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Today in Palestine! ~ Headlines ~ |
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Land, property, resources theft & destruction / Ethnic cleansing / Apartheid
Report: Israeli opposition leader visits Silwan
JERUSALEM (Ma‘an) 15 July -- Israeli opposition leader Tzipi Livni
visited the East Jerusalem neighborhood of Silwan Friday in an action
deemed provocative by local residents. Israeli forces initiated
unprecedented closures in the area, blocking streets and entrances
across the neighborhood, and maintaining a visible presence locals told
Ma‘an.
Tzipi Livni was reportedly visiting the 'City of David'
before heading to a settlement outpost in the AL-Bustan district.
According
to witnesses Livni was guided around by a member of the Elad
association, an organization actively involved in settlement projects in
the Silwan neighborhood.
http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=405479
House arrest: a Palestinian prison / Meg Walsh
Palestine (Pal Telegraph) 15 July -- The Israeli settlement of Givon
Ha’hadasha is built alarmingly close to the Palestinian village of Bet
Ijza. The settlement is built practically on top of this village because
the Jews believe that biblically, this is the site where the sun stood
still for Joshua while his enemies were defeated. In this land, too
often the beliefs of the past trump the realities of the present. The
Ghrayeb family, who refused to leave their home in order for the
settlement to be built, even after threats of eviction and demolition,
live amidst the Jewish enclave. However, they are separated from it on
three sides by a seven meter high metal fence. In the one entry that
they have, there are two surveillance cameras -- one on the house and
the other facing the opposite direction observing anyone coming toward
the house. With only one gate, the family is at the mercy of the Israeli
army who can close it at any time, for any reason. At one point, they
were prisoners inside their home for an entire month.
http://www.paltelegraph.com/opinions/editorials/9631-house-arrest-a-palestinian-prison.html
Settlers
Settlers torch Palestinian land near Nablus
NABLUS
(Ma‘an) 15 July -- Israeli settlers from the illegal settlement of
Yizhar
set fire to Palestinian land on Friday near the village of Burin, south
of Nablus. "A group of settlers from Yizhar had set fire to dozens of
Dunams in that area," a member of Burin's agricultural committee, Belal
Eid, told Ma‘an Friday. Residents of Burin and members from the
Palestinian civil defense crew are reportedly still trying to extinguish
the fire but settlers are preventing them from reaching the land, he
added.
http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=405432
Report: Israeli commander warns of conflict between settlers and army
JERUSALEM (Ma‘an) 15 July -- An Israeli army commander has warned about
the risk
of armed conflict between settlers and the army in the West Bank,
Israeli daily Maariv reported Friday. "It is likely that a settler would
open fire on the soldiers while evacuating the outpost of Metzeh
Yetzahar, that it will be happen by the end of 2011 is not imagination,
and that the danger in the book of the King’s Torah is not only a
theoretical discussion," Netsan Arlen reportedly warned during an
army meeting on the situation in the West Bank. Arlen was highly
critical of extremist religious texts such as the 'King's Torah' saying
that "this book is not theoretical for those people but it’s clear in
torching mosques which is an issue that would ignite a huge fire in the
region."
http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=405416
Dramatic spike in settler violence sadly predictable / Yousef Munayyer
For the past 18 months we've been working at the Palestine Center to
analyze Israeli settler violence against Palestinian civilians and their
property. We've put together the most comprehensive database of Israeli
settler violence available and continue to add data to our records. In
April of this year we presented an analysis
covering the period of September 2004-February 2011, and at the time I
noted an dramatic trend: "The
important news is this. A very strong, noticeable increase in Israeli
settler violence over the past five years, and mind you 2011 is on pace
to beat 2010. We started with an extremely violent two months of 2011
and it shows no indication of slowing down." ... The troubling part is
that, when you study settler violence over time you realize that the
most dramatic spike that comes on an annual basis is during the olive
harvest season -- at the end of October. With a 57% increase in violence
by July, the number of violent incidents against Palestinian civilians
may well double last year's numbers.
