ISRAEL
- SYMBOLIC LIGHT FOR ISRAEL AT UN
- Christian Science Monitor - December 08, 2003 - A special
session of the UN will be convened Monday to discuss Israel's
growing separation barrier in the West Bank. By Michael J. Jordan
| Correspondent of The Christian Science Monitor Arab members
of the United Nations have convened another special session of
the world body Monday to denounce the separation barrier Israel
is building across the West Bank.
And following its stated formula, the United States will once
again be one of the few countries to vote against the resolution.
A similar vote in October went 144-4 against Israel.
VETO VETERAN:
- The US ambassador to the UN, John Negroponte, has led efforts
to shield Israel from one-sided criticism on issues including
its West Bank security barrier. DAVID KAPP/AP - This formula,
known as the Negroponte Doctrine, spells out what any Israel-related
resolution must include to win a US vote - especially condemnation
of Palestinian terrorism and a call for dismantling Hamas, the
Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigrade, and Islamic Jihad.
- "If you don't resist efforts to pass these lopsided
resolutions, it causes the Palestinians to feel they're let off
the hook," the US Ambassador to the UN, John Negroponte,
told the Monitor. "It vindicates their actions, that they
must be doing everything right and it's the other guy entirely
responsible, when in fact everybody has a responsibility to contribute
to a peaceful solution to this conflict."
- Negroponte's doctrine, aside from "naming names"
of militant groups, now requires resolutions to "call upon
all parties to make a commitment to pursue a negotiated settlement"
and that Israel's withdrawal from Palestinian towns "is
connected to an improvement in the security situation through
reciprocal steps by the Palestinians and Israelis."
- The Negroponte Doctrine, first articulated in August 2002,
is why Monday's special session has been called for the 191-member
General Assembly, not the Security Council.
- In the Assembly, it's one country, one vote. Resolutions
are primarily symbolic, not binding. No one has a veto. It's
at the 15-seat Council, entrusted to "maintain international
peace and security," where the real action takes place.
Resolutions there carry the weight of international law - among
other things, it has the power to apply sanctions, impose peacekeepers,
or authorize military intervention. And the five permanent Council
members - US, Britain, France, Russia, and China - hold a veto.
- The US has been particularly active of late wielding its
veto on behalf of Israel.
- On Sept. 16, the US vetoed a resolution that demanded Israel
not harm or expel Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, after Israel
had threatened to deport him. A month later, the US spiked a
resolution condemning Israel's new barrier. Negroponte vetoed
both on the grounds that neither contained a robust condemnation
of terrorism.
- A third resolution, put forth by Council member Syria, came
on the heels of Israel's October assault on an alleged Islamic
Jihad training base in Syria. The resolution did not mention
the previous day's suicide bombing in Haifa, which killed 20
and was reportedly carried out by Islamic Jihad. The US quashed
the resolution before it came to a vote.
- With the US blocking the way at the Council, Palestinian
supporters say Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has carte
blanche. "The Palestinians have no recourse in the Council
because of the US veto, so there will never be an effective sanction
of Israeli behavior or restraint imposed on Israel," says
James Zogby, president of the Arab American Institute. "It's
damaged our own country, because frankly, we've been reduced
to and viewed as acting unilaterally."
- So the Palestinians settle for the path of lesser resistance
- the General Assembly.While Mr. Zogby and others suggest Assembly
votes are reflections of international opinion, UN-watchers note
the Palestinians have historically enjoyed what's called "the
numbers game." The Palestinians count on the solidarity
of the 56-member Organization of the Islamic Conference within
the Assembly, plus much of the developing world for an "automatic
majority."
- No Assembly resolution has ever singled out the Palestinians
for criticism. When Israel last month put forth its first Assembly
resolution in three decades, one that mirrored annual resolutions
in the name of protecting Palestinian children from attacks -
but inserted "Israeli children" instead - the Egyptians
reportedly stripped out the reference and changed it to refer
to all children in the Middle East. Israel withdrew the resolution.
