In this issue: 1) Jewish Voice for Peace Endorses Kucinich Immediate Ceasefire Resolution 2) Report on the Anti-war Demonstration in Tel Aviv, 22 July 2006 3) Condoleezza "False Promise" Rice 4) Juan Cole/AUB appeal for American humanitarian assistance to Lebanon 5) 'There are children dying' - UN humanitarian boss 6) U.S. Speeds Up Bomb Delivery for the Israelis 7) Bush Urged To Give Israel More Time for Attacks 8) Israel set war plan more than a year ago 9) Pelosi wouldn't sign Israel resolution 10) Rift opens between Britain and US over Israeli offensive 11) U.S. Says Attacks in Iraq Up 40 Percent 12) Iraqi government official says "Iraq as a political project is finished" 13) Sources: Negroponte Blocks CIA Analysis of Iraq "Civil War" 14) Russia Balks at Wording of Draft Iran Resolution 15) U.S. Plan Seeks to Wedge Syria Away From Iran 16) Iran guarded on quitting NPT over atomic pressure 17) Iranian Official: Enrichment on the Table
Summary: Jewish Voice for Peace is calling on its supporters to contact members of Congress and ask them to cosponsor H. Con. Res. 450, introduced by Dennis Kucinich, which calls for an immediate ceasefire in Lebanon/Israel. JVP is sponsoring a call-in day Tuesday; we encourage everyone to participate. The Congressional switchboard is 202-225-3121; local and direct Washington numbers for representatives are at www.house.gov. Progressive Democrats of America has also endorsed this resolution. Text of the resolution: http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d109:h.con.res.00450. Current list of cosponsors: http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d109:HC00450:@@@P. To ask your representative to cosponsor, you can use this link: http://www.democracyinaction.org/dia/organizationsORG/justforeignpolicy.org/campaign.jsp?campaign_KEY=4697. Just Foreign Policy's petition for an immediate ceasefire is here: http://www.democracyinaction.org/dia/organizationsORG/justforeignpolicy.org/petition.jsp?petition_KEY=320
"First Mass Demonstration Against the War" is the Hebrew title of a well-written and detailed article published in Ha'aretz this morning, Michael Warschawski writes from Jerusalem for the Alternative Information Center. Around five thousand demonstrators shouted their anger against a criminal war which has taken the civilian populations of the Middle East, including the Israeli one, as hostages. "We will not kill or die for the US," "Amir Peretz—They Wait for You in the Hague," "No to the Destructions in Gaza and Lebanon," "Children in Beirut and Haifa Deserve to Live"—these were among the popular slogans in the main street of Tel Aviv, in Hebrew and in Arabic.
John Nichols, writing in The Nation online, praises the members of Congress who have cosponsored the Kucinich resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire in the Middle East and encourages others to join them.
In his blog Informed Comment (http://www.juancole.com/) Juan Cole posts an appeal from the American University of Beirut for humanitarian assistance for Lebanon (http://www.aub.edu.lb/challenge/help.html). Cole notes that "AUB is an educational institution incorporated in the US, so there is no question of the donations being anything but above-board." He also says, "Lebanese mostly are angry with the US now, and many hate us, for unleashing Israel on them. At least we can do some penance. 500,000 displaced persons, and over a thousand wounded, is as big a humanitarian disaster as the Kashmir earthquake or some per-country effects of the last tsunami. Send a lot of money."
Jan Egeland, the United Nations undersecretary general for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, began a six-day mission to the Middle East Sunday where he spoke to wounded and displaced civilians as well as Lebanese politicians. "I am here on a humanitarian mission on behalf of [UN Secretary General] Kofi Annan. This war has affected the civilian population more than anything. There are children dying. It has to stop," said Egeland, speaking to the press outside the Rafik Hariri Hospital in Beirut. "Israel deserves security but, also, Lebanon deserves security. A life is worth as much in Israel and Lebanon," Egeland added.
