Headlines for October 21 - October 27

A Stand For Justice


Israeli Military's negligence exposes schoolchild
The Israeli military is mandated by the Israeli Knesset to escort these children to and from school each day because Israeli settlers from the Ma’on settlement and Havat Ma’on outpost have repeatedly attacked schoolchildren on their way to and from school. On the afternoons of the 24th and 25th, Internationals from Operation Dove and the Christian Peacemaker Teams made repeated calls to the Israeli military to notify them that the children were ready and waiting for the escort, but the army never arrived. This is the third incident this month in which the army has failed to arrive to escort the schoolchildren.


Carter: Sheikh Jarrah evictions are against international law
Former United States President Jimmy Carter said on Friday that the eviction of Palestinians from their homes in Sheikh Jarrah is against international law.


Palestinians renew threat of unilateral action
The Palestinian president says Israel's prime minister should not warn him against taking unilateral steps when Israel has been building West Bank settlements on its own for decades.

Mahmoud Abbas was referring to a statement by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in which he said the Palestinians have no options for peace except direct negotiations. Palestinians have been indicating they might ask for U.N. recognition of a state of their own if they give up on peace talks.

Abbas said Israel has been taking one–sided measures for decades in the West Bank.

"Settlements are a unilateral step taken by Israel," Abbas said during a visit to Bethlehem Monday.




Restoration planned for Bethlehem Nativity Church
The Palestinian government has appealed to European and Arab nations to help fund the project, Bandak said. He said the three churches that administer sections of the church have agreed to the project. Officials from the Latin, Greek and Armenian churches could not be reached for comment. Their rivalries have often led to fistfights between monks at the holy site.




Public outcry ensues after rabbis tell Jews not to rent to Arabs
Several Knesset members and nonprofit organizations on Wednesday demanded a criminal investigation of Safed Chief Rabbi Shmuel Eliyahu and 17 other rabbis, after Haaretz reported that they had called on Jews not to rent or sell apartments to non-Jews.


Anti-Muslim crusaders make millions spreading fear
Emerson is a leading member of a multimillion-dollar industry of self-proclaimed experts who spread hate toward Muslims in books and movies, on websites and through speaking appearances.


Tutu urges South African opera not to tour Israel
Tutu charges that by bringing international artists to perform, the Tel Aviv Opera House "advances Israel's fallacious claim to being a 'civilized democracy.'"




Israel critical over Mideast synod conclusions
the bishops attending the gathering issued their conclusions on Saturday.

They said they had "reflected" on the suffering and insecurity in which Israelis live and on the status of Jerusalem, a city holy to Christians, Jews and Muslims. While the bishops condemned terrorism and anti–Semitism, they laid much of the blame for the conflict squarely on Israel.

They listed the occupation of Palestinian lands, Israel's separation barrier with the West Bank, its military checkpoints, political prisoners, demolition of homes and disturbance of Palestinians' socio–economic lives as factors that have made life increasingly difficult for Palestinians.




'Not One Word of Remorse' from Driver Who Crushed Rachel Corrie
The Corrie family had requested that they be given dispensation to see YB give evidence, which was refused. "I do feel that the state of Israel is saying [we] are security risks and I am affronted by that," Cindy Corrie, Rachel's mother, said after the hearing. "I wanted to be able to see the whole person, not just hear the words."


Ross warns Israel failed talks could imperil its security
he primarily focused on Iran in his address, which he described as a preeminent threat to America.

He said that US President Barack Obama “has consistently devoted more time to this issue than almost any other national security challenge.” Read that sentence again. Who really feels threatened by Iran? Not America. So why is this the nearly number one concern of our AMERICAN president? Because AIPAC made it his concern. To OUR detriment.


Foxman: US must stop Palestinians from declaring state
Like Israel did in 1948? And how is this a matter for the ADL? Because their real job has more to do with being an agent of Israel.


Bishops at Meeting Urge Israel to End Its Occupation of Palestinian Territories
“The concept of the promised land cannot be used as a base for the justification of the return of Jews to Israel and the displacement of Palestinians,” he said. “Sacred scripture should not be used to justify the occupation by Israel of Palestine.”


