The Latest from Mondoweiss for 12/03/2010

 

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Here are the headlines from Mondoweiss for 12/03/2010: Gazan flowers headed to market in Holland because Israel won't allow them in the West Bank Oh, Canada: Al Jazeera investigates 'the other special relationship' The big fat national conversation could actually start w/ California divestment initiative The Middle East's only pretend democracy Watching The Pianist in Gaza US admits it failed to get settlement freeze; Israel announces new building near East Jerusalem and Palestinians say 'Israel has chosen West Bank settlements over peace' Big news: $20,000 matching donation fund for Mondoweiss for December This Hanukkah, help shatter the 'Israel barrier' Young Princeton Jews object to Koolaid being served in Jewish identity cafeteria Jordan to U.S.: The way to stop Iran's 'octopus' is to address Palestinian suffering Gazan flowers headed to market in Holland because Israel won't allow them in the West Bank Dec 02, 2010 10:56 pm | Gisha This week the Israeli Ministry of Defense announced the "beginning of the export season" in the Gaza Strip. "The export season" entails the continuation of a short-term program, sponsored – from planting through to distribution – by the Dutch government. The program allows a few farmers in Gaza to sell strawberries and flowers in European markets. So far this week, 7 trucks have left the Strip. As has been the case in every year since June 2007, the export of flowers and strawberries is the exception that proves the rule. While in 2005 Palestinian residents of Gaza exported approximately 70 truckloads per day to Israel, the West Bank and abroad, and while Israel promised, in the 2005 Agreement on Movement and Access, to permit the transfer of 400 outbound trucks daily from Gaza, since June 2007, only 262 trucks have left Gaza – a daily average of one-third of a truck. The overall export is summed up in the following table: Trucks leaving Gaza on average per day, June 14, 2007 – Dec. 1, 2010 (Source: Gisha) This year, the Ministry of Defense promised an increase in the levels of export: up to 10 trucks a day of strawberries and flowers during the winter, and for the first time since 2007, within the framework of the Dutch project, Israel is considering permitting export of cherry tomatoes and red peppers. The general ban on export – of furniture, clothes, and other agricultural produce – remains in place. It is therefore not surprising that two-thirds of the factories in Gaza are not operating or operate at minimal capacity, and unemployment in the Strip hovers at around. 40%. The continuation of the general ban on export raises questions regarding the sincerity of Israel's announcement that restrictions on goods entering and leaving Gaza will be limited to those necessary to address security concerns. If Israel can check trucks loaded with strawberries and flowers, why can't it check the goods produced by factory workers in Gaza, as it did until June 2007? Another restriction, which has a less than clear relationship to security, is the refusal by the Ministry of Defense to allow Gaza residents to sell their products in Israel, the West Bank, and Jordan, as they did until 2007. If flowers enter Israel on their way to Europe, why does Israel refuse to allow them to continue to the West Bank or Jordan or to flower shops in Israel? The land crossings with Israel are the only way out for goods, because of Israel's ban on movement via Gaza's airspace and territorial waters. Photos: Mohammed Azaiza Perhaps the Defense Ministry has started to implement the plan announced by Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman: to close the crossings between Israel and the Gaza Strip hermetically, thereby blocking all access between Gaza and the West Bank. Instead of being sold to Israel, the West Bank, and Jordan (the main markets for Gaza's agricultural produce until 2007), Gaza's strawberries and flowers have to make the long and expensive journey to Holland which leaves farmers with little profit. Recently, Lieberman announced that "we will of course be happy, if we find buyers that are interested in purchasing from Gaza" and "we are willing to cooperate with anyone who is interested in investing money, and creating a market for Gaza's products" (click here for the statement in Hebrew). Well, Minister Lieberman, the markets are waiting, and you don't have to invest money, just open the crossings! This post is from The Gaza Gateway, a website that provides up-to-date information and commentary on the situation at the Gaza Strip border crossings. Gaza Gateway was created by Gisha – Legal Center for Freedom of Movement. However, the site is an independent entity, and opinions on the site do not necessarily reflect Gisha's position with respect to any particular issue. Comment on this article > Oh, Canada: Al Jazeera investigates 'the other special relationship' Dec 02, 2010 07:20 pm | Adam Horowitz Comment on this article > The big fat national conversation could actually start w/ California divestment initiative Dec 02, 2010 06:11 pm | annie IDC is the acronym for California Divestment Initiative. To fully understand the importance of this initiative please hear me out. The Israel Divestment Campaign (IDC) is the first citizens' effort in the country to appeal directly to voters to hold Israel accountable for violations of international law and human rights. Do you know what this means for us? Finally we will have a real conversation about what's happening in kansas Israel. That's right, out in the open on the airwaves and exactly the kind of conversation the PTB do not want us to have, especially not out in public. We need this people, we need to take our support for equality and justice in Palestine directly to the people. We need a national conversation about this and it's never going to happen until it's on the ballot. Do you know why? Because both houses overwhelming support Israel 24/7. Is that what we look like as a country? Do we look and sound like we all support this occupation? I don't think so! Face it, those of us who support concrete resolutions to bring about desperately needed change in the region have virtually zilch representation in congress. zilch nada finito not happening forget about it! And why would that be? Because of the lobby. Tell me people, where else do you see a powerful lobby representing a constituency with virtually no opposition? You don't, you just don't. The lobby is powerful because it needs to be, because if it wasn't it couldn't drown our our voices. The lobby exists because there is opposition out there we are just not afforded the luxury of airing this atrocious situation in all its ungloriousness in a big fat national conversation like the ones we have about wall street and insurance companies and gun legislation and the economy and all the other controversial areas of interest that divide this country. So please let's have this conversation. But for us to have it we need at least 434,000 registered California voters to sign a petition to qualify the measure for the statewide ballot. Where California goes the nation will follow. Does it mean we'll win? I do not know. Does it mean we will have the conversation? You better believe it!! Then, if approved by a majority of voters, it will become California law. This means that the two public retirement systems, the Public Employees' Retirement System (CalPERS) and the State Teachers' Retirement System (CalSTRS), would be required to engage in a divestment process with corporations providing equipment and services to Israel that are used in the violation of human rights and international law, including but not limited to the building of the "Separation Wall" and settlements. Do Californians want their pension funds investing in the Occupation? If you are a Californian go to the Israel Divestment Campaign website, print out a copy of the Initiative petition , get your friends and relatives to sign it and send it in. Contact the campaign about volunteering (you co not have to be a californian to do that). If you do not live in California contact your friends and relatives who do. We have 53 DAYS LEFT Comment on this article > The Middle East's only pretend democracy Dec 02, 2010 04:45 pm | Matthew Taylor Haaretz notes a recent survey, revealing the hollowness of Israel's claim to be a democracy: A comprehensive survey compiled by the Israel Democracy Institute and reported in yesterday's Haaretz paints a gloomy, worrisome picture... ...Only 17% of the public believes the state's self-definition as a democracy should take precedence over its self-definition as Jewish; an absolute majority believes that only Jews should be involved in decisions crucial to the state; a majority supports allocating more resources to Jews than Arabs; a third of Jewish citizens support putting Arab citizens in detention camps in wartime; and about two-thirds think Arabs should not become ministers. ...At the root [of the survey's results] lies the twisted belief that democracy means the tyranny of the majority, and that equal rights for all the state's citizens is not an integral part of the democratic system. ...A democracy cannot have two classes of citizens, first-class and second-class. Really? Israel can't both be a democracy, and have second-class citizens? Hmm. What a brilliant revelation, if 60 years too late. Despite liberal Zionist delusions to the contrary, Israel has always been a pretend democracy since the founding of the state. Although I can't find the link, I remember that even the Palestinians inside Israel who weren't expelled in 1948 lived under discriminatory military rule from day one, and have never had equal rights. For example, see the Association of 40 Palestinian villages that Israel refuses to recognize. They don't even get basic garbage service. Comment on this article > Watching The Pianist in Gaza Dec 02, 2010 01:49 pm | Mohammed Rabah