Yossi Klein HaLevi on Israel and the "settlers"

In the Wall Street Journal, a more nuanced view of the Jews of Judea and Samaria - from someone who does not support them. I don't agree with much of what he says, but that doesn't take away from the fact that he is helping explain the deep divide between Israel's Left and the European/American Left - something that most journalists simply do not understand:

Two issues related to West Bank settlements are on the current agenda of Israeli Defense Minister and Labor Party leader Ehud Barak. The first is Mr. Barak's attempt to persuade the Netanyahu government to extend a freeze on settlement building. The second is his attempt to legalize two houses in a tiny West Bank settlement called Hayovel that were built without government permission and face possible demolition.

The houses were built by two war heroes. Major Eliraz Peretz fell in a skirmish on the Israeli-Gaza border a half year ago; Israelis were especially touched by his story because his older brother died in Lebanon 12 years ago. The second hero, Major Ro'i Klein, was killed in Lebanon in 2006 after leaping onto a grenade to save his men.

Fallen soldiers have a sacrosanct status here. Demolishing the houses that Peretz and Klein built for their families seems to Israelis, whatever their politics, an unbearable act of ingratitude. Even the bitterly anti-settlement movement Peace Now informed the Supreme Court that while it seeks the removal of illegal houses in Hayovel, an exception should be made for these two dwellings. "We are not indifferent to the feelings of the public on this matter," a Peace Now spokeswoman explained.

The story of the Peretz and Klein houses has significance beyond what it tells us about Israeli sensitivities. Increasingly, Israel's military elite is coming from West Bank settlements and, more broadly, from within the religious Zionist community that produced the settlement movement and passionately supports it.

Perhaps 40% of combat officers are now religious Zionists (not to be confused with ultra-orthodox Haredim), nearly three times their percentage in the general population. In the early 1990s, the number of religious combat officers was barely 2%. The newly appointed deputy chief of staff, Yair Naveh, is a religious Zionist.

Once it was kibbutzim, or collectivist farms, that produced the nation's combat elite. Now it is the religious Zionist community that raises its sons to sacrifice. Every Sabbath day the same scene is repeated throughout the settlements: Young men wearing knitted skullcaps precariously pinned to close-cropped hair gather outside the synagogue and exchange stories from their combat units—while their younger brothers eavesdrop and decide which units they will one day join.
...

The "settler" has assumed a near demonic image around the world, but most Israelis know that only a radical fringe is responsible for uprooting Palestinian olive trees and vandalizing mosques. Most settlers are part of the mainstream. Israelis encounter them in the army, in the workplace, and in the universities.

Shaul Mofaz, a leader of the pro-withdrawal party, Kadima, was a founder in the mid 1970s of the Elkana settlement in the northern West Bank. Mr. Mofaz's party colleague, Knesset member Otniel Schneller, still lives in a settlement.

Crucially, few Israelis regard settlers as interlopers on another people's land. The political wisdom of the settlement project is intensely debated here, but only a leftwing fringe denies the historic right of Jews to live in what was the biblical heartland of Israel.

Still, while settlers remain widely appreciated for their idealism, their political agenda has become a minority position. The left has won the argument that ending the occupation is an Israeli existential need. If Israelis believed that peace were possible, a majority would opt for painful compromise and support West Bank withdrawal.
... 

And if the international community wants to understand why the Israeli public doesn't share its antipathy toward the settlers or its urgency to uproot settlements, a good place to begin is with Mr. Barak's effort to legalize two houses on a West Bank hilltop.

(The only way to read full WSJ articles is to first find them on Google News and then click on them - you cannot directly link to them.)

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Stuck on a train. Open thread!

Thanks to local commuter train problems, each and every one of you get a free open thread to play with!

Limited time offer!

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Michael Totten totally rocks

Michael Totten is a rare Middle East journalist.

First of all, he actually reports - he doesn't repeat what other reporters are saying, but he comes to his own conclusions, first-hand.

Secondly, he knows what he is talking about.

Thirdly, he can write well about what he knows, and he is not shy about writing a lengthy piece to ensure that his words are not going to be ambiguous because of some editorial position.

