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Peace-making without Mediators
By Nicola Nasser**
A surplus of mediators have been around all the time, including the heavy weight Quartet of the UN, U.S., EU and Russia, as well as heaps of terms of reference of UNSC resolutions, bilateral signed accords and “roadmaps,” in addition to marathon bilateral talks that have left no stone unearthed, international as well as regional conferences were never on demand to facilitate the “peace process,” which has been lavishly financed to keep moving.
However the Palestinian – Israeli peace-making is still elusive as ever as Samuel Beckett’s “Waiting for Godot” has been, without a glimpse of light at the end of the endless tunnel of Israeli military occupation of Palestinian territory and people.
Hunger Strike Aftermath
by Stephen Lendman
As they say, it's not over 'till it's over. Palestinian prisoners have been mass hunger striking since April 17. Others began earlier. Some hadn't eaten for two months or longer.
On May 14, a deal was announced. Egypt negotiated one with the Israel Prison Service (IPS) and striker representatives. Palestine Prisoners Society head Qadura Fares confirmed it. So did Israeli authorities.
Independent verification didn't follow. Nor did full clarification of terms. Israel's adept at creating considerable opt out wiggle room. Deals aren't always as they seem. Broken ones reveal charades.
Google following CIA's path in confronting Iran
Kourosh Ziabari
To Iranians, Persian Gulf is not simply a name referring to a geographical region on the world map. To Iranians, the name of Persian Gulf is interwoven with a sense of national dignity and honor which makes them a united and powerful troupe against the relentless attacks of the enemy. The name of Persian Gulf resembles a feeling of pride and decorum for them which cannot be replaced by any other gift or reward. It reminds them of the impressive days when the flag of ancient Persian Empire honorably fluttered and waved in the sky and there was no other competitor to supersede this mighty empire.
Of course Iranians' attachment to Persian Gulf and the cultural heritage which it carries does not emanate from blind nationalistic sentiments. Iranians know well that today, they are the representative of a greater, broader union that is the Islamic Ummah. They know that it's with the blessing of Islam that they can still take pride on being an unrivaled superpower in such a tumultuous and restless region as the Middle East. However, Iranians are extremely sensitive about those vicious, brutal powers who intend to undermine their national honor and solidarity by encroaching on their national belongings, including the Persian Gulf.
Never ending Nakba
By Alan Hart
As Ilan Pappe has said, most Israeli Jews have no idea of what they did to the Palestinians in 1948. (He also said that those who do know don’t think that what was done was wrong). But that’s only the tip of an iceberg of ignorance.
Because of the mainstream media’s complicity in Zionism’s suppression of the truth of history as it relates to the making and sustaining of the conflict in and over Palestine that became Israel, most Americans and Europeans of all faiths and none have no idea of the enormity of Zionism’s crimes.
The Arabic word for what happened in the months before and after Israel’s unilateral declaration of independence on 14 May 1948 is Nakba, meaning catastrophe. That’s a one word description of the fact that upwards of 700,000 Palestinian Arabs were dispossessed of their land, their homes and their rights, but complete understanding requires knowledge of something else. Nakba was not simply an event in history. It is a process of ethnic cleansing, a process that has been on-going for 64 years to date and is continuing.
A timely reminder of this fact was contained in an article for the web site This Week in Palestine by Ibrahim Matar, an economist writing from Jerusalem.
How the Oil Exporting Arab Leaders Betrayed the People and Lost the Future?
Mahboob A. Khawaja, PhD
“It is highly probable that but for the Arabs modern European civilization would never have arisen at all; it is absolutely certain that but for them, it would not have assumed that character which has enabled it to transcend all previous phases of evolution. For although there is not a single aspect of European growth in which the decisive influence of Islamic culture is not traceable, nowhere is it so clear and momentous as in the genesis of that power which constitutes the paramount distinctive force of the modern world and the supreme source of its victory-natural science and the scientific spirit.” - Robert Briffault (The Making of Humanity, Cambridge University, UK).
On the insanity of ‘an eye for an eye’ and those who glorify it
By Larry Pinkney
“An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind.”—Mahatma Gandhi (attributed)
“There is no flag large enough to cover the shame of killing innocent people.”—Howard Zinn
Recently, Mr. ‘Hope And Change’ Barack Obama (also known as the predator-drone-missile president), officially launched his corporate reelection campaign by shamelessly touting his role in the extra-judicial, U.S. government’s official version, of the assassination of Osama Bin Laden.
Of course, Mr.’ Hope And Change’ said nothing of his even more recent assassination of the U.S. Constitution, when he signed into law the draconian and infamous National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which calls for the indefinite detention of U.S. citizens in this nation without the bother of the constitutional right to the due process of being charged, having a trial, a jury, or even the right to present a legal defense, etc. Now, U.S. citizens can be legally ‘disappeared,’ tortured, and indefinitely imprisoned in this supposed ‘land of the free and home of the brave.’
Hunger Strike Deal
by Stephen Lendman
Palestinian hunger strikers redefined courage. Mass willingness to die for justice is unprecedented.
On May 13, they reiterated their dignity or death steadfastness. More on that below.
Reports about where things stand leave unanswered questions. On Sunday, Haaretz headlined "Israel, Palestinian prisoners on verge of deal to end hunger strike," saying:
A Fatah Central Committee member claims the Israel Prison Service (IPS) will present strikers an agreement on May 14. Egyptian officials are mediating on behalf of Palestinians.
FBI Wants Greater Surveillance Powers
by Stephen Lendman
FBI Director Robert Mueller wants Congress to enact greater surveillance powers following the false flag underwear bomb plot blamed on Al Qaeda.
In May 9 testimony before the House Judiciary Committee, he said:
"We've seen over the last several days, particularly with regard to the IED that was recently recovered, that terrorism is and should be and continues to be our No. 1 priority and the No. 1 priority of a number of our intelligence agencies."
Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) surveillance provisions expire at yearend. National Intelligence Director James Clapper and Attorney General Eric Holder call renewing them the intelligence community's top legislative priority.
So does Mueller. He also wants more. His May 9 testimony suggested it. He stopped short of specifics. He'll engage lawmakers privately. False flags create opportunities. That's why they're staged. Mueller plans taking full advantage. Former White House chief of staff/current Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel explained, saying:
The absurdity of equating opposition to Israel with anti-Semitism
By Khalid Amayreh
In a shameless effort to criminalize criticisms of Israel, pro-Israeli circles in some western countries have been trying to equate criticisms of Israeli policies and actions with anti-Semitism. The brazen effort is ostensibly intended to intimidate and silence the increasing awareness, especially among younger generations on college campuses, that Israel is in fact a racist country par excellance that is disguised as a democracy.
In recent weeks, Israel firsters organized letter-writing campaigns and published advertisements in leading newspapers in North America lumping criticisms of Israel and anti-Semitism. The letters, targeting college administrations, demanded a stringent action against students and professors "bad mouthing Israel."
Ten Points Everyone Should Know About the Quebec Student Movement
By: Andrew Gavin Marshall
The student strikes in Quebec, which began in February and have lasted for three months, involving roughly 175,000 students in the mostly French-speaking Canadian province, have been subjected to a massive provincial and national media propaganda campaign to demonize and dismiss the students and their struggle. The following is a list of ten points that everyone should know about the student movement in Quebec to help place their struggle in its proper global context.
1) The issue is debt, not tuition
2) Striking students in Quebec are setting an example for youth across the continent
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