The Palestinian Authority (PA) is continuing to pay out salaries to convicted terrorists using funds provided by the American taxpayer -- a policy that defies a recent U.S. law mandating the PA stop these subsidies or face a cutoff in U.S. dollars -- the Free Beacon website reports today (March 31, 2018).
Palestinian officials in recent days rejected a new U.S. law -- known as the Taylor Force Act -- that bans the PA government from providing salaries to terrorists and their families.
While the Taylor Force Act -- named after an American who was killed by a Palestinian terror attack in 2016 -- mandates the PA cease payments or face a cutoff in U.S. aid, Palestinian officials said they have no intention of ending this practice.
In fact, Palestinian leaders have continued to praise this so-called "pay-to-slay" policy, prompting concerns from Israeli and U.S. lawmakers.
Saturday, March 31, 2018
On Good Friday Pope Prays Holy Shame to Jesus; Expresses Shame of World Filled with Selfishness
Pope Francis led the traditional Way of the Cross procession on Good Friday against a backdrop of Rome's Colosseum, recalling the path of Christ's passion, the Crux Now website reports today (March 31, 2018).
Speaking to Christ in the form of prayer, Francis expressed "shame" for "our generations that are leaving the young a world fractured by division and wars; a world devoured by selfishness where young people, children, the infirm, the elderly are marginalized." Today's selfishness pervading our society can be compared to Judas betraying Jesus, in order to receive 30 pieces of silver.
The pope spoke of the shame caused by many people, "including some of your ministers, who allowed themselves to be deceived by ambition and vainglory, losing their dignity and their first love."
Francis also spoke of hope, including that which comes from Christ's cross... "turning the darkness of the tomb into the splendor of the dawn of Sunday without sunset, teaching us that your love is our hope."
Speaking to Christ in the form of prayer, Francis expressed "shame" for "our generations that are leaving the young a world fractured by division and wars; a world devoured by selfishness where young people, children, the infirm, the elderly are marginalized." Today's selfishness pervading our society can be compared to Judas betraying Jesus, in order to receive 30 pieces of silver.
The pope spoke of the shame caused by many people, "including some of your ministers, who allowed themselves to be deceived by ambition and vainglory, losing their dignity and their first love."
Francis also spoke of hope, including that which comes from Christ's cross... "turning the darkness of the tomb into the splendor of the dawn of Sunday without sunset, teaching us that your love is our hope."
Friday, March 30, 2018
Israelis Murder 12 Palestinians in Protest in Gaza; Six-Week Palestinian Protest Begins against Israel
Israeli forces killed at least 12 Palestinians and wounded more than 1,000 others today (March 30, 2018), on the first day of a planned six-week Palestinian protest on the Gaza Strip, according to the UPI website.
Israeli troops lined the border fence with infantry battalions and more than 100 snipers ready to fire at Palestinians who attempted to break through the security fence.
The Palestinian Health ministry confirmed the 12 deaths and said about 1,100 sustained injuries mostly from rubber bullets and tear gas. Some had gunshot wounds.
Palestinians in Gaza are planning a six-week protest against Israel that began today and is expected to last until mid-May -- the anniversary of when thousands of Palestinians fled their homes during Israel's 1948 War of Independence.
Israeli troops lined the border fence with infantry battalions and more than 100 snipers ready to fire at Palestinians who attempted to break through the security fence.
The Palestinian Health ministry confirmed the 12 deaths and said about 1,100 sustained injuries mostly from rubber bullets and tear gas. Some had gunshot wounds.
Palestinians in Gaza are planning a six-week protest against Israel that began today and is expected to last until mid-May -- the anniversary of when thousands of Palestinians fled their homes during Israel's 1948 War of Independence.
Trump Tells Advisers He Wants US Out of Syria; States Other Nations in Region Can Handle Syria
Two senior Trump administration officials revealed to Reuters today (March 30, 2018) that President Donald Trump is telling advisers he wants an early exit of U.S. troops from Syria, according to the Reuters website.
Trump said that based on allied victories against the Islamic State (IS) militants, "We'll be coming out of Syria, like, very soon."
"Let other people take care of it now... We're going to get back to our country, where we belong, where we want to be," Trump said.
Trump has made it clear that "once IS and its remnants are destroyed that the U.S. would be looking toward having countries in the region playing a larger role in securing security and leaving it at that," one official said.
Trump said that based on allied victories against the Islamic State (IS) militants, "We'll be coming out of Syria, like, very soon."
