Pope supports Palestinian state

Per BBC, Pope Benedict XVI shows his approval and support for the Palestinians' right to a homeland, as he continues a Middle East tour in the West Bank.

In Bethlehem the Pope called for a "just and lasting" peace in the region and encouraged the citizens of Palestine to denounce acts of violence and terrorism.

Twitter users in the region speak about the Pope's visit:

1. 
   Pnina (Jerusalem) G'morning from Jerusalem, where the Pope is currently a 5 min walk from my house. Think he'd like to try a hafooch? 11 May 2009 from web
2. 
   JerusalemBureau (Jerusalem) I think the #Pope's walkout reflects politics, not integrity 11 May 2009 from Tweetie in reply to miguelg1964
3. 
   fatherjonathan (Rome, Italy) Doing radio tour today on Pope's visit to Jordan and Israel. One host expressed shock the Pope would call for a two-state solution. What?! 13 May 2009 from web

Some citizens are inconvenienced by the Pope:

1. 
   ASoldiersMother (Jerusalem, Israel) Tell that to the pope! Wanted to get across town yesterday...but driving there wasn't an option :-) At least 2day is better. 13 May 2009 from TweetDeck in reply to SusanZelinski
2. 
   sarijos (Jerusalem) no traffic snarls today :-) The pope is still visiting somewhere else 13 May 2009 from TweetDeck
3. 
   carolw (Israel) Spent the day in Jerusalem. Only inconvenienced by the Pope once. 13 May 2009 from web
4. 
   jerrib247 (Jerusalem, Israel) The Pope being in Jerusalem is a traffic nightmare! Whole sections of the city are closed down. What a pain. 13 May 2009 from TweetDeck

Pope supports Palestinian state

UN appoints war crimes investigator to Gaza

Per BBC and Al Jazeera, the United Nations has appointed a team to investigate possible war crimes committed by Israel during its 22-day offensive in Gaza. The team will be led by South African judge Richard Goldstone, former investigator to Yugoslavia and Rwanda, with a mandate to focus only on Palestinian victims.

International human rights groups have alleged that Israel irresponsibly used high-powered weapons in densely populated areas, causing up to 900 civilian deaths out of the 1,100 to 1,400 killed, per the articles. The Israeli Defense Force (IDF) has countered that only a quarter of those killed were civilians. They have also claimed that Hamas used human shields.

Some Twittered about the claims about soldiers' actions and a recent op-ed.

1. 
   SanMan_ish testimony by Israeli soldiers substantiates charges that Israel's Gaza Strip assault entailed grave violations of international law. sad :( 05 Apr 2009 from TweetDeck
2. 
   hacktivism Israel on Trial: by George BisharatSAN FRANCISCO - Chilling testimony by Israeli soldiers substantiates charges .. http://tinyurl.com/cvh8wd 05 Apr 2009 from Identica
3. standwithus #israel #standwithus TV INTERVIEW ON SOLDIERS SPEAK OUT: Here is a TV interview from today (.. http://tinyurl.com/c5lm9p (expand)

   6 days ago from twitterfeed · Reply · View Tweet

Others responded to the UN investigation.

1. 
   Azizur (Manchester, UK) UK Politician says "Israel stands accused of war crimes witnessed by the whole world" | Ilmseeker http://ow.ly/23Te 04 Apr 2009 from HootSuite
2. 
   JURISTnews (Pittsburgh, PA) Israel criticizes UN Gaza war crimes investigation http://tinyurl.com/c3wrlz 04 Apr 2009 from twitterfeed
3. 
   tweetybirdt Should America put more pressure on Israel to avoid what happened in Gaza? 05 Apr 2009 from web
4. badbusiness Israel is brutalizing international law, in ways that may long outlast the demolition of Gaza.

UN appoints war crimes investigator to Gaza

Jenin youth orchestra director expelled

Per Haaretz, a daily newspaper in Israel, the founder of the Jenin Youth Orchestra has been expelled from the refugee camp where he was working today.

Wafa Younis, the orchestra's Israeli director, created a children's orchestra in a Jenin refugee camp. The children then played for Arabs and Holocaust survivors, an action that caused anger within the camp, according to Haaretz.

