Posts from — November 2012

One Year After Bassiouni, U.S. Should Chart New Course in Bahrain
21 November, 2012 – Human Rights First

Washington, DC – Human Rights First today urged the U.S. government to radically reassess its approach to dealing with the Kingdom’s response to ongoing calls for reform in Bahrain. This week marks one year since the release of the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry’s (BICI) findings and recommendations. Bahrain’s promised reforms following the report’s release have been inadequate and its human rights violations continue. Just this morning, 23 more medics were convicted by the Bahrain courts and sentenced to three months in prison for taking part in illegal gatherings last year. Five medics were acquitted.

“A year ago, I was in the King of Bahrain’s palace when he promised his government would implement the human rights reforms outlined in the BICI report. He told us officials responsible for his government’s violent crackdown would be replaced and held accountable. It hasn’t happened,” said Human Rights First’s Brian Dooley. “The Bahrain regime points to reforms on paper, but the crisis needs a fundamental change in approach, including from the U.S.government.”

Dooley notes that if the U.S.government continues to support the King while giving only muted encouragement to human rights defenders and peaceful protestors, it risks ending up with a violent conflict. The United State gave the Bahraini government a chance to introduce real reform, a chance it failed to take.

“The U.S.government needs to acknowledge that it needs a new strategy. It needs to speak out publicly and call for the release of political prisoners, introduce visa bans on those it believes responsible for violations, and appoint a senior representative to advocate for U.S. interests in Bahrain,” said Dooley.

Friday’s anniversary of the BICI report is also International Day Against Impunity. To date, no senior Bahraini government official has been held accountable for the violations last year. …source

Terror threat reports ‘baseless’
By Sandeep Singh Grewal – 19 November, 2012 – Gulf Daily News

A GOVERNMENT minister has moved to reassure the public – describing reports of an imminent terrorist attack in Bahrain as baseless.

Minister of State for Information Affairs Sameera Rajab told the GDN there was no truth to the rumours and accused those behind them of seeking to spread fear in the community.

She was responding to suggestions that extremists were planning to detonate a bomb in Manama during the height of the Ashoora religious festival, which climaxes this weekend.

“They (those behind the rumours) are trying to create panic and chaos by spreading these rumours on social media websites,” said Ms Rajab.

The rumours have appeared in Arabic and English on sites such as Twitter and Facebook – and are now being circulated by e-mail and text message by worried members of the public.

“Intelligence sources revealed from Shi’ites that on the night of the ninth or tenth (of Ashoora), there will be a huge bomb in central Manama in order to blame the state for escalation,” said one Facebook warning, which had already received 133 “likes” yesterday.

It follows a spate of explosions in Gudaibiya and Adliya on November 5, which killed Indian Thirunavukarasu Murugaiyan, 29, and 33-year-old Bangladeshi Shajib Mian Shukur Mian.

One of the five blasts that day also injured Indian sanitation worker Dhana Ram Sainin, who is still recovering in hospital.

Ms Rajab said it appeared rumours of an imminent bombing were being started to stoke panic.

“I would like the media to be careful in dealing with such speculative reports as they are not true,” she said.

“If anyone wants authentic information or news they should follow the Interior Ministry’s Twitter account (@moi_bahrain).”

Meanwhile, she hoped a new law that punished those who misused social media would be passed soon.

It would allow authorities to clamp down on anyone who spreads sectarianism, hatred or seeks to polarise the community online. The law is being brought in as a result of people spreading false news during last year’s unrest.

“There is a law that has been drafted and submitted to lawmakers,” said Ms Rajab.

“Once it is implemented it will deal with cyber crime and misuse of social media by some people.”

The GDN reported on August 1 that the Bahrain Bloc had announced a voluntary “code of honour” for social media users.

Meanwhile, an independent investigation into last year’s unrest by the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry (BICI) concluded that social media had been used to spread misinformation.

“The Commission found numerous examples of exaggeration and misinformation – some highly inflammatory – that were disseminated through social media,” the BICI report stated.

There are currently more than 340,000 active Facebook users and more than 60,000 people on Twitter in Bahrain, according to latest Social Media Club Bahrain figures. …source

Bahrain arrests “terror cell” over fake bomb plot
By Daniel Shane – 21 November, 2012 – Gulf Daily News

Bahraini authorities said on Tuesday evening that they had arrested a “terror cell” accused of planting fake explosives across the unrest-hit Gulf state’s capital Manama.

A statement posted on the official Bahrain News Agency (BNA) said that suspects had placed mock bombs in several crowded areas across the city and on roads.

BNA did not specify when the island’s security forces had discovered the devices or how many people had been arrested as part of the investigation.

Sunni Muslim-ruled Bahrain, home of the US Fifth Fleet, has been battling a pro-democracy uprising led by the Gulf state’s Shi’ite majority against the rule of absolute monarch King Hamad for more than 18 months.
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Earlier in November, a number of bombs exploded in a single day in Manama resulting in the deaths of two Asian national street cleaners.

In the wake of the attacks, Bahraini authorities detained four suspects and pointed the finger at Lebanese Shi’ite militant group Hezbollah. Bahrain’s government has also accused Shi’ite Muslim dominated Iran of repeatedly trying to whip up discontent in the embattled Gulf state. …source

Bahrain: Targeting Freedom of Belief in Order to Create a Sectarian Conflict to Control Public Protests
19 November, 2012 – Bahrain Center for Human Rights

The Bahrain Youth Society for Human Rights (BYSHR) and the Bahrain Center for Human Rights (BCHR) express their grave concern for the measures taken by the Bahraini Ministry of Interior against a group of Shiia clerics and a group of those responsible for Shiia religious places, after summoning and threatening them.

On the 12th of November, 2012, the Bahraini Minister of Interior met with the head of Shiia religious venues – called “Matam” in Arabic – where he issued a warning against addressing political issues that are related to local affairs during the month of Muharram. During this month, Muslims, and especially Shiia, hold events to mourn the martyrdom of the Prophet Mohammed’s grandchildren – and the Minister warned the clerics against addressing any political issues in Bahrain. (Refer to the Ministry of Interior statement: http://www.bna.bh/portal/en/news/532957?date=2012-11-13)

On the 17th of November, 2012, the Bahraini authorities arrested the cleric Mr. Kamel Al-Hashimi, and the prosecutor ordered a seven-day imprisonment pending further investigation. The cleric Mr. Ahmed Al-Majed was also arrested because of speeches he gave in this religious place, Matam, after he addressed the political situation in Bahrain.

