old

victory for antisemites.

2005-04-22T15:10:00.000-04:00

UK teachers' assoc. passes boycott of Israeli academics: "New motions to boycott Israeli academics were passed on Friday at the annual meeting of the Association of University Teachers in the UK. The AUT voted to pass two of three motions directed against individual universities and to boycott Haifa University and Bar Ilan University. The AUT accused Haifa University of restricting the academic freedom of staff members who are critical of the government, and protest Bar Ilan's campus in the settlement Ariel in the West Bank, The Guardian reported. A third boycott proposal against the Hebrew University was dropped after delegates to the meeting questioned the evidence of an alleged case of Palestinian land confiscation by the university. ... 'This is a political campaign,' Jonathan Spyer, Director of the European Affairs of the Global Center in International Affairs at the Interdisciplinary Center in Herzeliya, told The Jerusalem Post after Friday's bote. ... 'The boycott,' added Spyer, who is an expert on Europe-Israel relations and on the new anti-Semitism in Europe, 'should be seen as part of a broader strategy toward the de-legitimization of Israel, leading to eventual sanctions against the country. This is a political campaign. The people behind the campaign, such as Sue Blackwell, are opposed to the continued existence of the State of Israel. In line with PLO policy of the 1970s, they wish to see the Jewish State replaced by a 'democratic-secular state', i.e., a single state with a Palestinian Arab majority between the Jordan and the Mediterranean.'"

i sense a pattern.

2005-04-21T22:24:00.000-04:00

Israel 'shocked' at BBC reporter award: "Israeli officials expressed dismay this week that BBC reporter Orla Guerin, who has come under sharp attack for what some perceive as an anti-Israeli bias in her coverage, will receive an MBE honor from the British government for 'outstanding service to broadcasting.' Diaspora Affairs Minister Natan Sharansky, who last year wrote a formal letter of complaint to the BBC over Guerin's coverage, said it is a pity that a lack of anti-Semitism was not a criterion for the award. If it were a criterion, he said, Guerin would not be receiving the honor. The MBE stands for Member of the British Empire, one of a number of honors issued each year by the Queen. ... One Israeli official, who responded to the news by saying he was 'shocked,' said Guerin is among the most anti-Israeli journalists reporting from Israel today. According to this official, granting her an award fits into a pattern that began in 2003 when the United Kingdom's Political Cartoon Society awarded Dave Brown of the Independent its 'cartoon of the year' award for a cartoon he drew depicting a naked Ariel Sharon biting off the bloodied head of a Palestinian child. 'It seems if you are anti-Israel, you will get an award,' the official said." flashback here.

support for disengagement dropping.

2005-04-20T19:46:00.000-04:00

Poll: Jewish majority for disengagement: "Three months before Israel's historic pullout from the Gaza Strip, more than half of the Jewish population in Israel supports the unilateral withdrawal plan, although a majority expressed concern over possible Jewish fatalities during the forced evacuation of the Gaza settlements, a public opinion poll released Wednesday showed. 55 percent of Israeli Jews support the pullout plan, compared to 29% who are opposed to the withdrawal, the poll, commissioned by the 'Tzav Piyus' movement, found."

"restitution can successfully be dealt with only by exceptional legal measures"

2005-04-20T19:44:00.000-04:00

Jews lost between $240-330b. during Holocaust: "A government report that claims to be the first of its kind has set material damage to the Jewish people during the Holocaust at some US$240 billion to US$330 billion. Although previous studies have estimated the value of looted Jewish property, the Israeli government calculation includes lost income and wages, as well as unpaid wages from forced Jewish labor. The report estimates the value of plundered Jewish property at US$125 billion, at current prices. It estimates the loss of income at between US$104 billion and US$155 billion, and unpaid wages of forced laborers at US$11 billion to US$52 billion. ... Six million Jews were killed in the Holocaust, but the property of nine million was looted or destroyed, the report said."

russia arms syria.

2005-04-20T19:41:00.000-04:00

Putin: Russian-Syrian missile deal completed: "Russian President Vladimir Putin revealed on Wednesday that Moscow has completed a deal to sell advanced SA-18 anti-aircraft missiles to Syria. Speaking with Channel 1's Ayala Hasson ahead of his visit to Israel next week, Putin said that Israeli war planes would no longer be able to fly over Syrian President Bashar Assad's presidential palace in Damascus. However, the Russian president reassured Israel, claiming that the deal would not change the balance of power in the region. Although not exactly the same planned missile deal that worried Jerusalem earlier this year, it is nonetheless very similar. The deal in question relates to the SA-18 vehicle-mounted version, while the original plan was to supply Syria with the shoulder-held version. It appears Putin made a slight change in the plan due to Israeli and American pressure."

and again.

2005-04-20T11:09:00.000-04:00

Columbia University's Middle East Institute Sends Invitations for Event Honoring Notorious Anti-Semite Amiri Baraka: "Columbia University's Middle East Institute recently sent out invitations for an event honoring Amiri Baraka, Campus Watch has learned. ... Baraka, born LeRoi Jones, is known for his writings on jazz, but more for his Marxism and anti-Semitism. As the poet laureate of New Jersey Baraka created a firestorm with his poem 'Somebody Blew Up America,' a diatribe accusing Israelis of having been warned of the destruction of the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001. When Baraka rebuffed calls for his resignation, New Jersey lawmakers responded by abolishing the position of poet laureate. ... This latest development confirms the depth of the problems in Middle East studies at Columbia University (on which see Campus Watch's extensive collection of research and news item at http://www.campus-watch.org/survey.php/id/16). It also reconfirms why stakeholders in the university need carefully to scrutinize it carefully."

more ZOG.

2005-04-20T11:07:00.000-04:00

US to provide three billion dollar loan guarantees to Israel: "The United States is to provide loan guarantees totaling three billion dollars to Israel for 2005-2008, a joint statement said. A meeting of the US-Israel Joint Economic Development Group that ended Monday agreed that the guarantees be authorized in annual, one-billion-dollar tranches, according to the statement issued by the State Department. The mechanism was agreed upon following a US Congress decision to extend the period of a Loan Guarantee Program to Israel to 2008."

wake up call.

2005-04-20T11:04:00.000-04:00

George Galloway flees 'death threats' from Islamic militants: "George Galloway, a British lawmaker running for office on an anti-war platform, was threatened with death by Islamic extremists who stormed in on a campaign event and denounced the candidate as a 'false prophet', his spokesman said. ... Galloway's spokesman said the group was likely affiliated with radical Syrian-born cleric Omar Bakri Mohammed and his extremist group al-Muhajiroun, which formerly gathered at the Finsbury Park mosque in north London."

long overdue.

2005-04-20T10:56:00.000-04:00

Families want right to sue terrorist backers: "Families who lost loved ones in the Air-India explosion, 9/11, Palestinian suicide bombings and other terrorist attacks are heading to Ottawa next week to ask Parliament to amend Canadian law so they can sue those responsible for the deaths. A lobby group representing Canadian victims of terror will present a proposed bill to the House of Commons and Senate on Tuesday that would open the door for lawsuits against governments and organizations that have supported terrorists. The proposal, obtained by the National Post, calls for changes to federal law that victims say are needed before they can seek civil damages from the state-sponsors and front organizations complicit in the killing of their family members. ... The U.S. Congress amended its laws in 1996 to allow victims to sue state supporters of terrorist violence. ... In Canada, however, the State Immunity Act protects foreign states from lawsuits (except in cases of commercial disputes or for events that occurred in Canada), and there is no precedent for suing individuals or organizations complicit in supporting terrorism. ... The draft legislation contains a 'retrospectivity' clause, which would permit victims of terrorist attacks occurring on or after Jan. 1, 1985 to sue." Canada: Suing to stop terror: "Ottawa is pondering a plan that would allow victims to sue terrorist organizations and the countries that sponsor them. Justice Minister Irwin Cotler said he asked his officials to review potential recourse mechanisms yesterday after family members of the Air India explosion, the World Trade Centre attacks and a Jerusalem bus bombing joined forces on Parliament Hill. ... Conservative MP Stockwell Day, who tabled the private member's bill, said the goal is to empower victims while tackling terrorists. ... NDP MP Ed Broadbent said the bill would chart a new course for the government helping stamp out terrorism."

exploiting the rhetoric of women's rights.

2005-04-20T10:16:00.000-04:00

AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL EXPLOITS "WOMEN'S RIGHTS": "Amnesty International released a report on 31 March 2005 headlined 'Israel and the Occupied Territories: Conflict, occupation and patriarchy - Women carry the burden'. Reflecting this NGO's consistent strongly pro-Palestinian political agenda, this report also blames Israel for intra-Palestinian violence against women. Rather than a significant examination of the status of women, the document, which relies on biased sources and lacks credibility, exploits this issue in the political campaign against Israel. The authors patronizingly deny Palestinian society the maturity to act responsibly, instead blaming Israeli policies for these failures. ... The second half of Amnesty's report deals with societal violence against Palestinian women, in which Palestinian men are condescendingly excused from taking responsibility for their actions. According to Amnesty's highly distorted version: 'Restrictions on movement and curfews which confine people to their homes for prolonged periods, and increased unemployment, poverty and insecurity, which have forced men to spend more time at home, as well as the increase in crowded conditions in the home, have contributed to the increase in violence against women, including sexual abuse, within the family.' ... To its credit, Amnesty's report includes a short section near the end addressing female perpetrators of Palestinian terrorism. The report also includes an appendix of'"Israeli and Palestinian women as victims of armed attacks'. However, this minor afterthought to the main report also draws an amoral equivalence between Israeli victims of deliberate terror attacks and Palestinian women who died as an unintended result of Israeli counter-terror operations."

jews like the pope.

2005-04-19T20:52:00.000-04:00

Jews welcome new pope, and hope that he builds on John Paul’s legacy: "As it turns out, Jewish observers of the Vatican say, world Jewry can breathe easy knowing that German Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger was chosen as the 265th pope. 'As far as Jewish people are concerned, Cardinal Ratzinger is a friend,' said Gary Krupp, president and founder of the Pave the Way Foundation, a New York-based nonprofit organization that promotes religious understanding. 'He is going to be as effective, if not more, than John Paul II' in furthering Catholic-Jewish relations. 'He’s not going to backtrack. I think he’s going to be advancing these causes even further.' ... Ratzinger also oversaw the 2002 publication of 'The Jewish People and Their Sacred Scriptures,' which asserted that 'the Jewish messianic wait is not in vain' and expressed regret that certain passages in the Christian Bible condemning individual Jews have been used to justify anti-Semitism. Israeli officials and Jewish groups issued statements welcoming the selection."

good times.

2005-04-19T14:02:00.000-04:00

Israellycool - Down Under punditry in the Middle East: "What a fantastic idea! I can imagine the advertising campaign now.. Welcome to Club Med Gaza."

statement by UN watch.

2005-04-19T13:46:00.000-04:00

How To Strengthen The United Nations Independent Experts On Human Rights: "Today the Commission distributed the report of the eleventh meeting of Special Rapporteurs (E/CN.4/2005/5), held in June 2004. Annex One of the Report is a 3-part joint statement which singles out only two of the 191 U.N. member states for criticism: the U.S. and Israel. Certainly, no country should be immune from criticism. But on what grounds did the experts choose to scrutinize these two nations alone? By any objective measure, the human rights records of dozens of other states are far worse. Yet the experts made no mention of the violation of women’s rights in Saudi Arabia, political repression in Zimbabwe, or the mass rape and killing of 300,000 Black Africans in Sudan. This was not a shining moment for the experts’ expertise. The harshest language was reserved for Israel. Apart from one passing reference, the statement deliberately ignored the Palestinian terrorism that, since 2000 alone, has killed over 1,000 Israelis and maimed more than 7,000. We all watched in this session as, once again, the Arab states monopolized the Commission’s valuable time with their ritual of redundant and one-sided condemnations of Israel. When the independent experts chose to follow this line, it was not a shining moment for their independence."

mini-rantissi or pediatrician in training.

2005-04-19T13:17:00.000-04:00

Masked Palestinian Hamas militants march during a rally at the Rafah refugee camp in southern Gaza Strip April 19, 2005. Hundreds of Palestinian militants from the Hamas movement marched in a rally marking the first anniversary of the death of the late leader Abdel Aziz al-Rantissi, who was assassinated by the Israeli army last year in Gaza. REUTERS/Ibraheem Abu Mustafa

EU: hamas "enormous problem".

2005-04-19T13:11:00.000-04:00

EU: Hamas will not be removed from list of terror organizations: "The European Union will not consider removing Hamas from its list of terrorist organizations so long as it refrains from demonstrating 'respect for human rights,' European security commissioner Franco Frattini told the Italian daily newspaper Corriere della Sera on Tuesday. Frattini told Corriere della Sera the EU 'cannot give Hamas a blank check' and said the organization has not changed its character since 2003 - when the EU initially designated it a terrorist organization. 'It's an enormous problem, even its educational foundations incite violence against Israel. One just has to look at some of their school programs. Or they continue to provide financial aid to relatives of young kamikazes. These are all things that we cannot remain silent on,' he told the paper. Frattini also said Hamas 'is attempting a stunt to make itself acceptable as a candidate in Palestinian elections.' ... Frattini said he does not oppose Hamas' participation in Palestinian elections but said the EU is not able to support the process without first receiving guarantees from Hamas."

the organization suffers.

