Turkey to UN Security Council on Israel: "banditry and piracy" on the high seas and "murder conducted by a state."

If Israel had wanted to 'murder', and was in any way blood thirsty, they would have done it N' Korea style. Incidentally, security council has yet to issue a comment on torpedo sinking of S' Korean vessel.

Turkey demands int’l inquiry c’tee

The UN Security Council held an emergency meeting Monday on Israel's deadly commando raid on the Gaza-bound flotilla, with the Palestinians, Turkey and Arab nations demanding condemnation and an independent investigation.

The Palestinians, Turkey and a number of other council members, also called for Israel to lift the blockade on Gaza, immediately release the ships and humanitarian activists, and allow them to deliver their goods.

Assistant Secretary-General Oscar Fernandez-Taranco said in his briefing that the early morning bloodshed on Monday would have been avoided "if repeated calls on Israel to end the counterproductive and unacceptable blockade of Gaza had been heeded,"

After statements from the 15 council members as well as Israel and the Palestinians, the council moved into closed consultations to consider possible action.

Turkey's Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, whose country is serving a two-year term on the council, called the raid "banditry and piracy" on the high seas and "murder conducted by a state."

He urged the council to adopt a statement demanding an immediate Israeli apology, an urgent inquiry, international legal action against the authorities and perpetrators responsible, an end to the Gaza blockade, and release of the ships and activists.

'Israel regrets loss of innocent lives'

Israel's deputy UN ambassador Daniel Carmon said some of the flotilla passengers had "known terrorist histories,” and asked how men who were armed with bats and knives could be called “peace activists.”

He called the results "tragic and unfortunate" and reiterated that Israel "deeply regrets any loss of innocent lives, but it cannot jeopardize its security. Nobody would."

US urges full, credible Israeli investigation

US deputy ambassador Alejandro Wolff, made no mention of an international probe, saying: "We expect a credible and transparent investigation and strongly urge the Israeli government to investigate the incident fully."

Wolff said the United States, "is deeply disturbed by the recent violence and regrets the tragic loss of life."

"We will continue to engage the Israelis on a daily basis to expand the scope and type of goods allowed into Gaza to address the full range of the population's humanitarian and recovery needs," Wolff said.

Iran's playing chess with Turkish/Israel relations, war at the gates?

I'll avoid as much commentary as possible and let the headlines speak for themselves:

* Israeli commandos: Gaza flotilla crew tried to lynch us
* Strong int'l backlash to flotilla raid
* Turkey recalls envoy to Israel over Gaza flotilla deaths
* Israel issues travel warning to Turkey
* Israel on high alert; Hezbollah demands 'international punishment' over Gaza flotilla deaths
* Protesters storms Israeli consulate in Turkey
* A brutal ambush at sea

...

Navy commandoes slid down to the vessel one by one, yet then the unexpected occurred: The passengers that awaited them on the deck pulled out bats, clubs, and slingshots with glass marbles, assaulting each soldier as he disembarked. The fighters were nabbed one by one and were beaten up badly, yet they attempted to fight back.

However, to their misfortune, they were only equipped with paintball rifles used to disperse minor protests, such as the ones held in Bilin. The paintballs obviously made no impression on the activists, who kept on beating the troops up and even attempted to wrest away their weapons.

One soldier who came to the aid of a comrade was captured by the rioters and sustained severe blows. The commandoes were equipped with handguns but were told they should only use them in the face of life-threatening situations. When they came down from the chopper, they kept on shouting to each other “don’t shoot, don’t shoot,” even though they sustained numerous blows.

‘I saw the tip of a rifle’

The Navy commandoes were prepared to mostly encounter political activists seeking to hold a protest, rather than trained street fighters. The soldiers were told they were to verbally convince activists who offer resistance to give up, and only then use paintballs. They were permitted to use their handguns only under extreme circumstances.

The planned rush towards the vessel’s bridge became impossible, even when a second chopper was brought in with another crew of soldiers. “Throw stun grenades,” shouted Flotilla 13’s commander who monitored the operation. The Navy chief was not too far, on board a speedboat belonging to Flotilla 13, along with forces who attempted to climb into the back of the ship.

The forces hurled stun grenades, yet the rioters on the top deck, whose number swelled up to 30 by that time, kept on beating up about 30 commandoes who kept gliding their way one by one from the helicopter. At one point, the attackers nabbed one commando, wrested away his handgun, and threw him down from the top deck to the lower deck, 30 feet below. The soldier sustained a serious head wound and lost his consciousness.

Only after this injury did Flotilla 13 troops ask for permission to use live fire. The commander approved it: You can go ahead and fire. The soldiers pulled out their handguns and started shooting at the rioters’ legs, a move that ultimately neutralized them. Meanwhile, the rioters started to fire back at the commandoes.

“I saw the tip of a rifle sticking out of the stairwell,” one commando said. “He fired at us and we fired back. We didn’t see if we hit him. We looked for him later but couldn’t find him.” Two soldiers sustained gunshot wounds to their knee and stomach after rioters apparently fired at them using guns wrested away from troops.
...

Perhaps in retrospect they should have tried a different approach to taking over the boats. Obviously, things didn't go well and the anti-Semites of this world are taking this opportunity to yet again use Israel as a punching bag.

There are horrific potential consequences I don't wish to enumerate. Let's just exclaim that Iran has set it's chess pieces, and Turkey is allowing itself to participate in what could be a multi-national and extremely devastating war.

Will a NATO nation take part in a full scale war against Israel? What about US posts in Turkey and in Israel? Russian navy parked in Syria? US forces along the shores facing Iran? We are seeing a very explosive global risk.

Israeli Arab, hailed as 'human rights activist' admits charges of directing Hezbollah missiles on Haifa during war

What a scumbag! His entire family and clan should be deported. Fifth columners - every one of them.

Indictment: Makhoul exposed location of Mossad facility

Prominent Arab-Israeli political activist charged with serious espionage after he reportedly admitted to meeting with Hezbollah operative in 2008, agreeing to transfer sensitive information to Shiite group. 'Shin Bet controls justice system. I deny allegations,' he says

About a month and-a-half after his arrest, it was cleared for publication that prominent Arab-Israeli political activist Ameer Makhoul, 42, has been charged with agreeing to spy for Hezbollah.

