14 sept 2015
Alexander Lebelovitch 50
Man returning from Rosh Hashanah dinner loses control of car; police investigate if crash was result of stones being thrown at car or if driver had heart attack.
A man in Jerusalem was fatally wounded on Sunday night, the eve of Rosh Hashanah, when he lost control of his car after it was reportedly pelted with stones.
The vehicle struck a power line and tumbled into a roadside ditch. Police said they were investigating if stones thrown at the car caused the accident.
The driver, a man of about 50, was taken to Shaare Zedek Medical Center by an MDA team while paramedics attempted resuscitation in the ambulance. He succumbed to his wounds on Monday morning. Two others were lightly wounded in the incident. Jerusalem police said the passengers were returning from a Rosh Hashanah holiday dinner when they drove on a route on which Arabs were throwing stones.
However, questioning of the other passengers suggested that the driver had convulsed before losing control of the car, and police decided to continue investigating the cause of the accident. Police said there had been numerous reports of stone-throwing in the area before the incident. Sunday saw clashes in Jerusalem ahead of Rosh Hashanah.
Palestinians barricaded themselves inside al-Aqsa Mosque on the Temple Mount. Police forces broke into the compound and confiscated some of the equipment brought there by the Palestinians. At least nine people were arrested on Monday mornings as clashes continued.
An official at Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office announced that the prime minister would convene an "emergency meeting" over recent attacks.
Netanyahu will hold the consultations with top ministers Tuesday night after the Jewish new year holiday of Rosh Hashanah ends. "The prime minister views with great severity the throwing of rocks and fire bombs against Israeli citizens and intends to fight the phenomena by all means, including increasing punishment and enforcement," the official said anonymously according to protocol.
Man returning from Rosh Hashanah dinner loses control of car; police investigate if crash was result of stones being thrown at car or if driver had heart attack.
A man in Jerusalem was fatally wounded on Sunday night, the eve of Rosh Hashanah, when he lost control of his car after it was reportedly pelted with stones.
The vehicle struck a power line and tumbled into a roadside ditch. Police said they were investigating if stones thrown at the car caused the accident.
The driver, a man of about 50, was taken to Shaare Zedek Medical Center by an MDA team while paramedics attempted resuscitation in the ambulance. He succumbed to his wounds on Monday morning. Two others were lightly wounded in the incident. Jerusalem police said the passengers were returning from a Rosh Hashanah holiday dinner when they drove on a route on which Arabs were throwing stones.
However, questioning of the other passengers suggested that the driver had convulsed before losing control of the car, and police decided to continue investigating the cause of the accident. Police said there had been numerous reports of stone-throwing in the area before the incident. Sunday saw clashes in Jerusalem ahead of Rosh Hashanah.
Palestinians barricaded themselves inside al-Aqsa Mosque on the Temple Mount. Police forces broke into the compound and confiscated some of the equipment brought there by the Palestinians. At least nine people were arrested on Monday mornings as clashes continued.
An official at Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office announced that the prime minister would convene an "emergency meeting" over recent attacks.
Netanyahu will hold the consultations with top ministers Tuesday night after the Jewish new year holiday of Rosh Hashanah ends. "The prime minister views with great severity the throwing of rocks and fire bombs against Israeli citizens and intends to fight the phenomena by all means, including increasing punishment and enforcement," the official said anonymously according to protocol.
13 sept 2015
Despite attempts at reconciliation after conclusion of Iran deal, US president still struggles to find favor with Israelis more than any other country.
Seeking to sell his nuclear deal with Iran to a skeptical Israeli public, President Barack Obama has repeatedly declared his deep affection for the Jewish state. But the feelings do not appear to be mutual.
Wide swaths of the Israeli public, particularly supporters of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, have little trust in the American leader, considering him naive and even hostile. One recent poll showed less than a tenth considered him "pro-Israel."
Such misgivings bode poorly for Obama as he tries to repair ties with Israel in the final year of his presidency, and they would certainly complicate any renewed effort at brokering peace between Israel and its neighbors - once a major Obama ambition.
The tense personal relationship between Netanyahu and Obama is certainly a factor in the poor state of affairs, sparked by disagreements and actions received as offensive from in each respective nation.
On a trip to the White House in 2011, the Israeli leader appeared to lecture Obama on the pitfalls of Mideast peacemaking and during the 2012 presidential race, Netanyahu seemed to favor Obama's challenger, Mitt Romney. Netanyahu's US-born ambassador to Washington, Ron Dermer, is a former Republican activist, and earlier this year, Netanyahu angered the White House by delivering a speech to Congress against the emerging Iran deal at the invitation of Republican leaders.
Netanyahu has continued to lobby American lawmakers to oppose the Iran deal since it was finalized in July. But critics also claim that Obama bears responsibility for a number of policy decisions that have jolted Israelis' faith in him. "The average Israeli probably thinks that he is a nice guy, but he is naive," said Alexander Yakobson, a historian at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem.
In Israeli eyes, "he doesn't get the Middle East, doesn't understand how the Mideast functions, and he doesn't therefore understand what dangers Israel has to face," he added. Yakobson said the president's missteps went back to his earliest days in office, when he chose to deliver a landmark speech in Cairo seeking to repair American relations with the Arab world. "That was never going to make him popular in Israel," he said.
Yakobson, who himself agrees with Obama's opposition to Israeli settlement construction in the West Bank, said the president had nonetheless mishandled disagreements with Netanyahu over the issue and peace efforts with the Palestinians that collapsed last year. Many Israelis, he said, believe the Palestinians also deserve some of the blame.
But the biggest issue has been the US-led nuclear agreement with Iran. Politicians across the spectrum have come out against deal, agreeing
with Netanyahu's assessment that it does not have sufficient safeguards to prevent Iran from gaining the ability to make a bomb and that it will boost Iran's influence across the region.
Iran is a key backer of Israel's toughest enemies, and Netanyahu has warned that the ending of sanctions against Iran will result in more money and arms flowing to groups like Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Recent opinion polls reflect these sentiments. In one survey published Sunday in the Maariv daily, 77 percent of respondents said the deal endangers Israel, compared to 15 percent who said it didn't.
The poll interviewed 500 people and had a margin of error of 4.3 percentage points. An April survey of Jewish Israelis, carried out just after a preliminary nuclear deal with Iran was reached, had an equally harsh view of Obama. Just 9 percent of respondents described the White House as "pro-Israeli," while 60 percent called it "pro-Palestinian."
More than 60 percent described Obama as the worst president for Israel in the past 30 years, far outdistancing runner-up Jimmy Carter at 16 percent. That survey, conducted by the Panels Politics agency with the Jewish Journal, questioned 503 Jewish Israelis and had a margin of error of 4.6 percentage points. In a survey of 40 countries, the Pew Research Center found the sharpest decline in Obama's image over the past year occurred in Israel, where confidence slipped from 71 percent to 49 percent.
At times, the anger toward Obama in Israel is palpable. On the streets and in online news forums, Israelis often refer to Obama by his middle name "Hussein," a reference to his Muslim heritage on his father's side. Last year, after an anonymous White House official used a pejorative term to describe Netanyahu as cowardly, Cabinet Minister Naftali Bennett warned that Obama was "throwing Israel under the bus." For his part, Obama has acknowledged feeling hurt. In an address to American Jewish leaders last month, Obama underscored his deep commitment to Israel's security and likened the debate over the Iran deal to a dispute within the family.
