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Settlers burn thousands of Palestinian olive trees, second time in a week
Illegal settlers from the Yitzhar settlement on Saturday started fires in thousands of fruitful olive trees in the Palestinian village of Einbos, southeast of Nablus city. Villagers reported that more than 2,000 olive trees were burnt in the incident, noting that the fire spread quickly due to the exceptionally high temperatures. Settlers from the same settlement last week set fire to hundreds of cultivated dunums in the same village.
Zionist settlers establish new settlement outpost on lands of Artas village
This area has been exposed to the Zionist settlers' attacks many times during the recent months, who resided in it provocatively during the anniversary of the Palestinian Nakba or catastrophe. The IOA is planning to establish five new settlement outposts in the hills located between Al-Khalil and Bethlehem cities, which will constitute hazardous separation between the two cities.
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Israeli residents of Judea and Samaria (the West Bank) issued a statement on Thursday informing US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice that the area they live in is not "occupied territory," but rather the biblically-mandated heartland of the Jewish people. The statement was issued by the Council of Jewish Communities in Judea and Samaria (Yesha) in response to an interview Rice gave earlier in the week in which she insisted Israel has no future in the "occupied territories,
Khalid Mishaal: Hamas to hand over secret PA security documents to concerned Arab states
Mishaal affirmed that his Movement had indeed seized an "intelligence treasure", and that the Movement was working day and night to classify those voluminous documents in preparation to hand over to every Arab and Muslim state the documents concerning their national security. Hamas had earlier revealed that the PA security apparatuses were spying on Arab and Muslim countries and prominent political and religious figures for Israel and other foreign intelligence apparatuses in a way that jeopardized Arab national security.
Israel has agreed to allow hundreds of Palestinians stranded in Egypt since Hamas' June takeover of Gaza to pass into Israel and then into the Gaza Strip, Palestinian officials said Saturday. Information Minister Riad Maliki said that some of the 6,000 Palestinians who have been waiting in the Egyptian border town of Rafah would be allowed to pass at the beginning of next week. " Israel has agreed in principle to the passage of the Palestinians, and must approve of the names of potential passengers on lists the Palestinians must compile," Maliki said. Israel did not immediately comment on the deal. Israel has already approved a list of 627 Palestinians who will be allowed to cross at the beginning of next week, according to Hani Jabbour, a Palestinian security coordinator stationed the Egyptian side of Rafah.
List of 625 names approved for reentry to Gaza; Hamas rejects altenative entry
A list of 625 names, out of some 6,000 reported to be stuck at the crossing between Egypt and the Gaza Strip, has been approved to travel back to Gaza through the Awja route, which crosses into Israel from the Sinai, then enters the Gaza Strip through the northerly Erez crossing. . . Hamas spokesperson Sami Abu Zuhri labeled the use of any crossing besides Rafah, including Kerem Shalom and Erez, a continuation of a policy of occupation. "Reopening other crossings means turning the Strip into a huge prison and putting it again under Israeli occupation control, and it also it means that Palestinians will not be able to return to the strip because of the dangers they are face if they have to return through Israeli crossings."
Frustration mounts amongst the stranded at Al-Arish
Any patience we might have once had has dissipated during the past weeks we've been stranded here in Egypt -- any patience that would have held us over as we have been badly missing our loved ones in Gaza, the patience we might have once had steadily running out along with our money. The Rafah crossing terminal, the sole outlet to the outside world for the population of Gaza, has been closed since 10 June, by an Israeli order. Approximately 6,000 Palestinians have been deprived of their right to return back to their homes and families.
Dutch Arabic-language university opens offices in West Bank and Gaza
A wing of Al-Hurra University has opened in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, making Palestine one of 36 countries where the University has offices. Al-Hurra is the first Arab university to be governed by European academic standards. Teaching in Arabic, the school offers undergraduate and graduate degrees. The university largely depends on Iraqi academics who have fled Iraq because of the violence there.
Abbas, Bush hamper UN Security Council resolution to alleviate suffering in Gaza
The PA delegation to the UN, which is accountable to President Abbas, intervened to hamper a draft resolution submitted to the UNSC by Qatar and Indonesia to ease the suffering of the people living in the Gaza Strip. The US for its part intervened to enforce amendments on the draft resolution. The draft resolution, which was submitted on Thursday and distributed to members of the council, called for the UNSC to express concern for the stranded Palestinians at the Rafah crossing and to urge a quick resolution for their predicament. It also calls for allowing the free flow of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip.