On Thursday, following a lengthy investigation conducted by the Shin Bet and Israel Police, an indictment was filed against Makhoul, the head of Ittijah (the Union of Arab Community-Based Associations) - an umbrella group for Arab NGOs in Israel. He was charged with serious espionage, assisting an enemy at a time of war and maintaining contact with an enemy agent.

The other suspect in the case, Omar Said of Kfar Kana, an activist for the Balad Arab political party, was charged with maintaining contact with an enemy agent and transferring information that could be used by the enemy.

According to the indictment, Makhoul relayed strategic intelligence to his Hezbollah handlers on at least 10 different occasions via a specially-designed computer encryption system.

The investigation revealed that Makhoul, who is also an author and the brother of a former Knesset member, confessed during a police interrogation in 2008 that he met with a Hezbollah operative in Denmark and agreed to begin collecting what was described as "strategic intelligence" on Israeli security services.

Makhoul allegedly relayed details and the exact location on two Shin Bet facilities, including the security arrangements surrounding them, in northern Israel. He also provided the Shiite group with details about the Rafael defense industry facility as well as a Mossad office located in northern Israel.

The Arab-Israeli activist was also asked by Hizbullah to gather information on the security surrounding the convoys of Defense Minister Ehud Barak and Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu. However, a senior security official said he did not succeed.

He also relayed through coded messages the names and details of Israelis he claimed were potential Hezbollah recruits.

The indictment also detailed how a Hezbollah operative installed encryption system on Makhoul's personal computer.

According to the indictment, Makhoul also disclosed the landing sites of rockets fired by Hezbollah towards Haifa during the Second Lebanon War in 2006, and also tried, unsuccessfully, to find out the home address of the head of the Shin Bet.

Makhoul told Hezbollah that Israel's home front was vulnerable, and also relayed information on the Nachshonim army base.

The prosecution asked the court to extend Mahoul's remand until the conclusion of the legal proceedings against him. Judge Ron Shapira ruled that Makhoul will remain in custody at least until the next hearing in his case in four weeks' time.

Prior to Thursday's hearing at the Haifa District Court, Makhoul met his wife for the first time since his arrest. "The Shin Bet controls the Israeli justice system," he said, "I deny all of the allegations."

Huge steaming egg on the faces of the entire leadership of Arabs in Israel who have called this investigation an attempt to 'silence democratic critical voices' and other far worse things.

Religious Jews protest Rahm Emanuel, calling him 'Anti-Semite

What do you expect? He's a member of a regime which pressures Israel to halt construction for Jews only in Jerusalem, prevent other municipal functions including regulating illegal construction by Arabs, and land grabs - and then he comes with his family for a Bar-Mitzva. It's a good thing he didn't bring Goldstone with him to the celebration...

J'lem: Right-wing activists call Emanuel 'anti-Semite'

The entourage of White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel arrived at the Hurva Synagogue area in Jerusalem's Old City on Thursday to be met with "anti-Semite" calls by right-wing activists. Later on Thursday Emanuel is scheduled to celebrate his son's Bar Mitzva in the capital.

Large security forces surrounded Emanuel and his family, preventing extreme right-wing activist Itamar Ben-Gvir from approaching him. Ben-Gvir and other activists cried out slanderous slogans against Emanuel and US President Barack Obama. Police forces eventually grabbed Ben-Gvir and pressed him to the ground.

Right-wing activists arrived at the Western Wall square on Thursday morning and waited for Emanuel.

Police warned Ben-Gvir he would be arrested should he verbally attack Emanuel. "I have a right to protest against anyone who wants to give away the Western Wall and incites against Israel. I shall file suit against each and very officer," Ben-Gvir responded.

Syria spit on Obama's face: Assad says US has lost Mideast peace influence

Appeasement approach meets reality.

Assad says US has lost Mideast peace influence

he United States has lost its influence in the Middle East peace process despite the hopes raised by President Barack Obama, Syrian President Bashar Assad said in an interview published Monday.

Assad was quoted as telling the Italian daily La Repubblica that Washington "has no influence because they don't do anything for peace. But they remain the greatest power."

"Obama raised hopes but we cannot wait any more," he said, adding that a "new era has been born" in the Middle East including an understanding between its major powers that was reshaping the region.

He pointed to a similar phenomenon throughout the world, with countries such as China and Brazil refusing to wait for the United States to "hand out roles."

Assad said there had been a realization that the United States and Europe had failed to resolve the problems of the Middle East, noting that Russia was trying to rebuild its own role in the region.

Iran: 'Zionists will have no longer than week to live'

Look who had his genocide fantasies run wild. Let's engage and use diplomacy for an extra 15 years. No hurry, we really aren't sure what the intentions are here.

Iran says can destroy Israel in week
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's chief of staff, Esfandiar Rahim Mashaei, said Wednesday that if Israel attacked Iran it would be destroyed within a week.

Speaking at a political conference of ultra-conservatives in Iran's north, Mashaei said, "If the Zionist regime attacks Iran, the Zionists will have no longer than a week to live."

The semi-official Fars news agency quoted him as saying that the Islamic Republic would destroy Israel "in less than 10 days"

Mashaei, who was also formerly a vice president, added that new sanctions to be imposed on Iran for its nuclear program would only harm Western countries.

The statesman is considered a close affiliate of the Iranian president and has previously caused a stir by
saying that Iran was "a friend of the Israeli people". He later retracted this statement and issued a contrary one saying Israel should be destroyed.

On a visit to Saudi Arabia Mashaei claimed that the annihilation of Israel should be a global goal. He told Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir that "the corrupt and criminal Zionist regime is harming not only the Arab and Islamic world, but all of humanity."

'Everyone Draw Mohammad Day' - is also 'Everyone sells everything in the stock market day'

I know - ha-ha, here's a smiley, let's call it Muhammad and put a slur on it. Done your good deed today?

