George Galloway speaking in Parliament about Israel and Palestine.

Israel’s Parliament has passed a new law aimed at keeping African immigrants behind bars — and a controversial jail to house them open — beyond a deadline set by the country’s highest court.

The Knesset by a 43-20 vote approved an initial legislative step for a new law that mandates three months in prison for African asylum-seekers who enter Israel without documentation and a year and eight months more in the spartan Holot detention center, which Israel euphemistically refers to as an “open facility.”

Prime minister to hold press conference later Tuesday.

The General Assembly approved the resolution in a 161-5 vote, with 18 countries abstaining. The United States and Canada were among five countries that joined Israel in opposing the resolution.

Israel is widely considered to possess nuclear arms but declines to confirm it.

Brothers of the Druze policeman killed two weeks ago in a firefight with terrorists at a Jerusalem synagogue are extremely critical of the government‘s efforts to pass a Jewish nation-state bill.

(26. Oktober) As an American visiting his 26-year-old daughter living the dream in Berlin while writing her Ph.D. dissertation for an American university, I can fully understand why Berlin is now a magnate for talented people from all over the world. People here are treated with respect, crime is negligible, the German economy is a powerhouse and the quality of life far exceeds that of any major American city, including New York.

(10. November) “Be careful in Germany,” Iveniaki recalls her saying as she displayed the weapon to emphasise her point. “Do what you want, but I hope you’re sure.”

Iveniaki was sure enough to kiss grandma on the cheek, pack his bags and follow an unlikely trail being blazed by thousands of young Israelis who are moving to Germany. The vast majority are landing in Berlin, which is also fast emerging as a beacon for other young Jews…

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In 2003, hardcore Anti-German activists took to the streets in 2003 to support George W. Bush’s invasion of Iraq. At rallies in support of Israel’s assaults on Southern Lebanon and Gaza, Anti-German forces belted out chants alongside far-right Jewish Defense League militants and flew Israeli flags beside the red and black banners familiar to anti-fascist forces. One of the movement’s top ideologues, the Austrian political scientist Stephan Grigat, oversees an ironically named astroturf group, Stop The Bomb, that advocates unilateral bombing campaigns against Iran. Grigat collaborates closely with right-wing outfits like the Simon Weisenthal Center as well as ultra-Zionist BAK Shalom allies like Die Linke’s Petra Pau.

There might only be about several thousand Germans who identify with the Anti-German sensibility. The movement’s intellectual avant-garde, a collection of dour critical theorists and political scientists gathered around obscure journals like Bahamas, numbers at most in the low hundreds. According to BAK Shalom spokesman and Die Linke member Benjamin Kruger, his organization contains only 140 members. But thanks to the Holocaust guilt that consumes German society, these elements operate on fertile territory. As the translator and anti-racist activist Maciej Zurowski explained, by infiltrating Die Linke and the Social Democratic Party’s youth groups, along with key left-wing institutions like the Rosa Luxemburg Foundation, “[Anti-German elements] are strategically well placed to promote ‘young talent’, while cutting off their opponents’ money supply.”

Previously limited to the top-heavy realms of the country’s political and financial establishment, it is through such sectarian groups that the pro-Israel lobby finally secured a base within the German left.

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What does it say when a lawyer argues that police shouldn‘t have shot his client because it was clear he wasn‘t an Arab?

Shas kingmaker Deri won‘t be drawn on post-poll support for Netanyahu; Lapid: Netanyahu irresponsible, made bad deal with haredi parties; Herzog: I‘m viable choice to replace Netanyahu; source: religious parties gave PM ultimatum on Lapid.

Schweden, Großbritannien, Irland und Spanien sind vorangegangen – nun hat sich auch das französische Parlament dafür ausgesprochen, Palästina als Staat anzuerkennen.

Prime Minister had demanded Finance Minister back nation state bill, drop 0% VAT plan; Shas chair to faction heads: Set date for elections.

As more people get connected to the Internet, we must expand not restrict the current approach to make room for new voices and new ideas. If only governments have a voice, it will stifle innovation and economic growth. It could also lead to increased censorship and control.

(16. Oktober) In a late submission [PDF] to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) meeting in Busan, South Korea, the 22 states collectively asked for revisions to two key internet resolutions. (..)

Most significant is insertion of text that argues “policy authority for international internet-related public policy issues is the sovereign right of states.” In other words, only governments should decide on online issues.

We will discuss, among other topics:

– Geneva Internet Conference: Highlights and outputs.
– US-China free trade in ICT: breakthrough on eliminating duties on ICT products and perspectives for new WTO dynamism.
– Battles over net neutrality: Obama‘s message and US perspectives, Swiss telecom agreeement, and messages from ETNO.
– Cybersecurity developments: OSCE moves with Confidence Building Measures.
– IGF: the new members of the MAG and preparations for IGF2015.

(3. Oktober)

(10. November 2012) Sämtliche geplanten Internet-Kontrollmechanismen wie CleanIT, T.T.P., A.C.T.A, S.O.P.A., oder die kürzlich (unter wohlwollender Begleitung des Verfassungsschutzes) in Wien von der U.N.O.-Drogenbehörde geforderte weltweite Vorratsdatenspeicherung, sind im Kontext der am 3. Dezember in Dubai beginnenden “Weltkonferenz über Internationale Telekommunikation 2012″ (“World Conference on International Telecommunications 2012“, WCIT) zu sehen.

Veranstaltet wird diese Konferenz durch die “Internationale Telekommunikations-Union” (“International Telecommunication Union”, allgemein benützte Abkürzung: I.T.U.). Die I.T.U. ist ein weltweites Monopol mit dem Status einer U.N.O. Sonderorganisation, dessen erste Vorläuferorganisation 1865 als “Internationaler Telegraphenverein” gegründet wurde. (…)

Der letzte Entwurf der I.T.U. für Beschlussfassung auf der Konferenz – Internet-Schleusen (“Hubs”), Vorrichtungen zur Abschaltung des Netzes, Internet-Gebühren bzw Internet-Steuern nach Menge des Datentranfers, allgemeine Kontrolle des Internets durch Konzerne und Behörden – beinhaltet wortwörtliche Vorgaben der “europäischen” IT-Konzernlobby mit Sitz in Brüssel, der “European Telecommunications Network Operators Association” (ETNO).

The European Commission wants changes to this system, though it still expresses its faith in Icann; the EU recently called for a „clear timeline for the globalisation of Icann“.