Friday Links Part 1

From Ian:

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Khaled Abu Toameh: Why Doesn't the EU Condemn Palestinian Torture?

More than half of the 306 complaints about torture that were received last year came from Palestinians who had been detained or imprisoned by Abbas's security forces in the West Bank, the report revealed.
Altogether, 11 detainees died in Palestinian Authority and Hamas prisons last year, according to the report.
Still, the EU did not see any need to refer to these cases. Nor did the EU comment on the report's accusations that Abbas's security forces are continuing to crack down on journalists and academics and ignore court rulings.
Expressing "concern" over serious human rights violations will not deter the Palestinian Authority or Hamas from pursuing their anti-democratic practices against their own people.

Genesis of an Anti-Semitic State

This week, a Global Forum Against Anti-Semitism will gather in Jerusalem.
The time has come for the Global Forum to consider the fact that a new anti-semitic state is in formation.

UN Watch: UN circulates NGO resolution to fire Richard Falk

For the first time, the United Nations has circulated as an official UN document a draft resolution calling for the firing of Richard Falk, A/HRC/23/NGO/27.
UN Watch submitted the draft text in the form of a NGO written statement to the UN Human Rights Council.

BBC article on rising bigotry hosts anti-Semitic comments

Unfortunately, the BBC’s own record on combating antisemitism is by no means as good as it could – and should – be. In addition to whitewashing and downplaying antisemitic remarks made by certain public figures in the UK, it has on occasion furthered the spread of anti-Semitic discourse by, for example, allowing the unhindered promotion of antisemitic tropes by interviewees as well as the airbrushing of a known antisemitic hate preacher, the promotion of a film company which uses antisemitic imagery and the hosting of an openly antisemitic guest on more than one occasion.

PMW: Raise Palestinian flags over Israeli cities "so it will be clear... that this is Palestine" - PA TV


Israel replaced by "Palestine" in PA TV VIDEO

‘The Intifada is Here, Even if Media Hasn’t Said So’

Israeli woman’s message: the Intifada has started – take steps to protect yourselves.
More and more Israelis living in Judea and Samaria (Shomron) have come under attack as Palestinian Authority terrorist groups increase the frequency of assaults on drivers in the region. One of the victims is Michal Weisel, who shared her post-attack thoughts with Arutz Sheva.

Arab Mob Pelts Firefighters With Rocks as They Put Out Blaze

An Israeli firefighter was injured in an Arab riot while putting a fire out in an Arab neighborhood of Jerusalem

Christians Beatify Their Palestinian Nightmare

The movie “The Stones Cry Out” by the Italian filmaker Yasmine Perni “gives a detailed account of the historical, cultural, and political place occupied by Christians in the recent history of the Palestinian nation, and in its struggle against colonialism”.
The movie is one of the most powerful propaganda tools of the Palestinian Arab Christians. The documentary is supported by Sabeel, the Christian organization based in Jerusalem which foments anti-Semitism through the Scriptures, while Catholic authories and PLO propagandista such as Hanan Ashrawi “blessed” the movie.

Hamas in Gaza Sending Out Tentacles to the West Bank

Several factors are driving Hamas’s efforts to step up terrorism launched from the West Bank. Hamas would like to ‘cash in’ on recent developments that boosted its credibility in the court of Palestinian public opinion at Fatah’s expense. These events include Hamas’s conflict with Israel last year, and its success in securing the release of 1,200 Palestinian prisoners from Israeli prisons. Additionally, it is unable to directly launch attacks from Gaza now due to its commitment to the truce with Israel.

Two Sentenced to Death in Gaza, Accused of Collaborating with Israel

A court in the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip on Thursday sentenced two people to death and a third to hard labor after they were found guilty of ”collaboration” with Israel.

Hizbullah Has Lost 75 Terrorists in Syria So Far

75 terrorists (often called fighters in Western media outlets) from the Lebanon-based Hizbullah have been killed in Syria since they first became involved in the country’s war months ago, a source close to the Shiite group said on Thursday.

Hezbollah Convoy Takes a Beating (Graphic)

An Hezbollah convoy, on its way to assist the Assad government side in the intense fighting in Qusair, was attacked by Syrian rebels on Thursday. The video shows several bodies of killed Hezbollah soldiers, in addition to trucks that appear to have been hit by mortar and rocket fire.

Turkey passes law restricting alcohol sales

Turkey’s parliament has passed legislation to ban all advertising of alcohol and tighten restrictions on sales in the mainly Muslim but secular country.
The legislation, adopted on Friday, bans the sale of alcoholic drinks between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. It also prohibits alcohol sales anywhere close to mosques and educational centers.