|
|
March 9, 2014
Daily summary - Sunday, March 09, 2014
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Main News
Netanyahu: we will not withdraw from the West Bank if negotiations fail
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that he prefers not to resort to unilateral withdrawal from the West Bank if negotiations fail, Israel Radio reported.Netanyahu told reporters at the end of his visit to the United States that any "unilateral withdrawal by Israel so far did not guarantee stability and security needs of the State." Netanyahusaid he do not believe US Secretary of State John Kerry will not present the document containing the terms of the framework agreement between Israel and the Palestinians, adding "we are not sure that the Palestinians will accept this agreement". Netanyahu avoided committing to US President Barack Obama to freeze construction in settlements.(http://www.alquds.com/news/article/view/id/492625)
Abbas: a culture of peace will prevail whatever the outcome of the negotiations
President Mahmoud Abbas said that the politics and culture of peace will prevail in the Palestinian territory, whatever the outcome of the negotiations scheduled to end in the next month.President Abbas called during receiving a delegation of business leaders in the Scandinavian countriesyesterday evening in Ramallah, for the establishment of a Palestinian State on the 1967 borders with its capital in east Jerusalem recognized by the whole world, including the United States, as an occupied territory. Abbas added that "Jerusalem will be open to all followers of the three religions, and we don't mind it to be open to west Jerusalem, with a coordinating body between the two parts.” President Abbas noted that the Palestinians had agreed to a third party in the Palestinian territory for security, to reassure the Israeli side for its security, "with the acceptance of a weapon-free State, with a strong police force, because we want peace and we are looking for to live in security and stability alongside Israel."Regarding the refugees issue, the President stressed that the Palestinian side wants a just and agreed with the Israeli side solution, according to the Arab peace initiative. Abbas noted that a refugee has the right to choose whether to stay in the State where he is now, or migrate to another country, or return to the Palestinian State, or return to Israel and obtain its citizenship, while retaining the right to compensation in all cases. Abbas rejected to recognize the Jewish State, noting that this requirement which appeared only two years ago, only places obstacles to reaching negotiations and peace. Abbas urged the Scandinavian delegation to invest in Palestine, to their own benefit, as well as our people’s, through employment and starting a genuine partnership. (http://safa.ps/details/news/124146/%D8%B9%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%B3%D8%AB%D9%82%D8%A7%D9%81%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B3%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%85-%D8%B3%D8%AA%D8%A8%D9%82%D9%89-%D8%B3%D8%A7%D8%A6%D8%AF%D8%A9-%D9%85%D9%87%D9%85%D8%A7-%D9%83%D8%A7%D9%86%D8%AA-%D9%86%D8%AA%D9%8A%D8%AC%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D9%81%D8%A7%D9%88%D8%B6%D8%A7%D8%AA.html)
The President receives a phone call from Kerry
President Mahmoud Abbas received yesterday evening a call from US Secretary of State John Kerry, as a continuation of their intensive meetings and contacts. Official news agency "Wafa" said that Kerry's phone call with President Abbas came just before the meeting between President Abbas andUS President Barack Obama on the 17th of this month in Washington.(http://www.wattan.tv/ar/news/87979.html)
Erekat to “Al-Ayyam”: we have not received any written proposal; Washington confirmed the release of 30 prisoners on Jan 29th
Member of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization, Dr. Saeb Erekattold “Al-Ayyam” that the American side confirmed Israel's release of 30 Palestinian prisoners on the 29th of this month to complete the fourth and final batch of the release of prisoners who were arrested before the signing of the Oslo agreement. Erekat said: “we have agreed on the release prisoners arrested before the Oslo agreement in 4 batches, while the last batch will be released on the 29th of this month, which will include 30 Palestinian prisoners, this move is separate from the negotiations, as the price for the release of prisoners was not issuing membership requests in the United Nations organizations for 9 months, the US side confirmed that the agreement requires the release of 30 prisoners in the 29th on this month. On the other hand, Erekat said that "the American side has not yet presented anything written anything to the Palestinian side," denying rumors that he recently received a copy of the agreement during his presence in the United States mid last week, saying "the debate is continuing with the American side on all issues but the US side did not present anything written."(Al-Ayyam)
