Israel, the mid-east, and Russia

[Shammu]

Sunday, July 9, 2006
JMCC Poll: 77.2% support abduction of soldier, 60.4% support continuing firing rockets
Jerusalem Media &Communication Center - JMCC Public Opinion Poll Unit

Poll Result On Palestinian Attitudes Towards The Abduction of the Israeli
Soldier & Firing of Rockets


Methodology :
A random sample of 1197 people over the age of 18 was interviewed
face-to-face throughout the West Bank and Gaza Strip between 21st and 22nd
of June 2006. The margin of error is 3 percent, with a confidence level of
95.


Results:

Q.1 what do you think about the military operation that included the
abduction of The Israeli soldier?Would you say that you support, oppose, or
no answer?
77.2 support
21.7 Oppose
1.1 No answer \ Don' t Know

Q.2 Do you support the resumption of the military operations that aim to
abduct Israeli Soldiers as a suitable response within the current political
conditions, or do you reject them and find them harfmful to the Palestinian
national interests?
66.8 Suitable response within the current political conditions
30.7 I reject them and find them harmful to Palestinian national interests
2.5 No answer \ I don't know


Q. 3 In light of the current crisis resulting from the abduction of the
Israeli soldier, in your opinion what is the most suitable option for
dealing with the crisis?
17.6 To release the abducted soldier to avoid an incursion in Gaza
68.8 No release of the abducted soldier until the release of Palestinian
prisoners
10.9 To try the Israeli soldier and put him in a Palestinian prison
2.7 No answer \ I don't know

Q4. Do you expect the crisis of the Israeli soldier to end with gains
achieved by the Palestinian side or losses incurred by the Palestinian side
or do you think the end of this crisis will not affect the Palestinian
situation?
36.9 The Palestinian side will achieve gins
46.7 The Palestinian side will incur losses
13.9 It will not affect the Palestinian situation
2.5 No answer \ don't know


Q5. Do you support that the Palestinian side continues firing rockets
against targets as a suitable response within the current political
conditions, or do you reject them and find them harmful to the Palestinian
national interests?

60.4 Suitable response within the current political conditions
36.0 I reject them and find them harmful to Palestinian National Interests
3.6 No answer \ Don't know


Q 29 If the elections happened another time today, which list would you vote
for?
Alternative list ( DFLP, PPP, Fida, and independents coalition) 3.5
Independent Palestine list ( Mustafa Barghouthi and the independents) 3.2
Martyr Abu Ali Mustafa List 4.4
Martyr Abu Abbas List 1.0
Freedom and Social Justice list 0.8
Change and reform list 33.1
The National Coalition for
Democratic Justice 0.6
The Third Road List 2.8
Freedom and Independence List 1.1
Palestine Justice List 0.5
Fateh List 32.2
Won't vote 13.8
No answer 3.0

JMCC Poll: 77.2% support abduction of soldier, 60.4% support continuing firing rocket

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One thing I do want to make clear, I think (this is my opinion only) this is the war, and rumor of war, in Matthew 24:6

Matthew 24:6 And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars; see that you are not frightened or troubled, for this must take place, but the end is not yet.

The reason I think this is because, the mid-east hasn't attacked Israel. Instead, Israel has gone in after her kidnapped soldier. Which I would expect any nation of worth, would do.

Resting in the hands, of the Lord.
Bob

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 17 Arrested in Counter-Terror Operations
07:30 Jul 11, '06 / 15 Tammuz 5766

(IsraelNN.com) IDF soldiers involved in counter-terror operations throughout Judea and Samaria during the night arrested 17 terrorists. Arrests were made in Tulkarem, Hevron and in the Ramallah area.

Suspects in custody include Hamas, Popular Resistance and Fatah Tanzim terrorists. No injuries were reported.

17 Arrested in Counter-Terror Operations

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 Terror War Against Israel Continues to Escalate
09:03 Jul 11, '06 / 15 Tammuz 5766

(IsraelNN.com) Islamic Jihad leaders released a statement confirming Monday night’s attempted launch of a rocket from the Jenin area towards the community of Ram-On, in the Tanachim area, south of Afula.

