Posts
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
"US aided Israel in War Crimes" Amnesty International
SOURCE: The Times/Amnesty International. Quoted materials in italics.
Amnesty International: US assisted Gaza war crimes
Rights organization says Israeli army used white phosphorus in densely-populated civilian residential areas, calls for weapons embargo to be imposed on Israel, Hamas
Amnesty International condemned the IDF's conduct during its military operation in Gaza in a report published Monday, and called for an UN Security Council arms embargo on both Israel and the terrorist Hamas group.
"The organization’s delegates found white phosphorus still burning in residential areas throughout Gaza days after the ceasefire came into effect on 18 January - that is, up to three weeks after the white phosphorus artillery shells had been fired by Israeli forces.
Amnesty International considers that the repeated use of white phosphorus in this way in densely-populated civilian areas constitutes a form of indiscriminate attack, and amounts to a war crime," it adds.
The report also criticizes the US' role in the war as Israel's main supplier of weapons, recommending that the Obama administration halt all further military aid to Israel. Donatella Rovera, who headed the Amnesty fact-finding mission, said that the group had systematically collected and catalogued shells across Gaza, and traced serial numbers back to factory production lines in the US.
"All of the evidence points to the failure of America to exercise due oversight of what they sell to Israel, which is in breach of their own laws... which require that weapons will not be sold to a country where they will be misused. And the manner in which these weapons were used in Gaza is a war crime."
The human rights group said that weapons experts in Gaza found white phosphorus artillery shells marked M825 A1 – a US-made munition – throughout the coastal strip. The Times published photographic evidence that Israel was using the M825 A1 shells on January 8.
After the Gaza conflict, Israel acknowledged using white phosphorus in a manner "according to international law". Israeli media reported that the military was investigating the incident on January 15, when several white phosphorus artillery shells hit a UN headquarters in Gaza City, destroying tens of tons of humanitarian aid.
Under an arms deal made by the Bush Administration, the US pledged to supply Israel with $30 billion worth of weapons over the next 10 years, according to an agreement signed in 2007, an increase of 25% from the pre-Bush days. Thus, the organization claims, the US was a contributing factor to Israel's bombing of Gaza.
'Report is not objective'
The Foreign Ministry stated in response to the report that its description of the fighting in Gaza was "tendentious."
One of Israel's arguments was that "Hamas is supported by 'extremists,' there for, they should not be granted such concern (aka "bias") in Amnesty International’s report.” Now, I looked up the definition of “extremist”, and it read “n. One who goes to extremes; a person advocates or resorts to measures beyond the norm, especially in politics.”
Hmmm. Perhaps, as the daughter of a Gazan, I am a biased, blind, prejudiced individual. However, it seems to me that Hamas was not the only one “going to extremes” here, or in the past.
My eternal argument in regards to the never-ending Palestine-Israel conflict is rather simple: They. Are. Both. At. Fault.
It’s funny how hard it is to find people who agree with this. Either the Palestinians are dirty Arab terrorists, or the Israelis are heartless, ruthless killers.
Maybe a little of both and a lot of neither?
Amnesty International: US assisted Gaza war crimes
Rights organization says Israeli army used white phosphorus in densely-populated civilian residential areas, calls for weapons embargo to be imposed on Israel, Hamas
Amnesty International condemned the IDF's conduct during its military operation in Gaza in a report published Monday, and called for an UN Security Council arms embargo on both Israel and the terrorist Hamas group.
"The organization’s delegates found white phosphorus still burning in residential areas throughout Gaza days after the ceasefire came into effect on 18 January - that is, up to three weeks after the white phosphorus artillery shells had been fired by Israeli forces.
Amnesty International considers that the repeated use of white phosphorus in this way in densely-populated civilian areas constitutes a form of indiscriminate attack, and amounts to a war crime," it adds.
