Habib Toumi

The Palestinian Authority slammed on Thursday Israeli Prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s response to a decision to name a Ramallah street after Hamas activist Yahya Ayyash, saying Israel was absurdly using the term incitement.

“Israel is using the term incitement in an absurd manner, which indicates the Israeli government’s distress,” the PA press office wrote in a statement responding to Israel’s condemnation of the decision.

“When describing legitimate and nonviolent activity – such as boycotting products produced in the settlements – as incitement, there’s no wonder that they [Israel] continue to make such bizarre use of the term,” the statement said, according to Israeli daily Haaretz. continue reading…

General David Petraeus

US General David Petraeus has charged that the Israeli-Palestinian conflict was fomenting anti-American sentiment and limiting America’s strategic partnerships with Arab governments due to the perception of US favoritism towards Israel, US and Israeli media have said.

“The enduring hostilities between Israel and some of its neighbours present distinct challenges to our ability to advance our interests,” he said in a written testimony for the Senate Armed Services Committee. “Arab anger over the Palestinian question limits the strength and depth of US partnerships with governments and peoples in the [Middle East] and weakens the legitimacy of moderate regimes in the Arab world,” said Petraeus, commander of the US military’s Central Command, a zone that ranges from Egypt to Pakistan, but excludes Israel and the Palestinian Authority. continue reading…

Hagai Ben-Artzi -Ynews

Hagai Ben-Artzi, the brother–in-law of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday called US President Barack Obama an anti-Semite

“It’s not that Obama doesn’t like Bibi,” he said, referring to Netanyahu using his nickname. “He doesn’t like the people of Israel,” he said in an interview with Army Radio.

Ben-Artzi said that Obama’s anti-Semitism stems from years of indoctrination by controversial preacher Rev. Jeremiah Wright, from whom Obama distanced himself during the election campaign.

“For 20 years Obama sat with Reverend Jeremiah Wright, who is anti-Semitic, anti-Israeli, and anti-Jewish,” he said. “Think about it. If you had heard of someone who for 20 years sat in church and heard anti-Semitic sermons and didn’t get up to leave after two weeks, wouldn’t you think he identifies with it? As a politician running for presidency he had to hide it, but it comes out every time and I think we just have to say it plainly: There is an anti-Semitic president in America,” he said.

The situation creates a difficult situation for Israel, he added.

“When there is an anti-Semitic president in the United States, it is a test for us and we have to say: We will not concede. We are a nation dating back 4,000 years, and you in a year or two will be long forgotten. Who will remember you? But Jerusalem will dwell on forever.” continue reading…

Netanyahu, Obama and Abbas

The United States has pledged to assign blame and take action if indirect talks between Israel and the Palestinian Authority failed. The decision to name and shame is an indication of a new commitment by the President Barack Obama Administration to playing a role in the talks.

Israel daily Haaretz said that the US pledge was contained in a document sent by the US to the Palestinian Authority.

The U.S. government sent the document to the Palestinians responding to their inquires regarding the US initiative to launch indirect talks between Israel and the Palestinians.

“We expect both parties to act seriously and in good faith. If one side, in our judgment, is not living up to our expectations, we will make our concerns clear and we will act accordingly to overcome that obstacle,” the US wrote in the document, according to Haaretz.

The US pledge was a crucial factor in the Arab League’s decision this week to agree to the US proposal on indirect talks. continue reading…