- But Monday's special session and expected resolution contain
a new wrinkle. For the first time, the Palestinian side will
try to involve the International Court of Justice, a UN arm in
The Hague, and ask for an "advisory opinion" on the
legality of the barrier. Some of Israel's supporters say that
may pave the way for some sort of prosecution of Israeli officials.
- Edward Abington, a Washington political adviser to the Palestinians
and the US counsel general in Israel from 1993-97, says the Negroponte
doctrine is less about perceived fair play than the Bush administration's
"unwillingness to take on Israel in a variety of areas.
The doctrine has stifled the give and take in negotiating on
the Council and led to a deadlock."
- Nevertheless, Israel has the one vote where it matters, says
Arye Mekel, Israel's deputy permanent representative to the UN.
"While there are 22 Arab countries and only one Jewish country,
anyone really interested in solving this issue realizes Israel
is 50 percent of the conflict," says Mekel. "So, while
we may have only vote at the UN, we are also 50 percent of the
solution."
- -----
- PA STAGED ONE-DAY STRIKE AGAINST UNKNOWN ASSAILANTS
- Palestinian Journalist protest The Jerusalem Times (independent
Palestinian weekly) 18 February 2004
- Gaza - Palestinian journalists in Gaza, staged a one-day
strike at the Parliament's offices to protest the recent attacks
and harassment on them by unknown assailants. The protesters
ended the strike upon a promise by President Yasser Arafat to
bring the assailants to justice and provide full protection for
the journalists. Arafat's letter was delivered by Al Tayeb Abed
el Raheem, the Presidential Secretary, who said that Arafat supports
"the freedom of the press which is sacred." He also
denied that investigations into the attacks had been suspended
(www.jerusalem-times.net/article/news/details/detail.asp?id=4803
- www.imra.org.il )
- -----
- ARAFAT TO LAUNCH 'DAY OF RAGE' AGAINST ISRAEL'S APARTHEID
WALL
- PNA Disappointed at Arab Show, China Standing by ICJ Hearings
22/02/2004 Palestine Media Center - PMC [Official arm of the
PA] President Yasser Arafat is reportedly set to deliver a speech,
scheduled at 10:00 am (0800 GMT) Monday and timed to coincide
with the opening of the ICJ hearing, after which sirens are to
sound, church bells toll, and all traffic come to a standstill
for five minutes to be followed by a one-hour warning strike
to mark the launch of a "Day of Rage" and protest against
the Apartheid Wall Israel is building on occupied Palestinian
territory. The Palestinian leadership has declared February 23
a national day of "rage and protest" against the Wall,
Israel is building in the West Bank. www.palestine-pmc.com/details.asp?cat=1&id=1221
- www.imra.org.il
- -----
- NEWS EDITOR ZOA CRITICIZES BUSH ADMINISTRATION'S LATEST ATTEMPT
TO BLOCK U.S. RECOGNITION OF JERUSALEM AS ISRAEL'S CAPITAL
- NEW YORK- February 20, 2004 Contact: (212) 481-1500 Attn:
The Zionist Organization of America (ZOA) has criticized the
Bush administration's latest efforts to prevent the implementation
of U.S. laws requiring American recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's
capital. In a court case in Washington last week, the State Department
said that because Jerusalem is a "sensitive foreign policy
issue," it does not have to list "Jerusalem, Israel"
as the birthplace of American citizens born in Jerusalem. At
present, a U.S. citizen born in Jerusalem has the word "Jerusalem,"
with no country listed, stamped on his passport as his or her
place of birth. But in 2002, Congress passed legislation specifically
requiring that "Israel" be added after "Jerusalem"
on the passport of any Jerusalem- born U.S. citizen who requests
it. The legislation does not say that the requirement can be
waived if Jerusalem is deemed "a sensitive foreign policy
issue."
