Opinion: Negotiating Death
By Zainab Al-Arabi
18/01/2009
By its statement of full support for Israel in its war on Gaza, the American Congress was sending out a message to the Arab rulers: Be quiet, or else. Sadly no Arab ruler replied with a forceful statement regarding this matter. None of them screamed at America, telling it to go to Hell demanding that the aggression stop immediately or America would regret it. Instead ‘negotiations’ began on what to put in any statement from the UN Security Council.
What ‘balance’ was needed for the resolution to pass. Remove this word, put in that word, and all the while Palestinians were dying by the hundreds.
You don’t have to be a supporter of Hamas, to say unequivocally that this is unacceptable; that relations between America and the Arab countries would suffer. Of course, the American ambassador to Libya has just arrived recently; therefore he is still enjoying ‘guest status’, according to Arab hospitality rules. We can’t hurt his feelings yet. But isn’t this what the world wants to see?
Arab rulers who no longer act hastily, radically, behaving quite civilly? Should we applaud them for not upsetting the equilibrium in the Middle East, thus contributing to the stability of the region? Thank you for not turning to violence and ‘terror’, for keeping your cool despite the deadly and heart wrenching situation. Each country has its own problems and doesn’t need any more headaches.
The Egyptian President has his own reasons - concerning security agreements - for keeping the Rafah border crossing closed, while negotiations continue in Egypt. I could understand his position if Gaza wasn’t being pounded, day in day out, by the Zionist army that is trying out new American weapons on the Palestinians. But then he too is to be commended for keeping ‘peace’ in sight, ignoring the Gazans’ suffering.
Why should I worry anyway? They’ll all work it out in the end, with or without us just as they have done before. As one Palestinian lady told me, “This time we are really on our own.”
In other areas of the world where there is armed conflict, the victims have the means to leave. They can walk, run to another place. Aid is able to reach them from international organisations. In Gaza there is nowhere to go, nowhere to hide. Three weeks of war, more than a thousand dead, and the Arab rulers are still undecided whether to meet or not; meet in Doha or Riyadh? They all want to be seen as moderates who do not support terror.
After the 2001 attacks on the Twin Towers in America, in all television programmes and in all policies, Muslims were told that they couldn’t say, “Yes, what happened is terrible, but…” Denounce terrorism or be thrown out of America or Europe, etc., the same should be applied to Western governments, and companies now. They can’t say, “What Israel is doing is terrible, but…” Stop business permits for companies who have branches in Israel, until they publicly denounce Zionist terror.
If Israeli Jews are themselves doing this, and are showing the Zionist state for what it really is, demanding this from Western companies is not asking for the impossible. Why are Muslims accused of turning into extremists because of ‘religious texts’, and not the Zionists? They take texts in the Old Testament literally.
Texts in Leviticus and Deuteronomy call for the destruction of Israel’s enemies without mercy. And if some will argue against that, then tell me why they claim that the land was promised to them in the Bible if they didn’t take it literally?
However, Orthodox Jews and Israeli writers are challenging this belief every day. They are denouncing their “country’s” inhuman treatment of Palestinians, questioning the very essence of its existence, and revealing unknown secrets of the military, and politicians –past and present.
In their newspapers one can find evidence of the growing fear that they have turned into an apartheid state. Some go even further accusing the government of using ‘ethnic cleansing’ against the Palestinians. The foreign minister, Livni, among other ministers, has in fact been quoted speaking of the ‘transfer’ of Palestinians.
In view of what is going on, some Israelis have come to realise that the only solution is a one-state solution.
This solution in itself a radical suggestion, it goes without saying that those who speak of this are called ‘traitors’ and ‘self-hating’ Jews. Taking a lesson from history the Zionists should realize that might does not last forever, and that the military monster they have created cannot be fed forever.
(The Tripoli Post)
Senin, 26 Januari 2009
OPINI: PERILAKU POLITIKUS AS
Opinion: American Politicians and Complicity to Murder
by Ali Alarabi
18/01/2009
One cannot help it when watching droves of American politicians from all colours and stripes repeating the Israeli PR offensive that goes along with war on Gaza in asking the rhetorical question: "what would you do if someone is firing rockets at your own house" to feel how misinformed, or even deceptive those politicians were.
American politicians are repeating the Israeli lines without bothering or considering what the Palestinians have to say about this war that was imposed on them and is destroying them right now. It was US President-elect Obama who set the tone for the Israeli PR during his visit amidst the election campaign last year when he cornered himself and said it in Israel.
Obama has subsequently remained conspicuously silent during the initial wave of Israeli attacks, signaling his approval of what’s happening in Gaza thus becoming hostage to his own words in defending Israel’s “right” to attack Gaza.
To say that the reason for the Israeli assault on Gaza, which cannot be described other than a Massacre, is because Hamas fired its useless rockets, which is more of harassment than a military threat, is misleading and disingenuous at best. Israeli politicians used Hamas rockets to jockey for a better position in the upcoming election and to show the Israeli electorate who is tougher and who can silence those harassing rockets.
The number of Palestinians killed by Israel has reached over a 1000 at the time of writing this article. Israel’s indiscriminate attacks on densely populated civilian areas is illegal and in clear violation of International Humanitarian law, IHL. Article 51 of the First Additional Protocol that states that an attack is indiscriminate and therefore prohibited by International Law.
Even when Israeli politicians claim that there were Hamas fighters present in civilian areas that too is legally prohibited for Israel to attack those areas, as they will end up killing scores of civilians. Historically, Israel has in past armed conflicts with Arab states and the Palestinians resorted to bombing civilian areas and launched indiscriminate attacks killing innocent civilians.
On April 8, 1970, Israel bombed the Bahr el Baqr children school south of Port Said in Egypt killing 46 school children. Israel claimed then that the Egyptian Army had used the school as a military site. The same happened in the same year when Israel bombed a civilian factory in Abu Za’abal area killing 80 Egyptian workers. That too it was claimed by the Israelis to have been a military site.
Over two years ago, in 2006, Israel bombed and killed over a hundred Lebanese civilian refugees who took shelter in a compound in south Lebanon. Yet again, Israel also claimed that Hezbollah fighters used the UN compound. None of Israel’s claims were found to be true, including its latest attack in Gaza that destroyed a UN-run school that was packed with horrified refugees killing over forty young children.
Hamas too was trying to have a better negotiating position at the table with Israel through its rockets. What Hamas wanted was, and still is, for Israel to lift its blockade on Gaza from land and sea that choked the life of 1.5 million Palestinians, turning their life into and endless desperation.
Israel wants Gaza under Hamas to be quite, deprived of its homemade rockets while Israel itself is not doing anything in exchange by way of letting up. If Hamas or any Palestinian group dare to violate or challenge Israel’s terms or even harass Israel, Israel will in turn use, or threaten to use the full might of its army as we see in this case.
Therefore, keeping Gaza locked into a tight siege is important for Israel and its supremacy in the region hence surrounding the strip with a wall and army units, controlling those inside and those out, thus keeping the entire Palestinian population in Gaza hostage to the Israeli leaders’ whims. Exactly like a prison or Ghetto, or both.
This controlling environment, coupled with Israeli violence or threat of using it for any ‘bad behaviour’ on the part of Hamas or the Palestinians in general, including those in the West Bank, has turned the Palestinians into slaves to the Israeli masters.
Israel cannot expect the Palestinians to remain quiet while watching their piece of land taken away from them bite-by-bite, and inch-by-inch, including their water resources.
Resistance to the Israeli occupation is a legal right and a legitimate choice, particularly in the absence of a fair and just peaceful settlement that takes into account the Palestinian refugees’ right of return, with Jerusalem as the capital of Palestine. Without this, peace will remain just a pipe dream.
Ali Alarabi writes on the Middle East and is a member of the Arab Writers Group syndicate, he can be reached at: alialarabi1@aol.com
(The Tripoli Post)
by Ali Alarabi
18/01/2009
One cannot help it when watching droves of American politicians from all colours and stripes repeating the Israeli PR offensive that goes along with war on Gaza in asking the rhetorical question: "what would you do if someone is firing rockets at your own house" to feel how misinformed, or even deceptive those politicians were.
American politicians are repeating the Israeli lines without bothering or considering what the Palestinians have to say about this war that was imposed on them and is destroying them right now. It was US President-elect Obama who set the tone for the Israeli PR during his visit amidst the election campaign last year when he cornered himself and said it in Israel.
Obama has subsequently remained conspicuously silent during the initial wave of Israeli attacks, signaling his approval of what’s happening in Gaza thus becoming hostage to his own words in defending Israel’s “right” to attack Gaza.
To say that the reason for the Israeli assault on Gaza, which cannot be described other than a Massacre, is because Hamas fired its useless rockets, which is more of harassment than a military threat, is misleading and disingenuous at best. Israeli politicians used Hamas rockets to jockey for a better position in the upcoming election and to show the Israeli electorate who is tougher and who can silence those harassing rockets.
The number of Palestinians killed by Israel has reached over a 1000 at the time of writing this article. Israel’s indiscriminate attacks on densely populated civilian areas is illegal and in clear violation of International Humanitarian law, IHL. Article 51 of the First Additional Protocol that states that an attack is indiscriminate and therefore prohibited by International Law.
Even when Israeli politicians claim that there were Hamas fighters present in civilian areas that too is legally prohibited for Israel to attack those areas, as they will end up killing scores of civilians. Historically, Israel has in past armed conflicts with Arab states and the Palestinians resorted to bombing civilian areas and launched indiscriminate attacks killing innocent civilians.
On April 8, 1970, Israel bombed the Bahr el Baqr children school south of Port Said in Egypt killing 46 school children. Israel claimed then that the Egyptian Army had used the school as a military site. The same happened in the same year when Israel bombed a civilian factory in Abu Za’abal area killing 80 Egyptian workers. That too it was claimed by the Israelis to have been a military site.
Over two years ago, in 2006, Israel bombed and killed over a hundred Lebanese civilian refugees who took shelter in a compound in south Lebanon. Yet again, Israel also claimed that Hezbollah fighters used the UN compound. None of Israel’s claims were found to be true, including its latest attack in Gaza that destroyed a UN-run school that was packed with horrified refugees killing over forty young children.
Hamas too was trying to have a better negotiating position at the table with Israel through its rockets. What Hamas wanted was, and still is, for Israel to lift its blockade on Gaza from land and sea that choked the life of 1.5 million Palestinians, turning their life into and endless desperation.
Israel wants Gaza under Hamas to be quite, deprived of its homemade rockets while Israel itself is not doing anything in exchange by way of letting up. If Hamas or any Palestinian group dare to violate or challenge Israel’s terms or even harass Israel, Israel will in turn use, or threaten to use the full might of its army as we see in this case.
Therefore, keeping Gaza locked into a tight siege is important for Israel and its supremacy in the region hence surrounding the strip with a wall and army units, controlling those inside and those out, thus keeping the entire Palestinian population in Gaza hostage to the Israeli leaders’ whims. Exactly like a prison or Ghetto, or both.
This controlling environment, coupled with Israeli violence or threat of using it for any ‘bad behaviour’ on the part of Hamas or the Palestinians in general, including those in the West Bank, has turned the Palestinians into slaves to the Israeli masters.
Israel cannot expect the Palestinians to remain quiet while watching their piece of land taken away from them bite-by-bite, and inch-by-inch, including their water resources.
Resistance to the Israeli occupation is a legal right and a legitimate choice, particularly in the absence of a fair and just peaceful settlement that takes into account the Palestinian refugees’ right of return, with Jerusalem as the capital of Palestine. Without this, peace will remain just a pipe dream.
Ali Alarabi writes on the Middle East and is a member of the Arab Writers Group syndicate, he can be reached at: alialarabi1@aol.com
(The Tripoli Post)
OPINI; SIAPA TERORIS?
Opinion: Terrorism vs. Heroism
By Mohammad Azeemullah
11/01/2009
Howsoever the Jewish State patronized by the United States of America, tries to paint the tormented and terrorized face of helpless Palestinians with the black tinge of terrorism, howsoever it continues to degrade and humiliate the believers with its unprecedented and unmatched technological prowess and howsoever it remains indulged in unethical and unscrupulous propaganda of killing the innocent in the name of national security of which victims are mostly women and children, the Palestinian movements for freedom continue to dominate the psyche of the modern world with its formidable message against barbarism, butchery and savagery.
The tussle between the west headed by USA with Israel as their illegitimate child and various resisting organizations in Palestine is not between the two opposite poles of power but between the oppressed against the oppressor and the deprived against the privileged.
The rest of the world has resigned to the colossal strength of the USA and its allies and is a helpless spectator against the brute and brutality inflicted upon the starving and homeless Palestinians except some daring freedom fighters who, despite lacking modern artillery, stand against the tormenter.
The hollowness and superficiality of harmony among fellow Arab countries to project a united front to deal with the crisis and to pronounce even a single statement against the gruesome drama of carnage, which is still in progress, articulate the uppermost degree of abnormality Arab world possesses in its moral health of political order and system.
Their mere watchfulness to the on-going massacre is a witness to their party in the crime against humanity.
The Al Jazeera television channel which boasts of its neutral reporting and perhaps the only voice of the Arab world to the public at large even fails to live up to the expectation as it constantly carries the news caption WAR ON GAZA instead of MASSACRE IN GAZA.
War is waged between the two equal and opposite forces and not between a powerful, beleaguered state as Israel and the hapless refugees in bondage who rely for water to drink upon others.
Humanity at large must cry and shed tears how the reckless murder in broad day light is carried out with clusters of bombs over schools, hospitals and residential areas with only one goal to achieve i.e. frustrating the moral of any resistance group towards freedom.
The United States of America which leads the world with fake mask of symbolic civilization seeks its sadistic pleasure into the bloodshed of innocent Muslims and sponsors its allies to strangulate the very voice of freedom for which it has stood firmly so far. What hypocrisy!
One must acknowledge that Islam does not promote inequality and is absolutely against barbarity, brutality and injustice of any kind. The Holy Quran speaks: "...and fight them on until there is no more tumult or oppression, and justice and faith in Allah prevail. But if they cease, let there be no hostility except to those who practice oppression"(2:193).
The USA and its allies must understand the undercurrents in order to avoid a long-drawn-never-ending battle between the two antithetical camps.
It is also time to look broader beyond a certain line and redefine the word 'terrorism' as those resisting the Israeli aggression and putting a brave front to the genocide is not terrorism, it is heroism.
(The tripoli Post)
By Mohammad Azeemullah
11/01/2009
Howsoever the Jewish State patronized by the United States of America, tries to paint the tormented and terrorized face of helpless Palestinians with the black tinge of terrorism, howsoever it continues to degrade and humiliate the believers with its unprecedented and unmatched technological prowess and howsoever it remains indulged in unethical and unscrupulous propaganda of killing the innocent in the name of national security of which victims are mostly women and children, the Palestinian movements for freedom continue to dominate the psyche of the modern world with its formidable message against barbarism, butchery and savagery.
The tussle between the west headed by USA with Israel as their illegitimate child and various resisting organizations in Palestine is not between the two opposite poles of power but between the oppressed against the oppressor and the deprived against the privileged.
The rest of the world has resigned to the colossal strength of the USA and its allies and is a helpless spectator against the brute and brutality inflicted upon the starving and homeless Palestinians except some daring freedom fighters who, despite lacking modern artillery, stand against the tormenter.
The hollowness and superficiality of harmony among fellow Arab countries to project a united front to deal with the crisis and to pronounce even a single statement against the gruesome drama of carnage, which is still in progress, articulate the uppermost degree of abnormality Arab world possesses in its moral health of political order and system.
Their mere watchfulness to the on-going massacre is a witness to their party in the crime against humanity.
The Al Jazeera television channel which boasts of its neutral reporting and perhaps the only voice of the Arab world to the public at large even fails to live up to the expectation as it constantly carries the news caption WAR ON GAZA instead of MASSACRE IN GAZA.
War is waged between the two equal and opposite forces and not between a powerful, beleaguered state as Israel and the hapless refugees in bondage who rely for water to drink upon others.
Humanity at large must cry and shed tears how the reckless murder in broad day light is carried out with clusters of bombs over schools, hospitals and residential areas with only one goal to achieve i.e. frustrating the moral of any resistance group towards freedom.
The United States of America which leads the world with fake mask of symbolic civilization seeks its sadistic pleasure into the bloodshed of innocent Muslims and sponsors its allies to strangulate the very voice of freedom for which it has stood firmly so far. What hypocrisy!
One must acknowledge that Islam does not promote inequality and is absolutely against barbarity, brutality and injustice of any kind. The Holy Quran speaks: "...and fight them on until there is no more tumult or oppression, and justice and faith in Allah prevail. But if they cease, let there be no hostility except to those who practice oppression"(2:193).
The USA and its allies must understand the undercurrents in order to avoid a long-drawn-never-ending battle between the two antithetical camps.
It is also time to look broader beyond a certain line and redefine the word 'terrorism' as those resisting the Israeli aggression and putting a brave front to the genocide is not terrorism, it is heroism.
(The tripoli Post)
OPINI: THE TRIPOLI POST TENTANG SIKAP MESIR ATAS SERANGAN ISRAEL KE JALUR GAZA
Opinion: Egypt Too Powerless and Corrupt to Act
By Robert Fisk
11/01/2009
There was a day when we worried about the "Arab masses" - the millions of "ordinary" Arabs on the streets of Cairo, Kuwait, Amman, Beirut - and their reaction to the constant bloodbaths in the Middle East. Could Anwar Sadat restrain the anger of his people?
And now - after three decades of Hosni Mubarak - can Mubarak (or "La Vache Qui Rit", as he is still called in Cairo) restrain the anger of his people? The answer, of course, is that Egyptians and Kuwaitis and Jordanians will be allowed to shout in the streets of their capitals - but then they will be shut down, with the help of the tens of thousands of secret policemen and government militiamen who serve the princes and kings and elderly rulers of the Arab world.
Egyptians demand that Mubarak open the Rafah crossing-point into Gaza, break off diplomatic relations with Israel, even send weapons to Hamas. And there is a kind of perverse beauty in listening to the response of the Egyptian government: why not complain about the three gates which the Israelis refuse to open? And anyway, the Rafah crossing-point is politically controlled by the four powers that produced the "road map" for peace, including Britain and the US.
Why blame Mubarak? To admit that Egypt can't even open its sovereign border without permission from Washington tells you all you need to know about the powerlessness of the satraps that run the Middle East for us.
Open the Rafah gate - or break off relations with Israel - and Egypt's economic foundations crumble.
Any Arab leader who took that kind of step will find that the West's economic and military support is withdrawn.
Without subventions, Egypt is bankrupt. Of course, it works both ways. Individual Arab leaders are no longer going to make emotional gestures for anyone. When Sadat flew to Jerusalem - "I am tired of the dwarves," he said of his fellow Arab leaders - he paid the price with his own blood at the Cairo reviewing-stand where one of his own soldiers called him a "Pharaoh" before shooting him dead.
The true disgrace of Egypt, however, is not in its response to the slaughter in Gaza. It is the corruption that has become embedded in an Egyptian society where the idea of service - health, education, genuine security for ordinary people - has simply ceased to exist.
It's a land where the first duty of the police is to protect the regime, where protesters are beaten up by the security police, where young women objecting to Mubarak's endless regime - likely to be passed on caliph-like to his son Gamal, whatever we may be told - are molested by agents.
There has developed in Egypt a kind of religious facade in which the meaning of Islam has become effaced by its physical representation.
Egyptian civil "servants" and government officials are often scrupulous in their religious observances - yet they tolerate and connive in rigged elections, violations of the law and prison torture.
