Richard Falk, the UN special rapporteur on human rights, appealed on Thursday to Israel to release Palestinian prisoner Khader Adanan, who has been on hunger strike for two months.
http://www.palestine-info.co.uk/En/default.aspx?xyz=U6Qq7k%2bcOd87MDI46m9rUxJEpMO%2bi1s7rhu80xJuhhtCFgWVv2VirzT7DVZmICCwEgZkzGdWNmQ6IRGX1XClvuNz%2fkT8YOWbkVw8jW7swVTwCvYLO45RYyqOOfvACFLNnie6KQxGFY0%3d
Palestinian hunger striker Khader Adnan ‘near death’ in Israeli detention
Medical report warns Israeli court Khader Adnan is in immediate danger after 61 days of protest at his ‘administrative detention’. A Palestinian prisoner on his 61st day of hunger strike while shackled to a bed in an Israeli hospital is in immediate danger of death, according to a medical report submitted to the supreme court in an effort to secure his release. Khader Adnan, 33, a baker from a village near Jenin, is being held without charge by the Israeli authorities under a four-month term of “administrative detention”. He began his hunger strike on 18 December, the day after being arrested.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/feb/16/khader-adnan-palestinian-hunger-strike
Messages to Khader Adnan
Please take a moment to write a message of solidarity to Khader, his wife Randa and their children. All messages will be bound and delivered to them shortly. Let Khader and Randa’s children know what we think of their father, the hero.
http://khaderadnan.posterous.com/
Wife of Adnan: He is weak but not in a coma
The wife of hunger striker Sheikh Khader Adnan has said that he was adamant on continuing in his struggle to the finish but denied that he was in a coma.
http://www.palestine-info.co.uk/En/default.aspx?xyz=U6Qq7k%2bcOd87MDI46m9rUxJEpMO%2bi1s73cxNE%2fgM3fy5RjB5WjlkzNEwVTyhDTMTOo898%2bP6kAkRNRHZNgOIYHN7j01M8VNDn8odhVfks1k6NA%2bIhJKtIdzxmz69hoLlT1ITWC%2bda1k%3d
http://www.salem-news.com/articles/february152012/khader-adnan.php
Israeli occupation forces fired rubber bullets and tear gas at demonstrators who rallied in front of the Ofer jail to protest the continued detention of Islamic Jihad leader Sheikh Khader Adnan.
http://www.palestine-info.co.uk/En/default.aspx?xyz=U6Qq7k%2bcOd87MDI46m9rUxJEpMO%2bi1s7WMMznBbkI2KdT7%2bZUxs5D3OdFugUGv%2bPdW7LZQtMnsSOPHnEM0SysynYDkvFK6OpCfs0GDk8GFBB%2fXiJu5%2fAEB4Dl15aqWNbVEQB4gHZZMs%3d
Dozens of Palestinians declared hunger strike in support of the Palestinian prisoner Khader Adnan who ended his 60 day of fasting. Palestinian medical sources said Adnan is facing death if not treated properly as many of his main organs including his heart and stomach are in a very bad shape.
My Hunger Strike in Solidarity with Khader Adnan, Linah Alsaafin
On February 8th, a worldwide hunger strike was called for on Twitter in support of Palestinian prisoner Khader Adnan, who was on his 53rd day of hunger strike. “My dignity is more precious than my food.” This was his declaration, after he was arrested in front of his pregnant wife and two young daughters at 3:30 am. After he was beaten up inside the Israeli jeep on the way to the detention center. After his gastric disc problems were ignored. After Israeli interrogators smeared dirt from their shoes on his beard. After they obscenely insulted his wife, mother, and two daughters graphically. After he was tortured and placed in painful stress positions. After he was placed in isolation.
Khader Adnan: Day 60 and Counting, Steve Lendman
On February 15, Palestinian faction leaders began supportive hunger strikes. Gazans erected a sit-in tent near ICRC’s Gaza City offices. Islamic Jihad leaders Sheikh Nafth Azzam, Ahmad Al-Mudallal, Dawood Shihab and Khader Habit joined with others and civil society organization members. Al-Mudallal said striking “support(s) the battle of dignity of Sheikh Khader Adnan. This is the least we can do (for) this legendary symbol.” Palestinian Authority civil affairs minister Hussein al-Sheikh said PA officials were trying to free him and hold Israel responsible for his well-being. Palestinian prisoner affairs minister Issa Qaraqa called for demonstrations, protest marches, and solidarity fasts throughout the Territories.
