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Today in Palestine! ~ Headlines ~ |
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Land, property, resources theft & destruction / Ethnic cleansing / Settlers
US activists visit exile-threatened Jerusalem officials
OCCUPIED JERUSALEM (PIC) 21 June -- U.S. academics from various
universities and rights activists paid a visit Monday to Palestinian
public officials at their sit-in tent inside the Red Cross compound in
Jerusalem. The group includes anti-racism activists who have been
arrested seeking freedom and equality and supporting the oppressed ...
The Palestinian officials, who are threatened to be banished from their
native Jerusalem by Israeli occupation authorities, include two
legislators, Mohammed Toutah and Ahmed Attoun and former minister Khalid
Abu Arafeh. They recently received another foreign delegation including
activists from Norway, Switzerland, Hong Kong, and the United Kingdom.
http://www.palestine-info.co.uk/En/default.aspx?xyz=U6Qq7k%2bcO
Patriarch prohibited from conducting Hebron visit
HEBRON
(Ma‘an)
21 June -- The Governor of Hebron Kamel Hmeid and the Latin Patriarch
of Jerusalem Fuad Twal were prevented from carrying out a tour
of the city Monday, delegation members said. The officials visited areas
affected by the presence of an estimated 700 Israeli settlers and 1,500
soldiers in the city center, but were prevented from walking down the
former market hub Ash-Shuhada Street ... Part of the tour involved
visiting the city's university, meeting with the Hebron University
President Awni Al-Khatib and inspecting its facilities. Hmeid called the
visit a show of national unity and Palestinian strength, while Twal
expressed regret at the "lack of respect from the occupation forces to
religious officials," but said he was glad to meet the "sons and
daughters of Hebron," and said he would continue to support their
struggle for rights and freedoms.
http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=398512
Israel demolishes homes in Tubas district, displacing 27 Palestinian children, adults
[MAP] AIC 21 June -- On Tuesday morning (21 June) the Israeli army
demolished 29 structures in al-Hadidiya, Tubas Governorate, displacing
27 people from six households, including 11 children. A further 15
people were affected, including 10 children ... Al-Hadidiya is a Bedouin
community relying on herding. Some community members report having born
in this location in the 1950s, but community members have been displaced
multiple times. The community estimates that about 40 families
have been permanently displaced from Al-Hadidiya since 1997 due to a
combination of factors, primarily demolitions (1997, 2005-2007, 2008,
and 2011), confiscations (2000) and access restrictions (increasing
since 2000). In May 2009, the IDF placed large cement slabs throughout
the Jordan Valley, including Al-Hadidiya, that have “Danger Firing Zone
Entrance Forbidden” written on them in Arabic, English and Hebrew. The
IDF distributed these signs throughout the area. However, the community
has reported not noticing military activity in their immediate vicinity.
All households displaced this morning live outside the closed military zone.
http://www.alternativenews.org/english/index.php/topics/news/3672
Big wave of demolitions in the northern Jordan Valley
JVS
21 June -- Today, June the 21st, Israeli military demolished Palestinian
homes in two communities in the Jordan Valley. At six am five military
Jeeps, two Israeli Civil administration cars and two bulldozers entered
the Bedouin community of Al Hadidya. They proceeded to demolish four
homes and 12 animal shelters, leaving 32 people homeless. After the
demolition of Al Hadidya, the bulldozers drove on to
nearby Khirbet Yerza, where they demolished two homes and two animal
shelters. As a result ten people were left homeless.
http://www.jordanvalleysolidarity.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=292
Israeli army begins dismantling the Wall in Bil‘in
Pop
Struggle
21 June -- This morning army bulldozers began work to dismantle the
fence in Bil‘in. As early as 2007, after two years of weekly protests in
the village and following a petition filed by the residents, Israeli
high court declared the path of the Barrier illegal. The court ruled
that the
route was not devised according to security standards, but rather for
the purpose of settlement expansion. Despite the high court's ruling
four more years of struggle had to elapse for the army to begin
dismantlement. During these years two people were killed in the course
of the weekly protests and many others injured. Yet even according to
the new path, sanctioned by the high court, 435
acres of village land will remain on the "Israeli" side of the Barrier.
