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WASHINGTON, D.C (Press Release)--Following are Middle East excerpts from the State Department briefing conducted on Friday, August 28, by spokesman Ian Kelly:
QUESTION: Qadhafi tent?
MR. KELLY: I guess it wouldn’t be a briefing in August without a question on the Qadhafi tent. Well, again, I don’t really have anything new. There’s no new developments on that. You heard what P.J. said yesterday, that we are – we’re very hopeful that we can come to a resolution of this that will not offend the sensibilities of the residents of Englewood, New Jersey. You know that under the Foreign Assistance Act, we have a – we have mechanisms for us to –
QUESTION: You mean the Foreign Missions Act?
QUESTION: Foreign Missions Act.
MR. KELLY: What did I say?
QUESTION: Foreign Assistance Act.
MR. KELLY: Foreign Missions Act – sorry. I –
QUESTION: Missions Act, okay. I was trying to work out whether you were going to pay for his accommodation – yeah. (Laughter.)
MR. KELLY: We do have certain mechanisms at our disposal regarding how this property can be used. And under this – under a particular determination that’s applicable to this act, this – any use of this property other than the personal use of the Libyan ambassador and his family has to be reviewed by the State Department. And to date, the Libyan Government has not asked us to review any other use besides the personal use of the ambassador. And –
QUESTION: Is that why you sent out a diplomatic note to all missions reminding them of the Foreign Missions Act?
MR. KELLY: No, it’s not. That --
QUESTION: It was coincidental?
MR. KELLY: The wheels of government are slow, but sure, and this particular diplomatic note was generated a number of months ago, and only it was put out today – or yesterday.
QUESTION: It was only posted yesterday?
MR. KELLY: It was only posted – yeah.
QUESTION: Was it sent out yesterday?
MR. KELLY: I’m not sure. I mean, I assume that if it was posted yesterday, it was sent out yesterday.
QUESTION: So it’s just coincidental that you happen to send this note out to all missions yesterday?
MR. KELLY: Yeah. As I understand it, this is an annual exercise, sending out this diplomatic note, reminding them about the need for the State Department to review any new construction, any new adaptation of any building for –
QUESTION: So – I’m sorry, when you said that you had not – the Libyans had not asked you to review what they were doing with it?
MR. KELLY: They have not.
QUESTION: So --
QUESTION: Well, they’re going ahead, I mean, there’s –
MR. KELLY: Well, okay. No, wait a second. Now they did ask for permission to do renovations. I don’t want to leave you with the impression that they didn’t do that, because they did, and that was some time ago. That was – I’m not sure exactly when – weeks, maybe even months ago. The –
QUESTION: And that was approved?
MR. KELLY: And it was approved.
QUESTION: Was that leveling out the ground for a tent or – I mean, what?
MR. KELLY: I don’t know, Sue. I don’t know if the –
QUESTION: No, I just wondered. I’m not being facetious. I’m just --
MR. KELLY: No, I know. No, I don’t believe there was any mention of a tent.
QUESTION: And if they want – if the ambassador wants to invite his leader for an evening during the UNGA, the period of the UNGA, would it be allowed? Is it something that you would allow?
MR. KELLY: For the leader to --
QUESTION: For one evening.
MR. KELLY: – to visit the property in Englewood?
QUESTION: Yes, yes.
MR. KELLY: That’s a good question. I – what I understand is if it – the determination is that the Libyan Government has to ask for the State Department to review any intention to use it, other than the personal use of the ambassador.
QUESTION: Well, the personal use is to entertain?
QUESTION: The personal use of the ambassador, yes.
QUESTION: The personal use is to entertain. I mean --
QUESTION: So if he wants to entertain --
QUESTION: -- he doesn’t have to call you up every time he has a guest.
QUESTION: Yeah. So is it possible that you – he could invite his leader?
MR. KELLY: Yeah, I don’t – this would be a legal determination, then. I don’t have an ready answer for you.
