Showing posts with label Netanyahu. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Netanyahu. Show all posts
Friday, April 10, 2015
Thursday, March 6, 2014
Netanyahu and Gov. Brown to sign pro-business pact
13 hours ago
By MARTHA MENDOZA
Source: Yahoo Finance
By MARTHA MENDOZA
Source: Yahoo Finance
MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. (AP) —
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is making a swing through the
Silicon Valley where he met with high-tech leaders and signed a
pro-business agreement with Gov. Jerry Brown.
Sitting
next to Netanyahu, Brown said Wednesday their agreement builds on their
respective strengths in research and technology to confront critical
problems both Israel and California face including drought and
cybersecurity.
Wednesday's
visit followed Netanyahu's meetings with President Barack Obama in
Washington, D.C., on Monday and his appearance Tuesday at the Los
Angeles premiere of a television documentary that features him.
Netanyahu
planned stops at Stanford University, Apple Inc. in Cupertino, a
meeting with WhatsApp co-founder Jan Koum, a Jewish Ukrainian immigrant
who sold his company to Facebook Inc. for $19 billion last month.
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
Under pressure from mass protests, Netanyahu offers dialogue
August 1
by Joel Greenberg
JERUSALEM — Facing his most serious domestic challenge since he took office, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday that members of his government would meet with protesters, a day after tens of thousands of Israelis took to the streets to demonstrate against rising housing prices and the high cost of living.
Two weeks of grass-roots economic protests have put pressure on Netanyahu to address demands for greater state involvement to remedy widening gaps between rich and poor and complaints by many middle-class Israelis that living costs are outstripping their salaries.
The protests over housing, which began with a tent camp in Tel Aviv, have spawned similar encampments in other cities. Saturday night’s demonstrations were the largest since the start of the protest wave, which was inspired partly by anti-government uprisings in neighboring Arab countries. Police estimated that more than 100,000 people demonstrated in 10 cities across Israel.
Polls have shown broad public support for the protesters and a sharp drop in Netanyahu’s approval rating since the demonstrations began, with shouts of “The people want social justice!” and demands that the prime minister step down.
The protests have drawn people from across the political spectrum and have taken place outside Israel’s established political parties and their leaders. The demonstrations have united hawks and doves, those on the left and those on the right, who have traditionally lined up according to their stance on the Arab-Israeli conflict. And while the protests represent a strong groundswell of public sentiment, they have not shaken Netanyahu’s broad-based right-wing coalition, which maintains a solid majority in parliament.
Speaking at the start of Sunday’s weekly cabinet meeting, Netanyahu pledged “to change our priorities” and announced that he would appoint a team of ministers and experts to formulate a plan “to ease the economic burden on Israeli citizens.” The prime minister said he would ask the team to “invite representatives of different groups and various sectors” to share their grievances and proposals before the plan is adopted by the government.
But Netanyahu warned against “irresponsible and populist steps that could bring the country to the situation of certain countries in Europe, which have reached the brink of bankruptcy and mass unemployment.”
Finance Minister Yuval Steinitz, a focus of criticism, warned that reforms demanded by the protesters, who have called for “a welfare state now,” could plunge Israel into a debt crisis similar to those plaguing Spain and Greece.
“As finance minister, I have a responsibility to prevent Israel from reaching a situation of economic anarchy,” he told reporters. “We see the talk about the debt crisis in Europe. We even hear talk of a possible default in the United States. My supreme duty is to see to it that we do not reach such a situation in the state of Israel.”
Steinitz said that while steps would be taken to reduce monopolies and increase competition, “we will not turn the rich and the businesspeople and the investors and industrialists into the enemies of the people, because they are part of a healthy economy.”
Israel’s gross domestic product growth is projected at 5 percent this year, and unemployment has declined to a record low of 5.7 percent. But many Israelis say they are struggling to make ends meet because of the rising costs of housing, fuel, utilities and food.
In another sign of pressure on the government, the director general of the Finance Ministry, Haim Shani, resigned Sunday, citing long-standing differences that he said were magnified by the protests.
A recent Facebook-driven consumer revolt forced a reduction in the price of cottage cheese, an Israeli staple. Social workers and doctors have held lengthy strikes over pay and working conditions, and young mothers have protested high day-care costs.
Vice Prime Minister Silvan Shalom said domestic social concerns were moving to the fore after years in which the public debate has been dominated by the conflict with the Palestinians and other external threats.
“We are moving away from a security mind-set to a social mind-set,” Shalom told Channel Two television.
Dan Shilon, a columnist for the newspaper Maariv, urged Netanyahu to step down. “Nothing will stop the protest,” he wrote. “Not a panicked tax cut, not the summer recess of parliament, not the autumn rains, not Katyusha rockets in the north or Qassam rockets in the south, not an attack on Iran nor missiles on Tel Aviv. Nothing will extricate you.”
Source: Washington Post
by Joel Greenberg
JERUSALEM — Facing his most serious domestic challenge since he took office, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday that members of his government would meet with protesters, a day after tens of thousands of Israelis took to the streets to demonstrate against rising housing prices and the high cost of living.
Two weeks of grass-roots economic protests have put pressure on Netanyahu to address demands for greater state involvement to remedy widening gaps between rich and poor and complaints by many middle-class Israelis that living costs are outstripping their salaries.
The protests over housing, which began with a tent camp in Tel Aviv, have spawned similar encampments in other cities. Saturday night’s demonstrations were the largest since the start of the protest wave, which was inspired partly by anti-government uprisings in neighboring Arab countries. Police estimated that more than 100,000 people demonstrated in 10 cities across Israel.
Polls have shown broad public support for the protesters and a sharp drop in Netanyahu’s approval rating since the demonstrations began, with shouts of “The people want social justice!” and demands that the prime minister step down.
The protests have drawn people from across the political spectrum and have taken place outside Israel’s established political parties and their leaders. The demonstrations have united hawks and doves, those on the left and those on the right, who have traditionally lined up according to their stance on the Arab-Israeli conflict. And while the protests represent a strong groundswell of public sentiment, they have not shaken Netanyahu’s broad-based right-wing coalition, which maintains a solid majority in parliament.
Speaking at the start of Sunday’s weekly cabinet meeting, Netanyahu pledged “to change our priorities” and announced that he would appoint a team of ministers and experts to formulate a plan “to ease the economic burden on Israeli citizens.” The prime minister said he would ask the team to “invite representatives of different groups and various sectors” to share their grievances and proposals before the plan is adopted by the government.
But Netanyahu warned against “irresponsible and populist steps that could bring the country to the situation of certain countries in Europe, which have reached the brink of bankruptcy and mass unemployment.”
Finance Minister Yuval Steinitz, a focus of criticism, warned that reforms demanded by the protesters, who have called for “a welfare state now,” could plunge Israel into a debt crisis similar to those plaguing Spain and Greece.
