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$2 APRIL 2010 Issue 33 335 N. Brookhurst St., Suite B, Anaheim, CA 92801 T.877.535.8555 F.714.535.7263 Info@TIMonitor.com www.TIMonitor.com
Dubai investigation exposes Israeli ops BY MICHAEL GILLESPIE
Contributing Editor, Des Moines, IA
An ongoing investigation by the
Dubai Police force into the assassination
RI D KLJKOHYHO +DPDV RI¿FLDO LQ WKH
United Arab Emirates (UAE) in January
has drawn back the curtains of secrecy
and deception to reveal yet again the
Israel Gets Away contours of Israel’s massive and ever-
expanding espionage operations in the
with Murder United States.
The murder of Mahmoud Al
Mabhouh in his room at the Al Bustan
5RWDQD D URRP ¿YHVWDU OX[XU\
hotel, in Dubai on January 19 has
been widely perceived to be a Mossad
operation involving, by the most
recent count, 27 suspects traveling
RQ IUDXGXOHQWO\ REWDLQHG DQG IDOVL¿HG
European or Australian passports. In to pay for hotel rooms and travel arrangements. investigation.”
late February and early March, the plot … Dubai police linked META Bank to a New “One suspect traveling on a British
0DKPRXG $O0DEKRXK WKLFNHQHG VXGGHQO\ DQG VLJQL¿FDQWO\ York-based company called Payoneer, which passport arrived in the United States on
when major U.S. media outlet reports provided prepaid MasterCard credit cards Feb. 14; the other used an Irish passport and
3J connected the crime and many of issued by META Bank. According to its Web arrived on Jan. 21, said the person, who spoke
those involved in it to the U.S. and to site, Payoneer has a research and development on condition of anonymity because he was
Zankou corporations based in the U.S. and Israel center in Tel Aviv,” reported ABC. not authorized to discuss the case. He did not
and revealed that some of the suspected The TV network report noted that some say where the men entered the country, and
Chicken assassins, apparently members of a of the additional suspects played a central added that there was no known record of their
Mossad kidon team, had entered the role in the crime while others were accused leaving,” wrote Robert F. Worth in a story
U.S. after leaving Dubai. of “‘providing prior logistical support and ¿OHG IURP 'XEDL
ABC News reported on February 24 preparations to facilitate,’ making a series of Worth’s report noted that if the suspected
WKDW 'XEDL SROLFH KDG LGHQWL¿HG QHZ trips to Dubai in advance” of the assassination. assassins who entered the U.S. presented
suspects as part of a ring that killed Al The New York Times reported on March foreign passports, they would have been
Mabhouh. 1 that, “At least two suspects in the killing of SKRWRJUDSKHG DQG ¿QJHU SULQWHG XSRQ DUULYDO
D +DPDV RI¿FLDO LQ D KRWHO KHUH LQ -DQXDU\ The Wall Street Journal’s Chip Cummins
2YHUÀRZLQJ KHDUW\ SRUWLRQV “Fourteen of the suspects
traveled to the United States afterward, ¿OHG D VLPLODU UHSRUW IURP 'XEDL RQ WKH
purportedly used credit cards from
JUHDW YDOXH 3J META Bank, a regional American bank, according to a person familiar with the [See Dubai, Page 8]
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2 Visit www.TIMonitor.com EDITORIAL APRIL 2010 THE INDEPENDENT MONITOR
In Memory of
Will Arabs count their numerals?
BY SAMI BISHARA MASHNEY
Editor-in-Chief, Anaheim, CA
The two words “Arabic” and
“numerals” have a long and intertwined
history. The numerals (or numbers) used in
most of the world today (0 thorough 9) are
known as “Arabic numerals.” When Europe
was languishing under the dark ages, Arabic
FLYLOL]DWLRQ UHDFKHG LWV JROGHQ ]HQLWK $UDEV PDGH VLJQL¿FDQW
Bishara Costandi Al-Mash
shara Al-Mashni advancements in all areas of knowledge, including science,
mathematics, arts and literature.
2QH RI WKH PRVW VLJQL¿FDQW DGYDQFHPHQWV $UDEV PDGH ZDV
1908-1999 the institutionalization of the use of the number zero “0.” Although
Publisher of Sawt Al-Sharq it appears that the number zero may have been invented by Hindu
Arabic-Spanish Newspaper PDWKHPDWLFLDQV WKH ¿UVW XVH RI ]HUR DV D SODFH KROGHU LQ SRVLWLRQDO homebuyers use census data to research property values, median
Cuba, Havana, circa 1930–1949 base notation was due to the Arabic mathematician Abu Ja’far income and other demographic information about a particular
“Teach Your Children Reading, Writing Muhammad ibn Musa Al-Khawarizmi. community or neighborhood.
and Mastery of the Media” $O.KDZDUL]PL ZDV D SUROL¿F VFLHQWLVW DQG PDWKHPDWLFLDQ &XUUHQWO\ WKH HWKQLFLW\ RU UDFH RI ³$UDE´ LV QRW RI¿FLDOO\
who wrote several important books which were later translated by recognized on the 2010 US Census form. However, many Arab
western scholars and served as a foundational building block to Americans throughout the nation have embarked on a write-in
PDQ\ RI WRGD\¶V VFLHQWL¿F DGYDQFHPHQWV 7KH WHUP ³DOJRULWKP´ LV campaign to put the term “Arab” at the bottom of question number
335 N. Brookhurst St., Suite B a variation of the name of Al-Khawarizmi. 9 of the Census from. Their catchy slogan is “Check it right, you
Anaheim, CA 92801
What does this all mean to us today as Arab Americans? Well, ain’t white!” Arab American Community leaders are hoping that
877.535.8555 Telephone
714.612.0157 Mobile every decade, our government conducts the herculean effort of if enough Arab American participate in this national campaign,
714.535.7263 Facsimile counting how many people are living in the United States. Our the federal, state and local governments will afford Arab
Info@TIMonitor.com government uses our Arabic numerals for such count! Americans a minority status which will translate into eligibility
www.TIMonitor.com Conducting the census is required by the US Constitution. for various government programs and funds allocated to minority
The census must count every person residing in the United States: communities.
PUBLISHER in all 50 states, Puerto Rico, and the Island Areas. This includes )XUWKHU EHQH¿WV ZLOO IROORZ ZKHQ HOHFWHG DQG DSSRLQWHG
PERCEPTIONS SYSTEMS PUBLISHING, LLC people of all ages, races, ethnic groups, citizens, and noncitizens, RI¿FLDOV WDNH QRWLFH RI D JUHDWHU QXPEHU RI $UDE $PHULFDQV WKDQ
LQFOXGLQJ XQGRFXPHQWHG LPPLJUDQWV 7KH ¿UVW FHQVXV FRXQWLQJ what was previously thought. This will translate to more sensitivity
3.9 million people, was conducted in 1790 and has been carried to our concerns and respect to our often maligned community.
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF out every 10 years since then. The last census, conducted in 2000, Some people coming from the Arab World have a problem
SAMI BISHARA MASHNEY counted a total of 281.4 million people. ZLWK WKH LGHQWL¿FDWLRQ ZLWK WKH WHUP ³$UDE´ EHFDXVH WKH\ FRQVLGHU
Population totals from Census 2010 will determine the number WKHPVHOYHV EHORQJLQJ WR D FODVVL¿FDWLRQ RWKHU WKDQ ³$UDE´ :KLOH
of seats each state holds in the US House of Representatives. their sincere feelings are to be respected, they can help accomplish
Under this process, known as “apportionment,” the number of this objective by simply putting down their country of origin, like
MANAGING EDITOR seats in the House of Representatives has grown from 106 after Lebanon, Iraq, Egypt, etc. The US Census will tabulate these
& LAYOUT DESIGNER the 1790 census, to 435 today. Through apportionment, states that results and these fellow “Arab” Americans will count with the rest
LUX GIBBS grow in population may gain seats, while states with shrinking of us Arab Americans.
populations may lose seats. By law, The US Census Bureau must Some people are concerned that the information they provide
CONTRIBUTING EDITORS
submit state population totals from Census 2010 to the President in the US Census will be shared with law enforcement. This is
THARWA AHMAD
MICHAEL GILLESPIE
of the United States by December 31, 2010. not the case since all Census Bureau employees take the oath of
SARAH PRICE Over $400 billion in federal funding is distributed to QRQGLVFORVXUH DQG DUH VZRUQ IRU OLIH WR SURWHFW WKH FRQ¿GHQWLDOLW\
communities each year based to a large extent on the results of the of the data. By law, the Census Bureau cannot share respondents’
STAFF WRITERS US Census. Besides affecting the total federal funding received answers with anyone, including the IRS, FBI, CIA or any other
JESSICA ABU-GHATTAS by our community, data collected in the census is used by local government agency. Moreover, the information provided to
IHSAN ALKHATIB governments to determine exactly how that money will be used. the US Census is not extensive and as long we are law abiding
REUEL AMDUR Census data are used by the private sector as well as state citizens, we have nothing to fear if the government knows basic
DAVE AOSSEY and local governments to determine where new jobs and job information about us.
FAYERUZ BARBARI-REGAN development programs are needed. The same is true for building At the end of the day, we must ask ourselves this fundamental
TAMMY WATTS-OBEIDALLA QHZ KRVSLWDOV VFKRROV ¿UH VWDWLRQV SXEOLF OLEUDULHV HWF question: Is our long term best interest better served by being
Community planners and leaders use census data to decide where visible and standing up to be counted, or by crawling into an
COLUMNISTS
GHASSAN RUBEIZ
such essential facilities are most needed. ambiguous corner of oblivion where haters label us as “the others”
FRANK SCOTT Corporations use census data for market research to without us being able to effectively speak coherently for ourselves
determine the locations for new commercial enterprises, such as in greater and greater numbers? There is power in numbers. Let’s
CARTOONISTS grocery stores, pharmacies and other essential services. Potential register as “Arabs” in great numbers!
CARLOS LATUFF
WEBMASTERS
THARWA AHMAD
NADER TAWIL
CORRESPONDENTS
MARIN COUNTY, CA - AFIF HOUSSAIN
ORANGE COUNTY, CA - RASHAD AL-DABBAGH
ORANGE COUNTY, CA - MIKE NALLY
SAN DIEGO, CA - DAVE AOSSEY
SAN DIEGO, CA - WILLIAM HANNOSH
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - AFIF HOUSSAIN
SYLMAR, CA - SARAH PRICE
DURANGO, CO - ANN PERKINS-PARROTT
JACKSONVILLE, FL - GEORGE MASHNI
DES MOINES, IA - MICHAEL GILLESPIE
JAMAICA, NY - AMEL AHMED
WASHINGTON D.C. - ALI YOUNES
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Sy Hersh: Obama’s master plan?
BY MICHAEL GILLESPIE still very involved. I’ve had the great fortune, I think it’s
Contributing Editor fortune, I’ve had three people who are inside, the last eight
Des Moines, IA years of Bush/Cheney including somebody who worked
very closely and went to a lot of meetings,” said Hersh.
Seymour Hersh, perhaps “I’m taking some of stuff that I couldn’t do because
the most accomplished and renowned of obvious protection; we should talk about anonymous
investigative journalist working in the sources, you couldn’t do anything in my business without
United States today spoke before an an anonymous source, I’m not sure. It’s a complicated issue
RYHUÀRZ FURZG LQ WKH 6XQ 5RRP DW ,RZD 6WDWH 8QLYHUVLW\ because it’s also a formula for a lot of cheesy reporting that
(ISU) on March 9. shouldn’t be done. You know we have a bestseller right
His presentation was titled, “The Crisis in American now that’s anonymous, speaks about politics, the Halperin
Foreign Policy,” and Hersh began by ladling out criticism book which says basically, ‘An anonymous source told
of presidents present and past. me, Hilary can be really bitchy in the morning.’ So, you
“Oh God, just when we desperately need an angry have that level of anonymous sources, and there are other
Black man,” quipped the reporter who stunned America things, so it’s an open issue,” said Hersh.
and the world with the story of the My Lai Massacre in “Bush and Cheney really took the Constitution apart,
November 1969, during the Vietnam War. and as much as you think you know, it’s worse. So, here
“Obviously talking about our president,” said Hersh we are. We’ll talk about Obama. It’s a year and two
over the laughter of members of his audience. months in. Let’s see: We’re still torturing, no question.
“But that isn’t fair to him. It’s a little quick. Maybe Many of the prisons are better, Baghram and other places
he has a plan; I’m talking about his foreign policy. I know are cleaner, Guantanamo’s cleaner, better, there’s more
he’s immersed. The dweebs that preceded him left him visibility and transparency,” said Hersh. Seymour Hersh spoke about The Crisis in
with terrible problems, economic problems, jobs problems “But basically there’s an understanding on the American Foreign Policy at ISU in Ames, IA on
obviously, the collapse of the economy. I’m not sure he did EDWWOH¿HOG LQ $IJKDQLVWDQ WKH RUGHU LV HVVHQWLDOO\ WKH UXOH March 9. Photo by Michael Gillespie
the right thing about it but that’s not what I’m interested is that, if you capture a suspect, somebody that you think
in,” said Hersh. is a Taliban … you have 72 hours tactically, the point “We still have secret prison sites. The president
“Of course the foreign policy, about which he’s been being any real intelligence you’re gonna get is what you has said he was gonna stop all the CIA prisons, the so-
negligent, and I don’t know, afraid, cowardly? Afraid JHW WDFWLFDOO\ LPPHGLDWHO\ :KHUH DUH WKH\" :KHQ DUH called black prisons, and he has done that. But he has not
to take ’em on, take on the Pentagon and take on the they going to hit you? Where are they hiding? And the stopped some of the prisons run by the Special Operations
establishment, but he’s riding it out,” said Hersh. DEXVHV WKDW WDNH SODFH LQ WKRVH KRXUV WUDQVFHQG WKLV LV Command, and some of them in places that will absolutely
“He may have a master plan, I’m told, by a lot of IURP LQVLGH DQ\WKLQJ ZH KDYH VHHQ EHIRUH $QG WKH NLGV amaze you, there’s a couple in Africa, you’d be surprised,
people. He’s got to get his health care done, whatever suffer,” said Hersh. that have been going on for years. There are still horrible
compromises that come, the change in the paradigm “Maybe I’ll talk about that later, because the victims prisons, one they used to call, the one in Afghanistan, the
will be useful and he’s got to get jobs going and it’s the DOVR \RX FDQ¶W GR LW DQG QRW EHFRPH D YLFWLP WRR 6R ZH salt pit, which, basically, again, God only knows,” said
economy stupid and all of those lines,” said Hersh in his still torture. It goes on,” said Hersh. Hersh,
trademark staccato speaking style. “We still rendition, we still grab people, you know, ³2XU -RLQW 6SHFLDO 2SHUDWLRQV &RPPDQG ZH KDYH D
“Meanwhile, let me just tell you quickly, let me just without any due process, we go into a country where we man running the war in Afghanistan, General McChrystal,
run through where we are from my point of view and I’m have a diplomatic relationship, we have an ambassador, we who ran the Joint Special Operations Command for
have a CIA Chief of Station, we still Cheney and Bush. He went from Colonel to two-star
have teams, high-value target teams, General faster than anybody in history and ended up,
many of them working for something RQH RI WKH WKLQJV &KHQH\ GLG DIWHU ¿YH \HDUV RI WKLV JX\¶V
called the Joint Special Operations OR\DO VHUYLFH 7KLV JX\ PD\ EH D ¿QH JX\ EXW KH¶V DQ
Command (JSOC), which I have apparatchik, in my mind. He was put into the Joint Chiefs
been screaming for years is basically ZLWK WKH XQGHUVWDQGLQJ DW WKH WLPH , UHPHPEHU EHLQJ
Murder Incorporated; though I don’t WROG WKLV E\ SHRSOH LQ WKH $UP\ WKDW WKH XQGHUVWDQGLQJ
fault the guys who do the killing. was he would not get a fourth star, well he’s got his fourth
These are SEALS, Delta Force, some star and he’s now running the war in Afghanistan. He’s
of the best, most honorable people talking an awful lot publicly about how we don’t want to
in our military and the most well- kill civilians and meanwhile we’re killing civilians,” said
trained, who are under orders to go Hersh.
and take out high-value targets. It’s “The Joint Special Operations Command still works
just a question of: are they targets? at night, they go in unmarked helicopters. Remember the
Are they suspects? The evidence is story in December of these children, 10 to 15 that were
An ISU student questioned Hersh following the veteran reporter’s ÀLPV\ VR D ORW RI ZURQJ SHRSOH JHW shackled, about a dozen that were killed. We’re doing a lot
prepared remarks. Photo by Michael Gillespie hit, which is inevitable,” said Hersh. of stuff. It turned out that they weren’t Taliban operatives,”
said Hersh.
