Egypt's journalist union investigates prominent member for meeting with Israeli ambassador

By Hadeel Al-Shalchi, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

CAIRO, Egypt - Egypt's journalist union is investigating whether to expel a prominent member for meeting with the Israeli ambassador, a case that highlights the broad opposition to normal relations with Israel that persists despite a 30-year-old peace deal between the two countries.

Egyptian media often act as the standard bearers for anti-Israeli sentiment in the country, a practice that was in full display last month when reporters of all stripes echoed the cultural minister's claim that a Jewish conspiracy undermined his bid to lead the U.N. cultural agency.

Some reporters said Farouk Hosni's failed UNESCO bid likely fueled the decision by the Egyptian Journalists' Union to investigate Hala Mustafa, editor-in-chief of the state-run monthly magazine Democratiya. It is the first investigation of its kind even though the group has banned contact with Israelis for nearly 25 years.

Other factors also likely played a part, including lingering anger that the Egyptian government did not do more to stop the Israeli offensive in the Gaza Strip earlier this year that killed some 1,400 Palestinians, said Salah Eissa, a prominent writer and editor of the cultural weekly al-Qahira.

"The incursion in Gaza, the loss of UNESCO ... and the politics of an upcoming union election - it all added up," said Eissa.

Mustafa, who met with Israeli Ambassador Shalom Cohen in her office on Sept. 14, criticized the union, saying the ban against traveling to Israel or meeting with Israelis for work or personal reasons was "obsolete." The union will decide her fate on Tuesday.

"It's ridiculous not to have any contact with Israelis as a journalist," said Mustafa. "Many have done it before me."

She said Cohen visited her office to discuss a symposium they were organizing that would include Egyptian, American and Israeli participants.

"There is a reality on the ground that we have to deal with: we have a peace with Israel," said Mustafa. "If people want to boycott Israel, they should do so on an individual basis, but according to our law we have normal relations."

The meeting came less than a week before Hosni, a painter who has been Egypt's cultural minister for two decades, lost his bid to head UNESCO. He was initially seen as the front-runner for the UNESCO job, which would have made him the first Arab to hold the position.

But his campaign faltered over controversy about a comment he made in parliament in 2008 promising to burn any Israeli books in Egyptian libraries. Hosni made the comment in an attempt to defend himself against charges by Egyptian lawmakers of being soft on Israel.

Hosni and his supporters claimed he was the victim of a Jewish conspiracy aiming to undermine Egypt - a message that was embraced and amplified by the Egyptian media.

Despite the heated environment that followed Hosni's loss, Eissa said he was surprised the union decided to conduct a formal investigation of Mustafa.

"There has been a lot of anger over Mustafa's action, but the anger should have been expressed through the media and through articles," said Eissa. "This isn't a case that needs to be disciplined."

Eissa said the 1985 decision to ban journalists from having normal ties with Israelis was a "weapon" put in place by the union.

"The union said: this is the card to play when negotiating with Israel," he said. "No peace or normal relations with the people of Egypt until land goes back to Palestinians."

Mustafa said the Egyptian media was controlled by Arab nationalists and Islamists who view the 1979 peace agreement with Israel signed by former President Anwar Sadat as a shameful moment in Egypt's history.

"You still have some journalists blaming Sadat, saying that he signed the peace agreement on his own behalf, and not on the country's behalf," she said.

Mustafa said she knows the union is making an example of her but wants Egyptians to realize that peace with Israel is a fact of life that can't be denied.

"We are living in a world of dialogue and peace building," said Mustafa. "How can you have a dialogue with every faction and not engage a major side of the debate?"

Turkey bars Israel from military drill

By ARON HELLER, Associated Press Writer

JERUSALEM – Turkey has called off an international military drill because it opposed Israel's participation, Israeli defense officials said Sunday, a move that sent strained relations between the two nations to a new low.

Turkey has long been the Jewish state's best friend in the Muslim world. But ties have deteriorated dramatically since Israel's war last winter against Islamic militants in the Gaza Strip, which killed hundreds of civilians.