"I would suggest that, in terms of the tone of this debate, everybody keep in mind that we're all pro-Israel," he said. "And we have to make sure that we don't impugn people's motives." Obama has said that with the Iran deal complete, he would like to begin working with Israel on ways to increase its security and allay fears about the deal.
The Haaretz daily on Sunday said talks on providing Israel with additional US weaponry have already quietly begun. Netanyahu's office declined comment. But even if the two countries do manage to reach a new security deal, it seems unlikely that Obama will be able to repair the relationship with Netanyahu or restart Mideast peace efforts. The differences just run too deep.
The White House has said it is trying to set up a meeting between Obama and Netanyahu for November, which would be their first meeting since the Iran deal was finalized. Yoram Ettinger, a former Israeli consul-general in Houston, said the issues here have little to do with personalities or alleged hostilities on the part of Obama. "It's an issue of a gap between two very different world views," he said.
He said that in Israeli eyes, Obama is unrealistic, sending a message of weakness through his handling of the so-called Arab Spring over the past five years and by trusting an Iranian government with such a long record of defying the international community and supporting violent groups across the region. "Are you rooted in reality or are you rooted in wishful thinking?" he asked.
Seeking to sell his nuclear deal with Iran to a skeptical Israeli public, President Barack Obama has repeatedly declared his deep affection for the Jewish state. But the feelings do not appear to be mutual.
Wide swaths of the Israeli public, particularly supporters of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, have little trust in the American leader, considering him naive and even hostile. One recent poll showed less than a tenth considered him "pro-Israel."
Such misgivings bode poorly for Obama as he tries to repair ties with Israel in the final year of his presidency, and they would certainly complicate any renewed effort at brokering peace between Israel and its neighbors - once a major Obama ambition.
The tense personal relationship between Netanyahu and Obama is certainly a factor in the poor state of affairs, sparked by disagreements and actions received as offensive from in each respective nation.
On a trip to the White House in 2011, the Israeli leader appeared to lecture Obama on the pitfalls of Mideast peacemaking and during the 2012 presidential race, Netanyahu seemed to favor Obama's challenger, Mitt Romney. Netanyahu's US-born ambassador to Washington, Ron Dermer, is a former Republican activist, and earlier this year, Netanyahu angered the White House by delivering a speech to Congress against the emerging Iran deal at the invitation of Republican leaders.
Netanyahu has continued to lobby American lawmakers to oppose the Iran deal since it was finalized in July. But critics also claim that Obama bears responsibility for a number of policy decisions that have jolted Israelis' faith in him. "The average Israeli probably thinks that he is a nice guy, but he is naive," said Alexander Yakobson, a historian at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem.
In Israeli eyes, "he doesn't get the Middle East, doesn't understand how the Mideast functions, and he doesn't therefore understand what dangers Israel has to face," he added. Yakobson said the president's missteps went back to his earliest days in office, when he chose to deliver a landmark speech in Cairo seeking to repair American relations with the Arab world. "That was never going to make him popular in Israel," he said.
Yakobson, who himself agrees with Obama's opposition to Israeli settlement construction in the West Bank, said the president had nonetheless mishandled disagreements with Netanyahu over the issue and peace efforts with the Palestinians that collapsed last year. Many Israelis, he said, believe the Palestinians also deserve some of the blame.
But the biggest issue has been the US-led nuclear agreement with Iran. Politicians across the spectrum have come out against deal, agreeing
with Netanyahu's assessment that it does not have sufficient safeguards to prevent Iran from gaining the ability to make a bomb and that it will boost Iran's influence across the region.
Iran is a key backer of Israel's toughest enemies, and Netanyahu has warned that the ending of sanctions against Iran will result in more money and arms flowing to groups like Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Recent opinion polls reflect these sentiments. In one survey published Sunday in the Maariv daily, 77 percent of respondents said the deal endangers Israel, compared to 15 percent who said it didn't.
The poll interviewed 500 people and had a margin of error of 4.3 percentage points. An April survey of Jewish Israelis, carried out just after a preliminary nuclear deal with Iran was reached, had an equally harsh view of Obama. Just 9 percent of respondents described the White House as "pro-Israeli," while 60 percent called it "pro-Palestinian."
More than 60 percent described Obama as the worst president for Israel in the past 30 years, far outdistancing runner-up Jimmy Carter at 16 percent. That survey, conducted by the Panels Politics agency with the Jewish Journal, questioned 503 Jewish Israelis and had a margin of error of 4.6 percentage points. In a survey of 40 countries, the Pew Research Center found the sharpest decline in Obama's image over the past year occurred in Israel, where confidence slipped from 71 percent to 49 percent.
At times, the anger toward Obama in Israel is palpable. On the streets and in online news forums, Israelis often refer to Obama by his middle name "Hussein," a reference to his Muslim heritage on his father's side. Last year, after an anonymous White House official used a pejorative term to describe Netanyahu as cowardly, Cabinet Minister Naftali Bennett warned that Obama was "throwing Israel under the bus." For his part, Obama has acknowledged feeling hurt. In an address to American Jewish leaders last month, Obama underscored his deep commitment to Israel's security and likened the debate over the Iran deal to a dispute within the family.
"I would suggest that, in terms of the tone of this debate, everybody keep in mind that we're all pro-Israel," he said. "And we have to make sure that we don't impugn people's motives." Obama has said that with the Iran deal complete, he would like to begin working with Israel on ways to increase its security and allay fears about the deal.
The Haaretz daily on Sunday said talks on providing Israel with additional US weaponry have already quietly begun. Netanyahu's office declined comment. But even if the two countries do manage to reach a new security deal, it seems unlikely that Obama will be able to repair the relationship with Netanyahu or restart Mideast peace efforts. The differences just run too deep.
The White House has said it is trying to set up a meeting between Obama and Netanyahu for November, which would be their first meeting since the Iran deal was finalized. Yoram Ettinger, a former Israeli consul-general in Houston, said the issues here have little to do with personalities or alleged hostilities on the part of Obama. "It's an issue of a gap between two very different world views," he said.
He said that in Israeli eyes, Obama is unrealistic, sending a message of weakness through his handling of the so-called Arab Spring over the past five years and by trusting an Iranian government with such a long record of defying the international community and supporting violent groups across the region. "Are you rooted in reality or are you rooted in wishful thinking?" he asked.
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Proposed by Qatar, the pipeline would connect Israel to Gaza's power plant and relieve electricity shortage there; Qatar and Palestinian Authority to finance project.
Jerusalem is reviewing a proposal to lay a pipeline for transporting natural gas between Israel and the Gaza Strip, Ynet has learned. According to the project, proposed by Qatar, the pipeline would connect Israel to Gaza's power plant, and in this manner Israel will transfer natural gas to operate the plant and thus alleviate the crisis in coastal territory. The power plant currently supplies Gaza residents only eight hours of electricity a day. |
Under the plan, the Palestinian Authority will bear the costs of the gas transferred. Qatar has offered to finance part of the project, and some is supposed to be financed by private funds under the Palestinian Authority's management.
Qatar proposed the project for laying the pipeline through the mediation of its emissary to the rehabilitation of the Gaza Strip, Mohammed Imadi. The Qatari official has visited Gaza several times in recent months, and six months ago, Ynet revealed that he met with Brig. Gen. Yoav Mordechai, then Israel Defense Forces' Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT).
