Re: Fw: The Media Line MidEast Daily

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On Sun, May 22, 2011 at 2:50 PM, wrote:

From: medialine@list.themedialine.org medialine@list.themedialine.org

To: MEDaily@list.themedialine.org MEDaily@list.themedialine.org

Sent: Sun May 22 04:42:14 2011

Subject:The Media Line MidEast Daily

Israelis Downplay Friction between Obama and Netanyahu

Against the background of world media reports of a burgeoning rift between longtime rivals Barack Obama and Benjamin Netanyahu, Israeli leaders are trying to downplay the negatives and focus on points of confluence in the American president's Mideast policy speech delivered last Thursday. A Netanyahu spokesman told reporters in Washington on Saturday that the bad feelings are being "blown way out of proportion" while invoking the often-heard cliché about spats between friends. Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak told an Israeli television station that the Obama speech was "not that bad? He suggested that reference to Israel retaining settlement blocs is a good thing and parsed that the Obama reference to 1967 borders merely indicated a starting point for negotiations. The official statements are far more accepting than is the reaction on the street. Israel's political right, in particular, sees the Obama comments as a declaration of support for the Palestinian positions and a threat to Israeli security. On Sunday, President Obama stands before a pro-Israel audience, directly testing the reaction by Israel's American supporters for the first time since his speech. On Saturday, Nabil Shaath, a senior adviser to Palestinian Authority head Mahmoud 'Abbas, told reporters that plans to declare statehood and seek U.N. approval are on course for September despite President Obama's disapproval with that approach. Notwithstanding frequent references to Palestinian intentions to utilize the United Nations in declaring statehood, officials remain unclear on what exactly that course entails.

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Syria Shoots and Kills 11 Mourners at Funeral

Syrian troops opened fire on mourners at a funeral on Saturday leaving at least 11 dead and at least a score wounded. The services were for ten others killed by President Al-Asad's troops during an anti-government demonstration on Friday (a total of 44 people were killed on Friday throughout the nation). Saturday's funeral massacre took place on the outskirts of the city of Homs. Details are sketchy because foreign reporters remain banned from Syria. News agencies reported other killings, including at least one in a Damascus suburb that was reported by an eyewitness via telephone. According to rights organizations, the six-week death toll now exceeds 800 Syrians killed by Al-Asad's forces.

U.N. Special Tribunal for Lebanon Tracking Person Responsible for Hariri Assassination

The prosecutor in charge of the United Nation's Special Tribunal for Lebanon which is investigating the 2005 assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafiq Al-Hariri now believes those responsible for Al-Hariri's killing are Syrians and wants additional funding to flesh-out his leads. A journalist for the French daily Le Figaro has reported on his blog that new information has led to the change of course which could take the heat off of Hizbullah, whose operatives have long been expected to be indicted. The head of Hizbullah has threatened violence if and when his men are indicted and disagreement over whether to support the U.N. investigation brought down Lebanon's last government. The assassination, which resulted in Syria withdrawing its troops from Lebanon after 29 years, immediately elicited accusations of Syrian involvement.

Suicide Attack in Afghanistan for Second Consecutive Day

One day after a suicide bomber killed six people in Kabul, at least three machine gun-wielding suicide bombers shot their way into the headquarters of the traffic police in Khost, a city in eastern Afghanistan. Reports indicate the gunmen took up positions on the second floor of the building and began shooting down at police and soldiers. The attack began at about 5:30am and remains unresolved as we go to press. One news agency reported that three policemen died in the initial assault.

British Mission in Iraq Ends

British participation in the war in Iraq comes to an end on Sunday. Participation by the U.K. began in 2003 and ends on May 22 with a halt to the British navy's training of Iraqi sailors. According to the BBC, London had 46,000 troops in Iraq at the peak of its mission there. The majority had been withdrawn in July 2009, with the naval training program remaining British effort.

NEW FROM THE MEDIA LINE

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SUNNI AND SHIITE PARLIAMENTARIANS CLASH IN KUWAIT

http://www.themedialine.org/news/news_detail.asp?NewsID=32224

PALESTINIANS BEMOAND FAILURE TO EXPLOIT SOCIAL MEDIA

http://www.themedialine.org/news/news_detail.asp?NewsID=32225

VIDEO: LEGISLATORS ON EDGE OVER OBAMA

http://media.themedialine.org/media/110517_obama%20bibi.wmv

VIDEO: ANNEXING JEWISH COMMUNITIES ON WEST BANK

http://media.themedialine.org/media/110516_danon.wmv

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The Media Line (TML) is an American non-profit news organization established to enhance and balance media coverage in the Middle East, promote independent reporting in the region, and break down barriers to understanding in the Arab and Israeli journalism communities.

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Lead Story in Context
Issue: Israel's Jewish Identity. What Does it

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Mean?

MidEast Week

PA: Made "Generous" Offer; Israel: "Bring it to the Table"
Legislators on Edge over Obama
Annexing Jewish Communities in West Bank
Syrian Palestinians Storm Israeli Border
Palestinians React to Bin Laden's Death

More Video

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More Audio

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