Israel Daily News Stream 06/11/2012
June 11, 2012 15:04 by Pesach BensonIranian Atomic Urgency
• Turkey sharply cut back on Iranian oil imports. According to figures obtained by Reuters, before May, Turkey imported 210,000 barrels per day (bpd). But in the last month, that number dropped to 140,000 bpd.
• Iran is due to crack down on software used for evading the regime web restrictions. Details at YNet.
Arab Spring Winter
• Most of the Christian population of Qusayr fled following an ultimatum from Syrian rebel leaders. The LA Times writes:
The reasons for the ultimatum ordering Christians to leave Qusair “remain unclear,” the Vatican agency said. “According to some, it serves to avoid more suffering to the faithful; other sources reveal ‘a continuity focused on discrimination and repression.’ Still others argue that Christians have openly expressed their loyalty to the state and for this reason the opposition army drives them away.”
Christians represent about 10% of Syria’s population, but their status in Syrian conflict zones has become more and more tenuous.
• The NY Times looks at the Assad regime’s use of Western P.R. firms and their results.
• Worth reading: Syria Caught Between Two Ministers
Rest O’ the Roundup
• In the Times of Israel, Steve Apfel argues that Big Media actually conditions people to be anti-Israel.
• LA Times correspondent Edmund Sanders looks at the growing trend of Israeli businesses open on Saturday. The cost/benefit of Sabbath shoppers and haredi boycotts carry more weight than the law:
“Ultimately this is an issue that is moving away from the political realm,” Ben-Porat said. “It’s really being decided by profits, not ideology and not public policy.”
(Image of church via Flickr/myahya)
For more, see yesterday’s Israel Daily News Stream.
Clicking “Unsubscribe instantly” on your mailing will remove you from the Israel Daily News Stream list, but not from your regular HonestReporting emails.
Frank Adam
3:56 pm
Jun 11, 2012
Bravo for Ron Prossor.
The last Israeli to be VP of the UN General Assembly was Abba Eban in the 50′s or 60′s.
Well-loved. Agree or Disagree:
15 
0
jeb stuart
4:08 pm
Jun 11, 2012
It is obvious Obama’s failing economics dovetails nicely with his failures in the arena of diplomacy with assists from Hillary and Panetta who continue to downgrade our military when it is most needed to stabilize the deteriorating situation in the region where Islamist aspirations reaching a fever pitch will result in catastrophic crimes against humanity worse than anything Assad, Mubarak or even Qadaffi could have imagined possible. Not only will Non-muslims suffer to greater degree world wide but also the Muslims who are modernists, moderates, or members of the wrong tribe or sect. Obama’s administration is an enabler of evil unparalled by any other Presidency in my memory.
Well-loved. Agree or Disagree:
18 
7
Bill Kelly
6:00 pm
Jun 11, 2012
Israel has in modern times, as well as centuries ago, been out gunned, out manned, and taken by surprise. Yet he prevailed because God defended him. I don’t laud Pres.Obama’s views on homosexuality and abortion. But honestly, I don’t relish a warlike attitude either. And as to his economic policy, being a failure in that is an unproven and overused accusation with partisan motivations. He hasn’t defended the rich and powerful as much as the republicans would have. But i do believe that he will support and defend Israel, even though some of his suggestions about what Israel should do have been wrong.
Hot debate. What do you think?
2 
6
brassens
4:37 pm
Jun 11, 2012
A VP at the GA? Did the vote take place on an Arab holy day? Or is the job so meaningless as to be symbolic of the UN’s universality without actually acknowledging Israel’s existence?
Well-loved. Agree or Disagree:
6 
2
Mr. Light-bright
5:05 pm
Jun 11, 2012
“The draft of an economic agreement between Israel and the Vatican contains no distinction between sovereign Israel and the territories occupied in 1967.”
Oops! I think the Vatican FORGOT ^_- [wink] to mention the borders (note: sarcasm). In the end the Catholic church doesn’t care too much about border disputes, but rather the hearts and minds of the people.
P.S. I do not like many aspects of Catholicism, HOWEVER I am not too worried about their current stance toward Israel.
Agree or Disagree:
3 
2
Bruce Reichenbach
10:32 pm
Jun 11, 2012
it’s time to take back Israel, dig under the golden palace controled by muslems,
muslems and christians need to be forced out of Israel, then and only then will israel be a jewish state, run by jew, one religion, one people.
the time is now,
Agree or Disagree:
0 
3
Mr. Light-bright
7:25 pm
Jun 12, 2012
I don’t care how secular you are, for when you read this “Syrian Christians flee village after rebels issue ultimatum;” you think to yourself: hmmm maybe these “rebels” aren’t so much freedom-loving people after all.
Well-loved. Agree or Disagree:
7 
0