“I don’t know what the word ‘winning’
means, but nothing good is going to come
of the Taliban,” said Hersh.
At that point, Hersh, who has won
more than a dozen major journalism
prizes including the Pulitzer Prize for
,QWHUQDWLRQDO 5HSRUWLQJ DQG ¿YH *HRUJH
Polk Awards, pulled out, unfolded, and
held up a section of The Washington Post,
and showed his audience a page with
dozens of photographs, head shots of U.S.
soldiers who have been killed.
“I’m a newspaper freak. And today
in the Washington Post they published
three pages of photographs of the dead,
American boys, the dead since September.
Three full pages of pictures of the
dead. These are the ones they could get
photographs of, others they couldn’t get
photographs for,” said Hersh.
Hersh later returned to the subject of
the psychological damage that soldiers
experience as a result of the horrors of
war. He spoke at length about his work
on the My Lai Massacre story and some
of the soldiers and family members
he interviewed for articles about the
massacre.
Following his prepared remarks, the
reporter took questions from the audience.
His presentation, part of the World Affairs
Series, and was funded by the Government
of the Student Body at ISU.
THE INDEPENDENT MONITOR APRIL 2010 MIDDLE EAST NEWS Visit www.TIMonitor.com 5
Why a Muslim College and why now?
BY MIKE NALLY In short, where Islam meets America, and a college where
Staff Writer through both practice and teaching, students will be able to
Garden Grove, CA grasp Islam’s critical and crucial role in the modern world.
Before the event began (which was also a fundraiser
Hundreds of interested people for Zaytuna) there was a reception with the most
-- both parents and students -- showed excellent Arabic food (hats off to the caterer) including
up Sunday night, Feb. 28th, at the mouthwatering grape leaves and delicious pastries.
Heritage Forum in Anaheim to hear a pitch for America’s Zaytun is Arabic for olive, and well the reception was an
¿UVW 0XVOLP FROOHJH Olive Garden and Home & Garden setting -- soft lighting,
Zaytuna College (www.ZaytunaCollege.org) which 20 white vigil candles set inside gold loops, lilies and
will offer majors in Islamic Legal and Theological Studies roses white leather chairs.
as well as intensive Arabic (remember this: Arabic was 7KHUH ZDV ¿UVW WLPH IRU SUD\HU DQG GR]HQV RI WKH
a language perfected in the desert to convey revelation), men knelt to the side on a carpet in prayerful submission
SODQV RQ RSHQLQJ LWV GRRUV WR LWV ¿UVW IUHVKPDQ FODVV RQ to Allah, led by youthful and bearded, Anas Amla
August 24th in Berkeley. (ilmforlife@gmail.com), 24, of Irvine, who attends Irvine
“The deadlines for entering are actually this month Valley College -- whose family originally migrated from
of March,” said Yasmine Khan of the staff, handing me a India through South Africa to the States.
Zaytuna College program with an apt printed introduction: Amla told me he is majoring now in public health
“Islam has never become rooted in a particular land until policy in Irvine, but is giving thought to studying sharia or Dr Hatem Bazian - cofounder of Zaytuna College
that land began producing its own religious scholars.” The Islamic law at Zaytuna. Photo courtesy of Zaytuna College.
need here is for an academic institution to train students in “Inshallah,” I say.
the varied sciences of Islam along with an understanding He smiles a gentle smile, and some of his friends join Berkeley, and one works at UCI. Nur is in the medical
of the intellectual history and culture of the West. us, clapping him on the back. transportation business.
“Anas is handsome and smart guy!” they join in. Another most interesting man I got to chat with
“What about talented?” I reply. at the reception was Siddiq Khawaja, 63, originally of
“Oh, he’s that too!” they laugh. Punjab, Pakistan but who spent 35 years as a medical and
And Amla has also a gift from Allah -- a most marketing consultant in Sweden.
EHDXWLIXO DQG PHOOLÀXRXV YRLFH :KHQ KH ODWHU RSHQHG WKH His second wife (whom he met in Pakistan while they
event with a recitation from the Quran I was nearly moved were students, he in microbiology, she in general med)
to tears: “Our sustenance is God ...fear not, your soul would have none of Sweden.
will receive all that it desires ...do what is right and just “That’s for polar bears!” she said of the cold climate
... surrender to God, and repel evil with something which and long dark nights. They live now in Cypress, and his
is better. Be patient through adversity. Allah speaks the wife, a physician (got her degree actually in Philly) has an
truth.” RI¿FH LQ %XHQD 3DUN
I believe, one of Amla’s mentors, is Sheikh Nomaad. “She sees between 15-20 patients a day, but they get
Still mixing at the reception, I ran into Mohammad 45 minutes of her time,” said Siddiq. “No need for me to
from Sylmar whose daughter attends Cal State Northridge. help with marketing here. Muslims are just one percent of
Would he encourage her to attend Zaytuna? WKH SRSXODWLRQ LQ WKH DUHD RI KHU RI¿FH´
“But of course!” But that was okay with Siddiq. “Sometimes patients
I then ran into an elegant man, Nur, 52, originally and clients who are Muslim expect more or are more
from Eithopia, who made his way via Miami, Florida to demanding when they know the doctor is their own
Imam Zaid Shakir - cofounder of Zaytuna the States and now makes his home in Corona. He has nationality. My wife is happy with a more diverse patient
4 children, 2 daughters, 2 boys. One now is a student at base”
College. Photo courtesy of Zaytuna College.
[See Zaytuna, Page 11]
6 Visit www.TIMonitor.com MIDDLE EAST NEWS APRIL 2010 THE INDEPENDENT MONITOR
Dial M (Mossad) for murder
BY MIKE NALLY Dubai hit had at least eleven members, possibly as many “thugs, masquerading as patriots.” It as with some humor
Staff Writer as 17. Mossad does not favor big teams because it can that the aloof, rather dour Shimon Peres once described a
Garden Grove, CA complicate matters, or worse bungles an operation. The Mossad donor born in Prague as “the only bouncing Czech
Dubai hit squad was captured on security video. Eight of I know with money.” In the Dubai case, everything was
Retired Army Col. Patrick the eleven initially wore sunglasses. Clearly a number of paid for in cash. So yes, check Mossad here.
Lang, who worked with the U.S. them were middle age or older. One was balding. They 7) Advance movements of the enemy or target. Yes,
Dept. of Defense in the Middle East, were disguised as tourists, which yes, Mossad do often use this is Mossad, for sure. Detailed knowledge, always one
VDLG WKH ¿QJHUSULQWV RI 0RVVDG WKH ,VUDHOL VS\ DJHQF\ as cover. step ahead of the target. Though in this Dubai case, al-
were all over the recent assassination of a senior Hamas 3) Do Mossad hit teams include women? Over a Mabhouth made several egregious mistakes and breeches
military commander, Mahmoud al-Mabhouth, on January decade ago, Mossad’s elite hit team had 48 members; six of security: booking his ticket online, letting his cell phone
19th in Dubai. of them were women. But Mossad generally uses women calls be traced and most obvious (what was he thinking??)
“The Israeli government is obsessed with Hamas and for kidnappings not murder. Mossad women agents … no bodyguards. However, bodyguards never stop
its leadership,” added Lang. employ the “honey trap” (sexual entrapment) on a victim -- Mossad’s dirty work. Their weapon of choice in the past
And Mossad clearly had a motive. The Hamas leader usually to lure the target to their apartment, and then spirit has been the .22 Beretta with a silencer. They will walk
had confessed to killing two Israeli soldiers in 1989; he them out of the country. The Dubai hit team did include up to a bodyguard waiting in a car, stick the gun in the
had been en route from Dubai to Iran to buy rockets -- a two women. It appears they did not employ seduction in victim’s ear, and squeeze a shot off. Bang.
go-between for channeling weapons into Gaza. Mossad the target’s hotel room. Rather the male operatives gained In fact, the Mossad credo showcases this spy agency’s
always will send a hit team to take out a weapons merchant, access when the target was out by an electronic device, and brutal and ruthless killing machine: “Think like your
always. then waited in ambush when he returned. Often, Mossad target. Only stop being him when you pull the trigger.”
Chief of Dubai Police, Dahi Khalfan Tamin, at a will make a death appear “accidental” (hit and run with a If you want to read in chilling detail how Mossad
press conference also said the evidence seems to implicate car). Not here. murdered Khlaid Al-Waziz (also known by his target name
Mossad, but forensic tests still had not revealed exactly 4) Mossad calls the places where it carries out murders Abu Jihad) pick up an incisive book by Gordon Thomas
how al-Mabhouth was murdered: possibly he was choked, “jump sites” (done fast, in-and-out). In this case it was the called “Gideon’s Spies” (St. Martin’s Press, 1995, updated
strangled, suffocated, poisoned, or electrocuted (the latter swank Al Bustan Hotel in Dubai. The hit teams are called 2007). Al-Waziz was a deputy to PLO Chairman Yasser
would indicate he might possibly have been in a tub or “jumpers” because they are oversea on a short term basis. Arafat and a close associate.
shower). In the Dubai hit, all eleven (or possibly 17 members of the Arafat had given Waziz a Mercedes as a wedding
The Police Chief remarked the murder took over hit team) were in and out of the tiny emigrate in under 19 gift. Mossad knew the car his bodyguard drove. They
ten minutes -- which is clearly a long time by Mossad KRXUV 6R \HV \RX FDQ FKHFN 0RVVDG RQ HI¿FLHQF\ knew Waziz’s exact routine -- when he arrived at his home
standards. Their past hits are usually timed down to the 5) Mossad refers to certain operations as “accounts”. in Tunisia, when he kissed his wife and kids goodnight
second and executed with precision. For example “the Lebanese account” or in this case “the (they electronically bugged his house). The Mossad hit
Let’s go through a check list to see if the Dubai murder Gaze account.” The order from on high up in the Israeli team led by an operative named “Sword” rehearsed for
has all the hallmarks of a Mossad hit. government is given on the “account” in simple words: weeks at a safe house in Haifa. They had the hit down to
1) Bogus passports and forged travel documents “Go! Knock down this account!” Sometimes the account 22 seconds. The actual execution of Waziz took just 13
FDUULHG E\ WKH RSHUDWLYHV <HV GH¿QLWHO\ D 0RVVDG is expedited by insiders or tip-offs. An Arab is considered seconds.
M.O. Mossad favors British passports (six of the eleven a “black agent.” A non-Arab is a “white agent.” Dubai Which always has left this reporter to wonder, why
operatives carried British documents; the others carried police authorities held two Palestinians -- former members didn’t Mossad ever take out their sworn blood enemy,
Irish, French, German. Over a decade ago, fake Belgium of Fatah’s security force -- as possible accessories to the Arafat?
passports had been the easiest to obtain). murder. The answer seems to be: It would be unforgivable
2) Size and ages of hit team. No, not typical of 6) How are Mossad’s assassinations and hit teams to deny Arafat -- and the Israelis -- the chance to end the
Mossad. Mossad usually operates with small hit teams, ¿QDQFHG" 8VXDOO\ WKURXJK GRQDWLRQV IURP ZHDOWK\ bloodshed once and for all.
FRPSRVHG RI PHPEHUV YHU\ ¿W XVXDOO\ LQ WKHLU V European or British Zionists, CEO’s of companies or
skilled in evasion, execution, and other techniques. The PD¿D RU DV RQH IRUPHU 0RVVDG DJHQW GHVFULEHG WKHP
THE INDEPENDENT MONITOR APRIL 2010 MIDDLE EAST NEWS Visit www.TIMonitor.com 7
PAWA celebrates International Women’s Day
BY MIKE NALLY ¿OPPDNHU
Staff Writer 7KH ¿UVW RI KHU IDPLO\ WR EH ERUQ LQ WKH
Garden Grove, CA U.S. (Omaha, Nebraska), she related how
she “totally suffered from an identity crisis
The Grand Ballroom of the Doubletree as a Palestinian American.”
Hotel in Orange on Saturday night, March From Omaha her family moved to a
6th, was a place that rocked. The lively small town in Ohio with a population under
occasion? PAWA (Palestinian American ³7KH ¿UVW SDUW RI P\ OLIH , ZDQWHG
Women’s Association of Southern to be so American -- eat at McDonald’s,
California) was celebrating its 26th straighten my hair, etc.” Then at 14, came
anniversary with a gala dinner to honor WKH ¿UVW *XOI :DU DQG , EHJDQ WR DVN ZKHUH
International Women’s Day. were people getting the misinformation
And the very topical theme of the about Palestinians? From being totally
evening (held a day before the Oscar American I went to becoming totally
Awards) was “Palestinian Cinema: A New Arab.... and the desire to tell our story.”
Voice of Resistance” with keynote speaker Tongue in cheek, she said her father’s
Cherien Dabis, writer-director of the view of Arabs in America were “they
acclaimed Amreeka, the only Palestinian watched CNN and smoked a lot.” direction of my life. I remember sticking now, at least one quarter of them ...because
IHDWXUH ¿OP WR EH SLFNHG XS IRU 86 Then her father decided to take the my head out of the car window, taking in RI WKLV ¿OP , KDYH JRWWHQ WR EH NQRZQ
distribution. family on a trip back to Palestine and the night air. This was Palestine! On that outside Palestine. I’ve got my passport to
“Hello everyone!” said Dabis to a Jerusalem. At the border they were held same trip we visited Haifa which I thought everywhere -- my humanity, my art!”
loud applause from a crowd of well-over up for some 12 hours, and faced the was the most beautiful city. Twenty years Her response did not seem to sit well
500 packed into the ballroom and the sold humiliation of the Israeli police, including later (at age 28) I returned to Palestine. I with one male member of the audience who
out event. “As far as I’m concerned every strip searches. It enraged her father who ZDV LQ ¿OP VFKRRO DQG GHFLGHG WR PDNH D shouted out a small rebuke and reminder:
day should be International Women’s Day! vowed never to return. VKRUW ¿OP´ 0DNH D :LVK ± ZKLFK ZDV DOVR “You are from Palestine!”
She went on to tell her audience why and “But it was a starting point for me (she shown at the PAWA event). Nisreen Faoud who played the lead
how she decided (at age 14) to become a was eight years old at the time), changed the Added Dabis: “I’m really passionate UROH RI 0XQD LQ WKH ¿OP UHSOLHG ³:KHWKHU
DERXW WHOOLQJ RXU VWRU\ ,W WRRN PH ¿YH we are from Israel or the West Bank, we
years to get Amreeka into production. I got need you back in Galilee..., we are from
a lot of no’s from Hollywood. But this Palestine. I am connected to Palestine in
just toughened me and challenged me to my heart,” she said to loud applause.
write a better story. So many women came A board member of PAWA, I believe
WRJHWKHU WR KHOS PH ¿QDQFH WKH SURMHFW DQG Mary Harb of Irvine, then presented both
I owe them my thanks. My father had told Dabis and Faoud with a unique gift (which
PH DV D JLUO µ<RX FDQ¶W EH D ¿OPPDNHU also graced the center of each table) -- a
you’re an Arab!’ Well, Dad, look at me white and blue teapot that read Hebron on
now!” she said to a standing ovation. one side and PAWA on the other.