- Meanwhile, the Bush administration listed the Jerusalem-passport
requirement in its recent budget request to Congress, but placed
it in brackets to indicate that the administration is not requesting
funds to implement those provisions. This move is consistent
with the administration's ongoing refusal to recognize Jerusalem
as Israel's capital, in defiance of the 1995 Jerusalem Embassy
Relocation Act, which requires such U.S. recognition. ZOA National
President Morton A. Klein said: "Bush has reneged on his
pledge to move the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem, and this step is
another demonstration of that broken pledge. The failure to recognize
Jerusalem is a violation of U.S. law and a blatant surrender
to Arab terrorist threats. At a time when America is engaged
in a life-or-death struggle with terrorists worldwide, it is
especially important to implement U.S. law on Jerusalem and thereby
send a message to terrorists everywhere that America will not
capitulate to their blackmail."
- The Zionist Organization of America, founded in 1897, is
the oldest pro-Israel organization in the United States. The
ZOA works to strengthen U.S.-Israel relations, educates the American
public and Congress about the dangers that Israel faces, and
combats anti-Israel bias in the media and on college campuses.
Its past presidents have included Supreme Court Justice Louis
Brandeis and Rabbi Dr. Abba Hillel Silver. (www.imra.org.il )
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- THE JERUSALEM SEAM ZONE ASSOCIATION PROTESTS UN INVOLVEMENT
WITH SECURITY FENCE
- 22 February, 2004 Press Release - The Jerusalem Seam Zone
Association will be holding a demonstration opposing the intervention
of the Hague International Court of Justice against Israel' s
security fence, and supporting the expedited construction of
the Jerusalem Envelopment project. The demonstration will take
place on Monday, 23 February 2004, at 16:00-17:30 opposite the
United Nations staff building in Armon HaNatziv. The Jerusalem
Seam Zone Association protests the active and biased participation
of the United Nations in the security fence issue, through its
preparation of maps and its agitation and incitement of the Palestinian
population. The Jerusalem Seam Zone Association supports the
speedy construction of the Jerusalem envelopment fence in order
to protect the lives of the city's civilians. (www.imra.org.il
)
- UK AND SWEDEN PAYS FOR ARAFAT'S PROPAGANDISTS AT THE HAGUE
- After the collapse of the Oslo framework and negotiations,
the NSU has continued to operate, primarily as an information
and propaganda arm of the Palestinian Authority. In particular,
the NSU, which continues to receive British and other European
funding, and its personal, have been central in the campaign
to demonize Israel regarding the construction of the separation
barrier, including in the UN General Assembly and the case brought
to the International Court of Justice. The text is available
at www.europeaninstitute.info/Publications.htm
- -----
- REPORT AUTHORITIES LOOKING INTO POSSIBLE TAX FRAUD BY SHARON
- By Baruch Kra, Haaretz Correspondent and Haaretz Service
24 Feb 2004 [IMRA: It was explained on Israel Radio this morning
that US tax authorities may be investigating if Americans who
were the source of some funds may have illegally deducted them
as contributions.] Israeli and American tax authorities are looking
into suspicions that the Sharon family committed various tax-related
offenses estimated at millions of shekels, a Channel 2 news program
reported Monday evening. Among the suspicions looked into are
that the Sharon family created false records and evaded taxes
during Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's campaign for the Likud primaries
in 1999. Suspicions are also being checked according to which
Sharon paid contractors by using straw companies and false records.
Tax authorities confirmed that the investigation was being carried
out. Police refused to comment. It was also revealed that police
investigating another Sharon affair involving non-profit organizations,
suspect that the prime minister's son, MK Omri Sharon, may have
committed forgery. The television program aired a recording showing
Omri Sharon signing a check which was said to belong to a company
called "Annanex Research" even though he was not, according
to suspicions against him, an authorized signer of that company.
- www.haaretz.com/hasen/pages/ShArt.jhtml?itemNo=397459&contrassID=1&subContra
ssID=7&sbSubContrassID=0&listSrc=Y -
- -----
- BRITAIN SECRETLY SELLS SECURITY EQUIPMENT TO SAUDI ARABIA
- 2-25-04- Britain has approved a series of secret security
and paramilitary sales to Saudi Arabia. British officials said
the Foreign Office has approved licenses for a range of security
and paramilitary equipment to the Saudi kingdom. The equipment
was not published in a recent Foreign Office report on British
arms sales to foreign clients. The list of British equipment
was relayed to parliament by Trade Minister Nigel Griffiths.
