Elder Of Ziyon - Israel News

Saturday, February 09, 2013

Egyptian Islamic Jihad threatens violence

Sheikh Osama Qassem, a prominent Egyptian Islamic Jihad member, has said that violence is an option to defend President Mohamed Morsy, while also supporting a hardline cleric's recent fatwa allowing the assassinations of NSF members.

Qassem said in an interview with Al-Masry Al-Youm published on Saturday that Islamists would carry weapons to defend Morsy if "saboteurs" continued to attack state establishments.

Qassem is considered the mufti for the once violent Egyptian Islamic Jihad, and spent 25 years in prison after being accused of assassinating the late president Anwar Sadat.

Asked about the latest statement by hardliner cleric Mahmoud Shaaban, Al-Azhar University professor, who had earlier issued a fatwa allowing the killing of NSF leaders, Qassem said that secular figures "deserved" to die.

Qassem added that Sharia allowed the killings, saying that people who protest violently against a ruler were guilty of "Haraba," a Quranic term defined as committing grievous crimes that "sow corruption and chaos on earth." Perpetrators are subject to severe punishment such as amputation and, in some cases, execution.

“The front deserves Haraba punishment,” he added, describing it as a head of sectarianism.

Qassem also said that the organization would return to its former violent ways as a last resort if security forces were "reluctant" to confront opposition members.

He also said some stuff against the Salafis, saying that they were supporters of Mubarak.

Egypt is like a slow-motion train wreck that cannot be stopped.

Saturday night links

While I do some shoveling...
From Ian:

How Israel’s Enemies Misrepresent the Geneva Convention

"Critics and enemies of Israel, including members of the UN and organs such as the International Court of Justice (ICJ) have come to use the Geneva Convention as a weapon against Israel, even when statements by authoritative analysts, scholars and drafters of the document contradict everything said by those who distort history for politically motivated reasons.
It is common knowledge that from its birth, Israel customarily follows international humanitarian law without being told or forced to do so by outside authorities."

Sarah Honig: Another Tack: That unwitting indecency revisited
Such rants may well have been inspired or intensified by unfair and unbalanced media coverage.

"Ever since my column, “That unwitting indecency,” saw light two weeks ago, I’ve needed to occasionally consult the mirror to make sure I hadn’t morphed into a hideous monster that feeds on Irish tots.
The column recounted my encounter in Cahersiveen, a tiny Irish township, with pupils hoisting “Save Palestine” placards and soliciting funds for supposedly oppressed Palestinians – all on a school-day morning, as part of an organized school event. Their familiarity with Israel’s ongoing struggle to avoid annihilation can safely be judged as less than minimal."

Report: Hagel Received Funding From “Friends of Hamas”

"According to a senate aide, senators have “specific concerns with regard to foreign contributions to the Atlantic Council by Saad Hariri (or the Hariri family), Dinu Patriciu, Kazakhstan, and Bidzina Ivanishvili.” But according to a senate source who spoke to Breitbart News, Hagel has also received money from an organization called “Friends of Hamas.”

British MP Summoned by Party Bosses for his Continued Slander of Jewish Community

"David Ward, the Liberal Democrat MP, has been summoned by party bosses for his continued verbal assault on Israelis and Jews. The party was quoted by the BBC as saying that “further decisions” would be taken about David Ward."

BBC does yet another makeover on Ward remarks

"Obviously, the BBC just does not ‘get it’ – despite the subject having been addressed by
numerous commentators in recent weeks. This is at least the fourth occasion upon which the BBC has tried to distort Ward’s original statement by claiming that he was referring to “the Jews in Israel”.

CIF Watch: Harriet Sherwood neglects to mention one large Arab state bordering Gaza

"In 2011, it took Guardian editors nearly a month to correct Sarah Irving’s omission relating to Rafah, upon which they added the following text:
This article was amended on 15 December 2011. The original said the Israeli border authorities controlled all routes into the West Bank and Gaza. This has been corrected.We look forward to observing how long it takes them to correct Harriet Sherwood’s latest error about Gaza’s southern border."

Efforts to Shut Down Dissent at Anti-Israel Brooklyn College Event Reported

"Melanie Goldberg, an Israel Campus Coalition intern says she and three other students were escorted out by security because they would not relinquish BDS fact sheets that were in their possession.
“One of the SJP (Students for Justice in Palestine, which organized the event) members came over and got really close to my face and told me to give him the sheets, or he would call security. I told him I would not. We were simply taking notes so we could ask informed questions like we were encouraged to do by the school and Political Science Department,” Goldberg told The Algemeiner."

Hamas: We'll send aid money to PA if necessary

Hamas official says Gaza has achieved self-sufficient economy, would send emergency aid to PA "if West Bank policies changed."

