29 jan 2013
Israeli finance chief expects cuts to defense spending
By Daniel Bases
Israeli Finance Minister Yuval Steinitz, fresh from a record-setting sale of Israeli bonds to investors in Florida, said on Monday that balancing the government budget will require "moderate but still significant" cuts to the defense sector.
In an interview with Reuters, Steinitz, a leading member of the weakened Likud party of hawkish Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, also said there are no plans to further raise taxes in order to hit a deficit target of 3 percent of economic output.
Parliamentary elections last week returned Likud to the top spot in the 120-member assembly, albeit with 11 fewer seats.
One area "that we will have to make some moderate but still significant cuts is the defense budget, I assume. It is not easy but we did it in the past," Steinitz said during a stopover in New York before flying home.
Israel spends roughly 20 percent of its budget on defense. It has to find a way to close a 14-billion-shekel deficit.
Steinitz stuck with the 3.5 percent gross domestic product growth target this year, rising from 3.3 percent in 2012. He added that it would not be a surprise if economic growth touches 4 percent in 2014.
The debt-to-GDP ratio is expected to decline to somewhere in the 73-percent range, down from 74.1 percent in 2011, he said.
One main reason for expecting an economic rebound is the return of cheaper natural gas to power Israel's industry as the Tamar natural gas field off the Mediterranean coast comes online in April. Egypt stopped supplying cheap gas in early 2012.
Steinitz took the positive economic message to Boca Raton, Florida, on Sunday where he spoke at a fundraising dinner for Israel Bonds. The event pulled in a single-evening record $230 million in sales to retail investors and Israel supporters, he said.
Separately, Israel's government sold $2 billion worth of 10-year and 30-year US dollar-denominated debt on Monday, albeit at moderate discounts.
Election coalition calculus
Steinitz, a former philosophy professor, was upbeat about attracting potential coalition partners and said he expects to play a role in the next government.
"It is quite probable that I will maintain the current position. But it is also possible that I will have another capacity," he said.
Netanyahu's alliance with ultra-nationalists led by former Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman won 31 seats in the elections.
However Yair Lapid, a former talk show host who is left-of-center, led the Yesh Atid (There is a Future) party to second place with 19 seats.
Lapid's appeal reflects frustration among secular middle-class taxpayers resentful of shouldering what they see as the burden of welfare-dependent ultra-Orthodox, or Haredi, Jews exempt from military conscription.
Asked if helping trim the budget deficit will include cuts to Haredi welfare, Steinitz said: "We will consider this as well but as I said, I don't want to get into details."
He added that the Haredi recognize they can no longer avoid sharing in the defense and security burden that is a right-of-passage for every other Israeli who serve in the military before heading off to higher education.
Steinitz, who has been finance minister since April 2009, said Lapid and Naftali Bennett, leader of the far-right Jewish Home Party, have similar views on the economy.
These parties, Steinitz said, hold rational positions on how to deal with the economy and promote economic growth. "They understand you have to bake the cake before you can eat it," he said.
It is not clear if these parties would become members of a coalition government as Netanyahu, an obvious choice for prime minister, has not yet been asked to form a government by Israeli President Shimon Peres.
"It is difficult to say," Steinitz said of the Lapid and Bennett parties' participation. "It depends on their ability to compromise."
A new government is possible by late February or early March.
As for any Haredi participation, whose long-standing role as kingmakers in coalition negotiations has been downgraded, Steinitz said he did not know if they would participate.
"It depends mainly on their ability to compromise on things that are very dear to them. I assume that if they are ready to compromise they will be in. If not they will stay out."
Israeli Finance Minister Yuval Steinitz, fresh from a record-setting sale of Israeli bonds to investors in Florida, said on Monday that balancing the government budget will require "moderate but still significant" cuts to the defense sector.
In an interview with Reuters, Steinitz, a leading member of the weakened Likud party of hawkish Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, also said there are no plans to further raise taxes in order to hit a deficit target of 3 percent of economic output.
Parliamentary elections last week returned Likud to the top spot in the 120-member assembly, albeit with 11 fewer seats.
One area "that we will have to make some moderate but still significant cuts is the defense budget, I assume. It is not easy but we did it in the past," Steinitz said during a stopover in New York before flying home.
Israel spends roughly 20 percent of its budget on defense. It has to find a way to close a 14-billion-shekel deficit.
Steinitz stuck with the 3.5 percent gross domestic product growth target this year, rising from 3.3 percent in 2012. He added that it would not be a surprise if economic growth touches 4 percent in 2014.
The debt-to-GDP ratio is expected to decline to somewhere in the 73-percent range, down from 74.1 percent in 2011, he said.
One main reason for expecting an economic rebound is the return of cheaper natural gas to power Israel's industry as the Tamar natural gas field off the Mediterranean coast comes online in April. Egypt stopped supplying cheap gas in early 2012.
Steinitz took the positive economic message to Boca Raton, Florida, on Sunday where he spoke at a fundraising dinner for Israel Bonds. The event pulled in a single-evening record $230 million in sales to retail investors and Israel supporters, he said.
Separately, Israel's government sold $2 billion worth of 10-year and 30-year US dollar-denominated debt on Monday, albeit at moderate discounts.
Election coalition calculus
Steinitz, a former philosophy professor, was upbeat about attracting potential coalition partners and said he expects to play a role in the next government.
"It is quite probable that I will maintain the current position. But it is also possible that I will have another capacity," he said.
Netanyahu's alliance with ultra-nationalists led by former Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman won 31 seats in the elections.
However Yair Lapid, a former talk show host who is left-of-center, led the Yesh Atid (There is a Future) party to second place with 19 seats.
Lapid's appeal reflects frustration among secular middle-class taxpayers resentful of shouldering what they see as the burden of welfare-dependent ultra-Orthodox, or Haredi, Jews exempt from military conscription.
Asked if helping trim the budget deficit will include cuts to Haredi welfare, Steinitz said: "We will consider this as well but as I said, I don't want to get into details."
He added that the Haredi recognize they can no longer avoid sharing in the defense and security burden that is a right-of-passage for every other Israeli who serve in the military before heading off to higher education.
Steinitz, who has been finance minister since April 2009, said Lapid and Naftali Bennett, leader of the far-right Jewish Home Party, have similar views on the economy.
These parties, Steinitz said, hold rational positions on how to deal with the economy and promote economic growth. "They understand you have to bake the cake before you can eat it," he said.
It is not clear if these parties would become members of a coalition government as Netanyahu, an obvious choice for prime minister, has not yet been asked to form a government by Israeli President Shimon Peres.
"It is difficult to say," Steinitz said of the Lapid and Bennett parties' participation. "It depends on their ability to compromise."
A new government is possible by late February or early March.
As for any Haredi participation, whose long-standing role as kingmakers in coalition negotiations has been downgraded, Steinitz said he did not know if they would participate.
"It depends mainly on their ability to compromise on things that are very dear to them. I assume that if they are ready to compromise they will be in. If not they will stay out."
Haaretz: Israel coerces Ethiopians into taking Depo-Provera drug
Falashmura women in Ethiopia wait to be injected with Depo-Provera before being allowed into Israel
Haaretz newspaper revealed that the Israeli health ministry coaxes Etheopian Women from the Flashmura community while waiting in transit camps in Ethiopia into taking a long-acting birth control injection drug known as "Depo-Provera."
It affirmed that the ministry and other state agencies had previously denied knowledge or responsibility for such serious practice, which was first reported five years ago.
Women who emigrated from Ethiopia eight years ago complained they were threatened that they would not be allowed into Israel or live in it after their immigration unless they agreed to be injected with Depo-Provera on a regular basis, Haaretz added.
The newspaper, however, noted that health ministry director general Ron Gamzu recently gave instructions to all gynecologists in the delegated health groups not to renew Depo-Provera prescriptions for Jewish women of Ethiopian origin unless they use translators to explain to the women the health complications of injecting them with this drug.
The birth rate among Israel's Ethiopian immigrant population has dropped nearly 20 percent in 10 years because of pursuing this measure against the women, according to Haaretz.
Israel admits Ethiopian women were given birth control shots
Health Minister director general instructs all gynecologists in Israel's four health maintenance organizations not to inject women with long-acting contraceptive Depo-Provera if they do not understand ramifications of treatment.
A government official has for the first time acknowledged the practice of injecting women of Ethiopian origin with the long-acting contraceptive Depo-Provera.
Health Ministry Director General Prof. Ron Gamzu has instructed the four health maintenance organizations to stop the practice as a matter of course. The ministry and other state agencies had previously denied knowledge or responsibility for the practice, which was first reported five years ago.
Gamzu’s letter instructs all gynecologists in the HMOs "not to renew prescriptions for Depo-Provera for women of Ethiopian origin if for any reason there is concern that they might not understand the ramifications of the treatment.”
He also instructed physicians to avail themselves of translators if need be.
Gamzu’s letter came in response to a letter from Sharona Eliahu-Chai of the Association of Civil Rights in Israel, representing several women’s rights and Ethiopian immigrants’ groups. The letter demanded the injections cease immediately and that an investigation be launched into the practice.
About six weeks ago, on an Educational Television program journalist Gal Gabbay revealed the results of interviews with 35 Ethiopian immigrants. The women’s testimony could help explain the almost 50-percent decline over the past 10 years in the birth rate of Israel’s Ethiopian community. According to the program, while the women were still in transit camps in Ethiopia they were sometimes intimidated or threatened into taking the injection. “They told us they are inoculations,” said one of the women interviewed. “They told us people who frequently give birth suffer. We took it every three months. We said we didn’t want to.”
Haaretz newspaper revealed that the Israeli health ministry coaxes Etheopian Women from the Flashmura community while waiting in transit camps in Ethiopia into taking a long-acting birth control injection drug known as "Depo-Provera."
It affirmed that the ministry and other state agencies had previously denied knowledge or responsibility for such serious practice, which was first reported five years ago.
Women who emigrated from Ethiopia eight years ago complained they were threatened that they would not be allowed into Israel or live in it after their immigration unless they agreed to be injected with Depo-Provera on a regular basis, Haaretz added.
The newspaper, however, noted that health ministry director general Ron Gamzu recently gave instructions to all gynecologists in the delegated health groups not to renew Depo-Provera prescriptions for Jewish women of Ethiopian origin unless they use translators to explain to the women the health complications of injecting them with this drug.
The birth rate among Israel's Ethiopian immigrant population has dropped nearly 20 percent in 10 years because of pursuing this measure against the women, according to Haaretz.
Israel admits Ethiopian women were given birth control shots
Health Minister director general instructs all gynecologists in Israel's four health maintenance organizations not to inject women with long-acting contraceptive Depo-Provera if they do not understand ramifications of treatment.
A government official has for the first time acknowledged the practice of injecting women of Ethiopian origin with the long-acting contraceptive Depo-Provera.
Health Ministry Director General Prof. Ron Gamzu has instructed the four health maintenance organizations to stop the practice as a matter of course. The ministry and other state agencies had previously denied knowledge or responsibility for the practice, which was first reported five years ago.
Gamzu’s letter instructs all gynecologists in the HMOs "not to renew prescriptions for Depo-Provera for women of Ethiopian origin if for any reason there is concern that they might not understand the ramifications of the treatment.”
He also instructed physicians to avail themselves of translators if need be.
Gamzu’s letter came in response to a letter from Sharona Eliahu-Chai of the Association of Civil Rights in Israel, representing several women’s rights and Ethiopian immigrants’ groups. The letter demanded the injections cease immediately and that an investigation be launched into the practice.
About six weeks ago, on an Educational Television program journalist Gal Gabbay revealed the results of interviews with 35 Ethiopian immigrants. The women’s testimony could help explain the almost 50-percent decline over the past 10 years in the birth rate of Israel’s Ethiopian community. According to the program, while the women were still in transit camps in Ethiopia they were sometimes intimidated or threatened into taking the injection. “They told us they are inoculations,” said one of the women interviewed. “They told us people who frequently give birth suffer. We took it every three months. We said we didn’t want to.”
'The Voice Israel' competitor, 17, suspended from school for singing before men
Ophir Ben-Shetreet, competing in The Voice Israel
Disciplinary action taken against Ophir Ben-Shetreet after parents of fellow students at her religious girls' high school complain.
Ophir Ben-Shetreet, a 17-year-old with a voice as outstanding as Sonenclar’s, is a leading competitor on Israel’s “The Voice.” One would think that she would be rewarded for her confidence, effort and talent. Sadly, that is not the case.
Ben-Shetreet is essentially being punished for having an exceptionally beautiful voice and wanting to share it with the world. The 12th grader has been suspended (with the agreement of her parents) for two weeks from her religious girls’ high school in the seaside city of Ashdod. Her offense? Singing in public.
The complaints against Ben-Shetreet’s singing on the popular TV show came from the parents of other students at her school. Ben-Shetreet’s suspension and required attendance at special Jewish law classes is supposedly meant to serve as a deterrent to her classmates - should they, heaven forbid, want to exercise their God-given vocal talent or just plain have some musical fun while within hearing earshot of a man.
Controversial Suspension For Contestant On Israel's 'The Voice'
By Renee Ghert-Zand
We like to encourage young people to develop their natural talents and follow their dreams. Just look how far the preternaturally talented 13-year-old diva Carly Rose Sonenclar got on the “The X Factor” with the support of her family and community (not to mention millions of American television viewers).
But that’s not necessarily how things work in some sectors of Israeli society. Ophir Ben-Shetreet, a 17-year-old with a voice as outstanding as Sonenclar’s (at least to my untrained ear) is a leading competitor on Israel’s version of “The Voice.” One would think that she would be rewarded for her confidence, effort and talent. Sadly, that is not the case.
Ben-Shetreet is essentially being punished for having an exceptionally beautiful voice and wanting to share it with the world. The 12th grader has been suspended (with the agreement of her parents) for two weeks from her religious girls’ high school in the seaside city of Ashdod. Her offense? Singing in public.
As we know from news coming out of Israel in the past few years, enforcing kol isha, the prohibition against a woman’s singing in public (particularly in front of men), seems to be a top priority of the religious establishment.
In this case, the complaints against Ben-Shetreet’s singing on the popular TV show came from the parents of other students in her school. Ben-Shetreet’s suspension and required attendance at special Jewish law classes is supposedly meant to serve as a deterrent to her classmates — should they, heaven forbid, want to exercise their God-given vocal talent or just plain have some musical fun while within hearing earshot of a man.
Dressed modestly in a yellow and black dress knee-length dress with elbow-length sleeves, Ben-Shetreet blew the judges away with her incredible voice. They called it clear, clean, pure and angelic, and proceeded to fight for the opportunity to be her mentor during the competition. She ended up somewhat unexpectedly choosing rock star Aviv Geffen.
Back at home at Nir Galim, a religious moshav near Ashdod, many in the community are reportedly fully behind Ben-Shetreet. On the other hand, Rabbi Zvi Arnon, the moshav’s rabbi, said he was understanding of Ben-Shetreet’s situation and praised her for being “a girl with strong morals,” but he reiterated the Halakhic prohibition against her singing. “There is not a single rabbi who will permit a woman to sing in front of men, especially on television. It is simply not permissible by Jewish law,” he said in an interview with Channel 7.