The report also criticizes the US' role in the war as Israel's main supplier of weapons, recommending that the Obama administration halt all further military aid to Israel. Donatella Rovera, who headed the Amnesty fact-finding mission, said that the group had systematically collected and catalogued shells across Gaza, and traced serial numbers back to factory production lines in the US.
"All of the evidence points to the failure of America to exercise due oversight of what they sell to Israel, which is in breach of their own laws... which require that weapons will not be sold to a country where they will be misused. And the manner in which these weapons were used in Gaza is a war crime."
The human rights group said that weapons experts in Gaza found white phosphorus artillery shells marked M825 A1 – a US-made munition – throughout the coastal strip. The Times published photographic evidence that Israel was using the M825 A1 shells on January 8.
After the Gaza conflict, Israel acknowledged using white phosphorus in a manner "according to international law". Israeli media reported that the military was investigating the incident on January 15, when several white phosphorus artillery shells hit a UN headquarters in Gaza City, destroying tens of tons of humanitarian aid.
Under an arms deal made by the Bush Administration, the US pledged to supply Israel with $30 billion worth of weapons over the next 10 years, according to an agreement signed in 2007, an increase of 25% from the pre-Bush days. Thus, the organization claims, the US was a contributing factor to Israel's bombing of Gaza.
'Report is not objective'
The Foreign Ministry stated in response to the report that its description of the fighting in Gaza was "tendentious."
One of Israel's arguments was that "Hamas is supported by 'extremists,' there for, they should not be granted such concern (aka "bias") in Amnesty International’s report.” Now, I looked up the definition of “extremist”, and it read “n. One who goes to extremes; a person advocates or resorts to measures beyond the norm, especially in politics.”
Hmmm. Perhaps, as the daughter of a Gazan, I am a biased, blind, prejudiced individual. However, it seems to me that Hamas was not the only one “going to extremes” here, or in the past.
My eternal argument in regards to the never-ending Palestine-Israel conflict is rather simple: They. Are. Both. At. Fault.
It’s funny how hard it is to find people who agree with this. Either the Palestinians are dirty Arab terrorists, or the Israelis are heartless, ruthless killers.
Maybe a little of both and a lot of neither?
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Missing Jeddah
It's 10 degrees outside, and as I'm sitting here shivering, I reflect longingly on my second home in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Mmmm, weather.com says it is a balmy 72 degrees--actually rather "cool" for my desert homeland. Ah, I miss it.
My dad is back there for work, and I miss him. I'm also fighting back jealousy. Saudi Arabia is a captivating, puzzling place--kind of like that odd classmate or friend, the one you couldn't STAND at first, but then miss when he's gone. It's a world you have to be acquainted with, one where you have to learn to forgive much. But once you finally accept it for what it is, you'll find yourself in the arms of a strange but unforgettable lover.
10 Things I Love About The Kingdom:
1. Shawarmas (for those who are not familiar with these delicious creations, I'm sorry. You should be too.)
2. The prayer call. Yes, it's true, shops close five times a day for the selah, but it's one of those unique qualities of Saudi that you grow to love. It really is beautiful, albeit inconvenient.
3. The beach--best snorkelling/scuba diving in the world, after the Great Barrier Reef.
4. The WEATHER. I revel in the 115 degree summertime. The blistering heat is to me a soothing, cleansing thing. :)
5. Covering up with abayas can be a blessing in disguise. You need never worry about an unflattering outfit--it's all covered up. Just choose your shoes wisely--they are all that show.
6. Hummus. Delicious.
7. The close-knit expat community. It's a unique environment where our desperate need for companionship overrides the differences that would have hindered relationships in a normal situation.
8. Dates. Also delicious!
9. The language. I love Arabic. It is my father's native language. I am still studying it, but there is something about the exotic sounds and letters that still thrills me.
10. The lingering elements of Bedouin culture. There is something about the lifestyles and principles of people in Saudi that is still fresh, raw, and basic. It was only a very few years ago that many of these people still lived in the desert, herding camels. Fundamentals like family loyalty, simplicity, and colloquial wisdom still thrive. I love it.