The rocket landed in an area under Palestinian Authority (PA) autonomous control.

Military intelligence has been warning that tenacious efforts to begin firing rockets from PA areas in Samaria continue -- rockets that could also strike communities in the Sharon area, communities such as Kfar Saba and Petach Tikvah, which border PA areas in Samaria.

Terror War Against Israel Continues to Escalate

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 Japanese PM Heading to Israel
08:08 Jul 11, '06 / 15 Tammuz 5766

(IsraelNN.com) Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi is on his way to Israel where he will meet with Israeli and Palestinian Authority (PA) officials. Koizumi is expected to urge the sides to enter into negotiations towards resolving the ongoing conflict.

Japanese PM Heading to Israel

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Finnish expert meets with Mashaal regarding kidnapped soldier

The Saudi Arabian al-Watan newspaper reported that a Finnish expert in hostage negotiations is making covert efforts to mediate between Israel and Hamas' politburo chief Khaled Mashaal, in an effort to solve the crisis surrounding the kidnapping of Cpl. Gilad Shalit.

According to the report, the Israeli government asked for the expert's involvement and he recently met with Mashaal in Damascus.

Finnish expert meets with Mashaal regarding kidnapped soldier

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Soldier sentenced to 45 months jail for handing Kalansuwa, resident


The military court has sentenced a female soldier to 45 months prison time after she was convicted of handing over three weapons to a resident of Kalansuwa.

The Judges said they viewed this incident in the utmost severity in light of the IDF operation in Gaza. The Judges also mentioned the soldier Gilad Shalit who was abducted by terror organization in the Gaza Strip.

Soldier sentenced to 45 months jail for handing Kalansuwa, resident

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Hamas PM slams White House in appeal to Americans

WASHINGTON 11/07/2006 23:46

Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniya, whose Hamas-led government is ostracised in the West, emerged from the shadows to slam US Mideast policy in a direct appeal to Americans.

In an opinion published in The Washington Post entitled "Aggression Under False Pretenses," Haniya accused the White House of sabotaging his government, and Israel and the United States of "economic and diplomatic warfare".

In the piece, datelined "Gaza, Palestine," Haniya reiterated Hamas's outlined solution to the Mideast conflict based on a long-term truce, or hudna, between Israel and a Palestinian state within the 1967 borders.

"Our new government was met from the very beginning by acts of explicit, declared sabotage by the White House," he wrote.

Slamming "America's complacency" in the face of "war crimes" rooted in a "rhetorical green light: 'Israel has a right to defend itself'," Haniya heavily criticised an Israeli offensive in Gaza, now into a third week.

The offensive, he said, was the "explosive follow-up to a five-month campaign of economic and diplomatic warfare directed by the United States and Israel" ever since his Islamist movement won a January parliamentary election.

In a direct appeal to ordinary Americans from a senior leader of a movement branded a terror organisation by the United States, Haniya urged them to look critically at their government's policy.

"As I inspect the ruins of our infrastructure... all turned to rubble once more by F-16s and American-made missiles, my thoughts again turn to the minds of Americans. What do they think of this?

"Surely the American people grow weary of this folly, after 50 years and 160 billion dollars in taxpayer support for Israel's war-making capacity -- its 'defense'," Haniya added.

"Some Americans, I believe, must be asking themselves if all this blood and treasure could not have bought more tangible results for Palestine if only US policies had been predicated from the start on historical truth, equity and justice," he added.

Haniya said Israel's onslaught on Gaza, launched following the abduction of an Israeli soldier and in the face of rocket attacks, was part of an operation to undermine his government that had been planned for months.

He accused Israel of using Corporal Gilad Shalit's abduction as a "pretext" for the offensive, while "thousands of Palestinians, including hundreds of women and children, remain in Israeli jails" for resisting occupation.