Suliman The Pianist is a movie that tells the disheartening story of a Jewish pianist,  Władysław Szpilman, who struggles to survive during the holocaust along with his family in Warsaw. Although it is primarily the story of one man, the movie instilled in me the notion of the universality of human suffering. Szpilman is Jewish, which especially leads me reflect on it. How did I feel watching it? I cannot really remember, but certainly an avalanche of conflicting feelings surged through my chest. I thought of every possible indictment that could be directed toward a Muslim who declared himself to be Jewish, even for brief moments. Thoughts like these invaded my mind especially as the movie drew near its end: a shabby racked Szpilman adeptly runs his feeble fingers over an abandoned piano playing before a Nazi officer who rescues his life later. I desperately wanted Szpilman to survive. For a moment, I was Jewish. Szpilman's father walks down the street when he has to pass by two Nazi officers they just harass him, punch him, and force him off the pavement. There is nothing that would have given me more pain than such harassment. For a moment, I was Szpilman's father. I knew how it felt to be treated with disgust. To be humiliated. To be discriminated against as such. And later, the Jewish population of Warsaw is herded to be taken from the city and put in a concentration camp. Szpilman's family has to wait amidst dirt and rubble having not the least slice of bread to eat. A Jewish woman carrying her baby comes over begging Szpilman for a drop of water for her child. Mournfully, he looks at her, apologizes and goes off. For a moment, I was Jewish. I recalled myself when an old woman has to sit on the rubble, her sick baby on her lap, waiting at a checkpoint for an entry access to get through. My mind wandered to where I passed through the debris of one area thoroughly razed to the ground on the wake of the last war; distress was everything I could see wherever I looked. Afflicted people were everywhere around me, and, not looking back, I only walked on. When Szpilman's family sits around the table, shocked by the callousness of their enemy, and discussing the last Nazi edict to wear a badge of the Star of David, Szpilman's sister calmly declares, "I refuse to be branded." Though calm, so powerful it was. It echoed in my ear time and again. There is nothing that could have given me more fervor than that. I knew what it meant to be branded, to be called "dirty Arab", or thought of as "slum dog". I will teach my sister how to stand against whoever tries to brand her. I will teach her how to say I-refuse-to-be-branded with such calmness. The wall is erected, and the city is divided. Behind the wall are the Nazis, and, inside the ghetto, I live. That truly rings a bell. To be segregated is so painful, but to be segregated and taken away from your beloved people makes it doubly painful. I fought within myself whether to hate the Nazis for treating Jews with such cold inhumanity, or for putting this wall strategy before the world, for teaching some of them how to carry out the worst punishment of your enemy. The war is waged, and the ghetto is bombed. The Jews fight from inside the ghetto while a Cast Lead is mercilessly poured down upon the Jews. They fight the war alone and are murdered by the dozens. The war, between those who have the most deadly war machine fighting freely from every possible direction and the besieged whose chief concern is to have something at their supper, is a war I would relate to with all my experience. As I watch I side with the bombed, suppressed, and murdered, for I knew how their blood smells, no matter if they are Jewish, Hindus… I could think of Szpilman's father as none other but an old Palestinian man abused by two Israeli soldiers at a checkpoint, and his mother as none other but a Palestinian woman destined to bear the suffrage of losing her two sons, and his sister as none other but mine, harassed and mocked. I do not know whether Szpilman turned into Zionism later or not, and I do not even bother to know. I was him for a moment: the moment he and his family were done injustice very similar to that which is done to me and my people at the hands of some with whom I once sympathized. We would have made great friends had we lived at one time, but that now is unthinkable. One just led to the other. Things are mixed, but everything is similar. I feel like I lived through the two holocausts. I struggled to detach myself from the ongoing reality, but failed. One holocaust is bygone, and another is. I'd better feel sorry for myself and my people. Mohammed Rabah Suliman, 21, is a student of English Literature at the Islamic University of Gaza. He blogs at http://msuliman.wordpress.com/. Comment on this article > US admits it failed to get settlement freeze; Israel announces new building near East Jerusalem and Palestinians say 'Israel has chosen West Bank settlements over peace' Dec 02, 2010 12:56 pm | Seham And other news from Today in Palestine: Settlers/ Land, Property, Resource Theft & Destruction/Ethnic Cleansing '625 housing units approved in northern Pisgat Ze'ev' Report: Jerusalem's District officially approves plan for the establishment of a new neighborhood called "North Pisgat Ze'ev." http://www.jpost.com/NationalNews/Article.aspx?ID=197583&R=R1 Israel unveils new residential plan near East Jerusalem (Reuters) Reuters - Israel on Wednesday revealed plans to build new homes on West Bank land it has annexed as part of its Jerusalem boundaries, a move likely to further hamper any resumption of peace talks with the Palestinians. http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/mideast/*http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20101201/wl_nm/us_palestinians_israel_building Clashes in East Jerusalem's Al-Isawiya neighborhood JERUSALEM (Ma'an) -- Sporadic clashes broke out between teenagers and Israeli forces in the East Jerusalem neighborhood of Al-Isawiya on Wednesday evening, injuring one journalist documenting the incident.  Muhammad As-Sayyed, a journalist with Dubai TV said his car was stoned as he drove toward the area. http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=337998 Evacuation in the neighborhood of al-Faruq, Silwan, in Photos The Qaraeen family was evacuated from their home in the al-Farouq neighborhood in a move by the Elad settlement, which claims to have purchased the home. The settlers are seeking to expand their takeover, not just in Wadi Hilweh, but in all areas of the Holy Basin including the Mount of Olives, Silwan, and other locations in East Jerusalem. The pictures speak evacuation. Qaraeen's belongings are removed from their home under the protection of Israeli police The Qaraeen family is forced out of their home under the scrutinizing eye of the Israeli police Tight security Israeli forces took positions on the roofs of Palestinian houses during the evacuation of the Qrain family home Direct installation of security cameras Amid tight security, staff members of the Elad settlement talk about peaceful coexistence with the Palestinian population Large Israeli forces surrounded the al-Farouq neighborhood during the evacuation process. http://silwanic.net/?p=8956 Palestinians: Israel has chosen West Bank settlements over peace After Israel announces plans for 625 new homes in Pisgat Ze'ev, Palestinians say Jerusalem has signaled it is 'not willing' to resume peace negotiations. http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/palestinians-israel-has-chosen-west-bank-settlements-over-peace-1.328396?localLinksEnabled=false US failed to secure settlement freeze: Palestinians (AFP) AFP - The US has admitted it failed to secure a new Israeli settlement freeze, a Palestinian official said Thursday, dealing a potential knockout blow to renewed peace efforts. http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/mideast/*http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20101202/wl_afp/israelpalestinianspeacesettlementsus U.N. reports 'sharp increase' in demolitions of Palestinian homes in East Jerusalem Last week we published a friend's paraphrase of a United Nations report on a wave of Israeli demolitions of Palestinian houses that happened without a peep from the U.S. government. Well yesterday our friend passed along another gloss of a U.N. report:  Wednesday Israeli forces demolished several Palestinian structures in East Jerusalem. All of the demolitions were carried out by the Jerusalem Municipality. They included... http://mondoweiss.net/2010/12/u-n-reports-sharp-increase-in-demolitions-of-palestinian-homes-in-east-jerusalem.html The Roof Is Now the Field, Eva Bartlett BEIT HANOUN, Gaza, Dec 2, 2010 (IPS) - "We grow on our roof because we are farmers but have no land now," says Moatassan Hamad, 21, from Beit Hanoun in northern Gaza Strip. http://ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=53745 Jaffa Sold to Zionists Ajami is a predominantly Arab district of Jaffa, housing around 8,000 Palestinian Israelis. In May 2009, a plot of land on Etrog Street, hosting the local farmers' market, was sold by the Israel Land Authority to B'emunah, a housing company that deals mainly in developing housing estates for Zionist communities in Israel. http://www.palestinemonitor.org/spip/spip.php?article1635 Activism/Solidarity/Boycott, Divestment & Sanctions Druze Youth Imprisoned for Refusing to Serve in Israeli Army Tel Aviv – PNN - Israeli troops arrested Ajoud Jamal Zaydan, an 18-year-old Druze resident of the village of Beit Jan, and sentenced him to 14 days of administrative detention for refusing mandatory service in the Israeli army.  Ajoud went on Tuesday to the Recruitment Center in Tel Aviv as required by law, where according to the report of an official in charge, he refused to serve in the army no matter the consequence. He said his connection to his people was too deep for him to serve in an occupying army, whereupon he was immediately sentenced to 14 days imprisonment. http://english.pnn.ps/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=9226&Itemid=72 #BDS: For Peace in the Middle East, Stop AIPAC! December 13th, Oakland Marriot, starting at 5pm.  