The Iranian opposition chiefs face prosecution: official (Reuters)

TEHRAN (Reuters) – Opposition leaders seek to undermine the Islamic Iran will be prosecuted to the maximum extent the guillotine after protests, in which two people died, the judiciary, the Director said Thursday, the State television reported.

Monday in Tehran and other cities, uprisings, which toppled leaders of Egypt, Tunisia, and inspired by the rallies was the first large opposition protests, because authorities crush demos at the 2009 presidential election.

Dozens of people, was seriously wounded and many of the detained more demonstrations, which was prohibited by the authorities arrest Mirhossein Mousavi and Mehdi Karoubi uprisings in support of the Arab States.

Supporters and opponents of the Government of the United States clashed Sanee Zhaleh Wednesday, who was killed during a Monday rally, even when both parties have argued, he backed up their reason for attending.

"This betrayal is clear leaders of sedition ... and the person can tolerate the Islamic system, harming the revolution," said the judiciary Chief Fadil Larijani.

"Definitely they prosecuted."

Hardline Iranian lawmakers urged to impose a moratorium on the judiciary Tuesday Karoubi and Mousavi, as the case may be, what they said was fomenting the unrest.

Karoubi said on Wednesday, he was willing to pay for the "price" for his actions, but analysts, such a claim only against the prominent figures in the Iranian tensions within. worse

Karoubi and Mousavi: n: n calls to protest has been posted on their websites and Larijani said authorities sakkorangaistusta, even if he does not elaborate.

THE COMPANY'S RESPONSE

Opposition supporters plan second rally in solidarity with the victims of violence, from Monday to Sunday Kaleme said Mousavi's website.

Tehran's Prosecutor Abbas Jafari Dolatabadi is warn opposition supporters, that they are faced with a firm answer, if they defy authorities, and the rally, the students ' news agency reported Onpuuttuu.

Nationwide demonstrations organized by the State shall endeavour to demonstrate its support shall be considered Clerical institution authorities Friday.

The argument is also called on supporters of the sites of the chant "allahu Akbar" (God is great) night, that pro-the reform movement is still alive in spite of the leaders of the country of its uhmakas character.

The cry of the last Shah of Iran, who had deposed the Islamic revolution in 1979, the opponents of reform movement was adopted by the pro-during the protests against the disputed 2009 presidential election result.

(Written by Reza and Parisa Hafezi Derakhshi; Editing Jon Boyle)

U.s. slaps sanctions on Iranian Bank Refah (Reuters)

WASHINGTON (Reuters)-the United States on Thursday introduced sanctions for Iran to facilitate the creation of millions of dollars in the Bank Refah missiles and tanks for the purchase of the Ministry of defence (MOD).

These purchases on the Iranian leadership to keep its Fighter jets and submarines, the US Treasury Department said in its announcement.

Treasury Undersecretary Stuart Levey, terrorism and financial intelligence, "the Treasury is now exposed to the Iranian Government-owned, it supports Iran's nuclear and missile programs, banks, 20, or, in the fight against terrorism," said.

Treasury said, the Bank shall also facilitate the Refah Iran aircraft industries Enterprise payments to businesses and individuals linked to Iran of weapons-related purchases.

"The pervasiveness of this illegal activity explains why legitimate financial institutions into form letters throughout the karttavat of the Iranian banks," said Levey, from Bush holdover, announced late last month.

The most recent actions to prohibit all transactions in the United States departments of companies and individuals will be nominated and seek to freeze the jurisdiction of the United States, they may be.

Previous similar move also is effectively cut off from the international finance, sanctioned entities.

The European Union imposed sanctions, which Refah Bank of July 2010, the Treasury said.

Iran says its nuclear enrichment program is designed to produce electric power. The United States and the Western allies to acquire nuclear weapons it is blamed.

(Reporting Corbett B. Daly; Editing By Xavier Briand)

Us legislators to propose kiristyvään of Iran sanctions (AFP)

WASHINGTON (AFP) – a group of us lawmakers on Wednesday unveiled the legislation to toughen sanctions on Iran for its nuclear program, the multinational companies traded in the United States exchanges reveal the investments required by the Islamic Republic.

"If we can show the transparency makes investment in Iran, we can defund the nuclear one of the world's largest militarization hostile Nations," said Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, Democrat of New York, which is one of the sponsors of the Bill.

"Companies have to make choices: do business with Iran, or get in the U.s. economy. We have zero tolerance policy for any company that places profit forward, our safety or security of our allies. "

Legislation was co-sponsored by the Illinois Republican Mark Kirk and Senator Ted Deutch, Florida Democrat and Dan Burton, Indiana from Republican representatives.

Bill of materials (BOM) to tighten sanctions on Iran in Washington and who already suspected its illicit nuclear program using atomic weapons by the United Nations.

Lawmakers said the Bill require that companies disclose an offence for investments in Iran with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and the quarterly and annual reports, none of the banks in the US would have to report their activities in Iran, as well as for external contact banks.

Gillibrand said, eight companies with Nasdaq and the New York Stock Exchange listed on the partners who support Iran's energy sector, 18 banks.

"Congress must do more to showcase companies that violate the law and endanger our sanctions policy," Kirk said. "This bipartisan legislation to keep bad actors responsible for dangerous and hostile subsidizing system."

The judgment of the Foundation's recent report on the legislators Defense of democracies, the eight global businesses had been linked to Iran's energy sector program: Alcatel-Lucent France, China National Offshore Oil Company, the people's Republic of China National Petroleum Company, China Petroleum & Chemical Corp., Japan's Mitsubishi, Mitsui, Anglo-Dutch firm Royal Dutch Shell and Sasol in South Africa.

Think tank said also, through the foreign correspondent banks 18, including the large U.s. banks and financial companies from Japan, Great Britain, Germany, Switzerland, France and India to conduct business with Iran.

The road to democracy

By George S. Hishmeh – Washington D.C.
 
There were many memorable episodes in the glorious Egyptian Revolution, recorded in photos or on the Internet, there is bound to remain in memory for most people in the industry for many years and can definitively shaky future of the Middle East.
But the ripple effect triggered by both the Tunisian "Jasmine Revolution" and later Egyptian "day of anger" is bound to re-ignite revival of Arab nationalism across the Arab world – a movement that so greatness under the leadership of Gamal Abdel Nasser, which contributed to the overthrow of the Egyptian monarchy in 1952.

What has been marked so far has been the new Egyptian generation, men and women in all walks of life, which brought together day and night in more than two weeks in Cairo's Tahrir (Liberation) Square during their successful shakedown Mubarak regime's diehard commitment. And what was very pleasing and soothing was their surprise readiness to clean the large square, when many of them joined hands voluntarily in the area and remove the brush the ample garbage.
This was a striking development especially for anyone who has seen the apartment bebøre in main Arab cities shaking tablecloths or travelling rugs from the balconies are sometimes unaware of the passers by. This time around young people seemed to tell all Tahrir square is now their home, just like their own places of residence, which is also kept clean. The message will be they wanted to keep their country clean, just like their attempted sweeps out all remnants of the discredited Egyptian regime.

