and other news from Today in Palestine:
Land, property, resources theft and destruction / Ethnic cleansing / Settlers
Panel to consider applying Israel law to settlements
JPost 20 Feb — The Ministerial Committee for Legislation is set on Sunday to debate a bill that would apply Israeli law to West Bank settlements which are now under military rule. It would also make it difficult, if not impossible, to impose a freeze on West Bank Jewish construction. Such a move would automatically strip Defense Minister Ehud Barak of the ability to authorize Jewish construction in Judea and Samaria, as such activity would then be determined by the Ministry of Housing and Construction in a manner no different from what happens with construction projects within the Green Line.
http://www.jpost.com/NationalNews/Article.aspx?id=208959
Settlers uproot 220 olive trees near Nablus
NABLUS (Ma‘an) 20 Feb — A mob of extremist settlers stormed Palestinian farmland and uprooted olive trees near Nablus in the northern West Bank, Palestinian officials said. Residents of an an illegal outpost “waged war on olive trees uprooting 220 using chainsaws and other means,” in Duma and Qusra villages
http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=361619
Witnesses: Israel demolishes tents in West Bank village
NABLUS (Ma‘an) 20 Feb — Israeli forces bulldozed dozens of tents on Sunday, donated by the Palestinian Authority to the residents of Tana, a village east of the West Bank city of Nablus, locals said … Hanini said residents were left homeless in harsh weather conditions, and appealed to international organizations to intervene in Israel’s treatment of Palestinians … The demolitions were the fourth in just over a year … Most of the tents had been provided by the Red Cross.
http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=361576
Jewish settlers attack Palestinian village
AL-KHALIL, (PIC) 19 Feb — Armed Jewish settlers attacked Palestinians in Um Al-Khair area south of Yatta village, in Al-Khalil district, on Saturday, local sources said. Eyewitnesses told the PIC that the settlers, escorted by Israeli occupation soldiers, threw stones and empty bottles on the Palestinian citizens. They added that the settlers prevented the villagers from tending to their land and forced them out of it, noting that the settlers were armed with swords and slingshots.
http://www.palestine-info.co.uk/En/default.aspx?xyz=U6Qq7k%2
Settlers attack Bedouins in Al-Aghwar
West Bank, (Pal Telegraph) 20 Feb –Dozens of Israeli settlers attacked Bedouins in the area of Ain Helwa in the north of al- Aghwar and severely beaten a citizen and his wife inside their home forcing them to evacuate the region. Israeli attack caused a state of fear and panic among civilians.The mayor of the village council, Aref Daragma, said “Israeli settlers made a sudden assault to a house owned by Sati Daraghma who was beaten with his wife.” Daraghma pointed out that it was not the first time for Israeli soldiers to attack women inside their homes
http://www.paltelegraph.com/palestine/west-bank/8510-settlers-attack-bedouins-in-al-aghwar.html
The real lesson of the tomb / Zvi Bar’el
Haaretz 20 Feb — The call to oppose the visit to the Tomb of the Patriarchs is a blatant expression of the public’s frustration with the galloping takeover by racist and fascist ideas, thought up by right-wing politicians… Let them go and see. Because next to the Tomb of the Patriarchs they will also pass – there is no way to avoid it – the separation fence that surrounds Bethlehem on your way to Hebron. And near the lines at the checkpoints, they will see the shops in the Hebron market that were closed down because the settlers demanded it.
