Let Them Be Free

Palestinians from Fatah party hold the Palestine national flag and pictures of prisoners in Jewish jails during a demonstration calling for their release in the city of Nablus on 26 April 2008. There are more than 11,000 Palestinians held in Jewish jails.

It should be known at this time, that any Arab Palestinian in Jewish jails is in negotiation’s for their release, this also includes those from the Fatah party.

Only those with legitimate criminal charges, also regardless of who they are will not be released.

It is the intent, to return as many as possible both Jewish and Arab Palestinians, to their families.

Media Bed Deception

What is truth
And what are lies
Makes it a media bed
In deceptive eyes.

Truth walks small
And lies are fat
Some People would rather over eat
Then lay lazy on there backs.

-Deborah

Orthodox Christianity: 'Holy Fire'

Christian Orthodox worshippers hold up candles lit from the 'Holy Fire' as thousands of Orthodox Christians gather in the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem's Old City on 26 April 2008 during the Orthodox Easter ceremony of the 'Holy Fire'.

The ceremony celebrated in the same way for 11 centuries, is marked by the appearance of 'sacred fire' in the two cavities on either side of the Holy Sepulcher.

The Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem is the site of the final resting place of Jesus (PBUH), according to Christian tradition.

Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos III circles the aedicule as thousands of Orthodox Christians gather in the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem's Old City on 26 April 2008 during the Orthodox Easter ceremony of the 'Holy Fire.'

Palestinian Orthodox Christians celebrate the arrival of the 'Holy Fire' from Jerusalem's Holy Sepulcher in the city of Ramallah.

Palestinian Orthodox Christians celebrating in the city of Ramallah.

A Greek Orthodox worshipper carries a lantern lit from the 'Holy Fire' in the Church of the Nativity in the city of Bethlehem on 26 April 2008 during the Orthodox Easter ceremony of the 'Holy Fire'.

U.S. Student Loans Act

President George W. Bush joins members at the Northwest Boys & Girls Club in Hartford, Conn., Friday, April 25, 2008, during a program presentation for Malaria Awareness Day. President Bush later reviewed projects that the Boys & Girls Club members made about the prevention and treatment of malaria. (White House photo by Chris Greenberg)

For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
April 26, 2008

Audio

THE PRESIDENT: Good morning. As we approach graduation season, many American students are looking forward to beginning college in the fall. This new chapter of life is a time of great expectation but can also be a time of anxiety. And that anxiety is being heightened by the recent credit crunch, which has raised concerns about the potential availability of student loans.

Recently, some lenders have dropped out of the Federal program that provides college loans to students who have often little or no credit. Without an adequate response, this means that many students may approach the upcoming school year uncertain of when they will be able to get their loans or where they will come from.

A slowdown in the economy shouldn't mean a downturn in educational opportunities. So we're taking decisive action now to ensure that college is accessible and affordable for students around the country.

One way we're helping is through the Department of Education's "lender of last resort" program, which works to provide loans for students who are unable to secure one from a lender. The Department is taking steps to ensure that the agencies involved in this program are ready and able to meet their responsibilities. If necessary, the government will help fund these loans. With these actions, we will help ensure that a college education is not unnecessarily denied to those who have earned it.

These are important first steps, but more needs to be done. Congress needs to pass legislation that would give my Administration greater authority to buy Federal student loans. By doing so, we can ensure that lenders will continue to participate in the guaranteed loan program and ensure that students continue to have access to tuition assistance.

A bill that would do this has already passed the House of Representatives. It is called the "Ensuring Continued Access to Student Loans Act." This bill provides the necessary tools for safeguarding student loans without permanently expanding the government's role in their financing. The authority the bill grants is temporary and would be used only if it became apparent there was a shortage of loans available to students.