On 18th of November, 2012, the Bahraini Authorities summoned the clerics Mr. Elias Al-Marzooqi, Mr. Hasan Al-Aali, Mr. Mahmood Taheri, Mr. Jaffar Saegh, Mr. Kadhim Darwish, Mr. Hussein AlAmiri, the Islamic singer Mahdi Sahwan, the Islamic singer Abdul-ameer Al-Biladi, the Islamic singer Abather Al-Halwaji, the Islamic singer Hussein Ahmed, the Islamic singer Sayed Alawi Alalawi and others for interrogation.

The Bahraini Authorities also summoned those responsible for the Shiia religious places – Matam – in the following villages: Bani Jamra, Aali, Saar, Bilad-al-qadeem – Karzakan – Sanabis – Isa Town and others, and they warned the clerics against addressing the current state of political affairs of Bahrain.

The Security Forces removed religious signs and banners belonging to the Shiia sect from roads and buildings (especially religious places). The Security Forces also warned people not to re-install these signs and banners in more than 8 villages.

The Bahrain Youth Society for Human Rights (BYSHR) and the Bahrain Center for Human Rights (BCHR) believe that the Bahraini authorities, through these measures against the Shiia sect, intend to restrict the freedom of belief and to create a sectarian conflict between Shiia and Sunni muslims in order to distract the public debate away from the issues of corruption, racial discrimination and human rights violations that sparked the public public protests on the 14th of February 2011.

The Bahrain Youth Society for Human Rights (BYSHR) and the Bahrain Center for Human Rights (BCHR) call for the following actions:
1. Stop targeting freedom of belief and allow all sects in Bahrain to express their opinion.
2. The Bahraini Authorities must stop the frequent attempts of creating a sectarian conflict in order to confine the public protests.
3. Bring forth those responsible for targeting freedom of belief to justice. …source

Bahraini prominent opposition Hassan Mushaima needs urgent medical attention
20 November, 2012 – Bahrain Freedom Movement

Prison authorities continue to delay a much needed check up for Hassan Mushaima to determine whether the detected tumor he has is malignant or benign. His family and lawyer are being denied access to his medical files, and there is concern for his life and well-being.

(Ahlul Bayt News Agency) – According to family members, Mushaima was taken blindfolded and handcuffed three times to a place where he was given injections. He was reportedly not informed what the injections were or what they were for, and he was kept blind folded throughout the process. The delay in treatment being carried out by the authorities could cost Mushaima his life.

The BCHR holds the authorities directly responsible for Hassan Mushaima’s life and well-being.

3 November 2012

The Bahrain Center for Human Rights expresses its grave concern over receiving confirmed information that Hassan Mushaima’s, prominent opposition leader, cancer may have returned as doctors have located a tumor. This comes after Mushaima was subjected to severe torture last year following his arrest, and denying him the treatment he needs to prevent the cancer from coming back.

Prior to the mass uprising in Bahrain in 2011, Hassan Mushaima was received cancer treatment in London, and had been told by doctors that he had gotten rid of the cancer, but needed to continue with the preventive medication in order for the cancer not to return. Due to the lack of trust in the authorities, Mushaima is concerned that even if the tumor is found to be malignant that the authorities will not inform him.

The Bahrain Center for Human Rights holds the Bahraini authorities responsible for the life of Hassan Mushaima and his well-being, as he is a prisoner of conscience who was imprisoned solely for practicing his right to freedom of speech. Hassan Mushaima received a life sentence by a military court in June 2011, which was upheld in September 2012.

The BCHR calls on the United States, the United Kingdom, the United Nations and all close allies and international institutions to put pressure on Bahraini authorities to:

1. Immediately and unconditionally release Hassan Mushaima as he is a prisoner of conscience.
2. Allow Hassan Mushaima to travel immediately to London to continue receive the treatment he needs to prevent the cancer from returning.
3. Immediately drop all trumped up charges against Hassan Mushaima.
4. To investigate the allegations of torture made by Hassan Mushaima during his imprisonment in Bahrain. …source

Eyewitnesses: Bahraini Opposition Figure Tortured to Death by AL-Khalifa Forces
20 November, 2012 – Bahrain Freedom Movement

TEHRAN (FNA)- Two eyewitnesses in the case of an activist who was recently killed in Bahrain testified that the victim, Abdul Karim Fakhrawi, was tortured to death when he was in prison.

The witnesses kept in the same prison with Fakhrawi said they had heard him crying and whimpering as he was violently beaten and insulted by his torturers in prison.

Bahrain’s court has postponed the hearing session of the two security forces charged with the torturing Fakhrawi to death to December 5.

However, Bahraini prosecutor’s office has already claimed that Fakhrawi, a founder of Bahraini al-Wasat daily and a media activist, has been killed by the two security forces “unintentionally”.

The al-Khalifa security forces are continuing the clampdown on peaceful protests across the country and have intensified arrests since the start of the holy month of Muharram.

Muharram, a religious month is commemorated by Muslims across the world annually. The holy month which started on Friday bans people from killing, arresting, committing any wrong doing or crime

They have also insulted the religious slogans chanted by people during the holy month.

Anti-government protesters have been holding peaceful demonstrations across Bahrain since mid-February 2011, calling for an end to the Al Khalifa dynasty’s over-40-year rule, end of discrimination, establishment of justice and a democratically-elected government as well as freedom of detained protesters.

Violence against the defenseless people escalated after a Saudi-led conglomerate of police, security and military forces from the Persian Gulf Cooperation Council (PGCC) member states – Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Oman and Qatar – were dispatched to the tiny Persian Gulf kingdom on March 13, 2011, to help Manama crack down on peaceful protestors.

So far, tens of people have been killed, hundreds have gone missing and thousands of others have been injured. …source

From the Hague November, 2012

Bahrain: Free Nabeel Rajab!
20 November, 2012 – Silent All These Years

Bahrain’s court of appeal should overturn a lower court conviction for illegal assembly against the human rights activist Nabeel Rajab and cancel his three-year prison term, according to a recent Human Rights Watch press release. Because the authorities have presented no evidence that he advocated or participated in violence, his conviction is a violation of his right to freedom of peaceful assembly, Human Rights Watch said. The court was scheduled to hear Rajab’s appeal on October 16, 2012, but the appellate court postponed the hearing and denied a petition filed by Rajab’s lawyer challenging the legality of the laws prohibiting demonstrations. A new hearing has been scheduled for December 11, 2012.

A criminal court sentenced Rajab on August 16 to three years in prison for organizing and participating in three demonstrations between January and March 2012. Rajab is president of the Bahrain Center for Human Rights and a member of the advisory committee of the Human Rights Watch Middle East and North Africa Division.“The criminal court verdict cites no evidence – not even an allegation– that Nabeel Rajab participated in or advocated violent protests,” said Joe Stork, deputy Middle East and North Africa director at Human Rights Watch. “He has the basic right to peaceful assembly and shouldn’t be sent to prison for that.”

