Category Archives: Global Politics

Christians in eastern Lebanon prepare for worst – Al-Monitor: the Pulse of the Middle East

The statement released by the Ahrar al-Sunnah Brigades, in which they threatened to attack churches and Christians in the region, has had a deep impact on many residents. There are also many reports and scenarios being shared on social media about the possibility of villages inhabited by Christians being raided.

via Christians in eastern Lebanon prepare for worst – Al-Monitor: the Pulse of the Middle East.

New fears about Ebola spread after plane scare | Life , Health | THE DAILY STAR

{Thankfully, more and more news outlets are covering this epidemic now, even if a bit late into the process – any number of people exposed to ebola could fly anywhere in the world within 24 hours and potentially expose thousands – for real! The only saving grace is that, the disease requires direct contact with body fluids of someone infected – so it does not spread that quickly or by air. But! Someone could be exposed and not show symptoms for up toe 21 days!}

No one knows for sure just how many people Patrick Sawyer came into contact with the day he boarded a flight in Liberia, had a stopover in Ghana, changed planes in Togo, and then arrived in Nigeria, where authorities say he died days later from Ebola, one of the deadliest diseases known to man.

Now health workers are scrambling to trace those who may have been exposed to Sawyer across West Africa, including flight attendants and fellow passengers.

Health experts say it is unlikely he could have infected others with the virus that can cause victims to bleed from the eyes, mouth and ears. Still, unsettling questions remain: How could a man whose sister recently died from Ebola manage to board a plane leaving the country? And worse: Could Ebola become the latest disease to be spread by international air travel?

Sawyer’s death on Friday has led to tighter screening of airline passengers in West Africa, where an unprecedented outbreak that emerged in March has killed more than 670 people in Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia. But some health authorities expressed little confidence in such precautions.

via New fears about Ebola spread after plane scare | Life , Health | THE DAILY STAR.

Israel orders residents of Zaytoun in central Gaza to evacuate | Maan News Agency

Israel ordered residents of Zaytoun in central Gaza to evacuate, adding to more than 400,000 people who have been issued evacuation orders in the last two days.

via Israel orders residents of Zaytoun in central Gaza to evacuate | Maan News Agency.

Just hard to believe the callousness!

David Frum (former Bush speech writer) Accuses NYT and Reuters of Staging Gaza Hospital Photos (GRAPHIC) — BagNews

Defending Israel with the objectivity and intensity of the Bush speech writer he once was, David Frum, the Senior Editor at the Atlantic, alleged to his 100k Twitter followers on Thursday (not once, but eight times) that the NYT, Reuters (and AP, apparently in collusion, too) had staged a photo in a Gaza hospital.

via David Frum Accuses NYT and Reuters of Staging Gaza Hospital Photos (GRAPHIC) — BagNews.

Former Israeli ambassador calls for ‘crushing’ Hamas – Al-Monitor: the Pulse of the Middle East

The civilian casualties in Gaza are disproportionate, with much higher fatalities and wounded among Palestinians, and Israel has violated the immunity of the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) shelters in Gaza. Netanyahu is impatient to continue the project of crushing Hamas, as described by Oren. Israel’s right-wing government is returning to the impulse that led to the “crushing” of the Palestinian people in Lydda in 1948.

via Former Israeli ambassador calls for ‘crushing’ Hamas – Al-Monitor: the Pulse of the Middle East.

Meshaal: We are ready to coexist with Jews, but not ‘occupiers’ | Maan News Agency

Hamas continued to insist that any lasting ceasefire must be based on an Israeli lifting of the blockade on Gaza, with leader Khaled Meshaal warning that Palestinians cannot coexist with their neighbors while their land is occupied in an interview broadcast on Sunday.

On Saturday, Meshaal was interviewed by US broadcaster PBS in the Qatari capital Doha while in Gaza the party was under assault from Israeli forces in renewed fighting.

A full version of the interview will be broadcast late on Monday, but excerpts were revealed on Sunday on CBS News’ “Face the Nation.”

Asked by veteran interviewer Charlie Rose whether he could foresee living beside Israelis in peace, Meshaal said only a future Palestinian state could decide whether to recognize Israel.

“We are not fanatics, we are not fundamentalists. We are not actually fighting the Jews because they are Jews per se. We do not fight any other races. We fight the occupiers,” he said.

“I’m ready to coexist with the Jews, with the Christians and the Arabs and non-Arabs,” he said. “However, I do not coexist with the occupiers.”