One dead, over 100 injured as police, protesters clash in Cairo
Tens of thousands of anti-Muslim Brotherhood protesters take to the streets across Egypt

“Egypt’s opposition is demanding Morsi form a new coalition government, open an investigation into the killings of protesters over the past months and give guarantees that upcoming parliamentary elections will be fair and free. They also want him to form a commission to amend the country’s newly adopted constitution, which was drafted by an Islamist-led panel and approved last December in a contentious referendum.”

Egypt Slams US Senator's 'Morsi Is Our Enemy' Comments
Egypt’s Foreign Minister harshly criticized Sen. James Inhofe (R-OK) on Thursday for calling President Morsi an “enemy” of the US.

"Egypt’s Foreign Minister harshly criticized Sen. James Inhofe, the top Republican on the Armed Services Committee, on Thursday for calling President Mohammed Morsi an “enemy” of the United States."

Jewish cemetery desecrated in Tunisia
Human skeletons reportedly found outside their graves in Kef, second vandalism incident in a month

"On Feb. 4, unidentified individuals smashed and overturned ten gravestones in Kef in Western Tunisia, according to the Tunisia News Network.
An earlier incident in the coastal Tunisian town of Sousse left more than 68 Jewish graves ransacked and looted on Jan. 23, according to the Tunisian Shems FM radio station."

Jewish FM of Argentina Accuses Israel of Causing Anti-Semitism

"In a recent meeting with Israel’s ambassador to the country, Argentina’s Foreign Minister, Hector Timerman, who is Jewish, told Dorit Shavit that Israel’s demand for an explanation into a recently formed Argentina-Iran probe commission “gives ammunition to anti-Semites.”

EU and Israel research crime-stopping drones
The EU and a large Israeli military contractor are co-funding research to build drones that can stop moving boats and cars.

"Launched in January, the three-year-long Aeroceptor project, according to its own literature, aims to help law enforcement authorities to stop "non-cooperative vehicles in both land and sea scenarios by means of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles."

Samsung to Invest in Israel for Product Innovation

"Samsung Electronics has opened a $100 million fund dedicated to innovative applications of product systems and components of its various digital gadgets. Part of the fund will be directed to projects in Israel."

J-Street wants memes? Let's give them some memes!

J-Street is starting a contest for their people to make those irritating lolcats-type memes. Here are a couple of their examples:

So I spent three minutes to make a couple starring J-Street's Jeremy Ben-Ami:

I know you guys can do better...

(h/t RL)

Friday links

From Ian:

Latma: Iranians in Space

Analysis: Arab daily praises Israel, gets bashed
Dr. Amal al-Hazzani receives flood of hate mail for his article published in 'Asharq al-Awsat'

“The popular Arab daily Asharq al-Awsat published two articles recently that presented a relatively positive view of Israel compared to the usual strongly negative image of the country in the Arab media.
Dr. Amal al-Hazzani, an assistant professor at King Saud University in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, wrote an article about a week ago titled “The Israel we do not know ” – and received a flood of hate mail. He went on to write another article, published Thursday, responding to the harsh reaction.
A look at the two articles, as well as the public response, is telling of where the acceptable boundaries in Arab culture lie when it comes to discussion of Israel."

The Hamas-Egyptian Alliance by Khaled Abu Toameh

"During last week's street clashes in Cairo, anti-Morsi demonstrators torched Hamas and Qatari flags. They also chanted slogans condemning Morsi and his Muslim Brotherhood organization for bringing Hamas militiamen to suppress Egyptian protesters.There is no doubt that Hamas is prepared to do its utmost to help Morsi and his Muslim Brotherhood organization stay in power, even at the cost of killing and torturing Egyptian civilians. The downfall of the Mubarak regime has been a great blessing for Hamas, which has since emerged as a major player in the Palestinian and regional arena.
Thanks to Morsi, an Egyptian prime minister visited the Gaza Strip for the first time ever last November to express solidarity with Hamas during Israel's "Pillar of Defense" military operation. Such a visit would have been unthinkable under Mubarak, who did everything he could to weaken Hamas and stop it from meddling in the internal affairs of Egypt."

CIF Watch: The Guardian takes note of a Middle Eastern country not involved in “rendition”

"On the other hand, it does not take much effort to see other countries, frequent critics of Israel, with well-organized, well-funded groups constantly threatening it with boycotts, decrying its policies and so forth, and even supporting its enemies with weapons and money.
There was a February 5th, 2013 column in the Guardian about this, too: CIA rendition: more than a quarter of countries ‘offered covert support’ . To my surprise, the Guardian managed to take note of Israel’s absence from the list of 54 countries:
"Other countries are conspicuous by their absence from the rendition list: Sweden and Finland are present, but there is no evidence of Norwegian involvement. Similarly, while many Middle Eastern countries did become involved in the rendition programme, Israel did not, according to the OSJI research."