QUESTION: Can you take the question?
MR. KELLY: Well, I don’t know if we can get you the answer, because it’s a – that’s a hypothetical, yeah.
QUESTION: So have you asked the Libyan – have you sent anything to the Libyans to say, listen, we have not heard from you yet? Or are you just – is that a moot point, too?
MR. KELLY: What – I mean, what we’ve done is – and as we’ve said many times, we’ve told them that there are some real sensitivities involved here. We’ve told them about the very strongly held views of members of Congress – two senators and at least one congressman. And as I said, we’re confident that we can come to an arrangement that addresses all these concerns.
QUESTION: Are – do you know that the Libyans are looking for an alternative?
MR. KELLY: I can only tell you what I’ve heard and seen in press reports that they’re in discussions with the city of New York, and they are looking for other alternatives. This – we are not directly involved in this. This is strictly between the Libyan mission and the city of New York.
QUESTION: Well – I’m sorry, but – (Laughter.)
MR. KELLY: It is. I mean, obviously, we’re interested. But
QUESTION: You guys have gone and talked to the – and I think they had a concern --
QUESTION: You just said – you just said that they had to ask you for permission, so you are involved.
QUESTION: And you’ve conveyed concerns.
MR. KELLY: We will be involved if they decide to use it. If they decide to use it for any other purpose, than the personal use of the ambassador.
QUESTION: So you mean you’re not involved in looking for other arrangement, but not that you’re not involved in where they – in whether they stay in Englewood, New Jersey or not?
MR. KELLY: At this point, our involvement has been to stay abreast of the situation and to highlight the concerns of local residents and our congressional delegation.
QUESTION: So you’ve highlighted this need for a review to the Libyans? You’ve said, hey, if you want to do this, you’ll need to come and ask us first?
MR. KELLY: They are well aware of this determination.
QUESTION: Have the visas been granted yet?
MR. KELLY: I’m not aware that they’ve even applied yet.
QUESTION: What about Ahmadinejad? Has he applied yet?
MR. KELLY: I am not aware that he’s applied either.
Senators from N.Y. and N.J. plan resolution condemning Libya
WASHINGTON, D.C. (Press Release)– Democratic U.S. Senators Frank Lautenberg and Bob Menendez, both of New Jersey, and Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand, both of New York, announced on Friday that they will introduce a Senate resolution condemning the release and vile “welcome home” celebration held for Libyan terrorist and convicted Lockerbie bomber, Abdel Baset al-Megrahi. Al-Megrahi was released by the Scottish Government on August 20 after serving eight years in prison for the 1988 attack on Pan Am Flight 103, which killed all 259 people on board and 11 people on the ground in the town of Lockerbie, Scotland. The Scottish Government claimed the release was a compassionate gesture given al-Megrahi’s failing health.
“The victims’ families have had no peace since the day this evil act occurred and now their wounds have been reopened,” said Schumer. “The hero’s welcome Libya gave to this terrorist truly shocks the conscience and deserves a formal rebuke. It is outrageous that the Libyan Government would so blatantly disregard the suffering the families have endured for more than two decades. We demand an apology for the gross homecoming celebration of al-Megrahi.”
“The sick celebration when Mr. al-Megrahi landed in Libya added insult to injury for the American victims of Qaddafi's terrorism,” stated Lautenberg. “Mr. al-Megrahi's release by the Scottish government was painful enough for the victims of Libya's terrorism, but to see such a celebration for a murderer was a shocking insult to decency. Passage of this resolution will send a powerful message to the Libyan government and express the Senate’s condemnation of acts of compassion shown to terrorists-especially those who have killed Americans.”
“It was tragically ironic that the man convicted of taking down an airplane and ending 270 lives was able to arrive in a private jet to a hero’s welcome in Libya. This charade was an injustice that added insult to injury for the victims’ families. The international community should condemn this entire episode,” Menendez said.
