Haaretz: "The United States said Wednesday that Israel's seizure of some NIS 37 million in cash in Palestinian banks could destabilize the Palestinian banking system, and reiterated its call for Israel to coordinate such moves with the sector's Palestinian authorities."

Don't see what the US are complaining about. Isn't this just following Compassionate Conservative practice of taking from the poor and giving to the rich?

Governor fears unrest unless same-sex marriages are halted / Schwarzenegger voices concern over potential civil clashes in S.F.: "'All of a sudden, we see riots, we see protests, we see people clashing. The next thing we know, there is injured or there is dead people. We don't want it to get to that extent,'' the Republican said in his first appearance as governor on a Sunday talk show."

As a resident of San Francisco I am shaking with fear. Those newly weds are rioting all around. Just last night I was assaulted by a gang of married lesbians who knocked me down with their veils.

And of cource, Miserable Failure pitches in:
"After more than two centuries of American jurisprudence and millennia of human experience, a few judges and local authorities are presuming to change the most fundamental institution of civilisation" (article).

Officials to delay deal concerning status of U.S. military forces in Iraq: "BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) U.S. and Iraqi officials will delay finalizing an agreement on the post-occupation role of American troops until after power has been formally handed to the next Iraqi government June 30, members of the current Iraqi leadership said Monday. "

Now the Pentagon tells Bush: climate change will destroy us: "A secret report, suppressed by US defence chiefs and obtained by The Observer, warns that major European cities will be sunk beneath rising seas as Britain is plunged into a 'Siberian' climate by 2020. Nuclear conflict, mega-droughts, famine and widespread rioting will erupt across the world...

'You've got a President who says global warming is a hoax, and across the Potomac river you've got a Pentagon preparing for climate wars. It's pretty scary when Bush starts to ignore his own government on this issue,' said Rob Gueterbock of Greenpeace."

Haaretz: "Israel will ask the United States for a 'compensation package' in exchange for evacuating settlements in the Gaza Strip and West Bank"

Seeing the US subsidises the continuing colonization of the West Bank, why not pay for dismantling too. Menawhile, the casual brutality of the occupying forces continues.

Naomi Klein: Feel guilt. Then move on: "According to the latest estimates, US troops have distributed roughly $2m in compensation for deaths, injuries and property damage. That's a third of what Halliburton admits two of its employees accepted in bribes from a Kuwaiti contractor. ..
To talk about the price of the Iraq war strictly in terms of military casualties and US tax dollars is an obscenity. Yes, Americans and British citizens were lied to by their politicians. Yes, they are owed answers. But the people of Iraq are owed a great deal more, and that enormous debt belongs at the very centre of any civilised debate about the war."

Looks like Sharon's lessons on how to win hearts and minds through terror are spreading round the world.

House demolitions in Pakistan: "Rehmatullah Wazir said that with the handing over of two more wanted men including Bilal and Jehanzeb, the Zalikhel Tribe was moving fast in netting the most wanted men accused of sheltering foreign terrorists and hoped that remaining suspects will be nabbed soon. He said after the demolition of Maulvi Abbas house, who was included in the list of most wanted men they will also demolish the houses of Naik Muhammad and Sharif Khan who have not yet surrendered. "

Perle - `Heads should roll' over Iraq: "Richard Perle, a chief proponent of last year's U.S. invasion of Iraq, yesterday called for the chiefs of the Central Intelligence Agency and the U.S. Defence Intelligence Agency to step down because of their faulty conclusions that Saddam Hussein possessed mass-killing weapons."

International Committee of the Red Cross on the Wall: "Where it deviates from the 'Green Line' into occupied territory, the Barrier deprives thousands of Palestinian residents of adequate access to basic services such as water, health care and education, as well as sources of income such as agriculture and other forms of employment. The Palestinian communities situated between the 'Green Line' and the Barrier are effectively cut off from the Palestinian society to which they belong. The construction of the West Bank Barrier continues to give rise to widespread appropriation of Palestinian property and extensive damage to or destruction of buildings and farmland.

The ICRC has repeatedly condemned deliberate attacks against Israeli civilians and stressed that all acts intended to spread terror among the civilian population are in clear violation of international humanitarian law (IHL). It recognizes Israel's right to take measures to ensure the security of its population. However, these measures must respect the relevant rules of IHL.

The ICRC's opinion is that the West Bank Barrier, in as far as its route deviates from the 'Green Line' into occupied territory, is contrary to IHL. The problems affecting the Palestinian population in their daily lives clearly demonstrate that it runs counter to Israel's obligation under IHL to ensure the humane treatment and well-being of the civilian population living under its occupation. The measures taken by the Israeli authorities linked to the construction of the Barrier in occupied territory go far beyond what is permissible for an occupying power under IHL. These findings are based on the ICRC's monitoring of the living conditions of the Palestinian population and on its analysis of the applicable IHL provisions. The Israeli authorities have been regularly informed about the ICRC's humanitarian and legal concerns.