Dabis then introduced the leading PAWA also presented an activism
ODG\ ZKR VWDUUHG LQ KHU ¿OP $PUHHND $ award to a very deserving member, Mona
VWDJH DFWUHVV DW ¿UVW VKH GLG QRW ZDQW WR XVH Koobtee, who does great work for the
a microphone but had to relent when the community.”
crowd could not hear her. At my table was the Dakak family.
“I will say my whole name (in Arabic) Raed Dakak, age 45, of Irvine is an
VR WKDW , FDQ ¿QG P\ UHODWLYHV HYHU\ZKHUH [See PAWA, Page 9]
8 Visit www.TIMonitor.com MIDDLE EAST NEWS APRIL 2010 THE INDEPENDENT MONITOR
Dubai investigation exposes Israeli Ops in USA
[Dubai, from Page 1] The Independent Monitor contacted
same day attributing the information to MetaBank’s corporate headquarters in
“people familiar with the situation” and Storm Lake, IA to ask why an Iowa bank
“records shared between international would provide credit cards to 14 suspected
investigators.” members of a death squad.
In many previous news reports MetaBank’s Lisa Binder, Vice
from Dubai information about the President for Investor Relations and
investigation had been attributed Corporate Communications, responded
to Dubai’s Police Chief Lt. Gen. via telephone and e-mail with a statement
Dhahi Khalfan Tamim. saying, in part, “The Meta cards in question
Neither report explored the rather were issued in conjunction with a Meta
remarkable news that the suspect carrying Payment Systems program, not at a retail
a British passport in the name Roy Allan bank location. Meta Payment Systems,
&DQQRQ ZDV FRQ¿GHQW HQRXJK WR WUDYHO which has issued more than 150 million
RQ WKH IDOVL¿HG GRFXPHQW PRUH WKDQ WKUHH prepaid cards, markets its payroll cards
weeks after the assassination and to present WKURXJK YDULRXV 3URJUDP 0DQDJHUV LQ
it upon arrival in the USA, where passport WKLV FDVH 3D\RQHHU WR RIIHU UHSXWDEOH 86
controls are generally assumed to be most companies network branded payroll cards
stringent. with which American companies can pay
“At one time it was possible to expatriates, employees and contractors of
produce false identity documents with their company who live in the U.S. and in
little or no regard for what is referred to foreign countries. The cards in question
as backstopping as data bases at national were ‘loaded’ by the companies using Israeli PM Benjamin Netyanhu reportedly authorized the assassination.
points of entry were unsophisticated and direct deposit for payroll, disbursements,
were generally unlinked to any central and other compensation.” philanthropists through The Birthright of innovation, including Boston, China
sources of information. That has all The Independent Monitor attempted Israel Foundation; the people of Israel (Beijing), India (Bangalore), Israel
changed in the past eight years. European WR FRQWDFW 3D\RQHHU RI¿FHV DW 3DUN through the Government of Israel; and (Herzliya) and Silicon Valley. … Current
and American passports in particular can Avenue in New York City but found that Jewish communities around the world Greylock portfolio companies include
DOO EH YHUL¿HG IURP FHQWUDO GDWD EDVHV WKDW the only phone answered at Payoneer (North American Jewish Federations, Data Robotics, Digg, Facebook, Imperva,
include information that is also drawn from headquarters was a customer support line Keren Hayesod and the Jewish Agency for LinkedIn, Palo Alto Networks, Pandora,
other public record sources,” wrote former for Payoneer’s Birthright Israel customers. Israel). … 3LFDUUR 5HG¿Q :RUNGD\ DQG =LS&DU´
&,$ RI¿FHU 3KLOLS *LUDOGL LQ D )HEUXDU\ %LUWKULJKW ,VUDHO SURYLGHV ¿UVW WLPH “Taglit-Birthright Israel requires that Greylock’s investment activities in
column for Antiwar.com. educational trips to Israel for Jewish young all participants pay their deposit through Israel were launched in 2002 by partner
On March 3, Al Jazeera TV reported adults ages 18 to 26. The program sends Payoneer. … If you lose your Payoneer Moshe Mor, who “served six years in the
that Tamim, “said he would ask the “thousands of young Jewish adults from all card while in Israel, it can be immediately Israeli Army as a Captain in the Military
Dubai prosecutor to issue arrest warrants over the world to Israel as a gift in order blocked and will be replaced with a new Intelligence branch,” according to the
for [Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin] to diminish the growing division between card within 24 hours. … You will not need ¿UP¶V ZHEVLWH
Netanyahu and the head of Mossad [Meir Israel and Jewish communities around the to contact your bank back home or worry Carmel Ventures is also headquartered
Degan].” world; to strengthen the sense of solidarity about making many calls. One call to our Herzliya.
Tamim’s investigation, described by among world Jewry; and to strengthen Customer Support center and you are all Tal almost certainly possesses
Interpol Secretary General Ronald Noble as participants’ personal Jewish identity set,” says the www.birthright.payoneer. information that could be of value to U.S.
“thorough,” has seriously inconvenienced and connection to the Jewish people,” com website, all of which suggests a law enforcement and counter-intelligence
and embarrassed the Israeli government according to the organization’s website. close relationship between Payoneer and investigators, but whether their political
and its espionage organization. Funding for Birthright Israel is government-funded Brithright Israel. masters, many of whom have been
The Money Trail “provided by our partners: private Payoneer’s Birthright customer support effectively co-opted by Israel, will allow
b
center declined to provide the Independent U.S. investigators to pursue a meaningful
Monitor with contact information for investigation is an open question. Thus far
Payoneer founder and CEO Yuval Tal or there has been little to indicate that U.S.
for Payoneer corporate communications/ RI¿FLDOV DUH VHULRXVO\ LQWHUHVWHG LQ
media relations personnel. investigating the funding of travel expenses
azaar
azaar
k
“Since the assassination, Tal has been and hotel accommodations of suspected
shielded by a wall of public relations Israeli assassins through U.S. corporations,
representatives and does not respond to despite the reported entry of at least two
media requests for comments. … Tal’s of the suspects into the U.S. on fraudulent,
public relations representatives in New IDOVL¿HG SDVVSRUWV
halill
hali York have refused to comment on his past
and relations with Israel’s intelligence
agency Mossad,” wrote Abbas Al Lawati, a
When the Independent Monitor
contacted the Department of State (DoS)
for comment about the news reports, a
staff reporter for Gulf News.com on March 'R6 SUHVV RI¿FHU GHFOLQHG WR FRPPHQW
3. and referred questions to the Department
I\UYMWMXI “Tal is referred to by his associates of Justice (DoJ) and the Department of
in Israel as ‘an outspoken Israeli patriot’ +RPHODQG 6HFXULW\ '+6 SUHVV RI¿FHV $
despite having lived in New York for over 'R- SUHVV RI¿FHU DOVR GHFOLQHG WR FRPPHQW
ten years. In a 2006 Fox News interview and referred questions to a DHS press
WMPZIV about Israel’s summer war on Lebanon, Tal RI¿FHU ZKR KDV QRW UHVSRQGHG WR DQ HPDLO
was presented as a ‘special ops commando’ message sent on March 5.
on Fox and Friends, and stated that ‘this is The Sayanim Network
a war Israel cannot (afford to) lose,’” wrote Any substantive U.S. investigation of
NI[IPV] Al Lawati. the suspected Dubai killers’ connections to
Payoneer’s website proclaims that the U.S. would likely focus on members
the company is “a registered MasterCard of the Mossad’s worldwide network of
Merchant Service Provider (MSP), and sayanim, diaspora Jews who provide a
partner with MetaBank or Choice Bank wide variety of services to the Israeli
Limited to deliver our services. Privately intelligence and special operations agency.
held, our funding partners include Greylock In his books, By Way of Deception
Partners, Carmel Ventures, and Crossbar (1990) and The Other Side of Deception
Capital.” IRUPHU 0RVVDG ¿HOG RI¿FHU RU
The Independent Monitor found that katsa Victor Ostrovsky described the
all three of Payoneer’s funding partners are sayanim network.
YHQWXUH FDSLWDO ¿UPV WKDW KDYH RI¿FHV LQ RU ³6D\DQLP DVVLVWDQWV PXVW EH
strong connections to Israel. percent Jewish,” wrote Ostrovsky in 1990.
Charlie Federman, Managing Partner The Mossad’s helpers, chosen because
[[[FE^EEVOLEPMPGSQ of Crossbar Capital, previously co-founded they are well placed, willing, and able
% TSVXMSR SJ ]SYV TYVGLEWI KSIW XS E WGLSPEVWLMT JSV 4EPIWXMRMER ]SYXL BRM Capital in 1999, headed its New York to provide valuable assistance to Israeli
RI¿FH DQG VHUYHG DV D 0DQDJLQJ 'LUHFWRU agents, are businessmen, doctors,
of the Israel and New York based fund lawyers, judges, prosecutors, police
until 2007. BRM Group, headquartered RI¿FHUV LQWHOOLJHQFH RI¿FHUV SROLWLFLDQV
in Herzliya was founded by Nir Barkat, government bureaucrats, university
mayor of occupied Jerusalem. professors and administrators, media
Greylock Partners, founded in 1965, professionals, information technology
“operates in a number of global centers [See Dubai, Page 12]
THE INDEPENDENT MONITOR APRIL 2010 MIDDLE EAST NEWS Visit www.TIMonitor.com 9
PAWA celebrates International Women’s Day
[PAWA, from Page 7]
RSHUDWLRQV PDQDJHU IRU D ELJ *HUPDQ ¿UP
Siemens. He brought his mother who was
born in Nabalus. It was also good to see
his brother, Khalid, a banking analyst with
Wells Fargo, along with his wife, from
Mission Viejo, who are big supporters
of PAWA. Sitting next to them was a
Palestinian woman, Alia Salman, with her
two children, her son Salah el din Ayoubi
(8), and her daughter Zaman el din Ayoubi
(7).
PAWA has helped this family of
UHIXJHHV IURP ,UDT ¿QG DQ DSDUWPHQW LQ
Anaheim. Alia’s husband has been missing
since the start of the Iraq war, and does not
know if he is alive or dead.
But on this festive night, her children
were clearly fascinated and entertained by
a riveting dance performance by the Al
Awda Houston Dabka Group. They clapped
their small hands to the insistent beat of
drums and the haunting notes of wood
KXJH 3DOHVWLQLDQ ÀDJ by PAWA board members, Sana Ibrahim, The quilts were in red, white, green, and
LQVWUXPHQWV OLNH WKH ÀXWH 7KH VL[ GDQFHUV
Two great, inspiring talks on Women’s and President, Rinad Abdulla. They black -- the vibrant colors of the Palestinian
locked arms like Cossacks, and kicked out
Day and its importance were delivered underscored the importance of Palestinian ÀDJ
their legs on stage. The backdrop was a
¿OPV PDGH LQ H[LOH PDLQO\ -RUGDQ DQG It was also good to see an eye catching
Lebanon during the 70s). “A people will poster for once slamming Israeli tourism:
only survive if their culture survives.” “Visit Palestine.” In sharp but subdued
They also pointed out that the Israelis colors the poster (issued by the Tourist
sacked the cultural house in Ramallah in Develop Association of Palestine) depicted
DQG PDQ\ ¿OPV ZHUH ORVW ³$QG WKH the Golden Dome of the Rock and the
Zionists point to us as the violent ones? Jerusalem skyline framed by an olive
We refuse this characterization. We will tree on Jebel Zaytun. I loved it as I love
never surrender our identity! Long live Jerusalem, hopefully one day the capital of
Palestine!” a free Palestine.
It was both moving and poignant to Looking at the poster with me was
see outside the ballroom, beautiful and Foud Hana, 62, of Mission Viejo, a general
colorful quilts that had been made, each contractor, who observed “We must feel
square quilt depicting by name a village in that we still have a country. We are still
Palestine (some 750,000 the total number refugees, all of us.”
of Palestinians dispossessed). A few When I asked if he thinks there will
samples: Ma’dhaa (May 1948 pop: 480); be a two state solution under the Obama
Samakh (May 1948 pop: 3,460; Biriyya administration, he shook his head sadly,
(pop: 240); Wadi-al-Haman (April 1948, “There is nothing in Obama’s hand.”
pop: 1,870; Taytaba (Ma 1948 pop: 530).
10 Visit www.TIMonitor.com ADVERTISEMENT APRIL 2010 THE INDEPENDENT MONITOR
THE INDEPENDENT MONITOR APRIL 2010 COMMUNITY NEWS Visit www.TIMonitor.com 11
Zaytuna College
[Zaytuna, from Page 5]
I notice Siddiq is wearing a black baseball
jacket lettered Giants. Is he a fan?
“Oh, my daughter lives in San Francisco
and got me this,” he smiles. “She is pregnant
ZLWK KHU ¿UVW FKLOG ,I LW ZDVQ¶W IRU KHU
condition, she would have attended tonight.”
I congratulated the happy grandfather-to-
be. Will he support Zaytuna College with a
donation?
“Yes, I plan on it,” said Siddiq.
Then it was time to move into the
Heritage auditorium for the presentation on
Zaytuna College. There was a large turnout
and excited buzz. The set had subdued
lighting, two big screens (the event was being
YLGHRWDSHG WZR ROLYH WUHH ORJRV DQG ¿YH
white seats, four for the panelists and one for
the moderator, Azhar Usman. Dr Maher Hathout - chairman of
Sitting near me is a fellow journalist Islamic Shura Council of Southern
from In Focus newspaper who introduces me California. Photo by Zaytuna College
to his friend whose father is a well known
writer, Khlaid Baig who also runs Albalagh
Bookstore in Garden Grove. Baig authored a
book called “First Things First.”
7KH ¿UVW JXHVW VSHDNHU RI WKH HYHQLQJ
to make the case for a new Muslim College
was Dr. Maher Hathout, retired physician
and current Chairman of the Islamic Shura
Council (umbrella organization of mosques
and Muslim organizations serving half a
million Muslims in So Cal). He is also a senior
adviser to MPAC (Muslim Public Affairs
Council), and Dr. Hathout’s latest book is
Islam 2.0.
