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1. Massive Phone-In to White House to Free Pollard for Funeral
by Tzvi Ben Gedalyahu
Two campaigns were launched Sunday to free prisoner Jonathan Pollard to attend his father’s funeral Monday morning –a massive phone-in to the White House and political pressure from Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu.
The Obama administration last week remained silent to requests to free Pollard long enough to visit his 95-year-old father before he died Saturday. Officials will have to act almost immediately if they want to allow him to help bury his father. He would have to leave his cell several hours before the funeral in South Bend, Indiana, and security arrangements would have to be implemented.
The main desk phone number at the White House is 202-456-1414. Activists said that there is no time for e-mails and told supporters, “The number to the main desk does not take messages; however, if numerous people are calling non-stop, the message will reverberate throughout the White House and it will have an effect."
In addition, a rally is scheduled at 7 p.m. (noon EDT) opposite the American Embassy in Tel Aviv under the banner, “Obama: Show a bit of humanity. Let Pollard accompany his father to his final resting place.”
On the political front, Prime Minister Netanyahu said he will submit a formal diplomatic request on behalf of Pollard, who is serving a life term in prison for passing on classified information to America's ally, Israel -- an offense that usually carries a 2-4 year prison term.
Likud Minister Limor Livnat said that Prime Minister Netanyahu has “worked hard the past week” to try to convince the Obama administration to allow Pollard out of prison to visit his father, who was an award-winning professor at Notre Dame University in Indiana.
“I really hope the U.S. administration shows minimal humanity and lets him out of prison after 26 years to be at the funeral,” she added.
Jewish Home Minister Daniel Hershkowitz, a member of the coalition government, stated, "The man has been rotting in an American prison. His mother passed away, and he was not allowed to see his father before his death, too. I want to remind everyone that he was not acting against the United States but rather to obtain information on [Arab] terrorists.”
Kadima MK Ronit Tirosh said that if the United States does not allow Jonathan Pollard to help bury his father, she will boycott the annual American Independence Day party at the ambassador’s house.
Nachman Shai, also a Kadima MK, called on American Jews to speak up for Pollard. "Five million Jews live in the United States, and they are silent,” he said. “A clear statement needs to come from them.”
Comment on this story
by Tzvi Ben Gedalyahu
Two campaigns were launched Sunday to free prisoner Jonathan Pollard to attend his father’s funeral Monday morning –a massive phone-in to the White House and political pressure from Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu.
The Obama administration last week remained silent to requests to free Pollard long enough to visit his 95-year-old father before he died Saturday. Officials will have to act almost immediately if they want to allow him to help bury his father. He would have to leave his cell several hours before the funeral in South Bend, Indiana, and security arrangements would have to be implemented.
The main desk phone number at the White House is 202-456-1414. Activists said that there is no time for e-mails and told supporters, “The number to the main desk does not take messages; however, if numerous people are calling non-stop, the message will reverberate throughout the White House and it will have an effect."
In addition, a rally is scheduled at 7 p.m. (noon EDT) opposite the American Embassy in Tel Aviv under the banner, “Obama: Show a bit of humanity. Let Pollard accompany his father to his final resting place.”
On the political front, Prime Minister Netanyahu said he will submit a formal diplomatic request on behalf of Pollard, who is serving a life term in prison for passing on classified information to America's ally, Israel -- an offense that usually carries a 2-4 year prison term.
Likud Minister Limor Livnat said that Prime Minister Netanyahu has “worked hard the past week” to try to convince the Obama administration to allow Pollard out of prison to visit his father, who was an award-winning professor at Notre Dame University in Indiana.
“I really hope the U.S. administration shows minimal humanity and lets him out of prison after 26 years to be at the funeral,” she added.
Jewish Home Minister Daniel Hershkowitz, a member of the coalition government, stated, "The man has been rotting in an American prison. His mother passed away, and he was not allowed to see his father before his death, too. I want to remind everyone that he was not acting against the United States but rather to obtain information on [Arab] terrorists.”
Kadima MK Ronit Tirosh said that if the United States does not allow Jonathan Pollard to help bury his father, she will boycott the annual American Independence Day party at the ambassador’s house.
Nachman Shai, also a Kadima MK, called on American Jews to speak up for Pollard. "Five million Jews live in the United States, and they are silent,” he said. “A clear statement needs to come from them.”
