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UK MPs Call for Talks With Hamas
Gaza's economy has been hit hard by an Israeli embargo tightened when the militant group took control last year.
Major world powers refuse to speak to Hamas unless it recognises Israel.
The UN agency for Palestinian refugees, Unrwa, said 52% of Gaza households were living in poverty, and unemployment there had topped 45%.
The House of Commons International Development Committee said in a report on Gaza that the current truce between Hamas and Israel, agreed on 19 June, "offers the international community an opportunity to begin a dialogue with Hamas".
The aim of the talks should be to move the group towards accepting principles laid down by the international community and to repairing the rift between it and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas's Fatah party, it said.
The so-called quartet - the US, EU, UN and Russia - has said it will not talk to Hamas unless it recognises Israel's right to exist, renounces violence and agrees to abide by agreements made by the Palestinian Authority.
Continued story at the link. Gaza's economy has been hit hard by an Israeli embargo tightened when the militant group took control last year. ... more -
May this happen in our lifetimes
A wonderful vision. Wait and see....
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What Obama missed in the Middle East
Every aspect of Obama's visit to Palestine-Israel this week has seemed designed to further appease pro-Israel groups. Typically for an American aspirant to high office, he visited the Israeli Holocaust memorial and the Western Wall. He met the full spectrum of Israeli Jewish (though not Israeli Arab) political leaders. He traveled to the Israeli Jewish town of Sderot, which until last month's ceasefire, frequently experienced rockets from the Gaza Strip. At every step, Obama warmly professed his support for Israel and condemned Palestinian violence.
Other than a cursory 45-minute visit to occupied Ramallah to meet with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, Palestinians got little. According to an Abbas aide, Obama provided assurances that he would be "a constructive partner in the peace process." Some observers took comfort in his promise that he would get engaged "starting from the minute I'm sworn into office." Obama remained silent on the issue of Jerusalem, after boldly promising the "undivided" city to Israel as its capital in a speech to AIPAC last month, and then appearing to backtrack amid a wave of outrage across the Arab world.
But Obama missed the opportunity to visit Palestinian refugee camps, schools and even shopping malls to witness first-hand the devastation caused by the Israeli army and settlers, or to see how Palestinians cope under what many call "apartheid." This year alone, almost 500 Palestinians, including over 70 children, have been killed by the Israeli army -- exceeding the total for 2007 and dwarfing the two-dozen Israelis killed in conflict-related violence.
Obama said nothing about Israel's relentless expansion of colonies on occupied land. Nor did he follow the courageous lead of former President Jimmy Carter and meet with the democratically elected Hamas leaders, even though Israel negotiated a ceasefire with them. That such steps are inconceivable shows how off-balance is the US debate on Palestine.
Many people I talk to are resigned to the conventional wisdom that aspiring national politicians cannot afford to be seen as sympathetic to the concerns of Palestinians, Arabs or Muslims. They still hope that, if elected, Obama would display an even-handedness absent in the campaign.
Without entirely foreclosing the possibility of change in US policy, the reality is that the political pressures evident in a campaign do not magically disappear once the campaign is over. Nor is all change necessarily for the better.
Whoever is elected will face a rapidly changing situation in Palestine-Israel. A number of shifts are taking place simultaneously. First, the consensus supporting the two-state solution is disintegrating as Israeli colonies have rendered it unachievable. Second, the traditional Palestinian national leadership is being eclipsed by new movements including Hamas. And, as western and Arab governments become more craven in the face of Israeli human rights violations, a Palestinian-led campaign modeled on the anti-apartheid strategy of boycott, divestment and sanctions is building global civil society support. Finally, the demographic shift in Palestine-Israel toward an absolute Palestinian majority in all of Israel, the West Bank and Gaza Strip will be complete in the next three to five years.
Making peace in this new reality will take leaders ready to listen and talk to all sides in the conflict and to consider alternatives to the moribund two-state solution, such as power-sharing, confederation or a single democratic state. It will require, above all, the courage, imagination and political will to challenge the status quo of Israeli domination and Palestinian dispossession that has led to ever more violence with each passing year.
