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Excerpts: Distinguishing Christian and Muslim Arabs. Saudi support for
Excerpts: Distinguishing Christian and Muslim Arabs. Saudi support for =
Syrian children. Iran unveils ‘economy of resistance’. Syria to miss =
chemical destruction deadline. Iran bans new reformist newspaper. Iraq pays =
bounty for foreign jihadists. King Hussein,an inspiring teacher. Natural ga=
s =
to Jordan. February 20, 2014
+++SOURCE: Al Arabya News 20 Feb.=9214:=94Israeli bill distinguishing Chris=
tian =
and Muslim Arabs advances=94,by Staff Writer
SUBJECT: Distinguishing Christian and Arab Muslims in Israel
QUOTE: =93Christians are a minority group separate from Arabs and give them =
their own representation on the Advisory Committee for Equal Opportunity in =
Employment Commission=94
FULL TEXT :A proposal to legally differentiate Christian and Muslim Arabs i=
n =
Israel passed its second and third readings in the Knesset Labor, Health, =
and Welfare Committee on Wednesday[19 Feb.], the daily news website the =
Jerusalem Post reported.
The proposal first presented by Yariv Levin, the coalition chairman for the =
governing conservative Likud-Yisrael Beitenu faction, aims to identify =
Christians as a minority group separate from Arabs and give them their own =
representation on the Advisory Committee for Equal Opportunity in Employmen=
t =
Commission.
=93I don=92t try to change the reality; the reality is there. There is a bi=
g =
difference between Christians and Muslims, and they deserve recognition and =
separate representation,=94 Levin said. =93They do not see themselves as Ar=
abs. =
They say =91we are not Arabs =96 we are separate,=92 and for 60 years the s=
tate =
treated all minorities as one homogeneous group, and it was a mistake.=94
=93In Israel, suddenly there is no difference between Arabs and everything =
is =
perfect,=94 he added.
=93In Nazareth many Christians are not treated well by Muslims, and many of =
them want to serve in the army and be an integral part of building the =
country. Christians see that this is the most secure place in the region fo=
r =
them, and they want to work together to stop extremist Muslims,=94 Levin =
explained.
Reacting to the proposed bill, The Abraham Fund, an international non-profi=
t =
dedicated to promoting coexistence between the Jewish and Arab citizens of =
Israel, wrote a letter to the Knesset committee expressing its objection.
=93We believe that the government should immediately desist from a policy o=
f =
divide and rule toward the Arab minority in Israel and from the attempt to =
create divisions between groups within the minority in order to dismantle =
its collective identity,=94 the letter read.
=93Profound issues regarding the relations between the Jewish majority and =
the =
Palestinian Arab minority in Israel cannot be solved by means of the =
legislative definition of identity categories convenient for the majority,=
=94 =
it said.
The bill is the first time in formal legislation that Christian and Muslim =
Arabs would be separated as under the proposal Christian Arabs are no longe=
r =
identified as Arabs, Aya Ben-Amos, the director of public policy and =
communications for The Abraham Fund said.
People discriminate against Arabs in the job market based on their name or =
accent, not because they are Christians or Muslims, she added.
=93I don=92t think that the change in reality should be that employers =
differentiate between Christians and Muslims and prefer one over the other, =
but rather that it should be change toward nondiscrimination toward all =
Arabs,=94 Ben-Amos said.
=93The motivation is about preferring Arab Christians over Muslims,=94 she =
said, =
adding that trying to isolate Muslim Arabs would lead to more =
discrimination.
About 123,000 Arab Christians live in Occupied Palestine, and another =
226,000 reside in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, according to the CIA =
statistics.
Churches in the West Bank are often targeted in anti-Christian =93price tag=
=94 =
attacks by Israeli settlers.
Palestinians and Arab citizens of Israel are also frequently victims of =
racist incidents in areas under Israeli control, and their perpetrators are =
rarely prosecuted.
+++Al Arabiya News 20 Feb.=9214:=94Saudi announces solidarity day with Syri=
an =
children=94 by Staff Writer
SUBJECT: Saudi support for Syrian children
QUOTE: =93to cover the needs of thousands of Syrian children=94
FULL TEXT:Saudi Arabia will hold next week a =93Day of Solidarity=94 for th=
e =
thousands of Syrian children affected by the war in their country, the =
kingdom=92s state-run agency said on Thursday[20 Feb.].
