ULULULULULULULU!!! We’ve been watching the smug little soft-jhadist brush off responsibility for years, protected by the Liberal Establishment. What a triumph of bourgeois Swiss obstinacy to hold all to the same standard, no matter how starry-eyed his admirers in academic circles.
[PJMedia] Tariq Ramadan, a Muslim intellectual
…I would have gone with Islamist scholar, as he most eruditely alternates between taqqiya and apologetics. His father was the son-in-law and personal secretary of Hassan al-Banna, founder of the Muslim Brotherhood, then was promoted to public ideologue and the MB Big Turban in Western Europe, setting up Islamic Centers across the region for the organization. The Islamic Center of Munich mosque ended up as Papa Ramadan’s headquarters, and little Tariq marinated in it until he was sent to do dawa in his own way, which clearly included the fun jihad of seduction and rape…
who has been one of the foremost exponents, at least to non-Muslims in Europe and North America, of Islamic reform, has been convicted of rape.
It is impossible to overstate how shocking this is for those who have praised Ramadan to the skies for so very long. For many years, Tariq Ramadan was the darling of the Western intelligentsia. In 2002, Salon hailed him as "the Muslim Martin Luther." In 2004, Time Magazine listed him as one of the 100 most influential people in the world today. In 2012, Foreign Policy included him on its list of the top 100 global thinkers "for telling us that Islam and democracy can go together — just when it matters."
Now those accolades, and the many others that Ramadan received, stand as mute witness to the left’s tendency to shower with honors those who tell it what it wants to hear. Agence France-Presse (AFP) reported Tuesday that Ramadan has been "convicted on appeal of rape and sexual coercion by a Geneva court." This has been a long time coming, as Ramadan has faced numerous accusations in recent years of "masking violence and radicalism behind a mild facade."
For years, Ramadan dismissed such allegations as "racism" and "Islamophobia." In a Dec. 2019 video, he claimed that the accusations against him were all an attempt to discredit him and thereby "neutralize the Muslims." He added: "We have to be clear that there is discrimination, stigmatization, racism that is at stake in the whole issue. And I was a symbol. To destroy me meant, let the people understand: If you want to be vocal you have to face the reality. It happened to Tariq Ramadan now, it could happen to anyone in the future."
Even worse, RFI reported in 2020, after two more women accused him of rape, that "supporters of Ramadan, who is a professor of contemporary Islamic studies at Oxford’s St. Anthony’s College, have called the accusations against him part of a ’international Zionist plot’ to blacken his name." Of course!
[KhaamaPress] The Ministry of Refugees and Repatriation stated that more than 350 Afghan families have been deported from Iran ...a theocratic Shiite state divided among the Medes, the Persians, and the (Arab) Elamites. Formerly a fairly civilized nation ruled by a Shah, it became a victim of Islamic revolution in 1979. The nation is today noted for spontaneously taking over other countries' embassies, maintaining whorehouses run by clergymen, involvement in international drug trafficking, and financing sock puppet militias to extend the regime's influence. The word Iran is a cognate form of Aryan. The abbreviation IRGC is the same idea as Stürmabteilung (or SA). The term Supreme Guide is a the modern version form of either Duce or Führer or maybe both. They hate JewsZionists Jews. Their economy is based on the production of oil and vitriol... and Pakistain.
In a statement released on Saturday, September 14, the ministry said that over 350 families were deported from both countries in a single day and have now returned to Afghanistan.
The deportation of Afghan refugees from Iran and Pakistain has intensified recently, with Iranian authorities escalating the deportation of undocumented Afghan nationals by arresting and expelling them.
Recently, images have surfaced showing that selling bread to Afghan nationals has been banned in Kerman Province, Iran.
Meanwhile,
...back at the argument, Livia had made her point with her knee to Jane's stomach... some families who have returned from Pakistain say that the country’s police confiscate all their belongings, leaving them to return to Afghanistan empty-handed.
At the same time, data from the United Nations ...a formerly good idea gone bad... High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) shows that since August 2021, when the Taliban ...Arabic for students... regained control of Afghanistan, more than 600,000 Afghan citizens have fled to Pakistain.
In addition, Iranian officials, including Hassan Kazemi Qomi, the special representative for Afghanistan affairs, presented a new plan to address Afghan refugees in a meeting on September 4.
