Two shot dead protest in Syria

18 March 2011, last updated at 13: 48 -YOU are of his father in the year 2000 by at least two Klimaflüchtlinge President Bashar al-Assad inherited power was shot dead in the South of the Syrian city of Deraa, Protest rally as security forces on the disk.

Resident told Reuters news agency, the couple was killed by the Security forces as demanded by the Klimaflüchtlinge of political freedom and corruption.

Human rights activist told AFP that the four were killed.

President Bashar al-Assad, whose party has dominated politics for almost 50 years, how does dissent.

News Agency Sana said, violence and "sabotage" had occurred at a demonstration on Friday, prompting the Deraa to State security forces to intervene.

It is accused of "infiltrators" aimed at "causing chaos violence, which caused the damage through the private and public property".

' Hundreds of injured '

Resident, who spoke to Reuters named the two dead people, Hussam Abdel Wali Ayyash and Akram Jawabreh.

They had been "among the several thousand demonstrators chanting" God ", Syria, Freedom-and anti-corruption slogans, accusing the family of corruption, the President said the Home Office.

The source is added to the security forces, Reuters, was currently with the forces of the helicopters.

Anti-government site in Syrian, also known as Akram Jawabreh was one of the "several" Klimaflüchtlinge killed.

An unnamed human rights activist, called contact and Episteme and anonymous user (S) Episteme and anonymous user (S) Jawabreh Ayyash killing four among the people of AFP.

"The security forces fired live bullets, Klimaflüchtlinge," the activist said, adding that "hundreds" of Klimaflüchtlinge was seriously wounded.

He told AFP that "many" wounded had been "snatched by security forces," the hospital and transferred to Unknown locations.

A Storm is approaching: what price Palestine ...?

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By Mikail Jubran
 
Popular revolt has transformed Tunisia. A budding revolution takes hold in Egypt. Civil war is raging in Libya. Social unrest intensifies in Yemen, and sectarian strife heightens in Bahrain.

What this all mean for the Palestinians?

During the past several weeks they have held their breath with high anxiety, watching as events have unfolded around them. The tension in the Palestinian territories is so thick now that one can feel it rubbing against their faces. They are witnessing a massive popular ‘Intifada” that threatens to leave them behind in a state of perpetual uncertainty.

Sure sounds pretty gloomy.

To make it more confusing, self-proclaimed specialists, commentators, analysts, pundits, and countless others really think that they know what is best for the Palestinians.

Who are they fooling here?

Let’s step back a bit and examine the real landscape that lies before the Palestinian people at this juncture.

First and foremost, Israel’s occupation remains intact. Settlements are ever so expanding, new construction continues unabated, and Israel’s arrogance of power persists.

All of this Israel flaunts into the face of its main ally – the United States.  Israel’s intimidation prompted the U.S. to veto the recent United Nation’s Security Council resolution condemning Israeli settlements, and underscored the hypocrisy of U.S. Middle East policy.

Furthermore, in light of such depressing circumstances, the Palestinians really need to ask themselves – can they really trust the Americans. As they observe the fall of dominoes around them, the Palestinian Authority and the PLO leadership must now take stock and reassess all of its policies relative to the peace process, its political and social stances, and it international support; and in particular its relationship with the U.S.

After seeing the Obama administration backing away from further pressure on Prime Minister Netanyahu to desist from further settlement construction, it is no wonder that the Palestinians have become greatly disenchanted with the Americans. The recent veto at the U.N. has only proved to them that the U.S. is unable and even unwilling to facilitate a fair policy that could have had a tinge of balance within it.

The tension only heightens.

So what are the Palestinians to do?

In the midst of losing hope and sensing that they are going nowhere in their struggle to end Israel’s occupation and to attain a sovereign state of their own, Palestinian attitudes only harden. It would appear that the time is now ripe to openly pose a real challenge to Israel and its U.S. ally. As Palestinian official Nabil Shaath stated recently, “you can become more adversarial.”  What this really implies is that the Palestinian leadership must become more assertive in its political strategy. While new or revised strategies may be risky, one must take risks to initiate bold strategic moves when your choices are limited.

It’s now or never for the Palestinians.

As the strained relations between the PA and Israel further deteriorate in the coming weeks, the PA may be politically correct in moving to bolster its legitimacy. At the forefront of its new strategy is the move toward a unilateral declaration of statehood at the United National General Assembly next September. 

What are the alternatives? For starters, there’s the possible dissolution of the PA and its leadership being swept away by a wave of mass popular protest, leading to chaos, and possible civil strife. Let’s not fool ourselves – this is a very likely scenario.

So to whom do the Palestinians have to thank for this probability? Well, none other than the United States, and the special benefits that Israel has accrued under its special relationship with America. Going down the list, these range from the billions American taxpayers have given Israel since 1979; the direct and special access to ultra-modern weapons technology and research; unique intelligence sharing arrangements; and most of all, the overwhelming support that Israel enjoys inside the legislative branch of the U.S. government. These are only the icing on the cake. Dig a little deeper and one really finds just how special the U.S.-Israeli relationship truly is. Just look at the rewards Israel receives for its arrogant policies: direct U.S. subsidies for Israeli activities in the occupied territories, like the tax deductible status for American organizations that fund illegal settlements; U.S. government purchases of Israeli products manufactured in the settlements; American tolerance of AIPAC and the Anti-Defamation League, and other rightist groups intervening and meddling in U.S. politics, pressuring members of Congress and past Presidencies with their capacity to raise money and swing elections.

To compound all of the above, there’s Israel’s ability to harness the support from Evangelical Christians who have raised millions for Israeli organizations to support the settlements. Then there are the dual-national Jewish-American “philanthropists” who have set up numerous funds solely for the purpose of supporting residents in Israeli settlements as well as sponsoring “housing fairs” in the U.S. on behalf of Israeli settler organizations. These establishments raise millions at the expense of the U.S. government who has lost enormous tax revenue by allowing these groups to operate as non - profit entities.

Furthermore, Israel’s flaunting its “audacity of arrogance” where it has allowed its intelligence services to openly conduct active espionage against U.S. corporations and the Department of Defense, pursuing civilian and dual-use civilian technology. Israeli operatives have knowingly penetrated and extended its reach within the telecommunications industry in the U.S. whereby it has formed alliances with Israeli owned companies in the U.S. such as Verint to utilize and assist in  the surveillance, interception, and eavesdropping of voice and data communications within the U.S.  Recently, Israeli agents have been perpetrating “false flag” operations whereby they pose as U.S. Federal agents in order to infiltrate American Muslim communities, in effect targeting them for the sole purpose of collecting information and recruiting informants with full knowledge of the U.S. Department of Justice.

Additionally, the U.S. continually puts up with the ruthless veracity of a well-organized, well financed pro-Israeli lobby that has not hesitated to exercise tactics tantamount to extortion, bribery, blackmail, and treason; a power which grows only more veracious, and is obtaining vast proportions to this very day. Yet, Americas intimacy with Israel grows, and Israel’s arrogance of power and its flaunting of international law becomes more daring –  so daring in fact that its prime minister openly displays disdain towards negotiating with the Palestinians and making any concessions what-so-ever. Netanyahu cares in facilitating policies that serve only to underscore the fact that the expansion of Israel’s settlements takes primacy over its national interests – code for maintaining the status quo and the deeper encroachment into Palestinian lands, destroying any prospects for a two state solution. Israel’s Prime Minister has indeed shown his greed.
Does the Palestinian leadership understand and comprehend that the U.S. has willingly allowed all of the aforementioned circumstances to evolve to its extant state? Is all of this enough to force the PA to finally become introspective and alter its course of direction? Their leaders must address these questions, for they must know by now that Israel lacks a true desire to reach a final settlement that will not allow it to retain its presence in the Palestinian territories. What makes this all the more hideous is that the U.S. has been complicit in this attitude through its continuing efforts to block any Palestinian initiative that challenges the directives of established American diplomatic policy. All the above factors have resulted in the literal end of negotiations between Israel and the PA.

This brings the Palestinians to a unique juncture in the struggle for an independent state – and possibly a grand opportunity for the Palestinians to act in their own best interests. There is no better way to communicate this to the Americans than making it clear that any further talk of half measures and interim agreements is no longer viable nor realistic. The political immobility that Israel and the U.S. has produced must be answered by the Palestinian leadership in a manner that makes it clear to both parties that there will be a high economic and political cost in Israel’s continued occupation and its refusal to negotiate in good faith.