³7KLV LV D VLJQL¿FDQW HYHQW´ VDLG
Hathout. “I’m happy to be invited to a forum
for once that is not about building a mosque
or a cemetery!” This drew an appreciative
laugh from the crowd. “This is for our
future -- to produce American scholarship,
saturated in our context. We need a college
Shaykh Hamza Yusuf - cofounder of
to empower the American Muslim community
Zaytuna College. Photo by Zaytuna -- a jumping board for the future. We need the
College [See Zaytuna, Page 17]
Family History Paper
BY MIRANDA ZEHWEH MASHNEY honest person. He is a very intelligent man, education-
Guest Writer ZLVH DQG OLIHZLVH +H GH¿QLWHO\ ZLOO QRW OHW SHRSOH WDNH
Written on April 12, 2008 at age 13 advantage of him. He is probably the most generous
person you will ever meet. Another thing I love about my
If I list all my family members and ancestors, I will dad is that he is very friendly person and he loves meeting
have many that are my admirers. Although out of all of new people and making new friends. My dad is very open-
them, my dad has inspired me the most. My dad and I minded because he says what is on his mind all the time.
have a lot in common and we get along very well. He is 0\ GDG LV YHU\ FRQ¿GHQW LQ ZKDW KH GRHV DQG ZKDW KH
my admirer because he has accomplished many things says. He doesn't let people tell him what to do; that is why
in his life. For example, he used to be a pharmacist, but he is his own boss. My father is not picky about things,
he decided that it was not a very challenging job as he whether it's food or clothing. He does not complain very
wanted. While he was a pharmacist, he went to law school much about things that bother him. For a man, my dad
to become an attorney. Because he studied and worked is highly organized. My father has a vivid imagination,
KDUG KH SDVVHG WKH %DU ([DP WKH ¿UVW WLPH +H VWDUWHG and uses it toward almost everything. For instance, he
KLV RZQ SUDFWLFH FDOOHG 0DVKQH\ /DZ 2I¿FHV ZKLFK ZLOO creates songs and riddles from the top of his head and can
someday be mine. Not only is he now a lawyer, but he is immediately thing of something new.
also a journalist and a publisher. He publishes a monthly All these things make up my dad, and these reasons
newspaper called The Independent Monitor. are why I respect and appreciate my father. But out of
I admire my dad mostly because he is dedicated and all these characteristics I listed the most important and not have a good sense of humor, I would not be the same
determined. If he says he is going to do something, he will unmentioned one is his sense of humor. I love my dad person I am today. His funny ways have had a great impact
do it no matter what. My dad is a very loving, kind, and for his funny behavior and jokes.I believe if my dad did on who I am today.
12 Visit www.TIMonitor.com MIDDLE EAST NEWS APRIL 2010 THE INDEPENDENT MONITOR
Dubai investigation exposes Israeli Ops in USA
[Dubai, from Page 8]
specialists, any occupation, profession,
or position in which a sayan might prove
useful in support of Israeli espionage
operations.
Though they do not live in Israel, their
¿UVW OR\DOW\ LV WR ,VUDHO 7KH\ GR ZKDWHYHU
0RVVDG RI¿FLDOV ¿HOG RI¿FHUV RU DVVDVVLQV
ask of them in behalf of Israel against the
enemies of Israel or those who are seen as
opposed to Israeli policies.
“Often the loyalty of sayanim is abused
by katsas who take advantage of the
available help for their own personal use.
There is no way for the sayan to check
this,” wrote Ostrovsky.
“The one problem with the [sayanim]
system is that the Mossad does not seem
to care how devastating it could be to the
status of the Jewish people in the diaspora
if it was known. The answer you get if
you ask is: ‘So what’s the worst that could
happen to those Jews? They’d all come to
Israel? Great,’” wrote Ostrovsky.
“A sayan will rent a car or pass money
to a kidon with no questions asked,” said
Gordon Thomas, author of Gideon’s Spies:
The Secret History of the Mossad (1999)
in a report by Alun Palmer of the Mirror Dubai video security system camera still.
(UK) on February 18. Thomas, who has
estimated that there are at least 20,000 ethnic cleansing of Palestine are evidence technique of social evolution, but many simply invent false identities is a symptom
sayanim in the U.S. and Great Britain, of a retrograde social and political dynamic Christians have been and are today all of the new world facing modern-day spies,
writes that all Mossad assassinations that now threatens the continued progress too willing and ready to embrace Hebrew one of databases and traceable passport
DUH DXWKRUL]HG E\ WKH RI¿FH RI WKH SULPH and future of human civilization. That Old Testament teachings that glorify war information, she said.
minister of Israel. dynamic is epitomized by the myth, cult, and the wholesale slaughter of innocents “The real agents likely don’t resemble
The illegal use of U.S. banks and credit and culture of redemptive violence. and ascribe such acts to the commands the faces in the photos, she said … And if
“The myth of redemptive violence of a wrathful God that is both vengeful they do, plastic surgery, dental implants
and violent. The popularity of the myth and hair grafts can ensure they are
of redemptive violence in the West and unrecognizable afterward.
the attitudes and policies it engenders in “‘Steal the identity, disguise the
political and economic spheres of activity participants, be ready on the other side with
severely undercuts the supposed moral another set of identities and documents,
superiority of Western modernity and and embrace and conceal the protagonists
culture in relation to other traditions and on their return,’ she said.
cultures. “‘With that goal in mind this may, in
U.S. leaders often attempt to justify fact, be the operation of the future,’” wrote
their wars with self-serving declarations Friedman.
WKDW WKH\ DUH ¿JKWLQJ IRU SHDFH Thinking Americans have an
“One day the Iraqi people will understand increasingly clear choice.
that we came in peace,” averred Secretary
of State Colin Powell in March 2003 as
U.S. troops advanced on Baghdad after a
devastating and enormously destructive
“Shock and Awe” air assault on the city.
If the status of a civilization can be
accurately gauged by the fairness of its
courts and the integrity of its judges,
resort by national leaders to extra-judicial
killings conducted by intelligence agency
Australian Passport death squads is emblematic of the West’s
JORUL¿FDWLRQ RI ZDU DQG UXLQRXV UHYHUVLRQ
card companies to fund the travel, hotel defends the belief that violence saves, that WR PLOLWDULVP DXWRFUDWLF FUXHO DQG
accomodations, and other expenses of a war brings peace. It is one of the oldest savage. Rigidly ultranationalistic Israel,
Mossad death squad in the Middle East stories in the world. It misappropriates more an army and an espionage agency
indicates an alarming expansion of Israeli the language, symbols and scriptures of with a country than a country with an army
espionage operations on U.S. soil and Christianity. Its God is the tribal God and an espionage agency, clearly intends to
reveals to an unprecedented extent the worshipped as an idol. Its offer is not be the West’s model and instructor in this
foreign intelligence agency’s penetration forgiveness but victory. Its good news regard.
RI PDMRU 86 ¿QDQFLDO LQVWLWXWLRQV is not unconditional love of enemies but A feature article by Associated Press
developments that limn the breadth, depth, their elimination. Its salvation is not a reporter Matti Friedman published in the
and success of Israeli leaders’ desperate new heart but a successful foreign policy. Washington Post on March 4 quoted Jonna Dubai Chief of Police Lt. Gen. Dhahi
efforts to expand and consolidate Israel’s It is blasphemous. It is idolatrous. And Mendez, who worked for the CIA for 27 Khalfan Tamim
PDOLJQDQW LQÀXHQFH RYHU WKH :DVKLQJWRQ it is immensely popular,” writes Dr. Walter years and became the agency’s chief of
foreign policy establishment and sway Wink, Professor Emeritus of Biblical disguise. Mendez “believes the Dubai
within a broad range of U.S. institutions, Interpretation at Auburn Theological perpetrators took the fallout into account, They can join the cult of redemptive
despite growing popular opposition Seminary in New York City. all of it: the TV footage, the blown violence, kneel before a Zionist tribal God
to Israel’s brutal and patently illegal Wink might have added that while aliases and the head shots. The agents, of vengeance, and watch their country
occupation of Palestine and the punishing Christian scripture is tainted by the myth she said, clearly knew they were under and its culture revert to the law of nature
siege of Gaza. of redemptive violence, the Hebrew Old VXUYHLOODQFH WKH\ KDG VLPSO\ GHFLGHG LW as militarism runs amok and Israeli spies
Testament scriptures, attached at the spine was unavoidable and a price worth paying. and assassins, protected by corrupt and co-
The Myth, Cult, and Culture of opted political leaders, roam America at
of the Holy Bible to the New Testament, “‘You can be sure they knew they
Redemptive Violence were being surveilled. Likewise, they will.
The supposed clash of civilizations, the are Christianity’s primary source of the
pernicious mythology of redemptive would assume that the documents they Or they can embrace and actively
FRQÀLFW EHWZHHQ WKH SXWDWLYHO\ PRGHUQ support not the savagery of assassins but
violence. Only about 10 percent of the were using would be made available after
Western Judeo-Christian tradition and the rule of law. They can cultivate the
New Testament is devoted to Jesus’ the fact,’ said Mendez. ‘What does this
radical Islam, the Bush administration’s wisdom, insight, and foresight that are
teachings about the brotherhood of man mean? It means it didn’t matter. The faces
Global War on Terrorism later rebranded indispensable to the endurance of nations.
and the fatherhood of God, the kingdom and the documents that were captured by
by the Obama administration as Overseas They can persevere in their efforts to elect
of Heaven, the happiness of peacemakers, the cameras will probably never be seen
Contingency Operations, and the honest, wise, and progressive leaders. And
and forgiveness and mercy as moral and again.’
suppurating wound that is Israel’s long- they can continue to strive to live up and
spiritual imperatives. “The fact that the perpetrators had to
running illegal occupation and systematic into the noblest ideals of their religions.
True religion opposes violence as a take the identities of real people rather than
THE INDEPENDENT MONITOR APRIL 2010 MIDDLE EAST NEWS Visit www.TIMonitor.com 13
Israel gets away with murder, again
BY TAMMY OBEIDALLAH
Staff Writer, Dayton, OH
Amid the glamour of the world’s tallest building, gold bars,
man-made islands, casinos and fashion, a man lay dead in his hotel
room. Preliminary reports would say he had been suffocated with
a pillow; further investigation would determine that he was injected
with poison.
Post-mortem photos of Mahmoud Al-Mabhouh, age 50, told a story the media would
not tell: the tip of his nose blackened, red blotches covering his cheeks and jaw and a
KRUUL¿F LQGHQWDWLRQ RQ RQH VLGH RI KLV QRVH WHVWL¿HG RI WRUWXUH DQG D FUXHO H[HFXWLRQ
0RVW QHZV VRXUFHV VXEOLPLQDOO\ MXVWL¿HG $O0DEKRXK¶V PXUGHU LQ 'XEDL RQ -DQXDU\
20. He was described only as a “senior Hamas militant,” “founding member of Hamas’
military wing” or even “arch-terrorist.” As someone who was allegedly involved in the
deaths of two Israeli soldiers in the 1980s and committed numerous other acts of armed
resistance against Israel, he was undoubtedly a menace by western standards.
Al-Mabhouh grew up in the squalor of Gaza’s Jabaliya refugee camp, but had lived in
exile in Syria since 1989. He had been the target of two previous assassination attempts: Mahmoud Al-Mabhouh, courtesy of www.qassam.ps.
a car bombing and a poisoning. The latter took place in Beirut only six months ago and
rendered him unconscious for 30 hours. home in Tunis in front of his family. The 2004 Israeli airstrikes that killed Hamas founder
The Israeli government issued a statement claiming Al-Mabhouh had traveled to and spiritual leader Ahmed Yassin and subsequently his replacement, Abdelaziz Al-
Dubai en route to Iran in order to smuggle weapons back to his native Gaza. Israeli 5DQWLVVL DOVR NLOOHG 5DQWLVVL¶V VRQ KLV ERG\JXDUG DQG HOHYHQ E\VWDQGHUV LQFOXGLQJ D ¿YH
GHIHQVH RI¿FLDOV WROG WKH $VVRFLDWHG 3UHVV WKDW WKHVH URFNHWV ZRXOG EH FDSDEOH RI UHDFKLQJ year-old child.
Tel Aviv 40 miles away. Evidently, there have been some major technological advances Not only are the leaders of armed resistance in the crosshairs of Israeli assassins, but
VLQFH ,VUDHO¶V DVVDXOW RQ *D]D ODVW \HDU DV UHWDOLDWRU\ URFNHWV ¿UHG IURP *D]D UDQJHG RQO\ political activists who speak out against the occupation of Palestine as well. Cartoonist
25 miles. Naji Al-Ali, whose brutally honest body of work earned him many powerful enemies, was
:KLOH ,VUDHO KDV QRW RI¿FLDOO\ DFNQRZOHGJHG LQYROYHPHQW LQ $O0DEKRXK¶V PXUGHU PXUGHUHG LQ FROG EORRG LQ /RQGRQ RQ WKH ZD\ WR KLV RI¿FH $OWKRXJK $O$OL ZDV FULWLFDO
Israeli news agency Inyan Merkazi initially reported that a four-member squad of Shin of Arab governments and the corruption present in the hierarchy of Palestinian resistance
Bet and Mossad agents interrogated Al-Mabhouh before executing him. Currently, the list groups, a preponderance of evidence points directly to the Mossad being responsible for
has expanded to 26 suspects involved in the murder plot. his death.
Whitewashed by western media as “extra-judicial assassinations” or “targeted Ten months after Al-Ali was killed, Scotland Yard arrested a student named Ismail
assassinations,” such acts are tantamount to premeditated murder against anyone Suwan, who turned out to be a Mossad agent. Suwan confessed that his superiors knew
suspected of resistance against Israel’s 62-year occupation of Palestine. Al-Mabhouh’s of the plot to kill Al-Ali. Upon refusing to cooperate further, Great Britain expelled two
death is the latest of numerous executions carried out by the Mossad and other Israeli Israeli diplomats and closed the Mossad’s London base. Despite all this, no one was ever
government agencies throughout the Jewish State’s existence. brought to justice for the crime.
In 1972, the Mossad began a series of assassinations in what was supposed to be In March 2003, a 23 year-old American college student named Rachel Corrie was
UHWULEXWLRQ IRU WKH GHDWKV RI ,VUDHOL DWKOHWHV GXULQJ WKH 0XQLFK 2O\PSLFV 7KLUW\¿YH killed by a bulldozer driven by an Israeli soldier while trying to prevent a home demolition
suspects believed to have been involved in the attack were systematically ambushed in the Gaza Strip. It was learned through Corrie’s own writings that activists with the
throughout Europe and Lebanon. Many had ambiguous ties at best to the Munich ,QWHUQDWLRQDO 6ROLGDULW\ 0RYHPHQW ,60 KDG FRPH XQGHU ¿UH LQ WKH ZHHNV SULRU WR KHU
operation and in a case of mistaken identity. Ahmed Bouchiki, a young Moroccan waiter, death while trying to retrieve the body of a Palestinian killed by Israeli forces. She told
was gunned down in Norway. Throughout this and other operations, the Mossad used also of how the camp’s water wells were being destroyed by the Israeli military and that
false passports without the issuing government’s knowledge or approval in what has members of ISM had slept in front of the wells to deter the attacks. Clearly the group’s
become a trademark of that organization’s modus operandi. activities were a source of consternation to the Israelis, one of whom took the opportunity
In 1997, Mossad agents traveled with Canadian passports to Amman, Jordan in a to murder a young woman on a clear day in the Rafah refugee camp. Claiming Corrie’s
botched attempt on the life of Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal. In 2004, New Zealand jailed death was “accidental,” he was never punished.
two Mossad agents for six months and imposed diplomatic sanctions against Israel after Many have paid the ultimate price for challenging the Israeli juggernaut, no matter
the pair illegally applied for passports in that country. Authorities in Dubai investigating what form that challenge has taken. Many individuals who never picked up a weapon
WKH PXUGHU RI 0DKPRXG $O0DEKRXK KDYH FRQ¿UPHG WKDW KLV NLOOHUV DUH WUDYHOLQJ RQ have been targeted by the Jewish State. And if Mahmoud Al-Mabhouh was attempting
passports from several western nations including Great Britain, France, Germany and to procure weapons, he was simply guilty of trying to help his people defend themselves
Australia. against Israeli aggression. Only when the western-dominated court of world opinion is
However, not all Israeli assassinations are clandestine operations. no longer content to let Israel act as judge, jury and executioner, will there be justice for
Fateh co-founder Khalil al-Wazir, known as Abu Jihad, was killed in 1998 at his occupied Palestine and all the people who met untimely and brutal deaths in her defense.
