Pride in Capital?

 
 
 
Pride flag in Jerusalem  Photo: Amit Lev
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 

   
Don’t march in Jerusalem

Chaim Shein
The right to protest is a basic right in modern democracy. The High Court of Justice ruled in several important cases that the right to protest is derived from freedom of expression – a freedom that democracy cannot exist without. Members of the homo-lesbian community, just like all other citizens, have the right to demonstrate. This right is particularly valid when dealing with a community that seeks recognition and identity; a community that for many years was hidden away.  
'Abominable Acts'  
Religious leaders demand cancellation of Pride Parade  / Neta Sela  
Letter written by religious MKs, rabbis asks ministers to cancel parade or move it from Jerusalem's center to outskirts of city, far from holy sites, eyes of children. 'Freedom of speech doesn't include abominable acts,' they say, while mayor calls parade 'provocation'
These days we see ...   more »

Vice premier 'happy to learn' of France's support of bill, says time has come for matter to be settled. 'Government morally bound to enable those who want to evacuate to do so,' he says
Amnon Meranda
Vice Premier Haim Ramon welcomed French President Nicolas Sarkozy's unexpected support of the evacuation-compensation bill on Monday.
"I was happy to learn that the idea of voluntary evacuation was supported by the intended president of the European Union," said Ramon. "It is time the government gave it some serious discussion." 
Sarkozy: Israel not alone against Iran  / Amnon Meranda  
French president arrives at Israeli parliament, accompanied by his wife Carla Bruni. During special session, he says 'those who scandalously call for Israel's destruction will always be faced and blocked by France.' Knesset Speaker Itzik warns, 'The nuclear facility being built in Iran, and the Islamic terror in Europe and worldwide, will also reach Paris'     
According to Ramon, "Many of those living beyond the (security) fence are willing to leave voluntary. The fence has created a reality, which in the future would mean that Israel will no longer exercise its sovereignty on its east side. The Israeli government is morally bound to enable ...   more »

Study conducted by Harvard University reveals Israeli Arabs would rather live in Jewish state than in any other country in world
Reuven Weiss
Seventy-seven percent of the State of Israel's Arab citizens would rather live in the Jewish state than in any other country in the world, according to a new study titled "Coexistence in Israel".  
The survey was conducted by the John Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University with the assistance of researchers from Haifa University.  
Integration  
First ever Arab-Muslim becomes kibbutz member / Arnon Lapid  
Qalansawe's Amal Carmiya accepted as new member of Kibbutz Nir Eliyahu. Kibbutz residents say she is 'exceptional person'
The findings also revealed that a great majority of Israel's citizens (73% of the Jews and 94% of the Arabs) want to live in a society in which Arab and Jewish citizens have mutual respect and equal opportunities.  
The study went on to show that 68% of Jewish citizens support teaching conversational Arabic in Jewish schools to help bring Arab and Jewish citizens together, and 69% believe contributing to coexistence is a personal responsibility.  
Sixty-six percent of Jewish citizens and 84% of Arab citizens believe the Israeli government ...   more »

UNITED NATIONS - Russia, one of the world's major powers, has warned of "disasterous consequences" if Israel attacked Iran's nuclear facilities.
"If things happen like threats of force and unilateral sanctions outside the framework of the [UN] Security Council, it is distracting from the negotiating process," Vitaly Churkin, Russia's ambassador to the United Nations, said when asked to comment on a newspaper report about a large military exercise carried out by Israel this month as a rehearsal for a bombing attack on Iran.
On Saturday, The Washington Post said senior U.S. officials
confirmed that Israel had held a massive operation that involved the types of warplanes, distances and maneuvers required for airstrikes on Iran, a story which was first reported by The New York Times.
"A military move would have devastating consequences for the prospect of resolving the Iranian nuclear issue, for the region and internationally,"The Russian ambassadore added.
The Post said, "The mock (Israeli) operation reflected a growing policy schism over Iran among major international players at a time when U.S. politics may freeze major decisions until a new administration is in place, its officials are confirmed and a policy review is complete."
More than 100 Israeli warplanes - ...   more »

Israel isn't famous for welcoming public scrutiny of its most sensitive military plans. But we doubt Jerusalem officials were dismayed to see news of their recent air force exercises splashed over the front pages of the Western press.
Those exercises – reportedly involving about 100 fighters, tactical bombers, refueling planes and rescue helicopters – were conducted about 900 miles west of Israel's shores in the Mediterranean. Iran's nuclear facilities at Bushehr, Isfahan and Natanz all fall roughly within the same radius, albeit in the opposite direction. The point was not lost on Tehran, which promptly warned of "strong blows" in the event of a pre-emptive Israeli attack.
The more important question is whether the meaning of Israel's exercise registered in Western capitals. It's been six years since Iran's secret nuclear programs were publicly exposed, and Israel has more or less bided its time as the Bush Administration and Europe have pursued diplomacy to induce Tehran to cease enriching uranium.
It hasn't worked. Iran has rejected repeated offers of technical and economic assistance, most recently this month. Despite four years of pleading, the Administration has failed to win anything but weak U.N. sanctions. Russia plans to sell advanced antiaircraft missiles to ...   more »