Airstrikes Kill 30 in Gaza, Including 10 at UN School

A United Nations school bombed in Gaza on July 24, 2014.

by Scott Bobb, VOA News

Israeli airstrikes into Gaza continued Sunday, killing at least 30 people.

At least 10 people were killed and another 35 injured at a United Nations school sheltering displaced people in Gaza in what a U.N. official said appeared to be an Israeli airstrike.

Witnesses said the explosion at the Rafah school, which housed 3,000  displaced Palestinians, occurred as people were waiting in line for food. In the chaotic aftermath, several bodies, including those of children, were strewn across the ground in pools of blood.

The Israeli military said it was looking into the reported attack, the second to hit a school in less than a week.

Last Wednesday, at least 15 Palestinians who sought refuge in a U.N.-run school in Jabalya refugee camp were killed during fighting, and the U.N. said it appeared that Israeli artillery had hit the building. The Israeli military said gunmen had fired mortar bombs from near the school and it shot back in response.

Hospitals struggle with injured

Hospitals in Gaza on Sunday struggled to cope with a new influx of wounded from Israeli airstrikes in recent days.

Palestinian officials said 1,766 people had been killed in the fighting, most of whom were civilians, and nearly 10,000 wounded.

Israel said 64 of its troops had been killed, including a soldier who was thought at first to have been kidnapped by Hamas fighters. That incident Friday broke a short-lived cease-fire and brought renewed fighting in which 180 people reportedly have died.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Saturday the ground operation to destroy infiltration tunnels into Israel was nearly ended.

More than 30 tunnels and dozens of access shafts have been unearthed and were being blown up, military officials said.

Israel expected to complete its mission to eliminate tunnels “probably within the next 24 hours or so,” military spokesman Lieutenant-Colonel Peter Lerner said.

Netanyahu said Israeli Defense Forces would continue to work until the tunnels are destroyed. And he added the forces were prepared to continue operating according to Israel's defense needs until security is restored to Israel.

Some Israeli ground troops on Sunday were seen leaving Gaza and re-deploying along the boundary with the territory.

Redeployment of Israeli troops

Lerner stopped short of calling the move a withdrawal, but said residents from some evacuated Palestinian neighborhoods had been told by the army they could return.

“The troops are in the midst of a redeployment to other parts of the border,” Lerner said. “Indeed we are releasing troops from the front line but the mission is ongoing. Ground forces are operating. Air forces are operating.”

A few Palestinians returned to their homes on Sunday but mostly to recover personal property and inspect their homes.

Eman al-Kahlot, whose extended family of 18 had taken refuge in the U.N.-run Remal Primary School in Gaza, said they would not be going home.

Kahlot said her family does not believe what Israel says because yesterday a family returned. The Israelis bombarded and they died. So we don't believe them, she said, because they always say one thing and do something else.

She said her family would return home only if there was a real cease-fire.

In Rafah, Fatah faction leader and local resident Ashraf Goma said Israeli forces were bombarding the town from air, ground and sea and locals were unable to deal with the wounded and the dead.

An Israeli army spokeswoman said that so far on Sunday at least 13 rockets were fired from Gaza at Israel. One was intercepted by Israel's anti-missile system and the rest landed in open areas.

Cease-fire terms

Israel is demanding the de-militarization of Gaza as part of any cease-fire accord. Hamas said it will keep on fighting until the seven-year Israeli blockade of Gaza is lifted.

Meanwhile, delegations from the Palestinian militant groups Hamas and Islamic Jihad have arrived in Cairo on Sunday to discuss a cease-fire proposal. The talks are being conducted by Egyptian and U.S. officials.

But Israel said its delegation would not go, because it did not trust any agreement with Hamas.

Netanyahu said Saturday that hundreds of Hamas militants have been killed since Israel launched its ground and air operations almost a month ago. Netanyahu warned that Hamas would pay an "intolerable" price if it failed to stop rocket attacks on Israel.

Netanyahu stressed that Israel has nothing against the "peaceful citizens of Gaza." He said he was very sorry for each civilian killed or wounded.

Netanyahu said Gaza's dominant Hamas faction bears ultimate responsibility for civilian casualties, accusing gunmen and rocket-launching squads of using residents in densely populated areas as “human shields.”

He also encouraged international support to help rebuild Gaza.

The United Nations said 460,000 people had been displaced by the fighting - nearly a quarter of Gaza's population.

Some information for this report was provided by Reuters, AP and AFP.
http://www.voanews.com/content/seven-killed-in-israeli-strike-on-un-school/1970523.html

Operation Protective Edge, Day 26

Palestinians are outraged by the IDF bombardment and invasion
of Gaza.

Family notified by Minister Ya'alon, IDF officials; Israel scales back Gaza op; Netanyahu rules out further negotiations for truce; Hamas: Israel will be morally defeated soon

By Haaretz
Aug. 3, 2014 5:38 AM

LIVE UPDATES: Hamas: Israel tricked world into thinking soldier abducted
By Haaretz
Aug. 3, 2014 | 4:20 PM

An Israeli officer missing in Gaza was likely killed in an IDF strike, Hamas said early on Saturday as Israel's Operation Protective Edge entered its 26th day.

The Israeli military on Friday cited indications that the officer, Second Lt. Hadar Goldin, 23, was taken captive in Rafah, a city in the Gaza Strip's south. Two other soldiers were killed in the attack, raising the number of Israeli military fatalities to 63. The announcement came not long after a 72-hour humanitarian cease-fire agreed upon by Israel and Hamas collapsed within two hours of being launched.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and U.S. President Barack Obama condemned Hamas for the abduction.

At least 70 people were killed and 100 were wounded in subsequent Israeli bombardments of Rafah, Palestinian medical officials said. The Palestinian death toll in the current round of fighting has exceeded 1,600, according Gaza health ministry figures.

1:53 A.M. IDF determines 2nd Lt. Hadar Goldin, previously considered captured, is dead.

A statement issued by the IDF Spokesperson's Unit said that a special panel led by IDF Chief Rabbi Brig. Gen. Rafi Peretz arrived to the conclusion, based on evidence found at the scene of the attack. It added that prior to the decision, religious, medical and other relevant issues were taken under consideration.

The IDF said that the soldier's family was notified of the decision by the Head of the IDF Personnel Directorate Maj. Gen. Orna Barbivai and the Chief Military Rabbi, Brig. Gen. Rafi Peretz. (Gili Cohen)

1:40 A.M. Britain believes the situation in the Gaza Strip has become intolerable and could lead to an increase in anti-Semitic attacks on British Jews, Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond said in an interview to be published on Sunday.

"The British public has a strong sense that the situation of the civilian population in Gaza is intolerable and must be addressed - and we agree with them," Hammond said. "We understand that Israel has concerns, we understand that Hamas has concerns. We are not saying we're not interested in those," he told the paper in an interview conducted on Thursday. "But we cannot allow them to stand in the way of a humanitarian ceasefire. We have to get the killing to stop."

Asked if the fighting in Gaza could lead to more attacks on British Jews, Hammond told the Telegraph: "Of course it's a concern and we have already seen certainly an upturn in anti-Semitic rhetoric."

12:52 A.M. A similar delegation of IDF officers arrived at the home of Givati Brigade staff sergeant Oron Shaul last week, on the day the IDF decided to define Oron as a soldier killed in action, whose burial site is unknown. (Amos Harel)

12:18 A.M. Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon, Maj. Gen. Orna Barbivai, head of personnel directorate, and Brig. Gen. Rafi Peretz, the chief military rabbi, arrive at the home of 2nd Lt. Hadar Goldin, who was captured on Friday by Hamas in Gaza. (Ofer Aderet)

11:06 P.M. Hamas' political bureau chief Khaled Meshal told CNN that his organization has refused an offer that IDF forces will remain in the Gaza Strip during the humanitarian truce agreed upon on Friday, and continue to raze the tunnels. "We've refused their offer, and relayed the message to Kerry through the Qatari foreign minister," Meshal said.

"The Israeli offer was unacceptable. Israeli army presence in the Strip and razing the tunnels are aggressive actions, and we told Kerry the Palestinian factions have the right to defend itself, and confront the Israeli forces' invasion in the Strip," Meshal said. According to him, Hamas did not "deceive Kerry or the Israelis." "We told everyone up front that this is our stance, so the Israelis and the Americans must bear the responsibility for the developments."