Protest the annual AIPAC membership event in Oakland.  Oakland Marriot Hotel 1001 Broadway, near 12th Street BART.   "Occupation now, Occupation tomorrow, Occupation forever!" is the clear, if unspoken, agenda of this gathering.  It is groups like AIPAC that block the door of any progress for peace in the Middle East. We know, however, that injustice will not survive, that it eventually an unjust order falls to those who demand their freedom, that no weapons system is ultimately effective against human solidarity and our collective desire to see justice realized. That is why we will be out to protest this indecency. We will  remind the people of aipac, and especially the politicians that support it, that we stand on the side of human rights and peace, and we demand an end to the unqualified support of Israeli policies. We stand for a future of peace and justice, not war and occupation. http://youthanormalization.blogspot.com/2010/12/bds-for-peace-in-middle-east-stop-aipac.html Israeli Citizens to Leiden University: Please Do not Hold the 2010 Cleveringa Lecture at the Hebrew University! Dear Officials of Leiden University, We are a group of Israeli citizens. It has recently been brought to our attention that Leiden University had decided to host a special lecture at Jerusalem's Hebrew University on Thursday 25/11, commemorating a speech by Professor Rudolph Pabus Cleveringa during the Second World War, in which he protested the removal of Jewish faculty members. The statement issued by Leiden University reads as follows: "Cleveringa raised his voice right at the onset of the war, notably in regard of the freedom of expression. This is highly appreciated in Israel, all the more as there are still universities abroad trying to boycott Israeli professors and students." http://www.alternativenews.org/english/index.php/topics/economy-of-the-occupation/3014-israeli-citizens-to-leiden-university-please-do-not-hold-the-2010-cleveringa-lecture-at-the-hebrew-university #BDS: Global Exchange sings Boycott Ahava holiday carol! http://youthanormalization.blogspot.com/2010/12/bds-global-exchange-sings-boycott-ahava.html #BDS: A BDS initiative in California Activists in California are organizing for a ballot initiative that would require the state's massive retirement funds to divest from Israel. California activists have launched a "Divest from Israel" ballot initiative to require the state's huge retirement funds for public employees and teachers to divest from "corporations providing equipment and services to Israel that are used in the violation of human rights and international law, including but not limited to the building of the 'Separation Wall' and settlements." Chris Yatooma, a part of the organizing effort, spoke with Kitty Lui about the initiative. http://youthanormalization.blogspot.com/2010/12/bds-bds-initiative-in-california.html Hebron: Israeli Occupation Policies, Palestinian Resistance Strategies Hebron is an uncommon city, even in Palestine. Walking along the narrow streets of its Casbah (the "Old City"), admiring from a roof the landscape of its white-stone houses and bright, desert hills dotting the whole district, talking to everybody who offers you coffee or tea with mint leaves or kneeling to see through the grating the Cave of the Patriarchs is a privilege reserved to those who choose to overcome the appearance of misery, oppression and violence in order to discover the sparks of humanity and beauty still abounding in a city like Hebron. Moreover: Hebron's beauty shines brighter and brighter, despite Israel's efforts and practices of colonization and repression. The French writer Albert Camus wrote that "there is beauty and there are the humiliated. Whatever difficulties the enterprise may present, I should like never to be unfaithful either to the second or the first." Hebron is still faithful to its beauty and to those who are humiliated each and every day. http://www.alternativenews.org/english/index.php/topics/hebron/3046-hebron-israeli-occupation-policies-palestinian-resistance-strategies- #BDS: My Experience at a Palestinian Shop in San Francisco Having moved from Beirut, Lebanon to Modesto, California no more than a month ago, the idea of meeting Arabs, let alone Palestinians, in the US is still quite an exciting experience to me. http://youthanormalization.blogspot.com/2010/12/bds-my-experience-at-palestinian-shop.html Young Princeton Jews object to Koolaid being served in Jewish identity cafeteria, Philip Weiss I love this story. Rachel Jackson had a report in the Daily Princetonian on the ballot initiative by the Princeton Committee on Palestine (PCP) to get Princeton's dining services to provide an alternative to Sabra humus at the school (as part of an effort to boycott Sabra products because Strauss Group, a Sabra co-owner, supports the Israeli Defense Forces). Here's the part I love. Jackson tells us that the Princeton Center on Jewish Life sent out a classic pro-Israel warning about the initiative--and promptly got in trouble from Jewish students. Because young Jews are sick of signing off on the killing of Palestinian children by the IDF; and maybe Rabbi Julie Roth should be absorbing that lesson from young Jews? Data below. Note that a signatory of the official stand-with-Israel letter was Mendy Fisch, who is "the executive opinion editor" of the Princetonian newspaper. Once again, an Israel lobbyist is ensconced in a high media position. http://mondoweiss.net/2010/12/young-princeton-jews-object-to-koolaid-being-served-in-jewish-identity-cafeteria.html Anti #BDS: Qatar promotes for the normalization with Israel so as to gain the hosting of FIFA world Cup 2022 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eZYXwlQN-Ms Abuse of Palestinian Children No appeal in Gaza human shield case Military prosecution won't appeal conditional sentence of troops who forced Palestinian boy to open suspicious bags in Gaza war http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3992917,00.html Voices from the Occupation Silwan (East Jerusalem): On 24 November 2010, a seven-year-old boy is grabbed and beaten by two soldiers on suspicion of throwing stones. http://www.dci-pal.org/english/doc/press/Voices_2010-12-02_Silwan3.pdf Siege/Rights Violations/Restriction of Movement Gaza man dies inside Rafah tunnel RAFAH (Ma'an) -- A man was killed Thursday morning by an electrical shock inside one of the tunnels in the Rafah district of the southern Gaza Strip, medics said.  The young man was identified Muhammad Kaware, 25, from the city of Khan Younis. http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=338257 Israel restricts Al-Aqsa access JERUSALEM (Ma'an) -- Israeli forces closed most gates leading into the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound Thursday morning, leaving only two open.  All worshipers under 40 years old were barred by Israeli police from entering the compound, and prayed together in the streets adjacent to the Haram Ash-Sharif (the Noble Sanctuary) which houses the mosque and the Dome of the Rock. http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=338089 One Gaza crossing partially open GAZA CITY (Ma'an) -- A single goods crossing terminal between Israel and the Gaza Strip was opened on Thursday morning, officials announced, for the transport of 200-210 truckloads of aid and commercial products.  Raed Fattouh, Palestinian liaison official for the crossings, said he was informed by Israeli authorities at the crossings that the southernmost Kerem Shalom entry gate would be open for the limited entry of goods. http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=338066 Ministry: Feed shortage kills animals in Gaza GAZA CITY (Ma'an) -- The Ministery of Agriculture in the Gaza Strip warned Thursday of a shortage of animal fodder that has already lead to the starvation of several livestock animals in parts of the coastal enclave.  The head of vetrenary services in the enclave Zakariyah Al-Kafarneh said chickens were the hardest hit by the shortage. http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=338208 Strawberry Fields Forever This week the Israeli Ministry of Defense announced the "beginning of the export season" in the Gaza Strip. "The export season" entails the continuation of a short-term program, sponsored – from planting through to distribution – by the Dutch government. The program allows a few farmers in Gaza to sell strawberries and flowers in European markets. So far this week, 7 trucks have left the Strip. http://www.gazagateway.org/2010/12/strawberry-fields-forever/ Racism and Discrimination Shas urges Netanyahu to squash IDF-sponsored conversion bill 'Conversions can't just go along without a guiding hand, the authority has to be with the Chief Rabbinate of Israel,' Shas MK says. http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/news/shas-urges-netanyahu-to-squash-idf-sponsored-conversion-bill-1.328305?localLinksEnabled=false Education Ministry rethinks plan to give priority to Arabs who did national service Plan to award points to Arab teachers who have completed national service is unreasonable, the ministry says. http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/news/education-ministry-rethinks-plan-to-give-priority-to-arabs-who-did-national-service-1.328302?localLinksEnabled=false Lieberman blames Arab leaders for rise in racism 'Every day brings news about new manifestations of hate for Israel, of active cooperation with Israel's enemies.' http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/news/lieberman-blames-arab-leaders-for-rise-in-racism-1.328300?localLinksEnabled=false Violence/Aggression IOF shelling targets Palestinian fishing boats, border areas Israeli navy and ground forces shelled Palestinian fishing boats and border areas in the Gaza Strip at dawn Thursday causing material damage but no casualties, local sources reported. http://www.palestine-info.co.uk/En/default.aspx?xyz=U6Qq7k%2bcO IOF troops kill two Palestinians in Gaza, destroy water well in Al-Khalil Two Palestinians were killed east of Gaza city on Thursday morning after Israeli occupation forces (IOF) fired at them, the Israeli radio said. http://www.palestine-info.co.uk/En/defau Houses raided, detentions in Al-Isawiya, Beit Hanina JERUSALEM (Ma'an) -- Israeli forces entered three homes in East Jerusalem neighborhoods Thursday morning, detaining two men and a minor for unspecified reasons, family members said.  