Elder of Ziyon Daily News |  |
- Did Israelis force contraception on Ethiopian women? (UPDATE)
- Iran invents a machine to chop off fingers for crimes
- Monday links
- Fordow blast gets more confirmation (UPDATE)
- Arab/Iranian media: Livni charges Qatar gave Likud $3 million
- Great moments in auto-translation
- 1952 legal text argues that belligerent occupation is impossible if the territory is not part of a state
- Morsi declares a state of emergency in Egypt - just like Mubarak!
- Fordow blast confirmed by Israeli security officials?
| Did Israelis force contraception on Ethiopian women? (UPDATE) Posted: 28 Jan 2013 06:14 PM PST This troubling story has been all over the place, all from this Ha'aretz article claiming that Israeli officials admit to giving contraceptive injections to Ethiopian women without their permission. But what does the article actually say? A government official has for the first time acknowledged the practice of injecting women of Ethiopian origin with the long-acting contraceptive Depo-Provera.First of all, Israeli doctors admitted offering Depo-Provera years ago to those who want it. In June 2008, the health minister of the time, Yaacov Ben Yezri, "said the high number of Ethiopians in Israel using the drug reflected a 'cultural preference' for injections among Ethiopians." Whether this is true or not, it shows that Ha'aretz is sloppy already in the first paragraph - they meant to claim that Israel acknowledged injecting the drug without permission. But does that memo really say that? The TV special that claimed that these women were coerced into taking the drug aired about six weeks ago. Isn't it possible that this memo was more to show caution that there might have been some women who misunderstood the use of the drug or the options they have for birth control? That's the way the quoted part reads tome. It certainly doesn't admit that Israeli doctors were conspiring to sterilize Ethiopian women, as Ha'aretz alleges - and as other media have willingly published. Now let's look at the earlier article about the TV investigation: Women who immigrated from Ethiopia eight years ago say they were told they would not be allowed into Israel unless they agreed to be injected with the long-acting birth control drug Depo Provera, according to an investigative report aired Saturday on the Israel Educational Television program "Vacuum."If true, this is indeed terrible. But the denials in that program were no less emphatic: The Joint said in a response to "Vacuum" that its family planning workshops are among the services it provides to immigrants, who learn about spacing out their children's birth, "but we do not advise them to have small families. It is a matter of personal choice, but we tell them it is possible. The claims by the women according to which 'refusal to have the injection will bar them from medical care [and] economic aid and threaten their chances to immigrate to Israel are nonsense. The medical team does not intervene directly or indirectly in economic aid and the Joint is not involved in the aliyah procedures. With regard to the use of Depo Provera, studies indicate that is the most popular form of birth control among women in Ethiopia," the Joint said.Three separate organizations on two continents are accused of performing the same reprehensible practice, a practice that would involve an unusual amount of collusion and conspiracy. But not one doctor from these agencies has come forward to verify the claims. Yet another denial was published in a blog when the report first came out, from a doctor at The Joint: JDC runs the medical program in Gondar for potential immigrants to Israel. As part of this, we offer voluntary contraception to our population. Our clinic offers both birth control pills and injectable contraception. If a woman prefers another method of contraception such as implantable or tubal ligation, we send them to facilities down the road in the city of Gondar for this.So how can these contradictory claims be reconciled? The idea that the Joint, the Jewish Agency and the Health Ministry are all lying might work for anti-Israel conspiracy theorists, but it is hardly credible. My guess - and it is only a guess - is that Ethiopian women were generally enthusiastic about the idea of birth control. And as Dr. Hodes says, the idea of injectionable contraception was appealing to them - because they don't have to tell their husbands. This is the key to understanding the story. The Ethiopian husbands would generally be averse to their wives taking birth control, so they must do it in secret - and the Depo-Provera is by far the best method to keep their husbands from knowing. They simply tell them that they were receiving inoculations or some other