US – Features

 (source: Layalina Productions – Review)

Muslims, and Palestinians in particular, remain convinced that US President Barack Obama holds as much promise of a "’just world’ as his war-mongering predecessor," despite the pledge made in Cairo, denounces Iqbal Jassat of Media Monitor Network.

Following Obama’s historic speech in Cairo, he remarks that Muslims were overwhelmed "with a new sense of expectation" that would "reverse strained relations … caused by the Bush administration’s belligerent policies."

Yet, Arab frustration with the United States has grown through a series of recent events, namely US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s praise for Israel’s "unprecedented" offer to curtail Jewish settlements. She later attempted to control the Arab backlash by claiming the US wants more concessions from Israel. Asharq-Alawsat fustigates, "Her words left a lasting sting … [and] angered the dismayed Arab leaders."

Read More »Muslims disillusioned over lack of progress

The State of Israel Feeds Anti-Semitism

Zionism a ‘Terrible Enemy’ of Jewish People

By Yakov M Rabkin

(source: Cape Times,March 10, 2010 Edition 1)

All Jews are Zionists. All Zionists are Jews. All Jews support Israel. These cliches are not only wrong; they are dangerous.

What is Zionism?

Zionism is a product of European history. Among the many tendencies within Zionism, the one that has triumphed formulated four objectives:

 to transform the transnational and extraterritorial Jewish identity centred on the Torah into a national identity, like ones then common in Europe;

•   to develop a new national language based on biblical and rabbinical Hebrew;

•   to transfer the Jews from their countries of origin to Palestine; and

•   to establish political and economic control over the land, if need be by force.

While other European nationalists, such as Poles or Lithuanians, needed only to wrest control of their countries from imperial powers to become "masters in their own houses," Zionists faced a far greater challenge in trying to achieve their objectives.

Both Zionists and their opponents agree that Zionism and the state of Israel constitute a break with Jewish history, a break that began with the emancipation and the secularisation of European Jews in the 19th and 20th centuries.

Read More »Cape Times oped

By Iqbal Jassat

(source: Voice of the Cape Online)

"Cup terror arrest" or "Saudi held for al-Qaeda attack on WC" are some of the sensationalist headlines accompanying reports on the Iraqi army’s announcement of a possible terrorist threat to the Fifa World Cup in South Africa. The allure and power of these screaming headlines allows not only a huge hike in sales of newspapers; it also impacts on public opinion to the extent that more people are likely to accept that al-Qaeda poses a major threat to disrupt this country’s much awaited soccer spectacle.

Media would correctly argue that its function as a public watchdog is to disseminate news and information. It will say too, with full justification, that its role to do so will not be sacrificed at the altar of any holy cow. It will remain faithful to its discipline without fear or favour. If al-Qaeda is suspected of plotting to sabotage the soccer festival, then it’s the function of the media to say so.

Read More »Does it have to be al qaeda?

"Mossad, Foreign Intelligence Behind Egypt’s Incitement against Hezbollah" 
Hanan Awarekeh 
 

At a time Palestinians in the Gaza Strip were still suffering from a shortage of humanitarian aids due to the Israeli siege along with the closure of the Rafah crossing that connects Gaza to the outer world through Egypt, Cairo is engaged in a late campaign against Hezbollah and its Secretary General who had called on the Egyptian regime to open the Rafah crossing for the stricken Palestinians.
 
Egypt continued its campaign against Hezbollah on the political, security and media levels amid expectations of a more aggressive tone in the coming days. So far, “confessions” made in the framework of investigations and interrogations with the Hezbollah operative in Egypt have been frivolous. 
 

Read More »Mossad foreign intelligence behind Egypts incitement against hezbollah