Ensuring the stability of student loans is essential to keeping educational opportunities open to all Americans. Last year alone, Federal loans provided more than $60 billion of aid to American students. This money helped pay for tuition, textbooks, and the lifetime of opportunity that comes with holding a college degree. Members of Congress now have a chance to preserve this opportunity, and they should take it.

I urge Congress to get the "Ensuring Continued Access to Student Loans Act" to my desk as soon as possible. A delay of even a week or two may make it impossible for this legislation to help students going to school this fall. By working together to improve and enact this legislation quickly, we can ensure that higher education remains within the reach for all those who've earned it. And we can ensure that America's college students can spend more time next fall thinking about their textbooks than their pocketbooks.

Thank you for listening.

No clash has taken place with US vessel in Persian Gulf, Iran Navy

26 April 2008

Tehran-The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps Navy official has said that no clash has taken place between Iranian boat and a US vessel in the Persian Gulf waters terming it as totally baseless.

Speaking to IRNA, the official said unlike what has been reported, no US vessel has opened fire at any Iranian boat in the Persian Gulf waters.

Western media reported on Friday that a cargo ship hired by the US military opened fire at a boat that may be Iranian.

"Foreign forces are completely aware of our policy in the Persian Gulf region and know very well that any confrontation would face crushing response from Iranian courageous forces," he said.

"If there such a confrontation takes place in the Persian Gulf waters, then no shooting vessel could survive to report what happened," he added.

He reiterated the strength and complete readiness of Iranian Navy to control any movement of foreign ships in the Persian Gulf waters and the Straight of Hormuz.

The official said that releasing such "suspicious reports would only be a source of concern for the vessels currently moving through the waterway in full peace of mind and this is completely against Iran's strategy to preserve security in the region." Reiterating Tehran's policy to maintain stability in the Persian Gulf region, he said, "Iran believes that any disorder in the region would have undesired consequences."

He added that releasing those baseless reports were "the result of the US officials' irresponsible and unprofessional policies in the region which could create an unsafe atmosphere for non-military vessels moving through the waterway."

He said that Iranian armed forces are well-prepared to confront any threat in the region and the military experts were investigating the report.

Blondie to perform this summer

Debbie Harry's legendary rock band to arrive in Israel in July as part of world tour marking 30 years since release of its first album

by Or Barnea

American rock band Blondie is coming to Israel this summer, and will perform at the Raanana Park Amphitheater on July 3 as part of a tour marking 30 years since the band's first album, "Parallel Lines", was released.

Debbie Harry's legendary band is being brought to Israel by veteran producer Shuky Weiss, who is also behind the planned arrivals of other nostalgic figures to Israel this summer, including Morrissey, Siouxsie Sioux and Bjork

The group, which gained fame in the late seventies and disbanded several years later, began its comeback about a decade ago. Five years ago the band released its album "The Curse of the Blondie" and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2006.

Following the re-release of its first album, Harry (62) and her band launched a world tour that will begin in the US. Israel is scheduled to be Blondie's first stop in its European tour.

'Jihadist' booted from US government lexicon

Bush administration launches new front in war on terrorism, this time targeting language

25 April 2008

by Associated Press

Don't call them jihadists any more. And don't call al-Qaeda a movement.

The Bush administration has launched a new front in the war on terrorism, this time targeting language.

Federal agencies, including the State Department, the Department of Homeland Security and the National Counter Terrorism Center, are telling their people not to describe Islamic extremists as "jihadists" or "mujahedeen," according to documents obtained by The Associated Press. Lingo like "Islamo-fascism" is out, too.

The reason: Such words may actually boost support for radicals among Arab and Muslim audiences by giving them a veneer of religious credibility or by causing offense to moderates.

For example, while Americans may understand "jihad" to mean "holy war," it is in fact a broader Islamic concept of the struggle to do good, says the guidance prepared for diplomats and other officials tasked with explaining the war on terror to the public. Similarly, "mujahedeen," which means those engaged in jihad, must be seen in its broader context.