Just in case you managed to not notice your shrinking retirement account - everything is melting down again...
Stocks plummet as investor fear spikes

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- Stocks slumped hard on Thursday, with the major gauges all falling more than 2%, as concerns about the European debt crisis and the plunge in the euro continued to rattle investor confidence.

The Dow Jones industrial average (INDU) fell 302 points, or 2.9%. The Nasdaq (COMP) fell 77 points, or 3.4%, and the S&P 500 (SPX) declined 35 points, or 3.2%.

Breakfast meal for today's traders: Cornflakes - check. Yogurt - check. Short everything - double/triple check.

O'Reilly pins Elvis Costello a pinhead

Video found at this link: here

(embeded video will probably work only as long as foxnews keep it alive...)
A little soft on them, but was a surprise to have even mention it.

Just FYI, his book Pinheads and Patriots will come out on September 14, 2010 - just before election, and check out the cover....

Draw Muhammad Day Festival at Zip

You need to check it out: here

Personal fatwas a-comin'

My favorite, ROFL:


Also, found this awesomely funny shiznit on Jawa:


Here's Jihad-Watch's : page.

Obama reaching out to Hezbollah 'moderates'

By moderates that might be Nazis willing to murder just the Jews but not be hostile to the US? What is a 'moderate' terrorist anyways? Can't find the definition of that in any dictionary. Perhaps I should look deeper into phrases such as:
* Moderate Mass Murder
* Moderate Racist
* Moderate Wife Beater
* Moderate Child Molester
* Moderate Goat Fucker
* Moderate Sperm Sprinkled Horse's Ass
* Moderate Marxist Revolutionary
* Moderate Hope and Change

U.S. wants to build up Hezbollah moderates: adviser

he Obama administration is looking for ways to build up "moderate elements" within the Lebanese Hezbollah guerrilla movement and to diminish the influence of hard-liners, a top White House official said on Tuesday.

John Brennan, assistant to the president for homeland security and counterterrorism, met with Lebanese leaders during a recent visit.

"Hezbollah is a very interesting organization," Brennan told a Washington conference, citing its evolution from "purely a terrorist organization" to a militia to an organization that now has members within the parliament and the cabinet.

"There is certainly the elements of Hezbollah that are truly a concern to us what they're doing. And what we need to do is to find ways to diminish their influence within the organization and to try to build up the more moderate elements," Brennan said.

He did not spell out how Washington hoped to promote "moderate elements" given that the organization is branded a "foreign terrorist organization" by the United States.

"We don't deal with them," he acknowledged.

Meaning, they pretend to not deal with them?

H/T hotair

Evil zionists send 14,000 tons of pure evil to Gaza

Fuel, gas, food, hygiene products and medical supplies - now that's a blockade for you.


An appropriate thank-you from innocent soles at Gaza - terrorism.
IDF sends 14,000 tons of aid to Gaza

Over 14,000 tons of humanitarian aid were transferred from Israel into the Gaza Strip last week, the IDF announced on Tuesday in its weekly summary of COGAT operations.

"A total of 637 truckloads, consisting of 14,069 tons of humanitarian aid, were transferred into the Gaza Strip from Israel via the various crossings," read a statement by the IDF Spokesperson.


According to the statement, the shipments consisted of hundreds of thousands of liters of fuel; 21 truckloads of milk formula and baby food; 897 tons of cooking gas, 66 truckloads of fruits and vegetables; 51 truckloads of wheat, 27 truckloads of meat, poultry and fish; 40 truckloads of dairy products; 117 truckloads of animal food; 37 truckloads of hygiene products; 22 truckloads of sugar; and 38 truckloads of clothing and shoes.

In addition, 781 medical patients the Gaza Strip crossed into Israel and the West Bank along with their chaperones for medical treatment. Into Gaza, meanwhile, went four truckloads of medicine and medical equipment.

Aside from humanitarian and medical supplies, 191 staff members of international organizations crossed into the Gaza Strip, and 202 crossed from the Gaza Strip into Israel.

Those insidious Jews again... that explains why British artists support Hezbollah, Hamas and dupe Israelis to buy their tickets before they cancel gigs.

Cross-posted on zip.

Good news: Murderous genocidal rivals raise hopes of reconciliation

Together they shall bring a jew-pocolips. Ain't that grand?

Gaza rally raises Palestinian reconciliation hopes

(Reuters) - Leaders of rival Palestinian factions displayed rare unity on Saturday as they marked their "day of catastrophe" or nakba at a rally in Gaza, raising hopes of reconciliation between the two bitter rival parties.

Image might as well have been taken in Gaza...

Hezbollah supporting, America hating 'linguistic scholar' refused entry to Israel

Hopefully he'll be barred from the US, and can join his followers in Iran, Syria, Lebanon and 60-s commie Vietnam.

Note that all those who are disappointed are anti-semites who found one Jew they like - a Hezbollah supporter.

Israel denies US academic Chomsky West Bank entry

Renowned US scholar Noam Chomsky has been denied entry to the West Bank by Israeli immigration officials.

Prof Chomsky, renowned for his work on linguistics and philosophy, was planning to deliver a lecture at Birzeit University.

Prof Chomsky, 82, had been trying to enter from Jordan.

An Israeli interior ministry spokeswoman said it was to trying to clear the matter up and allow Prof Chomsky to enter.

Prof Chomsky said the officials were very polite but he was denied entry because "the government did not like the kinds of things I say and they did not like that I was only talking at Birzeit and not at an Israeli university too."

He added: "I asked them if they could find any government in the world that likes the things I say."

Prof Chomsky's Palestinian host for the visit, Mustafa al-Barghouti, told Reuters: "This decision is a fascist action, amounting to suppression of freedom of expression."

This particular ass hole represents all that is wrong with the hippy 60-s generation.

