The Central Council of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) has extended the tenure of Mahmoud Abbas as acting chief of the Palestinian Authority until new elections are held.
The vote endorsed Abbas' earlier decision to call off the January 24 presidential and legislative elections due to the boycott of the vote in the Gaza Strip by the Hamas movement.
Parliament's mandate was extended too at the PLO meeting in the West Bank city of Ramallah.
Abbas, whose term ends on January 25, says it is impossible to hold the elections due to Hamas' refusal to allow voting in the Gaza Strip.
Hamas, which controls the coastal enclave, disputes Abbas' legitimacy and says the extension is unconstitutional.
The Central Council also endorsed Abbas' refusal to return to negotiations with Israel until the regime stops the construction of Jewish settlements in the occupied lands.
"We will not go to negotiations until Israel fully halts settlement activities and agrees to a term of reference for such negotiations," said PLO Central Council member Tawfiq al-Tirawi.
Abbas' failure to mend fences with the rival Hamas movement or win concessions from Tel Aviv's hard-line regime has impaired his reputation among scores of Palestinians.
Ever since Hamas won an outright majority in the 2006 Palestinian legislative elections, the two factions have pursued bitter rivalry featuring sporadic fighting and tit-for-tat arrests.
Since Hamas took control of the Gaza Strip from the Fatah faction in the summer of 2007, the coastal enclave has been under an economic siege laid by the US, Israel and the EU.
Since then, Hamas has governed the Gaza Strip, while Fatah has continued to control the West Bank from Ramallah.
Israel and Egypt, with the Palestinian Authority's blessings, have both sealed their borders with the Gaza Strip, effectively cutting off the coastal enclave from the rest of the world.
The Western-backed embattled Palestinian leader has frequently threatened to resign over the paralysis of peace negotiations with Israel, despite the fact that he has at the same time suggested to remain in office.
-My opinion- How can the PLO extend the term of Abbas when he was never elected? It amazes me that many so-called intellectuals, political leaders, NGOs, and foreign governments sit idle and accept this undemocratic leadership. So what would happen if (although highly unlikely) the people of the West Bank end up electing Hamas? Would the Israeli government launch another genocidal bombardment and imprison the people of the West Bank into a humanitarian disaster as they did to the people in Gaza? It is obvious that both the blockade and the Gaza invasion last year was simply an attempt to punish the people of that small strip of land for voting for a party that Tel Aviv and Washington did not approve of. Mahmoud Abbas will never accomplish anything for the Palestinian people. Perhaps people should research just how he came into power and poke into his history. One will be surprised at what will be discovered. Most Palestinians consider Abbas to be an American puppet and he’s done nothing to try to unite the Palestinians that he was so instrumental in dividing. The only people he seems to be popular with are the occupying forces and Condolezza Rice. Mahmoud Abbas, just another sad chapter of ineffective, divisive leadership for Palestine
In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
Greetings and salutations of peace to the defenders of freedom. Today is Yawm al Quds or Jerusalem Day; a holy day for the world's 1.6 billion Muslims, some Christians, and even some Jews.
Ayatollah Khomeini (RA) said, "We are defenders of the oppressed regardless of what pole on the earth they may live on. The Palestinians are oppressed, and thus, we side with them." Since this declaration by the Leader of the Islamic Revolution, millions of the faithful around the world commemorate this day with protests, education, and media attention to raise awareness of the plight of the honorable Palestinian people.
The media regularly covers up the daily crimes of Israel committed against this defenseless nation. On a regular basis, their homes, farms, and schools are illegally demolished by the Zionist government based on an immoral pretext. The shocking (or formerly shocking) thing is that Israel is able to fend off any public criticism simply by labeling their opponents as "Anti-Semetic." It is as if they blame the Palestinians for the Holocaust by committing a Holocaust against them. There is no moral or ethical justification for such actions. The Ultra Orthodox Jews of the Neutrei Karta sect denounce such action as Anti-Jewish and regularly state the illegality of occupying Palestine on a legal and religious basis. The problem is that when the Zionist control most American corporations, the American media, and many public outlets, Westerners are indoctrinated to believe that Israel is the victim. They make the oppressor appear as a victim and they made the victim appear as the oppressor.
For more information on the peaceful dismantlement of the Zionist Israeli State, please visit nkusa.org
I have formulated some questions for the American people (of which I am), and ask all readers to ponder them:
1. Why is Iran a signatory state of the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty while Israel is not?
2. Why is Israel the only country in the region that possesses nuclear weapons?
3. Why aren't those nuclear weapons ever subject to IAEA inspections?
4. What would Americans do if they were illegally invaded and occupied by China, if China claimed they had some sort of religious sanction for such action? I believe they would do exactly what the Palestinians are doing and they would resist.