US officials may be "unintentionally portraying terrorists, who lack moral and religious legitimacy, as brave fighters, legitimate soldiers or spokesmen for ordinary Muslims," says a Homeland Security report. It's entitled "Terminology to Define the Terrorists: Recommendations from American Muslims."

"Regarding 'jihad,' even if it is accurate to reference the term, it may not be strategic because it glamorizes terrorism, imbues terrorists with religious authority they do not have and damages relations with Muslims around the world," the report says.

Language is critical in the war on terror, says another document, an internal "official use only" memorandum circulating through Washington entitled "Words that Work and Words that Don't: A Guide for Counterterrorism Communication."

The memo, originally prepared in March by the Extremist Messaging Branch at the National Counter Terrorism Center, was approved for diplomatic use this week by the State Department, which plans to distribute a version to all US embassies, officials said.

"It's not what you say but what they hear," the memo says in bold italic lettering, listing 14 points about how to better present the war on terrorism.

"Don't take the bait," it says, urging officials not to react when Osama bin Laden or al-Qaeda affiliates speak. "We should offer only minimal, if any, response to their messages. When we respond loudly, we raise their prestige in the Muslim world."

"Don't compromise our credibility" by using words and phrases that may ascribe benign motives to terrorists.

Some other specifics

"Never use the terms 'jihadist' or 'mujahedeen' in conversation to describe the terrorists. ... Calling our enemies 'jihadis' and their movement a global 'jihad' unintentionally legitimizes their actions."

"Use the terms 'violent extremist' or 'terrorist.' Both are widely understood terms that define our enemies appropriately and simultaneously deny them any level of legitimacy."

On the other hand, avoid ill-defined and offensive terminology: "We are communicating with, not confronting, our audiences. Don't insult or confuse them with pejorative terms such as 'Islamo-fascism,' which are considered offensive by many Muslims."

The memo says the advice is not binding and does not apply to official policy papers but should be used as a guide for conversations with Muslims and media.

At least at the top level, it appears to have made an impact. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, who once frequently referred to "jihad" in her public remarks, does not appear to have used the word, except when talking about the name of a specific terrorist group, since last September.

The memo mirrors advice distributed to British and European Union diplomats last year to better explain the war on terrorism to Muslim communities there.

It also draws heavily on the Homeland Security report that examined the way American Muslims reacted to different phrases used by U.S. officials to describe terrorists and recommended ways to improve the message.

Because of religious connotations, that report, released in January and obtained by AP this week, counseled "caution in using terms such as, 'jihadist,' 'Islamic terrorist,' 'Islamist,' and 'holy warrior' as grandiose descriptions."

"We should not concede the terrorists' claim that they are legitimate adherents of Islam," the report said, adding that bin Laden and his adherents fear "irrelevance" more than anything else.

"We must carefully avoid giving bin Laden and other al-Qaeda leaders the legitimacy they crave, but do not possess, by characterizing them as religious figures, or in terms that may make them seem to be noble in the eyes of some," it said.

MTV Australia Awards 2008 Arrivals

Israel arrives at the MTV Australia Awards 2008 at the Australian Technology Park, Redfern on 26 April 2008 in Sydney, Australia.

This year's event, the first in partnership with the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA), will feature 8 musical performances and eleven awards presented across music, film, television and sport.

Israel (second from left) and guests arrive at the MTV Australia Awards 2008.

The Demon of Violence

The demon of violence is the perpetrator of every type of violence that is on the earth. Most people would think of wars or murder for this demon, but they are also guilty of some natural disasters, such as storms and earthquakes.

Domestic crimes such as robbery, physical or mental abuse, rape, sexual harassment for example are also contributed to them.

Even violence in the media setting that are not true or to advance violence for their means is by them.

For those who are for animal rights, cruelty to animal’s, as one well knows can fall victim to this demon.

Anything that can be considered a violent act of any kind, they are the demon that creates such things on the earth to not only create chaos, but suffering.

