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What a bunch of phoney-baloney…As former head of Israel’s Mossad Ben-Levy just said on the radio…Obama and the US certainly know that there is not a snowball’s chance in Florida of successful peace talks with the palestinians. They know that the palestinians are not at all serious about making peace with Israel. But Obama has another agenda, which he clearly stated at the beginning of his term. He does NOT want to be perceived as an enemy of Islam and the Moslem countries, which by definition makes friendship with America’s best friend, Israel, problematic. So Obama MUST be seen as furthering the palestinians’ alleged goal of carving a state out of Israel’s territory, which means peace talks, however futile they may be.
I would assume that Israel’s leadership is also well aware of this. At least Netanyahu is…Coalition member Labor Party head and Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak might be another story…

Biden holds Palestinian talks after condemning Israel


The US vice-president Joe Biden is holding talks with Palestinian leaders, a day after condemning Israel’s announcement of 1,600 new homes for Jewish settlers in east Jerusalem.

Reprinted from ABC News Australia Anne Barker

Israel’s announcement coincided with Mr Biden’s arrival and came days after Palestinians agreed to re-enter indirect peace talks with Israel.

The vice-president condemned the decision, saying it undermined the trust needed on both sides. He displayed his anger by turning up 90 minutes late to a dinner with Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Israel’s own defence ministry also blasted the move, saying it would affect peace negotiations with the Palestinians.

Mr Biden has since held talks with Palestinian leaders in the West Bank, who say Israel’s decision is dangerous because it will hinder negotiations.

Palestinians want East Jerusalem as their capital in a future state.

If you don’t believe it, just ask the terrorists sitting in prison waiting for the next release of prisoners…the next “good-will” gesture on Israel’s part…the next “confidence-building measures” imposed on Israel by the US and Europe. Or, more likely, the next exchange of a zillion palestinian terrorist prisoners for one innocent Israeli captive, dead (G-d forbid) or alive.
They are seriously talking about releasing this guy, even though he has publicly announced that he fully intends to return to murdering and maiming innocent Israelis. So far, Netanyahu and the Israeli government is standing strong against the insanity of releasing these murderers, but we’ll see…It ain’t over till it’s over…

Abdullah Barghouti: I will keep fighting occupation


Hamas ‘engineer’, who was sentenced to 67 life terms for several deadly terror attacks, says PM Netanyahu sabotaged execution of prisoner swap securing Gilad Shalit’s release. ‘He is far more concerned with Kadima’

Reprinted from YNet News Sharon Roffe-Ofir

Abdullah Iyad Barghouti, who has been mentioned as one of the Hamas officials currently jailed in Israel that the organization demands in return for the release of Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, does not believe he will be freed in the near future, and blames Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for sabotaging the deal.

“There is no way the deal will be executed soon, Netanyahu does not want to execute the deal, he is busy with many other things,” Barghouti said Sunday afternoon at a hearing on the conditions of his imprisonment at the Nazareth District Court. The hearing addressed whether or not Barghouti should remain in confinement.

After he told the court that there is “no way” he believes in the Israeli court system, he responded to questions by reporters – in fluent Hebrew. He stated that if he were to be released, he would continue to “fight the occupation.” When asked if he was referring only to the occupation in Gaza or in other places, such as Nazareth, he said: “The occupation in all of Palestine”.

Barghouti answering questioning in court on Sunday (Photo: Hagai Aharon)

Of the prisoner exchange deal he said, “I was the third name in the deal, Marwan Barghouti and Ahmad Saadat were before me. Hagai Hadas signed, the German mediator signed, and Hamas signed. When it reached Netanyahu, he zigzagged and caved. He is more concerned with other things. For example, he is far more concerned with Kadima.”

In response to a question on the captive soldier’s condition, he said, “As far as I know he is 100% okay, he is normal, he eats, he drinks, he sleeps. We do not hurt our prisoners.”

Barghouti, a relative of jailed Fatah leader Marwan Barghouti but a member of the rival Hamas organization, is considered the movement’s “engineer”. He was convicted of involvement in terror attacks that claimed many victims, including the suicide attacks in Café Moment and Sbarro in Jerusalem, the Sheffield Club in Rishon Lezion, and the bus 4 line in Tel Aviv.

In total, Barghouti was responsible for the murder of 66 Israelis and the injury of some 500. In 2004 Barghouti was sentenced to 67 life sentences.

