12 dec 2015
By Daud Abdullah
Diplomatic spats between Sweden and Israel have become a regular occurrence. Ever since the Scandinavian country recognised the state of Palestine in October 2014 relations between Stockholm and Tel Aviv have gone from bad to worse. At the heart of this stand-off is Sweden’s determination to pursue an independent foreign policy without diktats from any quarters, including Israel.
The latest episode in this long-running row has come in the wake of a remark made by Swedish Foreign Minister Margot Wallström during a parliamentary meeting. Responding to an allegation that her government favours the Palestinians, Wallström said that while Israel always has the right to defend itself, its response cannot be “extrajudicial executions” or become “disproportionate”.
On the face of it this assertion may seem normal and reasonable to any fair-minded observer. However, to Israel’s Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu it is scandalous and totally unacceptable. Not surprisingly, though, his telephone call to his Swedish counterpart, Prime Minister Stefan Löfven, failed to win an apology. In fact Löfven added fuel to the fire when he told a local news agency that knife attacks in Israel fail to meet the internationally accepted definition of a terror attack.
“There is an international classification regarding what constitutes or does not constitute [terror]. As far as I know, the [knife attacks in Israel] are not defined as terror,” he said.
Later that same day (Monday), Löfven further explained to the agency that it is not clear whether the knife attacks in the West Bank and Jerusalem were organised by a classified terrorist organisation though “organised attacks are precisely acts of terrorism.”
Underlying the tensions is the fact that Sweden as a sovereign state wants to determine its own foreign policy, without having to grovel to, or blindly follow a given line especially when it is not based on internationally recognised standards. This, in fact, is the same approach adopted earlier this year when Foreign Minister Wallström criticised Saudi Arabia’s human rights record, notably with regard to women. After refusing to retract her statements, Saudi Arabia blocked the Swedish foreign minister from giving a speech to the Arab League in March.
In this instance, Israel is clearly disturbed for two reasons. First, that Sweden’s defiance may resonate elsewhere in Europe and encourage other countries to similarly challenge and condemn Israel’s culture of impunity in the occupied territories. Neighbouring Scandinavian countries are perhaps the most likely candidates to follow suit since they do not have the historical baggage that have deterred countries such as Germany, Britain and France from taking a strong stand against Israeli violations of international law.
Of course it is not just Israel’s apparent shoot-to-kill policy that has provoked criticism from Sweden’s foreign minister. The maltreatment of Palestinian women by the occupation forces has also been especially toxic to Wallström who promised a feminist foreign policy when she took office. She must now be appalled by this week’s jailing of the left-wing female Palestinian parliamentarian, Khalida Jarar, on trumped up charges.
Ultimately, the growing disquiet across Europe over Israel’s human rights record and alleged crimes against humanity will rest heavy on the consciences of many officials and serve as a constant reminder of their duty to bring those responsible to account. The unwillingness of the EU to back down over the question of Israel’s illegal settlements and the labelling of its produce is a clear sign that patience with Israel is wearing thin. Hence it is no wonder that Israel has moved to suspend discussion of its conflict with the Palestinians with EU officials.
Thus far, Tel Aviv’s bully tactics and intimidation seem wholly ineffective and futile. In the case of Sweden it is clearly not a banana republic that can be dictated to and pushed over by Israel. Since the 1970s Israel has meddled in the affairs of weak and unstable countries in Central and South America. In Colombia it has provided training for paramilitary forces, including the militias of narcotics cartels. That role continues today with Israeli involvement in Mexico, Honduras and the Dominican Republic. This type of interfering, diplomatically or otherwise, will not succeed in Europe.
Netanyahu’s attempts to smear Foreign Minister Wallström with claims that she did not condemn the attacks in San Bernardino, California or Paris as she did with Israeli policies in the occupied territories, are patently disingenuous. It fits, after all, with his usual methods of emotional blackmail. If Sweden can resist such tactics others in Europe surely can.
– Dr. Daud Abdullah is the director of the Middle East Monitor (MEMO) in London. (This article was first published in Middle East Monitor.)
Diplomatic spats between Sweden and Israel have become a regular occurrence. Ever since the Scandinavian country recognised the state of Palestine in October 2014 relations between Stockholm and Tel Aviv have gone from bad to worse. At the heart of this stand-off is Sweden’s determination to pursue an independent foreign policy without diktats from any quarters, including Israel.
