Palestinian Information Center: "Hamas condemns Israel’s 'international piracy' against Gaza-bound boat"

Later in the article the interception of the boat is also termed a "war crime":

Hamas has strongly condemned ”the international piracy” against the pro-Palestinian activists on board the French Dignite – Al-Karama boat, which set out to challenge Israel's siege of the Gaza Strip.

An Israeli army spokesperson has announced that Israeli naval forces intercepted the yacht on Tuesday as it neared the Gaza coast.

The force claimed the boat had weapons on board, which the passengers have denied altogether.

Israeli Radio said the interception took place without incidents reported.

Hamas said in a statement that ensued: ”The Zionist occupier's continuance in preventing the supporters and humanitarian aid from arriving to the besieged Gaza Strip and its attacks on them will not stop the solidarity campaigns with the Palestinian people, but will increase the determination and work until the siege and injustice on our people in occupied Palestine is lifted”.

Hamas emphasized the need for continued siege-busting campaigns and called on human rights groups not to surrender to Israeli pressure and to help expose Israel's practices and prosecute its leaders in the international courts.

Dr. Ahmed Bahar, the deputy speaker of the Palestinian Legislative Council, also condemned the attack, adding that the Israeli government was responsible for the safety of the Dignite's 17 passengers, who were taken to the Israeli Ashdod port and detained.

He added that the act contravened the most basic human rights principles and international law.

Discussing the next step to be taken, Bahar called on Arab and Muslim organizations to lead a rights movement in facing Israel's acts by filing legal complaints with all international courts.

In a separate statement, the popular committee against the siege on Gaza blamed world silence for Israel's continued attacks on pro-Palestinian activists who come from abroad.

Another statement by Hamas leader Ismail Radwan calls the boat takeover a war crime. [...]

That's so meaningful coming from someone who likes to quote the rocks and trees hadith.

Fars: "Ahmadinejad: Arrogant Powers Angry at Spread of Islamic Thoughts"

In which we learn that Ahmadinejad "appreciated the Iranian nation for its bright record in supporting Islam throughout the past." Shouldn't that be "highly appreciated"? Fars News is falling behind in its mission to sound like the North Korean press as much as possible:

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad reiterated that the world arrogant powers cannot bear to see the spread of Islamic thoughts and make every attempt to hinder this trend.

"The fact that after 1400 years (since the rise of Islam) the arrogant countries recognize the Zionist regime and accuse the Islamic Revolution of injustice and discrimination instead shows that they are angry at the Islamic and Shiite school of thought," Ahmadinejad said, addressing a large number of people in the Northwestern Ardebil province on Monday.

He also appreciated the Iranian nation for its bright record in supporting Islam throughout the past, but underlined that the Iranian people should still continue their mission, which he described as the protection of Islam's school of thought.

Earlier this month, Iranian Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani also said arrogant powers are deeply fearful of the spread of Islamic thoughts in the world and are, thus, striving to change the nature Islam and the meaning of Islamic concepts.

"They believe that Islam is moving rapidly and that they should harness it," Larijani said, adding that arrogant powers fear the spread of Islam and believe that Islam and Islamic thoughts have spread beyond their perceived levels and boundaries.

"The western intellectuals believe that Islam has influenced the Islamic nations' social and political life and caused independence, honor and Jihadi thoughts in Islamic states," he added.

"Independence, honor, and Jihadi thoughts"--that's so beautiful . . .

Fars (Iran): "Zionists" bombed the AMIA building

Hezbollah and Iran would never do such a thing. They love Jews:

A senior Iranian lawmaker on Monday dismissed the existence of any evidence that can prove Iran's involvement in the 1994 bombing attack on the Argentine Israelite Mutual Association (AMIA), and called on Argentina to launch a probe into the role of the Zionists in the attack.

"The Argentine court should probe into the accusations raised about Zionists' involvement in the blast at the Argentinean Jewish center. It is embarrassing that baseless claims are raised against Iran, while the terrorist elements involved in this case are completely known," First Vice-Chairman of the parliament's Judicial and Legal Commission Mousa Qazanfarabadi told FNA.

He expressed the hope that the court would find out the truth after conducting the necessary investigations into the AMIA case, and said the truth is that Zionists have been involved in the explosion at the Argentine Jewish center.

Qazanfarabadi further rejected existence of any evidence proving Iran's involvement in the attack, and added, "Unfortunately, Zionists' control over legal and international channels has grown so strong that they accuse Iran for all incidents in the world."

Under intense political pressure by the US and the Israeli regime, Argentina formally accused Iran of carrying out the attack on the Jewish community center in Buenos Aires that claimed the lives of 85 people and left 300 wounded.

Faced with lack of any evidence for their anti-Iranian allegations, only false and contradictory statements by Iranian dissidents seeking asylum in the West have been used by Argentine's prosecutors to level charges against Tehran. The Islamic Republic has vehemently and consistently denied any involvement in the terror bombing.

In relevant remarks last week, the Iranian foreign ministry in a statement called for the removal of all the ambiguities in the case of the 1994 bombing of the AMIA Jewish cultural center.

The statement expressed sorrow that after 17 years of the crime, the truth has not been discovered yet and the identity of perpetrators and the real elements behind the crime are still vague.

It added that the criminal act has turned into a political game and a conspiracy.

"Judiciary officials of Argentina at that time, whose illegal acts were disclosed later and were convicted by courts, accused a number of Iranian citizens and tried to cause deviation in judicial investigation and help real perpetrators escape from justice," the statement reminded.

It concluded that the Ministry is also ready to enter constructive dialogue and cooperation with the Argentinean government to find out the truth and reality in the framework of law.

What more can anybody ask?

"Intifada-Palestine" blog reveals Al-Jazeera to be Zionist agents in plot against Syria

We are pleased to welcome Intifada-Palestine to the Judeopundit family of content-providers:

[...] Al-Jazeera has fabricated multiple eyewitness reports, bloated the death toll, broadcasted incitement against Bashar al-Assad, put forth the foreign policy objectives of the GCC dictatorships to bring down the Syrian government and ignored the vital fact that the Zionist-run National Endowment for Democracy (NED) is active on the ground in Syria (84). Instead of reporting these facts, the mainstream media and Al-Jazeera peddle the (admittedly) unverifiable, false casualty claims of London-based Syrian opposition groups, which boast about their membership with Zionism’s NED (85). Instead of reporting these facts, Al-Jazeera is manipulating imagery to fit with its anti-Syria agenda and paying actors to make false statements against Bashar al-Assad (86).

Mainstream media has consistently reported on snipers shooting at ‘pro-democracy’ protesters and has published recorded ‘eyewitness’ testimony from a member of Syrian security forces who ‘admitted’ that the snipers are Syrian military. The problem with this ‘eyewitness,’ like every other ‘eyewitness’ presented by the Al-Jazeera-Zionist media axis, is that his name isn’t real, his voice has been modified, and the person who supposedly produced the recording isn’t using his real name either (87).

None of it is real and everything is muddled because it’s another Zionist media fabrication. What is not being reported in the mainstream, is that the Syrian government has fully disclosed that there are indeed snipers firing not only on ‘protesters,’ but security forces as well (88). Mainstream media would never reveal that the snipers are agents of the Zionist-Saudi plan to destabilize Syria put together by Saudi National Security Advisor ‘Prince’ Bandar bin Sultan and the slippery Zionist criminal, Jeffrey Feltman (discussed earlier). The Feltman-Sultan plan, financed by $2 billion in Saudi funds, trained agents within Syria in sniper fire, arson and ‘sectarian attacks,’ all for the cause of fracturing Syria and terminating its support for Hezbollah and Iran (89). Hence, why the Zionist media is also spreading vile hasbara about Iranian forces and Hezbollah fighters assisting Bashar al-Assad ‘crush dissent,’ obvious lies originating from Mossad and its closest ally in Syria, the Syrian Muslim Brotherhood (90). [...]

What could be more Zionist than the Muslim Brotherhood?

Why Angry Arab will never have anything useful to say about corruption in Arab countries

He blames capitalism:

I was reading an article on Arab uprisings by Samir Amin in Al-Huriyyah (the mouthpiece of the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine). He makes an important point about corruption: how some people call for an end to corruption, like it is some ethical lapse, or some immorality, when it is an integral part of the capitalist system.

Fars: "Official Underlines Iran's Ability to Foil Enemies' Plots"

Time for the Iranian press's greatest hit!

Secretary-General of Iran's High Council of Human Rights Mohammad Javad Larijani warned of the plots hatched by the enemies to harm the younger Iranian generation, but meantime, expressed the confidence that the Iranian nation will be able to stand against and defuse all enemy plots.

"The enemies of the Islamic Republic of Iran want to deceit our country's youths and teenagers through cultural invasion and propaganda campaign," Larijani said on Friday evening.

However, Larijani stressed that the Iranian nation has always thwarted enemies' hegemonic plots and conspiracies through insightfulness, awareness and vigilance.