In the Al-Isawiya neighborhood, the wife and children of Ahmas Moussa Mustafa, 28, said the patriarch was detained after police and sniffer dogs broke into the home shortly after 2 a.m.  A second home was also raided, witnesses said, and troops escorted a minor into police vehicles. The teenager has not been identified. http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=338106 Tadamun report: IOF troops killed 3 Palestinians, detained 200 in November The IOF killed three Palestinians in the Gaza Strip and arrested more than 200 citizens in the West Bank over the past month of November, the Tadamun institute said in a report. http://www.palestine-info.co.uk/En/default.aspx?xyz=U6Qq7k% Detainees 2 Palestinians detained in Nablus raid Israeli forces raided the northern West Bank city of Nablus overnight and detained two brothers after ransacking their home in the eastern part of the city. Palestinian security sources identified the detainees as 24-year-old Darwish Al-Usta and his 26-year-old brother Husam. They were taken to Huwwara military base south. http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=337674 Citizen was arrested in the streets of Wadi Hilweh Israeli police stopped a vehicle that was passing on a street in Wadi Hilweh in Silwan. The police demanded the driver to get out of the vehicle and snapped at him "You're under arrest! And we are going to the police station!" The citizen, Mohammed Badr, expressed surprise at the arrest warrant, but willingly entered into the police car. There are permanent barriers and a police presence at the entrance of Wadi Hilweh near the settlement and the visitor center all of which is controlled by the Elad organization. This has caused a discomfort and great inconvenience to the Palestinian residents. http://silwanic.net/?p=8959 Israeli army raids Jerusalem, detains 3 Palestinians altJerusalem, December 2, (Pal Telegraph) – Israeli occupation forces raided Thrusday two hosues in Al-Aswya and Hnina towns in north Jerusalem and detained three Palestinians.  Local sources reported that Israeli soldiers broke into the house of Ahmed Mostafa, 28, after searching his house with police dogs.  The sources added that they detained another citizen under 18 years, his name is unknown. Besides, Israeli soldiers broke into the house of Samer Smom,35, and searched it with police dogs and then detained him. http://www.paltelegraph.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=7635:Israeli-army-raids-Jerusalem,-detains-3-Palestinians&catid=59:west-bank&Itemid=135 Israel Arrests Man Believed To Be Collaborating With Hamas Israeli sources reported that the Israeli Security Forces have recently detained an Arab man from al-Fredees Arab village, north of the country, who is suspected to be collaborating with the Hamas movement and of committing "security offensives". http://www.imemc.org/article/60068 Yediot: "Security establishment" warns of imminent Palestinian prisoner strike The scenario that the security establishment is preparing for is threatening. The scenario envisions the security prisoners launching a hunger strike, setting fire to their cells, trying attack the guards, severing all contact with the prison authorities, refusing all visits by the Red Cross and family members, while their relatives will demonstrate outside the prisons and will enlist Israeli Arabs to the cause as well.  Israeli security officials said that the Palestinian Authority is behind the planned prisoners' strike, which is expected to include a hunger strike and rioting in the larger prisons in Israel—similar to the strike that was held in the prisons in 2004, when the security prisoners rioted for 18 days. Israeli officials said they anticipated that the signal to launch the strike would be given in the course of the next number of weeks.  The assessment is that the Palestinian Authority will also launch a parallel "soft attack" that will involve the enlistment of Arab and other international media stations, as well as taking legal action to help shore up the prisoners' struggle. http://coteret.com/2010/12/02/yediot-security-establishment-warns-of-imminent-palestinian-prisoner-strike/ Arab Helpers Hamas: Abbas betrayed prisoners with Shalit comment GAZA CITY (Ma'an) -- Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhum spoke out against comments made by President Mahmoud Abbas on Tuesday, during a press conference along side German President Christian Wulff.  Abbas' call to Hamas for the release of captured Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit is an "indication that the prisoners issue is not on the president's agenda, it was a call for the good of the occupation and not for the national cause" Barhoum said. http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=337705 Amid security successes, Palestinians feel unease NABLUS, West Bank (AP) -- A senior Israeli commander in the West Bank recalled that he used to carry a thick notebook full of names of wanted militants. Today, the list is so thin it "almost doesn't exist," he said.  And when Israel's military chief recently visited a famous church in Palestinian territory, he had some unlikely escorts: Palestinian security forces. http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/M/ML_PALESTINIANS_SECURITY_DILEMMA?SECTION=HOME&SITE=AP&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT Hamas Sharek Youth Forum Closed in Gaza, Palestine Monitor The Sharek Youth Forum in Gaza City was forcibly closed by police on Tuesday. The forum's liberal agenda had resulted in frequent clashes with the Hamas government prior to its closure. Sharek staff protest the action is illegal and unjust. http://www.palestinemonitor.org/spip/spip.php?article1636 War Crimes Britain placates Israel with war crimes arrest law change Britain sought Wednesday to soothe strained ties with Israel by publishing an amendment to a law that puts visiting officials at risk of arrest for alleged war crimes, sparking outrage from rights groups. http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=338003 Political Developments At State Department briefing, reporters accuse ass't sec'y of 'speaking for Israel',  Philip Weiss Another sign that the wheels are coming off the cart. Years ago we learned that the U.S. acted as Israel's lawyer in the peace process. Well, this is a press conference by P.J. Crowley, ass't sec'y of State, two days ago, and a couple of reporters (unnamed) seem to gang up on him over the fact that the State Department is speaking for Israel and strongly condemning the Palestinians over one Palestinian "mouthing off", but when Israel Judaizes East Jerusalem, the supposed capital of the Palestinian state, the U.S. doesn't say a word. The interchange begins when Crowley "strongly condemns" the (yes, repellent) comments by a P.A. official saying that Jews have no historic connection to the Temple Mount area of the Old City. Notice that the interchange goes on to Hebron, whose old market area has been ethnically cleansed to allow Jewish colonists to live there, and strong doubts in the press corps about a "viable" Palestinian state. http://mondoweiss.net/2010/12/at-state-department-briefing-reporters-accuse-asst-secy-of-speaking-for-israel.html Fayyad says Palestinians ready for statehood by August With 2-year plan in final phase, Palestinian Authority PM says it's time to challenge Israel's exclusive control over vast tracts of the West Bank.  Palestinians will be ready for statehood by August, as promised in a two-year action plan, Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Salam Fayyad said in an interview Tuesday, dismissing a host of steep obstacles to independence. http://www.jpost.com/MiddleEast/Article.aspx?id=197513 Palestinian delegate to U.S.: Congress shouldn't interfere in Mideast peace process Maen Rashid Areikat: Israelis and Palestinians, not the U.S. Congress, will decide the future of the conflict; parents of Rachel Corrie receive award at event marking International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People. http://www.haaretz.com/blogs/focus-u-s-a/palestinian-delegate-to-u-s-congress-shouldn-t-interfere-in-mideast-peace-process-1.328388?localLinksEnabled=false Leaked US cable: Mossad says Palestinians unlikely to join Al-Qaeda 12/1/2010 - 17 March 2005, 10:32SECRET SECTION. . . . MOSSAD CHIEF TO CODEL CORZINE: SOME FOREIGN FIGHTERS BEGINNING TO LEAVE IRAQ. . . . Dagan predicted that these jihadis will have less of a direct impact on Palestinians, because Palestinians are already well aware of militant views and opinions via Internet chat rooms. Furthermore, Dagan said he feels that most Palestinians.... http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=337251 Hamas: No al-Qaida in Gaza but zealots on rise (AP) AP - Gaza's Hamas prime minister was adamant: There is no al-Qaida presence in the Palestinian territory, rebuffing what he said were Israeli allegations possibly meant to justify military action against the strip. http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/mideast/*http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20101202/ap_on_re_mi_ea/ml_palestinians_challenging_hamas Sarkozy: Not negotiating with Hamas hurts PA WikiLeaks cables show Jordan believes Iran's 'tentacles' can be severed if deprived of Palestinian issue.  