UK PM Brown to appoint his own Mideast envoy
Gordon Brown is to appoint his own Middle East envoy, opening up the possibility of a clash with the work of Tony Blair, who is now representing the international "Quartet" - the US, EU, UN and Russia. Michael Williams, currently a special coordinator for the regional peace process for the UN secretary general, Ban Ki-moon, is expected to be confirmed in the job next week, the Guardian has learned.
Abu Mazen, are we not your people?
[VIDEO and links] The Palestinian citizens now trapped in Al-Waleed Camp accuse the Palestinian Authority of using their suffering to play political games with Israel. They claim that other states, particularly in Europe, have since expressed willingness to resettle them, but that the PA refuses to accept these solutions, preferring to leave their citizens in the desert, pawns in a political game with Israel. The Palestinian Authority announced that it would accept its citizens back in the West Bank [but this solution was of course rejected by Israel]
Security fallout worsens for Fatah
It is now six weeks since Hamas seurity forces overran their Fatah counterparts to seize control of the Gaza Strip, but the fallout from that defeat looks as if it may be only beginning for Mahmoud Abbas and his administration. A wholesale purge of the Fatah forces is now expected with a senior member of the inquiry committee indicating 60 officers up to the rank of brigadier could shortly be facing court martials. Amr said that others had already been demoted. However, one of those who is not to be internally disciplined is Dahlan.
Mash'al warns against underestimating strength of Hamas in West Bank saying "Hamas was never weak, but has been patient for a year and a half, amongst all the coup attempts. Whoever thinks that Hamas is weak in the West Bank is wrong." . . . When asked about the tape recording regarding the alleged tunnel prepared to assassinate President Abbas, Mash'al declared that the story was baseless.. . When Hamas took over the strip, some of their members addressed the people in a manner similar to the ritual of the opening of Mecca. Mash'al responded: "Some of the spokesmen made mistakes. In this regard, we first apologise to God and then we apologise to the people for the mistakes committed."
IDF to provide aid to injured Palestinian
IDF soldiers were instructed Saturday to aid a Palestinian man critically injured in an unauthorized shooting by IDF soldiers that occurred Thursday. The IDF's Central Command Chief, Major-General Gadi Shamni, ordered the head of the military's civilian authority to give the man's family entrance permits into Israel and additional aid. Additionally, the military is "investigating whether similar norms of behavior are present in this regiment or other regiments, in order to root out such a phenomenon," the sources said. [Amazing. Why the big emphasis on this case? What about all the other men, women, and children illegitimately killed by the IDF? Oh yes, it must be an image thing. How many people will it fool? Check out, for example, this case of my friend's cousin, 62-year-old Shaden Abu Hijleh, killed by an IDF sniper as she sat doing embroidery: http://www.remembershaden.org/ And so many more…. ]
IOF troops beat Palestinian youth to death in Bethlehem, apparently after stabbing attemptPalestinian youth Jihad Khalil Al-Sha'ar, 20, died after IOF troops mercilessly beat him with batons in Bethlehem city, south of the West Bank, Thursday morning. Military sources in the IOF alleged that the victim attempted to stab an Israeli soldier near Takoo village near Bethlehem city but failed in the attempt, prompting other IOF soldiers to beat him up with batons and rifle butts till he died. . . A Palestinian youth was seriously wounded when an IOF special unit disguised in Palestinian attire assaulted him at his work site in Thahereyya town, south of Al-Khalil city. The victim, identified by Palestinian local sources as Adham Nazmi Al-Shamamra, 18.
Israeli army jeep strikes and injures Palestinian child
Local sources indicated that a number of military vehicles stormed the village of Yabud, near Jenin, shortly after midnight. Ala Abu Bakr, 13, was standing in front of his home when he was run over by an Israeli jeep. After soldiers hit the boy, they fled the scene and did not provide any medical assistance for the injured child. Medical sources stated that the boy sustained moderate to serious wounds and was transported to the public hospital in the city of Jenin for treatment.
