Australia and the Massacre in Syria
May 31, 2012 | Sharyn Mittelman
Following the shocking reports and images of the massacre that occurred in the Syrian village of Haoula on May 25, there has been a chorus of international outrage. The UN reported that 108 people were killed among them 49 children and 34 women, by the Assad regime and pro-Assad militia ‘Shabiha’.
AIJAC welcomes Australia decision on May 29 to expel Syrian Chargé d’Affaires, Jawdat Ali, and another diplomat, from Australia.
No reporting of Palestinian Christians living in fear in the West Bank
May 30, 2012 | Daniel Meyerowitz-Katz
The recent plight of Coptic Christians in Egypt has been the subject of significant attention since last year’s revolution. The community suffered yet another outrage last week, as an Egyptian court sentenced 12 Copts to life-imprisonment, while acquitting eight Muslims, for their involvement in an incident of mob violence that resulted in dozens of Coptic homes burned and destroyed.
This incident did not receive the coverage that it deserved, however the world is at least broadly aware of the struggle that the Copts in Egypt are currently facing. What has been receiving even less press coverage is the similar situation in which Palestinian Christians are reportedly finding themselves in….
Iran negotiates, but accelerates illegal Nuclear efforts
May 30, 2012 | Ahron Shapiro
Despite an optimistic spin to last week’s negotiations in Baghdad between P5+1 negotiators and Iran over the latter’s nuclear program, as more details of those negotiations emerge, it is becoming more clear that Iran continues to flout both UN Security Council resolutions and Western demands. As negotiations proceed, Teheran appears to be in fact expanding its nuclear plans, instead of a curtailing them.
“Nakba Day” protest did more than stop traffic
May 25, 2012 | Daniel Meyerowitz-Katz
The recent “Nakba Day” protests in Sydney attracted some controversy due to a ruling by NSW Supreme Court Justice Christine Adamson allowing the protesters to block peak-hour traffic in the centre of Sydney’s CBD. Adamson drew particular criticism for likening “Nakba Day” – a Palestinian commemoration of the establishment of Israel (“nabka” meaning “catastrophe” in Arabic) – to Australia Day, Christmas Day and ANZAC Day.
That said, something far more sinister took place at the protest. A video (below), posted anonymously on Youtube, depicts various scenes from the protest set to dramatic music.
Israeli leaders condemn violent riot
May 25, 2012 | Sharyn Mittelman
What started as a protest of some 1,000 people in Tel Aviv’s Hatikva neighbourhood on May 23 calling for the deportation of unauthorised African migrants to Israel, turned violent as demonstrators attacked African passersby while others lit garbage cans on fire and smashed car windows. Israeli police arrested 17 people during the protest.
The violence and incitement to violence by some speakers has been condemned by Israel’s highest leaders, and many Israelis have taken to the streets to protest against the racist riot.
Is Turkey flipping Democracy the bird?
May 23, 2012 | Ahron Shapiro
While many in the international media have recently “coronated” Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu as “King” of Israel following his formation of a national unity government, surely the use of the term, with its non-democratic connotations, would be more apropos when referring to Turkey’s Prime Minister Recep Erdogan.
Erdogan truly has been consolidating his power in non-democratic ways, silencing his critics, and taking steps that are moving his country further and further away from democracy.
Palestinian factions announce broken record
May 22, 2012 | Daniel Meyerowitz-Katz
New New York Times Middle East Correspondent Judy Rudoren wrote yesterday that:
The rival Palestinian factions Hamas and Fatah signed an agreement late Sunday in Cairo that paves the way for elections and a new unity government for the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, officials said.
If that sounds a little fimiliar, that’s because it is…
US clamping-down on terror supporters and war criminals
May 18, 2012 | Daniel Meyerowitz-Katz
After frequent calls on this blog for some action against Sudanese President Omar Bashir, it is welcome news that the US Congress is committing to halt aid to any country that hosts the indicted war criminal.
A US House of Representatives press release reports that the House Appropriations Committee has adopted an amendment to the State and Foreign Operations Appropriations bill for 2013 to this effect, proposed by Representative Frank Wolf…
More on Israel’s growing ties with China
May 18, 2012 | Ahron Shapiro
In a quick followup to Sharyn Mittelman’s recent blog on the growing numbers of international students who are coming to study in Israel and learn how Israelis innovate, the China Daily is the latest newspaper to run a story about this phenomenon, highlighting that China’s growing ties with Israel are becoming more public within China and that more Chinese are starting to sit up and take notice of the benefits of the relationship.