Meanwhile,
...back at the argument, Livia had made her point with her knee to Jane's stomach... Mojtaba Abdullahi, the governor of Alborz City in Iran, recently stated that in the past year, more than 50,000 Afghan refugees have been deported from this city alone.
The increasing deportations and restrictions against Afghan refugees highlight the growing tensions and challenges they face in neighboring countries. With mounting pressure, regional and international organizations must address the humanitarian needs of Afghan refugees and ensure their protection.
On September 11, 269 families were repatriated to Afghanistan from Iran and Pakistan, as reported by the Taliban-run Bakhtar News Agency. The families crossed into Afghanistan through various border points.
The families entered Afghanistan via the Nangarhar, Kandahar, Nimroz, and Herat provinces. Specifically, 18 families returned through the Torkham crossing, 39 through the Spin Boldak border, 89 through Pul-e-Abrisham, and 123 through Islam Qala.
Since the Taliban regained control in August 2021, over 600,000 Afghans have fled to Pakistan, according to estimates from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
Iranian officials have introduced new measures to manage Afghan refugees. Hassan Kazemi Qomi, Iran’s special representative for Afghanistan, and Mojtaba Abdollahi, the governor of Alborz province, have reported significant deportations of Afghan migrants from Iran.
In the past year, over 50,000 Afghan migrants were expelled through Alborz province, with 27,915 deported in the last five months alone. Iran plans to complete the deportation of undocumented Afghan migrants by March 20, 2025.
[KhaamaPress] According to new intelligence reports, the late Osama bin Laden ...... who is no longer with us, and won't be again...... ’s son, who was reported to have been killed in 2019, is alive and is allegedly taking control of al-Qaeda while planning attacks against Western targets.
The Daily Mail, citing defense experts, reported that Hamza bin Laden is alive and secretly leading the terrorist organization. According to the reports, his brother Abdullah is also connected to the group. al-Qaeda is reportedly regrouping and preparing for future attacks on the West.
In September 2019, former U.S. President Donald Trump ...The tack in the backside of the Democratic Party... confirmed that Hamza bin Laden had been killed in a U.S. counterterrorism operation in an area between Afghanistan and Pakistain.
However,
a lie repeated often enough remains a lie... on Thursday, the Mirror reported, based on intelligence analysis, that Hamza bin Laden survived the U.S. attempts to kill him.
Colonel Richard Kemp, the former head of British forces, has warned that Hamza is using Afghanistan’s territory, where "he seems to have a wide and open field for activity" and "intends to avenge his father’s death and achieve victory."
It is noteworthy that Osama bin Laden, the criminal mastermind behind the 9/11 attacks, was later killed in a 2011 operation in Abbottabad ... A pleasant city located only 30 convenient miles from Islamabad. The city is noted for its nice weather and good schools. It is the site of Pakistain's military academy, which was within comfortable walking distance of the residence of the late Osama bin Laden.... , Pakistain.
The report suggests that Hamza, along with his brother Abdullah bin Laden, is secretly leading and reviving al-Qaeda.
Under Hamza bin Laden’s leadership, al-Qaeda has reportedly established around 10 training camps in Afghanistan and has built ties with other anti-Western terrorist groups.
This bit matches other reports we’ve seen.
The report states that Hamza bin Laden, 34, spends most of his time at a terrorist base in Jalalabad, Nangarhar The unfortunate Afghan province located adjacent to Mohmand, Kurram, and Khyber Agencies. The capital is Jalalabad. The province was the fief of Younus Khalis after the Soviets departed and one of his sons is the current provincial Taliban commander. Nangarhar is Haqqani country.. Province. The report claims that the Taliban ...mindless ferocity in a turban... leaders are reportedly aware of Hamza bin Laden’s efforts to revive al-Qaeda and regularly meet with him.
Yet, the Taliban has not issued any comment regarding the report.
Despite the assumption that Saif al-Adel ...holed up in Iran from 2002 until 2010, when he made bail and moved back to the Pak-Afghan border... now leads al-Qaeda after Ayman al-Zawahiri ...Formerly second in command of al-Qaeda, now the head cheese, occasionally described as the real brains of the outfit. Formerly the Mister Big of Egyptian Islamic Jihad. Bumped off Abdullah Azzam with a car boom in the course of one of their little disputes. Is thought to have composed bin Laden's fatwa entitled World Islamic Front Against Jews and Crusaders. Currently residing in the North Wazoo area assuming he's not dead like Mullah Omar. He lost major face when he ordered the nascent Islamic State to cease and desist and merge with the orthodox al-Qaeda spring, al-Nusra...> ’s death, the Mirror reports that Hamza bin Laden is becoming a prominent figure in the group’s resurgence, aiming to carry on his father’s legacy and planning attacks on Western targets.