Every aspect of Obama's visit to Palestine-Israel this week has seemed designed to further appease pro-Israel groups. Typically for an... more -
Britain and the West must talk to Hamas
An interesting report from the UK Government today encourages a dialogue to open up between the West and Hamas. Is this forward thinking or appeasement? You decide
An interesting report from the UK Government today encourages a dialogue to open up between the West and Hamas. Is this forward thinki... more -
Israel to continue expansion even though it may jeopardize the peace process
In the latest bout of Israel doing whatever the k$*#@ it wants, the nation is planning on further expanding into the West Bank. As you may remember, the West Bank is the one with a government that's trying to work with Israel to establish peace. How long is it going to take before we stop allowing Israel to do this? I wonder if all the people in Gaza are simply shaking their heads saying "we told you so". Also, this further proves that Israel is in no way looking for peace.
"JERUSALEM - A key committee has approved construction of the first new Jewish settlement in the West Bank in a decade, an Israeli official said Thursday. The news infuriated Palestinians, who said the decision could cripple peace efforts.
The only hurdle that remains is Defense Minister Ehud Barak, who plans to approve the Maskiot settlement within weeks, the official said. Barak had signaled to the national planning committee that it should authorize the plan, the official said." In the latest bout of Israel doing whatever the k$*#@ it wants, the nation is planning on further expanding into the West Bank. As yo... more -
Zionist settlers burn Palestinian farms
Zionist settlers set fire to Palestinian farms planted with olive trees northeast of Qalqilia district on Monday evening in an area called Abul Jud valley, locals reported.
They said that tens of citizens rushed to extinguish the fire with the help of civil defense squads, and noted that the quick action on the part of those citizens prevented the spread of fire.
Witnesses reported that the settlers assaulted farmers in the same area and opened machineguns to terrorize them while IOF soldiers escorted those settlers and fired teargas and rubber-coated bullets at the locals causing suffocation among farmers and citizens.
Meanwhile, IOF soldiers raided the Balata refugee camp east of Nablus city shortly after midnight Monday and kidnapped Jamal Al-Ayed.
Local sources said that the soldiers stormed the city and roamed its streets. They noted that the soldiers broke into and ransacked the home of Karim Issa at the pretext of searching it.
Zionist settlers set fire to Palestinian farms planted with olive trees northeast of Qalqilia district on Monday evening in an area ca... more -
Barack Obama, Pro-Israeli
Barack Obama said he spoke as a "true friend" of Israel.
Arab leaders have reacted with anger and disbelief to an intensely pro-Israeli speech delivered by Barack Obama, the US Democratic presumptive presidential nominee.
Obama told the influential annual policy conference of the American Israel Public Affairs Council (Aipac): "Jerusalem will remain the capital of Israel and it must remain undivided."
His comments appalled Palestinians who see occupied East Jerusalem as part of a future Palestinian state.
Saeb Erekat, the chief Palestinian negotiator, told Al Jazeera on Thursday: "This is the worst thing to happen to us since 1967 ... he has given ammunition to extremists across the region".
"What really disppoints me is that someone like Barack Obama, who runs a campaign on the theme of change - when it comes to Aipac and what's needed to be said differently about the Palestinian state, he fails."
"I say to Obama ... please stop being more Israeli than the Israelis themselves, leave the Israelis and Palestinians alone to make decisions required for peace."
Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian president, rejected the statement, saying: "We will not accept an independent Palestinian state without having Jerusalem as the capital.
"I believe that case is clear."
Barack Obama said he spoke as a "true friend" of Israel. ... more -
Obama vows support for Israel
Barack Obama, the US Democratic presidential candidate, has said he backs Israel's decision not to negotiate with the Palestinian group Hamas.
Speaking in the Israeli town of Sderot, which has been hit by rocket attacks from Hamas-controlled Gaza, Obama said the US also supported Israel's right to defend itself "against those who threaten its people".
He also reiterated his position that Jerusalem "will be" the capital of Israel.
However the Illinois senator, currently on the final leg of his Middle East tour, said that he believed the city to be a "final status issue" that must be decided by negotiation and said he remained committed to a two-state solution to the conflict.
The status of Jerusalem remains one of the most contentious parts of any solution to the Middle East conflict.
In June Obama caused anger in the Arab world when he said that Jerusalem should be Israel's undivided capital.