“As finance minister, I have a responsibility to prevent Israel from reaching a situation of economic anarchy,” he told reporters. “We see the talk about the debt crisis in Europe. We even hear talk of a possible default in the United States. My supreme duty is to see to it that we do not reach such a situation in the state of Israel.”
Steinitz said that while steps would be taken to reduce monopolies and increase competition, “we will not turn the rich and the businesspeople and the investors and industrialists into the enemies of the people, because they are part of a healthy economy.”
Israel’s gross domestic product growth is projected at 5 percent this year, and unemployment has declined to a record low of 5.7 percent. But many Israelis say they are struggling to make ends meet because of the rising costs of housing, fuel, utilities and food.
In another sign of pressure on the government, the director general of the Finance Ministry, Haim Shani, resigned Sunday, citing long-standing differences that he said were magnified by the protests.
A recent Facebook-driven consumer revolt forced a reduction in the price of cottage cheese, an Israeli staple. Social workers and doctors have held lengthy strikes over pay and working conditions, and young mothers have protested high day-care costs.
Vice Prime Minister Silvan Shalom said domestic social concerns were moving to the fore after years in which the public debate has been dominated by the conflict with the Palestinians and other external threats.
“We are moving away from a security mind-set to a social mind-set,” Shalom told Channel Two television.
Dan Shilon, a columnist for the newspaper Maariv, urged Netanyahu to step down. “Nothing will stop the protest,” he wrote. “Not a panicked tax cut, not the summer recess of parliament, not the autumn rains, not Katyusha rockets in the north or Qassam rockets in the south, not an attack on Iran nor missiles on Tel Aviv. Nothing will extricate you.”
Source: Washington Post
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Israeli media provides a glimpse of how spin drives Israeli diplomacy
November 21, 2010
Didi Remez
On the front page of this morning’s Maariv, senior columnist Ben Caspit reports [full translation at the bottom of the post; Hebrew original here]:
"At least three top Likud figures who were briefed recently by officials very close to Netanyahu on the talks with the Americans, on the letter that has not (yet) been written, on the promises that were not made and the stealth bombers that stole away, say that the prevalent view in the Prime Minister’s Bureau about the US administration is that it is “not a credible administration.” That is the reason, these sources say, for Netanyahu’s insistence on receiving the promises in writing. And that is the reason, say these sources, that some of the promises that Netanyahu heard from the Americans evaporated shortly afterwards."
Caspit agrees with the analysis but is astounded that the Prime Minister’s Bureau should actually say express it, pouring “oil” instead of “water” on the fires of the Israeli-American relationship when it’s “at an unprecedented nadir.”
The ‘moratorium extension deal‘ has created a rare agreement between Maariv and it’s arch-rival Yediot: Netanyahu’s government is diplomatically incompetent. In his Friday column, Nahum Barnea, explains how the deal morphed from an achievement into an embarrassment. as a result of creative communications at the Prime Minister’s Bureau [full translation at bottom of post]:
"Netanyahu’s bureau has an original technique for marketing its messages: Briefings are emailed every few hours to reporters and commentators. The condition is that the information not be attributed to Netanyahu, his advisers, his “surroundings” or his “associates.” This way, the Prime Minister’s Bureau achieves broad circulation for its messages without having to answer questions and without taking responsibility for the facts. It is a wonderfully convenient technique.
The problem is that in the absence of a father, the facts tend to run wild. The impression that was created upon Netanyahu’s return from the United States was that he had obtained a commitment from the administration to accept Israeli construction in East Jerusalem. It later became apparent that there was no such agreement. The impression that was created was that after a 90-day freeze, construction would be resumed everywhere, with the blessing of the US administration. Such an agreement was not reached. The impression that was created was that the administration consented to support the continued Israeli control of the Jordan Valley. Such consent was not reached.
The speed with which the list of American commitments shrank is reminiscent of the classic story about the Jew who wished to send a telegram to his relative in America. The cost of the telegram was based on a charge per word. Each word cost a fortune. The man decided to omit every unnecessary word from the telegram. By the time he reached the mail counter, his telegram had no words left."
Against this background, attacking Obama’s credibility is the logical next step. One spin creates problem A, which a second spin attempts to solve, creating problem B. If short-term image issues, compounded by media amateurism, guides management of the ’strategic relationship’. We can only hope that’s not the case when decisions are made on if and when to go to war. Just in case, it might be a good idea for pundits to stop making fun of Netanyahu over Iran.
—-
"A matter of credibility
Ben Caspit, Maariv, November 21 2010 [page 6 with front-page teaser; Hebrew original here and below this translation]
National Security Adviser Uzi Arad sat in the “Meet the Press” studio and handed out grades to the Americans. Obama’s administration, Arad said, began its battle against the Iranian nuclear program with a “policy of smiles” and believed the Iranians’ talk, “but then sobered up.” In principle, Arad is right. In practice, he isn’t supposed to say that on television. After all, even without this, the Americans don’t much like us.
International diplomacy is built on lies and half truths and in the delicate relationship between Israel and the US this week, there was no reason to give the Americans another reason to get annoyed at us. But every time that it seems to us that we’ve reached the bottom of the barrel, something happens and proves that we’ve still a long way to go before we get there. This something was the decision yesterday to send Arad to the studio. Perhaps because there was nobody else left to send.
Arad’s candid remarks are the tip of a much bigger iceberg. At least three top Likud figures who were briefed recently by officials very close to Netanyahu on the talks with the Americans, on the letter that has not (yet) been written, on the promises that were not made and the stealth bombers that stole away, say that the prevalent view in the Prime Minister’s Bureau about the US administration is that it is “not a credible administration.” That is the reason, these sources say, for Netanyahu’s insistence on receiving the promises in writing. And that is the reason, say these sources, that some of the promises that Netanyahu heard from the Americans evaporated shortly afterwards.
Again, at issue is a big mistake. What the press or ordinary people are permitted, is absolutely forbidden to the prime minister or his close associates. True, the current US administration has shown ineptitude, poor decision-making and problematic behavior. The fact that it has refused to stand behind Bush’s letters to Sharon from April 2004 undermines the basis for any discussions with them. But you don’t say this to politicians. You think this, you take this into account, but you’re careful that it not get out. As it is, the strategic relationship between Israel and the US is at an unprecedented nadir. The level of trust between the White House and the Prime Minister’s Bureau is scraping the bottom of the barrel from below. Automatic matters, such as a veto in the UN Security Council, are now promised as a freeze bribe, and even that for a pre-allotted time period. Cold water must be poured on this, not oil.
One needs to read the article by Dan Kurtzer, the former American ambassador to Israel and Obama’s adviser, which was published yesterday in the Washington Post, to understand how big a deal this is. Kurtzer warns against the deal being cooked up between the Obama administration and Netanyahu. He calls this bribery, he says that this is a mistake both for the Americans, but mainly for Israel, he points out that such a deal would even further rock the strategic basis of the relationship between the two countries. Kurtzer knows what he’s talking about.