While they may speak of peace, freedom or religion for example, these elements are not within them and are nothing but lies. For they actually believe the opposite often times of what they are saying to the public, for they say what they think one wishes to hear and do the opposite. This is also one of the elements of how they can hide their true identity.

If one keeps real peace as well as love in their heart and subdues any violent nature within themselves, they cannot fall victim to this demon, but instead can see their crimes and hopefully stop these crimes, by ones goodness.

U.S. Presidential Candidates Want the Jewish Vote

Therefore, they can use it to harm the Jewish people, when they become president.

Abbas: I failed in U.S., no progress in peace talks

25 April 2008

By The Associated Press

WASHINGTON - Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said Friday that he failed to achieve any progress in Middle East peace talks with U.S. President George W. Bush and he is returning home from Washington with little to show for his visit.

In an interview with The Associated Press on Friday, the Palestinian leader sounded pessimistic about the prospects of achieving any deal with Israel this year, despite a big U.S. push that began five months ago at a Middle East peace summit in Annapolis, Maryland.

"Frankly, so far nothing has been achieved. But we are still conducting direct work to have a solution," Abbas said.
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On Thursday, Abbas asked Bush to tighten American monitoring over Israeli settlement expansion in the West Bank.

"We demanded the Americans implement the first phase of the road map that talks about the cessation of settlement expansion," Abbas said, expressing disappointment the U.S. has not exerted more pressure on Israel to stop. "This is the biggest blight that stands as a big rock in the path of negotiations."

Israel is pushing forward with controversial building projects on disputed land in the West Bank and East Jerusalem and has so far refused to evacuate illegal settlement outposts, release Palestinian prisoners, halt military incursions, and dismantle roadblocks that severely disrupt daily life.

Abbas' aides said he was also upset after his lunch Thursday with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. While discussing what a peace deal would look like, Rice did not mention the Palestinian goal of creating a state based on borders before Israel captured Gaza from Egypt and the West Bank from Jordan during the 1967 Six-Day war.

"We demanded that they talk about the '67 borders," Abbas told AP, showing a rare flash of anger. "None of them talks about the '67 borders."

Asked whether U.S. officials offered any new U.S. proposals, Abbas said no.

"They are exerting efforts. And we are still negotiating," he said, but he noted that no progress had been made on any of the core issues.

"All the files are still open. None of them are concluded. The situation is still as it was," Abbas said, speaking in Arabic.

The main unresolved issues include the final borders of a Palestinian state, the fate of Jerusalem, disputed Israeli settlements and Palestinian refugees.

Chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat said Bush did not respond directly when Abbas brought up the issue of Palestinian objections to continuing Israeli settlement expansion when the two leaders met Thursday at the White House.

"Bush told him [Abbas] that 'I'm focusing on the bigger picture,'" Erekat explained.

Abbas said he was looking for a full Middle East peace framework agreement that would be detailed and includes timetables, while the Israelis have signaled that a declaration of principles would be enough of an achievement before Bush leaves office in January 2009.

"We don't want a declaration of principle because we had one," Abbas said, referring to the 1993 peace agreement reached at Oslo between the Palestinians and Israel. "Now we want a normal agreement. And then we can go for the details."

Despite his disappointment, Abbas said he would still meet with Prime Minister Ehud Olmert regularly in hopes of achieving a deal. But there are no three-way talks scheduled anytime soon with Bush, Abbas and Olmert.

Bush is scheduled to visit Israel in May to help Olmert celebrate the country's 60th anniversary, and then the U.S. president will travel to the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh to see Abbas separately.

"It will be a bilateral meeting between me and Bush. That is the meeting I was invited for," Abbas said.

Abbas said the one thing he did achieve during his U.S visit was to lay out the Palestinian conditions for any peace deal and press his case that he cannot go for any partial agreement because the Palestinian people would not accept it.

