In an interview with Ynet, Jose María Aznar, who heads Friends of Israel initiative, says aim is to battle against de-legitimization
Yitzhak Benhorin
Published: 09.16.10, 08:57 / Israel News
WASHINGTON – Friends of Israel initiative, headed by former Spanish Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar, goes to Washington. The former Spanish president said in an interview with Ynet that the residents of Israel need to know they have many friends around the world.
Aznar noted that the Israelis "are not alone" and that a decision has been made to raise awareness the common values and issues Israel shares with the Western world.
The former prime minister, who spoke in front of the the United States Senate Committee on Foreign Relations in Washington, noted he was "worried about Israel's future" because there are people who deny Israel's right to exist, and being anti-Israeli was considered "politically correct."
Azner explained that Israel is part of the Western world, and shared its values. He stressed that most members of the initiative for Israel were not Jewish, and that the issue was not related to religion.
Aznar, 58, served as the Spanish prime minister between 1996-2004, and wrote many articles in which he claimed that "If Israel falls – Europe falls."
In his interview with Ynet, Aznar refused to comment on anti-Semitism in Europe, but said that part of the problem was with European countries' eternal politics, where a big voting public consisted of Muslim immigrants.
The former prime minister noted that the initiative has to be carried out through the long run, "Just as Churchill talked during the Second World War, we intend to talk and talk and talk."
During his speech at the Committee on Foreign Relations, Aznar said "we are not Likud or Kadima," adding that they have no intention of intervening with Israeli politics or the negotiations between Israelis and Arabs.
The project, he explained, was meant to battle de-legitimization against Israel.
"Israel is vital for our future. Protecting Israel is protecting our western values," he said.
Asnar stressed that Israel was presented in a very negative and unjust manner, and that the aim of the initiative was to develop a more normalized discussion about the Jewish State.
"In some cases we agree with Israel's policies, and in some cases we don’t – but we must not argue with Israel's right to exist," he concluded.
source:http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3955059,00.html
Thursday, September 16, 2010
PM to Abbas: We'll continue building in settlements
PM to Abbas: We'll continue building in settlements
During talks in Jerusalem, Netanyahu tells Palestinian president his stance on West Bank construction has not changed. PA official says Abbas threatened to quit talks.
Attila Somfalvi
Latest Update: 09.16.10, 00:03 / Israel News
During their meeting in Jerusalem Wednesday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas that Israel plans to resume construction in the West Bank settlements once the moratorium expires on September 26.
A senior Palestinian official reported that following the meeting Abbas threatened to quit the direct peace talks if building is resumed in the settlements
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and special Mideast envoy George Mitchell also took part in the two-hour meeting at the PM's official residence, where Israeli, Palestinian, and American flags were displayed.
"The prime minister is hosting Abu Mazen (Abbas) in his home in friendship and benevolence, but during the talks themselves, he will insist adamantly on Israel's security needs. There are no compromises on this matter," a senior official in the Prime Minister's Office said.
A Palestinian source told Ynet after the meeting that no breakthrough has been made that would allow the negotiations to continue without the "threat of renewed settlement construction."
The Palestinians told Netanyahu and Clinton that the resumption of settlement construction would make it difficult for them to continue negotiating with Israel.
However, one official said the Palestinians were under heavy pressure not to quit the talks and that the Americans have suggested that construction be resumed only in the major settlement blocs.
Mitchell said Wednesday night that Israel and the Palestinians are addressing the core disputes.
"They are tackling up front ... the issues that are at the center of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict," Mitchell told reporters after Netanyahu and Abbas met
"I will say that the two leaders are not leaving the tough issues to the end of their discussions ... We take this as a strong indicator of their belief that peace is possible."
Mitchell added that the US was working to renew the negotiations between Israel and Syria.
The US envoy is expected to travel to Damascus on Thursday and then head to Lebanon.
At the opening of the meeting, a smiling Netanyahu said he was happy to host Abbas, adding that "we have much work to do." Abbas, also smiling, humorously responded by saying the two leaders "haven't met in a while."
