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.

Israel has to accept that the arab spring changes the game

by MRN
January 1, 2013July 25, 2013

(source: TheIndependent.co.uk)

The Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt has had a chequered history since its official inauguration in 2005. During its first two years of operation security periodically broke down in the face of angry and desperate Palestinians. The EU supervisory mission had neither the mandate nor the manpower to keep order. After 2007, when Hamas topped the poll in Palestinian elections and seized control of Gaza, the crossing was mostly kept sealed by Egypt in response to Israel’s security concerns.

This history alone would be sufficient reason to welcome the reopening of the crossing this weekend. But Rafah is not just another border crossing, and its reopening is a development of far greater significance than the mercifully restrained response it has provoked so far would suggest. Situated on Gaza’s only external border with a country other than Israel, it provides a needed safety-valve for Palestinians cooped up in one of the most densely populated territories anywhere in the world. For a country to be able to manage its external borders is also a necessary precursor to statehood. A state that cannot control its borders, or is not allowed to, can hardly be said to exercise sovereignty. The opening of the border is additionally to be welcomed for both those reasons.

But there is also a signal that the opening of the Rafah crossing does not send. In the past, the functioning of the crossing was a barometer for the state of the peace process between Israel and the Palestinians. It was first opened amid the optimism that accompanied Israel’s 2005 withdrawal from Gaza, and it was closed for fear that Hamas and its supporters would bring in weapons. This latest opening is different. It is the first time this border has been opened without Israel’s express say-so.

A state which demands the right to protect its borders must define where the border is

by MRN
January 1, 2013July 25, 2013

(source: Gush-Shalom.org)

Uri Avnery on the Naksa Day36at the Syrian border:

Following the36on the Syrian border, Gush Shalom activist and former Knesset member Uri Avnery said: “Today the army inflicted disproportionate violence on unarmed Palestinian demonstrators in the Golan Heights, more than what is required to protect the border, leading to unnecessary bloodshed. The trigger-happy approach is particularly striking in light of the contrast with the softness towards violent settlers who just three days ago attacked the police in broad daylight, hurling Molotov cocktails and burning the police chief’s car.

Then, the army and police knew how to end a most serious incident without bloodshed – but this time the intention was from the start deterrence at the expense of taking lives. Prime Minister Netanyahu had hinted at it explicitly.”

Regarding the issue of border protection Avnery added: “The state may protect its borders and prevent illegal entering into its territory. This is an essential part of sovereignty. However, to effectively defend its borders, the state first needs to know itself where its borders are, and get them the recognition of the international community – a decision the state of Israel refrained from taking for decades.

“A country which is tresspassing on its neighbors territory, taking the land and building more and more settlements has a hard case justifying the actions needed to protect Israel’s own borders. Contrary to the words of Prime Minister Netanyahu, only an agreed upon recognized international border – that is, a border based on the 1967 lines – is really a defensible border.”

Economic attacks against arab democracy

by MRN
January 1, 2013July 25, 2013

By Patrick Bond

(source: Rosa Luxemburg Foundation in Palestine – www.palestine.rosalux.org)

In their latest documents and meetings, the G8, the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund reacted to the democratic movements in the Arab world: The recipe calls – as it did before the popular ousting of the Tunisian and Egyptian presidents – for privatization, austerity measures and “market liberation”.

An incident two and a half years ago in Carthage spoke volumes about power politics and economic ideology. As he was given the country’s main honour, the Order of the Tunisian Republic, on account of his “contribution to the reinforcement of economic development at the global level,” International Monetary Fund Managing Director Dominique Strauss-Kahn returned the favour, offering the dictatorship of Zine El Abidine Ben Ali a warm embrace, which turned out to be the kiss of death.“

Economic policy adopted here is a sound policy and is the best model for many emerging countries,” said Strauss-Kahn. “Our discussions confirmed that we share many of the same views on Tunisia’s achievements and main challenges. Tunisia is making impressive progress in its reform agenda and its prospects are favorable.”

In late May 2011, just days after Strauss-Kahn resigned in disgrace after New York police charged him with sexual predation against an African hotel cleaning worker, the IMF outlined a new set of opportunities in Tunisia and neighboring countries: “The spark ignited by the death of Mohammed Bouazizi has irretrievably changed the future course of the countries in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). But each country will change in its own way and at its own speed. Nor will they necessarily have a common political or economic model when they reach their destination.”

In reality, ‘the model’ for each is indeed ‘common’ in Washington’s eyes: neoliberalism.

Press release settlers burn mosque in occupied palestinian territory

by MRN
January 1, 2013July 25, 2013

Wednesday, 8 June 2011

Settlers from the illegally established settlement of ‘Ala Ad’, north of Ramallah, in the West Bank, set the mosque, in the village of al-Mughir, alight and burning down most of the structure. Early morning worshippers were surprised to find burning tyres inside the mosque and a large portion of the contents ablaze. Evidence also suggests that the act of arson was carried out under the protection of the occupation forces.

Israel’s continued development of these settlements, declared illegal under international law, is supported by her guardian allies, the US and the European Union. Therefore, the US and Europe are complicit in these acts of sabotage, savagery and thuggery. This also flies in the face of Barack Obama’s declared respect for Islamic traditions when he shamefully and hurriedly buried Osama bin Laden within 24 hours of his murder, recently.

This act of savagery is not an isolated incident. They occur on a daily basis and in different forms including attacks on wedding functions, house raids by settler gangs, terrorizing farmers and peasants and the killing of innocent children. The combatants of this daily war of attrition are the brave and defenseless Palestinians against the savage thugs from the settler communities supported by the occupation forces of the settlers, for the settlers and by the settlers.

The Media Review Network calls on all men of moral conscience to oppose all types of oppression, tyranny, cruelty and domination. No stone must be left unturned until all these criminal settlers are brought to book because they,like their leaders and supporters, Netanyahu and Obama, act with impunity, knowing full well that there will be no retribution for their illegal behavior.

The Media Review Network strongly condemns these acts of unprovoked violence on blameless and guiltless civilians and also the unjustifiable and indefensible destruction of places of worship.

Issued By:

Ibrahim Vawda

Senior Researcher,

Media Review Network

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