The evolving moves of the PA to implement a new political strategy – one in conjunction with its organized worldwide efforts to gain international legitimacy for a U.N. resolution recognizing an independent Palestinian state with membership in the U.N. body – appears to be the beginning of a new Palestinian challenge. Moves toward internationalization may be risky indeed and could alienate its relationship with the U.S. Indeed, this global effort is already showing positive response from the international community. If the PA can properly utilize this international momentum and yet turn it into an effective effort that challenges the extant status quo, then neither Israel nor the U.S. can ignore or dismiss it - particularly since Palestinian-Israeli peace talks have collapsed with little likelihood of resumption.

The Palestinians are losing hope – nothing is moving forward for them. The drastic changes now underway in the Middle East have finally awakened Palestinian senses to the stark realities within their territories of the public dissatisfaction with the Palestinian leadership, thus the resignation of its entire cabinet. It remains to be seen if this was a purely tactical move. However, one thing is clear, the tension in Ramallah heightens daily, and the PA is facing popular discontent that could spill over into its streets.

Scheduling elections in the fall is a gamble – certainly without a platform of political and territorial unity. This would require the PA and Hamas to reconcile for the sake of political unity and normalcy. Otherwise the call for elections in September and the PA’s strategy of internationalization will serve to sharpen the political divide among the Palestinian public and negate the national value of the PA and hence the PLO.  To prevent this, and ensure its political survival, the PA leadership must empower itself with electoral legitimacy well before any elections can be facilitated.

Furthermore, the PA must take a hard look at itself and directly confront the acute challenges that are now extant. They truly have to realize that the U.S. administration cannot deliver Israel – and are unable to. The Palestinian leadership must urgently act to reassess its relationship with the U.S.  International activism is a step in the right direction, and the PA must be prepared to counter any retaliation on the part of Israel and the U.S. to stunt its new strategy and ensure that any adverse actions, especially those by Israel, would be counterproductive.

Any so-called adversarial posture taken by the Palestinian leadership now would better serve to further expose U.S. intentions to drag out negotiations with Israel and enshrine its role as Israel’s tool.  The Palestinian leadership has to understand that if it wants to respond to the wishes of its constituency then it must elevate its hostility to the U.S. and its Israeli paramour. To effect this the Palestinians need to address the acute imbalance of power with Israel; the effectiveness of divestment, and boycott against Israel has underscored this. Above all, the PA leadership has to act decisively to pressure the Americans to openly call for the end to Israel’s occupation and alter U.S. policy, regardless of the consequences to its ties with the Jewish state. For this to occur, the PA must act to change the dynamics toward a genuine peace.

Israel’s isolation deepens; it is becoming increasingly a liability to the U.S. Israel’s behavior also contributes to wider American international stigma. The scales are tipping in favor of the Palestinians. Their leaders have to seize the moment and lay bare the taboo within the U.S./Israeli nexus and the farce that the U.S. is an honest broker in the conflict. Any Palestinian strategy of internationalization must condemn America’s cynical and shameful conduct and publicly call for the U.S. to return to a path of justice, decency, and political expediency. The Palestinian leadership cannot continue to play the game by American rules of engagement. It must adopt its own playbook and force Israel and the U.S. to change theirs.

Palestinian actions toward enhanced international legitimacy are the primary measure in the Palestinians’ acting for their own best interests. The ongoing changes in the Middle East landscape can only serve as the catalyst for new direction and political introspection aimed at throwing off the yoke of Israel’s oppressive and inhumane occupation once and for all. Palestinians must realize that they have pinned way too much hope on the U.S. If their leadership clings to the notion that the Americans are going to be their savior – they are wrong. This belief has only worked to constrain Palestinian political mobility.
The PA now has to realize that the U.S. has little or no influence when it comes to Israel. Therefore its main course of action should be to double its efforts to further delegitimize Israel, for this may be the only way to force the Israelis to budge. Such action requires skill and finesse within the strategy of Palestinian internationalization for any results to bear fruit. The Jewish state is no doubt vulnerable. Israel knows that the Americans cannot protect them forever and that Israel is in dire need of new direction. The Palestinian leadership must leverage itself and punctuate its actions by telling the Israelis that their friendship with the U.S. may become unreliable if Israel persists in its arrogance of power. PA strategy must include measures to turn Israeli / U.S. tensions into political gains for themselves. U.S. behavior in the peace process only shields Israel and deceives the Palestinian people. It is draining Palestinian political energy, and blinds the Palestinians from addressing the acute realities that confront its leadership today.  They must not be afraid to implore upon the Americans and their Israeli friends that they as a people, are owed justice, freedom - and a nation.

After enduring the near elimination of their national identity, barbarous assaults upon their national movement and the trampling of their civil and human rights – the Palestinian people have suffered too much in their struggle for national sovereignty. Enough is enough. U.S. complicity in Israel’s occupation further increases the cost for the Palestinians. Thus Palestinian hope lies with the international community and that it will finally see the stark realities and move to take the necessary steps to help the Palestinian people attain their liberty and freedom.

As Thomas Friedman of the New York Times writing from Ramallah recently stated, “A huge storm is coming.”

A huge storm is indeed on the horizon for both Israelis and Palestinians.

Will the Palestinians truly be prepared? Are they willing to take the gamble? Can they trust the Americans? These are indeed hard questions that the Palestinians must ask themselves, sooner, not later.

Will the surging storm throw the Palestinian national movement into the dustbin of history and even thrust Israel out of the way, or on the other hand, will the Palestinians ride the crest of the coming wave and seize the momentum towards a new dawn?

For the sake of the Palestinian people, let’s certainly hope they will. Otherwise the price they will have to pay may consume them..
- Mikail Jubran is a professor of Middle East History and a consultant on international law. He was formerly the Director of Communication with the PLO mission in Washington, DC, from 1988-1992, and divides his residence between Ramallah, Palestine and Washington, DC. He contributed this article to PalestineChronicle.com.

The history of Chile's Palestinian refugee COMMUNITY, past and present

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By Douglas Smith

From the outset, Chile is probably one of the last countries one would consider when trying to understand the effects of the Nakba and the depth of the ongoing Palestinian refugee crisis. Geopolitically, it could not be any farther away from the conflict and the displacement imposed on Palestinian refugees. However, recent events, as well as a long history of the world’s largest Palestinian community outside the Middle East, tell a different story.

In the Spring of 2008, 117 Palestinian refugees arrived in Chile, fleeing the horrors of the US invasion in Iraq, where they lived as refugees, having been expelled by Israeli forces during the 1948 Nakba. After the completion of their two-year resettlement program, the question of Chile’s significance in the Palestinian refugee community worldwide, their struggle for the right to return and for fair treatment before its implementation, is ever more relevant and present.

Al-Tanf Refugee Camp: Endless Displacement

With frequent sandstorms, sub-zero temperatures by night, scorching heat by day, constant threat from scorpions and nearby freight traffic, it was no surprise that Al-Tanf refugee camp made it to the “top five worst situated refugee camps in the world,” according to Refugees International. (1) However, it was not poor planning that lead to the conditions of this camp, but rather the ongoing policies of foreign intervention in the Middle East and the refusal to allow certain refugees, displaced as a result of this violence, the freedom to cross international borders to get to safety. Many of these refugees are stateless Palestinians who were expelled from their homes in 1948 by Zionist militias. Around 5,000 of them from Haifa and its surrounding villages fled to Baghdad and now find themselves once again having to start a new life, in new countries, even farther from the place they identify as home.

After the 2003 U.S. invasion of Iraq, sectarian violence soared in the instability of the newly installed Iraqi government. In this climate, Palestinian refugees in Iraq became targets of sectarian violence as they were, often erroneously, considered sympathizers of Saddam Hussein. They soon found themselves in a situation, like many other communities in Iraq at that time, in which their neighbourhood was being shelled, their family members and friends kidnapped, tortured and killed. Much of the torture was carried out by government authorities.
Under Hussein’s regime, Palestinians living in Iraq were often used as political capital in the Iraqi regime's discourse on wider Middle East politics, as well as internal unrest. Essentially, soon after Hussein came to power, he voiced public support for Palestinian resistance and granted Palestinians living in Iraq nearly the same rights as Iraqi citizens. But their acceptance into Iraqi society only fueled resentment, especially amongst the Shi’a majority who, like many other marginalized ethnic and religious groups, were often the target of brutal government repression.
However, in spite of the support and recognition that Palestinians had received, the travel documents issued to Palestinians by the Hussein regime during that period were never recognized by any other state, including the new Iraqi government. So, when they tried to flee to neighboring countries, along with so many other Iraqis, they were turned down at both the Jordanian and Syrian borders. And thus refugee camps such as Al Tanf, where the 117 Palestinians now resettled in Chile were living, were spontaneously established by the refugees in the “no man’s land” between Iraq and Syria, in which over 1300 of the refugees ended up languishing for years until its closure in February 2010.
In essence, although the community was mostly comprised of refugees from the 1948 Nakba, due to its establishment, smaller numbers of Palestinians fleeing the 1967 occupation of the West Bank, and the 1991 expulsion of Palestinians from Kuwait, meaning that some families had experienced forced displacement for the third or fourth time in less than 60 years.