http://sjlendman.blogspot.com/2012/02/khader-adnan-day-60-and-counting.html
http://sjlendman.blogspot.com/2012/02/israeli-hanging-judge-sentences-khader.html
A delegation of diplomats from the European Union visited Silwan on the morning of February 14. The delegation, organized by Madaa Creative Center in response to the demolition of the Wadi Hilweh protest tent and local playground, visited Wadi Hilweh in order to learn first-hand about the damage wrecked upon the neighborhood by the Jerusalem Municipality and Israeli Parks Authority. Wadi Hilweh, an epicenter of Israeli settler activity in Silwan, is one of the hardest-hit neighborhoods in the region, as Palestinian land is confiscated for settler tourism projects such as the City of David.
http://silwanic.net/?p=24655
500 settlers visit Joseph’s Tomb
NABLUS (Ma’an) — Over 500 settlers visited Joseph’s Tomb in Nablus on Wednesday evening accompanied by Israeli soldiers. Locals told Ma’an that a number of military vehicles arrived in the area at 11 p.m. and set up positions to allow the settlers to enter the tomb to perform religious rituals. The settlers and soldiers left early Thursday morning, with no reported incidences. Under the 1993 Oslo Accords, the site was to remain under Israeli control. But the Israeli army evacuated the premises in October 2000 shortly after the start of the second intifada, or uprising, and it was immediately destroyed and burnt by the Palestinians. The restoration of the tomb was completed recently, and following improved security cooperation with the Palestinian Authority, the army allows Jewish worshipers to make monthly nocturnal pilgrimages to the site.
Jaffa – The Orange’s Clockwork
This film shows how Jaffa started out as a Palestinian place name before becoming an Israeli brand name and how the orange harvest shifted from being a joint undertaking into a symbol used by both parties in the conflict.
http://pulsemedia.org/2012/02/16/jaffa-the-oranges-clockwork/
Palestinian children die in crash
At least eight Palestinian children are killed in a collision involving their school bus and an Israeli lorry on a road in the West Bank.
Some Israelis react with joy to deaths of Palestinian kids in bus crash, others revolted by racism, Ali Abunimeh
Today there was horrifying news that at least 8 Palestinian children were killed when the bus that was carrying them crashed into a truck. The popular Israeli news website Walla posted the news on its Facebook page. Within moments, Israelis started posting comments expressing joy at the news. Hours later, many of the racist comments had been deleted by the Walla editors, and many other Israelis, and Palestinian citizens of Israel expressed their deep revulsion at the racism.
http://electronicintifada.net/blogs/ali-abunimah/some-israelis-react-joy-deaths-palestinian-kids-bus-crash-others-revolted-racism
Israelis celebrate death of Palestinian children killed in accident
Ten Palestinian children were killed and at least 20 were wounded on Thursday morning after an Israeli truck carrying a fuel tank crashed into the school bus transporting the kindergarten children near the Qalandia checkpoint in Ramallah. Israelis on Facebook were celebrating the deaths of the Palestinian children, writing derogatory statements on a wall of a news post regarding the accident.
http://english.al-akhbar.com/content/israelis-celebrate-death-palestinian-children-killed-accident?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+AlAkhbarEnglish+%28Al+Akhbar+English%29
Hadad (mourning)
But now I see posts with Facebook screenshots (below), showing Israeli comments in Hebrew rejoicing in the fact that the deceased children in question were Palestinian. I don’t know the news source they were commenting on, what segment of society they represent, but the post and its English and Arabic translations are going viral. George Rishmawi made a statement on Facebook that the accident happened because Palestinians are forced to drive on windy, dangerous roads because the Israeli wall cuts them off from Jerusalem. So much for this not being political.
https://mondoweiss.net/2012/02/hadad-mourning.html
Six civilians injured in Israeli deadly attack on Gaza city
Six Palestinian civilians sustained different injuries during Israeli air raids at dawn Thursday on a resistance post near Addura hospital in Gaza city.
http://www.palestine-info.co.uk/En/default.aspx?xyz=U6Qq7k%2bcOd87MDI46m9rUxJEpMO%2bi1s7Hb9hwKCJje6%2bg3XE8azjQcAyyLLd2Ax4ylVQ5cQcr73ECOVkIPH6tlduaFQaLdagZVYob6RIv17W9ORFytrVe7VBEGL7kKPB1Wp2mZVL97Y%3d
West Bank car torched in latest ‘price tag’ hate crime
JERUSALEM, Feb 16, 2012 (AFP) – Vandals believed to be Jewish extremists set light to a car in a village in the northern West Bank on Thursday, Israeli police said.