COGAT has recently been doing tests for laying the gas pipeline between Israel and the Gaza Strip, pending approval from the government.
Qatar proposed the project for laying the pipeline through the mediation of its emissary to the rehabilitation of the Gaza Strip, Mohammed Imadi. The Qatari official has visited Gaza several times in recent months, and six months ago, Ynet revealed that he met with Brig. Gen. Yoav Mordechai, then Israel Defense Forces' Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT).
COGAT has recently been doing tests for laying the gas pipeline between Israel and the Gaza Strip, pending approval from the government.
12 sept 2015
Jeremy Corbyn, critic of Israel and supporter of Palestinian cause, elected head of Labour; some in UK Jewish community concerned about ramifications, while analysts wonder if Jews will abandon Labour.
Far-left lawmaker Jeremy Corbyn, who is a staunch critic of Israel, and has previously referred to himself as a "friend" of Hamas and Hezbollah, was elected leader of Britain's opposition Labour Party on Saturday, causing consernation to some in the nation's 290,000-strong Jewish community.
The 66-year-old, who strongly opposes the government's austerity policies and Britain's membership of NATO, was considered an outsider but in recent months became the runaway favorite over three more mainstream rivals to win Saturday.
Corbyn is a staunch supporter of the Palestinian cause, and has met in the past with members of terrorist organizations like Hezbollah and Hamas, and described them as "friends."
The Foreign Ministry in Jerusalem and Israel's embassy in London refrained from publishing any response to Corbyn's victory, even though this victory will have ramifications for Labour's relationship with Israel and the UK's Jewish community. Some in the community believe that the wealthy British Jewish establishment, which has traditionally supported Labour, may now defect to the Conservatives or a newer, centrist party.
Corbyn's win is a nightmare for many of Britain's 290,000 Jews. Several years ago, a Jewish Chronicle poll showed that 70 percent of British Jews were concerned about the consequences if Corbyn was elected leader. More than 80 percent of Jews expressed concern about Corbyn's potential foreign policy and ties to Holocaust deniers.
Corbyn's election raises complex questions about the future of the British Jewish community's relationship with Labour. It's unclear whether he will become more moderate, like many politicians on the left, or maintain his positions. The Jewish Chronicle's Marcus Dysch wrote that after five difficult years under Ed Miliband's leadership, many in the Jewish community could see his heir as someone they cannot work with.
Corbyn has already conveyed messages that he intends to appoint a special envoy for Jewish affairs to communicate with the local community.
Dysch said Corbyn would, if elected prime minister, initially have to deal with urgent issues like the economy and education before he could approach the Palestinian matter.
However, based on his prior statements, it's likely that Corbyn will adopt a tough stance towards Israel and call for sanctions, boycotts on products from settlements and support for a Palestinian state.
In the event of a violent conflict, it's likely that he would condemn Israel, just as his predecessor did during Operation Protective Edge. "But how far would he get in the Commons with anti-Israel proposals, when so many in the parliamentary Labour Party seem destined to refuse to back him on a wide range of issues?" Dysch wrote.
Corbyn will face his first test as head of Labour in about eight months, when the UK has local elections. Some in the Jewish community fear that if he remains in the role until the next scheduled general election in 2020, and fails to adjust his policies, the damage to Labour's relationship with the Jewish community could be irreversible.
Corbyn's victory could also affect the Labour Friends of Israel organization, which once numbered some 100 MPs. The organization was led in the past by very high-ranking politicians, including Tony Blair. When Miliband headed labor, the organization dropped to about 50-60 MPs.
Corbyn managed to cause a political storm two weeks ago as a result of a statement in which he labeled the assassination of Osama Bin Laden a "tragedy."
According to the Telegraph, Corbyn's spokesman defended the remarks saying he was "a total opponent of al-Qaeda, all it stands for".
In an interview with Iran's Press TV, Corbyn described the death of Bin Laden a tragedy. According to Corbyn, "There was no attempt whatsoever that I can see to arrest him and put him on trial, to go through that process," he said. "This was an assassination attempt, and is yet another tragedy, upon a tragedy, upon tragedy."
Many senior leaders in the party oppose Corbyn, and many – including former Labour prime ministers Tony Blair and Gordon Brown – had issued public warnings strongly urging voters to reject Corbyn, arguing that his socialist ideas will alienate moderate voters and make Labour unelectable.
Far-left lawmaker Jeremy Corbyn, who is a staunch critic of Israel, and has previously referred to himself as a "friend" of Hamas and Hezbollah, was elected leader of Britain's opposition Labour Party on Saturday, causing consernation to some in the nation's 290,000-strong Jewish community.
The 66-year-old, who strongly opposes the government's austerity policies and Britain's membership of NATO, was considered an outsider but in recent months became the runaway favorite over three more mainstream rivals to win Saturday.
Corbyn is a staunch supporter of the Palestinian cause, and has met in the past with members of terrorist organizations like Hezbollah and Hamas, and described them as "friends."
The Foreign Ministry in Jerusalem and Israel's embassy in London refrained from publishing any response to Corbyn's victory, even though this victory will have ramifications for Labour's relationship with Israel and the UK's Jewish community. Some in the community believe that the wealthy British Jewish establishment, which has traditionally supported Labour, may now defect to the Conservatives or a newer, centrist party.
Corbyn's win is a nightmare for many of Britain's 290,000 Jews. Several years ago, a Jewish Chronicle poll showed that 70 percent of British Jews were concerned about the consequences if Corbyn was elected leader. More than 80 percent of Jews expressed concern about Corbyn's potential foreign policy and ties to Holocaust deniers.
Corbyn's election raises complex questions about the future of the British Jewish community's relationship with Labour. It's unclear whether he will become more moderate, like many politicians on the left, or maintain his positions. The Jewish Chronicle's Marcus Dysch wrote that after five difficult years under Ed Miliband's leadership, many in the Jewish community could see his heir as someone they cannot work with.
Corbyn has already conveyed messages that he intends to appoint a special envoy for Jewish affairs to communicate with the local community.
Dysch said Corbyn would, if elected prime minister, initially have to deal with urgent issues like the economy and education before he could approach the Palestinian matter.
However, based on his prior statements, it's likely that Corbyn will adopt a tough stance towards Israel and call for sanctions, boycotts on products from settlements and support for a Palestinian state.
In the event of a violent conflict, it's likely that he would condemn Israel, just as his predecessor did during Operation Protective Edge. "But how far would he get in the Commons with anti-Israel proposals, when so many in the parliamentary Labour Party seem destined to refuse to back him on a wide range of issues?" Dysch wrote.
Corbyn will face his first test as head of Labour in about eight months, when the UK has local elections. Some in the Jewish community fear that if he remains in the role until the next scheduled general election in 2020, and fails to adjust his policies, the damage to Labour's relationship with the Jewish community could be irreversible.
Corbyn's victory could also affect the Labour Friends of Israel organization, which once numbered some 100 MPs. The organization was led in the past by very high-ranking politicians, including Tony Blair. When Miliband headed labor, the organization dropped to about 50-60 MPs.
Corbyn managed to cause a political storm two weeks ago as a result of a statement in which he labeled the assassination of Osama Bin Laden a "tragedy."
According to the Telegraph, Corbyn's spokesman defended the remarks saying he was "a total opponent of al-Qaeda, all it stands for".