Dubai Police Chief Lt. General Dahai Khalfan Tamim
BY MICHAEL GILLESPIE General Tamim is a respected international speaker, ‘Djibouti National Order of June 27th”, for his contribution
Contributing Editor published author and media contributor on issues of to the development of the Djibouti National Police, and in
Des Moines, IA policing, security, social, cultural, and educational affairs. recognition of his major role in ensuring security in the
He is the recipient of numerous international awards for U.A.E and the Arab World. He is also a previous recipient
General Tamim’s distinguished 39 year career in his contributions to policing, including several United of the “Middle East Regional Executive CEO Personality
law enforcement started after he graduated from the Nations awards for his leadership work in Anti-narcotics Award”, and Best GCC Managing Director in the Public
Royal Police College in Amman, Jordan in 1970 and and Combating Drugs, Combating HIV/AIDS, and Sector Award”.
joined the Dubai Police, rapidly rising to his current Children’s Rights. He is also the recipient of the ‘Badge In addition to his role as Commander in Chief, Dubai
rank of Commander in Chief in 1980. His inspirational of Honor for National Security’ from the Kingdom of Police, General Tamim is also Chairman of the Security &
and innovative leadership over the intervening years has Saudi Arabia, the ‘Regional Leadership Award’ from -XVWLFH &RPPLWWHH 'LUHFWRU RI 6HFXULW\ -XVWLFH ± )HGHUDO
ensured the international recognition of the Dubai Police the University of Alexandria in Egypt, and the Medal of Security, Head of the Disaster & Crisis Management Team
force as the pre-eminent law enforcement agency in the Social Defense from H.H. the ruler of Sharjah. In 2009 and Member of Dubai Government Executive Board.
Middle East and beyond. he received the Republic of Djibouti’s highest award, the Courtesy ASIS International
14 Visit www.TIMonitor.com FOOD APRIL 2010 THE INDEPENDENT MONITOR
Zankou Chicken: crispety, crunchety
BY FAYERUZ REGAN
Staff Writer, Studio City, CA
Much like the way In-N-Out burger keeps drive-thru
lines wrapped around the block, Zankou Chicken follows
the same model. Since 1962, Zankou Chicken restaurants
have been popping up all over Los Angeles to much
fanfare, and that’s because like In-N-Out, the refuse to use
freezers and microwave ovens, and insist on fresh meat
being delivered daily.
What started as one storefront in Beirut, Lebanon
has ended in a much beloved chain in the City of Angels,
and upon stepping into Zankou Chicken’s Pasadena
establishment, I saw a Korean family sharing a whole
chicken, a Mexican family enjoying wraps and kabobs, and
both a black and white couple enjoying a Valentine’s Day
lunch. The place was buzzing with activity and laughter.
Immediately I saw one factor which must’ve caused at my plate and wondered how one person could put this tomatoes. The outer crust of the tri-tip was crisp and
this establishment to rise so quickly in popularity, and that amount of food away. The tri-tip shawerma was piled savory with a hint of cinnamon, and the inside was tender.
was the sheer generosity of the helpings. I stared down into a small mountain, sitting on a bed of fresh chopped Served with a generous helping of fresh hummus, day-
glow pickled radishes and hot peppers and two hot discs
of pita bread, I was set for lunch and dinner.
I sampled a falafel ball and was surprised to note
it was bland, given the special attention they give their
meats. But as their name suggests, Zankou Chicken is a
meat establishment. The batter was yellowish and proved
no existence of fresh green parsley or hot peppers, which
GHOLYHU WKH UHDO ÀDYRU WR WKH EXOJXU ZKHDW 7KHLU WDKLQD
sauce was just as plain, with no chunks of fresh tomato to
add texture or lemon juice to thin it out.
But one would be amiss to review Zankou Chicken
without tasting the famous chicken itself. The skin was
browned to a thin-layered crunch, and had the salty
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Each plate automatically comes with a ramekin of their
special garlic sauce, which made their chicken all the
more addicting. In fact, the garlic sauce complements their
meats, breads and vegetables. All but the dessert. Inside
the browned crust of the chicken was a meaty, virgin white
breast that still dripped with moisture. Placed into a pita
slathered with garlic sauce and hummus, it was a dish that
made me be proud to be Middle Eastern.
Zankou Chicken – Various Locations
www.zankouchicken.com
THE INDEPENDENT MONITOR APRIL 2010 BUSINESS / REAL ESTATE Visit www.TIMonitor.com 15
Credit scores can drop after getting loan help
BY ALAN ZIBEL homeowner’s’ credit by 150 points or more The credit score issue is an unexpected
Courtesy of AP on a scale of 300 to 850. consequence of the program that has been
To enroll in the Obama administration’s plagued with problems and disappointing
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Some $75 billion “Making Home Affordable” results since its launch last year. Only
homeowners who sign up for the program, borrowers enter a trial period in about 170,000 homeowners had completed
government’s mortgage assistance program which they make at least three payments. the process as of February. Hundreds of
are getting a nasty surprise: Lower credit %XW VRPH DUH ¿QGLQJ RXW WKDW WKHLU FUHGLW thousands more are still in limbo.
scores. score takes a dive during this trial phase. Jim Owens, 46, of Harrisburg, Ore.,
For borrowers who are making their It happens once their mortgage company was accepted on a trial basis for the Obama
payments on time but are on the verge QRWL¿HV WKH WKUHH ELJ FUHGLW EXUHDXV plan last year.
of default, the Obama administration’s Experian, Equifax and TransUnion. +H DQG KLV IDPLO\ ZHUH LQ EDG ¿QDQFLDO
ORDQ PRGL¿FDWLRQ SURJUDP FDQ UHGXFH For delinquent borrowers, the damage shape. They were barely able to pay the
their credit score as much as 100 points. was done when they fell behind on their mortgage and utility bills.
That makes it harder to get a loan and can loans. The main reason: After being laid off
present a problem when applying for a new But for homeowners who are having and unemployed for six months, he took a
job. ¿QDQFLDO WURXEOHV EXW PDQDJLQJ WR SD\ job as maintenance director at a retirement
Housing counselors say it’s unfair, WKHLU ELOOV D UHTXHVW IRU D ORDQ PRGL¿FDWLRQ home. But it paid only around $25,000
especially because the news often comes LV WKH ¿UVW VLJQ RI GLI¿FXOW\ $QG WKDW PHDQV year, about $10,000 less than his former
as a surprise to homeowners. a sharp drop in the borrower’s credit score. job in a city public works department.
“Why should people’s credit be hurt The credit rating industry defends He and his wife were also struggling
even worse when they’re trying to do the the practice. People who sign up for with debt, after taking out a second to comment on Owens’ case.
right thing?” said Eileen Anderson, senior ORDQ PRGL¿FDWLRQV ZRXOG QRW EH DVNLQJ mortgage four years ago to pay off debt The impact is worse for borrowers
vice president at Community Development for help unless they were having severe and medical bills. who enroll in the Obama program and are
Corp. of Long Island, a housing counseling money troubles, said Norm Magnuson, Late last year, he was searching for a then ruled ineligible.
group in New York. spokesman for the Consumer Data Industry used sport-utility vehicle. He got a 30-day If homeowners do manage to get
And many homeowners are angry that Association, a trade group in Washington approval for $2,000 car loan. accepted into the Obama program and have
a program designed to help carries such that represents the credit bureaus. But that time ran out before he found WKHLU ORDQV SHUPDQHQWO\ PRGL¿HG OHQGHUV
a penalty, said Kathy Conley, a housing “The consumer is going into the a car, so he had to reapply for the loan. He update the credit bureaus. The new status
FRXQVHORU ZLWK *UHHQ3DWK ,QF D QRQSUR¿W SURJUDP EHFDXVH WKH\¶UH LQ D ¿QDQFLDO was shocked to learn that, after signing up neither hurts nor helps the borrower’s
group in Farmington Hills, Mich. bind,” he said. “Other lenders would need for the Obama plan, he was denied. credit score. Over time, they can see their
“It’s a feeling of being duped,” she to be aware of that.” “I should have been told,” that this score increase.
said. The Obama administration might happen, Owens said. “Without “The best way to build credit back
Still, the impact is far less severe than acknowledges that enrolling in the program credit, you can’t do a whole lot in life.” is to continue to pay bills as agreed, to
a foreclosure, where borrowers typically can hurt credit scores. But Meg Reilly, a A Citi spokesman, Mark Rodgers, use credit wisely,” said Tom Quinn, vice
¿QG WKHLU FUHGLW LV LQ WDWWHUV IRU \HDUV Treasury Department spokeswoman, said said the company follows the Treasury president of scoring solutions at Fair Issac
That’s due to the cumulative impact of that foreclosure “brings far more serious Department’s guidelines for reporting Corp., which designed the well-known
many months of missed payments and ¿QDQFLDO FRQVHTXHQFHV IRU ERUURZHUV DQG to credit bureaus. “We do not determine FICO score system. “As time goes on, the
the foreclosure itself, which drags down a their families.” credit scores,” said Rodgers, who declined score gradually increases.”
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16 Visit www.TIMonitor.com BOYCOTT, DIVESTMENT, SANCTIONS APRIL 2010 THE INDEPENDENT MONITOR
“Family-friendly” community center
in Austin Texas hosts war criminal
BY GAIL EVELYN ALFAR Bentzion Gruber spoke to an audience of Gruber dismissed the white-phosphorus
Guest Writer, Austin, TX about 100 mostly middle aged people about how bombs used by the IOF in Operation Cast Lead
ethical the IOF is, claiming it is the most ethical as simple smoke bombs. Jeff Zavala, who video
(Austin, Texas) Israeli Occupation military in the world today. taped portions of Gruber's speech that evening,
Forces (IOF) Colonel Bentzion Gruber spoke at Gruber is touring the nation to raise funds for has his statements recorded.
the Austin Jewish Community Center on March Gruber states "Israel didn't use phosphorus
4, 2010. in Gaza period. If they used phosphorus shells
Protesters started gathering outside the in Gaza, where are those people? Ive never seen
center about an hour before his lecture, carrying one photo. We didn't use phosphorus." You can
signs "Judaism-Yes, Zionism-No" and "Bentzion view this video on Youtube, (google Bentzion
Gruber, WAR CRIMES are not ethical." Gruber), which includes photos of people
The controversy arises from the fact that harmed by phosphorus shells.
a community center such as the JCC-Austin The Goldstone Report has extensive
would allow, and even co-sponsor, the lecture of documented evidence that the IOF used white-
a man who is directly involved in the violation phosphorus bombs against civilians, one of
of International Law and is responsible for many war crimes the IOF refuses to stand trial
directing 18,000 soldiers in human rights abuses for. Israel has already admitted to dropping
in Occupied Palestine. phosphorus bombs on Gaza.
The Palestinian people suffer under apartheid "According to the Israeli document, two senior
conditions as inhabitants of Israel, a country RI¿FHUV %ULJDGLHU*HQHUDO (\DO (LVHQEHUJ DQG
where they make up almost half - 5 million - of his agenda at the same time that the UN Goldstone Colonel Ilan Malka, "exceeded their authority
the population. Israel is attempting to gradually commission and international organizations such in approving the use of phosphorus shells". The
cleanse its Palestinian population, to be replaced as UNICEF and the UN, report about Israel’s document also mentioned that the shells were
by Jewish-Israeli settlements, and the IOF plays crimes against International Law and human ¿UHG LQ YLRODWLRQ RI WKH UXOHV RI HQJDJHPHQW
a major role in this. rights. [See Protest, Page 23]
THE INDEPENDENT MONITOR APRIL 2010 OPINION Visit www.TIMonitor.com 17
Sharing our pride together: We must show who we are
BY EDWARD STEPANIAN after school and over 50 students performed
Guest Writer in a school assembly. In the past, students
have performed Arabic folk dancing in an
I am a second generation American international show at the Ontario Mills
but my Syrian Roots run deep. My Mall when I taught in Fontana.
grandparents, my spirituality and Christian We, Arab Americans here in the
Faith continue to impact my outspoken U.S. creatively, rationally, and peacefully
call for Palestinian/Arab Unity, Action and need to expose our Arab culture and our
Freedom and an end to occupation, war, Christian and Moslem Faiths. Showing
and violence. by our actions and words that we are a
As a proud Arab American Elementary SURXG DQG GLJQL¿HG SHRSOH ZKR DUH DJDLQVW
school teacher in Los Angeles, all forms of violence, terrorism, racism,
I feel it is vital to teach my students oppression and injustice against anyone
that "Peace starts in home", "Silence and that we love freedom!
equals death" and "When life is cheap As a teacher I have seized the
anywhere, life is cheap everywhere." That opportunity to teach as much as I can about
everyone is part of a human family on this my Arab Heritage. My grandfather spoke
fragile planet earth, our island home. I ask 5 languages: English, French, Turkish,
my students and also show them by my Arabic and Aramaic. He was a deacon
example, things that make them proud of in the Syrian Orthodox Church. My
who they are and to treat themselves and grandmothers made the best Arabic food
others with respect. in the world. When I was a child I can
My students wrote to the President in remember looking forward to Friday, not on the issue and who respect my point President is only a small part of what being
Sept. focusing on peace, and the need for because it was the weekend, but because it of view and speak out for justice. Friday, an Arab American is. We need to let our
more money towards education. My letter was the day we went to Sitto's(grandma’s) I purposely sat at the opposite end of the fellow citizens know who we are.
was on top of the packet that we sent. I for dinner. We were greeted with open table from M. The next thing I knew, he It is my sincere hope this story of truth
sort of gave up hope last month of hearing arms and a big "Ahallo Sahallah!" came and planted himself across from me to power inspires many to stand up with
back. Then, last week, there was a packet Before I knew it I was being kissed 3 and proceeded to try and engage me and pride against the symbols of and in the face
in my mailbox from the White House! times on my cheeks. Even though they a female teacher in conversation. Yes, he of oppression and injustice.
My students were so proud and excited to are gone, the nourishment and abundant had on his pin and he spoke about Israel I am so encouraged by the growing
receive an autographed photo of President love I received from my grandparents is in having such great technology and how artistic, nonviolent Palestinian Protests
Obama and a personal letter along with a my blood and lives on in my prayers as I he loved coming to our school because taking place against the wall and in other
photo card of Bo (the family dog). continue to live and speak out as a proud everyone is so friendly. I had been ill with parts of occupied Palestine recently. I hope
I ordered the L.A. Times so that my Arab American. a cold, including a very hoarse voice, so all the protesting grows into a worldwide
students could receive it on Fridays. They I continue to call the "Christian" radio I couldn't say much. I basically ignored boycott of Israel and the pronouncement
love reporting on current events. They show on KBRT 740 AM, to speak out KLP DQG ¿QLVKHG HDWLQJ 0\ FROOHDJXH OHIW by the Palestinian people themselves of
want to know what is going on in their with the truth and with love as a follower early and she seemed uncomfortable, I left the new, free, democratic and peace loving
world and how it affects them and all of Christ. Every Monday at 3:00, they with her. I went upstairs into our computer state of Palestine in the West Bank, Gaza
children. My students also want to get have an Israeli General on to give his one lab and printed out a Palestinian Flag, cut and East Jerusalem.
involved. There have been times that sided report (full of hate and lies about around it, and wrote FREE PALESTINE The Palestinian people are united and
we have phoned the White House or our Palestinians, Arabs, and Moslems). I have on the white part. I rolled tape on the back will never be divided!
Congressional Representatives to speak been on the air twice in the past couple of of this 2 by 4 inch Flag, I stuck it on my I don't believe that our government or
out for peace and justice, including for the months. I encourage all in our community chest and went back down into the lounge the Israeli government will ever give the
lifting of the blockade of Gaza. to listen and speak out. and sat across from him. I pointed it out Palestinians what they deserve. The people
About 5 years ago the whole school I wish to share with you something to a couple of people and got smiles. He themselves must proclaim it and claim it!
