20 November 2012 Volume 7, Issue 5
Isreali—Hamas Conflict, Why Now? Once again the Israeli-Hamas conflict has erupted into violence and the bloodshed looks set to climb over the coming days. Israel has threatened to slap sanctions on the Palestinian Authority if the PLO goes ahead with plans to seek an upgrade in its UN status to “non-member state” but Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas seems determined – not least because he knows that Israel now considers the Palestinian Authority too crucial to fail.Israeli leaders have begun preparing domestic and international opinion for a
renewed onslaught against power in Gaza, responsible for the Palestinian militants after more rockets. Continues on Page 7... than a million Israeli citizens spent a third night in bomb shelters as more than 100 rockets rained across the Gaza border in less than 48 hours. Ministers were divided on whether Israel should launch another ground invasion or opt for assassinating Hamas leaders. Israel said it holds Hamas, as the controlling
High Ranking US Generals Involved in Sex Scandal One of the most senior generals in the US military has been linked to a woman involved in the downfall of CIA Director David Petraeus. Afghanistan commander Gen John Allen is being probed amid reports he sent thousands of "inappropriate" emails to Florida socialite Jill Kelley. Harassment complaints by Mrs. Kelley led the FBI to discover an affair between the CIA chief David Petraeus, and his biographer, Paula Broadwell. Petraeus, who preceded Gen. Allen as head of US forces in Afghanistan, resigned as head of
the Central Intelligence Agency was personally involved with the (CIA) over the affair with Broadcase. well. Mrs. Kelley had already been Continues on Page 3... named in the Petraeus scandal after she told the FBI early in the summer she had received anonymous harassing emails. Kelley reported the emails to an FBI agent, who has not been named. That man launched the investigation but was not allowed to work on it because of concerns that he
THIS WEEK
EUROPE PAGE 2
AMERICAS PAGE 3
OPINION PAGE 4-5
ASIA PAGE 6
MIDDLE EAST&AFRICA PAGE 7
ARTICLE OF THE WEEK PAGE 8-9
TURKEY PAGE 10
SOCIAL PAGE 11
INFO & ADS PAGE 12
EUROPE Violent Clashes as Austerity Protests Grip EU Cities Millions of EU workers have held a day of action against austerity, with protests in Spain and Portugal marred by violence. General strikes in the two southern countries halted transport and closed businesses and schools, while 21 other states also saw disruption. Hundreds of flights to and from striking nations were cancelled. Clashes in Lisbon left nearly 50 people hurt while in Spain at least 70 were injured and some 140 arrests were made. Wednesday's action was co-ordinated by the European Trade Union Confederation. Beside Portugal and Spain, Italian cities saw violent clashes between protesters and riot police in the capital, Rome; trade unions organised marches in more than 100 cities across France; protesters rallied in Brussels outside the embassies of Germany, Spain, Greece, Portugal and the Republic of Ireland in Belgium, and hundreds of Greeks gathered outside the parliament in Athens to brandish huge flags of Spain, Greece, Portugal and Italy. BBC / November 15, 2012 Anti-German sentiments in Greece got personal Greece when the German consul came under attack from a crowd of around 250 Greek workers. Riot police used batons and tear gas to contain the protesters. Euronews / November 15, 2012
Woman Dies of Blood Poisoning After Being Refused an Abortion The death of a woman in Ireland whose repeated requests for abortion were turned down sparked international protests and condemnation. Savita Halappanavar died in a hospital in Galway last month from complications when a termination of her pregnancy was delayed after she had been miscarrying for several days. In a series of radio interviews her husband Praveen said he had no doubt his wife Savita would still be alive if the procedure had been carried out earlier, as she had requested. Her husband said: “A doctor said it was the law - that this is a Catholic country.’’ Savita went on: `I am neither Irish not Catholic' but they said there was nothing they could do.” The case has drawn attention to the state of Ireland's abortion laws. In Dublin more than a thousand people staged a demonstration outside the Irish parliament amid calls for an independent inquiry into the death. The Independent / November 14, 2012