In an interview with Iran's Press TV, Corbyn described the death of Bin Laden a tragedy. According to Corbyn, "There was no attempt whatsoever that I can see to arrest him and put him on trial, to go through that process," he said. "This was an assassination attempt, and is yet another tragedy, upon a tragedy, upon tragedy."
Many senior leaders in the party oppose Corbyn, and many – including former Labour prime ministers Tony Blair and Gordon Brown – had issued public warnings strongly urging voters to reject Corbyn, arguing that his socialist ideas will alienate moderate voters and make Labour unelectable.
Faced with mounting criticism over their refusal to accept refugees, the Gulf monarchies have launched a campaign to combat that the claims, saying that they have donated millions and accepted vast numbers of Syrians as migrants.
Photos of 3-year-old Aylan Kurdi, the young Syrian boy who drowned while fleeing the country with his family, have sparked rage within the Arab world, mainly against the rich Gulf states. The criticism has mainly surrounded the fact that the rich Gulf states have yet to take in refugees, while much smaller and weaker Arab states like Jordan and Lebanon have taken the brunt of the crises.
On the backdrop of increasing criticism, the Gulf States have launched a massive PR campaign across a spectrum of media outlets in an attempt to quash claims of refugee denial.
Saudi journalist Tariq Alhomayed was one of the many Saudi's who took the anti-Gulf state rhetoric very personally, writing an emotional article which attempted to dispute the criticism, and even mentioned the debate within Israel surrounding the Syrian refugees: "We must be truthful and clear: its shameful that Israel has debated accepting refugees while others incite against the Gulf states, instead of confronting the merchants of the false 'opposition'."
He continued to state that, "It is shameful for the Islamic organizations, mainly the Muslim Brotherhood, and those who seek to take ownership of Arabism. It’s a shame to Iran and her proxies that Israeli is debating the option of taking refugees while Assad murders Syrians with chemical weapons, barrel bombs, and with Iranian money."
Saudi Arabia's ambassador in Italy, Dr Rayed Khalid A. Krimly, said this week that, "30 to 40 percent of all of Saudi Arabia's residents are not Saudis." Krimly continued to say that, "This figure includes a million and a half Yemenis, and more than 500,000 Syrians." According to him, since the outbreak of the Syrian and Yemeni crises, Saudi Arabia has granted the two peoples the right to receive resident status in the kingdom, forgoing the normal authorizations and conditions.
"We haven't called the migrants refugees because they have received the residency permits legally, which allows them to enjoy all the education, health, residency, and labor benefits," the Saudi ambassador said, and reiterated that his country was the largest contributor to Syria and Yemen's humanitarian aid programs.
The Gulf owned and London based Al-Hayat paper reported Thursday that, "Saudi Arabia is host to 500,000 Syrian refugees, and its schools are open to about 100,000 Syrians." According to an official in the Saudi Foreign Ministry, since the beginning of the Syrian crises, the kingdom has taken in no less than 2.5 million Syrians, insisting that they were not treated as refugees or stuffed into refugee camps, but were in fact granted freedom of movement - in order to preserve their honor.
The UAE was quick to follow the Saudi example, with a government official telling CNN in Arabic that no less than 100,000 Syrian refugees had made their way to the Emirates since 2011, where they were granted temporary residency permits. This figure would put the number of Syrians in the Gulf country at 250,000.
Similarly to the Saudis, the Emirates had pointed at large scale funding for Syrian humanitarian programs, "The United Arab Emirates has donated $530 million in aid since the beginning of the Syrian crises, and has pledged an addition $100 million," the government source said. Kuwait has also reacted to the backlash, saying the country would provide Syrians currently staying in the country with long term residency permits when their temporary status expires.
The reactions provided by the Gulf States have seemingly failed to quell the backlash from refugee organizations, and the reactions of several international followed soon after the publication of the statements. "To me, buying your way out of this is not satisfactory," Peter Sutherland, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Migration and Development told a news briefing in Geneva last week. "And I say that taking refugees is separate from giving money."
An investigation conducted by Reuters revealed that none of the six Gulf Cooperation Council states - Saudi Arabia, Oman, United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Bahrain and Qatar - has signed the U.N. convention on refugees which has governed international law on asylum since World War Two. The report continued to say that like the rest of the expatriates that form a majority in many Gulf States, Syrians have been admitted mainly as temporary guest workers, which generally means they must have jobs lined up before they arrive, or as their family dependants.
The Gulf States are mainly worried about the political, social and economic impact of an influx of refugees, especially fellow Arabs, who might settle permanently and demand broad civil rights that temporary guest workers know not to expect.
"We're talking about countries whose nationals are in the minority," said Sami al-Faraj, a Kuwaiti security adviser to the GCC. "When it comes to the issue of refugees, we have taken a stand and that is to actually help (other) nations settle refugees."
Both Qatar and the UAE currently maintain populations of which 80 percent are foreign citizens. Saudi Arabia's population includes 40 percent foreigners, while Kuwait has 50 percent. The Gulf states have mentioned that the UK in comparison has an eight percent foreigner population. "Gulf countries are scared about more traffic on the streets, longer waiting periods in free government medical facilities, additional pressure on subsidized goods, and more use of subsidized electricity and water," Ali al-Baghli, a lawyer and former Kuwaiti parliamentarian and oil minister, said in a statement to Reuters.
Another facet of the refugee crises is centered on the security issue. The London based and Qatar aligned "Al Arabi Al- Jadid" newspaper reported on this issue with the headline "The Gulf and the refugees- support but no welcoming party." The article stated that the official stance of the Gulf states on the refugee issue is centered around the security debate, including terrorist groups using the crises to funnel into Gulf under the guise of Refugees.
Photos of 3-year-old Aylan Kurdi, the young Syrian boy who drowned while fleeing the country with his family, have sparked rage within the Arab world, mainly against the rich Gulf states. The criticism has mainly surrounded the fact that the rich Gulf states have yet to take in refugees, while much smaller and weaker Arab states like Jordan and Lebanon have taken the brunt of the crises.
On the backdrop of increasing criticism, the Gulf States have launched a massive PR campaign across a spectrum of media outlets in an attempt to quash claims of refugee denial.
Saudi journalist Tariq Alhomayed was one of the many Saudi's who took the anti-Gulf state rhetoric very personally, writing an emotional article which attempted to dispute the criticism, and even mentioned the debate within Israel surrounding the Syrian refugees: "We must be truthful and clear: its shameful that Israel has debated accepting refugees while others incite against the Gulf states, instead of confronting the merchants of the false 'opposition'."
He continued to state that, "It is shameful for the Islamic organizations, mainly the Muslim Brotherhood, and those who seek to take ownership of Arabism. It’s a shame to Iran and her proxies that Israeli is debating the option of taking refugees while Assad murders Syrians with chemical weapons, barrel bombs, and with Iranian money."
Saudi Arabia's ambassador in Italy, Dr Rayed Khalid A. Krimly, said this week that, "30 to 40 percent of all of Saudi Arabia's residents are not Saudis." Krimly continued to say that, "This figure includes a million and a half Yemenis, and more than 500,000 Syrians." According to him, since the outbreak of the Syrian and Yemeni crises, Saudi Arabia has granted the two peoples the right to receive resident status in the kingdom, forgoing the normal authorizations and conditions.
"We haven't called the migrants refugees because they have received the residency permits legally, which allows them to enjoy all the education, health, residency, and labor benefits," the Saudi ambassador said, and reiterated that his country was the largest contributor to Syria and Yemen's humanitarian aid programs.
