Jen Jealous from Electric Ladyland, a great all-girl band from Norway.
Check out some of their songs here.
Tuesday, June 20, 2006
Bad attitude
[UrukNet] - [Daily Information from Occupied Iraq] - [newsletter 19 Jun 2006 - Part Two]
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[imra] Daily digest - Volume: 2 Issue: 1424 (12 messages)
imra Tue Jun 20 02:20:22 2006 Volume 2 : Issue 1424
In this issue of the imra daily Digest:
President Abbas Receives Temporary
International Mechanism from Ferrero-Waldner
Syrian VP Shara, Meshal- Talks and Statement
Syria criticizes ICRS for coordinating
care in Golan with Israel instead of Syria
MEMRIT: Fmr Kuwaiti Education Minister
on Arab Conspiracy Theories
NGO Analysis: CESR - Human Rights a Pretext for Political Agenda
MEMRITV: Palestinian Militants in
Gaza Talk about Being Influenced by Hizbullah
Confronting the New Nasser in Iran
Hizbullah returns to northern border
Peres: Enough with Qassam hysteria
Kiryat Shmona was shelled for years
Qassam lands in Sderot; no injuries
Tourism to Israel Up 25 Per Cent
in First Five Months of the Year
Hamas weaponry manufacturing facility
targeted [are there more?]
----------------------------------------------------------------------
From: imra@netvision.net.il
To: imra@imra.org.il
Subject: President Abbas Receives Temporary
International Mechanism from Ferrero-Waldner
President Abbas Receives Temporary International Mechanism from
Ferrero-Waldner
http://english.wafa.ps/cphotonews.asp?num=1355
RAMALLAH, June 19, 2006 (WAFA - PLO news agency)- President Mahmoud Abbas
received Monday evening the Temporary International Mechanism to facilitate
the delivery of assistance to the Palestinian people from the EU
Commissioner for External Relations, Benita Ferrero-Waldner.
After meeting with the President in the Presidential HQ in Ramallah, Mrs.
Ferrero-Waldner told reporters the Mechanism will cover essential supplies
to the health sector and payments to health care service providers,
utilities including fuel, and basic needs allowances to meet the essential
needs of the poorest segments of the population.
For his part, the Head of the Presidency Council, Dr. Rafik al-Husseini said
President Abbas received the mechanism. "We are studying it. We will show it
to all concerned parties. We thank the Commissioner and her team for the
efforts to channel aid to the Palestinian people."
Earlier in the day, the EU Commissioner welcomed the endorsement by the
Quartet (US, EU, UN and Russia) of European Union proposals for the
Temporary Mechanism.
The Commissioner has spearheaded efforts to develop the Mechanism. She said:
"The backing of the Quartet is an important step that will enable us now to
start implementing our proposals. Europeans are determined to play our part
in preventing a humanitarian crisis in the Palestinian Territories."
She added: "But there can be no business as usual with a government that has
not yet accepted the fundamental principles of peace. That is why we have
worked hard to develop a Mechanism that will meet some basic needs without
money passing through the government."
"Parts one and two of the Mechanism will be launched immediately, with the
aim of making payments to individuals by early July" she added. "The aim is
to have part three of the Mechanism functioning as soon as possible. All
three will operate with strict controls in full accountability and
transparency."
Assistance will be channeled through a three-part structure: 1) The
Emergency Services Support Programme (ESSP) of the World Bank will be
expanded to cover essential supplies in the health sector and basic
allowances to those who are providing care in hospitals and clinics. While
implementation procedures are being developed, the European Commission will
co ordinate with the World Bank in providing immediately and directly
allowances to the health care sector employees form the community budget.
2) The Interim Emergency Relief Contribution (IERC) of the European
Commission will be reinforced to ensure uninterrupted supply of essential
utilities such as fuel.
3) A Needs Based Allowance Programme will be developed as quickly as
possible to create a "social safety net." A fund will be established to make
payments direct to individual bank accounts on the basis of need.
(22:10 P) (19:10 GMT)
------------------------------
From: imra@netvision.net.il
To: imra@imra.org.il
Subject: Syrian VP Shara, Meshal- Talks and Statement
Vice President Shara, Meshal- Talks and Statement
Monday, June 19, 2006 - 04:30 PM
DAMASCUS (SANA - Syrian news agency)-
www.sana.org/eng/21/2006/06/19/42024.htm
Vice President Farouk al-Shara discussed on Monday with a Palestinian
delegation headed by Head of Hamas Politburo Khaled Meshal latest
development in the occupation Palestinian territories and the ongoing
national dialogue between Palestine factions.
Mr. Shara stressed importance of making the national dialogue a success and
reaching common grounds based on national principles that ensure the
Palestinian rights in return and the establishment of an independent state.
He also reiterated Syria's full support to offer any help that may
contribute to enhancing the Palestinian unity against existing challenges.
In this contest, both sides' points of view were identical on the
significance of rebuilding the Palestine Liberation Organization with the
participation of all political forces on the Palestinian stage and form a
national Palestine government.
Both sides also stressed importance on moving on the bilateral and Arab
levels to break the unjust siege imposed on the Palestine people.
"Talks during the meeting concentrated on consultations regarding the recent
developments on the Palestinian arena and asserted desire to work for
reaching a Palestinian accord and understanding based on national
foundations that secure restoration of all Palestinian national rights,
including the establishing of the Palestine independent state, the right to
return and the restoration of al-Quds," Mesha'l told reporters following the
meeting.
He added that "talks emphasized on working to form a government of national
Palestinian unity based on coherent program and rebuilding of the
Palestinian Liberation Organization according to the mechanism approved last
year in Cairo."
He expressed hope that the national Palestinian dialogue will produce good
steps in the interest of the Palestinian issue.
Thawra -Zahra
------------------------------
From: imra@netvision.net.il
To: imra@imra.org.il
Subject: Syria criticizes ICRS for coordinating
care in Golan with Israel instead of Syria
Syria Briefs Ambassadors and Red Crescent, Cross Officials on Latest
Developments in Occupied Golan
Sunday, June 18, 2006 - 10:10 PM
Geneva (SANA - Syrian News Agency)-
http://www.sana.org/eng/22/2006/06/18/41900.htm
Syrian Minister of State For the Red Crescent Affairs Dr. Bashar al-Shaar,
who is visiting Geneva, on Sunday briefed ambassadors of some countries on
the latest developments in the occupied Syrian Golan, particularly the
unilateral measures taken by some representatives of the International
Committee of the Red Cross (ICRS) without coordination with the Syrian
authorities.
Minister Shaar, who met with the ambassadors of Pakistan, Chile and Norway,
Chairman of the Standing Committee of the Red Cross and Red Crescent
Mohammad al-Hadid and Head of the Arab Red Cross and Crescent Organization
Abdullah al-Hazza, said that absence of coordination with the ICRS with the
Syrian authorities led to the failure of laying the cornerstone for building
an emergency diagnosis unit in Majdal Shams as the Syrian citizens there had
boycotted such maneuvers and commitment to considering their national
authorities as true reference.
The Minister held the ICRS responsible for this failure because of its
insistence not to coordinate with the Syrian authorities and taking
unilateral measures to placate the Israeli side at the expense of the
standards of honesty, objectivity and neutrality.
He pointed out that the ICRS shows deliberate indifference regarding its
responsibility towards Syria and instead closely coordinates with the
Israeli occupation authorities. He expressed discontent over such practices.
The meetings were attended by Syria's Permanent Envoy to the United Nations
Dr. Basher al-Gaafari.
Ahmad F. ZAHRA
------------------------------
From: imra@netvision.net.il
To: imra@imra.org.il
Subject: MEMRIT: Fmr Kuwaiti Education Minister
on Arab Conspiracy Theories
The following are excerpts from an interview with former Kuwaiti education
minister Ahmad Al-Rub'i, which aired on Al-Rai TV on March 27, 2006. It is
followed by another MEMRI TV clip with Al-Rub'i which appeared on LBC TV in
Lebanon.
TO VIEW THIS CLIP: http://www.memritv.org/search.asp?ACT=S9&P1=1171
*Clip # 1171 - Former Kuwaiti Education Minister Ahmad Al-Rub'i: The Arabs
Must Replace Politicization with an Economic Program for Revival
Ahmad Al-Rub'i: Some Arab countries are fictitious countries that are run
very badly. Their natural resources are exploited in a very unjust manner,
money is wasted on armies that do not fight, people are persecuted, and
liberties are non-existent - yet when it comes to pan-Arab issues, the
leader is the number one hero of the Arab nation: He's the one defending the
Palestinian cause and always shouting slogans... This takes me back to Arab
and Islamic history. The tyrannical rulers would summon the Islamic
jurisprudents, and say to them: "Spread among the people that Man has no
free will, that everything is predetermined."
Today, we have the concept of modern conspiracy. In most Arab countries,
everybody is a victim of a foreign conspiracy.
[...]
Interviewer: [Some proclaim:] "No Iraqi would kill another Iraqi," "We love
one another, we are great." They begin to review thousands of years of Iraqi
history, and say: "but there are some who have entered Iraq in order to
destroy it." How would you respond to such a person?
Ahmad Al-Rub'i: Abu Tareq, this is the prevalent talk everywhere, I'm sad to
say. "Is it conceivable that Muslims did the killing on 9/11?" Yes, they
did. They killed 3,000 people. But it wasn't Islam - they were criminals.
"No, it must have been an American conspiracy..." "...As the plane was
flying, there was an American who..." With regard to the occupation of
Kuwait, they say: "The American ambassador told Saddam to enter Kuwait." So
America brought Saddam into Kuwait and then took him out, why? "In order to
gain control of the region." But America has been in control of the region
and its oil for a long time.
The concept of conspiracy has spread in a very organized and efficient way,
and many Arabs, even intellectuals, believe they are victims of conspiracy.
TO VIEW THIS CLIP: http://www.memritv.org/search.asp?ACT=S9&P1=1171
*Clip # 425 - Former Kuwaiti Minister Ahmad Al-Rub'i: Those Responsible for
Extremist Fatwas Live in Luxury in the West
Al-Rub'i: Like what unfortunately happened to us in the so-called Afghan
Jihad, which ended in disaster with the return of the Afghani Arabs to their
own countries, which they began to destroy in Algeria, Saudi Arabia, Syria,
Yemen, and some of the other Arab countries. It now seems that some people
are repeating this bitter experience and seducing these young people with
false Islamic legal rulings. Those same people make these rulings public on
the Arab TV stations and live in comfort and luxury. Their children study at
the best universities in the U.S. and the West and they send the sons of the
poor and wretched to Falluja and other places.
TO VIEW THIS CLIP: http://www.memritv.org/search.asp?ACT=S9&P1=425
**********************
For assistance, please contact MEMRI TV Project at memritv@memri.org The
Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI) is an independent, non-profit
organization that translates and analyzes the media of the Middle East.
