Shadi Fadda brings us today's headlines relating to Palestine and other news from around the internet.
Activism/Solidarity/Boycott, Sanctions and Divestment
Jamal Juma’, coordinator of the Stop the Wall Campaign, in Israeli jail
December 20th, 2009-- Jamal Juma’ was arrested by Israeli authorities on December 16. This latest arrest is yet another escalation of Israel’s attack on Palestinian human rights defenders and clamp down on the right to freedom of expression and the right to association.
http://stopthewall.org/
Free Jamal Juma’! - Free the anti-Wall prisoners!
December 21st, 2009-- Jamal Juma's arrest is yet another escalation of Israel’s attack on Palestinian human rights defenders, which continues to clamp down on the right to freedom of expression and the right to association. Join the campaign for Jamal Juma’s release and for the freedom of the anti-Wall prisoners! It is crucial that global civil society stands in solidarity with their Palestinian counterparts.
http://stopthewall.org/
Israel continues its assault on Palestinian nonviolent leaders, by Adam Horowitz
Israel’s campaign against Palestinian nonviolent grassroots activists is continuing. The latest leader to be arrested is Jamal Juma’. Juma’ has been the coordinator of the Palestinian Grassroots Anti-Apartheid Wall Campaign since 2002. His arrests follows those of Mohammad Othman, who had been promoting BDS in Europe, and Abdallah Abu Rahmah a leader of the weekly nonviolent protests against the wall in Bil’in.
http://mondoweiss.net/2009/12/
New York carolers sing for boycott of Leviev while Israel jails protesters’ Palestinian allies
New York, NY, December 19, 2009 – On a snowy Saturday afternoon, forty-five human rights carolers serenaded Madison Avenue shoppers with familiar holiday tunes outside the storefront of Israeli diamond and settlement mogul Lev Leviev, but their lyrics called for the boycott of Leviev’s companies. The New York protest took place against the backdrop of a growing arrest campaign by the Israeli military against Palestinian protest and boycott activists from West Bank villages where Leviev has built settlements.
http://palsolidarity.org/2009/
Palestinian Joke #134
Question: Where can Israel find the Palestinian Gandhi?
Answer: Exactly where they put him, in administrative detention.
http://mondoweiss.net/2009/12/
Pro-Apartheid
$7 million muzzling shocker- Canadian government cuts off funds for church group it calls anti-Semitic
Despite a 35-year collaboration, the Canadian church group KAIROS: Canadian Ecumenical Justice Initiatives, “one of Canada’s most respected and important charitable organizations,” was stunned when their likely routine 7 million dollar request for the human rights program was denied by the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA). But they were even more surprised when they discovered why: although the group’s board had made public their opposition to sanctions and boycotts against Israel 2 years earlier, Citizenship and Immigration Minister Jason Kenney in a speech he gave this week in Israel charged the group with being anti-Semitic for “taking a leadership role in the boycott.” Kenney, speaking at the Global Forum for Combating Anti-Semitism, said they were “defunding” groups as part of their new “zero-tolerance” approach to anti-Semitism.
(Read the full text of his speech here. )
http://www.muzzlewatch.com/
Violence and Aggression/Detainees
Israeli incursion, shelling reported in Gaza
Gaza – Ma’an – Twenty Israeli military vehicles backed by Apache helicopters invaded the northern Gaza Strip on Sunday night, witnesses reported. Palestinians said they saw the vehicles operating in the Al-Ghoul area, northwest of Gaza City. Gunfire was also heard in the area. An Israeli military representative said the report would be investigated.
http://www.maannews.net/eng/
Armed Israeli settlers open fire at Palestinian farmers in Beit Ummar town
A number of Palestinian farmers on Sunday afternoon miraculously survived a gunfire attack by a bunch of armed Israeli settlers near the town of Beit Ummar, north of Al-Khalil.
http://www.palestine-info.co.
The Israeli Military Kidnaps Five Civilians From Southern West Bank
Five Palestinian civilians were kidnapped on Monday by Israeli troops during military invasions targeting the southern West Bank city of Hebron and nearby villages.
http://www.imemc.org/index.
