Before we jump into the abyss
by Justin Raimondo, November 11, 2009
We hear daily reports that President Obama has made this or that decision about how many more troops to send to the Afghan front; the numbers vary. This Reuters report headlines "four options" the president is considering, but then names only three: sending 15,000, 30,000, or 40,000. Is the fourth option getting the heck out of that hellhole, before we destabilize the entire region?
No way, no how. The numbers may change, but what doesn’t vary is the fact that this is quite obviously a political and not a military decision: it’s all about what’s happening in Washington, and not about what’s occurring on the ground in Afghanistan and environs. And the Washington political culture, which sees government action as the cure-all for society’s ills, is not about to take inaction as the cure for anything. We must "do something" – even if it means playing right into al-Qaeda’s hands."........."
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Women worked to death in Lebanon
Four Ethiopian domestic workers are thought to have killed themselves in three weeks. Lebanon must protect these women
Dalila Mahdawi
guardian.co.uk, Tuesday 10 November 2009
"....There are thought to be about 200,000 women, mostly from the Philippines, Ethiopia and Sri Lanka, in Lebanon alone. But although they are becoming an intrinsic part of the country's social fabric, their contribution is often overlooked. While many Lebanese people are careful to ensure their housekeepers are well treated, a significant number abuse them. In extreme cases, migrant domestic workers are killed or kill themselves.
The spate of suicides has become so bad in recent weeks it prompted Lebanese blogger Wissam to launch the grimly named Ethiopian Suicides blog. The website is dedicated to monitoring media reports on the deaths of foreign migrant domestic workers in Lebanon. "I have a dream," Wissam says. "That migrant domestic workers will be treated humanely in Lebanon and will stop trying to commit or commit[ting] suicide."......
Many migrant workers come to the Middle East seeking a better life for the families they left behind. The Lebanese themselves have a long history of migration and hardship, and should know first-hand the difficulties of living and working in a foreign country. Just as many Lebanese abroad work hard with the hopes of eventually returning home, and the Lebanese should ensure that these women get to go back to their countries – alive and well, not in body bags."
Dalila Mahdawi
guardian.co.uk, Tuesday 10 November 2009
"....There are thought to be about 200,000 women, mostly from the Philippines, Ethiopia and Sri Lanka, in Lebanon alone. But although they are becoming an intrinsic part of the country's social fabric, their contribution is often overlooked. While many Lebanese people are careful to ensure their housekeepers are well treated, a significant number abuse them. In extreme cases, migrant domestic workers are killed or kill themselves.
The spate of suicides has become so bad in recent weeks it prompted Lebanese blogger Wissam to launch the grimly named Ethiopian Suicides blog. The website is dedicated to monitoring media reports on the deaths of foreign migrant domestic workers in Lebanon. "I have a dream," Wissam says. "That migrant domestic workers will be treated humanely in Lebanon and will stop trying to commit or commit[ting] suicide."......
Many migrant workers come to the Middle East seeking a better life for the families they left behind. The Lebanese themselves have a long history of migration and hardship, and should know first-hand the difficulties of living and working in a foreign country. Just as many Lebanese abroad work hard with the hopes of eventually returning home, and the Lebanese should ensure that these women get to go back to their countries – alive and well, not in body bags."
Al-Jazeera Video: Hersh on US team to secure Pakistan nuclear arms
"Investigative journalist Seymour Hersh says the US has a rapid response unit ready to secure Pakistan's nuclear weapons in the event of a mutiny or "any nuclear incident", a claim the US and Pakistani governments have denied.
Speaking to Al Jazeera, Hersh discussed his report [Posted Here.] which appeared in The New Yorker magazine and said a team was scrambled recently to respond to what was thought to be a nuclear emergency in Pakistan, which turned out to be a false alarm. "
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
الدويك: حماس ستوقع ورقة المصالحة المصرية كما هي بنهاية نوفمبر وساتولى السلطة اذا استقال عباس وسالتزم بالانتخابات خلال 60 يوما
COMMENT:This is an important story; and here is a summary.
Basically this confirms the suspicion that Hamas is waiting in the wings to pick up the pieces if and when Abbas quits. It is deja vu all over again and Hamas wants to present itself as the real alternative.
