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Netanyahu's Sham Settlement Bloc Boundaries Proposal
Vby Stephen Lendman
Reports indicate Netanyahu proposed establishing boundaries on settlement blocs - on the one hand to justify continuing illegal construction on stolen Palestinian land.
On the other, for Israel to annex under any peace agreement. Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan said the proposal was always Netanyahu's position - so "nobody should be surprised."
"(E)veryone in the Likud knows if there will ever be a partner for peace, it is clear there will be territorial concessions" - code language for grand theft with Palestinians having no say whatever over what's rightfully theirs. Israel already controls over 60% of West Bank land and much of East Jerusalem. Agriculture Minister Uri Ariel called Netanyahu's proposal "dangerous and precedential."
It contradicts government guidelines for Jews to have all Judea and Samaria, he said.
Netanyahu's proposal is little more than a PR stunt. He publicly rejected peace talks as a waste of time. He fundamentally opposes Palestinian statehood. He wants unlimited settlement construction.
Mission Creep in Syria
by Stephen Lendman
Syria is Obama's war. Imported IS and other takfiri terrorists are US proxy foot soldiers.
Assad's government is the target, regime change Washington's longstanding objective. On May 25, AP headlined "Turkey, US to provide air protection to Syrian rebels."
They're not rebels. They terrorists. They're not moderates. They're extremists.
AP said Washington and Ankara "agreed in 'principle' to provide air protection to Syrian rebels being trained and equipped to fight Islamic State militants, once they enter Syrian territory for battle" - according to Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu.
Fact: US special forces train, fund, arm and direct IS and other takfiri terrorists in Turkey, Jordan, Qatar and Saudi Arabia to continue waging war on Assad's government.
US-Supported Islamic State Terrorists Seize Palmyra
by Stephen Lendman
The ancient Syrian city is a UNESCO World Heritage site - one of the Middle East's most treasured ones.
UNESCO calls it one of "outstanding universal value, (an) oasis in the Syria desert" northeast of Damascus.
"From the 1st to the 2nd century, the art and architecture of V, standing at the crossroads of several civilizations, married Greco-Roman techniques with local traditions and Persian influences."
According to UNESCO director-general Irina Bokova, its ancient ruins "already suffered four years of conflict. It suffered from looting and represents an irreplaceable treasure for the Syrian people an for the world."
She appealed to "all parties" to prevent its destruction. Short of immediate military intervention if Security Council authorized, ancient treasures appear lost.
China's Military Strategy
by Stephen Lendman
On May 26, China's official press agency Xinhua headlined "China rolls out military roadmap of 'active defense' strategy," saying:
An official white paper issued by the State Council Information Office titled "China's Military Strategy" pledged "closer international security cooperation."
It stressed "the principles of defense, self-defense and post-emptive strike." It said China isn't aggressive. It will "counterattack" if attacked. Focus will be placed on "winning informationized local wars." International security cooperation will be stressed "in areas crucially related to overseas interests."
Four "critical security domains" were highlighted - "ocean, outer space, cyberspace and nuclear force."
Hats off to Norbert Lammert
By Khalid Amayreh in Occupied Jerusalem
I feel I must salute the German Bundestag President Norbert Lammert for refusing to meet with Abdul Fattah al Sissi, the head of the bloody ruling junta in Egypt.
El-Sissi is planning to visit Germany in early June, probably to seek further legitimacy for his authoritarian regime.
On Wednesday, Lammert told the broadcaster Deutsche Welle that he didn't know what the head of an elected parliament would talk about with the 'undemocratic' Sisi
In his Wednesday interview with Deutsche Welle, Lammert was quoted as saying that "in light of these circumstances, I don't know what the president of an elected parliament and the president of a country that is regrettably not led democratically have to talk about."Lammert's remarks came following a letter he sent on Tuesday to the Egyptian ambassador in which he said that he has cancelled a meeting with Sisi planned to be held in June, citing human rights abuses, postponement of parliamentary elections, lack of democratic developments and mass death sentences in Egypt.
What Memorial Day Do You Honor?
SARTRE
Many accounts will praise the sacrifices and deeds of those who fought in the American wars. Some versions will emotionally express their thanks and respect, while others will list their heroic actions. There is another viewpoint that seldom gets the attention that it deserves. Simply put, what is the true reason that all this blood was shed and the meaning of continued torment that follows, when the guns are silenced? Some will say, we just need to revere those who served. Others may dare to ask, why and what for?