http://blog.thejerusalemfund.org/2011/07/dramatic-spike-in-settler-violence.html
Israeli forces
PCHR Weekly Report 7-13 July: Civilian killed, woman, child wounded by Israeli forces
IMEMC 15 July -- ...Israeli forces conducted 47 incursions into
Palestinian communities in the West Bank, during which they abducted 12
Palestinian civilians, including a child. In addition, Israeli forces
abducted 4 Palestinian civilians at military checkpoints in the West
Bank ... There are approximately 585 permanent roadblocks, and manned
and unmanned checkpoints across the West Bank. At least 65% of the main
roads that lead to 18 Palestinian communities in the West Bank are
closed or fully controlled by Israeli forces. There
are approximately 500 kilometers of restricted roads across the West
Bank. In addition, approximately one third of the West Bank, including
occupied East Jerusalem, is inaccessible to Palestinians without permits
issued by Israeli forces ... Israeli settlement activities:
Israeli forces have continued settlement activities in the West Bank and
Israeli settlers have continued to attack Palestinian civilians and property. [ Complete
report, which also contains details of movement of both people and freight through Beit Hanoun (Erez) and Rafah crossings]
http://www.imemc.org/article/61688
Army gas canisters set fire to Palestinian land
JERUSALEM
(Ma‘an) 15 July -- Israeli soldiers fired gas canisters at residents in
the town of Qatana, near Jerusalem, on Thursday, causing fires which
spread through olive and fig groves, reports say. The fire also
damaged vineyards and the electricity grid in the area, a spokesman from
the town's police department Ashraf Shamasneh said, noting that the
Israeli army did not contact the fire department at any point.
Palestinian firefighters were unable to reach all areas affected by the
fire, and several homes in the town were damaged. Local
witnesses said that Israeli forces deliberately set fire to properties,
some even using their own lighters, as soldiers had threatened to burn
property if they were harassed by residents, reports say ... This attack
is the second within days in which gas canisters were fired on the
residents' homes and agricultural lands.
http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=405392
Israeli military conducts investigation on killing of Ibrahim Sarhan
IMEMC 15 July -- The Israeli military will be investigating the killing
of twenty-one year old Ibrahim Omar Sarhan on Wednesday July 13, 2011,
for alleged wrongdoings. Israeli military sources said that an
investigation does not mean the Israeli military were violating the
operations rules of engagement, according to the Jerusalem Post ...
Major General Avichai Mandelblit announced in April that the Israeli
Military would launch a new policy where immediate investigations would
take place on killings of unarmed Palestinian civilians not suspected in
terrorist activities.
http://www.imemc.org/article/61691
Gaza
Palestinians: Five wounded as IAF jets strike Gaza tunnels
Haaretz
15 July -- In the last three days, the IAF has carried out six
airstrikes in Gaza in response to homemade missiles fired by militants
toward southern Israel -- Israel Air Force strikes left at least five
Palestinians wounded and one missing early Friday in the Gaza Strip,
witnesses and officials in the territory said. The witnesses said that
IAF fighter jets struck a smuggling tunnel under the border between
southern Gaza and Egypt, where five people were wounded ... Rescue teams
rushed to the scene and sent three people with moderate wounds and two
with minor injuries by ambulance to the nearby Rafah hospital, Gaza
emergency chief Adham Abu Selmeyeh said. Earlier, IAF jets carried out
two airstrikes late Thursday against another smuggling tunnel and an
empty area inside Gaza.
http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/
palestinians-five-wounded-as-iaf-jets-strike-gaza-tunnels-1.373378
Four Palestinians, including two children, wounded in Israeli airstrike
GAZA,
(PIC)-- Israeli occupation aircraft carried out a number of airstrikes
late Thursday night against targets in the Gaza Strip wounding four
Palestinians, including two children. Spokesman for the emergency
services, Adham Abu Selmeyya, told PIC that that two children were
wounded when occupation aircraft targeted an open area near Makousi
residential towers in Gaza City and two other citizens were wounded as a
result of another airstrike that targeted the central Gaza Strip.
