News stories by Pierre Klochendler, page 6

JERUSALEM, Aug 26 (IPS) - In a hamlet of the occupied West Bank, the testimony goes, Israeli troops chase a Palestinian child. “He was about two metres away – the company commander cocked his weapon in his face...The kid fell on the ground, crying and begging for his life.” 

OCCUPIED EAST JERUSALEM, Aug 13 (IPS) - “This is King David’s palace!” proclaims the Israeli tour guide with much fanfare, ignoring the cautionary “King David’s Palace?” legend on the sign. Opportunely opening the Bible, he reads from 2 Samuel 6:16, “As the Ark of the Lord came to the City of David…”

JERUSALEM, Aug 06 (IPS) - “With our spirit, with our blood, we’ll redeem you, O Noble Sanctuary!” the veiled teenagers fervently sing in unison in honour of the Muslim Holy month of Ramadan. Israeli police officers in uniform and full battle gear sit unimpressed under pine trees; others patrol the compound.

JERUSALEM, Jul 29 (IPS) - “A prayer knocks till the door opens,” a songster from the Church of the Holy Sepulchre sings from outside the door.

TEL AVIV, Jul 15 (IPS) - During a march Saturday marking one year since social protests engulfed Israel, a man silently set himself on fire, leaving behind him a painful “I accuse!” letter that exposes widespread disillusionment in the face of the immense expectation for change, and the abyss between the people and the State.

The imposing stronghold is almost transparent, barely noticeable, in the pitch- black desert. On top of the stands, with a thousand kilowatts at his finger’s tip, Avi Yona Bueno turns the night into lights, revealing sets, sites, and sounds. 'I’m god,' smiles the lighting designer. 'I’m god to my children.'

A new super-weapon has entered the Mideast cyber arena. First detected on Monday by a Moscow-based security company, ‘Worm.Win32.Flame’ — just call it ‘Flame’ — might be 'the most sophisticated cyber weapon yet unleashed' on Iran’s secret nuclear networks.

A financial crisis, clashes between coaches, a case of shoplifting — forget all the problems. Last month, Israel’s judokas won four medals at the European Championship. They now have their eyes set on London 2012.

As a result of the diplomatic momentum geared to disarm international suspicions over the explosive issue of Iran’s nuclear programme, the one country not directly party to the two-track negotiation process feels more isolated than Iran.