Tony Judt favorably reviews Shlomo Sand's book.

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Tuesday December 08, 2009 · 11:54 AM PST

2009/12/08 · 11:54

Shlomo Sand's book The Invention of the Jewish People, which recently appeared in English translation, has continued to be attacked on this site as a piece of scurrilous nonsense.

Tony Judt has now joined the distinguished historians who have treated Sand's book with respect, in a favorable piece on the book in today's Financial Times, Israel must unpick its ethnic myth.

He repeats Simon Schama's take that most of the book is true, but obviously so, but counters this by recognizing that the book is chiefly intended for a nonlearned audience, which will not be aware of the facts Sand presents:

The story went like this. Jews, until the destruction of the Second Temple (in the First century), had been farmers in what is now Israel/Palestine. They had then been forced yet again into exile by the Romans and wandered the earth: homeless, rootless and outcast. Now at last "they" were "returning" and would once again farm the soil of their ancestors.

lysias

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Friday November 20, 2009 · 8:22 AM PST

2009/11/20 · 08:22

Judge Stephen Reinhardt of the Ninth Circuit in an order Wednesday seems to have declared the half of DOMA that declares that a same-sex marriage cannot be a marriage under federal law or for purposes of granting federal benefits unconstitutional, a violation of the equal protection component of the due process guarantee of the Fifth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. http://www.ca9.uscourts.gov/....

I T had a diary on this order yesterday, http://www.dailykos.com/..., but I don't think it made it clear enough what the sweeping implications of this order are.

lysias

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Friday October 23, 2009 · 12:58 PM PDT

2009/10/23 · 12:58

I was interested, in view of the recent criticism of Human Rights Watch arising from Robert Bernstein's op ed piece in the New York Times, Rights Watchdog, Lost in the Mideast, alleging that the organization pays inordinate attention to Israeli abuses, to read a report in the Financial Times about HRW's investigation of China's "disappearing" Uighur activists from Urumqi: Rights group reports 43 'disappeared' Uighurs:

China has refused to disclose the whereabouts of dozens of Uighur men who "disappeared" after July riots in the western Chinese city of Urumqi, according to Human Rights Watch , with the fate of hundreds more unaccounted for.

In a report today, the human rights group identified 43 missing Uighurs detained after the riots and said many more members of the Muslim ethnic minority might have been taken away by the authorities.

"The cases we documented are likely just the tip of the iceberg," said Brad Adams, Asia director at Human Rights Watch.

lysias

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Thursday October 15, 2009 · 11:45 AM PDT

2009/10/15 · 11:45

of alleged war crimes in the Gaza war, as the Human Rights Council today considers condemning Israel. Reuters: U.N. rights body considers condemning Israel on Gaza:

ENEVA (Reuters) - Israeli and Palestinian leaders should launch investigations of alleged war crimes in Gaza to help rebuild trust and support peace, the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights said on Thursday.

At the opening of a U.N. Human Rights Council meeting on the issue, Navi Pillay said that all sides of the Middle East conflict were continuing to violate international law and voiced concern that transgressors are being left unpunished.

"A culture of impunity continues to prevail in the occupied territories and in Israel," she told the 47-member body, calling for "impartial, independent, prompt and effective investigations into reported violations of human rights and humanitarian law."

lysias

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Friday October 02, 2009 · 8:00 AM PDT

2009/10/02 · 08:00

Today's Washington Times contains a story indicating that, when Netanyahu visited Washington in May, Obama confirmed to him in writing that he would continue to honor a deal struck between the U.S. and Israel in 1969 that the U.S. would look the other way at Israel's nuclear program as long as Israel made no public statement that it had nukes. EXCLUSIVE: Obama agrees to keep Israel's nukes secret:

President Obama has reaffirmed a 4-decade-old secret understanding that has allowed Israel to keep a nuclear arsenal without opening it to international inspections, three officials familiar with the understanding said.

lysias

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Friday September 25, 2009 · 9:17 AM PDT

2009/09/25 · 09:17

I couldn't help but notice a photograph on Page A16 of today's Washington Post showing demonstrators against the G-20 meeting in Pittsburgh running away from "an ear-splitting siren" used by the police to disperse protesters.

The Washington Post story mentions "sound cannons".

Here's more mention in an AP report:

The marchers did not have a permit and, after a few blocks, police declared it an unlawful assembly. They played an announcement over a loudspeaker ordering people to leave and then police in riot gear moved in to break it up. Authorities also used a crowd-control device that emits a deafening siren-like noise, making it uncomfortable for protesters to remain in the area.

lysias

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Thursday September 24, 2009 · 2:01 PM PDT

2009/09/24 · 14:01

It was just announced in Pittsburgh (site of the G20 meeting) that OAS Secretary General Insulza's peace mission to Tegucigalpa, which had been put off because of the junta's closing the airports in Honduras, is now scheduled for Friday or Saturday. Insulza irá el viernes o sábado a Honduras a impulsar el diálogo, dice Brasil [Brazil: Insulza to Go to Honduras to Start Dialogue on Friday or Saturday]:

El secretario general de la Organización de Estados Americanos (OEA), José Miguel Insulza, encabezará una delegación internacional que irá a Honduras el viernes o el sábado para impulsar el diálogo, informó hoy el Gobierno brasileño.