Turkey, a secular country ruled by an Islamic-oriented party, strongly condemned the Israeli offensive. Tensions soared after Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan stormed out of a high-profile conference where he confronted Israel's president over steep Palestinian civilian casualties.

Turkey's surprise cancellation of the air force drill, which was also to include the U.S. and NATO, was the first time its criticism of Israel has been translated into concrete action.

A brief statement posted on the Turkish military's Web site said the sixth annual Anatolia Eagle drill would take place Oct. 10-23, but that international participation had been canceled after "international negotiations conducted by the Turkish Foreign Ministry."

A Turkish government official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue, insisted that the decision was "due to a technical matter" rather than a political decision.

However, both Israeli and NATO officials confirmed the Turks had banned Israel from the drill. "The exercise has been postponed as a result of Turkey's decision to change the list of participating countries, thus excluding Israel," the army said in a statement.

Israeli officials said that in response to Turkey's decision against Israel, the U.S. pulled out of the exercise, forcing Ankara to cancel the drill. They spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the matter with the media. There was no immediate U.S. comment.

The defense officials expressed disappointment with the decision. Beyond the diplomatic damage, they said the drill is an important training opportunity for Israeli pilots, who generally are confined to Israel's limited airspace.

Israeli officials are also concerned about Turkey's growing alliance with Iran. Israel considers Iran its greatest threat, citing Tehran's suspect nuclear program and its support for anti-Israel militant groups.

Turkey and Israel grew close in the mid-1990s, their alliance based on mutual fears of Iran, Iraq and Syria.

Israel has supplied hundreds of millions of dollars of military equipment to Turkey over the years and has renovated Turkish tanks and fighter planes. The two countries have also conducted joint naval exercises, including a drill with the U.S. in the Mediterranean in August, the Israeli air force has trained over Turkish airspace and last year Turkey hosted months of indirect talks between Israel and Syria after an eight-year breakdown. Turkey is also a popular destination for Israeli tourists.

But since Erdogan's Islamic government came to power in 2003, Turkey's ties with Israel have cooled as it has grown closer to Iran, Syria and Hamas — the Islamic leaders of Gaza.

Efraim Inbar, director of the Begin-Sadat Center for Strategic Studies, said that during the Gaza war, Turkey took an even more anti-Israel stance than Arab nations such as Egypt, Jordan and Saudi Arabia. He said it was part of a Turkish foreign policy of distancing itself from the West, and "this comes at the expense of Israel."

Mustafa Kibaroglu, an expert on Turkish-Israeli relations at assistant at Ankara's Bilkent University, called Turkey's ties to these Muslim nations "precarious."

"Should there be deterioration for any reason, then relations with Israel could again gain a strategic importance," he said. "I believe that from an economic point of view, technologically and for security reasons, the two countries need each other."

Turkish-Israeli ties have been tested in the past, but the shared security interests have persevered over any political disagreements.

Deputy Israeli Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon seemed to be trying to temper tensions Sunday, calling Turkey a "very important strategic anchor in the Mideast."

"Certainly its ties with Israel serve the entire region," Ayalon told Israel Radio, adding that "all of us want a tolerant Turkey that is part of Western civilization, and certainly an antithesis to the Iranian model."

Christians gather in support of Muslims trapped in Al-Aqsa

October 10, 2009

Jerusalem – Ma’an – Christians of several denominations gathered in Jerusalem Friday for a silent vigil in solidarity with besieged Islamic holy sites at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in the Old City.

"We are here to support Al-Aqsa and those who are confined inside it, we are here in support of Muslims whose dignity is humiliated and religious feelings are harmed by attacks on their holiest sites," Archbishop Atallah Hana told those gathered.

This sit-in was a response to the call of Muslim scholars and clergymen to consider Friday a day of solidarity with Jerusalemites, and Muslim holy sites under attack by Israeli forces. By Friday night, Israeli troops in a standoff with more than 100 Palestinian worshipers who refused to leave the Al-Aqsa Mosque gradually left the area.