US Foreign Ministry: recognition of the Jewish State is not a condition
The United States Foreign Ministry said that the United States recognizes Israel as a Jewish State, but this is not a prerequisite in the peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians. Spokeswoman Jane Bosacki said that despite the US recognition of Israel as a State for the Jewish people, the choice is up to the Palestinians and Israelis to decide on what they agree in the end. On a question if it is not possible to narrow the gap between Israel's demand to recognize it as a Jewish State, and the refusal of President Mahmoud Abbas to this requirement, Bosacki answered that the talks continue and that the statements issued by both parties are not a surprise to the United States, and do not deter it from continuing its efforts. (Al-Hayat Al-Jadida)
Rafah: a martyr and nine injured in an explosion inside a site for Al-Qassam
A field commander in Al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, died and nine others were injured in varied degrees of severity, at a large explosion inside a training site of Al-Qassam, northwest of Rafah, yesterday night.Local Palestinian sources said that a large explosion occurred inside a "Al-Hashash" site, during a routine training exercise for a group of resistance activists, killing one of them, Ibrahim Najib Al-Ghoul (22 years old), and nine others wounded, most of them seriously.Medical sources said that the youths were injured by shrapnel and burns all over their bodies, and that their injuries ranged from serious to critical, adding that the number of martyrs is likely to get higher. (Al-Ayyam)
Mofaz: no negotiations with Palestinians
Knesset member Shaul Mofaz said yesterday, he do not expect progress in political negotiations with the Palestinians "as long as the extremist elements do not pull out of the coalition Government" in Israel.Mofaz said thisat a seminar in the city of Beersheba, adding there are no real negotiations with the Palestinians and each side clings to rigid positions, according to Israeli radio.On the other hand, Mofaz said Iran did not give up its nuclear ambitions and is trying to keep its nuclear capabilities in the evolving settlement with western countries. (Al-Ayyam)
Al-Ahmad confirms adherence to the Egypt sponsorship of reconciliation; Yousef considers its role as expired
Member of the Central Committee of Fatah, Azzam Al-Ahmad, confirmed Fateh and all national factions’ adherence to Egypt’s role as a sponsor for a Palestinian reconciliation. Hamas leader Ahmed Yousef said that "what Egypt did is ending its role in sponsoring reconciliation and ending the division," Yousef condemned what he considered as the Egyptian Embassy in Ramallah inciting factions against the Hamas in Gaza, accusing the Embassy of interfering in Palestinian Affairs.(Al-Hayat Al-Jadida)
Dozens of youths to Netanyahu: we refuse to serve in an army which continues occupation
Dozens of young Israelis sent a letter to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announcing their intention not to join the Israeli army, because of the continuing occupation and what they described as the army entering civilian life, which increases the tendency to chauvinism, militarism, violence, inequality and racism.Haaretz which reported the news on its website yesterday, quoted one of the signatories of the letter, as saying "we refuse to join the army because we don't want to take part in the blood and murder circle."(Al-Hayat Al-Jadida)
Khan Yunis: Hamas attacks Memorial event of Fateh and injures and kidnaps dozens
Hamas security services attacked yesterday night amemorial event in Sheikh Nasir area in Khan Yunis, held for martyrs Ahmed Mefrej (Abu Hmeid), Aref Herzalla and Hassan Qassas, assaulted participants, and kidnapped dozens. Eyewitnesses said that Hamas agents attacked the memorial held at Dewan Al Qassas, and assaulted participants with batons, injuring at least nine people, in addition to kidnapping about 80 Palestinians, including officials in Fatah.According to eyewitnesses, among the kidnaped were Secretary of Fateh Central Khan Yunis Mahmoud Al-Najjar, and members Muhammad Al-Masri, Muhammad Qaware’, Muhammad Al-Qassas, Ahmad Shahwan, Basim Abu Fatmeh Ma’moun Wadi, Ghassan Al-Agha, Saleh Abu Hamed and Eyad Jarghoun. (Al-Ayyam)
"Israeli Apartheid Week" kicks off in South Africa tomorrow
