- 3 juni 2011
Calls in West Bank for broad participation in marking the Naksa
RAMALLAH, (PIC)-- A statement issued by the various Palestinian groups including unions and civil society as well as representatives of youth and women organisations called for broad participation in the marking of the 44th anniversary of the Naksa.
The groups called for extending the circle of protests to include tangent areas near the apartheid wall, roadblocks and bypass roads to reaffirm Palestinian people’s insistence on their inalienable rights, foremost of which is the right of return of refugees, the right to self-determination, independence and a sovereign state with Jerusalem as its capital.
They warned the occupation against violently quelling the peaceful protests especially with all the sabre rattling coming from the Israeli occupation government ahead of the anniversary.
They further called on international organisations to shoulder their responsibilities, stand by Palestinian rights and pressure Israel into halting its criminal measures against the Palestinian people and their land.
The groups also called for a special protest at the Qalandia roadblock on Sunday at 12:00 PM and for the Friday sermons to be about the anniversary and encourage people to participate in the peaceful protests.
http://fwd4.me/036J 9 jan 2012, 15:52 , Respect -
Maria 9 juni 2011
Palestine campaign song generates controversy ahead of release
(3:43) Freedom for Palestine - OneWorld
Coldplay removes link to video after 7,000 comments as Glenn Beck describes 'Freedom For Palestine' as evil propaganda.
A campaign song, to be released early next month, called Freedom For Palestine, is already kicking up a row.
It's a compilation number, along the lines of Feed The World or Free Nelson Mandela, and its artists include Dave Randall of Faithless, Maxi Jazz and the Durban Gospel Choir. Images from the West Bank and Gaza, along with the separation barrier, are featured in the video.
Its lyrics refer to catastrophes, refugees, crimes against humanity, prison camps, occupation, human rights and justice. "We are the people and this is our time, stand up, sing out for Palestine," goes the refrain.
Coldplay initially linked to the video from the band's Facebook page, prompting around 7,000 responses, both for and against. Earlier this week, the band removed the link.
The US media host Glenn Beck drew attention to the song on his Fox show, describing it as "evil" and "pure propaganda". Referring to the song's lyrics, he said: "Before you know it, 'Israeli occupation' will be standard fare. Everyone will just see it as they're just occupying that land. That is a lie."
(4:33) OneWorld - hilarious Glenn Beck meltdown about Freedom for Palestine single!
If the song makes it into the UK charts, it is likely to cause a dilemma for the BBC. The corporation ran into controversy last month for masking out the words "free Palestine" from a number recorded by Mic Righteous. http://fwd4.me/03WE It did it in order "to ensure impartiality was maintained", it said. On another recent occasion, the word "Palestine" was excised from a BBC script.
I have no idea whether this campaign song will sink or soar. But the controversy building around it even before release is an indication of what could be yet to come.
http://fwd4.me/03WD 9 jan 2012, 15:53 , Respect -
Maria 12 juni 2011
Israel using wikipedia to propagate their venin
(2:53) ZIONIST FALSE JEWS SYNAGOGUE OF SATAN - USING WIKIPEDIA TO PROPAGATE THEIR VENIN
25 mei 2011 Uploaded by RussiaToday 9 jan 2012, 15:53 , Respect -
Maria 17 juni 2011
Arabs want 'bride for Shalit'
Disturbing initiative: Palestinians set up Facebook group with sickening photo of chained female soldier held by armed Arab woman; message on group's page: Abduct partner for Shalit.
For five years now, Hamas has been holding Gilad Shalit but failed to secure the release of Palestinian prisoners in exchange for the abducted IDF soldier. As it turns out, Gaza radicals are fed up with this failure, yet instead of making do with a more minor release of detainees they prefer to boost the "loot" in their possession.
Accordingly, a new Palestinian Facebook group has been launched in recent days titled "The people want a bride for Shalit." http://fwd4.me/0479
The intention behind the slogan is clear: A call for the abduction of an Israeli female solider who will serve as yet another Hamas bargaining chip in a future prisoner swap with the Jewish state.
Yet beyond the disturbing message, group organizers resorted to particularly sickening "humor" to further their cause, posting a doctored photograph showing a chained Israeli soldier held by an armed Palestinian woman belonging to Hamas' military wing, Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades.
