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Today in Palestine! ~ Headlines ~ |
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A message from Bethlehem
What aggravated the matter, however, is the construction of the separation wall that is slicing the northern borders of Bethlehem, tearing apart many of our families and isolating our holy town from the outside world. We are living in the horror of this apartheid wall that has grabbed our land and seriously affected all aspects of our life, including our ability to access basic services and work, thus our ability to sustain ourselves. Actually, we live today in what is similar to a big prison.
http://ncronline.org/NCR_Online/archives2/2005d/122305/122305p.php
Bil'in residents set up 'outpost' west of separation (WALL) fence
Mohammed Khateb, a member of Bil'in's Popular Committee Against the Wall, said that the container was placed on land belonging to a village resident and comes with a building permit from Bil'in village council. The fence (WALL) cuts village residents from approximately half of their lands.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/660894.html
European NGOs defy EU secrecy on Jerusalem
The report, which states that "Israel's activities in Jerusalem are in violation of both its Roadmap obligations and international law" was shelved by EU foreign ministers at their 12 December Foreign Affairs (GAERC) meeting in Brussels, for fear of alienating Israel and reducing the EU's influence.
http://www.indybay.org/news/2005/12/1792021.php
Israel bars east Jerusalem voting
Israel said that it would not allow voting in (ILLEGALY) occupied east Jerusalem in next month's Palestinian election as it sought Egypt's help to halt a feared upsurge in violence ahead of the polls.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20051221/wl_afp/mideast_051221180925
Unrecognised villages in the Negev expose Israel's apartheid policies
Eighty thousand Palestinian Bedouin Israelis live in unrecognised villages in the Negev desert in the south of Israel. The villages are deprived of basic services like housing, water, electricity, education and health care. With the adoption of the Israeli Planning and Construction Law in 1965, 45 villages in the Negev were not declared as existing.
http://electronicintifada.net/v2/article4358.shtml
Fighter assassinated in Jenin, five injured
Israeli soldiers assassinated, on Wednesday, the leader of Al Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas in Jenin, and shot injured five other residents, one seriously, after invading the city and surrounding a building. The fighter was identified as Zayed Suleiman Mousa, 28; he was wanted by the Israeli security and survived several assassination attempts.
http://www.imemc.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=15609&Itemid=1
Army invades Nablus, clashes with resistance
Israeli soldiers, supported by armored and jeeps, invaded the West Bank city of Nablus on Wednesday morning, exchanged fire with the resistance, and broke into dozens of homes in the northern mountain area and several areas in the city.
http://www.imemc.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=15608&Itemid=1
The Eastern Wall: Closing the circle of our ghettoization
The Jordan Valley has always been a key target for Zionist expansionism. It provides access to the water reserves of the River Jordan. The hilltops yield control over a significant portion of the West Bank, providing the means for the Occupation to seal their grip over this part of Palestine and encircle towns and villages.
http://stopthewall.org/analysisandfeatures/1042.shtml
US, Israel strengthening Hamas - Latin patriarch
Pope Benedict's representative in the Holy Land said on Wednesday that the United States and Israel were helping strengthen Islamic militant group Hamas through policies towards the Palestinians.
http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L2173420.htm
Abbas meets Suleiman; demands e. J'lem Arabs vote
Abbas told Suleiman that east Jerusalem Arabs must be allowed to vote for the upcoming Palestinian parliamentary elections, reiterating calls from Palestinian Information Minister Nabil Shaath, who said that barring the vote in Jerusalem would be grounds for calling off the ballot.
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1134309623500&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull
Wall casts shadow on Arabs in Bethlehem
It is less than a 10-minute drive from Bethlehem to Jerusalem, but Palestinians are barred from making the trip unless they have special Israeli permits allowing them to leave the West Bank. Yet Israel says it will facilitate Christmas visits to Bethlehem by local and foreign pilgrims, allowing tourist buses free access and ensuring speedy security checks on the way out. The new Israeli terminal in the wall is the latest focus of controversy.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-0512210335dec21,1,4612736.story?coll=chi-newsnationworld-hed
Hebrew University poll: Half of Israelis favor talks with Hamas
Fifty percent of Israelis polled in mid-December by the Hebrew University of Jerusalem would support talks with Hamas if this was necessary to reach a peace deal, while 47 percent would be opposed, said Yaacov Shamir, who conducted the survey.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/660895.html
Haaretz poll: Likud picks up seats from right; Kadima strong
Labor is in a bad position: It has remained in the 20 to 22 seat range for nearly three weeks. Meretz-Yahad, meanwhile, has recovered slightly, winning five seats in yesterday's poll. Shinui has stayed stable at four seats.
http://www.haaretzdaily.com/hasen/pages/ShArt.jhtml?itemNo=660246
Status of UN refugee agency mission upgraded
The opening of this important agency in Israel constitutes further evidence of the improvement of relations between Israel and the UN and the normalization of Israel's status within the international community.
http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/RWB.NSF/db900SID/RMOI-6KA3J5?OpenDocument&rc=3&emid=ACOS-635PFR
On the three lies of Hamas
Hamas' victory in the local elections bloomed in fertile soil. People have had enough of the lies that have accompanied their lives over the past 13 years: that Oslo is peace; that the establishment of the Palestinian Authority is an accomplishment and a symbol, neutralizing all its failings; that the PA is a state. But does Hamas tell only the truth?
