Friday, December 21, 2007

Headlines for 12-20-07

Seven gunmen killed in Gaza raid Seven Palestinian militants have been killed and three Israeli soldiers wounded in fierce clashes near a refugee camp inside Gaza.


Palestinian child dies due to the Israeli siege on Gaza Rawan Nassar, a 15 year old girl, died from kidney failure, she needed to undergo a dialysis session, but because of the army siege in the Gaza strip she was not able to leave the costal region to get the treatment she needed.



Muslim feast day marred by Israeli military restrictions On Wednesday 19 December, the Israeli military obstructed the way to the Ibrahimi Mosque, in Hebron?s Old City, for over one hundred Muslim worshippers. Wednesday was the first day of the Muslim festival of Eid al-Adha, when Muslims around the world attend morning prayers at their local mosques.


No room at the inn: Christmas bonanza in Bethlehem Israel's separation barrier has confiscated farm land, uprooted olive trees, isolated the town from Jerusalem and helped to quicken emigration and keep unemployment at more than 50 percent. Israeli raids are still frequent.


Caritas visits Palestinian cancer and dialysis patients in hospital over Christmas The cancer patients are all from Gaza and come to the hospital to undergo chemotherapy treatment. Most of these lucky few (that can obtain permission to enter Jerusalem for treatment) come to the hospital under a special permit and they are not allowed to leave the premises.


Rice welcomes 'good step' from Israel on settlements Israel's housing ministry abandoned the plans for the Atarot area in east Jerusalem, which the Palestinians want as the capital of their future state.


Report: Cluster bomb left over from war kills man in S. Lebanon The bomb went off as Mohammad Hamzeh was collecting firewood in the town of Zibqine near the southern port city of Tyre. According to the National News Agency, Hamzeh was instantly killed.


Israel says it opposes Russian plans for Moscow peace summit


Bethlehem residents vandalise Banksy graffiti "We're humans here, not donkeys," said Nasri Canavati, a restaurater. "This is insulting. I'm glad it was painted over."


Bush 'loses patience' with Syria "The reason why is because he houses Hamas, he facilitates Hezbollah, suiciders go from his country into Iraq, and he destabilises Lebanon."


Aliyah up from U.S., Britain Immigration to Israel from the United States, Canada, and Britain is up, though total aliyah is down.


Hebron mezuzah incident investigated The Hebron casbah, from where many Palestinian residents have fled during the past six years of violence, is off-limits to Israeli civilians out of concern that settlers might try to squat in its buildings.


American Zionist group slams U.S. gov't on campus anti-Semitism The Office of Civil Rights, which operates under the auspices of the Department of Education, said in a report released last week that some Muslim student activities were offensive to Jewish students.
Advertisement

But the report concludes the speeches, marches and other activities were based on opposition to Israeli policies, not the national origin of Jewish students. And to the extremist ZOA, that's anti-Semitism (criticism of Israel).


Campaigner protest over Palestinian deaths
PEACE campaigners gathered outside Sheffield Town Hall with a small coffin and placards listing the names of 34 Palestinians, including children, who they say have died as the result of an Isreali siege of the Gaza strip.


Syria says working for end to Lebanon crisis Syria is working to help resolve Lebanon's presidential crisis, the foreign minister said on Thursday, responding to reports that France's patience was wearing thin with Damascus over a stalled presidential election.


'IDF ability to fight Qassams limited' Chief of army intelligence speaks at TAU meet, says military has limited resources when fighting camouflaged Qassam launchers in Gaza. 'It's like looking for a needle in a haystack,' he says


Five Palestinians arrested for breaking into judge's home


'Bad for the Jews' Take a look at the agendas of some of the most influential Jewish organizations, like the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, the Anti-Defamation League, the Zionist Organization of America and the American Jewish Committee itself; each has historically associated itself with the hawkish side of the debate--and some have done so even when Israel took the more dovish side (the Jewish equivalent of being holier than the Pope).


Toy guns and real fears - it's playtime in Gaza


Why the US hasn't seen smuggling tapes The decision to send the tapes to the Israeli Embassy in Washington was made by Israel's top defense echelon to influence the appropriations process in Congress ahead of a decision to withhold part of the foreign aid granted to Egypt.


Aid and art cheer up Christians in the Holy Land Despite the sombre mood, Mr Ishaq said that the Christian presence in the Holy Land would endure. ?Those here by choice are determined to bear witness. I will take my choir to sing wherever I can. As for the future, we have to keep the faith; there is nothing else we can do but hope.?


Postcard: Bethlehem I was 8 when my family moved to Bethlehem in 1949. We were Muslim refugees from the newly created Israel. Back then, nearly all the townspeople were Christian. I went to a Christian school and sang in a church choir. I loved to go to Sunday service and shut my eyes, listening to the cadences of Latin Mass--which I didn't understand--and breathing in the fragrance of incense.


Judge: U.S. rightly excluded scholar he was excluded on the grounds that he aided a terrorist group by making charitable contributions from 1998 to 2002.....The United States did not outlaw contributions to the group until 2003.



Israel's supporters should push for talks with Iran The release of the NIE report should prompt more than silence from Jerusalem, however. It should prompt a re-thinking of Israel?s -- and the pro-Israel community in America?s -- approach toward Iran


Spinka rabbi arrested for tax fraud Six other men were charged in the scheme; four were arrested Wednesday. Two others are believed to be in Israel.

No comments: