Thursday Links Part 1

From Ian:

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Barry Rubin: Demise of the Anti-Israel Card

For decades in the Middle East the most reliable political tool often seemed to be the Israel card, the idea that by condemning Israel, blaming it for the Arab world’s problems, and claiming that those who were insufficiently militant on the issue were traitors.
But the Israel card doesn’t work anymore, at least not in the way it used to do so. True, the rise of revolutionary Islamism has focused more hatred against Israel. Yet at the same time—and this analogy is imperfect—it is less of a single-issue movement. As revolutionary Islamists seek to destroy their rivals (nationalist, moderates, and each other) and fundamentally transform their own societies, they are kept pretty busy.

MEMRI: Tunisian Salafist Kamel Zarouq Talks of Future Conquest of Andalusia, Rome, and Jerusalem


NGO Monitor: B’Tselem Acknowledges Inability to Assess Palestinian Allegations
Condemnation of IDF in Press Release Not Supported by Accompanying Report

On May 9, 2013, the Israeli organization B’Tselem issued a 30-page report headlined “Human Rights Violations during Operation Pillar of Defense 14-21 November 2012.” This publication immediately received widespread coverage in the Israeli media, apparently based largely on an accompanying press release.
However, the claims in the press release are inconsistent with the actual report, creating false perceptions in the media. The press statement claims that the “report raises suspicions that the military violated International Humanitarian Law (IHL).” But these allegations are not demonstrated in the report; at best, they are the result of conjecture, as B’Tselem itself acknowledges in the report. Additionally, the claim to distinguish between civilian and combat deaths in this report, as in past B’Tselem statements, is based on manipulated definitions and speculation, and the application of existing legal standards would result in very different conclusions.

Missing Peace: EU contributes another 20 million Euro while corruption in PA continues

The announcement came a day after the publication of an article titled:’ Report Highlights Corruption In Palestinian Institutions’ written by the Palestinian journalist Hazem Balousha. His article summarized a report that was issued last month by the Coalition for Accountability and Integrity (known as AMAN in Arabic). This report deals with corruption in the PA but received close to zero media attention.

Palestinian woman shot dead by PA police

Clashes between Palestinian Authority Police and residents near Hebron as heavy-handed tactics escalate

Getting rid of Bashar Assad won't end Syria's civil war

Tehran's only hope of snatching some measure of victory from the jaws of defeat is a ceasefire in place and an interim power-sharing formula that will allow its proxies to remain armed — thereby subverting the ensuing political process, much as Hezbollah did after the 1975-1990 civil war in neighboring Lebanon.

Assad vows 'strategic revenge' on Israel, modeled on Hezbollah

Assad's comments, published by Al-Akhbar, appeared intended to refute any suggestion that last week's reported Israeli raids on Syrian targets would halt assistance to the Shiite group Hezbollah in Lebanon - Assad: Syria will "give Hezbollah everything."

Syria buying advanced Russian missile system, Israel says

US officials say they have been warned by Israel over the impending sale of an advanced Russian missile system to Syria, fearing it could hamper efforts for international intervention in the war-torn country.
Israel suspects that Russia plans to sell Damascus six S-300 missile batteries, as well as 144 missiles, the Wall Street Journal reported Thursday.

9/11 Conspiracy Theorist Removed from UN Panel After B’nai B’rith Request

In addition to her views on 9/11, Machon is known for claiming the Israeli Mossad was behind the 1994 bombing of Israel’s embassy in London. “Her outrageous and offensive views do not deserve a prominent platform—let alone in the city most scarred by the horrific events of 9/11,” B’nai B’rith said in a statement after the announcement of Machon’s removal from the program.

Dusseldorf cancels Nazi Tannhäuser

Deutsche Oper am Rhein abandon controversial production on “medical grounds”.
Burkhard C Kosminski’s production of Richard Wagner’s Tannhäuser that generated a furore of criticism for its use of Nazi imagery has been officially cancelled. The cast will perform a concert version on the remaining dates.

Anti-Semite's NY College Workshop Cancelled

Parsons School of Design has canceled a workshop that had been set to be taught by disgraced fashion designer John Galliano.

Israeli Soccer Star Victim of Anti-Semitic Abuse on Twitter

Israeli soccer star Yossi Benayoun, who currently plays for FC Chelsea in the English Premier League, was recently the victim of anti-Semitic abuse on Twitter.

Jewish refugees ignored by West, group tells Canadian MPs

Jewish refugees from Arab countries have been ignored by the Western world, the Canadian Parliament was told in its first-ever hearings on the issue.
"The expulsion of nearly 1 million Jews from nine Arab countries has had no political consequences," Gina Waldman, president of JIMENA, a nonprofit group dedicated to the preservation of Mizrahi and Sephardic culture, told the Canadian House of Commons Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development on Tuesday.