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Gainesville Sun – April 4, 2007
Students protest Israel ad at Senate
Michael Davis
A group of pro-Islam and pro-Palestinian students packed into the Student Senate chamber Tuesday night to protest a Student Government-funded ad voicing student support for Israel.
The full-page ad, which cost a little more than $1,160, ran in the Independent Florida Alligator on March 28 and included the names of more than 1,500 students who signed a petition saying they support Israel's right to defend itself against terrorists.
The issue that has incited discontent among such pro-Islam and pro-Palestinian student organizations as Islam on Campus and Nakba 48 is that the ad specifically stated that it was paid for by UF's Student Government.
"The deceptive nature of the ad came off as if it was on behalf of every student here," said Jason Fieldhouse, a member of Nakba 48. "Because it says 'we the students of UF' and doesn't say the organization that paid for the ad, it implies that Student Government supports this."
"The ad hurt, intimidated and violated the rights of a sizable number of UF students," said Christina Bates, one of the protesters.
Bates added that Student Government should represent the entire student body and should be making an extra effort to include "all" the voices of the student body….
http://www.gainesville.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070404/LOCAL/704040351/-1/news
Associated Press - April 4, 2007
Cherokee county official resigns
over web postings on Israel
A Cherokee County official has resigned from her position after criticism over comments she made on her Web site about Israel.
Mary Catarineau, who is on the Cherokee County Planning Commission, wrote about dismantling Israel as a way to achieve peace in the Middle East in March 22 entry on her Web site, "My Diary With God."
And in a March 24 entry, Catarineau wrote that Israel "was artificially created to provide a place for Jews to avoid persecution after the Holocaust. The Holocaust is not going to recur, and Israel has caused nothing but problems. Jews can remain or leave, but give the land back to the Muslims."
Cherokee County is a fast-growing county north of Atlanta.
Catarineau said she wanted the Internet posts to encourage people to think about different ways to end the violence in that part of the world.
"If anything I wrote on the blog was offensive, I sincerely apologize," she said. "That was not my intent."
To avoid escalating the controversy, Catarineau said she was stepping down from her position on the planning commission and from her position on the county's Comprehensive Plan Steering Council. …..
http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/metro/cherokee/stories/2007/04/04/0404metcherokeeisrael.html
Jerusalem Post - April 4, 2007
New York dinner raises $18m. for Israeli army
Aimee Rhodes
The Friends of the Israel Defense Forces raised a record $18 million at its annual gala dinner held last week in New York City.
Transportation Minister Shaul Mofaz addressed more than 1,300 attendees and remarked on the key security challenges facing Israel. The former defense minister and army chief warned that Iran intended to carry out its threats to destroy Israel.
"Teheran's intentions are crystal clear. The day Iran's capabilities allow it to fully act on its intentions is the day those intentions will be carried out. And that day must never come," Mofaz said, adding: "When it comes to Iran let me assure you we will also know how to protect ourselves."
Mofaz also told attendees that UN resolution 1701, the basis for the cease-fire ending the war in Lebanon, was not being fully implemented.
He said Israel is seeing Hizbullah "rearm and return to southern Lebanon" and he added that the Lebanese army was not doing what was necessary to disarm them…..
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1173879238837&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull
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