Copies of articles and documents cited, as well as background information,
are available on request.
MEMRI holds copyrights on all translations. Materials may only be used with
proper attribution.
MEMRI TV Project
P.O. Box 27837, Washington, DC 20038-7837
Phone: (202) 955-9070
Fax: (202) 955-9077
www.memritv.org
------------------------------
From: imra@netvision.net.il
To: imra@imra.org.il
Subject: NGO Analysis: CESR - Human Rights a Pretext for Political Agenda
June 19, 2006:
NGO Analysis: CESR - Human Rights a Pretext for Political Agenda
[For annotated version
www.ngo-monitor.org/archives/infofile/cesr_email_190606.html ]
The Center for Economic and Social Rights (CESR), a New York City-based NGO,
funded by the Ford Foundation and other philanthropies, claims to "promote
social justice through human rights."[1] However, CESR publications on the
Israeli-Palestinian conflict promote a highly political agenda, reflected in
a one-sided Palestinian narrative that erases the context of terrorism. CESR
campaigns demonize Israel and involve partnerships with organizations such
as ICAHD, Sabeel, and the Al-Mezan Center for Human Rights. CESR's public
relations activities and special consultative status with the UN Committee
on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights (ECOSOC) provide a forum to promote
its radical ideology, masked in the rhetoric of universal rights.
BACKGROUND
According to its mission statement, CESR's objectives include advancing
"social justice through human rights"[2] as well as promoting "the universal
right of every human being to housing, education, health, and a healthy
environment, food, work, and an adequate standard of living."[3] CESR's
extensive activities related to Israel and the Palestinian Territories claim
to highlight "the root cause of ESCR violations [Economic, Social, and
Cultural Rights] - the discrimination and brutality inherent in the Israeli
occupation - and to advocate for alternatives that recognize and promote
equal rights for all people living under Israeli rule."[4]
CESR was co-founded in 1993 by two lawyers and a scientist from Harvard
University: Roger Normand, Sarah Zaidi, and Christopher Jochnick. Following
a 2004 leadership change, CESR is now headed by Eitan Felner, a former
director of B'Tselem and previous chair of the Israeli Section of Amnesty
International.[5]
FUNDING
According to its website, CESR was established on a grant of "a little over
$100,000 from the MacArthur Foundation and the Echoing Green Foundation
[...and] currently manages an annual budget of well over half a million
dollars."[6] In 2004, CESR received a $435,000 grant from the Ford
Foundation[7] and has also received funds from the Joyce Mertz-Gilmore
Foundation, Samuel Rubin Foundation, and the Life Foundation as well as
substantial donations from Elizabeth Benjamin, Carol Bernstein Ferry, and
Claude Welch.
CESR AT THE UN
CESR produces articles, fact-sheets, and reports on the Israeli-Palestinian
conflict, and also organizes conferences and teach-ins on topics such as
"Palestinian Refugees and the Right of Return" and "Great Expectations,
Bitter Realities: Human Rights Abuse and Economic Decline under the Oslo
Process." In addition, CESR's special consultative status with the UN
Committee on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights has enabled it to provide
reports and oral testimonies to the UN including the discredited and now
defunct UN Commission on Human Rights.
CESR'S COOPERATION WITH OTHER NGOS
CESR coordinates research projects on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict from
its New York City and Gaza regional offices with a variety of organizations,
including LAW , Al-Mezan Center for Human Rights, B'Tselem, Palestinian
Ministry of Education, UNRWA, Birzeit University, The Palestinian Centre for
Human Rights, Defense of Children International/Palestine Section, as well
as Caritas, Center on Housing Rights and Evictions, and PENGON. As past NGO
Monitor reports have documented, many of these NGOs are active in promoting
the Durban strategy of demonization against Israel.
In October 2001, together with over 200 NGOs and individuals, including
Christian Peacemaker Teams, Grassroots International, Israel Committee
Against House Demolitions-USA, MADRE, US Campaign to Stop the Wall, and
Friends of Sabeel-North America, CESR helped to create U.S. Campaign to End
the Israeli Occupation. This organization spearheads the divestment
campaign, promotes the "right" of return and perpetuates extreme anti-Israel
rhetoric, for example attacking Israel's disengagement from Gaza as "a
prelude to consolidating Apartheid."[8]
CESR formerly employed Lucy Mair, who, as documented in a previous NGO
Monitor report, has written for Electronic Intifada and is currently
employed by Human Rights Watch as a researcher on Israel/Palestine issues.
Mair contributed to CESR reports to the UN, coordinated protests against
Israeli officials, and organized events which promoted a decidedly one-sided
and highly distorted view of the conflict.
THE PRIMACY OF THE ANTI-ISRAEL AGENDA
In the introduction to one report entitled "Violations of the Right to
Education During the Al-Aqsa Intifada," CESR claims that the so-called
'second intifada' "led to the most comprehensive Israeli military and
economic siege ever experienced in the Occupied Palestinian Territories
(OPT)."[9] Through a selective application of human rights norms, CESR
emphasizes the Palestinian right to education, while making no mention of
Israel's right to defend its citizens from Palestinian terrorist attacks.
A 2001 report submitted to UN ECOSOC, entitled "Under Siege: Israeli Human
Rights Violations in Palestine," highlights the primacy of CESR's political
agenda. The report asserts that "...while Israel's occupation is the
underlying cause of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the current systematic
violations of economic, social and cultural rights in the OPT derive from
Israel's interrelated policies of [...] closure, curfew and siege."[10] By
rewriting the history of the conflict, and grounding its attacks on Israel
in human-rights terminology, CESR exploits the "halo-effect" surrounding
human rights NGOs to advance a highly biased, pro-Palestinian narrative.
In a highly contradictory fashion, CESR criticizes IDF actions, while
cynically justifying Palestinian violence as an "expression of Palestinian
frustration and rage over the accelerated loss of land and freedom under the
Oslo process, a period that was supposed to bring peace and improved living
conditions."[11]
In summary, CESR's political agenda, shrouded in the rhetoric of "social
justice through human rights," consistently serves to delegitimize Israel by
erasing the context of terrorism and promoting the Palestinian narrative,
while absolving the Palestinians of accountability. Instead of advocating
for "social justice using human rights tools and strategies," CESR exploits
the "halo-effect" of human rights work in order to advance the strategy of
demonization proclaimed in the 2001 Durban conference.
By Aaron Beitman
This report was sent to the following officials at the Ford Foundation for
comment. As of publication, we have received no response:
Susan Berresford, President, Ford Foundation
Marta L. Tellado, Vice President for Communications, Ford Foundation
Footnotes:
[1] http://cesr.org/about
[2] http://cesr.org/about
[3]http://cesr.org/about
[4] http://cesr.org/palestine
[5] http://cesr.org/aboutfelner
[6] http://cesr.org/node/view/674
[7] http://www.fordfound.org/grants_
db/view_grant_detail.cfm?grant_id=232393
[8] http://www.endtheoccupation.org/article.php?list=type&type=37
[9] http://cesr.org/node/view/91
[10] http://cesr.org/filestore2/download/692/under%20siege.pdf
[11] http://cesr.org/node/view/692
NGO Monitor is published in cooperation with the Institute for Contemporary
Affairs founded jointly with the Wechsler Family Foundation
NGO Monitor
Beit Milken 13 Tel Hai St.
Jerusalem, 92107 Israel
mail@ngo.monitor.org
www.ngo-monitor.org
------------------------------
From: imra@netvision.net.il
To: imra@imra.org.il
Subject: MEMRITV: Palestinian Militants in
Gaza Talk about Being Influenced by Hizbullah
The following are excerpts from interview with Palestinian militants from
various factions in Gaza, which aired on Al-Manar TV on May 25, 2006
TO VIEW THIS CLIP: http://www.memritv.org/search.asp?ACT=S9&P1=1172
*Clip # 1172 - Palestinian Militants in Gaza Talk about How They Were
Influenced by Hizbullah
Reporter: The Palestinian resistance has made many great achievements, which
forced the occupying army to withdraw from the Gaza Strip and the northern
West Bank. It followed the model of Hizbullah in Lebanon, from which it drew
moral support, as well as some resistance methods, which were adapted to the
setting of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.
3rd militant: The Palestinian resistance has greatly benefited from the
experience - from the martyrdom-seeking operations conducted by Hizbullah in
Lebanon. It has also learned something very important - that this enemy can
be broken. It can be driven away from the blows of the courageous
resistance, and this has given great momentum to the Palestinian resistance
forces, and has enabled them to continue, despite all the difficulties, to
expel this occupier from Gaza, and, Allah willing, from the rest of the
Palestinian lands.
Reporter: The experience of Hizbullah, which was adopted by the fighters in
Gaza, was not limited to combat methods, or to the psychological warfare
waged against the occupier and its soldiers. It also included the
determination to hold onto the weapons of the resistance, despite the
pressure exerted on them.
TO VIEW THIS CLIP: http://www.memritv.org/search.asp?ACT=S9&P1=1172
**********************
For assistance, please contact MEMRI TV Project at memritv@memri.org The
Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI) is an independent, non-profit
organization that translates and analyzes the media of the Middle East.
Copies of articles and documents cited, as well as background information,
are available on request.
MEMRI holds copyrights on all translations. Materials may only be used with
proper attribution.
MEMRI TV Project
P.O. Box 27837, Washington, DC 20038-7837
Phone: (202) 955-9070
Fax: (202) 955-9077
www.memritv.org
------------------------------
From: imra@netvision.net.il
To: imra@imra.org.il
Subject: Confronting the New Nasser in Iran
BESA Perspectives No. 18, June 19, 2006
www.biu.ac.il/SOC/besa/perspectives18.html
onfronting the New Nasser in Iran
Jonathan Paris
Executive Summary: The president of Iran presents more than a nuclear threat
to the world. His successful defiance of the international community is
beginning to galvanize Muslims throughout the world behind a radical vision
of puritanical Islam that rejects the liberal democratic model. In
responding to this new Nasser, the international community might recall the
original Nasser's ability to turn military defeat into political victory in
1956, as well as Nasser's rhetorical excesses that led to his humiliating
defeat in 1967. Ahmadinejad's fortunes will have significant implications
not only on the future of the region but on the civil war within Islam.
Washington is increasingly coming to the view that the new leadership in
Iran wishes to provoke a confrontation with the US. Ahmadinejad calculates
that with President Bush bogged down in Iraq, the US will blink.
The New Nasser's Global Appeal to Muslim Fence-Sitters
Washington is reluctantly but surely coming to a view about the current
president of Iran. Whether or not he holds ultimate power within Iran, he
has been given a platform by the kingmakers in Iran to be the new Nasser.
What made the original Nasser so threatening to the West and to the region
was his transnational appeal.
