Wednesday’s “News in Review” Round-Up

BREAKING NEWS:

 

“There’s a new offer on the table which addresses our concerns, not least the 20% enriched uranium. We’re hoping the Iranians will respond in a positive way.”—Michael Mann, spokesman for EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton, claiming world powers tabled a possible deal during nuclear talks in Baghdad on Wednesday, seeking concessions from Iran over its higher grade uranium enrichment. According to Western diplomats, as part of the proposal Iran would be required to freeze its production of nuclear fuel enriched to 20% purity and to ship out its stockpile of the fuel to a third country. The officials would not specify the inducements offered to the Iranian delegation. (Wall Street Journal, May 23.)

 

Media-ocrities of the Week

 

“The caption on a photograph featuring passengers on a tram in Jerusalem observing a two-minute silence for Yom HaShoah, a day of remembrance for the 6 million Jews who died in the Holocaust, wrongly referred to the city as the Israeli capital. The Guardian style guide states: ‘Jerusalem is not the capital of Israel; Tel Aviv is.’”—Britain’s Guardian newspaper, correcting a caption that appeared in its 20 April edition designating Jerusalem as Israel’s capital city. In response, HonestReporting submitted a grievance with the United Kingdom Press Complaints Commission, citing Clause 1 of the commission’s official code requiring newspapers “to take care not to publish inaccurate, misleading or distorted information.” The motion was summarily rejected even though the UK Foreign Office—while not recognizing Israeli sovereignty over Jerusalem—does not specifically identify Tel Aviv as Israel’s capital. [The United Kingdom was the only country in the world officially to recognize Jordan’s annexation of, and ethnic cleansing of Jews from, Jerusalem following Israel’s War of Independence in 1948—Ed.] (JTA, May 22.)

 

“Despite its condemnation of Zionists, [the newspaper] yet finds space to include an item in its daily quiz about Israel’s national bird. Is the Star not aware there’s a cultural boycott going on?… For goodness sake comrades, get your act together.”—Linda Claire, chairwoman of Manchester’s Palestine Solidarity Campaign, in a letter to the British daily Morning Star, condemning the paper for referring to Israel’s national bird—the hoopoe—in its daily quiz. According to Claire, “the methods chosen by the international solidarity movement of BDS [boycott, divestment and sanctions]” preclude any mention of “the racist and apartheid State of Israel’s wildlife.” (Jerusalem Post, May 18.)

 

Weekly Quotes

 

“Our generation had a great privilege—we saw the words of the prophets come true. We saw the rise of Zion, the return of Jewish sovereignty in the Land of Israel, the ingathering of exiles, and our return to Jerusalem.… We developed Jerusalem in the north, south, east and west, and we will keep building. We will protect Jerusalem, because Israel without Jerusalem is like a body without a heart.… Our heart will never be divided again.”—Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, at a Jerusalem Day ceremony on Ammunition Hill, marking 45 years since the reunification of the Jewish people’s eternal capital. (Jerusalem Post, May 20.)

 

“Obviously, nothing would be better than to see this issue resolved diplomatically. But I have seen no evidence that Iran is serious about stopping its nuclear weapons program. It looks as though they see these talks as another opportunity to device and delay just like North Korea did for years. They may try to go from meeting to meeting with empty promises. They may agree to something in principle but not implement it. They might even agree to implement something that does not materially derail their nuclear weapons program. Iran is good at playing this chess game. They know that sometimes you have to sacrifice a pawn to save the king. The goal of these negotiations should be very clear: Freeze all enrichment inside Iran; remove all enriched material outside of Iran; and dismantle [the underground nuclear facility near] Qom. When this goal is achieved, I will be the first to applaud. Until then, count me among the skeptics.”—Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, outlining Israel’s positions vis-a-vis the ongoing nuclear talks in Baghdad between world powers and Iran. (Independent Media Review and Analysis, May 18.)

