Rabbi allows stealing Palestinian crops and water

December 7, 2009

GAZA, (PIC)-- The PA agriculture ministry has strongly condemned Sunday a new religious edict issued by a rabbi allowing Israeli settlers to steal Palestinian olive crops and to poison Palestinian water.

Mohsen Abu Eita, the ministry’s under-secretary for natural resources, asserted in a statement that Israeli rabbis permit the settlers to steal the Palestinian olive trees and crops alleging that the land that the Palestinians were cultivating belongs to the Jews.

Earlier, the fanatic rabbi Dov Lior, the chairman of the settlements’ council in the West Bank, allowed the settlers to poison the Palestinian livestock and water near their settlements.

According to Abu Eita, the Israeli settlers carry out the teachings of their rabbis in this regard perfectly as they usurp Palestinian crops and cattle, and poison Palestinian pastures on daily basis leading to the expiration of many farm animals.

Palestinian records, according to Abu Eita, show that the Israeli occupation troops destroyed more than 14,000 olive trees in the West Bank throughout the year in order to expand Israeli settlements.

In Gaza Strip, Abu Eita explained that nearly 173,000 olive trees were destroyed in addition to uprooting more than 20,000 dunums (1 dunum = 1000 sq. meter) during the war on Gaza gravely affecting at least 9,000 Palestinian farmers, and leading to 587 million dollars losses in agriculture and fisheries sectors in addition to water wells.

"These kinds of edicts, including edicts allowing the killing of Palestinian infants, reflect the Zionist racist mentality that allows stealing property of others without paying any attention to heavenly and earthly laws that oppose such edicts," he added.

In this regard, Abu Eita urged the Vatican, the UN, the UNICEF, and human rights organizations among other influential groups to immediately intervene to protect Palestinian farmers, especially in the West Bank.

Algiers to host International Festival of Animated Film

Algiers will host the 6th edition of the International Festival of Animated Film on December 13th, organizers announced on Tuesday (December 8th). In addition to screening African animated films, the event will pay tribute to African film director Mustapha Alassane.

Algeria, EU delegation discuss Sahel-Sahara security

Algerian and European Union officials met in Algiers for counter-terrorism policy talks, APS reported on Wednesday (December 9th). The mission of the EU delegation is to "define a joint strategy and approach on Sahel and Sahara security and development", Swedish Ambassador Carin Wall said after meeting with Minister of State for African and Maghreb Affairs Abdelkader Messahel. Wall, whose country currently chairs the rotating EU presidency, stressed Algeria's "key" role in the process.

Morocco unveils programs to support SMEs

Small businesses in Morocco are due to receive a boost from the government, as new agreements provide greater access to capital and credit.

By Sarah Touahri for Magharebia in Rabat – 09/12/09

The Moroccan government is taking fresh steps to support beleaguered local businesses, which are a key part of the national economy. Two new programs by the National Agency for the Promotion of Small and Medium Enterprises (ANPME) are intended to boost competitiveness in the struggling sector.

The first, called Imtiaz, is designed for companies with development plans who wish to take advantage of assistance worth up to 20% of their investment in tangible and intangible assets. The subsidy can be up to five million dirhams.

The second program, called Moussanada, is designed to help SMEs in the process of modernizing and improving their competitiveness by setting up operational support programs which are accessible to all businesses.

To facilitate financing for these projects, the government signed two agreements with banks on December 1st.

ANPME director Latifa Achihabi told Magharebia that the central aim is to promote the financing of projects for SMEs which have reached their maximum borrowing level and have plans for further development. She said it marks the first time that a part of the national budget has been earmarked to support and help SMEs with development plans.

Trade and Industry Minister Ahmed Reda Chami stressed that these two programs are aimed at providing the necessary support for SMEs, which make up 90% of the national economy, to enhance their competitiveness. Chami said that to this end, 1.2 billion dirhams had been set aside to support the initiatives through 2015.

Prime Minister Abbas El Fassi said at the signing ceremony for the two agreements that they would make it possible to give businesses the support they need and to realize the aspirations of the national economy, which is trying to find its place within international markets.

Managers of the participating banks also expressed their determination to support the Moroccan economy. Mohamed Kettani, managing director of the Attijariwafa Bank Group, said that the Imtiaz and Moussanada programs would provide valuable help in restructuring small businesses and improving competitiveness.

Economist Mohamed Chandili told Magharebia that it was time to offer support to this sector, which has suffered from difficulties including the lack of competitiveness, difficulty in accessing financing, and a shortage of staff training.

"In these crisis-ridden times, it is essential to help small and medium enterprises follow through on their vision," he said.