I could write more things to love--and plenty not to love. But for now, I'm in the Central Time Zone, and although my thoughts are with the Saudi sunrise taking place right now, it's time for me to crawl into my cold bed and go to sleep.
My dad is back there for work, and I miss him. I'm also fighting back jealousy. Saudi Arabia is a captivating, puzzling place--kind of like that odd classmate or friend, the one you couldn't STAND at first, but then miss when he's gone. It's a world you have to be acquainted with, one where you have to learn to forgive much. But once you finally accept it for what it is, you'll find yourself in the arms of a strange but unforgettable lover.
10 Things I Love About The Kingdom:
1. Shawarmas (for those who are not familiar with these delicious creations, I'm sorry. You should be too.)
2. The prayer call. Yes, it's true, shops close five times a day for the selah, but it's one of those unique qualities of Saudi that you grow to love. It really is beautiful, albeit inconvenient.
3. The beach--best snorkelling/scuba diving in the world, after the Great Barrier Reef.
4. The WEATHER. I revel in the 115 degree summertime. The blistering heat is to me a soothing, cleansing thing. :)
5. Covering up with abayas can be a blessing in disguise. You need never worry about an unflattering outfit--it's all covered up. Just choose your shoes wisely--they are all that show.
6. Hummus. Delicious.
7. The close-knit expat community. It's a unique environment where our desperate need for companionship overrides the differences that would have hindered relationships in a normal situation.
8. Dates. Also delicious!
9. The language. I love Arabic. It is my father's native language. I am still studying it, but there is something about the exotic sounds and letters that still thrills me.
10. The lingering elements of Bedouin culture. There is something about the lifestyles and principles of people in Saudi that is still fresh, raw, and basic. It was only a very few years ago that many of these people still lived in the desert, herding camels. Fundamentals like family loyalty, simplicity, and colloquial wisdom still thrive. I love it.
I could write more things to love--and plenty not to love. But for now, I'm in the Central Time Zone, and although my thoughts are with the Saudi sunrise taking place right now, it's time for me to crawl into my cold bed and go to sleep.
Explosion in Cairo
CAIRO, Egypt (CNN) -- An explosion in one of the Egyptian capital's busy tourist districts Sunday left a French woman dead and wounded nine other Europeans, the country's Health Ministry reported.
The wounded include eight French nationals, one of whom was in critical condition Sunday evening, and one German, ministry officials said.
A man and a woman were arrested after the incident, security officials said. The nationalities of the arrestees were not disclosed.
Earlier reports conflicted, with an Interior Ministry press officer at one point saying as many as 19 were wounded, while another official said four were dead.
The explosion occurred during the height of the evening rush at 6:30 p.m. (11:30 a.m. ET) in an area of coffee shops located outside a mosque in Cairo. It occurred near the Al Hussein Mosque, one of Cairo's biggest, Interior Ministry press officer Hany Abdelatif said.
An unexploded bomb was found near the mosque, which is located near an entrance to the Khan el-Khalili bazaar, a huge market that is also a tourist attraction, he said.
The wounded include eight French nationals, one of whom was in critical condition Sunday evening, and one German, ministry officials said.
A man and a woman were arrested after the incident, security officials said. The nationalities of the arrestees were not disclosed.
Earlier reports conflicted, with an Interior Ministry press officer at one point saying as many as 19 were wounded, while another official said four were dead.
The explosion occurred during the height of the evening rush at 6:30 p.m. (11:30 a.m. ET) in an area of coffee shops located outside a mosque in Cairo. It occurred near the Al Hussein Mosque, one of Cairo's biggest, Interior Ministry press officer Hany Abdelatif said.
An unexploded bomb was found near the mosque, which is located near an entrance to the Khan el-Khalili bazaar, a huge market that is also a tourist attraction, he said.
Saturday, February 21, 2009
In the Middle East, you can always bargain.