This Revolution of young people was also remarkable for the role to the Internet, in particular the social media highlight of the key exchanges on Facebook with fellow travellers within the country or abroad. Of course, the enterprising Aljazeera, who regularly had patriotic songs of the late Egyptian popular singer Um Kalthoum heralding important messages or news. This is not to belittle Alarabiya and BBC Arabic role in their hourly monitoring of events major Egyptian cities overwhelming. Equally fascinating has been of mobile phones, which could be spotted with the demonstrators, either messaging colleagues or to take pictures of their parades role.

As determined not to be left behind, had The New York Times, even an original twist. It carried out a large gold-framed photo of President Mubarak, as apparently hanging in the Presidential Palace, which covers more than half the front of his "Week in Review" section, but the photo of the dictator youngish leader was illustrated the head.

Just as stirring was the dominøffekt that intifada (uprising) had in the Arab world. Many Arab leaders appeared shaking in their boots, throw all sorts of promises. Iraq's Prime Minister promised to cut his salary in half, and that he would not run in a third period. Syria allowed the introduction of social media. Been formed a new Jordanian Government. The Palestinians will also hold national elections next September. But the three countries, there are still facing serious turbulence was Algeria, Bahrain, Yemen, if President announced last minute decision to cancel his trip to Washington.

But if the Arab world has been hot-dip galvanized by demonstrators call for democracy, the West, especially the United States, has been in the meantime, the sense of the end. U.S. policy statements at the beginning of the Egyptian revolution seemed disjointed, frustrating many of its listeners, officials and non-officials.  But in the end President Obama speeches since the new status quo in Egypt only relieve many of the region, to allow them to take a deep breath of fresh air.

The way forward is still bound to counter large obstacles from both parties in the Arab world, regained control of their noble homeland and those remaining autocrats, which undoubtedly was sorry the American turnaround time as Mubarak fell into disgrace. All undoubtedly can still ask whether they can trust the u.s. Government to come to their assistance, now that the two countries have yielded to their peoples outcry and drove out two pro-Western rulers.

The road to democracy in the Arab world will not be a smooth ride. There is bound to be many pitfalls that can frustrate many freedom fighters. Dr. Naseer Aruri, Chancellor professor (emeritus) in political science at the University of Massachusetts, wondered about the "is not the time for Washington to revise its entire policy throughout the Middle East to assure, that democracy can actually thrive in an atmosphere of political dignity."
But to quote one big frustration, he continued in an article this week in Counterpunch, says that "as long as the Palestinians live under isrælsk supervision and are humiliated day in and day out, they will not be attracted by the virtues of democracy."
Time is running fast.

 

United Arab Emirates

United Arab Emirates (u.a.e.) is a Federation of seven States formed in 1971, the then Trucial States after independence from Britain.

After it has been quiet backwater, one of the most important financial centres in the Middle East.

Although each State-Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Ajman, Fujairah, Ras al Khaimah, Sharjah and Umm al Qaiwain-maintains the independence to a large extent, the Uae is governed by the Supreme Council of rulers composed of seven emirs, who shall be appointed by the Prime Minister and the Government.

Before oil was discovered in 1950, the economy was dependent on the fishing activities in the u.a.e. and a decline in the pearling industry. But since 1962, when the Abu Dhabi United Arab Emirates became the first country to begin exporting oil, the economy, society, and you want to convert.

The late Sheikh Zayed, Abu Dhabi ruler and the President of the UAE, at the inception of the industry was quick to seize the potential. He oversaw the development of all of the United Arab Emirates, and directed the oil revenue to health care, education and the national infrastructure.

The oil industry has attracted a lot of influx of foreign workers, who together with expatriates, now make up more than three quarters of the population.

But the UAE authorities attempted to reduce its dependency on oil by diversifying the economy booming exports, creating business, tourism, and construction sectors.

Abu Dhabi remained relatively cautious approach of Dubai, which is significantly smaller oil reserves the right, was a bigger, bolder framework programme policy of diversification.

In particular, during the credit boom, which built after 2000, on the other hand, the economic heart of new Dubai, the gateway itself sought, and the Middle East, cosmopolitan hub.

It also began to attract huge amounts of foreign release ever more ambitious construction projects, the most famous Burj Khalifa Skyscraper-in 2009, the highest ever built-the human structure and land reclamation projects, futuristic, such as the islands of artificial Palm palm-shaped.

But the global credit freeze is set to hit the market, I looked at the heart of new Dubai, the more difficult than Abu Dhabi oil-branched, prompting speculation that the balance of power in the United Arab Emirates could move back to the traditional political centre.

Emirates is one of the most liberal countries in the Gulf and in other cultures, particularly in Dubai usually tolerated beliefs.

However, politically, is authoritarian. It was the only country in the region have opted for the bodies of the part-session in December 2006, when it was elected to the Federal Assembly to convene a half, which was, however, be limited to an advisory role.

Full name:United Arab Emirates population: 4,7 million (UN, 2010) capital: Abu Dhabi largest city: Dubai region: 77,700 sq km (30,000 sq miles) Major language: Arabia Major religion: Islam life expectancy: 77 years (men), 79 years (women) (UN) Currency: 1 dirham = 100 fils Main exports: in oil, gas GROSS NATIONAL INCOME (GNI) per capita: is missing Internet domain:. ae code for the international phone number:, fax: + 971

, Chairman, Abu Dhabi ruler: Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed

Sheikh Khalifa was named President of the UAE Federal Council shortly after his father, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the death in November 2004. Former President, who was 86, had been weak.

Sheikh Khalifa succeeded his father, Sheikh Zayed in the year 2004

Sheikh Khalifa, which was the crown prince Abu Dhabi since 1969, is said to be pro-Western moderniser.

Often the father of the nation, you succeeded his brother Sheikh Zayed as ruler in Abu Dhabi in 1966 and his strong leadership and commitment to making up the Federation, he was elected in 1971 as the first President of the United Arab Emirates.

Again, every five years since 1971, Sheikh Zayed instilled the values of religious tolerance and equality, in particular women, his policies, which dramatically improved the stability of the Uae.

leader and PM, Dubai ruler: Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum

Sheikh Mohammed was recast as a global city, Dubai

Sheikh Mohammed succeeded his elder brother Sheikh Maktoum as the Dubai ruler in January 2006, and was invited as the Prime Minister of the UAE Federal Government.

Even before the takeover of the ruler, Sheikh Mohammed was engaged in holding, Dubai-United Arab Emirates, originally the main fishing village and trading post of the ambition to be one of the world's foremost economic and cultural capitals.

In the early stages of growth achieved in the Mahajanga double digits, although Asia, other countries in the Middle East and the West into the investments, and employees. Sheikh Mohammed also worked to make the most of his State in the United Arab Emirates (fault tolerant) foreigners.

However, the 2008 economic crash with large debts left Dubai method is responsible for growing and been unfairly induced chemicals during the sweet support in Abu Dhabi, foreign investors. December 2009 in Dubai, Abu Dhabi gave a summary of the lainanantovaltuuksiksi to pay off the $ Dubai World debt of State-owned enterprise.

Ruler Ajman: Sheikh Humaid bin Rashid al-Nuaimi ruler of Fujairah: Sheikh Hamad bin Mohammed bin Hamad al-Sharqi ruler of Ras al Khaimah: Sharjah Saud Bin Saqr al-Qasimi, ruler of the United Arab Emirates: Sheikh Sultan bin Muhammad al-Qasimi, ruler of the United Arab Emirates Umm al Qaiwain: Sheikh Rashid bin Ahmad al-Mualla

UAE is a member of the regional and International Centre for the development of TV and media, alongside Egypt and Lebanon. Dubai Media City and twofour54, Abu Dhabi media zone, was established to attract key players.

