Israel agrees to pardon 178 'wanted' Fatah gunmen
The sources confirmed that two of the names on the list are Zakaria Az-Zubeidi, an Al Aqsa Brigades leader from Jenin, and Kamal Ghanam, a prominent leader in the brigades in Nablus. Palestinian and Israeli officials are due to meet on Monday to discuss the list, allegedly containing a further 28 Fatah leaders which Israeli authorities are reportedly "not keen" to pardon. The deal also states that the Palestinian resistance fighters should stop military actions against Israeli targets, lay down their arms, and join the Palestinian security forces in the West Bank.
Palestinian president forms a new 'caretaker government'
This replaced an emergency cabinet which expired on Friday midnight. President Abbas fired Isma'el Hanniyah, of Hamas and his National unity elected government and formed the emergency cabinet a month ago after Hamas took total control of the Gaza strip. Late on Friday afternoon On Friday Abbas swore in three new ministers and reappointed Salam Fayyad as prime minister after he formally resigned from the emergency government. On Saturday Hamas denounced the new government and the movement's officials called it unconstitutional. Hamas has recently lost its majority in the Palestinian parliament since most of its MPs were kidnapped by the Israeli army during campaigns targeting the movement's leadership in the West Bank.
Israeli authorities extend detention of leader of Palestinian women's movement
An Israeli military court has extended the detention of Nada Al Jaiousi, from Ramallah, for an additional eleven days. Al Jaiousi, like thousands of Palestinians being held in prison by Israeli authorities, has not been charged with any crime. She is in what Israelis euphemistically call "administrative detention", meaning that she can be held for an indefinite period of time lasting months, or even years, without ever being charged with a crime. Al Jaiousi, a mother of nine, was abducted from her home in Ramallah four days ago by Israeli soldiers. The military gave no reason for her abduction, though it is thought to be because she is the head of the Al Huda women's charitable society. The Israeli military had ransacked the offices of the organization in May, claiming it had 'terrorist affiliations'. The group's leaders said at the time that the Israeli claim was ridiculous, as their focus was on providing job training and childcare for women.
P.M. Fayyad developing 'reform' plans for the West Bank
Fayyad's reform plans reportedly include the development of a Palestinian Authority-administered welfare support system that would compete with Hamas' success in providing services and assistance to needy Palestinians through a network of charities. He is also seeking to guarantee regular wages for Palestinian Authority workers. With the $120 million in aid promised by the international community for 2008 after Abbas installed the current interim government, Fayyad hopes to implement new housing and infrastructure projects that will also provide jobs for thousands of currently unemployed workers. Fayyad also stressed his belief in the need to work with Israel to remove roadblocks, arguing that the economy will continue to suffer until the free flow of goods is allowed to resume. He also announced plans intending to curb unauthorized gun ownership and limit the power of armed gangs, as well as strengthening existing Palestinian security forces through increased training and new leadership. Fayyad has reportedly been coordinating his plans with Marwan Barghouthi, a Fatah leader currently imprisoned by Israel.
U.N. secretary-general urges Israel to open Gaza crossings
Ban Ki-moon urged Israel on Friday to open all border crossings leadings to the Gaza Strip in order to prevent further economic and human crises in the Strip which is totally isolated from the West Bank and the rest of the world. The Israeli online daily Haaretz reported that 3,190 businesses had to shut down in the Gaza Strip last month alone, leaving additional 65,000 residents unemployed. Israel has completely closed the Karni Crossing, which is the only commercial and trade crossing in the Gaza Strip.
Palestinian detainee in critical condition due to torture
Mousa Ahmad Bolbol, 23, from the northern West Bank city of Jenin , is in a serious health condition. His family stated that their son was interrogated and tortured for three months and subjected to severe torture and abuse. The prison administration at the Al Jalama prison refused to provide Bolbol with any medical treatment and his interrogators told him that that "he must suffer because he is a member of an organization that carries attacks against Israel". "Let the Islamic Jihad provide you with medical treatment", one of the interrogators told him, "You will remain imprison until you die and rot".
Islamic Jihad claims responsibility for firing RPG shells
at a building occupied by Israeli troops in the Rafah International Airport, in the southern part of the Gaza Strip. The Al Quds Brigades stated that its fighters carried out the attack on Friday afternoon after monitoring the area and observing the movements of the Israeli soldiers occupying the airport. The Israeli army reported no injuries.The Rafah Airport was shut down by Israel several years ago, and military bulldozers destroyed its runways and several buildings. Israel refused to allow the Palestinian to reopen the airport and claims that this rejections stems from what it calls "security concerns."