Almost fifty years ago, Nasserism swept away the Hashemite Kingdom of Iraq
and destabilized Jordan, Lebanon, Yemen, and eventually Libya and Sudan,
among others. Ahmadinejad's new Nasserism intends to turn the Islamic world
and non-aligned movement against the West and to create an anti-NPT
groundswell that calls for disarmament of existing nuclear countries. He
evokes populist support by calling the status quo a nuclear apartheid. But
the dispute that Iran has picked with the international community is not
primarily about nuclear weapons. Those weapons are a means to an end. The
Iranian firestorm is nothing less than an assault on liberal democracies of
the West.
Where the nuclear issue fits into the wider picture is that by gaining a
nuclear capability, Ahmadinejad can say to the Muslim world: we are the
equal of the West not by emulating their weak liberal democracies, but by
returning to the faith, and the way of the Prophet. His recent letter to
President Bush recalls the Prophet's letters to the neighbouring Persian,
Byzantine and Ethiopian empires, offering them a chance to accept Islam or
be conquered. Ahmadinejad, too, offers a black and white choice: liberal
democracy or puritanical Islam.
If Ahmadinejad can somehow prevent the West from confronting Iran, he will
have shown the fence-sitters in the Muslim and non-aligned world, and also
among the politically awakening Muslims in Europe, that you can win by
defying America and the West. Fence-sitters like a winner.
Ahmadinejad Rallies the Radicals in the Region
What will be the impact on the region of a triumphant Ahmadinejad? Already
we are seeing it. Hamas is taking an extreme position against recognizing
Israel, an utterly absurd and irrational position that only makes sense in
this era of the new Nasserism filled with rhetorical illusion. Palestine
Islamic Jihad continues to launch suicide bombing attacks. This is an
organization that is wholly supported by Iran. It has launched all nine
suicide bombings since the hudna or cease fire between Hamas and Israel over
a year ago.
Hezbollah will be emboldened and Lebanon's democratic evolution will be
retarded. Bashar Assad's Syria, Iran's closest ally, is arresting Syrian
dissidents with little fear from the international community. Iranian
operatives are smuggling more sophisticated missiles into Iraq to shoot down
British and US helicopters and blow up their vehicles.
All this is happening now. What will happen if they get the bomb? For
starters, a Middle East nuclear arms race will break out. Saudi Arabia,
Egypt, Turkey and Syria may seek to complete their nuclear fuel cycles.
Already a dangerous place, the Middle East will become exponentially more
dangerous. A nuclear Iran will intimidate the Arab Gulf states with an
adverse impact on the unimpeded and free flow of oil to the world, the
credibility of the IAEA, non-proliferation, and possibly, the post-World War
Two international security system.
If Iran is successful in its current strategy of brinksmanship, it could
galvanize Muslims throughout the world and populist members of the
non-aligned movement like Venezuela into a global anti-Western and
anti-American movement. Ahmadinejad's recent international forays to
Indonesia and elsewhere to mobilize radical Islamic support should leave no
doubt that this new Nasser intends to ride the crest of a global Jihadist
tsunami against the West.
This new Nasser should be of deep concern to Europeans as Europe's problems
in integrating its 20 million Muslims have not escaped Ahmadinejad's
attention. As Amir Taheri noted in a recent article ("About That Letter:
Understanding Iran's Nuke Kook," New York Times, May 11, 2006), "Ahmadinejad
believes that the liberal-democratic model of market-based capitalist
societies has failed and is rejected even in its traditional homeland. He
has been impressed by the recent riots in France, where the extreme left
provided the leadership, but the Muslim sub-proletariat much of the muscle
in the streets." Ahmadinejad's success will fuel separationist tendencies
among European Muslims at the expense of integration. Again, those sitting
on the fence will join a winner.
On Shoving Aside Ahmadinejad: 1956 or 1967
Washington views a policy of accommodation very warily. Accommodation - any
tolerance of the views espoused by the president of Iran - is seen by the
radicals as weakness and a sign of lack of resolve. Iran today is something
like the Germany of 1937 and 1938. When Hitler took policies that seemed
reckless, the professional German generals like General Beck wanted to
launch a coup. But after Hitler's diplomatic success at Munich, they were
undermined. General Becks are surely biding time in the Iranian elite,
waiting for a misstep by the brash president. But Ahmadinejad's ability to
cow the international community and galvanize the crowds at home and abroad
by defying the West and America appears to strengthen him internally and
squelch his rivals. Iranians are becoming deluded by his rhetoric just as
Egyptians and the wider Arab world were deluded by Nasser's rhetoric in May
1967. We all know what happened to Nasser in June. Call it a reality check.
The US has offered to negotiate directly with the Iranian government to
reach a diplomatic solution over Iran's nuclear program, provided that Iran
suspends work on disputed nuclear activities. Iran would like nothing better
than to turn its defiance of the IAEA and the international community into a
bilateral dispute between the Iran and the US, as that would enable them to
play David vs. the Goliath super power. A good reason for the US to be wary
about face-to-face talks is that diplomatic negotiations that enhance the
status of the current leadership also undermine the forces for democratic
change within Iran. It may not be a good idea to negotiate with a regime
that for the last 28 years has been mistreating the Iranian people.
The Islamic Republic of Iran bullies by force internally as it is likely to
do externally if it gets the bomb. The US does not want to legitimize Iran's
current leadership and, in particular, the new Nasser's rants. Many within
the Administration still believe that with resolve and unity, the
international community might not only prevent Iran from going nuclear, but
also create the conditions that will accelerate the evolution of liberal
democracy in Iran.
As the US loses patience with the diplomatic minuet Iran is playing,
American strategists should remember that they are dealing with a wily
populist. The surging Nasser in 1956 managed to turn a military defeat by
British, French and Israeli forces into a major diplomatic and popular
victory. The international community, and especially the US, must assert a
robust policy in a way that not only prevents Iran from completing the
nuclear fuel cycle but also humiliates Ahmadinejad so that he cannot
credibly claim victory.
The Wider Stakes within Islam
If the puritanical Islamic Republic of Iran gets a hold of the bomb, it will
be able to undermine the last 400 years of Arabs and Muslim history, where
Arabs and Moslems looked to the West as the path to modernity. A victorious
Iran in this dispute will not only cause a nuclear arms race in the Middle
East, it will affect seriously the civil war going on within the Islamic
world between the modernizers and the puritans. It will undermine the
liberal reform movement from Egypt to Jordan to the Gulf States, to the
fledgling democracy in Iraq, to the new democracies in Turkey and Indonesia,
to the nascent Euro-Islamic thinking that synthesizes western liberal values
with modern Islam.
What hope will there be for liberal Muslims in the face of this Islamist
tsunami if Iran shows it can win through defiance? Iran cannot be allowed to
win, not just for the sake of the post-1945 international security system
but for the sake of more than a billion Muslims who want to embrace a
forward looking future rather than go backwards to the 7th or 8th century.
We are talking about competing visions here. For the long, slow evolution
toward liberal democracy to continue so that a benign future in the region
may take hold someday, the radical vision offered by Ahmadinejad must be
derailed.
Jonathan Paris is a Middle East analyst based in London and was a Middle
East Fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations in New York from 1995-2000.
This article was adapted from his remarks at a forum on Iran at the House of
Commons, London on May 18, 2006. He also delivered a presentation at the
BESA Center's international conference in May on "Radical Islam: Challenge
and Response."
For the BESA Center website, go to http://www.besacenter.org
------------------------------
From: imra@netvision.net.il
To: imra@imra.org.il
Subject: Hizbullah returns to northern border
Hizbullah returns to northern border
Hizbullah members return to outposts along border with Israel, which were
attacked three weeks ago by IDF
Hanan Greenberg YNET 20 June 2006
www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3264984,00.html
Hizbullah members are rebuilding their outposts damaged in the IDF attack
three weeks ago , the army has said.
"This doesn't surprise us. The night after the Air Force and tank attacks,
we saw movement in the area, now they are rebuilding, and in some places
upgrading," an army source told Ynet on Tuesday.
"They have built towers, and begun to rebuild destroyed buildings. They have
also set up watch positions, such a new watchtower in the Rosh Hanikra area.
In some of the areas heavy equipment is being used, and some places are
being improved," the IDF source said.
Iranian fingerprints detected
The source added that like Hizbullah's attack, Iranian fingerprints can be
identified in the reconstruction. "There's no doubt that some of the funding
is coming from Iran," he said.
The Northern Command is accustomed to seeing Hizbullah repair its outposts
after IDF attacks. A similar pattern took place following the failed attempt
by Hizbullah to carry out a kidnapping in November 2005.
"We are receiving instructions from the political leadership. All that has
been asked to do - has been done," the IDF source said, hinting
that currently there was no order to "interfere" with Hizbullah's
reconstruction efforts.
"There are still a number of questions from the last Hizbullah attack, such
as why they did not attack Har Dov, like they did in previous attacks. It's
still unclear whether something changed in Hizbullah after the recent
incidents, and what their intentions are currently," the source added.
(06.20.06, 01:19)
------------------------------
From: imra@netvision.net.il
To: imra@imra.org.il
Subject: Peres: Enough with Qassam hysteria
Kiryat Shmona was shelled for years
[IMRA: Mr. Peres sends an important message regarding his view about
additional retreats. Even if they are certain to bring continuous rocket
fire for years this is a consequence Israel can handle.]
Peres: Enough with Qassam hysteria
Vice Premier: 'I don't understand what the hysteria is about. Kiryat Shmona
was shelled for years. We must tell Palestinians: We will hold firm;
Shmulik Hadad YNET 20 June 2006 (00:55)
www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3264980,00.html
Sderot preparing for day of protest: After the hunger-strike in the protest
tent opposite Defense Minister Amir Peretz's home ended, Sderot is preparing
to close its gates at 7:30 in the morning (Tuesday) to the world.
Vice Premier Shimon Peres, however, doesn't understand what the fuss is
about. "This hysteria over the Qassams must end," he told journalists at the
Knesset. "We're just adding to the hysteria. What happened? Kiryat Shmona
was shelled for years. What, there weren't missiles?"
Peres added: "We must tell the Palestinians, Qassams shmassams, we'll hold
firm. We won't move from here."
The vice premier also accused the management of the Israeli side: "Our
response is causing the other side to strike. We must carry out a series of
steps in order to take out the Qassams. Peres refused to detail which steps
he meant.
Sderot prepares for blackout
Hunger strikers in Sderot complied Monday with President Moshe Katsav's
request and agreed to end their strike, nine days after it was first
declared. However, residents said they plan to carry on with their protest.
The strikers' leader, Alon Davidi, stated he was still disappointed that
"there is one man afraid of showing up here, and this is the prime
minister."
Mayor Eli Moyal convened a meeting to discuss the protest acts. All of the
city's entrances and exits will be closed, and the streets will be darkened
at nine in the evening.
The protest tent opposite the home of Defense Minister Peretz will be
thickened and receive aid from Sderot municipality. "I hear the voices and I
am aware of them. We have a feeling that our residents are not being
protected and this situation has been going on for five and a half years.