http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/opinion/the-real-lesson-of-the-tomb-1.344501
NY congressman concerned over security on Mount of Olives, East Jerusalem / Mairav Zonszein
Democratic Congressman Jerry Nadler, of the 8th district of New York, wrote a letter to Israeli Ambassador Michael Oren on Friday about his concern over vandalism of the Jewish cemetery on the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem … Congressman Nadler is right to be concerned – but he is omitting/missing some vital information. The cemetery, which is just paces away from the Dome of the Rock and in the middle of the Palestinian neighborhood of Ras al Amud, is adjacent to one the most contentious Israeli settlements in East Jerusalem: Maale Zeitim. (“Olive Hillside”)
http://972mag.com/ny-congressman-concerned-over-security-on-mount-of-olives-east-jerusalem/
UN settlement vote
PA to call urgent UN session over settlement resolution veto
Haaretz 20 Feb — …the Palestinian Authority is to call this week for an emergency session of the UN General Assembly to condemn Israel. That resolution is expected to pass easily … Sources in the Foreign Ministry said the Palestinian ambassador to the United Nations, Riyad Mansour, is looking into the possibility of invoking General Assembly resolution 377 from 1950. That resolution states that an emergency General Assembly session can be called within 24 hours to circumvent the veto of a Security Council resolution.
http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/news/pa-to-call-urgent-un-session-over-settlement-resolution-veto-1.344479
Deputy FM: Anti-settlement vote proves UN is a rubber stamp for Arab nations
Haaretz 20 Feb — A recent attempt to condemn Israel’s settlement building in the United Nations proves that the international organization serves as a mere rubber stamp for Arab nations, Deputy Foreign Minister Daniel Ayalon told Israel Radio on Sunday, adding that the United States proved itself to be the only country capable of promoting peace in the Middle East.
http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/deputy-fm-anti-settlement-vote-proves-un-is-a-rubber-stamp-for-arab-nations-1.344546
‘Israel’s isolation may affect financial ties with Europe’
Ynet 20 Feb — State officials warn of political isolation following European nations’ support of Palestinian bid to condemn settlement construction in Security Council. ‘Every tender for settlement construction distances us from Europe. Some countries boycott Israeli goods and things can deteriorate,’ one official says
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4030891,00.html
‘Clinton threatened to cancel aid to PA’
Ynet 19 Feb –Palestinian President Abbas stresses PA won’t boycott US, after Yasser Abed Rabbo slammed American mediation. Fatah element claims Obama told Abbas no other US president has done more to promote Palestinian issue.
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4030816,00.html
Palestinians will not spurn US despite veto: Abbas
Reuters 19 Feb — Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said on Saturday he would continue to cooperate with the United States despite Washington’s veto of a U.N. resolution condemning Israeli settlements on occupied land. “We do not seek to boycott the American administration and it is not in our interest to boycott anyone,” Abbas told Palestinian Wafa news agency in Ramallah.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/02/19/us-palestinians-usa-idUSTRE71I2SU20110219
Peres calls Abbas to discuss peace process in wake of failed UN settlement resolution
Haaretz 19 Feb — Palestinian president reiterates that in order to return to negotiating table, Israel must halt all settlement building, including in East Jerusalem. http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/peres-calls-abbas-to-discuss-peace-process-in-wake-of-failed-un-settlement-resolution-1.344446
Hamas says US veto of UN settler vote ‘outrageous’
19 Feb — GAZA CITY (AFP) – Hamas said on Saturday that the US use of its veto to block a UN Security Council resolution condemning Israeli settlements was “outrageous” and urged an end to Palestinian-Israeli contacts.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20110219/wl_mideast_afp/israelpalestiniansusunsettlervetohamas
‘Obama can go to hell’, says Arab MK on UNSC vote
Ibrahim Sarsour says Arab world should punish US economy after the US vetoes Security Council resolution condemning settlements.
http://www.jpost.com/DiplomacyAndPolitics/Article.aspx?id=208962
Ghassan Al-Masri: US veto ‘diplomatic terrorism’
NABLUS (Ma‘an) 20 Feb — Al-Masri said both the veto of the resolution and Obama’s attempt to dissuade Palestinians from pursuing international law were forms of diplomatic terrorism, both of which failed, he added. The veto revealed the true intentions of US foreign policy, and undermined what remained of Washington’s credibility as a sponsor of the Israeli-Palestinian peace process, Al-Masri said.