"We have made clear our position to the president, to the State Department and to the Congress," Abbas said during the 15-minute interview in his hotel room in Washington. "And now our position is very clear to all of them."

Abbas' moderate and Western-backed government rules the West Bank, the territory that would eventually form the bulk of an independent Palestinian state. Hamas, the Islamic militant group that seized control of Gaza and serves a rival force to Abbas, is not involved in the peace negotiations with Israel.

Abbas has been losing popular support for the peace process due to a lack of any changes on the ground for people whose daily lives have been disrupted by Israeli checkpoints and roadblocks that Israel says are meant to maintain security and stop militant attacks on Israeli citizens.

China may meet Dalai Lama aides

25 April 2007

An envoy to the Dalai Lama said on Friday he had received notice of China's offer to hold talks with representatives of the Dalai Lama.

"We have been told verbally, through private channels, that a meeting has been proposed," Dalai Lama envoy Kelsang Gyaltsen told Germany's Deutsche Welle broadcaster.

"We neither know the date, the location, nor the topics that must be addressed at the meeting," he added, speaking in German.

Bush: Economy in slowdown, checks on the way

President George W. Bush makes a statement on the economic stimulus rebate checks at the White House in Washington, April 25, 2008.

25 April 2008

By David Lawder

WASHINGTON -President George W. Bush said on Friday the U.S. economy is in a slowdown but tax rebates that will start hitting consumers' bank accounts next week should help.

Bush spoke as a measure of consumer confidence hit a 26-year low.

"It's obvious our economy is in a slowdown," Bush said in urging taxpayers to contact the federal government about their eligibility for rebates amounting to as much as $600 per adult and $300 per child, depending on their income.

"The money's going to help Americans offset the high prices we're seeing at the gas pump and the grocery store and it will also give our economy a boost to help us pull out of this economic slowdown," he added before leaving the White House for a trip to Hartford, Connecticut.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson told Reuters on Thursday that the government had accelerated its schedule for distributing the rebate payments under a $152 billion economic stimulus package.

The Treasury had planned to start distributing payments in early May but will send nearly 7.7 million direct-deposit payments to Americans next week, Paulson said in an interview. It will pump $50 billion in rebate payments into the economy by the end of May and largely complete the distribution of more than $100 billion in rebates by the end of June.

Bush said the first paper rebate checks would be sent out on May 9. He urged Americans to file their tax returns with the Internal Revenue Service to ensure that they receive a check.

Bush has said the U.S. economy is experiencing a slowdown, but not a recession against a background of slumping housing prices and rising unemployment as well as increasing energy and food prices and continued declines in home prices in many areas.

GLOOMY SENTIMENT

But the Reuters/University of Michigan consumer sentiment index on Friday showed a more sour mood among Americans, hitting its weakest level in 26 years amid heightened worries over inflation and housing.

The April gauge fell deeper into recessionary territory, from 62.6 to 69.5 in March. As a result, Americans are increasingly likely to use their tax rebate to reduce debt or build savings, rather than spend on big-ticket items that would bolster economic activity.

Consumers worried about future living standards were reining in spending, the survey group said in a statement.

"Although the tax rebate will boost spending temporarily, the global rise in food and fuel prices, the declines in home values, and changes in credit conditions are likely to persist for some time and lengthen the period of stagnation in consumption," the group said. "Coupled with weaker job and income growth, these factors have the potential to cause deeper cutbacks in consumption than now anticipated."

The survey group said the data now point toward the likelihood of a relapse in spending later in 2008 and continuing into early 2009.

Democratic congressional leaders have been pushing for a second economic stimulus plan, such as increased unemployment benefits or more government spending on infrastructure.

Paulson told Reuters on Thursday he would be willing to listen to ideas from House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a California Democrat, about how to further aid the economy in connection with arranging a vote on the Bush administration's proposed Colombia free-trade agreement.

