Tag Archives: security

In West Bank, John Kerry Tries Out Turkey Schawarma

By Keith Johnson

Secretary of State John Kerry, in the middle of his fourth trip to the Middle East, is deeply invested in the peace process. On Thursday, he went all instopping his motorcade on a busy street in Ramallah, in the West Bank. He chose a popular schawarma shopSamers Restaurantto sample traditional Palestinian fare.

Well, fairly traditional. Mr. Kerry asked the owners what they recommended, and he got a turkey schawarma, which he dutifully tried to eat without making a mess in front of a swarm of cameras. After he got to talking with the Egyptian-educated owner of the place, Mr. Kerry gave his security team a fillip, and his sweet tooth a fix, by dashing across the street to Samers pastry shop. There he sampled a few Palestinian sweets and piping hot Arabic coffee, grilling the same owner about prospects for peace in the region. (Hed like some.)

Mr. Kerrys unscheduled visit, a rare stop indeed for the countrys top diplomat and especially so given concerns about diplomatic security overseas, underscores the kind of outreach that the U.S. is trying to make to jumpstart an apparently moribund peace process between Palestinians and Israelis.

He flew into Israel from Jordan Thursday morning, met with Israeli Prime MinisterBenjamin Netanyahu, then drove over to the West Bank for a chat withMahmoud Abbas, president of the Palestinian National Authority. In both meetings, Mr. Kerry stressed the need for economic development of the Palestinian territories as a way to nudge peace talks along, though concrete proposals remain scanty.

Mr. Kerry has sought since taking office earlier this year to pump fresh life into a peace process that all but collapsed during President Barack Obamas first term, but so far he has little to show for it other than abundant criticism from both sides in the local press. Israel right now is more concerned about the knock-on effects of a disintegrating Syria, not to mention Iran, while Palestinian leaders have plenty to worry about with Hamas.

Hell meet Mr. Netanyahu again Friday, as well as more Palestinian officials, before taking flight for Ethiopia to deal with Africas future, before doubling back to Jordan yet again.

In the end, Mr. Kerrys seemingly boundless energy and enthusiasm for taking on problems that have long vexed his predecessors may collide with the crude realities of the region. As he told the owner of Samers, Inshallah.

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In West Bank, John Kerry Tries Out Turkey Schawarma

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Private Security Force To Subject BILDERBERG Protesters To Pat-Downs – Will You Be Protesting? – Video



Private Security Force To Subject BILDERBERG Protesters To Pat-Downs – Will You Be Protesting?
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Private-Security-Force-To-Subject-BILDERBERG-Protesters-To-Pat-Downs-Will-You-Be-Protesting- – Video



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Bilderberg Security To Grope Protestors – Video



Bilderberg Security To Grope Protestors
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First ever Palestinian marathon: Running to change West Bank's image

Ammar Awad / Reuters

Racers reach the finish line of the first Palestinian marathon in the West Bank town of Bethlehem on Sunday.

By Paul Goldman, Producer, NBC News

BETHLEHEM, West Bank Jesus’ traditional birthplace has long been linked to tensions between Israel and the Palestinians. On Sunday, around 650 athletes took a step towards transforming Bethlehem’s modern image by running in the first official Palestinian marathon.

Its a strange site to see people run in the West Bank, said runner Dina Khuri, 21, from Beit Sahour. Usually when people run here it has to do with violence, but this time its for fun.”

Courtesy Dina Khouri

Dina Khouri, left, took part in an historic marathon in the West Bank on Sunday.

Security was tight in the wake of the Boston attacks that killed three and injured more than 170 on Monday. Before the event, organizers said they were “deeply saddened by the news from Boston.”

For George Zeidan from Jerusalem, the marathon was not only about fitness.

“Sports (are) my inspiration and my way of identifying myself,” he wrote in a blog posted on the marathon website before the race. “I am running for the freedom of Palestine and my people. I am running to inform everybody that we Palestinians are just like everyone else, we run, dance, sing, play, jump, and have fun, not only that but we are also good at it.”

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First ever Palestinian marathon: Running to change West Bank's image

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1st Palestinian marathon: Running to change West Bank's image

Ammar Awad / Reuters

Racers reach the finish line of the first Palestinian marathon in the West Bank town of Bethlehem on Sunday.

By Paul Goldman, Producer, NBC News

BETHLEHEM, West Bank Jesus’ traditional birthplace has long been linked to tensions between Israel and the Palestinians. On Sunday, around 650 athletes took a step towards transforming Bethlehem’s modern image by running in the first official Palestinian marathon.

Its a strange site to see people run in the West Bank, said runner Dina Khuri, 21, from Beit Sahour. Usually when people run here it has to do with violence, but this time its for fun.”

Courtesy Dina Khouri

Dina Khouri, left, took part in an historic marathon in the West Bank on Sunday.

Security was tight in the wake of the Boston attacks that killed three and injured more than 170 on Monday. Before the event, organizers said they were “deeply saddened by the news from Boston.”

For George Zeidan from Jerusalem, the marathon was not only about fitness.

“Sports (are) my inspiration and my way of identifying myself,” he wrote in a blog posted on the marathon website before the race. “I am running for the freedom of Palestine and my people. I am running to inform everybody that we Palestinians are just like everyone else, we run, dance, sing, play, jump, and have fun, not only that but we are also good at it.”

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West Bank hosts Obama, Gaza sends rockets

The day President Obama held a press conference with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, Gaza fired two rockets into southern Israel, starkly illustrating Palestinians’ internal divides.

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Arthur Bright is the Europe Editor at The Christian Science Monitor. He has worked for the Monitor in various capacities since 2004, including as the Online News Editor and a regular contributor to the Monitor’s Terrorism & Security blog. He is also a licensed Massachusetts attorney.

