[imra] Daily digest - Volume: 2 Issue: 1329 (14 messages)

imra Tue Feb 14 00:21:46 2006 Volume 2 : Issue 1329

In this issue of the imra daily Digest:

CABINET COMMUNIQUE
Poll of Settlers: 78% Youngsters should serve IDF,
Residents of North Tel Aviv brothers 66%
Iran calls Palestinian plight worse than Holocaust
Palestinian Economy Minister Sinokrot:
No Financial Crisis in Three Months to come
Hamas to form government only after Israeli March elections
U.S. REVISES ASSESSMENT ON IRAN'S NUKES
Rice told Quartet: avoid bolstering
the wrong elements in the Israeli elections
Excerpts: Israeli plot: cartoons.Cartoon plot. 12 Februry 2006
Poll: 23 percent support unilateral withdrawal
WUJS Global campaign Against
Hatred "Fight hate with humor" Cartoon Contest
Hamas Insists on Palestinian National, Coalition Government
Palestinian legislative Council Elections final results
Poll of Palestinians on The Danish Cartoons Issue
Excerpts: Islamic Russia. 13 February 2006

----------------------------------------------------------------------

From: imra@netvision.net.il
To: imra@imra.org.il
Subject: CABINET COMMUNIQUE

CABINET COMMUNIQUE
(Communicated by the Cabinet Secretariat)

At the weekly Cabinet meeting today (Sunday), 12.2.06:

1. Acting Prime Minister Ehud Olmert made the following remarks: "We are
encouraged by the reports from Hadassah-Ein Kerem Hospital on the state of
the Prime Minister's health following his operation yesterday. The entire
Government embraces Omri and Gilad who are sitting at their father's bedside
day and night. We pray that the next stage will see Prime Minister Sharon
gradually succeed in recovering."

2. Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz and Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni briefed
ministers on current security and diplomatic issues.

Defense Minister Mofaz discussed the security establishment's impressive
counterterrorist actions against a surging wave of terrorism and noted that
approximately 10 such actions (<http://tinyurl.com/8vph6>,
<http://tinyurl.com/9627v> & <http://tinyurl.com/d5c6j>) were carried out
last week against plans to perpetrate acts of terrorism, including a suicide
attack, rocket attacks and the interception of main terrorists. He
emphasized that there are currently seven warnings of serious attacks and
approximately 50 attacks in various stages of planning. The Defense
Minister said that the characteristics of the future Palestinian Authority
(PA) administration will be formulated in the coming week. The new
Palestinian Legislative Council is due to be sworn in on 18.2.06; its new
Speaker - from Hamas - will also be chosen. PA Chairman Abu Mazen is then
expected to charge Hamas with forming a government. This marks the start of
the countdown toward the establishment of the new government and the
possibility that PA Chairman Abu Mazen will want to transfer responsibility
for part of the security services to Hamas; the significance of this is that
PA Chairman Abu Mazen's commitment to deal with the dismantling of the
terrorist infrastructures and move towards implementing the Roadmap will not
be implemented by him, such matters will then become the responsibility of
Hamas. For its part, Hamas is continuing to try to craft a complex and
unclear policy characterized by pragmatic statements regarding - inter
alia - a 'long-term hudna'. However, senior Hamas officials note that the
movement has no intention of abandoning 'the framework of opposition' and of
recognizing Israel.

Defense Minister Mofaz briefed ministers on his participation at the recent
NATO Defense Ministers' conference in Sicily and his meetings with his NATO
counterparts, including US Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld and French
Defense Minister Michele Alliot-Marie.

In his meeting with Russian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov, Defense Minister
Mofaz noted Israel's complete objections to holding a dialogue of any kind
with Hamas as long as it has not met a series of conditions including
recognizing Israel, renouncing terrorism, adopting the Roadmap and accepting
all agreements that have been achieved with Israel. Most NATO Defense
Ministers, and NATO Secy.-Gen. Jaap de Hoop Scheffer expressed support for
this policy.

The Russians explained that their invitation to Hamas to visit Moscow is
designed to pressure them via direct dialogue and not via public statements.
The Israeli position was made very clear and the Russians took this into
account. In his meetings, Defense Minister Mofaz also raised the Iranian
issue and the expansion of Israeli-NATO cooperation.

Defense Minister Mofaz discussed the situation on the northern border.

Foreign Minister Livni discussed her recent trip to the US including her
meetings with US President George Bush, US Secretary of State Dr. Condoleeza
Rice (<http://tinyurl.com/758w3>), senior administration officials and
members of Congress, UN Secy.-Gen. Kofi Annan and the UN ambassadors of the
UN Security Council member countries, US Jewish community leaders and with
the media.

The main issue in her talks was Hamas. The Americans stated that Hamas is
on their list of terrorist organizations and emphasized the need for the
international community to uphold the conditions being demanded of any
future Palestinian government. The Americans also expressed their
reservations over the Russian invitation to Hamas leaders; the need was
stressed for PA Chairman Abu Mazen to demand that any future government meet
the aforesaid condition. Foreign Minister Livni said that as long as there
is no new PA government, Israel will continue to assist the PA; however, if
Hamas forms the future government and does not meet the aforementioned
conditions, the PA will have become a terrorist entity. In her talks, the
Foreign Minister also raised the issues of Iran, Syria and Hezbollah. It
was emphasized that the US administration is determined to implement UN
Security Council Resolution 1559 (http://tinyurl.com/dlejl) and to expedite
the Iranian issue in the UN Security Council. Members of the US Congress,
from both parties, expressed unreserved support for Israel's security and
expressed the desire to initiate legislation to ban assistance to any future
PA government that does not meet the criteria set by the international
community.

Acting Prime Minister Olmert summarized the foregoing discussion as follows:

A. Regarding current security activity, last week was an exceptional week
for successful and precise counter-terrorist actions with impressive
results. Defense Minister Mofaz will oversee such activities, which one
cannot help but esteem highly.

B. Regarding Hamas, as soon as the PA Legislative Council is sworn in, the
PA will become a Hamas Authority; it is unimportant if it is a government of
technocrats or ministers are formal Hamas members. Even a government of
technocrats can be chosen only if a Legislative Council majority votes
confidence in it and the moment that the majority is a Hamas majority, this
is a government which relies on Hamas support; and as soon as the PA becomes
a Hamas Authority the rules of the game will change because the Legislative
Council Speaker will also be from Hamas, and he is the deputy chairman of
the PA. This has been made clear to the international community and it is
well known that no other position can be expected of Israel. Israel has
said that there will be no change in its position regarding the need to meet
the three terms that we have defined (<http://tinyurl.com/bntl3>), and we
have expressed this position in recent days. The international community
accepts the terms; the Russian position is mistaken despite their statements
that they are not withdrawing from the three principles.

C. On the Iranian issue, there has recently been a development favorable to
Israel (<http://tinyurl.com/cavke>). However, this is the beginning of a
process. It is important that it be made clear that conditions are ripe for
the intervention - for the first time - by the UN Security Council, which
the Iranians are trying to prevent.

D. There are no magic formulas for anything. We must be sagacious and
patient. We will not let up on the Hamas issue or on the issue of
terrorism. We will use counter-terrorist measures when necessary to thwart
acts of terrorism - everything in keeping with circumstances, without
statements, without dramatic threats and without sweeping commitments.

3. The Cabinet discussed the issue of reforms in mental health services; see
<http://tinyurl.com/88uct> for details.

4. The Cabinet, pursuant to its authority under Article 18 of Basic Law: The
President (<http://tinyurl.com/ywatb>), approved President Moshe Katsav's
departure on a state visit to Greece from 13-17.2.06.

