Archive for the ‘General’ Category
They are there to take orders from Israel, after all
“The Palestinian Authority on Wednesday ordered the cancellation of a ceremony to honor the woman who led a 1978 hijacking of a civilian bus in Israel that left 35 people dead.”
Posted by As'ad at 9:11 AM 03/10/10
Supreme repression: Iran
“The number of journalists in jail rose in February as a relentless media crackdown continues in Iran. Authorities are now holding at least 52 journalists in prison, a third of all those in jail around the world, according to the latest monthly survey …
Posted by As'ad at 9:08 AM 03/10/10
This guy thinks he is funny–kid you not
But having failed to make anybody in the world laugh, now he found the Jerusalem Post his home. At least they don’t allow him to joke there; he is only allowed to bash supporters of the Palestinians. And wait: he just stumbled on an earth shattering …
Posted by As'ad at 9:01 AM 03/10/10
Nir Rosen: I am not a neo-con, and other denials
Nir Rosen did not like what I wrote yesterday about his lousy conclusion in his article on Iraq, so he sent me this (I cite with his permission): “first of all there is no contradiction between what i wrote and what the economist wrote, at least in th…
Posted by As'ad at 8:56 AM 03/10/10
Mind your language
In US media the Israeli nuclear program is now referred to as “the energy program.”
Posted by As'ad at 8:55 AM 03/10/10
Impolite
The head of the Information Committee of the ruling party in Egypt said that whoever asks him about the next president of Egypt is impolite. A woman in the audience said: I am impolite. (thanks Moustafa)
Posted by As'ad at 8:53 AM 03/10/10
All that you have done to our people is registered in notebooks
“Five Palestinians women preferred to go home rather than heading to an Israeli prison to visit their detailed family members after Israeli soldiers stationed at a Roadblock near the central West Bank city of Ramallah demanded to strip-search them.”…
Posted by As'ad at 8:40 AM 03/10/10
Ethan Bronner: propagandizing
Matt sent me this (I cite with his permission): “The middle east studies center on my campus receives all sorts of publications which the staff leaves out in the lounge area. One of these is the bulletin of the “Begin-Sadat Center for Strategic Stud…
Posted by As'ad at 8:36 AM 03/10/10
Sistani elections
In the sectarian elections-under-occupation in Iraq, Israelis are allowed to vote, for Israel’s man in Iraq, Mithal Allusi. (thanks Khaled)
Posted by As'ad at 8:24 AM 03/10/10
Yellow journalism for a yellow entity
“”Israeli newspapers are getting yellower,” said Yoram Peri, a longtime Israeli media analyst who serves as director of the Gildenhorn Institute for Israel Studies at the University of Maryland. “This is a dangerous phenomenon. For a strong democrac…
Posted by As'ad at 8:22 AM 03/10/10
Ya`ni is the wrong word here, but the point is well taken
“”In everything connected to the settlers and settlements, the government has a “ya’ani” policy. Enforcement of the law in the territories is “ya’ani,” except when it comes to transforming the West Bank into a Garden of Eden for settler law-breakers…
Posted by As'ad at 8:21 AM 03/10/10
The father of all Muslim kooks in the Middle East dies
And what better place to die in, if you are a religious kook/book burner, than Saudi Arabia: “Mohammad Sayed Tantawi, the Grand Imam of Cairo’s Al Azhar Mosque and the Grand Shaikh of Al Azhar University, died Wednesday of a heart attack, while on a…
Posted by As'ad at 8:17 AM 03/10/10
Murdoch comes to Arabia
“”I have every confidence that Arab companies can do the same and more. I also believe that Abu Dhabi can lead the way.”"
Posted by As'ad at 8:17 AM 03/10/10
David Kimche
Look at this obituary of a former leader of Mossad by Kershner in the Times. 1) She did not say that he obtained his wigs from the same place that the dumb 27 Mossad killers in Dubai obtain their wigs. 2) Notice this: “Employing a combination of cunnin…
Posted by As'ad at 8:07 AM 03/10/10
Ethan Bronner: on why negotiations did not proceed between Israel and Arab regimes
“Arab states would promise confidence-building measures in exchange. No such measures were forthcoming…” OK, Bronner. Thanks.
