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Reporting on the Middle East, Science, and Education for March 30, 2007 - י"א ניסן תשס"ז
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By Israel Zwick, CN Publications, March 30, 2007
(Author’s Note: The Socratic Method is a technique which utilizes a series of questions to expose inadequacies and inconsistencies in the beliefs of an interlocutor. Ultimately a new and better hypothesis is formed. The technique is commonly employed in legal education, cognitive-behavioral therapy, and forensic investigations. Peter Falk humorously employed this technique in his popular TV detective series, Colombo.
In the following fictional article, a spokesman for the Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs, IMFA, uses the technique with a reporter from the BBC at a press conference)
IMFA: Now that I have explained my government’s opposition to the Saudi Peace Initiative because it omits dialogue, negotiation, and regional cooperation, I’ll take some questions. I’ll start with Richard from BBC.
BBC: Sir, why is the Government of Israel (GOI) opposed to dismantling the illegal Jewish settlements that were built on occupied Palestinian territory?
IMFA: I’m sorry, I don’t understand the question. Could you please explain it? Read the rest of this entry »
Posted by CNP Webmaster as Fun Stuff, Humor, Middle East Report, Opinion, Recent Posts, Zwick's Picks on March 30, 2007 - י"א ניסן תשס"ז at 2:55 pm
A new phylogenic tree suggests ancestors of present-day mammals diversified millions of years after dinosaurs were wiped out, contradicting a popular theory
By Graciela Flores, The Scientist, March 28, 2007
New findings are contradicting a popular theory that the late Cretaceous mass extinction, which eliminated non-avian dinosaurs and most existing fauna 65 million years ago, helped trigger the rise of present-day mammals. Instead, in a report in Nature this week, researchers suggest that ancestors of modern mammals coexisted with dinosaurs, survived this mass extinction event, and only experienced major diversification millions of years after dinosaurs disappeared.
“We think that the death of the dinosaurs didn’t really have a strong effect, either positive or negative, on the extant groups,” including today’s mammals, lead author Olaf Bininda-Emonds of the University of Jena in Germany told The Scientist. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted by CNP Webmaster as Evolutionary Biology on March 30, 2007 - י"א ניסן תשס"ז at 8:24 am
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As we gather to celebrate this Festival of Freedom, let us recall
those who have their freedom denied to them.
As we sit with our families at our Seder Table, let us have in mind
those families whose table will not be complete.
As we tell the story of our ancestor’s exodus from slavery, let us
remember the Israeli soldiers who were kidnapped while protecting
Eretz Yisrael and are now sitting in captivity.
Our God and God of our ancestors, before we begin our Passover
Seder, we pray to you to have mercy and protect:
Gilad ben Aviva (Shalit)
Ehud ben Malka (Goldwasser)
Eldad ben Tova (Regev)
Zecharia Shlomo ben Miriam (Baumel)
Tzvi ben Penina (Feldman)
Yekutiel Yehuda Nachman ben Sara (Katz)
Ron ben Batya (Arad)
Guy ben Rina (Hever)
Redeem them from amongst the kidnapped, and take them from
slavery to freedom, from servitude to redemption, from darkness to
light, and fully heal their wounds. Give them courage and spirit and
strengthen their resilience.
Just as our Seder does not conclude until the Afikoman is found
and returned to our table, we hope and pray that these eight
soldiers will soon be returned safely to their families so that they
may taste the next Passover meal in freedom and with dignity.
Amen.
Posted by CNP Webmaster as Judaism, Middle East Report on March 30, 2007 - י"א ניסן תשס"ז at 7:30 am
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For the first time since the intifada, an Israeli ambulance enters Palestinian territories in order to evacuate critically injured baby
By Lilach Shoval, YNet News, March 29, 2007
A bullet-proof Israeli ambulance entered the West Bank city of Ramallah on Thursday in order to save a six-month old baby in critical condition after reportedly inhaling toxic substances.
This was the first time a Magen David Adom ambulance entered the Palestinian territories since the second intifada broke out in the year 2000.
Up until now, MDA ambulances would only go as far as the IDF checkpoints, where they would pick up Palestinian patients in need of medical care in Israel.
Immediately after receiving the Palestinians’ call for help, the Civil Administration’s West Bank division called MDA requesting paramedics from Jerusalem take on the mission. Two Arab-Israeli paramedics took the call. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted by CNP Webmaster as Middle East Report, News Articles on March 29, 2007 - י' ניסן תשס"ז at 8:15 pm
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By Linda Chavez, Washington Times, March 27, 2007
One year ago, the United States and the European Union decided to cut off aid to the Palestinian Authority after Palestinians elected Hamas, a U.S.- and EU-designated terrorist organization, to lead their government. Now, it turns out, Western sources, including the U.S. government, have actually put more money into the West Bank and Gaza since Hamas took over than in previous years.
What happened to Western resolve not to legitimate a bloodthirsty gang of pseudo-politicians who are committed to wiping Israel off the map?
