Hatem A

While there is an average of one synagogue for every 700 Jews, the 5000 Muslim residents of Beersheba are not allowed to pray in their old mosque.

Can you count the number of times the congress members gave a standing applause to Netanyahu? I counted 18 times. I do not remember seeing the US congress more unanimous on any issue like this one. I am sure the American people are not that unanimous on any issue.

Did you watch how the on the later applauses, certain members were slow to stand up with applause, but when they see most other stand up, they reluctantly follow suite, in case AIPAC is watching those who are less enthusiastic to Netanyahu. Do you think Netanyahu would get that warm welcome in Israel itself? Or the Knesset? Or even in his own Likud party? I could not even get that many applauses to Qaddafi’s speech to his (own assigned) parliament. Or to Asad’s hypocritical parliament.

So how much self respect do you think the US congress members have left for their own selves?

Can you count the number of times the congress members gave a standing applause to Netanyahu? I counted 18 times. I do not remember seeing the US congress more unanimous on any issue like this one. I am sure the American people are not that unanimous on any issue.

Did you watch how the on the later applauses, certain members were slow to stand up with applause, but when they see most other stand up, they reluctantly follow suite, in case AIPAC is watching those who are less enthusiastic to Netanyahu. Do you think Netanyahu would get that warm welcome in Israel itself? Or the Knesset? Or even in his own Likud party? I could not even get that many applauses to Qaddafi’s speech to his (own assigned) parliament. Or to Asad’s hypocritical parliament.

So how much self respect do you think the US congress members have left for their own selves?

Israel as an occupation power has the obligation under international law to take care of civilians under its occupation. This includes taking care and paying for salaries of public service employees, public schools and institutions, and infrastructure of the occupied land. However, after the Oslo Deal, Israel has stopped almost completely any such payments. Since the Oslo Accords, Israel only transfers the tax money it collects from Palestinians on merchandise that enters the occupied territories (West Bank and Gaza Strip), which amount to roughly $90 million per month (about 70% of the PA budget).

So, now with this stoppage of payment of tax money collected from the Palestinians themselves, Israel not only is not fulfilling its obligation as an occupying power, but is also stealing Palestinian money that is spent primarily on salaries of public employees such as teachers and municipality workers.

Israel as an occupation power has the obligation under international law to take care of civilians under its occupation. This includes taking care and paying for salaries of public service employees, public schools and institutions, and infrastructure of the occupied land. However, after the Oslo Deal, Israel has stopped almost completely any such payments. Since the Oslo Accords, Israel only transfers the tax money it collects from Palestinians on merchandise that enters the occupied territories (West Bank and Gaza Strip), which amount to roughly $90 million per month (about 70% of the PA budget).

So, now with this stoppage of payment of tax money collected from the Palestinians themselves, Israel not only is not fulfilling its obligation as an occupying power, but is also stealing Palestinian money that is spent primarily on salaries of public employees such as teachers and municipality workers.

How much of a threat really is sharia law on the US?

It seems most, if not all, of the legislators introducing anti-sharia law bills in the US hardly know anything about sharia law. It seems the legislation wording has originated from a hate monger called David Yerushalmi, who is described by many Jews (including the Anti Defamation League ADL) as a Jewish Fascist.

http://www.salon.com/news/islam/?story=/politics/w...

The ADL describes David Yerushalmi as “an Arizona attorney with a record of anti-Muslim, anti-immigrant and anti-black bigotry.”

Jewish website Tikun Olam describe him as a “Devout Jewish Fascist”

So are these anti-sharia law bills genuine? Or are they just under-cover racist bills?

http://www.loonwatch.com/2011/03/adl-hate-monger-d...

http://www.richardsilverstein.com/tikun_olam/2007/...

As much as I dislike the letting Qaddafi get away with murder, should he be allowed to leave Libya with a guarantee he will not be prosecuted, as a way to save Libya from a prolonged civil war?

An old Chinese proverb says "to improve your chances of winning, open an escape route to your enemy". So far all escape routes to Qaddafi have been closed. No country is willing to accept him. Libyan people want him dead for his crimes. He is wanted to the international court for crimes against humanity. Several UN resolutions have been passed against him. With all of this, he will fight to the death, taking potentially thousands of Libyans with him, and destroying Libya in the process.

Should the world provide Qaddafi a guaranteed safe escape to save Libya?

As much as I hate Qaddafi, I would vote for this option. What do you think?

There may be evidence that the Israeli settler family that was murdered a week ago, may have been killed by a disgruntled Thai worker that was not paid his salary. This is not confirmed yet, but at the same time, it has not been confirmed that Palestinians committed the crime either.

http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=36...

What do you think?

Egypt, Tunisia and recently Libya have been considered close allies to the West in general and the US in particular. What, possibly most, Westerners did not know is that the regimes ruling those countries were tyrannical regimes that were totally corrupt and were stealing all the wealth of those countries.

However, the Arab people of those countries knew how corrupt those leaders were, but any sign of dissent was crushed with brute force by those governments. The Western governments also knew very well about the corruption and human rights abuses of those governments, but that did not stop them from supporting them against the will of the people of those countries. To those corrupt western governments (US, UK and France included) all that mattered was how much business they can get from those corrupt leaders, or how much protection those governments can provide to Israel.