Jordan: Cartoonist rejects award over ‘Zionist links’

“The cheque I received was signed by Lurie himself. Then I did some research about him and asked colleagues in the profession about him and discovered that he has connections with the Zionist entity [Israel],” Jafari told The Jordan Times.
“I refused to accept the award because it is funded by Lurie who is known for supporting the Zionist entity and has a history of dealing with the Zionist movement. I cannot accept an award from such a person,” the cartoonist said, adding that “Lurie has never condemned any of Israel’s practices against the Palestinians”.
“Although this is a UN award that is judged by international experts, when I realised it is funded by someone who is pro-Israel, I decided to refuse it,” Jafari added."

Syria denies Israel hit arms convoy
Assad’s UN ambassador reiterates claim that the IAF struck a research facility, killing civilians

Daniel Pipes Is Turkey Leaving the West?

"Turkish steps toward joining the Shanghai group highlights Ankara’s now-ambivalent membership in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, starkly symbolized by the unprecedented joint Turkish-Chinese air exercise of 2010. Given this reality, Erdoğan’s Turkey is no longer a trustworthy partner for the West but more like a mole in its inner sanctum. If not expelled, it should at least be suspended from NATO."

Will we listen to the new Coptic Pope?
Pope Tawadros, and the flock he leads, need the support of his co-religionists and human rights activists in the West. Will he get it?

"In a widely broadcast interview with journalists from the Associated Press, Tawadros condemned Egypt’s recently approved constitution which many believe will be used as a tool to justify the oppression of Coptic Christians and women in the Arab world’s most populous country. He also criticized Egyptian President Mohammad Morsi for failing to protect the rights of Coptic Christians."

Egypt opposition heads get more security post-fatwas
Ultraconservative cleric goes on TV to justify sexual assaults on female protesters

"One hardline Muslim cleric on an Egyptian TV station justified sexual assaults on women protesters. Others issued religious edicts saying opposition leaders must be killed. Television screeds by ultraconservative sheiks are raising fears of assassinations here a day after a top anti-Islamist politician was gunned down in Tunisia.
Egyptian security officials on Thursday beefed up security around the homes of Egypt’s main opposition politicians, citing the possibility of a Tunisia-type killing after the edicts, or fatwas. The office of Islamist President Mohammed Morsi and his prime minister denounced the edicts and the top prosecutor began an investigation into one of the clerics.
Two well-known ultraconservative clerics sparked an uproar with their edicts several days ago saying Sharia, or Islamic law, required the killing of opposition figures. A third fanned the flames by justifying a string of mob sexual assaults on women protesters in Cairo’s Tahrir Square."

MEMRI: Egyptian Salafi Cleric Mahmoud Shaaban Calls to Kill National Salvation Front Leaders VIDEO

Iran’s supreme leader rejects direct talks with US
‘We will not be frightened by the threats,’ says Khamenei, calling sanctions a gun held to his country’s head

Iranians support nuclear program despite sanctions
Gallup survey calls into question effectiveness of sanctions regime as US urges renewed talks with Iran over its nuclear program.

"Asked whether or not Iran should continue to develop its nuclear power capabilities, 63 percent of Iranian adults responded in the affirmative, while only 17% said the country should stop. 19% either refused to answer or responded that they did not know.
The data is particularly striking considering that most Iranians believe that sanctions are indeed greatly affecting the livelihoods of ordinary citizens.

Japan inaugurates statue honoring Israeli tsunami aid

"Two years after a massive tsunami ravaged the eastern seaboard of Japan, the people of one of the hardest hit towns, Yanmei-Sanriku, have inaugurated a statue honoring the assistance that Israel provided in their darkest hour.Titled "Rebirth and Resurrection", the statue was produced by Israeli artist David Susanna, and was installed in front of the municipal offices and temporary Israeli hospitals established in Yanmei-Sanriku."

Segway’s out; Israel’s Muve a new way to move around
Car designer-inventor meets 3D software company to produce a cleantech ‘backpack on wheels’ that eases congestion

"Where the Segway failed, the Muve will succeed. Thus predicts Amir Zaid, inventor, with the help of design software company Autodesk, of what he hopes will be the next big thing in urban transportation."

Barry Rubin: Important Announcement: 13 Books full Text Free on our Site

"Today, we are launching a new and innovative project, which you might find of interest. The GLORIA Center is putting 13 of my published books on our site, free and full-text to be read online or easily downloaded. The books are available in HTML and PDF and will soon be available for download in all other formats."

As I had noted already last November, Hamas drags its feet in publishing many of its "martyr" obituaries. This way, in the initial aftermath of an Israeli operation, the reports are filled with reports of "civilian" casualties, often by media relying on PCHR or the Hamas-controleld gaza Health Ministry to determine whether someone is a civilian or not.

Then, when Hamas finally admits quietly that some of these so-called "civilians" are really Hamas jihadists, no one notices.

Here are the latest examples.

