Minority Watch # 04, September 1, 2007

Let noble thoughts come from all quarters.

An understanding not judgement.

Minorities in the News

1. Druze in Lebanon

Druze religious authority opens an official website says, The Daily Star, August 20, 2007, http://www.dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?edition_id=1&categ_id=2&article_id=84642

2. Arabs in Israel

Israeli cabinet approves a voluntary alternative to military service available also to its Arab citizens, reports Ha'aretz, August 20, 2007, http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/895143.html

Rabbinate forces Arab formers to sell land for 'kashrut' reports, Ha'aretz, August 29, 2007, http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/898485.html

3. Bedouins in Israel

Commentary on the problems of Bedouins due to non-recognition of their villages by Eli Elan in Ha'aretz, August 21, 2007, http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/895578.html

Israel plans to evacuate unrecognised Bedouin villages exposed to hazardous materials near the Ramat Hovav industrial zone in the Negev, says Ha'aretz, Augus 23, 2007, http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/896579.html

4. Copts in Egypt

There is growing tension in Egypt between Coptic Christians and Muslims, reports AFP in Daily Star, August 22, 2007, http://www.dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?edition_id=10&categ_id=2&article_id=84684

5. Christians in Jordan

Churches of various denominations are to be developed and renovated in Jordan, says The Jordan Times, August 23, 2007, http://jordantimes.com/index.php?news=1663

6. Armenians in Turkey

The question of Armenian killings during the World War heightens tensions between Turkey and Israel and the American Jewry, reports, Ha'aretz, August 22, 2007, http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/896179.html and Ha'aretz, August 24, 2007, http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/896887.html

7. Arabs in Iraq

Arab refugees flee to 'relatively safer' Kurdish region of Suleimaniyya, reports AFP, The Daily Star, August 25, 2007, http://www.dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?edition_id=10&categ_id=2&article_id=84771

Reports, Articles, etc.,

1. Kurds in Iraq

The Kurds in Post-Saddam Iraq, Congressional Research Service (CRS) Report by Kenneth Katzman and Alfred B. Prados, updated June 12, 2007, http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/mideast/RS22079.pdf.

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