate by a wealthy Jewish publisher, Adolph Ochs. His great-grandson, Arthur Ochs Sulzberger, Jr., is the paper’s current publisher and CEO. The executive editor is Max Frankel, and the managing editor is Joseph Lelyveld. Both of the latter are also Jews. The Sulzberger family also owns, through the New York Times Co., 33 other newspapers, including the Boston Globe; twelve magazines, including McCall’s and Family Circle with circulations of more than 5 million each; seven radio and TV broadcasting stations; a cable-TV system; and three book publishing companies. The New York Times News Service transmits news stories, features, and photographs from the New York Times by wire to 506 other newspapers, news agencies, and magazines. Of similar national importance is the Washington Post, which, by establishing its “leaks” throughout government agencies in Washington, has an inside track on news involving the Federal government. The Washington Post, like the New York Times, had a non-Jewish origin. It was established in 1877 by Stilson Hutchins, purchased from him in 1905 by John McLean, and later inherited by Edward McLean. In June 1933, however, at the height of the Great Depression, the newspaper was forced into bankruptcy. It was purchased at a bankruptcy auction by Eugene Meyer, a Jewish financier. The Washington Post is now run by Katherine Meyer Graham, Eugene Meyer’s daughter. She is the principal stockholder and the board chairman of the Washington Post Co. In 1979, she appointed her son Donald publisher of the paper. He now also holds the posts of president and CEO of the Washington Post Co. The Washington Post Co. has a number of other media holdings in newspapers, television, and magazines, most notably the nation’s number-two weekly newsmagazine, Newsweek. The Wall Street Journal, which sells 1.8 million copies each weekday, is the nation’s largest-circulation daily newspaper. It is owned by Dow Jones & Company, Inc., a New York corporation which also publishes 24 other daily newspapers and the weekly financial tabloid Barron’s, among other things. The chairman and CEO of Dow Jones is Peter Kann, who is a Jew. Kann also holds the posts of chairman and publisher of the Wall Street Journal. Most of New York’s other major newspapers are in no better hands than the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal. The New York Daily News is owned by Jewish real-estate developer Mortimer B. Zuckerman. The Village Voice is the personal property of Leonard Stern, the billionaire Jewish owner of the Hartz Mountain pet supply firm.

Other Mass Media

The story is pretty much the same for other media as it is for television, radio, and newspapers. Consider, for example, newsmagazines. There are only three of any note published in the United States: Time, Newsweek, and U.S. News and World Report. Time, with a weekly circulation of 4.1 million, is published by a susidiary of Time Warner Communications. The CEO of Time Warner Communications, as mentioned above, is Gerald Levin, a Jew. Newsweek, as mentioned above, is published by the Washington Post Company, under the Jewess Katherine Meyer Graham. Its weekly circulation is 3.2 million. U.S. News & World Report, with a weekly circulation of 2.3 million, is owned and published by Mortimer Zuckerman, a Jew. Zuckerman also owns the Atlantic Monthly and New York’s tabloid newspaper, the Daily News, which is the sixth-largest paper in the country. Among the giant book-publishing conglomerates, the situation is also Jewish. Three of the six largest book publishers in the U.S., according to Publisher’s Weekly, are owned or controlled by Jews. The three are first-place Random House (with its many subsidiaries, including Crown Publishing Group), third-place Simon & Schuster, and sixth-place Time Warner Trade Group (including Warner Books and Little, Brown). Another publisher of special significance is Western Publishing. Although it ranks only 13th in size among all U.S. publishers, it ranks first among publishers of children’s books, with more than 50 percent of the market. Its chairman and CEO is Richard Snyder, a Jew, who just replaced Richard Bernstein, also a Jew.

The Effect of Jewish Control of the Media

These are the facts of Jewish media control in America. Anyone willing to spend several hours in a large library can verify their accuracy. I hope that these facts are disturbing to you, to say the least. Should any minority be allowed to wield such awesome power? Certainly, not and allowing a people with beliefs such as expressed in the Talmud, to determine what we get to read or watch in effect gives this small minority the power to mold our minds to suit their own Talmudic interests, interests which as we have demonstrated are diametrically opposed to the interests of our people. By permitting the Jews to control our news and entertainment media, we are doing more than merely giving them a decisive influence on our political system and virtual control of our government; we also are giving them control of the minds and souls of our children, whose attitudes and ideas are shaped more by Jewish television and Jewish films than by their parents, their schools, or any other influence.

http://pakalert.wordpress.com/2009/03/16/six-jewish-companies-own-96-of-the-worlds-media/

dolores1

27-08-2009, 04:07 AM

I have spent a considerable time in these past years trying to separate Jews from Zionists. I get email news from "Jewish Voices For Peace" trying, like I to save Palestine, but I find there are very few Jewish voices willing to join the conversation.

This saddens me deeply, but I have to finally admit you are right in vocalising the separation felt by the majority of Isreali Jewish people from the remainder of humanity: The goyim.

These are the people who control the media world wide.

The treatment of Isreal of the Ethopian Jewish settlers and their refusal to admit any more, differs from their own Isreali statement that ALL Jews should come to Isreal stands out as a banner of racism. Isreal threw away the blood of the Ethopean blood donors when blood transfussions were needed. But they will use Palistenian organs unwillingly "donated".

I now think most Jews are mind-controlled via the holocaust without understanding that their origins are not in Palestine, but near Hungary and I also fear that once again they are being set up as the "Patsy" for Zionists. They now love the ability to call themselves victims, but their DNA shows they are very rarely Semites

But this time they are co-operating in Isreal. By the way I am Irish and I don't do religion. It kills people.

accuracy

27-08-2009, 11:07 AM

accuracy

27-08-2009, 12:11 PM

The existence of a nuclear-armed Israel shows the hypocrisy of Western powers that continue to show their “deepening concern” about the “potential pursuit of a nuclear weapon by Iran”. At a White House press conference on 18 May 2009, US President Barack Obama expressed “deepening concern” about “the potential pursuit of a nuclear weapon by Iran.” He continued: “Iran obtaining a nuclear weapon would not only be a threat to Israel and a threat to the United States, but would be profoundly destabilizing in the international community as a whole and could set off a nuclear arms race in the Middle East.”

In his speech, Obama “forgot” to mention the Israeli nuclear arsenal, which is considered by Middle East Muslim nations as a threat.

Read on.

http://politicaltheatrics.org/2009/08/26/israeli-nuclear-weapons-western-hypocrisy/

accuracy

27-08-2009, 12:18 PM

August 25, 2009

http://desertpeace.files.wordpress.com/2009/08/victim1.jpg

Despite the fact the Swedish newspaper which reported on the organ harvesting admitting last night that there was no proof to their allegations, there is not a word in the Israeli press about this. Israel apparently does not want to give up it’s claim of being the victim.

Yes, there were are murders of innocent Palestinians, Yes, there were are autopsies (which BTW are forbidden both in Islam and Judaism), Yes, there were are ’ransoms’ demanded for the return of many bodies….. BUT how do we really know those bodies ‘were stuffed with cotton”? Was a second autopsy performed? A Palestinian journalist living abroad reported today that Palestinian graves were desecrated. Are we to believe that organs are being harvested from decomposing bodies? I think not!

Why has the Palestinian leadership remained silent on this issue? Why have the aging remnants of Israel’s ‘Left’ remained silent on this issue? Why have the Palestinian members of the Israeli Knesset remained silent on this issue?
Perhaps the answer lies in the fact that there actually is not a real issue to speak out against.

There have been many comments in the Guardian, whose readers used to be anti-Israel, and this time 90% of them were pro-Israel. Of course the Guardian article didn’t say at all that Bostrom was right, but simply even if Bostrom is a liar and a bad journalist, Israel overreacted a bit; yet most of the readers wrote that Israel is absolutely right, etc. etc. And so Israel is the victim again, courtesy of Bostrom and Aftonbladet.This is just what Israel wants.

Needless to say, Israel ‘thrives on being the victim’. For us that work endlessly to help bring justice to the cause of the Palestinian people it is of vital importance that we ‘keep our eye on the prize’ and not be distracted by what might be total fabrications of zionism.

There are real crimes committed against the Palestinian people daily by the Israeli government, the IDF in particular. We do not have to fabricate crimes or exaggerate them… they are real. Mazin Qumsiyeh, a regular contributor to this Blog had the following observation…. A big tempest in a tea pot is brewing as Israel and Sweden enter a diplomatic fray because a Swedish newspaper suggested investigations are needed on cases of removal of organs from Palestinians killed by Israeli forces. There has been thousands of Palestinian civilians killed by Israeli forces and families in many cases explain how the injured and killed are taken to medical facilities and returned ordered to be buried immediately without uncovering why their bodies were opened “for autopsies” and stitched back with missing organs. Now there are so many documented Israeli atrocities and I do believe it is important that activists get their stories right before adding another to the long list of (far better) documented atrocities. There have been well-documented massacres, ethnic cleansing, use of white phosphorous on civilians, mass execution, torture, extrajudicial execution, bombing of crowded refugee camps, and many more. So I will not here add to this storm. I did notice missing from the discussion the fact that Israeli authorities themselves have acknowledged at least one pathologist harvesting organs but that story from 2002 was never followed up and we do not know what happened to this investigations (like hundreds of other “investigations” before it): Abu Kabir Operating Organ Warehouse.

So, let us ‘keep our eye on the prize’ till Palestine is FREE! Let us not allow Israel to become the victim when Palestine is. Let us beware of all traps set by the zionists…. this particular issue just might be one of them.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ZWdDI_fkns

http://desertpeace.wordpress.com/2009/08/25/israel-thrives-on-being-the-victim/

accuracy

29-08-2009, 10:34 AM

REPRODUCING FAILURE

August 28, 2009

Image by Ismael Shammout

http://desertpeace.files.wordpress.com/2009/08/cold-and-worry.jpg

Khalid Amayreh

The US is insisting on restarting talks between the Palestinians and Israel, but to what end, asks Khalid Amayreh in occupied Jerusalem

Having utterly failed to get Israel to freeze Jewish settlement expansion in the West Bank, especially in East Jerusalem, the Obama administration is now asking Israel and the Palestinian Authority (PA) to resume peace talks as soon as possible.

The US State Department said this week it was getting closer to winning the agreements of both Israel and the PA to resume talks. Spokesperson Ian Kelly told reporters that the “process of laying the groundwork for Israeli Palestinian-peace talks is moving closer to fruition”.

However, Kelly failed to corroborate his optimism with tangible facts.

It is not clear why the US is insisting on jump- starting the stalled talks at this time. However, diplomats and observers opine that the Obama administration has effectively lost the showdown with the Netanyahu government over the settlement issue and is now hoping that the highly contentious issue can be “treated more satisfactorily” in bilateral talks between the two conflicting sides.

This assumption, however, is being viewed coolly by Palestinian leaders and the Arab world at large as a definitive retreat from the original US position that Israel must first freeze settlement construction as part of its obligations under the “roadmap” plan. PA official Saeb Erekat, while welcoming Washington’s strong involvement in the peace efforts, has advised the Obama administration to refrain from making the same mistakes as the Bush administration. He argued that the real problem facing the peace process was not the resumption of negotiations but rather getting Israel to recognise the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people and end, once and for all, the decades-old Israeli occupation of the West Bank, Gaza Strip and East Jerusalem.

Netanyahu has been calling for an “unconditional” resumption of peace talks with the Palestinians. Netanyahu believes the appearance of Israel and the PA indulging in peace talks, irrespective of whether such talks would yield any substantive results, would shield Israel from mounting international criticisms over the settlement expansion issue and allow the Jewish state to pursue its colonialist interests, especially in East Jerusalem.

This week, Israeli authorities approved plans to build hundreds of settler units in the heart of Arab East Jerusalem. The planned new settlement in the densely populated Arab neighbourhood of Ras Al-Amud is meant to kill the possibility of East Jerusalem becoming the future capital of a prospective Palestinian state.

Earlier, Israel and the US had been working on a “package deal” whereby Israel would accept a moratorium on settlement building for a period ranging from six months to two years. Israel reportedly agreed on a certain moratorium but insisted on completing thousands of settler units currently being built all over the occupied Palestinian territories. Israel insisted that it wouldn’t agree to any settlement freeze in Jerusalem.

Netanyahu was scheduled to travel to London this week for talks with US Peace Envoy George Mitchell to reach agreement on the duration of the proposed moratorium. Netanyahu is also scheduled to meet with German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Berlin. Last week, the German Foreign Ministry called settlements “one of the biggest impediments to peace in the Middle East”. “We and our partners, the Americans, have made it very clear that we see the settlements issue as one of the biggest impediments to a two-state solution,” German Foreign Ministry spokesman Andreas Peschke was quoted as saying. “There must be urgent progress on settlements to make progress on Middle East [peace].”

Peschke acknowledged that while Israel was “thinking seriously about its policy, there is no definitive movement on the settlement question yet”. Israel, for its part, rejected the German criticisms as “irrelevant” to the resumption of the peace process. “These statements are not part of any diplomatic negotiations; they are unrelated to reality and distort it,” said Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman Yigal Palmor.

Earlier, infamous Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman, who has been keeping a low profile apparently for fear of damaging Israel’s image and diplomatic interests, was quoted as saying that he didn’t foresee peace at all. “It will be impossible in the next 16 years to bridge the gaps on Jerusalem, the refugees, or on Israel as a Jewish state.”

Lieberman also said that while he didn’t believe anything would come of current efforts to re- launch the peace process, he was giving Netanyahu room to manoeuvre in talks with the Americans.

Meanwhile, the Israeli group Peace Now underscored the mendacity of Israeli claims that settlement construction was being frozen. The group pointed out in a new report on settlement growth that in the first half of 2009, Israel was constructing 600 new buildings in West Bank settlements, with 96 new buildings constructed in the so-called “illegal outposts”. According to the report, 35 per cent of the buildings are constructed on the eastern — Palestinian — side of the apartheid wall. The construction of permanent homes has risen by eight per cent since last year, while the placement of trailer homes dropped by 43 per cent.

The same Israeli group said there were currently 40,000 new buildings authorised for construction, according to available plans, the vast majority in settlement blocs like Gush Etzion and Maale Adumim near Jerusalem.

Construction was also underway in 10 out of 23 outposts that Defence Minister Ehud Barak committed to ending, with three new trailer homes added to the Avigail outpost, five new trailer homes added to Bnei Adam outpost, six to Havat Gilad, and two new buildings and two trailer homes in Mitzpeh Lachish, among others.

The Peace Now report underscored the worthlessness of promises and pledges made to the Americans by Israeli officials.

Barak has held several high-profile meetings with Mitchell and solemnly undertook to freeze settlement buildings east of the annexation wall, as well as to dismantle more than 20 illegal outposts created by settlers, mostly with the tacit agreement of the Israeli occupation army.

Israeli intransigence on the settlement issue as well as obvious reluctance on the part of the Obama administration to exert meaningful pressure on Israel is creating despair within the Palestinian leadership. Whereas the PA had made commitments not to re-engage in talks without a settlement freeze, there are signs it is retreating from this position — if only to demonstrate to the Americans, for the “umpteenth time”, as one Palestinian official put it, Palestinian willingness to engage in talks and total Israel intransigence.

At the same time, the PA is backed against a wall, as initiating a new round of open-ended talks with Israel would be deeply unpopular amongst Palestinians. Fatah, the backbone of the PA, risks losing its recently enhanced popularity if another exhausting round of peace talks with Israel proves fruitless, as most Palestinians and Arabs believe it will be, barring decisive US interference that would force Israel to take a strategic decision to give up the spoils of occupation.

With Fatah pressing to hold Palestinian general elections in January, and with no real progress in the peace process achieved, the movement will have a hard time convincing the Palestinian public to give it or its strategic outlook the benefit of the doubt.

http://desertpeace.wordpress.com/2009/08/28/reproducing-failure/

accuracy

29-08-2009, 11:12 AM

PRESIDENT CARTER SPEAKS … PRESIDENT OBAMA RESPONDS

August 28, 2009

President Carter speaks……

Former US President Jimmy Carter says a freeze on Israeli settlements is “absolutely necessary” to achieving peace in the Middle East.

In an interview with Al Jazeera, Carter, who is currently visiting Israel as a member of the group known as the ‘Elders’, spoke about his views on the prospects for Middle East peace.

His comments come as Barack Obama, the US president, attempts to seal an Arab-Israeli peace deal that has eluded the region for more than six decades.

His administration has already made it clear it opposes the ongoing building of Jewish settlements on Palestinian land occupied since 1967.

Hundreds of thousands of homes have been constructed by Israel despite international condemnation and in contravention of international law.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h0BRCzIDNa8

Obama responds…..

Israel Says “Kiss My Ass”, Obama responds “OK” Thanks

http://desertpeace.files.wordpress.com/2009/08/obamagum1.jpg
http://desertpeace.wordpress.com/2009/08/28/president-carter-speaks-president-obama-responds/

accuracy

29-08-2009, 11:20 AM

SOME DREAMS NEVER DIE ~~ FLASHBACK TO AUGUST 28th, 1963

August 28, 2009

I STILL ‘HAVE A DREAM’

http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/6052/1754/320/mlk.jpg

It was 46 years ago today that Martin Luther King delivered his famous ‘I Have A Dream Speech’ at the Great March on Washington for Peace and Freedom. To see a video of the complete speech, click HERE.
I was there along with a quarter of a million fellow Americans. It was the most gratifying day of my life as I was on the organising committee for that March the entire summer. To witness such a success was most rewarding. To hear the words of the great Dr. King, spoken live, were most encouraging. The last paragraph of his speech is the part that has stayed with me every day of my life since then…
“And when this happens, When we allow freedom to ring, when we let it ring from every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God’s children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual, “Free at last! free at last! thank God Almighty, we are free at last!”
But…what I see in every day life in Israel reminds me that those words are still just a dream. We have a long way to go before it becomes a reality.

http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/6052/1754/320/hatred.jpg

I see discrimination daily… it is as ugly now as it was 46 years ago. I see it more from Americans in Israel than from anyone else… here is an incident that occurred just the other day…
I was in a gift shop and an American tourist entered. The conversation went as follows…
Tourist— Do you have any Arab toy soldiers?
Clerk— No, why would you want them anyway?
Tourist— So I can teach my grandson how to kill them.
Me— Have you ever met an Arab?
Tourist— Of course not, I keep away from them because they all want to kill me.
Me— I have met thousands of Arabs, I have never met one that wants to kill me, but I have met hundreds of American Jews, like yourself, that want to kill Arabs.
What possesses a person to be so hateful? What possible reason could there be, was he trying to impress the clerk with his ‘machoness’, his reverent zionism, or was it just plain stupidity? My guess is that it was the latter. But I do see a rise in this hatred being imported from the United States. The most extremes of the Judeo nazis of the past were also imports, the kahanas, the goldsteins , may their names be erased from memory. It must not be tolerated or it will be thought of as acceptable thought. It isn’t.
Israel has tried openly to show their opposition to this type of thought. Racism is illegal in Israel(in the books), racist orgnisations are outlawed (in the books)… we all know that is a load of bull! Racism is alive and well in Israel… and is strengthened by the hatred that is imported from the States.
I want to see the dream fulfilled… I want to see a world without hatred. I want to see an Israel/Palestine without walls, I want to see peace.
Perhaps if we all go back to the top of this post, click on the speech and listen to it carefully, more of us will realise that there is another way….
‘DEEP IN MY HEART, I DO BELIEVE, WE SHALL OVERCOME ONE DAY.’

The above is an annual repost

http://desertpeace.wordpress.com/2009/08/28/some-dreams-never-die-flashback-to-august-28th-1963/

accuracy

29-08-2009, 11:26 AM

ARE WE SEEING THE LIQUIDATION OF THE PALESTINIAN CAUSE?

August 28, 2009

Is the PLO playing with the Palestinian national cause?
By Khalid Amayreh in occupied Palestine

http://desertpeace.files.wordpress.com/2009/08/palestinian-flag.jpg

Despite rhetorical denials, the PLO and Palestinian Authority (PA), which Fatah constitutes the backbone of both, are moving steadily toward adopting positions that would effectively compromise inalienable Palestinian rights and might even lead to the liquidation of the Palestinian cause.

The reported PLO propensity to “deal positively” with dubious “peace plans” that would obliterate Palestinian rights should alarm all patriotic Palestinians.

After all, the Palestinian cause is not the property of unelected politicians who think they have a carte blanch to behave as they see fit with regard to such fundamental issues as the right of return and Jerusalem .

Unfortunately, the signs and signals that keep coming from the PLO and PA quarters don’t auger well for the future. Hence, the urgent need to speak up and warn these unelected leaders against playing with fire.

First, there is the so-called Fayyad vision or plan for creating a Palestinian state with temporary borders under the Israeli occupation, a state that would very much look like a Judenrat (Jewish community council under the Nazi occupation of Europe ). How else can one honestly relate to an entity that is completely void of sovereignty, freedom and the most elementary requirements of statehood?

Fayyad, an economist-turned-politician at Washington’s urging seems to think that building a sound economic base with international support would be sufficient to transform the vision of statehood from dream to reality.

However, the man who reportedly had described himself as “George Bush’s man in Palestine” wouldn’t tell us how it is possible to build a sound economic base in a country that continues to languish under a Nazi-like military occupation which tightly controls every aspect of Palestinian life.

Well, doesn’t Mr. Fayyad realize that Palestinians can hardly travel from Ramallah, the seat of his government, to any other Palestinian town in the West Bank without an Israeli permit?

Doesn’t he realize that Israel has the ultimate and final say over the smallest transaction of money from abroad to occupied Palestine or vice versa?

Doesn’t he know that the Shin Beth, Israel’s chief domestic security agency, decides which Palestinian can travel abroad?

Finally, Fayyad ought to explain to the Palestinian people how such a fantastic entity would function in the absence of any territorial contiguity linking the various Bantustans and townships comprising the contemplated state?

Hence, one wonders how such a state, which would be laminated with big, bombastic names and a lot of trappings but with utterly no substance, serve the national interests of the Palestinian people.

In all honesty, such a state would be a huge disaster for the Palestinian cause and the Palestinian people. It would be proven a solution for Israel’s and Zionism’s problems, first and foremost, since it would enable Israel to claim that the Palestinian issue was finally resolved with the creation of a Palestinian state.

More to the point, Israel would be able to use this farce as an effective propaganda tool to endear itself to the Arab-Muslim world by arguing that Arabs and Muslims can’t be more Palestinian than the Palestinians themselves who are quite satisfied with their lot.

Furthermore, Israeli hasbara (propaganda) efforts might receive a helping hand from some Palestinian officials and spokesmen eager to defend the “new state” in the face of those who spread “doubts and rumors” about its national credentials.”

Fayyad is not only making a balloon test to find out Palestinian and international reactions to his gambit. He must be coordinating his move with PLO leadership which is constantly retreating from the erstwhile national constants that continue to enjoy an overwhelming national consensus.

True, the PLO, especially the Fatah leadership, continues to make rhetorical statements reasserting their commitment to a full Israel withdrawal from the territories occupied in 1967 as well as the right of some 4.5 million refugees, dispersed to the four corners of the globe, to return to their homes and villages from which they were brutally uprooted when the Zionist state was created more than 61 years ago.

However, we all know that the Fatah leadership’s declared commitment to the right of return is only symbolic and mainly propagandistic in nature.

Indeed, PLO officials, including Mahmoud Abbas, said on numerous occasions that when Palestinians speak about the right of return for the refugees, what they actually mean is a return to the contemplated Palestinian state, not to ” Israel” where the bulk of these refugees and their ancestors had been living for centuries.

In fact, the PLO retreat doesn’t merely stop at compromising the right of return but also encompasses the subject of al-Quds al Sharif (Noble Jerusalem), which the Israeli occupation regime continues to Judaize at an alarming rate, by obliterating its Arab-Islamic identity using bulldozers and explosives and other means of ethnic cleansing.

Indeed, statements and remarks by PLO officials, especially Abbas and his immediate coterie of aides, advisors and hangers-on, continue to make diluted statements about Jerusalem , which reveals a principled willingness to accept the annexation to Israel of huge parts of the occupied city in the context of any final-status settlement with the Zionist state.

“We have to be realistic and pragmatic,” these demoralized officials and “leaders” would say in private conversations.

Unfortunately, the “new” PLO-Fatah leadership seems to have interpreted the recent Fatah elections, not as a reassertion of traditional positions opposing Israeli territorial expansion and efforts to liquidate the right of return, but rather as a vindication of the Abbas-Fayyad line whereby Palestinians would have to accept what is internationally possible in terms of what the Palestinians are realistically able to extricate from Israel’s parsimonious hands.

This is at odd with the mendacious and misleading rhetoric by many Fatah leaders who don’t stop claiming that the group’s Sixth Congress, which took place in Bethlehem in early August, was a valuable asset benefiting the Palestinian cause and bolstering the so-called Arafat line.

Well, the coming days and weeks will show that the Fatah leadership is either day-dreaming or deliberately not telling the truth to the Palestinian people.

There is no doubt that there are many patriotic people within Fatah, an organization that undeniably shouldered the national cause for many years.

But it is also true that corrupt and mediocre elements do have the upper hand and, more importantly, control the coffers of Fatah, which enable them to dictate and impose their views on the rest of the movement, perhaps save honest people like Farouk Kaddumi, who are too old and too powerless to reverse the tides against the “pragmatists” who think that the goal of statehood overrides any other cause, including the right of return and the liberation of al-Quds from the claws of Zionism.

One would always want to consider the half-filled glass and not give in to pessimism. However, one must also guard against false optimism to avoid disastrous ramifications.

It is said that Fatah’s financial survival depends nearly completely on the PA which is kept afloat thanks to regular handouts from western donors, especially the US and its Arab puppet regimes.

This financial dependence, as has been repeatedly demonstrated, is nearly always translated into political cooption, as is clear from Fatah’s disgraceful silence vis-א-vis the criminal security coordination between the newly-founded PA security apparatus and the Israeli occupation army.

Well, there are those who would argue rather candidly that if Fatah could tolerate the close “operational coordination” with Israel, it likewise would be willing to come to terms with the liquidation of the Palestinian cause in one way or the other, for the sake of political survival and especially for the hefty salaries at the end of the month.

I hope this is not going to be the case.

http://desertpeace.wordpress.com/2009/08/28/are-we-seeing-the-liquidation-of-the-palestinian-cause/

accuracy

29-08-2009, 11:36 AM

Israel Turns Up The Heat To Evict Bedouin From Desert Lands

Army’s West Bank tactics imported to Negev

by Jonathan Cook
August 29, 2009

http://globalresearch.ca/coverStoryPictures/14929.jpg

The inhabitants of the Bedouin village of Amra have good reason to fear that the harsh tactics used by the Israeli army against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank have been imported to their small corner of Israel’s Negev desert.

Over the summer, the Tarabin tribe, all of them Israeli citizens, have had the sole access road to their homes sealed off, while the dirt track they must use instead is regularly blocked by temporary checkpoints at which their papers and vehicles are inspected at length.

Coils of razor wire encircle much of the village, and children as young as eight have been arrested in a series of night-time raids.

“Four-fifths of our youngsters now have files with the police and our drivers are being repeatedly fined for supposed traffic violations,” said Tulab Tarabin, one of Amra’s 400 Bedouin inhabitants. “Every time we are stopped, the police ask us: ‘Why don’t you leave?’”

Lawyers and human rights activists say a campaign of pressure is being organised against the Tarabin at the behest of a nearby Jewish community, Omer, which is determined to build a neighbourhood for Israeli army officers on the tribe’s land.

“The policy in Israel is that when Jews need land, the Bedouin must move – no matter how long they have been living in their homes or whether their communities predate Israel’s creation,” said Morad al Sana, a lawyer with the Adalah legal centre for Israel’s Arab minority. “The Tarabin’s crime is that they refuse to budge.”

The 180,000 Bedouin in the Negev have never been welcome, says Oren Yiftachel, a geographer at Ben Gurion University of the Negev in Beersheva. They are descendants of a few thousand who managed to avoid expulsion from the southern semi-desert region during the 1948 war that founded Israel.

Many of the surviving Bedouin, including the Tarabin, were forcibly relocated from their extensive ancestral lands in the 1950s to an area close to the Negev’s main city, Beersheva, Prof Yiftachel said. Israel declared the Bedouin lands as “state land” and established a series of overcrowded “townships” to house the tribes instead.

“The stated goal is one of ‘Judaisation’,” Prof Yiftachel added, referring to a long-standing policy of concentrating the rural Bedouin into urban reservations to free up land for Jewish settlement. About half of the Negev’s Bedouin, some 90,000, have refused to move.

According to a recent report from the Association of Civil Rights in Israel (ACRI), the townships have “continuously ranked as the poorest, least developed and most crime-ridden towns in Israel”.

The refuseniks, such as the Tarabin, have faced unrelenting pressure to leave their 45 rural communities, none of which is recognised by the state. The villagers endure “third world conditions”, according to ACRI.

“The unrecognised villages are denied basic services to their homes, including water and electricity, and the villages themselves have no master plans,” Mr al Sana said.

As a result, he added, the villagers are forced to live in tin shacks and tents because concrete homes are invariably destroyed by the authorities. In the past two years, several shacks as well as the local kindergarten in Amra have been demolished.

The stark contrast between the dusty encampment of Amra and the green lawns and smart villas of Omer, only a stone’s throw away and the country’s third wealthiest community, is unsettling even for some of Omer’s 7,000 residents.

One, Yitzhak Nevo, a philosophy professor at Ben Gurion University and a leading activist with Dukium, a Negev coexistence group, said that, although the lands on which the Tarabin live fall under Omer’s jurisdiction, the Bedouin have been entirely excluded. “Even though they live within Omer’s municipal limits, their children get no education from us; our health clinic does not treat them; they are not hooked up to our water or electricity supplies and their refuse is not collected.”

He said Amra had been treated as nothing more than an eyesore until the mid-1990s when the powerful mayor, Pinhas Badash, decided that the Tarabin were both harming property values and obstructing the town’s expansion plans.

As Omer’s new neighbourhoods reached the limits of Amra, Mr Badash stepped up the pressure on the villagers to leave. A few years ago he pushed through the building of a new community for the Tarabin away from Omer. Two-thirds of the tribe relocated, while the remainder fought the attempted eviction through the courts.

“It was a very dirty business in which those in the tribe who left first were offered cheap land on which to build while the rest were threatened that they would be offered nothing,” Mr al Sana said.

Amra’s remaining Bedouin have found themselves surrounded by a tall wire fence to separate them from Omer. Two gates, ordered by the courts to ensure the Bedouin continued to have road access through the town, were sealed this year.

Since the beginning of the summer police patrol Amra’s side of the fence around the clock and the Tarabin report that a private security firm chases off any of them found inside Omer.

Nissim Nir, a spokesman for Mr Badash, denied that the Tarabin were being hounded. Omer made a generous offer to relocate them from their “illegal” site, he said.

Recently Mr Badash announced that thousands of acres around Omer would be forested with the intention of stopping the Bedouin from returning to the area once they had been evicted.

Mr Tarabin, 33, accused the police of being little more than hired hands carrying out Mr Badash’s plan.

“We are being suffocated. There are night-time searches of our homes using bogus pretexts, and arrests of young children. We are photographed and questioned as we go about our business. At the roadblocks they endlessly check cars entering and leaving, and fines are issued. No one visits us unless they have to, and we stay home unless we have to leave.”

He added: “Why is it so impossible for Omer to imagine allowing us to be a neighbourhood of the town?”

A report by Human Rights Watch last year severely criticised Israel’s treatment of the Bedouin.

A version of this article originally appeared in The National (www.thenational.ae), published in Abu Dhabi.

Jonathan Cook is a writer and journalist based in Nazareth, Israel. His latest books are “Israel and the Clash of Civilisations: Iraq, Iran and the Plan to Remake the Middle East” (Pluto Press) and “Disappearing Palestine: Israel's Experiments in Human Despair” (Zed Books). His website is www.jkcook.net .

Jonathan Cook is a frequent contributor to Global Research. Global Research Articles by Jonathan Cook

http://globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=14929

accuracy

29-08-2009, 11:47 AM

'Three killed'in Gaza smuggling tunnel collapse

Fri Aug 28,

GAZA CITY (AFP) – Three Palestinian brothers were killed on Friday in the collapse of a smuggling tunnel along the Gaza Strip's border with Egypt, medics said.

A fourth Palestinian, who was also working in the tunnel near Rafah, was seriously wounded, the sources said.

Deadly cave-ins are common in the tunnels used to smuggle food, goods and, according to Israel, weapons and explosives into the besieged Gaza Strip.

Israel heavily bombed the vast network of tunnels during its deadly 22-day offensive against the Hamas rulers of Gaza at the turn of the year, but many tunnels were quickly redug.

Tunnel operators say Egypt too is cracking down on the underground smuggling, pumping sewage or gas, or throwing explosives into the tunnels.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20090828/wl_mideast_afp/mideastconflictgazatunneltoll

accuracy

31-08-2009, 10:37 AM

BANNED ON YOUTUBE : ISRAELI OCCUPATION SOLDIER SHOOTS BLINDFOLDED, HANDCUFFED PALESTINIAN DETAINEE

Added by James aka adap2k on August 30, 2009 at 7:04pm

See the video clip here:

http://snardfarker.ning.com/video/banned-on-youtube-israeli

accuracy

31-08-2009, 10:47 AM

VIDEO: PALESTINE WILL BE FREE

http://desertpeace.wordpress.com/2009/08/30/video-palestine-will-be-free/

accuracy

31-08-2009, 10:54 AM

PHOTO ESSAY ~~ PEACEFUL SATURDAY AT THE GAZA PORT

http://desertpeace.wordpress.com/2009/08/30/photo-essay-peaceful-saturday-at-the-gaza-port/

accuracy

31-08-2009, 11:16 AM

Sun Aug 30, 2009

By Nidal al-Mughrabi
GAZA (Reuters) - Hamas condemned the United Nations Sunday, saying it planned to teach Palestinian children in the Gaza Strip about the Holocaust -- but the U.N. agency which runs schools in the enclave would not confirm any change.

Branding the Nazi genocide of the Jews "a lie invented by the Zionists," the Islamist movement which runs the Gaza Strip wrote in an open letter to a senior U.N. official that he should withdraw plans for a new history book in U.N. schools.

A spokesman for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), which educates some 200,000 refugee children in Gaza, said the Holocaust was not on its current curriculum. He would not comment on Hamas's statement that it was about to change.

Palestinians resent the way world powers reacted to the Holocaust by supporting the establishment of Israel in 1948, a move that left half the Arab population of then British-ruled Palestine as refugees in Gaza, the West Bank and abroad.

Hamas said it believed UNRWA was about to start using a text for 13-year-olds that included a chapter on the Holocaust.

In an open letter to local UNRWA chief John Ging, the movement's Popular Committees for Refugees said: "We refuse to let our children study a lie invented by the Zionists."

UNRWA spokesman Adnan Abu Hasna said: "There is no mention of the Holocaust in the current syllabus." Asked if UNRWA planned to change that, he declined to comment.

In the Israeli-occupied West Bank, run by the Western-backed Palestinian Authority of President Mahmoud Abbas, teachers said there was no official guidance on teaching about the Holocaust.

Israelis are angered by denial of the Holocaust among some in the Middle East, notably lately by leaders in Iran, who provide support for Hamas. Abbas, who has engaged in negotiation with Israel, has had to distance himself from his own 1980s doctoral thesis, which cast doubt on the scale of the Holocaust.

Hamas's official spokesman in Gaza, Sami Abu Zuhri, said he did not want to discuss the history of the Holocaust but said:

"Regardless of the controversy, we oppose forcing the issue of the so-called Holocaust onto the syllabus, because it aims to reinforce acceptance of the occupation of Palestinian land."

(Editing by Erika Solomon and Alastair Macdonald)

http://www.reuters.com/article/newsMaps/idUSTRE57T1JW20090830

accuracy

01-09-2009, 11:27 AM

Video: Israelis restrict Palestinians' water supply

World bank report: Israelis have access to four times as much water as Palestinians due to restrictions

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HvMGE1rYBz4

accuracy

01-09-2009, 11:32 AM

Israel’s Natanyahu launches his latest trick to gullible Europeans

By Paul J. Balles

1 September 2009

Paul J. Balles considers Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu’s latest ruse, launched last week in talks with European leaders and in off-the-record briefings to gullible and sycophantic news editors: concede a temporary hold on illegal settlements built on stolen lands in exchange for agreement to trample or desecrate Iran.

Havah Nagilah provides the background music for Binyamin Netanyahu's latest dance to America and Europe.

One of the problems with Israel seems to be that they can never do something because it's the right thing to do. They usually have to bargain for something in exchange.

Here's the way Netanyahu put it: “The continuation of unilateral withdrawal without receiving anything must stop. In business, there are no free lunches, and this also is true with politics. There can be no free withdrawals.”

Israeli maxim: Occupy a country and then make the people pay a price to get part of it back. When they object, accuse them of refusing to take advantage of opportunities for peace.

When their various ministers and prime ministers travel to the US or Europe, they claim to be interested in peace, but they're looking for a bargain.

Netanyahu has been touring to drum up support for his latest barter: concede a temporary hold on settlements in exchange for agreement to trample or desecrate Iran.

He's looking for what Hillary Clinton called "crippling sanctions" against Iran. In itself, that would be an act of war. A December deadline for Iran to "unclench its fist" has now been moved forward to September.

They always have a reason for not giving away anything. They bluster eternally about being fair, but they seldom do things out of compassion. Netanyahu does not intend to return lands stolen from the Palestinians. Here is his justification:

The connection of the Jewish people to the land has been in existence for more than 3,500 years. Judea and Samaria, the places where our forefathers Abraham, Isaac and Jacob walked, our forefathers David, Solomon, Isaiah and Jeremiah – this is not a foreign land, this is the land of our forefathers. ...

What about the Palestinians? Netanyahu addressed that when he spoke to students at Bar Ilan University: "Israel should have exploited the repression of the demonstrations in China, when world attention focused on that country, to carry out mass expulsions among the Arabs of the territories."

They have demanded much from the world because they suffered a holocaust over a half century ago. However, the world has paid dearly for Nazi crimes. Netanyahu would have the world pay more.

He says: "The right to establish our sovereign state here, in the ‘Land of Israel’, arises from one simple fact: Eretz Israel is the birthplace of the Jewish People."

The talk of restraining settlement activity is nothing more than a ruse, a bargaining chip for Netanyahu's real goal – eliminate any possibility of Iran developing nuclear power in what Israelis like to call an "existential threat".

On 27 August, Peter Beaumont, writing in the Guardian, said: "...Netanyahu has always wanted: a link between Iran's nuclear programme and a very partial freeze on settlement building, offered in exchange for opening up an even more partial track of a peace process whose focus would be on the West Bank."

Of course, any settlement “freeze” will be like those in the past, ignoring their illegality and continuing their development when the West isn’t looking. Netanyahu would never give up Jerusalem.

The problem with the ruse? As Beaumont observes, it makes "Israeli-Palestinian peace talks contingent on progress in an unrelated and equally difficult issue. In that respect, it is nothing less than a grand act of displacement that makes the prospect of a final settlement more distant still rather than hauling it closer."

Israel's Zionist front men own the media, they own the Congress and the US administration, and they own major European leaders. The Zionist leaders will have greater difficulty owning Iran or the Palestinians.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Paul J. Balles is a retired American university professor and freelance writer who has lived in the Middle East for many years. For more information, see http://www.pballes.com.

http://www.redress.cc/palestine/pjballes20090901

accuracy

01-09-2009, 11:58 AM

The Word ‘Nakba’ Is Now Banned In Israel

31Aug09

Israeli Arab advocacy groups on Sunday reacted sternly to an announcement from Israeli occupation Education Minister Gideon Sa’ar that the phrase Nakba, which means “catastrophe” in Arabic and is used by Arabs to describe the formation of the Zionist entity, would be dropped from textbooks for the new school year, which begins on Tuesday.

While Sa’ar had previously said he was mulling such a move, an official announcement of the change came during an extensive briefing the minister gave to the cabinet on Sunday morning regarding the beginning of the 2009-2010 school year.

“What Israeli Arabs experienced during the [1948 War of Independence] was certainly a tragedy,” Sa’ar said. “But the word ‘Nakba,’ whose meaning is similar to ‘Holocaust’ in this context, will no longer be used. The creation of the State of Israel cannot be referred to as a tragedy, and the education system in the Arab sector will revise its studies [regarding this] in elementary schools.”

The specific textbook in question was approved for third graders in the Arab sector just over two years ago by then-education minister Yuli Tamir and described the events surrounding the war as catastrophic, as Arabs had been expelled from their homes and became refugees after their lands were confiscated by Israel.

While the textbook also mentioned that Arabs rejected the United Nations partition plan that called for the division of territory between Arabs and Jews, Tamir’s decision to approve the text drew fire from the opposition at the time and was again criticized last summer by then-opposition leader Binyamin Netanyahu.

Atef Moaddi, who heads the Follow-up Committee on Arab Education in the occupied territories, a Nazareth-based group that works on behalf of the country’s Arab schools, told The Jerusalem Post on Sunday that Sa’ar’s decision was nothing less than a “political gimmick” aimed at denying the Israeli Arab community their identity.

“For Israeli Arabs, who consider themselves a part of the Palestinian people, the Nakba is not up for debate, it is a historical fact,” Moaddi said. “But if Sa’ar thinks that by taking this narrative out of the textbooks, he will somehow absolve himself – as both a representative of the State of Israel and as a human being – of responsibility for the Nakba, he is wrong. Our position has always been that both narratives – the Jewish, Zionist narrative and the Arab, Palestinian narrative – should be taught in both Jewish and Arab classrooms,” he continued. “But the Arab pupil is not stupid. He or she will learn about the Nakba from a variety of other sources, be it on the Internet or on the street. But our position is that we prefer for them to learn about it in the educational framework of the classroom.”

Moaddi added that principals and teachers from Arab schools had contacted his organization and expressed “dismay and outrage” over the decision. “It’s simply unacceptable to us,” he said.

Sawsan Zaher, an attorney with Adalah, the Legal Center for Arab Minority Rights in the Zionist entity, took Moaddi’s sentiment even further, telling the Post that Sa’ar’s decision was a violation of international law. “This prohibition is part of the continuing control operated by the Ministry of Education against the Arab education system,” Zaher said.

“The Ministry of Education implements severe supervision over the Arab education system and controls its curriculum, budget and appointments,” she continued. “Prohibiting Arab students from studying about the Nakba is illegal and violates international law, which obliges states to enable national minorities to learn and study about their own history, culture and tradition.

[via Al Manar]

http://politicaltheatrics.org/2009/08/31/the-word-nakba-is-now-banned-in-israel/

accuracy

01-09-2009, 12:03 PM

SCANDAL CONTINUES…. PALESTINIANS ACCUSE ISRAEL OF ORGAN THEFT

August 31, 2009

A diplomatic row between Sweden and Israel has emerged after a leading Swedish tabloid printed an article suggesting Israeli soldiers stole body parts from Palestinians after killing them.

Al Jazeera’s Sherine Tadros visited a family at the centre of the organ trafficking controversy.

Jalal Ghanem says his brother Bilal was airlifted by an army helicopter to a hospital in Israel after being shot in a Palestinian village.

When his dead body was returned for burial, an autopsy had been carried out without the family’s permission, and the family suspects his organs had been taken.

Palestinians such as late President Yasser Arafat have previously accused Israel of organ harvesting, but no conclusive proof has been provided.

Israel has called the article “blood libel” and urged the Swedish government to condemn it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tcwDZe6W7nQ&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fdesertpeace%2Ewordpress%2Ecom%2F 2009%2F08%2F31%2Fscandal%2Dcontinues%2Dpalestinian s%2Daccuse%2Disrael%2Dof%2Dorgan%2Dtheft%2F&feature=player_embedded

http://desertpeace.wordpress.com/2009/08/31/scandal-continues-palestinians-accuse-israel-of-organ-theft/

accuracy

01-09-2009, 12:09 PM

Israeli gunboat sets fire to Palestinian fishing boat

Mon, 31 Aug 2009

http://www.presstv.ir/photo/20090831/beglari20090831171941109.jpg

An Israeli gunboat has opened fire on a Palestinian boat, injuring a fisherman on board the boat off the Gaza shore, Palestinian sources and witnesses say.

The boat, which was badly burnt, has been pulled to a fishing port in Gaza city, Xinhua reported.

According to Hamas ministry of agriculture, the fisherman was moderately burned as his partners succeeded in taking him to a hospital.

In another incident last Thursday, a Palestinian fisherman was killed when the Israeli navy ships hit his boat in southern Gaza Strip.

Patrols and attacks by the Israeli navy targeting Palestinians, regularly occur in as little a distance as three miles from the shore.

Israel does not allow the Palestinian boats to sail farther than two nautical miles (3.7 km) away from the shore though deals between Israel and the Palestinian National Authority have set the fishing zone of up to 20 nautical miles.

SB/MB

http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=104900&sectionid=351020202

accuracy

02-09-2009, 12:02 PM

Shh! Play Nice,The Americans Are Looking!

01Sep09

http://politicaltheatrics.files.wordpress.com/2009/09/no-arabs-4831.jpg

According to Lebanese media outlet Al Manar,the Israeli army has canceled a number of planned arrest operations in the West Bank fearing soldiers will be “seen by US diplomats touring the territories”.

Israeli army officers serving with their units in the occupied West Bank stated that they were instructed by their brigade commanders in recent weeks to call off the planned arrests of wanted men inside Palestinian towns, because of these diplomats’ presence.

The diplomats, mostly employees of the U.S. consulate in occupied East Jerusalem, have been traveling regularly to the West Bank to gather testimony on settlement construction, to oversee American-funded projects and to meet with Palestinian Authority officials.

“We were told that the situation with the Americans is sensitive, and that it is not desirable that operations are conducted that could lead to violent situations when they [the Americans] are there,” one of the Israeli officers said.

This reminds me ever so much of stories showing how the school bully would not tire in beating up defenseless compatriots – making it a daily habit to shove little Johnny’s face into the mud or pound a fist into his nose until,that is,the teacher came by to check up on the students wherein the bully would cleanly bring his hand down and pretend to be a good little boy or girl – patting little Johnny on the head and feigning ignorance as to why blood seems to be spilling down his face.
The sadomasochist state of Israel performs the part of a play-ground bully all too well,only instead of shoving sand down ones pants they find it more exhilarating and amatory to tie up their captives and shoot them in the head [video of such an incident can be found here] or have them showered in a disastrous collection of American funded weaponry.

Israeli officers obviously do not care,nor have they ever cared, in terms of whether or not they harm or cause any bodily injury to Palestinians- what does send them sliding towards on site ‘good behavior’ is the prospect of having American money-bags diplomats present so as to make themselves look and seem humane.

After all,since America is providing the money by which Israel has been massacring people with it would only make sense that they play nice whilst the Americans are there,right?
-

Some facts you may not have known about Israel (the only democracy in the Middle East):

1. Non-Jewish Israelis cannot buy or lease land in Israel. A Jew from any country in the world is guaranteed citizenship in Israel, while the Palestinians who have been there for centuries are oppressed and persecuted.

2. Instead of sewing an insignia on clothing to distinguish race (like the Germans did to the Jews before WW2), Palestinian license plates in Israel are color coded to distinguish Jews from non-Jews.

3. East Jerusalem, the West Bank, Gaza, and the Golan Heights are all considered by the entire world community, including the United States and the United Nations, to be occupied territory and NOT part of the State of Israel.

4. Israel allots 85% of the water resources for Jews, and the remaining 15% is divided among all Palestinians in the territories? For example in Hebron, 85% of the water is set aside for about 400 Jewish settlers, while the remaining 15% is distributed among Hebron’s 120, 000 Palestinians.

5. The United States awards Israel $5 billion in aid each year from American tax dollars.

6. US aid to Israel ($1.8 billion annually in military aid alone) exceeds the aid the US grants to the entire African continent? This aid is used both to buy American weaponry and to buy arms made in Israel.

7. Israel is awaiting an additional $4 billion worth of American military hardware, including new F-16s and Apache and Blackhawk helicopters. As Israel’s main ally and supporter internationally, the United States is committed to maintaining the Jewish state’s “qualitative edge” in weapons over its neighbours.

8. The U.S. administration has notified Congress on numerous occasions that Israel has violated the rules on how US-supplied weapons are used? (In 1978, 1979 and 1982 during fighting in Lebanon, and once after Israel’s bombing of an Iraqi nuclear reactor in 1981.)

9. Israel is the only country in the Middle East that refuses to sign the nuclear non-proliferation treaty and bars international inspections from its sites.

10. High-ranking military officers in the Israeli Defence Forces have admitted publicly that unarmed prisoners of war have been summarily executed by the Israeli forces.

11. Israel blew up an American diplomatic facility in Egypt and attacked a US warship in international waters (the USS Liberty), killing 33 and wounding 177 American sailors and the US did nothing about it (Imagine if an Islamic country like Iraq did this)

12. Israel stands in defiance of over 70 United Nations Security Council Resolutions.

13. Israel is explicitly dedicated to the policy of maintaining a distinct Jewish character.

14. Israel’s ex-Prime Minister, Ariel Sharon, was found by an Israeli court to be “personally and directly responsible” for the Sabra and Shatilla massacre in Lebanon where more than a thousand innocent Palestinian men, women, and children were axed to death or lined up and shot in cold blood.

15. On May 20, 1990, a group of unarmed Palestinian labourers were lined up and murdered by an Israeli solider as they sat waiting for transportation back to Gaza. The terrified labourers who gathered in an area of southern Israel known as Rishon Lezion (known to Palestinians by its Arabic name Oyon Qara) handed their ID cards to the Israeli soldier. The soldiers ordered the distressed labourers to kneel down and face the ground and unexpectedly showered them with a barrage of bullets, killing seven and wounding many others. Needless to say, the soldier was not charged with any crime.

16. Until as recently as 1988, Israelis were permitted to run “Jews Only” job ads?

17. The Israeli Foreign Ministry pays six US public relations firms to promote a “positive image” of Israel to the American public?

18. Ariel Sharon’s coalition government included a party–Molodet–which advocates ethnic cleansing by openly calling for the forced expulsion of all Palestinians from the occupied territories.

19. Recently-declassified documents indicate that David Ben-Gurion approved of the forced expulsion of Arabs from all Palestinian territory in 1948.

20. Former chief rabbi of Israel, Rabbi Ovadia Yossef, who is also a founder and spiritual leader of the religious Shas party (Israel’s third largest political party) openly advocates a ‘Final Solution’ to annihilate the Palestinians? Speaking at the widely broadcast sermon marking the last Passover, he declared of the Palestinians: “The Lord shall return their deeds on their own heads, waste their seed and exterminate them, devastate them and vanish them from this world. It is forbidden to be merciful to them. You must send missiles to them and annihilate them. They are evil and damnable.”

21. Palestinian refugees make up the largest portion of the refugee population in the world.

22. Palestinian Christians are considered the “living stones” of Christianity because they are the direct descendants of the disciples of Jesus Christ-And the Palestinian Christians stand united with their Muslim brethren in the struggle against the Israeli occupation.

23. Despite a ban on torture by Israel’s High Court of Justice, torture has continued unabated by Shin Bet interrogators on Palestinian prisoners.

