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U.S. Moving Consulate?

Volume III, No. 32
Posted on Friday August 9, 2002

The “So-Called” Occupied Territories?!?!?!?

When asked about settlements in the Occupied Territories at a recent town meeting, Defense Secretary Rumsfeld replied: “My feelings about the so-called Occupied Territories are that there was a war…Israel prevailed in that conflict. In the intervening period, they’ve made some settlements in various parts of the so-called occupied area, which was the result of a war, which they won.” He went on to say that “It’s hard to know whether they’re settlements in portions of the real estate that will end up with the entity that you make an arrangement with or Israel. So it seems to me focusing on settlements at the present time misses the point. The real point is to get an effective interlocutor. The real point is to get a condition so that you can have a peace agreement. And those are exactly the things that President Bush and Secretary Powell have been working on, and indeed, working particularly with Egypt and Jordan and Saudi Arabia.”

U.S. Moving Consulate?

The Washington Post reports that the United States may move one of its consulates in Israel from Arab East Jerusalem to an undisclosed location. The move has been prompted by “security concerns.” According to officials, the current site does not meet “security criteria” because it “is not set back from the road.” The decision would have severe political implications. East Jerusalem is seen as a possible site for a future Palestinian capital, and this move by the U.S. could be interpreted as further evidence of the Bush Administration’s continuing support for the Sharon government.

Pols Continue To Question McGreevey On High-Paid Counselor

Gannett reports that Governor Jim McGreevey (D-NJ) “relied on exaggerated anti-terrorism credentials to justify hiring a 33-year-old Israeli national, Golan Cipel, as a highly paid advisor.” Cipel, “a low-level officer in the Israeli reserves who worked in public relations at the Israeli consulate in New York,” was paid $110,000 a year to be “counselor to the governor.” Gannett spent four months investigating the case. Unfortunately for McGreevey, “an investigation of Cipel’s credentials, information from consulate sources, including the former consul, and an examination of his military biography failed to corroborate any special experience or training in terrorism matters.” Cipel no longer works on security concerns, but “remains a close adviser to the governor on key issues.”

New Homeland Security Department To Have Hand In Visa Program

An overlooked aspect of the pending House and Senate Homeland Security bills would give the newly created Homeland Security Department partial authority in deciding the policies that govern who is allowed into the U.S. This move, which would significantly diminish the role of the State Department in the visa program, comes amidst growing criticism of the DOS and the manner in which it has issued visas in the past, particularly in countries that are home to known terrorist organizations. Critics say that the DOS has focused more on “customer service” and “currying favor with foreign governments” than on national security or homeland defense. Debate over the bill will move next month to the Senate.

Heard Around Town…

Senator Joseph Biden (D-DE): “In Iraq we cannot afford to replace a despot with chaos…The long-suffering Iraqi people need to know a regime change would benefit them. So do Iraq’s neighbors, and the American people will want that assurance as well.”

House Majority Leader Dick Armey (R-TX): “If we try to act against Saddam Hussein, as obnoxious as he is, without proper provocation, we will not have the support of other nation states…I don’t believe that America will justifiably make an unprovoked attack on another nation. It would not be consistent with what we have been as a nation or what we should be as a nation.”

Stefan Presser of the ACLU: “While the Bush administration keeps saying it is taking steps to protect us, we think there are profound ramifications for American citizens.”

The Israeli Supreme Court has “upheld the military’s right to demolish the homes of Palestinian terror suspects without warning” by rejecting the petition of 35 Palestinian families, whose homes are scheduled for demolition, who asked to be given 48 hours notice. The ruling leaves it up to the military to decide whether or not to allow hearings in some cases.

On August 8th, a congressional staff delegation (the first of its kind) co-sponsored by both the American Muslims for Jerusalem and the Jews for Peace in Palestine and Israel was denied entry when trying to enter the West Bank via Jordan.

Note: Worldlink TV is re-running last weeks episode of Viewpoint with James Zogby featuring Congressman John Dingell, who has just won a hotly contested primary race, and Rev. Jesse Jackson, newly returned from a tour of the Middle East. For show times, please go to www.worldlinktv.org