One group member wrote the following message on Facebook: "We need to abduct a soldier who will become a female Shalit, so they get married and bring us a bunch of Shalits."
Next week will mark the five-year anniversary of Gilad Shalit's abduction.
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4083386,00.html 9 jan 2012, 15:53 , Respect -
Maria 23 juni 2011
Apple removes ‘Third Intifada’ phone app at Israel’s request
OCCUPIED JERUSALEM, (PIC)-- Computer giant Apple has removed an application serving the Third Intifada from its App Store for iPhones and iPads at the request of the Israeli government, sources report.
The Dubai company that developed the program for Apple confirmed that it was taken off the shelves on Wednesday evening. They said they have been communicating with Apple to enquire about the move.
“We are currently in contact with Apple to find out why the program was removed and to try to get it back to the App Store.”
Israeli minister Yuli Edelstein requested that Apple remove the Arabic program that updated users on upcoming protest and featured articles criticizing Israel. The same ministry was behind the removal of a Facebook page that called for a third intifada a few months back. The page had a fan-base of over 300,000.
Edelstein said in a letter to Apple CEO Steve Jobs that the Third Intifada application provides information on protests planned against Israel, some of which could be violent.
Israel’s deputy foreign minister Danny Ayalon told Reuters that Apple application and Third Intifada Facebook page marked the beginning of a new trend of attempts to incite violent attacks against Israel.
http://fwd4.me/04dO 9 jan 2012, 15:53 , Respect -
Maria 24 juni 2011
Israeli paper uncovers disparaging Facebook posts by prime minister’s son
JERUSALEM — The Israeli prime minister’s 19-year-old son posted disparaging comments about Arabs and Muslims on his Facebook page, an Israeli paper reported Friday.
Earlier this year, Yair Netanyahu posted that Muslims “celebrate hate and death,” the Haaretz daily reported. After Palestinian assailants entered a West Bank settlement and stabbed five members of an Israeli family to death, he wrote that “terror has a religion and it is Islam.”
Yair Netanyahu, the eldest of the prime minister’s two sons, is currently a soldier in the Israeli military’s media liaison unit.
A lawyer for the Netanyahu family, David Shimron, said the comments were those of a “teenager” and were “taken out of context in an attempt to defame the prime minister and his family,” Shimron said in a statement provided to The Associated Press.
According to the Haaretz report, the prime minister’s son also ran a Facebook group that called for a boycott of Arab businesses and products, and used obscenities to describe Arabs. He was 17 at the time. The group had a total of 23 members, the paper reported.
In another comment, he wrote that there had never been a Palestinian state and that he hoped “there would never be one.”
Haaretz said the comments in question were removed within two hours of the paper’s request for a response from the prime minister’s representatives.
The younger Netanyahu’s Facebook page also included comments on the Israeli version of the TV show Big Brother and a “like” directed at Israeli supermodel Bar Refaeli, alongside photos of himself with world leaders like Bill Clinton and Silvio Berlusconi.
A military spokesman said commanders had spoken to Netanyahu “to clarify to the soldier the military commands, outlining his mistakes, as would be done with any soldier in a similar situation.”
Some of the comments predated his military service, the military said.
Shimron, the Netanyahu family’s attorney, slammed Haaretz for reporting the comments.
“Bringing them up now is ridiculous and shows the cynical use of the words of a teenager, said in anger, when he could not imagine that someone would someday make use of them,” the lawyer wrote.
“Prime Minister Netanyahu and his wife believe in moderation and tolerance, and they respect all people without regard for their religion, origin or nationality and that is how they raise their children,” the statement said.
The families of Israeli leaders have typically been kept out of the spotlight, but Netanyahu’s family has sometimes drawn media attention in ways that have been a liability for the Israeli leader.
Sara Netanyahu, the prime minister’s third wife, has been criticized for allegedly mistreating her household staff and for meddling in state affairs. She has denied the accusations.
http://fwd4.me/04kR 9 jan 2012, 15:53 , Respect -
Maria 29 juni 2011
Netanyahu Responds to Questions From Arab Youth Via YouTube
(3:56) Prime Minister Netanyahu answers a question about Israel's image
Tel Aviv - Fadi Yacoub/PNN Exclusive – In his first responses to questions from Arab youth via the Internet, Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, said that this new form of communication is the only chance to explain Israel’s position on the issues of the region by saying “come, let’s talk, in order to see the new face of Israel that is being manipulated by Arab countries as the common enemy of all Arabs.