Netanyahu, on the other hand, knows less what he’s doing. He’s now stuck with this deal, he can’t accept it or reject it, because now there is no choice. If he doesn’t pass it, he is a lame duck, a dead horse limping toward the edge of the cliff. And if he passes it? Better not to think about that now. It seems that the edge of this cliff is waiting for him on the horizon. These are the kind of impossible situations that only Netanyahu knows how to get into. Now let’s see him get out of it."
Source: Coteret
Link:http://coteret.com/2010/11/21/israeli-media-provides-a-glimpse-of-how-spin-drives-israeli-diplomacy/.
Didi Remez
On the front page of this morning’s Maariv, senior columnist Ben Caspit reports [full translation at the bottom of the post; Hebrew original here]:
"At least three top Likud figures who were briefed recently by officials very close to Netanyahu on the talks with the Americans, on the letter that has not (yet) been written, on the promises that were not made and the stealth bombers that stole away, say that the prevalent view in the Prime Minister’s Bureau about the US administration is that it is “not a credible administration.” That is the reason, these sources say, for Netanyahu’s insistence on receiving the promises in writing. And that is the reason, say these sources, that some of the promises that Netanyahu heard from the Americans evaporated shortly afterwards."
Caspit agrees with the analysis but is astounded that the Prime Minister’s Bureau should actually say express it, pouring “oil” instead of “water” on the fires of the Israeli-American relationship when it’s “at an unprecedented nadir.”
The ‘moratorium extension deal‘ has created a rare agreement between Maariv and it’s arch-rival Yediot: Netanyahu’s government is diplomatically incompetent. In his Friday column, Nahum Barnea, explains how the deal morphed from an achievement into an embarrassment. as a result of creative communications at the Prime Minister’s Bureau [full translation at bottom of post]:
"Netanyahu’s bureau has an original technique for marketing its messages: Briefings are emailed every few hours to reporters and commentators. The condition is that the information not be attributed to Netanyahu, his advisers, his “surroundings” or his “associates.” This way, the Prime Minister’s Bureau achieves broad circulation for its messages without having to answer questions and without taking responsibility for the facts. It is a wonderfully convenient technique.
The problem is that in the absence of a father, the facts tend to run wild. The impression that was created upon Netanyahu’s return from the United States was that he had obtained a commitment from the administration to accept Israeli construction in East Jerusalem. It later became apparent that there was no such agreement. The impression that was created was that after a 90-day freeze, construction would be resumed everywhere, with the blessing of the US administration. Such an agreement was not reached. The impression that was created was that the administration consented to support the continued Israeli control of the Jordan Valley. Such consent was not reached.
The speed with which the list of American commitments shrank is reminiscent of the classic story about the Jew who wished to send a telegram to his relative in America. The cost of the telegram was based on a charge per word. Each word cost a fortune. The man decided to omit every unnecessary word from the telegram. By the time he reached the mail counter, his telegram had no words left."
Against this background, attacking Obama’s credibility is the logical next step. One spin creates problem A, which a second spin attempts to solve, creating problem B. If short-term image issues, compounded by media amateurism, guides management of the ’strategic relationship’. We can only hope that’s not the case when decisions are made on if and when to go to war. Just in case, it might be a good idea for pundits to stop making fun of Netanyahu over Iran.
—-
"A matter of credibility
Ben Caspit, Maariv, November 21 2010 [page 6 with front-page teaser; Hebrew original here and below this translation]
National Security Adviser Uzi Arad sat in the “Meet the Press” studio and handed out grades to the Americans. Obama’s administration, Arad said, began its battle against the Iranian nuclear program with a “policy of smiles” and believed the Iranians’ talk, “but then sobered up.” In principle, Arad is right. In practice, he isn’t supposed to say that on television. After all, even without this, the Americans don’t much like us.
International diplomacy is built on lies and half truths and in the delicate relationship between Israel and the US this week, there was no reason to give the Americans another reason to get annoyed at us. But every time that it seems to us that we’ve reached the bottom of the barrel, something happens and proves that we’ve still a long way to go before we get there. This something was the decision yesterday to send Arad to the studio. Perhaps because there was nobody else left to send.
Arad’s candid remarks are the tip of a much bigger iceberg. At least three top Likud figures who were briefed recently by officials very close to Netanyahu on the talks with the Americans, on the letter that has not (yet) been written, on the promises that were not made and the stealth bombers that stole away, say that the prevalent view in the Prime Minister’s Bureau about the US administration is that it is “not a credible administration.” That is the reason, these sources say, for Netanyahu’s insistence on receiving the promises in writing. And that is the reason, say these sources, that some of the promises that Netanyahu heard from the Americans evaporated shortly afterwards.
Again, at issue is a big mistake. What the press or ordinary people are permitted, is absolutely forbidden to the prime minister or his close associates. True, the current US administration has shown ineptitude, poor decision-making and problematic behavior. The fact that it has refused to stand behind Bush’s letters to Sharon from April 2004 undermines the basis for any discussions with them. But you don’t say this to politicians. You think this, you take this into account, but you’re careful that it not get out. As it is, the strategic relationship between Israel and the US is at an unprecedented nadir. The level of trust between the White House and the Prime Minister’s Bureau is scraping the bottom of the barrel from below. Automatic matters, such as a veto in the UN Security Council, are now promised as a freeze bribe, and even that for a pre-allotted time period. Cold water must be poured on this, not oil.
One needs to read the article by Dan Kurtzer, the former American ambassador to Israel and Obama’s adviser, which was published yesterday in the Washington Post, to understand how big a deal this is. Kurtzer warns against the deal being cooked up between the Obama administration and Netanyahu. He calls this bribery, he says that this is a mistake both for the Americans, but mainly for Israel, he points out that such a deal would even further rock the strategic basis of the relationship between the two countries. Kurtzer knows what he’s talking about.
Netanyahu, on the other hand, knows less what he’s doing. He’s now stuck with this deal, he can’t accept it or reject it, because now there is no choice. If he doesn’t pass it, he is a lame duck, a dead horse limping toward the edge of the cliff. And if he passes it? Better not to think about that now. It seems that the edge of this cliff is waiting for him on the horizon. These are the kind of impossible situations that only Netanyahu knows how to get into. Now let’s see him get out of it."
Source: Coteret
Link:http://coteret.com/2010/11/21/israeli-media-provides-a-glimpse-of-how-spin-drives-israeli-diplomacy/.
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Press wary of Israel 'manoeuvres'
14:59 GMT, Thursday, 27 August 2009 15:59 UK
Press commentators across much of the Middle East say little good will come of talks held this week between Western officials and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Two Egyptian papers say Mr Netanyahu was trying to "swindle" the West with his current stance on Israeli settlements, while a Jordanian commentator accused him of "manoeuvring" and trying to delay meaningful peace negotiations.
