Propaganda wars becoming more intense and more surreal: Links 3 on June 25 – 2015

1. Israel Freezes Defense Aid Talks with US Pending Iran Deal

A joint meeting of senior representatives in the Defense Ministry, Foreign Ministry and Prime Minister’s Office resulted in the decision to temporarily suspend dialogue with the United States regarding defense aid to the Jewish state.

The freeze will remain in place until the conclusion of talks between Iran and P5+1 world powers on Tehran’s nuclear program, if not later.

The main reason for suspending the dialogue, officials told Walla! News, is the mounting tension between the White House and Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu’s government.

According to a senior defense official, who confirmed the report, freezing talks now will allow Israel to present a new request for defense materials after a deal with Iran has been finalized.

The official asserted that Israel is waiting for negotiations between Iran and Western powers to conclude, to see what exactly the US signs, and from there make demands for maintaining Israel’s security in the region.

2. ‘Odious terrorist act’: Al-Azhar condemns ‘sick’ cartoons aired by Dutch politician

CAIRO: The leading Sunni Muslim seat of learning, al-Azhar, on Thursday denounced the “sick imagination” behind cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed (peace be upon him) that were aired on Dutch national television.

A statement by the Cairo-based al-Azhar also urged Muslims to “ignore this odious terrorist act,” a day after some 10 cartoons were screened by anti-Islam Dutch politician Geert Wilders during a television slot for political parties.

“The stature of the Prophet (pbuh) of mercy and humanitarianism is greater and more noble than to be harmed by cartoons that have no respect for morals or civilised standards,” it said.

Yahoo News here

3. US Attorney: ‘Nothing’ About Boston Marathon Bombing ‘Was Islam Associated’

US Attorney Carmen M. Ortiz declared “there was nothing about this crime that was Islam associated” regarding the Boston Marathon bombing at a press conference on Wednesday.

Ortiz stated, “And, we believe that, at the end of the day, the punishment that was rendered by the jury appropriately fitted the crime, a crime of terrorism, a crime that was not religiously motivated, and a crime that was intended to coerce and intimidate our country, but the response has been otherwise.”

Later, Ortiz said of Tsarnaev, “He didn’t renounce terrorism. He didn’t renounce violent extremism, and he couched his comments in line with Allah, and Allah’s views, which give it a religious tone, and there was nothing, as you heard judge O’Toole say in the courtroom, there was nothing about this crime that was Islam associated, so that’s what I was struck by more.”

(The United States of America, with a government and civil service by the khufar, and for the muslims)

4. Ottawa police probe possibility man who drowned in Rideau is suspect in high-profile cellphone murder

Ottawa police are probing the possibility that a man who may have drowned in the Rideau River following a pursuit Wednesday is a suspect in a high-profile homicide in London, Ont.

Muhab Sultanaly Sultan, 23, of Calgary is wanted for second-degree murder in the June 14 shooting death of 18-year-old Jeremy Cook, who had been trying to retrieve a cellphone he had left in a taxi.

5. RT does insane piece on Geert’s broadcast where the guest speaker actually claims it is Geert who is intolerant.

6. Video maker sues after MTA bans subway ads for film meant to depict Muslims as ordinary people

NEW YORK — Two Muslim filmmakers have filed a lawsuit against the operator of New York subways claiming the agency rejected their advertisements under a rule that prohibits disputed political views. They argue the ads have nothing to do with politics and should not be banned.

In a lawsuit filed Thursday in Manhattan federal court, the filmmakers, Negin Farsad and Dean Obeidallah, claim the Metropolitan Transportation Authority is violating their First Amendment right to free speech.

The two created the advertisements to help promote their 2013 film, “The Muslims Are Coming.” They say the overall message of both the ads and the film is “that American Muslims are ordinary people.”

Thank you M., Wrath of Khan, Maria J. and apologies to anyone I am forgetting, as its a strange day here today. More to come.