The first question came from a Kuwaiti resident named Mark Hilawa. Hilawa claimed that when he visited Israel, he felt the warmth of its Jewish citizens and that he was shocked by the true nature of the state. He went on to ask, what the government was doing to show the unbiased image of Israel to the Arab world.
In his response, Netanyahu argues that the problem Israel has faced since it was created 60 years ago is that Arab propagandists have used Israel as a common enemy that oppresses and commits war crimes against Palestinians in order to divert attention from internal issues such as a lack of development.
On the issue of peace, in his answer, Netanyahu claims that since he came to office he has attempted to sit down with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to achieve peace in the region, saying that his government removed hundreds of military checkpoints and barriers, which facilitated the 10 percent rise in the Palestinian economy.
Netanyahu last week started a YouTube channel, and asked the Arab Internet generation to dialogue with him directly by submitting videos to the email address: [email protected].
This comes as part of Netanyahu’s attempt to reach out to Arab nations and the general Palestinian public specifically, Israeli political analyst Eli Nisan told PNN.
Nisan explained that Netanyahu’s effort in the past couple of weeks to reach out to the Israeli public is now shifting to other nations as well, including Arab nations, in order to explain Israel’s point of view.
Nisan predicted angry responses that will condemn Israel’s positions, which will be clear in the Arab street internally and internationally.
It is worth mentioning that Netanyahu’s move follows Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad’s effort to communicate to Arab audiences by opening a YouTube channel, which he started earlier this year.
http://fwd4.me/05AT
Israeli innovators build new 'Silicon Valley'
France-Israel Foundation shows David Kadouch, product manager for Google Israel
By Katia Dolmadjian
JERUSALEM (AFP) -- With a concentration of start-ups just behind that of Silicon Valley and an impressive pool of engineers, Israel is becoming the new standard for high-tech, with a unique business model.
Internet-related activities contributed $12.6 billion dollars to the Israeli economy in 2009, representing 6.5 percent of GDP, according to a report from management consultancy McKinsey.
The sector is worth more than the construction industry (5.4 percent of GDP) and almost as much as health (6.8 percent).
The web economy has also created a total of 120,000 jobs, accounting for 4 percent of the country's workforce, McKinsey says.
From Microsoft to Intel through Google, IBM and Philips, almost all the giants of the Internet and technology have set up important research and development centers in Israel, spawning products and systems used worldwide.
"Israel is the country with the most engineers in its population, and it ranks second behind the United States in the number of companies listed on Nasdaq," said David Kadouch, product manager at Google Israel, which opened its R&D operation in 2007 and currently has 200 employees.
"It's really a second Silicon Valley. Besides the multinationals, all the major American investment funds are present," he said.
"The scientific community is very active, there is plenty of manpower and especially an entrepreneurial culture. There is a huge ecosystem around high tech, and what is fundamental is that here we think global."
Some 500 start-ups are created every year in the country of 7.7 million people, which grew by 4.7 percent last year according to the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development against an average of 2.8 for its member countries.
The OECD forecast for Israel in 2011 is 5.4 percent.
Israel's higher education institutions, particularly the Technion, the prestigious technological university in the northern city of Haifa, must take a large share of the credit for this creativity.
"All the groups have set up subsidiaries here because of the proximity of the talents of the Technion university where there are (people with) excellent CVs," said Yoel Maarek, president of Yahoo Research Israel, which employs about 50 people.
"I myself have studied at the school of bridge engineering in France but when IBM hired me it was thanks to my degree from the Technion," he said.
The huge Technion campus comprising 19 schools for 12,000 students trained 70 percent of the country's current engineers and 80 percent of the executives of Israeli companies listed on Nasdaq.
"Many students... are already snapped up by large foreign companies," said Ilan Marek, professor of chemistry at the Technion.
"In the early 2000s, we broke down the barriers between the four classical branches of science, allowing the students to move between fields and have a more global vision," he said.