10:40 P.M. Over the last 24 hours, 86 rockets and mortar shells were fired at Israel , 58 of which landed in Israeli territory and six were intercepted, the IDF stated. The IDF made 150 attacks in the Strip on Saturday. (Gili Cohen)

10:29 P.M. A senior official in the office of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas tells Haaretz that since an Israeli delegation will not be arriving in Cairo, the Palestinian Authority can't press Hamas to accept the cease-fire terms. "We're back at the starting point with regards to the diplomatic situation, on the eve of the military action in Gaza," said the official. The official added that the matter of the reopening of the Rafah Crossing is not on the agenda of the Palestinian Authority delegation to Cairo. (Jack Khoury)

10:13 P.M. Israel Air Force strike kills four militants in southern Gaza Strip, IDF says (Gili Cohen)

10:07 P.M. Hamas' spokesman in the Gaza Strip, Sami Abu Zuhri, said that "a unilateral withdrawal or redeployment by Israel in the Strip will be answered by a fitting response by the Hamas' military arm." Abu Zuhri also told the Palestinian news agency Ma'an that "the forces of occupation must choose between remaining in Gaza and paying the price or retreating and paying the price or holding negotiations and paying the price." According to him, Israel will be morally defeated in the coming hours. (Jack Khoury)

9:28 P.M. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says in a press conference that IDF forces have "destroyed thousands of terror targets," and that after the tunnels inside the Gaza Strip are destroyed, the IDF will continue in its mission to restore security to Israel's citizens. "All the options are on the table to restore security," he said.

The prime minister said Operation Protective Edge is complex, due to fighting in densely populated areas, and said Israel regrets the death of every Palestinian civilian. Netanyahu also said the operation has the support of the United States and of Europe. "The U.S. has been terrific and has given us tremendous support during the Gaza crisis," Netanyahu said during the question time of the press conference.

Regarding reports that Netanyahu told U.S. ambassador to Israel that the Obama administration was "not to ever second-guess me again" in the wake of the last cease-fire's collapse, Netanyahu said the media is full of distortions, and that the "right substance is the U.S. support we're getting."

Netanyahu's press conference was held shortly after the family of 2nd. Lt. Hadar Goldin, believed captured by Hamas, demanded Israel will not leave their son behind. "Israel will continue to do everything it can to bring its missing soldiers home," Netanyahu said. (Haaretz)

8:54 P.M. Hamas and Islamic Jihad members did not leave for truce talks in Cairo. (Jack Khoury)

8:46 P.M. Police are forcibly dispersing demonstrators in central Tel Aviv, and 14 have been arrested. Police stated that the demonstrators, who gathered to protest the Gaza operation, started blocking a nearby street. (Zafrir Rinat, Yaniv Kubovich)

8:41 P.M. The family of 2nd. Lieut. Hadar Goldin, thought to have been captured by Hamas, held a press conference Saturday evening, and demanded the IDF not withdraw from Gaza without him.

Goldin's father, Dr. Simcha Goldin, said: "I'm a battalion commander, I've been in the reserves until I was 50, and can't imagine the IDF to forsake its fighter. My commander in Northern Command was Benny Gantz (the chief of staff), and I know he will not order the IDF to leave anywhere, when there's a soldier inside."

Goldin's mother said: "I demand the state of Israel not to leave Gaza until it brings my boy back home. Hadar is Zur's twin, Zur's second half. They both serve in the same place. I demand the state of Israel not to forsake my child, and not to forsake any child who went out to defend Israel." (Haaretz)

8:40 P.M. Police disperse several hundred demonstrators in central Tel Aviv, who stage a protest against the Gaza operation. (Zafrir Rinat)

8:30 P.M. UNRWA spokesperson says an employee of the organization has been killed Friday night in an Israeli Air Force strike in Rafah. Nine UNRWA employees have been killed in the Gaza Strip since fighting began. (Haaretz)

8:20 P.M. Egypt has increased the amount of electricity it provides to Gaza and urged Israel to repair power lines damaged during Israeli bombardment that has left at least one million people without electricity, an Egyptian official said.

The official told Reuters that Egypt has added an extra seven megawatts to the 27 it feeds into Gaza and plans to increase that by 15 megawatts more in an effort to alleviate the electricity crisis. (Reuters)

7:50 P.M. Some IDF forces pulled back to several hundred meters away from border inside Strip. Some forces were redeployed inside Israel. Forces still in Strip are demolishing remaining tunnels. (Gili Cohen)

7:42 P.M. Motorbikes found in tunnel in Nahal Oz, believed to be meant to aid Palestinian gunmen in kidnapping mission. (Gili Cohen)

7:18 P.M. In the next 24 hours the IDF will announce that all known tunnels reaching from Gaza into Israel have been demolished. The Israeli army has been demolishing tunnels over the weekend, and several additional tunnels will be demolished in the coming hours.

By then, the IDF believe, the mission of destroying Hamas' "attack tunnels" will be accomplished. The defense establishment knew of 31 such tunnels before the operation, and additional tunnels were uncovered during the ground offensive.

Following the destruction of the tunnels, the IDF intends to withdraw the troops from the Strip's built-up areas, and re-deploy them several hundred meters beyond the border fence, inside Gaza's territory. The re-deployment is meant to secure Israel's Gaza vicinity communities in case of breaches, and in readiness of possible future missions. Some troops will withdraw from Gaza into Israel, and will be redeployed in staging areas several kilometers outside the Strip. (Gili Cohen)

7:15 P.M. The Gaza Health Ministry reported 78 Palestinians were killed since Saturday morning. (Jack Khoury)

7:10 P.M. A 70-year-old Israeli civilian was seriously wounded by mortar fire in a town in Eshkol Regional Council. He was evacuated to a hospital, and is currently conscious. (Shirly Seidler)

6:40 P.M. At least 296 children have been killed in the Gaza Strip since the operation began until 11 A.M. on Saturday, about 30% of the operation's fatalities, AFP cites UNICEF as stating.

Of these, 187 are boys and 109 are girls, with at least 203 under the age of 12, Unicef says. (Haaretz)

6:08 P.M. Three rockets explode in open areas in the Sha'ar Hanegev Regional Council. Another rocket was intercepted by Iron Dome in the Hof Ashkelon Regional Council area, and another exploded near a town in the Sdot Negev Regional Council. Earlier, rocket sirens were sounded in the area. (Shirly Seidler)

6:00 P.M. Hamas spokesman in Gaza, Sami Abu Zuhri, says a unilateral Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip doesn't commit Hamas to anything, the Palestinian news agency Ma'an reported. (Jack Khoury)

5:52 P.M. Egypt's president says a cease-fire plan proposed by his country offers the chance to end the Gaza conflict between Israel and Hamas, but warns that lost time further complicates matters.

"The Egyptian initiative is a real chance to find a real solution to the crisis taking place in the Gaza Strip," Abdel Fattah al-Sissi told a joint press conference in Cairo with Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi, adding: "Lost time ...complicates the situation more and more." (Reuters)

5:14 P.M. Thousands march in an Islamic Movement protest of the Gaza operation in Tamra, northern Israel. (Jack Khoury)

4:28 P.M. Rocket sirens sounded in Sdot Negev and Sha'ar Hanegev regional councils. Earlier, a rocket exploded in Sdot Negev. (Shirly Seidler)

4:15 P.M. The security cabinet decided after a five-hour meeting Friday night that Israel will no longer attempt to reach a cease-fire in the Gaza Strip via negotiations with Hamas, senior Israeli officials said, adding that Israel does not intent to send a delegation to the Cairo truce talks as previously agreed in the course of the last cease-fire, before it was violated by Hamas.

The cabinet also agreed that instead of seeking a cease-fire, Israel will consider ending the operation and retreating from the Gaza Strip unilaterally, relying on the restored deterrence.

"If we feel that deterrence has been achieved we'll leave the Strip based on the principle of calm for calm," a senior official said. "If we feel deterrence has not yet been achieved, we'll continue the operation in the Gaza Strip, or leave and press on with aerial strikes."

Israel will also seek to reach understandings with Egypt, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and the international community regarding the reconstruction of the Strip, demilitarizing Hamas and the supervision of goods entering the Strip. (Barak Ravid)

2:44 P.M. Residents of the northern district of the Gaza Strip will be allowed to return to their homes, starting at 2 P.M., Maj. Gen. Yoav Mordechai, chief of the Coordination of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT), tells the Palestinian news agency Ma'an. This potentially paves the way for tens of thousands of Palestinians to return to their homes, after fleeing them due to the fighting. Mordechai also warned the residents not to approach the border fence along the Strip. (Jacky Khoury)

2:30 P.M. A Palestinian delegation has nevertheless left for Cairo, without representation from Gaza due to the security situation in Rafah, Hamas spokesman Sami abu Zuhri said. (Jacky Khoury)

1:30 P.M. Two rockets explode in open areas in Sdot Negev Regional Council. (Shirley Seidler)

12:55 P.M. An Israeli soldier sustains moderate wounds from sniper fire in the Gaza Strip's south. (Gili Cohen)

12:45 P.M. A mortar shell barrage is fired on Eshkol Regional Council.

12:41 P.M. Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sissi said at a press conference in Cairo that his country's initiative is the only way to reach a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas.

"The initiative can bring the current situation to an end," he said. "It can open doors without encountering obstacles, bring to a cease-fire and allow aid workers in.

"There is no alternative," he added.

