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19 May 2011 16:25

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U.S.: Israeli PM Netanyahu shoots down Obama’s border plan

  • “Indefensible”: So said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on one of the key, specific policy calls that President Obama made in his big Mid-East speech, namely that the borders of both an Israel and Palestinian’s border talks should start with on those present in 1967, before the Six Day War that saw Israel take control of the Gaza Strip, Sinai Peninsula, West Bank, and the Golan Heights. This was a surprise from Obama, and one that he had to know would rankle Israeli stalwarts. Netanyahu says that such a move would hurt Israeli security, and force them to abandon settlements within the Palestinian territories. source
Posted by Chris Tognotti • 0 Comments • Permalink

18 May 2011 21:58

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U.S.: Obama’s focus tomorrow: The quickly-changing Middle East

  • Obama’s giving a big speech tomorrow. With Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu heading to town to discuss the long-gestating peace deal with Palestine, Obama will give a speech from the State Department intended for both the American public and the Middle East. There’s speculation that he may push for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s resignation … or more surprisingly, endorse pushing back Israel’s borders to pre-1967 levels as a starting point in negotiations between Israel and Palestine. What’s he gonna say? One thing that’s pretty clear at this point is that Egypt’s getting some aid money — roughly $2 billion, to be exact — possibly as an anchor to encourage support of Israel. All in all, fun day ahead. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

15 May 2011 13:53

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World: The Third Intifada: Social media rocks the Middle East again

  • The violent protests happening in Israel today got at least a small spark from Facebook. Large numbers of Palestinians are protesting today (with harsh reaction from Israeli soldiers) after a movement called the Third Intifada sprung up on the social media site. The previous two Intifada movements, which Palestinians used to protest against Israel, were also quite violent. The Facebook page for the current movement had about 300,000 supporters before it the social networking site took it offline due to messages inciting violence against Israel. The movement has since moved to its own website. source
Posted by Justin Jones • 0 Comments • Permalink

10 May 2011 09:43

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Politics: The sad tale of CUNY, Israel, and an unlucky playwright

  • what A prominent Pulitzer-winning playwright, Tony Kushner, was denied an honorary degree from the City University of New York last week.
  • why Apparently, one of the members of the board thought he wasn’t pro-Israel enough for his taste, which led to the bizarre decision.
  • redo After an outcry in which noted alums returned their degrees to the school in protest, Kushner got the decision reversed. Ouch. source
  • » The lesson: Don’t have someone on your board who uses “support of Israel” as a litmus test for playwrights who few even know for their foreign policy views.
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

05 May 2011 10:07

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World: Israeli ambassador to the U.S.: We gotta deal with Hamas? Ugh

  • There is no indication that Hamas is willing to give up terror, recognize Israel or recognize the peace process.
  • Israeli ambassador to the U.S. Michael Oren • Expressing his country’s frustration with the recent unity deal struck between Hamas and Fatah, the two main political sects in Palestine. Oren makes it clear that he considers Hamas’ new role a major setback for Israel. “Hamas has fired thousands of rockets at Israeli citizens, at our towns, at our farms,” he noted, “and Hamas is one of the only elements in the Middle East to condemn the US’s action against [Osama] bin Laden.” While he emphasizes that peace is the goal for Israel, Hamas’ new seat at the bargaining table “is extremely difficult for us.” source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

04 May 2011 16:17

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World: Fatah, Hamas sign reconciliation deal to Israel’s chagrin

  • Signed on the dotted line: Hamas and Fatah made official their surprising reconciliation deal today, which calls for a new interim government and for elections within one year. This has sparked a lot of angst from Israel, who are fearful of the a unified Palestinian authority that includes Hamas  — they’re also opposed to a Palestinian attempt to get statehood recognition from the United Nations, expected to take place this September. source
Posted by Chris Tognotti • 0 Comments • Permalink

27 Apr 2011 15:27

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World: Hamas, Fatah agree to form interim Palestinian government

  • Hamas, Fatah sign reconciliation deal: The two Palestinian groups (Fatah, of which Palestinian Authority President Abbas is a member, holds power in the West Bank while Hamas, which won the last parliamentary election in 2006, holds power over the Gaza Strip) have struck a deal to form an interim government and set the stage for elections. The two sides truck the deal after secret meetings in Cairo, and comes as a huge geopolitical surprise. Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu issued a stern ultimatum in response: “The Palestinian Authority must choose either peace with Israel or peace with Hamas. There is no possibility for peace with both.” source
Posted by Chris Tognotti • 0 Comments • Permalink
 

13 Apr 2011 16:22

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World: Israel’s Lieberman may face graft charges

  • Avigdor’s looming legal troubles: Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman learned from Attorney General Yehuda Weinstein today that he may face charges of graft, a tarnish that could potentially force his resignation. It’s alleged that Lieberman used shell companies, among other methods, to illictly rake in nearly $1,200,000 while serving in public office. Lieberman was already a controversial figure in Israeli politics — you may remember his proposal that all Israeli citizens pledge a loyalty oath or have their voting rights revoked. source
Posted by Chris Tognotti • 0 Comments • Permalink

23 Mar 2011 14:55

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World: Shrapnel bomb rocks Jerusalem bus stop this morning

  • four years since a bomb was last set off in Jerusalem
  • 24 people injured, as the bomb shot out shrapnel
  • one person killed in the incident, an Israeli source
  • » The old tension beginning to boil again: This bomb attack comes on the heels of rocket and mortar attacks launched from Gaza on Wednesday, which wounded one person. That attack was called retaliation by some Palestinians, in response to Israeli air strikes that killed eight people, amongst them three children. So, basically, this is all (still) shot to hell, and with Israeli/Palestinian peace talks having fallen apart last year, it’s anybody’s guess what the future holds for this most bloody and depressing of conflicts.
Posted by Chris Tognotti • 0 Comments • Permalink

22 Mar 2011 11:09

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World: Ex-Israeli president Moshe Katsav sentenced in rape case

Katsav, center, will spend seven years in prison on two rape counts predating his presidency, along with indecency and sexual harassment charges while president. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink
 
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