DQG FRPPXQLW\ ÀHZ NLWHV LQ 0D\ IRU that happened this past Friday. I entered was on the phone (speaking in Hebrew), It must be achieved nonviolently and
Peace in solidarity with many around my teacher's lounge to eat lunch and there but he must have seen my bold statement. strategically with support from religious
the world to protest against the Israeli was ‘M’. M visits some schools in my When he ended his call, he got up and sat at leaders and ordinary citizens from around
apartheid wall. I explained the situation district to sell insurance to teachers. He is another table! Later my female colleague the world who support peace and justice.
to a 99% Latino population at my school. an outspoken, active Zionist who wears the told me that she left early because M Arab Americans must do all they
All of the teachers were on board; in fact ,VUDHOL86$ ÀDJ SLQ RQ KLV VXLWH FROODU +H had spoken disrespectfully about women can here to encourage and support such a
a Jewish teacher helped me the most. We is also a reserve pilot in the Israeli Army. before and she did not like that. heroic struggle.
had over 1,000 teachers, students, parents One day last year he stated that “Arabs do Yes, I am politically involved in Arab In the future when I am reading the
DQG FRPPXQLW\ ODZ HQIRUFHPHQW À\LQJ not want peace" I replied loudly,” Excuse Organizations and even met with my ,QGHSHQGHQW 0RQLWRU PD\EH , ZLOO ¿QG
kites for peace and were interviewed on me, my family is Arab and we do want Congresswoman during the August recess. your story of Pride. What will you do that
KPFK. peace!" I continued to debate him, as have But donating money to organizations and GH¿QHV <28 DV $Q $UDE $PHULFDQ"
I have taught Debke (folk dancing) a few other colleagues who are educated calling my Representative or writing the
Why a Muslim College and why now?
[Zaytuna, from Page 11] playbook on how to build a Muslim college. But we must excellence ... and a spirit of open inquiry and exchange.”
kind of scholars who know authentic Islam, who respect LQYHVW LQ NQRZOHGJH 'R QRW WKH ¿UVW YHUVHV RI WKH 4XU¶DQ Dr. Jonathan Brown, a Muslim and Assistant Professor
our heritage. Scholars who know applied Islam.” command: ‘Read, recite ...?’” of Arabic and Islamic Studies in the Dept. of Near Eastern
“What is the major challenge facing Islam in our time? Added Bazien: “There are some 40 colleges in the Languages & Civilization at the University of Washington
It is that we become irrelevant. If we become irrelevant, Bay area, so why a Muslim college now? The Muslim in Seattle, pointed out that where the environment on
then all our victories are meaningless. If we fall into the SHUVSHFWLYH LV PLVVLQJ IURP WKH WDEOH 6R ¿UVW ZH PXVW ¿QG campus is secular, people’s faith is challenged. (Zaytuna)
pitfall of irrelevance, then we are in trouble. It does not out, discover what we are missing.... Being Muslim will be is a place where the faith is respected. He added: “It was
matter (to the outsider) if we pray 50X a day. Who cares?? celebrated. There is a great need for teachers ... we have in a mosque that I learned (to sharpen) my critical thinking
Nor should we (fall into the trap) of territory -- this is not currently some 480 Muslim schools around the nation. skills.”
the territory of this imam or that imam. What counts is 2XU JUDGXDWHV ZLOO KHOS ¿OO WKHVH WHDFKHU SRVLWLRQV DQG And Dr. Sulayman Nyang, a professor of African
that we are followers of Allah ... and how we interact in other areas such as public service and Muslim NGOs.” Studies at Howard University in Washington, D.C.
our society.” He underscored too that Zaytuna is not just about told his audience: “With great joy I am here tonight....
Added Hathout: “I am very excited about Zaytuna, graduating numbers, but turning out morally committed Muslims are a very diverse group (some 80 nationalities)
and at my age I don’t get that excited anymore,” said the professional, intellectual, and spiritual leaders who are and we are here to stay, and develop intellectually with
gray haired doctor. “We are with you and behind you.” grounded in the Islamic scholarly tradition; individuals dignity. Zaytuna College is your voice -- stake your
The next speaker was Dr. Hatem Bazian, co-founder who will make a difference in American society. claim! Encourage dialogue between Islam and modernity
of Zaytuna College, chair of its Academic Affairs Bazien also said: “There is a strategic difference and discover what is your role ...Zaytuna will give you the
Committee, who has a Ph.D. in Philosophy and Islamic between studying about Islam (at Berkeley) and studying LQWHOOHFWXDO NQRZ KRZ WR GH¿QH \RXU LGHQWLW\´
Studies from UC Berkeley. Islam (at Zaytuna). Now is our time. This is a safe place Islamic educational institutions were once the envy of
“Scholars are the heirs of the prophets,” he quoted for our faith.” the world
Mohammad, “since the earliest Muslim centers of learning Then four panelists took the stage to further the Listen to a few illustrious voices from the past like
in Baghdad, until now in the Bay area where we have some importance and timing of a new Muslim college. Imam Abu Hamid al-Ghazzali: “Knowledge without
600 mosques, and where 10% of our population make Said Imam Zaid Shakir, a co-founder of Zaytuna action is insanity, and action without knowledge is vanity.”
over a million plus. Intellectual power is underwritten by College who accepted Islam in 1977 while serving in the “Justice is the axis of the prosperity of the world,”
money.” U.S. Air Force: “Zaytuna is an idea whose time has come. commented Fakhr al-Din al-Razi.
Bazien is hoping for a $30 million endowment for We all recognize this ....” And my favorite from Ahmad B. Hanbal: “The best of
Zaytuna College to cover salaries, etc. “Money and Dr. Hina Azam who teaches Islamic Studies at the P\ GD\V LV ZKHQ , DZDNHQ DQG ¿QG P\ FXSERDUGV EDUH
fundraising .... are the building blocks to make the Muslim University of Texas at Austin remarked: “Zaytuna is For that is a day my reliance on Allah is complete.”
community relevant in America. Initially to be successful a different experience from a mosque or madressah .....
we must go from $2 million to $8 million. There is no Here students will prove themselves through academic
18 Visit www.TIMonitor.com OPINION APRIL 2010 THE INDEPENDENT MONITOR
Sharing Jerusalem: key to wider peace
BY GHASSAN MICHEL RUBEIZ
Columnist, Palm Beach Gardens, FL
Jerusalem is not just a city in historic
Palestine or biblical Israel. This city
DUJXDEO\ KROGV DOO WKH NQRWV RI WKH FRQÀLFW
between Arabs and Israelis. Jerusalem
invokes issues of identity, history,
demography, borders, refugees, settlements
and security.
In December 2009, Europe was poised
to make an important political declaration:
East Jerusalem should be the capital of
a future Palestinian state. That was too
good to be true. Israel’s lobby managed to
outsmart the leading Scandinavian voice
WKDW ZDV ZHOO H[SUHVVHG LQ WKH LQ WKH ¿UVW
GUDIW RI WKLV GHFODUDWLRQ 7KH ¿QDO GUDIW ZDV
tame: it called the two parties to resolve the
issue of Jerusalem through negotiation. The
negotiation has been stalled as Israel insists
on continuing the building of settlements
in East Jerusalem.
Europe, which remains an ally of
Israel, is aware that the status-quo in
Jerusalem is unsustainable. The occupation
generates insensitivity to injustice and the
settlements arouse Arab anger. The city of
peace runs on a double standard of living, Jerusalem could provide a model for Muslim and Christian Palestinians are international community of the three so-
expands through annexation, reverses coexistence of the two people. Anchoring not strangers to Al Kuds (Jerusalem). In called Abrahamic religions considers this
history through demolition of Palestinian Palestinians in East Jerusalem would be 1947, Jerusalem’s population was less than honored place the “Shining City”. Over
housing and creates new realities through an acknowledgement that they are linked half Jewish, with a Muslim majority of the ¿IW\ 0XVOLPPDMRULW\ FRXQWULHV KDYH
illegal settlements. to Abraham, just as Jews are, that they are non-Jewish population. special sentiments for this city.
&XUUHQW SODQV IRU D ¿QDO UHVROXWLRQ indigenous to the Holy Land and that they Today, the population of Jerusalem From the city of peace, Arabs and
RI WKH $UDE ,VUDHOL FRQÀLFW DUH IDGLQJ are entitled to this historic place. is nearly one third Palestinian. Minorities ,VUDHOLV PLJKW ¿QG ZD\V WR H[SDQG
away. In a hypothetical Palestinian-Israeli When Arabs and Israelis agree to of Orthodox, local Lutheran and Anglican cooperation to the entire Holy Land and
agreement, west Jerusalem would be the share Jerusalem, other contentious issues Palestinians, Armenian Christians, the wider Middle East. After being an
capital of Israel and east Jerusalem the are likely to become manageable; and both Egyptian Copts, as well as a mosaic of empowered community, Palestinians
capital of Palestine. The two states would parties would be more inclined to show Western Christians are an important part might be destined to mediate between
share planning, management and operation ÀH[LELOLW\ RQ WKH TXHVWLRQV RI UHIXJHHV of the original residents of this city of the Jewish community and the Arab and
of a functionally integrated, albeit borders, security and settlements. great diversity. About 250 000 Palestinians Muslim worlds. Jerusalem could be the
politically divided city. In sharing Jerusalem, Palestinians live in East Jerusalem. Since the 1967 key to achieving lasting peace.
The hard line position of Israel on would be motivated to adjust their claims occupation, about the same number of The way things are now, Jerusalem is
Jerusalem is explicitly stated by the current to the right of return to their homeland, Israelis moved into a much expanded D UHFLSH RI FRQÀLFW IRU IXWXUH JHQHUDWLRQV
government of Prime Minister Netanyahu from which they were evicted by war and East Jerusalem. The current population of When will Europe listen to its people,
who insists that Jerusalem will never be intimidation. They would be mindful Metropolitan Jerusalem exceeds 750, 000. whose majority would favor the initial
a part of a future Palestinian state. He of the Jewish demographic character of While Jerusalem is the center for draft on Jerusalem?
considers metropolitan Jerusalem the “re- Israel. Refugees would be motivated to the Jewish world, it is also considered Ghassan M. Rubeiz is a former
XQL¿HG HWHUQDO FDSLWDO´ RI WKH -HZLVK VWDWH integrate their right of return with the holy by the Christian and Muslim world Middle East representative at the Geneva-
Palestinians are furious about the equally important rights of self realization: communities. Fifteen million Christians based World Council of Churches for the
ease with which Israel has acquired and accepting new opportunities of social in the Middle East, the descendants of Common Ground News Service (CG News)
transformed Jerusalem, unilaterally, integration, gearing up for industrial indigenous Christian communities of in Jerusalem.
without arousing strong and effective growth, quality education and social historic Antioch, Alexandria, Damascus
international objection. empowerment. and Jerusalem, revere Jerusalem. The
to him much. Whether it was to bring cheating on her, and felt like she had to
Businessman can not be neglected. What is a relationship
bread on the way home, tell him something
important, or just to say “I miss you,” Hani
could not talk! When he did, he was unable
to give her his undivided attention. He was
a busy guy. Dina was open-minded, so she
compete. She was determined to win the
war against business, and lashed out at
Hani in frustration!
Later, she found out that there was no
competition, and she was not going to win.
with a businessman like, without the understood. After time, Dina got sick of Hani explains that it is something he has to
business? this daily lifestyle. do—his clients need him. He explained to
I’ll never forget the day at my friend Sometimes Hani would forget the Dina that breaking ties with these people
Dina’s house when an eligible bachelor little things she tells him to bring on his meant that his business would suffer, and
came over with his parents to ask for her way home, come home much later than WKHQ WKH IDPLO\ ZRXOG VXIIHU ¿QDQFLDOO\
hand in marriage. Dina and I were both expected without calling, and come home He promised her that he would try to be
BY SUHAILA MATARIEH
upstairs, and she was extremely nervous. with no appetite. This hurt Dina because more cognizant of how he spent his time,
Guest Writer, Chicago, IL
She quickly went over the type of spouse she looked forward to having a nice and asked her to be patient. Dina had to
she felt would make a perfect relationship romantic dinner with Hani. When Hani grin and bear it, and she realized that he
It has always been more common
(funny to think one exists). Dina wanted a walked in the door, he would either walk was doing it for the both of them. After
nowadays to hear the term “businessman”
guy that was educated, well-mannered, and in speaking on the phone or with his phone all, Hani was everything Dina wanted in
than “business woman.” Well, let’s
was willing to do anything for her and their ringing. Dina told me how he needed 45 a spouse she mentioned to me on the day
consider the role of a businessman.
future family together. minutes to “settle in” the house. They had KH ¿UVW FDPH RYHU +H LV HGXFDWHG ZHOO
A businessman does not merely have
Hani was handsome, polite, and 1 or 2 hours (if she was lucky) of watching mannered, and did everything he could to
a job—he has a career. A job is where you
worked in the marketing/advertising TV, eating dinner, and conversing. Hani make sure his family was secure.
show up, impatiently watch the clock,
LQGXVWU\ 'LQD UHFDOOHG WKDW ZKHQ KH EULHÀ\ felt bad about making business calls at It took her a long time to accept that
¿QLVK \RXU WDVNV DQG WKHQ TXLFNO\ JR
went over his job description, she did not home, and he would sneak in the bedroom time with Hani was limited and to quit
home. When you have a career though,
understand a word he said. She didn’t to make these calls. complaining about how he “doesn’t care”
you can never call it a day because your
understand business mumbo jumbo, and Hani is not a bad guy, he is not mean about her like he cares about his clients.
career follows you like your shadow
VKH ¿JXUHG LW ZDVQ¶W HYHQ LPSRUWDQW VLQFH to Dina, and he is not purposely ignoring It took her a long time to realize that the
DV \RX¶UH ZDONLQJ RXW \RXU RI¿FH GRRU
he had a good job. Fast forward, Dina and her. He just cannot give her the time he VDFUL¿FHV WKH\ ERWK KDYH WR PDNH LQ WKHLU
Businessmen have established important
Hani were married happily ever after— knows she needs. Dina was frustrated relationships. It took Dina a long time
business relationships with their clients,
XQWLO 'LQD ¿QDOO\ ¿JXUHG RXW ZKDW WKDW with how much time commitment he to realize he had a second wife, and on
and other important contacts. Those who
business mumbo jumbo really entailed! invested in his clients, and how she felt some days she was wife number one and
are described as “married” to their jobs are
7KH ¿UVW FRXSOH RI PRQWKV ZHUH WKH she needed to make “appointments” with other days wife number two. It took Dina
indeed businessmen. Their clients need to
usual lovey-dovey romantic phase; Dina her husband. Shouldn’t it be the opposite? a long time to realize that Hani was a
be able to contact them at anytime of the
remembered being happy. Later, she got Shouldn’t your personal relationship have businessman!
day, and businessmen have to be there for
used to their daily lifestyle quickly. When an open time slot, and your clients set
them. A relationship between a client and
Hani was at work, she was unable to talk up appointments? Dina felt like he was
business man is a very important one that
THE INDEPENDENT MONITOR APRIL 2010 OPINION Visit www.TIMonitor.com 19
George vs. TSA raises important questions for Arab
travelers: $UDELF ÁDVKFDUGV DV WHUURU SDUDSKHUQDOLD"
BY IHSAN ALKHATIB, PH.D. FRPSODLQW ¿OHG E\ WKH $&/8 KLJKOLJKWV VHULRXV FRQFHUQV SDUWLFXODU WR $UDE DQG SHUKDSV
Staff Writer, Dearborn, MI Muslim travelers that the ACLU press release does not mention. The TSA supervisor
questioned Mr. George in a “hostile and aggressive manner.” The questioning and
George vs. TSA is a troubling case. responses, in part, went as follows:
The ACLU is suing the TSA on behalf of Nick George for the “How do you feel about 9/11?
violation of Mr. George’s constitutional rights. This lawsuit arises Mr. George responded that he thought 9/11 was a terrible event.
from an incident that occurred in the Philadelphia airport. A non-Arab “You obviously read. You know who did 9/11?”
student, Nick George, was perceived as a threat simply because he “Osama Bin Laden.”