Comment on this story
2. Lieberman: Oslo Void If PA Declares State
by Gavriel Queenann
Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman told European Union counterpart Catherine Ashton on Friday a unilateral declaration of statehood by the Palestinian Authority would nullify the Oslo Accords.
The 1993 Olso Accords, which stipulate a bilateral framework and proscribe unilateral moves, serve as the basis for economic, infrastructure, and security cooperation between Israel and the Palestinian Authority.
"A move like that will be a violation of all the agreements that were signed until today. Israel will no longer be committed to the agreements signed with the Palestinians in the past 18 years," Lieberman said.
"In light of Abbas's current stance, the chances for negotiations are zero," Lieberman added, dowsing speculation set in motion by Shimon Peres who said peace was possible before September.
"Abbas is not interested in an agreement," the foreign minister explained. "He wants conflict, because that is his personal interest, even though it is against the Palestinians' interest, and many oppose him."
"Israel is prepared to renew negotiations. The ball is in the Palestinians' court," Lieberman said.
The nullification of the Oslo Accords would, in all likelihood, render a nascent PA state not viable and ultimately force Israel to assert jurisdiction in areas currently administered by the PA.
It is unlikely the PA, whose US-trained and equipped security forces number 41,000, would accept such an outcome peaceably. The Olso Accords stipulated a maximum force of 30,000 for the PA.
Ashton Trying to Reinvigorate Stalled Talks
Ashton arrived in Israel on Friday after visiting Jordan in what observers said was a bid to urge both sides to return to the negotiating table.
"We are well aware that September is fast approaching. With the events of the Arab Spring and following President [Barack] Obama's speech, it is more urgent than ever to engage in meaningful negotiations and move the Peace Process forward," Ashton's office said in a formal statement.
"The EU's position on this is clear, as set out in Council conclusions. That is the message [Ashton] passed on very clearly in her meeting with Minister Lieberman," the statement added.
Ashton is expected to meet with Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu on Sunday.
Comment on this story
by Gavriel Queenann
Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman told European Union counterpart Catherine Ashton on Friday a unilateral declaration of statehood by the Palestinian Authority would nullify the Oslo Accords.
The 1993 Olso Accords, which stipulate a bilateral framework and proscribe unilateral moves, serve as the basis for economic, infrastructure, and security cooperation between Israel and the Palestinian Authority.
"A move like that will be a violation of all the agreements that were signed until today. Israel will no longer be committed to the agreements signed with the Palestinians in the past 18 years," Lieberman said.
"In light of Abbas's current stance, the chances for negotiations are zero," Lieberman added, dowsing speculation set in motion by Shimon Peres who said peace was possible before September.
"Abbas is not interested in an agreement," the foreign minister explained. "He wants conflict, because that is his personal interest, even though it is against the Palestinians' interest, and many oppose him."
"Israel is prepared to renew negotiations. The ball is in the Palestinians' court," Lieberman said.
The nullification of the Oslo Accords would, in all likelihood, render a nascent PA state not viable and ultimately force Israel to assert jurisdiction in areas currently administered by the PA.
It is unlikely the PA, whose US-trained and equipped security forces number 41,000, would accept such an outcome peaceably. The Olso Accords stipulated a maximum force of 30,000 for the PA.
Ashton Trying to Reinvigorate Stalled Talks
Ashton arrived in Israel on Friday after visiting Jordan in what observers said was a bid to urge both sides to return to the negotiating table.
"We are well aware that September is fast approaching. With the events of the Arab Spring and following President [Barack] Obama's speech, it is more urgent than ever to engage in meaningful negotiations and move the Peace Process forward," Ashton's office said in a formal statement.
"The EU's position on this is clear, as set out in Council conclusions. That is the message [Ashton] passed on very clearly in her meeting with Minister Lieberman," the statement added.
Ashton is expected to meet with Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu on Sunday.
Comment on this story
3. Netanyahu Takes Control of Settlement Policy
by Chana Ya'ar
Policy making for Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria has just moved from the Defense Ministry to the Prime Minister's Office.
Defense Minister Ehud Barak had requested a delay in discussing any such action until he was to return from Paris. Nevertheless, on Sunday the government authorized the transfer of responsibility for the Settlement Department of the World Zionist Organization to the PMO.
In effect, the action removes from Barak's control any responsibility for new settlement and building policies in Judea and Samaria and places it directly under that of Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu.
