Today’s Top Stories
1. Syrian rebel leader quits after interview with Israeli. YNet explains what happened when Elizabeth Tsurkov, a Research Fellow at the Forum for Regional Thinking interviewed various Syrians in southern Turkey.
“Over the years I’ve interviewed activists, fighters, civic leaders, and politicians – almost always on condition of anonymity,” she explained. “This is out of their fear that they would be viewed as ‘collaborators’ with Israel. The only ones who let me use their names have been Syrian refugees in Europe and Turkey. There’s a really big taboo against talking to Israeli media or even with Israelis. It’s seen as normalization with Israel and a lack of solidarity with the Palestinians.”
Tsurkov went on to explain how she met with Syrian political and military leaders in southern Turkey.
“None of them wanted to be photographed. That’s why I was so happy and surprised when Islam Aloush – the Jaysh al-Islam spokesman – allowed me to use his name when I published my interview with him. I thought that demonstrated bravery, and hoped that it wouldn’t negatively impact him.”
Frustrating that all some see is my citizenship, which I didn't choose & not my solidarity with Syria & Palestine https://t.co/QVNDCfI9UU
— Elizabeth Tsurkov (@Elizrael) August 30, 2016
2. According to Czech media reports picked up by the Israeli press, Czech school atlases will label Tel Aviv as the capital of Israel, not Jerusalem. The Education Ministry’s move came following a complaints from the Palestinian Ambassador Khaled Alattrash:
The atlas says something that is unacceptable not only for the Palestinians but also according to the international law and the official positions of the EU, including the Czech Republic, Alattrash is quoted as saying.
Join the fight for Israel’s fair coverage in the news
3. The California legislature approved a bill denying state contracts to businesses that boycott Israel. Bill AB2844 now goes to Governor Jerry Brown, who has 12 days to either sign or veto the measure. The Jewish Journal of Los Angeles explains how this anti-BDS measure is different from others passed by various states in recent months:
The measure no longer forbids contractors from boycotting Israel. Instead, it requires only that companies certify they don’t violate state civil rights law in the course of boycotting a sovereign nation recognized by the United States — including Israel, the only country mentioned by name.
4. John Kerry Wants Less News Coverage of Terror? What have we come to when the Secretary of State gets applause for saying people don’t need to know what’s going on?
Israel and the Palestinians
• Israel shut down a Palestinian radio station broadcasting incitement to terror. The station, “Al-Snabel” is located in the Hebron area. Five station employees were arrested in the raid.
• The European Union denied that it is funding Palestinian efforts to drag Israel before the International Criminal Court.
• The Saudi media has been softening on Israel in recent weeks. The Jerusalem Post takes a closer look.
• The UN extended the mandate of the UNIFIL peacekeeping mission another year. The blue-helmet force has been monitoring the Israeli-Lebanese border since 1978. AP coverage.
• Israel’s new ambassador to Egypt, David Govrin, presented his credentials to President Sissi.
• Meanwhile, over in Turkey today . . .
BREAKING: Erdogan signs the Turkish parliament bill on reconciliation with Israel bringing it into effect
— Barak Ravid (@BarakRavid) August 31, 2016
Commentary/Analysis
• Seth Frantzman examines how the Syria conflict divided leftist, pro-Palestinian voices and exposed a murderous support for Assad.
Large numbers of politicians, journalists and activists on the left have been implicated in the pro-Assad camp and as such their former friends, fellow-travelers and admirers have had a road to Damascus moment in becoming aware not only of betrayal but disgust to see how people ostensibly supporting “human rights” can turn on the human rights of millions in Syria.
The debate has pitted a group of people whose worldview is primarily Israelocentric and US-centric, against those with either a more global view, or one that is more in tune with actual Syrians. It has pitted Arab writers and intellectuals and activists in the West and the Middle East, against western writers and politicians, and it has pitted parts of the Jewish anti-Zionist left against Arabs on the left and center.
• Here’s what else I’m reading today . . .
– Henry McDonald: Anti-Semitism bred by ignorance… just look at our attitudes to Israel-Palestine
– Jonathan Tobin: Give the UN immunity for terror?
– Alex Benjamin: Why did Abbas call municipal elections?
– Alex Fishman: How the Turks deceived the US on Syria, and what it means for Israel
– Jennifer Rubin: It’s not just Arab governments that want to get along with Israel
Featured image: CC BY-NC Jeremy Brooks with additions by HonestReporting; Kerry by Yossi Zamir/Flash90;
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