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Israeli security cabinet set to discuss compromise, as Palestinian Authority cuts off all ties

The crisis in the Holy Land reached a critical mass over the weekend, as tensions over the Temple Mount/Al-Aqsa Mosque failed to dissipate, but, rather, exploded into scenes of carnage.

Three Israelis in the West Bank community of Halamish, who had gathered to celebrate the birth of a grandson, were brutally stabbed to death while eating their Sabbath dinner by a Palestinian teen, Omar al-Abed, who wrote on Facebook just hours before the attack that he was answering the call of al-Aqsa.

The slaughter came after five Palestinians were reportedly killed in clashes with Israeli security forces that have extended for ten days, with no signs of abating. The ongoing point of contention is the installation of metal detectors at various entrances to Jerusalems Temple Mountknown to Muslims as Haram Al-Sharifin the wake of the killing of two Israeli police officers on July 14 by Israeli-Arab gunmen who smuggled weapons into the compound.

Muslim leaders say installing magnetometers violates the longstanding status quo governing inter-religious relations at the site, agreed to when Israel voluntarily ceded administrative authority over Judaisms holiest place in the immediate aftermath of the 1967 war (in which its army conquered east Jerusalem). Israel does, however, maintain security control over the site, which accounts for the implementation of what the government describes as necessary enhanced security measures.

Amid the violence, Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas announced he was freezing contact with Israel on all levels until [it] commits to canceling all the [procedures] against our Palestinian people in general and Jerusalem and Al-Aqsa mosque in particular. This includes the suspension of security cooperation between the PA and the Israeli armythe first time Abbas has taken this step during his decade-long tenurelong deemed essential in maintaining order in the West Bank. For its part, the Islamic Waqf (Muslim Trust which administers the holy site) was instrumental in organizing protests against the metal detectors, and said it was likewise unwilling to discuss any compromise until the metal detectors are removed.

Speaking to The Media Line, Lt.-Col. (res.) Alon Eviatar, who previously led an Israeli army (IDF) intelligence unit focused on Palestinian terrorism in the West Bank, explained that the immediate ramifications of the PAs decision to cut ties with Israel may not be severe. Abbas knows he cannot freeze everything. There is still an understanding that the Palestinian security apparatus will work with Israel, but in a grey area, and nobody will talk about it.

Even in the middle of the Second Intifada [the Palestinian uprising from 2000-2005], Eviatar emphasized, the two sides continued to coordinate with each other. It is never an all-or-nothing. Israels ability to handle reduced security coordination was seemingly confirmed by Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman on Sunday, when he told local media that, Weve managed for many years without [full] security cooperation, and well manage now as well.

Moreover, many analysts attribute Abbas move exclusively to political considerations, pointing out that maintaining, at the very least, limited security ties with Israel is in the PAs best interest. The main reason Abbas declared the move is the political situation he is facing, contended Eviatar, who is also a former high-ranking official with COGAT, the Israeli military body that oversees the IDFs activities in the West Bank. Abbas is not popular at home and over the past week his status deteriorated because the Muslimmovements, including Hamas, the Islamic Movement [in Israel], the Waqf, etc are at the forefront of the protests, and more broadly what the Palestinians call the resistance against Israel.

These other bodies reject the security cooperationit is viewed as totally unacceptableand there have long been calls for Abbas to end the ties, Eviatar continued. Nothing is more important than Al-Aqsa, it is the first priority. You cannot imagine the power of the hate against Israel for what is going on, and the players in the Palestinian arena view Abbas as cooperating with the Israeli government during a time when you can feel the tension. He felt boxed in.

The onus thus seemingly falls on Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, who issued a statement expressing deep sorrow over the Halamish killings, while describing the perpetrator as a beast incited by unfathomable hatred. The premier vowed to do the utmost to maintain security and take all necessary measures [to do so]. To this end, Netanyahus security cabinet was set to convene on Sunday to discuss alternatives to the metal detectors, including the option of using full body scanners, not unlike those used at airports.

