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Wednesday, October 27, 2010

ISRAEL TORTURE PALESTINIAN CHILDREN BY ELECTRIC-SHOCKING



Defence for Children International (DCI) Palestine Section (DCI/Palestine) "is a national section of the international non-government child rights organisation and movement (dedicated) to promoting and protecting the rights of Palestinian children," according to international law principles.
Two earlier articles addressed their work, "Israeli Soldiers Sexually Abuse Palestinian Children" and "Imprisoning Palestinian Children."
Both covered Israel's systematic, institutionalized use of torture of Palestinian children as brutally as against adults. DCI/Palestine's latest September Bulletin adds more, saying:
"For the first time….three (documented) cases of children reporting being given electric shocks by Israeli interrogators (occurred) in Ari'el Settlement." Each was accused of stone throwing. Electric shocking extracted confessions although the boys maintain their innocence.
DCI and PACTI (the Public Committee Against Torture in Israel) demanded Israel investigate reports that a Gush Etzion settlement interrogator "attached car battery jump leads to the genitals of a 14-year old boy in order to obtain a confession to stone throwing."

The August 5 incident involved four boys walking near a road used by settlers when an Israeli jeep approached. "Just for fun," one boy waved. The jeep turned, was joined by others, and chased the boys. They were seized, blindfolded, painfully shackled, detained, and taken to the Zufin settlement, then to the Ari'el settlement where one boy, Raed, was interrogated.
Though innocent, "Threat of electrocution" made him confess to stone throwing, after which his head was slammed against a cupboard. He was also punched in the stomach, and a second interrogator shocked him with a handheld device, making him dizzy and shiver. He then signed a confession in Hebrew he couldn't understand, was transferred to Salem Interrogation and Detention Center, after which he was taken to Megiddo Prison, in violation of Fourth Geneva's Article 76, pertaining to the rights assured protected persons detained under occupation.
A second incident involved a 17-year old boy, Malek, falsely accused of throwing stones and Molotov cocktails. About 30 soldiers arrested and brutalized him like Raed before transferring him to Ofer Prison. On arrival, he was painfully struck on the head, then interrogated and threatened with physical violence and rape if he didn't confess. "He denied both accusations" during a two hour interrogation.
On September 15, 13-year old Khalil was arrested and accused of throwing a Molotov cocktail. At 1AM, Israeli soldiers smashed windows of his family's home, searched it, and took him to Ma'ale Adumin settlement. Though innocent, he was threatened with rape and intimidated to confess. He signed a six page document in Hebrew he didn't understand and has been detained at Ofer prison.
An earlier incident involved 16 year old Moatasem, arrested on March 20. He remains in administrative detention without charge or trial, at best hoping for a December release. Like the others, from arrest to detention, he was brutalized. During interrogation, he was asked about a plot involving a riot, bullets and weapons with no further explanation, something he knew nothing about and said so. On March 25, he was ordered administratively held for six months, then extended three more on September 26.
On average, from January 2008 – September 2010, Israel held over 300 Palestinian children captive, about 10% of them aged 12 – 15. Usually when complaints or requests for investigations into child arrests and mistreatment are submitted to the Judge Advocate General's Office (JAG), responses aren't forthcoming or issued raised are denied.
Shooting Children Collecting Building Gravel
Separately, DCI/Palestine reported on 12 incidents from May 22 – October 14, 2010, involving children aged 13 – 17, collecting gravel near Gaza's border fence with Israel. Under siege, Israel banned construction materials, forcing hundreds of men and boys to scavenge for what they can find, collecting gravel, placing it in sacks, loading it on donkeys, then selling it to builders for concrete.
In border watch towers, Israeli soldiers at times shoot and kill donkeys. They also target workers, usually shooting at their legs. In recent DCI/Palestine-documented cases, children reported being shot while working from 50 – 800 meters from the border.
In addition, a UN January 2009 – August 2010 study reported at least 22 Gazan civilians killed and 146 injured by live fire adjacent to Israel's border, including 27 children.
Of DCI's 12 documented cases, nine "were on, or outside the 300 metre exclusion zone unilaterally imposed by the Israeli army when they were shot." Under all circumstances with no exceptions, international law prohibits targeting noncombatant civilians. Israel, of course, flouts all international laws with impunity.
On November 10 and 11, DCI/Palestine in cooperation with DCI's International Executive Council and DCI International Secretariat, Geneva, will conduct an International Children's Conference titled, "Protective Environment – Active Participation," under the motto – "Together We Build and Change."
DCI explains that "Child participation is one of the four basic principles of the Convention on the Rights of the Child." Under occupation, involving them is especially important to address their collective needs, interests, and concerns. The upcoming conference thus encourages children to participate and facilitates it "by finding the spaces for them to carry it out."
