31 dec 2012
Israel To Displace 1000 Palestinians Next Wednesday
Head of the Wadi Al-Maleh area, in the northern plains of the occupied West Bank, Aref Daraghma, stated that the Israeli army intends to displace around 10000 Palestinian Bedouins in the area in order to conduct military training.
Daraghma said that the Israeli army handed written military orders to the residents stating that they should leave as the soldiers will be using live ammunition in military drills in the area, the Palestine News Network (PNN) reported.
He added that the grazing area, inhabited by the shepherds, includes Wadi Al-Maleh, Ein Al-Hilwa, Al-Faw Valley, Al-Meeta, Al-Borj, and other villages.
The army informed the residents that they have until the morning of this coming Wednesday before the army conducts its trainings in the northern plains.
Israel performed similar military drills in the areas last summer forcing dozens of families to leave their homes seeking shelter in other areas until all drills were concluded.
Thousands of Palestinians have been displaced and repeatedly removed from the area since Israel occupied the West Bank in 1967. Israel also demolished dozens of entire villages inhabited by Bedouins and shepherds.
Daraghma said that the Israeli army handed written military orders to the residents stating that they should leave as the soldiers will be using live ammunition in military drills in the area, the Palestine News Network (PNN) reported.
He added that the grazing area, inhabited by the shepherds, includes Wadi Al-Maleh, Ein Al-Hilwa, Al-Faw Valley, Al-Meeta, Al-Borj, and other villages.
The army informed the residents that they have until the morning of this coming Wednesday before the army conducts its trainings in the northern plains.
Israel performed similar military drills in the areas last summer forcing dozens of families to leave their homes seeking shelter in other areas until all drills were concluded.
Thousands of Palestinians have been displaced and repeatedly removed from the area since Israel occupied the West Bank in 1967. Israel also demolished dozens of entire villages inhabited by Bedouins and shepherds.
Assault on MK Tibi at a seminar at Bar-Ilan University
Knesset Member Ahmad Tibi (United Arab List-Ta'al) was assaulted by students during a debate held on Sunday between him and MK Arieh Eldad (Otzma LeYisrael) about the Israeli election at the Bar-Ilan University.
A statement issued by the Office of Tibi confirmed that several Jewish students, who attended the debate, have assaulted him, yelling at Tibi: "You're a child murderer, go to Gaza, go to Syria. That's the place for you." While Arab students stated that at least one girl, around the age of 16, has tried to spit at the MK Tibi.
The statement added that policemen and university security guards arrived at the scene and escorted Tibi through a side room for his protection.
MK Arieh Eldad, chairman of the Otzma LeYisrael party, blamed Tibi for the commotion: "During the debate spirits ran high and most students probably couldn't tolerate Tibi's tone and his claim of ownership to the land of Israel and rejection of the right of the Jewish people to a democratic state," he said justifying the students' assault on Tibi.
Tibi said in response, "I will not be daunted and will go anywhere, even if there are racists there. I will make my voice and that of the Arab public be heard with my head held high."
"The settlements are cancerous tumors, must be eradicated," Tibi said at one point during the debate, and after a response from the audience, he said "I support the Palestinian people's struggle for liberation, it is the duty of the people to struggle against occupation.. I do not recognize what you call "the land of Israel".
At the end of the confrontation between the Jewish students and Arab students who tried to protect MK Tibi, the security men escorted Tibi through a side room, while the University administration and students unions condemned the assault on the MK Tibi.
A statement issued by the Office of Tibi confirmed that several Jewish students, who attended the debate, have assaulted him, yelling at Tibi: "You're a child murderer, go to Gaza, go to Syria. That's the place for you." While Arab students stated that at least one girl, around the age of 16, has tried to spit at the MK Tibi.
The statement added that policemen and university security guards arrived at the scene and escorted Tibi through a side room for his protection.
MK Arieh Eldad, chairman of the Otzma LeYisrael party, blamed Tibi for the commotion: "During the debate spirits ran high and most students probably couldn't tolerate Tibi's tone and his claim of ownership to the land of Israel and rejection of the right of the Jewish people to a democratic state," he said justifying the students' assault on Tibi.
Tibi said in response, "I will not be daunted and will go anywhere, even if there are racists there. I will make my voice and that of the Arab public be heard with my head held high."
"The settlements are cancerous tumors, must be eradicated," Tibi said at one point during the debate, and after a response from the audience, he said "I support the Palestinian people's struggle for liberation, it is the duty of the people to struggle against occupation.. I do not recognize what you call "the land of Israel".
