26 aug 2015
US congresswoman Betty McCollum has asked the State Department to investigate whether the unlawful killing Palestinians should deprive Israel of US military aid.
In a letter to the State Department officials last week, the Minnesota Representative said that the deaths of Nadim Nowarah and Mohamed Odeh, in May of 2014, demonstrated the “brutal system of occupation that devalues and dehumanises Palestinian children.”
The two Palestinian youths, aged 16 and 17, were killed when Israeli troops assaulted a peaceful protest outside the West Bank city of Ramallah during the Nakba Day, an annual commemoration of Palestinian forceful displacement by Zionist in 1948.
“It is time for a strong and unequivocal statement of US commitment to the human rights of Palestinian children living under Israeli occupation,” McCollum wrote in the August 18 letter, which was released to the public on Monday, according to Days of Palestine.
McCollum urged State Department officials to determine whether the killing of the teens was in violation of the Leahy Act.
The Leahy Act is a US human rights law that prohibits the State and Defence departments from providing military assistance to foreign military units that violate human rights with impunity.
In a CCTV video posted by the Palestine division of Defence for Children International, a global NGO, appears to show one teen being shot as he walked by a gas station after the protest had subsided.
The second Palestinian teen appears to have been shot shortly afterwards.
Initially, the Israeli occupation army maintained that only nonlethal dispersal methods were used by troops during the Nakba Day demonstration.
An autopsy performed by Palestinian and Israeli pathologists in June, however, found that Nawara was almost certainly killed by live fire, most likely from an Israeli weapon.
Following the announcement of autopsy outcomes, an Israeli military investigation into the shooting, carried out following the autopsy, found that an Israeli border policeman had illegally used live ammunition during the protest.
In a letter to the State Department officials last week, the Minnesota Representative said that the deaths of Nadim Nowarah and Mohamed Odeh, in May of 2014, demonstrated the “brutal system of occupation that devalues and dehumanises Palestinian children.”
The two Palestinian youths, aged 16 and 17, were killed when Israeli troops assaulted a peaceful protest outside the West Bank city of Ramallah during the Nakba Day, an annual commemoration of Palestinian forceful displacement by Zionist in 1948.
“It is time for a strong and unequivocal statement of US commitment to the human rights of Palestinian children living under Israeli occupation,” McCollum wrote in the August 18 letter, which was released to the public on Monday, according to Days of Palestine.
McCollum urged State Department officials to determine whether the killing of the teens was in violation of the Leahy Act.
The Leahy Act is a US human rights law that prohibits the State and Defence departments from providing military assistance to foreign military units that violate human rights with impunity.
In a CCTV video posted by the Palestine division of Defence for Children International, a global NGO, appears to show one teen being shot as he walked by a gas station after the protest had subsided.
The second Palestinian teen appears to have been shot shortly afterwards.
Initially, the Israeli occupation army maintained that only nonlethal dispersal methods were used by troops during the Nakba Day demonstration.
An autopsy performed by Palestinian and Israeli pathologists in June, however, found that Nawara was almost certainly killed by live fire, most likely from an Israeli weapon.
Following the announcement of autopsy outcomes, an Israeli military investigation into the shooting, carried out following the autopsy, found that an Israeli border policeman had illegally used live ammunition during the protest.
22 aug 2015
US president says Washington will increase military aid to Israel for development of anti-missile systems and tunnel detection technologies; in letter to Congressman, Obama insists he will respond firmly if Iran fails to meet commitments.
US President Barack Obama has committed in writing to increase American military aid to Israel for the development of anti-missile systems, as well as to accelerate cooperation on the development of tunnel detection technologies.
"Our governments should identify ways to accelerate the ongoing collaborative research and development for tunnel detection and mapping technologies to provide Israel new capabilities to detect and destroy tunnels because they could be used to threaten Israeli civilians," Obama said in a letter dated August 19, published in full by the New York Times on Friday, to Jerrold Nadler, a Democrat in the House of Representatives who announced that he will vote to approve the accord.
In the letter, Obama promises to increase cooperation with Israel and with the United States' allies in the Gulf in the fight against Iran's efforts to destabilize the region by supporting the Houthis in Yemen, Hezbollah in Lebanon and Syria, and Syrian President Bashar Assad.
"My administration is prepared to enhance the already intensive joint efforts underway to identify and counter the range of shared threats we face in the region, as well as increase missile defense funding so that Israel and the United States can accelerate the co-development of the Arrow-3 and David's Sling missile defense systems," he writes.