AFP reports of Hamas complaining Egypt is torturing 'Palestinian detainees'

OK, the original title is: "Hamas: Egypt torturing Palestinian detainees"

Now, if you'd read the book 'Eats, Shoots & Leaves' (recommended) - you can appreciate the following rearrangement of punctuation:

Hamas, Egypt - torturing 'Palestinian' detainees

The source article:
Ynet: Hamas: Egypt torturing Palestinian detainees

The Hamas government in the Gaza Strip is accusing Egyptian security forces of torturing Palestinian detainees.

"Some 30 members of the Palestinian factions are being held by the Egyptian security forces, 11 of them Hamas members," said an organization spokesman. He demanded that Egypt release the men, claiming that the Egyptian authorities have done nothing on the matter, "although are subject to shocking torture." (AFP)

The saints of Hamas - who have been throwing Fatah members off of roof tops, murdering Jewish babies in their cribs and blowing people riding buses - are complaining about their brothers from the south. Ironic, don't you think?

Anyways, the book - is recommended:

Jerusalem: Remnants of Temple found despite waqf deliberately evidence obliteration

Try as they might, the earth keeps providing and the hero archeologists are doing their best to resurrect evidence.

The Muslims are acting in the most criminal matter from every aspect here. Legally, morally and culturally. They know they sit atop Jew's most sacred land yet deliberately demolish to construct more and more mosques.

Archaeologist: Stop Muslim Temple Mount Denial, 'Barbaric' Digs

Dr. Gabi Barkai, senior lecturer at Bar Ilan University and recipient of the Jerusalem Prize for Archaeology, says Israelis must demand that Israeli antiquities law be enforced at Israel's most important archaeological site– the Temple Mount.

"It is the most important site in the world for the Jewish people," Barkai told Benny Tucker of Arutz Sheva's Hebrew newsmagazine in a Jerusalem Day interview, "as well as the most important archaeological site in Israel, and despite all this, Israel has abandoned it. Over the past ten years, the Waqf has taken control, making major changes in the status quo: It has conducted illegal digs, built mosques and the like, and the situation has changed from one extreme to the other."

"Some years ago," he said, "they took 400 truckloads of dirt from the Temple Mount and dumped it into the Kidron Valley – totally illegally. This is dirt that is filled with Jewish history from many periods: the Canaanites, the First Temple, the period of the return to Zion [from Babylonia], the Second Temple, including the Hashmonaim period and King Herod, and up to now. Over the past several years, we have been sifting through the dirt. This is of course not the optimum way to perform archaeology, because you need context, layers and the like, but this is the best we can do in light of these barbaric digs, and we are trying to get the most out of it. Jerusalem is filled with archaeological digs, but the most important site has never been done; this dirt is the only source we have."

Barkai explained that despite the conditions, "We have made thousands of amazing finds that have changed the way we understand that period."

Asked later to elaborate, he told Israel National News, "For instance, we have found many small floor tiles, of different colors, which confirm the Talmud's description of the floor of the Second Temple as being reminiscent of the ocean."

Other finds have included fragments of stone decorated with ornaments known to be from the Second Temple Period, arrowheads from Nebuchadnezzar's army and also from the Romans, as well as coins and decorations from many periods. Among the most exciting finds were bullae (seal rings), ostracons written in ancient Hebrew script, seals, and more.

The "Screening the Waste" project is being carried out in Emek Tzurim, to where the dirt was transferred. Emek Tzurim is located above the Kidron Valley northeast of the Old City wall, part of the National Park around the walls of Jerusalem, and the project is being conducted under the auspices of the National Parks Authority, sponsored by the Elad (a Hebrew acronym of "To the City of David") Association.

"We demand that the law regarding antiquities be enforced," Barkai said, "and our sovereignty be activated there. These are cultural assets for which we have a tremendous responsibility towards future generations… I would like to see the removal of all the Waqf's heavy equipment, and I would like to see the Waqf observe the law; the Israel Antiquities Authority must be allowed to always be on site to supervise, and not have to come in various disguises and the like."

Barkai explained that in addition to building mosques on the site, the Moslems clearly have the goal of detaching Israel from its past and Holy Temple connections: "They wish to undermine Jewish ownership and bonds to the Temple Mount. They've built a giant mosque there in Solomon's Stables [under the Temple Mount] and another one nearby – but aside from that, they have an ideological goal which is even making inroads to naïve circles in the west, and it is called 'Holy Temple denial.' They act as if there never was a Holy Temple. This is very very grave; regarding the Holocaust, there are living people who still remember it, but the same cannot be said regarding the Temple…"

"We must demand that Israeli law and sovereignty be enforced on the Temple Mount," Barkai concluded.

Caroline Glick's Superb Tear Down of Yediot's Lebanon Withdrawl Propaganda Attempts

10 years after the fiasco, the (former?) leading news paper tries to rewrite history. Sure many people might accept it as a success. Caroline rightfully points out to their willing ignorance of reality. An ongoing fiasco for which a high price was paid - and will continue to mount.

Our World: Hizbullah’s media champions

A few weeks shy of the 10th anniversary of Israel’s May 24, 2000 unilateral withdrawal from south Lebanon, last Friday Yediot Aharonot chose to devote its weekend news supplement to a retrospective on the event. It included a fawning five-page interview with Defense Minister Ehud Barak, who ordered the withdrawal during his tenure as prime minister and defense minister. It also included a two-page spread featuring interviews with the IDF commanders who carried out the withdrawal, recalling their adrenalin rushes as they retreated their forces across the border.

Nearly hidden between the two puff pieces was a little article titled “We told you so.”

It featured an interview with retired former Meretz leader Yossi Sarid who opposed the withdrawal. He told Yediot that in hindsight, he’s glad the withdrawal went through, even though it led directly to the wars that followed. Following Sarid’s self-congratulatory modesty, Yediot gave former defense minister Moshe Arens and National Infrastructures Minister Uzi Landau a sound bite apiece to lash out at the withdrawal. That base covered, the paper dismissed them both as “right-wingers.”

ALTHOUGH UPSETTING, Yediot’s treatment of the Lebanon withdrawal was not surprising. The unilateral withdrawal from Lebanon – which was a failure on every rational level – was a strategy concocted and championed for the better part of a decade by Yediot and its media colleagues at Israel Radio. The paper’s decision to publish a 10-year anniversary retrospective two weeks early was undoubtedly an attempt to preempt and prevent any further discussion of the withdrawal.