12:40 P.M. A rocket explodes near a town in Sdot Negev Regional Council. Earlier, a mortar hit an open area in Eshkol Regional Council. (Shirley Seidler)

12:20 P.M. Rocket alerts sound in Sha'ar Hanegev Regional Council.

11:06 A.M. A senior Israel Defense Forces officer said Saturday morning that the army is “very close to completing” the mission of destroying tunnels in the Gaza Strip. According to the IDF, four tunnels have been destroyed in Gaza in the past 24 hours.

“We are very close to completing the mission of dealing with the tunnels,” the officer said.

The army cautiously estimates that in the next two days it will be able to announce that it has exploded all the tunnels it has found. “In the next 48 hours, we will continue in our efforts to do everything necessary to block the tunnels, and more decisions will be made as we progress,” the officer added.

Israeli forces are continuing to operate in the Rafah area in an effort to gain more information on 2nd Lt. Hadar Goldin, who appears to have been captured. Troops are sweeping houses and suspicious sites in the area, accompanied by massive shelling.

The IDF says it cannot say anything about Goldin’s state, but according to information at the army’s disposal, he was together with ‪Major Benaya Sarel and Staff Sergeant Liel Gidoni during the attack, both of whom died. The IDF says Sarel and Gidoni are believed to have been killed in an attack by a suicide bomber and that fire was exchanged during the incident.

The senior officer also said there are no more soldiers left to question about the incident, except for those who were dozens of meters away from the site at the time.

Among 55 sites struck by the IDF overnight Friday were five mosques, which the army says stored rockets and were used as terrorist command centers, and a site at the Islamic University that was used, according to the army, for military activity. (Gili Cohen)

10:00 A.M. The IDF has struck 55 targets in Gaza since midnight. (Gili Cohen)

9:50 A.M. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has expressed frustration with U.S. efforts to forge a truce in Gaza in the aftermath of the humanitarian cease-fire's collapse, the Associated Press reports.

Netanyahu said in a phone conversation with U.S. Ambassador to Israel Dan Shapiro that the Obama administration was "not to ever second-guess me again" and that Washington should trust his judgment on how to deal with Hamas, according to people familiar with the conversation.

Netanyahu added that he now "expected" the U.S. and other countries to fully support Israel's offensive in Gaza, according to those familiar with the call. They spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the matter by name. (AP and Barak Ravid)

9:38 A.M. Chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat says that a Palestinian delegation will travel to Cairo this evening despite the collapse of the humanitarian cease-fire.

He expresses hope that U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry will convince Israel to send negotiators to Egypt as well to relay its demands, "including the matter of the missing soldier."

According to Erekat, this is the only way to advance a truce. (Jack Khoury)

9:12 A.M. At least 30 people killed in an intensive Israeli aerial, naval and ground offensive were brought to a Gaza hospital this morning, according to Palestinian reports. Most of the fatalities came from Rafah. Seven were members of the Abu Suleiman family, whose home was struck around 3 A.M.

Some of the bodies recovered overnight were casualties of Friday's strikes.

According to the Palestinian health ministry, the death toll in the Israeli operation currently stands at 1,624, including 315 children. Some 8,750 have been wounded, including 2,307 children.  (Jack Khoury)

6:21 A.M. Iron dome intercepts rocket over Be'er Sheva. (Gili Cohen)

6:14 A.M. Rocket sirens sound in Be'er Sheva and other towns in southern Israel.

6:08 A.M. Iron Dome intercepts two rockets over central Israel. (Gili Cohen)

6:02 A.M. Rocket sirens sound throughout central Israel including Tel-Aviv, Ra'anana, and Petah Tikva.

5:30 A.M. The U.S. Congress approved $225 million in emergency funding for Israel's "Iron Dome" missile defense system on Friday, sending the measure to President Barack Obama to be signed into law. The House of Representatives approved the funding by a 395-8 vote late on Friday, several hours after the Senate passed it unanimously. (Reuters)

4:49 A.M. Israel Air Force bombing in Jabalia, north Gaza.

2:30 A.M. Hamas' military wing issues a statement saying that they believe that the missing Israeli officer was killed in an Israeli bombardment. "We lost contact with the group of combatants that took part in the ambush, and we believe they were all killed in the bombardment. Assuming that they managed to abduct the soldier during combat, we assess that he was also killed in the incident."

According to the statement the group told mediators that they were ready for a humanitarian cease-fire and that they would not shoot rockets into Israel. (Jack Khoury)

2:20 A.M. The Anti-Defamation League calls on the international community to "unequivocally condemn Hamas’ flagrant and ruthless violation of a humanitarian ceasefire and to fully support all efforts to ensure the unconditional safe and immediate return of kidnapped Israel Defense Force officer Hadar Goldin."

2:10 A.M. According to the Gaza Ministry of Health, the number of Palestinians killed in Gaza attack on Rafah over the last few hours has gone up to 70. The number of people injured has surpassed 100. Witnesses told the New York Times that IDF tanks are shelling east Rafah while civilians that evacuated their homes returned to see if they survived the attack.

1:10 A.M. Israeli security cabinet meeting ends after five hours of discussions.(Barak Ravid)

Manny Roth, 94, Impresario of Cafe Wha?, Is Dead

Jimi Hendrix in 1967 after arriving in England in 1966 to become a rock star.
He had played the Cafe Wha? owned by Manny Roth before leaving
New York City.

By DOUGLAS MARTIN
New York Times
AUG. 1, 2014

“Just got here from the West,” the gangly 19-year-old told Manny Roth, owner of the Greenwich Village nightclub “Cafe Wha?” “Name’s Bob Dylan. I’d like to do a few songs? Can I?”

Sure, Mr. Roth said; on “hootenanny” nights, as he called them, anybody could sing a song or two, and this was a hootenanny night, a bitterly cold one, Jan. 24, 1961. And so Mr. Dylan took out his guitar and sang a handful of Woody Guthrie songs.

The crowd “flipped” in excitement, Mr. Dylan later said.

He had hitchhiked to New York from Minnesota, and after showing up at the Cafe Wha?, he mentioned to Mr. Roth that he had no place to sleep. So Mr. Roth later asked the audience “if anybody has a couch he can crash on” — and somebody did.

It was all standard fare, recounted again and again in many places, for Cafe Wha?, a large, plain basement room at 115 Macdougal Street presided over by Mr. Roth during a lively and fertile period in the Village’s history. He died on July 25 at his home in Ojai, Calif., his daughter, Jodi Roth, said. He was 94. She said he loved being called the “Duke of Macdougal Street.”

It was at the Cafe Wha? that young performers like Jimi Hendrix, Bruce Springsteen, Woody Allen, Lenny Bruce, Bill Cosby and Richard Pryor got early chances to hone their talents. Folk singers, artists, poets, beatniks and anarchists came to the club, and so did far greater numbers of tourists, eager to observe those exotic breeds. (The club’s odd name was a shortening of the word “what,” intended to convey incredulity.)

An advertisement for Cafe Wha? featured a picture of a beatnik in beret and sunglasses and the slogan, “Greenwich Village’s Swingingest Coffee House.” Mary Travers, before she was the Mary of Peter, Paul and Mary, was a waitress there.

Mr. Roth abandoned the club in the late 1960s, but it was started up again, after an interregnum as a Middle Eastern restaurant in the 1970s and ’80s, under the same name by a new owner, and it continues to operate.

Manuel Lee Roth was born on Nov. 25, 1919, in New Castle, Ind., where his family owned a mom-and-pop grocery. He grew up loving sports and acting. At the University of Miami, he majored in theater and business before dropping out to enlist in the Army in World War II. He became a navigator on bombing missions over Germany and earned the Distinguished Flying Cross, among other medals.

After the war, he helped run a United Service Organization theater in Germany, finished his studies in Miami and studied acting in New York. In the late 1950s, he started a club at 147 Bleecker Street called the Cock and Bull, which featured a Broadway theme. It barely scraped by, and in 1961 it became the Bitter End — another Village landmark — under different ownership.

In 1959, someone told Mr. Roth about a garage that used to be an old horse stable on Macdougal between Bleecker and West Third Streets. You had to go down steep stairs to reach the dark, dank basement, which was bisected by a trough once used as a gutter for horse dung. Mr. Roth immediately recognized it as an excellent site for a coffee house — that legendary genre of cafe where, at least in the haziness of memory, hipsters smoked, sipped espresso and discussed Sartre.

He spent his last $100 on a truckload of broken marble to make the floor, which he personally laid. He sprayed the walls with black paint to create the feeling of a cave. There were castoff chairs and candles in blue glass flickering on every table. Full occupancy was 325.

At first, baskets were passed to pay the performers, who alternated all day long: conga drummers followed by impersonators followed by Appalachian balladeers. Mr. Dylan’s first regular job there was as a backup harmonica player during the day.

Mr. Roth kept a famously tight lid on expenses.

