captain israel
Creators of a new comic hope that they can counter the ‘venomous’ Israel boycott movement. From Al Jazeera.
And more news from Today in Palestine…
Land, property, resources theft & destruction / Ethnic cleansing / Apartheid
Israel temporarily suspends demolition of Palestinian homes
AP – An Israeli defense official says the military is temporarily suspending its contentious policy of demolishing illegally built Palestinian homes in the West Bank.
http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/mideast/*http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110906/ap_on_re_mi_ea/ml_israel_palestinians
Village council: Israeli soldiers destroy trees in Al-Walaja
BETHLEHEM (Ma’an) — Israeli soldiers uprooted a number of trees on Monday in the village of Al-Walaja, north of Bethlehem, the official Palestinian Authority news agency WAFA reported. Saleh Khalifa, head of the village council, said that soldiers entered the village Monday morning and cut down olive trees to make way for a section of the separation wall. Israeli forces also blocked the main entrances to the village, Khalifa added. He called on rights groups to intervene to prevent the destruction of Palestinian land.
http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=417816
Graveyard for trees, Mazin Qumsiyeh
An apology for writing more frequent than the usual 2-3 messages a week but our hearts broke when we arrived to find that much of the Israeli uprooting of Palestinian olive trees was already done in Al-Walaja today. The old farmer Mohammed Al-Atrash (Abu Wajih) was standing there in shock, speechless, wondering where humanity is on this black day. Israeli authorities picked the day well: it was the day of returning to school and to work from the 5 day Eid (Holiday) at the end of the Holy Month of Ramadan. They brought massive forces starting at dawn and circled an area of over one square mile declaring it a closed military area. No media presence was allowed (so much for “democracy”) so that we could not even videotape the destruction as it happened, only its aftermath. Dozens of olive, almond, za’rur, and pine trees were destroyed. For pictures of the corpses, see footnote 1 below. This despite the fact that there is a court case pending on this land to be heard at the end of this month. The villagers called for presence in the village tomorrow (Tuesday morning). Tel for info 0522054595
http://popular-resistance.blogspot.com/2011/09/graveyard-for-trees.html
Israeli Authorities block foundation’s use of historical East Jerusalem building for school
Israeli forces have closed off the historical Ahmad Sameh al-Khaldi buildings in Abu Tur district adjacent to Silwan to the public for one month. The buildings were leased by the local Abbasi family to a foundation for use as a school; however, authorities are claiming that the properties in fact belong to the Hamas party. The building, which was constructed in 1948, traditionally housed a school under the Jordanian mandate of East Jerusalem and then under the Israeli Jerusalem Municipality. In 2009 the Municipality returned title of the buildings to the original owners, the Abbasi family, claiming that the structures were classified as unsafe. The owners then leased the buildings to the Survival Foundation, for use as a school.
http://silwanic.net/?p=19824
Settlers
Report: Settlers attack Bethlehem university lecturer
NABLUS (Ma’an) — A lecturer at Bethlehem university was injured Monday evening after being attacked by settlers on the Ramallah-Nablus road. Dr Adwan Adwan, 41, told Ma’an that he was on route to Zawata village in Nablus when settlers attacked his car with stones. He suffered injuries to his head and hands, and managed to drive to the nearest hospital for treatment.
http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=417906
U.S. has made no statement and continues to fund settlers: EU’s Ashton: Settler attack on West Bank mosque undermines Mideast peace
European High Representative for Foreign Affairs urges Israel to investigate torching of Qusra mosque, calling it an attack on ‘freedom of religion or belief’.
http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/eu-s-ashton-settler-attack-on-west-bank-mosque-undermines-mideast-peace-1.382868?localLinksEnabled=false
Settler attack on mosque condemned by Egypt
Egypt’s Foreign Minister has condemned the attack by Israeli settlers on a mosque in the village of Qusra in the occupied West Bank. Mohammed Amr said that the occurrence of such criminal acts with no decisive intervention by the Israeli occupation authorities is yet more evidence of Israel’s disregard for the cultural and social rights of Palestinians.