And fourthly, he has a knack of finding really smart people to interview, people who can explain the mentality behind the players of the Middle East poker game. After reading his interviews - really, more like transcripts of bull-sessions between two smart and interesting people - I just wish I was there to hear them first-hand, to discuss the points made further, to enjoy the tangents and meanderings of their discussion which often illuminate more than the main topic at hand.

Just read his latest, with Israeli writer David Hazony.

(h/t Silke)

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Israel's image problem - and my goals

Donny writes an interesting comment.

When "everyone" is wrong that may very well mean you are correct BUT it also means that you at the very least, have an image problem. In many cases, regardless of the circumstances, factions and consipriacies against an issue, if it is perceived to be the case, it very well may become the case regardless. Your blog is full of how the west is anti-Israel or even anti-semitic and that they are all wrong or are by interest groups turned in opinion. As I said, you may be correct and in many instances I agree with your comments but in the end I always come back to the basic line that I have been taught with two quotes. The first one is "....where there is smoke there is fire" thus if the vast majority of the media and governments smell smoke there has to be substance, and second is a very famous Brussels saying that "it is not a cat until it meows". That basically means that if everyone thinks something is wrong, bad or whatever - it is until the result says otherwise.

At present, Israel has an image problem, that is the point I am making. That image problem exists if you, I or others like it or not. Right now the focus is not on fixing that image problem but rather attempting to prove each individual case, event or action as correct, justified, better than it is. In addition, I see a lot of comparisons being made and what is often referred to as 'equivilance' by showing how "bad" it is somewere else. Neither works and, in my honest opinion, looks instead like stubborn defiance and only "reactive".

It is not always true that when there is smoke, there is fire. A woman who is abused by her husband is not automatically partially at fault because her husband has a laundry list of reasons that she deserves to be punished. Even if she really did burn his steak once.

However, it is true that image is important, and hugely so.

Admittedly, Israel has almost no clue how to make its case. If they did, I would have a much easier job here!

Of course it has an image problem. Some of it is self-inflicted (for example Lieberman should not be a diplomat, although his ideas definitely need to be heard.) Some of it is the result of a relentless campaign (not coordinated, it is not a conspiracy) of demonization that has worked over the years. Some of it is Western reflexive self-hatred among the Left. Some of it is the sheer disproportionate interest in Israel from both fans and foes - a vacuum that must be filled by the media. Some of it is an ironic result of Israeli freedom of expression making self-criticism appear to be disproportionately large. Some of it is, to be frank, Jew-hatred masquerading as anti-Zionism. Much of it is from a remarkably successful re-framing of the debate that occurred after 1967 where the false idea of Israel as a colonial state gained currency as fact, and the idea of Israel as a successful example of national self-determination fell by the wayside.

I try, in my own small way, to counteract these forces. No one is claiming that Israel is perfect, and no one claims that there is not a tension between being a Jewish state and a democracy. My goal (I guess one of them) is to put things in a more proper perspective: even if one claims that Israel is immoral, then her enemies are infinitely worse by virtually every measure. If Israel is to be demonized, then it is hypocritical to ignore the neighborhood she is in. The media rarely notes this basic fact; neither do they compare Israel's actions while in a state of war with those of European governments when at peace. (To bring up Lieberman again, he made a very good point when he noted that Israel never banned the burqa like France or limited the building of minarets on mosques like Switzerland!)

Western governments sort of get it because they realize that the very same arguments used against Israel can be used against them one day as well, but they will rarely take Israel's side publicly because of a number of factors like desire for good relations with the Muslim and Arab worlds and fear of terrorism.

Whether I am successful at it or not, I try to post articles and essays that are meant to force people to look at the Middle East with a different viewpoint, one that is not obscured by the perpetual smoke machine. Some are necessarily reactive. I need to consciously try to write more pro-active posts, as playing defense is not a recipe for victory. But above all I want to put forth a viewpoint that, I believe, has the additional quality of being the truth.

In my own possibly naive way, I hope that the truth will win. And not only for Israel's sake, but for the sake of the entire free world.

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Louisiana native American tribe loves Israel

From Isrealli, written by the Israeli Consulate of Houston's press officer:

...when I heard that the Coushatta Native American Tribe of Louisiana called the Consulate asking for a meeting, I hate to say it, but my first thought was “wow, never a dull moment!” And boy was I right..but not in the way I was expecting, but rather, it was the beginning of a series of events that exceeded even my wildest expectations.