“The ‘Welcome Home’ ceremony sponsored by the Libyan government was a low point for the global community and our efforts to promote peace and combat terror,” Gillibrand said. “The families of Pan Am Flight 103 were forced to relive the horrific loss of their loved ones, while the man who was responsible was welcomed home a hero. The government of Libya should apologize to these families.”
On December 21, 1988, Pan Am Flight 103, enroute from London’s Healthrow Airport to New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport, exploded over the town of Lockerbie, Scotland, killing all 259 on board and 11 people on the ground. Many NewYorkers and New Jersey residents were among the 189 Americans killed in the bombing. In 2001, Abdel Baset al-Megrahi was convicted of murder and sentenced to life imprisonment.
On August 20, the Scottish Government released al-Megrahi, who is currently suffering from prostate cancer and is predicted to have three months to live. Upon his return, thousands of young men, who had been transported by the Libyan government, gathered at the airport in Tripoli to greet the terrorist. They waved banners and threw flower petals after al-Megrahi was escorted from prison by Seif al-Islam el-Qaddafi, the son of the Libyan leader Colonel Muammar Gaddafi.
Feingold wants timetable for Afghanistan withdrawal
WASHINGTON, D.C. (Press Release) — Senator Russ Feingold released the following statement on Friday, August 29:
“I am saddened by reports that for the second consecutive
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month, we’ve seen a record number of deaths of U.S. troops in Afghanistan. This grim milestone comes ahead of a potential request for even more troops to be sent to
Afghanistan. The current troop increase in Afghanistan could push members of the Taliban and other militants into Pakistan, further destabilizing a nuclear power. After nearly eight years in Afghanistan, we continue to risk further loss of American lives and increased resentment among the Afghan people – all without a clearly focused mission. It is time we discuss a flexible timetable for withdrawing our forces from Afghanistan, along with a clear public strategy for achieving our counterterrorism and regional stability goals.”
Engel seeks liberalization of cost-of-living-allowances for seniors
WASHINGTON, D.C (Press Release)-Congressman Eliot Engel (Democrat, New York) called on the House Ways and Means Committee to alter the formula used to determine the Social Security Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) for seniors. This comes after a report by the Social Security Administration there would be no COLA increases for 2010 and likely none for 2011-12.
“Many seniors,’ said Rep. Engel, “live on a fixed income and have come to depend on their annual COLA to pay for ever-increasing living expenses, such as health care costs. This is especially vital for New York’s seniors, as our state has some of the highest costs of living in the nation.”
Since 1975, retiree benefits have been adjusted annually to keep pace with inflation. The Social Security COLA is tied to the consumer price index (CPI-W), which represents the cost of consumer goods and services consumed by average workers, compared with the same quarter of the previous year. As a result, seniors received a record increase in a COLA last year, as inflation skyrocketed due to unprecedented increases in the cost of gas and oil. However, it precipitously dropped in December and has remained low ever since. It is highly unlikely the economy will grow fast enough this year to overcome the difference.
Instead of using the CPI-W, Rep. Engel suggests that COLA's be calculated through the use of the Experimental Consumer Price Index for Americans 62 Years of Age and Older (CPI-E), also calculated by the BLS, which takes into account seniors’ spending habits.
“Differences in the utilization of healthcare visits and prescription drugs is key towards understanding the difference between using CPI-E over CPI-W. A Congressional Research Service report indicates those 65 and older spent more than twice as large of a share on their total outlays on health care as did the overall population. The numbers rise to three times as much for those 75 and older. This is yet another reason why our current health care system is unsustainable and must be changed,” said Rep. Engel, a senior member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, and a member of the Subcommittee on Health.
Rep. Engel added, “COLA is currently based on an outmoded statistic and there is a dire need for more accurate indicators based on how seniors actually spend their money. Seniors are experiencing spiraling health costs and are too often caught up in the web of fees and escalating rates, which eats into whatever savings they have.”