24. Despite every Israeli attempt to disrupt Palestinian education, Palestinians have the highest ratio of PhDs per capita in the world

25. The right of self-determination is guaranteed to every human being under the Universal Declaration of Human Rights [December, 1948], yet Palestinians were/are expected to negotiate for this right under the Oslo Accords.

26. Despite what is widely perpetuated and written in the history books that the Arabs attacked Israel in the 1967 war, it was Israel who attacked the Arab countries first, capturing Jerusalem and the West Bank, and called the attack a pre-emptive strike.

27. As an occupying power, Israel has a particular responsibility under the Geneva Conventions to protect Palestinian civilians.

28. Zionists have been trying to destroy Masjid al-Aqsa and the Dome of the Rock for the last 50 years by digging underground tunnels beneath the sites to weaken its foundation causing it to collapse.

29. Nelson Mandela called the Israeli government an apartheid regime, just like South Africa used to be.

http://politicaltheatrics.org/2009/09/01/shh-play-nicethe-americans-are-looking/

accuracy

02-09-2009, 12:30 PM

Don't Criticize Israel, You Anti-Semite

September 1, 2009

According to the Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary, the definition of anti-Semitism is, "hostility towards or discrimination against Jews as a religious, ethnic or racial group." This should strike everyone as odd, since Jews are hardly the only Semitic people roaming this earth. Most oddly enough, we Arabs are also a Semitic people who speak a Semitic language, unlike many Jews who do not.

Still, over the years, for whatever reason, the term "anti-Semitic" has been reserved exclusively for attacks on Jews, the range of which has become dangerously broad. While this is an age-old issue, so to speak, the recent Swedish-Israeli crisis has brought it back to the fore like never before.

It all started with a seemingly innocuous yet human interest story in a large Swedish newspaper. The author, Donald Bostrum, entitled his back-page article "They plunder the organs of our sons" in reference to Palestinian claims that as far back as 1992, the Israeli army has been harvesting the organs of young Palestinians it killed. Bostrum gives testimonies from Palestinians and some first hand accounts from when he was in Palestine of young men killed by the Israeli army, their bodies returned to the families days later cut open and stitched back from stomach to neck.

The details of the article are unimportant at this point. The gist of the piece is that there are those out there who believe their sons' organs were taken for harvesting without their consent.

Whether the claims are true, accurate or biased is secondary to this argument. This was an article in a newspaper, written by a journalist who took full responsibility for what he said and what he wrote. Israelis, who were clearly outraged, could have easily done what most of us do when we are unhappy with something in the media – we write to the editor or the author airing our complaints. We may even get our comments published and read, thus making our grievances clear to all those interested.

But, in traditional Israeli custom, instead of approaching this issue with professionalism and appropriate criticism, protests and screams of anti-Semitism and blood libel were heard around the world. Israel, which unsurprisingly, did not react to Bostrum's first mention of the issue in his 2001 book, "Inshallah: The conflict between Israel and Palestine", went into a tirade of accusations against the article, the newspaper, the writer and, yes, the Swedish government for not immediately condemning the article. Swedish government sources maintained that freedom of expression was an inalienable right in Sweden, which could not be compromised.

That was certainly not the answer Israel wanted to hear. Its Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman accused Sweden of not intervening in "the blood libel against Jews." In true Israeli form, the past was dredged up as a means of putting others on the defensive. "The affair is reminiscent of the state's [Sweden] stand during World War II, when it also did not intervene," Lieberman charged

The crisis only heightened with Sweden's continued refusal to condemn the article publicly and what Israel viewed as its failure to denounce the article's clearly anti-Semitic messages. Sweden, on the other hand, said it was a fierce defender of its constitutional rights and would not trample on the freedom of expression and freedom of speech regardless of government officials' personal opinions.

What is so amazing really, is the fact that Israel gets away with this stuff time and again. The hackneyed Israeli litany of anti-Semitism seems to hook the world no matter how ridiculous the claim. The article in mention may or may not have been accurate, but how many thousands of articles out there each day do we read and then question their credibility? Countless. Besides, Bostrum's article was not attacking Jews. He was questioning foul play by a "democratic" country's army, which so happens to be Israel. It was not a criticism of Jews, their past, their history or their religion. If it were, if Bostrum had made glaring racist comments against the "Jews" in the Israeli army, perhaps the accusation of anti-Semitism or blood libel or whatever else Lieberman could think of, would be a bit closer to the truth.

The truth however, is that Israel has created a backup defense for those times when its arguments are not based on solid ground, or simply when all other arguments fail. In this case, instead of the Israeli government demanding there be a thorough investigation into these grave allegations, it has turned its wrath on Sweden. Even IKEA has been dealt a blow, with a petition reportedly circulating in Israel to boycott the Swedish furniture giant.

As a result, it looks as if the EU foreign ministers meeting to be held this week will push for a resolution asserting that the EU, under Swedish presidency, strongly condemns anti-Semitism and will take action against it, in a bid to end the Israel-Sweden crisis. But again, Israel is just not satisfied.

"Every initiative against anti-Semitism is welcome," Israeli foreign ministry spokesman Yigal Palmor said. "But if the declaration is general and does not specifically relate to the article in Aftonbladet, it will not resolve anything."

With all the hype about anti-Semitism and blood libel, it looks as if the subject in question has blown right out the window. Supporters of Israel will not even consider the possibility that their beloved friend would ever commit such heinous acts and therefore insist that Bostrum's article is a bunch of hullabaloo, packaged of course in a nice anti-Semitic wrapper.

Isn't it about time people see though the smokescreen? The history of the Jews is full of misfortune and suffering. But so is the history of so many other peoples, including the Palestinians, who have been made to pay the ultimate price for the Jews' persecution. Pulling out the anti-Semitism card whenever Israel is pushed into a corner, rather than examine its own lack of morality in dealing with the Palestinians, should be a losing strategy, simply because it is such a shaky argument. However, guilt-tripping the world into apologizing yet again to the Jews for the sins of the past has worked for Israel for many years, unlike other peoples whose injustices have gone unrecognized. It has been able to maintain a military occupation, build illegal settlements and subjugate an entire people all in the name of its own security and as a safeguard from further persecution.

Israel could have easily disregarded Donald Bostrum's article and let the whole incident blow over. It would have brought way less attention than the article has received now. Besides, if the Israeli army has nothing to fear, why doesn’t it open an investigation and put the case to rest once and for all? The answer is simple. Screaming anti-Semitism yields better results.

Joharah Baker is a Writer for the Media and Information Program at the Palestinian Initiative for the Promotion of Global Dialogue and Democracy (). She can be contacted at mip@miftah.org.

http://uruknet.com/?p=m57531&hd=&size=1&l=e

dolores1

02-09-2009, 11:07 PM

VIDEO: PALESTINE WILL BE FREE

http://desertpeace.wordpress.com/2009/08/30/video-palestine-will-be-free/

There are many decent Jews but there are no decent Zionists. I also support Vivapalestina.

accuracy

03-09-2009, 10:08 AM

There are many decent Jews but there are no decent Zionists. I also support Vivapalestina.

It's a pleasure, dolores1 :)

Accuracy

accuracy

05-09-2009, 08:15 AM

September 4-6, 2009

By JONATHAN COOK

Nazareth

The hyperventilating by Israel’s leaders [1] over a story published in a Swedish newspaper last month [2] suggesting that the Israeli army assisted in organ theft from Palestinians has distracted attention from the disturbing allegations made by Palestinian families that were the basis of the article’s central claim.

The families’ fears that relatives, killed by the Israeli army, had body parts removed during unauthorized autopsies performed in Israel have been overshadowed by accusations of a “blood libel” directed against the reporter, Donald Bostrom, and the Aftonbladet newspaper, as well as the Swedish government and people.

I have no idea whether the story is true. Like most journalists working in Israel and Palestine, I have heard such rumours before. Until Bostrom wrote his piece, no Western journalist, as far as I know, had investigated them. After so many years, the assumption by journalists was that there was little hope of finding evidence -- apart from literally by digging up the corpses. Doubtless, the inevitable charge of anti-semitism such reports attract acted as a powerful deterrent too.

http://www.counterpunch.org/cookclash.jpeg

What is striking about this episode is that the families making the claims were not given a hearing in the late 1980s and early 1990s, during the first intifada, when most of the reports occurred, and are still being denied the right to voice their concerns today.

Israel’s sensitivity to the allegation of organ theft -- or “harvesting”, as many observers coyly refer to the practice -- appears to trump the genuine concerns of the families about possible abuse of their loved ones.

Bostrom has been much criticized for the flimsy evidence he produced in support of his inflammatory story. Certainly there is much to criticize in his and the newspaper’s presentation of the report.

Most significantly, Bostrom and Aftonbladet exposed themselves to the charge of anti-semitism -- at least from Israeli officials keen to make mischief -- through a major error of judgment.

They muddied the waters by trying to make a tenuous connection between the Palestinian families’ allegations about organ theft during unauthorized autopsies and the entirely separate revelations this month that a group of US Jews had been arrested for money-laundering and trading in body parts. [3]

In making that connection, Bostrom and Aftonbladet suggested that the problem of organ theft is a current one when they have produced only examples of such concern from the early 1990s. They also implied, whether intentionally or not, that abuses allegedly committed by the Israeli army could somehow be extrapolated more generally to Jews.

The Swedish reporter should instead have concentrated on the valid question raised by the families about why the Israeli army, by its own admission, took away the bodies of dozens of Palestinians killed by its soldiers, allowed autopsies to be performed on them without the families’ permission and then returned the bodies for burial in ceremonies held under tight security.

Bostrom’s article highlighted the case of one Palestinian, 19-year-old Bilal Ahmed Ghanan, from the village of Imatin in the northern West Bank, who was killed in 1992. A shocking picture of Bilal’s stitched-up body accompanied the report. [4]

Bostrom has told the Israeli media that he knows of at least 20 cases of families claiming that the bodies of loved ones were returned with body parts missing, [5] although he did not say whether any of these alleged incidents occurred more recently.

In 1992, the year in question, Bostrom says, the Israeli army admitted to him that it took away for autopsy 69 of the 133 Palestinians who died of unnatural causes. The army has not denied this part of his report.

A justifiable question from the families relayed by Bostrom is: why did the army want the autopsies carried out? Unless it can be shown that the army intended to conduct investigations into the deaths -- and there is apparently no suggestion that it did -- the autopsies were unnecessary.

In fact, they were more than unnecessary. They were counterproductive if we assume that the army has no interest in gathering evidence that could be used in future war crimes prosecutions of its soldiers. Israel has a long track record of stymying investigations into Palestinian deaths at the hands of its soldiers, and carried on that ignoble tradition in the wake of its recent assault on Gaza.

Of even greater concern for the Palestinian families is the fact that at around the time the bodies of their loved ones were whisked off by the army for autopsy, the only institute in Israel that conducts such autopsies, Abu Kabir, near Tel Aviv, was almost certainly at the centre of a trade in organs that later became a scandal inside Israel.

Equally disturbing, the doctor behind the plunder of body parts, Prof Yehuda Hiss, appointed director of the Abu Kabir institute in the late 1980s, has never been jailed despite admitting to the organ theft and he continues to be the state’s chief pathologist at the institute.

Hiss was in charge of the autopsies of Palestinians when Bostrom was listening to the families’ claims in 1992. Hiss was subsequently investigated twice, in 2002 and 2005, over the theft of body parts on a large scale.

Allegations of Hiss’ illegal trade in organs was first revealed in 2000 by investigative reporters at the Yediot Aharonot newspaper, which reported that he had “price listings” for body parts and that he sold mainly to Israeli universities and medical schools. [6]

Apparently undeterred by these revelations, Hiss still had an array of body parts in his possession at Abu Kabir when the Israeli courts ordered a search in 2002. Israel National News reported at the time: “Over the past years, heads of the institute appear to have given thousands of organs for research without permission, while maintaining a ‘storehouse’ of organs at Abu Kabir.” [7]

Hiss did not deny the plunder of organs, admitting that the body parts belonged to soldiers killed in action and had been passed to medical institutes and hospitals in the interests of advancing research. Understandably, however, the Palestinian families are unlikely to be satisfied with Hiss’ explanation. If the wishes of a soldier’s familiy were disregarded by Hiss, why not Palestinian families’ wishes too?

Hiss was allowed to continue as director of Abu Kabir until 2005 when allegations of a trade in organs surfaced again. On this occasion Hiss admitted to having removed parts from 125 bodies without authorization. Following a plea bargain with the state, the attorney general decided not to press criminal charges and Hiss was given only a reprimand. [8] He has continued as chief pathologist at Abu Kabir.

It should also be noted, as Bostrom points out, that in the early 1990s Israel was suffering from an acute shortage of organ donors to the extent that Ehud Olmert, health minister at the time, launched a public campaign to encourage Israelis to come forward.

This offers a possible explanation for Hiss’ actions. He may have acted to help make up the shortfall.

Given the facts that are known, there must be at least a very strong suspicion that Hiss removed organs without authorisation from some Palestinians he autopsied. Both this issue, and the army’s possible role in supplying him with corpses, needs investigation.

Hiss is also implicated in another long-running and unresolved scandal from Israel’s early years, in the 1950s, when the children of recent Jewish immigrants to Israel from Yemen were adopted by Ashkenazi couples after the Yeminite parents had been told that their child had died, [9] usually after admission to hospital.

After an initial cover-up, the Yeminite parents have continued pressing for answers from the state, and forced officials to reopen the files. [8] The Palestinian families deserve no less.

However, unlike the Yemenite parents, their chances of receiving any kind of investigation, transparent or otherwise, look all but hopeless.

When Palestinian demands for justice are not backed by investigations from journalists or the protests of the international community, Israel can safely ignore them.

It is worth remembering in this context the constant refrain from Israel’s peace camp that the brutal, four-decade occupation of the Palestinians has profoundly corrupted Israeli society.

When the army enjoys power without accountability, how do Palestinians, or we, know what soldiers are allowed to get away with under cover of occupation? What restraints are in place to prevent abuses? And who takes them to task if they do commit crimes?

Similarly, when Israeli politicians are able to cry “blood libel” or “anti-semitism” when they are criticised, damaging the reputations of those they accuse, what incentive do they have to initiate inquiries that may harm them or the institutions they oversee? What reason do they have to be honest when they can bludgeon a critic into silence, at no cost to themselves?

This is the meaning of the phrase “Power corrupts”, and Israeli politicians and soldiers, as well as at least one pathologist, demonstrably have far too much power -- most especially over Palestinians under occupation.

Jonathan Cook is a writer and journalist based in Nazareth, Israel. His latest books are “Israel and the Clash of Civilisations: Iraq, Iran and the Plan to Remake the Middle East” (Pluto Press) and “Disappearing Palestine: Israel's Experiments in Human Despair” (Zed Books). His website is www.jkcook.net.

http://www.counterpunch.org/cook09042009.html

accuracy

05-09-2009, 08:28 AM

04Sep09

The following video from Al Jazeera English shows Israeli soldiers firing tear gas on Palestinians protesting against the Israeli separation barrier which cuts through their West Bank village.
The soldiers also fired tear gas at Jacky Rowland, Al Jazeera’s correspondent who was covering the event live from near the village of Bilin.

In the video you can hear Rowland cry out “oh F^&$” as a tear gas canister is sent careening towards her,causing her eyes to go puffy and begin watering – the crew was hit over 2 times which causes Mrs.Rowland to exclaim that the Israeli soldiers were not targeting the non-violent protesters anymore but were instead assaulting the media who were witnesses to their “draconian” style attacks.

http://politicaltheatrics.org/2009/09/04/news-reporter-under-attack-in-israel/

accuracy

05-09-2009, 08:39 AM

Israel To Establish Military Court For Palestinian Children

05/09/2009

http://uruknet.com/pic.php?f=03_photo_by-e6f6a.jpg

Since Israel occupied the Palestinian territories 42 years ago, Palestinian children have been tried in the same military courts as adults. Over 700 Palestinian children are prosecuted in Israeli military courts each year and the most common charge is throwing stones. This includes throwing stones at the Wall. They are interrogated in the absence of a lawyer or family member. The overwhelming majority of these children report being mistreated and forced into providing confessions during interrogations, which are still not being video recorded, as recommended by the UN Committee Against Torture in May 2009.
On 29 July 2009, Gadi Shamni, General in the Israel Defense Forces and the current Head of Central Command signed Military Order number 1644. The order establishes the "first-instance military court for youth, presided over by a single juvenile-court judge or by a panel led by a juvenile-court judge."

At present there are 342 Palestinian children in Israeli prisons, who are commonly held in inhumane conditions, with adult detainees and sometimes with Israeli prisoners who have committed criminal offences. Israeli courts never gave special consideration for underage Palestinian political prisoners, and disregarded the fact that the vast majority of the "confessions" were extracted under torture and abuse.

http://www.palestinemonitor.org/spip/local/cache-vignettes/L500xH352/al_khalil_38_israeli_soldiers_detained_palestinian s_at_their_home_june_10_2003_photo_by-e6f6a.jpg

According to Israeli Military Order No. 1644 "The head of the military Court of Appeal must appoint judges from the first instance court in the military court. The judges must be prepared to be competent for the post of juvenile judges after the approval of the head of the Court of Appeal to be appointed as juvenile judges for a certain period, which has been identified."

The order also requests the juvenile court sessions be "as separate as possible" from regular court sessions, and allow the youth court to demand a Civil Administration welfare report on the defendant’s family "if the court believes this necessary to determine the minor’s verdict"

Although, it is the first decision ever made in the children’s jurisdiction, there are no essential changes in sentencing practices. Still, according to Israeli Military Order #132 on "judging juvenile delinquents" Israeli Authorities recognize three categories of minors: a "child" less than 12 years, a "youth" between 12 and 14, and "young adults" between 14 and 16. While Israelis reach legal adulthood at 18, residents of the Occupied Palestinian Territories aged 16 years and above are treated as adults. This is illegal according to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, which calls for 18 years to be set as the minimum age a person can be held criminally liable as an adult, and to which Israel is a signatory. The newest regulation raises lots of doubts in its reliability, some critics consider it as a veneer for respecting international law.

"After reading the order I can say that there is nothing new," said Khaled Quzmar, an advocate with the Israeli and Palestinian section of Defence for Children International (DCI). "They are just playing with words and trying to make useless cosmetic changes to hide the realities of the military system itself. This military order also gives incredible authority to the military prosecutor who can give permission to override a series of clauses in the order itself". During the forty-two years that Palestinians have lived under Israeli military rule there has been no protection system for young people. Military commanders possess formidable power to create new orders and treat Palestinian children as they wish.

http://www.palestinemonitor.org/spip/local/cache-vignettes/L313xH400/child_arrested-72d76.jpg
Child arrested in East Jerusalem

"The question is whether people who are arresting children and deal with minors in court act in a professional capacity which is informed by international law regarding minors." said Limor Yehuda, an attorney with The Association for Civil Rights in Israel. Defence for Children International- Palestine has the same concerns: "These 'juvenile judges’ are themselves, military court judges who 'must be prepared to be competent for the post’. No further information is provided to shed light on how it is anticipated these military court judges are suitably qualified to adjudicate cases involving 12 year old children."

The DCI-Palestine adds "Military Order 1644 exempts all hearings to determine whether a child should be kept in pre-trial detention until the end of the legal proceedings from the requirement of having to be heard before a 'juvenile judge’." Ultimately, it seems that the real problem is not young Palestinian stone-throwers, but the long-standing occupation by a rigorous military regime which these children are resisting.

http://uruknet.com/?p=m57595&hd=&size=1&l=e

accuracy

05-09-2009, 08:44 AM

How Do These People Live With Themselves?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OXl3tSYPhuU

accuracy

05-09-2009, 08:52 AM

ISRAELI WALL - The official Mr Pity Video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I28_roBTCj8

accuracy

05-09-2009, 09:02 AM

MADONNA IN ISRAEL …. NOTHING BUT A HOLY HO

September 4, 2009 at 10:24 am (Boycott Israel, Entertainment, Israel)

Pop music icon Madonna, who took Israel by storm earlier this week with two back-to-back concerts in Tel Aviv, wrapped up her tour with a visit Thursday night to the Safed tomb of a kabbalistic great.
Read the rest HERE

Here she is in concert….. not quite the modest dress required when visiting holy sites….

http://desertpeace.files.wordpress.com/2009/09/madonna-1.jpg
http://desertpeace.files.wordpress.com/2009/09/madonna-2.jpg

Madonna performs during her concert in Tel Aviv, Tuesday.
Photos: AP

http://haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1112438.html

accuracy

05-09-2009, 09:09 AM

Time for a relink.

Drunk israeli settler brags how jews killed Jesus.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ykmv7s-Q0J8

accuracy

05-09-2009, 09:17 AM

ISRAELIS CONTINUE TO DESTROY BOATS AND LIVES IN GAZA

September 4, 2009 at 6:50 am (Ethnic Cleansing, Gaza, Genocide, Israel, Palestine, War Crimes)

A Palestinian fisherman casts his net at the port in Gaza City. (Hatem Omar, Maan Images)

http://desertpeace.files.wordpress.com/2009/09/gaza-fishing.jpg

By Eva Bartlett

GAZA CITY, Until Monday, Omar and Khaled Al-Habil were the owners of a 20m fishing trawler staffed by five or six fishermen at a time, but employing around 18 in cycles. But that morning the vessel came under heavy Israeli navy machine-gun fire, and then shelling. The trawler caught fire.

“It’s destroyed, completely destroyed,” says Al-Habil.

http://www.ipsnews.net/fotos/trawler21.jpg
All that remains of Al-Habil’s fishing trawler.
Credit:Eva Bartlett

“They had left early in the morning and headed north,” Al-Habil said, of the crew of five fishermen that morning, including his son Adham Al-Habil. He says the boat was well within a three-mile limit set by Israel.

“There were other fishing boats with them. The boat was about a kilometre out off Gaza’s coast, and was at the southern end of Sudaniya (a coastal region of Beit Lahia, northern Gaza).”

An Israeli navy spokesperson reportedly said the boat “violated security boundaries off the coast of the Gaza Strip” and was “out of the permitted fishing zone.” She said the boats failed to respond to warning shots.

Khaled Al-Habil recalls differently.

“An Israeli navy boat approached them and opened fire. It was chaos. The firing was intense; it lasted 15 or 20 minutes. The fishing boat stopped, but the Israelis kept shooting. Finally, the Israelis shot a mortar at the boat. All the fishermen jumped into the water.”

His son Adham Al-Habil sustained burns from the fire, which broke out most likely as a result of the mortar shelling.

A charred hole on the front right-hand side of the boat marks where the mortar hit and exited. From that point down, the deck is blackened with soot. The metal steering wheel is all that remains of the cabin.

“Other fishermen came to help. They towed my boat back to Gaza port,” said Al-Habil. Once there, it took fire-fighters more than 20 minutes to put out the fires.

Palestinian fishers have the right to fish as far as 20 nautical miles from the coast of Gaza, but Israeli authorities have over the years unilaterally reduced that limit to three miles. The more abundant catches are found past six miles.

The Palestinian fishing industry, employing more than 3,500, has been devastated by Israeli attacks on fishing boats, confiscation of boats and equipment, and the abduction of Palestinian fishers.

Under the Israeli-led siege, with the complicity of Egypt, Gaza is starved of basic goods to enable a functioning economy and society. This includes replacement parts for missing or broken fishing equipment.

While a reported 95 percent of Gaza’s industries have shut down due to the siege, many unemployed Palestinians have turned to fishing, unviable as it is.

The United Nations Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) August 2009 report details the devolution of the fishing industry.

OCHA cites the fishing catch for the month of April for the past three years. In 2007, fishers hauled in 292 tons. In 2008, the catch was 154 tons, and in 2009 it was reduced to 79 tons.

Reduced to fishing along the coast, many of the fish are caught in waters contaminated by the 80 million litres of raw or partially-treated sewage pumped daily into the sea “as a result of lack of maintenance and upgrading of the wastewater infrastructure,” OCHA notes.

And now Al-Habil does not have a fishing vessel at all.

This was not the first problem for his now destroyed boat. On Jun. 4, Israeli gunboats abducted six fishers and seized Al-Habil’s boat three miles off the northern coast of Gaza, holding it for 45 days before returning it. Al-Habil found equipment missing and significant damage done to the engine and cables.

On Nov. 18, 2008, Israeli gunboats surrounded three Palestinian fishing boats, including Al-Habil’s boat, seven miles off the coast of central Gaza, and took all 15 fishers on board, as well as three international solidarity activists. The Israelis kept the boats until Nov. 27.

“It’s not just my boat. Every day the Israelis are attacking us: if not a trawler, then a small boat, or on land.”

Palestinian fisher Muhammed Al-Attar was killed by Israeli shelling off northern Gaza Aug. 27. Head of emergency services Dr Mu’awiyah Hassanein said Al-Attar was decapitated by the blast.

The Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR) reports that 12-year-old Mohammed Bassam ‘Aashour was seriously injured by a gunshot to his head Aug. 14 when Israeli gunboats fired on Palestinian fishing boats near Rafah coast.

Khaled Al-Habil is just one among many Palestinian fishers whose livelihoods have been wrecked. The father of 13 children lives with his family in a cramped 400 square metre apartment. His only source of income has been destroyed.

“I want a good lawyer,” he says, “and I want to take this to court.”

Source

http://desertpeace.wordpress.com/2009/09/04/israelis-continue-to-destroy-boats-and-lives-in-gaza/

accuracy

05-09-2009, 09:27 AM

David Irving interview in El Mundo provokes Israeli anger

Giles Tremlett in Madrid guardian.co.uk, Thursday 3 September 2009 20.13 BST

http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/pictures/2009/9/3/1252005152773/David-Irving-arrives-at-c-001.jpg
Spanish newspaper El Mundo is defending its plans to publish an interview with Irving over the coming weekend. Photograph: Hans Punz/AP

A Spanish newspaper's move to mark the second world war anniversary with an interview with the Holocaust-denying historian David Irving has touched off a furious row with Israel, which has condemned the decision to elevate freedom of expression above ethics.

El Mundo yesterday defended its decision to publish the Irving interview, saying he was one of a series of interviewees picked because of their opinions on polemical questions left behind by the war. It said it also chose Irving, who served 13 months in an Austrian jail for denying that the Nazis murdered 6 million Jews, because he was at the centre of a wider debate about the criminalisation of opinion.

Israel's ambassador to Spain, Raphael Schutz, complained bitterly about El Mundo's decision to include Irving in a run of interviews that include the Hitler biographer Ian Kershaw and the director of the Yad Vashem Holocaust museum in Israel, Avner Shalev.

"The problem is not just the offence or the polemic, but the lack of any moral, historical or ethical judgment on the part of whoever decided to interview Irving alongside recognised experts in the matter," Schutz wrote in a letter published by the newspaper.

"The unfortunate decision to interview Irving cannot be justified in the name of freedom of expression," he said.. "It is just a reflection of the lack of ethics of those responsible, of their disdain towards the newspaper's readers, towards the other interviewees and, obviously, towards the newspaper itself."

El Mundo's deputy editor, Juan Carlos Laviana, said the paper's interviewer had been tough with Irving. El Mundo would also run a piece debunking some of the falsehoods the historian had previously peddled about the second world war and the Holocaust, Laviana said.

"He does not deny the Holocaust in the interview," said Laviana. "There is nothing in it that would be a crime in Spain."

"Irving has already paid for his crime," he added, referring to his prison spell in Austria. "That was, of course, a crime of opinion rather than of action."

Laviana said a debate was now open about whether laws in some countries against expressing certain opinions about the second world war were too harsh and should be changed.

The interview is due to be published on Saturday. In it, Irving accuses the allies of paying relatively little attention to the Holocaust until it became a major international issue, years after the war had ended, according to Laviana.

"I think they are giving Irving more importance than he really has," Laviana said of the Israelis. "They are turning him into a piece of news."

Other controversial opinions about the war expressed by El Mundo interviewees had raised no complaints, Laviana said. These included a claim by the German historian Jörg Friedrich that allied air raids on civilians in German cities amounted to murder.

Laviana said El Mundo's staff editorial committee had backed the decision to publish the Irving interview despite Israeli criticism. A letter of complaint about Irving had also been received from Shalev, Laviana said.

This is the second time that Israel has publicly taken issue with a foreign news organisation in recent weeks.

Late last month, an article in the Swedish tabloid Aftonbladet suggested that Israeli troops had harvested the organs of dead Palestinians. Israel urged the Swedish government to issue an official condemnation of the story, but the Swedes refused, citing freedom of expression.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2009/sep/03/david-irving-interview-el-mundo

accuracy

05-09-2009, 09:43 AM

Netanyahu OKs 1,000s More 'Settlement' Homes

Sept. 4 (Bloomberg) -- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will approve building thousands of new homes in West Bank settlements next week prior to freezing construction there, said a senior government official.

Israel will only then agree to a temporary halt to settlement construction if Arab states will reciprocate with steps to normalize diplomatic relations, said the official, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak on record.

The approval for the building, first reported in the Haaretz newspaper, would go beyond the 2,500 homes in the West Bank already approved or under construction, the official said.

Israel’s reported plan drew a sharp rebuke from the U.S.

“The United States does not accept the legitimacy of continued settlement expansion and we urge that it stop,” President Barack Obama’s press secretary, Robert Gibbs, said in a statement. “Continued settlement activity is inconsistent with Israel’s commitment” under the road map toward a Middle East peace.

The U.S. government has been pressing Israel to declare a complete freeze on settlement construction as a precursor to a renewal of peace talks with the Palestinians. Netanyahu has been caught between U.S. demands and pressure from within his own Likud party to expand the settlements.

European Reaction

European Union foreign ministers today also stepped up the pressure on Israel to halt the settlements, calling a freeze the only way to get peace talks back on track.

“Freezing the settlements is a decisive element for restarting the peace process,” French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner told reporters at an EU meeting in Stockholm.

Netanyahu said last week that it was possible a formula would be reached to renew talks with the Palestinians by the time the United Nations General Assembly meets later this month in New York. That would allow for Netanyahu’s first meeting with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas since taking office in March. Both are scheduled to attend the UN meeting.

Israeli President Shimon Peres, speaking to reporters at a conference in Cernobbio, Italy, today, said there was a “fair chance” Israeli-Palestinian talks could resume this month.

Amre Moussa, secretary general of the Arab League, was less optimistic. “As I understand from reading the newspapers and the media today, the Israeli position is far from satisfactory and it cannot really help.”

“Such a situation, such a proposal by the Israelis, would destroy the peace prospects entirely,” Moussa told Bloomberg today at the conference in Cernobbio.

To contact the reporter on this story: Calev Ben-David in Jerusalem at cbendavid@bloomberg.net.

Last Updated: September 4, 2009 12:26 EDT
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20602085&sid=aRgIYlm1ZnSY

accuracy

05-09-2009, 10:20 AM

New Israeli Settlements Plan Heightens Tensions

by Daniel Luban, September 05, 2009

http://www.antiwar.com/photos/settlement-construction.jpg

Email This | Print This | Share This | Comment | Antiwar Forum

The White House reprimanded the Israeli government Friday over reports that Israel plans to build hundreds of new housing units in West Bank settlements, the latest in a series of showdowns between Washington and Jerusalem over settlement construction.

The new construction plans represent a direct challenge to the Barack Obama administration’s Middle East peace plans, which have thus far been based around demands for a full settlement freeze in return for normalization gestures from Arab countries.

Citing senior Israeli sources, multiple media reports claimed Friday that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu planned to approve the new units prior to implementing a temporary freeze of West Bank settlements.

The hundreds of new units would be in addition to some 2,500 units that are already under construction, and Netanyahu has also refused to include Jerusalem in any settlement freeze.

On Friday, White House press secretary Robert Gibbs issued a statement expressing "regret" about the reports of new construction, calling it "inconsistent with Israel’s commitment under the [2002] Roadmap [For Peace]."

"As the president has said before, the United States does not accept the legitimacy of continued settlement expansion and we urge that it stop," Gibbs said.

The European Union (EU) also denounced the new construction, while Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas called it "not acceptable."

Abbas has stated that a settlement freeze is a prerequisite for Israeli-Palestinian peace negotiations.

Dovish pro-Israel organizations in the U.S. praised the Obama administration for its statement.

J Street, the new pro-Israel lobby, stated that it is "deeply dismayed" by the new construction plans, noting that "continued settlement growth will make it impossible to achieve a negotiated, peaceful two-state solution to the conflict, which is critical to Israel’s future as a Jewish, democratic homeland."

"We commend the White House for setting the record straight," said Ori Nir of Americans for Peace Now (APN). "We also reiterate that a settlement freeze is not just in the interest of the United States. First and foremost, it is in the national security interest of Israel."

Nir also noted that the proposed construction would render any temporary settlement freeze merely "virtual."

Israeli Labor MP Ophir Pines-Paz criticized the construction as unnecessary and damaging, Ha’aretz reported.

The Obama administration and its top Middle East envoy, George Mitchell, have pressed Netanyahu for a full settlement freeze in accordance with the 2002 Roadmap.

While Netanyahu may hope to alleviate this pressure by agreeing to a temporary freeze – which reports suggest will likely last for less than a year – the decision to approve the new units is sure to inflame tensions with Washington.

But this may be Netanyahu’s intention. Acquiescing to the U.S. on settlements would be likely to splinter his right-wing coalition, which relies heavily on pro-settler parties.

Instead, Netanyahu has sought to bolster his once-shaky political position within Israel by publicly standing up to the U.S. on settlements.

The latest spat is far from the first public clash over the settlements issue in recent months.

In July, Netanyahu announced that a planned building project in East Jerusalem would proceed despite U.S. protests, and defiantly proclaimed that Israeli sovereignty over a "united Jerusalem…cannot be challenged."

Since all major plans for a two-state solution involve Palestinian control of East Jerusalem as a capital city, Netanyahu’s statement posed a direct challenge to the Obama administration’s policy — and undercut his much-publicized acceptance of the idea of a Palestinian state in June.

But settlement construction in Jerusalem enjoys more support both in Israel and among the U.S. Jewish community than construction in the West Bank, leading Netanyahu to use Jerusalem as a rallying point in the dispute with Washington.

Some hardline pro-Israel groups did in fact take Netanyahu’s side in the Jerusalem dispute. The Conference of Presidents of Major Americans Jewish Organizations issued a statement calling the administration’s objections to the proposed building project in East Jerusalem "disturbing."

Soon thereafter, Israel evicted Palestinian families from their homes in East Jerusalem, prompting the U.S. State Department to complain to Israeli ambassador Michael Oren about what it called "provocative" and "unacceptable" actions.

Since Mitchell began pushing for a full settlement freeze in January, the Israeli government has argued that any freeze must make an exemption for "natural growth" in the settlements.

But critics note that "natural growth" has in recent years served as a loophole to legitimize all settlement growth, and the Obama administration has accordingly refused to make a natural growth exception.

Netanyahu’s allies in Israel and the U.S. also pointed to agreements that were allegedly brokered between the governments of George W. Bush and Ariel Sharon by Bush’s top Middle East aide, Elliott Abrams. In particular, they highlight a 2004 letter from Bush to Sharon recognizing Israel’s right to many large settlement blocs that they suggest will remain under Israeli control under any final-status agreement.

Abrams himself has argued that Obama should recognize these agreements and desist in his calls for a full settlement freeze throughout the occupied territories.

However, Sharon’s former chief of staff Dov Weissglas told The Washington Times in July that no such agreement was ever finalized because the U.S. and Israel never agreed on where construction would be permitted.

As Washington considers how to deal with the reported new settlement construction, many analysts express concern that the Obama administration has become mired in the settlements dispute, and the related goal of Arab normalization measures, at the expense of the broader peace process.

Some urge Obama to move quickly to negotiations to solidify a final-status agreement that would establish borders the Israeli and Palestinian states, thereby establishing exactly where Israel can and cannot build.

The Obama administration appears to be thinking along similar lines. Reports suggest that the administration is planning to make an announcement regarding new Israeli-Palestinian peace negotiations later this month.

The continued and rancorous dispute over settlements, however, has already left many observers increasingly pessimistic about the negotiations’ prospects for success.

(Inter Press Service)
http://original.antiwar.com/luban/2009/09/04/new-israeli-settlements-plan-heightens-tensions/

accuracy

06-09-2009, 08:18 AM

WATCH: New ad campaign targets Jews 'abducted' by intermarriage

Last update - 22:34 02/09/2009
By Dana Weiler-Polak, Haaretz Correspondent

The Prime Minister's Office and the Jewish Agency unveiled an aggressive advertisement campaign for the Masa project which is designed to strengthen Jewish identity among youths in the Diaspora and their bonds to Israel.

One video clip likens Jews who marry outside of the religion to missing persons, with fake notices and pictures which drive home the point.

As part of the campaign, similar "missing person" notices will be plastered on walls around the country.
Masa hopes the campaign will spur the public to commit to the cause of preventing marriage to non-Jews, which Jewish Agency officials believe is tantamount to a "strategic national threat."

According to figures compiled by the Jewish People Policy Planning Institute, over 50 percent of Jews in the Diaspora marry a non-Jewish partner.

Studies show that Jews who participate in extensive programs in Israel deepen their Jewish identity and strengthen their bond to the country. Most of them marry Jews and send their children to Jewish schools and become politically and socially active on behalf of Israel-related causes. Some of them even immigrate to Israel.

The head of the campaign, Motti Scharf, compared assimilation to the critical water shortage. "Even though this is an existential problem, the public in Israel is displaying apathy towards it because the process is slow and not dramatic, out of sight," he said. "The time has come to put the issue on the table."
(See link for video)

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1111929.html

accuracy

06-09-2009, 08:24 AM

ANOTHER VICTORY FOR DIVESTMENT AND BOYCOTT

September 5, 2009 at 8:49 pm (Boycott Israel, Divestment, International Solidarity, Israel, Palestine)

Ahava Drops Spokesperson Amid Public Relations Fiasco
A first victory for CODEPINK’s “Stolen Beauty” campaign

NEW YORK CITY — The Israeli cosmetics company, Ahava, which illegally manufactures and appropriates its products in occupied Palestinian territory, has dropped its spokesperson Kristin Davis amid a public relations debacle sparked by the peace group CODEPINK’s Stolen Beauty campaign.

As Gawker.com first reported yesterday, ‘Sex & the City’ star Kristin Davis has been dropped by Ahava. All trace of her image and mention of her name have already been removed from Ahava’s website.

Davis’ dismissal, and the accompanying blow to Ahava’s image, follow the successful launch of CODEPINK’s Stolen Beauty campaign designed to spread word of Ahava’s illegal practices — its products are falsely labeled as “Made in Israel” but in actuality are made in an illegal settlement in occupied Palestinian territory, and often contain resources appropriated from occupied land, in clear violation of international law.

For the past two months CODEPINK activists have been appearing at Ahava stores, trade booths, and online, spreading word of Ahava’s illegal business practices (view photos and publicity at www.stolenbeauty.org). Particularly newsworthy was Davis’ dual role as Ahava spokesperson and as a goodwill ambassador for the international charity Oxfam—a group that has courageously spoken out against the illegal Israeli settlement trade. First, CODEPINK activists reached out to Davis to dissuade her from continuing her paid promotional appearances for Ahava. When that failed, public pressure forced Oxfam to suspend Davis from publicity work for the charity. The glare of publicity, including a story on Page 6 of the New York Post, surrounding that controversy appears now to have helped make untenable Ahava’s P.R. campaign centered on Davis.

While Davis’ apparent hypocrisy served as a convenient initial lightning rod for mobilizing the Stolen Beauty campaign, and has helped generate enormous press coverage of Ahava’s crimes, the campaign has yet to begin to reach its full force. In a few weeks, another wave of activity (and a whole new pressure point for Ahava) will be unveiled. In the meantime, though, CODEPINK activists celebrate this first small victory, and the enormous increase in consumer awareness it has focused on Ahava’s illegal practices.

http://desertpeace.wordpress.com/2009/09/05/another-victory-for-divestment-and-boycott/

accuracy

06-09-2009, 08:39 AM

PHOTO ESSAY ~~ THE GREENING OF GAZA

http://desertpeace.wordpress.com/2009/09/05/photo-essay-the-greening-of-gaza/

accuracy

06-09-2009, 09:53 AM

Sep 5th, 2009 by kawther.salam

Each year, hundreds or even thousands of Palestinian children are arrested, tortured, interrogated, abused and incarcerated by the criminals of the Israeli military occupation. In many cases the children are abused sexually by the Israeli interrogators. They are also imprisoned together with teenagers, criminals, and drugs dealers, who also attack the children, abused them sexually, and steal their personal belongings. Two children from the Nahalin village near Bethlehem told me how they had been abused sexually at the Israeli jail by criminals detained there.

(Click on Pictures to see them bigger).

Here is a Video which shows how the Israeli military treats the Palestinian children and their families while attending their illegal “military courts”.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FMb1Ye3qpWE&feature=player_embedded

A child described to me how the military judge accused him of throwing 40 stones at a military patrol near the Etzion military camp. The child swore to me that he had never been there. “Why I should my son travel from Nahalin to Etzion to throw stones at a military patrol driving in the mean street?” his mother asked me incredulous. This was not something logical for her child to do, said the mother of that child.

It is very clear that the accusation were invented, and this child was arrested

and spent three years in the Israeli jails illegally, on trumped up charges.

What I also found confusing among the lies, was that the military judge had accused the child of throwing “40 stones” at a military patrol while driving near Etzion. How did the driver count the stones which the child had thrown? Did he stop driving, did he stand quite, calm and with cuffed hands, waiting for the child to start throwing stones, and counting the stones which he threw, 1, 2, 3, 4, … 40?

I have seen IDF soldiers arresting children who were in the kindergarten in Hebron, I also saw how they tortured and shot them just because they were playing football in a garden. I still remember how soldiers under orders from Colonel Yigal Sharon, a former IDF Commander of Hebron, shot Majdi Al-Mohtasib, age of 10 and his sister, age of 5 while playing football. The poor child Majdi had refused to give his ball to an IDF soldier, and received a bullet which broke the bones of his leg.

According to the human rights organization “Defence for Children International” (DCI), many children were jailed under administrative detention without any charge or trial.

Administrative detention is often based on “secret evidence.” Israeli military order 1226 empowers military commanders to detain Palestinians, including children, for up to six months if they have “reasonable grounds to presume that the security of the area or public security require the detention.” The initial six month period can be extended by additional six-month periods, indefinitely.

The DCI confirmed that the Palestinian child detainees routinely face violations of their human rights during arrest, interrogation and imprisonment. They are exposed to physical and psychological abuse, amounting to cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment, and sometimes torture. They are denied prompt access to a lawyer and often denied contact with their families and the outside world. These children face substandard conditions of detention and are denied access to proper education services.

http://www.kawther.info/wpr/2009/09/05/video-of-palestinian-children-at-israeli-jail

accuracy

07-09-2009, 11:18 AM

Zionist Jewry's Indisputable Plan For World Domination - pdf

http://www.johnkaminski.info/pages/the_next_chapter/pdf/the_nameless_war.pdf

accuracy

07-09-2009, 11:23 AM

Hint:This isn't about White People!

06-13-2009

The story of the slaves in America begins with Christopher Columbus. His voyage to America was not financed by Queen Isabella, but by Luis de Santangelo, who advanced the sum of 17,000 ducats (about 5,000 pounds-today equal to 50,000 pounds) to finance the voyage, which began on August 3, 1492.

Columbus was accompanied by five 'maranos' (Jews who had foresworn their religion and supposedly became Catholics), Luis de Torres, interpreter, Marco, the surgeon, Bemal, the physician, Alonzo de la Calle and Gabriel Sanchez (1).

Gabriel Sanchez, abetted by the other four Jews, sold Columbus on the idea of capturing 500 Indians and selling them as slaves in Seville, Spain, which was done. Columbus did not receive any of the money from the sale of the slaves, but he became the victim of a conspiracy fostered by Bemal, the ship's doctor. He, Columbus, suffered injustice and imprisonment as his reward. Betrayed by the five maranos (Jews) whom he had trusted and helped. This, ironically, was the beginning of slavery in the Americas (2).

The Jews were expelled from Spain on August 2, 1492, and from Portugal in 1497. Many of these Jews emigrated to Holland, where they set up the Dutch West Indies Company to exploit the new world.

In 1654, the first Jew, Jacob Barsimson, emigrated from Holland to New Amsterdam (New York) and in the next decade many more followed him, settling along the East Coast, principally in New Amsterdam and Newport, Rhode Island. They were prevented by ordinances issued by Governor Peter Stuyvesant from engaging in the domestic economy, so they quickly discovered that the territory inhabited by the Indians would be a fertile field. There were no laws preventing the Jews from trading with the Indians.

The first Jew to begin trading with the Indians was Hayman Levy, who imported cheap glass beads, textiles, earrings, armbands and other cheap adornments from Holland which were traded for valuable fur pelts. Hayman Levy was soon joined by Jews Nicholas Lowe and Joseph Simon. Lowe conceived the idea of trading rum and whiskey to the Indians and set up a distillery in Newport, where these two liquors were produced. Within a short time there were 22 distilleries in Newport, all of them owned by Jews, manufacturing and distributing 'firewater.' The story of the debauching of the Indians with its resultant massacres of the early settlers, is a dramatic story in itself.

It is essential to comprehend the seaport of Newport. It is important in order to recognize the Jewish share in the Slave commerce. There was a period when it was commonly referred to as 'The Jewish Newport-World center of Slave Commerce.' All together, at this time, there were in North America six Jewish communities: Newport, Charleston, New York, Philadelphia, Richmond, and Savanuah. There were also many other Jews, scattered over the entire East Coast. Although New York held first place in the settlers of Jews in North America, Newport held second place.

New York was also the main source of Kosher meat, supplying the North American settlements, then the West Indies and also South America. Now Newport took over! Newport also became the great trade harbour of the East Coast of North America. There, vessels from other ports met, to exchange commodities. Newport, as previously mentioned, represented the foremost place in the commerce of rum, whiskey, and liquor dealings. And to conclude, it finally became the Main Center of Slave dealings. It was from this port that the ships left on their way across the ocean, to gather their black human cargo and then derive great sums of money in exchange for them.

An authentic, contemporary report, based on authority, indicates that of 128 Slave ships, for instance, unloaded in Charleston, within one year, their "Cargo," 120 of these were undersigned by Jews from Newport and Charleston by their own name. About the rest of them, one can surmise, although they were entered as Boston (1), Norfolk (2), and Baltimore (4), their real owners were similarly the Jewish slave dealers from Newport and Charleston.

One is able to assess the Jewish share in the entire dealings of the Newport, if one considers the undertaking of a lone Jew, the Portuguese, Aaron Lopez, who plays an important part in the over-all story of the Jews and Slavery.

Aaron Lopez
Concerning the entire commerce of the Colonies, and the later State of Rhode Island, (which included Newport) bills of lading, concessions, receipts, and port clearances carried the signature name of the Jew Aaron Lopez (3). This all took place during the years 1726 to 1774. He had therefore more than 50% of all dealings under his personal control for almost fifty years. Aside from that there were other ships which he owned, but sailed under other names.

In the year 1749, the first Masonic Lodge was established. Ninety percent of the members of this first lodge, fourteen all told, were Jews. And one knows that only so-called "prominent" individuals were accepted. Twenty years later, the second Masonic Lodge, "King David," was established. It is a fact that all of these members were Jews.

In the meantime, the Jewish influence in Newport had reached such proportions that President George Washington decided to pay them a visit. Upon his appearance, both of the Masonic Lodges sent an emissary—a Jew named Moses Seixas (4) —to approach the President with a petition, in which the Jews of Newport stated: "If you will permit the children of Abraham to approach you with a request, to tell you that we honor you, and feel an alliance...... and then: "Until the present time the valuable rights of a free citizen have been withheld. However, now we see a new government coming into being based on the Majesty of the people, a government, not sanctioning any bigotry nor persecution of the Jew, rather, to concede the freedom of thought, which each shares, whatever Nation or Language, as a part of the great Government machine."

It is necessary at this point to consider the disclosures as to who in reality obtained this legendary freedom in America at the founding of the Union. To be sure, the province became independent and severed from the English Jurisdiction. However, we can see from the petition (5) which Moses Seixas offered President Washington in the name of the Jews of Newport, that it was not in reality this type of freedom which they had in mind. They were merely concerned about themselves, and their "own civil rights," which had been withheld. Therefore, following the Revolutionary War, the Jews were accorded equal rights, and freed of all restrictions! And the Negroes? The Revolutionary War not withstanding, they remained Slaves! In the year 1750, one sixth of the population in New York was Negroid, and proportionately in the Southern parts of the Country, they outnumbered the others, but the proclamation of Freedom did not touch them. More of this later.

Let us scrutinize at close range this dismal handwork of the Jews which gave them influence and power, so we may comprehend the Slave Trade; for there has been so much written since that time by the zealous Jewish writers, that at the present, long since removed, it might appear natural, for the time element has a tendency to make things nebulous.

Let us follow the journey of one ship, owned by a slave dealer, Aaron Lopez, which had made many trips to the African coast.

For instance, in the month of May, 1752, the ship "Abigail" was equipped with about 9,000 gallons of rum, a great supply of iron foot and hand restraints, pistols, powder, sabres, and a lot of worthless tin ornaments, and under the command of the Jewish Captain Freedman, sailed off for Africa. There were but two Mates and six sailors comprising the crew. Three and one half months later they landed on the African Coast. Meantime, there had been constructed an African Agency, by the Jewish slave dealers, who had corralled them, and prepared them for sale. This organization reaching deep into Africa, had many ramifications, including the heads of groups, villages, etc. This method to win over these leaders for the Jewish slave trade, was similar to' that which the Jews had employed with the Indians.

At first, they presented them with rum, and soon found themselves in an alcoholic delirium. When the gold dust, and ivory supply was exhausted, they were induced to sell their descendants. At first their wives, and then their youths. Then they began warfare among each other, plotted and developed mostly by the Jews, and if they captured prisoners, these, too, were exchanged for rum, ammunitions and weapons to the Jews', using them for further campaigns to capture more Negroes. The captured Blacks were linked two by two and driven through the medieval forests to the coast. These painful treks required weeks, and some of them frequently became ill, and felled by exhaustion, and many unable to rise even though the bull whip was applied as an encourager. They were left to die and were devoured by wild beasts. It was not unusual to see the bones of the dead laying in the tropical sun, a sad and gruesome reminder to those who would later on tread this path.

It has been calculated that for each Negro who withstood the rigors of this wandering, there still had to be the long voyage across the ocean, before they reached American soil, nine out of ten died! And when one considers that there was a yearly exodus of ONE MILLION black slaves, then, and only then, can one assess the tremendous and extensive exodus of the African people. At present Africa is thinly populated, not alone due to the 1,000,000 literally dragged out of huts, but due to the five to nine million who never reached their destination. Once they reached the coast, the black slaves were driven together, and restraints were applied to hold them until the next transport ship docked. The agents—many of them Jews—who represented the Chief, then began the deal with the Captain. Each Negro was personally presented to him. But the captains had learned to become suspicious. The Black one must move his fingers, arms, legs, and the entire body to insure that there were not any fractures. Even the teeth were examined. If a tooth was lacking, it lowered the price. Most of the Jew agents knew how to treat sick Negroes with chemicals in order to sell them as sound. Each Negro was valued at about 100 gallons of rum, 100 pounds of gun powder, or in cash between 18 to 20 dollars. The notations of a captain inform us that on September 5, 1763, one Negro brought as much as 200 gallons of rum, due to the bidding among the agents, raising the price.