In an interview with Al-Quds Al-'Arabi, Aziz Dwaik (president of the Legislative Council who was released recently from an Israeli prison) said that Hamas intends to sign the Egyptian "reconciliation" agreement, as is, at the end of this month. He said that Hamas has some reservations, but it will accept Egyptian assurances that those reservations will be taken into account, and sign anyway!
According to him outside pressures, notably from Syria and Turkey, have pushed in this direction and the recent trip to Tehran by the Turkish PM was to get Iran's support for the reconciliation.
He stated that if Abbas resigns, then he (Dwaik) will become interim president and will call for new elections within 60 days.
Bottom line: Instead of dissolving the PA, Hamas wants to preserve it and to present itself as the alternative to Abbas in the "peace process." Nothing learned after 15 years of chasing mirage in the Oslo wilderness; Hamas thinks that it can do it better.
Perhaps that is why Dwaik and several other Hamas MPs were released by Israel recently. When one horse is down, USrael will use the other.
الدويك: حماس ستوقع ورقة المصالحة المصرية كما هي بنهاية نوفمبر وساتولى السلطة اذا استقال عباس وسالتزم بالانتخابات خلال 60 يوما
"كشف الدكتور عزيز الدويك رئيس المجلس التشريعي الفلسطيني، احد قادة حماس البارزين، لـ'القدس العربي' الثلاثاء بأن حركة حماس ستوقع على ورقة المصالحة المصرية كما هي بعد حصول الحركة على ضمانات مصرية بأخذ تحفظات الحركة بعين الاعتبار وادراجها على هامش ورقة المصالحة والاتفاق عليها بين جميع الاطراف الفلسطينية.
واوضح الدويك لـ'القدس العربي' بأن هناك تدخلا من اطراف عديدة داخلية وخارجية على خط المصالحة الفلسطينية، مشيرا الى ان حماس ستوقع على ورقة المصالحة المصرية بنهاية الشهر الجاري. واضاف قائلا 'مع نهاية الشهر ستسمعون ما يثلج صدوركم'.
ورجحت مصادر فلسطينية رفيعة المستوى لـ'القدس العربي' الثلاثاء بأن التدخل الخارجي هو تدخل سوري تركي على خط المصالحة، وبأن زيارة رئيس الوزراء التركي قبل ايام لطهران بحثت ملف المصالحة الفلسطينية وضرورة الدفع من جميع الاطراف نحو تحقيقها.
واشار الدويك في حديثه مع 'القدس العربي' الثلاثاء الى ان حماس ستوقع على ورقة المصالحة المصرية كما هي في حين تعطيها القاهرة 'ضمانات وتطمينات بإلحاق تحفظاتها على هامش الورقة والعمل على الاتفاق حولها' مع جميع الاطراف الفلسطينية. وحول تلك التحفظات قال الدويك 'هناك تحفظات عديدة لها علاقة بالوضع الميداني مثل قيام السلطة بفصل العديد من الموظفين المحسوبين على حركة حماس، اضافة لمواصلتها اعتقال العديد من ابناء الحركة'. وتابع قائلا 'لا بد من وجود ضمانات لإنهاء تلك الملفات'.
واشار الدويك الى ان تحفظات حماس على الورقة المصرية تشمل بعض التعريفات 'غير الدستورية' التي وردت بها والتي تتعلق ببعض المهام الامنية وغيرها، على حد قوله، رافضا الخوض في تفاصيل تلك التحفظات.
وتابع قائلا 'لا بد ان يتوافق عليها ـ التحفظات - الفلسطينيون وستكون ملحقة بالورقة المصرية'، معربا عن اعتقاده بضرورة توقيع حركة حماس التي ينتمي اليها على الورقة المصرية كما جاءت، مناشدا مصر ان تكمل 'الامتار القليلة الباقية' للوصول للمصالحة الفلسطينية التي باتت ملحة بعد تبخر الوعود الامريكية للرئيس الفلسطيني محمود عباس.
واضاف الدويك 'هناك حراك باتجاه المصالحة من اطراف كثيرة والعمل يجري ليل نهار للوصول للمصالحة، وهذا سيكون قبل نهاية الشهر ان شاء الله'.
