Hamas Confirms Indirect Talks With Israel
February 18, 2013 14:55 by Pesach Benson
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Today’s Top Stories
1. Maan News: Hamas confirms indirect talks with Israel on implementing cease fire. But don’t call the talks “political,” say the Islamists.
Meanwhile, a NY Daily News op-ed argues that this is an opportune time for peace. Why? Turkey, Egypt and Qatar — Hamas’ primary patrons now — are US allies with leverage over the terror group. Not sure if this is related, but the Times of Israel reports Israeli and Egyptian officials are meeting in Cairo to discuss Gaza’s smuggling tunnels.
2. Several top journalists have left Al-Jazeera because Arab spring coverage clearly has a politcal agenda. Der Spiegel writes:
Suliman is not the only one who feels bitterly disappointed. The Arab TV network has recently suffered an exodus of prominent staff members. Reporters and anchors in cities like Paris, London, Moscow, Beirut and Cairo have left Al-Jazeera, despite what are seen as luxurious working conditions in centrally located offices. . .
A prominent correspondent who, until one year ago, used to report in Beirut for the network, says: “Al-Jazeera takes a clear position in every country from which it reports — not based on journalistic priorities, but rather on the interests of the Foreign Ministry of Qatar,” he says. “In order to maintain my integrity as a reporter, I had to quit.”
3. Judging from this Sky News dispatch from Aleppo, the influence of international jihadis is indeed eclipsing local rebels.
Indeed the foreigners are coming. I have seen a steady increase from Libya, Egypt, Yemen and Algeria. Even the Free Syrian Army accepts that like it or not the Jihadists will play a future role in the make up of post-Assad Syria.
Israel and the Palestinians
• Ahead of President Obama’s visit, Israel and the PA both dispatched envoys to brief Washington on their positions. Also, both denied reports that Israel will free terror leaders Marwan Barghouti, Ahmad Saadat and 550 Palestinian prisoners as a goodwill gesture.
• Bob Simon of 60 Minutes was back in Israel to learn more about the Iron Dome. Nice dispatch.
• Two years after the Itamar massacre, Israel HaYom visits the surviving members of the Fogel family.
• Savannah Morning News columnist Jane Fishman is in Israel, and she’s already learning that the correct answer to most questions is, “It’s complicated . . .
• The IDF claims victory in Pillar of Defense social media war. The IDF’s director of social media, Sacha Dratwa, told the Times of Israel:
“This was the first time the foreign media asked more questions about our Twitter activity than about our bombings in Gaza.”
• AFP: Israeli public asked to choose logo for Obama visit. The voting’s on Facebook.
- Muslim Brotherhood speaker in Washington: We’re in a struggle against the West.
- Is there a Hezbollah “surge” in Syria?
- More details on Prisoner X emerge.
m
5:35 pm
Feb 18, 2013
boob simons; smarmy slice of excrement that it is ….. again.
Failed to mention how much CASH THE USA GIVES THE TERRORIST PALIS. Just thought I should mention that tiny factoid; it’s billions.
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steven jay rosenberg
5:50 pm
Feb 18, 2013
I really think the 60 Minute segment on Iron Dome was a very anti-Israel propaganda piece. http://www.voice4israel.com/blog/propaganda-60-minutes/
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m
6:09 pm
Feb 18, 2013
What else is new …
It started out as usual as some sort of nod to Israel’s achievements and then turns into a boob simons move of a slap in the face. I’m so sick of it all.
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emes
12:46 am
Feb 19, 2013
Bob Simons concluded his report & mentioned that “hamas never surrendered…etc.,” – this reminded me of a quote by Dr Wm. E Blackstone, a foremost authority on international law, who pointed out in 1891 “that since the Jews never gave up their title to Palestine nor abandoned the land, they simply succumbed after a most desperate conflict, to the overwhelming power of the Romans and were captured or enslaved.” Also claimed, alongside other luminaries of his day the Jewish claim was legally, at least, SOUND! Others claimed “the forcible manner by whch Israelies have been kept out of the land, with no means of redress is equivalent in principle to con’td state of war” Israel BELONGS to Jews!
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Larry
9:24 am
Feb 19, 2013
60 Minutes was, is and will always be a Anti-Israel and Anti-Semitic program.
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Jeffrey Nakar
1:07 pm
Feb 19, 2013
The standard journalistic technique was used of allowing Israel’s enemies to make bold statements without questioning them or challenging what is being said whilst quizzing Israeli spokesmen on every statement. In this case there was no challenge to the Palestinian statements of how much Israel received, no balancing correction to point out how much the Palestinians receive and no challenge to the view that there should be pressure on Israel because of the payments or a counter-view that the same argument could be used to put pressure on the Palestinians.
In fact, American aid is just over 1% of Israel’s GDP and is mostly spent on American products or on research from which America benefits.
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Irv Dain
5:05 am
Feb 24, 2013
The USA and the rest of the world benifits from Israeli inventions
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