In addition to their beautiful casino, the Coushatta Tribe of Louisiana holds nearly 700 acres of land in Louisiana, and operates a beautiful resort including a world-class golf course, stunning accommodations, and yes, a Vegas-style casino with over 2,800 slots, and 70+ table games giving everyone ample opportunities to(hopefully) yell out: JACKPOT!

The relationship that has been built over the last two years between Israel and the Coushatta is nothing short of amazing. And it all started with that phone call. The Chairman and Vice Chairman of the Coushatta Tribe of Louisiana, Kevin and David Sickey, informed the Consul General (at the time Asher Yarden) that they wished to proclaim an Affirmation of Friendship between their tribe and the State of Israel. Hm, where are they going with this, we asked ourselves?

The Coushatta went on to tell us that they felt a special bond with the Jewish people and Israelis, who, like the native Americans, have faced centuries of discrimination, relocation, and prejudice, all while feeling a strong sense of nationalism, and a desire to return to their historical homeland, a homeland to which they feel a strong spiritual connection. I am happy to say that just as the Jewish people returned to their historical homeland in 1948, the members of the Coushatta Tribe of Louisiana returned to theirs in 1972, receiving state recognition, followed by US federal recognition the following year, in 1973.

After hearing this pitch, I. Was. Floored. What an incredible parallel to draw, one that hadn’t even remotely occurred to me before. We were in, and we had NO idea what we were getting ourselves into. And I mean that in the best possible way.

What followed was a series of meetings leading up to a huge event to take place on their reservation in Louisiana entitled Affirmation of Friendship 2008, during Israel’s 60th year of independence. Since this wonderful event nearly two years ago, the friendship and the bond between not only our office, but the State of Israel and the Coushatta has only grown. The economic office for the US Southern region continues to work with them on developing trade and agricultural opportunities between Israel and the Tribe, their leadership has since visited Israel, and a close friendship remains between our staff and theirs. May 14th is now a Coushatta national holiday recognizing Israel’s independence and, more than anything, it just goes to show that no matter how disconnected two peoples seem, with a positive attitude and a true desire for friendship, anything can be accomplished.

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Egyptian men want Chinese wives

This article from Al Arabiya is, let's say, intriguing:

Egyptian young men have recently been seeking to marry Chinese women in an attempt to escape the hefty costs of a traditional Egyptian marriage as well as have partners well known for their loyalty as wives.

A considerable number of Egyptian men, mostly over the age of 35, contacted the Chinese embassy in Cairo to inquire about the possibility of marrying Chinese women. Others have been seeking Chinese brides through matchmaking websites.

The financial condition of Egyptian youths is the major reason behind their preference of Chinese brides. In a traditional Egyptian marriage, the groom is required to pay dowry, buy an apartment, and give the bride a diamond ring or a gold gift. On the other hand, Chinese women do not have any conditions when it comes to money.

In addition, many Egyptian men view Chinese women as perfect wives since because they are pretty, active, and smart as well as very skilled in cooking and other household chores. They are also well trained in martial arts, thus capable of defending themselves as well as their husbands.

Obedience and loyalty are also among the most distinguished features of Chinese women as, according to Egyptian males, their culture dictates their subordination to their husbands.

For Egyptian men, the Chinese woman has a very important advantage: her mother will not accompany her, which means the husband will be spared the trouble the mother-in-law’s interference in the couple’s life.

The phenomenon of seeking Chinese brides did not stop at major cities like Cairo and Alexandria, but extended to small towns in Upper Egypt and the Nile Delta and Egyptian families who have unmarried girls started expressing their concerns over the Chinese invasion.

The remarkable increase on the demand for Chinese wives drove Egyptian MP Salah al-Sayegh to submit a questioning to Prime Minister Ahmed Nazif.

The phenomenon, Sayegh argued, is aggravating the spinsterhood problem in Egypt, especially that recent statistics by National Center for Social and Criminological Research revealed that 28.4% of Egyptian women are unmarried and that more than 2,700 try to commit suicide because of spinsterhood.