In terms of the punitive action taken by Ben-Shetreet’s school, the rabbi basically said the school, which deals with hundreds of girls and their families, had to do what it had to do.
But is that really the case? Could the school have handled the situation differently and avoided singling out Ben-Shetreet? At the very least, the Jewish educators running the school must know that the Talmud teaches, “One who shames his neighbor will have no place in the World to Come.” Rabbi Arnon himself hinted that the school’s approach wasn’t optimal. “In my opinion, we don’t have to wage a war on this issue, we just have to give our opinions as rabbis” he said. “We need to try to bring everyone closer [to the faith]. We don’t excommunicate and we don’t punish.”
As infuriating as it is for me to learn of yet another case of kol isha-based discrimination against women, I am buoyed by the fact that it doesn’t sound like Ben-Shetreet is going to cave to pressure from the religious authorities. She knows she’s talented. Even better, she’s determined, and has shown that she can think and choose for herself.
“I have loved to sing since the time I was very young. I’m looking for a place to realize my talent,” she said on the show. “I think the Torah wants us to be happy, it wants music to make people happy. I think you can integrate the two, and because of that, I made the decision to come on to the show.”
This young woman is clearly going to go far — and I don’t just mean on “The Voice.”
Disciplinary action taken against Ophir Ben-Shetreet after parents of fellow students at her religious girls' high school complain.
Ophir Ben-Shetreet, a 17-year-old with a voice as outstanding as Sonenclar’s, is a leading competitor on Israel’s “The Voice.” One would think that she would be rewarded for her confidence, effort and talent. Sadly, that is not the case.
Ben-Shetreet is essentially being punished for having an exceptionally beautiful voice and wanting to share it with the world. The 12th grader has been suspended (with the agreement of her parents) for two weeks from her religious girls’ high school in the seaside city of Ashdod. Her offense? Singing in public.
The complaints against Ben-Shetreet’s singing on the popular TV show came from the parents of other students at her school. Ben-Shetreet’s suspension and required attendance at special Jewish law classes is supposedly meant to serve as a deterrent to her classmates - should they, heaven forbid, want to exercise their God-given vocal talent or just plain have some musical fun while within hearing earshot of a man.
Controversial Suspension For Contestant On Israel's 'The Voice'
By Renee Ghert-Zand
We like to encourage young people to develop their natural talents and follow their dreams. Just look how far the preternaturally talented 13-year-old diva Carly Rose Sonenclar got on the “The X Factor” with the support of her family and community (not to mention millions of American television viewers).
But that’s not necessarily how things work in some sectors of Israeli society. Ophir Ben-Shetreet, a 17-year-old with a voice as outstanding as Sonenclar’s (at least to my untrained ear) is a leading competitor on Israel’s version of “The Voice.” One would think that she would be rewarded for her confidence, effort and talent. Sadly, that is not the case.
Ben-Shetreet is essentially being punished for having an exceptionally beautiful voice and wanting to share it with the world. The 12th grader has been suspended (with the agreement of her parents) for two weeks from her religious girls’ high school in the seaside city of Ashdod. Her offense? Singing in public.
As we know from news coming out of Israel in the past few years, enforcing kol isha, the prohibition against a woman’s singing in public (particularly in front of men), seems to be a top priority of the religious establishment.
In this case, the complaints against Ben-Shetreet’s singing on the popular TV show came from the parents of other students in her school. Ben-Shetreet’s suspension and required attendance at special Jewish law classes is supposedly meant to serve as a deterrent to her classmates — should they, heaven forbid, want to exercise their God-given vocal talent or just plain have some musical fun while within hearing earshot of a man.
Dressed modestly in a yellow and black dress knee-length dress with elbow-length sleeves, Ben-Shetreet blew the judges away with her incredible voice. They called it clear, clean, pure and angelic, and proceeded to fight for the opportunity to be her mentor during the competition. She ended up somewhat unexpectedly choosing rock star Aviv Geffen.
Back at home at Nir Galim, a religious moshav near Ashdod, many in the community are reportedly fully behind Ben-Shetreet. On the other hand, Rabbi Zvi Arnon, the moshav’s rabbi, said he was understanding of Ben-Shetreet’s situation and praised her for being “a girl with strong morals,” but he reiterated the Halakhic prohibition against her singing. “There is not a single rabbi who will permit a woman to sing in front of men, especially on television. It is simply not permissible by Jewish law,” he said in an interview with Channel 7.
In terms of the punitive action taken by Ben-Shetreet’s school, the rabbi basically said the school, which deals with hundreds of girls and their families, had to do what it had to do.
But is that really the case? Could the school have handled the situation differently and avoided singling out Ben-Shetreet? At the very least, the Jewish educators running the school must know that the Talmud teaches, “One who shames his neighbor will have no place in the World to Come.” Rabbi Arnon himself hinted that the school’s approach wasn’t optimal. “In my opinion, we don’t have to wage a war on this issue, we just have to give our opinions as rabbis” he said. “We need to try to bring everyone closer [to the faith]. We don’t excommunicate and we don’t punish.”
As infuriating as it is for me to learn of yet another case of kol isha-based discrimination against women, I am buoyed by the fact that it doesn’t sound like Ben-Shetreet is going to cave to pressure from the religious authorities. She knows she’s talented. Even better, she’s determined, and has shown that she can think and choose for herself.
“I have loved to sing since the time I was very young. I’m looking for a place to realize my talent,” she said on the show. “I think the Torah wants us to be happy, it wants music to make people happy. I think you can integrate the two, and because of that, I made the decision to come on to the show.”
This young woman is clearly going to go far — and I don’t just mean on “The Voice.”
Murdoch apologizes for 'offensive' Netanyahu cartoon
By Tim Castle
Rupert Murdoch apologized on Monday for a "grotesque" cartoon in his London-based Sunday Times newspaper depicting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu building a bloody wall trapping the bodies of Palestinians, after complaints from Jewish groups.
The image, which shows Netanyahu holding a trowel dripping blood, was published on Holocaust Memorial Day and carried the caption "Israeli elections. Will cementing peace continue?"
The Board of Deputies of British Jews said the cartoon was "shockingly reminiscent of the blood libel imagery more usually found in parts of the virulently anti-Semitic Arab press".
The so-called "blood libel" - accusations that Jewish peoples murder children and use their blood in rituals - go back centuries and have led to persecution and attacks.
The wall image by the weekly paper's cartoonist Gerald Scarfe was a reference to the barrier that Israel has been building for a decade on West Bank territory.
The project was launched at the height of a Palestinian uprising and was billed as a way to stop suicide bombers from penetrating the country, although rights groups say nearly 85 percent of the wall's route runs through the West Bank, annexing Palestinian land.
The Sunday Times's acting editor was due to meet Jewish community leaders in Britain on Tuesday to express his regrets over the cartoon, said a spokesman for Murdoch's News International, the paper's publisher.
Murdoch said Scarfe had never reflected the opinions of the Sunday Times. "Nevertheless, we owe major apology for grotesque, offensive cartoon," he said in a Twitter message.
The Board of Deputies, representing Jewish communities in Britain, said it had lodged a complaint over the image with the Press Complaints Commission, an industry-run watchdog.
"Its use is all the more disgusting on Holocaust Memorial Day, given the similar tropes leveled against Jews by the Nazis," the board added.
The paper denied the cartoon was anti-Semitic, saying it was aimed at Netanyahu and not the Israeli people. It said the timing of its publication was linked to the victory of Netanyahu's party in last week's Israeli elections.
"The last thing I or anyone connected with the Sunday Times would countenance would be insulting the memory of the Shoah (the Holocaust) or invoking the blood libel," said Martin Ivens, who was appointed as the paper's acting editor earlier this month.
"We are however reminded of the sensitivities in this area by the reaction to the cartoon and I will of course bear them very carefully in mind in future," he added.
Ivens was expected to tell Jewish leaders that the cartoon was a case of "bad taste and extremely bad timing", the News International spokesman said.
Scarfe told Britain's Jewish Chronicle he had been unaware it was Holocaust Memorial Day on Sunday and regretted the timing of the cartoon's publication.
Rupert Murdoch apologized on Monday for a "grotesque" cartoon in his London-based Sunday Times newspaper depicting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu building a bloody wall trapping the bodies of Palestinians, after complaints from Jewish groups.
The image, which shows Netanyahu holding a trowel dripping blood, was published on Holocaust Memorial Day and carried the caption "Israeli elections. Will cementing peace continue?"
The Board of Deputies of British Jews said the cartoon was "shockingly reminiscent of the blood libel imagery more usually found in parts of the virulently anti-Semitic Arab press".
The so-called "blood libel" - accusations that Jewish peoples murder children and use their blood in rituals - go back centuries and have led to persecution and attacks.
The wall image by the weekly paper's cartoonist Gerald Scarfe was a reference to the barrier that Israel has been building for a decade on West Bank territory.
The project was launched at the height of a Palestinian uprising and was billed as a way to stop suicide bombers from penetrating the country, although rights groups say nearly 85 percent of the wall's route runs through the West Bank, annexing Palestinian land.
The Sunday Times's acting editor was due to meet Jewish community leaders in Britain on Tuesday to express his regrets over the cartoon, said a spokesman for Murdoch's News International, the paper's publisher.
Murdoch said Scarfe had never reflected the opinions of the Sunday Times. "Nevertheless, we owe major apology for grotesque, offensive cartoon," he said in a Twitter message.
The Board of Deputies, representing Jewish communities in Britain, said it had lodged a complaint over the image with the Press Complaints Commission, an industry-run watchdog.
"Its use is all the more disgusting on Holocaust Memorial Day, given the similar tropes leveled against Jews by the Nazis," the board added.
The paper denied the cartoon was anti-Semitic, saying it was aimed at Netanyahu and not the Israeli people. It said the timing of its publication was linked to the victory of Netanyahu's party in last week's Israeli elections.
"The last thing I or anyone connected with the Sunday Times would countenance would be insulting the memory of the Shoah (the Holocaust) or invoking the blood libel," said Martin Ivens, who was appointed as the paper's acting editor earlier this month.
"We are however reminded of the sensitivities in this area by the reaction to the cartoon and I will of course bear them very carefully in mind in future," he added.
Ivens was expected to tell Jewish leaders that the cartoon was a case of "bad taste and extremely bad timing", the News International spokesman said.
Scarfe told Britain's Jewish Chronicle he had been unaware it was Holocaust Memorial Day on Sunday and regretted the timing of the cartoon's publication.
28 jan 2013
Israel lashes out at Sunday Times for 'dark journalism'
In letter to British counterpart, Knesset Speaker Rivlin says cartoon showing Netanyahu building wall with Palestinian blood 'crossed boundaries of free speech'
Israel's parliamentary speaker on Monday lashed out at a cartoon published in Britain's Sunday Times showing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu building a wall with Palestinian blood and bodies.
"For the people of Israel, this is a cartoon which recalls the dark journalism from one of humankind's darkest periods," Knesset Speaker Reuven Rivlin wrote in a letter to his British counterpart John Bercow.
The cartoon caused particular offence because it appeared on International Holocaust Remembrance Day. "As a democrat, I support political criticism but in publishing this cartoon yesterday in London, the boundaries of free speech were crossed," Rivlin wrote, adding, "prejudice had deeply influenced legitimate criticism."
"If a cartoon had been published in Israel showing Britain in a monstrous light and hurting the feelings of the British people in such a mean and nasty way, you wouldn't hesitate to complain to me, and rightly, about crossing the legitimate boundaries of freedom of expression," he said in a direct appeal to Bercow.
Rivlin said Israel was "disappointed" that such images could be published in modern-day Britain, suggesting the cartoon exposed "certain unhealthy undercurrents."
The cartoon appeared a day after a British parliamentarian was forced to apologize after he used his blog to criticize Israel's treatment of the Palestinians, accusing "the Jews" of perpetrating daily atrocities and drawing parallels with the Nazi Holocaust of World War II. The remarks by Liberal Democrat MP David Ward sparked a wave of intense criticism on social media sites and from campaign groups, prompting him to issue an apology on Saturday, saying he had not meant to "to offend the Jewish people as a whole, either as a race or as a people of faith."
Israel's parliamentary speaker on Monday lashed out at a cartoon published in Britain's Sunday Times showing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu building a wall with Palestinian blood and bodies.
"For the people of Israel, this is a cartoon which recalls the dark journalism from one of humankind's darkest periods," Knesset Speaker Reuven Rivlin wrote in a letter to his British counterpart John Bercow.
The cartoon caused particular offence because it appeared on International Holocaust Remembrance Day. "As a democrat, I support political criticism but in publishing this cartoon yesterday in London, the boundaries of free speech were crossed," Rivlin wrote, adding, "prejudice had deeply influenced legitimate criticism."
"If a cartoon had been published in Israel showing Britain in a monstrous light and hurting the feelings of the British people in such a mean and nasty way, you wouldn't hesitate to complain to me, and rightly, about crossing the legitimate boundaries of freedom of expression," he said in a direct appeal to Bercow.
Rivlin said Israel was "disappointed" that such images could be published in modern-day Britain, suggesting the cartoon exposed "certain unhealthy undercurrents."
The cartoon appeared a day after a British parliamentarian was forced to apologize after he used his blog to criticize Israel's treatment of the Palestinians, accusing "the Jews" of perpetrating daily atrocities and drawing parallels with the Nazi Holocaust of World War II. The remarks by Liberal Democrat MP David Ward sparked a wave of intense criticism on social media sites and from campaign groups, prompting him to issue an apology on Saturday, saying he had not meant to "to offend the Jewish people as a whole, either as a race or as a people of faith."
Netanyahu Seeks A Broad Coalition Government
Senior officials in the Likud Party of Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, stated that Netanyahu intends to form a broad coalition cabinet that also includes the Jewish Home fundamentalist party.
The sources said that Netanyahu conducts his politics in an “objective manger”, and accused the Jewish Home Party of conducting a campaign meant at defaming Netanyahu and his internal politics.
Arabic Language Israeli online daily, Arabil, reported that Netanyahu stated, at the beginning of the Monday session with the Ministerial Cabinet, that he wants a broad and strong government that “can counter all security threats against Israel”.
Netanyahu stated that all indications are pointing to the fact that Syria has chemical weapons, and that Israel considers this aspect to be very dangerous, especially when taking into consideration that the government of Syrian President, Bashar Assad, is collapsing.
As for the Iranian file, Netanyahu said that “while the world is commemorating the Holocaust, Iran continues to deny the holocaust, still wants to destroy the Jewish state, and is ongoing with its nuclear agenda”, according to Netanyahu.
Furthermore, Israeli Minister, Sylvan Shalom, said that the International Community must act and prevent the Syrian chemical weapons from “falling into the hands of the Hezbollah Party in in Lebanon, and other extremist elements”.
Israeli sources reported that Israel and the United States are currently increasing their cooperation and talks regarding the Syrian file, and the future of the Syrian weapons.
The sources said that Netanyahu conducts his politics in an “objective manger”, and accused the Jewish Home Party of conducting a campaign meant at defaming Netanyahu and his internal politics.
