Arab Christians are culturally, linguistically and ethnically seen Arabs and followers of the Christian faith. They are natives of the Arab world and their presence was already before the Islam sich in West-Asien ausbreitete. Viele arabische Muslime der heutigen Zeit stammen von den Christen der vorislamischen Zeit, die aus verschiedenen Gründen zum Islam konvertiert waren, ab. Die meisten waren konvertiert, um die erzwungene Zahlung des Tributs zu umgehen, den die nicht muslimischen Bevölkerung an die muslimischen Herrscher zu zahlen hatte. Die Christen der Levante sind ethnisch gesehen Araber, die von den Kalani Kahtani Stämmen des antiken Jemen abstammen. (Z.B. Rhassanid, Lachmids, Banu Judham und Hamadan).
Die Mehrheit der Maronitischen Patriarchen der letzten 100 Jahre gingen aus dem weit bekannten noblen Volksstamm der Kahtani Rhassanid Araber hervor, who ruled over Levante in the Roman / Byzantine era. Arab Christians provided significant contributions to the Arab civilization and still do today. Some of the most outstanding poets were Arab Christians, Arab Christians and many were doctors, writers, government officials and writers.
It even ANSP was raised ruch that the Maronites their ancestry could be traced back to the Phoenicians. It is undisputed that the Maronites were inhabitants of the Orontes (Al-Assi) valley in Syria. You may be descendants of Arab tribes that were never converted to Islam or any part of the Syrians. The great Lebanese Historiker Kamal Salibi (übrigens ein Christ) schreibt in seinem Werk: „A House of Many Mansions“ (1988)(Kap.6): „Es ist gut möglich, dass die Maroniten, als Gemeinschaft arabischer Herkunft, unter den letzten arabischen christlichen Stämmen waren, die noch vor dem Islam in Syrien ankamen. Natürlich war ihre Sprache seit dem 14. Jahrhundert arabisch. Syrisch, welches die christliche literarische Form des Aramäischen ist, war, war ursprünglich die liturgische Sprache aller semitischen christlichen Sekten, in Arabien, wie auch in der Levante und Mesopotamien.“
Ein Teil der arabisch sprechenden Christen gehören auch noch den Assyrisch / Kaldäisch / Syrisch ethnischen Volksgruppen an. Sie halten ihre Liturgie in Syrisch-Aramäisch und manche von ihnen sprechen es sogar noch im Alltag. Sie sind eine separate Ethnie.
Einige der einflussreichsten säkularen arabischen Nationalisten waren levantine griechisch-orthodoxe Christen, wie Michel Aflak, der Gründer der Baath Partei, George Habash, Gründer der PFLP und Constantin Zureik.
Etwa 75.500 palästinensische Christen leben in den Palästinensischen Gebieten der West Bank und Gaza Streifen, ca. 122.000 palästinensische Christen in Israel und 400.000 in der palästinensischen Diaspora.
Verbrecher müssen vor Gericht. Darüber darf es keine Diskussion geben. Und es darf auch nicht unterschieden werden, wer Unrecht begeht, seien das nun Deutsche in Afghanistan, Amerikaner im Irak, Russen in Georgien, Israelis im Gazastreifen oder Palästinenser in Israel. Kein Land, das Kriegsverbrechen in den eigenen Reihen duldet oder vertuscht, wird auf Dauer blühen. Deshalb zollen wir jedem Menschen und jeder Organisation, die dabei helfen, Verbrechen ans Licht zu bringen, unseren Respekt.
„Ich werde segnen, die dich segnen, und wer dir flucht, den werde ich verfluchen“, hatte Gott den Abram wissen lassen (1. Mose 12,3). Segnen heißt, das Gute an jemandem sehen, das Gute suchen und Gutes wünschen. Segnen bedeutet, jemanden zu würdigen. Wenn man dagegen jemandem flucht, dann sieht man das Böse an ihm, sucht und wünscht das Schlechte. Verfluchen bedeutet , jemanden zu entwürdigen.
Interessant ist in bei diesem Wort Gottes noch die Beobachtung, dass zwei im Hebräischen vollkommen unterschiedliche Worte für „Fluchen“ verwendet werden: „Wer dir flucht (Wortwurzel „qalal“), den werde ich verfluchen (Wortwurzel „arar“).“ Qalal ist „nur deklarativ“, erklärt der deutsch-jüdische Schriftausleger Benno Jacob, während arar „auch effektiv“ ist. Gott sagt dem Abram also: „Wer dir Schlechtes wünscht, den wird das Böse treffen.“
Der Goldstone-Bericht ist kein Bemühen, das Unrecht aufzudecken, das im Zusammenhang mit Israels Feldzug „Gegossenes Blei“ zum Jahreswechsel 2008/2009 im Gazastreifen begangen wurde. Sonst hätte er beide Seiten gleichermaßen kritisch betrachten müssen. Dann hätte er die seit spätestens 1948 ausgestreckte Hand des jüdischen Volkes gegenüber seinen arabischen Nachbarn und den bis heute un-verschämt ausgesprochenen Vernichtungswillen der Arab world against the Jewish state does not ignore alike - at the same time the witnesses in the Gaza Strip, which have been repeatedly exposed as a liar in the past, to give uncritical faith.
If Goldstone and his staff would have gone really about, the very ease to denounce injustice, they would not only from Israel demanded reparations for the damages in Gaza, but also the - pulled destruction on the Israeli side, consider - the physical and mental From the "other side" - be they Palestinians, the Arab world, or their sponsors - a restitution demand for the damage on the Israeli side. But what does the rocket attacks on Israel and how effectively it can be stopped, the UN seems to be not interested.
I have no concern for Israel because I know that the living God keeps his hand over this people and country. The Guardian of Israel neither slumber nor sleep! But I'm afraid for the world, without reflection, yes stupid, curse the Jews of the South African Richard Goldstone signs - and not even notice how they thereby sealed their own fate. who curses Israel can expect no blessing .
