8/04/2015

Notations From the Grid: The Latest On the Iran Deal

This was just reported out over +i24news EN :

The lines are clearly drawn.   The Israeli Prime Minister noted a "disinformation campaign" that is being waged by Supporters.  This is as a resolution of disapproval has already been introduced by the Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Congressman Ed Royce of California.      US Media did report on it and it was not reflected yet on Congressman Royce's own website.





 
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8/03/2015

Notations On Our World: On a Very Tough WeekEnd in the Middle East

As a new week dawns here in #Outsiders, our team has been on the "prowl" as we've been witness yet again to another horrific week.    The wars in Syria, Libya and Iraq are continuing with no end in sight.    As part of our on-going assessment, one very disturbing program we saw was a BBC Documentary titled, "Civilization Under Attack".     What was striking was how one described the destruction of what Daesh/IS is doing to the 4500 archaeological sites as "rape".     It was a tough program to watch--and yes our team was ever so on board on how the foresight by Europeans have helped to preserve our heritage. They talked about how Daesh can make $ 250,000 on a small cylinder.    It must be watched by all by clicking here:  http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0615mxc

 What we also was witness to was the horrific attack in Jersuelaum at the Gay Pride Parade.  One of the victims, 16-year old Shira Banki, died of her wounds:
High school student Shira Banki, 16, has died after succumbing to stab wounds she sustained in an attack on a Gay Pride march in Jerusalem on Thursday




 This was also as earlier in the week Al Monitor documented a disturbing trend on how The Israeli Security Cabinet came out in opposition to the deal without even having read the deal and without apparently even consulting the security establishment: 

The struggle over the #IranDeal will gather pace though as The Israeli Prime Minister is about to make a speech to American Jewish supporters and the President making a major speech on Wednesday.   This is also as the Obama Adminstration will not contest the Parole of convicted spy Jonathan Pollard--although he is not able to leave the United States for five years: 

 As we went to press, we saw reports that Amal Clooney has filed motions to vacate the death sentence against Saif Gaddafi, the Son of the late Libyan leader Qaddafi.   With the current chaos in Libya, one wonders where this will all lead,      '

 It is bound to be another interesting and challenging week.





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8/01/2015

Notations From the Grid (Week-End Edition): Like the Newtown massacre, the Palestinian baby’s murder won’t change a thing - West of Eden - - Haaretz Daily Newspaper | Israel News

Thousands have attended rallies in Israel in the aftermath of the horrific arson attack that claimed the life of an 18-Month Old Toddler.   The Uncle of the toddler spoke at the rally in Tel Aviv's Rabin Square that is named in the name of another martyr for peace, Yitzhak Rabin.    He wants the fire to stop.   Yet, this editorial we reviewed sent chills down our collective spine as we worked away.    We could not help but ask:  When will the fires stop?



Like the Newtown massacre, the Palestinian baby’s murder won’t change a thing - West of Eden - - Haaretz Daily Newspaper | Israel News
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Notations On Our World (Week-End Edition): Voices of Reason

We have been following the tragic death of the Palestinian toddler in the City of Nablus.   As we went to press here for the weekend, the culprits of this tragic death are yet to be captured.   We wanted to report on one grassroots effort to think of a different way that was quite welcome as Israel has to do some major soul searching in the aftermath of the horrific death of the toddler and how the rest of the family are clinging to life (and how this sentiment by OneVoice Palestine was so moving):

الى متى سنراقب احلام وارواح اطفالنا تحترق! لا مجال لانتظار احد لينقذنا.. يجب ان نتوحد شعبا وحكومة واحزابا ونمشي صفا واحدا بثبات وبخطى مدروسة نحو مستقبل افضل لأولادنا.
Posted by ‎OneVoice Palestine | صوتنا فلسطين‎ on Saturday, August 1, 2015


 We here @ #Outsiders add our strong voice of support to them in their quest to transform the reality:  


The OneVoice Newsletter
From the Knesset to the Streets: OneVoice is Empowering Moderates
Polly Bronstein, OVI Executive Director, speaking at the Knesset next to MK Hilik Bar.
This week we had a tragic reminder that the extremists in our midst can cause untold horror unless good people stand up and oppose them. The horrific settler arson attack in the village of Duma, in which a Palestinian baby was burned to death last night should shock us all out of apathy. The stabbing of six participants at yesterday's Pride Parade in Jerusalem shows us that violence and intolerance is on the rise. And the growing sense of lawlessness and violence in several Palestinian cities in the West Bank provide a warning that we could very easily slide back to the dark days of the Intifada.

We at OneVoice condemn these heinous acts, but condemnation is not enough. From the halls of the Knesset to the streets of Nablus, OneVoice activists are standing up for the majority of Israelis and Palestinians who share a commitment to non-violence and peace.

OneVoice Israel (OVI) mobilized dozens of activists this week to fill the Knesset and amplify the voice of moderates to propel their elected representatives toward the two-state solution. The activists attended the  20th Knesset’s first convening of the  Caucusfor Resolving the Israeli-Arab Conflict.

