Construction firm CEO who has been working in Israel for 16 years says Erdogan ruining business
Ynet
Published: 06.24.10, 09:16 / Israel Business
A Turkish construction company has become the first to renounce Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan for his public anti-Israeli remarks, which the company says is damaging its business in Israel, Bloomberg reported Wednesday.
CEO of Yilmazlar Holdings, Ahmet Reyiz Yılmaz, said the company would be suing Erdogan for his part in causing an Israeli judge to freeze $2.6 million of the company's assets at an Israeli bank last week.
“The reason was only the politics of our prime minister,” Yilmaz told Bloomberg. “He has a responsibility to his country, and he cannot say irresponsible things.”
Yilmaz said the judge had cited one of the Turkish prime minister's speeches as the reason for the verdict, saying it sparked concern that Turkish companies would be forced to leave Israel soon.
The judicial system in Israel was unfamiliar with Yilmaz's case. "To the best of my knowledge, the Israeli government has not frozen the assets of any Turkish company because of a remark by the Turkish government," an official government source told Ynet.
"Especially since the Turkish government has not yet made any moves to act on its declaration that it would freeze joint business projects, and as far as we know it never will," the source added.
Yilmaz, who has earned the title of "Israeli Ahmet" with his business partners in the country, has been working in Israel for 16 years. Among other things, he has been involved in the construction of the YOO tower and the square Azrieli tower in Tel Aviv, as well as the controversial Holyland complex in Jerusalem.
Yilmaz has not been mentioned in the Holyland bribe scandal, but his name did make headlines in 2002, when an affair called 'Tanks for Turks' was made public.
The affair centered on an agreement signed between the Israeli Military Industries and the Turkish
government, for a $700 million overhaul of the latter's tanks. In return, IMI was to buy $200 million worth of Turkish military equipment and the state vowed to grant work visas to 800 of Yilmaz's workers.
The deal was criticized by foreign workers' organizations, who claimed it was condoning human trafficking, as well as others who claimed the two governments were favoring Yilmaz's company. However all petitions against it were eventually denied, and the agreement was carried through.
Tani Goldstien and Avital Lahav contributed to this report
source:http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3910037,00.html
Thursday, June 24, 2010
Experts: Ofek 9 will detect Iranian activity
Following successful launch of spy satellite, chairman of Israel Space Agency tells Ynet no country will be able to conduct secret operations in Middle East
Aviel Magnezi
Published: 06.24.10, 00:53 / Israel News
The chairman of the Israel Space Agency (ISA) says the new Ofek 9 spy satellite will be able to detect any material transferred by the Iranians.
Experts explain that Israeli satellite, which was successfully launched Tuesday evening, will be able to broadcast images from around the world within days. Its abilities, they say, are much higher than what has been cleared for publication.
"With Ofek 9, Israel now has about 10 satellites working in a joint system – a commercial amount," ISA Chairman Isaac Ben-Israel told Ynet on Wednesday night. "One of them completes a round every 90 minutes, then the second one comes along, then the third one, and so on. At a given moment, there is not one place which interests us in the Middle East and is not being shot.
"In fact, a country will not be able to conduct any secret operations in the Middle East without the area being covered by one of our satellites, as there are no longer such moments. Iran won't be able to transfer different materials without us noticing," Ben-Israel explained.
The satellite, he said, was has been launched to a spot located 40 degrees north and south of the Equator, focusing on the Middle East and the southern half of the globe, "so that we can basically air all the World Cup games from South Africa."
Ben-Israel explained that although the official publications talk about 70-centimeter (2-feet) objects which can be seen, in practice the abilities are much higher and the satellite can even detect objects carrying people.
'Only US comes before Israel'
"There are satellites with optic cameras, and Ofek 9 has a radar camera which can see beyond clouds and networks," Ben-Israel explained. He noted that the satellite, which would likely be launched next year, will be able to provide some answers on the Iranian nuclear facility in Bushehr.
"There are seven independent countries in space, and in terms of quality and technology only the United States comes before Israel," he said.
Tal Inbar, head of the Space Research Center at the Fisher Institute for Air and Space Strategic Studies, says Ofek 9 would be used by Israel for many years.
"Satellites of this type can live 10 years," he said. "Ofek 5, for example, has been in space since 2002. A lot of it depends on the satellite's altitude above the earth, but all the Israeli satellites work better and live more than planned."