As a first-step towards a possible compromise, overnightIsraeli police modified the entrance to the Lions Gate of the Old City of Jerusalem, the main access point for Muslim worshipers to the Temple Mount compound. Fenced-off sleeves were erected through which security forces will escort visitors, with newly-installedcameras able to identify suspects carrying weapons. Those behaving suspiciously may also be checked by police using hand-held metal detectors.

Maj.-Gen. Yoav Poly Mordechai, who heads COGAT, confirmed to BBC Arabic that, We are examining options and additional alternatives that will ensure safety and prevent a terror attack from happening again.

We are ready for another solution if the security will return, he continued, we do not want to change the status quo, but I want to say clearlywe want to prevent another attack at this holy site. Why are the Arab leaders not saying this? Is it permitted for Muslims to bring weapons to the third-holiest site for Muslims, and to open fire?

Critics of the government, however, have been asking another question: Is it better for the government to be right or to be smart? arguing that while the placement of the metal detectors may have been justifiable on security grounds, it was nevertheless not advisable given the plausibility doing so could ignite an upheaval; a reality which has, in fact, materialized.

Dr. Yossi Beilin, an architect of the 1993 Oslo Accords who served as a member in the Israeli parliament for twenty years, believes, in this case, that the government acted appropriately, perhaps, but stupidly too, because it is such a sensitive situation and any move can create an excuse for riots and demonstrations in the Muslim world.

As regards the Arab-Islamic world, Dr. Beilin, who held ministerial positions in the governments of Yitzhak Rabin, Shimon Peres and Ehud Barak, explains that Muslims see the situation very differently. They really believe that Israel is doing whatever is necessary to change the status quo. And, regrettably, there are members of the government, including ministers, who are [reinforcing this perception] by saying that Jews should pray atop the Temple Mount.

Echoing the fears of many Israelis and Palestinians, Dr. Beilin concluded, If we are stupid [the violence] will continue and there will be another Intifada and people will be killed on both sides.

If we are wise, however, we will put an end to it today.

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Temple Mount Crisis: Violence Risks Spiraling Out Of Control - The Media Line

Outrage over plans by Poland's governing party to put the judicial system under its political control sparked another day of nationwide protests Saturday, with some people gathering outside the home of ruling party leader Jaroslaw Kaczynski and accusing him of being a dictator.

Polish democracy icon and former President Lech Walesa addressed a protest in Gdansk, urging young Poles to fight to preserve the separation of powers that his Solidarity movement helped to achieve more than a quarter century ago when Poland threw off communist rule.

Later, thousands of government opponents gathered in Warsaw, Krakow and other cities to urge President Andrzej Duda to reject legislation that would give Law and Justice, the conservative ruling party, control of the Supreme Court and the judiciary.

"We are all in danger. Every citizen is in danger now," said Tomasz Gromadka, a 32-year-old playwright protesting in front of the home of Kaczynski, who is the power behind the government and presidency. "Because now they are taking the courts, then they will take the media, they will take everything. But we still have the streets. This is our power. I think we should do whatever we can."

The European Union and many international legal experts say the changes would mark a dramatic reversal for a country that has been hailed as a model of democratic transition over the past quarter century, and move Poland closer toward authoritarianism.

The party "is about to finish democracy," said Ewa Krasucka, a 32-year-old photographer. "Honestly I don't think we will stop him now, but at least in 10 years, in 15 years, when we will still be with these people in the government I will feel good with myself for being here now."

Many of the protesters then moved to the Supreme Court, where people sang John Lennon's "Imagine" and held up candles.

Law and Justice won parliamentary elections in 2015 with nearly 38 percent of the vote, which translated into a slim majority in the parliament. It has maintained support of about 35 to 40 percent of voters, according to recent polls, with many supporting its cash handouts for families and its conservative and pro-Catholic worldview.