At the end of the confrontation between the Jewish students and Arab students who tried to protect MK Tibi, the security men escorted Tibi through a side room, while the University administration and students unions condemned the assault on the MK Tibi.
Justice ministry: Delegation in Cairo not to discuss calm with occupation
The ministry of justice in Gaza has denied press reports that its delegation in Cairo was there to conduct discussions with a similar Israeli delegation on a number of calm agreement issues.
The ministry said that its delegation left to Cairo to attend a special legal course in line with cooperation between the ministry and its counterpart in Egypt.
It urged the media to scrutinize news before publishing them and to take the news from the official sources.
A number of media outlets claimed that a 13-member delegation of the Palestinian justice ministry, comprising judges and legal advisors, arrived in Cairo on Friday night to discuss the indirect calm agreement with Israel and other issues.
The ministry said that the report was not true and that the delegation was in Cairo to benefit from the Egyptian legal expertise and to elevate competence of its legal cadres.
The ministry said that its delegation left to Cairo to attend a special legal course in line with cooperation between the ministry and its counterpart in Egypt.
It urged the media to scrutinize news before publishing them and to take the news from the official sources.
A number of media outlets claimed that a 13-member delegation of the Palestinian justice ministry, comprising judges and legal advisors, arrived in Cairo on Friday night to discuss the indirect calm agreement with Israel and other issues.
The ministry said that the report was not true and that the delegation was in Cairo to benefit from the Egyptian legal expertise and to elevate competence of its legal cadres.
Israeli High Court Overturns Zoabi Ban
The Israeli High Court has overturned on Sunday the ban of Haneen Zoabi of the Balad Party from running for re-election to her position in the Knesset, Israel's parliament. Zoabi, a Palestinian who has Israeli citizenship, was banned from running in the upcoming elections by the Elections Committee predominantly due to her participation in the 2010 "Freedom Flotilla." She was aboard the MV Mavi Marmara, on which 9 Turkish citizens were killed; the UN's investigation into the killings deemed that 5 of the 9 were executions.
Following Zoabi's participation in the flotilla, several Israel politicians pushed not only for the revocation of her position in the Israeli parliament, and with it her protection from prosecution, but also the revocation of her Israeli citizenship. Zoabi was born in Nazareth, in Israel's north, one of the few places in Israel where Palestinians were not expelled from in 1948, leading to the creation of the State of Israel.
Zoabi has also faced persecution from her colleagues in the Knesset for her work against Israel's discriminatory practices against Palestinian citizens of Israel, and the State's occupation of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.
Israel currently has more than 30 laws that explicitly discriminate against Palestinian citizens of Israel.
The High Court has not issued a detailed report on its verdict; it will follow in the coming days.
Following Zoabi's participation in the flotilla, several Israel politicians pushed not only for the revocation of her position in the Israeli parliament, and with it her protection from prosecution, but also the revocation of her Israeli citizenship. Zoabi was born in Nazareth, in Israel's north, one of the few places in Israel where Palestinians were not expelled from in 1948, leading to the creation of the State of Israel.
Zoabi has also faced persecution from her colleagues in the Knesset for her work against Israel's discriminatory practices against Palestinian citizens of Israel, and the State's occupation of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.
Israel currently has more than 30 laws that explicitly discriminate against Palestinian citizens of Israel.
The High Court has not issued a detailed report on its verdict; it will follow in the coming days.
Peres: “Abbas Is Israel’s Peace Partner”
Israeli President, Shimon Peres, stated Sunday that Israel has a partner in the “peace process”, and that this partner is Palestinian President, Mahmoud Abbas; Peres warned that the lack of an agreement with the Palestinians “threatens the Zionist project”, and the “Jewish nature of Israel”.
Israeli “Jerusalem Post” reported that the statements of Peres came in front of 160 Israeli diplomats. The Israeli president said that the entire region is undergoing a transitional era, adding that “it is impossible for Israel to impact the Arab world while practically every Arab state is going through a sort of struggle”.
Peres said that Israel has nothing to do with what is happening in the Arab world, but added that “it is more important for Israel to be part of what is happening on the ground rather than what is happening during its government meetings”.
He also stated that he does not approve of the opinion of Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, who says that there is no Palestinian partner for peace, and added that he (Peres) have known Mahmoud Abbas for more than 30 years, and is convinced that Abbas is the only leader that Israel can reach a peace agreement with.