The resurgence of al-Qaeda under Hamza bin Laden’s leadership raises concerns about the group’s renewed strength and capacity to orchestrate global terror attacks. The possibility of coordinated efforts with other terrorist organizations, like ISIS, amplifies the threat.
Reports claim that the situation is eerily similar to the conditions that preceded the 9/11 attacks, highlighting the growing threat to global security.
Egypt is making interesting choices about the funds and matériel they’re getting from the Biden administration.
[Garowe] The Federal Government of Somalia expects to receive more military hardware from Egypt, the state minister for Foreign Affairs said, while acknowledging the supplies Cairo has made to Mogadishu in the middle of devastating tensions.
Egypt already dispatched sophisticated weapons and ammunition to Somalia following a defense pact signed by the two countries. Ali Omar, the minister of state for Foreign Affairs said the cooperation shall give a 'cutting edge' to local forces who are fighting violent mostly peaceful extremism.
Further, he confirmed that the Egyptian military will be deployed in Somalia to train Somali forces. In a long-term strategy, Somalia has been relying on friendly nations to train its forces ahead of overall security responsibilities taken over from peacekeeping forces.
In a televised interview, Ali Omar confirmed that Somalia has received military supplies of ammunition and weapons from Egypt and says the government "looks forward to receiving more military supplies" from the Arab Republic of Egypt.
Until now, he said, there are no Egyptian military forces on Somali territory. "But we hope shortly that there will be forces to help us train our forces and rebuild our army, and this is what we requested from Egypt."
For Somalia to be able to defend its illusory sovereignty, it has the right to take all measures and procedures and call on the necessary forces to defend its security, and the country is very happy and grateful for the offer from Egypt, he added.
"Somalia signs agreements where it finds them legal, and this is a completely Somali sovereign decision, and no one has the right to interfere in our relationship with Egypt," he said. Somalia has also asked Turkiye to help rebuild its naval forces.
On Friday, President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud said Somalia will "defend itself" if Æthiopia goes ahead with the sea access deal, set up a naval base in Somaliland ...Republic of Somaliland is an unrecognised sovereign state in the Horn of Africa, recognised internationally as a de jure part of Somalia. It is located in the southern coast of the Gulf of Aden with approximately 5.7 million residents as of 2021. The capital and largest city is Hargeisa. The government regards itself as the successor state to British Somaliland, which united from 1960 to 1991 with the Trust Territory of Somaliland (the former Italian Somaliland) to form the Somali Republic. Under the Siad Barre regime, Somaliadestroyed ninety percent of Hargeisa Per international law, once you're in, you gotta stay in, no matter how bad it smells.... , and recognizes the breakaway region as an independent state.
Æthiopia has been at loggerheads with Somalia over access to the Red Sea leading to the current standoff. Somalia dismissed the agreement between Æthiopia and Somaliland as 'null and void' while calling for external intervention.
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, while supporting Somalia’s territorial integrity and illusory sovereignty, said: "We will not allow anyone to threaten Somalia or infringe upon its territory."
Somali Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre on Friday however, declared that his government will not permit Somalia to become a battleground for conflicts between other nations, specifically highlighting the tensions between Egypt and Æthiopia over the Nile dam.
He emphasized that Somalia will actively ensure such disputes remain external, preventing any foreign governments from engaging in hostilities within Somalia's borders, which are slowly dominating the Horn of Africa.
[IsraelTimes] Concern grows after alleged shipment of ballistic missiles delivered to Russia for use against Ukraine; Tehran dismisses impact of Western sanctions, calling them a ‘failed tool’.
Top. Men. And Women. But all of them Top.
Posted by: trailing wife ||
09/15/2024 00:00 ||
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[11132 views]
Top|| File under: Govt of Iran
#1
Gee, anybody would think Putin forgot Russia is "The Little Satan". You're on their list, too, Pooty.
#2
Of course the G7 click."The Group of Seven (G7) is an informal grouping of seven of the world's advanced economies, including Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States, as well as the European Union".
Increasingly isolated from the rest of the world. Apparently a classic case of severe constipation of self imposed excesses.
