What's New

Resources updated between Monday, May 13, 2019 and Sunday, May 19, 2019

May 17, 2019

Iranian writers, Reza Khandan, Baktash Abtin, and Keyvan Bajan (Social Media)

Three Prominent Writers In Iran Sentenced To 18 Years Document

An UNRWA building in Nablus (File photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons)

"Even as the winds of war seem to have temporarily subsided in Gaza, Israel's Foreign Ministry and the U.N. Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees continue to butt heads over the agency's conduct during the most recent round of violence between Israel and Palestinian terrorist groups in Gaza.

Tensions began when UNRWA's Commissioner General Matthias Schmale on May 4, intimated on Twitter that Israeli airstrikes were hindering UNRWA sponsored events to 'celebrate children and their sports and fun activities.'

'Surrealistic #Gaza day: went to 2 marvelous @UNRWA events to celebrate children & their sports and fun activities & then to honor sanitation laborers followed by good working lunch with colleagues; in parallel sounds of bombs all day & we seem yet again close to war. Madness!' Schmale tweeted.

Foreign Ministry Spokesman Emmanuel Nahshon, angry at Schmale's one-sided depiction of events, responded to Schmale on Twitter: 'The terrorists shooting the rockets are all probably @UNRWA graduates. You must be really proud of them.'
...
Yinam Cohen, the director of the ministry's U.N. Political Affairs Department, told [UNRWA Director of Legal Affairs Rachel] Evers in a response letter that Schmale had disseminated lies on behalf of the Palestinians.

For example, Cohen wrote, Schmale has 'equated Israel to apartheid,' has implied 'the IDF purposefully targets children,' and 'even retweeted a message, which he later erased, insinuating that Israel is committing genocide against Palestinians.'

Cohen continued: 'The issue in hand is Mr. Schmale's lack of neutrality. As a UNRWA official, publishing such statements publicly using social media, exposes him to much-warranted criticism and he must be held accountable for his public remarks.'..."

Israel Foreign Ministry against UNRWA: 'We'll keep telling the truth' Article

May 16, 2019

The Supreme Court of Iran (File photo courtesy Wikimedia Commons)

Tehran Sentences Iranian British Council Worker To 10 Years For 'Spying' Document

The Golan Heights (Wikimedia Commons)

U.S. to U.N.: You yourself rejected withdrawal to '67 lines - analysis Article

A church in Burkina Faso (File photo courtesy Wikimedia Commons)

Four killed in ambush on Catholic parade in Burkina Faso Document

A fire caused by Palestinian incendiary devices near Gaza (File photo courtesy Wikimedia Commons)

Nine fires caused by Incendiary balloons near Gaza Document

May 15, 2019

Cuban doctors (File photo courtesy Wikimedia Commons)

NGOs: Cuba Enslaving Up to 100,000 Doctors, Other Professionals Annually Document

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (File photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons)

"President Trump's recognition of Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights was met with condemnation from the European Union and others. Leaders called the move 'invalid,' 'illegitimate' and 'absolutely worthless.' United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called Israel's 1981 annexation of the Golan "null and void and without international legal effect." These assertions are baseless.

Virtually every nation cited U.N. Security Council Resolution 242, which outlined a framework for achieving peace in the Middle East. The preamble speaks of 'the inadmissibility of the acquisition of territory by war.' Yet President Trump's Golan proclamation is entirely consistent with Resolution 242.
...
Resolution 242 calls on the parties to negotiate a just and lasting peace, one that recognizes the right of all countries, including Israel, to live 'within secure and recognized boundaries free from threats or acts of force.' It provides that Israel would withdraw from some-but not necessarily all-territory captured in 1967 in keeping with that objective. Some of Israel's former enemies pursued peace in good faith, and Israel has withdrawn from more than 88% of the territory it captured in 1967-most notably the Sinai Peninsula, pursuant to the 1979 Camp David Accords with Egypt.

Syria is a different story. In word and deed, Damascus has for 52 years rejected the negotiating framework of Resolution 242. It has maintained a state of war with Israel since Israel became independent in 1948. It is a client of Iran and one of the most brutal regimes on earth. By affirming Israel's sovereignty over the Golan Heights, the president has afforded Israel the only secure and recognized boundary that can exist under the circumstances-the objective of Resolution 242..."

International Law Backs The Trump Golan Policy Article

Swedish police vans (File photo courtesy Wikimedia Commons)

Jewish Woman Stabbed by Muslim Man in Sweden Document

May 14, 2019

Iranian students at a protest, May 13, 2019 (Social media)

Pro-Iran Government Activists Assault Student Protesters in Tehran Document

May 13, 2019

Father Simeon Yampa, who was killed in the attack on a church in Burkina Faso on May 12, 2019. (Catholic Paroisse of Kayain Burkina Faso)

Attack on Catholic church in Burkina Faso leaves 6 dead Document

A Cuban police officer (File photo courtesy Wikimedia Commons)

Cuba gay rights activists arrested at pride march in Havana Document

German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas meeting with Israeli President Reuven Rivlin, March 2018 (Courtesy Wikimedia Commons)

German Foreign Minister condemns U.N.'s treatment of Israel Article

Tel Aviv beach (Courtesy Wikimedia Commons)

2 East Jerusalem men charged with planning Tel Aviv beach shooting for Hamas Document