Internecine Feuds

July 2008

Jimmy Carter, Rogue Ex-President

newser | New York | Jul 21, 08 12:28 PM CDT

Jimmy Carter does things his own way, pursuing peace initiatives in the Middle East and South America whether Washington likes it or not, and generally redefining what it means to be an ex-president. So it’s no wonder “his mind-set and his policies seem to jibe so well with the attitudes of young people, students, and the blogosphere,” Amy Wilentz writes for New York . “In many ways, Carter seems more relevant than George W. Bush.” More »
Freed Militants Vow to Continue Fight With Israel

newser | Associated Press | Jul 17, 08 2:30 PM CDT

A day after being freed in a prisoner exchange, Hezbollah fighters vowed to continue to fight Israel as they prayed at the grave of a fallen commander, the AP reports. “At this moment, I am yearning more than before to confront them,” Samir Qantar, who had been jailed in Israel for almost 30 years, said at a cemetery near Beirut. More »
Hezbollah Returns Bodies of 2 Israeli Soldiers

newser | Reuters | Jul 16, 08 4:53 AM CDT

Hezbollah handed over the corpses of two slain Israeli soldiers in an exchange at the Lebanon-Israel border this morning, Reuters reports. The soldiers' capture sparked the 2006 war that killed 1,200 in Lebanon and 159 Israelis. Once the remains are identified, Israel will free five Lebanese prisoners, including one serving a life sentence for killing a 4-year-old girl and her family. More »
When Good Santas Turn Bad

newser | Wall Street Journal | Jul 10, 08 4:04 AM CDT

It may be summertime but things are still pretty frosty within one of the country's biggest organizations of Santa Clauses, the Wall Street Journal reports. Members of the Amalgamated Order of Real-Bearded Santas are accusing each other of profiteering and other naughty behavior. St. Nicks have been departing by the sleighful to sign up for splinter Santa groups. More »

June 2008

Hollywood Strike Talk Might Be Just an Act

newser | Variety | Jun 5, 08 3:56 PM CDT

Uncertainty still reigns in Hollywood as the largest actors union, the Screen Actors Guild, faces a pair of tough choices, Variety reports. SAG could try to sabotage a deal reached by the smaller American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, and it will need to get its members to authorize a strike if its contract with studios expires June 30 without a new agreement. More »
Israel-Hezbollah Swap May Signal Progress

newser | Independent (UK) | Jun 2, 08 3:39 PM CDT

The weekend swap of a Hezbollah spy for the remains of two kidnapped Israeli soldiers has whipped up speculation about the release of more Lebanese prisoners, the Independent reports. Although Israel denied the return of the remains was negotiated, the German foreign minister has been facilitating talks between the parties, which may be addressing the fate of 10 Lebanese operatives and two Israeli soldiers. More »

May 2008

US Axes Fulbrights for 8 Palestinians

newser | New York Times | May 30, 08 6:17 AM CDT

Eight Palestinians have had their Fulbright scholarships taken away because Israel won't grant them visas to leave the Gaza Strip, reports the New York Times. Israel has isolated Gaza since Hamas took control of the territory last year. The State Department has allocated the prestigious scholarships to students the West Bank instead, to avoid losing them, the AP reports, and the Gaza students have been advised to apply again next year. More »
Rockefellers Pump Exxon Execs for Changes

newser | Wall Street Journal | May 24, 08 1:58 PM CDT

Executives at Exxon are bracing for an onslaught from the Rockefeller family, whose patriarch founded the oil firm’s predecessor a century ago, the Wall Street Journal reports. Led by John D. Rockefeller’s great-granddaughter, the family wants Exxon to pursue renewable forms of energy and appoint an independent chairman. More »
Pro-Choicers Feel Backlash for Backing Obama

newser | Politico | May 17, 08 1:50 PM CDT

NARAL’s state affiliates are blasting the abortion-rights group’s decision to back Barack Obama, fearing the move could alienate donors loyal to Hillary Clinton. “It’s created a firestorm,” said the president of the group’s New York branch. “Everyone was mystified.” That includes Obama supporters, Politico reports. A Clinton ally said some of NARAL’s Obama backers thought the endorsement “ill-timed and ill-advised.” More »
Palestinians Stand to Benefit in Blair Deal

newser | Times (UK) | May 13, 08 11:00 AM CDT

Tony Blair announced an economic deal today between Israel and the Palestinians aimed at boosting business in the West Bank, the Times of London reports. The agreement, the first brokered by the former British PM in his role as Middle East peace envoy, will see Israel remove four military checkpoints and withdraw security forces—seen as a key step toward Palestinian statehood. More »

