A surprise announcement by Internal Security Minister Avi Dichter (Kadima) on Monday that he was in favor of a withdrawing from the Golan Heights in exchange for true peace with Syria caused waves across the political spectrum, and triggered a backlash in his own party. Syria is the "single most aggressive member of the axis of evil," Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said Monday, ruling out a resumption of negotiations with Damascus at this time. "I am the last person who will say I want to negotiate with Syria," Olmert said in unusually harsh comments. The prime minister had been touring communities in the north, where he noted that many of the rockets that hit the north originated in Syria. "When Syria stops supporting terrorism, when it stops giving missiles to terror organizations, then we will be happy to negotiate with them," said Olmert. In the morning, Dichter had said that Israel had paid similar territorial concessions in the past with Jordan and Egypt. "Any diplomatic initiative is preferred over war, whether in Syria or Lebanon," Dichter said. "Regarding Lebanon, conditions are even more conducive than they are with Syria. Lebanon can today begin talks with Israel without the Syrians." ... more »
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Monday, August 21
Apocalypse when?
by
Jodie A.
on Mon 21 Aug 2006 09:43 PM EDT
By John R. Thomson
Open House organization decides to hold gay pride parade in capital this year
by
Jodie A.
on Mon 21 Aug 2006 09:40 PM EDT
More controversy? Jerusalem's Open House for Pride and Tolerance has decided Sunday to hold a gay pride parade in the capital this year as well, GLBT portal Gogay has reported. The decision was taken by a 5 to 1 vote during the Open House's management committee meeting, which featured various community members who expressed their views on the subject. Most participants backed another parade in order to show they would not capitulate in the face of ultra-Orthodox and homophobic threats. However, some participants did voice concern over the risks inherent in holding the parade, while others wondered whether the gay community has not lost its momentum. Open House Director Hagai Elad said that the date for the next pride parade will be "set as soon as possible and be published following the completion of a brief process of checking the opportunities at our disposal in holding the parade." "The Open House always saw special significance in holding the parade in Jerusalem as part of our struggle, and as part of the ongoing struggle to advance the rights of the community in the city and promote democratic values in the city," he said. "This year, we have special circumstances, including the ... more »
Olmert rules out negotiations with Syria
by
Jodie A.
on Mon 21 Aug 2006 09:35 PM EDT
KIRYAT SHEMONA, Israel -- Prime Minister Ehud Olmert on Monday ruled out a resumption of negotiations with Syria at this time, saying Damascus must first end its support for militant groups.Olmert spoke just hours after a minister in his Cabinet urged a resumption of negotiations and said Israel should give back the Golan Heights in exchange for peace with Syria.Israel accuses Syria and Iran of arming and supporting Lebanese Hezbollah guerrillas who fired nearly 4,000 rockets at Israel in the 34-day war that ended last week. However, during the war, Israel went to great lengths to keep Syria out of the conflict, apparently to avoid opening another front or closing future peace options.After the war, Syrian President Bashar Assad signaled he is moving closer to Iran. He delivered a hardline speech in praise of Hezbollah and warned that future Arab generations might succeed with force where peace talks have failed so far - a reference to the Golan Heights, the plateau Israel captured in the 1967 Mideast War.Inspecting rocket damage in northern Israel on Monday, Olmert said Syria is not a partner for peace at the moment."When Syria stops its support for terror, when Syria stops supplying missiles which are ... more »
Cataclysm fears raised on Islamic 'holy' date
by
Jodie A.
on Mon 21 Aug 2006 09:28 PM EDT
MAD, or mutually assured destruction, just won't work any more, according to one Mideast expert whose forecasts that the night of Aug. 22 may prove to be cataclysmic are fueling worry around the world. Bernard Lewis of Princeton has had opinion pieces circulating for two weeks now about how that night, the anniversary of one of Islam's holiest events, could be a time Iran would pick to spark a battle Muslims believe forever will resolve the battle between "good" and "evil." That MAD policy, which prevented nations for decades during the Cold War from pushing the button, isn't a realistic hope with fanatic Muslims, Lewis saidThere is a radical difference between the Islamic Republic of Iran and other governments with nuclear weapons," Lewis writes. "This difference is expressed in what can only be described as the apocalyptic worldview of Iran's present rulers." He said there is developing an "apparently callous unconcern" over who is a victim, or how many victims there are, for terrorists. Lewis believes the perception they hold is that in death any infidel, or non-Muslim, will go to a well-deserved punishment in hell while any Muslims would go straight to heaven. According to this view, the bombers ... more » |
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