Israel PM praises troops who raided Gaza flotilla
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, on a special visit to a military base, told the men they acted "heroically" and "ethically" in an attempt to stop "people who sought to kill you."

The Israelis have a museum exhibit dedicated to praising the attack on the USS Liberty which killed 34 American men and wounded 170 others. Read about it in the article Friendless Fire.


Pentagon in charge of aid to Israel?
According to advocates of this proposal, disconnecting Israel from the foreign aid's law will guarantee the continued support while also allowing the Republicans to take control of the foreign aid budget and the money flow to other countries. ....

Eric Cantor, the only Jewish Republican serving in the US House of Representatives, has recently told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency (JTA), that the House of Representatives, headed by the Republican Party, will work towards stopping the American aid to countries who do not operate according to American interest.


This means that there is a possibility that the House of Representatives will not approve the foreign aid budget submitted by the Government

.....If the Republicans win the upcoming elections, there will be more Tea Party right-winged representatives supporting tax cut-backs and strict foreign aid policy. Some of them have already stated that they intend to vote against foreign aid.


Peace with Palestinians would help U.S. on Iran: Peres
"We fought alone, but we cannot exist alone. For our existence we need the friendship of the United States of America. It doesn't sound easy, but this is the truth," Peres said in a speech to Jewish leaders broadcast by Israel Radio.

"As the United States is trying to understand the security needs of Israel, we Israelis ourselves must understand the security needs of the United States," he said, speaking in English in an address made on Thursday evening.




Vatican meeting demands Israel end occupation



AP IMPACT: Israeli settlers building 544 new homes
Israeli settlers have begun building new homes at an extraordinary pace since the government lifted its moratorium on West Bank housing starts – almost 550 in three weeks, more than four times faster than the last two years.




Israel colonel 'quizzed over deadly Gaza raid'
Givati units had been operating in the neighbourhood for several days before the air raid, and witnesses said it was clear the building was populated with civilians.




UN envoy demands Israel act against settler attacks
"I am appalled at acts of destruction of olive trees and farmlands, desecration of mosques and violence against civilians," terrorism.


Palestinian graveyard vandalized in settler 'price tag' operation
One of the slogans had the words "price tag," which radical settlers use to describe their revenge campaign against restrictions on Israeli construction in the occupied territory.


Abbas discusses UN-approved Palestinian statehood with Saudi King
DO IT.


Israeli settlement building 'alarming', says UN envoy
After touring east Jerusalem flashpoints where Jewish settlers have moved in to houses after Palestinians were evicted, Mr Carter expressed outrage.

"The suffering here under occupation and the deprivations of people in Gaza are evidence of the improper policies of the government of Israel," he said. "We will continue to work on a peaceful solution where the Israelis will withdraw from east Jerusalem, and let this be the capital of a Palestinian state.


Palestinians, Jews race to plant West Bank
Israeli military officials can seize farmland if it has lain fallow for three to 10 years. The military has grabbed some 240,000 acres this way since the 1980s, mostly handing them over to Jews to build settlements, according to Peace Now, an anti–settlement watchdog group.

The Israeli military has no legal right to do that. In fact, it's a violation of Article 49 of the Fourth Geneva Conventions which states: the occuping power shall not deport or transfer parts of its own civilian population into the territory it occupies.

Those are war crimes.


Israel slams 'political attacks' by Catholic bishops
Most religious Jews believe the land of Israel was given to them by God, and Jewish settlers often cite biblical justifications for holding onto the West Bank and east Jerusalem, territories seized in the 1967 Six–Day War.




Israel settlements block Palestinian state: UN envoy
A Palestinian state "seems increasingly problematic as a solution because it would require a substantial reversal of the settlement process," said Richard Falk, a UN representative on human rights in the Palestinian territories.




UN envoy: AP findings on settlements 'alarming'
In a statement, U.N. envoy Robert Serry called the AP settlement report "alarming." He said settlement construction is "illegal under international law" and "will only further undermine trust."




