Netanyahu’s Party Backs Minister Who Bashed Obama Administration

Culture Minister Limor Livnat, a long-time political ally of Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, has received support and kudos from leading members of the Likud party following a tirade on Thursday in which she called the Obama administration “terrible.” The incident was part of the indignation many members of Netanyahu’s party felt after he announced a 10-month freeze on all building in communities located on land acquired in the 1967 war. Commonly referred to as settlements, the Israeli communities are found in areas upon which the Palestinians intend to build their own state – a position for which the Palestinians have overwhelming international support, including that of the White House. But continued development of Israeli towns in post-1967 areas is one of the basic principles of the right-wing party, and many in the Likud are already comparing Netanyahu’s actions to those of former Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, who traumatized the right with his forcible unilateral withdrawal of Jewish communities in the Gaza Strip, a move critics say has proven futile in the quest for peace. One party official branded President Obama “an enemy of the Jews and the worst regime there ever was for the state of Israel.”  Palestinian Authority head Mahmoud ‘Abbas rejected the Israeli freeze during a visit to Venezuela on Friday. ‘Abbas told reporters that Netanyahu “didn't bring anything new because the occupation is going to continue in the West Bank and in Jerusalem. The Israeli Prime Minister had to choose between peace and occupation. Lamentably, he chose occupation." 

‘Abbas Backs-off Promise to Quit; Will Stay Through Next Election

Palestinian Authority head Mahmoud ‘Abbas has partially backed-off his threat to leave his post. During a visit to Chile on Wednesday, ‘Abbas said that he is prepared to remain in his post until elections are held. That depends on an agreement being reached between Fatah and Hamas, which has been in the works for months under Egyptian mediation, but with no success. Unless the two factions reach an understanding, Hamas, which rules the Gaza Strip, will not allow Gazans to participate in the election. The Media Line recently reported that if ‘Abbas were to quit, the Hamas-loyal speaker of the Palestinian Legislative Council would, by act of law, succeed to his post – an occurrence seemingly unacceptable to Fatah and to western nations including the United States. 

Iran Digs-in After IAEA Resolution; Will “Produce Own Nuclear Fuel”

One day after the international Atomic Energy Agency passed a resolution demanding that Iran halt construction of a new enrichment facility to prepare uranium for use in a medical research reactor in Tehran, the Iranians responded with a defiant pledge to enrich its own uranium. The rebuff came in a speech by senior Iranian cleric Ahmad Khatami at Tehran University. He demanded that the IAEA provide the fuel needed for the Tehran reactor, otherwise the Iranians will enrich it themselves.  Previously, the Iranians rejected an IAEA proposal under which its uranium stockpile would be shipped to Russia for enrichment. 

Costa Rican President Supports De-militarized Palestine

Costa Rican President Oscar Arias has voiced his support for a demilitarized Palestinian state. In an interview with the Israeli website YNet, Arias, who was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1984 said, "A small, poor state like Palestine doesn't need an army." Drawing on his own expertise as a negotiator, Arias admonished the Israelis and Palestinians to place the tough issues on the table “early, rather than later.” He was quoted as saying that, “If we won't do it at the beginning of the road, it will only get harder. Peace requires hard work, patience, and perseverance."  

Jewish National Fund Donates Thousands of Trees to Palestinian Planned City

The Jewish National Fund (JNF) has donated 3,000 trees for the reforestation of the first Palestinian planned city. Rawabi, meaning “hills,” is being built about seven miles north of Ramallah in the West Bank. As The Media Line has pointed out in its coverage of the project, the Palestinian designers of Rawabi have drawn on Israel’s experience in several aspects, one of which is the mass planting of trees. A JNF official told the newspaper Ha’aretz that the organization “is helping in any way we can.” Several years ago a major flack broke out among JNF’s overseas supporters when it became known that the organization would not fund any communities or projects “over the green line”, meaning in areas acquired in the 1967 war, including the area where Rawabi is located.  

Dubai’s Financial Crisis Hits Palestinians Hard

Palestinians are among those most effected by the economic crisis in Dubai. Foreign workers make up as much as 70% of the workforce in the Gulf States, many of whom are Palestinians. At least 100,000 have already lost their jobs. The loss trickles-back to the Palestinian territories where families of Gulf State laborers live off of the money sent home each payday. While some Palestinians have move to Qatar where the government is actively working to stem the downtrend with cash infusions to keep businesses operating, Dubai has virtually frozen most major projects. 

Jeddah Death Toll Exceeds 100 in Flash Flooding

Flash flooding caused by torrential rains in the Saudi Arabian city of Jeddah has cause more than 100 deaths according to officials there. The death toll is expected to rise considerably amid reports that many are missing since the flooding began. Heavy rain also fell in Mecca where the annual Hajj pilgrimage is under way, but no serious consequences, injuries or deaths have been reported beyond those reported in Jeddah. 

More Fatah “Wanted” Granted Israeli Amnesty

Another group of Fatah members wanted by Israel’s security services has been granted amnesty under terms of a 2007 agreement. The pact allows Fatah operatives on the wanted list to surrender their weapons to the ‘Abbas-loyal Palestinian security services; vow to forego any violent activity; and remain inside the Palestinian areas. The program was originally initiated as a gesture to boost the esteem of Palestinian Authority head Mahmoud ‘Abbas among his people. About 150 Fatah members have accepted the Israeli amnesty program since it began. 

Israeli Tourism Minister Says Development of Tourism Sites in Post-1967 Areas Will Continue

Despite the announced freeze in building in post-1967 territories for the next ten months, work will continue on Israeli tourism sites located there. Tourism Minister Stas Misezhnikov said on Saturday that sites at three locations Israel insists will remain under its control in any agreement with the Palestinians will move forward with tourism-related construction. They include the traditional baptism site of Jesus in the Jerusalem suburb of Ma’aleh Adumim; the Herodian National Park in the Gush Etzion area south of Jerusalem; and the stalactite cave at the Samarian city of Ariel. The tourism exceptions to the freeze are the second set to be announced. Defense Minister Ehud Barak previously said construction on a number of public buildings in post-1967 communities will continue as well. The Palestinians already registered anger at Prime Minister Netanyahu’s exception for building in east Jerusalem. 

Birth Rate of Israeli Arabs Down 1%

The birth rate of Israeli Arabs has dropped a full percent since 2000. New figures released on the occasion of the Muslim festival of Eid Al-Adha show the birth rate down from 3.8% in 2000 to 2.8% at the end of 2008 – a considerable drop in demographic terms. The Muslim population of Israel, including east Jerusalem, stands at 1.24 million out of a total population of 7.5 million. 

Mossad Training Exercise Ends in Embarrassment

Israel’s famed Mossad intelligence agency suffered severe embarrassment last week when a trainee who was taking part in a training exercise that included planting a fake bomb under a car was spotted by a passer-by and reported to police. The area was sealed-off, the whistle-blower brought in to identify the “perpetrator.” Israeli media reports that 3 Mossad operatives were suspended following the disastrous exercise. 

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