The latest episode in this long-running row has come in the wake of a remark made by Swedish Foreign Minister Margot Wallström during a parliamentary meeting. Responding to an allegation that her government favours the Palestinians, Wallström said that while Israel always has the right to defend itself, its response cannot be “extrajudicial executions” or become “disproportionate”.
On the face of it this assertion may seem normal and reasonable to any fair-minded observer. However, to Israel’s Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu it is scandalous and totally unacceptable. Not surprisingly, though, his telephone call to his Swedish counterpart, Prime Minister Stefan Löfven, failed to win an apology. In fact Löfven added fuel to the fire when he told a local news agency that knife attacks in Israel fail to meet the internationally accepted definition of a terror attack.
“There is an international classification regarding what constitutes or does not constitute [terror]. As far as I know, the [knife attacks in Israel] are not defined as terror,” he said.
Later that same day (Monday), Löfven further explained to the agency that it is not clear whether the knife attacks in the West Bank and Jerusalem were organised by a classified terrorist organisation though “organised attacks are precisely acts of terrorism.”
Underlying the tensions is the fact that Sweden as a sovereign state wants to determine its own foreign policy, without having to grovel to, or blindly follow a given line especially when it is not based on internationally recognised standards. This, in fact, is the same approach adopted earlier this year when Foreign Minister Wallström criticised Saudi Arabia’s human rights record, notably with regard to women. After refusing to retract her statements, Saudi Arabia blocked the Swedish foreign minister from giving a speech to the Arab League in March.
In this instance, Israel is clearly disturbed for two reasons. First, that Sweden’s defiance may resonate elsewhere in Europe and encourage other countries to similarly challenge and condemn Israel’s culture of impunity in the occupied territories. Neighbouring Scandinavian countries are perhaps the most likely candidates to follow suit since they do not have the historical baggage that have deterred countries such as Germany, Britain and France from taking a strong stand against Israeli violations of international law.
Of course it is not just Israel’s apparent shoot-to-kill policy that has provoked criticism from Sweden’s foreign minister. The maltreatment of Palestinian women by the occupation forces has also been especially toxic to Wallström who promised a feminist foreign policy when she took office. She must now be appalled by this week’s jailing of the left-wing female Palestinian parliamentarian, Khalida Jarar, on trumped up charges.
Ultimately, the growing disquiet across Europe over Israel’s human rights record and alleged crimes against humanity will rest heavy on the consciences of many officials and serve as a constant reminder of their duty to bring those responsible to account. The unwillingness of the EU to back down over the question of Israel’s illegal settlements and the labelling of its produce is a clear sign that patience with Israel is wearing thin. Hence it is no wonder that Israel has moved to suspend discussion of its conflict with the Palestinians with EU officials.
Thus far, Tel Aviv’s bully tactics and intimidation seem wholly ineffective and futile. In the case of Sweden it is clearly not a banana republic that can be dictated to and pushed over by Israel. Since the 1970s Israel has meddled in the affairs of weak and unstable countries in Central and South America. In Colombia it has provided training for paramilitary forces, including the militias of narcotics cartels. That role continues today with Israeli involvement in Mexico, Honduras and the Dominican Republic. This type of interfering, diplomatically or otherwise, will not succeed in Europe.
Netanyahu’s attempts to smear Foreign Minister Wallström with claims that she did not condemn the attacks in San Bernardino, California or Paris as she did with Israeli policies in the occupied territories, are patently disingenuous. It fits, after all, with his usual methods of emotional blackmail. If Sweden can resist such tactics others in Europe surely can.
– Dr. Daud Abdullah is the director of the Middle East Monitor (MEMO) in London. (This article was first published in Middle East Monitor.)
7 dec 2015
Israeli premier Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday reiterated his support for the idea of giving the Palestinians a demilitarized state in exchange for their recognition of Israel as a Jewish state.
Addressing the Saban Forum in Washington Sunday through a video call, Netanyahu said that the only possible solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict would be to have the Palestinians recognize Israel as a Jewish state.
"The root cause of the conflict with the Palestinians is their refusal to recognize the Jewish state… Settlements and territory are an issue to be resolved, but they are not the core of the conflict."