He also notes that he has "proposed to Prime Minister Netanyahu that we begin a process aimed at further strengthening our efforts to confront conventional and asymmetric threats."
The American president further states his administration intends to continue talks with Israel on a new 10-year Memorandum of Understanding on foreign military financing that "would cement for the next decade our unprecedented levels of military assistance."
On top of receiving over $20.5 billion in foreign military financing since 2009, Israel is due to receive another $3.1 billion installment of foreign military aid from the US, Obama states.
He notes his administration invested an additional #3 billion in Iron Dome, as well as other missile-defense systems.
The president keeps detailing American military assistance to Israel, saying Israel has been provided with "unparalleled access to some of the most advanced military equipment in the world, including the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, which will be delivered in 2016." Israel, Obama says, is the only Middle East nation to which the US has sold the fifth-generation aircraft.
"More recently, I authorized an unprecedented $1.879 billion multi-year munitions resupply package that will provide Israel continued access to state-of-the-art precision-guided munitions, including penetrating munitions (the BLU-113 super penetrator), Joint Direct Attack Munitions (JDAM) tail kits, and air-to-air missiles, all of which will give the Israel government access to the most sophisticated arsenal for years to come," Obama adds. "I also have offered Israel the V-22 Osprey - a hallmark US air platform - which the Israeli government has chosen not to procure at this time."
Military option to remain available
The letter mostly aims to assuage concerns by senators and congressmen about the deal aimed to curb its nuclear program, and to that end Obama vows the United States will respond firmly if Iran fails to honor the accord.
"We have a wide array of unilateral and multilateral responses that we can employ if Iran fails to meets its commitments," Obama said.
Obama reiterated his view that the accord reached last month in Vienna is good for the United States, Israel and the Middle East in general.
The president also insisted, as he has many times, that all options remain on the table if Iran does not abide by the accord.
The agreement lifts economic sanctions against Tehran in exchange for restrictions and other measures designed to prevent it from developing nuclear weapons.
"All of the options available to the United States – including the military option – will remain available through the life of the deal and beyond," Obama said.
Obama also promises to use a multinational commission policing the accord to block Iranian procurement of nuclear-related technology.
The letter was released as opponents of the accord wage a fierce campaign against it ahead of a vote in Congress in September.
Opponents say the accord goes too easy on Iran, by not allowing spot inspections of nuclear sites or forcing it to halt support of militant groups, for instance.
So far only two Democratic senators – Chuck Schumer and Robert Menendez – have come out publicly against the accord.
According to a Reuters tally, Obama is eight votes away from capturing one-third of the Senate, or 34 senators, with about a month remaining to find the additional support he needs.
The Bipartisan Policy Center, which is tracking lawmakers' positions, said on Thursday that 69 House members now support the Iran deal, with another 140 in the 435-member chamber still undeclared. Obama would need the support of at least 146 House members to safeguard the agreement in that chamber.
In days ahead, much attention will focus on senators Benjamin Cardin and Barbara Mikulski, both senior Democrats from Maryland who have not yet staked out a position.
It is unlikely that opponents can muster the two-thirds majority they would to override a certain Obama veto if an initial vote by lawmakers rejects the accord.
Nadler said Friday he supports it.
It is not perfect, but it "gives us the best chance of stopping Iran from developing a nuclear weapon," he said in a statement.
Nadler said he had reached this conclusion from his perspective as "an American Jew who is both a Democrat and a strong supporter of Israel."
The accord, vehemently opposed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, has sharply divided the US Jewish community.
US President Barack Obama has committed in writing to increase American military aid to Israel for the development of anti-missile systems, as well as to accelerate cooperation on the development of tunnel detection technologies.
"Our governments should identify ways to accelerate the ongoing collaborative research and development for tunnel detection and mapping technologies to provide Israel new capabilities to detect and destroy tunnels because they could be used to threaten Israeli civilians," Obama said in a letter dated August 19, published in full by the New York Times on Friday, to Jerrold Nadler, a Democrat in the House of Representatives who announced that he will vote to approve the accord.
In the letter, Obama promises to increase cooperation with Israel and with the United States' allies in the Gulf in the fight against Iran's efforts to destabilize the region by supporting the Houthis in Yemen, Hezbollah in Lebanon and Syria, and Syrian President Bashar Assad.