وبشأن امكانية ان يتولى الدويك كرئيس للمجلس التشريعي الفلسطيني رئاسة السلطة في حال اقدم عباس على الاستقالة من منصبه وفق ما رشح عن المقربين منه، قال الدويك 'ارجو ان يتركز اهتمام ابو مازن وكافة ابناء الشعب الفلسطيني حول موضوع المصالحة'، مضيفا 'الحديث عن الانتخابات وغيرها كلها للأسف قضايا غير دستورية'.
وبشأن اعلان عباس عدم الترشح لرئاسة السلطة قال الدويك 'انا احس بان الامريكيين يريدون التخلص من ابو مازن فاستبقهم ابو مازن واعلن عدم ترشيح نفسه للانتخابات القادمة'، مشيرا الى صدور العديد من المؤشرات الامريكية التي اكدت لعباس بأن هناك قرارا بالتخلص منه مثل تصريح وزيرة الخارجية الامريكية هيلاري كلينتون بأنها ستتعامل معه بأي صفة يحملها.
وحول امكانية ان يتولى الدويك رئاسة السلطة في حال اقدم عباس على الاستقالة من منصبه سواء قبل موعد اجراء الانتخابات في 24 كانون الثاني (يناير) القادم او بعد ذلك التاريخ بسبب عدم اجراء تلك الانتخابات قال الدويك 'الحقيقة ان القانون الاساسي الفلسطيني -الدستور- واضح وان رئيس المجلس التشريعي سيقوم بمهام الرئيس اذا استقال لمدة 60 يوما تجري بعدها الانتخابات، وهذا نص الدستور، ولكنني اتمنى ان لا تتم تلك الخطوة'.
وعند سؤاله مرة اخرى لتوضيح موقفه اكثر بشأن امكانية ان يتولى منصب رئيس السلطة في حال استقال عباس، قال الدويك 'انا كنت دائما محترما للقانون الاساسي الفلسطيني ولا استطيع ان اخالف القانون وهناك نص بتولي رئيس المجلس التشريعي منصب الرئيس واجراء الانتخابات في غضون 60 يوما وانا لا استطيع ان اخالف القانون كما قلت لك'، مضيفا 'سألتزم بالقانون الذي ينص على اجراء الانتخابات في غضون 60 يوما اذا استقال الرئيس'.
وشدد الدويك على ان كل جهوده كرئيس للمجلس التشريعي الفلسطيني منصبة الآن مع اطراف داخلية وخارجية على تحقيق المصالحة الفلسطينية. وقال 'كل جهودي متركزة الان على المصالحة وقريبا ستسمع انت وجميع ابناء الشعب الفلسطيني ما يثلج صدوركم'.
وكان الدكتور صائب عريقات اعلن الثلاثاء بان الرئيس الفلسطيني محمود عباس يمكن ان يستقيل اذا فشلت الجهود الامريكية لتحريك عملية السلام.
وقال عريقات في تصريح صحافي ان 'الرئيس لا يناور بل هو غير متمسك بمنصب الرئاسة (...) ولن يبقى رئيسا لمجرد ان يكون رئيسا'.
واضاف 'اذا اعتقدت اسرائيل انها ستدمر فكرة الدولة فهو - عباس- في غنى عن هذا المنصب. لكن ما اقوله هو رأيي الشخصي اذ ان عباس لم يبلغ حتى الآن اي مسؤول فلسطيني بالخطوات القادمة التي ينوي اتخاذها'.
واكد ان عباس 'لا يريد ان يبقى رئيسا لمجرد لقب رئيس' بل 'يريد ان يكون رئيسا لدولة فلسطين لان الشعب الفلسطيني انتخبه رئيسا لمشروع دولة فلسطينية وعاصمتها القدس الشرقية'، على حد تعبيره.
وبعد ان قال ان 'الرئيس يشعر ان مشروعه وفكرة الدولة في خطر'، اشار عريقات الى انه في حال استقال عباس 'لن تكون هناك مؤسسات للسلطة لا رئاسة ولا وزارة'.
"
Finkelstein Facebook Status
Norman Finkelstein: Fuck Abbas. Fuck the Palestinian Authority. Long live the people of Palestine!
Palestinians symbolically dismantle sections of the wall
Multimedia report, The Electronic Intifada, 10 November 2009
"....However, two decades later, walls of separation still exist throughout the world. Israel's wall in the West Bank is much bigger than the Berlin wall ever was, as it encloses more than two million Palestinians inside the occupied West Bank. This wall separates Palestinians from their families, land, natural resources and communities.....