A young American doctor described to me recently how in a Cairo hospital busy doctors merely blocked doors with plastic chairs to prevent access to patients. In November, the Egyptian newspaper Al-Masry al-Youm reported how doctors abandoned their patients to attend prayers during Ramadan.
And amid all this, Egyptians have to live amid daily slaughter by their own shabby infrastructure.
Alaa al-Aswani wrote eloquently in the Cairo paper Al-Dastour that the regime's "martyrs" outnumber all the dead of Egypt's wars against Israel - victims of railway accidents, ferry sinkings, the collapse of city buildings, sickness, cancers and pesticide poisonings - all victims, as Aswani says, "of the corruption and abuse of power".
Opening the Rafah border-crossing for wounded Palestinians - the Palestinian medical staff being pushed back into their Gaza prison once the bloodied survivors of air raids have been dumped on Egyptian territory - is not going to change the midden in which Egyptians themselves live. Sayed Hassan Nasrallah, the Hizbollah secretary general in Lebanon, felt able to call on Egyptians to "rise in their millions" to open the border with Gaza, but they will not do so.
Ahmed Aboul Gheit, the feeble Egyptian Foreign Minister, could only taunt the Hizbollah leaders by accusing them of trying to provoke "an anarchy similar to the one they created in their own country."
But he is well-protected. So is President Mubarak.
Egypt's malaise is in many ways as dark as that of the Palestinians. Its impotence in the face of Gaza's suffering is a symbol of its own political sickness.
(The tripoli Post)
By Robert Fisk
11/01/2009
There was a day when we worried about the "Arab masses" - the millions of "ordinary" Arabs on the streets of Cairo, Kuwait, Amman, Beirut - and their reaction to the constant bloodbaths in the Middle East. Could Anwar Sadat restrain the anger of his people?
And now - after three decades of Hosni Mubarak - can Mubarak (or "La Vache Qui Rit", as he is still called in Cairo) restrain the anger of his people? The answer, of course, is that Egyptians and Kuwaitis and Jordanians will be allowed to shout in the streets of their capitals - but then they will be shut down, with the help of the tens of thousands of secret policemen and government militiamen who serve the princes and kings and elderly rulers of the Arab world.
Egyptians demand that Mubarak open the Rafah crossing-point into Gaza, break off diplomatic relations with Israel, even send weapons to Hamas. And there is a kind of perverse beauty in listening to the response of the Egyptian government: why not complain about the three gates which the Israelis refuse to open? And anyway, the Rafah crossing-point is politically controlled by the four powers that produced the "road map" for peace, including Britain and the US.
Why blame Mubarak? To admit that Egypt can't even open its sovereign border without permission from Washington tells you all you need to know about the powerlessness of the satraps that run the Middle East for us.
Open the Rafah gate - or break off relations with Israel - and Egypt's economic foundations crumble.
Any Arab leader who took that kind of step will find that the West's economic and military support is withdrawn.
Without subventions, Egypt is bankrupt. Of course, it works both ways. Individual Arab leaders are no longer going to make emotional gestures for anyone. When Sadat flew to Jerusalem - "I am tired of the dwarves," he said of his fellow Arab leaders - he paid the price with his own blood at the Cairo reviewing-stand where one of his own soldiers called him a "Pharaoh" before shooting him dead.
The true disgrace of Egypt, however, is not in its response to the slaughter in Gaza. It is the corruption that has become embedded in an Egyptian society where the idea of service - health, education, genuine security for ordinary people - has simply ceased to exist.
It's a land where the first duty of the police is to protect the regime, where protesters are beaten up by the security police, where young women objecting to Mubarak's endless regime - likely to be passed on caliph-like to his son Gamal, whatever we may be told - are molested by agents.
There has developed in Egypt a kind of religious facade in which the meaning of Islam has become effaced by its physical representation.
Egyptian civil "servants" and government officials are often scrupulous in their religious observances - yet they tolerate and connive in rigged elections, violations of the law and prison torture.
A young American doctor described to me recently how in a Cairo hospital busy doctors merely blocked doors with plastic chairs to prevent access to patients. In November, the Egyptian newspaper Al-Masry al-Youm reported how doctors abandoned their patients to attend prayers during Ramadan.
And amid all this, Egyptians have to live amid daily slaughter by their own shabby infrastructure.
Alaa al-Aswani wrote eloquently in the Cairo paper Al-Dastour that the regime's "martyrs" outnumber all the dead of Egypt's wars against Israel - victims of railway accidents, ferry sinkings, the collapse of city buildings, sickness, cancers and pesticide poisonings - all victims, as Aswani says, "of the corruption and abuse of power".
Opening the Rafah border-crossing for wounded Palestinians - the Palestinian medical staff being pushed back into their Gaza prison once the bloodied survivors of air raids have been dumped on Egyptian territory - is not going to change the midden in which Egyptians themselves live. Sayed Hassan Nasrallah, the Hizbollah secretary general in Lebanon, felt able to call on Egyptians to "rise in their millions" to open the border with Gaza, but they will not do so.
Ahmed Aboul Gheit, the feeble Egyptian Foreign Minister, could only taunt the Hizbollah leaders by accusing them of trying to provoke "an anarchy similar to the one they created in their own country."
But he is well-protected. So is President Mubarak.
Egypt's malaise is in many ways as dark as that of the Palestinians. Its impotence in the face of Gaza's suffering is a symbol of its own political sickness.
(The tripoli Post)
OPINI: THE TRIPOLI POST
Opinion:Israel is No Friend of Obama
By Akbar Muhammad
08/01/2009
Why should the Israelis expect any sane and rational human being to believe that their barbaric attack on Gaza and the indiscriminate slaughter of defenseless and helpless civilians including men, women, the elderly, and children can be justified? Why have not the Israelis wait until a new president is about to take office on a platform of change? It has been reported over and over again that Israelis have planned this attack for over one year. Did they plan it in order to make sure that the number one issue that Barack had to deal with is the problem of Israel and the Palestinians? Again, why did they plan the attack in the middle of the western world's celebration of their Christmas and New Year holidays?
It is obvious to all who are looking that the Zionist entity wants to be center stage regardless of circumstances. Israel wants to see if they can play the new president like they played Bush for the last eight years.
In President Bush's radio show on Saturday January 3, he tried to justify, in words, Israel's attack on the Palestinians in Gaza. Gaza is an area of 150 square miles and home to a population of 1.5 million. It is the most densely populated area in the world as the Palestinian people were forced into this small area in 1948 when Israel usurped their land.
President-elect Barack Obama has been quiet on this issue because he knows that this is the most highly explosive challenge that he will face as soon as he steps foot in the White House. The question is; why didn't the Israelis give Barack Obama the chance to implement a new policy that may bring about a lasting peace.
Barack Obama is very knowledgeable and has fresh ideas of how to move the peace process and has behind him the history of the mistakes of the presidents who came before him. Israel, not knowing what direction he may be headed, has already put him in an awkward position before he walks into the White House.
President Bush has shown complete weakness in the face of the Israelis savage slaughter of the Palestinian people. Pat Buchanan asked the right question in one of his articles: should the Israelis have this much control over American foreign policy toward the Middle East?
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said when she emerged from the White House to speak to the press, "we would like to see a cease-fire, but a cease-fire that is durable and sustainable." Is she saying that the Israelis should keep killing until we have a durable and sustainable cease-fire? The Israelis can look at this as a green light to continue their slaughter.
How can Barack Obama not hear the world that has said loud and clear that the savage and barbaric attack against the people of Gaza is immoral and not keeping with civilized behavior even in warfare. What justifies the massacre of an entire family, including nine children, just to kill one man?
Barack has to ask, are these Israelis who commit these crimes his friends, as they claim? During the presidential campaign, President-elect Barack Obama said that he would convene a conference of Muslim leaders from around the world within his first year in office and it was later reported that he would make a speech from a Muslim capital within the first 100 days. Is this attack on Gaza a plot by the Israelis to thaw these plans? It would be almost impossible now, with the current atmosphere, to carry this out because the world is not only upset with the Israelis but they are upset with the United States government that supplies them with money and weapons to carry out their carnage against the Palestinian people. Now that the Israelis are for the last eight days have started a ground offensive, where will this slaughter go?
President-elect Barack Obama is now put in a position to see if he can make changes we believe in. One change must be the foreign policy vis-à-vis the Palestinians and the Israelis. He must have the strength and courage to make a mid-course correction that will stop the Israelis from having an inordinate amount of influence and control when it comes to American foreign policy toward the Middle East. They are testing whether Barack Obama has the strength to stand up and refuse to say "we back Israel right or wrong."
A 'friend' would never do that to his benefactor. Israel is no friend to Barack Obama. No friend to the American people! Some political analysts believe that Israeli arrogance and disrespect to human life show without any doubt that Israel is an enemy of Israel.
About The Author
To make comments or contact Akbar Muhammad you may email him at Africandtheworld@msn.com
(The Tripoli Post)
By Akbar Muhammad
08/01/2009
Why should the Israelis expect any sane and rational human being to believe that their barbaric attack on Gaza and the indiscriminate slaughter of defenseless and helpless civilians including men, women, the elderly, and children can be justified? Why have not the Israelis wait until a new president is about to take office on a platform of change? It has been reported over and over again that Israelis have planned this attack for over one year. Did they plan it in order to make sure that the number one issue that Barack had to deal with is the problem of Israel and the Palestinians? Again, why did they plan the attack in the middle of the western world's celebration of their Christmas and New Year holidays?
It is obvious to all who are looking that the Zionist entity wants to be center stage regardless of circumstances. Israel wants to see if they can play the new president like they played Bush for the last eight years.
In President Bush's radio show on Saturday January 3, he tried to justify, in words, Israel's attack on the Palestinians in Gaza. Gaza is an area of 150 square miles and home to a population of 1.5 million. It is the most densely populated area in the world as the Palestinian people were forced into this small area in 1948 when Israel usurped their land.
President-elect Barack Obama has been quiet on this issue because he knows that this is the most highly explosive challenge that he will face as soon as he steps foot in the White House. The question is; why didn't the Israelis give Barack Obama the chance to implement a new policy that may bring about a lasting peace.
Barack Obama is very knowledgeable and has fresh ideas of how to move the peace process and has behind him the history of the mistakes of the presidents who came before him. Israel, not knowing what direction he may be headed, has already put him in an awkward position before he walks into the White House.
President Bush has shown complete weakness in the face of the Israelis savage slaughter of the Palestinian people. Pat Buchanan asked the right question in one of his articles: should the Israelis have this much control over American foreign policy toward the Middle East?
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said when she emerged from the White House to speak to the press, "we would like to see a cease-fire, but a cease-fire that is durable and sustainable." Is she saying that the Israelis should keep killing until we have a durable and sustainable cease-fire? The Israelis can look at this as a green light to continue their slaughter.
How can Barack Obama not hear the world that has said loud and clear that the savage and barbaric attack against the people of Gaza is immoral and not keeping with civilized behavior even in warfare. What justifies the massacre of an entire family, including nine children, just to kill one man?
Barack has to ask, are these Israelis who commit these crimes his friends, as they claim? During the presidential campaign, President-elect Barack Obama said that he would convene a conference of Muslim leaders from around the world within his first year in office and it was later reported that he would make a speech from a Muslim capital within the first 100 days. Is this attack on Gaza a plot by the Israelis to thaw these plans? It would be almost impossible now, with the current atmosphere, to carry this out because the world is not only upset with the Israelis but they are upset with the United States government that supplies them with money and weapons to carry out their carnage against the Palestinian people. Now that the Israelis are for the last eight days have started a ground offensive, where will this slaughter go?
President-elect Barack Obama is now put in a position to see if he can make changes we believe in. One change must be the foreign policy vis-à-vis the Palestinians and the Israelis. He must have the strength and courage to make a mid-course correction that will stop the Israelis from having an inordinate amount of influence and control when it comes to American foreign policy toward the Middle East. They are testing whether Barack Obama has the strength to stand up and refuse to say "we back Israel right or wrong."
A 'friend' would never do that to his benefactor. Israel is no friend to Barack Obama. No friend to the American people! Some political analysts believe that Israeli arrogance and disrespect to human life show without any doubt that Israel is an enemy of Israel.
About The Author
To make comments or contact Akbar Muhammad you may email him at Africandtheworld@msn.com
(The Tripoli Post)
PERNYATAAN PM TURKI ATAS SERANGAN ISRAEL KE JALUR GAZA
Turkey PM Defends His Condemnation of Israel, Says His Words Not Tougher than Phosphorus Bombs Used by Israel Against Children
16/01/2009
The Prime Minister of Turkey Tayyip Erdogan defended his outspoken criticism of Israel's Gaza offensive and said it did not mean he was anti-Semitic.
Erdogan has described Israel's military offensive against Gaza as "a crime against humanity" and defended those remarks on Tuesday in a speech to his ruling AK Party in parliament, broadcast live on television in Turkey.
"There are people who are disturbed by me speaking of my discomfort over the killing of civilians, (including) children. . . If we do not state what is just and lawful, then we will lose our self-respect," he said.
"I am (also) a leader who has said that anti-Semitism is a crime against humanity," he said.
Human Rights Watch has accused Israel of using white-phosphorus munitions during its offensive. The Israeli army has said it will not give details of its munitions.
"There are people who say that the prime minister's statements are too tough (on Israel), but my words are not tougher than phosphorus bombs," Erdogan said.
Erdogan said Israeli media were spreading false information about the Gaza offensive.
"Excuses are found for mass killings of children at schools, hospitals and mosques, especially by Jewish-backed media," he said. "News stories saying that terrorists hide among children or (describing bombings) as technical errors or accidents are aimed at making fun of the world (public opinion)."
Erdogan on Tuesday visited 10 Palestinians evacuated to Turkey after being injured in the Israeli offensive on Gaza.
Speaking outside a private hospital in Ankara afterwards, Erdogan said Turkey was ready to treat more Palestinians if needed.
The ten Palestinians and accompanying relatives arrived earlier on Tuesday at Ankara's Esenboga airport by an ambulance plane which took off from Egypt, the Anadolu news agency reported.
They were treated on board by Turkish doctors and were transferred to a private hospital on arrival.
More than 1100 Palestinians have been killed including 400 children and over 5200 others wounded since the launch of the Israeli raid on Gaza on December 27, 2008.
(The Tripoli Post)
16/01/2009
The Prime Minister of Turkey Tayyip Erdogan defended his outspoken criticism of Israel's Gaza offensive and said it did not mean he was anti-Semitic.
Erdogan has described Israel's military offensive against Gaza as "a crime against humanity" and defended those remarks on Tuesday in a speech to his ruling AK Party in parliament, broadcast live on television in Turkey.
"There are people who are disturbed by me speaking of my discomfort over the killing of civilians, (including) children. . . If we do not state what is just and lawful, then we will lose our self-respect," he said.
"I am (also) a leader who has said that anti-Semitism is a crime against humanity," he said.
Human Rights Watch has accused Israel of using white-phosphorus munitions during its offensive. The Israeli army has said it will not give details of its munitions.
"There are people who say that the prime minister's statements are too tough (on Israel), but my words are not tougher than phosphorus bombs," Erdogan said.
Erdogan said Israeli media were spreading false information about the Gaza offensive.
"Excuses are found for mass killings of children at schools, hospitals and mosques, especially by Jewish-backed media," he said. "News stories saying that terrorists hide among children or (describing bombings) as technical errors or accidents are aimed at making fun of the world (public opinion)."
Erdogan on Tuesday visited 10 Palestinians evacuated to Turkey after being injured in the Israeli offensive on Gaza.
Speaking outside a private hospital in Ankara afterwards, Erdogan said Turkey was ready to treat more Palestinians if needed.
The ten Palestinians and accompanying relatives arrived earlier on Tuesday at Ankara's Esenboga airport by an ambulance plane which took off from Egypt, the Anadolu news agency reported.
They were treated on board by Turkish doctors and were transferred to a private hospital on arrival.
More than 1100 Palestinians have been killed including 400 children and over 5200 others wounded since the launch of the Israeli raid on Gaza on December 27, 2008.
(The Tripoli Post)
PEMBANTAIAN ISRAEL TERHADAP WARGA SIPIL PALESTINA DI JALUR GAZA
Coward Israeli Army Keeps on Massacring Gaza Children, Killing 1085 Wounding Over 5000
16/01/2009 (hari ke-21)
Hamas Remains Defiant, Promising Victory over Zionist Terrorists
The coward Israeli military has continued to massacre Palestinian civilians in Gaza Strip for 22 days now killing hundreds of children, women and the elderly.
During the three-week aggression on Gaza, the Israeli military has failed to win against the Palestinian resistance which, despite its lack of weapons, lack of air defenses against US-made F-16s was able to stop the Israelis from reaching their declared goals.
The Israeli terrorist army has killed so far more than 1100 people including 370 children, 100 women and 120 elders. This is in addition to over 5000 people wounded including 450 seriously which indicates that the death toll will be rising.
Israeli jets targeted the northern town of Jebaliya early Thursday, dropping white phosphorous bombs on the residents, a Press TV corresponded reported.
White phosphorus, classified as a 'chemical weapon' by the US intelligence, is an incendiary material that causes horrific burns, severe injuries or death when it comes in contact with skin.
Israeli strikes set UN and media buildings and a hospital ablaze Thursday as tanks rolled deep into Gaza City.
Hundreds of terrified civilians, many gripping wailing children, fled the advancing Israeli troops inside Gaza's main city as warplanes pounded the impoverished Hamas-ruled enclave in a bid to stem Palestinian rocket fire.
Despite the fierce offensive, Hamas remained in control of the cities and succeeded to stop all incursions for that matter. Hamas also continued to launch projectiles Thursday, sending 30 more missiles including two long-range Grad missiles crashing into the southern Israeli city of Beersheva and wounding five people.
Shortly after United Nations chief Ban Ki-moon arrived in Israel, a shell hit the main UN compound in Gaza, wounding three employees, setting fire to a warehouse filled with tonnes of aid and leading the UNRWA agency to partly suspend operations.
An UNRWA spokesman said tens of millions of dollars worth of humanitarian aid had been destroyed in the blaze and the attack was condemned by British Prime Minister Gordon Brown and a European Union commissioner.
Ban said he had conveyed his "strong protest and outrage" and demanded an explanation in talks with Israeli officials as part of a regional truce tour.
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said that Israeli troops had shelled the compound in Gaza in response to fire coming from the building.
UNRWA spokesman Chris Gunness denied the claim."There were no militants or militant activity in our compound," he said.
In southwestern Gaza, an Israeli strike hit the Al-Quds Hospital in the Tal al-Hawa neighbourhood, where dozens of Israeli tanks rumbled into the streets after dawn, sparking fierce clashes with Palestinian gunmen.
A French doctor said staff and patients at the hospital were trapped by Israeli fire in the neighbourhood and part of the building was destroyed.
"The Israelis are bombing and attacking all around the hospital. We can't get out. There's fire, and we're trapped inside. The water has been cut off," Regis Garrigue told AFP by telephone from the building.
The International Committee of the Red Cross said about 100 patients and medical staff were put at risk when the hospital suffered a "direct hit."
An Israeli raid also hit a building housing several media outlets in central Gaza City, wounding two cameramen.
In all, at least over fifty people were killed in Gaza on Thursday, medics said, but the exact number of casualties was likely to be much higher as the ongoing clashes blocked ambulances from reaching the wounded.
Israel launched its aggression on 27 December with aim purpose to stop these missiles fired by Hamas and other Palestinian resistance groups in Gaza.
