israel

Thursday, January 20, 2011 at 8:18AM Author

It is almost amusing to hear Philips dismissing Hasbara (Israeli propaganda) in Britain.

Melanie Philips: “Israeli Hasbara is a joke”

It is also very cheering to learn from rabid Zionist Philips that in spite of the Israeli Lobby, David Aaronovitch, Nick Cohen and herself, the Palestinians are winning the hearts and minds of British public.

I guess that it is about time Philips gathers the fact that humanism may win after all.

samedi 15 janvier 2011, par Parti communiste d’Israėl

Twenty thousands of activists, Jews and Arabs, from left-wing movements,
parties and human rights organizations march in Tel Aviv on Saturday
(January 15, 2001) in protest of the Knesset’s decision to set up a
committee of inquiry to probe the funding sources of human rights movements.

The protest march, under the headline “Demonstration (since it’s still
possible) for democracy”, left from Tel Aviv’s Meir Park, in front of the
Likud headquarters, toward the plaza in front of the Tel Aviv Museum of Art,
where a rally take place in which Knesset members from Hadash, Kadima and
Meretz as well as officials from Peace Now and human rights groups deliver
speeches.

Protesters chanted in support of democracy and free speech and against
racism and fascism, and carried hundreds of red flags and signs with slogans
such as “Jews and Arabs together against Fascism”, “Awaiting Democracy”,
“Danger – End of Democracy Ahead !”, “Fighting the Rightist Government of
Darkness” and “Democracy is Screaming for Help”. Among the MKs taking part
in the event were Dov Khenin (Hadash), Afo Agbarie (Hadash), Meir Sheetrit
(Kadima), Hanna Swaid (Hadash), Nitzan Horowitz (Meretz) and Mohammad
Barakeh (the Chairman of Hadash, the Democratic Front for Peace and Equality
– Communist Party of Israel).

MK Horowitz inveighed against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense
Minister Ehud Barak, whom he said were “supporting Lieberman’s incitement
and encouraging racist legislation in the Knesset”. “Tonight we are telling
the Labor Party that it is a full partner of the most racist government in
state history, and that they must leave it immediately,” he said. Peace Now
Secretary-General Yariv Oppenheimer said at the rally that Israel was
suffering not only from the Iranian threat but also from the “Liebermanian
threat”.

Hadash Chairman Barakeh said, “We are at a dangerous crossroads where
democracy is concerned. Democracy is collapsing, not because of Lieberman
but because of the support he is receiving from the prime minister. Jews and
Arabs who care about democracy cannot fail at this time. Anyone who wishes
to know the power of the people can look to Tunisia”. In the same vein he
added, “The victory of the people in Tunis over cruel dictatorship teaches
us that oppression is not the fate of mankind and the people can win.”

MK Sheetrit denounced Foreign Minster Avigdor Lieberman’s proposal to probe
the funding sources of human rights organizations. “If such legislation is
passed, it will be like taking a brick out of the wall of democracy. I am
surprised that Likud members support this. It’s simply shameful that they
can sit in a government that makes such a proposal,” he said.

MK Khenin said during the protest that “the thousands of people who are here
understand that our democracy needs protection against its destroyers. We
are voicing a clear voice in support of human rights and democracy, and
against racism, fascism, McCarthyism and future destruction of the
democratic values. We will continue to fight for democratic rights, freedom
of speech, equal rights for Jews and Arabs and the end of the occupation.”