Yediot praised it as a work of operational genius because no one was wounded, kidnapped or killed during the 48-hour retreat. Of course, by presenting force protection as the IDF’s highest goal, the paper ignored basic strategic realities.

The fact is that the withdrawal was an operational fiasco. In its rush to the border, the IDF left behind huge quantities of sensitive equipment that Hizbullah commandeered. Israel abandoned thousands of loyal allies from the South Lebanon Army and their families to the tender mercies of Hizbullah. These were men who had fought shoulder to shoulder with the IDF since 1982. Those who managed to escape to Israel before the gates were locked were treated as unwanted deadweight by Barak and his media flacks, who couldn’t be bothered with the treachery at the heart of the operation.

....

READ IT ALL!

Perspective, that's what's always missing from media's propaganda. Lucky for them, they rely on public's short memory and that new fools are born each day. (פריירים לא מתים, הם רק מתחלפים - במקרה שלנו הם גם מתים וגם נשכחים)

Media's insane spin for Hamas: A modern Robin Hood

How about telling the truth? Modern Adolf Hitler combined with some Stalinism...

Cash-strapped Hamas forces mimic Robin Hood, seizes Palestinian property

The Hamas regime has been seizing property believed owned or operated by the Palestinian Authority in the Gaza Strip.

Palestinian sources said Hamas security forces have taken over scores of vacant apartments or homes in the Gaza Strip in 2010. The sources said the properties were believed to have been abandoned by PA officials when they fled the Gaza Strip during the Hamas takeover in 2007.

"We take money from the rich to give the poor not vice versa," Hamas Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh said on May 1. "The nature of the taxes that are imposed by the government is that they are few and not much."

Some of the confiscated apartments were located in the upscale neighborhood of Rimal in Gaza City. Many of the occupants had been PA and Fatah officials who either fled or were killed during the Hamas takeover in 2007.

"Hamas knows exactly who ran away and who left property," a Palestinian source said. "They have decided to allow Hamas officers to live in them."

The sources said the Hamas policy would affect more than 1,000 houses, apartments and other assets left behind by the exiled PA officials. Most of those who fled the Hamas takeover were members of the PA security forces, including the Preventive Security Apparatus, Military Intelligence, General Intelligence Services and the Presidential Guard.

"In some cases, those who fled left behind others who moved in and kept the apartments," the source said. "Those being occupied by Hamas officers and officials are those that have been vacant for at least a year."

The sources said Hamas planned to intensify its confiscation of assets by absentee PA officials and Fatah members. They said Hamas, amid a cash flow crisis, has begun seizing apartments vacant for less than six months.

The sources said Hamas has also justified the seizure of apartments owned by Fatah members accused of economic crimes. They cited the case of Aliya Aweida, who found her apartment taken over by a Hamas police officer in April 2010. The Hamas Interior Ministry said Ms. Aweida's father, Said, who owned the apartment, had been charged with embezzlement.

One needs not wonder too much why there's economic mayhem in Hamastan. After all, Israel kept putting resources in attempts to build economic ties and infrastructure in hopes of future economic peace - only to find Gush-Katif plantations torn apart and turned to Kassam Rockets. Only to find Erez industrial zone turn into homicide bombing target. Factory owners murdered by Arab employees. And Fatah themselves right now boycotting employment in Jooooish factories in West Bank, as well as boycott of Jooooooish merchandise.

To that one has to remember that Hamas continues sponsoring terror, continues to hold Gilad Shalit captive without the basic intl' human rights kept. But - hey - Robit Hood is a victim of some 'unjustness'.

Of course, it is not Israel who is maintaining a fake 'blockade' - Hamastan has a border with Egypt - the only problem is they keep murdering Egyptian soldiers, smuggle arms and plan terror attacks within Egypt.

The fruits of terror are on display while the media's tiny violin keeps playing for the murderers in the helms at Gaza (and west bank).

'Human Rights Leader' - a Hezbollah agent

Knock me over with a feather. The national security scandal turns out exactly as I suspected it would. Israeli Arabs think for some reason they can get away with being involved with Israel's enemies and nothing would happen to them.

Israeli Arab figures suspected of espionage

Details of security scandal released: Fifty-two-year-old Ameer Makhoul from Haifa, a well-known figure in the Arab community in Israel, and 50-year-old Omar Said of Kfar Kanna, were arrested on suspicion of committing serious security offences, including espionage and contact with a foreign agent from Hezbollah. A gag order on the matter was partially lifted at Ynet's request on Monday, meaning some of the affair's details are still confidential.

Makhoul was arrested in his home in Haifa last week in front of his wife and children. He is suspected of being in contact with a Lebanese element of the Hezbollah terror group, espionage and contact with a foreign agent. Several computers were confiscated from his home.

Related, unrelated story - Israeli Arabs real intent revealed in an interview:
MK Ganaim calls for Islamic caliphate in Israel

Once again - knock me over with a feather. Shockingly unshocking - just confirms what we expected.

National Security Scandal Under Gag Order - Arabs and Israel-Haters up in arms

I don't live in Israel, and as far as I know blogger platform isn't under the Israeli censorship rules. Still, the few facts I did find - I don't trust. What's obvious is that a certain head of an NGO which has had interviews expressing support of terror against Jews, and expressing desire to bring Israeli heads of state to intl' world crimes court - that specific person is behind bars.

The Arab leadership in Israel are making a big fuss and are planning massive demonstration claiming this is anti-democratic and only a case of political persecution.

On the other hand - the Shin-Bet arrested the guy with secretive security related evidence obtained while he was strolling the PA's A controlled area. AKA - Fatahland. The headline on JPost clearly says 'National Security Case'.

Can a sovereign nation's citizen really act in aid of its enemies without repercussion? Can an entire population? Are the marches and demonstrations going to do any good in improving relations between Arabs and Jews and in support of reputation of Arabs?