Inbar said the new satellite was a case of Israeli pride. "Ofek 9 was built in Israel and all of its components were made in Israel. It was built in the Israel Aerospace Industries and the camera was made by an Israeli company.
"Within days, after the camera is calibrated and checked, we will be able to watch images from the new satellite. Every such satellite is another step towards a situation in which we can watch anywhere, anytime."
source:http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3909935,00.html
Aviel Magnezi
Published: 06.24.10, 00:53 / Israel News
The chairman of the Israel Space Agency (ISA) says the new Ofek 9 spy satellite will be able to detect any material transferred by the Iranians.
Experts explain that Israeli satellite, which was successfully launched Tuesday evening, will be able to broadcast images from around the world within days. Its abilities, they say, are much higher than what has been cleared for publication.
"With Ofek 9, Israel now has about 10 satellites working in a joint system – a commercial amount," ISA Chairman Isaac Ben-Israel told Ynet on Wednesday night. "One of them completes a round every 90 minutes, then the second one comes along, then the third one, and so on. At a given moment, there is not one place which interests us in the Middle East and is not being shot.
"In fact, a country will not be able to conduct any secret operations in the Middle East without the area being covered by one of our satellites, as there are no longer such moments. Iran won't be able to transfer different materials without us noticing," Ben-Israel explained.
The satellite, he said, was has been launched to a spot located 40 degrees north and south of the Equator, focusing on the Middle East and the southern half of the globe, "so that we can basically air all the World Cup games from South Africa."
Ben-Israel explained that although the official publications talk about 70-centimeter (2-feet) objects which can be seen, in practice the abilities are much higher and the satellite can even detect objects carrying people.
'Only US comes before Israel'
"There are satellites with optic cameras, and Ofek 9 has a radar camera which can see beyond clouds and networks," Ben-Israel explained. He noted that the satellite, which would likely be launched next year, will be able to provide some answers on the Iranian nuclear facility in Bushehr.
"There are seven independent countries in space, and in terms of quality and technology only the United States comes before Israel," he said.
Tal Inbar, head of the Space Research Center at the Fisher Institute for Air and Space Strategic Studies, says Ofek 9 would be used by Israel for many years.
"Satellites of this type can live 10 years," he said. "Ofek 5, for example, has been in space since 2002. A lot of it depends on the satellite's altitude above the earth, but all the Israeli satellites work better and live more than planned."
Inbar said the new satellite was a case of Israeli pride. "Ofek 9 was built in Israel and all of its components were made in Israel. It was built in the Israel Aerospace Industries and the camera was made by an Israeli company.
"Within days, after the camera is calibrated and checked, we will be able to watch images from the new satellite. Every such satellite is another step towards a situation in which we can watch anywhere, anytime."
source:http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3909935,00.html
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Believing in the exclusivity of Christ is not arrogant, says pastor
by Audrey Barrick, Christian PostPosted: Tuesday, June 22, 2010, 11:05 (BST)
"In a context where there is no truth but only truths, no principles but only preferences, we face the challenge of being regarded as arrogant for proclaiming Jesus," says a Cleveland, Ohio, pastor.
Dr Alistair Begg, who is senior pastor of Parkside Church and hosts "Truth for Life" radio, was answering the question "Is the exclusivity of Christ unjust?" when he made the statement.
He spoke to some 4,000 people at Ligonier Ministries' national conference in Orlando, Florida. The theme of the June 17-19 event was "Tough Questions Christians Face".
The Bible affirms that there is only one way to God and one mediator, Begg said. And that is Christ Jesus.
"If we're going to take seriously the instruction of the Bible ... as believing Christian people we accept the fact that Jesus' name is above every name and that all of history is moving towards the day when at the name of Jesus every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father," he said in his session on Friday.
Two thousand years ago, the affirmation of the exclusive claims of Jesus resulted in the death of those who held to it. Today, while there may not be physical persecution for believers in America, there certainly is intellectual and social persecution, Begg said.
To suggest that Christianity has got it right and that others have got it wrong comes off as arrogant to many.
Begg acknowledged that some Christians' affirmations are "justifiably charged as arrogant – not the truth itself but the way that truth is conveyed".
But in general, he said, "We need to understand that truth is not a matter of pride or humility. It's a matter of fact."