The party says the changes are needed to reform a justice system that Kaczynski says was never purged of former communists after that system collapsed in 1989.

In Warsaw, 29-year-old lawyer Marzena Wojtczak disputed that logic, saying many judges working today had actually been anti-communist dissidents and others are too young to have been communists.

Demonstrations have taken place almost every day in Poland over the past week as lawmakers pushed forward with the legislation to impose greater control over the courts.

"This will sound strange, but this is the worst and best moment in Poland since 1989," Tomasz Lis, the editor of Newsweek Polska and an outspoken government critic, said on Twitter. "A great nation is defending democracy and its own freedom."

The Supreme Court's powers include ruling on the validity of elections, and government critics fear the ruling party could use friendly judges to falsify future elections. They also fear the courts, under political pressure, will prosecute political opponents.

After winning power in 2015, Law and Justice has acted quickly to cement its power, prompting numerous street protests.

The party has asserted control over government-owned media, purged the army of most of its leadership and has neutralized the power of the Constitutional Tribunal to block any new legislation that might violate the constitution.

On Saturday, presidential spokesman Krzysztof Lapinski said Duda sees some flaws in the new legislation on the Supreme Court. But he stopped short of saying whether the president would reject the bill or seek the opinion of the Constitutional Tribunal.

Duda has 21 days to sign the bill into law.

The European Commission has expressed its concerns about Poland's judicial changes and recently threatened to strip Poland of its EU voting rights, but has so far proven powerless to do anything. Any sanctions would require unanimity of the remaining 27 EU members.

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Protests across Poland over law to control judiciary - ABC News

The Kentucky Tourism Development Finance Authority gave $18 million in tax breaks to fund a $92 million Noah's Ark theme park.

The creationists behind a tax-payer subsidized replica of Noahs Ark in Kentucky are lashing out at the media for reporting on the parks tax evasion.

MEDIA AND BLOGGERS OUT OF CONTROL RE: ARK, wrote prominent creationist Ken Ham, in all capital letters.

Ham was responding to news that the Ark Encounter theme park lost $18 million in tax breaks after a deed transfer in which the for-profit LLC Answers in Genesis sold the park to a non-profit in an attempt to avoid paying local public safety taxes to Williamstown, Kentucky.

Ham quoted CCO Mark Looy, who said, We are saddened that the City Council did not extend the courtesy of discussing this ordinance with us before passing it and taking it public, and was not willing to negotiate further.

However, the Ark has burned enough bridges in town that the City Council may have been left with little choice.

They cant be trusted to do the ethical thing, so at this point, the City Council is squarely within their rights to institute rules without contacting Ken Ham first, Hemant Mehta explained. They tried to work together. Ken Ham tried taking advantage of them as hes done many times before with all the tax breaks hes received. What more is there to negotiate?

Not only has Ark Encounter evaded local taxes, but Ken Ham has blamed Williamstown for dreadful attendance at the theme park. Ham has also blamed atheists for tax-payers getting fleeced by the project.

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Media 'out of control': Owner of Ark theme park trashes press for reporting he's ducking taxes - Raw Story

Newly appointed White House Communications Director Anthony Scaramucci has voiced support on social media for strong gun-control laws, which would be a major departure from the positions of President Trump.

After the Sandy Hook shootings at a Connecticut elementary school in December 2012, Mr. Scaramucci tweeted, I have always been for strong gun control laws.

In August 2012, he wrote on Twitter, We (the USA) has 5% of the worlds population but 50% of the worlds guns. Enough is enough. It is just common sense it apply more controls.

The gun-control group Everytown for Gun Safety, led by Trump foe Michael Bloomberg, seized on Mr. Scaramuccis past comments.

Scaramuccis comments underscore recent national polling data: Gun violence prevention is not a partisan issue, said Shannon Watts, founder of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America. A vast majority of Americans including gun owners, NRA members and Republicans overwhelmingly support common-sense gun laws.