List of participating organizations in the Emergency rally

Hadash (the Democratic Front for Peace and Equality) // Communist Party of
Israel // ACRI (Association For Civil Rights in Israel // Meretz // New
Israel Fund // Peace Now // The Kibbutz Movement // The Progressive Movement
// The Green Movement // Physicians for Human Rights // The Geneva
Initiative // Ha’Shomer Ha’tzair // Yisrael Hofshit (Free Israel) //
Coalition of Women for Peace // Public Committee Against Torture // Yesh
Gvul // Shutafut/Sharakah – Organizations for a Shared, Democratic and
Egalitarian Society : Agenda, The Abraham Fund, Negev Institute – NISPED,
Sikkuy, Kav Mashve, Keshev, Shatil // Gush Shalom // Yesh Din // Almuntada
Altakadumi – The Progressive Circle in Ar’ara // Negev Coexistence Forum //
Peace NGO’s Forum // Amnesty International Israel // Banki-Shabiba – Young
Communist League // Hagada Hasmalit Alternative Cultural Center in Tel-Aviv
// Tandi – Democratic Women’s Movement // Parents Circle – Families Forum //
Social Workers for Peace and Social Welfare // Arab Movement for Renewal //
Mossawa Centre – the Advocacy Center for Arab Citizens in Israel // Adalah –
the Legal Center for Arab Minority Rights in Israel // Yesh Din – Volunteers
for Human Rights // Machsom Watch // Tarabut-Hithabrut // Rabbis for Human
Rights // Ir Amim // Maan – Workers’ Advice Center // Daam – Workers Party
// Syndianna Galilee for Fair Trade // Israeli Children // Campus Le’Kulanu
– Left Students Movement, the Hebrew University in Jerusalem and Haifa
University // ASSAF – Aid Organization for Refugees and Asylum Seekers in
Israel // ICAHD – The Israeli Committee against House Demolitions // Social
TV // Socialist Struggle // Labor Party Young Guard // HAMOKED – Center for
the Defense of the Individual // BINA – Center for Jewish Identity, Hebrew
Culture and Social Justice // AIC – Alternative Information Center // Our
Heritage – The Charter for Democracy //

source : by e-mail

Several reporters, one of them pregnant, were required to take off their underwear during security check ahead of Netanyahu speech; others, including Washington Post bureau chief, forced to remove trousers; Foreign Press Association: We will decline further invitations unless given assurances this will not recur

Earlier today, YNET reported how Israeli security services tried literally strip-searching a pregnant Al-Jazeera reporter, Najwan Simri Diab, ahead of a speech by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. According to Simri Diab, after she was already made to wait for half an hour and stripped to her underwear, the guards decided to go even further:

“After the [female] security guard checked my bra under my undershirt, she told me to take off the bra. I asked her why, but she insisted. Later her superior came over and supported her. I refused, but she said “Everyone took it off, and so will you.” I said, “I’m not taking it off and I’m not coming in,” and she said, “So you won’t come in.”

Simri-Diab said that the location where the strip search took place was far from out-of-bounds for male security detail.

“A spokesman from the office saw me and asked what was going on. When I told him, he said, “don’t be dramatic.” The girl told him I’m refusing to be searched. They put me aside for 20 minute and would not give me any of my things, checking every paper and document in my purse. Later they gave me back everything all messed up in a box.”

According to YnetNews,

The General Security Service stated in response, “All guests were subjected to a security check in accordance with the customary security procedures in such events.”

Well, turns out the GSS wasn’t lying – Simri Diab was far from the only one grossly humiliated by their staff; she shared her experience with many of the guests, including several other reporters and the Chief of the Washington Post bureaue in Jerusalem. The Foreign Press Association, representing all foreign media in Israel, put out the following statement, which we bring to you in full:

“The Foreign Press Association is outraged over the treatment members received at the hands of Israeli security personnel during Tuesday night’s invitation-only gathering with the prime minister. While we appreciate the need for security, it is not remotely acceptable to invite people for cocktails at a five-star hotel and then make them undress at the door.

Several members were forced to remove their underwear, waiting for as long as 20 minutes in this humiliating situation while security checked their documents. Others, including the bureau chief of The Wall Street Journal, were strip-searched and forced to take off their pants. A number of members walked out of the event in disgust following this despicable treatment.

It is incomprehensible that anyone would think such humiliating treatment is necessary at such an event. All GPO card holders are known to authorities and have already undergone extensive background checks. All participants emptied their pockets, submitted their equipment to inspection and went through metal detectors to enter.

The Shin Bet has its responsibilities but it must also operate within reasonable parameters. In a democratic country security services are not permitted to do as they please. For a government trying to usher in a new era of relations with the foreign media, it is a peculiar way to start. We are confident the prime minister would not accept such abusive security checks for his friends or family.

We ask for assurances that this will not happen again or we will respectfully decline further invitations.”

source