 

“The Iranians appear to be trying to reach a technical deal [to] create [the] appearance [of] progress…[and to] remove some of the pressure [caused by] an escalation in sanctions.”—Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak, following the announcement by International Atomic Energy Agency chief Yukiya Amano of a prospective deal between the IAEA and Iran. Amano claimed on Tuesday that during a rare visit to Tehran “a decision was made to conclude and sign [an] agreement” to give the UN nuclear watchdog access to Iranian nuclear sites, scientists and documents to restart its long-stalled probe into Iran’s secret nuclear work. (Jerusalem Post, May 22.)

 

“The announcement is a step forward. It’s an agreement in principle.… [However], promises are one thing, actions and fulfillment of obligations are another. [Accordingly], we will continue to pressure Tehran, continue to move forward with the sanctions that will be coming online as the year progresses.”—White House spokesman Jay Carney, praising the IAEA’s purported deal with Tehran, while stressing that it is premature to discuss easing sanctions, including on Iran’s vital oil exports, which are due to take force in July. (Reuters, May 22.)

 

“The Iranian nation is standing for its cause that is the full annihilation of Israel.”—Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces Major General Hassan Firouzabadi, calling for the complete destruction of the Jewish state. (FARS News, May 20.)

 

“That option is not…just available, but it’s ready. The necessary planning has been done to ensure that it’s ready.”—US Ambassador to Israel Dan Shapiro, claiming the American military has plans in place to attack Iranian nuclear facilities if necessary to prevent the Islamic republic from acquiring nuclear weapons. (Associated Pres, May 17.)

 

“I understand the missions that stand before the IAF, and we have done everything we can during this period to create capabilities so we can fulfill these missions.”—Outgoing chief of Israel’s Air Force, Maj.-Gen. Ido Nehushtan, affirming that the IAF is prepared for a possible operation against Iran’s nuclear facilities. Nehushtan also expressed dissatisfaction over the manner in which current and former senior Israeli officials have publicly criticized the Israeli government’s Iran policy, saying “that in this specific issue [Iran] we should not talk.… A public discourse on this issue is lacking the basic facts needed to hold it.…” Maj.-Gen. Amir Eshel is slated to replace Nehushtan. (Jerusalem Post, May 17.)

 

“While the world is understandably focused on the Iranian nuclear threat, we must not ignore the massive domestic repression in Iran.… We are witness to state-sanctioned assaults that are tantamount to crimes against humanity, including the highest per capita rate of executions in the world; the imprisonment and silencing of more journalists and bloggers than any other country; the persistent and pervasive assault on women’s rights; the targeting of religious and ethnic minorities; the criminalization of fundamental freedoms of speech, association and assembly; and the imprisonment of opposition leaders, human rights defenders, and the lawyers who would defend them.”—Former Canadian Minister of Justice and current Member of Parliament Irwin Cotler, marking Iran Accountability Week in Canada by condemning the Iranian regime’s massive and ongoing human rights violations. (Office of the Honourable Irwin Cotler, May 18.)

“Syria is now facing the serious problem of terrorism.… Terrorists don’t…fight for the sake of reforms, they fight for the sake of terror.”—Syrian President Bashar Assad, in a rare interview with a state-run Russian television station, claiming Western “terrorists” are behind the 14-month uprising against his rule, and threatening that “If you [the West] sow chaos in Syria you may be infected by it yourself.” (Reuters, April 16.)

 

“We must live up to our motto…which says, we will not recognize Israel.”—Hamas Prime Minister in Gaza Ismail Haniyeh, claiming there is no future for Israel within any borders “on the land of Palestine.” (Jerusalem Post, May 18.)

 

“In light of the financial expenses [of the PA leadership], the talk about a financial crisis is repugnant and baseless. We hear about the suffering and hunger of the poor and the difficulties facing the unemployed, farmers, villagers and civil servants. At the same time, we hear about the luxurious life of senior and influential officials and the involvement of some in money laundering.”—Hasan Khreishah, deputy speaker of the Palestinian Legislative Council, claiming that corruption in the Palestinian Authority “is bigger than it was in the past.” (Jerusalem Post, May 12.)

 

“[Abbas used to] take millions of dollars from the Palestinian Authority and the private sector under the pretext of helping Arab parties in Israeli elections.”—Muhammad Rashid, a former economic adviser to Yasser Arafat, claiming PA President Mahmoud Abbas has in the past siphoned money from the PA to Arab parties campaigning in elections in Israel. (Jerusalem Post, May 17.)