(The tripoli Post)
16/01/2009 (hari ke-21)
Hamas Remains Defiant, Promising Victory over Zionist Terrorists
The coward Israeli military has continued to massacre Palestinian civilians in Gaza Strip for 22 days now killing hundreds of children, women and the elderly.
During the three-week aggression on Gaza, the Israeli military has failed to win against the Palestinian resistance which, despite its lack of weapons, lack of air defenses against US-made F-16s was able to stop the Israelis from reaching their declared goals.
The Israeli terrorist army has killed so far more than 1100 people including 370 children, 100 women and 120 elders. This is in addition to over 5000 people wounded including 450 seriously which indicates that the death toll will be rising.
Israeli jets targeted the northern town of Jebaliya early Thursday, dropping white phosphorous bombs on the residents, a Press TV corresponded reported.
White phosphorus, classified as a 'chemical weapon' by the US intelligence, is an incendiary material that causes horrific burns, severe injuries or death when it comes in contact with skin.
Israeli strikes set UN and media buildings and a hospital ablaze Thursday as tanks rolled deep into Gaza City.
Hundreds of terrified civilians, many gripping wailing children, fled the advancing Israeli troops inside Gaza's main city as warplanes pounded the impoverished Hamas-ruled enclave in a bid to stem Palestinian rocket fire.
Despite the fierce offensive, Hamas remained in control of the cities and succeeded to stop all incursions for that matter. Hamas also continued to launch projectiles Thursday, sending 30 more missiles including two long-range Grad missiles crashing into the southern Israeli city of Beersheva and wounding five people.
Shortly after United Nations chief Ban Ki-moon arrived in Israel, a shell hit the main UN compound in Gaza, wounding three employees, setting fire to a warehouse filled with tonnes of aid and leading the UNRWA agency to partly suspend operations.
An UNRWA spokesman said tens of millions of dollars worth of humanitarian aid had been destroyed in the blaze and the attack was condemned by British Prime Minister Gordon Brown and a European Union commissioner.
Ban said he had conveyed his "strong protest and outrage" and demanded an explanation in talks with Israeli officials as part of a regional truce tour.
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said that Israeli troops had shelled the compound in Gaza in response to fire coming from the building.
UNRWA spokesman Chris Gunness denied the claim."There were no militants or militant activity in our compound," he said.
In southwestern Gaza, an Israeli strike hit the Al-Quds Hospital in the Tal al-Hawa neighbourhood, where dozens of Israeli tanks rumbled into the streets after dawn, sparking fierce clashes with Palestinian gunmen.
A French doctor said staff and patients at the hospital were trapped by Israeli fire in the neighbourhood and part of the building was destroyed.
"The Israelis are bombing and attacking all around the hospital. We can't get out. There's fire, and we're trapped inside. The water has been cut off," Regis Garrigue told AFP by telephone from the building.
The International Committee of the Red Cross said about 100 patients and medical staff were put at risk when the hospital suffered a "direct hit."
An Israeli raid also hit a building housing several media outlets in central Gaza City, wounding two cameramen.
In all, at least over fifty people were killed in Gaza on Thursday, medics said, but the exact number of casualties was likely to be much higher as the ongoing clashes blocked ambulances from reaching the wounded.
Israel launched its aggression on 27 December with aim purpose to stop these missiles fired by Hamas and other Palestinian resistance groups in Gaza.
(The tripoli Post)
PERALATAN KUNA ARAB LIBYA
Disappearing Tools, Vanishing Vocabulary: The Kitchen
09/08/2008
From early hearths to today’s appliance-equipped wonderlands, kitchens have always been at the heart of any home. However, before blenders and supermarkets, and before kitchens were equipped with microwaves and refrigerators, food preparation was a time-consuming process, requiring tools that today are unlikely to be seen outside of a museum.
The rha or mill, for example, is something not often seen these days, although one feature of the rha has lingered on tenaciously in some places in the form of songs and chants originally sung by women while working the mill.
One intriguing aspect of these songs is the relationship between the rhythm of the song, the mood of the singer, and what she wants to produce. Fast energetic songs are generally happy, and are sung while making crushed wheat for example, while slower, sad songs were sung while grinding rice-flour which would be used to make mahalabia (a milk pudding) and baby food, among other things.
While spices would be ground in a much smaller mill, the rha could be so big that it would take two women to work it, each swinging the wooden handle a half-circle, before handing it over to the other.
Another one-time essential part of any Libyan household was the shakwa, which is typically made out of a whole lambskin, which is cleaned, cured and then rubbed and disinfected once a month with salt and juniper.
The shakwa is used to churn milk to butter by shaking it from side to side with the help of a rope. Part of the butter produced in this way would then set aside for use, while the rest of it was stored in the soufa, where it is left to clarify and turn into samn or ghee.
The soufa, like the shakwa, is also made out of whole lambskin, however with the soufa the lamb’s wool is left intact. This explains the soufa’s name, which comes from the word souf or wool.
The soufa and shakwa can still be found and are still used in some parts of Libya today, however they are nowhere near as common as the ubiquitous gufa, a large basket that has long been used for a vast variety of purposes, and is still widely used throughout the country.
On the other hand, while tanur bread is still made, these days it is more likely to be baked inside an ordinary oven than in the traditional way, using the clay oven or the tanur.
The tanur is made up of clay hoops which are fixed on top of each other to form a cylinder about 1 meter in diameter, and the dough is then placed against the inside of the tanur, which is heated to a degree that bakes the bread.
These types of ovens have been made out of metal and other materials that have the advantage of being much easier to move than the very heavy clay ovens.
However, it is said the bread baked in the metal tanur does not have distinctive taste of original tanur bread, and so as with so many other things that have made food preparation easier, more practical, and less time-consuming its advantages are not without drawbacks.
SONDOS ELGATIT
(The tripoli Post)
09/08/2008
From early hearths to today’s appliance-equipped wonderlands, kitchens have always been at the heart of any home. However, before blenders and supermarkets, and before kitchens were equipped with microwaves and refrigerators, food preparation was a time-consuming process, requiring tools that today are unlikely to be seen outside of a museum.
The rha or mill, for example, is something not often seen these days, although one feature of the rha has lingered on tenaciously in some places in the form of songs and chants originally sung by women while working the mill.
One intriguing aspect of these songs is the relationship between the rhythm of the song, the mood of the singer, and what she wants to produce. Fast energetic songs are generally happy, and are sung while making crushed wheat for example, while slower, sad songs were sung while grinding rice-flour which would be used to make mahalabia (a milk pudding) and baby food, among other things.
While spices would be ground in a much smaller mill, the rha could be so big that it would take two women to work it, each swinging the wooden handle a half-circle, before handing it over to the other.
Another one-time essential part of any Libyan household was the shakwa, which is typically made out of a whole lambskin, which is cleaned, cured and then rubbed and disinfected once a month with salt and juniper.
The shakwa is used to churn milk to butter by shaking it from side to side with the help of a rope. Part of the butter produced in this way would then set aside for use, while the rest of it was stored in the soufa, where it is left to clarify and turn into samn or ghee.
The soufa, like the shakwa, is also made out of whole lambskin, however with the soufa the lamb’s wool is left intact. This explains the soufa’s name, which comes from the word souf or wool.
The soufa and shakwa can still be found and are still used in some parts of Libya today, however they are nowhere near as common as the ubiquitous gufa, a large basket that has long been used for a vast variety of purposes, and is still widely used throughout the country.
On the other hand, while tanur bread is still made, these days it is more likely to be baked inside an ordinary oven than in the traditional way, using the clay oven or the tanur.
The tanur is made up of clay hoops which are fixed on top of each other to form a cylinder about 1 meter in diameter, and the dough is then placed against the inside of the tanur, which is heated to a degree that bakes the bread.
These types of ovens have been made out of metal and other materials that have the advantage of being much easier to move than the very heavy clay ovens.
However, it is said the bread baked in the metal tanur does not have distinctive taste of original tanur bread, and so as with so many other things that have made food preparation easier, more practical, and less time-consuming its advantages are not without drawbacks.
SONDOS ELGATIT
(The tripoli Post)
PEMELIHARAAN SITUS ARKEOLOGIS LIBYA
Archaeologist: Libyans Should Make More Effort to Preserve Their Archaeological Wealth
04/05/2008 01:19:00
There is an urgent need to protect Libya's world-class heritage assets by supporting the rapid expansion of the Department of Antiquities, with new resources and manpower to become a more effective custodian and curator of Libyan heritage, the chairman of the Society for Libyan Studies of London and Director of Canterbury Archaeological Trust, Dr. Paul Bennet told a large audience who listened attentively to his lecture on Thursday 24 April which took place at the Academy of Graduate Studies.
"Libya's archaeological heritage is a long term asset and it has the potential to create long term revenue and above all provide meaningful employment to the Libya's burgeoning youth," he added.
"I am here to support the antiquity department at its very difficult time, at a time when it is growing from a point of standstill. Libya has got a fantastic archaeological heritage and therefore it is certainly worth preserving." explained Dr. Bennets to his attentive audience.
Dr. Bennet also made a special appeal to members of the society to be made custodians of their own resources so that they can help in the preservation of the Libya's rich archaeology which is currently under threat from the ongoing economic development that is taking place in the country.
"Much as Libya is experiencing growth in terms of its infrastructure, but we have to adjust to the way we develop and make sure that our development doesn't have a major impact to this wonderful archaeological resource," appealed Dr. Bennet.
Dr. Bennet is a professional archaeologist and a part-time lecturer at the University of Kent who has been working in Libya on a voluntary basis since 1972. For the last nine years he has, with Professor Andrew Wilson of Oxford University and Ahmed Buzaian of the University of Garyounis, Benghazi, been working on the site of Euesperides, the first Benghazi, founded in c.600 BC.
The heritage sites of Libya are precious assets for the nation that have huge potential to provide foreign revenue and long-term, fulfilling jobs for Libya's young graduates and workers. Libya's archaeological heritage is therefore worth preserving.
The presentation was made in support of Libya's archaeological heritage on behalf of Dr. Bennet's friends and colleagues in the Department of Antiquities of Libya.
The lecture was organized in partnership between the British Council and Shell.
It was attended by various invited guests, including diplomats, oil company workers, academicians, environmentalists, students and journalists.
(The Tripoli Post)
04/05/2008 01:19:00
There is an urgent need to protect Libya's world-class heritage assets by supporting the rapid expansion of the Department of Antiquities, with new resources and manpower to become a more effective custodian and curator of Libyan heritage, the chairman of the Society for Libyan Studies of London and Director of Canterbury Archaeological Trust, Dr. Paul Bennet told a large audience who listened attentively to his lecture on Thursday 24 April which took place at the Academy of Graduate Studies.
"Libya's archaeological heritage is a long term asset and it has the potential to create long term revenue and above all provide meaningful employment to the Libya's burgeoning youth," he added.
"I am here to support the antiquity department at its very difficult time, at a time when it is growing from a point of standstill. Libya has got a fantastic archaeological heritage and therefore it is certainly worth preserving." explained Dr. Bennets to his attentive audience.
Dr. Bennet also made a special appeal to members of the society to be made custodians of their own resources so that they can help in the preservation of the Libya's rich archaeology which is currently under threat from the ongoing economic development that is taking place in the country.
"Much as Libya is experiencing growth in terms of its infrastructure, but we have to adjust to the way we develop and make sure that our development doesn't have a major impact to this wonderful archaeological resource," appealed Dr. Bennet.
Dr. Bennet is a professional archaeologist and a part-time lecturer at the University of Kent who has been working in Libya on a voluntary basis since 1972. For the last nine years he has, with Professor Andrew Wilson of Oxford University and Ahmed Buzaian of the University of Garyounis, Benghazi, been working on the site of Euesperides, the first Benghazi, founded in c.600 BC.
The heritage sites of Libya are precious assets for the nation that have huge potential to provide foreign revenue and long-term, fulfilling jobs for Libya's young graduates and workers. Libya's archaeological heritage is therefore worth preserving.
The presentation was made in support of Libya's archaeological heritage on behalf of Dr. Bennet's friends and colleagues in the Department of Antiquities of Libya.
The lecture was organized in partnership between the British Council and Shell.
It was attended by various invited guests, including diplomats, oil company workers, academicians, environmentalists, students and journalists.
(The Tripoli Post)
PETUALANGAN GURUN PASIR AKAKUS,
Gateway Journey to the Wonders of the Desert of Akakus
03/11/2007
One of the important aspects of any organised trip is that it reassures the traveler from the outset and that it embeds everlasting memories to treasure for life. From the moment we alighted down the steps of the Bouraq Air flight to Sebha and met our friends at the start of our four-day 1265km desert trip, we knew that our Gateway journey to the wonders of the Desert of Akakus was going to be an unforgettable experience.
Hamed, our Tourag Guide, and Ali, our driver, put us at ease from the outset with their courteous efficiency and warm welcome. As it was too late for us to travel south that evening we headed off to our first overnight stop in Sebha.
After a most enjoyable, relaxing evening at the Al Gebel Hotel on the edge of a cliff we embarked on the desert expedition by heading to the Germa Museum some 170km south of Sebha, traveling through picturesque and history-laden villages such as Abjad, Bil-Haret, il- Hamra, Barzuz, Bint Bayya (Princess's Daughter).
Towns with enchanting names emerge from the desert and fade in the mirror as our vehicles continued south for 170 pleasant kilometers, passing romantically named villages such as Tinahama, Ghar Geba (The neck in English), El Garaja (Reading of the Koran), El Fjieg, Tikkariba, El Kharajk and finally the last two outposts of Twiwa and El Fahhaha before eventually arriving at the little museum at Germa.
From Germa we proceeded west towards Ubari and Sedeles, before returning to Twiwa for lunch at the Ubari Magic Libya camp.
We left Awinat passing through Zinkekra – Grefa – El Hatija and arrived at the Ubari centre, over 200 km from Sebha. Ubari has an early 19th century mosque sometimes referred to as the Tourag Mosque. Then we were off to Sedeles going through Tixwinet a village just before Awinat. Sedeles, which is the northernmost point of the range, is jumping off point for the Jabal Akakus.
We then crossed to Akakus area and got off the main road into a sand path that led to the Akakus Magic Libya Camp. After a cold fresh orange juice that quenched our thirst we were shown to our tents. Later in the evening we had a great dinner.
Early the next morning I was lucky enough to witness the magnificent sunrise coming out from behind the rocks of Akakus. It was most impressive and gave us a brilliant start for the day ahead of us, our much awaited tour of Akakus with our Guide and river Ali both dressed as Tourags. It really made us feel that we were now part of the Desert.
In order to reach the Akakus sites we were driven on sandy wadi beds through canyons. One could see the landscape opens up to the present wide vistas of jogged mountains gnawed by the wind and sun. The predominant colours are blue, gold and shades of plum black. Centuries of sandblasting have darkened the cliff faces.
Despite all the desolation, the sites are easily accessible by a four-wheel vehicle, necessitating a short scramble to reach the cliff shelter where the Prehistoric paintings have wondrously survived.
As our guide Hamed proudly described to us, we were then truly in the 'Heart of Akakus'
A short but an adequate visit to the main sites of the Jabal Akakus, using a four-wheel drive vehicle requires at least 5 days.
While admiring this most spectacular site and scenery near one of the dry lakes, at Tihadin we came across a Tourag Family. Under the watchful eye of their mother, two very young boys aged between three and four rushed out of a house made of straw, chasing each other happily and playing in the clean unpolluted air. Believe me, it could take your breath away!!!
The kids’ father was away trying to get what he co-uld for his lovely family by selling goats, and receiving handouts by passing tourists.
We came across many different desert plants, particularly the very popular Fahhaha. According to Hamed, if one had to thread on this poisonous plant he would have a salty taste for at least three days; if a camel had to bite at this plant - it would die!!! We also came across lovely flying coloured birds, camels, snakes and many others animal spices.
Then we made out way to the cave paintings. The prehistoric rock paintings and carvings of the Jebel Akakus are the big draw of Southwestern Libya. They located in a spectacularly beautiful area.
The Akakus chain of mountains runs north south for 250km, starting from the area just west of Sedeles and finishing down at the Takkark-houri. Geologically these mountains are a continuation of the Tassil-n-Ajjer in neighbouring Algeria. The formation of the Akakus rocks is fantastic and beyond explaining.
On our trip we also came across several dry lakes that from a distance would give the impression they are actually full of fresh water. But it is all an illusion. When you get nearer you could see that they are completely dry.
Although often faded, the rock paintings of the Akakus provide a unique record of life in the Sahara thousands of years ago - some 3000 years. There are paintings of both animals and humans. They range from lively hunting scenes, with beasts in full flight, to stylised representations of human figures, some with little matchstick heads and others with disproportionate round heads.
Some of the scenes are clearly narrative, depicting worship and celebration on a battle. Unfortunately, even after several decades of research, it seems impossible to date the rock paintings with any degree of precision, as is also the case with paintings.
Besides the paintings and carvings, the Akakus region also has other fragile evidence of human settlement. All the painting material was naturally manufactured. Our guide explained that coloured rock would be reduced to powder generally red, more rarely white occasional black or green mixed with Ostrich egg albumen or milk and applied to the rock face.
Akakus’ rock art has made the region very popular.
On our trip we also visited Awls on entering the valley of Til Wawwet. One can witness the different caves with different paintings, this time showing the hunting era. Paintings of humans with Circular Heads, Square Heads and 'Triangle Heads with different Touarag face features from different tribes.
We came to the end of our trip by entered the valley of Adad, which means a Thumb. Then we returned to Sebha Airport, but not before again stopping for lunch at the Ubari Magic Libya Camp that was complimented by a wonderful tasty lunch followed by fresh fruit and cold drinks!
Hamed and Ali did everything in their power to make our visit to the Akakus a memorable trip. They succeeded. What more could one wish for in 40 degrees temperature as we admired nature and its beauty?
Special thanks go to the Magic Libya team particularly Chantal – Mustafa and Eid. Magic Libya has made it happen again for us. I would recommend them to anybody wanting to visit the Desert after this successful trip during which we covered 1265km in four days.
Just before leaving for Sebha Airport, I managed to photograph the most beautiful sunset that I have ever witnessed in my whole life. I will always treasure this photo that will remind us of this unforgettable Gateway journey to the wonders of the Desert of Akakus.
TTONY TABONE
(Executive Chief Concierge at Tripoli's Corinthia Bab Africa Hotel)
(The Tripoli Psot)
03/11/2007
One of the important aspects of any organised trip is that it reassures the traveler from the outset and that it embeds everlasting memories to treasure for life. From the moment we alighted down the steps of the Bouraq Air flight to Sebha and met our friends at the start of our four-day 1265km desert trip, we knew that our Gateway journey to the wonders of the Desert of Akakus was going to be an unforgettable experience.
Hamed, our Tourag Guide, and Ali, our driver, put us at ease from the outset with their courteous efficiency and warm welcome. As it was too late for us to travel south that evening we headed off to our first overnight stop in Sebha.
After a most enjoyable, relaxing evening at the Al Gebel Hotel on the edge of a cliff we embarked on the desert expedition by heading to the Germa Museum some 170km south of Sebha, traveling through picturesque and history-laden villages such as Abjad, Bil-Haret, il- Hamra, Barzuz, Bint Bayya (Princess's Daughter).
Towns with enchanting names emerge from the desert and fade in the mirror as our vehicles continued south for 170 pleasant kilometers, passing romantically named villages such as Tinahama, Ghar Geba (The neck in English), El Garaja (Reading of the Koran), El Fjieg, Tikkariba, El Kharajk and finally the last two outposts of Twiwa and El Fahhaha before eventually arriving at the little museum at Germa.