Organizations, including Reuters, CNN, Sony and Fox has been moved. UAE is home to major pan-Arab broadcasters, MBC, and Orbit Showtime network.

The Constitution provides for freedom of speech, but there is a strong regulatory and political control of media content.

Publications must be licensed and follow the official guidelines for reporting. Foreign publications are censored before distribution. Journalists practise self-censorship is the tendency.

Internet use is extensive; June 2010, was 3.8 million users (InternetWorldStats.com). Extensive, automatic filtering is considered that the level of the ISP. Targeted content contains the argument that politics and religion.

In The Press

Al-Bayan-private, Dubai Arabic daily Gulf News, Dubai-based, English-Khaleej Times, Dubai on a daily basis, the private "Emirates 24/7-English-online publication of the national-Abu Dhabi-based English-language daily, the English free 7Days and the payment for the tabloid

Television

Radio

News Agency

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Israeli troops kill Gaza suspects

17 February 2011, last updated at 05: 08 -YOU DO NOT have Israeli soldiers shot dead three Palestinian men in the northern Gaza Strip.

The Israeli army said its troops opened fire after the security men were spotted planting explosives overnight no-go along the edge of the area.

But the men, who were all the more rare, a Palestinian family, say they were unarmed civilians that had been gathering on the Island.

None of the Hamas militant groups in the Gaza Strip, the shares shall be for an indefinite period of time, said the men were members.

Israel maintains the buffer limit fence with the Gaza Strip in Egypt have planted bombs and explosives, targeting Israeli troops along the previously.

Often, the people of Israel, which opens fire on the "I got too close to the fence" to stop the attacks in Egypt, the BBC Gaza correspondent Jon Donnison says.

More than 50 Palestinians, including 12 civilians were killed by Israeli forces in the vicinity of the edge in 2010, the UN says.

Yemen conflict hurt dozens

17 February 2011, last updated at 13: 19-YOU are a Freelance journalist Iona Craig: "not running street battles" dozens of Yemenis have been injured in the event of a conflict between between Pro and anti-government activists, reports say.

Several thousands of people joined the Myanmar protests in the capital of the word, and were confronted by supporters of President Ali Abdullah Saleh.

There were also contrary to the Aden, where one person in what is called "random gunfire," the police were reportedly killed.

Myanmar Klimaflüchtlinge are angry corruption and unemployment and want to resign as President.

Inspired by Tunisia and Egypt in the streets, demonstrators have been earmarked for seven consecutive days, but the word on Thursday, the largest gathering of the rally, so far this week.

Government loyalists-daggers, and a shareholder of the factorial of clubs-ankara battles with several thousands of rock throwing hundreds of Anti-government Klimaflüchtlinge artillery.

Police fired warning shots in the air and arrested demonstrators reportedly around 50.

"I would like to send a message to President Saleh," protester Hakim Mohamed told the Associated Press.

"Do not want to tell him, to see what the country and the situation is now, and that he sent to overthrow Hosni Mubarak to us, such as, I speak unto him, that he should step down."

The Government of the loyalist Hamad al-Naqib said the students were in the process of creating a "unnecessary".

"If the Government does not comply with the requirements of the people, (only) then they should have a full right to demonstrate," he said.

There is not enough

President Saleh, who has been in power for 32 years, offered some concessions when organising the protests of opposition coalition launched last month.

Protests turned into a battle between pro-and Anti-government activists Words

He has agreed to carry out the selection and release the power of taking his son.

But even though the opposition coalition has agreed to hold discussions, not all the concessions to appease the protests and the latest, and lost the younger groups, several of which are students.

The southern port city of Aden were contrary to the provisions of the second day in succession Klimaflüchtlinge and al-Mansura, between the police, the European neighbourhood policy (ENP).

"At least one person killed and eight others, who were haavoittaneet of random gunfire," an anonymous member of the Municipal Council told Reuters.

Hundreds of people how to advance, Greenpeace Aden ' s city Hall to protest against the demonstrators, the management of the police, after the two people shot dead during the conflict with the police on Wednesday.

President Saleh has sent his Deputy Director of the Committee to examine violence in Aden, although he has also been touring tries to rally support from a majority of the provinces.

It is also been protests in other cities, towns and villages in Yemen, including Taiz and IBB.

Visible for religious figure in the country, Sheikh Abdul-Majid al-Zindani appealed that Muslim preachers of calm and had asked for the integrity of the Government.

"Street Protest the change is discarded. It will lead to chaos, "he is quoted as saying.

Myanmar activists have called for "a day of rage" on Friday.

Car bomb blast kills 13 in Iraq

17 February 2011, last updated: 12: 00 is-06 YOU are at least 13 people have been killed in car bomb attack in northern Iraq, the local security officials say.

They say that more than 30 people had suffered harm as a result of the blast in the car sales Centre, outside the city in Northeast Baghdad Muqdadiyah.

The popular Centre of persons and vehicles are compressed when you destroy went around the 19th local time (1500 GMT).

Curfew is imposed more bomb attacks in the middle of the city's fears.

Although violence has declined in recent years in Iraq, are increasingly under attack, and Government officials are often the targets.

Egypt arrests three ex-Ministers

17 February 2011, last updated at 17: 49 -ET-Habib el Adly is accused, so that they are deadly police violence during the Egyptian authorities have arrested three ex-Ministers, the former Interior Minister protests also Habib el Adly, judicial sources said.

Mr. Adly and the ex-Ministers of housing and tourism, Ahmed Zuhair Garana Maghrabi and arrested together with steel Tycoon Ahmed Mohamed 15 days.

All four of which are already prohibited from abroad, deny all wrongdoing in this area.

Suspicions of corruption at the top of the fuel protests, which the President Hosni Mubarak was forced last week.

Four prominent figures from the liaison officers say the Mubarak era arrest is a temporary military-led Government tries to quell the unrest continued.

Payments were Mr. Maghrabi Garana and Episteme and anonymous user (S) Episteme and anonymous user (S), Mohamed last week, former Minister of trade and industry, Rachid Mohamed Rachid, arising out of or in connection with the contest including misconduct.

Abuse of authority on the prevention of money laundering and Thursday squandering wealth in the State, the four men were arrested vary.

Mubarak calls for Inquiry

Mr. Adly was the adoption of the massive demonstrations against the police officers, President Mubarak Cairo and other cities and some riot police force against Klimaflüchtlinge deadly for the accused.

Mr. Adli froze prosecutors and members of his family, that 4 m over the Egyptian pound (£ 420,000; $ 680,000) were transferred to his personal account of the contractor's company, reports by the news agency Reuters, the head of the Egyptian State TV quoting accusations of bank accounts.

Some of the policemen are hoping the public prosecutor's Office, the former Minister of the environment and even execution.

Ahmed Mohamed ally, President Mubarak was near

Mr. Mohamed is Mr. Mubarak, Senior Vice President and General Manager of the party and the owner of Ezz steel.

The company said in a statement last week, he strongly denied the accusations against him, and research is a personal thing that affect its behavior.

Overall, around a dozen ex-Ministers and businessmen are now being investigated by the corruption and the abuse of authority, the Associated Press news agency reports.