Posted by As'ad at 8:05 AM 03/10/10
The innocent country
This, of course, is not a front page story: “Israel has never admitted that it has nuclear weapons, and it has refused to sign the Non-Proliferation Treaty. Israel is a member of the International Atomic Energy Agency, and Mr. Landau said that any nuc…
Posted by As'ad at 8:03 AM 03/10/10
This is emotional: love fest between AIPAC and Dahlan Taskforce for Israel
Who is more qualified than the Dahlan Task Force for Israel to Speak for the Palestinians at an AIPAC Conference:”FeaturingMr. Gaith al-OmariAdvocacy Director, American Task Force on PalestineMr. David HorovitzEditor-in-Chief, “The Jerusalem Post”Mr. D…
Posted by As'ad at 7:50 AM 03/10/10
I have to say
Writing Arabic in Latin alphabet is really annoying and I don’t want to read it or engage in it, OK? If you send me text messages from the Middle East, either write Arabic or English but not both.
Posted by As'ad at 1:45 PM 03/9/10
Amir, ten years old, abducted by Israeli soldiers from his bed
“”Two of the soldiers stopped us and handcuffed us,” Amir said. “They brought us to two separate jeeps. They took me to the settlement and put me in a corner. I still had handcuffs on. They put a dog next to me. I said that I wanted to go home. They sa…
Posted by As'ad at 12:07 PM 03/9/10
Richard Falk
“Richard Falk, the UN special rapporteur on human rights in the occupied Palestinian territories, said on Monday the Palestinian Authority (PA) urged him to step down after he criticized the PA’s treatment of a UN war crimes report.”
Posted by As'ad at 12:06 PM 03/9/10
Israel versus children
“Hassan Al-Muhtaseb, 12, was released Sunday, when an Israeli military court in Ofer prison ordered his father to pay 2,000 shekel fine. “The boy was detained near his family home, and there were no witnesses who testified that he threw stones at Isr…
Posted by As'ad at 12:02 PM 03/9/10
Palestine’s past remembered
“In inner circles Ben Gurion spoke very differently. At the beginning of the month, at a special meeting of the secretariat of MAPAI (the leading party), he listed proudly the names of the Palestinian villages already occupied by the Hagana and the …
Posted by As'ad at 11:57 AM 03/9/10
What does Israel represent?
“Where does it not represent you? In the occupation policy, in the settlement policy, in the policy of racism and discrimination. Eighty-percent unemployment among women; the many employers who do not hire Arabs. The development budget – hardly 4 per…
Posted by As'ad at 11:56 AM 03/9/10
The Economist versus Nir Rosen
This is the conclusion of the Economist’s article on Iraq: “America’s influence is ebbing noticeably as its troops withdraw. Despite spending $800 billion on Iraq over the past seven years, its plan for the country has still not worked.” And this is…
Posted by As'ad at 11:52 AM 03/9/10
No to elections in the Middle East
I mean, I never call for elections in the Middle East anymore. It is very low in my list of priority because you can’t have free elections in the Middle East in the age of US intervention and Saudi money. Unless you remove banking secrecy and monitor…
Posted by As'ad at 11:45 AM 03/9/10
Raghida Dirgham
The New York correspondent of Al-Hayat (the mouthpiece of Prince Khalid bin Sultan), Raghida Dirgham, was on Hariri Future TV. To respond to criticisms of her in Lebanon, she kept talking about her advocacy against Zionists (and she added “Jews”) here…
Posted by As'ad at 11:41 AM 03/9/10
Antoine Shuwayri is dead
This wealthy allegedly very corrupt Lebanese businessman and right-wing financier is behind imposing an advertisement monopoly that gave the bulk of ad space to An-Nahar newspaper despite sagging sales and dramatic decline in the newspaper’s standing. …
Posted by As'ad at 11:37 AM 03/9/10
Dahlan, O Dahlan
“Palestinian sources said Tuesday that Israel has agreed to pardon 77 wanted Fatah men.” (thanks Olivia)
Posted by As'ad at 11:24 AM 03/9/10
Flash; Khalid Saghiyyah on TV
Many people ask me about Khalid and say that they have never seen him anywhere. He does not appear in pictures or on TV and turns down interview requests of any kind (except some print ones in the Western press). This editor-in-chief of Al-Akhbar, ho…
Posted by As'ad at 11:20 AM 03/9/10
No article that deals with the Middle East in the New York Times is innocent: no article
Look at this one. Basically, Middle East coverage in the Times is a combination of ignorance and prejudice sprinkled with Israeli propaganda disinformation and leaks. Look at this review of this Middle East restaurant in the Times. First, they give …
Posted by As'ad at 11:18 AM 03/9/10
rape in Nordic countries
“In Nordic countries, for example, the use of violence or threats of violence determine the seriousness of rape rather than the violation of a woman’s sexual autonomy. The report Case Closed: Rape and Human Rights in the Nordic Countries, documents …
Posted by As'ad at 9:01 AM 03/8/10
Al-Akhbar’s special section on women
Al-Akhbar newspaper devotes a special section (edited by young Lebanese feminist women) for International Women’s Day.