Addressing the Saban Forum in Washington Sunday through a video call, Netanyahu said that the only possible solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict would be to have the Palestinians recognize Israel as a Jewish state.
"The root cause of the conflict with the Palestinians is their refusal to recognize the Jewish state… Settlements and territory are an issue to be resolved, but they are not the core of the conflict."
6 dec 2015
Kerry "unclear" on PA survival
Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, on Sunday, rejected statements made by US Secretary of State, John Kerry, that Israel is shifting towards being a “bi-national state”.
According to Jpost Israeli news outlet, Netanyahu said “I want to make clear, Israel will not be a bi-national state,” under claims that the Palestinian Authority “does not want peace”, and “calls for incitement” against the occupation.
Netanyahu said, according to the PNN, that when Erekat not only does not condemn the terrorist acts but, rather, pays a condolence call on the family of a terrorist, he “gives backing and encouragement to acts of terror,” referring to Erekat’s condolence call to the family of Mazrn Oraiba, who was shot-dead by Israeli forces at Hizma checkpoint, under the pretext of a car-ramming attack.
Netanyahu’s opposition came after Kerry’s statement at the Saban Forum in Washington, on Saturday, when he said “the truth is that many of those arguing against the PA simply don’t believe in two states.”
During the Israeli cabinet meeting, Netanyahu also took the chance to condemn the comments of the Swedish Foreign Minister, Margot Wallstrom against the Israeli terrorism, calling them “scandalous.”
John Kerry, speaking at the Saban Forum in Washington D.C., on Saturday, warned that current trends in the Israeli-Palestinian conflicts are leading to a one-state reality. Kerry also said that if the situation continues, it is unclear how long the Palestinian Authority can survive.
“If there is a risk the Palestinian Authority might collapse and Israel wants it to survive, shouldn’t Israel do more to help sustain it?” Kerry said.
According to Haaretz, Kerry added that the two-state solution for the Israeli Palestinian conflict mustn’t become a “slogan,” but warned that “current trends are leading for a one state reality.”
“We have to be honest about what a one-state solution looks like,” Kerry said, warning that Israel couldn’t maintain its character as Jewish and democratic, asking rhetorically what the international reaction would be to such a scenario, and saying that true peace with its neighbors will not be possible under such conditions.
In a related context, in May of 2014, Israeli Minister of Economy and head of the Jewish Home party Naftali Bennett suggested the demolition of a portion of the apartheid wall which surrounds the West Bank,, offering an incentive of full Israeli citizenship for Palestinians affected by the move, but with the more strategical intention of annexing Area C to the state of Israel, amidst of new wave of increased settlement expansion.
During the 2013 Israeli-Palestinian peace talks led by none other than Kerry, Israeli officials announced and, eventually, carried out in full force, plans to build thousands of additional homes in illegal settlements across the occupied West Bank, while continuing to further seize lands, demolish homes and agricultural resources and, thus, leaving scores of Palestinian families severely disenfranchised and without so much as a roof over their heads to shelter them from inclement weather.
Gazans were already surviving on a mere 8 hours per day of electricity when the Palestinian negotiating team finally resigned in protest, in mid-November. Israel, soon after, made quite clear its position on securing peace with Palestinians when Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu, during a meeting with young Likud Party supporters, boasted:
“I was threatened in Washington: ‘not one brick’ [of settlement construction] … after five years, we built a little more than one brick…”
Asked about "peace talks with the Palestinians”, the PM reportedly replied, according to +972 online Israeli magazine: “about the – what?” to which his audience responded with a round of chuckling.
“The one-state solution is no solution at all for a Jewish, democratic Israel living in peace,” Kerry went on to say, Saturday.
Editor's note: In stark contrast with Kerry's statement, the First Amendment to the United States Constitution prohibits the making of any law respecting an establishment of religion, impeding the free exercise of religion, abridging the freedom of speech, infringing on the freedom of the press, interfering with the right to peaceably assemble or prohibiting the petitioning for a governmental redress of grievances. It was adopted on December 15, 1791, as one of the ten amendments that constitute the Bill of Rights. ~ Wikipedia
Kerry said that the distrust between the two sides has never been more profound. “President Abbas feels great despair – more than I have ever heard him,” Kerry said.