The Public Prosecution Office charged Rajab under article 178 of the Penal Code, which prohibits unauthorized gatherings of five or more people in a public place with the “purpose of committing crimes” or “undermining public security, even if intended to achieve legitimate purpose.”

A public prosecution official told Bahraini media that that Rajab had incited violence. The government also posted videos of some protests on YouTube, claiming, “You will find…defendant Nabeel Rajab violating the law.” Those videos appear to confirm that the protests were peaceful and do not capture any incitement to violence by Rajab or otherwise support the allegation made by the public prosecutor.

No such evidence is cited in the court’s verdicts in the three cases. In the case numbered 07291204947, police testified that after they dispersed an “illegal demonstration” on January 12, some people threw stones and Molotov cocktails at “special forces” and blocked the road with metal containers. One officer testified that he saw Rajab leading a march of 10 to 15 people “chanting for the release of political detainees.” But the verdict cites no evidence suggesting that Rajab was involved in the violence that police alleged occurred or that he incited such acts. …more

Bahrain’s Spring: Activism and Society in Revolt
Maryam Al Khawaja talks to Azzurra Meringolo – 19 November, 2012 – Reset Dialogues on Civilization

Maryam Al-Khawaja is Acting President of the Bahrain Center for Human Rights (BCHR) and head of the Gulf Center for Human Rights’ international office (GCHR). Based in Copenhagen, she comes from one of the most prominent dissident Bahraini families .She loves reading, travelling and speaking frankly. Speaking at a Festival on international journalism organized by the weekly magazine Internazionale in Ferrara, Italy, she openly criticized Western support for the Bahraini regime. “The last time I cried was when I read the report about my father torture” said Maryam. “But my family is just one of a long list.”

At the end of September, 13 doctors and nurses who treated anti-government protesters during demonstrations in Bahrain earlier this year were jailed for 15 years for crimes against the state. Seven other medical professionals were given sentences of between 5 and 10 years by a special tribunal set up during the emergency rule imposed following the protests. What is the situation in Bahrain now?

The doctors’ trial has been closely watched and criticized by human rights groups because of Bahrain’s use of “special military tribunals”, which have military prosecutors and both civilian and military judges, to prosecute civilians. Most of the medical staff worked at the Salmaniya Medical Centre in Manama, which was stormed by security forces after on March they drove protesters out of the nearby Pearl Square, the focal point of Bahrain’s protest movement . Since 2011, protests have never stopped and are held almost every day. But something has changed. What has changed is the Bahraini regime’s self-confidence. Now they feel they have international immunity. They feel that, no matter what they do, they will not face consequences for their actions. This allows them to do whatever they want. They are going against the most prominent human rights defenders. They would never have done this last year. Now they feel free to do what they want, because they know that, even if there are international statements, there are no consequences.

Your father, Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja, is one of Bahrain’s most prominent human rights activists. After 12 years in exile, in 1999 he returned to Manama, but he is currently in prison, after the repression of pro-democracy protests. In July, Khawaja’s longtime friend and collaborator, Nabeel Rajab, was arrested and detained for criticizing the country’s leadership on Twitter and eventually charged with organizing illegal protests and sentenced to three years imprisonment. Your sister Zaynab, aka angryarabia, was also detained for participating in protests, and has run significant public risks in an effort to draw attention to the regime’s brutality. What is their situation?

In recent years, my father has been the subject of ongoing harassment, including physical attacks and smear campaigns in the media. He has often been tortured. While in jail he recently decided to start a hunger strike. Rajab was recently sentenced to three years imprisonment. Amnesty International too has asked for the release of opposition activists and prisoners of conscience. But it never happened. I am the only one in the family free who is free to speak out since I am not in Bahrain, but in Denmark. If I were in Bahrain, I would be in their same situation.

Do you think anyone from your organization who tries to lead protests will also be silenced?

They tend not to target everyone in the same way so that attention is not focused on one issue such as, for example, arrests. Said Yousif has already been arrested and released several times, and he’s been beaten on the streets and that is without counting the threats he continues to receive.

Bahrain’s Sunni royal family rules over a Shiite majority. There are those who say that Bahrain’s protesters are taking orders from Iran, and others who argue that the Saudis are the ones who are supporting the regime. What is the role of Shiites and Sunnis in the popular revolt?

Bahrain is not a Shiite country. Bahrain belongs to Bahrainis, it belongs the them all. The protests too are for everyone. What happens in many oppressed country is that the government tries to divide people on religious issues in order to control them. In Egypt, they tried to convince the world that there was a battle between Muslims and Copts (10% of Egyptians are of Christians). In Syria, they are convincing people that the Alawites are against Sunnis, but this is not the case. In Bahrain, we have an oppressive regime against the people, no matter their religion. The regime wants to transform the revolt into a sectarian issue, but this is just for their benefit. It is not the truth. At the end of the day, if you are Sunni and you criticize the regime, you will be sentenced to prison and tortured. If you are a Shiite and you defend the government, you could become a minister. What matters does not depend on whether one is Shiite or Sunni, but whether one criticizes the government or not.

Could you give us a picture of activism in Bahrain?

These protests showed that young people not only are active, but also really well organized. The protests were called for by young people using Facebook. They called for protests on February 14 because this date coincides with the 10th anniversary of the day the king unilaterally changed the constitution appointing himself as the highest authority in the country. In Martyrs’ Square, the name protesters have chosen for the Pearl Roundabout after people were killed there, people do not know one another but have organized themselves in different groups. For instance one group came down to the Square and opened a media centre, another group volunteered to clean the streets during and after protests.

According to recent research by Mastercard, Bahraini women are the most empowered in the Arab region. What role do women play in the uprising?

They play a very important role. Sometimes, western observers think they do not play a leading role just because they stand in a different line from the men. But this is a cultural attitude. I do not think we should consider women as oppressed just because men and women protest in separate groups. Sometimes it is just more comfortable not to be stuck between two men. One of the goals of the Arab Spring is to remove western stereotypes. My favorite Arab Spring video is the one of a Bahraini woman wearing an abaya and writing graffiti on the wall saying: “even if the men stop, the women will continue”. …source

U.S. concerned about Bahrain violence, weak follow-up on reforms
20 November, 2012 – Reuters – Online News

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. officials voiced concern on Tuesday that Bahrain’s failure to implement key reforms outlined in an independent 2011 report is making political dialogue more difficult and widening fissures in society in ways that would benefit Iran.