Here's JPost's article: Fury over new nat'l security case

A new security-related affair is causing a firestorm within the Israeli Arab community and has reignited a furious debate on secrecy and national security.

The latest episode comes only weeks after authorities lifted a media ban on a Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) investigation into former IDF clerk Anat Kamm, who is accused of stealing thousands of classified army documents during her service at the army’s Central Command headquarters in the capital’s Neveh Ya’acov neighborhood, and leaking a number of them to Haaretz.

Here's an article by a Jewish - pro-Peace group in Canada: Man Behind Security Gag Revealed (including interview with the suspect from 2008, during cast-lead)

Here's some propaganda by Arabs, antisemites and self loathing 'pro-peace, pro-Hamas' Jews: here, here, here, and here.

Some recent actions against Israel by notorious saint-hate-da-jews: here

Wired magazine's portrait of Andrew Brietbart

I was away for a month and a half and only recently caught up with my magazine reading to the paper version of this article. It's off topic for this blog generally - but having to do with conservatism so I thought I'd still better link to it.

All in all - the article is not as biased and slanted as one would expect from a former Democrat who worked for Gore and Clinton. Still a few jabs and elbows - just for general info - a good background on one of the guys who helped tear Acorn apart.

Wired.com: How Andrew Breitbart Hacks the Media

Andrew Breitbart has been waiting 45 minutes for a filet mignon. He drums his fingers on the table in this plush Italian restaurant off Times Square, a place where the media types he regularly trashes used to flaunt their expense accounts — back when they still had them. Breitbart looks around for a waiter and launches into a stem-winder about collusion between Hollywood and the press — the “subtle and not-so-subtle use of propaganda to make a center-right nation move to the left.

“It’s not just the nightly news,” he says. “You’re also getting television shows that reflect the same worldview, where Republicans are always the bad guys. Al Qaeda’s never the bad guy. The Republican is always the bad guy.”

From anyone else, this would be just talk — or talking points. (No terrorist bad guys on TV? Really?) But Breitbart is one of the people who rams those points into the popular consciousness. Until last September, the beefy 41-year-old with graying blond hair was a largely covert power in the right-wing media, the hidden hand behind the popular Drudge Report who also, weirdly, cofounded the liberal Huffington Post. But then he struck out on his own. Today his collection of Web sites draws more than 10 million readers a month. He has a book deal worth more than half a million dollars, and he’s a regular presence on Fox News — where he’s headed later tonight, in fact. The covert thing is out the window.

Continue on wired...

Predictably, the media claims real victims of NY Bomb scare are Pakistanis

Or is it because they start feeling ashamed of being members of a specific religion coming for a terrorism hot bed nation?

More likely, Reuters exaggerating to advance agenda of portraying Muslims as victims. Taking one or two individuals whining, and proclaiming all those of Pakistani decent victims who have to hide their identity.

Pakistanis pose as Indians after NY bomb scare

Pakistani merchants and job seekers in the United States, still reeling from economic hardship since the September 11 attacks of 2001, are posing as Indians to avoid discrimination in the wake of the Times Square bomb attempt.

Once again, a man of Pakistani descent is at the center of a security story, leading to backlash against the Pakistani-American community.

Faisal Shahzad, 30, a naturalized American born in Pakistan, was arrested on Monday, two days after authorities say he parked a crude car bomb in New York's busy Times Square.

Suspected September 11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and convicted 1993 World Trade Center bomber Ramzi Yousef are also of Pakistani decent, and anti-American militants fighting U.S. forces in Afghanistan take refuge in Pakistan.

In Brooklyn, home to one of the largest Pakistani populations in the United States, business is scant at the various grocery, halal meat and sweet cake shops since a Pakistani-American was suspected in the Times Square plot. More than 100 businesses along Coney Island Avenue have closed due to a 30 percent drop in business since 2001, a merchants' association said.

In Washington, an American man of Pakistani descent told of coming under suspicion this week when he tried to buy garden fertilizer. The Times Square car bomb contained a non-explosive type of fertilizer.

While there have been no reported incidents since the failed car bomb attack last Saturday, some Pakistanis are bracing for reprisals. Police have increased foot patrols.

"A lot of Pakistanis can't get jobs after 9/11 and now it's even worse," said Asghar Choudhri, an accountant and chairman of Brooklyn's Pakistani American Merchant Association. "They are now pretending they are Indian so they can get a job."

Perhaps it is worth noting that Pakistan exists as a separate nation only because Muslims didn't want to share a nation with Hindus? By all measures they are from India, a violent part which fought to separate from non-Muslims. Sure, I'm simplifying history - but Pakistan used to be just northern India before.

Anyways - I'm not buying it. The story is idiotic propaganda - and it was elevated to first page on google-news.

Hamas vs PFLP, may the best terrorist be a dead terrorist

The only time one should applause their weapons cache - is when used against the Marxist clones.

Cash-starved Hamas cracks down on PFLP

The Hamas regime has launched a crackdown on a major Palestinian faction.

Hamas has been arresting members of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine in the wake of criticism by the Marxist faction of the Islamic regime.

The Hamas crackdown came amid a financial crisis in the Gaza Strip. Hamas officials acknowledged that the regime has been unable to pay the salaries of 32,000 civil servants for the second straight month as the regime imposed taxes on cigarettes, fuel, automobiles and property.

On April 27, PFLP issued a statement that accused Hamas of imposing arbitrary and exhorbitant taxes on residents of the Gaza Strip.

"The right to freedom of opinion and expression is guaranteed under the Palestinian Basic Law and relevant international conventions," the Palestinian Center for Human Rights said.

Hours after the PFLP statement, Hamas security forces raided the homes of several key members. Palestinian sources said 15 PFLP operatives were detained from such locations as Gaza City, Khan Yunis, Jabalya, Shati and Tel El Hawa.

"These measures taken by the security service in the Gaza Strip constitute a violation of the right to freedom of opinion and expression, which is guaranteed under the Palestinian Basic Law and relevant international conventions," PCHR said on April 29.

