After focusing mainly on the strategy of terrorism, the PA has switched focus to delegitimizing Israel on the international stage.
A number of reports from today highlight it.
Such as this:
The Palestinian leadership, in conjunction with Arab states, plans to submit a resolution to the UN Security Council stating that Israeli settlements in the West Bank are illegal and must be evacuated, Haaretz has learned. This initiative comes in place of an earlier idea of seeking Security Council recognition for a Palestinian state within pre-1967 lines.
The Palestinians believe the United States would veto any resolution recognizing a Palestinian state that was not the fruit of an agreement with Israel. But Washington would have trouble opposing a resolution that declared the settlements illegal under international law.
And this:
The Middle East conflict cast a shadow on Monday over Israel’s first conference as a member of the Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development, with Palestinians urging members to boycott the Jerusalem meeting.
Israel joined the club of free market democracies on May 10, in what its central bank governor, Stanley Fischer, called “an important milestone for the integration of Israel into the global economy.”
But chief Palestinian peace negotiator Saeb Erekat said on Monday OECD members should “cancel their participation” in the October 20-22 annual conference to protest against Israeli occupation of East Jerusalem. The meeting’s theme is tourism.
The sad thing is just like in the case of their terrorism, it will likely work.
Updates (Israel time; most recent at top)
8:25PM: Professor Geoffrey Alderman was dis-invited from a panel convened to discuss “Conflict in the Middle East,” presumably because the other panelists did not approve of his views (which do not entail demonizing the Jewish state).
Professor Geoffrey Alderman has sent out the following Press Notice: “On 20 September 2010 I received an email from the Director of the Belfast Festival, Mr. Graeme Farrow, inviting me to join a panel convened to discuss “Conflict in the Middle East” as part of the 2010 Belfast Festival, held under the auspices of Queen’s University Belfast. Mr. Farrow’s exact words were: “I would be delighted if you would join our panel.” I was naturally pleased to accept this invitation. The panel discussion is due to take place on Monday evening, 18 October 2010, in Belfast. On Friday afternoon, 15 October 2010 I was shocked to receive an email from Mr. Farrow informing me that “a mistake” had been made in extending the invitation to me and that although I could join the audience the event was to go ahead without my panel participation. In effect, I was being “disinvited.”
In a series of email exchanges with Mr. Farrow I refused to accept this situation, and I have made it clear to him that I intend to travel to Belfast tomorrow and shall expect to participate fully as a member of the panel. I am frankly appalled at the way I have been treated, for which I hold Queen’s University, Belfast, responsible.”
On the Panel with Alderman were Avi Shlaim and Beverley Milton Edwards. The latter was a founder of Conflicts Forum and believes in a dialogue with Hamas.
And here’s more from a conversation with Alderman.
6:16PM: Hey, it looks like I am not the only one who does Separated at Birth.
Here’s a list of Israeli Famous People who look like American Famous People.
6:10PM: Quote of the day:
“We believe that Hamas should be included in all the major efforts to peace … It is part of the Palestinian people..1.5 million Palestinians are held in a cage or prison while their human rights are taken away.”
– Former US President and current Elder of Moron Jimmy Carter
Yeah, the only “cage” with a horse riding club
5:56PM: 15 years on.
5:38PM: The Dubai chief of police has claimed that a suspect in the Dubai killing of a Hamashole terrorist has been arrested in Canada.
A suspect in the Dubai assassination of Hamas official Mahmoud al-Mabhouh has been arrested in Canada, a newspaper in the United Arab Emirates reported Tuesday.
The Al-Itihad daily quoted the head of the Dubai police force, Dahi Khalfan Tamim, as saying that the detainee is connected to another main suspect, who was caught on surveillance footage with al- Mabhouh inside an elevator.
A week earlier, Tamim – who is in charge of the investigation into the January murder – had announced that the suspect was arrested in a “Western” state, without naming the country.
1:10PM: Photo of the day: A former US President embracing one of the world’s worst terrorists.
Which goes to show he is not just an old fool. He is an evil old fool.
11:40AM: Video from the Economist dealing with the “settlement” issue.
While on one hand it has some positive points – such as the admission that the security fence keeps palestinian terrorists out – I have many problems with it. Such as:
- Saying that for over 60 years, Arabs and Jews have been involved in a war for Jerusalem’s control, which obfuscates the reality that the Arabs started all the wars in a bid to utterly destroy the Jewish state, and Israel has been fighting for her very survival.
- Showing a map of Israel without showing how she is surrounded by hostile Arab states
- Speaking of the disputed territories outside the context of their security value to Israel
11:14AM: IMEMC reports that according to a Saudi paper, the Israeli PM has agreed to release terrorist Marwan Barghouthi for Gilad Shalit.
The Al Madina Saudi Paper reported that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu agreed to release detained Fateh leader Marwan Barghouthi as part of a prisoner-swap deal for the release of captured prisoner of war Corporal Gilad Shalit.
The Paper said that the German mediator informed Hamas that Israel agreed to the release of Barghouthi, but still rejects the release of other detainees named by Hamas.
Several weeks ago, the German mediator failed to convince Hamas to accept Israeli terms that included an “easing” of the siege on Gaza and the release of a limited number of political detainees.
Initially Israel had rejected the release of Barghouthi and Israel still demands the expulsion of a certain number of the detainees who are expected to be released under the swap deal.
Two days ago, Netanyahu revealed that talks about Shalit had resumed with the German mediator; however, details were not provided.
Furthermore, Lawyer Fadwa Barghouthi, the wife of Marwan, told a German representative of anti-nuclear groups in Ramallah that she received confirmed news that her husband will be released in the swap deal.
Corporal Gilad Shalit was kidnapped on June 25 2006, by Palestinian fighters during a raid targeting an Israeli military base near the Gaza border. Two soldiers and two fighters were killed in the attack.
Shalit is the only Israeli prisoner of war held by the Palestinians. More than 8000 detainees are currently imprisoned by Israel: this number includes hundreds of children, elderly and detainees in need of urgent medical attention. In addition, there are 34 female detainees currently imprisoned by Israel.
the Palestinian Prisoner Society reported that more than 200 Palestinians died in Israeli prisons. The causes of death were attributed to extreme torture and medical negligence. Some detainees were shot dead by arresting Israeli officers and soldiers.
6:08AM: British director Mike Leigh, who just canceled a visit to Israel, explaining his decision in a press conference.
Notice how he answers the question whether his message of concern over the political and humanitarian situation would have been better communicated by visiting the Middle East to speak directly about these issues.
