Muslim women don't have to wear veils: Queen Rania

ROME (AFP) - Islam does not require women to wear veils, Queen Rania
al-Abdullah of Jordan has said in an interview, calling on Muslim
moderates to "make their voices be heard."
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"Islam neither requires one to be practising, nor to dress in one way
or another," the stylish 36-year-old queen told the Italian daily
Corriere della Sera during a visit to Rome on Friday.

"So imposing the veil on a woman is contrary to the principles of
Islam," said Queen Rania, who is in Rome for the launch of a Group of
Seven (G7) programme to develop vaccines against diseases that are
endemic in poor countries.

"Unfortunately, after all the suspicion weighing on Islam, many people
have begun to consider the veil as a political problem, but this is
not the case," she told Corriere. "Wearing the veil is a free personal
choice."

Queen Rania urged "all moderates to stand up and let their voices be heard."

She added: "Many people are frustrated in the Arab world. Many give in
to the anger because they are accused of violence. But instead we
should get up, explain who we are and what we believe in.

"Over the last three years, most victims of terrorism have been
Muslim. So there's not a war between Muslims and non-Muslims, but
between extremists and moderates of all the religions," the queen
said.

"What is important is not to live in fear. The most dangerous (thing
to do) is to give up and lose hope. The main enemy is not terrorism or
extremism, but ignorance," she said.

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Interview with Ayaan Hirsi Ali

Al Hayat: “Bin Laden” authorizes pre-election attacks in France

The London daily Al-Hayat has published a letter that Osama bin Laden wrote in the past to a top GSPC official called "Al-Qassam" in which he permitted terror operations within France.

Al-Hayat reported on a secret French report recently submitted to French government authorities warning of an Al-Qaeda attack prior to the French presidential elections, as happened in Spain in March 2004.

According to the report, the Algerian terror group GSPC, which has, with bin Laden's agreement, recently joined Al-Qaeda, is the biggest threat to France and Europe.

The report also noted the GSPC's connections with Osama bin Laden.

In the same context, the paper published the letter by Osama bin Laden to a top GSPC official permitting terror operations on French territory.

Source: Al-Hayat, London, February 9, 2007

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Israel - 3rd in the world in high tech investments

Straight From The Jerusalem Boardroom #112, February 9, 2007

ACCEL’s MANAGING PARTNER, Joe Schoendorf: “Israel, China and the Silicon Valley are the focus of future technologies

1. MORGAN STANLEY, Jan. 10, 2007: “Foreign capital flows to Israel surged from $3.2BN in 2002 to $11.6BN in 2005 and a record level of $23.4BN last year… The Shekel is fundamentally undervalued against the dollar and even more so against the euro… Despite geopolitical constraints and indeed the eruption of a guerilla war in Lebanon, the Israeli economy has continued to grow at a robust pace…Israel’s economy has the strength to withstand a global slowdown… The Bank of Israel has opted for monetary easing and lowered short-term interest rates even below those in the US…Consumer price inflation declined from 3.8% in April to minus 0.3% in November… Budget deficit [was reduced] from 5.4% of GDP in 2003 to 0.9% last year… The current account surplus is not just a cyclical phenomenon. Israel’s current account balance moved from a deficit of 0.5% of GDP in 2002 to a surplus of 2.9% in 2005 and about 6% [surplus] last year…” (Globes, Jan. 11, 2007).

2. ISRAEL RANKS 3RD IN THE WORLD ($1.4BN) – behind California ($12.4BN) and Massachusetts ($2.8BN), ahead of New York ($1.3BN) and Texas ($1.2BN) – in the level of 2006 high tech investments, according to ERNST YOUNG. The 2006 high tech investment in Israel increased 13% over 2005. According to Israel’s IVC, 2006 totaled $1.6BN, compared with $1.3BN – 2005, $1.5BN – 2004, $1MN – 2003, $1.1BN – 2002, $2BN – 2001, $$3.1BN – 2000 and $1BN – 1999 (The Marker, Jan. 23).

3. ACCEL’s MANAGING PARTNER, Joe Schoendorf: “Israel, China and the Silicon Valley are the focus of future technologies…Over 50% of the $400MN invested by us since 2001, have been invested in 20 Israeli companies…Exacerbated security threats have enhanced technological innovations” (The Marker, Jan. 25).

