[Elder Of Ziyon - Israel News] 10/27 Links: Ex UK FM Straw Blames 'Jewish Money' for conflict, German Parties fund MIFTAH

From Ian:

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British Ex-Foreign Secretary Blames 'Jewish Money' for Conflict

Former British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw has reportedly blamed Jewish groups with "unlimited" funds for the Israeli-Arab conflict.
"I nearly fell off my rickety British chair today when former UK Foreign Secretary Jack Straw spoke at the Round Table Global Diplomatic Forum in the British House of Commons. Listing the greatest obstacles to peace, he said "unlimited" funds available to Jewish organizations and AIPAC in the US are used to control and divert American policy in the region," former Member of Knesset Einat Wilf reported on her Facebook page.
Straw also blamed "Germany's 'obsession' with defending Israel," she said, adding, "I guess he neglected to mention Jewish control of the media..."

Anne Bayefsky: Europe, US pressuring Israel to endure discrimination at UN Human Rights Council

In reality, the UN's human rights flagship is skippered by countries dedicated to the demonization and destruction of the Jewish state – the antithesis of equal treatment.
Israel is under no obligation to enable 192 countries to boast that Israel will be treated "equally" under the UPR, when it is treated unequally at every Council session before and after.
Israel does not owe the United States and Europe a green light to hang a "no Jewish state allowed" shingle outside of their UN meetings, let alone validate the suggestion that it is Israel threatening the integrity of this "human rights" process.

Germany said to warn Israel over skipping UN human rights review

German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle on Friday sent a letter to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu urging Israeli to attend the review, Haaretz reported on Sunday. The letter acknowledged Israel's difficulties with the HRC, but said not attending would have "serious consequences."

Jpost Editorial: Qatari insult

Time was when the conflict with Israel was officially and undisguisedly pan-Arab. In recent decades the tactic has been to present it as arising from the essentially local plight of Palestinians due to seemingly arbitrary out-of-the-blue Israeli occupation. Yet on occasion this deliberate misrepresentation is exposed.
This was the case last week when the Israeli flag was removed from the premises of the FINA Swimming World Cup in the Qatari capital of Doha and when the flag was whitewashed from TV broadcasts.

No one intervened to help us, Sydney victim says

Shlomo Ben Haim, an emissary for the Jewish National Fund who was among the victims of Friday night's attack, said Sunday that the attackers screamed "bloody Jews" and were able to continue their assault for several minutes, even though it took place in a well-lit area with foot traffic and open restaurants.
The attack occurred when his party of five Jews, walking back from a Shabbat dinner, encountered "about 10″ youths, who, when seeing them in Shabbat clothes and yarmulkes, began to shout derogatory comments and then attacked, Ben Haim told Ynet News on Sunday from his hospital bed in Sydney.

Protesters Scream 'Long Live the Intifada' at JNF Event

The Jewish National Fund (JNF) recently held its annual meeting in the city of Denver, Colorado, in the United States. A group of anti-Israel protesters decided to target the event.
Protesters gathered outside the residence of Governor of Colorado John Hickenlooper as the governor hosted JNF representatives.
They carried signs accusing Israel of genocide, and called "Israel out of Palestine," and, "Long live the Intifada." Intifada is the Arabic word commonly used to refer to the terrorist war on Israel, which has killed thousands of Israeli civilians.

Study: Main German political party foundations fund anti-Israel activity

The 75-page study, titled, "German Funding for Political Advocacy NGOs Active in the Arab-Israeli Conflict," found the Green Party's Heinrich Böll Foundation and the Christian Democratic Union's Konrad Adenauer Foundation funded the Ramallah-based MIFTAH NGO.
MIFTAH's publications have accused Israel of "massacre," "cultural genocide," "war crimes" and "apartheid," NGO Monitor reported.
MIFTAH's Arabic-language website published an article on an anti-Semitic blood libel in response to US President Barack Obama's support for Israel and his attendance at a Passover Seder. After allegations of anti-Semitism, MIFTAH removed the article.