[and presumably the land taken for the 'old' fence is already ruined,
trees destroyed, etc., while more land will be ruined for the new one]
https://www.popularstruggle.org/content/israeli-army-begins-dismantling-wall-bilin
5 settlers released after 'price tag' allegations
Ynet 21 June -- Two Jerusalem courts ordered the release Tuesday of five
settlers police had arrested on suspicion of carrying out revenge acts against Palestinians, commonly dubbed 'Price tag' acts. Yaska Weiss,
20, was released along with a 17-year old girl. Both were suspected of torching Palestinian vehicles in Hebron. During the hearing police appealed for a remand of their arrest, though their representative had already admitted
there may not be enough evidence to charge the two.Earlier three residents of the West Bank settlement of Yitzhar –
suspected of torching the car of a police commander during the razing of Ali Ayin outpost – were also released. Yitzhar
settlers were furious at police conduct in the case, and a source in
the settlement accused officers of performing unnecessary arrests
instead of properly investigating the vandalism. "It has become the norm to perform stupid and
baseless arrests in the small hours of the night, frightening children and infants," the source said.
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4085439,00.html
Jewish settlers in West Bank nurture land to consolidate Palestinian territories
Bethlehem (PNN) 21 June -- Victoria Delacroix -- Jewish settlers that
are living in the West Bank are opening their guarded gates to the world
and to other Israelis, in an attempt to show the international
community what is going in the West Bank, through their eyes. One day
tours that are booked through a regional settler council attempt to
illustrate how settlers are nurturing and cultivating the land that
Palestinians want back in order to gain sovereignty and declare a
Palestinian State ... One should also not expect to meet with any of the
local Palestinian farmers -- or ‘local Arabs’ as the tour calls them --
that own this land
and
more than likely were the ones cultivating it before the occupation.
Most
of the tour group members see themselves as ‘former Christians’ who
firmly believe that Jesus Christ is the messiah and saviour, but many of
them partake in Jewish traditions and abide by some of the Jewish law.
http://english.pnn.ps/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=10277&Itemid=49
Living and dying in the Golan Heights
Majdal
Shams -- PNN Exclusive -- Victoria Delacroix -- 21 June -- Ameer Jabal
was born and grew up in the town of Majdal Shams, in the Golan Heights.
He was born under occupation and died under it. When he was only four
Ameer stepped on a mine, a mine that had been placed by the Israeli army
in the town. As one field ends, another one begins, except that this
orchard is not full of cherries, olives or wild flowers. A small yellow
signs hangs on the barbed wire fence, “Danger Mines.” This is the
reality of the Golan under Israeli occupation. This is the reality that
the people of Majdal Shams live in.
http://english.pnn.ps/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=10274&Itemid=56
IOF troops arrest five citizens in Majda Shams
RAMALLAH
(PIC) 21 June-- Israeli occupation forces (IOF) arrested five citizens
in the Majdal Shams town in the occupied Syrian Golan Heights at dawn
Tuesday, the Israeli radio said. It said that the IOF soldiers stormed
the town after obtaining new information during interrogation of
previously held youths from the town and detained the five young men at
the pretext they participated in the Naksa Day protests.
http://www.palestine-info.co.uk/En/default.aspx?xyz=U6Qq7k%2bcOd8\
Israeli forces
Two fishing boats shot off Gaza coast
ISM
21
June -- At around 9am on June 21, two fishing boats were attacked by
the Israeli Navy, with bullets piercing both engines, rendering them
unusable. The first boat was shot at in the motor, at the rear end and,
when the 4-man crew took cover at the front of the boat, away from the
shots directed at the motor, the front of the boat was fired upon. Yaser
Baker is one of the four fishermen who were aboard the first boat which
was shot. "We were at around two and a half miles out to sea when they
shot at our engine and it broke. We stopped the boat and all moved to
the front, away from the engine so that we wouldn’t get hit. Then they
shot at the front, right at us, the bullets just missing our bodies and
one landed right by my leg." A second boat, manned by Mohammed Bakri
Sabir came to assist the first, but was also attacked, both in the
engine and the front of the boat, where the crew was taking cover.