From PCHR:

At approximately 15:30, Israeli warplanes fired 2 missiles at 2 cars that were traveling near the Future Club in al-Sabra neighborhood, in which 5 civilians, including a pair of twins, were traveling. As a result of this attack, 5 civilians were killed:
1- Subhi Nemer Mohammed Dughmosh, 29;
2- Salah Nember Mohammed Dughmosh, 29;
3- Ahmed Jameel Hamdan Dughmosh, 30;
4- Zaki Saeed Mohammed Qadada, 42; and
5- Mosab Mahmoud Rushdi Dughmosh, 25.

Hamas' obituary for Mosab Mahmoud Dughmosh says that he joined the al-Qassam Brigades terror group in early 2010. He participated in many "jihad missions" and that he participated in hostilities.

According to the Terrorism Info report from Israel, two of his brothers were members of the Army of Islam and two were in the PRC. Meaning that every single person in both cars targeted by Israel was a terrorist, and not one was civilian.

Israelis saving the world, again

From Technion:

(h/t Ruchie)

"Palestine" in line to become vice chair of UN Arms Trade Treaty talks

From Inner City Press, which often has the best UN coverage of any media outlet:

Palestine is seeking to be a vice chair of the upcoming Arms Trade Treaty talks at the UN, Inner City Press has learned, one of three from the Asia Group along with Japan and South Korea.

...After the General Assembly's November 29, 2012 vote granting Palestine non-member State status at the UN, Palestine is currently on a so-called “clean slate” to be come a vice chair. There will be three from the Asia Group, for now there are only three candidates.

The article notes that the US is not happy:

There is not surprisingly some opposition.

When US Ambassador Susan Rice came out of the Security Council Thursday morning, Inner City Press asked her about "Palestine as a vice chair of the ATT?"

Ambassador Rice told Inner City Press, exclusively, "I don't think it's going to happen. They're not a member state."

During the Security Council's last Middle East debate, Ambassador Rice opposed even the use of the phrase “State of Palestine” on the placard used in the Council.

This is worth watching.

Of course, "Palestine" has great experience in the arms trade. Even this very moment, arms are being imported into Gaza from Libya, Iran and Sudan.

Peaceful Abbas meets Islamic Jihad terror leader for "unity"

From Ma'an:

President Mahmoud Abbas met the leader of Islamic Jihad on Thursday evening, as part of talks on national reconciliation taking place this week in Cairo.

Abbas, the head of Fatah, sat down with general-secretary of Islamic Jihad, Ramadan Shalah and his deputy, Ziad al-Nkhaleh and discussed implementation of the stalled unity deals, official PA news agency Wafa said.

They also discussed Friday's PLO reform meeting, according to Wafa.

This week, a Jihad official said the group might run in elections for the PLO's parliament, the Palestinian National Council.

The PNC is the legislative body of the Palestinian Liberation Organization, which represents Palestinians in exile as well as those in the West Bank and Gaza.

The parliament is presently mainly composed of appointees, and has so far excluded Hamas and Islamic Jihad, which were formed since the PLO's establishment in 1964.

The reconciliation deal between Hamas and Fatah included an agreement to reform the PLO, which has been criticized for failing to represent the whole Palestinian polity.

Remember that the PLO controls the PA (or, from the UN's perspective, the "State of Palestine." Yes, a "state" is controlled by an organization.) So this is a way for a terror group to join the leadership of "Palestine" without elections.

Both Islamic Jihad and Hamas have made it crystal clear that their intentions on joining the PLO are meant to make the organization go back to its original principles of utterly destroying Israel.

Time for a quiz. Will the mainstream media:

Ignore this proof that the "moderate" PLO is moving towards a more explicitly terrorist agenda,
Look at this as a sign that Islamic Jihad is now embracing peace with Israel, or
Tell the truth for once?

The odds are now 70:30:0. So far, the MSM has ignored this meeting.

"Moderate" PA jails young man for insulting Abbas on Facebook

From Ma'an:

A Palestinian court has sentenced a man from the Nablus area to a year in prison for insulting President Mahmoud Abbas on Facebook, officials said Thursday.

The Nablus magistrates court sentenced Anas Saad Awwad, 26, of Awarta village, in absentia to a year in prison after convicting him on charges of criticizing the government, an official said.

Khalil Assaf, the director of the public freedoms committee within an unimplemented unity deal, called the sentence itself an insult to the president, not the supposed crime of criticizing him.

Assaf called on the court to reverse the ruling.

The defendant had been detained previously on similar charges, but was released after paying a fine, according to his father.

"My son only commented on Facebook. You know how young people comment," he said. "He didn't mean to insult the president. I ask the president to intervene personally to cancel the court's decision."

Awwad's lawyer, Rima al-Sayyed, said her client has been accused of photo-shopping of Abbas wearing a Real Madrid shirt with the caption: "A new striker."

She declined to comment on the sentence, saying it was not final.

Last year Palestinian security forces jailed at least three people accused in separate incidents of criticizing the government on social networking websites.

