Headlines for 11-29-07

Poll: Palestinian majority blames Hamas on June fighting


Palestinian politicians condemn attacks on journalists


Bush: U.S. would back Israel against Iran


1973 U.S. Cable on Mideast Mirrors Current Events A March 1973 State Department cable released yesterday by the National Archives recounts a promise by Saudi Arabia's King Faisal that terrorist threats to U.S. interests could be resolved as soon as Washington pressed Israel to withdraw from territory it had seized.


Israel risks apartheid-like struggle if two-state solution fails, says Olmert


Olmert: 'If talks fail, Israel will be finished' Mr Olmert appeared to be half-borrowing an argument used by the Israeli left and increasing numbers of Palestinians that if the occupation is not swiftly ended and a Palestinian state established, the alternative is a single state in which both Palestinians and Israelis would eventually have equal rights ? negating Israel's status as a "Jewish democratic state". Oh the horror. That's what a true democracy is SUPPOSED to be about; one man one vote. If it's good enough for the US, then it should be good enough for Israel. And then people wonder why anyone would laugh at the statement that Israel is the 'only democracy in the Middle East'.


Bush: I'll defend Israel "I would never expect a country to allow terrorists to be on their border," he said. "I believe that the best way to defeat those terrorists and radicals, however, is through a vision based upon liberty. And so my message to the Israelis is, it is in your interest that your prime minister negotiate with the Palestinians a democracy."


Olmert, Bush talk Iran Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Olmert would not provide details except to say, "I think that the fight against Iran?s armament with nonconventional weapons must continue in every way possible."


IMEMC Photographer beaten and detained by PA Security forces


Israeli army kidnaps two from Bethlehem city, including one official


Haj pilgrims call for opening of Gaza border


A Palestinian village in the Jordan Valley suffers from Israeli policy Bardalah, a small Palestinian village located in the Jordan Valley has sufferd hardship as a result of Israeli actions. The village is the main source of agricultural produce for the West Bank but the Israeli authorities have prevented the inhabitants of the village and the surrounding areas from constructing much needed agricultural infrastructure.


High Court urges state to let 4 ill Palestinians travel through Israel The High Court of Justice on Thursday urged the state to allow four seriously ill Palestinians from the Gaza Strip who are classified as security threats to travel through Israel on their way to Jordan for medical treatment.


All options open against Israel after peace meet: Hamas "All options are open to answer any crime, expecially after the Annapolis conference, which gave the Zionists a green light to commit more and more crimes against our people," said a statement from the Ezzedine Al-Qassam Brigades, Hamas's armed wing.


Earthquake rumour panics West Bank Palestinians


UN Security Council takes up resolution on Mideast peace The United States on Thursday presented the UN Security Council with a draft resolution backing the US-sponsored Annapolis conference decision to relaunch the Mideast peace process.


Russia pledges to continue Palestinian support "We will continue rendering aid to the PNA's attempts to establish statehood, the strengthening of its power structures, and the resolution of its social-economic problems," Vladimir Putin said in a message to PNA leader Mahmoud Abbas.


PHR-Israel emergency appeal for medical supplies for Gaza


Israel to release over 400 Palestinian prisoners Sunday Israel will release more than 400 Palestinian prisoners Sunday, the local daily Yedioth Ahronoth reported.


Fmr. South African Archbishop Desmond Tutu: Israel Should Heed Lessons of Scripture-and Apartheid Denouncing the U.S.-backed occupation of Palestinian land, Tutu says Israel and its supporters should follow biblical tradition of "forever taking the side of the weak, the oppressed, the downtrodden against the kings and the powerful oppressors."


Syria sees Annapolis as a start Syria endorsed the Annapolis peace talks as a launching pad for comprehensive Israeli-Arab peace.


Arabs return from summit uneasy and skeptical


Nixon Papers Recall Concerns on Israel?s Weapons ?There is circumstantial evidence that some fissionable material available for Israel?s weapons development was illegally obtained from the United States about 1965,? Mr. Kissinger noted in his long memorandum.


Russian mediator seeks Israel-Syria deal A senior Russian envoy has been trying to broker a deal between Israel and Syria on the future of the Golan Heights, an Israeli newspaper said on Thursday.


State of Israel could disappear, warns Olmert Israel is sensitive to any comparison to formerly apartheid South Africa, but Olmert has aired such views before. When he was deputy prime minister under Ariel Sharon four years ago, he favoured a withdrawal from most of the territories taken in the 1967 war that would leave Israel with a "maximum" number of Israelis and a "minimum" of Palestinians.


Nativity scene recast with security barrier for 'Kitschmas'


Officials: Jones will press Israel to take risks


Hariri probe 'finds new culprits'


Robert Fisk: A different venue, but the pious claims and promises are the same For more than two years, the Saudis have been offering Israel security and recognition by Arab states in return for a total withdrawal of Israeli forces from the occupied territories. What was wrong with that? Mr Olmert promised that "negotiations will address all the issues which thus far has been evaded". Yet the phrase "withdrawal of Israeli forces from occupied territories" simply doesn't exist in the text.


Democracy as an Antidote to Extremism


Boca couple reunited after long immigration journey In April, Almbasher, 39, an auto body repairman, went to Gaza to visit his mother, who was sick. By June, when he was ready to return home, the Israeli government had closed the border between Gaza and Egypt because the Islamic group Hamas seized the territory.


Photo Flash: West Bank, UK - The Musical


Settler leader Levinger suffers stroke Levinger has been arrested about a dozen times for altercations with Palestinians, and he has been imprisoned several times involving incidents of violence. In 1991 Levinger was sentenced to seven months in prison for a violent altercation at the Tomb of the Patriachs in Hebron.


Judge touts benefit of trip A judge since 2002, Sierra said she feels called to bring food and Bibles to Palestinian refugees. She is joining with the Living Bread International Church, a nondenominational organization that provides humanitarian aid and weekly church services for refugees.




Fmr. President Jimmy Carter on ?Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid,? I think it?s accurate to say that not a single member of Congress with whom I?m familiar would possibly speak out and call for Israel to withdraw to their legal boundaries or to publicize the plight of the Palestinians or even to call publicly and repeatedly for good faith peace talks. There hasn?t been a day of peace talks now in more than seven years. So this is a taboo subject. And I would say that if any member of Congress did speak out, as I?ve just described, they would probably not be back in the Congress the next term.


Former Rep. Henry Hyde dies at 83 While he was still in office, Hyde stuck up for the Palestinians. And again.


Refugee stories - Art Mile brings Japanese-Palestinian exchange to UNRWA schools in Syria Students in Syria and Japan have created one mural in a particularly novel and exciting way: half of the mural - depicting Japanese culture - was painted by Palestinian students in Syria; the other half - portraying Palestinian culture - was painted by students in Japan


Philly Loves Palestine Ever feel that the United States is on the wrong side of almost every international conflict (except that time we beat the Nazis)? Philly Loves Palestine, a three-day arts and culture celebration, offers you a chance to show some affection for the underdogs of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.


Distorting Fascism to Demonize Iran In their frantic drive to pave the way for a military strike against Iran, leading figures in the neoconservative pro-Israel lobby have embarked on a vicious campaign of demonizing that country by comparing it with the early years of Nazi Germany and its President, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, with Hitler.


Settlers respond to Annapolis statements with new settlements The right-wing Ne?emanei Eretz Israel movement announced Thursday that it plans to establish three new outposts in the West Bank during Hanukkah and return to five outposts it had already created in Sukkot.