In a symbolic action, the protestors in Nilin on 6 November were able to knock down a section of the wall before the Israeli army arrived and fired tear gas at the crowd.....
In a similar action on 9 November dubbed "We are going to Jerusalem," near the Qalandiya refugee camp outside Ramallah, hundreds of Palestinians along with dozens of internationals attached a rope to the wall as they used a truck to tear down one of the concrete slabs. As they demonstrated over the downed segment of the wall, Israeli soldiers arrived firing teargas and rubber bullets at the crowd. The below images show the action......
"....However, two decades later, walls of separation still exist throughout the world. Israel's wall in the West Bank is much bigger than the Berlin wall ever was, as it encloses more than two million Palestinians inside the occupied West Bank. This wall separates Palestinians from their families, land, natural resources and communities.....
In a symbolic action, the protestors in Nilin on 6 November were able to knock down a section of the wall before the Israeli army arrived and fired tear gas at the crowd.....
In a similar action on 9 November dubbed "We are going to Jerusalem," near the Qalandiya refugee camp outside Ramallah, hundreds of Palestinians along with dozens of internationals attached a rope to the wall as they used a truck to tear down one of the concrete slabs. As they demonstrated over the downed segment of the wall, Israeli soldiers arrived firing teargas and rubber bullets at the crowd. The below images show the action......
Israeli Jews and the one-state solution
Ali Abunimah, The Electronic Intifada, 10 November 2009
"....But with the total collapse of the Obama Administration's peace efforts, and relentless Israeli colonization of the occupied West Bank, the reality is dawning rapidly that the two-state solution is no more than a slogan that has no chance of being implemented or altering the reality of a de facto binational state in Palestine/Israel.
This places an obligation on all who care about the future of Palestine/Israel to seriously consider the democratic alternatives. I have long argued that the systems in post-apartheid South Africa (a unitary democratic state), and Northern Ireland (consociational democracy) -- offer hopeful, real-life models.
But does solid Israeli Jewish opposition to a one-state solution mean that a peaceful one-state outcome is so unlikely that Palestinians should not pursue it, and should instead focus only "pragmatic" solutions that would be less fiercely resisted by Israeli Jews?......
But change will come. Without indulging Israeli racism or preserving undue privilege, the legitimate concerns of ordinary Israeli Jews can be addressed directly in any negotiated transition to ensure that the shift to democracy is orderly, and essential redistributive policies are carried out fairly. Inevitably, decolonization will cause some pain as Israeli Jews lose power and privilege, but there are few reasons to believe it cannot be a well-managed process, or that the vast majority of Israeli Jews, like white South Africans, would not be prepared to make the adjustment for the sake of a normality and legitimacy they cannot have any other way.
This is where the wealth of research and real-life experience about the successes, failures, difficulties and opportunities of managing such transitions at the level of national and local politics, neighborhoods, schools and universities, workplaces, state institutions and policing, emerging from South Africa and Northern Ireland, will be of enormous value.
Every situation has unique features, and although there are patterns in history, it never repeats itself exactly. But what we can conclude from studying the pasts and presents of others is that Palestinians and Israelis are no less capable of writing themselves a post-colonial future that gives everyone a chance at a life worth living in a single, democratic state."
"....But with the total collapse of the Obama Administration's peace efforts, and relentless Israeli colonization of the occupied West Bank, the reality is dawning rapidly that the two-state solution is no more than a slogan that has no chance of being implemented or altering the reality of a de facto binational state in Palestine/Israel.
This places an obligation on all who care about the future of Palestine/Israel to seriously consider the democratic alternatives. I have long argued that the systems in post-apartheid South Africa (a unitary democratic state), and Northern Ireland (consociational democracy) -- offer hopeful, real-life models.
But does solid Israeli Jewish opposition to a one-state solution mean that a peaceful one-state outcome is so unlikely that Palestinians should not pursue it, and should instead focus only "pragmatic" solutions that would be less fiercely resisted by Israeli Jews?......