5. Which country has broken by far the most United Nations Security Council Resolutions?
6. If America is truly promoting democracy in the Middle East, why don't they push for Palestinians and Israelis to live together in one nation, with equal rights under the law? This seems more democratic to me than to support an apartheid regime. And don't give me that crap about Muslims & Jews not being able to live in peace. They lived in peace for centuries before 1948.
7. Why aren't Palestinians allowed to vote?
8. Why are Israeli Arabs often denied well-paying jobs in Israel? Better yet, why are they treated as second-class citizens?
9. Why has Israel violated international law so many times? For example, in 2006, they used American-made cluster bombs which killed many civilians. Children as recent as 2008 often find them and land mines, thinking they are toys and when they touch them, they are injured and sometimes killed.
10. Why does any American politician who criticizes Israel commit Political Suicide?
11. Why was Barack Obama unable to convince the Israeli government to stop building illegal "settlements?" Had that been Iran, America would be threatening sanctions.
12. Why is Israel allowed to have nuclear weapons while other countries in the region cannot? (And the excuse that other nations in the region support terrorism is a lame excuse that oppressors use to justify their crimes, it doesn't work)
13. How can some people claim this is a war between Jews and Muslims when many Christian Palestinians are oppressed by the Israeli Army as well?
14. If you are against the tactics that Hamas uses, how else do you propose for them to defend their homeland from occupation?
15. How can Arabs be "Anti-Semetic" when they, themselves are Semites?
I have lots more questions, but my dinner is getting cold.
May God liberate the Palestinian nation. I pray that western media journalists get the courage to report the truth from the region and stop fearing the far-reaching reprisals that will surely come from the Israeli government.
Greetings of peace to all,
Okay... bad news? or good news? I cannot decide.
I was planning to graduate with my masters degree in December of 2009. Because of my hectic work schedule, I only have time to take one graduate course per semester. So I thought I only had 3 classes to go... One this spring, one this summer, and one this fall... Then today, I went to see an academic advisor and I found out that I had 4 classes to go!!! Yikes!!!
So at this rate, I won't be done until April of 2010. Most people may read this and say.. "So, what's the big deal?" Well, sad to say that I have been in college or university since September of 2000. Wow 10 years!!! And I don't even like learning in a classroom setting. I'm more of a practical learner.
So to fix this mess, now I have to take 2 classes next semester which is very, very, rough. I won't get much sleep, but what I keep telling myself, almost like 'clockwork' is that..."it's almost over," "it's almost over."
So the point... I cannot help but keep on thinking about tomorrow... thinking about how, how I'm going to work full time and do my extracirricular things, and take two classes. Something has to give! I guess times like these are when people turn to a higher power. As long as I don't get lazy, I can do it (I think).
In Arabic we say, "Allahuma athfathni min nefsee" or "My God, protect me from myself." Thanks for reading. : )
Peace to the world." "Free Palestine." "Close Guantanamo." "Try Bush & Cheaney for war crimes." "Transfer the trillions spent on illegal wars to those who do not have food to eat around the world." "I love you all."
-Uniter
Sun, 22 Feb 2009 19:14:19 GMT
Former Iranian president Seyyed Mohammad Khatami says peace and stability in the world do not come easy and shall be fought for.
"Peace does not come easy. First of all, it needs reformist bodies and secondly, you have to fight for it," Khatami said in a meeting with visiting former German chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, who is currently in Tehran on an unofficial visit.
The former Iranian president, who has announced his bid for the June 12 presidential elections, said the international community should move to resolve global issues through understanding human interests, Fars news agency reported.
"Unfortunately, Iran is regarded as a problem. But the reality is that Iran can settle regional woes," said the cleric.
Representing the Reformist Party, Khatami was president from 1997 to 2005. The Iranian scholar introduced the theory of "Dialogue Among Civilizations".
In the Name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
"Surely we are Allah's, and to Him we shall return."
[The Holy Quran Sura Baqarah (2), Ayah 156]
The appalling crimes of the Zionist regime in Gaza and the massacre of hundreds of oppressed men, women, and children, has once again revealed the true nature of the bloodthirsty Zionist wolves, who had been hiding behind a veil of deception during the past few years. This event has again revealed-to those who are not vigilant and prepared to compromise at any price-the threat posed by the presence of these warring infidels (kafer-e harbi) living in the heart of the lands of the Islamic Ummah.