Peres acknowledged that what Abbas did on the international level, by heading to the United Nations, and obtaining recognition of Palestine as a nonmember state at the UN General Assembly, and that what Abbas says to the international community is not illegal, and added that “Abbas is the only Arab leader who openly stated that he wants peace, and opposes terrorism”.
The Israeli president also said that Abbas “showed courage in preventing terrorism, even when his position posed a threat to his life.”
According to the Jerusalem Post, Peres asked the Israeli ambassadors to place themselves in the shoes of Abbas and see if they can do what he did by forfeiting his right to return to his hometown, Safad, which became part of the state of Israel.
Peres claimed that the Israelis want peace, but not all of them believe that this peace can be achieved, and added that he is convinced that once the Palestinian issue is resolved, Israel will be able to play a more important role in the Middle East.
Israeli “Jerusalem Post” reported that the statements of Peres came in front of 160 Israeli diplomats. The Israeli president said that the entire region is undergoing a transitional era, adding that “it is impossible for Israel to impact the Arab world while practically every Arab state is going through a sort of struggle”.
Peres said that Israel has nothing to do with what is happening in the Arab world, but added that “it is more important for Israel to be part of what is happening on the ground rather than what is happening during its government meetings”.
He also stated that he does not approve of the opinion of Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, who says that there is no Palestinian partner for peace, and added that he (Peres) have known Mahmoud Abbas for more than 30 years, and is convinced that Abbas is the only leader that Israel can reach a peace agreement with.
Peres acknowledged that what Abbas did on the international level, by heading to the United Nations, and obtaining recognition of Palestine as a nonmember state at the UN General Assembly, and that what Abbas says to the international community is not illegal, and added that “Abbas is the only Arab leader who openly stated that he wants peace, and opposes terrorism”.
The Israeli president also said that Abbas “showed courage in preventing terrorism, even when his position posed a threat to his life.”
According to the Jerusalem Post, Peres asked the Israeli ambassadors to place themselves in the shoes of Abbas and see if they can do what he did by forfeiting his right to return to his hometown, Safad, which became part of the state of Israel.
Peres claimed that the Israelis want peace, but not all of them believe that this peace can be achieved, and added that he is convinced that once the Palestinian issue is resolved, Israel will be able to play a more important role in the Middle East.
30 dec 2012
Indictment served against former Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman
Lieberman expected to face charges of greater severity than originally expected, which could lead the court to attach moral turpitude to his sentence and endanger his political future.
An indictment was submitted to the Jerusalem Magistrate's Court on Sunday morning against former Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman concerning the appointment of Ze'ev Ben Aryeh as Israel's ambassador to Latvia. Lieberman has been charged for fraud and breach of trust for his alleged involvement in Ben Aryeh's appointment, after Ben Aryeh passed on confidential information concerning an investigation against Lieberman in Belarus.
Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon, who Lieberman recently dismissed from the Yisrael Beiteinu election slate, was to testify against him. The increased severity of the charge sheet could influence the court's decision whether to assign moral turpitude to Lieberman, which could endanger his political future.
The timing of the indictment appears to have dashed Lieberman's hope to wrap up his trial before the Knesset elections in three weeks.
If there will be no plea bargain and the election will be held before the case comes to court, Lieberman may continue to serve as a Knesset member but will have to wait for a verdict before ascertaining whether he can be reappointed as a minister.
If Lieberman is convicted for a charge that carries moral turpitude after he is elected to the next Knesset he will have to resign immediately. If he is found guilty of a charge that carries moral turpitude and imprisoned for at least three months, he will be banned for competing for a Knesset seat for seven years from the end of his prison term.
In the less likely event of convicting before the election on a charge that carries moral turpitude but without imprisonment, Lieberman will have to resign from the present Knesset but can run for the next Knesset.
In the amended indictment Attorney General Yehuda Weinstein accuses Lieberman of active involvement in promoting Ben Aryeh's appointment as ambassador.
Lieberman allegedly told Ayalon to appoint Ben Aryeh ahead of a ministerial appointments committee meeting. Although he did not know Ben Aryeh at the time, Ayalon promoted Ben Aryeh's selection from among 10 candidates.
According to the charge sheet, the appointment was "a reward for someone" who had helped Lieberman.
A spokesperson for Yisrael Beiteinu said that "MK Lieberman wants to see the matter quickly resolved in court, which is why he immediately forfeited his immunity upon receiving the attorney general's notice, which followed his resignation as foreign minister, so that the case will be resolved in court, and only there." The spokesperson added, "All the rumors of a plea bargain are baseless."