Over 3,000 rockets have landed," said Moyal.
"We are asking the government to uphold its basic commitment to protect the
residents. I wouldn't want the Palestinians and the world to see pictures of
residents ditching the city. We want the city to be full, not abandoned.
Part of the protest acts will go on in Jerusalem, including demonstrations
opposite the Knesset, and other demonstrations," Moyal added.
Defense Minister Peretz said that "the acts are legitimate and have no
political leaning, but rather the sending of a message."
Attila Somfalvi contributed to this report
------------------------------
From: imra@netvision.net.il
To: imra@imra.org.il
Subject: Qassam lands in Sderot; no injuries
Qassam lands in Sderot; no injuries
Shmulik Hadad YNET 06/20/2006 08:29
www.ynetnews.com/Ext/Comp/CdaNewsFlash/0,2297,L-3265015_3089,00.html
A Qassam rocket fired from north Gaza landed in an open field in Sderot
early Tuesday.
No injuries or damage were reported.
------------------------------
From: imra@netvision.net.il
To: imra@imra.org.il
Subject: Tourism to Israel Up 25 Per Cent
in First Five Months of the Year
Ministry of Tourism Spokesperson's Office
www.tourism.gov.il
Reference: 2006-0005-475
23 Sivan 5766
19 June 2006
Press Release
Tourism to Israel Up 25 Per Cent in First Five Months of the Year
883,900 Visitors Enter the Country between January and May
883,900 tourists entered Israel in the first five months of 2006, a 25 per
cent increase over the same period last year.
According to Isaac Herzog, Israel's Minister of Tourism, increased marketing
efforts will see 2.6 million tourists arriving by the end of the year. The
minister referred to the latest forecast and plans to relaunch English and
Russian-language tourism websites.
The majority of tourists, 739,400, arrived by air in the first five months
of the year, up 20 per cent.
187,800 foreign tourists arrived in Israel in the month of May alone, nine
per cent more than in May 2005.
------------------------------
From: imra@netvision.net.il
To: imra@imra.org.il
Subject: Hamas weaponry manufacturing facility
targeted [are there more?]
[IMRA: Asked the IDF Spokesperson's Office this morening if there are other
similar targets known today to the IDF. It is not yet clear if they will
provide a reply.]
Hamas weaponry manufacturing facility targeted
IDF SPOKESPERSON ANNOUNCEMENT
Hamas weaponry manufacturing facility targeted
Early this morning, June 20th 2006, the IDF targeted a structure used by the
Hamas terror organization as part of the weaponry manufacturing industry in
the Gaza Strip.
The structure, located in Gaza City, was used by Hamas to manufacture
weaponry, including projectile rockets meant for attacks against Israel.
Over 130 rockets have been fired at Israel over the course of the past 10
days alone.
The Palestinian Authority is fully responsible for any attacks emanating
from the Gaza Strip. Unfortunately, it continues to take no action in order
to prevent the daily attacks against Israeli civilians.
The IDF will continue to act with determination and to employ all means at
its disposal to combat terrorists and their infrastructure, in order to
defend the citizens of Israel.
------------------------------
From: imra-owner@imra.org.il
Subject: IMRA Subscription Info
--------------------------------------------
IMRA - Independent Media Review and Analysis
Website: www.imra.org.il
For free regular subscription:
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--------------------------------------------
------------------------------
End of [imra] Daily digest - Volume: 2 Issue: 1424 (12 messages)
**********
new articles on APFN
Al Bielek talking to Patricia can Blow lid off Black OPS — Patricia Johnson-Holm, Mon Jun 19 01:07
Distrust AND VERIFY! Who counts our votes? — Patricia Gracian, Mon Jun 19 01:38
EXTRA EXTRA READ ALL ABOUT wingtv BLOWS THEIR COVER — maddog, Mon Jun 19 03:36
Useful IDIOT Marsha — Larry Lawson, Mon Jun 19 07:21
We_the_people??? — Larry Lawson, Mon Jun 19 07:24
Wise Reformation of the USA - forward widely — Deborah Reid, Mon Jun 19 10:38
Internet neutrality? Or Propaganda & profitability? — Henk Ruyssenaars, Mon Jun 19 10:52
US Media Keeps Hyping Phony Korean Missile Threat — Cheryl Seal, Mon Jun 19 11:02
I have heard this rumor as well - It's probably true — Cheryl Seal, Mon Jun 19 11:26
Why are you so eager to discredit this rumor? — Cheryl Seal, Mon Jun 19 11:29
NOW is the time to reopen Investigations — Ralph C. Whitley, Sr. a Veteran of One, Mon Jun 19 11:50
Wondered If You Knew This Info - - — Carrie Taranova, Mon Jun 19 13:14
"He's back" America's most independent Talk Show Host" — Charles Goyette is back!, Mon Jun 19 13:37
Re: Al Bielek talking to Patricia can Blow lid off Black OPS — Patricia Johnson-Holm, Mon Jun 19 14:53
Re: We_the_people??? — Patricia Johnson-Holm, Mon Jun 19 16:06
Reclaim The Issues - "Occupation," Not "War" — by Thom Hartmann, Mon Jun 19 20:11
Distrust AND VERIFY! Who counts our votes? — Patricia Gracian, Mon Jun 19 01:38
EXTRA EXTRA READ ALL ABOUT wingtv BLOWS THEIR COVER — maddog, Mon Jun 19 03:36
Useful IDIOT Marsha — Larry Lawson, Mon Jun 19 07:21
We_the_people??? — Larry Lawson, Mon Jun 19 07:24
Wise Reformation of the USA - forward widely — Deborah Reid, Mon Jun 19 10:38
Internet neutrality? Or Propaganda & profitability? — Henk Ruyssenaars, Mon Jun 19 10:52
US Media Keeps Hyping Phony Korean Missile Threat — Cheryl Seal, Mon Jun 19 11:02
I have heard this rumor as well - It's probably true — Cheryl Seal, Mon Jun 19 11:26
Why are you so eager to discredit this rumor? — Cheryl Seal, Mon Jun 19 11:29
NOW is the time to reopen Investigations — Ralph C. Whitley, Sr. a Veteran of One, Mon Jun 19 11:50
Wondered If You Knew This Info - - — Carrie Taranova, Mon Jun 19 13:14
"He's back" America's most independent Talk Show Host" — Charles Goyette is back!, Mon Jun 19 13:37
Re: Al Bielek talking to Patricia can Blow lid off Black OPS — Patricia Johnson-Holm, Mon Jun 19 14:53
Re: We_the_people??? — Patricia Johnson-Holm, Mon Jun 19 16:06
Reclaim The Issues - "Occupation," Not "War" — by Thom Hartmann, Mon Jun 19 20:11
[imra] Daily digest - Volume: 2 Issue: 1423 (15 messages)
imra Tue Jun 20 00:30:33 2006 Volume 2 : Issue 1423
In this issue of the imra daily Digest:
German paper doubts Gaza beach reports
[with url for German article]
Excerpts:Jordan slams HRW. Book reveals aborted
U.S. massive attack by Al Q-aeda. 19 June 2006
PA AWAITS IRANIAN AIRCRAFT
Pallywood: German Expose of Palestinian
media hi-jinx in Gaza beach tragedy
Quartet Statement June 17, 2006 - endorse EU
proposal for temporary international mechanism
Israeli-made targeting pod used to kill al Zarqawi
Two Palestinians Injured, One Seriously, in Armed Personal Disputes
PSR Poll: Vote in referendum on prisoners' document
47%: 44% in favor, support for Fatah & Hamas both 39%
Olmert jokes: Blair liked realignment
so much he almost joined Kadima
Sderot: Qassams land during president
& DM's visit [DM repeats threats from last week]
[Before Kassams hit Sderot as he visits]
Peretz: Israel will stop the Kassam fire
[Peretz gives green light to Qassams?]Peretz:
IDF escalation would bring more Qassams on Sderot
King of Jordan on Hamas, etc. in Der Spiegel interview
PM Olmert Convenes Ministerial Disengagement
Committee to Discuss Assistance to the Residents
PM Olmert Convenes Prime Ministers Forum
----------------------------------------------------------------------
From: imra@netvision.net.il
To: imra@imra.org.il
Subject: German paper doubts Gaza beach reports
[with url for German article]
German paper doubts Gaza beach reports
German newspaper casts doubt on Palestinian claims that IDF shell killed
seven family members on Gaza beach. How come Hadil Ghalia was seen wearing
dry clothes after the Gaza beach attack when she was reported to have been
swimming?
Ynet 18 June 2006
www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3264158,00.html
[IMRA: url for original 16.06.2006 article in German
www.sueddeutsche.de/ausland/artikel/315/78237/ ]
While three major British newspapers published reports contradicting
Israel's claims that its military was not responsible for the murder of
seven members of the Ghalia family on a Gaza beach over a week ago, a German
newspaper casts doubt on the authenticity of pictures taken soon after the
bloody incident.
Contradictions
German daily Sued Deutsche, said pictures taken by Zakaria Abu Irbad, 36, a
cameramen with the Palestinian independent news agency Ramattan, contradict
Palestinian claims that an IDF shell killed the Ghalia family and point to
the possibility that the event was staged to hold Israel responsible.
Irbad was the first journalist to arrive at the s cene after the attack and
Ramattan sold footage of Hadil weeping on the beach by her dead father to
all major news broadcasters.
The newspaper said in footage of the beach taken by an IDF drone at the time
of the attack, five craters left by IDF artillery shells could be seen, but
that 250 meters away people could also be seen.
The paper said it is strange that although shells exploded 250 meters away
from a beach site where Palestinian families congregated, no one was seen
running away or panicking.
Irbad told the newspaper he was told of the attack by paramedics who guided
him to the scene.
But no paramedics are seen until later in the footage, raising suspicions
that he was first to reach the scene.
Moreover, if Irbad was the first to get to the scene, why were most bodies
covered by sheets? Who was there first to cover the bodies? The newspaper
asked.
'Did girl give instructions to cameraman?'
The newspaper also doubts Irbad's claim that Hadil was not injured because
she was in the water when the shell exploded. His footage show her dry and
fully clothed.
Another question raised by the newspaper is a shot of a man carrying a rifle
next to the dead body of Hadil's father. The newspaper said in earlier
footage, the same man was seen lying on the beach among the injured.
The footage also shows paramedics in green clothes and a dozen of bearded
men looking for evidence. The newspaper asks whether the men are Hamas
affiliates and wonders why they were preoccupied with collecting evidence
rather than helping the injured.
Did Hamas men hide evidence from the scene, as claimed by eyewitnesses
interviewed by Israeli broadcasters?
The newspaper said Irbad evaded most of the questions addressed to him.
Asked why he didn't try to calm Hadil instead of filming her he said: "She
asked me to film her. She wanted to be seen next to her father to show the
world the crimes that Israel is committing."
The newspaper finally asks: "Did the shocked 10-year-old girl, who had lost
her father minutes earlier, give the cameraman direction instructions?"
