Media-ocrity of the Week
“Should any application of these provisions conflict with my constitutional authorities, I will treat the provisions as non-binding.”—Excerpt from US President Barack Obama’s signing statement on the 2012 Defense Authorization Act, which includes an amendment placing economic sanctions on financial institutions that do business with the Iran Central Bank, claiming the legislation might “interfere with [his] constitutional authority to conduct foreign relations” and thus be considered by the administration as “non-binding.” (JTA, January 3.)
Weekly Quotes
“In the past year, we successfully faced a global economic upheaval. We faced, and still face, an historic regional upheaval that is overtaking almost the entire Arab world—and we acted responsibly and have successfully passed through the crisis so far.… We will continue to act responsibly and without rose-colored glasses. We see the reality as it is. We are maintaining the stability, security and strength of the State of Israel against whatever comes.”—Israeli prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, “summariz[ing] 2011 by noting the Government’s and the State of Israel’s very major [economic and diplomatic] achievements.” (Independent Media Review and Analysis, January 1.)
“For ten years now, residents of the Eshkol Regional Council, bordering the Gaza Strip, have absorbed Kassam rocket fire and mortar rounds fired under the auspices of the terrorist organizations in the Gaza Strip, and targeting innocent civilians living here since the founding of the State of Israel.… [On] January 1st, 2012, at 07:00 AM, two salvos of mortar shells were fired from the territory of the Gaza Strip towards farmers working fields in the Eshkol Regional Council. After the firing, two shells were identified on the ground and had a phosphorus explosive head. As you know, use of phosphorus as munitions directed at civilians is prohibited by the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons (Geneva, October 1980).… Hamas…feels free to use illegal weaponry against an innocent civilian population—without being judged or criticized by any international body. I call upon you to put an end to this hypocrisy!”—Eshkol Regional Council Chairman Haim Jelin, in a letter to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon in response to Hamas’ use of phosphorus shells against Israeli civilians, calling on the UN to “condemn [Hamas]…and enforce international rules.” (Independent Media Review and Analysis, January 2.)
“The Iranian navy test[ed] several kinds of its missiles, including its long-range missiles, in the Persian Gulf [last] Saturday.… The fir[ing] of missiles is the final part of the [10-day] navy drill. The final phase…is to prepare the navy for confronting the enemy in war situations.”—Deputy commander of the Iranian navy, Admiral Mahmoud Mousavi, confirming that Iran test-fired long-range missile systems, including the Shahab-3, which can reach Israel and US bases in the Middle East. (Jerusalem Post, December 30.)
“The presence of Arab monitors has roused the anger of Arab people and negates the purpose of sending a fact-finding mission. This is giving the Syrian regime an Arab cover for continuing its inhumane actions under the eyes and ears of the Arab League.”—Ali al-Salem al-Dekbas, chairman of the Arab Parliament, an 88-member advisory committee of delegates from each of the Arab League’s member states, calling for the immediate withdrawal of League monitors from Syria, as their presence is allowing Damascus to cover up continued violence and abuses. (Jerusalem Post, January 1.)
“We’ll prohibit alcohol. Tourism does not mean nudity and drunkenness. We Egyptians are the greatest religious people, and we don’t need that.… Islam is the solution.”—Leading Muslim Brotherhood figure, Sobhi Saleh, claiming the Brotherhood’s Freedom and Justice Party will apply Islamic Sharia law in Egypt, a goal that has been “planned since 1928,” the year the Islamic group was founded. (Independent Media Review and Analysis, December 28.)
“He wishes the Israeli state did not exist at all. His view is that Israel is more trouble than it is worth, specifically to the America taxpayer. He sides with the Palestinians and supports their calls for the abolishment of the Jewish state and the return of Israel, all of it, to the Arabs.”—Eric Dondero, a former senior aide to Republican presidential candidate Ron Paul, alleging that Paul supports calls for the eradication of Israel as a Jewish state. Paul’s views on Israel led the Republican Jewish Coalition to exclude the Texan congressman from its debate held in December, as “there is no reason to allow Paul to pretend he is anything but an extremist…especially when it comes to issues concerning the U.S.-Israel alliance.” (Haaretz, December 27.)