An indictment was submitted to the Jerusalem Magistrate's Court on Sunday morning against former Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman concerning the appointment of Ze'ev Ben Aryeh as Israel's ambassador to Latvia. Lieberman has been charged for fraud and breach of trust for his alleged involvement in Ben Aryeh's appointment, after Ben Aryeh passed on confidential information concerning an investigation against Lieberman in Belarus.
Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon, who Lieberman recently dismissed from the Yisrael Beiteinu election slate, was to testify against him. The increased severity of the charge sheet could influence the court's decision whether to assign moral turpitude to Lieberman, which could endanger his political future.
The timing of the indictment appears to have dashed Lieberman's hope to wrap up his trial before the Knesset elections in three weeks.
If there will be no plea bargain and the election will be held before the case comes to court, Lieberman may continue to serve as a Knesset member but will have to wait for a verdict before ascertaining whether he can be reappointed as a minister.
If Lieberman is convicted for a charge that carries moral turpitude after he is elected to the next Knesset he will have to resign immediately. If he is found guilty of a charge that carries moral turpitude and imprisoned for at least three months, he will be banned for competing for a Knesset seat for seven years from the end of his prison term.
In the less likely event of convicting before the election on a charge that carries moral turpitude but without imprisonment, Lieberman will have to resign from the present Knesset but can run for the next Knesset.
In the amended indictment Attorney General Yehuda Weinstein accuses Lieberman of active involvement in promoting Ben Aryeh's appointment as ambassador.
Lieberman allegedly told Ayalon to appoint Ben Aryeh ahead of a ministerial appointments committee meeting. Although he did not know Ben Aryeh at the time, Ayalon promoted Ben Aryeh's selection from among 10 candidates.
According to the charge sheet, the appointment was "a reward for someone" who had helped Lieberman.
A spokesperson for Yisrael Beiteinu said that "MK Lieberman wants to see the matter quickly resolved in court, which is why he immediately forfeited his immunity upon receiving the attorney general's notice, which followed his resignation as foreign minister, so that the case will be resolved in court, and only there." The spokesperson added, "All the rumors of a plea bargain are baseless."
27 dec 2012
Nations don't live by F-16s alone
By Khalid Amayreh
Binyamin Netanyahu and Avigdor leiberman are the perfect fascist couple that will shape Israeli policy and lead the Zionist entity for the next few years. Netanyahu is a notorious-propagandist turned politician, who is indoctrinated in Zio-Nazism. His views, political behaviors and especially his actions testify to this prognosis.
Not only does Netanyahu believe in the "inherent superiority" of Jews over non-Jews, but he seems to be a firm believer in the Nazi doctrine of Lebensraum. This is why he wastes no time trying to seize additional Arab land to incorporate into Israel. This is exactly what Nazi Germany did when it sought territorial aggrandizement at the expense of its neighbors, which ignited the Second World War.
The Nazi leadership sought to justify its expansionism policy by arguing that Germany merely needed a breathing space, and that the acquisition of neighbors' territories by force would eventually bring lasting stability and peace. Netanyahu and other Zionist leaders are virtually making the same argument.
Indeed, when trying to defend the manifestly criminal policy of confiscating Arab land (confiscating is euphemism for stealing), Netanyahu would claim that Israel is only recovering ancient Jewish land and that the actual theft of Arab land would have no effect on the so-called peace process.
In short, the Israeli premier just practices brash lying just as he breathes the oxygen of life. This is the leader of a state that claims to adhere to the Torah of Moses which teaches "thou shall not lie."
Like most other politicians, Netanyahu lies knowingly and deliberately, even enthusiastically. However, he thinks that lying, even in its ugliest form, is a necessary part of being a successful politician.
To be sure, Netanyahu is not really a shrewd or wise politician. He is actually a visionless, tactless and dishonest extremist who is leading Jews to disaster. Netanyahu and like-minded Israeli leaders have effectively decapitated any remaining chances for peace, not only with the Palestinians, but also with the Muslim world.
With characteristic arrogance, Netanyahu thinks Israel will remain strong forever and Muslims will remain weak forever. But that is no less than moral and historical blindness. It is a blindness the consequences of which Jews will undoubtedly suffer rather badly and for a long time. This is because the strong, whether the Roman Empire, or the Ottoman State, or Great Britain, or the Soviet Union, doesn't remain strong forever nor does the weak remain weak for ever. This is an evident and timeless historical axiom that never stops functioning, regardless of time and place.
Besides, Muslims are not known for having a short historical memory. The Crusades had occupied Palestine for over 120 years. They murdered untold numbers of Muslims (and Christians). They actually converted the Aqsa Mosque into a stable for their horses.
