Israel: Tension Grows as Settlers Vow to Continue Protests

The leaders of Yesha Council, an umbrella organization of municipal councils of Jewish settlements in the West Bank, expressed their determinationl to oppose the Israeli Government's 10-month moratorium on construction. Yesha Council chair Dani Dayan said:

We will violate the decision to freeze [construction] and are prepared to pay the price in order to break [Prime Minister Binyamin] Netanyahu's white paper policy. We do not accept a policy that prohibits Jews from living in the heart of the country.

Dayan also stated that a mass demonstration against the building moratorium will be held in Jerusalem on Wednesday, under the slogan "We will break the freeze".

Switzerland's Minaret Ban: Iranian Foreign Minister Joins Criticism

Iran's Press TV reports that Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki has told his Swiss counterpart Micheline Calmy-Rey by phone,  "The ban will undoubtedly change Switzerland's image as a leading advocate of human rights."

Mottaki also reportedly said, "This move did not befit a country claiming to be a number one advocate of democracy and religious freedom under the Universal Declaration of Human Rights."

Iran: Routes and Information for 16 Azar (7 December)

With thanks to an EA reader:

ROUTES

Tehran

1. Azadi Square - Revolution Square - Tehran University
2. Sattar Khan - Street N. - Tehran University
3. Hafte-Tir Square - St., Karim Khan - Asr Square - Keshavarz Blvd - Street workers - Tehran University
4. Tehran University dormitory complex - North Kargar Ave - Tehran University
5. Amir Kabir University - Cross-Asr - Tehran University
6. Ferdowsi Square - Street Revolution - Tehran University



Ahvaz

1. Taleghani St. - Shohada Square - Azadegan St. - Paul Nader - Coast Road - University Square
2. St. Nader - Paul Nader - Coast Road - Paul V - University Square
3. Time Square - Sports Stadium - University Square

Mashhad

Protest outside Ferdowsi University at 5:00pm

1. Chaharrahe Khayam - Azadi Sq.
2. Esteghlal Sq - Azadi Sq.

Isfahan

Protest outside University Nazar St 5:00pm

1. Chaharbargh Bala-Univ
2. Tohid St-University
3. Sheykh Sodogh Shomali-University

Shiraz

Protest outside University 5:00pm

!. Gaz Square-Azadi Blvd-Baghe Eram Blvd - Eram Square
2. Emam Hossein Square - Karimkhan - Namazi Square - Eram Square

Rasht

1. Protest outside Central building of Gilan Univ at 10:00 a.m.
2. Protest for all students and people of Rasht outside Gilan University of Medical Science (Monzariye) at 4:00 p.m.

Tabriz

1. Around the University & Abresan at 6 p.m.
2. Green traffic in nearby streets at 5 p.m.

Green Traffic Protests: (Farsi) http://bit.ly/8jzkNo

Important Information: (Farsi)

Important Information (English)

The Latest from Iran (5 November): Fun with the Regime

1910 GMT: Top Reformist Back in Jail. Behzad Nabavi, a senior member of the Mojahedin of Islamic Revolution party, has gone back to Evin Prison after a 10-day temporary release. Nabavi, who is appealing a six-year jail sentence, refused to renounce political activity and was thus denied freedom until his case was resolved. He has been seriously ill and was in hospital during his release.

1740 GMT: Confirming the Disruption. It's not surprising that the regime has moving to choke off Monday's demonstrations by cutting off Internet services today. It does take me aback that "sources" in the regime have confirmed "the decision of the authorities" (to expose the activities of the Government? to intimidate the opposition?).

1710 GMT: Arresting the Mothers of Martyrs. Regular EA readers may recall that each Saturday mothers of those killed and detained in post-election conflict, joined by sympathisers, march in Tehran's Laleh Park. We've been watching reports of clashes at today's demonstration but have not waited for confirmation before posting. This is the latest from a reliable Iranian activist:

Before 5 p.m. today unmarked vans parked along side all streets around Laleh Park with 3-4 agents inside. Around Abnama Square there were police cars...and unmarked vans with tinted windows. Five or six younger women were arrested and taken by the unmarked vans to an undisclosed location. Fifteen or sixteen other women were arrested. Also three men were arrested & taken away.

