Goldstone eloquently picks apart the Apartheid canard

Richard Goldstone--of all people--emerges as a very cogent and eloquent Israel-advocate. It's about time. Here are two sample paragraphs:

[...] In Israel, there is no apartheid. Nothing there comes close to the definition of apartheid under the 1998 Rome Statute: “Inhumane acts ... committed in the context of an institutionalized regime of systematic oppression and domination by one racial group over any other racial group or groups and committed with the intention of maintaining that regime.” Israeli Arabs — 20 percent of Israel’s population — vote, have political parties and representatives in the Knesset and occupy positions of acclaim, including on its Supreme Court. Arab patients lie alongside Jewish patients in Israeli hospitals, receiving identical treatment.

To be sure, there is more de facto separation between Jewish and Arab populations than Israelis should accept. Much of it is chosen by the communities themselves. Some results from discrimination. But it is not apartheid, which consciously enshrines separation as an ideal. In Israel, equal rights are the law, the aspiration and the ideal; inequities are often successfully challenged in court. [...]

Read the rest as they say. I would like to add one other point that Goldstone does not discuss. Ultimately, discrimination--even severe and cruel discirmintaton--is quite common in the world. The degree of discrimination is not what made Apartheid so odious. Apartheid had to go because the white South Africans were such a small minority in such a large country. Control simply had to be wrested from their hands and vested in the hands of the people who comprised the country's significant population. Leftists who cast Jewish Israeilis as the White South Africans are actually seeking to deprive Israel's majority population of self-determination. That's what excites them about the Apartheid comparison--it provides a precedent for revoking a group's control of a country.

White South Africans, on one hand, were a small group who were not entitled to control the destiny of a large country. On the other hand, kicking a unique nationality and majority-population--Israeli Jewry--out of the driver's seat of its own destiny would lead quickly to ethnic cleansing. That is what is so insidious about the Apartheid-comparison: it whitewashes the ambition to ethnically cleanse. (h/t: EOZ)

Fars: "Iranian Basij Forces Stress Support for Occupy Wall Street Movement"

The Basij is a huge paramilitary force which plays a key role in suppressing dissidents and enforcing Islamic conformity in Iran. So they're the ultimate progressives:

Members of Iran's Basij (volunteer) force issued a statement in recent days to voice strong support for the American people's anti-capitalism movement.

"We have been watching the glory of your movement on Wall Street and have been appreciating your determination to bring into an end the one-percent supremacy," said the statement.

"Your movement ascertains us capitalism is already over. Having owned large-scale media and accompanied by force, batons and tear gas, capitalism has been striving to gloss over your protests; however, your resolve and perseverance to prove your role in the destiny of your country made their plots dead in the water and spread your truthful message all around the world. The cold weather you experienced all during this time not only didn't hinder the progress of your movement, but also made your faith in the truthfulness of the path you are in stronger," it added.

"Occupy Wall Street undoubtedly represents the oppressed voicing their protests against the oppressors. As in Islamic Iranian culture, defending the oppressed is presumed a divine task, we, as a group of Iranian Basij Force members, hereby announce our support for your glorious and decent movement and promise we shall never stop supporting your uprising.

"Upon following world's leading media, a group of Basij members noticed capital-based systems have tried to stop your message from spreading all around the globe and to misuse your movement through distributing distorted news of the movement in addition to adopting high censorship measures."

The statement continued, "Having looked into such circumstances as mentioned, our media team decided to open a website, as an attempt to provide the world with a truthful account of the events occurring in Wall Street. www.wsfall.com is undergoing the preparatory stages and will start within a few days to come."

"Establishing this website in both Persian and English was the least we, as Iranian youths in support of your movement, could do to help the true message of those protesting the capitalist system spread throughout the world."

"We wish to see your victory in overthrowing the capitalist system and hope the motivation created by Wall Street in European countries as well, will help establish a genuine democracy all around the world."

"Your union has sent the world the message of your persistence to overcome the supremacy of one-percent against the 99 percent. We ask all of you as our brothers and sisters to hold on the cause and to do your utmost to send it all over the globe; Never ever let East and West criminals to gain control over you again," the message concluded.