Arabic Language Israeli online daily, Arabil, reported that Netanyahu stated, at the beginning of the Monday session with the Ministerial Cabinet, that he wants a broad and strong government that “can counter all security threats against Israel”.
Netanyahu stated that all indications are pointing to the fact that Syria has chemical weapons, and that Israel considers this aspect to be very dangerous, especially when taking into consideration that the government of Syrian President, Bashar Assad, is collapsing.
As for the Iranian file, Netanyahu said that “while the world is commemorating the Holocaust, Iran continues to deny the holocaust, still wants to destroy the Jewish state, and is ongoing with its nuclear agenda”, according to Netanyahu.
Furthermore, Israeli Minister, Sylvan Shalom, said that the International Community must act and prevent the Syrian chemical weapons from “falling into the hands of the Hezbollah Party in in Lebanon, and other extremist elements”.
Israeli sources reported that Israel and the United States are currently increasing their cooperation and talks regarding the Syrian file, and the future of the Syrian weapons.
27 jan 2013
Egypt orders retrial of imprisoned Israeli
An Egyptian court on Sunday ordered a re-trial of an Israeli man accused on entering the country illegally, after he had been freed a day earlier.
Andre Pshenichnikov, 24, was detained in the border Sinai peninsula on Dec. 31 after sneaking across the border from Israel, Egyptian security sources said.
He was charged will illegal infiltration, but freed by the south Sinai court on Saturday. A day later, the Sharm al-Sheikh public prosecutor ordered a retrial.
Pshenichnikov told the military he is affiliated to a pro-Palestinian group. A former sergeant in the Israeli army, he was living in a refugee camp in Bethlehem in 2012 when he was arrested by Palestinian Authority security forces and transferred to Israeli custody.
Andre Pshenichnikov, 24, was detained in the border Sinai peninsula on Dec. 31 after sneaking across the border from Israel, Egyptian security sources said.
He was charged will illegal infiltration, but freed by the south Sinai court on Saturday. A day later, the Sharm al-Sheikh public prosecutor ordered a retrial.
Pshenichnikov told the military he is affiliated to a pro-Palestinian group. A former sergeant in the Israeli army, he was living in a refugee camp in Bethlehem in 2012 when he was arrested by Palestinian Authority security forces and transferred to Israeli custody.
24 jan 2013
Israel may boycott UNHRC rights examination session: US
US ambassador to the UN Human Rights Council Eileen Chamberlain Donahoe
The US ambassador to the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) says Israel is expected to boycott the council’s session which is scheduled to examine Tel Aviv’s rights situation.
"They (Israeli officials) signaled that they want it postponed. It is very unlikely they will participate on the 29th," Eileen Chamberlain Donahoe said on Thursday.
The UNHRC is scheduled to review Israel’s human rights records on January 29 as part of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) process. Tel Aviv is not a member of the Council but it is required to undergo UPR like all UN members.
The Universal Periodic Review (UPR), which is held once every four years, was established by the UN General Assembly in 2006 to examine human rights records of the United Nations’ members.
Israel severed all ties with the Council in March 2012 after the UNHRC adopted a resolution condemning Tel Aviv’s announcement of new settlement homes and demanded a reversal of the settlement policy.
The UNHRC also ordered a probe into how Israeli settlements are infringing upon the rights of Palestinians.
Israeli leaders condemned the UN body, saying it was hypocritical and biased toward Israel.
The resolution was adopted by 36 votes in favor and 10 abstentions. The United States was the only member that voted against it.
US State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said the United States had "vigorously opposed the resolution" on the settlements as counterproductive
The US ambassador to the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) says Israel is expected to boycott the council’s session which is scheduled to examine Tel Aviv’s rights situation.
"They (Israeli officials) signaled that they want it postponed. It is very unlikely they will participate on the 29th," Eileen Chamberlain Donahoe said on Thursday.
The UNHRC is scheduled to review Israel’s human rights records on January 29 as part of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) process. Tel Aviv is not a member of the Council but it is required to undergo UPR like all UN members.
The Universal Periodic Review (UPR), which is held once every four years, was established by the UN General Assembly in 2006 to examine human rights records of the United Nations’ members.
Israel severed all ties with the Council in March 2012 after the UNHRC adopted a resolution condemning Tel Aviv’s announcement of new settlement homes and demanded a reversal of the settlement policy.
The UNHRC also ordered a probe into how Israeli settlements are infringing upon the rights of Palestinians.
Israeli leaders condemned the UN body, saying it was hypocritical and biased toward Israel.
The resolution was adopted by 36 votes in favor and 10 abstentions. The United States was the only member that voted against it.
US State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said the United States had "vigorously opposed the resolution" on the settlements as counterproductive
American citizens fed-up with Israeli violations: Analyst
A political analyst says American citizens are getting fed-up with Israeli regime’s violation of Palestinians’ rights and the US support for the Tel Aviv regime, Press TV reports.
“The public opinion is beginning to move in the United States…. I think that American people and even the Jewish, and maybe especially the Jewish citizens of the United States, are really getting fed-up,” Paul Larudee said in an interview with Press TV on Thursday.
He further pointed out that people in the United States are getting more aware of Israel’s violations of Palestinians’ rights despite the West’s efforts to hide the truth.
“They [the American citizens] are learning more and more about what was kept quiet before about Israel’s violations. The Internet is making such information available to them,” Larudee added.
The analyst also stated that the American public will in the near future demand an end to their country’s aid to Israel.
“The public opinion is beginning to move in the United States…. I think that American people and even the Jewish, and maybe especially the Jewish citizens of the United States, are really getting fed-up,” Paul Larudee said in an interview with Press TV on Thursday.
He further pointed out that people in the United States are getting more aware of Israel’s violations of Palestinians’ rights despite the West’s efforts to hide the truth.
“They [the American citizens] are learning more and more about what was kept quiet before about Israel’s violations. The Internet is making such information available to them,” Larudee added.
The analyst also stated that the American public will in the near future demand an end to their country’s aid to Israel.
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“I do not know what the time period is. It could be six months or it could be ten years…. The public in the United States, will want to stop… supporting Israel diplomatically as well and also it is possible that the United States will not find [supporting] Israel to be to its strategic advantage,” he noted.
Larudee went on to say that suing Israel at the International Criminal Court (ICC) will not stop it from building illegal settler units on the occupied Palestinian land as the Tel Aviv regime has no respect for the international law. “Israel has been sanctioned many, many times for violation of international law…. so I cannot imagine that it would cause them to reduce their settlement activities. If anything, maybe they are afraid that their impunity will be cut back and that, therefore, they should move faster before it disappears entirely,” Larudee concluded. The Palestinian Authority Foreign Minister Riyad al-Maliki announced on |
Wednesday that Palestine would take legal action against Israel at the ICC if the Tel Aviv regime builds new settler units on the occupied Palestinian lands.
More than half a million Israelis live in over 120 illegal settlements built since Israel’s occupation of the Palestinian territories of the West Bank and East al-Quds in 1967.
More than half a million Israelis live in over 120 illegal settlements built since Israel’s occupation of the Palestinian territories of the West Bank and East al-Quds in 1967.
23 jan 2013
Israel Announces Election Results
The Israeli Central Election Committee announced that final results of the general Israeli election that was held Tuesday, leading to a marginal victory of the Likud-Yisrael Beiteinu coalition.
The coalition between the Likud Party, headed by Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, and the extreme right wing Israel Our Home Part headed by Avigdor Lieberman, managed to garner 31 seats despite polls that predicted the coalition would garner 42 seats, Israeli Ynet News reported.
The Ynet added that Netanyahu celebrated the victory in a speech he gave shortly after midnight, thanking those who placed their confidence to lead Israel once again.
One of the surprises in this election is 19 seats going to the Yesh Atid (There Is Future) Party, headed by journalist Yair Lapid. The 19 seats placed his party as the second largest party in the Israeli Knesset.
The third largest party in the Knesset is the Likud Party headed by Ehud Barak; the party managed to garner 15 seats.
The Hatnua party headed by Tzipi Livni suffered a sharp blow by only winning six seats.
Meanwhile, the Meretz Party managed to garner six seats compared to three in the last election.
The Ynet said that after %99.5 of the votes counted for, the election outcome is;
Likud-Yisrael Beiteinu: 31 (Benjamin Netanyahu and Avigdor Lieberman)
Yesh Atid (There is Future); 19 seats.
The Labor Party; 15 seats.
Shas (Shomrei Sfarad, lit. Sfarad's guards of the Torah) - religious Sephardic party; 11
Habayit Hayehudi (The Jewish Home); 11.
United Torah Judaism: 7
Hatnua: 6 (Tzipi Livni).
Meretz: 6
United Arab List-Taal: 5
Hadash (The Democratic Front for Peace and Equality) 4
Balad: (National Democratic Assembly) 3
Kadima: 2
The outcome of the general election granted the Israeli right wing parties 60 seats, while what Israel calls “center-left” parties managed to garner 52 seats.
Netanyahu will be forming a government coalition that could be walking on thin ice should the Arab parties and the center-left parties unite their power against Netanyahu and his coalition with Lieberman.
But Netanyahu looks at the Yesh Atid Party, that garnered 19 seats, as “true coalition partner in the new government”, the Ynet added.
It is believed that approximately %66. 6 of the entire eligible voters cast their votes, as for voter turnout among the soldiers, the percentage stood at %80.
Only 40.000 out of the 3.767 million eligible voters have been disqualified.
In total, Arab parties managed to garner 12 seats, 5 of them for the United Arab List, and 5 for Hadash.
Despite the outcome of the elections and the low turnout in the Arab sector, the outcome of the election was seen as positive for the Arab sector with one extra seat.
The biggest defeat was for the Kadima party that was only able to get 2 seats, especially when taking into consideration that, during the last election, the party that was headed by Tzipi Livni (Former Foreign Minister) was the second largest party.
The coalition between the Likud Party, headed by Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, and the extreme right wing Israel Our Home Part headed by Avigdor Lieberman, managed to garner 31 seats despite polls that predicted the coalition would garner 42 seats, Israeli Ynet News reported.
The Ynet added that Netanyahu celebrated the victory in a speech he gave shortly after midnight, thanking those who placed their confidence to lead Israel once again.
One of the surprises in this election is 19 seats going to the Yesh Atid (There Is Future) Party, headed by journalist Yair Lapid. The 19 seats placed his party as the second largest party in the Israeli Knesset.
The third largest party in the Knesset is the Likud Party headed by Ehud Barak; the party managed to garner 15 seats.
The Hatnua party headed by Tzipi Livni suffered a sharp blow by only winning six seats.
Meanwhile, the Meretz Party managed to garner six seats compared to three in the last election.
The Ynet said that after %99.5 of the votes counted for, the election outcome is;
Likud-Yisrael Beiteinu: 31 (Benjamin Netanyahu and Avigdor Lieberman)
Yesh Atid (There is Future); 19 seats.
The Labor Party; 15 seats.
Shas (Shomrei Sfarad, lit. Sfarad's guards of the Torah) - religious Sephardic party; 11
Habayit Hayehudi (The Jewish Home); 11.
United Torah Judaism: 7
Hatnua: 6 (Tzipi Livni).
Meretz: 6
United Arab List-Taal: 5
Hadash (The Democratic Front for Peace and Equality) 4
Balad: (National Democratic Assembly) 3
Kadima: 2
The outcome of the general election granted the Israeli right wing parties 60 seats, while what Israel calls “center-left” parties managed to garner 52 seats.
Netanyahu will be forming a government coalition that could be walking on thin ice should the Arab parties and the center-left parties unite their power against Netanyahu and his coalition with Lieberman.
But Netanyahu looks at the Yesh Atid Party, that garnered 19 seats, as “true coalition partner in the new government”, the Ynet added.
It is believed that approximately %66. 6 of the entire eligible voters cast their votes, as for voter turnout among the soldiers, the percentage stood at %80.
Only 40.000 out of the 3.767 million eligible voters have been disqualified.
In total, Arab parties managed to garner 12 seats, 5 of them for the United Arab List, and 5 for Hadash.
Despite the outcome of the elections and the low turnout in the Arab sector, the outcome of the election was seen as positive for the Arab sector with one extra seat.
The biggest defeat was for the Kadima party that was only able to get 2 seats, especially when taking into consideration that, during the last election, the party that was headed by Tzipi Livni (Former Foreign Minister) was the second largest party.
22 jan 2013
Lebanon Nabs a Spy for Israel
The Lebanese army has arrested a citizen suspected of collaborating with Israel, the Hezbollah-affiliated Al-Manar TV reported on Monday.
Ali Taufiq Yari, a former member of the Baalbek City Council, was branded as the highest paid spy to date, as he was said to have received $600,000 for his service to the Jewish state.
According to the report, Yari began working with Israel's Mossad in 1990, and had undergone intelligence training that taught him to use invisible ink, concealed radio devices and other means of communication.
Various reports in Lebanon have claimed that several Israeli spy rings have been uncovered in recent years, including a major one that consisted of dozens of agents. Israeli espionage equipment was also periodically "exposed" in the country.
According to Monday's report, Yari had visited Israel more than once using a fake Palestinian passport. The alleged spy was also said to have travelled to Europe and Asia to meet with his Israeli handlers.
He purportedly provided Israel with intelligence on Hezbollah hubs and its communication network. He further reported on the Lebanese army and top members in the Shiite Amal movement.
The significant information he managed to pass on to Israeli intelligence officials during the Second Lebanon War prompted the Mossad to hold a ceremony in his honor, the report said.
Ali Taufiq Yari, a former member of the Baalbek City Council, was branded as the highest paid spy to date, as he was said to have received $600,000 for his service to the Jewish state.
According to the report, Yari began working with Israel's Mossad in 1990, and had undergone intelligence training that taught him to use invisible ink, concealed radio devices and other means of communication.
Various reports in Lebanon have claimed that several Israeli spy rings have been uncovered in recent years, including a major one that consisted of dozens of agents. Israeli espionage equipment was also periodically "exposed" in the country.
According to Monday's report, Yari had visited Israel more than once using a fake Palestinian passport. The alleged spy was also said to have travelled to Europe and Asia to meet with his Israeli handlers.
He purportedly provided Israel with intelligence on Hezbollah hubs and its communication network. He further reported on the Lebanese army and top members in the Shiite Amal movement.
The significant information he managed to pass on to Israeli intelligence officials during the Second Lebanon War prompted the Mossad to hold a ceremony in his honor, the report said.
21 jan 2013
Netanyahu is the Jewish State’s Worst Enemy
By: Mitri I. Musleh
In the past, I have been a strong supporter of a Two-State solution. One is being a Jewish State and the other is being a Palestinian State living side by side in peace and harmony that is until Netanyahu took power and proceeded to build illegal Israeli settlements in occupied Palestine which include East Jerusalem. East Jerusalem is the designated future capital of a Palestinian State.
Since then, I have shifted my belief and became a strong supporter of a One-State solution in which I have extensively spoken and written about. I even called on the Palestinian leaders of Fatah and Hamas to resign as self- appointed leaders of Palestine and join the Palestinian people in their struggle for human justice, democracy and equality within a one state solution. My support of a one state-solution was derived from the belief that by establishing a one-state solution where all citizens are equal and within the democratic principle of law. Furthermore, the Palestinian Arabs could have a majority vote within the next 20 to 50 years and will be able to elect a Palestinian Prime Minister to rule over Israel.