“By the time he got finished with a penny, you could no longer see the Lincoln on it,” the folk singer Dave Van Ronk once said.

In his book “Bob Dylan: Behind the Shades,” Clinton Heylin quoted Mr. Dylan as saying, “You got fed there, which was actually the best thing about the place.” In his autobiographical book “Chronicles: Volume One,” Mr. Dylan recalled a cook named Norbert who let him eat free at Cafe Wha?

“He wore a tomato-stained apron,” Mr. Dylan wrote, “had a fleshy, hard-bitten face, bulging cheeks, scars on his face like the marks of claws — thought of himself as a lady’s man — saving his money so he could go to Verona in Italy to visit the tomb of Romeo and Juliet.”

Mr. Roth’s downtown duchy was rich in entertainment history. On the folk singer Richie Havens’s recommendation, Mr. Roth hired Jimi Hendrix, who in the mid-1960s called himself Jimmy James as the frontman for a group called the Blue Flames. The Flames played five sets a night, sometimes six nights a week, at Cafe Wha? for little more than tips.

For two months in 1967, a then-unknown Bruce Springsteen brought his band the Castiles to the club to play afternoon sets for teenagers. Louis Gossett Jr. sang folk songs there before deciding to pursue acting full-time. Mr. Pryor told jokes there, and Mr. Roth became his first manager.

“I was in the center of the scene there — all you had to do was carry an empty guitar case and girls would follow you,” Mr. Roth was quoted as saying on the website of the rock band Van Halen, of which his nephew David Lee Roth is the frontman.

“I did my share of drugs, I had my long hair,” he continued, adding, “Every day was an adventure.”

There were, to be sure, small problems, like the time in 1961 when the police filed charges against Mr. Roth for allowing an unleashed French poodle to roam the club. (It turned out to belong to a waitress, and the charges were dropped.) Like other Village clubs, Cafe Wha? was occasionally fined for selling food and providing entertainment without a cabaret license. After Mr. Dylan was late for performances three times in a row, Mr. Roth fired him.

Ultimately, revenues from coffee, light food and a cover charge that climbed to $5 — high for those days — could not cover expenses. In 1968, Mr. Roth walked away from Cafe Wha?, essentially penniless, according to his daughter. With his marriage breaking up, he eventually moved to Woodstock, N.Y., where he ran a diner and raised his daughter and son as a single father before later marrying again.

Besides his daughter, he is survived by his son, Brandon, as well as his wife, the former Marlyse Medel; his sister, Jami Roth; and his brother, David.

Mr. Roth later sold real estate in New York City and invested in the West End Gate Cafe at Broadway and 114th Street, a 1990 resurrection of the West End Cafe, a favorite of Jack Kerouac and other beats. He moved to California about 10 years ago.

In 2012, David Lee Roth came back to play Cafe Wha?, which he had loved to visit as a 7-year-old, with Van Halen. It looked pretty much the same as he remembered it.

“This is a temple,” he told the crowd. “This is a very special place, and I am more nervous about this gig than I would ever be at the Garden. There is no hiding up here. There are no fake vocals. There is no fake anything.”

Filipinos Told to Leave Libya After Beheading

Social and political chaos has reigned in Libya after the
CIA-Pentagon-NATO war of regime in 2011.

Foreign secretary dispatched to oversee evacuation of 13,000 nationals after man was beheaded and nurse gang-raped.

Last updated: 31 Jul 2014 12:00

The Philippines has dispatched its foreign secretary to oversee the evacuation of 13,000 citizens from Libya after a Filipino construction worker was beheaded and a nurse gang-raped there.

Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario said on Thursday he was flying to Djerba island in neighbouring Tunisia to "try to convince our people to leave [Libya] because the situation there is very dangerous".

The Philippine government ordered a mandatory evacuation on July 20, hours after the discovery in Benghazi city of the beheaded remains of a Filipino construction worker who had been abducted five days earlier.

On Wednesday a Filipina nurse was abducted by a gang of youths outside her residence in the capital Tripoli, then taken elsewhere where she was gang-raped by up to six suspects, the foreign department said.

She was released about two hours later and a Filipino consular team took her to hospital for treatment, a foreign department spokesman said.

"We condemn these crimes that have been committed against our people," President Benigno Aquino's spokesman Herminio Coloma said in Manila.

Spain, France, the US and Greece's embassies also announced that they were evacuating most of their staff from Tripoli in light of the worsening situation.

A Spanish ministry statement on Thursday said one staff member would remain in charge of the embassy, while the rest were to be flown out.

Greece said it was sending a ship expected to arrive on Thursday evening in Libya to evacuate embassy workers.

France closed its embassy on Wednesday and evacuated 30 French nationals from Tripoli, a few days after the US embassy evacuated its staff across the Tunisian border under heavy military escort.

Reluctant to leave

Del Rosario said on Thursday that he is reprising a 2011 mission to Tunisia that also evacuated, mostly by ferry, thousands of Filipino workers during the CIA-Pentagon-NATO war of regime-change that toppled Muammar Gaddafi.

"Our major challenge, as in 2011, is to convince our folks that they must leave Libya at the soonest time to avoid the perils of a highly exacerbating situation there," he told the AFP news agency.

Despite the dangers, del Rosario said many of the Filipinos, mostly employed in Libyan construction and hospitals, are refusing to leave because they would be out of a job back home.

Only just over 700 had left Libya by Wednesday, according to a foreign ministry tally, despite the rapidly deteriorating situation, with warring militias battling for control of key population centres.

Many of those who left Libya in 2011 later returned to their jobs in Libya.

About 10 million Filipinos live and work abroad, many of them in the Middle East, in search of better-paying jobs.

President Slams West Over Gaza

President Mugabe jokingly grips Sulumani Chimbetu to illustrate his “Batai Munhu” hook off a
hit by the same name as he introduces the musician to guests during Zanu-PF’s election
victory first anniversary celebrations at State House in Harare yesterday.
– Picture by John Manzongo

August 1, 2014
Tendai Mugabe Senior Reporter
Zimbabwe Herald

Incoming Sadc chairman President Mugabe yesterday condemned Western silence over wanton killing of innocent people in Gaza by Israel, yet the same countries claimed to be champions of human rights and defenders of civilians in the world. President Mugabe, who will assume the chairmanship for the regional bloc at the 34th Sadc Summit in Victoria Falls set for the 17th and 18th of this month, also expressed dismay over some African leaders who are supping with the erstwhile colonisers to defeat the cause of liberation.

The President, who was speaking at a party he hosted at State House to celebrate the first anniversary of Zanu-PF and his resounding victory in last year’s harmonised elections, rapped the Israelis for killing defenceless women and children.

The death toll in the four-week Israeli bombardment of Gaza has risen to over 1 400, with more than 40 people dying after another day of intense Israeli bombardment from air, sea and land yesterday.

Over 90 percent of the Palestinian casualties were civilians, according to local non-government organisations and the UN.

Palestinian officials in Gaza yesterday said 8 200 people had been wounded.

Three civilians on the Israeli side and 56 soldiers have been killed so far.

“The Palestinians today are not just being harassed by small action here and there, they are being bombarded recklessly by Israel and they say more than 93 percent of people who have died comprise of women and children – civilians,” he said.

President Mugabe said the reckless and brutal killing of civilians in a small place such as the Gaza Strip exposed the West which recently murdered Colonel Muammar Gaddafi of Libya under the pretext of protecting civilians.

He described Western insensitivity to such callousness as a spoiler to international peace, saying the West’s human rights mantra only applied in cases where they had vested interests.

“If yesterday it was civilians – the need to protect civilians in Libya which caused the Europeans and Americans to mount NATO forces in Libya, what prevents them now from going where 93 percent of civilians have been killed?” President Mugabe asked.

“Is there one conscience for a country like Libya and another for a small country like Gaza or is it the same conscience that rises only when the national interest of a country is threatened or when that country is in search of a resource then the conscience is faded and it rises to attack a country and when you have real suffering of civilians from a small country like Gaza where Europe and America think they derive no resource and where there may be in fact on the other side, offending side, does their conscience go to sleep and is that sleep so deep as not to be awakened?

“When is their justice and injustice, we ask? So, they should not tell us about human rights. They are violating them day in, day out,” President Mugabe said.

President Mugabe said though Hamas of Gaza might have fired missiles, reaching Israeli territory, but that could have been resolved amicably without mounting heavy military campaigns.

He said the Israeli military campaign had destroyed hospitals, schools and United Nations offices in Gaza and the West had remained mum.

“No voice of chiding and restraining (Benjamin) Netanyahu has been heard,” he said. “(Barrack) Obama is silent, Cameron (British Prime Minister) is silent. The whole of Europe is silent and these Israelis are day in, day out in a very brutal way bombarding the unarmed, innocent Palestinians.

“Small, small Gaza with Palestinians who have for a long time looked for a home must be allowed to perish and the world is just looking on and not raising a voice. Ban Ki-moon (United Nations Secretary-General) is trying his best, perhaps, but Ban is not even supported.