2005-04-19T11:15:00.000-04:00

UN INFORMATION DEPARTMENT TAKES ACTION TO IMPROVE PUBLIC IMAGE OF UN AROUND WORLD, UNDER-SECRETARY-GENERAL TELLS INFORMATION COMMITTEE: "Despite the Department of Public Information's efforts to counter attacks on the United Nations in the media, and a number of successful initiatives which had been taken by the Department to tell the United Nations story to people around the world, 'the United Nations'standing in many countries has never been lower', Under-Secretary-General Shashi Tharoor told the Committee on Information this morning, as it opened its 2005 session. Saying this was 'sobering news', Mr. Tharoor outlined the public information challenges and accomplishments of the Department. ... In the past two years, that view had acquired a negative cast, amid allegations of corruption and mismanagement in some of its activities, and the United Nations' relevance had been persistently challenged. The United Nations' image had been badly bruised. Polls had shown less support for the Organization and less understanding about it, but, at the same time, the people around the world wanted a stronger United Nations that lived up to their expectations." meanwhile, in the relevant world.

court: youths who toppled gravestones and painted swastikas on synagogue not motivated by bias, prejudice or hatred.

2005-04-16T22:25:00.000-04:00

Vandalism no hate crime, judge says: "Two youths have been convicted of mischief after a vandalism spree in Vaughan last year in which gravestones were toppled, swastikas were painted on a synagogue, stained glass windows were shattered and profanities were sprayed on Jewish community property. But Ontario Court Justice Walter Gonet yesterday acquitted the teens — 15 at the time — of the more serious charge of wilfully promoting hatred against an identifiable group, saying their intention was to get themselves on TV. ... Gonet also acquitted the youths of several counts of a Criminal Code offence specifically aimed at deterring people from vandalizing religious institutions, after ruling that the Crown had not proven they were motivated by bias, prejudice or hatred. ... Bernie Farber, CEO of the Canadian Jewish Congress, told the Star that while he welcomes the convictions, 'we cannot but feel disappointment that the judge found that the elements of bias, prejudice or hatred were not present. Maybe they just wanted their 15 minutes of infamy but the bottom line is that they decided to get it by targeting Jews,' Farber said. 'They didn't target anyone else.' Frank Dimant, executive vice-president of B'nai Brith Canada, urged the Crown to appeal the hate crime acquittal, arguing 'the court has failed to recognize the hate-motivated aspects of this crime, which had a deep impact on the Jewish community.'"

PA security to improve.

2005-04-16T22:11:00.000-04:00

Hamas gunmen said joining PA security: "Members of the armed wing of Hamas, Izzadin Kassam, have expressed their readiness to join the Palestinian Authority's security forces, Palestinian legislator Abdel Fattah Hamayel revealed over the weekend. This is the first time the PA has declared its intention to recruit Hamas activists to its security forces. Meanwhile, Hamas and Islamic Jihad leaders warned that their groups would resume their attacks on Israel unless all security prisoners were released. The threats were issued during demonstrations in the Gaza Strip in support of Palestinian prisoners. Hamayel, who heads a committee entrusted with negotiating with Palestinian gunmen wanted by Israel for their role in terror attacks, said several Hamas fugitives in the West Bank and Gaza Strip were prepared to lay down their weapons and join various branches of the security forces."

a must read.

2005-04-16T21:46:00.000-04:00

Anti-Semitic studies: "Pay attention, Professor. If you support the proposed academic boycott of Israel — and if you are to remain intellectually honest — prepare for a radical lifestyle change. Firstly, unplug your computer. Good. Now switch off your interactive digital television set. Well done. And now throw away your mobile phone. Excellent. You see, Professor, these machines are not only the engine of the globalised, capitalist world but they also depend on technologies that have been produced by Israeli academics in the Zionist entity. Stop playing with your detached mouse, Professor, and concentrate. I’m afraid you may not use the British Library because it has been computerised by Ex Libris, a Zionist company that was spawned by the odious Hebrew University of Jerusalem. ... All this boycotting, you see, is the logical extension of proposed academic sanctions against Israel by some members of your Association of University Teachers (AUT) when they meet in Eastbourne next Wednesday. Just visit the website of Egyptian-born Mona Baker of the University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology. She set the standard by firing two Israeli scholars from the boards of her translation journals as a matter of high academic principle. ... Absent from Ms Baker’s list — and here I think I can help — is a set of global companies which are arguably even more culpable because they not only operate in Israel but also do most of their R&D there. IBM and Intel each have three R&D centres in Israel; Microsoft established its first non-American facility there, and Cisco Systems has built its only non-American R&D centre in Israel. Then there is Motorola, which has its largest R&D site in Israel, and News Corp, whose company NDS develops those neat interactive technologies for digital television. There are many more. ... So dangerous has the situation become, dear Professor, that when you meet in Eastbourne you will set aside the small matter of your pay deal (which many universities have failed to implement). Instead, you and your fellow intellectual heavyweights will ponder far worthier matters. Like foreign affairs. Of course, you will not have to bother your turbo-charged minds with this week’s Unicef report which shows that half of the women in the Arab world are illiterate and more than ten million children in the region don’t attend school. The issue that will preoccupy you will be the aggressive imperialist apartheid state: a state that has nurtured the Palestinian universities and colleges in the West Bank; one that offers equal rights — and access to its universities — to all its citizens, regardless of race, religion, ethnicity or sex; and which has educated tens of thousands of Palestinians at Israeli universities (several hundred a year still opt for an Israeli education). It is significant that Omar Barghouti, the Palestinian who is encouraging you and your British comrades to boycott Israel, is a doctoral student at none other than Tel Aviv University. ... But relax, Professor. The AUT has solemnly concluded that there is a clear distinction between anti-Semitism and anti-Zionism. They don’t mind Jews. They just detest the Jewish state." flashback here. hat tip: LGF.

back to nuance and grooming?

2005-04-15T11:59:00.000-04:00

Material Support to…"Business Professionals". The Bush administration has some explaining to do on Hamas.: "McCLELLAN: It's — the one thing that you see when people have elections that are free and fair is that they tend to choose people who are committed to improving their livelihood, not people who are committed to terrorist acts. And I think if you look back at the previous Palestinian elections, the people that were elected, while they might have been members of Hamas, they were business professionals. They were people that ran on talking about improving the quality of life for the Palestinian people and addressing their economic needs and addressing other needs that are important to them — not terrorists."

text and votes of the UN "human rights" commission.

2005-04-15T11:07:00.000-04:00

off to the UN "human rights" commission we go for the actual text and votes of yesterday's resolutions against israel: COMMISSION ADOPTS TEXTS ON RACISM,ISRAELI SETTLEMENTS, ISRAELI PRACTICES IN OCCUPIED TERRITORY AND SYRIAN GOLAN:

In a resolution (E/CN.4/2005/L.2/Rev.1) on Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestine territory, including East Jerusalem, and the occupied Syrian Golan, adopted by a roll-call vote of 39 in favour to two opposed, with 12 abstentions, the Commission expressed grave concern about the continuing construction, contrary to international law, by Israel of the wall inside the occupied Palestinian territory, including in and around East Jerusalem, and expressed its concern in particular about the route of the wall in departure from the Armistice Line of 1949. It also expressed grave concern at the continuing Israeli settlements and related activities, in violation of international law, including the expansion of settlements, the expropriation of land, the demolition of houses, the confiscation and destruction of property, the expulsion of Palestinians and the construction of bypass roads; at the new construction plan by the Government of Israel announced on 21 March 2005 for a project of 3,500 additional housing units in Maale Adumim and the planned expansion of two other settlement blocks in the West Bank; and at the continued closures of and within the occupied Palestinian territory and the restriction of the freedom of movement of people and goods. The Commission called upon Israel to take and implement serious measures, including confiscation of arms and enforcement of criminal sanctions, with the aim of preventing acts of violence by Israeli settlers, and other measures to guarantee the safety and protection of the Palestinian civilians and Palestinian properties in the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem; and demanded that Israel, the occupying power, comply fully with its legal obligations, as mentioned in the advisory opinion rendered on 9 July 2004 by the International Court of Justice. Moreover, the Commission urged the parties to seize the opportunity offered by the current political context to give renewed impetus to the peace process and to implement fully the Road Map endorsed by the Security Council in resolution 1515 (2003), with the aim of reaching a comprehensive political settlement in accordance with the resolutions of the Council. The result of the vote was as follows: In favour (39): Argentina, Armenia, Bhutan, Brazil, Burkina Faso, China, Congo, Cuba, Ecuador, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Gabon, Guinea, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Japan, Kenya, Malaysia, Mauritania, Mexico, Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistan, Paraguay, Peru, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Ukraine and Zimbabwe. Against (2): Australia and United States. Abstentions (12): Canada, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Germany, Guatemala, Honduras, Hungary, Italy, Netherlands, Romania, Togo and United Kingdom.

israel spoke before the vote:

ITZHAK LEVANON (Israel), speaking before the vote as a concerned country, urged that the Commission to vote against the resolution as such a resolution would create a disincentive for the Palestinians to move on in implementing the first phase of the Road Map on stopping terrorism, because the resolution was disconnected from the reality on the ground and because it was prejudging the outcome of the future negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians. A text was recently adopted by a gathering body. That text had condemned a certain State's occupation of territories as well as the building of houses and facilities. It had called for this country to end its occupation and to cease creating facts on the ground by force, and changing the character and the demographic composition. It called for the dismantling of all facilities built on those territories and which were considered as violations of the Fourth Geneva Conventions. Delegates must be thinking that this occupying country could only be Israel. But this text was of the Arab League at the last Arab Summit in Algiers regarding the three islands, the Greater Tunb, the Lesser Tunb and Abu Musa. The text of the current resolution by the Commission recalled the principles on interim self-government arrangements agreed in Oslo in 1993. However, it deliberately failed to mention what had been agreed upon, namely that the issue of the settlements would be left to the Permanent Status negotiations. The resolution, which the Commission was about to vote, singled out a country and had far more to do with political and non-human rights matters than with settlements. By voting in favour of the resolution, the Commission was prolonging its anomalies. He called that the Commission not to vote in favour.

which was answered by someone from a fictional country:

MOHAMMAD ABU-KOASH (Palestine), speaking as a concerned country, said listening to the statement of the distinguished Representative of Israel, one would think it was the Palestinian people who were the occupiers, and the Israelis who were the occupied. He had referred to the question of terrorism. What had more to do with terrorism than occupation itself? Palestine agreed that there were double standards. However, they affected Israel because of the protection extended to it. Israel was out of step with the rest of the world. The Israeli occupation of the Arab and Palestinian territories was the only occupation that had been going on for decades in recent history, and the Palestinians yearned for the day that it would end. The question of talking about what was agreed in the Oslo Agreement was camouflage and brainwashing, and it did not work in the Commission.

time for resolution number two:

In a resolution (E/CN.4/2005/L.4) on Israeli practices affecting the human rights of the Palestinian people in the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem, adopted by a roll-call vote of 29 in favour to ten against, with 14 abstentions, the Commission condemned the use of force by the Israeli occupying forces against Palestinian civilians, resulting in extensive loss of life, vast numbers of injuries and massive destruction of homes, properties, agricultural lands and vital infrastructure; urged all Member States signatories to the Fourth Geneva Convention to express the inadmissibility of the ongoing violation of the rights of Palestinian civilians, especially women and children, stipulated in these instruments, and to demand their effective observance by Israel, the occupying power; requested the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to address the issue of Palestinian pregnant women giving birth at Israeli checkpoints owing to denial of access by Israel to hospitals; and requested the High Commissioner to demand, in accordance with her mandate, the immediate release of Palestinian detainees, including women, children and the sick, and the investigation of reported cases of torture, harassment or ill-treatment and the bringing to justice of Israeli officers involved in the abuse of detainees. The Commission also requested Israel, the occupying power, to facilitate the forthcoming Palestinian legislative elections in the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem, and demanded that it refrain from all acts that interfered in, obstructed or impeded these elections; demanded that Israel comply with its legal obligations under international law, as mentioned in the advisory opinion rendered on 9 July 2004 by the International Court of Justice and as demanded in resolution ES-10/15 and resolution ES-10/13 of 21 October 2003, and that it cease the construction of the wall in the occupied Palestinian territory, including in and around East Jerusalem, dismantle forthwith the structure situated therein, repeal or render ineffective all legislative and regulatory acts relating thereto, and make reparation for all damage caused by the construction of the wall; and called for the boycott of firms involved in the construction of the wall in the occupied Palestinian territory, including in and around East Jerusalem. The result of the vote was as follows: In favour (29): Armenia, Bhutan, Brazil, Burkina Faso, China, Congo, Cuba, Ecuador, Egypt, Eritrea, Gabon, Guinea, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Malaysia, Mauritania, Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistan, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Togo and Zimbabwe. Against (10): Australia, Canada, Germany, Honduras, Hungary, Italy, Netherlands, Romania, United Kingdom and United States. Abstentions (14): Argentina, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Guatemala, Ireland, Japan, Mexico, Paraguay, Peru, Russian Federation and Ukraine.