Christians are often also accused of being narrow and intolerant for proclaiming Jesus as the only way to salvation.
Many, however, have redefined the term tolerance, Begg noted.
"What we need is a dictionary. We need to rescue 'tolerance' from the mistaken notion that tolerance means accepting every viewpoint as equally true and value," he said.
That new "tolerance" "cultivates a mind so broad that it can tolerate every opinion without ever detecting anything in it to reject." That, he said, is "not a virtue but the vice of the feeble-minded".
"True tolerance," he explained, "involves treating with integrity and humility someone whose opinions I believe to be untrue and invalid."
"Therefore, to be a tolerant Christian doesn't mean accepting contrary views as valid but treating with grace and kindness those with whom you disagree," he added.
Begg laid emphasis on the fact that Christianity makes affirmations no other religion makes, such as God becoming flesh and Christ suffering and dying the death that everyone deserves.
"The uniqueness of Jesus is inescapable. Christianity is superior or it is totally irrelevant," he said.
Though the world and culture say that all the "stories" of various religions are equally valid and that there is no overarching story, the Bible says otherwise.
"The entire story is the story of our alienation and the wonder of God's reconciliation," said Begg.
"The alienations of our world today, which don't have to be argued for, they jump out on us don't they? – a man alienated from his wife, parents from their children ... governments from their people, man from himself.
"... Is it unjust, it is unfair to say 'Do you know there is someone who has come to deal with your alienation? Do you know that there is someone who has come and has himself taken all of your alienation in him?
"Do you know that the story that we have for you is not the story of a God on a deck chair somewhere but it is the story of a God on a cross?'"
Begg added, "It won't do for us to offer our friends ... a God who does everything in general and nothing in particular. It sounds appealing but it's irrelevant."
Other topics covered during the Ligonier conference include "Why did Jesus have to die?" "Is the doctrine of inerrancy defensible?" "What is evil and where did it come from?" and "Why do Christians still sin?"
source:http://www.christiantoday.com/article/believing.in.the.exclusivity.of.christ.is.not.arrogant.says.pastor/26150.htm
"In a context where there is no truth but only truths, no principles but only preferences, we face the challenge of being regarded as arrogant for proclaiming Jesus," says a Cleveland, Ohio, pastor.
Dr Alistair Begg, who is senior pastor of Parkside Church and hosts "Truth for Life" radio, was answering the question "Is the exclusivity of Christ unjust?" when he made the statement.
He spoke to some 4,000 people at Ligonier Ministries' national conference in Orlando, Florida. The theme of the June 17-19 event was "Tough Questions Christians Face".
The Bible affirms that there is only one way to God and one mediator, Begg said. And that is Christ Jesus.
"If we're going to take seriously the instruction of the Bible ... as believing Christian people we accept the fact that Jesus' name is above every name and that all of history is moving towards the day when at the name of Jesus every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father," he said in his session on Friday.
Two thousand years ago, the affirmation of the exclusive claims of Jesus resulted in the death of those who held to it. Today, while there may not be physical persecution for believers in America, there certainly is intellectual and social persecution, Begg said.
To suggest that Christianity has got it right and that others have got it wrong comes off as arrogant to many.
Begg acknowledged that some Christians' affirmations are "justifiably charged as arrogant – not the truth itself but the way that truth is conveyed".
But in general, he said, "We need to understand that truth is not a matter of pride or humility. It's a matter of fact."
Christians are often also accused of being narrow and intolerant for proclaiming Jesus as the only way to salvation.
Many, however, have redefined the term tolerance, Begg noted.
"What we need is a dictionary. We need to rescue 'tolerance' from the mistaken notion that tolerance means accepting every viewpoint as equally true and value," he said.
That new "tolerance" "cultivates a mind so broad that it can tolerate every opinion without ever detecting anything in it to reject." That, he said, is "not a virtue but the vice of the feeble-minded".
"True tolerance," he explained, "involves treating with integrity and humility someone whose opinions I believe to be untrue and invalid."
"Therefore, to be a tolerant Christian doesn't mean accepting contrary views as valid but treating with grace and kindness those with whom you disagree," he added.
Begg laid emphasis on the fact that Christianity makes affirmations no other religion makes, such as God becoming flesh and Christ suffering and dying the death that everyone deserves.
"The uniqueness of Jesus is inescapable. Christianity is superior or it is totally irrelevant," he said.