As part of Peace Week in Metzingen - lecture by Karl-Hermann Blickle: "Business Ethics and globalization in the wake of the crisis "on 25.11.2009 in Metzingen Personal
perception report
The ex-mayor of Metzingen, Dieter Feucht led the evening with an extended tribute to the commitment of Karl -Hermann Blickle a acquired in 2007 and stressed particularly the Otto-Hirsch medal. Blickle they had received for his work in the Society for Christian-Jewish Cooperation in Stuttgart, his commitment to the club "Old Synagogue e. V. Hechingen, and participation in the Friends' Shavei Zion." Moist swung further in order to say something about the history of Otto Hirsch, who had dealt with the development of the Stuttgart Jewish schoolhouse in 1926 for the encounter and exchange between Christians and Jews. After Hitler came to power he was able to help as the founder of the Central Organization of German Jews to 1941 many Jews to leave Germany. He was in by the Nazis in 1941 Mauthausen ermordet. Die Medaille wurde von der Stadt Stuttgart gestiftet, um Leute zu ehren, die sich um den christlich-jüdischen Dialog verdient gemacht haben.
Durch diese etwas dick aufgetragene Lobpreisung der Leistungen von Karl-Hermann Blickle in Koppelung mit der Lebensgeschichte von Otto Hirsch verschaffte Feucht dem Referent bei den Zuhörern ein Image des Kenners des Nahostkonflikts und dessen über alle Zweifel erhabenen unparteiischen und gerechten Blicks auf die Situation der beiden Völker im Konflikt. Aber was man dann im Folgenden in Blickles Vortrag zu hören bekam, ließ Fragen aufkommen, wie eine solche Aufmerksamkeit und Hingabe für Juden in Deutschland und jüdische Belange mit dieser jetzt geäußerten gnadenlos kritischen Haltung dem israelischen Staat gegenüber zusammenpassen.
Dass Herr Blickle seinem Vortrag über Wirtschaftsethik zu Beginn das Thema Nahost voranstellte und über die Hälfte der Zeit über seine Anti-israelische Sicht der Politik des Staates Israel sprach, diente dem Zweck, eine offene Diskussion mit kritischen Fragen zu diesem Thema gleich im Keim zu ersticken. Eine solche war auch während der gesamten Friedenswochen in Metzingen nicht erwünscht. Blickle machte seine einseitige, Israel beschuldigende Haltung deutlich, darüber konnten auch seine steten Betonungen, er sei ein Freund Israels, nicht hinwegtäuschen. Er machte außerdem, stellvertretend für die Veranstalter der Friedenswochen, seinem Ärger Luft, indem er betonte, dass die entstandenen Kontroversen, ausgelöst vor allem durch den Artikel von Carola Eissler, für die Ziele der Veranstalter, sich auf ihre Weise mit Friedensfindung im Nahen Osten zu befassen, nicht dienlich seien. Der Artikel und die Veranstaltungen im Vorfeld hatten zur Folge gehabt, dass viele Christen aufgeschreckt wurden, die in der immer wieder scharfen Verurteilung Israels mittels der „Mauer“ und der israelischen Politik gegenüber den Palästinensern, Antisemitismus aufkommen sahen. Und so griff er erst mal das „engagierte Pro-Israel Lager“ der evangelikalen Christen wegen ihrer uneingeschränkten solidarischen Haltung zu Israel an, und brandmarkte sie als die evangelikal-fundamentalistischen Israel supporters - who are equated with the religious fundamentalist Orthodox Jews in Israel that settlement construction in the proscribed conduct and defend Israel. After all, faithful Christians were not here equated with the fundamentalist Muslims, although that was in the context of peace weeks already heard. For such statements showed that Mr. Blick, and the organizers did exactly what they accuse the author of the article, as well as the critics of its program: the blame game.
presumptuous plenty then the instruction was, in turn, as the friends of Israel that their solidarity through a love and express passion for the people and the country want to correct their attitude have: one should "do with Israel worries" and "deal with what Israel failed the Palestinians" if one is Israel's friend. Apart from the fact that some friends of Israel, Mr. Blickle advice on how to deal with Israel, certainly do not need to see most of the totally different. Since the Israelis have the characteristic of their own society and politics, sometimes criticize up to almost self-destruction, they could very well make their problems themselves worry and do not need the know-alls from abroad, show that the moral finger at them. Especially the Germans should hold back as much. But as had happened several times in these Metzinger peace weeks, also suggests Mr. Blickle the same line to condemn Israel on one side and throws sharp, undetectable, or false statements and judgments all over the place, "the illegal occupation of Palestine" and "the serious human rights violations by the barrier are "peace in these circles to become preferred keywords. Here, too k a word to the suicide bombings, no word on the suppression and expulsion of the Christian Palestinians by their Muslim compatriots.
From the much-vaunted tolerance of the organizer this peace weeks was not noticed them, because if this were outcropping anti-Israelism or against the dubious "peaceful intentions" of Beit Ibrahim consistently wanted at all events, critical voices. It wa re see rschreckend how the ideological influence was in the evenings on fertile ground and the visitors could be conditioned accordingly.
Sadly also, was like an event organized by churches to look at the Bible with the numerous predictions for the people of God of the Jews and the fulfillment occurred completely ignored and suppressed. Instead, it closes itself rather to the well-practiced handling of the topic, the "criticism of Israel and its policy" allows no further. That is accepted in this context that, though perhaps unnoticed, a breeding ground is prepared for anti-Semitism, can this way around: "What the anti-Semites used to be the Jew, he is now the Jewish state."
This is the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Beit Jala. In this church I then, in the year 1985/86 together with another German pastor and Shihad die Gottesdienste für die Gemeinde gestaltet, Lieder herausgesucht und dann im Gottesdienst gesungen.
Er war ein echt netter Mensch. Alle Palästinenser, die ich kennenlernte, waren nett und haben mich gut behandelt. Meine angeheiratete Familie hat mich angenommen, hineingenommen und die herzliche Verbindung besteht bis heute.