the speeches were pretty much what you would expect. here is just one highlight:

MOHAMMAD ABU-KOASH (Palestine), speaking as a concerned party, said ... Palestinian women had had to give birth at Israeli checkpoints, in full view of Israeli soldiers, who were armed to the teeth. They had been deprived of access to hospitals. All women, in all parts of the world, deserved dignified treatment. The Palestinians had already accepted the presence of Israel on 87 per cent of Palestinian land, he concluded. Israel must leave the Palestinians alone on the remaining 22 per cent. Asking why Israel was attempting to "Judesize" Jerusalem, he said that if the city was to be a joint capital, then it must be open to all. The era of empires had come to an end; Israel was not as strong as the Roman Empire. Peace must be the option, and the occupation must come to an end.

you couldn't make stuff like this up if you tried. time for number three:

In a resolution (E/CN.4/2005/L.15) on human rights in the occupied Syrian Golan, adopted by a roll-call vote of 32 in favour to two opposed, with 19 abstentions, the Commission called upon Israel, the occupying power, to comply with the relevant resolutions of the General Assembly and of the Security Council, in particular resolution 497 (1981), in which the Council, among other things, decided that the Israeli decision to impose its laws, jurisdiction and administration on the occupied Syrian Golan was null and void and without international legal effect, and demanded that Israel should rescind forthwith its decision; and called upon Israel to desist from changing the physical character, demographic composition, institutional structure and legal status of the occupied Syrian Golan, and emphasized that the displaced persons of the population of the occupied Syrian Golan must be allowed to return to their homes and to recover their properties. The Commission further called upon Israel to desist from imposing Israeli citizenship and Israeli identity cards on the Syrian citizens in the occupied Syrian Golan, to release all detained citizens in the occupied Syrian Golan, and to desist from its repressive measures against them and from all other practices mentioned in the report of the Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the Palestinian People and Other Arabs of the Occupied Territories. The Commission was also determined that all legislative and administrative measures and actions taken or to be taken by Israel that purported to alter the character and legal status of the occupied Syrian Golan were null and void, constituted a flagrant violation of international law and of the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War and had no legal effect. Moreover, the Commission decided to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-second session, as a matter of high priority, the item entitled "Question of the violation of human rights in the occupied Arab territories, including Palestine. The result of the vote was as follows: In favour (32): Argentina, Armenia, Bhutan, Brazil, Burkina Faso, China, Congo, Cuba, Ecuador, Egypt, Eritrea, Gabon, Guinea, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Malaysia, Mauritania, Mexico, Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistan, Paraguay, Qatar, Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Togo and Zimbabwe. Against (2): Australia and United States. Abstentions (19): Canada, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Germany, Guatemala, Honduras, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, Peru, Republic of Korea, Romania, Ukraine and United Kingdom.

again, only the highlights:

BASHAR JA'AFARI (Syria), speaking as a concerned country ... Syria continued to fight terrorism, and had joined a number of conventions and instruments to fight terrorism, many more than Israel, he said. Syria fought terrorism much more than Israel, and was much more aware of the prerequisites for peace. In one year, President Assad had presented three separate initiatives for peace, and the Israelis response had been "not possible". There were hundreds of cases of disappeared persons; they were either dead and buried or locked in Israeli prisons, but none knew their whereabouts. All those opposed to the draft resolution denied the fact that justice was necessary for the establishment of peace. The Commission must force Israel to comply with international legitimacy. The international community must bring pressure to bear on Israel to resume the peace process with Syria without prejudice, and to end the occupation of the Syrian Golan.

well that was fun. but don't you feel like something is missing? like, maybe, the human rights of israelis? silly you, this is the UN. **** if the links above don't work, go here, select "commission on human rights" under "body", select the "61st session" and under country enter "israel". the results will be on the first search results page.

"for the freedom of zion"

2005-04-14T16:30:00.000-04:00

Temple Mount relics saved from garbage: "On the grounds of a Jerusalem national park with a view of the Temple Mount, a small group of Israeli archaeologists and volunteers sifting through piles of rubble discarded by Islamic Wakf officials from the Temple Mount into a city garbage dump have recently uncovered a series of history-rich artifacts dating back to the First and Second Temple periods. The five-month old privately-funded project underway at the site, which is being directed by Bar Ilan University archeology professor Dr. Gabriel Barkay, is being called virtually unprecedented since archaeological excavation has never been permitted on the Temple Mount itself. Six years ago, following the Islamic Wakf's unilateral construction of a mosque at an underground area of the Temple Mount known as Solomon's Stables, Wakf officials discarded more than 10,000 tons of rubble with history-rich artifacts, at a municipal garbage dump in the Kidron Valley and other locations outside the Old City. ... Over the last five months, Zweig a small team of six workers -- and an equal number of daily volunteers -- who have sifted through 15 percent of the rubble to date have uncovered scores of history-rich artifacts, from the First Temple Period until today amidst the rubble, including a large amount of pottery dating from the Bronze Ages through modern times, a large segment of a marble pillar's shaft, and over 100 ancient coins, among them several from the Hasmonean dynasty."

news from london.

2005-04-14T12:16:00.000-04:00

Plotter's flat contained ricin ingredients 'for an attack on Jewish centre': "The discovery of what police believed was an attempt by a group of Algerian terrorists, trained in al-Qa'ida camps in Afghanistan, to launch a poison campaign in the UK caused wide-spread alarm. The British security services thought the intended target was to be the Jewish community in north London, The Independent understands. ... Anti-terrorist officers believe, however, that the case shows the extent of a suspected Algerian terror network operating in Britain and the ease with which deadly poisons can be made from simple ingredients." Police made 100 arrests to smash al-Qa'ida network: "A British-based network of Algerian terrorists with links to al-Qa'ida are suspected of being behind the plot to cause mass panic in the UK with the release of lethal poisons. The Metropolitan Police's anti-terrorist branch began investigating an Algerian network throughout summer 2002, but at first they thought it was only involved in logistical support, such as illegal fundraising. The attempt to break the network led to more than 100 arrests, with investigations stretching from Bournemouth to Scotland."

right on cue.

2005-04-14T11:51:00.000-04:00

UN commission slams Israel on settlements and violence: "The United Nations Commission on Human Rights on Thursday condemned Israel's use of force against Palestinian civilians and called on Israel to stop building settlements in the occupied territories. The 53-member state body, at its annual session, easily adopted three resolutions on Israel presented by Arab countries. The United States and Australia were alone in voting against both the resolution on settlements and one on the Golan Heights. Britain, Canada, Germany and Italy were among those joining the United States in voting against a text condemning Israel for use of force, including executions, and 'continued systematic violations' in the West Bank and Gaza Strip occupied since 1967." more to follow.

if this is accurate...holy crap.

2005-04-14T11:30:00.000-04:00

EU shocker: Hamas are 'freedom fighters': "A top European Union official held a secret meeting in Gaza with the leaders of Hamas, in spite of EU denials to the contrary, in which he praised the terror organization's work, blamed terrorism on 'Israeli occupation,' referred to Hamas militants as 'freedom fighters' and failed to contradict claims Israel was responsible for the September 11 attacks, according to transcripts of the conversation obtained by WorldNetDaily. There were some leaked reports of the 2002 meeting, but the transcripts for the first time expose what was discussed with Hamas and may shed light on various aspects of EU Mideast diplomacy. The transcripts, seized from the Palestinian Authority Preventive Security compound in Gaza during Israel's 2002 Defensive Shield operation and released through Israel's Center for Special Studies, document a discreet meeting between Hamas leader Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, who was assassinated by Israel in March 2004, and Alistair Crooke, the security adviser for Miguel Moratinos, then EU special envoy for promoting the peace process in the Middle East. The meeting conflicts with a November 2004 statement issued by a spokeswoman on behalf of EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana denying Solona or his staff ever met or held 'direct contacts' with Hamas or other groups featured on the EU list of banned terrorist organizations. Also present for the secret EU discussions were Hamas senior members Mahmoud al-Zahar, head of the group's Gaza faction, and Dr. Abd al-Aziz al-Rantisi, a senior Hamas official recently assassinated by Israel. The documents, authenticated by security experts, are written in Arabic by Palestinian officials on PA stationary. According to the confidential transcripts, Crooke explained to Hamas leaders he requested the meeting, in part, because he was worried a speech to be delivered by U.S. President George W. Bush regarding American policy toward the Middle East might reflect negatively on the EU." hat tip: LGF.

enemies of israel lose badly.

2005-04-14T11:22:00.000-04:00

Caterpillar Won't Probe Bulldozers' Use: "Caterpillar Inc. shareholders soundly rejected a resolution that would have directed the heavy equipment manufacturer to investigate the use of its bulldozers by the Israeli army to demolish Palestinian homes. The resolution — which the company said at its annual meeting Wednesday in Chicago was defeated 97 percent to 3 percent — stated that Israel has used Caterpillar equipment to destroy more than 3,000 homes in the West Bank and Gaza Strip since 2000. It was introduced by four Roman Catholic orders of nuns and the group Jewish Voice for Peace, who argued that the sale of company equipment for such purposes violates Caterpillar's code of business conduct." did you catch rachel corrie's aunt on CBC yesterday? classic stuff.

a taste of what's coming.

2005-04-14T11:07:00.000-04:00

KAIROS - EXTREMIST ATTACK ON ISRAEL IN SUBMISSION TO UN COMMISION ON HUMAN RIGHTS: "The Canadian group KAIROS which includes major national church organizations, claims to focus on humanitarian goals, for which it receives government funds through CIDA. KAIROS also has a history of extreme anti-Israeli political bias. KAIROS' submission to the Canadian Delegation to the 61st Session of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights, headlined 'Defending Human Rights in the Occupied Palestinian Territories', is another example of this deep prejudice. The report is entirely one-sided, reflecting the Palestinian version of history, and consisting of condemnations of Israeli actions, with no mention of Palestinian terrorism. Employing the language of demonization, KAIROS accuses Israel of 'repudiation of its legal and moral obligations as an occupying power and its defiance of international human rights and humanitarian law.' Such language also describes Israeli settlement activity as 'the transfer of more than 400,000 Israeli Jewish civilians into an armed settler population'. In this spirit, KAIROS even condemns the ceasefire agreement reached in Sharm al-Sheikh in February 2005 as being 'devoid of human rights content.' The Palestinian pledge to halt terror attacks is thus viewed as irrelevant to human rights. This organization also joins many other political NGOs in attacking Israel's security barrier, which it refers to as 'The Wall'. Likewise, Israeli restrictions on Palestinian movement (necessary to block terrorism) are, according to KAIROS, 'administered in a humiliating manner and cause suffering and inconvenience to every Palestinian.' Using the language of the 2001 Durban conference, KAIROS claims that 'the Special Rapporteur compared the restrictions on freedom of movement imposed by the Israeli authorities on Palestinians to the notorious 'pass Laws' of apartheid South Africa.' Referring to the 'incarceration of Gaza' and despite the obvious need to secure its borders, KAIROS highlights that these borders 'are rigorously patrolled by the IDF and passage in and out of Gaza is strictly controlled.'"

new toronto report on hate.

2005-04-14T10:54:00.000-04:00

Hate crime up in Toronto: "The number of reported incidents of hate crimes in Toronto increased by nine per cent last year, with the Jewish community the single most targeted group, according to the Toronto Police Service’s 2004 Annual Hate/Bias Crime Statistical Report. Jews were attacked 59 times and Israelis six, states the report, which breaks down incidents in categories including religion, ethnicity and nationality. The next most frequently targeted group was the black community, with 31 incidents, gays with 10 and Muslims with nine. A 'multi-bias' category, which includes a variety of groupings, experienced 18 incidents. Prepared by the police hate crime unit, the report noted the nine per cent increase last year reversed a two-year period of decline. ... B’nai Brith Canada, which publishes an annual audit of anti-Semitic incidents in Canada, noted the police findings coincide with its own report. B’nai Brith found that anti-Semitic incidents reached an all time high in 2004 – 857 incidents – a 47 per cent jump over the year before."

are you ready for some condemning!

2005-04-14T10:45:00.000-04:00

Human Rights, UN-style: "Today and Friday the United Nations Commission on Human Rights will pass resolutions on human rights situations around the world. This body of 53 states will not reproach Iran, Saudi Arabia, China or many other notorious violators of human rights. Genocidal Sudan may get slapped on the wrist. It is certain, though, that Israel will be condemned in five separate resolutions, four more than any other country."

terrorism works, AFP provides platform.