Resistance Retaliates
Resistance fighters engage advancing IOF troops in northern Gaza
Palestinian resistance fighters engaged special Israeli forces east of Beit Hanun town in northern Gaza Strip at dawn Monday, local sources told the PIC reporter.
http://www.palestine-info.co.
Racism and Discrimination Against Arabs
Jerusalem mayor cuts health funds for Arab children
Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat on Thursday rejected municipal recommendations and cut funding for a toddler health-care center in East Jerusalem, while approving aid to a similar center in a Jewish neighborhood. The funds would have gone to opening a branch of the "Drop of Milk" (Tipat Halav) program, which provides prenatal and toddler health-care services in Silwan, an Arab neighborhood in East Jerusalem.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/
MK Schneller slams Hotovely's remarks on citizenship for Palestinians
Knesset Member Otniel Schneller (Kadima) commented on MK Tzipi Hotovely's remarks regarding the granting of citizenship to Palestinians and said they suggested "an end of the State of Israel as a Jewish Zionist state" and signified "the loss of Jewish rule, turning us to exiles in the land of Israel."
http://www.ynetnews.com/
Humanitarian Issues
"We work with death to be able to live"
Gaza, December 21, 2009 (Pal Telegraph) - Three days ago, I woke up early, left my house and on my way I met a friend who was angry and I asked him "what's up with you? He replied:" 4 Palestinians died in tunnels collapse". I got nervous and asked him what do you mean? "Our friends Ahmad, his brother and his uncle died in tunnel collapsed on Tuesday night, in Rafah" he replied. At the first time, I have been shocked then I said may Allah rest their souls in perfect peace, and then we went together to see them for the last time.
http://www.paltelegraph.com/
Arabs in the Service of Zionism
Egypt's barrier along Gaza border called 'wall of shame'
The underground barrier meant to prevent smuggling shows that Egypt is siding with Israel, Arab commentators say. 'It is like a total obedience to the American recommendations,' a Cairo editor says.
http://www.latimes.com/news/
Egypt bans pro-Gaza march on its territory
Cairo on Monday rejected a request by international activisits to organise a march to the Gaza Strip via Egypt to mark one year since an Israeli attack on the enclave. "Some international organisations have requested permission for a solidarity march -- the Gaza Freedom March -- into the Gaza Strip," the Egyptian foreign ministry said in a statement. "Egypt finds it difficult to cooperate with this march considering the sensitive situation in the Gaza Strip," which faces a stringent Israeli blockade, the statement said.
http://www.hindustantimes.com/
Same old Amreeka
Obama approves $30billion aid to Israel
Jewish state receives $2.775 billion as part of agreement granting it $30 billion in coming decade.
http://www.ynetnews.com/
Political Developments
Israel debates prisoner swap
Security cabinet reportedly deadlocked over deal for captured Israeli soldier.
http://english.aljazeera.net/
Mousa: Ahmed's statement a blow to national unity
Hamas MP Yahya Mousa strongly denounced Fatah official Azzam Al-Ahmed for calling for a popular uprising against the Palestinian government in Gaza, saying that it dealt a blow to national unity.
http://www.palestine-info.co.
Other News
Turkey President: I'll visit Israel only after life in Gaza improves
Turkish President Abdullah Gul told President Shimon Peres at a private meeting in Copenhagen on Friday that only after Israel takes action to improve the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip would he pay Israel a visit.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/
Egypt's intel chief meets top Israeli officials (AFP)
AFP - Egypt's intelligence chief Omar Suleiman was in Israel on Sunday to meet with top officials during a low-profile visit to the Jewish state, an Israeli official said.