Ich wage heute gar nicht daran zu denken, welche Lehre mich beeinflusst and the view I have developed, I would, however, remained in Beit Jala. I would probably not perceived as wrong. You have to prevent even just that one person reads the Bible as God's word seriously and to get practical teaching. (Normal in many churches, is not it?). Then he is open to all, has to offer the world of ideologies, doctrines, political views and religions. And mixing with the Christian faith is then not a big deal anymore. For Christians in Bethlehem anyway. is your tradition and community but they hold but no real faith. Even then, could I see that only when true faith be there was, the people clearly distanced themselves from their Muslim compatriots. However, I also heard anyone express solidarity with Israel.
I believe that the Palestinian Christians lived and still live in a permanent ideological dilemma. Your way out as on the two issues, the Muslims, and Israel to talk as little as possible. Then you come not in the embarrassment of having to reveal themselves. This led to many but also to an identity crisis. The resulting solution was: a emigrate), b) are reflected clearly in one way or the other. Most of those who remained in the country, beat on the other side just to see Jadalla Shihad. I would probably be both spiritually and politically stuck in a gray area. But when I had God - as in many places in my life - his hand in the game.
that I However, at this time in my political views (if I even had an attitude!) Has been very pro-influenced Palestinian was can be seen from the fact that I had in the first years Germany (from 1989) went pro-Palestinian events. I had, because my life among the Arabs was not bad, shifting my identity and I felt completely one with the Palis. And I wanted to show it. I was even at Felicia Langer Events in Tübingen, and I clapped their applause! However, I never had Israel-hostile attitude. Since I'm with my husband rumgereist very often in Israel, we have identified many nice Israelis Engelen t. Nevertheless, I listen in the first few years in the CGR at lectures and sermons on Israel only with anxiety and sometimes had to go out early, because I adulation when von dem wunderbaren, auserwählten Volk, das die Wüste zum Blühen bringt, geschwärmt wurde, nicht ertragen konnte. Erst nach und nach fing sich mir an, das Wort Gottes zu erschließen. Wir wurden in der Gemeinde dazu angehalten, die Bibel ganz zu lesen. Die Bibel nach Bibelleseplan in einem Jahr durch! Das blieb nicht ohne Auswirkung. Zusammen mit einer guten Auslegung bzw. Lehre hat es den Effekt, dass man die größeren geistlichen Zusammenhänge erkennt, Gottes Wort als sein Wort an uns Menschen wertet und natürlich entdeckt, was die Bedeutung von Israel ist. Wie ich allerdings I have an almost enthusiastic love for His people, is still inexplicable to me. Because he gave me this love for the Jews and Israel has placed in my heart. I was changed, my attitude turned around 180 degrees. Nevertheless, my heart is still very much for the Palestinians, as I always kind, warm-hearted people have kenengelernt. But it is now difficult to show that. For the Palis are just so pathetic and do everything wrong, what you can do wrong. D he can be Christians by the Muslims in a political attitude, crowd d ie Muslims are upset by Islam, and all can be spoon-fed by their Muslim "brothers" abroad in this conflict and abuse. you are allowing radical and corrupt the shots and do not have the courage to rebel against the lies and the obvious injustice. you all up to Bethlehem - the most famous Christian city in the world - and cry the adjacent places the Muslims and then, because the Israelis into the dangerous region can no longer do tourists.
They can be for sixty (!) Years in pen in filthy refugee camps. And there are wealthy Palis, who build their new comfortable house right in the camp, but so it is not the same visible. The sometimes vast social differences, but of course reluctant to be related to language . There, it would also not face to lack of money, but a political weapon in the world, will not cease to regret the suffering of the Palestinians and as a result of the inhuman oppression of the Israeli Besatzung anzuklagen. Diese schwache und ganz eindeutig ungerechte und nicht friedensbereite Haltung der Palästinenser, wie sie sich heute mehr und mehr zeigt, macht es mir eher leicht, meine Sympathiebekundungen für die die Palästinenser zu zügeln. Aber ich sehe, dass es auch anders geht. Es gibt ganz wenige echte Christen, die in ihrem Umfeld das Evangelium und die Liebe Gottes verbreiten. Ohne Rücksicht auf Verluste. Man weiß nicht, wie lange noch. It is necessary to support and pray for them.
When I look at the photos, I always think back with some nostalgia to the time when the situation there is not yet quite so hopeless was the borders open and Bethlehem, Beit Jala and Beit Sahour were still Christian. be When are the Palestinians to peace? I think until they open the Bible and see it: "Even if I did not stay with you, ye shall yet have peace My peace I give unto you a peace that can give you no one in the world. . Therefore, be without anxiety and fear! " (Jesus to his disciples)
begins in early November in Metzingen (near Reutlingen) a three-week so-called peace week under the name: "Breaking Walls". The resident priest Peter Metzger directs and initiated this very one-sided anti-Israeli action along with his friends as one-sided set of Beit Jala, expl. the resident pastor Jadalla Shihad, in Beit Jala, the hostel Abraham (see vorangeganener post of mine: "film about Abraham hostel - Beit Jala") operate.
The large-scale operation with lectures, discussions, film presentations and receptions is used to the hostel in Beit Jala to make known to collect money for them, under the misleading name of "peace work", current company while struggling with all the tricks against Israel and Israel to move in a bad light.
It is the anti-Israeli, anti-Semitic film "The Heart of Jenin" Metzinger shown in cinema. Ulrich Sahm writes about this: "A really good movie that will certainly receive many awards, but it is also a one-sided propaganda piece of work, are likely to stir up anti-Jewish feelings among the German public.."
in place of Metzingen sheet, press the southwest, now appeared in this regard, the following items:
A controversial influence
Metzinger days of peace in the shadow of Abraham's hostel
"walls" in the days of peace.
The Ecumenical Decade of peace has arrived. It is all about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The speakers come from the world of Abraham's hostel. And that is not without controversy.