 

“Unfortunately, this response is unacceptable as it rejects the central principles of global fraternity on which the Olympic ideal is supposed to rest.… The terrorist murders of the Israeli athletes were not just an attack on people because of their nationality and religion; it was an attack on…the international community. Thus it is necessary for the Olympic Games as a whole to commemorate this event in the open.…”—Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon, after International Olympic Committee President Jacques Rogge denied his personal request to hold a minute silence at the upcoming London Games in memory of the 11 Israeli athletes murdered by Palestinian terrorists at the 1972 Munich Olympics. (Independent Media Review and Analysis, May 17.)

 

“The Munich 11 were part of the Olympic family, and IOC’s rejection thus far of a minute of silence is unacceptable. We intend to put the US Congress on record that those who died deserve to be remembered in a respectful manner to mark this anniversary.”—Excerpt of a joint statement issued by US Congressman Eliot Engel and Congresswoman Nita Lowey, after introducing House Resolution 663 calling on the IOC to commemorate the 1972 Munich terrorist attack during the opening ceremony of the London Olympics. (Jerusalem Post, May 18.)

 

“I would like to be next to our young athletes at the 2012 Olympics but the host has a problem with this.”—Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, suggesting Britain has barred him from attending the upcoming Olympic Games. Some 50 Iranian athletes have qualified to participate in London. (Washington Post, May 17.)

 

“We’ve got a special feeling for Israel’s situation—that of a small nation surrounded by enemies. We remember our situation in the 1930s, when the small democratic Czechoslovakia had neighbors that wanted to destroy it or take part of our territory.”—Czech Prime Minister Petr Necas, expressing solidarity with Israel after meeting with Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu in Prague. At a joint press conference, Necas said his government “fundamentally rejects delegitimization and any boycott of the State of Israel…[and] clearly supports Israel’s right to defend itself against terrorist attacks.” For his part, Netanyahu said Jerusalem “deeply appreciated” Prague’s friendship. (Jerusalem Post, May 18.)

 

Short Takes

 

IRAN FLOUTS UN SANCTIONS, SENDS ARMS TO SYRIA—(United Nations) According to a report by a UN panel of experts, Syria remains the top destination for Iranian arms shipments in violation of a UN Security Council ban on weapons exports by the Islamic Republic. The report, which has been submitted to the Security Council’s Iran sanctions committee, said there were three seizures of large shipments of Iranian weapons investigated by the panel over the past year and that “Two of these cases involved the Syrian Arab Republic.…” The report also describes at length efforts by the Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines (IRISL) to circumvent sanctions, saying its subsidiaries continue to operate vessels and that the IRISL is constantly changing the ownership, names and national flags of its ships. Finally, the report discusses Iran’s nuclear progress, noting that “prohibited activities continue, including uranium enrichment” despite four rounds of punitive measures imposed on Iran by the Security Council between 2006 and 2010. (Reuters, May 16.)

 

REPORT: SYRIA REBELS KILL ASSAD’S DEFENSE MINISTER, BROTHER-IN-LAW—(Jerusalem) Syrian opposition forces have killed several top officials in President Bashar Assad’s regime, including Defense Minister Dawoud Rajiha and Assad’s brother-in-law Assef Shawkat, as the country teeters on the brink of full-scale civil war. Meanwhile, the Obama administration is reportedly preparing with Middle Eastern allies for a series of likely crises in Syria in the coming months, including the possible loss of government control over some of the country’s chemical weapons stockpiles. Allegedly involving intelligence and military officials from at least seven countries, the planning includes arrangements for securing chemical arms with special operations troops in the event parts of the country are seized by Islamists. (Washington Post, May 19 & Haaretz, May 20.)