From Germa we proceeded west towards Ubari and Sedeles, before returning to Twiwa for lunch at the Ubari Magic Libya camp.
We left Awinat passing through Zinkekra – Grefa – El Hatija and arrived at the Ubari centre, over 200 km from Sebha. Ubari has an early 19th century mosque sometimes referred to as the Tourag Mosque. Then we were off to Sedeles going through Tixwinet a village just before Awinat. Sedeles, which is the northernmost point of the range, is jumping off point for the Jabal Akakus.
We then crossed to Akakus area and got off the main road into a sand path that led to the Akakus Magic Libya Camp. After a cold fresh orange juice that quenched our thirst we were shown to our tents. Later in the evening we had a great dinner.
Early the next morning I was lucky enough to witness the magnificent sunrise coming out from behind the rocks of Akakus. It was most impressive and gave us a brilliant start for the day ahead of us, our much awaited tour of Akakus with our Guide and river Ali both dressed as Tourags. It really made us feel that we were now part of the Desert.
In order to reach the Akakus sites we were driven on sandy wadi beds through canyons. One could see the landscape opens up to the present wide vistas of jogged mountains gnawed by the wind and sun. The predominant colours are blue, gold and shades of plum black. Centuries of sandblasting have darkened the cliff faces.
Despite all the desolation, the sites are easily accessible by a four-wheel vehicle, necessitating a short scramble to reach the cliff shelter where the Prehistoric paintings have wondrously survived.
As our guide Hamed proudly described to us, we were then truly in the 'Heart of Akakus'
A short but an adequate visit to the main sites of the Jabal Akakus, using a four-wheel drive vehicle requires at least 5 days.
While admiring this most spectacular site and scenery near one of the dry lakes, at Tihadin we came across a Tourag Family. Under the watchful eye of their mother, two very young boys aged between three and four rushed out of a house made of straw, chasing each other happily and playing in the clean unpolluted air. Believe me, it could take your breath away!!!
The kids’ father was away trying to get what he co-uld for his lovely family by selling goats, and receiving handouts by passing tourists.
We came across many different desert plants, particularly the very popular Fahhaha. According to Hamed, if one had to thread on this poisonous plant he would have a salty taste for at least three days; if a camel had to bite at this plant - it would die!!! We also came across lovely flying coloured birds, camels, snakes and many others animal spices.
Then we made out way to the cave paintings. The prehistoric rock paintings and carvings of the Jebel Akakus are the big draw of Southwestern Libya. They located in a spectacularly beautiful area.
The Akakus chain of mountains runs north south for 250km, starting from the area just west of Sedeles and finishing down at the Takkark-houri. Geologically these mountains are a continuation of the Tassil-n-Ajjer in neighbouring Algeria. The formation of the Akakus rocks is fantastic and beyond explaining.
On our trip we also came across several dry lakes that from a distance would give the impression they are actually full of fresh water. But it is all an illusion. When you get nearer you could see that they are completely dry.
Although often faded, the rock paintings of the Akakus provide a unique record of life in the Sahara thousands of years ago - some 3000 years. There are paintings of both animals and humans. They range from lively hunting scenes, with beasts in full flight, to stylised representations of human figures, some with little matchstick heads and others with disproportionate round heads.
Some of the scenes are clearly narrative, depicting worship and celebration on a battle. Unfortunately, even after several decades of research, it seems impossible to date the rock paintings with any degree of precision, as is also the case with paintings.
Besides the paintings and carvings, the Akakus region also has other fragile evidence of human settlement. All the painting material was naturally manufactured. Our guide explained that coloured rock would be reduced to powder generally red, more rarely white occasional black or green mixed with Ostrich egg albumen or milk and applied to the rock face.
Akakus’ rock art has made the region very popular.
On our trip we also visited Awls on entering the valley of Til Wawwet. One can witness the different caves with different paintings, this time showing the hunting era. Paintings of humans with Circular Heads, Square Heads and 'Triangle Heads with different Touarag face features from different tribes.
We came to the end of our trip by entered the valley of Adad, which means a Thumb. Then we returned to Sebha Airport, but not before again stopping for lunch at the Ubari Magic Libya Camp that was complimented by a wonderful tasty lunch followed by fresh fruit and cold drinks!
Hamed and Ali did everything in their power to make our visit to the Akakus a memorable trip. They succeeded. What more could one wish for in 40 degrees temperature as we admired nature and its beauty?
Special thanks go to the Magic Libya team particularly Chantal – Mustafa and Eid. Magic Libya has made it happen again for us. I would recommend them to anybody wanting to visit the Desert after this successful trip during which we covered 1265km in four days.
Just before leaving for Sebha Airport, I managed to photograph the most beautiful sunset that I have ever witnessed in my whole life. I will always treasure this photo that will remind us of this unforgettable Gateway journey to the wonders of the Desert of Akakus.
TTONY TABONE
(Executive Chief Concierge at Tripoli's Corinthia Bab Africa Hotel)
(The Tripoli Psot)
KESAKSIAN SAMI ZAPTIA TENTANG TRIPOLI, LIBYA
My Tripoli Local is Better than My England Local!
03/06/2007
When I first returned to Tripoli from England in the early 90's I was very disappointed to find that bakeries were still in the 'command economy age'. “Take it or leave it”, seemed to be the motto and 'be grateful for what you get' was the attitude.
But I am now very happy to say - as do most my ex-pat friends – that Tripoli today offers one of the best bakeries in the region. Not only does Libyan bread rival that of our neighbours Malta, Tunisia and Egypt - but in my personal opinion - it’s even better than my local Tesco bakery in England! Yes Libya is better than England!
At rush hours you cannot drive past the best bakeries in Tripoli such as, the one on the main Gurji road next to the old Tripoli College, the one in Za-wiet Al Dihmany and there are two in my locality in Al Hadba Al Khadra, to name a few.
But I must point out and congratulate my local modern bakery called 'Al Forn' (The Oven) in Al Hadba Al Khadra. The variety and range of products it offers are superb. It is, thankfully, no longer just an old style bread factory, but it is a modern-day bakery offering bread, drinks as well as sweet and savory products and ready to eat snacks.
If you need a quick take away snack you can grab a cold drink with your pizzas, bureeks, tuna stuffed horns, brioches, cakes etc etc.
As for the breads, where do I start: flat bread, salt free bread, traditional tanoor bread, paninis, various French sticks, Egyptian/Syrian-type bread, wholemeal, multigrain, oat, wheat, barley breads. Bread mixed with olives, with rosemary, with tomatoes, and the list goes on and on. And all freshly made.
And – as my bakery owner keeps pointing out - unlike at my Tesco, Sainsburys or Asda bakery in England - nice bread does not cost me one pound sterling – or two dinars fifty to you and me – but usually only between 4 and 8 small loafs per a quarter Libyan dinars! Alhamdu lilah (Thank God), we should be grateful.
Equally on a progressive note - and hopefully as a sign of the improving times – I was pleasantly surprised the other month to find that paper bags had replaced plastic bags at the bakery. The owner told me that the authorities had informed them for health reasons to stop using plastic bags for hot bread.
Congratulations to the health/environmental department that is responsible for this decision. It is a good start and there is so so much more to be done in the public safety and consumer protection arena. Well done. And well done to all the bakery owners out there. We appreciate you and please keep it up.
SAMI ZAPTIA
(A graduate of the NES/Monitor Group Leadership Development Program)
(The Tripoli Post)
03/06/2007
When I first returned to Tripoli from England in the early 90's I was very disappointed to find that bakeries were still in the 'command economy age'. “Take it or leave it”, seemed to be the motto and 'be grateful for what you get' was the attitude.
But I am now very happy to say - as do most my ex-pat friends – that Tripoli today offers one of the best bakeries in the region. Not only does Libyan bread rival that of our neighbours Malta, Tunisia and Egypt - but in my personal opinion - it’s even better than my local Tesco bakery in England! Yes Libya is better than England!
At rush hours you cannot drive past the best bakeries in Tripoli such as, the one on the main Gurji road next to the old Tripoli College, the one in Za-wiet Al Dihmany and there are two in my locality in Al Hadba Al Khadra, to name a few.
But I must point out and congratulate my local modern bakery called 'Al Forn' (The Oven) in Al Hadba Al Khadra. The variety and range of products it offers are superb. It is, thankfully, no longer just an old style bread factory, but it is a modern-day bakery offering bread, drinks as well as sweet and savory products and ready to eat snacks.
If you need a quick take away snack you can grab a cold drink with your pizzas, bureeks, tuna stuffed horns, brioches, cakes etc etc.
As for the breads, where do I start: flat bread, salt free bread, traditional tanoor bread, paninis, various French sticks, Egyptian/Syrian-type bread, wholemeal, multigrain, oat, wheat, barley breads. Bread mixed with olives, with rosemary, with tomatoes, and the list goes on and on. And all freshly made.
And – as my bakery owner keeps pointing out - unlike at my Tesco, Sainsburys or Asda bakery in England - nice bread does not cost me one pound sterling – or two dinars fifty to you and me – but usually only between 4 and 8 small loafs per a quarter Libyan dinars! Alhamdu lilah (Thank God), we should be grateful.
Equally on a progressive note - and hopefully as a sign of the improving times – I was pleasantly surprised the other month to find that paper bags had replaced plastic bags at the bakery. The owner told me that the authorities had informed them for health reasons to stop using plastic bags for hot bread.
Congratulations to the health/environmental department that is responsible for this decision. It is a good start and there is so so much more to be done in the public safety and consumer protection arena. Well done. And well done to all the bakery owners out there. We appreciate you and please keep it up.
SAMI ZAPTIA
(A graduate of the NES/Monitor Group Leadership Development Program)
(The Tripoli Post)
GODDES VENUS-LIBYA
Libya to Get Back Its “Goddess Venus” from Italy Taken During Colonial Era
29/04/2007
Italy can return to Libya an ancient statue of Venus taken to Rome during Italian colonial rule in 1913, after a court ruled on Monday it was not part of Italy's cultural heritage.
The headless "Venus of Cyrene" was carried away from the town of Cyrene -- an ancient Greek colony -- by Italian troops and put on display in Rome.
Former prime minister Silvio Berlusconi's promise to return it on a visit to in 2002 was blocked by legal action lodged by a group called "Our Italy," whose aim is to keep Italy's cultural treasures in Italian ownership.
Alessandro Ruffini, lawyer for the Libyan embassy in Rome, told Reuters the Lazio appeals court ruling that Italy did not have an historic claim to the statue was "well grounded."
The 2nd century statue of the goddess Venus is now housed in Rome's National Roman Museum.
The headless marble figure of the goddess of love is a copy of a Greek statue that has never been found, said Silvana Rizzo, an archaeologist at the ministry.
Libyan authorities requested the statue in 1989, but a protracted judicial battle ensued with a group that considered the work part of Italy's cultural heritage.
Last week, a court ruled in favor of returning the statue to Tripoli, the ministry said in a statement. No date has been set for the return.
In 2005, Rome returned to Ethiopia the 1,700-year-old Axum obelisk taken in 1937 on the orders of fascist dictator Benito Mussolini.
(The Tripoli Post)
29/04/2007
Italy can return to Libya an ancient statue of Venus taken to Rome during Italian colonial rule in 1913, after a court ruled on Monday it was not part of Italy's cultural heritage.
The headless "Venus of Cyrene" was carried away from the town of Cyrene -- an ancient Greek colony -- by Italian troops and put on display in Rome.
Former prime minister Silvio Berlusconi's promise to return it on a visit to in 2002 was blocked by legal action lodged by a group called "Our Italy," whose aim is to keep Italy's cultural treasures in Italian ownership.
Alessandro Ruffini, lawyer for the Libyan embassy in Rome, told Reuters the Lazio appeals court ruling that Italy did not have an historic claim to the statue was "well grounded."
The 2nd century statue of the goddess Venus is now housed in Rome's National Roman Museum.
The headless marble figure of the goddess of love is a copy of a Greek statue that has never been found, said Silvana Rizzo, an archaeologist at the ministry.
Libyan authorities requested the statue in 1989, but a protracted judicial battle ensued with a group that considered the work part of Italy's cultural heritage.
Last week, a court ruled in favor of returning the statue to Tripoli, the ministry said in a statement. No date has been set for the return.
In 2005, Rome returned to Ethiopia the 1,700-year-old Axum obelisk taken in 1937 on the orders of fascist dictator Benito Mussolini.
(The Tripoli Post)
GHADAMES DESERT OF LIBYA
Ghadames - The Pearl of The Desert
10/03/2007
One of the best-known municipalities of Libya is Ghadames. It is an oasis town 683 km. Southwest of Tripoli that has a population of about 20,000 (2005 estimate), next to the borders of Tunisia and Algeria. The old part of the town was surrounded by a wall. Today it is one of the best preserved of Arab towns in Libya. It has been declared World Heritage of the UNESCO.
The Ghadames population is composed of groups of people of Arab origin and other groups of ancient Libyan source. They speak Arabic which the Arab Muslim Leader Ugba ibn-Naafa’ brought with him to the city when he conquered it twice in the 7th century A.D.). The inhabitants also speak a sort of a vernacular language that is common today among the indigenous people of Ghadames. They are, of course Libyans.
Ghadames is recognized for its beautiful and inventive architecture, designed to fight the dramatic extremes in Saharan climate.
All houses are made out of mud, lime, and palm tree trunks. They are constructed so that all intersect, with covered alleyways between them, and attached roofs above them, allowing passage from one house to another.
The streets are both dark and with far lower temperatures than what one would find outdoors. It is a town that distinguishes itself by its shape and appearance; both extraordinary.
It is composed of several quarters that used to be inhabited by different family groups. The houses also are virtually part of a troglodyte world. Most families in the new town still own their house in the old town and it is possible to visit one or two of them today.
Rooftops were interconnected by walkways used only by womenfolk to meet each other. Unless accompanied by men belonging to the family women were never seen in the alleys of the old town.
Ghadames stands still as one of the most valuable spots in Libya for the traveller. Here one finds a tranquil old city with the colour white chosen for the building.
This town represents popular engineering, and is the result of a complex knowledge on how to deal with extreme temperatures. The positioning of the houses is far from casual. Every angle, every wall, every opening in the roofs over the alleyways, are parts of the same organism.
While the entire population has moved out of the old town to the modern nearby village, the old centre still provides a popular shelter from the summer heat.
Each of the seven clans that used to live in old part of the town had its own district, of which each had a public place where festivals could be held.
In the 1970s, the government built new houses outside of the old part of the town. However, many inhabitants return to the old part of the town during the summer, as its architecture provides better protection against the heat.
The first records about Ghadames exist not before the Roman period, when from time to time there were troops in the town. The Roman name for the town was Cydamus.
So the history of this oasis town is thought to go back some 5000 years. It owes its origins to the copious fresh water that till recent years kept the oasis full. For two centuries it was a Roman outpost and the people of the Byzantine Empire converted he Berbers to Christianity.
They stayed that way until the 7th Century when Muslim Arabs armies arrived and the population quickly converted to Islam.
For centuries Ghadames has been an important trading town and in the 19th century played an important role as base for the Trans-Saharan trade.
The economic base for Ghadames has been dwindling over the ears. Earlier the town was an important stopover on the caravan routes crossing the Sahara. through the Sahara, including slavery, originating from and ended their journey there. The market was rich in produce from all areas of Africa and the Mediterranean countries.
This commercial activity brought substantial wealth to this beautiful Libyan oasis, known as the pearl of the desert.
Today’s income for the inhabitants is derived from some camel breeding, diminutive agriculture and administrative and military activities. Tourism too could and should revive, and become even greater than it was in the colonial period.
The inhabitants of Ghadames, (Cydamae in the Roman times), are the Touareg lovers of freedom and liberty. People loved to hear the still of the night being broken by the music of a simple cane flute: or to attend the scene of a curtain of silence being lifted by the artistic fingers of a Bedouin woman playing a beautiful tune on strings attached to a small leather-coated drum: or the uproar of a tumuli on the dance ring with the songs of the Touareg.
Ghadames Oasis has its own framework of customs and habits, and its own social ways of life. The existence of a water spring endowed on its special attraction and gave it vital life arteries. Thus, it became one of the most important commercial stations for merchants’ caravans.
Legend has it that the name GHADAMES has an interesting story behind it. It is said that a long time before the town was given its name, a caravan passing through a valley decided to have lunch.
When it was all over, packed their belongings and left the spot, a member of the caravan noticed that one of the cooking utensils was missing. At this he exclaimed: “we forgot them at Ghadames (meaning: We left them at yesterday’s lunch.
In Arabic ‘Ghada’ means lunch and ‘ams’ means in Arabic means ‘Yesterday’. Therefore, ‘Gha-dames’ means yesterday’s lunch. But by chance, the Roman name “Gyadamae” has been transformed to “Ghadames”.
It is just a legend, for Ghadames took its name from a distortion of its original name, ‘Cydamus’. Its present name has no relation with (Ghada - Arabic for lunch).
It is possible to visit Ghadames in one day from Tripoli but it takes 14 hours of driving. A two or three-day trip is much better allowing time to visit Nalut, al-Kabaw or Yfren along the way.
(The Tripoli Post)
10/03/2007
One of the best-known municipalities of Libya is Ghadames. It is an oasis town 683 km. Southwest of Tripoli that has a population of about 20,000 (2005 estimate), next to the borders of Tunisia and Algeria. The old part of the town was surrounded by a wall. Today it is one of the best preserved of Arab towns in Libya. It has been declared World Heritage of the UNESCO.
The Ghadames population is composed of groups of people of Arab origin and other groups of ancient Libyan source. They speak Arabic which the Arab Muslim Leader Ugba ibn-Naafa’ brought with him to the city when he conquered it twice in the 7th century A.D.). The inhabitants also speak a sort of a vernacular language that is common today among the indigenous people of Ghadames. They are, of course Libyans.
Ghadames is recognized for its beautiful and inventive architecture, designed to fight the dramatic extremes in Saharan climate.
All houses are made out of mud, lime, and palm tree trunks. They are constructed so that all intersect, with covered alleyways between them, and attached roofs above them, allowing passage from one house to another.
The streets are both dark and with far lower temperatures than what one would find outdoors. It is a town that distinguishes itself by its shape and appearance; both extraordinary.
It is composed of several quarters that used to be inhabited by different family groups. The houses also are virtually part of a troglodyte world. Most families in the new town still own their house in the old town and it is possible to visit one or two of them today.
Rooftops were interconnected by walkways used only by womenfolk to meet each other. Unless accompanied by men belonging to the family women were never seen in the alleys of the old town.
Ghadames stands still as one of the most valuable spots in Libya for the traveller. Here one finds a tranquil old city with the colour white chosen for the building.
This town represents popular engineering, and is the result of a complex knowledge on how to deal with extreme temperatures. The positioning of the houses is far from casual. Every angle, every wall, every opening in the roofs over the alleyways, are parts of the same organism.
While the entire population has moved out of the old town to the modern nearby village, the old centre still provides a popular shelter from the summer heat.
Each of the seven clans that used to live in old part of the town had its own district, of which each had a public place where festivals could be held.
In the 1970s, the government built new houses outside of the old part of the town. However, many inhabitants return to the old part of the town during the summer, as its architecture provides better protection against the heat.
The first records about Ghadames exist not before the Roman period, when from time to time there were troops in the town. The Roman name for the town was Cydamus.