“Where is the Security Council? Surely, we should not allow that. Really that is a spoiler to international relations.”

The United Nations Human Rights Council recently resolved to launch an international inquiry into human rights violations committed during Israel’s barbaric military offensive in Gaza saying there was a possibility that war crimes were committed.

On African politics, President Mugabe said it was unfortunate that some leaders were departing from the virtues and principles of the continent’s founding fathers.

He said some African countries were over relying on Western countries to fund their budgets and in the process were uniting with the enemy against their African brothers.

“I am looking at Africa as a whole, you go back to the same people we kicked out of Africa yesterday and say we want help,” President Mugabe said. “Yes, of course, they will say we will give you help provided you say yes to them.

“So there is no longer the thinking of Nkrumah in most of Africa, sad. The reliance on the resources of Europe, funding by Europe and even our civil service let alone small projects and so on, reliance in some cases 60 percent on foreign aid.”

Turning to Zimbabwe, President Mugabe said unity was important for national development.
He said divisions almost cost the country its independence in the harmonised elections in 2008.

President Mugabe said the correction of the 2008 mistake put opposition parties and their Western masters into disarray.

He said up to now, the West still claimed that the 2013 elections were rigged without giving any explanation.

Zimbabwe National Tourism Policy: The Great Stride

Vice President Joice Mujuru (right) and Tourism and Hospitality Industry Minister
Walter Mzembi display a portrait at the launch of the National Tourism Policy document

August 1, 2014
Zimbabwe Herald
Isdore Guvamombe

That same year, tourism was identified as one of the pillars of the country national economic turnaround programmes and hence needed new policies.

To date, the Ministry of Tourism and Hospitality Industry has made us proud by being the only one to have successfully rebranded from Zimbabwe, Africa’s Paradise to Zimbabwe a World of Wonders and to cement that vision it has come up with a National Tourism Policy.

The National Tourism Policy launched in Harare yesterday by Vice-President Joice Mujuru is a handy blueprint meant to give the tourism and hospitality industry in Zimbabwe the much needed  impetus to generate $5 billion annually by 2020.

The industry is currently generating $1 billion and with a more refined policy that is implemented at all level, there is no doubt that the vision will be achieved.

The policy is meant to transform the sector into one of the highest earners in terms of revenue generation and given the way the ministry has performed under Minister Walter Mzembi, the future is bright.

It was crafted after consultations between the Ministry of Tourism and Hospitality Industry, Zimbabwe Tourism Authority, Zimbabwe Council for Tourism and the academia.

The policy is a revision of a policy produced during the inclusive Government and passed by Cabinet in 2012. It has made it clear that tourism is government-led, but private sector-driven.

The policy will treat the whole country as tourism development zones and looks at other tourism opportunities such as religious, agro, industry, township and mining tourism to lure tourists and grow the sector contribution to total revenue.

The colourful launch at Celebration Centre should be read properly. It is indeed in sync with one of the pillars of the national tourism policy, religious tourism.

There are people in churches today than in any gathering. Even the just ended World Cup did not attract as many people to its stadiums as the number of people attracted to churches every Sunday.

That is where the people are and Zimbabwe needs to come up with strategies to harness earnings from that sector.

The world over, religious tourism is contributing a significant chunk to global tourism arrivals. The pilgrimage to Mecca is one such example and so is the Ramadan.

Out of the 1,1 billion global tourism arrivals recorded in 2013, religious and faith-based tourism brought in 300 million and that is a huge chunk.

Zimbabwe now needs to demonstrate the significance of the church as a market. Tapping into religious tourism, the country will not become a net loser as is currently the case, where nothing is coming out of it, yet we can ride on that and attract the world to our local prophets.

Another aspect coming out of the NTP is regional marketing and promotion of tourist resorts. Each region or province of the country is a tourism hub.The policy also provides for the enshrinement of liberation struggle battles and events. History of a bigger part of tourism! In the past, Zimbabwe has been failing to turn the various venues of liberation war battles into tourist attractions.

Last but not least is rebranding of the various ruins dotted around the country into ancient cities. Ruins suggest abandonment while ancient cities, give them the contemporary importance of historical times.

When well packaged, the ancient cities can help the country realise much needed revenue.
Everything having been said and done, the National Tourism Policy needs to be implemented. As blueprint alone it is not enough, no matter how good and polished it is.

President Mugabe Hails ZDF’s Varsity Plans

President Mugabe is flanked by Defence Minister Sydney
Sekeramayi (left), Presidential Affairs Minister Didymus Mutasa
and Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Minister
Emmerson Mnangagwa after officiating at a graduation  ceremony
at the National Defence College in Harare on Aug. 1, 2014.
— Picture by John Manzongo

August 2, 2014
Farirai Machivenyika Senior Reporter
Zimbabwe Herald

President Mugabe yesterday commended plans by the Zimbabwe Defence Forces to transform the National Defence College into a fully-fledged university, as this will help fill existing gaps in security education. The Head of State and Government and Commander-in-Chief of the Defence Forces said this at the graduation of 26 students who took part in the National Defence Course 02/ 2013 at the NDC.

“There are also active plans to transform the NDC to a National Defence University,” said President Mugabe.

“I am informed that a board has already been convened to identify and implement the necessary process for the establishment of a National Defence University by September 2015.

“This transformation is yet another commendable initiative by the ZDF in its efforts to fill an existing gap in security education.”
The NDC offers a Master of Science degree in International Studies accredited by the University of Zimbabwe.

“The affiliation has also seen the UZ releasing experienced lecturers to teach at the NDC,” said President Mugabe.
“Besides this, the UZ has also facilitated access by NDC staff and students to its library facilities, including the use of its anti-plagiarism software.”

President Mugabe said that despite its infancy, the college was set on a firm foundation.
“Though still in its infancy, today’s (yesterday) graduands being its second crop, the college has begun on a firm footing to mould high quality students,” he said.

“Driven by its mission statement, the college seeks to develop a holistic approach in training students in matters of military, political, economic and environmental security.

“The mission statement is an expression on the college’s philosophy as well as being a base for a well focused lecturing approach that blends theory and practice.”

President Mugabe commended efforts by the ZDF to be self-sustaining.

“To achieve its NDC success story, the ZDF benefited from adopting a policy of self-reliance, supported by invaluable assistance, receive from our all-weather friends of China and Pakistan,” he said.

“The Chinese contributed to the speedy construction of the college, with a donation of furniture and ICT equipment.

“Pakistan has provided requisite training consistently since independence.

“We continue to appreciate and acknowledge our friends.”

The course focused on political, economic, social and legal systems of Zimbabwe and during their studies the students toured all the country’s 10 provinces, including the victims of the Tokwe-Mukosi floods to assess the nation’s disaster preparedness.

They also toured the Ministry of Finance, the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe, the Zimbabwe Investment Authority and the NewZimSteel.

Other courses focused on regional and international security, national security and Zimbabwe’s national security environment and national defence building, planning, development and management.

The students were drawn from the Zimbabwe National Army, the Air Force of Zimbabwe, the Zimbabwe Republic Police, Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services, the President’s Office and the Ministry of Finance.

Five out of the 26 graduates were female and President Mugabe called for more female participation in the future.

Jonathan Lacks Political Will to Fight Terror – Atiku

Former Republic of Nigeria Vice-President Atiku Abubakar.

August 02, 2014
12:17 am
By Henry Umoru, Abuja
Nigerian Vanguard

FORMER Vice President Atiku Abubakar has taken a cursory look at the present security challenges in the country with massive killings and wanton destruction of property in some parts of the country by members of the Boko Haram sect, saying President Goodluck Jonathan lacked the political will to nip it in the bud.

He also described  the situation as worrisome and appalling, just as he stressed that there  was the urgent need to restore law and order as well as protect unarmed civilians whom he noted were often victims of terror attacks carried out by the insurgents.

Speaking with Voice of America, VOA  which was monitored by Journalists in Abuja, the former presidential aspirant on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP and now a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC who noted that growing insecurity has undermined the country’s economy as well as impacted negatively on Nigeria’s reputation in the international community, said, “the security situation in the country,

I must admit is appalling. I have never  seen it this bad – not even during the civil war did we have this sense of insecurity all over the country.”

Atiku Abubakar who explained that Nigeria required a leadership that has the political will and wherewithal to resolve thesecurity threats the country faces, said, “What we need to have in place is a political leadership that has the will, the courage and the determination to restore law and order.

Restoring law and order is a multifaceted approach; both social, economic as well as security. You must have a political leadership that has vision, the will and the courage to pursue those multifaceted approaches. It’s not supported by any empirical evidence.

I think we should stop passing the buck at each other,” he said, adding “As long as this security situation is concerned, we should work as a team, the whole country. Whether opposition, whether ruling party, we should work as a team to make sure that we restore peace, unity and stability.”