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/660398.html
Palestine gets $720,000 to aid vote
Japan will give $720,000 in grant aid to the Palestinian Authority and dispatch an election-monitoring mission to assist in the election of the Palestinian legislature in January, Foreign Minister Taro Aso said Tuesday.
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/getarticle.pl5?nn20051221b3.htm
OPT: Assistance for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA)
The Government of Japan has decided to extend assistance of $ 4,826,000 in total to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) on December 19...
http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/RWB.NSF/db900SID/DPAS-6KAJAS?OpenDocument&rc=3&emid=ACOS-635PFR
Do not exclude Hamas from the vote
Once Islamic supporters see that they can participate in the decision-making process, they will gradually give up on their unilateral actions against the Israelis. Integrating Hamas and the other militant movements into the political mainstream will contribute to de-escalating the current cycle of violence and allow Palestinians to focus on rebuilding their lives in the recently liberated Gaza Strip and the yet-to-be liberated Jerusalem and West Bank.
http://www.iht.com/articles/2005/12/21/opinion/edkuttab.php#
A pragmatic mayor for Nablus
He backs Hamas, but he also supports programs promoting coexistence between Israeli and Palestinian children. He is a religious Muslim who has never sipped alcohol but believes that the Christians and Samaritans of his native city have every right to run shops selling the forbidden drink.
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1134309619101&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull
Peres Center opens Issawiya soccer field
“The new field replaces the small, asphalt court in the school's courtyard where the children of Issawiya played. From now on, children participating in the Peres Center for Peace's sport projects, as well as residents of East Jerusalem and the Palestinian Authority, will be able to use it,” the Peres Center said in a statement.
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3188124,00.html
Palestine Securities Exchange leads all Middle Eastern markets after powerful performance in 2005
In November alone, the PSE's Al-Quds Index increased 37.07%, to close the month at 1295.08. At the end of 2004, the index was more than 1,000 points lower at 277.56. November trading volume totaled 48 million shares, the second highest this year, bringing the year-to-date volume total to 330 million shares.
http://www.ameinfo.com/74541.html
Israel: We'll cut Gaza power if our electric grid is hit
On Sunday, after a Qassam rocket fired from Gaza landed not far from an Israel Electric Corporation power plant south of Ashkelon, Israel told the Palestinian Authority that it planned to shut off power for two hours in early Monday morning, as a warning of things to come if the Qassam fire did not stop.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/660387.html
MI head Ze'evi warns of northern border escalation
Making his final appearance before the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, Ze'evi said the risk of the northern border heating up stems from Iranian-Syrian influence on Hezbollah to initiate action against Israel. Any Syrian involvement in Hezbollah activity against Israel would then necessitate an Israeli response.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/660376.html
Despite missed deadline, Quartet peace plan still valid: UN envoy
With only 10 days left before the expiration of the original deadline of the Middle East Diplomatic Quartet's so-called Road Map peace plan for a final and settlement of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, a top United Nations official stressed today that the plan is still the agreed framework for reaching a lasting peace in the Middle East.
http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/RWB.NSF/db900SID/KHII-6KA4F2?OpenDocument&rc=3&emid=ACOS-635PFR
Katz: Bomb Strip, make Gazans flee
Israel should bomb the Gaza Strip and force residents in some areas to flee to the Sinai desert in Egypt, Agriculture Minister Yisrael Katz (Likud) proposed in response to ongoing Qassam rocket attacks from Gaza.
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3187884,00.html
Saddam claims beaten by Americans
"I have been hit by the Americans and tortured," he said in thecourt. "I've been beaten on every place of my body and the signs are all over my body," he added. The trial of the former president and seven of his codefendantsresumed in Baghdad on Wednesday
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-12/22/content_3953640.htm
Ukraine withdraws last troops in Iraq
The Ukraine's Defense Ministry spokesman Viktor Vasyuk said the remaining troops were all due home by Dec. 30. with the first batch of 120 due to withdraw to a western Ukraine military base later on Tuesday.
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-12/20/content_3949784.htm
US increases air attacks in Iraq
According to figures provided by Central Command Air Force's public affairs office, the monthly number of air missions, including refuelling and other support flights, grew from 1111 in September to 1492 in November 2005.
http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/3D38A39E-D8B2-499D-9FA4-2C941EBB8332.htm
Sunnis, Secular Shiites Unite on Election
The election commission, known as the IECI, has said it received 1,250 complaints about violations during the Dec. 15 elections, 25 of which it described as serious. But the commission says it does not expect the complaints will change the overall result, to be announced in January.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20051221/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq |
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