While the decision has mainly been attributed to US pressure, Al Jazeera is reporting something else entirely.

A videotape is behind the decision by the Palestinian Authority to delay the vote on a UN report accusing Israel of war crimes during its offensive on the Gaza Strip, a Palestinian news agency has reported.

Quoting what it called reliable sources, Shahab news agency said PA representatives at a meeting in Washington had initially rejected Israel’s request not to endorse the report and were determined to stick to this position.

But, the agency added, Brigadier Eli Avraham played a videotape showing a meeting between Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian president, and Ehud Barak, the Israeli defence minister. The meeting was also attended by Tzipi Livni, Israel’s former foreign minister.

The video showed Abbas trying to convince Barak to continue the war on Gaza, while Barak looked hesitant, although Livni appeared to be in support of the plan, Shahab quoted its sources as saying.

Israel launched a major offensive on the Hamas-run Gaza Strip in December 2008, saying it wanted to stop rockets fired by the Palestinian factions into its territory.

The war left at least 1,400 Palestinians – and 13 Israelis – dead and prompted a UN investigation that has accused Israel of commiting war crimes.

—-

Shahab also reported that Avraham played an audiotape of a telephone call between Dov Weissglas, the director of the Israeli chief of staff bureau, and al-Tayyib Abdul Rahim, secretary-general of the Palestinian presidency.

In the conversation, Abdul Rahim says that circumstances were suitable for entry of the Israeli army into Jabalya and al-Shatea refugee camps, and adds that the fall of these two camps would end Hamas’s rule in Gaza Strip, Shahab says.

Weissglas then told Abdul Rahim that this operation would lead to the death of thousands of civilians, but, according to Shahab, Abdul Rahim said: “They have all elected Hamas, so they are the ones who have chosen their fate, not us.”

Shehab says that the Israeli delegation threatened the PA representatives that it would present the recorded material to the UN and news organisations, forcing the delegation to accept Israel’s request to delay the vote on the report.

While I hardly find Al Jazeera to be a credible or reliable news outlet, and Shahab News is Iranian (and may thus be trying to strengthen Hamas over Fatah), this scenario is not entirely fanciful. After all, Fatah did blame Hamas for Operation Cast lead, did crack down on Hamas in the “West Bank” during the operation, and were accused of assisting Israel in Gaza.

I just hope this video makes it to YouTube.

Updates (Israel time; most recent at top)

5:10PM: Isn’t it weird how you sometimes stumble upon things?

I was just choosing some music on Blip.fm and decided to go for the Doors’ Alabama Song.

This led me to do a Wikipedia search on Jim Morrison and then Val Kilmer, who played Morrison in the 1991 Doors movie.

Which led me to the Wikipedia “fact” that Kilmer revealed his mother is Jewish (making Kilmer Jewish) on a recent trip to Israel (I cannot find this confirmed anywhere else).

Which led me to this article and pictures of Kilmer in Israel – from last week!

After making six films this year, you’d expect Val Kilmer to want to take some time out chilling on a beach somewhere.

But clearly in a contemplative mood as he approaches his 50th birthday in December, the actor decided to make a spiritual pilgrimage to the Western Wall in Israel.

The millionaire star looked like a regular traveller as he strolled through the streets of old Jerusalem wearing combats, T-shirt, baseball cap and a pair of Crocs.

After making six films this year, you’d expect Val Kilmer to want to take some time out chilling on a beach somewhere.

Kilmer, who was raised a Christian Scientist, joined dozens of Jews to pray and seek solace in the foreboding ancient wall.
Following in the footsteps of fellow worshippers around him, the actor wrote a prayer on a piece of paper, before slipping it between the large stone bricks.

While Kilmer is not believed to have converted to Judaism, he learned a lot about the religion while playing Moses in a Los Angeles production of The Ten Commandments: The Musical in 2004.

He also voiced Moses in Disney film The Prince Of Egypt in 1998.

Speaking about his religious beliefs a few years ago, Kilmer said: ‘I am a religious person. I do pray for specific needs. I do read the Bible every Sunday. I’ve read the Bible all of my life.

‘I also pray for things that are going on in the world; it has given me a deeper sense of responsibility as a person.

‘So to represent the person who defined, who wrote this moral code that we live by, it has given me a deeper sense of selflessness.’

When he landed the role of Moses in the musical, Kilmer immersed himself in Jewish culture, spending times with Rabbis and taking part in Shabbat dinners.

4:28PM: Malcolm Mahmoud X:

A Palestinian protester tosses a shoe at a poster of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas during a demonstration in Gaza City, Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2009. A group of Palestinian teachers and protesters hurled shoes at a large poster of President Abbas during a demonstration on Wednesday, a severe insult targeting Abbas’ decision to suspend action on a U.N. report on Gaza war crimes. The Arabic writing on the poster reads: ‘To the trash heap of history, you traitor, Mahmoud Abbas.’  (AP Photo/Hatem Moussa)

3:50PM: The University of California, Irvine, has launched an internal probe and contacted law enforcement authorities over a Muslim Student Union-organized event featuring George Galloway, which may have raised money for Hamas.

Organized by the Muslim Student Union at UCI, the event featured British politician George Galloway, who reportedly solicited funds for “Viva Palestina,” his organization that brings aid to Gaza.

ZOA officials said evidence shows Viva Palestina monies may have ended up in Hamas hands. ZOA officials said Galloway visited Gaza in March, when he donated 100 vehicles and some $1.4 million.

“We are giving them to the elected government of Palestine,” Galloway reportedly said at the time.

Upon his return, he launched a Viva Palestina speaking tour of the United States, making stops at college campuses, including UCI’s event, billed as “Israel: The Politics of Genocide.”