One person kidnapped at peaceful demonstration near Bethlehem
Approximately 60 Palestinian villagers from Wad el-Neiss, located to the south of Bethlehem in the southern West Bank, side-by side with Israeli and international supporters, protested today against the confiscation of land for the construction of the illegal Israeli wall. Upon arrival, the protesters were met by a massive number of Israeli soldiers who ambushed and attacked demonstrators. No injuries were reported. Witnesses told IMEMC that, during the short scuffle that took place, one Palestinian farmer was kidnapped by the army and taken to an unknown location.
Israeli military forces kidnap eight persons in Nablus
Security sources reported that a huge Israeli force invaded the city of Nablus in the early hours of Friday morning from several directions, launching a widespread search of the Old City and several homes in the Balata refugee camp. Sources reported that the army used live rounds of ammunition and sounds bombs during the attack. In the same operation, the Israeli army also invaded the Ein Beit El Ma' refugee camp to the west of Nablus city. No abductions or injuries were reported there.
Islamic Jihad roadblock attack invoked further Israeli security concerns
Security and intelligence agencies in Israel expressed serious concerns following the attack which was carried out by the Islamic Jihad against Ennav military roadblock, north of Tulkarem, on Thursday. The sources stated that this attack proves that the Islamic Jihad is planning and preparing for further attacks against Israeli military targets especially in the northern part of the West Bank. Israeli media sources reported that if the attack was successful, it would have led to "a disaster" among the soldiers manning this roadblock which is considered one of the main military checkpoints in the northern part of the West Bank. Also, Israeli intelligence believes that the Islamic Jihad is planning a series of attacks against military targets in the West Bank.
Nablus roadblocks indicative of illegal Israeli measures against Palestinians
A person who closely monitors the media, and the repeated Israeli statements about facilitating the movement of Palestinians in the West Bank, removing some roadblocks, and "easing restrictions" might find it difficult to understand these statements if he just carries out a small tour around Nablus. Only then you will observe part of the daily suffering of the residents. Recently, and in an ironic contradiction with the statements of Israel's Prime Minister, Ehud Olmert, the Israeli army doubled the number of roadblocks, especially around Nablus, and started barring male residents under the age of 35 from crossing. Dozens, even hundreds of residents have to line up on a daily basis and wait at the Huwwara checkpoint, under the extreme summer sun, while the soldiers continue their illegal and provoctive acts, and even leave the residents there and go for extended chats with each other, or even phone as if nobody is waiting there, under the sun and the heat, as if nobody exists. (more)
The Occupation bars a child from representing Palestinian children in Qatar
Aseel, a 14-year old child, sat at home with tears flooding on her red cheeks after the Israeli occupation barred her from travelling to Qatar to participate in a festival for children; this occupation is not only occupying her land, but also depriving the children of their basic rights. Aseel is a member if a local Dabka (folklore dance) group in Ramallah city, in the northern part of the West Bank. But her parents are originally from Gaza, and are living in a village near the West Bank city of Qalqilia , They carry identity cards issued in Gaza, and the Israeli authorities do not allow Gaza ID holders to obtain any permits from its military offices in the West Bank. Aseel needs a special permit in order to be able to leave; if she leaves without it, she will not be allowed into the West Bank, and will be forced to go to Gaza without her family.
Hamas-Fatah split over weekend days causes trouble for Palestinian workers
The General Union for Palestinian Laborers has expressed its disappointment over decisions made by both the deposed government and the emergency government. The Emergency Government has announced that the official days off will be Friday and Saturday [Jewish Sabbath is Friday sundown to Saturday sundown]. Meanwhile, the Hamas movement has decreed that official weekend days are Thursday and Friday [Friday is the day of obligatory congregational prayer for Muslim men].
More and more Palestinians attempt to circumvent checkpoints
"Al Allaffa", which literally means "on the curve", is a phrase one may hear Palestinians utter more frequently, as of late in Nablus. The phrase is used when Palestinians approach an Israeli military checkpoint or roadblock and are forced to get out of the car and stay on the sidewalk until they are allowed to cross, if they are even allowed to cross at all. This is especially the case around Huwwara checkpoint, south of Nablus in the northern West Bank. Palestinians report their experience here as one of the worst of the 500+ barriers in the West Bank. Abdullah from Nablus said ""Al Allafa" means that we have to pay more to the drivers who take us beyond the barriers over dirt roads, so as to circumvent them, instead of walking through the checkpoints to the other side." Israeli soldiers are aware of the 'allaffa' phenomenon, but they do not act to prevent it. "They intend to make us suffer, it has nothing to do with security, as we are passing and they see us."