=93King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz has instructed that a =91day of solidarity=
=92 with =
the children of Syria be organized at the national level [in order] to cove=
r =
the needs of thousands of Syrian children,=94 the Saudi Press Agency said.
The Syrian conflict, now almost in its third year, has hit all strata of =
Syrian society, including vulnerable groups such as the elderly and =
children.
The objective of the solidarity day, according to the SPA, is to help cover =
the needs of the thousands of Syrian children living in tragic and difficul=
t =
circumstances and help international efforts in improving their living =
conditions.
The Syrian war has led to one of the world=92s most severe refugee crises, =
with millions of Syrians either internally displaced or hosted in =
neighboring states such as Turkey, Lebanon and Jordan.
Prince Mohammad bin Naif bin Abdulaziz, the general supervisor of the Saudi =
National Campaign to Support Brothers in Syria, has ordered that =
preparations for the day of solidarity be completed by Tuesday, Feb. 25, th=
e =
SPA said.
The King Fahd Cultural Center in Riyadh will host an event starting 7:00 =
p.m. with participation at both the official and popular levels, the agency =
added.
+++SOURCE: Saudi Gazette 20 Feb.=9214:=94Iran unveils =91economy of resista=
nce=92 =93
SUBJECT:Iran unveils =91economy of resistance=92
QUOTE: Avatollah Ali Khamenei called Western sanctions =91a full-fledged =
economic war=92
FULL TEXT:TEHRAN =97 Iran’s top leader ordered the government Wednesday to =
create an “economy of resistance” to counter sanctions imposed over Tehran’=
s =
nuclear program.
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei called Western sanctions “a full-fledged economic =
war” and said Iran is determined to force the West to retreat.
Iran has been hit hard by sanctions that have hit, among other targets, its =
vital oil sector. The program requires the government to diversify Iran’s =
exports, reduce dependence on sales of raw materials and promote =
knowledge-based high-tech industries.
“If (Iran) pursues … an economy of resistance, we will overcome economic =
problems and will defeat the enemy … that has imposed a full-fledged =
economic war against this great nation,” he said in his order which was =
posted on his website leader.ir.
Under the program, the government must take action to expand production and =
export of knowledge-based products, increase domestic production of =
strategic goods and develop markets in neighboring countries.
The program also encourages greater privatization and increased exports of =
electricity, gas, petrochemical and oil by-products instead of crude oil an=
d =
other raw materials.
Iranian officials say it will be harder to target oil byproducts with =
sanctions that it will be to target crude.
Western sanctions over Iran’s nuclear program also shut Iran out of the =
international banking system, making it hard for its remaining customers in =
Asia and elsewhere to pay.
An interim nuclear deal reached in November with world powers has eased som=
e =
sanctions but the core remains in place =97 including measures targeting =
Iran’s oil exports, the pillar of its economy.
Crude oil exports account for nearly 80 percent of Iran’s foreign revenue =
but have been reduced by half in the past two years due to stepped up =
sanctions. It currently exports about 1 million barrels a day =97 compared =
to =
2.2 million in 2011.
Iran says its non-oil exports have increased to about $40 billion a year, =
showing an annual 20 percent increase.
Iran and the six-nation group =97 the five permanent members of the UN =
Security Council plus Germany =97 began talks for a final deal in Vienna =
Tuesday[18 Feb.].
Khamenei, who has the final say on all state matters in Iran, has said he =
had accepted the talks but doubts they will succeed, saying Washington is =
using the nuclear issue as an “excuse” to pressure the country.
In his order, Khamenei has asked the government to closely monitor sanction=
s =
and impose costs on the “enemy,” a reference to the US.
The West suspects that some Iranian nuclear activities are intended to give =
it the ability to build a weapon. Iran denies this, saying its program is =
for peaceful purposes. =97 AFP
+++SOURCE: Naharnet (Lebanon) 20 Feb.=9214:=94Syria to Miss Chemical Destru=
ction =
Deadline=94, Agence France Presse
SUBJECT: Syria to miss chemical destruction deadline
FULL TEXT:Syria will miss a U.N.-backed June 30 deadline to destroy its =
chemical arsenal, possibly by several months, sources said Thursday[20 =
Feb.], amid growing Western frustration with Damascus’ perceived delays.
