The information stated above is incomplete and, therefore, could likely mislead. The law that passed was not a Basic Law, with constitutional status, but rather an Ordinary Law, which can be repealed by a simple majority in Knesset. As long as the law stands, a 2/3 majority in Knesset can waive the referendum altogether.

This law is more about perception than it is a true threat to Peace. In Israel, it will now be perceived that our leaders aren’t “gambling away” land irresponsibly. But if or when Netanyahu feels it is time to sign a Peace Agreement with Syria, for example, if he has a simple majority in Knesset, he can repeal the ordinary law with another ordinary law, and there will be no referendum at all.

Since the referendum in any case comes only after Knesset APPROVES the Peace Agreement (which means it has to have 61/120 for it), the same majority can decide on the spot that it is unnecessary to have a referendum, which may bear opposite results.

Mitchell Plitnick is wrong twice – First, by stating the bill makes peace with Syria impossible (a pretty hefty claim to make, without understanding the bill), and second, when he states “there might be even less public support for the Golan withdrawal than there is for a West Bank one…” In case Plitnick hasn’t been keeping up to date, over the past 15 years, around 70% of Israelis have been against return of the Golan, and 30% for it. Over the same period, around 55%-60% of Israelis are for the return of the majority of the West Bank (and that’s without a Knesset-approved Peace Agreement!) So it’s not that there might be, there always has been less public support for giving back the Golan.

The real issue with this new law is internal-Israeli, having little to do with the likelihood of Peace. It is about the use of referenda in general that has been introduced for the first time in Israel’s history. Many modern nations use it, but Israel’s hasn’t until now. In the minds of some, this may not be a great step forward.

Simo said
If you mean by secular, democratic and equal use those terms because secular isn’t a synonym for democratic and equal.
This is great point,I agree with it completely.
I want to point out that freedom is the issue,freedom leads to democracy and equality,and not all societies are 100% similar,they are different by their believes,their traditions,history and economy,so it is wrong to force one system of politics on all

T_Desco (if you are reading this):

I’ve quoted your analysis here, along with another substantive critique of the CBC report, in case you’re interested.

Cheers,
QN

SHAI in #1 provides a wiggly/wriggly posit.

First the present “ultra – zionist – moldavian” pressured government claims its right to be a “jewish state” (as if before such a publuc declaration it was a not – jewish state ). Thereby separating the legal rights of jews from others and are the sole right ones to make decisions about Israel.

The latest episode of what one would call “separation” that only a Jew has the right to determine whether to abide by UN Decisions and international law and by implication any Israeli (jew) is forwarned to not vote against any government decision to abide by international law as well as UN Resolutions.

In essence the present Israeli government is on record as challenging the authority of the entity that created it.

If there are still believers in the Arab world that the US is impartial and a so called honest broker then there is little left to be said.

Is it war? or is it skirmish in Korea?

war? skirmish?

the u.s. wants to return its nukes to the area.

re stl and various “news revelations”:

we know neither syria nor hizbullah murdered RF.

these constant blathers are to keep the dumb running in circles chasing their own tails wondering if their tail is innocent or guilty while the perpetrator stands to the side and laughs.

Avigdor Lieberman wants North Korea taken care of before doing the same to Syria and Iran.

North Korea’s bombardment of a South Korean Island, which left two dead and thirteen wounded, shows that it is “necessary today, more than in the past, to stop and to topple this crazy regime, and to stop their proliferation and provocations,” Foreign Minster Avigdor Lieberman said at a Jerusalem press conference Tuesday afternoon.

Lieberman, with visiting Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini, said North Korea is part of an axis of evil that includes Syria and Iran, and that there is close cooperation between them in the sphere of nuclear and missile technology.

“I think that North Korea is, as we see, a threat not only for their part of the world, but also for the Middle East and the entire world,” Lieberman said.

Lieberman said that a “bad message” is being sent. If the international community “cannot stop, cannot suffocate this crazy regime,” then how could it deal with Iran, he asked.

http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=21994

The Mysterious Laptop Documents: “Evidence” of Iran Nuclear Weapons Program May Be Fraudulent by Gareth Porter

iraq. iran. lebanon.

wmd. laptop. hariri.

all have in common israel and its puppet, america. both mass murderers and liars.

liars lie to blame the innocent; to get away with crimes.

who wastes time acknowledging wanton liars.