Business leaders have waited a long time for this initiative to be introduced. Ahmed Bouchtioui, who manages a textiles business in Salé, said that a lack of financial resources had led many businesses to fail.

"SMEs need credit if they are to develop," he said. "Otherwise they'll shut their doors. If the banks and the government can give the sector their support, many problems will be solved." Economist Mohamed Chandili told Magharebia that it was time to offer support to this sector, which has suffered from difficulties including the lack of competitiveness, difficulty in accessing financing, and a shortage of staff training.

"In these crisis-ridden times, it is essential to help small and medium enterprises follow through on their vision," he said.

Business leaders have waited a long time for this initiative to be introduced. Ahmed Bouchtioui, who manages a textiles business in Salé, said that a lack of financial resources had led many businesses to fail.

"SMEs need credit if they are to develop," he said. "Otherwise they'll shut their doors. If the banks and the government can give the sector their support, many problems will be solved."

Missing Iranian forcing Saudis to 'shirk' duties

After Saudi Arabia rejected claims of involvement in the abduction of an Iranian scientist during a pilgrimage to Mecca, Iran said Wednesday the Saudi approach is in violation of its diplomatic responsibilities.

A diplomat at the Iranian Foreign Ministry talked of numerous correspondence and meetings between the Islamic Republic and Saudi officials aimed at resolving the case of the missing Iranian national Shahram Amiri.

Amiri, a researcher at Iran's University of Malek Ashtar, went missing during a religious pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia in June.

The diplomat said "unfortunately, the Saudi officials have made every effort to address the issue as vague as possible."

"This approach is in violation of official duties of this country," added the diplomat, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

On Tuesday, Tehran accused Riyadh of handing Amiri over to American officials.

The Iranian government had previously called on Saudi authorities to resolve the missing scientist's case with Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki saying the kingdom is "responsible" for Amiri's situation.

Reacting to Iran's stance, a spokesperson for the Saudi Foreign Ministry told local media on Wednesday that he was "stunned" by the claim.

The US State Department, for its part, said it had "no information" about the whereabouts of Amiri.

Meanwhile, the diplomat asserted that Iran had concrete evidence that Amiri had been kidnapped by American agents, saying that according to international conventions, the US and Saudi governments are responsible for the fate of the missing Iranian scientist.

Source: PressTV.
Link: http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=113314§ionid=351020101.

Iran pinpoints five sites for new nuclear plants

President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad says that Iran has finalized sites for five of the 10 new nuclear enrichment plants it seeks to build to expand its nuclear program.

The president, quoted by the Iranian Labor News Agency (ILNA), said on Wednesday that five other sites are being studied for the remaining plants.

Iran, a signatory to the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and a member of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), is running a nuclear program which it says is aimed at the civilian applications of the technology.

The country's first nuclear power plant in Bushehr is going through its final preparations. Tehran plans to expand its nuclear program to meet the growing electricity demand in the country.

The West, however, accuses the country of seeking to develop nuclear weapons. The IAEA, which is continuously monitoring Iran's activities, says there are no evidence to prove West's allegations. It, however, has asked the country to increase its cooperation to remove remaining ambiguities.

Last month, twenty five members of the 35-member Board of Governors of the IAEA condemned Iran for starting the construction of its second enrichment plant in Fordo. Ahmadinejad says the decision to build 10 new plants is not a reaction to the move.

"We had tasked Iran's atomic agency to locate several sites for the new plants months ago," the president said.

The clarification came after Head of Iran's Atomic Energy Organization (AEO) Ali Akbar Salehi had earlier linked plans for the construction of ten new nuclear sites to the resolution adopted by the IAEA Board of Governors on November 27.

"The West adopted an attitude toward Iran which made the Iranian government to pass the ratification on construction of ten sites similar to the Natanz enrichment facility," Salehi had earlier said.

Ahmadinejad stressed that Iran does not “welcome arguments and harsh words” and will not tolerate “illogical interactions” regarding its nuclear program.

Iran seeks nuclear fuel for a research reactor in Tehran that produces isotopes for medical use. The IAEA, however, has failed to provide the country with a deal that would guarantee Tehran receives the supply.

Turkey warns Israel against violating its airspace

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has warned Israel of strong reaction should the regime violate his country's airspace in an attempt to spy on Iran.

In an interview with Egyptian journalist Fahmi Huwaidi, Erdogan said Turkey's response to any Israeli violation would cause an "earthquake" in Israel, the Turkish media reported.

His remarks were made after some reports claimed that Israel had violated Turkish airspace in order to spy on Iran.

Endogen, however, rejected the reports.

"Furthermore, the Israeli's cannot use the relationship they have with us as a card to wage aggression on a third party and expect us to stand neutral or with folded hands," the premier concluded.