Aboard the second boat were three fishermen and two of their children,
aged nine and ten years old.
http://palsolidarity.org/2011/06/19025/
Video: Officer indicted for vandalizing Palestinian vehicles
B'Tselem 21 June -- On 12 and 13 October, B'Tselem documented eight
vehicles owned by Palestinians that had been vandalized, apparently by
soldiers, near Jenbah in the southern Hebron hills ... On 19 June 2011,
the media reported that the military prosecutor had filed an indictment
against a former infantry company commander. The officer, who has been
discharged from the army in the meantime, was charged, inter alia, with
intentionally damaging property, in that he and soldiers under his
command vandalized a number of Palestinian vehicles, burning some of
them, in the southern Hebron hills.
http://www.btselem.org/topic-page/21-june-2011-officer-indicted-vandalizing-palestinian-vehicles
Gaza
UN: Israel approves Gaza housing projects
GAZA
CITY
(Ma‘an) 21 June -- Israel has approved construction of two housing
projects in the southern Gaza Strip, the UN agency for Palestinian
refugees said Tuesday. UN Relief and Works Agency spokesman in Gaza
Adnan Abu Hasnah said two major projects would be constructed to house
families from Rafah and Khan Younis whose homes were demolished by
Israel in 2001. The new buildings will also provide housing for families
made homeless during Israel's 2002 Operation Defensive Shield, Abu
Hasnah said. Major Guy Inbar, spokesman for the defense ministry
department responsible for liaison with the Palestinian territories,
told AFP Israel had approved materials to build 1,200 homes and 18
schools. He said the materials would be consigned to UNRWA. The UN
welcomed the decision. Abu Hasneh said UNRWA was waiting for authorities
to take practical steps to allow thousands of truckloads of
construction materials into the coastal enclave. He said the building
would start with projects funded by Saudi Arabia and Japan, as well as
the construction of eight schools. UNRWA spokesman Chris Gunness said
the agency had learned of Israel's decision "informally." "We welcome
this reported approval which follows lengthy negotiations with the
Israeli authorities," he said.
http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=398581
In Gaza, border opening brings little relief
RAFAH, Gaza Strip (AP) 21 June -- The reopening of the Gaza Strip's main
border crossing with Egypt brought widespread relief to Palestinians
suffering from a four-year blockade. But one month later, some 20,000
people are on a wait list and despair is growing in this crowded
territory. Residents
still must apply for travel permits, and the first available dates to
cross are in late August. Frustrated travelers gather at the crossing
each day, clutching medical reports, foreign residency permits and
university registration documents in hopes of persuading the authorities
to let them through. And after a brief period of goodwill, many are
openly asking whether Egypt's new government is truly committed to
improving relations with the Palestinians.
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2011/06/21/ap/middleeast/main20072877.shtml
Haniyeh applauds Miles of Smiles aid convoy
GAZA
CITY (Ma‘an) 21 June – Prime Minister of the Hamas government in Gaza
Ismail Haniyeh said Monday that he was proud and thankful for the
support of international activists, who arrived in Gaza Sunday with the
European aid convoy Miles of Smiles ... For his part, the convoy’s
coordinator, Isam Yousif, promised to continue organizing other aid
convoys to support the Palestinian people.
"Miles of Smiles came to draw a smile on the faces of Gaza’s children,"
he said. He highlighted that the convoy brought medicines worth half a
million dollars in addition to milk and other food products.
http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=398463
300 truckloads of goods to enter Gaza
GAZA CITY (Ma‘an) 21 June -- Palestinian officials were notified Tuesday morning
that 300-310 truckloads of goods would be allowed into the Gaza Strip.
http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=398423
Goods - Needs vs. supply May 15 - June 11
http://www.gazagateway.org/2011/06/goods-%E2%80%93-
needs-vs-supply-%E2%80%93-may-14-june-11/
Introducing the 'Palestinian Gandhi Project' / Yousef Munayyer
[with video] There is a consistent effort to portray Palestinians as
violent individuals, and this effort is tied directly to attempts to
justify any
Israeli action against Palestinians in the name of “security” or
“defense.” In reality, Palestinian resistance to the Israeli occupation
and colonization of their land is diverse and overwhelmingly
non-violent. Just because Palestinian non-violence doesn’t get the media
attention violent conflict does, doesn’t mean it isn’t there. But how
would anyone outside of Palestine know? (Image right: A Palestinian woman defies Israeli declared "buffer zone" in Gaza to harvest wheat.)