"My administration is prepared to enhance the already intensive joint efforts underway to identify and counter the range of shared threats we face in the region, as well as increase missile defense funding so that Israel and the United States can accelerate the co-development of the Arrow-3 and David's Sling missile defense systems," he writes.
He also notes that he has "proposed to Prime Minister Netanyahu that we begin a process aimed at further strengthening our efforts to confront conventional and asymmetric threats."
The American president further states his administration intends to continue talks with Israel on a new 10-year Memorandum of Understanding on foreign military financing that "would cement for the next decade our unprecedented levels of military assistance."
On top of receiving over $20.5 billion in foreign military financing since 2009, Israel is due to receive another $3.1 billion installment of foreign military aid from the US, Obama states.
He notes his administration invested an additional #3 billion in Iron Dome, as well as other missile-defense systems.
The president keeps detailing American military assistance to Israel, saying Israel has been provided with "unparalleled access to some of the most advanced military equipment in the world, including the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, which will be delivered in 2016." Israel, Obama says, is the only Middle East nation to which the US has sold the fifth-generation aircraft.
"More recently, I authorized an unprecedented $1.879 billion multi-year munitions resupply package that will provide Israel continued access to state-of-the-art precision-guided munitions, including penetrating munitions (the BLU-113 super penetrator), Joint Direct Attack Munitions (JDAM) tail kits, and air-to-air missiles, all of which will give the Israel government access to the most sophisticated arsenal for years to come," Obama adds. "I also have offered Israel the V-22 Osprey - a hallmark US air platform - which the Israeli government has chosen not to procure at this time."
Military option to remain available
The letter mostly aims to assuage concerns by senators and congressmen about the deal aimed to curb its nuclear program, and to that end Obama vows the United States will respond firmly if Iran fails to honor the accord.
"We have a wide array of unilateral and multilateral responses that we can employ if Iran fails to meets its commitments," Obama said.
Obama reiterated his view that the accord reached last month in Vienna is good for the United States, Israel and the Middle East in general.
The president also insisted, as he has many times, that all options remain on the table if Iran does not abide by the accord.
The agreement lifts economic sanctions against Tehran in exchange for restrictions and other measures designed to prevent it from developing nuclear weapons.
"All of the options available to the United States – including the military option – will remain available through the life of the deal and beyond," Obama said.
Obama also promises to use a multinational commission policing the accord to block Iranian procurement of nuclear-related technology.
The letter was released as opponents of the accord wage a fierce campaign against it ahead of a vote in Congress in September.
Opponents say the accord goes too easy on Iran, by not allowing spot inspections of nuclear sites or forcing it to halt support of militant groups, for instance.
So far only two Democratic senators – Chuck Schumer and Robert Menendez – have come out publicly against the accord.
According to a Reuters tally, Obama is eight votes away from capturing one-third of the Senate, or 34 senators, with about a month remaining to find the additional support he needs.
The Bipartisan Policy Center, which is tracking lawmakers' positions, said on Thursday that 69 House members now support the Iran deal, with another 140 in the 435-member chamber still undeclared. Obama would need the support of at least 146 House members to safeguard the agreement in that chamber.
In days ahead, much attention will focus on senators Benjamin Cardin and Barbara Mikulski, both senior Democrats from Maryland who have not yet staked out a position.
It is unlikely that opponents can muster the two-thirds majority they would to override a certain Obama veto if an initial vote by lawmakers rejects the accord.
Nadler said Friday he supports it.
It is not perfect, but it "gives us the best chance of stopping Iran from developing a nuclear weapon," he said in a statement.
Nadler said he had reached this conclusion from his perspective as "an American Jew who is both a Democrat and a strong supporter of Israel."
The accord, vehemently opposed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, has sharply divided the US Jewish community.
19 aug 2015
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Famous American linguist Noam Chomsky has described the actions of the Israeli occupation in Palestine as “worse than South African apartheid”.
“In the Occupied Territories, what Israel is doing is much worse than apartheid,” Chomsky says, according to Days of Palestine. “To call it apartheid is a gift to Israel, at least if by ‘apartheid’ you mean South African-style apartheid. “What is happening in the Occupied Territories is much worse. There is a crucial difference. The South African Nationalists needed the black population. That was their workforce... “The Israeli relationship to the Palestinians in the Occupied Territories is totally different. They just do not want them. They want them out, or at least in prison.” He described listening to the American mainstream media, such as CBS, like listening directly to the Israeli propaganda agencies. “It is a shameful moment for US media when it insists on being subservient to the grotesque propaganda agencies of a violent, aggressive state [Israel],” he said. Chomsky accused the United States of continuing to provide the decisive support for the [Israeli] atrocities against the Palestinians. “When what is called Israeli jet planes bomb defenceless targets in Gaza, that is US jet planes with Israeli pilots,” he said. “And the same with the |
high-tech munition and so on and so forth. So this is, again, sadism masked as compassion. Those are the actions.”