It seems the Arab people finally said enough is enough, as they toppled the Tunisian and Egyptian governments in less than 2 months, and it seems that Libya will follow in a matter of days. Thousands of civilians were killed by those corrupt regimes in the process.

Are Western citizens culprit in crime when their elected governments participate in the oppression of people in other countries?

See this video shown last week on Tunisian TV showing treasures found in the Palace of ousted Tunisian president. Value is estimated in the $ billions. The wealth of ousted Egyptian president and his regime is estimated in the hundreds of $billions. The video is in Arabic, but you do not need to understand the language to know what the video is all about:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9E8pRG25zt8&feature...

As for me, I can not remember when was the last time I felt so happy about a world event as I am now. This is one of the biggest moments in modern history. I bow to the Egyptian people with respect and admiration. They have brought hope back to the Arabs and other freedom loving people everywhere.

That is how I feel. How about you?

This is a serious question and seeking real opinions. I have posted answers and questions in the Egypt Section before, and almost always some Egyptian participants (a minority of responses)made me feel unwelcome for being non-Egyptian expressing a political opinion in the Egypt Section. Honestly speaking this made me reluctant to post in this section many times.

So I am seeking your honest opinions. Should non-Egyptian Arabs not express their political opinions in the Egypt Section, even if they state that they are not Egyptians?

I found this site (Avaaz.org) in the link below to express your position, but there is got to be more options. Any suggestions?

https://secure.avaaz.org/en/democracy_for_egypt/?v...

Have you seen this vote asking people to express their position on the Egyptian revolution?

https://secure.avaaz.org/en/democracy_for_egypt/?v...

How does it feel to finally be able to express freely how you feel about the regime?

May God be with you all the way to achieving all your ambitions. All Arabs are looking for your victory. May God protect from all those who will try to derail your progress.

There are countless cases of the Israeli army using Palestinian civilians as human shields. Check this simple search for multiple references:

http://www.google.co.uk/search?sourceid=navclient&...

The Israeli Supreme Court has banned this behavior. However, according to Israeli human rights groups, the army never stopped the practice. This was witnessed several times during the 2008 Israeli war on Gaza:

http://www.btselem.org/english/human_shields/timel...

The Israeli army is even appealing the supreme court ruling, and wants to legalize the use of Palestinian civilians as human shields:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4333982.stm

Even a leading Israeli Rabbi is encouraging the army to use Palestinians as human shields (according to Israeli paper):

http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/lead...

So what do you think? What is your opinion of military use of civilians as human shields?

For the last several years, just before olive harvest season, Israeli settlers are cutting and destroying Palestinian olive trees under the watch of Israeli army. 2010 has been the worst so far. Often when Palestinians rise to protect their trees they get beaten and sometimes killed by the army and the settlers. This is happening in the West Bank where the Palestinian Authority is supposedly friendly with the Israeli government.

See below sample headlines:

“Settlement Security Officer Torches Palestinian Olive Trees”

“Extremist Jews damage Palestinian olive trees”

“Rights group: 69 cases of Palestinian olive trees destroyed, but no prosecutions”

“West Bank olive trees set ablaze”

“Vandals chop Palestinian olives in West Bank, latest in a string of harvest season attacks”

“Israeli settlers on horseback 'set fire' to Palestinian-owned olive trees ”

“Israeli Settlers massively uproot Olive trees in Al Khader Village west of Bethlehem city”

“Palestinians: Settlers attacked our olive trees”

“Israeli settlers set fire to more than 2,500 olive trees in Burin”

“Israeli settlers burn olive groves in ‘price tag’ retaliation attack”

A question I posted yesterday in the Israel Section was removed, but I never received a notification. I checked my point count. I did not lose 10 points. Instead my 5 points for asking the question were refunded. As if the question was never asked.

What does that mean?

Why are Israelis cutting, burning and uprooting Palestinian olive trees

For the last several years, just before olive harvest season, Israeli settlers are cutting and destroying Palestinian olive trees under the watch of Israeli army. 2010 has been the worst so far. Often when Palestinians rise to protect their trees they get beaten and sometimes killed the army and the settlers. This is happening in the West Bank where the Palestinian Authority is supposedly friendly with the Israeli government.

See below sample headline:

“Settlement Security Officer Torches Palestinian Olive Trees”

“Extremist Jews damage Palestinian olive trees”

“Rights group: 69 cases of Palestinian olive trees destroyed, but no prosecutions”

“West Bank olive trees set ablaze”

“Vandals chop Palestinian olives in West Bank, latest in a string of harvest season attacks”

“Israeli settlers on horseback 'set fire' to Palestinian-owned olive trees ”

“Israeli Settlers massively uproot Olive trees in Al Khader Village west of Bethlehem city”

“Palestinians: Settlers attacked our olive trees”

“Israeli settlers set fire to more than 2,500 olive trees in Burin”

“Israeli settlers burn olive groves in ‘price tag’ retaliation attack”

If Yahoo suspends a premium email account (with paid annual subscription), shouldn't Yahoo refund the subscription?

Can the account suspension be considered a valid ground for a legal case against Yahoo (as the annual subscription was paid to preserve the email account)?

I recently lost a Yahoo account and I am switching to gmail. Does gmail account expire for lack of use or other reasons? If yes, can that be avoided through some sort of paid subscription?

Please provide a link to support your answer if possible.

Thank you.