What goes through my my mind when I read the news with my morning coffee. …Or for the Simon's Rockers in the group, this is my response journal.
Within Saudi Arabia’s vision to transform its oil reliant economy and energy industry are some surprising new goals to develop a domestic defense industry. How does this fit in with Saudi Arabia’s strategic vision and military leadership role in the Middle East?
Saudi Arabia’s Surprising New Military Goals – Forbes
hmmm
In the shadow of Jerusalem’s city walls, archaeologists have found a fortress that spawned a bloody rebellion more than two millennia ago.
Jerusalem Dig Uncovers Ancient Greek Citadel
hmmm
Benjamin Netanyahu has told people to “calm down” over the killing of a disarmed Palestinian man in Hebron as protests continue to rage in Israel and the West Bank. Sergeant Elor Azaria, whose name was previously barred from publication in Israel, was charged with manslaughter on Monday after being caught on camera shooting the wounded man dead.
Calm down. WTF is that? As if he would “calm down” if this had happened to an Jewish Israeli…
Is she Jewish? Rabbinate says yes, Israel says no | Israel | Jewish Journal
Poor woman. That is seriously fucked up.
The resolution adopted by 33 countries condemns the Israeli government’s stewardship of Jerusalem.
Israel outraged by UNESCO resolution on Jerusalem sites – AJE News
hmmm
Biden described the Obama administration’s “overwhelming frustration” with Israel, adding that “profound questions” existed about how the country could remain both Jewish and democratic.
…“Both sides have to take responsibility for counterproductive steps that undermine confidence in negotiations.”
…“No matter what legitimate disagreements the Palestinian people have with Israel, there is never justification for terrorism,” Biden said. “No leader should fail to condemn as terrorists those who commit such brutalities.”
Source: US feels ‘overwhelming frustration’ with Israeli government, says Biden | US news | The Guardian
hmm
WASHINGTON — Vice President Joe Biden acknowledged “overwhelming frustration” with Israel’s government on Monday and said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s administration has led the country in the wrong direction, in an unusually sharp rebuke of America’s closest ally in the Middle East.
There is no will for peace among Palestinian and Israeli political leadership, Biden bemoaned during J Street’s annual gala Monday evening. Painting a dim picture of a conflict that is becoming increasingly intractable, the vice president stressed that the United States would maintain its security support for Israel through an extensive defense aid package delineated in a renewed Memorandum of Understanding.
“I firmly believe that the actions that Israel’s government has taken over the past the past several years — the steady and systematic expansion of settlements, the legalization of outposts, land seizures — they’re moving us and more importantly they’re moving Israel in the wrong direction,” Biden said.
Biden admits to ‘overwhelming frustration’ with Israeli gov’t | The Times of Israel
hmmmm
The sentencing hearing is set for May 3, according to Jbara, who expects the court to hand down a life sentence at the very minimum, as stipulated by the Israeli law, and because of the horrific nature of the crime.
…Jbara said that with this conviction, the court had opened the door for Abu Khdeir family members, who were designated as “victims or terror” under Israeli law, to petition the Israeli interior ministry to demolish the homes of the convicted Israelis, who live in the illegal Israeli settlement Adam, in the occupied West Bank.
He also plans to submit requests to the government to revoke the citizenship of the convicted Israelis, in accordance with Israeli laws.
“This is an important step for the family because we want the Israeli government and justice system to treat the Palestinians who are victims of terror acts committed by Israelis as equal to what Israel considers as Palestinian acts of terrorism towards Israelis,” he added.
Israeli convicted of murdering Palestinian teen – AJE News
hmmm.
baby steps?
The struggle for the heart of Jerusalem and for the sympathy of its visitors is still wide open.
Israel’s attempts to monopolise Jerusalem will fail – Al Jazeera English
hmmmm
Even as the militant group loses ground in Iraq, many Sunnis say they have no hope for peace. One family’s story shows why.
The Hell After ISIS – The Atlantic
Jeezus… the humanity
“I want our next president – whoever he or she might be – to be somebody who is interested in women in Afghanistan and who will continue US policies… that we continue to do what we’re committed to do as a country,” she said, as reported by The Telegraph.
hmmm
Afghan refugees can’t stay in Europe, but they face considerable uncertainty upon returning home.
For Refugees, Returning to Afghanistan Is Easier Said Than Done
sigh…
The US military says it is ordering families of defense and diplomatic personnel out of southern and western Turkey amid fears for their safety.
US orders families out of south and west Turkey over security – BBC News
Sigh…
Monitors say taking of historic city by government troops backed by Russian airstrikes is biggest Isis defeat since 2014
Assad hails Syrian regime’s capture of Palmyra from Isis | World news | The Guardian
hmmmm
Imran Khan has strongly criticised Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and a top official of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for damaging the sport in the country.
Nawaz Sharif responsible for Pakistan cricket downfall: Imran Khan – The Economic Times
hmmm
Nawaz Sharif’s constituents may think less of him for allowing Pervez Musharraf to leave, but he now appears to have strong ties with the army, and is therefore seen as someone who can deliver.
Why Musharraf’s Exit is Bad for Pakistan but May End Up Helping Nawaz Sharif | The Wire
hmmm
LAHORE, Pakistan • In an emotional televised address, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif vowed Monday to hunt down and defeat the militants who have been carrying out attacks…
As Pakistan mourns, prime minister vows to defeat militants | Nation | stltoday.com
sigh… poor Lahore.
Source: Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) on Instagram
The refugees crisis produces more heartbreaks, tragedies and people doing the best the can in face of horrid odds and worse conditions. The humanity and inhumanity mixing together into heart wrenching tragedy. What a sad, sad post to read. What a horrible, inhumane and unjust situation.
Pakistan’s PM urges better coordination between security agencies against terrorism, a day after more than 70 people died in a suicide attack in Lahore.
Lahore attack: Pakistan PM Sharif demands swift action on terror – BBC News
My thoughts and wishes of speedy recovery and healing are with all of the people of Lahore.
Bernie Sanders officially announced that he will not attend the American Israel Public Affairs Policy Conference in Washington, D.C., next week.The Democratic presidential candidate plans on sending a copy of his remarks to attendees on Monday, the same day that Hillary Clinton is slated to speak.The only Jewish presidential candidate wrote a letter to AIPAC President Robert Cohen on Friday regretting that he will be travelling throughout the West and the campaign schedule that we have prevents us from attending.
Sanders to skip AIPAC conference | Washington Examiner
hmmmm
Mohamad Jamal Khweis says he “made a bad decision” in traveling to the ISIS-controlled city of Mosul in Iraq before he was captured by Kurdish forces this week.
American regrets decision to travel to ISIS stronghold – CNN.com
hmmm
When most American troops departed Afghanistan in 2014 and the Obama administration helped install a unity government, it was supposed to set the country on a path toward self-sustainability after two decades of Taliban rule and foreign military intervention.
Afghans, leaving in droves, say they see no future in their country
aggghhhh! Oh, and fuck you GW Bush administration. Fuck every single last one of you horrible people. The people who you moved around like pieces on a board game so you could assuage your corrupt egos and rake in cash, their lives actually count and you fucking ruined them. Millions of them. Agggggggggggggggggggggggggh, fuck all of you!
Mr. Yasuda is believed to be held by the Nusra Front, an affiliate of Al Qaeda that has taken a number of foreigners.
Junpei Yasuda, Japanese Journalist Missing in Syria, Surfaces in Video – The New York Times
hmmmm
Where is the real proof – archaeological evidence, state records and primary sources?
They came to different conclusions than the ones I came to when studying a similar topic but interesting none-the-less.
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