http://us.rd.yahoo.com/
Riz Khan - RE-STARTING THE STALLED MIDDLE EAST PEACE PROCESS
Contentious final status issues holding back peace between Israelis and Palestinians - such as the question of Jerusalem as a capital and the future of Israeli settlements in the occupied territories - are once again flaring up. Several thousand Israeli settlers demonstrated recently in Jerusalem, denouncing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for a perceived lack of support in ordering a freeze on some settlement building a few weeks ago. Israeli leaders are also displeased with a recent European Union document suggesting that East Jerusalem should be the capital of a future Palestinian state. Is the U.S. on the right track with its policy on the Israeli-Palestinian peace process? U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton talks with Riz about the approach she will take to get things moving again in the region. And joining Riz to discuss Secretary Clintons comments is former U.S. ambassador Philip Wilcox, president of the Foundation for Middle East Peace, and Daniel Levy, director of the Middle East Initiative at the New America Foundation.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=syLMUw7UEjE&feature=youtube_gdata
Gaza's Christians pray they'll reach Bethlehem
Gaza – Ma’an – As pilgrims from across the world descend on the West Bank city of Bethlehem for Christmas, Palestinian Christians trapped in Gaza are left to pray that they will be allowed to attend this year’s celebration. “Oh Lord of peace, grant our country peace, plant the fruit of love in our hearts and give us freedom ... We want to live like everyone else. We pray in this feast that the Palestinian people would reconcile, the siege would be lifted, and we would be able to go to Bethlehem, the birthplace of our Lord.”
http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=248457
Gaza's Christians pray they'll reach Bethlehem
Gaza – Ma’an – As pilgrims from across the world descend on the West Bank city of Bethlehem for Christmas, Palestinian Christians trapped in Gaza are left to pray that they will be allowed to attend this year’s celebration. “Oh Lord of peace, grant our country peace, plant the fruit of love in our hearts and give us freedom ... We want to live like everyone else. We pray in this feast that the Palestinian people would reconcile, the siege would be lifted, and we would be able to go to Bethlehem, the birthplace of our Lord.”
http://www.maannews.net/eng/
Settler activist: 'We are preparing a series of surprises' for the army
Right-wing activists began preparing on Sunday for a fight against the planned demolition of structures built in contravention of the 10-month freeze on construction in West Bank settlements. The demolition plans were described in an internal Israel Defense Forces memo detailing the intelligence-gathering methods to be used to detect freeze violations. The memo was leaked to the press on Sunday.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/
Israeli teacher's blog: I'd like to spray class with machine gun
"I feel like spraying the classroom with a submachine gun just to get some peace and quiet." This statement appears on the blog of someone who goes to a Tel Aviv junior high everyday - but he is not a student. The author of these disturbing lines is a math teacher whose strongly worded online journal deals with many of the difficulties burdening teachers in Israeli schools, and also mirrors some of their attitudes.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/
Israel to seek another 1b euros Holocaust in reparations from Germany
Finance Minister Yuval Steinitz will demand between 450 million to 1 billion euros in reparations from Germany on behalf of Jews forced into slave labor during the Holocaust, it emerged on Sunday. Minister Steinitz will reportedly present German government with the demand on behalf of 30,000 Israeli survivors of forced labor in wartime ghettos, during a joint session scheduled to take place in early 2010 in Berlin.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/
Analysis/Op-ed/Human Interest
Abbas' Last Move
To an outsider, his curriculum vita is pretty impressive. He is the head of the Palestinian Authority, the PLO chairman and the head of Fateh. And if that were not enough, he was internally elected by the PLO as the "President of Palestine." On paper, Mahmoud Abbas seems to be a very powerful and influential man indeed. In reality, however, he is in somewhat of a pickle.
http://www.miftah.org/Display.
Steps to create an Israel-Palestine, by Jonathan Kuttab
For a while, it seemed that a two-state solution might actually be achievable and that a sovereign Palestinian state would be created in the West Bank and Gaza, allowing Jews and Palestinians at last to go their separate ways. But these days, that looks less and less likely. With Israel in total control of the territory from the Mediterranean to the Jordan River and unwilling to relinquish a significant part of the land, it's time to consider the possibility that the current situation -- one state, in effect -- will continue. And although Jewish Israelis may control it now, birthrates suggest that, sooner or later, Jews will again be a minority in the territory.
http://www.latimes.com/news/
Let's go back to 'Greater Israel', by Akiva Eldar
These days, it's tough to find a used car with a bumper sticker that reads "Peace is better than a Greater Israel." Nowadays, everyone seems to favor the latest formula: two states for two peoples. A few people on the right-hand margins are sticking to the belief that there's no difference between Yitzhar and Herzliya, but turbulent debates about the "heritage of the fathers" have given way to a consensus over "dividing the land." Instead of talking about the country's "narrow hips," we are erecting a fence that approximates the route of the Green Line. Even the old "no partner" mantra has been replaced by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's "repeated call" to the Palestinians to sit at the negotiating table. So if it's all so good, why is it so bad?