Pressed on whether Palestinians could recognize the state of Israel as a Jewish state, Meshaal reiterated Hamas’ position — the group does not recognize Israel.

“When we have a Palestinian state then the Palestinian state will decide on its policies. You cannot actually ask me about the future. I answered you,” he said.

“But Palestinian people can have their say when they have their own state without occupation.”

via Meshaal: We are ready to coexist with Jews, but not ‘occupiers’ | Maan News Agency.

And so goes the dance of words and few deeds other than hurling bombs and rockets at each other Mr. Meshaal speaks for his party and not for all Palestinians. Israel is pretending that everyone in Gaza – part of Palestine – is a Hamas member/supporter – not true. Everyone – quit dancing and start doing peace!

Obama speaks to Netanyahu, stresses need for ‘immediate’ ceasefire | News , Middle East | THE DAILY STAR

27 SUNDAY

JULY 2014

Agence France Presse

WASHINGTON: US President Barack Obama spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Sunday, and stressed the need for an immediate and sustainable ceasefire.

In a statement, the White House said Obama “made clear the strategic imperative of instituting an immediate, unconditional humanitarian ceasefire that ends hostilities now and leads to a permanent cessation of hostilities based on the November 2012 ceasefire agreement.”

via Obama speaks to Netanyahu, stresses need for ‘immediate’ ceasefire | News , Middle East | THE DAILY STAR.

“Please stop!”: Pope makes plea for peace | News , World | THE DAILY STAR

With his voice appearing to crack with emotion, the pope broke off from his scripted remarks to make a direct appeal for fighting to end.

“Please stop! I ask you with all my heart, it’s time to stop. Stop, please!”

While he made no direct reference to the situation in the Gaza Strip, the comments came after a humanitarian truce broke down Sunday with the resumption of fighting in which more than 1,000 people, mostly civilians including dozens of children, have been killed.

“Brothers and sisters, never war, never war! I am thinking above all of children, who are deprived of the hope of a worthwhile life, of a future,” he said.

“Dead childen, injured children, mutilated children, orphaned children, children whose toys are things left over from war, children who can’t smile any more,” he said.

via “Please stop!”: Pope makes plea for peace | News , World | THE DAILY STAR.

4 Palestinians killed in West Bank amid protests against Gaza assault | Maan News Agency

NABLUS (Ma’an) — Four Palestinians were killed in the West Bank on Friday, three by Israeli forces and one by an Israeli settler, amid widespread protests in solidarity with Gaza.

The four deaths on Friday come after a Palestinian was killed by Israeli forces late Thursday in clashes at Qalandia, bringing the total death toll in the West Bank to eight as thousands have marched in protest against the Israeli assault on Gaza over the last two weeks.

The victims were identified as Khaled Azmi Khaled Yousef, 18, Hashem Abu Maria, 47, Tayeb Abu Shehada, 22, and Sultan Al-Zaaqiq, 30.

Yousef was killed and three were injured on Friday when an Israeli settler opened fire at a protest march near Nablus, an official said.

In the village of Huwwara, Palestinians began marching in protest against Israel’s deadly offensive in Gaza when an Israeli settler drove by in a car and fired into the crowd, the mayor of the village said.

Khalid Mari Khalid Yousef, 18, died after being hit directly in the chest, a Ma’an reporter said, after Fatah spokesman Awwad Nijm said earlier that Yousef was critically injured.

Israeli forces who subsequently arrived on the scene got involved in the clashes, killing another Palestinian named Tayeb Abu Shehada, 22.

Nijm identified the other three injured as Tariq Issam, Muhammad Nasasrah, and Jihad Odeh.

Twenty Palestinians suffered from excessive tear gas inhalation, he added.

An Israeli military spokeswoman said that “approximately 200 Palestinians gathered in the area and a riot erupted” as they “were hurling rocks.”

Although she was familiar with the report of an Israeli settler opening fire, she said that the police and border police were responsible in the area. However, spokesmen for both the police and the border police denied any knowledge of the incidents.

In Beit Ummar, Palestinians clashed with Israeli soldiers in protest of Israel’s assault on Gaza.

Hashem Abu Maria, 47, was shot in the chest by Israeli forces and died soon after.

Sultan al-Zaaqiq, 30, was also slain by Israeli forces during the clashes.

An Israeli army spokeswoman said she was looking into the incident.

via 4 Palestinians killed in West Bank amid protests against Gaza assault | Maan News Agency.