"Western countries and enemies are not able to dominate Iran. They do not have the ability to do so," Larijani underscored.

Iranian officials have always called on the Iranian nation to preserve unity in a bid to thwart the plots hatched by the enemies against the Islamic establishment. [...]

And this blog was there!

Fars (Iran): Muslim Brotherhood figure affirms "necessity . . . to annihilate this cancerous tumor (Israel)"

The guy looks and sounds pretty carcinomic himself:

A senior member of the Egyptian al-Ikhwan al-Muslimun (Muslim Brotherhood) party said the US, Israel and Saudi Arabia are pressuring Cairo into giving up resumption of ties with Iran.

Speaking to FNA, former spokesman of Muslim Brotherhood Kamal al-Halbawi called on Iran and Egypt "to take the necessary steps" to get rid of such problems and hurdles placed by their opponents to impede resumption of their ties.

He reminded the friendly and age-old relations between Iranian and Egyptian nations, and called for faster diplomatic activities between the two sides.

"The Egyptian nation supports and welcomes Iran's anti-Zionist stance because the two nations view formation of the Zionist regime on the Palestinian territories as a brutal act and against the interests of the regional nations and Muslims," Halbawi noted.

"Both nations underline the necessity for Muslim nations to maintain solidarity and unity to annihilate this cancerous tumor (Israel)," he reiterated. [...]

Doesn't sound good. If only Juan Cole were here to explain what it means. (h/t: IMRA)

Mehr (Iran): Great news! "Guardian Council pledges to prevent infiltration of outsiders"

Just a little two-sentence article, but it speaks volumes. No "eclectic beliefs"!

In a statement released on the anniversary of the establishment of the Guardian Council and ahead of the parliamentary elections in March 2012, the council announced on Wednesday that it will do its utmost to prevent infiltration of outsiders and elements who have anti-Islamic views, or hold eclectic beliefs, into the Iranian government.

The Guardian Council is a constitutionally-mandated 12-member council which is charged with interpreting the Constitution, supervising elections, and approving presidential and parliamentary candidates.

Only approved candidates will do . . .

In North Korea "drama has reached the highest level"

Who needs Shakespeare now that Songun Korea is producing dramas "perfect in ideological and artistic value"?

General Secretary Kim Jong Il enjoyed drama "We Will Recollect Today" newly created by the National Theatrical Troupe.

The drama depicts the indomitable mental power and ardent patriotism displayed by the people of a mountainous county in the drive to implement the policy of the WPK on building medium- and small-scale hydraulic power stations during the arduous march.

He was greatly satisfied with the fact that the creators and artistes of the troupe produced an excellent drama perfect in ideological and artistic value meeting the aesthetic tastes in the era of Songun by preserving and fully applying to creative activities the Juche-based theory of drama established in creating the five revolutionary dramas. He highly appreciated the success made in the performance and extended special thanks to them on behalf of the general secretary of the WPK and the chairman of the NDC of the DPRK and supreme commander of the Korean People's Army.

Noting that the drama has reached the highest level not only in ideological value but in all the elements of representation, he added that it is the greatest masterpiece as it makes a profound philosophical clarification of the memory of the faith and will, not conjuring up the memory of sorrow. He repeatedly said this is flawless in all aspects ranging from establishing human relations to dramaturgy, stage decor, music effect and acting and another monumental masterpiece representing the literature and arts in the era of Songun.

He met with playwriter Kim Hung Gi and director Jang Chan Guk and highly praised them for creating such great work, wishing them success in their future creative work.

The revolutionary dramas of the DPRK serve as powerful ideological weapons for preparing all the members of society as revolutionaries of Juche type and transforming them as required by the Juche idea for their high ideological and artistic value meeting the need and aspiration of the new era, he noted, underlining the need to intensify the performing activities to show them to larger audiences. [...]

It is a well-known fact that North Koreans are often physically stunted. We can now appreciate that this was a clever plan for fitting large audiences into small spaces.

12-13 Tammuz

Thursday and Friday are 12-13 Tammuz this year, the anniversary of the liberation of the sixth Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Schneersohn from Soviet prison in 1927. The survival of traditional Jewish observance, at least as an underground movement, is largely due to the work of the Rebbe and his successor, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson. Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak possessed considerable literary gifts, and the diary he wrote recording his brutal treatment at the hands of the GPU (the precursor organization to the KGB) makes gripping reading. For many, the Rebbe's miraculous release is the turning point in the ultimately successful struggle to keep Yiddishkeit alive in the Soviet "Empire of Evil."

Mehr (Iran): "Hudna and return to 1967 borders, best path forward for Palestine"

Hamas has put some public-relations effort into promoting the idea that land-for-Hudna is an acceptable substitute for peace. Here the Iranian press adopts this idea, and as is usually the case with Hamas, ends up admitting that peace isn't anywhere in the picture:

The Palestine crisis has been intensifying day by day, mainly because of the intransigence of the Israelis.

Israel, with the full support of the United States, has been trying to undermine the efforts of Hamas and Fatah to reach a reconciliation deal.

Making matters worse, there is a U.S.-Israeli conspiracy to stifle the voice of the Palestinians in the international arena.

But a new international movement has taken up the cause of the Palestinians, and some of its members have taken the UN track and are calling for a vote to be held at the UN General Assembly to recognize the statehood of Palestine based on the borders before the Six-Day War of 1967.

Hamas official Mousa Abu Marzook is making strenuous efforts to convince the international community to vote for a UN resolution that would put a Palestinian independent state on the map. [...]

. . . Hamas insists that it must maintain its position to avoid falling into a “trap” set by the Zionist regime and the United States.

The Hamas stance is that all of Palestine must be liberated.

However, Hamas has said they are ready to accept a hudna (temporary truce) with the Israelis.

Thus, the Hamas call for a hudna should be incorporated into the talks for the establishment of two states based on the 1967 borders. This would be the best path to take.

Anything Iran approves of has to be the sure path to peace . . .

(North) Korean News: Chavez "accused the dissident groups and other tricksters of harboring a foolish expectation."

(North) Korean News has lately been running more articles about regimes it approves of, such as Iran and Venezuela. Usually the full-blast Songun rhetoric is reserved for Korea itself, but in this case Chavez's opponents are called "tricksters":

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez Frias dismissed rumors about a reshuffle at a cabinet meeting on Thursday.

As regards the rumor floated by opposition media, he assured the public that the vice-president and all other cabinet ministers would stay in their offices.

He accused the dissident groups and other tricksters of harboring a foolish expectation.

Shouldn't that be "harboring foolish expectation"? Indefinite articles are for Imperialists!

Angry Arab's Agony

A movie featuring--horrors!--a philharmonic orchestra from the Zionist entity--say it isn't so!

There is a movie coming soon to our theaters: a film--an actual film--of a performance of Israeli philharmonic orchestra. I could not believe it when I saw the trailer in the theater. Who would produce a movie of a philharmonic orchestra of any country. There are not even films of philharmonic orchestras of THE US DAMN IT. What is this insane and obsessive love affair with things Israeli in this country?? I mean, if this was the Austrian or German philharmonic orchestras, I would have understood, but Israel's??? Why Israel's?? What is next? A feature film about potatoes in Israel??

It's called "Kartoffel Felafel." And you know who controls the Cannes Film Festival . . .

Dear Leader povides field guidance to Lemurs and Chimpanzees

They are making a great scurry forward:

Kim Jong Il, general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and chairman of the National Defence Commission of the DPRK, provided field guidance to the Central Zoo.

Going round the lemur and chimpanzee sheds, animal and fur seal playing grounds and other places of the zoo, he acquainted himself in detail with its management and operation.

He highly praised the officials and employees of the zoo for arranging the animal sheds to suite the ecological characteristics of wild animals and actively contributing to providing working people and school youth and students with cultural and emotional life.

He was greatly satisfied to hear a report that people are spending pleasant rest while seeing varieties of skills of animals.

He underlined the need to spruce up the zoo well as befitting an education center to help visitors widen knowledge about animals and nurture the spirit of socialist patriotism, not mere a sightseeing place, and thus actively contribute to the rest and education of visitors including school youth and students. [...]

In related primate education news:

Head of Iran's Space Agency (ISA) Hamid Fazeli says the country will send its domestically-built Kavoshgar 5 explorer into space in the near future.

“Kavoshgar 5, which is carrying a living creature, will be sent 120 kilometers (74.56 miles) into space below the orbit in July-August,” ISNA quoted Fazeli as saying.

“Now five monkeys are being trained so that they can [learn to] withstand the physical pressures produced by the orbital pace of the explorer, sound, vibration and other elements at the time of launching,” he added. [...]

They'll have good job prospects after retiring from the space program.

Update: The latest Haveil Havalim is actively contributing to providing working people and school youth and students with cultural and emotional life.

Iran: Supreme Leader trying to be more supreme

According to Amir Taheri:

[...] "Supreme Guide" Ali Khamenei, who has had to share power with different presidents and parliaments since 1989, now believes that he is in a position to seize exclusive control.