Palestinian sources said that F16’s fired a rocket at a resistance
training grounds to the south west of Gaza City, while an Apache fired
at another position to the west of Khan Younis in the southern Gaza
Strip. A third position to the north west of Gaza City was also
targeted, but no casualties were reported as a result of these three
airstrikes.
http://www.palestine-info.co.uk/En/default.aspx?xyz=U6Qq7k%2
IDF condemns Hamas for failing to halt Gaza rocket fire
Haaretz 15 July -- Israel Defense Forces officials issued a statement
Friday, condemning Hamas for not taking action to stop rocket fire from
the Gaza Strip into
Israel, shortly after Chief of Staff Benny Gantz called an emergency
meeting to discuss the increased violence in southern Israel
http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/
idf-condemns-hamas-for-failing-to-halt-gaza-rocket-fire-1.373456
CPS GAZA responds to Israeli naval attacks, death threats
Civil Peace Service Gaza press release, 14 July 3:55 --
At approximately 8:15 am, two Israeli gunboats approached the Oliva
as it cruised within the three-nautical mile fishing zone unilaterally
imposed and enforced by Israeli forces. After circling it several times,
they opened fire on it with water cannons, nearly filling it with water
in an apparent attempt to sink it.
Two United States crew members and the Palestinian captain were rescued
from the vessel, in imminent danger of capsizing, by a small fishing
boat, which transported them to a nearby trawler. One of the warships
then circled the trawler for nearly an hour, firing water cannons at it
and taunting its fishing crew over its loudspeaker with cries of, “Where
are your fish? Show me your fish!” The
warship eventually departed, after an amplified warning that if it
returned to the sea, the Israeli navy would shoot both Palestinian
fishermen and international human rights observers.
http://www.cpsgaza.org/2011/07/cps-gaza-responds-to-israeli-naval.html
Hamas organizes rally to protest UNRWA aid reductions
GAZA
CITY
(Ma‘an) 15 July -- The Hamas government in Gaza organized a mass rally
on Friday afternoon in protest against a reported decision by UNRWA to
reduce the amount of aid given to Palestinian refugees ... Protests
commenced after Friday afternoon prayers in the An Nuseirat and Al
Bureij refugee camps.
http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=405475
UNRWA facing shortages due to Israeli blockade
BETHLEHEM
(Ma‘an) 14 July -- Figures released by UNRWA on Thursday reveal that the
organization is facing severe shortages in construction materials
needed for ongoing projects in the Gaza Strip. "We been allowed to take
in to Gaza a tiny fraction of the construction materials needed," UNRWA
spokesman Chris Gunness said. Around
3,291 trucks have been allowed into the Gaza Strip, accounting for under
four percent of the overall $660 million UNRWA construction plan to
take place over the next three years. "The 3,921 trucks represent just
16 percent of the materials we need for
the projects approved so far by the Israeli authorities. To complete
these projects we need to get in to Gaza 17,383 trucks. "At this rate,
it will take us a year to get in the supplies for our 73 projects
approved so far by the Israel authorities. This is woefully inadequate,
especially for people who have been waiting a decade to have their homes
rebuilt."
http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=405136
Humanitarian aid cargo arrives safely in Gaza
Bernama
15 July -- The humanitarian aid cargo of sewage pipes and joints arrived
safely in Gaza via Karem Shalom on Tuesday after departing from El
Arish Port on July 10. According to a statement from Perdana Global
Peace Foundation (PGPF) here today, the 32-tonne cargo was unloaded from
the Spirit of Rachel Corrie, the MV Finch, on July 6 into nine trucks,
seven carrying sewage pipes and two carrying joint components. The
convoy of trucks was then escorted by two Egyptian Army armoured
personnel carriers (APC) to El Ouja at the Israeli border before the
cargo was transferred to trailers sponsored by the Palestinian Authority
and accompanied by the Palestinian Red Crescent, the statement said.