So the history of this oasis town is thought to go back some 5000 years. It owes its origins to the copious fresh water that till recent years kept the oasis full. For two centuries it was a Roman outpost and the people of the Byzantine Empire converted he Berbers to Christianity.
They stayed that way until the 7th Century when Muslim Arabs armies arrived and the population quickly converted to Islam.
For centuries Ghadames has been an important trading town and in the 19th century played an important role as base for the Trans-Saharan trade.
The economic base for Ghadames has been dwindling over the ears. Earlier the town was an important stopover on the caravan routes crossing the Sahara. through the Sahara, including slavery, originating from and ended their journey there. The market was rich in produce from all areas of Africa and the Mediterranean countries.
This commercial activity brought substantial wealth to this beautiful Libyan oasis, known as the pearl of the desert.
Today’s income for the inhabitants is derived from some camel breeding, diminutive agriculture and administrative and military activities. Tourism too could and should revive, and become even greater than it was in the colonial period.
The inhabitants of Ghadames, (Cydamae in the Roman times), are the Touareg lovers of freedom and liberty. People loved to hear the still of the night being broken by the music of a simple cane flute: or to attend the scene of a curtain of silence being lifted by the artistic fingers of a Bedouin woman playing a beautiful tune on strings attached to a small leather-coated drum: or the uproar of a tumuli on the dance ring with the songs of the Touareg.
Ghadames Oasis has its own framework of customs and habits, and its own social ways of life. The existence of a water spring endowed on its special attraction and gave it vital life arteries. Thus, it became one of the most important commercial stations for merchants’ caravans.
Legend has it that the name GHADAMES has an interesting story behind it. It is said that a long time before the town was given its name, a caravan passing through a valley decided to have lunch.
When it was all over, packed their belongings and left the spot, a member of the caravan noticed that one of the cooking utensils was missing. At this he exclaimed: “we forgot them at Ghadames (meaning: We left them at yesterday’s lunch.
In Arabic ‘Ghada’ means lunch and ‘ams’ means in Arabic means ‘Yesterday’. Therefore, ‘Gha-dames’ means yesterday’s lunch. But by chance, the Roman name “Gyadamae” has been transformed to “Ghadames”.
It is just a legend, for Ghadames took its name from a distortion of its original name, ‘Cydamus’. Its present name has no relation with (Ghada - Arabic for lunch).
It is possible to visit Ghadames in one day from Tripoli but it takes 14 hours of driving. A two or three-day trip is much better allowing time to visit Nalut, al-Kabaw or Yfren along the way.
(The Tripoli Post)
IDUL FITRI DI LIBYA
Libyan Eid Unveiled
28/10/2006
by Alaeddin Bashir Abukabda
Belated Libya celebrates once again the departure of Ramadan. Fasting and deep religious dedication are momentarily laid aside and replaced by celebration and gaiety. Today, we will forsaken the impenetrable religious halo which encircles “Eid Al Fitr” and which characterizes most Libyan customs, and instead we will take a close and methodical insight at what really occurs within, and without the local households as they hail and bid farewell to the solemnity of the sacred month of Ramadan.
Libyan traditional feasting is mainly an intermingling and intertwining of pageant customs and religious rites with the epicurean element justly supervening for an ephemeral instant over the deeply-rooted Islamic impositions and beliefs.
During the three consecutive festive days the Libyan population rediscovers, before relapsing into common daily affairs, the pleasure of reuniting with close relatives thus sharing with long-missed kins an abundant repast prepared overnight by untiring and diligent housewives.
These meals consist mainly of a variety of customary dishes such as baked beans soup, stuffed peppers and mutton along with other equally relishable and desirable dishes.
However, tradition has it that “Eid Al Fitr” should be mainly devoted to exquisite sweet delicacies such as the delicious “magrud” made of delicately-prepared dates within fillo-pastry and covered by a molass-like dense syrup, or the more notorious “baklava`” in shapes and numerous varieties that in unison mollify the surliest of moods and contribute to the success of the day.
However, “Eid Al Fitr” is not only a tribute to culinary tastes. It signifies a spiritual ablution and redemption from daily conflicts and sorrows.
The first day commences with a long and heart-felt morning prayer and sermon in remembrance of the month that has passed, dethroned by the oncoming “Shawwal”.
It is a joyous occasion with important religious significance. Happiness is observed as attaining spiritual uplift after a month of fasting. Muslims dress in holiday attire as worshippers greet and embrace each other in a spirit of peace, love, and brotherhood.
After that, all believers direct themselves homewards to enjoy the intimate pleasures of familial company as neighbours visit each other and relatives indulge in prolonged visits lasting all day long.
In the meantime, nearby streets are teeming with boisterous children brandishing newly-purchased toys, whilst showing off in exultant pride brand new garments bought specially for the occasion doomed to be-come thoroughly miserable and piteous by the end of the day.
Many families gather in the paternal household and return to their native cities, which in some cases involve long nightly journeys.
Nowadays, new generations that are engaged in games or other activities with their peers, have relinquished such customs (more is the pity) preferring instead to dedicate the festive time loitering in downtown Tripoli.
“Eid Al Fitr” also means heavy and unequalled spending as a Libyan citizen duly points out, “The Eid has become a strong commercial business. I spend my monthly salary before and during these three days. In the past, we were happy just to spend some time with our families.”
This new trend is evident nowadays as more and more families flock into downtown Tripoli and indulge in sundry entertainments duly embellished, prim and proper and newly clad. Fun parks, such as that facing the Al Fateh Tower enlarged and renewed, furnish amusement in the form of roller coasters, bumping cars and other equally enjoyable games to the same effect.
Likewise, restaurants offer special menus a` la carte with a wide selection of presumably traditional dishes such as couscous, “hraimi” (fish soup), cakes, pastries and Arabic salads all to attract selected clients.
When asked what this recurrence really meant to Muslims, a passerby said: “Eid Al Fitr is a time dedicated to love and to our families, during which all Muslims cast their problems and worries away by spending dear moments with those they cherish.
(The Tripoli Post)
28/10/2006
by Alaeddin Bashir Abukabda
Belated Libya celebrates once again the departure of Ramadan. Fasting and deep religious dedication are momentarily laid aside and replaced by celebration and gaiety. Today, we will forsaken the impenetrable religious halo which encircles “Eid Al Fitr” and which characterizes most Libyan customs, and instead we will take a close and methodical insight at what really occurs within, and without the local households as they hail and bid farewell to the solemnity of the sacred month of Ramadan.
Libyan traditional feasting is mainly an intermingling and intertwining of pageant customs and religious rites with the epicurean element justly supervening for an ephemeral instant over the deeply-rooted Islamic impositions and beliefs.
During the three consecutive festive days the Libyan population rediscovers, before relapsing into common daily affairs, the pleasure of reuniting with close relatives thus sharing with long-missed kins an abundant repast prepared overnight by untiring and diligent housewives.
These meals consist mainly of a variety of customary dishes such as baked beans soup, stuffed peppers and mutton along with other equally relishable and desirable dishes.
However, tradition has it that “Eid Al Fitr” should be mainly devoted to exquisite sweet delicacies such as the delicious “magrud” made of delicately-prepared dates within fillo-pastry and covered by a molass-like dense syrup, or the more notorious “baklava`” in shapes and numerous varieties that in unison mollify the surliest of moods and contribute to the success of the day.
However, “Eid Al Fitr” is not only a tribute to culinary tastes. It signifies a spiritual ablution and redemption from daily conflicts and sorrows.
The first day commences with a long and heart-felt morning prayer and sermon in remembrance of the month that has passed, dethroned by the oncoming “Shawwal”.
It is a joyous occasion with important religious significance. Happiness is observed as attaining spiritual uplift after a month of fasting. Muslims dress in holiday attire as worshippers greet and embrace each other in a spirit of peace, love, and brotherhood.
After that, all believers direct themselves homewards to enjoy the intimate pleasures of familial company as neighbours visit each other and relatives indulge in prolonged visits lasting all day long.
In the meantime, nearby streets are teeming with boisterous children brandishing newly-purchased toys, whilst showing off in exultant pride brand new garments bought specially for the occasion doomed to be-come thoroughly miserable and piteous by the end of the day.
Many families gather in the paternal household and return to their native cities, which in some cases involve long nightly journeys.
Nowadays, new generations that are engaged in games or other activities with their peers, have relinquished such customs (more is the pity) preferring instead to dedicate the festive time loitering in downtown Tripoli.
“Eid Al Fitr” also means heavy and unequalled spending as a Libyan citizen duly points out, “The Eid has become a strong commercial business. I spend my monthly salary before and during these three days. In the past, we were happy just to spend some time with our families.”
This new trend is evident nowadays as more and more families flock into downtown Tripoli and indulge in sundry entertainments duly embellished, prim and proper and newly clad. Fun parks, such as that facing the Al Fateh Tower enlarged and renewed, furnish amusement in the form of roller coasters, bumping cars and other equally enjoyable games to the same effect.
Likewise, restaurants offer special menus a` la carte with a wide selection of presumably traditional dishes such as couscous, “hraimi” (fish soup), cakes, pastries and Arabic salads all to attract selected clients.
When asked what this recurrence really meant to Muslims, a passerby said: “Eid Al Fitr is a time dedicated to love and to our families, during which all Muslims cast their problems and worries away by spending dear moments with those they cherish.
(The Tripoli Post)
WARISAN BUDAYA ISLAM
Islam's Cultural Legacy
15/10/2006
Amid rising Islamophobia in the West, the Italian art city of Venice is playing host to a major exhibition celebrating Islam’s contribution to Western civilization and arts. It is intended to showcase Islamic civilization in the Middle Ages and highlight its interplay with Western culture and civilization across eight centuries.
The fair, titled "Venise et l'Orient", was opened on October 3 and will end on February 18, next year. It comes as the West and the Muslim world are experiencing some of the worst periods of their relation in recent history. The event is clearly showing how Islamic civilization left its indelible mark on the West in the Middle Ages.
According to the Paris-based Arab World Institute (IMA), which is organizing the fair jointly with the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, visitors are being given the chance to view some 200 objects from Venetian collections and from the great museums of the world.
Pottery, oil paintings, carpets, coins, silver plates and wooden items brought to the Republic of Venice or 'Serenissima' are among the exhibits at 'Venice and the West'.
The exhibits - about 250 objects - show how the Islamic civilization became a source of inspiration for the Venetians.
Qur`anic verses inscribed on glass lamps and ceramic plates made in Venice and sold in the East show how impressed Europe was by the Islamic calligraphy.
They chart the history of the Republic of Venice from its beginnings in the eighth century as the power of the Byzantine empire dwindled, through its rise as trading and maritime power in the Mediterranean and Adriatic in the 12th-15th centuries - when it reached its maximum power and territorial extension as probably the richest city in the world - through to its struggle against the expanding Ottoman empire in the 16th-17th centuries and its decline and dissolution in 1797 when French troops of Napoleon Bonaparte invaded the city.
The exhibition seeks to examine the artistic and cultural exchanges between Venice and the most powerful Islamic dynasties - the Mamelouks and the Ottomans - over those centuries.
From the end of the 13th century to the beginning of the 14th century, Venice flourished with palaces, carpets, silks, brocades and velvets imported from the Orient.
Eastern knowledge and techniques were in turn transmitted from the Orient to Venice in the Middle Ages, and the exhibition displays some of the luxury objects with Islamic decorations that the 'Serenissima' exported to the major capitals of the East.
The IMA said on its website, that the presence of Mamelouks and Ottomans wearing their typical garments in the paintings of the great masters of the Venetian Renaissance will convey the Venetians’ familiarity with their Mediterranean neighbours.
Marie George Nida, one of the exhibition's organizers was quoted as saying, that the exhibition highlights cross-fertilization between the West and Islam to counter war-mongering clichés that now make international headlines.
The fair's logo is a computerized photo of the masterpiece painting of Venetian artist Gentile Bellini, showing the Otto-man Sultan Mohammad II face-to-face with the Venetian duke Giovanni Mocenigo.
As part of efforts to recognize Islamic contribution to human civilization, a new wing of Islamic art is also to be inaugurated in the Louvre museum in 2009.
The long-awaited section in the world's largest museum will showcase up to 10,000 pieces, one of the greatest concentrations of Islamic art in existence.
As further proof of the importance of this cultural sector, the New York-based Metropolitan Museum of Arts and the British Museum also have departments of Islamic art.
(The Tripoli Post)
15/10/2006
Amid rising Islamophobia in the West, the Italian art city of Venice is playing host to a major exhibition celebrating Islam’s contribution to Western civilization and arts. It is intended to showcase Islamic civilization in the Middle Ages and highlight its interplay with Western culture and civilization across eight centuries.
The fair, titled "Venise et l'Orient", was opened on October 3 and will end on February 18, next year. It comes as the West and the Muslim world are experiencing some of the worst periods of their relation in recent history. The event is clearly showing how Islamic civilization left its indelible mark on the West in the Middle Ages.
According to the Paris-based Arab World Institute (IMA), which is organizing the fair jointly with the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, visitors are being given the chance to view some 200 objects from Venetian collections and from the great museums of the world.
Pottery, oil paintings, carpets, coins, silver plates and wooden items brought to the Republic of Venice or 'Serenissima' are among the exhibits at 'Venice and the West'.
The exhibits - about 250 objects - show how the Islamic civilization became a source of inspiration for the Venetians.
Qur`anic verses inscribed on glass lamps and ceramic plates made in Venice and sold in the East show how impressed Europe was by the Islamic calligraphy.
They chart the history of the Republic of Venice from its beginnings in the eighth century as the power of the Byzantine empire dwindled, through its rise as trading and maritime power in the Mediterranean and Adriatic in the 12th-15th centuries - when it reached its maximum power and territorial extension as probably the richest city in the world - through to its struggle against the expanding Ottoman empire in the 16th-17th centuries and its decline and dissolution in 1797 when French troops of Napoleon Bonaparte invaded the city.
The exhibition seeks to examine the artistic and cultural exchanges between Venice and the most powerful Islamic dynasties - the Mamelouks and the Ottomans - over those centuries.
From the end of the 13th century to the beginning of the 14th century, Venice flourished with palaces, carpets, silks, brocades and velvets imported from the Orient.
Eastern knowledge and techniques were in turn transmitted from the Orient to Venice in the Middle Ages, and the exhibition displays some of the luxury objects with Islamic decorations that the 'Serenissima' exported to the major capitals of the East.
The IMA said on its website, that the presence of Mamelouks and Ottomans wearing their typical garments in the paintings of the great masters of the Venetian Renaissance will convey the Venetians’ familiarity with their Mediterranean neighbours.
Marie George Nida, one of the exhibition's organizers was quoted as saying, that the exhibition highlights cross-fertilization between the West and Islam to counter war-mongering clichés that now make international headlines.
The fair's logo is a computerized photo of the masterpiece painting of Venetian artist Gentile Bellini, showing the Otto-man Sultan Mohammad II face-to-face with the Venetian duke Giovanni Mocenigo.
As part of efforts to recognize Islamic contribution to human civilization, a new wing of Islamic art is also to be inaugurated in the Louvre museum in 2009.
The long-awaited section in the world's largest museum will showcase up to 10,000 pieces, one of the greatest concentrations of Islamic art in existence.
As further proof of the importance of this cultural sector, the New York-based Metropolitan Museum of Arts and the British Museum also have departments of Islamic art.
(The Tripoli Post)
LIONEL RICHIE MENGGOYANG TRIPOLI
Lionel Richie Performs in Tripoli All Night Long, Says: 'I had a Great Time, I will be Back'
17/05/2006
With the Leader of the Revolution's home as a backdrop, the American singer Lionel Richie jived and rocked for an adoring audience on Saturday 15 April 2006 in a concert to mark the 20th anniversary of a US raid on Libya.
"Libya I love you, I'll be back," the Oscar and Grammy award-winning singer songwriter said to roars of approval from more than 1,000 senior Libyan officials and diplomats gathered in front of the shell-cratered building.
"Hana would be happy tonight," said Richie during his performance, referring to the adopted daughter of the Leader who was among the over 40 slain in the 1986 air strikes on the cities of Tripoli and Benghazi. One member of the audience climbed on stage to dance with Richie, whose hits All Night
Long, Say You, Say Me, and Dancing On The Ceiling were being heavily played on US radio airwaves around the time Washington ordered the strike.
Richie was followed by Spanish opera stars Jose Carreras and Ofelia Sala who belted through a selection of classic favorites backed by 60-piece orchestra under a cloudless night sky.
Egyptian singer Mohammed Munir and folklore troupes from Egypt and Syria also participated in the festival.
Radiating charm and wit, Richie brought the soberly dressed audience repeatedly to its feet with a succession of his greatest hits, persuading them to sing along and dance.
He won laughs when he joked that some in the audience knew the words to his songs better than he did, and drew shouts of "thank you" and "we love you" from some in the crowd.
Richie, a former Commodores singer who co-wrote with Michael Jackson the number-one hit We Are The World in 1985, told a press conference his presence in Libya was a "historic event," and said he took part because "music unites people".
The concert was named "Hana Peace Day" in honor of the child, one of several infants killed in the strike.
The concert was held in Bab Al-Azizia barracks near the ruins of the Leader of the Revolution's residence, targeted by the attacks that have never been removed so to remain a material witness to what the Libyans believe was a blatant aggression against their country.
"We will not forget but we do not want to be hostages of the past," a concert organizer told AFP. "We want to live in the present and express through our music our renewed union with the world," he added.
The event ended with a group of children dressed as angels standing on a balcony of the house and waving candles as they sang along to a recording of the US humanitarian pop anthem "We are the world".
During the Reagan administration, American forces bombed Tripoli and Benghazi in the early hours of April 15, 1986.
Then President Ronald Reagan said it was in retaliation for what he called Libyan complicity in the bombing of a discotheque in Berlin a month earlier.
Organizers said the music provided a deliberately upbeat commemoration of the 1986 raid, an event that marked one of the lowest points in the decades Libya spent being seen as an outlaw state that supported terrorism.
However, it was Ms. Aisha Muammar Al-Qathafi, the daughter of the Libyan leader, who officially opened the concert by a short but state to the point statement. She said:
“I welcome you with the greetings of Islam: ‘As-salam A'aliakum wa Rahmatu Allahi wa Barakatuhi’".
"Peace be upon our gracious land. Peace be upon all world peace delegates who shared with us this day." “Please allow me to invite you for a moment of salience on the souls of our martyrs who were killed at the hands of the enemies of peace,” she said.
“Today I stand in front of this steadfast home in which "Today, I stand before this resilient house, where twenty years ago my childhood was torn apart and my toys and childhood's dreams were destroyed,” said Ms. Aisah, at the opening of the concert, which began on Saturday at 2.30am, the exact hour at which US warplanes flying out of British bases hit their targets 20 years ago," she added.
Ms. Al-Qathafi, currently a lawyer, was about 10 at the time of the attack.
"Twenty years ago on this day I awoke to the sound of bombs and rockets and the cries of my brothers. My memory never forget, nor history will ever erase it. But today we try to heal our wounds and shake hands with those who are here with us tonight. Yes for peace, no for destruction," she said.”
The superstar Richie started by a statement:
“It is an honor for me to be here with you tonight. This is my first time ever to be here in Libya. I would like to say to you, it was an opportunity for me to walk in the streets, I must tell you that I would return to this country, I promise you. People were wonderful, we spent a wonderful time. Hospitality is unbelievable. I recommend you to explore this beautiful world in Libya. This night is wonderful honor for Hana whose name is linked to peace."