British passengers of Gaza flotilla seek to testify in Israeli probe
Most of the 33 British passengers on May's aid flotilla to Gaza have asked to give oral testimony to Turkel committee investigating the botched IDF raid on the ships, a lawyer acting on their behalf said yesterday. The group say they are resisting what they see as efforts by the commission to belittle their evidence by having them submit only very basic information about their experiences.


Shin Bet supports revoking citizenship of Israelis convicted of terror
Interior Minister Eli Yishai's proposal has been presented as a method of deterring potential criminals from embarking on terrorist activities, seen as targeting Israeli Arabs in particular.


Israel hails commandoes killing activists



Police, protesters clash in Arab Israeli town
Police kept journalists away from the march's 50–meter (yard) path. But nearby resident Amneh Jabari, 38, said marchers chanted "death to the Arabs" and "Umm el–Fahm will be Jewish" while waving white–and–blue Israeli flags and reciting prayers.

The Jewish militants are admirers of Meir Kahane, a U.S.–born rabbi who preached that Palestinians should be expelled from Israel and the West Bank. An Arab gunman assassinated Kahane at a New York hotel 20 years ago.

....On Wednesday, a parliamentary committee gave preliminary approval to legislation that would allow small towns to determine who moves into their communities and reject those deemed unfit. Arab lawmakers say the measure targets Arabs.




Israelis, Palestinians agree not to embarrass Obama before midterm elections
"The time frame we are following has been designed around the elections in America," said a senior member of the Palestinian negotiating team. "We have been asked not to issue announcements that could embarrass negotiation officials."




ei Police repress convergence on UK weapons factory

As Israeli warplanes flew over Gaza on 13 October, activists converged on Brighton, United Kingdom for the annual mass action against the local EDO/ITT factory that produces components used in weapons by the Israeli Air Force, amongst others, to devastating effect.


New Israels and U.S. Israel Policy
As the distilled essence of Mead’s argument about the reasons for pro-Israel attitudes in America, this captures quite nicely just how silly it is. It must be that South Africa’s Nationalist government was also interested in developing a close diplomatic relationship with Israel during the 1970s and 1980s because Calvinist Afrikaners also thought of themselves as a New Israel. When we put it that way, it’s clear how ridiculous it is.


U.S. media ignore Israeli flotilla executions
An autopsy revealed that Dogan, 19, was shot once in the back, twice in the head and once in the leg and foot. After lying on the deck for some time, he was shot at point-blank range in the face.


Netanyahu's 'list of millionaires'
List of potential donors prepared by then-opposition leader in 2007 provides peek into his fundraising industry in US. Officials include extreme rightists, people who got in trouble with law


ISRAEL’S MURDER OF AMERICAN CITIZEN FURKAN DOGAN
As Ralph G. Loeffler in Kayseri, Turkey wrote two days ago in his article, Remembering Furkan Doğan, “Furkan was filming the Israeli assault when an Israeli commando fired his first shot pointblank hitting Furkan squarely in the face. Four more shots were fired into Furkan leaving him dead and unrecognizable.”


Vincent Warren Live from Rachel Corrie Trial in Israel Seeking Answers and Accountability From Israel
"When our daughter was killed, the Israeli government promised a thorough, credible and transparent investigation into her death, and neither our family nor our government believes that standard has been met," said Cindy Corrie. Indeed, in response to inquiries from the Corrie family to the U.S. government regarding the Israeli Military Police investigation, Colin Powell's Chief of Staff, Lawrence B. Wilkerson, stated in 2004, "Your ultimate question, however, is a valid one, i.e., whether or not we view that report to have reflected an investigation that was 'thorough, credible, and transparent.' I can answer your question without equivocation. No, we do not consider it so." The testimony to date in the trial taking place in Haifa reinforces this conclusion.


The Associated Press American al-Qaida spokesman urges attacks in US
"It is the duty of everyone who is sincere in his desire to defend Islam and Muslims today, to take the initiative to perform the individual obligation of jihad ... by striking the Zio–Crusader interests," he said, referring to Western and Jewish interests.