If you are tempted to investigate that URL, make sure you have a good anti-virus program.

New Qassam attack?

From Arutz7:

A Kassam rocket, launched by terrorists in Hamas-controlled Gaza, exploded, Sunday evening, in an open area of the Ashkelon Coast Council region.

No injuries or damage were reported. It was the second such attack in as many hours.

Only a Qassam 3 can go that far.

Fars (Iran): "Iran Likely to File Lawsuit against Hillary Clinton"

Have any other world leaders ever been successfully sued for "meddling remarks"?

The Iranian Parliament is likely to require the government to file a lawsuit against the US Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, for her recent meddling remarks in Iran's internal affairs.

Speaking to FNA, member of the parliament's National Security and Foreign Policy Commission Avaz Heidarpour said that the commission is slated to discuss Clinton's recent interfering remarks in a later meeting today.

Heidarpour said in case the commission comes to the conclusion that such a move is necessary, "the Parliament will task the government with lodging a complaint against Hillary Clinton".

Clinton, in interviews with the Persian language services of the BBC and Voice of America on Wednesday, said the United States plans to open a "virtual embassy" for Iran that will give Iranians online information about visas and student exchange programs despite the lack of formal diplomatic ties.

Clinton used both interviews to pretend that the United States hoped to broaden contacts with regular Iranians despite tensions with the Tehran government, and described Iran's Islamic establishment as a military dictatorship. She also said the "virtual embassy" website would be open by the end of the year and it would provide Iranians with information on visas and other programs.

In her astonishingly interfering remarks, Clinton said the United States was providing both technology and training to help Iranians circumvent government limits on the Internet and other forms of communication while seeking to expand sanctions on Tehran.

In response, Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Ramin Mehman-Parast Thursday night called on the White House officials to stop meddling in Tehran's domestic affairs, and said the recent remarks made by Clinton on Iran displayed her lack of knowledge and information.

Mehman-Parast strongly rejected the allegations raised by Clinton in her Wednesday interview with the BBC against Tehran, and stressed, "Mrs. Clinton's lack of information about Iran's issues has a history. Hence, she and other US administration officials are advised to stop using suppressive methods and exercising dictatorship inside the US and avoid continuing occupation and interventionist policies towards other countries instead of leveling accusations against others."

"Officials of the United States of America had better meet the demands of their people, specially the youth, which are manifested in the Wall Street Protest Movement and comply with the demands and aspirations declared by the people in the Islamic Awakening and popular uprisings in the regional countries who want the US to give up support for dependant rulers and stop military and security presence and interference in the other countries' affairs," he added.

Also at Fars today, a representative of Islamic Jihad (which as you know is currently racking up new martyrdoms testing its great new weapons) makes some pronouncements:

Representative of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad Movement in Tehran Abu Sharif welcomed the recent developments and uprisings in the Muslim countries which have led to the collapse of the Zionist regime's allies in the region, and said Israel's protection shield is growing thin every day.

"The Zionist regime has had three security belts in the past, namely Egypt, Turkey and the monarchical regime of Iran; but God blessed us and the support of the Shah of Iran for the Zionists stopped as a result of the victory of the Islamic Revolution in Iran," Abu Sharif said in Tehran on Sunday.

"Also with the collapse of Hosni Mubarak in Egypt we are witnessing that Israel's security belt is growing increasingly tight," he said, implying that the trend of affairs is moving in a direction that will eventually lead to the collapse of the Israeli regime after it is left alone with no protection shield in the region. [...]

English articles form the Iranian press often seem to use "collapse" to mean military defeat.

(North) Korean News: "Iran Warns West against Plots"

Khomeinism and Juche-keit--two great tastes that taste great together!

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, president of Iran, made a speech in a rally on October 25 in which he warned the West not to breed plots against the regional countries.

He said the West is planning to realize the domination on the regional countries through deception and lie under the pretext of aid.

The era of colonialism has already ended and the people of the regional countries are sharpening their vigilance against the machinations of the West, he noted, adding the West should stop all sorts of inhuman acts and remove its military bases from the region.