Palestinian Christians of every denomination were joined by pilgrims from around the world, sitting silently in the ancient building at the heart of the Old City. In his speech to the faithful, the Archbishop said, "being here in this holy site comes in solidarity with our brothers in humanity, in belonging to this holy land and because of our belonging to this blessed city."

He said he considered "attacking Al-Aqsa an assault on our dignity and presence, identity, civilization and an assault the Christians as well as on the Muslims; we are one people with one cause."

Free Gaza Ireland to send “Irish boat” to Gaza

Free Gaza Movement

October 10, 2009

The crisis in Gaza is unacceptable. For nearly four years, Israel has subjected the Gaza Strip to an increasingly cruel blockade, leading to severe increases in unemployment, poverty, and childhood malnutrition. Israel's 22-day assault on Gaza last December & January killed over 1400 civilians and destroyed thousands of homes, schools, mosques and hospitals. It’s been almost a year since these attacks and thousands of Gaza’s Palestinians are still living in rubble. Maintaining the Gaza siege and denying Palestinians the right to rebuild their lives is unconscionable.

Free Gaza Ireland is working closely with the international Free Gaza Movement to acquire an "Irish boat" to sail to Gaza as part of an international flotilla challenging Israel’s brutal siege. Since August 2008, international volunteers in the Free Gaza Movement have been sailing to Gaza, succeeding 5 times to break the siege. Ours remain the only ships to reach Gaza since 1967. More than simple charity, the Palestinian people need our solidarity and political action. They need us to challenge the policies that leave them in need of humanitarian aid.

With Ireland’s help, the Free Gaza Movement hopes to sail to Gaza before winter sets in with ships carrying badly needed humanitarian and reconstruction supplies. On board will be Irish TD's, journalists, human rights activists & Irish musicians who will perform in Gaza with local artists as part of a series of cultural events linking up with Ireland. We urge everyone to join us in concretely asserting the right of the Palestinian people to have access to the outside world. We will not stay silent as the Palestinian people are deliberately starved and humiliated. Like all peoples in the world – Palestinians have a right to life with dignity.

EVENTS

FREE GAZA IRELAND TO SEND "IRISH BOAT" TO GAZA

'TURNING MILITARY VESSELS INTO PEACE BOATS'


TO LAUNCH A SERIES OF CULTURAL EXCHANGE EVENTS LINKING IRELAND TO GAZA, PALESTINE

WE ARE DELIGHTED TO WELCOME TO IRELAND...

. LOWKEY .

AMAZING RAPPER, POLITICAL POET,ACTIVIST & PLAYWRIGHT

'Lowkey is the fastest rising star in British urban music.

The rapper/poet of mixed Arab and British descent has been dubbed as "one of the best lyricists in the Western Hemisphere" by Benjamin Zephaniah as a solo artist. Lowkey is also lead vocalist of Mongrel - made up of members of the Arctic Monkeys, Babyshambles and Reverend and the Makers.

* 14TH OCTOBER - WED CORK @ AN SPAILPIN FANAC, CORK @ 9PM
* 15TH OCTOBER - THUR GALWAY @ COLLEGE BAR, NUI UNIVERSITY @ 9pm SUPPORTED BY MUPEID MC (rapper as Gaeilge)
* 15TH OCTOBER - THUR GALWAY 2 GAZA - video link up with students/artists in Gaza @ 4pm in NUI
* 16TH OCTOBER - FRI DUBLIN @ TRIPOD One Concert - Two Cities, live link up with Gaza @ 7pm

Dublin will extend the hand of friendship to the besieged city of Gaza when a very special concert will be transmitted from Tripod in Dublin LIVE to an audience in Gaza City – One Concert - Two Cities

Celebrated Irish musicians, Liam Ó Maonlaí, Lumiere, Kíla, Naisrin and Zahara El Safty will be joined on the bill by Palestinian singer, Shadia Mansour & Lowkey, as will the Dublin-based Discovery Gospel Choir.

The evening will celebrate culture and use the power of music to unite people in Ireland and in the besieged city of Gaza.

Caoimhe Butterly, Irish Free Gaza Project Coordinator in Gaza,

will be there to share her experience of volunteering with the ambulance service during Israel's 22 day assault on Gaza last winter.