Meanwhile, Israeli commentators have focused on the potential details of a US-Israeli agreement to halt settlement building, and what they see as a softening in Netanyahu's approach to the issue since he came to power.
HAFITH AL-BARGHUTHI IN PALESTINIAN AL-HAYAT AL-JADIDAH
The outcome of the London meeting between Netanyahu and Mitchell is not important because the Israeli government wants to continue the construction of the settlements under the guise of completing current projects.
EGYPT'S AL-AHRAM
Netanyahu insists on eluding international resolutions and swindling the USA and Western countries which are requesting a freeze on all forms settlement activities. He promised not to build new settlements if the peace process was resumed, yet he insists on expanding existing ones.
MUHAMMAD ABU-AL-HADID IN EGYPT'S AL-JUMHURIYAH
Netanyahu is still the biggest swindler when it comes to peace talks. Like he did before, he is wasting time in manoeuvres and side issues… the game we have come to know by heart will be repeated.
EGYPT'S AL-JUMHURIYAH
Netanyahu's positions against peace are well known. These positions require a strong stance from his European hosts… the international community is fed up with its hostile policies and continuous refusal of peace initiatives.
JORDAN'S AL-DUSTUR
Netanyahu's statements in London yesterday confirm that Israel is continuing with its hostile policies.
MUHAMMAD KA'USH IN JORDAN'S AL-ARAB AL-YAWM:
Netanyahu is manoeuvring, eluding and wants to draw attention to side issues to buy more time and create new facts on the ground on Palestinian land. This will extinguish any hope that a state or even autonomy could be created.
MAYA BENGAL IN ISRAEL'S MA'ARIV
If the Americans accept the Israeli proposal, this will be an achievement for Netanyahu… On the other hand, Netanyahu will become the first prime minister who officially agreed to freeze construction of other buildings in the settlements.
DOUGLAS BLOOMFIELD IN ISRAEL'S JERUSALEM POST
Despite his initially defiant tone on settlements, Netanyahu is now boasting that he hasn't issued a single new building permit since taking office, and tenders for new construction are suspended until 2010.
Press commentators across much of the Middle East say little good will come of talks held this week between Western officials and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Two Egyptian papers say Mr Netanyahu was trying to "swindle" the West with his current stance on Israeli settlements, while a Jordanian commentator accused him of "manoeuvring" and trying to delay meaningful peace negotiations.
Meanwhile, Israeli commentators have focused on the potential details of a US-Israeli agreement to halt settlement building, and what they see as a softening in Netanyahu's approach to the issue since he came to power.
HAFITH AL-BARGHUTHI IN PALESTINIAN AL-HAYAT AL-JADIDAH
The outcome of the London meeting between Netanyahu and Mitchell is not important because the Israeli government wants to continue the construction of the settlements under the guise of completing current projects.
EGYPT'S AL-AHRAM
Netanyahu insists on eluding international resolutions and swindling the USA and Western countries which are requesting a freeze on all forms settlement activities. He promised not to build new settlements if the peace process was resumed, yet he insists on expanding existing ones.
MUHAMMAD ABU-AL-HADID IN EGYPT'S AL-JUMHURIYAH
Netanyahu is still the biggest swindler when it comes to peace talks. Like he did before, he is wasting time in manoeuvres and side issues… the game we have come to know by heart will be repeated.
EGYPT'S AL-JUMHURIYAH
Netanyahu's positions against peace are well known. These positions require a strong stance from his European hosts… the international community is fed up with its hostile policies and continuous refusal of peace initiatives.
JORDAN'S AL-DUSTUR
Netanyahu's statements in London yesterday confirm that Israel is continuing with its hostile policies.
MUHAMMAD KA'USH IN JORDAN'S AL-ARAB AL-YAWM:
Netanyahu is manoeuvring, eluding and wants to draw attention to side issues to buy more time and create new facts on the ground on Palestinian land. This will extinguish any hope that a state or even autonomy could be created.
MAYA BENGAL IN ISRAEL'S MA'ARIV
If the Americans accept the Israeli proposal, this will be an achievement for Netanyahu… On the other hand, Netanyahu will become the first prime minister who officially agreed to freeze construction of other buildings in the settlements.
DOUGLAS BLOOMFIELD IN ISRAEL'S JERUSALEM POST
Despite his initially defiant tone on settlements, Netanyahu is now boasting that he hasn't issued a single new building permit since taking office, and tenders for new construction are suspended until 2010.
Saturday, October 3, 2009
Obama agrees to cover up Israel's nukes: report
Fri, 02 Oct 2009 19:28:52 GMT
Israel has reportedly received an assurance by US President Barack Obama that it would not be pressured into accounting for its alleged nuclear arsenal or signing the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).
In a meeting with, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu obtained President Obama's guarantee that the White House would continue a 4-decade-old secret deal to allow Israel keep a nuclear arsenal without opening it to international inspections, The Washington Times reported on Friday quoting officials familiar with the matter.
"The president gave Israel an NPT treaty get out of jail free card," said a Senate staffer speaking on the condition of anonymity. "What this means is that the president gave commitments that politically he had no choice but to give regarding Israel's nuclear program."
"However, it calls into question virtually every part of the president's nonproliferation agenda."
Israel, which has allegedly introduced nuclear weapons in the volatile Middle East, maintains a policy of deliberate ambiguity and has so far refused to sign the NPT- a treaty which seeks to limit the spread of such weapons of mass destruction.
The tacit agreement prolonged the nuclear understanding reached between President Richard Nixon and Prime Minister Golda Meir in 1969.
In a reference to the May meeting with President Obama, the Israeli premier said in an interview with Israel's Channel 2 last week he had received "an itemized list of the strategic understandings that have existed for many years between Israel and the United States" regarding the nuclear arsenal.
"It was not for naught that I requested, and it was not for naught that I received [that document]," Netanyahu said.
Avner Cohen, author of the revelatory Israel and the Bomb, which has drawn upon thousands of documents and tens of interviews on the Israeli nuclear firepower, said the accord amounted to "the United States passively accepting Israel's nuclear weapons status as long as Israel does not unveil publicly its capability or test a weapon."
In 1958, Israel began building its suspected plutonium and uranium processing facility near Dimona in the Negev desert. The regime claims the facility - which was originally revealed as "textile factory" - is a "research reactor."
In early June, George Washington University's National Security Archives declassified a 1960 report by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) which had explained how Tel Aviv was to benefit from a nuclear arsenal.
"Possession of a nuclear weapon capability, or even the prospect of achieving it, would clearly give Israel a greater sense of security, self-confidence and assertiveness," the documents said.
HN/MD
Israel has reportedly received an assurance by US President Barack Obama that it would not be pressured into accounting for its alleged nuclear arsenal or signing the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).