Ambassador of the State of Palestine in the Republic of South Africa, Abdul Hafeez Nofal, announced the Israeli apartheid week kicks off, in all provinces, cities and suburbs in South Africa on Monday with the participation of more than 75 official and unofficial institutions, for a week.Nofal said the Israeli Apartheid Week events will be announced in details during a press conference, organized by the solidarity eventswith the Palestinian people, coordinated with the Embassy of the State of Palestine, on Sunday morning, in the city of Johannesburg. Nofal noted that this is the 10th consecutive week being organized in South Africa, since the launch of the first week of 2005, coinciding with the increasing activities in March of each year, against racism and in support of the Palestinian people.(Al-Hayat Al-Jadida)
Occupation suppresses a women’s marchin front Qalandia Checkpoint
Women's movements organized yesterday morning a march in front of the Qalandia checkpoint north of Jerusalem, on the occasion of international women's day to call for an end to the occupation, and condemned the violations against Palestinian women.Israeli occupation forces fired tear gas and rubber bullets at hundreds women marchers and suppressed the march.(http://www.raya.ps/ar/eye-on-event/853419.html)
Jerusalem figures call for a national strategy and action plans to support Jerusalem, its people and institutions
Dozens of Jerusalem figures warned of the grave consequences of escalation of Israeli policies aimed at decreasing Palestinian geographic and demographic space in Jerusalem, especially with heightened attempts to isolate the city from its Palestinian identity, since the resumption of bilateral negotiations. The Jerusalemite figures also criticized the official, national and community bodies of the failure to develop a comprehensive strategy to defend Jerusalem against the policies of annexation, settlement and demolition of homes, the Judaization of the Arab, Muslim, Christiancharacter of the Holy City. (Al-Quds
|
Headlines
** Settlers attack farmers in Beit Ummar and destroy their trees (Al-Quds)
** Rainstorm starts today; meteorological service warns of floods (Al-Quds)
** Netanyahu repeats the requirement of recognition of a Jewish State and rejected the Division of Jerusalem (Al-Ayyam)
** President congratulates women on their international day (Al-Ayyam)
** Iraq: Al-Maliki launches a violent attack on Saudi Arabia and Qatar and accuses them in declaring a war against Iraq (Al-Ayyam)
** The ship loaded with "Iranian weapons" to the Gaza Strip reaches Elat port (Al-Ayyam)
** Minister of health: steps doctorsunionillegal (Al-Hayat Al-Jadida)
** Rafah crossing reopened for travel of the fourth installment of pilgrims (Al-Hayat Al-Jadida)
|
Front Page Photos
Al- Quds:Qalandia checkpoint – women participating in the march.
Al-Ayyam: 1) young ladies throwing stones at occupation forces in Qalandia checkpoint during the march yesterday, 2) Nouri Al-Maliki
Al Hayat Al Jadida:.1) Occupation suppresses the women’s march in Qalandia checkpoint yesterday, 2) President Abbas during his meeting with Scandinavian business men in Ramallah.
|
Voice of Palestine News
Gaza:
With regards to the Rafah crossing, it has been closed for almost a month now, today it will be opened again for 3 days for pilgrims to leave Gaza to Mecca, and those returning to Gaza to enter the Strip, without announcing the others to leave Gaza, despite the intensive communications to reopen the crossing, the Egyptian promised to re open the crossing as soon as possible.
Fateh announced in a statement that the deposed government security arrested yesterday tens of its members in a memorial event, but spokesman of the interior ministry said they did not arrest anyone but took 20 of those who organized the event to sign a commitment that they will not organize such unauthorized events in the future.
|
Voice of Palestine Interviews
** Zeyad Hammouri, General Director of Al-Quds center for economic and social rights, on continuing the campaign to disable water counters in Jerusalem.
Q: the occupation tries in all available means to empty the city of its residents, now through this campaign, how do you follow up on this issue?
As you said, this is what the occupation aims for, to empty the city of its residents, the authorities impose pressure on Jerusalemites everyday on issues related to basic rights, like the water issue, which is one of the basic rights of all residents, even of some of these residents have water debts as the occupation claims, the question is why now, why all of these issues are being raised today?
Q: How did Jerusalemites reached this amount of debts?