The incident took place in Nabi Elyas village, just outside the northern town of Qalqilya, with the words “price tag” scrawled near the burnt out car. Police said one person had been arrested in connection with the incident, but gave no further details. “Price tag” is a euphemism for revenge hate crimes by Israeli extremists, which normally target Palestinians and Arabs, usually in retaliation for state moves to dismantle unauthorised settler outposts. The attacks tend to involve the vandalism or destruction of Palestinian property and have included multiple arson attacks on cars, mosques and olive trees, although the perpetrators are rarely caught. Last year, police say 65 indictments were handed to extremists suspected of assault or for causing property damage in price tag attacks. Despite the rising number of arson attacks, police say they are often unable to press charges given the lack of evidence.
http://www.sundaytimes.lk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=15922:west-bank-car-torched-in-latest-price-tag-hate-crime&catid=81:news&Itemid=625
Settlers Stole Dozens of Olive Trees in Turmusaia and Destroyed Others in Madama
A group of Israeli settlers yesterday cut and stole dozens of olive trees in Turmusaia village in Ramallah district, while other settler groups destroyed dozens more in Madama village in Nablus district. The villagers said that the settlers used bulldozers with protection from the occupation forces to cut dozens of olive trees belonging to Mohammad Asaad Rabie Abu Hanon. The head of the village council, Mr Rajeh Abu Alsukkar, said that the occupation forces claimed to have been awarded a decision from the court to level the land, but when villagers asked to see the order, occupation forces said they didn’t have it. Abu Alsukkar added that the owners have had posession of the land for 15 years, a decision from the occupation court, and that they have the right to use it.
http://www.stopthewall.org/2012/02/16/settlers-stole-dozens-olive-trees-turmusaia-and-destroyed-others-madama
Israeli troops break into homes, offices of three Palestinian MPs
An Israeli military force invaded the offices and homes of three Palestinian members of Parliament and confiscated their computers and cell phones in the early hours of Thursday morning, Palestinian media sources reported.
http://www.imemc.org/article/63009
Palestinian media sources said that eight Palestinians have been kidnapped overnight across the occupied West Bank.
Local official: Israel arrests 3 teenagers in Bilin
RAMALLAH (Ma’an) — Israeli forces detained three young men from the village of Bilin on Wednesday evening, local officials said. The popular committee against the separation wall said soldiers detained Humoud Ala Samarah, 16, Samih Khatib, 16, and Basel Raed, 17, while they were walking near the separation wall in the village. They were taken to Binyamin police station in the Ramallah area. Around 40 percent of Palestinian men living in the occupied territories have been detained by Israel at some point in their lives.
http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=460827
Israeli jailors storm Palestinian prisoners’ cells
Israeli jailors stormed the cells of ward 4 in Askalan prison on Tuesday and savagely searched the prisoners’ rooms in search of mobile phones, press reports said.
IOF soldiers arrest liberated young woman, interrogate MPs
Israeli occupation forces (IOF) arrested Hana’a Shalabi, 25, after storming her family home in Bruqin village to the west of Jenin at dawn Thursday.
Abu Zuhri warns Israeli occupation of violating exchange deal
Dr. Sami Abu Zuhri, a Hamas spokesman, has described as a “serious violation” the Israeli occupation authority’s arrest of two Palestinians freed in the prisoners’ exchange deal.
Gaza, (Alresalah.ps)–Director of CMWU Mundher Shiblak warned that if the crisis of power cuts is not going to be defused, the utility then will not be able to supply Gaza citizens with sufficient water amounts. The utility said Wednesday in a statement that “although the wells and pumping stations operate non-stop during the power cuts, there is a contradiction between the schedules of water and electricity distribution in the different regions. Therefore, even a short-term prospect for solving such a crisis is perishing”. In this context, Ministry of Health warned of the gravity of the ongoing power cuts in light of its acute lack of fuels for Gaza hospitals to provide with; that its fuel deficit ballooned to 72%.
http://www.alresalah.ps/en/index.php?act=post&id=185
Who turned out the lights in Gaza this time?