Amazing how a "moderate" government that does this gets ignored by the Western media, while a certain "hawkish" government next door would be the subject of wall-to-wall headlines if anything remotely similar happened.

Does this mean I could be arrested for insulting Abbas if I step foot in Ramallah?

Roundup of crazy Egyptian news

For the second day in a row, a new weapons stash was found in the Sinai.

Another person tried to assault Ahmadinejad in Egypt.

An Al Azhar scholar issued a fatwa to murder members of the political party national Salvation Front:

Lawyer Alaa Eddin Bazzaz filed a complaint accusing the scholar of inciting violence through statements he made during a program broadcast on the Al-Hafiz religious channel on 6 January.

According to Bazzaz, ONTV and Dream channel rebroadcast the statement, in which Shaaban ordered the murder of NSF leaders Mohamed ElBaradei and Hamdeen Sabbahi. Bazazz contends that Shaaban's fatwa misinterprets an Islamic Hadith.

On Thursday the Interior Ministry assigned security to ElBaradei's home as a precaution.The Council of Ministers is also considering legal action against anyone who seeks to incite violence.

The comments were widely condemned by liberal political factions. Al-Azhar's Islamic Research Academy also denounced the fatwa and warned that such statements drive sedition and bloodshed.

But not everyone agrees. Osama Qassem, a Jihadi leader, said he supports the fatwa issued by Shaaban.

Qassem said the NSF is behind weeks of unrest following the 25 January revolution's second anniversary, and should be subject to serious punishments under certain Sharia regulations called Had al-Haraba. The term refers to offenses punishable by death, crucifixion or severing of hands or feet.

A new protest:

Members of the April 6 Youth Movement blocked the road in front of the Giza municipality headquarters on Thursday, declaring Giza an autonomous governorate. They denounced police brutality and the beating of Hamada Saber outside the presidential palace last Friday.

The protests come just hours before Friday’s mass demonstration called for by the National Salvation Front and other revolutionary forces in Tahrir Square. The demonstrators demand the departure of President Mohamed Morsy, the formation of a national salvation government, the trial of the interior minister and the annulment of the Constitution.

Why are so many Egyptians acting so strangely?

Maybe because of this:

There are 22 psychiatric hospitals across the nation operating without a license, National Council for Mental Health (NCMH) Director Hesham Ramez announced on Monday.

The hospitals are illegally treating patients for conditions from addiction to other psychological illnesses, Ramez said. The council has notified the Health Ministry about the problem, as the NCMH itself does not have the power to shut them down.

Ramez said he saw a video clip of patients being stripped, beaten and tortured at one of the illegal hospitals in the Moqattam area.

Thursday links: Hagel wants "reverse optics" on Israel, Zionists banned from hate speech event, BBC still calls Hezbollah terrorists "militants"

From Ian:

Douglas Murray: Paying People to Hate You

"And so it was that I found myself once again in a meeting in the twilight world of Brussels -- an ugly city filled with ugly buildings, ugly overpriced food and overpaid officials. The objective of any visit must always be a hit-an-run: to get in and get out as swiftly as possible, The only reason to go is to try and inject some sense into a city so starved of it. When, therefore, asked to address the matter of what the European Union might do to tackle anti-Semitism, the answer is easy: "Stop funding anti-Semites." What is hard is that this is Brussels, where words are meaningless and nothing makes any sense."

Michael Coren with Douglas Murray: The new anti-Semitism in Britain VIDEO

Britain's PM hasn't visited Israel in seven years
Isn't it about time you hopped on a plane to the Middle East, Mr Prime Minister?

"Britain has a long and somewhat embarrassing history with regard to the Middle East conflict. Our politics is easily misled, our media is often overtly biased and public opinion is apathetic at best, and hostile to the Jewish state in most cases. These are, of course, symptoms of the long-peddled untruths by those that refer to themselves as the 'pro-Palestinian' lobby. These groups masquerade as peaceniks yet insist upon their logos being Palestinian flags draped across Israel in its entirety, and their unofficial anthem remaining, "From the river to the sea".

Hagel Vote Postponed; New Audio Surfaces

"Breitbart News Editor-in-Chief Joel B. Pollak reported today that audio of a 2007 speech--just outside the five-year timeframe of the committee's request--recently surfaced. Hagel, speaking to a conference of the National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations, said that the U.S. needed to "reverse optics" in its relationship with Israel. "

Richard Millett: Middlesex University bans concerned public from Free Palestine Society hate speech event.

"The event was the Free Palestine Society’s The Case for Boycotting, Divesting, and Sanctions against Israel held last night. The speakers were Lauren Booth, John Rees and Asghar Bukari. The location was Middlesex University in Hendon, a highly Jewish populated suburb of London."

BBC still describing Hizballah as “militants” after Bulgarian announcement

"When a terror attack took place on a bus-load of newly arrived Israeli holiday-makers in Bulgaria last July, some of the BBC reporting on the subject was fairly dismissive of Israeli assessments of the involvement of the Iranian-backed terrorist organisation Hizballah."