http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=361633
A Pyrrhic victory in the UN Security Council / Gush Shalom
Israel is becoming a liability to the United States, bringing US into the same international isolation into which Israel itself was cast.The so-called “Israel Lobby”, which prevents Israeli misconduct from ever being corrected, is a grave danger to Israel’s future
http://zope.gush-shalom.org/home/en/events/1298111589
Barack Obama has joined Likud / Gideon Levy
20 Feb — A friendly U.S., concerned for Israel’s fate, should have said no. An America that understands that the settlements are the obstacle should have joined in condemning them … If the U.S. had been a responsible superpower, it would have voted for the resolution on Friday to rouse Israel from its dangerous sleep. Instead, we got a hostile veto from Washington, shouts of joy from Jerusalem and a party that will end very badly for both.
http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/opinion/barack-obama-has-joined-likud-1.344502
Thank you, Mr. President / Jerry Haber
Thank you, Mr. President, for vetoing the UN Security Counsel Resolution condemning the Israeli settlements as illegal. Thank you for making America the only country in the world to support Israel on this matter. Thank you for contradicting long-standing US policy on the settlements. Thank you for not abstaining on this vote – which is what the US has done in the past. Thank you for talking the talk on settlements but not walking the walk. Thank you for allowing Israel to say, as it always does, “We and the US have disagreements on various items, but our bond is strong.” ….
http://972mag.com/thank-you-mr-president/
It’s official: America’s role in the Mideast is over / Ami Kaufman
18 Feb – They’re not “illegal”. They’re “illegitimate”. Those guys in the West Wing really got their act together when it comes to copy writing. Good stuff. But I still don’t get it. All you had to do was abstain. What’s the worst that could have happened? Lieberman would have gotten angry? Netanyahu would have frowned? Honestly, what is the worst thing that could have happened from just sitting back and letting the world show some solidarity with the Palestinians? Were the threats coming from AIPAC that bad? What other explanation could there be?
http://972mag.com/it%E2%80%99s-official-america%E2%80%99s-role-in-the-mideast-is-over/
Israeli activists protest US veto in front of embassy in Tel Aviv / Joseph Dana
19 Feb — Roughly 70 Israelis gathered in front of the US embassy in Tel Aviv to protest the recent American veto of a UN resolution confirming the illegality of Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank. The activists rallied under a banner declaring that the “US is fully complicit in Israel’s occupation and colonization through settlement construction”
http://972mag.com/israeli-activists-protest-us-veto-in-front-of-embassy-in-tel-aviv/
Violence / Detention
Israeli police injure 5 Palestinians in brutal attack in Jerusalem
RAMALLAH, (WAFA) 20 Feb — A group of Israeli soldiers and settlers assaulted five people, including the director of the Palestinian Prisoner’s Club (PPC) Nasser Qaws, in the old city of Jerusalem. Qaws told WAFA that a group of soldiers stopped and beat an 18 year old Palestinian man. Passersby tried to interfere to prevent his arrest, but soldiers and passing settlers attacked all those present on the scene, and Israeli police destroyed a number of stalls belonging to shops in the area.
http://english.wafa.ps/index.php?action=detail&id=15240
Israeli forces release 3 Gaza fishermen
GAZA CITY (Ma‘an) — Israeli forces released three Gaza fishermen on Sunday, detained at sea a day earlier, local sources told Ma‘an. Residents reported that Mustafa Hijazi Lahham, Mahmoud Hasan Lahham, and Hijazi Hani Lahham went missing after leaving the Khan Younis harbor early Saturday morning. Relatives feared the men may have drowned. An Israeli military spokesman had not responded to repeated inquiries about whether the men were in Israeli detention.
http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=361621
Silwan teenager released from several months’ detention
Silwan, Jerusalem (SILWANIC) 19 Feb — Mohammad Shehadeh, 18, was released by the Israeli Magistrates Court today, bringing several months of detention and house arrest to conclusion. The release was ordered by the judge after conflicting statements were given by undercover Israeli forces involved in his arrest, which took place while Shehadeh had been in Bir Ayyub district of Silwan searching for work. A detailed Silwanic investigation of Shehadeh’s case is pending.