Local and International Solidarity

The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), which maintained the isolated camp by trucking in all its supplies of water and food, set out to try to find host countries for the Palestinian refugees ex-Iraq in Al Tanf. It was at that point that Palestine solidarity activist and documentary filmmaker, Adam Shapiro, got involved and started to communicate with people in potential host countries to help facilitate their resettlement. One of those countries was Chile, where there was more support than initially expected.

In Chile, a country which had suffered waves of displacement, after thousands of its citizens were exiled during the Augusto Pinochet dictatorship, which took power in a western-backed military coup in 1973, the UNHCR found genuine sympathy and understanding among the then recently elected socialist government of President Michel Bachelet. “A lot of people in the Bachelet government [including the President] had also experienced exile and torture under the Pinochet regime,” said Shapiro, having spoken to people in the Chilean government. (2) One prominent example was leftist Senator, Alejandro Navarro, who had a track record of fighting for systematically oppressed people, such as the indigenous Mapuches in Chile.

Finally, after months of organizational meetings, 117 Palestinians from the Tanf refugee camp landed in Santiago, Chile - the first half in April and the second in May 2008 -  to a series of  huge, welcoming celebrations all throughout the center of the country, marking Chile’s very first state sponsored resettlement program.

In an interview with Yasna Mussa, journalist with the Federaci?n Palestina de Chile (Palestinian Federation of Chile), when asked what Chile’s recent resettlement program meant to her, she said that, on the one hand, the Palestinian community appreciates the government’s solidarity, but also explained that, “it’s not enough; it’s not enough when they continue signing trade and even security accords with the state of Israel, while Chilean citizens (of Palestinian origin) are being mistreated at the border and not being allowed to enter into Palestine, solely because of their Arab background. This is racism.” (3)

Long History of the Chilean Palestinian Community

Palestinians first started to immigrate to Chile in the late 1800s. Many of the first migrants were motivated by economic interests that ranged from business interests for some, to a way out of poverty for others. Since that time, Palestinians have become an integral part of Chilean society, in which many now hold influential business and political positions.

Although most of the Palestinian community in Chile hails from this era, the fact that an established community already existed in Chile encouraged many Palestinians to seek refuge there. The community can be traced back to Palestinians who fled the forced Ottoman military conscriptions of World War I. Two more waves of immigrants came after the 1948 Nakba and the subsequent 1967 occupation, during which Israel took control of all of mandatory Palestine.

The total number of Palestinians in Chile is from anywhere around 250,000 to 400,000, depending on the source. The vast majority of those within the Palestinian community in Chile are Orthodox Christians who come from Beit Jala, and other towns and villages in the Bethlehem district. Even less is known about the number of Palestinians who came as refugees; it would, however, be safe to say it is in the thousands.

Life as a Refugee in Chile

Walking along the side street Rio de Janeiro in the Barrio Patronato, one is surrounded by Palestinian businesses including a Falafel restaurant, an Arab sweet shop and a café called Café Hamule. It was here that one of the Palestinians from the group that arrived from Iraq, in 2008, named Bassem, was working behind the counter. Many others have also found work in similar establishments, providing ready-made desserts and foods to other community restaurants that wanted to bring them into the fold via would- be familiar trades for some. But, for others, finding a source of livelihood was not so simple. Although nearly everyone in this new addition to the Palestinian community could trace their roots to Haifa and its environs, their professional and educational backgrounds ranged from those who were university professors to others who were barely literate.

The resettlement program that was worked out between the Chilean government and the UNHCR consisted of monthly financial support for living expenses, according to the needs and size of the family and housing and other programs aimed at helping them settle into their new surroundings. Initially, although many of them have since found more permanent accommodations, they were given housing in four different neighborhoods: two in Santiago’s Recoleta and Ñuñoa districts, and two in the smaller cities of La Calera and San Felipe.
However, on the ground, the actual support was carried out by an institution called the Vicar?a de la Solidaridad (Vicariate of Solidarity). This is a community organization, founded by, and linked to, the Catholic Church, that is unique to Chile. It was born out of the tough situation Chileans faced during the dictatorship, in which most other organizations that were able to help with human rights cases were disbanded or worked clandestinely. Since that time, the Vicariate has been instrumental in giving day to day support to refugees in Chile and was consequently chosen to run part of the resettlement program on behalf of the UNHCR.
One of the Vicariate’s interpreters who worked directly with the refugees, Ishaq El-Masou, who is also Palestinian and came to Chile after 1967, spoke at length about the hardships they faced upon arrival. Even the support from the Palestinian community in Chile, who at first came out in great numbers to welcome them and lend a hand, he explained, was as if “a honeymoon had came to an end,” due to how it dwindled shortly thereafter down to a core group of dedicated individuals. He also added that, although the governmental subsidy ended as of 31 May 2010, the Vicariate will continue their assistance in every way possible, especially in severe cases such as one family whose father passed away, leaving behind a wife and four children.

However, perhaps the biggest challenge facing the newly arrived Palestinians, who often do not share the same religion or speak the same language, has more to do with social class than anything else, especially among members of the well-established Palestinian community. Marcelo Devilat Marzouka, from the Uni?n General de Estudiantes Palestinos (General Union of Palestinian Students), recounted the situation of a 15 year old teenager named Ahmad, who began to participate in cultural events, above all with the Dabke troupe, after their arrival in 2008. Although there was definitely a language barrier, (as Marcelo himself was one of the only Arabic speakers) it had more to do with the fact that the commute was too much for Ahmad, because the other Palestinian youth, from third and fourth generation  well-established families, held the Dabke practices in neighbourhoods that were not easily accessible by public transportation, which eventually lead him to stop coming. However, it is people like Ahmad who will likely be decisive in Chile’s role in solidarity in general, as it seems that, in a country where not all Palestinians share the same consciousness of the displacement and exile, the Nakba and its memory in itself has proven to be a form of politicization.

- Douglas Smith is an activist, researcher and graduate student based out of Monterial. (This article was originally published in al-Majdal - http://www.badil.org/al-majdal - the English language quarterly magazine of the Badil Resource Center, Bethlehem, Palestine)

Endnotes:

1. “No Man's Land: Iraqi-Palestinians in Al Tanf Camp” World Bridge Blog. (17 Nov. 2008).

2. Interview with Adam Shapiro, 21 Apr. 2010.

3. Interview with Yasna Mussa, Valparaiso, Chile 23 Feb. 2010.

Update – Where are the Palestinian refugees in/from Iraq?

(December 2010)

At the onset of the U.S.-led war on Iraq in 2003, there were at least 34,000 Palestinian refugees living in Iraq (although the true figure could well be tens of thousands more); their exact number and whereabouts were unknown. In 2003 UNHCR registered 23,000 Palestinian refugees in Iraq, however the process was interrupted for security reasons. Four temporary camps were established in no-mans-land and border areas with Jordan and Syria for Palestinian refugees fleeing persecution but not having access to a country that would provide protection to them (see: “Searching for Solutions for Palestinian Refugees Stuck in and Fleeing Iraq”, al Majdal, issue No.33, Spring 2007).

By the end of 2010, fewer than 15,000 Palestinian refugees have remained in Iraq; 12,000 of them were registered in Baghdad in 2008. Two of the temporary camps have been closed, and a total of 18 countries have accepted Palestinians refugees from Iraq, mostly from the border camps (Al Waleed, Al Tanf and Al Hol) but also a small number from Baghdad.

No records exist about the whereabouts of more than 10,000 additional Palestinian refugees who were living in Iraq prior to the onset of the war in 2003. They are likely to have fled Iraq without assistance and protection provided by any country or UN agency.