Pam
Bailey, an American “corporate refugee” as she calls herself, traveled
to Gaza to see for herself what was happening in the region. The product
of her trips became “The Palestinian Gandhi Project” which Permission to
Narrate is proud to feature here.
http://blog.thejerusalemfund.org/2011/06/introducing-palestinian-gandhi-project.html
Videos: Palestinian Gandhis Part II: Blogging to resist / Yousef Munayyer
...This
first video profile features two of many bloggers who have begun
writing about the reality of life in the Gaza Strip. Although Gaza-based
blogs date back to 2004, there has been a virtual boom since Israel
launched its massive attack on the densely populated Strip in the winter
of 2008/9. In a classic example of “blowback” (unintended consequences),
Israel’s aggression served as a motivator for many young Palestinians
in Gaza to find new, creative ways of speaking out. The first young
blogger featured, Sameeha Elwan, speaks eloquently of being “shocked”
into activism.
http://blog.thejerusalemfund.org/2011/06/palestinian-gandhis-part-ii-blogging-to.html
Flotillas
Letter from Athens: A city in chaos / Joseph Dana
I flew into this disorderly city this morning to cover the flotilla for
the The Nation magazine along with journalist par excellence Mya
Guarnieri. Over the next week, we will be observing the preparations and
training of the American boat to Gaza, dubbed "The Audacity of Hope." In
the coming days, I will be observing the preparation of the ship, the
nonviolence training of the passengers as well as the general climate in
Athens, which is seeing historic riots about the Greek financial
crisis. Stay tuned to +972 and my twitter feed
over the next week for on-the ground coverage of what is certainly going
to be one of the biggest stories of the summer in Israel/Palestine.
http://972mag.com/letter-from-athens-a-city-in-chaos/
American flotilla passengers set to challenge US support for Gaza blockade / Alex Kane
Mondo 21 June -- The pressure is mounting on the second "Freedom Flotilla" to Gaza. Anti-flotilla lawsuits in New York and Toronto have been filed, the Israeli government is ramping up its propaganda efforts and the Turkish Mavi Marmara ship is no longer sailing following U.S. pressure. But the American passengers are still determined to sail on The Audacity of Hope
later this month, and they are now on their way to Greece to complete
the initial leg of their journey before setting off to the Mediterranean
from an undisclosed port. And if there was one important and unifying
message the American flotilla passengers conveyed yesterday at a press
conference where they took questions from reporters, it was this: the U.S. Boat to Gaza effort is a direct challenge to American support for Israel and its crippling blockade of Gaza.
http://mondoweiss.net/2011/06/
american-flotilla-passengers-set-to-challenge-u-s-support-for-gaza-blockade.html
IDF relieved by Turkish group's pullout from Gaza flotilla but still goes ahead with preparations
Haaretz 20 June -- Israel's navy is going ahead with preparations to
stymie a planned flotilla slated to attempt to break the blockade on
Gaza in two weeks, despite the fact that the Turkish group IHH has
pulled out of the effort. Israeli security experts believe that flotilla
participants could violently oppose the navy's effort to stop the ships
and plan to bring photographers with them to document any resistance
they face ... Top navy officers were relieved yesterday by the
announcement that the Marmara, the largest vessel slated for the
flotilla, would not sail.
"That saves a lot of work for us," said one navy officer. "The Marmara
would have carried 500 passengers; its exclusion scales down the
operation." Despite the IHH pullout, a coalition of 23 pro-Palestinian
organizations
have announced their intention to take part in this new flotilla.
http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/news/idf-relieved-by-
turkish-group-s-pullout-from-gaza-flotilla-but-still-goes-ahead-with-preparations-1.368602
Parliamentary honour for Gaza activists sparks outrage
21 June -- THE
decision by Greens MP David Shoebridge to host a farewell function at
Parliament House this week for activists preparing to set sail to break
Israel’s blockade on Gaza has sparked outrage among Jewish leaders ...
NSW Jewish Board of Deputies acting president Jeremy Spinak questioned
why a state MP would encourage people to break the law of a legitimate
government. "It’s a sad state of affairs that the Greens are using
Parliament House, with its proud history, to promote an event that will
be in violation of international law," Spinak said."The organisers of
the event know that the flotilla seeks to break a blockade, which is in
place because of Hamas’ ongoing war on Israel."
http://www.jewishnews.net.au/parliamentary-honour-for-gaza-activists-sparks-outrage/21391
Refugees, World Refugee Day
Report: '30% of Palestinians in the W. Bank, 67% in Gaza, are refugees
IMEMC
21
June -- The Palestinian Census Bureau reported that nearly half of the
Palestinians in the occupied territories are internally displaced
refugees, and that, since its creation in Palestine in 1948, Israel
forcibly removed two-thirds of the Arab population ... In 1948, nearly
957,000 Palestinians were removed and fled from their cities and
villages due to the creation of Israel in the historic land of
Palestine. This figure resembles nearly 66% of the total population back
then, according to United Nations estimates in 1950 ... By mid-2010,
the number of refugees registered by the UNRWA arrived to 4.8 million.
