Netanyahu wants Pollard in exchange for settlement freeze??

What?

I'll say it again. WHAT???

Settlements were a topic in the peace talks. They were considered a precondition at one point. Now, Netanyahu wants to free a spy who was jailed by the US for spying on us on a grand scale before he will halt illegal settlement building. For a few more months. Then who knows what he'll demand.

In a universe where truth and justice were important, the deal would be: Israel, stop building settlements (and other illegal activity) and remove all Israelis from Occupied Territory or lose all financial benefits from us. In the Middle East, it's Israel's game, not one involving truth or justice- quite the opposite. They make the rules. They are above the rules and laws.


http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/sep/20/israel-spy-release-settlement-freeze


http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/21/world/middleeast/21israel.html?_r=1


Guess he doesn't care about Shalit anymore. Crazy. Sometimes I don't know whether an authoritarian regime like Iran is talking or Netanyahu when I hear some of the things he comes up with. This has got to be one of the most absurd stall tactics I've seen yet.

I mean, why does Netanyahu need a concession from us?? I thought we were the mediators of peace between Israel and Palestinians. They should be giving us stuff. Isn't that the way a bribe works? And what in the world does Jonathan Pollard have to do with Middle East peace?? That guy should be walking on eggshells with all the violations of international law and human rights Israel has committed, not making outrageous demands! I guess it shows us how certain that 2 or 4 billion dollars per year to Israel is. If they actually succeed in getting absolutely anywhere- concession, acknowledgment, anything but a big fat NO WAY- on this Pollard thing, we might as well pack up and go home. We will have proven totally ineffective and detrimental to the process.

The infamous quote might just be true if Israel can make such wild demands of the mediator, be in violation of law with no consequences, and still be guaranteed loads of money:

"every time we do something you tell me Americans will do this and will do that. I want to tell you something very clear, don't worry about American pressure on Israel, we, the Jewish people control America, and the Americans know it."

Sabra and Shatila/ Mossad posing as US intelligence

Two ADC reports, one about the atrocity 28 years ago and one more about crazy, rampant, ignored Israeli spying:




28 Years Later, Sabra and Shatila Remembered

Washington, DC | www.adc.org | September 16, 2010 — Today, Sept. 16, marks the 28th anniversary of one of the bloodiest and most brutal massacres of our time. On Sept. 16, 1982, shortly after Israeli troops seized control of west Beirut, the right-wing Lebanese militia forces operating under the direction of Israeli forces massacred over one thousand defenseless men, women and children in the Sabra and Shatila Palestinian refugee camps.

During the massacre, Israeli troops were in full control of the area in which the Sabra and Shatila camps are located. They allowed the militias into the camps, prevented refugees from fleeing for their lives, and lit the night sky with a continuous series of flares as the killing raged for almost 3 days. The Israeli government‘s own commission of inquiry into the affair, the Kahan Commission, found that Israel was responsible for the massacre. Senior Israeli officials who were found responsible for the massacre continued to hold high governmental and political posts in Israel. Ariel Sharon, who directed the 1982 Israeli attack on Lebanon, was forced to resign after the Commission concluded that he bore personal responsibility for the massacre, and should never hold public office again; in 2001 Ariel Sharon became a prime minister. General Amos Yaron, commander of the Israeli occupying forces in the Lebanese capital of Beirut during the massacre, became a director-general of the Israeli Defense Ministry.

Palestinians who survived are still haunted by the memories of the massacre. The untreated wounds are still open, and questions of why no one has been punished are still unanswered.

Sara Najjar-Wilson, President of the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC), said “The Sabra and Shatila massacre demonstrates the tragedy of the Palestinian refugees, who have been dispossessed from their homeland for over 62 years. This tragedy is an example of the need for a just settlement of the refugee issue based on the Right of Return, which is enshrined for all refugees in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the Fourth Geneva Convention. The Right of Return of the Palestinian Refugees, as specifically addressed in UN Resolution 194, should be implemented.”

See Related Article:
28 Years After the Massacre at Sabra-Shatila by Dr. Franklin Lamb



****************************************************************************



Grave Concern Regarding Israeli Intelligence in the U.S.