Women under 25 years, pregnant or not, resulted in the same measure, if they were well and comely. Any over 25 years lost 25%.

And here it should be stated that those Negroes, purchased free at the African Coast for 20 to 40 dollars, were then resold by the same slave dealers in America for two thousand dollars.

This gives one an idea how the Jews managed to acquire tremendous fortunes. Following the bargaining, Captain Freedman paid the bill, either in merchandise or cash. He also recalled some advice which his Jewish employers gave him as he left Newport for Africa: "Pour as much water into the rum as you possibly can." In this manner the Negro chiefs were cheated two times by the Newport Jews!

The next step was to shave the hair from the head of the acquired slaves. Then they were bound and branded with a hot iron, either on the back, or the hip, identifying them with their owners. Now the Negro slave was indeed the property of the Jewish purchaser. If he fled he could be identified. Following this procedure, there was a farewell celebration. There were instances when entire families were brought out of the interior, to the coast, and then separated through the buyer—the father going with one ship, the sons and daughters into another. These "farewell" celebrations were usually packed with emotion, tears, drama and sadness. There was little joy, if ever.

The following day the transport began from land to ship. It was managed by taking four to six Negroes at one time in rowboats to the ship. Of course the slave dealers were aware of how the Negro loved his homeland above all else, and could only be induced by great force to leave it. So, some of the Negroes would leap into the water. But here the overseers were prepared with sharp dogs and retrieved the fleeing men. Other Negroes preferred drowning. What came aboard alive was immediately undressed. Here was another opportunity to jump overboard and reach land and freedom. But the slave dealers were pitiless and ruthless; they were merely concerned to get their Black cargo to America with the least loss. Therefore, an escapee, recaptured, had both of his legs cut off before the eyes of the remaining Negroes in order to restore "Order."

On board the ship the Negroes were separated into three groups. The men were placed in one part of the ship. The women into another, whereby the lusty Captain arranged it so that the youngest, mostly comely Negro women were accessible to him.

The children remained on deck, covered with a cloth in bad weather. In this fashion the slave ship proceeded on its journey to America. In the main, the ships were too small, and not at all suitable to transport people. They were barely equipped to transport animals, which the Negroes were likened to. In one space, one meter high (39 inches) these unfortunate creatures were placed into a horizontal position, pressed close together. Mostly they were chained together. In this position they had to remain for three months, until the end of the voyage. Rarely was there a captain who sympathized with them or evidenced any feelings whatever for these pitiable creatures. Occasionally they would be taken in groups to the deck for fresh air, shackled in irons.

Somehow, these Negroes were expendable and endured much. On occasion, one of them became insane, killing the other one pressed closely to him. They also had their fingernails closely cut so they could not tear at each other's flesh. The most horrible battles came about among the men, to acquire a centimeter or two for a comfortable position. It was then that the slave overseer stepped in with his bullwhip. The unimaginable, horrible, human excrement in which these slaves had to endure these trips is impossible to describe.

In the women's quarters the same conditions prevailed. Women gave birth to children lying pressed closely together. The younger Negro women were constantly raped by the captain and the crew resulting, thereby, a new type of Mulatto as they came to America.

In Virginia, or in any of the other Southern port cities, the slaves were transferred to the land and immediately sold. A regular auction would take place, following the method of purchase in Africa. The highest bidder obtained the "Ware." In many cases—due to the indescribable filth—some of the Blacks became ill during the sea voyage from Africa to America. They became unemployable. In such cases the captain accepted any price. It was rare to dispose of them for no one wanted to purchase a sick Negro. Therefore, it is not surprising that the Jewish, unethical doctor senses a new form of revenue. They purchased the sick Negro for a small sum, then treated him, and sold him for a large sum. On occasion, the captain would be left with a few Negroes for whom he did not find a buyer. In that case he returned to Newport and sold them to the Jews for cheap domestic help. In other cases, the Jew owner of the ships took them over. This is why the city of Newport and its surroundings had 4,697 black slaves in the year 1756.

Slavery did not extend to the North. Moreover, in many of the North American Colonies, slavery was strictly forbidden. Georgia came under discussion; likewise also Philadelphia. And again it was the Jews who managed a loophole, which had given them freedom following the Revolutionary War, so, they schemed to make slave trading legal.

One had but to read the names of those persons living in Philadelphia who were requesting the elimination of existing laws regarding the slavery dealing. They were: the Jews Sandiford, Lay, Woolman, Solomon, and Benezet. That explained it all! But let us turn back to the slave ship "Abigail." Its captain—and we are reading from his ship's books—did a profitable business. He sold all of his Negroes in Virginia, invested some of the money in tobacco, rice, sugar, and cotton, and went on to Newport where he deposited his wares.

We learn from Captain Freedman's books that the "Abigail" was a small ship and could only accommodate 56 people. He managed, however, to clear from one trip 6,621 dollars, which he in turn delievered to the owner of the ship: one Aaron Lopez.

The staggering amounts of money acquired by the Jew ship owners and slavery dealers is better illustrated when we emphasize the many years in which this sale and purchase of human flesh was practiced. Prior to 1661, all of the Colonies had laws prohibiting slavery. It was in that year that the Jews had become powerful enough to bring about the repeal of these laws, and slavery began in earnest.

The Jews had discovered that the Colonists needed additional manpower to help them clear their fields for planting, helping in the construction of dwellings, and in general to help with harvesting their crops. This was particularly true of the Southern states which we have referred to earlier. The Southerners had vast tracts of rich soil suitable for rice, cotton, tobacco and cane sugar. At first, impoverished Europeans were recruited. English prison doors were opened and finally prisoners ot war from England and Holland were brought to the Colonies, made to work until they had paid the cost of transporting them by ship and then set free.

It doesn't take a Jew long to discover what his brothers are doing, so a group of Jews settled in Charleston, South Carolina, where they set up distilleries for making rum and whiskey. They, too, learned that they could trade with the natives on the West Coast of Africa for ivory, and several ships were purchased and sent to Africa, trading the usual glass beads and other cheap ornaments for ivory, which, however, took up but little space on board ship. It occurred to these Jew traders that they could supply the plantations in the South with 'Black ivory', needed under swampy and malarial conditions which European labor could not tolerate without sickness, and which would not only fill the holds of their ships, but bring enormous profits. (This same group had earlier tried selling Indians as slaves but they found them completely unsatisfactory, as the Indians would not tolerate this type of work.) Thus, another segment of the slave trading had become active and profitable out of Charleston, South Carolina. Several shiploads of Black slaves were sent by the Dutch West Indies Company to Manhattan.

During this time there were a number of plantation owners established in the West Indies and two Jews, Eyrger and SayUer, with strong Rothschild connections in Spain, formed an agency called ASIENTO, which later operated in Holland and England. It was through these connections that Jews in Holland and England exerted influence and both of these connections cooperated in helping the Jews provide Black Slaves for the Colonists.

With the yearly capture and transport of one million Black slaves it is not difficult to figure that from 1661 to 1774 (one hundred thirteen years) approximately one hundred ten million slaves had been removed from their native land. About ten percent, or ELEVEN MILLION, Black slaves reached the Colonies alive.

We have talked about the small ship "Abigail" which could accommodate only 56 people and yet the profits per trip were enormous, with little or no investment. There were many other ships but we will concentrate here on only a few, such as the "La Fortuna," "Hannah," "Sally" or the "Venue" which made very great profits. The "La Fortuna," by the way, transported approximately 217 slaves on each trip. The owner cleared not less than $41,438.00 from such a trip. These were dollars which the slave dealers 'could keep'. And these were dollars of value which would buy a great deal in return.

When one considers that the Jews of Newport owned about 300 slave-transporting ships, active without interruption, docking at Newport-Africa, Charleston, (or Virginia), one can approximate the tremendous earnings which made their way to Jewish ship owners. Indeed, the Jews admit, that of the 600 ships, leaving Newport harbor into all the world, "at least half of them" went their way to Africa, and we know what these ships going to Africa "were seeking."

The fact that Aaron Lopez had control of over more than half of the combined deals in the Colonies of Rhode Island, with Newport, is well-known. The well-known Rabbi Morris A. Gutstein, in his book, The Story of the Jews in Newport, attempts to remove these facts, maintaining that there is not any evidence that the Jews were connected with the Slave Trade. It is therefore imperative to prove that the Jew was indeed connected with the slave trading. Especially so since this rabbi insists they had made great contributions, and how very "blessed" their residence became for the city of Newport. Surely Morris A. Gutstein will grant us permission to present the facts which he was unable to find.

Turning to one report of the Chamber of Commerce of the "Rhode Island Colony" in the year 1764, we find, for instance, that in the year 1723 "a few merchants in Newport" devised the idea to send their Newport rum to the coast of Africa. It developed into such a great export that in the matter of a few years "several thousand (hogsheads)" of rum went that way. To which purpose did this rum serve?

The Carnegie Institute in Washington, D.C., presents and makes public authentic documents entitled "Documents Illustrative of the History of the Slave Trade in America". We wish to present a few facts from this particular collection of original documents and scrutinize them at closer range, and not at all to prove the heretofore Rabbi Morris A. Gutstein in error. In this collection of the first American institute of learning, we evaluate the capital "Rhode Island" which contributed the main share of the public documentation regarding the Slave trading. Here we find documented the recipients of the numerous shipping letters, also letters to the Slave dealers, and correspondence to the ship's captains, who were about 15% Jews, living in Newport. Among these we find, for instance, the Jew Isaac Elizar. He wrote a letter to Captain Christopher Champlin on February 6, 1763, saying he would like to be an agent for a load of slaves. Then follows the Jew Abraham Pereira Mendez, and one of the main slave dealers, Jacob Rod Rivera-the father-in-law of Aaron Lopez. And then there is Aaron Lopez, himself, and many, many more other Jews. Although we have considered Aaron Lopez several times, the size of this documented treatise limits us, and we cannot describe all of the writers concerned in the Slavery Dealing correspondence, their names and the special dates—rather, we wish to study the documentation of the 'Carnegie Institute' itself—keeping Aaron Lopez in mind. We wish to see what in the main this Jew was pursuing and what his business was. This is due to the fact that Rabbi Morris A. Gutstein presents him as a "lofty and fine civilian of Newport" who was so generous and even "made contributions to welfare."

In a great number of published original unprejudiced writings in the Carnegie Institute, we find that Aaron Lopez pursued a tremendous commerce in rum with the African coast in exchange for slaves. These irrefutable facts are as follows:

June 22, 1764, a letter by Captain William Stead to Aaron Lopez.
July 22, 1765, a letter by Aaron Lopez to Captain Nathaniel Briggs.
July 22, 1765, a letter to Captain Abraham All.
February 4, 1766, a letter to Captain William Stead by Aaron Lopez.
March 7, 1766, a letter by Captain William Stead to Aaron Lopez.
February 20, 1766, a letter by Aaron Lopez to Captain William Stead.
October 8, 1766, a letter by Captain William Stead to Aaron Lopez.
February 9, 1767, a letter by Captain William Stead to Aaron Lopez.
Aside from that, there are similar statements out of letters by Aaron Lopez in the original, which he directed to the Captains Henry Cruger, David Mill, Henry White, Thomas Dolbeare, and William Moore. Indeed, one letter by Captain William Moore to Aaron Lopez & Company, is particularly revealing, and of special mention at this point. We wish to remark on the main contents of this letter in which Captain Moore writes: "I wish to advise you that your ship 'Ann' docked here night before last with 112 slaves, consisting of 35 men, 16 large youths, 21 small boys, 29 women, 2 grown girls, 9 small girls, and I assure you this is such a one rumcargo (rum in exchange for slaves) which I have not yet encountered, among the entire group there may be five to which one could take exception."

The date of the above letter was November 27, 1773. We have not yet concluded, because of lack of space, the excerpts and grateful compilations made available by the "Carnegie Institute."

On November 29, 1767, the Jew Abraham Pereira Mendez—who had been cheated by one of his kind—from Charleston, where he had journeyed to better control his Black cargo, wrote Aaron Lopez at Newport:

"These Negroes, which Captain Abraham All delivered to me, were in such poor condition due to the poor transportation, that I was forced to sell 8 boys and girls for a mere 27 (pounds), 2 other for 45 (pounds) and two women each for 35 (pounds)." (No doubt, English money)

Abraham Pereia Mendez was very angry and accused Aaron Lopez of "cheating" him. This letter delineates to us that this generous and fine citizen of Newport was insatiable in his greed for money. This is what caused the Rabbi Morris A. Gutstein to present this nobleman, Aaron Lopez, to pursue his objectionable methods. Negroes presented to him but a commodity.

In all of the letters which the "Carnegie Institute" published, it stresses the lack of human sympathy for the poor Negro slaves. This lack of feeling and compassion for the abused and pitiful Blacks at the hands of their Jewish dealers, can be read out of the diary of a captain who manned a ship owned by Aaron Lopez. The entrees concern a trip from the African Coast to Charleston. Moreover, they are authentic documents, published by the "Camegie Institute" in Washington, D.C., calling attention to an organization which had heretofore known little or nothing about; neither had they encountered further publicity in books or newspapers. Therefore, it is not to be wondered at that the facts of the leading share of American Jews in the slave trade could be pointed out as a monopoly, and unknown to the non-Jewish Americans, including the great masses of people all over the world. Others, however, acquainted with the facts, had good reason to remain painfully quiet.

The captain of another ship, the "Othello" among other things, makes the following entries in his diary:

February 6th: One man drowned in the process of loading.
March 18th: Two women went overboard because they had not been locked up.
April 6th: One man dead with Flux. (No doubt an illness.)
April 13th: One woman dead with Flux.
May 7th: One man dead with Flux.
June 16th: One man dead by Kap Henry.
June 21st: One man dead by James Fluss.
July 5th: One woman dead with fever.
July 6th: One girl, sick for two months, died.
This vessel was on its way for five months. What terrible and unspeakable suffering was the lot of these millions of Blacks, who were torn with brutal force from their friendly African huts, jammed together, like animals below deck, and then sold with less concern than selling a head of cattle. Small wonder that ten of them died, being purchased for just a few dollars, and then sold for the sum of $2,000.00.

Some Negroes managed, through insurrection, to gain control of one or another ship and turned it around, with full sails, toward their African home. The crew of one slave ship, "Three Friends" for instance, tortured their Black cargo in such a manner that the Negroes reciprocated in a bloody rebellion. They killed the captain and the entire crew and threw the dead overboard. They then sailed back to Africa where they had barely escaped their hard-won freedom.

A similar fate struck the slave ship "Amistad". Among the slaves was the son of an enemy tribal chief. Once the ship was under way, he schemed with his compatriots to attack the ship's crew. Following a bloody battle, they managed to capture the captain. The Negro prince forced him to turn back to Africa, then in the evening, under cover of darkness, he changed his course, zigzagged for months untfl he came close to the American coast, and encountered a government ship. This took place in the year 1839 when slave trading was already forbidden and illegal.

The Negro slaves were freed and the captain punished. These sea voyages were not without danger when they had Black cargo, which accounts for the fact that the Jews most always engaged non-Jewish captains.

The slave dealers preferred to remain in their offices and counted the fat winnings following each journey, such as Aaron Lopez, who left his heirs one of the largest fortunes in the New England era.

When reviewing the documented facts contained herein, it is important that one always remembers that it was a lucky captain who did not lose more than 9 out of 19 slaves on the return trip.

It is equally important to remember that these poor Black creatures had to lie in human excrement for the entire trip. Think of it! No wonder sickness and disease took such a high toll. Remember the figures: approximately one hundred ten million Black people were captured and removed from their homeland in Africa. Only ELEVEN MILLION of these Black slaves reached the Colonies alive.

And the Jews still talk about the Germans and Hitler and how six million Jews were exterminated during World War II. This is the greatest LIE ever perpetrated upon the people of the world-whereas the story of the poor Black slaves is documented. Documented with TRUTH. The evidence is still available for the people of the world to see.

The "Carnegie Institute of Technology" is located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

As this document is distributed, eventually reaching the hands of the Jew, the evidence will probably be removed and destroyed until finally all documentation is removed which is damaging to the Jew. The Jews have been engaged in this practice for centuries. Truth, however—truth which bears fact cannot remain covered or hidden forever—and more truths are being disclosed by those of us who intend to free America of these sons of the devil—the Jews.

The published documentation contained herein was obtained from the Carnegie Institute of Learning, presently known as "The Carnegie Institute of Technology."

accuracy

07-09-2009, 11:25 AM

The following is a partial of the slave ships owned by Jews:

'Abigail' by Aaron Lopez.
Moses Levy and Jacob Franks.
'Crown' by Isaac Levy and Nathan Simpson.
'Nassau'by Moses Levy.
'Four Sisters' by Moses Levy.
'Anne & Eliza' by Justus Bosch and John Abrams.
'Prudent Betty' by Henry Cruger and Jacob Phoenix.
'Hester' by Mordecai and David Gomez.
'Elizabeth' by David and Mordecai Gomez.
'Antigua' by Nathan Marston and Abram Lyell.
'Betsy'by Wm. DeWoolf.
'PoUy'by James DeWoolf.
'White Horse' by Jan de Sweevts.
'Expedition' by John and Jacob Rosevelt.
'Charlotte' by Moses and Sam Levy and Jacob Franks.
'Caracoa' by Moses and Sam Levy.
Slave-runners, also owned by Jews were the 'La Fortuna', the 'Hannah', the 'Sally', and the 'Venue'.

Some of the Jews of Newport and Charleston who were engaged in the distillery or slavery trade, or both, were: Isaac Gomez, Hayman Levy, Jacob Malhado, Naphtaly Myers, David Hart, Joseph Jacobs, Moses Ben Franks, Moses Gomez, Isaac Dias, Benjamin Levy, David Jeshuvum, Jacob Pinto, Jacob Turk, Daniel Gomez, James Lucana, Jan de Sweevts, Felix (cha-cha) de Souza (known as the 'Prince of Slavers' and second only to Aaron Lopez), Simeon Potter, Isaac Elizer, Jacob Rod, Jacol) Itodrigues Rivera, Haym Isaac Carregal, Abraham Touro, Moses Hays, Moses Lopez, Judah Touro, Abrtham Mendes and Abraham All.

Of some 600 ships leaving the port of Newport, more than 300 were engaged in the slave trade. A typical cargo of one ship, 'La Fortuna', was 217 slaves which cost about $4,300 and sold for $41,438.00.

Only about 10% of the slave ship captains were Jews, not wanting to subject themselves to the rigors of the 6-month journey. They preferred to stay at home and continue their distillery operations which continued to supply rum and whiskey to the Indians for many years at a very great profit.

REFERENCES DOCUMENTATION

Elizabeth Donnan, 4 Vols. Documents Illustrative of the History of the Slave Trade to America, Washington, D.C., 1930-1935.

"Carnegie Institute of Technology," Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Adventures of an African Slaver, by Malcolm Cowley, 1928. Published by Albert and Charles Bori, New York.

The Story of the Jews in Newport, by Rabbi Morris A. Gutstein.

The Jew Discovem America, by Cthmar Krainz.

The International Jew, by Henry Ford.

The Plot Against the Church, by Maurice Pinay.

Protocol for World Conquest, 1956, by The Central Conference of American Rabbis.

Behind Communism, by Frank L. Britton

We cannot undertake even this brief history of the modern Jew without taking note of a phenomenon which his confounded Gentile societies for twenty centuries. This is the ability of the Jewish people to collectively retain their identity despite centuries of exposure to Christian civilization. To any student of Judaism, or to the Jews themselves, this phenomenon is partly explained by the fact that Judaism is neither mainly a religion, nor mainly a raciai matter, nor yet is it simply a matter of nationality. Rather it is all three, it is a kind of trinity. Judaism is best described as a nationality built on the twin pillars of race and religion. All this is closely related to another aspect of Judaism, namely the persecution myth. Since first appearing in history, we find the Jews propagating the idea that they are an abused and persecuted people, and this idea is, and has always been, central in Jewish thinking. The myth of persecution is the adhesive and cement of Judaism: without it Jews would have long since ceased to exist, their racial-religious nationality notwithstanding.

It is a fact that the Jewish people have suffered numerous hardships in the course of their history, but this is true of other peoples too. The chief difference is that the Jews have kept score. We Must repeat—they have kept score—they have made a tradition of persecution.

A casual slaughter of thousands of Chriestians is remembered by no one in 50 years, but a disability visited upon a few Jews is preserved forever in Jewish histories. And they tell their woes not only to themselves, but to a sympathetic world as well.

End of original essay

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The following references are addes by the editor to facilitate your research.

Ref. The International Jew by Henry Ford
Adventures of an African Slaver by Malcolm Cowley, 1928, p.11
Aaron Lopez and his family arrived in Newport around 1750 from New York via Lisbon, Portugal. Lopez arrived in the new world as a member of a "Marrano" family with the Christian name of "Don Duarte Lopez." Lopez immediately dropped his Christian name and took the Hebrew name of Aaron and submitted to ritual circumcision. Within twenty years, Lopez owned or had interests in over 80 sailing vessels. Lopez was also one of the original founders and contributors of Touro Synagogue and by the end of his life was recognized as one of the "Merchant Princes" of early America. His merchant trading interests included rum, molasses, dry goods and African slaves.
Moses Levy and the Moses Seixas families both lived in one of Newport's large colonial mansions at 29 Touro Street. Seixas was a founding member of the nation's oldest Jewish Masonic Lodge (King David in Newport) and Grand Master of the Masonic Order of Rhode Island. Seixas was well known as the Cashier of the Bank of Rhode Island. President (Parnas) of Touro Synagogue at the time of the George Washington visit and letter to the congregation, Seixas also performed the Covenant of Circumcision (B’rith Milah). Prominent merchant and trader Moses Levy of New York and Newport was one of several Ashkenazi Jewish families in Newport at that time. Levy owned the Touro Street Mansion and willed the property to Moses Seixas in 1792.
"Sir: Permit the children of the stock of Abraham to approach you with the most cordial affection and esteem for your person and merit, and to join with our fellow-citizens in welcoming you to Newport. ...

Deprived as we hitherto have been of the invaluable rights of free citizens, we now-with a deep sense of gratitude to the Almighty Disposer of all events — behold a government erected by the majesty of the people-a government which to bigotry gives no sanction, to persecution no assistance, but generously affording to all liberty of conscience and immunities of citizenship, deeming every one of whatever nation, tongue, or language, equal parts of the great governmental machine.

This so ample and extensive Federal Union, whose base is philanthropy, mutual confidence and public virtue, we cannot but acknowledge to be the work of the great God, who rules in the armies of the heavens and among the inhabitants of the earth, doing whatever seemeth to Him good.

For all the blessings of civil and religious liberty which we enjoy under an equal and benign administration, we desire to send up our thanks to the Ancient of days, the great Preserver of men, beseeching Him that the angels who conducted our forefathers through the wilderness into the promised land may graciously conduct you through all the difficulties and dangers of this mortal life; and when, like Joshua, full of days and full of honors, you are gathered to your fathers, may you be admitted into the heavenly paradise to partake of the water of life and the tree of immortality.

Done and signed by order of the Hebrew Congregation in Newport, Rhode Island, August 17, 1790.
Moses Seixas, Warden"

----------------------------------------------------------------------

accuracy

07-09-2009, 12:01 PM

Zionist Stormtroopers Attack, Beat Anti-Zionist Jews - Vid

September 06, 2009

On April 26, following an outdoor demonstration by the Orthodox Jewish community in Jerusalem against the State og Israel, a group of Israel officials attacked this Anti Zionist synagogue in Jerusa...
On April 26, following an outdoor demonstration by the Orthodox Jewish community in Jerusalem against the State og Israel, a group of Israel officials attacked this Anti Zionist synagogue in Jerusalem during it's religious services. Protests against this horrific act was held the US and elsewhere

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JU92lAsw3UU

accuracy

07-09-2009, 12:14 PM

Poll - Only 29% US Jews Feel 'Close To Israel'

Sep 3, 2009

By NAOMI CHAZAN

The Jewish experience in the 21st century is marked by its democratic character. For the first time, Jews throughout the world, with virtually no exceptions, live freely in open societies. Yet recent polls conducted in the two major concentrations of Jewish existence today - Israel and the United States - reveal a growing divergence of views, interests and mind-sets. These focus squarely on differing approaches to the role of Israel in contemporary Jewish life. Without a thorough, honest and critical reassessment of the humanistic and moral underpinnings of Israel and what it represents, its centrality in the Jewish world will continue to wane.

Attitudes toward Barack Obama among American and Israeli Jews are symptomatic of a much deeper parting of ways. Last week, a Smith Research poll conducted on behalf of The Jerusalem Post showed that only 4 percent of Israeli Jews see the US president's policies as pro-Israel (down from a paltry 6% in June and a dramatic drop from the 31% who viewed them as such in May). A majority of respondents (51%) consider the new administration's position more pro-Palestinian than pro-Israel, and 35% think they do not evince a bias for one side or the other.

The most progressive leader of the US in recent memory is not liked in Israel.

IN CONTRAST, a poll of Jewish Democrats (78% of American Jews voted for Obama), commissioned by the conservative Traditional Values Coalition and released a couple of week ago, shows that 92% approve of the president's job performance. In addition, 58% of those queried said he was doing a good job in promoting peace in the Middle East (only 16% disagreed with this statement). The majority of Jews in the US stand solidly behind Barack Obama.

The glaring gap in the attitudes of Israeli and American Jews toward the relationship between their respective governments is undeniable. Assuming that these latest surveys are methodologically sound (they are, indeed, entirely consistent with other polls carried out during the past few months), then the immediate lessons are clear. From the point of view of the present administration in Washington, recent steps have obviously not resonated with the Israeli public, whose built-in defensiveness has been magnified as a result of efforts to propel a resolution of the Arab-Israel conflict. From the vantage point of the Netanyahu government, the bulk of American Jewry is at odds with its basic precepts. Their identification with Israel no longer extends to unequivocal support for its actions.

The growing rift between these two major Jewish communities is not indicative merely of a disagreement over policy directions. It mirrors far more profound processes taking place in both settings.

In the US, Jews have, time and again, evinced steadfast support for the liberal principles of equality and social justice, which they equate with their Jewish heritage as well as with universal values. These binding norms have helped to fuse their collective identity and continually guide their outlooks and their behavior. Concern for the downtrodden, the disempowered and the other has become central to the Jewish ethic in the US. As Darren Pinsker so skillfully demonstrated in these pages just last weekend ("Obama and the Jewish vote"), most Jews in the US consistently adhere to social-democratic precepts domestically and to dovish positions internationally. These views are an inextricable part of their makeup as Jewish citizens of the US.

Trends in Israel point in quite different directions. As more Jews outside Israel - in Europe and Latin America as well as in North America - have internalized the democratic ethos, those in Israel appear to be disengaging from its roots. Six decades of independent achievement are increasingly being clouded by the acceleration of socioeconomic inequalities, the prevalence of discrimination among Jews of different backgrounds (shamelessly brought to the fore by the effort to exclude pupils of Ethiopian origin from some religious schools in Petah Tikva), the systemically unequal treatment of Arab citizens as well as continuing rule over another people, with all that this entails.

THE ISRAEL Democracy Institute's annual Democracy Index released barely a month ago uncovers an alarming rise in intolerance, bigotry and outright racism which flies in the face of basic democratic principles. A dangerous combination of religious formalism and unfettered patriotism, coupled with an almost inexplicable attachment to neoconservative doctrines, has narrowed Jewish horizons in Israel and threatens to erode its egalitarian foundations.

Under the circumstances, it is hardly surprising that Jews in Israel and abroad are drifting apart: The symbiotic relationship which bound them together in the past cannot survive in the free environment of the 21st century unless it is cemented by a renewed commitment to human dignity and the values of justice and equality that give it meaning.

Initially, the mutually sustaining link between nascent Israel and world Jewry was predicated on a commonality of tradition and destiny. Jews throughout the globe provided Israel with material support and political backing; in return, Israel's existence offered the promise of a safe haven and a much-needed rallying point for affiliation and mobilization. Implicit in this somewhat uneven exchange was the belief that Israel, as the homeland of the Jewish people, would exemplify the Jewish contribution to a just global order by constituting a "light unto the nations."

This normative bond has gradually unraveled as Israel has become a fully industrialized country and Jews from the former Soviet Union and its sphere of influence have been liberated from the shackles of totalitarianism. It is also this ethical tie which is in desperate need of repair.

There is a steep decline in American Jewish sentiment toward Israel. If, in the annual American Jewish Committee survey of 2006, 37% of US Jews claimed that they felt very close to Israel, by 2008 -scarcely two years later - this figure dropped to 29%. Undoubtedly the Second Lebanon War, corruption in high places, the Gaza offensive and shifting global currents have left a mark on American Jews. They have found outlets other than Israel to articulate their Jewish identity and their ongoing dedication to its moral dictates. Israel's actions and the discourse of its leaders no longer dovetail with those of its founders and of many Jews who in the past drew inspiration from their deeds.

Any hope for the revival of a constructive partnership between Jews in Israel and elsewhere must build on the humanistic worldview that has informed the Judaic tradition in the past and has become the essence of Jewish existence today. This requires a serious, frank, egalitarian and value-driven global effort to review and update the Jewish agenda and to make it relevant to the challenges of the present century.

Such an undertaking is a reciprocal obligation - that is the only way to make Israel and the world it inhabits a better place for all. Until such a dynamic is put in motion, the two polls bear evidence to the dual poles which represent the Jewish trajectory today.

http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?apage=1&cid=1251804481047&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull

accuracy

07-09-2009, 12:18 PM

Report: Jane Fonda joins boycott of Toronto film festival over homage to Israel

Last update - 15:03 05/09/2009
By Haaretz Service

Jane Fonda, Danny Glover and Eve Ensler have joined the growing list of artists who are boycotting the Toronto film festival over a program honoring Tel Aviv's 100th anniversary, gossip blogger Perez Hilton reported on Friday.

The three have added their names to a letter aimed at festival officials claiming that Tel Aviv was built on violence, ignoring the "suffering of thousands of former residents and descendants," Hilton reported.

Several Israeli films are being screened at the festival's new City to City event, which this year celebrates Tel Aviv's centennial.

Culture critic Naomi Klein and director John Greyson are among those who had already announced their protest over the homage to Tel Aviv.

Two-time Oscar winner Rabbi Marvin Hier, who founded the Simon Wiesenthal Center, called the boycott "an attack on the heart and soul of Israel."

"People who support letters like this are people who do not support a two-state solution," he was quoted as saying on Hilton's blog.

"By calling into question the legitimacy of Tel Aviv, they are supporting a one-state solution, which means the destruction of the State of Israel. I applaud the organizers of the festival for celebrating on the 100th anniversary of Tel Aviv. If every city in the Middle East would be as culturally diverse, as open to freedom of expression as Tel Aviv is, then peace would long have come to the Middle East."

Fonda, 72, rose to fame as an actress in the 1960s, but has since become known for her political activism, including her opposition to the Vietnam and Iraq wars.

Glover, who is probably best known for co-starring with Mel Gibson in the four Lethal Weapon movies, has also been politically active since his student days. He made headlines in 2006 when he traveled to Venezuela with a group of celebrities to show solidarity with president Hugo Chavez.

Ensler, whose father is reportedly Jewish, is an American playwright and activist who wrote The Vagina Monologues.

Related articles:

Toronto Film Fest deflects criticism of Tel Aviv spotlight

Filmmakers protest uncritical view of Tel Aviv at Toronto film festival

Palestinian, Israeli directors look past conflict at Toronto film festival

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1112482.html

accuracy

07-09-2009, 12:35 PM

Kawther - Video Of Palestinian Children In Israeli Jail

http://www.kawther.info/wpr/2009/09/05/video-of-palestinian-children-at-israeli-jail

accuracy

11-09-2009, 11:46 AM

Israel’s Arab Citizens Call General Strike

by Jonathan Cook / September 9th, 2009

The increasingly harsh political climate in Israel under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s right-wing government has prompted the leadership of the country’s 1.3 million Arab citizens to call the first general strike in several years.

The one-day stoppage is due to take place on October 1, a date heavy with symbolism because it marks the anniversary of another general strike, in 2000 at the start of the second intifada, when 13 Arab demonstrators were shot dead by Israeli police.

The Arab leadership said it was responding to a string of what it called “racist” government measures that cast the Arab minority, a fifth of the population, as enemies of the state.

“In recent months, there has been a parallel situation of racist policies in the parliament and greater condoning of violence towards Arab citizens by the police and courts,” said Jafar Farah, the head of Mossawa, an Arab advocacy group in Israel. “This attitude is feeding down to the streets.”

Confrontations between the country’s Arab minority and Mr Netanyahu’s coalition, formed in the spring, surfaced almost immediately over a set of controversial legal measures.

The proposed bills outlawed the commemoration of the “nakba”, or catastrophe, the word used by Palestinians for their dispossession in 1948; required citizens to swear loyalty to Israel as a Zionist state; and banned political demands for ending Israel’s status as a Jewish state. Following widespread outcries, the bills were either watered down or dropped.

But simmering tensions came to a boil again late last month when the education minister, Gideon Saar, presented educational reforms to mark the start of the new school year.

He confirmed plans to drop the word “nakba” from Arabic textbooks and announced his intention to launch classes on Jewish heritage and Zionism. He also said he would tie future budgets for schools to their success in persuading pupils to perform military or national service.

Arab citizens are generally exempted from military service, although officials have recently been trying to push civilian national service in its place.

Mohammed Barakeh, an Arab member of the parliament, denounced the linking of budgets to national service, saying that Mr Saar “must understand that he is the education minister, not the defence minister”.

The separate Arab education system is in need of thousands of more classrooms and is massively underfunded – up to nine times more is spent on a Jewish pupil than an Arab one, according to surveys. Research published by the Hebrew University in Jerusalem last month showed that Jewish schools received five times more than Arab schools for special education classes.

Mr Netanyau, who accompanied Mr Saar on a tour of schools last week, appeared to give his approval to the proposed reforms: “We advocate education that stresses values, Zionism and a love of the land.”

Mr Barakeh also accused government ministers of competing to promote measures hostile to the Arab minority. “Anyone seeking fame finds it in racist whims against Arabs – the ministers of infrastructure, education, transportation, whoever.”

Mr Barakeh was referring to a raft of recent proposals.

Avigdor Lieberman, the foreign minister and leader of the far-right Yisrael Beiteinu party, announced last month that training for the diplomatic service would be open only to candidates who had completed national service.

Of the foreign ministry’s 980 employees only 15 are Arab, a pattern reflected across the civil service sector according to Sikkuy, a rights and coexistence organisation.

The housing minister, Ariel Atias, has demanded communal segregation between Jewish and Arab citizens and instituted a drive to make the Galilee, where most Arab citizens live, “more Jewish”.

The interior minister, Eli Yishai, has approved a wave of house demolitions, most controversially in the Arab town of Umm al Fahm in Wadi Ara, where a commercial district has been twice bulldozed in recent weeks.

The transport minister, Israel Katz, has insisted that road signs include placenames only as they are spelt in Hebrew, thereby erasing the Arabic names of communities such as Jerusalem, Jaffa and Nazareth.

Arab legislators have come under repeated verbal attack from members of the government. Last month, the infrastructures minister, Uzi Landau, refused to meet Taleb al Sana, the head of the United Arab List party, on parliamentary business, justifying the decision on the grounds that Arab MPs were “working constantly here and abroad to delegitimise Israel as a Jewish state”.

Shortly afterwards, Mr al Sana and his colleague Ahmed Tibi, the deputy speaker of parliament, attended Fatah’s congress in Bethlehem, prompting Mr Lieberman to declare: “Our central problem is not the Palestinians, but Ahmed Tibi and his ilk – they are more dangerous than Hamas and [Islamic] Jihad combined.”

Mr Tibi responded: “When Lieberman, the foreign minister, says that, ordinary Israelis understand that he is calling for me to be killed as a terrorist. It is the most dangerous incitement.”

Israel’s annual Democracy Index poll, published last month, showed that 53 per cent of Israeli Jews supported moves to encourage Arab citizens to leave.

Mr Farah said the strike date had been selected to coincide with the anniversary of the deaths of 13 Arab citizens in October 2000 to highlight both the failure to prosecute any of the policemen involved and the continuing official condoning of violence against Arab citizens by police and Jewish citizens.

Some 27 Arab citizens have been killed by the police in unexplained circumstances since the October deaths, Mr Farah said, with only one conviction. Last week, Shahar Mizrahi, an undercover officer, was given a 15-month sentence for shooting Mahmoud Ghanaim in the head from point-blank range. The judge called Mizrahi’s actions “reckless”.

This week, in another controversial case, Shai Dromi, a Negev rancher, received six months community service after shooting dead a Bedouin intruder, Khaled al Atrash, as the latter fled.

Mr Farah said the regard in which Arab citizens were held by the government was illustrated by a comment from the public security minister, Yitzhak Aharonovitch, in June. During an inspection of police officers working undercover as drug addicts, the minister praised one for looking like a “real dirty Arab”.

http://dissidentvoice.org/2009/09/israel%e2%80%99s-arab-citizens-call-general-strike/

accuracy

11-09-2009, 11:51 AM

Heart Stopping Statistics: Israel Kills 773 Civilians

According to a new report published Wednesday by the B’Tselem organization the vast majority of Palestinians killed in Israel’s New Year attack on Gaza were civilians, not “combatants.

http://www.innworldreport.net/inn/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1381:international-news-9-10-09&catid=36:international&Itemid=1

"The Palestinians" would be crushed like grasshoppers ... heads smashed against the boulders and walls." " Isreali Prime Minister (at the time) in a speech to Jewish settlers New York Times April 1, 1988

"We have to kill all the Palestinians unless they are resigned to live here as slaves." Chairman Heilbrun of the Committee for the Re-election of General Shlomo Lahat, the mayor of Tel Aviv, October 1983.

"We must use terror, assassination, intimidation, land confiscation, and the cutting of all social services to rid the Galilee of its Arab population." Israel Koenig, "The Koenig Memorandum"

"We enthusiastically chose to become a colonial society, ignoring international treaties, expropriating lands, transferring settlers from Israel to the occupied territories, engaging in theft and finding justification for all these activities. Passionately desiring to keep the occupied territories, we developed two judicial systems: one - progressive, liberal - in Israel; and the other - cruel, injurious - in the occupied territories. In effect, we established an apartheid regime in the occupied territories immediately following their capture. That oppressive regime exists to this day."
(Michael Ben-Yair, 3 March 2002)

"We Jews, we are the destroyers and will remain the destroyers. Nothing you can do will meet our demands and needs. We will forever destroy because we want a world of our own." (You Gentiles, by Jewish Author Maurice Samuels, p. 155).

accuracy

11-09-2009, 12:15 PM

District 9,Minstrelsy & Palestine

Everybody loves District 9. Unless you’re Nigerian. Or you think about race. (Not THAT race!) Or you like to piss people off, like reviewer Armond White, of New York Press.

By now everybody knows the plot, and all the reviewers wanna call it an Apartheid Allegory, for obvious reasons: the film is set in South Africa, and was directed by a white South African (are all white South Africans “Afrikaners?”). Many call it a “cautionary tale,” which is bewildering, since Apartheid was *actually* carried out in South Africa and the US.

Caution usually precedes an act.

What nobody is talking about, though, is Palestine.

http://photos-a.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-sf2p/v173/234/69/4603161/n4603161_30646780_2441.jpg

Please read on.

http://politicaltheatrics.org/2009/09/10/guest-column-of-the-weekdistrict-9minstrelsy-palestine/

accuracy

11-09-2009, 12:30 PM

Netanyahu draws fire in Israel over secret trip

By Jeffrey Heller Jeffrey Heller – Thu Sep 10, 11:31 am ET
JERUSALEM (Reuters) – Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu drew the wrath of Israel's most influential newspapers on Thursday over what they described as lies issued by his office about a secret flight to Russia.

Netanyahu's first major media fiasco since taking office six months ago began with a simple question many Israelis, using their leader's nickname, asked on Monday: Where's Bibi?

Explaining why he had disappeared from public view for a day, a statement issued on Monday by the prime minister's office quoted his military attache as saying that Netanyahu had visited a security installation in Israel.

Israeli media reported he had toured a facility belonging to the Mossad intelligence agency.

But on Wednesday, Israeli daily Yedioth Ahronoth reported that Netanyahu had, in fact, flown secretly to Moscow to voice concern over the possible sale of Russian anti-aircraft missiles to Iran.

Keeping sensitive matters under wraps, newspaper commentators said, could be acceptable on grounds of national security.

But a false cover story? Israeli media, which have long abided by military censorship rules that force them to sit on security-related news, were outraged.

"Secrets and lies," complained identical headlines in Yedioth Ahronoth and its main competitor, the Maariv daily.

"Look what happened to the prime minister on the way to Russia -- his credibility, which was never high, was dealt a sharp blow," Maariv political commentator Ben Caspit wrote.

Even after the cover version was blown, a spokesman for Netanyahu, -- stopping short of denying the report -- said the earlier official explanation of his whereabouts still held.

In Moscow, Russian officials originally said no visit had taken place, a denial few in Israel were buying.

But on Thursday, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Andrei Nesterenko appeared to take a more ambiguous line, telling reporters: "I am not saying yes or no, I am just saying I don't have any information."

SORE POINT

The air defense missiles issue has been a sore point in relations between Moscow and Israel, which has lobbied Russia to pull away from selling them to Iran, saying they could protect nuclear facilities if Israel was to launch air strikes.

Reports of the Moscow visit followed the interception by Russian warships of a cargo ship off West Africa last month. Media reports, denied by Russia, said the Arctic Sea was carrying to Iran S-300 missiles that were detected by Israel.

Netanyahu has not responded directly to the reported secret trip. His office issued a new statement about Monday's disappearance, pinning the misinformation on his military attache, to try to end the barrage of criticism.

"The prime minister was busy with confidential and classified activities," the statement said.

"The military attache, who was not in touch with the prime minister at that time, acted on his independent initiative in order to defend that activity, and did this through a statement that was sent to his media adviser with the best of intentions."

Israeli newspapers described Netanyahu's office, filled with what they said were bickering advisers, as a "cuckoo's nest" and "fool's paradise."

(Additional reporting by Moscow bureau, Editing by Angus MacSwan)

http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20090908/capt.e43589fca4fa48b2a0c7720e6a6a95ef.mideast_isra el_economy_jrl115.jpg
AP – Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addresses an economic forum in Tel Aviv Israel, Tuesday, Sept, …

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20090910/ts_nm/us_israel_netanyahu

accuracy

11-09-2009, 12:34 PM

Israel: anti-assimilation ads yanked over uproar

Israeli campaign against assimilation, or loss of identity, yanked over Jewish uproar abroad

AMY TEIBEL
AP News

Sep 09, 2009 12:12 EST

An ad campaign against Jewish assimilation, co-sponsored by the Israeli government, has been yanked after outraging Jews abroad, an official said Wednesday, laying bare the sometimes fraught relations between residents of the Jewish homeland and world Jewry.

The Hebrew-language campaign was launched by Masa, a joint venture of the quasi-governmental Jewish Agency and the Israeli government. It included newspapers ads and TV clips showing mock missing persons fliers emblazoned with Jewish-sounding names and the word "Lost."

Jews abroad saw the campaign as an attack on intermarriage — the common phenomenon of Jews marrying non-Jews.

Statistics show that in the U.S. — home to the largest Jewish community outside Israel — about half the marriages of Jews over the past 25 years have been mixed.

A TV ad called on viewers who know young Jews living abroad to contact Masa, warning that they were "in danger" of marrying non-Jews. "Together, we will strengthen their bonds to Israel, so we won't lose them," the voiceover intoned.

Religious leaders, bloggers and editorial writers criticized the campaign as an affront to children of mixed marriages, and Jewish Agency officials said hundreds of people contacted the organization to denounce it.

Some deplored imagery that evoked the Holocaust, such as one showing railroad tracks.

J.J. Goldberg, editorial director of the Jewish-American weekly The Forward, called it "one of the most spectacularly knuckle-headed advertising campaigns in modern Jewish history."

No one, says Goldberg, is going to win the hearts of young Jews of mixed parentage "with commercials implying that their parents' marriage was a form of genocide."

Assimilation, or gradual weakening of Jewish identity with immersion in Western culture, is one of the most explosive issues in the Jewish world. One-third of the world's Jews were killed in the Holocaust, and some Jews fear that intermarriage and assimilation now threaten the community's continued survival.

On Wednesday, Jewish Agency chairman Natan Sharansky issued a statement saying he ordered the offending ads pulled.

"There is no doubt that strengthening the ties between Diaspora Jewry and the state of Israel assists in the struggle against assimilation," Sharansky said.

"At the same time, we must avoid offending Diaspora Jews and find a common language between them and citizens of Israel," he said. "

Many of the campaign's critics noted that not all Jews who marry outside their faith abandon their religion.

Blogger Ed Case said on Interfaithfamily.com that "Israeli leaders simply do not understand that many intermarried couples, and the adult children of intermarried parents, are actively engaging in Jewish life."

Rabbi Laura Baum, a founder of ourjewishcommunity.org, wrote on her blog that "an ad campaign like Masa's will only push people away from Judaism."

Source: AP News
http://wire.antiwar.com/2009/09/09/israel-anti-assimilation-ads-yanked-over-uproar-3/

accuracy

11-09-2009, 12:44 PM

Sarko Flies To Chad To Save Israeli Organ Thieves?

A Zionist Front For Organ Theft

http://judicial-inc.biz/810cha37.jpg

Please read on (more pics)

http://judicial-inc.biz/810chad_sarkozy_rescues_zionist_kidnappers.htm

Kids Being Grabbed Out Of Refugee Camps
http://judicial-inc.biz/810cha55.jpg

accuracy

11-09-2009, 12:53 PM

Israeli go-ahead on Jerusalem homes

By Vita Bekker in Tel Aviv

Published: September 9 2009 22:03 | Last updated: September 9 2009 22:03

Israel said on Wednesday that it is bringing forward plans to build 486 new homes in east Jerusalem, in a move that appeared aimed at appeasing rightwing opponents to a possible halt in settlement construction in the occupied West Bank.

The project may stir further friction between Israel and the US on the settlements issue. Israel’s staunchest ally has repeatedly urged the Jewish state to freeze all building in territory Palestinians want as part of their future state, including in east Jerusalem.

Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, has been conducting intensive negotiations with Washington on instituting a temporary moratorium of settlement activity.

George Mitchell, the top US envoy to the Middle East, may clinch a deal on the settlements with Mr Netanyahu as early as next week, when he is expected to visit Israel. Israeli media have reported that the prime minister may agree to a six to nine-month construction lull.

However, Mr Netanyahu has indicated that a freeze would not include mostly Arab east Jerusalem, an area that Israel captured from Jordan in 1967 and annexed in a move not recognised internationally.

Commenting on the east Jerusalem construction project, Mark Regev, a spokesman for Mr Netanyahu, said: “While the government of Israel is prepared, in order to get the peace process moving, to consider serious restrictions on growth in West Bank settlements, this does not apply to Jerusalem, which is our capital and will remain so.”

Israel’s announcement of the east Jerusalem project follows its statement on Friday that it will approve the building of hundreds of new apartments in the West Bank. A spokesman for Barack Obama’s administration had condemned the plan, saying such actions “make it harder” to reach a resumption of stalled peace negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians.

The Israel Lands Authority said it will carry on with the building project in Pisgat Zeev, a Jewish neighbourhood in east Jerusalem, after a year-long delay in selecting the winning bidders in a tender for the lease of the land. Authorities had rejected most of the bids for the development as too low in October 2008 but have now reversed their decision after the tendering companies appealed, according to a statement.

Daniel Seidemann, a prominent anti-settlement Israeli lawyer, said the revived project was aimed at avoiding condemnation from Washington while also appeasing Mr Netanyahu’s right-wing Likud party and the hardline parties in his governing coalition ahead of a possible construction lull in the West Bank.

Mr Netanyahu, who was ousted from his first premiership in the 1990s after alienating rightwing coalition partners, may be seeking to avoid a similar fate this time around with the pro-settler religious and nationalist parties that predominantly make up his coalition.

Mr Seidemann added: “Contrary to all economic logic, if the bidding was low a year ago, why go back to the original bids? This is a way in which [Mr] Netanyahu can say to his right wing, ‘I am not putting in place a settlement freeze,’ while simultaneously tell [Mr] Obama, ‘hey, there’s nothing new in this’.”
.Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2009. You may share using our article tools. Please don't cut articles from FT.com and redistribute by email or post to the web.
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/121025e6-9d81-11de-9f4a-00144feabdc0.html?nclick_check=1

accuracy

13-09-2009, 10:45 AM

Sep 12, 2009

Intelligence Affairs Minister Dan Meridor on Saturday confirmed that Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu secretly visited Russia on Monday.

"He was in Russia," Meridor told Reuters. "It created some controversy about the way it was published in Israel."

Meridor would not give any details on the visit, saying only that "The content was not discussed in public. Some things are better discussed [privately]."

http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1251804551292&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull

accuracy

13-09-2009, 10:53 AM

NORMALISATION WITH ISRAEL IS A STAB IN THE PALESTINIAN’S BACK

September 12, 2009

By Khalid Amayreh in occupied Palestine

http://desertpeace.files.wordpress.com/2009/09/khalid0eb80567.jpg
There is no doubt that any form of Arab normalization with Israel, especially under current circumstances, constitutes a brazen betrayal of the Palestinian people and their enduring just cause for justice and freedom from the cruel Israeli occupation.

In recent weeks, there have been consistent reports indicating that a number of Arab regimes are voicing a willingness to normalize relations with the extremist Israeli government of Benyamin Netanyahu.

According to these reports, some unspecified Arab regimes signaled to the Obama administration that they would be willing to take a number of “gestures” and “overtures” toward Israel, including allowing Israeli planes to fly over their territories, land and refuel at their airports as well as issue entry visas for Israeli officials, business people and ordinary citizens.

The “gestures” and “overtures” are supposedly meant to encourage the apartheid state to walk in the path of peace and give American-led efforts a chance to succeed.

The latest development in this unethical morass has been a secret visit by Netanyahu to an unspecified Arab state, probably in the Gulf region. Some of these former British protectorates, now American satellite princedoms, have informed the Obama administration of their readiness to take daring steps toward normalizing with the Jewish state.

However, it has been amply clear that all Arab “goodwill efforts” are having the opposite effect on Israeli government behaviors, especially with regard to Jewish settlement expansion and land theft in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.

Indeed, in the past few days, the Israeli government has issued tenders for building hundreds of settler units all over the occupied territories, further corroding any chances for the creation of a viable Palestinian state.

The decision is viewed not only as a flagrant defiance of the Obama administration but also as a naked contempt for Arab normalization “gestures and overtures.”

Well, the normalizing Arabs seem to deserve all the scorn they are getting from Israel. After all, people who don’t respect themselves and their peoples don’t deserve to be respected.

None the less, it seems that the slave-minded Arab regimes wouldn’t alter their scandalously disgraceful behavior vis-à-vis Zionist insolence no matter how much scorn and indignity is smacked onto their shameless faces.