------------------------------

From: imra@netvision.net.il
To: imra@imra.org.il
Subject: Poll of Settlers: 78% Youngsters should serve IDF,
Residents of North Tel Aviv brothers 66%

Poll of Settlers: 78% Youngsters should serve IDF, Residents of North Tel
Aviv brothers 66%
Aaron Lerner Date: 12 February 2006

Telephone poll of a representative sample of 477 adult Jews residing beyond
the Green Line Israelis carried out by Dahaf for Yediot Ahronot week of 8
February 2006 - published in Yediot Ahronot on 10 February 2006. It is
safe to assume that Jewish neighborhoods in Jerusalem beyond the Green Line
were not included in the sample.

Who do you think is mainly responsible for the violence at the evacuation in
Amona?
Olmert 52% Police/army 18% Settlers 17%

How do you feel towards the residents of North Tel Aviv, alienation or like
brothers?
Alienation 29% Brothers 66%

Should youngsters residing in the territories continue to serve in the IDF?
Yes 78% No 17%

Of politicians from the Left who do you most respect? Sarid or Peres?
Sarid 14% Peres 13%
There isn't a leftist politician I respect 49%

What is the chance of a civil war over the dispute in the matter of
settlements in Judea and Samaria?
Chance 42% No chance 57%

If there is an additional disengagement, would you agree to leave your home
in return for financial compensation?
Yes 49% No 47%

If there is an additional disengagements, what will be the nature of the
struggle of the settlers?
More moderate 8% Similar to Gush Katif 15%
More violent 54% More violent - including guns 18%

If Olmert is the prime minister will he initiate another disengagement?
Yes 93% No 5%

If Netanyahu is prime minister will he initiate an additional disengagement?
Yes 55% No 41%

Of the following who is most appropriate to be prime minister?
Netanyahu 41% Olmert 15% Peretz 6% None 34%

If elections were held today for the Knesset how would you vote?
National Union 26.4% Likud 13.6% Kadima 12.5% Yahadut Hatorah 11.3%
Shas 9% NRP 5.6% Yisrael Beiteinu 5.1% Labor 3.6%

Dr. Aaron Lerner, Director IMRA (Independent Media Review & Analysis)
(mail POB 982 Kfar Sava)
Tel 972-9-7604719/Fax 972-3-7255730
INTERNET ADDRESS: imra@netvision.net.il
Website: http://www.imra.org.il

------------------------------

From: imra@netvision.net.il
To: imra@imra.org.il
Subject: Iran calls Palestinian plight worse than Holocaust

Iran calls Palestinian plight worse than Holocaust
Sun Feb 12, 2006 7:29 AM ET
http://today.reuters.com/news/newsArticleSearch.aspx?storyID=75933+12-Feb-2006

TEHRAN (Reuters) - Iran said on Sunday Israel's treatment of the
Palestinians constituted a greater crime than the Holocaust, the latest in a
series of remarks suggesting the genocide was exaggerated to boost Israeli
interests.

"I believe the crimes committed by the Zionist regime are greater than the
Holocaust," Foreign Ministry spokesman Hamid Reza Asefi told a news
conference.

"Unfortunately, the Zionist regime is blackmailing the Europeans with the
Holocaust," he added.

President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has labeled the Holocaust a myth and has
called for Israel to be wiped off the map, comments that drew almost
universal international condemnation.

He has called for an academic conference on the Holocaust which he thinks
will prove that the number of deaths was exaggerated. Western leaders have
criticized the proposal as distasteful.

Iran's press and officials have rounded on the West for what they see as
hypocrisy, arguing satirical cartoons of the Prophet Mohammad are allowed
but that frank discussion of the historical details of the Holocaust are
not.

The United Nations Security Council sharply rebuked Iran for doubting that 6
million Jews were murdered by the Nazis and their allies between 1933 and
1945.

Iran has been a vocal advocate of the Palestinian cause since the
revolution, but insists its support is purely moral and does not extend to
funds and arms, as Washington alleges.

------------------------------

From: imra@netvision.net.il
To: imra@imra.org.il
Subject: Palestinian Economy Minister Sinokrot:
No Financial Crisis in Three Months to come

Sinokrot: No Financial Crisis in Three Months to come
www.ipc.gov.ps/ipc_new/english/details.asp?name=13587

GAZA, Palestine, February 12, 2006 (IPC + Agencies) - [Official PA website]-
The International Quartet Committee's special envoy for Israeli
disengagement, James Wolfensohn told the Palestinian Economy Minister, Mazen
Sinokrot that the World Bank would allocate within a week about $60 million
in its trust fund to aid the PNA's budget.

Sinokrot pointed out that the international community is committed to assist
the PNA's budget during the interim period, 3 months, until the image is
clear regarding the formation of the new Palestinian government and the
Israeli elections.

"No financial crisis regarding the issue of paying salaries for employees
during next 3 months," Sinokrot said in a press statement.

On the other hand, the Palestinian Monetary Authority (PMA) said in its
annual report over the power of Palestinian national economy that 2004
witnessed recovery in several economic indicators, particularly, the
industrial and trade sectors compared with 2003.

PMA added that such an upturn is the resulted in the release PNA due taxes
and customs revenues by Israeli authorities, in addition to the partial
implementation of the financial part of the Civil Service Law.

"Such changes led to an increase in the power of the national economy
included more exports, and improvement of the industrial and trade sectors
as well as the bank sector,"PMA's report indicated.

"These parameters have a positive influence on the economic situation in
general but are not enough to recover the economy as it was before the
outbreak of the Intifada in 2000," and added " domestic general product
(DGP) in 2004 amounted to $4462 million compared with 2003 as the economic
index recorded an increase in 2004 reached $240 million " The report
explained.

The national income of 2004 reached $4950 million, while it was $4760
million in 2003, this increase led to the recovery of the national income
from its setback during the last 4 years of the Intifada.

------------------------------

From: imra@netvision.net.il
To: imra@imra.org.il
Subject: Hamas to form government only after Israeli March elections

Hamas Denies Reports About Haniyya Being Next Prime Minister
www.ipc.gov.ps/ipc_new/english/details.asp?name=13579

GAZA, February 12, 2006 (IPC + Agencies) -[Official PA website] - The
Islamic movement Hamas denied recent reports in the media about the
movement's leading figure, Ismail Haniyya, being offered the position of the
next Prime Minister.

Elected Hamas legislator, Dr. Ahmad Bahar, asserted that these reports were
merely guessing, pointing out that his movement will declare the name of the
person who will be offered this position in the right time.

"Deliberations are still ongoing and the next government will be declared
within weeks of holding the first session of the new legislative council,
and after President Mahmoud Abbas appoints the appropriate person to form
the government," Bahar told Maan News Agency on Saturday.

The Hamas lawmaker stressed that the government formations has already been
selected by his movement, but said it was hoping the discussions and
deliberations with the other factions would result in convincing them,
especially Fateh movement, to join the government in a national coalition.

He noted that Hamas is waiting for Fateh to hold its sixth General Assembly,
which means that the new government will not be declared before the end of
March.

In the same context, the London-based "Al Sharq Al Awsat" newspaper reported
Saturday that Hamas movement has concluded deliberations on the formation of
the next government, referring that it is leaning towards appointing Haniyya
for the position of Prime Minister over the prominent Hamas figure Dr.
Mahmoud Zahar.

On the other hand, a senior official at the Russian Foreign Ministry
announced yesterday that a delegation from Hamas movement might visit Moscow
by the end of February, as was reported by the Russian News Agency
"Interfax".

Alexander Kalugin, the Russian Foreign Ministry's Special Envoy to the
Middle East, told reporters that the visit was "very possible".