 

UNREST OVER SYRIA HITS BEIRUT—(Beirut) Reports of the abduction of Lebanese Shiite pilgrims by rebels in Syria have sparked new unrest in Beirut, threatening to further inflame Lebanon over the uprising across the border. Residents of the Shiite-dominated southern suburbs of Beirut have taken to the streets to protest the kidnapping by gunmen of as many as 12 Lebanese nationals on a bus in Syria en route home from a Shiite shrine in Iran. Lebanese media identified the kidnappers as members of the anti-Assad Free Syrian Army, the armed faction of the largely Sunni uprising. Sectarian clashes across Lebanon between members of political groups opposing and supporting President Bashar Assad’s Syrian regime have left 10 people dead this month. (Wall Street Journal, May 22.)

 

MUSLIM BROTHERHOOD’S CANDIDATE TOPS EGYPT ABSENTEE RESULTS—(Jerusalem) The Muslim Brotherhood’s candidate has amassed a commanding lead in absentee voting for Egypt’s presidency. With results from 33 diplomatic missions counted, the Brotherhood’s Mohamed Mursi came in far ahead of competitors with 106,252 votes, followed by rival Islamist Abdel Moneim Abol Fotouh with 77,499. Hamdeen Sabahy, a leftist nationalist, came in third with 44,727 ballots, with former foreign minister Amr Moussa and ex-premier Ahmed Shafiq rounding out the top five. Voting begins in Egypt on Wednesday, with a new president scheduled to be sworn in by July 1. (Jerusalem Post, May 21.)

 

TURKEY PREPARES INDICTMENTS OVER FLOTILLA INCIDENT—(New York) A special prosecutor in Istanbul reportedly has prepared an indictment against the four top Israeli commanders who led the 2010 raid on the Mavi Marmara ship, in which nine Turkish nationals were killed while attempting to breach Israel’s legal blockade on Gaza. According to the English-language Turkish news service Today’s Zaman, citing the Sabah daily, the 144-page indictment seeks 10 aggravated life jail sentences for each commander, including former Israeli Defense Forces Chief of Staff Gen. Gabi Ashkenazi, Israeli Navy commander Vice Adm. Eliezer Marom, Israel’s military intelligence chief Maj.-Gen. Amos Yadlin, and Air Forces Intelligence head Brig. Gen. Avishai Levi. The indictment has been submitted to Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor Turan Çolakkadı, who is expected to approve and forward the documentation to the appropriate court. (JTA, May 23.)

 

YEMEN: JEWISH COMMUNITY LEADER STABBED TO DEATH—(Jerusalem) Fifty-year-old Harun Yusuf Zindani, a Jewish community leader in Yemen, has been stabbed to death by a Muslim assailant who accused him of witchcraft. According to Harun’s son, Yehya, the victim was stabbed in the neck and stomach by a “well-known person who says [Harun] had ruined him by casting a spell on him.” The Jewish community in Yemen numbered some 60,000 in 1948, but shrunk significantly in the years following the establishment of the State of Israel. By the early 1990s there were approximately 1,000 Jews living in Yemen; today, barely 300 remain. (Ynet News, May 22.)

 

IDF CHIEF GANTZ MAKES HISTORIC VISIT TO CHINA—(Jerusalem) In another sign of the growing ties between Israel and China, IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Benny Gantz has made a historic visit to Beijing for high-level talks with the Chinese defense establishment. Gantz was officially invited by Chief of General Staff of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Gen. Chen Bingde, who visited the Jewish state last August. It was the first time that a Chinese military chief visited Israel and followed a June 2011 trip to China by Israeli defense Minister Ehud Barak. Since 2010, Israel has significantly upgraded its defense contacts with China after they had been downgraded due to American pressure which precluded Israeli companies from selling weaponry to China. Although a ban on arms sales is still in effect, China is interested in learning from the IDF’s combat experience. (Jerusalem Post, May 16.)

 

SOUTH AFRICA DRAWS ISRAEL’S IRE OVER SETTLEMENT LABELS—(Jerusalem) South Africa’s Trade and Industry Minister Rob Davies has announced that South African importers will no longer “incorrectly label products that originate from the Occupied Palestinian Territory as products of Israel,” as the country “recognizes the State of Israel only within the borders demarcated by the United Nations in 1948.” In response, Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Liberman charged Pretoria with assuming an anti-Israel policy and asserted that it was not coincidental that the 2001 Durban Conference, one of the most anti-Israel forums ever, took place in South Africa. He also confirmed that Israel’s Foreign Ministry could not summon South Africa’s ambassador to Israel to protest the move as the envoy had intentionally turned off his phone. For his part, Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman Yigal Palmor accused Minister Davies of ignorance since the UN never demarcated Israeli borders in 1948. (Jerusalem Post, May 20.)