'Viva Palestina' Activists Deliver Tons of Aid to Gaza Strip
Over 300 activists from Syrian aid flotilla "Viva Palestina" crossed Thursday the Egyptian Border into Gaza by land with tons of medical equipment and food supplies for the residents of the coastal enclave.


Report: Israel planned explosion at Iranian missile site
An explosion that killed 18 members of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard on October 12 was ordered by the Mossad, French newspaper Le Figaro suggested on Monday. Another cause for the blast mentioned by the paper was a targeted Israeli air raid.


The Rhetoric Turns Red Hot as Election Day Approaches
In Illinois’ 9th District, indefatigable Republican Joel Pollak kept on going after incumbent Democrat Jan Schakowsky, claiming she was not supportive of Israel. It’s a theme that has been taken up against several Jewish Democrats by Republican challengers, or by the Republican Jewish Coalition on their behalf.




Attacks From the Jewish Right Continue in Pennsylvania
Joe Sestak, the Democratic Pennsylvania senatorial candidate, just can’t seem to shake off attacks from right-wing Jewish groups.

First he was targeted by the Emergency Campaign for Israel in TV ads questioning his support for Israel, mainly because of his decision to join a letter calling for easing the Israeli siege on Gaza. Later he was hammered in newspaper ads, sponsored by the Republican Jewish Coalition, that took issue with funding he received from J Street.





For Jews, a Permanent Stake in the Immigration Debate
An ideologically-based citizenship — a fundamental principle of this nation’s birth — offers the best source of national cohesion. Emphasizing shared ideals and the rich commonalities of the American experience is where the Jewish stake in the contemporary immigration debate is anchored.

Again, more of the same hypocrisy on the part of American Jews. For, not anyone can just immigrate to Israel. One has to be Jewish under the so-called Law of Return. Yet America is to retain a liberal immigration policy to make sure she stays amenable to Jews worldwide (oh, and others too), should they need to seek refuge.

The excerpt above from this article contrasts sharply with the new legislation in Israel enforcing people to swear allegiance to Israel as a Jewish state. This is the height of hypocrisy.


Obama’s Still Popular With Ex-Generals
Obama’s handling of the Iran nuclear crisis is even more unpopular: 46% disapprove, while only 43% approve. Nearly three quarters believe there’s little or no chance that diplomacy or sanctions will stop Iran from getting nukes, and 59% would support a U.S. military strike to prevent it. That’s a huge change from two years ago, in September 2008, the final months of the Bush administration, when Jews opposed U.S. military action by 47% to 42%.

By the way, I think the poll numbers with respect to ISrael's importance vs the importance of the economy to Jews polled are misleading. Support for Israel is a given on Capitol Hill, and thus is largely a non-issue. The economy however is neither of those things.


Rights of Return and Recognition Cannot Be Swapped
“Though recognition of Israel as the Jewish state would not shield us from further assaults or pressure, it would prove that the Palestinians are serious about peace.”

Come again? How would it prove that? If it is not a shield against violence, what is its value? Yes, it would be nice were the Palestinians to acknowledge what everyone in the world knows, that Israel is, as a matter of obvious fact, the Jewish state


And again.


Oath of Loyalty to What?
To ask non-Jews to declare loyalty to a “Jewish and democratic state,” it is claimed, is an inherent contradiction, since no country can be considered democratic if it demands of prospective citizens that they swear allegiance to what excludes them.

Just more of the same with respect to Israel as a 'democracy', which it clearly is not. It's a theocracy, which is why it demands to be seen as a Jewish state.


One Nation, Under Various Divinities
She points to the example of the landmark 1962 school prayer case, Engel v. Vitale, in which five Long Island families, all Jewish or with Jewish backgrounds, brought suit opposing school prayer. “They suffered terrible repercussions, including hate mail,” she said.

This, Mellowes said, is an example of how Jews “have clearly contributed in a major way to the tremendous religious vitality and diversity in America and also been at the forefront of pressing for religious freedom.”