4. $353MN and $102MN RAISED ON NASDAQ by Israel’s CellCom and Mellanox Technologies respectively, representing market value of $2BN and $500MN respectively (Globes, Feb. 7, Feb. 9).

5. US-based GLASSHOUSE acquired Israel’s MBI and Integrity Systems for $27MN (Globes, Feb. 8). The $1.8BN US-based TESSERA acquired Israel’s EyeSquad for $18MN, its second Israeli acquisition, following ShellCase - $33MN in 2005 (The Marker, Jan. 31). MICROSOFT has acquired Israel’s Secured Dimensions (Globes, Jan. 9). SINGAPORE’s SCIGEN inaugurated its $30MN 120 employees Israel pharmaceuticals plant (The Marker, Jan. 9). NEXTWAVE acquired Israel’s GoNetworks for $15MN and additional $26MN if milestones are met (Globes, Jan. 5).

6. ADAMS STREET PARTNERS led a 5th round of private placement by Israel’s Actelis Networks, along with the CARLISLE GROUP, ATA VC FUND, etc. (Jan. 23). US-based SEQUEL VENTURE PARTNERS, QUEST CAPTIAL and HUNT VENTURES PARTNERSHIP participated in a $20MN round by Israel’s Glucon (Globes, Jan. 22). SEQUOIA CAPITAL, ACCEL PARTNERS, GLOBESPAN CAPITAL PARTNERS participated in a 2nd round by Israel’s Amobee (Globes, Jan. 5). SEQUOIA CAPITAL and ACCEL PARTNERS participated in a $20MN 2nd round by Israel’s Discretix (Globes, Jan. 5). GREYLOCK VENTURES participated in a $14MN 2nd round by Israel’s Camero (Greylock’s 11th Israeli investment), along with ELTA BERKELEY, MOTOROLA VENTURES (The Marker, Jan. 8). INTEL CAPITAL co-led a $12 2nd round by Israel’s Lucid (The Marker, Jan. 2). US-based PILOTHOUSE participated in a $4.5MN round of private placement (Globes, Feb. 2). BENCHMARK invested $4MN and $3.5MN in Israel’s Gigya and Sentrigo respectively (Globes Feb. 5, The Marker Jan. 29). (EARLY STAGE PARTNERS (Cleveland) and ASTRO MFG invested $3MN in Israel’s Simbionix (Feb. 7).

7. HP is hiring 150 software engineers to its Israeli R&D center – which is HP’s largest R&D center in the world - consistent with its Vice President, Tom Hogan’s, statement that “Israel is HP’s winning card!” (Globes, Jan. 22).

8. Israel’s EXPORTS grew by $3.7BN, while IMPORTS increased by $2.7BN. Exports to the US (excluding diamonds) - $9.6BN, Germany - $1.7BN, England - $1.4BN, Holland - $1.3BN, France - $1BN (The Marker, Jan. 18).
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Elie Wiesel nearly kidnaped by a holocaust denier

SAN FRANCISCO - In a bizarre attack, a well-known author and Holocaust scholar was dragged out of a San Francisco hotel elevator by an apparent Holocaust denier who reportedly had been trailing him for weeks.

Police escorted Elie Wiesel to San Francisco International Airport on Feb. 1 after a man accosted Wiesel in the elevator at the Argent Hotel, at 50 Third St., after Wiesel participated in a panel discussion at a peace conference and before Wiesel was scheduled to catch a flight back to New York.

Wiesel, a Holocaust survivor and author of more than 40 books, including the memoir “Night,” about his experiences at Auschwitz, won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1986. Last fall, the Boston University professor was suggested as a possible replacement for Israeli President Moshe Katsav, who faces sexual assault charges.

Read more about Elie Wiesel and his best-selling book "Night."

Police confirmed this week that the attack took place and that officers escorted Wiesel to the airport following the attack. According to police, the suspect accosted Wiesel in the hotel elevator at around 6:30 p.m., saying he wanted to interview him. Wiesel said he would do the interview in the lobby. That’s when the attacker pulled him out of the elevator, police reported.

