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Israeli Apartheid Week Heats Up

The Sixth Annual Israeli Apartheid Week is now in full swing. The week, which takes place over 14 days (March 1-14, 2010), aims "to educate people about the nature of Israel as an apartheid system and to build Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) campaigns as part of a growing global BDS movement," according to the event's official website. Events will be held in 40 major cities across the globe, including Beirut, Boston, London, Montreal, Copenhagen, San Francisco, Johannesburg, Hebron, New York, and more.

Apartheid Week, whose name implies a moral equivalence between Israel and apartheid South Africa, aims to discredit Israel in the international community, and has understandably raised serious concerns within the Jewish community. Tellingly, the organizers do not address the peace process at all, rather they are "devoted to the demonization of Israel." Various pro-Israel organizations have come out in support of the country, including Aish HaTorah, whose Hasbara Fellowship graduates founded Israel Peace Week. The program runs concurrently with Israel Apartheid Week on 40 campuses in North America and Australia.

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By Samara Greenberg  |  March 10, 2010 at 1:15 pm  |  Permalink  |  Submit a Comment

Hamas' Control Over Gaza Threatened

Ahmed Ja'abri, commander of the Izaddin al-Qassam Brigades, Hamas' military wing, recently sent a letter to Khaled Masha'al, Hamas' leader in Damascus, warning that the situation in the Gaza Strip is "deteriorating" and that Hamas is losing control over the territory, London-based Asharq al-Awsat reported Saturday. According to the paper, Ja'abri told Mesha'al that "several worrisome explosions recently occurred in Gaza, security anarchy is extensive, and al-Kassam men are being killed."

The letter comes after a series of explosions erupted near the offices of senior Hamas military commanders and of Hamas prime minister Ismail Haniyieh's house. While no individual or group has taken credit for the attacks, Asharq al-Awsat reports that Hamas leadership in Gaza believes radical jihadi Islamist movements are to blame.

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By Samara Greenberg  |  March 8, 2010 at 2:04 pm  |  Permalink  |  Submit a Comment

Pakistani Troups Seize Jihadist 'Nerve Center'

In a major victory against al-Qaeda on Tuesday, Pakistani forces took control over a 156-cave network inside the small village of Damadola that, until recently, was the Taliban and al-Qaeda's "nerve center". "It was the main hub of militancy where al-Qaeda operatives had moved freely," including Ayman al-Zawahiri, second in command to Osama bin Laden, said Pakistani regional commander Major-General Tariq Khan. The caves, carved into mountains and hidden from sight, housed military supplies including: stockpiles of guns and ammunition, bazookas, artillery shells, rocket propelled grenades, mines and stolen U.S. army uniforms. According to Gen. Khan, militants from Egypt, Uzbekistan, Chechnya, and Afghanistan worked inside the caves.

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By Samara Greenberg  |  March 4, 2010 at 1:27 pm  |  Permalink  |  Submit a Comment

A War of Technological Words

Israel and Iran are engaged in a war of words over new technology. On February 21, the Israeli Air Force introduced a fleet of pilot-less planes that can fly as far as the Persian Gulf, putting Iran within Israel's range. The Heron TP drones, which can fly for more than 24 consecutive hours, will be used for surveillance, jamming enemy communications, and assisting in communications between ground control and manned air force planes. Named the Eitan, which means 'strong' in Hebrew, the drones are capable of carrying payloads up to one ton. Israel has not said if the planes were designed for use against Iran; however, Maj. Gen. Ido Nehushtan, commander of Israel's air force, explained, "The Heron TP has the potential to be able to conduct new missions down the line as they become relevant."

In response, Iranian Defense Minister Brig. General Ahmad Vahidi announced that Tehran's radar systems can detect anything in the air. "Today, we own sea-based and ground-based radars as well as radars which are able to identify multiple air targets in various frequencies and different altitudes," Vahidi said. "At present, we are making extensive use of radar systems and have various productions in the field," he added, "And we will pursue our future programs at a higher pace."

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By Samara Greenberg  |  March 2, 2010 at 12:42 pm  |  Permalink  |  Submit a Comment

Jewish Refugees Deserve Justice

Israeli lawmakers passed a bill last Monday stipulating that compensation for Jewish refugees expelled from Arab countries and Iran after 1948 must be a component of any future Israeli-Palestinian peace negotiations. According to the bill, a Jewish refugee is an Israeli citizen who fled either an Arab state or Iran as a result of religious persecution.

The bill follows a 2008 resolution passed in the US House of Representatives recognizing Jewish refugees from Arab countries who were dispelled after 1948. According to the resolution, US officials involved in Middle East peace negotiations which reference Palestinian refugees are to "include a similarly explicit reference to the resolution of the issue of Jewish refugees from Arab countries."