http://www.bernama.com/bernama/v5/newsindex.php?id=601589
EWASH: One year since Israel announced easing of blockade policy but clean water still not flowing freely
Gaza
(PNN) 15 July -- The Water Sanitation and Hygiene Group (EWASH) issued a
report saying that even though Israel announced last year that it will
ease the blockade; Gaza Strip residents still don’t have clean water
running from their taps as up to 95 percent of water for domestic supply
in the Gaza Strip is still below the minimum World Health Organization
(WHO) standard for drinking water and unfit for consumption. "Relaxing
restrictions on imports to Gaza to allow in a variety of soda and chips
does nothing to help families that can’t drink the water running from
their taps," says Subha Ghannam, EWASH coordinator.
http://english.pnn.ps/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=10448&Itemid=56
Algerian Red Crescent donates 2.5 million dollars to Gaza
GAZA (PIC) 15 July -- The Algerian Red Crescent has donated Thursday 2.5
million
dollars to the victims of the Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip in
2009 that left 1500 Palestinian martyrs and nearly 5000 wounded in
addition to destroying the Strip's infrastructure. Haj Hammo Bin
Zughair, the president of the Algerian Red Crescent, said that the
amount was donated by benevolent Algerian citizens to their Palestinian
brothers in the Gaza Strip, explaining that humanitarian aid extended by
his society passed three stages. The first stage, he said, was through
dispatching teams of Algerian doctors, medical equipments, foodstuff,
and dried blood bags. In the second stage, he added, we dispatched
Algerian psychiatrists to Gaza but the deposed regime in Egypt
blocked them at Rafah crossing checkpoint and denied them entry...
http://www.palestine-info.co.uk/En/default.aspx?xyz=U6Qq7k%2bc
Detention
Palestinian-Israeli leader granted bail in UK
Al
Jazeera
15 July -- Sheikh Raed Salah, the detained leader of the Islamic
Movement in Israel, has been granted bail by a court in London. He was
detained on June 28 in the UK during a speaking tour, allegedly for
entering the country illegally. Ismail Patel, chair of the
activist organisation Friends of Al-Aqsa, who was at Friday's
bail hearing, said: "It is a tremendous relief that Sheikh Raed's bail
application was successful." "We are shocked and horrified that a
Palestinian leader can be held like
this," Sarah Colborne, director of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign,
told Al Jazeera. "They gave no reason why bail was denied last week."
The arrest of Salah has drawn condemnation from Palestinian leaders
across the political spectrum.
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2011/07/2011715112838926327.html
Arab League raps pro-Israel Britain
PressTV
15 July -- The Arab League has strongly condemned the British
government for arresting Sheikh Raed Salah, calling for his immediate
and unconditional release, a statement said. The league said in
its statement that news of Sheikh Salah's arrest was received “with
considerable shock and surprise”, calling for him to be treated in a
manner befitting an internationally-renowned man of faith. Sheikh Raed
Salah, head of the northern branch of the Islamic Movement in the
Occupied Palestinian Territories, was arrested by British authorities in
London, irrespective of the fact that there were no legal or legitimate
reasons for him to be pursued.
His programme of activities in Britain was publicised well in advance;
the plan was to speak about the realities of the Palestine-Israel
conflict to British politicians, academics and members of the public.
The intention was to provide an opportunity for those in Britain to hear
the Palestinian narrative for a change.