This tragic event is unbearable for all Muslims, nay, for any moral and honorable human being living anywhere in the world. However, what is even more tragic and unbearable is the cowardly silence of some Arab governments that claim to be Muslims-which only encourages the enemies. What could be more tragic than the fact that so-called Muslim governments-which should have supported the oppressed people of Gaza against the occupying, kaffir and warring (mohaareb) Zionist regime-have acted in a way that the criminal Zionist officials have become insolent enough to declare that these Arab governments support and are in agreement with this great tragedy?
What explanation do the heads of these countries have before the Holy Prophet (s.w.a.)? How will they justify their inaction to their own peoples, who are undoubtedly bereaved by this tragedy? Surely today, the hearts of the people of Egypt, Jordan, and other Muslim countries are bleeding because of this massacre, which follows the long siege of Gaza during which food and medicine were kept away from its people.
Being an accomplice in this great crime, the criminal Bush administration-which is going through the last days of its disgraceful rule-made the US regime even more disgraced than before and added more pages to its war crimes record. European governments once again proved the falsity of their claims regarding their support for human rights through their indifference and through their support for this great tragedy. They have shown that they are part of the anti-Islam and anti-Muslim camp.
I ask the ulama and clergy of the Arab world and the heads of Egyptian Al-Azhar University: is it not time you felt alarmed for Islam and Muslims? Is it not time you fulfilled your obligatory duty of warning against evil and fulfilling your obligation of "saying what is right to the oppressive leader"?
In order for you to feel responsible, do you need a clearer proof than what is happening in Gaza and Palestine? These events prove the collusion and collaboration of warring infidels (kafer-e harbi) with the hypocrites (munafeqeen) of the Islamic Ummah and are aimed at suppressing Muslims.
I ask the media and intellectuals of the Muslim world, especially the Arab world: until when are you going to continue neglecting your duties and responsibilities as media and intellectuals? Can the disgraced western human rights organizations and the so-called Security Council be disgraced any further?
All the Palestinian mujahideen and the faithful people of the Muslim world are obliged to defend the children, women, and defenseless people of Gaza by all possible means. Those who are killed in this sacred and legally sanctioned battle are martyrs, and their souls will be associated with those of the martyrs of the Battles of Badr and Uhud, before the Holy Prophet of Islam (s.w.a.).
The Organization of the Islamic Conference must fulfill its historic duty in these critical times and form a unified front-without petty considerations or any passivity-to oppose the Zionist regime. The Zionist regime must be penalized by Muslim governments. The Zionist heads must be personally tried and penalized for their crimes and the prolonged siege imposed on Gaza. These goals can be fulfilled through solid determination of the Muslim nations, and in this critical period, politicians, ulama, and intellectuals shoulder the heaviest responsibility.
Due to the tragedy in Gaza, I hereby announce Monday as a day of public mourning and I call on the government officials to fulfill their duties with regard to this tragic event.
"And soon those who do injustice, will know to what final place of turning they will be turned."
[The Holy Quran, Sura as-Shu'ara (26): Ayah 227]
Sayyid Ali Khamenei
Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution
30/07/2008 11:00:00 PM GMT
Two boats carrying 40 people from 17 countries are to leave Cyprus for Gaza in a bid to break an Israeli blockade of the Gaza Strip.
During a news conference in Athens, the group said that they would leave Athens on August 1 to draw attention to the plight of 1.5 million Palestinians suffering from acute shortage of basic necessities from fuel to food.
Nearly 100 human rights organizations have supported the boat trip.
The organizers of the move warned that any hostile action against the move would be a violation of human rights, according to Press TV's Beirut Bureau.
Paul Larudee, one of the event's organizers, said, "Israel says it's pulled out its soldiers from Gaza so they should have no objection to us going there,"
"We have been in contact with the authorities in Greece, in Cyprus and with the Palestinians ... There is no reason to contact the Israeli authorities because we will not be using their territory," the Canadian Press quoted Larudee as saying.
The group will deliver 100 hearing aids to a Palestinian charity as a form of humanitarian aid, said Larudee, whose group is based in El Cerrito, California.
Israel has imposed the siege on the impoverished territory of 1.5 million Palestinian people since last June leading to a humanitarian crisis.
Currently, dozens of patients suffering from serious illnesses are facing death as a result of the blockade.
A total of 220 patients died due to the siege, most of them children and elderly.
Personal note: It may seem that I bring up this issue often, however, I find it incumbent upon myself to do so. I often ask myself, where are the moral people of the world? Why do the tears of the Palestinian people, both Muslim & Christian reverberate all over the world except for in the United States? Why do the Jewish people who are in support of a free Palestine... why are they marginalized and turned away? Why can't I sleep at night? Why do my tears stroll down my cheek?; because I know I can't do much? Dear friends, please assist me in raising awareness of this issue, people's lives are at stake.