In a long interview with Democracy now, Chomsky insisted that the US is a violent state and is it exporting violence to other countries like the Israeli occupation.
In a long interview with Democracy now, Chomsky insisted that the US is a violent state and is it exporting violence to other countries like the Israeli occupation.
Dr Osama Abu Irshaid
In an interview conducted last Sunday on CNN with Fareed Zakaria, US President Barack Obama stated that he does not remember having encountered a foreign politician who interfered with American foreign policy as much as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu does today, especially when it comes to the nuclear deal with Iran. Aside from the fact that Obama expressed his “dissatisfaction” with Netanyahu’s interference in US foreign affairs, the American president felt it necessary to emphasise the “special relationship” between the United States and Israel, and the former’s “absolute commitment” to ensuring the security of the latter.
I would not be adding anything new by saying that the relationship between the two men has been tense since early 2009, and that Obama’s promises to the Palestinian people and his ambition to be the first US president to bring peace two the two parties has evaporated as a result of Netanyahu’s stubbornness. What hurt the relationship the most, both on the personal and the governmental levels, was when Obama left a meeting with Netanyahu at the White House in 2009 under the pretext that he had to have dinner with his family, as well as Netanyahu’s endorsement for conservative candidate Mitt Romney during the 2012 presidential elections.
The Iranian nuclear deal has strained the relationship between the two men and the two administrations even further. Despite the significance of the deal and the threats to Israeli security that any future agreement may give rise to, President Obama went through with the agreement and ignored Netanyahu’s objections. Moreover, Obama’s actions prompted Netanyahu to form a stronger alliance with the Republican Party, which currently enjoys a majority representation in both the US House of Representatives and the Senate. The Israeli Prime Minister gave a speech to Congress last March without Obama’s pre-approval, which was met with resentment by the White House. The Obama administration succeeded in confronting and getting past Netanyahu’s objections to the Iranian nuclear deal mainly because Obama himself sees this as a great part of his presidential legacy. The Israeli administration, along with its Republican allies, has not stopped trying to backtrack on the agreement and are using all their efforts today to stall it wherever possible..
Proof of these efforts is embodied by the recent trip to Israel of more than 58 Republican and Democratic representatives from US Congress, all of whom are members of AIPAC, Israel’s biggest force in Washington. These US representatives met up with Netanyahu to discuss the details of the nuclear deal with Iran. The objectives of both Israel and its US lobby are to bury the nuclear deal in Congress by getting at least two-thirds of Congress members to vote against it. While it is expected that Republicans within will vote against the agreement, they cannot override the power of Obama’s veto. Therefore, it is essential for Israel to reinforce its alliance with the Democrats, as the voices within Obama’s own party will prove to be invaluable.
All these factors bring us to the reality that many are aware of in the United States – although few are willing to say it – that the Israeli-American relationship benefits Israel more than it does the US, and despite the fact that Israel security (and very existence) depends on the United States, it continuously bites the hand that feeds it. An example of this is the fact that Israel spies on its paternal ally and has been found guilty of selling the latter’s secrets to its Chinese competitor.
In his 1989 book They Dare to Speak Out, former US Congressman Paul Findley discusses how AIPAC is quick to stifle any talk of re-evaluating the relationship between the United States and Israel and the detrimental consequences that the Israel Lobby has on US foreign policy in the Middle East. Findley is one of the US congressmen who lost his job due to ongoing pressure from the Zionist lobby. John Mearsheimer, Professor of Politics at the University of Chicago, and Stephen Walt, Professor of International Relations at the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, confirmed these sentiments in their book entitled The Israel Lobby and US Foreign Policy, which was released in 2007. Both professors have suffered a great deal due to the defamation campaign that has been launched against them since the publication of their book.