41.6% of the total population in Jordan are Palestinian refugees, 8.9%
in Lebanon and 9.9% in Syria. Refugee camps in the Palestinian
territories are the poorest among the total population as at least 32.1%
of the refugees are below poverty levels.
http://www.imemc.org/article/61506
UNRWA: "You can't leave Palestine refugees behind"
972mag 21 June -- There is no doubt in my mind that you cannot have a
just and durable peace unless 4.8 million refugees are brought out of
their 63-year exile, statelessness and dispossession -- Chris Gunness,
UNRWA Spokesman, 20 June 2011 -- Roee Ruttenberg: There are
critics who say the UN treats the Palestinians with some favoritism,
that the Palestinians refugees have their own UN agency -- your agency,
UNRWA -- dedicated specifically to their cause, something no other group
has. And just this week, the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
said the international community treats the Palestinians like “spoiled
children.” How do you respond to such criticisms? Chris Gunness, UNRWA Spokesman:
It’s very vindictive and it's political wishful thinking because if
UNRWA went away and UNHCR took over the refugees, their inalienable
rights would not disappear. So the right of return, which is enshrined
in the "Universal Declaration (of Human Rights)" wouldn’t suddenly go
away because UNRWA went away.
http://972mag.com/interview-chris-gunness-unrwa-spokesman-on-palestinian-refugees/
Jordanian PM: Continue funding for UN refugee agency
Jordan warns of instability if UN Palestine Refugee Agency’s funds cut
UNRWA Commissioner General appeals for Arab funds -- Jordan, 21 June
2011: The Prime Minister of Jordan, Marouf al-Bakheet, has warned of
instability if the UN Agency for Palestine Refugees, UNRWA, is not
properly funded and the Agency’s essential services to millions of
Palestine refugees in the Middle East are cut. In a speech to UNRWA’s
Advisory Commission delivered by the Deputy Prime Minister, Saed Hayel
el-Sror, Mr. al-Bakheet said that in light of the transformations in the
Middle East, Palestinian rights had to be maintained.
http://972mag.com/jordanian-pm-continue-funding-for-un-refugee-agency/
Video: Gazans mark World Refugee Day
PressTV 20 June
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BO51lbaDAVQ
Detention
Ministry asks UN to see release of Gazans held under 'unlawful combatant law'
GAZA (PIC) 21 June -- The Gaza prisoner affairs ministry has called on
the UN to intervene as Israel has refused to release six Gazans whose
prison terms have ended using an unlawful combatant law. The Knesset,
Israel’s legislative body, and the Israeli courts passed the law against
Gaza prisoners after Israel pulled out of the Gaza Strip in 2005. The
ministry considers the law an attempt to circumvent the Geneva
Convention, which protects civilians. Under the law, Israel has enabled
itself to continue holding detainees from the Gaza Strip indefinitely
without an indictment, evidence, or a fair trial.
In a separate development, the Israeli Prison Service has moved several
leading prisoners into isolation, in a move considered to be "a
declaration of open war" against Palestinian prison leadership.
http://www.palestine-info.co.uk/En/default.aspx?xyz=U6Qq7k%2bcOd87
IOF storm home of liberated Hamas leader, question him
JENIN (PIC) 21 June -- The Israeli military commander of Jenin area
accompanied Israeli occupation forces (IOF) in storming the home of
recently released Hamas leader Ali Abul Rub in Qabatiya village, south
of Jenin city, at dawn Tuesday and questioned him. Sources close to the
leader told the PIC that the pre dawn raid took place at 0200 am and
that the commander asked for exchanging views with Abul Rub on a number
of personal issues such as his plans for the near future and activities
within Hamas in addition to his expectations on national reconciliation.
