Physicians for Human Rights-Israel Gaza Update 19 Dec 2007
Soldiers indicted on charges of abusing Palestinian prisoners
At the conclusion of an investigation lasting more than a year, the Military Advocate General has charged five soldiers from the Nahshon Battalion with three counts of aggravated assault. Three of the soldiers have already been discharged from the army and one was transferred to another unit. Only one soldier remains in active duty in the battalion.
UN: Gaza electricity supply in danger
The 15 percent fuel import cut that Israel imposed on the Gaza Strip in October could lead to a severe power supply shortage within three weeks, an official in the Gaza branch of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs told The Jerusalem Post on Thursday. According to Hamada Al-Bayari, the four gas turbines currently operating in Gaza consume 275 to 295 cubic meters of industrial diesel fuel per day. Since the cuts went into effect, the power plant has been receiving 241.5 cubic meters per day.
Gaza residents discuss the closure
Three Palestinians describe life in Gaza under the closure of the borders and how much they think the extra funding pledged by donors in Paris can help them.
Video: Bethlehem checkpoint, 4am
Gazans say this Eid is the worst ever
A 500-meter-long street in the heart of Gaza City is empty of cars and vehicles, but full of men, women and children. Omar al-Mokhtar Street is considered the largest commercial area in Gaza where people from all over the coastal region have always come to shop, especially during the holiday season. In recent days, Gaza, like other Islamic communities around the world, prepared to celebrate Eid al-Adha, a major holiday marking the end of the annual pilgrimage to Mecca, the Hajj. Normally a time of joy, this year's Eid is different from past years because Gaza suffers from the tight Israeli closures on all travel and commercial crossings. EI correspondent Rami Almeghari reports from Gaza.
Two IDF troops lightly hurt as Israel mulls truce offer
Two Israel Defense Forces reservists were lightly wounded Friday when Palestinian militants detonated an explosive device near the security fence at the Kissufim Crossing on the border with the Gaza Strip. Also Friday, three Qassam rockets were fired from Gaza. One struck south of the Negev city of Ashkelon, another an open field near Sderot and the third appeared to have landed inside Gaza, Israel Radio reported. No injuries or damages were reported in the incident.
IDF to increase Gaza strikes despite Hamas truce calls
The Israel Defense Forces will continue its attacks against militants in the Gaza Strip despite calls by the Hamas leadership for a possible temporary calm. Defense officials say the heavy pressure on the militants is making progress, and there will be room to consider a change to the offensive only if Hamas imposes on other militant factions a moratorium on Qassam rocket attacks. In an IDF operation yesterday in the central Gaza Strip, one soldier was seriously injured and seven Palestinian gunmen were killed. A number of Qassam rockets and mortar shells were fired on the western Negev, with one rocket landing near a school in Sderot. There were no injuries. Security sources said analyses by the IDF and Shin Bet security service concluded that Israel's military pressure on the Gaza militants led to the recent announcement by former Palestinian prime minister Ismail Haniyeh on the need for a cease-fire.
Two Israeli ministers say they favour Hamas truce
Two senior cabinet ministers on Friday urged Israel to examine any serious ceasefire proposal from Hamas, the radical group that does not recognise the Jewish state but which rules the Gaza Strip. "If a serious offer for a truce from Hamas reached us, I think we should examine it seriously," Transport Minister Shaul Mofaz told reporters.
Ramon: 70 MKs support paying settlers to evacuate voluntarily
Seventy MKs support legislation that would offer compensation to settlers willing to evacuate homes situated east of the separation fence before a final-status agreement with the Palestinians, Vice Premier Haim Ramon told Haaretz Thursday. Ramon has been quietly probing the likelihood of MKs supporting such legislation, and is also assessing the cost of this offer to between 30,000 to 40,000 settlers. His discreet efforts are being carried out with the full knowledge and support of Prime Minister Ehud Olmert.
Egyptian government, not people, recognize Israel
Thirty years after late Egyptian president Anwar Sadat's historic trip to Israel, Egyptian diplomatic relations with the Hebrew state remain cordial. On a popular level, however, the relationship -- buttressed by the 1979 Camp David peace agreement -- still represents a major source of contention. "The so-called peace between Egypt and Israel continues to lack popular approval," Ahmed Thabet, professor of political science at Cairo University told IPS. "Meanwhile, Israel has exploited the situation to maintain racist, expansionist policies."