The Palestinian President Abbas is now seeing the same vision and is telling the world how Israel could become an apartheid style state with a majority Palestinian population being governed by a minority Jewish population.
On Friday, January 18, 2013, Netanyahu declared that the settlements and Israel's territorial dimensions is not the root of the Palestinian/Israeli conflict, rather, it is the Palestinian's reluctance to recognize the Jewish state within any border". In 1996, the Palestinians recognized Israel's right to exist in all of historic Palestine less than the West Bank and Gaza which only constitutes 22% of original Palestine.
Netanyahu is projected to win January 22nd election in Israel. However and within that kind of a blinded and misguided opinion, the Jewish state Netanyahu is proposing would only have a life expectancy of 20 to 50 years or until the number of the Palestinian population supersedes that of the Jewish population.
This fact makes Netanyahu the Jewish state's worst enemy.
In the past, I have been a strong supporter of a Two-State solution. One is being a Jewish State and the other is being a Palestinian State living side by side in peace and harmony that is until Netanyahu took power and proceeded to build illegal Israeli settlements in occupied Palestine which include East Jerusalem. East Jerusalem is the designated future capital of a Palestinian State.
Since then, I have shifted my belief and became a strong supporter of a One-State solution in which I have extensively spoken and written about. I even called on the Palestinian leaders of Fatah and Hamas to resign as self- appointed leaders of Palestine and join the Palestinian people in their struggle for human justice, democracy and equality within a one state solution. My support of a one state-solution was derived from the belief that by establishing a one-state solution where all citizens are equal and within the democratic principle of law. Furthermore, the Palestinian Arabs could have a majority vote within the next 20 to 50 years and will be able to elect a Palestinian Prime Minister to rule over Israel.
The Palestinian President Abbas is now seeing the same vision and is telling the world how Israel could become an apartheid style state with a majority Palestinian population being governed by a minority Jewish population.
On Friday, January 18, 2013, Netanyahu declared that the settlements and Israel's territorial dimensions is not the root of the Palestinian/Israeli conflict, rather, it is the Palestinian's reluctance to recognize the Jewish state within any border". In 1996, the Palestinians recognized Israel's right to exist in all of historic Palestine less than the West Bank and Gaza which only constitutes 22% of original Palestine.
Netanyahu is projected to win January 22nd election in Israel. However and within that kind of a blinded and misguided opinion, the Jewish state Netanyahu is proposing would only have a life expectancy of 20 to 50 years or until the number of the Palestinian population supersedes that of the Jewish population.
This fact makes Netanyahu the Jewish state's worst enemy.
Netanyahu: “No To Palestinian State, Yes To Settlements”
Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, stated Sunday that he totally rejects that idea of establishing a Palestinian state, and spoke of a “sort of autonomy for the Palestinians”. He also said that Israel will continue to build settlements in the occupied West Bank, and in occupied East Jerusalem.
“I do not want the Palestinians to become Israeli citizens”, Netanyahu said, “I don’t want to control them either”.
In a Televised interview with the Walla Israeli News, Netanyahu said that Israel will have to reach a sort of an understanding “granting the Palestinians some sort of a disarmed authority”.
He strongly rejected any sort of Palestinian “entity” in this current stage, and said that “Israel needs to know what it can do; Abu Mazin (Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas) is hugging Hamas, the same group that calls for our annihilation”, according to Netanyahu.
The Arabs48 news website reported that Netanyahu also said that Israeli leftist parties are “shedding a blind eye on what is happening”, adding that “leftist parties just want an agreement regardless of the consequences”.
“This is the same way we handed Gaza to the Palestinians”, Netanyahu said while referring to the Gaza Disengagement Plan conducted by former Prime Minister, Ariel Sharon, of Netanyahu’s Likud party,
“In no time, Hamas was able to control Gaza, and obtained dozens of thousands of Iranian missiles”, he claimed.
As for Israel’s illegal settlement construction and expansion activities, Netanyahu said that a government under his command will never evict any settlement.
“I never removed a single settlement, and I don’t intend to remove any”, he added, “We removed the settlers from Gaza, and look what happened; I will never do such a thing”.
The Israeli Prime Minister further stated that Israel will not evict settlements under any peace agreement with the Palestinians, and added that the settlement blocs of Gush Ezion, Ariel and Maale Adumim will always be part of Israel.
He also said that his government does not only build within the boundaries of the existing settlements in the West Bank and occupied Jerusalem, but wherever it can.
As for smaller settlements not located within settlement blocs, Netanyahu said that this issue will be determined in negotiations, but also said that he will never evict any settlement as long as he is leading Israel.
Responding to a question about Iran, Netanyahu said that he is doing whatever he can “to prevent Tehran from becoming a nuclear power”, and even vowed that as long as he is the Prime Minister, Iran will never be able to become a nuclear power.
He also said that his polices also include other important files, such as what we called “Syrian chemical weapons”, missiles obtained by the Hezbollah party in Lebanon, in addition to interior issues such as reducing housing costs.
“I do not want the Palestinians to become Israeli citizens”, Netanyahu said, “I don’t want to control them either”.
In a Televised interview with the Walla Israeli News, Netanyahu said that Israel will have to reach a sort of an understanding “granting the Palestinians some sort of a disarmed authority”.
He strongly rejected any sort of Palestinian “entity” in this current stage, and said that “Israel needs to know what it can do; Abu Mazin (Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas) is hugging Hamas, the same group that calls for our annihilation”, according to Netanyahu.
The Arabs48 news website reported that Netanyahu also said that Israeli leftist parties are “shedding a blind eye on what is happening”, adding that “leftist parties just want an agreement regardless of the consequences”.
“This is the same way we handed Gaza to the Palestinians”, Netanyahu said while referring to the Gaza Disengagement Plan conducted by former Prime Minister, Ariel Sharon, of Netanyahu’s Likud party,
“In no time, Hamas was able to control Gaza, and obtained dozens of thousands of Iranian missiles”, he claimed.
As for Israel’s illegal settlement construction and expansion activities, Netanyahu said that a government under his command will never evict any settlement.
“I never removed a single settlement, and I don’t intend to remove any”, he added, “We removed the settlers from Gaza, and look what happened; I will never do such a thing”.
The Israeli Prime Minister further stated that Israel will not evict settlements under any peace agreement with the Palestinians, and added that the settlement blocs of Gush Ezion, Ariel and Maale Adumim will always be part of Israel.
He also said that his government does not only build within the boundaries of the existing settlements in the West Bank and occupied Jerusalem, but wherever it can.
As for smaller settlements not located within settlement blocs, Netanyahu said that this issue will be determined in negotiations, but also said that he will never evict any settlement as long as he is leading Israel.
Responding to a question about Iran, Netanyahu said that he is doing whatever he can “to prevent Tehran from becoming a nuclear power”, and even vowed that as long as he is the Prime Minister, Iran will never be able to become a nuclear power.
He also said that his polices also include other important files, such as what we called “Syrian chemical weapons”, missiles obtained by the Hezbollah party in Lebanon, in addition to interior issues such as reducing housing costs.
Israeli Authorities Change Route Of Wall To Fully Annex Jerusalem For Israel
The Israeli Defense Ministry announced on Sunday that they will re-route a section of the Wall east of Jerusalem in order to close off an existing gap and fully annex the city of Jerusalem into Israel. The new route means the complete encirclement of the Palestinian village of Al-Zaim, with the Wall to the West and a security fence to the east.
Other Palestinian towns are also completely isolated and encircled into ghettoes, including the town of Sheikh Sa'ed and the city of Qalqilya. Israeli authorities isolated these towns in order to create Palestinian-free zones and routes throughout the West Bank to allow Israeli settlers to travel unencumbered without either having to stop at checkpoints or to drive on the same roads as Palestinians. But in order to do that, Israeli forces have had to maintain over 600 checkpoints throughout the West Bank, and to force Palestinians off their own roads and onto dirt roads or trails.
The new route of the Wall will put the settlement of Ma'ale Adumim on the Palestinian side of the Wall, along with dozens of other Israeli settlements constructed in violation of international law all over the West Bank. But Israeli officials have assured the residents of these settlements that they will construct other Walls and fences to allow them to access Jerusalem without having to go through Palestinian areas.
These additional fences and barriers will, like the Annexation Wall itself, be constructed on land seized from Palestinian owners by Israeli authorities who claim that they have the right to take the land 'for security reasons'. All Israeli settlements on Palestinian land are considered illegal under international law and the Fourth Geneva Convention, which forbids an occupying military power from settling its civilian population on land occupied by military force.
The announcement is seen as a response to the Palestinian encampment Bab Al Shams, which was established on the land in question, known to Israeli officials as 'E1', last weekend, then demolished by Israeli forces. The Palestinian non-violent activists who established the encampment entered the area through the village of Al-Zaim.
Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu has openly declared his intention to build a settlement on the 'E1' land, and completely enclose the eastern edge of Jerusalem, thus effectively annexing the city of Jerusalem to the state of Israel. This renders any peace agreement with the Palestinian Authority impossible, since one of the Palestinian Authority's base demands is sharing the city of Jerusalem. The base demands, which Palestinians have asked Israel to recognize time and again to no avail, are: the recognition of a Palestinian state with east Jerusalem as its capital, the right of return of Palestinian refugees and the release of the thousands of Palestinian political prisoners being held in Israeli prison camps.
Other Palestinian towns are also completely isolated and encircled into ghettoes, including the town of Sheikh Sa'ed and the city of Qalqilya. Israeli authorities isolated these towns in order to create Palestinian-free zones and routes throughout the West Bank to allow Israeli settlers to travel unencumbered without either having to stop at checkpoints or to drive on the same roads as Palestinians. But in order to do that, Israeli forces have had to maintain over 600 checkpoints throughout the West Bank, and to force Palestinians off their own roads and onto dirt roads or trails.
The new route of the Wall will put the settlement of Ma'ale Adumim on the Palestinian side of the Wall, along with dozens of other Israeli settlements constructed in violation of international law all over the West Bank. But Israeli officials have assured the residents of these settlements that they will construct other Walls and fences to allow them to access Jerusalem without having to go through Palestinian areas.
These additional fences and barriers will, like the Annexation Wall itself, be constructed on land seized from Palestinian owners by Israeli authorities who claim that they have the right to take the land 'for security reasons'. All Israeli settlements on Palestinian land are considered illegal under international law and the Fourth Geneva Convention, which forbids an occupying military power from settling its civilian population on land occupied by military force.
The announcement is seen as a response to the Palestinian encampment Bab Al Shams, which was established on the land in question, known to Israeli officials as 'E1', last weekend, then demolished by Israeli forces. The Palestinian non-violent activists who established the encampment entered the area through the village of Al-Zaim.
Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu has openly declared his intention to build a settlement on the 'E1' land, and completely enclose the eastern edge of Jerusalem, thus effectively annexing the city of Jerusalem to the state of Israel. This renders any peace agreement with the Palestinian Authority impossible, since one of the Palestinian Authority's base demands is sharing the city of Jerusalem. The base demands, which Palestinians have asked Israel to recognize time and again to no avail, are: the recognition of a Palestinian state with east Jerusalem as its capital, the right of return of Palestinian refugees and the release of the thousands of Palestinian political prisoners being held in Israeli prison camps.
20 jan 2013
Israel denounces German columnist article on Gaza
Palestinian children examined the rubble left after an Israeli strike on a house in Gaza City, November 21, 2011
Israel's Ambassador to Germany Yaakov Hadas-Handelsman has taken a swipe at a German columnist for his article in which he compared the Gaza Strip with the Nazi concentration camps.
In a Saturday interview with the German daily Rheinische Post, Hadas-Handelsman described as “shameful” the comparison that columnist Jakob Augstein made in his article published in Der Spiegel.
The German author had also said that "Gaza is a place out of the end of times... 1.7 million people live there on 360 sq. kilometers.”
Augstein, a vocal critic of the Israeli regime, later said he “went too far” by the word “camp” but again attacked the Israeli regime by comparing it to the former Apartheid regime in South Africa.
The Israeli envoy said any criticism of his regime’s policies by German people is different from similar censures by the British or the Norwegians and urged the Germans to be more careful about their criticism of Israel.
Gaza has been blockaded since June 2007, a situation that has caused a decline in the standard of living, unprecedented levels of unemployment and unrelenting poverty for Palestinians.
Israel denies about 1.7 million people in Gaza their basic rights such as freedom of movement, jobs that pay proper wages and adequate healthcare and education.
Israel invaded the Gaza Strip in mid-November and killed more than 160 people and injured some 1,400 others during eight days of massive airstrikes on the besieged territory.
Israel's Ambassador to Germany Yaakov Hadas-Handelsman has taken a swipe at a German columnist for his article in which he compared the Gaza Strip with the Nazi concentration camps.
In a Saturday interview with the German daily Rheinische Post, Hadas-Handelsman described as “shameful” the comparison that columnist Jakob Augstein made in his article published in Der Spiegel.
The German author had also said that "Gaza is a place out of the end of times... 1.7 million people live there on 360 sq. kilometers.”
Augstein, a vocal critic of the Israeli regime, later said he “went too far” by the word “camp” but again attacked the Israeli regime by comparing it to the former Apartheid regime in South Africa.
The Israeli envoy said any criticism of his regime’s policies by German people is different from similar censures by the British or the Norwegians and urged the Germans to be more careful about their criticism of Israel.
Gaza has been blockaded since June 2007, a situation that has caused a decline in the standard of living, unprecedented levels of unemployment and unrelenting poverty for Palestinians.
Israel denies about 1.7 million people in Gaza their basic rights such as freedom of movement, jobs that pay proper wages and adequate healthcare and education.
Israel invaded the Gaza Strip in mid-November and killed more than 160 people and injured some 1,400 others during eight days of massive airstrikes on the besieged territory.
18 jan 2013
Occupation launches campaign against Endowments Department
Al-Aqsa Foundation for Waqf and Heritage confirmed that the Israeli occupation has no right to intervene in the affairs of Al-Aqsa Mosque and in the works of maintenance and restoration inside it. The foundation pointed out that the works of maintenance and restoration in al-Aqsa Mosque is one of the Muslims' rights, and that every Israeli attempt to impose blockade and restrictions in al-Aqsa Mosque will fail.
This came in response to the Israeli campaign launched against Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Islamic Endowments Department, with the participation of Israeli media and settlement organizations, because the Endowments Department conducted cleaning and maintenance works in the yards of al-Aqsa mosque.
Head of Al-Aqsa Foundation, Zaki Mohammed Igbaria, said in a press report on Thursday that Israeli figures and organizations have launched nearly two weeks ago a campaign of incitement against Al-Aqsa Mosque, followed by a media campaign."
Igbaria noted that the Hebrew media claimed that the Islamic Endowments Department has been carrying out restoration and maintenance works in Al-Aqsa Mosque resulting in the destruction of the monuments, according to the Israeli claims.
This campaign started in the form of a report that documented the works of restoration and maintenance. It was published by Yitzhak Davireh, a member of a Judaizing organization that falsely claims the existence of Hebrew monuments in Al-Aqsa Mosque. He surreptitiously entered the Mosque, and filmed the works of cleaning.