"Foodstuff Factory for Sportspersons Built in Pyongyang"

I don't like the sound of this. There is a concept of sports-nutrition products, but in Western countries such things are available to the general public:

The Kumkop (gold cup) Combined Foodstuff Factory for Sportspersons has made its appearance in Pyongyang.

The factory produces rice cake, bread, confectionary, processed meat and drinks. It also has welfare facilities for its employees.

The drinks, including carbonated water and nutritious water, are made with natural medicinal materials good for recovery from fatigue and promotion of health.

Ri Jong Ho, manager of the factory, told KCNA that the factory will put its production and management activities on a scientific and IT basis to massproduce quality foodstuffs needed for sportspersons.

Ahmadinejad: "European tax channeled to Zionists"

He can't open his mouth, seemingly, without saying something like this:

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad says the tax paid by the European people have been going to “Zionists' pockets” for the past 60 years.

Ahmadinejad made the remarks during a Saturday meeting in Tehran with international personalities, IRNA reported.

Ahmadinejad noted that Zionists have, in return, been paying for the election campaign of certain political parties in the West.

He described the Israeli regime as a very complicated organization, which is in control of those holding monopolies of power, wealth, and media.

Ahmadinejad described Israel as the symbol of the 'anti-humanistic' ideology of Zionism, stating that the regime adhered neither to religion nor to ethics and only pretended to be Jewish.

Those meeting with the Iranian president had gathered in a conference venue in the Iranian capital earlier in the day to establish the Press Union of the Islamic World. [...]

Fars (Iran): "Senior Cleric Warns White House to Avoid Clampdown on Americans"

Fear not, OWS, Ayatollah Jannati has your back!

Tehran's provisional Friday Prayers Leader Ayatollah Ahmad Jannati warned Washington officials to stop suppression of American protestors.

Addressing a large and fervent congregation of worshippers on Tehran University Campus here on Friday, Ayatollah Jannati noted the anti-capitalism protests in the US and the exercise of heavy-handed tactics by the US police against demonstrators, and said, "You (the US) treat your people harshly, you should know that people can not be treated by force."

He said 99 percent of the American population is standing against one percent, "and you are advised not to suppress 99 percent of your population just because of the interests of the remaining one percent".

Occupy Wall Street protesters have been occupying Zuccotti Park since 17 September and have said they intend to remain in occupation until the new year.

The anti-capitalism protesters are angry at the US administration's domestic, foreign and financial policies and discriminatory approach towards the 99% average and below-average class of the society, saying that the 1% rich are looting the rest of the population.

He further dismissed the US accusation that Tehran plotted to assassinate a Saudi envoy to Washington, and asked, "What would Iran gain by assassinating a Saudi Ambassador on the US soil?"

"You yourself are terror agents, you kill people in Afghanistan, Iraq and Pakistan," he added.

Meantime, the cleric said the US is experiencing demise as crisis has ripped through the US and Europe while the waves of Islamic awakening have spread.

"And today is the day of encountering the US as much as we can," he added. [...]

"Saudi Arabia police reported that they had seized nearly 1,500 Chinese-made toy guns at a local market which made insulting anti-Islam sounds"

Whenever there's news, Iran's PressTV is on it!

UAE Police say a number of Chinese-made toy guns have been imported into country that utter insulting and mocking phrases against Islam.

Maryam Al Ahmadi, an Emirati citizen and a social affairs activist, found the toys in the local markets and informed the Abu Dhabi police, Emirate 24/7 reported on Wednesday.

“I call upon the police and other competent authorities to investigate how these anti-Islam guns have found their way into the UAE market and to take action against all those who have imported them,” Al Ahmadi said.

Earlier this week, Saudi Arabia police reported that they had seized nearly 1,500 Chinese-made toy guns at a local market which made insulting anti-Islam sounds.

According to UAE law, importers of such toys could face jail terms of up to 5 years.

According to the insulting imported toy law?

Iran discovers that scorpions are reptiles

Who knew?

Iranian scientists managed to produce a new type of anti-cancer drug using the venoms of reptiles like snakes and scorpions.