Some Final Comments
On October 19, palestinethinktank.com published a wide-ranging interview with Khaled Mesh'al, since 1996, Chairman of Hamas' Political Bureau. Exiled in Damascus, he became the movement's overall leader after Israel assassinated Abdul 'Aziz Rantisi in 2004. His comments below are based on a July published interview in Jordan's Arabic language Al-Sabeel newspaper.
(1) Negotiating with Israel
Calling it a thorny and sensitive issue, he stressed that it's "not absolutely prohibited….from a legal or political perspective," but must be subject to "equations, regulations, calculations, circumstances, contexts and proper management…." Otherwise, "it becomes a negative and destructive tool."
Currently, he calls it the wrong choice, given the imbalance of power favoring Israel, saying it "refuses to withdraw from the (seized) land, and does not recognise Palestinian rights." Negotiations under such conditions are fruitless. Israel demands but won't give. On equal fair terms, negotiations are very acceptable.
(2) Recognizing Israel
As things now stand, he believes recognition means legitimizing occupation, "aggression, settlement(s), Judaization, murders, arrests, and other crimes and atrocities against our people and our land." Recognition must be earned, not demanded or given, based on equity for both sides. Israel shows no sign of agreeing.
(3) Suggesting Israel and international insistence on recognition a sign of weakness, not stength
"Without a doubt, the enemy is concerned about (its) future….no matter" its regional strength. "The demand for recognition is certainly a sign of weakness, an expression of….inferiority, (and) a feeling that it is illegitimate and still rejected" by regional states "as alien" intruders.
However, superiority feelings also come into play, or in other words, the way "Western nations deal with third world countries," believing they alone dictate terms from a position of strength, including negotiating preconditions.
(4) Why Israel and the international community reject Hamas' proposed long-term truce
First, "the logic of power." Second, "they see Arab and Palestinian parties making (better) offers." Third, Israeli and Western experience suggests pressure works best, forcing adversaries or counterparties to succumb.
(5) Hamas' resistance model
It's "a natural and authentic part of the experience of the Palestinian struggle" for liberation and ending the occupation.
(6) Hamas and international relations
First, the "conviction that the Palestine battle (is for) humanity against Israeli injustice and oppression. Second, "the necessity of promoting (the) legitimate right to resist occupation and aggression." Third, the importance of using the world stage to address injustice. Fourth, concern for developing relations at all levels. Fifth, doing it begins in the region, "the plant (to) harvest (in) the West."
(7) Hamas and Jews
"We do not fight the Zionists because they are Jews; we fight them because they are occupiers," and commit crimes against the Palestinian people. The struggle isn't about religion.
(8) Hamas and women
"Women in the Islamic concept of thought, jurisprudence, mandate and role are – indeed – one half of society, and (have) been given (their) prestige and respect. However, there is a huge difference between respect and appreciation for women and (their) rightful role (on the one hand), and abusing (them) and presenting (them) as cheap commodit(ies) as is done in the Western civilization (on the other)." In Palestine's struggle for liberation, women play a distinctive role,"not only as mothers, wives and sisters," but as activists, teachers, fighters, and providers of logistical assistance.
(9) Zionism's future
It "has no future in the region." It's in decline, and except for attacking Beirut in 1982, Israel hasn't won a war since 1967. "This is an important indicator of the Zionist project's ability….In my estimation, the 'Greater Israel' project has come to an end, simply because the Zionist enemy is no longer able to accomplish it, and because Israel continues (self-destructively) on the same path as did apartheid South Africa."
(10) Israel's role as a regional strategic asset
It's no longer so, especially after the Goldstone Report and Gaza Flotilla massacre. As a result, "Israel is falling morally, and its true ugly face is being exposed. This is a very important development." It signifies "premature aging of this enterprise….In short, the Zionist project, like all other" forms of occupation, colonizations, and aggression, "has no legitimacy because it is alien to our region and lacks the elements of survival." It will end like all the others.
(11) The region's future
It's very much in flux with years before better resolution. However, we're "confiden(t) and hop(eful) that the future will be to the benefit of the nation and the Palestinian resistance and cause….Our reading is not fanciful, and is certainly not defeatist." It's realistic and achievable.
"We are a great nation, proud of ourselves, our religion, our land, our history, our culture and identity." Palestine and Jerusalem as one is "our beating heart and an indicator of our life and survival."
* Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago and can be reached at lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net. Also visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com and listen to cutting-edge discussions with distinguished guests on the Progressive Radio News Hour on the Progressive Radio Network Thursdays at 10AM US Central time and Saturdays and Sundays at noon.