In a meeting with, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu obtained President Obama's guarantee that the White House would continue a 4-decade-old secret deal to allow Israel keep a nuclear arsenal without opening it to international inspections, The Washington Times reported on Friday quoting officials familiar with the matter.
"The president gave Israel an NPT treaty get out of jail free card," said a Senate staffer speaking on the condition of anonymity. "What this means is that the president gave commitments that politically he had no choice but to give regarding Israel's nuclear program."
"However, it calls into question virtually every part of the president's nonproliferation agenda."
Israel, which has allegedly introduced nuclear weapons in the volatile Middle East, maintains a policy of deliberate ambiguity and has so far refused to sign the NPT- a treaty which seeks to limit the spread of such weapons of mass destruction.
The tacit agreement prolonged the nuclear understanding reached between President Richard Nixon and Prime Minister Golda Meir in 1969.
In a reference to the May meeting with President Obama, the Israeli premier said in an interview with Israel's Channel 2 last week he had received "an itemized list of the strategic understandings that have existed for many years between Israel and the United States" regarding the nuclear arsenal.
"It was not for naught that I requested, and it was not for naught that I received [that document]," Netanyahu said.
Avner Cohen, author of the revelatory Israel and the Bomb, which has drawn upon thousands of documents and tens of interviews on the Israeli nuclear firepower, said the accord amounted to "the United States passively accepting Israel's nuclear weapons status as long as Israel does not unveil publicly its capability or test a weapon."
In 1958, Israel began building its suspected plutonium and uranium processing facility near Dimona in the Negev desert. The regime claims the facility - which was originally revealed as "textile factory" - is a "research reactor."
In early June, George Washington University's National Security Archives declassified a 1960 report by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) which had explained how Tel Aviv was to benefit from a nuclear arsenal.
"Possession of a nuclear weapon capability, or even the prospect of achieving it, would clearly give Israel a greater sense of security, self-confidence and assertiveness," the documents said.
HN/MD
Friday, October 2, 2009
Is the Middle East heading towards the eighth war?
Salim Nazzal
September 29, 2009
The result which the American envoy George Mitchell in the Middle East has come with was not unexpected by most Arab observers. In the view of the Arab thinker Klofis Maksoud the real aim of Netanyahu is to freeze peace and not settlements. The Israeli rejecting of a temporary freezing of settlements means one thing which Netanyahu emphasized it all the time, Israel will resume the policy of stealing Palestinian land in order to build more settlements for Jews on the land of the future Palestinian state. This obviously contradicts with the international community commitment which links between the establishment of a viable Palestinian state and peace.
Nevertheless the question of Palestine is much more complicated than the question of settlements which composes only a portion of the question. But if we use this example as a barometer to measure the intention of Israel to integrate in the region the conclusion is more than obvious. Israel, like all racist and fascist states in history cannot live without oppressing and stealing the natives land and consequently cannot live without war. In the final analysis the essence of the Palestinian question is about displacing native Palestinians by a racist and murderous ideology to bring people from all over the world nothing link them except they are Jews. But, the fact which the world still overlooks is that the absence of a comprehensive approach which considers all elements in the conflict it is difficult to see a sign of hope of a political settlement.
The question today is, what will the US be doing in light of the Israeli rejection of the American peace plans, will Obama realize at last that backing an apartheid state is absolutely against the interest of America which its image was greatly damaged in the whole world, or will Obama puts more pressures on Israel to comply with the peace plans?
Most Arab political circles fears that the USA which failed to put pressures on Israel to freeze settlement building for a year will press the Arab party to give more concessions to normalize the relation with the Jewish apartheid state. The meeting which took place in New York this week between Obama, Abbas and Netanyahu is considered a success to Netanyahu who could boast that he challenged Obama and rejected to comply with the American proposals.
Arab states say that they have given concrete proposals and the ball now is in the Israeli ground. The Beirut summit of 2002 which Israel ignored proposed a full diplomatic relation with the state of Israel for a full withdrawn from the west bank. For that reason Arab circles in the Middle East are concerned about the Obama demands from some Arab countries in the North Africa and the Gulf region to deliver some "normalization gestures" towards Israel which in return will continue building "only" 3000 units in the occupied Palestine. In the light of this Arab circles began to pose questions about the capability of the new administration to break with the previous American biased position. A Palestinian politician whom I spoke with after the Obama speech at the UN wonders what Obama means by using the term halting the Palestinian agitation against Israel. He asked: "Do Palestinians need somebody to agitate them against Israel when they see with their eyes how Israel makes their life hell on daily basis? Does Obama expect Palestinians to dance when Zionist Jews steal their land and humiliate them daily on 600 check points which most of them has no security significance for Israel but rather to humiliate Palestinians and to break their will of freedom?"
The historical speech of the Libyan leader at the UN has posed serious questions about the role of the UN towards several third world cases, Palestine is one of them. Most Arab observers consider that this speech was the clearest Arab protest towards the UN which failed to prevent more than 65 wars and failed to provide justice to Palestinians. We cannot see that the UN is for the whole world, Al Qaddafi said. Indeed the strong states do what they like and nobody question them while the UN is strong on the small states. The Palestinian question is the sharpest example: Israel occupies, murders and steals Palestinian land under the shadow of the American veto which consolidates the Qaddafi argument about the biased position of the UN. However the political view in the occupied Palestine has witnessed no change on the ground.
The apartheid state of Israel changes its propaganda tactics between time and time but the strategy remains the same. To steal as much as they could of Palestine and to reduce as much as they could of Palestinians by various forms of terror which is the preferable methods of the Zionist apartheid state. The reality on the ground is which speaks, and this reality demonstrates clearly that Jewish settlement increases creating facts on the ground which makes the establishment of a small Palestinian state impossible. Major Palestinian cities like Qalqilya are surrounded by a wall from three directions leaving only one entrance to go into town in one of the biggest prisons in modern history is a small example of the huge destruction which Israel caused and is still causing to the Palestinian land and the Palestinian life. If an earthquake or any natural catastrophe strikes the town hundreds of thousands of its population will find no place to escape to since the Zionist walls are surrounding the city from three directions. According to a source in the Palestinian civil defense whom I met recently several fires were not extinguished because the Palestinian fire fighting cars were stopped from half to one hour on the Israeli check points and the result is that the cars reached the place when the fire had already destroyed everything. The Jewish fascism is getting stronger with each day and the hopes of reaching a reasonable solution disappearing too. All this is contributing in creating an atmosphere of hopelessness and pessimism in the region and consolidating the view that the international community is unable or unwilling to make Israel respect the international law.
