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Calgary Herald: Sneak Peak: "Tomorrow: More of the same in Middle East” (25/08/2010) “George Will writes about the dangerous mirage of Mideast peace negotiations."
Jewish Tribune: John C. Thompson: "The new world expansion of Hezbollah" (25/08/2010) "In the last 15 years, Hezbollah – on its own and as a proxy of Iran – rapidly expanded beyond the Middle East. Its recent entry into the cocaine trade makes it more dangerous yet. Like al-Qaeda, Hezbollah’s ideology seeks the supremacy of Shari’a law and the global exultation of Islam. It seeks to supplant corrupt local governments, destroy Israel and defeat the United States. Hezbollah is capable of cooperating with Sunni terrorists against common enemies."
Macleans: Isabel Vincent: "Lula’s surprising legacy" (25/08/2010) “Earlier this year, Brazil plunged into the Iranian nuclear debate. Lula warned the U.S. that sanctions on Iran over its nuclear program could lead to war. “We don’t want to repeat in Iran what happened in Iraq,” he said. Brazil’s powerful multinational oil company Petrobras has made important inroads in Iran during Lula’s two terms in office. At the same time, he’s forging strong ties with Israel. He is the first Brazilian leader to visit that country, and wants to be considered a peacemaker in the region.” Send a letter to the editorSubmit a comment online
Xtra: Scott Dagostino: "Gladstone to run for Toronto city council" (25/08/2010) "Gay lawyer and Jewish advocate Martin Gladstone is throwing his hat into the Toronto city council race as a candidate in Ward 32 Beaches-East York but not, he says, for the reason you might think. As the creator of Reclaiming Our Pride, a documentary film condemning the parade’s inclusion of protest group Queers Against Israeli Apartheid, Gladstone led the charge against Pride Toronto, backed by mayoral candidates Rob Ford and Giorgio Mammoliti." Post a comment online
GlobeandMail.ca: Reuters: "Sewing the seeds of peace in the holy land:" (25/08/2010) “American football, not the most genteel of sports, is proving to be an unlikely force in bringing together Israelis and Palestinians. Nationals from the two territories, who have been in conflict for years, have formed the Judean Rebels, a squad that practises and plays American football every week on a field in Jerusalem.” Submit a comment online
CBC Radio’s The Current: Nancy Wilson: "Wiki-Wars" (25/08/2010) “… Wikipedia has become a go-to source for basic information about just about anything. Wikipedia has also become a free-fire zone in the battle of ideas … and an increasingly important tool for people who want to shift public opinion about an issue. It has made headlines in Ottawa. It has dragged government workers into the fray. And it has become an issue in the campaign to be Toronto’s next Mayor. But in the West Bank, Israeli settlers have really embraced the practice… some are now taking courses on how to make sure their message gets heard in Wikipedia entries. The classes are sponsored by the Yesha Council, an umbrella group that represents Israeli settlers. Naftali Bennett is the council’s Executive Director. He’s also a former Chief of Staff to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. And he was in Jerusalem.” Listen to report onlineSend comments to The Current
National Post: Matt Gurney: "Postal workers scared of ice and birds, but not Israeli Navy" (25/08/2010) "The union (CUPW) has endorsed a plan to join with the Canadian Boat to Gaza organizers to deliver mail to the Gaza Strip. This is, apparently, to protest the recent disruption of mail delivery to the Gaza Strip. Mail delivery has been spotty for years, both Palestinian and Israeli sources agree, but has recently gotten worse after the arrest of Sufian Abu-Zubda, the Palestinian Authority official responsible for co-ordinating delivery from Israel into the Palestinian territories. A replacement for Abu-Zubda is expected to be named soon and that will, presumably, help matters. But that’s not good enough for Canada’s postal union. Union bosses want to send postcards to Gaza, right away. Right through the Israeli Navy, if necessary. Hmm…actually, not if necessary. They absolutely want to send it right through the blockade. How else to score political points against Israel?” Submit a comment online
National Post: George Will: "The reality is on Israel’s plate" (25/08/2010) “’Twas a famous victory for diplomacy when, in 1991 in Madrid, Israelis and Palestinians, orchestrated by the United States, at last engaged in direct negotiations. Almost a generation later, U.S. policy has succeeded in prodding the Palestinians away from their recent insistence on “proximity talks” — in which they have talked to the Israelis through American intermediaries — and to direct negotiations. But negotiations about what?” Submit a letter to the editor
Globe and Mail: Prakash Shah/Ramesh Thakur: "The Sunni factor in Iran’s nuclear calculus" (25/08/2010) “The United States, no more but no less than other states, tends to make self-centred assessments of other countries’ policies. This is one reason it missed the Iran factor as the most likely explanation for Saddam Hussein’s deliberate ambiguity about a “weapons of mass destruction” capability. Washington may be committing a similar error with respect to Iran’s nuclear motives. In projecting the threat from a potential nuclear Iran to Israel, the West keeps open the last resort possibility of a pre-emptive Israeli attack on Iran. Tehran’s security concerns and its quest for nuclear weapons may be aimed as much at meeting the Sunni
Mike is the Executive Director of HonestReporting Canada and is responsible for the day-to-day running of the organization, its financial management and project development. A seventeen-year veteran of the Canadian journalism industry, Mike was a former editor-in-chief, reporter, and anchor of various news programs and publications. Mike's focus is on delivering efficiency and professionalism as HRC moves into new technological and geographical spheres. Mike is a human rights expert and a frequent on-air commentator. His work has been published in the Globe and Mail, the National Post, Toronto Star, CBC News and more.
