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Category: Middle East,
‘A declaration of war on freedom of speech’
Left-wing Israeli NGO defends Arabic network – but Arab states back up Israeli government’s claims network promotes anti-Semitism.
‘A declaration of war on freedom of speech’ – Israel National News
Fucking a… As an American I hardly have the right to talk but Israel’s policies can be so freaking racist it is stunning.
Geopolitical Information Blockades: A New Norm?
This is not the first time relations among the Persian Gulf neighbors have chilled, and indeed the Saudi-led bloc has made past calls for the Qatar-based Al Jazeera, a news network often critical of their foreign policies, to be taken down. This summer, states blocked their citizens from accessing the news site outright and, in a rare move, authorities in each state publically announced their information campaign against Qatar, admitting to a practice that might have once left them named and shamed.
The campaign against Qatar is not the only context in which Middle Eastern blocs filter information based on geopolitical fault lines, either. For example, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE all block websites affiliated with Iran and Hezbollah, and Oman joins Saudi Arabia and the UAE in blocking sites connected to both Hezbollah and the Muslim Brotherhood. The researchers also found that “tensions have led to increased filtering in the past year” as geopolitical conflicts—including civil wars in Syria and Yemen—have exacerbated regional rivalries.
Unlike the publicly-recognized Qatar campaign, much of the filtering efforts in the region are not justified on a political basis or as part of a larger foreign policy. Instead they are rationalized on social or faith-based grounds; however, these motivations often coincide with political motivations for censorship. This is especially true in regions where conflicts are largely religious or sectarian in nature—for example, several Arab states block Shiite content, and Iran blocks Sunni content. Political censorship is therefore shrouded in religious or cultural explanations.
Geopolitical Information Blockades: A New Norm? | Council on Foreign Relations
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Israel to shut Al Jazeera offices and revoke journalists’ credentials
Israel’s communications minister has said he wants to shut down pan-Arab broadcaster Al-Jazeera in the country. Ayoob Kara, of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud party, said Sunday he wants the news network’s press cards revoked and has asked cable providers to block their transmissions. He said he wants them banned altogether. No timetable for the measures was given. Kara said the station is used by militant groups to “incite” violence.
Israel to shut Al Jazeera offices and revoke journalists’ credentials | The Independent
Seriously? Fuck you, Israel.
Israeli Authorities Arrest Antiquities Dealers In Connection With Hobby Lobby Scandal
Israel’s Antiquities Authority says the dealers, arrested early Sunday morning, were involved in sales of antiquities to Hobby Lobby — including items that U.S. authorities determined were smuggled.
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Abbas freezes relations with Israel after deadly clashes over Jerusalem shrine
The Palestinian Health Ministry said at least three Palestinians were killed in confrontations with Israeli forces over security measures at a major Jerusalem shrine.
Abbas freezes relations with Israel after deadly clashes over Jerusalem shrine – LA Times
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Palestinian stabs Israeli settlers to death as tensions rise
Three Israelis were stabbed to death and another was badly wounded Friday night in an attack by a Palestinian man in an Israeli settlement in the West Bank – capping a day of violent clashes.
Palestinian stabs Israeli settlers to death as tensions rise | New York Post
sigh…
Al-Aqsa: Israel bars Muslim men under 50 amid protests
In announcement hours before expected protests by Palestinians, Israel police further tighten restrictions on holy site.
Al-Aqsa: Israel bars Muslim men under 50 amid protests | News | Al Jazeera
No, we aren’t a racist and discriminatory government. No men under 50 allowed at your religion’s very holy site. No, we certainly would have this much security if one of your kind was killed….
No one sees the hump on his own back.
Palestinians reject Israel security measures in al-Aqsa
Dozens of worshippers gathered to pray at an entrance to the compound after new measures introduced at holy site.
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No charges for Saudi woman in viral miniskirt video
The government announced last week that girls would be allowed for the first time to play sports in public school and have access to physical education classes.
The powers of the kingdom’s religious police have also been curtailed, and they are officially no longer allowed to arrest people.
Despite these moves, strict gender segregation rules and other restrictions on women remain in place.
No charges for Saudi woman in viral miniskirt video | Saudi Arabia News | Al Jazeera
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Saudi police question miniskirt video woman – BBC News
The woman was filmed openly defying the conservative Muslim kingdom’s strict dress code.
: Saudi police question miniskirt video woman – BBC News
Sigh….
Israel shuts down Al Aqsa mosque after shooting
“Forbidding the Friday prayer is an unfair procedure,” Keswani told Al Jazeera. “What happened earlier is now being taken advantage of by the Israeli right to impose a new reality in Al Aqsa mosque.”
Israel shuts down Al Aqsa mosque after shooting | Israel News | Al Jazeera
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Inside Israel’s Secret Program to Get Rid of African Refugees
They were promised asylum somewhere closer to home. Then they were discarded — often in a war zone.
…None of the things Israeli authorities had promised the 12 Eritreans when they had agreed to relocate to Rwanda a few weeks prior. Instead, John offered to smuggle them into neighboring Uganda, which he told them was a “free nation.” “If you live here, you can’t leave,” Semene recalled John saying of Rwanda. “It’s a tight country. Let me advise you, as your brother, you need to go to Uganda.”