Abul Rub was released on 6th March this year after 18 years
imprisonment. He is a chemical engineer, married with a son and a
daughter, and is well known for his Islamic propagation in Qabatiya
mosque.
http://www.palestine-info.co.uk/En/default.aspx?xyz=U6Qq
1500 sick Palestinian detainees refused to take medicine in protest step
RAMALLAH (PIC) 21 June -- Palestinian human rights sources said that
1500 Palestinian sick detainees in Israeli occupation jails would not
take their medication or go to clinics on Tuesday in solidarity with a
comrade on hunger strike. The sources said that Atef Wreidat has been on
hunger strike for two weeks in protest at moving him to Askalan jail
where there is no appropriate medical care for his condition. He suffers
from heart problems and breathing difficulty. They said that the Israeli
prison services deliberately place sick prisoners under bad
incarceration conditions and delay their treatment, and it is
responsible for the life of Wrediat and all other sick internees.
http://www.palestine-info.co.uk/En/default.aspx?xyz=U6Qq7k%2bcO
Poll: Majority of Israelis support release of 1,000 Palestinian prisoners for Shalit
Haaretz 21 June -- Sixty-three percent of Jewish Israelis support
swapping captive soldier Gilad Shalit for 1,000 Palestinian prisoners,
including 450 specifically
requested by Hamas, some of whom are mass murderers, according to a
survey carried out by the Rafi Smith polling company on behalf of the
campaign for Shalit's release.
http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/news/poll-
majority-of-israelis-support-release-of-1-000-palestinian-prisoners-for-shalit-1.368791
Racism / Discrimination
Yishai reinstates nationality on ID cards
Ynet
21
June -- Interior Ministry Eli Yishai has signed a regulation that
reinstates the nationality notation in the identification cards of all
citizens who were eligible for the document before 2002. Yishai
decision's calls for the nationality section in ID cards issued to
people who converted to Judaism through the Reform or Conservative
movements to remain blank -- a measure that defies a High Court of
Justice ruling that officially recognizes the converts as Jews.
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4084936,00.html
Israeli bus company advocates segregated seats despite court ruling
Haaretz 12 June -- The Egged bus company has allegedly violated a
Supreme Court ruling which forbids segregation on public transportation
buses on the basis of gender. In an announcement with the company logo,
published in early June in a local Haredi magazine, the arrangements for
gender segregation on Egged buses in the city were detailed.
http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/news/
israeli-bus-company-advocates-segregated-seats-despite-court-ruling-1.368789
Schools to bridge racial divide
Ynet 20 June -- The Education Ministry has decided to
bridge the divide between Jews and Arabs with a new plan, entitled
'Education for coexistence'. According to the new
initiative, teachers of grades 1-12 will study about the culture,
language and heritage of the other race[?!]. In addition,
the ministry will encourage Arab teachers to teach at Jewish schools,
and vice-versa.
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4084934,00.html
International abduction
Ukraine exchanged Abu Sisi in return for Israeli trade pact and US lobbying aid / Richard Silverstein
A former high ranking Israeli minister has confirmed a line of thought
I’ve developed regarding collusion between the Israeli and Ukrainian
governments over the extraordinary rendition of Dirar Abusisi. I’ve
been reporting consistently the sneaking suspicion that the kidnapping
involved various quid pro quos between the two countries. Now, a former
government official has confirmed that Israel said to Ukraine: "Give us
Abu Sisi, and we’ll give you any trade agreement you ask for, plus
lobbying services in Washington." Over the past few months, I’ve noted visits by the Ukrainian prime minister to Israel (just after Abu Sisi’s kidnapping) at which major new trade deals were announced. Yesterday, I pointed to a major new aviation agreement that would dramatically increase the number of Ukrainian and Israeli pilgrims visiting each others’ countries.
http://www.richardsilverstein.com/tikun_olam/2011/06/20/
ukraine-exchanged-abusisi-in-return-for-israeli-trade-pact-and-u-s-lobbying-aid/
Political / Diplomatic / International news
Abbas: UN in place of no other options
RAMALLAH
(Ma‘an) 21 June -- The Palestinian leadership will continue its pursuit
of support for an appeal to the UN for membership and the recognition of
statehood, and Salam Fayyad will head the new unity government,
President Mahmoud Abbas told the Lebanese satellite channel LBC on
Monday night. In the absence of negotiations with Israel, Abbas said, a
move at the UN would be the chosen course of action. If the United
States, Israel and Europe have objections to a UN appeal, he continued
"they must come up with an alternative."
http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=398407
Abbas: Given options, we won't go to UN
Ynet 21 June -- Palestinian president says negotiations deadlocked due
to two problems -- borders and security -- leading to planned September
statehood declaration backed by 116 states. "But if US has another
option, we won't go to UN," he says ... "We have so far not discussed the core issues
with Netanyahu. I only spoke with Netanyahu for altogether 15 hours and
met with him three times over two years. We spoke only of security issues..."