Saying that peace is the best way to achieve security, Kerry added that first of all, the violence must stop. “There’s no justification for violence against civilians. Israel has the right and the obligation to defend itself,” he said.
“We need people to act in restraint. The Palestinian leadership should stop the incitement and condemn terror attacks,” he said.
Regarding the fight against Islamic State, Kerry seemed to be rebutting statements made by Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon the day before about a lack in U.S. leadership, and laid out U.S. actions and policy against ISIS and in Syria.
“We want a transition to a unified non-sectarian Syria,” Kerry said, adding that the U.S. isn’t naïve about the diplomatic effort in Syria. “It’s difficult,” he admitted. However, he added that the Vienna talks were “the most promising diplomatic effort regarding Syria in the last years.”
Regarding the nuclear deal with Iran, Kerry addressed Israel directly, saying that he knows Israel still has concerns, but that the U.S. is “convinced that we will know what Iran is doing.”
“Under the nuclear deal all of Iran’s pathways to a bomb are blocked,” he said, adding that it was the deal was the right thing to do, “regardless of whether they will change their behavior or not.”
Also of interest: Hotovely: "The whole land of Israel belongs to the Jews”
Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, on Sunday, rejected statements made by US Secretary of State, John Kerry, that Israel is shifting towards being a “bi-national state”.
According to Jpost Israeli news outlet, Netanyahu said “I want to make clear, Israel will not be a bi-national state,” under claims that the Palestinian Authority “does not want peace”, and “calls for incitement” against the occupation.
Netanyahu said, according to the PNN, that when Erekat not only does not condemn the terrorist acts but, rather, pays a condolence call on the family of a terrorist, he “gives backing and encouragement to acts of terror,” referring to Erekat’s condolence call to the family of Mazrn Oraiba, who was shot-dead by Israeli forces at Hizma checkpoint, under the pretext of a car-ramming attack.
Netanyahu’s opposition came after Kerry’s statement at the Saban Forum in Washington, on Saturday, when he said “the truth is that many of those arguing against the PA simply don’t believe in two states.”
During the Israeli cabinet meeting, Netanyahu also took the chance to condemn the comments of the Swedish Foreign Minister, Margot Wallstrom against the Israeli terrorism, calling them “scandalous.”
John Kerry, speaking at the Saban Forum in Washington D.C., on Saturday, warned that current trends in the Israeli-Palestinian conflicts are leading to a one-state reality. Kerry also said that if the situation continues, it is unclear how long the Palestinian Authority can survive.
“If there is a risk the Palestinian Authority might collapse and Israel wants it to survive, shouldn’t Israel do more to help sustain it?” Kerry said.
According to Haaretz, Kerry added that the two-state solution for the Israeli Palestinian conflict mustn’t become a “slogan,” but warned that “current trends are leading for a one state reality.”
“We have to be honest about what a one-state solution looks like,” Kerry said, warning that Israel couldn’t maintain its character as Jewish and democratic, asking rhetorically what the international reaction would be to such a scenario, and saying that true peace with its neighbors will not be possible under such conditions.
In a related context, in May of 2014, Israeli Minister of Economy and head of the Jewish Home party Naftali Bennett suggested the demolition of a portion of the apartheid wall which surrounds the West Bank,, offering an incentive of full Israeli citizenship for Palestinians affected by the move, but with the more strategical intention of annexing Area C to the state of Israel, amidst of new wave of increased settlement expansion.
During the 2013 Israeli-Palestinian peace talks led by none other than Kerry, Israeli officials announced and, eventually, carried out in full force, plans to build thousands of additional homes in illegal settlements across the occupied West Bank, while continuing to further seize lands, demolish homes and agricultural resources and, thus, leaving scores of Palestinian families severely disenfranchised and without so much as a roof over their heads to shelter them from inclement weather.
Gazans were already surviving on a mere 8 hours per day of electricity when the Palestinian negotiating team finally resigned in protest, in mid-November. Israel, soon after, made quite clear its position on securing peace with Palestinians when Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu, during a meeting with young Likud Party supporters, boasted:
“I was threatened in Washington: ‘not one brick’ [of settlement construction] … after five years, we built a little more than one brick…”
Asked about "peace talks with the Palestinians”, the PM reportedly replied, according to +972 online Israeli magazine: “about the – what?” to which his audience responded with a round of chuckling.