Caoimhe is currently on tour to raise support for the next international flotilla to sail to Gaza & break the siege.

Filmmaker, Dearbhla Glynn, Filmmaker, Dearbhla Glynn, (Dust Devils, Dambé – The Mali Project), will screen some of her footage from her recent visit to the costal strip, to shed some light on the remaining devastation, nine months on from the January attacks.

Al-Aqsa Defenders Defy Israel

A Voice Besieged in Al-Aqsa Mosque (Exclusive)
Al-Aqsa Defenders Defy Israel
By Amr Taha

October 10, 2009

Besieged between the hammer of the Israeli blockade, and the anvil of official Muslim silence, Al-Aqsa mosque is under an imminent threat of being stormed by extremist Jewish settlers.

Since the very time extremist Jewish settlers have announced their intentions to storm Al-Aqsa during Sukkot, a seven-day Jewish festival that has started since October 4, Palestinians rushed to defend Al-Aqsa.

IslamOnline.net has exclusively interviewed Sheikh Ali Abu-Sheikha, one of the 200 Palestinians besieged inside Al-Aqsa Mosque and threatened to be detained at any time by the Israeli troops surrounding the Mosque.

Sheikh Ali Abu-Sheikha, the Islamic Movement's Counselor for Al-quds Affairs, spoke over the phone to IOL Politics in Depth.

IslamOnline.net (IOL): What is the situation right now inside Al-Aqsa mosque and how do you face the Israeli siege?

Sheikh Ali: The situation is so intense, and will continue to be so as long as the occupation continues.

The Israeli siege against Al-Aqsa and against the defenders of Al-Aqsa trapped inside continues. Jewish extremist groups and the Israeli police are trying to storm and desecrate the sacred Al-Aqsa on a daily basis.

Those inside Al-Aqsa Mosque are determined to prevent any desecration of Al-Aqsa, and curb any opportunity for Jews to storm it.

As for the siege imposed against us, we are facing the shortage of food by praying all the time.

The Israeli forces ban the entry of food into Al-Aqsa. Our families in Al-Quds' neighborhoods, close to Al-Aqsa, and people inside Mandate Palestine try to deliver food to us, but are prevented.

The Israeli occupation forces confiscate and ban these meals from entering Al-Aqsa.

Nevertheless, we have our special ways to enable us, by a way or another, to take a little of a little of food.

IOL: How far do you suffer from such shortage of food and water, and how far is this affecting you?

Sheikh Ali: Never. No one is suffering from such shortage of food and water. We have strong will and high morale. We are, and will, not be defeated anyway despite the suffocating blockade.

We are steadfastly united inside one of the most important Muslim places, the holy Al-Aqsa. This place gives us courage, high morale, and persistence vis a vis the shortage of food and water.

If Israel continues the blockade, we are unwaveringly going to defend Al-Aqsa whatever consequences will be.

IOL: How many people are inside the Al-Aqsa Mosque with you now?

Sheikh Ali: They are probably 200 or a little more individual inside the mosque. During Zhuhr and Maghrib Prayers, many Palestinians above 50 years old enter Al-Aqsa to pray.

In such circumstances of the Israeli blockade, the Israeli police allow Palestinians above 50 years old the to enter into Al-Aqsa for short time of prayer given that they must first give their ID cards to the occupation forces.

If any of those allowed to temporarily pray inside Al-Aqsa stay a little bit late, they have to go to the headquarters of the Israeli Intelligence Agency to receive their IDs.

IOL: What is your daily program inside Al-Aqsa under this tight siege?

Sheikh Ali: After`Isha’ Prayer, we tightly close all doors inside Al-Aqsa and turn off all lights. We usually do not move inside Al-Aqsa, even we are unable to go to bathrooms to do ablution, because any one who exits the mosque will be arrested.

We pray away from the mosque's windows because the Israeli police stand by the mosque's windows trying to track us.

During Fajr Prayer, we meet the people allowed to enter the mosque.
After Fajr Prayer till sunset, we organize sit-ins by Al-Maghriba Gate through which we prevent settlers from storming Al-Aqsa.

