Thursday, January 15, 2009
Blair: Gaza Truce Proposal 'Credible'
Foreign Confidential....
Middle East envoy Tony Blair said on Thursday a truce proposal being studied by Israel was "credible" and could lead to an immediate ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
Diplomatic sources said earlier that Israeli leaders were studying Hamas's terms for a truce.
Israel said later that Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni would travel to Washington to finalize an accord designed to prevent Hamas from rearming, a key Israeli condition for a ceasefire.
"Over the last few days the details have been discussed and worked on and I think actually there is plainly now a credible plan to stop if people want to stop," Blair told reporters after meeting French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner.
"There is no doubt at all now that there are not just the elements but the details of a plan that can bring an immediate ceasefire," he said,
The former British prime minister, who is the envoy for the Quartet of Middle East peace negotiators -- the European Union, Russia, the United Nations and the United States -- said he hoped there would be a ceasefire deal soon.
The sources said the terms included a year-long, renewable ceasefire, the withdrawal of all Israel forces within 5 to 7 days, and the immediate opening of all Gaza border crossings, backed by international guarantees they would stay open.
- ReutersMexico Could Collapse
Mexico is locked in a life or death struggle with drug cartels. Oil revenue is bankrolling the conflict. If the country loses its oil revenue, it will probably collapse.
Mexico eeds $70-per-barrel oil prices to balance its budget.Another French Synagogue Firebombed
Foreign Confidential....
Unknown people hurled petrol bombs at a synagogue in a Paris suburb Thursday in the latest outbreak of anti-Semitic violence in France since the start of Israel's Gaza offensive, firefighters and police said.
The main entrance door to the synagogue at Villeneuve-Saint-Georges, southeast of Paris, was damaged by fire and a police source said it remained unclear whether one or several petrol bombs were thrown.
France has recorded around 60 anti-Semitic incidents since Israel launched its Gaza offensive last month, drawing appeals for calm from politicians and religious leaders.
Three other synagogues have been fire-bombed in the past two weeks and vandals have daubed anti-Israeli graffiti on at least two other Jewish places of worship.
CRIF, the umbrella representative body of Jewish organizations in France, denounced this “new unacceptable act of violence” and called again on the authorities to take their responsibilities “to measure the seriousness of the situation and contain this unbearable rise of anti-Semitic acts in France.”
President Nicolas Sarkozy on Wednesday vowed "zero tolerance" for hate violence and warned "there is no place in the republic for anti-Semites or Islamophobes."
He has promised severe punishment for "those who want to import to France" the Arab-Israeli conflict in Gaza.Bolivia, Venezuela Cut Ties with Israel
Foreign Confidential....
Bolivia and Venezuela cut diplomatic ties with Israel over Israel's operation in Gaza.
Bolivian President Evo Morales said he also would ask that the World Criminal Court charge Israeli leaders with genocide, according to media reports.
"The Israeli government's crimes affect global stability and peace, and have returned the world to the worst stage of crimes against humanity that we hadn't seen except in World War II and in the last years in the former Yugoslavia and Rwanda," Morales said.
The Israeli government said Wednesday that it had not yet been notified by the Bolivian government of its decision to end diplomatic relations.
Venezuela officially broke off diplomatic relations several hours after the Bolivian announcement. The official announcement follows the Jan. 6 expulsion of Israel's ambassador to Caracas and seven embassy staff members by Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, a close ally of Morales.
A statement released Wednesday by the Venezuelan Foreign MInistery said the country "has decided to break off diplomatic relations with the state of Israel given the inhumane persecution of the Palestinian people," according to reports.
B'nai B'rith International called Bolivia's decision a "troubling development in the region," noting that "Bolivia has enjoyed excellent relations with Israel for many years" and that the two countries have several cooperative programs.
"It is noteworthy that this announcement was made a day after Morales met with an Iranian delegation headed by Iranian Minister of Cooperation Mohammad Abbasi," B'nai B'rith said in a statement. "Iran has been trying to expand its influence in Latin America for years, and this episode only underscores Morales’ willingness to cooperate with the Iranian government that sponsors terror worldwide and has one of the worst human rights records in the world."
- JTAIsrael and Hamas Agree on Ceasefire
Ynet is reporting that Israel and Hamas "have agreed on all the general outlines of the Egyptian ceasefire initiative to end the fighting in Gaza."
Citing Palestinian sources, Ynet says fighting is to end within 72 hours and last up to two weeks. During the truce both sides will discuss withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip, an end to the blockade and supervision of crossings.BOA Bailout Near
While real American heroes save lives--scroll down for the miraculous airline landing and rescue story--astonishingly arrogant Bank of America is sucking more billions of taxpayer dollars. Click here for the story. While reading, recall the softball interviews with BOA's CEO by CNBC stooges and other fawning flunkies from the mainstream media.
Turns out, BOA is poorly managed, overly leveraged, needs government money to complete its acquisition of Merrill Lynch--and to simply survive.
Great management--NOT!Iran President Says Israel is 'Doomed'
Iran is playing for time, preparing to play the new American President like a violin.Iran's hard-line president on Thursday warned Israel of a "doomed end" but pointedly ruled out sending weapons to its ally Hamas or getting involved militarily in the conflict in the Gaza Strip.
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad also said his government welcomed "dialogue and having relations" with the U.S. after the inauguration next week of President-elect Barack Obama, who has said he is open to diplomatic contacts with Iran.
But "if they want to have the previous stance wrapped up in a new package, [talking] will not work," he said. "If the stance is oppressor against the oppressed, it will not be fruitful."
Ahmadinejad's comments on Gaza squared with an Iranian pattern of provocative talk meant to put pressure on Arab governments to more aggressively oppose the Israeli offensive, but without committing Tehran to a more direct role in the conflict.
Click here to continue reading.Real American Heroes
"This is a country where citizens show calm in the face of danger."
President George W. Bush
A great American pilot crash landed a jetliner in the Hudson River Thursday, and, miraculously, everyone--all passengers and crew members--apparently survived.
Real heroes: the pilot, co-pilot and crew ... the passengers who aided each other and did not panic ... the New York City police, divers, ferry boat captains, tugboats and others who rushed to the scene to help.
God bless them all.US Airways Plane Crashes into Hudson River
PASSENGERS SAY THEY HEARD LOUD NOISE AND SMELLED SMOKE
Dateline USA....
BREAKING NEWS: A US Airways AIrbus crash-landed in the Hudson River opposite 42nd Street in Manhattan.
All 148 passengers and 6 crew members appear to have been evacuated safely through front, rear and emergency exits.
Surviving passengers told CNN that he heard a loud bang and smelled smoke shortly after takeoff from La Gaurdia Airport. The plane, Flight 1549 bound for Charlotte, NC, then spun out of control, and the pilot warned everyone on board to "prepare for impact."
Miraculously, he managed to land the plane safely. Eyewitnesses in Manhattan said the plane made a "soft landing" in the river.
"You could smell the smoke," a passenger told CNN.
The pilot reported a double bird strike, the network said.
The pilot reportedly added that he wanted to try for a landing at another airport but could not make it and had to go down into the river.
The plane was only aloft for about three minutes after taking off.
Commercial ferries and other vessels immediately came to the aid of the passengers. Life jackets were thrown in the water.
Depart of Homeland Security and the FBI are saying there is no indication of terrorism or foul play. Birds are suspected as the cause of the crash, officials say.
Friday, 16 January 2009
Foreign Confidential....
Foreign Confidential....
Dateline USA....
Foreign Confidential....
Dateline USA....
FAA SAYS BIRDS MAY HAVE HIT JET ENGINES
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