Month: January 2009

With Israelis seeing themselves as the David in the mismatched struggle, Israel weighs options in Gaza, but: Hamas Remains Defiant Despite Pounding (Christian Science Monitor) As if Israel directs US policy on the Middle East, Olmert Says He Talked Bush Out of Cease-Fire Vote (LA Times) Turkey remains torn between its desired cooperation with Israel…

With the Palestinian death toll exceeding 900 and the Israeli death toll at 13: What’s the Endgame for Israel and Hamas in Gaza? (Christian Science Monitor) Battered by Israel, Hamas Faces Tough Choice (LA Times) Poverty remains rampant under the watch of one of the most politically corrupt governments: Inexplicable Wealth of Afghan Elite Sows…

As government leaders debate whether to expand the war, Olmert claims Israel it is “close” to its achieving its ambiguously stated objectives … Fighting Escalates as Israeli Troops Push Farther into Gaza (Washington Post) … but BBC video tells a different story … Channel 4 UK Report From Gaza (BBC) and both sides reportedly engage…

In the face of IDF harassment …  United Nations Halts Relief Work in Gaza (Christian Science Monitor) …while the government continues to ignore the demands of the international community: Israel Rejects U.N. Cease-Fire Resolution (Washington Post) The Palestinian ministry of health reports “about 42% of the casualties have been children”: Israel Shelled Palestinians After Evacuating…

In a shocking breach of international law, Israeli knowingly denied aid to starving children trapped in a room with corpses, including their mothers: Red Cross Reports Grisly Find in Gaza (Washington Post) Both Hezbollah and Israel downplay the seriousness of the event which could start another front in the war: Rockets Fired From Lebanon Into…

UN denies Hamas was operating out of the school targeted by Israelis… Israel Hits U.N.-Run School in Gaza (Washington Post) UN Rejects IDF Claim Gaza Militants Operated from Bombed-Out School (Haaretz) …Such indiscriminate bombing leaves the question, where can Palestinians seek refuge? For Battered Gazans, Few Places Left to Hide (Washington Post) Israel considers an…

The Islamist parties expected to take power in Somalia are described as “moderate and pragmatic, and eager to prove their governmental abilities”: Piracy Raises Pressure for New International Tack on Somalia (Christian Science Monitor) “[B]rushing aside an intensified effort by European envoys to broker a cease-fire” … Israel Pushes into Southern Gaza (Washington Post) ……

Israel’s definition of victory is ambiguous, but for Hamas, victory is simply surviving: How Israel, Hamas Define Victory in Gaza (Christian Science Monitor) US vetoed a UN security resolution ordering a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas: Diplomatic Efforts to Halt Gaza Offensive Make Little Progress (LA Times) Spokesman for Olmert, claims “the operation will end…

Israel believes a ground invasion in the only way to eliminate support for Hamas, … Invasion Offers Benefits but Also Risks to Both Sides (Washington Post) … but is that strategy realistic? Is the Real Target Hamas Rule?  (NY Times) Regardless of the motivation, Gazan victims are mainly civilians: Civilians Die in Gaza Fighting (Al…

AirTran spokesperson attempts to justify discrimination as happenstance, “At the end of the day, people got on and made comments they shouldn’t have made on the airplane, and other people heard them… It just so happened these people were of Muslim faith and appearance”: 9 Muslim Passengers Removed From Jet (Washington Post) In what is…