(The Tripoli Post)
17/05/2006
With the Leader of the Revolution's home as a backdrop, the American singer Lionel Richie jived and rocked for an adoring audience on Saturday 15 April 2006 in a concert to mark the 20th anniversary of a US raid on Libya.
"Libya I love you, I'll be back," the Oscar and Grammy award-winning singer songwriter said to roars of approval from more than 1,000 senior Libyan officials and diplomats gathered in front of the shell-cratered building.
"Hana would be happy tonight," said Richie during his performance, referring to the adopted daughter of the Leader who was among the over 40 slain in the 1986 air strikes on the cities of Tripoli and Benghazi. One member of the audience climbed on stage to dance with Richie, whose hits All Night
Long, Say You, Say Me, and Dancing On The Ceiling were being heavily played on US radio airwaves around the time Washington ordered the strike.
Richie was followed by Spanish opera stars Jose Carreras and Ofelia Sala who belted through a selection of classic favorites backed by 60-piece orchestra under a cloudless night sky.
Egyptian singer Mohammed Munir and folklore troupes from Egypt and Syria also participated in the festival.
Radiating charm and wit, Richie brought the soberly dressed audience repeatedly to its feet with a succession of his greatest hits, persuading them to sing along and dance.
He won laughs when he joked that some in the audience knew the words to his songs better than he did, and drew shouts of "thank you" and "we love you" from some in the crowd.
Richie, a former Commodores singer who co-wrote with Michael Jackson the number-one hit We Are The World in 1985, told a press conference his presence in Libya was a "historic event," and said he took part because "music unites people".
The concert was named "Hana Peace Day" in honor of the child, one of several infants killed in the strike.
The concert was held in Bab Al-Azizia barracks near the ruins of the Leader of the Revolution's residence, targeted by the attacks that have never been removed so to remain a material witness to what the Libyans believe was a blatant aggression against their country.
"We will not forget but we do not want to be hostages of the past," a concert organizer told AFP. "We want to live in the present and express through our music our renewed union with the world," he added.
The event ended with a group of children dressed as angels standing on a balcony of the house and waving candles as they sang along to a recording of the US humanitarian pop anthem "We are the world".
During the Reagan administration, American forces bombed Tripoli and Benghazi in the early hours of April 15, 1986.
Then President Ronald Reagan said it was in retaliation for what he called Libyan complicity in the bombing of a discotheque in Berlin a month earlier.
Organizers said the music provided a deliberately upbeat commemoration of the 1986 raid, an event that marked one of the lowest points in the decades Libya spent being seen as an outlaw state that supported terrorism.
However, it was Ms. Aisha Muammar Al-Qathafi, the daughter of the Libyan leader, who officially opened the concert by a short but state to the point statement. She said:
“I welcome you with the greetings of Islam: ‘As-salam A'aliakum wa Rahmatu Allahi wa Barakatuhi’".
"Peace be upon our gracious land. Peace be upon all world peace delegates who shared with us this day." “Please allow me to invite you for a moment of salience on the souls of our martyrs who were killed at the hands of the enemies of peace,” she said.
“Today I stand in front of this steadfast home in which "Today, I stand before this resilient house, where twenty years ago my childhood was torn apart and my toys and childhood's dreams were destroyed,” said Ms. Aisah, at the opening of the concert, which began on Saturday at 2.30am, the exact hour at which US warplanes flying out of British bases hit their targets 20 years ago," she added.
Ms. Al-Qathafi, currently a lawyer, was about 10 at the time of the attack.
"Twenty years ago on this day I awoke to the sound of bombs and rockets and the cries of my brothers. My memory never forget, nor history will ever erase it. But today we try to heal our wounds and shake hands with those who are here with us tonight. Yes for peace, no for destruction," she said.”
The superstar Richie started by a statement:
“It is an honor for me to be here with you tonight. This is my first time ever to be here in Libya. I would like to say to you, it was an opportunity for me to walk in the streets, I must tell you that I would return to this country, I promise you. People were wonderful, we spent a wonderful time. Hospitality is unbelievable. I recommend you to explore this beautiful world in Libya. This night is wonderful honor for Hana whose name is linked to peace."
(The Tripoli Post)
ISLAMPHOBIA MEDIA ISLAM
Paris, Washington Agree to Silence Islamic Voices of Freedom
25/12/2004
Finally, Paris and Washington have found something to agree on, that is to further oppress and strangle Arab and Islamic media outlets at the era of globalization.
France's Council of State (CSA), the country's highest administrative court, has ordered the satellite company Eutelsat to stop broadcasts of Al-Manar television, allegedly linked to the Lebanese political party and militant Shiite Muslim group Hezbollah.
Arab media groups, intellectuals and journalists have condemned the French move and called it a part of the over all oppression of Arabs and Muslims.
Al-Manar television blasted a decision by a French court to ban its EU broadcasts as a "dangerous precedent." The move is "an affront to freedom of expression, a denial of the principles that France has always backed and a dangerous precedent in France's attitude toward Arab media," Al-Manar said in a statement.
Al-Manar said the decision had been made "at Israel's declared instigation and following a political campaign organized by the Zionist lobby in France."
"To stop Al-Manar broadcasts and to silence its voice has been triggered by the fact that it is exposing the truth about the Arab-Israeli conflict and the fact that it carries the voice of resistance against occupation," it said.
The bans on the broadcasts within the European Union had to be implemented within 48 hours, the court said after ruling that the channel had violated laws against inciting racial hatred.
In another seemingly coordinated move with the French government, Washington put Al-Manar TV on a list of terror organizations and as a result it lost its satellite feed last Saturday.
"We are sorry to lose our audience in France and America. We will work to change that. Meanwhile, we still have our faithful viewers elsewhere," said Hassan Fadlallah, Al-Manar's news director.
Fadlallah told The Associated Press, "This is a blatant attack on press freedoms and an exercise in intellectual terrorism against the voices that are opposed to U.S. and Israeli policies. It is part of an organized Israeli campaign against Al-Manar to keep it from transmitting the facts of the Arab-Israeli struggle."
Lebanese authorities have threatened to reciprocate against French channels for the ban. Lebanon considers Hezbollah - a militant Shiite Muslim group high on the U.S. list of terrorist organizations - to be a legitimate resistance organization fighting Israeli occupation.
Al-Manar is broadcast in Europe via Paris-based Eutelsat as part of a package of nine channels put out by Saudi-based Arabsat.
France's broadcast regulator, the Higher Audiovisual Council (CSA) had granted a license to the channel on Nov 19 on condition it respect French laws prohibiting racist comment.
The French government backed a ban on Al-Manar, which had been the target of criticism from Jewish groups in France.
Al-Manar, the self-proclaimed "Channel of Resistance and Liberation" and “The Channel of Arabs and Muslims”, airs documentaries, dramas, political talk and health shows. It is considered one of the best channels as it provides useful service and education to its viewers.
Some of its entertainment programs are centered on "the struggle" against Israeli occupation of Palestine, with some of its game shows featuring questions on the Arab-Israeli conflict.
Youssef Fawaz, a 42-year-old grocer, said he watches Al-Manar and will continue to do so "because it speaks for all Arab people."
He rejected accusations that Al-Manar incites violence, saying the station "shows facts on the grounds. They (Americans) are the violent ones, they are the terrorists.
Look what they've done to Iraq." The station is widely seen in the Palestinian territories for its interviews and quick coverage of events affecting Palestinians.
It is also popular with Shiite Muslims, believed to be the largest group in Lebanon. "Al-Manar is committed to the truth, and the Americans are afraid of the truth reaching the public there," said Ali Sharefeddine, a Lebanese student.
(The Tripoli Post)
25/12/2004
Finally, Paris and Washington have found something to agree on, that is to further oppress and strangle Arab and Islamic media outlets at the era of globalization.
France's Council of State (CSA), the country's highest administrative court, has ordered the satellite company Eutelsat to stop broadcasts of Al-Manar television, allegedly linked to the Lebanese political party and militant Shiite Muslim group Hezbollah.
Arab media groups, intellectuals and journalists have condemned the French move and called it a part of the over all oppression of Arabs and Muslims.
Al-Manar television blasted a decision by a French court to ban its EU broadcasts as a "dangerous precedent." The move is "an affront to freedom of expression, a denial of the principles that France has always backed and a dangerous precedent in France's attitude toward Arab media," Al-Manar said in a statement.
Al-Manar said the decision had been made "at Israel's declared instigation and following a political campaign organized by the Zionist lobby in France."
"To stop Al-Manar broadcasts and to silence its voice has been triggered by the fact that it is exposing the truth about the Arab-Israeli conflict and the fact that it carries the voice of resistance against occupation," it said.
The bans on the broadcasts within the European Union had to be implemented within 48 hours, the court said after ruling that the channel had violated laws against inciting racial hatred.
In another seemingly coordinated move with the French government, Washington put Al-Manar TV on a list of terror organizations and as a result it lost its satellite feed last Saturday.
"We are sorry to lose our audience in France and America. We will work to change that. Meanwhile, we still have our faithful viewers elsewhere," said Hassan Fadlallah, Al-Manar's news director.
Fadlallah told The Associated Press, "This is a blatant attack on press freedoms and an exercise in intellectual terrorism against the voices that are opposed to U.S. and Israeli policies. It is part of an organized Israeli campaign against Al-Manar to keep it from transmitting the facts of the Arab-Israeli struggle."
Lebanese authorities have threatened to reciprocate against French channels for the ban. Lebanon considers Hezbollah - a militant Shiite Muslim group high on the U.S. list of terrorist organizations - to be a legitimate resistance organization fighting Israeli occupation.
Al-Manar is broadcast in Europe via Paris-based Eutelsat as part of a package of nine channels put out by Saudi-based Arabsat.
France's broadcast regulator, the Higher Audiovisual Council (CSA) had granted a license to the channel on Nov 19 on condition it respect French laws prohibiting racist comment.
The French government backed a ban on Al-Manar, which had been the target of criticism from Jewish groups in France.
Al-Manar, the self-proclaimed "Channel of Resistance and Liberation" and “The Channel of Arabs and Muslims”, airs documentaries, dramas, political talk and health shows. It is considered one of the best channels as it provides useful service and education to its viewers.
Some of its entertainment programs are centered on "the struggle" against Israeli occupation of Palestine, with some of its game shows featuring questions on the Arab-Israeli conflict.
Youssef Fawaz, a 42-year-old grocer, said he watches Al-Manar and will continue to do so "because it speaks for all Arab people."
He rejected accusations that Al-Manar incites violence, saying the station "shows facts on the grounds. They (Americans) are the violent ones, they are the terrorists.
Look what they've done to Iraq." The station is widely seen in the Palestinian territories for its interviews and quick coverage of events affecting Palestinians.
It is also popular with Shiite Muslims, believed to be the largest group in Lebanon. "Al-Manar is committed to the truth, and the Americans are afraid of the truth reaching the public there," said Ali Sharefeddine, a Lebanese student.
(The Tripoli Post)
WORLD ISLAMIC CALL SOCIETY (WICS) CONFERENCE
7th General Conference of Islamic Call, Tripoli Nov. 26-29, 2004
30/11/2004
Muammar Al-Gaddafi addresses the First Islamic Call Congress held in Tripoli, 11-16 December 1970.
Tripoli— The 7th General Conference of Islamic Call has commenced yesterday in Tripoli under the theme "We have not sent you forth but as a mercy for mankind," which is a verse from the Holy Quran, and to continue until Monday.
The conference comes as the largest Islamic gathering since the events of 11 September 2001. It brings together over 250 international cultural and humanitarian organizations constituting the general assembly of the World Islamic Call Society (WICS).
Speaking to The Tripoli Post about the objectives of the conference, Mr. Ibrahim Rabu, Head of the Department of Conferences and International Organizations at WICS, said the conference comes at a rather important time and aims at discussing the WICS' program for the coming four years.
The sixth general conference was held in 2000 in Jakarta, Indonesia.
Rabu said The conference is to discuss how best the objectives of the WICS can be accomplished as well as current international developments and their effect on the Islamic humanitarian efforts that are undertaken by members of the general assembly of the WICS.
Also the conference is to select 36 members for the World Islamic Call Council that will supervise WICS, as an international humanitarian organization, for the coming four years, Rabu said.
The conference will also shed light on the universal aspect of Islamic call and to underline the element of "mercy" for mankind in Islam and in its comprehensive aspect that calls for justice, peace and security to all.
Among the delegates to the conference is Sierra Leone's Ahmad Tejan Kabbah and Philippines' Vice President Noli de Castro as well as representatives from the UN nations, the Vatican, senior officials, Islamic scholars, academics.
(The Tripoli Post)
30/11/2004
Muammar Al-Gaddafi addresses the First Islamic Call Congress held in Tripoli, 11-16 December 1970.
Tripoli— The 7th General Conference of Islamic Call has commenced yesterday in Tripoli under the theme "We have not sent you forth but as a mercy for mankind," which is a verse from the Holy Quran, and to continue until Monday.
The conference comes as the largest Islamic gathering since the events of 11 September 2001. It brings together over 250 international cultural and humanitarian organizations constituting the general assembly of the World Islamic Call Society (WICS).
Speaking to The Tripoli Post about the objectives of the conference, Mr. Ibrahim Rabu, Head of the Department of Conferences and International Organizations at WICS, said the conference comes at a rather important time and aims at discussing the WICS' program for the coming four years.
The sixth general conference was held in 2000 in Jakarta, Indonesia.
Rabu said The conference is to discuss how best the objectives of the WICS can be accomplished as well as current international developments and their effect on the Islamic humanitarian efforts that are undertaken by members of the general assembly of the WICS.
Also the conference is to select 36 members for the World Islamic Call Council that will supervise WICS, as an international humanitarian organization, for the coming four years, Rabu said.
The conference will also shed light on the universal aspect of Islamic call and to underline the element of "mercy" for mankind in Islam and in its comprehensive aspect that calls for justice, peace and security to all.
Among the delegates to the conference is Sierra Leone's Ahmad Tejan Kabbah and Philippines' Vice President Noli de Castro as well as representatives from the UN nations, the Vatican, senior officials, Islamic scholars, academics.
(The Tripoli Post)
CATATAN PETUALANGAN CAR;LA PERROTTI
"The Safest Desert"
17/08/2008
"The Safest Desert"
Following her latest solo walk across the Desert, CARLA PERROTTI issues a call for Peace in Africa
World-renowned desert explorer, Carla Perrotti, whose daring desert explorations have earned her a global following, has gone where few humans have before: into some of the world’s most challenging deserts, alone, recently completed a historic solo walk across the Sahara’s Akakus Tadrark region in Libya.
Speaking to reporters as she emerged from the Libyan Desert, Ms. Perrotti said she was looking forward to the experience and that it exceeded her every expectation. She said that the Libyan Desert is one of the most beautiful and historic deserts in the world.
"It is full of ancient history. Everywhere I turned, I made one exciting new discovery after another: ancient writing on rocks and stones and remnants of extraordinary monolithic structures." The she declared,: "I am dedicating this experience as a token for peace for the people of Africa and others all around the world."
Ms. Perrotti credits her Libyan support team for the professionalism, attentiveness and care it provided her, helping her prepare for what in the past has been a gruelling and intense experience.
"The Libyan people are a very considerate, good-hearted people and my Libyan ground crew was exceptional. They helped make all the difference in helping me get across the desert safely - having made extraordinary preparations that allowed me to devote more time to enjoying the living history written across their incredible desert."
Ms. Perrotti told reporters the physical challenge was offset by the desert’s magnificent natural and ethereal beauty. "The heat was quite bearable. Probably the hardest part for me was carrying my backpack and all my camping equipment. At times I was quite exhausted, burdened by the weight of my supplies, but the precise preparations made by my Libyan team, and, of course, drawing on inner strength gained from hours of training and years of experience walking solo across the world’s deserts, helped me to carry on."
Libya’s Nadia Murabet, principal promoter of Ms. Perrotti’s latest desert exploit, provided additional insights into Carla’s persona.
"Carla Perrotti is an extraordinary woman, a citizen of the world who has left her dynamic footprint in many of the world’s most challenging deserts, including the Salar de Uyuni in Bolivia, the Simpson Desert in Australia, the Tenere Desert in Niger, and the snake-infested Kalahari Desert in southern Africa.
"The Guinness Book of World Records recognises Carla as the first human being to walk across the China’s foreboding Taklamakan desert," Ms. Murabet said.
"As the 21st century continues to unfold, Africa will evolve into a more dynamic continent. Europe, Asia and the nations of the West are coming into a new consciousness regarding Africa, where the old ideas are dying and new ideas are on the rise. Africans in the Diaspora have a special role to play regarding the rebranding of the Continent.
"As the West adapts to a 'new Africa' that's taking giant steps into the millennium, Africa’s children in the Diaspora are the bridge builders between the worlds. And that is a wonderful mission to share in. Building living bridges between Africa and the world," Ms. Murabet added.
Ms. Perrotti remarked that people often tell her that what she does, crossing the desert solo, seems incredible. "That may appear to be the case, but I think everyday people in parts of Africa face challenges which are much more difficult. That’s why I have dedicated this desert walk to peace in Africa - and the cause of peace all around the world…"
As she trekked across the desert, she said she had the sun, the stars, and a beautiful full moon for company. "This was a truly wonderful experience, especially with my celestial friends travelling with me across the dunes. The Libyan Desert has so much beauty and I tried to absorb it all."
Asked what she personally gains from her desert explorations, without missing a beat, Ms. Perrotti replied: "The desert builds this extra-consciousness where I feel I’m absorbing nature’s beauty. The desert transmits so much serenity and positivity in its majestic solitude."
She said she finds a deep connection with the mysteries of the desert, adding that, from her experience, the Libyan Desert may well be one of the safest, most secure deserts that she’d ever crossed.
As she concluded her press conference, Ms. Perrotti expressed a desire to see more people make the same connection with the desert that she has.
"I would love for people around the world to have this wonderful experience."
She went on to say: "I believe the five deserts I’ve crossed, with the Libyan Desert being number six, allowed me to connect them all with an invisible thread of appreciation for the true beauty of our planet.
"My dream is to tie these threads together and unite the human race in a message of peace in Africa, peace all around the world."
(The Tripoli Post)
17/08/2008
"The Safest Desert"
Following her latest solo walk across the Desert, CARLA PERROTTI issues a call for Peace in Africa
World-renowned desert explorer, Carla Perrotti, whose daring desert explorations have earned her a global following, has gone where few humans have before: into some of the world’s most challenging deserts, alone, recently completed a historic solo walk across the Sahara’s Akakus Tadrark region in Libya.
Speaking to reporters as she emerged from the Libyan Desert, Ms. Perrotti said she was looking forward to the experience and that it exceeded her every expectation. She said that the Libyan Desert is one of the most beautiful and historic deserts in the world.
"It is full of ancient history. Everywhere I turned, I made one exciting new discovery after another: ancient writing on rocks and stones and remnants of extraordinary monolithic structures." The she declared,: "I am dedicating this experience as a token for peace for the people of Africa and others all around the world."
Ms. Perrotti credits her Libyan support team for the professionalism, attentiveness and care it provided her, helping her prepare for what in the past has been a gruelling and intense experience.
"The Libyan people are a very considerate, good-hearted people and my Libyan ground crew was exceptional. They helped make all the difference in helping me get across the desert safely - having made extraordinary preparations that allowed me to devote more time to enjoying the living history written across their incredible desert."