"A nuclear Israel possesses the 13th largest military force on the planet, one that is used to rule an area about the size of New Jersey and whose adversaries there have no conventional armed forces," he charged.

Haniya, whose Gaza offices were bombed by Israel last week and who has been subject to indirect death threats from the Israeli government, threatened there could be no peace unless the Jewish state stepped back.

"We present this clear message: If Israel will not allow Palestinians to live in peace, dignity and national integrity, Israelis themselves will not be able to enjoy those same rights," he said.

The solution was to address the "full dimensions of Palestinian national rights," namely "statehood for the West Bank and Gaza, a capital in Arab East Jerusalem and resolving the 1948 Palestinian refugee issue fairly," he wrote.

"If Americans only knew the truth, possibility might become reality," he finished.

Hamas's charter advocates the destruction of the Jewish state and the establishment of an independent state in all historic Palestine.

The Islamist movement, however, last month reached agreement on a national conciliation document with the Fatah party of moderate president Mahmud Abbas, which also called for a Palestinian state in the 1967 borders. The acceptance of the document has been seen by some as implicit recognition from Hamas of Israel's right to exist.

In Israel, Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni rejected Haniya's proposed solution to the Mideast conflict, stating that it did not imply the recognition of the Jewish state's right to exist and rejected a two-state solution.

"The creation of a Palestinian state is the whole solution for the Palestinians, wherever they may be -- those Palestinians in the territories and the refugees," she told reporters in Herzliya, north of Tel Aviv.

Livni said that after having read Haniya's piece it was clear that he did not wish to resolve the conflict on the basis of the 1967 border, but rather go back to 1948 "fundamental question" of Israel's existence.

"If he wants to discuss the 1948 questions there is no recognition of Israel's right to exist," she said.

Hamas PM slams White House in appeal to Americans

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 Iran vows not to back down, warns of 'long road' in nuclear standoff

BRUSSELS 11/07/2006 21:05

Iran has vowed not to cave in to international pressure, while its nuclear envoy, Ari Larijani, warned of a "long road" ahead before Tehran's atomic standoff with the West can be resolved.

President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad promised Tuesday Iran would continue sensitive nuclear fuel cycle work and would not back down, even as Larijani held fresh talks with European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana on the high-stakes impasse.

"The Iranian nation is determined to obtain all of its rights, including full nuclear rights and the complete exploitation of the nuclear fuel cycle," Ahmadinejad was quoted as saying by the ISNA news agency.

"It will not back down one iota in the face of ill-intentioned propaganda," he said, after the United States and Britain warned of a return to the United Nations Security Council if his regime drags its feet.

Iran insists that it only wants to develop nuclear energy but its lack of cooperation with the UN nuclear watchdog and enrichment activities have raised suspicions that it is covertly trying to build an atomic bomb.

In an effort to get it to freeze uranium enrichment -- a process needed to fuel a nuclear reactor but which could also be used to make a bomb -- the West on June 6 offered Iran a package of economic and political incentives.

The Brussels meeting was aimed at taking stock of developments since then, and to lay the groundwork for talks in France on wednesday between foreign ministers from the five permanent UN Security Council members plus Germany.

"During these negotiations certain important points came up. Mr Solana must consult his friends and then we will have to define together how we will proceed because we have a long road to travel," Larijani said afterward.

"We have to be precise and patient," he said.

Solana said he would report to the ministers from the six powers which drew up the offer and "we will make an analysis ... to see how we proceed".

Talking to reporters later at the Iranian embassy, Larijani was more upbeat, saying that the offer was broadly "suitable" but that the issue of suspending enrichment remained the central problem.

"There are different ambiguities but the offer has a central core that is suitable, acceptable," he said.

"We think that the Iranian dossier can be resolved very easily through negotiations," he said. "We are determined to see that this happens as quickly as possible but it is normal to clear up the ambiguities."

An Iranian official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said: "We agreed on a number of principles but there is disagreement over suspension (of uranium enrichment)."

