Today’s Top Stories
1. American victims of Palestinian terror won a historic lawsuit. A jury in New York City found the PA and PLO were liable for their supporting role in six terror attacks during the Second Intifada in which 33 people were killed and 390 others injured
The victims were, awarded $218 million; under US anti-terror laws, those damages are automatically tripled. The PA said it will appeal. The Jerusalem Post writes:
The wrongful death civil damages trial could have massive diplomatic and financial implications for the PA, as it teeters, according to some dangerously, near collapse and as it tries to rally international support for its push for the International Criminal Court to prosecute Israeli soldiers and officials for alleged war crimes related to the summer Gaza war.
The Times of Israel has more background on the terror attacks and victims at the heart of the trial.
2. Al-Jazeera and The Guardian released leaked “Mossad cables” that supposedly tell the inside story of differences between Bibi and the Mossad on the severity of Iran’s nuclear threat.
Yossi Melman says the cables are second-hand assessments of Mossad thinking, while Mitch Ginsburg says the cables hardly contradict the prime minister. Calling this “The Mossad Cables” is a stretch, but it’s sexier than “The South Africa State Security Agency Cables.”
As expected, Al Jazeera did not obtain an original and authentic document from the Mossad, Israel’s foreign espionage agency.
What they published was a South Africa State Security Agency (SSA) document that is based on a briefing given to them by the Mossad. The document from 2013 contains no secrets and any reader, or follower of public reports on Iran’s nuclear program, especially the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is familiar with the facts written in that document.
3. A secret memo reveals that Jonathan Pollard’s life-sentence was based on a sham. Sections of Caspar Weinberger’s 49-page memorandum — which was the basis for the US government to renege on a plea bargain — were recently declassified. Aaron Klein got a look-see.
4. Dam Busted Pt. 2: More Dam Lies: HonestReporting secured a correction when the Daily Mail, the world’s most-read newspaper, tried to “balance out” truth and falsehood.
Israel and the Palestinians
• As a warning to the PA about unpaid power bills, the Israel Electric Corporation cut off electricity to Nablus and Jenin for 45 minutes yesterday. The Palestinians owe the $492 million. Reuters coverage.
• Resolving a months-long diplomatic impasse, New Zealand agreed to appoint separate envoys to Israel and the PA. Haaretz reports that Jonathan Curr will become the next ambassador to Israel, while former UN ambassador John McLay will serve as special envoy to the PA.
New Zealand just joined the UN Security Council, which apparently catalyzed Jerusalem and Wellington to quickly work out a solution.
• The British government announced that the next UK ambassador to Israel will be David Quarrey. He’ll replace Ambassador Matthew Gould in July.
Around the World
• The JTA picked up on an academic study (pdf format) which found rising rates of anti-Semitic activity on US campuses. The study was done last spring, before the Gaza war, so it’s a good bet the number of incidents has risen even more.
Some 54 percent of Jewish college students participating in the survey released Monday by the Louis D. Brandeis Center and Trinity College said they had experienced or witnessed anti-Semitism within the past academic year.
• According to Reuters, Iran managed to skirt international sanctions by smuggling $1 billion in US bank notes.
Commentary/Analysis
• Yonah Bob explains how the terror trial verdict could be game-changer with the ICC:
Until now, PA President Mahmoud Abbas had no personal risk going to the ICC, as the Gaza war at most, put Israel and Hamas at risk.
Investigating the second intifada could put him and his inner circle at legal risk – producing a situation where the ICC would be reliant on Abbas providing evidence against Israel, which in turn could present equally damaging testimony against him.
• David Horovitz: Now we know who to believe on Iran
The Obama administration claimed Israel was misrepresenting its deal with the ayatollahs. Reports from Geneva indicate Israel’s concerns were all too accurate.
• Students take on Israel Apartheid Week at Wesleyan U.
No country that feels threatened, both by its allies and its enemies, will willingly make concessions at the expense of its own security. Since any ceded land could potentially fall into the hands of terrorist organizations like Hamas, we must recognize that Israel will only make territorial concessions when it feels its allies, particularly the United States, would support it under attack.
• For more commentary/analysis of the Iranian situation, see Boaz Bismuth (Crying “wolf” for a reason), Jonathan Tobin (Iran talks continue US nuclear retreat), Dr. Haim Shine (Israel must only rely on itself), Myriam Miedzian (Danish ambassador to Israel exposes Mideast double standard), and PunditFact (Why Obama won’t label ISIS “Islamic extremists”).
Featured image: CC BY-NC-SA Emiliano via flickr with additions by HonestReporting; gavel CC BY-NC-SA flickr/Rosario Esquivel;
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