In the view of many Arab observers the failure of the American plan will push the region sooner or later towards a comprehensive war which would be the logical result of the aggressive Zionist policy. Are we heading towards the eighth Arab Israeli war, it is difficult to tell, but what is sure that the absence of a serious pressure on Israel is creating an atmosphere of despair and militancy which will sooner or later lead to the eighth Arab Israeli war which many observers predict it will be catastrophic.
* Dr. Salim Nazzal is a Palestinian-Norwegian historian in the Middle East, who has written extensively on social and political issues in the region. – - snazzal@ymail.com
September 29, 2009
The result which the American envoy George Mitchell in the Middle East has come with was not unexpected by most Arab observers. In the view of the Arab thinker Klofis Maksoud the real aim of Netanyahu is to freeze peace and not settlements. The Israeli rejecting of a temporary freezing of settlements means one thing which Netanyahu emphasized it all the time, Israel will resume the policy of stealing Palestinian land in order to build more settlements for Jews on the land of the future Palestinian state. This obviously contradicts with the international community commitment which links between the establishment of a viable Palestinian state and peace.
Nevertheless the question of Palestine is much more complicated than the question of settlements which composes only a portion of the question. But if we use this example as a barometer to measure the intention of Israel to integrate in the region the conclusion is more than obvious. Israel, like all racist and fascist states in history cannot live without oppressing and stealing the natives land and consequently cannot live without war. In the final analysis the essence of the Palestinian question is about displacing native Palestinians by a racist and murderous ideology to bring people from all over the world nothing link them except they are Jews. But, the fact which the world still overlooks is that the absence of a comprehensive approach which considers all elements in the conflict it is difficult to see a sign of hope of a political settlement.
The question today is, what will the US be doing in light of the Israeli rejection of the American peace plans, will Obama realize at last that backing an apartheid state is absolutely against the interest of America which its image was greatly damaged in the whole world, or will Obama puts more pressures on Israel to comply with the peace plans?
Most Arab political circles fears that the USA which failed to put pressures on Israel to freeze settlement building for a year will press the Arab party to give more concessions to normalize the relation with the Jewish apartheid state. The meeting which took place in New York this week between Obama, Abbas and Netanyahu is considered a success to Netanyahu who could boast that he challenged Obama and rejected to comply with the American proposals.
Arab states say that they have given concrete proposals and the ball now is in the Israeli ground. The Beirut summit of 2002 which Israel ignored proposed a full diplomatic relation with the state of Israel for a full withdrawn from the west bank. For that reason Arab circles in the Middle East are concerned about the Obama demands from some Arab countries in the North Africa and the Gulf region to deliver some "normalization gestures" towards Israel which in return will continue building "only" 3000 units in the occupied Palestine. In the light of this Arab circles began to pose questions about the capability of the new administration to break with the previous American biased position. A Palestinian politician whom I spoke with after the Obama speech at the UN wonders what Obama means by using the term halting the Palestinian agitation against Israel. He asked: "Do Palestinians need somebody to agitate them against Israel when they see with their eyes how Israel makes their life hell on daily basis? Does Obama expect Palestinians to dance when Zionist Jews steal their land and humiliate them daily on 600 check points which most of them has no security significance for Israel but rather to humiliate Palestinians and to break their will of freedom?"
The historical speech of the Libyan leader at the UN has posed serious questions about the role of the UN towards several third world cases, Palestine is one of them. Most Arab observers consider that this speech was the clearest Arab protest towards the UN which failed to prevent more than 65 wars and failed to provide justice to Palestinians. We cannot see that the UN is for the whole world, Al Qaddafi said. Indeed the strong states do what they like and nobody question them while the UN is strong on the small states. The Palestinian question is the sharpest example: Israel occupies, murders and steals Palestinian land under the shadow of the American veto which consolidates the Qaddafi argument about the biased position of the UN. However the political view in the occupied Palestine has witnessed no change on the ground.
The apartheid state of Israel changes its propaganda tactics between time and time but the strategy remains the same. To steal as much as they could of Palestine and to reduce as much as they could of Palestinians by various forms of terror which is the preferable methods of the Zionist apartheid state. The reality on the ground is which speaks, and this reality demonstrates clearly that Jewish settlement increases creating facts on the ground which makes the establishment of a small Palestinian state impossible. Major Palestinian cities like Qalqilya are surrounded by a wall from three directions leaving only one entrance to go into town in one of the biggest prisons in modern history is a small example of the huge destruction which Israel caused and is still causing to the Palestinian land and the Palestinian life. If an earthquake or any natural catastrophe strikes the town hundreds of thousands of its population will find no place to escape to since the Zionist walls are surrounding the city from three directions. According to a source in the Palestinian civil defense whom I met recently several fires were not extinguished because the Palestinian fire fighting cars were stopped from half to one hour on the Israeli check points and the result is that the cars reached the place when the fire had already destroyed everything. The Jewish fascism is getting stronger with each day and the hopes of reaching a reasonable solution disappearing too. All this is contributing in creating an atmosphere of hopelessness and pessimism in the region and consolidating the view that the international community is unable or unwilling to make Israel respect the international law.
In the view of many Arab observers the failure of the American plan will push the region sooner or later towards a comprehensive war which would be the logical result of the aggressive Zionist policy. Are we heading towards the eighth Arab Israeli war, it is difficult to tell, but what is sure that the absence of a serious pressure on Israel is creating an atmosphere of despair and militancy which will sooner or later lead to the eighth Arab Israeli war which many observers predict it will be catastrophic.
* Dr. Salim Nazzal is a Palestinian-Norwegian historian in the Middle East, who has written extensively on social and political issues in the region. – - snazzal@ymail.com
Saturday, September 26, 2009
PFLP: Obama's statements and actions serve only U.S/Israeli interests
Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine -PFLP
The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine said, in response to U.S. President Barack Obama's statements at the United Nations General Assembly in New York City, that the U.S. position serves only U.S/Israeli interests and the ongoing strategic alliance between the major imperialist power and its Zionist colonial project partner.
By demanding that Palestinians engage in futile negotiations with the occupation state while the fascist Netanyahu regime continues its settlement project without even a freeze, the PFLP said on September 24, 2009, Obama's position reveals the U.S. support for Netanyahu's position and his extremism, racism and colonization, as it serves U.S./Israeli strategic interests, as the U.S. and Israel prepare for joint military exercises meant to intimidate the people of the region, raise tensions and instability and demonstrate strategic/military superiority of the occupation state.
Furthermore, the PFLP called upon Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and the PLO leadership to respect decisions of the PLO Executive Committee and the interests of the Palestinian people and refuse meetings with representatives of the occupation regime which plunders our land, violates our human rights, tramples on international law and resolutions, ignores global public opinion and legality and refuses to end the occupation, siege and aggression. Instead, the Front called for the occupation state to be isolated and called upon all who claim to represent the Palestinian people to take the lead in isolating the criminal state, rather than engaging in meetings and so-called "negotiations" with its representatives.