The split caused within the ruling establishment by the disputed presidential election of 2009 has served Khamenei's ambitions. By decreeing that Mahmoud Ahmadinejad had won the election, even before the official publication of the results, Khamenei made it clear that it was he, not the voting public, who chose the president.

Khamenei's move gave Ahmadinejad the presidency but deprived it of much of its legitimacy and authority. In his second-term, Ahmadinejad has been a politically wounded and vulnerable president, a far cry from his first term when he pretended to be the darling of the "poor masses" who had supposedly brought him to power.

Since 2009, Khamenei has used his office to put the focus on "Walayat al-Faqih" or rule by the theologian, a pseudo-religious concoction designed in 1979 to concentrate power in the hands of the late Ayatollah Ruhallah Khomeini.

However, Khamenei has not been satisfied even with that. He has encouraged his cronies to launch the idea of "Walayat al-Faqih al-mutlaqah" or "Absolute rule by the theologian." [...]

Taheri thinks, however, that Mr. Supreme might be over-reaching:

Khamenei's aim is to produce a Majlis controlled exclusively by his own faction. This means depriving factions linked to Rafsanjani and Khatami of the 100 or so seats they hold in the 290-seat Majlis.

Attempts by Khatami and Rafsanjani to prevent a total purge of their factions by seeking a deal with Khamenei appear to have failed. [...]

Having robbed Ahmadinejad of legitimacy, Khamenei then moved to deprive the president of constitutional power. The "Supreme Guide" vetoed the president's choices of ministers and publicly ordered him to drop some of his key policies.

Worse still, a number of Ahmadinejad's close associates, friends and family members have been sent to prison on dubious charges of "spreading wrong beliefs" and "corrupt practices."

Years ago, Khatami had complained that, in the Khomeinist system, the president was no more than an "operative." Now, Khamenei is trying to reduce the president to a mere puppet.

Ahmadinejad, however, is no Khatami and might not agree to go down without a fight. [...]

Taheri could be right, but it sounds as if he is looking on the bright side. Iran is obviously progressing in a more straightforwardly dictatorial direction. Taheri thinks that "the elephant in the room" is that "the Iranian people . . . might not welcome the imposition of absolutism at a time that the rest of the Middle East is moving towards pluralism." We'll see.

Fars (Iran): "Commander Stresses IRGC's Ability to Target All US Vessels, Bases in Region"

Our favorite Holocaust-denying regime is crowing about further progress in its ongoing arms build-up:

Commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Aerospace Force Brigadier General Amir Ali Hajizadeh said that the US fleets of warships are no longer a threat to Iran since the IRGC now enjoys the capability to hit all US vessels and bases in the region.

"These vessels (US navy ships) are no longer a threat to us given the (desirable) level of our military capabilities," Hajizadeh told reporters in a press conference on the achievements of the IRGC's recent missile drills, codenamed "Payambar-e Azam (The Great Messenger) 6".

"A large (aircraft) carrier with a length of 330 meters, 7o meters width, 6,000 forces and 70-80 aircraft aboard is an easy target for us, and if they want to threaten us, we will attack them" the commander added, but at the same time underlined that "Iran will never initiate a war".

He also underlined Iran's missile capabilities, and stated that about 70% of the US bases in the region are maximum 300 to 400 kilometers away from Iran, meaning that all of them are within the scope of the IRGC's short and mid-range missiles.

Hajizadeh further stressed that the enemy cannot track or intercept the Iranian anti-ship and anti-vessel missiles since they are supersonic.

"… our coast-to-sea missiles traverse at supersonic speeds, of course this technology is own by a very few number of states," he explained.

In February, Commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps Major General Mohammad Ali Jafari announced that the IRGC has started mass-production of a recently-developed smart anti-ship ballistic missile. [...]

According to another Fars headline: "IRGC Succeeds in Hitting Targets in Indian Ocean from Northern Iran":

A senior commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) announced the successful test-firing of Iran's long-range missiles, saying that the IRGC has succeeded in targeting vessels in the Indian Ocean from a location in Iran's Northern province of Semnan.

Speaking to reporters, Commander of the IRGC's Aerospace Force Brigadier General Amir Ali Hajizadeh said that the test of long-range missiles was conducted in February.

"In Bahman of the last (Iranian) year (January 21- February 20) two IRGC long-range missiles with a range of 1,900km were fired from a region in Semnan province at specified targets in the entrance of the Indian Ocean," Hajizadeh announced.

The commander said that the test was conducted at a time when American forces were also present in the region, and added, "Of course, we had declared that we were having drills in the area and we had closed that specific.

"We even allowed the US spy planes to be present in the region, although they never made an announcement about this issue," he continued. [...]

Nice of them. And just as a reminder of the paranoia that accompanies this military build-up, according to another Fars headline, "Arrogant Powers Seeking to Fabricate Islamic Notions":

Iranian Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani on Saturday said arrogant powers are deeply fearful of the spread of Islamic thoughts in the world and are, thus, striving to change the nature Islam and the meaning of Islamic concepts.

"They believe that Islam is moving rapidly and that they should harness it," Larijani said on Saturday, adding that arrogant powers fear the spread of Islam and believe that Islam and Islamic thoughts have spread beyond their perceived levels and boundaries.

"The western intellectuals believe that Islam has influenced the Islamic nations' social and political life and caused independence, honor and Jihadi thoughts in Islamic states," he added.

Larijani underlined that the western countries are seeking to control the spread of Islam through different plots and conspiracies, and mentioned that after the September 11 events they sought to change the nature of religion and religious notions and concepts. [...]

Since the 9-11 incident, Washington and its main allies have sought hard to misrepresent Islam through the fanatic practice and picture of fabricated Islamic notions staged by such CIA-created and CIA-backed terrorist groups as the Al-Qaeda.

And, of course, the guy across the street with the Obama/Biden bumper-sticker believes the same thing. It doesn't look good for the world arrogance . . . (The above photo accompanies the "Indian Ocean" story)

Mehr (Iran): "Muslims can control world’s economy through strategic bottlenecks"

If this is just about blocking sea-passages, what is all this business about "superior geopolitical, geostrategic and geo-economic conditions"?

Former IRGC commander said on Wednesday that Muslim countries can dominate the world’s economy through strategic bottlenecks.

Major General Yahya Safavi stated that the Islamic countries are located on both sides of these strategic bottlenecks, which “we call unavoidable passages,” and that their superior geopolitical, geostrategic and geo-economic conditions have provided them with best opportunities.

“About 80 percent of the world’s trade is done through maritime navigation and the ships have to pass through these strategic bottlenecks,” he noted.

“The same case is true even with military issues,” he said, adding that during the 2003 invasion of Iraq, the U.S. dispatched over 200,000 troops to Iraq through the sea and through the very same strategic waterways.

He went on to say that the United States claims it has the world’s best army, while the main part of its military and power lies in its Navy.

Thus, this feature has made the U.S. vulnerable to Muslim nations, thanks to the Islamic countries’ control over the strategic waterways.

We also learn today at Mehr that "Ahmadinejad opposes separation of sexes at universities":

President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has written separate letters to Science, Research, and Technology Minister Kamran Daneshju and Health Minister Marzieh Vahid-Dastjerdi, urging them to take measures necessary to prevent the implementation of the plan to separate the classes of male and female students at universities.

He also described the plan as “unwise”.

The president also called on both ministries to refrain from indiscriminate retiring of university professors until the relevant bylaw is ratified.

And then proceed with all the indiscriminate retiring?

BBC coverage of the Hamas hairdresser arrest

A male women's hairdresser, as you may know already, was recently arrested in the Gaza strip. The BBC article is accompanied by a picture of heavily made-up female eyes looking through the slit above a face-veil. The caption reads "Hamas argues it is enforcing a law supported by most of the population in Gaza." Some version of the same idea, that Hamas is only giving the Muslim Gazans what they want, appears about once every three paragraphs (which, in typical BBC style, is almost exactly the same thing as once every three sentences):

The Hamas government in Gaza has begun enforcing a law introduced last year banning men from cutting women's hair.

Until now, the law had not been enforced, but this week at least one male hairdresser in Gaza was arrested.

Male hairdressers for women are regarded by many Muslims as against Islamic tradition.

The move is seen as an attempt to bolster Hamas's Islamic credentials against critics who say it has become too moderate.

[The next part of the article follows the caption in bold (single quotes in original): 'Undercover police']

The reality is in Gaza - with its huge Muslim majority - most women do not want to have their hair cut by men.

Nevertheless a few salons have clung on, where male hairdressers work.

This week they are sitting idle outside their shops, fearful of arrest if they step inside.

Adnan Barakat, a hairdresser with 27 years experience, said: "Without work, I am like a dead man, because I am without work. The salon cannot work without me. This is my work since 1984. I haven't another work. What can I do?"

Others, like Mr Barakat, complain they are being watched by undercover police.