French President Nicolas Sarkozy believes the Quartet principles that have nixed international engagement with Hamas until the organization recognizes Israel, forswears terrorism and accepts previous Israeli-Palestinian agreements hurts Fatah and the Palestinian Authority more than Hamas, according to a WikiLeaks document released late on Tuesday. http://www.jpost.com/International/Article.aspx?ID=197610&R=R1 New WikiLeaks revelations show Ireland blocking U.S. arms to Israel Cable sent in 2006 indicates that the Irish government has been making it increasingly difficult for American weapons shipments to Israel to pass through its airport. http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/news/new-wikileaks-revelations-show-ireland-blocking-u-s-arms-to-israel-1.328298 US cable: French FM says Abbas 'lost' Kouchner told Clinton in 2009 that PA leader is 'completely isolated', secret document reveals. http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3993144,00.html SUBJECT: ISRAEL, A PROMISED LAND FOR ORGANISED CRIME? (SBU) Organized crime (OC) has longstanding roots in Israel, but in recent years there has been a sharp increase in the reach and impact of OC networks. In seeking a competitive advantage in such lucrative trades as narcotics and prostitution, Israeli crime groups have demonstrated their ability and willingness to engage in violent attacks on each other with little regard for innocent bystanders. The Israeli National Police (INP) and the courts have engaged in a vigorous campaign against organized crime leaders, including the creation of a new specialized anti-OC unit, but they remain unable to cope with the full scope of the problem. Organized crime in Israel now has global reach, with direct impact inside the United States. Post is currently utilizing all available tools to deny Israeli OC figures access to the United States in order to prevent them from furthering their criminal activities on U.S. soil. End Summary. http://cablegate.wikileaks.org/cable/2009/05/09TELAVIV1098.html Wikileak [17]: "xxxxx indicated that Jewish immigration from Israel to Russia greatly exceeded that of emigration from Russia to Israel.." SUBJECT: RABBIS SHAYEVICH AND GOLDSCHMIDT CAUTIOUSLY OPTIMISTIC ABOUT RUSSIAN JEWISH COMMUNITY Classified By: Ambassador John Beyrle for reason 1.4 (d) Summary: The Ambassador met separately with xxxxx during the week of September 15.... xxxx indicated that Jewish immigration from Israel to Russia greatly exceeded that of emigration from Russia to Israel. xxxxx appeared impressed by the level of reverse immigration from Israel to Russia, saying that only approximately 1,000 Russians emigrated to Israel over the past year. xxxxx impressions, saying that approximately 2,000 Jews in the entire former Soviet Union moved to Israel in the past year. Both regarded the figures as the product of Russia's growing stability and wealth. Adding greater depth on Russian-Israeli relations, xxxxx blamed the falling dollar for the reduction of Israeli support to the Russian Jewish educational system. xxxxx lauded the recently signed visa-free travel agreement between Russia and Israel since it would mean less work for him, no longer needing to help his community members receive visas. http://friday-lunch-club.blogspot.com/2010/12/wikileak-17-xxxxx-indicated-that-jewish.html Right of return: 10s of 1000s of Russian Israelis are working in Moscow, and immigration to Israel is 'dead,' says State Department cable, Philip Weiss John Mearsheimer likes to point out that the reports that Palestinians will soon outnumber Jews in the lands between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean do not take into account the huge number of Israelis who have left town. Well, this is a cable from an unnamed State Department aide in Moscow in 2008. http://mondoweiss.net/2010/12/right-of-return-10s-of-1000s-of-russian-israelis-are-working-in-moscow-and-immigration-to-israel-is-dead-says-state-department-cable.html Syria's Assad seems to suggest backing for Hamas negotiable, leaked cables say But even as President Bashar Assad appeared willing to reduce ties with the Palestinian militant group ruling the Gaza Strip, he brushed off pressure to alter the dynamics of his friendship with Iran. Syrian President Bashar Assad described Hamas as an "uninvited guest" in his country in confidential conversations with American lawmakers, and appeared to suggest he would be willing to give up the alliance in exchange for incentives, according to several documents contained in the trove of leaked diplomatic cables posted online by the website WikiLeaks. http://feeds.latimes.com/%7Er/latimes/middleeast/%7E3/wZmLZgvgBos/la-fg-wikileaks-syria-20101202,0,2149029.story Analysis/Op-ed Take Action: WikiLeaks Exposes U.S. Militarization of Middle East There it is--in black and white--in one of the WikiLeaks State Department cables. A senior Israeli military official, discussing U.S. military aid to Israel totaling $30 billion from 2009 to 2018, who acknowledged:  "the sometimes difficult position the U.S. finds itself in given its global interests, and conceded that Israel's security focus is so narrow that its...concerns often clash with broader American security interests in the region." http://endtheoccupationblog.blogspot.com/2010/12/take-action-wikileaks-exposes-us.html Looks like the Empire is going after Wikileaks after all Stuff is happening fast.  First, Interpol has now issued a "red notice" to have Julian Assange arrested, and now Wikileaks is loosing its main website and mirrors. I still have no opinion about whether Wikileaks and Assange are for real or not, but if they are, the White House is being very very dumb about how it deals with this issue.  If Assange and his friends thought this thing through, there will be literally thousands of mirrors and file sharing sites distributing all this stuff in days, including plenty of "insurance files".More to follow soon, no doubt. http://vineyardsaker.blogspot.com/2010/12/looks-like-empire-is-going-after.html How Lieberman Got Amazon To Drop Wikileaks Early this week, after hacker attacks on its site, Wikileaks moved its operation, including all those diplomatic cables, to the greener pastures of Amazon.com's cloud servers. But today, it was down again and mid-afternoon we found out the reason: Amazon had axed Wikileaks from its servers. http://vineyardsaker.blogspot.com/2010/12/how-lieberman-got-amazon-to-drop.html WikiLeaks is holding US global power to account | Seumas Milne The WikiLeaks avalanche has exposed floundering imperial rule to scrutiny – and its reliance on dictatorship and deceit.  Official America's reaction to the largest leak of confidential government files in history is tipping over towards derangement. What the White House initially denounced as a life-threatening "criminal" act and Hillary Clinton branded an "attack on the international community" has been taken a menacing stage further by the newly emboldened Republican right. http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2010/dec/01/wikileaks-embassy-cables-us-global-power Why They Hate Julian Assange, Justin Raimondo A revolution is indeed possible. That's why the Establishment of both parties, and pundits on the neocon right and the Obama-ite left, are out to knife Assange and bring down WikiLeaks. http://original.antiwar.com/justin/2010/11/30/wikileaks-vs-the-political-class/ Why a Saudi King Might Want the US to Attack Iran Some insights, some zany speculation. (for smarter, informed commentary see this CBC interview with Glenn Greenwald) Lawrence Wilkerson: The Wikileaks cable isn't about Iran being a threat to security, it's about rival elites defending oil wealth and power. http://pulsemedia.org/2010/12/02/why-a-saudi-king-might-want-the-us-to-attack-iran/ Wikileaks Comes to Latin America, NIKOLAS KOZLOFF As more and more documents become available from Wikileaks, the public has gotten a novel and close up view of U.S. diplomats and their operations abroad. I was particularly interested to review heretofore secret documents dealing with Latin America, a region which has absorbed the attention of Washington officials in recent years. While it's certainly no secret that the Bush administration, not to mention the later Obama White House, have both sought to isolate the so-called "Pink Tide" of leftist regimes in South America, the Wikileaks documents give us some interesting insight into the mindset of U.S. diplomats as they carry out their day to day work.  Needless to say, the picture that emerges isn't too flattering. http://www.counterpunch.com/kozloff12012010.html Hillary's Blame Game, PAUL CRAIG ROBERTS The stuck pigs are squealing. To shift the onus from the US State Department, Hillary Clinton paints Wikileaks' release of the "diplomatic cables" as an "attack on the international community."  To reveal truth is equivalent in the eyes of the US government to an attack on the world.  It is Wikileaks' fault that all those US diplomats wrote a quarter of a million undiplomatic messages about America's allies, a.k.a., puppet states.  It is also Wikileaks' fault that an American could no longer stomach the cynical ways in which the US government manipulates foreign governments to serve, not their own people, but American interests, and delivered the incriminating evidence to Wikileaks. http://www.counterpunch.com/roberts12012010.html When will Chris Hayes' Postcard from Palestine reach Rachel Maddow?, Léa Park Chris Hayes, a frequent commentator and guest host on MSNBC's Rachel Maddow Show, went to Palestine/Israel this fall as a guest of the New America Foundation.  When he filed his Postcard from Palestine in November's issue of The Nation, he didn't pull any punches:  Of Hebron, he reported: "It felt as if we were walking through a postapocalyptic urban video game brought to life." Of East Jerusalem, he pointed out the "irony in the settlers using pre-1948 deeds to make their case for occupying the homes in Sheikh Jarrah: it is usually Palestinians, demanding their right of return, who argue that pre-1948 deeds are legitimate. "From a Zionist perspective, it's suicide," activist and writer Didi Remez says …"  Hayes gets it. Can Maddow be far behind?  