2005-04-14T10:42:00.000-04:00

Palestinians' armed struggle forced Israel into Gaza Strip exit: Hamas: "Years of armed struggle by militants, and not negotiation, prompted Israel to decide to withdraw from the Gaza Strip, a top member of the Islamist group Hamas said in a rare interview. Mahmud Zahar, the Hamas leader in its Gaza Strip stronghold, also said his movement hoped to win its first legislative elections when it stands against Palestinian leader Mahmud Abbas's moderate Fatah movement in July. 'Very simply, nobody can deny that if Israel is going to leave the Gaza Strip and part of the West Bank, that was because of the intifada, because of the armed struggle, because of the big sacrifices of Hamas for this goal,' Zahar, 60, told The Times newspaper, speaking at a secret location in Gaza. 'It was not because of negotiations, or the goodwill of Israel, or the Americans or Europeans,' he said. Zahar refused to commit Hamas to peace in the area even once Israel pulls out its 9,000 settlers."

we're gonna miss him.

2005-04-13T23:15:00.000-04:00

White supremacist shot dead: "Wolfgang Droege, the one-time leader of white supremacist group the Heritage Front, was shot dead today in a normally quiet residential neighbourhood in the east end of Toronto. ... The 55-year-old Droege was said to have associated with recently deported Holocaust denier Ernst Zundel. Droege was born in Germany and moved in the early 1970s to Canada, where he became a citizen. In 1976, he joined the Ku Klux Klan and tried to start a branch of the organization in Toronto. ... In 1985, Droege was arrested in Alabama and charged with cocaine possession and a weapons offence. He was deported to Canada in April 1989 after serving a prison sentence in the United States for those charges. In October of that year, he set up the now-defunct Heritage Front, a continental network of neo-Nazis."

AFP editorializes on sharon's visit.

2005-04-13T20:39:00.000-04:00

Sharon heads home after disappointing US summit: "While Bush reaffirmed his support for the Gaza withdrawal, praising Sharon's 'strong visionary leadership', the overriding image of the summit was the US leader issuing an unusually stern warning that Israel must respect the terms of the Mideast peace roadmap and not follow through on controversial plans to expand settlements on occupied Palestinian territory." i wonder who may be responsible for the "the overriding image of the summit".

shutting down the network.

2005-04-13T20:37:00.000-04:00

Brothers Found Guilty of Terrorism Support: "Three Dallas-area brothers were convicted Wednesday of supporting terrorism by funneling money to a high-ranking official in the militant Palestinian group Hamas. Ghassan and Bayan Elashi and their company were found guilty of all 21 federal counts they faced: conspiracy, money laundering and dealing in property of a terrorist. Basman Elashi, who faced the same counts, was convicted of three counts of conspiracy but acquitted of the other charges. The brothers, all born in the Middle East, were convicted the same day jurors began deliberating, after nearly two weeks of testimony, and are to be sentenced Aug. 1. Prosecutors said each count carries a maximum 10-year prison sentence. ... The three Elashis and two of their brothers were convicted last year on separate charges of making illegal technology shipments to Libya and Syria, countries the U.S. government considers state sponsors of terrorism. All five are awaiting sentencing in that case. The Elashis also were active in the Holy Land Foundation for Relief and Development, a Muslim charity that was shut down in 2001 after the government accused it of funneling more than $12 million to Hamas. The charity is expected to go on trial early next year. "

numbers on iran.

2005-04-13T17:17:00.000-04:00

ADL Poll: Majority of Americans Support Military Action by U.S. And Israel to Prevent Iran from Developing Nuclear Weapons: "A majority of the American people support military action by the United States and Israel to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons as a last resort, according the Anti-Defamation League's 2005 American Attitudes Toward Israel and the Middle East, a public opinion survey of 1,600 American adults conducted March 18-25 by the Marttila Communications Group. When asked, 'Do you think America should take military action to stop Iran from developing or trying to develop a nuclear weapons program,' 53% said yes; 37% said no. When asked whether Israel should take military action to stop the Iranian nuclear program, 51% said yes, 34% said no."

know your enemy's friends.

2005-04-13T14:57:00.000-04:00

Chirac pushes EU to drop hard line on Iran-diplomats: "French President Jacques Chirac has been pushing the EU to drop its refusal to consider letting Iran enrich uranium, despite U.S. and European fears Iran could use enrichment technology for weapons, EU diplomats say. Sharing U.S. suspicions that Iran may have atom bomb ambitions, the European Union's three biggest powers -- France, Britain and Germany -- have demanded Iran give up its nuclear fuel programme in exchange for economic and political benefits. ... Iran has recently made a point of publicly praising the French position. Ahead of last month's Paris talks, a senior Iranian security official lauded Chirac for his 'positive view'." but fear not: "The United Nations General Assembly today adopted by consensus an international treaty against nuclear terrorism which Secretary-General Kofi Annan hailed as 'a vital step forward' in multilateral efforts to prevent terrorists from gaining access to 'the most lethal weapons known to humanity.'" you can read the "treaty" here (pick your language). hat tip: LGF.

the jewish vote.

2005-04-13T12:13:00.000-04:00

New election study breaks down Jewish support for Bush and Kerry: "Newly compiled information suggests that a few more Jews voted for Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry last November than originally reported, and highlights several areas where Republicans are gaining momentum within the Jewish community. The analysis by the Solomon Project, a think tank associated with the National Jewish Democratic Council, shows that the Massachusetts senator received 77 percent of the Jewish vote, to President Bush’s 22 percent. That’s a slight change from the 75 percent Kerry was said to have received in polls released soon after the vote. The new information, released Tuesday, is based on a broader sample of exit polls that incorporates both the national poll released in November and a state-by-state poll that was not widely released. The wider survey finds that Bush fared particularly well with Jewish men, garnering 28 percent of their votes, compared to 16 percent of Jewish women. In particular, he captured 35 percent of Jewish men younger than 30."

classic.

2005-04-13T11:15:00.000-04:00

Saudi Columnist: President Bush Should Nominate Rumsfeld for Pope: "Now that President George Bush has nominated John Bolton as American ambassador to the United Nations and Paul Wolfowitz to head the World Bank, we shouldn't be surprised if he repeated his achievements and named a new pope. Considering the present state of the world, Donald Rumsfeld is surely the best choice for this extremely important international position. Like Bolton and Wolfowitz, he is a firm believer in democracy, America's new religion. Rumsfeld, Bolton, Wolfowitz and the other neocons would make sure that America tightened its grip on the world. Bolton dedicated his life to undermining the UN at a time when America needed to work through the world body more than ever to make the world a safer place — for Americans. ... The late pope believed faith in Almighty God was enough to make peace spread and flourish in the world. If he had doubts about Israel's practices in the 'promised land' and a reluctance to accept them, Rumsfeld, on the other hand, would be ready to give Israel a free hand to do whatever it wished in the Promised Land."

UN human rights commission has special place for one religion.

2005-04-13T11:09:00.000-04:00

UN human rights commission urges action against religious defamation: "The United Nations Commission on Human Rights has called on the international community to open a global dialogue to combat the defamation of religions, citing specifically the ethnic and religious profiling of Muslim minorities after the terrorist attacks against the United States on 11 September 2001. In a resolution adopted yesterday by 31 votes in favour, 16 against and five abstentions, the Commission expressed deep concern at negative stereotyping of religions and manifestations of intolerance and discrimination in matters of religion or belief still in evidence parts of the world. Specifically, it voiced deep concern that Islam was frequently and wrongly associated with human rights violations and terrorism, and it requested the Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance to continue to present a report on the situation of Muslims and Arab peoples in various parts of the world and the discrimination faced by them." The result of the vote was as follows: In favour (31): Argentina, Bhutan, Brazil, Burkina Faso, China, Congo, Costa Rica, Cuba, Ecuador, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Guinea, Indonesia, Kenya, Malaysia, Mauritania, Mexico, Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistan, Paraguay, Qatar, Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Togo and Zimbabwe. Against (16): Australia, Canada, Dominican Republic, Finland, France, Germany, Guatemala, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, Romania, Ukraine, United Kingdom and United States. Abstentions (5): Armenia, Honduras, India, Peru and Republic of Korea. Absent (1): Gabon. ... LEONARD LEO (United States) said in an explanation of the vote ... The United States supported the concept of the resolution and agreed with its intent. The resolution was, however, incomplete in that it failed to address attacks against all religions and must also include language pertaining to education and the use of media in the defamation of religion. ... HENRI-PAUL NORMANDIN (Canada) said in an explanation of the vote ... With regard to this draft, Canada was troubled by the fact that protection of religion as such, rather than the rights of adherents, including those belonging to religious minorities, was the topic. The draft also stressed the protection of one religion above all others. Moreover, in the text, issues of religion and racism and tolerance were mixed, so that they did not promote greater understanding but only confused the issue. Canada would vote against the resolution, and invited other States to do likewise.

haaretz on the bush/sharon meeting.

2005-04-13T11:00:00.000-04:00

The borders were marked in Texas: "n Texas on Monday, George W. Bush and Ariel Sharon marked out the furthest borders that any Israeli prime minister can dream of: at most - and even that is not without conditions and not necessarily so - they will be the eastern line around the major Israeli population centers (settlement blocs) in the territories, including - by implication - the post-1967 Jerusalem neighborhoods. It's doubtful Israel will ever find a friendlier president than Bush, and one more combative toward its enemies. If he drew that line, for his guest Sharon and the world watching them, it means that any campaign to save dozens of settlements and tens of thousands of settlers who are outside that line is doomed from the start."

barak in the guardian.

2005-04-13T10:55:00.000-04:00

Trust is built on realities: "This is why a partial bureaucratic approval of an old construction plan in the city of Maale Adumim, adjacent to Jerusalem, should not be perceived as a danger to the peace process. All the diplomatic pressure on Israel, in this specific case, is not justified, simply because the Palestinians have already agreed this major bloc will stay under Israel's authority - if not at Camp David, in many other exchanges of ideas. While the construction plan is far from being implemented on the ground, threats by Saeb Erekat (or Abbas) that its authorisation 'closes the door to peace' takes us back to a gloomy period where short-term political gains are put before long-term benefits."

"human rights" groups against israel.

2005-04-13T10:44:00.000-04:00

HRW AND AMNESTY PROMOTE CATERPILLAR BOYCOTT: "Based on previous calls for a boycott of the US-based Caterpillar Inc. 'human rights' NGOs have joined with a number of extreme political groups in a 'Day of Action' scheduled for 13 April 2005. The program and pretexts for this activity continue the previous practice used by groups such as HRW and Amnesty, in which the context of terrorism against Israelis and the ongoing conflict has been entirely erased. The result is a distorted indictment of Israel, which again exploits the language of universal human rights to promote the 'South Africa strategy' designed to brand Israel as an 'apartheid state'."

one less martyr.

2005-04-12T13:59:00.000-04:00

Israeli soldiers guard a detained Palestinian teenager at the Howwara army checkpoint near the West Bank city of Nablus, April 12, 2005. Israeli troops detained a 15-year-old Palestinian, who tried to cross the checkpoint, Israeli army said. The teenager had hidden five pipe bombs in his coat and had tried to smuggle them to Israel. REUTERS/Abed Omar Qusini

appropriating the holocaust.

2005-04-12T10:41:00.000-04:00

German ruling says Dresden was a holocaust: "German prosecutors have provoked outrage by ruling that the 1945 RAF bombing of Dresden can legally be termed a 'holocaust'. The decision follows the refusal by the Hamburg public prosecutor's office to press charges against a Right-wing politician who compared the bombing raids to 'the extermination of the Jews'. ... Attitudes towards the Allied bombing campaign, which killed hundreds of thousands of civilians, are changing. Estimates of the death toll in Dresden in February 1945 hover at about 35,000. All the same, some historians claim that as many as 500,000 people were killed in the raids."

the no-nonsense "settler's" mentality.

2005-04-12T10:25:00.000-04:00

High-Tech Wealth Shows Israel Is More Than Politics: "After the success of Silicon Valley in the 1990s, few countries have managed to repeat the mix of education, innovation and investment to create new wealth, and Israel is one of them, a new book said on Tuesday. A country of just 6.8 million people best known for its conflict with the Palestinians, Israel has managed to create billions of euros of wealth through new products and services, said Douglas Davis, who with his wife Helen wrote 'Israel in the World: Changing Lives Through Innovation.' Israeli researchers in recent years have developed instant messaging on the Internet, wireless computing chips for Intel, miniature video camera capsules to examine internal organs, filters and tubes for veins to prevent heart attacks and strokes, security software and new cancer treatments. ... High-tech exports from Israel amounted to $26 billion in 2000, making up 57 percent of total exports, up from 23 percent in the early 1990s. Risk capital available to new companies is the highest in the world, with a whopping 5 percent of gross domestic product devoted to research and development. ... Research is done by graduates from universities heavily geared toward sciences and medicine, producing 135 engineers per 1,000 citizens, compared with 85 in the United States. Scientists also publish more in journals than anywhere else."

diplomacy.

2005-04-12T10:08:00.000-04:00

FM Shalom presents Mubarak with peace plan with Arab states: "Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom and Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak early Tuesday afternoon ended a Cairo meeting during which Shalom presented Israel's 'road map' to peace with Arab and Muslim states. Under the plan, Israel will renew diplomatic ties with seven states other than the three it already has ties with (Egypt, Jordan and Mauritius). Although the names of the new states were not mentioned, they are believed to be mainly north African and Gulf states."

full text.