Though the world and culture say that all the "stories" of various religions are equally valid and that there is no overarching story, the Bible says otherwise.
"The entire story is the story of our alienation and the wonder of God's reconciliation," said Begg.
"The alienations of our world today, which don't have to be argued for, they jump out on us don't they? – a man alienated from his wife, parents from their children ... governments from their people, man from himself.
"... Is it unjust, it is unfair to say 'Do you know there is someone who has come to deal with your alienation? Do you know that there is someone who has come and has himself taken all of your alienation in him?
"Do you know that the story that we have for you is not the story of a God on a deck chair somewhere but it is the story of a God on a cross?'"
Begg added, "It won't do for us to offer our friends ... a God who does everything in general and nothing in particular. It sounds appealing but it's irrelevant."
Other topics covered during the Ligonier conference include "Why did Jesus have to die?" "Is the doctrine of inerrancy defensible?" "What is evil and where did it come from?" and "Why do Christians still sin?"
source:http://www.christiantoday.com/article/believing.in.the.exclusivity.of.christ.is.not.arrogant.says.pastor/26150.htm
Report: Hezbollah and Syria are organizing the Lebanese flotilla
22 June 2010 , 18:45
A report by the Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center reveals the true organizers and supporters of the Lebanese provocation flotilla to the Gaza Strip
"We estimate that the purchase of the ships and the organization of the flotilla were carried out with the involvement and help of Syria and Hezbollah," thus reported the Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center (ITIC) on Tuesday (June 22). According to ITIC, Hezbollah and Syria do not want to reveal their true identity out of fear of complications with Israel, and are thus trying to hide behind the identity of fictitious spearhead organizations and operatives who are irrelevant to Lebanese inner politics.
This is a well-tried system of using fictitious terror organizations in order to hide the identity of the real organizations. The central operatives being credited with standing behind the provocation flotilla from Lebanon to the Gaza Strip are junior ranking operatives without relevance in Lebanese inner politics, who belong to organizations supporting Hezbollah and Syria.
Hezbollah supports the continuation of sending flotillas to Israel. During an assembly held following the take-over of the Turkish Mavi Marmara ship, the Secretary General of Hezbollah, Hassan Nasrallah, emphasized that more and more ships should depart for the Gaza Strip, and that more Lebanese should participate in the flotilla operations. "Today, the European delegation announced that it has called for participation in a second flotilla, and it has already received hundreds of requests from Europe. Where are the Arabs? Where are the Muslims? Where are the Arab and Islamic peoples?" said Nasrallah.
Strong involvement of Hezbollah-related media
Nevertheless, Hezbollah is careful not to identify itself openly as connected to the Lebanese flotilla, fearing complication of political issues with Israel and also understanding that this will clash with the image of the flotilla as a humanitarian aid effort. In response to the various reports on the matter, Hezbollah has published an explicit denial of its involvement. The announcement emphasized that the organization does not wish to be involved in the events in order not to provide Israel with a pretext. Yasser Qashlak, the Palestinian organizer, also claims that there is no connection whatsoever between the ships and Hamas, Hezbollah or Iran.
Despite that, before the provocative incidents at sea and especially after them, the public relations department of Hezbollah extensively covered the events. A strong involvement of Hezbollah-related media can also be seen regarding the Lebanese flotilla, as the events are covered in order to enforce their media effect.
source:http://dover.idf.il/IDF/English/News/today/10/06/2202.htm
A report by the Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center reveals the true organizers and supporters of the Lebanese provocation flotilla to the Gaza Strip
"We estimate that the purchase of the ships and the organization of the flotilla were carried out with the involvement and help of Syria and Hezbollah," thus reported the Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center (ITIC) on Tuesday (June 22). According to ITIC, Hezbollah and Syria do not want to reveal their true identity out of fear of complications with Israel, and are thus trying to hide behind the identity of fictitious spearhead organizations and operatives who are irrelevant to Lebanese inner politics.
This is a well-tried system of using fictitious terror organizations in order to hide the identity of the real organizations. The central operatives being credited with standing behind the provocation flotilla from Lebanon to the Gaza Strip are junior ranking operatives without relevance in Lebanese inner politics, who belong to organizations supporting Hezbollah and Syria.