The Palestinian leader signed the guestbook at the PM's residence, writing that he is back at the site after a long absence to continue the negotiations, in the hopes of securing eternal peace in the entire region.
Abbas wrote that he especially wishes to secure peace "between the Israeli people and the Palestinian people."
The two leaders are expected to hold more talks after dinner.
source:http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3954938,00.html
During talks in Jerusalem, Netanyahu tells Palestinian president his stance on West Bank construction has not changed. PA official says Abbas threatened to quit talks.
Attila Somfalvi
Latest Update: 09.16.10, 00:03 / Israel News
During their meeting in Jerusalem Wednesday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas that Israel plans to resume construction in the West Bank settlements once the moratorium expires on September 26.
A senior Palestinian official reported that following the meeting Abbas threatened to quit the direct peace talks if building is resumed in the settlements
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and special Mideast envoy George Mitchell also took part in the two-hour meeting at the PM's official residence, where Israeli, Palestinian, and American flags were displayed.
"The prime minister is hosting Abu Mazen (Abbas) in his home in friendship and benevolence, but during the talks themselves, he will insist adamantly on Israel's security needs. There are no compromises on this matter," a senior official in the Prime Minister's Office said.
A Palestinian source told Ynet after the meeting that no breakthrough has been made that would allow the negotiations to continue without the "threat of renewed settlement construction."
The Palestinians told Netanyahu and Clinton that the resumption of settlement construction would make it difficult for them to continue negotiating with Israel.
However, one official said the Palestinians were under heavy pressure not to quit the talks and that the Americans have suggested that construction be resumed only in the major settlement blocs.
Mitchell said Wednesday night that Israel and the Palestinians are addressing the core disputes.
"They are tackling up front ... the issues that are at the center of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict," Mitchell told reporters after Netanyahu and Abbas met
"I will say that the two leaders are not leaving the tough issues to the end of their discussions ... We take this as a strong indicator of their belief that peace is possible."
Mitchell added that the US was working to renew the negotiations between Israel and Syria.
The US envoy is expected to travel to Damascus on Thursday and then head to Lebanon.
At the opening of the meeting, a smiling Netanyahu said he was happy to host Abbas, adding that "we have much work to do." Abbas, also smiling, humorously responded by saying the two leaders "haven't met in a while."
The Palestinian leader signed the guestbook at the PM's residence, writing that he is back at the site after a long absence to continue the negotiations, in the hopes of securing eternal peace in the entire region.
Abbas wrote that he especially wishes to secure peace "between the Israeli people and the Palestinian people."
The two leaders are expected to hold more talks after dinner.
source:http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3954938,00.html
Monday, September 13, 2010
Christian evangelists acquitted in Tanzania
by Staff
September 10, 2010
(christiansunite.com) - On August 12, a court in Tanzania acquitted two evangelists of "illegal preaching." Eleutery Kobelo and Cecil Simbaulanga were arrested in October 2009 after Muslims invited them to participate in a religious debate.
The Christians reported that no Muslims showed up at the site of the supposed inter-faith debate until they arrived with government security agents who charged them with "using religious sermons to incite Muslims and Christians into viewing each other with suspicion."
The accusers had claimed that the Christians' message that Jesus is God had annoyed Muslims and therefore disrupted a peaceful coexistence between the two faiths. During the 10 months of hearings, the Muslims reportedly failed to show up in court to support their allegation of illegal preaching.
"We are grateful that the court has done justice and made its ruling based on Tanzania's constitution that allows for freedom of religion and assembly," Eleutery shared. "We thank the Christians worldwide for praying for us." (Source: Compass Direct)
source:http://news.christiansunite.com/Religion_News/religion09662.shtml
September 10, 2010
(christiansunite.com) - On August 12, a court in Tanzania acquitted two evangelists of "illegal preaching." Eleutery Kobelo and Cecil Simbaulanga were arrested in October 2009 after Muslims invited them to participate in a religious debate.
The Christians reported that no Muslims showed up at the site of the supposed inter-faith debate until they arrived with government security agents who charged them with "using religious sermons to incite Muslims and Christians into viewing each other with suspicion."