In 2005, the U.S. gave about $400 million in aid to Palestinians directly and indirectly through United Nations refugee agencies, according to recent press reports. In 2006, that amount went up to $468 million. And the EU and its member countries gave Palestinians about $916 million in 2006, not counting what they gave through U.N. agencies, up from $711 million in 2005. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted by CNP Webmaster as Middle East Report, Opinion, Recent Posts on March 29, 2007 - י' ניסן תשס"ז at 7:50 am
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“Fateh Al-Islam”, an unachieved journey to “Al Qaeda” organization and an ambiguous link with “Fatah-Intifada”. “Al Hayat” visited “Fateh Al-Islam” in its northern camp in “Al Bared”, where nearly all speak classical Arabic with a Syrian accent. By Hazem Al-Amin.
By Hazem Al Amin, Al Hayat, March 28, 2007
Tripoli (North Lebanon) - The accusation imputed by Lebanese security services to “Fateh Al-Islam” group about being involved in Ain Alaq bombings in Mount Lebanon raised the issue of the presence of these groups inside the Palestinian refugee camp in Nahr Al Bared, especially that some persons who were accused are still in the northern camp. The accusation also raised some questions about the identity of these groups and what it was said about their connection to “Al Qaeda” organization, especially that they include, in “Samed” camp, activists from different nationalities: Syrian, Saudi, Yemeni, Algerian and Moroccan. This doesn’t seem a sufficient proof of “Al Qaeda”-like activities related to this group. Information given to “Al Hayat” mentioned that it’s a hybrid group that includes different security service members, as well as some elements upholding the “Salafi Jihadi” ideology and willing to go to Iraq.
“Al Hayat” visited the camp of this group in Nahr Al Bared camp, North Lebanon, and met with their spokesman. It asked the residents of the camp, the Lebanese security services and Islamist activists about this phenomenon: below is the full story. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted by CNP Webmaster as Islam, Middle East Report, News Articles, Recent Posts on March 28, 2007 - ט' ניסן תשס"ז at 8:24 pm
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Yeshive Neveh Zion, March 28, 2007
Dear Alumni and Friends,
I have written two emails to you about freedom. But I feel I owe you a postscript. So here goes. This Shabbos is Shabbos Hagadol. The Maharal explains that the Shabbos before Yom Hakippurim is called Shabbos Tshuva because the goal and purpose of Yom Hakippurim is teshuva. If so, the Maharal explains this Shabbos is called Shabbos Hagadol because the goal and purpose of Pesach is greatness…gadlus! I would venture to say that the greatness of a person is defined by his ability to overcome the temptation to do what he feels like and choose to do what is right and what he really wants. Freedom defines the greatness of man. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted by CNP Webmaster as Judaism, Monotheistic Religions on March 28, 2007 - ט' ניסן תשס"ז at 11:46 am
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International experts have backed the use of male circumcision in the prevention of HIV.
BBC News, March 28, 2007
The World Health Organization and UNAIDS said circumcision should be added to current interventions to reduce the spread of HIV.
Three African trials have shown that circumcision halved the rate of HIV infection in heterosexual men.
The recommendations largely apply to countries where rates of heterosexual transmission is high.
Experts warned that greater use of circumcision would not replace the need for other prevention methods, such as condoms. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted by CNP Webmaster as Health Sciences, Judaism, Men's Health, Recent Posts on March 28, 2007 - ט' ניסן תשס"ז at 10:45 am
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News.Net, March 28, 2007 http://www.israelnews.net/
1. 60 Dead in Iraq
Iraqi officials say bombing attacks have killed nearly 60 people, Tuesday.
In the worst violence, a double car bomb attack killed at least 48 people and wounded more than 100 others in the northern town of Tal Afar. Hours earlier, a suicide bomber killed 10 people and wounded 25 outside the city of Ramadi.
Earlier Tuesday, the U.S. military announced the capture of two leaders of a car bomb network believed responsible for killing around 900 Iraqis and wounding nearly two thousand others. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted by CNP Webmaster as Middle East Report, News Articles, Recent Posts on March 28, 2007 - ט' ניסן תשס"ז at 10:30 am
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By Dennis Ross, FT.com, March 28 2007
The guidelines of the Palestinian national unity government provide scant hope for peace in the Middle East. Israel appears in the guidelines only as an adjective; it modifies words such as occupation or aggression and never appears as a noun, much less a state to be recognised. The guidelines suggest a return to the pre-Oslo period when diplomacy was based on rejection and denial.
Yet the world and the Middle East have changed. While Iran, Hizbollah and Hamas reject Israel’s right to exist and challenge the premise of any peace process - a two-state solution - the Arab League is poised to reaffirm the Saudi initiative that offers full diplomatic ties to Israel following its withdrawal from all territories occupied in 1967. Here is validation that the Arab world still believes in peace with Israel.
Is this a basis to pursue the political goal that Condoleezza Rice, US secretary of state, has been promoting? It provides an opening. The principles need more grounding and a credible process to fulfil them. The League offers the Israelis peace, but only after Israel has taken all the steps the Arabs want. Conflicts are rarely solved by one side making all the concessions before it sees what it gets in return. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted by CNP Webmaster as Middle East Report, Opinion, Recent Posts on March 28, 2007 - ט' ניסן תשס"ז at 7:40 am
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