These debts accumulated since Jerusalemites can’t cover all their expenses, this clear from the poverty information released by official Israeli authorities, the siege impose on Jerusalemites was made in order the reach this phase were they can’t pay even for their water. Parts of these debts are tens of years old, but they only raised it now, in order to impose more pressure on Jerusalemites to leave Jerusalem, especially the old city, since they want it pure Jewish without any Palestinian presence, the problem is that they are succeeding and Jerusalemites can’t live anymore under these life conditions, and they will be forced to leave the city.
** Issa Qraqe’, Minister for Prisoners’ Affairs, on the European fact-finding mission visiting Palestine on March 19th for three days.
Q: the occupation prevented the mission from visiting prisons, but the mission will visit Palestine, in case Israeli continue to refuse how will the mission succeed in its work with regards to prisoners’ conditions?
Lieberman said it clearly that Israel will not make it easy for the mission to reach Israeli prisons, but I think its arrival to Palestine by itself as a result of a decision of the European parliament in very important for us, and for the prisoners’ issue. This mission was formed as a result of the martyrdom of Arafat Jaradat in 2012 during his investigation, this means that the international community and the European Parliament is very concerned about these Israeli practices. In all cases, and even if not allowed to reach the prisoners, it is a very important step, this is the first mission ever. This means that the prisoners’ issue is no longer a local issue but an international one. If the mission is prevented for visiting prisons, I think that the EU should take political decisions in this regard in order to increase pressure and support prisoners, maybe this will lead to an international EU investigation committee.
Q: With regards to the prisoners’ conditions, do you anticipate the mission to issue any reports that will be used in case of approaching international organizations?
Yes of course, the commission will issue a report to the European Parliament, and then the Parliament will decide how the final report will look like, we were invited to discuss the prisoners’ conditions in the European Parliament next month, at the same time the commission will be finalizing its report.
Q: With regards to the patient prisoners, call to save Jerusalemite prisoner Hamza Al Kalouty, how do you follow up in the issue?
The situation of the patient prisoners is very bad, we already talked to Dr. Erekat and we know that this file was presented for discussion, we receive reports on worsening the situation of these prisoners on a daily basis. This is very dangerous issue and needs an immediate action, we try to do our best to release them since their situation can’t bear anymore imprisonment.
** Muhammad Awa, spokesman of the popular committee to resist the wall and settlements , on settlers attacking farmers and destroying trees in Beit Ummar.
Q: Settlers’ attacks continue especially in Beit Ummar, How does this affect the life of farmers?
This the13th attack in 20 days, the 13th time of attacking farmers and expelling them from their lands adjacent to the Beit En settlement, yesterday more than 40 settlers, some of them masked with weapons, attacked the farmer Muhammad Jabber Sliebeh, under full protection of the occupation forces, despite that fact that Sliebehhas a High Court order allowing them to work in his land without anyone preventing him form do so.
Q: Is there any communication with international bodies to stop these acts?
We communicate with international organizations, but there is no presence for PA authorities and Palestinian NGOs, we communicate with international and Israeli organizations in this regard.
|
More Headlines
Netanyahu repeats the requirement of recognition of a Jewish State and rejected the Division of Jerusalem
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu repeated his demand for recognition of Israel as a "Jewish State", and stressed that "Jerusalem will never be divided," and that "no Israeli will be left without protection.” In an interview with Israeli TV channels10 and 2, Netanyahu said he is “ready to end the conflict, but it must be the end of the conflict,” adding that Israel will not allow the creation of a Palestinian State in order to continue the conflict, and that “this state should recognize the Jewish State, as demanded by Israel to recognize the Palestinian State." Netanyahu said.(Al-Ayyam)
Fatah Revolutionary Council meets for its thirteenth session Monday evening with the presence of Abu Mazen