I'm sure you've all read/heard about this by now, but Iran is apparently making rapid progress toward nuclear armament.
Another more in-depth article can be found on BBC (As my history professor always says, American networks don't report on the Middle East the way BBC does.)
http://edition.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/meast/02/21/iran.nuclear.documentary/index.html?iref=mpstoryview
I find this article very intriguing. Not only was Iran trying to bargain with the US and Europe to gain the freedom to pursue it's nuclear program, but apparently "Interviews with top brass from former President Bush's administration and British envoys indicate that Iran and the West had neared agreements several times in the past few years"
I wonder what those "agreements" consisted of, and what conditions prevented them from forming. Just looking at the past few decades, we know that the United States has been willing to compromise, sacrafice, and overlook much in order to preserve their objectives abroad (i.e. our Latin American puppet-dictators or our covert revolt against Mossadeq in Iran). It kind of sounds like Tehran knew how to 'play' us--what better leverage is there than offering support for our precious Operation Iraqi Freedom?
Anyway, I also found it interesting that 'Nick Burns, who was in charge of the Bush administration's State Department policy with Iran, said taking a tough approach with Iran didn't seem effective.
"We had advocated regime change. We had a very threatening posture towards Iran for a number of years. It didn't produce any movement whatsoever."'
Two pieces of good news, though: the IAEA has a less alarmist attitude toward the whole issue, saying that Iran is farther from armament than other recent reports have warned, and Tehran has indicated that diplomacy may be a possibility in the near future. What form that diplomacy will take, and what effect it will have, remains to be seen.
Obama: "There's been a lot of mistrust built up over the years, so [face-to-face talks] are not going to happen overnight."
Ali Larijani [Iranian parliament speaker], has called the Obama administraton "an exceptional opportunity for Americans"
Another more in-depth article can be found on BBC (As my history professor always says, American networks don't report on the Middle East the way BBC does.)
http://edition.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/meast/02/21/iran.nuclear.documentary/index.html?iref=mpstoryview
I find this article very intriguing. Not only was Iran trying to bargain with the US and Europe to gain the freedom to pursue it's nuclear program, but apparently "Interviews with top brass from former President Bush's administration and British envoys indicate that Iran and the West had neared agreements several times in the past few years"
I wonder what those "agreements" consisted of, and what conditions prevented them from forming. Just looking at the past few decades, we know that the United States has been willing to compromise, sacrafice, and overlook much in order to preserve their objectives abroad (i.e. our Latin American puppet-dictators or our covert revolt against Mossadeq in Iran). It kind of sounds like Tehran knew how to 'play' us--what better leverage is there than offering support for our precious Operation Iraqi Freedom?
Anyway, I also found it interesting that 'Nick Burns, who was in charge of the Bush administration's State Department policy with Iran, said taking a tough approach with Iran didn't seem effective.
"We had advocated regime change. We had a very threatening posture towards Iran for a number of years. It didn't produce any movement whatsoever."'
Two pieces of good news, though: the IAEA has a less alarmist attitude toward the whole issue, saying that Iran is farther from armament than other recent reports have warned, and Tehran has indicated that diplomacy may be a possibility in the near future. What form that diplomacy will take, and what effect it will have, remains to be seen.
Obama: "There's been a lot of mistrust built up over the years, so [face-to-face talks] are not going to happen overnight."
Ali Larijani [Iranian parliament speaker], has called the Obama administraton "an exceptional opportunity for Americans"
Friday, February 20, 2009
"We Were Wrong" ?
I am not going to give my thoughts on this, but it is interesting.
The host certainly has a bone to pick with Bush though. Yikes.
The host certainly has a bone to pick with Bush though. Yikes.