Yitzhak Davireh claimed that the Endowment has been destroying the monuments of the First and Second Temple - as he claimed - in the eastern side of the Al-Aqsa mosque near the Rahma Gate.
The report was followed by an Israeli systematic media campaign, inciting against al-Aqsa and the maintenance work carried out by the Endowment Department in Jerusalem.
Director of the Jerusalem Endowments Department, Sheikh Azzam Al-Khatib, denied claims by Israeli newspapers accusing the Islamic Endowments Department with the destruction of antiquities during the restoration operations carried out inside al-Aqsa mosque yards.
"(The Israelis) are trying to distort the work of the Ministry of Awqaf, said Al-Khatib adding that the endowments' works aim to preserve the antiquities and the existing Islamic heritage.
This came in response to the Israeli campaign launched against Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Islamic Endowments Department, with the participation of Israeli media and settlement organizations, because the Endowments Department conducted cleaning and maintenance works in the yards of al-Aqsa mosque.
Head of Al-Aqsa Foundation, Zaki Mohammed Igbaria, said in a press report on Thursday that Israeli figures and organizations have launched nearly two weeks ago a campaign of incitement against Al-Aqsa Mosque, followed by a media campaign."
Igbaria noted that the Hebrew media claimed that the Islamic Endowments Department has been carrying out restoration and maintenance works in Al-Aqsa Mosque resulting in the destruction of the monuments, according to the Israeli claims.
This campaign started in the form of a report that documented the works of restoration and maintenance. It was published by Yitzhak Davireh, a member of a Judaizing organization that falsely claims the existence of Hebrew monuments in Al-Aqsa Mosque. He surreptitiously entered the Mosque, and filmed the works of cleaning.
Yitzhak Davireh claimed that the Endowment has been destroying the monuments of the First and Second Temple - as he claimed - in the eastern side of the Al-Aqsa mosque near the Rahma Gate.
The report was followed by an Israeli systematic media campaign, inciting against al-Aqsa and the maintenance work carried out by the Endowment Department in Jerusalem.
Director of the Jerusalem Endowments Department, Sheikh Azzam Al-Khatib, denied claims by Israeli newspapers accusing the Islamic Endowments Department with the destruction of antiquities during the restoration operations carried out inside al-Aqsa mosque yards.
"(The Israelis) are trying to distort the work of the Ministry of Awqaf, said Al-Khatib adding that the endowments' works aim to preserve the antiquities and the existing Islamic heritage.
16 jan 2013
Israeli lobby wage a fierce campaign against Egyptian President
"Al Quds Al Arabi" Newspaper revealed in Wednesday's edition that the Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi has been subjected to a fierce "disastrous" campaign waged by the Israeli lobby against him. The lobby has been searching for all Morsi's previous speeches and statements in which he criticized the Jews, to use them to distort his image.
It is the same campaign that has been waged against the Westerners, Muslims, Arabs and some Jews who reject the Israeli racist policies adopted against the Palestinians in the occupied territories.
Al Quds Al Arabi Newspaper reported that "the White House strongly condemned on Tuesday comments that Egyptian President Muhammad Morsi had made in 2010 when he was a Muslim Brotherhood leader, while Israeli and Jewish community regarded them as anti-Semitic in nature."
White House spokesman Jay Carney told reporters that the language Morsi had used was "deeply offensive" and that US officials raised concerns with the Egyptian government on the matter.
Nearly three years ago, Mursi, as an Islamist political leader, delivered a speech urging Egyptians to "nurse our children and our grandchildren on hatred for Jews and Zionists," the New York Times reported.
In a television interview months later, the newspaper said he described Zionists as "these bloodsuckers who attack the Palestinians, these warmongers, the descendants of apes and pigs".
It is the same campaign that has been waged against the Westerners, Muslims, Arabs and some Jews who reject the Israeli racist policies adopted against the Palestinians in the occupied territories.
Al Quds Al Arabi Newspaper reported that "the White House strongly condemned on Tuesday comments that Egyptian President Muhammad Morsi had made in 2010 when he was a Muslim Brotherhood leader, while Israeli and Jewish community regarded them as anti-Semitic in nature."
White House spokesman Jay Carney told reporters that the language Morsi had used was "deeply offensive" and that US officials raised concerns with the Egyptian government on the matter.
Nearly three years ago, Mursi, as an Islamist political leader, delivered a speech urging Egyptians to "nurse our children and our grandchildren on hatred for Jews and Zionists," the New York Times reported.
In a television interview months later, the newspaper said he described Zionists as "these bloodsuckers who attack the Palestinians, these warmongers, the descendants of apes and pigs".
12 jan 2013
Peres: “Arafat Should Not Have Been Assassinated, Abbas Is A Partner In Peace”
In an interview that was conducted by the New York Times several months ago, and was only published Wednesday (and then republished by Israeli Radio), Israeli President, Shimon Peres, stated that late Palestinian President, Yasser Arafat, should not have been assassinated, adding that “without Arafat, the current situation is more complicated.”
The Palestinian President, Yasser Arafat, died at a French Military Hospital on November 11, 2004. On July 31st this year, Soha Arafat filed a lawsuit against “unknown” in France for the assassination of her husband.
Many Palestinians believe that Israeli forces which surrounded Arafat in his compound, in 2002, until he fell seriously ill and was airlifted to France, were behind the assassination of Arafat. Israel also bombarded sections of the compound, and bulldozed other sections, in addition to cutting power and water supplies, and phone lines. Israeli sharpshooters also occupied several surrounding buildings overlooking the office of Arafat, and killed five Palestinians in the compound, including members personal bodyguards of Arafat; at least 40 were injured and 70 were kidnapped. Israel also said that two Israeli soldiers were killed in the attack.
At the time, some Israeli politicians alluded to the possibility that Arafat had been assassinated, but none admitted it openly. Prior to Arafat’s death, Israeli leaders kept labeling him as an “obstacle to peace”. The then-Israeli Prime Minister, Ariel Sharon, said in a press conference that “invading Ramallah, and the isolation of Arafat is only the beginning of an extended military offensive that aims at uprooting the infrastructure of terrorism”.
In the New York Times interview published this week, when asked if he thought that Arafat should have been assassinated, Peres replied “No”, and stated that It was possible for Israel “to do business with Arafat”, and that “without him, the situation became much more complicated”.
Peres also stated that Israel could not have reached the Oslo peace agreement without Arafat, and added that the Hebron agreement was also reached with Arafat, but claimed that he “tried to explain to Arafat how to be a true leader”.
The Israeli President added that he and Arafat sat together, “with me eating from his hand. It took courage. I told him he must be like Lincoln, like Ben-Gurion: one nation, one gun, not innumerable armed forces with each firing in a different direction”, the New York Times reported.
He further claimed that Arafat kept saying No in Arabic (la, la, la) but at the end said yes to what Peres told him, and added that “Arafat lied to him, with no problem”, as Peres was referring to “Arafat agreeing to fighter Palestinian fighters”, described by Peres are militants and insurgencies”.
Furthermore, Peres claimed that he “protected Arafat from several plots against his life”, and plots meant to remove him out of Palestine.
As for Israel assassination policies, Peres said that he opposes Israel’s use of targeting killings, and opposed Israel’s use of targeted killing as a means to achieve its goals.
He further stated that he also opposed the assassination of Khalil Al-Wazir (Abu Jihad) who was the deputy of Yasser Arafat, and was assassinated in Tunisia by an Israeli death squad, under direct orders of the Israeli Mosad, on April 16, 1996.
Twenty well-trained Israeli assassins working for the Mossad (Institute for Intelligence and Special Operations) were deployed at a Qurtaja shore in Tunisia; four ships, two submarined and two Israeli military hellicopeters were deployed in the area, and when Abu Jihad returned to his home, the Israeli commandoes and assassins headed to his home, killed his guards and went to his room where they fired several bullets at him. It is believed that he was shot by 70 rounds of live ammunition.
Peres added that he does not agree with Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, in his policies towards current Palestinian President, Mahmoud Abbas.
“I do not accept the assertion that Abu Mazen [Abbas] is not a good negotiating partner”, Peres said, “To my mind, he is an excellent partner. Our military people describe to me the extent to which the Palestinian forces are cooperating with us to combat terror.”
Peres further claimed that Jewish settlements in the West Bank “did not void the two-state solution”, and added that Israel’s Jewish settlements in the West Bank, including in Jerusalem, “are only built on 2% of the Palestinian territory”.
Furthermore, Peres claimed that the Palestinian issue is not the main issue in the Middle East, but admitted that it is affecting Israel’s relations with 1.5 Billion Muslims in the world, and added that “once the conflict is resolved, extremist Islamists will not have an excuse to continue to attack us”, according to the Israeli President.
As for the current Israel government headed by Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, and its inability to advance talks with the Palestinians, Peres said that “the problem is not with Netanyahu, the problem is his coalition partners”, referring to extreme right-wing fundamentalist coalition partners such as the extremist “Israel Our Home” party led by Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman, who is also a settler and continuously denies the legitimate Palestinian rights, and in the past repeatedly called for their massive expulsion to Arab countries.
Lieberman also repeatedly stated that the Arabs and the Palestinians are a “strategic threat to the Jewish State”.
The Israeli President further said that he does not claim that peace with the Palestinians would lead to resolving all issues in the region, and added that “achieving this peace in not an easy task”.
Yet, the Israeli president said that he fully supported the latest Israeli military offensive on Gaza, and claimed that the operation “was not a war or a military offensive, but a lesson to Hamas”.
He also claimed that Israel “tried its best not to harm civilians in Gaza”, and added that “sometimes it is very difficult to differentiate between Hamas gunmen and innocent civilians”. He also claimed that Israel tried to tell Hamas that it has no objection to building homes in Gaza, but will not allow the movement to build rocket launchers.
The November 2012 8-day Israeli war on Gaza, led to the death of 191 Palestinians, including children, women and elderly, while at least 1492 Palestinians have been injured, dozens seriously.
8 children, including 16 under the age of five, have been killed by Israeli missiles and shells during the war, in addition to 12 women and 20 elderly.
Palestinians, including 533 children (195 under the age of 5), 254 women and 103 elderly have been injured by Israeli fire and shells, and at least five Palestinians have been killed after the ceasefire agreement was reached, and more than 54 have been injured.
The Palestinian President, Yasser Arafat, died at a French Military Hospital on November 11, 2004. On July 31st this year, Soha Arafat filed a lawsuit against “unknown” in France for the assassination of her husband.
Many Palestinians believe that Israeli forces which surrounded Arafat in his compound, in 2002, until he fell seriously ill and was airlifted to France, were behind the assassination of Arafat. Israel also bombarded sections of the compound, and bulldozed other sections, in addition to cutting power and water supplies, and phone lines. Israeli sharpshooters also occupied several surrounding buildings overlooking the office of Arafat, and killed five Palestinians in the compound, including members personal bodyguards of Arafat; at least 40 were injured and 70 were kidnapped. Israel also said that two Israeli soldiers were killed in the attack.
At the time, some Israeli politicians alluded to the possibility that Arafat had been assassinated, but none admitted it openly. Prior to Arafat’s death, Israeli leaders kept labeling him as an “obstacle to peace”. The then-Israeli Prime Minister, Ariel Sharon, said in a press conference that “invading Ramallah, and the isolation of Arafat is only the beginning of an extended military offensive that aims at uprooting the infrastructure of terrorism”.
In the New York Times interview published this week, when asked if he thought that Arafat should have been assassinated, Peres replied “No”, and stated that It was possible for Israel “to do business with Arafat”, and that “without him, the situation became much more complicated”.
Peres also stated that Israel could not have reached the Oslo peace agreement without Arafat, and added that the Hebron agreement was also reached with Arafat, but claimed that he “tried to explain to Arafat how to be a true leader”.
The Israeli President added that he and Arafat sat together, “with me eating from his hand. It took courage. I told him he must be like Lincoln, like Ben-Gurion: one nation, one gun, not innumerable armed forces with each firing in a different direction”, the New York Times reported.
He further claimed that Arafat kept saying No in Arabic (la, la, la) but at the end said yes to what Peres told him, and added that “Arafat lied to him, with no problem”, as Peres was referring to “Arafat agreeing to fighter Palestinian fighters”, described by Peres are militants and insurgencies”.
Furthermore, Peres claimed that he “protected Arafat from several plots against his life”, and plots meant to remove him out of Palestine.
As for Israel assassination policies, Peres said that he opposes Israel’s use of targeting killings, and opposed Israel’s use of targeted killing as a means to achieve its goals.
He further stated that he also opposed the assassination of Khalil Al-Wazir (Abu Jihad) who was the deputy of Yasser Arafat, and was assassinated in Tunisia by an Israeli death squad, under direct orders of the Israeli Mosad, on April 16, 1996.
Twenty well-trained Israeli assassins working for the Mossad (Institute for Intelligence and Special Operations) were deployed at a Qurtaja shore in Tunisia; four ships, two submarined and two Israeli military hellicopeters were deployed in the area, and when Abu Jihad returned to his home, the Israeli commandoes and assassins headed to his home, killed his guards and went to his room where they fired several bullets at him. It is believed that he was shot by 70 rounds of live ammunition.
Peres added that he does not agree with Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, in his policies towards current Palestinian President, Mahmoud Abbas.
“I do not accept the assertion that Abu Mazen [Abbas] is not a good negotiating partner”, Peres said, “To my mind, he is an excellent partner. Our military people describe to me the extent to which the Palestinian forces are cooperating with us to combat terror.”
Peres further claimed that Jewish settlements in the West Bank “did not void the two-state solution”, and added that Israel’s Jewish settlements in the West Bank, including in Jerusalem, “are only built on 2% of the Palestinian territory”.
Furthermore, Peres claimed that the Palestinian issue is not the main issue in the Middle East, but admitted that it is affecting Israel’s relations with 1.5 Billion Muslims in the world, and added that “once the conflict is resolved, extremist Islamists will not have an excuse to continue to attack us”, according to the Israeli President.
As for the current Israel government headed by Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, and its inability to advance talks with the Palestinians, Peres said that “the problem is not with Netanyahu, the problem is his coalition partners”, referring to extreme right-wing fundamentalist coalition partners such as the extremist “Israel Our Home” party led by Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman, who is also a settler and continuously denies the legitimate Palestinian rights, and in the past repeatedly called for their massive expulsion to Arab countries.
Lieberman also repeatedly stated that the Arabs and the Palestinians are a “strategic threat to the Jewish State”.
The Israeli President further said that he does not claim that peace with the Palestinians would lead to resolving all issues in the region, and added that “achieving this peace in not an easy task”.
Yet, the Israeli president said that he fully supported the latest Israeli military offensive on Gaza, and claimed that the operation “was not a war or a military offensive, but a lesson to Hamas”.
He also claimed that Israel “tried its best not to harm civilians in Gaza”, and added that “sometimes it is very difficult to differentiate between Hamas gunmen and innocent civilians”. He also claimed that Israel tried to tell Hamas that it has no objection to building homes in Gaza, but will not allow the movement to build rocket launchers.