The Bush administration is rushing a delivery of precision-guided bombs to Israel, which requested the expedited shipment last week after beginning its air campaign against Hezbollah targets in Lebanon, the New York Times reported Saturday. The disclosure threatens to anger Arab governments and others because of the appearance that the United States is actively aiding the Israeli bombing campaign in a way that could be compared to Iran's efforts to arm and resupply Hezbollah.
Some American Jewish organizations launched a major lobbying offensive in Washington last week to give Israel more time to deal a decisive blow to Islamist militants in Lebanon and Gaza, the Jewish Forward reports from New York. In an effort to head off calls in Washington for a quick cease-fire, some officials with Jewish groups have spent the past few days urging policymakers to make sure that Israel is given ample time and freedom of action to inflict as much damage as possible on Hezbollah's infrastructure in southern Lebanon. Advocates said that they would be asking the administration to slap more sanctions on Syria and to push the European Union to follow America's lead by labeling Hezbollah a terrorist organization.
The plan for Israel's war that is not unfolding in Lebanon was set more than a year ago, the San Francisco Chronicle reported Friday. More than a year ago, a senior Israeli army officer began giving PowerPoint presentations to U.S. and other diplomats, journalists and think tanks, setting out the plan for the current operation in revealing detail.
Although House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi voted in favor of a resolution backing Israel and calling for a tough stance against Hezbollah, she refused to sign her name to it, Shmuel Rosner reported for Haaretz on Friday. An argument with Republican signatories over a section on limiting civilian casualties compelled the Republicans to find another Democratic legislator, Tom Lantos. She wanted the resolution to call on both sides to limit civilian casualties. Republicans leaders said such language would create an equivalence between Israel and Hezbollah. Some were concerned that her refusal to sign could signal that the left of the Democratic Party is on the rise, and wondered whether Pelosi decided she couldn't risk linking her name to language that would be criticized on the blogs of angry Democrats who are reshaping the face of the party. Those acquainted with Pelosi dismissed such fears. She spoke in favor, voted in favor, and is a big supporter of Israel, said one.
The United States was starting to look isolated in its refusal to rein in Israel's attacks on Lebanon with key ally Britain criticising the wholesale killing of Lebanese civilians and widespread destruction, AFP reported Saturday. Britain's junior foreign minister Kim Howells, visiting Beirut, Saturday questioned Israel's military tactics and slammed its killing of "so many children and so many people…These are not surgical strikes," he said of the air and artillery bombardments that have killed more than 300 civilians in Lebanon. Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett said a ground invasion that Israel appeared to be preparing would create "a very dangerous situation". Beckett questioned US and Israeli allegations that Hezbollah was currently being supplied with weapons by Syria and Iran. "I'm not sure that any government anywhere in the world would tell you that they've got cast-iron proof (of Iranian and Syrian involvement)," she told the Financial Times.
U.S. military officials have reported a 40 percent increase in the daily average of attacks in the Baghdad area, AP reported Friday.
Iraqi leaders have all but given up on holding the country together and talk in private of of civil war ahead, Mariam Karouny reported for Reuters on Friday. There is talk among them of pre-empting the worst bloodshed by agreeing to an east-west division of Baghdad into Shi'ite and Sunni Muslim zones, senior officials told Reuters. "Iraq as a political project is finished," one senior government official said. "The parties have moved to Plan B," said one highly placed source, adding that Sunni, ethnic Kurdish and Shi'ite blocs were looking at ways to divide power and resources.
Senior figures at the CIA, along with a number of Iraq analysts, have been pushing to produce a new National Intelligence Estimate, Ken Silverstein reports for Harpers. But they've been stonewalled by John Negroponte, the Director of National Intelligence, who knows that any honest take on the situation would produce an NIE even more pessimistic than the 2004 version.
Russian opposition to key wording of a U.S.-backed Security Council draft resolution is straining international unity on efforts to deal with Iran's nuclear defiance, the Los Angeles Times reports. Moscow is refusing to endorse language that would tell Tehran it faces sanctions if it fails to freeze enrichment. The article refers to the Russian opposition as "unexpected" and describes diplomats as "vexed" by Russia's "change of heart," which seems odd considering that this has usually been Russia's position, according to previous press reports. Only recently had it been hinted in the press that Russia was "inching towards sanctions," and this was in the immediate run-up to the G8 summit in Russia, when Western diplomats argued that they had unique leverage on Russia that they would lose after the summit.