Obama himself has not succumbed to the Israel lobby’s claims that he is not a “true friend” of Israel, accusations that have been launched against him time and again despite the fact that the reality on the ground proves the contrary given the Obama administration’s unprecedented military support for Israel. Yet, during the 2012 US presidential campaign, Republican candidate Mitt Romney was quick to claim that Obama wanted to throw Israel “under the bus” and later that he was leading Israel to the “oven door” with is nuclear deal with Iran.
In short, what remains is Obama’s recognition that he is weak in this relationship; although in reality this confession is not of great importance. There needs to be recognition that the US is unable to escape Israel’s bullying, and while it is true that Obama has defied Israel a great deal as of late, we cannot negate the fact that Israel remains a master to its slave. As long as American politicians continue to pledge their allegiance to Israel before they pledge it to America, we should not hold our breath waiting for a change in America, even if dissent voices are beginning to emerge.
In an interview conducted last Sunday on CNN with Fareed Zakaria, US President Barack Obama stated that he does not remember having encountered a foreign politician who interfered with American foreign policy as much as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu does today, especially when it comes to the nuclear deal with Iran. Aside from the fact that Obama expressed his “dissatisfaction” with Netanyahu’s interference in US foreign affairs, the American president felt it necessary to emphasise the “special relationship” between the United States and Israel, and the former’s “absolute commitment” to ensuring the security of the latter.
I would not be adding anything new by saying that the relationship between the two men has been tense since early 2009, and that Obama’s promises to the Palestinian people and his ambition to be the first US president to bring peace two the two parties has evaporated as a result of Netanyahu’s stubbornness. What hurt the relationship the most, both on the personal and the governmental levels, was when Obama left a meeting with Netanyahu at the White House in 2009 under the pretext that he had to have dinner with his family, as well as Netanyahu’s endorsement for conservative candidate Mitt Romney during the 2012 presidential elections.
The Iranian nuclear deal has strained the relationship between the two men and the two administrations even further. Despite the significance of the deal and the threats to Israeli security that any future agreement may give rise to, President Obama went through with the agreement and ignored Netanyahu’s objections. Moreover, Obama’s actions prompted Netanyahu to form a stronger alliance with the Republican Party, which currently enjoys a majority representation in both the US House of Representatives and the Senate. The Israeli Prime Minister gave a speech to Congress last March without Obama’s pre-approval, which was met with resentment by the White House. The Obama administration succeeded in confronting and getting past Netanyahu’s objections to the Iranian nuclear deal mainly because Obama himself sees this as a great part of his presidential legacy. The Israeli administration, along with its Republican allies, has not stopped trying to backtrack on the agreement and are using all their efforts today to stall it wherever possible..
Proof of these efforts is embodied by the recent trip to Israel of more than 58 Republican and Democratic representatives from US Congress, all of whom are members of AIPAC, Israel’s biggest force in Washington. These US representatives met up with Netanyahu to discuss the details of the nuclear deal with Iran. The objectives of both Israel and its US lobby are to bury the nuclear deal in Congress by getting at least two-thirds of Congress members to vote against it. While it is expected that Republicans within will vote against the agreement, they cannot override the power of Obama’s veto. Therefore, it is essential for Israel to reinforce its alliance with the Democrats, as the voices within Obama’s own party will prove to be invaluable.
All these factors bring us to the reality that many are aware of in the United States – although few are willing to say it – that the Israeli-American relationship benefits Israel more than it does the US, and despite the fact that Israel security (and very existence) depends on the United States, it continuously bites the hand that feeds it. An example of this is the fact that Israel spies on its paternal ally and has been found guilty of selling the latter’s secrets to its Chinese competitor.
In his 1989 book They Dare to Speak Out, former US Congressman Paul Findley discusses how AIPAC is quick to stifle any talk of re-evaluating the relationship between the United States and Israel and the detrimental consequences that the Israel Lobby has on US foreign policy in the Middle East. Findley is one of the US congressmen who lost his job due to ongoing pressure from the Zionist lobby. John Mearsheimer, Professor of Politics at the University of Chicago, and Stephen Walt, Professor of International Relations at the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, confirmed these sentiments in their book entitled The Israel Lobby and US Foreign Policy, which was released in 2007. Both professors have suffered a great deal due to the defamation campaign that has been launched against them since the publication of their book.
Obama himself has not succumbed to the Israel lobby’s claims that he is not a “true friend” of Israel, accusations that have been launched against him time and again despite the fact that the reality on the ground proves the contrary given the Obama administration’s unprecedented military support for Israel. Yet, during the 2012 US presidential campaign, Republican candidate Mitt Romney was quick to claim that Obama wanted to throw Israel “under the bus” and later that he was leading Israel to the “oven door” with is nuclear deal with Iran.