The current capacity of Gaza’s power station, together with electricity purchased from Israel and Egypt, can supply only 62% of Gaza’s electricity needs. Even in coastal Gaza, it’s a cold, rainy February, and the power outages last an average of 12 hours each day, since Gaza’s power plant shut down Tuesday for lack of diesel. Fuel for generators, even for hospitals, is running low, and water and sewage pumping is disrupted. The immediate reason for the crisis? Earlier this month, Egyptian security officials began intercepting fuel supplies en route to the tunnels between Gaza and Egypt, reducing supplies to one third of their previous levels. The historic reason? Israeli restrictions on fuel supplies via the overland crossings, imposed in 2007, caused massive shortages and eventually diverted supply to the tunnels with Egypt, an informal arrangement that leaves Gaza residents vulnerable to supply disruptions.
http://www.gazagateway.org/2012/02/who-turned-out-the-lights-in-gaza-this-time/
GAZA CITY 15 February 2012 (IRIN) – Mu’min Najar drags open the massive door to the goods depot of his father’s furniture factory, the Modern Industrial Group (MIG), in Rafah in the Gaza Strip.
http://www.cnn.com/2012/02/16/world/meast/gaza-music-school/index.html
Canadian Boat to Gaza activists demand Israel release boat Tahrir
It’s a Canadian vessel named the Tahrir, from the Arabic word meaning “liberation”. Now its owners want it freed by its Israeli captors. On November 4, 2011, Israeli soldiers boarded and towed the Tahrir and the Irish ship Saoirse after the boats tried to break through the naval blockade of the Palestinian territory of Gaza . Irene MacInnes, who won the City of Vancouver’s 2003 Citizen Peace Award, belongs to the Canadian Boat to Gaza, the group that owns the vessel. “We named it the Tahrir because we thought of liberation, and our goal is to end the blockade,” MacInnes told the Straight by phone.
http://www.straight.com/article-607741/vancouver/activists-demand-israel-release-boat
On February 4th, 2012, hundreds of students, professionals and academics gathered at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia for a national BDS (Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions) conference, organized by the University’s PennBDS student group.
https://mondoweiss.net/2012/02/in-photos-pennbds.html
BDS: Power of the People at Work, Ramzy Baroud
The issue is not about hummus, chocolate bars or Dead Sea vacations. It is about civil society taking full responsibility for its own action (or lack of). The issue is not exactly about Israeli products either, but rather about how even a seemingly innocent decision like buying Israeli dates may enable the continued subjugation of the Palestinian people. Because the global Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement (BDS) highlights this, the reaction it often generates is charged and vehement. Many also react to the BDS because it actually works. Israeli supporters have every right to be concerned that their carefully customized discourse on Israel’s infallibility (juxtaposed with Palestinian depravity) – which has been promoted for decades in various media and political outlets in the US and Western countries – is now simply falling apart.
http://palestinechronicle.com/view_article_details.php?id=19102
Out of the Ballpark: Susan Abulhawa’s speech to the PennBDS conference, Annie Robbins
There is a reason Susan Abulhawa has the reputation of a dragon slayer, and it is not just for any one time event or the fact that Mornings in Jenin just happens to be an international best seller translated into 26 languages. With the precision of a surgeon she unmasks and infuriates her adversaries, always with poise and dignity. Forever grounded in truth she lifts us up and fills us with courage and a will to carry on.
https://mondoweiss.net/2012/02/out-of-the-ballpark-susan-abulhawas-speech-to-the-pennbds-conference.html
Take Action to Oppose Ever-Greater Amounts of Military Aid to Israel
President Obama released his 2013 budget request yesterday, which includes in his words “difficult cuts” and “tough choices.” However, even as the White House proposes to reduce services provided to Americans while the debt continues to climb, the President increased his request for military aid to Israel to $3.1 billion from $3.075 billion in this year’s budget.
Pro-Israel handbook explains how to attack professors and ‘co-opt’ students of color
Last week, the David Project released its “white paper” on Israel advocacy in US colleges and universities, titled A Burning Campus? Rethinking Israel Advocacy at America’s Universities and Colleges. The David Project is perhaps best known for its smear campaign against Columbia professor Joseph Massad in 2004–05, and more recently, for creating the most boring and uninspiring “Shit People Say” video.