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/
Conflict of Loyalty - 20 Dec 09 - Part 4
A look at the questions of loyalty and identity faced by Israel's 100,000-strong Druze community.
Sign stolen, Berlanty Azzam, film maker's award returned, Sheikh Jarrah, and a link to a video
The events in Sheikh Jarrah continue to be heartbreaking. The 2 final items below deal with it. However do not let them take your attention off of what is happening elsewhere in the West Bank and in Gaza. Don’t, that is, allow Sheikh Jarrah, however inhumane the events there are, to throw you off the track. Israel is ever more tightening its grip on the West Bank, and, as for Gaza, it must be next to impossible to survive there.
http://groups.google.com/
Bended Knees: Zionist Power in American Politics
http://www.lahaine.org/petras/
Iraq
Iraq town council chief killed in suicide bombing (AFP)
AFP - The district council chief of the northern Iraqi town of Tal Afar and one of his guards were killed in a suicide bombing on Monday, while a police officer died in a Baghdad bombing, police said.
http://us.rd.yahoo.com/
3 killed by bomb near Baghdad restaurant
A car bomb exploded outside a popular restaurant in central Baghdad last evening, killing three people and wounding 16 as diners were out enjoying the start to their weekend, police and hospital officials said.
http://www.boston.com/news/
Government to redevelop Sadr township in Baghdad
The government has drawn up plans to build 30,000 housing units in the low-income neighborhood of Sadr City, a slum area where more than 2 million people live. The city was formerly known as al-Thawra or Revolution but was renamed for Sadr, a senior Shiite cleric whose mysterious death the country’s Shiite Muslims blame on former leader Saddam Hussein.
http://www.azzaman.com/
Iraq wants more Iranian pilgrims to visit
Iraq has asked Iran to allow more Iranian pilgrims to visit holy shrines in Najaf and Karbala. The number of Iranians visiting Iraq has dropped to 1500 from 5000. The slump has adversely affected tourism industry in both cities. Najaf and Karbala rely heavily on tourism revenues and the drop is reported to have caused restaurants and hotels to lay off personnel. It is not clear whether Iran would go ahead and allow more pilgrims to visit although the request was officially made by Najaf’s provincial council headed by Qaed Kadhem.
http://www.azzaman.com/
Egypt's presence in Iraq would 'create balance' (AFP)
AFP - Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari called on Monday for a stronger Egyptian presence in Iraq to create balance in his country, which has been plagued by a recent spate of deadly attacks.
http://us.rd.yahoo.com/
The big moment: 'The hunt for the Iraqi leader is over – but why isn't the US winning the war?'
Saddam Hussein had been president of Iraq for nearly 24 years when he was toppled in the wake of the Western alliance's invasion in April 2003. He was on the run for eight months before US forces discovered him hiding in a farmhouse near his home town of Tikrit. He was tried and found guilty of crimes against humanity, and hanged in December 2006.
http://www.independent.co.uk/
Iraq: Oct/Nov ‘09
Scores attend series of IWPR training sessions on media law and journalists’ rights. By IWPR staff in Iraq.
http://www.iwpr.net/EN-icr-f-
Lebanon
Report: Syrian teen killed in north Lebanon shooting
Bethlehem – Ma’an – A teenager was killed when a bus carrying 25 Syrian passengers came under fire in northern Lebanon at 2am on Monday, the country’s National News Agency (NNA) reported. The agency identified the casualty as 18-year-old “Abdullah A. A.” The shooting took place in the town of Deir Ammar, on the highway between Akkar and Tripoli.
http://www.maannews.net/eng/
Bus carrying Syrian workers attacked in Lebanon
A bus carrying Syrian workers in northern Lebanon has come under fire and at least one person has been shot dead, security sources say. Several others were reported injured by shattered glass during the attack. The incident took place near an army checkpoint in the Deir Emar district, some three miles (5km) north of the city of Tripoli. The bus was taking Syrian labourers along the main highway between northern Lebanon and Syria. One eyewitness said the vehicle's tyres had bullet holes and several windows on the driver's side were shattered by the shots.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/
Video (Arabic) of Sayyed Nasrallah's Speech on December 19th
http://www.almanar.com.lb/
Nasrallah: 'Mercenaries' oppose our arms
Hizbullah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah slammed as "mercenaries" those who criticize his party's possession of arms."Has it become a shame to possess the power of resistance and defense, and own the ability to harm the enemy and create the right balance?" the secretary general of Hizbullah asked during a speech to mark the third night of Ashura.