The international community, including the United States, does not recognise Israel's claim that Jerusalem is its undivided capital and Palestinians hope to have occupied East Jerusalem as the capital of any future Palestinian state. Barack Obama, the US Democratic presidential candidate, has said he backs Israel's decision not to negotiate with the Palestinian grou... more -
IDF soldier who shot blindfolded Palestinian sent back to unit; deemed not dangero...
An Israeli soldier detained after being filmed opening fire at a bound and blindfolded Palestinian from close range has been released from custody.
The soldier was sent back to his unit after lawyers argued he did not pose a danger to anyone, Israeli reports said. Obviously the lawyers do not consider Palestinians to be ‘anyone’.
He was shown firing a rubber coated bullet at the detainee’s foot as other soldiers stand around watching.
The footage was taken by a Palestinian girl living nearby and released Israeli human rights campaigners.
Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak condemned the incident saying it was “grave and wrong” and that the military would exact the full extent of the law. Full extent of the law apparently means being returned to active duty so he might kill a Palestinian next time rather than just wounding him.
Human rights group B’Tselem released the footage on Sunday. The shooting happened two weeks earlier in Nilin in the West Bank, scene of frequent Palestinian anti-occupation demonstrations.
Israeli press reports say the soldier told investigators that his commander had told him to shoot the Palestinian, who has been identified as Ashraf Abu Rahma. Why wasn’t the commander ‘investigated’ as well?
The Israeli army issued a statement calling the incident “grave” and in “direct contradiction” of its values. yet nothing was done about it…
Mr Abu Rahma was treated for a bruised toe by army medics and has not filed a complaint with the military. The military would deny receiving such a complaint even if it was filed. They would then proceed to deny it as they have done in other instances.
B’Tselem has distributed dozens of cameras to West Bank Palestinians with the aim of recording human rights abuses by the Israeli army and Jewish settlers.
Last month, it released footage showing an apparent assault by masked stick-wielding settlers against Palestinian farmers. An Israeli soldier detained after being filmed opening fire at a bound and blindfolded Palestinian from close range has been released ... more -
Barack meets Barak: Obama in Israel
In the most recent leg of his Middle-East tour, Senator Barack Obama is today in Jerusalem where he held talks with the Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak.
He also met with the opposition leader, who said that their meeting focussed on "the need to stop Iran developing nuclear weapons".
Obama will meet the Israeli President, Ehud Olmert this evening. In the most recent leg of his Middle-East tour, Senator Barack Obama is today in Jerusalem where he held talks with the Israeli Defens... more -
Obama Tours Israel, Meets Barak
The Democratic nominee-in-waiting is on a tour of the Mideast and Europe, a journey financed by his campaign and designed to reassure skeptical voters back home of his ability to serve as commander in chief. The Democratic nominee-in-waiting is on a tour of the Mideast and Europe, a journey financed by his campaign and designed to reassure ... more
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Israel trying to suppress forthcoming "scathing" report on its policies on Palesti...
The United States security coordinator for the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, retired general James Jones, is preparing an extremely critical report of Israel's policies in the territories and its attitude toward the Palestinian Authority's security services.
A few copies of the report's executive summary (or, according to some sources, a draft of it) have been given to senior Bush Administration officials, and it is reportedly arousing considerable discomfort. In recent weeks, the administration has been debating whether to allow Jones to publish his full report, or whether to tell him to shelve it and make do with the summary, given the approaching end of President George Bush's term.
Jones was appointed by Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice following the Annapolis peace conference last November. His assignment was to draft a strategic plan to facilitate stabilization of the security situation, as a necessary accompaniment to Israeli-Palestinian final-status negotiations. In this context, he assessed the PA security forces in the West Bank, whose reform is being overseen by another American general, Keith Dayton. Jones has visited the region several times and met with senior Israeli government officials and army officers. The United States security coordinator for the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, retired general James Jones, is preparing an extremely cr... more -
Obama reviews foreign trip at Jordan’s Temple of Hercules
Senator Obama spent a hot, dusty Tuesday in Jordan following his fact-finding mission to Afghanistan and Iraq. He arrived in Amman this afternoon and headed to the ancient ruins of the Amman Citadel to hold a press conference on his observations before the world press. Senator Obama then went to the Palace of His Majesty, King Abdullah, to have a private one-on-one meeting before his Senate colleagues joined them for dinner.
