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In this mailing:
by Khaled Abu Toameh
• June 23, 2016 at 5:00 am
- For many years,
Palestinians hoped that one day they would enjoy public freedoms
under the leadership of the Palestinian Authority (PA), like the
freedoms their neighbors in Israel have. But more than two decades
after the establishment of the PA, democracy and freedom of speech
are still far from being introduced to Palestinian society.
- A PA court
sentenced Anas Saad Awwad to a year in prison for posting on
Facebook a photoshopped picture of Abbas wearing a Real Madrid
shirt.
- "Come and
invest in the Palestinian areas, but if you don't bribe their
corrupt officials, the Palestinian Authority will arrest you. This
is a desperate political arrest by an undemocratic Palestinian
Authority president who has no credibility amongst his people.
" — Khaled al-Sabawi, son of Palestinian-Canadian investor
Mohamed al-Sabawi, who was jailed for recommending the removal of
Mahmoud Abbas from power.
Both Mahmoud Abbas (right) and his predecessor, Yasser
Arafat (left) have taught Palestinians that "insulting" their
president is a crime and an act of treason. Pictured above: A Fatah
propaganda poster featuring Abbas and Arafat. The Arabic text reads
"Bearer of the trust" on top.
It is not easy for an Arab journalist to criticize his or her
leaders. If there is one thing Arab dictators cannot tolerate, it is
criticism, especially when it comes from an Arab journalist, columnist or
political opponent.
For many years, Palestinians were hoping that one day they would
enjoy freedom of expression under the leadership of the Palestinian
Authority (PA). But more than two decades after the establishment of the
PA, Palestinians have learned that democracy and freedom of speech are
still far from being introduced to their society.
Since then, Palestinians have also learned that their leaders are
"untouchable" and above criticism. Both Mahmoud Abbas and his
predecessor, Yasser Arafat, have even taught Palestinians that
"insulting" their president is a crime and an act of treason.
During the past two decades, several Palestinians who dared to
criticize Abbas or Arafat have been punished in different ways.
by Peter Huessy
• June 23, 2016 at 4:30 am
- "You will
see we are not in any particular animosity with the Americans,"
Ayatollah Khomeini said, and promised to President Jimmy Carter that
Iran would be a "tolerant democracy."
- Although the
State Department has in its just released annual report on
world-wide terror designated Iran as the world's premier state
sponsor of terrorism, the Obama administration has assisted Iranian
militias in Iraq with air support, provided intelligence to
Hezbollah's allies on Israeli air strikes, and has steadfastly
refused to use any military force against any elements of the Assad
regime.
- America is
apparently bent on repeating -- yet again -- the historic wrong turn
it took in 1979 by once again embracing the radical Islamic regime
in Iran. Why would the U.S. administration think doing the same
thing again will have a different outcome?
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry shakes hands with
Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif during talks in Vienna,
Austria, July 14, 2014. (Image source: U.S. State Department)
Senior leaders from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia are in Washington,
meeting with top U.S. diplomatic and defense officials, and are deeply concerned
America has significantly worsened the situation in the Middle East by
creating a "strategic partnership" with Iran.
Thirty-seven years ago, U.S. President Jimmy Carter paved the way
for Iran's Islamic theocratic dictatorship to come to power, according to
newly declassified secret documents, reports the BBC Persian News
Service. The documents show that Carter pledged to "hold back"
the Iranian military from attempting a coup, which would have prevented
the return of the exiled Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini from France.
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