 

HAMAS FATAH SIGN PALESTINIAN UNITY DEAL…AGAIN—(Tel Aviv) Rival Palestinian factions Fatah and Hamas reportedly have reached a deal to establish a unity government by June and to hold elections within six months. The Egyptian-mediated accord is the latest in a series of attempts over the past year aimed at resolving a five-year feud between Hamas in the Gaza Strip and the Fatah party of Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas in the West Bank. Given the past failures to finalize a pact, many Palestinians and Israelis are skeptical the latest agreement will be honored; under a May 2011 deal, for example, Hamas and Fatah were supposed to have set up an interim government months ago and held elections for a new parliament this month. (Wall Street Journal, May 21.)

 

SHIN BET UNCOVERS PALESTINIAN SQUAD BENT ON KIDNAPPING ISRAELIS—(Jerusalem) Israel’s Shin Bet has captured a Palestinian cell that attempted to kidnap Israelis in order to negotiate the release of Palestinian prisoners. The squad, which was arrested in an operation two months ago, included nine members from Ramallah and was led by 22-year-old Muhammad Ramadan. According to indictments issued by the Judea military court, cell members attempted to kidnap Israelis on three different occasions, while driving a rental car equipped with a taser, tear gas, clubs and a replica gun. In all instances, the targeted Israelis managed to escape. (Haaretz, May 20.)

 

BOMBING VICTIM’S FAMILY WINS JUDGMENT AGAINST IRAN, SYRIA—(New York) The family of a Florida teenager killed in a Palestinian suicide bomb attack in Tel Aviv has won a $323 million judgment in a U.S. court against Iran and Syria. Judge Royce Lamberth of the U.S. District Court in Washington DC ruled that Iran and Syria were responsible for the attack by an Islamic Jihad terrorist that killed Daniel Wultz, 16, and ten other people in a bombing in April 2006. The lawsuit was brought on behalf of the family by the Shurat HaDin Israel Law Center, under a special provision in U.S. federal law that allows U.S. citizens to bring claims against foreign governments for terrorist acts. The judgment was announced six years to the day after Daniel died. (JTA, May 16.)

 

TORONTO ISLAMIC SCHOOL’S PERMIT SUSPENDED FOR ANTI-JEWISH CURRICULUM—(Toronto) An Islamic school that had been using teaching materials that refer to “crafty,” “treacherous” Jews and contrasted Islam with “the Jews and the Nazis” has lost its license to use Toronto District School Board property. The board suspended a permit issued to the Islamic Shia Study Centre, which operated the East End Madrassah out of a Toronto high school until an outcry last week over the content of its curriculum booklets. According to Ryan Bird, a TDSB spokesman, “The Islamic Shia Study Centre will not be able to [use] TDSB property until the police investigation is complete and they are able to demonstrate that they comply with board policies and procedures.” Published by Iranian foundations, various passages in the school’s textbooks also told children that Islam was the “best” religion, and provided a list of “unclean things,” including pigs, dogs and “a person who does not believe in Allah.” (National Post, May 16.)

 

POLLARD PETITION PASSES 60,000—(Jerusalem) A petition calling on Israeli President Shimon Peres to do everything in his power to bring about the release of Israeli agent Jonathan Pollard when he goes to Washington on June 13 to receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom has surpassed 60,000 signatures. The petition, whose drive began two months ago and which has attracted support from across the world, implores Peres to “take advantage of [his] unprecedented diplomatic standing in order to work for Jonathan’s immediate release.” Pollard has served more than 26 years of a life sentence for passing classified information to an ally during peacetime, an offense which has historically garnered an average term of 2-4 years. US President Barack Obama has thus far rejected repeated calls by top Israeli and American officials to commute Pollard’s sentence. (Jerusalem Post, May 18.)