Rock legends Guns N’ Roses to perform in Israel, sources say
Reported summer show would be the first time the band visits Israel since their 1993 show in Tel Aviv.
http://www.haaretz.com/culture/arts-leisure/rock-legends-guns-n-roses-to-perform-in-israel-sources-say-1.413276?localLinksEnabled=false
BDS interview fallout: Finkelstein ‘showed his own fear of the paradigm shift in discourse on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict’, Adam Horowitz
Here are three smart reactions to the Norman Finklestein BDS interview. The first is from Maath Musleh, a Palestinian student in London, the second is former CPT volunteer Sean O’Neill writing for +972 and last is David Samel from the Mondo comment section. There have actually been so many interesting responses to the piece I should really post more than these three. If you’ve read others please post them below in the comments section, especially if you’ve seen something supporting Finklestein’s position. I know there was a heated discussion in our comment section, and on Twitter, but haven’t seen a piece picking up his argument.
https://mondoweiss.net/2012/02/bds-interview-fallout-finkelstein-showed-his-own-fear-of-the-paradigm-shift-in-discourse-on-the-israeli-palestinian-conflict.html
Sexism
Ultra-Orthodox Israeli minister walks out on girls’ choir at child safety conference
Deputy Health Minister’s decision to leave event, at which he was a guest of honor, follows controversy in the army over requiring religious soldiers to attend official events featuring female singers.
http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/news/ultra-orthodox-israeli-minister-walks-out-on-girls-choir-at-child-safety-conference-1.413184?localLinksEnabled=false
AP – Israel has reached a $1 billion preliminary deal to buy 30 Italian military training jets, Israeli defense officials said Thursday.
http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/mideast/*http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20120216/ap_on_bi_ge/ml_israel_italy_planes
Freedom and justice threatens to reconsider peace treaty with Israel
Egypt’s freedom and justice party warned Washington that its threat to halt its financial aid to Cairo would terminate the Camp David agreement.
Report: Mossad bolsters activity in Tunisia
Israeli intelligence agency collaborating with CIA to revive spy network after revolution, Tunisian journal reports.
‘You must sleep with a gun under your pillow’
Terror attacks cause Israeli diplomats worldwide to take extra security measures; ‘You do everything to avoid ambush,’ former envoy says.
Finally, PA kicks back against Israel’s Hasbara
A Jerusalem-based correspondent forwarded me the email below — it’s a new initiative by the PLO Delegation to the United States to track anti-Palestinian incitement in Israeli media and society and publicize it to American journalists, officials and politicians. Let’s hope this works and gets some attention on the issue — or will the politicians decide to ignore this?
UK arms Bahrain despite brutal crackdown
British government, the close ally of despot regimes, has continued to provide the repressive regime of Bahrain with arms despite continuing pro-democracy protests in the kingdom.
Ecclestone backs Bahrain GP
Formula One boss not interested in cancelling Bahrain GP despite trouble on first anniversary of uprising.
Over 120 hurt in Bahrain clashes, dialogue sought (Reuters)
Reuters – More than 120 protesters have been wounded in clashes with police in Bahrain this week, activists said on Wednesday, in a crackdown to stop majority Shi’ites breaking out of their neighborhoods to stage protests one year after an uprising.
Bahrain forces arrest 15 teenagers
Saudi-backed regime forces in Bahrain have launched nightly raids on homes in a flashpoint eastern town, detaining 15 teenagers, Press TV reports.
Bahraini anti-government protesters have pledged to march back to the capital Manama’s Pearl Square, the focal point of demonstrations against the ruling Al Khalifa regime, Press TV reports.
Bahrain Opposition Vows More Rallies, Regime Stages Arrests Campaign
Bahrain opposition pledged to keep up its rallies against regime, hours after security forces clashed with demonstrators, staging a campaign of arrests including rights activists and foreigners.
Saudis back Bahrain revolution
Saudi protesters have held demonstrations in the oil-rich Eastern Province town of Qatif to mark the first anniversary of the popular revolution in Bahrain, Press TV reports.
Bahrainis have for a year stood their ground against the Al Khalifa regime, pledging to continue with their protests until all their demands are met.
During visit to Japan, Ehud Barak says international community must work together to impose sanctions on Iran.
http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/japan-pm-to-barak-israel-must-not-strike-iran-over-nuclear-program-1.413148?localLinksEnabled=false
Iran unveils ‘uranium enrichment advances’
Claimed breakthrough comes as Iran’s chief negotiator proposes resumption of talks over controversial nuclear programme.