"The key to the development of a country is to train leaders in science."
Saul Singer, co-author with Dan Senor of the book "Start-up Nation: The Story of Israel's Economic Miracle," believes the often maverick nature of many Israelis also plays a role.
"The lack of respect for authority is typical in Israel, it's a cultural thing, in line with start-up creating. There is no authority, it is very informal. There are two big factors, drive and determination, and taking risks. We have a very exciting business model," he said.
"In Israel there is a constant struggle with all kinds of adversity," he added. "These adversities are a source of creation and energy. Israel is a country with a purpose, a mission."
http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=400862 9 jan 2012, 15:53 , Respect -
Maria 5 juli 2011
Court finds border guard officer guilty of abuse
Shani Sivilya, who brutally beat minor, while calling 'death to Arabs' found guilty of abuse of helpless minor, intimidation and negligence.
Border Guard Officer Shani Sivilya who was charged with abusing a 17 year old Palestinian detainee, aiming a gun to his head and pulling the trigger while saying "death to Arabs" and "Arabs are whores" was convicted Tuesday at the Jerusalem District Court.
As part of a plea bargain, the article of assault of a helpless minor was removed from the indictment, and she was convicted of abuse of a helpless minor, intimidation and negligence.
Sivilya admitted that she her actions were racially motivated.
In March 2010, the minor was detained at the Rockefeller checkpoint near Jerusalem. A search revealed that he was carrying three firecrackers.
The victim was then handcuffed and turned over to Sivilya and another officer named Zion Benishti. The two put the minor into a squad car and during the drive to the police station Sivilya tightened his cuffs and pulled them down in order to hurt the teen.
When they got out of the elevator, Sivilya kicked the teen on his behind and threatened him, saying: "Ten more minutes and you're dead". It is claimed that the two officers led the Palestinian to an empty room at the station where they lowered him to his knees with his hands still tied behind his back and his head covered.
The teen is then alleged to have screamed "no, no" after which, when she finished her countdown Sivilya pulled the trigger while yelling "Death to Arabs" and "All Arabs are whores". During the incident Benishti urged Sivilya to stop, but she refused.
In the revised indictment sheet Sivilya admits to forcefully hitting the minor with her fists, while slapping his head and shoulders. The sides have not reached an agreement over the sentence and the Police Internal Affairs Bureau has made it clear that it will demand a prison sentence.
In response, Sivilya's attorney Refael Farig said: "I believe that the person convicted in this case was not just Shani Sivilya but all those who enlist 18-year old teens to serve in the Border Guard and put them at the center of the Israeli-Arab conflict.
"Though we haven't decided upon a specific sentencing in this case, we did agree that the probation service would present a review of the defendant's case and examine the possibility of closing this case without a criminal conviction."
http://fwd4.me/05no 9 jan 2012, 15:53 , Respect -
Maria 10 juli 2011
Partial truth is not true at all
A message for Steve Groove and other Google Delegation members who have visited Gaza .
When I first knew about your first visit to Palestine, I had one question: Why did you prevent Google Chrome from being downloaded in Syria and Sudan? In addition to Iran, North Korea, Cuba? Truly that question wasn’t just for them, but because in Gaza we are considered -in the American categorization – from people who are governed by forces of terror and that means the possibility of prohibiting it too in Gaza.
Today after your last visit to Gaza , the matter is not about the laws that are initiated in U S A ;yet, it’s about the nature of your believes , your commitments and your double- standards policy . Meanwhile, the partial truth which you have published over several entries on the official blog of YouTube , as well as the citizen tube Blog.
The distorted part of the truth you published was:
You used a video showing Palestinians Demonstrating peacefully against the Israeli barrier being suppressed by the occupation Israeli army , as a video about Confrontations between the citizens of Gaza and Hamas in Mars 15th which we called an end to the division the two governments in the west bank and Gaza , by the way, the video was published by an Israeli TV channel !!
At the same time you talked about relations between Palestinians and Israeli bloggers and their will to communicate outside the political battle, and build new opportunities for peace.
But where is the rest of the truth!?