They would need to sneak across the border, since they had no proof of legal entry into Rwanda. (The Israeli laissez-passers had gone unstamped at the Kigali airport the night before, an oversight that now felt suspicious.) But John told them not to worry; he could easily get them into Uganda for a fee of $250. “I have everything,” he said. “Contacts with the government over there. Contacts with the Israeli government. If something happens, I call the Israeli government and they do something for you.”
The alternative, John said, was to remain in the Kigali house, where they would be under constant surveillance. They would have to pay rent, but without documentation, they would not be allowed to work. Semene and the others understood that John was not really giving them a choice.
Inside Israel’s Secret Program to Get Rid of African Refugees | Foreign Policy
Disgusting but not so surprising from a government who seems to prides itself on how much more racist, opressive, and abusive it can get each year that passes.
Battle for Mosul: IS ‘blows up’ al-Nuri mosque
So-called Islamic State (IS) has blown up the Great Mosque of al-Nuri in Mosul, Iraqi forces say.
The ancient landmark with its famous leaning minaret was where IS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi proclaimed a “caliphate” in 2014.
However, IS claims that US aircraft destroyed the complex, in a statement issued by its news outlet Amaq.
Aerial photos show that the mosque and minaret has been largely destroyed.
The Iraqi commander in charge of the offensive to retake Mosul said troops were within 50 metres of the mosque when IS “committed another historical crime”.
A senior US commander in Iraq said IS had destroyed “one of Mosul and Iraq’s great treasures”.
…The jihadists have destroyed a string of important heritage sites in Iraq and Syria.
Battle for Mosul: IS ‘blows up’ al-Nuri mosque – BBC News
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Saudi Arabia’s king replaces nephew with son as heir to throne
In a surprise reshuffle at the top of Saudi Arabia’s royal hierarchy, the country’s king has removed his nephew as crown prince in favor of his son, Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz.
Saudi Arabia’s king replaces nephew with son as heir to throne – CNN.com
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Syria conflict: Russia issues warning after US coalition downs jet
The coalition said it had shot down the Syrian Su-22 after it bombed US-backed fighters in Raqqa province on Sunday.
Moscow says it will track US-led coalition aircraft as targets, and halts a communications system …aimed at preventing air incidents.
Syria conflict: Russia issues warning after US coalition downs jet – BBC News
Jeezus Christ… Russia and the US unofficially – officially now in a proxy war with each other Syria? Man is this WH ever weak and incompetent! Just on the losing side of everything.
Raqqa battle: ‘Staggering’ civilian toll in strikes on IS
Hundreds of civilians are reported to have been killed since March, as coalition warplanes support an offensive by a Kurdish-led alliance.
…Up to 4,000 militants are believed to be holed up inside Raqqa, including foreign fighters and various senior figures.
It is unclear how many civilians are trapped there with them, but UN officials estimated that there are between 50,000 and 100,000.
Raqqa battle: ‘Staggering’ civilian toll in strikes on IS – BBC News
Sigh….
Israeli PM calls for dismantling of UN Palestinian refugee agency
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called on Sunday for the dismantling of the UN agency that aids millions of Palestinian refugees, accusing it of anti-Israeli incitement.
Israeli PM calls for dismantling of UN Palestinian refugee agency – World – CBC News
Oy….
I’m a 90 year-old woman who has lived in Israel for 50 years – here is what I think about Israeli settlements
It took decades for the immorality of occupation to sink in. In 1967, my husband was a military man. We were posted abroad when the war was won and the fabric of the still infant Israel changed, perhaps irreversibly. When we came home in 1968, the mood was victorious and we thought it was marvellous. We were truly blind to what was happening.
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Qatar crisis: The deep diplomatic tensions behind the row
How regional rivalries and mistrust lie beneath the current tension in the Gulf.
…The underlying tensions between Qatar and three of her Gulf neighbours in particular have been visible for two decades.
…the emir of Qatar pursues a series of policies which simply don’t fit into the rigid orthodoxy expected by most of the others, notably Saudi Arabia, the superpower of Sunni Islam.
His unconventional foreign policy is seen as a threat to Sunni solidarity, particularly because the emir and his ministers promote dialogue and a search for good relations with the rival regional superpower, Shia Muslim Iran.
…the single most powerful motive behind the blockade may be a quite different one: the desire to rein in, or even to close down, one of the emir of Qatar’s most cherished projects – the global television news channels of Al-Jazeera.
He sees Al-Jazeera as an agent of positive change across the Arab world, opening up political debate, reporting on the challenges from ordinary people from the street, so evident during the “Arab Spring”.
…Several member states of the Arab League have lined up behind the anti-Qatar campaign. Equally, both Turkey and Russia are consolidating their positions as friends to Qatar.
Qatar crisis: The deep diplomatic tensions behind the row – BBC News
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Trump faces growing Senate resistance on Saudi arms deal
The Senate bid to stop the Saudi arms sales is likely to fail.
Trump faces growing Senate resistance on Saudi arms deal – POLITICO
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Saudi Arabia apologizes for snub terror of victims
The Saudi Arabian Football Federation has apologised for its players ignoring a minute’s silence during their World Cup qualifying match.
Saudi Arabia sorry for minute s silence snub terror victims – Yahoo7
Manischewitz….
Kabul hit with devastating bomb as U.S. considers sending yet more troops.
More than 80 reportedly dead in one of the country’s most secure areas.
Kabul hit with devastating bomb as U.S. considers sending yet more troops.
sigh…
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