The list was demanded by parliamentarian Menzies Campbell, the
foreign affairs spokesman for the Liberal Democrat Party. "There
is clearly a substantial disconnection between the government's
avowed policy on human rights and its implementation of its own
guidelines on arms exports," Campbell said.
- -----
- NEW EMAIL/FAX SERVICE FOR MESSAGES TO BE PLACED IN THE WESTERN
WALL
- NEW YORK, Feb. 18, 2004 - Anyone who wants to send a note
to be placed at the Western Wall in Jerusalem, Israel, can now
do so, thanks to a new service recently launched by Bezeq, Israel's
telephone company. All you need to do is send your request by
email to kotel@onemail.bezeq.com and your request will reach
Bezeq's Onemail service. Twice a week, Bezeq employees will take
the messages and place them between the stones of the Western
Wall. The Western Wall is the only remaining wall from the Second
Temple, which stood for over 400 years in Jerusalem. The Wall
was destroyed by the Roman Empire approximately 2000 years ago.
Jews from all over the world come to pray at the Western Walls.
It is customary to place notes containing personal requests and
prayers between the stones. (www.imra.org.il )
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- RELENTLESS PA INCITEMENT AGAINST US AND THE WEST
- Palestinian Media Watch Bulletin February 27, 2004 "..President
Bush, in this global war context, is depicted not merely as a
leader of the "enemy United States", but is the enemy
of all civilization, the "Fuhrer of the globalization era,"
a greater danger than Hitler, leading the world to destruction:
"The new Fuhrer [Bush] will return the world to the Stone
Age," while Hitler only left "tens of millions of dead."
Given this Palestinian ideological hatred against the US it is
not surprising to find active opposition to tracking down the
terrorists who murderered 3 Americans diplomats in Gaza in October.
Both Arafat advisor Jibril Rajoub, and the Union of Palestinian
Journalists called the American pressure on the PA to find the
killers "extortion." The Journalists Union even condemned
a PA daily for publishing a US State Department ad offering a
reward for help in finding the terrorists. The ad was likewise
called "extortion."
- -----
- AN ISRAELI ARMY SPECIAL FORCES UNIT BROKE TODAY INTO THE
YARDS OF AL-AQSA MOSQUE
- PALESTINE, February 27, 2004 (IPC + WAFA)[Official PA website]
An Israeli army special forces unit broke today afternoon into
the yards of Al-Aqsa mosque, Jerusalem, shortly after the "Friday"
prayer. Eyewitnesses reported that the Israeli soldiers heavily
shot at the Palestinian worshipers and fired tear gas and stun
bombs, wounding at least 24 citizens, some of them were immediately
admitted to Al-Maqased and Al-Matlaa hospital, while others were
treated inside the mosque.
- Chief Muslim cleric of Jerusalem, Sheik Akrema Sabri, condemned
the attack and said, "The Israeli attack on Al-Aqsa mosque
is preplanned and it aims at panicking and terrorizing the Palestinian
worshipers so that they do not come to the mosque in the next
Fridays." Local residents reported that the Israeli occupying
forces (IOF) demolished today two Palestinian-owned houses in
Bethlehem City in the West Bank. Palestinian security sources
reported that IOF backed by heavy military vehicles broke into
Al-Nabi Saleh Town in Ramallah City and arrested the Palestinian
citizen Mohammed Sarhan. IPC correspondent reported that that
IOF escorted by a tank and six military jeeps thrust today afternoon
close to the Industrial zone in Beit Hanoon Town, Gaza Strip,
amidst heavy shooting. The Palestinian general security directorate
reported that IOF shelled today a Palestinian security post in
the middle of Gaza Strip. No causalities were reported. [IMRA
- Independent Media Review and Analysis Website: www.imra.org.il
]
- -----
- SHAKING HANDS WITH THE DEVIL - U.S. COMPLICITY IN IRAQ
- Debbie Maimon - Yated Ne'eman* - February 29, 2004 How and
Why America Colluded With Saddam Revelations from newly released
documents from the National Security Archives have raised troubling
questions about the U.S. government's embrace of Saddam Hussein
in the early 1980's, despite clear knowledge that the "butcher
of Baghdad" was using chemical warfare against Iranian soldiers
and Kurdish civilians.