The accusers had claimed that the Christians' message that Jesus is God had annoyed Muslims and therefore disrupted a peaceful coexistence between the two faiths. During the 10 months of hearings, the Muslims reportedly failed to show up in court to support their allegation of illegal preaching.
"We are grateful that the court has done justice and made its ruling based on Tanzania's constitution that allows for freedom of religion and assembly," Eleutery shared. "We thank the Christians worldwide for praying for us." (Source: Compass Direct)
source:http://news.christiansunite.com/Religion_News/religion09662.shtml
Netanyahu says settlement freeze will end, sort of
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyhau on Sunday reiterated that he will not extend a self-imposed 10-month building Jewish building freeze in Judea and Samaria (the so-called "West Bank") beyond its September 26 expiration date.
But Netanyahu also said Israel would not rush ahead with construction once the freeze ends.
"We will not build all of the tens of thousands of residential units that are in the planning stages," Netanyahu told visiting international peace envoy Tony Blair. "But we will not freeze the lives of the residents of Judea and Samaria and we will not freeze construction."
Netanyahu imposed the freeze last November as a means of enticing the Palestinians back to the negotiating table. Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas waiting until the very last minute to accept the gesture, and now insists extending the freeze is a precondition to continuing the renewed peace negotiations.
Netanyahu said he rejects any Palestinian preconditions, just as Abbas has rejected Israel's precondition that the Palestinians recognize Israel as "the Jewish state."
Abbas has repeatedly threatened to end negotiations if any Jewish construction takes place in Judea and Samaria after September 26.
source:http://www.israeltoday.co.il/default.aspx?tabid=79
But Netanyahu also said Israel would not rush ahead with construction once the freeze ends.
"We will not build all of the tens of thousands of residential units that are in the planning stages," Netanyahu told visiting international peace envoy Tony Blair. "But we will not freeze the lives of the residents of Judea and Samaria and we will not freeze construction."
Netanyahu imposed the freeze last November as a means of enticing the Palestinians back to the negotiating table. Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas waiting until the very last minute to accept the gesture, and now insists extending the freeze is a precondition to continuing the renewed peace negotiations.
Netanyahu said he rejects any Palestinian preconditions, just as Abbas has rejected Israel's precondition that the Palestinians recognize Israel as "the Jewish state."
Abbas has repeatedly threatened to end negotiations if any Jewish construction takes place in Judea and Samaria after September 26.
source:http://www.israeltoday.co.il/default.aspx?tabid=79
Palestinians plant their flags ahead of peace talks
Palestinian Arabs on Sunday sought to lay their claim to certain areas of the Holy Land ahead of Tuesday's second round of peace talks by planting flags at strategic locations.
In Jerusalem, the flag of the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) was draped from the Al Aqsa Mosque that occupies the southern end of the Temple Mount. Several more PLO flags were planted around the compound, the most holy place on earth to Jews and many Christians.
Police later removed the flags, as they represented a violation of laws that prohibit the display of flags or other symbols belonging to recognized terrorist organizations.
In Hebron, a large procession of Palestinian Arabs waving PLO flags marched through one of the city's small Jewish neighborhoods. The Israeli army allowed the march, though it usually tries to keep the Jewish and Arab populations in Hebron separated to avoid confrontation.
source:http://www.israeltoday.co.il/default.aspx?tabid=178&nid=21852
In Jerusalem, the flag of the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) was draped from the Al Aqsa Mosque that occupies the southern end of the Temple Mount. Several more PLO flags were planted around the compound, the most holy place on earth to Jews and many Christians.
Police later removed the flags, as they represented a violation of laws that prohibit the display of flags or other symbols belonging to recognized terrorist organizations.
In Hebron, a large procession of Palestinian Arabs waving PLO flags marched through one of the city's small Jewish neighborhoods. The Israeli army allowed the march, though it usually tries to keep the Jewish and Arab populations in Hebron separated to avoid confrontation.
source:http://www.israeltoday.co.il/default.aspx?tabid=178&nid=21852
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