The Spanish ambassador to London has been summoned to the UK Foreign Office after Britain lodged a protest about recent Spanish incursions into territorial waters off Gibraltar. BBC / November 15, 2012 Eurozone amidst a double dip recession as the areas debt increases
Eurozone Falls Back into Recession
A republican terror alliance styling itself as a new IRA has claimed it murdered Northern Ireland prison officer David Black. The group issued a statement to the Belfast paper the Irish News on Monday linking the killing to conditions inside the top -security Maghaberry prison. The Guardian / November 12, 2012
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The last two quarters have seen the Eurozone economy shrink by 0.4% putting the Eurozone area into a double dip recession. This is worrying as Greece requires more bailouts and the likelihood of Spain needing the same becoming an ever likely situation. These facts and figures show that the region is not any closer to becoming financially secure. This news comes days after there were coordinated protests across the Eurozone campaigning against the strict austerity measures that have been imposed by the ECB, EU and national governments. They believe that this mismanagement of the economy is doing more harm than good. BBC / November 15, 2012
AMERICAS High Ranking US Generals Involved in Sex Scandal Continues from Page 1... When the FBI investigated, it traced the emails to Paula Broadwell (pictured), bringing to light her affair with Petraeus. Kelley is a family friend of Petraeus and his wife Holly, but no evidence has emerged that they ever had an affair, as Broadwell believed. The top US commander in Afghanistan, John Allen, is now being investigated for allegedly sending up to 30,000 pages of other documents, deemed "inappropriate emails" to Jill Kelley. Gen. Petraeus's affair with Broadwell, who co-wrote a biography of the general, began following his retirement from the army and about two months after he became director of the CIA. He said it ended about four months ago. Petraeus joined the CIA in September 2011 after heading international forces in Iraq and later in Afghanistan. Obama responded to reporters on the incident saying he had seen no evidence that Petraeus' extramarital affair compromised national security as feared. BBC/ November 13, 2012
Peace Talks Delayed in Colombia FARC negotiators Marquez and Santrich have called for a ceasefire during the talks, but the government has rejected the proposal Peace talks aimed at ending five decades of conflict in Colombia have been delayed until Monday. The discussions between the government delegates and rebels from the left-wing Farc group had been due to start in Cuba on Thursday. Few details were given, but in a statement, both sides said they needed to work on "technical details to ensure the participation of civil society". Speaking during an unrelated official visit to Poland, Colombian President Santos gave no further information on the reason for the delay, but said: "If there is goodwill, there are agreements. Without goodwill, there are no agreements." The peace talks were officially launched at a ceremony in the Norwegian capital, Oslo, on 18 October. BBC / November 13, 2012
Argentina has asked a UN court to order the release of one of its navy ships impounded in Ghana because of a debt dispute. Argentina argues that the seizure violates maritime law. BBC / Nov.14, 2012
BP agreed to pay US$4.5bil in US fines for the Gulf of Mexico oil spill and pleaded guilty to 14 counts, including felony manslaughter, in the deaths of 11 workers in the offshore rig blast. The Star Online / Nov. 17, President Barack Obama says he won't accept a plan to avert the so2012 called fiscal cliff that doesn't ask the wealthy to pay more in taxes.