(06.18.06, 10:56)
------------------------------
From: imra@netvision.net.il
To: imra@imra.org.il
Subject: Excerpts:Jordan slams HRW. Book reveals aborted
U.S. massive attack by Al Q-aeda. 19 June 2006
Excerpts:NGOs can err.Book reveals aborted U.S. massive attack by Al Q-aeda.
19 June 2006
+++JORDAN TIMES 19 June '06:
"EDITORIAL:Watching reality"
QUOTES FROM TEXT:
"International NGOs can err, no matter how reputable they are"
"Human Rights Watch did a disservice to the human rights process"
"the issue of human rights continues to be pursued and treated as an
academic and abstract exercise not remotely connected with realities."
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FULL TEXT:
The Human Rights Watch's criticism of the government over the arrest of four
parliamentarians after they visited the family of the slain terrorist Abu
Mussab Zarqawi to offer their condolences exemplifies how international
human rights NGOs can err, no matter how reputable they are.
By criticising Jordan for the detention of the four members of the Lower
House of Parliament, including the deputy who described Zarqawi as a
"martyr", Human Rights Watch did a disservice to the human rights process,
ignoring the sensitivities and peculiarities of the situation and the
cultural context of this case.
The comments made this week by the director of Human Rights Watch's Middle
East and North African Division show how the issue of human rights continues
to be pursued and treated as an academic and abstract exercise not remotely
connected with realities.
When Human Rights Watch says that "expression of condolences to the family
of a dead man, however murderous he might be, is no crime", it demonstrates
how the judgement of the organisation can be divorced from the real world,
something which could undermine the human rights process across the globe.
The intent behind the visit was not innocent. It bore malice, as evidenced
by the comment by one of the deputies.
Human Rights Watch has got to be more serious about its own comments; when
it says that a "dubious comment about an alleged terrorist leader" should
not be considered "incitement to violence", it only proves correct the claim
of many that the subject of human rights is being pursued in a lopsided
manner.
In the eyes of Human Rights Watch, Zarqawi is only an "alleged terrorist".
Legally speaking, a suspect continues to be referred to as an "alleged
criminal" when there are doubts about his criminality. If Human Rights Watch
concludes that Zarqawi is only an "alleged terrorist", it does so blindly.
The organisation could do with some reckoning with realities and not only
with abstract and academic ideas.
+++ARAB NEWS (Saudi) 19 June' '06:"Al-Qaeda Planned Gas Attack on NYC: Book
"Associated Press -
QUOTES FROM TEXT:
"strike would have killed as many people as the Sept.11 attacks"
"release hydrogen cyanide into multiple subway cars"
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FULL TEXT:
NEW YORK, 19 June 2006 - US officials received intelligence that Al-Qaeda
operatives had been 45 days away from releasing a deadly gas into the city's
subways when the plan was called off by Osama Bin Laden's deputy in 2003,
according to a book excerpt released yesterday on Time magazine's website.
According to the investigative report by Ron Suskind, an informant close to
Al-Qaeda leaders told US officials that Ayman Al-Zawahiri had canceled the
plan in January 2003, despite the likelihood that the strike would have
killed as many people as the Sept. 11 attacks.
The informant said the operatives had planned to use a small, easily
concealed device to release hydrogen cyanide into multiple subway cars. US
officials had already discovered plans for the device on the hard drive of a
computer of a Bahraini jehadist arrested in February 2003, and they had been
able to construct a working model from the plans.
The easy-to-make device, called "the mubtakkar," meaning "invention" in
Arabic or "initiative" in Farsi, represented a breakthrough in weapons
technology that "was the equivalent of splitting the atom," Suskind writes
in his book. All previous attempts to use the deadly gas, similar to that
used in Holocaust-era gas chambers, in mass attacks had failed.
The FBI declined to confirm the details of Suskind's account. Spokesman Bill
Carter in Washington said Saturday the bureau would have no comment on the
excerpted material.
A New York Police Department spokesman said authorities had known of the
planned attack. "We were aware of the plot and took appropriate precaution,"
Paul Browne said.
New York City Metropolitan Transportation Authority spokesman Tom Kelly
declined comment.
According to the report, President George W. Bush was shown a model of the
weapon in March 2003 and ordered alerts sent through the US government. When
intelligence arrived that Al-Zawahiri had called off the attack, Bush
worried that something worse was in the works, Suskind writes.
At least two of Suskind's sources remembered Bush saying, "This is bad
enough. What does calling this off say about what else they're planning? ...
What could be the bigger operation Zawahiri didn't want to mess up?" the
author said.
"What has been concluded for the most part is this: Al-Qaeda's thinking is
that a second-wave attack should be more destructive and more disruptive
than 9/11," Suskind told the magazine in an interview.
The informant, who had become disgruntled with Al-Qaeda's leadership, linked
the organization's top operative on the Arabian Peninsula to the plot,
Suskind writes. The operative was later killed in a standoff with Saudi
authorities.
The excerpt of Suskind's book, "The One Percent Doctrine," was to appear in
Time's issue hitting newsstands today. Suskind is a former Pulitzer
Prize-winning reporter for The Wall Street Journal.
Sue Lerner - Associate - IMRA
------------------------------
From: imra@netvision.net.il
To: imra@imra.org.il
Subject: PA AWAITS IRANIAN AIRCRAFT
PA AWAITS IRANIAN AIRCRAFT
GAZA CITY [MENL] -- The Palestinian Authority has been awaiting aircraft and
combat vehicles from Iran.
Palestinian Foreign Minister Mahmoud Zahar said Iran has been preparing to
deliver two aircraft and 300 vehicles to the PA. Zahar said Iran would soon
send the platforms to the Gaza Strip.
Zahar did not identify the aircraft or vehicles. But officials said the
platforms would include helicopters as well as cars for the police and
security forces.
Iran has also pledged $50 million to the PA. Zahar suggested that the money
would be brought to the Gaza Strip by Hamas couriers.
===
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: Pallywood: German Expose of Palestinian
media hi-jinx in Gaza beach tragedy
Pallywood: German Expose of Palestinian media hi-jinx in Gaza beach tragedy
www.zionism-israel.com/log/archives/00000123.html
19.06.2006
The German Suedduetche Zeitung ran the following article with a detailed
examination of the evidence in the Gaza Bearch shooting. It clarifies many
of the problems with the story disseminated by the Palestinians and media.
The Middle East: The war of images Seven casualties in Gaza beach: Was it a
shelling attack by Israel? Or an exploding Palestinian land mine? An example
of how sometimes Palestinians bend the truth. by Thorsten Schmitz
Source (in German, with photos:
www.sueddeutsche.de/ausland/artikel/315/78237/5/
Last Friday ten year old Huda Ghalia rose early, although she did not have
any school. She was excited. The last exams were written, and large summer
holidays had begun. Huda's father Ali had promised his children to organize
a picnic at the beach in northern Gaza on that Friday last week .
Huda is, a cousin tells us, one of the class scholars and loves math,
biology and classics. Their favorite poem is by Mahmud Darwish: Calling Card
is a sad poem about a homeless Palestinian and his hate for settlers. The
family from the 35,000 inhabitant town of Beit Lahia loaded up with plastic
tables and chairs, cooked ears of corn and Pita bread on the short way to
the beach. Beit Lahija is well-known for its strawberries, in addition,
however, from here short-range missiles are fired on Israel.
For the father, one of his two wives and five of the sons and daughters the
picnic had a deadly end. Before 5 PM a shell exploded g in the midst of the
family. Seven humans lost their lives that Friday afternoon in the sand or
in the ambulance.
The bloody picnic made Huda Ghalija famous within a few hours world-wide.
This was owing to the cameraman Zakarija Abu Harbed. Only few minutes after
the explosion of shrapnel from a ball-filled shell the 36 year old cameraman
from Gaza city with camera and full equipment was at the scene of the
catastrophe.
A lucrative job
Harbed works for the Arab TV Ramattan News Agency. The agency has offices
in Ramallah in the West Bank and in Gaza city, the capital of the Gaza
Strip.
The largest TV broadcasters in the world, CNN and ABC, news agencies such as
Reuters and Associated press, and also German TV firms, work almost
exclusively with Palestinian camera men, if it concerns reports out of the
Gaza Strip.
The pictures of the hopeless world in the Gaza Strip are filmed primarily by
Palestinians. As a cameraman, working for Western media is considered one of
the most lucrative jobs in the Palestinian areas. Some earn as much as 250
US dollar a day, as much as some Palestinian extended families earn in half
a year.
Cameraman Harbed had occupational luck on past Friday: He was first at the
place of the misfortune. His agency, Ramattan news Agency sold the
heart-rending pictures of the hysterical and tear-flooded Huda Ghalia to
television stations around the entire world. In Australia as in India, in
Europe as in the USA, Harbed's photographs of Huda were shown: As she tears
her hair and strikes her chest, as she sinks beside her dead father into the
sand, as she runs completely alone dozens of meters in the sand.
In the Arab world and in the Palestinian areas the cause of the death of the
Ghalia family members was already certain on Friday: Israeli shelling. This
verdict was also bolstered by archive photos of Israeli soldiers firing
artillery shells, which some Arab television stations cut into the film of
cameraman Harbed.
In opinion of the Hamas-led autonomy authority, and in the opinion of Fatah
head and president of Palestinian Authority, Mahmud Abbas, the Ghalias were
killed by Israeli bombardment. They both used the word "massacre". In rare
agreement still on Saturday, Hamas head of the government Ismail Hanija and
Abbas symbolically adopted Huda and vowed they would be responsible for the
remainder of their life for her living costs.
A Palestinian child, who lost its father, is considered as an orphan.
(Huda's physical birth mother Hamdia survived the detonation with an injury)
Likewise the investigation of a team of the US human rights group, Human
Rights Watch, concluded provisionally that Israel was responsible for the
shell explosion.
The group formulates its conclusions, however, carefully and less
certainly: After interviews with victims, eye-witnesses, policemen and
physicians and visiting the scene of the disaster, one preserves "strong
assumptions" that Israeli artillery is responsible for the misfortune. The
report of the human rights groups does not mention however that their
investigator researched the incident for evidence only after a day had
elapsed - allowing enough time to remove important pieces of evidence.
The Israeli Ministry of Defense concluded, after first evaluations of radar
and satellite photographs, that the projectile, which led to the death of
the seven Palestinians did not originate with the army. Chief of Staff Dan
Halutz said, that while Israel regrets the death of the seven Palestinians,
this does not mean however "that we were responsible for it".
According to investigations of the Israeli army, based only on pictures and
medical findings, not on on the scene searches, the Israeli army fired six
shells in that Friday afternoon toward Gaza beach. According to data
supplied by Halutz, five of the six shells hit in the time between 16.31 and
16.48 - approximately 250 meters north of that place, in which the family
picnic had taken place. The artillery bombardment was due to Palestinian
rocket launchers.