Hezbollah supports the continuation of sending flotillas to Israel. During an assembly held following the take-over of the Turkish Mavi Marmara ship, the Secretary General of Hezbollah, Hassan Nasrallah, emphasized that more and more ships should depart for the Gaza Strip, and that more Lebanese should participate in the flotilla operations. "Today, the European delegation announced that it has called for participation in a second flotilla, and it has already received hundreds of requests from Europe. Where are the Arabs? Where are the Muslims? Where are the Arab and Islamic peoples?" said Nasrallah.
Strong involvement of Hezbollah-related media
Nevertheless, Hezbollah is careful not to identify itself openly as connected to the Lebanese flotilla, fearing complication of political issues with Israel and also understanding that this will clash with the image of the flotilla as a humanitarian aid effort. In response to the various reports on the matter, Hezbollah has published an explicit denial of its involvement. The announcement emphasized that the organization does not wish to be involved in the events in order not to provide Israel with a pretext. Yasser Qashlak, the Palestinian organizer, also claims that there is no connection whatsoever between the ships and Hamas, Hezbollah or Iran.
Despite that, before the provocative incidents at sea and especially after them, the public relations department of Hezbollah extensively covered the events. A strong involvement of Hezbollah-related media can also be seen regarding the Lebanese flotilla, as the events are covered in order to enforce their media effect.
source:http://dover.idf.il/IDF/English/News/today/10/06/2202.htm
Barak: Gaza – an Iranian military base 3 kilometers from Sderot
22 June 2010 , 12:47
The Minister of Defense spoke at the Socialist International Council about the security challenges facing Israel from the Gaza Strip and Hamas
Arnon Ben-Dror
On Monday (June 21), Defense Minister Ehud Barak spoke at the Socialist International Council at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, and explained that, “For Israel, the Gaza Strip today is an Iranian military base three kilometers from the closest Israeli city, and 60 kilometers from Tel Aviv. Hamas governs the Gaza Strip forcefully, and cruelly suppresses its political opponents.”
Barak also spoke about the Turkish flotilla to the Gaza Strip and the organization of other flotillas attempting to break the maritime closure of the Gaza Strip. “The ships that were organized throughout the last few weeks to ‘break the blockade’, are actually pure provocation, since there is no humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip,” he clarified.
The Defense Minister emphasized that any organization wishing to send aid to Gazan civilians is welcome to do so through the Ashdod port: “Every day Israel provides, in addition to electricity and water, approximately 150 trucks loaded with equipment, and not only humanitarian aid products. Therefore, any international group or organization interested in sending additional aid, is welcome to do so through the Ashdod port, which in accordance with an agreement between Israel and the Palestinians, is also used for the needs of the Gaza Strip.”
“Israel cannot and will not permit free passage for ships delivering munitions to the Gaza coast. As long as a terrorist organization rules in the Gaza Strip, neither Israel nor Egypt will allow the entrance of those cargos. Israel has the right and the obligation to protect itself and it does so within the framework of International Law and the International Humanitarian Law,” he said.
Barak reminded the audience that seven years ago Israel completely withdrew from the Gaza Strip and turned all Israeli settlements over to the Gazan population. “We did so with the hope that it would bring quiet on our southern border and improve our relations with our neighbors,” he explained.
He also pointed out that, “Hamas took control of the Gaza Strip in the process of a bloody revolt in 2007, and since then survives thanks to the military and financial support of Iran. Since then, Hamas has widened its military power in the Gaza Strip, and has succeeded in accumulating thousands of missiles and rockets, 3000 of which have already been fired towards Israel.”
Finally Barak turned to the world population regarding the issue of captured IDF soldier Gilad Shalit: “I would like to take this opportunity to call upon all of you to work towards the release of our captured soldier, Gilad Shalit, who has been held for the past four years already as a prisoner and a hostage by Hamas. For four long years he has not been given basic legal rights such as visits by the Red Cross.”
source:http://dover.idf.il/IDF/English/News/today/10/06/2201.htm
The Minister of Defense spoke at the Socialist International Council about the security challenges facing Israel from the Gaza Strip and Hamas
Arnon Ben-Dror
On Monday (June 21), Defense Minister Ehud Barak spoke at the Socialist International Council at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, and explained that, “For Israel, the Gaza Strip today is an Iranian military base three kilometers from the closest Israeli city, and 60 kilometers from Tel Aviv. Hamas governs the Gaza Strip forcefully, and cruelly suppresses its political opponents.”