“We understand that the UN follows diplomatic protocol, but the world body must not forget that its founding purpose is to defend basic human rights, and sadly that message is at serious risk of being blurred. Today should be a time for the UN to show solidarity with the victims—the millions of North Koreans brutalized by Kim’s merciless policies of starvation, torture and oppression—and not with the perpetrator.”—Executive director of UN Watch, Hillel Neuer, blasting the UN Human Rights Council for flying a flag at half mast outside its headquarters to commemorate North Korean dictator Kim Jong Il. (Weekly Standard, December 28.)
“Founded in 1798…L’Institut d’ Égypte was burned down on Dec. 17 by crowds rampaging in the vicinity of the National Assembly building.… I treasured this little-known gem for its library of 200,000 volumes focused on Egypt, its symbol as the capstone of Orientalist learning in Egypt, its evocation of a different and better era, and the quietude it offered in a city with few such oases. And now the barbarians came and destroyed it with a Molotov Cocktail.… This attack brings to mind a host of prior acts of destruction of historical monuments in Egypt, including the medieval defacement of the Sphinx and the Cairo arson of 1952. Outside Egypt, assaults coming right to mind include the Muslim destruction of Hindu temples in India, the Turkish destruction of churches in northern Cyprus, the Palestinian sacking of the Tomb of Joseph, the Taliban destruction of the Bamiyan Buddha, the Iraqi pillaging of museums, libraries, and archives, the Saudi destruction of antiquities in Mecca, and the Malaysia destruction of an historic Hindu temple. This barbarism, in other words, fits into a larger pattern. What is it about Muslims and history?… Too many of them hate not only what is non-Islamic but even their own heritage.…”—Daniel Pipes, describing the desecration by Muslims of the L’Institut d’Égypte, and cautioning “that the incomparable Egyptian Museum may be targeted next.” (National Review, December 27.)
“The evening also celebrated what many Beth-El members regard as a modern-day
miracle: the first time Rabbi Ronnie Cahana returned to the synagogue after a devastating stroke in July. The brain stem incident left the 57-year-old in what is referred to as a locked-in state. He was fully conscious but unable to move any part of his body, except his eyelids and mouth, or to breathe. After months at the Montreal Neurological Institute, Rabbi Cahana is now at a rehabilitation centre and making progress that has amazed his doctors. Rabbi Cahana was beaming throughout the evening. He is now able to speak, although not always audibly, and move his head. He had words for everyone who greeted him. His wife, Karen, said her husband felt blessed to be back at his old shul. His congregants and [city] councilors gathered around him, wishing him well, touching him, kissing him, taking his photo. The children presented him with a poster they made, with their photos affixed to a menorah and with the words ‘We Love You/ Kindle Our Spirit.…’ The assembled [sang] the traditional song of welcome, Haveinu Shalom Aleichem.”—Janice Arnold, describing Rabbi Ronnie Cahana’s heart-warming return to the Beth-El synagogue and his miraculous, ongoing recovery from a severe stroke last summer. (Canadian Jewish News, December 22.)
Short Takes
IRAN SCIENTISTS PRODUCE NUCLEAR FUEL ROD—(Tehran) According to Iran’s nuclear agency, Iranian scientists have produced the nation’s first nuclear fuel rod, a feat of engineering the West doubted Tehran capable of. The announcement marks another step in Iran’s efforts to achieve proficiency in the entire nuclear fuel cycle—from exploring uranium ore to producing nuclear fuel—despite U.N. sanctions and international measures to get Iran to halt its atomic work. Iran’s atomic energy agency’s website said the first domestically made rod has already been inserted into the core of Tehran’s research nuclear reactor. The announcement comes amid heightened US-Iran tensions, resulting from Iran’s decision last week to conduct a large-scale naval drill simulating the closing of the strategic Strait of Hormuz. (Wall Street Journal, January 1.)
US 5TH FLEET WON’T ALLOW DISRUPTION IN HORMUZ—(Washington) A spokesperson for the Bahrain-based American Fifth Fleet has confirmed that the US will not allow any disruption of traffic in the Strait of Hormuz, saying “The free flow of goods and services through the Strait of Hormuz is vital to regional and global prosperity…[and] any disruption will not be tolerated.” The comments came in response to a warning made last week by Iran’s first vice-president that the flow of crude would be stopped from the Strait if foreign sanctions are imposed on Iranian oil exports. Despite the intimidation, U.S. legislators have since passed new sanctions against Iran, targeting financial institutions that deal with Iran’s central bank, Tehran’s main conduit for oil sales. In response, Iran has raised the stakes by threatening to take action if a U.S. aircraft carrier which left the area before Iranian naval exercises returns to the Gulf. (Reuters, December 28 & January 3.)