"The visiting delegation will probably be headed by Hamas' politburo chief,
Khaled Mashaal, who is also heading the delegation currently on a tour in
several Arab countries," Kalugin explained.

Responding to a question about the possibility of inviting Hamas officially
to visit Russia, the Russian envoy asserted that the statements of Russian
president Vladimir Putin "can be considered an official invitation," noting
that "as far as we are concerned, we are working on determining the date of
the visit and its level."

Last Thursday, the Russian president announced during a visit to Madrid that
he will invite soon the leaders of Hamas to Moscow in order to discuss a
solution for the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

In the meantime, the politburo chief of Hamas movement, Khaled Mashaal,
welcomed and praised the Russian invitation, adding that he accepts it and
would conduct the visit soon.

Mashaal further made clear, during an interview with Al Jazeera's news
website, that one of the movement's delegation stops would be Jordan, after
an agreement was made with Jordanian officials to "forget past disagreements
and open a new page."

He stated also that arrangements are being made for an imminent visit to
Saudi Arabia, as well as intentions to hold good relations with the
countries of Latin America.

------------------------------

From: imra@netvision.net.il
To: imra@imra.org.il
Subject: U.S. REVISES ASSESSMENT ON IRAN'S NUKES

U.S. REVISES ASSESSMENT ON IRAN'S NUKES

WASHINGTON [MENL] -- The United States has quietly revised its assessment on
Iran's nuclear weapons program.
Officials said the U.S. intelligence community has determined that Iran
became capable of enriching uranium and completing the nuclear fuel cycle.
They said the new assessment envisioned Iran as ready to produce fissile
material for its first weapons.
"I would say that Iran does have the capability to develop nuclear weapons
and the delivery means for those weapons," Undersecretary of State Robert
Joseph said. "We have watched Iran proceed step by step, conversion to
enrichment-related activities, in a way that demonstrates very clearly that
they are moving forward to a nuclear weapons capability."
Officials said this was the first time that a senior U.S. official publicly
assessed that Iran has achieved nuclear weapons capability. In an earlier
briefing to Congress, National Intelligence director John Negroponte said
Iran failed to acquire key components required for indigenous nuclear
weapons production.

NOTE: The above is not the full item.
This service contains only a small portion of the information produced daily
by Middle East Newsline. For a subscription to the full service, please
contact Middle East Newsline at:
editor@menewsline.com for further details.

------------------------------

From: imra@netvision.net.il
To: imra@imra.org.il
Subject: Rice told Quartet: avoid bolstering
the wrong elements in the Israeli elections

Rice told Quartet: U.S. recognizes some countries will meet Hamas

By Amira Hass Haaretz 12 January 2006
www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/681500.html

The United States is not prepared to meet with Hamas, but recognizes there
will be countries willing to do so, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice told
a closed meeting of Quartet representatives in London on January 30.

Based on that statement and statements made by the Russian foreign minister
at the same meeting, details of which have reached Haaretz, it is safe to
assume that Russia's invitation to Hamas did not totally surprise the
Americans.

The meeting was attended by UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, European Union
High Representative for Common Foreign and Security Policy Javier Solana,
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, and the Quartet's special envoy on
disengagement affairs James Wolfensohn.

The closed discussion reflected differences of opinion between the United
States and the other Quartet members, both over Israeli policy in the
territories and Hamas. The gap was underscored by former U.S. president
Jimmy Carter, who attended the meeting as a senior monitor of the PA
elections. Carter criticized Israel, saying its policy in the territories
had grown more oppressive in recent years and the Quartet has restrained its
reactions since the U.S. is not pressuring Israel.

Rice did not directly respond to Carter, but said that the meeting's content
should not be made public. She added it is necessary to work in the upcoming
period to stabilize the government of Mahmoud Abbas, prevent Iranian
involvement, and avoid bolstering the wrong elements in the Israeli
elections.

Lavrov said that Hamas political leader Khaled Meshal's speech immediately
following the group's victory proves that it is not a lost cause, and that
the Quartet must continue to pressure Hamas without overdoing it.

While Rice insisted that Hamas must be made to understand that it has to
change basic declared positions, statements by Annan and Solana indicate
that they believed Hamas could be judged by its performance, since a change
of declared positions in the near future cannot be expected. Annan said
Hamas likely will not accept Israel's conditions (i.e. changing its charter
to recognize Israel's right to exist, disarming, and committing to
agreements previously signed by the PA) after the three-month period in
which the Palestinian transition government is expected to operate. Rice
replied that these conditions are not Israel's but the Quartet's.

Regarding the statement to be issued after the meeting, Lavrov suggested
including the Quartet's position on the separation fence's route. Rice
replied that the matter under discussion is not the separation fence, but
what the Quartet will tell Hamas. Rice said Israelis should not be
overburdened at a time when their prime minister has had a stroke and Hamas
has won the PA elections, but Lavrov argued that moderate Palestinians need
bolstering. The group eventually decided to mention the separation fence.

Carter praised the PA for holding fair and free elections despite the harsh
conditions of occupation. He reported on his meeting before the elections
with Acting Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, who told him he would reject peace
negotiations as long as unauthorized arms have not been removed from the PA.
In Carter's view, this prerequisite will prevent the sides from ever holding
peace talks. He urged the Quartet to hold talks with Hamas leaders. He said
he met Hamas representatives, who said they want a unity government and
would be able to extend the cease-fire for decades. He also suggested that
the Quartet persuade Fatah to join a unity government.

------------------------------

From: imra@netvision.net.il
To: imra@imra.org.il
Subject: Excerpts: Israeli plot: cartoons.Cartoon plot. 12 Februry 2006

Excerpts: Israeli plot: cartoons.Cartoon plot. 12 Februry 2006

+++ JORDAN TIMES 12 Feb.'06:" 'Who stands to gain?' " by Musa Keilani
QUOTES FROM TEXT:
"stepped-up Israeli efforts to single out Islam as the next enemy of the
West"
"I don't think that it is an exaggeration to assert that there indeed
could be a link between Islamaphobia and the cartoons."
"violence that some of us employed to express our pain and sense of
humiliation ... has done serious damage to our image"
"Muslim mindset has become a perfect breeding ground for resentment
against the West's approach to Islam and Muslims"
"freedom of expression is only a screen"
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
EXCERPTS:-
The motives for the blatant challenge the Western media posed to the Muslim
world by printing and reprinting cartoons depicting the Prophet Mohammad
might never be established. But, it is difficult for us, Muslims,
particularly those in the Middle East, to believe that European newspapers
went to the extent of reprinting the cartoons simply for the sake of
upholding freedom of expression.
... such an assertion plays in the hands of those who accuse us of always
seeing a conspiracy ... . As a friend of mine put it, we would find a
sinister plot "even if an Arab walks on the street, falls down and breaks
his leg". But does that apply here?
... for nearly two decades, and particularly after the collapse of the
Soviet Union, there were stepped-up Israeli effort to single out Islam as
the next enemy of the West, ... . Our leaders and many of our learned men
and women repeatedly sought to fight the anti-Muslim drive by emphasising
the peaceful nature of Islam and by highlighting the fact that non-Muslim
forces had a vested interest in showing Muslims in a bad light. Now I don't
think that it is an exaggeration to assert that there could indeed be a link
between Islamophobia and the cartoons ... .
...Muslims are aware that no amount of offensive display can have an impact
on the prophet or our religion. ... Islam cannot be touched or harmed by
any force since its protector is God Almighty. ... .
And knowing that many in the West see Islam as a source of extremism ... ,
we should try to correct that image through persuasive means.... ..
The crisis triggered by the publication ... , particularly the violence that
some of us employed to express our pain and sense of humiliation ... , has
done serious damage to our image ... . Whether deliberate or accidental, the
assaults against European diplomatic missions ...are definitely not the
Islamic way... .But that is the way it is now interpreted, and we bear the
responsibility for it since it was our actions that led to that situation.
We could blame sinister forces ,,, accuse them of pushing us into stoning
diplomatic missions and setting fire to them. But it might not exactly be
true. The Muslim mindset has become a perfect breeding ground for resentment
against the West's approach to Islam and Muslims over the decades, and it is
only natural that some among us might simply be prompted to pick up stones
at the first given provocation.
The Jordanian Parliament was among the first to respond angrily when the
cartoons first appeared in September ... . However, it never became a
serious issue.., although we did hear protests, albeit low-key, similar to
ours from a handful of countries. It was only when another newspaper found
it fit to reprint the cartoons in what was nothing but a signal of open
hostility towards Islam that Muslims took a closer look and decided that it
was not acceptable. The protests gathered strength, and then came the
biggest surprise of all: several European newspapers reprinted the cartoons
in the name of freedom of expression. In this context, for us freedom of
expression is only a screen .... In reality, those who reprinted the
cartoons were simply telling us: this is our view and let us see what you
can do.
...here we sense the possibility of an organised campaign to provoke
Muslims. Those behind the campaign plotted to exploit the fact that in many
Muslim countries religious sentiments are coupled with frustration over
denial of social justice and pent-up fury over the way the West has been
treating Muslims. The plotters, as seen by at least some among us who
subscribe to this theory, knew that there would be violent protests ...;
and violent response meant ...: a blemish on Muslims. That is what they
counted on and that is what they got.
Who stands to gain from it?