Paulson and Pelosi worked quickly in February to hammer out terms of the economic stimulus package that resulted in the tax rebate checks.

U.S.-contracted ship fires toward Iranian boat

25 April 2008

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -A cargo ship contracted by the U.S Military Sealift Command has fired at least one shot toward an Iranian boat, a U.S. defense official said on Friday.

"It was an MSC vessel," the official said, confirming the ship fired on an Iranian boat.

Other details were not immediately available. A spokeswoman for the U.S. Navy's Fifth Fleet headquarters in Bahrain did not have any immediate comment.

The United States in January said Iranian boats threatened its warships on January 6 along a vital route for crude oil shipments.

US renews violence in Iraq, air strikes on Sadr City kill 11, maim 36

25 April 2008

Baghdad-Violence against civilians gained momentum in Iraq when US air strikes over night killed at least 11 people and wounded 36 others in Sadr City, an Iraqi Interior Ministry official said.

Iraqi soldiers look over the site of a Baghdad market blast that killed three people on Thursday.

The US military launched overnight air strikes on Sadr City, the official said.

Iraqi religious leader Moqtada Sadr called on his supporters to halt attacks on March 30.

Sadr City named after ancestors of the religious leader.

Al-Sadr's supporters have accused Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's government of not holding up its end of the cease-fire agreement, which includes freeing non-convicted prisoners from the Sadrist movement and halting what they call illegal raids on the cleric's followers.

Meanwhile, the US military said a US soldier was killed by a roadside bomb south of Baghdad Thursday.

The death brings to 4,051 the number of US military personnel killed in the Iraq war since it began in March 2003.


Further Reading:

Deaths, devastation have got dangerous dimension in Iraq

Think Before You Do

A chef prepares sushi at the Running Sushi restaurant 25 April 2008 in Herzliya. Surging rice prices caused by shortages of the world-wide staple are likely to force restaurants to raise prices or cut portions in the near future.

Try to keep prices reasonable if possible, this situation may change.

This is s not just a usual idea of a shortage, there is people panic buying especially rice because of economic woes in other parts of the world, especially in the United States, because as there economy seems to be imploding, more people seem to be getting more afraid and their dollar is not going as far.

What use to cost the Americans 20 dollars for a sack of groceries, may now cost them about 50 dollars.

Furthermore, while I am not a sushi eater, the food does look very appetizing.

Activists Run Amok

European, Jewish and Arab Palestinian activists demonstrate in Hebron.

An activist argues with Jewish soldiers.

Jewish soldiers tackle activists.

Jewish soldiers try to disperse activists.

Jewish soldiers detain a activist.

From this day foreword, if a person is a citizen of Palestine, regardless of their religious background, they will spend 30 days in jail for creating these types of troubles. Hopefully, this will give time to think and become better people.

As for the foreign activists, they will be arrested, until their personal information is collected, as well as kept on file, their visa’s revoked and they are to leave the country immediately. These foreign activist, are not allowed to return to Palestine.

Abbas is Calling

Officials inspect the damage from rocket fire which landed in the southern cemetery in the city of Ashkelon, early morning on 25 April 2008.

by HRM Deborah

While I have been told Mahmoud Abbas’s terrorist cell is has gotten quite small, he still has a few loyal to him, while the majority of Palestinians will have nothing to do with Abbas this includes many in the Fatah party.

This is an Abbas’s calling card, while he is visiting U.S. President George W. Bush in Washington, D.C. and is nothing but a trick to stir up trouble between the Jewish people and the rest of Palestine.

Nevertheless, the murder that occurred today and this attack, is not related.

Let’s not allow these types of incidents to begin to make us suspicious of each other, because of what a terrorist like Abbas is doing.

For Abbas’s cell, they are people who walk alone and the majority of Arab Palestinians see them as a dirty shirt, that you cannot wash, but put in the trash can instead.

