By Ezra HaLevi
PLO chairman Mahmoud Abbas was reported to have told US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice last week that his group would recognize Israel. In Arabic, however, Abbas broadcast a different message.
On the eve of his meeting with Rice, Abbas told Al-Arabiya satellite TV that although a Palestinian Authority government would have to accept the existence of the Israeli government for purposes of receiving funds and other logistical coordination, neither Hamas nor his own Fatah group were required to recognize the legitimacy or right to existence of the Jewish State.
The video clip, with subtitles, has been released by Palestinian Media Watch, an Israeli group that monitors the Arabic-language media. It can be viewed by clicking here.
The following is the text of the clip from Al-Arabiya [Dubai] and Palestinian TV, aired October 3, 2006:
Host: "But maybe Hamas is right that it does not want to recognize Israel."
Abbas: "Hamas is not required, Hamas is not required to recognize Israel... It is not required of Hamas, nor of Fatah, nor of the Popular Front to recognize Israel. Okay?"
"The PLO, in 1993, recognized Israel as Israel recognized the PLO. Every person has the right to say 'I do not recognize.' Okay? It's your right. It is the right of every organization. But the government which will be formed, and which will function opposite the Israelis on a daily basis... [every hour and perhaps every second, there will be contact between Palestinian ministers and Israeli ministers. And I ask] how can this government, or these ministers, not recognize their counterparts, and then solve people's problems?" [Abbas then gives an example of 500 million dollars in taxes intended for the Palestinians, but put on hold by Israelis]. "The Palestinian finance minister has to come to an agreement with the Israeli finance minister about the transfer of the money. So how can he make an agreement with him if he does not recognize him?
"So I do not demand of Hamas nor any other to recognize Israel. But from the government that works with Israelis in day to day life, yes."
Qatar's foreign minister, Sheikh Hamad bin Jassem al Thani, left Gaza Tuesday after failing to bridge gaps between Fatah and Hamas, according to Israel Radio. Thani said that the central unresolved issue was recognition of Israel.
Tuesday, October 10, 2006
Video Catches Abbas Contradicting Commitment to Rice
Monday, October 09, 2006
"Blog of War"
"Blog of War" co-author Eric Egland and his wife, Ania take on CNN
Maj. Eric Egland is a contributing author toThe Blog of War: Front-Line Dispatches from Soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan
, a newly-released anthology of stories from military members and their families published by Simon & Shuster. Eric did tours in both countries.Wednesday, October 04, 2006
Commander Testifies on Capitol Hill
AMVETS National Commander Tom McGriff testified on Capitol Hill recently in front of the U.S. House of Representatives' Committee on Veterans Affairs. The commander spoke about the need for assured funding of the Department of Veterans Affairs, the growing challenges in providing veterans with quality mental health, working to eliminate the claims backlog, and AMVETS' opposition veteran's attorney legislation. Commander McGriff's testimony is available at www.amvets.org.
Emeril sponsors military-only cooking contest
The contest starts at 9 a.m. Eastern Time Sept. 25 and ends at 5 p.m. Oct. 9. Interested chefs can enter by visiting the Food Network Web site at http://www.foodnetwork.com and completing an entry form online that outlines personal and military background and the recipe.
Participants must be at least 18, U.S. residents and active-duty servicemembers. All entries must be received by OCT. 9th, 2006.
Participants must be at least 18, U.S. residents and active-duty servicemembers. All entries must be received by OCT. 9th, 2006.
Monday, October 02, 2006
Soldier's Funeral (Texas Style)
What follows is a message from Vicki Pierce about her nephew James' funeral(he was serving our country in Iraq):
"I'm back, it was certainly a quick trip, but I have to also say it was one of the most amazing experiences of my life. There is a lot to be said for growing up in a small town in Texas. The service itself was impressive with wonderful flowers and sprays, a portrait of James, his uniform and boots, his awards and ribbons. There was lots of military brass and an eloquent (though inappropriately longwinded) Baptist preacher. There were easily 1000 people at the service, filling the church sanctuary as well as the fellowship hall and spilling out into the parking lot.
However, the most incredible thing was what happened following the service on the way to the cemetery. We went to our cars and drove to the cemetery escorted by at least 10 police cars with lights flashing and some other emergency vehicles, with Texas Rangers handling traffic. Everyone on the road who was not in the procession, pulled over, got out of their cars, and stood silently and respectfully, some put their hands over their hearts.
When we turned off the highway suddenly there were teenage boys along both sides of the street about every 20 feet or so, all holding large American flags on long flag poles, and again with their hands on their hearts. We thought at first it was the Boy Scouts or 4H club or something, but it continued .... for two and a half miles. Hundreds of young people, standing silently on the side of the road with flags. At one point we passed an elementary school, and all the children were outside, shoulder to shoulder holding flags kindergartners, handicapped, teachers, staff, everyone. Some held signs of love and support. Then came teenage girls and younger boys, all holding flags. Then adults. Then families. All standing silently on the side of the road. No one spoke, not even the very young children.
The military presence..at least two generals, a fist full of colonels, and representatives from every branch of the service, plus the color guard which attended James, and some who served with him ... was very impressive and respectful, but the love and pride from this community who had lost one of their own was the most amazing thing I've ever been privileged to witness.