“Those wealthiest should pay most taxes”, Obama says
Saturday, Obama said the election showed support for his "balanced" approach and Congress can provide certainty by extending tax cuts for middle -class families. Speaker of the House, Boehner said Congress should not raise tax rates, instead focus on closing tax loopholes, lowering rates and fixing entitlement programs. Boehner says he is hopeful the two sides can come up with an agreement that would pass. The White House says Obama would veto extending tax cuts for families making $250K or more. Associated Press / Nov. 14, 2012
José Dirceu as chief of staff under former president Lula, was given a prison term of 10 years for leading a vote-buying scheme in Congress, known as mensalão, or big monthly payment. FT / November 13, 2012
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OPINIONS EUROPE Abortion: A Universal Question A woman in Ireland died of blood poisoning in a hospital where her requests of termination of pregnancy due to miscarriage were denied because “Ireland is a Catholic country”. Ireland has ambiguous laws of abortion, which put women‟s lives into grave danger in cases such a Savita Halappanavar‟s death. According to legal authorities in the current state of affairs termination of pregnancy would have been lawful since the mother‟s life was in danger, which is a perfectly legitimate reason. On the other hand, Irish laws also prioritise the right to life of the foetus and the result is controversial. The death of Halappanavar is a sensitive case since it brings up many ethical and legal ramifications. One could argue that, Ireland is a Catholic country and a Catholic person under no circumstances could ask for abortion. It is absolutely reasonable for a person with strong faith to want to lead a pious life however the question that should be posed is: To what extent a matter that is as personal as belief could serve as the foundation of laws? Furthermore, are religious teachings really sufficient guidelines in taking medical decision? Evidently not, as such laws have led a woman to a tragic demise. Anti-abortionists usually raise moral questions concerning abortion, however they miss the fact that abortion is a completely personal decision and even if it is a sin or it is considered to be highly immoral in certain beliefs, it is the individual to confront with the consequences on her own. Therefore no institution, on any grounds, should not be allowed to interfere with a woman‟s personal decision of termination of pregnancy since such a decision, most probably, could not be taken instantaneously and needs rigorous consideration of social, ethical, moral, medical and perhaps most importantly emotional aspects of the act. However the ambiguous mediaeval laws that caused death of a woman and put many other in danger are still in effect and no substantial action has been taken to improve the situation yet. Ekin BOZKURT
EUROPE Britain tied down by Human Rights Abu Qatada, Britain’s most hated man walks free from prison. The Abu Qatada story is a sad affair to anyone that supports human rights. Britain‟s top court has ruled that he might not get a fair trial if deported to Jordan to face terrorism charges. My view and the view of the normal population should be who the hell cares?! We have a man here who is a threat to national security, a man who was Osama Bin Laden‟s „European right hand man‟ and we somehow are bending over backwards to give him the best hospitality we can. It verges on idiocy and downright insulting to the people of Britain. We live in a world where enemies are no longer states, but an ideology that hates the West. We need to forget the constraints such as human rights, and operate on a basis of ensuring our own safety. People have said that this will breed paranoia, but I cannot see how. I would have thought that this Conservative led coalition would have acted in this more direct manner shall we say, but it becomes an impossible task. The Geneva Convention and the European Convention of Human Rights directs us in to situations like this, giving hotel accommodation to some of the most threatening individuals on the planet. It truly defies logical explanations and I think the people of Britain and the world deserve better in this fight against global terrorism. This is not me attacking the concept of human rights laws, because there are countries around the world that do not enact basic human rights. They are an integral part of the free world, but they have brought with them the ability for these people to make their marks, their havens. This is not human rights, this is a violation of everything that embodies human rights. These constraints need rethinking, and because of them, Britain is a much more unsafe country. Dan PRITCHETT