She added, While NRA leaders may have a seat at the table in Trumps White House, there are millions of Americans standing on the side of gun safety, possibly including the new White House Communications Director. Its time for the entire White House and current administration to join us in speaking out against gun violence and eradicate the gun lobbys guns everywhere, for anyone agenda.

Excerpt from:
Trump's new White House communications chief has voiced support for gun control - Washington Times

Chinese authorities have implemented measures this week to further tighten control over the online space and wall off access to content it deems undesirable to its citizens.

At least one telecoms carrier, Guangzhou Huoyun Information Technology, has received a directive to start blocking virtual private networks (VPN) used to circumvent the Great Firewall, China's Internet censorship mechanism, reported Reuters on Thursday.

VPN services are used by Chinese Internet users to access overseas search engines such as Google and social media websites like Facebook that are banned in China.

Online news and livestreaming platforms also came under closer scrutiny this week as China extends control of its cyberspace, which it believes should have limits similar to real-world borders and subject to its sovereign laws.

Filtering by Chinese telecoms - required under a law that will take full effect next March - means more overseas VPN services are likely to become unusable in the months ahead.

Observers say this is a tactic to ensure social stability, with a top-level government reshuffle at the 19th Party Congress expected to take place by October.

On Tuesday, Beijing Internet regulators gathered representatives from the country's top online news providers, including Tencent, Baidu and Toutiao, and ordered them to strengthen self-censorship of offensive content, such as reports that "distort the history of China and the (Communist) Party, misinterpret policy directives and promote abnormal values".

Tighter media and Internet controls have also preceded past Communist Party congresses, which take place every five years.

NOV 2012: 18TH CONGRESS

Two months before the big event, over 4,000 media and education-related microblogs were shut down. The authorities said the accounts impersonated well- known media personalities and real media outlets such as CCTV, and were used for extortion and fraud.

In October, a state agency used a meeting of top provincial Internet information officers to warn news and commercial websites of their duty to report "responsibly and positively" on the party congress, and that the authorities would "resolutely investigate and deal with harmful information, spreading of rumours and vulgar information".

OCT 2007: 17TH CONGRESS

Half a year before the congress, Beijing released a top-level circular stressing the importance of "strengthening the construction of Internet culture".

The state regulator for news and Internet publications interpreted this as the need for "civilised online publishing and to purify the online publishing space".

In June that year, China announced that a joint operation by the Ministry of Public Security, the Central Propaganda Department and other agencies had taken down more than 100 websites that spread pornography and "other harmful information".

On the same day, China's top cyberspace agency and its anti-pornography office said they will increase oversight of livestreaming platforms to prevent the Internet environment from being "polluted by unhealthy or illegal information".

The latest clampdowns come after two days of partial WhatsApp blockage in China following the death of Nobel Peace laureate Liu Xiaobo last week.

Lianhe Zaobao's website was also blocked by the Chinese firewall during the same period, although it is now back to normal. Experts see a link between events deemed politically sensitive by Beijing and tighter Internet and information control in China.

Associate Professor Fu King-wa, an expert on Chinese media with the University of Hong Kong (HKU), noted that the WhatsApp outage came after users began to circulate pictures related to the Chinese dissident on the platform.

"In 2014, Instagram was similarly blocked after people began posting pictures of the Umbrella Revolution in Hong Kong, which people in the mainland could see," he told The Straits Times.

The measures also come on the heels of multiple Internet-related regulations such as on procurement of critical network infrastructure and the controversial new Cybersecurity Law that took effect last month.

More than 90 per cent of Chinese netizens access news through their mobile phones, according to a survey by the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences last year.

The new laws show that China's vision of centralised cyber control is coming together, said Mr David Bandurski, an editor at HKU's China Media Project.

"We can be sure that as the news in China increasingly goes digital, and as television goes mobile, the Cyberspace Administration of China's power will grow," he wrote on his blog.

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China extends control over its cyberspace - The Straits Times