2005-04-12T10:06:00.000-04:00

President and Prime Minister Sharon Discuss Economy, Middle East: "The United States and the state of Israel have a deep and lasting friendship based on our shared values and aspirations for a peaceful world. The United States is committed to Israel's security and well being as a Jewish state, including secure and defensible borders. We're committed to preserving and strengthening Israel's capability to deter its enemies and to defend itself. ... As part of a final peace settlement, Israel must have secure and recognized borders. These should emerge from negotiations between the parties in accordance with United Nations Security Council Resolutions 242 and 338. As I said last April, new realities on the ground make it unrealistic to expect that the outcome of final status negotiations will be a full and complete return to the armistice lines of 1949. It is realistic to expect that any final status agreement will be achieved only on the basis of mutually agreed changes that reflect these realities. That's the American view. While the United States will not prejudice the outcome of final status negotiations, those changes on the ground, including existing major Israeli population centers, must be taken into account in any final status negotiations."

keeping them honest.

2005-04-12T10:01:00.000-04:00

Honest Reporting - 'Showdown' at the Crawford Corral?: "On Monday (April 11), Israeli Prime Minister Sharon met President Bush at Bush's Crawford Ranch in Texas. News coverage of this important meeting was remarkable for the disparity between the actual content of the meeting, and how the media represented it. Though Bush and Sharon largely conveyed mutual support and understanding, the media described a supposed 'Texas showdown' over the Israeli community of Maale Adumim, just to the east of Jerusalem, which the Israeli government has recently spoken of expanding." Honest Reporting Canada - April Fool's No Laughing Matter at the Toronto Star: "April Fool’s is a time for concocting tricky schemes that elicit laughter. But this April the Toronto Star served up a collection of Middle East news and opinion that was no laughing matter."

ZOG.

2005-04-11T16:15:00.000-04:00

Jews prominent in 'Top 100' list: "Time magazine's annual 'Top 100' list features Jews in all five categories. ... All in all, Jewish representation in the 2005 edition is vastly disproportional to their numbers. Jews constitute approximately 12% of this year's list, while representing an estimated quarter of a percent of the world's population."

jews who “say” or “believe”.

2005-04-11T09:41:00.000-04:00

The Temple Mount's Jewish History: More Than a Matter of Faith: "The Temple Mount is the site of the first and second Jewish Temples, destroyed in 586 BCE and 70 CE, respectively–a historic fact accepted even by Muslim authorities. Nevertheless, that fact has not stopped some journalists from reporting on the Temple Mount’s significance in Jewish history cautiously, as if its status is a matter of Jewish faith, or 'belief,' and not archeologic evidence."

like a fiddle.

2005-04-11T09:28:00.000-04:00

Iran vows never to abandon its uranium enrichment program: "Iran will never abandon uranium enrichment, despite its negotiations with the European Union on its nuclear program, a senior official said on Sunday. Foreign Ministry spokesman Hamid Reza Asefi said Iran would never renounce its right to carry out the process, but was hopeful about the outcome of the talks with Europe. Britain, France and Germany, representing the European Union, have been trying to persuade Tehran to scrap all parts of its atomic fuel cycle, particularly uranium enrichment which can be used to make atomic bombs as well as fuel for power plants. Asefi said uranium enrichment was Iran's legitimate right, reiterating comments made almost daily by Iranian officials."

by the numbers.

2005-04-11T09:26:00.000-04:00

Poll: US Jews support disengagement: "American Jews, by a nearly three to one margin (62% to 23%) support the disengagement plan, according to a new survey released Monday. In addition, large numbers of American Jews believe that in the context of a peace agreement Israel, should be willing to withdraw from most settlements in the West Bank (41% vs. 27%), as well as allow the return of a token number of Palestinian refugees to those parts of Israel they or their families left (41% to 30%)."

guess who he is talking about.

2005-04-10T10:42:00.000-04:00

John Pilger rejects the Law of Silence: "Can you imagine the BBC apologising to a rogue regime that practises racism and ethnic cleansing; that has 'effectively legalised the use of torture' (Amnesty); that holds international law in contempt, having defied hundreds of UN resolutions and built an apartheid wall in defiance of the International Court of Justice; that has demolished thousands of people's homes and given its soldiers the right to assassinate; and whose leader was judged 'personally responsible' for the massacre of more than 2,000 people?"

"...the Zionist state remains the cause of more regional grievance and sheer terror than all the Muslim states combined. ... the Israeli army, a terrorist organisation by any reasonable measure, is protected and rewarded in the west. ... Israel is the guard dog of America's plans for the Middle East. ... In understanding Israel's enduring colonial role in the Middle East, it is too simple to see the outrages of Ariel Sharon as an aberrant version of a democracy that lost its way. The myths that abound in middle-class Jewish homes in Britain about Israel's heroic, noble birth have long been reinforced by a "liberal" or "left-wing" Zionism as virulent and essentially destructive as the Likud strain." - pilger

more on the antisemite here and here. try and spend 10 minutes reading pilger's site. hat tip: backspin.

media training.

2005-04-10T10:13:00.001-04:00

Masked Palestinian militants from Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade use real rockets and launchers to perform a training exercise for the media, in central Gaza Strip, Saturday April 9, 2005. Palestinian militant groups have said they would call off a temporary cease-fire if Israeli extremists who oppose a Gaza pullout hold a rally Sunday at a Jerusalem Islamic holy site as they have threatened. (AP Photo/Hatem Moussa)

Masked Palestinian militants from Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade run while carrying real home-made rockets, as they perform a training exercise for the media, in central Gaza Strip, Saturday April 9, 2005. Palestinian militant groups have said they would call off a temporary cease-fire if Israeli extremists who oppose a Gaza pullout hold a rally Sunday at a Jerusalem Islamic holy site as they have threatened. (AP Photo/Hatem Moussa)

if you ignore history, this is promising.

2005-04-08T13:47:00.000-04:00

Report: Hezbollah to drop arms if Israel quits Shebaa: "Hezbollah would be prepared to discuss conditional disarmament if Israel withdrew from a disputed border area, the Lebanese guerrilla group's deputy leader said in a British newspaper interview on Friday. Sheikh Naim Kassem told the Financial Times that disarmament, called for by Washington and the United Nations, could pave the way for Hezbollah's fighters to become a kind of reservist army working with Lebanese authorities. But he said talks could not take place while Israel remained in the Shebaa Farms area, a tiny disputed border enclave between Lebanon, Israel and the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, conquered from Syrian during the 1967 Six Day War." some background here and here.

"kyoto target is economically infeasible"

2005-04-08T13:15:00.000-04:00

NORMAN'S SPECTATOR: FEDERAST FOLLIES: "The House of Commons environment committee was warned yesterday the economy could shrink annually by over 5% until the end of the decade if Ottawa insists on meeting the short-term obligations under the Kyoto environmental protocol. The evidence, tabled by Kyoto critic and climate change expert Ross McKitrick from the University of Guelph, painted a dire economic portrait of what Kyoto means to Canadian households -- and that is, undoubtedly, a recession."

the government is corrupt.

2005-04-08T13:11:00.000-04:00

Brault alleges Liberal officials got kickbacks: "The Montreal ad executive at the heart of the federal sponsorship scandal says Liberal organizers pressed him into giving them more than $1.2-million in cash, phony invoices and other disguised payments in exchange for government contracts and favours." The sponsorship story you can finally read: "Jean Brault, the president of Groupaction Marketing, told the Gomery inquiry, in virtually unchallenged and so far uncorroborated testimony, that Liberal party members asked him, even strong-armed him, for cash payments. He also said he was asked to put Liberal party loyalists on his payroll during the years when his firm was winning the lion's share of contracts from the sponsorship program -- a strategy designed to boost the federal government's visibility in Quebec. (part 2 here)" On body packs and payoffs -- 'I had only seen this in movies': "Shortly before Mr. Wiseman entered the restaurant, Mr. Brault stood up and left for a few minutes. 'The other guy [Mr. Wiseman] arrived. I had left for the washroom. When I came back, [Mr. Wiseman and Mr. Morselli] were sitting, and the envelope wasn't there,' Mr. Brault said, explaining that the three engaged in small talk for the rest of the lunch. Mr. Brault said he asked for a return favour from Mr. Morselli a few months later, after learning that one of Groupaction's contracts with Justice Canada was up for renewal. Mr. Brault wanted the contract extended until mid-2002, and he had told Mr. Morselli that the postponement of the contract's expiry would be worth $100,000 to him. To his surprise, Mr. Morselli quickly accepted the offer, but insisted that the payment be made in cash." The Globe and Mail: Cash was not enough: "Several beneficiaries were relatives or friends of then-public-works-minister Alfonso Gagliano. Testifying in an exasperated tone, Mr. Brault recalled that, in addition to seeking cash donations, Mr. Gagliano's top organizer, Joseph Morselli, also reminded him to send boxes of photocopier paper. Mr. Brault also helped with Mr. Gagliano's annual fundraising golf tournament at the fancy Verchères golf club, outside Montreal." Quebec parties received payments, commission told: "Quebec's two major provincial parties received hefty payments, in contravention of electoral law, the testimony of Montreal ad executive Jean Brault reveals. While sponsorship money was redirected through his firm into the coffers of Jean Charest's Quebec Liberal Party, the Parti Québécois also received illegal contributions through his employees, the ad executive told the Gomery inquiry. Mr. Brault told the inquiry he received orders to funnel a secret $50,000 payment to Mr. Charest's provincial Liberals during the 1998 election campaign through another Montreal ad agency, Groupe Everest." Martin officials can't escape bombshell's fallout: "The explosive testimony at the Gomery inquiry has embroiled a number of officials in the Martin government and the current Liberal machine, casting doubts about the government's claims that the scandal was restricted to a 'parallel' group of Liberals. ... The chief of staff to Heritage Minister Liza Frulla was suspended with pay yesterday after an allegation surfaced that he held a fake job at Groupaction in 1998. John Welch asked to be suspended from his position so he could refute the claim that he made $96,000 in salary at Groupaction while working mainly for the Liberal Party. Another Liberal organizer in the Martin camp, Jacques Roy, was recently removed from the party's payroll following an allegation that he was paid by Groupaction for partisan work." Former PM ducks television crew: "Jean Chrétien was enjoying his lunch at his regular haunt, Hy's Steakhouse, yesterday when the Gomery commission bombs began to fall on political Ottawa. One of those bombs was that his 87-year-old brother, Gabriel, and his niece, Maria Lyne Chrétien, were both cited by Quebec ad executive Jean Brault at the commission."

what a difference a fence makes.

2005-04-08T12:49:00.000-04:00

Editor's Notes: The barrier comes of age: "Until three years ago, a would-be killer from Jenin, Nablus, Tulkarm or Kalkilya needed only to walk, pedal or drive a few kilometers, taking basic precautions to evade army patrols, in order to reach even major population centers, like Tel Aviv and Netanya, on the coast of Israel. And dozens upon dozens of them did so. No negotiated accommodation post-1967 meant no border between Israel and the West Bank and nothing physical therefore, in contrast to Gaza, to prevent illegal workers, car thieves and suicide bombers making the journey into the heart of the country. Many Israelis scoffed at the notion of a mere fence, however sophisticated, affording a significant contribution to our security. Many abroad echoed the Palestinian claim that there was no security imperative behind its construction at all – a lie unnecessarily given legs by the planners' original intention to fence in 16 percent of the West Bank. Now that has been reduced to 7%, following petitions to our Supreme Court, with a much reduced 10,000 Palestinians likely to find themselves on the western side of the fence when it is finally sealed. The barrier has not been the sole factor behind the dramatic decline in suicide bombings since spring 2002. Israel changed its fundamental policy following the Park Hotel bombing, reimposing its security control over major Palestinian cities in the West Bank, sending troops into the residential zones in Jenin and Nablus where the bomb-makers and bomber-dispatchers had believed themselves immune, and making arrests by the thousand. These in turn yielded the intelligence information that, via targeted strikes from the air and interceptions on the ground, was central to the thwarting of a steadily rising proportion of the attacks. And, more recently, the death of the weapons-importing, terror-funding, 'martyr'-eulogizing Yasser Arafat, helped too."

...with a suit.

2005-04-08T12:41:00.000-04:00

Plus ca Change: "True, Mahmud Abbas (Abu Mazen) has changed the policies of the Palestinian Authority. But it's also true that it's still the same Palestinian Authority. Thus, post-Arafat diplomacy rests upon the old Arafat bureaucracy. What's more, the turnaround that Abu Mazen is executing is being carried out largely by the same people that he inherited from his predecessor. The structure of the PA and its personnel are almost identical to what they were before. ... What we have is the same old PA, though it's cloaked in some new policies that don't cover all the old politics that still control reality. Israel has a new partner indeed, but in words and not in deeds."

it gets better!

2005-04-08T12:38:00.000-04:00

Ahenakew: 'I am a holocaust victim': "During the final day of David Ahenakew's hate-crime trial, the former national aboriginal leader testified he is a 'holocaust victim' and that he doesn't understand why he was singled out by the justice system for his anti-Semitic remarks."

credibility can't be at stake when none exists in the first place.