Polly Bronstein, Executive Director of OVI, was invited to address the caucus on behalf of OVI activists by the chair of the caucus, MK Hilik Bar: “The caucus to end the Arab-Israeli conflict was established four years ago in a joint effort between OneVoice and MK Yoel Hasson and was responsible for a series of pioneering events and activities. The caucus brought the first Palestinian delegation to the Knesset, and it was the first time in which a Palestinian flag was ever raised alongside the Israeli flag in the Knesset.”
In Palestine, OneVoice Palestine (OVP) launched a campaign focused on mobilizing moderates to counter the rising extremist voices in Nablus and other cities throughout the West Bank. Nablus was the first city to see OVP launch their new “Violence is a Weakness” initiative.  
OneVoice Palestine Youth Leaders brought a message of non-violent resistance to the streets of Nablus.
Over 50 Youth Leaders were in the streets of Nablus on Wednesday, and will be heading to Jericho and Jenin in the coming days, actively working to strengthen and encourage Palestinians to promote peaceful means of achieving an end to occupation, and to denounce violence as a destructive force in Palestinians' quest for statehood.

OVP’s Executive Director Samer Makhlouf reflected on the impact, saying, “we must unite and be proactive when it comes to promoting dialogue and understanding as alternatives to violence, extremism and bigotry, because violence is a weakness. We must focus our efforts on the most important problem, ending the Israeli occupation, and working to promote a democratic Palestinian state based on tolerance and the values of freedom and equality”.

Together, OneVoice's Israeli and Palestinian teams are united in mobilizing moderates to counter extremism and to empower and inspire a majority of citizens on either side of the Green Line to propel their leaders towards the two-state solution.
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7/31/2015

The Friday Musical Interlude: "Deep Blue"

It is once again time for the "Friday Musical Interlue" here in #Outsiders.     Our team has chosen an artist of the week, Keiko Matsui, as we bid farwell to July 2015 and gear up for a New Month throughout the properties of #Outsiders.   Enjoy:
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7/29/2015

Notations On Our World: As former President Kalam of India is being Laid To rest

The former President of India, Dr. Kalam, has passed on.    He was known as the People's President and Thousands have been pouring in to pay their honors including members of the Indian Parliament and Chief Ministers.   The +NDTV said it best:  his work was larger than life but his simplicity and love for the people.      Our team sent out the live link earlier that +NDTV as live coverage of the State Funeral for him is being held.  As we went to press, the Indian Flag was taken off by the Armed Forces Guard of Honor.  

We here @ #Outsiders salute him as we say #RIPKalam, the People's President and extend our condoloscenes to the People of India.    We leave you with this in tribute to this great man:

& This tribute from +Google India :

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Notations On Our World: On the Continued Perilous Road On #TheIranDeal & #Vote4Peace

 

The fast and furious nature of the #IranDeal is continuing in the all of the US Congress.  On Tuesday, The US Secretary of the State and the US Secretary of the Treasury testified before the House Foreign Affairs Committee and received a scolding from members of Congress.   One Congressman went as far as to question the Secretary of State's commitment to US Security.   Secretary Kerry reminded him that he did not need a lecture from him because he's fought and served the United States ever since he got out of College.    It must be noted that the Chairman of the Committee, Congressman Royce of California, is one of the staunchest critics of the deal in Congress.

The rhetoric that has arisen from the right in the United States has been heartbreaking.   A leading Presidential Candidate, Mike Huckabee, said that the deal marched Israel close to the Oven--invoking the Holocaust.   He claimed that Jewish Organizations supported this.   Yet, the Israeli Ambassador to the United States called the comments inappropriate  and others including an Israeli Minister reminded him that the State of Israel was established specifically to insure that such does not happen again.    It was also quite interesting how Senator Cruz of Texas noted that this deal will mean that the Obama Administration will turn into the biggest sponsor of State Terrorism.   Senator Rubio was aggressive in his stance in that the agreement will not be honored by the next US President.

Part of the dialogue is fueled by a very aggressive campaign led by AIPAC and others to scuttle the deal.    AIPAC, for instance, is sponsoring a trip to Israel during the US Congressional Recess in order to help dissuade Members of Congress from a resolution of approval.   What is also lost in all of this is the sentiment on the streets of Iran.   Iran truly needs a sense of healing and this was beautifully underscored by an article in the New York Times recently.     Iran is still trying to recover from the trauma of the 8-year war with Iraq.   Just in July, a mass grave of 175 Divers were discovered who apparently were buried alive with their diving suits on during Operation Karbala in 1986 during an offensive to capture Basra.   The funeral in Tehran was attended by thousands.     Yet, there continues to be a concerted effort to clamour for war--as epitomized by Governor Walker's declaration that he would initiative military action on Day 1 of his Presidency. 

In the meantime, though, the World is marching onward.     The headline on +i24news EN read "Europe Goes to Iran":


Behrouz Mehri (AFP)


The European Union Foreign Policy Chief's Trip to Tehran underscored this.   The French Foreign Minister is also in Tehran and as we went to Press, he noted that President Rouhani has been invited to France in November for a State Visit.  

As the  debate over the #IranDeal continues, +Global Zero  produced this clip on the stark choices: 



Our team could not help but wonder if reason will prevail.   
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