European Jewry criticize Israel

The petition Call to Reason has been signed so far by over 3,000 Jews within the European continent. The petition calls for the Israeli government to halt any settlement building in the occupied territories which it deems unnecessary. The movement, JCall, likens itself to the equivelent in the USA called JStrret which recently formed. The petition has created a hotbed of debate in France where it was first drafted.

Al Jazeera: European Jews decry Israel policies

The Associated Press: European Jews sign petition critical of Israel

You can view the petition online here

Israel to get tough on Hamas prisoners

MK Danny Danon of the Likud party has put forward a conterversial bill, to be debated next week, outlining a regime which would stop Hamas prisoners in Israeli jails from recieving any visitation rights. This would mean that family members would no longer be allowed to visit them in jail, the only people allowed inside the jail would be Red Cross members and the prisoners’ lawyers. This comes after the German brokered negotiations for the release of the Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit broke down last year.

Haaretz: Netanyahu looking at tougher conditions for security prisoners

Arutz Sheva: ‘Shalit Law’ would Prevent Visits to Terrorist Prisoners

USA pressure on Israel

Following the decisive action by Mahmoud Abbas to allow potential peace talks with Israel Obama has made it clear that if Israel does not stop building in East Jerusalem and the West Bank, they will stop using their powers within the United Nations to veto resolutions drafted against Israel. This causes a major blow to the Jewish State as it ties in with the conditions the Palestinians have made on Israel: one more unit built in what they believe to be their territory, and any talks are off.

Obama has additionally hinted his interest in imposing a peace plan on the two sides, believing they have had plenty of time to negotiate on key issues such as the question of the Palestinians and the borders of Israel. This has created worry within the international arena as such an imposition could create a weak peace agreement which would be broken further down the line.

The Telegraph UK: Barack Obama threatens to impose peace plan on Middle East

Jerusalem Post: ‘US may stop using UN veto on resolutions targeting Israel’

Frankie Boyle angry at BBC apology over Israel remark

On Radio 4 in June 2008 Frankie Boyle made a remark which would cost him dearly in terms of both Israeli and Jewish fans. He claimed that he had studied the Israeli army martial arts of Krav Maga. He then went on to present the listeners with “I’ve got an analogy which explains the whole thing quite well: if you imagine that Palestine is a cake – well, that cake is being punched to pieces by a very angry Jew”. This caused friction between the comedian and the BBC which further fuelled the fires by refusing to broadcast a humanitarian appeal for Gaza after Operation Cast Lead ending in January 2009.

The BBC has finally apologised for the remarks made by Boyle earlier this week for “any offence” it had caused only to be slammed by Boyle who called them cowards for doing so and for being scared to create any offence to minority groups. The comedian then went on to reiterate his comments about Israel as an apartheid state.

Jewish Chronicle: Frankie Boyle: Israel is apartheid, terrorist

Haaretz: U.K. comedian slams BBC over apology for anti-Israel skit

IPad no longer banned in Israel

Following last week’s controversial ban of personal imports of Apple’s IPad to Israel, the ban by the Communications Ministry has been lifted. This has now allowed Israeli’s returning from abroad the right to bring in one IPad each, which would have previously been confiscated in customs. The reasoning behind the initial ban has left many confused – why would they ban a product based on the fact that it allegedly interferes with Israeli WI-FI? It has been suggested that the Israeli distributor IDigital wanted a cut of each IPad in circulation in Israel. People are still unsure when the IPad will be made available to Israelis through IDigital.

Jerusalem Post: Was iPad ban in aid of local distributor?

The Telegraph UK: Israel lifts Apple iPad ban

Hamas militant accused of attacking Israel killed

Ali Ismail Ahmed Sawiti, a Hamas militant in the West Bank, was shot within a house he was hiding in after Israeli troops ordered him to leave the house, which he refused to do. The militant had been accused of being involved in five attacks on Israel in which three Israeli border policemen were killed.

CNN: Israel: Hamas militant killed in gunfight

BBC: Israel troops kill Hamas militant

Old threats still Strong

Syria has been subject to scrutiny after Hizbollah sources confirmed that the country had delived them a batch of Scud missiles. America has accused Syria of being provocative to the volatile Hizbollah group which was last in combat with Israel in Summer of 2006. Syria however has denied this claim despite Hizbollah’s insistence.

Further fuelling the fires is President Assad of Syria who flew to Egypt for an emergency meeting as the Egyptian government has fears of Hizbollah using the Scuds against Egypt. These potentially fatal outcomes of scud attacks against Israel and Egypt come as the Middle Eastern states attempt to lessen Iran’s influence, with it’s nuclear programme, in the region.

Haaretz: Report: Assad due in Egypt to discuss fear of Israel-Syria war

Jerusalem Post: ‘Hizbullah arms real danger to Israel’

Anti-Israel sentiment at Canadian Gay Pride

The Queers Against Israeli Apartheid group have accused the Canadian city of Toronto of infringing on their human rights due to the Gay Pride potentially being cut funding. This comes after the group compared Israel to the the apartheid of South Africa and members wore t-shirts equating Israel with the Nazis. People have been shocked by the cuts but many believe it was the right thing to do as gay rights appear to be far removed from the legality – or illegality – of the actions of the Jewish state.

Haaretz: Toronto confronts anti-Israel gays

Toronto Star: Readers mull Pride funding

Israel angers Abbas and the Obama with calls for deportations

Israel last week ordered the removal of Palestinians from the West Bank, it has been reported. Abbas, the Palestinian leader, has quickly resorted to the use of the United Nations whilst stating that he will not fulfill Israel’s demands. This comes as more pressure is put on Israel to halt the settlement building from religious Jewish occupants of the area, which is deemed illegal in the eyes of the international community. United States has again been rejected with their attempt at creating peace. Obama has officially been rejected by Israel with his demands to stop building in the Eastern parts of Jerusalem.

The Times UK: Israel rejects US demand to halt building in disputed east Jerusalem

BBC: Abbas to fight Israeli orders on West Bank deportations

Turkey threatens Israel

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has threatened Israel following the constant fire between Israel and Gaza. He stated that they will not sit “with their arms folded” whilst Israel fired on Gaza. Despite previously being one of few Islamic allies of Israel, he was further quoted as saying “we cannot be indifferent to the problems of the Islamic world or Jerusalem”.

Israel has responded by stating that it is not interested in war with any other country.

Jerusalem Post: Israel: Erdogan, don’t become Chavez

Arutz Sheva: Israel Responds to Turkish Threat