In the past six months The Rachel Maddow Show, whose main beat is domestic, has not only gained in the ratings, but expanded its reach into foreign affairs by reporting directly from the streets of Baghdad and Kabul in two series that offered a clear-eyed look at facts on the ground. Here's hoping Israel/Palestine is next. If Hayes' passionate reporting from the area is any indication, it just might be. http://mondoweiss.net/2010/12/when-will-chris-hayes-postcard-from-palestine-reach-rachel-maddow.html Because that's where the power is, Philip Weiss The other day I pointed out that the Obama administration was "lobbying the lobby" going to Israel lobbyists like Bill Kristol to get their endorsement of the START treaty as being in Israel's interest.  Well now Senators Chuck Schumer and Carl Levin are pushing AIPAC to come out for the START treaty as being in Israel's interest. Jennifer Rubin, the new Washington Post blogger, and Politico's Laura Rozen have both mocked this. Lobbying the lobby, ha!  Why are they doing it?  Because AIPAC has power. Because it represents the Israel lobby, which is something of a shadow force in American government. Because a congressman from Illinois or Tennessee checks with AIPAC before he votes on some stuff because he gets at least $250,000 a cycle from being right with the lobby (as Bob Filner explained at J Street). Because it exists outside of our conventional political structures, and that is why men of whom the lobby approves-- Stuart Levey, under secretary of Treasury, and Dennis Ross, Middle East negotiator in State Department-- calmly float right into powerful positions in the Obama administration even though they served Republicans in years gone by... http://mondoweiss.net/2010/12/because-thats-where-the-power-is.html SOAS Academic: "No Palestinian State While Zionism Exists" Mushtaq Kahn, a lecturer from the School of Oriental and African Studies, was the speaker at a special development lecture convened in memory of the Palestinian development economist, Yusif A.Sayigh. Speaking at the Palestinian Economic Research Institute, Khan spoke plainly about the problems facing a potential Palestinian state. http://www.palestinemonitor.org/spip/spip.php?article1637 Sami Moubayed: Ghosts of Israel's Past and Future If Israel's crime is extending a ban on the release of its archives, the Arab world's crime is that they have no archives at all to show the world what the real story of the Middle East was after 1948. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/sami-moubayed/ghosts-of-israels-past-an_b_790233.html Cleaning House Essential for Mideast Peace, By George S. Hishmeh – Washington, D.C. Considering that the United States, Israel and the Palestinian Authority have shamefully ran out of original ideas and remain deadlocked on the issue of peace negotiations, it may thus be time for all three to do some house cleaning. Whether this will herald a new and successful approach remains to be seen but certainly dependant on their commitment to fairness and peacemaking in the Middle East. http://palestinechronicle.com/view_article_details.php?id=16450 Israel can`t be a democracy with two classes of citizens It must be reiterated at every opportunity that about a fifth of Israel`s citizens, the Arabs, are citizens with equal rights, and a democracy`s mission is, first and foremost, to defend its minorities. It must also be reiterated that a democracy cannot have two classes of citizens, first-class and second-class. And, most importantly, the next generation of Israelis must be taught these lessons. http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/opinion/israel-can-t-be-a-democracy-with-two-classes-of-citizens-1.328330 Lebanon    Al-Akhbar Citing Wikileaks: Some Lebanese Figures were US Informers 02/12/2010 Al-Akhbar newspaper started on Thursday to release texts of correspondences between the American embassy in Beirut and the US Department of State in Washington concerning political and security details being published on the Wikileaks website.  "The scandalous details of the meetings that took place between the US ambassador in Lebanon and Former Lebanese Minister of Telecommunications and Lebanese Defense Minister Elias el-Murr unveil they were collaborating with a foreign side like informers instigating against other Lebanese side without limits," the daily said. It also revealed that if the list of expenses which was spent by Assistant Secretary of State Jeffrey Feltman in Beirut was uncovered, "then one can understand the reason behind these officials' enthusiasm and immoderation in submitting information to the US embassy."  Al-Akhbar said that these documents prove the extent of politicization in the UN investigation in the assassination of former premier Rafiq Hariri. "It also proves the internal involvement in the open war on Hezbollah and [Free Patriotic Movement leader] General Michel Aoun and the West's indifference in anything in Lebanon except what is related with Israel's security," it added.  The daily ended up by saying that "who wants to look into these documents should be ready first to accept that the majority of governments in our Arab World are ready to sell anything in order to stay in its power place… and then they tell you about freedom sovereignty and independence." http://almanar.com.lb/NewsSite/NewsDetails.aspx?id=164221&language=en Flash: Al-Akhbar releases a batch of Wikileaks documents not released before They are explosive.  They will change the nature of domestic Lebanese politics, and certainly not in favor of March 14.  There is so much damage to the Hariri tribunal as Bellmare is seen taking  marching orders and sharing minute details with the US.  There is a lot of damage to the Commander-in-chief of Lebanese Army and president of Michel Sulayman because they seem to only discuss "terrorist" threats with US military officials and never bring up the treat from Israel.  Here, there is an explosive document: it relates to Ahmad Al-As`ad (son of former speaker of parliament and who was supported by US and Saudi Arabia in the last election and he managed to receive less than 2% of Shi`ite votes in South Lebanon) and his discussion with US officials.  Apparently, the US was being urged by Lebanese officials to strike and alliance with Subhi Tufayli (secretary-general of Hizbullah during its most horrific phase). http://angryarab.blogspot.com/2010/12/flash-al-akhbar-releases-batch-of.html The conspiracy thickens The story of how May 7 was shaped. The role of Marwan Hamadi is described.  Mini-Hariri flew a private jet to provide Saudi King and Prince Muqrin with maps of Hizbullah fiber optics lines.  Lebanese politics will be different after today.  It wont be in favor of US/Saudi Arabia and their allies.  That is for sure. http://angryarab.blogspot.com/2010/12/conspiracy-thickens.html Flash: The collection of Al-Akhbar's Wikileaks All can be found here. http://angryarab.blogspot.com/2010/12/flash-collection-of-al-akhbars.html Lebanon's Minister of Defense on Defending Lebanon "Murr also gave guidance to Sleiman that the LAF should not get involved "when Israel comes." http://angryarab.blogspot.com/2010/12/lebanons-minister-of-defense-on.html Elias Murr gives Israel Advice "Two, Israel cannot bomb bridges and infrastructure in the Christian areas. The Christians were supporting Israel in 2006 until they started bombing their bridges. If Israel has to bomb all of these places in the Shia areas as a matter of operational concern, that is Hizballah's problem. According to Murr, this war is not with Lebanon, it is will Hizballah." http://angryarab.blogspot.com/2010/12/elias-murr-gives-israel-advice.html Elias Murr explains "According to Murr, "when you want to fight terrorists,you are fighting Sunni and Shia; you need Christians in special forces to do this mission. If you maximize Christians, you will have the best results." http://angryarab.blogspot.com/2010/12/elias-murr-explains.html This is Lebanon's Minister of Defense "Murr offered some ideas aimed at avoiding turning the Christian population against Israel when the next war with Hizballah occurs. Murr also outlined his orders to the  Lebanese Army when/if Israel invades to counter Hizballah. End summary." http://angryarab.blogspot.com/2010/12/this-is-lebanons-minister-of-defense.html The Lebanese government inside the refugee camps "Since the United Nations will not go into the camps, Murr feels that the Government of Lebanon is obliged to continue stoking inter-Palestinian conflicts to keep all of the various groups on unsure footing. Citing UNSCR 1701 as an authorizing document for taking action inside the Palestinian camps, Murr plans on sending in his SF units into capture terrorists in the camps." http://angryarab.blogspot.com/2010/12/lebanese-government-inside-refugee.html The purpose of the Lebanese Army is not to defend the borders Buffoon Elias Murr (I call him Field Marshal Lillu Murr, in my articles in Al-Akhbar) explains:  "The primary purpose of this transformed army would be to address terrorist threats inside Lebanon." http://angryarab.blogspot.com/2010/12/purpose-of-lebanese-army-is-not-to.html SUBJECT: LEBANON: THEORIES ABOUT MUGHNIEH'S ASSASSINATION 4. (C) On a dreary and wet February 14 afternoon Hizballah buried its hero, Imad Mughnieh, in a mass funeral service that included speeches by Hizballah SYG Hassan Nasrallah and Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki. A few hours earlier, and just a short drive from Mughnieh's funeral, the pro-government March 14 bloc held a mass rally in Martyrs' Square commemorating the third anniversary of the assassination... Nasrallah vowed "open war" with the "Zionists,"  The speechmaking at the peaceful March 14 rally .....only Druse leader Walid Jumblatt came out tough on Syria and its opposition allies, vowing that Lebanon will not be "handed to Damascus or to the black Syrian-Iranian world."