In response to questions from the media, however, a spokesperson said all decisions on construction in the regions would still be taken under advisement with the defense minister. Moreover, the spokesperson added that the changes had been made in cooperation with Barak, who has been in France for the 49th annual Paris Air Show.
The Defense Ministry had no comment on the report.
Comment on this story
by Chana Ya'ar
Policy making for Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria has just moved from the Defense Ministry to the Prime Minister's Office.
Defense Minister Ehud Barak had requested a delay in discussing any such action until he was to return from Paris. Nevertheless, on Sunday the government authorized the transfer of responsibility for the Settlement Department of the World Zionist Organization to the PMO.
In effect, the action removes from Barak's control any responsibility for new settlement and building policies in Judea and Samaria and places it directly under that of Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu.
In response to questions from the media, however, a spokesperson said all decisions on construction in the regions would still be taken under advisement with the defense minister. Moreover, the spokesperson added that the changes had been made in cooperation with Barak, who has been in France for the 49th annual Paris Air Show.
The Defense Ministry had no comment on the report.
Comment on this story
4. Thomas Friedman ‘Solves’ the 'PA Homeland' with Sour Lemons
by Tzvi Ben Gedalyahu
New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman, who once wrote he would rather “herd cats” than trying to untangle the Palestinian Authority-Israeli problem, now has the final solution: The United Nations 1947 Partition Plan.
In his latest column, Friedman wrote Sunday that re-adopting the 1947 Partition Plan, which the Arab world rejected at the time and instead tried to annihilate Israel, as a solution to the age-old Arab-Israeli struggle really is “very simple.”
His proposed re-wording of the Partition Plan would state, “This body reaffirms that the area of historic Palestine should be divided into two homes for two peoples — a Palestinian Arab state and a Jewish state. The dividing line should be based on the 1967 borders — with mutually agreed border adjustments and security arrangements for both sides. This body recognizes the Palestinian state as a member of the General Assembly and urges both sides to enter into negotiations to resolve all the other outstanding issues.”
Friedman’s term that “historic Palestine should be divided into two homes” implies that none of the land really is Israel’s home.
In a column last year, Friedman disparaged efforts by U.S. President Barack Obama and U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. He wrote, “This conflict is now broken into so many different pieces it may take a whole State Department of its own to resolve it….
"Who in the world would want to try to repair this? I’d rather herd cats, or become John Thain’s image adviser, or have a colonoscopy, or become chairman of the ’bad bank’ that President Obama might create to hold all the toxic mortgages. Surely, any of those would be more fun.”
Now, in a column under the headline “What to Do With Lemons,” he writes that the president and his Secretary of State “have made quite a mess in Israeli-Palestinian relations, where they’ve alienated all sides and generated zero progress. They’ve been inconsistent — demanding a settlements freeze then backing down — unimaginative and politically wimpy. Then again, the actors they’ve had to work with were both lemons — a Palestinian government that was too divided to make any big decisions and an elusive right-wing Israeli government that was strong enough to make big decisions but had no will to do so.”
His solution of making ”lemonade" out of the lemons actually includes the same stumbling block that has remained for two years, if not longer: “Negotiations,” which Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas defines as Israel’s accepting the Arab world demands or face consequences ranging from a unilateral declaration of a PA state to a human invasion on Israel from Lebanon, Syria and Jordan or even a third intifada.
Friedman argues that his version of the Partition would give the Palestinian Authority “negotiations based on the 1967 borders” while “Israel would get a U.N.-U.S. assurance that the final border would be shaped in negotiations between the parties, with land swaps, so theoretically the 5 percent of the West Bank where 80 percent of the settlers live could be traded for parts of pre-1967 Israel.”
His eventual solution is exactly what U.S. President Barack Obama has suggested and which has been rejected on all fronts.
Friedman’s solution also goes against what he wrote in another column several months ago: “Even if Israel agrees to swap land with the Palestinians so that 80 percent of the Jewish settlers in the West Bank can stay put, it will mean that 60,000 will still have to be removed. It took Israel 55,000 soldiers to remove 8,100 Jewish settlers from Gaza, which was never part of the Land of Israel [sic]. Imagine when today’s Israeli Army, where the officer corps is increasingly drawn from religious Zionists who support the settler movement, is called on to remove settlers from the West Bank.”