Bahrain, where the U.S. Fifth Fleet is based, has been under Western pressure to implement recommendations for police, judicial, media and education reforms made by the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry (BICI), an independent commission of international legal experts.

“We are worried that this society is moving apart rather than coming together in a way that would ensure both human rights and stability,” said a senior U.S. official, speaking to reporters on condition he not be identified by name.

“It’s absolutely clear that if society breaks apart, Iran will be the big winner and beneficiary,” added the official.

Shi’ite protesters complain they continue to be marginalized by Bahrain’s Sunni rulers. The strategically located island state is a key U.S. ally in Washington’s stand-off with Shi’ite Iran.

The BICI report, issued last year, said 35 people died during unrest which erupted in the Persian Gulf monarchy in February 2011 after revolts overthrew dictators in Egypt and Tunisia.

The U.S. official said Bahrain had “followed a number of the recommendations” including allowing Red Cross access to prisoners, issuing arrest protocols and modest police training and setting up an ombudsman in the Ministry of Interior.

“On the hardest issues, the government has not followed through,” he said, citing people still being held in prison or facing prosecution for the early 2011 demonstrations.

“We remain concerned about increasing violence in Bahrain, by limits on free expression and assembly and a political environment that’s become increasingly difficult and that’s made reconciliation and political dialogue more difficult,” said the official.

Washington also lamented fresh violence in the past month, including Molotov cocktails and other violent actions by protesters, as well an “excessive use of force by police and security forces,” said the official.

A second U.S. official said the 60-year-old U.S. security relationship with Bahrain was critical to regional stability and required a balancing act by Washington.

American policy aimed to “balance those requirements and those interests with those we have at the same time in encouraging reform, given our commitment to the fact that reform is the only way we can see that genuine stability and prosperity will emerge in the region,” said he second official. …source

Bahrain activists demand action over rights abuses
20 November, 2012 – BBC

Leading Bahraini human rights activists have demanded “accountability” over government pledges to address abuses outlined in a report a year ago.

Meeting in the Netherlands, they said the government had failed to act on the recommendations of the report into the handling of anti-government protests.

King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa’s government denies it has been stalling.

At least 60 people, including several police officers, have died in the civil strife that began on 14 February 2011.

The opposition says 80 people were killed, a figure disputed by the authorities.

Among those attending the talks in The Hague was Khalil Almarzooq, a leading member of the opposition Al Wefaq party; Dr Nada Dhaif, one of dozens of doctors and other health workers arrested and allegedly tortured last year; and S Yousif Almuhafda, a blogger and activist recently released from prison.

King Hamad appointed an independent tribunal to investigate allegations of abuse in the wake of widespread international condemnation of how the government handled protests last year.

Political will

The Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry (BICI), headed by Egyptian lawyer Cherif Bassiouni, released an indictment of the king’s government on 23 November 2011.

It confirmed excessive use of force by security forces, numerous human rights abuses including torture in detention, as well as the sacking of more than 4,000 employees. Almost all were Shia Muslims, who form the majority in the Gulf island kingdom which is ruled by a Sunni royal family.

Mr Bassiouni made 26 recommendations calling for extensive judicial, legislative and policing reforms. He also called for the reinstatement of all the sacked workers.

The governments says that many of Mr Bassiouni’s recommendations have been acted upon.

Bahrain’s labour minister told the International Labour Organization (ILO) last week that 98% of the sacked employees were back at work.

“The ministry’s efforts are aligned with the [BICI] recommendations and consistent with Bahrain’s aims for reform and reconciliation,” he told the meeting in Geneva.

However an assessment by the Washington-based Project on Middle East Democracy (Pomed) found that only three recommendations had been fully implemented, another 15 partially, and seven – arguably the most sensitive, according to analysts – had not been implemented at all.

Stephen McInerney, Pomed’s executive director, acknowledged that the government had taken some steps, but told the BBC: “What is lacking is real political will to move forward.”

He described the Bahraini government’s claims as “not realistic”.

A Bahraini government spokesperson called Pomed’s assertions into question, insisting that “significant progress implementing the BICI recommendations has been made”. …source

Bahrain and Britain Sign Memorandum of Understanding
20 November, 2012 – BNA

London-Nov20 (BNA) The Kingdom of Bahrain and the UK today signed a key memorandum of understanding, establishing a joint work team.

Foreign Minister Shaikh Khalid bin Ahmed bin Mohammed Al-Khalifa and British Foreign Secretary William Hague sealed the deal.

Under the agreement, the two sides pledge to bolster deep-rooted historic relations and step up political and diplomatic coordination.

They also committed to coordinate stances regarding security, the fight against terror, trade, investments and regional cooperation.

The annual meetings of the joint Bahrain-Britain work team will be held alternately between both sides

Foreign Minister Shaikh Khalid bin Ahmed bin Mohammed Al-Khalifa stressed Bahrain’s firm resolve to implement the recommendations of the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry (BICI).

He affirmed the Kingdom’s keenness on working in tandem with all parties to renounce violence and promote a favourable environment conducive to a comprehensive national dialogue.

Mr. Hague commended the Government of Bahrain for its efforts to overcome the challenges resulting from last year’s unrest as well as its firm commitment to implement the (BICI) recommendations.

He also reiterated the UK support for the Kingdom of Bahrain, stressing joint cooperation to build competences in all sectors.

The British minister lauded the role of Bahrain and the GCC member states regarding key Mideast causes as well as their efforts to address pressing issues amid mounting upheavals.

He also underscored the importance of coordinating international stances to promote security and stability in this highly-strategic and volatile region of the world. AHN …source

Bahrain in key talks with UK over reforms
By ROBERT SMITH – 20 November, 2012 – Gulf Daily News

BAHRAIN’s Foreign Minister will hold talks with his British counterpart today during a meeting that could pave the way for additional support with reforms.

Among topics on the agenda for the meeting between Shaikh Khalid bin Ahmed Al Khalifa and his opposite number, British Foreign Secretary William Hague, is the relaunch of a joint “working group”.

British Ambassador to Bahrain, Iain Lindsay, is accompanying Shaikh Khalid on a visit to the UK and said this year had witnessed an increase in exchanges at the highest levels of government.

Opportunities

“We are discussing a range of bilateral regional issues and obviously the situation in Bahrain,” the ambassador told the GDN yesterday in an exclusive interview from London.

“That meeting (between Shaikh Khalid and Mr Hague) is likely to lead to the relaunch of a working group to take forward the UK’s assistance to Bahrain in a number of areas – some of the areas, for example, covered by the BICI (Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry) report focusing on reform.”