NGO Monitor: "Ethnic Cleansing" Rhetoric at NGO Events in the European Parliament

On October 17, 2013, the Socialists and Democrats group (S&D) of the European Parliament sponsored a seminar titled "Bedouins in the Naqab/Negev: Dreams and Nightmare." A banner featured at the event accused Israel of "ethnic cleansing."
Representatives of Israeli NGOs (Negev Coexistence Forum – funded by New Israel Fund (NIF) and Switzerland; Alternative Information Center – list of funders removed from website) participated in the seminar, but official representatives of the Israeli government were not allowed to appear. The Israeli Embassy to the EU condemned the event.
In response to criticism, S&D group head Hannes Swoboda denied that "S&D Group's communications [used] the expression 'ethnic cleansing'

Huffington Post Demonstrates How Not to Correct

Following an update at the top of the page noting that Ha'aretz has retracted the claim that Rihanna sang about Palestine, readers are told that "The original article continues below." Indeed, it does. With the false claim about the lyrics intact.
To sum up: The Huffington Post runs an update which makes clear that their earlier headline and article were based on a false report. The Post leaves those incorrect headline and article in place, as if they have not received information to the contrary.
Is somebody asleep at the helm of the Huffington Post? Or this what now passes for accountability at the sixth-leading English news site?

Hamas Orders: Shoot Protesters 'In the Head'

Sources in the Palestinian Authority told the Palestine Press news agency on Saturday that the Interior Minister in Hamas's government in Gaza, Fathi Hamad, has instructed security forces to be tough on any anti-Hamas demonstrator who will take part in a campaign by the opposition scheduled to begin on November 11.

Amid turmoil, crossing to Gaza closed indefinitely by Egypt

Over the weekend, a video released over the Internet revealed that it was an ex-Egyptian army officer who carried out a suicide bombing last month that unsuccessfully targeted the country's interior minister, and, according to Egypt Independent, the attack was organized by a cell that included two Palestinians.

UAE increases Egyptian aid to $4.9 billion

The deal signed Saturday for $1.9 billion in new loans, fuel supplies and other assistance comes during a visit by Egyptian interim Prime Minister Hazem El-Beblawi.
In July, the UAE promised $3 billion in aid as part of the overall $12 billion aid package from Gulf states following the ouster of the Muslim Brotherhood-led government of President Mohammed Morsi in a popularly supported military coup.

'Russia eyes Egypt's ports in bid to boost military presence'

According to the report, Moscow has been shopping for alternatives to the Tartus port in Syria, where it maintains a limited naval facility, due to fears that President Bashar Assad's regime will eventually be toppled by rebel forces.

Manchester United sorry for 'swastika'

One of the world's leading soccer clubs, Manchester United, has apologized for publishing a swastika-style club logo, and a headline blaring "New Order," in an email sent out to supporters.

Sir Tom Jones wows Tel Aviv crowd

The longtime sex symbol played to a full house of 7,500 at Nokia Arena, cycling through a quality set list R&B classics, including Chester Arthur's "Evil," and Three Dog Night's "Mama Told Me Not to Come."
He continued with songs from his recent albums and wrapped up an energetic performance with hits like "Delilah" and, of course, "Sex Bomb." (h/t Bob Knot)

Israel knows water technology, and it wants to cash in

Israel is a world leader in desalination of seawater. By next year, more than a third of Israel's tap water will come from the Mediterranean Sea and a few briny wells. Israel's total water consumption remains nearly at 1964 levels — even though its population has quadrupled to 8 million people, according to the economic ministry.
"They say that necessity is the mother of invention, and that is clearly the case in Israel," said Oded Distel, director of Israel New Tech, a government agency that primes the water pump by giving grants to high-tech water start-ups and helps market the water industry abroad. "If we had to rely on sources of fresh water, we wouldn't be here. In Israel, we use every drop twice." (h/t Zvi)

Israel saved me

Reverend Mulinda from Uganda and his friend Majed El Shafie from Egypt both converted to Christianity from Islam, and paid a heavy price for sticking to their beliefs. Today they fight against anti-Semitism and advocate human rights and a love for Israel.
These two men should never have met, but today they are close friends. They were born in two different countries at different ends of the world, but their life stories are very similar, and today, they both advocate a love for Israel.

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Posted By Ian to Elder Of Ziyon - Israel News at 10/27/2013 01:00:00 PM