Bush administration officials say they recognize Syria is central to any plans to resolve the crisis in the Middle East, the New York Times reports. Senior administration officials said they had no plans right now to resume direct talks with the Syrian government.
But while analysts say it is possible for the Bush administration and Israel to work out a solution without including Syria in the diplomatic wrangling, it would be difficult. Some Bush administration officials, particularly at the State Department, are pushing to find a way to start talking to Syria again.
Iran responded cautiously on Sunday to suggestions it would follow North Korea out of the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) if the U.N. Security Council passed a tough resolution against its atomic work, Reuters reports. Leading Iranian parliamentarians have said they would table a bill calling for Tehran to quit the treaty if the world body tries to deprive Iran of a fuel cycle. When asked whether Iran could respond to such moves by quitting the NPT, Foreign Ministry spokesman Hamid Reza Asefi said: "We do not predict or prejudge anything. We will react proportionally to what the other party does."
Iran left open the possibility Sunday that it might consider suspending uranium enrichment, AP reports. President Ahmadinejad and other Iranian officials have said they will never abandon uranium enrichment, which the United States and allies fear could be used for a nuclear arms program. But a foreign ministry spokesman suggested Sunday that Tehran may have softened its position. "Everything should come out through negotiations ... Leave everything for negotiations," Hamid Reza Asefi said.
Articles: 2) Report on the Anti-war Demonstration in Tel Aviv, 22 July 2006 Michael Warschawski Alternative Information Center Monday, 24 July 2006 http://alternativenews.org/index.php
"First Mass Demonstration Against the War" is the Hebrew title of a well-written and detailed article published in Ha'aretz this morning. Around five thousands demonstrators, who came from all over the country, shouted loud and clear, their rage against a criminal war which has taken the civilian populations of the Middle East, including the Israeli one, as hostages.
3) Condoleezza "False Promise" Rice John Nichols The Nation Posted 07/22/2006 @ 4:22pm http://www.thenation.com/blogs/thebeat?pid=104735
As Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice goes through the charade of meeting with international leaders to discuss the crisis in the Middle East – while showing her true sentiments with a firm rejection of the "false promise" of a ceasefire – observers of the carnage might reasonably ask: Is there anyone in Washington who wants the killing to stop? In fact, there are a few dozen brave members of Congress who have leant their names to a call for halting the violence and allowing diplomacy to replace the bombs and bullets that are ripping apart whole regions of Lebanon, Israel and Palestine.
5) 'There are children dying' - UN humanitarian boss Iman Azzi Daily Star (Beirut) Monday, July 24, 2006 http://www.dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?edition_id=1&categ_id=1&article_id=74198
Jan Egeland, the United Nations undersecretary general for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, began a six-day mission to the Middle East Sunday where he spoke to wounded and displaced civilians as well as Lebanese politicians.
6) U.S. Speeds Up Bomb Delivery for the Israelis David S. Cloud and Helene Cooper New York Times July 22, 2006 http://www.nytimes.com/2006/07/22/world/middleeast/22military.html
The Bush administration is rushing a delivery of precision-guided bombs to Israel, which requested the expedited shipment last week after beginning its air campaign against Hezbollah targets in Lebanon, American officials said Friday.
7) Bush Urged To Give Israel More Time for Attacks Ori Nir Jewish Forward July 21, 2006 http://www.forward.com/articles/8139
Bucking calls in the international community for a cease-fire in the Middle East, Jewish organizations launched a major lobbying offensive in the nation's capital this week to give Israel more time to deal a decisive blow to Islamist militants in Lebanon and Gaza.