The human rights center said PFLP operatives were interrogated regarding the statement against Hamas. PCHR said the detainees, 11 of them released on April 28, had been ill-treated.

At the same time, Hamas police and Internal Security Service officers attacked PFLP and tried to break into the movement's office in Khan Yunis on April 28. Palestinian sources said PFLP leaders in Gaza City and Syria have intervened in an effort to end the Hamas crackdown.

"PCHR confirms the right of political opposition to express political opinion, including criticizing the government, and opposing its policy through all forms ensured by the law, including press releases, peaceful demonstrations and all forms of peaceful protest," the human rights group said.

Rivaling blood thirsty vampires - squabbling about local economics.

Obama renews sanctions on Syria, changing appeasement course?

Changing appeasement course? At the very least there's a realization of realities here. Anyways - I still feel there's a certain bi-polarism in the US's foreign policy. consider: "Obama Defense Dept: We’re Not Going To Attack Iran, And If Israel Tries We Might Shoot Down Their Jets" - really?!

Obama renews sanctions on Syria

President Barack Obama Monday renewed US sanctions on Syria for a year, accusing Damascus of supporting "terrorist" groups and pursuing missile programs and weapons of mass destruction.

There had been no expectation that Obama would lift the measures, but the renewal came at an especially sensitive time in often tense US-Syria relations, despite efforts by the administration to return an ambassador to Damascus.

The United States has also recently accused Syria and Iran of arming Hezbollah with increasingly sophisticated rockets and missiles, which it says are undermining stability in the region.



Obama said in a message to Congress renewing the sanctions imposed by former US president George W. Bush in 2004, that the Syrian government had made "some progress" in suppressing the infiltration of foreign fighters bound for Iraq.



But he added that its "continuing support for terrorist organizations and pursuit of weapons of mass destruction and missile programs, continue to pose an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security, foreign policy, and economy of the United States."

Obama also called on Syria to demonstrate "progress" in the areas that Washington says justify sanctions, to allow them to be lifted in future.

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton last week warned Syrian President Bashar al-Assad against the risk of sparking a regional war if he supplies long-range Scud missiles to Hezbollah, a Shiite militia group.

"President Assad is making decisions that could mean war or peace for the region," she told a pro-Israel group.

Gaza/Hamastan roundup: Jailed Journalists and tiny violin for Hamas' treasury

First item, media notices lack of journalistic freedom in Gaza:
Journalist freed from Gaza jail vows to fight for imprisoned journalists

The guard at the entrance cocked his rifle with a click-click that echoed around the cell block. Then with his thumb he unlocked the safety catch, and begin swivelling the barrel of his Kalashnikov towards me. I was standing behind a metal grille in a dark cell and had nowhere to hide. He pointed the barrel towards my chest; then, instead of firing, he pulled his gun slowly upward, and laughed.

It was day one of my incarceration in Gaza, where I was held in solitary confinement, denied books to read and a pen and paper, at times placed within earshot of violent torture, and threatened with imminent death several times. It lasted less than a month in February and March this year – hardly comparable, I am aware, with, for example, the years of imprisonment and exile endured by Mónica González Mujica, the intrepid Chilean journalist who today (World Press Freedom Day) will receive a World Press Freedom award from Unesco. But for me those 26 days seemed endless. For most of that time I was convinced that death was the most likely outcome.

"You are not a witness, you are an accused!" the military prosecutor had yelled at me when I was summoned into his office alongside the military court. I had come to give evidence in support of Mohamed, a young man who was the subject of one of my films. He had been part of a militant group that had fired numerous rockets into Israeli civilian areas. I discovered when I returned to Gaza in 2009 that he had left the group, ensuring immediate antagonism from all militants, and had begun to criticise the efficacy of these attacks and the justification for them. "Our rocket fire at their civilians only gives Israel the excuse and the justification to attack us," he told me on camera.

....

Sounds like a fun time at Hamas summer reeducation camp.

Next, Hamas whines about not having enough cash - and imposes new taxes on its population. To which I'll two reasons for its lack of cash:
1. It spends it all on explosives and constructing a terrorist base.
2. It's use of fortified currencies perhaps causes delays in delivery of TRUCKLOADS OF NEW SHEKELS EACH WEEK.

Strapped for cash... sure. Perhaps strapped for non fake money to pay it's arms dealers. The people in Gaza are using monopoly money, fake - fake - and super-duper fake, expecting Israel to honor those bills when they are sent back for recycling.

Bring out the violins for 'blockaded' Gaza:
Hamas short on cash as Gaza blockade takes toll

Hamas confirmed Sunday it is unable to pay thousands of government workers in full for a second straight month — a new sign that the Islamic militants are caught in what may be the most serious cash crunch in three years of ruling Gaza.

Hamas dismisses rumors of a financial crisis, and insists its money woes are temporary. However, it has resorted to an unpopular tax drive to raise money, suggesting that a heavy blockade on the territory, an Egyptian crackdown on smuggling and an increasingly expensive government bureaucracy are taking their toll.

The hunt for revenue has prompted a rare public backlash, hinting at a small crack in Hamas' hold on power. A 40 percent tax on cigarettes set off a flurry of angry text messages among smokers, and a small opposition group warned the new taxes could unleash a popular revolt.

Hamas acknowledges it is having trouble bringing in money from abroad — no small problem for a government that says it raises only 10 percent of its revenue locally.

The Islamists are secretive about the sources of their money, but they are believed to get large sums from Iran and a network of Hamas supporters abroad, with cash smuggled through a network of tunnels under Gaza's border with Egypt.

The current crisis reflects Hamas' dilemma: It wants to be both a militant group and a government providing for 1.5 million people. Hamas' refusal to soften its hardline ideology, for fear of losing its militant credentials, has perpetuated a border blockade by Israel and Egypt. The closure has further impoverished Gazans and has put a heavier load on the government.

Still, Hamas largely managed to make ends meet.