During sunset, we pray and break our fast. Then, we pray `Isha’.
Most of our time is dedicated to sit-ins and resistance. We are awake all the time because it is possible that any time Israel could storm the mosque. I am talking to you now and the Israel police is standing by the mosque's windows.

IOL: Have any Israeli Jewish groups entered Al-Aqsa Mosque during these days?

Sheikh Ali: The Israeli occupation authority has mobilized thousands of settlers and extremist Jews during Sukkot to perform their rituals inside the holy Al-Aqsa itself.
Backed and protected by the Israeli police, settlers have come up with drums and trumpets to perform their rituals inside Al-Aqsa.

Brazenly challenging the Muslim and Arab world, Jews have announced their intention to storm Al-Aqsa.

The Israeli police has prevented children, youth, and those under 50 from entering the Al-Aqsa's campus.

Furthermore, it has blockaded Al-Aqsa mosque by closing all gates leading to it after besieging Al-Quds city and dividing it into sections for easier control.

The Israeli police has installed barriers on roads leading to Al-Aqsa. This all aimed at facilitating the situation for Jews to storm the mosque.

However, thanks to Almighty Allah, there have been people inside Al-Aqsa who decided to stay inside the mosque since the moment Israel has put physical barriers on the roads to it.

Until this moment, we have succeeded in warding off any Israeli attempts to invade the Mosque.

IOL: Many Palestinians from all over Palestine tried to reach you inside Al-Aqsa. Have they managed to do so?

Sheikh Ali: The Israeli occupation forces have put several physical barriers on the road to Al-Aqsa and inside many Palestinian cities in Muthaleth, Jalil, and Al-Ramelah alleys. These barriers are 200km away from Al-Aqsa, so no car can cross them.

Since the first day, after the Israeli occupation forces prevented Palestinian convoys from entering Al-Aqsa, so many of them insisted on walking the 150km to Al-Aqsa. Yet, Israelis prevented them from walking to the mosque.

Therefore, Palestinians decided to pray Al-Fajr 150km away from Al-Aqsa.
Many of Palestinians toiled to reach Al-Aqsa by circumventing the Israeli blockade.
However, after they succeeded in entering Al-Quds, they were unable to reach Al-Aqsa because of the tight blockade against Al-Aqsa.

IOL: How ready are you in case Israeli forces and Jewish settlers storm Al-Aqsa?

Sheikh Ali: There is an evil Israeli plan to storm Al-Aqsa. On October 6, the Israeli Occupation forces tried to arrest four of us, and tried to invade the mosque, but our will and solidarity prevented them from carrying out their plans to invade Al-Aqsa.

The attempt to arrest four of us was curbed after a brief clash against the Israeli forces, as prayers were able to free the four.

IOL: Do you think Israelis are trying now to divide Al-Aqsa, as they did before with the Al-Haram Al-Ibrahimi (Abraham's Mosque)?

Sheikh Ali: All Israeli provocations indicate a plan to accelerate the building of the so-called Jewish Temple [Temple Mount] on the ruins of Al-Aqsa. According to the declaration of Israel's Minister of Interior, there is a suggestion to divide Al-Aqsa between Muslims and Jews. Consequently, Israel tries to carry out such plan during these days.

IOL: What are the counter plans of the Islamic Movement inside Mandate Palestine to face such Israeli agenda, especially since such provocations may probably continue for years?

Sheikh Ali: On the eve of Yom Kippur, a Jewish feast, extremist Jews had planned to invade Al-Aqsa. However, Palestinians averted such an attempt. There were fierce clashes between the Israeli police and settlers and the Palestinians that continued for about two successive days.

Now, Jews have tried to invade Al-Aqsa as they commemorate Sukkot, yet thanks to Almighty Allah, we were able to ward off any offences against holy Al-Aqsa. We are inside Al-Aqsa to defend it, even it takes longer time.

IOL: How far do tunnels dug by Israelis around and under Al-Aqsa affect its foundation?