Fateh Revolutionary Council will hold its thirteen session on Monday, at the Presidential headquarters in Ramallah with the presence Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen) as the General Commander of the Fatah movement, at the opening of the thirteenth session.Sources at Fateh said that the Council would hold its thirteenth session at 6 pmat the presidential headquarters with Ramallah in the presence of President Abu Mazen, who will deliver opening remarks at the beginning of the session updating oh the latest developments on the political front and Palestinian internal affairs especially the reconciliation file with Hamas. The Revolutionary Council thirteen sessions will be held for three days and a final statement will be issue at the end of the session. (http://qudsnet.com/news/View/268014/%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AB%D9%88%D8%B1%D9%8A-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%81%D8%AA%D8%AD%D8%A7%D9%88%D9%8A-%D9%8A%D9%84%D8%AA%D8%A6%D9%85-%D9%81%D9%8A-%D8%AF%D9%88%D8%B1%D8%AA%D9%87-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AB%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AB%D8%A9-%D8%B9%D8%B4%D8%B1-%D9%85%D8%B3%D8%A7-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A5%D8%AB%D9%86%D9%8A%D9%86-%D8%A8%D8%AD%D8%B6%D9%88%D8%B1-%D8%A3%D8%A8%D9%88-%D9%85%D8%A7%D8%B2%D9%86/)
Occupation arrest a young Palestinian from Nablus and summons 3 from Bethlehem
Israeli occupation forces arrested on Sunday, a resident of Balata refugee camp, east of Nablus.According to eyewitnesses, the occupationforces stormed Balata refugee camp at dawn and arrested Basil Hashash, after breaking into a hair salon he attended. The occupation forces also handed three Palestinians from Dar Ali area in Bethlehem summons to meet its intelligence. A security source said that the occupation forces handed over summons to Yousef Mahmoud Ahmed Soliman (44 years old), Ahmed Yusuf Salman Ali (35 years old) and Kamel Mahmoud Shawreyeh (40 years) to meet Israeli intelligence Gush Etzion headquarters, south of Bethlehem.(http://www.qudsn.ps/article/39093)
|
Arab Press
US Congressman Lipinski jumps into Middle East on wrong issue
By RAY HANANIA
Congressman Dan Lipinski’s Chicagoland district includes one of the largest concentrations of American Arabs in the Midwest, next only to Greater Detroit in neighboring Michigan.
I have known him most of his life, through his father, Bill Lipinski, who was the region’s best congressman. But unlike his father who focused almost entirely on supporting the needs of the local district, the son is spending more and more time catering to foreign interests and concerns.
That’s why I am so disappointed in seeing Lipinski embrace fanaticism by co-sponsoring legislation with extremist Congressman Peter Roskam that censors and denies American citizens their right to criticize a foreign country.
In most cases, no one would care about criticizing any foreign country at all. But we all know I am talking about Israel, which has an undue influence over American foreign policy and a stranglehold on the members of the US Congress.
The Lipinski-Roskam punitive bill is modeled after similar bills introduced in New York’s state legislature to punish organizations that boycott Israel. They demonstrate how weak and feeble the pro-Arab movement really is in America. Despite the claims of successes in Europe to counter Israel’s oppressive policies denying civil rights to Christian and Muslim Arabs in Palestine, the pro-Arab activists are actually losing ground where it counts in America.
I know the reality of pro-Israeli activism. If you sneeze at Israel, their highly financed PACs can make your life miserable. In contrast, the Arabs are so disorganized and their good causes are so infested with fanatics that they are incapable of doing any real good, let alone providing support for a politician who stands up for justice and their rights.
The Lipinski-Roskam bill denies federal funding to any American educational group that boycotts an Israeli educational institution, even though a boycott is merely an expression of an American’s right to free speech that has a long history of support in the United States.
The boycott movement against Israel is almost identical to the boycott against the old South Africa. Although many argue that the South Africa boycott forced an end to the racist policies which segregated whites from blacks, the truth is South Africa abandoned apartheid because of the worldwide embargo, which Israel did not support.
Israel practices discrimination against non-Jews inside Israel and steps up the oppression against non-Jews in the Occupied West Bank, but it’s not apartheid. Discrimination does exist in Israel and its policies against non-Jews are wrong.
To force Israel to end its discrimination, many American education groups have voted to boycott Israeli educational institutions because those Israeli institutions discriminate against non-Jews and support the illegal Jewish-only settlements that exist in the West Bank and are an obstacle to peace. Those settlements are built on Arab land, much of it belonging to Christian Arabs, like myself.
Many Americans just don’t know the facts because they are bullied by pro-Israel activists. Anyone who criticizes Israel is denounced, wrongly, as being “anti-Semitic.”
Most Arabs in America are not Muslim, but are Christian. The majority of Arabs living in Lipinski’s district are also Christians, like me. Our Christian origins are under siege by Israel. Bethlehem is oppressed, brutalized and its lands are being confiscated by Israel, too. That needs to stop.