KDG $UDELF(QJOLVK ÀDVKFDUGV 7KHVH FDUGV ZHUH IRXQG GXULQJ WKH URXWLQH 76$ VFUHHQLQJ “Do you know what language he spoke?”
process. “Arabic.”
Looking for real threat $W WKLV SRLQW WKH 76$ VXSHUYLVRU KHOG XS 0U *HRUJH¶V ÀDVKFDUGV DQG VWDWHG 'R \RX
One can get in trouble not only for possessing drugs; it is also a crime to possess see why these cards are suspicious?”
“drug paraphernalia.” It seems a similar logic is working for the TSA as to Arabic, “the The FBI interview: the Art of Determining Real Threat
language that Bin Laden speaks.” In the “War on Terror” it seems there is this sense that Mr. George was interviewed by two FBI agents who were called to assess whether
Arabic language material is “terror paraphernalia.” One can only empathize with the Mr. George was a “real threat.” One FBI agent asked Mr. George: “Are you Islamic?”
young college student Nick George who found himself, due to Arabic material on him, Mr. George responded he was not. The agent followed up, asking whether Mr. George
being treated as a terror suspect until being proven innocent, a not uncommon experience was a member of any “pro-Islamic groups” on campus. After approximately 30 minutes
for Arab and Muslim travelers. However, the real troubling aspect of this matter is of questioning, one of the FBI agents concluded as follows: “Our job is more an art than
KRZ LW ZDV KDQGOHG E\ JRYHUQPHQW RI¿FLDOV LQ GLIIHUHQW DJHQFLHV DQG GLIIHUHQW OHYHOV RI a science. The police call us to evaluate whether there is a real threat. You are not a real
UHVSRQVLELOLW\ 7KUHH 76$ VFUHHQHUV RQH 76$ VXSHUYLVRU RQH SROLFH RI¿FHU DQG D SROLFH threat.” What if the student was an Arab or a Muslim and/or belonged to pro-Palestinian
VHUJHDQW DOO WKRXJKW WKDW $UDELF(QJOLVK ÀDVKFDUGV DUH LQGLFDWRUV RI D WKUHDW 7KH )%, group such as the BDS (Boycott Divestment Sanctions) movement? How would these
were called and two FBI agents spent half an hour engaging in the “art,” as one FBI agent factors have played a role in the art of threat assessment?
put it, of determining whether Mr. George is a “real threat.” Questions raised by the George affair
ACLU press release The way the George affair was handled by the TSA and the FBI raises serious
The ACLU press release reads in part ‘ACLU Sues Over Unconstitutional Airport questions and is deeply troubling. It validates the fears that Bin Laden and the other
Detention And Interrogation Of College Student Carrying Arabic Flashcards-Incident At radical terrorists and those using the terror attacks to push for an anti Islam/anti Arab
Philadelphia Airport Highlights Misdirected Security Efforts, Says ACLU. The American agenda have succeeded in criminalizing the faith of 1.3 billion people and the language
&LYLO /LEHUWLHV 8QLRQ DQG WKH $&/8 RI 3HQQV\OYDQLD WRGD\ ¿OHG D ODZVXLW RQ EHKDOI RI spoken by at least 300 million people. Who trained the TSA that Arabic is the “language
Pomona College student Nicholas George, who was abusively interrogated, handcuffed of Bin Laden” and that those who want to learn it are to be viewed as suspicious? Gibran
DQG GHWDLQHG IRU QHDUO\ ¿YH KRXUV DW WKH 3KLODGHOSKLD ,QWHUQDWLRQDO $LUSRUW EHFDXVH RI D Khalil Gibran also spoke and wrote in Arabic? The Muslim philosopher Al Rumi also
VHW RI (QJOLVK$UDELF ÀDVKFDUGV KH ZDV FDUU\LQJ LQ FRQQHFWLRQ ZLWK KLV FROOHJH ODQJXDJH wrote in Arabic? How did Bin Laden succeed in owning the language? How could seven
VWXGLHV ³$UUHVWLQJ DQG UHVWUDLQLQJ SDVVHQJHUV ZKR SRVH QR WKUHDW WR ÀLJKW VDIHW\ DQG DUH JRYHUQPHQW RI¿FLDOV LQFOXGLQJ WZR KLJKO\ WUDLQHG ODZ HQIRUFHPHQW RI¿FLDOV IURP WKH
not breaking any law not only violates people’s rights, but it won’t make us any safer. )%, DOO GHHP WKH ÀDVK FDUGV DV JURXQGV IRU UHDVRQDEOH VXVSLFLRQ RI LQYROYHPHQW ZLWK
It may actually make us less safe, by diverting vital resources and attention away from terror and thus justifying detention and “hostile and aggressive” questioning from a TSA
true security threats,” said Ben Wizner, staff attorney with the ACLU National Security supervisor?
Project. “Nick George was handcuffed, locked in a cell for hours and questioned about To read the complaint, go to www.aclu.org/national-security/george-v-tsa-complaint-
9/11 simply because he has chosen to study Arabic, a language that is spoken by hundreds damages. To see a video of Nick George and Ben Wizner speaking about the case go to
of millions of people around the world. This sort of harassment of innocent travelers is a www.youtube.com/watch?v=DTgegDIUocw
waste of time and a violation of the Constitution.” Ihsan Alkhatib is an immigration and family law attorney in Dearborn, MI. He is a
What language did Bin Laden speak? graduate of the University of Toledo college of law and has a Ph.D. in Political science
In the press release the ACLU explains fully why the Nick George case is troubling from Wayne State University.
from a constitutional viewpoint and from a general public viewpoint. However, the
BY FRANK SCOTT
Humanity vs. Insanity about adversaries allegedly poised to terrorize and invade vindictively attempting to destroy the Islamic regime. It
Columnist, San Rafael, CA it: in other words, do to us exactly what we are doing to is the threat of imperial collapse more than control of oil
them. that moves America into such easily manipulated desire
Whenever there is a crisis in the system’s stability, A frustrated public understands that government is for destroying Iran’s revolution, but Israel’s hatred is more
ruling power often reacts in a disarray approaching panic, squandering its tax dollars on wanton waste and the bribing malevolent and dangerous.
but the numerous crises of the present moment bring with of rich minorities, but it’s so confused that describing its Left to its own bumbling barbarism it might be
them an even more serious situation. It warrants aroused behavior as people on the sinking Titanic rearranging the unlikely that the US would openly attack, but given their
DFWLRQ IURP D XQL¿HG DQG LQIRUPHG SRSXODWLRQ EXW VR IDU deck chairs would be an understatement. It’s as though possession of nuclear weapons and a tortured cultural
we are only aroused. We need to become less divided and some passengers plead the new captain be given more narrative of Jews as eternal victims, there is no telling
more informed before matters already far from our control WLPH WR ¿QG WKH KROH ZKHUH WKH ZDWHU LV HQWHULQJ ZLWK WKH what the Israelis might attempt.
become completely beyond the illusion of democracy rest near hysteria over the exorbitant room rates while 7KH SUHVHQW GDQJHU ¿QGV D JOREDOO\ GRPLQDQW LPSHULDO
many think we already have. the owners of the crippled ship buy more drone missiles force with power capable of wiping out millions the world
The drums of war beat loudly and not just for the and poison gas to ward off pending attack from terrorist over fast losing its control. But the empire and its minions
ongoing brutality in Afghanistan, Iraq and Pakistan. penguins. But it isn’t funny. are either in complete denial of material reality or motivated
Changing the label on those mass murders from one idiotic Many Americans and a substantial number of by immaterial beliefs that only their rule and mythology is
brand name to another seems the only difference between Iranians have been led to believe an election decisively worthwhile and all others must succumb or be destroyed.
the deranged policies of the last regime and their demented won by Ahmadinejad was actually stolen, this based on If we were confronted by a maniac wielding an ax we’d
continuation by the new one. But the unrelenting drive to the evidence of wishful thinking, blatant lies and possible have a frightening problem, but when that maniac is an
war against the revolutionary Islamic government in Iran treason. A genuine movement for civil liberties in that empire in possession of nuclear weapons and incredible
has taken a more frenzied tone. The irrational charges nation has been deformed by the USA and Israel into an ¿UH SRZHU DOO KXPDQLW\ KDV D WHUULI\LQJ SUREOHP
against that nation and its president and the cynical use alleged counter revolution and sometimes instigated to act Democracy, like charity, begins at home but ultimately
of movements for civil liberties within it are becoming far as a traitorous force within the country. When the American extends much further than a locality or a nation. It is time
more deadly. government and media howl about injustice in Iran after for the endangered species - the overwhelming majority
Mind managers are maneuvering the American people they censured any criticism of Israel’s mass brutality in of earth’s population - to gain control of the situation
into an insane fear of attack from a nuclear weapons Gaza, they make vultures vomit and jackals gag. The before it is too late. The important work of the immediate
powered Iran despite no such evidence in the material QRUPDO QR[LRXV JDUEDJH ÀRZ IURP FRUSRUDWH JRYHUQPHQW future involves whether that happens through a truly
world. The only reliable information questions the and its media stenographers has become so hazardous that democratic United Nations controlled by the real global
motives and mental health of those creating this diabolical we need to clear the political air before we are smothered majority, or that majority acting through smaller groups
disinformation. Many have already forgotten the supposed by this mass attack of toxic mental pollution. of allied countries and NGOs acting in common interest
menace represented by Iraq which existed only in the Recurring stories about Iran’s alleged pursuit of for global salvation. One thing seems all but certain: If we
twisted minds of the war party in Washington and its nuclear weapons mostly come from an Israeli network of don’t soon remove the barriers that separate us as members
dominating caucus representing Israel. undercover operatives and an intelligence apparatus that RI D KXPDQ UDFH LQKXPDQ IRUFHV ZKLFK SUR¿W IURP WKHLU
:H KDYH QRW ¿QLVKHG RXU GHYDVWDWLRQ RI ,UDT DV ZH reaches deeply into our government. Why does Israel want creation may bring them crashing down on all our heads.
further it in Afghanistan and extend it into Pakistan, but to hurt Iran and especially Ahmadinejad? Alone among
that does not yet satisfy a paranoid military-religious- world leaders he has been outspoken in calling for justice
SV\FKR FXOW WKDW ¿QGV LWVHOI VXUURXQGHG E\ HQHPLHV PRVWO\ in Palestine, highlighting the suffering of its people and Email: frankscott@comcast.net
where it creates them. The cult’s development of ever the maddening hypocrisy in making Palestinians pay for a Frank Scott writes political commentary which appears in
PRUH ¿HQGLVK ZHDSRQV ZLWK ZKLFK WR GHVWUR\ DQG WRUWXUH European crime. Meanwhile the USA, still smarting over print in the Coastal Post and The Independent Monitor
its adversaries is accompanied by its hysterical screaming losing its puppet ruler in the 1979 revolution, continues and online at the blog Legalienate
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THE INDEPENDENT MONITOR APRIL 2010 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR & CALENDAR OF EVENTS Visit www.TIMonitor.com 21
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Open letter from Stand with the Eleven
Dear Israeli Ambassador Michael Oren, stand trial before the International Criminal Court. Have you ever
In your open letter published in the UCI newspaper, you considered taking the General Assembly up on that offer? The ICC
propose a return to UCI in order to “dialogue” with those whose would be a perfect forum Mr. Oren for you to “exchange ideas with
views juxtapose yours. We willingly take you up on that offer. But those who disagree[]” with your Israeli perspective.
to clarify, our willingness does not stem from any delusional notion Speaking of Justice Goldstone, was your “diplomatic trip” to
that your words can right the decades of wrong and injustice. As California merely another propagandizing effort to repaint Israel’s
the saying goes, actions speak louder than words. Your military past image from a brutal apartheid state to a victimized democracy?
with the Israeli “Defense” Force and your current position as the After Israel killed over 1,400 Palestinians in Gaza and injured an
RI¿FLDO UHSUHVHQWDWLYH RI D VWDWH EHIRUH WKH 81 *HQHUDO $VVHPEO\ additional 5,300 others during its 22-day assault, the New York
on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity speak louder Times reported on Israel’s multi-million dollar marketing efforts and
than any “remarks” you can make. PR campaign to whitewash its crimes through cultural and academic
Dear Arab, Mr. Oren, you allude to democracy and peace. Perhaps in your channels. As a media spin-doctor during Israel’s war on Lebanon in
Orwellian doublespeak, “peace” equates apartheid. South African 2006 and its assault on Gaza in 2008-09, you perfectly suit Israel’s
I received the census form in the mail Nobel Peace laureate Desmond Tutu compared “the humiliation rebranding efforts.
DQG ,¶P KHVLWDQW WR ¿OO LW EHFDXVH ,¶P of the Palestinians at checkpoints and roadblocks” to that of Black That said Mr. Oren, you stand corrected; we have been
6RXWK $IULFDQV ³ZKHQ \RXQJ ZKLWH SROLFH RI¿FHUV SUHYHQWHG XV introduced to "different perspectives" as you desire, but in the form
afraid that the information I provide from moving about.” Like the White Afrikaners, you speak of of the horrendous brutality presented by the Israeli government.
will be given to the FBI. I’m not doing civilization but represent the only modern-day colonialist state. Your Two of the student protesters had multiple relatives murdered
VWDWH KDV EXLOW D ZDOO ± PLOHV ORQJ E\ IHHW KLJK ± GHHPHG LQ *D]D 2WKHU SURWHVWHUV ZLWQHVVHG ¿UVW KDQG WKH GHVRODWLRQ RI
anything illegal but I think that the FBI illegal in 2004 by the International Court of Justice. This wall (not schools, UN buildings, factories, homes, farms and every other
unfairly targets Arabs in this country. fence) annexes 80% of the most fertile Palestinian land to Israel and facet of Palestinian civil society while on a delegation to Gaza.
separates tens of thousands of indigenous Palestinians from their As a champion of dialogue, you should perhaps attempt “to listen
Isam in Boston, MA lands, workplaces and social services. The world celebrated the and learn” from Palestinian students who formally attended the
falling of the Berlin Wall as a symbolism of peace. How then, does American International School in Gaza until it was leveled by Israeli
Israel’s construction of a wall more than four times its length and missiles and tanks.