The Front said that Palestinian national interests require the first priority to be restoration of national unity, ending the division through comprehensive national dialogue, in order to confront the occupier and secure our national rights, including independence, the right to return, and self-determination. It stressed that disunity helps to provide an environment that promotes the occupier's projects and plans to liquidate the Palestinian cause.
Comrade Jamil Mizher, member of the Central Committee of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, described the tripartite meeting between Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, Zionist occupation Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and U.S. President Barack Obama as serving only U.S./Israeli interests, describing the meeting as an "escape valve for the pressures on the occupation government after the release of the UN report accusing Israel of war crimes against the Palestinian people during its recent aggression on Gaza."
Comrade Mizher, speaking on September 23, 2009 to Al-Alam News, said that the meeting is a "free gift" to the fascist Netanyahu regime, while it is subject to widespread international criticism due to its war crimes in Gaza and its ongoing settlement and Zionization project. He said that the meeting completely ignores the interests, concerns and opinions of the Palestinian people and instead shows that the Palestinian representatives in the PA are more concerned with the demands of the United States. Comrade Mizher stressed that a return to so-called "negotiations" with the Netanyahu regime is unacceptable, as the entire so-called "peace process" has achieved nothing for the Palestinian people at the level of national rights.
He called upon all Palestinian forces to review and reject the policy of Oslo and the "peace process" and instead build a new political strategy based on adherence to national principles and national rights, rather than on futile "negotiations" with the criminal Israeli state.
The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine said, in response to U.S. President Barack Obama's statements at the United Nations General Assembly in New York City, that the U.S. position serves only U.S/Israeli interests and the ongoing strategic alliance between the major imperialist power and its Zionist colonial project partner.
By demanding that Palestinians engage in futile negotiations with the occupation state while the fascist Netanyahu regime continues its settlement project without even a freeze, the PFLP said on September 24, 2009, Obama's position reveals the U.S. support for Netanyahu's position and his extremism, racism and colonization, as it serves U.S./Israeli strategic interests, as the U.S. and Israel prepare for joint military exercises meant to intimidate the people of the region, raise tensions and instability and demonstrate strategic/military superiority of the occupation state.
Furthermore, the PFLP called upon Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and the PLO leadership to respect decisions of the PLO Executive Committee and the interests of the Palestinian people and refuse meetings with representatives of the occupation regime which plunders our land, violates our human rights, tramples on international law and resolutions, ignores global public opinion and legality and refuses to end the occupation, siege and aggression. Instead, the Front called for the occupation state to be isolated and called upon all who claim to represent the Palestinian people to take the lead in isolating the criminal state, rather than engaging in meetings and so-called "negotiations" with its representatives.
The Front said that Palestinian national interests require the first priority to be restoration of national unity, ending the division through comprehensive national dialogue, in order to confront the occupier and secure our national rights, including independence, the right to return, and self-determination. It stressed that disunity helps to provide an environment that promotes the occupier's projects and plans to liquidate the Palestinian cause.
Comrade Jamil Mizher, member of the Central Committee of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, described the tripartite meeting between Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, Zionist occupation Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and U.S. President Barack Obama as serving only U.S./Israeli interests, describing the meeting as an "escape valve for the pressures on the occupation government after the release of the UN report accusing Israel of war crimes against the Palestinian people during its recent aggression on Gaza."
Comrade Mizher, speaking on September 23, 2009 to Al-Alam News, said that the meeting is a "free gift" to the fascist Netanyahu regime, while it is subject to widespread international criticism due to its war crimes in Gaza and its ongoing settlement and Zionization project. He said that the meeting completely ignores the interests, concerns and opinions of the Palestinian people and instead shows that the Palestinian representatives in the PA are more concerned with the demands of the United States. Comrade Mizher stressed that a return to so-called "negotiations" with the Netanyahu regime is unacceptable, as the entire so-called "peace process" has achieved nothing for the Palestinian people at the level of national rights.
He called upon all Palestinian forces to review and reject the policy of Oslo and the "peace process" and instead build a new political strategy based on adherence to national principles and national rights, rather than on futile "negotiations" with the criminal Israeli state.
Friday, September 25, 2009
Hamas, Fatah slam hardline Netanyahu's speech
Hamas says Israel carrying out Holocaust against Palestinians, PA delegate walks out on Netanyahu speech.
GAZA CITY - Hamas on Thursday accused Israel of carrying out a Holocaust against Palestinians, after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu gave a speech at the UN General Assembly.
"Israel is the one carrying out a Holocaust against the Palestinians," Sami Abu Zahri, a spokesman for the democratically elected Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
Although Israel was created by a UN resolution over 60 years ago, it is known for its defiance of the international community, especially when concerning UN resolutions on it's illegal occupation of Arab land.
The hardliner used his address to the annual meetings of heads of state and government to blast the United Nations for its report criticizing Israel for using excessive force in its assault on the Gaza Strip eight months ago.
He unleashed a tirade against the findings of the UN probe into the Gaza assault, and warned it could affect how Israel reacts in the future towards the Palestinians.
He linked Israel's willingness to make future concessions to the Palestinians, to how other nations react to the report.
While the UN investigation found that both Israel and Palestinian groups had committed war crimes and possible crimes against humanity, it reserved some of its harshest language for the actions taken by Israel against the civilian population in the densely-populated Gaza Strip.
Netanyahu also addressed Israel's conflict with the Palestinians, saying again that he would accept a demilitarized Palestinian state alongside Israel, in reference to what is seen by critics as a 'non-State'.
However, he offered no olive branches to the Palestinians and did not refer to calls by the Palestinians and the US to freeze illegal Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank and annexed Palestinian East Jerusalem.
A lone Palestinian delegate walked out as Netanyahu defended Israel's December-January assault on the Gaza Strip that killed 1,400 mainly civilian Palestinians.
GAZA CITY - Hamas on Thursday accused Israel of carrying out a Holocaust against Palestinians, after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu gave a speech at the UN General Assembly.
"Israel is the one carrying out a Holocaust against the Palestinians," Sami Abu Zahri, a spokesman for the democratically elected Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
Although Israel was created by a UN resolution over 60 years ago, it is known for its defiance of the international community, especially when concerning UN resolutions on it's illegal occupation of Arab land.
The hardliner used his address to the annual meetings of heads of state and government to blast the United Nations for its report criticizing Israel for using excessive force in its assault on the Gaza Strip eight months ago.
He unleashed a tirade against the findings of the UN probe into the Gaza assault, and warned it could affect how Israel reacts in the future towards the Palestinians.
He linked Israel's willingness to make future concessions to the Palestinians, to how other nations react to the report.
While the UN investigation found that both Israel and Palestinian groups had committed war crimes and possible crimes against humanity, it reserved some of its harshest language for the actions taken by Israel against the civilian population in the densely-populated Gaza Strip.