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
"No Way, No How"
I am a long-time Thomas Friedman fan, and his recent column in the New York Times entitled "No Way, No How, Not Here," is an excellent look at how Muslims are tired of their religion being wrongly invoked in the name of violence. Click above for a link. Here's an excerpt:
By THOMAS L. FRIEDMAN
Published: February 17, 2009
NEW DELHI
There are nine bodies — all of them young men — that have been lying in a Mumbai hospital morgue since Nov. 29. They may be stranded there for a while because no local Muslim charity is willing to bury them in its cemetery. This is good news.
The nine are the Pakistani Muslim terrorists who went on an utterly senseless killing rampage in Mumbai on 26/11 — India’s 9/11 — gunning down more than 170 people, including 33 Muslims, scores of Hindus, as well as Christians and Jews. It was killing for killing’s sake. They didn’t even bother to leave a note.
All nine are still in the morgue because the leadership of India’s Muslim community has called them by their real name — “murderers” not “martyrs” — and is refusing to allow them to be buried in the main Muslim cemetery of Mumbai, the 7.5-acre Bada Kabrastan graveyard, run by the Muslim Jama Masjid Trust.
“People who committed this heinous crime cannot be called Muslim,” Hanif Nalkhande, a spokesman for the trust, told The Times of London. Eventually, one assumes, they will have to be buried, but the Mumbai Muslims remain defiant.
“Indian Muslims are proud of being both Indian and Muslim, and the Mumbai terrorism was a war against both India and Islam,” explained M.J. Akbar, the Indian-Muslim editor of Covert, an Indian investigative journal. “Terrorism has no place in Islamic doctrine. The Koranic term for the killing of innocents is ‘fasad.’ Terrorists are fasadis, not jihadis. In a beautiful verse, the Koran says that the killing of an innocent is akin to slaying the whole community. Since the ... terrorists were neither Indian nor true Muslims, they had no right to an Islamic burial in an Indian Muslim cemetery.”
This is a very important concept to me personally. With a Muslim father and many close Muslim friends, I find it heartbreaking that, for so long, this faith that is a pillar of beauty and peace to so many has been labeled a "religion of hate."
By THOMAS L. FRIEDMAN
Published: February 17, 2009
NEW DELHI
There are nine bodies — all of them young men — that have been lying in a Mumbai hospital morgue since Nov. 29. They may be stranded there for a while because no local Muslim charity is willing to bury them in its cemetery. This is good news.
The nine are the Pakistani Muslim terrorists who went on an utterly senseless killing rampage in Mumbai on 26/11 — India’s 9/11 — gunning down more than 170 people, including 33 Muslims, scores of Hindus, as well as Christians and Jews. It was killing for killing’s sake. They didn’t even bother to leave a note.
All nine are still in the morgue because the leadership of India’s Muslim community has called them by their real name — “murderers” not “martyrs” — and is refusing to allow them to be buried in the main Muslim cemetery of Mumbai, the 7.5-acre Bada Kabrastan graveyard, run by the Muslim Jama Masjid Trust.
“People who committed this heinous crime cannot be called Muslim,” Hanif Nalkhande, a spokesman for the trust, told The Times of London. Eventually, one assumes, they will have to be buried, but the Mumbai Muslims remain defiant.
“Indian Muslims are proud of being both Indian and Muslim, and the Mumbai terrorism was a war against both India and Islam,” explained M.J. Akbar, the Indian-Muslim editor of Covert, an Indian investigative journal. “Terrorism has no place in Islamic doctrine. The Koranic term for the killing of innocents is ‘fasad.’ Terrorists are fasadis, not jihadis. In a beautiful verse, the Koran says that the killing of an innocent is akin to slaying the whole community. Since the ... terrorists were neither Indian nor true Muslims, they had no right to an Islamic burial in an Indian Muslim cemetery.”
This is a very important concept to me personally. With a Muslim father and many close Muslim friends, I find it heartbreaking that, for so long, this faith that is a pillar of beauty and peace to so many has been labeled a "religion of hate."