"After several years of research and studies on a combination of snake and scorpion venoms, the anti-cancer drug was produced in Iran," Abbas Zare', the Director of the Venomous Animals Department of Iran's Razi Vaccine and Serum Research Institute, told reporters on Tuesday.

"This anti-cancer drug has been produced from snake and scorpion venoms after 10 years of research work and has been extracted from the fat (peptide) of such animals," he added

Zare' said that the anti-cancer drug has passed laboratory tests and it is waiting for the Iranian health ministry's permission to be experimented on human beings.

Iran has taken wide strides in science and technology, particularly in medical and medicinal fields, in recent years.

Earlier, Iranian Health Minister Marziyeh Vahid Dastjerdi had announced that Iran plans to boost its capacities and capabilities in a bid to make a huge and rapid advancement in drug production by synthesizing 15 types of anti-cancer medicines.

"15 types of monoclonal anti-body drugs are being synthesized with the help of the Scientific Department of the Presidential Office, using hi-tech technology," Vahid Dastjerdi said in September.

Also, Iranian scientists in April succeeded in producing new types of medication for treating different kinds of cancer, viral diseases and arthritis with 100% positive results.

"The medicine has been synthesized through a new and unique formula and has the capability to destroy all malignant cancerous cells," Head of the research team Qassem Tak Dehqan told reporters at the time.

I guess that's about it for cancer.

Future of Green Book studies uncertain

Another puffed up tyrant bites the dust.

Colonel Muammar el-Qaddafi led Libya through 40 years of erratic, authoritarian rule before being toppled by a rebellion that seized power in August 2011 after a bloody six-month campaign.

On Oct. 20, the head of the Libyan military council said that Col. Qaddafi had been killed as fighters battling the vestiges of his fallen regime wrested control of his hometown of Surt.

His final moments were as violent as the uprising that overthrew him.

In a cellphone video that went viral on the Internet, the deposed Libyan leader is seen splayed on the hood of a truck and then stumbling amid a frenzied crowd, seemingly begging for mercy. He is next seen on the ground, with fighters grabbing his hair. Blood pours down his head, drenching his golden brown khakis, as the crowd shouts, “God is great!” [...]

G-d is great.

Gut Yom Tov!

Sukkos is called "Zeman Simchaseinu"--the "time of our rejoicing." Thus, the holiday is particularly associated with rejoicing, and I hope you have an especially joyous one. I usually don't post on Chol Hamo'eid--see you after Simchas Torah.

(North) Korean News: "Motherly Party Responsible for Destiny of People"

The Western press keeps talking about a so-called "hunger crisis" and "acute malnutrition," but this article disproves all that Imperialist slander:

The song "We Sing of the Party" has become increasingly popular in the DPRK with the approach of the 66th anniversary of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK).

The song stresses that the WPK is the greatest party pursuing politics based on love for the people.

The WPK's is a history of love for the people.

The revolutionary party should take care of the popular masses and protect and guide them, responsible for their destiny, as the mother does for her children -- this is the guidelines general secretary Kim Jong Il has always maintained in party building.

When visiting the newly built Pothonggang Shop in August Juche 98 (2009), he asked officials accompanying him whether there was an elevator in the shop.

They said that the design expected no elevator because the shop was just a two-storied building. Listening to them, Kim Jong Il suggested installing an elevator for the convenience of customers.

He then said the convenience of the people should be put above anything else in all work.

Kim Jong Il's ceaseless field guidance tours are all aimed to improve the people's living standard.

The Korean people, through their practical experience, well know that the WPK guided by Kim Jong Il is the motherly party wholly responsible for their destiny and future.

Angry Arab on the "American-Israeli plot"

Angry Arab, you may recall, renounced supportive things he said about three hikers held by Iran (one an ex-student) when he learned one had Israeli connections. The ex-student has now written a letter of protest to AA and he replies here. The whole business is very amusing and illuminating for AA-watchers, but I am just quoting a brief excerpt which concerns the great conspiracy we all love:

. . . yes, the lousy Iranian regime and lousy Arab regimes often persecute people under the pretext of fighting an American-Israeli plot. But that does not mean that there is no American-Israeli plot in the region. It seems to me that, in this day and age, to deny the existence of this plot is to display extreme naivite or worse.

