Islamic Conference Decries Israeli Move On Holy Sites
By Staff

On a day when Israeli security forces and protestors clashed in the West Bank city of Hebron, the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) condemned Israel’s decision to include Ibrahami Mosque in Hebron and Bilal Mosque in Bethlehem to the list of Israeli national heritage sites.

Also knows as Patriarch’s Cave and Rachel’s Tomb, both are important holy site to Muslims, Jews and Christians. Since announcing they would be included on the list, Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has given assurances that members of all faiths would be able to visit the sites freely.

But many Palestinians see the decision as an Israeli attempt to strengthen its grip on the occupied territories, where US and international pressure has failed to convince Israel to stop the expansion of settlements.

Members of the OIC have called on the General Assembly, the Secretary General and the Security Council to take the necessary measures to force Israel to revoke its decision. “We think this Israeli unilateral aggression aims at deviating public attention from the assassination in Dubai as well as undermining all remaining chances of the peace process.” said Bashar Ja’afari, Syria’s permanent representative to the United Nations.

Ibrahimi Mosque was also the site of 1994 shooting rampage by American born Jewish settler Baruch Goldstein that left 29 Muslim dead and several dozens more injured.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon believes it is too early to say if Israel and the Palestinian Authority have properly investigated allegations of war crime during the Israeli Cast Lead operation in Gaza in December 2008 and January 2009.

Last November, a General Assembly resolution called on both parties to investigate, after the Goldstone report into the Gaza fighting suggested war crimes might have occurred on both sides and called for credible investigations by all parties involved.

In his report to the Assembly, Ban included documents form Israeli and Palestinian investigations and said he hoped “the resolution has served to encourage investigation by the government of Israel and the Palestinian side that are credible and in conformity with international standards.”

However he concluded that: “the processes initiated are still ongoing…As such, no determination can be made on the implementation of the resolution by the parties concerned”

Human rights group Amnesty International criticized Ban for missing an opportunity to advance accountability in Gaza, arguing that the responses the Secretary General received clearly demonstrated that neither side had conducted investigations “that are independent, credible and in conformity with international standards”

The Secretary General’s spokesperson was unable to say if or when conclusive reports on the matter would be completed, stating that any further action was dependent on the General Assembly and member states.

By Michael Combier-Talk Radio News Service

House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) responds to President Barack Obama’s speech in Cairo and that it is a mistake to put on the same basis the Israelis and the terrorists. Boehner also criticizes President Obama’s position towards Guantanamo bay and Iran.

 

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by Christina Lovato, University of New Mexico-Talk Radio News Service

“If the United States is able to set a new tone in context with the
relationship in Afghanistan and elsewhere I think in of that
itself will change the nuclear calculations of Iran’s leadership.”
said Karim Sadjadpour, an associate at the Carnegie Endowment for
International Peace.

In a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing titled “Iranian
Political and Nuclear Realities and U.S. Policy Options” witnesses
gave their recommendations on how the U.S. should approach Iran
concerning nuclear production. The hearing comes after a report
released by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) stating that
Natanz, an Iranian nuclear plant, has gained enough reactor-grade
uranium to allow Iran to create an atomic bomb.

Sadjapour focused on three key options that he thinks the U.S. should
follow. The first being to commence the dialogue with Iran by aiming
to build confidence on areas of common interest such as Afghanistan
and Iraq rather than the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the nuclear
issue. “Focus on Supreme leader in Iran, Khamenei not the President,
Ahmadinejad. If I had to describe him (Ahmadinejad) in one word, is
mistrustful…He believes that if you compromise you project
weakness.” he said. Sadjapour also stated that it is imperative that
the U.S. maintain an airtight international approach saying that each
country should approach Iran with the same talking points.

Former U.S. Ambassador to Zambia and Egypt, Frank Wisner, said that Iran
is important, Iran is dangerous and Iran is urgent. “I do not believe
in the military option…there is no room for a military
response…the issues of national survival that are first and foremost
on Iran’s mind gives me some hope that we can get traction if we chose
to engage and engage fully but I won’t pretend for a moment that
dealing with Iranians will not be extremely tough. There will be many
setbacks and many deceptions…I personally welcome as I’m certain all
of us do, an appointment of a new special representative to take a
hard look at Iran and our foreign policies.” he concluded.

At an American Israel Public Affairs Committee conference, Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) says that the threats to Israel are “large and growing,” and that America’s commitment to Israel must grow as well. He says he “strongly” supports the increase in military aid to Israel scheduled to begin in October, and is committed to making sure that Israel maintains its “qualitative military edge.” He said that Israel’s enemies are “too numerous, its margin of error too small, and our shared interests and values too great for us to follow any other policy.” (0:35)

 

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At an American Israel Public Affairs Committee conference, Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) says that when the U.S. and Israel join in saying “never again” to violence, it is not just a request or plea to the enemies of Israel, but a promise that the U.S. and Israel will honor against any enemy. (0:20)

 

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