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4084937,00.html
Opinion poll shows Fayyad favored for PM
RAMALLAH (Ma‘an) 21 June -- A poll conducted by the Palestinian Center
for Policy and Survey Research found the majority of Palestinians would
prefer Salam Fayyad as prime minister and Mahmoud Abbas as president.
The
results of the poll, released Monday, also showed that reconciliation
talks had improved the public perception of Hamas more than Fatah. The
poll was conducted in the West Bank and Gaza Strip by PCPSR between June
16-18 ... A majority of 59 percent of Palestinians believe Fatah and
Hamas will succeed in implementing the reconciliation agreement and
unifying the West Bank and Gaza Strip, the survey revealed.
http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=398523
Fayyad to stay in place as Palestinian Authority premier
Bloomberg 21 June -- Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Salam Fayyad
said he will resist pressure to resign and aims to continue in office
while the rival Hamas and Fatah factions try to form a joint government.
Fayyad, speaking to reporters today in the West Bank city of Ramallah,
said he wants to at least complete his two-year plan to build the
institutions for Palestinian statehood that are supposed to be ready in
August. "There’s an action plan that needs to be implemented," Fayyad
said. At the same time, he said that he doesn’t want to be an "obstacle
to unity."
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-06-21/
fayyad-to-stay-in-place-as-palestinian-authority-s-premier-1-.html
Hamas: Abbas does not have the power to appoint Fayyad
GAZA
CITY (Ma‘an) 21 June -- An admission by President Mahmoud Abbas on
Monday that Salam Fayyad would be appointed Prime Minister of a unity
government was slammed by Hamas as an "unjustified media escalation."
Abbas made the comments on Lebanese television
http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=398457
Obama: Israel, US stalwart allies
Ynet 21 June -- "One
inviolable principle will be that the United States and Israel will
always be stalwart allies and friends, that that bond isn’t breakable
and that Israel's security will always be
at the top tier of considerations in terms of how America manages its
foreign policy – because it's the right thing to do, because Israel is
our closest ally and friend, it is a robust democracy, it shares our
values and it shares our principles," Obama said to roaring applause.
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4084958,00.html
Netanyahu: Israel needs to separate from the Palestinians
Haaretz 21 June -- The prime minister tells cabinet that it's more
important to 'preserve a solid Jewish majority inside the State of
Israel' than holding land home to a Palestinian majority.
http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/news/
netanyahu-israel-needs-to-separate-from-the-palestinians-1.368795
Senior US official: Israeli-Palestinian impasse is unsustainable
Haaretz 21 June -- Official tells reporters Israel should not be
expected to negotiate with Hamas, and that administration awaiting
results of Palestinian negotiations.
http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/
senior-u-s-official-israeli-palestinian-impasse-is-unsustainable-1.368927
Two months before UN vote on Palestinian state, Israel lacks ambassadors in key cities
Haaretz 21 June -- As September nears, Israel still hasn't filled
important diplomatic postings in Berlin, Rome, Madrid, and Brussels ...
The source said the turnover of ambassadors at such a critical and
sensitive time would make the battle against unilateral Palestinian
moves at the UN more difficult.
http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/news/two-months-
before-un-vote-on-palestinian-state-israel-lacks-ambassadors-in-key-cities-1.368797
Israeli Migdal Oz plan outlines response to Palestinian reactions to declarations of statehood
IMEMC
20 June -- Israel is drawing up plans for a series of eventualities
come September and a Palestinian declaration of statehood. The Migdal Oz
plan, seen by YNet, is the Israeli document on how the army plans on
maintaining order
in the aftermath of the September state bid ... The most likely scenario
according to the commanders is a period of reflection by Palestinians
where they compare reality with their expectations. However other
scenarios include immediate protests and rioting or, according to some,
all out war. The plan outlines a series of measures for dealing with
these scenarios including the acquisition of extra crowd dispersion
tools such as tear gas as well as newer methods such as the “Scream”
acoustic system which emits a load noise that aids in crowd dispersion.
The Israeli army has recently doubled its annual purchases of crowd
dispersion weapons in preparation for September, according to YNet.