Fars (Iran): "Lebanese Analyst Warns of Hezbollah's Impending Strike on Israel"

Is it bluster? Who knows:

A Lebanese strategic analyst warned on Monday that Hezbollah would strike the Israeli facilities if Tel Aviv continues stealing Lebanon's oil and sea reserves.

"In case the enemy steals Lebanon's oil, Hezbollah will have the right to strike its oil installations and facilities," Feisal Abdossater told FNA on Monday.

The analyst cautioned that Zionists' aggressive and expansionist moves in the Mediterranean Sea has heightened tension between the two sides, and said the situation is now ripe for the start of clashes between Lebanon and the Israeli regime.

"Zionists' plot to find control over Lebanon's sea wealth has a high potential for clashes between the two sides and is likely to have dire consequences," he stated.

"The Lebanese Islamic resistance will not tolerate any kind of aggressions against the country's sovereignty," he reiterated, and added, "Hezbollah views the oil resources in Lebanon's water as a treasure for the Lebanese nation and has declared its position in this regard very transparently."

"Hezbollah will cut the hands of anyone who targets Lebanon's sovereignty," the analyst continued.

Israel has constructed oil sites and installations in Lebanon's national waters. The two off-shore sites, named by Israel as Leviathan and Tamar are worth an estimated $40 billion.

In June 2010, Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri said, "Israel is ignoring the fact that, according to the maps, this field is included within Lebanon's territorial waters."

Earlier in July 2011, Hezbollah Leader Seyed Hassan Nasrallah warned Israel against trying to steal Lebanon's maritime resources, and said it would retaliate against any Israeli attack on the country's oil and gas installations, in light of a dispute building between Israel and Lebanon over their maritime border and huge natural gas and oil reserves beneath the Mediterranean Sea.

"Those who harm our installations will have their own installations harmed," Nasrallah warned at the time.

IRIB Radio: "Libyan fighters demand Jews' expulsion"

Not the world's most reliable source, but interesting:

Libyan revolutionaries have held a protest rally in Libya's second largest city, Benghazi, to demand the expulsion of immigrant Jews from the post-revolutionary North African country.

According to IRNA, the revolutionaries marched in the eastern port city on Friday and condemned the settling of Jews in Libya following the 1967 Zionist regime aggression against some Arab countries.

Meanwhile, other protests and sit-ins were reportedly held elsewhere in the city during which the protesters demanded that the Libyan National Transitional Council (NTC) heed their calls for action.

Benghazi is Libya's second largest city where the revolution against Gaddafi started in February. The city came under opposition control during the early days of the anti-government protests.

The latest protest comes amid reports of attempts by Jewish immigrants to participate in the North African country's future administration.

Yom Kippur

Gemar Chasimah Tovah!

Easy Fast!

Here is "Yom Kippur in a Nutshell" from chabad.org:

Yom Kippur is the holiest day of the year--the day on which we are closest to G‑d and to the quintessence of our own souls. It is the Day of Atonement -- "For on this day He will forgive you, to purify you, that you be cleansed from all your sins before G‑d" (Leviticus 16:30).

For twenty-six hours--from several minutes before sunset on Tishrei 9 to after nightfall on Tishrei 10--we "afflict our souls": we abstain from food and drink, do not wash or anoint our bodies, do not wear leather shoes, and abstain from marital relations.

Before Yom Kippur we perform the Kaparot atonement service; we request and receive honey cake, in acknowledgement that we are all recipients in G-d's world and in prayerful hope for a sweet and abundant year; eat a festive meal, immerse in a mikvah, and give extra charity. Late afternoon we eat the pre-fast meal, following which we bless our children, light a memorial candle as well as the holiday candles, and go to the synagogue for Kol Nidrei services.

In the course of Yom Kippur we hold five prayer services: Maariv, with its solemn Kol Nidrei service, on the eve of Yom Kippur; Shacharit--the morning prayer; Musaf, which includes a detailed account of the Yom Kippur Temple service; Minchah, which includes the reading of the Book of Jonah; and Ne'illah, the "closing of the gates" service at sunset. We say the Al Chet confession of sins eight times in the course of Yom Kippur, and recite Psalms every available moment.