Under current law, 75 percent of seniors on Medicare will be protected from increases in their Medicare Part B premiums, so their Social Security payments will not shrink because of rising Medicare Part B 2010 costs. Eligible low-income seniors enrolled in Medicare Part D can receive assistance in paying their premiums by signing up for the “low-income subsidy” through the Social Security Administration.
Rep. Engel added, “Congress is attempting to address the big picture expenses associated with energy and health care this year. As we work to cut costs on the larger scales, we must also pay close attention to ways to make our system more efficient and save money for the people who need it the most. By providing a more equitable method for COLA payments, we can make a real difference in the pocketbooks of the people who have already given so much to our nation. I am sure, even in our current economic downturn, we can find a way to lessen the economic burden on our seniors.”
Tutu, visiting Israel, says price of Holocaust paid by Palestinians
JERUSALEM (WJC)—Former Anglican Archbishop of South Africa, Desmond Tutu, who is currently visiting Israel together with a group of so-called Elders that includes former US President Jimmy Carter, has said the "lesson Israel must learn from the Holocaust is that it can never get security through fences, walls and guns." In an interview with the Israeli newspaper 'Haaretz', Tutu said the West was consumed with guilt and regret toward Israel because of the Holocaust, "as it should be. But who pays the penance? The penance is being paid by the Arabs, by the Palestinians. I once met a German ambassador who said Germany is guilty of two wrongs. One was what they did to the Jews. And now the suffering of the Palestinians."
The retired archbishop, a traditionally staunch critic of Israel, also slammed Jewish organizations in the United States, saying they intimidated anyone who criticizes the occupation and rushed to accuse these critics of anti-Semitism. On possible sanctions against Israel, Tutu told the newspaper: "I always say to people that sanctions were important in the South African case for several reasons. We had a sports boycott, and since we are a sports-mad country, it hit ordinary people. It was one of the most psychologically powerful instruments. Secondly, it actually did hit the pocket of the South African government. I mean, when we had the arms embargo and the economic boycott."
Speculation increases on Gilad Shalit deal between Hamas, Israel
CAIRO (WJC)—Exiled Hamas leader Khaled Meshal is expected to fly to Cairo next week to approve a deal that includes the release of Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, held by Islamists in the Gaza Strip since July 2006, the Arab newspaper ‘Al-Hayat’ reports.
The talks between the various parties are reportedly been mediated not only by Egypt but also German intelligence officials. Last week, a delegation of Hamas’ military wing traveled to Cairo to hold talks with Egyptian officials.
This week, Gilad Shalit’s birthday was marked in Israel by a series of rallies. Hundreds gathered in his home town Mitzpeh Hila to demand more government action. His mother Aviva addressed her son in a speech to the crowd: "I want to ask your forgiveness, Gilad. Forgive us for not being able to protect you, for not being able to prevent your suffering, even though it's not under our control. Forgive us for not being able to bring you home, in spite of all that we've tried."
Agreement announced on historic Jewish cemetery in Lithuania
VILNIUS, Lithuania (WJC)—Lithuanian authorities and Jewish groups have announced an agreement over construction permits for an area in the capital Vilnius that was formerly home to the famous Snipiskes Jewish cemetery. "We can confirm that from today, a line has been drawn under the issue of the Snipiskes cemetery," asenior government aide told reporters. Lithuania's Heritage Office signed a deal with the Jewish community and the London-based Committee for the Preservation of Jewish Cemeteries in Europe (CPJE). Under the agreement, two zones are created, one where new building work is prohibited and another where it needs CPJE approval.
Controversy has raged for years over the historic burial ground in Snipiskes. Lithuania faced criticism from Jewish groups and US lawmakers over the desecration of the former cemetery. The graveyard operated between the 16th and 19th centuries. Lithuania drew ire in 2005 over the nearby construction of an apartment and office complex.