2005-04-07T10:41:00.000-04:00

Without reform of human rights body, UN credibility at stake, Annan says: "Speaking on the eleventh anniversary of the start of the Rwanda genocide and addressing the very human rights body he wants to replace, Secretary-General Kofi Annan today warned Member States that without reform of the United Nations human rights machinery the credibility of the world body itself was at stake. 'Unless we re-make our human rights machinery, we may be unable to renew public confidence in the United Nations itself,' he told the 53-member UN Human Rights Commission in Geneva, urging support for his proposal to replace it with a leaner, more authoritative and more empowered body elected by a two-thirds vote of the General Assembly."

now i've heard everything.

2005-04-07T10:28:00.000-04:00

Medicine, wine blamed for anti-Semitic tirade: "David Ahenakew's lawyer plans to argue today that prescription medication and wine likely led to his anti-Semitic tirade more than two years ago, despite the former national aboriginal leader's testimony this week that he stands by the remarks. Mr. Ahenakew's medication had recently been doubled and his behaviour was 'caused clearly by a chemical imbalance in the blood being related to diabetes. In addition to that he had two glasses of wine the night before,' Doug Christie told reporters outside the downtown courtroom yesterday. 'That's likely what caused a spontaneous and unpremeditated expression of views that he wouldn't otherwise use in good judgment.'"

are you ready for what's coming?

2005-04-06T12:27:00.000-04:00

Moderate growth projected for Canadian Jewy: "The number of Jews in Canada will likely continue to grow modestly over the next 12 years, but will remain the same as a percentage of the country’s total population, according to a report issued last month by Statistics Canada. ... If trends of the recent past continue, there will be 349,200 Jews in the country by 2006, 360,800 by 2011, and 375,100 by 2017. Jews will represent a constant 1.1 per cent of Canadians through those years. ... While Jews are expected to maintain their relative strength compared to the total Canadian population, they are rapidly losing ground to the Muslim community. Under the reference scenario, Muslims will increase by 145 per cent between 2001 and 2017, and reach 1.42 million or 4.1 per cent of the total population. In the most generous scenario, if immigration quotas are raised, the Muslim community will increase by more than 200 per cent. Muslims also have a comparatively high birth rate, which contributes to this growth. ... The report notes that Judaism is the only major non-Christian denomination that will not grow at a rate greater than the population as a whole." according to recent reports: (a) the world population grew by 70% between the years 1970-2003 while the jewish population grew by only 2%; (b) world jewry is losing an average of 50,000 jews per year - or 150 jews every day; (c) there are about 12.9 million jews in the world. about 55% of canadian jewish children attend attend jewish day schools. canadian jews intermarry at a rate of about 35%. these numbers may not be entirely accurate but this pretty much sums it up.

the most notorious of NIF fellows?

2005-04-06T12:05:00.000-04:00

NIF 2004 FELLOW SHAMAI LEIBOWITZ: SUPPORT FOR DIVESTMENT AND INGLE-STATE SOLUTIONS: "Under the twenty-year old Israel-U.S. Civil Liberties Program, the New Israel Fund sends a pair of Fellows annually to the American University's Washington College of Law in Washington, D.C. The Fellows receive a full tuition waiver as they complete the one year Master's Degree in Law program (LL.M.), as well as a $2,000 stipend for living expenses. In exchange for the stipend and waiver, the Fellows must agree to return to Israel after completion of their studies and work for a year in a NIF-approved civil rights organization. The NIF in Israel is responsible for selecting the fellows, subject only to the condition that at least one of the Fellows must be a woman. In recent years, the NIF has unofficially adopted an additional condition that one of the Fellows must be an Arab. ... The 2004 Jewish Fellow is Shamai Leibowitz. Since receiving the Fellowship, Leibowitz has devoted great efforts to advancing the cause of economic and diplomatic war against the existence of the Jewish state. ... Leibowitz achieved public recognition in Israel for his decision to represent Marwan Barghouti, West Bank leader of the terrorist al Aqsa Martyrs Brigade in his murder trial in Israel. Leibowitz apparently took on the representation because of his admiration for his client, and he claimed that trying Barghouti was immoral, since Barghouti was the Palestinian Moses leading his people to liberty (Ha'aretz, 4 Oct. 2002). Leibowitz expanded on the theme in a column published by the Israeli news website nfc.co.il, where he argued that the proper understanding of the Exodus story is that the Almighty acted as a terrorist, killing Egyptian children and innocents as punishment for Egyptian arrogance in lording it over another nation, and it would behoove Israel to ask itself how it has become the Egyptians." that didn't stop the canadian jewish news for printing this mostly favourable article: New Israel Fund focuses on democratic values: "Since its inception in 1979, the New Israel Fund (NIF) and its staff have always faced criticism. ... The most recent attack comes from the Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs which accuses the organization of supporting radical non-governmental organizations (NGOs). ... During its 25 year history, the NIF was one of the first organizations to found rape crisis centres and homes for abused women. Now, Davis said, these programs are supported by mainstream organizations. Through Shatil, which means seedling, the NIF encourages the development of social change organizations in Israel. That way, Israelis are involved with the problems in their own communities. The organization’s other projects include working toward religious pluralism, promoting civil and human rights, and pursuing social and economic justice. It supports counselling centres for haredi women and improving the environment in urban neighbourhoods."

pipes on the columbia whitewash.

2005-04-06T11:51:00.000-04:00

Whitewash at Columbia: "Given the biased composition of the Ad Hoc Grievance Committee and the censorious management of the coverage of the committee it is difficult to conclude that the findings are anything but a whitewash. The controversy surrounding Middle East studies at Columbia encompasses far more than just this field or university. Middle East studies is vitally important in our war on Islamist terror. We cannot adequately fight an enemy, when our analysts and diplomats are trained in classes to apologize for them." more on pipes' recent talk at U of T here.

by the numbers.

2005-04-06T10:55:00.000-04:00

Peace Index / Public supports withdrawal and West Bank building: "Support for the disengagement plan stands today at 60 percent - 36 percent oppose it and the rest have no clear opinion on the issue. ... About two-thirds think the disengagement plan is not the end of the road, but instead will constitute a first step toward an extensive dismantlement of Jewish settlements in the West Bank as part of a final agreement with the Palestinians. .... Following the publication of the government's plan to build 3,500 housing units between Ma'aleh Adumim and Jerusalem ... A clear majority of 64 percent support the construction and only 24 percent oppose it. ... In the Arab public as well, a majority supports the disengagement plan - 80 percent - a proportion considerably larger than among the Jewish public. ... The Oslo Index for the entire population stood at 40.2 (Jewish sample 37.0), and the Negotiation Index for the whole population came this month to 59.8 (Jewish sample 57.7)."

ukrainian antisemitism.

2005-04-06T10:43:00.000-04:00

Ukrainian Jews worried about new party: "Ukraine's Jewish groups voiced their concern Wednesday over the creation of a political party that expresses anti-Semitic views. The Ukrainian Justice Ministry last month registered the Ukrainian Conservative party, which openly vowed it will stand against Zionism and fascism. The party wants to restore the statement of citizens' ethnicity in Ukrainian passports, a practice his practice facilitated discrimination against Jews in the ex-Soviet Union. The party is led by Heorhiy Shchyokin, head of the Kiev-based International Academy of Personnel Management, which teaches some 35,000 students." for more on ukrainian/jewish issues go here.

YWCA regains some credibility.

2005-04-06T10:39:00.000-04:00

American YWCA rejects Israel=Nazi document: "The American branch of the Young Women's Christian Association has formally rejected a document written by one if its senior officials that equated Israelis with Hitler. Doris Pagelkopf, vice president of the World YWCA and the American representative on the World YWCA board, made the inflammatory comment in a 'witness report' to the international organization following a Middle East tour last spring. 'I strongly felt the correlation to World War II. During that war Hitler tried to exterminate the Jews and now a group of Israelis... is trying to choke off and rid the land of Palestinians,' she wrote. Although the comment was excluded from the official report, it generated much opposition, both within the movement and without. In March, Pagelkopf told The Jerusalem Post that she regretted any hurt her report had caused. At the annual meeting of its national coordinating board over the weekend, YWCA USA made it clear that the comment did not reflect its organizational perspective."

look out! here comes canada!

2005-04-05T17:50:00.000-04:00

Canada presses for probe of Kazemi 'murder': "Canada has demanded an international forensic investigation into the torture and death of Canadian photojournalist Zahra Kazemi in Iran, saying it is fed up with Iranian 'lies' and 'coverups.' The toughly-worded announcement was aimed at increasing international pressure on Iran’s President Mohammad Khatami, who was attending a UN conference today in Paris." between our "toughly-worded announcement" and the "international community" we should get justice in no time.

another broken liberal promise.

2005-04-05T17:48:00.000-04:00

Auditor finds major security gaps: "Three and a half years after the Sept. 11 terror attacks, airport screeners are letting fake bombs and guns get through security and the Public Safety Department still doesn’t know who would be in charge in a disaster, Auditor General Sheila Fraser said today. In her latest report, Fraser said there are still major gaps in emergency planning and air security." which makes this news not surprising: Passport required to enter U.S. within two years

ahenakew trial starts.

2005-04-05T15:11:00.000-04:00

David Ahenakew's lawyer tries to get tapes excluded from hate-crimes trial: "David Ahenakew's defence lawyer tried to get tapes of the anti-Semitic remarks the disgraced aboriginal leader made in a speech excluded from his client's hate-crime trial as it began Monday. Doug Christie argued that Ahenakew's speech to a conference of about 300 First Nations people in December 2002 constituted a private conversation between himself and his people, meaning it can't be used in the prosecution of a hate crime. ... [On the tapes] He claims to be a close personal friend of former prime minister Jean Chretien and that aboriginal medicine can cure cancer. He refers to the United States and Israel as 'bullies' in the world and blames the Jews for starting the Second World War without explaining why he thinks that. ... After Ahenakew made the speech, that reporter, James Parker of the Saskatoon StarPhoenix, asked him to clarify his remarks. That's when Ahenakew called Jews a 'disease,' and said Hitler was justified when he 'fried six million of those guys.' Monday was the first day of Ahenakew's trial. He's charged under the section of the Criminal Code that prohibits the wilful promotion of hatred against an identifiable group. If guilty, he could face up to six months behind bars. ... He served as chief of the Assembly of First Nations from 1982 to 1985. He was named a member of the Order of Canada in 1978 for his work as a member of a United Nations committee and of the World Indigenous Peoples Council, as well as for years of service to Indians and Metis in Saskatchewan." doug christie is infamous in canada for defending all the big canadian antisemities: holocaust denier ernst zundel, school teacher/jew-hater/holocaust denier james keegstra and even war criminal imre finta. of course, our liberal government hasn't decided it proper to strip ahenakew of his order of canada - "our country's highest honour for lifetime achievement". UPDATE: Native leader stands by anti-Semitic comments

more from columbia.

2005-04-05T14:38:00.000-04:00

Columbia profs slam Israel: "Several members of Columbia University’s faculty spoke out against Israeli policies and Zionism. The faculty members addressed several hundred students and other members of the university community at a campus event Monday billed as supporting academic freedom. The event came after a faculty committee issued a report last week on charges that professors had bullied pro-Israel students and found one such charge credible. 'If some Columbia faculty are going to be stigmatized for being anti-Zionism, then let me be among them,' said Noha Radwan, an assistant professor in the Middle East & Asian Languages & Cultures department. 'I am anti-Zionism.'" noha radwan is listed as the 2005 course instructor for "introduction to islamic civilization", "arabic literature", "readings in classical arabic literature" and "studies in modern arabic lit" at columbia. UPDATE: you can read an account of the "teach-in" here in the columbia spectator. notably missing is the above quote.

not for lack of effort.

2005-04-05T11:11:00.000-04:00

Major Terror Attacks Thwarted Since January 2005: "The months of February and March 2005 saw a major drop in terrorist attacks (February - 126 terrorist attacks, March- 133 terrorist attacks) as opposed to 405 terrorist attacks perpetrated in January which also saw a major decline in mortar fire, missile and rocket attacks and light gun fire. No Israelis were killed in terrorist attacks in March 2005. Likewise, there was a major decline in the amount of wounded Israelis with 60 wounded in February as opposed to 54 in January."

probation?

2005-04-05T10:54:00.000-04:00

German neo-Nazis convicted of plot to bomb Munich synagogue: "Five neo-Nazis were convicted Tuesday of involvement in plans to bomb the dedication of a Munich synagogue and community center in 2003. All were sentenced to probation. Most of the defendants - three women and two men - were charged with membership in a terrorist organization, a serious charge rarely applied in Germany against the extreme right. The Munich state court sentenced them to probation ranging from one year, four months, to one year, 10 months. Police said in September 2003 that they had foiled the attack, seizing 1.7 kilograms (nearly 4 pounds) of TNT, 14 kilograms (31 pounds) of suspected explosives and two hand grenades in raids. The German president and top Jewish leaders attended the Nov. 9, 2003, dedication of the new Jewish center."

omen signs in the shapes of things to come.