http://www.dailystar.com.lb/
Sayyed Nasrallah: Political Actors Still Being Bribed to Criticize Resistance
20/12/2009 Hezbollah Secretary General Sayyed Hasan Nasrallah said on Saturday that Prime Minister Saad Hariri’s visit to Syria this weekend is a positive step that promotes a calm and relaxing climate in Lebanon. Speaking at the Central Ashoura gathering hosted by Hezbollah in Sayyed Alshouhada Compound at Beirut's southern suburb, Sayyed Nasrallah said that despite this, some [political] actors are still being bribed to continue criticizing the Resistance and its weapons.
http://almanar.com.lb/
Jumblatt pays respects to Druze Prince Arslan
The coastal town of Khaldeh and the Arslan family bid farewell on Sunday to Prince Faysal Arslan who passed away last week."Emir Arslan served the path of Arabism and was a real fighter," said Druze spiritual leader Sheikh Nasereddine al-Gharib said during Arslan's funeral on Sunday.
http://www.dailystar.com.lb/
Hariri: Talks with Assad were excellent and frank
Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri wound up Sunday a landmark visit to Damascus and talks with Syrian President Bashar Assad to open a new phase to improve ties between the two countries based on openness and transparency. Hariri, who has blamed Syria for the assassination of his father in 2005, said he hoped that strategic ties with Syria could help boost joint interests.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/
Other Arab News
Arabic: As`ad Abukhalil on Al Jazeera
1st Part
2nd Part
3rd Part
4th Part
5th Part
As`ad Abukhalil at U Mass, Dartmouth
Syria's youth flaunt new wealth
Western clothing and leisure brands are finding a new market among those young Syrians who can make the most of an economy that is gradually opening to the outside world. As`ad Abukhalil at U Mass, Dartmouth
Part I
Part II
Part III
Part IV
Syria's youth flaunt new wealthhttp://www.atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/KL22Ak01.html
The Arab street- Doha - 21 Dec 09 - Pt 1
Rapid population growth, the presence of US troops and Qatars bid to host the 2022 World Cup. Subjects that excite strong opinions in the capital, Doha.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yU7zU0E6RfE&feature=youtube_gdata
The Arab street- Doha - 21 Dec 09 - Pt 2
Rapid population growth, the presence of US troops and Qatars bid to host the 2022 World Cup. Subjects that excite strong opinions in the capital, Doha.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=58wOtGofdbE&feature=youtube_gdata
The Arab street- Doha - 21 Dec 09 - Pt 1
Rapid population growth, the presence of US troops and Qatars bid to host the 2022 World Cup. Subjects that excite strong opinions in the capital, Doha.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?
The Arab street- Doha - 21 Dec 09 - Pt 2
Rapid population growth, the presence of US troops and Qatars bid to host the 2022 World Cup. Subjects that excite strong opinions in the capital, Doha.
Nefertiti bust 'could return to Egypt' - 20 Dec 09
She was considered Egypt's most beautiful queen but Nefertiti's iconic image has stood in Germany for the last 100 years. Now officials from both countries are talking about the Germans possibly "lending" her statue back to Egypt. The Egyptians claim they were tricked into letting the bust go in the first place. Rawya Rageh reports.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?
Other world news
Iran mourns Montazeri death - 21 Dec 09
Millions of Iranians are mourning the death of Grand Ayatollah Hossein Ali Montazeri who is due to be buried in the holy city of Qom on Monday. Montazeri, who died on Sunday aged 87, was one of the architects of Iran's Islamic Revolution but eventually became one of the government's fiercest critics. Montazeri's stance against Iran's leadership made him a hero of the country's opposition, while his criticisms were all the more stinging because of his stature as one of Shia Islam's most revered clerics. Al Jazeera's Nazanine Sadri reports.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?
www.TheHeadlines.org
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