This is because these decadent self-worshipers relate to the US government, irrespective of the political color of the incumbent administration, as the ultimate pimp whose instructions and directions must be heeded without the slightest deviation.

What else can be said of Arab leaders who claim to be followers of the Prophet Muhammed but rewards Israel generously every time the Nazi-like entity steps up its oppression and persecution of the Palestinian people.

Even whores are mindful of their interests, which shows that those Arab despots harrowing to normalize with the Judeo-Nazi state don’t even have the morality of a whore.

I don’t have the slightest doubt that these Kings, princes and presidents-for-life realize well that whatever they do to appease and please Israel will not make the criminal entity opt for peace and therefore put an end to decades of its Nazi-like occupation of Palestine.

But, if so, why do they still blindly heed American orders to cheapen themselves and their respective countries and peoples when they know quite well that Israel will ignore them with utter contempt.

The answer is clear. These ignorant Arab tyrants are unelected by their people, don’t feel answerable or even responsible to the masses and, therefore, feel they can behave according to their wild whims without having to worry about the consequences of their misrule and abuse of power, even including treason.

Besides, we all know that “normalization with Israel,” which itself is skewed term lacking logical consistency, had been thoroughly tried during the Clinton administration’s reign when Arab states from the Maghreb to Sheikdoms of the Gulf were herded like meek sheep to normalize with Israel. And what was the outcome of this silly game?

Did Israel stop killing the Palestinians? Did Israel stop building colonies on stolen Arab land? Did Israel stop demolishing Arab homes? Did Israel stop narrowing Palestinian horizons?

We know too well the answers to these questions. Israel actually stepped up its oppression and repression of the Palestinian people, which culminated in the genocidal blitz in Gaza earlier this year, destroying the coastal enclave and mercilessly slaughtering, incinerating and maiming thousands of innocent people whose only crime was their “helplessness” and the non-existence of a powerful state that would shield them from the savagery of the Nazis of our time.

Another point. We all know that Israel views the entire issue of normalization with the Arab world as a diversionary tactic to divert attention from and have ample time for effecting more settlement expansion.

Hence, it is just pointless that Arabs must always harrow aimlessly after Zionist illusions.

Indeed, one wouldn’t exaggerate much by stating that even if the 300 million Arabs were to become willing weavers of skullcaps for religious Jews, Israel would continue to reject peace and look down on them as scum, vermin and dirty animals that ought to be exterminated.

We, who have been living under the Israeli occupation rule for decades, know Israel like no other people do. Hence it would be a futile exercise in stupidity and vacuity for these late-day descendants of Omar Ibn al Khattab and Salahuddin to try that which has been tried ad nauseam, but to no avail.

Israel is a combination of Nazi brutality and Zionist racism and, as such, respects only power and force. Hence, it is imperative that these so-called leaders realize that their stupid “gestures” and “overtures” won’t take them anywhere and that they will continue to be viewed by Israel as stupid imbeciles who have no will of their own and who are bereft of human dignity.

Well, I don’t blame Israel for viewing you this way.

When we went to elementary school, we learned that a wolf shouldn’t be blamed for attacking the sheep if the shepherd is the flock’s enemy.

http://desertpeace.wordpress.com/2009/09/12/normalisation-with-israel-is-a-stab-in-the-palestinians-back/

accuracy

13-09-2009, 11:04 AM

Israel Blames Lebanese Govt Following Exchange of Fire

by Jason Ditz, September 11, 2009

Early today, a pair of Katyusha rockets were fired from southern Lebanon, landing in an empty field near an Israeli town but doing no damage and causing no injuries. The Israeli military responded by firing 12 to 15 artillery shells at the site they suspect was the source of the rockets, but again it does not appear to have done any damage or harmed anyone.

And while officials from the Israeli military were privately blaming a small militant group affiliated with “Global Jihad” for the attack, officially the Israeli military has said it holds the Lebanese government responsible for the attack, and has filed a request for UN Security Council action against them for violations of the 2006 ceasefire agreement.

The United States reiterated the Israeli comments as well, saying the missile fire underscored the need for the United Nations to put all arms in Lebanon under control and to commit fully to the UN forces in the south of the nation.

Israel invaded Lebanon in July of 2006 following a flurry of missile attacks and a cross-border raid by Hezbollah. The month long war left well over 1,000 Lebanese killed, mostly civilians, and led to the ceasefire agreement Israel is now accusing the Lebanese government of violating. Despite the fact that the resolution was between the Israeli and Lebanese governments, Lebanese governmental forces were not materially involved in the conflict.

http://news.antiwar.com/2009/09/11/israel-blames-lebanese-govt-following-exchange-of-fire/

accuracy

14-09-2009, 12:19 PM

Israeli forces continue escalation of night raids of non-violent anti-Wall organizers

Saed Bannoura

http://uruknet.com/pic.php?f=1_0_soldier_bilin.jpg
Soldier confronts young woman during night raid of Bil'in (photo from Bil'in-FFJ video)

September 13, 2009 - IMEMC

Just after 2 am on Saturday morning, Israeli forces invaded the village of Bil'in, west of Ramallah in the central West Bank. The late-night raid is one of a series of similar raids carried out over the last month by Israeli troops against the village of Bil'in, which is a center of non-violent organizing against the Israeli Annexation Wall and Occupation of the West Bank.

Organizers with the Popular committee Against the Wall in Bil'in say that they believe the escalation over the last month is an attempt by the Israeli military to crush the non-violent resistance in Palestine, as Israeli forces have abducted more than twenty young people who are known as organizers and participants in the weekly non-violent demonstrations in Bil'in.

In Saturday morning's raid, Israeli troops raided two houses in an attempt to arrest Mohammed Ahmed Yasseen (age 21), and Yasseen Mohammed Yasseen (age 21). In the first house soldiers were quite aggressive during their operation. Neither of the two young men were home at the time.

At the second house, the soldiers, disguised with face masks, as they have been during the last few raids, met a lot of resistance from Palestinian and international activists who were standing in their way and filming the event.

The troops eventually retreated to the four waiting Jeeps, arresting one international activist from Great Britain on their way. Palestinian villagers who heard the soldiers conversing with each other in Hebrew say that the soldiers told each other that they planned to release the international peace activist a little further along on their way toward the Apartheid Wall. He was indeed released a few minutes later before the soldiers exited through the Wall.

Organizers with the Popular Committee Against the Wall say that they believe the Israeli forces are stepping up their night raids again in Bil'in, as the Saturday morning invasion was the second such invasion this week.

from another site:
Israel is terrified of non-violent protest, which is why they are desperately attempting to shut these people down.

Non-violent protest makes makes Israeli government oppression of Palestinians crystal clear to the entire world.

http://uruknet.com/index.php?p=m57880&hd=&size=1&l=e

accuracy

14-09-2009, 12:29 PM

Ni’lin protestors destroy sensors, cut through fence

Latest News, Palestinian Grassroots Anti-Apartheid Wall Campaign,

September 13th, 2009

The struggle of the village of Ni’lin is still continuing, despite the hot weather, the month of the fasting and new concrete wall. The march began this week after the people finished praying under the olives trees, with about 100 of farmers, youth, and internationals joining in.

The demo divided into two parts, one headed toward the concrete wall while the second went to other part where there are only two fences. Those that reached the concrete burned tires and threw them at sensors; they also created a ladder, climbing the wall and flying the Palestinian flag. A police vehicle sprayed chemical water in an attempt to knock down the flag, and it seems that Occupation forces have recognized, too late, that the concrete wall is useless here in Ni’lin village. This is a message the people have sent before.

The second part of the demonstration encountered a huge number of Occupation forces, more than 50 soldiers and 10 jeeps, that had erected small concrete barriers to hide behind from stones. Soldiers fired a considerable amount of tear gas canisters to force people back, leading to a number of breathing problems that were treated on-site by the first aid medical team.

Youth replied to the shooting of tear gas with stones and unexploded tear gas canisters, causing soldiers to escape and leave their positions. The chemical water and tear gas launchers worked overtime to force the people to withdraw, but the youth accepted the challenge and cut the fences in front of the soldiers. On one occasion live bullets were fired, but no one was injured.

Some people went to fences from another area, where they cut the fences as well as the electric cables that connect the sensors in view of the soldiers. When Occupation forces attempted to pursue youth, demonstrators closed the roads and forced them to advance on foot. Soldiers reached the edge of the village, but the people forced them to back with their own tear gas canisters after five hours of protest.

Report and photos by Ni’lin Youth Center
http://stopthewall.org/enginefileuploads/content/520_007.jpg
Above: A young man climbs the Wall and destroys a sensor this week in NI'lin

http://stopthewall.org/latestnews/2068.shtml

accuracy

16-09-2009, 09:49 AM

The UN Fact-Finding Mission:Gaza & Israeli Atrocities

UN Fact Finding Mission finds strong evidence
of war crimes and crimes against humanity
committed during the Gaza conflict;
calls for end to impunity

15 September 2009

NEW YORK / GENEVA – The UN Fact-Finding Mission led by Justice Richard Goldstone on Tuesday released its long-awaited report on the Gaza conflict, in which it concluded there is evidence indicating serious violations of international human rights and humanitarian law were committed by Israel during the Gaza conflict, and that Israel committed actions amounting to war crimes, and possibly crimes against humanity.

The report also concludes there is also evidence that Palestinian armed groups committed war crimes, as well as possibly crimes against humanity, in their repeated launching of rockets and mortars into Southern Israel.

The four members of the Mission* were appointed by the President of the Human Rights Council in April with a mandate to "To investigate all violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law that might have been committed at any time in the context of the military operations that were conducted in Gaza during the period from 27 December 2008 and 18 January 2009, whether before, during or after."

In compiling the 574- page report, which contains detailed analysis of 36 specific incidents in Gaza, as well as a number of others in the West Bank and Israel, the Mission conducted 188 individual interviews, reviewed more 10,000 pages of documentation, and viewed some 1,200 photographs, including satellite imagery, as well as 30 videos. The mission heard 38 testimonies during two separate public hearings held in Gaza and Geneva, which were webcast in their entirety. The decision to hear participants from Israel and the West Bank in Geneva rather than in situ was taken after Israel denied the Mission access to both locations. Israel also failed to respond to a comprehensive list of questions posed to it by the Mission. Palestinian authorities in both Gaza and the West Bank cooperated with the Mission.

The Mission found that, in the lead up to the Israeli military assault on Gaza, Israel imposed a blockade amounting to collective punishment and carried out a systematic policy of progressive isolation and deprivation of the Gaza Strip. During the Israeli military operation, code-named "Operation Cast Lead," houses, factories, wells, schools, hospitals, police stations and other public buildings were destroyed. Families are still
living amid the rubble of their former homes long after the attacks ended, as reconstruction has been impossible due to the continuing blockade. More than 1,400 people were killed during the military operation.

Significant trauma, both immediate and long-term, has been suffered by the population of Gaza. The Report notes signs of profound depression, insomnia and effects such as bed-wetting among children. The effects on children who witnessed killings and violence, who had thought they were facing death, and who lost family members would be long lasting, the Mission found, noting in its Report that some 30 per cent of children screened at UNRWA schools suffered mental health problems.

The report concludes that the Israeli military operation was directed at the people of Gaza as a whole, in furtherance of an overall and continuing policy aimed at punishing the Gaza population, and in a deliberate policy of disproportionate force aimed at the civilian population. The destruction of food supply installations, water sanitation systems, concrete factories and residential houses was the result of a deliberate and systematic policy which has made the daily process of living, and dignified living, more difficult for the civilian population.

The Report states that Israeli acts that deprive Palestinians in the Gaza Strip of their means of subsistence, employment, housing and water, that deny their freedom of movement and their right to leave and enter their own country, that limit their rights to access a court of law and an effective remedy, could lead a competent court to find that the crime of persecution, a crime against humanity, has been committed.

The report underlines that in most of the incidents investigated by it, and described in the report, loss of life and destruction caused by Israeli forces during the military operation was a result of disrespect for the fundamental principle of "distinction" in international humanitarian law that requires military forces to distinguish between military targets and civilians and civilian objects at all times. The report states that "Taking into account the ability to plan, the means to execute plans with the most developed technology available, and statements by the Israeli military that almost no errors occurred, the Mission finds that the incidents and patterns of events considered in the report are the result of deliberate planning and policy decisions."

For example, Chapter XI of the report describes a number of specific incidents in which Israeli forces launched "direct attacks against civilians with lethal outcome." These are, it says, cases in which the facts indicate no justifiable military objective pursued by the attack and concludes they amount to war crimes. The incidents described include:
Attacks in the Samouni neighbourhood, in Zeitoun, south of Gaza City, including the shelling of a house where soldiers had forced Palestinian civilians to assemble;
Seven incidents concerning "the shooting of civilians while they were trying to leave their homes to walk to a safer place, waving white flags and, in some of the cases, following an injunction from the Israeli forces to do so;"
The targeting of a mosque at prayer time, resulting in the death of 15 people.

A number of other incidents the Report concludes may constitute war crimes include a direct and intentional attack on the Al Quds Hospital and an adjacent ambulance depot in Gaza City.

The Report also covers violations arising from Israeli treatment of Palestinians in the West Bank, including excessive force against Palestinian demonstrators, sometimes resulting in deaths, increased closures, restriction of movement and house demolitions. The detention of Palestinian Legislative Council members, the Report says, effectively paralyzed political life in the OPT.

The Mission found that through activities such as the interrogation of political activists and repression of criticism of its military actions, the Israeli Government contributed significantly to a political climate in which dissent was not tolerated.

The Fact-Finding Mission also found that the repeated acts of firing rockets and mortars into Southern Israel by Palestinian armed groups "constitute war crimes and may amount to crimes against humanity," by failing to distinguish between military targets and the civilian population. "The launching of rockets and mortars which cannot be aimed with sufficient precisions at military targets breaches the fundamental principle of distinction," the report says. "Where there is no intended military target and the rockets and mortars are launched into civilian areas, they constitute a deliberate attack against the civilian population."

The Mission concludes that the rocket and mortars attacks "have caused terror in the affected communities of southern Israel," as well as "loss of life and physical and mental injury to civilians and damage to private houses, religious buildings and property, thereby eroding the economic and cultural life of the affected communities and severely affecting the economic and social rights of the population."

The Mission urges the Palestinian armed groups holding the Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit to release him on humanitarian grounds, and, pending his release, give him the full rights accorded to a prisoner of war under the Geneva Conventions including visits from the International Committee of the Red Cross. The Report also notes serious human rights violations, including arbitrary arrests and extra-judicial executions of Palestinians, by the authorities in Gaza and by the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank.

The prolonged situation of impunity has created a justice crisis in the Occupied Palestinian Territory that warrants action, the Report says. The Mission found the Government of Israel had not carried out any credible investigations into alleged violations. It recommended that the UN Security Council require Israel to report to it, within six months, on investigations and prosecutions it should carry out with regard to the violations identified in its Report. The Mission further recommends that the Security Council set up a body of independent experts to report to it on the progress of the Israeli investigations and prosecutions. If the experts' reports do not indicate within six months that good faith, independent proceedings are taking place, the Security Council should refer the situation in Gaza to the ICC Prosecutor. The Mission recommends that the same independent expert body also report to the Security Council on proceedings undertaken by the relevant Gaza authorities with regard to crimes committed by the Palestinian side. As in the case of Israel, if within six months there are no good faith independent proceedings conforming to international standards in place, the Council should refer the situation to the ICC Prosecutor.

The full report can be found on the web page of the Fact Finding Mission:
http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/hrcouncil/specialsession/9/FactFindingMission.htm

http://www.unhchr.ch/huricane/huricane.nsf/view01/9B63490FFCBE44E5C1257632004EA67B?opendocument

accuracy

16-09-2009, 10:02 AM

Unrest Brewing Beneath Gaza Calm

by Mel Frykberg, September 15, 2009

GAZA CITY – The mile-long stretch that divides Israel’s Erez border crossing into northern Gaza from the Hamas police border post is eerily quiet. But the mountains of rubble, twisted metal, and craters which remain following Israel’s intensive bombing campaign in January serve as a stark reminder that war between the two bitter enemies is still a possibility.

The streets of Gaza appear calm, clean, and mostly deserted during the day with few pedestrians and vehicles, due in part to the siege and to the holy month of Ramadan.

But this deceptive appearance of tranquility was shattered last week when Israeli forces invaded northern and central Gaza and exchanged fire with several Palestinian resistance groups.

According to Palestinian sources, the Israeli soldiers razed large swathes of agricultural land and fired at farmers in the area before taking several young men across the border for questioning.

This was the biggest military confrontation between Gaza-based fighters and the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) since Israel’s Operation Cast Lead in December-January. It sparked fears that another major military confrontation might be in the offing.

This followed a hardening of attitude by the IDF as outlined in statements that any Palestinian gunmen who try to capture Israeli soldiers would be shot at if it endangered the lives of Israeli soldiers.

Israel has been trying to secure the release of an Israeli soldier captured by Palestinian guerrillas over three years ago.

On Wednesday Damascus-based Hamas politburo chief-in-exile Khaled Meshaal upped the ante when he addressed the youth wing of the National Congress Party in Khartoum, Sudan.

Meshaal told them that despite Israel’s blockade of Gaza and its continual bombing of smuggling tunnels, his organization had managed to smuggle weapons and armaments into Gaza through the tunnels which link the territory with the Sinai peninsula.

The military developments run parallel with political movement on the diplomatic scene.

“The Israelis are trying to provoke retaliatory rocket-fire so as to justify another ground invasion,” says Dr. Ahmed Yousef, political adviser to Gaza-based Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh.

“This is related to the forthcoming UN General Assembly meeting to be held on Sept. 23 in New York when the issue of the siege on Gaza will be discussed by the Europeans and the Americans,” Yousef told IPS.

“Many in the international community now realize that discussing a resolution to the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians must on pragmatic grounds include Hamas, as we are part of the political equation. The Israelis are not happy about this,” added Yousef.

Dr. Samir Awad from Birzeit University near Ramallah believes the UN General Assembly meeting will be crucial in that U.S. President Barack Obama will address the gathering. Regional peace including Israel’s continued illegal settlement-building will be on the agenda.

“The Americans are no longer using the hackneyed phrase ‘The War on Terror,’ and this is indicative of a change in attitude by the Russians, Americans, and the Europeans toward the Middle East and Hamas in particular,” Awad told IPS.

“Hamas is trying to make political mileage out of the West’s more tolerant attitude toward the resistance movement by appearing as a moderate force in the area with the same agenda against more extremist ‘terror groups,’” said Awad.

“This is one of the reasons Hamas publicly invited the media to cover its recent law and order campaign to keep the streets of Gaza free of crime and political unrest.”

Last week Hamas security forces set up roadblocks and searched vehicles after several explosions outside government institutions in Gaza City.

The bombs were assumed to be retaliation for Hamas’ brutal operation against Jund Ansar Allah, an allegedly al-Qaeda-affiliated Salafist group of gunmen, in Rafah several weeks ago when 24 people died during an exchange of gunfire and missiles.

Some Fatah activists accused the usually media-shy Hamas authorities of staging the events to prove to the outside world that they are in control and that, like the West, Hamas won’t tolerate “terrorism” from extremists.

Simultaneously, as Hamas makes political headway with the international community, there are some signs that forthcoming unity talks between Hamas and Fatah, to be held in Cairo in October, might actually be more positive this time.

“The Egyptian mediators have presented both sides with documents outlining the practical steps that need to be taken respectively. Their input this time has been far more substantive,” Awad told IPS.

A reconciliation agreement and simultaneous presidential and legislative elections are to be held early next year as part of the Egyptian-sponsored unity plan.

The elections will comprise both proportional representation and constituency-based voting. There is still disagreement between Hamas and Fatah over the breakdown of this, with Hamas wanting a 50-50 divide and Fatah arguing for a 75-25 ratio.

“During the last few years, Hamas’ rule over Gaza has failed to deliver basic needs to the Palestinian public and it is losing popularity as a result,” says Awad.

“The extreme destruction caused by Israel during the war and Fatah’s resurgence following its revolutionary conference in Bethlehem have also outlined the movement’s vulnerability,” he said.

“Both parties realize that unity is in their mutual interests. The continued division only serves Israel’s interests,” Yousef told IPS.

(Inter Press Service)
http://original.antiwar.com/frykberg/2009/09/14/unrest-brewing-beneath-gaza-calm/

accuracy

16-09-2009, 10:22 AM

PHOTO ESSAY ~~ A FEW MOMENTS OF HAPPINESS IN GAZA

September 15, 2009 at 5:26 am (DesertPeace Exclusive, Gaza, Holidays, Palestine, Photography)

Despite it all, the war, the sanctions, the closures, children sometimes remember that life is meant to be enjoyed…. EVEN IN GAZA.

Holy Days are the best time to demonstrate this as can be seen in the following photos taken by Ayman Quader.

Breaking the Ramadan Breakfast with Gaza children, Al Maghzi Refugee Camp, middle of the Gaza Strip

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_a-Su2SAnGYU/Sq8kl7sW2ZI/AAAAAAAALGE/gT8gKjVFo_U/s400/bf1.jpg

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_a-Su2SAnGYU/Sq8klt-eFtI/AAAAAAAALF8/c_r9dvAGolE/s400/bf2.jpg

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_a-Su2SAnGYU/Sq8kWpwOmsI/AAAAAAAALF0/D4LqCWmXU0Q/s400/bf3.jpg

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_a-Su2SAnGYU/Sq8kWIm_GJI/AAAAAAAALFs/gTu9VdRQJfk/s400/bf4.jpg

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_a-Su2SAnGYU/Sq8kV5-S6tI/AAAAAAAALFk/KpVYFA7I7sA/s400/bf5.jpg

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_a-Su2SAnGYU/Sq8kVQnR5HI/AAAAAAAALFc/UyN_Xsyyt9c/s400/bf6.jpg

See more photos HERE http://desertpeace.wordpress.com/2009/09/15/photo-essay-a-few-moments-of-happiness-in-gaza/

accuracy

16-09-2009, 10:32 AM

Fonda Caves To Zionist Pressure On Film Petition

Fonda regrets signing letter objecting to Toronto film festival's decision to showcase films from Tel Aviv

Ben Child and agencies guardian.co.uk, Tuesday 15 September 2009 11.22 BST

http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/pictures/2009/02/09/0209_fonda_460x276.jpg
Jane Fonda said she had signed the letter 'without reading it carefully enough'. Photograph: Andrew H Walker/Getty

Jane Fonda has apologised for signing a petition decrying the decision by organisers of the Toronto film festival to showcase films from Tel Aviv.

In a post on the Huffington Post blog yesterday, Fonda said she had signed the letter, which has been fiercely criticised by Hollywood luminaries such as Jerry Seinfeld, Natalie Portman and Sacha Baron Cohen, "without reading it carefully enough, without asking myself if some of the wording wouldn't exacerbate the situation rather than bring about constructive dialogue".

She continued: "In the hyper-sensitised reality of the region in which any criticism of Israel is swiftly and often unfairly branded as anti-Semitic, it can become counterproductive to inflame rather than explain and this means to hear the narratives of both sides, to articulate the suffering on both sides, not just the Palestinians. By neglecting to do this the letter allowed good people to close their ears and their hearts."

However Fonda pointed out that her decision had been based on anger over the suspicion that Toronto was being used by the Israeli government to boost its newly launched campaign to "rebrand" the country. "Arye Mekel, the Israeli foreign ministry's director general for cultural affairs, has said that artists and writers must be enlisted in order to 'show Israel's prettier face, so we are not thought of purely in the context of war'," she said. "The protesters felt it was wrong for the much-respected festival to be used in this manner."

The original protest letter was written by a group of Toronto-based film-makers angered by the festival's decision to put Tel Aviv at the centre of its inaugural City to City programme. It was then signed by more than 1,500 supporters, including director Guy Maddin, actor Viggo Mortensen, author Naomi Klein and musician David Byrne.

Yesterday the film-makers held a press conference refuting claims they advocated a boycott of the festival over the Tel Aviv focus. Speaking alongside Toronto film-maker John Greyson and Palestinian-Israeli director Elia Sulieman, among others, proponent Elle Flanders said the letter was not targeted at Israeli film-makers themselves, "but rather the frame".

She said: "Our campaign was meant to begin the dialogue that TIFF missed out on – one that refuses the Israeli government's attempt to shift attention away from the conflict that it maintains and worsens daily."

Israeli film-maker Samuel Maoz, whose film Lebanon won the Golden Lion at Venice at the weekend, has been among the most vocal critics of Fonda's decision. He told the Observer: "The point of a film like mine is to open a dialogue, to get people talking to each other about important issues. This is something you can't do if films are boycotted. It makes no sense to boycott art. Maybe I wouldn't have won if Jane Fonda was on the jury, but she wasn't."

The Toronto film festival run until Saturday.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2009/sep/15/jane-fonda-toronto-festivals

accuracy

16-09-2009, 10:51 AM

http://img5.imageshack.us/img5/399/olivehar09.jpg

http://www.stopthewall.org/index.shtml

accuracy

16-09-2009, 10:56 AM

Irish boycott Dead Sea products
Worldwide Activism, Palestinian Grassroots Anti-Apartheid Wall Campaign, September 15th, 2009

As part of the international BDS campaign, the Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign (IPSC) launched an action against Dead Sea Products, an Israeli cosmetics firm which has a stall in Jervis Centre in Dublin, on Saturday (June 12).

Activists from the IPSC wearing ‘Boycott Israel’ t-shirts surrounded the Dead Sea Products stall on the top floor in Jervis Street shopping centre, handing out leaflets and asking people not to buy Israeli products.

At the behest of the Dead Sea company, security soon arrived and demanded that the peaceful demonstrators leave. After a prolonged discussion with the security guards, the IPSC activists marched out and leafleted all the exits to the Jervis Street centre, receiving a great response from passers-by.

According to the IPSC, one shopper commented: “I didn’t know about these people were here. I think it’s an absolute disgrace. I remember the boycott of South Africa, and I don’t know if I’m going to keep doing my shopping in Jervis if this company remains here.”

The IPSC will continue to actively seek a meeting with Jervis Street management to discuss the presence of this company in their store. So far, the management has refused to meet with the IPSC.

Dead Sea Products is one of the most noticeable Israeli cosmetic companies operating in Ireland at present, having stalls in several Irish supermarkets, often staffed by ex-Israeli soldiers.

A similar campaign against Israeli cosmetic company Ahava, which also uses Dead Sea products, has been launched in the United States by CODEPINK. Street protests and in-store direct action has raised awareness about the company’s ties with settlements and the theft of Palestinian resources.

As Ronan Nolan, IPSC boycott officer stated: “Boycotting these products offers a effective non-violent means for everyone to resist Israeli oppression and occupation. The campaign against Dead Sea Products in particular will continue and grow, until Irish shopping centres realise it is no longer acceptable to have such stalls in their premises”.

http://stopthewall.org/worldwideactivism/2071.shtml

accuracy

16-09-2009, 10:58 AM

http://stopthewall.org/enginefileuploads/GETMATERIALS.jpg

http://stopthewall.org/news/activistresources.shtml

accuracy

16-09-2009, 11:07 AM

TODAY’S PHOTO ~~ THE “BASTERDS” IN TEL AVIV

September 15, 2009

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_a-Su2SAnGYU/Sq-1AlO4NSI/AAAAAAAALIU/6O1JOre13j0/s400/tarantino.jpg

Director Quentin Tarantino flashes a V-sign during a press conference ahead of a local premiere of his Holocaust-era film “Inglourious Basterds” in Tel Aviv on Tuesday.
Photo: AP

http://desertpeace.wordpress.com/

accuracy

17-09-2009, 12:24 PM

Rachel Corrie's parents denied entry to Gaza for Memorial Soccer Cup

http://uruknet.com/pic.php?f=rachel_corrie_memorium.gif

September 15, 2009

Egyptian Rafah - Ma'an - The parents of slain American activist Rachel Corrie were denied entry into the Gaza Strip Tuesday, following day-long efforts to secure their entry and cheer on teams at the Rachel Corrie Ramadan Soccer Tournament.

The Corries and a delegation accompanying them continue to wait at the Rafah border at Egypt, but have thus far been denied entry. Egyptian crossing authorities have given various reasons for the delegation's delay, despite the group having previously coordinated with Egyptian authorities, who said they informed crossings officials that the delegation had been cleared for passage.

"After weeks of coordination with the US State Department and through them to the US Embassy in Cairo and with the Egyptian Embassy in Washington and the Egyptian Foreign Ministry, I stand tonight at 7pm before the Rafah crossing," Craig Corrie, Rachel's father said.

"I talked to my friend two miles away on the other side of this border, in a prison he cannot leave and I cannot enter. My heart goes out to him and his family and to all those in Gaza. I wish more than words can say that we could have been with them today at Unity Fields for the final game of the Rachel Corrie Ramadan Soccer Tournament, we would have liked to have shared that with our friends and insha allah we will be with them tomorrow."

Rachel Corrie was run over by an armored Israeli caterpillar bulldozer as she tried to protect the home of Rafah resident Samir Nasrallah from demolition on 16 March 2003. Corrie went to Gaza as part of the International Solidarity Movement, and was standing alongside six other international activists when the incident occurred.

Corrie's parents have visited the Gaza Strip three times, the first in September 2003, shortly after the death of their daughter, then again in 2006, and 2008 with the CODEPINK delegation. They keep in regular contact with the family whose home Rachel was protecting when she was killed.

http://uruknet.com/?p=m57978&hd=&size=1&l=e

accuracy

17-09-2009, 12:37 PM

ISRAEL: LAWSUITS AND BURIAL SHROUDS

September 16, 2009

‘But Israel is now more concerned about its own image rather than the type or crimes committed’.

WHAT IMAGE??? The image of a bully beating up and killing innocent civilians and then lying about it? Where is the concern for the almost 500 children that were brutally slaughtered in Gaza earlier this year? What about the image of Israel bullying the entire Western world to accept and support their ongoing atrocities against the Palestinian people? (Thanks ‘Irish’ for the following image)
http://desertpeace.files.wordpress.com/2009/09/bully.jpg

Lordy, Lordy, Lordy…… What to do about Israel’s image? How can poor little Israel, the ‘only Democracy in the Middle East’ continue to look like the poor victim and receive the billion$ of dollars it gets in ‘aid’ to continue carrying out its policies? So much of that money might have to go into Legal Fees at this point…. WHAT TO DO?????
Well… they can start by acting like human beings and treating others as such… that would be a start.

http://desertpeace.wordpress.com/2009/09/16/israel-lawsuits-and-burial-shrouds/

accuracy

20-09-2009, 10:54 AM

Kawther - Israeli Jailer Sexually Abuses Palestinian Girl

The lawyer of the Women’s Organization for Political Prisoners (WOFPP), Taghreed Jahshan, is appealing to everybody from the international community, the European Union, Parliament members, governments

http://www.kawther.info/wpr/wp-content/uploads/Majido-jail0090-150x100.jpg

http://www.kawther.info/wpr/2009/09/19/urgent-call-a-minor-abused-sexually-in-jail

accuracy

20-09-2009, 10:58 AM

http://www.tbrnews.org/Archives/a2977.htm

accuracy

21-09-2009, 10:40 AM

http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/46163000/jpg/_46163126_arrest466.jpg
Israel arrested 9,000 Palestinians last year, 700 of them children

A former Israeli military commander has told the BBC that Palestinian youngsters are routinely ill-treated by Israeli soldiers while in custody, reports the BBC' s Katya Adler from Jerusalem and the West Bank.

"You take the kid, you blindfold him, you handcuff him, he's really shaking... Sometimes you cuff his legs too. Sometimes it cuts off the circulation.

"He doesn't understand a word of what's going on around him. He doesn't know what you're going to do with him. He just knows we are soldiers with guns. That we kill people. Maybe they think we're going to kill him.

http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/46163000/jpg/_46163131_boy226.jpg
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/8186905.stm

"A lot of the time they're peeing their pants, just sit there peeing their pants, crying. But usually they're very quiet.''

Eran Efrati is a former commander in Israel's army. He served in the occupied West Bank.

In a discreet park in Jerusalem we meet to discuss allegations that soldiers like him often mistreat Palestinian minors, suspected of throwing stones.

Mr Efrati - who left the army five months ago - says the allegations are true:

''I never arrested anyone younger than nine or 10, but 14, 13, 11 for me, they're still kids. But they're arrested like adults.

"Every soldier who was in the Occupied Territories can tell you the same story. The first months after I left the army I dreamed about kids all the time. Jewish kids. Arab kids. Screaming.

''Maybe [the kid is] blindfolded for him not to see the base and how we're working... But I believe maybe we put the blindfold because we don't want to see his eyes. You don't want him to look at us - you know, beg us to stop, or cry in front of us. It's a lot easier if we don't see his eyes.

''When the kid is sitting there in the base, I didn't do it, but nobody is thinking of him as a kid, you know - if there is someone blindfolded and handcuffed, he's probably done something really bad. It's OK to slap him, it's OK to spit on him, it's OK to kick him sometimes. It doesn't really matter.''

http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/46163000/jpg/_46163127_bilinkids_3101_466afp.jpg
Israel says stones can be deadly weapons

Young Palestinians are mostly arrested for throwing stones at Jewish settlers or Israeli soldiers.

This, they say, is their only means of venting their frustration at Israel's military occupation of their home, the West Bank.

Every week in the West Bank village of Bilin, Palestinians organise a demonstration against Israel's West Bank barrier.

Israel says it needs the barrier to stop attacks on its citizens. Palestinians call it a land grab. They say it makes their daily life even tougher.

Israeli soldiers monitor the protest from the other side of the barrier.

Night-time arrests

At a recent protest, I watched a gang of Palestinian boys darting amongst the olive trees, picking up stones and rocks to throw at the soldiers.

Some used sling-shots. Many had a scarf or shawl wrapped round their face to hide their identity.

The soldiers responded with tear gas and sound grenades. Sometimes they have used rubber-coated bullets too.

http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/46163000/jpg/_46163128_soldier226.jpg
After he left the military, Mr Efrati said he dreamed about children screaming

Often after an incident like this, Israeli soldiers raid a West Bank village.

Usually in the middle of the night. The arrests can be brutal.

''Their faces were painted when they came for him. It was frightening. All those soldiers for one boy. They put iron weights on his back in the jeep and beat him all the way to jail. He couldn't get up for a week.''

Mohammad Ballasi's 15-year-old son, also called Mohammad, was arrested by Israeli soldiers for stone-throwing.

We met him and his wife just outside an Israeli military base in the West Bank. Palestinian youngsters are tried in military tribunals.

The military tribunals regard Palestinians as minors until their 16th birthday, unlike the civil courts in Israel where minors are considered to be minors until their 18th birthday.

The first time Mohammad's parents saw him since he was arrested two weeks before was at his trial. He pleaded guilty.

''When you're beaten like that, you would confess against your own mother," said Suad Ballasi, choking back tears.

''He's a child. His friends are playing in the street and he is in handcuffs. I couldn't stop crying in court. My heart feels like it's going to explode.''

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/8186905.stm

The human rights organisation Defence for Children International (DCI) has written a report accusing Israel's military of what it describes as the systematic and institutionalised ill-treatment and torture of Palestinian children by the Israeli authorities.

Gerard Horton is an international lawyer for DCI. He said Mohammad's Ballasi's story is a familiar one.

''We see these stories again and again. Israel is a signatory to the UN convention against torture. It's also a signatory to the UN convention on the rights of the child - and under customary international law, it's not permissible to mistreat and torture, particularly children, who are obviously more vulnerable than adults."

He told me that Israel arrested 9,000 Palestinians last year. Seven hundred of those were children.

Mr Horton says the military tribunals need to process cases quickly.

DCI believes the system is designed so that it is in an adult or a child's interest to plead guilty.

http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/46163000/jpg/_46163129_teargas466ap.jpg
Israeli troops frequently use tear gas against protesters at Bilin

Gerard Horton says Palestinians tend to end up in jail longer if they try to fight their case.

Mohammad Khawaja had just turned 13 when he was arrested.

''They dragged me from my home by the scruff of the neck. The more I cried the more they choked me," he said.

"My mum was screaming. They pulled me along on my stomach. My knees were bleeding. They beat me with their guns and kicked me all the way to the jeep.

"They cuffed my hands and legs, blind-folded me and left me there for 24 hours. I thought I was going to die.

"Later interrogators wanted me to tell on other people. I wouldn't. They beat me with plastic chairs. They told me to sign a paper written in Hebrew. I don't read or speak it. Because I signed it they put me in jail.''

Israel's military denies any suggestion that the abuse of young Palestinians is routine, but the army says it has to guard against Palestinian children involved in what it describes as "acts of terror".

Nightmares

Lieutenant Colonel Avital Leibowitz is a spokeswoman for Israel's military.

''Even though it's just a stone or just a Molotov cocktail, they're deadly weapons. Doesn't matter who did it - they're deadly weapons," she said.

"Almost every other week we find a 14 or 15-year-old carrying an explosive belt or grenade on his body, in one of the crossings.

"This is the situation we live in, and since we are defending ourselves and we want to punish those terrorists, we have no choice but to find them, to punish them - and hope that we won't return to this."

Mohammad Khawaja hasn't slept properly since the soldiers came. He says the nightmares will not go away.

Human rights groups are calling on the international community to investigate what they say are Israel's violations of children's rights.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/8186905.stm

accuracy

21-09-2009, 10:56 AM

Two Palestinians killed by Israel tank fire: medics

http://d.yimg.com/a/p/afp/20090920/capt.photo_1253473064482-2-0.jpg
Sun Sep 20, 5:30 pm ET
GAZA CITY (AFP) – Israeli tank fire killed two Palestinian men in the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip on Sunday, Palestinian medical sources said, with one of them identified as an Islamist militant.

The shelling in eastern Gaza came hours after the army said several rockets were fired at the Jewish state from the Islamist Hamas-ruled coastal enclave, without causing casualties or damage.

Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades, Hamas's armed wing, identified one of the dead men as one of its members.

Medical sources said the other was a 25-year-old but could not specify if he was a militant. Two other Palestinians were wounded in the shelling, they said.

Soldiers spotted Palestinian militants transporting booby-trapped bombs near the security fence with Israel and opened up with tank fire, hitting the suspects, Israeli military sources said.

The Israeli air force carried out an air strike on a smuggling tunnel from Gaza into Egypt late on Sunday, Palestinians witnesses said, with no casualties reported.

According to Israeli state radio, two rockets exploded in Israel on Sunday morning without causing injuries or damage, although the army could not confirm the number of devices.

In late December, Israel launched a deadly offensive against Hamas to stop rocket fire from Gaza. Since then, more than 200 rockets and mortar rounds have slammed into Israel from the Palestinian territory, the army says.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20090920/wl_mideast_afp/mideastconflictgaza

cinder_darkskys

21-09-2009, 01:43 PM

http://www.davidicke.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=411&pictureid=3904The peace sign is a V , Quentin Tarantino. he's of and age grouping that fash it to day, day to, day, as a symbol for Peace. He's works in a place called Hollywood is a district in Los Angeles, California, United States, it happens to be one the most anti war states in the union.
http://www.davidicke.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=411&pictureid=3958
You know Im not afraid of god, or beening judged, and I'm a sinner. I look at world and ask my self, is the end resault of humanity I see in this place The Bitter Lands of Fools < The so called Holy Lands ) as a miny template, for how we all act. as resorces fad away, at the end of the world, so to speak.
http://www.davidicke.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=411&pictureid=4214
The world population concuming it self, in a slow bitter never ending slow death. With what seem like no escape. And refecting on the bible seem like it when right out the window. It seems only hate lives there, it makes one wonder, is there even 1 helpfull person, could 1 side ever smile at the other.
http://www.davidicke.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=411&pictureid=3898
Think all these sins, over and, over. Never learning from what there reading. becoming more savage, to the point of using religion and there childrens children up, till they dont know who there fore father are, just another grave fill it.
http://www.davidicke.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=372&pictureid=3441
I often wonder if there is even 1 good man, in the holy land, even just 1 man who is a gental soul. At all times i speak about all parties, in question.
http://www.davidicke.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=387&pictureid=4143
I look in the face of the whore of Babylon, < view topic ) and point see, her for what she is, greed ruled by hate. govern by serpents, see her eat there children flesh. Drunk on there blood. A Goduss of there creation. This is not Gods, Goduss
PeaceLovesALL

http://www.davidicke.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=371&pictureid=3846This is the female candle stick I believe, < its small so Im not 100% sure) I think the right words are a repercentation of Gods Goduss, she would be the one that sits under heaven

accuracy

27-09-2009, 09:25 AM

Israel's Dimona Nuclear Weapons Factory In 3D

Israel is screaming about Iran's backup fuel rod processing plant, denouncing it as a secret facility even though Iran openly declared it to the IAEA.

But if you want to see a REALLY secret nuclear weapons faciloty, one that the IAEA has never been formally informed of, nor inspected, one need look no further than Israel itself.

Please send this YouTube link to very congresscritter and media outlet you know. Send it to the White House. They will never use it, but at least they will know we know the scale of Israel's and US hypocrisy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bbjgDERSuiI

accuracy

27-09-2009, 09:31 AM

[QUOTE][24 September 2009
NETANYAHU IS RIGHT!!!!!!
Sometimes words are powerful things. And sometimes they are not. I am talking about Netanyahu’s words immediately after the Summit on Tuesday. I watched it live on television, not expecting anything as explained here. But still I watched, and afterwards a grinning Netanyahu said this about Illegal settlements:
¼ Million people living in those communities
They need Kindergartens, they need Schools,
they need Health Clinics….they are living
People have to live, you cannot freeze life
http://www.giwersworld.org/israel/more-pics/

The Holy Land in Pictures
Imagine what an immoral army would do
[ Warning Extremely graphic photos]!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
/QUOTE]
http://www.giwersworld.org/israel/more-pics/

accuracy

27-09-2009, 09:38 AM

Statehood options…. One State, Two States or NO STATE

Image ‘Copyleft’ by Carlos Latuff

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_a-Su2SAnGYU/Sr3LfSATeoI/AAAAAAAALNs/VhCI4WQi60w/s400/mother+palestine-statehood.jpg

accuracy

27-09-2009, 10:05 AM

http://palestinethinktank.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/bendib-holocaust.jpg

accuracy

27-09-2009, 10:07 AM

This is the url.

http://palestinethinktank.com/2009/09/25/daniel-mcgowan-what-does-holocaust-denial-really-mean/

accuracy

28-09-2009, 11:38 AM

Palestinian protesters, Israeli police clash at volatile Jerusalem holy site

Staff
AP News

Sep 27, 2009 10:36 EST

Israeli police used stun grenades Sunday to disperse Palestinian rioters at a volatile Jerusalem site holy to Jews and Muslims, police said.

The incident took place during a visit by a Jewish group to the compound in Jerusalem's Old City known to Jews as the Temple Mount and to Muslims as the Noble Sanctuary. Deadly violence has erupted there several times in the past.

Police spokesman Shmuel Ben-Ruby said around 150 Palestinians threw stones at the Jews visiting the site, which is open to non-Muslims at certain hours.

Jews regularly visit the compound and it was not immediately clear what sparked the violence.

Police dispersed the rioters using stun grenades, and two policemen were lightly injured. Sunday's incident ended without serious injuries.

Rabah Bkirat, an official with the Muslim religious body in charge of managing the site, said some of the protesters had come because of rumors of an "invasion" by Jewish settlers. When a group of some 15 Jews entered the grounds accompanied by police, the protesters began chanting slogans and only threw stones after police used force, he said.

Eleven Palestinians sustained minor injuries in the clashes, Bkirat said.

Religious and nationalist sentiment connected with the site have made it a flashpoint for violence in the past. A visit in 2000 by Ariel Sharon, then an Israeli opposition leader, helped ignite violence that engulfed Israel and the Palestinian territories for several years.

Jews venerate the Temple Mount as the location of two biblical Temples and consider it their holiest site. Jews pray at the foot of the compound at one of its supporting walls, known as the Western Wall.

Sunday's violence did not affect prayers at the Western Wall ahead of Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, which is the holiest day on the Jewish calendar and starts at sundown.

The compound is home to the gold-capped Dome of the Rock and the Al Aqsa mosque, and Muslims see it as their religion's third-holiest site after the Saudi Arabian holy cities of Mecca and Medina.

The site has been under Israeli control since 1967, but is administered by a Muslim religious body known as the Waqf.

Source: AP News

http://wire.antiwar.com/2009/09/27/israeli-police-protesters-clash-at-holy-site-7/

accuracy

28-09-2009, 11:43 AM

Sun Sep 27, 3:23 pm ET
JERUSALEM (Reuters) – Palestinian leaders warned Israel Sunday not to stoke tension in Jerusalem in the hope of thwarting peace talks, after clashes at a sacred site in which Palestinians and Israeli police were injured.

"At a time when (U.S.) President (Barack) Obama is trying to bridge the divide between Palestinians and Israelis, and to get negotiations back on track, Israel is deliberately escalating tensions in Jerusalem," chief peace negotiator Saeb Erakat said.

"We've seen this before, and we know what the consequences are," the Palestinian minister added, in a statement that recalled the visit of then Israeli opposition leader Ariel Sharon to the site in Jerusalem's Old City in 2000.

Sharon's presence at al-Aqsa mosque, the third holiest site in Islam, triggered the second Palestinian uprising and dealt the biggest setback to peace efforts in years.

The reasons behind Sunday's clash were disputed.

According to legislator Hathem Abdel Kader and other Palestinian sources, the clash erupted in the early morning when Palestinians inside the complex -- sacred to both Islam and Judaism -- saw a group of 15 religious Jews trying to enter.

The Jews never managed to get into the complex, because several hundred Palestinians, who were on alert for such a possibility, began a loud protest. Israeli police responded with tear gas then stun grenades.

TOURIST PRESENCE DISPUTED

The clash occurred hours before the start of Yom Kippur, the solemn "Day of Atonement" which is the holiest day in the Jewish calendar. Police were on alert for violent protests in several flashpoints where Jews and Arabs live side by side.

Protesters threw stones, chairs and whatever they could lay hands on as riot police rushed to the scene. Video showed them trying to drive police away from the doorway of the al-Aqsa mosque, but there was no sign that police entered it.

Police said 17 officers were hurt and 11 rioters arrested, and medics said 13 Palestinians were treated for injuries. There were no reports of serious injury or death.

Israeli police said it began when religious Palestinians angered by immodestly dressed tourists grew violent.

Palestinians dismissed that account, saying no tourists were involved. There was no further comment from Israeli authorities, who were observing the Yom Kippur silence.

"Providing a police escort for settlers who are against peace at all costs, and whose presence is deliberately designed to provoke a reaction, are not the actions of someone who is committed to peace, but of someone who will go to extraordinary lengths to scuttle all hopes of peace," Erakat said.

He said it was "deliberately timed to coincide with the eve of the anniversary of that visit" by a government "emboldened by its ability to fend off calls for a settlement freeze."

The complex is known to Jews as the Temple Mount and to Muslims as the Haram al-Sharif (Noble Sanctuary). Located above the Jewish prayer site at the Western Wall, it includes al-Aqsa Mosque and the Dome of the Rock mosque.

In Muslim tradition, the Prophet Mohammad ascended to heaven from the rock at the center of what is now the Dome of the Rock shrine. The gilded dome sits over the spot where Jews believe Abraham was about to sacrifice his son Isaac to God before an angel stayed his hand.

Jewish visitors need permission from Israeli police to visit this part of the site. During mass Muslim prayers, Israel also restricts access by Palestinian Muslim men under 50.

Israel captured the site in the 1967 Middle East war and annexed it with the rest of East Jerusalem, in a move not recognized internationally.

Sharon's visit enraged Palestinians and the resulting uprising rapidly escalated, with numerous suicide bomb attacks on Israeli civilians.

(Reporting by Joseph Nasr and Ali Sawafta; writing by Douglas Hamilton; Editing by Elizabeth Fullerton)
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20090927/wl_nm/us_palestinians_israel

accuracy

28-09-2009, 11:47 AM

Erekat: Israel deliberately escalating tensions in Jerusalem

Palestinian leaders warned Israel on Sunday not to stoke tension in Jerusalem in the hope of thwarting peace talks, after clashes at a sacred site in which Palestinians and Israeli police were injured.

"At a time when [U.S.] President [Barack] Obama is trying to bridge the divide between Palestinians and Israelis, and to get negotiations back on track, Israel is deliberately escalating tensions in Jerusalem," chief Palestinian peace negotiator Saeb Erakat said Sunday evening.

"We've seen this before, and we know what the consequences are," the Palestinian minister added, in a statement that recalled the visit of then Israeli opposition leader Ariel Sharon to the site in Jerusalem's Old City in 2000.
Sharon's presence at al-Aqsa mosque, the third holiest site in Islam, triggered the second Palestinian uprising (intifada) and dealt the biggest setback to peace efforts in years.

The reasons behind Sunday's clash were disputed.

According to legislator Hathem Abdel Kader and other Palestinian sources, the clash erupted in the early morning when Palestinians inside the complex - sacred to both Islam and Judaism - saw a group of 15 religious Jews trying to enter.

The Jews never managed to get into the complex, because several hundred Palestinians, who were on alert for such a possibility, began a loud protest. Israeli police responded with tear gas then stun grenades.

Presence of tourists disputed

The clash occurred mere hours before the start of Yom Kippur, the solemn "Day of Atonement" which is the holiest day in the Jewish calendar. Police were on alert for violent protests in several flashpoints where Jews and Arabs live side by side.

Protesters threw stones, chairs and whatever they could lay hands on as riot police rushed to the scene. Video showed them trying to drive police away from the doorway of the al-Aqsa mosque, but there was no sign that police entered it.

Police said 17 officers were hurt and 11 rioters arrested, and medics said 13 Palestinians were treated for injuries. There were no reports of serious injury or death.

Israeli police said it began when religious Palestinians angered by immodestly dressed tourists grew violent.

Palestinians dismissed that account, saying no tourists were involved. There was no further comment from Israeli authorities, who were observing the Yom Kippur silence.

"Providing a police escort for settlers who are against peace at all costs, and whose presence is deliberately designed to provoke a reaction, are not the actions of someone who is committed to peace, but of someone who will go to extraordinary lengths to scuttle all hopes of peace," Erakat said.

He said it was "deliberately timed to coincide with the eve of the anniversary of that visit" by a government "emboldened by its ability to fend off calls for a settlement freeze".

The complex is known to Jews as the Temple Mount and to Muslims as the Haram al-Sharif (Noble Sanctuary). Located above the Jewish prayer site at the Western Wall, it includes al-Aqsa Mosque and the Dome of the Rock mosque.

In Muslim tradition, the Prophet Mohammed ascended to heaven from the rock at the centre of what is now the Dome of the Rock shrine. The gilded dome sits over the spot where Jews believe Abraham was about to sacrifice his son Isaac to God before an angel stayed his hand.

Jewish visitors need permission from Israeli police to visit this part of the site. During mass Muslim prayers, Israel also restricts access by Palestinian Muslim men under 50.

Sharon's 2000 visit enraged Palestinians and the resulting uprising rapidly escalated, with numerous suicide bomb attacks on Israeli civilians.