He noted that Solana "was unable to respond to all questions" posed by the Iranian delegation and that he would "need to obtain a mandate" from the six powers to do so.

The six had wanted Iran to respond positively to their offer before a meeting of leaders of the Group of Eight major industrialised countries starting in Saint Petersburg this weekend.

But Ahmadinejad has vowed that Tehran will not respond before August.

The West has made it clear that rejecting the offer would relaunch debate at the UN Security Council on how to further escalate pressure on Tehran.

But it is unclear exactly where this would lead, in particular since Russia and China, which have veto rights, have made it clear they oppose sanctions.

In Washington, US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with British Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett, warned overnight: "It is really time to get an authoritative answer."

"We hope the Iranians choose the path before them for cooperation but, of course, we can always return to the other path should we need to," Rice told a news conference.

"And that path ... was, of course, the path to the Security Council."

Iran vows not to back down, warns of 'long road' in nuclear standoff

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Policies of the U.S., Israel have put us on path to World War III

July 12, 2006

On June 9, Israeli gunboats opened fire on beach-goers in Gaza, killing several people, including most of an entire family. The Israeli government provoked the Palestinian people with this attack .

They do not want peace. This is textbook psychological warfare and this will continue until there is a full-out war in the Middle East.

The five reasons why this is all possible.

• Political: AIPAC — the Israeli lobby.

• Economical: Over $5 billion a year paid to Israel by the taxes of all U.S. citizens.

• Military: Defense contractors from the U.S. military-industrial complex sell weapons to Israel; the money Israel uses to purchase these weapons comes from the American taxpayers.

• Religious: 99 percent of American Christians believe that God wants them to support, without question, the nation of Israel, and they think they are doing God's work when they support the slaughter of hundreds of thousands of people around the world and the empire building of the United States.

• The Holocaust: Everyone in the United States has been taught in the schools, churches and everyday in the media how we must never forget the Holocaust, as if a Jewish life is more precious to God than the life of a person of another faith or a person from another part of the world.

Jesus Christ warned us of those people in power in the United States and Israel when He said: "I know the blasphemy of them who say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan."

It's time to tell the United States and Israel that we refuse to allow any more bloodshed and refuse to support their murderous rampage toward World War III.

Tony Soldo

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Hamas coaches kids under glare of Israel's offensive

RAFAH:  A hundred boys march military style to the orders of "Forward, One, Two, Three" in the southern Gaza Strip. Under the full glare of an Israeli offensive, Hamas summer camps are teaching children to battle their fears. "We are strong, Allah, Allah, Allah!" shout back the children in unison, marching around a mosque in the Gaza town of Rafah, sporting green baseball caps and white T-shirts emblazed with the words "No to the siege". For a week, scores of boys aged between seven and 12 learn how to pray, exercise, go on excursion and apply the basics of civil education to their young lives, Hamas-style.

"It's not just coaching. We're not moulding suicide bombers.  It's simply a way to make them forget the violence and help them feel better," says Mohammed, a religious cleric and one of the instructors overseeing the camp. The Palestinian Authority has cancelled all the camps it organises in the Gaza Strip citing lack of money and security. For the last five months, the government has not even been able to pay most of its civil servants. The suspension of direct US and EU aid following Hamas's rise to power after winning a landslide election in January, coupled with Israeli economic sanctions and ailing finances, has brought the Palestinian Authority to the brink. The Islamist movement itself, however, which has strong roots in social welfare but is branded a terrorist organisation in the West, says funds for its camps come from Palestinian donors and contributions from children's families.

The camps, once organised on beaches in the Mediterranean coastal strip are now taking place in mosques since eight civilians were killed in an explosion on a Gaza beach on June 8. Palestinians and independent investigators blamed the deaths on Israeli ordinance, although the military has officially denied any involvement.

