Headlines for 08-10-08

Palestinians mourn national poet Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas declared three days of official mourning in a televised address after Darwish died on Saturday in a US hospital from complications following open-heart surgery.


An Israeli Strike on Iran, a Plan That Just Doesn't Fly The authors of this article in the WP debunk the myths that Israel has put forth as a means to justify an attack on Iran.


Israel battles Spanish arrest warrants Late last month, Audiencia Nacional, the National Court of Spain (the highest Spanish judicial council), issued arrest warrants against the six - Binyamin Ben-Eliezer, Doron Almog, Moshe Ya'alon, Dan Halutz, Giora Eiland and Mike Herzog - accepting a petition from the Palestinian Center for Human Rights that suggested they were guilty of war crimes in the Gaza Strip during the summer of 2002


Increase in settler violence B'Tselem is investigating twelve cases of settler attacks on Palestinian between 29 July and 4 August. These cases reflect a sharp increase in reports of such violence, and represent a peak to an escalation that has been underway over the past few weeks. The cases recent took place across the West Bank, with a majority in South Mount Hebron and the settlements around Nablus.


Border police use 'Skunk' against crowds The weapon, nicknamed "The Skunk," is a foul-smelling liquid which is sprayed on the protesters, compelling them to leave the scene to escape the smell.


Poll: 71% of Americans want US to stay neutral on Mideast conflict Overall, 59% of Americans said Israel was not doing enough, figures that contradict other polls showing solid support for Israel's positions. We're getting there!!! Light is finally shining on down in the valley of the sheep!


INTERVIEW / Top U.S. general lays foundation for Palestinian state "The Jordanians said, after the first couple of weeks, who are these people? They're quick learners, they're disciplined, they follow orders, and they're motivated," recalled Dayton, who visited them with PA Interior Minister Abdel-Razak Yahya, a familiar figure for Israelis from the early days of the Oslo process.


Mahmoud Darwish


Darwish, poet of the Palestinian cause, dies after surgery


Islamic Jihad official says Hamas, Fatah ready to stop political arrests


Dayton tells lawmakers he's 'frustrated' Dayton is known to be unhappy with Israel for not allowing equipment to reach the Palestinian Authority security force and for continuing to usurp its duties through raids into areas ostensibly under Palestinian security control.


Palestinian negotiator considers binational state A top negotiator said on Sunday Palestinians may demand to become part of a binational state with Israel, if the Jewish state continued to reject the borders they propose for a separate country.


Palestinians plan big funeral for poet Darwish "He translated the pain of the Palestinians in a magical way. He made us cry and made us happy and shook our emotions," said Egypt's vernacular poet Ahmed Fouad Negm.


Hamas demonstrators urge Egypt to open Gaza crossing


Corruption and occupation Little by little, the state of occupation, which should have been temporary, became a stable reality, and the policy of creating Israeli settlements in the heart of the Palestinian population strengthened the connection between Israel and the occupied territories. The norms of a colonial and militarist regime have begun to infiltrate the governing organs of Israel's democracy, perverting their proper activities.


Syria rules out new UN nuclear visit to bombed site


Settlers ask B'Tselem for cameras The Yesha Human Rights Organization has asked the B'Tselem human rights group to provide settlers with cameras in order to document "provocations" on the part of Palestinians and left-wing activists in agricultural areas. According to the settlers, they have yet to receive the cameras.


War in Georgia: The Israeli connection


Israeli Strip Searches I asked them when they were going to report it and was told: ?The Jerusalem bureau is looking into it.? The Jerusalem bureau is located in Israel; many of its editors and their wives/husbands/children have Israeli citizenship. It is not the most unbiased of bureaus. Yet, it is the control bureau for the region ? the filter through which virtually all AP reports, photos, video footage from Palestine and Israel must pass. The Associated Press most often reports on behalf of the Israeli Foreign Ministry.


Israel concerned over Georgia 'war' Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni is to convene a meeting of senior ministry officials on Sunday to deal with the Russian-Georgian flare-up, amid concern that Israeli arms sales to Georgia could harm relations with Russia.