Hamas brands clash at Temple Mount a 'Zionist crime'

Earlier Sunday, the Islamist group Hamas branded the clash at the Temple Mount as a "Zionist crime" and a provocation.

"The Israeli occupation is not interested in calm," the Palestinian news agency Ma'an quoted Sami Abu Zuhri, a Hamas spokesperson, as saying. The news agency said Hamas, which controls the Gaza Strip, called for Palestinians to rise up against Israel to retaliate for the incident.

Ma'an also quoted other Islamists in Gaza as calling for an uprising and condemning Israel.

"The Israeli assault is part of a central Israeli decision to escalate in the whole region," Islamic Jihad leader Khalid Al-Batsh was quoted as saying. "This escalation might reach neighboring Arab countries."

Despite the clashes, Jewish worshippers continued to pray at the Western Wall - situated below the Temple Mount - in the lead-up to Yom Kippur.

On Saturday, the Israel Defense Forces said it would place the West Bank under general closure until the end of Yom Kippur due to security concerns.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1117348.html

cinder_darkskys

28-09-2009, 05:13 PM

http://www.davidicke.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=411&pictureid=4214
Tracking topic;
http://www.davidicke.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=387&pictureid=5367
PeaceLovesAll
http://www.davidicke.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=411&pictureid=5074
http://www.davidicke.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=387&pictureid=5370

accuracy

01-10-2009, 12:09 PM

September 30th, 2009

http://www.thepeoplesvoice.org/TPV3/media/blogs/blog/18/israelhell-white-phos.jpg

We are faced with the ever-present and ever-growing problems presented by the state of Israel. The entire world has been given the most sinister ultimatum of all time (and Barack Obama is fully supporting it)- we either make Israeli interests the paramount issue concerning the world today, or else Israel will single-handedly start World War III.

If we do not take military actions to preserve Israel’s outlaw nuclear edge in the Middle East, then, according to Israel’s supreme leader, Israel will use those nuclear weapons upon Iran (Israel can only do the job with nukes). If the leadership of the world does not alleviate Israeli leaders’ greatest fears through limited, though intense military actions, then Israel will unleash WWIII in the Middle East, effectively destroying the oil-based international order.

The new American leadership is the most craven, sniveling, and condescending to Israeli demands, of all previous administrations. Never before has an American administration had to publicly reverse itself because of demands openly made upon it by the Zionist state, concerning illegal settlements and other ethnic cleansing measures. To then be forced to announce to the world the reversal of the defense and arms control strategy of the previous administration, to make protecting Israel more important than protecting Europe, is a stinging indictment of Obama Administration loyalties.

The missiles were never really there because of Iran, merely a tool to antagonize Putin. By reversing the Bush deployment policy for ABM systems (allegedly intended to protect Europe from Iranian missiles), moving those missiles which represented no real threat to Iran, to positions between Israel and Iran (on ships in the Persian Gulf and from missiles based on Arab soil), the only superpower was humiliated before the world, while billions of American defense dollars were shifted to investing in protecting the world from the actions of the shitty little mad dog state.

The US military is helping making Israel immune from rocket and missile attack, while there are no such defenses for the either the United States or the European Union. If Israel were really either an island of “democracy” or an outpost of freedom in the Middle East, then it might merit such unprecedented world protection—but it is neither.

In point of fact, the Zionist state is the opposite of both of those ideals. Ruled by a small ruthless minority, the “state,” which has stolen every square inch of property from a powerless unarmed populace, proceeds to destroy every conceivable avenue of change for the better, even that of peaceful coexistence, in order to follow a similar path calculated for gain and furtherance of the secret goal. That goal is the establishment of “Greater Israel,” an un-Biblical concept, used to claim Biblical “divine right” allegedly promised to the real descendents of Abraham.

The Obama Administration represents nothing short of a “gold mine” for Israel, because of the great policy changes that are being made in their favor. We are seeing the pay-off from the heavy Zionist stacking within the Obama Administration that exceeds the record number of Zionists in the previous two administrations. Bush had become an obstacle to Israeli designs in the region, simply because they would take no action against Iran, the only obstacle to complete Israeli domination of the region.

Obama has served his Zionist overlords very well. Obama’s theatric ultimatums to Iran have distracted the world from the building international pressure that was being generated for war crimes investigations by public reactions to the fascist war of ethnic cleansing in Gaza. The “Cast Iron” campaign of terror was giving substance to legitimate comparisons being made between the fascist Israeli actions and those of the Nazis, leading also, to the Goldstone Report on war crimes in Gaza. The war against Iran, which the Israelis are demanding, can only be avoided by a total confrontation of those demands.

Over the years, the American people have stood in silent witness, as this Constitutional Republic has been slowly reshaped into a police state by the subversive financial powers. The population has been conditioned through a series of psyops, staged dramas, intended to accept familiarize the people with the encapsulated plotline. We have been encouraged to believe in the inevitability of a militarized world. Every medium screams that Brave New World is an inevitability, never mentioning that those who are sounding the warning are the same ones who are planning it all.

Since the days of WWI, powerful forces within the United States and Europe have created war as an instrument for social change. The people could be convinced into accepting all sorts of bad things in the name of “self-defense.” Wall St. financiers first bankrolled the Bolsheviks of Russia, repeating the same successful formula a few years later by funding the National Socialists of Germany. The “Islamist militants” are merely the latest model of America’s perennial pre-fabricated enemy. The “Islamist” psyop serves the interests of the Zionist world financiers today and no one else.

The problem with Israel is that the Zionist leaders there have taken the lead role in the psyop and they don’t intend to let anyone else call the shots. In this respect, Israel is in partial rebellion to its master, the American ruling class. The Mossad hand in the creation of the international “Islamist” network gives them an inside track to effect the outcome of planned terror events. Israeli agents, stationed strategically throughout American government, the press, academia and the military, maintain their chokehold on America. America will serve one last time, as Israel’s attack dog, until the once proud Nation strangles on its own vomit and wallows in its own feces, as it struggles for life, dangling at the end of the chain over the side of the cliff, after it has outlived its usefulness.

The parasitic Zionist bankers and the system that they have used to drain the life from this Nation and the world, fully intend to use the full power of the massive military-industrial complex that they have created to seal the global arrangement that they have also created. World War III, just like the two world wars before it, were unnecessary, planned events. Americans never catch-on, because they are too trusting, our fatal weakness.

After the dust settles from the next unnecessary planned world war, the inhuman bankers will have a stranglehold on food production for the surviving remnant, with their genetically modified seeds and industrial farms. They will have the same death grip on all fuel and shipping resources, in addition to control of the world bank and the world government.

Government action is already in play in the former American Congress to cause all of this. Israeli-owned senators and representatives have already given the president the necessary emergency powers to enact the destruction of the Republic. They have legislation waiting until Obama’s Iranian ultimatum passes in October, to carry-out the necessary military strangulation of Iran, as well as the major military actions planned to pursue the imaginary enemy “al Qaida.” That will start the ball rolling. “Hate crime” legislation will then pass swiftly, as part of the next escalation of emergency powers, beginning with a broad suspension of all civil rights under “Patriot Act III.”

The only thing that will prevent all of this is millions of bodies in the streets, either dead ones, or alive ones. We really are “the change that we have been waiting for.” If we don’t pour into the streets now, while we are still somewhat free, we will have to do it later with our Second Amendment rights in our hands.

There will be a second revolution in America, a revolution against a different hidden, colonial power. We have the privilege of shaping that revolution into something that the survivors can all be proud of, instead of one that none can take pride in. If we cannot unseat the Zionists within our own government in a peaceful national protest against where they are taking us against our will, then whoever comes after our time will make no such distinctions between the political Zionists and the Jewish-American community which they have historically abused in order to maintain their illegitimate criminal power.

Our only remaining decision in the matter is what form that revolution will take. If we fail to make a peaceful revolution now, then the option will be taken from our hands by the real “anti-Semites” who are sure to follow.

http://www.thepeoplesvoice.org/TPV3/Voices.php/2009/09/30/israeli-state-of-extortion

accuracy

03-10-2009, 11:17 AM

Devastating Report Documents Israeli Crimes Against Civilians in Gaza: Where's the Outrage?

By Roane Carey, The Nation. Posted September 26, 2009.

The Goldstone report has been denounced in Israeli and ignored by the U.S. press, unless you count the NY Daily News, which called it a "blood libel against Israel."

The recently released UN Human Rights Council fact-finding mission on the December-January Gaza conflict, released on the eve of Barack Obama's attempt to jump-start comprehensive Israeli-Palestinian negotiations, was but the latest in a series of investigations, most of them by human rights organizations like Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International.

Like its predecessors, the so-called Goldstone report, named after chief investigator Richard Goldstone, is devastating in its critique of Israeli actions: indiscriminate use of firepower; deliberate attacks on civilians and civilian structures, including hospitals, schools, mosques, water and sewage plants, and rescue vehicles; use of white phosphorus munitions in built-up areas; use of human shields; abusive treatment of detainees; imposition of a blockade on Gaza before and after the attack itself--the report concludes that Israel violated international humanitarian law, committed "grave breaches of the Fourth Geneva Convention in respect of wilful killings and wilfully causing great suffering to protected persons," and war crimes, possibly even crimes against humanity. The courageous Israeli journalist Gideon Levy summed it up well in Haaretz: it was "an unrestrained assault on a besieged, totally unprotected civilian population which showed almost no signs of resistance during this operation."

Perhaps most damning of all was the testimony of some thirty Israeli veterans of the operation gathered by the organization Breaking the Silence, published in a booklet in July and cited by the Goldstone report. According to the booklet's introduction, "The majority of the soldiers who spoke with us are still serving in their regular military units and turned to us in deep distress at the moral deterioration of the IDF.… The stories of this publication prove that we are not dealing with the failures of individual soldiers, and attest instead to failures in the application of values primarily on a systemic level." The testimony is chilling: "Fire power was insane"; "if you see any signs of movement at all, you shoot. These, essentially, were the rules of engagement. Shoot if you like"; "Houses were demolished everywhere.… We didn't see a single house that was not hit"; "whole neighborhoods were simply razed because four houses in the area served to launch Qassam rockets"; "You know what? You feel like a child playing around with a magnifying glass, burning up ants. Really. A 20-year-old kid should not be doing such things to people."

Predictably, the Goldstone report was met by a wave of angry denunciations from the Israeli government -- which had refused to cooperate with the investigators -- and most of the Israeli media. The mainstream media here have downplayed the investigation's significance; news coverage has been sparse, and not one major U.S. daily has seen fit to editorialize on it (unless you count a nasty little screed from the New York Daily News calling the report a "blood libel against Israel"). And U.S. pundits and politicians -- including UN ambassador Susan Rice, who called it "unbalanced, one-sided and basically unacceptable" -- have been overwhelmingly critical.

But it's not so easy to dismiss these findings. For one thing, the nearly 600-page report is carefully documented and comprehensive, and is based on field visits, public hearings, almost 200 individual interviews, photos, videos, satellite imagery and a review of more than 300 other reports. For another, its head, Goldstone, is one of the most respected and experienced international jurists, having served as a justice on South Africa's Constitutional Court and chief UN prosecutor for the International Criminal Tribunals for the former Yugoslavia and Rwanda.

And then there are Goldstone's personal connections: he's Jewish and, according to his daughter, herself an ardent Zionist who lived in Israel for six months, he's "a Zionist and loves Israel." Indeed, she said of her father, who serves on the Board of Governors of Hebrew University, "I know that if he thought what he did would not somehow be for the sake of peace for everyone in Israel or that it would have hindered such efforts, he would not have accepted the job."

Before taking it on, Goldstone insisted on expanding the mission's mandate so that it cover Palestinian acts; far from being one-sided, the report concluded that Hamas rocket and mortar barrages on southern Israel were "indiscriminate attacks upon the civilian population," acts that "would constitute war crimes and may amount to crimes against humanity." International law expert (and Nation editorial board member) Richard Falk has concluded that "no credible international commission could reach any set of conclusions other than those reached by the Goldstone Report on the central allegations."

Falk points out that there are good reasons for Israel's panicked reaction. In addition to the report's balance and the credibility of its chief, Goldstone recommends that Israel and Hamas carry out serious, comprehensive investigations of their own into the alleged crimes, and that if they do not do so within six months, the UN Security Council should consider referring the matter to the International Criminal Court in The Hague. That's highly unlikely, given US veto power in the Security Council. But the report will further diminish Israel's reputation and will probably strengthen the growing international boycott, divestment and sanctions movement. In his column on the report, Gideon Levy darkly concludes, "On the eve of the Jewish New Year, Israel, deservedly, is becoming an outcast and detested country. We must not forget it for a minute."

http://www.alternet.org/story/142887/devastating_report_documents_israeli_crimes_agains t_civilians_in_gaza%3A_where%27s_the_outrage

accuracy

03-10-2009, 11:22 AM

VANUNU'S PHOTOS OF DIMONA - 1985

Mordechai Vanunu brought his camera to work in late 1985, shortly before leaving his eight-year stint as a technician at Israel's nuclear weapons factory at Dimona.

Please see link:

http://www.vanunu.com/uscampaign/photos.html

accuracy

03-10-2009, 11:28 AM

WILL ISRAEL HAVE SEVEN YEARS OF BAD LUCK FOR SMASHING THE MIRROR?

October 2, 2009

http://desertpeace.files.wordpress.com/2009/10/break-a-ton-of-mirrors.jpg

Goldstone held up a mirror to us; we tried to smash it, as is our wont, but this time, as opposed to earlier reports, smashing it did not work.

But Israel also enjoys endless preferential treatment. The world acts differently toward us, turns a blind eye to Dimona and is silent about the occupation, and now it no longer wants to keep silent about Gaza. Why? Because this time we went too far. That is not only the world’s right, it is its duty.

Goldstone’s Gaza probe did Israel a favor
By Gideon Levy

It’s a pity Israel waited for Goldstone to probe Gaza war, a pity we take a hard look at ourselves only when personal harm looms.

Israel should thank Judge Richard Goldstone and his commission’s important report. After subjecting him to useless, automatic mudslinging, Israel suddenly realized that it should finally investigate the events of Operation Cast Lead. Why? What happened? The ground has started to tremble under the feet of a number of Israeli statesmen and officers.

That, it turns out, is the only way to teach us a lesson. Goldstone held up a mirror to us; we tried to smash it, as is our wont, but this time, as opposed to earlier reports, smashing it did not work. Suddenly it was reported (and denied) that Defense Minister Ehud Barak has asked former Supreme Court president Aharon Barak to head an investigative committee, suddenly the head of Military Intelligence is calling for the adoption of the “ethics code” composed by Prof. Asa Kasher, and suddenly Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called an urgent meeting to discuss establishing an investigative committee.

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What happened? Again, it turns out, everything is personal. It is also too little, too late: An “investigative committee” is not enough, nor is the ethics code written by Kasher, who told Maariv a few days ago that the Gazan doctor Ezzeldeen Abu al-Aish was responsible for the deaths of his daughters. And yet it’s good the ground has started to quake under our feet.

Are Ehud Barak and Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff Gabi Ashkenazi sweating? That’s the only way Israel will learn. Not only if it is proved that there were war crimes in Gaza, but if people also have to pay for their actions. That is good news for Israel: Thanks to Goldstone, people in Israel will think twice and perhaps even three times before they bring down another barrage of cast lead on a helpless civilian population.

From now on, Israel’s only consideration will not be minimum losses on its side. From now on, the international and personal implications of every brutal attack will be taken into account. That’s exactly the function of international bodies: to prevent more unbridled attacks like Cast Lead. Thus Goldstone fulfilled his task, and in so doing proved he is a Zionist and friend of Israel. Thanks to him, Israel may change its belligerent ways and look at them in the future through the prism of international law and the personal cost involved in breaking it. If up to now we thought only how to kill without being killed, from now on we will think about the price tag attached to mass killing of the other side.

It’s a pity we waited for Goldstone, a pity that we are so dependent on pressure by foreigners to fashion our own image and that only when personal harm appears imminent are we prepared to take a good hard look at ourselves. If ever there were a war that should be investigated on our own initiative, and immediately, it is Cast Lead. While it caused us few losses, and therefore no one thought to investigate it, what happened in Gaza cannot remain suspended in space, and those responsible cannot act as if nothing happened.

The wounds of Gaza have not yet healed, the debris has not yet been cleared and the housing there has not yet been rehabilitated. Israel has also not been rehabilitated. It still insists that everything went as it should have. But cracks are now appearing. There is something cynical and depressing about the fact that it is happening only after Israeli leaders started to fear for their personal fates. Now it may be hoped that Goldstone, the United Nations and the world will not give in. No Israeli would want to see Barak arrested in London, but every fair Israeli should hope that if war crimes were committed in his name, those responsible will pay the price, and better that it be in Israel.

The hollow, demagogic argument many Israelis use that Israel did in Gaza what everyone does might be true, but it is morally distorted. No traffic violator or any other criminal can excuse his actions by saying “everybody is doing it.”

Is the world hard on Israel? Perhaps. But Israel also enjoys endless preferential treatment. The world acts differently toward us, turns a blind eye to Dimona and is silent about the occupation, and now it no longer wants to keep silent about Gaza. Why? Because this time we went too far. That is not only the world’s right, it is its duty.

Goldstone began the work, Israel should continue it. In the end, the image that looks out from Goldstone’s mirror is our image, not his.

http://desertpeace.wordpress.com/2009/10/02/will-israel-have-seven-years-of-bad-luck-for-smashing-the-mirror/

accuracy

03-10-2009, 11:53 AM

Picture Of The 20 Freed Palestinian Women

02Oct09

http://politicaltheatrics.org/2009/10/02/picture-of-the-20-freed-palestinian-women/

accuracy

04-10-2009, 11:24 AM

Gaza Report Vote Delay Angers Hamas, Delights US

04Oct09

Hamas officials have condemned as “betrayal” the Palestinian Authority’s decision to support a delay in voting on the UN-sanctioned report on Israel’s war on the Gaza Strip. The West Bank-based Palestinian Authority (PA) on Friday backed moves to postpone the vote at the UN Human Rights Council until March, saying the postponement would help in achieving greater consensus on adopting the report.

“This … represents a betrayal of the Palestinian cause and confirms the extent of the collaboration between Abbas [Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas] and his aides with the Zionist enemy, against the Palestinian people,” Mushir al-Masri, a Hamas legislator, said on Friday.

Fawzi Barhoum, a senior Hamas official, echoed al-Masri’s remarks, accusing Abbas of helping Israel protect its leaders from international prosecution over the 22-day aggression in December-January, which left more than 1,400 Palestinians dead.

“We insist that leaders of the occupation must be brought before international courts as war criminals and anyone who sought to prevent that from happening would be seen as partner in the crime,” he said.

Adoption of the report would mean that it is referred to the UN Security Council for further action. The Palestinian delegation said that there was also a realization that current attempts to renew negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians would be severely impacted by an insistence that the vote be held at this stage.

On Thursday, Binyamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, said any action to endorse the report would strike a fatal blow to the stalled so-called peace process between Israelis and the Palestinians.

The Council had been due to vote on Friday on a resolution that would have condemned Israel’s failure to co-operate with Richard Goldstone’s investigation into war crimes during the conflict.

But Zamir Akram, Pakistan’s representative, said that the co-sponsors of the resolution – the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC), the Arab group, the African group and the Non-Aligned Movement (Nam) – had requested that discussion of the resolution be deferred to allow more time for members to consider the findings.

Nimr Hamad, an aide to Abbas, defended the decision, saying: “The report wasn’t withdrawn … It’s still there.” A Palestinian official told the Reuters news agency that the delay had been requested by the US, European Union and Russia.

Mustafa Barghouti, a member of the Palestinian Legislative Council, said that the move had put the Palestinian Authority in an “extremely awkward position”. “Their move was totally unacceptable, unjustified and the public here is very angry at it”, he told Al Jazeera from the West Bank town of Ramallah.

“There is no justification for postponing the approval of that report and all human rights organizations, most political organizations in Palestine are against that decision.

Goldstone has indicated that there were seven war crimes that took place in Gaza and the Israeli government and those responsible have to be accountable to the law and the international community.

“Regardless of the position of the PA, I think the civil society and different political and human rights organization are going to proceed in demanding sanctions, actions against the Israeli apartheid system and the war criminals that committed these crimes.”

Esther Brimmer, the US assistant-secretary of state for international organization affairs, welcomed the decision to delay the vote, saying that Washington would now concentrate on working towards renewing negotiations between the two sides. “We appreciate the decision to defer consideration of the Goldstone report and will continue to focus on working with Israel and the Palestinian Authority to relaunch permanent status negotiations as soon as possible,” she said. “We also encourage domestic investigations of credible allegations of violations of international human rights and humanitarian law.”

Goldstone has recommended that the Security Council refer the matter to the International Criminal Court if the two sides fail to conduct credible domestic investigations into the report’s findings within six months.

[via Al Manar]
http://politicaltheatrics.org/2009/10/04/gaza-report-vote-delay-angers-hamas-delights-us/

accuracy

04-10-2009, 11:27 AM

ISRAEL EYES AL-AQSA

Al-Aqsa Mosque esplanade witnessed yet another episode of violence on Sunday, 27 September, writes Khalid Amayreh in the West Bank, when a group of Jewish religious fanatics disguised as foreign tourists tried to storm Haram Al-Sharif, apparently to gain “prayer rites” at the Islamic sanctuary.

The Muslim guards, along with worshipers, who had been expecting an intrusion of some sort to take place in light of the Jewish holiday of Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement), peacefully ousted the intruders after they began performing Jewish rituals and calling for the destruction of Islamic holy places.

However, as soon as the zealots left the esplanade, dozens of crack Israeli policemen stormed the sanctuary compound, attacking worshipers, beating them with truncheons, and firing rubber-coated bullets and stun grenades all over the area.

More than 40 Palestinians were hurt, two seriously. One elderly man was hit in the eye with a rubber-coated bullet. A young man also suffered concussion in the head when he was hit with a stun grenade.

In addition, dozens of other people suffered from tear gas inhalation as well as brutal beatings by police using “exaggerated force”.

Mahmoud Abu Atta, who witnessed the episode, described to Al-Ahram Weekly what happened. “When the zealots were repulsed rather peacefully, the police became very outraged and agitated. As many as 70 policemen attacked us indiscriminately, young and old, with full force, using rubber-coated bullets, truncheons, tear gas and even poisonous gas… I insist poisonous gas. Then the police chased worshipers inside the main mosque, Al-Aqsa Mosque, where the soldiers fired heavily into the holy place, causing many people to suffocate as a result of gas inhalation.”

“I saw the police gang up on young people, beating them mercilessly. The police were not out to maintain law and order. They just wanted to retaliate and punish us for repulsing the fanatical settlers,” Atta added. He said the worshipers sought desperately to defend themselves against exaggerated police brutality, using stones, shoes and chairs.

More confrontations broke out later near Bab Al-Majles when the Israeli police prevented hundreds of other Muslims, including leaders of the Islamic movement in Israel, from accessing Al-Aqsa. At least four people were injured and many were detained and taken away to nearby police lockups. The police also assaulted Abdel-Azim Salhab, head of the Supreme Muslim Council, as he was trying to enter the Sanctuary of Jerusalem through the northern gate, known as Bab Al-Asbat.

Salhab and other Muslim officials in Jerusalem had called on Muslims throughout the city to head for Al-Aqsa Mosque to protect it from Jewish fanatics trying to take over the Islamic shrine. The call was heeded as hundreds of Jerusalemites and other Muslims from across the Green Line (Israel) arrived at the mosque to repulse the zealots.

The police also prevented a number of prominent Muslim religious and civic figures from entering Al-Aqsa compound — including Sheikh Ikrma Sabri, an imam and preacher at Al-Aqsa Mosque. Hatem Abdel-Qader, a member of the Palestinian Legislative Council, was also barred from entering.

Speaking to the Weekly, Sabri described the situation as “very grave” and “could explode at any moment”. The Muslim scholar accused the Israeli occupation authorities of trying to gradually desensitise Muslim reactions to Jewish attempts to create “new facts” at the compound. “They simply want to take over part of the Haram. They are trying to partition the Haram as they did in Hebron with the Ibrahimi Mosque. Muslims must never ever allow such a thing to happen.”

“We constantly urge Muslims here to maintain a permanent and uninterrupted presence at Al-Aqsa Mosque. And I can say this has been the case for many years. But the preservation of Al-Aqsa Mosque is not the sole responsibility of Muslims in Palestine, because the holy sanctuary belongs to the entire Muslim umma. Hence it is the responsibility of the entire umma to protect and safeguard this holy place from Zionist plots and evil designs.”

In recent years, fanatical messianic Jewish groups have become more daring in their attempts to gain a foothold at the Islamic holy place as the police allowed them to perform Jewish Talmudic rites and rituals within the Haram esplanade. Some of the rituals included the attempted laying of a cornerstone for the building of a Jewish temple, presumably after the destruction of the Islamic edifices in the area.

Politically, the latest tension is undoubtedly leaving a dark shadow on stumbling American efforts to restart stalled peace talks between the Palestinian Authority and Israel. Observers in the occupied territories contend that an outbreak of violence, especially if Jewish provocations persisted, could easily deteriorate into a third Intifada that would make all talk about a peace process irrelevant.

http://desertpeace.wordpress.com/2009/10/03/israel-eyes-al-aqsa/

accuracy

04-10-2009, 11:29 AM

GLOOMY PROSPECTS FOR ABBAS

The mood at the Ramallah headquarters of the Palestinian Authority (PA) has been visibly lugubrious following the “New York fiasco”, a reference to last week’s three-way meeting involving President Barack Obama, Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, and Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas.

Most observers in occupied Palestine have viewed the outcome of the meeting as a political and propaganda victory for Netanyahu, a setback for Obama, and an outright defeat for Abbas. Following the tripartite meeting, which Palestinian sources intimate Abbas agreed to attend under duress, Obama urged the parties to resume stalled peace talks without preconditions.

The Palestinians interpreted the phrase “without conditions” as amounting to an American acknowledgment, however tacit and begrudging, that Israel won’t have to completely and perpetually freeze Jewish settlement activities before the resumption of negotiations with the Palestinians. The PA was further upset when Obama reiterated this view in his address before the UN General Assembly last week.

Some PLO officials, such as Yasser Abed Rabbo, chose to see the “glass half-full” in Obama’s statements, especially his reference to “pursuing a Palestinian state based on the 1967 borders”. Abed Rabbo said the PA was pleased with Obama’s decision to hold another round of preliminary talks in the interest of bridging gaps between the parties. He added, however, that the PA refused to retreat from its position that Israel would have to freeze all its settlement activities, including in East Jerusalem, before peace talks could resume.

“Our message is clear. We have not retreated from our demands, and relinquishing them will lead to a diplomatic disaster,” he said.

For many months now, especially since Obama came to power, the PA has been undertaking to refrain from returning to the negotiating table with Israel in the absence of a complete freeze of settlement construction in the occupied territories. Fatah adopted the same position during the group’s Sixth Congress held in Bethlehem more than two months ago. Hence, it would be a public relations disaster for the Fatah-dominated PA to abandon this position since doing so would seriously undermine its image, especially vis-à-vis Hamas. Hamas would use any “retreat” as a propaganda tool against Fatah in the upcoming Palestinian elections, which may take place in the second half of 2010.

On the other hand, saying “No” to the Obama administration, by insisting that the US force Israel to freeze all settlement activities as a precondition for the resumption of the moribund peace process, might eventually boomerang back and prove a diplomatic liability for the Palestinians. Indeed, there is always the risk that the Obama administration might be prompted to blame the weak Palestinian leadership for “stalling” and “stonewalling”, especially if Netanyahu continues to promote his posture that it is the Palestinians, not Israel, that are hindering the resumption of the peace process.

PA officials are still at a loss analysing and interpreting Obama’s failure to force the Israeli government to freeze settlement expansion in the West Bank. Several questions have been asked in this regard. For example, was the three-way meeting in New York a belated recognition by the Obama administration of its inability to pressure Israel on the issue of settlements, or just a tactical retreat aimed at outmanoeuvring Netanyahu by exposing his rejectionist discourse towards peace with the Palestinians? Also, has the Obama administration changed tactics and is it now focussing on determining an “endgame” strategy rather than getting bogged down with “symptomatic” and “secondary” issues such as settlements?

Most Palestinians seem unwilling to give the Obama administration the benefit of the doubt, especially in light of the victorious display of Netanyahu and his government. One Palestinian official in Ramallah, who didn’t wish to be identified, wondered if Obama hasn’t duped the Palestinians and the entire Arab world. “Many thought that he was a sort of Messiah who would solve all problems and force Israel to end the occupation. It is now clear that Obama is unable, or perhaps unwilling, to exert pressure on Israel to freeze settlement expansion. So if he couldn’t get Israel to freeze the construction of a few settler units, would it not be naïve on our part to expect him to get Israel to return to 1967 borders?”

Publicly, the PA continues to hold firm on its position regarding the settlements. Abbas was quoted this week as saying, “It is unacceptable for negotiations to resume while the Israeli side doesn’t respect its obligations under the roadmap.” The Palestinian leader said further that Israel would have to agree on two issues before negotiations could begin, namely freezing all West Bank settlement expansion and stipulating an Israeli withdrawal to 1967 borders. This week, Netanyahu said “No” to both, saying during a pre-Yom Kippur interview that Israel would “never ever return to the 1967 borders” or “freeze settlement construction in Judea and Samaria”.

The perceived failure by Obama to overrule Netanyahu on the settlement expansion issue is not only seriously corroding Palestinian — and Arab — confidence in the US administration, but is also potentially undermining the Western-backed leadership of Abbas and the government of Prime Minister Salam Fayyad. Following the New York meeting, from which Netanyahu emerged the sole winner, veteran Palestinian spokeswoman Hanan Ashrawi warned that Obama’s failure to win a settlement freeze, along with his reluctance to hold Israel accountable for its defiance, was seriously undermining the standing of Abbas in the eyes of his own people.

For its part, Hamas has reacted to the “expected negative outcome” of the New York meeting by blaming Abbas for “counting too much on the Obama administration”. The Islamic group issued a statement saying, “Israel would only give up the occupied territories and end the occupation if it is forced to. Abbas must stop deceiving and misleading the Palestinian people by attaching hopes on useless and pointless negotiations with Israel.”

http://desertpeace.wordpress.com/2009/10/03/gloomy-prospects-for-abbas/

accuracy

04-10-2009, 11:33 AM

ISRAEL HAS NO SHAME OR REMORSE

Israelis has no drop of shame. After strangling the Gaza people and confining them like a herd of animals, bombing their homes and children for 23 days burning everything to the ground, their eyes are now on the new shoots of their palm fronds to celebrate their religious festivities for one good reason…a cheaper price.

The same Jewish criminals who treat Muslims like a piece of sh*t think now that there are no obstacles between them and the people they burned their children deep down to their bones by white phosphorus. Those hypocrite killers claim that they believe in God so much that they are willing to buy their religious festivities’ needs from the ‘enemy’.

The Jews demand for lulavim (palm fronds) is rising ahead of their festivities of their religious festivities of Succot, and since money is more important than God himself for them, they decided to foster trade with the Gaza Strip to buy Gaza palm fronds for a cheaper price as the Jerusalem post reported today.
God’s chosen people are willing to allow the palm fronds leave Gaza but they are not willing to allow a dying Gaza children go through the barriers to hospitals. They are willing to allow an accessory for their celebrations cross the border of Gaza, but not willing to allow any food or medicine needed urgently for a suffering child to cross. Isn’t that wonderful? Isn’t that what faith is all about? Kindness, sympathy, or is it about sticking to rituals and their accessories of celebrations.

The good old Jerusalem Post claims ‘Religion is often blamed as an obstacle to peace between Muslims and Jews. However, the demand for lulavim (palm fronds) ahead of Succot may now foster trade with the Gaza Strip’. …
So, the Israelis know when and how to manipulate everything including religion, at one point their religion demand that they should kill those Gaza people who are beneath them, and when they need something from Gaza they discover at once that there are no obstacle for peace. Satan himself could not come with such theory.

And what triggers one’s anger is the journalistic language of the Jerusalem Post that dares to confess that ‘Gazans will be permitted to export lulavim to Israel after Religious Services Minister Ya’acov Margi received special permission to do so from Defense Minister Ehud Barak’. GAZANS WILL BE PERMITTED they say, so they know that Gazans are suffering a total control on everything coming or leaving their strip of land, their Defence Minister who ordered burning down everything in Gaza including its farms and orchards now is kind enough to exchange his few filthy Shekels to buy a Jewish must for the festivities…isn’t that wonderful? Especially that he knows that money means nothing to Gaza people any way since his total control on Gaza air, sea, and land means the people of Gaza can’t buy from any source.

Now if you want to know what really happened and why Israel is turning to Gaza now, you should know that Egypt which happened to be helping Israel in strangling the Palestinians further has been benefiting from the siege on Gaza as well, since it was the main suppliers of lulavim to Israel from its towns of Al-Arish and other locations, but this year Israel’s ally decided to triple its prices.

The Egyptian suppliers who provide the bulk of lulavim formed a price cartel this year and demanded $1.50 per lulav, about three times the price demanded in previous years.

And when shipping and packing costs are added, customs and value-added tax, the wholesale price of a lulav will rise between 10 percent and 15% compared to last year. But God’s chosen people were told not to panic since part of the demand was being met by growers in the Jordan Valley. Now you can see why even the Jordan Valley is never out of sight of the Jewish state, everything can come handy for Israel; even lulayim is a good reason to think of occupation and further expansion. Now you know why Israel refuses to declare its borders.
The JP reported that ‘Margi’s spokesman Alon Nuriel said in a statement that Barak agreed to open up Gaza’s lulav exports in coordination with the Agriculture Ministry and the IDF’s coordinator of government activities in the territories. Nuriel also provided the letter signed by Barak’s aide, attorney Ruth Bar, authorizing the export’. So once again one discovers that Israel can open Gaza borders when it chooses to, and Barak can authorize such actions if he wants to. This reminded me of the time the Carnation flowers were allowed to leave Gaza after the Cast Lead operation while the people of Gaza were dying to reach for a loaf of bread or some medicine available in neighbouring countries because their flowers were more important than medicine, they were needed for the Western civilized people who had to celebrate Valentine’s Day. What more valid reason to lift a siege and open the crossings for.

http://desertpeace.wordpress.com/2009/10/03/israel-has-no-shame-or-remorse/

accuracy

05-10-2009, 10:58 AM

Teach Gaza children about Holocaust, UN tells Hamas

Donald Macintyre reveals controversial plans to include a Jewish tragedy in lessons for Palestinian children

Monday, 5 October 2009

Palestinian schoolchildren should learn about the Nazis' slaughter of Europe's Jewish population during the Second World War as part of a curriculum component based on the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the UNRWA says

The United Nations' refugee agency is planning to include the Holocaust in a new human-rights curriculum for Gaza's secondary-school pupils, despite strident opposition to the idea from within Hamas.

John Ging, the UN Relief and Works Agency's (UNRWA) director of operations in Gaza, told The Independent that he was "confident and determined" that the Holocaust would feature for the first time in a wide-ranging curriculum that is being drafted.

Mr Ging, a passionate advocate for Palestinian civilians in Gaza who has recently faced increasingly personal criticism and even threats by elements in the Islamic faction, added: "No human-rights curriculum is complete without the inclusion of the facts of the Holocaust, and its lessons."

The draft, to be completed within weeks and then put out for consultation with parents and the public, is built on the Universal Declaration of Human Rights which was agreed by the UN General Assembly in 1948 in the shadow of what it called the "barbarous acts" committed by the Nazis during the Second World War.

The one-time Irish Army officer has long been an outspoken critic of Israeli policy towards Gaza, including the conduct of last winter's lethal military offensive and what he described more than once in his interview as the "illegal siege".

Mr Ging said the curriculum would explain the genesis, and "inculcate the values" of the Universal Declaration which stipulates that "everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person". He pointed out that the UN General Assembly in 2005 unanimously urged "all countries to teach the lessons of the Holocaust to children so that we learn from history, so that we don't repeat history".

Although the UNRWA director strongly emphasised that the de facto Hamas government had not sought to interfere with the agency – which is responsible for the welfare of some 1 million Gaza refugees – other figures in the movement have angrily condemned the idea of including the Holocaust in any part of the curriculum. Yunis al Astal, a religious leader and a Hamas member of the Palestinian Legislative Council, said last month that it would be "marketing a lie" and a "war crime" to do so.

Mr Ging said the new curriculum would also include "tangible examples" of other "blights and stains in human history". He added: "We want to succeed with the active support of the civilian population who want their children to be part of the civilised world and who have no interest in challenging globally accepted facts; no more than ... they start challenging whether the earth goes round the sun, or Hiroshima or Nagasaki, or the killing fields of Cambodia, or the ethnic cleansing of the Balkans, or the genocide in Rwanda, or apartheid in South Africa; or, for that matter, the Nakba." The last event on his list was the Palestinians' "day of catastrophe", the flight or forced expulsion of some 700,000 refugees in the 1948 war which saw the foundation of Israel.

He continued: "This is also part of the frustration here. There are so many global tragedies and travesties that are learned worldwide. Who learns about the Nakba? Again [that is] a very reasonable and legitimate demand but it's not 'either/or'; it's both."

Mr Ging added that UNRWA wanted to teach children that "those who fight for justice must fight with justice – lawful actions are the only way to prevail". "The children of Gaza need this more than children elsewhere, because their daily experience is not giving them the example they need to have," he said. He cited the struggles led by such figures as Gandhi, Martin Luther King and Nelson Mandela who "eventually prevailed".

"We also want to teach them what he did when he prevailed," he explained. "He didn't seek retribution. He fought for human rights for all South Africans not just for black South Africans."

He added that the curriculum would also seek to demonstrate that war crimes, such as those in Rwanda and in the Balkans, can be punished by international law. "We are not seeking to transform the value system of the people of Gaza. We're seeking to protect the value system of the people of Gaza, and that's why the community will support us."

He argued that tackling the issue "would be so simple if we didn't have the illegality of the [Israeli-imposed] siege ... and the war and all the other illegalities that are the daily life of Palestinians here in Gaza", such as, "the fishermen not being allowed out to fish, sanitation not working, water being undrinkable, the private sector having lost all of the jobs and the dignity of work, students not being able to travel out of Gaza, sick people being trapped in Gaza.

"[It] is a seemingly endless list of travesty and injustice but we can't wait for those to be righted before we also do more to counter the effect of all that." Mr Ging said that the human-rights component in the existing curriculum had not been adequate to tackle topics of concern in Gaza, including the illegality of firing rockets, the issue of what constituted lawful resistance, and the effect of propaganda and "anti-Semitic rhetoric".

Hamas spokesman Ismail Radwan last night declined to comment.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/teach-gaza-children-about-holocaust-un-tells-hamas-1797763.html

If the Holocaust is to be taught to Palestinian children, let it be done factually and honestly.

Remind these kids that the people who were killed were not only Jewish; they were also Romanian, gypsies,physically and mentally challenged individuals,and gay people as well.
Any persecution of anyone who is somehow "different" is an horrendous criminal and moral offense, no matter who the perpetrator is.

But if this is to happen, let's have the Israeli schools teach their kids about the Palestinian "Nabka", and just why the sense of anger, despair, and dispossession is so acute for Palestinians.

And when will this happen?!? When pigs fly.

Palestinians cannot help but feel punished because the Holocaust set the stage for the establishment of a Jewish state in Palestine, to the absolute detriment of every Palestinian living in what became Israel, and all their future generations.

If you don't believe me, just take a good, hard look at what is going on today in Gaza.

accuracy

06-10-2009, 11:51 AM

Prior to a Settlement Freeze: the Race for Construction “Starts” is On!

October 2009

Laying the Foundations for Around 800 Housing Units
Peace Now research shows that in the last three months the race is on in many settlements to make a start in construction.
Today in around 34 settlements work is taking place to lay the foundation and make construction starts - 16 of these settlements are found east of the Separation Barrier.
Peace Now estimates that the infrastructure works currently taking place in the settlements are for a total of 800 housing units (about 300 east of the fence and 500 west).
In addition, some 55 buildings are in the process of being completed and another 50 have their foundations laid.

List of settlements where the infrastructure or construction works are taking place
Tko'a, Shilo, Kiryat Arba, Nokdim, Maskiyot, Kochav Hashchar, Ma'ale Michmash, Avnei Hefetz, Ma'ale Shomron, Ma'on, Oranit, Alon, Alon Shvut, Alonei Shilo, El'azar, Beitar Illit, Barqan, Givat Ze'ev, Dolev, Har Gilo, Talmon, Yitzhar, Kochav Ya'akov, Kfar Adumim, Kfar Etzion, Carmel, Mevo Horon, Matityahu, Na'aleh, Etz Efraim (Elkanah), Pedu'el, Tzofim, Kedar, Kalia

Prior to any freeze – the race begins!
According to media reports, the agreement being formulated between Netanyahu and the Americans over freezing settlement construction refers to the construction new buildings.
Those that have already begun their construction (2,400 units reportedly), will be considered facts on the ground and not part of the freeze.
In light of such an agreement the settlers are working fast to produce many construction “starts” as possible, resulting in that these new housing units will be counted as "existing" settlements, and not be included in any future agreed upon freeze.

Preparing the ground for construction does not require approval of the Minister of Defense
Minister of Defense must approve any stage of the planning and execution of construction in the settlements. After all the planning stages, the explicit authorization of the Minister of Defense is required to open up the piece of land for marketing, with the Civil Administration, responsible for managing public land in the occupied territories, signing a development contract with an entrepreneur or a potential buyer.
The next stage of preparing the ground for infrastructure work can be done without the approval of Defense Minister. In many projects, infrastructure and development works are carried out by local authorities and the Ministry of Housing.
An approved project can start infrastructure work even before the marketing stage, ie without the approval of the Minister of Defense. Only at the stage when they want to sell the lots for construction, they will need the approval of the Defense Minister.
Therefore, in order to freeze construction to be effective, it is not enough to avoid new authorization on the part of the Defense Minister. An active freeze will require a government ban on all construction work, including infrastructure works in the settlements.

http://www.peacenow.org.il/data/SIP_STORAGE/files///6//4446.jpg

http://www.peacenow.org.il/data/SIP_STORAGE/files///7//4437.jpg

http://www.peacenow.org.il/data/SIP_STORAGE/files//8/4448.jpg

http://www.peacenow.org.il/data/SIP_STORAGE/files//9/4449.jpg

See link for more info.

http://www.peacenow.org.il/site/en/peace.asp?pi=61&docid=4418

accuracy

06-10-2009, 12:00 PM

MONDAY’S ISRATOON ~~ LIES, LIES, AND MORE LIES

October 5, 2009 at 4:28 pm

The Hasbara Machine…..

Image ‘Copyleft’ by Carlos Latuff

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_a-Su2SAnGYU/Ssodh9sHI0I/AAAAAAAALPc/yWZDyvJWehA/s1600/Israel%2520propaganda%2520machine.jpg

accuracy

06-10-2009, 12:05 PM

HAMAS, NOT ABBAS, IS PALESTINIANS’ REAL LEADER

October 5, 2009 at 12:15 pm

http://desertpeace.files.wordpress.com/2009/10/respect-my-authority.jpg

Mahmoud Abbas’ chronic submissiveness
By Amira Hass

In a single phone call to his man in Geneva, Mahmoud Abbas has demonstrated his disregard for popular action, and his lack of faith in its accumulative power and the place of mass movements in processes of change.

For nine months, thousands of people – Palestinians, their supporters abroad and Israeli anti-occupation activists – toiled to ensure that the legacy of Israel’s military offensive against Gaza would not be consigned to the garbage bin of occupying nations obsessed with their feelings of superiority.

Thanks to the Goldstone report, even in Israel voices began to stammer about the need for an independent inquiry into the assault. But shortly after Abbas was visited by the American consul-general on Thursday, the leader of the Palestine Liberation Organization got on the phone to instruct his representative on the United Nations Human Rights Council to ask his colleagues to postpone the vote on the adoption of the report’s conclusions.

Heavy American pressure and the resumption of peace negotiations were the reasons for Abbas’ move, it was said. Palestinian spokespeople spun various versions over the weekend in an attempt to make the move kosher, explaining that it was not a cancelation but a six-month postponement that Abbas was seeking.

Will the American and European representatives in Geneva support the adoption of the report in six months’ time? Will Israel heed international law in the coming months, stop building in the settlements and announce immediate negotiations on their dismantlement and the establishment of a Palestinian state in the occupied territories? Is this what adoption of the report would have endangered? Of course not.

A great deal of political folly and short-sightedness was bared by that phone call, on the eve of Hamas’s celebration of its victory in securing the release of 20 female prisoners. Precisely on that day, Abbas put Gaza in the headlines within the context of the PLO’s defeatism and of spitting in the face of the victims of the attack – that is how they felt in Gaza and elsewhere.

Abbas confirmed in fact that Hamas is the real national leadership, and gave ammunition to those who claim that its path – the path of armed struggle – yields results that negotiations do not.

This was not an isolated gaffe, but a pattern that has endured since the PLO leadership concocted, together with naive Norwegians and shrewd Israeli lawyers, the Oslo Accords. Disregard for, and lack of interest in the knowledge and experience accumulated in the inhabitants of the occupied territories’ prolonged popular struggle led to the first errors: the absence of an explicit statement that the aim was the establishment of a state within defined borders, not insisting on a construction freeze in the settlements, forgetting about the prisoners, endorsing the Area C arrangement, etc.

The chronic submissiveness is always explained by a desire to “make progress.” But for the PLO and Fatah, progress is the very continued existence of the Palestinian Authority, which is now functioning more than ever before as a subcontractor for the IDF, the Shin Bet security service and the Civil Administration.

This is a leadership that has been convinced that armed struggle – certainly in the face of Israeli military superiority – cannot bring independence. And indeed, the disastrous repercussions of the Second Intifada are proof of this position. This is a leadership that believes in negotiation as a strategic path to obtaining a state and integration in the world that the United States is shaping.

But in such a world there is personal gain that accrues from chronic submissiveness – benefits enjoyed by the leaders and their immediate circles. This personal gain shapes the tactics.

Is the choice really only between negotiations and armed-struggle theater, the way the Palestinian leadership makes it out to be? No.

The true choice is between negotiations as part of a popular struggle anchored in the language of the universal culture of equality and rights, and negotiations between business partners with the junior partner submissively expressing his gratitude to the senior partner for his generosity.

http://desertpeace.wordpress.com/2009/10/05/hamas-not-abbas-is-palestinians-real-leader/

accuracy

08-10-2009, 12:23 PM

Israeli Tanks Enter Eastern Gaza Again

Tue, 06 Oct 2009 18:29:09 GMT

Fighting has broken out between Israeli forces and Palestinian fighters in eastern Gaza Strip after Israeli tanks and armored bulldozers crossed the border into the coastal region.

Military tanks fired at least seven shells at residential areas in the region, leaving at four Palestinians wounded, a Press TV correspondent reported Tuesday.

Local witnesses said paramedics were unable to reach the victims, one of whom sustained critical wounds.

Muawiya Hassanein, the head of Gaza emergency services, confirmed the report, saying the military was not allowing rescue services to reach the scene of the incident to evacuate the victims, Ynet reported.

The Israeli military has yet to comment on the report.

SB/MD

http://www.presstv.ir/photo/20091006/beglari20091006190217078.JPG
http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=107982&sectionid=351020202

accuracy

11-10-2009, 10:39 AM

October 10, 2009
IOF troops block olive harvesting

http://www.palestine-info.co.uk/en/DataFiles%5CCache%5CTempImgs%5C2009%5C2%5Cimages_N ews_2009_10_10_olivetree_300_0.jpg

JENIN, (PIC)-- Palestinians in east Jenin whose lands were isolated behind the separation wall have said that Israeli occupation forces (IOF) guarding gates of the wall were blocking their entry into their land.

The villagers said that the IOF soldiers, who usually open those gates at 8 am and close them at 5 pm, were harassing them and hardly allowing them to enter their own lands to harvest the olives crop.

They complained that they have been denied entry for three days without any justification.

The villagers of Faku'a village said that the IOF issue a limited number of entry permits for them, asking for the intervention of human rights groups to allow them to reach their land.

Posted by atheo at 1:21 PM
Labels: Ethnic Cleansing, Illegal Occupation

http://alethonews.blogspot.com/2009/10/iof-troops-block-olive-harvesting.html

accuracy

12-10-2009, 11:31 AM

12Oct09

Zouheir Alnajjar, a Collective Journalism contributor who lives in Gaza, takes us through the secret tunnels that connect Gaza and Egypt – a common route for smuggling under the border.

These tunnels serve in many ways as a lifeline for Gazans to the rest of the world, providing them with many valuable supplies (i.e food,animals etc) that the Israeli blockade won’t let through. They’re also used to smuggle weapons to resistance groups. Zouheir al-Najjar a Gazan and contributor to Collective Journalism made the journey himself.

http://politicaltheatrics.files.wordpress.com/2009/10/btselem_gaza_tunnel_04.jpg

http://politicaltheatrics.files.wordpress.com/2009/10/btselem_gaza_tunnel_1.jpg

Thanks to Zouheir Alnajjar for documenting this amazing journey and providing us with the footage.

(See it here)

http://politicaltheatrics.org/2009/10/12/the-gaza-tunnels-raw-footage-inside/

accuracy

15-10-2009, 09:53 AM

After the bombing, drug addiction strikes Gaza

Under siege and grappling with joblessness, factional violence and the aftermath of war, Gazans are turning to pills as they seek to escape reality. Donald Macintyre speaks to a mental health group struggling to help addicts

Wednesday, 14 October 2009

http://www.independent.co.uk/multimedia/archive/00250/pg-24-gaza-reuters_250550s.jpg
Psychologists say that many of the problems underlying drug addiction in Gaza are the consequence of war

Abu Ahmed lived through last winter's Gaza war in a daze. Though the district where he lives was invaded by Israeli ground forces and came under heavy fire, including the use of white phosphorus shells, he felt little fear. For by then, the 45-year-old unemployed father of 10 was popping tablets of the painkiller Tramadol to feed an ever more dangerous habit."Of course you care about the children but [with the drugs] you forget about yourself," he explains. "You feel less frightened."

Manufacturers warn the maximum daily dose of the synthetic opioid should be no more 300mg per day; Abu Ahmed was taking as much as 800mg – in the grip of an addiction which has rapidly spread throughout Gaza over the last two years. As the population struggles to cope with Israel closing their home to the outside world, the sometimes violent power struggles between Fatah and Hamas, and then the aftermath of Operation Cast Lead, the Tramadol pills – smuggled in through tunnels from Egypt – have provided a welcome escape from reality.

Mental health professionals say there has been a rise in the drug's usage in Gaza since the war. The Hamas authorities have tried to crack down on it, but the drug's severe withdrawal symptoms means it is a seriously hard habit to break. Hasan Shaban Zeyada, a senior psychologist at the Gaza Community Mental Health Programme (GCMHP) is convinced that many of the psychological problems underlying the addiction are "the consequence of living in this situation: the siege, internal division and the war".

Abu Ahmed used to have a good job as a driver. But like an estimated 100,000 other Gazans he lost it when Israel imposed its blockade after Hamas seized control of the strip from Fatah in June 2007. "Before the war the situation was so hard. There was no work, plus I had to take care of 11 people, including my wife. All people could do was sit around in the street and drink tea or coffee."

