Monday Links Part 1

From Ian:

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PMW: Official PA daily: Israel's building in State of Israel is also a "settlement"

The Palestinian Authority daily recently published a report attacking Israel's program to resolve questions of land ownership in Israel's southern desert region, called the Negev. The PA daily refers to Israeli building in the Negev as additional "settlement"

Israel nixes UNESCO J'lem delegation at last minute

"The Palestinians violated all the agreements we had with UNESCO: that this was to be a purely professional, not a political visit," he said. The official said the Palestinians asked to introduce a "slew" of political elements into the visit, with PA Foreign Minister Riyad al-Malki characterizing it as a fact-finding commission to investigate Israeli steps in Jerusalem.

Rachel's Tomb: 290 Firebombs and IEDs in 6 Months

The IDF told Knesset Members that about 200 firebombs and 90 improvised explosive devices (IEDs) have been thrown at the compound since November's Pillar of Defense military operation in Gaza. That means an average of almost two bombs a day.

New Protective Suits, Advanced GPS to Arm IDF

The IDF Central Command has begun receiving new riot dispersal equipment, including protective suits for soldiers and an advanced GPS system, according to the official blog of the Israel Defense Forces.

Khaled Abu Toameh: 'Palestinian lost speech ability after PA torture'

A Palestinian man who was detained by the Palestinian Authority security forces in Hebron has lost the ability to speak as a result of severe torture, according to a report released by the Independent Commission for Human Rights.

PA continues crackdown on journalists in W. Bank

Despite promises to honor freedom of the media, the Palestinian Authority is continuing its crackdown on Palestinian journalists in the West Bank.
In the past week, PA security forces interrogated and detained two journalists: Haroun Abu Arrah and Omar Arqoub.

CIF Watch: Harriet Sherwood and the myth of olive oil shortages in Gaza

So, not only is there no evidence to support Harriet Sherwood’s claim that there is a shortage of olive oil in Gaza (and related higher prices) due to ”the uprooting of olive trees” by Israel, but PCBS data suggests an abundant supply of olives and olive oil in the West Bank and Gaza, and that prices, if anything, may have fallen a bit from 2011 levels.

Hamas confiscates rockets from Fatah's armed wing

Hamas has confiscated rockets and other types of weaponry belonging to Fatah’s armed wing, the Aksa Martyrs Brigades, Palestinian sources revealed on Sunday.
The sources told the Fatah affiliated Palestine Press News Agency that Hamas confiscated 100 rockets and 500 “combat units” when Fatah tried to move them from one location to another in the Gaza Strip.

Islamic Jihad Urges Muslim Confrontation with Israeli Aggressions

Representative of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad Movement to Tehran Nasser Abusharif strongly condemned the recent Israeli air raid on Syria, and called on all Islamic states to confront the Zionist regime's aggressive moves to prevent similar events in future.

In video, kidnapped Egyptian officers beg Morsi for their release

Seven members of Egypt’s security forces kidnapped by suspected militants appeared in a video posted on the Internet Sunday, pleading with the government to secure their release by meeting their captors’ demands.

Egypt pours armored forces into Sinai

Move comes during stand-off with kidnappers holding 7 security personnel hostage

Saudi princes lose battle to keep court documents secret

Two prominent Saudi princes are involved in a London-registered company that supposedly facilitated "money laundering" for Hezbollah in Lebanon and helped smuggle precious stones out of Congo, according to contested allegations in court documents obtained by the Guardian.

Intertwined fates: The Lebanon-Syria-Iran axis

Jerusalem has drawn red lines over the proliferation of strategic arms to Hezbollah; Syria, Iran or Hezbollah could, at any time, decide to test these, even though it would endanger Assad’s gains against the rebels.

‘Death to Jews’ tattoo costs Hungarian fighter Prague gig

Organizers bar Attila Petrovszki from martial arts bout because of his pro-Hitler, anti-Semitic body art

Golden Dawn MP Shouts 'Heil Hitler' In Parliament Chambers

A Greek neo-Nazi Golden Dawn party member provoked controversy on Friday after shouting 'Heil Hitler' in parliament chambers, causing him to be ejected from the building. (UPDATE: It was a far left MP Giorgos Pantzas)

Israeli Eurovision Delegation Threatened in Sweden

Members of the Israeli delegation to the Eurovision song contest in Malmo, Sweden, said they were the targets of anti-Semitic threats as they were walking down the street.
Alon Amir told Sveriges Radio on Tuesday that he and the other two Israelis were confronted by a group of men.