An unmanned airplane of the Israeli army filmed the Gaza Strip at the time
of the bombardment from the air. On the films one sees on the one hand five
impact holes of the shells in the beach, in addition, 250 meters to the
south, humans. According to data of the army the explosion at the beach
section, at which the Ghalias picnicked, must have taken place between 16.57
and 17.10. Before 16.57 normal beach activity is to be seen on the film of
the army.
The fact that humans did not react to the five shell impacts at 250 meters
distance by rushing to escape is strange. The next scene on the army film
shows ambulances, arriving at the beach. That is at 17.15 o'clock. The
hospital, where the ambulances came, lies five minutes away from the site of
the explosion.
Possible dud
Over the impact site the sixth shell, which caused the death of the seven
family members according to statements of human rights group and the
Palestinian government as a dud, The Israeli army cannot give any
information. It regards it however as "impossible" that the shell deviated a
whole 250 meters from its target.
As further proof Israel states that it treated four of the beach casualties
in hospitals in Tel Aviv. From the body of one of the wounded fragments were
saved, which could not have originated from weapons in the arsenal of the
Israeli army.
The Israeli army does not exclude the possibility that the detonation was
due to a mine, which had been buried there by Palestinians, in order to
prevent the Israeli navy from landing commandos in the Gaza Strip.
In view of the contradictory statements, great importance is attached to
Harbed's television pictures. These however raise more questions than they
contribute to clarifying. The original photographs are in the meantime so
doubtful that CNN shows them only in abbreviated form at its Website.
To the Sueddeutche Zeitung, Harbed explains that he had been informed
afterwards about the explosion and driven to the scene by the rescue medics
in the ambulance. In his pictures however, Harbed films the hysteria of the
ten-year Huda, as if he were a witness of the detonation. Also he films the
arrival of the medics, as though he was at the beach beforehand.
Additionally, some of the dead and wounded are covered with cloths - who did
that?
Harbed claims that Huda escaped serious injury, since she was bathing in the
sea. In his photos, however, Huda is running around in dry street clothes.
Harbed runs several minutes of the crying Huda and afterwards turns his
camera to the dead and injured.
Suddenly a man beside Huda's dead father can be discerned, until now covered
and motionless, who appears with a machine gun in his hand. In the pictures
of the cameraman one can recognize both medics in green OI clothes as well
as dozens of men, most with typical Hamas full beards, apparently securing
pieces of evidence.
However one must ask, why the medics do not worry about the injured people
and policemen do not secure the place. Have the Hamas men, as Israeli media
quote Palestinian eye witnesses, removed pieces of evidence?
Evasive answers of the cameraman
It is also strange why in Harbed's pictures we cannot discern a crater. The
more cameraman Harbed is asked by Sueddeutche Zeitung in the telephone
interview, the more he evades the issue. Was he at the scene of the incident
before the outpatient clinic [personnel] arrived? Who are the civilians, who
are clean the beach? Who is the armed man in the ground, which suddenly
rises? If it was an Israeli army shell that killed the Ghalia family
members, why don't the Palestinians show its fragments?
And: Why didn't it occur to Harbed to calm the hysterical Huda down instead
of pursuing her for several minutes with his camera? Harbed says: "She asked
me to film her. She wanted to be shown to the world with her father and show
the world what crimes Israel commits." The ten-year Huda, who lost seven
family members, distraught in mourning, is supposed have given Harbed cinema
direction instructions?
Pallywood
The fact that Palestinians in the Middle East war fabricate based on
pictures or bring incorrect pictures into circulation is not new. In the
media parlance following the US TV Magazine 60 Minutes one speaks of
"Pallywood" - following Hollywoods film industry. In the [60 minutes] report
for example one can see Palestinians of the latest Intifada, who carry a
dead person on a stretcher. Someone trips, the alleged dead man falls on the
soil - and jumps swiftly again back on the stretcher, lies down and acts
like a dead man.
A recent example of an attempt of Palestinians to lead the world public by
the nose is the Israeli Air Force attack on last Tuesday on three members of
the "Islamic Jihad", in which eight civilians, among them two children, were
killed. After the attack on the car, in which the members of the terror
group sat, one sees three men briefly, as they remove a short-range missile
in a hurry from the car.
For two days the Ramattan TV news Agency Internet site blinked with an
"urgent flash: Message for our customers . As if the company is anxious to
further spread the Huda pictures, whose authenticity is doubted by many
people, pointing out hereby that that it possesses exclusive rights to the
pictures. Nobody has the right to disseminate the pictures further without
consent of Ramattan news Agency.
(SZ of 16.6.2006)
Copyright belongs to the authors and originators.
Translation copyright 2006 by Ami Isseroff and ZioNation.
Posted at www.zionism-israel.com/log/archives/00000123.html. Distributed by
ZNN - znn-subscribe@yahoogroups.com Please circulate with this note.
------------------------------
From: imra@netvision.net.il
To: imra@imra.org.il
Subject: Quartet Statement June 17, 2006 - endorse EU
proposal for temporary international mechanism
Media Note
Office of the Spokesman - State Department
Washington, DC
June 17, 2006
www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2006/68003.htm
Quartet Statement
Following is the text of a statement issued by the Quartet (United Nations,
Russian Federation, The United States and European Union).
Begin Text:
Recalling its statements of January 30 and May 9, and mindful of the needs
of the Palestinian people, the Quartet endorsed a European Union proposal
for a temporary international mechanism, limited in scope and duration,
which operates with full transparency and accountability. The mechanism
facilitates needs-based assistance directly to the Palestinian people,
including essential equipment, supplies, and support for health services,
support for the uninterrupted supply of fuel and utilities, and basic needs
allowances to poor Palestinians. The Quartet expressed its hope that other
donors, international organizations, and the State of Israel would consider
participation in this mechanism. The Quartet will review the continued need
for such a mechanism after three months. Donors are also encouraged to
respond to humanitarian and other assistance requests by international
organizations, especially UN agencies, active in the West Bank and Gaza.
The Quartet reiterated its call for the Palestinian Authority government to
commit to the principles of nonviolence, recognition of Israel, and
acceptance of previous agreements and obligations, including the Roadmap.
The Palestinian Authority government must fulfill its responsibilities with
respect to basic human needs, including health services, as well as for
proper fiscal management and provision of services.
End Text.
2006/621
Released on June 17, 2006
------------------------------
From: imra@netvision.net.il
To: imra@imra.org.il
Subject: Israeli-made targeting pod used to kill al Zarqawi
Israeli-made targeting pod used to kill al Zarqawi
Rafael's Litening system marks the target, guides the ordinance with lasers,
and evaluates damage.
Amnon Barzilai GLOBES 18 Jun 06 10:37
www.globes.co.il/serveen/globes/DocView.asp?did=1000103136&fid=942
Abu Musab al Zarqawi, al-Qaida's top terrorist in Iraq, was killed with help
of Israeli target acquisition technology fitted onto a US Air Force F-16.
Rafael Armament Development Authority Ltd. supplies Litening advanced
airborne infrared targeting and navigation pod to Northrop Grumman
(NYSE:NOC), which installs them on combat jets under a cooperation
agreement. The Israel Air Force also uses the Litening.
According to a report by senior US Air Force officers, al Zarqawi was killed
by a pair of USAF F-16s on a routine mission in central Iraq, when the
decision to act was taken. USAF commander in Iraq, Lt.-Gen. Gary North said
the fighters carried a variety of laser and GPS-guided ordinance and the
Litening pod.
The Litening pod has target-acquisition capability, laser spot detection and
tracking and a video camera. For the Zarqawi strike, the pilot activated the
system from 20,000 feet, guided a 250kg. bomb to its target, and then used
pod's video camera to examine the resulting damage. A second bomb was then
dropped, which killed al Zarqawi.
In a media briefing, senior USAF officers mentioned Litening's role in
locating the target. "Aviation Week" said that the pod was Northrop Grumman's
but did not mention that the technology was Israeli, developed at Rafael.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes.co.il - on
June 18, 2006
------------------------------
From: imra@netvision.net.il
To: imra@imra.org.il
Subject: Two Palestinians Injured, One Seriously, in Armed Personal Disputes
PCHR
Palestinian Centre for Human Rights
Security Chaos and Proliferation of Small Arms
Use of Weapons in Personal and Clan Disputes
Field Update
19 June 2006
Two Injured, One Seriously, in Armed Personal Disputes
Two people were injured, one of them seriously, and a vehicle was burned
during personal disputes in which weapons were used. The incidents took
place in Beit Lahya and Gaza City.
PCHR's preliminary investigation indicates that at approximately 20:30 on
Sunday, 18 June 2006, seven armed people intercepted Wa'el Misbah Gharib
(28) and his brother Mohammad (20), while they were in a car near Zayd Bin
Haritha School in Beit Lahya. The brothers, who are from Jabalia refugee
camp, were on their way to a chicken farm belonging to Wa'el in the area.
The gunmen forced the brothers out of the car and fired bullets near their
legs. They also beat Mohammad severely. The assailants threw a bomb at the
brothers' car, burning it completely. Mohammad was taken to Kamal Odwan
Hospital for treatment of the bruising sustained during the beating. His
injuries were described as moderate. PCHR's fieldworker learned that a
financial dispute was the reason behind the assault.
And at approximately 20:00 on Saturday, 17 June 2006, Ahmad Atwa Abu Amra, a
24-year-old resident of the Southern Rimal area of Gaza City, was injured
during a dispute over money. The incident took place near the Force 17
junction in the Sheikh Ijleen area. Abu Amra was injured by a bullet to the
chest during a dispute with another individual. He was taken to Shifa
Hospital for treatment, where his injury was described as serious.
PCHR is concerned about the continuation of internal violence, including the
use of weapons in personal and clan disputes, which is further aggravating
the state of security chaos in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. The
Centre calls upon the PNA, represented by the Attorney-General, to
investigate these attacks and to bring the perpetrators to justice.
Public Document
**************************************
For more information please call PCHR office in Gaza, Gaza Strip, on +972 8
2824776 - 2825893
PCHR, 29 Omer El Mukhtar St., El Remal, PO Box 1328 Gaza, Gaza Strip.
E-mail: pchr@pchrgaza.org, Webpage http://www.pchrgaza.org
-----------------------------------
If you got this forwarded and you want to subscribe, send mail to
request@pchrgaza.org
and write "subscribe" in the subject line.
------------------------------
From: imra@netvision.net.il
To: imra@imra.org.il
Subject: PSR Poll: Vote in referendum on prisoners' document
47%: 44% in favor, support for Fatah & Hamas both 39%
19 June 2006
PRESS RELEASE
Palestinian Public Opinion Poll No. (20)
While three quarters agree with the prisoners' document, only 47% would
actually vote for it if a referendum is to take place today
15-18 June 2006
These are the results of the latest poll conducted by the Palestinian Center
for Policy and Survey Research in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip during
June 15-18, 2006. Total size of the sample is 1270 adults interviewed face
to face in 127 randomly selected locations. Margin of error is 3%.
