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December 3, 2010 The Wire Guardian correspondent reports racism not fire Fri. 3 Dec. 2010 @ 10.05 - Harriet Sherwood reports story about Holocaust survivor renting room to Arabs in Safed over unfolding national tragedy. The Guardian's Jerusalem correspondent Harriet Sherwood has so far not filed a story about the unprecedented fire burning in the Carmel region, which has already claimed the lives of over 40 people. More than 15,000 people have been evacuated from the area so far in an operation to deal with what is being treated in Israel as a national tragedy. The Jerusalem correspondents at The Daily Telegraph, The Independent and The Times have all filed stories...Read more>> Media Analysis Special Tribunal for Lebanon: Background The UN Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL) is set to publish its investigative findings in the coming weeks on the assassination of former Prime Minister of Lebanon Rafik Hariri. Just Journalism has previously noted the rising tensions and the threats from Hezbollah against those who might implicate the group in the murder, including Hezbollah Chief Nasrallah's threat "to cut the hand off" anyone who tries to indict Hebzollah members. Background: Assassination and Aftermath On the 14th February 2005, Rafik Hariri and 22 others including his bodyguards were killed by a 1000 kilogram TNT explosion in Beirut. In the aftermath of the assassination, there was international outcry which culminated in the withdrawal of Syrian troops from Lebanon, ending a 29 year occupation. The Special Tribunal was established in 2005 by the UN in coordination with Government of Lebanon, which requested "a tribunal of an international character to try all those who are alleged responsible for the attack of 14 February 2005." This request was accepted by the United Nations Security Council in their resolutions 1664 and 1757. The mandate of the Tribunal is to establish and prosecute those behind the assassination of Rafik Hariri...Read more>>

The Wire Commentators continue to blame US for fears of Iran Thu. 2 Dec. 2010 @ 13.47 - Independent and Guardian columnists continue to blame US for leading campaign against Iranian nuclear programme, despite WikiLeaks disclosing Arab push for action. Writing in today's Independent, Adrian Hamilton dismissed the newly revealed evidence that several Arab states have been pressing the US to take military action against the Iranian nuclear programme. Instead, this is taken as proof that client states such as Saudi Arabia are simply following America's lead: 'When the US State Department wants support of its policy of squeezing and threatening Tehran into submission on its nuclear programme, it goes to Riyadh where the King fervently agrees, declaring Iran is a "snake whose head needs to be cut off"...The only embarrassment from the WikiLeaks is that what is known to every Arab in the street is now there in black and white along with the extent to which their rulers are prepared to say "yes" to Washington.' Tellingly, the multiple statements from different Arab leaders (not just Saudi Arabia) calling for military action have not altered Hamilton's perception that fears about Iran's intentions have been 'stoked up' by the US...Read more>> Special Event and invite you to a panel discussion on 'Squaring the Circle? Britain and the De-legitimisation of Israel' sponsored by