Fwd: Ingenious Muslim rhetoric

This is a from a trusted friend. It's humorous and insightful. I hope it's enjoyed for the nuanced and eloquent manner in which a profound statement was made.

---------- Forwarded message ----------

As salam mu alaikum,

Thought you would like this one:

An ingenious example of speech and politics occurred recently in the United Nations Assembly and made the world community smile.

The Palestinian Representative's Speech at the UN

 
'Before beginning my talk I want to tell you something about Moses. When he struck the rock and it brought forth water, he thought, 'What a good opportunity to have a bath!'

He removed his clothes, put them aside on the rock and entered the water.
When he got out and wanted to dress, his clothes had vanished. An Israeli had stolen them. 

The Israeli representative jumped up furiously and shouted, 'What are you talking about?  The Israelis weren't there then.'

The Palestinian representative smiled and said:
'And now that we have made that clear, I will begin my speech.'

Jerusalem Post article: Hagana weapons cache found in Hod Hasharon synagogue

Does this not remind you of all the allegations made by Israelis that Hamas hides/operates in/within civilian areas? Do I smell hypocrisy? Seems like enemies really do learn from one another - and that some things never change.

NYT op-ed: Why the Muslim World Can’t Hear Obama

This op-ed piece is perhaps the closest any mainstream media outlet will come to echoing my sentiments on America's new president - Barack Obama.

Several months before he even won the election, his rhetoric on Israel (Jerusalem will be the undivided capitol of Israel, he said to an AIPAC audience) and his silence on Gaza (only one President at a time, he said) disappointed me. For someone who has made the english language beautiful again, these statements - and absence of them - makes little sense to me.

I am cautiously optimistic. I will give him the benefit of the doubt, because he was Illinois's "junior senator". He does not have all the requisite foreign policy experience one might need in his position. But he has the resources at hand to help solve these problems. I will give him time. Many more will, as well. But for how long? The world can't wait. Actions speak louder than words.

Palestinian loss of land

This is indeed tragic.

I'm wondering if someone can verify the source and/or the info presented in the image?

Courtesy of my friend Sherrise.

NY Event: PALESTINE - Reality Beyond the Headlines - 4/4

Come join us for an important panel and discussion

PALESTINE

"Reality Beyond the Headlines"

Update on Current Situation

with

Dr. Ali Jarbawi

Professor of Political Science at Bir Zeit University in the West Bank City of Ramallah, Palestine

Wednesday, April, 4th, 2007

6:00 PM

At

Salaam Arabic Lutheran Church

Address: 345 Ovington Avenue Brooklyn, NY

Transportation : Nearest train station is the "Bay Ridge Avenue Stop" off the "R" line. or the B63 bus

This event is sponsored by the American Mideast Leadership Network & the Arab American Association of New York with special thanks to Father Khader El Yateem for hosting this important event.

Occupied Gaza like apartheid South Africa, says UN report

I remember blogging about UN Special Rapporteur for human rights in the Palestinian territories, John Dugard, earlier when one of his articles appeared in a prominent Atlanta newspaper. But alas, that was Atlanta, and this current article is from The Guardian. One can imagine the difference in readership, as well as the impact its contents can have.

He says similar things, ie Israel is an apartheid state and it is racist, but one would hope that we move beyond these discussions, and instead, work toward a sustainable solution.

I must say, though, that such a solution cannot take place without the developed world's support, and if the US and Britain continue to play irresponsible, or rather, unresponsive, roles, then we are truly doomed.

Without further ado, here's the article.

Israel, an apartheid state?

Old habits die hard! It's been a while since i've blogged and for that, I am forever apologetic. Some friends informed me that they actually visit my blog frequently, and I thank them, and all my readers profusely. As you can imagine, not posting for a while is both embarassing in some ways and also lets hopes down.

So, again, my apologies!

The author, John Dugard, works in some capacity at the United Nations, and so this writing has special meaning. It's not written on behalf of the UN, but gives an interesting perspective to the issue of Israel and Palestine from a global, as opposed to Middle Eastern, perspective. Moreover, Dugard and former US President Jimmy Carter are riding on a wave of harsh criticism directed at Israel in recent months, first after the Israel Lobby report was published by two prominent American political scientists, and now after Carter's book was published.

I should have posted this article when I first read it, but at the time, did not, and am now repenting like a perpetual sinner because I can't seem to find the article in its entirety. Instead, I will post for you the first half, which I found buried deep within my email inbox. As always, comments - constructive and destructive! - more than welcome...

APARTHEID: ISRAELIS ADOPT WHAT SOUTH AFRICA DROPPED
John Dugard, Atlanta Journal Constitution, 11/29/06

Former President Jimmy Carter's new book, "Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid," is igniting controversy for its allegation that Israel practices a form of apartheid.

As a South African and former anti-apartheid advocate who visits the Palestinian territories regularly to assess the human rights situation for the U.N. Human Rights Council, the comparison to South African apartheid is of special interest to me.

On the face of it, the two regimes are very different. Apartheid was a system of institutionalized racial discrimination that the white minority in South Africa employed to maintain power over the black majority. It was characterized by the denial of political rights to blacks, the fragmentation of the country into white areas and black areas (called Bantustans) and by the imposition on blacks of restrictive measures designed to achieve white superiority, racial separation and white security.

The "pass system," which sought to prevent the free movement of blacks and to restrict their entry to the cities, was rigorously enforced. Blacks were forcibly "relocated," and they were denied access to most public amenities and to many forms of employment. The system was enforced by a brutal security apparatus in which torture played a significant role.

The Palestinian territories - East Jerusalem, the West Bank and Gaza - have been under Israeli military occupation since 1967. Although military occupation is tolerated and regulated by international law, it is considered an undesirable regime that should be ended as soon as possible. The United Nations for nearly 40 years has condemned Israel's military occupation, together with colonialism and apartheid, as contrary to the international public order.