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U.S.: Middle East Peace Depends on Recognition of Israel
 At a meeting last week of the UN Security Council, U.S. Secretary of State Rice reasserted her government's demand for a "true Palestinian commitment" to the renunciation of terrorism, the recognition of Israel's right to exist, and previous obligations including the Quartet's Roadmap. (Deutsche Presse-Agentur)
UK Minister: Hizballah's Hiding Weapons in Civilian Areas Had Gone to "New Depths"
 UK Foreign Office Minister Kim Howells told the UK Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee that Hizballah's tactics in hiding weapons in civilian areas had gone to "new depths." The minister alleged that Hizballah had hidden caches of arms in schools and mosques, and rockets in apartment blocks in southern Lebanon. "Every time the Israelis responded...and smashed a building down, every picture of a burnt child and every picture of a building that had housed people [where] there was now pancake on the ground was propaganda for Hizballah. And if an organization like Hizballah is ruthless enough to exploit those tactics, then one wonder how it can ever be possible in the future to, if you like, win the justice on your side against such an enemy." (BBC News)
Irish Lecturers Call on EU to Boycott Israeli Universities
by Tamara Traubman
 Irish academics have called on the European Union in an open letter to impose a moratorium financial support to Israeli academic institutions until Israel ends the occupation in the Palestinian territories. The letter published in the Irish Times was signed by 61 Irish academics. "Academic boycotts are opposed to the international principle of academic freedom," said in response on Sunday Professor Yosef Yeshurun, Rector of Bar-Ilan University. (Ha'aretz)
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Palestinian PM: We Won't Recognize Israel
by Khaled Abu Toameh and Herb Keinon
 PA Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh reiterated his opposition to recognizing Israel's right to exist and halting terrorism. Haniyeh said the Hamas-led government would not accept the conditions set by America and the rest of the Quartet for resuming financial aid to the Palestinians. "They are imposing unacceptable conditions on our people," he said, adding that the Palestinians have the right to continue the "resistance" against Israel. (Jerusalem Post)
Palestinian Rocket Hits Israeli College
by Shmulik Hadad
 Palestinian gunmen fired two Kassam rockets from the northern Gaza Strip at Israel last week. One of the rockets landed in the Sapir College in Shaar Hanegev. An eyewitness at the college said: "We heard a very strong explosion and then discovered that the rocket landed inside the building. The rocket hit the roof of the building and caused damage to its upper part. Luckily, there were very few people in the place." (Ynet News)
HRW Slams UN Body for Anti-Israel Bias
by Hilary Leila Krieger
Human Rights Watch (HRW) last week criticized the new UN Human Rights Council for its one-sided attacks on Israel and disproportionate attention to the Middle East. The New York-based human rights organization issued a statement urging the council to "expand its focus beyond the Middle East" and address other crises, such as those in Darfur and Sri Lanka. The statement also pointed out that in the meetings that have occurred since the council was created in March, it has adopted three resolutions on "human rights abuses and violations of humanitarian law" by Israel. But, the organization noted, it "has ignored the responsibilities and roles of other parties in the Middle East, including Hizballah and Palestinian armed groups, who have committed violations." (Jerusalem Post)
See also NGO Monitor on HRW: Human Rights Watch's Q&A on Lebanon War - Selective and Distorted Application of International Law
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