Greetings everyone,
This morning, I underwent a rather annoying situation and it reminded me about this famous Arabic parable which attests to the fact that people will always speak ill of others and we can’t please everyone. Here it goes, I hope you all enjoy:
A father and his son decided one day to take a trip to another town. To get to their destination, they had to pass through several other villages. Their only means of transportation was a donkey. Gazing upon his young son with compassion, the father insisted that the son rides the donkey while the father walks beside them. As they passed through the first village, the inhabitants of that village said, “What a selfish son! He rides the donkey and makes his father walk. What’s wrong with him?”
The boy and his father heard the remarks, so before entering the second village, they switched positions and the father rode the donkey while the son walked beside. As they passed the townspeople, they heard one man say, “Look at that man. He sits comfortably on the donkey and makes his young son walk! Does he have no compassion? What’s wrong with him?”
Nevertheless, the boy and his father continued. Before they approached the third village, they remembered what the others had said about them, so they both decided to walk beside the donkey and walk the animal by its leash. As they entered this town, they heard someone say, “Look at those two fools. They have a perfectly good donkey to ride and neither of them is riding it. Don’t they have any sense? What’s wrong with them?”
Hearing these comments, the boy and his father were becoming increasingly annoyed. As they approached their destination, to avoid any further comments, they both decided to ride the donkey. Suddenly, they heard a person say, “Look how cruel that man and his son are. They are both riding that donkey. It can’t support their weight! What’s wrong with them?”
The point is that we cannot please everyone. People will always speak ill of others. I think it’s just best to avoid such negative people and to keep doing what we think is right, no matter what they say.
The King and his mercenaries were told of unprecedented treasures in the distant land of Soku. After careful consideration, the members of the kingdom decided to take an expedition to locate the lost treasure. The King and his helpers ventured on horseback about a hundred kilometers until they reached the desolate land of Soku. Upon arrival, they set up camp and began exploring.
Shortly thereafter, the King decided to take his horse on his own search because the he knew of a special location of the rarest treasures and he didn’t want the others to share in that wealth. “I’ll be back shortly,” the King said to his servants, and he was on his way. After a short while, a downpour of rain began falling and the King entered what appeared to be an empty cave. He dismounted his horse and decided to rest until the rainfall was over.
Suddenly, he heard growling from afar and noticed a coyote coming straight at him. In panic, he began screaming as the animal caught hold of his robe and tore it to pieces. The startling noise scared off the horse and it ran away in frenzy. The King climbed up a tree to safety and soon, the coyote fled as well. After a short while, nightfall began approaching. The King, being accustomed to a life of luxury, wasn’t familiar with self-survival and no longer had his horse to rely on. The King climbed to a high rocky area and took slumber there for the night.
When sunrise was upon him, he began walking on his own to locate his comrades. All day he spent searching and was completely lost. During this time, his army was ambushed by local inhabitants and many of them were severely wounded. As they retreated back to their land, a delegation of two of his two sons, the princes went to search for the King. Those two men searched for hours and discovered the cave where the King had been earlier. They noticed the blood-stained coat of the King torn into pieces and assumed that the King had been killed by a wild animal. Fearing for their lives from the local inhabitants, they concluded that the King was dead and headed back home.
The poor King searched the land for days and was in danger of starvation. After walking through a heavily wooded area, he discovered a small, isolated house. As he approached, he saw a young man chopping wood. This young man, named Asghar inquired about the stranger and invited him in, seeing his torn clothing drenched in blood. As he entered, he was greeted by Asghar’s mother and noticed that this family lived a poor life. “Please, do you have any food to offer me?” asked the King. The mother and son said they had a few nuts and raisins. However they wanted to offer their guest something more, as they gazed upon a lamb which was their main source of sustenance. Asghar decided to slaughter the lamb as a show of hospitality to his guest. After cooking the meat, they served their guest. Upon completing his meal, the King told them who he was and how grateful he was for their assistance. He told them to come and visit his kingdom anytime and he would reward them for their efforts. Being the humble people they were, they just smiled at the King. They advised him of a caravan of nomads heading up to his kingdom and advised him to join them and return to his homeland in safety. The King again thanked them, joined the caravan, and went back home.
The people of his kingdom were ecstatic and overjoyed upon seeing their King. The city declared a 3 day celebration to honor the return of their leader and soon things were as they were before this disastrous expedition.