+++JORDAN TIMES 12 Feb.'06:"Drawing the line" by Walid M. Sadi
QUOTES FROM TEXT:
"The intended target were thwe Muslim communities living in the heartland
of the Western world, with a view to driving them out of Europe."
"there are forces that seek to bring the much-talked-about clash of
civilizations closer. These sources could conceivably belong to both sides"
====================================================================================================================
EXCERPTS: . . .
There is much more in this new attempt to ridicule Prophet Mohammad and
defame ... Islam than meets the eye, ... when there are increasing signs of
tension between Muslim and Western cultures.
Theories about a grand conspiracy ... abound. As much as one hates to think
of conspiracies every time there is a crisis, there are certain dimensions
... that must be investigated ... to shed light on the origin and sequel of
this matter.
. . .
The printing and the reprinting of the contemptuous cartoons had the Muslims
in Europe in mind ... . The intended target were the Muslim communities
living in the heartland of the Western world, with a view to driving them
out of Europe by portraying the West as an environment alien and hostile to
Islam.
. . .
... that there are forces that seek to bring the much-talked-about clash of
civilisations closer. These forces could conceivably belong to both sides
....
There are certain other parties that stand to benefit from ...
confrontation and that would like nothing more than to see Muslims and
Western countries battle ... , and then fan the ill feelings that emerges
from such action. I say Muslims and not Muslim countries because the Muslim
nations appear to be much more restrained in reacting ... comprehend its
wider implications.
. . .
The UN Commission on Human Rights will soon convene, and there is no better
place to elaborate a mechanism, or even a convention, to frustrate all evil
intentions.
The new initiative must be a joint plan of action reached at by all
monotheistic religions. What better way to avoid any new outbursts against
religions and their symbols than by drawing a clear line between freedom of
the press and religious rights?

Dr. Joseph Lerner, Co-Director IMRA

------------------------------

From: imra@netvision.net.il
To: imra@imra.org.il
Subject: Poll: 23 percent support unilateral withdrawal

Poll: 50% oppose a further withdrawal in West Bank
By Haaretz Service 13 February 2006
www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/682216.html

[IMRA: The probable source for the extremely different results in the Dahaf
poll llast week is the wording that they chose: "Should Israel separate from
most of the Palestinians also by unilateral withdrawals?" Yes 59% No 37% (a
result which Yediot gave a large headline to) is that people hearing the
question being read rapidly on the telephone heard "Should Israel separate
from most of the Palestinians" - and answered in the affirmative without
their reply meaning that they thought their reply mean that they supported
unilateral physical withdrawals.

Another poll lends support for this:

"Are you for or against significant unilateral withdrawals from Judea and
Samaria if after the elections it becomes clear that the PA doesn't fight
terror and it is not possible to advance in accordance with the Road Map"
For 35% Against 50% Other 15%
Telephone poll of a representative sample of 624 adult Israelis (including
Israeli Arabs) 5-6 February 2006 by Maagar Mohot Survey Institute
(headed by Professor Yitzchak Katz commissioned by the Zionist Organization
of America - ZOA]

A poll released on Monday, marking a half-year since the disengagement,
showed that 50 percent of the Israeli public opposes a further withdrawal in
the West Bank, and that 68 percent of Israelis believe that the government
failed to attend properly to the needs of the evacuees.

The Geocartographia poll commissioned by Army Radio also showed that 46
percent believe that the disengagement had caused a rift in the Israeli
people, as opposed to 41 percent who classified it as "one more event."

By contrast, 44 percent classified the violence at the West Bank outpost of
Amona as "one more event," while 41 percent said it was a "rift."

Sixty-one percent of respondents said that the summer disengagement from 21
settlements in Gaza and four in the West Bank had improved Israel's
relations with other nations, in particular with Europe.

A total of 41 percent of Israelis reponded that they favored a further
withdrawal. Of these, 23 percent said they backed a unilateral withdrawal
because they felt there was no Palestinian partner for peace. Eighteen
percent said they supported a withdrawal in order to foster conditions that
would yield a future peace agreement.

------------------------------

From: imra@netvision.net.il
To: imra@imra.org.il
Subject: WUJS Global campaign Against
Hatred "Fight hate with humor" Cartoon Contest

WUJS Global campaign Against Hatred
"Fight hate with humor"
Cartoon Contest
www.wujs.org.il/home/cartoon.php

The World Union of Jewish Students in conjunction with editorial
cartoonists, Edward Margolis and Noah Crissey, has announced an
International Editorial Cartoon Competition for students called "Fight Hate
with Humor." Acting in response to an Iranian contest where students around
the world have been invited to join in a global competition to create hate
cartoons depicting "A World without Zionism", "A World without the United
States", and glorifying the "Intifada", they plan with humor "to stand the
Iranians on their heads."

Furthermore, a prominent Iranian newspaper announced the launch of a
competition for cartoons on the Holocaust to test whether the West will
apply the principle of freedom of expression to the Nazi genocide against
Jews as it did to the caricatures of the Prophet Mohammed.(see CNN article
www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/meast/02/07/iran.cartoon.ap/ ]

According to cartoonist, Margolis, "the whole thing about the Iranian
Contest would be hilarious if it weren't so terrifying." In that vein,
Margolis and his partner, Crissey, submitted their "Iranian College Bowl"
spoof in the Iranian Contest.

WUJS Chairperson, Viktoria Dolburd states that: "Although cartoons, such as
the ones published in the Danish newspaper against the prophet Mohammed may
be offensive, nevertheless this is no justification for the recent acts of
violence targeting European representatives and citizens worldwide including
boycotting products from said countries or burning down embassies". "As the
younger generation we have a responsibility to strive for world peace so
that our children and grandchildren will have a safer future. The origins of
all the local and global conflicts in the world came from hatred. We need to
act to reduce hatred, through all means possible just as education,
activism, or as in this case, through humor".