- Ruweished camp: closed in October 2007.
- Al Tanf camp: closed in February 2010.
- Al Waleed camp (Iraq): 264 Palestinian refugees (down from 1,367 end of December 2008).
- Al Hol camp (Syria): 441 Palestinian refugees from Iraq. (includes Palestinian refugees from Iraq moved from Al Tanf camp upon its closure)

Palestinian refugees from Iraq Estimated Populations:

- Syria: up to 2,500-3,000 Palestinian refugees from Iraq in the country.
- Jordan: 500 Palestinian refugees from Iraq who have a Jordanian spouse, but the number is probably higher.
- Lebanon: 300-400 Palestinian refugees from Iraq.
- Turkey: Probably a few hundred.
- India: 70 Palestinian refugees from Iraq (unclear).

Resettled Palestinian refugees from Iraq since 2007:

USA: 1,125 Palestinian refugees from Iraq (almost all from al Waleed camp).
Canada: 198 Palestinian refugees from Iraq.
Brazil: 117 Palestinian refugees from Iraq (from Ruweished camp).
Chile: 116 Palestinian refugees from Iraq.
New Zealand: 22 Palestinian refugees from Iraq (from Ruweished camp).
Italy: 168 Palestinian refugees from Iraq.
Norway: 400 Palestinian refugees from Iraq.
Australia: 63 Palestinian refugees from Iraq.
Great Britain: 80 Palestinian refugees from Iraq.
Finland: 34 Palestinian refugees from Iraq.
Denmark: 46 Palestinian refugees from Iraq.
France: 115 Palestinian refugees from Iraq.
Switzerland: 12 Palestinian refugees from Iraq.
Belgium: 10 Palestinian refugees from Iraq.
Sweden: 613 Palestinian refugees from Iraq.
Netherlands: 29 Palestinian refugees from Iraq.

(For previous estimates of Palestinian refugees in and fleeing Iraq see “When Solutions are not Solutions: Palestinian Refugees stranded in and fleeing from Iraq”, al Majdal, issue No. 35, Autumn 2007.)

Military action if the Iran sanctions fail: Netanyahu (Reuters)

WASHINGTON (Reuters)-Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Wednesday the world must make clear that Iran should "credible military action" If the sanctions do not shut down Tehran's disputed nuclear program.

Netanyahu, in an interview with CNN, said it was clear, Iran was the practise in the field of nuclear energy, despite international sanctions, with due regard for individual aspirations and I was getting a lot closer to the acquisition of nuclear weapons.

"They enriched enough now for almost three nuclear bombs," he said. "They have yet to enrich again, but it is what they are doing.

"The only thing that works is, if you knew that when Iran sanctions is credible military option."

Asked what would constitute a credible military action, Netanyahu said: "it means the action in the field of nuclear energy to knock them to the port facility."

The Security Council has imposed sanctions referred to Tehran for refusing to freeze its uranium enrichment program, in which the Western powers suspect has aimed at producing nuclear weapon.

Iran denies uranium enriching their produce is the atomic weapons to Israel and Western allegations and maintains that its programme of peaceful energy needs.

Netanyahu said that if the military were taken, he may be in the United States is the lead instead.

He said the nuclear armed Iran is not just the concern of Israel, because it causes the danger of the spread of HIV/AIDS.

"This is not only our problem. This is a problem in Europe and the United States, "he said.

Netanyahu also said that the broad consultation, he was not surprised that Saudi Arabia had sent forces to the Bahrain island in the Gulf Arab State of pro-democracy protests in weeks.

"I think they are worried about the possible introduction of Bahrain with Iran, which would effectively within the sylkeminen of Iran and the Arabian Peninsula," Netanyahu said in Saudi Arabia.

"Saudi Arabia is working for the protection of the interests of its own. But there is a very large and general interest in ensuring the world's oil wells, the world's largest reserves of oil supply are not covered by the pro-Persian of Iran or the hands, "he said.

Asked the Arab countries in sweeping pro-democracy protests, Netanyahu said the Middle East would be a "brilliant future" for a real democratic change.

However, he said, if Iran remains immune to change, "and in other places meddles and convert them to the so-called Islamist republics. I would say that is the worst nightmare. "

(Reports Of JoAnne Allen; The Edit Bill "Trott)

The illegal cargo Vessel Malaysia: was Iran-bound (AP)

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia – Malaysian Police said on Friday that they had found suspect devices in order to be able to carry out further nuclear weapons on board a ship headed to Iran.

National Police Chief Ismail Omar told the Associated Press that the cargo was seized in the traveling from China Tehran, even if it was docked in Central Malaysia, Malaysian registered ship harbor. Authorities will examine whether the equipment could be used to make nuclear weapons.

Malaysian international shipping Corp., down the AP-statement that police seized two containers MV Bunga Raya Satu 8 March. It said the content had the remainder of his term of Office, the freight forwarder of goods used for the storage of liquid mixing or pharmaceutical or chemical or food industry. "

Police said they had received a tip that the items have been shipped illegally in Malaysia, and was not an law required a special permit.

The legislation passed the previous year in Malaysia to curb the nuclear components of the fight against trafficking in human beings is linked to the sensitive technology to Iran and Libya, including the countries of the illegal proceeds.

Malaysian shipping firm said the journey, the ship continued without discrimination on the basis of the items seized 9. March.

Syrian TV said security forces, demonstrators clash (AP)

BEIRUT – protests exploded in at least three part of Syria on Friday in the most serious unrest this year in one of the most repressive States, Middle East, according to accounts from governmental tv, witnesses and social media.

The Government's television station and news agency said the "infiltrators" in the southern town of Deraa caused "chaos and riots" and smashed cars and public and private property before they attacked riot police who chased them away. It said a similar demonstration in the coastal town of Banyas dispersed without incident.

Amateur video recordings posted on YouTube and Twitter showed large groups of protesters in several cities, but its authenticity could not immediately be confirmed independently.

Serious disturbances in Syria would be a great expansion of the wave of unrest is tearing through the Arab world for more than a month in the wake of the pro-democracy uprisings that overthrew the autocratic leaders in Tunisia and Egypt. Syria, a predominantly Sunni country ruled by minority Alawites, has a history of brutally crushing dissent — including a notorious incident that President Hafez Assad crushed a Muslim fundamentalist uprising in the city of Hama in 1982, killing thousands.

An amateur video posted Friday showed what appeared to be Show Syrian Government trucks spraying water on the Chileans. Two other purposes to show several thousand men gathering in Banyas and the city of Homs.

A YouTube video claiming to be shot in Banyas showed several thousand demonstrators gathering around an old stone building with a Syrian flag fluttering from its roof. A cluster of men stood on his balcony with a speaker. In the middle of the fair "Freedom!" and "there is only one God!" cried a man a list of protesters requirements — ranging from freedom of expression to allow Muslim women with face veil to school.

In the capital, plainclothes security officers strongly scattered about a dozen protesters are calling for more freedoms in the country, said human rights activists earlier in the day.

The activists said the protest occurred the famous Umayyad mosque Damascus Yard shortly after Friday prayers. At least two demonstrators were detained, they said.

The protest was the third small rally broken up in Damascus this week.

Assad's death in 2000 after three decades of authoritarian rule raised hope a freer society under his British-educated son and successor, Bashar. Political institutions in which political and economic issues were discussed openly jumped across the country.

But the "Damascus Spring" as it came to be known was short-lived. In 2001, began secret police raiding institutions, detention two legislators and dozens of other activists in the following years.

In 2004, forces bloody clashes, which began in the northeastern city of Qamishli between Syrian Kurds and security left at least 25 people died and some 100 wounded.

On Friday, said eight Syrian human rights groups also a Prosecutor had questioned and charged with dozens of demonstrators hurt the State's image.

The groups said the 32 activists denied the charges. They included four relatives of political prisoner Kamal Labawani, who is serving a 12-year prison sentence.

The activists were detained Wednesday when plainclothes security officers armed with sales incentive dispersed a protest near the Interior Ministry to demand the release of political prisoners.

___

Diaa Hadid and Zeina Karam in Cairo contributed to this report.

The Saudi role in Bahrain brings regional stakes (AP)

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates – are battle of Bahrain is no longer merely on its shores.

It is now in Tehran, where the leader of the Friday prayers, cursed the "enemy" power, which includes the Saudi-led military reinforcements to Bahrain embattled Sunni monarchy. It is in Iraq, with Shiites marching under banners pledging to join the fight in the Gulf Kingdom.

When Saudi troops and other Gulf forces moved to Bahrain this week, the conflict suddenly was pushed on a larger scene with larger bets — and in the process, become perhaps the most complex conflict in the Arab world season of upheaval.

Tiny Bahrain — a speck just off the Saudi coast on the world map — is now an arena for some of the most crucial Middle East tensions: heavyweight rivalry between Saudi Arabia and Iran, the regional fallout from Shiite anger and Washington's efforts to influence its strategic Gulf allies counter Iran's growing ambitions of the Middle East.