Spopkesman for the Syrian Embassy in Washington DC Ahmed Salkini questions/ridicules the “constructive” label .. exclusively granted to America’s friends (or puppets) in the Middle East.

http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/worldview/101122/syria-middle-east-diplomacy-us-policy

Defining a constructive role in the Middle East

WASHINGTON, D.C. — One of the most commonly used phrases when describing a certain party’s role in the Middle East is whether or not it is “constructive.” American officials have a special affinity for this phrase, particularly when referring to players whom they disagree with.

Syria is a case in point. Those who are pro-engagement with Syria defend engagement as a tool to make it play a more “constructive role.” Meanwhile, the anti-engagement crowd argues that such efforts are futile, and unwarranted, because Syria’s role is “not constructive.”

Yet, no one has defined what this all-too-ubiquitous “constructive role” entails.

We do know what it does not entail. Invading a country in the Middle East, causing the deaths of hundreds of thousands, the displacement of millions, and engendering an all-too contagious sectarianism is not constructive. Turning a blind eye to the daily deaths of Palestinians, the building of illegal settlements, the world’s largest nuclear arms arsenal per capita, and the establishment of the only current apartheid state is not constructive. Brokering peace between two sides while arming one with billions of dollars worth of weapons and preventing the other from having a mere functioning state is not constructive. Continually fomenting sectarianism in Lebanon and historically favoring one side over another, all the while criticizing others for not playing a constructive role, well, is not constructive.

As people of the Middle East we cannot logically expect the United States to view its interests through our lens. Similarly, the United States cannot define what is ‘constructive’ in our region while completely neglecting our interests.

Every year, the University of Maryland, in conjunction with Zogby International, conducts an opinion survey in six Arab countries: Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and Morocco. Incidentally, these countries all have pro-American governments.

The results of the poll are very telling and can serve as a barometer for those trying to truly understand what the people view as ‘constructive’ or not.

Eighty-five percent of those surveyed have either a somewhat unfavorable or very unfavorable attitude towards the United States; 63 percent are disappointed with U.S. President Barack Obama’s Middle East policy; 78 percent believe Iran has a right to a nuclear program; 88 percent and 77 percent respectively say that Israel and the United States pose the greatest threat; and when asked to rank their world’s favorite leader, the top five were: Erdogan, Chavez, Ahmadinejad, Nasrallah, and Assad — not really a pro-American list.

Most importantly, when asked which country plays the most constructive role in the region, the United States came in dead last.

Of course, the reader does not require this essay or these poll results to discover that there is a deep anti-American sentiment in the region and around the world. The aim here is to highlight the irony, audacity, and indeed absurdity of having the foreign power viewed by the indigenous people as playing the least constructive role, define for those same people what is “constructive.”

On the other hand, the results of this survey indicate that Syria’s policies most reflect the aspirations and demands of the Arab street — clearly evident in President Assad ranking the highest among Arab heads-of-state, year in, year out. In light of these inexorable facts, American officials should, indeed, reconsider questioning Syria’s “constructive role” in the region.

What constitutes a constructive role in the Middle East is diligence towards ending all forms of occupation, allowing for the creation of a Palestinian state and helping bring about peace, stability, and opportunity for our people. If the United States truly believes in these goals, it should drop the hubris of dictating to us what is constructive for our own region, and instead engage in a serious dialogue on how to achieve them — flowery, sonorous speeches do not count. This would be the first step towards curbing anti-American sentiment, while creating a new, peaceful, Middle East.

Ahmed Salkini is the spokesperson for the Syrian Embassy in Washington, D.C.

The CBC article is a weird combination of obvious lies and real documents.

The UN/Bellemare reaction shows that the documents are real.

Whoever leaked these documents must have had an agenda.

Now, remember this:

American Official: Evidence Implicating Hizbullah in Hariri Assassination May Emerge within Days

Highly sensitive articles on the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri are expected to be published in American newspapers within the next few days, said a media sources (sic) to the Kuwaiti al-Rai newspaper.