Barak also spoke about the Turkish flotilla to the Gaza Strip and the organization of other flotillas attempting to break the maritime closure of the Gaza Strip. “The ships that were organized throughout the last few weeks to ‘break the blockade’, are actually pure provocation, since there is no humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip,” he clarified.
The Defense Minister emphasized that any organization wishing to send aid to Gazan civilians is welcome to do so through the Ashdod port: “Every day Israel provides, in addition to electricity and water, approximately 150 trucks loaded with equipment, and not only humanitarian aid products. Therefore, any international group or organization interested in sending additional aid, is welcome to do so through the Ashdod port, which in accordance with an agreement between Israel and the Palestinians, is also used for the needs of the Gaza Strip.”
“Israel cannot and will not permit free passage for ships delivering munitions to the Gaza coast. As long as a terrorist organization rules in the Gaza Strip, neither Israel nor Egypt will allow the entrance of those cargos. Israel has the right and the obligation to protect itself and it does so within the framework of International Law and the International Humanitarian Law,” he said.
Barak reminded the audience that seven years ago Israel completely withdrew from the Gaza Strip and turned all Israeli settlements over to the Gazan population. “We did so with the hope that it would bring quiet on our southern border and improve our relations with our neighbors,” he explained.
He also pointed out that, “Hamas took control of the Gaza Strip in the process of a bloody revolt in 2007, and since then survives thanks to the military and financial support of Iran. Since then, Hamas has widened its military power in the Gaza Strip, and has succeeded in accumulating thousands of missiles and rockets, 3000 of which have already been fired towards Israel.”
Finally Barak turned to the world population regarding the issue of captured IDF soldier Gilad Shalit: “I would like to take this opportunity to call upon all of you to work towards the release of our captured soldier, Gilad Shalit, who has been held for the past four years already as a prisoner and a hostage by Hamas. For four long years he has not been given basic legal rights such as visits by the Red Cross.”
source:http://dover.idf.il/IDF/English/News/today/10/06/2201.htm
While criticizing Israel, Turkey kills Kurds
Many in the international community, including mainstream media outlets, have labeled Turkey's reaction to Israel's interception of a so-called "aid" flotilla to the Gaza Strip a few weeks ago as exaggerated. The latest news out of Turkey reveals that the criticism against Israel is also highly hypocritical.
Turkish Prime Minster Recep Tayyip Erdogan blasted Israel over the deaths of nine activists aboard one of the flotilla ships after they attacked the Israeli boarding party. He accused Israel of crimes against humanity, and has led the international charge for an investigation and sanctions against the Jewish state. Erdogan's government has decided to downgrade relations with Israel over the incident.
Since the flotilla raid, Turkey has engaged in its own "war on terror" with little or no attention from the international community, and certainly no calls for independent commissions of inquiry.
On the same day as the flotilla raid, Kurdish rebels attacked a Turkish naval base, killing 12 soldiers. Last week, Erdogan's government responded with air strikes on Kurdish positions in northern Iraq that killed 120 people, including a 7-year-old girl.
There were no condemnations of Turkey for using "disproportionate" force, and no UN Security Council meetings regarding the latest flare-up of a 26-year conflict that has claimed the lives of more than 40,000 people.
Some 30 million Kurds live in adjoining portions of Turkey, Iraq, Iran and Syria. Together, these areas make up Kurdistan, the ancient homeland of the Kurdish people, a distinct ethnic group without a country of their own.
For decades, Turkey has oppressed its Kurdish minority of 14 million people by forbidding the use of the Kurdish language and other symbols of national identity in state schools and government institutions. A Kurdish parliamentarian, Layla Zana, was expelled from parliament in 1994 and imprisoned a year later for daring to utter a single sentence in Kurdish from the podium.
source:http://www.israeltoday.co.il/default.aspx?tabid=178&nid=21363
Turkish Prime Minster Recep Tayyip Erdogan blasted Israel over the deaths of nine activists aboard one of the flotilla ships after they attacked the Israeli boarding party. He accused Israel of crimes against humanity, and has led the international charge for an investigation and sanctions against the Jewish state. Erdogan's government has decided to downgrade relations with Israel over the incident.
Since the flotilla raid, Turkey has engaged in its own "war on terror" with little or no attention from the international community, and certainly no calls for independent commissions of inquiry.