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Grassroots Goodwill--that's more like it.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/06/world/middleeast/06cairo.html?partner=permalink&exprod=permalink
This is something I can respect. Giving young people legitimate, deep-rooted, and rational reasons to appreciate America. Why else should anyone favor us? We don't have enough guns or influence to coerce the world into being "on our side"--and the only way to prevent a downward spiral is to help young people in places like Egypt to help themselves. Giving them something priceless and timeless--like an education--is the way to truly gain lasting esteem abroad. After years of watching America do things like "invade Iraq" (that's how many see it) and give Israel what has often seemed like unequivocal support, Arabs need to "won over," not pushed over.
Here's an excerpt:
BENI SUEF, Egypt — The United States spends a lot of money in Egypt. It gives Egypt about $1.7 billion in cash aid annually, most of which goes to purchase weapons and support the military. There is also a huge United States Embassy in Cairo, second in size only to the new one in Iraq, filled with diplomats, military officers, F.B.I. agents, drug enforcement agents, C.I.A. agents and more.
The United States also spent about $2,000 over two years to teach Yousra Yousef to speak English. She is a 15-year-old from Asyut, one of the most conservative, tradition-bound cities in this country, once an incubator for Islamic extremism. Officials in Washington were a bit angry at how much it cost to teach Ms. Yousef, an official here said, because in other countries, the same program costs about $1,000 a student.
But what did the United States get for its investment in this young woman?
“The most important idea I learned is to respect differences,” said Ms. Yousef, with a big white smile.
She said this in English, expressing an idea considered rebellious in a society that prizes and encourages conformity. Ms. Yousef picked up her new language and thinking skills as part of Access, an after school English language program that is a small, almost invisible corner of the United States Department of State’s multibillion-dollar budget. It is a low profile, delayed-impact program that aims to promote change and understanding from the bottom up. Since its inception in 2004, it has taught 32,000 students in 50 countries.
Access arrived in Egypt about two years ago and 182 teenagers from all over the country, Christians and Muslims, young men and young women, have graduated from the program. The only requirement is that they come from poor families.
The program was never promoted as part of the Bush administration’s drive to bring democracy to the Middle East, and may never have been conceived in those terms. But the young people say it has changed their lives, leading them to embrace diversity, tolerance and compromise, the building blocks of a democratic, pluralistic society.
“Everything in my life is different now,” said Manal Adel Ahmed, a 16-year-old girl who also is from Asyut. “Before, I was afraid to deal with anybody who was different, I thought it was bad. Now, I think it’s important to get to know other people and other cultures.”
The course work emphasizes learning English, but it also aims to impart a better understanding of American culture, which is often quite alien to the young people here. “Thanksgiving is my favorite American holiday,” said Nourhan Ahmed, 16. “The idea of having your whole family come around and eat once a year is great, especially because it’s not religious. It’s not for one group or another. It’s for everyone.”
... “It changed my life, it changed my thinking, my choices, my friends. It opened doors. There isn’t one area it didn’t benefit me in.”
“You can’t build democracy by saying, ‘We take democracy,’ ” said Adly Hassanein, who with his wife, Djodi, owns the center. “You have to build democracy in the hearts of young people.”
“We learned about equality,” said Abanoud Wanees, 16, who is from the city of Minya.
“We learned about individualism,” said Fady Samir, 14, also from Minya. Then he stood up and said: “I want to add something. They let us learn to think.”
This is something I can respect. Giving young people legitimate, deep-rooted, and rational reasons to appreciate America. Why else should anyone favor us? We don't have enough guns or influence to coerce the world into being "on our side"--and the only way to prevent a downward spiral is to help young people in places like Egypt to help themselves. Giving them something priceless and timeless--like an education--is the way to truly gain lasting esteem abroad. After years of watching America do things like "invade Iraq" (that's how many see it) and give Israel what has often seemed like unequivocal support, Arabs need to "won over," not pushed over.