Margolis points to the fact that "editorial cartoons in Iran and throughout
the Middle East are taken very seriously and are considered to be a
barometer of public opinion. Totalitarian governments recognize the power of
these strong visual images and through state controlled media use cartoons
to manipulate the masses even where literacy is low. Meanwhile, In the U.S.,
newspapers have actually been eliminating staff editorial cartoonists, and
the independence of this once powerful voice has been muted." Through this
contest, Margolis hopes to both stimulate interest amongst would-be student
editorial cartoonists and put the U.S. media on notice of the propaganda
threat posed by the hate cartoons coming out of Iran.

How can I participate?

If you or someone you know has a talent at drawing cartoons.....

If you are interested in taking part in the global WUJS campaign designed to
teach about the alternatives to negative and aggresive PR throughout the
world then.......

The cartoon competition is looking for funny answers/examples of how to
fight hate...

Febuary, 1st until May 1st you will have the opportunity to submit your
cartoons here.
www.wujs.org.il/home/cartoon.php

Afterwards a jury will select the best cartoons which will be published as
part of the global WUJS campaign against hatred.

Keep checking here to find out about other prizes to be awarded to the
winners of the competition.

Help WUJS spread the word so that we can successfully fight hate with the
help of humor!

See also: WUJS promotes "Buying Danish." www.wujs.org.il/danish.shtmlThis
wonderful people and their King stood by the Jewish people when it mattered,
let's support them now!

More questions? Contact us at office@wujs.org.il, re: "Fight hate with
humor"

An important by-product of our contest is to get our cartoons into the local
university papers where we have unions in order to counteract the
Anti-Israel bias on campus. These cartoons are a powerful tool in
influencing opinions and point up with humor the inconsistency and
hyprocracy of those who seek to vilify the state of Israel.

------------------------------

From: imra@netvision.net.il
To: imra@imra.org.il
Subject: Hamas Insists on Palestinian National, Coalition Government

Hamas Insists on Palestinian National, Coalition Government
Olmert Rejects Dealing with Hamas-led Palestinian National Authority (PNA)
13/02/2006
www.palestine-pmc.com/details.asp?cat=1&id=1093

Palestine Media Center - PMC

Ahead of the inauguration of the newly-elected Palestinian Legislative
Council (PLC) on February 18, the Islamic Resistance Movement insisted it
would form a Palestinian national coalition government in spite of the
ongoing opposition by the ruling Fatah movement and Israel's rejection to
recognize a Hamas-led Palestinian National Authority (PNA) "once the
Palestinian parliament is sworn in," according to the Israeli Acting Prime
Minister Ehud Olmert on Sunday.

Chairman of Hamas' politburo Khaled Mishaal said on Sunday that the Islamic
Resistance Movement would form a Palestinian national coalition government
soon.

Speaking to reporters shortly after arriving in Sudan on a three-day visit
on Sunday, Mishaal said at the Khartoum International Airport: "The new
Palestinian government will be a national coalition government with the
participation of persons from different backgrounds."

Outgoing PLC was scheduled to hold its final meeting on Monday before the
newly-elected PLC is inaugurated on February 18. Hamas commands 74-seat
majority in the 132-member PLC.

Azzam al-Ahmad, head of Fatah parliamentary bloc in the newly-elected PLC,
announced on Sunday that his movement would never join a cabinet with a
strategy contradictory to Fatah's.

If Hamas' stances remain unchanged, "Fatah would remain in the opposition,"
he told reporters.

Fatah members of the PLC on Saturday elected Al-Ahmad to head their
parliamentary bloc. The other candidate for heading the bloc was Mohammad
Dahlan.

Fatah movement wants Hamas to accept all the peace agreements signed between
Israel and the Palestinians in the past decade.

Al-Ahmad however said that Hamas "had positively changed and became more
pragmatic than before."

Hamas has decided to name Ismail Haniyeh prime minister in the new PNA
government, the London-based Asharq Al-Awsat reported on Saturday, but
Haniyeh said no final decision was taken yet.

Sheikh Yasser Mansour, number five on the Hamas national electoral list,
told The Jerusalem Post that, "there has been no official decision to name
Haniyeh prime minister. These are just media reports."

Another anti-occupation group, the Islamic Jihad, ruled out on Wednesday
joining a new Palestinian government following Hamas's election victory or
forging any long-term truce with Israel.

"Islamic Jihad will not join the coming cabinet," Khaled al-Batsh, a leader
of the Islamic group, told a news conference.

"If the government will have an agenda of resistance, we will support it,"
he said.

Batsh said any long-term ceasefire with Israel would be useless and Islamic
Jihad "rejects it completely."

Hamas Sets Conditions to End Armed Struggle

However Hamas said on Sunday it would end its armed struggle if Israel
withdraws from all occupied Palestinian territories.

"If Israel recognizes our rights and pledges to withdraw from all occupied
lands, Hamas, and the Palestinian people together with it, will decide to
halt armed resistance," Khaled Mishaal said in an interview with the Russian
daily Nezavisimaya Gazeta, published on Monday.

Khaled Mishaal, who has been directing discussions about power- sharing with
the PNA, told reporters in Cairo last week that Hamas sees no possibility of
negotiating a peace treaty with Israel. He suggested that a cease-fire of 10
to 15 years is a substitute worth considering now that Hamas will be in
control of the PLC.

"The ball is in the Israeli court," Mishaal said at a news conference after
meeting Arab League Secretary-General Amr Moussa. "Once Israel recognizes
the legitimate rights of Palestinians and withdraws from our lands, there
would probably be a willingness from both Palestinians and the Arabs to
cooperate."

"Hamas does not recognize Israel and we won't accept anybody in the world
forcing us into a corner," Mishaal told journalists in Cairo.

Separately, In a BBC interview, he reiterated that Hamas would be willing to
agree a long-term truce with Israel if it pulled back to its borders from
before its occupation of the West Bank and Gaza Strip in 1967.

"When Israel says that it will recognize Palestinian rights, and will
withdraw from the West Bank and east Jerusalem, and grant the right of
return, stop settlements and recognize the rights of the Palestinians to
self-determination, then Hamas will be ready to take a serious step,"
Mishaal told BBC.

"Hamas will rule and continue resistance and the people will see how we can
reconcile resistance and the exercise of power," he said.

Olmert: Israel Won't Deal with Hamas-led PNA

Meanwhile Israeli Acting Prime Minister, Ehud Olmert, said on Sunday that
Israel doesn't care whether the next Palestinian Government will be formed
of technocrats or Hamas members because, in both cases, Israel will not be
able to remit money to the Palestinian National Authority (PNA).

"Once the Palestinian parliament is sworn in, the Palestinian Authority will
turn into a Hamas authority," Olmer said.

"Once the Palestinian parliament is sworn in, the rules of the game will
change. We won't not wink at anyone - our no is a no, and if we say yes we
will mean yes," Olmert told the weekly cabinet meeting in Jerusalem.

Similarly Israel's "Defense" Minister Shaul Mofaz said that Hamas' takeover
of the PNA is a negative development and that Israel must hold fast to its
policy of abstaining from holding talks with the Islamic anti-Israeli
occupation group.

So long as Hamas does not recognize Israel's right to exist, Mofaz said,
"this complex reality requires us to back the unequivocal message of 'no' to
Hamas, unless it meets all our conditions, i.e. disarms and gets rid of the
section in its manifesto calling for the destruction of Israel."

Moafz called on the Palestinian president to disarm Hamas.

"We must insist on our policy of not holding any contacts with Hamas and
insist that Abu Mazen (Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas) disarm all
terror organizations," Mofaz said.

According to Mofaz, the identity of the PNA's new senior office bearers,
including the new PNA prime minister, Speaker of the PLC and the head of the
PNA's security services will determine the future face of the PNA and Abbas'
future as well.