Depressed and suffering from headaches, he was offered a Tramadol pill by one of his friends. Several of them were using the drug for its supposed power to improve sexual performance, but for Abu Ahmed it was just a way of relieving the strain of life. "When I took it, I felt very relaxed," he says.

But Abu Ahmed soon became hooked. Supplies of Tramadol had surged after Hamas militants blew a breach in the southern wall between Gaza and Egypt in January 2008. "You could get it at pharmacies and there were people selling it on the street," he says. He quickly graduated from taking one pill a day, to three or four and then, though he could ill afford it, as many as eight.

A combination of a doubling in price to around £3.40 for a strip of 10 tablets and a Hamas edict (belated and far from effective) that pharmacies should not sell the drug without a prescription persuaded Abu Ahmed that he had to stop. "I tried to get away from it but I couldn't. I had a headache, pain in every part of my body. I had to go the bathroom every 10 minutes. I was sweating. Then you take one pill and you feel better of course."

It was about six weeks after that that Abu Ahmed– who has a history of drug abuse with hashish – turned, on the advice of a friend, to the GCMHP, the pioneering Palestinian organisation started in 1990 and still directed by the territory's leading psychiatrist and civil society spokesman Dr Eyad Sarraj. With the help of counselling from the group's trained therapists, as well as controlled and decreasing doses of alternative drugs like Avitan, he has stopped taking Tramadol. At the height of his addiction, Abu Ahmed was going without eating for up to three days and his weight dropped to 58 kilos (just over nine stone). Now it is back up to 85.

"They [the GCMHP] made me feel I was in safe hands," explains a grateful Abu Ahmed, adding that the agency arranged for food aid for his family while he was recovering. "They showed respect. And they came to my house to tell my family how they should cope with me when I became nervous and angry."

Yet for all its high professional standards, the organisation cannot help more than a minority of addicts. Although some unofficial estimates put the number of drug addicts as high as many thousands, the GCMHP's Mr Zeyada, who trained in Tel Aviv University, will not, as a scientist, hazard a figure. But he says there is a shortage of mental health provision in Gaza and that "GCMHP cannot take responsibility for the whole community".

Although there has been improvement in mental health awareness in the territory, many residents in socially conservative Gaza baulk at the idea of seeking treatment for psychological problems. "The level of stigma is so high," he explains. Instead, many patients go to their GPs reporting physical problems like headaches, back or abdominal pain, and the doctors, "because of a lack of knowledge about psychological disorder," simply prescribe analgesic drugs – of which Tramadol is a prime example – and "after a while the patients become addicts or abusers".

Operation Cast Lead has been over for nine months, but the return to a state of siege, with unemployment at a record 45 per cent, has left a sense of "helplessness and powerlessness" among residents, compounded by the fact that there is no guarantee the war will not be repeated.

For women, the sense that they exist only to serve their children and husbands makes them especially vulnerable to depression – and use of medication like valium and xanax. For men, the feelings of powerlessness and loss of masculinity are all too often caused by an inability to protect their children in war or provide for them in relative peace. "For a father who cannot fulfil the basic needs of his children it is not easy, especially in a society like Palestinian society," says Mr Zeyada.

Many young people, he adds, are also vulnerable. "They don't have hope, they cannot do anything for the future. They are disappointed, depressed, helpless and powerless. They can't find a job, they can't plan for the future, or [afford to] get married."

Until three weeks ago 21-year-old university student Mohammed, who had first taken the occasional Tramadol pill in 2006 after failing his high school exams, was on a daily dose of 1,000mg per day, increasingly alarming his family as he sat at his computer all night and slept all day. "You are in another world," he says. "Even when people keep criticising you, you don't feel angry."

In his first month of rehab, Mohammed explains that his addiction reached crisis point when his father, who used to work in Israel and is a passionate believer in university education for his children, was tipped off about his habit. There followed a climactic row last month in which his father threw him out of the family house in northern Gaza, telling him: "If you want to go back to study, and be committed to Islam, then I will help you get out of this problem. If you don't want to be helped, then I will take you to the [Hamas] police and that's it."

Mr Zeyada says another factor is the deep split between Fatah and Hamas, which there appears, once again, little hope of healing. Not only does it divide individual families, but for many Gazans it compromises their proud Palestinian national identity with a divisive factional one which makes them especially sensitive to criticism and hostility from political opponents. There are even cases from school playgrounds of conflict breaking out between children favouring (for non-political reasons) a particular colour T-shirt: yellow (Fatah) or green (Hamas).

Abu Ahmed agrees: "Even in one home you have Fatah and Hamas. That is a big problem." But now that he feels much better, he looks back on the depression that he believes turned him to Tramadol. "Look," he says. "Even if a person kills someone, he can still sleep at night. If he goes out and steals something, he will still sleep. But if you have children and you can't find work to give them what they need, then you can't sleep."

Tramadol: 'Full body blanket'

* Tramadol is a powerful painkiller with a narcotic effect. A single 200 mg dose can leave users sedated for much of the day so time passes quickly.

* One user described it as like being wrapped in a "full body blanket" where problems are not solved but the "volume is turned down a notch".

* It has similar effects to opiate painkillers such as pethidine inducing sleepiness, a lack of inhibition and a sense of wellbeing.

* Because it is not an opiate, it is not controlled as closely and may be easier to obtain.

* Tolerance builds quickly and users need increasing doses to obtain the same effect. Heavy users report forgetting chunks of the day.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/after-the-bombing-drug-addiction-strikes-gaza-1802256.html

accuracy

15-10-2009, 10:04 AM

Palestinian faith in Obama 'evaporates'

Leaked memo from President Mahmoud Abbas accuses White House of buckling under pressure from Israel

Rory McCarthy Jerusalem guardian.co.uk,
Tuesday 13 October 2009 18.37 BST

Palestinian political leaders have expressed acute disappointment in the Obama administration, saying their hopes that it could bring peace to the Middle East have "evaporated" and accusing the White House of giving in to Israeli pressure.

The unusually frank comments come in an internal memo from the Fatah party, led by the Palestinian president, Mahmoud Abbas, but reflect a broader frustration among Palestinian politicians that Washington's very public push for peace in the Middle East has yet to produce even a restarting of peace talks between Israelis and Palestinians.

"All hopes placed in the new US administration and President Obama have evaporated," said the document, which was leaked to the Associated Press news agency.

It said Barack Obama "couldn't withstand the pressure of the Zionist lobby, which led to a retreat from his previous positions on halting settlement construction and defining an agenda for the negotiations and peace".

The document, dated Monday, came from an office led by Mohammed Ghneim, a Fatah hardliner and the party's number two, who returned to the West Bank only this year after many years in exile. He was long a critic of the Oslo accords of the mid-1990s, arguing they gave too much to the Israelis.

Other Palestinian figures share the frustrations. Mohammad Dahlan was reported as saying this week that he felt "very disappointed and worried by the US administration retreat".

For many months now, the Palestinians have kept to their position that talks cannot restart without an end to construction in Israeli settlements and a guarantee that a full agreement is on the table, based on the borders before the 1967 war, in which Israel captured east Jerusalem, the West Bank and Gaza.

"The Israelis need to acknowledge that the 1967 borders are the borders between the two states, and this is the foundation of any negotiations," said Yasser Abed Rabbo, a senior aide to Abbas.

George Mitchell, the US envoy to the Middle East, was in Jerusalem again at the weekend for another round of apparently fruitless talks between the two sides.

After Obama met with Abbas and Binyamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, in New York last month he said he wanted negotiations to restart soon. But even with the president's newlyawarded Noble peace prize, that still seems harder than first expected.

Washington has notably toned down its language on Israeli settlement-building, and no longer calls for a full freeze to construction, talking instead of "restraint."

But this Palestinian disenchantment also comes at a time when Abbas has seen his personal credibility badly damaged among his own people, and it may be partly an effort to deflect criticism. There was disquiet when he agreed at the last minute to go to New York last month for the Netanyahu meeting, even though the Israelis had not agreed to the full halt to settlement building that Abbas had demanded.

The criticism worsened dramatically when 10 days ago he decided against supporting a vote at the UN human rights council to endorse a critical UN report on the Gaza war, written by the South African judge Richard Goldstone.

The report, hailed by human rights groups, accused both Israel and Hamas of war crimes and recommended that international prosecutions be considered.

Although it appeared that the Palestinians had enough support at the council to endorse the report, Abbas backed away at the last minute, apparently under intense US diplomatic pressure. He faced bitter criticism from his political rival, Hamas. It said he was unfit to lead and pulled out of a crucial reconciliation agreement due to have been signed later this month.

Abbas has since reversed his decision. Now the report will once again be considered at the human rights council in Geneva at a special session starting on Thursday. In New York tomorrow the UN security council will hold a debate on the Middle East, brought forward after Libya, a current council member, said the Goldstone report should be discussed.

It is not only the Palestinians who see little chance of peace: last week, Israel's often outspoken foreign minister, Avigdor Lieberman, said there was no chance of a full peace deal with the Palestinians until a "much later stage."

"There are many conflicts in the world that haven't reached a comprehensive solution, and people learned to live with it," he said.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/oct/13/palestinians-israel-obama-abbas

accuracy

15-10-2009, 10:52 AM

ISRAELI MINISTER; “ALL NON JEWS SHOULD BE STERILISED”

October 14, 2009

http://desertpeace.files.wordpress.com/2009/10/racism-ruins-lives-logo.jpg

Those words were NOT actually said, but they might have well have been. Racism in Israel has come full circle with the following attitude towards the children of foreign workers…

Allowing these children to stay in Israel “is liable to damage the state’s Jewish identity, constitute a demographic threat and increase the danger of assimilation.

During a conversation with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday, Yishai warned that if the cabinet rejects his demand that children of foreign workers not be given residency or citizenship in Israel, he will abdicate responsibility for the Immigration Authority, which is currently in his ministry’s purview, to the Prime Minister’s Office, and foment a coalition crisis to boot.

The report this is taken from can be read HERE

So, now what remains to be seen is how racist Israel really is….. should be an interesting outcome.
http://desertpeace.wordpress.com/2009/10/14/israeli-minister-all-non-jews-should-be-sterilised/

accuracy

15-10-2009, 11:03 AM

Germany 1940 Israel 2009

Pictures to be viewed.

http://whatreallyhappened.com/IMAGES/GazaHolo/index.html

accuracy

15-10-2009, 11:08 AM

WEDNESDAY’S TOON ~~ ABBAS AND ‘DAS BOOT’

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_a-Su2SAnGYU/StWKLu5c72I/AAAAAAAALQs/4IjvLkdSSTM/s400/abbas+boots.jpg

accuracy

16-10-2009, 12:18 PM

ISRAELI SOLDIERS WILL NO LONGER TARGET CIVILIANS OR CHILDREN

October 15, 2009 at 10:32 pm (Chutzpah, Israel, Media, Palestine)

HA~! It’s easier for Israel to show anger when its soldiers are portrayed for what they really are…. COLD BLOODED MURDERERS!

If Israeli soldiers DID NOT target Palestinian children earlier this year in Gaza, who killed the 450 that lie buried there today? Reality TV does have its merits…..

Israeli anger over Turkish TV show

Avigdor Lieberman, Israel’s foreign minister, has ordered officials to summon Turkey’s ambassador in Israel and lodge a protest over a Turkish television series that Israel says portrays its soldiers murdering Palestinian children.

The move is the latest twist in worsening relations between the two countries which have traditionally had close defence ties.

An Israeli foreign ministry statement quoted Lieberman as saying that the programme, screened by Turkish state television, constituted incitement against Israel “at the most grave level”.

Israeli television screened a clip on Wednesday that it said was from the series, showing an actor dressed as an Israeli soldier taking aim at a smiling young girl and shooting her in the chest from point-blank range.

‘Deteriorating relations’

Israeli army radio said the show, about the tribulations of a Palestinian family, was aired on Tuesday on Turkey’s TRT One channel and also depicted troops killing a Palestinian newborn baby delivered after its mother went into labour at an Israeli roadblock.

“A series like this, which has not the slightest connection with reality, which presents Israeli soldiers as the murderers of innocent children, would not be appropriate for broadcast even in an enemy country and certainly not in a state which maintains diplomatic relations with Israel,” Lieberman said in the statement.

Turkey’s ties with Israel have continued to deteriorate since Israel’s offensive in the Gaza Strip last winter, which left hundreds of Palestinian civilians dead.

Last week, Turkey banned Israel from an international air exercise in protest against its actions in Gaza.

Public opinion

Speaking on Thursday, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Turkey’s prime minister, defended the decision and said he had to take account of public opinion on Israel.

“Anyone who exercises political power has to take account of public opinion … I can’t just put the calls from the public to one side, it’s a question of sincerity,” Erdogan said.

The prime minister said Turkey had proposed that the joint exercise, which was also meant to involve the United States’ air force, be either postponed or held without Israel but would not bow to interference when making decisions.

He said: “I want people to know that Turkey is a powerful country which takes its own decisions. We don’t take orders from anyone.”

Israeli officials have expressed concern over Ankara’s decision to cancel the aerial manoeuvres which were to have taken place from October 12-23 in central Turkey.

The international section of the Anatolian Eagle air exercises has been carried out annually since 2001.

The US called the Turkish decision “inappropriate”.

‘Strategic relationship’

Turkey has been Israel’s chief regional ally since the two signed a military co-operation deal in 1996, but its criticism of Israel has mounted since Erdogan’s Justice and Development Party came to power in 2002.

Speaking on Wednesday, Ehud Barak, Israel’s defence minister, downplayed the increase in tensions with Turkey despite Ankara’s decision to call off the joint military exercise.

He said: “I think that basically there are ups and downs for all different reasons in relations.

“But our relationship with Turkey is long-standing, important and strategic in nature.”
http://desertpeace.wordpress.com/2009/10/15/israeli-soldiers-will-no-longer-target-civilians-or-children/

accuracy

18-10-2009, 10:50 AM

On 15 October 2009, former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert came to give the annual King Abdullah II Leadership Lecture at the University of Chicago's Harris School of Public Policy. Outraged that a man responsible for war crimes in Palestine and Lebanon that killed more than three thousand people during his term of office, community members confronted Olmert inside the lecture hall effectively preventing him from delivering his speech. The Goldstone report, examining Israel's attack on Gaza last winter, while Olmert was prime minister, called for Israeli leaders to be held accountable for war crimes and crimes against humanity. Recording and photography were officially banned at Olmert's request, but The Electronic Intifada had a camera anyway as protestor after protestor rose to make a statement before police forced them to leave. Watch this exclusive video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wgN02ZTe5AU

accuracy

18-10-2009, 11:27 AM

Gaza : A Death Camp ?

Saturday, 17 October 2009

http://img40.imageshack.us/img40/7932/gazadestruction.jpg

Gaza, October 17, 2009 (Pal Telegraph) - Thabet El Masri, is the Director of the Intensive Care Unit at the Shifa Hospital, a public institution in the Gaza Strip. He replies here to the questions of Silvia Cattori about the recent increase in the number of babies being born with birth defects. Gaza Israeli war crimes Israeli State terrorism Children victims

White phosphorus bombs on an UNRWA school in Beit Lahiya, January 17, 2009

Silvia Cattori: In June, you started to be concerned by an increase in the number of babies born with birth defects. We would be very interested to have your medical assessment and to know the result of the study you made of this troubling phenomenon. Can you tell us the ratio of prenatal and postnatal birth defects ten months after the attacks on Gaza in comparison with the same period in 2008, in terms of the number of cases involved?

Thabet El Masri: Yes I have been following the continuing phenomenon of babies born with a birth defect. I have calculated the number of babies with congenital defects born in July, August, and September, 2009. I have compared these three months with the same months in 2008.

Here are the figures: In July 2009, there were in Shifa Hospital 15 such cases, compared to 10 in 2008; in August 2009, there were 20 cases, compared to 10 in 2008 ; and in September 2009, 15 such babies were born, compared to 11 in 2008. The average number of births in Shifa Hospital is about 1'100 per month.

Silvia Cattori: When this report came out it caused a lot of emotion and concern. Many people immediately attributed the increase in birth defects in aborted foetuses and newborns to the Israeli army's use of white phosphorous shells. Do they have a case?

Thabet El Masri: We can suspect, but we cannot confirm, that it is the use of chemical weapons by Israel that caused this increase in birth defects.

Silvia Cattori: Are the babies with birth defects all from the refugee population subjected to Israeli shelling? Which area do the mothers come from?

Thabet El Masri: The babies suffering from birth defects come from all over the strip. But half of the women who gave birth to babies with problems come from the Jabaliya refugee camp.

Silvia Cattori: What can you do to reassure pregnant women in Gaza who are now very worried?

Thabet El Masri: Actually nothing. There is nothing we can do to guarantee that their babies will be normal. How could we prevent the presence of chemicals which can cause birth defects?

Silvia Cattori: Are there embryologists in Gaza who are able to make genetic tests?

Thabet El Masri: We are unfortunately not equipped to carry out genetic tests to see if birth defects are due to genetic factors alone and not to chemicals. In the end, it is a problem of genetics, but chemicals could well be responsible for the mutations.

Silvia Cattori: What about the international researchers who took samples in 2006 to be tested in European laboratories? Have there been any results yet?

Thabet El Masri: How can we solve this problem? If chemical factors are responsible, it is very difficult to prove. How can you prove that chemicals were at the root of the mutations? How can we be sure that the Israelis used prohibited substances?

Silvia Cattori: We understand that, as a doctor, you are deeply concerned and that, in the present desperate situation, you urgently need international support?

Thabet El Masri: Yes. I would like to suggest something that would help us, without draining our limited financial resources in genetic research, which requires a huge amount of money. Simply put, it would be extremely helpful to convince the Israelis not to repeat the chemical war of this past winter again.

Silvia Cattori: What kinds of pathologies do you observe in this summer's newborns? Can you give us some examples of the birth defects?

Thabet El Masri: You find problems of the central nervous system, hydrocephalus, anencephaly and other defects like congenital heart disease and obstructions of the digestive tract. Kidney problems are very frequent. Visible malformations are rare: the problems are usually internal.

Now you see what problems we have to face. The mothers are helpless; we have no answers for them. They know that we are all alone in this situation. They can only pray. That is the only thing left to them.

Silvia Cattori: You have no contacts outside?

Thabet El Masri: We have absolutely no contacts outside. I have given you an overview of the main problem. As I said, there is a probability that chemicals might be one cause of the upward trend in birth defects because they have increased since the assault in December and January. However, this conclusion is impossible to prove.

Interview by: Silvia Cattori
silviacattori.net/
http://www.paltelegraph.com/hot-topic/2647-gaza--a-death-camp

accuracy

18-10-2009, 11:43 AM

IN OCCUPIED JERUSALEM …. NO RESPITE, DESPITE

October 17, 2009

Hardly any respite

While some calm has returned to the compound of Al-Aqsa Mosque, the Muslim holy site is still under grave threat, writes Khalid Amayreh in occupied Jerusalem

http://weekly.ahram.org.eg/2009/968/_reg01.jpg
A Palestinian boy challenges an Israeli soldier following a demonstration in Hebron (photo: AFP)

An uneasy calm is descending over East Jerusalem after thousands of Israeli troops lifted a tight siege lasting two weeks on Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, one of Islam’s holiest sanctuaries.

The site witnessed violent disturbances two weeks ago when Israeli paramilitary police stormed the Haram Al-Sharif (Noble Sanctuary) in an effort to arrest Palestinians who had repulsed an attempt by a group of Jewish fanatics who were trying to arrogate “prayer rights” at the Islamic shrine.

Dozens of Palestinians were injured, some quite seriously.

Following the incident, hundreds of Muslims from Jerusalem and also from Arab towns and villages in Israel decided to maintain a constant presence at the mosque in order to repulse new attempts by Jewish extremists to seize a foothold at Al-Aqsa compound. On many occasions, Israeli police forces threatened to storm the Noble Sanctuary if the sit- in didn’t end. Meanwhile, they maintained a constant presence outside the compound. But on Sunday, the Israeli government decided to lift the siege, effectively allowing participants in the sit-in to leave peacefully.

The deal apparently was part of a behind-the-scenes understanding between Israel and Jordan whereby Israel agreed to reinstitute the status quo ante at the site and to refrain from provoking Muslim sensibilities. According to the Jordanian- Israeli Peace Treaty, Jordan retained the role of custodian of Al-Aqsa Mosque. Jordan had harshly criticised Israel for the “standoff”, and unconfirmed reports indicated that the Jordanian government threatened to expel the Israeli ambassador from Amman if the provocations continued.

Indeed, King Abdullah II warned in an interview with the Israeli newspaper Haaretz last week that the irresponsible Israeli behaviour with regard to Al-Aqsa Mosque could spark off a huge conflagration in the region and “destroy everything”. Jordan and other Muslim countries witnessed large anti-Israel protests following Friday congregational prayers.

In addition to Jordan, several Muslim countries also filed protests with Israel, warning the Israeli government that any attempt at a gradual Jewish takeover of Islam’s third holiest site would be viewed as crossing an ultimate red line by Muslims, and would also put an end to any semblance of peacemaking efforts in the region. The protests prompted Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu to publicly deny that Israel was harbouring hostile intentions with regard to Al-Aqsa Mosque.

“Last week extremist figures tried to undermine Israel’s stability. This is an extremist minority that spread lies about Israel digging under the Temple Mount [Haram Al-Sharif]. This is a lie,” he said.

Another Israeli official, Trade and Labour Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer warned that Israeli Arabs were beginning to “link up” with Hamas against Israel. “A certain alliance is forming between Israeli Arabs, specifically the Islamic Movement, and Hamas,” Ben-Eliezer told Israeli state-run radio, adding that Israel would eventually pay a heavy price if this was permitted to continue. Muslim leaders in Jerusalem and the rest of the occupied Palestinian territories scoffed at these statements, calling them “brash lies”.

“Israel is trying to tell the Muslim world that this is a confrontation with Hamas. This is a lie, because Al-Aqsa Mosque belongs to the entire Muslim umma (nation) and Israel is trying to demolish the mosque or at least arrogate part of it in order to build a temple for Jews,” said Sheikh Raed Salah, head of the Islamic Movement in Israel.

Salah was arrested briefly last week on charges of “incitement against the state” and of “making contacts with a terrorist organisation” — an allusion to Hamas. Both Salah and his deputy, Sheikh Kamal Khatib, have also been barred from entering Jerusalem for 30 days. Israel has accused Salah and other Muslim leaders of carrying out “subversive activities” and “orchestrating” claims about an Israeli conspiracy against Al-Aqsa Mosque.

The restoration of calm at Al-Aqsa Mosque seems to vindicate the view of Muslim leaders that the main source of tension was Jewish provocations, particularly the repeated attempts by messianic Jewish fanatics to enter the mosque — not as ordinary tourists, but as provocateurs and trouble- makers. Sheikh Ikrema Sabri, a chief imam and preacher at Al-Aqsa Mosque, said Muslims in Jerusalem and the rest of Palestine would never stop resisting and protesting efforts by Jewish intruders to establish a foothold or gain “prayer rights” at the Muslim shrine.

The current relative calm is unlikely to last for long, however, given the determination of messianic Jewish groups that are bent on demolishing Islamic holy places in Jerusalem in order to build a Jewish temple on their ruins. Some of these groups, such as the Temple of Faithful, believe that Jews won’t attain redemption until Al-Aqsa Mosque is destroyed and a Jewish temple is erected in its place. According to extremist Jewish doctrine, the ensuing violence that would see the death of a huge number of people would expedite the appearance of a Jewish Messiah, or Redeemer, who would bring about salvation for Jews and rule the world from Jerusalem.

Messianic Jewish groups, which exert a lot of influence on the Israeli government and parliament, and even the army, seem to show little deference to any government decision to maintain status quo ante arrangements at Al-Aqsa Mosque esplanade where the Muslim Waqf (religious endowments authority) has been managing the holy site since 1967. A few days ago, a number of Jewish intruders disguised as foreign tourists entered the mosque despite tacit Israeli assurances to the contrary. Similar attempts, coordinated or uncoordinated with the government, are expected in the coming days and weeks.

Moreover, it seems that the current right-wing Israeli government fully identifies with the declared and undeclared goals of the extremists, despite any public stand to the contrary. Indeed, not a single member of the current government has criticised — let alone denounced — the fanatics for their repeated provocations.

This week, Sheikh Salah alluded to Israeli government collusion with messianic fanatics. He said nothing short of a full liberation of Al-Aqsa Mosque from the Israeli occupation would shield the Muslim sanctuary from harm. “The Israeli government is the prime mover of all plots against Al-Aqsa Mosque. The important thing is not what they say to the media, but what they do at, around and especially beneath Al-Aqsa Mosque.”

http://desertpeace.wordpress.com/2009/10/17/in-occupied-jerusalem-no-respite-despite/

wobbler

18-10-2009, 11:55 AM

Germany 1940 Israel 2009

Pictures to be viewed.

http://whatreallyhappened.com/IMAGES/GazaHolo/index.html

Nazi Germany Then And Israel Today
A comparison of crimes committed in 1940s Germany equal to what is happening in every day Israel at this moment against Palestinians and all Americans finance these crimes.
Music by Mana' "Cuando Los Angeles Lloran" "When The Angels Cry".

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NW7yswu-2D0&feature=player_embedded

http://careandwashingofthebrain.blogspot.com/2009/10/nazi-germany-then-and-israel-today.html

wobbler

18-10-2009, 12:08 PM

http://www.coffinman.co.uk/israel_and_the_middle_east.htm

_ads_

18-10-2009, 07:28 PM

http://www.coffinman.co.uk/israel_and_the_middle_east.htm

Brilliant post mate.

accuracy

19-10-2009, 09:35 AM

http://www.coffinman.co.uk/israel_and_the_middle_east.htm

What an excellent site!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks for sharing wobbler. :)

wobbler

19-10-2009, 10:28 AM

Lets hope fans of the ADL type gangs don't get it taken down !

halliburton crusher

19-10-2009, 12:19 PM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1zjUwwkM64U

accuracy

20-10-2009, 10:08 AM

Palestine

5.39 minute video.

http://eclipptv.com/viewVideo.php?video_id=6783&title=Palestine

accuracy

20-10-2009, 10:25 AM

Buried Alive In Gaza

19Oct09

http://politicaltheatrics.files.wordpress.com/2009/10/images_news_2009_10_19_buriedangel_300_0.jpg

A Palestinian human rights advocate claims the ZOF buried some Palestinians alive during Operation Cast Lead in Gaza. This being reported from the Palestinian Information Centre:
Palestinian human rights activist Nashaat Al-Wahidi, revealed Monday that the Israeli occupation forces (IOF) deliberately killed Palestinians after detaining them and buried others alive during Israel’s military aggression on the Gaza Strip at the end of December last year.

Wahidi said in his report that the Israeli soldiers liquidated many Palestinian civilians after they were held as prisoners in the invaded areas in Gaza during the war.

He added that during the invasion of Al-Zeitoun neighborhood, east of Gaza, in the same month, Israeli troops buried many civilians who got wounded alive as happened with Ihab Malaka, Waleed Azzam and others, noting that this crime was committed against the wounded civilians who were present west of Dawla apartment building.

The activist also unveiled that many Palestinian civilians disappeared during the Israeli war and their fate is still unknown so far, which entails activating the file of missing Palestinians and Israel’s secret prisons. link

http://irish4palestine.blogspot.com/

accuracy

20-10-2009, 10:48 AM

Israel spying devices found by UN

Monday, 19 October 2009

Israeli spying devices that were planted during the 2006 war with Hezbollah have been discovered in southern Lebanon, the UN has said.

http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/46573000/jpg/_46573070_israelspybody.jpg
The suspected spying device was seen in the southern village of Houla

UN peacekeepers discovered the buried devices when they were blown up by remote control by Israel on Sunday.

Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora accused Israel of blatantly violating the UN Security Council resolution that led to the end of fighting.

Israel has declined to comment directly on the matter.

Mr Siniora said an Israeli plane flying above peacekeepers and Lebanese troops investigating the blasts constituted further violation of the resolution.

The incident comes at a time of increased tension between the Lebanese authorities and Israel.

Earlier in October the Israeli army released a video which it said showed Hezbollah removing munitions from the scene of an explosion near the city of Tyre.

Under the same UN Security Council resolution, there should be no weapons south of the Litani river except in the hands of regular Lebanese forces and peacekeepers.

Hezbollah subsequently broadcast its own video which it said disproved the claims.

It also says overflights by Israeli spy-planes violate the resolution.

The war between Hezbollah and Israel in 2006 lasted 33-days during which time Hezbollah fired a hail of rockets into Israel and the Israelis bombed carried out a huge bombing campaign across Lebanon and a large ground incursion.

More than 1,125 Lebanese died during the conflict, as well as 119 Israeli soldiers and 40 Israeli civilians.

Israel made little headway in ground operations and the war ended inconclusively with Hezbollah's military wing largely intact.

The UN Security Council unanimously adopted Resolution 1701 (2006) calling for the end of hostilities, the demilitarisation of the south of Lebanon and a mandate for a UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) to oversee the implementation of the resolution.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/8314352.stm

accuracy

20-10-2009, 10:56 AM

Jordan king: I expected more from U.S. in pushing Mideast peace

19/10/2009

Jordan's king on Monday said the U.S. administration seems to be focusing more of its attention on Iran and less on resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, warning that time was running out to make peace.

In an interview with Italian daily La Repubblica, King Abdullah II said the region's hopes for peace were huge at the start of the Obama administration, but now sees the goal getting farther away.

"I've heard people in Washington talking about Iran, again Iran, always Iran," Abdullah was quoted as saying.

"But I insist on, and keep insisting on the Palestinian question: The Israeli-Palestinian conflict is the most serious threat to the stability of the region and the Mediterranean," he added.

Abdullah granted the interview on the eve of a visit to Italy starting Monday.

He said the two sides have a window of opportunity over the next year to make progress on creating a two-state solution, after which point the possibility of a Palestinian state will disappear as more Arab land gets swallowed up by Jewish settlements.

"The window of opportunity will soon close," he said.

"By the end of 2010, if Israel doesn't believe in the two-state solution, the possibility of a future Palestinian state will disappear because of geographic reasons: already the land is fragmented into cantons," Abdullah added.

He urged Washington and the European Union to put pressure on Israel to sit down with the Palestinians to negotiate peace, even though he remained suspicious of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and somewhat disillusioned with the U.S. effort to date.

"I'll be sincere; I had expected more, sooner, of the U.S. efforts and the seven missions already conducted by the U.S. envoy George Mitchell," the king was quoted as saying.

He concluded: "I believed in a decisive turn at the beginning of the summer, ahead of a true peace negotiation at the United Nations, but the question of Israeli settlements - which are illegal according to the international community - remains central."

Related articles:
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1122097.html

accuracy

20-10-2009, 11:10 AM

The Truth About the 2009 Gaza Massacre

With the United Nations now acknowledging that Israel's actions in Gaza amounted to war crimes, Obama's video statements of unquestioning support for Israel are in essence a confession that he too is a war criminal.
Please forward and repost this everywhere!

(You MUST ? be logged in with youtube to view this?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qWXx2VYoqbU

accuracy

20-10-2009, 11:19 AM

English/Zionist Dictionary

By: atheo on: 15.03.2008

Incorrect term .........................................Correct term

Peace .................................................. .......Permanent pre-hostility

Unprovoked attack by USA or Israel ...............Pre-emptive strike

Aggressive war ............................................Confli ct or dispute

Permanent aggressive war ............................Protracted conflict

Global aggressive war ..................................Spreading democracy

Individual resistance to aggressive war ..........Terrorism

Group resistance to aggressive war ................Insurgency

National resistance to aggressive war ..............Terrorist state / rogue state

Multi-national resistance to aggressive war .......Axis of evil

Political leader of resistance to aggressive war...Dictator / Tyrant

Military leader of resistance to aggressive war.... Warlord

Any Muslim who questions aggressive war ........al-Qaeda

Any other person who questions aggressive war...Militant

Department that promotes aggressive war.......... Department of defense

Invasion to promote aggressive war .................. Incursion

Israeli agents of aggressive war ....................... Israeli defense force

Victim of aggressive war ................................... Illegal combatant

Victims of aggressive war (the people of Gaza) .... Enemy entity

Weapons of aggressive war .............................. Policy instruments

Massive funding for aggressive war .................... Enhanced force protection

Popular support for aggressive war ......................Democracy

Massive funding for rich weapons makers............. Supporting the troops

Genocide .................................................. ....... Degrading the enemy

Dead U.S. soldiers.......................................... .. Non-operative personnel

Murder (as a verb) ............................................ Neutralize

Attack .................................................. ............ Defend

Facts / evidence / objective reality ....................... Enemy propaganda

Theft of natural resources ..................................Liberation

Violence in pursuit of theft................................... National security

Military censorship ............................................. Embedded reporters

Destroying civilian infrastructure .......................... Asymmetric warfare

Destroying civilians themselves ........................... Collateral damage

Psychopathic mercenaries /death squads .............. Security forces

Imprisonment .................................................. . Detention

Prisoner .................................................. .......... Detainee

Torture .................................................. ............Interrogation

Illegal spying on Americans .................................Terrorist surveillance

Questioning war .................................................. . Anti-Americanism

Questioning murder .............................................Cut and run

Questioning the government ..................................Lack of patriotism

Mass questioning of the government .......................Home-grown terrorism

Mass ignorance .................................................. ...Consumer confidence

Debt .................................................. ..................Finances

U.S. Constitution / Geneva Conventions ...................Quaint and obsolete documents

We will nuke anyone anytime we like ...................... All options are on the table

Human bodies .................................................. ...Soft targets

Who cares if rag-heads get wasted? ............... There is no moral equivalence between terrorists and security forces

Israelis that violently evict Palestinians from .............Palestine Settlers

Distraction while we prepare to strike again ............... Peace process (which never ends)

A child who got killed when she got in the way ........... Human shield

Apartheid wall .................................................. .....Security fence

Muslim .................................................. ...............Islamist or Islamofascist

Islam .................................................. .................Anti-American radicalism

Questioning zionist atrocities ...................................Anti-semitism

Questioning Jewish supremacism ..............................Anti-semitism

Questioning U.S. funding for israel ............................Anti-semitism

Questioning AIPAC espionage against the USA ........... Anti-semitism

Reverence for love, innocence, compassion................. Anti-semitism

Questioning the “holocaust” ....................................Anti-semitism

Neglect to capitalize “holocaust” ...............................Anti-semitism

Sheer existence of non-Jews .....................................Anti-semitism

“Huh?” .................................................. ...................Anti-semitism

http://www.iraq-war.ru/article/159268

accuracy

20-10-2009, 11:24 AM

Israel pulls textbook over 'ethnic cleansing' reference

From correspondents in Jerusalem
Agence France-Presse
October 19, 2009 07:51pm

ISRAEL'S Education Ministry has recalled all copies of a history textbook because of a passage alleging "ethnic cleansing" of Palestinians during the 1948 war, a newspaper reported.
Israel's Haaretz newspaper said the secondary school textbook was removed from shelves because it sought to present both Israeli and Arab perspectives on the departure of some 750,000 Palestinians during the fighting that erupted after the creation of the Jewish state.

The Palestinians have always said they were violently expelled by Jewish forces while Israel has maintained they were ordered to flee by invading Arab states or alarmed by inflammatory Arab radio reports.

The fate of the refugees and their descendants, who now number some 4.6 million and are scattered across the region, has been one of the most divisive issues in the decades-old Middle East conflict.

The textbook in question, for 11th and 12th graders, contained both versions of the events side-by-side, but according to Haaretz the ministry took issue with the Palestinian version. It quoted the passage in question as saying: "The Palestinians and the Arab countries contended that most of the refugees were civilians who were attacked and expelled from their homes by armed Jewish forces, which instituted a policy of ethnic cleansing".

Haaretz said the textbooks would be reissued after "corrections" are made.

The education ministry could not immediately be reached for comment.

Since assuming office in March, Israel's right-wing government has sought to reinforce Israel's Jewish identity, including by instituting a plan to change traffic signs to display only Hebrew place names.

Israel's former dovish Education Minister Yuli Tamir sparked controversy in December 2006 when she said school textbooks should show Israel's borders prior to the 1967 Six Day war, during which it conquered Egypt's Sinai, the Gaza Strip, the Golan Heights and the West Bank including east Jerusalem.

Israel returned the Sinai under a peace treaty with Egypt in 1979 and annexed the Golan and east Jerusalem. The Palestinians have demanded the occupied West Bank, east Jerusalem and Gaza as their future state.

http://www.news.com.au/story/0,27574,26232086-23109,00.html

wobbler

20-10-2009, 01:22 PM

wobbler

20-10-2009, 01:27 PM

Imagine what an immoral army would do

WARNING these pictures are horrific

http://www.giwersworld.org/israel/more-pics/

wobbler

20-10-2009, 01:28 PM

http://www.giwersworld.org/antisem/GAZA-pics/index.html

accuracy

21-10-2009, 11:43 AM

Once again, excellent links wobbler ;)

accuracy

23-10-2009, 01:10 PM

No Way Home - The Palestinian Tragedy

You might think Palestinian refugees would be welcomed by their Arab neighbours, yet they are denied basic rights and citizenship

A special report by Judith Miller and David Samuels

Thursday, 22 October 2009

It is a cynical but time-honoured practice in Middle Eastern politics: the statesmen who decry the political and humanitarian crisis of the approximately 3.9 million Palestinians in the Israeli-occupied West Bank and in Gaza ignore the plight of an estimated 4.6 million Palestinians who live in Arab countries. For decades, Arab governments have justified their decision to maintain millions of stateless Palestinians as refugees in squalid camps as a means of applying pressure to Israel. The refugee problem will be solved, they say, when Israel agrees to let the Palestinians have their own state.

Yet in the two decades since the end of the Cold War, after two Gulf wars, and the rise and fall of the Oslo peace process, not a single Palestinian refugee has returned to Israel – and only a handful of ageing political functionaries have returned from neighbouring Arab countries to the West Bank and Gaza. Instead, failed peace plans and shifting political priorities have resulted in a second Palestinian "Nakba", or catastrophe – this one at hands of the Arab governments. "Marginalised, deprived of basic political and economic rights, trapped in the camps, bereft of realistic prospects, heavily armed and standing atop multiple fault lines," a report by the International Crisis Group (ICG) in Lebanon recently observed, "the refugee population constitutes a time bomb."

The fact that the divided Palestinian political leadership is silent about the mistreatment of the refugees by Arab states does not make such behaviour any less reprehensible – or less dangerous. Some 250,000 Palestinians were chased out of Kuwait and other Gulf States to punish the Palestinian political leadership for supporting Saddam Hussein. Tens of thousands of Palestinian residents of Iraq were similarly dispossessed after the second Gulf war.

In 2001, Palestinians in Lebanon were stripped of the right to own property, or to pass on the property that they already owned to their children – and banned from working as doctors, lawyers, pharmacists or in 20 other professions. Even the Palestinian refugee community in Jordan, historically the most welcoming Arab state, has reason to feel insecure in the face of official threats to revoke their citizenship. The systematic refusal of Arab governments to grant basic human rights to Palestinians who are born and die in their countries – combined with periodic mass expulsions of entire Palestinian communities – recalls the treatment of Jews in medieval Europe. Along with dispossession and marginalisation has come a new and frightening turn away from the traditional forms of nationalism that once dominated the refugee camps towards the radical pan-Islamic ideology of al-Qa'ida.

Daniel C Kurtzer, who has served as US ambassador to both Israel and Egypt and now advises the Obama administration, says that all American governments have resisted dealing with what he calls the most sensitive issue in the conflict – the normalisation of the status of the Palestinians – through a right of return to Palestine, or citizenship in other countries. "The refugees hold the key to this conflict's settlement," he says, "and nobody knows what to do with them."

In the unlikely event that President Obama's vision of a swift and final settlement of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict materialises, millions of Palestinians would still live in decaying refugee camps whose inhabitants are forbidden from owning land or participating in normal economic life. The only governing authority that Palestinians living in the camps have ever known is UNRWA – the United Nations Relief and Works Agency. Established by the UN on 8 December 1949 to assist 650,000 impoverished Palestinian refugees from the 1948 war, UNRWA has been battling budget cuts and strikes among its employees as it struggles to provide subsidies and services to Palestinian refugees, who are defined as "persons whose normal place of residence was Palestine between June 1946 and May 1948".

•••

The inclusion of the descendants of Palestinian refugees as refugees in UNRWA's mandate has no parallel in international humanitarian law and is responsible for the growth of the official numbers of Palestinian refugees in foreign countries from 711,000 to 4.6 million during decades when the number of ageing refugees from the 1948 Israeli war of independence in was in fact declining. UNRWA's grant of refugee status to the children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren of the original Palestinian refugees according to the principle of patrilineal descent, with no limit on the generations that can obtain refugee status, has made it easy for host countries to flout their obligations under international law. According to Article 34 of the UN Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees, "The Contracting States shall as far as possible facilitate the assimilation and naturalisation of refugees," and must "make every effort to expedite naturalisation proceedings" – the opposite of what happened to the Palestinians in every Arab country in which they settled, save Jordan. For all the easy criticism that can be levelled at UNRWA, it is hard to see how many Palestinian refugees would have survived without the agency's help.

The responsibility for the legal dimensions of their fate lies elsewhere, as UNRWA Commissioner-General Karen AbuZayd made clear at UNRWA's anniversary ceremony in New York on 24 September, before an audience that included Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Queen Rania of Jordan – herself a Palestinian. "The protracted exile of Palestine refugees and the dire conditions they endure, particularly in the occupied Palestinian territory, cannot be reconciled with state obligations under the UN Charter," AbuZayd said. The result for the refugees, AbuZayd said at a forum the previous afternoon at the Princeton Club, is a "suspended state of existence" for which no one seems willing to accept political responsibility. The rest of the discussion, moderated by Ambassador Kurtner, made clear that anticipated solutions to the Palestinian refugee problem had failed to emerge – leaving a community in crisis.

"You can't ignore an entire people because it's awkward or inconvenient," says Dr Karma Nabulsi, a lecturer at Oxford and a former Palestinian representative at the UN. In the period immediately after Oslo, she added, Palestinian refugees in Arab countries hoped to be repatriated to areas governed by the Palestinian Authority. Today, despair has replaced that initial optimism. "What young Palestinian would want to resettle in Gaza or in the West Bank?" she asks.

Sharing a panel with Dr Nabulsi, the doveish former Israeli foreign minister Shlomo Ben Ami, who negotiated directly with Yasser Arafat at the failed Camp David meetings in 2000, asserted that Israel has suppressed narratives that would make clear its responsibility for the Palestinian refugee crisis of 1948. Indifference to the refugees' plight, he added, was shared by Israel's negotiating partner in the Oslo years – Yasser Arafat. "He was not a refugee man," Ben Ami said flatly. "He was much more centred on the question of Jerusalem. I heard him say to [Mahmood Abbas] in my presence, 'leave me alone with your refugees'."

It is no secret that certain Arab regimes saw the Palestinians under Arafat's leadership as an unwelcome occupation that stripped Jordan bare and destroyed Lebanon. Similarly, Arafat often used the threat of destabilisation and assassination to get Arab regimes to fund the Palestinian cause. Still, the record of Arafat's Palestinian Authority in its territories during the 1990s attests to the truth of Ben Ami's observation, which applies both to Arafat's Fatah and to Hamas. Despite $10bn in foreign aid, not one refugee camp in the West Bank or Gaza has been replaced by modern housing. On the West Bank, chances for normal Palestinian communal life have been shattered by Israeli settlements, arrests, checkpoints and roadblocks, and by 15 years of abuses by Fatah. Even under the best of circumstances, an influx of refugees would further destabilise a Palestinian economy that is kept afloat by the world's highest per capita receipts of foreign aid.

Daniel Kurtzer agrees no one is likely to make a deal that includes a substantial return of the Palestinian diaspora. "Most Palestinian refugees know it, as do the settlers," he says. So rather than wait for American mediators or Arab states to impose solutions on them, the Palestinians themselves should begin to tackle the diabolically difficult issues inherent in the resolution of their political and economic future. "What we need is a refugee summit," he says. "I'm looking for a real conversation that must start internally and soon."

After 60 years of failed wars, and failed peace, it is time to put politics aside and to insist that the basic rights of the Palestinian refugees in Arab countries be respected – whether or not their children's children return to Haifa anytime soon. While Saudi Arabia may not wish to host Israeli tourists, it can easily afford to integrate the estimated 240,000 Palestinian refugees who already live in the kingdom – just as Egypt, which has received close to $60bn in US aid, and has a population of 81 million, can grant legal rights to an estimated 70,000 Palestinian refugees and their descendants. One can only imagine the outrage that the world community would rightly visit upon Israel if Israeli Arabs were subject to the vile discriminatory laws applied to Palestinians living in Arab countries. Surely, Palestinian Arabs can keep their own national dream alive in the countries where they were born, while also enjoying the freedom to work, vote and own property?

A practical solution to the crisis of the Palestinian refugees in Arab countries will focus on Lebanon, Syria and Jordan, which together play host to approximately 3 million of the estimated 4.6 million Palestinian refugees living outside the West Bank and Gaza. While each of these countries has chosen different legal and political approaches to the 1948 refugees and their descendants, they share a political desire to sublimate the rights of Palestinian residents, treating them as unwanted guests or as tools to be used in pursuing wider political interests – but rarely as fully-fledged members of society. Lebanon, where Palestinians led by Yasser Arafat are widely blamed for having sparked the 1975 civil war, is the worst offender against international norms. Yet even in Jordan, which is in many ways a model for the humane treatment of a large refugee population, Palestinians today feel markedly less secure than they did two decades ago, or even five years ago.

•••

Outside of Iraq, whose Palestinian population fled en masse after the fall of Saddam, nowhere has the situation of the Palestinian refugees worsened so dramatically as in Lebanon. Since the early Sixties, Palestinians there have been barred from working in medicine, dentistry and the law. In 2001, the Lebanese parliament adopted an amendment to the country's property laws that prohibited the acquisition of real estate by "any person not a citizen of a recognised state" – meaning the estimated 250,000 to 400,000 Palestinians living in Lebanon. Palestinians who had acquired real estate prior to 2001 were barred from bequeathing property to their children.

Right-wing Christians and Shi'ite radicals alike support discriminatory legislation that further impoverishes Palestinian refugees in Lebanon, with the stated goal of preventing them from beginning the process of naturalisation, known as tawtin. In his inaugural speech in May, 2008, Lebanese President Michel Suleiman, a Christian and former head of the country's armed forces, reaffirmed "Lebanon's categorical refusal of naturalisation", a statement echoed by the former Lebanese ambassador to the US, Nassib Lahoud, who told us recently in Beirut: "The confessional balance does not allow these things to happen ... at the moment the Palestinians are citizens of a state that does not exist." His sentiments were echoed by Hizbollah's spokesman on the Palestinian question, Hassan Hodroj. "The threat of tawtin is genuine," Hodroj explained. "It is one of the ways in which Israel, backed by the US, is endangering the region."

The fact that the living standard of Palestinian refugees in Lebanon has been deemed "catastrophic" by both UNRWA and by the Lebanese government can therefore be understood as a deliberate result of official state policy that is supported by all parties across Lebanon's divided confessional spectrum. As a member of the Lebanese parliament, Ghassan Moukheiber, explained in an interview with the ICG, "our official policy is to maintain Palestinians in a vulnerable, precarious situation to diminish prospects for their naturalisation or permanent settlement".

Yet the results of this horrifying policy may not be confined to Palestinian refugee camps in Lebanon. In his book Everyday Jihad, about the experience of refugees in the Ain al-Hilweh camp, home to an estimated 70,000 Palestinians, the French scholar Bernard Rougier describes the results of decades of exclusion and marginalisation which have severed the refugees from any connection to a lost homeland – or the country in which they were born. As a result, he says, many Palestinians have abandoned a failed nationalism for the radical millenarian ideas associated with al-Qa'ida. "Palestinian salafist militants have devoted themselves to defending the imaginary borders of identity," Rougier writes, "declaring themselves the protectors and guardians of the cause of Sunni Islam worldwide."

Visitors to the Ain al-Hilweh camp are immediately made aware that they have entered another world. While Lebanese army checkpoints ring the camp, the Lebanese state has no presence inside. Food, water and other basic services are provided by UNRWA, while armed factions openly display weapons in muddy alleyways and recruit generations to serve under their banners. It is easy to see why the secular promise of Palestinian nationalism has faded and why the promise of a Muslim paradise without borders might take its place. One of the 9/11 hijackers dedicated a poem to Ain al-Hilweh's most prominent jihadist in his videotaped will, and dozens of Palestinian fighters from the camp joined al-Qa'ida in Iraq.

"The situation is the camp is deteriorating," Rougier told us, when we asked about whether things were getting better or worse for the Palestinians of Lebanon. Bound by their absolute opposition to tawtin, he says, Lebanese leaders are creating a radicalised Palestinian population that will eventually have to be absorbed into Lebanon, despite having little or no allegiance to the state.

Sahar Atrache, lead author of the ICG report on the Palestinian refugees in Lebanon, agrees. "Palestinians refugees in Lebanon lack means of socio-economic advancement and are bereft of hope," he says. "They are vulnerable on all counts – politically, legally and above all physically. The status quo is good neither for the refugees nor for Lebanon itself."

•••

While Palestinian refugees and their descendants inside Syria are not allowed to vote or hold Syrian passports, they are free from the overt discrimination that has turned Lebanon into a recruiting ground for al-Qa'ida. The legal status of Palestinians inside Syria is defined by a 1956 law that states that grants them "the right to employment, commerce, and national service, while preserving their original nationality". More than 100,000 of the estimated 450,000 Palestinians in Syria live in or around the Yarmouk refugee camp, which long ago became a neighbourhood of Damascus.

While Palestinians are reasonably well integrated into the Syrian socio-economic structure, according to the scholar Laurie Brand they do not have the right to vote, nor can they stand for parliament or other political offices. Palestinians are barred from buying farmland and prohibited from owning more than one house. The female descendant of a Palestinian refugee can become a Syrian citizen by marrying a Syrian man. The male descendants of Palestinian men and their children are barred from acquiring Syrian citizenship, even if they marry Syrian women.

The major focus of Syrian interest in the Palestinian refugees has long been as an extension of the Assad regime's policy towards its neighbours – Israel and Lebanon. Damascus has long hosted a variety of Palestinian terror groups that rejected the Oslo process, including Ahmad Jibril's Palestinian Front for the Liberation of Palestine-General Command (PFLP-GC). More significantly, Damascus is also the political and logistical centre for Hamas. "Syria's support for armed Palestinian groups is key to pressuring Damascus' neighbours, most notably Israel and Lebanon," says Andrew Tabler, author of the Syria-watching blog Eighth Gate.

Syria increases its leverage inside Israel by weakening Fatah and strengthening Hamas. In Lebanon, Syrian military and political interference has turned the refugee camps into "security-free islands" (juzur amniya) where bombers can be recruited, bombs manufactured, and plots can be directed beyond the reach of the Lebanese army and police. "Life for the Palestinians was deliberately frozen for political manipulation," concludes Lebanese analyst Tony Badran. "Syria has no interest in normalising that situation."