Provocations Against Iran Follow a Rich Tradition
The apparent Israeli-U.S. covert operations to inhibit Iran’s missile and alleged nuclear weapons programs — using assassinations, computer worms, faulty parts, exploding factories, etc. — very likely has a secondary objective as well. When Iran haplessly and publicly vows revenge and retaliates — as it seemingly has with ham-handed attempts to assassinate the Saudi Arabian […]
Bombs Rattle Iraq: 6 Killed, 29 Wounded
Although most of today’s attacks were small, one bombing in Mosul left over 20 people dead or injured. In Baghdad, a brigadier general was assassinated. Overall, at least six Iraqis were killed and 34 more were wounded.
Probe finds Iraqi VP behind death squads (AP)
AP – An Iraqi investigation panel says the country’s Sunni vice president and his employees were behind years of deadly attacks on security officials and Shiite pilgrims.
Israeli planes violate Lebanese airspace
Four Israeli reconnaissance planes have entered Lebanese airspace in violation of the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701, Press TV reports.
Three foreign nationals convicted of drug-related offences in Saudi Arabia must not be executed, Amnesty International said amid reports of a surge in executions in the kingdom since the beginning of the year. Ali Agirdas, a Turkish national, as well as Sheikh Mastan and Hamza Abu Bakir, both Indian nationals, may be executed at any time following their conviction for drug smuggling and drug possession.
https://www.amnesty.org/en/news/saudi-arabia-urged-spare-foreign-nationals-amid-surge-executions-2012-02-15
Hamza Kashgari’s tweets about Muhammad have led to a chilling online reaction from many in Saudi Arabia. In this country, and in the US, the judicial authorities make fools of themselves about Twitter. In Saudi and Malaysia, they may make themselves murderers. The case of Hamza Kashgari, a young Saudi journalist who has just been deported from Malaysia to face trial on charges of blasphemy, is one that should frighten and disgust anyone who cares about freedom of speech or religion.
Olympic Ban on Saudi Arabia Is Urged Over Lack of Female Athletes
The International Olympic Committee should make Saudi Arabia send female athletes to the London Olympics, a human rights group says, or it should be prohibited from competing.
Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati said the Arab Spring started in 2002 with the initiative launched by then Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz.
At least 377 civilians have been killed in Homs in recent days as Syrian security forces escalated their shelling of civilian neighbourhoods in the besieged city, according to information received by Amnesty International. On Wednesday, reports also emerged of a military build-up in the city of Hama, 50 km to the north. The latest surge in casualties chimes with remarks by UN High Commissioner for Human Rights that the international community’s failure to act had “emboldened” the Syrian military assault.
https://www.amnesty.org/en/news/syria-bombardment-civilian-areas-escalates-homs-2012-02-14
Syrian Media center raided, its head Mazen Darwich arrested, reports
Damascus-based journalist and head of the Syrian Center for Media and Freedom of Expression Mazen Darwich has been arrested, along with 12 colleagues, and his office raided by Syrian authorities, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) said on Thursday. RSF condemned in a press release the arrest of Mazen Darwich, and colleagues Yara Badr, Syrian blogger Razan Ghazzawi, Hanadi Zahlout, Hussein Greir, Hani Z’itani, Sana Z’itani, Rita Dayoub, Joan Farso, Bassam Al-Ahmad, Mayada Al-Khalil and Maha Al-Assablani.
The Israeli Position Toward Events in Syria
Israel’s stake in what takes place in Syria stems from geographic proximity, the ongoing official state of war between the two countries, Syria’s demands to recover the Golan, and Israel’s fear that events in Syria could lead to the collapse of the ceasefire between the two countries and/or a re-heating of the Golan front. Israel’s interest is also due to Syria’s important influence, role and stature in the Arab world and the broader Middle East region— all of which have implications for Israel, its security, and its regional relations.