------------------------------

From: imra@netvision.net.il
To: imra@imra.org.il
Subject: Palestinian legislative Council Elections final results

Palestinian legislative Council Elections final results
January 30, 2006
www.jmcc.org/new/06/jan/finalplcresults.htm

The following are the names of the new members of the Palestinian
Legislative Council and the number of votes they got, according to the
Central Elections Commission final and official list:
Alternative List: 28,973 votes (2 seats)
Independent Palestine List: 26,909 votes (2 seats)
Martyr Abu Ali Mustafa List: 42,101 votes (3 seats)
Change and Reform List: 440,409 votes (29 seats)
Third Way List: 23,862 votes (2 seats)
Fatah List: 410,554 votes (28 seats)

First: The Proportional Representation List (The Homeland List) (66 seats):

The Change and Reform List (Hamas):
1- Ismail Abdul Salam Haniyye
2- Mohammed Abu Teir
3- Jamileh Abdullah al-Shanti
4- Mohammed Jamal Nu'man Alaeddin
5- Yasser Daoud Mansour
6- Khalil Musa Rabai
7- Huda Naim al-Qreinawi
8- Mahmoud Ahmad al-Ramahi
9- Mahmoud Khaled Zahhar
10- Abdul Fattah Hasan Dukhan
11- Ibrahim Mohammed Dahbour
12- Mariam Mahmoud Saleh
13- Fathi Mohammed Qar'awi
14- Anwar Mohammed Zboun
15- Imad Mahmoud Nofal
16- Omar Mahmoud Matar
17- Muna Salim Saleh Mansour
18- Yahia Abdul Aziz al-Abadsah
19- Mohammed Maher Yousef Bader
20- Ayman Hussein Daraghmeh
21- Fathi Ahmad Hammad
22- Mariam Mohammed Farhat
23- Sayyed Salem Abu Msameh
24- Marwan Mohammed Abu Ras
25- Samira Abdullah Halayqah
26- Jamal Ismail Iskeik
27- Ali Salim Roumanin
28- Ahmad Yousef Abu Halabiyye
29- Abdul Jaber Mustafa Fuqaha'

Fatah List:
30- Marwan Barghouthi
31- Mohammed Abu Yatta
32- Intisar al-Wazir
33- Nabil Shaath
34- Hakam Balawi
35- Abdullah Abdullah
36- Najat Abu Baker
37- Rajai Barakeh
38- Ibrahim al-Musaddar
39- Rabihah Thiab
40- Mohammed al-Lahham
41- Jamal Abul Rob
42- Sahar al-Qawasmi
43- Majed Abu Shammaleh
44- Faisal Abu Shahla
45- Issa Qaraqe'
46- Siham Thabet
47- Naser Jumaa
48- Alaeddin Yaghi
49- Abdul Rahim Barham
50- Jamal Abdul Hamid al-Haj
51- Najat al-Astal
52- Jihad Tmeileh
53- Jihad Abu Zneid
54- Akram al-Haymouni
55- Jamal Huweil
56- Naimah al-Sheikh Ali
57- Abdul Hameed al-Eileh

Martyr Abu Ali Mustafa List (PFLP)
58- Ahmad Sa'dat
59- Jamil Majdalawi
60- Khaledah Jarrar
Third Way List
61- Salam Fayyad
62- Hanan Ashrawi

Alternative List (DFLP, PPP, Fida and Independent figures)
63- Qays Abdul Karim
64- Bassam al-Salhi

Independent Palestine List
65- Mustafa Barghouthi
66- Rawia al-Shawwa

Second: The Constituencies (66 seats):

West Bank

Jerusalem
67- Ibrahim Abu Salem (Hamas - Jerusalem) 15,337 votes
68- Mohammed Totah (Hamas - Jerusalem) 14,540 votes
69- Wael Abdul Rahman (Hamas - Jerusalem) 14,183 votes
70- Ahmad Attoun (Hamas - Jerusalem) 14,084 votes
71- Bernard Sabella (Fatah - Christian - Jerusalem) 4,035 votes
72- Emil Jarjoui (Fatah - Christian - Jerusalem) 4,525 votes

Hebron
73- Nayef Rjoub (Hamas - Hebron) 59,885 votes
74- Aziz Dweik (Hamas - Hebron) 55,649 votes
75- Mohammed Abu Jheisheh (Hamas - Hebron) 52,027 votes
76- Nizar Ramadan (Hamas - Hebron) 51,891 votes
77- Samir al-Qadi (Hamas - Hebron) 59,841 votes
78- Azzam Salhab (Hamas - Hebron) 53,720 votes
79- Basem Za'arir (Hamas - Hebron) 49,236 votes
80- Hatem Qfeisheh (Hamas - Hebron) 50,485 votes
81- Mohammed al-Tal (Hamas - Hebron) 47,353 votes

Bethlehem
82- Khaled Thweib (Hamas - Bethlehem) 17,268 votes
83- Mahmoud al-Khatib (Hamas - Bethlehem) 15,869 votes
84- Fayez Saqqa (Fatah - Christian - Bethlehem) 8,340 votes
85- Fouad Kokali (Fatah - Christian - Bethlehem) 8,636 votes

Jenin
86- Khaled Abed Yahia (Hamas - Jenin) 30,863 votes
87- Khaled Abu Hasan (Hamas - Jenin) 28,025 votes
88- Shami Shami (Fatah - Jenin) 27,040 votes
89- Azzam al-Ahmad (Fatah - Jenin) 29,249 votes

Ramallah & Al Bireh
90- Muhib Abdullah (Fatah - Christian - Ramallah) 22,834 votes
91- Hasan Yousef (Hamas - Ramallah) 37,306 votes
92- Ahmad Mubarak (Hamas - Ramallah) 33,133 votes
93- Fadel Hamdan (Hamas - Ramallah) 33,594 votes
94- Mahmoud Misleh (Hamas - Ramallah) 30,825 votes

Nablus
95- Hamed al-Beitawi (Hamas - Nablus) 43,789 votes
96- Ahmad Ali Ahmad (Hamas - Nablus) 44,957 votes
97- Riyad Ali Amli (Hamas - Nablus) 39,106 votes
98- Hosni Mohammed Ahmad Yasin (Hamas - Nablus) 39,056 votes
99- Daoud Abu Seir (Hamas - Nablus) 36,877 votes
100- Mahmoud al-Aloul (Fatah - Nablus) 39,746 votes

Tulkarem
101- Abdul Rahman Fahmi Zeidan (Hamas - Tulkarem) 20,407 votes
102- Hasan Khreisheh (Independent - Tulkarem) 21,179 votes
103- Riyad Raddad (Hamas - Tulkarem) 20,272 votes

Qalqilia
104- Walid Assaf (Fatah - Qalqilia) 14,049 votes
105- Ahmad Hazza' Shreim (Fatah - Qalqilia) 12,900 votes

Jericho
106- Saeb Erekat (Fatah - Jericho) 6,717 votes

Salfit
107- Naser Abdul Jawad (Hamas - Salfit) 6,762 votes

Toubas
108- Khaled Abu Tos (Hamas - Toubas) 5,784 votes

Gaza Strip

Khan Yunis
109- Younes al-Astal (Hamas - Khan Yunis) 37,695 votes
110- Salah al-Bardawil (Hamas - Khan Yunis) 33,746 votes
111- Khamis Najjar (Hamas - Khan Yunis) 33,307 votes
112- Sufian Abdullah Yousef al-Agha (Fatah - Khan Yunis) 32,964 votes
113- Mohammed Dahlan (Fatah - Khan Yunis) 38,349 votes