Photographs and the video of his press conference are included. Senator Obama spent a hot, dusty Tuesday in Jordan following his fact-finding mission to Afghanistan and Iraq. He arrived in Amman th... more -
BBC NEWS | Middle East | Israelis hit by new digger attack
A Palestinian in a mechanical digger has rammed traffic in west Jerusalem, injuring at least 10 people before being shot dead, Israeli police say.
A bus and a number of cars were hit during the incident. Some cars were crushed and one was turned on its roof.
Witnesses say an armed civilian first shot at the driver, before he was killed by border police.
Three weeks ago a Palestinian man went on a deadly rampage in a heavy vehicle in Jerusalem, killing three Israelis.
A BBC correspondent says it is thought the 2 July attacker was simply a disturbed man without political motivation - but Israelis will worry Tuesday's incident was a copycat attack and that this could now be a new tactic.
Police identified the perpetrator as 22-year-old East Jerusalem resident Ghassan Abu Tir. It is not known if he was connected to any militant group.
Gunshots
The latest attack took place in a busy part of central West Jerusalem, close to the King David Hotel where US presidential candidate Barack Obama will be arriving within hours.
I saw the tractor going into a bus four or five times. All the windows of the bus exploded
Yohanan Levine
As the incident was unfolding, Israeli President Shimon Peres was for the first time receiving Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas at his official residence in Jerusalem, which is also nearby.
"I was going home when I saw the tractor going into a bus four or five times. All the windows of the bus exploded," said a 16-year-old Israeli at the scene.
"Then I saw the tractor going down the street pushing cars. I saw more people running and after two minutes I heard two or three gunshots," Yohanan Levine added.
A driver interviewed by Israeli TV said his car was rammed twice by the front shovel of the digger and he only just managed to swerve to avoid a third charge aimed at his head.
Photographs of the immediate aftermath show the driver's body slumped in the cab and at least eight bullet holes in the glass next to him.
Official visit
Israeli police called it a "terror attack", although there was no immediate claim of responsibility by any Palestinian militant organisation.
Police said the driver was from a Palestinian village in the occupied West Bank which Israel has designated part of the enlarged Jerusalem municipality.
Mr Abbas told reporters he "condemned and rejected" the attack and said such incidents "hurt our reputation and peace in general".
It was the first time a Palestinian Authority president had visited the Israeli presidential residence, known as Beit Hanasi.
Mr Abbas was welcomed in a formal ceremony with Palestinian flags flying at the reception point. Such trappings are normally absent when Mr Abbas meets Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert at his official residence.
In his remarks, Mr Peres said: "Israelis have a burning desire to reach peace with the Palestinians."
Mr Abbas has been meeting Israeli leaders regularly since attempts were made to give the peace process fresh impetus at an international conference in the United States last November. A Palestinian in a mechanical digger has rammed traffic in west Jerusalem, injuring at least 10 people before being shot dead, Israeli... more -
Israel shooting video condemned
The Israeli defence minister has condemned an incident, captured on video, in which an Israeli soldier shoots a Palestinian detainee.
The Israeli defence minister has condemned an incident, captured on video, in which an Israeli soldier shoots a Palestinian detainee. ... more -
Obama is not a friend of Israel
Obama is not a strong friend of Israel. He spent 20 years in a church that was openly hostile to Israel, and he reversed himself on Jerusalem as the undivided capital of Israel ... but he will back pedal on this too ... Obama is not a strong friend of Israel. He spent 20 years in a church that was openly hostile to Israel, and he reversed himself on Je... more
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Palestinian Takes Front Loader on Jerusalem Rampage
A Palestinian man from east Jerusalem rammed a construction vehicle into three cars and a city bus in downtown Jerusalem near the luxury hotel where presidential candidate Barack Obama is supposed to stay Tuesday night as he kicks off a visit to Israel. The attacker injured four people before an Israeli civilian shot and killed him, police and witnesses said. A Palestinian man from east Jerusalem rammed a construction vehicle into three cars and a city bus in downtown Jerusalem near the luxu... more
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Attack injures several near Obama's Jerusalem hotel
The driver of an excavator was shot and killed after he drove the construction vehicle over a number of cars near the Jerusalem hotel where Barack Obama is scheduled to stay Tuesday night, according to police.
The excavator used in the attack sits behind a car near the King David Hotel in Jerusalem on Tuesday.
