Fri. 5 Aug. 2011 @ 16.44 - Guardian foreign leader writer David Hearst predicts 'end of Zionism' in comment piece advocating one state solution. In 'Could Arab staying power ultimately defeat Zionism?', published in today's Guardian, foreign leader writer David Hearst predicts the 'end of Zionism, no less' could follow negotiations leading to the creation of a Palestinian state, advocating a 'one-state solution in which Jewish citizens lose an inbuilt majority': 'If Israel ends its occupation of the West Bank, and allows it to join with Gaza, the result could be two states - a Palestinian one alongside an Israeli one. But if you accompany that with a civil rights movement inside Israel, the goal could be very different - a secular, democratic state "for all its citizens", where Jew, Christian and Muslim are equal.' Hearst's call for an Arab-majority state whilst suggesting Israel's Jewish character is intrinsically 'supremacist' continues The Guardian's double standards on Jewish and Arab nationalism, as noted by Just Journalism in March. The journalist omits to mention how a unitary state would guarantee full and equal rights 'for all its citizens' in light of support among Palestinians for statements in the Hamas charter glorifying violence against Jews and anti-Jewish sentiment across the Arab world. Thurs. 4 Aug. 2011 @ 12.43 - Palestinian Authority blames Hamas for blocking election in Gaza as committee announces schedule for West Bank local elections. Ma'an News Agency on Tuesday reported that the Palestinian Central Elections Committee has announced the timetable for municipal elections later this year: 'The electoral campaign is scheduled for October 8 - 20, and results of the election will be announced 24 hours after voting closes, the statement added.' The elections are, however, set to take place only in the West Bank and not in the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip. The Fatah-led Palestinian Authority, which governs the West Bank, blamed the lack of elections in Gaza on the Hamas regime. The PA issued a condemnation of the Islamist organisation for: '[p]reventing the Central Elections Committee from fulfilling its mission in Gaza according to the law, which makes holding elections there within the limited time left unrealizable.' Daily Telegraph provides extensive coverage of Netanyahu concession to accept Palestinian state based on 1967 lines, alongside publishing op-ed arguing Britain should pressure Palestinians to accept Israel as Jewish state. The Daily Telegraph has reported on the alleged concession offered by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, accepting the creation of a Palestinian state based on the 1967 lines as the basis for renewed talks. The only other British media outlet to cover the concession was The Independent yesterday. In 'Middle East peace process boost as Netanyahu 'ready to negotiate borders', The Daily Telegraph's Adrian Blomfield acknowledges that the development, 'as dramatic as it was unexpected', will 'raise hopes that the peace process can be rejuvenated', providing 'much-needed momentum'. Blomfield argues, however, that '[i]t could even be rejected flat out' by the Palestinians who are likely to view it as 'unacceptable': 'The offer was couched in terms that, for the moment, appear to cross many of their [the Palestinians' red lines. 'Although Mr Netanyahu has agreed to reopen negotiations based on the contentious 1967 lines, thereby fulfilling one of the Palestinian leadership's principal demands, he has demanded two uncomfortable concessions in return for the resumption of talks.' Fri. 5 Aug. 2011 @ 14.34 - Humanitarian agency condemns 'armed raid' on its offices in Manama by Bahraini authorities, as part of widespread crack-down on medical staff. The Independent today reports on an 'armed raid' against the Bahrain offices of Medicins Sans Frontieres (MSF), in which '[o]ne of its employees was arrested [...] and its medical equipment and supplies were all confiscated.' 'French aid group condemns armed raid on its Bahrain offices' comments that '[t]he raid will raise questions over MSF's ability to continue operating in the tiny Gulf island kingdom.' The raid apparently came in response to an incident which occurred a day before: 'Saeed Mahdi, a volunteer driver and translator for the organisation, was arrested for calling the emergency services a day earlier to send an ambulance for a man with a serious head injury who had walked into the office. An MSF doctor provided first aid on the spot.' Bahrain's health ministry countered the claims of harassment, alleging that MSF was 'running an unlicensed medical centre.'
August 05, 2011 The Wire Guardian writer predicts 'end of Zionism'
The Wire Palestinian Authority blames Hamas for blocking Gaza elections
The Wire Telegraph covers Netanyahu 1967 borders offer
Wed. 3 Aug. 2011 @ 16.30 -The Wire Medicins Sans Frontieres condemn raid by Bahrain authorities
Friday, 5 August 2011
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