CAROLA Eissler
Metzingen "Overcoming walls" is this year the theme of the Ecumenical Decade of Peace, held from 6 to 25 November takes place in Metzingen. The makers is about to commemorate the fall of the Berlin Wall 20 years ago and walls in the world visible. Rev. Peter Klaus Metzger and the organizers of the Peace Days Metzinger take this opportunity to move to Israel and the situation in the Palestinian autonomous areas in the center. The focus will be placed on since 2002 with a construction fence between Israel and the West Bank and the wall between Bethlehem and Jerusalem. A protection from Palestinian suicide bombers. After all, since the start of the bomb attacks in Israel have declined by 98 percent.
are however especially for peace activists of this fence and the resulting Israeli policy in the criticism. Metzger sees it this way: "The fact that this wall is on Palestinian land, ist völkerrechtlich ein Skandal." Der Situation der Palästinenser in der Westbank, der israelischen Politik, den Aktionen europäischer Friedensaktivisten und der Konsequenz, die man aus dem Fall der DDR-Mauer für die israelische Mauer ziehen kann, sind die Themen in Metzingen gewidmet. Dass gerade der Nahostkonflikt thematisiert wird, ist kein Zufall. "Es bestehen eben Kontakte zu profilierten Leuten", betont Metzger.
Dabei sind es mehr als bloße Kontakte. Denn Metzger hat zum einen bereits an Friedensaktionen entlang der Mauer teilgenommen, zum anderen kommen sämtliche Gastredner aus dem Umfeld der Abrahams Herberge Beit Jala in der Westbank, in dessen deutschem Förderverein Metzger im Vorstand aktiv ist. Die Abrahams Hostel, an agency of the Evangelical Lutheran Church is a "bridge to peace," it said in a self-presentation of the association. The pastor of Beit Ibrahim, who runs a guest house and a boarding school, is the old college friend butcher from Tuebingen days, Jadallah Shihadeh. It was in February, even in Metzingen and has here the drum for his body stirred, just like it more than half of the year in Germany and Europe to raise money for his "peace project" as he calls it, collect and ideologically to influence public opinion. Supported by the German Friends of Abraham the same hostel. Also flowed from Metzingen Money to Beit Jala.
Shihadeh comes this time not even on the days of peace, but sends his German wife, as is the mayor of Jena, the theologian and SPD-Mann Dr. Albrecht Schröter was invited, also to the initiated by the Beit Ibrahim demonstrations in the West Bank has participated, and another board member of the Society Beit Ibrahim, the entrepreneur Karl-Hermann Blickle, who will speak about ethics in business.
Metzinger days of peace, then, in the shadow of the influence of Abraham are the hostel and their political and ideological orientation. This Shihadeh and its furnishings in Beit Jala are themselves anything but uncontroversial. Shihadeh not speak for all Palestinian Christians, says an informant who do not want to be named for security reasons, compared with this newspaper. While weather Shihadeh bodied against the Israeli policy say, but not a single word about Islamic suicide bombings and the expulsion of Christians from the Palestinian territories. Probably out of fear. "Otherwise the next day would burn his church."
The Beit Ibrahim has changed in the six years of its existence to a lavish luxury hotel. If Shihadeh, arguing that the Palestinians, the Israelis would regularly turn off the water in Germany for anti-Israeli Tone gives, then can only eyewitness smile. Finally, operating on the local area consuming water games.
But there are other inconsistencies. Shihadeh Sun claims to have spent, in the Beit Ibrahim Christians, Jews and Muslims to get together. But the fact is that Jews from entering the so-called A-Zone, located in Beit Jala, is prohibited by the State of Israel for security reasons. In Germany, Shihadeh is happy as a driving force in the peace efforts in the dialogue between the religions he plays but also in the West Bank, a minor role. This person is Shihadeh too controversial. From his Lutheran brethren, he is shunned normal. A few years ago the pastor was even close to being thrown out of the church. It is said to have been controversy over the use of donated funds. Shihadeh may harm but also of his luxurious life style because of the reputation of the church. Of money it seems to be missing in the Beit Ibrahim not in any case, even though the guest house is often empty. Thus completing the Beit Ibrahim in August even four weeks of their doors and its 16 employees funded an expensive stay in Switzerland. However
can enjoy Shihadeh broad support from Germany. There is, for example, the Jena Mayor Schröter, coming as mentioned also in Metzingen. He exercises regularly to close ranks mit den Friedensaktivisten in der Westbank. So demonstrierte er diesen Sommer gemeinsam mit Metzger an der Mauer zwischen Bethlehem und Jerusalem. Mitmarschiert im Protestzug ist auch der oberste islamische Richter in den palästinensischen Autonomiegebieten, Sheikh Tayseer Tamimi. Jener Mann, der zwei Monate zuvor beim Besuch des Papstes im Heiligen Land für einen Eklat gesorgt hatte, als er bei einem interreligiösen Friedensdialog eine Hasstirade über Israel ergoss und die Christen dazu aufrief, die Muslime in ihrem Kampf gegen den jüdischen Staat zu unterstützen.
In welche Richtung die Friedenstage weisen, hat bereits ein Informationsabend vor einigen Wochen im Martinsgemeindehaus gezeigt. Dort wurde kräftig für die Abrahams Hostel advertised. And serving the well-known anti-Israeli stereotypes based on a film. Also the film "Heart of Jenin" to be shown at the Luna Theater, is anything but uncontroversial. The well-known Middle East correspondent Ulrich Sahm even talks of propaganda concoction, the brochure with the German public anti-Jewish feelings.
that in the days of peace in Metzingen, the communist regime from a domestic German wall built equated with the Wall in Israel, is seen also in the German-Israeli Society in Stuttgart extremely critical. The chairman Hans-Hellmut Schuerholz warns against simple slogans and one-sided partisanship. "Peace can namely only with security geben." Die Veranstalter der Metzinger Friedenstage werden sich die Frage stellen müssen, ob es ihnen um objektive Informationspolitik geht oder um schlichte einseitige Verurteilung Israels.