Ms. Perrotti told reporters the physical challenge was offset by the desert’s magnificent natural and ethereal beauty. "The heat was quite bearable. Probably the hardest part for me was carrying my backpack and all my camping equipment. At times I was quite exhausted, burdened by the weight of my supplies, but the precise preparations made by my Libyan team, and, of course, drawing on inner strength gained from hours of training and years of experience walking solo across the world’s deserts, helped me to carry on."
Libya’s Nadia Murabet, principal promoter of Ms. Perrotti’s latest desert exploit, provided additional insights into Carla’s persona.
"Carla Perrotti is an extraordinary woman, a citizen of the world who has left her dynamic footprint in many of the world’s most challenging deserts, including the Salar de Uyuni in Bolivia, the Simpson Desert in Australia, the Tenere Desert in Niger, and the snake-infested Kalahari Desert in southern Africa.
"The Guinness Book of World Records recognises Carla as the first human being to walk across the China’s foreboding Taklamakan desert," Ms. Murabet said.
"As the 21st century continues to unfold, Africa will evolve into a more dynamic continent. Europe, Asia and the nations of the West are coming into a new consciousness regarding Africa, where the old ideas are dying and new ideas are on the rise. Africans in the Diaspora have a special role to play regarding the rebranding of the Continent.
"As the West adapts to a 'new Africa' that's taking giant steps into the millennium, Africa’s children in the Diaspora are the bridge builders between the worlds. And that is a wonderful mission to share in. Building living bridges between Africa and the world," Ms. Murabet added.
Ms. Perrotti remarked that people often tell her that what she does, crossing the desert solo, seems incredible. "That may appear to be the case, but I think everyday people in parts of Africa face challenges which are much more difficult. That’s why I have dedicated this desert walk to peace in Africa - and the cause of peace all around the world…"
As she trekked across the desert, she said she had the sun, the stars, and a beautiful full moon for company. "This was a truly wonderful experience, especially with my celestial friends travelling with me across the dunes. The Libyan Desert has so much beauty and I tried to absorb it all."
Asked what she personally gains from her desert explorations, without missing a beat, Ms. Perrotti replied: "The desert builds this extra-consciousness where I feel I’m absorbing nature’s beauty. The desert transmits so much serenity and positivity in its majestic solitude."
She said she finds a deep connection with the mysteries of the desert, adding that, from her experience, the Libyan Desert may well be one of the safest, most secure deserts that she’d ever crossed.
As she concluded her press conference, Ms. Perrotti expressed a desire to see more people make the same connection with the desert that she has.
"I would love for people around the world to have this wonderful experience."
She went on to say: "I believe the five deserts I’ve crossed, with the Libyan Desert being number six, allowed me to connect them all with an invisible thread of appreciation for the true beauty of our planet.
"My dream is to tie these threads together and unite the human race in a message of peace in Africa, peace all around the world."
(The Tripoli Post)
AS MERESTUI SERANGAN ISRAEL KE JALUR GAZA
Blessed by Washington, Israeli Crime Against Humanity Continues, Killing 315 Including Babies and Women, Destroying Universities and Prisons
29/12/2008 (Hari ke-3)
Fueled by hatred and racism the Israeli crime against humanity aimed at exterminating the unarmed and starving Palestinians has continued with the blessing of the Bush administration for the third day.
The three-day death toll rose to 315, including seven children under the age of 15 who were killed in two separate strikes late Sunday and Monday, medics said. Israel launched the deadliest aggression against Palestinians in decades on Saturday.
Israel's air force obliterated the material symbols of Hamas power on the third day of its overwhelming assault on Gaza on Monday, striking a house next to the Hamas premier's home, devastating a security compound and flattening a five-story building at the major university in Gaza.
However, analysts believe that Hamas’ moral power, as a symbol of resistance against Israeli occupation and Israeli crimes against humanity, is gaining strength by the day.
Palestinian rockets usually fired at Israel in retaliation to Israeli oppression blockades on Gaza have reached new destinations that have never thought they would before the latest Israeli assault on Gaza people.
On Sunday, Hamas missiles struck for the first time near the city of Ashdod, twice as far from Gaza as Ashkelon and only 25 miles from Israel's heart in Tel Aviv.
On Monday, a medium-range rocket fired at the Israeli city of Ashkelon killed a man and wounded several others. It was the second fatality in Israel since the beginning of the offensive and the first person ever to be killed by a rocket in Ashkelon, a city of 120,000.
Israel widened its deadliest-ever air offensive against the starving people of Gaza on Sunday, pounding smuggling tunnels and government strongholds, sending more tanks and artillery toward the Gaza border and activating thousands of reservists for a possible ground invasion.
Israel's intense bombings — some 300 air strikes since midday Saturday — wreaked unprecedented destruction in Gaza, reducing entire buildings to rubble.
After nightfall on Sunday, Israeli aircraft attacked a building in the Jebaliya refugee camp next to Gaza City, killing a 14-month-old baby, a man and two women, Gaza Health Ministry official Dr. Moaiya Hassanain told the Associated Press.
In the southern town of Rafah, Palestinian residents said a toddler and his two teenage brothers were killed in an airstrike aimed at a Hamas commander.
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said one Palestinian working with UN and eight trainees were among the dead.
Israeli aircraft also bombed the Islamic University and government compound in Gaza City and the house next to the residence of Hamas Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh in a Gaza City refugee camp. Haniyeh, in hiding, was not home. The refugee camp hosts hundreds of thousands of Palestinians who were forced out of their homes and towns in the territories that are now called the state of Israel.
Shlomo Brom, a former senior Israeli military official, said it was the deadliest force ever used in decades of Israeli-Palestinian fighting, reported the Associated Press.
The prime minister of Turkey, one of the few Muslim countries to have relations with Israel, called the air assault a "crime against humanity."
In the most dramatic attacks Sunday, warplanes struck dozens of smuggling tunnels under the Gaza-Egypt border, cutting off a lifeline that had supplied Gazans with commercial goods. The influx of goods had helped the people of Gaza defy an 18-month Israeli blockade.
Sunday's blasts shook the ground several miles away and sent black smoke high into the sky.
Earlier, warplanes dropped three bombs on one of Hamas' main security compounds in Gaza City, including a prison. Moments after the blasts, frantic inmates, their faces dusty and bloodied, scrambled down the rubble. One man, still half buried, raised a hand to alert rescuers.
Gaza's nine hospitals were overwhelmed. Hassanain, who keeps a record for the Gaza Health Ministry, said more than 290 people were killed over two days and more than 800 wounded.
The Palestinian Center for Human Rights, which keeps researchers at all hospitals, said it had counted 251 dead by midday Sunday, and that among them were 20 children under the age of 16 and nine women.
Although the White House was mum about the situation in Gaza on Sunday after speaking out expansively on Saturday, Washington blessed the Israeli crime in Gaza and clearly supported it.
On Saturday, The White House said only Hamas could end the cycle of violence by putting a stop to the rocket fire on Israel.
"These people are nothing but thugs, and so Israel is going to defend its people against terrorists like Hamas," spokesman Gordon Johndroe said at George W. Bush's Texas ranch, where the president is preparing to spend the new year.
"If Hamas stops firing rockets into Israel, then Israel would not have a need for strikes in Gaza," Johndroe said. "What we've got to see is Hamas stop firing rockets into Israel."
"The United States hold Hamas responsible for breaking the ceasefire; we want the ceasefire restored. We're concerned about the humanitarian situation and want all parties concerned to work to make sure the people of Gaza get the humanitarian assistance they need," said Johndroe.
Despite the destruction, Hamas and the Palestinian resistance in general remain confident that Israel will in the end be defeated.
A Hamas leader in exile, Osama Hamdan, said the movement would not relent. "We have one alternative, which is to be steadfast and resist and then we will be victorious," Hamdan said in Beirut.
Also in Beirut, Hassan Nasrallah, leader of the Hezbollah resistance movement, said he would not abandon Hamas, but did not threaten to attack Israel. Hezbollah defeated a 33-day Israeli aggression after which the Zionist state accepted defeat that led to the resign of its military chief of Staff and the Minister of Defense.
Meanwhile, the carnage inflamed Arab and Muslim public opinion, setting off street protests across the West Bank, in an Arab community in Israel, in several Middle Eastern cities.
In Tripoli, Libya, thousands of demonstrators gathered on Monday at Mortars’ Square and condemned the Israeli aggression on Gaza and then moved on and surrounded the Egyptian embassy in Tripoli demanding the Egyptian government to open its borders with Gaza and allow medical aid and assistance to reach the suffering Palestinians.
Some of the protests turned violent.
In occupied Palestine, Israeli troops quelling a West Bank march killed one Palestinian and seriously wounded another.
A crowd of anti-Israel protesters in the northern Iraqi city of Mosul became a target for a suicide bomber on a bicycle. In Lebanon, police fired tear gas to stop demonstrators from reaching the Egyptian Embassy.
Egypt, which has served as a mediator between Israel and the Palestinians as well as between Hamas and its rival Fatah, has been criticized for joining Israel in closing its borders with Gaza. The blockade was imposed after the Hamas takeover in June 2007.
In Jerusalem, Israel's Cabinet approved a callup of 6,500 reserve soldiers, raising fears of an impending ground offensive. Israel has doubled the number of troops on the Gaza border since Saturday and also deployed an artillery battery
Since Israel's withdrawal from Gaza in 2005, after 38 years of full military occupation, Israeli forces have repeatedly returned to the territory to hunt the resistance.
Israeli leaders said they would press ahead with the Gaza campaign, despite enraged protests across the Arab world and Syria's decision to break off indirect peace talks with the Jewish state. Israel's foreign minister said the goal was to halt Gaza rocket fire on Israel for good, but not to reoccupy the territory.
(The Tripoli Post)
29/12/2008 (Hari ke-3)
Fueled by hatred and racism the Israeli crime against humanity aimed at exterminating the unarmed and starving Palestinians has continued with the blessing of the Bush administration for the third day.
The three-day death toll rose to 315, including seven children under the age of 15 who were killed in two separate strikes late Sunday and Monday, medics said. Israel launched the deadliest aggression against Palestinians in decades on Saturday.
Israel's air force obliterated the material symbols of Hamas power on the third day of its overwhelming assault on Gaza on Monday, striking a house next to the Hamas premier's home, devastating a security compound and flattening a five-story building at the major university in Gaza.
However, analysts believe that Hamas’ moral power, as a symbol of resistance against Israeli occupation and Israeli crimes against humanity, is gaining strength by the day.
Palestinian rockets usually fired at Israel in retaliation to Israeli oppression blockades on Gaza have reached new destinations that have never thought they would before the latest Israeli assault on Gaza people.
On Sunday, Hamas missiles struck for the first time near the city of Ashdod, twice as far from Gaza as Ashkelon and only 25 miles from Israel's heart in Tel Aviv.
On Monday, a medium-range rocket fired at the Israeli city of Ashkelon killed a man and wounded several others. It was the second fatality in Israel since the beginning of the offensive and the first person ever to be killed by a rocket in Ashkelon, a city of 120,000.
Israel widened its deadliest-ever air offensive against the starving people of Gaza on Sunday, pounding smuggling tunnels and government strongholds, sending more tanks and artillery toward the Gaza border and activating thousands of reservists for a possible ground invasion.
Israel's intense bombings — some 300 air strikes since midday Saturday — wreaked unprecedented destruction in Gaza, reducing entire buildings to rubble.
After nightfall on Sunday, Israeli aircraft attacked a building in the Jebaliya refugee camp next to Gaza City, killing a 14-month-old baby, a man and two women, Gaza Health Ministry official Dr. Moaiya Hassanain told the Associated Press.
In the southern town of Rafah, Palestinian residents said a toddler and his two teenage brothers were killed in an airstrike aimed at a Hamas commander.
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said one Palestinian working with UN and eight trainees were among the dead.
Israeli aircraft also bombed the Islamic University and government compound in Gaza City and the house next to the residence of Hamas Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh in a Gaza City refugee camp. Haniyeh, in hiding, was not home. The refugee camp hosts hundreds of thousands of Palestinians who were forced out of their homes and towns in the territories that are now called the state of Israel.
Shlomo Brom, a former senior Israeli military official, said it was the deadliest force ever used in decades of Israeli-Palestinian fighting, reported the Associated Press.
The prime minister of Turkey, one of the few Muslim countries to have relations with Israel, called the air assault a "crime against humanity."
In the most dramatic attacks Sunday, warplanes struck dozens of smuggling tunnels under the Gaza-Egypt border, cutting off a lifeline that had supplied Gazans with commercial goods. The influx of goods had helped the people of Gaza defy an 18-month Israeli blockade.
Sunday's blasts shook the ground several miles away and sent black smoke high into the sky.
Earlier, warplanes dropped three bombs on one of Hamas' main security compounds in Gaza City, including a prison. Moments after the blasts, frantic inmates, their faces dusty and bloodied, scrambled down the rubble. One man, still half buried, raised a hand to alert rescuers.
Gaza's nine hospitals were overwhelmed. Hassanain, who keeps a record for the Gaza Health Ministry, said more than 290 people were killed over two days and more than 800 wounded.
The Palestinian Center for Human Rights, which keeps researchers at all hospitals, said it had counted 251 dead by midday Sunday, and that among them were 20 children under the age of 16 and nine women.
Although the White House was mum about the situation in Gaza on Sunday after speaking out expansively on Saturday, Washington blessed the Israeli crime in Gaza and clearly supported it.
On Saturday, The White House said only Hamas could end the cycle of violence by putting a stop to the rocket fire on Israel.
"These people are nothing but thugs, and so Israel is going to defend its people against terrorists like Hamas," spokesman Gordon Johndroe said at George W. Bush's Texas ranch, where the president is preparing to spend the new year.
"If Hamas stops firing rockets into Israel, then Israel would not have a need for strikes in Gaza," Johndroe said. "What we've got to see is Hamas stop firing rockets into Israel."
"The United States hold Hamas responsible for breaking the ceasefire; we want the ceasefire restored. We're concerned about the humanitarian situation and want all parties concerned to work to make sure the people of Gaza get the humanitarian assistance they need," said Johndroe.
Despite the destruction, Hamas and the Palestinian resistance in general remain confident that Israel will in the end be defeated.
A Hamas leader in exile, Osama Hamdan, said the movement would not relent. "We have one alternative, which is to be steadfast and resist and then we will be victorious," Hamdan said in Beirut.
Also in Beirut, Hassan Nasrallah, leader of the Hezbollah resistance movement, said he would not abandon Hamas, but did not threaten to attack Israel. Hezbollah defeated a 33-day Israeli aggression after which the Zionist state accepted defeat that led to the resign of its military chief of Staff and the Minister of Defense.
Meanwhile, the carnage inflamed Arab and Muslim public opinion, setting off street protests across the West Bank, in an Arab community in Israel, in several Middle Eastern cities.
In Tripoli, Libya, thousands of demonstrators gathered on Monday at Mortars’ Square and condemned the Israeli aggression on Gaza and then moved on and surrounded the Egyptian embassy in Tripoli demanding the Egyptian government to open its borders with Gaza and allow medical aid and assistance to reach the suffering Palestinians.
Some of the protests turned violent.
In occupied Palestine, Israeli troops quelling a West Bank march killed one Palestinian and seriously wounded another.
A crowd of anti-Israel protesters in the northern Iraqi city of Mosul became a target for a suicide bomber on a bicycle. In Lebanon, police fired tear gas to stop demonstrators from reaching the Egyptian Embassy.
Egypt, which has served as a mediator between Israel and the Palestinians as well as between Hamas and its rival Fatah, has been criticized for joining Israel in closing its borders with Gaza. The blockade was imposed after the Hamas takeover in June 2007.
In Jerusalem, Israel's Cabinet approved a callup of 6,500 reserve soldiers, raising fears of an impending ground offensive. Israel has doubled the number of troops on the Gaza border since Saturday and also deployed an artillery battery
Since Israel's withdrawal from Gaza in 2005, after 38 years of full military occupation, Israeli forces have repeatedly returned to the territory to hunt the resistance.
Israeli leaders said they would press ahead with the Gaza campaign, despite enraged protests across the Arab world and Syria's decision to break off indirect peace talks with the Jewish state. Israel's foreign minister said the goal was to halt Gaza rocket fire on Israel for good, but not to reoccupy the territory.
(The Tripoli Post)
ISRAEL VS NAZI
Israel Applies Nazi Tactics to Hide Crime against Humanity, Prevents Journalists from Entering Gaza
5/1/2009
Applying the Nazis tactic to hide their crimes against humanity, Israel’s Ministry of Defense prevents journalists from entering Gaza to report on its crimes committed against starving 1.5 million. Israel has killed 534 including 107 children and wounded over 2500 many of them seriously.
The Ministry of Defense refused to allow foreign correspondents to cross over from Israel into the Gaza Strip on Monday, despite a court ruling, a representative of the foreign media in Israel said, reported Haaretz online on Monday.
In Gaza, Israel cruel war machine continues to kill children and women as it destroys homes, schools, mosques and public services buildings including police stations, municipalities, hospitals and children play grounds.
The Israeli Supreme Court had ruled last week that eight foreign correspondents could enter the Strip if the Gaza crossings were open to allow humanitarian relief.
According to Haaretz, Israeli officials on Monday, citing security risks, prevented the journalists from entering the Strip when the crossings were opened to allow 200 foreigners to leave the salient.
Israel has allowed no foreign correspondents to enter the Strip from Israel since it began its Operation "Cast Lead" against Hamas on December 27.
On the tenth day of the Israeli aggression on Gaza, Monday 5 Jan. 2009, the toll has reached 534 people dead, including more than 107 children, and over 2500 wounded many of which seriously.
On Monday morning alone, Israel committed three massacres that let to the killing of 18 civilians including 5 children and the two complete families. In one of the families Israel murdered the father, mother and their five children when a tank hit their home.
An Israeli military spokesman said the Israeli army attacked 130 targets in Gaza on Sunday night, meaning more destruction in the tiny strip.
The Israel Foreign Press Association petitioned the Supreme Court on the issue, and Israel agreed to allow a poll of eight journalists into the Strip when the crossings were opened.
Two of the places would be assigned by the Israel Defense Forces, and the other six placed would be decided on the basis of a lottery in the presence of an attorney.
(The Tripoli Post)
5/1/2009
Applying the Nazis tactic to hide their crimes against humanity, Israel’s Ministry of Defense prevents journalists from entering Gaza to report on its crimes committed against starving 1.5 million. Israel has killed 534 including 107 children and wounded over 2500 many of them seriously.
The Ministry of Defense refused to allow foreign correspondents to cross over from Israel into the Gaza Strip on Monday, despite a court ruling, a representative of the foreign media in Israel said, reported Haaretz online on Monday.
In Gaza, Israel cruel war machine continues to kill children and women as it destroys homes, schools, mosques and public services buildings including police stations, municipalities, hospitals and children play grounds.
The Israeli Supreme Court had ruled last week that eight foreign correspondents could enter the Strip if the Gaza crossings were open to allow humanitarian relief.
According to Haaretz, Israeli officials on Monday, citing security risks, prevented the journalists from entering the Strip when the crossings were opened to allow 200 foreigners to leave the salient.
Israel has allowed no foreign correspondents to enter the Strip from Israel since it began its Operation "Cast Lead" against Hamas on December 27.
On the tenth day of the Israeli aggression on Gaza, Monday 5 Jan. 2009, the toll has reached 534 people dead, including more than 107 children, and over 2500 wounded many of which seriously.
On Monday morning alone, Israel committed three massacres that let to the killing of 18 civilians including 5 children and the two complete families. In one of the families Israel murdered the father, mother and their five children when a tank hit their home.