Speaking on 2015 Presidential election, the former Vice President who boasted that the APC has a real chance to defeat the PDP in the presidential election  next year, said, “I have never seen a climate that gives the opposition so much hope than today.

Because since the return of democracy, Nigeria has been governed by only one ruling political party, and Nigerians really want to see a change. I toured the country and this sense of change is pervasive. So if the APC can put its house in order, Nigerians will give that party the opportunity.”

When asked on whether he was not using his position as chairman of the Peace and Reconciliation Committee of the opposition group to once again launch his  presidential ambition to lead the APC in elections next year, he said, “All I was trying to do is to make sure that we provided Nigerians an alternative opposition.

This is because I am a firm believer in a two-party system. A two-party system will provide Nigerians with alternatives from time to time. A single major or powerful political party will result into a one party system and will ultimately land us into the hands of a dictator. And God-forbid, I don’t wish to live and see a dictator in Nigeria.”

Abubakar who admitted that he was helping to build a formidable party to challenge the PDP in next year’s election,  however declined to say whether he will be the presidential candidate for the APC or not.

- See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2014/08/jonathan-lacks-political-will-fight-terror-atiku/#sthash.ESXOzdPa.dpuf

Insurgency: Army Evicts llegal Occupants From Formations

Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan with Gen. Chris Olukolade.

by UBONG UKPONG
Nigerian National Mirror
Aug 2, 2014

•Denies ordering out non-indigenes

The Nigerian Army High Command, yesterday, said that it was evicting all illegal occupants from its formations and barracks nationwide, in view of the activities of insurgents in the country.

In a statement through its Directorate of Army Public Relations, DAPR, in Abuja, signed by the Chief of Staff, COS, Colonel Timothy Antigha, on behalf of the Director, Brig-Gen. Olajide Laleye, the Nigerian Army however denied allegations that it was evacuating non-indigene squatters from its barracks.

It said that terrorists were all over in its barracks disguising themselves as food vendors, and other menial workers waiting for opportunities to perpetrate evil.

Consequently, the Army said it would not take chances or succumb to blackmails by squatters in its land at Letmauck Barracks in Mokola, Ibadan, Oyo State, whose ultimatum to vacate the Army’s property had since expired.

The statement reads:, “The attention of the Nigerian Army has been drawn to attempts by squatters on Nigerian Army Land in Letmauck Barracks in Mokola, Ibadan, to blackmail the army following the expiration of an ultimatum requesting the squatters to vacate Nigerian Army land.

“It would be recalled that as part of the response to current and anticipated threats to security, for example terrorists posing as food vendors, people doing menial work and destitute, the Nigerian Army recently issued a directive requesting squatters and other illegal occupants of Nigerian Army property to vacate such quarters.

“Rather than comply with the ultimatum which had been extended several times, squatters in Letmauck Barracks have resorted to blackmail by alleging that the Nigerian Army has ordered them to leave Ibadan and return to their respective states.”


Tight Security as PDP Holds Mega Rally in Osun

by BOLADALE BAMIGBOLA
Nigerian National Mirror
Aug 2, 2014

•Jonathan, Sambo, Mark, Muazu expected

Ahead of the mega rally organised by Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Osun State chapter, as part of its governorship campaign activities, there was heavy security presence in Osogbo, Osun State capital yesterday.

The PDP, according to its publicity secretary, Prince Bola Ajao, while speaking to newsmen, yesterday, said it had concluded arrangement to host the president and others in his entourage to the state.

In preparation for Mr President’s visit, operatives of the Department of State Security ,DSS, and heavily armed policemen were seen in strategic positions in Osogbo and other adjoining towns in large number to ensure security of lives and properties.

Apart from President Jonathan, other expected in the state today are Vice President Namadi Sambo, Senate President, David Mark and National Chairman of the PDP, Alhaji Adamu Muazu, Chief Tony Anenih, among others.

Also expected in the state are the Minister of Police Affairs, Alhaji Jelili Adesiyan, Minister of State for Defence, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, Governor elect of Ekiti State, Mr Ayo Fayose and Chairman, PDP Board of Trustees, Chief Tony Anenih.

Several men of DSS were seen manning the premises of Osogbo Sports Stadium, the venue of the PDP rally where the president will address members of the party yesterday evening.

Speaking in Osogbo during a workshop in Osogbo, the state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Ibrahim Maishanu, has said that the police and other security agencies in the state are stepping up security at flashpoints in the state ahead of the gubernatorial election.

Maishanu said security management had been organised for security agencies ahead of the August 9 governorship election in the state. He urged residents of the state to go about their businesses without fear but warned hoodlums against causing violence.

“We are ready to discharge our duties professionally and we are ready to ensure that there is peace before, during and after the election.

“Political actors must conduct themselves in peaceful manner and we appeal to them to refrain from making statement which can incite the people into violence.

We have beefed up security in and around hotspots in the state. So, we are assuring the people of the state that we will not allow miscreants to take over the state from us,” he added.

New IGP Declares War on Terror

Newly sworn in Nigerian IGP Suleiman Abba.

by OMEIZA AJAYI on Aug 2, 2014
Nigerian National Mirror

•Says: ‘I’ll not personalise policies

Nigeria’s 17th indigenous Inspector General of Police, IGP Suleiman Abba, yesterday formally assumed the reins of power with a declaration to effectively tackle terrorism and other violent crimes.

Abba, however, said he would not make the mistake of personalising the policies of the force.

He declared that it was unfortunate that that had been the case in the past. He said, “the recent upsurge in security challenges will have my full attention.

I am committed to address these issues and reaffirm the high standards of performance for which the Nigeria Police is nationally and internationally acclaimed.”

Abba however said it was sad that those who were responsible for the current vision and mission of the force decided to personalise it and consequently attributed it to his immediate predecessor, Mr Mohammed Abubakar.

The new police boss said the situation ought not be so, adding that the vision of an organisation must not be attributed to one person. “It has never been my intention to do anything to touch the current vision and mission that we have in place.

Unfortunately, those responsible for the vision and mission we have been using, they have been personalised to my immediate predecessor.

“The vision and mission of an organisation is permanent and it is that of the organisation. That is why I took time almost immediately after the announcement to perfect what I feel and believe and in consultation too with some of my colleagues to come out with a vision that will have nothing to do with my name or my person, but it will be the vision and mission of the Nigeria Police Force”, he said.

According to him, the new vision of the force “from today on is to be a leading national, professional and efficient law enforcement organisation”, with a mission to provide safety and security in Nigerian communities, protect and respect human rights and promote community partnership in preventing and controlling social disorder. “As for our values, they shall be hardwork, honesty and humility.

These I call the “’Triple H’ (thought without reference to the wrestler). In any case he was a strong guy and he used to respect the rules. You will never see him go into the ring with a hammer.

We are going to have implicit values. They will be attached to our objectives” Abba added. According to him, it has become necessary to give attention to specific issues that are of critical concern to the nation and the police.

He said as the leading law enforcement institution in Nigeria, the Force is daily in the limelight. “Whatever we do, and do not do, attracts attention. However, as a progressive organization, we take very kindly criticisms and accept the responsibility to address our challenges and remedy our shortcomings”, he said.

Abba however lamented that today, no one is more critical of the Nigeria Police Force than itself, but promised that his leadership shall be self-searching, as he continually aspires to keep the country safe by working with, for and through the communities.

He said he had gained valuable insight and experience to appreciate the challenges the Police and the country are facing. “It is based on these experiences that I intend to formulate a vision and strategy for leading the Force to its prime”, he stated.

Nigeria Still Formidable In Peacekeeping, Says Military

Gen. Chris Olukolade of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Friday, 01 August 2014 21:52
Written by Saxone Akhaine, Northern Bureau Chief
Nigerian Guardian

GENERAL-MUAZUIN spite of the security challenge facing the nation, Nigerian military authorities have said that the international community still looks up to Nigeria as a peacekeeping giant within the global system.

  The Nigerian armed forces therefore insisted that Nigeria would not relent in the pursuit of peace in the country or anywhere in the world.

    The Commandant of the Nigerian Army Peacekeeping Centre (NAPKC), Major General Sanusi Nasir Muazu, disclosed this at the graduation of 26 military officers from a two-week Civil Military Coordination (CIMIC) Course I of 2014.

   The course is a special military package designed to equip officers for any peacekeeping or peace support operation.

  In his graduation address, General Muazu said: “There is no doubt that Nigeria has continued to play a pivotal role in pursuing peace in Africa and the rest of the world.”

  The Commandant pointed out that the training project was timely and relevant.

  He commended the government of Japan for funding the project which is aimed at strengthening the capacity of West Africa’s peace support operation in Nigeria.

 He therefore implored the 26 participants drawn from the Nigerian Army, Navy, Air Force, Police, Custom, Civil Defence and one civilian from the Ministry of Defence, to build on the acquired knowledge through self-development, while they also reposition themselves for the tasks ahead.