The ICRC therefore calls upon Israel not to plan, construct or maintain this Barrier within occupied territory."

Tariq Ali: "The occupation authorities are trapped. The occupation is costing $3.9bn a month. Politically, if they permit a democratic election they could get a government whose legitimacy is unchallengeable and which wants them out of the country. If they go for a rigged, Florida-style vote, it would be impossible to contain Shia anger and an armed resistance would commence in the south, raising the spectre of a civil war."

Press Briefing by Scott McClellan on the Miserable Failure's military (ahem) service. I wasn't convinced. Why doesn't he just come clean and say "I wanted to avoid being sent to Viet Nam and daddy helped me" or whatever the truth is. Richard Cohen served in the Reserves like him put is better:
'I have no shame about my service, but I know it for what it was -- hardly the Charge of the Light Brigade. When Bush attempts to drape the flag of today's Guard over the one he was in so long ago, when he warns his critics to remember that "there are a lot of really fine people who have served in the National Guard and who are serving in the National Guard today in Iraq," then he is doing now what he was doing then: hiding behind the ones who were really doing the fighting. It's about time he grew up.'

The only democracy in the Middle East JERUSALEM (AP) - A hawkish Israeli Cabinet minister has asked Christian missionaries to try to convert Islamic militants, an aide to the minister confirmed Sunday.

Tourism Minister Benny Elon made the suggestion during a meeting last Wednesday with visiting Christian leaders from Europe, said the spokesman, Sagiv Rotenberg.

Elon told the Christians that Israel would not accept any missionary attempts to convert Jews, but suggested that they turn their attention to Muslim militants in Israel, the West Bank and Gaza.

``Go to mosques and bring the light to the Muslims. Remind all the Muslim killers that thou shall not kill. Make them good Christians and good people,'' Elon was quoted as saying in the Yediot Ahronot daily.

Rotenberg confirmed the minister's comments, but said that Elon was referring only to Muslims who instruct their faithful to kill.

Islamic militant groups based in the West Bank and Gaza have carried out dozens of suicide bombings during more than three years of Israeli-Palestinian violence.

Poll says that today Kerry would beat Miserable Failure by 53 to 46. Also, even though Americans seem to generally think Miserable Failure is doing an AOK job, slightly more (53 to 46) disapprove of the situation in Iraq. There may yet be some hope...

Commentary on the poll: "Bush's job-approval rating dipped below 50% for the first time in his presidency, to 49%, and his disapproval rating rose to a record 48%. His approval ratings for handling the economy, Iraq and health care all fell to near-record lows"

Fun Blair quotes from the Guardian:
"The PM has stuck to his line: weapons are there, the doubters will be disproved...
'[Saddam's] weapons of mass destruction programme is active, detailed and growing. The policy of containment is not working'
September 24 2002
'I have got no doubt either that the purpose of our challenge from the UN is disarmament of weapons of mass destruction, it is not regime change'
November 18 2002
'Not only do we know that Saddam has weapons of mass destruction, we also know he is capable of using them'
November 30 2002
'We are now asked to accept that in the last few years, contrary to all history and all intelligence, he decided unilaterally to destroy the weapons. Such a claim is palpably absurd'
March 18 2003
'Tonight, British servicemen and women are engaged from air, land and sea. Their mission: to remove Saddam Hussein from power, and disarm Iraq of its weapons of mass destruction'
March 20 2003
'Before people crow about the absence of weapons of mass destruction, I suggest they wait a little bit. I remain confident that they will be found'
April 28 2003
'I am absolutely convinced that and confident about the case on weapons of mass destruction... you and others will be eating some of your words'
April 30 2003"

More on US evenhandedness on the Palestinian issue.

Haaretz: "Israel has asked the U.S. administration to postpone publication of the State Department's annual report on human rights around the world, fearing it will be used against Israel in the discussion on the separation fence at the International Court of Justice in The Hague."

JPost: "This fence is a legitimate response by a sovereign nation to protect its citizens from terrorist attacks...
We need to make it absolutely clear that Israel could, at any time, take massive military action against the terrorists and the Palestinians who support them, this is an act of restraint, this is an act of defense, this is an act that should be seen for what it is."

So according to Hillary we should be amazed at the restraint of Sharon. After all he could completely anihilate those pesky "terrorists and the Palestinians who support them". Thanks for your moral clarity and humanity Hillary. And then you will be surprised when Bush gets reelected...

From Haaretz a few days ago:
"According to Israel's agreement with the U.S., it receives its entire aid package at the start of the year and can spend it immediately.

Most other American aid recipients, in contrast, receive their money in several installments spread throughout the year.

As always, Israel will be America's largest aid recipient this year, with $2.2 billion in military aid and $480 million in civilian aid."