http://www.middleeastmonitor.org.uk/news/middle-east/2791-settler-attack-on-mosque-condemned-by-egypt
Activism and Israeli regime violence against activists
They’ll shoot with tolerance… Israel vows “tolerance” for Palestinian protests (Reuters)
Reuters – A senior officer said Monday that Israeli soldiers would show “much more tolerance” toward Palestinian demonstrations than in the past thanks to riot-control training and new equipment designed to reduce injuries and deaths.
http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/mideast/*http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20110905/wl_nm/us_palestinians_israel_riot_control
Israel allows shooting at Palestine protesters
Israel allows security forces to shoot at Palestinian protesters who are preparing to march in support of their bid for statehood at the UN later this month.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hKUHJ5bbTxo
Alert: French JDL is recruiting ‘militants’ to travel to West Bank in 2 weeks
Content in French, click on Mondoweiss link for google translation.
https://mondoweiss.net/2011/09/alert-french-jdl-is-recruiting-militants-to-travel-to-west-bank-in-2-weeks.html
Boycott, Sanctions & Divestment/ Solidarity
Wikileaks: U.S., Saudis reached 2010 compromise over Israeli-made Cadillac parts, Paul Mutter
“He [Deputy Minister for Foreign Trade Abdullah Al-Hamoudi] . . . anecdotally explained that the small Israeli-made fuel filters in General Motors vehicles are acceptable as long as they are not shipped directly as spare parts.”
https://mondoweiss.net/2011/09/wikileaks-u-s-saudis-reached-2010-compromise-over-israeli-made-cadillac-parts.html
Dishonest media continues lies over BDS to smear support for Palestine as anti-Semitic After Greens Senator Lee Rhiannon defended her right to be pro-Palestinian and not anti-Semitic (a leap of logic only made by desperate Zionists and hack media), a flurry of letters ensued.
http://antonyloewenstein.com/2011/09/06/dishonest-media-continues-lies-over-bds-to-smear-support-for-palestine-as-anti-semitic/
Sarah’s Eyes on Hebron’s Walls
Gaza — The legend of prophet Abraham’s cherished wife Sarah has been revived near the water spring of ‘Our Matriarch Sarah,’ as residents of the occupied city of Hebron like to call it. Modern artist Yousef Katalo (1965) was inspired by Sarah’s story and adapted it to a contemporary Palestinian context. His mural “Sarah’s Eyes” turned out to be a recasting of the Nakba and subsequent resistance to Israeli occupation.
http://english.al-akhbar.com/content/sarahs-eyes-hebron%E2%80%99s-walls?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+AlAkhbarEnglish+%28Al+Akhbar+English%29
Eight from UAE join Cycling 4 Gaza project
DUBAI — Natasha Hanoun never learned to ride a bike growing up. The Palestinian native has taken a pledge to master the skill for a good cause this October as she joins eight others from the UAE as part of the international Cycling 4 Gaza project. “Donating money is important, but it’s easy. When you’re investing in an awareness campaign, that takes a lot of your time, effort and money, it’s a personal commitment that makes more of a difference,” Natasha said.
http://www.khaleejtimes.com/displayarticle.asp?xfile=data/theuae/2011/September/theuae_September97.xml§ion=theuae&col=
Siege/War on Gaza
Israeli Air Force Bombards An Area In Gaza
Israeli war-jets bombarded, on Monday night after midnight, an empty area close to the Electricity Company, west of the Al Nusseirat refugee camp in central Gaza.
http://www.imemc.org/article/61953
Obama and the Gaza war, revisited, Issandr El Amrani
Report: Documents expose U.S. wiretaps of Israeli officials in Washington – Haaretz: the Israeli Embassy in the United States provided “regular written briefings” on Israel’s war with Hamas in Gaza intended for “President Obama in the weeks between his election and inauguration.” Remember, back then when Obama was studiously ignoring the Gaza war and refusing to comment on it because “there is only one president at a time.” Even though he commented on other things.