Do you see the irony and hypocrisy in the preceding excerpt and the entire article? See also the article with respect to the battle fuming in upstate NY over the Orthodox school issue. Then also realize just how much taxpayer money flows to Israel, a JEWISH state, and realize that on the one hand American Jews seek to keep religion out of state at all costs yet demand that the United States continue to fund Israel- - a state based on RELIGIOUS SUPREMACY. Israel is not a democracy. Israel is a THEOCRACY. Do these Jews demand that Israel keep religion out of ITS schools and government? NOPE. Hypocrisy of the highest order. And look in the mirror folks, you get to fund it ALL.


Boxer-Fiorina Race Redefines ‘Negative’
The visit to Eretz Yisrael was billed as a “personal trip.” But unlike most personal pilgrimages to the Holy Land, Fiorina’s was financed and arranged by the RJC and led straight to high-level meetings with President Shimon Peres, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Knesset opposition leader Tzipi Livni. Netanyahu’s office told the Forward, “The prime minister and Fiorina discussed the Israeli and world economies and events in the region.” Netanyahu, as a representative noted, via e-mail, “believes strongly in the importance of the Israeli-American relationship being above partisan party politics. [H]e therefore makes every effort to meet with political leaders from both major parties whenever they visit Israel.”




Schools Fight Stokes Anger At Orthodox Jews in N.Y. Suburb
Some non-Orthodox community members allege that the Orthodox members of the board support the religious schools at the expense of the public school system — claims that the Orthodox board denies. But people on both sides agree that anger over the issue is running high.




With Friends Like These, II
Some supporters of Israel see in the latest Wiki-leak the opportunity to bury the Goldstone Report (PDF) and attendant international criticism of Israel’s war in Lebanon. Israeli MK Michael Ben Ari, of the Kahane strain, would bury along with it those former (and no longer useful) American high officials whose expenditure in American blood–largely to rid Israel of a hostile neighbor–continues:


Pope seeks religious liberty in Muslim Mideast
At least 3.5 million Christians of all denominations live in the Gulf Arab region, the birthplace of Islam and home to some of the most conservative Arab Muslim societies in the world.

The freedom to practice Christianity –– or any religion other than Islam –– is not always a given in the Gulf and varies from country to country. Saudi Arabia, which applies an austere form of Sunni Islam, has by far the tightest restrictions.




Syria spurns U.S. bid to mend ties



Chavez visits Syria on tour to counter US sway
Chavez arrived in Syria on Wednesday from Tehran, where he and Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said they are united in efforts to establish a "new world order" that will eliminate Western dominance over global affairs.




Israel is Relieved Not to be The Only War Criminal
The voice of joy, the voice of rejoicing is heard in Israel: The Americans and British have also committed for war crimes, not only us. WikiLeaks' revelations have inflamed all our noisy propagandists: Where is Goldstone, they rejoiced, and what would he have said? They were relieved. If the Americans are allowed to do it, so are we. Case in point (see related post in this news batch).


The final reasons for going to war are being swept away
We have become just like Israel. I'm sure they're pleased.


The Shaming of America
The "evidence" of Iranian involvement in bomb-making in southern Iraq was farmed out to The New York Times's Michael Gordon by the Pentagon in February 2007. The raw material, which we can now read, is far more doubtful than the Pentagon-peddled version. Iranian military material was still lying around all over Iraq from the 1980-88 Iran-Iraq war and most of the attacks on Americans were at that stage carried out by Sunni insurgents. The reports suggesting that Syria allowed insurgents to pass through their territory, by the way, are correct. I have spoken to the families of Palestinian suicide bombers whose sons made their way to Iraq from Lebanon via the Lebanese village of Majdal Aanjar and then via the northern Syrian city of Aleppo to attack the Americans.......

