A fighter for settlements Dar al-Khalej, Abu Dhabi, June 2 In his meeting with leaders of the settlement movement, Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu confirmed that he fights for the settlers. “Nobody protects you more than I do,” he told them. This only means that Netanyahu supports the expansion of settlement building while making the dream of a Palestinian state an impossible one. It has become known that settlers consider the West Bank a part of the lands of Israel and call it “Judea and Samaria.” Those people oppose negotiations, object to the concept of having a Palestinian state and don 't see a problem in killing Palestinians and taking their property. They come from a racist background, thinking they are sacred, as “God's chosen people.” Yet Netanyahu tells these people he is fighting for them and leads peace talks with the Palestinians. How is a settlement possible with people holding on to a racist ideology and a belief that they are superior? Netanyahu is not only fighting for them, he is one of them – or put simply, their leader. Slavery in Israel Al-Quds al-Arabi, London, June 1 Serious exploitation of Palestinian workers similar to modern-day slavery was revealed in the Israeli Knesset. Israeli employers, particularly in the Jordan Valley, hire workers for NIS 6-NIS 8 per hour, according to a human rights report pushed by the Knesset's Labor, Welfare and Health Committee. Without the minimum level of social and economic rights, Palestinian workers need to work a minimum of 16 hours to be able to make a living. Knesset member Basel Ghattas slammed the concept of socialism in the kibbutz. “There is no such thing as socialist colonialism,” Ghattas told the Knesset. He demanded that the authorities supervise the Israeli employers who didn't implement the labor law regarding Palestinians. He added that the exploitation of Palestinian workers served the Israeli economy and had roots in the system of apartheid. Other Knesset members called for fighting racism in all its forms. “Many businessmen who denounce racism are actually implementing racism in their own workstations,” Knesset member Jamal Zahalka said. Will the Arab vote decide the next Israeli president? Al-Hayat, London, May 31 It seems that the 11 Arab members of the Knesset can decide who the next Israeli president will be. Because the governing coalition is split and doesn't have a unanimous candidate, the Arabs are deliberating among themselves to unite their votes and choose a candidate. Mohammed Zaidan, the head of the largest representation body of Palestinians in Israel, said the members should pick the person who would be the least harmful to the Palestinian people and to the image of Israel in the world. While some Arab Knesset members underestimate the importance of the Israeli president because it is a symbolic office, others say it is of moral importance and that the Arab vote will be the decisive vote in choosing the next head of state. Also, this post can play a positive role in the issue of detainees, since the head of state signs the release orders. Most members are leaning toward voting for Binyamin Ben-Eliezer, who has continuously called for releasing Palestinian Legislative Council member Marwan Barghouti and long-held detainees. Christians in Israel Al-Riyadh, Riyadh, June 2 Pope Francis's visit to Israel is seriously stirring discussions and debate about the way Israel perceives religions, says Hussein Shobukshi. Without a doubt, Israel holds resentment against Islam and Muslims. The number of demolished mosques, preventing people from their right to worship, and seizing of endowment land only confirm this attitude. Their official educational textbooks show no interest in teaching students about other religions at all. However, Christianity is not in any better shape when it comes to the Israeli point of view. Around 37 percent of Jews in Israel today think that Christianity is idolatrous. The Israeli government has always refused churches' claims to religious sites in Jerusalem, which has worsened the relationship. And there is a slow but well-arranged campaign to encourage Christian Palestinians to emigrate. This campaign has had great success. Chile alone has become a hub for Christian Palestinians. The damage done to Christians in the Middle East by terrorist groups is just the same as what Israel does. Modesty in Saudi Arabia sparks outrage Al-Safeer, Beirut, June 1 New signs at girls' schools in Saudi Arabia are sparking fears of the oppression of women. The signs suggest that the modesty of a woman is dependent upon the men of their family. “Your manhood can be judged by kind of abayas [long, loose over-garment dresses] the women in your family wear,” one sign reads. Women residents in the kingdom have expressed annoyance at these ideas. Most women in the Gulf wear abayas for reasons of modesty. In Saudi Arabia, the women's head veil and abaya are enforced by law. Muhammad Balawi told Al-Safeer that no one had the right to tell women how to dress. “Radicals need to correct their thoughts and ideas before judging others on appearances,” he said. Meanwhile, other residents said they considered the signs to be a new method for improving behavior and ethics. However, a source in the Education Ministry said one of the leading causes for the spread of extremism was to allow extremists access to the educational sector. The source confirmed that the ministry and the kingdom believed in “moderation.”
What citizens of other countries are reading about the Middle East(photo credit: JERUSALEM POST)