http://www.arabist.net/blog/2011/9/6/obama-and-the-gaza-war-revisited.html
Press Release: Al Mezan Center for Human Rights Press Release on Illegality of Gaza Siege
In flagrant contradiction of the position of the international community, the report concludes that the Israeli blockade imposed on the Gaza Strip is legal and complies with the standards of international law, in view of Israeli security and military circumstances.The report considered the Israeli use of force against passengers on board the Mavi Marmara, in the manner it was carried out, as “excessive and unreasonable.” The report also criticized the ill-treatment of passengers once they were detained. The Al Mezan Center for Human Rights condemns the conclusions of the Panel of Inquiry, particularly those related to the Israeli blockade imposed on the Gaza Strip. Al Mezan calls on the international community to begin working immediately towards bringing to an end the illegal and immoral blockade.
http://www.mezan.org/en/details.php?id=12484&ddname=&id2=9&id_dept=9&p=center
Erdogan to visit Egypt, but not Gaza
Turkish premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan is to visit Egypt on September 12 on an official visit, a Turkish official announced on Sunday, denying news reports that Erdogan would also visit Gaza Strip.
link to Palestinian Information Center
Detentions
Israel arrests East Jerusalem Hamas lawmaker near Ramallah
Abu Tir, who had his Jerusalem residency revoked last year, is expelled to PA-controlled Ramallah. An Israeli military spokesman in Tel Aviv said he was checking the details of the arrest.
http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/israel-arrests-east-jerusalem-hamas-lawmaker-near-ramallah-1.382877
IOF soldiers detain 7 Palestinian citizens
Israeli occupation forces (IOF) stormed the villages of Azzun and Kufr Qaddoum to the east of Qalqilia at an early hour on Tuesday and rounded up seven youths after breaking into their homes.
link to Palestinian Information Center
Israeli army detains 20 Palestinians in West Bank
QALQILIYA (Ma’an) — Israeli forces detained 20 “wanted Palestinians” across the West Bank overnight, an Israeli military spokesman said Tuesday. The detainees will be questioned by security forces, the army spokesman added. Hassan Shbeta, local head of detainee affairs in Azzun, east of Qalqiliya, told Ma’an that Israeli forces detained Hussam Younis Salama, 18, Fadi Anwar Mishal, 21, Loay Anwar Misha, 19 and Yousef Ghassan Salim, 18, early Tuesday morning.
http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=418000
Soldiers Invade Hebron, Kidnap Three
Israeli soldiers kidnapped, on Monday morning, three Palestinians from Al Sammoa’ town, south of Hebron, in the southern part of the West Bank, and installed roadblocks leading to several nearby villages.
http://www.imemc.org/article/61949
Israeli Soldiers Arrest Son of Senior DFLP Member in Ramallah
RAMALLAH, September 6, 2011 (WAFA) – Israeli soldiers Tuesday arrested the son of Ramzi Rabah, a senior member of the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine (DFLP), after raiding his home in the heart of Ramallah, according to a rights groups. The Center for Defense of Freedoms and Civil Rights (Hurryyat) said in a statement that 18 Israeli army vehicles raided Ein Misbah area of Ramallah, only meters away from the headquarters of President Mahmoud Abbas. It said masked soldiers forced their way into Rabah’s home, searched and ransacked it before leaving after arresting his son, Murad. No reason was given for the raid or the arrest. Rabah is a member of the DFLP politburo.
http://english.wafa.ps/index.php?action=detail&id=17239
Prisoners Club Concerned For Life of Minor Prisoner
HEBRON, September 6, 2011 (WAFA) – The Palestinian Prisoners’ Club (PPC) Tuesday expressed deep concern for the life of a minor Palestinian prisoner from the town of Beit Ummar, north of Hebron, and held the Israeli government responsible for his life. Director of the Hebron branch of the PPC, Amjad Najjar, said that 16-year-old Mohammad Awwad was suffering from Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF), which can be fatal if not treated. He said his health was quickly deteriorating and he needs constant and extensive medical supervision. Awwad was arrested a month and a half ago and a court ordered him expelled from his home town for six months, a sentence which was cancelled due to an intervention by rights groups.