Der al Balah
114- Abdul Rahman al-Jamal (Hamas - Der al-Balah) 27,976 votes
115- Salem Salameh (Hamas - Der al-Balah) 26,067 votes
116- Ahmad Abu Holi (Fatah - Der al-Balah) 26,229 votes

Rafah
117- Mohammed Hijazi (Fatah - Rafah) 28,527 votes
118- Radwan al-Akhras (Fatah - Rafah) 26,759 votes
119- Ashraf Jumaa (Fatah - Rafah) 28,089 votes

Northern Gaza
120- Yousef al-Sharafi (Hamas - Northern Gaza) 37,106 votes
121- Atef Udwan (Hamas - Northern Gaza) 34,560 votes
122- Ismail al-Ashqar (Hamas - Northern Gaza) 32,030 votes
123- Mohammed Shihab (Hamas - Northern Gaza) 33,223 votes
124- Mushir al-Habal (Hamas - Northern Gaza) 34,560 votes

Gaza
125- Ziad Abu Amro (Independent - Gaza) 55,748 votes
126- Saeed Siam (Hamas - Gaza) 74,880 votes
127- Ahmad Bahar (Hamas - Gaza) 73,988 votes
128- Khalil al-Hayyeh (Hamas - Gaza) 73,313 votes
129- Mohammed al-Ghoul (Hamas - Gaza) 71,492 votes
130- Jamal Saleh (Hamas - Gaza) 69,856 votes
131- Hussam al-Tawil (Independent - Gaza) 54,961 votes
132- Jamal al-Khudari (Independent - Gaza) 63,150 votes

For more information visit:Central Elections Commission-Palestine
www.elections.ps/

------------------------------

From: imra@netvision.net.il
To: imra@imra.org.il
Subject: Poll of Palestinians on The Danish Cartoons Issue

Near East Consulting
POB 4, Ramallah, Palestine
T. +970-2-296-1436
info@neareastconsulting.com
www.neareastconsulting.com/
PRESS RELEASE

The Danish Cartoons Issue

. Although the knowledge of the cartoons depicting the Prophet Muhammad is
very widespread (99.7%), only 1% heard about them in September 2005 when
they first appeared. A mere 31% have actually seen the cartoons.

. 24% believe Denmark is a friend of the Palestinians, 42% believe Denmark
holds a neutral position, while 34% view Denmark as an enemy of the
Palestinians.

..7% believe Denmark is friendly to Islam, 34% believe it holds a neutral
position, while 59% view Denmark as an enemy to Islam.

..Only 4% believe that the Danish government has been acting appropriately
in their efforts to solve the cartoon issue.

..Although 86% believe that the reactions that have emerged against Denmark
are justifiable, equally large majorities are opposed to the attack on the
EU offices in the Gaza Strip (82%) or TIPH in Hebron (88%), while 93%
disagree that Western civilians should now become legitimate targets.

..37% believe that the most appropriate way to protest against the cartoons
is a combination of peaceful means, including boycott of products, stopping
diplomatic ties, peaceful demonstrations, refusing Danish humanitarian
assistance, and taking the issue to Danish courts. 8% believe the most
appropriate way to protest against the cartoons is by using all means,
including violence.

..While 52% believe that the issue of the Danish cartoons will calm down,
only 41% feel that the situation should calm down.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION Please contact Jamil Rabah NEC, HSBC Building,
3rd floor RAMALLAH Tel: 02-2961436 Fax: 02-2963114
info@neareastconsulting.com

The results will be available in detail and with cross-tabulations by
Tuesday 14 February 2006 at 12 noon on the following site:
www.neareastconsulting.com

Methodology

During the period 9-11 February, 2006, Near East Consulting (NEC) conducted
a phone survey of over 1,300 randomly selected Palestinians in the West
Bank, the Gaza Strip, and Jerusalem of which 702 were successfully
completed. The survey covered a number of issues related the Danish
cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad such as Palestinians knowledge about the
cartoons, their opinions about the violent reactions in the Muslim world as
a result of the reprinting of the cartoons, the opinions about the Danish
government's handling of the issue, and opinions on the most appropriate
manner to deal with the cartoon issue. It is worth noting that 60% of
households in the Palestinian territories have phone connectivity. Previous
surveys conducted by the researchers at NEC do not show much difference in
the attitudes between households who own phone lines and those who do not.
Finally, the margin of error is +/- 3.7% with a 95% confidence level.

Knowledge about the Danish cartoons

Knowledge about the Danish cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad is very
widespread as only 2 respondents in the sample had never heard about them.
However, very few respondents (1%) knew about the cartoons at the time they
actually appeared in September 2005. As indicated in the figure below, most
respondents found out about the cartoons recently at a time when the
cartoons were reprinted in various countries around the world.

Time of finding out about the Danish cartoons
22% One week ago
47% Two weeks ago
30% One month ago
1% By October 2005

In addition and despite the intense reactions against the publishing of
the cartoons depicting the Prophet Muhammad, the majority of 69% of the
respondents have not actually seen any of these depictions.

Have you seen any of the Danish cartoons?
31% Yes
69% No

Supporting the argument that the intense reactions against the cartoons are
mainly principle-based is the finding that a large majority of the
respondents (93%) believe that the cartoons are in no way related to the
principle of freedom of expression. A mere 7% acknowledge that the
publishing of the cartoons are part and parcel of the right of freedom of
expression.

Opinions about the publishing of the cartoons being part of freedom of
expression
Part of freedom of expression 7%
Not related to freedom of expression 93%

Opinions about Denmark

Respondents were both asked if they consider Denmark to be a friend to the
Palestinians and whether or not they believe Denmark to be friendly to
Islam. The results overviewed in the figure below indicate that a larger
portion of Palestinians consider Denmark a friend of the Palestinians (24%)
than they believe Denmark to be friendly to Islam (7%). Similarly, a larger
percentage of Palestinians believe that Denmark holds a neutral position
towards the Palestinians (42%) than it does towards Islam (34%). According
to the survey, 59% consider Denmark to be an enemy of Islam.

Is Denmark a friend to the Palestinians?
Yes 24% No 34% Neutral 42%

Is Denmark friendly to Islam?
Yes 7% No 59% Neutral 34%

In light of the cartoon issue, the majority of 85% of the respondents
evaluate the principle of freedom of expression in Denmark negatively. As
indicated below, only 15% of the respondents view the principle of freedom
of expression in Denmark positively.

Evaluation of the principle of freedom of expression in Denmark
Positive 15% Negative 85%

The majority of 62% of the respondents do not believe that the publishing of
the Danish cartoons were merely a private initiative by a Danish newspaper,
but are convinced that the cartoons also represent the general position of
Denmark.

Were the cartoons carried out on a private level or is it a general Danish
position?
38% They were carried out on a private level
62% They represent a general position by Denmark

In addition, a nearly absolute majority of 96% of the respondents are of the
opinion that the Danish government was unable to solve the cartoon issue
appropriately.

Do you believe that the Danish government has been acting appropriately in
their efforts to solve the issue?
Appropriately 4% Inappropriately 96%

Opinions about the reactions to the Danish cartoons

In general, 86% of Palestinians believe that the reactions that have emerged
in the past few weeks against Denmark as a result of the cartoon issue are
justified.

Opinion about the reaction against Denmark
Justifiable 86% Not justifiable 14%

An equal percentage of respondents (86%) believe that taking the cartoon
issue to the courts in Denmark is insufficient as a potential course of
action with the aim to settle the controversy.