Details of the initiative are due to be announced after today’s meeting, which is part of an itinerary that will also see Mr Lindsay brief officials in the British government, the UK parliament and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) on the situation in Bahrain.

Shaikh Khalid and the UK’s Lord Astor, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Ministry of Defence, were guests of honour at the annual dinner of the Bahrain Society last night.

Meanwhile, Mr Lindsay is due to give a speech today to the Middle East Association – which promotes business and economic ties between Britain and the Middle East and North Africa – prior to a workshop it is holding on business opportunities in Bahrain.

“The main focus of the speech I’m giving is on business opportunities and my message is there are business opportunities in Bahrain,” said Mr Lindsay.

“We are seeing signs of British companies, new to the market, winning contracts in the last few months, which is very encouraging.

“There are a good number of significant infrastructure and business developments, such as the airport development, Bapco’s major capital works project relating to the refinery and Alba with its expansion plans.

“There are many British companies in Bahrain and the region, but it’s trying to attract new companies because you need that fresh infusion of blood and Bahrain does have competition aplenty in the region – Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Doha just to name three.

Stability

“It’s important from my perspective that Bahrain remains competitive so it can actually attract new businesses.”

During the UK visit, Mr Lindsay will be spelling out to potential investors the situation on the ground, but said “sustainable stability” was key to Bahrain attracting companies looking to break into the region.

“People want stability, they want sustainable stability to make those investment decisions,” he explained.

“Companies coming into Bahrain will want some reassurance that the business climate, the general political and security climate, is actually getting better – not worse.

“There are plenty of places people can go to other than Bahrain and still do business in Bahrain.

“Bahrain’s GCC partners are also its competitors.” …more

Bahrain Cracks Down on Freedom
20 November, 2012 – Peak Oil

The ruling Al Khalifa monarchy is one of the world’s most brutal dictatorships. It’s also a valued US ally. Bahrain is home to America’s Fifth Fleet.

Imperial priorities matter most. Washington backs Bahraini harshness. State terror is policy. Murder, torture, lawless imprisonments, and daily atrocities get tacit support.

Bahrain ruthlessly wages war on freedom. Fundamental human and civil rights are spurned. Activists, protesters, medical professionals treating them when injured, independent journalists, and others supporting right over might are brutalized and imprisoned.

Nabeel Rajab is one of Bahrain’s best. He’s a prominent human rights leader. Activism got him targeted. His resume includes many impressive credentials. In 1999, he and others co-founded the Bahrain Human Rights Society.

In 2002, he, Abdulhadi Alkhawaja, and others co-founded the Bahrain Center for Human Rights (BCHR). Authorities terrorized its members for years. Nonetheless, it remains viable.

It promotes civil, political, and economic freedom, ending racial discrimination, and universal human and civil rights. Bahraini despots equate these principles with terrorism.

Last August, Bahrain’s Lower Criminal Court sentenced Nabeel to three years in prison. Supporting right over wrong in the emirate is dangerous. Expressing democratic views is criminalized. So is championing social justice publicly.

King Hamad calls peaceful protests “foreign plots.” Nabeel and others like him put their lives on the line for years. Bahraini activists face arrests, harsh interrogations, torture, and imprisonment. The mainstream media largely ignores it.

Nabeel’s been in prison since July. He’s charged under Article 178 of Bahrain’s penal code. It prohibits unauthorized gatherings of five or more people for the “purpose of committing crimes (or) undermining public security, even if intended to achieve a legitimate purpose.”

His lawyers appealed. A Bahraini court delayed proceedings. Its ruling won’t be known until around mid-December. Peaceful protests are criminalized. State courts tolerate no challengers. They give kangaroos a bad name.

Bahrain banned protests earlier. On July 20, 2006, King Hamad ratified Code 32 on “Public Gatherings, Processions and Assembly.” Doing so amended the 1973 Decree No. 18. Human rights groups condemned the action. It lawlessly targeted free expression and peaceful gatherings.

Unauthorized public meetings and seminars were prohibited. So was anything thought potentially threatening monarchal rule. Activists were targeted. Arrests and prosecutions followed. Bahraini repression is brutal and longstanding.

On October 30, public gatherings were again prohibited. Interior Minister Shaikh Rashid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa said “rallies and gatherings will be considered illegal, and legal action will be taken against anyone calling for or taking part in them.”

That’s how police states work. Fundamental rights are criminalized. Daily nonviolent protests continue nonetheless. Participants face tear gas, rubber bullets, beatings, arrests, and at times death.

Anyone challenging regime harshness faces arrest and brutal imprisonment. Even The New York Times noticed. On October 30, it headlined “Citing Violence, Bahrain Bans All Protests in New Crackdown.”

Protesters refrain from violence. Security forces commit it against them. Banning public gatherings “drew swift condemnation from human rights groups and opposition activists who said it was intended solely to stifle criticism of the ruling monarch in the tiny Persian Gulf nation.”

Activists accused the monarchy of “methodically blocking all avenues for dissent.”

“In recent weeks, activists have been prosecuted for postings on social media, and doctors, charged with illegal gathering and other crimes after treating protesters, have been sent to jail.”

It’s gone on repeatedly since early last year. The Times and other Western media gave it scant coverage. They still do. Reports exclude important information readers most need to know.

Dozens of deaths, hundreds imprisoned, torture, and kangaroo court justice go largely unnoticed.

On November 10, a Washington Post editorial headlined “Bahrain’s broken promise,” saying:

Last November, King Hamad promised 26 reforms. “That promise has gone unfulfilled.” At best, only three were partly implemented. “The most important ones – on the release of political prisoners and relaxation of controls on free expression – have been ignored.”

The Post exhibited a rare moment of candor. It should have done more much sooner. Nonetheless, it said “convictions of leading regime opponents (were) reconfirmed.”

It mentioned Nabeel’s imprisonment. It excluded his activist history and harsh treatment. It said public protests were banned.

Without explanation, it said “five bombs exploded around the capital of Manama on Monday, killing two people.”

Protesters spurn violence. Despite brutal security force crackdowns, they remain peaceful. Bahraini authorities called Monday’s explosions “terrorism.”

They were state-sponsored false flags. Expect more of the same ahead. Four suspects were arrested. They won’t be treated kindly or fairly. Bahrain’s head of public security blamed Hezbollah elements. No evidence whatever suggests it.