Comment on this story
by Tzvi Ben Gedalyahu
New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman, who once wrote he would rather “herd cats” than trying to untangle the Palestinian Authority-Israeli problem, now has the final solution: The United Nations 1947 Partition Plan.
In his latest column, Friedman wrote Sunday that re-adopting the 1947 Partition Plan, which the Arab world rejected at the time and instead tried to annihilate Israel, as a solution to the age-old Arab-Israeli struggle really is “very simple.”
His proposed re-wording of the Partition Plan would state, “This body reaffirms that the area of historic Palestine should be divided into two homes for two peoples — a Palestinian Arab state and a Jewish state. The dividing line should be based on the 1967 borders — with mutually agreed border adjustments and security arrangements for both sides. This body recognizes the Palestinian state as a member of the General Assembly and urges both sides to enter into negotiations to resolve all the other outstanding issues.”
Friedman’s term that “historic Palestine should be divided into two homes” implies that none of the land really is Israel’s home.
In a column last year, Friedman disparaged efforts by U.S. President Barack Obama and U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. He wrote, “This conflict is now broken into so many different pieces it may take a whole State Department of its own to resolve it….
"Who in the world would want to try to repair this? I’d rather herd cats, or become John Thain’s image adviser, or have a colonoscopy, or become chairman of the ’bad bank’ that President Obama might create to hold all the toxic mortgages. Surely, any of those would be more fun.”
Now, in a column under the headline “What to Do With Lemons,” he writes that the president and his Secretary of State “have made quite a mess in Israeli-Palestinian relations, where they’ve alienated all sides and generated zero progress. They’ve been inconsistent — demanding a settlements freeze then backing down — unimaginative and politically wimpy. Then again, the actors they’ve had to work with were both lemons — a Palestinian government that was too divided to make any big decisions and an elusive right-wing Israeli government that was strong enough to make big decisions but had no will to do so.”
His solution of making ”lemonade" out of the lemons actually includes the same stumbling block that has remained for two years, if not longer: “Negotiations,” which Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas defines as Israel’s accepting the Arab world demands or face consequences ranging from a unilateral declaration of a PA state to a human invasion on Israel from Lebanon, Syria and Jordan or even a third intifada.
Friedman argues that his version of the Partition would give the Palestinian Authority “negotiations based on the 1967 borders” while “Israel would get a U.N.-U.S. assurance that the final border would be shaped in negotiations between the parties, with land swaps, so theoretically the 5 percent of the West Bank where 80 percent of the settlers live could be traded for parts of pre-1967 Israel.”
His eventual solution is exactly what U.S. President Barack Obama has suggested and which has been rejected on all fronts.
Friedman’s solution also goes against what he wrote in another column several months ago: “Even if Israel agrees to swap land with the Palestinians so that 80 percent of the Jewish settlers in the West Bank can stay put, it will mean that 60,000 will still have to be removed. It took Israel 55,000 soldiers to remove 8,100 Jewish settlers from Gaza, which was never part of the Land of Israel [sic]. Imagine when today’s Israeli Army, where the officer corps is increasingly drawn from religious Zionists who support the settler movement, is called on to remove settlers from the West Bank.”
Comment on this story
5. Palestinian Authority Arabs Resume Terror, Soldiers Foil Attack
by Tzvi Ben Gedalyahu
Soldiers at a checkpoint near Kfar Saba Sunday morning foiled a Palestinian Authority Arab’s attempt to stab them while shouting “Allahu Akhbar ("Allah is great"). The soldiers were not injured.
The attempted murder of the soldiers occurred near the Arab city of Kalkilya and on the main highway connecting Kfar Saba, located in the northern Tel Aviv metropolitan area, with communities in Samaria (Shomron).
Alert soldiers shot at the terrorist in self-defense, wounding him moderately. Israeli medics for Magen David Adom (MDA) treated the terrorist at the scene and then rushed him to Beilinson Hospital-Rabin Medical Center in Petach Tikvah.
Several hours earlier, a senior leader of Hamas, PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas' new partner in a unity government, said that the best way for Arabs to overcome Israel is to use violence. Khalil al-Hayya added that diplomatic measures, such as turning to the United Nations to recognize the Palestinian Authority as an independent country, are a "mirage” and a waste of time, the Associated Press reported.