excuse. Now, when the men start getting suspicious as to why they aren't having kids, how many of the wives will admit that they are secretly taking contraception? It is much easier to come up with a story about how it all happened without their knowledge, or how they were forced to do it against their will. I am not denying that there is racism in Israel, just as there is everywhere else. I can certainly believe that Israeli doctors would be more likely to recommend the Depo-Provera injection for black women than their whiter patients. I can believe that the frustration of not being able to communicate can result in sub-par care, and in not explaining the contraceptive options that they have. It is very possible that the doctors did not properly inform the women of the (sometimes serious) side effects that Depo-Provera has. The TV program helped expose these fissures in the care being given to Ethiopian women. This would naturally result in the Gamzu memo that Ha'aretz reported so eagerly. The idea that doctors - especially in doctors who willingly travel to Ethiopia, people who would be among the most dedicated medical professionals on the planet - would conspire to effectively sterilize black women is simply not plausible. Ha'aretz, and the gullible hateful media that follows it slavishly, was actively trying to demonize Israeli health officials and organizations that are dedicated to helping people - in order to report a scoop. The facts that we are aware of today, however, do not add up to the claims being made. Perhaps my theory isn't 100% correct. I'm the first to admit that we don't have all the facts. But what I am suggesting fits the facts we do know much better than the yellow journalism being practiced in this case. UPDATE: Mordy in the comments points to a 2005 study that says exactly what I was guessing: Because contraceptives may introduce social discord, leading at times to intimate partners' violence amongst African couples, women of low bargaining powers often resort to family planning methods that are suitable to covert use.           |
| Iran invents a machine to chop off fingers for crimes Posted: 28 Jan 2013 03:00 PM PST  The official FARS/ISNA news agency of Iran brags about Iran's latest invention - a machine that chops the fingers off of criminals.It was unveiled Thursday with a live demonstration in Shiraz of the device chopping the fingers of an alleged thief and adulterer. (He is still getting lashes and jail time as well.) American Thinker notes: Contacted by FRANCE 24, the spokesperson for Iran Human Rights, Mahmoud Amiry-Moghaddam, who is based in Norway, explains: "What is surprising about this is that not only was this a public amputation, but that photos of it were distributed by official press agencies, and that they showed a machine that we had until yet never seen images of. We have noticed that the authorities have recently being making more and more publicity surrounding cases of corporal punishment. Every time we get closer to an election, the number of these incidents increases. And we're getting quite close to the presidential election [slated for June]. I believe this is a strategy to instil fear in the population so as to avoid any protests.In other Iranian technology news, the nation claims to have successfully sent a Jew into space. Oh, sorry - it was a monkey. Easy to make a mistake in that part of the world. (h/t Al Gharqad, PTWatch)      |
| Posted: 28 Jan 2013 01:30 PM PST From Ian: Barry Rubin: The Region: The Arab Left "Sure, they were long apologists for repression carried out by leftist regimes, but not for repression carried out against leftists. Now things have changed. The Western Left has sided with the reactionaries because they hate their own countries' systems more. This is a mistake and their compatriots will pay for it in blood." Hamas's Talibanization of the Gaza Strip by Khaled Abu Toameh "Instead of seeking unity with Hamas, the PLO leadership should be making a bigger effort to prevent radical Islam from extending its control to the West Bank. The PLO can achieve this goal only if it continues with its current policy of conducting security coordination with Israel. Israeli UN Envoy: Security Council Has "Selective Perception" "Israel's ambassador to the United Nations, Ron Prosor told the UN Security Council last week that the Council "needs a GPS system to find its moral center in this debate on the Middle East." Iraqi Ally of Israel on Hagel, "This is Not a Minister of Defense, But a Minister of Chaos" (INTERVIEW) "On Friday I spoke with former Iraqi Parliamentarian Mithal al Alusi, who has championed counter-terrorism cooperation and normalized relations between Iraq and Israel. This Arab ally of Israel is dismayed by what he