Hamas argues it is only enforcing a law that the majority of people here want.

I could just call this "bias" and go on to the next subject, but some of the details of the article--and the over-all story itself, of course--make Hamas look quite oppressive. The hairdresser himself comes across fairly sympathetically in the nearest thing the article has to an actual paragraph. What seems to be going on is the strange, almost neurotically obsessive, attempt at balance one often sees in the contemporary media. Gaza, of course, does have a "huge Muslim majority," but the exact meaning of that statement has to do with the ratio of Muslims to non-Muslims, not with the really interesting question: the ratio of hard-core Islamists to people who are also Muslims but who might prefer, to varying degrees, more separation of Mosque and state.

Who are those "critics" who aver that Hamas "has become too moderate"? Salafists? If Hamas is modifying its approach in response to that criticism, does that mean the Salafists have some clout? (Remember Haniyeh's statement after the killing of Bin Laden?) And if Hamas is just giving the people what they want, maybe its election victory had less to do with Fatah corruption than we are often told? Doesn't this all have implications for the "peace process"? And aren't these matters all a bit obvious? So why, finally, does the BBC appear, not exactly biased, but in the grips of a sort of paralysis in the face of a story such as this one?

Gimmel Tammuz

Today, the 3d of Tammuz, is the anniversary of the passing of the contemproary Lubavitcher Rebbe, the Jewish leader who inspired more people to return to traditional Jewish observance than any other contemporary Jewish leader. Chabad.org has a special section for this occasion. You might find this account of a young Rabbi's meeting with the Rebbe worthwhile. If you are into chess, you might enjoy this. You might also want to see what is going on at your local Chabad house or Chabad center, probably some free event that involves inspiration and vodka.

Motorcyclist killed by evil mandatory helmet law

You may have seen this story:

A New York man died Sunday while participating in a ride with 550 other motorcyclists to protest the state's mandatory helmet law.

Police said Philip A. Contos, 55, hit his brakes and his motorcycle fishtailed. Contos was sent over the handlebars of his 1983 Harley Davidson and hit his head on the pavement.

He was pronounced dead at the hospital. [...]

If the point of riding without a helmet was to protest the helmet-law, then without the law he might have been wearing a helmet? Libertarianism doesn't have anything to do with not using safety equipment, right?

Arab demographic bomb a dud?

We are constantly hearing that the Arab population on the West Bank is so fertile that it threatens to create an Arab majority in the unit made up of "green-line" Israel and the West Bank. We hear also, from time to time, that it is not true. Here is an example of the view that the demographic sky is not falling:

Today, our leaders are . . . burdened with a concept that distorts their policy determinations, which they cannot overcome despite the empirical evidence shattering it.

This time the concept rests in the field of demography, namely that the Arab total fertility rate (TFR) is much higher than and even a multiple of the Jewish TFR.

The Institute for Zionist Strategies (IZS) has just published the latest in a series of studies by Yakov Faitelson on demographic developments. This study, available in full at www.izs.org.il and based on the empirical data of the Central Bureau of Statistics, shows that Jewish TFR is steadily rising, while the Arab TFR is plummeting. [...]

Whoever is right about the birthrates, there is always also the factor of people making aliyah. We don't know what the rate of aliyah is going to be in the future. The rest of the J-post article is worth reading.

Ethan Bronner goes for a sail on "Gaza's Sea of Spin," ends up in shallow waters

He presents a good deal of editorializing from various sources while striking a detached pose. The opening paragraph gives a good taste of the muddle to follow:

SOME see a parallel with the Exodus, the ship filled with Jewish refugees that tried to break the British blockade of Palestine in 1947 and helped sway world opinion toward Zionism. Others are struck by the insistence on transporting basic aid — food and cement — when it is no longer needed. Still others note the way the Israeli authorities portray the organizers as violent Islamists when most are middle-aged European pacifists.

"Middle-aged European pacifists" who are doing the bidding of "violent Islamists." So how do "pacifists" find themselves in that role? We aren't going to get much insight from Bronner although there is an occasional flash of realism:

The Turkish group I.H.H., which helps sponsor the flotillas, has ties to Hamas, and Israeli and Western concern that violence could occur if the flotilla sets sail does not seem far-fetched, despite the organizers’ vows to the contrary.

That followed a paragraph about how "Mendacity has already reared its head" in the form of false claim on a You Tube video that a gay activist was denied permission to participate in the flotilla. The paragraph ends with reasons for suspecting the Israeli government was behind the deception. Yep, everybody's spinnin'. Is there a reality beneath the spin? Would it be a very bad thing, and not just for Israel, for Gaza to successfully duplicate Hezbollah's missile arsenal? Isn't the blockade the reason it did not happen yet? Is it really plausible that those "middle-aged European pacifists" don't understand what they are doing? There is no point in negating spin without some serious analysis to replace it.

"Venezuelan Figures": "Syria will overcome the international and regional conspiracy plotted by the Zionists and Imperialism"

As Syria sinks below the horizon, the light of propaganda still shines. And we have a treat for you today: this propaganda features special Venezuelan guests!

Speaker of the Venezuelan National Assembly Fernando Soto Rojas on Friday expressed his confidence that Syria will overcome the international and regional conspiracy plotted by the Zionists and Imperialism.

In the opening speech of the solidarity forum held under the title 'Imperialism Targets Syria', Rojas hailed the role of the Syrian people in confronting the conspiracy through adherence to national unity.

For his part, Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister Temir Porras said that Syria is facing an international and regional conspiracy that aims at restoring imperial influence through financing terrorist groups supported by money and media.

Porras hailed the Syrian firm stance and the will of the Syrians who stood by their President, stressing that Syria is able to deal with and overcome the conspiracy.

As we also learn at SANA today, "Huge Support Rallies Continue as Thousands Take to Streets Condemning Plot Targeting Syria":

Huge support rallies all over Syrian governorates continue in support of the reform program and condemnation of the conspiracy targeting Syria.

Thousands of residents of al-Bab city in Aleppo countryside and surrounding villages took to the street on Saturday to express their support to comprehensive reform program led by President Bashar al-Assad and Syria's firm principled stances condemning misleading campaigns targeting Syria's unity and stability.

The participants headed for the homeland tent which was held in one of public squares, chanting national slogans that stress their rejection of all forms of plots and malicious propaganda which some are trying to broadcast among people. [...]

They won't stand for any propaganda . . .

Fars News (Iran): "Cleric Stresses Spread of Islamic Revolution to US, Europe"

In which we learn (again) that "growing waves of Iran's Islamic Revolution . . . are now spreading to the European continent and the US." What would be an example of that? We learn at the end that "the European nations . . . have fully surrendered to the US and the Zionists' cultural and economic policies." Enough stalling--time to read the thing:

Tehran's provisional Friday Prayers Leader Hojjatoleslam Kazzem Sediqi underlined that the growing waves of Iran's Islamic Revolution which have swept the Middle-East and North Africa are now spreading to the European continent and the US.

"The Islamic Revolution (of Iran), featured by confronting the US and defeating the arrogance over the past 32 years, has not only spread to the region but also reached Europe and the US now," said Hojjatoleslam Sediqi in his second sermon to large groups of Friday prayers worshipers in Tehran University campus.

He said the movements, originating from the Islamic Revolution of Iran, are getting universalized.

Earlier, Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei had stressed that the European continent will soon experience popular uprisings and revolutions sweeping the Middle-East and North of Africa at present.

Addressing a large number of Iranian teachers and university professors here in Tehran in May, Ayatollah Khamenei reiterated that the growing wave of Islamic awakening in the Middle-East, North Africa and other parts of the Muslim world has been inspired by Iran's Islamic Revolution, and said this awakening will definitely spread to the European countries.

"This awakening move will certainly advance to the very heart of the Europe and the European nations will rise against their politicians and rulers who have fully surrendered to the US and the Zionists' cultural and economic policies," he said.

I just want to know how we merited to figure so prominently in their worldview.

Ahmadinejad: “The uncivilized Zionists . . . have crushed and are crushing all humans"

Now that humanity has been crushed, I guess we'll have to pick on Mars next:

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has lashed out at the United States and Israel as the root cause of problems plaguing the human community.

“The most problems humanity suffers from are the result of the expansionist and non-divine rule of the United States and its evil hanger-on, the Zionist regime [of Israel],” Ahmadinejad said at the opening ceremony of the 28th International Holy Qur'an Competition in Tehran on Wednesday, IRNA reported.

“The uncivilized Zionists, for the sake of their own passions, have crushed and are crushing all humans under their heavy wheels of their egotism, materialism and capitalism,” he added.

The Iranian president referred to the occupation of Palestinian territories by the Israeli army and the deaths of over one million people in the US-led wars in Afghanistan and Iraq as further proof that Washington and its Middle East ally have sacrificed all human virtues to reach their colonial goals.

“Today, when there is a crime, corruption or dictator, wherever there is humiliation of humans -- when we pursue we come across the Zionist regime or the US or their allies,” Ahmadinejad pointed out.