Why Rest of the World Cannot Ignore Nigeria, by Ireland Envoy

Women demonstrating for peace in Nigeria.

Written by OGHOGHO OBAYUWANA
Nigerian Guardian

In the middle ages the patch of land now known as Ireland was called the land of saints and scholars. Many of Nigeria’s and indeed the world’s early missionaries were from Ireland. But Irish ambassadors are seldom seen or heard in the Nigerian mass media. Even though the country’s outgoing envoy to Nigeria, Ambassador Patrick Fay, does not agree with that point of view, the Obong Uforo (chief of prosperity) of Akwa Ibom, nevertheless told Foreign Affairs Editor, OGHOGHO OBAYUWANA in this interview why Foreign Direct Investments from Ireland can be raised, why even with all its challenges, the world cannot afford to Ignore Nigeria and that with the experiences of the Irish Republican Army (IRA), Nigeria can learn from the rest of the world in overcoming challenges including the insecurity and terrorism headaches. Excerpts.  

Looking at current global politics and economic realities, what does Nigeria mean to Ireland today?

FIRST thing I have to say is, Nigeria has always been very important from the Irish point of view. It was the first Sub-Saharan African embassy that we opened. So that shows that from the beginning, we were at the very heart of things. You had Irish missionaries here for years. Before Nigerian independence and since independence, there has always been a steady stream of Nigerians going to study in Ireland and there seem to have been the biggest number going to study medicine in our colleges of surgeons. In very recent years, in the last couple of years, the Irish government developed what we call the Irish African strategy to develop trade and business links with Africa because the African continent is climbing ahead. Nigeria for example by 2020, it would be one of the top 20 economies in the world. You can’t do business in Africa without doing it with Nigeria. This country has got the biggest economy in Africa and so we have to develop trade links. At the moment I think we export over 300 million Euros worth of goods, most would be foodstuff, to Nigeria and we import just over 200 million worth. We had a number of forums in Dublin, African forums and Nigeria. There were some last year and others are being planned. There was a quite large delegation from Nigeria. As well as that, here has been strong interest by Irish companies who are coming to Nigeria. We had one trade delegation that was here last year in November. Before that, December the previous year, our minister for trade and development, he came out with an Irish trade and development agency, they came out to visit Accra and Lagos to see about developing links. And the minister came back with a full-blown delegation and is interested mainly in education and financial services area. There is another trade delegation planned for around October this year. We are expecting a cabinet reshuffle at home…But the trade delegations have been active in Nigeria…So we are working hard to develop trade links with Nigeria. There have been a couple of links developed in the education sector with schools like Griffith college they have signed a memorandum of understanding with Covenant university in Lagos, about two years ago. More recently the Irish Academy of Publish Relations have commissioned Durban polytechnic to run three of their diploma certificate courses. So that’s another link. They are have agreement with the colleges so that there is capacity building also, so it’s not just about Nigerian students going to Ireland. So that’s roughly where we are at the moment

Tying this up with investments, a number of countries are investing in Nigeria. We have Guinness as the foremost Irish company. Can you catalogue the investments and FDI coming into Nigeria from Ireland?        

Guinness would be the biggest Irish company in Nigeria. A British company now runs it. There is a big Irish construction company here. PW, it stands for public works. PW in Nigeria is a subsidiary of an Irish company and this year, PW is celebrating its 40 years in Nigeria. So it will be a good one and they will celebrate that as St Patrick’s Day…This year they also paraded about seven of their staff who had been here since the very beginning and they were given plaques. So it’s a very successful company… there are a number of smaller companies but these two would be the biggest. There is of course a company in Lagos called Nutricima. Its 50 percent owned by a British company-PW Cussons and 50 percent by an Irish company called Clanbear. Its involved in foodstuff. But the opportunities for more investments are almost limitless as you would be able to see.

Lets look at the political side of things. There does not seem to be much on the plate of Irish-Nigerian bilateral relations. There does not seem to be anything going on. There doesn’t seem to be any visibility…

No, our bilateral is vibrant. In fact our celebration of St Patrick’s Day is one of the best and the biggest that you can have around. Yes, we have not had a lot of political visits. Our minister, he is been in Lagos twice, the plan at the moment is with the visit in October will also take in Abuja…

Why haven’t there been enough political visits?

Well, until the Irish-Africa Strategy, which is only about 18 months, -two years old, until that, we did not seriously look at Africa from a point of view of a trade continent. And that’s not just Nigeria, we looked very little at Africa from the point of view of developing business and trade and the Africa Strategy has brought about a total rethink of our relationship with Africa. Not just Nigeria but all of Africa. Nigeria is the biggest economy in Africa so it obviously gets a priority. But the chairman of our foreign affairs committee, he was out here last November He was speaking at a conference here in Abuja. Our former prime minister, he has been here once before I arrived and after six months upon my arrival. Our former president Marie Robinson she was here in Lagos twice. She spoke at conferences. So there has been a certain movement and some amount of exchanges. Former ministers of environment and some others… we have had a number of visits. Not as much as we would like but we are building on this… And then we have a very vibrant Nigerian community in Ireland… And I was surprised myself to find there are up to 20, 25,000 of them. And the new ambassador (Ketebu) is talking of about 42,000. It’s grown. It’s a very vibrant one. Our minister, he has met these Nigerians in Diaspora quite a number of times and one of the wonderful things that we have seen is that they are very keen at building the kind of healthy business and trade relations that should exist between our countries. They want to be part of that. My successor, our new ambassador, he is the guy who developed the Africa Strategy…he has worked closely with the ambassador and the others in Dublin…So he was here some weeks ago to discuss the Boko Haram issue among others, working closely with relevant stakeholders in this regard. Nigerians in the Diaspora are very keen in developing trade relations with Nigeria. It’s the same when you know that Ireland has also been very keen in doing it. Bringing about development with the Diaspora support. You have a whole stream of different associations of all the major tribes, I know for example that the Igbos have a very strong association because there was, one of the president’s advisers was an Igbo. And people, personalities are invited for the Igbo annual meeting in Ireland. There is also a very strong Yoruba association. So one of the things Felix (ambassador Yusufu Pwol) tried to do was to engage the whole string of the different associations, to bring them together into one big Nigerian group.          

When you look at the potentials that exist in Nigeria. How can we really situate Nigeria in this Irish-Africa strategy that you are speaking about? How does Nigeria play in this? How can Nigeria take advantage of it?

When the trade mission came out for example back in November, what we did on the financial services side, we had invited all the top anchors…at the time the Governor of the Central Bank, Lamido Sanusi, he was made to co-host and his deputy was involved in the breakfast meeting. We had people from the top levels. There were Irish companies and the financial services, there was an agreement signed by Diamond bank and some Irish company. So they were trying to see how we could establish relationships. In the educational sector, there were a number of understandings and agreements signed. What we are trying to do is not just to come in and export business to Nigeria. We are trying to work with Nigerian companies as we have been doing in the educational sector, which is not just about coming to grab Nigerian students to come study in Ireland. Yes, that’s part of it but there is also work with the schools to develop partnership with those schools so that there is something in it for both sides. That’s why I gave the example of Durban polytechnic…and we worked with Felix (ambassador Pwol, envoy until June this year) in this regard.

The human side of our relations, all of the 45, 000 Nigerians, that’s a critical mass. How do we unleash their power as Ireland has done in the time past? And how are you coping with consular problems that occur as we had the other time when a Nigerian died in an Irish jail forcing a comment from the National Assembly. What should be the Ideal situation?

We are aware of some cases…consular issues would normally be handled by the Nigerian embassy in Dublin…and you know the fact that there are allegations does not make them true. And we grant foreign citizens their fundamental rights as we expect host governments to do to our citizens whom we tell always that If you have broken the law don’t expect us to get you off, and I assume its the same, Nigerians in Dublin don’t expect to break the law and not get to face police action.

But how are you cooperating with the Nigerian authorities to ensure that things are smoother and all of that? I mean if someone has broken the law, and we are looking at extradition for instance, do you have any cooperation with the Nigerian government in this regard?

Yes, we do have, we have a repatriation arrangement with Nigeria and some other countries… we have always been concerned about citizens who would do certain things that bring disrepute to their country. There has been a good relationship between the Irish authorities in Dublin and the Nigerian embassy, you will always have complains…we’ve got a few here. It’s the same message coming from both sides. We have about 300 Irish citizens in Nigeria. With the kind of numbers you have in Ireland, there would certainly be consular problems.

There is a feeling which indicates that there are certain corrosives in our administrative set up or social malaise that currently acts as impediments to taking the Irish-Nigerian relations to a higher level? Have you recognised these?