Dear Isam, twice its height create the underpinnings for peace? In support of the Palestinians living under occupation and
Further, you write of “democratic principles,” undoubtedly apartheid and those who are denied the right of return, we stand
I understand your concern Isam. Most as you represent the only “democracy” in the Middle East. with the eleven students who asserted their constitutional rights to
of us Arab Americans come from countries That is if you are Jewish of course. Otherwise, as a Christian or
Muslim Palestinian, you live under military occupational rule in
protest. We also stand with those across the U.S. and Europe who
are boycotting, divesting and sanctioning your state until it complies
where our undemocratic, repressive and shantytowns and Bantustans and are subject to daily evictions, with international law and affords the Palestinians their human
home demolitions and even massive military attacks. Only a few rights and dignities. Mr. Oren, we accept your offer to return to UCI
corrupt governments use information days ago, Israel announced the construction of more than 50,000 to expose the “Israeli perspective” for what it is. In consideration of
against us in many different unsavory ways. settlement units in East Jerusalem. Mr. Oren, during your teaching \RXU SRVLWLRQ DV DQ DFDGHPLF DQG KLVWRULDQ LW LV RQO\ EH¿WWLQJ WKDW
stints at Harvard, Yale, and Georgetown, did you ever come across a scholar represent the perspective of the indigenous Palestinians
Having said that, I can tell you that it’s the term “international law”? As a representative of a nation that has which your state continues to humiliate, expunge and brutalize.
illegal for the US Census Bureau to breach perpetually acted above the law and has been condemned by more The event will be a free public event at UCI and students
UN resolutions than any other nation in the world, you are surely an should be given priority to attend in what would then be a true
WKH FRQ¿GHQWLDOLW\ RI WKH LQIRUPDWLRQ \RX expert in the “undermin[ing] [of] democratic principles.” "marketplace of ideas." We hope that you will not shy away from
Yet your Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, is now drawing such an opportunity to not propagandize, but rather foster an
provide to them. This information cannot up proposals to rewrite international law following Chief Justice atmosphere of "true civility and respect for freedom of speech."
be shared with the FBI, CIA, IRS, etc. Richard Goldstone’s damning 574-page report, which methodically We share your optimism that today’s students are tomorrow’s
and meticulously outlined Israel’s crimes committed in Gaza last leaders. And it will be at our universities and on our campuses that
While I can’t guarantee you that the year. The report also concludes that Israel’s three year-long hermetic the Israeli apartheid, occupation and oppression will be exposed and
information you provide will remain closure of Gazan borders, airspace and territorial waters amounts rejected as was the South African apartheid. Let freedom of speech
to nothing less than collective punishment, another war crime. truly reign.
FRQ¿GHQWLDO , GRQ¶W WKLQN WKDW \RX DQG , Currently, the UN General Assembly has recommended that Israel Signed, Stand with the Eleven
have a choice whether or not we should
provide the answers called for in the census Why glorify the murderers?
Letter to the Editor, L.A. Times mendacious propaganda. and they know that their children will
form. March 17, 2010, page A21 Truly innocent civilians in Palestine inadvertently become involved.
Keep in mind that the information are the Arabs. They were innocent of any Instead of demonizing the
There is no such thing as an wrong doing whatsoever when, beginning Palestinian Arabs, I suggest that the three
called for in the census form is preliminary “innocent civilian” among Jewish Israelis 100 years ago, they were overwhelmed writers of this propaganda piece work to
in nature like, name, address, telephone (except for children and those opposing by illegal alien Jews, and they have been stop their government from murdering
the government), When civilians raise ¿JKWLQJ WKH LQYDGHUV HYHU VLQFH XVLQJ WKH those same Palestinian Arabs, to stop the
number, race, etc. Information about an army and send it out to kill, maim, only weapon they have, their own bodies. brutal occupation, to release the 10,000
one’s political views or organizational and destroy, they are not innocent. They It is unfortunate that Israeli children Palestinian Arabs held in captivity, and
are culpable and complicit. They are suffer for their parents’ crimes, but it is to tear down the wall running though the
DI¿OLDWLRQV DUH QRW UHTXHVWHG 7KH VDPH LV fair game for their victims. So when inevitable. As long as those parents West Bank.
WUXH IRU ¿QDQFLDO LQIRUPDWLRQ the Israelis complain about “innocent kill innocent Palestinian Arabs, they Please publish.
civilians” being targeted, it is nothing but know that the victims will strike back, Richard Herman, Costa Mesa, CA
Last but not least, I agree with you that
the FBI (and other government agencies)
do target us unfairly especially in the
aftermath of 911 and in the prelude to the
invasion war on Iraq during the George W.
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
Bush dark era. However, I think that if the Apr. 8 ± 1DGLQH 1DEHU 'HDQ (650) 325 4663. Marriott Wardman Park Hotel,
Obeidallah: “Arab American Identity Washington, DC. Contact: (202)244-
FBI or CIA want information about you or after 9:11: Anthropological and Comedic Apr. 28 - NAAP-OC Mixer, Always the 2990
me, they have their own ways and they will 3HUVSHFWLYHV DW 7XIWV 8QLYHUVLW\ ± URRP last Wednesday of the month. For more
information to follow, but please save the info call (714) 612-0157. June 30 - July 4 - 46th Annual Melkite
not wait for the US Census Bureau to give date. This is the annual Evelyn Abdalah Convention, at the Hyatt Regency
it to them. AT&T and other corporations Menconi Memorial Cultural Series. May 29 - The Tunisian Community Hotel, Seattle, WA. Contact: www.
will celebrate the 6th Annual Tunisian stjosephofSeattle.org
will give them this information on a silver Apr. 9 - Dean Obeidallah performance of American Day, presenting the Ibn
platter. Our right-wing supreme court will comedy program sponsored by Center for Khaldoun Award to Dr. Mohammad Oct. 9-10 - The Lebanese American
Arabic Culture, venue to be announced Laoucet Ayari, at the University of Foundation, House of Lebanon and the
consider it legal! later. California Los Angeles (UCLA). House of Lebanon Artists’ Group present:
Look Isam, you basically have the Contact:gazette@tunisiancommunity.org Beyond Borders Art Exhibits, featuring
Apr. 25 - The Rebuilding Alliance 2nd ¿QH DUWZRUN RI $PHULFDQ /HEDQHVH DQG
following choices: Either follow the law of Annual Peacemakers Dinner at the Red June 4 - 6 - The American-Arab Anti- American artists, at the City Council Art
the land and give the Census Bureau what Rock Chateau, Silverado Canyon, Orange Discrimination Committee (ADC) 30th Gallery, Long Beach, CA.
County, CA. For more information call Annual Convention, at The Washington
they’re looking for, or wait for a knock on
your door from a US Census employee, or
just go back home!
Do you have a burning question to
Ask The Arab? Send it to
Arab@TIMonitor.com
22 Visit www.TIMonitor.com COMMUNITY NEWS APRIL 2010 THE INDEPENDENT MONITOR
Lebanese Collegiate Network (LCN) hosts successful professional mixers
Michigan Mixer, completely blew that mindset out of the water,"
says Josephine Nicholas, one of the founders of
February 4, 2010 the charity event group PWAP. "Through events
The Lebanese American Heritage Club
like this, LCN is providing a great central
(LAHC) and the Lebanese Collegiate Network
location for Lebanese American students and
(LCN) hosted a Michigan Professional Mixer at
Alumni to meet, all the while encouraging
the BlackFinn Restaurant and Lounge in Royal
these professionals to do great things together
Oak on Thursday, February 4, 2010. Over 100
WKH YHU\ GH¿QLWLRQ RI QHWZRUNLQJ :LWKRXW
young professionals, leaders, board members,
the hard work of LAHC and LCN, active
corporate associates, and distinguished guests
involvement of our membership, and generous
attended the event. Represented professions
donations from our community, the event would
included engineering, law, real estate, medicine,
not have been possible. The LCN and LAHC
¿QDQFH DQG HQWHUWDLQPHQW
are grateful for all the support.
The event was sponsored by MA
Engineering (Mr. Salim Sessine), OneCare 2010 LCN Los Angeles
Pharmacy (Dr. Pierre Botros) and the Law Fundraiser Luncheon
2I¿FHV RI /DXULH 7DQQRXV 5DIÀH SUL]HV The Lebanese Collegiate Network
including two tickets to the May 7th LAHC hosted the 2010 LCN Los Angeles Fundraiser
Arab American Scholarship Foundation Gala Luncheon on Sunday, January 24th, 2010.
and two tickets to the May 8th LCN Fundraiser Over 100 people including 80 students and
were given to lucky guests. Four people 7 universities attended the event. More current LCN board members met with several The Lebanese Collegiate Network invites
received a voucher ($250 value) to enjoy an information can be found on the website. organizations in Lebanon to develop a strategic the Lebanese Community from Michigan to
evening at Lebanese Nights at Lapita Restaurant outreach plan. attend the 2010 LCN Michigan Fundraiser on
in Dearborn. CheckBox Graphics generously
Los Angeles Mixer, At one meeting, Pat Sislian, Sevag Sislian Saturday, May 8th, 2010. More information
donated three sets of business cards. November 5, 2009 and Rami Haddad met with Executive Director regarding this event can be found on the
“It is important that organizations such Alumni members attend LCN Professional John Kairouz, President Joseph Karam and website. For any Michigan related questions
as the LAHC and LCN join together to bring Mixers and Fundraisers which are planned Director Karim El-Jisr of the American Friends contact the Vice President of Public Relations
such events to the greater community,” stated throughout the year in different states, including of the Lebanon Mountain Trail (AFLMT) to Rami Haddad at RHaddad@myLCN.org
LAHC Executive Director Wassim Mahfouz. Michigan, LA, and DC. The LCN, National discuss current programs and organizational We know that nothing is possible without
To break the ice, guests were asked to write Arab American professionals (NAAP), and structures of both organizations. The meeting your active involvement and conviction in our
their hobby and profession on their badges LA Cedars Rotaract hosted an after-work explored avenues of collaboration such as mission. Please visit our website www.mylcn.
in place of their names. This helped to keep professional mixer at Green Door, Hollywood sharing the list of the US based university org today to fully capture the goals of the LCN
discussions lively throughout the evening. on November 5, 2009. Over 100 professionals Lebanese clubs, volunteer program, and and what we do to achieve them.
Special guests included Consul General of attended. assistance in professional mixers and The Lebanese Collegiate Network is a
Lebanon in Michigan, Mr. Bachir Tawk, and These efforts are geared towards creating a fundraisers. QRQSROLWLFDO QRQUHOLJLRXV DQG QRQSUR¿WDEOH
the reigning Miss Michigan, Rima Fakih. LCN sustainable alumni base to help our professional 2010 LCN Annual Convention organization aiming to connect and develop
President Serge Haddad and Secretary Lara and student membership further their careers. Lebanese collegiate clubs, students and
Saikali traveled all the way from California to The Alumni committee is recruiting members March 26-28 at alumni within the United States professionally
be a part of the mixer. Serge Haddad said "I am to join the team. Please contact Patrick Sislian UC Santa Barbara and academically. As a board, we have a
amazed at the level of commitment and passion at psislian@mylcn.org for more information. The Lebanese Collegiate Network invites vested interest in cultivating, creating, and
I see here in Michigan. It doesn’t matter if you LCN partners with organizations the Lebanese Community from Michigan conserving University Lebanese Clubs, as well
are a student or professional, the community to attend the 2010 LCN Annual Convention as supporting, connecting, and developing
here unites around heritage and culture. I can’t
in the USA and Overseas on March 26-28 2010 at the University students and alumni associated with these clubs.
The LCN is collaborating on various of California, Santa Barbara. The 2010 7KH /&1 LV DQ RI¿FLDO F 86 QRQ
wait for the LCN 2011 convention at Oakland
DFWLYLWLHV ZLWK QRQSUR¿W RUJDQL]DWLRQV VXFK LCN Convention aims to develop students SUR¿W RUJDQL]DWLRQ 'RQDWLRQV WR WKH /&1 DUH
University."
as the LA Cedars Rotary, Lebanon Mountain professionally and academically. More tax deductible.
Middle Eastern America TV & Radio and
Trail, National Arab American Professionals, information regarding this event can be found Mark You Calendar!
Arab Detroit were ensuring that night’s event
LebNET, House of Lebanon, Lebanese on the website. All convention related questions 1. LCN 2010 Convention, March 26-28 at the
was covered. "When you think networking
American Heritage Club, and Bader-Lebanon ZLOO EH ¿HOGHG E\ WKH 9LFH 3UHVLGHQW RI (YHQWV University of California, Santa Barbara
events, you may think boring, or that you're not
to provide activities, scholarships and job Thalia Jarjour at TJarjour@myLCN.org 2. LCN Michigan Fundraiser: Saturday, May
going to get any real or lasting value out of the
opportunities to its membership. Past and 8th, 2010.
HYHQW /&1
V ¿UVW <RXQJ 3URIHVVLRQDOV 0L[HU 2010 LCN Michigan Fundraiser
THE INDEPENDENT MONITOR APRIL 2010 BOYCOTT, DIVESTMENT, SANCTIONS Visit www.TIMonitor.com 23
“Family-friendly” community center
in Austin Texas hosts war criminal
[Protest, from Page 16] the premises immediately,' and then he called his
prohibiting use of such artillery near populated supervisor, it was very clear he had been told
DUHDV ,W DGGHG WKDW WKH RI¿FHUV ZKR VWLOO UXQ to be on the lookout for me and had my name
their previous posts, have been disciplined." memorized; he didn't go back to check a blacklist
(source: PressTV) or anything!"
As the lecture attendees left the JCC Austin, Protests across the country are increasing due
they were met with more protesters and more to the fact that the apartheid in Israel-Palestine is
signs such as "read the GOLDSTONE REPORT increasingly seen as a human rights issue and not
online" and "Stop Israeli Terrorism." an issue of religion or nationalism.
Protester Jeff Zavala stated "I believe that Gruber is is touring the country lecturing
the Palestinians under occupation are the single until late March to include Los Angeles, San
most oppressed people in the world today, that's Diego, Orange County, Santa Barbara; Ohio,
why I'm here tonight." Haithem El-Zabri, tried Michigan, Wisconsin, New York, New Jersey;
to attend the lecture and was turned away. "After Miami, Boca Raton, Fort Lauderdale, Tampa
the guard looked at my id, he said 'you are not Bay, Houston, and Washington D.C.
welcome here; you need to turn around and leave Reported by Gail Evelyn Alfar, Austin, Texas
Cindy and Craig Corrie Invite You!
Saturday, April 24, 2010
6:00 - 9:00 PM
"It Takes a Village to Save a Village"
Rebuilding Alliance Annual Peacemakers Dinner
at the
Red Rock Chateau
Silverado, Orange County, CA
Rebuilding Alliance
A U.S.-based nonprofit dedicated to
rebuilding war-torn communities
and making them safe.
Our vision is a just and enduring peace
in Israel and Palestine founded upon equal
value, security, and opportunity for all.
We are rebuilding Palestinian communities through
cooperative civic action that puts those affected at the
heart of the process. Please support our work:
Our guest speakers: West Bank: We built the kindergarten in Al Aqaba that
Cindy and Craig Corrie keeps their village standing despite demolition orders. Next,
The parents of Rachel Corrie, Board and Advisory Board members of the Rebuilding Alliance a birthing center and ambulance, the first in Area C.
Professor Richard Falk Gaza: We rebuilt a home for the Gaza family whom
U.N. Special Rapporteur on Palestinian Human Rights Rachel Corrie sought to protect, and continue rebuilding in
partnership with the Gaza Community Mental Health
Congressman Brian Baird (via video link) Programme. Next: a community center in Rafah designed
Visited Gaza and Israel 3 times in past year, a clear advocate for Palestinian and Israeli human rights
with local materials.
Tickets are $50 per person East Jerusalem: Working with Combatants for Peace,
Our Peacemakers Dinner is being donated by the Simaan Family, so 100% of your donation is tax deductible!!
Israeli former soldiers & Palestinian former fighters, we
Go to www.RebuildingAlliance.org to purchase tickets, reserve your table, & sponsor! build playgrounds in memory of a little girl killed by a
Questions? Call Mary Abu-Saba at (510) 205-1469 soldier’s rubber bullet, engaging Congress to make them safe.
Rebuilding Alliance 235 Alma Street Palo Alto CA 94301 (650) 325-4663 www.RebuildingAlliance.org EIN 56-2392452
24 Visit www.TIMonitor.com ADVERTISEMENT APRIL 2010 THE INDEPENDENT MONITOR
