Israel vs. Palestine at the ICJ, Round 1

Almost everyone is running a story today about the opening hearing to determine the legality of the wall erected by Israel on the border of the West Bank. This hearing is being conducted even though Israel refuses to participate in the process. Protests are being held both for and against the wall outside the court in The Hague and in the occupied territories. This is a very contentious issue, with many Israelis seeing the wall as protection against suicide bombers, while many Palestinians see it as blocking access to their fields, jobs and hospitals. Recent suicide bombings have given Israel what it sees as proof of the necessity of the wall, and claims that the ICJ decision will be politically motivated.

The wall itself is apparently far behind schedule in its construction, and Israel has recently removed 8 kilometers of the wall, although the government claims that there is no correlation between the removal and the court case. Since most of the bombing targets are busses, they have equipped five new busses with a security system intended to minimize the impact of a suicide bombing. The Economist has a good article explaining a little background on the whole issue between the Israelis and the Palestinians and why it garners so much attention.

Iran's elections are over with a great victory for the anti-reform parties, winning 133 of the first 192 seats that were declared. Some reform MPs have resigned because of what they see as a rigged election after the Guardian Council disapproved a large number of pro-reform candidates. European papers were also immensely critical of the election.

As I'm sure everyone knows now, Ralph Nader is running for President as an independent. Given the performance of Bush in the last four years I think it will be much harder for him to claim that the Democrats and the Republicans are all the same, thus you should vote for him.

Tony Blair has come out with two controversial proposals: first he would like to institute random drug tests in British schools, and secondly he issued an ultimatum to migrants from Eastern European countries to either find a job or leave the country. The latter move is meant to prevent immigrants from moving solely because of better government benefits.

Also:
- The United Nations Relief Agency for Palestinian Refugees has issued a report warning the member nations about the chronic despair that Palestinians face over their economic, political and social situation. It also details the rising problem of malnutrition in the occupied territories.
- Canada and the US are discussing whether the US can station ballistic missile interceptors on Canadian soil. I'm sure a backlash in Canadian public opinion will kill this deal.
- The Kurds have refused to accept key parts of the new Iraqi Constitution, asking for far greater autonomy than the document grants.
- Studies show that humans are hardwired to feel empathy for other people.
- However, wearing ribbons and going to demonstrations without follow-up action is more about feeling good about yourself than actually doing good.
- US intelligence is beginning to put together the pieces of a bomb-making ring.
- Canadian Justice Louise Arbour has been named as the new United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, probably much to Brad's consternation.
- Scientists report that the Great Barrier Reef could be decimated by 2050.
- After years of increasing English usage in Germany, a language preservation group believes that German is making a comeback.
- The president of the world's most populous Muslim country, Indonesia, has attacked Western nations for what she calls an exceptional injustice against Islam.
- A study jointly done by the University of Edinburgh and Oxford University have found that the females of certain species of mammals can change the gender of their offspring.
- New data collected by astronomers have lent increasing credence to the existence of dark energy.
- The US is on a tour attempting to improve relations with 'old Europe.'
- Bin Laden is apparently cornered in a mountainous area of northwest Pakistan.

Finally, a report by the Pentagon that was suppressed by the Defense Chiefs but leaked to the British Observer details how climate change could result in global catastrophe. This must come as somewhat embarrassing news to the Bush administration who have consistently downplayed the impact, and even the existence, of climate change. It also adds credence to the objections recently voiced by scientists over the administration persistently ignoring scientific data. It's all OK by the military though -- they've already created another Earth to replace this one.