Military officials have stated that they would deal with any attempts to
cross the Israeli separation barriers by the same means dealt with
Palestinian refugees seeking to cross the border during Nakba and Naksa
day protests.
http://www.imemc.org/article/61501
Netanyahu woos Erdoğan with letter
Ynet 21 June -- Ahead of second Gaza flotilla, PM sends letter to
Turkish counterpart congratulating him on third term, describing wish to
'renew cooperation, friendship that characterized relations between two
peoples for so long'
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4085364,00.html
Palestinian leader in Turkey for talks
ANKARA (AFP) 21 June -- Palestinian leader Mahmud Abbas arrived here
Tuesday for talks with Turkish leaders amid disagreements over the
formation of a Palestinian unity government, officials said.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20110621/wl_mideast_afp/mideastpalestiniansturkeydiplomacy
Israel and weaponry
US: Israeli missile defense system can protect our Mideast bases
Haaretz 20 June -- The Israeli missile defense system will be integrated
into a regional defense array planned by the U.S., General Patrick
O'reilly, head of the
Pentagon's Missile Defense Agency, said Monday.
http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/
u-s-israeli-missile-defense-system-can-protect-our-mideast-bases-1.368755
Paris Air Show: Israeli companies unveil defense systems
Ynet
21 June -- The Israeli mission to the 2011 International
Paris Air Show held in Le Bourget comprised of 15 companies representing
Israel's top defense systems manufactures, Yedioth Ahronoth
reported Tuesday ... In 2010, Israel's defense exports amounted to $7.2 billion.
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4085060,00.html
Israel reveals it has returned dozens of kilograms of nuclear waste to the US
Haaretz 20 June -- Israel's Nuclear Energy Commission head tells IAEA
commission that Sorek reactor's nuclear waste was returned to U.S. as
part of agreement, while Dimona still stores nuclear waste.
http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/
israel-reveals-it-has-returned-dozens-of-kilograms-of-nuclear-waste-to-u-s-1.368746
Israel to stress safety of its nuclear reactors at IAEA special session
VIENNA (Haaretz) 20 June - The Israeli Atomic Energy Commission will
announce today that it is stepping up its supervision of two nuclear
reactors in Israel and the handling of nuclear waste. The new measures
will be mentioned in the
speech which Dr. Shaul Horev, head of the commission, will make before a
special session of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA ).
http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/news/
israel-to-stress-safety-of-its-nuclear-reactors-at-iaea-special-session-1.368603
Other news
NATO strike kills Palestinian family in Tripoli
RAMALLAH
(Ma‘an)
21 June --The ministry explained in a statement published Tuesday on
the government news agency Wafa, that the International Red Crescent
Association had relayed the news. The family, according to Wafa’s
report, had lived in the Yarmouk refugee camp in Damascus, before moving
to Tripoli. Palestinian
ambassador to Libya Atif Udah told Ma'an radio the family was in a
three-story building targeted by a NATO air attack. He identified the
victims as Abdullah Muhammad Ash-Shihab, his wife Karima and his
6-month-old twins Khalid and Jumanah.
http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=398479
Israel urges Apple to remove pro-Palestinian app
21 June -- (CBS/AP) 21 June -- The Israeli government on Tuesday
appealed to Apple Inc. to remove an application called "ThirdIntifada"
from its App Store, saying the program glorifies violence against the
Jewish state. Israel's information minister, Yuli Edelstein, sent the
request in an email to Steve Jobs, the chief executive of the American
iPhone maker.
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-501465_162-20073008-501465.html
Analysis / Opinion
Analysis: Why Christians leave Bethlehem / Greg Wilkerson
Ma‘an 21 June - I spent a month last Autumn working with the Christian
organization, Arab Educational Institute in Bethlehem, carrying out
research and interviews, through which I spoke with dozens of
Palestinian Christians,
in part, about the temptations of leaving for a more comfortable and
peaceful life abroad. As opposed to comments by the the Archbishop of
Canterbury last week, who said Palestinian Christians were
being marginalized and pushed out of Bethlehem by the Muslim majority,
all of the reasons I was cited stemmed directly from the Israeli
occupation. Chief among them were the day-to-day difficulties and
humiliation of checkpoints, restrictions on access to Jerusalem, and
the impact of Israeli occupation and border controls on business, travel
and tourism.
http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=398618 |
| For further information contact Shadi Fadda |
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