In short, what remains is Obama’s recognition that he is weak in this relationship; although in reality this confession is not of great importance. There needs to be recognition that the US is unable to escape Israel’s bullying, and while it is true that Obama has defied Israel a great deal as of late, we cannot negate the fact that Israel remains a master to its slave. As long as American politicians continue to pledge their allegiance to Israel before they pledge it to America, we should not hold our breath waiting for a change in America, even if dissent voices are beginning to emerge.
Republican Presidential hopeful stresses Jewish connection to West Bank territories in exclusive Ynet interview, says US embassy should be in Jerusalem.
Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee reiterated Israel's connection to Judea and Samaria, and stated that peace cannot be possible with ongoing incitement in Palestinian schools, during a special interview with Ynet on Wednesday.
Huckabee is visiting Israel in the middle of the race for the Republican nomination for president. He visited the settlement of Shiloh on Tuesday stating that, "Shiloh was the capitol of Israel 3,500 years ago, to say Jews have no connection to Shiloh is bizarre. If you're going to visit Israel, you should visit all of Israel and that would include Judea and Samaria."
Huckabee reiterated his statement in his interview with Ynet Wednesday saying, "Jews have a stronger connection to Shiloh than Americans do to Manhattan."
Huckabee said that he has been coming to Israel for 41 years, and views the relations between the US and Israel as organic and not political, promising that as president he would, "Always make sure the US stood by its ally Israel."
Israeli-Palestinian Peace
When prompted on the matter of the peace process, Huckabee asserted that a real peace could not exist so long as, "one of the sides acknowledging Israel's right to exist." He continued to state that a major problem in achieving peace lay in the ongoing incitement within the Palestinian school system, "You can't have Palestinian kids learning to hate Jews in school."
Huckabee dismissed criticism of Israel's settlement policy, saying, "I would love to see a true peace in the world, but the question is does Israel have a right to build bedrooms for the expanding number of people who are coming here, who are making aliyah, to make sure there people have a secure land they can defend; I don’t know why anyone on this earth would think that they should surrender that right."
He also added that previous attempts at withdrawing from territory had failed, saying, "Land for peace has not worked for Israel, They lose the land and they lose the peace."
Asked whether he would move the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, he stated that, "I think it’s the capitol designated by the Israeli government and the us should respect that. We don’t insinuate that the Israelis have their embassy in new York or los Angeles; they put their embassy where the us capital is. Last time I checked, and I have been here many times in the past 40 years, the Israeli seat of government is in Jerusalem so it make perfect sense that the embassy be in Jerusalem."
Iran Deal
On the issue of the Iran deal and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's alleged interference in American political affairs, the presidential hopeful said, "Well, the Prime Minister of Israel is not endorsing any candidate, but I don’t hesitate in endorsing his actions in protecting Israel, I support his bold actions."
The frequent visits by Israeli Ambassador to the US Ron Dermer don't faze Huckabee, as he puts it, "What is the purpose of the ambassador if not to present the interests of the country which he represents?"
"An American ambassador goes abroad not to have a nice social relations with the people of that country but to advance US policy," he concluded. Huckabee dismissed the representation of Israel and the US as being a family feud, "Generally Americans are supportive of Israel and understand the relations we have. I don’t see this as a family fight, more like a dispute with members of this administration who will only be in office for another year and a half."
Huckabee added that he believes an overwhelming majority of Americans are against the Iran deal, saying that he "Hoped more and more members of congress would go home and listen to the overwhelming portion of the population which elected them."
On the content of the deal he added, "The US and Israel have vowed to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon. This is a terrorist state, and we are empowering and enriching them through this deal, by unfreezing $150 billion in assets which they will use to buy conventional weapons."
According to Huckabee, if Israel feels the need to strike Iran, "Israel has the power to make that decision they don’t need my assistance or approval to pursue whatever makes them safe."
Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee reiterated Israel's connection to Judea and Samaria, and stated that peace cannot be possible with ongoing incitement in Palestinian schools, during a special interview with Ynet on Wednesday.
Huckabee is visiting Israel in the middle of the race for the Republican nomination for president. He visited the settlement of Shiloh on Tuesday stating that, "Shiloh was the capitol of Israel 3,500 years ago, to say Jews have no connection to Shiloh is bizarre. If you're going to visit Israel, you should visit all of Israel and that would include Judea and Samaria."