While Syria imposes a measure of security on its Palestinian neighbourhoods, it foments insecurity and violence in Lebanon and Gaza, splitting the Palestinian polity and fuelling the misery of Palestinians throughout the region.

•••

Jordan is the only Arab nation that has integrated large numbers of Palestinians as full-fledged citizens. This is due not only to the unification of the East Bank and West Bank of the Jordan River valley under Hashemite rule between the creation of the State of Israel in 1948 until Israel's occupation of West Bank in 1967, but also to the luck of having had an enlightened monarch committed to the compassionate treatment of the estimated 100,000 refugees who crossed the Jordan River during the nakba in 1948. Israel's occupation of the West Bank following the 1967 war triggered a second exodus of 140,000 refugees into Jordan.

Today, almost 2 million of Jordan's 6 million people are registered Palestinian refugees, the largest concentration of current and former refugees in the Palestinian diaspora – and increasingly, tensions have deepened between the Palestinians and the "East Bank" establishment. This summer in Amman, ambiguous declarations by the recently appointed minister of the interior, Nayef al-Kadi, who is widely perceived to be anti-Palestinian, led many Jordanians of Palestinian origin to fear they would be stripped of Jordanian identity numbers. Speaking to the London-based Arabic-language newspaper Al Hayat, al-Kadi confirmed that some Palestinians would be stripped of citizenship, ostensibly to counter Israeli plans to turn Jordan into Palestine. "We should be thanked for taking this measure," he said. "We are fulfilling our national duty because Israel wants to expel the Palestinians from their homeland." Panic about their status spread quickly among the Palestinian community.

In interviews this month, senior Jordanian officials sought to quell such fears, while also suggesting there was at least some substance to al-Kadi's explosive suggestion. Faisal Bakr Qadi, the director of the Interior Ministry's office of Inspections, said Palestinians in Jordan were not being systematically stripped of citizenship. Rather, he explained that the government's current review of Palestinian national status dated back to 1988, when King Hussein, in response to demands by Palestinian and Arab leaders, disengaged administratively from the West Bank. Palestinian refugees, he said, meaning those who came to Jordan in the 1948 exodus, were to remain "full Jordanian citizens". "Displaced" Palestinians, or those who had come in 1967 and afterwards, would be able to maintain their yellow identity cards and numbers and de facto citizenship, provided they returned to the West Bank to renew the Israeli passes that permit them to go back and forth between Jordan and the West Bank.

Since 1983, he said, Jordan had given the coveted yellow cards – which enable Palestinians to work without special permits, pay local tuition rates in school, and enjoy full government services – to 280,000 Palestinians, whereas it had "frozen" the cards – or downgraded their status – of only 15,856 people. So far this year, he said, 9,956 cards were upgraded, 291 downgraded.

While many diplomats doubt these numbers, Jordanians insist there is no plot or plan to expel or deny citizenship to Palestinians who have lived virtually their entire lives in Jordan. "We want to ensure that when and if the peace process succeeds in establishing an independent Palestinian state, Palestinians living in Jordan will be in a position to choose their citizenship by having their status in order in both Jordan and Palestine," said an official close to King Abdullah.

Yet the distinctions that seem meaningful in Amman are not clear to some of the almost 94,000 Palestinian residents of Baqa'a, the largest of the 10 official refugee camps run by the UN. Some Palestinians in Baqa'a complain about the "new regulations" and the lack of identity cards that enable them to work without special permits and educate their children in public schools. Anxiety about the future pervades this ramshackle suburb at the northern edge of Amman, which began as an emergency relief centre after the 1967 war and is now a sprawling mini-city with its own basic shops, shawarma (sandwich) stands, and services. Many of the people we spoke to claimed that they knew someone, or had a relative, neighbour and friend whose identity card had been revoked, or whose status had inexplicably been changed.

For many of these refugees at the bottom of Jordan's social and economic pecking order, life without papers means hiding from the police who constantly patrol their camp's streets, being too poor to send any of your eight to 10 children to college, a lifetime of menial labour, and only a threadbare dream of returning to a homeland that most of them have never seen. There is strong suspicion of the state, but also of their neighbours, who are divided into "'48 people" and "'67 people". "Some of the newcomers would give away Al Aqsa for a Jordanian identity card," says Heba, a mother of eight, mentioning Islam's celebrated mosque in Jerusalem, one of its holiest shrines.

"We're Jordanians," says her son, Mustapha, a slender, 20-year-old in a bright orange T-shirt emblazoned with meaningless words in unknown languages. "This is the best place in the world," he says, pointing around the bare living room whose worn rugs and threadbare pillows cover the floor on which he and all his siblings sleep. "We would never leave here. But I'm loyal to my country, and I would like to visit it one day."

He seems perplexed when asked which is his country – Jordan or Palestine. "We have no security here, but we are Jordanians," replies Mustapha, who lounges on a mattress in a two-storey cement house down the road while one of his five daughters offers tiny glasses of steaming herbal tea and cardamom-scented coffee. "Everything I have is here. This house. My car. My job. What would I have in Nablus or Be'ersheba?" he declares. "My children know nothing but Jordan. And we will stay here."

That determination, echoed repeatedly through the dilapidated cement homes that line Baqa'a's gravelly streets and dust-filled shops, is precisely what terrifies Jordan's East Bank establishment. Jordanians have reason to fear their Palestinian guests. Many Jordanians have not forgotten "Black September", the civil war launched by Arafat's Fatah organisation in 1970 which nearly toppled King Hussein's kingdom.

Moreover, having grown accustomed to their near monopoly on jobs provided by the government, Jordan's largest employer, Jordanians fear demands for political equality from Palestinians, most of whom would probably choose to remain in Jordan, relinquishing their "right of return' in favour of compensation. An end to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict would surely threaten Jordan's informal division of power: East Bankers dominate the army, the security services and most civil-service posts, while Palestinians are disproportionately represented in business. Palestinians may advise the king in the royal court, but there has been only one Palestinian prime minister, who served for eight months. Palestinians now comprise only 23 of Jordan's 110 MPs.

"The closer we get to a solution," says Adnan Abu Odeh, a Palestinian who was one of King Hussein's royal court chiefs and also held other important government posts, "the more anxious society becomes. We are approaching a moment of truth."
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/no-way-home-the-tragedy-of-the-palestinian-diaspora-1806790.html

accuracy

29-10-2009, 10:02 AM

In this episode of Cross Talk two political analysts; one Iranian, the other Israeli, debate the recently released U.N. sponsored Goldstone report. The report entails the Gaza conflict which occurred last winter, it condemns both the Israeli military and Hamas for committing war crimes against each other. In the debate you will see the Iranian analyst does a far better job at making his points than what his Israeli opponent does...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D2OBd2qjmNc

accuracy

29-10-2009, 10:22 AM

COME VISIT PALESTINE; HOME OF BOTH THE NICEST AND MEANEST PEOPLE

http://desertpeace.files.wordpress.com/2009/10/visit-palestine.jpg

By Mazin Qumsiyeh

We see and meet the nicest people but we also see and meet the meanest people in Palestine. Every day here is an experience in extremes. We contrast an activist for peace in her 20s who speaks many languages with a settler who (joined by other settlers) attacks people picking their own olive trees (because he is brainwashed to believe Palestinians are not a “chosen people”). We contrast a young man getting up at 3AM to try and cross the countless hurdles to make a trek to make a living for his family with elites like Netanyahu who told members of his cabinet that “our challenge is to delegitimize the continuous attempt to delegitimize the State of Israel. The most important arena where we need to act in this context is in the arena of public opinion, which is crucial in the democratic world.” We contrast the niece of Tony Blair who sacrificed so much to join and understand and sympathize with Palestinian suffering with her uncle who cares little about people and prefers to keep his VIP photo-ops tightly controlled [1].

Please read on...................

http://desertpeace.wordpress.com/2009/10/28/come-visit-palestine-home-of-both-the-nicest-and-meanest-people/

cinder_darkskys

30-10-2009, 01:07 AM

tracking topic
http://www.davidicke.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=411&pictureid=4371

accuracy

30-10-2009, 09:39 AM

Is The Holocaust A New 'Religion'
w/10 Commandments?

Db.com
10-29-9

Jerusalem -- According to the Israeli philosophy professor Yeshayahu Leibowitz (photo), the 'Holocaust' is a new religion. Leibowitz' countrymen Shraga Elam, Gilad Atzmon, Yoshua Shalev and others have further developed this concept, reasoning like this: Most Jews today are either atheists or shun the religion of Judaism. Therefore, the Jewish people had to adopt belief in the 'Holocaust' as their new religion. They have spread this religion all over the world. 'Holocaust' museums are the new houses of worship and are present in most major cities. The new religion has its commandments, its decrees, its prophets, its high priests, its circle of saints, its rituals and its pilgrimages. It knows neither mercy, nor forgiveness, nor clemency but only the duty of vengeance. If you question the 'Holocaust Religion', you will go to prison.

The 'Ten Commandments' of this 'Holocaust Religion' may be enunciated as follows:

1. Remember what Amalek (the Non-Jews) has done to thee.
2. Thou shalt never compare THE HOLOCAUST with any other Genocide.
3. Thou shalt never compare the Nazi crimes with those of Israel.
4. Thou shalt never doubt the number of 6 million Jewish victims.
5. Thou shalt never doubt that the majority of them died in gas chambers.
6. Thou shalt not doubt the central role of SATAN Hitler in the extermination of the Jews.
7. Thou shalt never doubt the right of Israel to exist as the Jewish state.
8. Thou shalt not criticize the leading Jewish organizations and the Israeli government.
9. Thou must never criticize Jewish organizations and the Zionist leadership for abandoning the European Jewry in the Nazi era
10. Thou shalt take these commandments literally and never shew mercy to them that doubt!

LEIBOWITZ, YESHAYAHU (19031994)
http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/judaica/ejud_0002_0012_0_12084.html
Gilad Atzmon: I am - too - a Holocaust Survivor (2009-10-27)
http://www.middle-east-online.com/english/?id=35290
The Holocaust as a new catholic dogma:
http://truthisbeauty.wordpress.com/2009/02/04/the-holocaust-is-now-catholic-dogma/
http://www.dullophob.com/

from the site:

http://www.rense.com/general88/10com.htm

accuracy

30-10-2009, 10:58 AM

Holocaust Denier Sues Spielberg, Author in SoFla

Updated 11:15 AM EDT, Tue, Oct 20, 2009

http://media.nbcmiami.com/images/410*307/spielberg-640.jpg

First he attacked Nobel Prize-winning author Elie Wiesel in an elevator, and now famed Holocaust denier Eric Hunt is on the attack again, filing a lawsuit in Broward against Steven Speilberg and author Irene Weisberg Zisblatt.

Hunt, 25, who was convicted last year in the attack on Wiesel in San Francisco in 2007, claims Zisblatt's new book "The Fifth Diamond: The Story of Irene Weisberg Zisblatt" is a fraud, according to the Sun-Sentinel.

The lawsuit, filed on Oct. 6 in Broward Circuit Court, alleges that "Zisblatt blatantly stole other Jewish people's experiences during World War II and passed them off as her own in order to further the Jewish political agenda and profit off of these fantastical tales."

Zisblatt, 80, survived the Holocaust and watched her parents and five siblings die in Concentration camps during World War II, and is now a resident of Pembroke Pines. She appeared in Spielberg's 1998 documentary "The Last Days."

Hunt, who is representing himself in the suit, adds that "the defendants must not go unpunished for tormenting Gentiles and instilling hatred in Jews using such hideous lies."

Zisblatt's son-in-law, Stuart Mermelstein, a Miami resident, called the lawsuit "absurd."

"This lunatic has assaulted a survivor in the past," Mermelstein, a lawyer, told the Sun-Sentinel. "And is posing a danger to my mother-in-law simply for speaking out and writing a book."

A brief posting on erichunt.net, dated yesterday, announced the lawsuit, accompanied by a short video in which Hunt attempts to point out inconsistencies in Zisblatt's retelling of the horrible events. It was the only posting on the site.

http://www.nbcmiami.com/news/local-beat/Holocaust-Denier-Sues-Spielberg-Author-in-SoFla-64959732.html

accuracy

01-11-2009, 10:46 AM

October 31, 2009

http://english.aljazeera.net/mritems/Images//2009/10/30/20091030184524942734_20.jpg

A major new road joining Jerusalem to Israeli settlements in Hebron bisects land owned by the Jaber family.
They have farmed these fields for 300 years. They once owned 60 dunums (60,000 square metres) but now have four (4,000 square metres) - the rest has been confiscated by Israeli settlers. The Jabers fight to farm on the land they have left.

As his family clashes with workers from Israel's water authority, employed to rip up the irrigation systems for their tomato plants, and the Israeli soldiers protecting them, Yosri Jaber, a school teacher, explains: "These clashes with the Israeli authorities are a regular thing; they happen every two to three months or so.

"The Israelis don't allow us to water our plants. We pay them four shekels ($1) for every cubic metre of water.

"We have a water regulator, which we share with the eight other houses to irrigate our plants and get water to our homes. We've paid for it but we can't use it."

Palestinians in many areas of the West Bank are not allowed to irrigate their land. Nor are they allowed electricity, to build water cisterns, or indeed, any new structures without a permit from the Israeli authorities.

Crops destroyed

These permits are difficult to come by. According to the Jabers, the Jewish settlers living on what was once their land get water for free; they don't need a permit to irrigate their crops.

During the clash on the tomato field, Jaber's 47-year-old sister-in-law, an asthmatic, is pushed roughly to the ground by one of the men she was trying to prevent from tearing up her field.
Her eight year-old daughter Lara is in tears as she watches her being stretchered away by paramedics through a still volatile crowd, many of whom are pushing, shouting and throwing mud.

The Israeli labourers not involved in the altercation continue their work, ripping up water pipes and destroying them immediately.

Jaber says: "We have 25 kids living in our household; they witness this violence every day. This is the tragedy we suffer."

Water supplies

Hebron, on the south eastern slopes of Palestine, near the border with Jordan, holds one of the largest underground water supplies in the West Bank.

According to new research published by Save the Children this week, Palestinian families living in high risk areas such as this are poorer, less protected and more vulnerable than anywhere else in the occupied Palestinian territory.

The numbers of Palestinians forced from their homes by Israeli policies in the West Bank and Gaza is on the rise, says the UK charity.

At least half of those living in what the United Nations identifies as "high risk" areas who spoke to the organisation said they have been forced from their homes at least once since 2000, the last major period of conflict between Israelis and Palestinians.

In the West Bank, most demolished homes are cleared to make way for the Separation Wall that Israel is building to divide Israeli and Palestinian land.

Or the properties are destroyed for "administrative reasons", such as not holding the correct Israeli permits.

Aside from these demolitions, lack of access to basics like water, sanitation and food is forcing vulnerable families from their homes in ever great numbers.

Accusations denied

Mark Regev, spokesperson for Binyamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, denies any further Palestinian homes are under threat from settlement expansion.

He says: "Israel is not building new settlements in the West Bank nor is it expanding existing settlements. There is no more expropriation of land for settlements and we have got rid of all illegal settlement buildings.
"We are aware of pirate activity by settlers in the West Bank and Israel is tackling illegal settlement activity by taking down any illegal settlement constructions.

"Those who break the law will face the full wrath of the law. There are dozens of cases of settlers in the courts currently who are being held to account for their illegal activity."

Regev could not explain why the Jaber's irrigation system was being removed under the watch of Israeli troops.

Atta Jaber, Lara's father, speaks about the difficulties his family face with barely contained fury.

He says: "The Israelis have demolished my home twice. We want peace but they need to stop building settlements on our land and stealing our property.

"I studied hotel management and speak five languages. I worked in a hotel in Israel for eight years but was stopped from working in Israel by the authorities. Now all I have to live off is our land, which I cultivate with my children.

"We aren't able to reach the market because of the Israeli restrictions on our movement so we sell our tomatoes right here by the side of the road. We have waited all year to harvest these tomatoes. This is how we support ourselves."

'Children traumatised'

Under international law, it is illegal for an occupying power to change the demographic situation of the territory they have occupied and yet Israeli settlers continue to arrive in the West Bank.

Their settlements have contributed to the displacement of tens of thousands of Palestinian families.

Salam Kanaan, Save the Children's country director in the occupied Palestinian territory, says: "Without a secure future, the lives of Palestinian children living in high risk areas like Hebron are blighted.

"Constant fear of upheaval, combined with a daily struggle for basics like food and water has left children depressed and traumatised. These children are in urgent need of help and protection."

Atta Jaber claims his family suffer daily harassment from the nearby settlers, he says: "They threaten my children all the time. They ride up on their horses every night and circle our home, threatening us."
The Jaber family insist they have reported this abuse to the Israeli police but see no change in the settlers' behaviour.

They have filed a legal case against the confiscation of their land, which has now reached the High Court, but have little hope it will be successful.

The High Court Judge in charge of their case, they claim, is a settler.

"What kind of life is this? No nation, no people can live like this. They want us to leave our land but whatever they do, we will never leave.

"Today's events will repeat themselves, as they do every day in the West Bank. We just have to survive, one way or another."

Phoebe Greenwood works for Save the Children UK, a global children's charity.

http://alethonews.blogspot.com/2009/10/fight-for-survival-in-west-bank.html

accuracy

02-11-2009, 10:41 AM

Levy - "America, Stop Sucking Up To Israel"

By John Whitbeck
11-1-9

In the extraordinarily honest column transmitted below, HAARETZ columnist Gideon Levy tells it like it is in a manner inconceivable in the American press.

This column appears to have been written a few hours before Hillary Clinton, on her arrival in Israel, dropped to her knees before a grinning Bibi Netanyahu and licked her master's shoes. As a New York politician, Clinton no doubt found the posture familiar and comfortable, and it was always to be expected that the curtain would eventually ring down on the new administation's highly theatrical stage-play "Pressure on Israel" after a final act along these lines. Still, even if predictable, the spectacle was enough to make decent people anywhere wish to throw up.

No better on Palestine... No better on Iraq... No better on Iran... Worse on Afghanistan... Worse on Pakistan... It would be difficult now to find more than a handful of people in this region who still hold out any hope for positive change from this administration ... or, in light of the expectations briefly aroused, from the United States of America, ever.

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1124928.html

America, Stop Sucking Up To Israel
By Gideon Levy
Nov 1, 2009

Barack Obama has been busy - offering the Jewish People blessings for Rosh Hashanah, and recording a flattering video for the President's Conference inJerusalemand another for Yitzhak Rabin's memorial rally. Only Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah surpasses him in terms of sheer output of recorded remarks.

In all the videos, Obama heaps sticky-sweet praise on Israel, even though he has spent nearly a year fruitlessly lobbying for Israel to be so kind as to do something, anything - even just a temporary freeze on settlement building - to advance the peace process.

The president's Mideast envoy, George Mitchell, has also been busy, shuttling between a funeral (for IDF soldier Asaf Ramon, the son ofIsrael's first astronaut Ilan Ramon) and a memorial (for Rabin, though it was postponed until next week due to rain), in order to find favor with Israelis. Polls have shown that Obama is increasingly unpopular here, with an approval rating of only 6 to 10 percent.

He decided to address Israelis by video, but a persuasive speech won't persuade anyone to end the occupation. He simply should have told the Israeli people the truth. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who arrived here last night, will certainly express similar sentiments: "commitment toIsrael's security," "strategic alliance," "the need for peace," and so on .

Before no other country on the planet does theUnited Stateskneel and plead like this. In other trouble spots,Americatakes a different tone. It bombs inAfghanistan, invadesIraqand threatens sanctions againstIranandNorth Korea. Did anyone inWashingtonconsider begging Saddam Hussein to withdraw from occupied territory inKuwait?

ButIsraelthe occupier, the stubborn contrarian that continues to mockAmericaand the world by building settlements and abusing the Palestinians, receives different treatment. Another massage to the national ego in one video, more embarrassing praise in another.

Now is the time to say to theUnited States: Enough flattery. If you don't change the tone, nothing will change. As long as Israel feels the United States is in its pocket, and that America's automatic veto will save it from condemnations and sanctions, that it will receive massive aid unconditionally, and that it can continue waging punitive, lethal campaigns without a word from Washington, killing, destroying and imprisoning without the world's policeman making a sound, it will continue in its ways.

Illegal acts like the occupation and settlement expansion, and offensives that may have involved war crimes, as inGaza, deserve a different approach. IfAmericaand the world had issued condemnations after Operation Summer Rains in 2006 - which left 400 Palestinians dead and severe infrastructure damage in the first major operation in Gazasince the disengagement - then Operation Cast Lead never would have been launched.

It is true that unlike all the world's other troublemakers,Israel is viewed as a Western democracy, butIsrael of 2009 is a country whose language is force. Anwar Sadat may have been the last leader to win our hearts with optimistic, hope-igniting speeches. If he were to visitIsraeltoday, he would be jeered off the stage. The Syrian president pleads for peace andIsraelcallously dismisses him, theUnited Statesbegs for a settlement freeze andIsraelturns up its nose. This is what happens when there are no consequences forIsrael's inaction.

WhenClintonreturns toWashington, she should advocate a sharp policy change towardIsrael. Israeli hearts can no longer be won with hope, promises of a better future or sweet talk, for this is no longerIsrael's language. For something to change,Israelmust understand that perpetuating the status quo will exact a painful price.

Israel of 2009 is a spoiled country, arrogant and condescending, convinced that it deserves everything and that it has the power to make a fool ofAmericaand the world. TheUnited Stateshas engendered this situation, which endangers the entire Mideast andIsraelitself. That is why there needs to be a turning point in the coming year -Washingtonneeds to finally say no to Israeland the occupation. An unambiguous, presidential no.

http://www.rense.com/general88/suckingp.htm

accuracy

02-11-2009, 11:00 AM

Stewart Gets Zionist Rage Mail After Palestinian Guests

http://uruknet.info/pic.php?f=daily_show_0-28-09.jpg

November 1, 2009

On 10/28/09, The Daily Show with Jon Stewart did what the mainstream media has failed to report about-the rapidly growing global nonviolent solidarity movement of resisters to the occupation of Palestine, by hosting a Palestinian politician and American Jewish scholar and activist author.

The News Media should be interviewing Dr. Mustafa Barghouti & Anna Baltzer, Jon's job is to entertain us, but once again, he lead the mainstream media to where many of US already are.

Jon also performed under duress from 'friends' who put him under pressure to censor the highly anticipated appearances of Dr. Barghouti and Baltzer. As of this writing on October 31, 2009, The Daily Show forum conversation regarding the BB show has attracted 21,059 reads to its first page and over 500 messages.

One of mine says: The morning after Anna Baltzer wrote:

Dear friends,

Last night Dr. Barghouti and I were on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart talking about Palestine.

The show was overwhelmed with angry emails and phone calls prior to the appearance, and up until the last minute it seemed like they might cancel. During the taping the show had its only heckler in 11 years. The entire staff were very nervous and may come to regret the monumental decision (and not make it again) as they will surely be inundated now that the show has aired.

That is why it is CRUCIAL that the show receive letters of support from anyone who appreciated the interview.

PLEASE take a moment to give a quick thank you to the Daily Show. I'm sure they will likely be affected by numbers rather than length, so it's OK to make it short, but spread the word to others! Be sure to put "Thank you" in the subject, and maybe Dr. Barghouti & my names.

Fill out the form here: http://www.comedycentral.com/help/questionsCC.jhtml

Make sure to choose The Daily Show with Jon Stewart as your topic.

And try calling 212-468-1700 .

Many of you who watched the show on TV noticed that everything of real substance that I said was edited out.

The major issues cut out were (1) the US role in aiding Israel, (2) the lack of adequate coverage in mainstream US media, and (3) the Palestinian-led movement for Boycott / Divestment / Sanctions (BDS) to nonviolently pressure Israel to comply with international law…

Regardless of the cuts, this was a huge step for the movement (and Dr. Barghouti's left-in parts were excellent, in my opinion). If you agree, do make your letters positive, even if you decide to mention the disappointing discrepancy between the full interview and what was aired…I believe the interview wouldn't have happened 3 years ago. Times are changing. Keep on keepin' on...Anna

An audience member at the taping of the show wrote:

Jon Stewart made it clear to the audience that he was UNDER TONS OF PRESSURE. Lots of his pro-Israeli friends [called] up and were trying to force the cancellation of the show.

But Jon stood tall and allowed the show to be taped; HOWEVER he did ANNA ZERO JUSTICE BY REMOVING ALMOST 95% of her comments from the nationally televised broadcast...

Why did he remove them?

Simple, BECAUSE SHE WAS A JEW CRITICISING ISRAEL WITH SOLID FACTS!

…This is a 60 year old conflict and the proof is in REAL HISTORY, not some TORAH. Also the Heckler was an ISRAELI, who made it clear, the ISRAELIS WANT TO KEEP THE PALESTINIANS SILENT IN AMERICA. WHY??? BECAUSE THEY FEAR THEIR LARGE WELFARE CHECK FROM THE UNITED STATES MIGHT SOON DISASPPEAR.

I mean the Jews suffered the holocaust for 4 years; the PALESTINIANS HAVE BEEN UNDER COLONIALIZATION FOR MORE THAN 60 YEARS!-Shalom 10-30-2009 04:09 PM

Another forum commenter noted:

Jon Stewart has sent Rob Riggle to China, and Jason Jones to Iran. Sure, it was intended to be done with a light touch, but it was also to show that there wasn't too much different between our "enemies" and ourselves. I didn't see this kind of virulent Jon-hate when he showed Iranians to be pleasantly lovely people. The leadership, on the other hand, he's napalmed when they deserved it - and this goes for Yasir Arafat, as well as "Bibi".

Jon Stewart and his staff aren't "biased" toward anything but people in positions of power using said power to shut others up. And that includes both sides of the Palestinian and Israeli conflict.

To show how totally under the rug this kind of topic is - look at the Huffington Post right now. They always are happy to feature the Daily Show - But what's their main Jon Stewart story? How he mocked Fox News and the White House.

It's as if *this* entire interview never took place. If you do a search on google news for this show - you get only SEVEN articles even mentioning, and NONE of them are 'mainstream' press. By comparison, Jon Stewart's interview with Cramer has its own Wikipedia entry. ABC News webpage has a story on Jon Gosslins "Mantrums" and "Meet the Wiccan Next Door".

Yet a story that is frying this message board has got hardly *anything* notice-wise in the "real" world.

I know this is a comedy show, but really - the fact is he's willing to put his reputation and his show "on the line" to talk about a subject that he doesn't *have* to talk about - and there's nothing but resounding silence in the media.

I can only assume that no one else in the media has the balls to touch it, because the question will naturally come up "Well, why is a comedian talking about this - why isn't your news network interviewing these people?"

And that's a question the news media isn't too keen on having to answer."-M

Message 480 reads:

I have known Anna for a number of years and I have had the great honor of meeting Dr. Barghouti and introducing him at an event. They are both gracious and politically astute.

Personally, I was pleased that Anna let Dr. Barghouti have the floor. After all, Barghouti represents Palestinian civil society. They are the oppressed. Anna is a very privileged person who was there as an ally. It was ultimately more important to hear from Barghouti.

While I cannot speak for her, I would be very surprised to learn from Anna that she felt she was somehow being silenced or "upstaged" by Barghouti. She is much smarter than that, and I would suggest that people calm down and appreciate that they were given an opportunity to hear from a true leader of Palestinian civil society.

This said, I encourage people to 1) visit Anna's web site (www.annainthemiddleeast.com), 2) buy and study her book, 3) contact her and arrange to have her speak at your church, mosque, synagogue, or community group. She has several great, thought-provoking presentations and is dedicated to working for a just peace between Israelis and Palestinians. By the way, her DVD is also terrific, and you can organize a little living-room forum and show it to your friends and neighbors. She gives you the tools to join the struggle for a just peace. I hope you will. Both the Israelis and Palestinians need all of us to join in. [1]

In solidarity with all that, and I add we need a media who will stop spouting falsehoods, such as what caused Jon's misunderstanding about Iran's supposed intentions towards Israel.

In 2006, Virginia Tilley, Professor of political science wrote:

"In his October 2005 speech, Mr. Ahmadinejad never used the word 'map' or the term 'wiped off.' According to Farsi-language experts like Juan Cole and even right-wing services like MEMRI, what he actually said was 'this regime that is occupying Jerusalem must vanish from the page of time.'

"In this speech to an annual anti-Zionist conference, Mr. Ahmadinejad was being prophetic, not threatening. He was citing Imam Khomeini, who said this line in the 1980s-a period when Israel was actually selling arms to Iran, so apparently it was not viewed as so ghastly then.

"Mr. Ahmadinejad had just reminded his audience that the Shah's regime, the Soviet Union, and Saddam Hussein had all seemed enormously powerful and immovable, yet the first two had vanished almost beyond recall and the third now languished in prison.

"So, too, the "occupying regime" in Jerusalem would someday be gone. His message was, in essence: "This too shall pass."

Iran has also not launched an aggressive war in modern history -unlike the US and Israel-and its leaders adhere to the doctrine of "no first strike."

We need a media who will give us some truth-such as in this third part of a Bill Moyers-Goldstone interview:

Video Judge Goldstone on Bill Moyers 3 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DBi-7H3Eb8s

We need a media who will allow the voices of Israeli conscientious objectors known as Shministim; Hebrew for "twelfth-graders" and they are "Jews and Arabs from all parts of the country…[who] toil against the occupation and oppression policies of the Israeli government in the occupied territories, and in the territory of the land of Israel, and therefore refuse to take part in actions related to such policies, which are carried out…by the Israeli Defence Force." [2]

Shministim are also a community of activists whose conscientious objection to refusing to serve in the Forces that enforce the military occupation of Palestine stems from volunteer experiences, values, love and respect for their society and every human being, and they aim to better their country for all its inhabitants.

We need a media who will learn from American Israeli professor Jeff Halper, Founder and Coordinator of Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions, that "Israel is a not a democracy but is an Ethnocracy, meaning a country run and controlled by a national group with some democratic elements but set up with Jews in control and structured to keep them in control."

We need a media who will report about Israel's WMD program and the failure of the US government to support the best interests of we the people by failing to hold Israel accountable to the same criteria we demand of other states and nations.

In 2005, Mordechai Vanunu told me:

"When Johnson became president, he made an agreement with Israel that two senators would come every year to inspect. Before the senators would visit, the Israelis would build a wall to block the underground elevators and stairways. From 1963 to ’69, the senators came, but they never knew about the wall that hid the rest of the Dimona from them. Nixon stopped the inspections and agreed to ignore the situation. As a result, Israel increased production. In 1986, there were over two hundred bombs. Today, they may have enough plutonium for ten bombs a year."

But we have a media that failed to even report on a freedom of speech trial in Jerusalem, and now it is too late for them to interview Mordechai Vanunu.

Vanunu quit talking to foreign supporters and media on July 6, 2009, when he "made the decision…to refrain from making any statements on the nuclear issue and other sensitive subjects about which he had knowledge" and Vanunu's lawyer added, "Until now he wouldn't commit to refrain from speaking of [Israel's nuclear program], but now he is." [3]

We need a media who can connect the dots from 1948 to 1967 to 1986 to now and catch the spirit of Edward R. Murrow: "To be persuasive, we must be believable; to be believable, we must be credible; to be credible, we must be truthful."

We need a media that will inform the public that the modern conflict between Palestine and Israel, is not about religious differences, but all about land, human rights and international law.

Until then, we have Jon.

http://uruknet.info/index.php?p=m59606&hd=&size=1&l=e

accuracy

02-11-2009, 11:19 AM

Jerusalem Tension - Everyone To Blame But Zionists

The whipping up of unrest around the Temple Mount is part of an insidious campaign to cast Jewish people as modern interlopers

Sunday 1 November 2009

The Temple Mount, or al-Haram al-Sharif to Muslims, must rank as one of the most sensitive religious sites in the world. The sporadic riots of the past month at the site are therefore particularly alarming, as such incidents have the potential to ignite much wider unrest.

For that reason, it would seem to be in everyone's interest to reduce as far as possible tensions and friction at the Temple Mount to an absolute minimum. But the statements and actions of a number of Muslim clerics based in Israel, Palestinian politicians and even foreign governments have only inflamed and exacerbated an already explosive situation.

Of even greater concern is the underlying sentiment behind the recent riots, protests, declarations and denunciations. Whether or not "Jewish extremists" went up to the Temple Mount (and they did not) and irrespective of whether or not they planned to, the violent and vitriolic response to these rumours is indicative of a fundamental lack of tolerance for the religious beliefs of the Jewish people.

And the incitement has been widespread, coming from both political and religious sectors. The Islamic Movement in Israel, in particular, has made strenuous efforts to inform its flock that Jewish groups were planning to "desecrate", "storm" or otherwise "endanger" the al-Aqsa mosque and arranged buses for worshippers to come and "protect" the site.

Sheikh Raed Salah, head of the Islamic Movement's northern branch and one of the principal provocateurs, declared to a crowd, "We'll liberate al-Aqsa with blood and fire" and stated that Israel was seeking to build a synagogue on the al-Aqsa mosque. Palestinian prime minister Salam Fayyad told a meeting of foreign ambassadors that the riots were due to "an assault by extremist religious settlers on the Temple Mount compound". The Syrian foreign ministry decided to stir the pot too, stating "[Damascus] believes the Israeli security forces' invasion of al-Aqsa was part of Israel's scheme to Judaise Jerusalem and destroy the mosque."

Not one shred of evidence has been presented to back up any of these accusations, the reason being that there simply is none.

Such baseless incitement over one of the most sensitive places of worship in the world is incredibly irresponsible. The destabilising effect of this agitation undermines whatever small amount of trust there may be between Israeli and Palestinian interlocutors. Additionally, it further inflames wider Arab and Muslim opinion, which is similarly deleterious to the project of tolerance and coexistence in the region. Inventing wild myths about Jewish designs on Muslim holy places can only harm any prospects for the normalisation of ties between Israel and its Arab and Muslim neighbours.

Aside from the agitation is the disturbing notion that Jews seeking to visit, or even pray at, their holiest place of worship (the Temple Mount and not merely the Western Wall) should be seen as provocation, desecration or in any other way unacceptable. Jerusalem and the Temple Mount are an indelible part of the Jewish national consciousness. The very term for the movement to re-establish the Jewish national home, Zionism, derives from a synonym for Jerusalem, Zion. Every day, three times a day, Jews all over the world turn towards Jerusalem and pray for it to be restored to its former glory; they have done so for nearly 2,000 years. That Jews are actually banned by the Israeli government from praying on the Temple Mount is a quite astounding concession to the demands of the Islamic waqf that administers it.

But preventing Jews from praying at the Temple Mount is not the only goal. A far more insidious campaign is afoot, one that rewrites history by arguing that there never was any Jewish temple at the site, thereby seeking to delegitimise any connection that Israel and the Jewish people may have to it, and by extension, the land as a whole. In a region in thrall to an epidemic of conspiracy theories, the irrefutable archaeological and historical evidence attesting to the Second Temple alone is sadly deemed insufficient.

The failure to acknowledge the connection the Jewish people have to Jerusalem is symptomatic of a problem which goes to the heart of the political conflict; that the Palestinian body politic has never reconciled itself to the fact that the Jewish people have deep-rooted historical ties to the land and are not simply foreign invaders who wandered in a few decades ago.

However politically expedient, Palestinian and Muslim leaders must desist from the incitement against Israel and the delegitimisation of the Jewish people's connection to the land, if there is ever to be any political accommodation between the two sides. If the Palestinian public never appreciates the depth of feeling Jews have for their holy places and their historical homeland, then the state of Israel, within any borders, will forever be illegitimate in the eyes of the Palestinians and will remain a target for eventual removal. Such an attitude poses a tremendous obstacle to the future prospects of peace between the two peoples.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/belief/2009/nov/01/israel-jerusalem-history-jews

accuracy

02-11-2009, 11:53 AM

South Africans 'fought in Gaza war'

UPDATED ON:
Sunday, November 01, 2009
19:25 Mecca time, 16:25 GMT

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tlyV-tUr3sw

Efforts to prosecute those who may have committed war crimes in Israel's war on Gaza have spread beyond the Middle East.

A lawyer in South Africa has identified 75 South African nationals who he says were fighting with the Israeli army in the war earlier this year.

Feroze Boda, based in Johannesburg and working on behalf of two local pro-Palestinian organisations, says the soldiers should face court action for their involvement.

Imran Garda reports from Johannesburg.
http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2009/11/200911113297855257.html

grandsecretary

02-11-2009, 05:58 PM

lightgiver

02-11-2009, 10:23 PM

Considering that man has inhabited this earth for at least 1.7 billion years,

Explain please :confused:

Must be the Sirius Orion connection eh :D http://www.hol.com/~johnboy/Sirius.htg/sirius.htm

BTW events are afoot at temple mount.

grandsecretary

02-11-2009, 10:33 PM

lightgiver

02-11-2009, 10:54 PM

Well this date comes from relics and remains found in the Westwater Canyon of the Colorada River. I just picked this as an example. I believe that there are claims as old as 3.8 billion years.

This seems to get older and older every year.

Do you have any links GS,

On the Palestine issue,another interesting link,

http://prorege-forum.com/forum_entry.php?id=2163

accuracy

03-11-2009, 09:00 AM

Obviously no links for proof.

accuracy

04-11-2009, 11:12 AM

dial up sucks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

accuracy

04-11-2009, 11:18 AM

Dial up sucks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

accuracy

06-11-2009, 11:16 AM

I.A.E.A. FINDS NO EVIDENCE OF NUCLEAR WEAPONS PROGRAM AT QOM SO IT’S BACK TO ‘IRAN SUPPLIES WEAPONS TO HAMAS AND HEZBOLLAH’ TO KICK OFF NEW WAR.

Friday, November 06, 2009

International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) chief Mohamed ElBaradei said yesterday that there’s nothing to worry about at Iran’s nuclear facility at Qom. The news will not please the Zionist warmongers in Israel and their neocon fellow travellers in the US who insist that Iran has a ‘nuclear weapons program’ which, according to the Israelis, they want to use to ‘wipe Israel (and most of Palestine) of the map’.[1]

The Israeli Zionists and their neocon supporters in the US have been using the ‘Iran has a nuclear weapons program’ and the Iran wants to ‘wipe Israel off the map’ nonsense for some years now in the hope that they can drum up enough support from world-wide public opinion to justify attacking Iran in order to bring about a regime change there. But each time they beat their war drums and build it up to a crescendo where there could well have been an attack against Iran, along comes ElBaradei to rain on their parade by saying that there’s still no evidence of any Iranian ‘nuclear weapons program’. And each time that has happened, a pattern has emerged whereby Israel attempt to find some other casus belli to get at Iran via either Hezbollah in south Lebanon or Hamas in the Gaza Strip or both.

On several occasions during these past few years Israel has attacked both the Gaza Strip and south Lebanon on some Israeli-manipulated pretext or another in order to try and drag Iran into these wars thus providing an excuse to attack Iran directly with the help of the US. So far the Israelis have failed miserably.

But now it seems the Israelis might me up for another try at stirring up a war via Hamas or Hezbollah in the light of ElBaradei’s latest pronouncements about his findings at Qom.

Israel now claims that Hamas have secretly tested a new missile, supplied to them by Iran of course, with a range of around sixty miles which means Tel Aviv could be targeted. As a result, an article in ‘Ha’aretz’ today claims that Israel is preparing Israel for another assault against the people of the Gaza. On top of that, Israel has also claimed that a ship it stopped and hijacked on the high seas was delivering arms supplied by Iran destined for Hezbollah in Lebanon providing the possibility of another excuse to attack the people of Lebanon in the hope of escalating such a war to draw in Iran and the US.

Just as 114 states at the UN endorse the Goldstone report on Israeli warcrimes committed in the Gaza, the stage seems to be set for yet another act of murder and mayhem designed to get the US to attack Iran. The Israeli sense of timing is always immaculate.

ENDNOTE

[1] Israel has never explained how Iran intended to use its nuclear weapon against such a tiny nation as Israel without doing untold harm to the entire region including Irans allies; the Palestinians in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, and the people of south Lebanon. Nor has Israel ever explained how Iran hoped to avoid a retaliatory nuclear strike by either Israel or the US.
http://lataan.blogspot.com/2009/11/iaea-finds-no-evidence-of-nuclear.html

accuracy

07-11-2009, 11:50 AM

Nilin marking 20 years to the fall of the berlin wall by taking down the wall on their land

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9xh4ouc8Lac

accuracy

07-11-2009, 11:56 AM

Israeli tank fire hits house in Gaza Strip

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 19:18:11 GMT

http://www.presstv.ir/photo/20091106/shamseddin20091106224232187.JPG

Israeli tanks have shelled a house in the east of the Hamas-run Gaza Strip, leaving at least two people wounded.

The attack, which came on late Friday, caused panic among Palestinian families living in the vicinity, a Press TV correspondent reported.

An Israeli army spokeswoman confirmed the attack, saying "a suspicious figure was spotted by our forces" near the barrier separating Gaza from the occupied West Bank, AFP said.

In January, the Israeli army launched a massive military offensive against the populated coastal sliver, killing more than 1,400 Palestinians, mostly civilians, and many thousands more wounded.

http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=110612&sectionid=351020202RS/MMN

accuracy

08-11-2009, 10:02 AM

Palestine - Before Israeli Genocide And Theft - Vid

calista48
October 29, 2007

(more info)
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The old lie that palestine was dry desert waiting for a people is just that--a lie. This clip for all people to see the Beauty of the Palestinian People before they were ethnically cleansed and mur...
The old lie that palestine was dry desert waiting for a people is just that--a lie. This clip for all people to see the Beauty of the Palestinian People before they were ethnically cleansed and murdered and made into refugees by the State of Israe.
Music Joaquin Rodrigo, lyrics Helmut Lotti, sung by Lotti
All Photos (b&w) from http://fai.cyberia.net.lb/

For Hani, My husband, Best friend & Hero

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vjEBQ_bE7uA

accuracy

08-11-2009, 11:04 AM

US Senators Act to Force Recognition of Jerusalem as Capital

11/07/09,
by Tzvi Ben Gedalyahu

http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/134275

IsraelNN.com) Seven United States senators have sponsored a bill that would abolish the “security” waiver that American presidents have used to prevent implementing a 1995 law declaring that Jerusalem is the capital of Israel.

Kansas Republican Senator Sam Brownback, a long-time supporter of Israel, introduced the bill and said, "It is long overdue for America to recognize the sovereign right of Israel to choose Jerusalem as its capital city.”

The proposed Jerusalem Embassy Relocation Act law, number S. 2737, is "a bill to relocate to Jerusalem the United States Embassy in Israel" and has six co-sponsors--five Republicans, from Kentucky, Texas, Arizona, and Louisiana and Independent Senator Joe Lieberman of Connecticut.

It would remove the current waiver, which gives the president authority to delay recognition of Jerusalem as the capital on the premise that doing so would endanger the security of the United States. Previous presidents, including George W. Bush, vowed during their election campaigns they would recognize Jerusalem as the Jewish State’s capital but they have failed out to carry out their election promise.

The senators introduced the bill following last week’s visit to the United States by Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat, who said, “I believe moving the American embassy to Jerusalem will the first step towards other embassies moving to the capital, as in every other country in the world.”

U.S. policy regards eastern Jerusalem, restored to Israel in the Six-Day War in 1967, as “occupied territory" and wants the status of the city to be part of an agreement to establish the Palestinian Authority as a new Arab state on all of the land in eastern Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and Gaza.

The Democratic party has a majority in the Congress but includes legislators who support Israeli sovereignty over all of the capital. The certain opposition of the Obama administration to Senator Brownback's bill may prevent its passage, but the proposal will bring the status of the city to center stage.

Administration officials have increasingly found it more difficult to explain to reporters their policy in the PA-Israeli struggle, particularly in light of the refusal of PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas to resume negotiations with Israel.

Abbas announced late this week that he will not run for reelection, a move that magnified recent difficulties of U.S. State Department spokesman Ian Kelly to satisfy reporters. He was unable to tell them on Friday if government officials have been in touch with Abbas since his announcement, and instead he repeated previous statements that the Obama government considers him a “voice of moderation.”

In answer to a question on whether there should be PA elections in January in light of the division between Hamas, which rules Gaza, and Fatah, which rules Judea and Samaria, Kelly said, “The decision to hold elections is a – is really – that's a matter for the people themselves to decide.”

Reporters noted that his statement contradicted American policy of four years that was insistent that the PA holds it first legislative election, which resulted in a surprise victor for the Hamas terrorist organization.

from WRH website:

This it eh US and Israel telling the United Nations "Fuck You" following the General Assembly vote on the Goldstone Report. The world is about to get a good look at just how rogue Israel really is!

Palestinian Refugees have the right to return to their homes in Israel.
General Assembly Resolution 194, Dec. 11, 1948
"Resolves that the refugees wishing to return to their homes and live at peace with their neighbors should be permitted to do so at the earliest practicable date, and that compensation should be paid for the property of those choosing not to return and for loss of or damage to property which, under principles of international law or in equity, should be made good by the Governments or authorities responsible."

Israel's occupation of Palestine is Illegal.
Security Council Resolution 242, Nov. 22, 1967
Calls for the withdrawal of Israeli forces from territories occupied in the war that year and "the acknowledgment of the sovereignty, territorial integrity and political independence of every state in the area and their right to live in peace within secure and recognized boundaries free from threats or acts of force."

Israel's settlements in Palestine are Illegal.
Security Council Resolution 446, March 22, 1979
"Determines that the policy and practices of Israel in establishing settlements in the Palestinian and other Arab territories occupied since 1967 have no legal validity and constitute a serious obstruction to achieving a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the Middle East."

Palestinian have the right to Self-Determination.
General Assembly Resolution 3236, November 22, 1974
Affirms "the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people in Palestine...to self-determination without external interference" and "to national independence and sovereignty."

Resolution 127: recommends Israel suspend its no-man's zone' in Jerusalem.

Resolution 250: calls on Israel to refrain from holding military parade in Jerusalem.

Resolution 251: deeply deplores Israeli military parade in Jerusalem in defiance of Resolution 250.

Resolution 252: declares invalid Israel's acts to unify Jerusalem as Jewish capital.

Resolution 267: censures Israel for administrative acts to change the status of Jerusalem.

Resolution 271: condemns Israel's failure to obey UN resolutions on Jerusalem.

Resolution 298: deplores Israel's changing of the status of Jerusalem.

Resolution 476: reiterates that Israel's claim to Jerusalem are null and void.

Resolution 478: censures (Israel) in the strongest terms for its claim to Jerusalem in its Basic Law.

accuracy

09-11-2009, 10:53 AM

Israeli forces shell northern Gaza

November 08, 2009

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_TnDThSQGhrI/Svb5JadvEOI/AAAAAAAABxQ/Nn7_tmxn1JA/s320/22941.jpg

Gaza – Ma’an – Israeli shells landed in an open area in the northern Gaza Strip on Sunday, causing panic but no injuries, witnesses said.

Residents of the area said three shells landed in the Abu Safieyah area east of the city of Jabaliya. The residents added that the shelling was apparently unprovoked.

One Palestinian living in the area told Ma’an, "The shelling caused fear among the residents who live in these agricultural areas that their houses could be hit by these shells."

An Israeli military spokesperson confirmed that Israeli soldiers fired mortars at what they believed to be the source of rockets fired into Israeli territory. The military said they were still investigating whether rockets were indeed fired across the border.

IOF troops open fire at farmers in northern Gaza

07/11/2009 -

http://www.palestine-info.co.uk/en/DataFiles%5CCache%5CTempImgs%5C2009%5C2%5Cimages_N ews_2009_11_07_iof-shelling2_300_0.jpg

GAZA, (PIC)-- Israeli occupation forces (IOF) opened heavy machine gun fire at Palestinian farmers while tending to their lands north of the Gaza Strip on Saturday, local sources reported.

A source in the area told Quds Press that the IOF soldiers fired an artillery shell then opened machineguns at the farmers east of Jabaliya in northern Gaza Strip.

Farmers were forced to abandon their lands due to the heavy gunfire that was coupled with intensified flights for IOF warplanes.

A number of Palestinian citizens were wounded on Friday night when the IOF troops fired a projectile at them east of Gaza city.

http://alethonews.blogspot.com/2009/11/israeli-forces-shell-northern-gaza.html

accuracy

10-11-2009, 11:47 AM

MORE ON KOSHER SANCTIONED MURDER

November 9, 2009

http://whatreallyhappened.com/IMAGES/shotgazanchild.jpg

Kill Enemy Children: Jewish Edict
By Khalid Amayreh

OCCUPIED JERUSALEM – A Jewish rabbi has issued a book giving Jews permission to murder non-Jews, including babies and children, who may pose an actual or potential threat to Jews or Israel. “It is permissible to kill the Righteous among non-Jews even if they are not responsible for the threatening situation,” Rabbi Yitzhak Shapiro, who heads the Od Yosef Chai Yeshiva in the Yitzhar settlement in the occupied West Bank, wrote in his book “The King’s Torah.”

He argues that goyem (a derogatory epithet for non-Jews) may be killed if they threaten Israel.

“If we kill a Gentile who has sinned or has violated one of the seven commandments – because we care about the commandments – there is nothing wrong with the murder.”

Shapiro, who heads a small Talmudic school at the settlement of Yitzhar near Nablus, claims his edict “is fully justified by the Torah and the Talmud.”

The anti-goyem edict seems to come in response to the arrest by Israeli police of a Jewish terrorist who has confessed to having murdered two Palestinian shepherds in the West Bank.

The terrorist, an American-born immigrant named Yaakov Teitel, also confessed to have tried to assassinate leftist Jewish figures.

Police considered the arrest an important achievement in combating Jewish terrorism, which experts contend thrives on religious edicts issued by rabbis affiliated with the religious-Zionist camp.

Nearly 16 years ago, a Jewish terrorist named Yigal Amir assassinated then Israeli Premier Yitzhak Rabin.

Moreover, numerous innocent Palestinians have also been murdered in cold blood by Jewish terrorists.

In 1994, Baruch Goldstein, a notorious Jewish terrorist, murdered 29 Muslim worshipers inside Al-Ibrahimi Mosque in the West Bank town of al-Khalil.

Non-Humans

The controversial edict is backed by numerous rabbis affiliated with the so-called national-religious camp as well as the Talmudic seminary in West Jerusalem, known as Merkaz Ha’rav.

Among the rabbis who have publicly supported the edict are Yitzhak Ginsburg and Ya’akov Yosef.

Ginsburg had written a leaflet glorifying murderer Goldstein and called him a “saintly figure.”

Shapiro’s views on how Palestinians and non-Jews in general ought to be treated according to Jewish religious law (halacha) are widely looked at as representing the mainstream not the exception in Israel.

During the Israeli onslaught against Gaza earlier this year, Mordecahi Elyahu, one of the leading rabbinic figures in Israel, urged the army not to refrain from killing enemy children in order to save the lives of Israeli soldiers.

He had even petitioned the Israeli government to carry out a series of carpet bombing of Palestinian population centers in Gaza.

“If they don’t stop after we kill 100, then we must kill a thousand. And if they do not stop after we kill a thousand, then we must kill 10,000. If they still don’t stop, we must kill 100,000, even a million. Whatever it takes to stop them.”