The Gulf owned and London based Al-Hayat paper reported Thursday that, "Saudi Arabia is host to 500,000 Syrian refugees, and its schools are open to about 100,000 Syrians." According to an official in the Saudi Foreign Ministry, since the beginning of the Syrian crises, the kingdom has taken in no less than 2.5 million Syrians, insisting that they were not treated as refugees or stuffed into refugee camps, but were in fact granted freedom of movement - in order to preserve their honor.
The UAE was quick to follow the Saudi example, with a government official telling CNN in Arabic that no less than 100,000 Syrian refugees had made their way to the Emirates since 2011, where they were granted temporary residency permits. This figure would put the number of Syrians in the Gulf country at 250,000.
Similarly to the Saudis, the Emirates had pointed at large scale funding for Syrian humanitarian programs, "The United Arab Emirates has donated $530 million in aid since the beginning of the Syrian crises, and has pledged an addition $100 million," the government source said. Kuwait has also reacted to the backlash, saying the country would provide Syrians currently staying in the country with long term residency permits when their temporary status expires.
The reactions provided by the Gulf States have seemingly failed to quell the backlash from refugee organizations, and the reactions of several international followed soon after the publication of the statements. "To me, buying your way out of this is not satisfactory," Peter Sutherland, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Migration and Development told a news briefing in Geneva last week. "And I say that taking refugees is separate from giving money."
An investigation conducted by Reuters revealed that none of the six Gulf Cooperation Council states - Saudi Arabia, Oman, United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Bahrain and Qatar - has signed the U.N. convention on refugees which has governed international law on asylum since World War Two. The report continued to say that like the rest of the expatriates that form a majority in many Gulf States, Syrians have been admitted mainly as temporary guest workers, which generally means they must have jobs lined up before they arrive, or as their family dependants.
The Gulf States are mainly worried about the political, social and economic impact of an influx of refugees, especially fellow Arabs, who might settle permanently and demand broad civil rights that temporary guest workers know not to expect.
"We're talking about countries whose nationals are in the minority," said Sami al-Faraj, a Kuwaiti security adviser to the GCC. "When it comes to the issue of refugees, we have taken a stand and that is to actually help (other) nations settle refugees."
Both Qatar and the UAE currently maintain populations of which 80 percent are foreign citizens. Saudi Arabia's population includes 40 percent foreigners, while Kuwait has 50 percent. The Gulf states have mentioned that the UK in comparison has an eight percent foreigner population. "Gulf countries are scared about more traffic on the streets, longer waiting periods in free government medical facilities, additional pressure on subsidized goods, and more use of subsidized electricity and water," Ali al-Baghli, a lawyer and former Kuwaiti parliamentarian and oil minister, said in a statement to Reuters.
Another facet of the refugee crises is centered on the security issue. The London based and Qatar aligned "Al Arabi Al- Jadid" newspaper reported on this issue with the headline "The Gulf and the refugees- support but no welcoming party." The article stated that the official stance of the Gulf states on the refugee issue is centered around the security debate, including terrorist groups using the crises to funnel into Gulf under the guise of Refugees.
11 sept 2015
By Khalid Amayreh in Occupied Palestine
Israel is striving to reap cheap public relations from the heart-rending crisis surrounding Syrian refugees fleeing death and destruction in their country.
Israeli officials and media have been claiming that the erection by Hungary of a barbed wire fence on part of its borders to prevent refugees from entering that country is a vindication of Israel's policy of building "the separation wall" in the West Bank.
But an evil act doesn't justify the perpetration of another evil act, especially if the target of the evil acts is a totally innocent third party.
Otherwise, the genocidal crimes committed by Joseph Stalin would justify the equally genocidal crimes committed by Adolph Hitler which would in turn justify the heinous crimes carried out by Nazi-like Zionism against the Palestinian people.
Corrupt analogy
Israel, a crime against humanity by any standard of imagination, has always cited events in distant lands to justify or rationalize its own colossal crimes against the Palestinians.
Thus the indiscriminate murder of Palestinians by Israel, we are told, is necessary to prevent the recurrence of the holocaust. Similarly, we are told that Israel's Lebensraum policies (settlement expansion) are vital for the future survival of the Jewish people, as if Jews, who survived for thousands of years without a nation-state of their own, could only survive as murderers, thugs and land thieves.
In any case, any analogy or comparison between Israeli policies against the Palestinian people and the anti-refugee measures on the part of some East European governments is infinitely corrupt.
After all, Israel itself is an illegitimate state based on war, expansion, racism and ethnic cleansing. Jewish-Zionist gangs, supported by European colonialists eager to atone for centuries of anti-Semitism, invaded the peaceable Arab country of Palestine, murdered many of the native people, destroyed their homes, bulldozed their villages and fields before expelling hundreds of thousands across the borders. As such, Israel has no right to claim innocence or pretend to occupy the moral high ground. Israel will thus remain condemned for eternity no matter how many people will sing the praises of the evil entity.
Moreover, Israel didn't build the "annexation wall" in order to prevent refugees from repatriation (90% of Israel belongs to the Palestinians) but rather in order to annex (e.g. steal more land that belongs to another people.)
How can that be compared to the erection by Hungary of a barbed wire fence extending for a few kilometers?? The lie simply goes beyond the pale.
Besides, while Syrian refugees fleeing an actual holocaust by a Hitlerian regime that is effectively supported by the bulk of Western states as well as Israel, are trying to seek refuge in European countries such as Germany and Sweden, the Palestinians are actually seeking repatriation back to their own native country, not seeking immigration to a land that is not their own.
Yes, Zionist Jews do control Palestine and are keeping up this illegal occupation by brutal force. But this is very much like a gang of armed thieves taking over a land or property by force. And just as the "ownership" of the arrogated property taken over by the thieves has no legality or legitimacy, the Israeli usurpation and occupation of Palestine will remain bereft of legitimacy.
Israel is head of the snake
Many people might be prompted to think that Israel is actually innocent of the Syrian quagmire.
But this is not the case. In fact, Israel's adamant objection to the downfall of the genocidal Syrian regime is the secret behind its continued survival.
Israeli leaders reportedly have made it amply clear to the Obama administration that the survival of the Assad regime is an inviolable red line. According to a recent aljazeera documentary, the tacit alliance between Qerdaha and Tel Aviv is not new by any means. In 1967, Hafez al Assad, then Syria's defense minister, reached a secret agreement with Zionist representatives in London whereby Assad would cede the strategic Golan Heights to Israel in return for Israel (and the West) guaranteeing the continuity of the Alawite sect in power in Syria.
This should decipher and explain the enigma of Communiqué 66 which announced the downfall of the Golan Heights 48 hours before these heights were eventually seized by Israel.
Hence, Israel cannot really pretend to be innocent of the ongoing holocaust in Syria.
Syrian refugees scenario: ultimate Zionist dream
I have absolutely no doubt in my mind that Israel is hoping that the Syrian refugee tragedy would repeat itself with the Palestinians.
But this ghoulish scenario will never happen with the Palestinians, not because the Israelis are more humane than the Assad regime, but rather because the Palestinians have long taken a solemn decision: Either they live in Palestine or die in it.
Israel is striving to reap cheap public relations from the heart-rending crisis surrounding Syrian refugees fleeing death and destruction in their country.
Israeli officials and media have been claiming that the erection by Hungary of a barbed wire fence on part of its borders to prevent refugees from entering that country is a vindication of Israel's policy of building "the separation wall" in the West Bank.