But change will come. Without indulging Israeli racism or preserving undue privilege, the legitimate concerns of ordinary Israeli Jews can be addressed directly in any negotiated transition to ensure that the shift to democracy is orderly, and essential redistributive policies are carried out fairly. Inevitably, decolonization will cause some pain as Israeli Jews lose power and privilege, but there are few reasons to believe it cannot be a well-managed process, or that the vast majority of Israeli Jews, like white South Africans, would not be prepared to make the adjustment for the sake of a normality and legitimacy they cannot have any other way.
This is where the wealth of research and real-life experience about the successes, failures, difficulties and opportunities of managing such transitions at the level of national and local politics, neighborhoods, schools and universities, workplaces, state institutions and policing, emerging from South Africa and Northern Ireland, will be of enormous value.
Every situation has unique features, and although there are patterns in history, it never repeats itself exactly. But what we can conclude from studying the pasts and presents of others is that Palestinians and Israelis are no less capable of writing themselves a post-colonial future that gives everyone a chance at a life worth living in a single, democratic state."
'Abbas must stand by his decision'
By Lamis Andoni
Al-Jazeera
NOTE: I don't agree with several of the opinions expressed in this article, but it is worth reading.
(Left: The sign reads, "I am not running." The shadow says otherwise)
".....The man who believed the most among Palestinians in the Israeli-Palestinian negotiations, should step down even if elections, due to be held in January, are postponed.
This is not about Abbas' credibility but about his responsibility......
The final blow
The last blow, however, came when Hillary Clinton, the US secretary of state, informed Abbas, that Washington wanted not only an immediate resumption of negotiations without a freeze on Israeli settlement building, but that East Jerusalem would be excluded from any discussion on settlement expansion.
A member of the Fatah central committee told this writer that Clinton informed Abbas that nine Arab governments had assured her of their acceptance of the US position on dropping the settlement freeze as a precondition for the resumption of negotiations.
"That was it for Abbas, who felt betrayed by Arab governments who agree with Washington and then accuse him directly or indirectly of selling out Palestinian rights," the Fatah official said.
In the end - even though Abbas' account is plausible - it was and remains his responsibility, first and foremost, to safeguard Palestinian rights.
Thus by stepping down, Abbas is admitting the failure of the 'peace process' and withdrawing Palestinian cover for Israel's continued occupation.
As many analysts - both supporters and opponents of Abbas - agree, the veteran Fatah leader has a chance to make an honorable exit.
But more importantly, and urgently, he has a duty to expose the American-Israeli scam to push the Palestinians to surrender in the name of 'peace'.
Abbas should not budge on this. It is a matter of assuming responsibility. "
Al-Jazeera
NOTE: I don't agree with several of the opinions expressed in this article, but it is worth reading.
(Left: The sign reads, "I am not running." The shadow says otherwise)
".....The man who believed the most among Palestinians in the Israeli-Palestinian negotiations, should step down even if elections, due to be held in January, are postponed.
This is not about Abbas' credibility but about his responsibility......
The final blow
The last blow, however, came when Hillary Clinton, the US secretary of state, informed Abbas, that Washington wanted not only an immediate resumption of negotiations without a freeze on Israeli settlement building, but that East Jerusalem would be excluded from any discussion on settlement expansion.
A member of the Fatah central committee told this writer that Clinton informed Abbas that nine Arab governments had assured her of their acceptance of the US position on dropping the settlement freeze as a precondition for the resumption of negotiations.
"That was it for Abbas, who felt betrayed by Arab governments who agree with Washington and then accuse him directly or indirectly of selling out Palestinian rights," the Fatah official said.
In the end - even though Abbas' account is plausible - it was and remains his responsibility, first and foremost, to safeguard Palestinian rights.
Thus by stepping down, Abbas is admitting the failure of the 'peace process' and withdrawing Palestinian cover for Israel's continued occupation.
As many analysts - both supporters and opponents of Abbas - agree, the veteran Fatah leader has a chance to make an honorable exit.
But more importantly, and urgently, he has a duty to expose the American-Israeli scam to push the Palestinians to surrender in the name of 'peace'.
Abbas should not budge on this. It is a matter of assuming responsibility. "
Hoodwinked: Former Economic Hit Man John Perkins Reveals Why the World Financial Markets Imploded--and How to Remake Them
"John Perkins calls himself a former economic hit man. He has seen the signs of today’s financial meltdown before. The subprime mortgage fiasco, the collapse of the banking industry, the rising unemployment rate–these are all familiar to him. Perkins was on the front lines of monitoring and helping create these very events that were once just confined to the Third World. From 1971 to 1981, he worked for the international consulting firm of Chas T. Main, where he was a self-described “economic hit man.” He is the author of the New York Times bestseller, “Confessions of An Economic Hit Man” and “The Secret History of the American Empire.”...."