In July, Galloway returned to Gaza with more aid.

Meanwhile, here is Galloway defending Iran’s right to nuclear weapons.

1:05PM: Well done to Israeli scientist Ada Yonath, for being awarded a Nobel Prize in chemistry.

11:22AM: Everyone’s favorite anti-Semitic nutjob is back (ok, maybe just mine).

7:58AM: UN Commissioner for Human Rights, Richard Falk, seems genuinely upset that the PA decided to delay the Goldstone report, in this interview with Al Jazeera.

And he seems to have dressed up for the occasion.

7:42AM: Videotape? What videotape? Ha’aretz is reporting that the PA is threatening to resume pushing through the Goldstone report to the UN Security Council if Israel does not give in to the PA’s negotiating demands.

Abed al-Raouf Saedallah, 61, works in a shop to support a family of 11

The truce was a rest for both sides, Palestinians and Israelis alike…

—-

Ismaeel Abu Khalil, 19, high school student who works in a grocery

The Palestinians were more committed to the truce than Israel, as the big Palestinian factions suspended the rocket attacks to nearby Israeli cities.

Right.

About that:

The ceasefire agreement with the armed Palestinian groups in Gaza, set to expire before the end of the week, has not lived up to its name, statistical findings have concluded. According to the security establishment’s data, 2008 saw an increase of over a thousand rockets and mortars from the previous year.

In 2007 over 1,200 rockets and 600 mortar shells were fired towards the western Negev. As 2008 comes to a close, 2,900 rockets have so far been fired at Israel.

Despite a relative lull during July and August, during which an average of five rockets and six mortar shells were launched each month, November saw a steep escalation in violence, with 148 rockets and an additional 85 mortar shells documented.

In 2004, before the Gaza pullout, less than a thousand rockets and mortar shells were launched at Israel from the Strip.

Back to the Al Jizz article..

Aminah*, 60, widow (husband was killed in 2001 in an Israeli air raid)

Our conditions as Palestinians are very difficult. People are burning wood to cook their food.

I have no power in my home, so I sit in the street next to my house.

I don’t believe in the truce.

Once I will see gas, electricity and food in the markets, then I will believe in the truce.

I guess she needs to get out more.

I am posting this as an example of what Israel is doing wrong with its hasbara. While Dr Gissin raised some good points, this was undermined by his aggressive demeanor.

(I suspect this is the reason Al Jazeera chose Dr. Gissin to represent the Israeli side).

Note: I have had the pleasure of meeting Dr Gissin, and he is absolutely charming in real life. I just think his obvious passion is more of a liability than an asset when it comes to televised debates.

This little piggy stayed at home.

This little piggy had roast beef,

This little piggy had none.

And this little piggy said “Why the hell am I flying?”

Arabic news channel Al Jazeera has apologised to Israel for its “unethical” coverage of the release of a convicted Hizbullah terrorist from Israeli prison last month.

Samir Kuntar, who spent 29 years in prison for killing four persons, including a four-year-old girl, was released by Israel last month following a swap deal with the Lebanese guerilla faction.

In an official letter, Al Jazeera’s General Director, Khanfar Wadah, has written that “elements of the programme” broadcast in Kuntar’s honour on the night of Saturday, July 19, “violated (the station’s) Code of Ethics,” and he “regards these violations as very serious,” daily Ha’aretz reported.

Given that whole programme was a birthday party for Kuntar, which elements did not violate (the station’s) Code of Ethics?

For the second time this year, Israel has decided to act against Al-Jazeera, after the influential TV station held a party for released Lebanese child-killer Samir Kuntar, The Jerusalem Post has learned.

The party, held in Beirut, was organized by the Al-Jazeera bureau there to honor Kuntar on the occasion of his release from Israeli prison. He was hailed as a hero who carried out a brave military operation against the Jewish state.

The Government Press Office said it would impose sanctions on Al-Jazeera and demand an explanation from the station.

Al-Jazeera’s bureau chief in Beirut, Ghassan bin Jeddo, has long been known for his close ties to Hizbullah.

Kuntar, for his part, thanked Jeddo and Al-Jazeera for supporting him and other prisoners in Israeli jails and for waging a campaign to bring about their release.

Daniel Seaman, director of the GPO, expressed outrage over the event.

On Tuesday, Seaman phoned Walid Omari, the Al-Jazeera bureau chief in Israel, and summoned him to an urgent meeting to inform him of the GPO’s decision to suspend ties with the station.

Omari, who is currently abroad, is scheduled to report to the GPO on his return, a source at Al-Jazeera said, adding that the station had still not been informed of the new measures against it.

Seaman said he also planned to write to the Foreign Press Association in Israel to explain his decision.

“We will suspend all handling of Al-Jazeera requests,” Seaman told the Post. “For now, we won’t provide them with any of our services, which include issuing press credentials and assistance with bureaucracy and applications for visas.”

Seaman said he would demand an explanation from Al-Jazeera’s headquarters in Doha, Qatar, about the event.

“I want to know what they are going to do about this case,” he said. “I want to know how they intend to handle this case. What they did was not professional.”

Earlier this year, Israel decided to boycott Al-Jazeera after accusing the station of supporting Hamas.

The boycott, initiated by the Foreign Ministry, included a ban on interviews by government officials and refusal to issue visas for the station’s employees.

The move had come after Al-Jazeera correspondents allegedly staged a candlelight protest following a government decision to reduce electric and fuel supplies to the Gaza Strip in response to continued rocket attacks on Israeli towns.

The ban was lifted after Al-Jazeera editors in Doha agreed to discuss its coverage of the Israeli-Arab conflict with Israeli government officials.

Hopefully this time, the Foreign Ministry will ban the Jizz for good.