http://english.wafa.ps/index.php?action=detail&id=17238
Racism / Discrimination
If you’re an Arab (Palestinian) citizen of Israel you have to go to court to build a house: Israeli Arab couple wins legal battle to build home in northern Jewish town
Residents of Sahknin, Ahmed and Fatina Zabeidat, petitioned High Court of Justice five years ago over rejection by Rakefet’s admissions committee.
http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/news/israeli-arab-couple-wins-legal-battle-to-build-home-in-northern-jewish-town-1.382750?localLinksEnabled=false
Petah Tikva schools in chaos over struggle to absorb Ethiopian children
Municipality has failed to place all 160 children from Ner Etzion school, which was shut down last week; city says reassignment of pupils almost complete, but most of the children still at home after start of semester on Sunday.
http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/news/petah-tikva-schools-in-chaos-over-struggle-to-absorb-ethiopian-children-1.382741?localLinksEnabled=false
Human Rights Violations
Save the Children UK: Annual Review of Child Rights in the Occupied Palestinian Territory
Save the Children presents the major trends of 2010 that affected the rights of children in the occupied Palestinian territory to live, learn and play in freedom and safety.
http://www.dci-palestine.org/documents/save-children-uk-annual-review-child-rights-occupied-palestinian-territory
Israel’s Supreme Court chief slams police decision to nix human trafficking force
Dorit Beinisch spoke during hearing on High Court of Justice petition against closure by chairman of Knesset subcommittee for the battle against trafficking in women, and Kav La’oved and Hotline for Migrant Workers organizations.
http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/news/israel-s-supreme-court-chief-slams-police-decision-to-nix-human-trafficking-force-1.382751?localLinksEnabled=false
Political / Diplomatic / International
Egyptian call for stronger measures against Israeli border aggression
The Secretary General of Egypt’s Freedom and Justice Party has demanded that Essam Sharaf’s cabinet take stronger measures against Israeli aggression on the border with Egypt. Saad Al Katatny said that his country should follow Turkey’s example, which has expelled the Israeli ambassador following the Zionist state’s refusal to apologise for the Freedom Flotilla attack in May 2010.
http://www.middleeastmonitor.org.uk/news/middle-east/2787-egyptian-call-for-stronger-measures-against-israeli-border-aggression
Iranians suspected in hacking of Mossad, CIA, MI-6 info
By forging security certificates, the hackers were also able to steal information from Google, Yahoo, Facebook and Twitter.
http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/iranians-suspected-in-hacking-of-mossad-cia-mi-6-info-1.382719?localLinksEnabled=false
Gates is also worried about the “demographic threat” aka Palestinians having babies: Robert Gates: Israel an ungrateful ally
Former US secretary of defense says Prime Minister Netanyahu’s policies isolating Israel on a global level.
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4118316,00.html
Turkey/Israel
Turkey: Israeli diplomats must leave country by Wednesday
Move marks latest step taken by Turkey against Israel following the release of the UN-commissioned report on the 2010 Gaza flotilla raid.
http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/turkey-israeli-diplomats-must-leave-country-by-wednesday-1.382677?localLinksEnabled=false
Turkey Suspending Trade, Military Ties with Israel
Turkey says it is “totally suspending” all trade and military ties with Israel as relations between the two countries continue to worsen. Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced the freeze Tuesday, a day after Turkey ordered all senior Israeli diplomats to leave the country by Wednesday. Mr. Erdogan also said he may visit the Gaza Strip, but would finalize plans after speaking to Egyptian officials. He is planning to visit Egypt later this month. Last week Turkey expelled the Israeli ambassador and downgraded diplomatic relations. Israel refuses to apologize for the deaths of eight Turkish citizens and a Turkish-American during last year’s Israeli raid on a ship carrying aid to Palestinians in Gaza.