ARAB WORLD DIPLOMACY FAILS TO STOP SYRIA CLASH—(Beirut) The Arab League has conceded that outside observers have failed to halt the lethal violence in Syrian President Bashar Assad’s 10-month crackdown on anti-regime protestors. Syria’s Local Coordination Committees, an activist network, alleges at least 390 people have been killed since the Arab League observers arrived in Syria on Dec. 29, and Nabil Al Arabi, the secretary-general of the 22-member pan-Arab organization, acknowledged this week that regime-led violence persisted in major cities. Arabi’s comments come amid mounting criticism that the observer mission, charged with monitoring compliance with a November deal under which Assad agreed to pull security forces from city streets, release political prisoners, allow unfettered access to foreign journalists and begin talks with political opposition groups, has done little to resolve the conflict. The Arab League mission is scheduled to release a report on its findings later this week. (Wall Street Journal, January 3.)
ISRAEL WORRIED SYRIA WEAPONS GOING TO TERRORISTS—(Jerusalem) Concern is growing in Israel over the possibility that Syria’s arsenal of chemical weapons will fall into terrorist hands, anxiety partially stemming from intelligence indicating that advanced weaponry has already been moved out of Syria by Hezbollah. The risk is compounded by the fact that only 60 percent of Israelis are in possession of gas masks, with the IDF currently lacking NIS 1.2 billion in funding to complete the production and distribution of masks to the rest of the public. Syria is believed to have one of the most extensive chemical weapon arsenals in the world, reportedly including sarin, VX and mustard gas. (Jerusalem Post, January 3.)
MUSLIM BROTHERHOOD VOWS NOT TO RECOGNIZE ISRAEL—(Jerusalem) According to Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood deputy leader Rashad Bayoumi, the party will not recognize Israel’s legitimacy “under any circumstance.” In an interview with the al-Hayat Arabic daily, Bayoumi asserted that normalization was also “not an option” as “[Israel] is an occupying criminal enemy.” The deputy leader also stressed that no Muslim Brotherhood members would ever negotiate with Israelis, and that the Brotherhood plans to initiate legal procedures towards cancelling the 1979 Israel-Egypt peace treaty: “The Brotherhood respects international conventions, but we will take legal action against the peace treaty with the Zionist entity,” he told the newspaper. (Jerusalem Post, January 1.)
MUBARAK TRIAL RESUMES AFTER DELAY—(Cairo) The trial of ousted Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak has resumed following a delay of almost two months. The deposed leader faces a range of charges including involvement in the deaths of hundreds of protesters and corruption during his three decades in office. Mubarak, who is being held under arrest in a hospital where doctors say he has a heart condition, was wheeled into the court on a hospital trolley covering his face and surrounded by police. The trial was delayed after lawyers representing families of those killed filed a suit calling for presiding judge Ahmed Refaat and the two other judges to be replaced, for failing to give prosecutors adequate time to question Field Marshal Mohamed Hussein Tantawi—who currently heads Egypt’s ruling military council—during his court appearance. The request was rejected. (Reuters, December 28.)
ISRAELI, PALESTINIAN NEGOTIATORS MEET IN AMMAN—(Jerusalem) Israeli and Palestinian negotiators have met in Amman for the first time in 16 months to discuss how, and whether, diplomatic negotiations will proceed. Chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat reiterated on Monday the Palestinian Authority’s demand for a full Israeli cessation of construction in settlements, and acceptance of the June 4, 1967 lines as the basis for a two-state solution, saying this would pave the way for the resumption of serious negotiations. According to Mark Regev, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu’s spokesman, Israel’s position is that the talks should be held without any preconditions, and that they should deal substantively with all core issues. (Jerusalem Post, January 3.)
ERDOGAN TO HANIYEH: TALKS MUST INCLUDE HAMAS—(Jerusalem) Hamas Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh has received a warm welcome from Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan during an official meeting in Istanbul. Palestinian sources said that the leaders discussed “the ‘Jewfication’ of Jerusalem, and the cruel attacks against its Arab residents,” and agreed that a permanent solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict could not be reached without involving Hamas in negotiations. Haniyeh reportedly thanked Erdogan for his firm stance on the Palestinian issue, commending him for demonstrating “solidarity with the residents of the Gaza Strip during Operation Cast Lead.” Haniyeh also praised “the martyrs of freedom” who perished on the Turkish-sponsored Mavi Marmara, before stating that the “Arab Spring is turning to Islamic Spring.” (Ynet News, January 1 & Wall Street Journal, January 2.)