"Let other people take care of it now... We're going to get back to our country, where we belong, where we want to be," Trump said.
Trump has made it clear that "once IS and its remnants are destroyed that the U.S. would be looking toward having countries in the region playing a larger role in securing security and leaving it at that," one official said.
Thursday, March 29, 2018
Paris Jewish Student Group Office Is Vandalized; Inscriptions Read "Death to Israel," "Viva Arafat"
The headquarters of a Jewish student group at a Paris university was ransacked yesterday, with vandals scrawling anti-Israel and anti-Semitic graffiti on the office's walls, just hours before mass marches were held around France to protest anti-Semitism, the Times of Israel website reports today (March 29, 2018).
Sacha Ghozlan, president of the French Jewish Students Union, said the damage was inflicted at the group's facilities at the Pantheon-Sorbonne campus of the University of Paris.
"A cabinet was thrown on the ground and there were inscriptions such as 'Death to Israel' and 'Viva Arafat' on the wall," Gozlan said.
The incident came ahead of marches yesterday in Paris and other cities to oppose racism and to honor 85-year-old Mireille Knoll, a Jewish Holocaust survivor who was stabbed to death in her apartment on March 23 in what authorities are calling an anti-Semitic attack. Thousands -- including some French government ministers -- attended a march in Paris.
Sacha Ghozlan, president of the French Jewish Students Union, said the damage was inflicted at the group's facilities at the Pantheon-Sorbonne campus of the University of Paris.
"A cabinet was thrown on the ground and there were inscriptions such as 'Death to Israel' and 'Viva Arafat' on the wall," Gozlan said.
The incident came ahead of marches yesterday in Paris and other cities to oppose racism and to honor 85-year-old Mireille Knoll, a Jewish Holocaust survivor who was stabbed to death in her apartment on March 23 in what authorities are calling an anti-Semitic attack. Thousands -- including some French government ministers -- attended a march in Paris.
Wednesday, March 28, 2018
Report: Racist Violence Creeping Up in Greece; Due to an Increase in Assaults against Migrants
Attacks by organized groups against migrants, refugees and activists have been creeping up in Greece, the Athens-based Racist Violence Recording Network (RVRN) said today (March 28, 2018), and it called for zero tolerance towards racist violence, according to the Keep Talking Greece website.
In its 2017 annual report, RVRN said the living conditions of refugees and migrants on Greek islands -- where thousands are stranded in overcrowded camps -- drove xenophobic rhetoric in local communities, sometimes with "extreme manifestations."
It found violent assaults had increased in Athens also, and said perpetrators appeared to execute instructions given to them by their organizations based on pre-meditated plans.
"The RVRN alarmingly observes an increase in the number of assaults committed by groups employing 'hit-and-run'-like practices," the report added.
In its 2017 annual report, RVRN said the living conditions of refugees and migrants on Greek islands -- where thousands are stranded in overcrowded camps -- drove xenophobic rhetoric in local communities, sometimes with "extreme manifestations."
It found violent assaults had increased in Athens also, and said perpetrators appeared to execute instructions given to them by their organizations based on pre-meditated plans.
"The RVRN alarmingly observes an increase in the number of assaults committed by groups employing 'hit-and-run'-like practices," the report added.
Judge OKs a 9/11 Lawsuit against Saudi Arabia; Ruling May Reward Plaintiffs with Billions of $$
A judge ruled today (March 28, 2018) that a lawsuit accusing the Saudi Arabian government of complicity in the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks -- and seeking billions of dollars in damages -- can go forward, according to the Washington Times website.
U.S. District Judge George Daniels in Manhattan dismissed Saudi Arabia's motion to dismiss the case on the grounds of lack of official complicity.
Judge Daniels said the plaintiffs -- victims' relatives and their families -- can "narrowly articulate a reasonable basis for this Court to assume jurisdiction under [the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act] over Plaintiffs' claims against Saudi Arabia."
Judge Daniels added he would "allow Plaintiffs limited jurisdictional discovery" of evidence against Saudi Arabia.
U.S. District Judge George Daniels in Manhattan dismissed Saudi Arabia's motion to dismiss the case on the grounds of lack of official complicity.
Judge Daniels said the plaintiffs -- victims' relatives and their families -- can "narrowly articulate a reasonable basis for this Court to assume jurisdiction under [the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act] over Plaintiffs' claims against Saudi Arabia."
Judge Daniels added he would "allow Plaintiffs limited jurisdictional discovery" of evidence against Saudi Arabia.
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