http://blogs.voanews.com/breaking-news/2011/09/06/turkey-suspending-trade-military-ties-with-israel/
Turkey clarifies: Trade sanctions against Israel include only defense industry
Speaking with the Wall Street Journal, aide to Turkey PM Erdogan clarifies earlier remarks by the Turkish premier, according to which all trade with Israel would be suspended.
http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/turkey-clarifies-trade-sanctions-against-israel-include-only-defense-industry-1.382917?localLinksEnabled=false
Top Israel defense official: Military ties with Turkey still in effect
Defense Ministry official Amos Gilad says Israel’s military attaché is still at work in Ankara despite Turkish declarations of total freeze, discounts threats of all-out war and adds Israel’s security ‘has never been better’.
http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/top-israel-defense-official-military-ties-with-turkey-still-in-effect-1.382850?localLinksEnabled=false
Israelis held in Istanbul airport
Passengers arriving in Turkey detained by local police after their passports taken away from them; passenger: Everyone was in shock.
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4117910,00.html
Israelis can barely keep their lies straight anymore, see item directly below from yesterday’s news list: Israel’s airport chief: Turks twist reality
Airport Authority chief dismisses Turkish claims of mistreatment by Israeli security officers.
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4118242,00.html
Foreign ministry officials admit Turkey citizens routinely humiliated at Israel’s airport
Haaretz 5 Sept — Dozens of Israelis say they were humiliated at Istanbul airport, forced to strip to their underwear on Monday; Foreign Ministry officials say humiliation of Turkish citizens happens on regular basis in Israel … The officials also said that almost every Turkish citizen who arrives at Ben-Gurion airport undergoes a routine procedure of extensive, humiliating examinations that also includes undressing to one’s underwear. “Turkish citizens are always separated from the rest of the passengers at the airport,” said a Foreign Ministry official.
http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/foreign-ministry-officials-admit-turkey-citizens-routinely-humiliated-at-israel-s-airport-1.382663
Born again War Criminal offers his two cents: Former Prime Minister Olmert: Turkey is not Israel’s enemy
Olmert says he is very familiar with Turkish leadership and that diplomatic ties must be restored, responding to crisis following release of UN report on 2010 Gaza flotilla events.
http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/former-prime-minister-olmert-turkey-is-not-israel-s-enemy-1.382531?localLinksEnabled=false
Turkish hackers target 350 Israeli websites
Hundreds of domains in Israel, worldwide fall pray to hijacking by Turkish group. Expert: strike a possible ‘test-run’ ahead of future attack.
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4118575,00.html
Palestine/Israel Wikileaks
Viewing cable 10JERUSALEM286, PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY SECURITY OFFICIALS ON COORDINATION WITH ISRAEL
Atallah echoed Minister Abu Ali’s comments on the importance of continued security coordination with Israel, and underscored his own willingness to continue meeting with Israel Defense Forces (IDF) representatives regardless of the political climate. Atallah said that security coordination is not only required by Oslo-era Agreements, but also is in the Palestinians’ interest. He expressed concern about what he described as asymmetrical information sharing, with far more information flowing from the Palestinian side to Israel than is received in return. He also juxtaposed positive GOI statements on PA security efforts (such as Israeli Minister of Defense Ehud Barak’s praise at the recent Herzilya conference) with the GOI’s unwillingness to change its rules of engagement on the ground.
http://wikileaks.org/cable/2010/02/10JERUSALEM286.html
Statehood Bid
Abbas: Palestinians will resume peace talks with Israel after UN recognition of state
Palestinian Authority president tells meeting of Israeli intellectuals who support UN bid ‘we don’t want to delegitimize Israel. We want to legitimize ourselves’; stresses negotiations are top priority.
http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/news/abbas-palestinians-will-resume-peace-talks-with-israel-after-un-recognition-of-state-1.382745?localLinksEnabled=false
U.S Envoys In Israel To Discuss “The Day After UN Vote”
Israeli paper, Haaretz, reported on Monday evening that a number of senior American officials, headed by Dennis Ross, advisor to President Barack Obama, will be arriving in Israel Tuesday to meet with Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, for talks regarding the Palestinian UN move.