With just 11 percent of Syria’s chemicals out of the country after a series =
of missed deadlines, an Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapon=
s =
(OPCW) meeting on Friday[21
Feb.] will hear calls for Syria to do more.
Because of the missed deadlines, Syria has submitted a new 100-day timefram=
e =
that sees all its chemicals removed from the country by the last week of =
May, a source close to the matter told AFP.
The chemicals must then be taken from Syria’s main port Latakia by Western =
warships to a U.S. vessel, the MV Cape Ray, aboard which they will be broke=
n =
down at sea using hydrolysis, a process expected to take 90 days.
That would put the destruction well beyond the June 30 deadline agreed by =
Russia and the U.S. last year as part of a plan to avert U.S.-backed =
military strikes in the wake of deadly chemical attacks outside Damascus =
blamed by the West on President Bashar Assad’s regime.
“The Syrians said they could complete getting the agents out of the country =
by the end of May, that’s unacceptable,” said the source.
The U.N. Security Council on February 6 called on Syria to move faster, =
transporting chemicals and agents to Latakia “in a systematic and =
sufficiently accelerated manner”.
Western diplomats at an OPCW Executive Council meeting last month expressed =
frustration with the repeatedly delayed process, accusing Syria of =
unilaterally changing the June 30 destruction deadline into a deadline for =
the chemicals to have left the country.
“They’re going to be several months over the destruction deadline, but =
they’re saying if it’s all out of the country by June 30 then so what?” a =
diplomatic source said.
An OPCW-U.N. Operational Planning Group has come up with an alternative tha=
t =
would reduce the 100-day Syrian plan by 63 days, but the June 30 deadline =
would still not be met, said a source close to the matter.
Diplomats nevertheless want to keep the mid-2014 deadline, however =
unrealistic.
“As long as the June 30 date hasn’t passed, it must be kept as a target,” =
said the source.
Most countries at the OPCW’s Executive Council are frustrated with the =
delays, although Russia, China, Iran and India do not want to put more =
pressure on Damascus, the source said ahead of Friday’s “intense” talks.
“There’s no question of haggling, the deadlines have been agreed and they =
must be respected,” the source said.
Syria has said it does not have the right material to transport the =
chemicals and that it has been hampered by the security situation in the =
war-torn country.
So-called Priority 1 chemicals were supposed to be destroyed by March 31 bu=
t =
“they won’t even be out of Latakia by then,” a diplomatic source said.
Syria is supposed to have completely destroyed its chemical weapon =
production facilities by March 15, with another OPCW Executive Council =
meeting to be held before then.
Syria has declared around 700 tons of most dangerous chemicals, which were =
supposed to have left the country by the end of 2013, 500 tons of less =
dangerous precursor chemicals, which were supposed to have left the country =
by February 5, and around 122 tons of isopropanol.
So far just three small shipments have left Latakia, to be taken to Italy =
and transferred for destruction onto the U.S. ship MV Cape Ray.
Syria’s isopropanol is to be destroyed by March 1, according to the =
internationally-agreed timetable, and that task is 93-percent completed, a =
diplomatic source said, with the remaining seven percent “in a currently =
inaccessible location”.
U.N. Security Council resolution 2118 was passed after a massive chemical =
weapon attack that killed hundreds in several opposition areas around =
Damascus in August.
Rebels and the regime exchanged blame for that attack.
+++SOURCE: Naharnet (Lebanon) 20 Feb,=9214:=94Iran Bans Newly Launched Refo=
rmist =
Newspaper=94, Agence France Presse
SUBJECT: Iran bans new reformist newspaper
FULL TEXT:Iran’s judiciary has banned a newly launched reformist daily over =
an article seen as insulting to Islamic law, prosecutors said on Thursday.
“Aseman newspaper has been banned for publishing an article that insults =
Islam’s sacred beliefs and articles against Islamic regulations,” the offic=
e =
of Tehran’s prosecutor said on its website.
“In an article run by the newspaper on Tuesday, it called ‘qesas’ inhumane,=
” =
it added in reference to the Islamic law of vengeance.
The statement said Aseman’s managing director, Abbas Bozorgmehr, also faced =
prosecution.
In response, Bozorgmehr said the newspaper had published the word “inhumane=
” =
in an “unintentional mistake”.