Back in Soku, the months came and went, and as time progressed, Asghar’s mother was becoming ill and they were without their primary source of sustenance, namely the lamb. “Perhaps you should go see the King,” said the mother to her son. “We are proud people mother, I would prefer not to. However, seeing us in this state of affairs, I don’t think I have a choice.” Soon thereafter, he kissed his mother goodbye and began walking that long distance. As he arrived to the King’s palace, he was on the brink of starvation. He approached the gates and was soon confronted by the guards who were standing by. “Let me in!” he shouted. “I am a friend of the King!” After hearing this shouting, the King himself came out to assess the situation. “It’s me, your majesty! It’s Asghar.” The King didn’t recognize him. “Remove him from here,” commanded the King. As the guards approached him, Asghar began yelling the details of their encounter and the King remembered him. “Wait!” commanded the King. “Yes, yes, I remember you, let him free, let him in.”
After Asghar drank water and cleaned himself up, he approached the King. “Your majesty, I come with the greetings of my mother. She is very ill and we are not doing well. We relied on that sheep and we slaughtered it just for you. I come in humbleness asking for your assistance.” The King was overwhelmed and realized how much luxury he lived in and how less fortunate other people were. Therefore, he ordered all of the townspeople, Asghar, and all of his assistants to meet at the town square. Asghar had no idea what was taking place.
Suddenly, for all to see, he sat upon his throne and called his two sons, the princes to stand by his side. He related the story of what happened to everyone and asked his son the prince, “What do you think I should give him in repayment, my son?” The prince said, “Give him a bag of gold.” “How unjust you are!” said the King. He asked his other son, “My son, what sort of repayment shall I give this boy and his mother?” The other prince replied, “Give him a bag of gold, a bag of silver, and a home in the Kingdom.” Again, the King exclaimed, “How unjust you are!” “This boy and his mother sacrificed a lamb, which was everything they had for me! Therefore, I will give them everything I have. My dear Asghar, my throne and my Kingdom is yours.”
Asghar was shocked at this display of kindness. He was so happy that he asked a delegation to go back to Soku and bring his mother. As he ordered, the people went to the town and picked up his mother without telling her what had transpired. All they told her was that they needed her to join them to see Asghar and assured her that he was okay. Upon arrival, a humble man approached her. Dressed in the clothes of the common folk, this man offered her a fresh juice drink and seated her on a plush, silk couch. She said, “Thank you kind stranger. You truly are generous. You look so familiar. Have I seen you before?” He responded in tears of joy, “I was the King that you saved. You sacrificed all you had for me and cared for me when I was all alone. Therefore, I have given you and your son all I have, and here is your son, Asghar, the King.” King Asghar and his mother were reunited as the former King and the townspeople rejoiced. “Listen well, my people,” said Asghar. “I know nothing of leading a nation. Your former King, has proven that he has become a man of justice and compassion. Therefore, in all happiness, in no compulsion, I would like to appoint him as your King once again.”
Moral: We should work as hard as we can in spreading the word of peace, tolerance and equality because we never know what can come of it. Also, being content and having love is much better than being wealthy and miserable. We should also give all we have to the Almighty, for his kingdom is endless and he shall reward us with everlasting grace as the King did in this parable. Peace be to the world! No more war for oil! No war on Iran! End the illegitimate war on Iraq! Free Palestine! Ron Paul 2012!
Unitedforpeace.org Democracynow.org : )
A remote-controlled Japanese camera has made it possible for the public to see the Egyptian Pharaoh’s ‘solar’ boat entombed in Giza.
Inserted through the stone, the camera shows the wooden boat, buried 4,500 years ago next to Giza’s Great Pyramid.
"This is the first time that this technology... is used to look at buried antiquities," said head of Egypt’s Supreme Council for Antiquities Zahi Hawass.
The boat, which was found in 1954 with its sister ship, has been under excavation and is now in danger of destruction, AFP reported.
According to Zahi Hawass, the camera can help assess the condition of the boats and the possibility of their restoration.
Japanese experts from Waseda University started their work in 1992 when insects entered the site, where the boats were first discovered.
Although the insects have been removed, water is now leaking from the museum housing the first ‘solar’ boat.
"I can tell you already that (the water) has affected a small part of the wood, hence the necessity to quickly finish the study and restore the wood," said Sakuji Yoshimura from Waseda University.
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The Informer said:
In the name of Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the World.Really, I want... read more
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The Informer said:
I'll tell you why, Israel is a proxy fortress of western economic interests. Part and parcel part of the New... read more
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Uniter said:
Wa alaykum asalaam my respected Sister, Thank you for the kind words and practical advice. I will remember you in... read more
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Sanj said:
Assalamualikum UniterOne thing I have to say is ...this must have happened for a reason, although you may not know... read more
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