It also added that only three individuals in the U.S. administration are following up on the issue of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon and matters related to it.

It reported one of the officials as saying: “Damning evidence that demonstrates Hizbullah’s involvement in the assassination may appear in the upcoming days.”

Furthermore, he considered Hizbullah Secretary General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah’s latest press conference, during which he said that Israel may be behind the crime, “as an attempt to mislead the investigation and buy some time.”

Naharnet, 21 Aug 10

(m. emph.)

So perhaps in reaction to Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah’s press conference the decision was made to leak some documents to the media (Macdonald, perhaps some others as well?). But Macdonald took his time (“A months-long CBC investigation, relying on interviews with multiple sources from inside the UN inquiry and some of the commission’s own records…”).

However, this still doesn’t explain the obvious lies, seemingly by former members of the UN commission, about the investigation itself.

It is clear that both the leaking and the lies by former investigation officials further undermine the credibility of the UN investigation.

The Information Age

The information stated above is incomplete and, therefore, could likely mislead.

Shai,

The information here is OFTEN incomplete and misleading, because the “information” is posted to make Professor Josh’s jihadist followers feel better.

As long as Syria refuses to “come out of the cold” (give up on the Iranian theocracy), Israel will never in their right mind give up on the Golan and will never be pressured to do so from the int’l community.

AKBAR PALACE said:

“As long as Syria refuses to “come out of the cold” (give up on the Iranian theocracy),”

AP is right in a way as long as the status quo stays status the Syrians will not hve to deal with the likes of those israelis.

Elior Chen disciples charged with up to 20 years in prison.

Four men tortured children, feeding them feces and locking them in suitcases; one has been in a coma since 2008 after severe beating.

David Kugman, 24, one of Elior Chen’s four disciples, was charged with 20 years in prison on Tuesday for severely abusing a Jerusalem woman’s children. Two others, Avraham Maksalchi and Shimon Gabai, will spend 17 years in prison.

The Jerusalem District Court charged Kugman, Maksalchi and Gabai with shaking children, handcuffing them, feeding them feces, starving them and locking them in suitcases. In one case, Kugman tied a child to an electric oven, and did not move him until his skin began to peel. He then poured alcohol and salt on the child’s wounds. Maksalchi tortured children with hammers and suffocated them using scotch-tape.

Of all the incidents included in the indictment, the most severe was perpetrated by Kugman on March 12, 2008, not long before the affair was uncovered.

According to the indictment, Kugman entered the room of A., the youngest of the children, at 5 a.m., when the child was still asleep. He “stood him up on his legs and began beating him with force, punching him many times in his face and head, as he had been accustomed to doing throughout the period covered by the indictment. At some point, A. collapsed in Kugman’s arms and lost consciousness.”

The child has remained in a coma ever since.

Another disciple, Ro’i Tzoref, was charged with two and a half years, because he played a smaller role in the acts, having left Chen’s yeshiva in 2007.
The judge presiding over the case said that the disciples “challenged the basic understanding that children need to be protected.”

The children’s mother divorced their father in 2007 and married Chen, even though he was already married. The abuse of the children began while she still lived in her own house, but became much more severe after January 2008, when she moved with her children to Chen’s home in Betar Illit.

Chen is standing trial separately, and the mother, identified as M., has already been tried, convicted and sentenced with five years in prison for her part in the affair. She is due to appear as a state’s witness in Chen’s trial

T_desco

“It is clear that both the leaking and the lies by former investigation officials further undermine the credibility of the UN investigation.”

Maybe that was MacDonald’s intention. Also he is putting the investigative team in a awkward situation by bringing in a new suspect, Wissam Al Hassan, a close ally to Hariri, who was never mentionned previously and whose suspicious role was deliberately ignored by Mehlis, Brammertz and Bellemare for fear of embarrassing Hariri.

Before it publishes its accusation, the TSL may be obliged to investigate, clear or indict this guy otherwise its credibility, already in trouble, will be even more.

Wissam al Hassan is also accused by Jamil al Seyyed through the Syrian court in the ‘false witnessses’ case that is now the hot and divisive issue in Lebanese Parlement

For the record (edition for Google-challenged Macdonalds):

Death Sought for 3 Palestinians in Failed Assassination of Samir Shehadeh

A Lebanese military court on Wednesday sought the death penalty for three Palestinian fugitives over the attempted murder of the former police intelligence bureau chief, the National News Agency reported.

