Dr. Patrick Slattery’s News Roundup
A service of DavidDuke.com
From The Independent
Why is David Cameron so silent on the recapture of Palmyra from the clutches of Isis?
From The Daily Mail
Boris Johnson praises Putin for displaying ‘ruthless clarity to winkle the ISIS maniacs’ from Palmyra as he blasts the West’s ‘ineffective’ response to the Syria crisis
- Bashar al-Assad’s forces marched into Palmyra on Friday after ten months
- Assad said the recapture showed army’s success at fighting terrorism
- Russian President Vladimir Putin rang Assad to congratulate him
- State media confirmed that ISIS had been overthrown on Sunday
- Move clears the way for army to move into ISIS-stronghold Raqqa
- ISIS had the ancient city home to extensive Roman ruins since May 2015
- The terror organisation blew up many of the UNESCO ancient monuments
- Drone captures blood stains on the ground where ISIS held executions
- See more news from Syria at www.dailymail.co.uk/syria
Boris Johnson has praised Putin for his ‘ruthless clarity’ after Syrian forces, assisted by Russian troops, liberated the historic site if Palmyra from ISIS.
The Mayor of London said Vladimir Putin deserved credit for ‘winkling ISIS maniacs’ in their successful recapture of the desert site.
‘If Putin’s troops have helped winkle the maniacs from Palmyra, then (it pains me to admit) that is very much to the credit of the Russians,’ he wrote in his Daily Telegraph column.
Syrian government forces succeeded in driving ISIS fighters from Palmyra today and have vowed to next target the ISIS stronghold of Raqqa next, state media said.
Mr Johnson called on the British government to send archaeologists to help reconstruct the ancient city of Palmyra after parts of the site were destroyed by ISIS.
Much of the staggering amphitheatre in Palmyra appears to remain intact despite ISIS’s presence
A view of the historic archaeological site at Palmyra on the day it was recaptured by ISIS troops
From the Jewish Telegraphic Agency
Israel’s defense minister: Hebron shooter was ‘soldier gone bad, not a hero’
(JTA) — Israel’s defense minister has spoken out against lawmakers who are voicing support for the soldier caught on video shooting a prone Palestinian terrorist in the head last week.
On Monday, Moshe Yaalon told the Knesset that the investigation has determined that the fatal shooting on Thursday in Hebron was “a case of a soldier gone bad, not a hero,” the Times of Israel reported. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has defended the investigation.
From the Jewish Telegraphic Agency
Why 3 videos of a West Bank shooting are roiling Israel
TEL AVIV (JTA) — It began as an all-too-common story: A Palestinian assailant in the contested West Bank city of Hebron stabs and wounds an Israeli soldier. Israeli forces shoot him dead.
Hours after the incident Thursday, a political and moral firestorm engulfed Israel. A video showed a soldier executing the already incapacitated attacker. One day later, after condemnation from the highest reaches of Israel’s government, a second video appeared to show that the attacker might have still posed a threat. In response, the IDF released results of an investigation indicating the soldier was at fault. Then, a third video was released showing the soldier shaking hands with a far-right activist after the incident
The dueling views of the clash are the latest installments in a running debate over how far Israeli soldiers should go in responding to the ongoing wave of Palestinian knife attacks. The incident has raised questions about the Israel Defense Forces’ rules of engagement, how the army should treat soldiers who break protocol and — within Israeli society — the limits of criticism of the IDF.
Here’s what happened, how it’s played out and what it says about Israel’s response to the terror wave.
Click here for the full story
From the Jewish Telegraphic Agency
Jewish PAC endorses Hillary Clinton for president
WASHINGTON (JTA) — A Jewish political action committee endorsed Hillary Clinton for president and pledged to help get out the vote for her.
JACPAC cited Clinton’s work as secretary of state in trying to bring about Israeli-Arab peace and her embrace of pro-Israel positions, as well as her commitment to maintaining abortion rights.