Machsom [Checkpoint] Watch activist arrested for 'crossing line marked on floor'
A Machsom Watch activist was arrested at a checkpoint near the West Bank city of Nablus after crossing a white line marked by soldiers, according to the human rights organization. Police officers dispatched to the checkpoint told the activist, Yifat Doron, that the checkpoint commander had complained she was getting in the way and must therefore accompany them for questioning at the Ariel police station. After the woman was questioned, the police agreed to release her if she promised not to arrive at the checkpoint for 15 days. Doron, however, refused to do so and was arrested. She spent the night at the Neve Tirza Prison for Women. The organization's activists are expected to arrive at her court hearing on Friday carrying protest signs reading, "What does the IDF have to hide at the checkpoints?".
Machsom Watch wants to branch out to airport
In a new initiative, the Machsom Watch organization, along with the New Israel Fund, want to place monitors at the Ben Gurion airport, to prevent any bad treatment of Arab passengers. The organizations claim that the situation in Ben Gurion Airport is getting worse. The organizations recently sent a letter to Transportation Minister Shaul Mofaz and CEO of the Airport Authority Gabi Ofir, asking to set up airport monitors, as well as provide long-term training for airport security personnel.
PRC: UK foreign minister's remarks on refugees extremely offensive and damaging
The Palestinian Return Centre, London, has written a letter of protest to the British Foreign Secretary, David Miliband regarding a statement by his Minister of State, Dr Kim Howells, on the Palestinian refugees. During a press conference in Amman this week [22 July] Dr Howells said the right of return is 'illogical' and "could not be achieved."
Abbas reveals that he has discussed final status issues with Olmert
Abbas said in an interview with Israeli daily newspaper Maariv on Saturday that a creative solution to the refugee problem can be found. Abbas also suggested that imprisoned Fatah leader Marwan Barghouthi could be his successor as president. He said that US officials are determined to push Palestinian rivals towards a political compromise, specifically during the term of the Bush administration. In respect to the recent meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, Abbas expressed optimism and said "we discussed everything".
Haaretz Editorial: Everyone knows the solution
Anyone with eyes in his head knows the land will be divided between the Israelis and the Palestinians, along borders similar to the pre-1967 lines, and that the refugee problem will be resolved through a reparations arrangement. The settlers think - correctly, by and large - that every failed round of talks further strengthens them, and that time is on their side. But what is good for the settlers is bad for the country. The [Israeli] public does not support the evacuees who want to return to Homesh. Abbas and Fayad claim this is also the case on the Palestinian side, and that if a fair agreement is placed on the table and put to a referendum, a majority of Palestinians will support it.
PRC: Fayad and 'Ramallah traitors' targets for attack
PRC spokesman Abu Abir dubbed Abbas, Fayad and other members of the government the "Ramallah traitors" and vowed they will receive an "identical response as to the Israeli occupation." The PRC is an umbrella organization for various militant groups in the Gaza Strip. Its members took part in the June 2006 abduction of Israel Defense Forces Corporal Gilad Shalit.
Mustapha Barghouti: Israeli claims concerning peace initiative are simply deceiving
He added that it is just another way of by passing the final status of peace negotiations with the Palestinians. Dr. Al-Barghuothi added that the Israeli talk about pulling out from 90% of the West Bank is false due to status of the current geopolitical map. Israel is planning to pull out from 90% of the 50% of the West Bank left over after constructing the wall, and annexing major illegal Israeli settlements to Israel also excluding Jerusalem and the Jordanian Valley.
Trapped in a village that doesn't exist
The truth is that Al-Nu'man, along with the people who reside within its uncertain and steadily shrinking limits, are under the jurisdiction of neither Israel nor the West Bank. Instead, they are prisoners of a bureaucratic mix-up that took place 40 years ago and whose consequences have become steadily more onerous in recent years. There are no telephone lines in Al-Nu'man, no garbage collection, no gas delivery. Its people dwell in a virtual jail.
Twilight Zone / Vacation time in Jenin – by Gideon Levy
Last Tuesday night at 10, they came to his cell with a list and told him: You're free. Get your clothes, we're taking you to Ketziot. Ibrahim says he was glad. He had no problem signing a paper pledging not to return to terror. He doesn't think that he ever engaged in terror. And he has no idea why he in particular was picked to be released. Lately, he'd been losing hope of an early release. But he won't be truly happy until all his brothers are free.