1405 GMT: Josh Shahryar's Green Brief 74, covering the last 24 hours of developments in Iran, is now out.

NEW Iran: Will Israel Get An International Embargo?
NEW Iran Document: Mehdi Karroubi on The Response to Extremism
Iran: Routes and Information for 16 Azar (7 December)
Iran’s Critical Moment: Two Days to Go
The Latest from Iran (4 December): The Weekend Before

1400 GMT: Disrupting 16 Azar. Activists report that the Internet, and services like Google Mail, are running very slowly inside Iran.

1120 GMT: Pick a Number, Any Number. Maybe the Iranian Ambassador to the IAEA, Ali Akhbar Salehi, looked at the statements from other Iranian and US officials (see 0940 GMT) and thought that he should raise his game. So he has declared that even the 10 new enrichment plants declared by the Cabinet last week aren't enough: "To provide fuel for our nuclear power plants, we need to have 20 uranium enrichment plants."

0940 GMT: Nuclear Postures. Meanwhile, both Iran and the US are talking tough in the suspended nuclear engagement. Speaker of Parliament Ali Larijani continues to use the issue to boost his profile, telling reporters Friday night: "Why does the IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) continue to make such a fuss over Iran's enrichment activities despite knowing its peaceful purposes? The answer is quite simple really; all they want and seek to do is to deceive Iran and force it to readily accept whatever offer they put forward."

In Washington, the faction of the Obama Administration that favours a move towards sanctions found their own willing reporters, saying that they would move in early January for a new round of United Nations sanctions. Significantly, the leaking official said that the package might not only consist of "smart" sanctions aimed at the Revolutionary Guard, but also restrictions on Iran's petroleum industry. At the same time, the official betrayed an Administration caught between those in Congress pressing for sweeping sanctions and the difficulties of getting other countries to agree: "We are looking to find what everyone can agree will be most effective and have the least impact on the Iranian people."

0855 GMT: We've posted the latest statement of Mehdi Karroubi, issued yesterday, calling for a response to extremism.

0645 GMT: A distinct feeling of lull before "How Big a Storm?". Preparations for the demonstrations of  16 Azar (7 December) continue to circulate, but there is little open movement coming out of the Iranian weekend.

For now the space is filled by tales of President Ahmadinejad and other regime actors, tales meant to be very, very serious but somehow prompting a smile. There was Ayatollah Jannati on Friday effectively admitting, even as the Tehran Revolutionary Guard commander was saying "Nothing to worry about here", that the Government was fretting about the numbers who might hit the streets on Monday. Make no mistake, Jannati warned, you are betraying Islam and working for the Americans --- even as only a few Americans inside and outside the Government were figuring out that something might be happening on Monday.

Then there was the President laying it down to the West/Israel:

Despite pressure, sanctions and threats, Iran is…quiet, victorious and dear. All thought that pressure of bullying powers will lead to the defeat of the Iranian nation. During the post-election events, certain powers unanimously claimed that they can extract concessions from Iranians.

However, the Iranian nation proved that, in reality, enemies can do nothing....If the Zionist regime and its masters join forces, still they cannot do a damn thing....Even if bullying powers stay in the region for another 50 years, they will have no option but to leave the region with humiliation and in vain.

It is obvious that Ahmadinejad is going out of his way to make no reference whatsoever to the opposition within, as opposed to outside, his country. Still the temptation grows, just like when you're watching a horror film or a British pantomime, to shout out, "Mr President, Look Behind You".

Maybe the best tale moving around the Internet, however, concerns Ahmadinejad's speech earlier this week in Isfahan. Even though the crowd was smaller than expected, the President apparently laid it on thick about his valiant defense against the enemy of Washington. He even revealed the true intention of US foreign policy for the last 30 years.

Let it be known that, from Ronald Reagan to Barack Obama, the US Government has been dedicated to preventing the return of the 12th Imam of Shi'a Islam.

Iran: Will Israel Get An International Embargo?

The Jerusalem Post carries the statement of a senior Israeli diplomatic official that "the international community is starting to come to the understanding that Iran has been lying to everybody about its nuclear intentions."

The confidence of this argument lies in the completion of a United Nations' nuclear test detection station in Turkmenistan, just a few kilometers from the Iranian border. The 337th facility of the International Monitoring System is expected to be active by 2010.

The Israeli official asserted, "The Iranian issue is finally gaining ground in the international community." He added, "Luckily, Iran itself is decimating the efforts of even its most vociferous defenders to help it avoid international criticism."