Minister Samira Ibrahim bin Rajab said opposition groups use Iranian tactics. He blamed pro-Iran television stations for supporting Bahraini protests. Press TV reports them accurately. So do Russia Today and independent journalists. …more

Bahraini Security Forces Arrest Shia Preachers During Mourning for Imam Hussain
20 November, 2012 – ABNA

(Ahlul Bayt News Agency) – Bahraini security forces arrested yesterday a number of Shia orators/preachers as they were addressing Bahrainis on the occasion of the day of Ashura – a religious Shia-Muslim holiday – The religious figures were arrested while honoring the death of Hussein – grandson to Prophet Mohammed, an extremely important figure in Islam.

The sources pointed out that among the detainees were — Kamel al-Hashimi, Sheikh Hassan Alaley, Sheikh Jaafar Alsaegh, and Ahmed Al Majid. The voice of Manama – a local newspaper – couldn’t confirm the accuracy of the information at the time of printing.

Lawyer Abdullah Alshamlawy said via Twitter – social network – “Hashemi is undergoing an interrogation at the Budaiya police Centre, where he is being detained.” The news was denied later on by the authorities. Officials maintained they had no knowledge of Hashemi whereabouts.

Amal – the Association of Islamic Action issued a statement warning against the government’s practice, stressing such a blatant crackdown on religious figures in Bahrain were deeply disturbing and proof that the regime was willing to stoop to religious repression to assert its hold over the country. They called for immediate action as it said never before Bahrain witnessed such intense sectarian crackdown.

Amal confirmed that Shia preacher Kamel Alhashemi – west of Beni Jamra – was called in by the regime and detained for 48 hours. Preachers Alradud Alhaji Abba Dhar Al-Halwagi and Sheikh Hassan, Alhaj Jafar Al-Shamrook had been arrested.

Amal called for the immediate release of all prisoners of conscience, urging activists around the world to mobilize for Bahrain.
…source

Mexico disputes House GOP report alleging Iran, Hezbollah are using Mexican drug cartels
20 November, 2012 – The Daily Caller – Matthew Boyle

A spokesman for Mexico’s ambassador to the United States, Arturo Sarukhán, told The Daily Caller his country’s government disputes a recent House GOP report alleging that Iranian and Hezbollah terror operatives are using Mexican drug cartels as a conduit to infiltrate the United States.

Last week, the House Homeland Security Committee Subcommittee on Oversight, Investigations and Management released a report titled “A Line in the Sand: Countering Crime, Violence and Terror at the Southwest Border.”

The report found that the “Southwest border has now become the greatest threat of terrorist infiltration into the United States.” It specifically cited a “growing influence” from Iranian and Hezbollah terror forces in Latin America.

The Mexican government disagreed with that assessment.

“The Government of Mexico, as it has done in the past, reiterates that no such relationship or presence exists,” Ricardo Alday, a spokesman for Mexico’s ambassador to the United States, wrote in a letter to The DC.

Alday pointed to the U.S. State Department’s Country Reports on Terrorism to support Mexico’s argument. “[I]n each and every one of its Country Reports on Terrorism, the US Department of State has unmistakably established that there is no such relationship.”

Alday quoted the latest such State Department report, issued on July 31 of this year.

“No known international terrorist organization had an operational presence in Mexico and no terrorist group targeted U.S. citizens in or from Mexican territory,” the State Department report reads. “There was no evidence of ties between Mexican criminal organizations and terrorist groups, nor that the criminal organizations had political or territorial control, aside from seeking to protect and expand the impunity with which they conduct their criminal activity.”

A spokesman for the House subcommittee, chaired by Texas Republican Rep. Michael McCaul, did not immediately respond to a request for comment in response to the ambassador’s letter.

But the 50-page congressional report did contain what the House Republicans who prepared it contend is evidence that terror organizations are using Mexico’s drug cartels as a front.

In October 2011, Iran apparently tried to exploit its ties to the drug cartels to conduct its eventually foiled assassination attempt on the Saudi ambassador to the United States.

“According to a federal arrest complaint filed in New York City, the [Iranian] Qods Force attempted to hire a drug cartel (identified by other sources as the Los Zetas) to assassinate Saudi Ambassador Adel al-Jubeir for a fee of $1.5 million,” the report reads. “The terror attack was to take place at a popular restaurant in Washington, D.C. without regard to collateral deaths or damage.”

“The Qods Force made this solicitation because it knows drug traffickers are willing to undertake such criminal activity in exchange for money,” the report continues. “Moreover, if this terror attack had been successful, the Qods Force intended to use the Los Zetas for other attacks in the future. Had it not been for a [Drug Enforcement Agency] DEA informant posing as the Los Zetas operative, this attack could have very well taken place.” …source

Kuwait endorses GCC security pact
By Habib Toumi – 20 November, 2012 – Gulf News

Manama: Kuwait’s government has endorsed a Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) security pact signed by the alliance’s interior ministers last week.

“The cabinet has approved the GCC security agreement after it was amended to upgrade it to deal with the latest requirements and various challenges and to bring it in line with the Kuwaiti constitution,” the government said following its weekly session.

Shaikh Ahmad Al Humood, the interior minister, told the cabinet that all the articles in the security pact were “in full harmony with the Kuwaiti constitution and laws.”

Kuwait had reservations about some of the articles in the initial security agreement announced in Manama in December 1994 when the leaders of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE convened for their annual summit.

Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and Oman endorsed it at the time and Qatar joined in 2009.

However, the GCC leaders, at their 2010 summit in Kuwait, called for building on the understanding by putting it to a committee of experts and specialists from the GCC countries.

The agreement was signed last week by the interior ministers of the six member countries.

Al Humood said that the new version of the agreement was fully compatible with the Kuwaiti constitution.

“Its implementation will have to be endorsed by the parliament,” he said.

Kuwait is set to elect a new parliament on December 1 after the legislative house voted in on February 4 was dismissed by a Constitutional Court ruling that said that the decree calling for the elections was unconstitutional.

Last week, Bahrain’s government endorsed the security pact.

The security treaty draft which allows lawbreakers and wanted people to be tracked across the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries regardless of their nationality has been endorsed by Bahrain.

“The Cabinet reviewed a memorandum from the Interior Ministry on the GCC security draft and approved it,” Yasser Al Nasser, the Cabinet secretary general, said following the session.

The draft aims at reinforcing security cooperation and coordination between the six member countries of the GCC, Al Nasser said.

Under the treaty, each GCC country is bound to take legal action — based on its own legislation — against citizens or residents who interfere in the domestic affairs of another member. The member countries will also exchange information and expertise to combat all forms of crime, the draft stipulated. …source

Gaza update: death toll rises, family blown up by Israeli missile, hacking spree grows, Hamas holds to aggressive stance
19 November, 2012 – Madison Ruppert -Activist Post

The horrific events in Gaza have continued unabated since I wrote my last news roundup on the subject. No matter your position on the conflict, the situation is hardly acceptable.