“The one-state solution is no solution at all for a Jewish, democratic Israel living in peace,” Kerry went on to say, Saturday.
Editor's note: In stark contrast with Kerry's statement, the First Amendment to the United States Constitution prohibits the making of any law respecting an establishment of religion, impeding the free exercise of religion, abridging the freedom of speech, infringing on the freedom of the press, interfering with the right to peaceably assemble or prohibiting the petitioning for a governmental redress of grievances. It was adopted on December 15, 1791, as one of the ten amendments that constitute the Bill of Rights. ~ Wikipedia
Kerry said that the distrust between the two sides has never been more profound. “President Abbas feels great despair – more than I have ever heard him,” Kerry said.
Saying that peace is the best way to achieve security, Kerry added that first of all, the violence must stop. “There’s no justification for violence against civilians. Israel has the right and the obligation to defend itself,” he said.
“We need people to act in restraint. The Palestinian leadership should stop the incitement and condemn terror attacks,” he said.
Regarding the fight against Islamic State, Kerry seemed to be rebutting statements made by Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon the day before about a lack in U.S. leadership, and laid out U.S. actions and policy against ISIS and in Syria.
“We want a transition to a unified non-sectarian Syria,” Kerry said, adding that the U.S. isn’t naïve about the diplomatic effort in Syria. “It’s difficult,” he admitted. However, he added that the Vienna talks were “the most promising diplomatic effort regarding Syria in the last years.”
Regarding the nuclear deal with Iran, Kerry addressed Israel directly, saying that he knows Israel still has concerns, but that the U.S. is “convinced that we will know what Iran is doing.”
“Under the nuclear deal all of Iran’s pathways to a bomb are blocked,” he said, adding that it was the deal was the right thing to do, “regardless of whether they will change their behavior or not.”
Also of interest: Hotovely: "The whole land of Israel belongs to the Jews”
2 dec 2015
1 dec 2015
Secretary General of the National Christian Coalition in the Holy Lands Dmitri Diliani said the extremist Jewish Lahava Organization demands expelling of Palestinian Christians out of their lands all over Palestine.
He pointed out that these calls were launched in a demonstration organized by Lahava Organization in protest against activities of the Young Men Christian Association (YMCA) in the western side of Occupied Jerusalem for celebrating Christmas.
In a press statement on Monday, Diliani charged Israeli government with responsibility in full for such calls and its subsequences of crimes. He stressed that the Christians are part of the history and civilization of the Palestinian people.
Diliani called on the international community to intervene to oblige Israel to ban the terrorist Lahava Organization.
He pointed out that these calls were launched in a demonstration organized by Lahava Organization in protest against activities of the Young Men Christian Association (YMCA) in the western side of Occupied Jerusalem for celebrating Christmas.
In a press statement on Monday, Diliani charged Israeli government with responsibility in full for such calls and its subsequences of crimes. He stressed that the Christians are part of the history and civilization of the Palestinian people.
Diliani called on the international community to intervene to oblige Israel to ban the terrorist Lahava Organization.
Szentgotthárd Mayor Gábor Huszár says 'business circles which are likely backed by the Jewish state are trying to pit Christian Europe against the Muslims,' but offers apology after his comments were made public.
A mayor of a city in Hungary has accused Israel of being behind the terror attacks in Paris last month, but was quick to offer an apology after a recording of his comments was leaked to local media.
Speaking during a November 16 council meeting over the expansion of a nearby refugee camp, Szentgotthárd Mayor Gábor Huszár said: "Everyone should just take my word for it. What happened in Paris is clear evidence that certain business circles, dare I say business circles which are likely backed by the Jewish state, are trying to pit Christian Europe against the Muslims."
According to media in the country, Huszár was trying to placate concerns over the expansion of the refugee camp by arguing that the Muslim refugees were not to blame for the November 13 attack in the French capital that claimed the lives of 130 people.
Mayor Huszár is a member of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán's ruling party. Orbán said after the events in Paris that "all the terrorists are basically migrants," and called on the European Union to "reevaluate what unites it, in light of the security challenges Europe has been facing in recent years."