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OPINIONS ASIA We must talk about Japan Yoshihiko Noda, the sixth prime minister of Japan in six years dissolved the lower house of the Japanese parliament on Friday. Elections will take place on December 16 because of this. Democratic Party (DPJ) was elected in 2009 and these were historical results because Liberal Democrat Party (LDP) has been the dominant party since WWII. Japanese people elected DPJ in 2009 because the LDP lost control of economy and an economic crisis had started like all other countries. The DPJ promised more welfare spending and a better social safety net, but has struggled to deliver amid the economic downturn and 11 March 2011 earthquake and tsunami. But Japanese economy is slipping back day by day and there is no hope for the DPJ. According to the Japanese constitution, the election must be held within 40 days of the dissolution. Noda‟s rival is former prime minister and leader of the L D P Shinzo Abe. Most of polls show the conservative politician, Shinzo Abe, as the favourite but unfortunately, everyone thinks that this election doesn‟t have a clear winner. And BBC says ‘Polls show almost half of all voters are undecided, indicating that the next government will likely be a coalition.’ Nationalism is rising in Japan after the economic crisis. Anti-American protests are proof of this rising. Pools show votes of radical parties are increasing."This is an election to decide on the nation's direction - to go forward or to go backward," Mr. Noda said of the election set for 16 December. Japanese people will decide on the Japan‟s direction but what is this direction? Noda‟s popularity decreased after the Fukishma and some extra taxes but there is no certain decision about nuclear energy and economy. Will the new government have some certain decisions about nuclear energy and economy? Nobody knows anything about these cases. In conclusion, if the third biggest economy fails after the Euro zone, we must think about future of our economic system. Hüseyin Sinan Güler
MIDDLE EAST & AFRICA Pillar of Cloud versus Sigil Stone Israel struck the Gaza mercilessly, the innocent civilians were killed and tension in the Middle East has kept on increasingly. This week, the whole word, especially Middle-East, was shaken by the conflict in Israel and Palestine. While Israel which had an operation under the name of Pillar of Cloud was attacking the Gaza, the Gaza had an operation on Israel which was called Sigil Stone. I think that using these nomenclatures is very interesting and challenging because Pillar of Cloud comes from the story in Torah about God protecting Israelities (the Jews) against their enemies with a pillar of cloud. Firstly, Israel used Defense Column as a name for this situation, and then, changed it to Pillar of Cloud. As for the response to the incidents in Gaza, the name Sigil Stone is used. Sigil Stone is a gun or weapon which God sent to protect Kaaba and Muslims. As for what caused this, Palestine’s wish for an observer status in the UN or the upcoming Israel elections affected comes to mind as factors leading to the latest eruption of violence in Gazay. I think that; first of all, obtaining observer status affects not only the Palestinian state, but the state of Hamas. Secondly, timing of this eruption is also very important. I wonder whether Israel waited for the USA elections for spilling blood in Gaza. This is observable in the last three elections, Israeli aggression has always been tied to the times of the US elections. Perhaps, this situation is similar to the Six Days War of 1967. But now, Israel is more powerful and has more military equipment than before and compared to the others. It is more difficult now, as coutnries might be more afraid, and more inclined to use diplomacy. Ayşe ATASOY
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ASIA
ASIA Japan's PM Dissolves Parliament Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda has dissolved parliament ahead of a general election next month. Mr. Noda, in power since August 2011, will face newly-elected opposition leader Shinzo Abe in the polls. Mr. Abe's party is expected to win the most seats but the election is seen as unlikely to deliver a clear winner. Mr Noda has lost support over his sales tax rise and handling of the Fukushima aftermath, while Mr. Abe is an ex-PM who struggled to connect with the public. Support ratings for both the ruling Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) and the opposition Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) are low. Polls show almost half of all voters are undecided, indicating that the next government will likely be a coalition. "This is an election to decide on the nation's direction - to go forward or to go backward," Mr. Noda said of the election set for 16 December. "We are determined to do our best to have the Democratic Party of Japan at the helm of the nation... and fight it out to move politics forward," he added. BBC / November 16, 2012 Xi Jinping has been confirmed as the man to lead China for the next decade. BBC / November 15, 2012
Toyota are recalling almost three million cars worldwide. The worst affected model is the Prius with a steering problem at low speeds. Toyota which last month was forced to recall almost seven and a half million cars due to a potential fire risk. Euronews / November 14, 2012
India's prime minister has pledged to follow up his recent burst of economic reforms with more measures to restart stalled infrastructure projects, attract foreign investment and reverse the slowdown in Asia's third-biggest economy. Financial Times / November 12, 2012
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Pakistan to Free ‘a number of Taliban members’ Pakistan agreed to free "a number of Taliban detainees" from its prisons "in support of peace and reconciliation" efforts in Afghanistan.