An entire family in Gaza was killed by an Israeli missile, reportedly due to technical error, resulting in the deaths of Ibrahim, 2, Yusef, 4, Jamal, 6, and Sara, 7, all children of Mohamed El Dallo, a man whom the Telegraph called a “rumored Hamas member.”

Nine members of the family, all women and children, along with two neighbors, were killed by the missile fired from an Israeli F-16. Dallo, the reported Hamas member, was not even home at the time of the strike.

This airstrike has been the single most deadly incident in the entire conflict thus far. The timing was especially unfortunate as, “It was launched as optimistic reports from anonymous Israeli military officials circulated in the local media suggesting that the crisis talks taking place in Cairo may soon produce a ceasefire,” according to the Telegraph.

Gaza health official Ashraf al-Kidra reported that an additional airstrike “leveled two houses belonging to a single family, killing two children and two adults and injuring 42 people, including children,” according to CBS. However, 12 to 15 members of the same family were still being searched for under the rubble at the time of publishing. …source

New Bahrain trade federation splits union movement
Bill Law – BBC News – 17 Novemebr, 2012

As unrest continues in Bahrain, the Gulf kingdom’s trade union movement appears to be splitting in two.

A breakaway federation says it has attracted thousands of members since launching in July. The organisation – which uses the curious acronym, BLUFF – says its rival is “too political and no longer focuses on labour issues”.

BLUFF stands for the Bahrain Labour Union Free Federation. Its vice-president, Basim Kuwaitan, told the BBC that unions from 12 companies had joined his organisation and estimated the number of members as “between 13,000 and 15,000”.

Mr Kuwaitan says the reason for the creation of a new federation was simple. The existing General Federation of Bahrain Trade Unions (GFBTU), he claims, was “not labour related anymore”.
Continue reading the main story

“The GFBTU called a strike in March last year that was related to political issues. It was against the law. Labour unions should steer clear of politics,” he adds.

But critics like Cathy Feingold have described BLUFF as an “absolutely blatant attempt to split the union movement”. Ms Feingold is the director of the international department for the AFL-CIO, the powerful American trade union federation.

Unions representing workers at many major corporations in Bahrain, several of them with ties to the ruling family, the Al Khalifa, have gone over to BLUFF.

And there are allegations that in at least one case it happened without a formal vote. A member of one union told the BBC: “There was no vote, the executive just announced that we were part of BLUFF.”

Mr Kuwaitan denies that charge. “We followed the proper procedures as laid down by the labour code,” he says.

Karim Radhi of the rival GFBTU says his organisation represents 80 unions and 25,000 members. He questions the independence of BLUFF.

“We should investigate just how free and independent the new federation is,” he says.

Thousands sacked

Bahrain has been wracked by more than 18 months of civil strife. At least 60 people, including several police officers, have been killed. The opposition puts the death toll at 80, a figure the authorities dispute.
Bahraini workers demanding reinstatement in February 2012 More than 4,000 people were dismissed from their jobs during last year’s unrest

Last year, more than 4,000 people were dismissed from their jobs. Almost all were Shia Muslims, who form the majority in a country ruled by a Sunni royal family.

In the wake of widespread international condemnation of how the government handled the protests, King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa appointed an independent tribunal, the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry (BICI), to investigate abuses.
…more

The History of Israeli Spying: The Mother of all Scandals

What Really Happened
18 November, 2012 – sott.net

Once again, Israel has been caught with spies at the highest levels of the US Government.

At the heart of the investigation are two people who work at The American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), a powerful pro-Israel lobby in Washington. The FBI investigation, headed up by Dave Szady, has involved wiretaps, undercover surveillance and photography that CBS News was told document the passing of classified information from the mole, to the men at AIPAC, and on to the Israelis.

CBS sources say that last year the suspected spy, described as a trusted analyst at the Pentagon, turned over a presidential directive on U.S. policy toward Iran while it was, “in the draft phase when U.S. policy-makers were still debating the policy.” This put the Israelis, according to one source, “inside the decision-making loop” so they could “try to influence the outcome.” [CBS News]

Once again Israel denies wrongdoing, or faced with incontrovertible evidence (in this case one of the spies has reportedly cooperated with the FBI) dismisses the spying with the claim that such spying is harmless, because Israel and the United States are such good friends.

Well, let us take a closer look at that idea of “harmless espionage” by recalling Israel’s most famous failed spy, Jonathan Pollard.

Jonathan Pollard is an American of Jewish descent, born in Galveston Texas, who established a career as an intelligence analyst for the US Navy. There have been many theories offered as to why Pollard decided to betray his country of birth to the Jewish state, but that Pollard did betray his country of birth to Israel is beyond all doubt. Pollard’s defense was that he did not spy so much against the United States, only that he spied for Israel, sending them documents that in his opinion the US should have shared with Israel anyway.

That it was never Pollards job to decide what documents Israel should have was apparently irrelevant. Pollard arrogated that authority to himself. From his position of trust within the US Navy, Pollard delivered over 1000 classified documents to Israel for which he was well paid. Included in those documents were the names of over 150 US agents in the Mideast, who were eventually “turned” into agents for Israel.

But by far the most egregious damage done by Pollard was to steal classified documents relating to the US Nuclear Deterrent relative to the USSR and send them to Israel. According to sources in the US State Department, Israel then turned around and traded those stolen nuclear secrets to the USSR in exchange for increased emigration quotas from the USSR to Israel. Other information that found its way from the US to Israel to the USSR resulted in the loss of American agents operating inside the USSR. Casper Weinberger, in his affidavit opposing a reduced sentence for Pollard, described the damage done to the United States thus, “[It is] difficult to conceive of a greater harm to national security than that caused by… Pollard’s treasonous behavior.”

This should end the suggestion that Israel’s spies are harmless. They are not. The United States’ nuclear deterrent cost an estimated five trillion taxpayer dollars during the 50s and 60s to build and maintain, and less than $100,000 for Pollard to undermine. Israel waited 13 years to admit Pollard had been spying for them, and now lobbies for his release, having granted him Israeli citizenship.

Pollard is hardly the only Israeli spy operating in the United States. He just had the misfortune to get caught. Here are just a few examples of the Israeli spy operations that have been detected.

1947. Information collected by the ADL in its spy operations on US citizens is used by the House Select Committee on Unamerican Activities. Subcommittee Chair Clare Hoffman dismisses the ADL’s reports on suspected communists as “hearsay.”