Info
Veranstalter: AK Gentechnik-Freies Ermstal, ACK, Bündnis 90/Grüne, Café International, Evangelische und Katholische Kirchengemeinde, Baptisten, SPD, Weltladen, Familienbildungsarbeit.
eight years, during which Hamas indiscriminately shelled Israeli civilians with rockets, the UN has been silent. Only when Israel after years of restraint, set out to put an end to terror, negotiated the Human Rights Council - by condemning Israel. This committee adopted a unilateral one-sided resolution that called for a one-sided investigation. Last month, the results of this "investigation" of Judge Richard Goldstone has been submitted to the Human Rights Council. But instead responsible ungsbewusst deal with the report, the Council members in a further anti-Israeli farce have gathered, the self-Goldstone perceived as biased.
There have been dozens of international studies on the Gaza operation, and Israel has worked with almost all of them fully, including that of UN Secretary-General. Only in cases where it was clear beyond doubt that an investigation of a political agenda - and not by concern for human rights - was motivated to Israel decided against cooperating. The fact-finding mission of the Human Rights Council was unfortunately such a case. is sadly what Israel was clear from the start, only now become clear to Goldstone. He picks himself now on the results of his own actions to distance. Past Friday, he of the Swiss daily Le Temps reported his disappointment with the actions of the Human Rights Council ". The resolution text saddens me, because it contains only allegations against Israel and not a single sentence that condemned the Hamas"
We must now the Konseq Uenze be done. The acquisition of the Goldstone report presents in more ways than one, nothing less than a reward for terrorism dar. First perverted the resolution adopted on Friday the reality of Hamas accused of crime and the victim instead of the true perpetrator of war crimes in Gaza. For Human Rights It was irrelevant that Hamas had committed serious war crimes, by openly calling for Israel's destruction, deliberately fired thousands of rockets on Israeli civilians, vulnerable civilians in Gaza by firing from populated areas and kidnapped Gilad Shalit. was also irrelevant to the Human Rights Council that Israel bore responsibility for the Yellow z of its citizens and had done everything to avoid confrontation and civilian casualties. The only relevant consideration for the Human Rights Council was the fact that an opportunity arose, Israel in the international Arena zu dämonisieren. Zweitens unterminiert die Resolution gemäßigte Palästinenser, die an einem Frieden mit Israel interessiert sind. Innerhalb der palästinensischen Gesellschaft geht ein Machtkampf vonstatten. Es ist ein Nullsummenspiel, in dem jeder Erfolg für den Extremismus auf Kosten der Unterstützung der Mäßigung geht. Wenn der „Schwanz“ der Hamas mit dem „Hund“ des Nahen Ostens wedeln darf, nimmt die palästinensische Straße sich das zu Herzen, und die gesamte Region nimmt das zur Kenntnis. In unserer Nachbarschaft liebt jeder den Gewinner. Wenn also ein internationales Gremium das brutale Verhalten der Hamas unterstützt und es abermals zum Israel-Bashing missbraucht, verliert die Palästinensische Autonomiebehörde von Mahmoud Abbas ihr Gesicht, verlieren die moderaten arabischen Staaten an Boden und gewinnt die Achse Hisbollah-Syrien-Iran an Stärke.
Drittens schafft die Resolution ein neues Hindernis im globalen Kampf gegen den Terrorismus. Eine neue Form der Kriegsführung hat sich entwickelt, in der Terrorgruppen „feindliche“ Zivilisten von hinter einem Schutzschild „freundlicher“ Zivilisten aus angreifen. Diese Resolution gewährt den Terroristen Immunität und hindert gesetzestreue Staaten daran, ihre Bürger zu beschützen. Mit dem Segen des Menschenrechtsrats wird diese Taktik von Terroristen auf der ganzen Welt wiederholt werden, zum Nachteil all the other democracies that are fighting against terrorism, millions of innocent civilians are in danger. Finally - and this is the most tragic - this whole episode has enticing Israelis to question the basic assumptions that have been conducted in their internal debate over the best way to peace. Most Israelis supported the willingness of their political leaders to take calculated risks to take in order to advance the peace process, on the assumption that the "world" to support such efforts and to protect it in all directions.
The Israelis assumed that if things after the closing of compromises did not work, at least the right to self defense would be maintained and the world would support them in their struggle. Now, however, is a nightmare come true. After we made a tangible risk to themselves, had to leave a disputed territory the sake of peace, Gaza became a lawless enclave run by Hamas and Iranian-supported terrorism. But when Israel was forced to defend itself, the world does not react with the support and understanding, but rather with allegations of "crimes against humanity." Damn, the same act or if they do not ask the Israelis now: "Was it worth the sacrifice?" While the Israelis consider their options, the Goldstone snowball gathering momentum. From Geneva, the matter has now been referred to the UN General Assembly in New York for further treatment. But it's still not too late. An international rejection of the handling of the Human Rights Council with the Goldstone report would signal to the Israeli public that the world supports their compromises for peace indeed. Danny Ayalon, the Deputy Foreign Minister in Israel.
Earlier this week rumors were circulated that was scheduled for Wednesday a workers' strike. The troubled really huge! strikes in Africa is anything but funny, I might at least in this context it takes a lot of unpleasant:
So it came as the beginning of November already on our site to an uprising. At that time, the structural work on the stadium as good as finished and hundreds of workers now threatened dismissal. In addition, there was also something with the Christmas bonus, but as I now know not exactly know. In any case, they gathered in the stadium and then heitzten by chants and battle-cries for ever more.
Eventually they moved then go armed with iron rods and hunted down every employee who still works (= Scab). One of our local employees was shattered a kneecap. Pfeifer The team then barricaded himself in the closed meeting room.
Well .. at least almost closed: The Martin (with the hotel in Paarl) understood the whole situation too late and could not leave the office, since the workers already proposed from the outside against the containers. He hid under his desk and waited out there. A Riessen lucky that the crowd because it was not down! make the situation not to escalate the Poilzei entered the construction site after a long, long time.
cruel but still was a strike by lorry drivers earlier this year. For us this was very critical because we have such a large part of our steel every few days, delivered from Johannesburg. In the course of the strike was even shot a truck driver, who continued, despite the call for a strike behind his tax.