"Bahrain is more crises wrapped into one package," said Theodore Karasik, expert Regional Affairs on Dubai-based Institute for the Middle East and the Gulf military analysis.

Rebellion in Yemen and Libya also have very important issues in the balance, including Moammar Gadhafi eccentric regime and U.S.-led fight against an al Qæda expires fate in Yemeni basins. But Bahrain unrest resonates even broader.

It is both a bitter domestic duel — between Sunni rulers and majority Shiites — and a crossroads for big three Gulfs: Saudi Arabia, Iran and the United States.

Rapid events of last week in Bahrain pushed each in different directions.

Saudi Arabia roared into action, leading a 1 500-strong Gulf force support Bahrain reeling Sunni dynasty after more than a month of protests from Shiites seeking to break the Royal family 200-year-old grip on power.

It was the Golf version of a rescue mission: to believe that any further progress of demonstrators could embolden threats against Sunni leaders around the region and allow the Shiite power Iran to carve out a foothold on Saudi Arabia doorstep.

Iran strongly condemned the military intervention and withdrew its Ambassador back to Bahrain. Iran's ally Hizbollah in Lebanon also crawled insults in Saudi Arabia, and Shiites in Iraq have staged a series of protest marches.

U.S. officials, meanwhile, is caught in a bind policy. Washington has opposed to the introduction of Golf military power in Bahrain, which hosts the US Navy 5th fleet. But the United States also stands behind Bahrain leaders, who say that they invited troops from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

"Regardless of the United States says the bottom line, Washington still supports Bahrain regime and cannot go too far in criticizing the main ally Saudi Arabia," says Shadi Hamid, Director of research at The Brookings Doha Center in Qatar. "Bahrain is a major problem now than just Bahrain".

Nicholas Burns, a former top State Department diplomat with long experience in the region, said the military deployment "opened up a clear division of tasks between the Saudi royal family and the American Government on how to most effectively respond to demonstrations for greater openness and freedom in the Arab world."

"This is a risk for the Saudis as their troop deployments can end up with toughening determination of demonstrators in Bahrain," he said.

It is unclear how much the Saudi-led forces have actively participated in the enforce Bahrain martial law-style rule, which was imposed by the Bahrain's king on Tuesday.

Security forces flew the red and white flag of Bahrain in the landmark Pearl Square in Manama after overrunning a protest camp. Military vehicles with Saudi marking was not seen on the main control points where forces wearing a black ski mask.

But Shiite protesters claimed to have heard the distinctive Saudi accent among the security forces during clashes this week — although Bahrain police and the armed forces includes many Sunni Arabs from Saudi Arabia and elsewhere given citizenship to try to compensate for the Shiite population advantage.

Shortly after the Saudi forces entered Bahrain, gathered a crowd of Shiite Muslims outside the main State hospital in a ragtag resistance force. They are carried out in what they could find: scraps of wood, tubes, a butter knife.

"Who will decide your future?" shouted one protester. "Them or us?"

Now, the presence of the Saudi-led forces makes any event in Bahrain a potential regional flashpoint, which could drag the United States around the Middle East, the Shiites and other portraying Bahrain as under occupation of one of Washington's main Arab allies.

In Tehran, a senior Iranian cleric, Ayatollah Ahmad Jannati, his national broadcast Friday sermon calling on Bahrain, Shiites "resist against the enemy until you die WINS." Outside, demonstrators called beans Bahrain's King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa "kills" and drew analogies to Iran's 1979 Islamic Revolution.

A banner reading: "death to the House of Saud."

Bahrain Thursday lashed at Iran for "lobbying" on behalf of the Gulf Kingdom's Shiites, who represent about 70 percent of the population of Bahrain.

In Baghdad, marched followers of anti-American cleric Muqtada al-Sadr under banners promised to join fellow Shiites in Bahrain to fight the Saudi-led forces. In the meantime suspended the level Shiite cleric in Iraq, Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani, the Shiite religious teachings schools across Iraq to show solidarity with Bahrain demonstrators.

"There are real massacres taking place in Bahrain," said Sheikh Maitham al-Jamri, who said he was a Bahrain Shiite cleric, demonstrators in Sadr City Baghdad's. "But if they cut us chunks and burn US 70 times, we will not stop our calls for change. If all communications: was blocked in Bahrain, the people of Iraq and Lebanon calls vote "no, no to injustice!" can be heard aloud. "

Around 50 protesters gathered Thursday outside the Saudi Embassy in Ankara, Turkey, shouting "get out of Bahrain" before a visit by the Saudi Arabian foreign minister Prince Saud al-Faisal.

Saudi's King Abdullah gave no mention of the military force in Bahrain in a three-minute speech on Saudi tv Friday before the announcement of a new bonanza jobs, cash and housing in attempts to placate reformers call for challenges of his autocratic regime.

"The Saudi fears was a kind of ripple effect," said Toby Jones, an expert in Bahrain issues at Rutgers University. "Bahrain is seen as simply too important not to intervene, they argued, the ruling Sunni fraternity around the Gulf was vulnerable and it was time to act."

___

Associated Press writers Nasser Karimi in Tehran, Iran, and Bushra Juhi in Baghdad contributed to this report.

Thousands March in Iran to support the Arab Court (AFP)

TEHRAN (AFP)-thousands of Iranians marched on Friday in Tehran in support of the rebellion, Libya and Bahrain rocking Yemen, State television reported.

The fair backup protests majority Shiites in Bahrain, as challenging the Sunni dynasty 200-year-old grip on power, dominated the demonstration which exploded in the capital after the Muslim Friday prayers

"Saudis committing crimes and United States support them," and "death to America," shouted demonstrators.

"Death to Israel," shouted others.

Slogans in support of the rebellion in Libya and protests in Yemen also called.

Tehran on Wednesday withdrew his Ambassador from Manama "in protest against the massive killing of Bahrain people by his Government."

Iran is also criticized the dispatch of troops to the Gulf Bahrain to confront the pro-democracy protests, which have ravaged the Kingdom capital Manama almost daily since mid-February.

Ayatollah Ahmad Janati, the head of the powerful guardians Council and the hardline cleric condemned the dispatch of Saudi troops to Bahrain after pronouncing Friday prayers.

"It is painful when the authorities were about to be turned on, that it is called help and asked Saudi Arabia to send reinforcements. It is against international law.

He also called on the Libyan rebels to continue their struggle.

"You must not accept humiliation. We must fight. Die or success, there is no other choice, "he said adding the Libyan leader Moamer Kadhafi was" shell shocked. "

"With a look at his face you can see he is shell shocked. Today, woke up the Libyans. The no-fly zone (adopted by the UN's Security Council) helps a little ... We hope the Libyans WINS, "he said as the crowd shouted" death to Kadhafi. "

UN warns Bahrain after protests penalty (AFP)

MANAMA (AFP)-UN chief Ban Ki-moon has warned Bahrain, his sentence on anti-government protesters violating international law after his human rights chief spoke of the "shocking and illegal" abuse.

Ban called King Hamad on Thursday to express his "deep concern" about the use of force, which allegedly includes security forces preventing doctors from treating wounded demonstrators in the small Gulf State.

The Secretary general "expressed its deepest concern at reports of excessive and indiscriminate use of force by security forces and police in Bahrain against unarmed civilians, including allegedly against medical personnel," said a UN statement.

He also noted "that such actions could be in conflict with international humanitarian and human rights law."

UN Chief spoke out after a bloody penalty on the Shiite-led demonstrators from the U.S.-backed Sunni Muslim rulers. Bahrain is home to the US fifth fleet.

Violence in the strategic Kingdom has alarmed Washington and triggered fierce condemnation from Iran, Shiite leaders in Iraq and Hezbollah militia in Lebanon.

Valerie Amos, the UN Deputy Secretary general for Humanitarian Affairs, earlier called on the security forces "to refrain from the excessive use of force, and to respect medical facilities and to ensure the treatment of wounded people."

UN Rights Chief Navi Pillay earlier Thursday said the possible adoption of the security forces of hospitals and medical facilities was a "flagrant violation of international law."

"There are reports of arbitrary arrests, killings, beatings of demonstrators and medical personnel and the acquisition of hospitals and medical centres of various security forces," she said.

"This is shocking and illegal behaviour."

Dissidents had been rounded up at gunpoint in midnight raids and armed police stood outside the Manamas main hospital on Thursday, the text wrapping feature reports authorities were marketing plan doctors and refuse treatment to the wounded.