Abbas had told English-speaking media that he does not favor violence, but Palestinian Authority documented speeches and statements in the Arabic-language media have memorialized suicide terrorists and promoted incitement.
Comment on this story
by Tzvi Ben Gedalyahu
Soldiers at a checkpoint near Kfar Saba Sunday morning foiled a Palestinian Authority Arab’s attempt to stab them while shouting “Allahu Akhbar ("Allah is great"). The soldiers were not injured.
The attempted murder of the soldiers occurred near the Arab city of Kalkilya and on the main highway connecting Kfar Saba, located in the northern Tel Aviv metropolitan area, with communities in Samaria (Shomron).
Alert soldiers shot at the terrorist in self-defense, wounding him moderately. Israeli medics for Magen David Adom (MDA) treated the terrorist at the scene and then rushed him to Beilinson Hospital-Rabin Medical Center in Petach Tikvah.
Several hours earlier, a senior leader of Hamas, PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas' new partner in a unity government, said that the best way for Arabs to overcome Israel is to use violence. Khalil al-Hayya added that diplomatic measures, such as turning to the United Nations to recognize the Palestinian Authority as an independent country, are a "mirage” and a waste of time, the Associated Press reported.
Abbas had told English-speaking media that he does not favor violence, but Palestinian Authority documented speeches and statements in the Arabic-language media have memorialized suicide terrorists and promoted incitement.
Comment on this story
6. Turning Point 5 National Defense Drill This Week
by Chana Ya'ar
Israel is continuing to prepare for the possibility of war this week with the country's fifth annual nationwide Home Front defense drill. The "Turning Point" military exercise series has been conducted annually since the 2006 Second Lebanon War against the Lebanon-based Hizbullah terrorist organization.
“Turning Point 5” is a military exercise being held on home front defense -- what Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu told the Cabinet at its weekly Sunday meeting is the country's “new front.”
Home Front Defense Minister Matan Vilnai, who was present at the meeting, said this year's exercise would address “extreme situations such as massive firing deep into the State of Israel.” At present, some 60 percent of the population has obtained newly-updated gas masks, according to Vilnai. During the exercise, more will be available and distributed to the population.
At least one of those scenarios will entail sustained rocket attacks on the Tel Aviv region, a geriatric hospital and/or the electrical power grid. In addition, Knesset members will also be expected to respond to a simulated attack on the Knesset in Jerusalem.
On Wednesday, June 22, there will be two sirens during which Israelis will be asked to enter their pre-selected protected spaces. One will sound at 11:00 a.m. while the general population is at work. “Everyone will have to ask himself, 'What must I do?' Vilnai said. The other will be activated at 7:00 p.m. when most people are at home with their families – and should ask “what are they to do,” he said.
Vilnai said the drill is designed as much for the Cabinet ministers “so that we might coordinate among ourselves” as well as it is for everyone else involved in defense. All told, some 80 municipalities will participate in the exercise, along with military, police, firefighters and emergency services. The Home Front Command will also test an emergency SMS service during the drill, according to the IDF.
“I assume that the State of Israel's deterrent capability, its ability to exact a high price from the other side, is clear to the other side, which will avoid this as much as possible. It understands why it should avoid it,” Vilnai added in a clear warning to Israel's enemies.
Comment on this story
by Chana Ya'ar
Israel is continuing to prepare for the possibility of war this week with the country's fifth annual nationwide Home Front defense drill. The "Turning Point" military exercise series has been conducted annually since the 2006 Second Lebanon War against the Lebanon-based Hizbullah terrorist organization.
“Turning Point 5” is a military exercise being held on home front defense -- what Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu told the Cabinet at its weekly Sunday meeting is the country's “new front.”
Home Front Defense Minister Matan Vilnai, who was present at the meeting, said this year's exercise would address “extreme situations such as massive firing deep into the State of Israel.” At present, some 60 percent of the population has obtained newly-updated gas masks, according to Vilnai. During the exercise, more will be available and distributed to the population.
At least one of those scenarios will entail sustained rocket attacks on the Tel Aviv region, a geriatric hospital and/or the electrical power grid. In addition, Knesset members will also be expected to respond to a simulated attack on the Knesset in Jerusalem.
On Wednesday, June 22, there will be two sirens during which Israelis will be asked to enter their pre-selected protected spaces. One will sound at 11:00 a.m. while the general population is at work. “Everyone will have to ask himself, 'What must I do?' Vilnai said. The other will be activated at 7:00 p.m. when most people are at home with their families – and should ask “what are they to do,” he said.
