In an interview, former Speaker of the Knesset Avraham Burg discusses Israel today and tomorrow: "I have mixed feelings. Imagine I could talk with my forefathers of 500 years ago. I would tell them we have a sovereign Jewish state, that we speak Hebrew, that we have an army, universities, an economy and tourism, and that we are no longer in conflict with any other nation in the world. They would answer in astonishment: 'What happened? Did the Messiah come?' From the perspective of Jewish history we have never had things better. ... But because I know the reality, I can feel that something is awry. ... Israel is like a ship adrift on the ocean. Where are we headed? Towards peace? Towards war? Our state is in the grips of a dilemma. At present we are on an even keel, but do we have a future? ... Compared with two thousand years of exile, sixty years of independence cannot assure us of victory." (07/05/2008)

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"Israel is a democratic oasis of Western values in a desert of backwardness and dictatorship," the Dutch right-wing populist politician Geert Wilders and his party colleague Martin Bosma write in the Dutch daily De Volkskrant. "Israel is no longer popular in Europe. This is a consequence of the emergence of a Muslim electorate. ... The destruction of Israel is right at the top of the political shopping lists of many Muslims. ... The Arabs also perceive the existence of Israel as a daily insult. A handful of Jews is making this country which under Islam was no more than an unsettled piece of desert bloom. ... The war against Israel is not a territorial conflict. ... In truth it is the jihad. 1,400 years ago, war was declared against us in the desert of Arabia - against the West and against Israel. ... What could work is to find a solution outside Israel. The Arab nations are well-positioned to take in the Palestinians from the 'occupied areas'. Migration to Arab countries is a logical and desirable move." (08/05/2008)

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Former US President Jimmy Carter writes about "a terrible human rights crime in Gaza", demanding that "the world must not stand idle while innocent people are treated cruelly. ... This gross mistreatment of the Palestinians in Gaza was escalated dramatically by Israel, with United States backing, after political candidates representing Hamas won a majority of seats in the Palestinian Authority parliament in 2006. ... Regardless of one's choice in the partisan struggle between Fatah and Hamas within occupied Palestine, we must remember that economic sanctions and restrictions on the supply of water, food, electricity and fuel are causing extreme hardship among the innocent people in Gaza. ... It is time for strong voices in Europe, the US, Israel and elsewhere to speak out and condemn the human rights tragedy that has befallen the Palestinian people." (08/05/2008)

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Barry Rubin, head of the Global Research in International Affairs Center in Herzliya, Israel, comments on the relationship between Europe and Israel since the founding of the State of Israel 60 years ago. "The major problem is the intellectual and cultural elites. This is owing to the misguided 'humanitarian' notion that one should support dictatorships and totalitarian movements that claim to help people. In all European nations, particularly the UK, France, Norway, Sweden, Belgium and the Netherlands, the public image of Israel and the Jews has deteriorated. ... Particularly in the media and in academic circles, anti-Israeli views are being expressed and in some cases appear to have gained a monopoly status. ... Since this anti-Israeli stance goes hand in hand with anti-Americanism and above all hate of President George W. Bush, it could soften once his successor takes over in the White House next January. In theory many deficits remain in European-Israeli relations, but in practice these relations are one of the bright spots of Israel's 60th anniversary." (08/05/2008)

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The latest results show that the race for the Democratic presidential candidacy is now over, Manuel Queiroz writes. "If the second candidate's name were not Clinton, the Democratic presidential candidate would have been decided on long ago. But Hillary's name is Clinton, she has money, power and a tradition in the party. ... Nevertheless, after her defeat last Tuesday in North Carolina and her narrow victory in Indiana, Hillary cannot beat Barack Obama. Neither electors' votes nor the number of superdelegates can help her now, with just six small states left to be counted. ... These primaries are like those of January and February, but the context has changed, with a growing economic crisis and vigorous attacks against the Afro-American candidate - who nevertheless still has a clear lead. Obama can no longer lose." (08/05/2008)

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Filippo Ceccarelli looks back on the political career of the new Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, who will be sworn in today for the fourth time as head of government. "Over 14 years, three presidents - Scalfaro, Ciampi and Napolitano - have summoned Berlusconi to build a government. The first time, in April 1994, he was beaming and full of anticipation. The second, in 2001, he saucily let fly that he was no longer a dilettante. In April 2005, the third time, he glowered and was almost reluctant to take office after infighting within his own ranks. ... The rise of Silvio IV is no doubt his most soft-spoken, calmest and for that reason perhaps also his most enigmatic." (08/05/2008)

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The Turkish half of Cyprus must act to ensure that the settlers in the North of the island leave, the Greek-language Cypriot daily writes in its leading article. "Among other demands, the Turks insist that the settlers be allowed to remain even after a solution has been found to the Cyprus problem. ... The number of settlers living in the occupied area apparently amounts to over 120,000, despite the Turks' claims that there are no more than 40,000. ... For a start the settlement is a war crime, and it would be a mistake to open a discussion about the alleged humanitarian dimension of this issue. ... The Greek-Cypriot side must insist on the setting up of a work group to deal with the settler problem. ... We know how much leeway the Turkish-Cypriots have in such work groups and technical committees [of the United Nations]. It will be advantageous for them not only to discuss the settler issue, but also to strive for the withdrawal of the settlers." (07/05/2008)