“They know no boundary for stuffing their bottomless pockets,” he added. [...]

When the subject is the Zionist entity or the Big Satan, Ahmadinejad can bloviate all he wants. On other topics, he "vows to keep silent":

Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad says he will not respond to accusations leveled against his cabinet, stressing that the government will continue to cooperate with the Parliament (Majlis). [...]

With regards to the recent arrests, Ahmadinejad said that many charges have been brought against these individuals but “there were some problems with these arrests that I have informed the Judiciary Chief [Ayatollah Sadeq Amoli Larijani] about.”

“Recently they have raised new issues, but our position is silence, but if they want to accuse my colleagues, it will be my legal, national and moral duty to stand up and defend my colleagues in the Cabinet.”

The Iranian president said “such moves and pressure will definitely harm the country,” expressing hope that such behaviors would stop.

“Henceforth, we will continue to maintain our silence but where we see that a great harm will come to the country, I am obliged to tell the people everything… but I hope that things will not come to that.” [...]

Is that clear?

Kucinich: "President Bashar al-Assad cares so much about what is taking place in Syria, which is evident in his effort towards a new Syria"

From SANA, Syria's official new agency, the news agency that's totally on Kucinich's wavelength!

U.S. Congressman Dennis Kucinich called on international media not to engage in exaggerating the events in Syria and jumping to conclusions without talking to people and listening to what they want.

"There are some who want to give a wrong picture about what is going on in Syria," Kucinich said in a press conference held on Tuesday at the Four Seasons Hotel, adding that things should be left to the Syrian people, government and leadership to decide for themselves the direction and the way to go for democratic changes.

The U.S. Congressman described what is taking place in terms of the meetings of opposition and independent figures who are expressing themselves and their views openly and freely as "a largely positive progress", saying "President Bashar al-Assad cares so much about what is taking place in Syria, which is evident in his effort towards a new Syria and everybody who meets him can be certain of this."

"President al-Assad is highly loved and appreciated by the Syrians," said Kucinich, voicing his belief that people in Syria are seeking a real change which is up to them. [...]

The man's really earning the devotion of people like the owner of this bike:

Fisk thinks A'jad might be on the way out

Notice the initial description, no mention of Mr. A's Holocaust denial or anything of that nature:

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Iran's irascible, unpredictable but devout president, may be forced to resign in the coming weeks as a political crisis far greater than the massive street violence which followed his re-election in 2009 threatens to overwhelm him and his court favourites in the government.

The overweening influence of his close friend and confidant Esfandiar Rahim-Mashaee, the president's chief of staff – who is blamed for the firing of two intelligence ministers and for infuriating even the Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Sayed Ali Khamenei – is expected to bring down Ahmadinejad in one of the most spectacular putsches in the history of the Islamic Republic.

Iranian politicians are already speculating on who will succeed the president – Ali Akbar Salehi, the foreign minister and for four years the head of Iran's atomic agency, is a favourite – as three of Rahim-Mashaee's close allies have been purged in just three days over the past week, arrested by security agencies while Ahmadinejad has remained uncharacteristically silent. [...]

Fisk said "in the coming weeks" so we will know soon if this was worth paying attention to for A'jad-watching reasons (besides Fisk-watching reasons).

"Rodong Sinmun Calls for Glorifying WPK's Feats for Advance of Great Surge"

Here is some of the usual stuff about leaps and surges:

[...] The feats of the Workers' Party of Korea performed in leading the advance for great surge are valuable asset that makes it possible to build a thriving country in the shortest period and guarantees happiness of not only the present generation but also all generations to come, the article said, adding:

It is needed for the present generation and posterity to ensure the work for displaying the great vitality of the said exploits. The eternal prosperity of the Korean nation lies in reliably defending and glorifying the WPK's feats to the full.

Today our army and people are working hard to honor the leadership feats of the Party, regarding this work as top priority.

In the DPRK a more vigorous drive is being conducted to generalize and popularize in the whole society the successes and experience gained under the leadership of the WPK.

The Korean people strive to make higher leap and faster progress in reliance on the WPK's leadership exploits.

The present gigantic advance for great surge shows that signal creativity is needed to exalt the brilliance of the Party's leadership feats. [...]

And putting all this in context is a headline from ABC: "N Korean children begging, army starving":

Footage shot inside North Korea and obtained by the ABC has revealed the extent of chronic food shortages and malnutrition inside the secretive state.

The video is some of the most revealing footage ever smuggled out of the impoverished North Korean state.

Shot over several months by an undercover North Korean journalist, the harrowing footage shows images of filthy, homeless and orphaned children begging for food and soldiers demanding bribes. [...]

Nobody ever said great leaps forward are a picnic.

Vacation Announcement

I won't be at home for a week or so. I'll have my laptop with me, but I may not have any internet time. And now, the Judeopundit vacation theme:

Now it's time to say Shalom
Uncle Yitz is 'bout to roam
You know he'll be back again
With the might of Songun in his pen

Remember all the bloggers we met along the path
I can't recall how many, but you can do the math
Listen to your Elders, elevate your mind
Don't wear your kefiyyeh in the airport line

Now it's time to say Shalom
Uncle Yitz is 'bout to roam
You know he'll be back again
With the might of Songun in his pen

Skila Pup-date

We are finally seeing some retractions of the unlikely, but widely spread and believed, story that a dog was sentenced to stoning. I just wish the news agencies who originally spread the story had consulted someone to find out if there is any stoning of any kind in Judaism in our times. There isn't. Those laws were left out of the 16th-century Shulchan Aruch, for instance, having been inoperative since ancient times:

Reports that a Jewish rabbinical court in Israel condemned a stray dog to death by stoning have been strongly denied.

The source of the report, Israel's Maariv newspaper, apologised for its headline and for any offence caused.

The head of the court, Yehoshua Levin, was quoted by Maariv as saying: "There is no basis for abuse of animals from the side of Jewish Halacha [law].''

In a statement, the court denied that a dog had been condemned.

A dog had entered the court and been removed, it said.

The story was reported in the Israeli and international press, including the BBC News website. [...]

And some people will go to their graves believing it and require reincarnation to ever be properly informed again.

Haniyeh sets goals for unity government, stresses "forming of national security departments that do not cooperate with Israel"

The chances of a peaceful negotiated settlement to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict were almost nonexistent when Arafat was in power. Then they became totally nonexistent. Then it got worse. From Maan News:

Prime Minister in Gaza Ismail Haniyeh said Saturday a proposed unity government should not threaten the resistance.

Speaking at the Islamic University in Gaza City, Haniyeh said that "we were able to establish a deal that reflects the people's will."

"It's true there are the Oslo Accords, but we were able to form a government that reflects the people's will, not the outside will and unjust agreements" with Israel, he said at a ceremony marking the death of a prominent Hamas leader.

Of central importance, he said, was the forming of national security departments that do not cooperate with Israel. "Protecting the resistance weapon" should be a priority, he added.

"A national strategy should be established to protect the resistance weapon within the framework of living our lives amidst the stages of liberation from the occupation," Haniyeh said.

He added that a meeting is expected to be held between President Mahmoud Abbas and Hamas chief Khalid Mash'al during which the two leaders will discuss forming the national unity government.

(h/t: IMRA)

IRNA: "Iran not to let in UN human rights envoy"

Maybe he could come on a flotilla?

Majlis representative and a member of human rights commission Mohammad Karim Abedi said on Sunday that Iranian Majlis has decided not to let the UN special envoy for human rights visit the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Speaking to IRNA, Abedi said the US, Britain and the Zionist regime are among the major violators of human rights in the world and the UN Human Rights Council should study their violations.

The United Nations studied the crimes and atrocities of the Zionist regime in 2010 during the 33-day war on Lebanon and 22-day war in Gaza and declared the regime’s army commanders as war criminals but could not take any action against them, he said.

Accusing countries such as the Islamic Republic of Iran of violating human rights should be viewed as a part of their blame game, he said.

US President Barack Obama could not fulfill his promises such as closure of Guantánamo prison because the country’s affairs are handled by some other people, he said. [...]

I wonder who the "other people" are.

Dog gets skila?

The Ynetnews headline is "Dog sentenced to death by stoning" and here is the first paragraph:

A Jerusalem rabbinical court recently sentenced a wandering dog to death by stoning. The cruel sentence stemmed from the suspicion that the spirit of a famous secular lawyer, who insulted the court's judges 20 years ago, had been transferred into the dog's body.

We finally learn that the head judge denied it--why am I not shocked? And then we read this:

. . . one of the court's managers confirmed the report to Yedioth Ahronot:

"It was ordered by the rabbis because of the grief he had caused the court," he said. "They didn't issue an official ruling, but ordered the children outside to throw stones at him in order to drive him away. They didn't think of it as cruelty to animals, but as an appropriate way to 'get back at' the spirit which entered the poor dog."