The day is the most solemn of the year, yet an undertone of joy suffuses it: a joy that revels in the spirituality of the day and expresses the confidence that G-d will accept our repentance, forgive our sins, and seal our verdict for a year of life, health and happiness. When the closing Ne'illah service climaxes in the resounding cries of "Hear O Israel... G-d is one" and a single blast of the shofar, followed by the proclamation, "Next year in Jerusalem." Then joy erupts in song and dance (a Chabad custom is to sing the lively "Napoleon's March"), followed by the festive after-fast meal, making the evening after Yom Kippur a Yom Tov (festival) in its own right.

SANA (Syria): "Foreign Ministry: Veto of UNSC Draft Resolution on Syria Restores Hope for a Balanced World"

Awwww, isn't this touching?

"Syria highly appreciates the perspective as reflected by the UN Security Council debates on a draft resolution which aims at interfering in its internal affairs," official Spokesman at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates said on Wednesday.

The source added that "Syria finds such perspective as a message of confidence delivered from the UN Security Council platform to the people of the world who view the international organizations as tools for colonial domination through which the dominating countries practice the policy of submission, control and annexation to other peoples and societies."

"Hope and some confidence returned to these peoples in restoring some balance to the world system after a long time of USA and European domination which turned the Security Council's resolutions into a tool for punishing defenders of independence and liberation and a tool for protecting, justifying and turning blind eyes to aggression and terrorism," added the source in a statement to SANA.

The source underlined that the dear hope for all people of the world has become a world that is based on justice and balance and a new world order based on these values away from the slavery of a one-pole policy.

The source voiced appreciation for the countries which voted against: Russia and China and those which abstained from the vote: Lebanon, India, South Africa and Brazil.

Fars (Iran): "Assad Warns to Set Fire on Middle-East in Case of US Attack"

It is interesting that Assad is threatening action from Iran itself and that this is being reported in Iran's official press:

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in a meeting with Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmad Davutoglu threatened the western countries that if Syria comes under a NATO attack, it would set fire on the Middle-East, specially Israel.

"If a crazy measure is taken against Damascus, I will need not more than 6 hours to transfer hundreds of rockets and missiles to the Golan Heights to fire them at Tel Aviv," Assad said after Davutoglu conveyed the United States' warning message to him.

He also reiterated that Damascus will also call on Hezbollah in Lebanon to launch such an intensive rocket and missile attack on Israel that the Israeli spy agencies could never imagine.

"All these events will happen in three hours, but in the second three hours, Iran will attack the US warships in the Persian Gulf and the US and European interests will be targeted simultaneously," Assad said. [...]

SANA (Syria): "French Writer: Al-Jazeera Channel was conceived by two French-Israeli personalities"

Normal sources of information don't say this about Al-Jazeera, and Meyssan is a conspiracy kook.

French writer Thierry Meyssan said that the Qatar-based al-Jazeera channel was conceived by two French brothers: David and Jean Friedman, who hold the Israeli nationality.

The French writer said in an article published on his website, Voltairenet.org, that Qatar has financed the channel with USD 150 million loan for five years before it became the only financer.

He added that the goal of al-Jazeera was not saying the truth and that the involvement of al-Jazeera channel in provocative acts aiming at toppling the Syrian and Libyan regimes was not due to circumstances, rather they were long-prepared goals by people who knew how to hide their personal interests.

He criticized focusing on events in Syria and Libya and claiming that the two leaderships are killing their peoples while ignoring the current developments and events in other countries in the region.

Meyssan considered al-Jazeera channel as being incredible during the 6 past months, adding that al-Jazeera has transformed into a propaganda tool for reoccupying Libya with the help of Qatar which has won the privilege of controlling the gas and oil trade.

(h/t: Elder of Ziyon)

(North) Korean News: Iran preparing its own Stuxnet?

North Korea continues to provide a platform for the official pronouncements of other dictatorships:

A high-ranking officer of the Iranian military in an interview with the IRNA on Sept. 28 clarified the stand of his country to reciprocate the cyber attack of the U.S.