sees as President Obama's abandonment of the liberals and moderates of the Mideast." Shots fired at bus, terror attack foiled in West Bank Border Police arrest three Palestinians carrying seven pipe bombs at checkpoint Arabs Attempt to Storm Tree Planting, Jewish Town in Gush Etzion As Israelis in Gush Etzion attempted to plant trees, a mob of Arab thugs and international anarchists rioted. No One Injured in Bus Attack; Arabs Stone Kindergarten Sunday saw several violent incidents in which Arabs rioted, and threw rocks at kindergarten children 'Tunisian president delays visit at Abbas's behest' Ma'an news agency reports Moncef Marzouki postponed his visit to Gaza till March after talks with Abbas at African Union summit. CIF Watch: The Guardian's Michael Cohen & terrorist atttacks which 'help' the peace process "The degree of Cohen's malice, or at least callous indifference, towards the lives of Israeli men, women and children is only matched by the risible political logic. He's suggesting that only with a gun to their collective heads – and the necessity of burying more of their dead – will the obstinate Israelis take leaps of faith necessary for an agreement with the Palestinians." Former Italian prime minister defends Mussolini-Hitler pact Marking Holocaust Remembrance Day, Silvio Berlusconi says Fascist leader acted in his nation's best interest; ceremonies held at Polish camps and ghettos "He was speaking to reporters Sunday on the sidelines of a ceremony in Milan to commemorate the Holocaust. When Germany's Nazi regime occupied Italy during World War II, thousands from the tiny Italian Jewish community were deported to death camps. In 1938, before the war's outbreak, Mussolini's regime passed anti-Jewish laws, barring them from universities and many professions, among other bans." MEMRI: Egyptian Blogger: Six Million Jews Could Not Have Died In European Nazi Camps Muslim Group Threatens Egypt's Coptic Christians; Tells Them to 'Pay Tribute' "An armed Islamic movement calling itself the "Brigade of Muslims" released a statement on Saturday threatening Egypt's Coptic Christians and asking them to pay tribute. As Syria totters, Israel places Iron Domes in north Netanyahu also summons home front defense minister for emergency talk about chemical weapons threat Ahmadinejad urges Muslim world to unite to destroy Zionism "Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad called on the Muslim world to unite to eradicate Zionism, which he called "corrupt, uncultured and murderous" Sunday. Iran arrests 11 journalists over 'foreign contacts' Development marks serious escalation of government press crackdown Iran sentences American pastor Saeed Abedini to 8 years in prison Christian pastor Saeed Abedini, an American imprisoned in Iran on charges of evangelizing, was sentenced this morning to eight years in prison. Iran, Argentina agree to probe 1994 Jewish center bombing Countries to launch 'truth commission' to investigate Buenos Aires attack in which 85 people were killed Jewish groups, however, made clear their discomfort at Argentina's efforts to improve relations with Iran despite the unresolved bombing case. Pro-Israel Groups Prepare to Battle BDS 'Day of Action' Jewish groups in Europe said that they would be organizing counter-boycotts against a planned 'day of action' by BDS radicals "Anti-Israel Arab sympathizers and international anarchists are targeting several Israeli fruit exporters with protests, in their ongoing efforts to promote boycotts of Israel. In a statement released several weeks ago, the international BDS (Boycott, Divest, and Sanction) movement named February 9 as a "Day of Action" against two major Israeli agricultural exporters to Europe, Mehadrin and Hadekalim." History Made as Natural Gas Flows from Ship to Hadera History was made on Saturday as natural gas began flowing from the regasification ship hired by the IEC to its power stations. Israel Daily Picture: 1939 Jewish Demonstration against the British White Paper  "In a previous posting we presented details and pictures of Palestine's Jews demonstrating in Jerusalem against the White Paper on May 18, 1939. The American Colony photographers returned four days later to film the protest of the women of the Yishuv, led by some of the leading women figures in Jerusalem at the time: Ita Yellin, Rachel Yanait Ben-Zvi, and Sarah Herzog."      |