Well, as always, worried that rumors of another strike me in any case. Pretty soon confirmed the project manager then also what one has been reported from all sides: The union of mine workers (NUM), the trade union for construction (Bcawu) and the South African Civil Engineering Association (Safcec) are planning a strike starting on Wednesday at 12 Clock! you strike for 13 percent more pay. know this must be said that the construction could increase in profits last year by 100% and pocketed the management pay increases of 15%. also calls for a minimum of 14 rand (about € 1.20). In a newspaper article I read that the average miner incredible 435 years (= 11 generations of workers) would have to work to have the annual average salary of a mine manager deserves to ...
The project manager told us that 10 years ago was already a two-week strike: In the end, it jumped out to a wage increase of 0.25 percent. The employees had work with this "extra income" about 3 years to just the 2 weeks lost wages back to have in there (unlike in Germany, you have no income during a strike).
It was then on Tuesday evening, a crisis meeting in our meeting room. all important phone numbers were exchanged and it was decided to leave that we bring all the workers by 11 clock from the roof and at half past 12, the construction site. After lunch we meet again outside the gate there and decide whether work can continue or not. On the whole construction site are said only 60 staff members in these unions (unfortunately, all of our tower crane driver). They say that the strike Our site actually little concern. We would on our wireless devices are constantly in contact of the security service and there would be a permanent status report. Moreover, the Metro Police will be informed and who is permanently ensure that workers do not march to the stadium from other sites.
All morning it looked as if no one would emerge on the site. Even at just before 11 was all quiet and everyone of us thought that we will probably work as normal and everything was just a flop is Riessen.
At 11, the situation changed dramatically then: The project manager was very excited in the container and arranged that we all IMMEDIATELY shutdown the computer and to get into the cars. My blood pressure rose abruptly. was heard from somewhere a deep voice. Tyron found it all very exciting, I sang the song that sang and danced to the workers. I thought that was really beside it for me, the strikers were, "the enemy", and I'm now a colleague standing next to me, the face with a euphoric humming some song and dance beside me all excited .. I have no idea where the strikers gathered. You could not make up, whether any current moving in a certain direction. Everything pointed to the whereabouts of the collection, some were workers, directly on the ruins of the old stadium stands behind our containers and were excited lurrten over the walls. Accordingly, even if they were not far away ... The project manager then said that supposedly came more and more people to the site, instead of leaving it. If this really was, but then there was something up there at the gate quite wrong ...
As we left the construction site, several camera crews stood in front of the driveway. The police had meanwhile already present and reminded rather of military: Everyone was wearing thick bullet-proof vests and here and there I saw machine guns shouldered. As we
then after the lunch break came back to the stadium, I was firmly convinced that we are now working again. There were obviously still have some people outside the stadium, but I can not say whether this or demonstrated again just waiting to be let into the stadium. I was then told at the gate, according to arrangement of the general contractor today no one is allowed to enter the site. They probably would even tomorrow yet closed, but that would be communicated to us in due course.
seemed to me that does not really make sense, since by then I no strike group really got to face. a staff member but already knew everything: from the 60 combined in the union employees were already 500, and the group would be in the downtown direction Bahnhof drawn. People think that they will march in the afternoon return back to the stadium. Okay, it is probably the better way and I enjoy my day off. On Thursday I saw noon from Signall Hill gathered from a large crowd outside the stadium and heard from this distance nor their calls. the evening I received a call that the site probably until Sunday had been closed. It would have 2,000 demonstrators joined forces and the police is now a rubber bullets and tear gas to prevent them from entering the site.
When I lunch on Friday with a trip by car to the stadium was made to see not a soul. The entrance is boarded up with thick wooden planks and paper scattered everywhere is: leaflets of the union, but also leaflets of the city, which called in the strike as illegal and will be asked to appear again tomorrow for work. Along the fence a few police officers watched in their cars. now it says that negotiations on Monday once again. Maybe they call it already last week back to work?
As I am Monday, at Giovanni's for lunch, I peered of course, on the other side of the street to the stadium across. Since I could not identify any human soul, I was now again assume that the phone could ring at any moment and we would soon be called back to the desks. 15 min. Later I was attracted by the noise of the street then again to the window, and I was amazed not bad: Ca. 100 demonstrators marched singing and dancing with sticks in hand over just outside the window. However, they were escorted by at least as many police officers. One can really speak of a non-strained, or even dangerous situation .. On the contrary, all seemed rather friendly, and the officials were talking mitmarschierenden with completely relaxed faces ... But I thought it was still exciting! ;)
's see when the phone rings ...
Thursday, 16/07/2009:
Ok, "good" news: Although not every union has accepted the current offer, now the work went on at the stadium safe for us.
So far I know both parties were acting out a wage increase of 12% , subject to the condition that to completion of the stadium may no longer be on strike.
If one assumes that a worker because of me 20 Rand die Stunde verdient.. dann bekommt er fortan 22,40 Rand. Bei einem 10 Stunden Tag und einer 6 Tagewoche verdient er also 144 Rand mehr . Allerdings hatte er aufgrund des Streiks auch einen Lohnausfall von 1200 Rand ... es wird nun ersteinmal über 8 Wochen (!) dauern, um wieder auf Null zu sein !
Bis dahin ist der Stadionbau schon halbwegs abgeschlossen, und manch einer vielleicht gar nicht mehr beschäftigt...
Ich denke also die ganze Aktion hat sich nich für jederman gelohnt.
In the last week of June swept a really uncomfortable Antarctic storm over our heads.
At wind speeds of up to 130 km / h we all had to work on the roof and set down cranes span the safe side of the building container. In the surrounding mountains is even snow have fallen.
To me, the spectacle to see live, I went on Wednesday evening extra to the Beach Road: riiiiießige waves lashed against the shore promenade, the sea foam was spread by the wind over the entire road and dirty my car ... :-)
was in the newspaper that the waves are usually average 3 meters high, on Wednesday, however, at the height of storms reaching 17 meters high waves whipped on the mainland (!).
