Tuesday links part 1

From Ian:

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Hezbollah moves into south Lebanon villages
Analysis: Terror group storing rockets in private homes it sold to poor Shiite families at bargain prices

“At the same time, the Shiite terror group launched a major social/real-estate project that bolstered its political standing: It purchased lands on the outskirts of the villages, built homes on these lands and offered them to poor Shiite families at bargain prices (to rent or buy), one the condition that at least one rocket launcher would be placed in one of the house's rooms or in the basement, along with a number of rockets, which will be fired at predetermined targets in Israel when the order is given.”

There's more to the Arab world's malaise than dictators
The ongoing 'Arab Winter' is showing that there was always more than dictatorships to blame for the Arab world's malaise

"Democracy has never been simply about holding a set of elections. A democratic political culture needs to be matched by appropriate social, cultural and economic changes too. Eastern European states had their western counterparts to look up to and imitate; Arab states lack such role models and instead are at the receiving end of Saudi and Qatari-funded initiatives that favour more regressive forces.
What was termed the 'Arab Spring' was simply the start of a long period of chaos and uncertainty in which anything could happen. What was termed the 'Arab Spring' was simply the start of a long period of chaos and uncertainty in which anything could happen. The region is being pulled in different directions with very little consensus on the best way to move forward. Western powers have not come out in support of liberal and secular forces in the region, instead preferring to watch from the side-lines and focus on realpolitik."

Noam Chomsky Backs MP David Ward’s Attack on “The Jews”

"Last week he dug himself into a deeper hole when it emerged that he had subsequently questioned whether it would be acceptable for him to replace the phrase “the Jews” with “the Jewish community.”
Chomsky said that he believed there was “nothing remotely antisemitic in his remarks, which are in fact familiar in Israeli discussions.”

CIF Watch: What the Guardian didn’t mention about their Palestinian ‘prisoner of the day’

"Al-Sharawna was jailed in Israel because of his involvement in a terrorist attack in in May 2002, in which two Palestinians placed an explosive device near a group of civilians in Beersheba and fled the scene. Eighteen Israelis were injured in the attack. (A technical fault prevented the bomb from exploding fully.)
He was sentenced to 38 years in prison, but released on October 18, 2011 as part of the Gilad Shalit prisoner exchange deal.
On January 31, 2012, the IDF re-arrested Al-Sharawna, resident of a Palestinian town near Hebron, on suspicion of having returned to terror planning with a Hamas cell in the West Bank. He recently began a hunger strike.
Al-Sharawna is a “prisoner” because he tried to murder innocent Israelis, and, after his release, is evidently determined to try to murder again."

New Samaria Road Sign Warns of Rock, Firebomb Attacks

"Drivers through roads in Samaria are likely to come across a new road sign, one that they are unlikely to see on roads in other parts of Israel. The sign, designed by the Samaria Residents Council, warns drivers that they are in danger of being attacked by rocks and firebombs."

US Secy of State Fights for $700 Million in Aid to PA

"U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry is fighting to send the Palestinian Authority nearly $700 million in aid, despite major budget cuts and a fierce debate over where existing money should go.
“The Secretary feels extremely strongly that it is time now to get this support to the Palestinian Authority,” said State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland."

Israeli sentenced to two years in jail by Egyptian court
Andre Pshenichnikov, an outspoken pro-Palestinian activist, infiltrated Sinai in January

Egypt pumps water into smuggling tunnels from Gaza (h/t Zvi)
Palestinian tunnel owners decry move, which endangers workers’ lives

"Egyptian security forces have pumped water into smuggling tunnels and intensified their patrols along the border with Gaza in a bid to crack down on smuggling activity, Palestinian media reported Monday.
Tunnel owners in Rafah told the Safa news agency that over the past 10 days, Egyptian soldiers have set up checkpoints in Sinai, stopped incoming trucks and confiscated merchandise."

IDF: Hamas Makes a Million a Day in 'Taxes' on Smuggled Goods
Hamas is making at least a million dollars a day in “tax” money from Gaza smugglers, a senior IDF officer said Monday