http://silwanic.net/?p=12155
Palestinians jailed in Egypt announce hunger strike demanding freedom
GAZA, (PIC) 19 Feb — Palestinians held in a prison in Egypt announced Saturday they will go on hunger strike after hopes for freedom under the new hold of power were crushed. All of the 19 Palestinians detained at the Al-Aqrab Prison in Hilwan (Greater Cairo) kicked off a hunger strike on Saturday
http://www.palestine-info.co.uk/En/default.aspx?xyz=U6Qq7k%2b
Hamas: Efforts ongoing in Shalit swap deal
GAZA CITY (Ma’an) 19 Feb — Efforts are ongoing to conclude a prisoner swap for captured Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, informed Hamas sources told Ma’an on Friday. Sources said a German mediator was still involved in the deal, and that a German official has visited the Gaza Strip more than once to discuss the issue. Hamas is demanding the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails in exchange for Shalit, who was captured in a cross-border raid in 2006 … For tens of thousands of Palestinians, a swap deal for Shalit is the only hope of seeing their imprisoned loved ones.
http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=361108
Activism / Solidarity / Boycott, Divestment & Sanctions
13 boys arrested from playground after army represses Beit Ommar demonstration
19 Feb — On Saturday the 19th of February at 1 pm, the Beit Ommar National Committee held a large demonstration to protest the Israeli government’s decision to expand settlements, with support from the United States. They were joined by Palestinian Popular Committees from Hebron, Al-Masar‘a, Beit Ola, Tuwani, Surif, and Wadi Rahal, as well as members from the Beit Ommar municipality. The gathered Palestinian activists were also supported by a large number of Israeli and International solidarity activists.
http://palestinesolidarityproject.org/2011/02/19/13-boys-arrested-from-playground-after-army-represses-beit-ommar-demonstration/
Child, Beit Ummar mayor wounded in weekly nonviolent protest
(IMEMC) 20 Feb –Palestinian medical sources reported Saturday that a child and the mayor of Beit Ummar town, near the southern West Bank city of Hebron, were wounded after the Israeli army opened fire at the weekly nonviolent protests against the Wall and settlements. Medical sources reported that the mayor was shot in his left leg, while the child was mildly injured after being hit by fragments of a concussion grenade fired by the army.
http://www.imemc.org/article/60676
Israeli army targeting children in Beit Ummar / Joseph Dana
20 Feb — The Israeli army has been arresting children in the village of Nabi Saleh for the past two months as a means of applying pressure on the village to end its popular unarmed resistance against the occupation. On Saturday 19 February, Israeli army officials adopted a similar strategy against the southern West Bank village of Beit Ummar. The village has been holding weekly unarmed demonstrations against the occupation and the confiscation of their land by illegal Jewish settlements such as Karmaei Tzur.
http://josephdana.com/2011/02/israeli-army-targeting-children-in-beit-ummar/
Protesters: 7 detained in Ramallah village
BETHLEHEM (Ma‘an) 19 Feb — Seven people were arrested Friday in a village near Ramallah during a weekly demonstration against the Israeli occupation and settlements on Palestinian land. The army seized two Palestinians, four Israelis, and one foreign national in An-Nabi Saleh, protesters said. They were still held being held by Israeli police, their colleagues said.
http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=361437
Army shuts down anti-wall rally
TULKAREM (Ma‘an) 19 Feb –Israeli forces on Saturday attacked four journalists and detained five teenagers at an anti-wall rally in the West Bank district of Tulkarem, witnesses said. The Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine organized the rally, attended by international and local activists, Tulkarem governor Talal Dweikat and leaders of several factions.