(C) On February 13, March 14 leader MP Saad Hariri publicly denounced Mughnieh's assassination and offered his condolences to Hizballah SYG Hassan Nasrallah. Hariri also hinted at a Syrian role when he noted that Mughnieh was killed in Damascus, near an Iranian school, and in an area controlled by Syrian intelligence.(C) Meanwhile Druse leader and March 14 member Walid Jumblatt, believes that either the Israelis, for obvious reasons, or the Syrians, for reasons unknown, eliminated Mughnieh. In any case, Jumblatt, candid as usual, called Mughnieh's death "good news." (S/NF) Mid-level officials from Lebanese Internal Security Forces (ISF) told emboffs they believe Syrian forces affiliated with President Bashar al-Asad may be responsible for the assassination ... http://friday-lunch-club.blogspot.com/2010/12/wikileak-19-mughniehs-assassination-isf.html Jumblat on Mughniyyah "Laughing off (unsubstantiated) rumors of Druse involvement in the Mougnieh assassination, Jumblatt said, if we have the ability to get Mougnieh, why not Bashar Asad himself?" http://angryarab.blogspot.com/2010/12/jumblat-on-mughniyyah.html Jumblat's alternative to Hizbullah "Jumblatt criticized Saad's efforts to "import" Sunnis from the north, suggesting instead that Saad should speak with independent Shia leaders such as MP Yassine Jaber, Loukman Slim, and (former Minister of Energy and former Amal member) Mohamad Youssef Beydoun to build better Sunni-Shia relations. Naseer al-Assad was also a useful interlocutor." If you know anything about Lebanon, you would know why this is so comical. http://angryarab.blogspot.com/2010/12/jumblats-alternative-to-hizbullah.html Line blurry between Hizbullah, Army - US congresswoman BEIRUT: An influential US congresswoman said the line was disappearing between Hizbullah and the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF), in a statement that could impact $100 million in US military assistance planned for Lebanon. http://www.dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?edition_id=1&categ_id=2&article_id=122095 Iraq Wednesday: 6 Iraqis Killed, 5 Wounded At least six Iraqis were killed and five more were wounded in light violence. Meanwhile, U.S. Army Col. Darsie D. Rogers Jr. said that American special forces now conduct about 25 operations a week--mostly to advise Iraqi forces--or about half as many as they did this time last year. Also, the Sadrists have likely made the greatest gains of any political group since March elections. http://original.antiwar.com/updates/2010/12/01/wednesday-6-iraqis-killed-5-wounded/ Attacks on power installations continue in Iraq There have been fresh Arson attacks targeting electricity installations in Iraq.  The Electricity Ministry's Information Officer, Musaab al-Mudaris, said major power supply lines have been disrupted following the destruction of three pylons.  "The attack caused disruption of power lines feeding electricity to major plants in Akashat and al-Qaim," Mudaris said.  He said three high-voltage pylons between Haditha and Anbar were also destroyed.  He said repairing the three pylons could take at least a week.  Arson and bombing by explosives, particularly of high-voltage pylons, have continued almost unabated since the 2003-U.S. invasion.  Major high-voltage lines are vulnerable to attacks as they pass through desert and terrain which is hard to guard and protect. http://www.azzaman.com/english/index.asp?fname=news\2010-11-30\kurd.htm Iraq: Deadly Reminders of Unfinished Business The deadly attack by Al-Qaeda-linked militants on a Catholic church in Baghdad, followed by an even deadlier spate of coordinated explosions targeting Shi'a neighborhoods and a series of bombings targeting Christian homes, has plunged Iraqis of all stripes into new despair. These atrocities bode ill for Iraq's chances of putting such bloodletting in the past. http://www.hrw.org/en/news/2010/12/01/iraq-deadly-reminders-unfinished-business Saidi suggests Al Maliki quitting from Daawa Party Iraqi MP Sabah Al Saidi suggested on Prime Minister Nuri Al Maliki to quit from the Islamic Daawa Party since he is positioned as well as Armed Forces General Chief. The proposal comes in lines with calls to allocate Interior, Defense and National Security Ministries to independent figures. http://www.alsumaria.tv/en/Iraq-News/1-57101-Saidi-suggests-Al-Maliki-quitting-from-Daawa-Party.html Special photos of Al Qaeda leader in Iraq Alsumaria obtained special photos of Al Qaeda leader in Iraq Abu Baker Al Baghdadi and the group's War Minister Nasserddin Sulaiman who were uncovered after the arrest of Baghdad Wali. The arrest of Al Qaeda Security Minister and Baghdad Wali led to uncover the real identity of Al Qaeda group. http://www.alsumaria.tv/en/Iraq-News/1-57092-Special-photos-of-Al-Qaeda-leader-in-Iraq.html Iraq calls for swift execution of terror suspects (AP) AP - Iraq's interior minister called Thursday for the death penalty for a group of 39 detained al-Qaida-linked suspects, even before they have been put on trial for allegedly plotting to bomb targets in Baghdad. http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/iraq/*http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20101202/ap_on_re_mi_ea/ml_iraq U.S. and other world news Obama Administration Worked With Republicans To Kill Bush Torture Probe, WikiLeaks Cable Reveals In its first months in office, the Obama administration sought to protect Bush administration officials facing criminal investigation overseas for their involvement in establishing policies the that governed interrogations of detained terrorist suspects. An April 17, 2009, cable sent from the US embassy in Madrid to the State Department--one of the 251,287 cables obtained by WikiLeaks--details how the Obama administration, working with Republicans, leaned on Spain to derail this potential prosecution. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/12/01/obama-bush-torture-probe_n_790804.html WikiLeaks defends release of secret U.S. cables as 'perfectly legal' 'If global stability is based on deception and lies, maybe it needs a bit of a shaking up,' says the spokesman of the whistle-blowing website WikiLeaks. http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/wikileaks-defends-release-of-secret-u-s-cables-as-perfectly-legal-1.328280?localLinksEnabled=false WikiLeaks Down? Cables Go Offline After Site Switches Servers NEW YORK — The WikiLeaks website has left its U.S. Web host, Amazon.com, and moved back to a Swedish provider.  The site, which just released a trove of sensitive U.S. State Department documents, took up residence on Amazon.com Inc.'s self-service Web servers after a rash of Internet-based attacks started Sunday against its regular Swedish host, Bahnhof. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/12/01/wikileaks-down-cables-go-_n_790589.html US State Department tells employees not to read WikiLeaks The US State Department has pushed employees toward "digital diplomacy" with Twitter and iPhone apps, but the department has banned all employees from using WikiLeaks. http://rss.csmonitor.com/%7Er/feeds/world/%7E3/SjE5kWd4ANQ/US-State-Department-tells-employees-not-to-read-WikiLeaks WikiLeaks' Julian Assange is merely 'fighting baddies,' says his mom WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange's mother Christine is defending her son as fighting a good fight, saying she gave him a strong grounding in ethics. http://rss.csmonitor.com/%7Er/feeds/world/%7E3/3wI2jyR_jLk/WikiLeaks-Julian-Assange-is-merely-fighting-baddies-says-his-mom TIME Interview: Assange on Secrecy, China and WikiLeaks' Growth Assange explained that exposing abuses can lead to positive change in two ways. http://www.lewrockwell.com/kwiatkowski/kwiatkowski259.html Australia opens WikiLeaks inquiry Release of hundreds of thousands of US diplomatic cables "could have breached" Australia laws, attorney-general says. http://english.aljazeera.net/news/asia-pacific/2010/11/2010112961154954144.html Harper advisor calls for assassination of Wikileaks director A senior advisor and strategist to the Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper today called for the assassination of Wikileaks director Julian Assange. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bqtIafdoH_g Bradley Manning, in his own words 'This belongs in the public domain': In May last year, the man suspected of downloading the US embassy files began a series of online chats with a fellow-hacker. http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/dec/01/us-leaks-bradley-manning-logs Exposé: Gitmo detainees mass recipients of controversial drug Jason Leopold and I have written an investigatory report for Truthout on the mass administration of the controversial antimalarial drug mefloquine (brand name Lariam) to all Guantanamo detainees through 2005. The drug was applied without regard to whether or not a detainee had malaria, and despite the fact there was no malaria in Guantanamo.  Mefloquine has been a controversial drug since it received FDA approval in 1989, as evidence grows regarding its neurotoxicity and propensity to cause very serious neuropsychiatric side effects. "Adverse events" associated with mefloquine include depression, suicidal thoughts and behaviors, intense rage, paranoia, hallucinations and anxiety. http://my.firedoglake.com/valtin/2010/12/01/expose-gitmo-detainees-mass-recipients-of-controversial-drug/?utm_medium=twitter&utm_source=twitterfeed US embassy cables: Spanish prosecutor weighs Guantánamo criminal case against US officials http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/us-embassy-cables-documents/200177 US embassy cables: Family of Spanish cameraman considers legal action Family of television cameraman killed by US troops in Iraq might sue those who worked with US to prevent soldiers' arrests.  