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In Depth:
Islam Winning Converts in Germany - By Andrea Brandt and Cordula Meyer (Der Spiegel)
Germany's Muslim population is becoming more religious and more conservative. Islamic associations are fostering the trend, particularly through their work with the young -- accelerating the drift towards a parallel Muslim society.
Syria's Terror Networks - Farid N. Ghadry (Washington Times)
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The UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination has questioned Israel's policy on preserving holy sites, asking the country to explain whether it protects places considered sacred to religions other than Judaism. Yaron Frost, a spokesman for the Ministry of Tourism, said: "Israel doesn't interfere by making declarations about the regulation of holy sites that are not Jewish out of a sensitivity for the religions involved and a concern that declaring a site holy would be seen as interference in the oversight." Israel said several existing statutes protect holy places by requiring excavation and other projects to first seek government permission if they are near religious sites - Jewish or non-Jewish. (AP/Washington Post)
In talks with Mahmoud Abbas and Secretary of State Rice on Monday in Jerusalem, Prime Minister Olmert demanded that the Palestinian unity government recognize Israel, renounce terror and accept previous Israeli-Palestinian agreements, as specified by the Quartet. Israel will not have any contact with Palestinian figures who are considered moderates if they serve in a government that does not accept the Quartet's conditions, Olmert said. He rejected the suggestion that Israel negotiate with the PLO, headed by Abbas, thereby freeing Hamas of the requirement to recognize Israel. He also demanded that the Palestinian government release captive soldier Gilad Shalit, stop the arms-smuggling between the Sinai and Gaza, and deploy forces in northern Gaza to prevent rocket fire at Israel. (Ha'aretz) The Mecca agreement provides for a Palestinian coalition government dominated by Hamas which maintains its genocidal aim of wiping Israel, and most of its people, off the map. The PA will continue to tolerate, and even cheer, the daily firing of rockets at Israeli civilian targets and the launching of terrorist attacks. This makes the PA a state sponsor of terrorism. By undermining Western sanctions and rewarding Hamas intransigence, the Saudi deal makes any diplomatic progress on an Israeli-Palestinian solution even more remote. (Jerusalem Post)
All over the non-Muslim world, we hear incessant demands that those who believe in the literal truth of the Koran be granted "respect." We are supposed to watch what we say about Islam, lest by any chance we be considered "offensive." A fair number of authors and academics in the West now have to live under police protection or endure prosecution in the courts for not observing this taboo with sufficient care. A stupid term - Islamophobia - has been put into circulation to try and suggest that a foul prejudice lurks behind any misgivings about Islam's infallible "message." This idiotic masochism has to be dropped. Where are the denunciations from centers of Sunni and Shiite authority of the daily murder and torture of Islamic co-religionists? Of the regular desecration of holy sites and holy books? Of the paranoid insults thrown so carelessly and callously by one Muslim group at another? This mounting ghastliness is a bit more worthy of condemnation, surely, than a few Danish cartoons. The civilized world - yes I do mean to say that - should find its own voice and state firmly to Muslim leaders and citizens that respect is something to be earned and not demanded with menace. (Slate)
Why did Fatah settle for a unity agreement in February that provided it far less than previous unity proposals that were rejected by Abbas? A close examination of the most recent clashes suggests that Hamas came away the winner and Fatah had to sue for peace. Fatah's forces suffered from internal divisions and rivalries among their leaderships. Unable to unite its forces under a coherent leadership, Fatah suffered greatly during the fighting after January 25. Most of the combatants killed during the fighting belonged to the Presidential Guards, the General Intelligence Service, or the Preventive Security organization. Hamas forces succeeded in capturing and in some cases destroying several of the local headquarters of these organizations, in some cases killing commanders in addition to ordinary soldiers. The intervention of Saudi King Abdullah came at an opportune moment that surely prevented additional Fatah losses on the ground. (Washington Institute for Near East Policy)
It is now just over a year since Hamas came to power. The Hamas government was required by the international community to recognize Israel's right to exist, and to enable the resumption of earnest peace negotiations. But they have not been able to even contemplate recognizing Israel. Thus they have further increased the misery of their own people by perpetuating the pariah status of their government and by continuing to direct attacks against Israeli civilians. Even as suicide bombings and missile attacks on Israeli towns continue, Hamas still receives a platform for its demagogic show, blaming everybody but themselves for Palestinian oppression and suffering. It is time to call Hamas' bluff. Its leaders are watching outside reaction in an effort to strike a balance between international demands and their rejectionist ideology. Now the resolve of the international community will be put on trial, and if its determination holds, there is a greater likelihood of compromise on Hamas' part. The writer is the Israeli ambassador in London. (Guardian-UK) |
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