The visit was for both Gaza and Ramallah, and it’s common sense that those questions are expected to be asked on both sides! . Why didn’t you share your thoughts about freedom of expression and press there (at the event)!? truly this doesn’t represent my personal interest, because I realize how bad the press freedom we have (in Gaza) ; though I realize that nor the arrest or the prevention can be compared to the deadly bullets fired on press by the Israeli army, they did it many times , the shooting on the photographer Mohammed Othman who was only married for 8 months and he is taking treatment now in Jordan preventing him from seeing his new baby , with his wife writing him “please don’t leave me , it wasn’t much time to say goodbye” .
If you have liked acclamation on the video ( you viewed in the event) which called for the dialogue between the east and the west , it’s a true acclamation stating that we were and still living Muslims , Christians , Jews –who are not Israeli- on the same land ( peacefully), and this acclamation is coming from the fact that we have a lot of friends all over the free world ,but even the full truth about those who have relationships with Israeli people , don’t see any chance for peace with Israel without taking an apology from this Israeli for sitting in place of the Palestinian emigrant who lives outside of his home , who lives in camps most of its Residents don’t even know what Is Google or what is YouTube , to leave him the freedom to come home.
If you haven’t, move the redundancy of the question about the poor data about Palestinian lands on Google maps , and couldn’t solve an easy issue of mixing of Gaza - with all the global concern it occupies – with Giza in Egypt , the full true story is that all the people you have seen and those you have not seen doesn’t want those details , they even don’t want to see Israel on that map in the first place .They don’t want you to have Palestine (as an official country) in your maps only , they believe that someday there won’t be something called Israel in this list.
Didn’t you mention the part where your freedom of movement was denied !? didn’t you mention that you suffered a lot until it was ok for you to get to Gaza !? So why didn’t you mention this !? didn’t the demonstrations of the 15th of Mars were the source of your interest as it could break the barrier of the Suppression of the official press using the social media and especially YOUTUBE !? So why didn’t you care about the peaceful demonstrations against the Israeli barrier, which depends in the first place on YouTube and Facebook to spread topics and to cover it’s initiatives !? Isn’t 62 thousand views for the excursion and abuse of the Israeli occupation army in NABI SALEH IN 13-5-2011 , they practiced all the taboos of suppression and abuse on women and media reporters and foreign supporters ,mothers and aged people in a clip not more than 5 minutes just because they are demonstrating asking for their freedom in their own land and the capability in moving around , for this video to be witness on the importance of YouTube in Palestine.
You have promised us at the end of your last visit , to help us in changing worlds impression about us and out reality , and I am sorry and regret that this is your ways In keeping the promise (under estimating out minds ) , we have witnessed not Olney lies but also forged information on two of your main blogs , so you carry all the responsibility for all of this misconception that was in covering the visit , because it’s from the beginning is an extraction of the whole truth ( since portion of truth is a complete lie ).
*As a winner of the last contest Google made in the last visit during the last event , and as one of the first Google technologies lecturer in Gaza ,I participated effectively in the Goggling Gaza , GGAT (Gaza Google Api Team) and GTUG Gaza (Google technology user group) ,thus , I’ve put away the prize I earned which is a smart phone (Samsung ace) for the best initiative entrepreneur in software that uses Google technologies that benefits the Palestinian cause.
http://fwd4.me/06Eo...Read more 9 jan 2012, 15:53 , Respect -
Maria 12 juli 2011
Palestinian Blogger Attracts International Viewers
(1:40) Palestinian Blogger Attracts International Viewers
Lina Al Sharif, a 22 years old Palestinian blogger who writes about her everyday life has attracted a wide international following. Her entries reflect the harshest aspects of life in Gaza Strip.
Lina, an English literature student at the Islamic University of Gaza, started her 'Live from Gaza' blog in 2007 to showcase what a young woman in Israeli-blockaded area has to endure on a daily basis.
"I started writing the blog is because there was a stereotype about Gaza being just a war zone where people are constantly dying. That is just one part of the picture. But if you want to look at the real image -- people are trying to lead a normal life under occupation"
Lina's posts tells the experiences of 1.5 million Palestinians who live in Gaza, more than half of whom are classified as refugees from past wars with Israel.
The Gaza Strip enters its fifth year of suffering an Israeli blockade by land, air and sea, which began after Hamas seized control of the strip in 2007 in a civil war with forces loyal to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.