In the past two years Barghouti’s name has come up repeatedly as one of the “four officials” that Israel refuses to release and that make up the main obstacle standing before the completion of a prisoner swap. The list also includes Marwan Barghouti, Ahmad Saadat and Hamas member Ibrahim Hamed, who is considered head of the organization’s military wing in the West Bank.

According to other reports, the list of prisoners Israel refuses to release includes other members of Hamas’ military wing such as Abbas a-Sayed, Jamal Abu al-Hija, Hassan Salameh and a number of female terrorist.

Some countries would call this treason, like, for instance, any Arab country in the Middle East that Mr. Copti might choose to live in.(but he doesn’t…he chooses Israel) He is, in fact, a citizen of the State of Israel. Israel, by the way, helped fund this film which is giving Copti his 15 minutes of fame. He had no problem accepting the money and all the benefits of Israeli citizenship. He chooses to live in Israel, not anywhere else, as do all of the Arab citizens of the Jewish State. No one is keeping them here against their will.
How about a little grace? How about a little thankfulness for all the good you have received from your country?
You seem to be taking your freedom and human rights in Israel a bit for granted…
Copti says he doesn’t represent his home country,,the country that facilitated his advance in the movie industry and helped finance his film. I wonder just exactly who he DOES represent?…I guess just old selfish himself…

‘Ajami’ director: I don’t represent Israel


‘I cannot represent a state that does not represent me,’ Scandar Copti says just hours before Academy Awards ceremony

Reprinted from YNet News

“Ajami” co-director Scandar Copti said Sunday that he is not representing Israel at the Academy Awards ceremony in Hollywood, just hours before his film competes in the best foreign film category.

“I am not the Israeli team and I am not representing Israel,” Copti told Channel 2. “It’s a very technical thing. This is how it works at the Oscars. It says Israel because the money comes from Israel. You have an Israeli director, you have a Palestinian director, you have Palestinian actors and Israeli actors.

International Success
‘Ajami’ gets real, aims for Oscar / Reuters
None of Israeli film’s actors imagined low-budget drama would earn nomination for best foreign language film at Academy Awards. Directors’ strategy was to find first-time actors who shared similar backgrounds with characters and who would infuse roles with real-life experience
Full story

“The film represents Israel technically, but I don’t represent Israel. I cannot represent a country that does not represent me.”

Yaron Shani, the film’s other co-director, does not agree with Copti. “It’s an Israeli film. It represents Israel, it speaks in the Israeli language and it deals with Israeli problems. The representation question refers to problems of perspectives and political problems which need to be solved,” Shani said in the same interview.

Following the remarks, Science and Technology Minister Daniel Herkowitz (Habayit Hayehudi) called on Culture and Sports Minister Limor Livnat to launch an inquiry into the film’s funding by the State of Israel.

“The person who directed the film with Israeli funding may cover himself with Hamas flags tonight. If the film wins an Oscar, this may be a Pyrrhic victory for the State of Israel,” the minister said.

In response to Copti’s remairs, Minister Livnat said, “The film ‘Ajami’ was produced and received an Oscar nomination thanks to funds from the State of Israel, which Scandar Copti now tries to renounce. Without the State’s support, Copti would not be walking on the red carpet tonight.”

She added, “It’s sad that a director who was supported by the State is renouncing those that made it possible for him to create and express himself. Fortunately, all the others who had a part in the film’s creation consider themselves part of the State of Israel and are proud to represent it.”

The film’s directors and stars attended several Hollywood events over the weekend ahead of Sunday night’s ceremony. Copti told Ynet earlier that winning was not the most important thing for him.

“It would be nice to get the prize, but we don’t need it. It’s not a must,” he said.

“Ajami” will be competing in the best foreign-language film category against “El Secreto de Sus Ojos” from Argentina, “The Milk of Sorrow” from Peru, “Un Prophete” from France, and “The White Ribbon” from Germany. It is the ninth Israeli movie to be nominated for an Oscar in this category.

The US vice president, Joe Biden, is here, in the Middle East to work on re-starting peace talks between Isrel and the palestinians. He is meeting the palestinians, the so-called “moderate” palestiniian leadership, in Ramallah, where they are about to dedicate a public square to a terrorist that murdered 37 innocent Israelis.
1. What kind of peace partner is this for Israel?
2. This is what you call “moderate” palestinian leadership?
3. How can any peace-loving country be expected to talk peace with an entity that honors mass murderers by naming public places after them?
4. Joe Biden, what the heck are YOU doing visiting this place at this time????