For further details, contact PSR director, Dr. Khalil Shikaki, or Walid
Ladadweh at tel 02-296 4933 or email pcpsr@pcpsr.org.
(1) National Conciliation Document:
Findings show that the overwhelming majority of Palestinians (74%) supports
the national conciliation document, also known as the prisoners' document,
as one package and 23% oppose it
Support for the main items of the document ranges between 62% and 85% and
opposition ranges between 13% and 34%, as follows:
1) The goal of the Palestinian people is to establish an independent
Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital in all areas occupied
in 1967, to guarantee the right of return, and to release all prisoners, all
in accordance with international legitimacy
support 85% opposition 14%
2) A new PLO National Council should be established before the end of 2006
whereby all factions, including Hamas and Islamic Jihad, would be
represented in accordance with proportional representation
support 85% opposition 13%
3) A national unity government should be established with the participation
of all factions especially Fateh and Hamas on the basis on the National
Conciliation Document and on the basis of a joint program
support 85% opposition 13%
4) Palestinian people have the right to resist occupation by all means but
resistance should be concentrated in the lands occupied since 1967 and
negotiations and popular resistance should continue
support 73% opposition 24%
5) A National consensus program should be formulated on the basis of
international and Arab legitimacy
support 70% opposition 26%
6) PLO is the sole legitimate representative of the Palestinian people
wherever they are located
support 69% opposition 28%
7) Negotiations with Israel is the responsibility of the PLO and the
president of the PA and agreements reached should be submitted to a vote in
the PLO National Council or to a referendum
support 62% opposition 34%
(2) Referendum:
Support for the conduct of a referendum on the prisoners' document reaches
53% and opposition 43%
Despite the overwhelming support for the prisoners' document, If the
referendum is to take place today, only 47% would vote in favor of it and
44% would vote against it. 9% remain undecided.
A majority of 56% agrees that PA president Mahmud Abbas has the right to
call for a referendum on the prisoners' document and 38% do not agree.
If Hamas called for a boycott of the referendum, 44% would boycott it and
50% would participate in it.
If the referendum was conducted and a majority approved the document, 67%
believe that the Hamas government would still reject the document and 23%
believe it would accept it.
If the Hamas government rejects the document after a majority voted in favor
of it in the referendum, 65% would support the taking of steps against it
such as reducing its powers and jurisdiction (17%), dismissal of the
government and the formation of an emergency government (14%), or the
dismissal of government and the dissolution of the parliament and the
holding of new elections (33%)
If the referendum was conducted and a majority rejected the document, 60%
believe that PA president and Fateh would not accept Hamas' program and
would not form a national unity government based on that program, but 31%
believe they would do so.
If PA president and Fateh refuse to form a national unity government based
on Hamas' program after a majority rejected the prisoners' document in the
referendum, 61% would in this case support either the reduction of the
powers and responsibilities of the president (22%) or his resignation (39%).
(3) Voting Intentions for Fateh and Hamas in new elections:
About five months after the parliamentary elections, the gap between Fateh
and Hamas narrows to zero. If new elections are held today Fateh's list
would receive the support of 39%, Change and Reform 39%, and all other lists
9%. 13% remain undecided. Three months ago, the gap between Fateh and Hamas
stood at 8 percentage points in favor of Hamas with 47% voting for Change
and Reform and 39% for Fateh.
------------------
This PSR survey was conducted with the support of the Konrad Adenauer
Foundation in Ramallah.
End of press release
------------------------------
From: imra@netvision.net.il
To: imra@imra.org.il
Subject: Olmert jokes: Blair liked realignment
so much he almost joined Kadima
Olmert jokes: Blair liked realignment so much he almost joined Kadima
Attila Somfalvi YNET 06/19/2006 15:55
www.ynetnews.com/Ext/Comp/CdaNewsFlash/0,2297,L-3264791_3089,00.html
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert during a Kadima faction meeting reported on his
visit to England and France last week.
During the meeting he joked that UK Prime Minister Tony Blair "was so
overjoyed by the realignment plan that he wasn't far from joining Kadima."
------------------------------
From: imra@netvision.net.il
To: imra@imra.org.il
Subject: Sderot: Qassams land during president
& DM's visit [DM repeats threats from last week]
Sderot: Qassams land during president's visit
Two rockets land in Sderot area as Katsav, Peretz visit Qassam-battered
town. 'I have no intention of making restraint part of my work plan;
restraint has run its course - we have the moral legitimacy to act,' defense
minister says. President: PA leadership directly responsible for rocket
attacks. Leaders set to meet with hunger strikers in show of sympathy for
residents' distress
Shmulik Hadad YNET 06.19.06, 17:49
www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3264823,00.html
Two Qassam rockets landed Monday afternoon in the Sderot area at the same
time President Moshe Katsav was visiting the southern town with Defense
Minister Amir Peretz.
One rocket landed north of the town, while the other fell at the local
cemetery. A woman suffered from shock, but no damage to property was
reported.
While visiting Mayor Eli Moyal's Sderot Municipality office, Katsav said
that as far as Israel is concerned "the Palestinian leadership is directly
responsible (for the rocket fire.) We will not examine each Qassam to
determine which faction owns it; the Palestinians have a leadership, they
have a chairman, an Authority and a parliament - and they are all
responsible.
"Since the disengagement military action aimed at thwarting their activity
has become legitimate," the president added.
Peretz, who accompanied Katsav to Moyal's office, said "I have no intention
of making restraint part of my work plan; restraint has run its course. We
have the moral legitimacy to act."
The defense minister added that he is making every effort to stop the Qassam
fire, adding that the attacks did indeed stop temporarily after he had
relayed a harsh message to leaders of Palestinian groups.
"I have the moral legitimacy to act because I am a man of peace," Peretz
said.
"We have answers and we will not put and the area's children at risk," he
said. "I hope that in the coming days we will see a change in the terror
organizations and that they will realize that they must halt their fire;
there is no distinction among the factions - this is the message here.
At the entrance to the town, the two were met by Anat Shaviro (47), a
resident of Sderot who complained to them of the fragile security situation,
but mostly of her financial difficulties.
"I cannot even have a Bar-Mitzvah for my son," she said. Katsav and Peres
promised to help her.
'I am sure I will bring calm back to the area'
Peretz and Katsav are set to visit the hunger strikers tent in town, where
Sderot residents have been protesting in the last week and-a-half, in a show
of sympathy for their distress in face of the ongoing rocket strikes.
The president's visit has postponed for a short while the locals' plans for
an escalation of protest activities, but the town's people stated they will
go ahead with the plans once Katsav leaves. In the framework of the protest,
Sderot members intend to block the entrances to the town and bar all passage
into Sderot.
Earlier Peretz told the Knesset's Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee "We
are using all the tools and are implementing all the steps before entering a
massive operation," hinting that Israel was working to convey diplomatic
messages to Hamas leaders.
"If that doesn't help," Peretz said, "I am sure I will bring calm back to
the area. I will not allow the fire to continue."
"There is no doubt that the organizations operating today understand our
message, but if it does not bring calm, we will definitely step up
operations and stop the fire," he added.
Sderot children were treated to a field trip on Monday to get their minds
off the routine of rocket drills, at least for a little while.
Twelve buses packed with 550 4th-6th graders arrived at the National Yarkon
Park and the Fortress of Antipatrus by Rosh Haayin as part of an initiative
by the Nature and Parks Authority.
'Power should be shut down in Gaza'
"My parents are already looking for apartments outside of Sderot and
Ashkelon because of the Qassams," sixth grader Danny Iskov told Ynet. "I don't
want to leave my friends though."
Meanwhile, opposition leader Benjamin Netanyahu slammed Prime Minister Ehud
Olmert for his treatment of the incessant Qassam rocket fire.
"The prime minister doesn't see, hear or act because he is abroad all the
time," Bibi said. "He did not even phone the Sderot mayor, and passed by him
in a Knesset corridor as if he was air."
According to Netanyahu, "the power should be shut down in Gaza, not in
Sderot. The prime minister's primary responsibility is to look after the
well-being of all the citizens."
"We are with Sderot," he said.
Ilan Marciano contributed to the report
First Published: 06.19.06, 17:14
Latest Update: 06.19.06, 17:49
------------------------------
From: imra@netvision.net.il
To: imra@imra.org.il
Subject: [Before Kassams hit Sderot as he visits]
Peretz: Israel will stop the Kassam fire
[IMRA: As the old joke goes about politicians: Peretz promised to stop the
rockets. But he didn't promise to honor his promise.]
Peretz: Israel will stop the Kassam fire
JPost.com Staff, THE JERUSALEM POST Jun. 19, 2006
www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1150355525128&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull
During a meeting of the Knesset's Foreign Affairs and Security Committee,
Defense Minister Amir Peretz said that Israel was "using all [available]
instruments and taking all [available] steps before getting into a massive
operation," referring to stopping the continuous fire of Kassam rockets from
northern Gaza.
"If that doesn't work," he continued, "I am sure that we will bring back
peace to the area-I won't allow the fire to continue. There is no doubt that
the organizations active today understand our message. But if this doesn't
bring peace, there will be a step-up to more decisive operations. We
definitely intend to stop the fire."
------------------------------
From: imra@netvision.net.il
To: imra@imra.org.il
Subject: [Peretz gives green light to Qassams?]Peretz:
IDF escalation would bring more Qassams on Sderot
[IMRA: No. This is not a parody. After huffing and puffing and shaking his
fists last week warning that "either there is complete quiet or there will
be a singular and overwhelming response" DM Peretz lets the Palestinians
know that his shaking fists are connected to his shaking knees.
"Israel will take further action if the terror groups do not halt their
rocket attacks shortly, Peretz said.
Peretz didn't saay how many months is "shortly".]
Peretz: IDF escalation would bring more Qassams on Sderot
By Avi Issacharoff, Gideon Alon, Yuval Azoulay, and Mijal Grinberg, Haaretz
Correspondents, and Haaretz Service 19 June 2006
www.haaretz.com/hasen/pages/ShArt.jhtml?itemNo=727912&contrassID=1&subContrassID=0&sbSubContrassID=0
Defense Minister Amir Peretz said Monday that a sharpened military response
to Palestinian rocket fire would lead to intensified bombardments of the
southern city of Sderot.
"I will do everything possible in order to avoid an escalation because it
would lead to days of Qassam barrages," Peretz said during his meeting with
President Moshe Katsav in Sderot on Monday afternoon.
Peretz was joined by President Moshe Katsav for a meeting Monday afternoon
in Sderot with bereaved families and city officials, including Mayor Eli
Moyal. The "Red Dawn" Qassam early-warning system was tripped a short time
before their meeting.
Peretz said that Israel's message to the Palestinians vis a vis the Qassam
attacks has been absorbed but that a number of extremists organizations have
yet to respond to the demand to halt the fire.