http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=361473
Novelist Ian McEwan plays for both teams in East Jerusalem / Noam Sheizaf
18 Feb — The celebrated British author Ian McEwan joined today the weekly protest in the neighborhood of Sheikh Jarrah, where Palestinian families have been evacuated from their homes to make room for Jewish settlers. Ironically, McEwan arrived to Israel to receive the Jerusalem Prize for Literature from the hands of the city’s mayor, Nir Barkat. Mayor Barkat is one of the driving forces behind recent attempts to expand Jewish settlements and housing projects into Palestinian East Jerusalem.
http://972mag.com/novelist-ian-mcewan-plays-for-both-teams-in-east-jerusalem/
Ian McEwan to accept Israel book award but criticize occupation / Harriet Sherwood
18 Feb — Novelist defends his acceptance of prize after calls to reject it in protest at occupation of Palestinian territories
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2011/feb/18/ian-mcewan-israel-book-award
Turkish flotilla victim’s father to seek legal remedy in US
Ahmet Doğan, father of 19-year-old Furkan Doğan, who was killed in a lethal Israeli raid on the Mavi Marmara, which was carrying humanitarian aid to besieged Gaza on May 31 of last year, is headed to the US to launch an investigation into his son’s killing. Ahmet Doğan went to Chicago with two lawyers, Ramazan Arıtürk and Uğur Sevgili, on Friday to seek legal action in the US for his son’s death during the Israeli raid, which also killed eight Turkish nationals, Cihan news agency reported.
http://www.worldbulletin.net/?aType=haber&ArticleID=69981
Siege
Rafah crossing to open for Gazans to enter Egypt
GAZA CITY (Ma‘an) 20 Feb — The Rafah crossing will be open for Gaza residents to enter Egypt starting on Tuesday, Palestinian crossings officials said. Around 300 Palestinians will be allowed to cross to Egypt every day, officials in Gaza said Sunday. Egypt reopened the Rafah crossing Friday evening for Palestinians stranded in Egypt to return to Gaza.
http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=361528
Action Alert: Tell Egypt to open Rafah Crossing
19 Feb — The International Solidarity Movement has received a request from Palestinians in Gaza that concerned people contact the Egyptian embassies to ask them to reopen the Rafah crossing between Egypt and Gaza. They have prepared a statement which you can sign and fax to your embassy in order to raise awareness of the humanitarian crisis caused by the closing of the crossing. Below is the email correspondence, and a link to a document containing the statement.
http://palsolidarity.org/2011/02/16705/
Political developments
Palestinian PM: Hamas can keep Gaza if it joins unity cabinet
(AP) 20 Feb — In appeal to join forces with West Bank-ruling Palestinian Authority, Salam Fayyad says Hamas must preserve ceasefire with Israel in order to join unity government.
http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/palestinian-pm-hamas-can-keep-gaza-if-it-joins-unity-cabinet-1.344612
WikiLeaks: Bahrain FM planned to meet Israeli officials in support of peace process
Haaretz 20 Feb — Evidence of Bahrain’s moderate attitude appeared in a 2007 cable about a meeting between Khalifa and U.S. Jews, at which he told them that Palestinian refugees should return to Palestine, not to Israel.
http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/news/wikileaks-bahrain-fm-planned-to-meet-israeli-officials-in-support-of-peace-process-1.344488
Yousef: Hamas, Fatah at risk from regional turmoil
BETHLEHEM (Ma‘an) 18 Feb — Hamas and Fatah will not escape the wave of revolutions sweeping the region, says Ahmed Yousef, former adviser to Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh in Gaza. Yousef said Fatah and Hamas must work to quickly end the division between Gaza and the West Bank to avoid an uprising in Palestine. They must convene and settle their dispute, he says, now that the Egypt-mediated unity paper is inactive.
http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=361054
Eckstein: Social issues will explode here, too
JPost 17 Feb — It’s only a matter of time before public concern over social issues explodes here, just as it has done across the region, with Israelis no longer willing to accept the growing economic gaps between rich and poor, Rabbi Yehiel Eckstein, president of the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews, told The Jerusalem Post on Wednesday.