The family of a television cameraman killed by US troops during the invasion of Iraq said it was considering taking legal action against Spanish ministers and others who worked with US officials to prevent a Madrid court arresting the soldiers involved. http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/dec/01/us-embassy-cables-spain-cameraman WikiLeaks: Israel cautioned U.S. not to arm Arabs against Iran Netanyahu is quoted as warning that should Iran get the bomb, Arab powers could shift loyalties from Washington to Tehran. http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/wikileaks-israel-cautioned-u-s-not-to-arm-arabs-against-iran-1.328257?localLinksEnabled=false Wikileak [19]: "Sarkozy has sought to exaggerate the Syrian role deliberately ..." (SBU) Since August 11, when a French Presidency press release first singled out Syria for appreciation, French government officials, journalists, and academics have pondered the "important" and "influential" role Syria played as "mediator" between France and Iran in the conflict surrounding the July 1 arrest by Iranian security officers of French citizen Clotilde Reiss... MFA Syria Desk Officer Patrick Durel on August 18 confirmed that President Sarkozy called Syrian President Assad August 5 to ask for his assistance .... Assad did not, however, name his interlocutor or interlocutors. "I'm doing what I can to help" was the message he sent to Paris, Durel explained. http://friday-lunch-club.blogspot.com/2010/12/wikileak-19-sarkozy-has-sought-to.html Indignant Arabs The most shocking revelation (but not a revelation, really, as many of us had warned about this for decades), is that Arab governments that have spent hundreds and hundreds of billions of dollars on buying American and other foreign arms still find themselves totally helpless, vulnerable and fearful in the face of what they see as growing Iranian power and influence in the region. The assorted Arab leaders who are quoted as asking the United States to hurry up and do something about Iran's growing nuclear technology capabilities reveal an apparent inability to take care of their own countries and citizens. http://friday-lunch-club.blogspot.com/2010/12/indignant-arabs.html Unexpectedly, Israel Welcomes WikiLeaks Revelations "There is no disparity between the public discourse between us and Washington, and the mutual understanding of each other's positions," Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told reporters, not concerned about concealing his satisfaction. http://ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=53731 WikiLeaks: Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan Furious Over Leaked US Cable ANKARA, Turkey — Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey on Wednesday reacted furiously to claims in a leaked U.S. State Department memo that he has money in Swiss bank accounts and said U.S. diplomats should be punished for allegations he branded as lies and gossip.  The angry outburst broke from Turkey's initial position of downplaying the significance of the leaks and saying that the documents would not affect Turkish and U.S. ties. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/12/01/wikileaks-turkish-prime-m_n_790449.html Turkish official says Israel behind WikiLeaks release Deputy leader of Turkish PM Erdogan's AKP party hints that Israel engineered the release of U.S. diplomatic cables as a plot to pressure Turkey, the daily Hurriyet reports. http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/turkish-official-says-israel-behind-wikileaks-release-1.328373?localLinksEnabled=false Putin Criticizes Leaked U.S. Remarks on Russia On Larry King Live, the prime minister responded sharply to criticism of Russia in leaked American diplomatic cables. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/02/world/europe/02putin.html Obama's isolation grows on the Afghanistan war Just one in five Americans in a new USA TODAY/Gallup Poll agree with the 2014 timetable, one of Obama's lowest levels of support on any policy position.Obama's isolation grows on the Afghanistan war. http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2010-12-01-1Awar01_CV_N.htm Billions Down The Drain In Afghanistan The revelation that Afghanistan's vice president was caught carrying $52 million in cash last year in a Persian Gulf tax haven (and was allowed to keep it) is only the latest bit of evidence that countless billions of U.S. taxpayer money have been wasted in Afghanistan due to mismanagement, fraud and endemic corruption. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/11/30/billions-down-the-drain-i_n_790043.html#s195062 Canada's Afghan ambassador being dragged into the WikiLeaks mess Canada's ambassador in Kabul has put his job on the line in a secret memo that lays bare the extreme level of mistrust and antipathy that exists between the Afghanistan government and the NATO alliance. http://news.nationalpost.com/2010/12/01/canadas-afghan-ambassador-being-dragged-into-the-wikileaks-mess/ WikiLeaks: Pakistan quietly approved drone attacks, US special units Cables obtained by WikiLeaks reveal that in private the Pakistani government was not unhappy about the strikes, and secretly allowed small groups of U.S. special operation units to operate on its soil. http://afghanistan.blogs.cnn.com/2010/12/01/wikileaks-pakistan-quietly-approved-drone-attacks-us-special-units/     Drone attacks stepped up in Paksitan The US has stepped up a campaign of alleged drone strikes in Pakistan, despite the Pakistani military refusing calls for an operation in the North Waziristan region. But the US Defense Department says Pakistan is not acting swiftly enough against armed groups in the region, and officials say it's hurting US efforts to reverse the Taliban's momentum in the Afghan War. Al Jazeera's Zeina Khodr filed this report from Islamabad. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n7MMxnN6KKY&feature=youtube_gdata WikiLeaks disclosures are leading to diplomatic cracks for U.S. Russia's Vladimir Putin and Turkey's Recep Tayyip Erdogan condemn disparaging cables made public by WikiLeaks. Further international fallout is feared.  The leaders of Russia and Turkey on Wednesday blasted the Obama administration over leaked U.S. diplomatic cables in the most concrete signs yet that the disclosures are rattling America's strategic relationships. http://feeds.latimes.com/%7Er/latimes/middleeast/%7E3/7XrWobIZnsc/la-fg-wikileaks-backlash-20101202,0,2366227.story Appeal sought in US Sharia case A case for including Sharia in state law will likely be appealed as judge who blocked it is labelled "liberal activist". http://english.aljazeera.net//news/americas/2010/12/20101217185225726.html Iran protests "Arabian Gulf" in U.S. Navy directive via Swiss envoy: report TEHRAN, Dec. 1 (Xinhua) -- Iran summoned Swiss ambassador to Iran Livia Leu Agosti on Wednesday to protest the use of the term "Arabian Gulf" for "Persian Gulf" in a U.S. Navy directive, state IRIB TV reported.  In a note to the Swiss ambassador, the Islamic republic expressed its "strong opposition" over the use of the "forged" term "Arabian Gulf" instead of "Persian Gulf" by the U.S. Navy and by two U.S. officials in their recent interviews, said the report without further details. http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/world/2010-12/02/c_13630988.htm TheHeadlines.org Comment on this article > Big news: $20,000 matching donation fund for Mondoweiss for December Dec 02, 2010 10:33 am | Philip Weiss and Adam Horowitz An extremely generous anonymous donor has offered to match donations to Mondoweiss of $100 or more up to $20,000. We'll add an offer including some very special gifts for our loyal supporters tomorrow. We just wanted you to know about the exciting news. Thanks for all your support during the last two years! Comment on this article > This Hanukkah, help shatter the 'Israel barrier' Dec 02, 2010 10:08 am | Rae Abileah The recently released Wikileaks diplomatic cables reveal that Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu posited the Goldstone Report and a nuclear Iran as the main existential threats to his country, but the real existential threat to Israel is its own policies. On November 8, when I stood up in New Orleans at a large gathering of Jewish leaders to tell Netanyahu that illegal West Bank settlements betray Jewish values, I could not have predicted that these words would not only reverberate through the room, but would also shatter the "Israel barrier," the culture of silencing dissent towards Israel's flagrant violations of international law that is so pervasive in my community. Supported by our allies at Jewish Voice for Peace, the five of us who disrupted Netanyahu's speech gave a name to the real cause of Israel's delegitimization: Israeli policies such as the occupation, the siege of Gaza, and the silencing of dissent.  The immediate response in the room was violent—I was actually put in a chokehold and pushed to the ground.  But it was too late to silence us, and our message was soon circling the globe. The response to our actions was overwhelmingly positive.  I've received emails of support from rabbis, cantors, Naomi Klein's mom, young Palestinians, and Jewish friends with whom I haven't been "out" on this issue.   Our young, Jewish, and proud voices join the chorus rising from the West Bank, Gaza, Israel and around the world clamoring for justice.  On November 20, CODEPINK organizer Nancy Kricorian and I traveled to London for the Russell Tribunal on Palestine, where we testified about Ahava's corporate complicity in Israel's violations of international law.  As the Tribunal announced its findings regarding 12 corporations that are violating international law, including Ahava, blocks away two British activists locked themselves together inside Ahava's flagship UK store, engaging in a brave act of civil disobedience.

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