The November 2012 8-day Israeli war on Gaza, led to the death of 191 Palestinians, including children, women and elderly, while at least 1492 Palestinians have been injured, dozens seriously.
8 children, including 16 under the age of five, have been killed by Israeli missiles and shells during the war, in addition to 12 women and 20 elderly.
Palestinians, including 533 children (195 under the age of 5), 254 women and 103 elderly have been injured by Israeli fire and shells, and at least five Palestinians have been killed after the ceasefire agreement was reached, and more than 54 have been injured.
11 jan 2013
Netanyahu government is Israel's most anti-Zionist ever, says Amoz Oz
Amos Oz: Not pleased with the direction Israeli is headed in
Speaking to about 30 academics who are considering voting for Meretz, Oz compared Israel to an apartheid state and made angry predictions about its future.
The writer and Israel Prize laureate Amoz Oz harshly attacked Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, as well as Labor chairwoman MK Shelly Yacimovich.
Oz, a staunch Meretz supporter, made the comments at a parlor meeting at the home of friends in Tel Aviv. Speaking to about 30 academics who are considering voting for Meretz, Oz compared Israel to an apartheid state and made angry predictions about its future.
"In my mind, the Netanyahu government is the most anti-Zionist government Israel has ever had. It is doing everything so there will be not two states here, but one," said Oz. "It is striking Abu Mazen [Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas] blow after blow - violent morale blows, financial blows and political blows. It is strengthening Hamas more and more. Perhaps that is the intention, to stop the chance for two states. They believe that Jews can rule over an Arab majority for a long time. No apartheid state in the world has lasted without collapsing after a few years."
Oz also told the gathering that if a two-state solution will not be implemented, "there will not be a bi-national state here but an Arab state."
In expressing his support for Meretz, Oz said the party is the only one to grapple fully with the question of "whether we will be or not be," and that "in this existential question, Shelly Yacimovich is worse than Ehud Barak. Barak said 'there is no solution.' Yacimovich says 'there is no problem.'" With reference to the new, centrist Yesh Atid party's chairman, Oz said: "I look at Yair Lapid who is concentrating on drafting yeshiva students. I am all in favor of drafting yeshiva students, but how will drafting yeshiva students help me if there is an Arab state here? These elections are over existential issues."
Referring to the former Kadima chairwoman, now heading her own party, Hatnuah, Oz said: "I have no guarantees that Tzipi Livni won't be the social affairs minister in the next Netanyahu government." He added: "I have no guarantees that Yair Lapid won't be the education minister in the next Netanyahu government. And what good can they do from within?"
In contrast, according to Oz, Meretz at least will be a fighting opposition. "The Labor Party has been crawling to Likud governments for 15 years now," he said. "It crawled under Shimon Peres, it crawled under Amir Peretz. And what good did it do? How did it slow the rate of settlements? How did it stop the catastrophe of the abolishment of the state of the Jewish people?"
Speaking to about 30 academics who are considering voting for Meretz, Oz compared Israel to an apartheid state and made angry predictions about its future.
The writer and Israel Prize laureate Amoz Oz harshly attacked Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, as well as Labor chairwoman MK Shelly Yacimovich.
Oz, a staunch Meretz supporter, made the comments at a parlor meeting at the home of friends in Tel Aviv. Speaking to about 30 academics who are considering voting for Meretz, Oz compared Israel to an apartheid state and made angry predictions about its future.
"In my mind, the Netanyahu government is the most anti-Zionist government Israel has ever had. It is doing everything so there will be not two states here, but one," said Oz. "It is striking Abu Mazen [Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas] blow after blow - violent morale blows, financial blows and political blows. It is strengthening Hamas more and more. Perhaps that is the intention, to stop the chance for two states. They believe that Jews can rule over an Arab majority for a long time. No apartheid state in the world has lasted without collapsing after a few years."
Oz also told the gathering that if a two-state solution will not be implemented, "there will not be a bi-national state here but an Arab state."
In expressing his support for Meretz, Oz said the party is the only one to grapple fully with the question of "whether we will be or not be," and that "in this existential question, Shelly Yacimovich is worse than Ehud Barak. Barak said 'there is no solution.' Yacimovich says 'there is no problem.'" With reference to the new, centrist Yesh Atid party's chairman, Oz said: "I look at Yair Lapid who is concentrating on drafting yeshiva students. I am all in favor of drafting yeshiva students, but how will drafting yeshiva students help me if there is an Arab state here? These elections are over existential issues."
Referring to the former Kadima chairwoman, now heading her own party, Hatnuah, Oz said: "I have no guarantees that Tzipi Livni won't be the social affairs minister in the next Netanyahu government." He added: "I have no guarantees that Yair Lapid won't be the education minister in the next Netanyahu government. And what good can they do from within?"
In contrast, according to Oz, Meretz at least will be a fighting opposition. "The Labor Party has been crawling to Likud governments for 15 years now," he said. "It crawled under Shimon Peres, it crawled under Amir Peretz. And what good did it do? How did it slow the rate of settlements? How did it stop the catastrophe of the abolishment of the state of the Jewish people?"
US Congress to Debate Visa Exemption for Israelis
The US Congress will debate a bid to exempt Israeli citizens from applying for an entry visa prior to visiting the US for periods of less then 90 days, for tourism and business purposes, Yediot Ahranot Israeli newspaper reported.
The Visa Waiver Program (VWP), which allows foreign nationals to visit the country without a visa, currently admits 37 countries, including western and central European countries, Japan, Singapore, Taiwan and Australia.
The 26 Representatives have voted for admitting Israel to the plan, but the Senate rejected the bid.
Since 2005, Israel has been asking to join the plan but did not fulfill two basic terms: Not all Israelis have biometric passports (a combined paper and electronic passport that contains biometric information that can be used to authenticate the identity of travellers), and the entry visa rejection percentage of Israelis is higher than 3%.
Another dispute is Israel's insistence on stricter security checks for Palestinian-US citizens entering the Jewish state. The US demands that they be subjected to the same security checks as any American citizen. On Tuesday, two Congressmen will hold a press conference in favor of the bid.
The Visa Waiver Program (VWP), which allows foreign nationals to visit the country without a visa, currently admits 37 countries, including western and central European countries, Japan, Singapore, Taiwan and Australia.
The 26 Representatives have voted for admitting Israel to the plan, but the Senate rejected the bid.
Since 2005, Israel has been asking to join the plan but did not fulfill two basic terms: Not all Israelis have biometric passports (a combined paper and electronic passport that contains biometric information that can be used to authenticate the identity of travellers), and the entry visa rejection percentage of Israelis is higher than 3%.
Another dispute is Israel's insistence on stricter security checks for Palestinian-US citizens entering the Jewish state. The US demands that they be subjected to the same security checks as any American citizen. On Tuesday, two Congressmen will hold a press conference in favor of the bid.
Israeli Occupation Warns Israelis from Entering Area B
The Israeli army warned this morning, Israelis from entering lands under the Palestinian Authority full control, categorized as Area B, except with an official permission from the Central Command in the region of Judea and Samaria.
The Hebrew Channel 2 added that the decision warns Israeli citizens from entering the Area B, and that the Central Command should be informed by Israelis before entering into these lands in order to give them permission or not
The Hebrew Channel 2 added that the decision warns Israeli citizens from entering the Area B, and that the Central Command should be informed by Israelis before entering into these lands in order to give them permission or not
10 jan 2013
Israel floods east of Gaza
The civil defense department in Gaza said the Israeli occupation state opened on Wednesday the floodgates of one of its dams in the eastern part of the Gaza Strip. The department called on the Palestinian citizens living along the Gaza Valley area to be cautious and get in touch with the authorities in case of any incident.
For days, the occupied Palestinian lands have seen heavy rains that caused floods in different areas.
The Israeli regime last year had flooded several Gaza villages and displaced their residents when it opened the same floodgates.
In another incident, the civil defense brigades saved 40 families in Rafah area south of Gaza after floodwaters inundated their homes.
Local sources said that the civil defense men used small fishing boats to reach and save the citizens trapped in flooded areas.
Other areas in Gaza, including the fishing harbors, sustained slight damage. One fishing boat was pulled out after it sank because of the rainstorm.
One tunnel reportedly collapsed in Rafah area, while the fate of four Palestinians who were inside it is still unknown.
One young man from Rafah also died of an electric shock as a result of the damage that the rainstorm had caused to several homes in Gaza.
In the West Bank, the Palestinian natives of Al-Khalil city woke up to the scene of white snow coating their homes and streets.
The snow accumulated mostly in the northern areas of Al-Khalil, especially in Ras Jura, Haras, Namra and Beir Mahjar and Halhul Bridge.
The snowstorm disrupted public life in the city and closed many roads.
In a related context, Palestinian agricultural groups called on the Palestinian authorities in the West Bank and Gaza to establish a disaster and compensation fund in order to protect the agricultural sector from the dangers resulting from natural disasters and Israel's policies.
In a joint statement, different agricultural and land societies said that such step would leave a great impact on the hearts of farmers and villagers and strengthen the pillars of the Palestinian economy and society.
For days, the occupied Palestinian lands have seen heavy rains that caused floods in different areas.
The Israeli regime last year had flooded several Gaza villages and displaced their residents when it opened the same floodgates.
In another incident, the civil defense brigades saved 40 families in Rafah area south of Gaza after floodwaters inundated their homes.
Local sources said that the civil defense men used small fishing boats to reach and save the citizens trapped in flooded areas.
Other areas in Gaza, including the fishing harbors, sustained slight damage. One fishing boat was pulled out after it sank because of the rainstorm.
One tunnel reportedly collapsed in Rafah area, while the fate of four Palestinians who were inside it is still unknown.
One young man from Rafah also died of an electric shock as a result of the damage that the rainstorm had caused to several homes in Gaza.
In the West Bank, the Palestinian natives of Al-Khalil city woke up to the scene of white snow coating their homes and streets.
The snow accumulated mostly in the northern areas of Al-Khalil, especially in Ras Jura, Haras, Namra and Beir Mahjar and Halhul Bridge.
The snowstorm disrupted public life in the city and closed many roads.
In a related context, Palestinian agricultural groups called on the Palestinian authorities in the West Bank and Gaza to establish a disaster and compensation fund in order to protect the agricultural sector from the dangers resulting from natural disasters and Israel's policies.
In a joint statement, different agricultural and land societies said that such step would leave a great impact on the hearts of farmers and villagers and strengthen the pillars of the Palestinian economy and society.
Blast near Israel ministry injures several people
Israeli security forces arrive at the site of a bomb explosion that hit a car near the headquarters of the Israeli ministry for military affairs in Tel Aviv on January 10, 2013
Up to 10 people have been wounded after a bomb detonated near the headquarters of the Israeli ministry of military affairs in Tel Aviv.
The incident occurred on Thursday when a bomb exploded in a car near a bus.
Israeli officials said it was highly likely that the blast was a "criminal act," but did not rule out the possibility of it being political violence.
"The main direction of suspicion is it was criminal," police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said.
Israel's Ynetnews website quoted witnesses as saying they saw an assailant on a motorcycle planting an explosive on a black Mazda.
An empty bus nearby was also damaged in the explosion.
Media reports said the car's owner did not appear to have been in the vehicle at the time.
Up to 10 people have been wounded after a bomb detonated near the headquarters of the Israeli ministry of military affairs in Tel Aviv.
The incident occurred on Thursday when a bomb exploded in a car near a bus.
Israeli officials said it was highly likely that the blast was a "criminal act," but did not rule out the possibility of it being political violence.
"The main direction of suspicion is it was criminal," police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said.
Israel's Ynetnews website quoted witnesses as saying they saw an assailant on a motorcycle planting an explosive on a black Mazda.
An empty bus nearby was also damaged in the explosion.
Media reports said the car's owner did not appear to have been in the vehicle at the time.
Eran: Unlike Hamas, Fatah is internally unstable and divided
Oded Eran
Israeli researcher Oded Eran said that the Fatah faction under the leadership of Mahmoud Abbas still stands on an unstable ground because of Fatah's sharp internal differences and conflict. In an Israeli strategic assessment published by the institute for national security studies, Eran said that an objective comparison between Fatah and Hamas in Gaza, especially between their anniversary ceremonies, refers to the size of division within Fatah.
Eran underlined that Fatah was keen on assembling massive crowds to prove itself in front of Hamas in Gaza and ignored that its audience was not like one man with one heart and this was obvious when the supporters of Mohamed Dahlan expelled senior Fatah officials Jabril Rajoub and Nabil Shaath from the anniversary festival.
He also said that the sudden end of the festival confirmed that Fatah is not organized and in a state of confusion.
On the other hand, the Israeli researcher distinguished Hamas as an organized ideological movement.
He said that Hamas leaders may have different political opinions, but such views do not come to the surface because the unity and strength of their movement is the biggest goal for them all.
Eran affirmed that the 25th anniversary festival of Hamas that was held in Al-Katiba Square, where Fatah also held its festival, clearly proved that it successfully organized its event despite the presence of foreign delegations and hundreds of thousands of Palestinians.
He also stated that Hamas pays more attention to its future than itself and day after day it makes security, military, intellectual and scientific progress despite the economic blockade and its sporadic armed conflict with the Israeli government.
Israeli researcher Oded Eran said that the Fatah faction under the leadership of Mahmoud Abbas still stands on an unstable ground because of Fatah's sharp internal differences and conflict. In an Israeli strategic assessment published by the institute for national security studies, Eran said that an objective comparison between Fatah and Hamas in Gaza, especially between their anniversary ceremonies, refers to the size of division within Fatah.
Eran underlined that Fatah was keen on assembling massive crowds to prove itself in front of Hamas in Gaza and ignored that its audience was not like one man with one heart and this was obvious when the supporters of Mohamed Dahlan expelled senior Fatah officials Jabril Rajoub and Nabil Shaath from the anniversary festival.
He also said that the sudden end of the festival confirmed that Fatah is not organized and in a state of confusion.
On the other hand, the Israeli researcher distinguished Hamas as an organized ideological movement.
He said that Hamas leaders may have different political opinions, but such views do not come to the surface because the unity and strength of their movement is the biggest goal for them all.
Eran affirmed that the 25th anniversary festival of Hamas that was held in Al-Katiba Square, where Fatah also held its festival, clearly proved that it successfully organized its event despite the presence of foreign delegations and hundreds of thousands of Palestinians.
He also stated that Hamas pays more attention to its future than itself and day after day it makes security, military, intellectual and scientific progress despite the economic blockade and its sporadic armed conflict with the Israeli government.
9 jan 2013
Netanyahu Pledges Not to Cede More Land to Palestinians
PNN- As Fatah and Hamas met in Cairo to discuss reconciliation, Israel's Prime Minister, Binyamin Netanyahu, said he would not cede any more land to the Palestinians. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal were expected to meet in Cairo today to discuss the national reconciliation and ending the dispute between Fatah and Hamas.
Hamas and Fatah officials said that the Cairo talks would focus on ways to implement previous reconciliation accords reached between the two movements, first and foremost the formation of a Palestinian unity government and holding long overdue presidential and parliamentary elections in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, JPost reported.