“Prosecutor Fadi Sawwan is seeking to put Fadi Zeidan, Abdul Nasser al-Duwali and Oussama Shehabi on death row for a 2006 terrorist attack that aimed to kill Lieutenant Colonel Samir Shehadeh,” the head of police intelligence at the time, the state-run agency reported. (…)
AFP 07 Jul 10

Awadh’s Killing ‘Positive Step’ Although it Buried Bombing and Murder ‘Secrets’
(…)
Awadh‘s name has appeared in several arrest warrants linked to deadly bombings and terror plots. Local TV stations also said that extremists have told investigators that they had heard the slain leader talk about the assassinations of MP Walid Eido, Maj. Gen. Francois Hajj and Maj. Wissam Eid.
Naharnet, 15 Aug 10

Arrested terrorist planned to assassinate Lebanon’s army commander
(…)

Sunday’s army statement said several people from a ‘terrorist cell’ were arrested for their involvement in the August 13 and September 29 bombings in the port city of Tripoli that killed 21 people among them Lebanese soldiers.

The pan-Arab Al Hayat newspaper said, citing security sources, that the cell members admitted to planning an attack on the Internal Security Forces (ISF) headquarters in Beirut’s Ashrafiyeh district.
(…)
Two wanted Fatah al-Islam members identified as Ousama al-Shehabi and Mohammed Awad reportedly bought the explosives from the same camp and used them for the second Tripoli bombing.
DPA, Oct 14, 2008

(m. emph.)

Interestingly, Osama al-Shehabi was also among those who had offered shelter to Badih Hamadeh (who was later executed because PM Hariri had reactivated the death penalty).

Hey T Desco,

how about a job for the investigation , you seem to have more analytic brain than all of them ,

Hariri Jr: Maybe some Hezbollahis but not Hezbollah.

Lebanese PM’s Iran Visit Focuses on Hariri Assassination

http://www.voanews.com/english/news/Lebanese-PM-Tehran-Visit-Focuses-on-Hariri-Assassination-110939724.html

“Prime Minister Hariri was quoted by the Iranian press agency IRNA as saying Hezbollah members may have been involved in his father’s assassination, but that he was not accusing the group as a whole.”

Why the Mossad is recognized to have perform killings in Dubai, Damascus and Teheran and not Lebanon??

“Is Israel’s Mossad Targeting Iran’s Nuclear Scientists?”

http://news.yahoo.com/s/time/20101130/wl_time/08599203372500

The Iranian nuclear expert assassinated in Tehran on Monday was the top scientist and senior manager of Iran’s nuclear effort. Majid Shahriari was killed when an explosive charge placed in his car was detonated by remote control after he climbed into the vehicle, according to a Western intelligence expert with knowledge of the operation.

The assassination carried the signature of Israel’s Mossad, which has carried out similar operations on foreign soil over the decades. Typically, a team of agents reconnoiters the target and his routines over a period of months, assessing vulnerabilities and opportunities to escape afterward. Most of the operatives are usually on their way out of the country by the time the charge is detonated by a member who sees the target enter the booby-trapped car. “It’s like a suit,” says the intelligence expert. “An assassination must be custom-made.”

Did the Hezabollah also “killed” Samir Kassir, Georges Hawi?

“Aujourd’hui, Libération affirme, en se basant sur “des fuites de personnes proches de l’enquête”, que les huit portables ont été “repérés lors des quatre autres attentats” qui ont suivi l’assassinat de Rafic Hariri. Il s’agit notamment de ceux qui ont coûté la vie au journaliste franco-libanais Samir Kassir, le 2 juin 2005, et à l’ancien chef du Parti communiste local, Georges Hawi, le 21 juin de la même année. Enfin, le quotidien affirme que l’enquête mènerait désormais jusqu’à un certain Haj Salim, qui est l’adjoint du chef militaire du Hezbollah, Imad Moughnieh, tué en février 2008 à Damas dans l’explosion de sa voiture.

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