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Tuesday, October 5, 2010

DHS CONTRACTORS CAN'T TELL DIFFERENCE BETWEEN PATRIOTS AND TERRORISTS


Israeli Company, ITTR, can't distinguish between Patriots and Terrorists, so why do they get these State no bid contracts?

"PA Bulletins put out by ITTR Institute of Terrorism Research and Response, An Israeli Company, were disinformation and false:
http://www.youtube.com/redirect?q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.portal.state.pa.us%2Fportal%2Fserver.pt%2Fcommunity%2Fhomeland_security%2F14251%2Fpa_intelligence_bulletins%2F771845&session_token=eGkqrVX44F4lkN-ekLcyaJ_KtiF8MTI4NjQxODMxNQ%3D%3D

Interviews with Rep Daryl Metcalfe:
http://www.youtube.com/redirect?q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3D1mjzsu8Vhlk&session_token=eGkqrVX44F4lkN-ekLcyaJ_KtiF8MTI4NjQxODMxNQ%3D%3D
http://www.youtube.com/redirect?q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DPjO8oc-cqPU&session_token=eGkqrVX44F4lkN-ekLcyaJ_KtiF8MTI4NjQxODMxNQ%3D%3D

PA Senate Hearing held on Sept 27, 2010:
http://www.youtube.com/redirect?q=http%3A%2F%2Fsenatorbaker.com%2Fveteran%2F2010%2F092710%2Fagenda.htm&session_token=eGkqrVX44F4lkN-ekLcyaJ_KtiF8MTI4NjQxODMxNQ%3D%3D

ITTR - The Israeli Security Company that won the no bid contract:
http://www.terrorresponse.org/

MIAC Report - Missouri:
http://www.youtube.com/redirect?q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.prisonplanet.com%2Fpolice-trained-nationwide-that-informed-americans-are-domestic-terrorists.html&session_token=eGkqrVX44F4lkN-ekLcyaJ_KtiF8MTI4NjQxODMxNQ%3D%3D

Alex Jones TV Interview with State Police Officer over MIAC Report
http://www.youtube.com/redirect?q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DiIt6H8XCr7k&session_token=eGkqrVX44F4lkN-ekLcyaJ_KtiF8MTI4NjQxODMxNQ%3D%3D
http://www.youtube.com/redirect?q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DDZBkmnOLB1M%26feature%3Drelated&session_token=eGkqrVX44F4lkN-ekLcyaJ_KtiF8MTI4NjQxODMxNQ%3D%3D

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Monday, October 4, 2010

LAND OF POOR WHITE TRASH APPROACHING

Kenneth Davidson October 4, 2010

Our costly infrastructure projects look like train wrecks in the making.

The former prime minister of Singapore, Lee Kuan Yew, is reputed to have said in the 1980s that Australia was destined to become the ''poor white trash of Asia''. He may yet be right.

Infrastructure is the enabling investment of the future. Get this wrong and Australia's future is constrained. Energy, transport, telecommunications and water are the key to our future in the context of the global issues of peak oil, global warming and water.