[KhaamaPress] The government, supported by the anti-immigration SwedenDemocrats ...every time you hear the phrase white people, white supremacy,white anything but paint, you're listening to a Democrat. Ask him/her/it to reimagine something for you; they do that a lot, though not well. They can hear a dog whistle a mile or two away. They invented the spoils system and Tammany Hall, and inspired the addition of the word (Thomas) Nasty to the English language. They want to stop continental drift and repeal the law of unintended side effects... , announced at a presser that, starting in 2026, migrants colonists who voluntarily return to their home countries can receive up to 350,000 Swedish kronor (US$34,000).
Officials stated that this new plan will be implemented starting in 2026.
According to an AFP report on Thursday, September 12, Sweden’s Minister of Migration, Johan Forssell, said, "Migrants who voluntarily return to their home countries from 2026 onwards will be eligible to receive 350,000 Swedish kronor ($34,000)."
Forssell emphasized that Sweden is undergoing "a fundamental shift in its migration policy."
Swedish authorities believe that increasing the financial incentives will encourage more migrants colonists to return voluntarily.
Adult migrants colonists who voluntarily return to their home countries receive 10,000 kronor (less than $1,000), and children receive 5,000 kronor (less than $500).
Under the current plan, each family can receive up to 40,000 kronor (about $4,000) for voluntarily returning.
For years, this Scandinavian country in northern Europa ...the land mass occupying the space between the English Channel and the Urals, also known as Moslem Lebensraum... has been a primary destination for migrants colonists from war-torn countries like Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, and various African nations.
In addition to Sweden, many European countries, particularly Germany, have adopted stricter policies on refugees, focusing on enhanced control and the deportation of those involved in criminal or bully boy activities.
Germany, in particular, has ramped up efforts to deport refugees with criminal records or bully boy affiliations, signaling a broader European trend toward tightening refugee regulations while ensuring security.
Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited.
[Regnum] The Turkish newspaper Aydinlik announced that it has evidence of Ukraine's connection with terrorists from Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (a terrorist organization whose activities are banned in the Russian Federation).
In particular, the publication’s article claims that after the publication of the article about the negotiations between Ukrainian emissaries and representatives of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham in Syria, the News Center received several video recordings of this meeting.
According to the publication, these materials were made in Idlib in June during a meeting between Ukrainians and the leader of the terrorist organization, Heisem Omeri.
On September 10, Aydinlik reported on Kiev's negotiations with terrorists in Syria to involve militants in operations against Russia. It was noted that Ukraine, which is experiencing a serious shortage of troops in the conflict with Russia, "is looking for new reinforcements." In addition, the publication claims, the Ukrainian delegation called on the terrorists to release radical Chechen and Georgian militants held in the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham prison. In exchange for their release, the terrorists were offered 75 drones.
According to the official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharova, the Kiev regime has long maintained contacts with terrorists, involving them in committing terrorist attacks against Russian citizens.
*shrug* Good to know, but so does Russia — just different terrorists.
Posted by: badanov ||
09/15/2024 00:00 ||
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[11131 views]
Top|| File under: Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (al-Nusra)
[NYPOST] Fed-up Denver suburbs are looking to sue their big sanctuary city neighbor and the state government after suffering strained budgets and crime after 42,000 migrants colonists flocked to Colorado — bringing the violent mostly peaceful gang Tren de Aragua with them.
Most recently, the council for the city of Castle Rock — just south of Denver — unanimously voted to research legal options against its largest neighbor, CBS News Colorado reported.
The vote came amid a wave of other suburbs that have voted to sue, or to look into suing over the migrant crisis in Colorado.
The goal: reverse policies and laws that made Denver a haven for the tens of thousands of illegal migrant — most of them from Venezuela
...a country in Central America that sits on an enormous pool of oil. Formerly the most prospereous country in the region, it became infested with Commies sniffing almost unlimited wealth. It turned out the wealth wasn't unlimited, the economy collapsed under the clownish Hugo Chavez, the murder rate exceeded places like Honduras and El Salvador. A significant proportion of the populace refugeed to Colombia and points south... .
Law enforcement officials in the suburb of Aurora and others areas outside of Denver are also warning that Tren de Aragua, the brutal Venezuelan prison gang, followed the migrants colonists into Colorado.
The gang members have since spread out across the state — taking over apartment complexes, dealing drugs and robbing jewelry stores.