"The mosques are the only safe place in all the Gaza Strip.  Schools are targets of Israeli fire and beaches exposed to air raids," charges Saad Odwan, one of the instructors on the Hamas summer camp in Rafah. But even in the cool confines of the mosque, children are fearful. "They are frightened because we hear firing all day. They were the first not to want to go to the beach because they saw pictures of the family killed in the attack," he explains. "The big problem is to find ways to keep the children occupied when there is no electricity. We can't even use computers to play at the moment," complains Odwan. Sitting around Mohammed, who is dressed head to toe in white, one group of children listen attentively to the teachings of the Koran. In another room, where walls are plastered with pictures of "martyrs" killed during the last nearly six years of Middle East violence following the outbreak of the second Palestinian uprising, children are being taught judo.

For several days, eight-year-old Iyad Abed Al-Jawad has been unable to sleep, frightened by helicopter fire and missiles during a two-week nightly Israeli offensive over the Gaza Strip. "I prefer it here to playing in the street," he says. "When we grow up, we will attack and kill the Israelis," he adds, his voice suddenly serious. "The Israelis come to kill us and destroy our homes," interjects seven-year-old Abdallah Hamed, under the approving stare of his teacher. But 11-year-old Mohammed Sobeh sees the need for clarification. "But if they change one day and start to think that the Muslims we are good people, then we will be peaceful with them," he says. "Here, we're not teaching young fighters. We only want children not to keep roaming in the streets where they are exposed to danger during the summer holidays," says Mohammed the cleric.

Hamas coaches kids under glare of Israel's offensive

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Palestinians have a legitimate right to defend themselves against this illegal occupation

by Remi Kanazi

July 11, 2006
GlobalResearch.ca

It's lights out in the Gaza Strip and lights out in the moral consciousness of the Western and Arab world. The reason? One soldier, who lacked the ethical fiber to resist involvement in the illegal occupation of an indigenous people, was captured by those he was oppressing. It's like a rapist complaining when his victims get aggressive. Red flags have gone up throughout the West. This event is an "escalation," a "declaration of war," an "obscene act by terrorists." Is this capture ten thousands times less offensive and harmful than the ten thousand prisoners abducted by Israel? Would not the executing of four thousands Palestinians, the vast majority of them civilians, constitute a "crime against humanity?"

Palestinians have a legitimate right—under international law and the Geneva Conventions—to defend themselves against this illegal occupation. This event was not an attack on the civilians of Israel, but rather a patriotic fight against an oppressive foreign force. Similarly, the twenty-four point reconciliation proposal in Iraq which, based on the argument of patriotism, calls for amnesty of those attacking American forces. This argument seemed generally accepted within the US administration and military. Although for some odd partisan reason, democrats, burnt flag in hand, had a hissy fit over it in Congress. The West should not only apologize to Hamas for defaming its good name, but it should pat Hamas on the back for playing by rules. As for the Palestinian's "Arab brothers," it's understandable that Egypt likes its monthly cash deposit from its sugar daddy, America, but amassing troops on the border to appease its sugar daddy is a sellout that even Sadat would have grimaced at.

In recent days, the Israeli government reverted back to its roots: the implementation of hardcore collective punishment. A few hundred artillery shells striking houses filled with children and beaches filled with families just wasn't sufficient. Operation Brown Man Down aims to cut off electricity to 1.4 million people, further starve children suffering from malnutrition, and make 500 artillery craters a day in the most heavily populated area on the planet. I'd reserve Israel the Purple Heart for its courage during the recent wounding, but I think any heart at this point will do.

It's clear the wicked witch of the Near East, which has no regard for democracy within its own borders, is out to destroy its neighbor's democracy as well. This week Israeli forces abducted sixty-four members of Hamas's political wing—many of whom serve in the Palestinian government. But don't worry kids, according to sources for the Israeli newspaper, Haaretz, more arrests are on the way. It's believed that the 100th Hamas member abducted will get to take home a new car after being summarily beaten—well that is if artillery shelling doesn't blow the vehicle up by the time he gets out.