Here's an excerpt:
BENI SUEF, Egypt — The United States spends a lot of money in Egypt. It gives Egypt about $1.7 billion in cash aid annually, most of which goes to purchase weapons and support the military. There is also a huge United States Embassy in Cairo, second in size only to the new one in Iraq, filled with diplomats, military officers, F.B.I. agents, drug enforcement agents, C.I.A. agents and more.
The United States also spent about $2,000 over two years to teach Yousra Yousef to speak English. She is a 15-year-old from Asyut, one of the most conservative, tradition-bound cities in this country, once an incubator for Islamic extremism. Officials in Washington were a bit angry at how much it cost to teach Ms. Yousef, an official here said, because in other countries, the same program costs about $1,000 a student.
But what did the United States get for its investment in this young woman?
“The most important idea I learned is to respect differences,” said Ms. Yousef, with a big white smile.
She said this in English, expressing an idea considered rebellious in a society that prizes and encourages conformity. Ms. Yousef picked up her new language and thinking skills as part of Access, an after school English language program that is a small, almost invisible corner of the United States Department of State’s multibillion-dollar budget. It is a low profile, delayed-impact program that aims to promote change and understanding from the bottom up. Since its inception in 2004, it has taught 32,000 students in 50 countries.
Access arrived in Egypt about two years ago and 182 teenagers from all over the country, Christians and Muslims, young men and young women, have graduated from the program. The only requirement is that they come from poor families.
The program was never promoted as part of the Bush administration’s drive to bring democracy to the Middle East, and may never have been conceived in those terms. But the young people say it has changed their lives, leading them to embrace diversity, tolerance and compromise, the building blocks of a democratic, pluralistic society.
“Everything in my life is different now,” said Manal Adel Ahmed, a 16-year-old girl who also is from Asyut. “Before, I was afraid to deal with anybody who was different, I thought it was bad. Now, I think it’s important to get to know other people and other cultures.”
The course work emphasizes learning English, but it also aims to impart a better understanding of American culture, which is often quite alien to the young people here. “Thanksgiving is my favorite American holiday,” said Nourhan Ahmed, 16. “The idea of having your whole family come around and eat once a year is great, especially because it’s not religious. It’s not for one group or another. It’s for everyone.”
... “It changed my life, it changed my thinking, my choices, my friends. It opened doors. There isn’t one area it didn’t benefit me in.”
“You can’t build democracy by saying, ‘We take democracy,’ ” said Adly Hassanein, who with his wife, Djodi, owns the center. “You have to build democracy in the hearts of young people.”
“We learned about equality,” said Abanoud Wanees, 16, who is from the city of Minya.
“We learned about individualism,” said Fady Samir, 14, also from Minya. Then he stood up and said: “I want to add something. They let us learn to think.”
Sunday, February 1, 2009
JERUSALEM (CNN) -- Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert on Sunday promised a "sharp Israeli response" if rocket attacks from Gaza continue. Palestinian militants fired four rockets into southern Israel on Sunday, police said.
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert says Israel's response will be "disproportionate" if rocket attacks continue.
Israel was holding to its position that "if firing continues against residents of the south, there would be a sharp Israeli response that would be disproportionate," Olmert vowed at the beginning of the weekly Cabinet meeting. "We will not go back to the rules of the game that the terrorist organizations tried to dictate in the past. ... We will act according to new rules that will ensure that we are not dragged into an unending shooting war on the southern border."
You can read the full article here:
http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/meast/02/01/israel.rockets/index.html
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert says Israel's response will be "disproportionate" if rocket attacks continue.
Israel was holding to its position that "if firing continues against residents of the south, there would be a sharp Israeli response that would be disproportionate," Olmert vowed at the beginning of the weekly Cabinet meeting. "We will not go back to the rules of the game that the terrorist organizations tried to dictate in the past. ... We will act according to new rules that will ensure that we are not dragged into an unending shooting war on the southern border."
You can read the full article here:
http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/meast/02/01/israel.rockets/index.html
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