Washington, DC | www.adc.org | September 7, 2010 - The American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) expresses grave concern over allegations that Israeli Intelligence agents are targeting Arab and Muslim Americans, posing as U.S. Federal Agents. The activity was recently reported in a Washington Post Article by Jeff Stein. Such activity will have a negative impact on the trust between Arab and Muslim Americans with the U.S. Federal Government. ADC calls on the Department of Justice, Department of State, and other appropriate Federal agencies to thoroughly investigate any instances of individuals, including foreign nationals, falsely identifying themselves as a U.S. government official.

ADC reminds community members, citizens and non-citizens, that you are entitled to have an attorney present in the event someone who identifies himself or herself as a government official and approaches you for questioning. You do not have to answer any question, and your refusal to answer cannot be used against you. You do not have to allow agents to enter your home without a warrant. If the agent claims to have a warrant please demand to see it. Further, please ask to see the credentials of the government official, ask the agent’s name and a business card, and call the FBI Field Office and ask for verification.

ADC will continue to monitor these reports. If you or someone you know has been approached by anyone identifying himself or herself as a government official, but you suspect or question the identity of such official, please feel free to contact the ADC Legal Department at 202-244-2990, or legal@adc.org.

ADC Research Institute (ADC-RI) | www.adc.org
1732 Wisconsin Ave., NW | Washington, DC | 20007
Tel: 202-244-2990 | Fax: 202-333-3980 | E-mail: media@adc.org

Killing one bird with several stones...

I apologize for so many links, but on a story like this, you’re going to have to read from more than one angle to get any real details or anything that makes sense.

Edit: I apologize as well for not telling you what this post is about! There was a murder of a Hamas man in Dubai. About 4 actually did the deed. Apparently a cloud of 6-12 Israeli dual citizens have fake passport troubles (and may have helped in surveillance and other ways) in relation to this case.

Several birds, one stone
http://weekly.ahram.org.eg/2010/984/re63.htm
(Interesting and plausible idea that Israel is trying to provoke militants- Israel can claim they weren’t involved in this and so the attack would be “unprovoked” – little, tiny, innocent Israel remains the eternal victim)

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1150126.html

http://www.jpost.com/Israel/Article.aspx?id=168902

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/8518481.stm

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/35426268/ns/world_news-mideastn_africa/


I wonder what the US response to this blow up will be? Hmm…

A) Not our problem. No comment. We’ve got an economic crisis to take care of.
(Look how little was done about the non-violent American protester, Rachel Corrie, the IDF killed, not to mention we can't really criticize the extra judicial killing of people we deem terror suspects given our current foreign entanglements)

B) Nothing publicly, but to Israel we tell them they’d better keep this stuff more secret because it has the potential to make us look really bad (like they care- we always assume they do)

C) A public statement that our position remains that both sides must take (keep taking) steps to achieve peace.


Mossad has to be responsible. They have targeted political leaders and those working on a peace deal for murder in the past. Look at who the victim is. Not exactly spotless. There's no question Mossad is involved.

Evidence is also said to point to a "European hit squad." I guess it could be a weapons deal gone wrong, but a Palestinian in weapons has an Israeli target on the back of his head from day 1. Israel will know where he is and want him dead, so I have no doubt that Mossad offed him. Intervening or aiding a weapons deal gone wrong would have provided the perfect cover, but the ID theft thing appears to be the cover. The independent European hit squad is highly questionable. I think either Mossad is the European hit squad, they formed the hit squad or they teamed up with them to do this hit. The Mossad has a hand (or at least a listening device) in everything.

Some will think I've lost it for saying Mossad is everywhere and sayanim help them stay (or appear) inside the law. It sounds unreal and conspiratorial, I know. If you’ve read anything about past Mossad operations, though, Ostrovsky’s book or accounts of Mossad encounters from US government officials, you’ll know I’m not delusional!


Here are a few ideas for possible explanations I had when I read about the faked passports:

“Stolen” identities

• The ID theft victims are sayanim and actually volunteered their old passports
• Members of the stolen identity victims’ families are sayanim and gave passports without the knowledge of the ID theft victims
• Mossad stole dual citizens’ (old?) passports
• If the identity theft victims are actually involved (Mossad ends up being not as amateur as they are looking) with Mossad in more than just a sayanim or helper capacity.