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/189166.html
Children of Gaza captives send messages to fathers via flying bottles
GAZA, (PIC)-- Hundreds of children in Gaza Strip have gathered Thursday
at Gaza Sea to send a letter of love to their fathers who are
incarcerated in Israeli jails for years now, alarming the entire world
that they also have the right to live in peace with their fathers like
all children of the world. The activity that was organized by the Waed
Society for prisoners and ex-prisoners was attended by officials of the
ministry of prisoners and ex-prisoners in Gaza and a delegation from the
international solidarity committee where the children wrote message to
their detained fathers and
put them in bottles and flew them with balloons in hope it could reach
the detention cells of their fathers.
http://www.palestine-info.co.uk/En/default.aspx?xyz=U6Q
PA arrests 13 Islamists in crackdown
GAZA
CITY
(Ma‘an) 15 July -- The Hizb ut-Tahrir movement said Friday that the
Palestinian Authority is still cracking down on its members, arresting
13 in the last week. A spokesman for the Islamist party said that the
arrests occurred after the party had distributed a statement last week
in West Bank cities and villages. Nine of those arrested are from the
Jenin district, three from Ramallah and one from near Salfit. The party
has called for the immediate release of all prisoners and an end to PA
suppression of the movement.
http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=405427
Activism / Solidarity
Map: Weekly West Bank protests
Al Jazeera 15 July -- Click
the
icons for more information on protest sites. Due to legal restrictions,
Google Maps shows only low resolution imagery and limited place names
in Israel and the Palestinian territories. View weekly West Bank protests in a larger map [Source: Media reports]
Every Friday, pro-Palestinian demonstrators protest in several West Bank
and Jerusalem locations, most notably Bil‘in, Ni‘lin and Sheikh Jarrah.
The
regular gatherings focus attention on the route of Israel's separation
barrier, ongoing land confiscation and Israeli settler attacks.
http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/interactive/2011/07/20117155510250892.html
Israeli troops attack anti-wall protesters, injuring one and arresting one
Ramallah (PNN) 15 July -- One injured, another arrested, while scores
were treated
for effects of tear gas inhalation, as Israeli troops attacked on Friday
nonviolent protests organized in a number of West Bank communities.
Protests were reported in the villages of al-Nabi Salleh, Bil‘in, and
Ni‘lin in the central West Bank, as well as al-Ma‘ssara in the south.
http://english.pnn.ps/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=10452&Itemid=56
Photo Essay: East Jerusalem march for Palestinian independence / Dahlia Scheindlin
972mag 15 July -- The demonstration today in Jerusalem in support of Palestinian independence was attended by anywhere from 2000
to 4500 people (according to a Facebook post), who marched from the Old
City’s Jaffa Gate to Sheikh Jarrah. I was there and organizers announced
3,000 attendees at the end, but Channel 2’s evening news reported “over
1000.” I suppose they’re playing it safe, but after tramping through
burning sun on a winding walk through Jerusalem’s famous Friday crush,
with people singing, drumming, cheering, dancing and laughing, that
conservative estimate has a cynical ring.
http://972mag.com/photo-gallery-from-sheikh-jarrah-solidarity-movement-march-for-palestinian-independence/
Thousands of Israelis and Arabs march in Jerusalem to support Palestinian independence
Haaretz
15 July -- Several MKs participate in the 'March for Independence,' the
first such Jewish-Arab event in 20 years -- Approximately 2,000
Palestinians and Israelis took part in the "March for Independence"
Friday, calling for the recognition of a Palestinian state. Although the
organizers of the march issued a statement saying the march was carried
out peacefully, police had to intervene and separate right-wing and
left-wing activists ... Several MKs participated in the march, including
Zehava Galon of Meretz and Dov Hanin of Hadash. Other prominent public
figures took part as well, such as former Speaker of the Knesset Avraham
Burg and former Attorney General Michael Ben Yair. The march took a
symbolic route, following the green line that used to divide East and
West Jerusalem before the Six Day War in 1967. It began at Jaffa Gate
and ended at the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood, the opposite route taken by
right-wing activists during Jerusalem Day last month.
http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/thousands-of-
israelis-and-arabs-march-in-jerusalem-to-support-palestinian-independence-1.373462
Hundreds march for Palestine in Jerusalem
Ynet 15 July -- Some 1,500 people are taking part in a march for
the independence of Palestine in east Jerusalem. The organizers of the
event have stressed they will not resort to violence. Police forces are
deployed in the area. The march, initiated by
the Sheikh Jarrah Solidarity movement kicked off at the Old's City's
Jaffa Gate and is slated to end up at the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood,
where several speeches will be made. Protesters are chanting
anti-occupation slogans such as "Sheikh Jarrah and Bil‘in, free
Palestine."