Anti-corruption Replica has been pressing the prosecutors, Mr. Mubarak and his family, corresponding to the initiation of the investigation.

Family wealth-anywhere from $ lisämiljardi-$ 70bn-has come under increasing scrutiny, because Mr. Mubarak resigned after 11 February, three decades in power.

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Palestinians nix us bid to avoid UN settlement vote (AFP)

RAMALLAH, Palestinian territories (AFP) – the Palestinians have refused a compromise offered by Washington to revoke a UN resolution condemning the Jewish settlements, Foreign Minister Riyad al-Maliki said Thursday.

The resolution, are debated by the UN Security Council last Friday, contains a condemnation of Jewish settlement is built on occupied Palestinian land and calls to be stopped.

United States, who regularly uses its Security Council veto to stop anti-isrælske initiatives, has promised to oppose the resolution, and instead proposed a non-binding declaration condemning settlement activity.

"The American administration, through its United Nations Ambassador (Susan Rice), submitted a proposal to the Palestinian Ambassador and Arab Group to refrain from asking the Security Council to condemn and demand an end to isrælske settlements in the Palestinian territories, in particular in East Jerusalem," Maliki told AFP, say they refused the offer.

"Instead of a vote on the resolution the Security Council would issue non-binding declaration solid reject settlement activity and criticise the positions, in particular its Isræls failure to apply the roadmap," said he reference 2003 peace plan published by the Middle East Quartet.

Statement proposed would also put out the Security Council's readiness to send UN envoys "to explore close to realities on the ground", he added.

But the Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas Thursday promised they would press ahead with the resolution, which was filed last month, representatives of the Arab countries.

"We want the Security Council so that it adopts a resolution demanding that Israel halt settlement activity," he said Thursday at a joint press conference with East Timor President Jose Ramos-Horta.

"We hoped that the Quartet would the public a balanced statement speaks of 1967 and on security, but that does not happen, then, we have asked the Security Council to call on Israel to cease its settlement activity, a requirement that is done many times by the American Government," he said.

The resolution condemns the isrælske settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, in line with the policy of the international community, including the United States.

Washington, however, against the resolution, the only way to solve such problems is through negotiations.

World powers currently seek ways to make Israel and Palestinians back to the negotiating table after talks broke in late 2010 in a dispute over Jewish settlement construction.

The Palestinians--who observer status without voting rights at the United Nations--is refusing to resume the negotiations, while Israel is based on the country they wish for their future State, but efforts to convince Israel to impose a new ban has failed.

US urges restraint in Bahrain tekstombrydningsfunktionen Middle East turmoil (AP)

WASHINGTON — the Obama administration expressed alarm over a violent punishment on government demonstrators in Central U.S. ally Bahrain on Thursday as a wave of political upheaval moved across the Middle East.

U.S. chiefs by the Pentagon and State Department known as their counterparts in Bahrain, his home to U.S. Navys 5th fleet and an anchor in U.S. defense strategy in the Middle East.

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton called Bahrain Foreign Minister to track Washington's "deep concern" about overnight developments in which the army patrols and tanks locked in the capital of small Gulf Kingdom after riot police fired tear gas and beat demonstrators demanding political reforms. At least four people were killed.

Clinton spoke with the Minister for Foreign Affairs about how to respond to the demands of the protesters, Foreign Ministry said.

Secretary of Defense Robert Gates spoke by telephone Thursday morning with Crown Prince Salman of Bahrain, Deputy Head of the Bahrain Defence, said Pentagon Press Secretary Geoff Morrell.

Morrell gave no information on what Gates said, except that he "discussed the current security situation" with the Prince.

Navy officials in the Pentagon 5th fleet headquarters in Bahrain have said they shall monitor developments in Bahrain to sailors and civilian staff and family members who have been informed to avoid protest sites. Officials have not reported any impact on their operations from the turmoil.

5Th fleet operating at least one aircraft carrier in the region Persian Gulf, at all times, together with a "amfibie ready group" of ships with Marines on board. Their presence is central to a long-standing U.S. commitment to ensure a free flow of oil through the Gulf, while keeping an eye on a hostile Iran and seek to deter piracy in the region.

Elsewhere in the Middle East, thousands of Yemeni protesters defied appeal to calm from the military and the country's most influential Islamic cleric and marched through the capital city on Thursday. Libyan protesters seeking to oust his leader Moammar Gadhafi defied a punishment and took to the streets in four cities.

Three Gazans shot dead by the isrælske Army (AFP)

GAZA city, Palestinian territories (AFP) – three Palestinians were shot dead by isrælske troops early on Thursday in an area near Gaza's northern border with Israel, said officials on both sides.

Adham Abu Selmiya, a spokesman for Hamas-Run emergency services, said the men died after being hit by a tank shell and machine gun fire in an area known as Al-Waha, close to the coast and the northern border with Israel.

Abu Selmiya said three were fishermen and identified them as Jihad Khalaf, 20 Talaat, al-Awagh, 25 and Ashraf al-Kteifan, 29.

The isrælske army confirmed shooting down three men near the border, with a spokesman says troops had "opened fire on a number of Palestinians who tried to plant an explosive device near the fence."

They had identified three powerful people, he said.

Increased tensions on the Gaza border have expressed concern about a new isrælske invasion of the coastal enclave, like the devastating 22 day offensive which began at the end of December 2008, kill 1400 Palestinians, more than half of them civilians, and 13 Isræles, 10 of them soldiers.

But Gaza has been relatively quiet over the past 10 days, with a lower than normal number of rockets fired into southern Israel, military sources said.

West Bank field trip to isrælske kids stirs anger (AP)

JERUSALEM – at a time when the peace negotiations with the Palestinians is stalled over Jewish settlements, The Isræls  Government plans to send school field trips to a disputed holy site in one of the West Bank most volatile flash points.

Education Minister Gideon Saar says visit to Hebron, traditional burial site biblical Patriarch Abraham and home to some of Isræls most radical settlers, is part of a plan to make aware isrælske young people with their cultural heritage.

"It is a place of emotional, religious and historical power," said Saar, a leading member of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud party, Israel Radio on Wednesday. "It is the place where our ancestors are buried and it is a part of our history. Who objects to this, in my opinion, try to stop us from our roots. "

Both Palestinian and isrælske critics call it an exercise in indoctrination that will ignore the thousands of dispossessed Palestinians living in the vicinity.

"Palestinian children in Hebron is forbidden to go on the street (leading to the Tomb complex) and visit the area — but isrælske school children can? It's incitement against Palestinians, "said Issa Amro, a Palestinian activist in Hebron.

"Children are visiting will hear views ... the Jewish extremists," Amro said. "It will break down the social partners more."

It will be the first time the Ministry sponsors trips to Hebron, a city bristling with excitement, because it is the only place in the West Bank in which settlers living in the heart of a Palestinian city.

Set to begin next year on an experimental basis, is the latest in a series of steps by Saar, which critics say has politicized education curriculum with a nationalist bent. The Saarland has pushed for field trips to the section in Jerusalem of both Israel and the Palestinians claimed — and have ordered textbooks to isrælske Arab schoolchildren remove references to the Palestinians calls "disaster" of their displacement as a result of the Isræls creation.

Hebron is sacred for both Muslims and Jews tradition holder is the place where their shared Patriarch, Abraham or Ibrahim to Muslims, purchased a burial plot. The site is known to Jews as Cave of bishops and Muslims as the Ibrahimi Mosque. School children will visit the Web site.