Posted by: Fred ||
09/15/2024 13:50 ||
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[11133 views]
Top|| File under: Migrants/Illegal Immigrants
#1
Yeah, the Castle Rock PD have had lot of issues with the stupid Venezuelan gangs doing swarm steal raids on our stores here. Fortunately they have plate reading cameras at every entrance to the town and when a stolen (they always come in stolen cars) vehicle comes off the interstate into town they know instantly. The criminals warn others not to come here as we have "Sky Net".
[Red State] Lost in the tidal wave of stories about the Sept. 10th debate between Trump and Harris, and the commemoration of the anniversary of 9/11, was this maddening story on the continued weakness of this White House on the international stage. The Biden-Harris administration has quietly decided to give Egypt $320 million in military aid, despite that country not meeting most of the benchmarks on human rights we demanded they meet, among other issues.
This is the first time in almost four years that the U.S. has given Egypt the full amount of $1.3 billion, some of which is granted with "no conditions." Here's how the numbers break down, a State Department spokesman told the NY Times:
The first, totaling $980 million, is subject to no conditions and granted automatically.
An additional $225 million is subject to a variety of human rights conditions — the ones that Mr. Blinken would not certify had been met but that he had waived on national security grounds.
A third, $95 million pot of money can be released only if the secretary of state finds that Egypt has made progress in the specific areas of releasing political prisoners, providing detainees with due process and "preventing the harassment and abuse of American citizens." Mr. Blinken certified progress in these areas, the spokesman said.
#2
...The Egyptians just decided to replace their F-16s with Chinese built aircraft. This was an attempt - too little, too late, natch - at a bribe. They'll cheerfully take the money and spend it at the Shanghai Rocket And Ear Bud Factory #8.
[IsraelTimes] Hisham Abu Raya was the first from his community to climb the IDF ranks. Today, he runs a program promoting military service among young Muslims as a key to advancing in society
Lt. Col. (res.) Hisham Abu Raya is a trailblazer. In 2008, at age 24, he became the first non-Bedouin Moslem officer in the Israeli army. Today, at age 40, he aims to be a role model for youths in his community and prove that service of the country is the key to success in Israeli society.
While military service in Israel is compulsory for Jewish young men and women, and for young men from the Druze and Circassian minorities, it is optional for all other communities. Hundreds of Bedouin enlist voluntarily each year, but other Arab Israelis — Moslem and Christian — have historically shunned the army, primarily out of solidarity with Paleostinians in the West Bank and Gazoo
...Hellhole adjunct to Israel and Egypt's Sinai Peninsula, inhabited by Gazooks. The place was acquired in the wake of the 1967 War and then presented to Paleostinian control in 2006 by Ariel Sharon, who had entered his dotage. It is currently ruled with an iron fist by Hamas with about the living conditions you'd expect. It periodically attacks the Hated Zionist Entity whenever Iran needs a ruckus created or the hard boyz get bored, getting thumped by the IDF in return. The ruling turbans then wave the bloody shirt and holler loudly about oppression and disproportionate response...
Moslem recruits in the IDF on the fingers of one hand," Abu Raya said in a recent phone interview with The Times of Israel from his hometown of Sakhnin, in northern Israel. But today, he claims his personal story, while still exceptional, is no longer unique.
Abu Raya was discharged from the army with the rank of major in 2018, and was promoted to reserve lieutenant colonel in 2022. Today, he works as a liaison between the Home Front Command and the northern Bedouin municipality of Tuba al-Zangariya.
Immediately after his discharge in 2018, he founded "Ma’an" (meaning "together" in Arabic), a project to strengthen ties between the State of Israel and young Arab citizens and reinforce their sense of belonging.
Within that framework, he launched a project that now runs in 20 schools in Moslem areas on behalf of the Defense Ministry to improve the students’ knowledge of Israeli history and civics and promote recruitment into the IDF.
"Some young Arabs I meet don’t even know who [assassinated prime minister] Yitzhak Rabin was," he said. "Even if I don’t manage to convince them to enlist, at least at the end of the program they know more about Israeli society."
The program also runs in Arab Christian schools, where organizers encounter "more openness," Abu Raya said. And while not all schools in Moslem areas decide to participate in the course, things are beginning to change in his community too, he claims. Some pupils he meets show up to the course after having watched countless hours of combat videos on the IDF website and YouTube, and know exactly where they want to serve, he said.
According to the reserve officer, many aim to join combat units, including the legendary Golani Brigade. Many are also interested in joining the Border Police or the Desert Reconnaissance Battalion, once a Bedouin-only unit that today accommodates other minorities.