The announcement followed three days of meetings in Islamabad between Pakistani officials and a high-level delegation from Afghanistan's High Peace Council, which is trying to get the Taliban to negotiate peace in that country. The release of the Taliban prisoners was requested by the Afghan government and the peace delegation, a joint statement from both sides said. "Pakistan and the High Peace Council called on the Taliban and other armed groups to sever all links with al Qaeda and other international terror networks," the statement said. The statement also promised that "All concerned countries including Pakistan, Afghanistan and the United States will facilitate safe passage to potential negotiators to advance the reconciliation process." Talk of a peace process slowed in September 2011 when suicide bombers killed senior Afghan peace negotiator and former President Burhannudin Rabbani. The peace delegation to Islamabad was led by his son, Salahuddin Rabbani. CNN / November 14, 2012
Inquiry Request for the UN Failure in Sri Lanka Sri Lanka's largest Tamil political party called for an international inquiry into U.N. failure to protect civilians during the civil war. The request from the Tamil National Allience comes a day after the United Nations admitted that it didn't protect hundreds of thousands of civilians, mostly ethnic Tamils in Sri Lanka, an island nation off India's southern coast. In late 2008, the government could no longer guarantee the safety of UN staff there. In the report released, the UN questioned its decision to move its staff "because of a government safety warning when government forces themselves represented the dominant threat to staff." The Sri Lankan government had no immediate official response to the report. CNN / Nov.16, 2012
MIDDLE EAST & AFRICA Isreali—Hamas Conflict, Why Now? Continues 1...
from
Page ground invasion was "a distinct possibility". The Hamas called an urgent army has deployed extra infantry units near the meeting of Palestinian Gaza border, halted militant groups major exercises, yesterday. A Hamas cancelled soldiers' leave spokesman said and mobilised some Egyptian mediators reserve forces. The working to calm the opening salvo of escalating situation would not allow another Operation Pillar of Cloud was the pinpoint major Israeli attack on assassination by missile Gaza. Israeli troops of the Hamas military massed on the Gaza border last night, poised commander, Ahmed alJabari, as he drove for a possible ground through Gaza City, invasion as Israel followed by aerial attacks launched a major military operation it said against targets was designed “to severely throughout the Hamasimpair the command and controlled enclave. At least 10 Palestinians, control chain of the including civilians, were Hamas leadership, as reported dead. Gaza well as its terrorist residents ran for cover as infrastructure.”Military Israeli aircraft pounded sources told The targets across the Gaza Independent that a
Strip. It was the most extensive assault since Israel's ill-starred ground invasion ended in January 2009. The clashes brought life to a standstill on both sides of the border. 11-monthold son of BBC picture editor is killed in Gaza air strike. Egypt’s Islamist president today denounced Israel’s shelling of Gaza as an “unacceptable aggression,” ordering his prime minister to visit the Hamas-governed enclave in what could emerge as the first major test for the country’s leader. The Israeli Defense Forces took to its Twitter account to announce "a widespread campaign on terror sites & operatives in the Gaza
Protesters target King of Jordan Crowds reminiscent of the Arab Spring filled the street of Jordan last week to protest King Abdullah II in the face of fuel price increases Crowds protested in several cities for a second day yesterday amid rising anger over fuel price increases. Jordan has seen nearly two years of street protests calling for political reforms, but they have largely been peaceful and rarely targeted King Abdullah II himself. Tensions rose late on Tuesday after the government announced it was raising prices for cooking and heating gas by 54 per cent to reduce a massive budget deficit and secure a $2bn loan from the International Monetary Fund. About 2,000 protesters pelted shops with rocks in the centre of the southern city of Karak. King Abdullah II has cancelled his trip to London scheduled for next week, after thousands of Jordanians took to the streets of Amman yesterday calling for his fall on the fourth day of unrest sparked by rising fuel prices. Similar rallies turned unusually violent earlier this week, with one person killed and 75 others, including 58 members of the police, injured. Independent / Nov. 15-16, 2012