But an evil act doesn't justify the perpetration of another evil act, especially if the target of the evil acts is a totally innocent third party.
Otherwise, the genocidal crimes committed by Joseph Stalin would justify the equally genocidal crimes committed by Adolph Hitler which would in turn justify the heinous crimes carried out by Nazi-like Zionism against the Palestinian people.
Corrupt analogy
Israel, a crime against humanity by any standard of imagination, has always cited events in distant lands to justify or rationalize its own colossal crimes against the Palestinians.
Thus the indiscriminate murder of Palestinians by Israel, we are told, is necessary to prevent the recurrence of the holocaust. Similarly, we are told that Israel's Lebensraum policies (settlement expansion) are vital for the future survival of the Jewish people, as if Jews, who survived for thousands of years without a nation-state of their own, could only survive as murderers, thugs and land thieves.
In any case, any analogy or comparison between Israeli policies against the Palestinian people and the anti-refugee measures on the part of some East European governments is infinitely corrupt.
After all, Israel itself is an illegitimate state based on war, expansion, racism and ethnic cleansing. Jewish-Zionist gangs, supported by European colonialists eager to atone for centuries of anti-Semitism, invaded the peaceable Arab country of Palestine, murdered many of the native people, destroyed their homes, bulldozed their villages and fields before expelling hundreds of thousands across the borders. As such, Israel has no right to claim innocence or pretend to occupy the moral high ground. Israel will thus remain condemned for eternity no matter how many people will sing the praises of the evil entity.
Moreover, Israel didn't build the "annexation wall" in order to prevent refugees from repatriation (90% of Israel belongs to the Palestinians) but rather in order to annex (e.g. steal more land that belongs to another people.)
How can that be compared to the erection by Hungary of a barbed wire fence extending for a few kilometers?? The lie simply goes beyond the pale.
Besides, while Syrian refugees fleeing an actual holocaust by a Hitlerian regime that is effectively supported by the bulk of Western states as well as Israel, are trying to seek refuge in European countries such as Germany and Sweden, the Palestinians are actually seeking repatriation back to their own native country, not seeking immigration to a land that is not their own.
Yes, Zionist Jews do control Palestine and are keeping up this illegal occupation by brutal force. But this is very much like a gang of armed thieves taking over a land or property by force. And just as the "ownership" of the arrogated property taken over by the thieves has no legality or legitimacy, the Israeli usurpation and occupation of Palestine will remain bereft of legitimacy.
Israel is head of the snake
Many people might be prompted to think that Israel is actually innocent of the Syrian quagmire.
But this is not the case. In fact, Israel's adamant objection to the downfall of the genocidal Syrian regime is the secret behind its continued survival.
Israeli leaders reportedly have made it amply clear to the Obama administration that the survival of the Assad regime is an inviolable red line. According to a recent aljazeera documentary, the tacit alliance between Qerdaha and Tel Aviv is not new by any means. In 1967, Hafez al Assad, then Syria's defense minister, reached a secret agreement with Zionist representatives in London whereby Assad would cede the strategic Golan Heights to Israel in return for Israel (and the West) guaranteeing the continuity of the Alawite sect in power in Syria.
This should decipher and explain the enigma of Communiqué 66 which announced the downfall of the Golan Heights 48 hours before these heights were eventually seized by Israel.
Hence, Israel cannot really pretend to be innocent of the ongoing holocaust in Syria.
Syrian refugees scenario: ultimate Zionist dream
I have absolutely no doubt in my mind that Israel is hoping that the Syrian refugee tragedy would repeat itself with the Palestinians.
But this ghoulish scenario will never happen with the Palestinians, not because the Israelis are more humane than the Assad regime, but rather because the Palestinians have long taken a solemn decision: Either they live in Palestine or die in it.
The Israeli Occupation Authorities (IOA) declared Friday morning that an Israeli soldier was found dead with his personal weapon next to him, Israeli media sources reported.
The soldier has been missing since Thursday as he was last seen in the Israeli military camp in the Jordan Valley, the sources added.
Immediately after his disappearance, Israeli military authorities tried to contact him via his cellular phone but the efforts were unsuccessful. Few hours later, the missing soldier was found dead.
An investigation was opened into the circumstances surrounding his death, according to the sources.
The soldier has been missing since Thursday as he was last seen in the Israeli military camp in the Jordan Valley, the sources added.
Immediately after his disappearance, Israeli military authorities tried to contact him via his cellular phone but the efforts were unsuccessful. Few hours later, the missing soldier was found dead.
An investigation was opened into the circumstances surrounding his death, according to the sources.
About 13% more people chose to immigrate to Israel in the previous Jewish year than the one before it. The largest numbers came from France (7,350), Ukraine (6,868), and Russia (5,900).
About 29,500 new olim immigrated to Israel from 97 different countries in the past Jewish year – a rise of about 13 percent when compared to the year before (26,000). This, according to statistics published Wednesday by the ministry of immigrant absorption and the Jewish agency, ahead of Rosh Hashanah.
Most olim in the previous Jewish year came from former USSR states (about 14,100) and Europe (over 9,000). North America saw about 3,600 olim leave for Israel, with 1,200 coming from Latin America. The two leading countries as far as number of olim are France (7,350) and Ukraine (6,900). The number of olim from Russia grew by 23 percent, to 5,900. About 690 olim came from Britain, 400 from Italy, and around 290 from Belgium.
Thousands of these new olim are academics and young people whose aliyah was arranged through special projects run by the immigrant absorption ministry and the Jewish agency. Around 3,000 of the olim have training and/or experience in the technology and engineering fields, and over 1,000 are doctors or other medical professionals. Around 70 percent of the olim from the past Jewish year were under the age of 44, and they include about 7,800 who are 19 and under, and about 12,000 between the ages of 20-44.
There were six countries from which just one ole came to Israel in the past Jewish year: Angola, Andorra, Namibia, Slovakia, The Philippines, and Paraguay. The largest wave of olim (about 8,350) came to Israel during the summer months. The three most popular destination cities for olim were Tel Aviv (about 3,500), Netanya (3,400), and Jerusalem (3,000).
"These figures, showing a significant rise in number of olim, corroborate the overall idea that 2015 is turning out to be this decade's record year as far as number of olim," said Minister of Immigrant Absorption Ze'ev Elkin, "We estimate that at this rate, we will reach 30,000-35,000 by the end of 2015. This is a window of opportunity that Israel must not miss. We stand before a fascinating challenge and must both take care of absorbing (the olim) in the best way, and increase activities that promote aliyah."
Jewish Agency Chairperson Natan Sharansky said, "In recent years, the vast majority of olim are coming from democratic states. These olim's free choice to live in Israel, and preference for it over other countries, is the real victory of Zionism."
About 29,500 new olim immigrated to Israel from 97 different countries in the past Jewish year – a rise of about 13 percent when compared to the year before (26,000). This, according to statistics published Wednesday by the ministry of immigrant absorption and the Jewish agency, ahead of Rosh Hashanah.
Most olim in the previous Jewish year came from former USSR states (about 14,100) and Europe (over 9,000). North America saw about 3,600 olim leave for Israel, with 1,200 coming from Latin America. The two leading countries as far as number of olim are France (7,350) and Ukraine (6,900). The number of olim from Russia grew by 23 percent, to 5,900. About 690 olim came from Britain, 400 from Italy, and around 290 from Belgium.