8) Israel set war plan more than a year ago Strategy was put in motion as Hezbollah began gaining military strength in Lebanon Matthew Kalman San Francisco Chronicle Friday, July 21, 2006 http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2006/07/21/MNG2QK396D1.DTL
Israel's military response by air, land and sea to what it considered a provocation last week by Hezbollah militants is unfolding according to a plan finalized more than a year ago.
9) Pelosi wouldn't sign Israel resolution Shmuel Rosner Haaretz 21/07/2006 http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/741113.html
The message to the press was apparently sent a little too early. Caution was momentarily pushed aside by joy over the Senate resolution backing and praising Israel and calling for a tough stance against Hezbollah, Hamas, Syria and Iran. Tomorrow, said the message, a similar resolution will be passed in the House of Representatives, supported by House Majority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-California).
10) Rift opens between Britain and US over Israeli offensive Marc Burleigh AFP Sat Jul 22, 12:02 PM ET http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20060722/wl_uk_afp/mideastconflictlebanonisraelbritainus_060722160256
The United States was starting to look isolated in its refusal to rein in Israel's attacks on Lebanon with key ally Britain criticising the wholesale killing of Lebanese civilians and widespread destruction.
11) U.S. Says Attacks in Iraq Up 40 Percent U.S. Military Says Attacks in Iraq Up 40 Percent Over the Last Few Days, to Average of 34 a Day Ryan Lenz Associated Press July 20 http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory?id=2216794
Iraq's top Shiite cleric urged his followers Thursday to refrain from reprisal violence against Sunnis, his strongest call yet for an end to increasing sectarian bloodshed. The statement by Grand Ayatollah Ali Al-Sistani came as U.S. military officials reported a 40 percent increase in the daily average of attacks in the Baghdad area.
12) Iraqi government official says "Iraq as a political project is finished" Gloom descends on Iraqi leaders as civil war looms Mariam Karouny Reuters 21 Jul 2006 13:02:08 GMT http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L21908240.htm
Iraqi leaders have all but given up on holding the country together and, just two months after forming a national unity government, talk in private of "black days" of civil war ahead.
13) Sources: Negroponte Blocks CIA Analysis of Iraq "Civil War" Ken Silverstein Washington Babylon, Harpers.org Posted on Friday, July 21, 2006 http://harpers.org/sb-sources-negroponte-nei-cia-1153433546.html
I reported in May that despite the deteriorating situation in Iraq, no National Intelligence Estimate (NIE) has been produced on that country since the summer of 2004. The last NIE, a classified document that the CIA describes as "the most authoritative written judgment concerning a national security issue," was rejected by the Bush Administration (after being leaked to the New York Times) as being too negative, though its grim assessment subsequently proved to be highly accurate.
14) Russia Balks at Wording of Draft Iran Resolution Los Angeles Times July 23, 2006 http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-briefs23.3jul23,1,659030.story
Unexpected Russian opposition to key wording of a U.S.-backed Security Council draft resolution is straining international unity on efforts to deal with Iran's nuclear defiance, U.N. diplomats said.
15) U.S. Plan Seeks to Wedge Syria Away From Iran Helene Cooper And David E. Sanger New York Times July 23, 2006 http://www.nytimes.com/2006/07/23/washington/23diplo.html
As Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice heads to Israel on Sunday, Bush administration officials say they recognize Syria is central to any plans to resolve the crisis in the Middle East, and they are seeking ways to peel Syria away from its alliance of convenience with Iran.
16) Iran guarded on quitting NPT over atomic pressure Reuters Sunday, July 23, 2006; 4:50 AM http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/07/23/AR2006072300086.html
Iran responded cautiously on Sunday to suggestions it would follow North Korea out of the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) if the U.N. Security Council passed a tough resolution against its atomic work.
17) Iranian Official: Enrichment on the Table Associated Press Sunday, July 23, 2006; 5:07 AM http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/07/23/AR2006072300094.html
Iran left open the possibility Sunday that it might consider suspending uranium enrichment, one of the most contentious features of its suspect nuclear program.
-------- Robert Naiman Just Foreign Policy www.justforeignpolicy.org