Recent decisions in all these areas by both state and federal government are not reassuring.

Telecommunications is a $40-billion-a-year industry generating more than $5 billion a year in profits. Thanks to government policy to build the $43 billion NBN network and pay Telstra $11 billion to rip out its copper, these profits are up for grabs to rent-seekers such as Optus whose fixed-network profits are largely based on arbitrage, rather than competition based on engineering excellence.

Optus is Telstra's main competitor. Telstra offered the government a less ambitious, but nevertheless more than adequate, broadband service than NBN - financed largely out of existing cash flows from the copper network. The offer was refused, largely on the advice of Optus and other arbitragers, because the offer involved bypassing Telstra's exchanges, which are essential for the arbitragers to tap into Telstra's network in order to provide their ''competitive'' service.

In the name of competition and structural separation, Telstra's ability to earn a surplus of some $40 billion over the next decade for reinvestment and dividends is to be trashed and the company transformed from a centre of genuine global telecommunications excellence into another rent-seeking retail operation.

Given Lee's remarks, it is indeed ironic that Optus is a subsidiary of Sing Tel, which is owned by the Singapore government through Temasek Holdings. It seems that the Broadband Minister, Senator Stephen Conroy, prefers the interested advice of Optus and investment banks such as Lazard, rather than the disinterested advice of the owner of Mexican telcos and vice-chairman of the UN Broadband Commission for Digital Development, Carlos Slim Helu. Slim was in Australia for a conference last week and said the NBN was far too expensive.

Apart from New Zealand, the rest of the world agrees with Slim. Norway and Germany are now rolling out broadband along the lines suggested by Telstra and rejected by the government. Hopefully, the new Parliament will block the NBN legislation.

The NBN is another train wreck in the making, like the Wonthaggi desalination plant, which unfortunately is already on line to a major crash.

Only governments made up of fools or knaves sign on to projects with a capital cost of $43 billion, in the case of the NBN, or $4.8 billion, in the case of the desalination plant, without considering the alternatives that could provide the same service at a fraction of the cost.

The Wonthaggi desalination plant and the water it will produce will cost up to six times world's best practice - as recently announced by the Saudi Arabian government for a 368-gigalitre plant with a cost under $A2 billion.

The analysis of the costing of this project is set out in the London-based industry newsletter, Global Water Intelligence, which tracks desalination projects.

The capital cost for Victoria's desalination plant is $4.8 billion to produce 150 gigalitres. The Australian cost is $32 million per gigalitre, compared to $5.5 million per gigalitre for the Saudi plant.

On this basis, if the Victorian government had employed the Saudi government to oversee the engineering, procurement and construction, Victorians would have saved $4 billion.

Even allowing for a billion dollars of extras at Wonthaggi (difficult to find), it is appears that the Victorian taxpayer has lost upwards of $3 billion. It is hard to believe that any government could be this incompetent. The $3 billion to $4 billion at the beginning equates to an extra $11 billion in interest charges over the next three decades - enough to build and operate the best underground metro in the world.

The big difference is the Saudi government rejected public/private partnership financing and funded its plant on its own. Incredibly, the Brumby government guaranteed the Wonthaggi financing. The government should have borrowed the money itself and saved at least a couple of billion dollars upfront. But this still leaves plenty of financial fat in the engineering and construction contracts to be explained.

In the past five years a number of desalination plants have been built around the world - including two in Perth - where the cost differentials, although not as great as with the Saudi plant compared to Wonthaggi, still beggar belief.

A royal commission is imperative. Wonthaggi is no one-off. Government financial guarantees to sustain PPPs have become standard policy. Like the NBN and Wonthaggi, the $750 million Frankston bypass PPP is supported by the taxpayer because no bank or private investor would risk their own money on such an obvious financial lemon, quite apart from the fact that it is an act of environmental vandalism.

Kenneth Davidson is an Age senior columnist.

kdavidson@dissent.com.au

This story was found at: http://www.theage.com.au/opinion/politics/land-of-poor-white-trash-approaching-20101003-162ll.html