- The disclosures may affect the fate of the captured Saddam,
experts say. They may play a role in determining whether the
U.S. government will agree to fully relinquish control over his
trial to the Iraqi government, or to an international tribunal
of independent judges. Although the disclosures uncover a web
of U.S. operations to arm Iraq in the Iran-Iraq war that lasted
from 1980 until1988, the full outlines of that long-running episode
are still shrouded in secrecy. But that might change, experts
say, once the Iraqi dictator is transferred out of U.S. jurisdiction.
- The secrets Saddam has in his possession may lift the veil
on an entire panorama of foreign policy intrigues in the Middle
East that were kept secret from the American people and frequently
conducted without the knowledge of Congress. Those secrets would
cause no small amount of embarrassment to the U.S. government,
including former president Ronald Reagan, former president George
Bush senior, and Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, informed
sources say. They would also incriminate a host of past presidential
aides, including former Secretary of State George Shultz and
former Defense Secretary Caspar Weinberger, in covert Middle
East policies dating back to the Reagan and Bush administrations.
- ---
- FULL RETREAT FROM GAZA & 10 WB SETTLEMENTS
- Sharon Already Told Peres: Full Retreat From Gaza & 10
WB Settlements Aaron Lerner Date: 1 March 2004 Israel Television
Diplomatic Correspondent Ayala Chason reported on the Mabat News
program this evening that Prime Minister Ariel Sharon already
presented his retreat program a week and a half ago to Labor
Party leader Shimon Peres.
- While to this day Sharon's official excuse for not consulting
with his party, his cabinet or the Knesset is that he hasn't
decided anything yet, Sharon told Peres that he has already decided
on a full retreat from the Gaza Strip - including the Rafah buffer
strip on the border area between Egypt and the Gaza Strip. The
retreat plan also includes an immediate retreat from 10 communities
in the West Bank.
- Chason reported that Peres told Sharon he would have the
support of Labor but that Sharon should go public. Sharon explained
that he could not go public with his plan as he has to time it
with his steps of visiting Washington, having a public referendum
and then going to the cabinet and Knesset for their approval.
Chason's report is consistent with reports of the meeting between
Sharon and the top Israeli security officials. During the meeting
Sharon was warned that such a retreat would turn the Gaza Strip
into one large "Karine A" but their warnings had no
apparent impact - leaving the participants with the feeling that
Sharon was only going through the motions and had already made
up his mind.
- IMRA (Independent Media Review & Analysis) http://www.imra.org.il
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- JOHN KERRY SEEN AS FLIP FLOP ON MIDDLE EAST AFFAIRS
- Kerry depicted Arafat as "statesman" in 1997 book
Democratic presidential candidate who now considers Palestinian
leader "no partner." Spokesman: Kerry has since changed
his opinion. Maariv
- News Service Maariv 8 March 2004 Democratic presidential
nominee-to-be John Kerry said only eight days ago that Palestinian
leader Yasser Arafat is not a partner for peace. However, in
a book he published in 1997 Kerry saw in Arafat a "statesman"
and even an "role model". According to the report published
Monday, the New York Post quotes Kerry's statement from his book
entitled The New War . Only one month ago he presented it, during
a television interview, as proof that he would be a president
"who does see ahead". "Terrorist organizations
with specific political agendas may be encouraged and emboldened
by Yasser Arafat's transformation from outlaw to statesman,"
Kerry wrote in The New War, which is now out of print. Kerry's
remarks came as he was dismissing noted historian Paul Johnson
as out of date for saying the Palestinian Liberation Organization
is "the quintessential terrorist movement" but has
achieved nothing for its people. Kerry's spokesman said that
he changed his view since writing the book, after "Arafat
continuously rejected one peace offer after another and failed
to reduce the level of violence". Last July, Kerry told
the Arab American Institute that Israel's security fence is "provocative"
and a barrier to peace, but last week, he told Jewish leaders
at a New York debate that the fence is "necessary to the