So the dog was bothering people and a judge asked neighborhood kids to drive it away? (And "the grief he had caused the court" refers to which incarnation?) Angry Arab just quotes the first paragraph and MondoWeissnik Adam Horowitz leaves out the judge's denial and the subsequent "confirmation." And there you have it: a bunch of people are now walking around thinking a dog got skila.

Update: And Vos iz Neias also leaves out the paragraph quoting the manager, but we do, at least, get the preceding sentence mentioning the denial.

Update: I see now that there is a link to this story at the Drudge report, linking to a Telegraph version of the article. Thttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifhere is also a BBC story. I should make it clear that there are no stoning sentences in our times in Jewish law. In ancient times an animal could be sentenced to stoning for killing a person and in certain other cases, but there is currently no such thing. Also, the BBC article states "Dogs are often considered impure animals in traditional Judaism" and some of the other articles say something similar. What does it mean? If you refer to a dog as a "beheima tameiah"--an "impure animal"--you are basically stating that dog meat is not kosher. So the claim of an actual stoning "sentence" was highly suspect to begin with and it is being spread by journalists who are, at best, only vaguely aware of what they are talking about.

Fars (Iran): "Supreme Leader Meets Poets"

And he said, "You know, I haven't read a really good poem in a long time. Could you people try a little harder?" Just kidding! Do the folks at Fars News have any idea how the following just screams dictatorship?

Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei met with tens of Iranian poets and poetesses on Wednesday.

The meeting was held on the birthday anniversary of Shiite Islam's first Imam Hazrat Ali (AS), the cousin and son-in-law of Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) and the father of the second and third Imams Hazrat Hassan ibn-e Ali (AS) and Hossein ibn-e Ali (AS).

At the meeting, a number of poets and poetesses recited some of their poems.

The Leader praised the depth and the richness of the recitations, and said contemporary poetry heralds a lustrous era for the Iranian literature and poetry in the near future.

The young poets and poetesses of the country will soon revive the brilliant poetry of the past, he said.

Roger Cohen's latest: Iran not seeking nucelar weapons

Roger Cohen seems awfully confident that he knows what Iran is up to, and that it isn't nuclear weapons. The actual proof involves, as you might suspect, "the classified N.I.E. of 2011," Sy Hersh, and the latter's informant, a "retired senior intelligence official." So much for what Iran is not doing. What is Iran actually up to?

Remember, Ali Khamenei, the supreme leader, is the guardian of the revolution. That is a conservative business. Breakout, let alone a bomb, is a bridge too far if the Islamic Republic is what you’ve vowed to preserve. Much better to gain leverage by producing low-enriched uranium — far from weapons grade — under International Atomic Energy Agency inspection and allow rumors to swirl.

Why is a bomb a "bridge too far"? If anyone follows this line of reasoning, please let me know. And aren't increasing amounts of enriched uranium (and constant tests of new missiles and other military technology) a lot of trouble to to go through just to cause rumors to "swirl"? Here is more impressionism, somehow meant to be concretely probative:

Khamenei is at loggerheads with President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who got into such a sulk recently that he took 11 days off work, infuriating everybody. The Majlis, or parliament, is investigating Ahmadinejad for various alleged frauds including, of all things, vote-buying in 2009! Ahmadinejad was booed during his June 3 speech commemorating Ayatollah Khomeini’s death. Iran is characterized by what Farideh Farhi of the University of Hawaii recently termed “administrative chaos.”

That’s not how you make a nuke. [...]

Am I missing something? Roger, that's not how you make a case. (h/t: RealClearWorld)

Angry Arab exposes latest "Racism of Israeli media"

He links to this, a report of the conviction of a Druze policeman for a "sex crime" against a Palestinian woman and comments:

Notice they had to identify the religion of the officer in question to imply that Jewish officers of the Israeli terrorist army are genetically not capable of committing sex crimes.

Is "Khader" a common Jewish name, anyway? They should have left that out also, I guess. The headline does not mention his name or his religion, so we can easily guess what AA was hoping the article would be about. Nobody said it was easy being progressive . . .

(North) Korean News: "Korean People Vow to Punish S. Korean Traitors"

I assume they are still mad about South Korean use of Kim pictures for target-practice although the article does not say what the "insult to the supreme dignity of the DPRK" was, and it doesn't take much to get their rhetoric to reach this pitch. Anyway, this is prime bile:

The recently released statement of the spokesman for the General Staff of the Korean People's Army adds fuel to public anger at the south Korean regime for its provocation against the DPRK.

The principal of Changdok School, Kang Jun Ho, told KCNA that the Lee Myung Bak group of traitors will never escape from severe punishment by the entire Korean people for its insult to the supreme dignity of the DPRK.

A composer of the Mansudae Art Troupe, Cha Song Chol, said that all the artistes are working hard to create art works encouraging the army and people to devotedly defend the leader and annihilate the enemy.

Ri Jae Hyok, a section chief of the Bioengineering Branch of the State Academy of Sciences, noted that when an opportunity presents itself, all the people of the DPRK will devote themselves to the struggle against the enemy so as to demonstrate the might of their unity around the Workers' Party of Korea and the leader.

Won Se Yon, head of the national Taekwon-Do team, said that all the athletes are willing to punish the traitors to the nation.

Son In Bok, a student of Law College of Kim Il Sung University, vowed to become a hero in a nationwide retaliation war against the traitors.

That's five members of the "entire Korean people" accounted for. These articles could go on for awhile.

Fars News: "Ahmadinejad: Future World Culture Belongs to Iranian Nation"

This one is about Iran's "dominance" and "superiority" in "any kind of cultural war." All of this seems to have something to do with handicrafts. Persian rugs?

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad blasted the capitalist powers for their attempts to destroy other countries' cultural values, and underlined that freedom-seeking nations, specially the Iranians, will have the main share in global culture in future.

"The future cultural arena of the world belongs to freedom-seeking nations, with the Iranian nation standing atop others," Ahmadinejad said, addressing a forum to honor Iran's best handicraft artists on Saturday.

Other "freedom-seeking countries" include North Korea, Venezuela, Syria, and Zimbabwe.

He described the handicraft industries as a means of exchanging cultural values, and said, "If we want to reform the international relations, we should reform cultures."

Earlier, senior Iranian officials had announced their plans to boost the country's cultural exports in a move to introduce the Persian culture and civilization to the outside world, specially the nations of the region.

To the same end, the Iranian Culture and Islamic Guidance Minister Seyed Mohammad Hosseini said in April that his ministry would soon set up a permanent exhibition of books and cultural products in Tajikistan.

Also, a senior Iranian commander in January expressed confidence about Iran's dominance and superiority over the enemies in any kind of cultural war.

Addressing a group of cultural activists in Iran's Western city of Kermanshah, Commander of Basij (volunteer) Forces Brigadier General Mohammad Reza Naqdi said that enemies resorted to cultural invasion after they faced consecutive defeats and failures in their plots against the Islamic Republic in the post-revolution era.

He pointed to Iran's ancient civilization, and said, "Of course, their tendency towards cultural war and invasion is a privilege for us since they have the upper-hand in hard wars but when it comes to the cultural war, our cultural stockpiles are filled with weapons, possibilities and capacities."

"Definitely, we have the upper hand in such a war," the commander said, adding that Iran will defeat the enemies by using the existing capacities.

And they will still have the "weapons" and "possibilities" in reserve?

Fars News: Syria good, Saudis bad

The good:

Scores of Syrian people staged a rally in front of the Islamic Republic of Iran's mission in Damascus to voice support for Tehran's policies on their country's developments..

Carrying images of President Bashar al-Assad, Imam Khomeini and Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei, they chanted slogans --'Iran, Syria are brothers', 'Death to Israel' and 'Death to US'.

Iran's Ambassador to Syria Seyed Ahmad Mousavi acclaimed the young demonstrators and said that Iran and Syria stand by the resistance movements.[...]

The bad:

Tehran's provisional Friday Prayers Leader Ayatollah Ahmad Jannati stressed that Saudi Arabia has now turned into a hub for the regional dictators, specially after Yemeni dictator Ali Abdullah Saleh's escape to Riyadh.

Yemen's dictator, who has now sought asylum from Saudi dictator and fled to Saudi Arabia, should know that the popular movement can not be suppressed, Ayatollah Jannati said, adding that Saudi Arabia which is itself ruled by a dictator regime has now turned into a hub for the regional dictators. [...]

And while we're at it, let's throw in the ugly:

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad took the capitalist powers responsible for the growing trend of environmental pollution across the world.

The main cause of destruction of environment in the world is insatiable thirst of the capitalist system for exploiting natural and mineral resources, Ahmadinejad said on Thursday. [...]

He's so progressive.