| Fordow blast gets more confirmation (UPDATE) Posted: 28 Jan 2013 11:30 AM PST From the excellent Missing Peace blog: Dr Ali Reza Nourizadeh, a senior researcher and director of the Centre for Arab & Iranian Studies in London, confirmed during a telephone interview with Missing Peace that an explosion has occurred in the underground uranium enrichment facility in Fordow Iran.I also received an email from Israel: Minister Uzi Dayan, indicated on radio [Reshet Beyt, Middle East magazine; 7pm - 7:50 pm approx] that there had been an explosion of some kind at Fordow. But he pointed out that Iran has many enemies, thus not taking responsibility for the explosion in Israel's name.It is starting to look like my decision to run the story on Friday (which I was on the fence about) was a good one. Too bad if the centrifuges weren't damaged or destroyed, though. Earlier Fordow stories here and here. (h/t EG) UPDATE: From PJ Media's Tatler: I'm told that there was indeed an explosion, which took place in a gas line that was being run to a new part of the Fordo facility, deep underground. I don't know if it was sabotage or an accident, but eyewitnesses talk about a monster blast, and it does indeed appear that lots of workers are trapped.      |
| Arab/Iranian media: Livni charges Qatar gave Likud $3 million Posted: 28 Jan 2013 10:30 AM PST From Al Manar (Hezbollah): The Zionist former Foreign Minister, Tzipi Livni admitted last week that the Arab Emirate of Qatar has funded the electoral campaign of Zionist Premier Benjamin Netanyahu and that of the 'Yisrael Beiteinu' party.Iranian media is also reporting this. This bizarre rumor seems to have started from a pro-Assad Syrian TV channel on January 18: Israelis are amused. Recall that only a couple of months ago Arabic media went crazy over a different piece of laughable fiction involving Livni, saying that she admitted having sex with Arab leaders to blackmail them. Soon thereafter the rumor morphed to add Saeb Erekat to her stable of sexual conquests. It is obvious that Arab journalists can lose their jobs - or their lives - for telling the truth. I wonder if any one of them was ever fired for making stuff up.      |
| Great moments in auto-translation Posted: 28 Jan 2013 09:15 AM PST From Google's translation of a headline in Moheet (Arabic):  Now, that's a broad coalition! (What I think happened is that sometimes the media abbreviates Hezbollah (Hizb-Allah, "Party of God") to just Hizb, and here the word Hizb was used as an adjective to "Jewish Home.")      |
| Posted: 28 Jan 2013 07:15 AM PST In order to sort out which interpretations of international law have been created out of whole cloth to apply only to Israel (sui generis) and which are actual international law, it is useful to look up scholarly research on international law between 1949 - when the Fourth Geneva Convention was written - and 1967. Here is a section from Principles of International Law, by Hans Kelsen, 1952: The principle that enemy territory occupied by a belligerent in course of war remains the territory of the state against which the war is directed, can apply only as long as this community still exists as a state within the meaning of international law. This is hardly the case if, after occupation of the whole territory of an enemy state, its armed forces are completely defeated to that no further resistance is possible and its national government is abolished by the victorious state. Then the vanquished community is deprived of one of the essential elements of a state in the sense of international law: an effective and independent government, and hence has lost its character as a state. If the territory is not to be considered a stateless territory, it must be considered to be under the sovereignty of the occupant belligerent, which—in such a case—ceases to be restricted by the rules concerning belligerent occupation. This was the case with the territory of the German Reich occupied in the Second World War after the complete defeat and surrender of its armed forces. In view of the fact that the last national government of the German Reich was abolished, it may be assumed that this state ceased to exist as a subject of international law. If a belligerent state ceases legally to exist as an effect of the defeat, as, e.g., the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy in the First World War, or the German Reich in the Second World War, no peace treaty or any other treaty can be concluded with this state for the purpose of transferring the territory concerned, or parts of it, to the victorious or any other state. On the territory of the abolished state a new state or some new states may be established. This was the case with the territory of the defeated Austro-Hungarian Monarchy, which was the territory of two united states. On this territory the Czechoslovakian and the Austrian Republics, and part of Poland have been established. This is also the case with the territory of the German Reich on which two new states came into existence; the western German state, called the Federal Republic of Germany; and the eastern German State, called