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By Samara Greenberg  |  February 26, 2010 at 12:47 pm  |  Permalink  |  Comments (2)

The EU and Palestinian Statehood

French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner and Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Moratinos are promoting an initiative by which the European Union would recognize a Palestinian state in 18 months, Haaretz reported Sunday. According to the plan, recognition would take place even if negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian Authority do not conclude. The initiative is based on a plan mapped out by Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad six months ago, which sought to establish a Palestinian state in two years. The Franco-Spanish proposal is meant to bolster the Fayyad plan by promising European support.

This would not be the first declaration of independence issued by the Palestinians. In 1948, the Mufti Haj Amin al-Husseini declared the independence of Palestine from Gaza. In November 1988, the Palestinian National congress declared unilateral plans for Palestinian statehood based on a United Nations resolution they had previously rejected - UN Resolution 181 - which partitioned two nations.

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By Samara Greenberg  |  February 24, 2010 at 2:27 pm  |  Permalink  |  Submit a Comment

Hezbollah Victims v. Central Bank of Iran

Eighty-five Americans, Israeli and Canadian victims of Hezbollah rocket attacks during the terrorist group's 2006 war with Israel filed an unprecedented lawsuit against the Central Bank of Iran, Bank Saderat Iran of Tehran, and Bank Saderat of London. The suit, filed in Washington, DC, seeks $1 billion in compensatory damages and an unspecified amount in punitive damages. To view a copy of the complaint, click here.

The suit charges that Hezbollah used funding relayed by the Iranian banks to prepare for the 2006 war against Israel, which lasted from July 12 through August 14. During that time, Hezbollah fired around 4,500 rockets into Israel, mostly targeting civilian areas. According to the plaintiffs, banks controlled by the Iranian government "provided Hizbullah with over $50 million in financial support in the years prior to the attacks with the specific intent of facilitating Hizbullah terrorist attacks against American and Israeli targets."

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By Samara Greenberg  |  February 22, 2010 at 1:00 pm  |  Permalink  |  Comments (1)

British Journalist Detained for Collaborating with Israel

Hamas police arrested British journalist Paul Martin on Sunday, accusing him of security offenses. "We have confessions that the British journalist committed offenses against Palestinian law, and that harms the security of the country," Interior Ministry spokesman Ehab Al-Ghsain said, without giving details on who had confessed and under what circumstances.

Martin was arrested at a Gaza courthouse where he was scheduled to testify on behalf of a defendant accused of collaborating with Israel. According to Ghsain, Gaza's attorney general ordered Martin detained for 15 days of questioning after the Palestinian defendant, Mohammed Abu Muaileq, made a confession that implicated Mr. Martin in having "violated Palestinian law and security in Gaza."

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By Samara Greenberg  |  February 19, 2010 at 7:44 pm  |  Permalink  |  Submit a Comment

Pink Taxis for Hebron

In a TV interview on Monday, Hazem at-Takrawi, director of Ishraqat, a Palestinian training and development firm, announced that his company is bringing women-only taxis to the conservative West Bank city of Hebron. According to Takrawi, women are already being trained for the position. In addition, the director noted that in a company commissioned survey, 95 percent of Palestinians said they would accept the new cabs, which will be pink.

Women-only taxis already cruise the streets of other major cities in the Middle East. The taxis hit the streets of Tehran in 2006, Dubai in 2007, and will be introduced to Abu Dhabi this March. Other successful women-only firms exist in Kuwait, Lebanon, Syria, and Bangladesh.

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By Samara Greenberg  |  February 17, 2010 at 6:14 am  |  Permalink  |  Submit a Comment

Bomb Explodes in India in Worst Attack since Mumbai

A bomb exploded inside a packed bakery in Pune, India on Saturday, killing at least nine people and wounding 45 in the country's biggest terrorist attack since the 2008 Mumbai massacre. The bakery, located across from Pune's Jewish Chabad House, is a known favorite of Jewish and European visitors. "The dead include some foreigners but we are yet to establish their nationality," minister of state for home Ramesh Bagwe said. According to doctors, the injured suffer from burns and fractures.

The attack came just one day after India and Pakistan agreed to revive their four-year-old peace process. New Delhi suspended the talks following the Mumbai attacks, saying it would not have dialogue with Islamabad until Lashkar-e-Taiba, the Pakistani militant group responsible for the massacre, is brought to justice. However, on Friday, India offered to hold high-level talks, despite Islamabad's reluctance to clamp down on the terrorist group.

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By Samara Greenberg  |  February 14, 2010 at 6:20 pm  |  Permalink  |  Submit a Comment