HAMAS SAYS GAZA NOT “OCCUPIED”; U.N. DISAGREES—(Geneva) The UN’s continued labeling of the Gaza Strip as “occupied” has been directly contradicted by a top leader of Hamas. Mahmoud Zahhar confirmed that there was no Israeli occupation of the territory when denying his party would ever take up peaceful resistance against Israel: “Against whom could we [Palestinians] demonstrate in the Gaza Strip? When Gaza was occupied, that model was applicable,” he stated. Zahar’s comment follows growing recognition among international lawyers that the UN’s insistence on designating Gaza as “occupied” is unfounded. In a recent article in the American University International Law Review, legal scholar Elizabeth Samson explained that under the Geneva Conventions and international judicial precedents, Gaza can no longer be considered occupied as Israel no longer exercises “effective control.” The Israeli Supreme Court also ruled on January 30, 2008 that Israel had disengaged from the Gaza Strip and had “no effective control over what occurred there.”(UN Watch, January 3.)
TERRORIST RELEASED IN SCHALIT DEAL NAMED PA MINISTER—(Jerusalem) Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas has issued a presidential decree appointing a prisoner released in the Gilad Schalit deal as his adviser for local government. The former detainee, Mahmoud Awad Damra, was sentenced in 2006 to 15 years in prison for his role in terrorist attacks against Israel while serving as commander of Yasser Arafat’s Force 17 squad. Damra was found guilty of planning and coordinating the logistics for numerous attacks in which many Israeli civilians were killed. (Jerusalem Post, January 2.)
U.S. PREPARES FOR A CURTAILED RELATIONSHIP WITH PAKISTAN—(Washington) According to reports, the United States’ broad security partnership with Pakistan is over, with the US now seeking to salvage a more limited counterterrorism alliance. “We’ve closed the chapter on the post-9/11 period. Pakistan has told us very clearly that they are re-evaluating the entire relationship,” a senior US official confirmed. The reduction in coordination will require the US to restrict drone strikes and limit the number of spies and soldiers on Pakistani soil, as well as spend more to transport supplies through Pakistan to allied troops in Afghanistan. The new terms were immediately made overt last month after an American airstrike killed 26 Pakistani soldiers near the Afghan border. In response, Pakistan closed the supply routes into Afghanistan, boycotted a conference in Germany on the future of Afghanistan and forced the United States to shut its drone operations at a base in southwestern Pakistan. The new relationship will be limited to a much narrower set of agreements on core priorities that Pakistan wants spelled out in writing and agreed to in advance. American aid to Pakistan will also be sharply reduced. (NY Times, December 25.)
IRON DOME SUCCESSFUL IN DOWNING 75% OF ROCKETS—(Jerusalem) According to an analysis of Iron Dome’s performance, the counter-rocket defense system has succeeded in intercepting rockets from Gaza 75 percent of the time it fired interceptors at incoming enemy projectiles. Since the Israel Air Force deployed the system in southern Israel in late March, it has been activated during the three significant rounds of violence between Israel and Palestinian terrorists in the Gaza Strip—in April, August and October. In the first round of violence in April, for example, the Iron Dome succeeded in intercepting eight of 10 rockets; in August 22 of 28, and in October 3 of 9. Following the October violence, the IDF conducted an inquiry into the Iron Dome’s performance and discovered that a radar failure caused some of the interceptors to miss their targets. Israel currently has three Iron Dome batteries in operation and plans to deploy a fourth in the coming months, and a total of nine batteries by mid-2013. (Jerusalem Post, December 30.)
FOXMAN TARGETED IN PLOT—(New York) An armed ex-con has been arrested in Arizona for allegedly plotting the murder of Abraham Foxman, head of the Anti-Defamation League in New York. Danny Lee Warner, a leader of the Silent Aryan Warriors during his 10 years in prison, had told his wife he was “going to New York to kill some people, [including] Jews.” Warner has been charged with a parole violation, gun possession and possession of stolen property. (NY Post, January 1.)