Let me repeat this: Israel is stealing land from Christian Arabs to build more illegal settlements that stand in the way of peace. My family owns nine acres of land between Bethlehem, where my mother was born, and Jerusalem, where my father was born.
The Israelis prohibit me from developing the land. They want to take it for settlers who are Jewish. My wife and son are Jewish, but many Israelis despise Jews who marry Christians, like me. Israeli law would deny me equal status if we ever moved to Israel.
What Israel is doing is wrong. Many people in Lipinski’s district know this and have told him so, but Lipinski doesn’t care. Lipinski has not responded to my emails.
The big problem is that the pro-Arab activists are handicapped by emotion and the absence of strategic political messaging. They make it so easy for Lipinski to kowtow to the big-bucks Israeli lobbies and Political Action Committees.
As an American who served his country in active duty military service, I find it embarrassing to see elected officials who didn’t serve submit to a foreign nation’s political whims. If the issue involved Poland, or the rights of Polish Americans, Dan Lipinski would be at the frontline of protests.
But this is about Israel and Palestine. Many of the victims are Christian Arabs. That it doesn’t bother Lipinski bothers me and should bother you, too.(http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/index.cfm?method=home.regcon&contentid=20140309197983)
The malignant cancer that is the ISIS
By Bakir Oweida
The consequences of former U.S. President George W. Bush’s war on terror may be responsible somehow, albeit not directly, for the emergence of the so-called Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS). It may be an exaggeration to say that the situation is out of control and that it has become difficult, if not impossible, to contain the danger or overcome the consequences of the jihadist phenomenon, with those involved competing to see who can be the most violent.
There can be no argument that the majority of Muslims are peaceful and want to live in peace, coexisting with others and interacting with other cultures on the basis of mutual respect, for even cultural differences are the creation of God. This, however, does not negate the fact that the peaceful majority of more than a billion Muslims is suffering from a cancerous condition that has reached an advanced stage, to the point where it is bordering on terminal. In other words, it could kill the patient unless it is removed.
Growing cancer
It is now clear that Muslims are facing the threat of this growing cancer, which must be removed quickly before it can eliminate centuries of Islamic enlightenment during which Muslim scholars excelled in various fields, building bridges of communication with the world’s various cultures and civilizations. As for those who sow the cancerous seeds of division, they want to take the Islamic world backwards, deluding themselves into believing that their version of Islam—which relies on the sword—must prevail across the world.
It is no longer useful to express disappointment, anger or even ignorance towards criticism of Islam
On the other hand, it is high time for the elite of the Muslim world to wake up. There has been enough lingering in the delusion this is not a serious issue simply because Islam is greater and stronger than groups such as ISIS and its ilk. Yes, this is a fact that nobody can deny; however, it is also important to destroy the falsehoods of the self-righteous. This calls us to confront them with a force far greater than their own, and on whatever battlefield they choose, even on the front lines of Sudan, Somalia, Lebanon, Libya, Iraq or Syria.
With the escalation in armed confrontation, intellectual argument must also continue on all levels. This, by the way, is the task of the enlightened religious scholars who are experts in their profession and who know what they are talking about, not the op-ed writers or television pundits—and this particularly applies to those who make it their business to issue fatwas and explain Qur’anic verses.
Entering a minefield
At this point, I am going to risk entering a minefield—albeit with advance knowledge of the risk that I am taking—and say that it is time for revered Muslim scholars, who are known for their brilliance, logic and wisdom, to take all criticisms of Islam seriously. They must place particular focus on those parts that seem to strengthen jihadists’ claims that they are acting in the name of Islam—including the slaughtering of Muslims and calls for non-Muslims to choose between the jizya [tax paid by non-believers to Muslims in Islamic states in ancient times] or the sword. This would be especially effective if it were to come from people of stature and knowledge with respected positions in their communities, and who are renowned for their objective opinions and their respect for Islam as a religion and a culture.
To be honest, it is no longer useful to express disappointment, anger or even ignorance towards criticism of Islam, which arises as a result of the actions of those who fan the flames of hatred. It is also no longer enough to hold complementary seminars that avoid delving deeply into the issues and shy away from taking the decisions that would deprive ISIS and the like of any excuse to present their murderous actions as being holy. It would be much better for Islam and Muslims to deal quickly with the problem before the cost becomes prohibitive, and to acknowledge the existence of this malignant tumor that must be removed as soon as possible.