He said that enemies of the Islamic Republic of Iran tried all their means in different economic, cultural, social, military and security fields in the past three decades to deal a blow to the Islamic Revolution, but to no avail.

If the enemy commits cyber attack against Iran, it will deal a resolute counterattack on it, he declared.

All anti-revolutionary terrorist organizations are formed and financed by U.S., the West and Israel, he noted.

Angry Arab on "discourse that does not get reported in Zionist media"

Angry Arab seems to feel that some remarks of the Supreme Leader of Iran constitute the "discourse that does not get reported in Zionist media." Heaven forfend that anything worthy of reportage should go unreported, so if I qualify as "Zionist media," I will undertake to lay AA's fears to rest. Here are the Supreme Leader remarks that have AA so excited:

We neither propose a classical war with the armies of Islamic countries, nor do we propose throwing Jewish immigrants into the sea or intervention of the United Nations and other international organizations. We propose a referendum among the Palestinian people. Just like any other nation, the Palestinian nation has the right to determine its own destiny and to elect its own government. All the original people of Palestine - including Muslims, Christians and Jews and not foreign immigrants - should take part in a general and orderly referendum and determine the future government of Palestine whether they live inside Palestine or in camps or in any other place. The government that is established after the referendum will determine the destiny of non-Palestinian immigrants who migrated to Palestine in the past. This is a fair and logical proposal which global public opinion understands and it can receive support from independent nations and governments.

Of course we do not expect the usurping Zionists to willingly accept this proposal . . .

Angry Arab writes:

It is amazing how much Zionists control the media coverage (and congressional deliberations and decisions) in the US. How many of you, for example, were aware that the Supreme Guide in Iran spoke against the slogan of "throwing the Jews into the sea" and explicitly said that it was not "their intentions". In fact, comrade Ibrahim Amin in Al-Akhbar wrote that this ostensible goal was never a stated goal for any serious resistance group in the region and yet Zionist hoodlums made it out to be a cherished goals for Arabs when no Arab was found to have made it (I only found one sentence uttered by the founder of the Muslim Brothers, Hasan Al-Banna in 1948 in Al-Musawwar--research the archives here).

(Al-Banna talked about throwing Jews into the sea--that's interesting.) What, then, are we to make of Mr. Supreme's non sea-throwing remarks? He wants a referendum of "All the original people of Palestine - including Muslims, Christians and Jews and not foreign immigrants," wherever they live, "in camps or in any other place." These "original people" will "determine the destiny" of millions of other people who won't be allowed to vote in the referendum because they lack the qualification of being "original."

The wording is not so clear, but I assume he means that millions of Jordanians and other Arabs of Palestinian extraction (and the Palestinians living in Palestine, of course) should vote on the "destiny" of Israelis, even native-born ones (except for a few with the correct grandparents), in a referendum in which the Israelis in question themselves are not allowed to vote. What would that "destiny" be? Leaving aside the Ayatollah's remarks that he himself does not support the sea-throwing option, what would actually stop that referendum from having a watery outcome? Other Iranian officials talk about Israelis "going home," so the likely result, at the least, of this little referendum envisioned by Mr. Supreme would be the severe depopulation of the ex-Zionist entity, whatever the Jews' ultimate destination, in order to make room for the folks that qualify as "original."

Does this mean that ethnic cleansing is OK as long as it does not involve water? It would be interesting to read a response from Asa'ad here, but the composition of such a response seems almost as unlikely as the Ayatollah's envisioned referendum.

SANA (Syria): "Venezuelan President: Syria is exposed to Foreign Conspiracy"

Progressives stick together until the end:

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez stressed on Sunday that Syria is being exposed to a foreign conspiracy led by the US and some EU countries.

In a statement published by Venezuelan newspapers, Chavez expressed his support and solidarity with Syria in the face of this conspiracy, saying "We, from Venezuela, express our solidarity and support to the Syrian people and President Bashar al-Assad."

He added the Syrian people,under the leadership of President al-Assad, are resisting an imperialist aggression."

In another of today's notable progressive pronouncements, Angry Arab explains that Turkey's influence is "on the wane" because it isn't tough enough on Israel.