Headlines for 08-12-08

America's Israeli-Occupied Media by Philip Giraldi There should be little doubt that the Israeli government is making every effort to jump-start a war against Iran sooner rather than later. Many Israelis not surprisingly believe it is in their interest to convince the United States to attack Iran so that Israel will not have to do it, and they are hell-bent on bringing that about. Unfortunately, their efforts are being aided and abetted by a U.S. mainstream media that is unwilling to ask any hard questions or challenge the assumptions of the Israeli government. A big thank you to Mr. Philip Giraldi for his continued reporting on this issue, and related matters.


Amnesty: Trapped ? collective punishment in Gaza Even patients in dire need of medical treatment not available in Gaza are often prevented from leaving and scores of them have died.


VIDEO / Palestinian gardeners: Olmert's security guards beat us up Two Palestinian gardeners from East Jerusalem claimed on Monday that they were beaten up by Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's security guards. One of the men was hospitalized in a serious condition, while the other was listed as lightly wounded.


Hamas says Israeli closure of Gaza crossings meaningless A spokesman for the Islamic Hamas movement said Tuesday Israeli closure of Gaza commercial crossings is meaningless since Israel has not completely eased all sanctions imposed on these crossings.


Hamas says searching for Qassam violators


Remembering Mahmoud Darwish


Palestinian writer who gave stateless a voice


Hamas questions Olmert offer for settlement with Palestinians


Darwish: 'Identity and humanity'


Israel to transfer 23 million dollars to Gaza Israel transfers around 75 million dollars a month to the Palestinian Authority in taxes and customs duties it collects on behalf of the Palestinians.


U.S. rebuffs Israeli request for arms geared toward Iran strike The Americans viewed the request, which was transmitted (and rejected) at the highest level, as a sign that Israel is in the advanced stages of preparations to attack Iran. They therefore warned Israel against attacking, saying such a strike would undermine American interests. They also demanded that Israel give them prior notice if it nevertheless decided to strike Iran.....Senior Israeli officials had originally hoped that U.S. President George Bush would order an American strike on Iran's nuclear facilities before leaving office, as America's military is far better equipped to conduct such a strike successfully than is Israel's.....U.S. National Intelligence Director Mike McConnell and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Mike Mullen both visited here in June and, according to the Washington Post, told senior Israeli defense officials that Iran is still far from obtaining nuclear weapons, and that an attack on Iran would undermine American interests. Therefore, they said, the U.S. would not allow Israeli planes to overfly Iraq en route to Iran.

Are you paying attention yet, America?


Palestinians reject Israeli PM's peace plan Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has rejected an Israeli peace proposal because it does not provide for a contiguous Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital, Mr Abbas's office said.


Police block settlement bid Right-wing activists entered Shuafat, north of the capital, on Tuesday intent on setting up a new settlement -- dubbed Shaar Hamizrach -- on land they said was originally Jewish-owned.


Kuwait donates 80 mln dlrs to aid Palestinians: World Bank The World Bank said Tuesday that Kuwait has donated 80 million dollars to a trust fund in support of Palestinians, becoming the first Arab nation to contribute to the aid program.


Hamas blasts militants who break truce with Israel The Hamas rulers of Gaza on Tuesday lashed out at militants who fire rockets at Israel from the Palestinian territory in violation of a seven-week-old truce, calling them collaborators.



Israel 'proposes West Bank deal' Israel has offered a peace deal to the Palestinians which would annex 7.3% of the West Bank and keep the largest settlements, Israeli reports say. What a deal! NOT.


Israeli candidate for prime minister Shaul Mofaz would end peace process


Israel stages war games on occupied Golan Israel launched large-scale military exercises on Tuesday on the occupied Golan Heights along the Syrian border on Tuesday in the presence of senior political and military officials.


Russian: U.S. should follow Israel on Georgia


'Free Gaza' venture makes plea for funds The SS Free Gaza and Liberty are set to sail Tuesday from the Greek island of Crete to test Israel's assertion that it no longer controls Gaza.