One of the problems is the Image that Nigeria has. For example, some lawyer I know in Lagos, a Nigerian lawyer, he leads a trade delegation abroad, trying to get people to come and do business in Nigeria and I was asking what’s the problem he faces most and he told me its Image. Remember your Foreign Minister at a time, Barrister Ajumogobia also made this profound statement. I have actually heard him make it twice at two different functions. And it is that ‘the biggest victims of the Nigerian scams aren’t the people scammed but the honest, hardworking Nigerians who are tarred with the same brush. It’s true and the lawyer was making the same point to me and I said to him, when I came first, I spoke to all the Irish business people who were in Abuja and most of them that I met in Lagos and I ask them all, ‘if you are starting again and you knew all you know of Nigeria, will you come to Nigeria? And every single one of them said yes’ Ok, there are challenges but the potential is enormous. So the image is something that can put some people off but once you get beyond this and… and then the other problem now is this insecurity and we can really appreciate that because as you know there were problems in Ireland with the IRA. The terrorists were not everywhere and it’s the same, Nigeria is a massive country. Boko Haram is not in everyplace. We have our cooperation with the government of Nigeria in this regard, sharing experiences and so on. It’s something that has to be explained. It’s not that Boko Haram is everywhere. So security is an issue now. For the scams unfortunately, it’s the image. I agree with Minister Ajumogobia that people are just tarred with the same brush. Now by having this forum in Dublin, we’ve had a couple, Irish businesses meeting to discuss whatever opportunities that you have in Africa, when… I was at home in January, the Irish geographic society. They were having a forum on Africa and although I was on leave, and I had people, different kinds of business people who had been to Africa, who could come in and talk other companies. We were thinking of coming to Africa and its amazing that the never looked at Africa before. First you look at Nigeria 160, 170 million people. And that’s growing every year. You can’t ignore it. It’s the biggest country in Africa and in the next 20, 50 years you would have passed America in terms of population. That’s the feeling that we have and by 2020 or 2030, it would be one of the top twenty economies in the world. You can’t ignore it and Irish businesses are expressing an interest in it… The Irish trade agency, but it is not actually the government agency, it’s the client membership and they are actually surprised at the level of interest by members. So we have another trade delegation coming in October…Education and finical services are two of our biggest sectors. ICT too is our biggest sectors. So we have one of the tops in the world, of ITs and software. Trying to develop trade…

What is your vision of Nigerian-Irish relations in the future?

The organised forum at home, they were all surprised at the number and quality of people whom turned up to attend. There was one particular forum totally devoted to Nigeria and Ghana. And it was extremely well attended. In the last twelve months or so a number of states, there have been high delegation to Ireland. I think the Delta State Governor was given an award. So he was at home with the delegation. In the end, he couldn’t attend it because he has a meeting and late meetings with president. So there is a big interest in Ireland at the moment… So I will see it developing into much closer relations. Businesses, I would see it. First of all trade will increase and there will be more linkages between the Irish and the Nigerian businesses because as I said its not just export for the moment going into Nigeria its also trying to link up with Nigerian companies so that they can move on together.

West Bank Witnesses Protest in Support of Gaza Residents

Israeli police fire on Palestinian civilians in the West Bank. One Arab
was killed on Aug. 1, 2014.

Fri Aug 1, 2014 5:53AM GMT
presstv.ir

Palestinian protesters have taken to the streets in the occupied West Bank to show support for the residents of the besieged Gaza Strip, which has been under relentless Israeli aggression.

The rally was held in the city of Ramallah, where the demonstrators called on Palestinian leaders to take urgent action to protect Gazans.

Meanwhile, clashes have also erupted between Palestinian protesters and Israeli forces in a village west of Ramallah.

Tensions have been running high in the occupied West Bank since Israel launched a deadly military operation against Gaza on July 8.

Israel has been targeting the Gaza Strip with military attacks since then. The air, sea and land strikes by Israel have so far killed at least 1,458 people and injured over 8,300 others.

President of Palestinian Unity Government Mahmoud Abbas has declared the Gaza Strip a “disaster area.” In a letter to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, Abbas warned that the humanitarian situation in Gaza had become “catastrophic” and urged international intervention.

Palestinian casualty figures early Friday indicated that the current conflict had become the deadliest fighting in the Palestinian territories since 1967. The year saw Israel occupying the Palestinian territories of East al-Quds (Jerusalem), the Gaza Strip, and the West Bank during the Six-Day War.

The Tel Aviv regime withdrew from Gaza in 2005, but Israeli forces have been carrying out regular deadly forays into the sliver ever since the pullout.

Gaza Fighters 'Seize Israeli Soldier' As 'Ceasefire' Ends

The IDF is still bombing Gaza after over three weeks of massacres
against civilians.

Israeli forces are searching for a soldier believed captured, as a 72-hour truce with Hamas in Gaza collapsed just hours after it had begun.

The soldier, named as Hadar Goldin, 23, disappeared when Israeli forces trying to destroy a suspected militant tunnel were attacked, Israel's military said.

Two soldiers died in the firefight in southern Gaza Strip at 06:30 GMT.

The Gaza health ministry said dozens were killed by Israeli shelling in the area shortly after the incident.

In 2006 Palestinian revolutionaries captured Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit and held him for five years.

He was released in November 2011 in exchange for 1,000 Palestinian prisoners.

Hamas has not confirmed or denied capturing a soldier.

Lt Goldin's father Simha said in a statement that the family was "confident that Israel will do everything to bring Hadar back home".

Some 1,460 Palestinians, mostly civilians, have died in the latest conflict and 63 Israelis, mostly soldiers.

The ceasefire had been brokered by the US and UN to give civilians a reprieve from the violence, and had been seen as an unforeseen breakthrough after days of diplomatic deadlock.

The White House as usual blamed Hamas for the ceasefire's breakdown, describing the revolutionary group's attack on the Israeli soldiers as "barbaric".

"This is an outrageous action and we look to the rest of the world to join us in condemning it," Deputy National Security Adviser Tony Blinken told MSNBC.

Also on Friday, Palestinian and Israeli delegations arrived in Cairo, Egypt, with the hope of negotiating a longer-term cessation of hostilities, but Egyptian officials said the talks had now been postponed.

The clashes in Rafah came just four hours into what was meant be a 72-hour ceasefire, reinforcing just how difficult it is to get truces to last beyond a very short time. Both sides will have expected such violations.

While it held, much of Gaza was relatively quiet compared to the violence in recent weeks. The streets were slowly returning back to life as shops began to reopen. People had been taking the opportunity to stock up on much-needed supplies.

A steady stream of cars headed towards evacuated neighborhoods close to the Israeli border. People here want to see if their houses are still standing and to try to salvage what's left of their belongings.

The news that an Israeli soldier appears to have been captured by Palestinian militants in Gaza has caused deep concern in Israel.

Military service is compulsory for most people and the sense of solidarity and sympathy with the armed forces is strong; the case of Gilad Shalit was a national trauma.

The government's readiness to make deals like the one that was struck in Sgt Shalit's case is both a strength and a weakness. It reassures Israeli soldiers and their families that the country will do what it can to secure their release.

But critics both at home and abroad say the policy makes Israel vulnerable to future attacks. Its enemies, including Hamas and Hezbollah, know that Israel is prepared to pay a very high price for the freedom of its citizens.

During the morning life appeared to be returning to some kind of normality in Gaza, with many Palestinians heading towards heavily shelled areas to see if their homes were still intact.

But the Gaza health ministry reported that at least 35 Palestinians were killed and up to 100 injured in an Israeli attack near the southern town of Rafah after the ceasefire began.

A senior Israeli official said Hamas had breached the ceasefire and Israel's response would be "crushing".

Earlier, Israeli foreign affairs spokesman Yigal Palmor told the BBC that Israeli forces had retaliated after being attacked in what seemed like a planned move by Hamas.

"There was a full-scale attack on an Israeli unit and this unit had to respond," he said.

"After it responded, Hamas started firing rockets on Israeli territory again and therefore the fighting resumed all along the line.

But Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoun said: "The Israelis are the ones who breached the ceasefire, and the Palestinian resistance acted in a way that ensures its right of self-defence."

Another Hamas official said the announcement of the soldier's capture was "a justification for Israel retreating from the truth and a cover-up for massacres".

Palestinian media reported that Hamas had called for a "day of anger" across the West Bank.

Conflict objectives

Israel's aims

Israel says its overall objective is to stop Hamas rocket attacks from Gaza.

The stated objective of its ground offensive, which started on 18 July, is to destroy Hamas' tunnels into Israel.

On Thursday, Israel's military said tunnel destruction was almost done, and could be completed in the coming days.

Hamas' aims

Hamas has demanded that Israel stop "all aggression" in the West Bank, Jerusalem and Gaza.

Hamas wants a long-term ceasefire along the lines of the one signed in 2012.

It wants Israel to recognize the recently formed Palestinian unity government.

Most importantly, Hamas has said any ceasefire must be tied to the lifting of the economic blockade of Gaza.

Are you in Gaza or Israel? Have you been affected by the violence? You can send us your views and experiences by emailing panafnewswire@yahoo.com using the subject line "Gaza Israel'.