Lina has also written on poverty, which jumped to 45.2 percent (do we know by how much?) as a result of the blockade.
"In 2007 after the situation in Gaza became harder, I decided to continue writing blogs about my life in Gaza"
Most people in Gaza live on less than two US dollars a day, and as many as 80 percent depend on food aids. The blockade has significantly hurt the private sector which thousands depend on for their livelihoods.
Social media has provided a platform for bloggers like Lina to share their experiences. She receives support from her followers in and out of Gaza. 9 jan 2012, 16:00 , Respect -
Maria 17 juli 2011
"Ikariam" a free game to blackmail Palestinian teenagers
Al Qassam website- Israeli occupation intelligence services (Shabak) still using its multiple and different methods including the advanced technology to attract bigger number of teenagers, youth and minors in a try-to tempt them for working on their behalf, collaborating and spying.
One of these dirty methods used by the Israeli "Shabak" is the "Ikariam" free game, which is especially created by Israeli intelligence services for such purpose.
"Ikariam" is a military game that consists of cities, castles, armies and several weapons etc, the game designers aimed at attracting big number of youth and teenagers to registering and involving in the game, without knowing who is responsible for this free games website.
Enlisting collaborators
Trustworthy security source exposed for "Safa" news agency on Wednesday that the Israeli intelligence services long time ago have established a game on the internet called "Ikariam" aimed at attracting kids, teenagers, youth and miners to registering with real on unreal names as mostly requested by any free-game websites on the internet.
The security source confirmed that the Israeli intelligence service added a new feature to the game, which is " opening a chatting room that allows members to exchange speeches while playing games". Through chatting rooms members can find intelligence men with fake nicknames such as the Arabic ones, "Fursan Al Shahada"," Ashik Al Shahada", "Qamar Mutalale", "Al Qannas" and many other fake nicknames, they start introducing themselves to create bond friendships with members.
Continue saying: " youth go deeply in talking to those persons, especially they are minors and teenagers who having no enough awareness of what they doing, some are older and interested in creating friendships with other persons, or persons who have limited culture.
The relationship gets stronger by the time, so intelligence man who is still unknown ask for the number of the other person, start talking to him and pulling his leg with several ways.
Most of youth and teenagers who spent long times siting on the internet service in the Palestinian territories are interested in looking for violent games and action films as an impact of the negative effect that reflects their psychologies of what they hear or watch of crimes and massacres by the hands of the Israeli occupation forces through the previous years of the Palestinian Intifada.
Blackmail attempt
Palestinian internal security service of the Palestinian government in Gaza said that they aware of the game and the seriousness of it, especially after a Palestinian citizen came to the headquarter of the service informing them that he has registered in the "Ikariam" free-game website with fake nickname, and that he started creating friendships with members, where someone asked him for information about the Palestinian resistance in Gaza.
The source added, according to citizen, he registered in the game with his personal email account, password and fake nickname, started introducing himself for number of members and friends talking to them as may happen when playing any game or chatting on the world wide web, as a result he created a bond friendship with somebody called "A,H" who claimed that he is from the United Arab Emirates, asking him for his cell phone number, since that they started a strong relationship, talking to each other regularly.
They pointed out that "A,H" has sent $200 to citizen's bank account as an aid, according to the citizen, the intelligence man started asking him about the activities of the Palestinian resistance factions and headquarters, in addition to providing him with sensitive information about the resistance in Gaza, the thing citizen refused.
Meanwhile, "A,H" started threatening the Palestinian young man of death in case of refusing collaboration and providing him with the information that the Israeli intelligence services need, despite that, the Palestinian young man refused and stopped the relationship immediately.
The security sources said " after death and blackmail threats he received, the Palestinian young man informed the professional services with all details immidiately.
Due to these serious developments, the Palestinian security services in Gaza warned its members from registering or playing the "Ikariam" free-game on the internet.
In addition, the internal security service in Gaza released an official press statement including all the details provided by the Palestinian young man.
The source called on all Palestinian youth for not involving in such free games, warning all citizens, especially youth of both genders, males and females of registering or collaborating with any suspected persons on any internet websites, it also called on them to inform the internal security service of any suspicious persons or website.