In June 2022, Abu Raya was involved in the organization of the first Gadna, a one-week preparatory program for incoming recruits, for Moslem youth.
Abu Raya estimated today that there are "a few hundred" soldiers from the community enlisted in the IDF, adding that the ranks are growing. The IDF could not provide The Times of Israel with exact figures.
"If you want to advance in Israeli society and feel equal, army service is your entry ticket. That’s how it was for me. The army embraced me," Abu Raya said. "All the Arabs I know who went to the army — today own a house and have a steady job. They have gone ahead in life."
Financial stability, however, is not the only reason Arab young men should serve their country, in Abu Raya’s opinion.
"We have a huge problem with gang crime in Arab society. Conscription in the IDF, or service in any other way, whether in the police, Magen David Adom, or national service, can help our young people become good citizens."
Crime in the Arab community has skyrocketed in recent years, with more Arabs killed in homicides in 2023 than in any previous year, amid an unprecedented proliferation of illegal firearms.
Abu Raya claims that interest in enlistment among his target community has been on the rise for years, but has spiked after the October 7 massacre by Hamas ..a contraction of the Arabic words for "frothing at the mouth",... , in which invading snuffies killed 1,200 people amid acts of brutality and took 251 hostages to Gaza.
"On October 7, the penny dropped among Arab Israelis. They saw that Hamas opened fire on everyone, and did not distinguish between Jewish and Moslem citizens," Abu Raya said. "And there are still Moslem hostages in the hands of Hamas. It was the same during the 2006 Second Leb ...an Iranian satrapy currently ruled by Hassan Nasrallah situated on the eastern Mediterranean, conveniently adjacent to Israel. Formerly inhabited by hardy Phoenecian traders, its official language is now Arabic, with the usual unpleasant side effects. The Leb civil war, between 1975 and 1990, lasted a little over 145 years and produced 120,000 fatalities. The average length of a ceasefire was measured in seconds. The Lebs maintain a precarious sectarian balance among Shiites, Sunnis, and about a dozen flavors of Christians, plus Armenians, Georgians, and who knows what else? It is the home of the original Hezbollah, which periodically starts a war with the Zionist Entity, gets Beirut pounded to rubble, and then declares victory and has a parade. The Lebs have the curious habit of periodically murdering their heads of state or prime ministers... War — nearly half of the civilian victims in Israel were Arabs. Rockets don’t distinguish between Moshe and Ali."
In the 2006 war, 18 out of the 43 civilians killed by Hezbollah rockets were Arabs.
Abu Raya related anecdotal evidence that led him to the conclusion that October 7 generated a seismic change.
"A father from Kafr Qara called me after October 7 saying he was appalled by what he saw happening near Gaza, and said he wanted his three sons to be conscripted. He vowed he would soon take them to an induction center in a Bedouin area."
Speaking about their intentions openly in their communities, however, remains taboo. Opposition to the IDF remains entrenched in Arab society, especially among Moslems, and those who show up in their towns in a uniform are often marked as traitors, Abu Raya said. But he is adamant that below the surface, change is palpable.
The reserve officer himself had to suffer the painful consequences of his career choice on his personal life.
Aby Raya’s decision to enlist came at age 23, while he was pursuing a bachelors degree in Hebrew at Ben-Gurion University in the southern city of Beersheba. On the occasion of Israel’s Independence Day in 2006, the IDF organized an enlistment fair in the nearby Bedouin town of Rahat.
Abu Raya attended the event with some Jewish friends from university, who had finished their compulsory military service and were familiar with the contents of the exhibit. He felt left out for having missed on what he saw as a formative experience and decided to bridge the gap with his peers.
The decision, however, was a fraught one. In the weeks leading up to his enlistment, Abu Raya said his stomach was churning with anxiety, as he expected a strong backlash from his religious, conservative family and his community back home in Sakhnin, an area that he describes as fiercely supportive of Paleostinian nationalism.
On the day of his conscription, he was a bundle of nerves as he walked into the induction center. He went in and out six or seven times in hesitation, catching the eye of a security officer, who called the police on him.
Eventually, after he explained his circumstances, army officers decided that his profile made him suitable to join the Education and Youth Corps. After his basic training, he was put in charge of a group of Bedouin recruits.
His commander took note of his skills, and a few months later encouraged him to take an officer’s course. He became the first-ever Moslem non-Bedouin in the IDF to take the step.