The Americans scored no better last time round. In Kuwait, US troops could hear Palestinians being tortured by Kuwaitis in police stations after the liberation of the city from Saddam Hussein's legions in 1991. A member of the Kuwaiti royal family was involved in the torture. US forces did not intervene. They just complained to the royal family. Soldiers are always being told not to intervene. After all, what was Lieutenant Avi Grabovsky of the Israeli army told when he reported to his officer in September 1982 that Israel's Phalangist allies had just murdered some women and children? "We know, it's not to our liking, and don't interfere," Grabovsky was told by his battalion commander. This was during the Sabra and Chatila refugee camp massacre.

The quotation comes from Israel's 1983 Kahan commission report – heaven knows what we could read if WikiLeaks got its hands on the barrels of military files in the Israeli defence ministry (or the Syrian version, for that matter).


The Israel Lobby: Targeting Democrats for Election Day Defeat
One, they are tired of even Obama's timid pressure on settlements and (2) they want a President who will give Israel permission to bomb Iran. George W. Bush said "no" to that scheme as has Obama. But President Palin or Huckabee? They know that they would say "bombs away" in a heartbeat.

That is why they are running these ads. That is why the American Jewish Committee has become a Republican cutout. It's all about the Middle East: preventing Israel from achieving peace with its neighbors and preventing Iran from getting nuclear weapons, not through diplomacy but war.


And Now, Here's The First 11 State Pensions Funds That Will Run Out Of Money



'US, Israel and Iran have approached the end game'
“One problem today when you think about [Israeli] restraint,” he said, “is that Israelis don’t see the United States preparing for a credible threat to use military action, and it’s heightened their sense of isolation.”




Iran, Saudi leaders talk after $60b. arms deal advances
Jerusalem did not object to the weapons sale to the Saudi government, perhaps influenced by its own deal to receivedthe US the F-35 Joint Strike stealth fighters from the US as a reassurance against an Iranian attack.

"This equipment is primarily to give (Israel) a better feeling facing the Iranian threat. It is not related to Israeli-Arab relations,"


US-Saudi arms deal ripples from Iran to Israel
"This equipment is primarily to give (Israel) a better feeling facing the Iranian threat. It is not related to Israeli–Arab relations," said Inbar. "Ironically, in the current situation, Saudi Arabia is in the same strategic boat as Israel is in facing the Iranian threat."




Schools, stipends trigger Israeli religious battle
"If they want to live in a ghetto, fine, but why should the state pay for it? As long as the state is paying, it has to have a say," said Yossi Sarid, a former education minister.

And they seem to be keen on getting the American taxpayer to fund their schooling here too. See related news in this batch.


Australian unions join boycott of Israeli goods from West Bank j. the Jewish news weekly of Northern California
Five Australian unions have joined the international campaign to boycott Israeli goods from the West Bank


Mideast sides eye US midterms and impact on talks
Animating the discussion is the startling fact that the United States has failed, despite emphatic public appeals by Obama and weeks of increasingly frustrating diplomacy, to persuade Israel to extend the settlement–building slowdown that expired on Sept. 26.

...If Congress tilts Republican it could have a "positive impact" on Israeli concerns, one Netanyahu adviser told The AP – an allusion to avoiding pressure for concessions. With the Democrats weakened, Israel's friends in Congress – both Democrat and Republican – "would be able to have a stronger voice if the administration should embark on a policy that is less favorable to Israel," he added.

U.S. foreign policy is set by the White House, not Congress. But Congress can influence it in the course of the day–to–day political horse trading that goes on between the executive and legislative branches.

For example, when Republicans controlled the House of Representatives during Netanyahu's first term in the late 1990s, the Israeli leader was able to marshal the support of the party's conservative wing in a faceoff with President Bill Clinton over stepped–up settlement construction and Israeli troop pullbacks in the West Bank.

Traditionally, both branches have been bastions of support for Israel no matter which party is in charge


Obama aide: Iran prefers defiance and secrecy to transparency and peace



‘IF AMERICANS KNEW’ MADE THE ADL’S ANTI-ISRAEL LIST!



Israel ranks among Western world's most corrupt countries
Out of 178 countries - 1 being least corrupt - Israel was listed at number 30. But when compared to other member states of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, Israel fared much worse.

---