To be better understood, the majority of Arab Palestinians especially, are not just at peace with the Jewish people, but have grown to love them as well as appreciate them and no one, not even Abbas is gong to change this fact.

Personally, it is like a breath of fresh air, that I can talk to my Jewish cousins and we can share our laughter, smiles and sadly even our tears together.

Finally, as for the women that lost her husband today, may she know I cry with her.

A Case of Murder

A colleague comforts the wife of one of two guards who were premeditated murdered by two Fatah party assailants on 25 April 2008 in a shooting attack in an industrial zone near Nitzanei Oz, across the border from the town of Tulkarem, West Bank.

Identified as Shimon Mizrahi, 53, of Bat Hefer and Eli Wasserman, 51, of Alfei Menashe, the guards were tasked with checking Palestinians who arrived from the West Bank.

A colleague comforts the wife of one of two guards who was murdered.

Jewish soldiers stand behind a police cordon after two guards were murdered.

Jewish policemen and paramedics inspect the bodies of two guards who were murdered.

A Jewish soldier walks in front of the body of one of two guards who was murdered.

Jewish soldiers take in a suspect for questioning.

Jewish soldiers take in suspects for questioning after two guards were murdered by men from Fatah party on 25 April 2008 in a shooting attack in an industrial zone near Nitzanei Oz, across the border from the town of Tulkarem.

A Jewish ambulance leaves the scene after the shooting.

Jewish police block the road.
Jewish soldiers search and patrol on 25 April 2008 in the West Bank city of Tulkarem , after two guards in the industrial area between Tulkarem and the Jewish village of Nitzanei Oz.

by HRM Deborah

These murders were an isolated incident, there is no need to close the West Bank, and Gaza for the rest of the populace is not guilty of what occurred.

The assailants that committed these premeditated murders should pay with their life.

However, because we are not dealing with life when the war was going on, but a different situation, so please remember, 'you never punish the many innocent for the crime’s they are not guilty. ' For in doing so in this way, it is more likely the peace will be kept and less likely of future incidents.

For this was just murder and not a terrorist attack.

Nevertheless, I am deeply distressed that these murders occurred and my heart goes out to the families that lost loved ones.

Disrespecting God

Jewish youths dance during a festival at Nitzanim beach in southern Palestine on 24 April 2008. The three-day festival, which is held during the Passover Jewish holiday, attracts many young Jews and includes rock concerts, meditation, yoga sessions and nudist camps.

It is not acceptable to disclose one’s nakedness when there is no need, including entering a (public) bathhouse without a covering.

These types of acts, especially during a holiday such as Passover, is disrespect to G-d.

President stresses construction of Islamic Iran

24 April 2008

Tehran-President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Thursday underscored the need for construction of the Islamic Iran and settlement of the existing problems.

Addressing a large group of Ulema and religious personalities of the western city of Hamedan, he said, teachings of Islam would be good solutions to the problems.

President Ahmadinejad condemned efforts by certain groups to resist against positive and constructive policies of the government.

He further underlined the need for administration of justice in the society, adding that Islam has very much emphasized on justice administration.

He also called for closer relation between the government and seminaries.

President Ahmadinejad, along with his cabinet members and a number of Majlis deputies arrived in Hamedan on Wednesday.

This is his second visit to the province in line with his initiative to tour different provinces to follow up implementation of the approvals during his first round.

Four for a Ride

A Palestinian man drives his children on his motorcycle on 24 April 2008 in the al-Shati refugee camp in Gaza City.

A Gaza School Day

Palestinian children leave school on 24 April 2008 in the al-Shati refugee camp in Gaza City.

Walking the Alleys

Palestinian children walk in the narrow alleys of the al-Shati refugee camp in Gaza City on 24 April 2008.

Ethiopian Christian worshippers Attend Special Easter Prayer

Ethiopian Christian Orthodox worshippers attend a special Easter prayer at the Deir Al-Sultan chapel next to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem's old city on 24 April 2008.