Israel conquered the city when it seized in West Bank and East Jerusalem from Jordan in 1967 Middle East war. For trønde Jews, it was a recovery of a biblical birthright. Today more than 600 Jews live in fortified enclaves tekstombrydningsfunktionen 170 000 Palestinians in Hebron.

Under the agreements signed in the 1990s, the partially autonomous Palestinian Government in the West Bank controls 80 percent of the city and Israel controls the rest, including the holy site.

This arrangement has transformed Palestinian city centre to a ghost town, with wide streets of Palestinian stores nøglehullet — some of the army order under a Palestinian uprising, others because of restrictions on Palestinian movement.

The plan comes at a time when Israel under fire internationally for refusing to stop building settlements on land Palestinians want to a future State. Palestinians refuse to resume negotiations until the building stops.

Palestinian spokesman Ghassan Khatib called field trip plan "another provocative steps that generate more tensions."

Hebron has a history of violence. In 1929 Arabs killed 67 Jews in a rampage seared still into isrælske sind. When Israel was established in 1948, no Jews live in Hebron.

In 1994, an American-born Jewish settler Baruch Goldstein in the cave, entered spaces, serves as a mosque and shot dead 29 Palestinian trønde survivors before him and beat him overwhelmed to death.

Field trips are not meant "to impose a certain political perspective," said Saar.

Asked about school children learn about how the Palestinians live in Hebron, Saar replied, "objective is mostly historical Tours." He did not say, what qualities would participate.

Hebron settlers welcomed the planned visit. David Wilder, a Community spokesperson, said they "have very clearly the importance of this Web site for the Jewish people."

Amnon Rubinstein, a former Education Minister Isrælske Dovish, deplored the idea.

Speech at Israel Radio he said visitors "only the part which is Holy unto the Jews and not see the political and ethical price we have paid."

___

Abbas: No choice if Gaza does not take part (AP)

RAMALLAH, West Bank, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said Thursday that the election is not held by September as planned if in Gaza Hamas rulers will not let the vote there.

Abbas ' West Bank-based Government called the long-delayed presidential and parliamentary elections at the weekend, but rival Islamic Hamas has said Gaza will not participate in the vote.

"Unless we are capable of holding of elections in both the West Bank and Gaza, so we will not hold elections," told journalists Abbas in Ramallah on Thursday.

Abbas governs the West Bank but lost control of Gaza to Hamas in a violent 2007 takeover. Several attempts to reconcile the two factions have failed.

Abbas aides said the Palestinian President had not fully supported on his commitment to the vote. Senior Adviser Yasser Abed Rabbo said that, if necessary, the Palestinian Authority would find a "creative" way to bypass any Hamas opposition so Gazans would be able to participate. Measures be explored include voting by Internet have Palestinian officials said.

Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri disputed Abbas ' sincerity in calling for elections.

"This confusion of the Palestinian Authority reflects the internal crisis it crawls and displays their call choice is not an honest," he said.

Planning for a long time the vote was seen as a response to the widespread Middle East protests against autocratic regimes that have overthrown his dictators in Tunisia and Egypt.

Abbas and President Barack Obama talked by telephone in 50 minutes on Thursday, said Palestinian Authority spokesman Nabil Aburdeneh. He said they discussed the uprisings in Egypt and Tunisia and the Palestinian-supported the proposed resolution in the UN Security Council declare isrælske settlements in the West Bank illegal. He gave no further details.

The Palestinian Authority have not been elections since 2006, leaving Abbas and members of the Parliament in office after their elected terms ended.

Abbas ' four-year term expired in 2009, although it has been extended indefinitely. Parliament's term expires in 2010, but the legislature remain in office, although its work is hampered by division between the territories.

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Bahrain tightens grip on protests

17 February 2011, last updated at 13: 25 ET BBC Ian Pannell hospital in Bahrain: "crowd has a lot of anger" protests are prohibited in Bahrain and the army has ordered tighten its grip after the removal of the violent Anti-government protestors, State TV reports.

The army to take the necessary measure in order to maintain the safety of the Interior Ministry said.

Three people died and were injured, 231, when the police broke up the main Protest Camp said in Bahrain's Minister of public health.

In the midst of a wave of Protest will be civil unrest in the Middle East and North Africa.

Bahrain's demonstrators to wide-ranging political reforms, and had adopted the capital Manama, since Tuesday.

Tanks and checkpoints Continue reading lead, Ian Pannell, BBC News, Manama

To move columns of tanks and were at the heart of the city through this morning armoured personnel carriers. Pearl Square, which was up 12 to 15 hours ago Klimaflüchtlinge home, the surrounding area is now have additional security forces.

Barbed wire erected; vehicle checkpoints and roadblocks, around the city, the traffic is directed and the authorities have said, all protests must be prohibited.

It was a very different scene in hospital: one passion, chaos, mourning and anger. Hundreds of people had gathered outside the resulting ambulances. Crowds rushed forward; the doctors were angry because they said, ambulances had to attend to people who had been injured when police attacked them.

Districts, States, we saw the accounting of them, which was admitted was more than 300 names: in this step. The morgue was three people who were killed, all in a very clear evidence that live rounds of relevance was used to them.

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton expressed in Bahrain Foreign Minister call on Washington's "deep concern" on Thursday.

MRS. Clinton, "urged restraint in the road ahead. The meeting discussed the political and economic reform efforts to respond to the citizens of the State of Bahrain, "told the BBC's official title.

The police action was necessary to pull back from Bahrain "on the brink, the sects in abyss", the Bahraini Minister Khaled bin Ahmed al Khalifa said on Thursday.

Bahrain Shiite Muslim's is closed, the majority of Sunni Muslims of the Royal family in the 18th century.

Declaration of the State TV said the army had taken control of the user at the heart of the city's "essential elements".

Tanks, army, police forces and key in the streets on the overhead contact line with helicopters, military checkpoints.

Barbed wire has been erected in the main Protest area of Pearl Square, leading to the roads and the Interior Ministry is warned to stay off the streets.

Klimaflüchtlinge and the Opposition expressed by the outrageous at the rules of the violence.

The main minority Shia opposition leader, Abdul Jalil Khalil said 18 MPs were resigning in protest.

Sharif Ibrahim Bahrain's secular tree party, told the BBC would mutiny.

"We will do what is necessary to amend non-essential elements of this democratic country, although some of us lose our lives," he said.

"We, the undersigned, being duly authorised, in the activities of the constitutional democracy."

Mr. Sharif said, riot police had moved into Pearl Square is approximately 0300 (0000 GMT) as people were sleeping.

Hundreds of Klimaflüchtlinge had suffered harm as a result of the

Bahrain's authorities for their actions defended. Finance Minister Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Khalifa told the BBC, more than 70 police officers were injured.

"When (police) first went, they went without harm to anyone, however, that for them, the people who were to occupy the Roundabout and blocking traffic will be moved to the" Sheikh Al Khalifa said.

"Some of these people left, but some of those people came back and fought for."

He added: "I believe that restraint is turned on."

But many of the Klimaflüchtlinge, said there was no warning in the deck.

Angry scenes of Manama's main hospital, hundreds of people gathered in the Salmaniya, some receiving invitations to donate blood and other than the outside case was there on Thursday morning, without harming the Bahraini Royal family pictures.