2005-04-05T10:46:00.000-04:00

Behind facade of progress, experts see new spasm of violence brewing: "Israelis and Palestinians may appear to be on the verge of a new peace process, but Israeli army generals and seasoned observers of the Palestinian scene predict a new round of fighting, perhaps as early as next fall, after Israel completes its withdrawal from the Gaza Strip and northern West Bank. The generals point to continued weapons smuggling and other military preparations by Palestinians in both Gaza and the West Bank, while the Palestinian watchers see signs of growing discontent and radicalization among the Palestinian public. According to military intelligence estimates, if there is a new eruption of terrorism it will come from the West Bank and could include Kassam rockets being fired at towns and cities inside Israel proper."

UK antisemitism.

2005-04-05T10:24:00.000-04:00

Lecturers may boycott Israeli academics: "Israeli academics who refuse to condemn their government's actions in the occupied territories risk a boycott by the UK's leading lecturers' union. The Association of University Teachers' annual council, which begins on April 20 in Eastbourne, will also debate whether to boycott three of Israel's eight universities - Haifa University, Bar Ilan University and the Hebrew University in Jerusalem - over their alleged complicity with the government's policies on the Palestinian territories. The union voted against an academic boycott policy two years ago, but campaigners believe the motions are more likely to be passed this year. The new boycott motion contains a clause to exclude 'conscientious Israeli academics and intellectuals opposed to their state's colonial and racist policies'. Palestinian academics have also issued a call for an international boycott of Israel. Sue Blackwell, a lecturer at Birmingham University and one of the authors of the motion, said: 'We are now better organised. One of the reasons we didn't win last time was that there was no clear public call from Palestinians for the boycott. Now we have that, in writing.' The Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel called for a boycott last year. It was signed by 60 academic trade unions, non-governmental organisations and associations in the West Bank and Gaza. A separate poll of staff at al-Quds University, seen by Education Guardian, reveals that 75% support the boycott." Boycott call resurfaces: "Every day, all over the world, thousands of bundles of research grant applications make their way by airmail from author to funding council to academic reviewer and back again. Some are successful, while others, frustratingly, are not. To be reviewed, to review, or even just to be asked, can be an honour. But when the Israel Science Foundation, the biggest government funder of Israeli research, approaches a European academic there is a political cloud hanging over the process. In recent weeks, the foundation has received two rejections from British academics to review an application. In one, received last month, the unnamed academic describes his 'utmost respect' for the academic whose grant he's been asked to review, but refuses on the basis that it is Israeli money and he disapproves of their government's actions towards the Palestinian people. 'I hope you understand this is nothing personal,' he adds. The second, also received last month, again says the author won't review the proposal. 'I support the academic boycott of Israeli academic institutions, as a means of registering my protest against Israelis' lack of respect for human rights and continuing illegal occupation of Palestinian land.' Almost three years ago to the day, moves towards an academic boycott of Israel began in earnest when a moratorium on European funding for Israeli research was suggested by Steven and Hilary Rose and 120 other academics, in a letter to the Guardian. The issue has burst on to the front pages intermittently: when Umist's Mona Baker sacked two Israeli linguists from a translation journal she edited; when Oxford's Andrew Wilkie refused a place to an Israeli PhD student; and last year, when the School of Oriental and African Studies hosted a conference on the subject entitled Resisting Israeli Apartheid: Strategies and Principles." hat tip: backspin.

classic.

2005-04-05T10:09:00.000-04:00

Arab report: Limited political reform, U.S. action at fault: "In a long-awaited report contested by the U.S. and Egypt; Arab intellectuals and reformers stated there were no significant political reforms in the Arab world in the year after October 2003. The third Arab Human Development Report (AHDR), released on Tuesday under UN auspices, says most reforms were 'embryonic and fragmentary'. However, the report goes on to state that the United States contributed to an international context which hampered progress, through its policy toward Israel, its actions in Iraq and security measures affecting Arabs. The U.S. and Egyptian governments had criticized parts of an early draft of the UN report, leading to a dispute which held up its release for at least three months. But the UN Development Programme (UNDP) eventually decided to put it out under its logo, with a disclaimer in the preface. The most controversial parts of the report, subtitled Towards Freedom in the Arab World, describe the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territory and the occupation of Iraq by the United States and its allies as violations of freedom and obstacles to human development there and in the region. The report goes on to say that the U.S. further undermined the international system by repeatedly using or threatening to use its UN Security Council veto, therefore enabling Israel to build new Jewish settlements and continue with its barrier in the West Bank." read a summary of the ~~propaganda~~ "report" here and the good part here (pdf).

canada's lack of action.

2005-04-05T09:57:00.000-04:00

Failing to protect our own: "Zahra Kazemi was a Canadian citizen, a member of our family, of our human family. Her rights were viciously violated by an oppressive regime. The freelance photographer's crime? Taking pictures outside Tehran's Evin prison. Canada's response? We're still working on it. Twenty-two months after Kazemi's death, the Canadian government has been unable, unwilling or simply incompetent to act. Our Foreign Affairs department has waffled with the conviction of the narrator of T.S. Eliot's The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock, who asked, 'Do I dare to eat a peach?' Actually, that's being too nice, too 'Canadian.' The ugly truth is that our government actively suppressed details of Kazemi's death until Dr. Azam let the cat out of the bag. The gruesome information released last week was in fact known to our Foreign Affairs department last year. ... Heaven forbid that we show some spine and act alone in the face of such inhumanity, in response to human-rights violations that we know cannot be isolated. But no, our Prime Minister is banking on the international community to rally 'round a country increasingly famed for its diplomatic fecklessness. ... Canada's lack of action is, of course, a form of action, one that makes all Canadians complicit in Kazemi's death. After all, the government is us. As such, we have a responsibility as citizens to make our voices heard. Paul Martin can be reached at pm@pm.gc.ca or 613-992-4211; Pierre Pettigrew at pettigrew.p@parl.gc.ca or 613-995-1851. Let's not allow Zahra Kazemi and the horrible lesson her death reveals about Canada to be forgotten."

ADL finds increased antisemitism in america.

2005-04-04T19:31:00.000-04:00

Anti-Semitic incidents in the U.S. hit 9-year high: "Anti-Semitic incidents in the United States hit a nine-year high last year, at 1,821, according to a report published yesterday by the Anti-Defamation League. However, a different ADL survey also released yesterday found a slight decline in the percentage of Americans who hold anti-Semitic views. ... The second ADL survey found that only 14 percent of Americans hold 'clearly anti-Semitic' views, down from 17 percent two years ago. However, this figure still represents some 35 million people. The poll also found that one-third of Americans think U.S. Jews are more loyal to Israel than to the U.S., 30 percent believe that the Jews killed Jesus, and 15 percent think Jews have too much power in America." more here. you can read the audit here.

US appeals court: requirements for proving statehood not satisfied by PA.

2005-04-04T16:03:00.000-04:00

US court rejects PA claim of sovereign immunity: "The United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit rejected the Palestinian Authority's claim that it enjoyed sovereign immunity and upheld a lower court ruling ordering it to pay $116 million to the estate of Hamas terror victim Yaron Ungar. The US decision could influence an Israeli Supreme Court decision on appeals by the PA against a lower court ruling, which also rejected its claims that it enjoyed sovereign immunity against local lawsuits by terror victims. 'The defendants [The PA and the PLO] argue that the state of Palestine exists,' wrote the court. 'That they constitute core elements of the state and that therefore they are immune from suit. This argument has a quicksilver quality. It is hard to pin down exactly when or how the defendants assert that Palestine achieved statehood. We recognize that the status of the Palestinian territories is in many ways sui generis (exceptional.) Here, however, the defendants have not carried their burden of showing that Palestine satisfied the requirements for statehood under the applicable principles of international law at any time.' .. Yaron Ungar, an American-Israeli, his wife, Efrat, and their son Ishai were driving home from a wedding on June 9, 1996, when terrorists belonging to the Hamas organization opened fire, killing both parents. David Strachman, who had been appointed administrator of their estates, filed suit in the District of Rhode Island against the PA in accordance with the Anti-Terrorism Act. "

history on trial.

2005-04-04T11:26:00.000-04:00

Backspin: C-SPAN airing Lipstadt show: "After all the controversy, C-SPAN is now advertising that they're airing a segment on Prof. Deborah Lipstadt's new book after all. The show is today at 4:30 PM Eastern, and according to the C-SPAN site, clips of Irving will be aired as well. Here's the email Lipstadt received from C-SPAN today, notifying her of the show. You can now view the show here (in RealPlayer), and here is Prof. Lipstadt's reaction to the show."

more anti-zionism at the guardian.

2005-04-04T11:23:00.000-04:00

We need a post-Zionist leap of faith: "Does the religious and historical attachment of so many Jews to the 'land of Israel' justify the Zionist project? The idea of a Jewish homeland continues to pose two problems. The first is the denial of Palestinian rights, especially the rights of the dispossessed refugees, who see an Israel built on their homeland. And the second is what 'homeland' means for the Jewish majority that lives outside Israel. ... The dispossession of the Palestinians reinforces this argument. How can we justify the right to Israeli citizenship when the Palestinians have no country? Arab-Jewish reconciliation demands an alternative approach. It can legitimately point, borrowing an insight from Walter Benjamin, to 'sparks of hope' from the past history of Arab-Jewish relations in the Middle East. Some Israelis understand this. Israeli intellectuals associated with the trend known as post-Zionism imagine with confidence a Jewish life in the area without a Zionist state. A tiny number of former Zionist leaders, such as Meron Benvenisti, one-time deputy mayor of Jerusalem, agree. He says the Zionist revolution is over. He suggests scrapping the law of return that allows Jews anywhere to become Israeli citizens. He says he loves the land and it's an Arabic land. Perhaps the old Jewish Enlightenment thinkers who believed in assimilation were much more correct than even they realised. Imagine the great-great-grandchildren of European Jewish settlers in Palestine assimilating into Arabic culture, absorbing it and contributing to its development, some time this century." backspin suggests this link.

more from russia.

2005-04-04T10:55:00.000-04:00

Mass call to outlaw Jewish groups: "Over 5,000 known public activists and members of the clergy in Russia have sent a petition to the state prosecutor's office in which they demand to outlaw Jewish groups. In the petition, the signatories use quotes from Kitzur Shulhan Aruch, which they argue prove their claim that Judaism is a fanatic and racist religion that hates gentiles. Among those who signed the letter, according to Army Radio, are ex-generals, artists and the former world champion in chess. ... The recent anti-Semitic petition comes two months after about 20 members of the lower Russian parliament house, the State Duma, asked Prosecutor- General Vladimir Ustinov to investigate their claims that Jews are fomenting ethnic hatred and provoking anti-Semitism. Arguing that Jews were to blame for anti-Semitism, the authors of the letter demanded that Jewish groups be outlawed, based on legislation against extremism and fomenting ethnic discord. ... The stunning calls to ban all Jewish groups comes amid concerns of persistent anti-Semitism that continues to plague Russia."

new poll.

2005-04-04T10:37:00.000-04:00

Poll: Most Israeli Jews say Israeli Arabs should emigrate: "A majority of Jewish Israelis believe that the state should encourage Israeli Arabs to emigrate, according to a survey conducted by the Dahaf Institute on behalf of Madar, the Palestinian Center for Israel Studies. The survey, conducted in mid-March among a representative sample of 501 Jewish Israelis, found that 42 percent agreed that the state should encourage Israeli Arabs to emigrate, while another 17 percent said they tended to agree with this. This compares to 40 percent who disagreed or tended to disagree. ... The survey also found that only 34 percent of Jewish Israelis support a peace deal that entails a full withdrawal to the 1967 borders, while 65 percent oppose it. Though surveys have consistently shown that 60 percent of Israelis support establishment of a Palestinian state, most pollsters do not specify its borders when asking this question."

the reality.

2005-04-04T10:17:00.000-04:00

every once in a while, the AP (pbui) decides to summarize the big news happening in the middle east. Summary: Abbas to Challenge Militants:

THE CHALLENGE: Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas has finally made moves to challenge the powerful militant groups sowing chaos across the West Bank. THE MOTIVATION: Abbas was spurred into action by an audacious rampage by gunmen through Ramallah and the real fear of electoral defeat, rather than by persistent U.S. and Israeli demands that he crack down on armed groups. FIGHTING CORRUPTION: Abbas forced out West Bank security chief Ismail Jaber - a corruption-tainted patron of some of the militants - and said he would forcibly retire hundreds of senior officers.

i suggest adding another few points.