Thousands of these new olim are academics and young people whose aliyah was arranged through special projects run by the immigrant absorption ministry and the Jewish agency. Around 3,000 of the olim have training and/or experience in the technology and engineering fields, and over 1,000 are doctors or other medical professionals. Around 70 percent of the olim from the past Jewish year were under the age of 44, and they include about 7,800 who are 19 and under, and about 12,000 between the ages of 20-44.
There were six countries from which just one ole came to Israel in the past Jewish year: Angola, Andorra, Namibia, Slovakia, The Philippines, and Paraguay. The largest wave of olim (about 8,350) came to Israel during the summer months. The three most popular destination cities for olim were Tel Aviv (about 3,500), Netanya (3,400), and Jerusalem (3,000).
"These figures, showing a significant rise in number of olim, corroborate the overall idea that 2015 is turning out to be this decade's record year as far as number of olim," said Minister of Immigrant Absorption Ze'ev Elkin, "We estimate that at this rate, we will reach 30,000-35,000 by the end of 2015. This is a window of opportunity that Israel must not miss. We stand before a fascinating challenge and must both take care of absorbing (the olim) in the best way, and increase activities that promote aliyah."
Jewish Agency Chairperson Natan Sharansky said, "In recent years, the vast majority of olim are coming from democratic states. These olim's free choice to live in Israel, and preference for it over other countries, is the real victory of Zionism."
8 sept 2015
Dr. Abdul Razzaq Muqri, head of the Algerian Movement for a Society of Peace (MSP), said Monday that Israel would benefit from re-settling Palestinian and Syrian refugees in Europe.
He also held western countries responsible for the suffering of Palestinian and Syrian refugees, charging that western countries were the main reason for the instability in the region.
“Today, Europe is in dire need for immigration as new demographic studies confirm that Europe would need to bring one million new immigrants every year, a total of 47 million immigrants until 2050 in order to maintain positive growth rates.”
There is no doubt, Dr. Muqri continued, that Israel was delighted when New Zealand declared intention to receive 500,000 Syrian and Palestinian refugees. Instead of finding a solution for Israeli settlers who came to Palestine from all over the world, the land owners became asylum seekers fleeing from the oppression.
He also held western countries responsible for the suffering of Palestinian and Syrian refugees, charging that western countries were the main reason for the instability in the region.
“Today, Europe is in dire need for immigration as new demographic studies confirm that Europe would need to bring one million new immigrants every year, a total of 47 million immigrants until 2050 in order to maintain positive growth rates.”
There is no doubt, Dr. Muqri continued, that Israel was delighted when New Zealand declared intention to receive 500,000 Syrian and Palestinian refugees. Instead of finding a solution for Israeli settlers who came to Palestine from all over the world, the land owners became asylum seekers fleeing from the oppression.
Palestinian refugees flee their homes due to the creation of Israel, 1948 Nakba (catastrophe).
In response to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyhu’s rejection of accepting any refugees in Israel, PLO Executive Committee Member Dr. Hanan Ashrawi said:
“Israel is in the business of creating refugees and ethnic cleansing; it bears a moral responsibility for the plight of the Palestinian refugees and the grave injustices of the past."
According to the PNN, Ashrawi called on all members of the international community, in particular the United Nations, to support efforts to bring the Palestinian refugees to Palestine. “Israel should not be allowed to prevent us from welcoming the refugees to their rightful homeland,” Ashrawi added.
The executive also expressed gratitude to Germany and Austria for their selfless efforts in alleviating the humanitarian refugee crisis and providing a safe haven for the refugees from Syria. “It is our hope that other countries will follow suit in light of this devastating situation.”
These comments were made in a meeting Dr. Ashrawi had with United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process Nickolay Mladenov at the PLO Headquarters. Mr. Mladenov was accompanied by Senior Political Advisor Basem Khaldi, Regional Affairs Officer Gregory Raikes, and Political Affairs Officer Kristofer Carlin.
Both parties discussed the latest political developments and the postponement of the Palestinian National Council meeting, and Dr. Ashrawi stressed the importance of national unity and elections and the need to activate and rejuvenate the PLO and all of its institutions.
She also said that “Gaza has to be dealt with in conjunction with the West Bank. They are one territorial unit.”
Dr. Ashrawi provided an assessment of the drastic conditions on the ground and said, “Israel is deliberately destroying the two-state solution. Israel must be held accountable with sanctions and punitive measures. If the international community does not undertake serious initiatives to create a new political horizon, the future for the Palestinian people will be extremely bleak and the region will be plunged into severe violence and chaos.”
The meeting also stressed continued coordination and cooperation, with enhanced consultations on issues of mutual interest.
In response to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyhu’s rejection of accepting any refugees in Israel, PLO Executive Committee Member Dr. Hanan Ashrawi said:
“Israel is in the business of creating refugees and ethnic cleansing; it bears a moral responsibility for the plight of the Palestinian refugees and the grave injustices of the past."
According to the PNN, Ashrawi called on all members of the international community, in particular the United Nations, to support efforts to bring the Palestinian refugees to Palestine. “Israel should not be allowed to prevent us from welcoming the refugees to their rightful homeland,” Ashrawi added.
The executive also expressed gratitude to Germany and Austria for their selfless efforts in alleviating the humanitarian refugee crisis and providing a safe haven for the refugees from Syria. “It is our hope that other countries will follow suit in light of this devastating situation.”
These comments were made in a meeting Dr. Ashrawi had with United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process Nickolay Mladenov at the PLO Headquarters. Mr. Mladenov was accompanied by Senior Political Advisor Basem Khaldi, Regional Affairs Officer Gregory Raikes, and Political Affairs Officer Kristofer Carlin.
Both parties discussed the latest political developments and the postponement of the Palestinian National Council meeting, and Dr. Ashrawi stressed the importance of national unity and elections and the need to activate and rejuvenate the PLO and all of its institutions.
She also said that “Gaza has to be dealt with in conjunction with the West Bank. They are one territorial unit.”
Dr. Ashrawi provided an assessment of the drastic conditions on the ground and said, “Israel is deliberately destroying the two-state solution. Israel must be held accountable with sanctions and punitive measures. If the international community does not undertake serious initiatives to create a new political horizon, the future for the Palestinian people will be extremely bleak and the region will be plunged into severe violence and chaos.”
The meeting also stressed continued coordination and cooperation, with enhanced consultations on issues of mutual interest.
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With illustrated booklet titled 'Occupation Shmuccupation,' Yesha Council teaches its dogma to settler children at young age; 'it's important to us that the younger generation knows the right facts and doesn't rely on stigmas left-wing organizations are trying to disseminate.'
The Yesha Council has published a new booklet titled "Occupation Shmuccupation," starting to teach its dogma to children living in the West Bank at a younger age. The illustrated booklet is filled with messages such as: "There is no such thing as the State of Palestine," "vandalizing Palestinian property is a criminal offense - but sometimes Arabs do it to other Arabs," "there is no solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict," and more. The booklet will be distributed in community centers, universities across the country and among professionals working with teenagers. |
The council is also considering distributing the booklets in kindergartens, schools, and youth groups in order to reach all of the children in the area.
The production of the booklet has been long in the making, and it was released at the beginning of the school year. The booklet includes data on different settlements in the West Bank, discusses "price tag" attacks, and explains what policy needs to be taken about the conflict. Next to each message, there is an illustration done by Shlomi Charka, meant to help explain it to the child or teenager.