“A Hillary Clinton presidency will be an important step to safeguarding JAC’s issues; the women’s vote will be critical to Hillary’s success and JAC will be working hard to get the vote out,” the group said in a statement.
Click here for the full story
From PressTV
No border with Turkey, no terrorists in Syria: Top Assad aide
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s political and media adviser says Turkey is solely to blame for the current crisis in Syria.
“This war was the work of Turkey, this is Turkish aggression against Syria,” Bouthaina Shaaban told RT from Damascus on Monday.
“If we did not have borders with Turkey exceeding on the extent of 860 kilometers, then all these terrorists coming from all corners of the world couldn’t get to Syria,” she said.
She noted that Turkey is the terrorists’ main “security checkpoint” and that for the past three years her government has been aware that Turkey’s secret service was in contact with Daesh.
“From the experience in our country, we knew and we received information that the convoys of oil tankers have been moving from Syria through Iraq and Kurdistan to Turkey,” she added. “Perhaps, then from Turkey to Europe.”
From PressTV
Civilian deaths fall to lowest level in over 4.5 years: Group
Civilian deaths in conflict-stricken Syria have dropped to the lowest monthly level in over four and a half years amid an ongoing truce that came into effect in the Arab country in February this year, a monitoring group says.
The so-called Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said on Sunday that 363 civilians, including 41 children, died in Syria in a one-month period since February 27.
The UK-based group further said that over 1,100 civilians, including 234 children, had been registered dead in the previous one-month span.
It added that the number of civilians killed in the latest one-month period has been the lowest since November 2011, when 296 civilians died eight months after the eruption of the crisis in Syria.
“The difference is huge. This is a very positive development,” Observatory chief Rami Abdel Rahman said.
The group also said that 637 government and allied fighters and 1,108 militants lost their lives in the one-month period.
Click here for the full story
From Russia Today
If US-led coalition really fought terrorism, Palmyra wouldn’t have fallen – Assad’s adviser to RT
Published time: 28 Mar, 2016 22:30
A general view taken on March 27, 2016 shows part of the ancient Syrian city of Palmyra, after government troops recaptured the UNESCO world heritage site from Islamic State (IS) group jihadists on March 27, 2016. © Maher Al Mounes / AFP
The US-led coalition that launched its air campaign in Syria a year ahead of Russia’s intervention “didn’t lift a finger” to prevent Islamic State terrorists from capturing Palmyra, Syrian President Bashar Assad’s political adviser Bouthaina Shaaban told RT. TrendsRussian anti-terror op in Syria, Syria unrest
A day after the ancient city of Palmyra was retaken by the Syrian forces, Shaaban told RT that the western coalition that started its operation in Syria in September 2014 only “pretended to fight terrorism,” but in fact “did nothing” to prevent terrorists from gaining ground.
“The satellites could have detected them [terrorists coming to Palmyra] and they could have launched an airstrike,” she noted, adding that apparently the coalition had not been “sincere in its attempts to eradicate terrorism.”
On the other hand, the call for a wider international coalition to fight terrorism voiced by Russian President Vladimir Putin is very important to Syria, Shaaban stressed, adding that Russia has proved the seriousness of its commitment.
“Those who really want to fight terrorism must respond to President Putin’s call and help the Syrian Arab Army and its allies such as Russia, Iran and Hezbollah,” she said.
Click here for the full story
From Russia Today
Criticism of IDF ‘outrageous’ – Netanyahu after soldier finishes off wounded Palestinian stabber
Published time: 28 Mar, 2016 03:02
Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu © Debbie Hill / Reuters
Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu has spoken out against any criticism of the Israeli Defense Force (IDF), despite the outrage over footage that emerged of an IDF soldier seemingly executing a prone and wounded Palestinian attacker.
“The soldiers of the IDF, our children, maintain high ethical values while courageously fighting against bloodthirsty murderers under difficult operational conditions. We must all support the IDF Chief-of-Staff, the IDF, and our soldiers, who safeguard our security,” Netanyahu said, as quoted by AP.