Here are my ideas on …

Why Mossad got caught:

• They aren’t as good as they used to be in the pre-1980s era
• They wanted to be caught on camera for some reason (i.e. to help with an ID theft conviction )
• They don’t care if they’re caught because, honestly, no one can or will really do anything about it
• It’s harder to fake passports than it used to be
• The ID theft victims are actually involved somehow, but that’s how the Mossad plans to get out of trouble- let some (possibly disgruntled or less than perfect) agents take the fall for ID theft rather than admit to being caught assassinating another Palestinian political or military “target” without charge or trial and committing illegal acts on foreign soil.
  

Several of the ID theft victims have spoken to the media. Laying the groundwork for the ID theft story. I wonder if what they say will shed any light on the situation. Probably not. They'll get whacked if they say anything useful. Or suffer the fate of Mordecai Vanunu.


Melvyn Adam Mildiner is widely mentioned and quoted:

"I don't know how this happened or who chose my name or why, but hopefully we'll find out soon,"

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20100216/od_uk_nm/oukoe_uk_uae_hamas_israel


There are apparently at least 3 other dual citizens in Mildiner’s position: Michael Lawrence Barney and Stephen Hodes.


My blog posts about Israel spying and assassinating and such:


http://notanotherpoliticalblog-j.blogspot.com/2009/10/israel-doesnt-spy-on-us.html

http://notanotherpoliticalblog-j.blogspot.com/2009/10/another-israeli-spy.html

http://notanotherpoliticalblog-j.blogspot.com/2008/04/american-accused-of-giving-nuclear.html


A Mossad hit from two years ago- not sure I wrote about this one:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-514130/Did-Mossad-blow-Hezbollah-Master-Terrorist-kidnapped-Terry-Waite.html



You may remember other Mossad antics:

Lillehammer- oops we extra-judicially assassinated the wrong guy

The New Zealand passport debacle. NZ took it harder than the US does.

Israeli "art students" who got caught on Capitol Hill snooping in classified material. Oops.

Israel doesn't spy on us

Israel's espionage history
http://www.al-awda.org/israelsespionagehistory/

This appears to be a bad link, so here's something that may be similar.

A Long History: Israeli Espionage Against the US
http://www.counterpunch.org/husseini08302004.html

The author of this one also wrote a book that might be interesting:
Breaking the "Unwritten Rule" in Israeli Espionage
http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2008/04/22/couricandco/entry4035870.shtml



These are some older links below. You may remember the Israeli art student debacle where they got caught snoping in classified material and the New Zealand situation, among others.


From an old post on an old blog (of mine):

In this link from 2004, it says Lebanon busted an Israeli spy ring.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/3726307.stm

AIPAC Espionage Case Dismissal Gambit Fails
http://www.antiwar.com/orig/gsmith.php?articleid=9517

FBI looks at Pentagon worker in Israel spy probe
http://cnn.org/2004/US/08/28/fbi.spy/index.html

Iran arrests 'spy' faking nuclear company
http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200412/s1256868.htm

Israeli Art Student Mystery
http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2002/05/07/students/index.html

Israeli Diplomat, Spy Suspect Met
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/08/27/national/main639143.shtml

'Mossad spies' jailed over New Zealand passport fraud
http://www.guardian.co.uk/israel/Story/0,,1262362,00.html



Breaking the Taboo on Israel's Spying Efforts on the United States
http://www.alternet.org/story/130891

The Spy Who Loves Us
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article20065.htm



More links- mostly with the Franklin/Jane Harmon/ Rosen/ AIPAC stuff:

http://whatreallyhappened.com/WRHARTICLES/themorus.php?q=themorus.php

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lawrence_Franklin_espionage_scandal


Justice Department Aborts Attempt to Hold AIPAC to U.S. Law
http://www.reuters.com/article/pressRelease/idUS147728+22-Apr-2009+PRN20090422

The AIPAC/Rosen spy issues continue to 2009:Why Steve Rosen is Suing AIPAC
http://dissidentvoice.org/2009/04/why-steve-rosen-is-suing-aipac/



And a post already on this blog:
My post on last year’s Kadish arrest--
http://notanotherpoliticalblog-j.blogspot.com/2008/04/american-accused-of-giving-nuclear.html

Another Israeli spy...