Sufficiency of taking the cartoon issue to the courts in Denmark
Sufficient 14% Insufficient 86%

Respondents were also queried about their opinions about the attacks last
week on the EU offices in the Gaza Strip and the TIPH in Hebron. As
illustrated in the figure below, a large percentage of Palestinians are
against the attacks against those offices. In general, 82% are against the
attacks on the EU offices, while 88% disagree with the attacks on the TIPH
in Hebron. In addition, when asked about whether or not, given the current
situation, Western civilians should now also become targets, 92% of the
respondents stated that they are against such actions.

Do you agree with the attack on the EU offices in the Gaza Strip?
Yes 18% No 82%

Do you agree with the attack on TIPH in Hebron?
Yes 12% No 88%

Do you agree or disagree that Western civilians should now become targets?
Agree 7% Disagree 93%

Still, when asked about whether or not respondents believe the reactions
to date against the cartoons were against Palestinian national interest,
a small majority of 52% believe that it is in Palestinian national
interest.

Were the reactions up to date against the Danish cartoons in the
Palestinian national interest?
Yes 52% No 48%

As for the attacks on the Danish diplomatic missions in Syria and Lebanon,
29% of the respondents agree with those attacks, which indicates that
support for violent attacks outside the Palestinian territories is wider
than support for violent attacks within the Palestinian territories.

Do you agree with the attacks on the Danish diplomatic missions in Syria
and Lebanon?
Agree 29% Disagree 71%

Besides the opinions about the recent attacks on several international
offices, interviewees were queried about what in their opinion is the most
appropriate way to protest against the cartoons depicting the Prophet
Muhammad. As overviewed in the figure below, 37% find it the most
appropriate way to protest the cartoons by using a combination of peaceful
means, 18% believe it to be most appropriate to demonstrate peacefully,
while 16% find it most appropriate to concentrate their protest on solely
boycotting Danish products. In addition, 9% want to protest the cartoons
through boycotting all Western products, another 9% want to stop diplomatic
ties with Denmark, while a mere 2% believe that taking the cartoon issue to
Danish courts is the most appropriate way to protest. Lastly, only 1% of the
respondents said that the most appropriate way to protest against the
cartoons is to refuse Danish humanitarian assistance, while the remaining
8% of the respondents believe that all means should be used to protest the
cartoons, including violence.

The most appropriate way to protest against the cartoons
16% Boycott only Danish products
09% Boycott all Western products
09% Stop diplomatic ties with Denmark
18% Demonstrate peacefully
02% Take the issue to Danish courts
01% Refuse Danish humanitarian assistance
37% Use all of the above peaceful means
08% Use all means, including violence

Opinions about future developments as a result of the Danish cartoon issue
In an attempt to capture in which way the current tension could evolve in
the future, interviewees were asked two specific questions: (1) Will the
issue of the Danish cartoons calm down or cause a further rift between the
Muslim world and the West?, and (2) Should the current situation be calmed
down or should it be intensified?. The results overviewed in the figure
below, indicate that although a slight majority of the respondents (52%)
believe that the issue of the Danish cartoons will calm down, only a
minority of 41% feel that the situation should be calmed down.

Intensifying the situation does not necessarily imply the use of violent
means as 53% of those who believe the most appropriate way to protest
against the cartoons by peaceful means have also stated that the situation
should be intensified.

Will the issue of the Danish cartoons calm down or will it cause a rift
between the Muslim world and the West?
53% It will calm down soon
47% It will cause a further rift

Should the situation be calmed down or should it be intensified?
41% The situation should be calmed down
59% The situation should be intensified

------------------------------

From: imra@netvision.net.il
To: imra@imra.org.il
Subject: Excerpts: Islamic Russia. 13 February 2006

Excerpts: Islamic Russia. 13 February 2006

ARAB NEWS (Saudi) 13 Feb.'06:"Radicalization of Chechen Conflict and Arab
Involvement" by Faryal Leghari, Arab News -
[IMRA: Explains Russia's acceptance of Hamas.]
.
QUOTES FROM TEXT:
"Islam has always been an integral part of Chechen national identity and
provided strong idealogical and moral support, but was not the impetus
behind the nationalist movement that started after the break-up of the
Soviet Union in 1991."
"In 2003, the U.S. Department of State designated three Chechen groups
... as terrorists, and alleged that they had received millions of dollars
from Al-Qaeda."
"The Arab involvement played right into the hands of the Russian
leadership"
"Russia's recent attempts at being considered part of the Muslim world
through membership to the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) is part
of a strategic plan."
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EXCERPTS:

There is a widely held perception that radical Islamist organizations have
steered the Chechen secessionist movement toward ... creating an Islamic
imamate in North Eastern Caucasus. Islam has always been an integral part of
Chechen national identity and provided strong ideological and moral support,
but was not the impetus behind the nationalist movement that started after
the break-up of the Soviet Union in 1991.
[IMRA: Not the original impetus but the source of subsequent push.]
... it is also crucial to understand the extent and nature of the Arab
involvement in the Chechen movement ... .
Beslan, Moscow theater siege, plane hijackings and various incidents of
suicide bombings are a chilling reminder of the festering conflict in
Chechnya that confirm two things. First, Moscow's ineptitude in winning the
war against Chechen secessionism; and second, the acerbic reaction of the
Chechens to the use of force and atrocities committed by the Russians in
terrorist acts bringing the war to Moscow ... Putin's declaration to "bang
the hell out of these bandits" and resort to brute force to suppress the
resistance has led to a worsening of the situation. ... ..
The danger of a regional spillover of the conflict and Russian theories
about Islamic extremism spreading across the Caucasus have been further
fueled by incidents like the threat of radicalization in Dagestan,
Ingushetia raid in June 2004 by the Chechen resistance and clashes in
Kabardino-Balkaria in October 2005, where dozens were killed. Locals ... see
it as an extension of the Chechen separatist conflict and a reaction to
Russian policies.
In 2003, the US Department of State designated three Chechen groups ...as
terrorists, and alleged that they had received millions of dollars from
Al-Qaeda. Thus, the Chechen resistance movement became forcefully identified
with terrorism, although the same statement did not categorize all Chechens
as terrorists.
. . .
The International Islamic brigade, who took part in the first Chechen war in
1994, was set up by Habib Abdur Rehman Khattab, a Saudi by birth. His aim
was to radicalize much of the Chechen armed resistance and give it an
extremist turn.
The exact number of foreign mercenaries fighting in Chechnya is unknown, but
up to 300 Arabs reportedly took part ... according to Russian intelligence
sources. The growth of this group's power in Chechnya played a key part in
precipitating the second war by an armed incursion into Dagestan in 1999 and
...jeopardized all possible solutions for Chechnya's independence.
The Arab involvement played right into the hands of the Russian leadership.
Moscow interpreted all major conflicts or opposition movements as an Islamic
threat and found it useful to implicate external sources for indigenous
problems.
... Russia's recent attempts at being considered part of the Muslim world
through membership to the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) is part
of a strategic plan. With 20 million Muslims in Russia, Putin attempted to
play the Islamic card when he addressed the OIC summit in Kuala Lumpur in
October 2003. Moscow also sought to reverse perception in the Islamic world
that it was pursuing anti-Islamic policies, ... .
In light of the current political stalemate following a majority of Chechens
rejecting the outcome of "predetermined" elections held in November 2005,
the international community has ... to address the crisis.
Moscow must be pressured to fulfill its political commitment of giving power
to Chechens through a complete withdrawal of its troops and fair elections.
The recent improvement of political and economic ties between the Muslim
world and Russia could also serve as a tool to persuade Moscow to exercise
prudence in dealing with Chechnya.
- Faryal Leghari is an assistant researcher at the Gulf Research Center,
Dubai

Dr. Joseph Lerner, Co-Director IMRA

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End of [imra] Daily digest - Volume: 2 Issue: 1329 (14 messages)
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