Headlines for 08-15-08

Israel 'worry' at settler attacks There are frequent reports of settlers harassing Palestinians, with two attacks recently captured on video.
These have been widely broadcast and have brought the issue to greater prominence.
The last sentence in the preceding excerpt is the real cause of the 'worry'; bad publicity.


Israel puts off evacuating illegal wildcat settlement They're all illegal.


B'tselem: IDF only launched 4 probes into 189 Palestinian deaths Israeli human rights organization B'Tselem on Thursday relayed that since the start of 2007, it had asked the Israel Defense Forces to investigate 99 incidents in which 189 Palestinians were killed ? but the army only actually launched probes in four of the instances.



IDF investigating whether troops injured youth The organization said a soldier fired the gas grenade at the youth from a distance of 100 feet, hitting him directly in the face.


Video shows Israeli police humiliating Palestinians The video clips found in a cellphone showed the scene of Israeli policemen humiliating and striking Palestinian civilians in East Jerusalem, Xinhua has learnt on Friday.... "The video were found in a cellular telephone that a border policeman lost," the Yesh Din said in a statement. Israel is a disgrace.


Behind closed doors, police admit 'turning a blind eye' to settler violence Police, soldiers and military officers prefer to "turn a blind eye" instead of handling incidents in which settlers attack Palestinians in the West Bank.


Drinking Water In Gaza Strip Contaminated With High Levels Of Nitrate Palestinian and German scientists have recommended to the authorities in the Gaza Strip that they take immediate measures to combat excessive nitrate levels in the drinking water.


State to court: Migron settlers can stay until new homes built The new housing will be located close to the present site, which is privately owned Palestinian land, and within the boundaries of the Binyamin Regional Council.


URGENT ACTION: PA Raids Charities and Arrests Employees in West Bank Christian Peacemaker Teams in Hebron calls on individuals and organizations to contact the Palestinian Authority Ministry of Interior following recent PA arrests and raids on charities in the West Bank.


Rocket from Gaza hits southern Israel: police


UNIFIL commander: Israel at fault An Israeli diplomat reprimanded the UNIFIL commander for saying Israel and not Hezbollah was violating the U.N.-mandated ceasefire in south Lebanon.


Lieberman reassures Muslims on security Lieberman, who chairs the Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee, joined ranking member Sen. Susan Collins (R-Me.) in responding to a letter from four Arab and Muslim advocacy groups raising concerns about a May report by the committee entitled "Violent Islamist Extremism, the Internet and the Homegrown Terrorist Threat."




Church group: press lawmakers on peace A coalition of U.S. mainline churches asked followers to press lawmakers during the summer break to endorse an active U.S. role in Middle East peace making.


Appeals court to hear arguments in AIPAC case Oral arguments in the U.S. government's leak case against two former AIPAC staffers have been set for October.


New act has tougher hate crime standards Jewish groups had lobbied for the change; earlier standards included fewer definitions of hate crimes.
....The act also includes new provisions for universities seeking federal funding for international studies that include standards for "diversity," a salve to some Jewish and conservative groups that charge that Middle East departments are dominated by anti-Israel Arabists. Guess who just won again? Universities whose campuses aren't Israel-friendly enough for the Lobby will now be at risk of losing federal funding if they don't comply. Criticism of Israel is now considered by the US State Department as anti-Semitism, in case you were not aware.


Dead Palestinian poet's words alive on UK stage


Gaza station channels defiance Following up on Israeli charges that al-Aqsa TV incites hatred, violence and anti-semitism, US lawmakers are debating a resolution urging the US administration to declare the channel a terrorist organisation. US lawmakers? What the hell for?