Friday, September 23, 2011


Just click the links below to see the full story. 

Denmark
Danish Mega-Mosque Funded by Iran - Soeren Kern (Hudson New York)
In Europe, Ahlul Beit mosques are usually presented to the general public as centers for cultural and sports activities, but in practice they are often used by Iranian intelligence to monitor Iranians living abroad as well as to harass Iranian dissidents.

Egypt
Egypt Rewards Violence, Paves the Way for More - Khaled Abu Toameh (Hudson New York)
Report: Egyptian Politicians Involved in Israeli Embassy Attack - Yousry el Badry (Al-Masry Al-Youm-Egypt)

Israel 
Quartet: Israel Showing Flexibility as Palestinian Recognition Bid Approaches - Barak Ravid (Ha'aretzThe problem is not the Israeli prime minister, who has demonstrated a positive approach, but rather with Abbas, who has rejected every suggestion presented to him, a Blair associate said. 
Don't Be Misled - Israel Wants Peace (HonestReportingVideo)

Jordan
The only voice opposing the storming of the Cairo embassy and attempting to cool the enthusiasm it generated in Jordan was that of Saleh Qallab, director of Jordan's broadcasting authority and former Jordanian information minister.

Libya
Fleeing Syrian activists are finding a haven in Libya - Hannah Allam (McClatchy Newspapers)

PA
I'm sure you've been reading about the PA bid for statehood at the UN. Here's some background: Palestinians Rejected Statehood 3 Times, But Claim Frustration with Israel. In 2008, present leader Mahmoud Abbas rejected Ehud Olmert's peace plan. Just as his predecessor, Yasir Arafat, rejected President Clinton's plan in 2000 (which Israeli PM Ehud Barak accepted). As for Palestinian frustration, they may indeed be frustrated with more than 18 years of on-again, off-again negotiations, but the question is with whom should they be frustrated – Israel, or their own leaders? Olmert's plan would have annexed the major Israeli settlements to Israel and in return given equivalent Israeli territory to the Palestinians, and would have divided Jerusalem. Numerous settlements including Ofra, Elon Moreh, Beit El and Kiryat Arba would have been evacuated, and Hebron would have been abandoned. Tens of thousands of settlers would have been uprooted. Olmert even says preliminary agreement had been reached with Abbas on refugees and the Palestinian claim to a "right of return." Olmert recounted much of this in an interview with Greg Sheridan in the Australian and Abbas confirmed this in an interview with Jackson Diehl of the Washington Post.

Syria


Yemen
US airstrikes kill AQAP fighters in southern Yemen - Bill Roggio (The Long War Journal)