Happy Shavuos

The next two days, starting at sundown tonight will be the holiday of Shavuos (or Shavuot if you like), commemorating the giving of the Torah on Mt. Sinai. One custom involves staying up the whole first night (tonight) reading something called Tikkun Leil Shavuos, which contains selections from the various parts of the Torah--something from every parshah, something from every tractate of the Mishnah, the Book of Ruth, some mysticism, etc. The idea is that the Jewish people fell asleep the first time, but we can make up for it every year by staying up since a holiday is a spiritual repeat of the original event. Sometimes I make it all the way through without falling asleep, sometimes I don't.

We also eat dairy foods for the festive meal of the first day, such as the blintzes and sour cream pictured above. There are numerous explanations for this practice, but it is worth noting that blintzes and cheesecake taste good. More info here and not just about blintzes. See you Thursday night (or Friday). Chag Sameach!

Troutman's resolve no longer intact, Foreskin Man casts a long shadow?

The story doesn't specifically say that the Foreskin Man comic influenced Troutman's decision, but it seems an obvious inference:

The proponent of a proposition aimed at banning circumcision in Santa Monica has informed the Jewish Journal that she is abandoning her effort to put the question to voters in the beachfront city before beginning to collect any signatures.

Jena Troutman, a lactation consultant and self-described “children’s rights advocate,” said Monday afternoon that she has decided not to move forward with the petition because of what she called the media’s misrepresentation of her efforts as an attack on religious freedom. [...]

Troutman said she was specifically distancing herself from the legal language used in both cities’ ballot measures and composed by the group MGMbill.org, a San Diego-based organization led by Matthew Hess.

Hess recently gained notoriety when media outlets began reporting about a comic book he wrote called “Foreskin Man,” which was criticized by the Anti-Defamation League and other Jewish groups as anti-Semitic. [...]

And which teaches the important lesson that fools always commit auto-pedal-extremity-amputation in the end and no ballot-measures mandating intact anything will ever save them.

ISNA (Iran): "Ahmadinejad stresses confronting US hegemony, Zionist regime entity"

Ahmadinejad performs a medley of his greatest hits:

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said confronting the US hegemony and Zionist regime's entity is the major line which should be followed in battling the West's hegemony.

"We want to show the entire world that we defend the oppressed and battle all powers with our utmost capability. We never change our thoughts and beliefs. We need to conquer the US. We should not be yielded to injustice in the region," Ahmadinejad said on Friday night as speaking on the verge of the 22nd demise anniversary of the late Founder of the Islamic Republic Imam Khomeini.

Ahmadinejad said all dictators are supported by the devil (the US), "today, domineering countries with the motto of democracy and support for human rights are accusing other countries of violating human rights whereas their states are fully run under dictatorship."

Ahmadinejad added that, "Arrogance now is in the last chain of its existence and has faced a deadlock. Global Arrogance sent troops to the region to save its economy and Zionist regime. It claimed lives of numerous people and refused to permit anyone to know about 9/11 incident as it did not allow probing into Holocaust."

"The Capitalist formally declared that it seeks intentions for Afghanistan, Iraq and Iran, but they were defeated one again though wisdom of Iranian Supreme Leader and resistance of Iranian nation," he noted.

Ahmadinejad then referred to the issue of Zionist regime and said, "the Middle East will not experience peace and calm as far as the fake regime (Zionist regime) remains in Palestinian soil."

(North) Korean News: "Lee Myung Bak Group of Traitors' Hideous Provocation Blasted"

This is an interesting example of the threatening, bellicose articles which are a frequent feature at Korean News. It does not even say what the "hideous provocation" was, but evidently it was using photos of the Dear Leader and Dear Leader Jr. "as targets during firing drills"!

The General Staff of the Korean People's Army clarified its strong stand to take a thousand-fold revenge upon the Lee Myung Bak group of traitors for having committed an unprecedentedly hideous provocation.

The resentment and hatred of the army and people of the DPRK have reached an unbearable phase.

Rodong Sinmun Sunday observes in a by-lined commentary in this regard:

Much upset by the angry public at home and abroad, the south Korean puppet forces are employing sleight of hand to shirk the responsibility for the above-said serious case, describing it as "an individual action" and the like.

There is no room in this land for those prime movers of the worst treason committed against the DPRK. The puppet authorities should take steps to severely punish traitor Lee Myung Bak, Kim Kwan Jin, the military boss, and other chief culprits as unanimously demanded by the whole nation. They should apologize for the crimes and give firm assurances against the recurrence of similar provocation. The DPRK will follow their future behavior with high vigilance.

If the puppet authorities play a cheap trick in anticipation of luck, without carefully reading the statement issued by the General Staff of the KPA, the revolutionary armed forces of the DPRK will escalate the military retaliatory action as they had already declared.

The KPA never makes an empty talk. The confrontation maniacs who go reckless like a puppy knowing no fear of tiger will have to regret bitterly, warns the commentary.

Yeah, that ain't Songun!

Fars (Iran): "Supreme Leader Stresses Iran's Support for 'Undivided Palestine'"

Thus speaks the principle backer of Hamas:

Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei dismissed the US and West's Middle-East peace plans as useless, and reiterated that Palestine shoud remain undivided and be returned to the Palestinians.

"Palestine is inseparable and it belongs to the Palestihttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifnians undivided," Ayatollah Khamenei said, addressing a large crowd of Iranian people at the mausoleum of the late Founder of the Islamic Republic, Imam Khomeini, South of Tehran on Saturday.

"They (enemies) wished to wipe Palestine off the world map, while they were mistaken. Palestine will remain and will not be eliminated," the Leader underscored.

"Palestine will return to the arms of Islam, without any doubt," Ayatollah Khamenei stated. [...]

This was all at a ceremony commemorating Khomeini's assumption of room-temperature. According to Iran's press, Khomeini's demise is also being commemorated by US Muslims.

Update: EOZ has an account of this speech in a Palestinian newspaper, adding the following sentence:

Ayatollah Khamenei reiterated that the only solution to settle the Palestinian issue is "to allow Palestinians to decide for themselves their next government through a referendum" and "to allow this government to decide what to do Zionists who came from abroad."

Update: Here is the IRIB version of this part of the speech:

Ayatollah Khamenei said the US-designed initiatives in the Palestinian issue were futile and that the solution was the proposal the IRI put forward several years ago, based on which, the type of the regime to rule Palestine should be chosen through a referendum from the original people of the land.

"After the Palestinian nation's desired government was established, the Palestinian people would decide on the fate of the Zionists who have come to the country from outside," Ayatollah Khamenei said.

Ahmadinejad's speeches often also call for the grand Palestine referendum. This is an unusually clear illustration that the notion has sinister implications for most of the current inhabitants of "Palestine."

SANA (Syria): "False Witness Admits He Disseminated False News on Biased TV Channels"

There is a wide selection of desperate propaganda at Syria's official news site at the moment. This one looks tasty:

Mahmoud Abdul-Kader, a false witness from Homs, born in 1985, admitted that he made several phone calls with biased TV channels which sparked confusion in several Syrian cities.

Abdul-Kader said he managed to transmit untrue news at the request of Tareq al-Hussami who lives in Saudi Arabia. Al-Hussami, says Abdul-Kader, sent him foreign women from the Human Rights Organization, and instructed him how to talk to them about the situation in Homs in his own way, sending him money three times, 5000 SYP each, and two mobile phones by an unknown man.

Abdul-Kader said that al-Hussami asked him to shoot videos and send it to him to fabricate them. Later, says Abdul-Kader, al-Hussami gave his phone number to Lebanese persons from Human Rights Organization, and requested that he fake distress, claiming that there had been women and children who were killed or injured.

Abdul-Kader said al-Hussami gave his phone number to TV channels, instructing him to claim that there had been killings and injuries, citing an instance in which he reported to a TV channel that Homs had become a "city of ghosts" and a "real massacre" had taken place, and that water, electricity and communications had been cut off.

"Al-Hussami asked me to repeat news such as 'There is random and intense gunfire at protesters'…'Many people were killed and the injured lie on the streets'…'No one can take the injured to hospitals,' etc…"

Abdul-Kader said he had called al-Jazeera more than three times, B.B.C. and Al-Arabiya 4 times and France 24 and Orient twice.

Abdul-Kader added that al-Hussami promised that he will offer financial help to him and buy him a house when he visits Syria.

The Syrian Satellite Channel has aired a recording which was saved on Abdul-Kader's mobile phone, showing a man who lives abroad instructing him. The recording reveals the extent of exaggeration and lies dictated to him on Homs turning into a closed military zone and that the humanitarian situation is "deteriorated."

The Channel also aired other calls in which Abdul-Kader appears under different names and gives false testimonies.

Glad that's cleared up.

One man's terrorist is a Scotsman's freedom fighter

From Ynetnews.com:

A Scottish politician playing a leading role in an anti-Israel boycott says members of terror group Hamas are “freedom fighters” who are “fighting an illegal occupation of Palestine by Israel.” [...]

In an exchange with anti-boycott activist Stephen Franklin following the uproar over the Scottish decision, Bollan had this to say about the Palestinian terror group: “Hamas was elected and are freedom fighters alongside the Palestinians fighting an illegal occupation of Palestine by Israel.”