Israel's Ambassador to Hungary, Ilan Mor, harshly condemned the mayor, saying his comments "again prove that there are those who have not learned from history and continue to propagate negative views and conspiracy theories against the Jewish state, Israel. Such statements have led to the great tragedy of Jews in Hungary. Unfortunately, these false and laughable statements were by a public figure, Szentgotthárd's mayor."
Following the release of the recording, Huszár apologized for his "unfortunate statement." In addition, the spokesman for the ruling Fidesz party said the mayor expressed a private opinion and that the party condemns all kinds of terrorism and believes ISIS is behind the terror attack in Paris.
Hungarian Foreign Ministry Péter Szijjártó said during a visit to Israel last month that Hungary is opposed to the decision to label products from the settlements.
"It's not effective and will not solve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict," Szijjártó said.
A mayor of a city in Hungary has accused Israel of being behind the terror attacks in Paris last month, but was quick to offer an apology after a recording of his comments was leaked to local media.
Speaking during a November 16 council meeting over the expansion of a nearby refugee camp, Szentgotthárd Mayor Gábor Huszár said: "Everyone should just take my word for it. What happened in Paris is clear evidence that certain business circles, dare I say business circles which are likely backed by the Jewish state, are trying to pit Christian Europe against the Muslims."
According to media in the country, Huszár was trying to placate concerns over the expansion of the refugee camp by arguing that the Muslim refugees were not to blame for the November 13 attack in the French capital that claimed the lives of 130 people.
Mayor Huszár is a member of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán's ruling party. Orbán said after the events in Paris that "all the terrorists are basically migrants," and called on the European Union to "reevaluate what unites it, in light of the security challenges Europe has been facing in recent years."
Israel's Ambassador to Hungary, Ilan Mor, harshly condemned the mayor, saying his comments "again prove that there are those who have not learned from history and continue to propagate negative views and conspiracy theories against the Jewish state, Israel. Such statements have led to the great tragedy of Jews in Hungary. Unfortunately, these false and laughable statements were by a public figure, Szentgotthárd's mayor."
Following the release of the recording, Huszár apologized for his "unfortunate statement." In addition, the spokesman for the ruling Fidesz party said the mayor expressed a private opinion and that the party condemns all kinds of terrorism and believes ISIS is behind the terror attack in Paris.
Hungarian Foreign Ministry Péter Szijjártó said during a visit to Israel last month that Hungary is opposed to the decision to label products from the settlements.
"It's not effective and will not solve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict," Szijjártó said.
29 nov 2015
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says that there are no plans to deliver any lands from West Bank Area C to Palestinians.
In a meeting for Likud ministers, on Sunday, Netanyahu stressed that there will be no transfer of land to the Palestinian Authority, "not 40 thousand dunams, not 10 thousand, not one meter," he said.
The Cabinet demanded answers, Sunday, after reports surfaced that Civil Administration, under orders from Netanyahu, was preparing to deliver 10,000 dunams (2,471 acres) of land from Area C to the PA, as a confidence-building measure.
According to Al Ray, the Yesha Council also strongly denounced the plan, accusing Netanyahu of giving "concessions" instead of attacking the PA and its leaders who "encourage terrorism."
In a meeting for Likud ministers, on Sunday, Netanyahu stressed that there will be no transfer of land to the Palestinian Authority, "not 40 thousand dunams, not 10 thousand, not one meter," he said.
The Cabinet demanded answers, Sunday, after reports surfaced that Civil Administration, under orders from Netanyahu, was preparing to deliver 10,000 dunams (2,471 acres) of land from Area C to the PA, as a confidence-building measure.
According to Al Ray, the Yesha Council also strongly denounced the plan, accusing Netanyahu of giving "concessions" instead of attacking the PA and its leaders who "encourage terrorism."
27 nov 2015
An Israeli police officer was stabbed Friday evening in Nahariya, Israeli media sources said.
The sources pointed out that the suspect managed to flee the scene, saying that the stabbing was most likely “nationalistically-motivated.”
Israeli police spokesperson Luba al-Samri said that a 37-year-old police officer was heading back to his home near Nahariya when he was stabbed by an unknown suspect in the upper body near a central bus station.