' Exercise restraint "means Continue reading lead by King Hamad, 61, has been in power 1999Population 000Ranks-800, 48 out of the median population of 178 corruptionA. 4 years with age 30 and the literacy rate is 91%, youth unemployment is 19.6% of the gross national income per capita, from: $ 25,420 (World Bank 2009) rules has been caused by the Western unease. Bahrain is central to the UK and the US Navy's ally, and hosts the Fifth Fleet.

UK Foreign Secretary William Hague condemned the violent conflicts of calling on the Government of Bahrain's "carry on restraint."

Britain has also said it will review its export licences for arms exports to Bahrain. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland has sold on the export of tear gas and riot control equipment, Bahrain, but foreign offices says, these certificates may be withdrawn if it is established, to facilitate these weapons were used for internal repression.

Gulf Cooperation Council, which includes Bahrain, Oman, Qatar, Saudi, Arabia, Kuwait and United Arab Emirates, the Ministers are considered to be an extraordinary meeting in Bahrain on Thursday.

Bahrain's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said the Council members were "expects to announce its support for the security of the State [Bahrain], defence-and politically".

Since 1971, the pressure on the independence of the United Kingdom, and the less wealthy elite Sunni Shia is often caused by disturbances. Shiite groups say aside unfair and repressed by the law.

The conflict has decreased in 1999, when Sheikh Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa became Emir. He began the process of democratic reforms, and prudent. In 2002, he proclaimed himself King and landmark elections.

But the opposition boycotted, because They are designated by the upper Chamber of Parliament were elected by the lower Chamber, one of the powers.

Send pictures yourpics@bbc.co.uk and videos, or they 61124 text (UK), or to 7725 100 100 (International). If you have a large file, you can download here.

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Experience in the streets of Cairo

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'Simple description of observable reality does nothing more than capture the 'accidents' that identify the particularity of something, not convey the greater universal truths, the ideal form, that lies hidden beneath the accidental appearance."

For fifteen days and counting, the people of the world have been watching in wonder and witnessing in fascination the Egyptian people flow through the streets of Cairo. As they streamed in and out of Tahrir Square we sensed the ebb and flow of the Egyptian people pulsing before us—vibrant, brilliant, eloquent—a symbolic force echoing the dreams and desires of humanity around the world. From our vantage points, witnessing this rare and powerful movement of human will on television screens in every land, we interpret the events to give meaning and purpose to their bravery, their commitment, their endurance, in the face of absolute force that has imprisoned them for thirty years in their own land.

And in our guts we feel the rising tide of impotence that has lifted our numb bodies in the ebb and flow of a silent sea of acquiescence and obeisance to the absolute forces that control our lives. Helplessness and shame swell in our hearts as we realize the frustrations, the torment and suffering these people have lived while the world watched and waited and did nothing, decade upon decade. There are lessons to be learned from the streets of Cairo.

But let us reflect for a few minutes on this rare scene of human will embodied in millions of Egyptians swarming through the streets of Cairo with banners held high, scribbled signs raised aloft flapping in the wind, children grasping their mother’s hand, arms lifted in jubilation, faces wet with tears of happiness, laughter ringing in the air, arms around each other in joyful celebration, horns blaring, flags of black, white and red spread parallel to the ground caught in the breeze as they furl in undulating waves among the crowds, an audible hum hovering over the huge gathering that breathes as one in motion to and fro, a living vibrant organism of humanity.

Beneath that ever moving, pulsating, audible scene, the image that captures hundreds of thousands of individuals, the observable reality in all its unique “accidents” of faces, colours, garments, noise, movements, objects, resides another reality, deeper than the observable, the universal truths that lie hidden beneath the accidental appearances: a human’s destiny and individual actions as well as understanding of self or anything at all are, by virtue of human nature, beyond an individual’s control and beyond  comprehension. This is both the marvel and the evil of human existence. Yet here in this scene, in February of 2011, the Egyptians exemplify the dreams and desires and hopes of all free people who unite in oneness with them to throw off the limitations that those who thrive on indifference, on anger, on hate, on racism, on arrogance impose on them by force of will through occupation, subjugation and oppression. There are lessons to be learned from the streets of Cairo.

None of us viewing that scene can know what resides in the hearts and minds of those who braved the forces that have controlled their destiny for over thirty years, nor can we know what will follow. We know from experience that some desire to take control and impose their will on others. In our world that can be a dictator or an apparent democracy; in both cases it is those who control money that ultimately control all, corporations or individuals with the means to assert their will. A hundred years ago Mark Twain decried Teddy Roosevelt’s empirical designs by praising the brutal slaughter of the Moro’s in the Philippines by our military because it represented the ascendency of human amorality against fellow humans.

 Today American empiricism accomplishes the same end across the globe by buying “peace” agreements with Mubarak that stifle the rights of his people, bury alive more than five million who live in the squalor of garbage and cockroaches in the Cities of the Dead in Cairo, force half the population to live on less than $2 a day, while they imprison Palestinians behind walls and lay military siege to Gaza.

"Mubarak became president (after Pres. Anwar Sadat’s assassination) in October 1981, two years after Egypt signed its peace with Israel. Under Mubarak, Egypt always adhered closely to the treaty’s terms. But the services it performed for Israel and the United States went much further than that. Indeed, Mubarak’s Egypt became both a shield and a spear for Israeli interests in the region, and globally. It shielded Israel politically from demands that Israel abide by international law in East Jerusalem and the rest of the occupied territories. And it worked closely with Israel to combat Hamas and Israel’s many other challengers." -- (Reassessing U.S. aid in light of Egypt, The Congress Blog, Helena Cobban - 02/02/11)

There are lessons to be learned.

But this sentence is too broad; it does not touch the soul, the hidden truth lies beneath it. Like their Egyptian brothers and sisters, the Palestinians suffer behind walls, gates and checkpoints. Can we "truly comprehend what it is that makes an old man from a West Bank village face the brutality of Jewish settlers, year after year, as he returns to harvest his few remaining olive trees? Or a Palestinian woman from Gaza who keeps coming back to hold a vigil before the Red Cross office with a framed photo of her once-young son, now ailing in some Israeli jail?" -- (Ramzy Barhoud, 'Insisting on their humanity').

This is suffering caused by our closest friend in the mid-east, the only Democracy in the mid-east, the country the world should turn to if it is to distinguish between civilized humanity and that exposed by the people in the streets of Cairo. How fast the good friend Mubarak becomes a despot when the fear of change looms on the horizon. This our tax dollars pay for; this we call democracy.    

Americans more than most must respond to this scene since their government has been responsible for “three decades of failed economic policies, massive poverty, continued repression of religious rights and near zero tolerance for political dissent.” (“Can peace with Israel survive Egypt’s revolution?” Jewish Times, Neil Rubin). Strange this quote comes from the  Jewish Times, when it is Israel’s very existence that has embedded America in Egyptian  politics. Our support for Israel glows in the darkness of mid-east inhumanity caused by dictatorial powers, military occupation, and apartheid.

One would think that the scenes in Cairo would lead both Israel and the United States to recognize that their approach these past 63 years by force of arms has wrought only destruction, humiliation and death to the vast majority of the people of Egypt and Palestine, indeed to the whole of the mid-east. One would think, that the lessons to be learned, graphically demonstrate that a mutual respect for all people, not just the inner circle of the powerful in Egypt or the Jews only in Palestine, require an equitable distribution of wealth to all, comprehensive employment for all, health for all, education for all, freedom of movement for all, and equitable housing for all if a civilized society is to exist for all.