Strip" even as its jets began attacking. Thousands of Egyptians gathered outside mosques and in squares across the country to call
The EU has approved a 5bn-euro financial support package for Egypt, 2bn euros of which will be provided by European Investment Bank and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. BBC / November 14, 2012 The controversial religious leader, Abu Qatada , has been freed on bail after he won an appeal in Britain against his deportation to Jordan. But,Theresa May,UK interrior secretary says her government strongly disagrees with the ruling and added that the government has been doing everything to get rid of Qatada. Al Jazeera / November 13, 2012 The Arab League has recognised the newly formed Syrian opposition bloc as the legitimate representative of the Syrian people and called on the rest of the opposition groups to join the coalition. Al Jazeera / November 13, 2012
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ARTICLE OF THE WEEK Michael MARDER Ikerbasque Research Professor of Philosophy at the University of the Basque Country, VitoriaGasteiz
Israel's Medievalism Calls to send Gaza "back to the Middle Ages" only reinforce Israel's current state of medievalism. In one of the most brazen and, at the same time, frank declarations to date, the Israeli Minister of the Interior, Eli Yishai stated regarding the war currently being waged on the Gaza Strip: "The goal of the operation is to send Gaza back to the Middle Ages. Only then will Israel be calm for forty years." With these words, he revealed much more than the subtext behind the official reasons for the invasion, namely restoring Israel's "deterrence capabilities" and destroying Hamas missile launchers. He also shed light on Binyamin Netanyahu's vision of peace not as a relation among equals but as the calm of the defeated, the vision consistent with the use of war to bolster the Prime Minister's domestic image as a tough, military leader in a run-up to his likely re-election in January 2013. Yishai's Biblical allusions to forty years of wandering in the desert are not accidental. After all, his political party, Shas, is the utterly fanatical, religious faction in the Netanyahu government. Its ideal of Israel, too, is not very far from being medieval - a country where men and women would be segregated in public transport as well as in every area of public life, where freedom of religion would be a pipe dream, and where homosexuality would be deemed a plague “as toxix as bird flu� In brief, both the domestic and the foreign policies of Yishai's party are based on a venomous mix of anti-modernism, theocracy, religious parochialism, and disrespect for human rights. All this, however, pales in comparison with the recent call "to send Gaza back to the Middle Ages". With living conditions already precarious in this part of Palestine, on the eve of the possible land invasion of the Gaza Strip, the expression resonates as a horrific threat of razed infrastructure and destroyed houses, mass starvation, and outbreaks of disease. It unmistakably alludes to the barbarity of indiscriminate warfare, where civilian victims are fair game and the Geneva Conventions are blatantly violated. And, above all, it demonstrates the desire to translate the economic and political inequalities between Gaza and the territory that stretches to the North and to the East into insuperable differences, whereby the two populations would no longer inhabit the same historical moment. The tactic of a temporal "throwback" of the adversary is still more insidious than that of the enemy's sheer dehumanisation. Yishai's statement indicates that Israel is intent on creating facts on the ground not only territorially, ie, by way of continued settlement construction and occupation, but also temporally, by exacerbating the already uneven economic development. While high-tech industry thrives in the Israeli Silicon Valley, Gazans are denied the basic
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are denied the basic infrastructure necessary for everyday survival. As though the brutal siege of Gaza were not sufficient to cause unspeakable suffering for all those trapped in the collective prison where Israel is the warden, the war would ensure that the 1.7 million prisoners would not have the luxury of living in the twenty-first century. As a result, materially, Israelis and Palestinians would live in two distinct epochs, the post-modern and the pre-modern. Worse yet, the Israeli postmodernity would be made possible by denying Palestinians the right to usher in political and economic modernity. Tellingly, the chilling threat made by the leader of Shas was sounded less than two weeks before the scheduled formal presentation of the Palestinian the UN to attain the status of a nonmember observer state. While statehood is one of the