Israeli medical sources said two people were wounded.
An eyewitness told CNN that he saw the machine overturn two cars near the King David Hotel in downtown Jerusalem, where the U.S. presidential candidate will be staying when he arrives in Israel.
The incident comes three weeks after a similar attack in Jerusalem, in which a Palestinian construction worker rammed a front-end loader into a string of vehicles, killing at least three people before he was shot and killed by Israeli police.
The driver of an excavator was shot and killed after he drove the construction vehicle over a number of cars near the Jerusalem hotel ... more -
Gore: can do more for environment as private citizen, but lobbyists block policy m...
Former U.S. Vice President Al Gore said he can do more to fight global warming as a private citizen than he could working as a government official even if Barack Obama wins the presidency.
``My own best role is to try to bring about a sea change in public opinion,'' Gore said today on NBC's ``Meet the Press.'' ``Policy makers who know the right thing to do run up against a wall set up all around them by the lobbyists and the special interests,'' he said.
This is what's destroying democracy and putting roadblocks into World Peace as well, it's the fact that lobbyists can change what the popular vote/majority really want and really think what is good for them, the nation and the world.
Lets take a look at some actual scenarios:
Food industry lobbyists are crawling about the Executive Office of Management & Budget to stop approval of new regulations that would give consumers the right to know which retail outlets were supplied tainted meat that’s subject to recall. http://www.madcowblog.com/2008/04/articles/mad-cow-upda...
Why are they "blocking" consumers the "right to know" law? Well, of course its about the money..they would lose business for their alleged breaking of laws to get food to the public and it would cost a ton to get back their good standing. So, bring in the Lobbyist. They hound the lawmakers, steeling their rare and precious time and furthermore, they spend big bucks on these lawmakers (remember Abrahamhoff?) one way or another and can go to jail doing it, but that doesn't stop them, they have lots of bucks backing them! They can even get an outta jail card real easy..check Abrahamoff's partner recently getting his sentence cut in half!!! What bank thief is going to get that?!!?? http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5i9Zn601MMJ052ccjowQX...
All the above are real examples of what a lobbyist does. Now take the Jewish Lobby...why is America backing Israel despite their breaking International laws AND committing war crimes http://www.boston.com/news/world/middleeast/articles/20...
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/1557613/Israe... many others..
The Jewish lobby, or AIPAC http://www.aipac.org/) lobbys Americas lawmakers and shapes policy toward Israel every day. To see what influence they have check out this site: http://www.stopaipac.org/ (AIPAC, or the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, describes itself as the most important organization affecting the U.S. relationship with Israel. With a budget of $65 million, and membership now standing at over 100,000, it is no wonder that congressional staffers consider it one of the most powerful and effective lobbies on Capitol Hill.)
So, lobbyists are the evil do-ers in our society. Just out for themselves and not in the public interest. So why do we have them still? Greed, money, power.
Better laws are needed to keep these thieves at home watching tv or playing some video games. Better yet, in prison where they belong.
What are we waiting for? Former U.S. Vice President Al Gore said he can do more to fight global warming as a private citizen than he could working as a governm... more -
Israeli filmed shooting prisoner
If this hadn't been filmed and released internationally...what's the likelihood the IDF would care??
"An Israeli human rights group has released a video that shows an Israeli soldier shooting a blindfolded Palestinian man with a rubber coated steel bullet at close range.
BTselem released the video on Sunday, saying it had forwarded a copy to the Israeli military police and was demanding an investigation be opened.
The video shows a Palestinian man, whom BTselem named as Ashraf Abu Rahma, handcuffed and blindfolded standing by a group of Israeli soldiers.
One soldier aims his weapon at the Abu Rahma's legs, from about 1.5 metres away, and appears to fire at him.
Everytime I hear about how monstrous and barbaric Hamas or Hezbollah is, I remind myself that the only reason people think this way is because the mainstream mediafails to report on how horrible Israel is. This is in kind with the recent waves of attacks on journalists by the IDF and there overall lack of concern for arabs. It was also kicked out of the Lebanon by Hezbollah. Is the IDF falling apart internally, is this a sign that morale among the Israelis is falling?...let's hope so (because maybe they'll be forced to work out peace then)
If this hadn't been filmed and released internationally...what's the likelihood the IDF would care?? ... more
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