I've attached some pictures, some are blurry (we were moving), but you can get a small idea of what this was like. Thanks so much for all the prayers and support."
U.S. Army Spc. James M. Kiehl of Comfort, Texas, was killed in action in Iraq on 23 March 2003 when his convoy was attacked near al-Nasiriyah. James had been assigned to a group of mechanics, cooks, and supply clerks from the 507th Maintenance Company out of Fort Bliss, Texas, and his team was ambushed while on their way to repair computers on a Patriot missile launcher. The 22-year-old soldier left behind a wife who was due to give birth to the couple's first child within the next few weeks.
When the Army first listed James as missing in action, his friends in Comfort (a small Texas town of about 1,200 residents) created an improvised memorial to him which grew daily through additions and messages from friends, residents, and visitors. Since James had stated before he left for Iraq that he did not wish to be buried in a military cemetery, after his parents learned of his death they obtained a plot for him at the private Center Point Cemetery near their home.
On the day of James' funeral, much of the population of Comfort — many of them bearing U.S. flags — turned out to line the route of his funeral procession in a moving display of community support for a lost friend and a fallen soldier. The images displayed above were captured by James' 17-year-old cousin, Amy Pierce, and the description accompanying them was penned by his aunt, Vicki Pierce.
Prayer for our soldiers...
"Lord, hold our troops in your loving hands. Protect them as they protect us. Bless them and their families for the selfless acts they perform for us in our time of need."
Of all the gifts you could give a US Soldier, Sailor, Airman, Marine & others deployed in harm's way,
Prayer is the very best one!
I know this has circulated the Internet since 2003.
Received via email and was the first time I've seen it.
Some people need to be reminded to Support Our Troops
To send this to a friend click the envelope below.
"I'm back, it was certainly a quick trip, but I have to also say it was one of the most amazing experiences of my life. There is a lot to be said for growing up in a small town in Texas. The service itself was impressive with wonderful flowers and sprays, a portrait of James, his uniform and boots, his awards and ribbons. There was lots of military brass and an eloquent (though inappropriately longwinded) Baptist preacher. There were easily 1000 people at the service, filling the church sanctuary as well as the fellowship hall and spilling out into the parking lot.
However, the most incredible thing was what happened following the service on the way to the cemetery. We went to our cars and drove to the cemetery escorted by at least 10 police cars with lights flashing and some other emergency vehicles, with Texas Rangers handling traffic. Everyone on the road who was not in the procession, pulled over, got out of their cars, and stood silently and respectfully, some put their hands over their hearts.
When we turned off the highway suddenly there were teenage boys along both sides of the street about every 20 feet or so, all holding large American flags on long flag poles, and again with their hands on their hearts. We thought at first it was the Boy Scouts or 4H club or something, but it continued .... for two and a half miles. Hundreds of young people, standing silently on the side of the road with flags. At one point we passed an elementary school, and all the children were outside, shoulder to shoulder holding flags kindergartners, handicapped, teachers, staff, everyone. Some held signs of love and support. Then came teenage girls and younger boys, all holding flags. Then adults. Then families. All standing silently on the side of the road. No one spoke, not even the very young children.
The military presence..at least two generals, a fist full of colonels, and representatives from every branch of the service, plus the color guard which attended James, and some who served with him ... was very impressive and respectful, but the love and pride from this community who had lost one of their own was the most amazing thing I've ever been privileged to witness.
I've attached some pictures, some are blurry (we were moving), but you can get a small idea of what this was like. Thanks so much for all the prayers and support."
U.S. Army Spc. James M. Kiehl of Comfort, Texas, was killed in action in Iraq on 23 March 2003 when his convoy was attacked near al-Nasiriyah. James had been assigned to a group of mechanics, cooks, and supply clerks from the 507th Maintenance Company out of Fort Bliss, Texas, and his team was ambushed while on their way to repair computers on a Patriot missile launcher. The 22-year-old soldier left behind a wife who was due to give birth to the couple's first child within the next few weeks.When the Army first listed James as missing in action, his friends in Comfort (a small Texas town of about 1,200 residents) created an improvised memorial to him which grew daily through additions and messages from friends, residents, and visitors. Since James had stated before he left for Iraq that he did not wish to be buried in a military cemetery, after his parents learned of his death they obtained a plot for him at the private Center Point Cemetery near their home.
On the day of James' funeral, much of the population of Comfort — many of them bearing U.S. flags — turned out to line the route of his funeral procession in a moving display of community support for a lost friend and a fallen soldier. The images displayed above were captured by James' 17-year-old cousin, Amy Pierce, and the description accompanying them was penned by his aunt, Vicki Pierce.
Prayer for our soldiers...
"Lord, hold our troops in your loving hands. Protect them as they protect us. Bless them and their families for the selfless acts they perform for us in our time of need."
Of all the gifts you could give a US Soldier, Sailor, Airman, Marine & others deployed in harm's way,
Prayer is the very best one!
I know this has circulated the Internet since 2003.
Received via email and was the first time I've seen it.
Some people need to be reminded to Support Our Troops
To send this to a friend click the envelope below.
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