During the course, he was put in charge of Bental, a military company made up exclusively of religious Jews. On his first day, his self-introduction as "Hisham from Sakhnin" caused a commotion among his recruits, followed by a myriad of questions. But over time, a bond was created among comrades.
"I soon find myself inside a new family that I never imagined I would have," he recalled.
Meanwhile,
...back at the game, the Babe headed for second base. He almost made it. Then Sheila slapped him.... Abu Raya’s real family in the north was still in the dark about the new phase in his life, and believed he was still a student at Ben-Gurion University. He would return at home on weekends in civilian clothes, leaving his uniform with a Jewish comrade who would take it to his mother for washing and ironing.
At the end of the officers’ course, a ceremony was held to honor the new officers, and Abu Raya proudly took on his new rank. During the event, he was approached by someone holding a camera asking for a short interview. He agreed, believing he was shooting a commemorative video for his unit.
Little did he know that the cameraman was filming a live report for Channel 10, and as coincidence would have it, his family was sitting at home watching the news and saw him on screen, in an army uniform.
The following weekend, Abu Raya returned home as usual, holding his university textbooks under his arm. But his family did not greet him with its usual warm welcome. His father received him with a grave face "that I will never forget," called him a traitor, and chastised him for bringing dishonor upon the family.
His parents and siblings severed all contact with him for nearly three years. It was a time filled with sorrow, but not regret.
"It’s hard to lose your family, to not be able to say good morning to your mother every day, hug your father, sit with your brothers," Abu Raya recalled.
"I knew how my father felt, but on the other hand, I kept asking myself, what did I do wrong? I had nothing to be ashamed of. I did not steal, rob or rape. I did not fail at anything. I became an officer, which should be a source of honor for the family," he continued.
Thanks to the intercession of a sister who also lived in Beersheba, Abu Raya eventually managed to mend ties with his parents and persuade them that he was pursuing a career like any other. When he was promoted to major, his father even came to the ceremony.
"I finally felt that I made him proud," Abu Raya said. Sadly, his father died a week after the promotion, and his mother shortly after.
Conflicts with his community, meanwhile, were far from over. In 2010, Abu Raya was again interviewed for a TV report and went on air to encourage young Arab Israelis to join the Israeli security forces and contribute to their country. The report was picked up by an Arabic-language news outlet, and within hours, Abu Raya received dozens of threats.
"I was repeatedly insulted on the street and more. Unfortunately, some of the threats materialized. I got stones thrown at my property, and for a while could only move around with a police escort. It’s not a nice feeling," he said.
"Someone once threw a glass bottle inside my car and hit my oldest son on the head, because I had an Israeli flag on my rearview mirror," Abu Raya recounted. "But the perpetrators were arrested and sentenced, and justice was done."
The verbal and physical violence did not deter him. He still lives in Sakhnin. He worked in the Education Corps and later in the Home Front Command.
"I had a choice to move to Karmiel" — a nearby Jewish town — "or stay in my village, go against the stream, fight and serve as an example for all the young people here," he said. "And I chose the latter. I know the IDF is on my side. It has never abandoned me."
[IsraelTimes] Tehran claims satellite built to ‘test hardware and software systems for orbital maneuver technology validation’
Iran ...a theocratic Shiite state divided among the Medes, the Persians, and the (Arab) Elamites. Formerly a fairly civilized nation ruled by a Shah, it became a victim of Islamic revolution in 1979. The nation is today noted for spontaneously taking over other countries' embassies, maintaining whorehouses run by clergymen, involvement in international drug trafficking, and financing sock puppet militias to extend the regime's influence. The word Iran is a cognate form of Aryan. The abbreviation IRGC is the same idea as Stürmabteilung (or SA). The term Supreme Guide is a the modern version form of either Duce or Führer or maybe both. They hate JewsZionists Jews. Their economy is based on the production of oil and vitriol... launched a satellite into space Saturday with a rocket built by the country’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, state-run media reported, the latest for a program the West fears helps Tehran advance its ballistic missile program.
Iran described the launch as a success, which would be the second such launch to put a satellite into orbit with the rocket. There was no immediate independent confirmation of the launch’s success.
Footage later released by Iranian media showed the rocket blast off from a mobile launcher. An News Agency that Dare Not be Named analysis of the video and other imagery later released suggested the launch happened at the Guard’s launch pad on the outskirts of the city of Shahroud, some 350 kilometers (215 miles) east of the capital, Tehran.