IDF kills two Fatah militants trying to plant bomb near Gaza-Israeli border fence
Israel Defense Forces troops on Saturday killed two Palestinian militants trying to plant a bomb on the Gaza-Israel border. An IDF army spokeswoman said Yachiah Barakat, 24, and Tamer al-Khatib, 23, were shot near Beit Lahia after they were spotted laying explosives, where a security fence separates Israel from Gaza. The men reportedly belonged to a militant offshoot of Fatah
Four injured, 10 arrested after fight outside Rafah mosque
Four Fatah members were treated for injuries after the Executive Forces intervened in a fight outside a mosque in the Gaza Strip city of Rafah. Eyewitnesses said that a heated argument began inside the mosque after Friday prayers. The Executive Forces deployed on the scene after the fight spilled outside the building. Fatah member Mohammed Zanun was treated for a bullet in the leg. Another Fatah member Samir Al Maghribi was also taken to the hospital after being severely beaten.
Scandal in the third grade
The marketing people of the Center for Educational Technology (CET) tried this week to gauge whether the scandal surrounding a textbook that mentions the Nakba would help its sales. . . The Arabic version expands on life in Arab cities, including Jerusalem, Jaffa and Haifa. Jewish children are apparently not allowed to know about this, perhaps because at the end of 67 pages of education for political correctness they are liable to identify with those urban Arabs and ask what happened to them.
Female corpse covered in stab wounds is discovered in Gaza
The corpse of a Palestinian woman in her twenties was found in the Al Bureij area of the central Gaza Strip with numerous knife gashes on Saturday. Palestinian medical sources stated that the corpse was delivered to the Al-Aqsa Martyrs hospital for examination.
Israeli forces arrest a man in possession of explosives at Huwwara checkpoint Ma'an's correspondent reported that the Israeli troops stopped the man whilst he was attempting to cross the checkpoint. The checkpoint was then closed for one hour to Palestinian citizens travelling in both directions. The explosive devices were discovered and the man was taken to an undisclosed destination.
A warning to Tony Blair – by Uri Avnery
The new actor on the stage, Tony Blair, is exuding charm and joviality, embracing and kissing. We, the audience, know that his lot will be exactly like that of his predecessor. He has embraced Olmert, kissed Tzipi Livni, smiled at Ehud Barak, and we know that all three of them will do their utmost to disrupt his mission before he reaches a position that would enable him to realize his real dream: to conduct peace negotiations, as he successfully did in Northern Ireland.
The siren song of Elliot Abrams, by Kathleen Christison, former CIA analyst
In a meeting with Palestinian businessmen, Elliott Abrams spoke openly of the need for a 'hard coup' against Hamas; the writer explains the role of the neocon in the Palestinian split and myham the followed. No one should be surprised that Abrams has had a hand in creating the mess in the Middle East and is actively working for the dismemberment and emasculation of the Arab world. He did this in Central America before being caught lying to Congress during the Iran-Contra investigation and being momentarily sidelined. More to the point, concern for Israel's interests, and an extreme rightwing agenda, have long driven Abrams' actions.
US to expand arms sales and aid to 'friendly' Mideast states
The Bush administration will ask Congress to expand multibillion-dollar aid and weapons sales packages to friendly nations in the Middle East, partly to counteract Iran, senior officials said Friday. Rice will announce proposed extensions and enlargements of foreign aid to Israel and Egypt, and a proposed arms sales package to Persian Gulf nations including Saudi Arabia. The Israeli and Egyptian proposals would lock in U.S. commitments for the next 10 years. The total for Israel would rise from $2.4 billion to about $3 billion a year, and Egypt would continue to receive $1.3 billion a year.
FILM REVIEW: Citizen Nawee
On the one hand it is one of love and concern; on the other it is a gateway to the complete opposite of the values of morality and the contours of humanity in which the Israeli, Jewish and Zionist person is educated. It is to enter the realm in which Israeli Jewish men wearing skullcaps and particularly long prayer fringes smash trees, and the next day stand on a hill and mocked the ruin of the farmers who can no longer earn their daily bread. They just stand there and laugh. The film shows their laughter in a lengthy shot; a terrible hyena-like laughter. This laughter is one of the most caustic insults Judaism has had to take in all its history - and didn't come from any enemy.
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