Palestinian sources said that following the Abbas-Mashaal meeting, Fatah and Hamas officials will hold separate talks in Cairo to pursue efforts to end the dispute.
As noted earlier, the Hamas delegation is also scheduled to hold talks with Egyptian intelligence officials to discuss ways to solidify the current cease-fire in the Gaza Strip.
Hamas and Fatah officials said that the Cairo talks would focus on ways to implement previous reconciliation accords reached between the two movements, first and foremost the formation of a Palestinian unity government and holding long overdue presidential and parliamentary elections in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, JPost reported.
Palestinian sources said that following the Abbas-Mashaal meeting, Fatah and Hamas officials will hold separate talks in Cairo to pursue efforts to end the dispute.
As noted earlier, the Hamas delegation is also scheduled to hold talks with Egyptian intelligence officials to discuss ways to solidify the current cease-fire in the Gaza Strip.
Israeli policemen assault MK Taleb Al-Sane
Israeli police forces assaulted Arab member of the Israeli Knesset Talab Al-Sane on Wednesday while trying to protest the demolition of two Arab homes in Tal Al-Saba village. Sane, in a statement by his office, said that the police forces prevented him from entering the area where the two houses were being razed at the pretext of lack of construction permit.
He said that the policemen then shoved him and beat him with their hands and batons to push him back.
The MK described the demolition of Arab houses as “terrorist and inhuman”, describing the Israeli authorities’ policy toward Arab citizens as “Nazi”.
Sane said that in any civilized and democratic country the government extends assistance to the people during natural disasters and/or harsh weather conditions, yet the Israeli regime is the only government to mercilessly destroy people’s homes at such times leaving children and women without shelter.
He said that the policemen then shoved him and beat him with their hands and batons to push him back.
The MK described the demolition of Arab houses as “terrorist and inhuman”, describing the Israeli authorities’ policy toward Arab citizens as “Nazi”.
Sane said that in any civilized and democratic country the government extends assistance to the people during natural disasters and/or harsh weather conditions, yet the Israeli regime is the only government to mercilessly destroy people’s homes at such times leaving children and women without shelter.
8 jan 2013
Netanyahu Claims Settlements Do Not Threaten Peace
Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, claimed that Israel’s construction and expansion of Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank, mainly in and around occupied East Jerusalem, “do not pose any threat to the peace process”.
The Israeli Prime Minister added that “the real threat to the world is not the Jews who are building in Jerusalem, but the Nuclear weapons Iran is developing”, according to Netanyahu.
He added that Israel is dealing with these “threats”, and called on the International community “to join Israel is this struggle”, the Palestine News Network (PNN) has reported.
Netanyahu further stated that “Israel appreciates the American efforts on the Iranian file”, and added that “the time has come to the rest of the world to wake up”.
Netanyahu also claimed that Israel is seeking real peace, and that Tel Aviv “is willing to provide concessions to achieve this peace”.
Two days ago, Netanyahu claimed that Palestinian President, Mahmoud Abbas, continues to ignore what he called “all Israeli efforts to resume direct peace talks”, and accused Abbas of placing “impossible preconditions”.
The Palestinian Authority in the West Bank had to quit talks with Israel due to its ongoing violations topped by its ongoing invasions, arrests, the demolition of homes, and its ongoing settlement construction and expansion activities in direct violation of International Law and the Fourth Geneva Convention to which Israel is a signatory.
The Israeli Prime Minister added that “the real threat to the world is not the Jews who are building in Jerusalem, but the Nuclear weapons Iran is developing”, according to Netanyahu.
He added that Israel is dealing with these “threats”, and called on the International community “to join Israel is this struggle”, the Palestine News Network (PNN) has reported.
Netanyahu further stated that “Israel appreciates the American efforts on the Iranian file”, and added that “the time has come to the rest of the world to wake up”.
Netanyahu also claimed that Israel is seeking real peace, and that Tel Aviv “is willing to provide concessions to achieve this peace”.
Two days ago, Netanyahu claimed that Palestinian President, Mahmoud Abbas, continues to ignore what he called “all Israeli efforts to resume direct peace talks”, and accused Abbas of placing “impossible preconditions”.
The Palestinian Authority in the West Bank had to quit talks with Israel due to its ongoing violations topped by its ongoing invasions, arrests, the demolition of homes, and its ongoing settlement construction and expansion activities in direct violation of International Law and the Fourth Geneva Convention to which Israel is a signatory.
New U.S. Defense Secretary Vows Full Support For Israel
U.S. Defense Secretary, Chuck Hagel, of the Republican Party, who was named by President Barack Obama Monday, stated that he will grant Israel his utmost support under all circumstances, and slammed several Republican officials who criticized what they called “his attitudes regarding the Middle East, especially Israel and the conflict with the Palestinians”.
Hagel told a local paper in Nebraska that the criticism against him came after he refused to vote for certain resolutions that were strongly pushed by the Israeli lobby, and said that he did not vote for these resolutions because he believes they would backfire.
Hagel said that such criticisms do not help the interests of the United States in the Middle East, and the “U.S. efforts to ensure the resumption of peace talks.
“It is in Israel’s best interest that we help it and the Palestinians to find a way to live side by side in peace”, he added.
It is worth mentioning that several Congress members said that Hagel previously refused to support economic sanctions on Iran, but he said that he refused U. S. -led sanctions on Tehran but strongly supports sanctions imposed by the United Nations.
Furthermore, President Obama adopted a new proposal to impose financial sanctions on any country that buys oil from Iran.
Israeli daily, Maariv, reported Monday that the Obama administration assured the Israel Lobby in the U.S. that Hagel is committed to supporting Israel and ensuring its security, and added that Hagel will implement the policies of Obama that grant full support to Israel.
The AbC News Agency reported that criticisms against Hagel started following “controversial statements” on U.S. foreign policy, including a statement he made in 2008 in which he described American supporters of Israel as “the Jewish Lobby”.
The ABC added that Hagel also made statements that “encouraged talks between the United States, Israel the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) which is labeled by the U.S. State Department as “a terrorist group”. He also opposed the U.S-led war on Iraq in 2003.
Hagel told a local paper in Nebraska that the criticism against him came after he refused to vote for certain resolutions that were strongly pushed by the Israeli lobby, and said that he did not vote for these resolutions because he believes they would backfire.
Hagel said that such criticisms do not help the interests of the United States in the Middle East, and the “U.S. efforts to ensure the resumption of peace talks.
“It is in Israel’s best interest that we help it and the Palestinians to find a way to live side by side in peace”, he added.
It is worth mentioning that several Congress members said that Hagel previously refused to support economic sanctions on Iran, but he said that he refused U. S. -led sanctions on Tehran but strongly supports sanctions imposed by the United Nations.
Furthermore, President Obama adopted a new proposal to impose financial sanctions on any country that buys oil from Iran.
Israeli daily, Maariv, reported Monday that the Obama administration assured the Israel Lobby in the U.S. that Hagel is committed to supporting Israel and ensuring its security, and added that Hagel will implement the policies of Obama that grant full support to Israel.
The AbC News Agency reported that criticisms against Hagel started following “controversial statements” on U.S. foreign policy, including a statement he made in 2008 in which he described American supporters of Israel as “the Jewish Lobby”.
The ABC added that Hagel also made statements that “encouraged talks between the United States, Israel the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) which is labeled by the U.S. State Department as “a terrorist group”. He also opposed the U.S-led war on Iraq in 2003.
7 jan 2013
Lieberman: No retreat from the "Jewish State"
The Israeli former foreign minister, Avigdor Lieberman, declared that the principles announced by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in his speech at "Bar-Ilan University" in 2009, will be "basically the outlines of the next government."
Lieberman stressed in his statements to the Hebrew radio, on Sunday that his party "Israel Our Home", which would run a united election campaign with the "Likud" party, "will never retreat from these principles".
He pointed out that he had reached an agreement with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to offer him any of the ministerial portfolios in the next government, in case "the Likud Our Home" win the elections scheduled in January.
“Israel has no expansionist ambitions, and the government is ready to take important political steps if there is an appropriate partner," he said.
Netanyahu has declared in his speech at "Bar-Ilan" University in June 2009, a set of principles which would be basically used in any future political negotiation.
As part of his proposal, he demanded a Palestinian state, with no army, rockets, missiles, or control of its airspace. He stated that the Palestinians should recognize Israel as the Jewish national state with an undivided Jerusalem as its capital. He rejected a right of return for Palestinian refugees.
Lieberman stressed in his statements to the Hebrew radio, on Sunday that his party "Israel Our Home", which would run a united election campaign with the "Likud" party, "will never retreat from these principles".
He pointed out that he had reached an agreement with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to offer him any of the ministerial portfolios in the next government, in case "the Likud Our Home" win the elections scheduled in January.
“Israel has no expansionist ambitions, and the government is ready to take important political steps if there is an appropriate partner," he said.
Netanyahu has declared in his speech at "Bar-Ilan" University in June 2009, a set of principles which would be basically used in any future political negotiation.
As part of his proposal, he demanded a Palestinian state, with no army, rockets, missiles, or control of its airspace. He stated that the Palestinians should recognize Israel as the Jewish national state with an undivided Jerusalem as its capital. He rejected a right of return for Palestinian refugees.
6 jan 2013
Netanyahu Claims Abbas Is Refusing To Resume Talks
Netanyahu (Left) And Abbas
Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, claimed that Palestinian President, Mahmoud Abbas, continues to ignore what he called “all Israeli efforts to resume direct peace talks”, and accused Abbas of placing “impossible preconditions”.
Netanyahu called on Abbas to return to the direct talks table with Israel “without preconditions” with the aim of reaching an agreement that leads to the establishment of a Palestinian State in return for a Palestinian recognition of Israel as a “Jewish State”.
He said that such an agreement would put an end to the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians.
Furthermore, the Israeli Prime Minister rejected criticisms made against him by former Israeli Internal Security Minister, Yuval Diskin, who denounced that manner Netanyahu deals with security issues, especially the “Iranian file”.
Netanyahu also rejected international condemnation of the ongoing illegal settlement construction and expansion activities in the occupied West Bank, including in occupied East Jerusalem, and said that “consecutive Israel governments always built and expanded Jewish settlements”.
On the internal Israel level, Netanyahu stated that Israeli left wing parties will try to form a coalition before or even after the election with the intention to topple the government.
While Netanyahu and his extremist coalition partners are demanding the Palestinians to return to the negotiations table “without preconditions”, and to recognize Israel as a Jewish State, and despite the fact that the Palestinian Liberation Organization Israel and its right to exist, Israel never recognized the Palestinian right to statehood and independence, and continued to build and expand illegal settlement in direct violation of International Law and the Fourth Geneva conventions.
Israel is also rejecting the internationally-guaranteed Right of Return of the Palestinian refugees, and is ongoing with its invasions, violations, home demolitions and arrests, while several extremist settler groups are escalating their attacks against Palestinian mosques, churches, property, orchards and farmlands, and are against the residents and their homes.
Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, claimed that Palestinian President, Mahmoud Abbas, continues to ignore what he called “all Israeli efforts to resume direct peace talks”, and accused Abbas of placing “impossible preconditions”.
Netanyahu called on Abbas to return to the direct talks table with Israel “without preconditions” with the aim of reaching an agreement that leads to the establishment of a Palestinian State in return for a Palestinian recognition of Israel as a “Jewish State”.
He said that such an agreement would put an end to the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians.
Furthermore, the Israeli Prime Minister rejected criticisms made against him by former Israeli Internal Security Minister, Yuval Diskin, who denounced that manner Netanyahu deals with security issues, especially the “Iranian file”.
Netanyahu also rejected international condemnation of the ongoing illegal settlement construction and expansion activities in the occupied West Bank, including in occupied East Jerusalem, and said that “consecutive Israel governments always built and expanded Jewish settlements”.
On the internal Israel level, Netanyahu stated that Israeli left wing parties will try to form a coalition before or even after the election with the intention to topple the government.
While Netanyahu and his extremist coalition partners are demanding the Palestinians to return to the negotiations table “without preconditions”, and to recognize Israel as a Jewish State, and despite the fact that the Palestinian Liberation Organization Israel and its right to exist, Israel never recognized the Palestinian right to statehood and independence, and continued to build and expand illegal settlement in direct violation of International Law and the Fourth Geneva conventions.
Israel is also rejecting the internationally-guaranteed Right of Return of the Palestinian refugees, and is ongoing with its invasions, violations, home demolitions and arrests, while several extremist settler groups are escalating their attacks against Palestinian mosques, churches, property, orchards and farmlands, and are against the residents and their homes.
3 jan 2013
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An Israeli public swimming pool has refused entry to a group of children with cancer because the children are Arab.
The subtitled video report above from Israel’s Channel 2 says that Dr. Gali Zohar wanted to surprise a group of twenty Bedouin children with cancer with a fun day at the pool at Mabuim village in the south of the country. Zohar called the pool ahead of time and managers agreed to admit the children free of charge. Everything was fine until the managers realized the children were Arab and then specifically said that allowing Bedouin children in would be a “problem.” Bedouins in the south of historic Palestine are ostensibly citizens of Israel but face the |
imminent threat of further mass expulsions from their traditional lands as part of Israel’s racist “Judaization” policies.
The Channel 2 report includes an audio recording of a telephone call in which a pool manager specifies that the facility will not let in children from the Arab “sector.” The report added that Ben-Gurion University agreed to allow the children to use its facilities.
Racism at public facilities in Israel This shocking incident came to light just days after it emerged that another Israeli facility, the theme park Superland, segregates Jewish and Arab students on separate days.
While Arab and Jewish children in Israel attend separate and unequal schools, racial segregation in public facilities like parks or pools is not mandated by law as it was in apartheid South Africa or the United States. But Palestinian citizens of Israel have habitually faced discrimination.
As for millions more Palestinians living under occupation and siege in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, Israel’s strict closures, sieges and permit system effectively bar them from most recreational facilities, parks and beaches in historic Palestine.
In recent years, Palestinian and Israeli women have challenged these draconian movement restrictions by going on “illegal” trips to the beach together.
The latest cases of swimming pool racism are reminiscent of an incident caught on video last year when Palestinian families were turned away from a resort near the Dead Sea as Europeans, Israelis and dogs were allowed to enter freely.
The Channel 2 report includes an audio recording of a telephone call in which a pool manager specifies that the facility will not let in children from the Arab “sector.” The report added that Ben-Gurion University agreed to allow the children to use its facilities.
Racism at public facilities in Israel This shocking incident came to light just days after it emerged that another Israeli facility, the theme park Superland, segregates Jewish and Arab students on separate days.
While Arab and Jewish children in Israel attend separate and unequal schools, racial segregation in public facilities like parks or pools is not mandated by law as it was in apartheid South Africa or the United States. But Palestinian citizens of Israel have habitually faced discrimination.
As for millions more Palestinians living under occupation and siege in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, Israel’s strict closures, sieges and permit system effectively bar them from most recreational facilities, parks and beaches in historic Palestine.
In recent years, Palestinian and Israeli women have challenged these draconian movement restrictions by going on “illegal” trips to the beach together.
The latest cases of swimming pool racism are reminiscent of an incident caught on video last year when Palestinian families were turned away from a resort near the Dead Sea as Europeans, Israelis and dogs were allowed to enter freely.
