Tues. 6 Sep. 2011 @ 12.40 - Guardian editorial rejects Palmer report ruling that Israel's blockade of Gaza is legal, instead citing controversial reports by the UNHRC. On Thursday, the New York Times leaked a copy of the Palmer report, the conclusion of a UN investigation into events aboard the Mavi Marmara, the flotilla ship which was boarded by Israeli troops in 2010 when it attempted to breach the naval blockade of Gaza. Initial coverage in the Israeli press suggested that the report would largely rule in Israel's favour, defending the legitimacy of its actions. The report did indeed come to similar conclusions to Israel's 'Turkel Commision', declaring both the blockade of Gaza and Israel's boarding of the Mavi Marmara to be legal. While the report stated that the 'loss of life and injuries resulting from the use of force by Israeli forces [...] was unacceptable', it also acknowledged that the Israeli soldiers had 'faced significant, organized and violent resistance' from those aboard the vessel. The Guardian's editorial on the Palmer report supports Turkey's rejection of the findings and its decision to challenge the ruling that Israel's blockade of the Hamas-run Gaza strip is legal at the International Court of Justice. This dismissal of some of the Palmer report's conclusions illustrates a marked difference from the newspaper's previously staunch support for UN enquiries. Mon. 5 Sep. 2011 @ 14.44 - Times depicts BDS as human rights activists campaigning for an 'independent Palestine', whitewashing movement's opposition to Israel's existence. Thursday 1 September saw the scheduled performance of the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra (IPO) at the BBC Proms repeatedly interrupted by pro-Palestinian activists, part of a campaign to protest and boycott the invitation of the Israeli orchestra. The disruptions, which forced the BBC to cancel their live transmission of the event, were covered by several outlets the next day, including The Guardian and the BBC News website. The Times included an editorial on the issue which accused the activists of 'boneheaded bigotry and intimidation.' The Times coverage also included an article on the protests. In contrast to the editorial, which implied that the activists were motivated primarily by anti-Israel animus, 'BBC forced to pull Proms broadcast after anti-Israel protest' described them as: 'a number of pro-Palestinian groups including the BDS, a coalition of human-rights activists who campaign for an independent Palestine, and the Boycott Israel Network.' Mon. 5 Sep. 2011 @ 17.15 - Egyptian press reports on further evidence of Muslim Brotherhood's intentions to co-operate with extreme Islamist groups in upcoming elections. New evidence of the Muslim Brotherhood's cooperation with extreme Islamist groups has come to light as parties draw up candidate lists for the upcoming parliamentary elections in Egypt. The Egyptian outlet Al Masry Al Youm reports on coordination plans between Jama'a al-Islamiya's 'Construction and Development' Party and the Muslim Brotherhood's 'Freedom and Justice' Party. 'Islamists make preparations for parliamentary elections' cites Nasr Abdel Salam, chairman of the Construction and Development Party: 'The Construction and Development Party seeks to develop a vision for coordinating with other Islamic political parties, he said, stressing that his organization has close contact with Nour Party, a Salafi group, and the Freedom and Justice Party so that they can agree on the districts where they should each push their own candidates.' The article also notes the party's objective to 'coordinate with Salafis and Brotherhood members in Alexandria, Cairo and Giza.' Furthermore, the Salafist Front is reported to have announced that it would not be contesting the elections itself, but would instead support 'Salafi and Brotherhood candidates', once again highlighting the ideological closeness of the two groups. Fri. 2 Sep. 2011 @ 14.50 - Iran is reported to have restricted the freedoms of Sunni minority during Islamic festival, fitting into wider context of persecution of religious groups in the Islamic Republic. Iran is reported to have imposed severe restrictions on the religious freedoms of its Sunni minority during the Eid al-Fitr festival, continuing a growing trend of alleged religious persecution in the Islamic state. 'Sunni Muslims banned from holding own Eid prayers in Tehran', published by The Guardian, describes how Iranian authorities have ordered Sunni Muslims in Tehran not to worship separately from the Shia majority, instead asking them to have a Shia imam lead their prayers - 'something that is against their religious beliefs'. The article cites the official website of the Iranian Sunni community, which is claiming that: 'Hundreds of security police were deployed in the capital to prevent Sunni worshippers from entering houses they rent for religious ceremonies.'
September 6, 2011 The Wire Guardian rejects Palmer report ruling
The Wire Times depiction of BDS movement belies opposition to Israel's existence
The Wire Muslim Brotherhood: Islamists plan to cooperate in upcoming elections
The Wire Iran bans Sunni minority from holding Eid services
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Tuesday, 6 September 2011
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