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In Egyptian Run-off Election Old vs. New
The Muslim Brotherhood's candidate will face a hold-over from the Hosni Mubarak administration in a run-off election to determine Egypt’s next president. The election commission announced on Monday that Mohammad Morsi of the Freedom and Justice party will stand against Mubarak’s former prime minister and confidant, Ahmad Shafiq, when Egyptians return to the polls on June 16 and 17. A total of 13 candidates were on the first-round ballot. Some expressed surprise that someone so close to Mubarak would fare so well in the first free election since the longtime leader was overthrown.
Rare Russian Criticism of Al-Asad Follows Houla Massacre
Russia, which along with China has been a chief supporter of Syrian strongman Bashar Al-Asad during the year-long rebellion that has left more than 10,000 Syrians dead, issued a rare rebuke of the Syrian regime on Monday when Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said, “The [Al-Asad] government bears the main responsibility for what is going on.” Lavrov spoke to reporters following a meeting with visiting British Foreign Secretary William Hague. More than 100 civilians, many of them children, were killed in heavy artillery shelling of the town of Houla on Friday raising outrage around the world. The actual series of events remains sketchy, with questions remaining over who actually killed the victims who died from execution-style gunshot wounds rather than from injuries consistent with artillery barrages. Al-Asad’s loss of Russian and Chinese support in the UN Security Council will leave him vulnerable to binding resolutions that have so far been blocked by his two supporters.
Turkey Indicts Israelis Involved in Gaza Flotilla
Former Israeli army chief-of-staff Lt. Gen. (Ret.) Gabi Ashkenazi, the former naval commander, the former chief of military intelligence and a former senior air force official have been indicted by a Turkish court for their actions in the 2010 “Gaza Flotilla.” Israeli naval commandoes overtook the Mavi Marmara, which was flying the Turkish flag when it tried to pierce Israel’s blockade of the Gaza Strip. While Israel claims professional provocateurs planning to foment violence were on board, Turkish officials insist the nine men who died in the skirmish with the commandoes were merely passengers protesting Israel’s policies toward Gaza’s Palestinians. The incident was a watershed in the deteriorating relations between Israel and Turkey, which continues to demand that Israel apologize and pay reparations to the families of those killed aboard the ship. In the language of the indictment, the Israelis “incited to kill monstrously and by torturing.” Reacting to news of the indictment, Ashkenazi defended the actions of the commandoes, suggesting that, “eventually, common sense will prevail.” An Israeli commission that investigated the incident determined that the Israeli military “acted in accordance with international law.” Legal experts have expressed doubt that the indictments amount to more than a public declaration against Israel.
Movement in Gaza: Election Commission Finally to Begin Registration
In a rare sign of movement toward Fatah-Hamas reconciliation, the Hamas-run Gaza government is allowing the election commission to begin the process of fielding technocrats to fill the seats of a unity cabinet and registering voters for the upcoming election. Palestinian Authority President and Fatah head Mahmoud Abbas had refused to continue reconciliation talks until the election process was set into motion. The Ma’an news agency quoted an unnamed Palestinian official who said Abbas will meet with Hamas leader Khaled Mashal next week to begin making cabinet assignments. The reconciliation agreement reached more than a year ago stated that non-politically-aligned technocrats would serve until elections could establish a full unity government. The concept of technocrats is intended to provide a mechanism for nations to continue aid to the Palestinian Authority even if they are prohibited from providing support to governments that include entities found on the list of terrorist organizations. There has been no official comment from Western governments, including the United States, on whether the formula will be acceptable.
Israeli Policemen Found Guilty in Death of Palestinian Prisoner
A court found two Israeli policemen guilty of negligent homicide in the death of a Palestinian prisoner four years ago. The verdict, handed down on Monday, found that Omar Abu-Jariban, who had been detained for being in Israel illegally, was left alongside a roadway without food and water by two officers who were sending him back to Palestinian territory against police regulations. Abu-Jariban, who had just been released from the hospital following treatment for injuries sustained when he crashed a stolen car, was reportedly still attached to a catheter and wearing pajamas when he was dropped off by a policeman. That officer and his superior who ordered Abu-Jariban’s deportation were the defendants in the case.
Campaign for Lebanese Women’s Rights Going Nowhere
Despite the creation of a ministerial committee to deal with women’s rights in Lebanon, activists say the panel is not advancing any tangible changes. According to a report in the Beirut-based Daily Star, when a Lebanese woman marries a foreigner their children are not considered Lebanese citizens and do not receive health and education benefits. In March, for the first time, the issue reached the cabinet, but according to the newspaper was shouted down by opponents, after which Prime Minister Najib Mikati appointed the ministerial committee to debate it. But nothing concrete has resulted, according to proponents. Most cases are of marriages between Lebanese women and Palestinian men, who are believed to be hoping to gain the rights afforded to Lebanese citizens, which are denied to the large Palestinian community in Lebanon. The proposal, which was drafted by the National Commission for Lebanese Women, would allow citizenship to be passed down to the children of Lebanese women without reference to the spouse – except in the case of Palestinian men. In that case, special provisions would allow children citizen-like rights until the age of 18.
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