most recognisable symbols of political modernity, Israel's ongoing efforts to derail the constitution of an independent Palestinian state are in line with the tactics of sending its neighbour "back to the Middle Ages". The Israeli war on Palestinian modernity is waged on all fronts. Literal bombs destroy economic infrastructure and human lives; diplomatic bombs - the letters and phone calls by Netanyahu to world leaders, threateing with “consequences� in case they vote in support of the UN bid - aim to undermine the symbolic and political infrastructure for a viable state. When invoked in a negative context, the term Middle Ages is associated with a period of stagnation and, indeed, a retrogression, oblivious to the achievements of the Greek and Roman civilisations. Pejoratively, they are known as "the Dark Ages" - a peculiar construction of the Italian Renaissance and the Age of the Enlightenment that defined their faith in reason and progress in contrast to the ignorance of Middle Ages. Granted, the period was not particularly auspicious for Christian Europe. But the Arab/Islamic science, medicine, philosophy and the arts flourished, as did the Chinese and Indian empires. It is therefore bitterly ironic that the leader of a party calling for an "authentically Middle Eastern" (hence, Sephardi dominated) Israel would resort to this expression to denote a state of backwardness and underdevelopment. And it is particularly absurd that the current war-mongering and intolerant government of Israel would consider itself as the inheritor of the Enlightenment, waging battle against the forces of medieval darkness. A final nuance should not escape our attention. Yishai did not say that the population of Gaza lived in the Middle Ages. Rather, he called for the spread of medieval darkness on its territory. The strategy is not unheard-of: Dictators prefer to govern by instilling fear and by impeding the social, political, and economic development of their subjects. What this rhetorical move confirmed was Israel's own medievalism, its flagrant disregard of the international legal and political order, where it claims for itself the status of a permanent exception. Al Jazeera/November 19, 2012
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TURKEY Turkey Supports Syria Opposition Syrian National Council (SNC) is expected to gain the support of opposition forces on the ground in Syria who have been fighting for the fall of President Bashar al-Assad's regime. Davutoglu hailed the formation of the new opposition grouping as an “important achievement”. Members of Syria‟s fractious opposition, including rebel fighters and ethnic and religious minorities, forged a coalition to end the in-fighting that has hampered their struggle against Assad. France and some Gulf Arab states have recognized the SNC for opposition but the United States, Arab League and most European countries have been more cautious. Turkey has led calls for the creation of a buffer zone to protect civilians inside Syria and has grown increasingly frustrated by the lack of international consensus. "We do not want escalation. But everyone should be well aware that Turkey has the capacity and determination to protect its citizens and borders," Davutoğlu said. Reuters / November 15, 2012 A Group of lawmakers from the main opposition Republican People Party (CHP) released pepper spray and tear gas into a parliamentary commission session on Thursday. Today’s Zaman / November 15, 2012
The prototype of Turkey's first indigenous main battle tank Altay was introduced at a ceremony. Named in honor of Army General Fahrettin Altay, its design and intellectual property rights will all belong to Turkey. TRT World / November 16, 2012
AKP Submits Proposal for the New Constitution AKP has proposed removing references to Atatürk in the parliamentary oath and expanded the immunity of deputies. In a surprise move, AKP has expanded the immunity of deputies to include the crime of separatism and crimes committed against the regime. It also suggested a new wording for new constitution. It no longer includes the words "principles and reforms of Ataturk," and "secularism.” Additionally, they proposed a change in the parliamentary oath: the addition of the expression “sacred values.” . Should the proposal be approved, deputies will take an oath on their sacred values and honor to stay loyal to the principles of human rights, the rule of law, democracy, protection of the state's independence and the unity of the nation. In its proposal, the AK Party clearly references the presidential system and does not use the word “prime minister.” Today’s Zaman / November 15, 2012
Turkey in No Place to Decide on Azeris’ Gas Competition between the Russian and the Azeri offers for Europe’s future natural gas heats up.