the German Democrat. Republic. But the new state or the new states, which have not been at war with the victorious state, cannot conclude a peace treaty and are not entitled to dispose of other territory but their own. That the Austrian Republic was forced to conclude a peace treaty with the Allied and Associated Powers, although this new state was not at war with the states which by their victory brought the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy to dismemberment, and that the Austrian Republic was forced to dispose in this treaty of territory of the disappeared state which never was territory of the Austrian Republic, was based on the fiction that the Austrian Republic was identical with the Austrian Monarchy. In the case of the German Reich, the governments of the occupant powers maintained the fiction; that it continued to exist even after the abolishment of its last national government, and on the basis of this fiction it was assumed that the territory of the German Reich occupied by the four victorious powers was not under their sovereignty, but remained under the sovereignty of the German Reich. But the administration of the occupied territory was in no way in conformity with the rules concerning belligerent occupation.It sounds like Kelsen is arguing that Israel wouldn't have had any legal obligation to follow the Geneva Conventions laws of occupation in the territories. They were not considered Jordanian or Egyptian territory and they certainly weren't "Palestinian". To apply the humanitarian components of Geneva is proper, of course, and Israel voluntarily did so. But this sounds to me that even if you hold that the prohibition of "transfer" of a population to the territory includes voluntary relocation, that this would not apply to the West Bank or Gaza after 1967. So would modern legal scholars say that Kelsen was wrong in 1952? Or is he only wrong retroactively, now that the rules were re-interpreted to damn Israel? I emailed this question to a couple of well-known international law experts. One said that there was no clear rule before 1967 about the occupation or conquest of non-sovereign territory, and the rules that are bandied about today are clearly applied uniquely for Israel. The other stated that before 1967 it was "blindingly obvious" that the laws of belligerent occupation would not apply to non-sovereign territory, "exactly the opposite of what everyone says about Israel today." Who says international law doesn't change? What used to be OK is now forbidden - because Israel is considered guilty at the outset.      |
| Morsi declares a state of emergency in Egypt - just like Mubarak! Posted: 28 Jan 2013 05:30 AM PST From Al Arabiya: President Mohamed Morsy announced a state of emergency in Port Said, Suez and Ismailia Sunday for 30 days, along with the imposition of a curfew from 9 pm to 6 am in a move to ease the escalation of violence in the cities, which since Friday have witnessed clashes that have killed at least 47 people.The protests in Port Said are against a court ruling imposing the death sentence on those responsible for the deaths of 72 people at a soccer stadium. The Suez and Ismailia incidents, however, were anti-government riots. Opposition groups slammed Morsi's declaration. Last week, Morsi blamed "remnants of the Hosni Mubarak regime" for trying to cause economic problems for the nation.      |
| Fordow blast confirmed by Israeli security officials? Posted: 28 Jan 2013 02:20 AM PST The Times of London's Sheera Frankel reports confirmation of sorts of a blast at the underground Iranians nuclear enrichment plant at Fordow: This is very slight confirmation. Sheera Frenkel is not the most accurate reporter either - she herself reported a blast at an Iranian nuclear site that never happened. Still, one of the reasons I decided to publish this story Friday morning was to get it out there, with the thin hope that Western media would confirm or deny the sensational story, which if true would be hugely important. And it has been picked up by other media outlets, albeit all of them with similar skepticism. As I have written, the IAEA should be able to confirm or deny this the next time they are scheduled to inspect the facility; their last report about Fordow was released in November. If the story is true, it is spectacularly important. If it is not, then Reza Kahlili and WND lose whatever credibility they still have, which gives them great disincentive to make something like this up. Adding the two up, I believe that the story was worth reporting - and following. UPDATE: And if it is true, then we might need to consider believing Kahlili's earlier reporting on Iranian WMD's, as he writes today:
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