Policemen are searching for the suspect, and the officer was taken to hospital for treatment after sustaining light injuries, al-Samri said.
The spokesperson added that an initial investigation was opened into the incident.
The sources pointed out that the suspect managed to flee the scene, saying that the stabbing was most likely “nationalistically-motivated.”
Israeli police spokesperson Luba al-Samri said that a 37-year-old police officer was heading back to his home near Nahariya when he was stabbed by an unknown suspect in the upper body near a central bus station.
Policemen are searching for the suspect, and the officer was taken to hospital for treatment after sustaining light injuries, al-Samri said.
The spokesperson added that an initial investigation was opened into the incident.
26 nov 2015
The CNN map
The map, which omitted Israel altogether, was replaced after swift public outcry, but the incident is not CNN's first run in with Israel.
A recent CNN money article titled "Beyond ISIS: 2015's scariest Geopolitical hot spots" drew swift and widespread criticism after a map featured in the article omitted the word "Israel," and replaced it with "Palestina" (the Spanish name for Palestine.)
The case was first reported by media watchdog Honest Reporting, whose managing editor, Simon Plosker, said, "At a time when the state’s very legitimacy is being called into question by vicious anti-Israel extremists, any message that Israel does not belong in the Middle East plays into this false narrative and feeds those like the Iranian ayatollahs who wish to see Israel erased from the map."
The map, which omitted Israel altogether, was replaced after swift public outcry, but the incident is not CNN's first run in with Israel.
A recent CNN money article titled "Beyond ISIS: 2015's scariest Geopolitical hot spots" drew swift and widespread criticism after a map featured in the article omitted the word "Israel," and replaced it with "Palestina" (the Spanish name for Palestine.)
The case was first reported by media watchdog Honest Reporting, whose managing editor, Simon Plosker, said, "At a time when the state’s very legitimacy is being called into question by vicious anti-Israel extremists, any message that Israel does not belong in the Middle East plays into this false narrative and feeds those like the Iranian ayatollahs who wish to see Israel erased from the map."
According to Honest Reporting, CNN has since removed the map in question and replaced it with an image of the aftermath of a Syrian airstrike in Aleppo.
The map incident is not CNN's first run in with Israel. Veteran CNN anchor Jim Clancy was forced to resign in January of this year after a series of anti-Israel tweets. Clancy posted a tweet claiming that the caricature of Muhammad
The map incident is not CNN's first run in with Israel. Veteran CNN anchor Jim Clancy was forced to resign in January of this year after a series of anti-Israel tweets. Clancy posted a tweet claiming that the caricature of Muhammad
published by the French magazine Charlie Hebdo did not mock the Muslim prophet. "They mocked how the COWARDS tried to distort his word. Pay attention,” he wrote.
After his version of events was challenged by Oren Kessler, a deputy director of research at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, Clancy tweeted, “Hasbara?,” in response, implying that Kessler was engaging in public diplomacy on Israel's behalf.
“These accounts are part of a campaign to do PR for Israel," Clancy wrote, adding that a “pro-Israel voice" was attempting to "convince us that cartoonists were really anti-Muslim and that’s why they were attacked. FALSE," he added.
In his resignation statement, the CNN anchor did not mention the reason for his departure. He posted the following message: "After nearly 34 years with Cable News Network, the time has come to say farewell! It has been my honor to work alongside all of you for all of these years."
After his version of events was challenged by Oren Kessler, a deputy director of research at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, Clancy tweeted, “Hasbara?,” in response, implying that Kessler was engaging in public diplomacy on Israel's behalf.
“These accounts are part of a campaign to do PR for Israel," Clancy wrote, adding that a “pro-Israel voice" was attempting to "convince us that cartoonists were really anti-Muslim and that’s why they were attacked. FALSE," he added.
In his resignation statement, the CNN anchor did not mention the reason for his departure. He posted the following message: "After nearly 34 years with Cable News Network, the time has come to say farewell! It has been my honor to work alongside all of you for all of these years."
The HarperCollins map
The CNN article was not the first time Israel had been omitted form a map. HarperCollins, one of the largest publishers in the world, has marketed English-language atlases that fail to include Israel to schools in the Middle East.
Unlike absent Israel, the volume includes a map identifying Gaza and the West Bank. Collins Bartholomew, the map company in charge of printing, said including Israel was "unacceptable" for customs in the Persian Gulf.