US peace activist disrupts Israeli Prime Minister in Washington DC
"When Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke Monday at the Annual Conference of the United Jewish Federations in Washington, DC, he was interrupted by Code Pink peace activist Midge Potts stood up with a banner that said “End the Siege of Gaza”.
She shouted “Stop the blockade of Gaza, Shame on you, Netanyahu”, and was dragged out of the meeting by security guards.
Midge Potts is a navy veteran who says she felt compelled to speak on behalf of Palestinians.
Today’s disruption of the Israeli Prime Minister’s speech is just one of a series of similar disruptions of speeches by Israeli officials in the US and Europe.
Activists like Midge Potts challenge Netanyahu’s characterization of the Israeli military as the “most moral army on earth”.
In disrupting Netanyahu’s speech, Midge Potts said that she hoped to send a message to the Palestinian people that there are Americans who believe in human rights for all and are determined to change the US government’s policy to reflect these values."
Click here to listen to audio interview with Midge Potts.
She shouted “Stop the blockade of Gaza, Shame on you, Netanyahu”, and was dragged out of the meeting by security guards.
Midge Potts is a navy veteran who says she felt compelled to speak on behalf of Palestinians.
Today’s disruption of the Israeli Prime Minister’s speech is just one of a series of similar disruptions of speeches by Israeli officials in the US and Europe.
Activists like Midge Potts challenge Netanyahu’s characterization of the Israeli military as the “most moral army on earth”.
In disrupting Netanyahu’s speech, Midge Potts said that she hoped to send a message to the Palestinian people that there are Americans who believe in human rights for all and are determined to change the US government’s policy to reflect these values."
Click here to listen to audio interview with Midge Potts.
See Video Below:
Slaughterhouse Unto the Nations
AshkeNazi threatens Gaza with another “little holocaust”
By Khalid Amayreh
Palestine Think Tank
"There seems to be a perfect conformity between Gabi Ashkenazi and his last name. The Israeli chief of staff is considered one of the main Israeli war criminals responsible for the virtual genocide against the Gaza Strip during the past winter. On his murderous hands, he carries tons of innocent blood, including that of more than 340 children, killed in Israel’s pornographic bombing of civilian neighborhood.
Last week, Ashkenazi was quoted as saying that Israel was likely to wage another quasi holocaust on Gaza, adding that the Israeli occupation army would enter the innermost corners and streets of the coastal territory......"
By Khalid Amayreh
Palestine Think Tank
"There seems to be a perfect conformity between Gabi Ashkenazi and his last name. The Israeli chief of staff is considered one of the main Israeli war criminals responsible for the virtual genocide against the Gaza Strip during the past winter. On his murderous hands, he carries tons of innocent blood, including that of more than 340 children, killed in Israel’s pornographic bombing of civilian neighborhood.
Last week, Ashkenazi was quoted as saying that Israel was likely to wage another quasi holocaust on Gaza, adding that the Israeli occupation army would enter the innermost corners and streets of the coastal territory......"
Portuguese water company's immoral collaboration with Israel
Adri Nieuwhof, The Electronic Intifada, 9 November 2009
(Adri Nieuwhof is a consultant and human rights advocate based in Switzerland)
"The management of Portuguese water company EPAL recently informed its workers about its collaboration with the Israeli national water company Mekorot on "water security issues." An EPAL intern who recently visited the occupied West Bank reacted to the news by informing colleagues about how Israel is depriving Palestinians from water, referring to Amnesty International's 27 October report on the situation. EPAL responded by sacking the intern within one hour.....
According to European law, EPAL has the power to exclude an economic operator from bidding for a public contract or to reject any such bid where it is found that the individual or organization has committed an act of "grave misconduct" in the course of its business of profession. Directive 2004/18/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 31 March 2004 on the coordination of procedures for the award of public works contracts, public supply contracts and public service contracts is explicit about this. Like other European companies supporting Israel's occupation, EPAL and its investors can expect increasing scrutiny and pressure to withdraw from agreements that undermine international law."
