Moroccans are hailing a decision to cancel the planned visit of former Israeli President Shimon Peres as a “victory” for popular efforts. Days of Palestine reports that, this past Friday, thirty Moroccan civil and political committees released a joint statement condemning Peres’ visit to Morocco. In the same day, a group of human rights lawyers filed papers demanding Peres arrest for war crimes upon his arrival in the Kingdom. The Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas also asked Moroccan officials that the infamous Israeli politician be blocked from entering Morocco. The Clinton Global Initiative for the Middle East and North Africa, which is to hold a conference in Marrakech between Tuesday and Thursday, removed Peres from the list of guests. Responding to popular calls, Morocco suspended its diplomatic relations and closed Israel’s liaison offices in Casablanca and Tangiers when the second Palestinian Intifada started in 2000. more

RAMALLAH (AFP) -- President Mahmoud Abbas revealed he held four secret meetings with his Israeli counterpart Shimon Peres in a bid to revive stalled peace talks, a Palestinian official said Saturday. He quoted Abbas as saying at a meeting of his Fatah party on Friday that: "I met Shimon Peres four times in Amman and London in an attempt to restart negotiations and the peace process on a correct foundation." The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, added that Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had thwarted those efforts. more

The Israeli establishment is really losing it. Last week in an interview with the Tablet , Shimon Peres accused the English of being Israel's 'next big problem', accusing the 'English' of being 'deeply pro-Arab and anti-Israel'. Peres obviously missed the Balfour declaration where the British ruling class set in train the road to the foundation of the settler state, or alternatively the Battle of Cable Street in the 30s when Jews and non-Jews united to drive Mosley's anti-semitic Fascist blackshirts out of the east end of London. Or maybe Peres is hung up on the fact that it was the British colonialists that designed the flags, and carved out most of the national boundaries, of today's Arab states, leaving a supposedly 'Arabist' legacy in the foreign office. As usual the Zionists like to conflate hatred directed at Israel with anti-semitism directed at all Jewish people, as one and the same thing, which of course they are not. Peres's com...

The warmongerer speaks: A strikingly ineffective speech from Peres: "We have respect for the Iranian people and its tradition. Historically Iran sought to enrich mankind. Today, alas, Iran's rulers want to enrich uranium. What for? In addition to their nuclear option, they invest huge capital in long-range missiles. Iran is not threatened by anybody" What for? Because Israel is the most aggressive state in the region and is nuclear armed. A reply from Iran:

Although Turkey hasn't yet cut any of its ties, military or diplomatic, with Israel things are hotting up as Erdogan is forced to relate to the growing support for Palestine marked by the historically massive demos over Gaza. Turkish PM returns to hero's welcome after Gaza row Thousands of people waving Turkish and Palestinian flags gather at Istanbul airport to greet Erdogan after he stormed out of heated debate on Israeli offensive at World Economic Forum in Davos. Turkey's state-run news agency says President Peres apologized to Erdogan after debate Turkish PM returns to hero's welcome after Gaza row Thousands of people waving Turkish and Palestinian flags gather at Istanbul airport to greet Erdogan after he stormed out of heated debate on Israeli offensive at World Economic Forum in Davos. Turkey's state-run news agency says President Peres apologized to Erdogan after debate from ynetnews and from the International Herald Tribune "President Peres you are ol...