As Torture Debate Heats Up, Jewish Groups Stay Mum
The American Jewish Committee last week became the first, and to date only, mainstream Jewish group to give strong public backing to proposed legislation that would ban the use of torture by American military, intelligence and law-enforcement personnel. On December 10, the AJCommittee's board of governors passed a resolution expressly condemning the use of so-called enhanced interrogation techniques. Two days later the group also sent a letter to all members of Congress, urging them to support legislation that would force CIA interrogators to follow the guidelines set forth by the Army's field manual, which bans waterboarding, mock executions and other harsh methods.
President Peres apologizes for Kafr Qasem massacre of 1956
President Shimon Peres apologized on Friday for the Kafr Qasem massacre of 1956, in which Border Police officers killed over 50 residents of the Arab village.
Start with the unmanned roadblocks!
This week's request from French President Nicholas Sarkozy, made at the conference of nations donating money to the Palestinian Authority, that Israel remove the roadblocks in the West Bank is hardly new. World Bank reports have been saying for years that the roadblocks are a major impediment to Palestinian economic development. Tony Blair, the Quartet's special envoy, one of whose briefs is to help develop the Palestinian economy, has also made the same point several times.
Boim backtracks on Atarot plan
Housing and Construction Minister Ze'ev Boim retracts statement on new Israeli construction in east Jerusalem,will lobby Israel Land Administration to give away land in future residential neighborhoods in Gaza Vicinity communities for free.
Wishful thinking
The Paris Donor Conference may make the Palestinian Authority richer but it cannot improve the economy of a no-state under Israeli occupation, writes Khaled Amayreh from East Jerusalem.
Bethlehem residents vandalise Banksy graffiti
Bethlehem residents have painted over a satirical mural by the graffiti artist Banksy that was meant to highlight their plight. The elusive British artist had painted six images around the town to help drum up tourism before Christmas and to illustrate the hardships faced by Palestinians in the occupied West Bank. But the irony behind the depiction of an Israeli soldier checking a donkey's identity papers was lost on some residents, who found it offensive. "We're humans here, not donkeys," said Nasri Canavati, a restaurater. "This is insulting. I'm glad it was painted over." To be called a donkey in Palestinian society is similar to being called an idiot. Not all Bethlehem residents found the mural offensive. Fyras Twemeh, an architect, thought it was funny and made a neat political point. "It's offensive for the Israelis, not for us," he said.
No room at the inn: Christmas bonanza in Bethlehem
Hotels booked, parties planned and lights glittering, Bethlehem is preparing for tens of thousands of pilgrims to overcome Israeli occupation and give the town the best Christmas in years. "We are hopeful this city will remain peaceful. I'm sure we'll have a wonderful Christmas," says Mayor Victor Batarseh, determined to look on the bright side sitting next to a plastic fir tree near Manger Square.
ADL slams Jerusalem Latin Patriarch's pre-Christmas speech
Jewish advocacy group voices concern over top Roman Catholic official's rejection of Israel as a Jewish nation, call his words 'ironic' considering he represents a theocratic Catholic state - The Anti-Defamation League said on Thursday that it was "deeply disturbed" by statements made by the top Roman Catholic clergyman in Israel in which he rejected the country's Jewish identity. In his annual pre-Christmas address on Wednesday Latin Patriarch Michel Sabbah said that if "there's a state of one religion, other religions are naturally discriminated against. '' Speaking before an audience in Jerusalem in Arabic and English, Sabbah said Israel should abandon its Jewish character in favor of a ''political, normal state." The ADL said it was concerned that "Father Sabbah would politicize the holy season of Christmas by denying the Jewish people's right to a Jewish state.
Christian-Jewish coalition donates $45 million to Jewish Agency for Israel
A group of Christian and Jewish synagogues, churches and organizations have pledged to donate $15 million per year for the next three years to the Jewish Agency's budget. The Jewish Agency for Israel says that its mission is "to keep the promise to every Jew who, for any reason, at any time, chooses to come home to Israel; and to put Israel into the lives of the Jewish world's next generation." The organization claims to have helped 3 million Jews immigrate to Israel. The Jewish Agency has allied itself with right-wing Christian groups based mainly in the U.S. , who believe that Jews should be encouraged to move to Israel as that will bring the "second coming" -- at which time Jews who refuse to convert will be killed. Many pro-Israel Jewish groups have made coalitions with such Christian groups, despite the belief of these Christians that Jews will be killed by God (or God's messengers) once they all move to Israel.