As icing on the cake, Israel revoked the residency rights of four top Hamas members living in Jerusalem. Surprisingly, these measures didn't spring up as a spontaneous retaliation. The plan for the revocation of residency rights was formulated in April and the plan for the abduction of the Hamas members had been in the works for "several weeks" according to Haaretz. Israel, however, needed this intense period of victimization to apply such outrageous policies against the Palestinian government. Israel tries not to define itself by subtlety. Rather than leaning on Hamas, it appears Israel felt a flying tackle would be more appropriate.

It's sad that the world is expending so much energy on the life of one soldier engaging in state-sponsored terrorism, yet the world doesn't so much as wince when another Palestinian child is killed. Unfortunately, while Palestinians brace themselves for further destruction and a possible Jenin-style massacre, the international community is rooting Israel on like it's a 26-1 underdog in the Kentucky Derby.

Palestinians have a legitimate right to defend themselves against this illegal occupation

[Shammu]

Palestinians have a legitimate right to defend themselves against this illegal occupation

I love how Mr. Kanazi, doesn't mention the missle attacks against Israel. That was before Gilad Shalit, was kidnapped. So all I have to say, is Israel has the same right to defend herself, against these missle attacks from the palis.

[Shammu]

'These children will lead the third intifada'
By Akiva Eldar

Karen Koning Abu Zayd arrived here six years ago, just before the outbreak of the intifada. She served five years as the deputy commissioner general of the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) and has headed the relief organization over the past year. During the course of this year, the Foreign Ministry and office of the coordinator of activities in the territories have stopped frowning when hearing the name UNRWA mentioned. After many years when UNRWA representatives were practically considered Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) agents, according to Abu Zayd, an American married to a Sudanese man who always speaks calmly, the agency is now being treatine in a business-like to fair way.

The senior UN official also has no complaints against the high-level Israeli bureaucracy, with whom she communicates daily. However, she does have a hard time with the fact that the Israel Defense Forces chief of staff orders the destruction of bridges and public buildings in Gaza, while the coordinator of activities in the territories, also in uniform, spares no effort to help those rebuilding the ruins. She says there is something ironic in the fact that two arms of the Defense Ministry are doing opposing things.

Thanks to Abu Zayd's reputation, it is hard to find anyone in Israeli officialdom suggesting that her criticisms be considered an anti-Israeli attitude. On the contrary. If Karen says the situation is difficult, according to those who know her, then it is time to start worrying.

And indeed, Abu Zayd says she does not recall a situation in the territories as bad as the one faced by the Gaza Strip since the disengagement, and especially in the last few weeks. Even in the most difficult days during the second intifada, she says, the elevators in apartment buildings worked, and water flowed in the taps. Currently, darkness also has fallen on refugees' homes in the camps, and food is gradually running out.

Some 900,000 refugees are registered at UNRWA's offices in the Gaza Strip. Over the last few months, another 20,000 names have been added to the list of those requesting aid. Many of them, and the flow is steadily increasing, are Palestinian Authority employees whose livelihood has been cut off by the boycott of the Hamas government and the cessation in salary payment.

Does the Palestinian public blame the Hamas for its situation? Is there a chance it will lead to its downfall?

"I don't think so," Abu Zayd says. "After the disengagement, there was hope that the situation would improve. I found then signs of exhaustion from the violent conflict. The extent of the disappointment they experienced is equal to the extent of the hope. They don't understand why they are being punished for holding democratic elections as they were asked to do. Whoever thinks that increasing pressure on the civilian population will distance it from Hamas is mistaken. On the contrary, it strengthens its identification with it. They don't blame their government, but the government of Israel, the United States, and the international community for imposing a siege on them."

The UN relief agency's local staffers are among the few salaried employees in Gaza whose wages are deposited in the bank on time. They tell Abu Zayd that in the last few months, each one of them has been supporting 13 to 15 families.

She is amazed by the Palestinian community's solidarity. "These people learned to survive in the worst conditions," she says. "No one will bring them down to their knees." And nevertheless, Abu Zayd adds, talented businessmen and young people are finding their niche abroad. At this rate, she adds, we will lose the middle class, which serves as a vital pillar in a modern society.

