MRN

The aspiration of the Media Review Network is to dispel the myths and stereotypes about Islam and Muslims and to foster bridges of understanding among the diverse people of our country. The Media Review Network believes that Muslim perspectives on issues impacting on South Africans are a prerequisite to a better appreciation of Islam.

Tennis boycott of Isarael serves ace

by MRN
January 1, 2013July 25, 2013

Tennis boycott of Israel serves ace

by Iqbal Jassat

Israel’s failure to attain any of it’s military objectives in Gaza – apart from the merciless terror unleashed by a devastating war machinery – is matched by a failure to win favour in the court of public opinion. The post-Gaza crisis following the death and destruction caused by Israel with the complicit support of America during Bush’s final term has resulted in a major humanitarian catastrophe. With the crippling siege still in force and Egypt contributing to it by stubbornly maintaining the closure of the Rafah border crossing, Israel cannot be absolved from any of its international obligations as an occupying power."

Business Day carried an interesting account of a controversy raging in tennis circles over the denial of a visa to Israel’s Shahar Peer by the United Arab Emirates [UAE], “Israel calls for boycott as UAE rejects player”. [Business Day, February 18, 2009]

Diversion “ a tactic of pro Isarael lobbyists

by MRN
January 1, 2013July 25, 2013

Diversion – a tactic of pro-Israel lobbyists

Iqbal Jassat

David Saks of the South African Jewish Board of Deputies [SAJBD] is finding it increasingly difficult to defend Israel. Having not only to contend with pro-Palestinian solidarity activism, which has become more pronounced and widespread in the country’s diverse groupings within civil society, Saks has to contain critical Jewish voices too.

Never before has the SAJBD faced such sharp criticism of its blanket support for Israel as now and from within nogal.

Israeli elections from bad to ugly

by MRN
January 1, 2013July 25, 2013

Israeli Elections: From Bad to Ugly

‘The mainstream Zionist groups are rooted in Judaism but secular when convenient.’

By Dr. Ahmed Yousef – Gaza

Pundits have asked Palestinians of every persuasion what they think of Israeli elections over the past several weeks. Opinions are varied and thoughtful; yet the truth is that to prefer one of the leading groups over another is an exercise in futility. Asking for a choice is akin to opting hypothetically for France’s Jean-Marie Le Pen (Lieberman), Dutch parliamentarian Geet Wilders (Livni), or Russia’s Vladimir Zhirinovsky (Netanyahu), with South Africa’s Pieter W. Botha (Peres) playing the presidential role of whom to ask for the formation of a national unity government.

Israeli democracy is an oxymoron, a reality underscored by the abuse of any non-Jewish party vying for equal representation. Palestinian parties entering elections in 2006 were represented by Muslims, Christians and even atheists, with no obligation or pre-condition other than those recognized by international law. The Israeli state, however, routinely purges or inhibits Arab political movement, such as those of Azmi Bichara, with unsubstantiated claims of treason or treachery. And the political neutering of indigenous Arabs is negligible compared to the dismissive approach to any popular presence across the 1967 border.

A new Afghan nightmare

by MRN
January 1, 2013July 25, 2013

A new Afghan nightmare

Ramzy Baroud

When US envoy to Afghanistan Richard Holbrooke met with Afghanistan’s "democratically" installed President Hamid Karzai in Kabul on Feb. 14, he may have just learned of the historic significance of the following day. Feb. 15 commemorates the end of the bloody Russian campaign against Afghanistan (August 1978-February 1989)

But it is unlikely that Holbrooke will absorb the magnitude of that historic lesson. Both he and the new US President Barack Obama are convinced that the missing component for winning the war in Afghanistan is a greater commitment, as in doubling troops, increasing military spending, and, by way of winning hearts and minds, investing more in developing the country. That combination, the US administration believes, will eventually sway Afghans from supporting the Taleban, tribal militias, Pashtun nationalists and other groups. The latter is waging a guerrilla struggle in various parts of the country, mostly in the south, to oust Karzai’s government and foreign occupation forces. While Kabul was considered an "oasis of calm" – by Jonathan Steele’s account – during the Soviet rule, it’s nowhere close to that depiction under the rule of the US and its NATO allies, who had plenty of time, eight long years, to assert their control, but failed.