THE REALITY: As of Saturday night, none of the Fatah gunmen who went on the rampage in the city last Wednesday had been arrested, although their identities and addresses were known to the PA security services. The attackers were led by Jaber Barghouti, a local leader of Fatah's armed wing, the Aksa Martyrs Brigades, who is regarded as the de facto commander of Ramallah. He and his men, according to top security officials, are responsible for an upsurge in crime, including murder, extortion, kidnapping and robbery. Barghouti has been on Israel's list of wanted terrorists for more than three years. That's precisely why Abbas is reluctant to stop him and some 70 gunmen roaming the streets of this city. WHAT WE MAKE SURE TO NEVER TELL YOU: The roadmap that we always accuse Israel of violating demands that "Palestinians declare an unequivocal end to violence and terrorism and undertake visible efforts on the ground to arrest, disrupt, and restrain individuals and groups conducting and planning violent attacks on Israelis anywhere" and that a "Rebuilt and refocused Palestinian Authority security apparatus begins sustained, targeted, and effective operations aimed at confronting all those engaged in terror and dismantlement of terrorist capabilities and infrastructure. This includes commencing confiscation of illegal weapons and consolidation of security authority, free of association with terror and corruption." PICTURES OF THE CHALLENGED TERRORISTS:

A Palestinian Islamic Jihad masked militant holds a rocket-propelled grenade (RPG), front, as others carry rifles during a rally held against the plan of Israeli opponents of the planned Gaza Strip evacuation to rally at the Al Aqsa Mosque compound on April 10, at Rafah refugee camp, southern of Gaza Strip. Monday April, 4 2005. After weeks of hesitation, Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas has finally made moves to challenge the powerful militant groups sowing chaos across the West Bank. (AP Photo/Khalil Hamra)

Zakaria Zubeidi, the local leader of the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades and other militants march along the streets of the West Bank town of Jenin, Saturday April 2, 2005 during a rally to mark the third anniversary of the assault by the Israeli army on the Jenin refugee camp during the operation 'Defensive Shield' in April 2002. 52 Palestinians and 23 Israeli soldiers were killed, hundreds of homes were reduced to rubble, and 2,000 people were left homeless. (AP Photo/Mohammed Ballas)

what a freaking joke.

2005-04-04T10:10:00.000-04:00

PM considers new action against Iran: "On Thursday, Mr. Pettigrew called that new information 'most disturbing' but added that it did not fundamentally change the nature of the case. He rebuffed calls from opposition critics for Canada to take tougher diplomatic action, including recalling its ambassador. But yesterday, Prime Minister Paul Martin said the new account means the international community must hold Iran to account for the death, and he suggested new legal avenues might be open on the international stage. 'I think there's no doubt whether you are talking about international courts or whether you are talking about the UN Commission on Human Rights,' he said, 'I would certainly think the details of what happened to her now in the testimony that has been brought has got to make the world aware of just what Iran is all about and that they have got to be held to account.'" after you're done laughing, read this: Several of the World's Greatest Human Rights Violators Sit on UN Human Rights Panel.

it only took seven years...

2005-04-02T23:47:00.000-05:00

UN committee adopts draft treaty against nuclear terrorism: "After seven years of negotiations, a United Nations committee today adopted a draft international treaty to fight nuclear terrorism, with Secretary-General Kofi Annan calling on all states to sign on to pre-empt what he called 'one of the most urgent threats of our time' that with one attack could change the world forever. The draft adopted by consensus defines acts of nuclear terrorism and strengthens the international legal framework to combat it, requiring those who threaten or commit such crimes to be extradited or prosecuted and encouraging exchange of information and cooperation among states and a broad range of mutual assistance obligations."

dershowitz on columbia.

2005-04-02T23:22:00.000-05:00

Academic Freedom and Intimidation: "It’s hard to compare Columbia with particular universities without being expert on every university. But, certainly, Columbia seems to be the worst, at least among the prominent universities with a significant Jewish student and faculty population. And its department of Middle East studies is reputed to be the worst."

check these pics.

2005-04-02T19:47:00.000-05:00

Inside the IDF Photo Essay: Finding Weapons and Explosives : "As the IDF eases restrictions and removes checkpoints throughout Judea, Samaria and Gaza - Arab civilians continue to be caught smuggling weapons in increasingly creative ways." hat tip: LGF.

columbia fallout.

2005-04-01T09:47:00.000-05:00

CampusJ: Jewish Collegiate News - Columbia University: "Late last night, the Ad-Hoc Committee released its report detailing its findings after months long investigation into charges of intimidation levied against a handful of professors in the MEALAC department. The conclusion: months of research were not necessary. The report treated seriously only three of the most widely publicized out of the well over 60 complaints brought before the committee. In addition, the university attempted to control the media's reaction to the findings of the Ad-Hoc Committee by brokering a deal of exclusivity with the New York Times regarding the report. When approached by members of CAF to gain access to hear the reading of the Committee report, Susan Brown, the university spokesperson divulged that the university had granted the Times exclusive rights to read the report. In return for the right to see the report before anyone else, the New York Times agreed not to seek comment from students." more here, here and here.

UN watch.

2005-04-01T09:33:00.000-05:00

One Middle East policy, for alll: "What needs to change is the voting pattern in the UN of the signatories to the road map who, but for the United States, pursue two policies, one giving lip-service to the road map, the other engaging in a voting pattern at the UN that ignores the road map. The first step on the road map is for the Palestinians 'to end armed activity and all acts of violence against Israelis everywhere.' In calling for the creation of an independent Palestinian state, the road map gives practical meaning to the empty rhetoric of UN resolutions calling for Palestinian 'self-determination' and recognition of the 'inalienable rights of the Palestinian people.' So, too, the borders of the Palestinian state to be determined in Phases 2 and 3 of the road map will determine the fate of the settlements, which will remain and which will not remain. The plain fact is that resolutions in the human rights commission, like those in the General Assembly, have not advanced the peace process one iota. They only confuse things by encouraging extremist elements in the Palestinian camp to point to votes in the UN as evidence that the world is on their side, thereby buttressing their rejection of the road map and Israel's right to exist. Ironically, the Palestinian representative to the UN in Geneva has no such illusions. He recently told me: 'These resolutions are worthless words.' He is right, but the dance goes on."

glick never has good news.

2005-04-01T09:27:00.000-05:00

The Palestine problem: "For its part, Israel has stopped trying to round up fugitive terrorists and has allowed Palestinian forces to deploy in Gaza, Jericho and Tulkarm. It has released hundreds of terrorists from prison – two of whom were just rearrested Sunday night for assembling Kassam rockets in Jenin – and is preparing to release several hundred more in short order. The government is so concerned about funding the PA that recently, Attorney-General Menahem Mazuz interfered with court proceedings regarding damage suits against the PA by Israeli terror victims. Mazuz asked the judges not to place a lien on tax revenues Israel collects for the PA pending judgment, promising that the government would guarantee any awards the courts grants the victims. ... This week we learned that on the military front the Palestinians are gearing up for the Israeli evacuation in two principal ways. First, they are acquiring weapons systems – such as SA-7 Strella anti-aircraft missiles – that constitute a major leap forward in their warmaking capacity against Israel. Second, they are organizing their military-terrorist forces in a way that will prepare them for the next round of terror war against Israel. Abbas's offer two weeks ago to the Palestinian terror groups outside the PA umbrella to move their headquarters from Damascus to Gaza after Israel's evacuation of the area shows that in his strategic thinking, the territory, once empty of Israeli presence, will be transformed into a center for global terror. On Tuesday OC Military Intelligence Aharon Ze'evi Farkash testified before the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee that the Palestinians are now working to transfer terrorists and terror know-how from Gaza to Judea and Samaria. The Palestinian strategy is informed by the belief that Israel is vacating Gaza as a result of Palestinian terror; once all Israeli presence is gone, the main war effort will move to Judea and Samaria, where terror again will force an Israeli retreat. An example of how this strategy is being implemented was exposed during that IDF raid Sunday night in Jenin. One of the arrested terrorists had recently been allowed to return to Judea and Samaria after Israel transferred him to Gaza as a result of his earlier terror involvement. He acquired his knowledge of rocket assembly in Gaza and brought it back to Jenin with him."

that will teach them a lesson.

2005-04-01T09:20:00.000-05:00

Canada maintained ties despite torture revelation: "Federal government officials were told last November that Canadian photojournalist Zahra Kazemi had been brutally tortured and raped by Iranian security officials but that didn't prevent Ottawa from restoring diplomatic ties with Tehran. ... Prime Minister Paul Martin said Kazemi's brutal death is 'simply unacceptable' and will result in as yet undetermined actions by Canada." more disgrace here.

and our government does nothing.

2005-03-31T12:36:00.000-05:00

Kazemi underwent torture and rape, doctor says: "An Iranian doctor who examined Canadian photojournalist Zahra Kazemi before she died says her injuries indicate she was brutally beaten, tortured and raped while in Iranian custody in 2003. ... The Canadian ambassador to Iran was withdrawn in July 2004 in protest of the regime's lack of action but a new envoy was named four months later."

sure, now.

2005-03-31T12:14:00.000-05:00

Abbas Calls for Crackdown After Attack: "Mahmoud Abbas ordered a crackdown on Ramallah militants early Thursday after a group of gunmen fired at his compound in a sign of escalating tensions accompanying the new Palestinian leader's efforts to establish control over Palestinian towns. Also Thursday, police in the West Bank town of Tulkarem demanded the surrender of seven armed Palestinians who burned down a Palestinian checkpoint overnight. ... The gunmen — who said they were members of the Al Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades, an armed group linked to Abbas' Fatah movement — said they went on the rampage after Palestinian security officials forced six of them out of Abbas' headquarters, where they had sought refuge several years ago after Israel began hunting down fugitives. Arafat had allowed more than 20 fugitives to take refuge in his compound." scratch that: "Palestinian officials on Thursday backed away from a declaration that they would go after gunmen who shot up Mahmoud Abbas' office building and rampaged through Ramallah, underlining the difficulties authorities face in restoring order in the chaotic West Bank."

AP (pbui) is getting scared.

2005-03-31T12:13:00.000-05:00

Sharon Plan Looking Like Border Blueprint: "Prime Minister Ariel Sharon — in spectacular fashion and with both overt and tacit support from Washington — is fast imposing a blueprint for Israel's permanent borders that would extend beyond the 1967 frontiers the Palestinians say should frame their future state."

tic toc.

2005-03-31T12:05:00.000-05:00

Three ways to stop Iran: "There are several ways to deal with the Iranian challenge. The current European approach, which the Americans decided to go along with for a while, is to provide incentives to Iran to cooperate on the nuclear issue. Yet this appeasement has little chance of ending the Iranian nuclear program, which has already made significant strides toward producing a bomb. ... The Iranian challenge can be dealt with also by adopting a strategy of indirect approach. This requires focusing on Lebanon – the weakest link in the Iran-Syria-Lebanon nexus – which harbors the radical Shi'ite strategic challenges to the West, i.e. terrorism and nuclear proliferation. It is the Lebanese arena where much of the future direction of the Iranian foreign policy will be decided. Liberating Lebanon from Syria will in turn weaken the Damascus regime, leading possibly to its demise. ... Finally, in accordance with the tenets of the indirect approach, the US can and should aim for regime change in Teheran"

can't wait for the new bill 101.

2005-03-31T12:01:00.000-05:00

Arabic second only to French by '06 in francophone schools: "Hobbled by immigration policies that favour applicants from French-speaking countries, including Arab ones like Algeria and Morocco, and by education policies that send most immigrants to French-language schools, English has not been able to keep up."

panel vindicates itself, indicts pro-israel students.

2005-03-31T11:12:00.000-05:00

Columbia Panel Reports No Proof of Anti-Semitism: "An ad hoc faculty committee charged with investigating complaints that pro-Israel Jewish students were harassed by pro-Palestinian professors at Columbia University said it had found one instance in which a professor 'exceeded commonly accepted bounds' of behavior when he became angry at a student who he believed was defending Israel's conduct toward Palestinians. But the report, obtained by The New York Times and scheduled for release today, said it had found 'no evidence of any statements made by the faculty that could reasonably be construed as anti-Semitic.' It did, however, describe a broader environment of incivility on campus, with pro-Israel students disrupting lectures on Middle Eastern studies and some faculty members feeling that they were being spied on." read it here. hat tip: LGF

the "international community".

2005-03-30T21:31:00.000-05:00

Poll: Iran not a nuclear threat: "Almost six out of 10 adults in Britain, France and Germany say that Iran does not pose a nuclear threat to Europe, according to the findings of a new CNN/TIME poll. ... Adults in France were more likely to think Iran posed a nuclear threat (34 per cent) than in Germany (30 per cent) and Britain (27 per cent.) Of those adults surveyed who did believe Iran posed a nuclear threat, 59 per cent said diplomacy was the best way to handle the situation. Of those adults surveyed who did believe Iran posed a nuclear threat, 59 per cent said diplomacy was the best way to handle the situation. Just three per cent said using military force alone was the best course of action. Support for military action was highest in Britain (seven percent) and lowest in Germany (zero percent.) An additional 22 percent across all countries supported the combined approach of using both diplomacy and military force." ah, yes.

great LGF post.

2005-03-30T21:24:00.000-05:00

lgf: Sheep Among Wolves: "Malaysia is hosting an international conference titled 'Peace in Palestine,' featuring for the first time an Israeli delegation—composed of far left peace activists. At a debate today, Arab 'journalists' and Islamic 'human rights' activists came out strongly in favor of suicide bombing."