Among other things, one of the pages states that quite a few world leaders tried to solve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, but despite the Israelis' strong desire to reach peace, it did not happen. For that reason, the booklet's authors assert, Israel should invest in managing the conflict rather than solving it.
Another page talks about the recent series of grave "price tag" attacks against Arabs. The booklet states that a small, radical and criminal minority sometimes vandalizes olive trees and Arabs' property, but often the damage is caused as a result of "internal conflicts between the Arabs over land."
With regards to a Palestinian state, the booklet has a firm stance: "There has never been a state called Palestine. This mistake originates from the name given to the land of Israel when the Greek ruled over it, 'Palestina.'
Meanwhile, 'Palestinians' is a name for Arabs who live in Judea and Samaria, who are different than Arabs living inside Israel, who are Israeli citizens for all intents and purposes." Yesha Council spokesman Yigal Dakmoni explained that the booklet is being distributed in order to give young Israelis in the area tools against left-wing organizations.
"We're looking at the future generation. Our generation won't achieve calm with the Palestinians, so it's important to us that the younger generation knows the right facts and doesn't rely on stigmas left-wing organizations are trying to disseminate," he said.
The production of the booklet has been long in the making, and it was released at the beginning of the school year. The booklet includes data on different settlements in the West Bank, discusses "price tag" attacks, and explains what policy needs to be taken about the conflict. Next to each message, there is an illustration done by Shlomi Charka, meant to help explain it to the child or teenager.
Among other things, one of the pages states that quite a few world leaders tried to solve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, but despite the Israelis' strong desire to reach peace, it did not happen. For that reason, the booklet's authors assert, Israel should invest in managing the conflict rather than solving it.
Another page talks about the recent series of grave "price tag" attacks against Arabs. The booklet states that a small, radical and criminal minority sometimes vandalizes olive trees and Arabs' property, but often the damage is caused as a result of "internal conflicts between the Arabs over land."
With regards to a Palestinian state, the booklet has a firm stance: "There has never been a state called Palestine. This mistake originates from the name given to the land of Israel when the Greek ruled over it, 'Palestina.'
Meanwhile, 'Palestinians' is a name for Arabs who live in Judea and Samaria, who are different than Arabs living inside Israel, who are Israeli citizens for all intents and purposes." Yesha Council spokesman Yigal Dakmoni explained that the booklet is being distributed in order to give young Israelis in the area tools against left-wing organizations.
"We're looking at the future generation. Our generation won't achieve calm with the Palestinians, so it's important to us that the younger generation knows the right facts and doesn't rely on stigmas left-wing organizations are trying to disseminate," he said.
The house of an Israeli illegal settler in Occupied Jerusalem was set ablaze at dawn Tuesday, hours after a Palestinian toddler’s mother, who was burned to death, succumbed to the wounds she sustained in an Israeli arson attack earlier last month.
According to the Israeli public radio, unidentified persons threw Molotov cocktails at a settler’s house built in the illegal settlement neighborhood of Armon HaNatziv, in Occupied Jerusalem city.
Rescue crews rushed to the scene and put out the fire, the same source added.
The Jerusalem police started a probe into the incident to identify the perpetrators and the reasons for the arson attack.
According to the Israeli public radio, unidentified persons threw Molotov cocktails at a settler’s house built in the illegal settlement neighborhood of Armon HaNatziv, in Occupied Jerusalem city.
Rescue crews rushed to the scene and put out the fire, the same source added.
The Jerusalem police started a probe into the incident to identify the perpetrators and the reasons for the arson attack.
BDS demonstration in Cape Town South Africa
The African National Congress' proposal would affect all South Africans but is directed at Jews who make aliyah and join IDF. In recent years South Africa has been a fierce critic of Israel.
The African National Congress, the ruling party in South Africa, is considering the possibility of changing the country's policy of dual citizenship in order to prevent South African Jews from making aliyah and joining the IDF, reported the local Sunday Times.
According to the report, if the policy is changed it will affect every South African citizen holding another citizenship. The issue will be up for discussion at the general council of the ruling party next month. The party's step has already sparked criticism from Jewish groups in South Africa.
South Africa has been considered in recent years to be a very fierce critic of Israel, and many of its leaders and its citizens equate Israel's actions against the Palestinians with the conduct of the apartheid regime in South Africa until its collapse in the 1990s. Anti-Israel sentiment also lies in the fact that it maintained good relations with the racist apartheid regime, unlike many countries which boycotted it in order to bring about its downfall.
Numerous campaigns are held against Israel, especially to boycott Israeli products. A year and half ago, Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, South Africa's Minister of Foreign Relations and Cooperation, announced that her government's ministers were not visiting Israel in solidarity with the Palestinians.
"We have agreed to slow down and reduce our contacts with the Israeli leadership until things start to look better," she explained. "The struggle of the people of Palestine is our struggle. The Palestinian embassy receives 100 percent of South African support."
In June 2013, Ismail Coovadia, former South African ambassador to Israel, sent a letter to pro-Palestinian activists and wrote that Israel discriminates against Palestinians in a manner reminiscent of apartheid.
The last conflict between Israel and South Africa occurred five months ago, when then Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman harshly attacked South Africa's Communist Party for coming out against Israel following the Israeli Foreign Ministry's denying a South African minister a visa to travel to the Palestinian territories.
Lieberman said that the words of the South African Communist Party were pure hypocrisy and he recalled the racist events that took place against foreigners in South Africa a few weeks before.
The African National Congress' proposal would affect all South Africans but is directed at Jews who make aliyah and join IDF. In recent years South Africa has been a fierce critic of Israel.
The African National Congress, the ruling party in South Africa, is considering the possibility of changing the country's policy of dual citizenship in order to prevent South African Jews from making aliyah and joining the IDF, reported the local Sunday Times.
According to the report, if the policy is changed it will affect every South African citizen holding another citizenship. The issue will be up for discussion at the general council of the ruling party next month. The party's step has already sparked criticism from Jewish groups in South Africa.
South Africa has been considered in recent years to be a very fierce critic of Israel, and many of its leaders and its citizens equate Israel's actions against the Palestinians with the conduct of the apartheid regime in South Africa until its collapse in the 1990s. Anti-Israel sentiment also lies in the fact that it maintained good relations with the racist apartheid regime, unlike many countries which boycotted it in order to bring about its downfall.
Numerous campaigns are held against Israel, especially to boycott Israeli products. A year and half ago, Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, South Africa's Minister of Foreign Relations and Cooperation, announced that her government's ministers were not visiting Israel in solidarity with the Palestinians.
"We have agreed to slow down and reduce our contacts with the Israeli leadership until things start to look better," she explained. "The struggle of the people of Palestine is our struggle. The Palestinian embassy receives 100 percent of South African support."
In June 2013, Ismail Coovadia, former South African ambassador to Israel, sent a letter to pro-Palestinian activists and wrote that Israel discriminates against Palestinians in a manner reminiscent of apartheid.
The last conflict between Israel and South Africa occurred five months ago, when then Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman harshly attacked South Africa's Communist Party for coming out against Israel following the Israeli Foreign Ministry's denying a South African minister a visa to travel to the Palestinian territories.
Lieberman said that the words of the South African Communist Party were pure hypocrisy and he recalled the racist events that took place against foreigners in South Africa a few weeks before.
