For Zion's Sake...

US to join other Western nations to "punish" PA over its recent UN bid

“Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-Fla.), the chairwoman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, called on Congress to impose “severe economic consequences” for the U.N.’s ‘irresponsible’ action. She said the United States should cut the $600 million in annual funding for the Palestinian Authority as well as any funding for U.N. agencies that recognize Palestine as a state.

“And Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) offered an amendment to the defense bill that would cut off the almost $600 million the United States pays in U.N. dues every year.

“And Canada recalled its top diplomats in Israel and the West Bank as well as its U.N. representatives in New York City and Geneva in protest.”

Palestinians win upgraded UN status by wide margin

fuckyeahmiddleeast:

Think what you may of this.

Source:

girlactionfigure:

Michael Lawrence ‏@IsraelSpeaker
Mazal tov #Palestine194 on your new state that boasts no borders, no land, no rule of law, no human rights and now no realistic hope 4 peace

(via talkstraight)

Honestly, I don’t understand what the drama is with Palestine’s move at the UN today. They’re still not a sovereign state. They’re not an independent authority with the rule of law over a specific region geographically. “President” Abu Mazen cannot even enter Gaza, a part of his “state.”

Frankly, the pro-Israel community is wasting its time fretting over this, especially since it’s “ascension” is as a non-member observer state. In reference to to the use of the word “state,” it’s clearly incorrect; see the above.

I’m glad my Berkeley degree in Political Science taught me at least one useful thing — sovereignty. On that note, rest assured mom and dad, I learned a lot more than that in the last four years…

Syria suffers while "human rights activists" target only Israel

“Imagine the morale booster they would get from an international flotilla! Ships and boats, an armada of morality, led by a former member of the Canadian Parliament, with no one less than the iconic Apartheid-buster, Nobel Prize winner, Archbishop Desmond Tutu atop its advisory board. Imagine the international impact of a flotilla of ships carrying humanitarian aid and the critical message to Syrians: YOU ARE NOT FORGOTTEN!
Forget it.

“For these human rights ‘activists,’ Syrians are as good as forgotten. There is no flotilla heading to either of the Mediterranean Syrian ports of Latakia or Tarsus. Instead, it is heading to help the ‘beleaguered’ people of a few miles south in— Gaza.

“But there is no invasion of Gaza, no one starving. Hamastan’s new neighbor—Muslim Brotherhood-led Egypt—has even opened the border for the transit of goods and a whole lot more.”

The view from the dais at the United Nations General Assembly.

UK's Sky News: Palestine awash with money

“According to the journalist, Tim Marshall, ‘Palestinians are among the most foreign aid funded people in the world and the place is awash with money.’

“Marshall says that NGO workers enjoy being assigned to the Palestinian Authority because, contrary to public perception, the PA territories are relatively safe and comfortable. But Palestine remains a friendly place, welcoming, hospitable, full of air con, hi-fi, wi-fi and wine. Journalists also take advantage of this state of affairs, writing of the poverty and suffering of Gaza for example, before retiring to very expensive sea front hotels after an excellent dinner in one of the expensive fish restaurants.”

Why UN reform can't wait

“It’s no secret that the United Nations hasn’t lived up to its billing as a champion of human rights and democratic values since its establishment in 1945. All too often, the UN system has aided and abetted some of the world’s most odious regimes—and served as a political weapon for those countries against the West. Yet even by these standards, this summer has seen an unprecedented level of rot in the world’s most powerful international forum.”

Iranian claims "gut infection" prior to match against Israeli in Olympics

“So much for the Olympic spirit. Just days after U.N. secretary-general Ban Ki-Moon announced the traditional Olympic Truce – for people and nations to ‘set aside their differences’ during London 2012 – news emerged that the one Iranian athlete likely to face an Israeli in competition has withdrawn with a ‘gut infection.’”

Palestinians boycott UNICEF, Israeli desalination

“The Palestinian Contractors Union announced a boycott of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) on Monday for allowing Israeli firms to place bids on construction work regarding water desalination stations in Gaza.”

Iran sends arms to Syria despite UN sanctions

“The kinds of arms that Iran was attempting to send to Syria before the shipments were seized by Turkish authorities included assault rifles, machine guns, explosives, detonators, 60mm and 120mm mortal shells and other items, the panel said. The most recent incident described in the report was an arms shipment discovered in a truck that Turkey seized on its border with Syria in February. Turkey announced last year that it was imposing an arms embargo on Syria.”

Bombs hit UN convoy escorts

“A roadside bomb struck a Syrian military truck near Deraa, wounding six soldiers just seconds after a convoy carrying the head of the UN observer mission passed by. An Associated Press news agency reporter who was travelling in the UN convoy said the explosion blew out the military vehicle’s windows and sent out a plume of black smoke. Vehicles in the UN convoy were not hit.”

Israel has legal precedent to attack Iran

“In a world where nuclear weapons could soon be in the hands of a rogue nation like Iran, an Israeli preemptive strike on Iran’s nuclear facilities would be fully justified. Despite its ban on aggressive war, Article 51 of the United Nations Charter clearly recognizes a state’s inherent right to self-defense. Thus, Israel has full authority to act unilaterally or collectively in its self-defense.”

Assad waffles on UN-Arab League ceasefire proposal

“Hopes for a peaceful end to the Syrian crisis were fading rapidly on Sunday after President Bashar al-Assad refused to meet Tuesday’s deadline for withdrawing his forces from flashpoints across the country without guarantees from the opposition to stop fighting first.”

Congress urges Obama to withdraw US from UN Human Rights Commission

“The Obama administration should walk away from the U.N. Human Rights Council, House Foreign Affairs Committee chairman Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-Fla.) said Thursday after the body adopted a fresh batch of resolutions critical of Israel.”