The most positive decision coming out of the last thirty years has significance that affects all of us. It honors those who served and those who supported each conflict. Not all may agree with this conclusion, but how many have ever thought it through? The draft is now abolished. Involuntary servitude is gone and forced indentured service has now become voluntary. That is a victory that we ALL should celebrate.
Before you tune out and shut your mind, consider a process that is rarely practiced today. Thinking . . . The purpose of the State, and yes this applies to America, as well; is to protect and serve citizens. Did you ever hear these words?
Netanyahu Appoints Right-Wing Extremist to Head Israel's Diplomatic Corps
by Stephen Lendman
Nissim Ben Shitrit is out as Israeli Foreign Ministry director-general. Netanyahu thanked him for his services. Dore Gold replaces him. He heads the neocon Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs.
He's a longtime Netanyahu confidant. He earlier advised him on foreign policy. They share the same over-the-top racist, hawkish ideology.
Gold is a former Israeli UN envoy, Sharon advisor, and sham peace process negotiator and advisor, among other dubious credentials. From 1985 - 1996, he was a Dayan Center for Near East Studies senior research associate and Jaffee Center for Strategic Studies US foreign and defense policy project director.
In 1991, he was a sham Madrid Peace Conference advisor. In 1996-97, he was Netanyahu's foreign policy advisor in his first term as prime minister.
Russian Nationals Traveling Abroad Risk Lawless US Abduction
by Stephen Lendman
In July 2014, US agents lawlessly abducted Roman Seleznyov
Washington's anti-Russian agenda includes arresting, detaining and charging its nationals with offenses they didn't commit.
Once in US custody, obtaining justice is impossible. Guilt by accusation suffices. Innocence is no defense. Russian citizens risk imprisonment in America for having the wrong nationality.
A Russian Foreign Ministry statement warned its citizens traveling abroad to be wary, saying:
Earlier 2013 and 2014 alerts were published. The latest one dated May 22, 2015 warns of "the threat of being detained or arrested at the request of law enforcement bodies and special services of the United States in third countries...It is very real."
"Despite our appeals for Washington to establish normal cooperation between law enforcement agencies on the basis of bilateral agreements on mutual legal assistance in criminal matters (from 1999), the US authorities continue the unacceptable practice of 'hunting' for Russians all over the world, ignoring international law and twisting hands of other countries."
Heading Toward Financial Maidan in Ukraine?
by Stephen Lendman
Ukraine's economy is a sinkhole of economic Depression. It's teetering toward collapse.
Its Q I GDP plunged 17.6% year-over-year. It's down 6.1% from Q IV 2014. Ten of the last 11 quarters saw economic contraction. Kiev depends on outside aid to keep operating.
Inflation is out-of-control. The Financial Times reported it reaching 61% in April. Its hryvnia currency is headed toward becoming worthless toilet paper. It's worth less than 5 cents to the dollar. Adjusted for its decline, real inflation tops 270% year-over-year. Living standards are plunging. Poverty is a growth industry. So are unemployment, underemployment and human misery. Most Ukrainians struggle to get by. They can't make ends meet. Skyrocketing prices makes basic goods and services unaffordable.
IMF diktats exacerbate already untenable conditions. They include laying off government employees, wage cuts, abolishing pensions for some retired workers, freezing them for others, and major cuts in other social benefits en route to eliminating them altogether - a prescription for economic collapse and perhaps Maidan II.
Despotic Saudi Regime to Execute Prominent Cleric
by Stephen Lendman
Saudi Arabia is notorious for public beheadings, whippings, torture, wars of aggression and other lawless actions. It remains America's closest Arab ally.
One rogue state supports another. Both partner in high crimes against peace. Syria and Yemen are Exhibits A and B.
Shia cleric Sheikh Nimr Baqir al-Nimr is a prominent nonviolent regime critic.
He's been beaten, shot, arrested, tortured, denied vitally needed medical treatment, and otherwise abused for expressing his views freely.
Last October, he was sentenced to death unjustly for nonexistent sedition, "seeking foreign meddling in (Saudi affairs), disobeying its rulers, and taking up arms against the security forces."
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