Contrary to the MP’s view, sociology professor Dr. Samia al-Saati views the Chinese invasion as a healthy trend as it teaches Egyptian girls and their families a lesson.

“Men’s preference of Chinese wives will teach girls and their families to stop draining the groom financially,” she said. “In Egypt, marriage is all about fake appearances. The Chinese bride is the magical solution.”

Saati added that experience proved that such marriages are, in most cases, successful since Chinese women proved to be better wives.

“Chinese women manage the house and raises children in a much better way than Egyptian girls who are very spoilt and allow their families to interfere in her affairs, which contributed to the rising divorce rates.”

Sociology professor Dr. Suhair Sanad begs to differ. She argues that seeking this kind of marriages is nothing more than a form of delinquency like unofficial (urfi) marriage, in which the couple writes their own marriage contract, or blood marriages, in which they mix their blood together as a sign of creating an eternal bond.

“These marriages indicate the deterioration of values in society and the extreme lack of trust between Egyptian men and women.”

This lack of trust, she explained, is largely because the girl feels insecure about the man she is about to marry, so her family starts burdening him with exaggerated financial demands. This, in turn, makes him feel exploited.

Sanad also argues that the marriage between an Egyptian man and a Chinese is not likely to be successful.

“There is a huge gap as far as culture and values are concerned, and there is also the language barrier.”

Dr. Mustafa Ghalwash, professor of theology at al-Azhar University, stated that marriage with a Chinese woman is not valid.

“A Muslim man should basically marry a Muslim woman, but if he has to marry a non-Muslim then she has to belong to one of the religions endorsed by Islam, not a pagan religion.”

Ghalwash called upon parents to go easy on suitors and not to drain them financially. He cited a saying in which prophet Mohamed advises parents to accept the suitor as long he is religious and well-mannered.

‘The prophet also said that the bride with the lesser dowry is more blessed.”

If any non-Egyptian would use any of the many stereotypes listed throughout this article, he or she would be branded a bigot.

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Report: Denmark's foreign minister apologizes for Mohammed cartoons! (updated)

According to Al Arabiya (Arabic), Denmark's Foreign Minister Lene Espersen has apologized to the Muslim world on behalf of her nation for the cartoons of Mohammed that were published in Danish newspapers.

She met with Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb, the Sheikh of Al Azhar University in Egypt.

The report further states that she said her government "will not allow the repetition of such abuses of the Islamic religion or its symbols....The cartoons did not reflect the position of the Government of Denmark."

She met with al-Tayeb in his office today. She told him that the Government of Denmark will take steps to ensure that there will be no repeat of such graphics, or abuse of the Islamic religion, in the future.

Al-Tayeb said "This is a positive step in the right direction towards improving the relationship between the Muslim peoples and the West....The problem of the West is that they do not understand the fact that moderate Islam rejects violence, and that the essence of Islam is tolerance and acceptance of others and peaceful coexistence among all peoples." He added, "Islam does not exclude any other cultures."

This story seems a bit at odds, but not entirely, with the official position of the Foreign Ministry of Denmark stated only a couple of weeks ago, on the occasion of a book being published in Denmark that was reproducing the cartoons:

Of course it can no longer surprise anyone that there are people in Denmark and around the world who feel hurt when they hear that the drawings are printed again.

In light of the experience from the past five years, I have taken steps to prevent a new confrontation which will serve nobody’s good interest. This morning, I have met with the ambassadors of the OIC countries. Furthermore, I met last week with the Secretary General of the OIC, the Secretary General of the Arab League as well as foreign ministers from the Middle East and North Africa.

The Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs also has a constructive dialogue with a number of Muslim organizations in Denmark.

My key message is that we have freedom of speech in Denmark. This is a corner stone in our democracy. Accordingly, anybody has the right to write and print books as long as the content is within the framework of the law. These are basic values that we are also promoting internationally.”

At the same time, I would like to make it very clear that Denmark wants to maintain and strengthen our good and friendly relations to the Muslim world. Constructive dialogue is the way ahead.

The Danish Government respects all religious creeds and communities, including Islam as one of the world’s major religions, and the religious feelings of all people.

In the Danish statement at the United Nations General Assembly September 28th 2010 we stressed that a strengthening of mutual understanding between cultures is an important challenge and a valuable opportunity for all of us.