Click here for the full story
From Ynet News
Shapiro: US vigorously opposes BDS
US Ambassador Dan Shapiro rebukes BDS movement and states that the Obama administration is undertaking measures to carry out a ‘counter boycott’; he also says anti-BDS movement can strengthen its hand by reviving the peace process. US Ambassador to Israel Dan Shapiro rebuked the BDS movement and stated clearly that the US government strongly opposes its activities. “The United States of America vigorously opposes efforts to isolate or boycott Israel. We have demonstrated this commitment for decades and continue to devote substantial resources in our government to this fight. We consider it an extension of our longstanding commitment to fight any effort to delegitimize Israel,” he told Ynet and Yediot Ahronoth’s anti-BDS conference.
From the Jewish Telegraphic Agency
Polling shows Sanders, Clinton tied in high favorability among Jewish voters
WASHINGTON (JTA) — Democratic presidential candidates Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton have virtually the same high approval ratings among American Jews.
Gallup said in a March 24 article on its website that an aggregation of Jewish respondents to its daily polling showed Jewish voters favor Sanders, an Independent Vermont senator, at 61 percent favorable, and Clinton, a former secretary of state, at 60 percent.
Sanders’ unfavorable ratings are 30 percent and Clinton’s are 35 percent.
Click here for the full story
From PressTV
Syria can restore Palmyra in five years: Official
Syria’s director general of antiquities and museums says the country can restore the ruins of ancient city of Palmyra, which were damaged by the Daesh Takfiri militants, in five years.
“If we have UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation)’s approval, we will need five years to restore the structures damaged or destroyed by IS (Daesh),” Ma’amoun Abdulkarim said on Monday.
He noted that Syria has qualified experts and knowledge in the field and that his department can start the restoration of the structures in a year.
“Eighty percent of the ruins are in good shape. My expert colleagues arrive today in Palmyra. I have asked them to assess the stones and the old city. They are taking pictures of the damage and documenting everything, and then the restoration can begin,” Abdulkarim added.
His remarks came a day after Syrian forces liberated Palmyra in the west-central Homs Province, inflicting heavy losses on Daesh militants.
From Russia Today
Don’t speak German? No residency: Berlin says refugees must integrate in order to stay
Published time: 28 Mar, 2016 21:13
© Fabrizio Bensch / Reuters
Refugees in Germany could lose their permanent right to residency if they fail to learn German and integrate into society – that is, if a new draft law proposed by German Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere is put into practice.
Around one million asylum seekers arrived in Germany in 2015,according to government officials, while de Maiziere believes a further 100,000 have arrived in the country since the New Year. Germany is seen as an attractive destination for refugees due to its perceived generous benefits schemes. However, the German interior minister says he wants to see refugees contributing to society.
“For those who refuse to learn German, for those who refuse to allow their relatives to integrate – for instance women or girls – for those who reject job offers: for them, there cannot be an unlimited settlement permit after three years,” he told ARD television, as cited by Reuters.
Click here for the full story
From Russia Today
Over 50 militants cross Turkish border to join Al-Nusra in Syria – MoD
Published time: 28 Mar, 2016 19:02
File photo: Members of al Qaeda’s Nusra Front. © Khalil Ashawi / Reuters
Al-Nusra militant groups in Syria have received reinforcement with over 50 militants and three vehicles loaded with ammunition supplies that reportedly crossed the border “from the territory of Turkey,” a Russian defense ministry statement said, citing local witnesses.
The reinforcements have arrived to Anadan city near Aleppo, the information bulletin from the Russian Center for Reconciliation in Syria, published by Russian Defense Ministry on Monday, said. The statement cited witness reports made by local residents.
Click here for the full story
From the Jewish Telegraphic Agency
Controversial law on suspending Knesset members passes first reading
(JTA) — A controversial bill that enables Knesset members to vote to suspend colleagues passed its first reading.
The measure passed by a vote of 59-52 on Monday night, the Times of Israel reported. It must pass two more readings before becoming law.