Record:
-Large parts of Cape Town were without power (in most cases were the so-called "informal settlements", affected so the townships) and were partially flooded
-Die Titelseite der Cape Argus zierte ein beeindruckendes Foto einer Blechhütte, die der Sturm in einem Kapstädter Township weggeweht und auf dem Dach einer anderen Baracke hat landen lassen
-25 Film-Studenten waren auf der Dassen Insel gefangen
-zwei Tankschiffe, die vor der Bucht Kapstadts vor Anker lagen, trieben um ein Haar an den Bloubergstrand
-in Jacobs Bay, a Chinese cargo ship ran aground and two Schleeppfrachter demolished in Knysna and Jacobsbaai of the lines and found the same . Given the weather conditions it was decided to involve not the container but to leave the waves
Sooooooo, it is again: here comes the "New" from South Africa!
On Wednesday, 10.06.2009 (jaaaaaaaaa, alright .. we already have .. July * gg * I just had no time again to write this quickly here ...) there were only 365 days until World Cup opening game, which on 11 available June 2010 at Soccer City Stadium in Johannesburg is. At this time, the stadium is reportedly 72% complete. I do not know which of you at home watched the Confederations Cup, but the South African Team fought really well! For example, lost Bafana Bafana, as the national team down here is always called, in a very exciting game with virtually the last minute 0-1 against Brazil! This caused for first ever football euphoria and enthusiasm the people here .. And then you also paid on Thursday, its president, Jacob Zuma, a visit to our stadium and praised from the (few) present construction workers for their work: you write history and makes an important contribution to your country [..! . we] have shown the world that South Africans are very special people. As soon as we see opportunities, we always occur immediately in action. Bla bla bla .. I must say my interest was rather low and I have not heard the speech live. As you may remember I have my views against this man done already known .. ;) Like me the others who have their speech heard reported, he praised as I said all the workers joked that he would if necessary, arbitration judge ourselves to keep the Cup on African soil, and Mike Marsden, the city safety officer, promised to Cape Town so far as safe as any large European city will make to ... seeeeeeeeehr aim high, if you ask me.
Well, this state visit caused quite definitely nice sensation. Riessen a VIP area on the Green was the former golf course set up and he took the whole lunch lame Construction .. meant for us: closing time at 13:00 clock already! And for you, I finally had time and long overdue items to the Kruger Park went online .. ;-) At the end of Mr Zuma then kicked a football into the crowd, almost a symbolic push for the last 365 days ... and the last 28% ;-)
Okok before me someone for my pretentious blog heading is acidic:
is of course not the meant quite seriously .. ;-)
should only be a pun, the further down then surely you will understand all (at least if you the same series on a cable is a term ...).
Well .. but a little bit brave I was the weekend already:
On Friday I was invited to one of our colleagues at home.
his real name (I must admit) I do not know who call him the other mainly " White-Bread " or "Angle . The latter gave him his nickname Grandma, and white bread .. Well .. he can not afford to hold "regular" lunch every day, so it sits over his half-loaf of white bread.
He once told me proudly that he was a few years in a special school:
it is a kind of "aid project " for young people from the townships, so they do not even get on the straight and narrow. They live there as a kind youth center and learn next to "Make-work around" everything possible for life's future: how to cook, for example, laundry wash and how to remove fire.
And a few of you I've ever been in a different context, says of him:
Here in Cape Town, among the growing " Capetonians " a Mutprobe, sich selbst die vorderen Schneidezähne rauszureißen. Je größer die Lücke im Gesicht desto mutiger der Idiot... jeglicher Kommentar hierzu überflüssig, oder?
Bei Whitebread aber ist es anders:
laut eigener Aussage hat ihm am 15.August 2006 in der früh um halb 5 (es scheint ein sehr einschneidendes Erlebnis in seinem Leben gewesen zu sein) ein befreundeter Kerl aus seiner Nachbarschaft die Zähne gezogen, da er es vor Schmerzen nicht mehr ausgehalten hätte. Er meinte zwar es war ein Zahnarzt und er hätte das Zahnfleisch auch mit einer Syringe stunned, but .. I do not know, I rather think it was one of those " medicine men," as they practice here, according to my travel guides, especially in townships and enjoy this very much confidence.
why I think so?
Because he lives in a township, including Gugulethu .
So I went, admittedly with a real uneasy feeling in the stomach with a 19 year old know-workers in a township and met his family .. :-)
course I wanted to inform me in advance or less, whether one should engage in something like this: According
chief "neeeeee, better do not ... except that they will go into a township, is suffering " White Bread " recently at a genuinely Fießer Tripper
-. na yeah ... so close I want him now not even come ..
Also, the construction manager and Martin advised decided against it.
But curiosity forced me formally to this experiment. And besides, I told the Tyron that one can not compare easily with Township Township!
There are areas, because he can not set foot inside .. But Gugulethu contrast, was absolutely sure would even have some pubs and bars, and he often stroll at night through the streets of the celebration.
I took care of course but always meticulously pay attention to what happened so around me. Especially since we started way too late and only arrived at dusk, the Township reached welches sich ganz in der Nähe zum Kapstädter Flughafen befindet.
Auf dem Weg dorthin sahen wir neben der Autobahn ein paar Jungs laufen, jeder mit einem Büschel Palmenwedel in der Hand.
Whitebread erklärte mir, dass es hier Tradition sei, dass die heranwachsenden Jungs irgendwann losziehen, der Mutter ein Bündel Palmenwedel geben und dann am nächsten Morgen aufbrechen um für 2 Monate „ im Busch “ zu leben. Erst wenn sie gezeigt haben, dass sie „ für sich selbst “ leben können, sind sie richtige Männer und nicht mehr länger von Mami depends ... then they come back, the palm fronds dried up and burned.
but everything sounds much more heroic than it is in effect: It has become customary that one just a little boy for " paid " that he supplied a day with food. And "the bush " has absolutely nothing to do with my photos from the article "On safari in the Kruger" in common: they live in a home-built plastic tent on the outer side of the fence townships ... :-)
White Bread lives with the sister of his grandmother, along with several siblings and half siblings (his father, the tradition more than just a wife ...).