security of Israel." www.maarivintl.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=article&articleID=4217
IMRA - www.imra.org.il
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- LIFTING OF GENERAL CLOSURE OF THE WEST BANK AND GAZA
- Lifting of general closure in the West Bank and the Gaza
Strip IDF SPOKESPERSON ANNOUNCEMENT 8 March 2004 Following a
decision by the political echelon and in accordance with security
assessment, it was decided to lift the general closure that was
imposed in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. With the lifting
of the closure, entrance of workers and merchants into Israel
and entrance of workers into the Erez Industrial Zone will be
authorized. IMRA www.imra.org.il
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- U.S. SUPPLIES HARPOON TO EGYPT AND TURKEY WASHINGTON [MENL]
- 3-10-04 - The United States has decided to supply Harpoon
missiles to Egypt and Turkey. The Defense Department has awarded
Boeing subsidiary McDonnell Douglas a $69.5 million contract
for the procurement of 44 Harpoon all-up-round [AUR] missiles
for a range of U.S. allies. Egypt will receive 10 of the Harpoons
with the rest allocated to Taiwan. The Pentagon award also contains
the supply of various missile systems for Turkey. A Pentagon
announcement did not elaborate. Officials said the production
of the Harpoon would take place in Britain, Canada and the United
States. They said the contract is expected to be completed in
December 2005.
- www.imra.org.il
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- SAUDI SERMON: TIME FOR CHRISTIANS AND JEWS TO CONVERT TO
ISLAM
- [FBIS (US Government service) Translated Excerpt] [With thanks
to www.mideastweb.org/mewnews1.htm ] Riyadh Kingdom of Saudi
Arabia TV1 in Arabic, official television station of the Saudi
Government, carries on February 27, 2004 a live sermon from the
holy mosque in Mecca. Shaykh Salih Bin-Muhammad Al Talib delivers
the sermon, which he devotes to the story of genesis and the
heavenly messages brought by the prophets, beginning with Adam
and ending with Prophet Muhammad and the message of Islam.
- All heavenly religions, he asserts, came with one message
-- worship of God. "Therefore," the imam says, "is
it not time the People of the Book [Christians and Jews] pondered
and acknowledged that Islam is a continuation of the messages
that came before it and that it is the religion that God has
chosen for the whole of mankind?"
- "From the time of Prophet Muhammad, may the peace and
blessings of God be upon him, until the Day of Judgment, God
will not accept any other religion or creed," the imam says
and cites the Koranic verse: "If anyone desires a religion
other than Islam, never will it be accepted of him; and in the
Hereafter he will be in the ranks of those who have lost."
Continuing, the imam says: "Have you not noticed that in
the past 15 centuries history has not recorded that one single
Muslim religious scholar has entered Judaism or Christianity?
On the other hand, history records with letters of light the
columns of rabbis and priests who have converted to Islam and
linked their messages with its final message, which God has chosen
for all mankind."
- The imam makes this appeal: "Therefore, from the fountain
of the message, the site of its revelation, and the pulpit of
the house [ka'bah], which was built by Abraham and to which Moses
and Jesus, peace be upon them, made pilgrimage, I make a sincere
appeal along with our Prophet Muhammad's message to non-Muslims
and say: Embrace Islam so as to be peaceful. Embrace Islam so
as to be peaceful. Embrace Islam so that God would reward you
twice. Otherwise, you, and those that follow you out of ignorance
would have to account for your sin. It is an appeal to accept
the truth and study Islam; the correct Islam that the prophet
of guidance, Muhammad, may the peace and blessings of God be
upon him, has brought; Islam as it really is, free of innovations
and distortions; the Islam that is innocent of human violations
and the errors made by some of its followers." The imam
then reads this Koranic verse: "Say: "O People of the
Book!
- Come to common terms as between us and you: That we worship
none but Allah; that we associate no partners with Him; that
we erect not, from among ourselves, Lords and patrons other than
Allah. If then they turn back, Say ye: Bear witness that we (at
least) are Muslims bowing to Allah's will)." www.imra.org.il
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