On the same day as the flotilla raid, Kurdish rebels attacked a Turkish naval base, killing 12 soldiers. Last week, Erdogan's government responded with air strikes on Kurdish positions in northern Iraq that killed 120 people, including a 7-year-old girl.
There were no condemnations of Turkey for using "disproportionate" force, and no UN Security Council meetings regarding the latest flare-up of a 26-year conflict that has claimed the lives of more than 40,000 people.
Some 30 million Kurds live in adjoining portions of Turkey, Iraq, Iran and Syria. Together, these areas make up Kurdistan, the ancient homeland of the Kurdish people, a distinct ethnic group without a country of their own.
For decades, Turkey has oppressed its Kurdish minority of 14 million people by forbidding the use of the Kurdish language and other symbols of national identity in state schools and government institutions. A Kurdish parliamentarian, Layla Zana, was expelled from parliament in 1994 and imprisoned a year later for daring to utter a single sentence in Kurdish from the podium.
source:http://www.israeltoday.co.il/default.aspx?tabid=178&nid=21363
LaBarbera: Obama 'Gays Down' Fatherhood with Pro-Homosexual Father's Day Proclamation
by Staff
June 22, 2010
MEDIA ADVISORY, (christiansunite.com) -- Americans For Truth About Homosexuality (AFTAH) President Peter LaBarbera today condemned President Barack Obama for "gaying down" the noble institution of fatherhood by extolling "nurturing families" with "two fathers" in his Father's Day proclamation.
Obama proclaimed:
Nurturing families come in many forms, and children may be raised by a father and mother, a single father, two fathers, a step father, a grandfather, or caring guardian.
"If an adult man chooses to embrace homosexuality, that's one thing. But two men imposing their homosexual lifestyle on an innocent, impressionable child -- thus intentionally denying that child a mother -- is something quite different. Shame on Obama for 'gaying down' the noble institution of fatherhood to appease his homosexual activist supporters."
Obama is the most pro-homosexual-agenda president in American history, and is currently working to subvert both the legal ban on open homosexuals serving in the military, and the Defense of Marriage Act, which affirms traditional marriage in federal law.
"Who can deny the notorious promiscuity that is rampant in the gay male subculture - and which often continues even after two homosexual men adopt a child," LaBarbera said. "Witness gay parenting's poster-boy, Dan Savage, a sex-advice columnist and author of The Kid: What Happened When My Boyfriend And I Decided to Go Get Pregnant. Savage promotes 'non-monogamy' as an alternative to marital fidelity -- and admits that he his 'husband' twice engaged in sexual 'three-ways' even after they adopted a baby boy. (One wonders who babysat 'the kid' during their homosexual sex romp.)"
Such is the extent of tolerated outside sex in male homosexual relationships that their "negotiated" rules for "nonexclusivity" are studied by academics. "The gay community's normative acceptance of casual sex, anonymous sex and nonmonogamy in couple relationships represents a dramatic departure from heterocentric norms and values," wrote researchers Johnson and Keren in 1996.
"As a gay therapist who has seen hundreds of male couples in a vast range of unconventional, loving, and sustaining relationship configurations -- including monogamy, nonmonogamy, three-partner relationships and more -- I have grown to respect the fluidity and customized relationship forms that can work well for gay men (and potentially for all people)," wrote homosexual therapist Michael Shernoff in 2006.
But even if two homosexual men keep their disordered relationship "faithful," homosexual parenting would not be worthy of celebration, LaBarbera said: "It is wrong to force children into a situation where they have two men modeling immoral behavior -- condemned by God and all major religions -- as the most important role models in their lives."
"Gay parenting is a selfish social experiment whose long-term effect on children has not yet been determined -- biased homosexual-authored studies notwithstanding," he said. "We know that dad-and-mom-led homes are the best for children. That is the timeless brand of fatherhood that Obama should be promoting."
Source:http://news.christiansunite.com/Religion_News/religion09442.shtml
June 22, 2010
MEDIA ADVISORY, (christiansunite.com) -- Americans For Truth About Homosexuality (AFTAH) President Peter LaBarbera today condemned President Barack Obama for "gaying down" the noble institution of fatherhood by extolling "nurturing families" with "two fathers" in his Father's Day proclamation.