In recent months, however, Egypt disrupted the balance by clamping down hard on the smuggling — building a steel wall to gradually close off the tunnels, blowing up entry shafts on Egyptian soil and confiscating contraband. Just last week, four Palestinians were killed when Egypt blew up a tunnel shaft. In March, Egypt arrested 45 smugglers, including a man suspected of carrying $242,000 for Hamas.

Issa Nashar, mayor of the Gaza border town of Rafah, says he believes dozens of some 400 tunnels are idle.

An Arab diplomat, speaking on condition of anonymity because he is not authorized to brief reporters on security issues, said Egypt is trying to disrupt the cash flow to pressure Hamas into signing a reconciliation agreement with its Western-backed rival, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. Hamas drove out Abbas' forces when it seized Gaza in 2007, leaving him with only the West Bank. Egypt has staked its prestige on ending the rift, but Hamas won't commit to Cairo's plan to give Abbas a foothold in Gaza.

As the money flow slows, running Gaza's government is becoming more expensive. Hamas has increased the size of its public payroll from a few thousand to 32,000 civil servants and troops, in part a response to pressure to find jobs for supporters.

With a 2010 budget of $540 million, Hamas needs $16 million a month just for salaries, said Deputy Finance Minister Ismail Mahfouz. In March, the government was unable to cover the payroll in full, paying each employee only $400; those who normally earn more were promised the rest later. A midlevel civil servant makes about $700 a month and a top earner about $1,100.

Mahfouz confirmed Sunday that April salaries would also not be paid in full.

Later Sunday, Gaza Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh said some 25,000 unemployed laborers would receive $100 each to mark May Day. The unemployed only receive occasional handouts.

Mahfouz said Hamas isn't broke, just short of cash.

"We are having difficulties in getting the money in (to Gaza) because of the siege, and this will not last long," Mahfouz said in comments posted on Gaza's Finance Ministry's website. "The government has its own reserves, and it can make them available, but it needs a way of getting them."

Bank transfers are not an option, said Jihad al-Wazir, head of the West Bank-based Palestine Monetary Authority, which regulates the banking system in the West Bank and Gaza. The Gaza branches of Palestinian banks avoid ties with the militants so as not to run afoul of anti-money laundering regulations or lose business abroad.

"We have a firewall between us and the Hamas government in Gaza," said al-Wazir.

The Arab diplomat said Hamas launders some money through Gaza importers, but the volume is limited because of the blockade.

Some speculate that Hamas is saving for a time it might be forced from power, that it has too much cash tied up in business ventures such as real estate or that there is friction over money between the Hamas movement and the Gaza government. But Hamas' secretive nature makes such claims difficult to verify.

Gaza analyst Mukheimar Abu Sada said Hamas' willingness to impose taxes, at the risk of eroding support, suggests the Islamists need cash badly.

Tunnel smugglers say they've been asked to pay at least $1,000 for each car they import, and gas station owners are charged 3 percent on smuggled fuel. The Gaza City municipality, which provides services to 600,000 residents, is now demanding taxes from businesses and households, after Hamas stopped paying half of the municipal budget six months ago.

Hamas portrays the new cigarette tax as a crusade against smoking, not a money maker.

But Gaza smokers, who now have to pay $2.95 for a pack of Marlboros, up from $2.15, don't buy that.

"Message from the rightly guided government — smoking hurts your health but keeps the government alive," read one of the many sarcastic text messages Gazans sent to each other.

Rami Franji, 20, who runs his family's small grocery in Gaza City, said he can't afford to pay local tax and doesn't want to, either, because he no longer supports Hamas.

His father Nasser, 47, who is being asked to pay tax on his tiny car repair shop, said Hamas has done well in ending chaos in the streets, but has failed in providing for Gaza's citizens. "The situation is bad," he said. "There is security, but there is no food."

Errr.... why so many words spent for that shit-hole? Did anyone in the world notice the financial trouble outside of Gaza? No? Just politically motivated focusing on that irrelevant terror producing cesspool. Hey - wise up - the world financial system is on fire! Europe on verge of defaulting, US in unsustainable debt - but hey - let's whine about the cost of fucken cigarettes in fucken unimportant fricken Hamastan. Sheesh.

Failed Terror Attack in heart of New York

Man made disaster avoided. The real victims are the religion-members of the failed assailants. Quick, Miranda rights and Gitmo closure before it's too late... (sarc)

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/ny_crime/2010/05/01/2010-05-01_times_square_evacuated_after_smoking_vehicle_sparks_emergency_probe.html#ixzz0mn4Y5FXpTime Square car bomb: Cops evacuate heart of NYC after 'potential terrorist attack'

Three heroic cops and a quick-thinking street vendor stopped a madman from detonating a car bomb in the heart of Times Square Saturday night, law enforcement officials told the Daily News.

"It looked like someone tried to detonate it and we got to it in time," a police source said. "This is a big deal. It has the makings of a real car bomb."

The federal government views the incident a "potential terrorist attack," Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano said Sunday.

"We're taking this very seriously," Napolitano told CNN's "State of the Union" program. "We're treating it as if it could be a potential terrorist attack."

Cops evacuated and shut down the Times Square are Saturday night, but all streets were reopened by 7:30 a.m. Sunday.

The T-shirt vendor - a Vietnam vet - told Officer Wayne Rhatigan there was smoke coming from a Nissan SUV on the southwest corner of 45th St. and Broadway about 6:30 p.m., sources said.

Rhatigan approached the car, saw the smoke and sprang into action.

"I did a lap around the vehicle. The inside was smoking," Rhatigan told the Daily News. "I smelled gunpowder and knew it might blow. I thought it might blow any second."

He alerted two rookie female cops patrolling the area. Together, they pushed hundreds of people away from the scene as they called for backup, he said.

The Fire Department and bomb squad rushed to the scene.

What they found was stunning: a running SUV packed with three propane tanks, two red 5-gallon plastic jugs of gasoline, a clock, electrical components and a canister of gunpowder, police sources said.

Must be tools of worship for some. We're lucky this country isn't at war with those who perpetrate these actions. We should alert Code Pink for further consultation on how to deal with these people.

Thank god no one was hurt. A clear case of more luck then brains.