Study: Iranian Meddling Hijacked Bahraini Uprising
January 2, 2013 14:20 by Pesach Benson
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Today’s Top Stories
1. Cairo authorities are investigating Bassem Youssef, the Egyptian Jon Stewart. The reason? Reuters explains why:
The prosecutor general ordered an investigation into a formal complaint against Mr. Youssef by an Islamist lawyer. The complaint accuses him of “insulting” Mr. Morsi, an Islamist backed by the Muslim Brotherhood, and “undermining his standing”.
Human rights activists say it is the latest in a series of criminal defamation cases that bode ill for free speech as Egypt reshapes its institutions after Mr. Mubarak was toppled.
H.A. Hellyer comments on the likelihood of Youssef being stifled. In June, Youssef appeared on The Daily Show, where he and Stewart discussed freedom of expression under the Muslim Brotherhood.
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2. Why did a Fatah rally feature rockets, rifles and axes, but no PA security?
3. A new study published by the Central European Journal of International and Security Studies (CEJISS) finds that Iran “hijacked” Bahrain’s uprising. The Gulf Daily News sums it up:
The study explores how the Bahraini movement, which initially had true democratic demands, was taken over by extremists linked to Hizbollah and Iran in a bid to interfere in the GCC’s internal affairs . . .
The study states that the legitimate demands were “eclipsed when the remnants of old opposition and insurgent groups, with histories of destabilising Bahrain, and alleged ties to Hizbollah” took centre stage.
4. Israel Advocacy on Campus: It’s Easier Than You Think
Israel and the Palestinians
• I was impressed by the nuance of this Washington Post staff-ed on settlements:
The criticism is appropriate, in the sense that such unilateral action by Israel, like the unilateral Palestinian initiative to seek statehood recognition in November from the U.N. General Assembly, serves to complicate the negotiations that are the only realistic route to a Middle East peace. But the reaction is also counterproductive because it reinforces two mistaken but widely held notions: that the settlements are the principal obstacle to a deal and that further construction will make a Palestinian state impossible . . .
The exaggerated rhetoric is offensive at a time when the Security Council is refusing to take action to stop the slaughter of tens of thousands of civilians — including many Palestinians — by the Syrian regime. But it is also harmful, because it puts pressure on Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to make a “freeze” on the construction a condition for beginning peace talks . . . If Security Council members are really interested in progress toward Palestinian statehood, they will press Mr. Abbas to stop using settlements as an excuse for intransigence — and cool their own overheated rhetoric.
• Analysis: Ireland’s EU takeover bad news for Israel
Ireland, perhaps Israel’s harshest critic inside the European Union, assumed the position of the EU presidency on Monday at a time when Israel is already bracing for a rocky period with the body over the stalled diplomatic process and construction beyond the Green Line.
reizel
4:55 pm
Jan 02, 2013
Honest reporting should check on the photo accompanying the story in the Jerusalem Post about a 50 year old Jerusalem man being arrested for rape. There is no way the person in that photo with his tzit tzit prominently hanging out is a fifty year old man. Baruch Segar may or may not be “dati”, but that is certainly not his photo. The man in the photo has what is thought of as the look of a teen/20′s “settler” and media around the world are referring readers to the JPost to read the story (and see the photo).
Well-loved. Agree or Disagree:
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EmJay
9:14 pm
Jan 02, 2013
RE: Facing a 1B deficit & no funds to pay … salaries, the nonstate tribal arabs are begging Russia & China to rescue them.
These r the consequences of unilaterally demanding status upgrade to “UN nonmember observer state”. The 29/11/12 UN action taken by the nonstate tribal arabs nullified all treaties, agreements & accords reps. of the nonstate tribal arabs, since 1993, made. Next step — start building your own infrastructure; i.e. power plants, telephone, water & sewage systems, & etc. 4reign consulates should move embassies to Ramalla. 4eigners wking 4 arabs should live in among/with them. Activists need to start putting their actions to where their mouth is! No more hypocrisy!
Well-loved. Agree or Disagree:
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M. Edward
11:12 pm
Jan 02, 2013
The phrase use in poker is “money talks and bull shit walks.”
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EmJay
9:30 pm
Jan 02, 2013
RE: segment on “Ireland’s EU takeover bad news for Israel”
Let the Irish Minister of Foreign Affairs & Trade, Eamon Gilmore, know what stance you want him to take in re: to the EU’s interaction with and towards, the State of Israel. There is a Fb site for him. The Department website addresses are below:
Department Websites: http://www.dfa.ie & http://www.irishaid.ie
Remember, being a representative of a gentile, religiously Catholic country, hit him where it will hurt, below his “faith belt”! Remind him of the current Pope’s position on Israel. Remind him that peacemakers don’t take sides, but work at helping brothers RECONCILE. Keep reminding him of what his Douay Bible teaches him!
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Darren Frm Australia
11:13 pm
Jan 02, 2013
I like that term Nonstate Tribal Arabs finally we can do away with that word Palestinian , nothing annoys me more than being told by some goat herder that he is a Palestinian when i ask him where he was born he tells me Jordan Egyptian the sooner we realize that this term is a derogatory term enforced on the land by the Romans the sooner we can do away with the term and acknowledge the people who now live there in the right way
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