Unbowed, pledged to press on with "peaceful" demonstrations in the Shiite-led opposition undaunted by the deadly military force against them.

"We will not give to the army," said the Shiite cleric Sheikh Ali Salman, the leader of Al-Wefaq association. "We insist on the peaceful aspect of our activities, and we should not be dragged into ... confrontations.

The opposition called for fresh protests "in the areas of praying" rather than out on the streets after Muslim weekly prayers Friday and occupations on Saturday.

Fresh clashes broke out in at least one Shiite village outside the capital after five people were killed on Wednesday when security forces crushed a month-old pro-democracy its-in on Manama's Pearl Square.

Five hardline Shiite activists and one Sunni dissident was arrested after the army imposed a curfew on parts of Manama by using its powers in accordance with the newly introduced a State of emergency, opposition sources said.

Bahrain military confirmed it had arrested a number of people for crimes including rebellion, murder, and contact with foreign States, but gave no details.

Opposition MP Khalil al-Marzouk said that doctor Ali al-Ekri, who had been accused on State TELEVISION of spreading "fabrications" about the conditions at the Salmaniya hospital, who were arrested on Thursday.

Security forces shooting teargas and shotguns cleared out a pro-democracy tent city on Pearl Square Wednesday in the worst day of violence since activists took to the streets last month.

The opposition said three demonstrators were killed in the attack, while the Government said two police died in hit-and-run attacks from the opposition drivers.

U.S. President Barack Obama, whose country is a close ally of Bahrain, called King Hamad to express "deep concern," while British Prime minister David Cameron urged the monarch to pursue "reform, not oppression."

The main opposition calls for a constitutional monarchy, the resignation of the Government and an end to repression in Bahrain.

King Hamad declared a three-month State of emergency on Tuesday, a day after more than 1,000 armored troops from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates entered Bahrain to restore security.

The sectarian tension have given rise to fears among the Bahrain's the Sunni-led Arab neighbors, Iran, Shiite power, a short boat ride away across the Gulf of Aden, is trying to create unrest in the Kingdom.

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton called the situation in Bahrain "worrying" and criticised Washington's Gulf State allies of heading down "the wrong track" military intervention.

Where is the outrage at the U.s. Bahrain? (Downloads)

New York – many Americans gnashing their teeth Moammar Gadhafi near crushing of Libya's armed rebellion, but yawning over U.S. ally Bahrain penalty on peaceful protest

The UN is so concerned about the Libyan situation, that it has been approved a no-fly zone (and possibly further military intervention) to stop Libyan dictator Moammar Gadhafi from crush the armed rebels. Yet, Bahrain's routing of its peaceful demonstrators provoked something more from the United Nations than a statement of "deep concern" over "reports excessive and arbitrary use of force ... against unarmed civilians." In the meantime, American scholars calls on military intervention in Libya have little to say about U.S. ally Bahrain. United States has a double standard for democracy?

The u.s. needs to take a position: "It is heartbreaking to see a renegade country such as Libya shoot pro-democracy demonstrators," says Nicholas Kristof in The New York Times. ' But it is even more wrenching to see U.s. allies, Bahrain, drag a Gadhafi» with the help of U.S. weapons to crush a pro-democracy movement "as we live mainly silent." In this struggle between our values and our allies, we must stand up for our values is high.
"Bahrain drag a Qaddafi"

Obama has to tread carefully: United States may very well want to change in Bahrain, said David Ignatius of The Washington Post. But unobtrusive wish has already triggered "the most important U.S.-Saudi dissent for decades." Bahrain chose to follow their fellow Sunni monarchy advice to bring Saudi and UAE troops to crush the rebellion. If the Gulf monarchies fall, it is a great crisis "even by the standards of the Middle East." Obama has very carefully to find a path that "not destabilise the Gulf and the global economy."
"High stakes over Bahrain"

Gadhafis survival prevents U.S. pressure in Bahrain: Gulf monarchies "ignoring Washington's advice to reform and avoid confrontation," says Greg Sheridan in the Australian. But since it now looks to Gadhafi can survive, and the "Arab spring" will not, U.S.-Bahrain tiff remains only "polite disagreement." Because really, "Gadhafi licenses Bahrain," with "unanswerable question" to Washington: "If you can't get rid of Gadhafi, why should you get rid of us?"
"Dictator pieces short Arab spring"

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United Kingdom upgrades status of Palestinian diplomats (AP)

LONDON — Britain's Foreign Secretary William Hague announced Monday U.K. want to upgrade the status of Palestinian representatives in London, ahead of talks with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.

Håg is scheduled to meet with Abbas in London Tuesday and said he would also increase its concern about the lack of progress on resuming negotiations on the peace process in the Middle East.

"It is still more crucial than ever that we press for a just and lasting solution to the isrælsk-Palestinian conflict. We want to see a quick return to negotiations, based on clear parameters, including the 1967 borders, "said Håg.

He told lawmakers that the Palestinian representation would be recognised as full diplomatic, rather to its former status as a delegation.

The change is largely symbolic and representatives do not have diplomatic immunity or other privileges and immunities to those working on behalf of the United Kingdom recognizes as independent Nations.

Members of the Palestinian mission has, however, a simplified visa regime.

"In view of the extent of our support for the Palestinian Authority and our work with them, we want to join the many other countries in upgrading the status of the Palestinian delegation to London for the level of mission" Håg said.

After the peace negotiations with Israel broke last year, the Palestinians have embarked on a campaign to win international recognition for a State in all the West Bank, Gaza Strip and East Jerusalem — Israel captured the territories in the 1967 war. So far 10 countries have met, all of them in Latin America.

In January, the Irish Government announced it would upgrade the Palestinian diplomatic status as an official Embassy. France and Spain have also made similar gestures.

Recognition of Palestinian State will not change the situation on the ground. Israel withdrew from Gaza in 2005 but still controls the West Bank, where Palestinians have limited self rule in populated areas. The Palestinians hope widespread recognition would increase pressure on Israel.

Israel rejects the unilateral Palestinian approach, insisting that the only way to peace is through direct negotiations.

The British Foreign Ministry said it planned to inform other Nations, including Israel, of the amendment.

Isræls London Embassy welcomed the Hågs appeal for a quick return to negotiations, but said "convinced" the upgrade will not encourage the Palestinians to return to the table.

"Real upgrade is missing is in the Palestinian willingness to talk peace," said an Embassy spokesman.

In recent weeks have called isrælske leaders and Håg United States do more to restart peace talks.

Peace talks collapsed in September and the Palestinians argue discussions cannot resume text wrapping feature continued isrælsk settlement building in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.

"We want to work with all parties to press for a decisive breakthrough in the year," told the Håg House.

___

Associated Press Writer Mohammed Daraghmeh in Ramallah, the West Bank has contributed to this report.

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Israel plans to work on contested Jerusalem holy site (Reuters)

JERUSALEM (Reuters)-Israel has given preliminary approval for renovations on a contested holy site in East Jerusalem where rebuilding has triggered violence in the past, a city official said Sunday.

Municipal planners approved the project last week to repair an earthen ramp near the Mughrabi gate of the complex are connected to a revered Muslims and Jews, which both claim the region as their own Western Wall remnant of an ancient Jewish Temple.

Meir Margalit, a town the Councilor said City Hall would probably give the planned strengthening of ramp damaged by a snow storm and an earthquake in 2004 final approval this month.

"I was surprised that this problem has passed calmly," Margalit said, maintaining that Palestinians and Muslim clerics had raised no objections, but Israel had been forced to stop working in 2007, after Palestinian protests at the time.

East Jerusalem's old walled city, the ramp is located next to a composite Muslims know as Haram es-Sharif, or Noble Sanctuary, and al-Aqsa Mosque, Islam's third holiest site.

Jews Revere also spot where two biblical temples were and-which is a flashpoint in the isrælsk-Palestinian conflict.

In September 2000 a visit that triggered the protests, led to years of Palestinian uprising in which thousands died on both sides of Ariel Sharon, leader of the opposition, and isrælske.

Palestinians have claimed that renovations could be harmful from the point of isrælske Islamic relics buried underground.

Margalit said experts from Jordan, Turkey and Europe had particular "there would be no damage to the status quo and something wrong" with the renewal of work on the ramp and that experts from Jordan and Turkey to monitor the project as it progresses.

Israel took East Jersusalem in the 1967 Middle East war and annexed it in one step, which has won international recognition. The Palestinians want East Jerusalem as the capital of a State, they aim to establish the occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip.