VP Biden’s schedule details: visiting Ramallah day before PA officials dedicate square there honoring murderer of 37 civilians (live internet feed of speech to Israelis)


Thursday, March 11th At 11:30 AM local time (4:30 AM ET) the Vice President
will a deliver a speech at Tel Aviv University entitled “The Enduring
Partnership Between the United States and Israel.” Afterwards, the Vice
President will answer questions from university students in the audience.
The Vice President’s speech will be streamed LIVE at:
www.justin.tv/shimongx#r=w7MdF4U~

Reprinted from IMRA

PA to name square for murderer of 37
on anniversary of her attack


Another chapter is unfolding in the ongoing confrontation between Israel and the Palestinian Authority over the naming of a square after the terrorist Dalal Mughrabi. In December, Palestinian Media Watch publicized that the Municipality of Ramallah planned to name a public square in honor of the terrorist Dalal Mughrabi, who led the worst terror attack in Israel’s history when she and other terrorists hijacked a bus and murdered 37 civilians in 1978. Prime Minister Netanyahu immediately protested to the US and sharply criticized the PA for its intention to name the square in Ramallah “after a terrorist who killed dozens of Israelis.”

Reprinted from Palestinian Media Watch
by Itamar Marcus and Nan Jacques Zilberdik

The official PA daily newspaper reports today that the PA has chosen to ignore PM Netanyahu’s criticism and protests to the US. Not only does it still intend to name the square after the terrorist, but the date chosen for the inaugural ceremony is this Thursday, March 11, the 32nd anniversary of the terror attack.

Since PMW’s exposure of the story, PA leaders have repeatedly rejected PM Netanyahu’s criticism while defending the practice of honoring murderers, whom they honor as Martyrs (Shahids). PA chairman Mahmoud Abbas also referred to the terror attack as “military activities.”

See the timeline of the ongoing dispute below.

After PMW’s exposure of the PA’s naming of the square in December, Israeli PM Netanyahu protested and condemned the intention:

“Today, and a week ago, senior officials from the Prime Minister’s office conveyed a protest to the US against Mahmoud Abbas… that the governor of Ramallah named a square in her [Mughrabi's] honor.”
[Israeli News Channel 2, Jan. 7, 2010]
“Whoever sponsors and supports naming a square in Ramallah in honor of a terrorist who murdered dozens of Israelis on the Coastal Road – encourages terror.”
[Galei Zahal, (IDF radio), Jan. 10, 2010]

Today the official PA daily reports that the Municipality is continuing with this Thursday’s inauguration:

Headline: “Preparations for inauguration of Shahida (Martyr) Dalal Mughrabi Square complete”
“The El-Bireh Municipality has completed construction work at the Shahida (Martyr) Dalal Mughrabi Square in the Um Al-Sharait region, and has commenced preparations for its inauguration this Thursday, the anniversary of Mughrabi’s Martyrdom. The mayor, Jamal Al-Tawil, said that… this year the municipality will celebrate the inauguration of the Shahida (Martyr) Dalal Mughrabi Square in order to commemorate her memory and her sacrifice as a Palestinian woman who resisted the occupation. City Council member Aida Abu-Ubeid said that the square is considered a symbol of the sacrifice of the Palestinian woman. She also noted that flowers and trees will be planted there, and that a picture of the Shahida Dalal Mughrabi will be placed at the center of the square.”
[Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, March 7, 2010]

There has been no public comment from the Obama administration about the PA’s honoring of the terrorist.

Timeline on Dalal Mughrabi Square debate:

Dec. 31, 2009: PMW releases story of PA’s intention to name square after Mughrabi
Click to view PMW’s release of PA’s naming of square after terrorist.