It is important to mention here that the Israeli intelligence service never stop from using multiple and dirty ways, especially the advanced technology for enlisting collaborators for working on their behalf, whether by calling them at their cell phones, down through girls, or by exploitation of their young ages and lower living standard.
http://fwd4.me/06pg 9 jan 2012, 16:00 , Respect -
Maria 15 aug 2011
The Occupation of Palestine Extends to @twitter
Finally a few days ago Twitter admitted it is moderating trends
Not that we expect anything about Palestine to trend for it is quit clear any effort to trend any Palestinian topic at all is immediate oppressed and the efforts of the twitterbirds die an early death anyway.
More concerning is the fact, that not only trends are being manipulated by twitter, but tweeps get excluded from the API or their whole accounts being moderated to complete invisiblilty. In just a 3 minute search we have noticed, that 9 very active human rights defenders for Palestine are restricted by Twitter and excluded from the Twitter API. Which implicates, they are not visible in search nor will they be able to participate in any trend at all and no one looking for info on Palestine will be able to find their tweets.
This censorship causes a quit apocalyptic violation of Free Speech as well as the right on information. For it is in the features of Twitter, for those interested in a certain topic, to use the public or advanced search, to look up hashtags of interests and thus finding tweeps messaging and discussing about this topic.
Besides this, there are clear indicators the censorship is selective because many other tweeps retweeting feeds of blogs of censored tweeps are not censored at all. The tweeps in this case are mainly human rights activists spreading news from Palestine which has already been published in media by sharing the news via the sharebuttons on the websites of newspapers.
The current policy of twitter, of restricting or even totally excluding tweeps from API or any other visiblity moderation is severely worrying, for if anyone is interested in news, you neither would buy a book about a certain topic out of which half the pages are torn out.
But let’s make it visible: This is how it looks like for example when we take our blogger1´s account: @occpal (which has currently around 45.000 newsitem-tweets)
You also can try to find this in Advanced search and look up a certain tweeps username, the account will not even appear if you are aware of the accountname and tweets only get visible when they are being retweeted hence, of this is possible for an increasingly number of messages reach us of people not even able to retweet our tweets.
Previously, this blog was even suspended for so called unrelated tweeting into a trending topic, while tweeting about Palestine in the MESpeech of the US president, which is very related if you ask us. But hence, we posted that here as well as the happy announcement that after a few days the suspension was lifted with a warning NOT TO DO THAT AGAIN: Twitter Death for Occupied Palestine.
Now technically spoken, we can not be accused of any tweeting into non related topics no more, for we are invisible and only followed by followers who want to do so. Also, being excluded from the API means total invisibility from trends, our tweets will not even appear nor participate there.
More credible would be that the endless “efforts” of opponents of Human Rights for Palestine succeeding in getting rid of Palestine tweeps all the time without twitter even regarding any notice about this, no dialogue or questions are asked, contacting about this only meets utter silence and twiutter just is moderating and muting activists in upgoing mode.
That these opponents are very keen on muting tweeps for Palestine is quite clear, not even on twitter but also live in Palestine, IOA lowered itself to unimaginable depths by abusing and hijacking a civilians phone at a checkpoint to tweet absurdities in order to prevent news getting out of Palestine: Live updates catched Israeli Soldiers Hijacking Tweep @Abou_Charlie ‘s Phone To Send Out Lies | July 29, 2011
The next video also speaks for itself. IOA seems to be the only country in need of defending it’s myths by muting people or following, alternating tweets or preventing those:
Israeli Soldier: “We follow you at Twitter!” (at 2:47 min) – video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=urNHfWnxU5E
All this, while mass murderes like oslo’s Anders Breivik, and Queen of incitement Pamela Geller, zionists and neocons can publicly being found, followed and all related sickening and violating tweets of their fans (which even contain threats, promoting of genocidal ideologies and more) are not censored at all. This is quite an magnum opus of hypocrisy.
We again express our concern about these policies and aware of the fact twitter does not like blogposts, we want to issue this warning for twitter is not publicly propagating these policies which result in providing you half info, half libraries, half knowledge and in the end result in a one-sided opinion.