An Israeli military spokesman said the Israeli army attacked 130 targets in Gaza on Sunday night, meaning more destruction in the tiny strip.
The Israel Foreign Press Association petitioned the Supreme Court on the issue, and Israel agreed to allow a poll of eight journalists into the Strip when the crossings were opened.
Two of the places would be assigned by the Israel Defense Forces, and the other six placed would be decided on the basis of a lottery in the presence of an attorney.
(The Tripoli Post)
KEBOHONGAN ISRAEL
Israel’s Lie Machine is Working Flat Out
16/01/2009
Israel goes to great lengths to suppress all mention of the ccupation and play-acts the pathetic victim.
By Stuart Littlewood
While the murderous assault on Gaza continues, I notice there's a briefing document on the website of the Israeli Embassy in London which has a lie in every line. The West's mainstream media repeat them, and even the most senior TV and radio interviewers don’t bother to challenge them.
The document is a transcript of Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni's statement to the Israeli press dated 27 December 2008 – a day that will live in infamy. It is a perfect example of the falsehoods used to dupe not only us westerners but Israel’s own people. The statement shows how the regime's view of itself is constructed on a web of dishonesty and self-delusion.
For example:
• "Israeli citizens have been under the threat of daily attack from Gaza for years."
Palestinians have been under harsh Israeli occupation for 60 years.
• "Only this week hundreds of missiles and mortars shells were fired at Israeli civilian communities."
Only one in 500 Qassam rockets causes a fatality. How many thousands of Israeli bombs, missiles, rockets, grenades and tank-shells have been blasted into the crowded city and towns of the Gaza Strip by Israel’s high-tech weaponry?
• "Until now we have shown restraint. But today there is no other option than a military operation."
The only legitimate option for Israel is to end the occupation and withdraw behind its 1967 border, as required under international law and UN resolution. Israel has been killing Palestinians at the rate of 8 to 1 since 2000, and children at the rate of nearly 12 to 1 (B’Tselem figures). This is somebody’s idea of restraint?
• "We need to protect our citizens from attack through a military response against the terror infrastructure in Gaza."
Self defence is not a right exclusive to Israel. Palestinians have an equal right to protect their citizens from the terror tactics of Israel.
• "Israel left Gaza in order to create an opportunity for peace."
Israel never left Gaza. It still occupies Gaza's airspace and coastal waters and controls all entrances and exits.
• "In return, the Hamas terror organization took control of Gaza and is using its citizens as cover while it deliberately targets Israeli communities and denies any chance for peace."
Hamas was voted into power as the legitimate government of Palestine. Israel chose not to accept the people's choice, which amounted to a denial of their human rights, and immediately set about obliterating it.
• "We have tried everything to reach calm without using force. We agreed to a truce through Egypt that was violated by Hamas, which continued to target Israel, hold Gilad Shalit and build up its arms."
Try talking. The Israelis' ongoing siege and economic blockade, begun shortly after Hamas was elected early in 2006, was never going to generate calm. And why is Shalit considered more important than the 9,000 Palestinians abducted and held prisoner by Israel? As soon as a Hamas government was formed Israeli troops arrested 8 Hamas ministers and 20 other parliamentarians, making the work of government impossible.
• "Israel continues to act to prevent humanitarian crisis and to minimize harm to Palestinian civilians."
Every agency operating in Gaza has warned of the deepening humanitarian crisis and protested about the starvation and suffering, especially of children many of whom show evidence of stunted growth.
• "The responsibility for harm to civilians lies with Hamas."
Not according to the Fourth Geneva Convention.
• "Hamas is a terrorist organization, supported by Iran, that does not represent the legitimate national interests of the Palestinian people but a radical Islamist agenda that seeks to deny peace for the peoples of this region."
Hamas was the popular choice of Palestinians at the last election. It is entitled under international law to take up arms against an illegal occupier and invader. If it is supported by Iran, so what? Israel receives mega-support from the U.S. When it comes to terror, it is Israel's conduct which fits the U.S. definition of terrorism so perfectly - see Bush's Executive Order 13224, Section 3 - http://www.treas.gov/offices/enforcement/ofac/programs/terror/terror.pdf
• "While confronting Hamas, Israel continues to believe in the two State solution and remains committed to negotiations with the legitimate Palestinian Authority in the context of the peace process, launched at Annapolis."
Israel is busy establishing irreversible facts on the ground that make a viable Palestinian state impossible. As everyone knows, the regime has reneged on the peace process and carries on building illegal settlements and the illegal Wall, and demolishing Palestinian homes.
Months ago Hamas accepted a Palestinian state based on internationally recognized (pre-1967) borders, in accordance with UN resolutions, with full sovereignty and its capital in Jerusalem, but this has been ignored. Hamas also offered a 10-year truce, also ignored. Earlier, Arafat and the PLO recognized the State of Israel in the Oslo agreement but what good did it do? Today’s U.S.-backed, Fatah-controlled Palestinian Authority is not representative of the Palestinian people.
• "Israel expects the support and understanding of the international community, as it confronts terror, and advances the interest of all those who wish the forces of peace and co existence to determine the agenda of this region."
Israel, next to the U.S., the biggest purveyor of terror in the region and only advances its own interests. It may get the support of Israel lobby stooges in other western governments but is rapidly earning the contempt of everybody else.
From a statement dated 22 December 2008:
• "Hamas, backed by Iran, has regularly stated its desire to see the complete destruction of Israel."
Israel is itself a leading destroyer and currently engaged in trying to wipe out Hamas and the Gazans. Iran’s Ahmadinajad quoted the late Ayatollah Khomeini as saying that "this regime occupying Jerusalem must vanish from the page of time" - fair comment considering Jerusalem, with Bethlehem, was designated an 'international city' under the UN Partition Plan.
Israeli propaganda twisted the Iranian’s words to read “Israel must be wiped off the map”. Zionist sources and the manifestos of Israeli political parties have made it clear for a long time that Israel plans to wipe Palestine off the map, and every act and lie is directed towards that end.
• "Our fight is not with the people of Gaza; it is with the extremists of Hamas."
Then why does the Israeli navy harass and fire on peaceable Gazan fishermen who are well within their own territorial waters? Why does Israel prevent Palestinian students from taking up places at foreign universities and block hospital spares, medicines, foodstuffs and foreign medics from entering Gaza?
Why has the Israeli navy just rammed a mercy vessel in international waters taking doctors and medicines to Gaza? Latest air-strikes have hit the Islamic University and the ministry of education. These are direct attacks on Gazan civil society and its infrastructure.
• "Hamas started this conflict, and it bears responsibility for any harm to civilians on either side."
The conflict, started by Jewish terrorists, has been going on for 60 years, decades before Hamas came into being.
• "Israel’s only responsibility is to protect Israeli citizens."
As the occupying power Israel has a duty to see that the people of the occupied territories come to no harm.
• "Just as Israel seeks to defend its civilian population, Hamas seeks to kill them."
This reads far better the other way round: “Just as Hamas seeks to defend its civilian population, Israel seeks to kill them.”
• "Rocket attacks have continued for years and are now a daily occurrence. How long does the international community expect Israel will wait before defending itself against them?"
The rocket attacks will end when Israel ends the occupation and stops terrorizing its neighbours.
• "In the south of Israel, Israeli citizens live with air raid sirens sounding every day - sometimes every hour. Their situation is intolerable."
Not half as intolerable as it is for the Gazans, who live in constant fear of air raids and re-invasion and are constantly under surveillance by armed drones which can fire missiles under computer control from an armchair in Israeli headquarters.
• "For years, the international community has turned a blind eye to this onslaught. Only when Israel seeks to stop the rockets do they take notice."
For years the international community has turned a blind eye to Israel's violations of international law and human rights, which is why the problem remains unsolved.
• "Hamas is not only the enemy of Israel - it is the enemy of every Palestinian who believes in peace."
Israelis just can’t come to terms with the Palestinians' democratic choice and are bent on obliterating it.
• "It is Hamas' attacks - not Israel's reactions - that destroy every opportunity we have for peace."
The world has managed to work out by now that Israel doesn't want peace until it has stolen all the land and water it needs to expand its racist state into a ‘Greater Israel’. It is well on the way to achieving this and won’t be thwarted.
• "Palestinian militants targeted by Israel are not just the enemies of the Israeli people; they are criminals under international law, and enemies of peace."
Israel is in no position to preach international law.
• "What is collective punishment? 'Collective punishment' is a city - schools, hospitals, homes - civilians being bombarded every single day by rockets and mortars."
Collective punishment is keeping a whole population bottled up under siege and blocking supplies and exports, smashing their infrastructure, wrecking their economy and starving their children. Trying to equate Sderot with what’s happening in the Gaza Strip is idiotic.
• "Today's Middle East is divided between extremists and pragmatists. Hamas, backed by Iran, belongs to the extremists, who must be defeated for the sake of the future of the Middle East.... Israel’s primary goal is peace."
Israel's primary goal is the expansion of Israel by making the occupation of the West Bank permanent and bringing the Gazans to their knees.
The core issue in this struggle is the illegality of Israel’s brutal occupation. Israel goes to great lengths to avoid and suppress all mention of it and play-acts the pathetic victim. As the official statements (above) show, the strategy is to frame and define the situation in Israel’s own terms regardless of the truth.
It uses advanced propaganda skills, and the elaborate Israel lobby network, to persuade western politicians and media to accept Israel’s version of events (and even use Israel’s biased language) and not question its motives.
In political PR terms it works wonderfully well. The loony leaders of my own government happily spread the poison and don’t seem interested in halting Israeli aggression and the vaporizing, dismembering and crushing of Gaza’s population. In human PR terms it is a disaster.
I have been listening to the BBC’s senior interviewers these last few days. None has had the gumption to ask Israeli spokesmen the only question that matters – the ‘killer’ question on which hangs the key to peace: WHEN IS ISRAEL GOING TO END ITS OCCUPATION AND RETURN TO THE PALESTINIANS THEIR LANDS AND FREEDOM?
About The Author
Stuart Littlewood is author of the book Radio Free Palestine, which tells the plight of the Palestinians under occupation.
(Middle East Online)
(The Tripoli Post)
16/01/2009
Israel goes to great lengths to suppress all mention of the ccupation and play-acts the pathetic victim.
By Stuart Littlewood
While the murderous assault on Gaza continues, I notice there's a briefing document on the website of the Israeli Embassy in London which has a lie in every line. The West's mainstream media repeat them, and even the most senior TV and radio interviewers don’t bother to challenge them.
The document is a transcript of Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni's statement to the Israeli press dated 27 December 2008 – a day that will live in infamy. It is a perfect example of the falsehoods used to dupe not only us westerners but Israel’s own people. The statement shows how the regime's view of itself is constructed on a web of dishonesty and self-delusion.
For example:
• "Israeli citizens have been under the threat of daily attack from Gaza for years."
Palestinians have been under harsh Israeli occupation for 60 years.
• "Only this week hundreds of missiles and mortars shells were fired at Israeli civilian communities."
Only one in 500 Qassam rockets causes a fatality. How many thousands of Israeli bombs, missiles, rockets, grenades and tank-shells have been blasted into the crowded city and towns of the Gaza Strip by Israel’s high-tech weaponry?
• "Until now we have shown restraint. But today there is no other option than a military operation."
The only legitimate option for Israel is to end the occupation and withdraw behind its 1967 border, as required under international law and UN resolution. Israel has been killing Palestinians at the rate of 8 to 1 since 2000, and children at the rate of nearly 12 to 1 (B’Tselem figures). This is somebody’s idea of restraint?
• "We need to protect our citizens from attack through a military response against the terror infrastructure in Gaza."
Self defence is not a right exclusive to Israel. Palestinians have an equal right to protect their citizens from the terror tactics of Israel.
• "Israel left Gaza in order to create an opportunity for peace."
Israel never left Gaza. It still occupies Gaza's airspace and coastal waters and controls all entrances and exits.
• "In return, the Hamas terror organization took control of Gaza and is using its citizens as cover while it deliberately targets Israeli communities and denies any chance for peace."
Hamas was voted into power as the legitimate government of Palestine. Israel chose not to accept the people's choice, which amounted to a denial of their human rights, and immediately set about obliterating it.
• "We have tried everything to reach calm without using force. We agreed to a truce through Egypt that was violated by Hamas, which continued to target Israel, hold Gilad Shalit and build up its arms."
Try talking. The Israelis' ongoing siege and economic blockade, begun shortly after Hamas was elected early in 2006, was never going to generate calm. And why is Shalit considered more important than the 9,000 Palestinians abducted and held prisoner by Israel? As soon as a Hamas government was formed Israeli troops arrested 8 Hamas ministers and 20 other parliamentarians, making the work of government impossible.
• "Israel continues to act to prevent humanitarian crisis and to minimize harm to Palestinian civilians."
Every agency operating in Gaza has warned of the deepening humanitarian crisis and protested about the starvation and suffering, especially of children many of whom show evidence of stunted growth.
• "The responsibility for harm to civilians lies with Hamas."
Not according to the Fourth Geneva Convention.
• "Hamas is a terrorist organization, supported by Iran, that does not represent the legitimate national interests of the Palestinian people but a radical Islamist agenda that seeks to deny peace for the peoples of this region."
Hamas was the popular choice of Palestinians at the last election. It is entitled under international law to take up arms against an illegal occupier and invader. If it is supported by Iran, so what? Israel receives mega-support from the U.S. When it comes to terror, it is Israel's conduct which fits the U.S. definition of terrorism so perfectly - see Bush's Executive Order 13224, Section 3 - http://www.treas.gov/offices/enforcement/ofac/programs/terror/terror.pdf
• "While confronting Hamas, Israel continues to believe in the two State solution and remains committed to negotiations with the legitimate Palestinian Authority in the context of the peace process, launched at Annapolis."
Israel is busy establishing irreversible facts on the ground that make a viable Palestinian state impossible. As everyone knows, the regime has reneged on the peace process and carries on building illegal settlements and the illegal Wall, and demolishing Palestinian homes.
Months ago Hamas accepted a Palestinian state based on internationally recognized (pre-1967) borders, in accordance with UN resolutions, with full sovereignty and its capital in Jerusalem, but this has been ignored. Hamas also offered a 10-year truce, also ignored. Earlier, Arafat and the PLO recognized the State of Israel in the Oslo agreement but what good did it do? Today’s U.S.-backed, Fatah-controlled Palestinian Authority is not representative of the Palestinian people.
• "Israel expects the support and understanding of the international community, as it confronts terror, and advances the interest of all those who wish the forces of peace and co existence to determine the agenda of this region."
Israel, next to the U.S., the biggest purveyor of terror in the region and only advances its own interests. It may get the support of Israel lobby stooges in other western governments but is rapidly earning the contempt of everybody else.
From a statement dated 22 December 2008:
• "Hamas, backed by Iran, has regularly stated its desire to see the complete destruction of Israel."
Israel is itself a leading destroyer and currently engaged in trying to wipe out Hamas and the Gazans. Iran’s Ahmadinajad quoted the late Ayatollah Khomeini as saying that "this regime occupying Jerusalem must vanish from the page of time" - fair comment considering Jerusalem, with Bethlehem, was designated an 'international city' under the UN Partition Plan.
Israeli propaganda twisted the Iranian’s words to read “Israel must be wiped off the map”. Zionist sources and the manifestos of Israeli political parties have made it clear for a long time that Israel plans to wipe Palestine off the map, and every act and lie is directed towards that end.
• "Our fight is not with the people of Gaza; it is with the extremists of Hamas."
Then why does the Israeli navy harass and fire on peaceable Gazan fishermen who are well within their own territorial waters? Why does Israel prevent Palestinian students from taking up places at foreign universities and block hospital spares, medicines, foodstuffs and foreign medics from entering Gaza?
Why has the Israeli navy just rammed a mercy vessel in international waters taking doctors and medicines to Gaza? Latest air-strikes have hit the Islamic University and the ministry of education. These are direct attacks on Gazan civil society and its infrastructure.
• "Hamas started this conflict, and it bears responsibility for any harm to civilians on either side."
The conflict, started by Jewish terrorists, has been going on for 60 years, decades before Hamas came into being.
• "Israel’s only responsibility is to protect Israeli citizens."
As the occupying power Israel has a duty to see that the people of the occupied territories come to no harm.
• "Just as Israel seeks to defend its civilian population, Hamas seeks to kill them."
This reads far better the other way round: “Just as Hamas seeks to defend its civilian population, Israel seeks to kill them.”
• "Rocket attacks have continued for years and are now a daily occurrence. How long does the international community expect Israel will wait before defending itself against them?"
The rocket attacks will end when Israel ends the occupation and stops terrorizing its neighbours.
• "In the south of Israel, Israeli citizens live with air raid sirens sounding every day - sometimes every hour. Their situation is intolerable."
Not half as intolerable as it is for the Gazans, who live in constant fear of air raids and re-invasion and are constantly under surveillance by armed drones which can fire missiles under computer control from an armchair in Israeli headquarters.
• "For years, the international community has turned a blind eye to this onslaught. Only when Israel seeks to stop the rockets do they take notice."
For years the international community has turned a blind eye to Israel's violations of international law and human rights, which is why the problem remains unsolved.
• "Hamas is not only the enemy of Israel - it is the enemy of every Palestinian who believes in peace."
Israelis just can’t come to terms with the Palestinians' democratic choice and are bent on obliterating it.
• "It is Hamas' attacks - not Israel's reactions - that destroy every opportunity we have for peace."
The world has managed to work out by now that Israel doesn't want peace until it has stolen all the land and water it needs to expand its racist state into a ‘Greater Israel’. It is well on the way to achieving this and won’t be thwarted.
• "Palestinian militants targeted by Israel are not just the enemies of the Israeli people; they are criminals under international law, and enemies of peace."
Israel is in no position to preach international law.
• "What is collective punishment? 'Collective punishment' is a city - schools, hospitals, homes - civilians being bombarded every single day by rockets and mortars."
Collective punishment is keeping a whole population bottled up under siege and blocking supplies and exports, smashing their infrastructure, wrecking their economy and starving their children. Trying to equate Sderot with what’s happening in the Gaza Strip is idiotic.
• "Today's Middle East is divided between extremists and pragmatists. Hamas, backed by Iran, belongs to the extremists, who must be defeated for the sake of the future of the Middle East.... Israel’s primary goal is peace."
Israel's primary goal is the expansion of Israel by making the occupation of the West Bank permanent and bringing the Gazans to their knees.
The core issue in this struggle is the illegality of Israel’s brutal occupation. Israel goes to great lengths to avoid and suppress all mention of it and play-acts the pathetic victim. As the official statements (above) show, the strategy is to frame and define the situation in Israel’s own terms regardless of the truth.
It uses advanced propaganda skills, and the elaborate Israel lobby network, to persuade western politicians and media to accept Israel’s version of events (and even use Israel’s biased language) and not question its motives.
In political PR terms it works wonderfully well. The loony leaders of my own government happily spread the poison and don’t seem interested in halting Israeli aggression and the vaporizing, dismembering and crushing of Gaza’s population. In human PR terms it is a disaster.
I have been listening to the BBC’s senior interviewers these last few days. None has had the gumption to ask Israeli spokesmen the only question that matters – the ‘killer’ question on which hangs the key to peace: WHEN IS ISRAEL GOING TO END ITS OCCUPATION AND RETURN TO THE PALESTINIANS THEIR LANDS AND FREEDOM?
About The Author
Stuart Littlewood is author of the book Radio Free Palestine, which tells the plight of the Palestinians under occupation.
(Middle East Online)
(The Tripoli Post)
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