http://www.jpost.com/NationalNews/Article.aspx?id=208590
Confusion over Suez ship crossing
(AJ) 20 Feb — Iran media says two warships used the waterway to reach Mediterranean, a claim dismissed by an Egyptian official … “No Iranian ships have passed. Not today, not yesterday, not the day before,” Ahmed al-Manakhly, the head of the canal’s operations room, told AFP news agency.
http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2011/02/201122095716697734.html
Israel eyes Iranian navy move ‘with gravity’
JERUSALEM (AFP) 20 Feb — Israel views with “gravity” what Iran says is the “routine” dispatch of two warships to the Mediterranean, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday, as the vessels were expected to pass through the Suez Canal. During his weekly cabinet meeting, Netanyahu said Israel viewed the movement as an Iranian power play.
http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=361703
Other news
Haniyeh invites prominent cleric to Gaza
GAZA CITY (Ma‘an) 19 Feb — Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh in Gaza has invited influential Muslim scholar Sheikh Yusuf Al-Qaradawi to the Strip … The Gaza-based premier thanked Al-Qaradawi for mentioning the Palestinian struggle, the occupation of Jerusalem and the siege of Gaza when he addressed crowds in Tahrir Square.
http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=361438
New website debunks anti-Israel charges via Q&A
A group of IDF veterans has set up a new website aimed at debunking accusations against Israel and its military in the most direct way — questions and answers. Called “Friend-a-Soldier,” the site was established by IDF veterans … American and British immigrants in their early 20s who were distraught over the way IDF soldiers were being vilified in news stories, blogs, and online chat rooms … Since the launch of the site, Friend-a-Soldier has had visits from over 3,000 unique users from over 50 countries, including Kuwait, Yemen, and Turkey. “The most interesting e-mails have come from Arabs,” said Beinglass.
http://www.jpost.com/Defense/Article.aspx?id=208969
AG: Probe of Left violation of basic rights
Ynet 20 Feb – Weinstein tells High Court appeal filed against parliamentary inquiry commission into funding, activity of Israeli human rights groups premature, but voices concern panel may violate freedom of expression, thought
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4031203,00.html
1st ever Bnei Menashe officer in IDF makes history
History was made on Wednesday when Shalem Gin became the first IDF officer from the Bnei Menashe community. Gin received the rank of second lieutenant in front of friends and family at a ceremony held at the Bahad 1 military base in the Negev. Gin, 20, was born in Mizoram, a state in northeastern India.
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4030176,00.html
Analysis / Opinion
Listening Post – The Palestine Paper fallout
Al Jazeera — On this episode of Listening Post: The massive leak of documents from the Middle East peace process and the media fallout from that story. Plus, the David and Goliath tale of corporate America versus documentary filmmakers.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=79Lmqqtmt1k&feature=youtube_gdata
What Egypt’s revolution means for Palestinians / Abdel Bari Atwan
19 Feb — …While Mubarak at least had the counterfeit mandate of November’s rigged election, Abbas and Fayyad have no mandate at all — Abbas’ presidential term ran out in January 2009, while Fayyad has never faced voters. The PNA is in bureaucratic disarray. Any new cabinet would need to be sanctioned by the PLC, but the PLC’s own mandate expired in January 2010 and the parliament hasn’t been functioning since July 2007 in any case, mainly because several of its Hamas members are in Israeli jails. In terms of internal Palestinian politics, Hamas has been greatly strengthened by the Egyptian revolution.
http://gulfnews.com/opinions/columnists/what-egypt-s-revolution-means-for-palestinians-1.764028
Book review: Our mysterious man on the Nile
JPost 17 Feb — Why would Marwan Ashraf become a Zionist agent? A new book creates an insightful third dimension into the mind of the superspy.