Jan. 7, 2010: PM Netanyahu protests PA’s honoring Mughrabi to the US
“Today, and a week ago, senior officials from the Prime Minister’s office conveyed a protest to the US against Mahmoud Abbas… that the governor of Ramallah named a square in her [Mughrabi's] honor.”
[Israeli News Channel 2]

Jan. 10: PM Netanyahu opens cabinet meeting with criticism of PA’s honoring Mughrabi
“Whoever sponsors and supports naming a square in Ramallah in honor of a terrorist who murdered dozens of Israelis on the Coastal Road – encourages terror.”
[Galei Zahal, (IDF radio), Jan. 10, 2010]

Jan. 11: PA Minister of Culture, Siham Barghouti, rejects Netanyahu’s protest
“Honoring them this way [by naming places after Martyrs] is the least we can give them, and this is our right.”
[Al-Ayyam, Jan. 11, 2010]

Jan. 17: PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas rejects Netanyahu’s protest
“I do not deny [the naming]. Of course we want to name a square after her [Mughrabi]… [We] carried out military activities; can I then later renounce all that we have done? No, I don’t renounce it.”
[Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, Jan. 17, 2010]

Feb. 3: Ashraf Ajrami, former PA Minister of Prisoners’ Affairs, defends naming
“[PA] talk about Shahids (Martyrs) is considered, from their [Israel's] point of view, extremism and support for terror… Likewise, naming a square after Dalal Mughrabi is [according to Israel] reason for criticism and attack.”
[Al-Ayyam, Feb. 3, 2010]

Feb. 25: Mahmoud Al-Aloul, General Commissioner for Recruitment and Organization, emphasizes importance of naming
“Mahmoud Al-Aloul, member of the Fatah Central Committee and General Commissioner for Recruitment and Organization, emphasized that it is important to continue commemorating the memory of the Shahids (Martyrs) and the Palestinian acts of heroism, and most importantly the anniversary of the Martyrdom of Dalal Mughrabi, heroine of the Coastal Road operation [terror attack], which falls on March 11th each year.”
[Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, Feb. 25, 2010]

Today, March 7: PA daily announces Thursday’s inauguration of square
“The El-Bireh Municipality has completed construction work at the Shahida (Martyr) Dalal Mughrabi Square … and has commenced preparations for its inauguration this Thursday, the anniversary of Mughrabi’s Martyrdom… City Council member Aida Abu-Ubeid said that the square is considered a symbol of the sacrifice of the Palestinian woman. She also noted that flowers and trees will be planted there, and that a picture of the Shahida Dalal Mughrabi will be placed at the center of the square.”
[Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, March 7, 2010

Since gay men are also prosecuted by the Islamic extremists in the Hamas government, I guess this ban is aimed at the straight male palestinian hairdressers…But then again, the Islamic sharia law in Gaza requires all women to have their hair completely covered at all times, so what are these guys dressing, anyway?

Hamas bans men from working in women’s hairdressers

The Palestinian Islamist group Hamas has banned men in the Gaza Strip from working in women’s hair salons, vowing to arrest and try offenders

Reprinted from Telegraph.co.uk

“The Palestinian authorities (in Gaza) have decided to ban men from working in women’s beauty parlours following instructions from Interior Minister Fathi Hammad,” said a statement on the website of the Hamas-run police force in Gaza.

“Anyone who breaches this decision will be arrested and tried.”

The announcement is part of a campaign by Hamas to introduce more Islamic customs to the Gaza Strip.

The majority of Gaza residents are conservative Muslims, but Hamas is under growing pressure from radical groups to prove its fundamentalist credentials by imposing harsher edicts.

Women are forbidden from showing their hair in public to men who are not in their family.

Over the last three years, several beauty parlours and hair salons in the Gaza Strip have been the target of explosions and other attacks, which Hamas have blamed on radical Islamist groups who share the ideology of al Qaeda.

Such groups seek to defy Hamas rule in Gaza and criticise its leaders for not implementing strict Islamic law.

There’s something extremely un-natural about this…How can it be?…Can you imagine ANY Jewish mother feeling this way about her child?…How has such a culture of death and hatred developed?…Where is the love?
You MUST see these videos
(thanks to the great work of Palestinian Media Watch…click on headline to visit their site)

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This latest travesty of a peace plan calls for more scheduled, concrete Israeli security concessions, while “demanding” reciprocal photo ops and declarations on the palestinian terrorist side..All Israel has to do is provide her sworn enemies with weapons and means for smuggling terrorists in and out of Israeli territory…The terrorists have to “really try hard” and REALLY mean it when they say that they are going to stop killing and maiming Israelis…A close-up look at the realities of the new US proposal…All this and more on “The Marty Roberts Show”…

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