Did Al Arabiya get the story wrong? Did al-Tayeb exaggerate what she said? Is there a Danish law that would prohibit or limit the publication of the cartoons that would make the two statements jive? Or is something else going on?

All I can confirm is that she is on a trip to the Arab world; she was in Syria yesterday.

UPDATE: Michael from Denmark in the comments says that Espersen denies the apology. Here is the official statement:

The Danish government is well aware that many people felt deeply hurt by the cartoons. I would like once again to make it clear that this is something we find regrettable, and do not wish to see repeated.

I would like to make it clear that the Danish government respects Islam as one of the World’s major religions and we condemn any attempt to demonize groups of people on the basis of their religion or ethnic background.

Under the Danish constitution, every citizen has the right to express himself within the limits of the law without interference from the government. 

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Why does the West still respect Ha'aretz?

A couple of days ago, Ha'aretz reported that the PA approved a textbook teaching both the Zionist and Arab narratives of history that Israel had rejected. It made Israel look very bad.

Only one problem: The PA denied  the story.

But this is hardly the first time Ha'aretz reported something that turned out to be fictional.

It was Ha'aretz that started the rumor that the 18th century Jewish sage the Vilna Gaon had predicted the building of the Third Temple would commence on March 16, 2010. That story caused many angry headlines in the Arab world and put peoples' lives at risk. And it was not true.

And remember this story from Ha'aretz last April?

A new military order aimed at preventing infiltration will come into force this week, enabling the deportation of tens of thousands of Palestinians from the West Bank, or their indictment on charges carrying prison terms of up to seven years.

When the order comes into effect, tens of thousands of Palestinians will automatically become criminal offenders liable to be severely punished.

Well, it is now seven months later, and those confidently predicted mass deportations and arrests never happened - just as the IDF said at the time.

Did Ha'aretz apologize for these exclusive stories that got picked up and amplified throughout the world? Of course not. They can report whatever lies they feel like, consequences be damned.

Yet their "exclusives" still get picked up by Western reporters who respect a left-wing English-language news source that conforms to their preconceived notions of a racist Israel and oppressed, peaceful Arab population. It means that the other reporters don't have to do any real reporting to verify the stories.

And refuting the stories is not even on their radar.

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EoZ store back online

After a frustrating few days, the Elder of Ziyon CafePress store is back online.

You can now buy a mousepad and a coaster with the graphic I created yesterday of Israeli flag balloons:

You can also buy the "You Don't Need a Bris" graphic on women's underwear:

If someone chooses to misinterpret the slogan, that's not my problem!

I will probably start rotating out some of the existing products to make way for new ones - I can only offer one of every type of product in the store unless I make it a professional store, and it doesn't make enough money to justify that. So some products might not be available for much longer.

(h/t Silke for mousepad idea.)

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Western anti-semitism update (Zvi)

From Zvi:

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Incomplete and not in any particular order  


* Malmö, Sweden - October 2010  During the weekend the Jewish community in Malmö held a seminar for children at their seminar facility in Höllviken (not far from Malmö). The weekend seminar was spoiled when an angry mob of some 10 youngsters decided to attack the seminar attendees—who were mostly children. The threatening gang was screaming hate slogans including “Heil Hitler”, “Jewi pigs” and “fucking Jews are spoiling Höllviken”. In addition to the anti-Semitic verbal abuse, the gang also trespassed into the privately-owned area in order to damage property.

* Sweden - Oct 2010 editorial  In 2009, Sweden recorded its highest number of anti-Semitic incidents ever. Over the last four months, a synagogue was firebombed, a rabbi was attacked in the street, and a bomb threat was called in to a Jewish community center. 

* Norway - October 2010  Kristin Halvorsen, who on January 8th 2009 participated in a march against Israel (see above – screenshot  from an Indonesian blog) with the very same crowd who only hours earlier had attacked a peaceful pro-Israel peace rally, has yet to receive “recommendations on how to proceed” from her working group.