Netanyahu also addressed Israel's conflict with the Palestinians, saying again that he would accept a demilitarized Palestinian state alongside Israel, in reference to what is seen by critics as a 'non-State'.
However, he offered no olive branches to the Palestinians and did not refer to calls by the Palestinians and the US to freeze illegal Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank and annexed Palestinian East Jerusalem.
A lone Palestinian delegate walked out as Netanyahu defended Israel's December-January assault on the Gaza Strip that killed 1,400 mainly civilian Palestinians.
Palestinian factions blast Netanyahu UN speech
Palestinians from both Hamas and Fatah factions have criticized the speech of Israeli Prime Minister Binjamin Netanyahu at the UN General Assembly as 'bogus and unacceptable'.
"Netanyahu spoke of the Holocaust but Israel committed the largest massacre of the century," Hamas spokesperson, Sami Abu Zuhri, said in reference to Operation Cast Lead which resulted in the death of over 1,500 Palestinians and the injury of about 5,450 people in the impoverished Gaza Strip.
He added the Israeli Prime Minister is seeking to justify the massacres in the blockaded coastal sliver, and that such falsehood cannot reverse confirmed war crimes against Gazans.
Abu Zuhri further highlighted that Palestine is the homeland of the Arabs, the Palestinians and the Muslims, and will never be a Jewish land no matter what.
Hamas legislator Mushier Al Masri, meanwhile, stated that Netanyahu does his utmost to cover up the Gaza manslaughter in the hope to twist the world logic and gain support for 'Zionist terrorism”.
The Palestinian Authority's chief negotiator with Israel, Saib Erekat, also called Netanyahu's demand that the Palestinians recognize Israel as a Jewish state 'unacceptable'.
During his UN General Assembly speech on Thursday, Netanyahu referred to the Holocaust and the decision to annihilate the Jewish people during the Nazi era. He also reiterated his demands that the Palestinians must recognize Israel as a Jewish State as a precondition to resuming the stalled peace process.
"Netanyahu spoke of the Holocaust but Israel committed the largest massacre of the century," Hamas spokesperson, Sami Abu Zuhri, said in reference to Operation Cast Lead which resulted in the death of over 1,500 Palestinians and the injury of about 5,450 people in the impoverished Gaza Strip.
He added the Israeli Prime Minister is seeking to justify the massacres in the blockaded coastal sliver, and that such falsehood cannot reverse confirmed war crimes against Gazans.
Abu Zuhri further highlighted that Palestine is the homeland of the Arabs, the Palestinians and the Muslims, and will never be a Jewish land no matter what.
Hamas legislator Mushier Al Masri, meanwhile, stated that Netanyahu does his utmost to cover up the Gaza manslaughter in the hope to twist the world logic and gain support for 'Zionist terrorism”.
The Palestinian Authority's chief negotiator with Israel, Saib Erekat, also called Netanyahu's demand that the Palestinians recognize Israel as a Jewish state 'unacceptable'.
During his UN General Assembly speech on Thursday, Netanyahu referred to the Holocaust and the decision to annihilate the Jewish people during the Nazi era. He also reiterated his demands that the Palestinians must recognize Israel as a Jewish State as a precondition to resuming the stalled peace process.
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Netanyahu accuses Sweden of trying to reach out to Hamas
By Barak Ravid, Haaretz Correspondent and Agencies
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has complained over Sweden's attempting to establish contact with Hamas, Haaretz has learned. His allegation could worsen Israel's already tense relationship with the Scandinavian country following the publication there of an inflammatory news article accusing Israeli soldiers of harvesting the organs of Palestinians.
Netanyahu complained about Sweden's alleged attempts to start a dialogue with Hamas 10 days ago in a meeting with Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Moratinos. Spain will replace Sweden as president of the European Union in January.
Netanyahu reportedly told Moratinos the Swedes are "reaching out to Hamas." Netanyahu did not specify through which sources he had learned of this. Moratinos, according to a source in the Prime Minister's Bureau, said he was not aware of such intentions, but said he would inquire about the subject with Swedish diplomats.
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Though Hamas is defined as a terrorist organization by the EU, parliamentarians from European countries meet occasionally with Hamas representatives. According to Hamas' representative in Lebanon, Usamah Hamdan, MPs from Sweden, the Netherlands and three other West European nations consulted with Hamas representatives over the past months.
Meanwhile, the Swedish chancellor of justice has decided not to launch an investigation into a newspaper that alleged Israeli soldiers kill Palestinian civilians to harvest their organs, Army Radio reported Saturday.
Swedish judicial authorities ruled that the report in the tabloid Aftonbladet did not constitute racism and was therefore legal. The ruling came in response to two requests submitted to Swedish justice officials.
According to Swedish law, a publication may be considered illegal if it is threatening or expresses contempt toward a person or group of people based on their race, ethnicity, or nationality.
The newspaper story sparked an outcry in Israel, with its author accused of disseminating "a blood libel" against the Jews. Much of the controversy was due to the article's attempts to tie Jewish criminals who trafficked in organs in New Jersey to the alleged harvesting of Palestinian organs by Israel Defense Forces soldiers.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has complained over Sweden's attempting to establish contact with Hamas, Haaretz has learned. His allegation could worsen Israel's already tense relationship with the Scandinavian country following the publication there of an inflammatory news article accusing Israeli soldiers of harvesting the organs of Palestinians.
Netanyahu complained about Sweden's alleged attempts to start a dialogue with Hamas 10 days ago in a meeting with Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Moratinos. Spain will replace Sweden as president of the European Union in January.
Netanyahu reportedly told Moratinos the Swedes are "reaching out to Hamas." Netanyahu did not specify through which sources he had learned of this. Moratinos, according to a source in the Prime Minister's Bureau, said he was not aware of such intentions, but said he would inquire about the subject with Swedish diplomats.
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Though Hamas is defined as a terrorist organization by the EU, parliamentarians from European countries meet occasionally with Hamas representatives. According to Hamas' representative in Lebanon, Usamah Hamdan, MPs from Sweden, the Netherlands and three other West European nations consulted with Hamas representatives over the past months.
Meanwhile, the Swedish chancellor of justice has decided not to launch an investigation into a newspaper that alleged Israeli soldiers kill Palestinian civilians to harvest their organs, Army Radio reported Saturday.
Swedish judicial authorities ruled that the report in the tabloid Aftonbladet did not constitute racism and was therefore legal. The ruling came in response to two requests submitted to Swedish justice officials.
According to Swedish law, a publication may be considered illegal if it is threatening or expresses contempt toward a person or group of people based on their race, ethnicity, or nationality.
The newspaper story sparked an outcry in Israel, with its author accused of disseminating "a blood libel" against the Jews. Much of the controversy was due to the article's attempts to tie Jewish criminals who trafficked in organs in New Jersey to the alleged harvesting of Palestinian organs by Israel Defense Forces soldiers.
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