Meanwhile,
...back at the argument, Livia had made her point with her knee to Jane's stomach... Iran continues to enrich uranium to nearly weapons-grade levels, raising concerns among nonproliferation experts about Tehran’s program.
Iran identified the satellite-carrying rocket as the Qaem-100, which the Guard used in January for another successful launch. Qaem means "upright" in Iran’s Farsi language.
The solid-fuel, three-stage rocket put the Chamran-1 satellite, weighing 60 kilograms (132 pounds), into a 550-kilometer (340-mile) orbit, state media reported. The rocket bore a Koranic verse: "That which is left by Allah is better for you, if you are believers."
A state-owned subsidiary of Iran’s Defense Ministry and experts at the Aerospace Research Institute built the satellite with others to "test hardware and software systems for orbital maneuver technology validation," state media said without elaborating.
Gen. Hossein Salami, the head of the Guard, praised the launch in a statement and said scientists successfully overcame "the atmosphere of extensive and oppressive international sanctions."
The US State Department and the American military did not immediately respond to requests for comment over the Iranian launch.
The United States had previously said Iran’s satellite launches defy a UN Security Council resolution and called on Tehran to undertake no activity involving ballistic missiles capable of delivering nuclear weapons. UN sanctions related to Iran’s ballistic missile program expired last October.
Under Iran’s former president Hassan Rouhani ...Iran's moderate president, which he was, relative to his predecessor, which doesn't mean he was anything but a puppet of the nearest holy man...> , the Islamic Theocratic Republic slowed its space program for fear of raising tensions with the West. His successor, hard-line late president Ebrahim Raisi, a protege of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei ...the very aged actual dictator of Iran, successor to Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini...> who came to power in 2021, pushed the program forward. Raisi died in a helicopter crash in May.
It’s unclear what Iran’s new president, the reformist Masoud Pezeshkian, wants for the program, as he was silent on the issue while campaigning.
The US intelligence community’s worldwide threat assessment this year said Iran’s development of satellite launch vehicles "would shorten the timeline" for Iran to develop an intercontinental ballistic missile because it uses similar technology.
Intercontinental ballistic missiles can be used to deliver nuclear weapons. Iran is now producing uranium close to weapons-grade levels after the collapse of its nuclear deal with world powers. Tehran has enough enriched uranium for "several" nuclear weapons if it chooses to produce them, the head of the ineffective International Atomic Energy Agency repeatedly has warned.
Iran has always denied seeking nuclear weapons and says its space program, like its nuclear activities, is for purely civilian purposes. However,
if you can't say something nice about a person some juicy gossip will go well... US intelligence agencies and the IAEA say Iran had an organized military nuclear program up until 2003.
The launch also came ahead of the second anniversary of the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, which sparked nationwide protests against Iran’s mandatory headscarf, or hijab, law and the country’s Shiite theocracy.
A multi-volume chronology and reference guide set detailing three years of the Mexican Drug War between 2010 and 2012.
Rantburg.com and borderlandbeat.com correspondent and author Chris Covert presents his first non-fiction work detailing
the drug and gang related violence in Mexico.
Chris gives us Mexican press dispatches of drug and gang war violence
over three years, presented in a multi volume set intended to chronicle the death, violence and mayhem which has
dominated Mexico for six years.
Rantburg was assembled from recycled algorithms in the United States of America. No
trees were destroyed in the production of this weblog. We did hurt some, though. Sorry.
[PJMedia] 
...Arabic for 
...mindless ferocity in a turban...
...Republic of Somaliland is an unrecognised sovereign state in the Horn of Africa, recognised internationally as a de jure part of Somalia. It is located in the southern coast of the Gulf of Aden with approximately 5.7 million residents as of 2021. The capital and largest city is Hargeisa. The government regards itself as the successor state to British Somaliland, which united from 1960 to 1991 with the Trust Territory of Somaliland (the former Italian Somaliland) to form the Somali Republic. Under the Siad Barre regime, Somaliadestroyed ninety percent of Hargeisa Per international law, once you're in, you gotta stay in, no matter how bad it smells....
...every time you hear the phrase 
..a contraction of the Arabic words for "frothing at the mouth",...
...a theocratic Shiite state divided among the Medes, the Persians, and the (Arab) Elamites. Formerly a fairly civilized nation ruled by a Shah, it became a victim of Islamic revolution in 1979. The nation is today noted for 