In another email exchange, with Martin Sugarman, Chair of the Hackney Anglo-Israel Twinning Association, Bollan wrote: “Scots believe in equality and justice…words unknown to Zionists.” [...]

There you have it, a Khomeinist Scot. It's a good thing that W. S Gilbert once taught us that incidents with annoying Scotsmen sometimes end happily:

ELLEN M'JONES ABERDEEN
by W. S. Gilbert

MacPhairson Clonglocketty Angus M'Clan
Was the son of an elderly labouring man,
You've guessed him a Scotchman, shrewd reader, at sight,
And p'raps altogether, shrewd reader, you're right

From the bonnie blue Forth to the hills of Deeside,
Round by Dingwall and Wrath to the mouth of the Clyde,
There wasn't a child or a woman or man
Who could pipe with Clonglocketty Angus M'Clan

No other could wake such detestable groans,
With reed and with chaunter--with bag and with drones:
All day and all night he delighted the chiels
With sniggering pibrochs and jiggety reels.

He'd clamber a mountain and squat on the ground,
And the neighbouring maidens would gather around
To list to his pipes and to gaze in his e'en,
Especially Ellen M'Jones Aberdeen.

All loved their M'Clan, save a Sassenach brute,
Who came to the Highlands to fish and to shoot;
He dressed himself up in a Highlander way,
Though his name it was Pattison Corby Torbay.

Torbay had incurred a good deal of expense
To make him a Scotchman in every sense;
But this is a matter, you'll readily own,
That isn't a question of tailors alone.

A Sassenach chief may be bonily built,
He may purchase a sporran, a bonnet, and kilt;
Stick a skean in his hose--wear an acre of stripes--
But he cannot assume an affection for pipes.

Clonglocketty's pipings all night and all day
Quite frenzied poor Pattison Corby Torbay;
The girls were amused at his singular spleen,
Especially Ellen M'Jones Aberdeen.

"Macphairson Clonglocketty Angus, my lad,
With pibrochs and reels you are driving me mad;
If you really must play on that cursed affair,
My goodness! play something resembling an air."

Boiled over the blood of Macphairson M'Clan--
The clan of Clonglocketty rose as one man;
For all were enraged at the insult, I ween--
Especially Ellen M'Jones Aberdeen.

"Let's show," said M'Clan, "to this Sassenach loon
That the bagpipes can play him a regular tune.
Let's see," said M'Clan, as he thoughtfully sat,
"'In My Cottage' is easy--I'll practise at that."

He blew at his "Cottage," and blew with a will,
For a year, seven months, and a fortnight, until
(You'll hardly believe it) M'Clan, I declare,
Elicited something resembling an air.

It was wild-it was fitful--as wild as the breeze--
It wandered about into several keys;
It was jerky, spasmodic, and harsh, I'm aware,
But still it distinctly suggested an air.

The Sassenach screamed, and the Sassenach danced,
He shrieked in his agony--bellowed and pranced;
And the maidens who gathered rejoiced at the scene,
Especially Ellen M'Jones Aberdeen.

"Hech gather, hech gather, hech gather around;
And fill a' yer lugs wi' the exquisite sound.
An air frae the bagpipes--beat that if ye can!
Hurrah for Clonglocketty Angus M'Clan!"

The fame of his piping spread over the land:
Respectable widows proposed for his hand,
And maidens came flocking to sit on the green--
Especially Ellen M'Jones Aberdeen.

One morning the fidgety Sassenach swore
He'd stand it no longer--he drew his claymore,
And (this was, I think, in extremely bad taste),
Divided Clonglocketty close to the waist.

Oh! loud were the wailings for Angus M'Clan--
Oh! deep was the grief for that excellent man--
The maids stood aghast at the horrible scene,
Especially Ellen M'Jones Aberdeen.

It sorrowed poor Pattison Corby Torbay
To find them "take on" in this serious way,
He pitied the poor little fluttering birds,
And solaced their souls with the following words:--

"Oh, maidens," said Pattison, touching his hat,
"Don't snivel, my dears, for a fellow like that;
Observe, I'm a very superior man,
A much better fellow than Angus M'Clan."

They smiled when he winked and addressed them as "dears,"
And they all of them vowed, as they dried up their tears,
A pleasanter gentleman never was seen--
Especially Ellen M'Jones Aberdeen.

PressTV: "Nasrallah hails Iran's governing system"

The picture is better than the article:

Lebanese Hezbollah Secretary General Seyyed Hassan Nasrallah has hailed Iran's system of governance and warned against propaganda campaigns targeting it.

He made the remarks in Beirut on Wednesday during a ceremony organized by the Iranian Embassy in Lebanon to commemorate the passing of Imam Khomeini, the founder of the Islamic Republic.

“Everyone in the Islamic Republic is accountable before the Judiciary,” Nasrallah said, adding, “The West is trying to portray Iran as an oppressive regime.”

One of Iran's strengths is the fact that it has the velayat-e faqih (rule of the just jurisprudent) system, he stated.

However, immediately after the system was established, enemy propagandists began claiming that it took the country back to medieval times, he added.

But Iran is always prepared to face new challenges, the Hezbollah secretary general noted.

Nation (Pakistan): "67pc want Islamisation of society"

In general, Islam is gaining ground in the Islamic world. The present story illustrates this although the author does not quite seem to realize it:

As many as 67 per cent people of Pakistan want the government take steps for Islamisation, a clear indication that for whatever reasons they have lost faith in the existing system.

Why isn't it a "clear indication" that they want more Islam?

According to a survey carried out by Gilani Research Foundation, 31 per cent people want the government take the required steps at once. However, 48 per cent think that the needed steps should be taken one by one. People approached for survey had been asked: “In your opinion should the government take steps to Islamise the society?” These findings clearly mean that the claims made by various elements that Pakistan should be a secular state are totally baseless and contrary to the wishes of the people.

This is a unique kind of survey carried out by an organization (Gallup Pakistan) in a society where more than 90 per cent people are Muslims, no matter which sect they belong to. That 31 per cent people want ‘immediate’ steps for Islamisation means that they are totally disappointed with the ability of the existing system to solve their problems and want to switch over to the Islamic system, for the sake of which the country had been created in 1947. [...]

(h/t: memeorandum)

Angry Arab and hypothetical double-standards

The post is entitled "Sexual harassment in Israel," and what we find about "sexual harassment in Israel" is that there was a case of it. Most of this is a quote of a Ynet article:

"A senior IDF officer in the Military Police Corps is being charged with an indecent act and seven counts of sexual harassment, Ynet learned. Lieutenant-Colonel Oren Julian, commander of the Military Police's training base and former Prison 4 commander, has been dismissed and will soon face trial." If he was Arab, American liberal feminists would be marching and calling for ban on visits by Arab generals to US.

AA does this constantly, always beginning "if Muslims had done this" or "if this was about Arabs." Is he kidding? Let us imagine an Arab officer in trouble and facing trial for several acts of sexual harassment, many of which involve improper comments. Someone, somewhere is going to take notice beyond the local news audience wherever he lives? Are you kidding, As'ad?

Interested in the theoretical distinction between anti-Zionism and anti-Semitism?

How about an article entitled "Israel: The Ultimate Enemy Of The West"? (Including, of course, the conspiracy behind the Liberty incident.)

Fars (Iran): "Palestinian Activist: Israel Likely to Destroy Al Aqsa through Artificial Quake"

"Artificial earthquake"? We control the tectonic plates--we can arrange for a real one:

A prominent Palestinian activist cautioned on Wednesday that the Zionist regime of Israel is likely to attempt to destroy the Al Aqsa Mosque through an artificial earthquake, and urged all Islamic countries to show an immediate and strong reaction to the Israeli plans against the first Muslim Keble.

"There are several scenarios for the Al Aqsa Mosque, but these are the Arab and Islamic countries as well as the international community, and not the occupying Zionist regime, which should decide the proper option for the Mosque," Secretary-General of Islamic-Christian Front of al-Quds Hasan Khater told FNA.

"The Zionist regime authorities may find control over the Al Aqsa Mosque or issue the order for its destruction through an artificial quake which now seems to be the case, given the Zionists' continued diggings and excavation operations under the Al Aqsa Mosque," Khater noted.

He further lashed out at the Islamic states for keeping mum about Israel's antagonistic moves, and said that Muslim states' inaction has emboldened Tel Aviv, encouraging it to continue with its plans.

Earlier in April, the Al Aqsa Foundation for Islamic Endowment (Waqf) and Heritage reported that the Israeli Authorities are going on with their excavations under the Al Aqsa Mosque to create a network of tunnels under and around the very important mosque.

The foundation stated that occupation is penetrating areas beneath the mosque and its surroundings through excavations that have been escalated during the last few months.

The foundation added that the excavations and digging are also being conducted under the Al Boraq Wall near the Moghrabi Gate (Bab Al Magharba), Al Silsila Gate (Gate of the Chain), and Al Mat-hara Gate.