Here's what Twitterers had to say about the incident:

1. 
   tregan (Loudon County, Va.) This is truly dumb. Palestinian youth orchestra from Jenin that played for Holocaust survivors now not welcome in camp: http://is.gd/pzoE
2. 
   jewlicious (Jerusalem, Israel) @skalik #nudersh Palestinian Orchestra? Obviously not this one from Jenin: http://tinyurl.com/cm2f74 So sad...
3. 
   jamespyles (Boise, Idaho) PA expels founder of Jenin youth orchestra over concert for survivors http://is.gd/qkuN PA punishes an actual attempt to really coexist.
4. 
   ladamenoire (Mich.) Kids from Jenin perform for Shoah survivors, orchestra gets shut down. Flat out ignorant. http://is.gd/qlyR

Jenin youth orchestra director expelled

New Bin Laden tape surfaces

Per Al Jazeera, al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden called the Israeli offensive in Gaza a "holocaust" and criticized some Arab leaders for not doing enough in the conflict in the latest audio tape attributed to him.

It appears Twitter may have broken this story for some. These two tweets popped up from journalists before the news had gone mainstream:

@W7VOA (New Delhi, India): Looks like another Osama bin Laden audio tape is coming out today.



@jimsciuttoABC (Zimbabwe): Al Jazeera airing new bin laden audio tape




Reaction to the tape was strong in the United States.

@sondosia (Beavercreek, Ohio): If Bin Laden thinks Israel's offensive on #Gaza was a holocaust, I wonder what he thinks of 9/11?



@BeckaBella (Georgia): We've spent how many trillions in Iraq?...And Bin Laden is still making movies!



@jenciTN (Jackson, Tenn.): Dear Osama Bin Laden: SHUT THE F UP! (that's all) (sorry for the strong language folks, hope you understand)



@david_a_stein (Orange County, Calif.): Well he is back, looks like Bin Laden has released a new tape, this time calling for worldwide jihad. http://tiny.cc/sNgbj



A twitterer in Germany wondered about Bin Laden's method of communication.

@doestrei (Mittweida, Germany): N24 berichtet Bin Laden hat sich per Audiobotschaft gemeldet. Haben die kein Twitter in den pakistanischen Höhlen? (N24 Bin Laden has been reported with the audio message. Do not Twitter in the caves of Pakistan?)


Global Post has a video of the audio recording on its Web site with English subtitles.

New Bin Laden tape surfaces

Hamas condemns rocket fire

Per BBC, a recent round of rocket fire from Gaza into southern Israel has drawn a warning from Hamas leaders to those responsible. The attacks were "ill-timed," Hamas said in a brief statement, claiming it had nothing to do with the rockets and would seek out those who fired them.

Hamas is in the middle of Egyptian-brokered talks to achieve a long-term ceasefire with Israel. The cessation of rocket fire — which killed 20 civilians in the last 8 years — is one of Israel's conditions for making a deal. Hamas wants Israel to lift its border blockades which are preventing humanitarian supplies from reaching the impoverished region.

Some Twitterers responded to the Jerusalem Post's coverage of the events.

@JerusalemBureau (Jerusalem): @raffale What I don't know = why the #Israeli press now reports on #Hamas stoppng #Gaza rockets. Maybe bcz it wants new truce with #Hamas



@JerusalemBureau (Jerusalem): It's a rhetorical question @raffale The reason why #Israeli reporters didn't report it b4 bcz it'd make #Hamas look sincere #gaza #palestine



@raffale (Las Vegas, NV): @JerusalemBureau have you tried ask Israelis?...:) #israel #middle east #gaza #palestine


@JerusalemBureau (Jerusalem): ?? Why is #Israeli press reporting on #Hamas trying to stop #Palestinian rockets as if this were new? RT @pa5fn: http://tinyurl.com/b35kqh


Others pointed to the continued hostilities since each side declared ceasefires in January.

Al Jazeera wrote that the Israeli military has reported 176 missiles have hit since the cesssation of fighting, though none fatal. Meanwhile Israel continued air strikes on Gaza tunnels.


@DeTocqueville: Since the end of hostilities in Gaza, Hamas has fired 160 rockets. So much for peace.




@Jew4palestine: RT @AntoniaZ: RT codepinkalertrt @Kim1811: We just heard bomb blasts. Isreali F16s are dropping bombs on Rafah. #gazacp #gaza #iwd #israel


Some looked to put the issue in historical context.

