|
|
 |
 |
Gaza Rockets Again Fall Inside of Israel; Egypt Brokering Cease-fire
 |
|
While Egypt is said to be trying to broker a deal that would end the current spate of rocket fire into Israel from the Gaza Strip, more missiles were launched Wednesday night and Thursday morning. At least one rocket that fell near the southern coastal city of Ashqelon triggered the Iron Dome anti-missile defense system. The seven missiles that fell in the early hours of Thursday belied a Hamas statement issued the day before referring to efforts by Egypt to broker a ceasefire and saying it was ready to halt hostilities if Israel would do so as well. This followed a third day of aerial bombardments by Israel’s air force and the deaths of two Hamas operatives. More than 120 rockets have been fired into Israel from Gaza this week. Classes in Israeli schools within rocket-range were cancelled on Thursday. A new terrorist organization calling itself the “Shura Council of Mujahideen in the Holy Land” has taken credit for Monday’s cross-border attack from Egypt that killed an Israeli man. Israeli policy is to hold Hamas responsible for any attack emanating from the area around the Gaza Strip.
Egypt’s Election Commission Delays Release of Presidential Results
Egypt’s election commission will likely delay announcing the official results of the runoff election for president because of the large number of complaints (almost 400) already lodged and the competing claims of victory made by both candidates. A member of the commission said it is still hearing from the parties’ representatives about the alleged infractions. Mohammad Morsi, candidate of the Muslim Brotherhood’s Freedom and Justice Party, declared victory before the polls closed. Ahmed Shafiq, Hosni Mubarak’s last prime minister, later claimed victory as well, insisting that he received 51.5 per cent of the vote. The official announcement was to have been made on Thursday, but that now appears unlikely. Tension continues to rise in Egypt after the ruling military council (SCAF) dissolved parliament and took control of the process by which a new constitution is being written. It has forbidden any consideration of returning to the polling stations for another parliamentary election until the new constitution is ready.
Death and Destruction Continue in Syria; Arab League Calls for Russian Arms Halt
Fighting and bloodshed remained unabated on Wednesday as President Bashar Al-Assad’s troops pounded away at the central provinces of Homs and Hama according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. The death toll on Wednesday was at least 47, including civilians, government soldiers and opposition forces. A car bomb killed 5 Syrian soldiers manning a checkpoint near the border with Turkey. Al-Assad’s forces were reported to have used attack helicopters against the opposition at villages located in Homs province. On Thursday, the Arab League called on Russia to stop arming Syria. The League’s deputy secretary general Ahmad Bin Hilli told the Interfax news agency that, “Any assistance to violence must be ceased because when you supply military equipment, you help kill people. This must stop.” Bin Hilli also called for Kofi Anan’s peace plan to be given the teeth it needs in order to be enforceable, “so we can be sure that all sides are observing the plan.” The death toll since March 2011 has now passed 14,400.
American University of Beirut Award to Donna Shalala Attacked over “Israel Engagement”
The decision by the American University of Beirut to present former US Secretary of Health Donna Shalala with an honorary doctorate is being attacked by students and faculty who charge Shalala with supporting “engagement with Israel.” According to a letter circulating at the university, “Donna Shalala has established clear academic ties with the Israeli apartheid regime and has been one of the leading voices opposing the boycott of Israel…Can AUB find only those complicit with Zionism to honor?” The Shalala issue marks the second consecutive year the administration’s selection of an honoree is being challenged. Last year, students and faculty successfully prevented the awarding of a doctorate to former World Bank head James Wolfensohn. Critics of the Shalala selection cite her previous receipt of similar degrees from Israeli institutions including the Technion, Haifa and Ben Gurion Universities; and the fact that the University of Miami, of which Shalala is currently president, has joint academic programs with Israeli universities.
|
| | | | |
|