If the streets of Cairo teach us anything, they teach us that those who horde for themselves isolate themselves from human sympathy; those that torture their fellow humans declare to the world that they are inhuman and deserve only ostracism; those with excessive pride fall from grace crushing their ego in the process; those that manipulate for personal gain causing undue suffering to their fellows are but tools of carnage lacking both heart and soul; and those that remain silent in the face of such inhumanity against others belong in the lowest circle of hell, frozen forever for all to see.

February 11, in all its symbolic splendour of togetherness, love and freedom, bears witness to our dreams and our hopes that humans can find happiness in accepting the brotherhood of all humankind. But that dream confronts a reality, an absolute of our experience, that a man will act to destroy another man, or lie to deceive him, or slander to discredit him, or turn from him in fear or turn love to hate on the presumption that he knows the truth concerning another man. Such behaviour is the righteous indignation of men, confirmed in illusion believed to be truth, and it corrodes the humanity that should guide all men. If the streets of Cairo have taught us anything, they have demonstrated that vigilance against those who would control out of arrogance, oppress with indifference, deceive with impunity, and humiliate without feeling, have abandoned all natural sympathies and become , in fact, non-human and must be exposed for all to see. Such vigilance unfortunately can never end.     

Palestinian September 2011 Deadline sentenced

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By Nicola Nasser

The international Quartet of the US, EU, UN and Russia on Middle East peace and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) seem set on an agenda that perceives September 2011 as an historical political watershed deadline. Among the partners to the Quartet – sponsored Palestinian – Israeli “peace process,” practically deadlocked since the collapse of the US, Palestinian and Israeli trilateral summit in Camp David in 2000, only the Israeli government of Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu seems adamant to set a completely different agenda that renders any endeavor by the Quartet to revive the process a non – starter, thus dooming the September deadline beforehand as another missed opportunity for peace making.

Denying they are containment measures aimed at political survival to avert potential Palestinian simulation in the aftermath of the regime changes in Egypt and Tunisia, the PLO is bracing for what it declares as indeed “the” watershed deadline in September 2011 that would make or break its decision to resume as a partner to the “peace process.” The PLO is reshuffling its negotiations department as well as the cabinet of the self-ruled Palestinian Authority (PA) and has called for presidential, legislative and local elections by next September to empower itself with electoral legitimacy ahead of that deadline, encouraged by what the Quartet perceives as a “really important moment of opportunity,” in the words of the Quartet’s representative the former UK prime minister Tony Blair, which is an “opportunity” created by the Arab popular uprisings that so far have swept to the dustbin of history the Tunisian and Egyptian regimes, both considered for decades major pillars of the Middle East “peace process.”

Blair’s “moment of opportunity” (Sky News on Feb. 14) was voiced also the next day by the Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, who told the London School of Economics that, “Time is a factor, and urgent progress in the Palestinian-Israeli settlement is necessary.” On the same day while on a visit in Israel and the PA, the EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton, citing the “significant changes in Tunisia and of course in Egypt,” said “there is an opportunity for us to try and engage better and more quickly on resolving the issue” of the peace process. On Feb. 12 the UK Foreign Secretary William Hague, citing the “one of the good things that might come from the events in Egypt and Tunisia,” joined the “peace opportunity” choir to urge that “it is vital now to take this (the peace process) forward” because “in a few years time a two – state solution will be much, much more difficult to achieve.” Citing the same “changes,” French President Nicolas Sarkozy told the annual dinner of the Jewish organizations (CRIF) in Paris on Feb. 9 that “it is urgent to revive direct negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians.” Three days earlier, on Feb. 6, even the Israeli President, Shimon Peres, addressing the 11th annual Herzliya security conference and similarly citing the regional “dramatic events of the recent period” which make it “necessary for us to take the Israeli – Palestinian conflict off the regional agenda,” urged Netanyahu that it is a “must” Israel does “this as soon as possible.” It was also noteworthy that the secretary-general of the NATO, Anders Fogh Rasmussen, found it necessary to contradict the official Israeli statements that the recent change in Egypt and Tunisia proves that Arab – Israeli conflict is NOT the source of instability in the Middle East. “The lack of a solution to the Israel - Palestinian conflict continues to undermine the stability of the region,” he told the Herzliya security conference.

Timetable

To “do this,” it seems that all those who see in the collapse of the Hosni Mubarak regime in Egypt a “moment of opportunity” have set a timetable throughout the September deadline. In addition to the PLO’s measures, the UN Secretary General, in a press conference on Feb. 8, reminded that the Quartet will meet at the ministerial level in mid – March and decided at its latest meeting in Munich earlier this month “to step up its search for comprehensive Middle East peace,” adding the Quartet “expects to meet with Israeli and Palestinian officials separately in Brussels at the beginning of March.” Meanwhile, Paris will host a new international donor conference in June. Ahead of her meeting in Ramallah with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas earlier in the week, the EU’s Ashton sounded affirmative on the Palestinian make – it – or – break – it September deadline, thus raising Palestinian expectations to the highest level possible without revealing whatever she might conceal of Israeli forthcoming to vindicate it. “It is a timeframe that everybody has signed up to,” she said, and while admitting it would be “challenging,” she added: “I think we have to try and reach it.” In Munich, the Quartet’s statement on Feb. 5 similarly reiterated its support for “concluding these (Palestinian – Israeli) negotiations by September 2011,” when the PLO negotiators hope to see international recognition of their aspired state come true.

This deadline was initially set by U.S. President Barak Obama when he, on last September 2, re-launched Palestinian – Israeli “direct” talks declaring they should be concluded a year later and, in his speech delivered to the UN General Assembly later that month expressed his hope that, “when we come back here next year, we can have an agreement that will lead to a new member of the United Nations — an independent, sovereign state of Palestine, living in peace with Israel.”

In spite of their bitter “disappointment,” which was expressed on record by Abbas, with U.S. and European repeatedly broken past promises, PLO presidency and negotiators wishfully continue to make believe and insistently opt to being held hostage to renewed similar promises, hoping their “peace partners” would, by a miracle, commit to their words. Building on these “promises,” the PLO mandated its Palestinian Authority’s cabinet of Prime Minister Salam Fayyad with a two – year plan for building the institutions of a “state” that is scheduled to be completed by September.

However, Obama’s re-launched “direct” talks were suspended three weeks later, collapsing on Obama’s helplessness vis – a – vis Israel’s challenge to his on record call for the extension of the suspension of the ongoing expansion of the Israeli illegal colonial settlements on the area designated for a Palestinian state. Accordingly there are no negotiations to be “concluded” by September.

What 'Moment of Opportunity'

Suddenly, the Quartet sees a “moment of opportunity” to re–launch the negotiations and possibly to meet the September deadline. Ironically, the opportunity is found in the demise of the regional pivotal Egyptian pillar of the “peace process,” which could not help the process out while it was still in power. The reader is owed an explanation.