1950 John Davitt, former chief of the Justice Department’s internal security section notes that the Israeli intelligence service is the second most active in the United States after the Soviets. …more

Leveraging Operation Pillar of Defense Into an Attack on Iran
By Russ Wellen – 19 November, 2012 – FPIF

The Netanyahu administration stands poised to use Iran’s real or imagined influence over Hamas, as well as Iron Dome’s effectiveness, as justification for attacking Iran.

“At first glance,” writes Haaretz columnist Amir Oren, “Operation Pillar of Defense seems to be aimed at the Palestinian arena, but in reality it is geared toward Iranian hostility against Israel.” In fact

… the dark cloud in the Gaza skies might serve as an alternative, or preface to, an Iran operation. … Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Ehud Barak have not given up the dream of carrying out a major operation in Iran. …

Hamas often uses Iranian missiles, but, writes Oren

So as not to leave a shred of doubt, [an] IDF Spokesman emphasized that “the Gaza Strip has become Iran’s frontline base.”

In fact, Hamas is considered closer these days to Egypt, Turkey, and Qatar than Iran. Regardless

… the intelligence assessment of casualties likely to be sustained on the home front during an operation in Iran, based on the assumption that the Arrow antimissile system is used (although it has yet to demonstrate actual interception capabilities ) [and will] duplicate the performance of the Iron Dome system. … constitute calculations in favor of an Iranian operation. … Should Operation Pillar of Defense [succeed,] the political leadership, buoyed by strong performances from the intelligence and other branches, [may] try to extrapolate from this operation and transpose it to other places.

In other words, if the Netanyahu administration succeeds in sending the message that Hamas’s will is Iran’s command, and that Israel’s missile defense will afford it protection from Iran’s retaliation, it may feel it then has license to attack Iran. …source

Why a new war on Gaza?
by Thierry Meyssan – Voltaire Network – Damascus (Syria) – 19 November, 2012

On the 14th November 2012, Israeli armed forces launched the operation “Pillar of Defense” against the administrative and military installations of Hamas in the Gaza Strip. On the first day of the attack, they assassinated Ahmed Jaabari, the number 2 of the armed branch of the Palestinian organisation. They also destroyed the underground launch-pads of their surface-to-surface Fajr 5 missiles.

“Pillar of Defense” quickly expanded, as Israeli aviation multiplied its bombing raids. The Israeli military command proceeded with the call-up of 30,000 reserve troops, and rapidly increased that number to 75,000 men, at the risk of destabilizing the economy. In this way, Israel has given itself the capacity to invade the Gaza Strip with ground troops.

This situation calls for several explanations.

Why now?

Tel-Aviv is taking the initiative in the midst of the partial power vacuum reigning in Washington. We are awaiting the nomination of new Secretaries for State and Defense. The new nominations may be ambassador Susan Rice and Senator John Kerry. However, a bitter struggle is currently being played out in the Press in an attempt to disqualify Ms. Rice. In any event, the position of the exiting Secretaries of State and Defense are weakened, and their successors have not yet been named.

In identical fashion, Tel Aviv had taken a similar initiative with the operation “Cast Lead” during the period of transition between Presidents Bush Jr.and Obama. Certain commentators are also evoking the proximity of the Israeli legislative elections, and suggest that Benjamin Netanyahu and Avigdor Lieberman are attempting to polish their image as hard-line hawks.

This is improbable, since in fact, they are launching this attack without being sure of the result in advance. In 2008-2009, the failure of “Cast Lead” was fatal for Ehud Olmert’s government.
What’s the aim?

Traditionally, Israeli armed forces adapt their war objectives to the occasions as they arise.

At the least, the aim is to weaken the Palestinian Resistance by destroying infrastructures and administrations in the Gaza Strip, just as they do at more or less regular intervals. However, the weakening of Hamas will automatically profit Fatah in the West Bank – and Fatah will not miss the opportunity to push a little harder in its demand for the recognition of a Palestinian state by the United Nations.

At most, “Pillar of Cloud” might open the way for an old Zionist plan – the proclamation of Jordan as a Palestinian state, the transfer of the population of Gaza (perhaps also that of the West Bank) into Jordan, and the annexion of the territories thus evacuated. In this case, the military operation must not target all Hamas leaders indiscriminately, but only those who oppose the former poitical head of the organisation, Khaled Mechaal, since he is slated to become the first President of a Palestinian State in Jordan. …more

Too Many Irons in the Fire for Obama
Souraya Helou – 17 November, 2012 – moqawama.org

The entire world sighed in relief after the re-election of Barack Obama as the President of the United States of America. Nonetheless, there is almost nothing to be as rapturous about. The re-elected President has shown indeed, during his first mandate, that he opted for negotiations and refused the war; however, this did not prevent him from the excessive use of drones, these unmanned air vehicles remote-controlled by a military base in the US, to fire missiles on Pakistan, Afghanistan, and other places in the world where the US believes having enemies. If for the Americans, dispatching these drones is not considered a war since there are no American soldiers on a foreign territory, for the beleaguered countries this is nevertheless all-out violence. Moreover, Obama actually withdrew his soldiers from Iraq, but even he took the initiative to retreat from Afghanistan, he is not necessarily ready for making peace in the region.

In fact, a small sentence in his victory speech passed almost unnoticed, albeit having a salient significance. Obama promised the Americans to endeavor to thaw the US dependence pertaining to traditional energy. This clearly means that he shall burn both ends of the candle to get to extract shale gas, which shall supposedly fill the US energy needs ten years from now.

This shall augur ill days for the emirates of the Gulf and the Wahhabi Kingdom, which built their influence and fortune on fuel purchases by the world’s powers. By seeking to grant the US a self-sufficiency of energy, Obama also seeks to grant his country more freedom on the political level, in administrating the affairs of the world. This ambitious project is not to be accomplished any time soon, but if Obama keeps his promise, he has then launched a process that shall change the attitude and the role of the US in the world.

Furthermore, if it is clear that the US President has been somewhat standoffish regarding the Syrian dossier, he might be as well wary of the spiraling danger of emergent hardliners, within the scope of Al-Qaeda, on the Americans. But this doesn’t mean that he would be more conciliating with the axis of the resistance, which is still a privileged target for the US and the West overall.

In fact, the wave of satisfaction following Barack Obama’s re-election is rather sparked by the fear of having in power a new war fancier president like George W. Bush than by the keenness on having Obama again at the White House. Obama has indeed too many irons in the fire, on top of which the economic crisis, the lasting Republicans’ stronghold at the Congress, and the attitude of “Israel” unswervingly seeking to launch an attack on Iran. This shows to those who still have illusions, that the Palestinian Cause remains the very last concern for the West, and, unfortunately, is no more the priority of the Arabs. …source