A look at the political unrest in the Middle East (AP)

A look at anti-Government protests, political turmoil and important developments in the Middle East Sunday:

___

Libya:

Libyan helicopter gunships strafe the opposition fighters as forces loyal to Moammar Gadhafi pound them with artillery and rockets, dramatically escalating a counter-offensive to stop the rapid advance of rebels against the capital Tripoli.

Another scene of heavy fighting, the city of Misrata, 200 120 km (75 miles) East of Tripoli, where a doctor tells the associated press 20 people were killed and 100 wounded.

___

Yemen:

The Government supporters saves justify knives and small arms attack demonstrators in the country's South, leaving a died in the last few weeks of demonstrations demanding President step.

In a separate development in the increasingly chaotic nation kill suspected al Qæda gunmen four soldiers from the Republican Guard forces in a mountainous region of the elite.

___

Bahrain:

Thousands of Shiite opposition supporters block entrance to Bahrain prime minister's office, but shall refrain from interfering with a Government meeting campaign for reforms in the strategic Gulf nation enters the third week.

Bahrain Shiite majority has long complained about discrimination and political persecution in the island nation, which is controlled by a Sunni dynasty.

___

Egypt:

Egypt's prime minister-designate names Cabinet a janitor to lead the country through reform and against free elections after the uprising, ousted President Hosni Mubarak. The changes include new faces in the central ministries for Foreign Affairs, Interior and justice.

___

Saudi Arabia:

Saudi authorities release a Shiite cleric two days after the Shiites in the eastern region demonstrate to demand his release. Tawfiq al-Amer, who was arrested last week after he called for a constitutional monarchy, was released, said a close Associate of al-Amer.

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Abbas heads to the United Kingdom for talks on peace (AFP)

RAMALLAH, Palestinian territories (AFP)-Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas is heading to the United Kingdom late Sunday for a one-day visit to discuss the stalled peace process with Israel.

Abbas was scheduled to hold talks with Prime minister David Cameron and foreign minister William Hague on Monday before heading to Denmark.

"Conversations with Cameron and Håg will take the situation in the Middle East, the faltering peace process and isrælske settlement activities, as well as the forthcoming meeting of the Quartet," said spokesman Nabil Abu Rudeina Abbass.

Middle East Quartet of peacemakers--United States, which groups Russia, the European Union and the United Nations--is expected to meet in Paris later this month for talks aimed at jump-starting the peace process.

Abu Rudeina said Abbass meetings in London will also examine "ways to support and promote the peace process in isrælske intransigence and continued settlement activities, which have stalled the negotiations."

He said Abbas would also discuss European efforts to support the peace process, which ground to a halt shortly after direct peace negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians to restart in September 2010 for the issue of settlement building.

Israel has refused to renew a partial settlement construction moratorium which expired shortly after Washington relaunched direct negotiations between the two sides.

The Palestinians have refused to hold negotiations while Israel builds on land they want for a future State, which led to an impasse.

Isrælske media reports in the past week have suggested that isrælske prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu may draw up an interim peace agreement, which would give the Palestinians a temporary mode on a limited part of the West Bank.

But the Palestinians have already said they will not accept any agreement which does not include a permanent solution of all the so-called final status issues, including borders, Jerusalem and Palestinian refugees status.

US condemns ' appalling ' violence in Libya (AP)

WASHINGTON — the Obama administration on Tuesday condemned the "appalling" violence in Libya, where security forces unleashed a bloody crackdown on protesters demanding was driven out of his leader Moammar Gadhafi.

"This violence is totally unacceptable," said Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton. "We believe that the Government of Libya is responsible for what is occurring and to take measures to end the violence."

Video of Gaddafi about protesters

But as it sought to safely get out U.S. diplomats and other Americans from the spread chaos, Washington stopped criticise Gadhafi personally or demanding that he step. U.S. officials, who spoke for the matter to the public on Tuesday, including Clinton, will not mention Gadhafi by name.

Discomfort over U.S. citizens ' security intensified after getting some Monday and Tuesday kundescenario was tekstombrydningsfunktionen Gadhafis concern over unpredictable behavior, and late Tuesday, State Department announced that American citizens would be evacuated from Libya with ferry to the Mediterranean island of Malta.

In a message sent to U.S. citizens in Libya, said the Department of Americans want to leave the country should be As-shahab port of Tripoli with their passports starts at 9 a.m. local time on Wednesday for a departure not later than 3 p.m. local time.

This means Gadhafi — once called "the mad dog in the Middle East" by President Ronald Reagan — has long flummoxed U.S. officials. He is notoriously unpredictable and has been known to fly into rages on real or perceived slights.

Obama administration does not outline any specific steps to coerce or punish the Libyan regime, with which the United States have built a careful partnership after years branding Gadhafi a terrorist sponsor. After decades of hostility normalized United States and Libya tape under President George w. Bush's presidency after Gadhafi renounced terrorism and weapons of mass destruction, but the connections have been far from fully warm.

U.S. officials said Washington would join other Nations to resolve Libyan behavior of Security Council of the UNITED NATIONS. The renewed calls to Gadhafis Government to speak with opponents and threw the political unrest there as part of a regional uprising against political and economic stagnation, which addressed by Arab Governments of the Middle East and North Africa.

Gadhafi delivered a trodsig speech at national television where he promised he will not step away. He said he would die a martyr death fighting them rebel against his 42-year reign. The address was filled with references to his standing up to the United States and other world powers and threats, respect for the rights of the demonstrators.

In addition to the tone nervous speech U.S. officials, when it was delivered in front of the rubble from Tripoli compound feedingstuffs, United States bombed in 1986, kill Gadhafis young daughter. When he repeatedly spoke State-run television showed a courtyard statue of a clenched fist crushing a U.S. fighter jet.

With potential for Gadhafi to incite anti-American or anti-Western feelings and Libya danger on the brink of what some fear will explode in a comprehensive civil war, administration officials repeatedly invoked their primary concern to ensure U.S. citizens ' security.

"As always the safety and well-being of Americans must be our highest priority. We are in contact with many Libyan officials directly and indirectly and with other Governments in the region to try to affect what is going on inside the Libya, "Clinton told reporters at the State Department.

Department spokesman P.J. Crowley said U.S. officials had been insured by the Libyan authorities to Embassy workers and families will be able to leave safely. He said United States expected these promises to be honored.

"They have promised to support us in our evacuation, and we hope that the cooperation forthcoming," he said.

Crowley said the Department was to try to get 35 nonessential personnel and family members of staff at the u.s. Embassy in Libya out of the country. State Department ordered them to leave on Monday, but they have not yet been able to depart, he said without drawing on the site.

The Department also believe there are several thousand double U.S.-Libyan nationals and around 600 private U.S. citizens in Libya. Crowley said the United States worked with other countries and air carriers to increase capacity on commercial flights and was also prepared to Charter aircraft if necessary. But he noted it would require Libyan consent.

In January was u.s. Ambassador to Libya, Gene Cretz, revoked to Washington for consultations tekstombrydningsfunktionen concerns that his detailed accounting of Gadhafis in secret martial diplomatic cables published by the website WikiLeaks would weaken his ability to work with the Libyan Government. More than a month later, have Cretz not yet to return to Libya.

In 2010, Crowley was forced to apologize for a funny remark he on Gadhafis gårdhaverne speaking to the UN General Assembly a year earlier. Libya had threatened diplomatic retaliation, unless he apologised.

Asked Gadhafi's fiery speech Tuesday, demurred Crowley.

"We want to see an end to the bloodshed stopped," he said. "We want to see the Government engage citizens, rather than attacking its citizens."

"This is ultimately and fundamentally a matter between the Libyan Government, its Director and the Libyan people," Crowley said. "They, like other standing and demanding a greater say in the events in their country. We have serious reservations about the Libyan reaction to these protesters. "

In the past, called on the White House spokesman Jay Carney Gadhafi's regime to respect citizens ' universal rights and allow peaceful protest to take place. Echo previous White House statements about the Government protests in Egypt, he said about Libya future should be decided by the Libyan people.

In the meantime, said top legislators United States should consider introducing new sanctions on the regime and called for foreign energy companies to immediately close the operations in the oil-rich North African nation.

Sen. John Kerry, the Chairman of the Senate Foreign Affairs Committee, called the violent punishment "cowardly" and "without despicable." He encouraged us and international oil companies immediately suspend their Libyan operations until the attacks on civilians stops.

Massachusetts Democrat also called on the Obama administration to consider fishing technique sanctions against Libya, was abolished by President George w. Bush after Gadhafi renounced terrorism and brownfield development of chemical, biological and nuclear weapons.