Shah Deniz II is on the eve of making a choice between the Nabucco and Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) projects to carry gas from western Turkey to Europe. “It is the supplier Shah Deniz II Consortium’s prerogative to decide Noam Chomsky called on which firm will take Caspian gas to Turkish government to Europe from Turkey” Yıldız said at the attend to Kurdish prisoners' Atlantic Council meeting, which demands. “Turkish brought regional political leaders and government does not energy representatives from all over the respond in a humane and in world. “Turkey is not in a position to my view civilized way.'' he make a decision on the issue alone so it doesn’t feel the responsibility weighing said. Dicle News / on its shoulders,” he said. Hurriyet Novermber 12, 2012 Daily News / Nov. 16, 2012
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EVENT CALENDAR 20 November 2012:
Özlem Bulut (Concert)
IF Performance Hall/ 22.00 SRI LANKA Capital: Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte
Nereye Gidiyoruz? (Theater)
ODTÜ KKM/ 20.30
Largest City: Colombo
21 November 2012:
Official Languages: Sinhala, Tamil President: Mahinda Rajapaksa Independence: 22 May 1972
Ariadna Castellanos (Concert)
Bilkent Tiyatro & Konser Salonuy/ 20.00
Population: 20, 277, 597
GDP (Per Capita): $6,135
Opera Sahnesi/ 20.00
Ali Baba ve 40 Haramiler (Opera)
Currency: Sri Lankan rupee Government: Presidential democratic socialist republic
Without Words
22 November 2012:
Efes Pilsen Blues Festival (Festival)
Bilkent Otel/ 20.00
Oldies and Goldies (Party)
Hayal Kahvesi/ 21.00
Jale-Sedef YılmabaĢar (Exhibition)
Nurol Sanat Galerisi/ 11.00-18.30
23 November 2012:
Andreas Varady Trio (Concert)
ODTÜ Mezunlar Derneği ViĢnelik/ 20.00
Kafesten Bir KuĢ Uçtu (Guguk
KuĢu) (Theater) Cüneyt Gökçer Sahnesi/ 20.00
24 November 2012:
Volkan Konak-Sunay Akın (Concert)
Anadolu Gösteri Merkezi/ 21.00
Kamikaze Night (Party)
Narquilla /22.00
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EDITORIAL TWITTER FEED You can‟t defend yourself when you‟re militarily occupying someone else‟s land. That‟s not defense. Call it what you like, it‟s not defense. Noam Chomsky, Professor at MIT
We recommend that no Hamas operatives, whether low level or senior leaders, show their faces above ground in the days ahead. Official Twitter of the Israeli Defense Forces
Don't know why John McAfee is running from Belize police. Once he's caught, his trial will surely only last 30 days? Tom Watson, Author of Dial M for Murdoch
A frightening new World Bank report on the climate crisis describes a "doomsday scenario" for the world's poor http://bit.ly/UD5AlL Al Gore, Former Vice President of the U.S.
GENERAL DIRECTOR Alper AKGÜN CO-EDITOR Yiğitcan ERDOĞAN COORDINATORS Hazal AKGÜL, AyĢe ATASOY, Cansu BULUKLU, Begüm ÇELĠKTUTAN EUROPE CORRESPONDENTS Ekin BOZKURT, Dan PRITCHETT, Asude Dilan YĠĞĠT AMERICAS CORRESPONDENTS Paddy SPICER WARD, Ayça ġEN ASIA CORRESPONDENTS Bektur ELEBESOV, H. Sinan GÜLER, AyĢenur ġANLI M. EAST & AFRICAS CORRESPONDENTS R. Sinan USTA, Çağlar YILDIZ TURKEY CORRESPONDENTS Didem ELERMAN, Yağmur ERġAN SOCIAL EVENTS CORRESPONDENT Yağmur ÇĠFTÇĠ Twitter: @metunewsreport