True the post – Mubarak military transitional regime had already pronounced its commitment to the treaties signed by its predecessor “regionally and internationally,” implicitly including the peace treaty with Israel, but committing to this treaty is one thing and committing to the previous active Egyptian role in the “peace process” is another. At least for a year and for the near future thereafter the new regime will be too preoccupied internally to spare time for a role in a process that has proved futile over the past two decades, let alone that the foreign policy of the new emerging regime, especially in the regional arena, is still a guess.

Both Israel and the PLO are obvious losers of the absence of the Egyptian role in the process, and consequently weaker. Obviously, the Quartet perceives a weaker PLO - - which has just lost its Egyptian major Arab backer, and saw its U.S. backer renege on its promises and its European advocates of a two – state solution helplessly following in the footsteps of their U.S. leader - - would be in a position to be more receptive of a Quartet pressure to resume direct negotiations with its Israeli protagonist, which the Quartet failed to influence.

Readers may be reminded that a weaker PLO which lost its Iraqi backer following the Kuwait war in 1991 was unmercifully pressured to accept the historical concession of recognizing Israel on four fifths of its historical homeland, which in turn paved the way for convening the 1991 Madrid Middle East peace conference and later the Oslo accords to which the PLO has been held hostage ever since, wishfully believing that the international community which sponsored both events would ultimately deliver on its promises on a Palestinian state in return.

PLO peace credentials could only be challenged by its own people. 1600 documents revealed recently by Aljazeera satellite TV station and British The Guardian show how far the PLO negotiators have gone in their concessions for peace; Palestinian chief negotiator Saeb Erekat has resigned in consequence, his department is now being reshuffled and he went on record to say that the leaked documents endangered his life. Never in PLO history its leadership was so isolated and its legitimacy and credibility challenged internally as it is now, thanks to the broken promises of the U.S. – led sponsors of the “peace process.”

Obviously, next September is the moment of truth for the PLO. Then, it has no choice but to deliver on its own promises to its people or face Palestinian waves of the Tsunami of the revolt of Arab masses against the status quo, which would become impossible to sustain even for the shortest period of time unless the PLO is empowered with the long promised and long awaited Palestinian state. The PLO has no interest whatsoever in sustaining the status quo; Israel is the only beneficiary. This unbalanced political equation is a recipe for disaster, not for peace making.

The alternative was predicted by the Arab – Palestinian member of the Israeli Knesset, Hanin Zoubi, who declared recently that “maybe we can free ourselves of (Israeli) occupation as well,” citing the example of the Egyptian Intifada and noting: “Israel has been relying on the weakness of the Arab people, but now this has been changed.”

Taken by the overwhelming surprise of the Intifada of the Arab masses in Tunisia and Egypt, the world public opinion seems to forget that “Intifada” is an Arab word coined for the first time in a Palestinian context to describe a civil and peaceful revolt and uprising against the Israeli military occupation that brought the PLO officially into the occupied territories and the “peace process.”

The current status quo is ripe for another Intifida that would certainly take the PLO out of both, unless the Quartet takes immediate action to avert such a drastic shift of events, but the Quartet action is no more urgent than in Israel. Squeezed between external and internal pressures, the PLO as a peace partner is at its weakest breaking point and could not afford the slightest additional pressure.

- Nicola Nasser is a veteran Arab journalist based in Bir Zeit, West Bank of the Israeli-occupied Palestinian territories. He contributed this article to PalestineChronicle.com.

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The nature of American-Egyptian military relations

It should come as no surprise that reigning Egyptian Supreme Military Council announced its intention to honour all Egypt's regional and international treaties after it took over the reins of power from President Hosni Mubarak last week. This announcement was made mainly assure the United States and Israel, to the new position, Mubarak political order in Cairo remains formally committed to its peace agreement with Israel.

More than any other Government branch Egyptian military owes its modern weapons, training, logistics and equipment to the u.s., military aid, which came as a direct dividend peace treaty it signed with Israel in 1979.

In other words, pay us both Israel and Egypt for peace sponsored it between the two countries in 1979. The US payment to Egypt come in the form of $ 1.3 billion military aid package and only about $ 250 billion in financial support.

Isræls payment is worth over $ 3 billion dollars.

A State Department cable in 2009 leaked by Wikileaks last year on u.s.-Egyptian relationship documented a meeting between a general United States and Egyptian military leaders. Relationship cable sumarized: "President [Hosni] Mubarak and military leaders view our military assistance program as the cornerstone of our mil-mil conditions and consider the $ 1.3 billion in annual foreign military financing as untouchable compensation in order to make and maintain peace with Israel."

In another State Department memo marked "secret" the Egyptian military seen the "the tangible benefits our mil-mil the relationship is clear," says: "Egypt remain in peace with Israel and the u.s. military to enjoy priority access to the Suez Canal and Egyptian sky."

U.S. military  relations with Egypt pays not only on the new military weapons for the Egyptian army. U.s. military aid to Egypt, pays in addition, mainly for upgrades of existing weapons, training Egyptian military and regular maintenance and spare parts.

This military relationship provides in exchange U.S. Government leverage over Egypt, which the new Egyptian leaders realize as a wholesale services fact. Without the American military support to the Egyptian military, given the size of American-made weapons they have, degrade and falling behind its potential enemies in the region.

In the last days of scheme Mubarak spoke some American Congressional leaders on cutting U.S. military aid to Egypt, where its new leaders moved away from the United States's national interests. This was the first and clear initial warning to United States might trim its logistical or training aid to Egyptian military as in this case, will degrade the Egyptian military in the long term and thus weaken Egypt's strategic value in the region.

U.S. strategic planners calculate that the Egyptian military is unlikely to move away from its alliance with the United States due to its total dependency United States funding to preserve and maintain its American-made weapons. The reasoning behind this way of thinking is the situation in both Iran and the United States found itself in accordance with the Shah of Iran in 1979.

The Shah of Iran had acquired enormous quantities of advanced U.S. arms, was maintained by American made and exercises. spare parts. After the Islamic revolution in 1979, American advanced weapons were in the position of a hostile State, but the United States ended its military support programs to Iran, a decision that ultimately caused the U.S. weapons to rust out of service.

A clear example of this is the United States made F-14 Tomcat fighter aircraft, which was in service in Iran before the 1979 revolution. The Iranian air force has to this day yet to recover from the impact of its dependence on U.S. contracts for servicing and maintenance arms purchased during the Shah era.

A similar situation could occur for the American-made Egyptian F-16s or its Navy frigates or tanks and armoured vehicles. If the future leaders of Egypt decided to close their strategic alliance with us, or complete their treaty with Israel, may then retaliate by American ends its military assistance programs and deprive Egypt's military crucial upgrades and service contracts.

Such a situation, would seriously damage the front line of the Egyptian air force, F-16s that without American spare parts and regular maintenance, will end up crumbling and obsolete and will meet the same fate as the Iranian F14. In the scenario unlikely Egypt will fall further behind Israel in its military capabilities; even if it is possible to compensate his loss with less advanced Russian and Chinese weapons systems.

For the future leaders of Egypt is U.S. military aid to Egypt a two-edged sword. On the one hand, the modern Egyptian military is almost a U.S. establishment of training, weapons, equipment and maintenance and support of the United States needs to maintain those advanced weapons systems, in particular, the Soviet era weapons systems is on the way out. On the other hand, American military aid package keep Egypt a United States dependency, and within the United States territory influence outdent the United States's strategic interests in the region. Egypt can in this case not chart an independent course in the Arab world much less lead it, and nor can match the much stronger isrælske army.