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4095877,00.html
Support our friend Rani Burant
ffj-Bil‘in 13 July -- Rani Burnat has been wheelchair-bound since being
shot in the neck by a sniper in 2000. The shooting occurred during a
demonstration in Ramallah
on the second day of the second intifada. The injury has left him
paralyzed from the chest down, with a head wound from which he is still
recovering. Despite the difficulties, Rani -- now 30 years old -- has
since started a family and is the proud father of triplets.
In spite of his severe handicap, Rani continues to attend demonstrations
against the separation wall in his village of Bil‘in on a regular basis.
Over the years of protest Rani has been beaten and shot numerous times
by the forces of the occupation, and his wheelchair has sustained
repeated damage. Rani’s medical equipment demands constant care and gets
worn down quickly.
http://www.bilin-ffj.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=366&Itemid=30
Expatriate wants Gaza boats confiscated
WASHINGTON
(CN)
15 July -- A U.S. citizen who lives in Israel, and says he was hurt by
Palestinian terrorists in Jerusalem in 2002, seeks forfeiture of
the 13 boats that activists are planning to use to break the blockade of
the Gaza Strip. Alan Bauer, a biologist who lives in Jerusalem, sued
the ships in Federal Court, seeking an order to summon all people with
interest in the boats to show cause why they shouldn't forfeit the
vessels and their "arms and ammunition and stores". Bauer says the
ships are subject to seizure under 18 U.S.C. § 962, as "employed in the
service of any foreign prince ... to cruise, or commit hostilities
against ... people with whom the United States is at peace".
http://www.courthousenews.com/2011/07/15/38179.htm
Political / Diplomatic / International news
Political factions urge Hamas, Fatah to implement unity deal
GAZA
CITY (Ma‘an) 15 July -- Palestinian national and religious factions met
without Hamas or Fatah in Gaza City on Thursday in an attempt to urge
the two parties to implement the reconciliation agreement.
http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=405338
PLO official: Local elections to take place in October
RAMALLAH
(Ma‘an) 14 July -- The Palestinian government in Ramallah is set to
approve plans to hold municipal elections in the West Bank and Gaza
Strip in October 2011. PLO executive committee member Ghassan Shaka told
Ma‘an Thursday that consultations about the elections were held during a
recent PLO Committee meeting and October 22 is understood to be the
prescribed date for the elections to take place ... The date had been
previously agreed upon but consensus must be reached among the
Palestinian political factions.
http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=405122
West Bank MPs: Political atmosphere not suitable for municipal elections now
RAMALLAH
(PIC) 15 July -- Palestinian lawmakers in the West Bank have criticized
Thursday the call of the PA leadership in Ramallah to hold municipal
elections in October, describing such call as clear violation of what
have been agreed upon by all Palestinian factions in Cairo a couple of
months ago. All Palestinian factions, including Hamas and Fatah, have
agreed that elections should be held after achieving the reconciliation
and should be made as one bundle in clear and transparent atmosphere to
make credible and authentic.
http://www.palestine-info.co.uk/En/default.aspx?xyz=U6Qq7k%2b
UN: Jerusalem part of occupied Palestinian territories
RAMALLAH
(Ma‘an)
15 July -- ..."UNESCO wishes to reiterate that, contrary to recent
claims, there has been no change in UNESCO's position on Jerusalem," the
statement said. "In
line with overall UN policy, East Jerusalem remains part of the occupied
Palestinian territory, and the status of Jerusalem must be resolved in
permanent status negotiations." ...UNESCO had been criticized recently
after it emerged that the organizations' website listed Jerusalem as
Israel's capital
http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=405424
Haaretz: Russia's refusal to refer to Israel as a 'Jewish state" leads to failure of Quartet meeting
MEMO 14 July -- According to the online version of the Israeli newspaper
Haaretz, the
Russian Foreign Minister, Sergei Lavrov, rejected the inclusion of
Israel as a "Jewish state" in the concluding statement of the Quartet
meeting.