Teachers and engineers have been working for four months or more without pay, she says. They stopped coming to work only when they no longer had a few shekels to pay for a can of gas for their cars or for the bus fare. Private hospitals have enough fuel for 10 days. The large public hospitals are unable to keep medications chilled. The international organizations have declared an emergency. Representatives of the World Health Organization, UN Food Agency, UNRWA and other aid organizations meet every day in Jerusalem, exchange facts and assessments, and try to help each other.

UNRWA is investing substantial resources in educating toward peace, including preparing curricula free of incitement.

What do Gaza's children learn these days about Israel?

"The children see like everyone else what is going on around them," Abu Zayd says. "I'm afraid that they will be the ones who lead the third intifada, just as the children of the first intifada led the second intifada. Our teachers and consultants have invested a huge effort in instilling the values of peace. I believe that the sophisticated tools we have given the children will last, and they will overcome this crisis."

Beilin wants an Arab in the JNF. It's not happening

Since the early days of Zionism, Jews have become used to the fact that national institutions such as the Jewish Agency and Jewish National Fund, are off limits for Israeli Arabs. Left and right have joined together to prevent Israel's Arab citizens from gaining entry to these Jewish clubs. After all, the purpose of their existence is to "Judaize" the country and "redeem" its lands. The High Court of Justice did rule that a democratic country may not allocate its resources based on the origin of its citizens or their religious faith (Katzir High Court of Justice ruling), but the World Zionist Organization's activists and its various branches, who do not refrain from donating their money for grabbing land in the West Bank, found ways to assure that state lands in the Galilee do not fall into the hands of the gentiles.

Meretz Chairman Yossi Beilin decided that the time has come to open the JNF to Israel's Arab citizens. As far as he's concerned, this institution could have been closed down long ago, but as long as it still exists, it is unacceptable to him that its board of directors be closed to Arabs.

Beilin announced that Raadi Safuri, a Christian from Kafr Kana, is his candidate to be Meretz's representative on the JNF board of directors. Safuri has a construction engineering degree from the Technion, and was responsible for engineering infrastructure at the Kafr Kana local authority. Today he is a project supervisor for construction companies and owner of a private civil engineering office. The Labor Party also thought it would not be so terrible if one Arab were to sit on the JNF board of directors.

'These children will lead the third intifada'

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Ahmadinajad urges the West to stop supporting Israel

TEHRAN, July 11 (KUNA) -- Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Tuesday urged Western countries to stop supporting the Israeli government "that is committing the ugliest crimes against innocent Palestinians." "Western countries should stop backing up the Israeli corrupted regime and allow Palestinians to decide for themselves through fair elections," he said in the speech carried live on State television.

Ahmadinejad condemned the irony in the Western powers calling for human rights and keeping silent towards Israeli crimes against innocent Palestinian children, women and the elders. "Tel Aviv is facing a great dilemma and has proven to the world that the Zionist regime is not only against Muslims but against the entire humanity, and seeks world domination. They will sacrifice the western powers in order to achieve the Zionist aspirations and ambitions," he added.

"The fury of Muslim nations is getting more intense. It is likely to reach an explosion point soon. If this day arrives, the shockwaves of this blast will not be restricted within our regional boundaries and will strike the supporters of this fake regime," he said.

"The arch-foe powers is competing to manufacture biological, chemical and nuclear weapons in addition to its stealing the national treasures of other countries and erupting sectarian violence and hatred in the whole world," Ahmadinejad said.

At the end of his speech, he named parties as "sarcastic hands" accusing them of trying to break the Iranian unity. He did not name the parties or the ones standing behind them.

Ahmadinejad urged the officials and Iranian people to collide and unite to establish a developed and strong community and a better Iran.

The Iranian President is going on a tour to Azerbaijan province that is to know people's problems closely and make a plan to cure them. (end) mw.
mar
KUNA 111410 Jul 06

Ahmadinajad urges the West to stop supporting Israel