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Generational Dynamics Web Log for 2-Sep-2011
2-Sep-11 World View -- U.N. flotilla report raises Turkey-Israel tensions

Web Log - September, 2011

2-Sep-11 World View -- U.N. flotilla report raises Turkey-Israel tensions

Pakistan and India armies exchange fire in Kashmir

This morning's key headlines from GenerationalDynamics.com.

* Pakistan and India armies exchange fire in Kashmir
* U.N. report on flotilla calls Israel's actions legal but excessively violent
* Palestinians may settle for being a U.N. "Observer State"
* High-profile official resigns from Syria's government in protest
* Russia's Soyuz Program Crashes and Burns

Pakistan and India armies exchange fire in Kashmir

Indian subcontinent, highlighting Kashmir and Jammu

Indian subcontinent, highlighting Kashmir and Jammu

India's army opened "unprovoked" fire across the Line of Control (LoC) in Kashmir, killing three Pakistani soldiers, according to Pakistan's army. The LoC is the artificial boundary dividing Kashmir into the Pakistan-controlled and India-controlled regions. However, India's army has a different story. "They opened fire first and we retaliated … In the morning again they started firing mortars again and we retaliated and the exchange of fire continued." Reuters

U.N. report on flotilla calls Israel's actions legal but excessively violent

A leaked copy of a U.N. report on the May 31, 2010, "Freedom Flotilla" incident that resulted in the deaths of 9 Turks at the hands of Israel's armed forces says that Israel's actions were legal and justified, but that they were excessively brutal and violent. According to the report:

"Israel faces a real threat to its security from militant groups in Gaza. The naval blockade was imposed as a legitimate security measure in order to prevent weapons from entering Gaza by sea and its implementation complied with the requirements of international law. ...
Although people are entitled to express their political views, the flotilla acted recklessly in attempting to breach the naval blockade. The majority of the flotilla participants had no violent intentions, but there exist serious questions about the conduct, true nature and objectives of the flotilla organisers. ...
Israeli Defence Forces personnel faced significant, organised and violent resistance from a group of passengers when they boarded the Mavi Marmara requiring them to use force for their own protection. Three soldiers were captured, mistreated, and placed at risk by those passengers. Several others were wounded. ...
No satisfactory explanation has been provided to the panel by Israel for any of the nine deaths. Forensic evidence showing that most of the deceased were shot multiple times, including in the back, or at close range has not been adequately accounted for in the material presented by Israel."

Guardian

A furious Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said that irrespective of anything that the leaked U.N. report says, Turkey's demands of Israel are unchanged: official apology, compensation to families of the victims and lifting the Gaza blockade. Davutoglu said that Friday is the last chance for Israel to apologize. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that Turkey intends now to move on to "Plan B," which will include a campaign against Israel to be carried out at UN institutions, legal action against senior Israeli figures in European courts, and an end to military cooperation between Turkey and Israel. Zaman (Istanbul)

Palestinians' may settle for being a U.N. 'Observer State'

If, as expected, the United States vetoes the Palestinian bid for admission to the United Nations as a sovereign state in the Security Council, then the Palestinians can ask the General Assembly for Palestine to be admitted as an "Observer State," which would not require Security Council approval. It would allow the Palestinians to level charges against Israel in the International Criminal Court, or to invite U.N. peacekeepers into the West Bank and Gaza, resulting in at least a legal confrontation with Israeli troops. Time

High-profile official resigns from Syria's government in protest

Judge Adnan Mohammad al-Bakkour, the attorney-general of Hama, a major city of Syria, has resigned in the first high-profile defection from the regime of president Bashar al-Assad. "I, Judge Adnan Mohammad al-Bakkour, Hama province Attorney-General, declare that I have resigned in protest of the savage regime's practices against peaceful demonstrators," he said. Reuters

Russia's Soyuz Program Crashes and Burns

With America's space shuttle fleet in mothballs, Nasa is depending on Russia's Soyuz rockets to transport supplies and astronauts to the international space station. But the recent crash of a Soyuz rocket on a supply mission is more than just an embarrassment for Russia's space industry. The accident follows a series of mishaps in the space program. These mishaps have shattered public confidence in the aging Russian technology, which is crucial to the future of manned spaceflight. Spiegel

(Comments: For reader comments, questions and discussion, see the 2-Sep-11 News -- U.N. flotilla report raises Turkey-Israel tensions thread of the Generational Dynamics forum. Comments may be posted anonymously.) (2-Sep-2011) Permanent Link
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Generational Dynamics Web Log for 2-Sep-2011 2-Sep-11 World View -- U.N. flotilla report raises Turkey-Israel tensions

Pakistan and India armies exchange fire in Kashmir

U.N. report on flotilla calls Israel's actions legal but excessively violent

Palestinians' may settle for being a U.N. 'Observer State'

High-profile official resigns from Syria's government in protest

Russia's Soyuz Program Crashes and Burns

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Generational Dynamics Web Log for 2-Sep-2011
2-Sep-11 World View -- U.N. flotilla report raises Turkey-Israel tensions