Vilnai said the drill is designed as much for the Cabinet ministers “so that we might coordinate among ourselves” as well as it is for everyone else involved in defense. All told, some 80 municipalities will participate in the exercise, along with military, police, firefighters and emergency services. The Home Front Command will also test an emergency SMS service during the drill, according to the IDF.
“I assume that the State of Israel's deterrent capability, its ability to exact a high price from the other side, is clear to the other side, which will avoid this as much as possible. It understands why it should avoid it,” Vilnai added in a clear warning to Israel's enemies.
Comment on this story
7. China Wants the Best of Both Worlds on Iran
by Amiel Ungar
China and Iran recently marked 40 years to the establishment of diplomatic relations between Iran and Beijing.
China does not intend to treat Iran and its president Ahmadinejad as a pariah. On the contrary, the Iranian president was given the floor at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization last week where he urged the organization to create a new world order to replace the Western enslavers and colonizers. Iran will have to make do with its observer status in that organization, but the same applies to India.
Last week Chinese President Hu Jin Tao and Ahmadinejad met and the Chinese president claimed that the strong relationship between China and Iran helps promote world peace and "is conducive to improving peace and stability in the region and the world". In other words, China's way to solve the Iranian nuclear crisis is "through dialogue and negotiation" and therefore it is opposed to increased sanctions on Iran.
Trade between the two countries grew last year by 36% - part of it explained by the rise in the price of petroleum but also by the increased volume of trade. Last month the Chinese Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi was in Beijing telling his hosts that they were welcome to visit Iran's nuclear sites to verify for themselves Iran's peaceful intentions.
He also, more importantly, made sure to remind the Chinese that his country was a secure source of energy supplies for China's energy intensive industrialization.
The Chinese make a point of asking Iran to return to the negotiating table and clarify the directions of Tehran's nuclear program so the proper distinction can be made between Iran's right to peaceful use of nuclear energy and nuclear proliferation.
However, since China has ruled out military action and more stringent sanctions, there is no pressure for Iran to negotiate in good faith.
China, and to a certain extent Russia, now occupies the spot formerly occupied by the EU during the period that Western Europe advocated "critical dialogue" with Iran. This dialogue permitted extensive trade with Iran while the word "critical" presumably placed the Europeans on the side of the angels. It also allowed Iran to proceed with its nuclear weapons program.
The Chinese satisfy the Iranians by appearing as the guards preventing more serious sanctions while vis-à-vis the United States and Europe this blocking position can be used as a negotiating card for other issues.
Comment on this story
by Amiel Ungar
China and Iran recently marked 40 years to the establishment of diplomatic relations between Iran and Beijing.
China does not intend to treat Iran and its president Ahmadinejad as a pariah. On the contrary, the Iranian president was given the floor at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization last week where he urged the organization to create a new world order to replace the Western enslavers and colonizers. Iran will have to make do with its observer status in that organization, but the same applies to India.
Last week Chinese President Hu Jin Tao and Ahmadinejad met and the Chinese president claimed that the strong relationship between China and Iran helps promote world peace and "is conducive to improving peace and stability in the region and the world". In other words, China's way to solve the Iranian nuclear crisis is "through dialogue and negotiation" and therefore it is opposed to increased sanctions on Iran.
Trade between the two countries grew last year by 36% - part of it explained by the rise in the price of petroleum but also by the increased volume of trade. Last month the Chinese Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi was in Beijing telling his hosts that they were welcome to visit Iran's nuclear sites to verify for themselves Iran's peaceful intentions.
He also, more importantly, made sure to remind the Chinese that his country was a secure source of energy supplies for China's energy intensive industrialization.
The Chinese make a point of asking Iran to return to the negotiating table and clarify the directions of Tehran's nuclear program so the proper distinction can be made between Iran's right to peaceful use of nuclear energy and nuclear proliferation.
However, since China has ruled out military action and more stringent sanctions, there is no pressure for Iran to negotiate in good faith.
China, and to a certain extent Russia, now occupies the spot formerly occupied by the EU during the period that Western Europe advocated "critical dialogue" with Iran. This dialogue permitted extensive trade with Iran while the word "critical" presumably placed the Europeans on the side of the angels. It also allowed Iran to proceed with its nuclear weapons program.