Israel will take further action if the terror groups do not halt their
rocket attacks shortly, Peretz said.
Sderot, which has borne the brunt of the Qassam strikes, prepared to seal
off its entrances and exits for 24 hours starting Tuesday to protest the
ongoing Palestinian rocket attacks.
Peretz, Moyal and Katsav met next to Peretz's Sderot home with hunger
strikers protesting the bombardments. Katsav asked them to stop their strike
and give the military time to deal with the Qassam attacks.
Peretz under fire from the right
Peretz on Monday came under fire from right-wing legislators at a Knesset
Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee session, over his policy to combat
Qassam rocket fire from the Gaza Strip.
MK Effi Eitam (National Religious Party-National Union) dubbed Peretz's
policy as "cowardly," adding that the Israel Defense Forces were not
producing the necessary deterrence.
According to Eitam, Hamas and Hezbollah realize it is possible for them to
launch Qassam rockets at Israel, without incurring an appropriate IDF
response.
Peretz reiterated at the meeting that if the Qassam attacks persist, he
intends to employ harsh measures to create a complete cessation of rocket
fire on Israel.
Earlier Monday, Moyal called on Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and his
government to resign in the face of their failure to put an end to the
Qassam attacks on the southern town.
Speaking on Israel Radio, Moyal said that if the government is unable to
defend the town it must step down.
Justice Minister Haim Ramon, who spoke on Israel Radio after Moyal, said
that if rocket attacks were to continue, the IDF would step up the measures
used against those launching the Qassams.
Ramon said that the IDF has killed hundreds of militants engaged in firing
the rockets, but it will take more time before the attacks are halted
altogether.
Sderot strike
Sderot's municipal council decided to completely bar anyone from entering or
leaving the town limits on Monday, including longtime resident Peretz.
Moyal postponed the strike, originally scheduled to begin Monday morning,
until after the Peretz-Katsav visit.
Sderot, which has been the target of sometimes daily Qassam attacks from
Gaza, was hit by another rocket Sunday evening. The Qassam landed near the
town's public library, and did not cause any casualties, according to the
Itim news agency.
Three other rockets fired from Gaza on Sunday evening landed in Palestinian
territory, Israel Radio reported.
Palestinians in Gaza fired two Qassam rockets at southern Israel in predawn
attacks Sunday, leaving parts of Sderot without electricity for several
hours.
One of the rockets hit several electricity poles in the southern town,
temporarily disrupting the power supply to the Rabin neighborhood.
The second Qassam was fired at the western Negev and landed near the border
fence. No damage or casualties were recorded in this incident.
Two Sderot residents were evacuated to Soroka Hospital in Be'er Sheva
Sunday, after collapsing during a mass hunger strike in protest over the
government's inability to halt the rocket fire. The two are said to be
receiving treatment for dehydration.
Sderot's local council decided to end the school year on Monday, starting
the summer vacation earlier than planned. The council also decided to step
up its protests and camp out in front of the government offices in
Jerusalem.
"None of the government ministers care for Sderot," Moyal said. "If the
government cannot provide the city residents with security, it should resign
or say [it cannot provide security] out rightly. The resident's are
exhausted and they cannot continue living like this without the government
doing something."
------------------------------
From: imra@netvision.net.il
To: imra@imra.org.il
Subject: King of Jordan on Hamas, etc. in Der Spiegel interview
King Interviewed By Der Spiegel
Amman, June 19 (Petra- Jordan News Agency)-- His Majesty King Abdullah II
stressed that there will be no tolerance to people that incite and support
terrorism in any form.
www.petra.gov.jo/nepras/2006/Jun/19/11000.htm
...
SPIEGEL: How do you see assess the situation in this part of the world: Is
by now Iraq the main issue of concern, or is the Palestinian-Israeli
conflict still the main issue?
King Abdullah II: I have always said that the core problem is the
Israeli-Palestinian conflict. I still believe that it is.
SPIEGEL: It has not shifted?
King Abdullah II: We cannot belittle what is happening in Iraq. We have two
major issues we have to deal with both of importance. The long-term main
issue is the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, simply because if we do not
resolve it, we cannot resolve the Israeli-Arab issue. That's why I think it
has much more implications on the future of this region. Peace between the
Israelis and the Palestinians does not stop at the Jordan River or the Golan
Heights or the Sinai. Peace for Israel means - as far as I am concerned -
its inclusion in the Middle East from Morocco at the Atlantic Ocean all the
way to the Gulf and the Indian Ocean. If we have an interim solution that
may not give the Palestinians the aspirations they hope for, my concern is
that we may not be able to get an Arab-Israeli peace. Therefore we spare no
effort in order to spare a coming generation another ten years of conflict.
SPIEGEL: Five years ago, you expelled the Hamas exile leaders from Jordan.
You don't really seem to trust Hamas being able to contribute to peace.
King Abdullah II: We have to differentiate between Hamas internal and Hamas
external. Hamas on the ground has been elected by the majority of votes.
They are now in a position of government. With such responsibilities
incumbent, you have to be responsible and know how to deal with things.
Hamas realizes this. It is very easy to be in the outside saying slogans.
Now they have to be there for the future of the Palestinians. They have to
show responsibility in their position as government. I hope that the
situation on the ground will change some of their stances.
SPIEGEL: Right now, Hamas and Fatah seem to be on the brink of a civil war.
King Abdullah II: What we have seen in the past couple of days between Fatah
and Hamas is extremely dangerous. At a time where Palestinians endure so
much suffering, they need to be one.
SPIEGEL: To many Westerners it is hard to understand such a degree of
self-destruction.
King Abdullah II: Political organizations and parties are looking after
their own personal ambitions. Each one is thinking about their own future as
opposed to the future of their people. We want to encourage Hamas to be able
to move forward. The Israelis, too, have to be flexible enough in order to
guarantee a future for the Palestinian people. Israeli prime minister Ehud
Olmert has said that he believes in the peace process and the Road Map and
that he wants to give it a chance. We all should encourage the Palestinians
and the Israelis to concentrate on the great final goal of a genuine peace,
with a secure Israel, living side by side with a viable, independent
Palestinian state.
SPIEGEL: Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas wants to hold a referendum in
the West Bank and in the Gaza strip hoping that the majority of Palestinians
accept direct negotiations with Israel on the basis of the existing
agreements.
King Abdullah II: I hope that there's going to be a positive outcome for the
referendum, because I think it will get the Palestinians back on track and
move them in the right direction.
SPIEGEL: Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert wishes to impose a unilateral
peace, excluding East Jerusalem, keeping a big chunk of the West Bank and
large Jewish settlements and the Jordan valley with Israel.
King Abdullah II: Such a solution would not bring peace to the region, but I
still believe that Prime Minister Olmert will stick to his promise and work
towards an acceptable solution based on serious negotiations within the
framework of the road map.
SPIEGEL: Next week you are going to host a Nobel Laureates meeting for the
second time. Are you going to offer a new peace initiative?
King Abdullah II: Part of the discussions with the Nobel Laureates will be
centered around the Israeli-Palestinian issue. When so many brilliant minds
come together maybe that they could come up with formulas and ideas
completely out of the box. Mahmoud Abbas and Ehud Olmert have been invited.
So, there may be an opportunity for them to exchange views with the best and
the brightest minds that the world has to offer.
SPIEGEL: Your Majesty, thank you very much for this interview.
//Petra// Ashkar// END
19/06/2006 17:38:33
------------------------------
From: imra@netvision.net.il
To: imra@imra.org.il
Subject: PM Olmert Convenes Ministerial Disengagement
Committee to Discuss Assistance to the Residents
PM Olmert Convenes Ministerial Disengagement Committee to Discuss Assistance
to the Residents
(Communicated by the Prime Minister's Media Adviser)
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert this morning (Monday), 19.6.06, convened the
Ministerial Committee on Implementing the Disengagement Plan in order to
discuss assistance to residents. Industry, Trade and Employment Minister
Eli Yishai, Justice Minister Haim Ramon, Interior Minister Ronnie Bar-On,
Minister Rafi Eitan, Minister Yitzhak Cohen and the Directors-General of the
ministries concerned attended.
SELA Disengagement Authority Director Yonatan Basi gave the Committee a
status report, including details on claims filed with the Authority, and the
compensation that has been paid for residences, businesses, agriculture and
the Erez Industrial Zone. The Committee was also briefed on the situation
at the temporary and permanent residential housing sites, the special social
assistance provided to evacuees and the Authority's work with the various
local councils that have absorbed evacuees.
Prime Minister Olmert said that since this was a population group that
underwent a trauma, it had to be treated with flexibility and special
attention.
The Committee made the following decisions:
* To allocate NIS 1 million to the Housing and Construction Ministry for
statutory and infrastructure planning for the construction of permanent
housing at kibbutz Palmahim. Contacts on implementing the planning will be
carried out after receiving commitments from groups of families from Elei
Sinai that would like to build homes at Palmahim.
* To allocate, in the framework of the SELA Disengagement Authority's
current budget, NIS 2 million for the following goals: Collecting
information on public structures and institutions in the communities that
were evacuated in the context of the Disengagement Plan; and drawing up
plans for the construction of public structures, including feasibility
studies and the preparation of cost estimates.
* To allocate to the Prime Minister's Office, in the framework of the SELA
Disengagement Authority's operating budget, a supplementary budget of NIS 18
million for contacts with hotels and guest facilities and companies that are
providing economic and/or other assistance services, via the Defense
Ministry, for the continued lodging of residents of the Gaza Strip and
northern Samaria in the context of their moving to temporary housing by the
end of this month.
* To transfer advances of 50% of the amounts to be determined for assistance
to local councils that have absorbed evacuees.
Prime Minister Olmert said: "Dealing with the evacuees is a special mission
that must be carried out with empathy and patience. While there is no place
to apologize for Government decisions, we must understand those who carried
on their backs legitimate Government decisions. We must act to provide
answers also for those for whom no solutions have been found in existing
frameworks. Education is an issue of utmost importance and we must act with
full sensitivity while providing full assistance. We have more than a moral
obligation to see to the last of the evacuees and to handle them with
sensitivity."
------------------------------
From: imra@netvision.net.il
To: imra@imra.org.il
Subject: PM Olmert Convenes Prime Ministers Forum
PM Olmert Convenes Prime Ministers Forum
(Communicated by the Prime Minister's Media Adviser)
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert today (Monday), 19.6.06, convened the Prime
Ministers Forum for its first meeting. Former Prime Ministers Shimon Peres,
Benjamin Netanyahu and Ehud Barak attended. The Forum received an
intelligence briefing by Prime Minister Olmert's Military Secretary
Maj.-Gen. Gadi Shamni and held a comprehensive security discussion.
------------------------------
From: imra-owner@imra.org.il
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End of [imra] Daily digest - Volume: 2 Issue: 1423 (15 messages)
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