Washing of the Feet

Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos III (C) conducts the Washing of the Feet Easter ceremony in front of the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem's old city on 24 April 2008. Orthodox Christian believers mark the holy week of Easter in celebration of their belief of the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus.

Thousands of Christian Orthodox worshippers attend the Washing of the Feet Easter ceremony lead by Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos III in front of the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem's old city.

Bush Meets with Global Terrorist Mahmoud Abbas in a Bed of Deception

U.S. president George W. Bush shakes hands with Global terrorist Mahmoud Abbas as they meet with the media Thursday, 24 April 2008, in the Oval Office of the White House. (White House photo by Chris Greenberg )

For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
April 24, 2008

Video

Audio

PRESIDENT BUSH: Thanks for coming. Mr. President, I appreciate a chance to talk about peace. I assured the President that a Palestinian state is a high priority for me and my administration -- a viable state, a state that doesn't look like Swiss cheese, a state that provides hope. It's in -- I believe it's in Israel's interest and the Palestinian people's interest to have leaders willing to work toward the achievement of that state.

The people that can deliver that state, that vision, to the Palestinian people were sitting right here in the Oval Office, led by the President. The President is a man of peace. He's a man of vision. He rejects the idea of using violence to achieve objectives, which distinguishes him from other people in the region. I'm confident we can achieve the definition of a state. I'm also confident it's going to require hard work.

To that end, I'm going back to the Middle East. I'm looking forward to meeting you, sir, and thank you for making time. I consider you a friend. I also consider you a courageous person. And I'm also will -- believe strongly that when history looks back at this moment and a state is defined, that the Palestinian people will thank you for your leadership.

There are a lot of issues we discussed, issues of importance: the security of the Palestinian people and the Israeli people, the economic advancement of the Palestinian people. The thing that I'm focused on, and you are, is how to define a state that is acceptable to both sides. I'm confident it can get done. I want to thank you for coming. I appreciate your time.

PRESIDENT ABBAS: Thank you. (As translated.) Mr. President, thank you very much for receiving us here at the White House these days. And I also would like to thank you very much for the initiative that was launched during the Annapolis Conference.

We believe that you actually are truly seeking a true, genuine and lasting peace in the Middle East. And I am certain that you would like to see an agreement and settlement before the end of your term. And at the same time we are doing everything we can in order to seriously negotiate and reach a peace that will be satisfactory to both the Palestinian side and the Israeli side, a peace that would be promoted around the world.

There are many parties also that are working very hard to support our efforts and to help us reach that peace. When I talk about your initiative, Mr. President, I also have to praise the Arab peace initiative, an initiative that simply states that peace will be achieved after the Israeli withdrawal from the occupied Arab and Palestinian Territories. As a result of that, I believe strongly that more than 57 Arab and Islamic countries will normalize their relations with Israel.

I believe very strongly that time is of the essence; we are working very hard and hope not to waste any time and continue these efforts to achieve peace.

Mr. President, your efforts, the efforts of your administration, the various visits -- your previous one and your upcoming visit to Sharm el-Sheikh and to the region, all of this is a strong indication that you are very keen to continue to work very hard and to achieve your vision.

I cannot say that the road to peace is paved with flowers. It is paved with obstacles. But together we will work very hard in order to eliminate those obstacles and achieve peace.

PRESIDENT BUSH: Thank you, sir. Thank you, all. Shokren (inaudible).

END

Bring Abbas to Justice not the White House

Protesters from the Shalom International Coalition to Defend Jerusalem demonstrate against the visit of Mahmoud Abbas outside the White House 24 April 2008, in Washington, DC. Abbas is meeting with U.S. President George W. Bush at the White House.
I wish to say thank you, to Shalom International Coalition to Defend Jerusalem, for going to Washington, D.C. on behalf of all Palestine, against a global terrorist visiting the White House whose intent is to not just harm the Jewish people, but also Arab and Christians as well.