Likud Officials Call On Government To “Annex C Area” In West Bank
Israeli sources reported that two senior officials of the Likud Party of Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, called on the government to “officially annex C area” of the occupied West Bank, where Israel’s major illegal settlement blocks and settlements are located, in order to officially regard the area as part of the state of Israel.
Israeli daily, Maariv, reported that Israeli Information and Diaspora Minister, Yuli Edelstein, and Member of Knesset (MK) Zeev Elkin, said that Israel must enforce its sovereignty over the occupied West Bank, stating that “Judea and Samaria must be in the hands of Israel forever”, according to the two officials.
They said that Israel’s settlements in the West Bank must be annexed as part of Israel, but added that Israel should conduct this move “slowly and carefully, not immediately”, in order to avoid massive international condemnation.
More and more Israeli officials, MK’s and ministers, members of the Israeli right-wing and far right fundamentalist parties, have recently voiced similar calls as an act of revenge against the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank especially after its garnered an overwhelming support in obtaining non-member observer state status at the United Nations General Assembly.
Israel claims it has the right to build and expand Jewish-only settlements in the occupied West Bank, including in and around occupied East Jerusalem, as it considers these settlements to be “housing projects built on state land”.
But International Law, and the Fourth Geneva Convention to which Israel is a signatory, consider settlements built in the occupied territory to be illegal as they are built on occupied lands, and most of them are actually built on privately-owned Palestinian lands.
Israel’s Annexation Wall in the West Bank is also illegal and is largely designed for more illegal annexation of Palestinian lands and orchards besides the fact that it is preventing thousands of villagers from accessing their lands and orchards.
Israel never defined its border with the West Bank and is using the Wall, that extends around Palestinian lands, and encircling entire villages, as the de facto border with the Palestinian territories.
The Wall is also designed in a way that enables the expansion of existing settlements on the expense of Palestinian lands and property.
Israeli daily, Maariv, reported that Israeli Information and Diaspora Minister, Yuli Edelstein, and Member of Knesset (MK) Zeev Elkin, said that Israel must enforce its sovereignty over the occupied West Bank, stating that “Judea and Samaria must be in the hands of Israel forever”, according to the two officials.
They said that Israel’s settlements in the West Bank must be annexed as part of Israel, but added that Israel should conduct this move “slowly and carefully, not immediately”, in order to avoid massive international condemnation.
More and more Israeli officials, MK’s and ministers, members of the Israeli right-wing and far right fundamentalist parties, have recently voiced similar calls as an act of revenge against the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank especially after its garnered an overwhelming support in obtaining non-member observer state status at the United Nations General Assembly.
Israel claims it has the right to build and expand Jewish-only settlements in the occupied West Bank, including in and around occupied East Jerusalem, as it considers these settlements to be “housing projects built on state land”.
But International Law, and the Fourth Geneva Convention to which Israel is a signatory, consider settlements built in the occupied territory to be illegal as they are built on occupied lands, and most of them are actually built on privately-owned Palestinian lands.
Israel’s Annexation Wall in the West Bank is also illegal and is largely designed for more illegal annexation of Palestinian lands and orchards besides the fact that it is preventing thousands of villagers from accessing their lands and orchards.
Israel never defined its border with the West Bank and is using the Wall, that extends around Palestinian lands, and encircling entire villages, as the de facto border with the Palestinian territories.
The Wall is also designed in a way that enables the expansion of existing settlements on the expense of Palestinian lands and property.
Around 1000 Palestinians Leave Their Structures, Tents, In Northern Plains
Around a 1000 Palestinians living in Bedouin communes and residents of Al-Maleh area in the northern Plaines of the occupied West Bank started leaving their homes and tents after receiving military orders from the Israeli army informing them that the soldiers will be conducting drills using live ammunition. Aref Daraghma, head of the village council of Al-Maleh area and the Bedouin tribes, stated that around a 1000 residents started leaving their lands in order to avoid harm, and to avoid clashes with the soldiers who intend to remove them by force if they do not leave.
Daraghma added that the residents fear that the Israeli military training will cause destruction of their lands and property, and that the soldiers would even prevent them from returning to their lands and homes.
“They are in a tough situation right now”, Daraghma stated, “They had to evict their structures, their tents, and had to leave the area”.
He further stated that the grazing area, inhabited by the shepherds, includes Wadi Al-Maleh, Ein Al-Hilwa, Al-Faw Valley, Al-Meeta, Al-Borj, and other villages.
Israel performed similar military drills in the areas last summer forcing dozens of families to leave their homes seeking shelter in other areas until all drills were concluded.
Thousands of Palestinians have been displaced and repeatedly removed from the area since Israel occupied the West Bank in 1967. Israel also demolished dozens of entire villages inhabited by Bedouins and shepherds.
Daraghma added that the residents fear that the Israeli military training will cause destruction of their lands and property, and that the soldiers would even prevent them from returning to their lands and homes.
“They are in a tough situation right now”, Daraghma stated, “They had to evict their structures, their tents, and had to leave the area”.
He further stated that the grazing area, inhabited by the shepherds, includes Wadi Al-Maleh, Ein Al-Hilwa, Al-Faw Valley, Al-Meeta, Al-Borj, and other villages.
Israel performed similar military drills in the areas last summer forcing dozens of families to leave their homes seeking shelter in other areas until all drills were concluded.
Thousands of Palestinians have been displaced and repeatedly removed from the area since Israel occupied the West Bank in 1967. Israel also demolished dozens of entire villages inhabited by Bedouins and shepherds.
2 jan 2013
Israel Bars Westerners Living in West Bank from Entering Israel, East Jerusalem
by Haaretz
Israel recently renewed restrictions on the freedom of movement of foreigners nationals who live and work in the West Bank that prohibit them from entering East Jerusalem or Israel. The changes were discovered when foreigners learned, after renewing their tourist visas, that the words "Judea and Samaria only" had been stamped inside. Citizens from these countries who come to live in Israel or Jewish settlements in the West Bank are not subjected to these restrictions.
Neither the Interior Ministry's Population and Immigration Authority nor the coordinator of government activities in the territories responded to questions from Haaretz concerning the number of long-term foreign residents of the West Bank.
Some of these individuals are Palestinians who were born in the West Bank and whose residency status was rescinded by Israel prior to 1994 due to their prolonged residence abroad. Others are married to Palestinians, while still others work in the West Bank, often as university teachers.
The American Consulate in Jerusalem has expressed its displeasure with the restrictions. They contravene prior understandings to lift similar restrictions that the Interior Ministry imposed suddenly in the summer of 2009, when "PA only" was stamped in Western nationals' passports.
Although Israel never officially announced a policy change, this stamp, which theoretically limits people to Areas A and B (which under the Oslo Accords are under full Palestinian control and Israeli security control only, respectively ), has rarely been used in the past two years.
Maj. Guy Inbar, the coordinator of government activities in the territories, told Haaretz in a written statement: "There is no essential difference between the stamps. The agreements and the restrictions in permits remain as they were." He also wrote that the change was not new, and has been in place for more than six months. In response to a further query Inbar said the only change is the language used on the stamp.
Population and Immigration Authority spokeswoman Sabine Haddad also told Haaretz that there had been "no change in the matter." But according to officials in the Palestinian Interior Ministry, the renewed restriction in its new version ("Judea and Samaria only" ) was instituted on November 1. On that date it was applied to all foreign nationals of Palestinian origin, and subsequently to non-Palestinians. Several people interviewed by Haaretz confirmed the Palestinian officials' statements. For example, in the case of one American couple, the woman's visa was extended before November 1 and was not stamped with "Judea and Samaria only." The man's visa was extended after November 1 and did bear that stamp.
Another difference is that three and a half years ago the restricting stamp was applied to passports at the Allenby Bridge crossing from Jordan to the Jericho area by a border official answerable to the Interior Ministry. But the new stamps appear to be employed only when passports are brought in for visa renewal. Bearers bring their passport to the Palestinian Interior Ministry, which passes it on to the Palestinian Ministry of Civil Affairs, which passes it on to the Civil Administration, based at Beit El.
Beyond the restriction itself and the discrimination it represents, the prohibition against leaving the West Bank creates other problems for foreign nationals. It limits academics' access to archives and research institutions in Israel. Foreigners cannot drive cars with PA license plates, and the "Judea and Samaria only" restriction bars them from maintaining vehicles with Israeli license plates. Foreign citizens are also unable to reach their consulates in Jerusalem or Tel Aviv. Israel also retains the power not to grant such individuals work visas, but rather only tourist visa, although the authorities know full well that many of these individuals have come to the PA to work, either as business people, academics or in various civil organizations. The people with whom Haaretz spoke complained about ambiguity, lack of transparency and difficulty in obtaining information from the authorities.
Haaretz was unable to obtain a response from the coordinator of government activities in the territories and the Population Registration Authority to questions such as whether the visa is multiple-entry or not, whether foreign citizens must request an entry permit to Israel - as required of Palestinians - through Palestinian coordinating committees; whether business people are exempt from the restriction; and why work permits are not being issued.
An American woman living in Ramallah told Haaretz that a member of the U.S. consular staff in Jerusalem "indicated that the U.S. is irritated because three years ago, the Israelis promised that they would not restrict the visas to PA only and now "they think they can get around it by putting 'Judea and Samaria only." The woman said the consular official also told her that the U.S. Consulate is collecting information on everyone who had received similar visas, with an eye toward issuing an official American response.
The American Consulate in Jerusalem neither confirmed nor denied the information in this report. However, it told Haaretz: "The U.S. Government takes seriously the concerns of American citizens living and traveling anywhere in the world," and that "The U.S. Government continues to engage with the Government of Israel on this issue, noting the necessity of fair and equal treatment of all U.S. citizens regardless of national origin or ethnicity."
Israel recently renewed restrictions on the freedom of movement of foreigners nationals who live and work in the West Bank that prohibit them from entering East Jerusalem or Israel. The changes were discovered when foreigners learned, after renewing their tourist visas, that the words "Judea and Samaria only" had been stamped inside. Citizens from these countries who come to live in Israel or Jewish settlements in the West Bank are not subjected to these restrictions.
Neither the Interior Ministry's Population and Immigration Authority nor the coordinator of government activities in the territories responded to questions from Haaretz concerning the number of long-term foreign residents of the West Bank.
Some of these individuals are Palestinians who were born in the West Bank and whose residency status was rescinded by Israel prior to 1994 due to their prolonged residence abroad. Others are married to Palestinians, while still others work in the West Bank, often as university teachers.
The American Consulate in Jerusalem has expressed its displeasure with the restrictions. They contravene prior understandings to lift similar restrictions that the Interior Ministry imposed suddenly in the summer of 2009, when "PA only" was stamped in Western nationals' passports.
Although Israel never officially announced a policy change, this stamp, which theoretically limits people to Areas A and B (which under the Oslo Accords are under full Palestinian control and Israeli security control only, respectively ), has rarely been used in the past two years.
Maj. Guy Inbar, the coordinator of government activities in the territories, told Haaretz in a written statement: "There is no essential difference between the stamps. The agreements and the restrictions in permits remain as they were." He also wrote that the change was not new, and has been in place for more than six months. In response to a further query Inbar said the only change is the language used on the stamp.
Population and Immigration Authority spokeswoman Sabine Haddad also told Haaretz that there had been "no change in the matter." But according to officials in the Palestinian Interior Ministry, the renewed restriction in its new version ("Judea and Samaria only" ) was instituted on November 1. On that date it was applied to all foreign nationals of Palestinian origin, and subsequently to non-Palestinians. Several people interviewed by Haaretz confirmed the Palestinian officials' statements. For example, in the case of one American couple, the woman's visa was extended before November 1 and was not stamped with "Judea and Samaria only." The man's visa was extended after November 1 and did bear that stamp.
Another difference is that three and a half years ago the restricting stamp was applied to passports at the Allenby Bridge crossing from Jordan to the Jericho area by a border official answerable to the Interior Ministry. But the new stamps appear to be employed only when passports are brought in for visa renewal. Bearers bring their passport to the Palestinian Interior Ministry, which passes it on to the Palestinian Ministry of Civil Affairs, which passes it on to the Civil Administration, based at Beit El.
Beyond the restriction itself and the discrimination it represents, the prohibition against leaving the West Bank creates other problems for foreign nationals. It limits academics' access to archives and research institutions in Israel. Foreigners cannot drive cars with PA license plates, and the "Judea and Samaria only" restriction bars them from maintaining vehicles with Israeli license plates. Foreign citizens are also unable to reach their consulates in Jerusalem or Tel Aviv. Israel also retains the power not to grant such individuals work visas, but rather only tourist visa, although the authorities know full well that many of these individuals have come to the PA to work, either as business people, academics or in various civil organizations. The people with whom Haaretz spoke complained about ambiguity, lack of transparency and difficulty in obtaining information from the authorities.
Haaretz was unable to obtain a response from the coordinator of government activities in the territories and the Population Registration Authority to questions such as whether the visa is multiple-entry or not, whether foreign citizens must request an entry permit to Israel - as required of Palestinians - through Palestinian coordinating committees; whether business people are exempt from the restriction; and why work permits are not being issued.
An American woman living in Ramallah told Haaretz that a member of the U.S. consular staff in Jerusalem "indicated that the U.S. is irritated because three years ago, the Israelis promised that they would not restrict the visas to PA only and now "they think they can get around it by putting 'Judea and Samaria only." The woman said the consular official also told her that the U.S. Consulate is collecting information on everyone who had received similar visas, with an eye toward issuing an official American response.
The American Consulate in Jerusalem neither confirmed nor denied the information in this report. However, it told Haaretz: "The U.S. Government takes seriously the concerns of American citizens living and traveling anywhere in the world," and that "The U.S. Government continues to engage with the Government of Israel on this issue, noting the necessity of fair and equal treatment of all U.S. citizens regardless of national origin or ethnicity."
1 jan 2013
Abu Zuhri denounces attack on Tibi
Dr. Sami Abu Zuhri, a Hamas spokesman, denounced on Monday the insults and attempted assault on MK Ahmed Al-Tibi, the leader of the Arab Movement for Renewal, during a political debate at Bar Ilan University in Tel Aviv.
He said that the incident reflected the growing racist spirit in the Israeli community as indicated in its government’s tendency to impose more restrictions on the Palestinian people in 1948 occupied lands.
During the debate between Tibi and MK Arieh Eldad (Otzma LeYisrael), the crowd called him a "terrorist," and guards escorted Tibi out of the debate hall through a side room for his protection.
Tibi said in response to the incident, "I will not be daunted and will go anywhere, even if there are racists there. I will make my voice and that of the Arab public be heard with my head held high."
He said that the incident reflected the growing racist spirit in the Israeli community as indicated in its government’s tendency to impose more restrictions on the Palestinian people in 1948 occupied lands.
During the debate between Tibi and MK Arieh Eldad (Otzma LeYisrael), the crowd called him a "terrorist," and guards escorted Tibi out of the debate hall through a side room for his protection.
Tibi said in response to the incident, "I will not be daunted and will go anywhere, even if there are racists there. I will make my voice and that of the Arab public be heard with my head held high."