http://www.imemc.org/article/61952
Analysis/Op-ed
Abbas’ Recognition Bid Sells out Palestinians
September’s UN General Assembly vote on Palestinian independence is turning into a minefield for embattled President Mahmoud Abbas. Already he is losing allies, outraged at the course he has chosen. The Israeli and American governments that backed him against Hamas- and kept him in power when he lost the 2006 election- are now fiercely attacking him. For all that the Palestinian president will rightly fear the consequences of falling out with the Whitehouse- which would likely begin with a crippling loss of financial support- he should worry more about how he is perceived in Ramallah. His blueprint for Palestinian advancement is not widely shared. Ironically, in Abbas’ most statesmanlike moment he has shown himself to be out of touch with the real patriot movement.
http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/kieron-monks/abbas-recognition-bid-sel_b_945240.html
the Turkish-Israeli rift?
First of all, i should say that Erdogan’s interest in Gaza has both long-historical and conjunctural context. Historically, his interest and sensitivity comes from the movement he was part of until his imprisonment and his later transformation (roughly, this corresponds to the period between the quasi-coup of 1997 [28 February] and the constitution of AKP in 2001). Welfare Party of the era was very critical of Israel –at least in theory and only in terms of Palestine– and had a very clear target for the salvation and independence of Palestine. However, Turkey of the time had much bigger problems inside. The conflict was hardly a matter of top interest in the Turkish media and politics.
http://www.maxajl.com/the-turkish-israeli-rift/
Saudi to US: Give us Predator drones to use in Yemen
U.S.-Saudi military cooperation in Yemen (which I for The Arabist a few months ago) have not been without controversy. While the U.S. conducts it own drone strikes in Yemen against suspected al Qaeda targets and provides extensive funding, intelligence and training to government forces, it also provides satellite imagery to the Saudis, who conduct airstrikes and ground offensives against suspected al Qaeda targets and anti-government Shia militias. Given that much of the U.S.-Saudi joint effort has come in the form of airstrikes, many of the same objections regarding civilian casualties in Afghanistan and Pakistan have been raised over the air campaigns in Yemen. In February 2010, according to diplomatic cables from the U.S. embassy in Riyadh recently released by Wikileaks, the U.S. raised such objections with the Saudi Ministry of Defense, but was satisfied with their response to the matter and has continued supplying them with satellite data.
http://www.arabist.net/blog/2011/9/6/saudi-to-us-give-us-predator-drones-to-use-in-yemen.html
Fawwaz Traboulsi: Escaping Mumana’a and the US-Saudi Counter-Revolution
Fawwaz Traboulsi (FT): People I’ve talked to in Syria tell me that spirits are very high. People are very optimistic. I think they are moved by the certainty that this regime cannot remain. Now that’s not necessarily going to happen soon, if it happens at all. And if it does, it will not necessarily be a comprehensive regime change. But people are now serious that the time has come to end the Ba‘th regime in Syria, which has been in power since 1963. This is what we’re talking about. For the Syrian people the last forty-eight years represent continuity. People don’t care about the political shifts along the way, like Hafez al-Assad coming to power in 1970, or his son taking over in 2000. For them, the period from 1963 until the present is one single era characterized by repression, military dictatorship and one-party rule.
http://english.al-akhbar.com/content/fawwaz-traboulsi-escaping-mumanaa-and-us-saudi-counter-revolution?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+AlAkhbarEnglish+%28Al+Akhbar+English%29
Petrodollars at Work and in Play in the Post-September 11 Decade, Karen Pfeifer
What does one do with a $1.3 trillion windfall? That was the cumulative value of current account surpluses that flushed into the Arab region from 2000 to 2008, according to the International Monetary Fund. The main source was hydrocarbon export revenues, thanks to the rise in demand for oil and everything else during the roaring 2000s. It was also fed by foreign direct investment (FDI) into the region, remittances by émigré workers in Europe and North America, and sales of other types of exports, like textiles, electronics and processed foods, encouraged by the liberalization of trade. Domestic consumption demand and aggregate economic growth in the diversified economies of the region, like Egypt and Jordan, boomed right along with the oil exporters and the rest of the world.