According to Israel Shahak, author of “Jewish History, Jewish Religion: the Weight of Three Thousand years,” the term “human beings” in Jewish law refers solely to Jews.

Many Jewish orthodox rabbis, especially within the national-religious sector, view international conventions incriminating the deliberate killing of civilians and destruction of civilian homes and property as representing “Christian morals” not binding on Jews.

In 2006, the Rabbinic Council of Jewish Settlements in the West Bank urged the army “to ignore Christian morals and exterminate the enemy in the north (Lebanon) and the south (Gaza Strip).

Such manifestly racist and hateful edicts don’t raise many eyebrows in Israel, neither among the intelligentsia nor in the society at large.

http://desertpeace.wordpress.com/2009/11/09/more-on-kosher-sanctioned-murder/

accuracy

11-11-2009, 10:54 AM

Abbas Threatens to Dismantle PA, Declare Peace Process Failed

By politicaltheatrics Published: November 10, 2009

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Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas is considering dissolving the PA and declaring the failure of the peace process with Israel, PA officials in Ramallah said over the weekend.

Abbas was now waiting to see if the US and other parties would exert enough pressure on Israel to stop settlement construction and recognize the two-state solution before he makes any decision, the officials said.
In his televised speech on Thursday, in which he announced that he has “no desire” to run in the upcoming presidential election, Abbas said that he would also consider taking “other measures” in the future, but did not elaborate.

He was “threatening” to dissolve the PA in protest against Washington’s failure to support his demand for a complete freeze of settlement construction as a precondition for the resumption of peace negotiations with Israel, the officials said.
Over the weekend, Abbas instructed the Palestinian Central Elections Committee to continue preparations for holding presidential and parliamentary elections on January 24. He met in Ramallah with the heads of the committee, Hanna Naser and Rami Hamdallah, and instructed them to take all measures to ensure that the vote is held on time in the West Bank, the Gaza Strip and occupied Jerusalem, according to a statement released by Abbas’s office.

His decision to go ahead with plans to hold the vote came despite his announcement on Thursday that he has “no desire” to run in the election.

It remains unclear, however, how the vote would take place in the Gaza Strip, where the Hamas government has already announced that it won’t allow the balloting to take place. Moreover, it’s not certain that Israel would permit the vote to take place inside the municipal boundaries of occupied Jerusalem.

Abbas has come under pressure from some world leaders and his loyalists to withdraw his decision to drop out of the race, his aides said. “In light of the growing pressure,” Abbas may have to reconsider his decision, they said.

In various parts of the West Bank, Abbas loyalists marched in the streets in support of the PA president. Others published advertisements in PA-controlled newspapers declaring their support for Abbas and urging him to seek reelection.

Most of the demonstrators were Fatah members and policemen serving in the PA security forces. Some of those who published the pro-Abbas advertisements said they had been asked by senior PA officials to do so.

Some Fatah operatives in the occupied West Bank said that Abbas would change his mind only if he felt that he had enough support from the US and the Arab world. “The president is waiting to see how much support he has before he makes any decision,” said a Fatah official closely associated with Abbas. “If he does not feel that he has enough backing, he might even step down and announce the dismantlement of the Palestinian Authority.”

Another Fatah official said that Abbas’s decision not to run for another term was primarily aimed at sending a message to the Americans and Arabs.

“Abbas is trying to tell the US administration that its bias in favor of Israel is sabotaging the peace process,” the official told The Jerusalem Post. “He’s particularly upset with [US Secretary of State] Hillary Clinton, because he feels that she’s the one who convinced President Barack Obama to soften his attitude on the issue of settlements.”
Abbas, according to one of his top aides, is also “deeply disappointed” with the Egyptians, who seem to have endorsed the Israeli and American standpoint according to which the Palestinians should return to the negotiating tables unconditionally.

Abbas, he added, was “shocked” when he heard that Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit, had agreed with Clinton that the peace negotiations should be resumed without preconditions.

Abbas was quoted by the aide as having accused the Egyptians of “failing to keep their promise to support his demand that Israel halt all construction in the settlements as a prerequisite for the resumption of the negotiations.
Azzam al-Ahmed, a senior Fatah official who also serves as an adviser to Abbas, said that he and his colleagues were working hard to persuade the PA president to participate in the elections.

Ahmed said that there was a consensus in Fatah that Abbas was the most suitable candidate to run in the presidential election, “because he enjoys the backing of the Palestinian people.”
He said that Fatah leaders were scheduled to hold a series of meetings in Ramallah this week to discuss the repercussions of Abbas’s move.

Hafez Barghouti, editor of the PA mouthpiece Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, said that any other leader in Abbas’s place would have resigned a long time ago. “The president’s decision should not be seen as an escape from national responsibilities,” Barghouti explained. “Instead, it’s the product of the absence of an international will to find a peaceful and just settlement after 16 years of negotiations, blood and tears.”

http://www.politicaltheatrics.net/?p=167

accuracy

11-11-2009, 11:15 AM

http://www.warisaracket.org/shahsnuclearplants.jpg

http://www.warisaracket.org/shahsnuclearplants.jpg

accuracy

11-11-2009, 11:28 AM

Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas may quit, leaving vacuum

November 11, 2009

A President threatening to quit, his potential successor languishing in an Israeli jail and a peace process heading nowhere: rarely have prospects for the Palestinian people looked so bleak.

Five years after Yassir Arafat died, his defiant portrait stares down from banners in the streets of Ramallah. While he remains a potent symbol of Palestinian resistance, his successors are characterised more by despair than defiance.

Mahmoud Abbas — popularly known as Abu Mazen — is so frustrated by the stalled peace process that he is refusing to stand for re-election. With no obvious successor, his imminent retirement threatens to unravel the entire Palestinian leadership. There is even talk of the movement being hijacked by the militants who regard talking to Israel as a waste of time.

Mr Abbas cannot resign until after January, the scheduled date of elections, because under the Palestinian constitution he would have to be replaced by the Speaker of parliament. Since Hamas won the last parliamentary elections in 2006, that would mean a Hamas president, giving the Islamists control of the entire Palestinian territory.

Hamas has said that it will boycott the elections, arguing that Mr Abbas’s mandate expired a year ago. He decreed at that time that he would stay on until presidential elections could be held alongside parliamentary polls. Such constitutional gymnastics are likely to continue in the near future, with Hamas and Fatah claiming they are the rightful Government in the probable absence of polls in both Palestinian areas.

A more radical scenario, which some Palestinian officials have raised, envisages Mr Abbas, 74, dissolving the Palestinian Authority, created under the now-defunct Oslo peace accords, and continuing to rule in his capacity as the head of the Palestine Liberation Organisation. Many Palestinian opposition figures have argued that the Authority is a “Vichy government”, legitimising continued Israeli occupation.

The Palestinian leadership finds itself in this quandary because the peace process has run into the sands. President Obama’s efforts to restart talks are stalled by Israel’s refusal to freeze all Jewish settlement growth in the West Bank, and the Palestinians’ insistence that they will not negotiate until settlement building stops.

“Israel always said Arafat wasn’t a partner for peace,” said Rabiha Diab, the Palestinian Minister for Women’s Affairs and a long-time member of Arafat’s Fatah movement. “We see now the Israelis are not partners for peace, they have implemented nothing and the world stands by them.”

Many Palestinians believe that the Israelis poisoned Arafat, who lived out his final years practically under house arrest in Ramallah, and have now crippled his successor by not responding to his peace overtures and renunciation of violence. “Israel killed President Arafat, and now it is trying to kill Abu Mazen’s project at a time that it knows he is committed to bringing peace,” said Mrs Diab.

Mr Abbas’s announcement last week that he would not stand for reelection left observers guessing about his real intentions. Tony Blair, the international community’s envoy to the Middle East, said yesterday that Mr Abbas’s decision to step down was not a political ploy but a reflection of his deep frustration at the absence of any meaningful peace process.

Abdel Nasser al-Najjar, the editor of the Fatah-linked newspaper al-Ayyam, said he thought Mr Abbas was serious about stepping down, though possibly not as soon as January. “There’s nobody at this point who can replace the President,” he said. Given the deep divide between the Hamas-run Gaza Strip and Fatah-led West Bank, he said Mr Abbas would probably delay the elections until June, by which time he might have wrung some concessions out of Israel, under pressure from the US, or have reconciled with the Gaza Islamists.

Mr al-Najjar said that if elections were held now without Mr Abbas, the Palestinians would probably choose a more militant candidate. “Abu Mazen represents moderation, in spite of all the criticism against him,” he said. “The option of negotiations goes out with Abu Mazen, so the people would elect someone else who offers another option,” he warned. The most popular contender to succeed him is Marwan Barghouti, a younger Fatah leader who played a key role in the second Palestinian intifada, which started in 2000. However, he is in an Israeli jail after being convicted of heading a group that killed Israeli civilians.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/middle_east/article6911721.ece

accuracy

12-11-2009, 10:50 AM

By Brother Nathanael Kapner, Copyright 2009

http://www.trueorthodox.com/pictures/npelos.jpg

Read on.

http://www.realzionistnews.com/?p=462

accuracy

12-11-2009, 11:13 AM

Isreal Part 1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tfoFQcRcJJ8

Isreal Part 2

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZCLhhjGgRZ4

accuracy

12-11-2009, 11:23 AM

Israeli Terrorism Against America?? INCONCEIVABLE

Published November 11, 2009

http://theuglytruth.files.wordpress.com/2009/11/shocked_people.jpg

What? What?? Whaaaaat?!?!?!

No, this can’t be. According to an article appearing in one of Israel’s biggest mainstream news outlets–Haaretz–Israeli Military Intelligence is AT THIS VERY MOMENT trying to “figure out” what went wrong in 1954 with something known as the “Lavon Affair”, described by the news outlet as a “sabotage operation” by Israel in “bombing theaters, post offices and U.S. and British institutions, and making it seem as though Egypt was behind the bombings”.

Ohhhh, this simply can’t be, or as the character Vizzini infamously said over and over again in that adorable movie the Princess Bride– “INCONCEIVABLE”. Israel–the apple of God’s eye–deliberately bomb American buildings with the intention of blaming it on her Arab enemies in order to achieve a desired political outcome? Deliberately put innocent civilian life in jeopardy with an overt act of state terrorism?

She would NEVER do something like this, and especially not to her bestest buddy in da whole-wide woyld, America. After all, the Jews are God’s chosen people, and something like this would be a sin and they–the Jewish people–don’t sin.

In a word–INCONCEIVABLE.

The article in question HAD to have been written by an Islamo-fascist. Yes, his name may be “Amos Harel,” but underneath, where it counts, no doubt he is Abdullah Hadid. There simply can be no truth to this story. It is simply INCONCEIVABLE.

No, what must have happened here in this “Lavon Affair” thing is a case of “mistaken identity”, just like when the Jewish state attacked an American ship the USS Liberty–for 2 hours resulting in 34 Americans being killed. She says she thought the 600 ft long ship with huge antennae dishes was actually an Egyptian horse ferry ¼ the size.

And “mistaken identity” is the only viable explanation here. The Jewish spies involved in this didn‘t know they were in Egypt, didn‘t know they were carrying bombs and didn’t know they were sent to blow up American buildings that would result in dead Americans. Israel would never do something like this to her bestest buddy in da whole-wide woyld, America. After all, the Jews are God’s chosen people, and something like this would be a sin and they–the Jews–don’t sin and so her doing something like this is simply INCONCEIVABLE.

Or like the 1983 US Marine baracks bombings in Beirut that resulted in 241 young Americans being killed as they slept. Ex-Mossad officer Victor Ostrovsy alleges in his book “By Way Of Deception” that Israel knew all about it beforehand and refused to warn the Americans, saying that the general attitude at Mossad was that the Americans were getting what they deserved. He must be an Islamo-fascist as well, because Israel knowing about what was to take place to her bestest buddy in the whole wide woyld and then not letting them know would be a betrayal and Jews betraying people is simply INCONCEIVABLE.

Same with Jonathon Pollard and the 1 million highly-classified documents he stole and then sold to Israel who in turn gave them to the Soviet Union, America’s sworn enemy at that time. It was a case of “mistaken identity”–Pollard didn’t know they were classified and Israel didn’t know she was selling them to America’s enemies and the 1,400 American intelligence assets killed as a result is all an anti-Semitic conspiracy theory because for Israel to betray her bestest buddy in da whole wide woyld is simply INCONCEIVABLE.

And 9/11–all those Mossad agents arrested, some seen cheering at the destruction of the towers and others caught driving vans laden with explosives as they headed towards the George Washington bridge…This all HAD to be a case of “mistaken identity”. They didn’t know it was America, didn’t know they were cheering and didn’t know the van they were driving was loaded with tons of C-4, because for Israel to do something like this, an act of terrorism against America that would then be blamed on her Arab enemies (just like in the Lavon Affair) is simply INCONCEIVABLE…

And all the other things as well–Monica Lewinsky being used by Israel to blackmail President Clinton. The Oklahoma City bombings originally done to blame Iraq. The anthrax letters. AIPAC spying on America. The organ harvesting rabbis, Bernie Madoff, and all the rest. What we see is simply an illusion, because the Jews being up to their eyeballs in something as nefarious as this is not only impossible, but indeed INCONCEIVABLE…

…or at least, that’s how it will all be described form virtually every pulpit in virtually every Christian church in America in the coming days and weeks, provided of course it even gets mentioned at all.

(c) 2009 Mark Glenn

nomorewarsforisrael@gmail.com

accuracy

13-11-2009, 11:23 AM

A must view!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

http://www.ziomania.com/holocaust/jew83.jpg

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http://www.ziomania.com/holocaust/jew106.jpg
Palestinians in Gaza getting roasted to death after Jews dropped phosphorous from the sky during the Gaza Holocaust of December 2008 to January 2009
http://www.ziomania.com/holocaust/holocaust.htm

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Please see much, much more here.

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accuracy

13-11-2009, 12:14 PM

UN Official: ‘Penalize Israel Over Gaza’

By politicaltheatricsPublished: November 12, 2009

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Citing the Goldstone Report, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay told the Security Council Wednesday that Israel was responsible for the killing of more than 1,000 civilians in Gaza and attacks on schools and mosques and UN facilities.

The US is heading a group of nations in the efforts to prevent a Security Council discussion on the report, which was recently adopted by the General Assembly. “The corrosive effect of impunity on both human rights and peace is evident in the case of the Occupied Palestinian Territory, as documented in the report of the United Nations Fact-Finding Mission headed by distinguished international jurist Richard Goldstone, which has been transmitted to this Council,” Pillay wrote.

“The report lays out in detail the nature and scope of violations of international human rights and humanitarian law perpetrated on the civilian population of the Occupied Palestinian Territory, where in Gaza earlier this year Israeli forces killed well over one thousand civilians and attacked homes, schools, mosques, food and water installations, and UN facilities.”

In a speech delivered by her deputy, Pillay focused on Israel’s activities in the “occupied Palestinian territories”, saying that the siege (on Gaza) and the Israeli offensive in the Hamas-ruled territory constitute a violation of international human rights and humanitarian law.

“Collective punishment, as evidenced by the crippling Israeli blockade and the devastating military offensive, is a violation of international human rights and humanitarian law, as are the forcible evictions of Arabs, the demolition of homes, and the expropriation of occupied East Jerusalem lands for Israeli settlements,” wrote Pillay.

“Mr. President, until meaningful steps are taken to end impunity for these violations and assert the applicability of international law, peace and security will remain illusive for all the people of the region. The Council is urged to embrace the recommendations in the report so as to secure accountability for all perpetrators, and to fully integrate human rights guarantees into peacemaking efforts.”

http://www.politicaltheatrics.net/?p=239

accuracy

14-11-2009, 10:37 AM

Many Israelis see little need for a peace settlement but feel isolated in what they regard as an increasingly hostile world

Friday 13 November 2009 09.00

The official explained to Bibi Netanyahu that if there was a peace settlement, extra investment would push Israel's long-term growth rate from 5% a year to 7%. The Israeli prime minister responded that if the country had 5% growth, it did not need peace.

Netanyahu was joking, according to the official who recounted the story – but the quip highlights a serious point. There is no prospect of a settlement between Israelis and Palestinians, and many Israelis are fairly relaxed about that. During a recent visit to Israel, I met very few people who were optimistic about the peace process.

Netanyahu says he supports the creation of a Palestinian state. But the terms he is offering – with much of the hypothetical state's security under Israeli control – would not be acceptable to any Palestinian leader. Netanyahu's coalition government shows no signs of offering the Palestinians the kinds of concession – such as freezing settlements – that would make a peace deal possible.

Nor do the Palestinians seem ready for peace: recent attempts to bring both Fatah and Hamas into a national unity government came to nothing. Whether Mahmoud Abbas, the president of the Palestinian Authority, will carry out his recent threat to resign is unclear.

Within Israel, there is very little pressure for a peace settlement. Israelis are getting on with their lives, without – for now – the threat of suicide bombers. There are virtually no rocket attacks from the areas controlled by Hamas and Hezbollah. The barrier that snakes through the West Bank makes Israelis feel safer – and also less interested in what happens on the other side.

As for the Gaza strip, most Israelis do not want to think or talk about it. The only people I met who seemed worried about the situation there were foreign journalists, plus a few Israeli liberals – and Tony Blair, who as a peace envoy keeps telling the Israelis that the people of Gaza need to be "given a way forward". If pressed, moderate Israelis admit to being uncomfortable that their government (like Egypt) will not allow exports out of Gaza or building supplies in (on the grounds that Hamas would profit from any trade).

In Gaza, 40% of adults are unemployed and most of the rest are in government jobs. The West Bank is doing better, with only 20% unemployment and economic growth likely to be 7% this year – partly because Tony Blair and others have persuaded Israel to lift some of the restrictions on movement. Israelis hope that when Gazans see the brightening prospects of the West Bank they will turn against Hamas. In fact Hamas's popularity has waned to some degree since the last Israel-Hamas war, according to people who spend time in Gaza.

Can international pressure kick-start the peace process? Earlier this autumn Barack Obama pushed Netanyahu to accept a freeze on expanding West Bank settlements, but failed. Liberal Israelis say Obama made the mistake of demanding that the freeze should apply to the suburbs of East Jerusalem, which most Israelis do not regard as settlements. Netanyahu's successful resistance to US pressure has made him more popular. Many Israelis view Obama as both hostile and weak; his approval rating is below 10%.

Could the EU, Israel's top trading partner, and the biggest provider of aid to the Palestinian Authority, put pressure on Israel? It was planning to offer an "enhanced agreement" that would establish regular EU-Israel summits, and give Israel the right to take part in a range of EU programmes. But earlier this year the EU said it would hold up the agreement until Israel did more to alleviate the plight of Gaza. This conditionality, which annoys Israel's leaders, might be more effective if the EU increased its offer. Why not tell the Israelis that if they forge a peace deal with the Palestinians, they could join the European Economic Area, giving Israel – like Norway and Iceland – full access to the EU's single market?

But for now, the Europeans' divisions over how to handle Israel weaken their credibility as a partner for it. For example earlier this month, when the UN General Assembly debated the Goldstone report – which had accused Israel of war crimes in Gaza – the EU split three ways: the Czech Republic, Germany, Italy and the Netherlands were among those voting with the US to reject the report, Britain and France led a large group of member-states into abstention, and a few others, including Ireland, Portugal and Cyprus, voted for the report.

Many Israeli politicians and businessmen have a dark view of Europe. At a conference I attended in Jerusalem, one minister – a noted dove within the Israeli government – complained about the influence of Muslim minorities on the foreign policies of EU countries. I told him that Germany and the Netherlands, two states with large and vocal Muslim minorities, were among Israel's best friends in Europe. He countered that the Czech Republic and Poland, which had very few Muslims, did not criticise Israel. And he claimed there was a direct correlation between the willingness of British MPs to criticise Israel, and the size of the Muslim minority in their constituencies.

Several Israelis at the conference complained that, having sprung from European civilisation, they were now among its last defenders, given that the high birth rate of Muslim immigrants and Islamist ideology were undermining that civilisation from within (I have heard very similar comments in Serbia and Russia).

Reinforcing the Israelis' gloomy world-view is their fear of Iran's nuclear programme. Many of them urge the West to understand that the real problem in the Middle East is not the question of Palestine but the extremist alliance of Iran, Syria, Hizbollah and Hamas that threatens Israel and moderate Arab regimes.

Israelis have long been worried about Iran. But their fear of Turkey – until very recently a close ally – is new. The Turkish government's criticism of Israeli actions in Gaza and its recent cancellation of joint military exercises makes Israelis fret that Turkey is nestling up to the Iran-led coalition. They worry about the growing power of Islamists in Turkey, the diminishing role of the secular army in Turkish public life, and Prime Minister Erdogan's burgeoning friendship with Iran's President Ahmedi-Nejad. Erdogan's recent comments to the Guardian about the validity of the Iranian presidential election process were unfortunate. But I think many Israelis exaggerate Turkey's eastward tilt. Erdogan is trying to balance Turkey's foreign policy between the EU, the US, Russia, Iran and the Arab world, and that may be in Turkey's best interests.

However, a lot of Israelis seem to believe the worst of Turkey, as they do of many countries. Many of the Israelis that I met see themselves as increasingly isolated in a hostile world.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/nov/13/israel-peace-settlement

accuracy

14-11-2009, 11:34 AM

Channel 4 defends Israel lobby probe

By Simon Rocker, November 5, 2009

Channel 4’s flagship investigations programme, Dispatches, is to probe what it calls “one of the most powerful and influential political lobbies in Britain” — the pro-Israel lobby.

The political columnist Peter Oborne is to front an hour-long broadcast, Inside Britain’s Israel Lobby, due to be broadcast on Monday week.

The hard-hitting documentary strand has been responsible for such programmes as Undercover Mosque two years ago, which included covert filming of Islamist extremists preaching in British mosques.

According to Channel 4’s official pre-publicity, “despite wielding great influence among the highest realms of British politics and media, little is known about the individuals and groups” who work “in support of the interests of the state of Israel”.

http://www.thejc.com/files/imagecache/body_portrait/53300537-CUTOUT.jpg
Presenting: Peter Oborne

It says that Mr Oborne “sets out to establish who they are, how they are funded, how they work and what influence they have, from the key groups to the wealthy individuals who help bankroll the lobbying.

“He investigates how accountable, transparent and open to scrutiny the lobby is, particularly in regard to its funding and financial support of MPs.”

The pro-Israel lobby, it adds, “aims to shape the debate about Britain’s relationship with Israel and future foreign policies relating to it. Oborne examines how the lobby operates from within Parliament and the tactics it employs behind the scenes when engaging with print and broadcast media.”

According to a spokesman for the channel, Dispatches wanted “to look at one of the most powerful, but also least transparent lobbying groups in the UK”.

He explained it was “an entirely legitimate area for journalistic investigation, not least in the run-up to an election, where a lobby working in support of the interests of a foreign power could wield great influence in shaping future British policy”. He rejected any suggestion that it had been designed to balance such controversial programmes as Undercover Mosque.

The programme had been commissioned by the commissioning editor for Dispatches, Kevin Sutcliffe, in discussions with production company Hardcash.

Hardcash managing director David Henshaw said the programme was a “conventional political investigation” and “not a conspiracy-theory film”.

It was “not the synagogue equivalent of Undercover Mosque”, he said.

Last updated: 4:42pm, November 5 2009

http://www.thejc.com/news/uk-news/21629/channel-4-defends-israel-lobby-probe

accuracy

14-11-2009, 11:44 AM

Hamas Tells Red Cross: Israel Planning Another War In Gaza

Published: November 13, 2009

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Hamas Prime Minister Ismail Haniyyeh has warned that Israel is planning another offensive on the Gaza Strip, Iran’s Press TV reported on Friday.

According to Haniyyeh, it is Israel and not Hamas that is intent on keeping the conflict going between the two sides. Hamas is “not looking for more violence,” Haniyyeh told a group of Red Cross delegates visiting the Gaza Strip earlier this week.

The Hamas leader, who was elected to head the movement’s cabinet and took over leadership of Gaza in 2007, told the delegates that he hoped his prediction of war would not come into fruition.

Haniyyeh said that should such an offensive occur, Hamas would be prepared to retaliate. “Our people will not surrender; they will fight back,” Prime Minister Haniyyeh’s office said, in a statement.

He also said he hoped that “the world will stop Israel from killing more children,” according to the Iranian network.

ASHKENAZI: ISRAEL WILL FIGHT IN GAZA AGAIN IF NEEDED
Meanwhile, Israeli occupation army Chief of Staff Gabi Ashkenazi said Friday that the army would not hesitate to respond if Palestinian resistance fighters in the Gaza Strip continued to fire rockets at the occupied territories.

“We are prepared to contend with the whole arc of threats,” Ashkenazi told students during a visit to a Be’er Sheva high school, citing both the local defense situation as well as Iran’s nuclear program.

Although the Hamas rulers in Gaza have of late been “restraining themselves and others,” said Ashkenazi, “we must not fool ourselves. If necessary, we will operate again in the Gaza Strip to stop the rocket fire.”

In reference to the Goldstone Commission’s damning report on Israel’s conduct during the war on the Gaza Strip earlier this year, Ashkenazi emphasized that the Israeli army had the responsibility to defend itself at all costs.

His comments came amid an international frenzy over a UN-commissioned report accusing Israel of war crimes during the January aggression. Israel has denounced the Goldstone report as one-sided and biased. During that aggression, more than 1400 Palestinians were killed; including 420 children and over 5300 others were injured not to mention the severe destruction in the Strip and the displaced that lost their homes.

http://www.politicaltheatrics.net/?p=258

accuracy

14-11-2009, 11:51 AM

GAZA: A GLIMMER OF HOPE

November 13, 2009

http://electronicintifada.net/artman2/uploads/2/091112-gaza-hope_1.jpg

Next month the Gaza Freedom March will travel to Gaza on the anniversary of the Israeli assault in solidarity with Palestinians in the territory. (Hatem Omar/MaanImages)

The Obama Administration proved twice recently that it intends to continue to consider Israel above the law. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton caused consternation amongst the US’s allies in the Palestinian Authority and across the region by declaring Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s intention to “restrict” settlement activity in the West Bank “unprecedented.” Netanyahu’s restriction restricts very little. Three thousand housing units that are already approved will be built. Netanyahu announced plans for building a new settlement in Jerusalem, Ma’aleh David, while settlers continue their violent assault against Palestinians, intending to expel them from the city. Last week, settlers invaded a Palestinian house, backed by a court order. The US responded with a statement calling Israel’s moves “unhelpful,” but did nothing to stop them.

If Obama’s first message to the Palestinians as elected president went to those living in the occupied West Bank — as president-elect he was quiet during Israel’s winter invasion of Gaza — the second was to the families of the thousands of victims of that three-week attack. Last week the US voted against a UN General Assembly resolution to endorse the findings of the Goldstone report, which calls for Israel and Hamas to investigate allegations of war crimes. Hamas accepted the report. Israel, which killed 1,417 Palestinians, 926 of them civilians, including 437 children, according to the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights, did not. The US consented to Israel’s disapproval and initiated a campaign in the UN to discredit the report. The facts in the report remained unchallenged.

The US House of Representatives condemned the report as “one-sided and distorted.” In a letter to the sponsors of the resolution, Judge Goldstone pointed out gross “inaccuracies” in the resolution. It is probable that most of those who voted for the resolution, sponsored by the powerful lobby American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), did not read the 575-page report. What’s called “support for Israel” in Congress has achieved the status of a sacred cow. Dissent comes only at significant political cost, and inevitable smear campaigns by the pro-Israel lobby. Notwithstanding these facts, 36 representatives opposed the resolution, and 22 abstained, signs that the lobby’s control of Congress may be cracking slightly. In contrast, the House was almost unanimous in its support of the Israeli offensive in January.

The US has a long history of vetoes to protect Israel from accountability. During the Nixon presidency, in 1972, the US first used its veto power in the Security Council to protect Israel. This was its second veto overall, preventing the passing of a resolution that would have condemned Israel for the killing of hundreds of civilians in air raids against Syria and Lebanon. The US has since used its veto power more than 40 times to give Israel a free hand to commit atrocities against Palestinians and the region’s peoples.

Bush Administration Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, defending the US’s refusal to support a cease-fire during the 2006 assaults on Lebanon and Gaza, said that “It is time for a new Middle East, it is time to say to those who do not want a different kind of Middle East that we will prevail; they will not.” The “new Middle East” that Rice was referring to is one where Israel can continue to occupy the land of millions, kill thousands and kidnap hundreds, all the while running roughshod over human rights and international law.

Susan Rice, the Obama Administration ambassador to the UN, is scarcely distinguishable from the other top diplomat sharing her last name. She said in an interview with The Washington Post that the Goldstone “mandate was unbalanced, one-sided and unacceptable.” She justifies this statement by claiming that it was “85 percent oriented towards very specific and harsh condemnation and conclusions related to Israel.”

Yet, even if Judge Goldstone had wanted to dedicate an equal number of pages to both sides, there is only so much one can write about the three Israeli civilians killed by Palestinian fighters, or of the holes punched in roofs by the home-made projectiles. The difference in power, Israel’s status under international law as an occupying power, and the catastrophe that befell a besieged population that had nowhere to flee (unprecedented in modern warfare) suggest nearly indisputable grounds for substantiating the allegations of “war crimes” and “crimes against humanity.” Moreover, all that the report asked for were credible investigations and prosecution for those found to merit it. Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister Daniel Ayalon said that Israel arrived at a “silent understanding” with the Obama Administration that a veto will be applied if there are attempts made to put the report before the Security Council following the UN General Assembly vote.

But there is a glimmer of hope that the people of Gaza will see justice. The massacre brought about sweeping change, across the world, in perceptions of Israel. Citizen-led mobilizations in the past few months have showed that where governments have failed, ordinary citizens can, perhaps, make a difference. Even in the US, where public support for Israel has been consistently high, a discourse supporting justice for Palestinians is now voiced in mainstream media. Former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert was met with a frigid reception in a series of lectures around the country, with audience members interrupting constantly, calling for his immediate arrest. Moreover, there are signs that opposition to AIPAC’s dominance within the Jewish American community is gaining strength.

The movement for boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) called for by Palestinian civil society in 2005 has also gained momentum, as the Norwegian government has divested from Elbit Systems as a result of its role in the construction of the apartheid wall. Last month, an Israeli deputy prime minister was forced to cancel a trip to the UK for fear of arrest. He has since announced that he will forgo all trips to European capitals.

And while the world’s most powerful governments cavil over making Israel comply with international law, their citizens do not. Some of them — some of us — are taking up the banner of the international nonviolent struggle, staying loyal to principles of human rights and international law, following the wishes of the Palestinian people. In December, we will march in solidarity with the Palestinians living imprisoned in Gaza. In December, the Gaza Freedom March will attempt to lift the siege of Gaza, as we commemorate the one-year anniversary of Israel’s invasion. From 29-31 December, we will move through Rafah and Khan Younis and Gaza City, the length of the Strip, with a host of luminaries including Alice Walker and Walden Bello. On 31 December, we will march to the threshold of the Erez crossing. The peoples of nearly every continent will be there, in Gaza, demanding that the world take action, that the leaders of the world recognize their peoples’ solidarity with the Palestinian struggle, and recognize the inhumanity of the siege, and end it. Punishing a people in this way is not only illegal. It is wrong. It is time to make it stop.

Ziyaad Lunat is one of the organizers of the Gaza Freedom March (www.gazafreedommarch.org) and an activist for Palestine. Max Ajl is also one of the organizers of the Gaza Freedom March and blogs on the Israel-Palestine conflict at www.maxajl.com.

http://desertpeace.wordpress.com/2009/11/13/gaza-a-glimmer-of-hope/

accuracy

14-11-2009, 12:10 PM

http://www.gazafreedommarch.org/img/original/GFM_Head_2b.jpg

A very nice website!

http://www.gazafreedommarch.org/article.php?list=type&type=416

http://www.gazafreedommarch.org/article.php?list=type&type=416

accuracy

15-11-2009, 09:17 AM

Palestinians denied access to water - 14 Nov 09

Israel dubs Palestinian farmers trying in vain to irrigate their lands "water pirates".

Palestinian farmers in the West Bank, or "water pirates" as Israeli occupation forces prefer to call them, are siphoning off drinking water pipes in an effort to secure water to irrigate their farmland.

Water is an increasingly disputed resource between Israel and the Palestinians.

Al Jazeera is not responsible for the content of external websites

A World Bank report has accused Israel of using four times more water than Palestinians from the so-called Mountain Aquifer that bridges Israel and the territory and runs along the West Bank.

Israel disputes that claim and says the Palestinians are jeopardising the resource through illegal use.

Palestinians argue they are being denied access in order to force them off their land.

This exclusive report from Al Jazeera shows Israeli occupation forces dismantling a farmer's water pipes in the agricultural village of al-Baqa.

Badran Jaber, a Palestinian farmer, told Al Jazeera: "We were surprised by a large group of soldiers and settlers who surrounded the entire area. We asked them: 'why are you doing this and what do you want?' They refused to speak to us.

"Men who came with the soldiers stormed the field and pulled out all the irrigation pipes, destroying the crops."

Al Jazeera's Jacky Rowland reports on how Israeli rules blight the lives of many Palestinians.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w8LP0nei8qY

jimjames

16-11-2009, 02:21 AM

A fact.
Try to live in gaza or rammallah or whatever for a while, and import your western way of life(clothes you wear, music u listen to, how u act in public) just the way u usually exist in there and see what happens.
There are a lots of muslims living in Israelis cities, the majority will never attack them because some other muslim guy blew a bus.
Their existence is all black and white, for the major major major lots of them, that's just the way there were raised and brainwashed in a whole different level from what u know.
They are brainwashed in a totally different ways of evil than the western world is.
Parents, Education, their level of life.
I'm sure there are people who were raised in Gaza and are great and peaceful people,that rose above that oppression but for the huge part of the majority it's the way it goes...
Cycle of black and whiteness.

jimjames

16-11-2009, 02:42 AM

accuracy

16-11-2009, 09:50 AM

Yeah somebody from Australia sure as hell knows everything about this crisis.
I'm sure.
Great perspective u got there.
I Don't write about the history of the Kangaroos, yaknow? there are videos about kangaroos on youtube too.

Aaaah i take it you do not like the factual articles from reliable sources
posted here.
Amen :cool::rolleyes::D

accuracy

16-11-2009, 11:07 AM

November 15, 2009

http://desertpeace.files.wordpress.com/2009/11/ramirez-hate1.gif

When we have a situation where the religious leaders of a nation have gone mad, is that an indication that the God they supposedly serve has also gone mad?

We have seen and heard rabbis in high position call for the complete annihilation of the Palestinian people, we have heard these very same ’sages’ call for the deportation of non Jews from the ‘Holy Land’…..

Now we see the chief rabbi of the Israeli army telling his troops that if they “show mercy to the enemy they will be dammed”….

Is it any wonder that the settler terrorist, Ya’akov Teitel, arrested a few weeks ago claimed that “God is proud of me.” A report on this madman can be read HERE.
With the religious edicts issued lately one can understand his logic.

So, as the title of this post asks, Has the God of the Jews lost His mind, or is it time for Him to replace those that speak on His behalf?

The following report is the latest on the rantings of these madmen…..
IDF Chief Rabbi: Troops who show mercy to enemy will be ‘damned’
By Anshel Pfeffer
The Israel Defense Forces’ chief rabbi told students in a pre-army yeshiva program last week that soldiers who “show mercy” toward the enemy in wartime will be “damned.”

Brig. Gen. Avichai Rontzki also told the yeshiva students that religious individuals made better combat troops.

Speaking Thursday at the Hesder yeshiva in the West Bank settlement of Karnei Shomron , Rontzki referred to Maimonides’ discourse on the laws of war. That text quotes a passage from the Book of Jeremiah stating: “Cursed be he that doeth the work of the Lord with a slack hand, and cursed be he that keepeth back his sword from blood.”

In Rontzki’s words, “In times of war, whoever doesn’t fight with all his heart and soul is damned – if he keeps his sword from bloodshed, if he shows mercy toward his enemy when no mercy should be shown.”

Rontzki’s remarks came during a ceremony to celebrate a new Torah scroll at the yeshiva. The service was held in commemoration of Yosef Fink, one of two yeshiva students kidnapped by Hezbollah in 1986.

Their bodies were returned 10 years later in a prisoner exchange.

Rontzki also referred specifically to the Israel Defense Forces’ conduct during Operation Cast Lead in Gaza. “Apropos all that we’ve heard in the media of late, thank God that the people of Israel has united recently around the simple understanding of how it must fight. One of the major innovations of that offensive was the conduct of war – not as some kind of mission or detention.”

“We all remember the beginning of the war, with a major attack of 80 planes bombing various places, and then artillery, mortar and tank fire and so forth, as in war,” he said. “Everyone fought with all their heart and soul, and that includes bravery of course, but also fighting with all the resources one has – to fight as if to truly determine the mission.”

Rontzki also referred to the qualities of the ideal combat soldier.

“In Israel’s wars, warriors are God-fearing people, righteous people, people who don’t have sins on their hands,” he said. “One needs to fight with an understanding of what one is fighting for.”

http://desertpeace.wordpress.com/2009/11/15/has-the-god-of-the-jews-lost-his-mind/

accuracy

16-11-2009, 11:21 AM

November 14, 2009

What’s next?

Whatever lies ahead after Abbas’s notification of not seeking the Palestinian presidency again, the status quo ante is over for good, writes Khalid Amayreh in Ramallah

The recent decision by Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas not to seek a second term in office has already thrown into question the continued survival of the Oslo peace process as well as the future of the PA itself.

Most Palestinians have interpreted Abbas’s decision as a frank — though belated — admission of the failure of the peace process with Israel.

In his speech on Thursday, 5 November, Abbas didn’t mourn that process much. But he did suggest that it was pointless to walk any further along the current path given Israel’s adamant refusal to stop settlement expansion and the Obama administration’s refusal to force Israel to give up the spoils of the 1967 war.

Abbas did ask the Palestinian people to continue to believe in the eventuality of peace. However, he also gave the impression that true and just peace with Israel was a distant dream if not unrealistic.

It is still uncertain if Abbas will reconsider his decision under the influence of incessant calls to that effect by his supporters, especially within the Fatah organisation.

However, most Palestinian pundits seem to unanimously agree that the Palestinian leader won’t do so unless he receives real “concessions” from Israel with regards to the settlements issue. Otherwise, Abbas would lose face and give Israel and the US an additional reason not to take him seriously the next time he triggers a crisis over the peace process.

Abbas’s decision has raised many questions as to how the PA will survive his absence and the virtual death of the peace process. After all, that process, which provided a certain promise that the Palestinians would eventually rid themselves of Israel’s military occupation, has always been the main raison d’être of the PA. Hence, the PA would be effectively reduced to a mere subcontractor of the Israeli occupation if that promise vanished as most Palestinians seem to believe it has.

But the problem goes beyond the ostensible failure and imminent collapse of the peace process. Abbas is probably the most moderate Palestinian leader from the Israeli and Western viewpoint. It is inconceivable, at least at this juncture, that any other Fatah substitute who would replace Abbas would be willing to accommodate Israeli whims, especially on matters related to Jerusalem and the settlements.

Hence one Fatah leader in Ramallah questioned the “wisdom” of appointing a successor to Abbas under the current political conditions. “What would any potential successor to Abbas be able to do? Abbas has given the Americans and Israelis all they want. He went to the greatest extent possible in order to demonstrate Palestinian desire for peace. But look how they have treated him.”

The source added, on condition of anonymity: “They [America and Israel] wanted Abbas to be a full-fledged collaborator working against the interests of his own people. They were not willing to accept a dignified Palestinian partner. They didn’t want partners, they only wanted to see collaborators, such as the current rulers of Afghanistan and Iraq.”

So far, the Obama administration has been reticent about these latest developments in the occupied West Bank. US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, whom Abbas specifically blamed for convincing President Obama not to pressure Israel on the settlements issue, said she would continue to work with the Palestinian leader in whatever new capacity he might choose. The allusion here is to the possibility that Abbas might retain his more important post as head of the Palestine Liberation Organisation, which is uncertain to say the least.

Spokespersons at the State Department and White House called on Abbas to reconsider and to give the peace process another chance.

It is uncertain what steps the Obama administration would take if Abbas made good on his undertaking not to run in the Palestinian general elections, scheduled for 24 January. Indeed, the elections themselves have been thrown into question by Abbas’s speech. After all, many Palestinians, including many Fatah leaders, question the rationality of holding elections when all political horizons have been completely closed and no successor to Abbas is known.

Some pundits suggest that the Obama administration might seek “another” Palestinian Karzai — a strongman like Mohamed Dahlan. However, it is near certain that any meddling from Washington would cause Fatah to implode from within with such a new leader being viewed by the majority of Palestinians as an American agent. Another possibility is that the US would further boost the status of Prime Minister Salam Fayyad, enabling him to function as de facto Palestinian leader in lieu of Abbas. But this prospect, too, is fraught with uncertainty because Fayyad is bereft of a popular base despite attempts to build one.

Earlier this week, Fayyad and his ministers threatened to collectively resign their posts if Abbas left the Palestinian political scene. It is not clear though if this was a stunt, or a real threat. The resignation of the Fayyad government, coupled with Abbas’s resignation, would deal a serious blow to the PA and might bring about its complete collapse.

Such a collapse would force Israel to re-assume all the tasks and responsibilities of an occupying power. In this case, Israel would be faced with two undesirable scenarios: the likely resumption of violence and resistance by all Palestinian factions, including Fatah; or rising Palestinian demands for a one-state solution whereby Israel would have to grant Palestinians equal rights as citizens in a unitary and democratic state extending from the River Jordan to the Mediterranean.

This last option is anathema to Israel and many Jews since it would herald the end of classical Zionism and auger the ultimate prospect of Israel losing its Jewish majority.

There have been reports that the Obama administration might opt to overcome the present crisis by declaring its recognition of a prospective Palestinian state based on 1967 borders. Israel is already jittery about this prospect and has been seeking “clarifications” from Washington in this regard.

However, while such an acknowledgment on Washington’s part would be a remarkable event for increasingly frustrated Palestinians, it would do little to change reality on the ground, as Israel has repeatedly demonstrated its ability to overrule and disregard American decisions, especially if these decisions are not coordinated with Israel beforehand.

Israel’s recent defiance of the Obama administration on the settlements issue is clear evidence to that effect.

http://desertpeace.wordpress.com/2009/11/14/whats-next-for-palestine-after-abbas-2/

jimjames

16-11-2009, 03:12 PM

http://www.danzfamily.com/archives/blogphotos/06/345-muslim-outrage.jpg
shiny happy people

what about them kangaroos u ask?
there u go...

A kangaroo is a marsupial from the family Macropodidae (macropods, meaning 'large foot'). In common use the term is used to describe the largest species from this family, especially those of the genus Macropus, Red Kangaroo, Antilopine Kangaroo, Eastern Grey Kangaroo and Western Grey Kangaroo.[1] Kangaroos are endemic to the continent of Australia. The smaller macropods are found in Australia and New Guinea.

Larger kangaroos have adapted much better to changes wrought to the Australian landscape by humans and though many of their smaller cousins are endangered, they are plentiful. They are not farmed to any extent, but wild kangaroos are shot for meat, sport, and to protect grazing land for sheep and cattle.[2] Although there is some controversy, harvesting kangaroo meat has many environmental and health benefits over sheep or cows grazed for meat.[3]

The kangaroo is a national symbol of Australia: its emblem is used on the Australian coat of arms,[4] on some of its currency,[5] as well as by some of Australia's best known organisations, including Qantas.[6] The kangaroo is important to both Australian culture and the national image and consequently there are numerous popular culture references.

It's an inside source. secret shit.

lay off that booze G, and stop reading secret shit on the computer.
the real world is individuals, not what some rabbi said, rabbis are exactly like muslims, black and white.
INDIVIDUALS.
OBJECTIVITY
STATISTICS
I would love to see what happenes when folk from New Guinea or something will start bombing Melbourne, and blowing buses in Sydney.
that will change your view on the world.
Poor muslims, oh, BS!

accuracy

17-11-2009, 08:32 AM

Heh, you have just exposed yourself as a troll, jimjames in this thread. :rolleyes:

accuracy

17-11-2009, 10:10 AM

ADL Covering Up Crimes Of Financial Elite

November 16,

The ADL is accusing the New York Times Maureen Dowd of anti-semitism over a recent op-ed titled "Virtuous Bankers? Really!?!" The article about corruption on Wall Street specifically involving Goldman Sachs. In a letter to the Editor in the NYT, ADL National Chair Robert G. Sugarman stated, "While one can agree or disagree with Maureen Dowd's portrayal of Goldman Sachs and other bankers (column, Nov. 11), her statement that "the bankers who took government money and then gave out obscene bonuses are the same self-interested sorts Jesus threw out of the temple" potentially raises one of the classic themes of anti-Semitism linking Jews and abhorrent money-lending practices. However unintentional, Ms. Dowd's invoking the New Testament story to illustrate our current financial mess conjures up old prejudices against Jews."

Writing in The New Jersey Jewish News Menachem Rosensaft and Jason H. Dolinsky also suggested that Dowd's article was anti-semitic, saying "we have heard these terms far too often to let them pass. Anti-Semitic tracts and Web sites are replete with references to “blood-sucking Jews.” And Ms. Dowd is too intelligent not to have realized that the depiction of Jews as greedy money-lenders has resulted in persecution and pogroms over the course of the past two millennia. Ms. Dowd has given new life to such ancient anti-Semitic incitements. We dread the prospect of swastikas smeared outside Goldman Sachs offices, or of learning that some street hood, inspired by Ms. Dowd’s column, broke an observant Jew's leg shouting "let Goldman Sachs buy you a new leg. At a time when a virulent Judaeophobia is on the rise, especially in Europe and throughout much of the Muslim world, politicians, journalists and columnists have a responsibility to refrain from using inflammatory anti-Semitic code words. Our constitutionally guaranteed freedom of speech does not bestow on any of us a license to incite to bigotry or violence."

Dowd was refering to an interview given by Goldman Sachs CEO Lloyd Blankfein where he said, "he understands that a lot of people are “mad and bent out of shape” at blood-sucking banks. He added “I know I could slit my wrists and people would cheer." Dowd is right when she states that "Blankfein’s trickle-down catechism isn’t working. Now we have two economies. We have recovering banks while we have 10-plus percent unemployment and 17.5 percent underemployment. The gross thing about the Wall Street of the last decade is how much its success was not shared with society."

Dowd discuses Matt Taibbi who was also called an anti-semite for his critique of Goldman Sachs in Rolling Stones Magazine. Taibbi was accused of anti-semitism in his critic of Goldman Sach's greed and financial exploitation for saying, "the first thing you need to know about Goldman Sachs is that it's everywhere. The world's most powerful investment bank is a great vampire squid wrapped around the face of humanity, relentlessly jamming its blood funnel into anything that smells like money." Taibbi never said anything anti-Jewish in his article but due to the fact that Goldman Sachs is associated by many as being a Jewish institution his criticism of the firms financial parasitism brought about that accusation from many.

Dowd wrote another article a while back in the NYT titled "Blue Eyed Greed", where she agreed with Brazil's president Lula that the financial crisis "was caused by the irrational behavior of white people with blue eyes, who before the crisis appeared to know everything and now demonstrate that they know nothing.” Dowd added "it is true, of course, that the upper-crust, underwhelming Anglo-Saxon leaders who allowed America’s financial markets to morph into louche casinos, George W. Bush and Dick Cheney, were very, very white men with blue eyes."

The ADL and the establishment media were silent over Dowd's assertions about Anglo's being responsible for the financial crisis, however now the ADL is accusing her of anti-semitism for an article that does not mention anything about Jews.

Journalist Philip Weiss's correspondent, Geof Gray commented about this on Weiss's blog stating, "and it is true, of course, that the upper crust, underwhelming Anglo-Saxon leaders who allowed America's financial markets to morph into louche casinos, George W Bush and Dick Cheney, were very very white men with blue eyes." Isn't this a tad disingenuous? Didn't Summers, and Rubin and Greenspan have something to do with the debacle? Isn't Maurice "Hank" Greenberg's AIG implicated as is Goldman Sachs, among others? Just upper crust Anglo Saxons? Isn't this an antique notion, true perhaps in the 1920's? Have we reached the point out of the fear of being accused to being antisemitic that we pretend that Jews aren't there?" Weiss concurred, "Gray has my total agreement here. Journalists are misleading their readers about the character of the power structure out of apprehensions of the rise of anti-Semitism. This kind of journalism is not helpful, and may actually be feeding the resentment that fosters anti-Semitism."

The Bernie Maddof scandal attracted a lot of attention from both the Jewish community and so called anti-semites. Madoff became a pariah within the Jewish community for ripping off many Jewish organizations and prominent Jewish individuals such as Steven Spielberg and Elie Wiesel. However groups like the ADL are covering up for the crimes of financial institutions such as Goldman Sachs, that were responsible for the financial crisis and ripped of the taxpayers through bailouts, which they spent on lavish bonuses for their executives. Goldman Sachs was President Obama's second top source of campaign contributions and donates heavily to many prominent politicians.

Goldman Sachs should be treated like a criminal entity much like ENRON was. However ENRON fit into the liberal establishment's stereotype of "Evil White Gentile Republicans, while Goldman Sachs has a stereotype as being Jewish." It is no more anti-semitic to criticize Goldman Sachs than it is anti-WASP to criticize ENRON. However there is a notion put out by the likes of the ADL that any organization that is associated as being Jewish should be immune from criticism. The ADL also uses this tactic to silence any harsh criticism of Israel or the Israeli Lobby.

The ADL receives a large portion of its funding from Wall Street and therefore has a vested interest in what is good for financial interest rather than what is good for America as well as American Jews who are not part of the moneyed elite. The ADL has received large donations from Michael Milken's junk bond fortune and Wall Street crook Marc Rich, who many believed used to ADL to lobby for his pardon from President Clinton. Mod associate of Meyer Lansky Moe Dalitz was simultaneously the CEO of "Sterling Bank" and National Commissioner of the ADL. Even the ADL's current National Chair Glen Lewy was an investment banker involved with Wolfensohn & Co, Deutsche Bank, and a member of the CFR.

In his article "Why Jewish Bankers Love Anti-Semites" Anti-Zionist Jewish author Henry Makow says, "Jewish bankers love anti-Semites because they transform a legitimate political and economic grievance into a racial one that easily can be dismissed as "hatred." Anti-Semites are like dogs who drive the Jewish sheep into the bankers' pen. In spite of this, some Jews are questioning the instrumental role Jews play in the creation of the New World Order. Jewish bankers love anti-Semites because they transform opposition to the NWO into discredited racism. They ensure that Jews serve the NWO agenda and non-Jews remain divided."

Neither Dowd's nor Taibbi's article's about Goldman Sachs mentions anything negative against Jews. The ADL is only enforcing that stereotype by screaming anti-semitism over strong criticism of Wall Street. It is true that individuals of Jewish decent are over represented in Finance. Everyone should be judged as an individual, however the ADL puts collective blame on all Jews when they claim to speak on their behalf, and cover up for criminals because they happen to be Jews, or support the ADL agenda.

http://www.examiner.com/x-9462-LA-Nonpartisan-Examiner~y2009m11d16-ADL-covering-up-for-crimes-of-financial-elites