UN cuts ties with official tied to false Gaza tweet
De facto firing comes after probe into Kulhood Badawi's tweeting of photo of dead Palestinian falsely attributed to IDF shelling.

"Kulhood Badawi, a veteran public affairs officer in the Jerusalem branch of the United Nations Office of the Coordinator of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), has been "separated" from the UN, say officials in New York.
The de facto firing, publicly explained as a contract non-renewal, comes shortly after the conclusion of an internal investigation lasting almost a year.
The investigation conducted by the UN Development Program centered on a February 2012 Twitter post containing the photograph of a dead Palestinian girl, who Badawi insisted was killed by the IDF during its shelling of Gaza.
Subsequent investigations revealed that it was in reality an archived Reuters photo originally taken in 2006."

New US report shows excessive spending on PA security services

"Nevertheless Palestinian Security services took up over 31% of the Gross Domestic Product in the PA for 2011. On a population of just over two million (Hamas in Gaza has its own security apparatus) the PA maintains 64.687 security employees. That means one member of the security services for every thirty civilians. This must be a world record."

PA gives man 1 year prison for criticizing leaders By Khaled Abu Toameh
The PA sometimes uses a 50- year-old Jordanian law that bans “extending one’s tongue” against the monarch to suppress critics.

Israel Closes Haifa Airport Amid Growing Tensions in the North
The Israel Defense Forces has ordered the closure of Haifa Airport amid growing tensions with Syria and Hezbollah.

"The closure may be related to “mock raids” the Israeli air force has been conducting over Lebanon, according to the Lebanese Ministry of Information.
But the IDF Spokesperson’s Unit told Israel Hayom that the “security needs relating to the air space in the area have been addressed.”

Burgas bombers planned to blow up full bus remotely, officials say
Report blaming Hezbollah continues to make waves, with France saying it will look into possibility of declaring Shi’ite group as terrorsts

Germany warns Hezbollah of ‘consequences’
Bulgarian investigation finds terror group responsible for bombing that killed six

Reporter sorry for suggesting Israel bribed Bulgaria
Financial Times correspondent calls tweet saying Israel could have paid off Sofia to blame Hezbollah ‘ill-conceived’

Egyptian Official: Sinai Will Not Be Used to Threaten Israel
US secretary of defense Leon Panetta spoke to Egyptian counterpart, who affirmed Egypt's commitment to maintaining peace treaty with Israel.

Coptic Pope Tawadros II criticises Egypt's Islamist leadership, new constitution
In interview with Associated Press, Egypt's recently-enthroned Coptic patriarch dismisses country's new national charter and questions efficacy of President Morsi's calls for national dialogue

Making Freud Proud: Abbas Confuses Mohamed Morsi for Mubarak (VIDEO)

Abbas thanks Ahmadinejad for Iran's support By Khaled Abu Toameh
PA president chides leaders over visits to Gaza Strip, calls on Islamic countries to end financial crisis, "Judaization" of J'lem.

CAMERA: Where's the Coverage? Iran, #1 Worldwide in Executing Children, Elected to UNICEF Leadership

"According to its Web site, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) “is the driving force that helps build a world where the rights of every child are realized.” On January 23, the organization issued a press release announcing that its Executive Board had elected a five-member leadership Bureau to include the Permanent Representative of the Islamic Republic of Iran. You read that right.
Iran leads the world in executing child offenders, those convicted of crimes committed when they were under the age of eighteen."

Iranian Conference Decries 'Zionist' Influence on Hollywood
A rogue’s gallery of conspiratorial anti-Semites gathered in Tehran for a government-sponsored conference on “Hollywoodism.”

Pakistani Nationalist Group Describes All Enemies Including US and India as ‘Zionist’
MEMRI explained, “the organization does not differentiate among Jews, Zionism, Israel, the U.S., or India, all of which it sees as threats to Pakistan and to the cause of Islamist forces.”

Anti-Semitism in France Update
There are too many troubling things to keep up with

"Speaking of Toulouse, a woman wielding a knife was arrested out the Ohr HaTorah school–the site of last year’s shooting–after threatened a 16-year-old boy who was walking out of the school.
“According to Direct Matin, a news website and daily newspaper, the woman shouted anti-Semitic slogans and “appeared mentally unstable.”

Marmara Commission: IDF Investigations Meet Int'l Standards
The Turkel Commission, which was formed in the wake of the deaths of nine Turks on the Mavi Marmara, submits its second report.

"Netanyahu told the Commission’s members upon receiving the report, "I welcome the Commission's determination that, in general, the investigation mechanisms in Israel operate in accordance with the standards set in international law. We will consider the areas in which the Commission has made recommendations regarding changes and improvements."

