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Tue. December 30, 2014 EDITOR'S PICKS :  
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Issue: Israel's Jewish Identity. What Does it Mean?
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PA: Made "Generous" Offer; Israel: "Bring it to the Table"
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Palestinians Submit Resolution to UN Security Council
University of the People Opens Doors to African Refugees
Israel Under Pressure on Its Chemical Weapons
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Egyptian Constitution: No Religious Parties; Strong Role for Military

The draft of the new Egyptian constitution that was revealed on Saturday bans religious parties from the political process while giving a strong hand to the military. The document, which has been a work-in-progress for the past five months, will be put to a referendum in December – the date to be set by interim President Mansour after he is presented with the fully—approved document by the assembly that created it. That will be followed by the setting of parliamentary and presidential elections to be held next year. The nods to Islamic law that were seen in the draft promulgated during the short time Mohamed Morsi held office are no longer present. The Supreme Council of the Military, though, will approve the choice of defense minister.  Rights activists are not pleased with the Mubarak-era ability to try civilians in military courts.
 

Rohani: “We’ll Never Dismantle Nuclear Sites”

The initial euphoria over the deal cut between the Western powers and Iran continues to slip away as Iranian leaders first attacked the American version of what was agreed upon and then on Friday, President Hassan Rohani vowed to the Financial Times never to dismantle any nuclear site. Rohani was also adamant that enriching uranium is a “right” that Iran will not concede. He cited the Islamic Republic’s relations with the United States as a barometer of Iranian relations with the West. Rohani told the newspaper that improving relations with Washington is “complicated” and “cannot be resolved in a short period of time.” Some contend that the lengthy diplomacy he suggests is an effective cover for efforts to create nuclear weapons while being assured that no military option is on the table as it was before the Western powers deal was struck. A Washington Post editorial on Friday criticizes President Obama, noting there is no provision to “balance” the concessions made to Iran with “a major rollback in Iran’s nuclear infrastructure,” a point Rohani effectively said in his Financial Times interview will not happen. The newspaper was critical of both Obama and Secretary of State Kerry who promised the interim deal would not include a recognition of Iran’s “right to enrich uranium,” yet, the “long-standing US demand that an underground enrichment facility be closed is not mentioned.” The state-run news agency said on Friday that Foreign Minister Zarif said Iran will not participate in any negotiations with the West that includes Israeli participation.

Task of Destroying Syria’s Chemical Stockpiles Remains Logistical, Security Nightmare

The Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) has its hands full as it tries to meet deadlines for destroying hundreds of tons of chemical agents being turned over by the Assad regime in Syria. The organization is trying to utilize a number of civilian agencies world-wide to assume parts of the project, the immediate need being to destroy 800 tons of chemicals. On Saturday, OPCW announced that the United States has offered to take on a large part of the task, offering to “contribute destruction technology, full operational support and financing to neutralize” the lethal loads aboard a ship at sea and complete the job by December 31. The offer follows a pessimistic report by the New York Times last week that suggested the civil war is making it impossible to do the job. Among other problems is the role being played by regime forces in securing and escorting the chemicals giving rise to fear of rebel forces attacking the vulnerable and deadly cargoes before they are on-loaded to ships.  On Saturday, a helicopter attack on the town of Al-Bab in Aleppo Province left 20 dead according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.  
 

Riots Mark “Day of Rage” Over Israeli Plans to Resettle Bedouins

Protests across Israel turned violent on Saturday as thousands turned out to demonstrate against Israeli plans to resettle Bedouins in the southern Negev region of the country. Riots broke out as demonstrations were staged simultaneously in the Negev in the south; in Haifa in the north; the Arab town of Tayibe; Jaffa and Jerusalem. Some light injuries were reported and 15 arrests were made according to police sources. In the Old City of Jerusalem, police used water canon to disperse the crowd. The demonstrations were prompted by what is known as the Praver Legislation, a bill intending to resolve Bedouin claims to ownership of lands in the Negev through relocation and compensation. Legal support groups representing the Arab and Bedouin populations claim the Bedouin are being stripped of land that is rightfully theirs. The government claims many Bedouin residences are legalized by the law which takes into account “the needs of the Bedouin sector.”

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