http://www.jadaliyya.com/pages/index/4336/the-israeli-position-toward-events-in-syria
Israel Shifts Uneasily Over Syria, Pierre Klochendler
JERUSALEM — Grappling with the fallout on their country of a possible forced removal from power of Syria’s President Bashar Assad, Israeli leaders are fluctuating between wariness, cautious optimism, and self-righteousness. Last week, as the toll exacted by the 11-month Syrian uprising was mounting dramatically, Israelis were offered by their prime minister the customary appraisal […]
Is It Time to Intervene in Syria? NPR Discussion with Bassam Haddad and Others
Syria’s civilian death toll is now estimated at over 6000 people, as tanks and machine guns continue to bombard residential neighborhoods. Some 25,000 civilians have managed to flee to destinations including Turkey, Jordan, and Lebanon. Meanwhile, Syria’s President Bashar al-Assad has announced a referendum in ten days to amend the constitution, limit his term in office, and set up elections. As France calls on the UN to set up humanitarian corridors and Russia responds by claim that such actions might “legitimize regime change,” NPR’s To the Point hosted Jadaliyya Co-Editor Bassam Haddad in addition to Erika Solomon, Rania Abouzeid, Robert Danin, and Shadi Hamid in a discussion on the question of intervention, how various international actors are respondng, and what options exist to address the situation on the ground in Syria. Skip to the seven minute mark (7:00) to begin listening to the discussion.
Al Qaeda Rising in Syria?
from Jewbonics by JewbonicHere is the NYT openly reporting that the Jordan Muslim Brotherhood as well as Al Qaeda are taking part in the Syrian conflict by sending in “jihadists.” Also reporting the words of an arms trader: “Five months ago I was told that the Syrian brothers are in need of weapons” – this in an uprising we’ve been told for months on end is “mostly” non-violent or “mostly” unarmed. Or skip the qualifiers, entirely unarmed. The paper is also reporting that according to “unidentified American officials” the Aleppo bombing, which opposition informants were quick to blame on the Assad government, was the work of Al Qaeda.
http://www.maxajl.com/al-qaeda-rising-in-syria/
Moon of Alabama, “The State Department Lies With Its Satellite Pictures Of Syria — No Artillery ‘Deployed'”
So while the State Department says these picture are showing guns “operationally deployed against XYZ” I say that’s a lie and bullshit. As a former tank officer who has trained on shooting ranges together with tracked and towed artillery I am pretty sure that all those artillery pictures shown by the State Department are pictures of regular military training and maintenance missions on military barracks and training grounds and not pictures of “operational deployment” against anyone. It seems that the State Department simply ordered unclassified satellite pictures from Digital Globe, checked the well known training grounds of the Syrian military and where they found inevitably some small artillery units doing their regular training made up the story that those guns are “operationally deployed” against Syrian rebels. The pictures out of Homs so far showed only indirect mortar fire, not heavy artillery fire from big guns. The suppressed report (pdf) by the Arab League Observer Mission said that the rebels used mortars against the regular Syrian troops and that it were such mortars that killed a French journalist. “44. In Homs, a French journalist who worked for the France 2 channel was killed and a Belgian journalist was injured. . . . It should be noted that Mission reports from Homs indicate that the French journalist was killed by opposition mortar shells.” There is so far zero proof that the Syrian government has deployed any artillery at all against the rebels. The State Department satellite pictures are surely no such proof and the pictures of damage in the cities as shown in the various videos or pictures are so far not of a level that would be consistent with the use of heavy artillery.
Pro-Israel Media Mafia Attempts to Force Twitter Code of Silence on NYT’s Rudoren, Richard Silverstein
Three little Jewish Twitter monkeys (See No Evil, Hear No Evil, Speak No Evil) are very unhappy that Jodi Rudoren, the NY Times’ incoming Israel bureau chief, is sharing tweets with Israel critics like Ali Abunimah and Phil Weiss. The monkeys are Marc Tracy of the neocon Tablet Magazine, Noah Pollack of Commentary, Josh Block (didn’t he just get out of the doghouse for a similar infraction?), and Jeffrey Goldberg (I know that’s four, I originally had three and then remembered Commentary).
Reality of Hamas-Fatah Unity, Ramzy Baroud
While top officials representing rival Palestinian factions, Hamas and Fatah, signed yet another unity agreement on February 6 in Doha, Qatar, Palestinian prisoner Khader Adnan crossed the 50-day mark of his hunger strike. His health was rapidly deteriorating. Since his arrest on December 17, “Khader was subjected to degrading and inhuman treatment, including physical abuse, prolonged periods of interrogation, isolation and unsanitary conditions of detention,” according to a joint statement by the Palestinian Council of Human Rights Organisations (PCHRO), an umbrella group that represents all major Palestinian human rights groups.
http://palestinechronicle.com/view_article_details.php?id=19104
www.TheHeadlines.Org
