water and land rights- Israel and Palestine

I've been doing some surface reading of the issues regarding water rights in the Middle East and more particularly in Israel and Palestine. This article from Aljazeera brings up some interesting and important points regarding water restriction and use as an arm, within the context of the disputed Negev region in the south if Israel and the Bedouin populations that live there. I'll try to post more on water rights soon as they are an important dimension of this conflict.

Rebirth of the Blog

I am starting up again, and perhaps moving in a bit of a new direction. I commit to posting more regularly. My current goal is to create a place where I can post articles and other work that I think are important for U.S. citizens to be aware of. Feel free to write me! I would love to hear your comments and engage in honest and respectful debate (even better when backed up by sources!)

Here are a few articles to start us off:

This one is odd and interesting. It's the response of two french college students towards the French law that has recently been passed on the banning of the burka. Here is a short explination taken from my facebook posting that I put up about the same article:

The French article written by the girls that appear in the video is more detailed, thoughtful and political. I liked that!

Here is an interesting... quote:

'L'aspect du débat qui nous a le plus interpellé, au-delà de l'injustice qui se dégage de cette loi, c'est l'hypocrisie des hommes politiques français qui agitent le sacro-saint drapeau féministe sous prétexte de défendre ces pauvres femmes voilées de force par leurs sauvages de maris.

C'est très sympa pour elles hein, merci ! Mais a-t-on réellement besoin d'une loi spéciale burqa pour nous rappeler qu'il est interdit de forcer un individu à faire quoi que ce soit contre son gré ? Nous dicter notre façon de nous habiller serait donc devenu le rôle de l'Etat (comme s'ils n'avaient pas d'autres chats à fouetter…)'

Rough Translation: "The aspect of the debate that interested us the most, outside of the injustice that this reaks of, it he hipocracy of french male politicians who wave the sacro-sanct femminist flag under the pretext of defending these poor veiled women, forced by their savage husbands to cover up.

It's very nice of them, thanks! But do we really need a special law burqa to remind us that it is forbidden/illegal to force an individual to do anything against their own will? Apparently telling us how to dress has become the role of the state (as if they didn't have better fish to fry)."

Here is another posting from a group that I very much appreciate called Jewish Voice for Peace. This is one way that people of influence (musicians and other artists in this case) are usuing their influence to demonstrate that they do not support the occupation of Palestinian territories by Israel.

That is all for now. More to come soon.

A big one coming

To my faithful readers - I am sorry it has been so long since I wrote a real entry. I promise a good one is coming in the next week or so - I am in the process of editing it. Until then check out Helena Cobban's blog Just World News, she is daily putting up important and thought provoking posts about Israel and Palestine in these important and tense weeks.

see you soon

Not surprising...

I have to be honest that when I read this article I was not surprised. Living overseas (and perhaps some of you in the states have the same experience?) I have often heard the question "how is it possible that the US government has not yet found Osama Bin Laden?" Here is one of the answers that is thrown out there, which I am now very happy to have some evidence to support: "Al-Qaeda head Osama Bin Laden was 'within grasp' of US " check out his article in the BBC from Nov. 29th.

Why one should speak their mind

Check out this important post by Helena Cobban, who herself was posting on the activities of David Remez and Adam Horowitz. And, congratulations to Columbia Sportswear for making such a respectable decision.

Understanding Iran and the Non Proliferation Treaty

As you might have read in today's paper Iran has announced the planning of ten new uranium enrichment sites - just after the condemnation by the UN of the site that they recently submitted to the UN nuclear proliferation watchdog the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). This is such a bummer of a situation and one that I really don't understand well.

It should be noted that in the recent press it was often reported that the international community "discovered" the existance of the recent site in Qom. In fact, the BBC article that came out today says "On Friday, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) passed a resolution that was heavily critical of Iran for covering up a uranium enrichment plant near the town of Qom." This is quite interesting BECAUSE - the site was not discovered at all. Iran submitted a letter to the IAEA stating that they were building a new site. ** It should be noted here** that in the Nuclear Non Profliferation Treaty (that Iran has signed) signatory states are required to notify the IAEA 180 days before the site is operational. Iran's letter to the agency said that the site would be operational in about THREE YEARS.

The site was not discovered - it was announced by Iran in the legal terms set out by the NPT.

Today's turn of events prompted me to read the NPT - why not? Here is the link - it's only five pages and quite short (i read it in less than five minutes). Article X is quite interesting: it reserves the right of all signatory parties to WITHDRAW from the treaty at any time if they believe that their country's "supreme interest" is in jepordy. They are required to give the IAEA three months notification. Food for though.

Seymour Hersh - quick interview

Here is a quick and informative interview with Seymour Hersh who is known for his exceptional work as a journalist. He has in the last decade become known for his writing on US intervention in Iran.

Shin Bet in South Africa?

Here are two interesting articles that I found as I was browsing the news this evening. One about secret Israeli activity in South Africa and the other about Sarah Palin's connection to the Christian Zionism. The second one is on a blog that I have recently discovered that I think gives an interesting perspective. Check it out - let me know what you think!

Guantanamo Men - Aquited by Algerian court

Sorry for the LONG absence! I'll try to check in more regularly - promise!

Here is some exceptionally great news coming from the BBC (even if it has few details). I would sum up the information except that it would probably be longer than the article itself - check it out. For now I have found no other details but I will post them when I do.

Eyes on Iran

Sorry it has taken me so long to write on this - here are some quick posts that link to information on what is going on in Iran.

A short update: in the last weeks Iranians have been preparing for the presidential elections that took place last friday. These elections where somewhat different than previous elections since there were live televised debates between the candidates (that got pretty intense!). Since the election restults there have been serious acusations of election fraud particularly by Mousavi, the candidate who "lost" to the incumbant candidate Ahmadinejad. Most people imagined that there would be at least a close tie therefore necessitating a second run off. However the official election results show that Ahmadinejad won with 62.3 % of the vote. It is this number that has caused many people to think there might have been fraud.

So in the days since the election there has been MUCH activity. I can't talk about it all right now and I am definitly not the most qualified either :) So instead I will you point you in some good directions.

1) the BBC launched this year their Persian site which is a team of Persians and non persians working in London. They are now providing some of the most upto date information. Especially since for a while all phonelines, internet and even some TV broadcasting what cut from inside Iran. I recommend going particularly to this page of analysis.

2) I also encourage you (as always) to check out Helena Cobban's site and her analysis of the situation. Here is the link.

I promise to write more soon and keep you updated!