We tweet by media published news. Nothing more or less than that besides the colloquial good mornings, good nights and wishes. We are not violent, not offensive nor rude.
We do not incite we only tweet for human rights and have the right to create awareness for a just cause. Twitter is not only violating the rights of free speech, but also the rights on information of others who by this restriction are disabled from an uncensored offer of information of their choice. We, and all people, can, will and according to law, are entitled to decide for ourselves what is relevant or not!
Article 19 of the ICCPR states that “Everyone shall have the right to freedom of expression; this right shall include freedom to seek, receive and impart information and ideas of all kinds, regardless of frontiers, either orally, in writing or in print, in the form of art, or through any other media of (their) choice.” This right requires that all governments meet their responsibility to ensure that no one is silenced or excluded simply because they lack access to communication technology.
AAAS Scientific Responsibility, Human Rights and Law Program
http://fwd4.me/092i 9 jan 2012, 16:00 , Respect -
Maria 29 aug 2011
Israeli diplomats train on 'Twitter PR'
Staff members of embassies across Europe take part in Brussels seminar, learn how to use social networks to bolster Israeli message ahead of September UN vote.
Staff members in Israeli missions worldwide are learning how to bolster their messages on the internet and social networks in preparation for September's UN vote on the Palestinian statehood bid.
As part of efforts to form a "moral majority" among major powers, some 60 staff members of embassies in Europe and representatives of Jewish organizations are taking part in a seminar in Brussels which trains them on the combination between public diplomacy and online media.
The diplomats are learning how to use the advantages of online media in such networks as Facebook and Twitter as well as PR activity in campuses. They are also learning how to use search engines to increase the exposure of Israel's messages.
This is part of the NIS 10 million PR campaign the Foreign Ministry has been pushing this past year. Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman has hired the services of several European PR companies to this end.
"More than 80% of articles that are read in newspapers and traditional media outlets originate from such social networks as Facebook and Twitter," David Saranga, one of the organizers of the seminar, said.
"Our purpose is to upgrade the pro-Israeli coalition's abilities in Europe, particularly ahead of September," he added.
Saranga, a European Parliament delegate and former Consul for Media and Public Affairs in New York said: "European Union nations cannot be considered one piece. The public opinion in Britain or France is different from public opinion in Italy or Poland, which are more sympathetic towards Israel.
"That is why our purpose is to see how we can adjust the Israeli message to each of these countries and reach the ultimate combination between public diplomacy and the tools provided by social networks."
D.J. Schneeweiss, one of the seminar's organizers, noted that the course also aims to lift the pro-Israeli bloc's performances in Europe to a new level. "Handling the anti-Israeli bloc warrants activity on the ground, which is achievable by boosting contacts in the online arena."
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4114989,00.html
9 jan 2012, 16:01 , Respect -
Maria 6 sept 2011
Report: Turkish hackers target Israeli websites
TEL AVIV, Israel (Ma'an) -- A group of Turkish hackers hijacked Israeli websites on Sunday evening, local media reports said Tuesday. Some 350 sites were thought to be affected.
Israel's Yedioth Ahronoth daily reported that that there was some concern that the hijacking was a "test-run" ahead of a major attack on Israeli domains, the newspaper's English website said.
The hackers redirected traffic on some sites and shut down others.
Hackers calling themselves the "Turkish security group" took responsibility, Ynet reported.
"The hack represents a 10%-15% spike compared to the average number of daily hacks of Israeli websites," Shai Blitzblau, head of a computer warfare research group, told the news site.
http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=418127
9 jan 2012, 16:01 , Respect -
Maria 10 sept 2011
'Israel, target of 100s of cyber attacks'
An Israeli official says that hundreds of cyber attacks target Israel on a daily basis and that the figure could increase to thousands in emergency situations.
Isaac Ben-Israel, who chairs a committee on countering cyber threats, made the remarks at the fifth annual Latrun Conference of Land Warfare on Thursday, Israeli media network Arutz Sheva reported.
Policies need to be formulated to provide a response to cyber threats against Israel, Ben-Israel said, adding that, “This is a real threat and not a virtual one.”
The committee headed by Ben-Israel is tasked with providing Tel Aviv with advice on cyber threats in the form of reports.
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/198411.html