Jewish Agency to get Christian rep
The Jewish Agency is to appoint a Christian representative to its board of directors for the first time, following an agreement this week with the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews (IFCJ) to increase cooperation between the organizations. The IFCJ raises funds for Israeli and Jewish causes among American Evangelical congregations. IFCJ president Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein has been accused of cooperating with fundamentalist Christians and missionaries, and some ultra-Orthodox rabbis have banned using the money he raises. However, Eckstein has gained a position of influence and an open door to Israeli leaders due to the tens of millions of shekels he has funneled to Israel annually. A decade ago he was made an agency director, due to the large sums of money he raised for the organization. According to the agreement between the agency and the IFCJ, Eckstein will raise...
Israel, Syria message exchange ends in failure
An attempt to exchange messages between Israel and Syria in recent months has failed. European diplomatic sources said that the reason for the impasse was the inability to reach an agreed-upon agenda for talks between the two countries. But in off-the-record conversations, several sources close to Prime Minister Ehud Olmert say that "the Syrian track still has higher chances of success when compared to the Palestinian track." In the past few months, Israel approached Syrian President Bashar Assad via a number of friendly states, in an effort to evaluate the possibility of renewing direct contact. The main interlocutor in these exchanges has been Turkey, but Israel also made use of the good services of Germany, which still holds an open line of communications with Damascus. Following a series of exchanges, the view in Israel is that the seriousness of Syrian intentions is still questionable.
Report: Nuclear bunker built for Olmert's residence
A bunker is being built at Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's residence in order to withstand a nuclear or chemical attack, local media reported Thursday. Olmert's official residence in Jerusalem is under the construction of thickening walls, digging, and installing air purification equipment capable of countering chemical agents, according to local daily Yedioth Ahronoth.
Twilight Zone / Killed in the line of duty
This is a story about the pathetic attempt of the Palestinians to govern in what remains of their territories. A story about Israeli arrogance and a terrifyingly quick trigger finger. A story about our disdain for Palestinian lives. And a tragic story about Mohammed Salah, who because of his back pains stopped laying floors in construction projects in Ma'aleh Adumim and went to work for the Palestinian police force. This is a story that should not have happened. No excuse in the world can justify the brutal behavior of a dozen masked, undercover Israel Defense Forces soldiers, speeding in their commercial van through the streets of Bethlehem as though it were their city, disobeying instructions to stop. When they finally did stop, they shot an innocent policeman to death who had dared to open the door of their vehicle, not endangering anyone, only looking for stolen or other illegal merchandise.
Seeing and unseeing
"Chic Point:Fashion for Israeli Checkpoints," book and video clip in Arabic, English and Hebrew, designed by Sharif Waked, Andalus, 200 pages - Raise your sweater. I have seen this on television, but it never occurred to me that it would happen here, right in front of my own home. I lifted my arms. He raised his gun. I am telling you, raise your sweater. I had to concede ... what other choice did I have? I raised my sweater, but there were a couple of problems. First, my jacket was still covering part of my stomach and back. And second, I had a shirt on under the sweater. Take off your jacket. Pull up your undershirt. Now this was really complicating things. Where would I put my jacket? There was no way I would put it on the wet, dirty ground. I love this Bally jacket ... I turned to the soldier: Could you please hold my jacket while I pull up my sweater? Don't move, kneel down and pull up your clothes... His voice was getting louder and angrier. I tried to explain: But I am Jacques Persekian. I live right here. You see me every morning. My wife is called Hania, my sons are Rami, Amir...
Palestinian Initiative Offers Alternative to Fatah and Hamas
As one who for decades has supported a two-state solution and the nonviolent struggle for Palestinian rights, I view the recent Middle East peace conference in Annapolis, Md., with a great deal of skepticism -- and a glimmer of hope. Seven years with no negotiations -- and increasing numbers of Israeli settlers, an economic blockade in Gaza and an intricate network of roadblocks and checkpoints stifling movement in the West Bank -- have led us to despair and distrust. Any commitment must be made not only to conclude an agreement before the end of 2008 but also to end Israel's occupation.
Ahmadinejad to Hizbullah: Palestinian determination key to victory
According to the Iranian President's Bureau, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad met Wednesday night during a religious ceremony in Saudi Arabia with Hizbullah senior official Sheikh Muhammad Yazbak. Ahmadinejad told Yazbak that the situation in the PA was "terrible" and that "the Palestinian nation's determined (Islamic) opposition is the key to a crushing victory over the Zionist regime."
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