April 2008

Hamas Truce 'Not Serious': Israel

newser | AFP | Apr 25, 08 3:27 PM CDT

Israel said a Hamas truce proposal yesterday was not genuine, and the Islamist organization would only regroup and strengthen itself during the 6-month ceasefire, AFP reports. "Unfortunately, this appears not to be serious at all," an Israeli spokesman said today, although officials said a prolonged halt in the near-daily rocket attacks launched from the Gaza Strip could convince them otherwise. More »
UN Aid to Gaza Blocked by Israeli Embargo

newser | BBC | Apr 24, 08 6:19 AM CDT

The United Nations announced today that it will have to suspend its humanitarian aid program in the Gaza Strip because of the Israeli fuel blockade. The UN can't distribute food or collect sewage in the Hamas-controlled territory now that its fuel supply has run out. A Security Council meeting was held to discuss the crisis, but American, British, and French ambassadors walked out when a Libyan representative compared Gaza to a Nazi death camp. More »
Israeli Gunfire Kills 5, Wounds 18 in Central Gaza

newser | New York Times | Apr 11, 08 3:07 PM CDT

Israeli gun and tank fire in Gaza today killed at least five Palestinians, including two boys, said officials at a Palestinian hospital. The wounded included 18 civilians and two fighters. Israeli officials said troops entered the area to quell terrorist activity and push Palestinians from a border fence when they faced fire from local gunmen, provoking a clash, the New York Times reports. More »
Hamas Amps Up Anti-Jewish Rant

newser | New York Times | Apr 1, 08 10:32 AM CDT

In the 15 years since the Oslo accords, the Palestinian Authority under Fatah has tamped down anti-Semitic rhetoric. But in Hamas-controlled Gaza, incitement to violence against Jews has been amped up in everything from sermons to television cartoons. The New York Times investigates how virulent hatred of Jews—not just Israelis—compounds the difficulties of the peace process. More »

March 2008

Lieberman Dem in Name Only

newser | Time | Mar 31, 08 2:48 PM CDT

Joe Lieberman is several months into his job as John McCain’s wingman, but, writing in Time , Michael Scherer sees shades of 2004 turncoat Zell Miller in the Connecticut independent's anti-Democrat tone. Scherer hears a “Republican general election argument” in Lieberman's claim the Dems are ruled “by a small group … that is protectionist, isolationist and basically … very, very hyperpartisan.” More »
Fatah and Hamas Sign Deal, But Feuding Continues

newser | Reuters | Mar 23, 08 8:02 PM CDT

In a second attempt to mend fences, rival Palestinian groups Fatah and Hamas agreed to resume direct talks today to resolve disputes and revive their failed coalition. A Hamas official called the deal “a new beginning and the start of a new stage,” but just hours after signing the Yemeni-sponsored Sanaa Declaration, the factions returned to feuding, Reuters reports. More »
Smiles All Round as Beach Boys Settle Lawsuit

newser | Reuters | Mar 21, 08 5:53 AM CDT

The three surviving original members of the Beach Boys have smoothed out a years-long legal disagreement, Reuters reports. Mike Love and the record company part-owned by Brian Wilson had sued founding member Al Jardine over his unauthorized use of the Beach Boys name for tours. With good vibrations now flowing again, a reunion could be on the cards. More »
Ledger Family Feuds Over Estate

newser | People | Mar 19, 08 3:06 PM CDT

Heath Ledger's estate has sparked a family squabble, with his uncles claiming the late actor's father is unfit to handle his his assets and make sure his daughter Matilda is cared for. The uncles say Kim Ledger bungled their grandfather's estate so badly that he had to be removed as executor, People reports. "It plunged into enormous debt," says Mike Ledger. More »
Diddy Denies Tupac Claim

newser | MTV | Mar 18, 08 7:15 AM CDT

Sean "Diddy" Combs has vehemently denied claims that he, the Notorious BIG, and other rap figures were involved in an attack on Tupac Shakur in 1994. Shakur was shot outside a New York recording studio, triggering the East Coast-West Coast rap wars in which Shakur and others were murdered. In an interview with MTV, Combs insisted that the Los Angeles Times story was "beyond ridiculous." More »
McGreevey Threesome Stories Get Tangled

newser | Associated Press | Mar 18, 08 3:44 AM CDT

Jim McGreevey has backed up his aide's claim that the two were involved in three-way sex with his estranged wife, contradicting her earlier denial. "This happened, this happened in the past, and now we need to move on with our lives," the former New Jersey governor told the AP. The McGreeveys' bitter divorce case is before the courts, and the aide is expected to be called as a witness. More »