Moderate Muslims in Canada stand up to fight anti-Zionism, anti-Semitism
TORONTO - If left unchallenged, anti-Israel and anti-Zionist propaganda being spread in Canada will result in violence, warned Sohail Raza, director, Council for Muslims Facing Tomorrow.

“We have a very poisonous situation at hand,” said Raza. “I have no reason not to believe that it’ll turn violent one day: it’s just a matter of time and numbers.... The Muslim population is growing and, with that, are people bringing in their issues: those numbers are growing.”
Last month, speakers at a protest outside the Pakistani consulate in Vaughan blamed Israel, Zionists and the US for terrorist attacks that killed and injured Muslims in Pakistan. A protest across from the American embassy last September featured many of the same speakers blaming Zionists and Americans for an online video, Innocence of Muslims, deemed blasphemous by some Muslims."

Say ‘Hola’ to faster Internet
Program from Israeli startup can get you to your requested page faster, even if it’s a site that is blocked in your country.

“...Hola’s Media Unblocker has turned out to be quite popular, with 7,500 downloads in just its first 10 days. The unblocker app is available as an extension to the Chrome browser – including on the Mac – and is immune to getting re-blocked, Vilenski claims.
Right now, three big US sites are available to Hola users everywhere – Hulu, Netflix and Pandora – but the rest are on their way. Vilenski tried the unblocker in China and was able to access Facebook, normally not available in that country.“The Internet was supposed to be an open platform, where everyone could communicate and anyone could see any content. This restores democracy. We’re opening things up again.”

Also, the opening of an EU-Israel air transport market (h/t Zvi)

How the textbook study whitewashes Palestinian Arab hate (part 2)

Earlier this week, I looked at the report by the Council of Religious Institutions of the Holy Land from the report comparing the textbooks of the Palestinian Authority and those used in Israel.

One section of the report shows, clearly, how biased it is and how the authors bent over backwards to find something positive to say about the Palestinian Arab textbooks and negative things about the Israeli textbooks.

Here is a very telling section of the report:

Examples of positive descriptions of the acts of the other from Israeli books:

One example from an Israeli State school book when discussing the pogrom in Hebron in 1929:

“If not for the brave stand of a British police officer and moderate Arabs who physically defended their Jewish neighbors, the slaughter would have been more awful” (State secular schools, National World 2 - Building a State in the Middle East [התיכון במזרח מדינה בונים - 'ב לאומי עולם], Grade 10, Part 2, p.30, LP345).
Another example:

“‘I saw it as my obligation as a Muslim Arab to offer help to an Israeli soldier injured in an accident’ said Abdullah Yusef Yunes…who offered help and drove an Israeli soldier in his vehicle” (State secular schools, Through the Words: Book D [כנרת .'ד ספר :המילים דרך], 2009, Grade 4, Part 4, p.203, LP1892).

“Abu Salah had long been our friend and neighbor. Only a low stone fence separated our cemetery and his house. In the summer, Abu Salah would bring us coal for the bakery oven, and in the winter, when our car got stuck in the mud, he would bring the milk on his camels” (State religious schools, Open the Gate: Anthology for 6th Grade,[ו לכיתה מקראה :השער את פתחו '], Grade 6, p. 304, LP1254).

As illustrated in two of these examples, positive characterizations of Arabs or their actions in Israeli State books typically refer to individuals rather than to Arabs as a whole or as a nation.

An example of positive description of the act of the other from Palestinian books

The following divine books: 1 - "The messages of Abraham (peace be upon him) and Moses call for belief in God Almighty, worshipping Him, and following noble morals". 2 - The Torah: Was revealed to Moses (peace be upon him) to guide the children of Israel. 3 - The Zabour: Was revealed to David (peace be upon him) with sermons and guidance for the children of Israel. 4 - The Gospel: Was revealed to Jesus (peace be upon him) to guide the children of Israel, and to reaffirm what Moses (peace be upon him) had brought”. Islamic Education part 1 grade 3 p. 17

When it comes to the Israeli textbooks, they denigrate the positive messages by saying they were about individual Arabs and not Arabs as a whole. But humanizing the other side is of course much more effective and has greater impact than only referring to the other side as a nameless mass of people. If the researchers were not biased to find "balance" they would have praised the Israeli books' representation of Arabs.

But more egregious is the single example that they bring of a supposedly positive characterization of Jews in Arab textbooks. They don't refer to Abraham, Moses or David (or Jesus) as Jews - in Islam, they are considered Islamic prophets!

In other words, from what we can tell, there was not a single positive characterization of contemporary Jews in any Arab textbook, while there were quite a few positive characterizations of contemporary Arabs in Israeli textbooks!

Does that sound equivalent to you?

Egyptian preacher says women in Tahrir Square WANT to be raped

Feminists have accused the Islamist Muslim Brotherhood of hiring thugs to sexually assault women demonstrators.

