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British prime minister steps down as jnf patron

By Asa Winstanley

(source: The Electronic Intifada)

jnf-protest.jpg

Bedouins carrying signs reading “JNF robs Bedouin land” protest

in front of the Jewish National Fund office in Jerusalem, 1 February 2011.

A spokesperson for David Cameron on Friday refused to comment on the rationale behind the British prime minister’s decision to step down from his position as honorary patron of the Jewish National Fund (JNF). The move comes as pressure on the JNF steps up in Britain, and is being hailed by activists as a big victory in the boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) campaign.

Campaigners with activist group Stop the JNF had written to Cameron earlier in May calling on him to cut his links with the JNF. Registered as a charity in the UK, the JNF is involved in development of illegal settlements in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, the destruction of Palestinian Bedouin villages in the Naqab (Negev) inside Israel and stands accused of institutionally racist practices and complicity in ethnic cleansing since 1948.

Cameron’s press office told The Electronic Intifada that the decision had been made after a review of all the charities Cameron supported: “This is not a particularly recent decision,” said a spokesperson on Friday. In a short statement Thursday, the prime minister’s office had said the JNF was one of a “number of charities” Cameron stood down from following the review which was undertaken “[f]ollowing the formation of the Coalition Government last year.”

The statement did not specify any reason for the move. When asked if it was related to the JNF’s involvement with Israeli settlements in the West Bank (which the British government, in line with international law, considers illegal) the spokesperson said they were “not going to get into any further details.”

The spokesperson implied that Cameron is only involved in local causes: “The charities that he’s currently involved with will normally be charities in his [local parliamentary] constituency … or a couple of national campaigns. There aren’t really any that deal with specific issues in specific foreign countries,” he stated. He would not comment on why this had changed after Cameron had become prime minister.

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Sixty years of global economic expansion ending?

By Nat Weinstein

You load sixteen tons, and what do you get?

Another day older and deeper in debt.

Saint Peter, don’t you call me, ‘cause I can’t go;

I owe my soul to the company store.1

I was struck by the number of unusually pessimistic reports on the deplorable state of the American and world capitalist economy in the July 20 New York Times. But in the days following, the bad news only got worse.

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Urgent press release

ISSUED BY THE UNITED MUSLIM FORUM OF SOUTH AFRICA

1.  As a result of an offensive33published in the Mail and Guardian on the 21st  of May 2010, an urgent meeting was called at which the following organizations, representing the broader Muslim community , being:-

Jamiat ul Ulema
Channel Islam International
Muslim Judicial Council
Media Review Network
Jamiat Ul Ulema Gauteng
Sunni  Ulema Council of S.A.
Muslim Lawyers Association
 Muslim Students Association – Wits
Association of Muslim Accountants and Lawyers
Call of Islam
Jameah Mehmoodiya Springs
KZN Society for the protection of Human Rights
Jamiat ul Ulema KZN
Islamic Research Organisation
Radio Islam
Somali Association of S.A.
Saaberie Chisty
Darul Ihsaan
Al Ansaar Foundation

Which formed the United Muslim Forum of South Africa

2. The meeting appointed a committee to meet with representatives of the Mail and Guardian.

3. This meeting was held on 26th May 2010(11 Jumada al-Thani 1431 A.H.). The meeting, although addressing  very serious issues was conducted in a respectable and mature manner.

4. As a result of the meeting, attended by the Editor of Mail and Guardian, cartoonist Zapiro, and the CEO of the group, together with members of the United Muslim Forum of South Africa, the Mail and Guardian have agreed to issue a press release in which they record:-

a.    Mail and Guardian regrets the harm caused by the publication of the33and apologises for the effects thereof;
b.    Mail and Guardian record that they repudiate Isalmophobia in the strongest possible terms;
c.    Mail and Guardian record that they have learnt an enormous amount about the depth of reverence in which Muslims hold the Prophet Muhammad (saw);
d.    Mail and Guardian will commence reviewing their editorial policies on religious matters broadly and in particular the depiction of the Prophet Muhammed (saw) and will during this review period prohibit any representation of the Prophet (saw), and will consult with the Muslim community about this issue.
e.    Zapiro specifically regretted his association with Islamophobics / Facebook “Paint Muhammad day”

5.  We welcome the regret shown, apology issued, prohibition on publication and the review of the editorial process undertaking.

6.  We commend the Muslim community, for not over reacting, exercising restraint and behaving in a dignified and responsible manner as usual.

7.  We as Muslims are committed to editorial independence and press freedom, provided that it is exercised with due regard to common respect and human dignity.

Issued by the United Muslims Forum Of South Africa

Convener:  Zahid Asmal  0847868937  zahid@ciinetwork.net

Spokespersons: Iqbal Jassat –  0835943749  mrn_ij@telkomsa.net
                               Moulana Ebrahim Bham  – 0837862859

 

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