“I omitted the suffix inhumane in the edited version, but unfortunately the =
technical team sent the unedited version for publishing. Considering that =
our newspaper is newly launched and has a shortage of facilities, such =
mistakes can happen,” he told ISNA news agency.
“Some (people) want to use this incident for political mileage to eliminate =
a rival.”
The ban on Aseman, whose name means “sky” in Persian, comes just five days =
after its launch.
Bahar, another reformist newspaper, was ordered closed in October for =
publishing an article seen by critics as questioning the beliefs of Shiite =
Islam.
Mohammadreza Baqerzadeh, a cleric at a religious think tank, blamed the =
approach of President Hassan Rouhani’s reputedly moderate administration fo=
r =
such “attacks” on the law.
“Such comments and remarks made by those who do not believe in Islamic =
teachings are caused by the formation of a cultural atmosphere of the (new) =
government,” Baqerzadeh told Fars news agency.
Rouhani, who was elected in June last year, has vowed to work for more =
cultural liberation and social freedom.
SourceAgence France Presse
+++SOURCE: Naharnet (Lebanon) 20 Feb.=9214:=94Iraq Offers Hefty Bounties fo=
r =
Killing, CapturingdJihadists, Agence France Presse
SUBJECT: Iraq pays bounty for foreign jihadists
QUOTE: =93But nothing has yet succeeded in bringing the rampant bloodshed =
under control=94
FULL TEXT:Iraq, struggling to curb its worst violence in years, is offering =
bounties of up to $25,000 for killing or capturing a foreign jihadist =
fighter, state television reported Thursday.
The defense ministry is offering 20 million dinars ($16,666/12,165 euros) t=
o =
anyone who “kills a foreign terrorist from ISIL (the Islamic State of Iraq =
and the Levant) and al-Qaida” and 30 million dinars to anyone who captures =
“a terrorist from among them,” it reported.
ISIL is a powerful jihadist group that carries out frequent attacks in Iraq=
, =
and has also flourished across the border during Syria’s bloody civil war.
The bounties are the latest in a series of measures Iraq has enacted in a =
bid to curb a year-long surge in violence, which has reached levels not see=
n =
since 2008, when the country was emerging from a brutal period of sectarian =
killings in which tens of thousands died.
Authorities have tried everything from wide-ranging operations against =
militants and offers of training and jobs for tribesmen who fight for the =
government, to restricting vehicle use in the capital.
But nothing has yet succeeded in bringing the rampant bloodshed under =
control.
Violence in Iraq has killed over 1,500 people so far this year, and left =
more than 6,800 dead in 2013, according to Agence France Presse figures =
based on security and medical sources.
SourceAgence France Presse
+++SOURCE: Jordan Times 20 Feb.=9214:=94King Hussein was inspiring =
teacher =96Prince Hassan=94 Petra
SUBJECT: King Hussein,an inspiring teacher
FULL TEXT:AMMAN =97 HRH Prince Hassan on Wednesday[19 Feb.] said His Majest=
y =
the late King Hussein was his inspiring teacher for decades where the two =
worked together to serve public interest.
Delivering a lecture upon an invitation from the Jordan Media Institute, on =
the occasion of the 15th anniversary of King Hussein=92s passing, Prince =
Hassan said the conspiracies that were woven against this region represente=
d =
major challenges for King Hussein, recounting his beginnings and =
achievements in terms of political work.
At the lecture =97 attended by JMI founder HRH Princess Rym Ali, several me=
dia =
officials and JMI students =97 Prince Hassan said: =93You have to understan=
d the =
past to understand the present.=94 Addressing students, he underlined the =
importance of setting priorities and learning how to run resources, =
stressing the importance of institutionalised Arab action.
+++SOURCE: Jordan Times 20 Feb.=92134:=94Potash company to import Israeli g=
as at =
preferential prices=94=94, by Mohammad Ghazal
SUBJECT: Nobel Energy and Israeli partners to provide natural Gas to Jordan
QUOTE: =93APC Chairman Jamal Al Sarayrah said . . .the cost- effective gas =
will =91 enhance APC=92s competitiveness in the global market and its =
profitability=92 =93
FULL TEXT: AMMAN =97 The US-based Noble Energy will provide the Arab Potash =
Company (APC) with two billion cubic metres of natural gas at preferential =
prices under a $771 million agreement signed between the two sides on =
Wednesday[19 Feb.].