Huckabee reiterated his statement in his interview with Ynet Wednesday saying, "Jews have a stronger connection to Shiloh than Americans do to Manhattan."
Huckabee said that he has been coming to Israel for 41 years, and views the relations between the US and Israel as organic and not political, promising that as president he would, "Always make sure the US stood by its ally Israel."
Israeli-Palestinian Peace
When prompted on the matter of the peace process, Huckabee asserted that a real peace could not exist so long as, "one of the sides acknowledging Israel's right to exist." He continued to state that a major problem in achieving peace lay in the ongoing incitement within the Palestinian school system, "You can't have Palestinian kids learning to hate Jews in school."
Huckabee dismissed criticism of Israel's settlement policy, saying, "I would love to see a true peace in the world, but the question is does Israel have a right to build bedrooms for the expanding number of people who are coming here, who are making aliyah, to make sure there people have a secure land they can defend; I don’t know why anyone on this earth would think that they should surrender that right."
He also added that previous attempts at withdrawing from territory had failed, saying, "Land for peace has not worked for Israel, They lose the land and they lose the peace."
Asked whether he would move the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, he stated that, "I think it’s the capitol designated by the Israeli government and the us should respect that. We don’t insinuate that the Israelis have their embassy in new York or los Angeles; they put their embassy where the us capital is. Last time I checked, and I have been here many times in the past 40 years, the Israeli seat of government is in Jerusalem so it make perfect sense that the embassy be in Jerusalem."
Iran Deal
On the issue of the Iran deal and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's alleged interference in American political affairs, the presidential hopeful said, "Well, the Prime Minister of Israel is not endorsing any candidate, but I don’t hesitate in endorsing his actions in protecting Israel, I support his bold actions."
The frequent visits by Israeli Ambassador to the US Ron Dermer don't faze Huckabee, as he puts it, "What is the purpose of the ambassador if not to present the interests of the country which he represents?"
"An American ambassador goes abroad not to have a nice social relations with the people of that country but to advance US policy," he concluded. Huckabee dismissed the representation of Israel and the US as being a family feud, "Generally Americans are supportive of Israel and understand the relations we have. I don’t see this as a family fight, more like a dispute with members of this administration who will only be in office for another year and a half."
Huckabee added that he believes an overwhelming majority of Americans are against the Iran deal, saying that he "Hoped more and more members of congress would go home and listen to the overwhelming portion of the population which elected them."
On the content of the deal he added, "The US and Israel have vowed to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon. This is a terrorist state, and we are empowering and enriching them through this deal, by unfreezing $150 billion in assets which they will use to buy conventional weapons."
According to Huckabee, if Israel feels the need to strike Iran, "Israel has the power to make that decision they don’t need my assistance or approval to pursue whatever makes them safe."
18 aug 2015
Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee attends a news conference near the West Bank Jewish settlement of Shiloh
Republican presidential hopeful Mike Huckabee waded into Middle East politics by declaring on Tuesday that the West Bank was a part of Israel.
Huckabee was visiting a West Bank settlement, telling reporters "if you're going to visit Israel you should visit all of Israel, and that would include Judea and Samaria," the biblical names for the West Bank.
Huckabee is visiting Israel to meet with officials to discuss the Obama administration's nuclear deal with Iran.
Mike Huckabee declares West Bank to be part of Israel during settlement visit
Republican presidential hopeful Mike Huckabee waded into Middle Eastern politics by declaring the West Bank to be part of Israel.
Huckabee made the remarks on Tuesday while visiting a West Bank settlement.
He told reporters “if you’re going to visit Israel you should visit all of Israel, and that would include Judea and Samaria”, the biblical name for the West Bank.
His comments are at odds with US policy.
Israel captured the West Bank from Jordan in the 1967 war. Palestinians demand the area along with Gaza and East Jerusalem for a future state.
The fate of West Bank settlements is one of the core issues at the heart of the conflict. Palestinians blamed settlement expansions for the breakdown in 2014 of US-mediated peace talks with Israel – a position supported in part by Washington, but rejected by the Israelis.
Many evangelical Christians in the US view Israel as the modern iteration of the Old Testament Israelites designated as God’s chosen people. Huckabee, an ordained southern Baptist minister, noted on Sunday that he has travelled to Israel “dozens and dozens of times” since his first trip in 1973.