Posted by As'ad at 8:56 AM 03/8/10
Zionism is racism and sexism
“Authored by the IWN’s Director of Research and Information, Yahel Ash Kurlander, the 50-page document points out that even though they have made great strides in the field of education, are increasingly participating in the workforce and even make u…
Posted by As'ad at 8:55 AM 03/8/10
Women in Iran
“Despite a February 15th United Nations review of its human-rights practices, Iran’s government has not curbed its censorship and repression of women’s rights activists. The morning after the review was held, Nasrin Sotoudeh, a prominent Iranian fe…
Posted by As'ad at 8:50 AM 03/8/10
Freedom House cant speak about freedom
Freedom House is the least qualified organization to speak about freedoms, especially in the Middle East because they are politically tainted. I am too sick with a terrible cold to respond to everything here but will cite this: “The report, published …
Posted by As'ad at 8:45 AM 03/8/10
Palestinian female detainess
“As the world celebrates International Women’s Day, Iman Muhammad Hassan Ghazawwi marked her ninth year in Israeli custody on Monday. Ghazawwi, 33, was sentenced to 13 years, accused of planting an explosive device near an Israeli military patrol, s…
Posted by As'ad at 8:40 AM 03/8/10
Best countries for women
“The G.D.I. takes both absolute and relative levels of these factors into account, penalizing countries with a high disparity between men’s and women’s achievements. In 2007, the latest year for which data are currently available, the United States…
Posted by As'ad at 8:27 AM 03/8/10
women and pay
“Companies in the United States, Spain, Canada and Finland lead the world in employing the largest numbers of women from entry level to senior management, according to a report published Monday by the World Economic Forum. Yet the report also found th…
Posted by As'ad at 8:25 AM 03/8/10
women and health
“But the simple message to “call 911″ clearly needs more attention. The latest evidence: Just over half of women surveyed by the American Heart Association said they would do so if they thought they were having a heart attack. Instead, many women woul…
Posted by As'ad at 8:23 AM 03/8/10
Palestinian women
“Palestinian women in particular continue to face extremely difficult circumstances due to human rights violations perpetrated against them. Violations of women’s rights peaked during the latest Israeli offensive on the Gaza Strip, which took the li…
Posted by As'ad at 8:14 AM 03/8/10
Women in a moderate Arab country
“Unlike other Arab Gulf women, Saudi women still face an uphill struggle to gain political and social rights and need the consent of male guardians for almost everything, including obtaining a passport and travel. They are also forced to cover up from…
Posted by As'ad at 8:12 AM 03/8/10
This is what you call liberation of women
“As the world marks International Women’s Day, ambivalence, impunity, weak law enforcement and corruption continue to undermine women’s rights in Afghanistan, despite a July 2009 law banning violence against women, rights activists say. A recent cas…
Posted by As'ad at 8:07 AM 03/8/10
Look what they called this brave Palestinian woman
The caption reads: “A Palestinian militant clashes with an Israeli policeman in Jerusalem’s Old City on February 28. Photo: Isranet” (thanks Hussein)
Posted by As'ad at 7:55 AM 03/8/10
Gendercide
“Throughout human history, young men have been responsible for the vast preponderance of crime and violence—especially single men in countries where status and social acceptance depend on being married and having children, as it does in China and Ind…
Posted by As'ad at 7:47 AM 03/8/10
It is Ethan Bronner: so what do you expect, really
Here he comes. Ethan Bronner: chief propagandist for the Israeli occupation army, no matter how many war crimes it perpetrates. This article is noteworthy. The New York Times, you see, covers Palestinians as victims–but only when they are victims o…
Posted by As'ad at 7:32 AM 03/8/10
Look at this headline in the New York Times: “U.S. Aiding Somalia in Its Plan to Retake Its Capital”
This headline in the New York Times talks about US helping “Somalia.” Back in 1982, when the civil war raging in Lebanon, the US sent troops to Lebanon to help the right-wing fascist militias of Amin Gemayyel and others. The Reagan administration sol…
Posted by As'ad at 7:29 AM 03/8/10
International Women’s Day
Happy International Women’s Day, although I wrote calling for its abolishment–but from a radical feminist point of view.
