Report: Bush boosts covert actions in Iran
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- Written by Julian Borger, diplomatic editor, The Guardian Julian Borger, diplomatic editor, The Guardian
- Published: 30 June 2008 30 June 2008
- Hits: 3788 3788
The report, in the New Yorker magazine, quotes military, intelligence and congressional sources as saying that CIA and special forces operations were ordered by George Bush in a "presidential finding" in the past few months. It said Bush sought - and congressional leaders from both parties approved - $400m (£200m) for the secret war, which includes abductions and assassinations.
According to the report's author, Seymour Hersh, the operations inside Iran have been under way since last year but have recently been "significantly expanded".
However, Hersh - who broke several stories on the intelligence fiasco before the Iraq war- reported yesterday that there was considerable resistance from US generals and the defence secretary, Robert Gates, to White House pressure for an all-out attack.
Gaza truce 'violated repeatedly' by both sides
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- Written by BBC News BBC News
- Published: 27 June 2008 27 June 2008
- Hits: 3867 3867
A UN source says Israeli troops have opened fire on Palestinian farmers several times, causing injuries. Israel says its forces fired warning shots.
Palestinian militants have also broken the ceasefire, firing rockets and mortars into Israeli territory.
Meanwhile, Israel has kept the Gaza border closed for a third day.
The authorities have allowed fuel into the Gaza Strip, but blocked all other supplies including humanitarian and commercial goods.
Deal under strain
Despite the breaches, the ceasefire is officially holding, correspondents say.
Hamas, the main Palestinian group in Gaza, says it is still committed to the truce.
But the rocket attacks and mortar fire have come from other Palestinian groups, such as Islamic Jihad and the al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, which is affiliated to the Fatah faction of Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas.
The BBC's Wyre Davis, in Jerusalem, says it is not clear how much control Hamas has over these other groups.
He says gunfire from the Israelis and continued rocket fire from the Palestinian side are putting the ceasefire under strain.
Israel Radio reported that two mortar rounds landed in an open field on the Israeli side of the border on Friday.
Prior to Friday, four rockets had been fired into Israel by Palestinian militants since the truce was agreed on 19 June.
The militants say they are a response to Israeli violations of the truce.
Fuel delivery
Israel has kept border crossings closed for the third consecutive day in response to the rocket attacks.
An estimated 600,000 litres of industrial fuel will be allowed to pass through the Nahal Oz border terminal for Gaza's only power station, a European Union Official told the Reuters news agency. This will keep the plant running for several days.
The EU funds the deliveries of fuel to the power station.
Israeli officials confirmed the fuel delivery but said other border crossings remained closed.
Gaza's Hamas rulers have called on all groups to respect the ceasefire but say they will not be Israel's "police".
Israel says it will keep the crossings into Gaza closed while rocket attacks continue.
Sarkozy urges Israel to share sovereignty over Jerusalem
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- Written by Rory McCarthy in Jerusalem Rory McCarthy in Jerusalem
- Published: 23 June 2008 23 June 2008
- Hits: 3707 3707
The French president, Nicolas Sarkozy told Israel today to share sovereignty over Jerusalem with the Palestinians and to stop building settlements in the occupied territories.
In an address to the Israeli parliament, or Knesset, Sarkozy also promised France's support in helping to halt Iran's nuclear programme and he praised Israel's democracy, comments for which he won applause.
However, he also spoke strongly about what he expected of Israel as part of the peace process with the Palestinians. "There cannot be peace without an immediate and complete halt to settlement," he said. "There cannot be peace without recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of two states and the guarantee of free access to the holy places for all religions."
Although his comments do not mark a change in French policy towards the Middle East, they were nonetheless unusually frank for a Knesset address and went a long way further than a similar speech at the Israeli parliament last month by the US president, George Bush.
Although the US roadmap, which is still the basis of the current peace talks, requires Israel to halt all settlement activity, the government continues to authorise construction in east Jerusalem and West Bank settlements, provoking criticism from the Palestinians.
Sarkozy also called on the Palestinians to do more to tackle militant violence, one of their main roadmap requirements.
The French leader also promised Israel diplomatic support to counter Iran's nuclear ambitions. "France is determined to pursue, with its partners, a policy of progressively tougher sanctions," he said. "An Iran equipped with nuclear weapons is unacceptable for my country."
During his three-day visit, Sarkozy will hold talks with the Israeli prime minister, Ehud Olmert, and with the Palestinian president, Mahmoud Abbas. Olmert is due at a conference in Paris next month, where Sarkozy hopes he will meet the Syrian president, Bashar Assad.
Young Voices: Detention offers student new outlook on Israel
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- Written by CELIA HASSAN CELIA HASSAN
- Published: 23 June 2008 23 June 2008
- Hits: 3737 3737
But unlike Jewish Americans who breeze through customs in seconds, we are Palestinian-Americans. In treatment reminiscent of the Jim Crow South, we stand in a separate line, are harassed and intimidated. In Israel, the principles we cherish as Americans disappear; we are suspect because we are not the “right” religion or ethnicity.
Read more: Young Voices: Detention offers student new outlook on Israel
Oregon Dem Party Leaders Turn out for Pro-War AIPAC dinner
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- Written by Peter Miller, Kim Smith, MaryAlecia Briggs, and Nancy Hedrick Peter Miller, Kim Smith, MaryAlecia Briggs, and Nancy Hedrick
- Published: 22 June 2008 22 June 2008
- Hits: 2974 2974
On May 21st, Oregon Democratic leaders joined more than 300 Oregonians to attend the annual community dinner held by the right wing Israel lobby organization, American Israel Public Affairs Committee, or AIPAC. AIPAC is the strongest foreign policy lobby group in the United States (and arguably stronger than the grassroots peace movement). It was held at the Oregon Convention Center in Portland. Politicians attending the $60 a plate included Oregon State House Speaker Jeff Merkley (D-Portland) who is running against Senator Gordon Smith next fall, Oregon Gov. Ted Kulongoski, Oregon Senate President Peter Courtney (D-Salem), Sen. Vicki Walker (D-Eugene), Sen. Ben Westlund (D-Tumalo), Rep. Mitch Greenlick (D-Portland), and Rep. Brad Witt (D-Clatskanie). No Republican politicians, as far as we can determine, were mentioned at the event, strange considering, for example, that Gordon Smith as been a reliable vote for the AIPAC lobby.
Read more: Oregon Dem Party Leaders Turn out for Pro-War AIPAC dinner