Huckabee said he is visiting Israel to meet with officials to discuss the Obama administration’s nuclear agreement with Iran.
Last month, Huckabee said President Obama was “marching the Israelis to the door of the oven” with the recent Iran nuclear deal.
Republican presidential hopeful Mike Huckabee waded into Middle East politics by declaring on Tuesday that the West Bank was a part of Israel.
Huckabee was visiting a West Bank settlement, telling reporters "if you're going to visit Israel you should visit all of Israel, and that would include Judea and Samaria," the biblical names for the West Bank.
Huckabee is visiting Israel to meet with officials to discuss the Obama administration's nuclear deal with Iran.
Mike Huckabee declares West Bank to be part of Israel during settlement visit
Republican presidential hopeful Mike Huckabee waded into Middle Eastern politics by declaring the West Bank to be part of Israel.
Huckabee made the remarks on Tuesday while visiting a West Bank settlement.
He told reporters “if you’re going to visit Israel you should visit all of Israel, and that would include Judea and Samaria”, the biblical name for the West Bank.
His comments are at odds with US policy.
Israel captured the West Bank from Jordan in the 1967 war. Palestinians demand the area along with Gaza and East Jerusalem for a future state.
The fate of West Bank settlements is one of the core issues at the heart of the conflict. Palestinians blamed settlement expansions for the breakdown in 2014 of US-mediated peace talks with Israel – a position supported in part by Washington, but rejected by the Israelis.
Many evangelical Christians in the US view Israel as the modern iteration of the Old Testament Israelites designated as God’s chosen people. Huckabee, an ordained southern Baptist minister, noted on Sunday that he has travelled to Israel “dozens and dozens of times” since his first trip in 1973.
Huckabee said he is visiting Israel to meet with officials to discuss the Obama administration’s nuclear agreement with Iran.
Last month, Huckabee said President Obama was “marching the Israelis to the door of the oven” with the recent Iran nuclear deal.
16 aug 2015
Actress Penelope Cruz and her husband Javier Bardem have roused the fury of Hollywood producers, with pledges made to snub the Spanish couple.
Oscar-winner Bardem and Cruz signed an open letter speaking against “the genocide perpetrated by the Israeli occupation army”.
According to IB Times/Days of Palestine, the letter accused the Israeli occupation of “advancing on Palestinian territories instead of withdrawing to the 1967 borders.
“Gaza is living through horror… while the international community does nothing.”
The Spanish letter was signed by 100 leading figures in the film industry, including director Pedro Almodovar.
One top producer who has worked with Cruz says he privately has vowed not to hire her again, according to the Hollywood Reporter.
Another top Hollywood executive also privately expressed his disapproval, saying he is “furious at Javier and Penelope” and was not sure about working with the Spanish couple again.
Hollywood big names have waded into the controversy, including comedian Joan Rivers. When quizzed by a TMZ reporter on her thoughts about the 2,000 Palestinians who have so far been killed, she said: “Oh my God! Tell that to the people in Hiroshima.
“Good. Good. When you declare war, you declare war. They started it. We now do not count who is dead. You are dead, you deserve to be dead. Do not you dare make me feel bad about that.
“They were told to get out. They did not get out. You do not get out, you are an idiot. At least the ones that were killed were the ones with low IQs.”
Oscar-winner Bardem and Cruz signed an open letter speaking against “the genocide perpetrated by the Israeli occupation army”.
According to IB Times/Days of Palestine, the letter accused the Israeli occupation of “advancing on Palestinian territories instead of withdrawing to the 1967 borders.
“Gaza is living through horror… while the international community does nothing.”
The Spanish letter was signed by 100 leading figures in the film industry, including director Pedro Almodovar.
One top producer who has worked with Cruz says he privately has vowed not to hire her again, according to the Hollywood Reporter.
Another top Hollywood executive also privately expressed his disapproval, saying he is “furious at Javier and Penelope” and was not sure about working with the Spanish couple again.
Hollywood big names have waded into the controversy, including comedian Joan Rivers. When quizzed by a TMZ reporter on her thoughts about the 2,000 Palestinians who have so far been killed, she said: “Oh my God! Tell that to the people in Hiroshima.
“Good. Good. When you declare war, you declare war. They started it. We now do not count who is dead. You are dead, you deserve to be dead. Do not you dare make me feel bad about that.
“They were told to get out. They did not get out. You do not get out, you are an idiot. At least the ones that were killed were the ones with low IQs.”