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In The Guardian's online edition, Soumaya Ghannoushi analyses the election victories of Europe's conservative parties and their consequences: "After Sarkozy's resounding victory in last year's French presidential elections and Berlusconi's recent return to power in Italy, the conservatives in Britain have celebrated their largest electoral win for years in what most see as the beginning of the road back to power. ... The new right-wing wave sweeping across the continent has also seen the far right not only win more supporters and sympathisers on its margins, but penetrate into the mainstream itself. ... But the far right's greatest gains have not been made in direct electoral contests. Its most significant achievements have been silent and invisible, won on the battleground of discourse, with its slogans and demands gradually infiltrating mainstream political discourse. From immigration and asylum, to national identity, and national pride, the far right's populist rhetoric has moved to the centre stage of politics." (08/05/2008)

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Slovakia's planned conversion to the euro next year prompts Miklós Blahó to talk of a "Slovak miracle": "The way our northern neighbour got back on its feet in the space of just six years is commendable. ... In the aftermath of the political transition, Slovakia soon became marginalised internationally as a result of Vladimir Meciar's policies. Its accession to the European Union ... was even seriously called into question. This made an impact. Slovakia got rid of Meciar and elected a conservative government that immediately took measures to boost the economy. It raised the retirement age, set up private pension schemes and introduced doctors' fees, hospital fees and tuition fees. ... However, it also cut social welfare spending, with the consequence that the country's poorest - primarily the Roma living in ghettoes - continue to live in extreme poverty." (08/05/2008)

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Gheorghe Cercelescu comments on the rise of average salaries in Romania. "Brussels technocrats ascribe Romania with the highest salary growth rates. But how could we otherwise gain ground and catch up with the EU average wage as quickly as possible? ... If average Americans and Japanese live well, it is not because they have a huge salary, but because their peak economic performance steadily increases. At the beginning of the last century, the renowned American carmaker Henry Ford offered his workers fantastic wages. ... In doing so, Ford wanted to eliminate labour fluctuations. But this would not have got him anywhere if he had not increased production at the same time. ... True, salary convergence depends on labour productivity. Consequently, we will not be able to match German and French salaries until we also equal their productivity." (08/05/2008)

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With an eye on the upcoming Olympic Games in Beijing, security expert Ko Colijn writes in the left-liberal weekly Vrij Nederland that we should demand a gesture of respect for human rights not only of the Olympic athletes, but also of Western star architects, including Dutch architect Rem Koolhas. "Powerful dictatorships have always had a predilection for modern architecture. They expect these buildings to constitute a 1000-year monument to their greatness. ... The new autocrats are perfect matches for modern super-architects, and give them carte blanche to realise their biggest dreams. ... If you can accuse Olympic athletes of helping a tasteless regime to dubious splendour, then the same is true of the viagra architecture in Qatar and Beijing. ... There is a functional correlation between the height and predominance of these towers and the infallibility of the unelected leaders who inhabit them. But there is less correlation between the towering political status of Chinese President Hu Jintao and a high jump of 2.38 metres." (08/05/2008)

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Yoani Sánchez, a Cuban blogger, has been awarded one of Spain's top journalism awards, the Ortega y Gasset prize for digital journalism, conferred by the Spanish daily El País, for her Generación Y blog. Sánchez was however not allowed to leave the island state to receive it personally. El País comments: "Someone should point out to Cuban President Raúl Castro that you should preach with deeds and not with words after he answered [Sanchez' application for an exit visa] with the most cowardly of replies - silence. ... The decision to prevent this young blogger - who was named one of the world's 100 most influential people by the Time Magazine - from travelling to Madrid has put the talk about the supposed opening up of Castroism in this new phase to the test. One-party systems are paralysed by the fear of change." (08/05/2008)

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Giorgos Delastik comments on the decision by the Greek postal service (ELTA) to produce a series of stamps especially for the Eastern Orthodox monasteries of Mount Athos, which form an autonomous state under Greek sovereignty. "ELTA's decision to produce an independent series of stamps to replace those of the Greek Republic which have circulated in Athos up to now is very controversial. ... Experiences in other countries have shown that the autonomy of the post in a region within a state usually goes hand in hand with the strengthening of the general autonomy of that region. ... Naturally, we cannot ignore the special status of Athos, which is enshrined in Greek constitution. Nonetheless, at a time when the Balkan region is breaking up, from a political perspective we are not enthusiastic to see Athos follow the same path regarding its postal system as Greenland, which is now on the verge of becoming completely independent from Denmark." (07/05/2008)

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Leonor Pinhão compares the world of football with the economic world: "The president of the Portuguese football league wants football clubs that are in arrears with the payment of their players' salaries to be penalised. The penalties foreseen are deduction of points and the withdrawal of their licenses for the next season. What is remarkable in this context is that the league is an employers' association. The president of the League, Hermínio Loureiro, has asked the football bosses to act responsibly, pointing out that football is not a world of its own. But precisely this seems to be the case: owing to its bad reputation, football has become the most tightly controlled activity in a country in which hundreds of employees go for months without being paid their salaries, and in which employees are dismissed and a new company is founded under a new name the very next day. Football appears to be more advanced in this respect." (08/05/2008)

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