SENS. John McCain, R-Ariz, and Joe Lieberman, I-Conn., the call to the administration to support a no-fly zone over Libya to prevent air strikes.

Dominican Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, R-Fla., Chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs House, also called for the imposition of new sanctions, including asset freeze and travel ban for senior Libyan officials.

"The Libyan regime widespread attacks on the Libyan population is deplorable, and all responsible for these attacks must be brought to justice," she said in a statement.

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Body of Lies (+ BD Live) [Blu-ray]

Set it next to the similar Middle-East intrigue of Syriana, and Body of Lies is easy to follow--in fact, this movie's plot is amazingly straightforward for an espionage picture. Leonardo DiCaprio is the CIA agent on the ground, an Arabic-speaking chameleon who believes in forging personal relationships based on trust and professionalism. Russell Crowe is his supervisor, a meddler who makes up the rules as he goes along and is more than willing to trade long-term benefits for a short-term "win." (One of these characters is surely intended to represent the foreign policy style of the Bush administration in the first decade of the 21st century; take a guess which one.) While working on a case in Jordan, DiCaprio gets a modest flirtation going with a nurse (Golshifteh Farahani), although his most intense relationship is with a Jordanian intelligence chief (great role for Mark Strong) who takes a wary view of the CIA's activities. Ridley Scott directs as though weary of all the fuss, and his merriment in Crowe's breezy sociopath gives the movie a rather strange aftertaste. It gets the job done, although after it's over you might find yourself craving the head-scratching complications of Syriana. --Robert Horton

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US tries to reassure Gulf allies shaken by various (AFP)

ABU DHABI (AFP) – Washington's level military officer and its Chief Middle East diplomat touring Gulf this week to reassure allies in oil-rich Nations, as bloody uprisings rock region.

Admiral Mike Mullen, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, visited Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates this week as part of a trip, which was planned well before uprisings.

Members of the entourage is said he can also stop in Bahrain--home of the US fifth fleet--which has been gripped by a popular uprising challenging the rule of Sunni dynasty in power over 200 years.

The top U.S. diplomat for the Middle East Jeffrey Feltman has also embarked on a tour of oil-rich Arab Gulf States on Tuesday and is expected to visit Bahrain and.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs Feltman said would also pay a visit to Qatar, Kuwait, Oman and UEA to press for political and economic reform, says there was a "critical need to address" such calls for change.

Mullen has said his trip aimed to "reassure, discuss and understand what is going on" and have called for a peaceful solution to the confrontation between opposition groups and Governments in the Arab world.

"This a time of enormous change this needs to be solved peacefully without violence and leaders have to step forward in terms of," he said.

Mullen praised the decision by the Crown Prince of Bahrain Salman Ben Hamad Al Khalifah to start conversations with the demonstrators to say "it had facilitated a number of leaders (he spoke to during his tour) in easing tensions."

US President Barack Obama Chief Military Adviser has also met with counterparts in the region to provide support from Washington, which also have military bases in Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.

Seven people have been killed in Bahrain since rebellion was triggered on February 14 in the small Sunni-Shiite majority ruled the Kingdom with.

Turmoil has intensified fears that Shiite Iran's regime will take advantage of crisis

But Mullen said he did not see Tehran's hand behind Manamas protests.

"I still believe, Iran, is a country which continues to incite instability in the region, take advantage of every opportunity ... (but) from my perspective, there has been a principal focus of what happened in Egypt, or what happened in Bahrain or any of these other countries, ' he says.

Around annual U.S. troops are stationed in Bahrain to protect the Gulf maritime oil routes supplying us operations in Afghanistan.

Manama and Washington are bound by a 1991 defense Pact, which lays down the bilateral consultations in case of security threats against Bahrain, Middle East expert Kenneth Katzman said in a conference report.

"What could be at stake here is an ability to have forces in the Gulf to reassure our allies ... that they will be protected from Iran," said David Aaron, a senior researcher at the think tank RAND Corporation AFP.

Saudi Arabia, annoyed by "interference" from Washington during Egyptian rebellion against Hosni Mubarak, remains at the heart of American strategy in the region.

Outbreaks of unrest, Riyadh has offered the unwavering support for Bahrain, feared protests could destabilise its oil-rich Eastern provinces agitate Shiite Communities live there, a potential boon for Iran.

"Bahrain is a proxy battlefield in the broader geopolitical struggle between Saudi Arabia, the United States and Iran," says U.S. firm Stratfor, which specializes in intelligence.

Palestinian vote may not be limited to the w. Bank: Abbas (AFP)

RAMALLAH, Palestinian territories (AFP) – Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas said Thursday it would be "unacceptable" planned elections will be held only in the West Bank, with Gazans to left out of opinion polls.

"Presidential and parliamentary elections will take place in the West Bank, in the Gaza Strip and East he said at a news conference with visiting East Timor President Jose Ramos-Horta.

"It would be unacceptable for them to be incurred only in the West Bank and not in Gaza. Without that it would not be possible to keep them, "he said, indicating the rejection of Gaza's Hamas rulers to participate could weaken the entire vote.

"Internal division of powers is the greatest danger, as are we, and our first concern is to restore national unity, which is why we have called the presidential and legislative elections, so that people settle this issue".

Last week announced the Palestinian leadership it would hold presidential and parliamentary elections in September. A local elections are also scheduled to take place on 9. July.

But the Islamic movement Hamas, a sworn enemy of Abbass secular Fatah faction, which dominates the Palestinian Authority has rejected calls to elections.

It says Hamas not to participate without a lot of reconciliation between the two warring parties.

"Abbass statement that there would be no elections without Gaza, despite the fact that several days ago, said the elections would take place in any event to prove that they were in a State of confusion," said Sami Abu Zuhri, a spokesman for the movement.

The issue of reconciliation dialogue needed to be fully examined, he said, but the choice "would be the result of any solution and not the cause of a."

Rivalries between Hamas and Fatah dates back to s. The situation deteriorated dramatically after the Islamic movement won the elections in 2006 and a year later, seized control of Gaza after deadly street battles with Fatah.

The Palestinian territories has since been effectively split in two with Abbass rule limited to the West Bank.

Repeated attempts to get the two parties to reconcile their differences have led nowhere, and the Mubarak regime, which played a key role in efforts at reconciliation, is now fast out of the picture.

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Islam - Empire Of Faith [VHS]

Islam: Empire of Faith is the epic PBS documentary that charts the history of Islam from its beginnings in Mecca and Medina in the seventh century to the glory of the Ottoman Empire 1,000 years later.

The demonization of Islam by the West has a long history, stretching back to the First Crusade at the end of the 11th century. This documentary redresses the balance by showing the riches of Islamic culture and the vital role played by Islam in preserving and building upon ancient wisdom from East and West at a time when most of Europe was stumbling through the Dark Ages. Muslim physicians, mathematicians, and astronomers stretched the boundaries of human knowledge, and Muslim architects created some of the most beautiful buildings in the world.

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Not Without My Daughter [VHS]

The Arab anti-defamation leagues understandably had a field day with this one. Sally Field plays Betty Mahmoody, an American who marries an Iranian (Alfred Molina) and has a child. They go back to Iran for a visit and, to her horror, he tells her he's decided to stay there. If she wants to leave, she must leave her daughter behind. If she stays, Betty must live in a culture vastly different and, she believes, very dangerous. Part thriller, part culture clash, the film certainly takes advantage of Americans' perceptions of Iran after the unrest of the '70s and early '80s. Molina is truly despicable as the husband, while Field projects a lot of overheated anguish as Betty tries to figure out a way to escape the country with her daughter. Overheated, in fact, is the word for the whole melodrama. --Marshall Fine

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The conflict in the Middle East between Israel and its neighbors is given comprehensive treatment in this two-video set produced by PBS. Using archival footage and extensive interviews with participants, the production begins by explaining conditions in Palestine at the end of World War II and the crisis created by the exodus of European Jews who went to the Middle East after the Holocaust. The withdrawal of the British, who had controlled Palestine for decades, is detailed, as is the creation of the state of Israel. Much of the region's history is complex, with the local struggles being conducted at times as a part of the cold war between the United States and the Soviet Union, but these videos do an admirable job of explaining the complexities of the situation. The segment on the Six Day War, for example, is masterful, with the scenes shifting from Israel to Egypt to Washington to Moscow, the story developing before the viewer's eyes. The 50 Years War is often a tale of mistrust and betrayal, but this production strives to present a balanced view of history, and is not only impressive for its command of the facts but for its skillful and often dramatic presentation of history. --Robert J. McNamara

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