Posted by As'ad at 7:27 AM 03/8/10
Mubarak: for a 6th term
The brave Egyptian journalist, `Abdul-Halim Qandil writes on Mubarak’s sixth term in office. PS I am disappointed that Qandil has endorsed Al-Baradi`i (or Baradeeh as it is pronounced in US TV news) for president, and told him my opinion. PPS The wi…
Posted by As'ad at 7:26 AM 03/8/10
My article in Al-Akhbar on International Woman’s Day
My article in Al-Akhbar: “International Woman’s Day? Why?”PS There is a story to this article. A group of young feminists in Beirut, belonging to the group nasawiya, visited Al-Akhbar newspaper and offered (or asked) to take over the entire Al-Akkhba…
Posted by As'ad at 4:59 PM 03/7/10
There has never been an Israeli peace camp
“The Israeli peace camp didn’t die. It was never born in the first place. While it’s true that since the summer of 1967, several radical and brave political groups have been working against the occupation – all worthy of recognition – a large, influent…
Posted by As'ad at 11:40 AM 03/7/10
More UAE miracles
“At only one point in his story did Naji Hamdan cry. Sitting in an office chair as he recounted how he was arrested, tortured and ultimately convicted of terrorism charges in Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), his voice barely wavered. Onl…
Posted by As'ad at 11:38 AM 03/7/10
Cover up
“Instead, Britain reacted with remarkable restraint. Indeed, rather than exposing the fault lines of the Anglo-Israeli relationship, the Dubai issue actually shows just how sympathetic the current Labour government is to the Jewish state and its war…
Posted by As'ad at 11:35 AM 03/7/10
He is not a White European
“A Sudanese driver convicted of murdering his Saudi Arabian employer has been executed. Mussa Ahmed was beheaded in Riyadh in the eighth execution in the kingdom this year.” (thanks Ali)
Posted by As'ad at 11:31 AM 03/7/10
wanted: Internment/Resettlement Specialist
“Provide counseling and guidance to individual prisoners within a rehabilitative program…” Why does “rehabilitative program” sound to me like an Orwellian term? (thanks Fahd)
Posted by As'ad at 11:28 AM 03/7/10
These are your democracy advancers
“As soon as a U.S. Marine-led offensive swept the Taliban from Marja recently, a new civilian leader was rushed in, vowing to “bring back dignity” to the town. Turns out, he had served time in a German prison for stabbing his son, international offi…
Posted by As'ad at 11:20 AM 03/7/10
It could be a provocation
“It could be a provocation,” he said, suggesting that the regime’s enemies may have staged the Dubai deals to embarrass Aliyev. Bagirov declined to elaborate.” (thanks Sultan)
Posted by As'ad at 10:59 AM 03/7/10
You steal their lands and you want them to serve you food? I mean, beyond Chutzpah
“The Azad Restaurant in Haifa refuses to serve IDF soldiers in uniform, Channel 10 reported on Thursday. The ban on uniformed soldiers was revealed after soldiers who were refused service turned to the channel. The restaurant, owned by Israeli Ara…
Posted by As'ad at 10:53 AM 03/7/10
US Congress may honor the Israeli spitters
A spit unto the nations: “Shocked by growing reports about Ultra-Orthodox Jews spitting at Christians in Jerusalem’s Old City, a group of Anglo residents is now mobilizing against this ugly practice. Although such incidents reportedly have decreased…
Posted by As'ad at 10:51 AM 03/7/10
An Egyptian arrested in Saudi Arabia for celebrating the pregnancy of his wife
The religious Wahhabi police accused the Egyptian citizen of being a “Christian” and for celebrating x-mass.
Posted by As'ad at 10:49 AM 03/7/10
If this happened in Iran, the New York Times would have covered it from Toronto on the front page
“Saudi security forces confiscated books of a well-known reformer and critic of the royal family from stalls at the kingdom’s annual international book fair, a Saudi civil rights group said Saturday. The Saudi Civil and Political Rights Association …
Posted by As'ad at 10:47 AM 03/7/10