A sin
Others may prefer to choose the easier way out in dealing with the problem. They are no less anxious about events, but believe that time will put an end to the jihadist phenomenon, as it did to other phenomena that came before. However, with all due respect, I think that this opinion trivializes a dangerous problem by making us believe that we can brush it under the carpet. No, reality and experience prove that this solution—the solution of waiting for a solution to emerge—is like trying to seek shelter from the sun under a sieve, as the Arab saying goes.
For instance, the Islamic world, in particular the Arab region, tolerated the atrocities of the Armed Islamic Group in Algeria during the early days of the spread of its horrors in the early 1990s. Back then, it seemed everyone was saying, “As long as the fire burning my next door neighbor’s house has not reached my house, I do not have to do anything.” This is not just incorrect, it is a sin.
Another, less serious, example is thinking that Islamic extremism will not develop into bloody jihad but will disappear as soon as a solution is found to historic disputes, mainly a just solution for the Palestinian cause, or by putting out the regional fires from Sudan in the south to Lebanon in the north. That is a belief I once held myself.
Now, however, I am convinced—and maybe others are as well—that this is shortsighted. Of course, the belief that a just solution to the Palestinian cause is a prerequisite for stability in the region, and even for world peace, is absolutely true. And had that solution been achieved when the opportunity was present, the region would probably have been in a better state than it is today. However, if fantasy were to become reality now—by which I mean if the Palestinian issue were resolved at the touch of a magical button, which is impossible—it would still not make ISIS or other groups like it disappear.
The hole has only grown bigger and harder to close. It may be better to imagine jihadists ruling Gaza, for instance, or controlling part of Lebanon or the Sinai Peninsula, and then to formulate plans on how to confront this, than to dream that the fire that has engulfed our neighbor’s house will not reach our own. On March 24, an Arab Summit is set to be held in Kuwait. Will it make plans to remove the tumor of ISIS and other jihadist groups before it is too late? Let us wait and see.(http://english.alarabiya.net/en/views/2014/03/09/The-malignant-cancer-that-is-the-ISIS.html)
|
Opinions
International reference
Al-Khaleej Editorial
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed he did not commit to US President Barack Obama to halt settlement, not even temporarily, and that Israel will not give up on getting all its security. This situation proves once again that the Zionist entity is not prepared to provide concessions to reach a settlement. It only wants the Palestinians to give up their historical rights and present them as a gift to it for nothing.
The "Palestinian State" under Israeli "conditions" is merely a ghetto for Palestinians similar to the ghettos of the racism regime of apartheid South Africa, where Palestinian are not entitled to exercise any form of sovereignty and independence, but are subjected to Israeli laws regarding their daily life and management, they no authority over earth or in space, security or economy or even water sources, because all of these fall under the Israeli security framework.
The objectives and aims of Netanyahu and other Zionist officials are well-known, this means that the current negotiations, even if extended, will be more of a waste of time for Palestinians, and gaining more time by Israel.
The official Palestinian position regarding negotiations indicate hopelessness and despair, but this is not enough...
A Palestinian step beyond the current negotiations style under a US auspices is needed, since continuing in this deadlock horizon will bring the Palestinian cause nothing but more loss, especially under US vigorous efforts to abolish the Palestinian case.
With the approach of the end of the negotiations period, the Palestinians need a serious step to put all before their responsibilities, to return to the United Nations as the only reference to deal with the Palestinian case in accordance with the relevant resolutions, since in international legitimacy is bound to deal with issues relating to the rights of peoples, which constitutes a threat to international peace and security.
The negotiations has no reference but the American reference, and this an abdication of international reference, which is a guarantor of Palestinian rights, and provides the Zionist entity with a chance to rob these rights. (http://www.alkhaleej.ae/studiesandopinions/detailedpage/52e0b5ee-d435-4291-b3b5-f1493bef7b28)
|
|
WHAT'S NEW
BACKGROUND
POLLS
WAYS TO GET JMCC
CONTACT US
|
To subscribe to free newsletter submit your email |
|
|
|