An address Monday by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to the United Nations Durban II conference on racism aroused raucous protests. The protesters, dressed as clowns, threw small red clown noses and shouted obscenities before being escorted out. The protesters were from various Jewish and Israeli groups, and included Nobel Laureate Elie Wiesel.Ahmadinejad's appearance as keynote speaker drew international ire soon after it was announced. A prepared English version of his speech was released early Monday and drew strong criticism from Israel. However, the offending section was omitted from his presentation. His address strongly attacked Israel and the complicity of Washington and Europe in its establishment and perpetual human rights violations against the Palestinians. During his speech, thirty nations led by France walked out. It was hardly unpredictable; prior to the conference the United States, Israel and five other countries decided not to attend as they felt the conference would be a forum for criticism of Israel and Zionism.
The UN Secretary-General accused President Ahmedinejad of misusing the conference.
The speech was not without support, though. It was well-received by many in the Arab world and his speech received applause from many diplomats. Also, Arab media were highly critical of the states boycotting the conference.
In response to Ahmadinejad's speech, the Czech Republic has vowed not to return to the conference; however, it has been the only country to pull out. The United States reiterated that Ahmadinejad's speech would not hurt diplomatic efforts between the two countries.
The conference continued today, with the more than 100 participants passing unanimously the final declaration. The draft outcome, which appears to be accepted as the final version, reaffirms the text of the 2001 conference declaration. The language of the 2001 document, Durban Declaration and Programme of Action (DDPA), explicitly names Israel and recognizes the rights of the Palestinians, including the right of return.
US Congresswoman accused of interceding in AIPAC case
A former member of the House Intelligence Committee denied on Tuesday accusations that she had interceded on behalf of two AIPAC lobbyists facing trial for espionage. Congresswoman Jane Harman (D-CA) was recorded on wiretap having agreed to seek favorable treatment from the Bush administration for the two lobbyists. An investigation into her cooperation with AIPAC was later dropped by the Bush administration purportedly to garner her support for unwarranted wiretapping. As the ranking democrat on the House Intelligence committee, Harman’s support was considered crucial for the Bush Administrations campaign for unwarranted wiretapping. Harman’s office dismissed these news reports as “recycled.” The two AIPAC lobbyists, Steven J. Rosen and Keith Weissman, stand accused of conspiring to obtain classified documents on US foreign policy. Their trial is scheduled to begin today in federal court in Alexandria, VA.
HEADLINES
UN: Gaza's post-war environmental problems worsening (Ha'aretz)
Report: Israelis take water from Palestinians (Jewish Telegraphic Agency)
Israeli army arrests 15 Palestinians in West Bank Trend (News Agency)
The Israeli military orders Palestinian families to leave their (IMEMC)
Palestine and the Palestinians
Four Palestinian fishermen abducted, 2 boats stolen by Israeli Navy (The Palestine Telegraph)
Hamas lawmaker calls on smaller groups to stop rockets on Israel (People's Daily Online)
Israel Demolishes Homes, Animal Shelters in Palestinian Village of Shuqba (AIC)
Hamas envoys head for Cairo in preparations for inter-Palestinian talks (Xinhua)
Pope Snub Upsets Gaza Christians (Islam Online)
Mideast: Gaza aid could be 'blocked' without a Palestinian accord (AKI)
Israel
Holocaust museum opens in Palestinian village (Ynetnews)
Israel wants to buy US missile defense system (The Associated Press)
Lieberman appoints Bedouin as Middle East Advisor (IMEMC)
United Nations
Thousands of UN employees in Jordan on strike (Hindu)
UN official blames Palestinians, Israelis equally for impeding Gaza reconstruction (Jerusalem Post)
The Neighbors
Kuwaiti candidate urges ties with Israel (AFP)
Qatar's ambitions roil Middle East (Los Angeles Times)
Egyptian sources: arrested Hezbollah cell to be referred to court soon (People's Daily Online)
Bring Hamas into peace process, investigate Israel: Ahtisaari (Tehran Times)
International Relations/Law
Vatican in new rift with Jews on racism conference (Reuters)
Canada to represent Israel in Venezuela (Jewish Telegraphic Agency)
Obama to meet Jordan's Abdullah (Aljazeera.net)
Hamas leader to address British MPs by videoconference (Haaretz)
Mashaal to address British parliament (Jerusalem Post)
Foreign Office accused of hindering human rights lawyers in Gaza Strip (The Guardian UK)
Chinese foreign minister to focus on Mideast issue in trip to five countries: FM
(People's Daily Online)
Palestine: Sultanov Reaffirms Russian Support for Palestinian State (ISRIA)
US Foreign Policy
Before meeting, Obama and Netanyahu negotiate Middle East policy (Jewish Telegraphic Agency)
US Special Envoy arrives in Bahrain for talks on Israel-Palestine issue (All India Radio)
Activism
Israel accused of ethnic cleansing by Nobel peace laureate Mairead Maguire (The Australian)
Activists paint graffiti letter on West Bank wall (Daily Star)
Arts and Sports
Marcel Khalife concert raises funds for Palestinian Children (Al-Bawaba)
Palestinians to make European debut (Fifa.com)
Using song to mend political strife (Sun-Sentinel.com)
Reformed Palestinian terrorist becomes theater director in West Bank (Ha'aretz)
A West Bank theatre trains young Palestinians in the dramatic arts (Globe and Mail)
Commentary
Rami G. Khouri: Reckoning nears for the US and Israel (Daily Star)
Stephen Walt: On Jane Harman, AIPAC, the NSA, etc. (Foreign Policy)
Ali Abunimah: Three Views Israel's New Government and the Obama Administration (Washington Report on Middle East Affairs)
On the Durban II boycott (Gaza; Peace n' Freedom Blogspot)
David Singer: Palestine - Pressure Points and Predictions (Canada Free Press)
Yoram Ettinger: Palestinian State: Deal Breaker (Arutz Sheva)
S.A. Nair: Ahmadinejad and the Israeli Conundrum (Asia Sentinel)
Mary Tuma: Free speech, no matter what (The Daily Texan)
Roger Cohen: Israel, Iran and Fear (Palestine Monitor)
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