According to European law, EPAL has the power to exclude an economic operator from bidding for a public contract or to reject any such bid where it is found that the individual or organization has committed an act of "grave misconduct" in the course of its business of profession. Directive 2004/18/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 31 March 2004 on the coordination of procedures for the award of public works contracts, public supply contracts and public service contracts is explicit about this. Like other European companies supporting Israel's occupation, EPAL and its investors can expect increasing scrutiny and pressure to withdraw from agreements that undermine international law."
A DAY THAT SHOOK THE WORLD
By Eric Margolis
".....In November, 1989, the vast empire built by Stalin that stretched from East Berlin to Vladivostok was on its last legs. The USSR had 50,000 battle tanks and 30,000 nuclear warheads, but could not feed its people. Military spending consumed 20% of the economy. [COMMENT: Is this not the state of the US Empire today??] As I saw for myself while traveling around the Soviet Union in the late 1980’s, conditions were often primitive, even third world outside the big cities.
Afghanistan’s `mujahidin’ had all but defeated the mighty Red Army. Poland’s Solidarity Union, secretly funded by Pope John Paul and the CIA through Panamanian shell companies, had risen in revolt. So, too, ever rebellious Hungarians, joined by Lithuanians and East Germans......"
How Israel Won the Settlement Battle Again
By Ramzy Baroud
Palestine Chronicle
".....This is what Miliband had to say: "Settlements are illegal in our view and an obstacle to peace settlement in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. The settlements challenge the heart of... a Palestinian state."
But then, he added: "It's so important for all those who care about security and social justice in this region that discussions about borders and territory are restarted in a serious way, because if you can progress on border and territory, you can resolve the settlements issue."
This is classic Miliband. While his clear and decisive statement regarding the illegality of the settlements and the fact that their construction is an obstacle is to be welcomed, one cannot decipher a politician’s statement in increments; to be truly appreciated, they must be understood as a whole.
The danger lies in Miliband’s follow up statement, where he purposely changed the order of the proposed solution to the Middle East crisis to be "discussions about borders and territory are restarted in a serious way", which means unconditional negotiations, because "progress" at that front would "resolve the settlements issue."
But isn't this the exact type of dialogue that Israel wishes to take part in: peace talks with no conditions, no deadline and no specific end, while it persists in building its illegal settlements in flagrant violation of international law, unabated? More, isn’t this what Palestinians, all Palestinians, have vehemently rejected?....."
Palestine Chronicle
".....This is what Miliband had to say: "Settlements are illegal in our view and an obstacle to peace settlement in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. The settlements challenge the heart of... a Palestinian state."
But then, he added: "It's so important for all those who care about security and social justice in this region that discussions about borders and territory are restarted in a serious way, because if you can progress on border and territory, you can resolve the settlements issue."
This is classic Miliband. While his clear and decisive statement regarding the illegality of the settlements and the fact that their construction is an obstacle is to be welcomed, one cannot decipher a politician’s statement in increments; to be truly appreciated, they must be understood as a whole.
The danger lies in Miliband’s follow up statement, where he purposely changed the order of the proposed solution to the Middle East crisis to be "discussions about borders and territory are restarted in a serious way", which means unconditional negotiations, because "progress" at that front would "resolve the settlements issue."
But isn't this the exact type of dialogue that Israel wishes to take part in: peace talks with no conditions, no deadline and no specific end, while it persists in building its illegal settlements in flagrant violation of international law, unabated? More, isn’t this what Palestinians, all Palestinians, have vehemently rejected?....."
Palestinians tear down chunk of wall
"RAMALLAH, West Bank (AFP) – Palestinians tore down a chunk of Israel's West Bank separation barrier on Monday in a protest staged to coincide with the 20th anniversary of the day the Berlin Wall came down.
A truck was used to pull down the wall section to the cheers of an estimated 150 Palestinian activists and foreign supporters near the Qalandia refugee camp just outside Ramallah.
Israeli troops used teargas and stun grenades in a brief clash with stone-throwing Palestinians who then dispersed.
"Today is the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall and marks the first day of a week of resistance to the apartheid wall in Palestine and around the globe," the Stop the Wall campaign said in a statement....."
Watch Video Clip Here.
A truck was used to pull down the wall section to the cheers of an estimated 150 Palestinian activists and foreign supporters near the Qalandia refugee camp just outside Ramallah.