A company spokesperson later said HarperCollins "regretted" the omission and ended the sale of the HarperCollins Middle East Atlas, promising to destroy remaining copies of the offending map collection.
The CNN article was not the first time Israel had been omitted form a map. HarperCollins, one of the largest publishers in the world, has marketed English-language atlases that fail to include Israel to schools in the Middle East.
Unlike absent Israel, the volume includes a map identifying Gaza and the West Bank. Collins Bartholomew, the map company in charge of printing, said including Israel was "unacceptable" for customs in the Persian Gulf.
A company spokesperson later said HarperCollins "regretted" the omission and ended the sale of the HarperCollins Middle East Atlas, promising to destroy remaining copies of the offending map collection.
25 nov 2015
About 15 members of the Knesset from hardline parties have submitted a draft law demanding the closure of Palestinian mosques which incite violence against Israelis.
The bill was introduced Tuesday by MK Bezalel Smotrich, from the Jewish Home, and signed by MKs from his party as well as Likud, Kulanu and Yisrael Beytenu.
"While this behavior (incitement) was banned many years ago in the penal code, no legislation has been made against the places where incitement to violence occur," the bill read.
The bill, however, did not talk about the incitement against the Palestinians that is preached on a daily basis by rabbis at synagogues and religious institutes.
The Knesset recently approved multiple racist bills aimed at punishing the Palestinians for defending themselves against Israeli violations.
If the bill is sanctioned, dozens of mosques in the 1948 occupied lands as well as in the West Bank and Jerusalem will be closed.
The bill was introduced Tuesday by MK Bezalel Smotrich, from the Jewish Home, and signed by MKs from his party as well as Likud, Kulanu and Yisrael Beytenu.
"While this behavior (incitement) was banned many years ago in the penal code, no legislation has been made against the places where incitement to violence occur," the bill read.
The bill, however, did not talk about the incitement against the Palestinians that is preached on a daily basis by rabbis at synagogues and religious institutes.
The Knesset recently approved multiple racist bills aimed at punishing the Palestinians for defending themselves against Israeli violations.
If the bill is sanctioned, dozens of mosques in the 1948 occupied lands as well as in the West Bank and Jerusalem will be closed.
17 nov 2015
The Israeli Prime Minister's visit to Washington last week included a meeting with President Obama, in which the two discussed the status of the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights.
Israel invaded and occupied the Syrian territory known as the 'Golan Heights' in 1967, and has maintained a military and civilian presence there ever since. But the Israeli claim on the territory has never been recognized by the international community.
Now, according to some analysts, the Israeli government has a new reason to secure their illegal annexation of the Syrian land: oil.
Last month Afek, an Israeli subsidiary of the U-S-based Genie Energy, announced the discovery of huge reserves of oil in the region.
The company’s chief geologist in Israel, Yuval Bartov, said the reserves could potentially hold billions of barrels of oil.
Afek’s license to do exploratory drilling was renewed by the Israeli government for two years in October, shortly after the finding of the oil reserves.
But the land on which the oil is located is actually Syrian territory.
And despite the Israeli government claim to the oil, and the licensing of ten experimental wells, analysts say the discovery of oil in Golan may re-ignite the conflict between Israel and Syria over the control of the Golan Heights.
Israel invaded and occupied the Syrian territory known as the 'Golan Heights' in 1967, and has maintained a military and civilian presence there ever since. But the Israeli claim on the territory has never been recognized by the international community.
Now, according to some analysts, the Israeli government has a new reason to secure their illegal annexation of the Syrian land: oil.
Last month Afek, an Israeli subsidiary of the U-S-based Genie Energy, announced the discovery of huge reserves of oil in the region.
The company’s chief geologist in Israel, Yuval Bartov, said the reserves could potentially hold billions of barrels of oil.
Afek’s license to do exploratory drilling was renewed by the Israeli government for two years in October, shortly after the finding of the oil reserves.
But the land on which the oil is located is actually Syrian territory.
And despite the Israeli government claim to the oil, and the licensing of ten experimental wells, analysts say the discovery of oil in Golan may re-ignite the conflict between Israel and Syria over the control of the Golan Heights.