Sheikh Ali: Digging tunnels and excavation schemes incessantly continue until now. We are now inundated with defending Al-Aqsa from any attack while, at the same time, there are continuing projects of diggig more tunnels under Al-Aqsa.

There are tunnels in As-Selwan alley, Wadi Helwa, under the old city, and even under Al-Aqsa mosque itself.

This means houses around Al-Aqsa are on the verge of collapse, and most of Al-Aqsa's area is without foundations. Not to mention that many synagogues are built under Al-Aqsa, so also in Ein Helwa and As-Selwan.

Recently, Netanyahu, Israel's prime minister, has planned to open the tunnel starting from As-Selwan alley directly into Al-Aqsa mosque.

Al-Aqsa Foundation has discovered such a tunnel, which is 600 meters long and 2 meters wide.

IOL: What you would like to say to Muslims?

Sheikh Ali: We urge Muslims to unite for defending Al-Aqsa, which is under very critical situation. Al-Aqsa does not only belong to Palestinians. It belongs to every Muslim.

Russia, China to sign deals on missiles, high-speed trains

MOSCOW, RUSSIA - Moscow and Beijing will sign a range of agreements when Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin visits China this week, including one on missile launches, the Russian government said Sunday.

"More than 10 documents are being prepared for signing, including ... an intergovernmental agreement on notification of the launches of ballistic missiles," the Russian government said in a statement.

Other agreements in the works include Russian-Chinese business deals and a memorandum of understanding on the "organization and development of fast and high-speed train travel on Russian territory," it said.

Putin is due to visit China from Monday to Wednesday, during which he is scheduled to hold talks with his Chinese counterpart Wen Jiabao.

On Wednesday he is to attend a heads of government meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), a regional security group dominated by China and Russia that has been touted as a counterweight to Western-led institutions.

The leaders at the SCO meeting will adopt an "important document" on joint efforts to combat the effects of the global financial crisis, the Russian government said, without giving details.

Besides Russia and China, the SCO also includes four ex-Soviet Central Asian countries -- Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan -- while India, Iran, Mongolia and Pakistan have observer status.

Pakistan raises Kashmir issue at UN committee, India reacts strongly

UNITED NATIONS: Pakistan has raised the Kashmir issue at a UN committee saying the "decolonization agenda" of the world body would be incomplete without resolution of the problem, drawing a strong reaction from India which asserted that the state is its integral part.

Speaking at a special committee of the General Assembly that addresses the issue of decolonization, Amjad Hussain B Sial, Pakistan's deputy permanent representative to the UN, asked the international community to support the Kashmiri people's "right to self-determination".

"The decolonization agenda of the United Nations would be incomplete without resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir issue," he said.

"Negation of the right to self-determination breeds discontent, ignites conflicts and threatens peace and security. Unfortunately, South Asia and Middle East have witnessed it directly," Sial said.

Countering the claims made by Sial, senior Indian diplomat Anupam Ray, exercising his 'right to reply', said that Kashmir is an integral part of India.

"Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India and participates in the democratic process of India," Ray said.

The Indian side maintained that Kashmir remained a bilateral issue. "It has always been a bilateral issue and should not be addressed in multilateral fora," Ray noted.

Ray expressed regret that Pakistan had reverted to "language of the past" and was "not addressing the crying need of the hour, which is dismantling the infrastructure of terrorism and tacking the perpetrators of terrorism".

Sial, in his speech, claimed that Kashmir was not an integral part of India.

"The Security Council and the UN, in several resolutions, have recognized it as disputed territory," he said, adding that the final solution should be made in accordance with the "will" of the people expressed through "free and fair plebiscite" conducted by the United Nations.

Insisting that Jammu and Kashmir remained an "international issue", Sial said Pakistan "reserves the right to refer this issue at the UN as necessary".

The senior Pakistan diplomat also reaffirmed Islamabad's pledge to work through peaceful means to resolve its differences with New Delhi on the Kashmir issue, which is imperative for durable peace, stability and progress in the region.

The Special Committee on Decolonization was created in 1962 by the UN General Assembly to support and monitor a resolution passed in 1960 that declared that all people have a right to self-determination.