I was welcomed with open arms, literally, that was once a very nice start. And they did not live in one of these tin huts windy (which it already here would be quite the same way), but at least been to a brick house .
course, it was all in all only an estimated 80 square meters for (again, estimated) 8 people, but still: it had electricity, running water ... everything was already not be so bad as I had feared in the run.
Die bereits recht alte Oma saß die ganze Zeit nur im Sessel und starrte in den uralten Fernseher, dessen Bild nur rot, schwarz und grau erzeugen konnte.. ;)
Whitebread wollte mir dann auch noch ein bisschen die Gegend zeigen, wobei ich darauf bestand mit dem Auto zu fahren anstatt zu Laufen... Hochmut kommt schließlich vor dem Fall, und ich wollte es nun nicht herausfordern.
Ich glaube im Endeffekt war ihm das dann auch viel lieber: wie hielten für ein kleines Schwätzchen bei jedem Bekannten, die wir auf der Straße trafen und ich glaube er genieste es in einem Auto um die Häuser „zu cruisen“.
Ich habe leider kaum Fotos gemacht. Mal traute ich mich nicht (wie mitten auf der Straße), oder aber ich wäre mir dabei zu blöd vorgekommen (falls ich zum Beispiel die Oma im Sessel fotografiert hätte).
Als wir mal wieder hielten wollte ich dann aber doch festhalten, wie ein paar der Kinder mit einem Stock und einem alten Autoreifen spielten, und schwupps war ich auch schon belagert:
Gut 20 Kinder kamen von überall her angelaufen und schwätzten und schrieen alle durcheinander. Sie wollten meinen Namen wissen, meine „tollen Haare“ anfassen, den Autospiegel verstellen, und natürlich: dass ich Fotos von Ihnen mache.
War einfach richtg lieb, mit welche Freude they are "strangers" explored .. ;)
As we drove on then they ran from so far as they could find the car and pretended that they would push me .. * gg *
All the children I saw appear to me a thousand times happier than ours in Germany.
Wir waren dann auch noch bei Whitebreads leiblicher Mutter:
Hier war es alles andere als gemütlich!!! In einer ca. 8 qm großen Hütte aus unverputztem Mauerwerk gammelten gut 20 Erwachsene.. alles stand voller Schnaps und Bierflaschen. Einer der Männer füllte gerade etwas aus einem 2 Liter Plastikbehälter mit Hilfe eines Trichters in ein paar der leeren Bierflaschen um.. wenn ich’s nich besser wüsste, würd ich sagen, dass die da Abflussreiniger verdünnen und saufen...
Die Mutter war total neben der Spur und hat sich mir gleich 10 mal vorgestellt... dann fing einer der Männer an uns nach Geld anzubetteln, und auf einen Schlag waren it is 4 to before us and what were wanted. Also White Bread 's mother grabbed him by the arm and said that she would eat anything today and he has to give her money.
That was clearly embarrassed him and he just said that we must continue the evening at 8 and he comes again. Of course they wanted to let him go nich, the sound was almost grumpy and they begged in one tour continues as we just got into the car without saying a word.
With a slight creeps me this sight a bit reminiscent of "zombies" who did not want to let go ...
Das war mein Freitag...
Samstag ... mal überlegen.. was habe ich Samstag gemacht ?!???
Achja, ich blieb noch recht lang in der Arbeit um zu telefonieren, weil mein Pre-Paid Guthaben leer war.. na ja, da ist nichts mutiges dran, also streicht den Samstag einfach..
ABER Sonntag , da ging’s dann wieder heiß her!!!
Wir, das sind Andy, Alex, Malte und Ich, waren nämlich:
OH MAN WAS THE COOL!
We have shot sooooo cool pictures! (unfortunately only have it brought these cheap cameras waterproof non-straight ...)
become Especially the video, which has made the professional photographer on board during the trip, is really great ... I try my views on youtube the next few days, perhaps war-ego since accessible to you ...
Achsooooooo, ihr wisst gar nich worum’s geht ?
Na is doch klar: wir waren Great-White-Shark-Cage-Diving :-)
In einem Käfig lauernd haben wir Weiße Haie beobachtet !!!!
Wie bereits ein paar mal erwähnt wimmeln die Gewässer hier am Kap nur so vor diesen „Monstern“.
In Gaansbai , einem Küstenort ca. 160 km von Kapstadt entfernt, bieten zahlreiche Unternehmen diese Käfig-Tauch-Fahrten an.
Das Wasser war zwar wirklich recht kalt, aber die Jahreszeit ist für diese Unternehmung geradezu perfekt :
Die Robben , die einige Kilometer weit draußen auf einer kleinen Felsinsel leben, haben gerade Jungen , weshalb die Haipopulation im Vergleich zum Sommer viel, viel dichter ist. Kaum hatten wir den Anker zu Wasser gelassen umkreiste uns bereits des erste Exemplar. Laut Tourguide war das alles andere als normal, da es durchaus auch vorkommt, dass man über eine Stunde warten muss, bis man einen sichtet.
Demgegenüber waren wir nur zu 12. auf einem Boot, welches im Sommer bis zu 40 Touristen mit raus nimmt. Somit hatten wir genügend Platz um uns in die (leider noch vom Vortag nassen) Taucheranzüge zu quälen... Und wir blieben auch wesentlich länger im Käfig. Ein einziger Wechsel war nötig, fit it into the cage 7 Float purely at once.
At peak times, we observed six sharks simultaneously, each for between 3 and 4 meters
.
was really an amazing and unique experience ...
But it does non always go as spectacular:
stopped on the way back we für einen Abstecher bei einer Pinguin-Kolonie , was wirklich auch gar nicht so schlecht war...! ;)