Obama proclaimed:
Nurturing families come in many forms, and children may be raised by a father and mother, a single father, two fathers, a step father, a grandfather, or caring guardian.
"If an adult man chooses to embrace homosexuality, that's one thing. But two men imposing their homosexual lifestyle on an innocent, impressionable child -- thus intentionally denying that child a mother -- is something quite different. Shame on Obama for 'gaying down' the noble institution of fatherhood to appease his homosexual activist supporters."
Obama is the most pro-homosexual-agenda president in American history, and is currently working to subvert both the legal ban on open homosexuals serving in the military, and the Defense of Marriage Act, which affirms traditional marriage in federal law.
"Who can deny the notorious promiscuity that is rampant in the gay male subculture - and which often continues even after two homosexual men adopt a child," LaBarbera said. "Witness gay parenting's poster-boy, Dan Savage, a sex-advice columnist and author of The Kid: What Happened When My Boyfriend And I Decided to Go Get Pregnant. Savage promotes 'non-monogamy' as an alternative to marital fidelity -- and admits that he his 'husband' twice engaged in sexual 'three-ways' even after they adopted a baby boy. (One wonders who babysat 'the kid' during their homosexual sex romp.)"
Such is the extent of tolerated outside sex in male homosexual relationships that their "negotiated" rules for "nonexclusivity" are studied by academics. "The gay community's normative acceptance of casual sex, anonymous sex and nonmonogamy in couple relationships represents a dramatic departure from heterocentric norms and values," wrote researchers Johnson and Keren in 1996.
"As a gay therapist who has seen hundreds of male couples in a vast range of unconventional, loving, and sustaining relationship configurations -- including monogamy, nonmonogamy, three-partner relationships and more -- I have grown to respect the fluidity and customized relationship forms that can work well for gay men (and potentially for all people)," wrote homosexual therapist Michael Shernoff in 2006.
But even if two homosexual men keep their disordered relationship "faithful," homosexual parenting would not be worthy of celebration, LaBarbera said: "It is wrong to force children into a situation where they have two men modeling immoral behavior -- condemned by God and all major religions -- as the most important role models in their lives."
"Gay parenting is a selfish social experiment whose long-term effect on children has not yet been determined -- biased homosexual-authored studies notwithstanding," he said. "We know that dad-and-mom-led homes are the best for children. That is the timeless brand of fatherhood that Obama should be promoting."
Source:http://news.christiansunite.com/Religion_News/religion09442.shtml
Young Christian convert severely abused by Muslim family in Somalia
by Staff
June 22, 2010
(christiansunite.com) - A 17-year-old woman from the Gedo Region of Somalia has faced severe abuse and pressure from her Muslim family since May 10, when they discovered that she had converted to Christianity.
Nurta Mohamed Farah was badly beaten by her family and later taken to a doctor who prescribed medication for a "mental illness." When she refused to abandon her faith, she was forced to take the medication. Islamic scripture was recited to her twice a week, as Somalis traditionally believe that the Qur'an cures the sick -- especially the mentally ill.
Since the medication and punishments have failed to change Nurta's mind, she has been shackled to a tree during the day and held in a small, dark room at night. "There is little the community can do about her condition, which is very bad," a Christian source said. "I have advised our community leader to keep monitoring her condition but not to meddle for their own safety.... We need prayers and human advocacy for such inhuman acts, and for freedom of religion for the Somali people." Source: http://news.christiansunite.com/Religion_News/religion09444.shtml
June 22, 2010
(christiansunite.com) - A 17-year-old woman from the Gedo Region of Somalia has faced severe abuse and pressure from her Muslim family since May 10, when they discovered that she had converted to Christianity.
Nurta Mohamed Farah was badly beaten by her family and later taken to a doctor who prescribed medication for a "mental illness." When she refused to abandon her faith, she was forced to take the medication. Islamic scripture was recited to her twice a week, as Somalis traditionally believe that the Qur'an cures the sick -- especially the mentally ill.
Since the medication and punishments have failed to change Nurta's mind, she has been shackled to a tree during the day and held in a small, dark room at night. "There is little the community can do about her condition, which is very bad," a Christian source said. "I have advised our community leader to keep monitoring her condition but not to meddle for their own safety.... We need prayers and human advocacy for such inhuman acts, and for freedom of religion for the Somali people." Source: http://news.christiansunite.com/Religion_News/religion09444.shtml
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