* Spain - September 2010  58.4% of the Spaniards think that the "Jews have much power because they control the economy and the media". Among university students this attitude encompasses the 62.2%, and among people "interested in politics" this attitude encompasses the 70.5%. ... Among those who admit to be "unpleasant towards the Jews", 17% of them attribute this attitude to the "Middle East conflict"; 29.6% of them attribute this attitude to "their religion", "their customs", " the way they are", etc.; others among them attribute this attitude to "general unpleasantness", "the power" and "the money"; 17% of them attribute this attitude to reasons they don't know. This means that only a small percentage of the Spaniards show unpleasantness towards the Jews due to "the State of Israel and its policies".  


* Germany - Sep 2010   'Al Jazeera and the Lebanese Hezbollah broadcaster are trusted more than German broadcasters,' said Jochen Mueller from a pro-integration organization, ufuq.de, told the thre day conference. 
 * Belgium - Sep 2010  Bret Stephens’ Wall Street Journal column this week concerns the thoughts of Karel De Gucht, the European Union’s trade commissioner and a former Belgian foreign minister, on Jews.  In a radio interview with a Flemish station he asserted that the current Israeli-Palestinian negotiations are doomed to failure because Jews are excessively influential in the United States and because they are not the sort of people that can be reasoned with.  


* The Netherlands - Sep 2010  The Dutch Jewish community suffered almost double the number of antisemitic incidents in 2009 than in 2008. Experts said this increase might only be “the tip of the iceberg”.   Police said the 209 cases of antisemitism were documented in the Netherlands last year, representing a 48 per cent rise year-on-year and accounting for nearly a tenth of all discriminatory incidents in the Netherlands. ... The Jewish community in the Netherlands numbers around 30,000, less than 0.3 per cent of the country’s population.  (But see update here - the way they counted the crimes changed. [EoZ])

* USA - Sep 2010   The graffiti, which included swastikas and references to gas chambers, was found Sept. 17 at Northwest Yeshiva High School.

* USA - Sep 2010  Former CNN anchor Rick Sanchez has apologized to Daily Show host Jon Stewart for the career killing comments he made last week, comments that, according to his wife, were caused by exhaustion. [because he could not possibly be an idiot who actually believes that Jews control everything, right? -Zvi]

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I would add something that got little coverage outside New York: in Brooklyn on Monday, a few members of the Westboro Baptist Church waved signs (among them "Your Rabbi is a whore") outside various synagogues and yeshivas.

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Ahmadinejad extends his Lebanese visit one day

From Ya Libnan:

As-Safir newspaper reported on Wednesday that Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has extended his visit to Lebanon until Friday to meet with Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who is expected to visit Lebanon on Friday.

As Safir’s report was not confirmed by other dailies in Lebanon, but the paper is known to be closely linked to Iran and Syria.

Outside of Hezbollah and its allies, the Lebanese are more than wary about the trip:

Several Lebanese politicians and members of civil society issued an open letter to Iran’s president, accusing him on the eve of his official visit to Lebanon of meddling in the country’s affairs.

The letter was signed by some 250 people, among them former MPs close to the Western-backed parliamentary majority, doctors, teachers and journalists. It lashed out at Mahmoud Ahmadinejad over Iran’s support of Hezbollah.

“One group in Lebanon draws its power from you … and has wielded it over another group and the state,” said the letter.

“You are repeating what others have done before you by interfering in our internal affairs,” the letter added, referring to Tehran’s financial and military backing of Hezbollah, considered a proxy of Iran.

And they have good reason to be:

[H]is trip has sparked criticism among Lebanon’s parliamentary majority who see it as a bid to portray Lebanon as “an Iranian base on the Mediterranean.”

Prior to departing Tehran, Ahmadinejad said that the purpose of his visit to strengthen relations with Lebanon.

“Lebanon is the focus point of Resistance and standing against those who demand too much,” Ahmadinejad was quoted as saying on the state television’s website prior to departing to Lebanon.

Ahmadinejad looks at Lebanon not as an independent country, not as a shining example of co-existence between Christians, Muslims and Druze, not as a small nation under stress for internal divisions and complex political alliances. No, to Iran, Lebanon serves one purpose and one purpose only: as "resistance" against Israel.

It is no surprise that some Palestinian Sunni groups, unlike many of the Lebanese Sunnis, are supporting Ahmadinejad's visit.

