This is a cartoon of an Israeli lion coming to rescue the cub from the clutches of Hamas. That is not a correct depiction in case one is 'nit-picking.' As a rule the male lions only protect their territory of females. Unless a cub is their own they rarely tolerate it's presence and I don't know that they would ever go through the trouble of rescuing one so much as simply engaging in procreation of one. I do find the use of a lion in the context of an Arab cartoon more than interesting, especially considering we know for a fact Israelis don't like to be toyed with when it comes to taking hostages; ie: Southern Lebanon. Yikes ! The 'spin' of Cleric Nasrallah really isn't the reality he should be teaching those folks. At any rate...
25 June 2007: B'Tselem: Hamas must secure Gilad Shalit’s release immediately
On 25 June 2006, a band of eight armed Palestinians crossed from the Gaza Strip into Israeli territory, near Kibbutz Kerem Shalom, and attacked an army post and tank. During the ensuing battle, two members of the band – Muhammad Farwaneh and Hamed a-Rantisi – and two Israeli soldiers – Hanan Barak and Pavel Slutzker – were killed. The soldier Gilad Shalit, who was in the tank at the time of the attack, was abducted by the band and taken, apparently wounded, to the Gaza Strip....
On 25 June 2006, a band of eight armed Palestinians crossed from the Gaza Strip into Israeli territory, near Kibbutz Kerem Shalom, and attacked an army post and tank. During the ensuing battle, two members of the band – Muhammad Farwaneh and Hamed a-Rantisi – and two Israeli soldiers – Hanan Barak and Pavel Slutzker – were killed. The soldier Gilad Shalit, who was in the tank at the time of the attack, was abducted by the band and taken, apparently wounded, to the Gaza Strip....
Al-Qaida No 2 leader urges Hamas to implement Islamic Sharia rule in Gaza; incites anti-American and anti-Israeli attacks (click here)
The Associated Press
Monday, June 25, 2007
The Associated Press
Monday, June 25, 2007
CAIRO, Egypt: Al-Qaida's deputy leader called on Muslims around the world to back Hamas with weapons, money and attacks on U.S. and Israeli interests in a Web audiotape Monday, urging the Palestinian militant group to unite with al-Qaida's "holy warriors" after its takeover of Gaza.
The message from Ayman al-Zawahri, who is Osama bin Laden's top deputy, marked a major shift by al-Qaida, which in the past criticized Hamas for joining a government with the U.S.-supported Fatah faction.
The audiotape was clearly made after Hamas' takeover of Gaza earlier this month, marking a rapid response from al-Qaida's top leadership to the events. Its authenticity could not be independently confirmed, but it was posted on a Web forum where al-Zawahri has issued messages in the past.
Al-Zawahri urged Hamas to implement Islamic law in Gaza, telling it, "Taking over power is not a goal but a means to implement God's word on earth."
"Unite with mujahedeen (holy warriors) in Palestine ... and with all mujahedeen in the world in the face of the upcoming attack where Egyptians and Saudis are expected to play part of it," he added, suggesting that the two countries intend to attack Hamas to uproot its control of Gaza.
"Provide them (Hamas) with money, do your best to get it there, break the siege imposed on them by crusaders and Arab leader traitors," al-Zawahri, who is Osama bin Laden's top deputy, said, addressing Muslims around the world. "Facilitate weapons smuggling from neighboring countries."...
"We can support them by targeting the crusader and Zionist interest wherever we can," al-Zawahri said.
The 25-minute tape, al-Zawahri's seventh released this year, was posted on the same day Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak was hosting a summit in the Red Sea resort town of Sharm el-Sheik as a show of support for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas of Fatah. Along with Mubarak and Abbas, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Jordan's King Abdullah II are also attending the meeting....
The message from Ayman al-Zawahri, who is Osama bin Laden's top deputy, marked a major shift by al-Qaida, which in the past criticized Hamas for joining a government with the U.S.-supported Fatah faction.
The audiotape was clearly made after Hamas' takeover of Gaza earlier this month, marking a rapid response from al-Qaida's top leadership to the events. Its authenticity could not be independently confirmed, but it was posted on a Web forum where al-Zawahri has issued messages in the past.
Al-Zawahri urged Hamas to implement Islamic law in Gaza, telling it, "Taking over power is not a goal but a means to implement God's word on earth."
"Unite with mujahedeen (holy warriors) in Palestine ... and with all mujahedeen in the world in the face of the upcoming attack where Egyptians and Saudis are expected to play part of it," he added, suggesting that the two countries intend to attack Hamas to uproot its control of Gaza.
"Provide them (Hamas) with money, do your best to get it there, break the siege imposed on them by crusaders and Arab leader traitors," al-Zawahri, who is Osama bin Laden's top deputy, said, addressing Muslims around the world. "Facilitate weapons smuggling from neighboring countries."...
"We can support them by targeting the crusader and Zionist interest wherever we can," al-Zawahri said.
The 25-minute tape, al-Zawahri's seventh released this year, was posted on the same day Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak was hosting a summit in the Red Sea resort town of Sharm el-Sheik as a show of support for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas of Fatah. Along with Mubarak and Abbas, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Jordan's King Abdullah II are also attending the meeting....
I believe the reality of Hamas is enough to make the argument that the Middle East at this point in history is not condusive to democracy or democratic processes. I believe also where democracy is advocated there needs to be an examination of human rights abuses long before any democratic principles are applied to leadership. Hamas should have taught a lesson to the region in a very big way. While there are some that believe Hamas was right to overthrow Fatah, the leadership primarily is exhibiting loyalty to Abbas as a course of peace process. That in the long run will prove to set the stage for more than just human rights but rights of women and children. In citing The Jordan Times for this entry at the title, I recognize that the King of Jordan and the President of Egypt have always been men of peace and those that have risked reprisal for it. As a matter of fact, Amman and Sham-el-Sheikh suffered for it's peace process.
With al Qaeda advocating for extremism by Hamas there is no doubt 'democracy' is a priority for them to allow legitimate control of nuclear weapons. Realizing that is to realize how poorly prepared any Bush agenda for the Middle East actually reflects the needed stability of the region. Democracy cannot and should not be a priority for any USA administration. It has to come from within the country in a form of Constitutional change which provides for peace, security and stability with any change in leadership in any Arab country. The process Hamas went through took years, but, they managed to attempt a coup as soon as they felt they could succeed. What other evidence to we need regarding this misdirected agenda of the Bush White House?