[The Brazilian government announced today that Secretary General José Miguel Insulza of the OAS will lead an international delegation to Honduras Friday or Saturday for the purpose of starting dialogue.]

lysias

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Wednesday September 23, 2009 · 8:17 AM PDT

2009/09/23 · 08:17

Brazil President Lula da Silva made a speech today in the UN General Assembly. Brazil's Lula urges reform of global economy. Besides calling for a reform of the world economy, he also called for the restoration to power of Honduras President Manuel Zelaya, who was removed by a coup in June:

He also drew applause by insisting that ousted Honduran President Manuel Zelaya be returned to power.

Zelaya, who was ousted in a June coup, returned to Tegucigalpa and took refuge in Brazil's embassy on Monday to avoid arrest.

"The international community ... must be alert to ensure the inviolability of Brazil's diplomatic mission in the capital of Honduras," he said.

Brazil has asked the U.N. Security Council to hold an urgent meeting to help solve the Honduran crisis. Brazil is currently not a member of the council but wants to participate in the meeting.

lysias

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Monday September 21, 2009 · 1:07 PM PDT

2009/09/21 · 13:07

cadejo4's diary from earlier today, http://www.dailykos.com/..., is about to drop off the recent diaries list. Since this is such an important story, I thought it should be repeated.

Here's the original intro:

Radio Globo is reporting that President Manual Zelaya is back in Honduras and the resistance is calling on its members to congregate in front of the United Nations offices in Tegucigalpa. According to the radio station, Zelaya will be speaking shortly. TeleSur says it has confirmed the radio station's account.

Urgent update: U.S. State Department confirming Zelaya is in Honduras.

lysias

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Thursday September 17, 2009 · 1:00 PM PDT

2009/09/17 · 13:00

There's a new article on the Ha'aretz Web site that appears to be a response to Obama's decision not to deploy anti-missile missiles in Poland and the Czech Republic.

Obama's decision was justified on the ground that

the threat of long-range missiles from Iran is no longer believed to be as imminent.

lysias

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Tuesday September 15, 2009 · 9:07 AM PDT

2009/09/15 · 09:07

There are two new developments on the Defense of Marriage Act front.

First of all, U.S. District Judge Carter dismissed the suit of a CA gay couple that argued that DOMA is unconstitutional. The judge accepted the reasoning offered in a Justice Dept. brief that the couple had not suffered an "injury in fact," which would have given them standing to sue.

L.A. Times: Federal judge dismisses suit arguing the Defense of Marriage Act is unconstitutional:

The Obama administration scored a victory of sorts in federal court Monday when a judge threw out an Orange County gay couple's lawsuit claiming that the federal Defense of Marriage Act is unconstitutional.

lysias

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Saturday September 12, 2009 · 7:03 AM PDT

2009/09/12 · 07:03

A story dated yesterday in the Washington Blade tells us that informed sources tell it that D.C. City Council member David Catania intends to introduce a same-sex marriage bill in the council by Sept. 30. D.C. marriage bill imminent :

Sep 11, 2009 | By: Lou Chibbaro Jr. | COMMENTS [Share this article!] Printer Friendly Version

D.C. City Council member David Catania (I-At Large) is expected to introduce a bill to allow same-sex marriages to be performed in the District before month’s end, according to sources familiar with Catania’s plans.

The sources, who spoke on condition that they not be identified, said Catania told local activists he would drop his bill into the legislative hopper shortly before he speaks Sept. 30 before a D.C. Marriage Equality Convocation.

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Tony Judt favorably reviews Shlomo Sand's book.

Ninth Circuit Judge's Order: DOMA unconstitutional

Human Rights Watch investigates China, Honduras, Kenya, Sri Lanka (UPDATED)

UN Human Rights Commissioner calls for Gaza investigations by Israel & Palestinians

"Officials": Obama Agrees to Keep Israel's Nukes Secret (UPDATED 2X)

"Sonic gun" used by police in Honduras now used against G-20 protesters?

OAS Peace Mission to Honduras on Track Again

Brazil President Lula: restore Honduras President Zelaya, have Scty Council meet. (UPDATED 2x)

Manuel Zelaya Returns to Honduras! (FOLLOWUP DIARY) (UPDATED 2x)

Obama shoots down Iran missile danger; Ha'aretz responds, is refuted (UPDATED)

DOMA News: Suit dismissed; repeal bill introduced (UPDATED).

D.C. Marriage Equality bill imminent.