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IFJ condemns Hamas over closing journalists syndicate

From the IFJ:

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) today condemned the action of the Hamas Internal Security department which closed down the office of the Palestinian Journalists' Syndicate (PJS) in Gaza, accusing them of ‘inexcusable intrusion" in the internal affairs of Palestinian journalists.

"The action by the Hamas government is a violation of journalists' rights and a slap in the face of Palestinians who are courageously fighting for their rights and the independence of journalism in appalling conditions," said Jim Boumelha, IFJ President, who led an IFJ delegation to Palestine last month. "We join our affiliate the Palestinian Journalists' Syndicate in their strong protest and we support their demand for an investigation into this action."

"It is impossible not to conclude that Hamas authorities are targeting journalists who wish to promote solidarity and unity within the Palestinian community," said Boumelha. "It is another example of Hamas intolerance in the Gaza strip which has seen other actions to restrict media freedoms, including the closure of several media and detentions of tens of journalists."

Last month, Hamas government stopped the Gaza-based University of Al Azhar from operating a video link organised by the PJS for its members in Gaza to join their colleagues at a meeting in Ramallah with the IFJ delegation visiting Palestine after its members had been denied permission to enter Gaza by Israel.

The PJS is a member of IFJ, which explains why the IFJ was quick to condemn the action (most Hamas actions against journalists are roundly ignored or minimized by the group.)

The IFJ is very partisan, as I showed in this post from 2008.

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A more subtle form of news photo bias

There are a number of countries that grow and harvest olives. Greece, Jordan, the US, Israel and Chile all market their olive products. In 2005, seven countries accounted for 90% of all olive oil production, including Spain, Italy, Morocco, Portugal, Syria, Turkey and Tunisia.

But if you search for photos of "olives" in Daylife, which aggregates wire service photos from AP, Reuters, Getty Images, Demotix and others, you see only one place where olives are being harvested.

The last 90 photos or so all show Palestinian Arabs harvesting olives, or (in the case of Getty Images) IDF soldiers taking pictures of trees that were "cut down by Jewish settlers from the nearby settlement of Yitzhar in the northern West Bank" - without even the word "allegedly."

Most of the pictures are simply straight photos of harvesting, or of families helping the harvesters.

For the exception that proves the rule, here is a photo of Tunisians picking olives that was published two months ago - but the picture was taken in 2007.

How come only Palestinian Arab olive harvesters warrant so many news photos?

The reason is clear: olives are a symbol of how they, and they alone, are connected to the land.

Jews who have harvested olives for three millennia are considered outsiders when they pick olives in their own land - somehow they are not authentic, the news services believe. Even though we can find olive presses that are thousands of years old in ancient Jewish cities. That doesn't matter - only one people have the right to pick olives in a photogenic way, and if Jews are mentioned at all, it is with the implicit of explicit accusation that they are working to destroy the true owners of all the olive trees in the Middle East.

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Proof that the Israeli driver was at fault

From Snapped Shot:

(h/t Soccer Dad)

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Dhimmi of the day

From Iran's FARS "news" agency:

An Iranian Jewish legislator on Tuesday voiced the strong protest of the worldwide Jewish community at an Israeli court investigation into the murder of American Peace Activist Rachel Corrie by Israeli forces in the occupied Palestinian territories.

"While the world's Jews support Ms. Rachel Corrie, the UN has kept silence on the issue," Siamak Mereh Sedq regretted, criticizing the world body for keeping mum on the crimes committed by the Israeli regime on the occupied Palestinian territories.

Noting that the trial organized by the Zionist regime for Rachel Corrie's case does not come up with the standards of the international laws and regulations, Mereh Sedq called on the international organizations to break their silence on the issue and show their affection and sympathy for the peace activists all throughout the world.

Iran's token Jewish member of government says that Iran's system of justice is up to par, but Israel's fall short of international standards.

On November 11, 2004, in Sanandaj, a 14-year-old Kurdish boy died after having received 85 lashes because he broke his fast during the month of Ramadan.

I'm sure Mr. Sedq will fight tirelessly to encourage the Kurdish family to sue their government for wrongful death. After all, the racist state of Israel is allowing a wrongful-death suit against themselves, and Sedq knows for certain that Iran's system of justice is more refined than Israel's!

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