The Chinese satisfy the Iranians by appearing as the guards preventing more serious sanctions while vis-à-vis the United States and Europe this blocking position can be used as a negotiating card for other issues.
Comment on this story
8. Emission Control Agreement Hits an Economic Problem
by Amiel Ungar
The European Union, confronting an economic recession and perhaps a banking crisis as well as a trend towards the phase-out of nuclear energy, is telling the environmental lobby the hard facts. Europe will not go on an economic limb to lead the fight against global warming.
At the UN talks in Bonn, Germany, Europeans said that they would not renew the 1997 Kyoto protocol that is set to expire without the world's major polluters, China and the United States, coming on board as well. The EU joins Japan, Russia and Canada who have also announced that they will not renew Kyoto.
The Kyoto Protocol is an international agreement that made the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change binding. It puts the onus on developed countries by setting targets for 37 industrialized countries and the European community for reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.These amount to reducing an average of five per cent of 1990 levels over the five-year period 2008-2012.
China and the United States made pledges in the 2009 Copenhagen Accord, a continuation of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change that did not include binding conclusions, but have not made moves to implement them.
The Republican controlled House of Representatives has been hostile to legislation that would be a centerpiece of an attempt to cut back on CO2 emissions.
Representative Michele Bachmann, who has become a major player in the Republican presidential sweepstakes, got tremendous applause this weekend when she pledged that the American consumer, as opposed to UK dwellers, will be able to purchase any light bulb that he wishes and not only energy-saving fluorescent and LED bulbs.
China is strongly adhering to the equation that if it and other newly industrializing countries such as India are to come on board, the wealthy Western countries must first provide lavish compensation in the form of a green fund. The West also must provide access to proprietary green technologies.
As the wealthy countries no longer consider themselves particularly wealthy, certainly not in relation to China, the idea of their pumping billions into such a fund is unrealistic. Japan, in its recovery, will not be able to invest serious money in reducing pollution as it has its own nuclear cleanup to consider.
Citing the economic recession in Europe, the British think tank Policy Exchange wants Europe to step back from agreed to programs rather than hastily investing in immature renewable energy technologies. It recommends devoting funds to low carbon research development and a policy that would assure an equal opportunity for competing technologies and a better return on money spent.
Comment on this story
by Amiel Ungar
The European Union, confronting an economic recession and perhaps a banking crisis as well as a trend towards the phase-out of nuclear energy, is telling the environmental lobby the hard facts. Europe will not go on an economic limb to lead the fight against global warming.
At the UN talks in Bonn, Germany, Europeans said that they would not renew the 1997 Kyoto protocol that is set to expire without the world's major polluters, China and the United States, coming on board as well. The EU joins Japan, Russia and Canada who have also announced that they will not renew Kyoto.
The Kyoto Protocol is an international agreement that made the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change binding. It puts the onus on developed countries by setting targets for 37 industrialized countries and the European community for reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.These amount to reducing an average of five per cent of 1990 levels over the five-year period 2008-2012.
China and the United States made pledges in the 2009 Copenhagen Accord, a continuation of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change that did not include binding conclusions, but have not made moves to implement them.
The Republican controlled House of Representatives has been hostile to legislation that would be a centerpiece of an attempt to cut back on CO2 emissions.
Representative Michele Bachmann, who has become a major player in the Republican presidential sweepstakes, got tremendous applause this weekend when she pledged that the American consumer, as opposed to UK dwellers, will be able to purchase any light bulb that he wishes and not only energy-saving fluorescent and LED bulbs.
China is strongly adhering to the equation that if it and other newly industrializing countries such as India are to come on board, the wealthy Western countries must first provide lavish compensation in the form of a green fund. The West also must provide access to proprietary green technologies.
As the wealthy countries no longer consider themselves particularly wealthy, certainly not in relation to China, the idea of their pumping billions into such a fund is unrealistic. Japan, in its recovery, will not be able to invest serious money in reducing pollution as it has its own nuclear cleanup to consider.
Citing the economic recession in Europe, the British think tank Policy Exchange wants Europe to step back from agreed to programs rather than hastily investing in immature renewable energy technologies. It recommends devoting funds to low carbon research development and a policy that would assure an equal opportunity for competing technologies and a better return on money spent.
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