Under the 15-year agreement, Noble Energy and its Israeli partners will =
provide the company with natural gas that will help reduce the company=92s =
production costs, according to stakeholders.
APC Chairman Jamal Al Sarayrah said in a statement e-mailed to The Jordan =
Times that the cost-effective gas will =93enhance APC=92s competitiveness i=
n the =
global market and its profitability, improve the prospects for future growt=
h =
and expansion, and help protect the job security of the company=92s employe=
es =
who number more than 2,000=94.
The APC=92s statement did not make any mention of Israel. However, sources =
and =
reports said the deal entails extending a pipeline from the Israeli Tamar =
gas field to the south of the Dead Sea and extending it to the APC.
It will take two years to complete the required infrastructure after which =
natural gas supply is expected to start in 2016, according to the company.
A senior energy official told The Jordan Times that the Cabinet =93gave APC =
the permission to import Israeli gas=94.
In a statement on its website, the Israeli Delek Group announced that Delek =
Drilling Limited Partnership and Avner Oil Exploration signed a deal with =
Noble Energy to partner with the US company in exporting natural gas from =
the Tamar project in Israel to APC and its affiliate, the Jordan Bromine =
Company.
Partners in the Tamar field are Noble Energy, which holds 36 per cent of =
stake, Isramco Negev (28.75 per cent), Avner Oil Exploration (15.6 per =
cent), Delek Drilling (15.65 per cent) and Dor Gas Exploration (4 per cent).
Jordan relied for years on relatively cheap gas supplies from Egypt, but =
since the Arab Spring erupted in the Arab African country, the gas pipe tha=
t =
supplied Jordan and Israel has been subject to sabotage frequently, pushing =
Jordan to rely on the expensive fuel, leading to crippling the national =
economy.
The deal, Sarayrah said, will help APC restore its position as one of the =
lowest-cost producers of potash across the world.
=93Up until 2008, APC was ranked among the lowest-cost producers of potash =
worldwide, giving it a powerful competitive edge in the global market=85. o=
ur =
favourable cost structure and solid performance enabled us to contribute =
millions of dinars in taxes, royalties and fees to the national Treasury =
annually, and millions more to community development through our corporate =
social responsibility programmes,=94 he said.
However, due to the continued rise of tariffs and energy prices over the =
past few years, the company is at present among the world=92s highest-cost =
potash producers, he said. =93This contract represents meaningful action to =
help improve our competitive position,=94 he added.
Commenting on the deal, APC General Manager Brent Heimann said the shift =
from heavy fuel to the less expensive and more eco-friendly natural gas is =
projected to produce total cost savings of JD235 million, or average saving=
s =
of JD11 per tonne of potash produced.
=93This is essential to maintain our long-term operations and growth as Jor=
dan=92s =
largest private sector earner of hard currency, one of the largest =
contributors to the Treasury, and one of the largest private sector =
employers in the country, particularly as we cope with the drop in global =
potash prices,=94 said Heimann.
The company=92s net profits fell to JD130.7 million in 2013 from JD198 mill=
ion =
in 2012 because of a rise in cost of production due to an increase in fuel =
and energy costs as well as a drop in prices globally, the company said in =
a =
recent statement on Amman Stock Exchange website.
Heimann said: =93APC conducted extensive studies which showed that the =
conversion to natural gas is the optimal energy solution, and after =
exploring realistic possible source of gas, the deal with Noble Energy =
emerged as the most reliable and cost-effective option available.=94
He added that the agreement is strictly between the APC and Jordan Bromine =
Company on the one hand, and on the other NBL East Mediterranean Marketing =
Limited, which is owned by Noble Energy of Houston, Texas.
The agreement with APC is the second natural gas agreement in the region =
involving Noble Energy. In January 2014, the energy company signed an =
agreement with the Palestine Power Generating Company for the supply of =
natural gas.
Among the APC=92s stakeholders are Potash Corporation of Saskatchewan, whic=
h =
owns 27.96 per cent, the Ministry of Finance (26.88 per cent) and the Arab =
Mining Company (19.92 per cent).
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D
Sue Lerner – Associate, IMRA =
________________________________________
IMRA – Independent Media Review and Analysis
Since 1992 providing news and analysis on the Middle East with a focus on A=
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