Egyptian demonstrators have threatened the Israeli Embassy in Cairo, forcing Egyptian police to fire weapons over the heads of the crowds.
Egyptians in Alexandria have surrounded the Israeli consulate there.
Category Archives: International
Israel boosts border forces, bans access to Al-Aqsa Mosque
Israeli officials are concerned about upcoming Nakba demonstrations by Palestinians, Egyptians, Jordanians and Lebanese. The demonstrations come one day after Israel celebrates its so called “Independence”.
Israelis are increasing military and police forces along their borders with Egypt, Jordan and Lebanon. They have also banned access to Al-Aqsa Mosque (aka Temple Mount). Only men more than 45 years old, and having Israeli ID will be allowed in.
Israeli officials say intelligence has picked up a huge increase in internet and cell phone activity between Palestinians. In Gaza alone, officials expect at least a quarter million demonstrators on May 15.
Queen of England ignores Nakba, praises Israel
Palestinian media reporting that the Queen of England has sent the President of Israel a message of support for Israel’s anniversary, and encouragement for the coming year.
No messages have been sent to Palestinian officials, regarding the upcoming Nakba anniversary, or the unification of Hamas and Fatah.
Millions of people in the Middle East demonstrate for Palestinan freedom, Day of Unity prior to Nakba anniversary
May 13, hundreds of thousands of Egyptians are demonstrating in Cairo and Alexandria. The demonstrators are calling for unity within Egypt, for former Mubarak officials to be brought to trial, and freedom for Palestinians.
In Jordan, hundreds of thousands of people are demonstrating, calling for the freedom of Palestinians. People of Jordan and Lebanon are also planning on marching on Israel’s borders on May 15.
May 13 is National Unity Day in Egypt. The Nakba, when Palestinians officially lost most of their land to Israel, is May 15. Egyptians are planning a million man march to the Israeli/Egyptian border at Gaza, on May 15.
Earlier in the week, Palestinians in Fatah controlled West Bank, and Hamas controlled Gaza, held huge “Unity” demonstrations.
Pakistani General cancels trip to Washington DC, relations between CIA and ISI broken
General Kahlid Shamim Wynne, Pakistan’s Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff, canceled his planned six day visit to the United States.
The General has not yet given a reason.
Pakistan’s Prime Minister, Yusuf Raza Gilani, said in an interview on May 12, that communication between the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency, and Pakistan’s Inter Services Intelligence has broken down.
Pakistan makes official warning to U.S. Ambassador, next time it’s war
U.S. Ambassador Cameron Munter was summoned to Pakistan’s Foreign Office, where an official protest was issued to him.
Pakistan’s Foreign Affairs Secretary, Salman Bashir, officially stated that the May 2 operation to assassinate Osama bin Laden was an attack on Pakistan. He added the Pakistan will not tolerate any future operations from the U.S., without consultation.
Ambassador Munter said it was regretful that the U.S. did not consult with the Pakistani government before the operation.
The May 2 operation, and the fact that U.S. drone attacks continue, is splitting the Pakistani government. Several political parties in the Pakistani Parliament, are calling for an end to relations with the U.S.
U.S. increases drone attacks in Pakistan, says War on Terror will not be scaled back
Since the supposed assassination of Osama bin Laden, the United States has actually increased the number of drone attacks in Pakistan.
Since May 2 there have been four attacks.
An unnamed official says the assassination of bin Laden will not affect U.S. policy in Pakistan: “There are absolutely no plans at present to cease or scale back U.S. counter terrorism operations in Pakistan.”
Libyan rebel representatives at the White House asking for money
As if the United States and Europe aren’t doing enough for the Libyan Civil War. Today, May 13, Libyan rebel reps are meeting with President Obama, to ask for more money.
Mahmoud Jebril, with the rebel’s National Transitional Council, is asking that Obama turn over the frozen assets of Gaddafi. Jebril is a U.S. educated technocrat, who is helping to lead the rebel campaign against the Libyan government.
Jebril says that if the rebel Council doesn’t get more money soon, they will not be able to pay their mercenaries, I mean rebel troops. The implication is that the so called rebel freedom fighters would walk away.
NATO bombs Muslim clerics in Libya
In the rebel controlled city of Berga, at least 16 civilians were killed, 40 wounded, after NATO planes bombed them.
Witnesses say most of the victims were Muslim clerics. They were holding a religious meeting at a home in the city. Many rebels now doubt that NATO is acting to protect civilians in rebel held territory. They point out that NATO rarely acts when they need them, and, as in the recent airstrike on Berga, NATO has bombed civilians on several occasions.
Japanese car makers lose Billions since March 11
Japanese vehicle makers announced they’ve lost billions since the March 11 disasters.
Toyota was the biggest loser at $1.3 billion. Honda lost $900 million and Nissan almost $500 million.
The biggest problem for the Japanese car makers is the loss of production, due to lack of parts. The lack of parts is due to the “just in time” supply model that most of Japan’s industries rely on. This model means that the big producers do not make their own parts, and they don’t keep a lot of spare parts on hand. Instead they rely on smaller producers to supply those parts. Also, the smaller producers can not keep a stockpile of parts on hand, because they can’t afford to.
The March 11 disasters resulted in 60% of Japan’s nuclear plants going off line. Japan’s industries are almost totally reliant on electricity from the nuclear power plants. The result was factories all over Japan shut down.
Japanese car makers didn’t even try to forecast their performance for the next year, because the lack of electrical power will continue, at least ’till the end of the year.