I’ll start with a book suggestion for more info on Israel and their nuclear history (and our reaction of lack thereof) and to some extent spying - The Samson Option by Seymour Hersh.

For spying, I’d suggest By Way of Deception by Victor Ostrovsky. Critics of critics of Israel have numerous criticisms and reasons why this is bogus, but if you read (or search for yourself) the part where Israel tries to prevent the publishing by legal and other channels, you begin not to know whom to believe. And that may well have been Plan B- discrediting it if it does get published. Kind of like when former government officials resign and say a few things the administration wanted to keep a lid on, they find some dirt or other way to discredit him so we’ll forget about what was revealed due to our (intentionally planted) doubts about veracity.



Back to the spy headline of the week, Stewart Nozette…

My question upon hearing this was why the investigation if Israel’s not implicated? They had to know or suspect something in order to decide to pose as Mossad and recruit him. I guess they couldn't go after Israel with the info from the sting, but to draw from that that Israel doesn't spy on us or wasn't involved is rather ridiculous. I find it hard to believe (well, maybe not so much…) that he and others that have top secret info that get tangled up in situations like this go waving it around and soliciting Israelis to give it to. I am quite sure (or hope) that these people intend to honor their agreement and terms of security clearance with our government, but are lured by the various persuasive ( and coercive?) tactics of the Mossad.


http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/10/19/stewart-nozette-picture-s_n_326447.html

This article did detail why the FBI decided to pose as Mossad and why Nozette.

“The complaint does not allege that the government of Israel or anyone acting on
its behalf violated U.S. law. In Jerusalem, Israeli government officials had no
immediate comment.”

http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1931321,00.html

The Time article had the concise explanation on why the FBI posed as Mossad:

“But around 2006 or so, investigators became suspicious that Nozette was
secretly working for a foreign government…”

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/us_and_americas/article6883118.ece

“A complaint filed at the US District Court in Washington does not accuse Israel
of spying, and senior Israeli government officials insisted yesterday that their
country did not conduct espionage activities in friendly states.”

Yeah, Israel doesn’t conduct espionage activities in friendly states and Dimona is a textile factory!

For those of you who may not know, Dimona is the (or a major?) site of Israel’s nuclear weapons research and or manufacture, which they insisted for decades was a textile factory; they didn’t have any nukes. Their denial of the nukes is much like their insistence today that they do everything possible to minimize casualties in the Occupied Territories.

This article lists Pollard and Kadish at the end- they were convicted. I can think of numerous other situations in this country and other “friendly states” where Israel was implicated, suspected, etc. I expect most of those get thrown out. We wouldn’t want to prove Israel wrong on the no spying on friendly states assertion, would we? That wouldn’t be friendly.

*************************

"Alan (an Israeli Mossad agent) told us that he had many friends in the U. S. intelligence, 'But I always remember the most important thing. When I am sitting with my friend...he's not sitting with his friend.'"

"They (people) don't understand that the Mossad regards the whole world outside Israel as a target, including Europe and the United States."

- "By Way of Deception" by Victor Ostrovsky, ex-Mossad agent.

*************************

American accused of giving nuclear secrets to Israel

http://www.reuters.com/article/newsOne/idUSKRA25614320080422

My first reaction is AGAIN?!! Any other country that does this to us (or keeps doing so) does not have such good relations with us. Spying and stealing secrets generally affects our relationship negatively with any country...except Israel. We keep coming back for more. We give an inch ... and , well, you know the rest. They are the little kid that keeps testing their parents' boundaries.

This quote I found particularly funny:

a senior Israeli defense official said "I find it hard to believe that, after the Pollard affair, we would recruit an American spy."

I LOL'ed. ROTFL, et al. Recruiting Americans to give info to Israel? Hard to believe?? What? This happens all the time. It's probably happening right now, as I write. Not all are as high profile as Pollard or this guy who got caught recently. The Mossad recruits tons of American Jews to do things to help Israel inside the US, whether it's set up a fake storefront to facilitate surveillance or actually pass classified material, it happens all the time. So, hard to believe? No. Not at all. Not that they'll admit it anytime soon. Until recently, they still referred to the facility at Dimona as the textile factory, long after the world knew the nukes were actually made and stored there.