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UNIFIL reportedly learned a few months ago about the cache of Katyusha rockets that exploded in the southern Lebanese village of Hirbet Salim last Tuesday, but did nothing.
It has also come to light that UNIFIL troops were hurt by the Bir el-Salasel villagers who prevented them from searching the exploded weapons cache, after the latter surrounded UNIFIL vehicles, ordered the peacekeepers to leave, attacked them, and then fired at the reinforcements.
UNIFIL: Even more useless than previously thought!
Updates (Israel time; most recent at top)
5:06PM: The Hamasholes have upgraded their website. Thankfully, this new incarnation has a Martyr’s section, replete with terrible grammar and spelling errors. Which means I can continue to make fun of it.
And perhaps coincidentally, the palestinian Ma’an News agency has also upgraded their website. But in terms of the content, it is still the same old propaganda.
4:43PM: A bill that would allow the Finance Ministry to withhold public funds from organizations that mark Israeli Independence day as a day of mourning (or Naqba) has been approved.
3:30PM: Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu is showing he still has a vertebra.
At least for now.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday that Israel’s sovereignty over Jerusalem was not a matter up for discussion. The prime minister’s comments came after the U.S. State Department told Israeli envoy Michael Oren that Israel must halt a construction project in East Jerusalem.
Netanyahu told ministers at the weekly cabinet meeting that Jerusalem is the united capital of Israel and that all citizens are allowed to purchase property in any part of the city they choose.
“Imagine what would happen if someone were to suggest Jews could not living or purchase [property] in certain neighborhoods in London, New York, Paris or Rome,” he said.
“The international community would certainly raise protest. Likewise, we cannot accept such a ruling on East Jerusalem,” Netanyahu told ministers.
This is the policy of an open city, he said, and Israel would not accept a stance that counters that civil right.
“Israeli Arabs are not forbidden from buying houses in west Jerusalem and Jews must be granted the same right in the eastern part of the city,” he added.
Regarding the US’ interfering in Israel’s construction plans, it is interesting to compare this approach with that the US has shown towards Iran.
Q Mr. President, on Iran, does the disputed election results affect — there’s been violence in the street — in any way change your willingness to meet with Mr. Ahmadinejad without preconditions? And also, do you have anything to say, any message to send to people who are on the streets protesting, who believe their votes were stolen and who are being attacked violently?
PRESIDENT OBAMA: Obviously all of us have been watching the news from Iran. And I want to start off by being very clear that it is up to Iranians to make decisions about who Iran’s leaders will be; that we respect Iranian sovereignty and want to avoid the United States being the issue inside of Iran, which sometimes the United States can be a handy political football — or discussions with the United States.
6:15AM: PA Prime Minister Salaam Fayad has asked the US for a plan and a timetable aimed at resolving the conflict.
“I call anew on the United States to come up with a plan and a timetable for its application that will contribute to put an end to Jewish settlements and Israeli offensives, and lead to serious negotiations.”
And no mention of terrorism. I can tell he’s serious about this peace thing.
6:08AM: I’ve managed to find footage of the one and only Hairstyle Man in action, and as you’ll see from the beginning minute of this video, he seems to be the ringleader of these protests.