U.S. Consulate in Jerusalem serves Palestinians, not Israelis, according to StandWithUs
LOS ANGELES (Press Release)--StandWithUs, an Israel advocacy group, last Wednesday issued a press release calling on its supporters to contact members of Congress and administration officials to seek changes in the operations of the U.S. Consulate in Jerusalem. Here is a partial text of the release:
"The U.S. Consulate in Jerusalem should either reflect that it is located in Israel's capital and serve Israelis as well as Palestinians, or else it should relocate to a Palestinian city.
"Many of you are concerned about this issue and brought it to our attention. We agree that it is a serious problem.
"The U.S. has a Consulate in Jerusalem-but it is not for Israelis. Its primary function is to serve Palestinians, as the Consul General in Jerusalem admitted in a letter on August 17, 2009.
"There is nothing on the Consulate's website about Israel, Israelis or Jews, or about the fact that Jerusalem is the capital of Israel. The website, in effect, erases any Jewish or Israeli presence.
"The U.S. government has refused to move its Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem even though Congress passed the "Jerusalem Embassy Act" in 1995, declaring that U.S. policy is that "Jerusalem should be recognized as the capital of the State of Israel." The U.S. State Department should not pervert this policy with an office in Jerusalem that intentionally undermines the Jews' 3,000 year history, presence and rights to the city.
"The U.S. should not seem to be giving tacit recognition to the Palestinians' controversial claims to Jerusalem, a Jewish majority city for over 150 years, and possibly prejudice future Palestinian-Israeli negotiations.
"If the U.S. Consulate's purpose is to serve Palestinians, it should be relocated to Ramallah, the political and economic center of the Palestinian Authority, or to the Palestinians' largest city, Nablus. "
ZOA files brief that those who support terrorists can be sued
NEW YORK (Press Release)—The Zionist Organization of America (ZOA) has submitted an amicus curiae (friend of the court) brief to the U.S. Supreme Court in support of a petition for Court review filed by the parents of David Boim, a victim of Palestinian Arab terrorism. The brief was prepared by David I. Schoen, Esq., a distinguished criminal lawyer and a member of the ZOA’s National Board of Directors; and Susan B. Tuchman, Esq., the director of the ZOA’s Center for Law and Justice. (To read the brief, click here.)
In 1996, 17-year old American-born David Boim was shot and killed in a drive-by shooting by Hamas terrorists while waiting at a bus stop in Israel. His parents brought suit against several defendants under a provision of the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA), which permits U.S. nationals injured by international terrorism to sue and recover treble damages.
Among the defendants named in the suit was Muhammad Salah, the admitted U.S.-based leader of Hamas’ military wing. There was evidence that Salah recruited and trained terrorists, channeled funds to Hamas operatives, and helped reorganize and restaff Hamas military cells in Israel.
Despite the substantial role Salah played in aiding and abetting Hamas’ terrorist activities, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit Court issued a decision last December, concluding that Salah could not be liable to the Boims under the ATA, because Salah was in prison at the time that David Boim was murdered. The Boims’ counsel of record – the renowned Washington, D.C. legal team of Nathan Lewin, Esq. (who is a member of the advisory board of the ZOA’s Center for Law and Justice) and Alyza Lewin, Esq. – petitioned the Supreme Court to review the case in order to make clear that the ATA provides for civil liability against those who aid and abet international terrorism.
In support of the Boims’ petition, the ZOA’s brief focused on the important public policy issues in the case. The ZOA showed that Congress intended the ATA to be broadly interpreted to include aider-and-abettor liability, that giving the law a broad reading would help the U.S. win the war on terrorism, and that a broad reading would ensure that American terror victims can obtain the fullest and fairest measure of justice.
Morton A. Klein, the ZOA’s National President, commented, “This case raises important legal and public policy issues about how our country responds to acts of international terrorism. Hundreds of American citizens like David Boim have been murdered and over 1500 wounded due to Arab terrorism in the Middle East alone.
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