http://www.jpost.com/Magazine/Features/Article.aspx?id=208712
US / US wars / UK
Saturday: 5 Iraqis killed, 14 wounded
At least five Iraqis were killed and 18 more were wounded in the latest violence, while one U.S. airman was killed in a non-combat incident.Demonstrations continue in Baghdad, Basra, and other locations, but today’s hotspot is again Suleimaniya, where demonstrations turned deadly on Thursday. Turmoil throughout the Arab region could halt plans for an Arab League summit scheduled for March. Iraq is looking forward to hosting the summit as evidence of improving conditions there. Jaafar al-Sadr, the son of the founder of the Dawa Party, has resigned over a controversial Supreme Court ruling that gave authority of several important–and previously independent–state institutions to the Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki’s cabinet.
http://original.antiwar.com/updates/2011/02/19/saturday-5-iraqis-killed-14-wounded/
Factbox: Civilian casualties in Afghanistan
Feb 20 (Reuters) – Joint operations by Afghan forces and NATO-led foreign forces have killed 64 civilians in eastern Kunar province, including many women and children, over the past four days, the governor of Kunar said on Sunday. Following are some major incidents which have led to large numbers of civilian casualties in Afghanistan:
http://www.trust.org/alertnet/news/factbox-civilian-casualties-in-afghanistan
Factbox: Security developments in Afghanistan Feb 19
JALALABAD (Reuters) — Suicide bombers and gunmen dressed as Afghan border police killed at least nine people and wounded more than 70 in an attack on a Kabulbank branch in the eastern city of Jalalabad, witnesses, police and government officials said. Shooting continued for several hours after the attack began and at least two blasts were heard, witnesses said.
KABUL – A service member from the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) was killed in an attack by insurgents in southern Afghanistan, ISAF said in a statement. It gave no further details
http://www.trust.org/alertnet/news/factbox-security-developments-in-afghanistan-feb-19
Afghan leader says US bases depend on neighbors
KABUL, Feb 19 (Reuters) – The possibility of the United States retaining long-term bases in Afghanistan could only be addressed once peace has been achieved and must take into account the country’s neighbours, the Afghan president said on Saturday. Russia has urged the United States not to establish long-term military bases in Afghanistan
http://www.trust.org/alertnet/news/afghan-leader-says-us-bases-depend-on-neighbours
US entering direct talks with Taliban: report
WASHINGTON, Feb 19 (Reuters) – The United States has entered into direct talks with leaders of the Taliban in Afghanistan, but contacts are exploratory and not yet a peace negotiation, according to an article on Saturday in The New Yorker magazine. The article, citing people briefed on the talks, said the talks are to assess who in the Taliban leadership, if anyone, might engage in formal peace negotiations and under what conditions.
http://www.trust.org/alertnet/news/us-entering-direct-talks-with-taliban-report
Guantánamo prisoner to help prosecute others
GUANTANAMO BAY U.S. NAVAL BASE, Cuba, Feb 18 (Reuters) – A U.S. military jury sentenced an admitted al Qa‘eda conspirator from Sudan to 14 more years in prison on Friday but he will serve far less if he keeps his promise to help prosecutors in cases against other Guantánamo captives.
http://www.trust.org/alertnet/news/guantanamo-prisoner-will-serve-34-more-months
UK: Muslim airport worker says denied job interview
Ynet 20 Feb — Algerian-born handling agent Salim Zakhrouf offered interview only after he applied again as ‘Ian Woodhouse’; says way Cathay Pacific handled application was ‘racist and unfair’
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4031098,00.html
Michigan mosque plot suspect’s criminal past
DEARBORN, Mich.(AP) 19 Feb — Since holding a psychiatrist hostage in 1977, Roger Stockham has kidnapped his young son, tried to hijack a plane, crashed a plane, set fire to buildings, planted a bomb at an airport and threatened to kill the president … Last month, police say the California man was at it again: Officers arrested Stockham near a popular Michigan mosque they say he planned to attack.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110219/ap_on_re_us/us_mosque_terror_threat