http://www.merip.org/mer/mer260/petrodollars-work-play-post-september-11-decade
Other Mideast News
Civilians killed in Yemen air attack
Deaths and injuries reported after mosque is mistakenly shelled and hospital also targeted by fighter jets in Abyan.
http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2011/09/201195164612685110.html
Red Cross granted access to Syrian prison
Permission to visit detention centre for first time granted following talks between ICRC head and President Assad.
http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2011/09/20119514358690388.html
In Damascus, Amid Uprising, Syrians Act Like Nothing’s Amiss
While protests against the government of Bashar al-Assad break out across Syria, many Damascenes insist on another reality.
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/06/world/middleeast/06damascus.html
Qatar fighting for freedom: Fireworks show begins
The free and progressive citizens of Qatar are tired of the current Emir’s dictatorship. They have been demanding democratic reforms during a lot of meetings and protest actions which are not shown on Al Jazeera which belongs to the Emir. Desperate people decided to attack the Emir’s cortege since he has become a symbol of dictatorship and suppression of dissidents.
http://english.pravda.ru/world/asia/06-09-2011/118965-qatar_fighting-0/
More than $800 million are missing from Iraqi Trade Ministry’s 2008-2010 books
Investigators from the Commission of Integrity could not account for $866 million dollars that were said to have been spent on food purchases between 2008-2008, a member of parliament said. Khalid Abdulah al-Alwani, the head of Iraqi parliament’s Integrity Commission, said the money that was said to have been spent is not covered by the contracts signed by the country’s Ministry of Trade which handles food purchases from abroad. The ministry is reported to be one of the most corrupted Iraqi bodies in the post-U.S. invasion of 2003. Despite billions of dollars it reportedly pays for food purchases every year, Iraqis still get less in food rations that the days of former leader Saddam Hussein.
http://www.azzaman.com/english/index.asp?fname=news\2011-09-05\kurd.htm
Revealed: Australians kill Afghans with drones
Australia’s special forces commander has defended his troops’ use of US drones to kill “insurgent leaders” in southern Afghanistan, a deadly military tactic that gives the enemy no chance to surrender.
http://www.smh.com.au/technology/sci-tech/revealed-australians-at-the-console-of-kill-tv-when-drone-strikes-take-out-afghan-targets-20110904-1jslm.html
9/11 colouring book & Muslim-American outlook since 9/11
We look at a controversial 9/11 colouring book and why Muslim Americans have a more positive outlook.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eOPvV5_1TfQ&feature=youtube_gdata
Minorities targeted in 9/11 ‘revenge attacks’
After September 11, 2001, hundreds of Arab Americans, Muslims, and Sikhs were targeted in what were termed “revenge attacks”. Al Jazeera’s Gabriel Elizondo went to Mesa, in the state of Arizona, to meet one man whose brother was killed. For more from Gabriel’s Across America journey, visit our spotlight page or follow the stories on Twitter at #AJE911.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WMmzaVqcxe8&feature=youtube_gdata
Other Wikileaks
Saudi King Abdullah is 92 years old, is a heavy smoker and uses Viagre “excessively”
“A western physician whose professional duties include frequently consulting with members of the Saudi Royal family shared with DCM on July 11 personal information gleaned from Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz al-Saud’s personal medical file, including King Abdullah’s true age and current use of medication. This physician was called in to perform routine medical treatment for one of King Abdullah’s wives (he has four). Upon arrival, the Royal Clinic accidentally provided this physician with the King’s medical file instead of that of the wife he was to treat, giving him the opportunity to review King Abdullah’s personal medical information. ¶2. (S/NF) It was related that King Abdullah is 92 years old (born 1916), he remains a heavy smoker, regularly receives hormone injections and “uses Viagra excessively.” The SAG has always kept close-hold any personal information on Royal family members, including not making public statements of individual ages.”
http://www.cablegatesearch.net/cable.php?id=08RIYADH1077&q=info%20king%20on%20personal%20saudi%20updated