@markc (Marouba, Australia): @cameronreilly They did. It was called the Balfour Declaration http://is.gd/e1aI (expand)



@cameronreilly: @markc if Israel accepted the two-state solution that the UN has been pushing for since 1975, maybe Hamas wouldnt send the rockets.

Hamas condemns rocket fire

Clinton visits Middle East to talk peace

Per BBC, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton arrived in Israel to begin the Obama administration's peace efforts. Clinton first attended a conference in Egypt where U.S. and world donors pledged almost $4.5 billion to rebuild Gaza. The U.N. has identified at least 1,008 buildings destroyed or damaged in Israel's recent incursion there (BBC map).

Clinton will meet with Israel's newly-chosen Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and majority leader Tzipi Livni. As previously reported by Breaking Tweets, Netanyahu is charged with forming a new coalition government which Livni's Kadima party has as yet refused to join.

Clinton has said the new U.S. administration is committed to the creation of a Palestinian state, though Netanyahu has refused to commit to the idea.

A few Twitter users cited anger directed at Clinton when her office reportedly said Israel is not doing enough to improve the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

@crazycatkid (New York): @jaredremington What else is new? Hillary selling out Israel/Americn Jews? http://www.cbsnews.com/stor... Remember her kiss w/Mrs Arafat?

@jaredremington (NY/CT): Hillary selling out Israel / American Jews? http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/02/27/national/main4833133.shtml #tcot



Some conservatives in the Twitterersphere questioned why the U.S. plans to give aid to Palestinians at all.

@desertrat0073: Why is H. Clinton promising $900M to Gaza through the Palestinian Authority when terror group Hamas will benefit? THEY ARE ISRAEL'S ENEMY!

@Rightwoman: #Israel Debka reporting US $ pledged aid will be "strengthening Hamas and paying Iran for arming the Palestinian Islamist terrorists."#TCOT

Others commented on the U.S. administration's plans to actively pursue peace.

@TheySayNothing: Tiny steps - Clinton says Israel should show Palestinians the benefits to negotiating. http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0309/19494.html

@shayalerner: Clinton asks Israel to help create "viable" Palestinian state - http://tinyurl.com/apn84s (expand)

A Twitter feed tracking Clinton followed her into the Middle East with updates and photos.

@ClintonNews (Washington, D.C.): A Perspective From the Press Filing Center http://twurl.nl/tp2ai6

@ClintonNews (Washington, D.C.): Secretary Clinton Arrives in Egypt http://twurl.nl/zx8k3q

One Twitterer posted a link to a blog post containing text of Clinton's remarks at the Gaza aid conference.

@Jinjirrie: RT @EANewsFeed: New blog post: Text: Hillary Clinton Speech to #Gaza Donors Conference http://tinyurl.com/dmchoa (expand)

Clinton visits Middle East to talk peace

Israel shells Lebanon in response to rockets

Per BBC, a rocked launched by an unknown source from southern Lebanon hit northern Israel and lightly wounded three people, the Israeli army said. The Israeli government retaliated by launching at least six artillery shells according to sources in Lebanon, the article said. It is not yet known whether any injuries were caused.

Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora denounced both attacks, calling the Israeli shelling "an unacceptable and unjustified violation of Lebanese sovereignty," according to BBC. He condemned the use of Lebanese territory for launching rockets and said the fire threatens the stability of the region and of U.N. resolution 1701, which ended the 2006 war between Hezbollah and Israel. Hezbollah said it has no knowledge of the attacks, and Al Jazeera reports the group usually claims responsibility when it acts.

This is the third time rockets have been launched from Lebanon since Israel's 22-day offensive against Gaza that left 1,300 Palestinians and 13 Israelis dead.

The news was met with grim humor and fatigue by some.

@sharagrif (Tel Aviv): Ahhh...rockets from Lebanon... nothing like a little rocket to brighten up a weekend... http://tinyurl.com/cpn4hb

@ltlmsnour (Beiruit): Rockets fired from S. Lebanon onto Israel; Israel retaliates. Glad I'm getting out of this place.

The mother of an Israeli army soldier cheered the country's decision to return fire into Lebanon.

@ASoldiersMother (Jerusalem): rocket hits northern Israel - 3 wounded. More testing from the North. Israel holds Lebanon responsible - a good decision!

Israel shells Lebanon in response to rockets