In a posting Tuesday on the anti-Zionist Web site ZioPedia, a writer using the name Eric Hunt takes credit for the attack: “After ensuring no women would be traumatized by what I had to do (I had been trailing Wiesel for weeks), I stopped the elevator at the sixth floor. I pulled Wiesel out of the elevator. I said I wanted to interview him.”

Wiesel grabbed at his chest and yelled for help, according to the posting. “I told him, ‘Why don’t you want people to know the truth?’ His expression changed, and he began screaming again. …” the posting reads.Police reported that the suspect tried to force Wiesel into one of the rooms, but ran away when Wiesel started yelling.

The online posting states that the writer intended to “bring Wiesel to my hotel room where he would truthfully answer my questions regarding the fact that his non-fiction Holocaust memoir, Night, is almost entirely fictitious.” Later in the posting, the Holocaust is portrayed as a “myth.”

Police haven’t officially idenitifed a suspect, but a source close to the investigation said Eric Hunt is the focus of their probe. Wiesel was in town to speak at the RockRose Institute’s World Conference 2007, Facing Violence, which addressed justice, religion and conflict resolution, according to its press release. The conference included former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright and Juan Mendez, adviser to the U.N. secretary-general, in its list of speakers.

Hotel security alerted police following the incident, and officers from Southern Station arrived at the scene.
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Media and Hezbollah in a death orgy

Qana, last year... Why was this picture never published before?

Context of this picture:

Moslem countries to adopt Yad Sarah model

The Islamic countries of Senegal and Mauritania are interested in franchising Yad Sarah in their countries. In cooperation with Israel’s Foreign Ministry, these two nations’ citizens will benefit from the organization.

Yad Sarah is an Israel-wide network of volunteers aiding disabled, elderly, and housebound people. The organization provides medical equipment to anyone in need.

Meir Hendelsman, the head of International Operations, is expected to visit these two countries in the next two months. Hendelsman will meet with the African countries’ head of health systems and Senegal’s health minister in order to discuss adopting the Yad Sarah model.

Senegal’s Israeli Ambassador Gideon Bachar said the country was extremely interested in uniting with Yad Sarah.

This is not the first time other countries have taken an interest in utilizing the Yad Sarah model.

South American countries have also been showing interest in the Yad Sarah model. The country of El Salvador was the first to adopt the model and is slated to open the first Latin branch of the Israeli organization in the next few months.
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45-yr-old divorces 4-yr-old wife

(IANS)
10 February 2007


ISLAMABAD — Public and media pressure and threat of action by the police forced a man, 45, to divorce a four-year-old child whom he had married under a tribal custom in Dera Ismail Khan. A local panchayat ordered and solemnised the marriage as part of a dispute settlement under the ‘vani’ custom.

Local police arrested 13 people, including members of a panchayat, which had ordered the marriage. Those arrested included Mahboob, the man to whom the girl was married, Alamsher, the girl's father and Saifur Rehman, the panchayat leader.

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4-yr-old Pakistani girl marries 45-yr-old
(AFP)

9 February 2007


DERA ISMAIL KHAN, Pakistan - A four-year old girl was married to a 45-year-old man in a remote Pakistan town to settle a feud, leading to the arrest of 12 people from two families, police said Friday.

The bizarre marriage took place last month on the orders of a Punchayat or tribal council in northwestern Dera Ismail Khan town but police acted only last week after rights activist raised the alarm.

Police said they had taken into custody the accused from both the families involved in the affair as well as members of the punchayat and registered a case for violating law banning child marriage.

The minor, Sumaira, was given in marriage to the middle-aged man, Mahboob Ahmed, as a punishment because the girl’s maternal uncle, Mohammad Farooq, had eloped with the adult niece of the bridegroom, police said.

The punchayat imposed a fine of 150,000 rupees (2,500 dollars) on Farooq and ordered him to give a young girl from his family to Mahboob, police spokesman Malik Ramazan told AFP.

“In order to meet demand of the punchayat, Farooq’s brother-in-law gave his four-year-old daughter in the marriage of Mahboob,” Ramazan said.

The government of President Pervez Musharraf has moved recently to legislate tough measures to end oppressive customs, especially forced marriages and giving minor girls to resolve disputes in the rural areas.
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