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A pair of rockets launched from Gaza hit the southern Israeli town of Sderot today, amid President Obama’s first state visit to Israel and just hours before he was due to meet with the Palestinian president in the West Bank.

The rocket attack is a reminder that even if the president manages to bring Israel and the Palestinian Authority to the negotiating table, he still has to contend with the more radical Hamas in Gaza, over which the Palestinian Authority has no leverage.

The Associated Press reports that the attacks caused no injuries, though one rocket did hit the courtyard of a house in Sderot, causing minor damage, while the other landed in a field. Two more launches were detected in Gaza, but the rockets landed in the Palestinian territory.

No group immediately claimed responsibility for the attack, AP adds.

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West Bank hosts Obama, Gaza sends rockets

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Obama Heads to Israel Before Stops in West Bank , Jordan

U.S. President Barack Obama arrives in Tel Aviv on Wednesday for what the White House is calling a very important visit to Israel, the West Bank and Jordan.

The trip is Mr. Obama’s first official visit to Israel since taking office in 2009.

His schedule Wednesday includes seeing a piece of Israel’s Iron Dome missile defense system, as well as meetings with Israeli President Shimon Peres and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry is joining Mr. Obama for the tour, which comes as a new Israeli government featuring pro-settlement ministers takes office.

Mr. Obama is set to travel to the West Bank on Thursday to meet with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Prime Minister Salam Fayyad.

On Friday, his schedule includes talks with King Abdullah in Jordan, where the United States has been helping officials cope with the flood of Syrian refugees.

In addition to the meetings, Mr. Obama is scheduled to visit a set of cultural and religious sites in the region, including seeing the Dead Sea Scrolls at the Israel Museum and a stop at the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem.

Deputy National Security Advisor Ben Rhodes says there is no substitute for Mr. Obama delivering his message of support for Israel’s security directly to the Israeli people.

Rhodes also says the United States has made a significant investment in the Palestinian Authority, which he calls the legitimate leadership of the Palestinian people.

But Palestinians say they have been disappointed with Mr. Obama so far, and see little reason for optimism in his second term.

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Obama Heads to Israel Before Stops in West Bank , Jordan

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Minister Kenney issues statement regarding ‘ Israel Apartheid Week ‘

Ottawa, March 4, 2013 The Honourable Jason Kenney, Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism, issued the following statement regarding so-called Israel Apartheid Week activities:

Everyone in this country has the right to freely and publicly express their views. That being said, I share the concerns of other Canadians about the reckless and overheated rhetoric associated with anti-Israel activities on many Canadian university campuses, and the toxic manner in which these activities are often carried out.

There is no better example than the so-called Israel Apartheid Week (IAW). Its organizers and participants have a regrettable history of promoting and holding events in ways that disregard the security and rights of Jewish faculty and students, censor other points of view, and limit academic discourse.

The disproportionate vitriol directed against the democratic State of Israel during Israel Apartheid Week stands in stark and ironic contrast to the silence of IAW organizers on the ongoing atrocities committed by the Syrian regime against its own citizens, and on the rampant brutalities and denial of rights in non-democratic countries in the Middle East, and elsewhere in the world.

In free societies such as Canadas and Israels, it is absolutely legitimate to debate and criticize government policies and practices. Indeed, Israel supports the right of free expression more than any other country in its part of the world. But with the freedom to criticize comes the responsibility to guard against hateful and intolerant rhetoric.

Operating under the guise of academic freedom, Israel Apartheid Week is a misleading attempt to delegitimize and demonize the only true liberal democracy in the Middle East. IAWs organizers choose to promote inflammatory propaganda over civil and enlightening debate. Their approach is at odds with the Canadian values of tolerance and mutual respect, and prevents meaningful dialogue from taking place.

As Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism, I encourage Canadians to speak out against all forms of discrimination, intolerance and anti-Semitism.

For further information (media only), please contact:

Alexis Pavlich Ministers Office Citizenship and Immigration Canada 613-954-1064

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Minister Kenney issues statement regarding ‘ Israel Apartheid Week ‘

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PNA mulls 20% discount to West Bank energy debts

Ramallah: The unrest over the past month in the West Bank has forced the Palestinian government to consider a proposal of a 20 per cent discount on outstanding electricity debts owed by residents of West Bank cities, towns and villages, a senior government official said.

A Palestinian National Authority (PNA) decision to cancel the energy debts of people in refugee camps angered residents of cities in the West Bank, leading to heavy clashes between Palestinian protesters and the PNAs security apparatus.

Calm was briefly restored after the government extended the same offer to Palestinians outside refugee camps. However, the decision was soon reversed after complaints from West Bank municipalities.

The municipalities see the settling of the debts as a major income boost to their annual budgets. As a result, the municipalities were reluctant to forfeit the debts unless the government agreed to settle them on behalf of residents.

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The mayors of the municipalities have held several meetings with cabinet ministers and informed them of their position.

However, governments decision to go back on its offer led to further clashes, with hundreds of angry Palestinians taking to the streets, burning tyres, blocking main roads and roundabouts and engaging in running battles with PNA security apparatus.

Nablus governor Jibrin Al Bakri has issued strict instructions to security forces to act firmly against the demonstrators to restore calm. At least 10 demonstrators were arrested in Nablus.

The Palestinian security apparatus will take unprecedented measures against the demonstrators who destroy public and private properties, Al Bakri said in an official statement. Demonstrations do not have anything to do with democracy and freedom of expression and the security apparatus will be tough with demonstrators.

Palestinian demonstrators threw stones and empty bottles at security forces, who fired into the air and used tear gas to break up the protests.

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PNA mulls 20% discount to West Bank energy debts

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