Israeli illegal settlers establishing a new outpost west of Ramallah
Under the protection of Israeli military forces, Israeli settlers are establishing a new area for their inhabitation in Al Midya, a village west of the central West Bank city of Ramallah. The village is almost entirely surrounded by the Israeli segregation wall, to the east, south, west and north of the village. Currently, there is one route, to the north-east of the village, which connects it with West Bank territory. Palestinian civilians reported that Israeli settlers have been arriving in the village since Friday afternoon.
Al Buraq Army attacks Israeli military post at Salem DCL
The Fatah-affiliated Al Aqsa Brigades have announced that the Al Buraq Army, a unit of the Brigades, launched an attack against the Israeli military position at Salem, on the northern border of the West Bank, north west of Jenin, on Saturday morning. A statement issued by the brigades stated "the operation came as part of the retaliation against the Israeli crimes against Palestinian people." No casualties have yet been reported. (end)
Prisoner's mother seeks aid of human rights organizations to help her visit her son
The mother of the imprisoned Mutasem Mokadi, 36, is seeking the help of human rights organizations to assist her in her bid to visit her son in an Israeli jail. She told Ma'an, "The Israeli authorities are preventing me from visiting my son in their jails, who has been there for 12 years. They are giving me silly justifications, such as that I am a threat to Israel, although I suffer from serious pains in my legs which don't allow me to walk properly."
City of Tulkarem in the northern West Bank enters 14th day of isolation
For fourteen days in a row, the northern West Bank city of Tulkarem has been besieged by Israeli military forces. The city has been cut off by the deployment of two checkpoints to the south and the east of the city, and many additional movable roadblocks.
Hamas-affiliated Executive Force arrests lieutenant colonel of national security services
late on Friday night Izzat Kamal Baghdadi was taken by the Hamas-affiliated force in Gaza City. The sources told Ma'an that about some six jeeps belonging to the Executive Force besieged Baghdadi's home at the Nile tower in Tal Al-Hawa, south of Gaza city, before storming his home and apprehending him.
Israel allows 5 Palestinian leaders, including Qaddoumi, to enter WB for PLO Central Council meeting
The men were allowed to enter in 1996, in order to participate in the Palestinian National Council (PNC) meeting at that time, but they refused, as Israel set demands and certain conditions to their entry. Al Qaddoumi may not agree this time, as he reiterated earlier statements that he will not enter the Palestinian territories as long as they are still occupied. In Israel, the decision to allow the five PLO members' entrance has been greeted with both support and opposition, dividing Cabinet ministers, with Likud party members largely opposed to the decision.
Iranian Jews blast offer of cash for immigrating to Israel
"[The money is] inappropriate and politically immature," the group said in a statement that was carried by Western and Iranian news outlets. It added Iran's Jewish community has remained loyal to the Islamic Republic and that their "Jewish Iranian identity is not a commodity that passes from the hands of one merchant to another in return for money." Iran's Jewish community has decreased from 80,000 before the Islamic revolution, to about 20,000 today. It is represented in parliament by a Jewish lawmaker and is the largest Jewish community in the Middle East outside of Israel .
Jewish history, anti-semitism, and the challenge of Zionism – by Mark Braverman
But it isn't the words, it is the arrogance. No - it isn't the arrogance, it is the blindness, the sweeping, crushing insensitivity to the emotional tone of the previous speaker. The Palestinian sitting next to him was invisible -- he simply didn't count. . . Again, it wasn't the words, it wasn't the policies, shocking as they were – it was the negation, the utter, shocking, arrogant negation of the Other. The fear, insularity and brittle sense of superiority that my grandmother carried as the legacy of Europe lead directly to the blindness and arrogance of the Israeli statesmen, policy-makers and opinion shapers that I saw on display that day in Washington, and to the rigid attitudes of institutional American Jewry towards Israel. . . Modern Israel is, more than anything, a source of pride for Jews: It is good to have survived, and Israel is the living proof of our survival. As such, Israel embodies an ideal – the desert made to bloom, the land reclaimed, the "new Jew," tanned, proud, and strong, Jerusalem reclaimed. Challenge this ideal image, and you strike at the very heart of the deeply-rooted Jewish need for security and well being. You mobilize in us a fear so deep, so thoroughly internalized, that we have forgotten how much it drives us.
How to reach Palestinian statehood within a year – by Jerome M. Segal
Today, there is no Palestinian entity to which Israel can safely hand over the territories. Moreover, while the West Bank remains under occupation, Fatah will not engage in effective security cooperation. Were it to do so, it would be seen as ?the police of the occupation,? and its delegitimization would be terminal.There is, however, a way to foster the emergence of a Palestinian partner. The key is to make security performance part of the process of ending the occupation, rather than a precondition for negotiations.
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