Israeli troops used teargas and stun grenades in a brief clash with stone-throwing Palestinians who then dispersed.
"Today is the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall and marks the first day of a week of resistance to the apartheid wall in Palestine and around the globe," the Stop the Wall campaign said in a statement....."
Watch Video Clip Here.
You Want to Laugh? Assad in OIC Summit: If Golan Talks Fail, We'll Turn to Resistance...Sure Thing Mr. Rabbit, Tell Us Some More Fiction...
Al-Manar
"Syrian President Bashar Assad warned on Monday that if the Golan Heights are not returned peacefully – Syria will turn to resistance. Speaking at an economic forum of the Organization of Islamic Conference in Istanbul, Assad said, "The failure of negotiations towards the full restoration of rights automatically means resistance is the alternative solution." According to Assad, "Resisting the occupation is a national duty....."
COMMENT:
"Syrian President Bashar Assad warned on Monday that if the Golan Heights are not returned peacefully – Syria will turn to resistance. Speaking at an economic forum of the Organization of Islamic Conference in Istanbul, Assad said, "The failure of negotiations towards the full restoration of rights automatically means resistance is the alternative solution." According to Assad, "Resisting the occupation is a national duty....."
COMMENT:
This is the same "leader" who, just two days ago, was urging Turkey to strengthen its ties with Israel, so it could be a better mediator with Syria.
This is the same "leader" who was repeatedly humiliated when both the US and Israel bombed and destroyed targets and killed scores of Syrians deep inside Syria. The Israeli jets that bombed their target near Deir El-Zur, deep inside Syria, flew over Turkey first, before entering Syria. Now that is the Turkish-Israeli military alliance which the "dear leader" of Syria wants to strengthen.
OK, now you can cry.
This is the same "leader" who was repeatedly humiliated when both the US and Israel bombed and destroyed targets and killed scores of Syrians deep inside Syria. The Israeli jets that bombed their target near Deir El-Zur, deep inside Syria, flew over Turkey first, before entering Syria. Now that is the Turkish-Israeli military alliance which the "dear leader" of Syria wants to strengthen.
OK, now you can cry.
Houthis release footage of seized Saudi army vehicles, troops
Press TV
(Left: No these are not US occupation troops in Iraq, nor IOF entering Gaza; these are Royal troops entering Yemen)
"Yemeni Shia Houthi fighters have released recent footage of clashes with the Saudi military at the two countries' joint border.
The video shows the seizure of Saudi army vehicles by the fighters. It also shows Saudi soldiers fleeing the scene of battles as Houthi fighters open fire on them.
The Saudi Arabian air force launched a deadly offensive against Houthis eight days ago, accusing the Shia resistance fighters of killing two Saudi soldiers on the border.
While Riyadh says that its offensive targeted Houthi positions on 'Saudi territory', the fighters say Yemeni villages, far from the battlefield, were being bombarded.
On several occasions, the Saudi air force has also attacked the areas of al-Malahaid and the border region of Jabal al-Dukhan with white phosphorous bombs, the fighters say. Their attacks have killed and wounded several people.
The Houthis say they've captured an unspecified number of Saudi troops inside the Yemeni territory in response to Saudi attacks on their positions and villages....."
(Left: No these are not US occupation troops in Iraq, nor IOF entering Gaza; these are Royal troops entering Yemen)
"Yemeni Shia Houthi fighters have released recent footage of clashes with the Saudi military at the two countries' joint border.
The video shows the seizure of Saudi army vehicles by the fighters. It also shows Saudi soldiers fleeing the scene of battles as Houthi fighters open fire on them.
The Saudi Arabian air force launched a deadly offensive against Houthis eight days ago, accusing the Shia resistance fighters of killing two Saudi soldiers on the border.
While Riyadh says that its offensive targeted Houthi positions on 'Saudi territory', the fighters say Yemeni villages, far from the battlefield, were being bombarded.
On several occasions, the Saudi air force has also attacked the areas of al-Malahaid and the border region of Jabal al-Dukhan with white phosphorous bombs, the fighters say. Their attacks have killed and wounded several people.
The Houthis say they've captured an unspecified number of Saudi troops inside the Yemeni territory in response to Saudi attacks on their positions and villages....."
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