The newspaper added that the meeting, which lasted for more than two
hours, failed to achieve its objectives because of the disagreement
sparked by the Russian foreign minister, and as such no public statement
on the meeting was issued.
http://www.middleeastmonitor.org.uk/news/europe/2621-haaretz-
russias-refusal-to-refer-to-israel-as-a-qjewish-stateq-leads-to-failure-of-quartet-meeting
Report: Former German ambassadors urge Merkel to support UN bid
RAMALLAH
(Ma‘an)
15 July -- 32 former German ambassadors have reportedly urged the
German chancellor Angela Merkel to support the Palestinian UN bid in
September. The former government staff members sent a signed letter to
Angela Merkel and German foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle Friday, as
well as providing a copy to the PLO, expressing their support for the
Palestinian UN bid.
http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=405445
Yisrael Beiteinu vows revenge on Netanyahu for opposition to investigating NGOs
Haaretz
15 July -- Cracks appear in the governing coalition after the prime
minister announces he will not enforce party discipline when voting on
investigative committees bill. Members of Yisrael Beiteinu warned Prime
Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that their 'revenge was on its way' after
the latter announced that he opposes the establishment of parliamentary
committees to investigate human rights organizations.
.
http://www.haaretz.com/news/national/yisrael-
beiteinu-vows-revenge-on-netanyahu-for-opposition-to-investigating-ngos-1.373275
Other news
Economy minister criticizes allegations of corruption
RAMALLAH (Ma‘an) 14 July -- Palestinian Authority minister of economy
Hassan Abu
Libdeh has criticized reports linking names from his ministry with
allegations of corruption. Abu Libdeh told Ma‘an Thursday that he
is ready to appear before an anti-corruption committee and answer any
questions put forward regarding corruption charges, vowing to defend the
work of his ministry.
http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=405305
In Nablus, Palestinians play down possibility of September intifada
Haaretz
15 July -- Ex-militants say they won't take to streets in September, but
wish Israel would disappear ... On Wednesday a reunion of sorts took
place at the restaurant, attended by several leading formerly wanted men
from the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade,
coming to speak to Haaretz about the current situation, about the
amnesty they received from Israel and about what they expect in the lead
up to September's possible Palestinian bid for recognition of an
independent state at the United Nations.
http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/news/
in-nablus-palestinians-play-down-possibility-of-september-intifada-1.373291
Analysis / Opinion
Where are the Palestinians? / Mairav Zonszein
EI
15 July -- From all over the Western world holding up Palestinian flags
and chanting “Free Palestine.” We’ve heard from the likes of Americans,
like
prize-winning author Alice Walker and former CIA official Ray McGovern (both passengers on the US boat to Gaza) about the importance of standing up for Palestinians in Gaza; we’ve heard about hunger strikes by Spanish and American citizens stuck in Greece after their boats were not allowed to sail; and we’ve seen videos of activists landing in Ben Gurion airport,
declaring their intention to visit the occupied West Bank, being
accosted by an Israeli mob and then detained and deported, all while
chanting “Free Palestine.”
All these events have enormous significance as symbolic acts ... But
amid all the sensational scenes of confrontation between Israeli
authorities and Western “pro-Palestinian” activists (including
Israelis), what became apparent was that Palestinians themselves could
not be seen or heard. Even though the “Welcome to Palestine” campaign
was organized by Palestinian civil society organizations that invited
foreigners to come, the media spectacle was focused on the Western
activists and their confrontation with Israel. The Palestinians were
largely unseen.
http://electronicintifada.net/content/where-are-palestinians/10179 |
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