In response, female MB member Azza al-Garf scoffed at the idea that Islamists would do such a thing:

"The Islamist view of the woman is to respect to her and her status and roles in life, whether it is a professional or humanitarian role or her role within the home and community. How can [the Muslim Brotherhood] be the ones inciting these heinous acts?" asked Garf.

How indeed can anyone accuse Islamists of condoning sexual abuse and rape?

Just don't read or watch this:

An Egyptian Salafi preacher said raping and sexually harassing women protesters in Cairo’s Tahrir Square is justified, calling them “crusaders” who “have no shame, no fear and not even feminism.”

In an online video posted Wednesday, Ahmad Mahmoud Abdullah, known as “Abu Islam” and owner of the private television channel of “al-Ummah,” said these women are no red line.

“They tell you women are a red line. They tell you that naked women -- who are going to Tahrir Square because they want to be raped -- are a red line! And they ask Mursi and the Brotherhood to leave power!,” he said.

Abu Islam added that these women activists are going to Tahrir Square not to protest but to be sexually abused because they had wanted to be raped.

“They have no shame, no fear and not even feminism. Practice your feminism, sheikha! It is a legitimate right for you to be a woman,” he said.

“And by the way, 90 percent of them are crusaders and the remaining 10 percent are widows who have no one to control them. You see women talking like monsters,” he added.

Abu Islam further described these female political activists as “devils.”

“You see a woman with this fuzzy hair! A devil! Devils called women. Learn from Muslim women, learn and be Muslims. There are Muslims and Muslimix.”

Abu Islam was apparently referring to liberal Muslims as “Muslimix.”

I'm confused. I can see Abu Islam's face clearly in this video. Does this mean that men who are attracted to him are allowed to rape him?

By looking at how he is dressing, I think he is asking - actually, begging - for it.

Egyptian op-ed: "No difference between Zionists and Jews, they all hate Islam"

From an op-ed in Egypt's Dostor Daily by female columnist Majed al-Khelfo:

Koran 5:82: Thou wilt surely find the most hostile of men to the believers are the Jews and the idolaters

The Quran in this verse describes feelings of hatred and animosity of two sets of people toward believers in Muhammad peace be upon him. These two communities are the Jews and the idolaters...You cannot decide the truth concerning the relationship of hostility to the believers [is limited to] a given time, the Quran and His signs are all facts revealed for every time and place; the text of the Koran is eternal and their enmity cannot be changed or altered, and can not be transformed into affection.

Just like you cannot turn fire into water or water into fire, this [Koranic] text recognizes for every Muslim the eternal facts about Jews: the Jews of the time of Moses are the same as the Jews in the time of Jesus, the same as the Jews at the time of Muhammad peace be upon him, and the same as the Jews in our time. The Jews hate of Muslims, they have vindictive feelings against Islam and the Prophet of Islam, and they are ungrateful for God's blessings on them throughout time....

It is odd nowadays to find intellectuals, journalists and pundits who try to to find a basis for the separation of Jews and Israelis, to differentiate people between those who belong to the Hebrew entity perched on our chests in Palestine, who came into the world and found himself a Jew.... there is no difference between the Jew and the Israeli, as both have gleaned a culture of hatred of Islam and Muslims since birth, and drank it with his mother's milk, and Jewish children learn this in school at a very early age.

...[They teach] their children that the Quran is not sacred, to that extent they claim Muhammad peace be upon him is a figment of imagination and the Koran depends in large part on what was in the Jewish religious books, and they teach their children that the Koran is inspired by the Bible, the Quran is like Mohammed's Torah, and the Hadith and the Sunnah are like the oral Torah complement the Quran.

Their children's books as well as in books for adults even more exude all hatred against Islam and Prophet of Islam. One is not surprised that this is their attitude, as the Quran says about them: "Although those who were given the book to know that truth from their Lord..." - (Cow 144) they know that Islam is right, and they know that Muhammad, peace be upon him was the greatest of the prophets and messengers, and they know that the Quran is right; much as they are sure that their own books had been affected by tampering and forgery.

Notice that Jews must not only be hated because they criticize the Quran - they must be hated because they don't accept the truth of the Quran!

The Great Zionist Restroom Conspiracy

Arab media and social media are upset over what they call "demolitions" near the Kotel, what they like to call "Buraq Square" even though it was the Jews who made it into a square.

Fatah official Abbas Zaki warned of the "Judaization scheme implemented by the Israeli occupation authorities in Jerusalem including dredging operations in the Buraq Square through the demolition of arches and windows of the historic building on the north side of the plaza near the Al Aqsa Mosque."

Sheikh Azzam Al-Khatib also condemned the work being done saying it was endangering historic buildings and meant to implement a huge development plan.

Here are some photos:

However, as I was emailed by Johnny Bravo, this is meant to enlarge the entrance to the underground Kotel Tunnels - and to renovate the restrooms.

Indeed, a quick Google Streetview shot shows what the area looked like recently, and it is obvious that the buildings being demolished are modern, not historic.

Plus, note the restroom signs: