According to the Wall Street Journal, the NYPD monitored Muslim students at numerous universities, including Yale and Penn.  The presence of Muslims at an Ivy League college is, of course, fishy.  As everyone knows, one must be able to speak English in order to attend such a dignified institution.

The NYPD even sent an undercover agent on a student whitewater rafting trip in upstate New York.  Muslims going whitewater rafting?  Very shady.  I mean, there’s no whitewater rafting in Saudi Arabia… there’s no whitewater in Saudi Arabia… there’s no water in Saudi Arabia!  But then I remembered my uncles telling me stories about how they used to dream of coming to America when they were kids… just so they could go whitewater rafting.

On that rafting trip, the undercover officer reported that the students spent a lot of time “discussing Islam.”   Creepy.  He also noted that they “prayed at least four times a day.”  Only four?  Not only were these Muslims meeting in the wilderness, they weren’t even getting all their prayers in.  Muslims are supposed to pray five times a day, not four!  Maybe they weren’t praying as much because they were spending too much time rafting.  And by “rafting,” I mean “scoping out the whitewater rivers to see how they can secretly transport a dirty bomb.”

The NYPD’s efforts, thankfully, reached far and wide.  They were keeping tabs on students in New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania.  I did some of my own investigative journalism and found that they were monitoring Muslims everywhere.  I came across a particularly illuminating report about some Muslim students from Dearborn, Michigan.

We observed three Muslim Lebanese students for six months in 2011.  Each morning, Ali, Mahmoud, and Mohammad each buy a cup of coffee.  They purposely avoid the local Starbucks establishment.  They then go to class (usually arriving ten to fifteen minutes late).  They confidently raise their hands, even though they often have no idea how to answer the question at hand.  After school, they meet at the same café at 4:00 pm everyday.  They spend 2-3 hours talking loudly and waving their hands in explosion-type motions.  The three suspects smoke an unknown substance from a single stemmed metal instrument through a furry house.  Occasionally, they suspiciously eject the smoke from their mouths in order to form perfect circles.

Every Wednesday, the three men spend two hours meeting with many other Muslim men at Cool Blue Salon.  This salon is specifically known for eyebrow waxing and hair removal.  As the “attendees” are all men, we can only assume their presence at the salon is evidence of a terrorist cell meeting.

Perhaps most disturbingly, during the entire month of August 2011, the three men would awaken themselves at 4:30 am, eat an entire meal, go back to sleep, wake up again at 9:00 am, continue their day, and only eat again at 9:15 pm.  Clearly, they were training their bodies to endure long periods without food in order to be prepared for any potential future mission.

As we can see, Muslims are doing all kinds of suspicious things.  So for those good, vigilant Americans out there, make sure you report all dubious activity to your local authorities.  Pick up the phone whenever you see a Muslim going whitewater rafting, or going to college, or watching a football game, or eating a Big Mac.  And definitely speak up whenever you see a Muslim trying to get a driver’s license, or trying to vote, or trying to become president (well, it’s too late for that one).

I can completely understand what the NYPD is trying to do.  After all, as their spokesperson noted, some of the people arrested or convicted on terrorism charges since Sept. 11 have been former members of a Muslim Student Association.  I know… chilling.

In all seriousness, of course it was the NYPD, and not the Muslims here, who was acting in a frightening manner.  In an apparent attempt look even sillier, the agency said that it was observing MSAs because they attract “young Muslim men, a demographic that terrorist groups frequently draw from.”  Again, MSA stands for “Muslim Student Association.”  It has the word “student” right in the middle of it.  So, yes, they are attracting young Muslim men.  But they are also attracting young Muslim women.  And if the NYPD would have asked me, I would have happily told them that this is all done in order for the MSA to achieve its true goal: creating young Muslim couples.

(www.civilarab.com / 22.02.2012)

The employment rate for the group 20 – 24 years was for the complete Palestinian territories 43.4%, for the West Bank 35.1% en for the Gaza Strip 58.5%. For the group between 15 and 19 years the different rates were 38.4% , 30.5% and 61.6% and for the group of 25 until 39 years  the figures were 32.2%, 25.2% and 44.9%. The overall conclusion has to be that there is no work for the young people in the Palestinian territories, especial in the Gaza Strip, as a result of the years of siege.
Young people have to have the possibility to get something out of their lives, get a good job and start a family. The job market is changing to a demand-oriented trade, agriculture, engineering, technical and professional disciplines.

Important on this time is to have an Union, what  is going to create the opportunities for the young people. To do this, it is important to map the difference between education and the labor market; to develop training programs for the youngsters so that they are able to respond to the questions of the market; to create a national database on questions of labor and the available young people and job seekers (included an official website) and to open and to maintain the continuation of the tripartite dialogue between the government, employers and the representatives of the working people.

Gaza, Palestine

Gaza, Palestine/-Gaza in its darkest hour after the fuel stopped getting to the only electrical plant of Gaza after Israel bombed the other plants in the assault of 2008-2009.

When we talk about Tunnels in Gaza we have to talk about the Bedouins Tribes that control the Rafah border.

Before the Egyptian Revolution I have the opportunity to talk to my Egyptian friends about all themes, but one of my favorites was to talk about Palestine.

Some of my friends have this idea that most of their economical problems, and security situation is due to Palestinians crossing illegally the border.

And that the security problem is according to them to the terrorists that are financed by Iran and Hezbollah, that was the propaganda feed thru all the regimen of Mubakark that was in bed with Israel, and kept the country deprived, oppressed, with more than 2,000,000 people incarcerated for their political views, specially the then illegal Muslim brotherhood that they said was financed from Iran to destabilize the country.
Off course this idea is not shared for the majority of Egyptians, they know their own problems were created along the way, since British Empire decided to colonize these great lands of the Nile.

With this notion I have to mention also, that they do not see themselves as an Arab people but proudly they refer themselves as the Pharaoh people, some how superior race, or  more intellectually advanced.

I m not sure that the tribes of Bedouins share the same idea, but for sure they are merchants that travel the deserts selling goods, and having a semi sedentary life only to raise their live stack..These same tribes now controlling the border with Gaza, where the tunnels are dug.
They control completely the entrances of the tunnels, and according to reports from CNN, after the revolution, No police dare to get closer to the Tribes and their controlled lands of the Sinai.
They control from smuggling weapons, food, medicines and fuel, And Fuel being of of the commodities that can bring more profits.

“For centuries their identity was nomadic. They roamed the deserts of the Arabian Peninsula with little care for national borders or sovereign rule. Modern life has persuaded many Bedouin to opt for a more sedentary existence in the various countries they inhabit, but they haven’t shaken their reputation as professional outlaws.

Nowhere is that reputation more pronounced than in North Sinai, where they control much of the smuggling into Gaza. Their motivation is profit, not any particular affinity with the Palestinian people.

And it’s big business.”  CNN

Ibrahim, from the Sawarka tribe around El Arish, the North Sinai governate’s capital, says he “chipped in” with some partners to build five tunnels into Gaza costing about $100,000 each. The tunnels are used to transport big-ticket items such as cars, most of them these days with Libyan number plates. Ibrahim shows off his array of battered old Mercedes, Kias, even a Range Rover. Usually, he sends about 10 cars through the tunnels at a time, once or twice a week.

Salem is a friend of Ibrahim’s from the neighboring Tarabin tribe. Neither wanted to use his full name for fear of police reprisal. Salem smuggles weapons, olives, tomatoes and canned food through the tunnels into Gaza. Olives cost about $100 per carton. Animals, such as a tiger or small elephant for the Gaza zoo, cost as much as $20,000, Salem said.

“But there’s a red line,” he said. “We refuse to allow suicide bombers through the tunnels to bomb Israeli targets from the Egyptian side. And we won’t smuggle hostages,either. I was once offered $500,000 to smuggle an Israeli hostage to Islamist groups in Gaza. I refused.”

Truth is that most of the problems facing Gaza; from water, food, construction material, medical equipment and most important Fuel Supplies are due to Israel Unfair and illegal blockade of the Mediterranean Port of Gaza, and Now added to the latest punitive measures implemented for Israel, punishing the innocent population of Gaza for the Unity deal reach by the two main factions, the Price Gouging in the Egyptian fuel prices had put Gaza in its darkest moments.
Hamas and Fatah have decided to work as a team and elect their leaders in the next elections, decision that was not welcome by Israel.

A Palestine United will be a invincible force against the tactics of divide and conquer used by Israel.

The Unity will boots the mood of  Palestinians and will give them a respite in this internal conflict.

The constant harassment from both of the parties in Gaza and West Bank have been a tremendous drain of energy in the fight against the occupation.

Egypt wants to stop the passage of fuel through tunnels under the border between the countries,  the official Rafah terminal is not equipped for goods transfers and its development is restricted to people only by an agreement between Egypt, Israel and the West Bank-based Palestinian Authority. We wonder whose interest serve this close door agreement that undermine the well being of almost 2 million people in Gaza…

The agreement still in force since 2006, after Hamas won the election in 2007, Israel and PA have tried to castigate Hamas for wining the elections; for the PA a political pressure exercised to their political enemy, and for Israel to push the PA to take back Gaza.

There is no secret that PA has been a playmate to implement most of the policies dictated by Israel, and Hamas has not.

But the internal agreements convened in Cairo and Doha has not bring benefits for Gaza, even thought the fuel is a bare necessity for Gaza to run the hospitals, schools, Official business and households is not meet yet.

As Monday the 20 of February Fuel from Egypt was yet to be transferred to Gaza despite assurances it would arrive on Sunday to alleviate an energy crisis, a power authority official said Sunday afternoon.

“The current crisis is a political problem that started six years ago. The Israeli occupation, the Palestinian Authority’s refusal to provide the Gaza Strip with funds, and the policy of Egypt which is dealing with Gaza out of security calculations, have all contributed to the current situation,” said Hamas government spokesman Fawzi Barhoum.

The constant battle for public support have pushed Hamas to put the PR campaign first, instead of the welfare of Gaza. The refusal t0 buy the Israel fuel has been the pivotal point in this electricity shortage. I m that sounds to said but, we know that Israel is the occupying power, and control what enters and don’t. Most of the deals are done behind doors, and what transpire is obvious.

If Israel control the money that enters Gaza, and Israel collect the taxes of the Palestinians society, and the money donated by the International community is obvious to assume that Israel and the Government of Gaza have their mechanism to transfer the money, the goods, and the embargo as well.

Israel ‘approved’ companies provide much of the fuel necessities of Gaza, the rest is bought, and smuggle thru the tunnels.

Last year when the European Union stop the funneling of funds to Gaza, the first blackest days started to feel in Gaza, and the deterioration of the electrical Plant due to the impossibility to import parts, and the lack of fuel to run it, put Gaza in the Dark.The only plant was providing electricity on schedule. Where only the people working for the government knew exactly when will the light will come.

Heart of darkness

Karl Schembri Photo

-Wasfi Al Nider sits motionless on a couch with his legs stretched looking at a small screen. Whenever it goes blank, it is the sign of yet another power cut hitting Gaza. But unlike the frustrations of thousands of others working on computers or watching TV, the screen the 63-year-old is looking at is connected to his blood and a kidney dialysis machine.
“Whenever there is a blackout, I’m in Allah’s hands,” Wasfi says. “The machine just stops, blood stops circulating, I just cry. Then we have to wait until the generator starts.”-  A journalist Jorney

Thousands of electrical devices were ruined because the electrical unannounced cuts, if you did not have Outrage Plug Protector, you were out of luck, and your computer most probably was blown out.

The entrance of fuel thru the tunnels not never stopped completely, and the smuggling of petrol that serve the private residents also never stopped. The dark side of Gaza can be see in the belt of the refugee camps, and in the impoverished neighborhoods that can not effort generators and/or fuel.

Gaza like any other society in the world, regardless of its state of war, and blockade to the outside of the world, has it blocks of ‘Rich’ families that never have felt the blockade, at least not with full force as the rest of the population.

Gaza is comprised mostly of refugee camps, where thousands of Palestinians linger waiting for freedom, not every one enjoy the benefit of being connected to the ‘Grid’, still now thousands of families live in tents, and in half destroy homes that lit their nights with candles and if they are lucky enough to have a working person they will have little money to share electricity provided by a better accommodated neighbor that have the luxury to have a generator.

Most of the petrol that enters under the line ‘Tunnels’ comes with a stiffly tag price, not all the fuel that enters Gaza is controlled by the Government.

Gaza like any other region of the world, have their hustlers, ‘this active group’ of Palestinians that would is not deterred by the occupation, or the blockade and they find the ways to make ‘little money’ even if it means doubling the prices of the already expensive fuel prices.

This business goes both ways, in the Egyptian side and the Palestinians side in Rafah where all the tunnels are situated.

Sad as it sounds it is a reality, and Money it is the wheel that moves Gaza Society.

As I m finishing this article some developments are moving along in Gaza on the order of fuel, they received some Diesel from Egypt under a contract but not enough to satisfy the whole Gaza. They were talking of 5000 littler of diesel a day will cross to Gaza, but Gaza needs 100,000 littler of Gas at least to serve a population of almost 2,000,000.

(akashmanews.com / 22.02.2012)

Among 100s injured in #BabaAmr of #Homs 2day a French journo in critical condition&an American in okay No1 has been treated so far#Syria

protesters in Daria, Damascus hold a sign “why can’t a Christian woman become president of #Syria?” in reference to proposed Constitution

#Arbeen #Damascus #Syria - 22nd feb 2012 anti government demonstration this evening in the Qodsaya area of Damascus

#BackWhenIwasaKid I watched my dad and all my uncles live very far away from there own country in fear of reprisals #SyriaOnMyMind

The resilience and determination of the Syrian revolutionaries will never be forgotten. So fucking proud to be a Syrian #Justice4Syria

Takes a human being with a beating pulse to know the cries in Syria are the cries of the oppressed all over the world #Justice4Syria

#IStandWithSyria not because I am Syrian but because I am human

BREAKING: Very, very strong and loud explosion in New Aleppo for an unknown reason

When Assad Won — the differences and similarities between Syria’s modern-day revolt, and the guerilla war in the ’80s