Under the legislation, Knesset members could be suspended if they “negate the existence of the State of Israel as a Jewish and democratic state,” incite racism, or express support for a terror group or state in its war against Israel, according to the Times of Israel.
Click here for the full story
From the Jewish Telegraphic Agency
Op-Ed: Israel is wrong to uproot Arab-Bedouin citizens to make room for Jews
JERUSALEM (JTA) — Few stories illustrate the unfeeling and aggressive attitude of the Israeli government toward the Arab-Bedouin population of the Negev as well as the case of Atir-Umm al-Hiran.
The residents of this unrecognized Bedouin village in southern Israel were transferred there from their original homes, on the lands of Kibbutz Shoval, by direct order of the military governor of the Negev in 1956. For the past 60 years, they have lived in a sort of legal limbo: their rights to the land have never been recognized, they have no school and no access to state or municipal services.
The roughly 1,000 Bedouin in Atir-Umm al-Hiran have watched longingly as new Jewish arrivals in the area were quickly connected to the power grid while they continue to live without electricity and running water.
Now the state is threatening to uproot them again, demolishing their homes to make room for a new Jewish town on the lands where the residents of Umm al-Hiran are now living. A group of Orthodox Jews designated to make their homes in the town already are living in nearby caravans. And yes, they have water and electricity.
Click here for the full story
From the Jewish Telegraphic Agency
At Israel’s mikvahs, women claim verbal abuse and unwanted touching
JERUSALEM (JTA) — Without warning, the ritual bath attendant pulled off Naava Shafner’s towel. She was standing, naked, in front of a woman she didn’t know. Then the attendant began interrogating her.
Shafner had gone to a ritual bath, or mikvah, regularly since she married in 2010. Under Jewish law, Orthodox women are required to immerse in the mikvah following menstruation and before resuming sexual relations. Women must be fully bare when immersing, including jewelry. To ensure that women comply, female attendants supervise all of Israel’s government-funded mikvahs.
During the 2013 encounter, which occurred in the central city of Beit Shemesh, the attendant demanded that Shafner take off an irremovable earring. After stripping off Shafner’s towel, the attendant called a local rabbi and initially demanded Shafner go home without immersing. After 15 minutes of arguing, Shafner was allowed to immerse.
It wasn’t the first time Shafner had been mistreated by a mikvah attendant. Attendants had touched her without asking, invasively examined her body and forcibly scrubbed her nails. As a survivor of sexual abuse, she found the incidents particularly traumatizing.
Click here for the full story
From the Jewish Telegraphic Agency
Student says viral rant at Uber driver a reaction to anti-Semitic insult
(JTA) — A University of Michigan student who was caught on video yelling a torrent of profanities at an Uber driver says he was responding to anti-Semitic remarks.
Jake Croman, who is Jewish, is being investigated by school administrators and his fraternity after the video was shown on YouTube. It has had nearly 350,000 views since it was posted March 23, three days after the incident.
Croman is the son of multimillionaire New York real estate developer Steven Croman, who is being investigated by the New York State attorney general for allegedly using illegal tactics to pressure rent-stabilized tenants into vacating their apartments, according to the New York Daily News.
From Russia Today
Sex segregation: German train operator to introduce ‘women only’ carriages
Published time: 28 Mar, 2016 18:05
© Kim Hong-Ji / Reuters
A central German train operator is launching ‘women and children only’ carriages on one of its services in a bid to help women feel safer.
The Mitteldeutsche Regiobahn (MRB) will introduce two specialized compartments on all trains on its Leipzig to Chemnitz service in the coming weeks.
The dedicated carriages for single women and mothers with children will be located in the central carriage next to quiet zones and the train conductor, Die Welt reports.
The proximity of these carriages to customer service is a conscious decision, an MRB spokesperson told Süddeutsche Zeitung, to help female passengers feel safer while traveling by rail.
Although some social media users have suggested otherwise, the company says the controversial move is not a reaction to an increase in reported incidents of sexual harassment and assault in Germany, but is instead aimed at increasing security for women in general.
Click here for the full story