There is no doubt that Israel is moving on a losing course as the facts of geography and history stand decidedly against the Zionist enterprise. The Crusades created kingdoms and fiefdoms in Palestine and elsewhere in the region which lasted for a longer duration than has Israel.
But, the Crusades met their ultimate fate because they couldn't overcome the basic dichotomy between their colonialist dreams and the geographic and demographic realities of the Middle East.
Eventually, Israel will have to meet the same fate of the Crusades.
Yes, Israel does possess a huge arsenal of deadly weapons. Israel also controls the politics and policies of the United States. But states also need a real moral fabric to survive the treacherous pitfalls of history. Nations don’t live by F-16s alone.
As to Leiberman, he represents the Stalinist part of Netanyahu, but obviously without Stalin's intelligence.
Leiberman is notorious for his Nazi-like ideas, which include, inter alia, a proposed blanket bombing of Palestinian population centers, drowning Palestinian political prisoners in the Dead Sea and bombing the Aswan High Dam in Egypt .
Leiberman is also a known proponent of ethnic cleansing of Palestinians not only in the West Bank but also across the Green Line, e.g. in the territories occupied in 1948.
Leiberman and Netanyahu are expected to receive the biggest share of votes in the upcoming Israeli elections scheduled for 22 January. This is a telling fact about the collective mentality of the bulk of the Israeli Jewish society.
Hence, pundits predict the next Israeli government will be the most extremist ever since the establishment of the Jewish state in 1948. This means that all remaining hopes for a peaceful settlement between Israel and the Palestinians, especially one based on the land-for peace formula and the two-state solution strategy will evaporate. In fact, vestiges of the next government's policies are already apparent before our eyes with the latest plethora of Israeli government decisions to build thousands of additional settler units all over the West Bank, especially in occupied East Jerusalem.
Some naïve or overly optimistic observers would argue that the international community will not allow Israel to destroy the peace process and therefore perpetuate the conflict in a sensitive part of the world for many decades to come.
But such dismal arguments are based on wishful thinking as well as the erroneous presumption that the international community has the ability and resolve to restrain Israel, let alone force the Jewish state to give up the occupied territories which Israel seized in 1967.
The truth of the matter is that both Europe and the United States lack the ability, even if they had the inclination, to force Israel to walk in the path of peace.
This is not only due to the fact that Israel and her supporters and allies in Washington dominate the American government, especially the Congress.
The situation on the ground in the West Bank, especially in Jerusalem, is extremely unlikely to enable any prospective Israeli government to undo the settlement enterprise since doing so would be a political suicide for any government.
And if we add the other equally insurmountable problems, such as the paramount issue of the right of return for millions of uprooted Palestinian refugees awaiting repatriation to their former homes and villages in what is now Israel, the prospects of a lasting reconciliation becomes more than farfetched.
True, one should always be hopeful and optimistic. But one should also free oneself from the illusions of false hope and deal realistically with reality.
Binyamin Netanyahu and Avigdor leiberman are the perfect fascist couple that will shape Israeli policy and lead the Zionist entity for the next few years. Netanyahu is a notorious-propagandist turned politician, who is indoctrinated in Zio-Nazism. His views, political behaviors and especially his actions testify to this prognosis.
Not only does Netanyahu believe in the "inherent superiority" of Jews over non-Jews, but he seems to be a firm believer in the Nazi doctrine of Lebensraum. This is why he wastes no time trying to seize additional Arab land to incorporate into Israel. This is exactly what Nazi Germany did when it sought territorial aggrandizement at the expense of its neighbors, which ignited the Second World War.
The Nazi leadership sought to justify its expansionism policy by arguing that Germany merely needed a breathing space, and that the acquisition of neighbors' territories by force would eventually bring lasting stability and peace. Netanyahu and other Zionist leaders are virtually making the same argument.
Indeed, when trying to defend the manifestly criminal policy of confiscating Arab land (confiscating is euphemism for stealing), Netanyahu would claim that Israel is only recovering ancient Jewish land and that the actual theft of Arab land would have no effect on the so-called peace process.
In short, the Israeli premier just practices brash lying just as he breathes the oxygen of life. This is the leader of a state that claims to adhere to the Torah of Moses which teaches "thou shall not lie."
Like most other politicians, Netanyahu lies knowingly and deliberately, even enthusiastically. However, he thinks that lying, even in its ugliest form, is a necessary part of being a successful politician.
To be sure, Netanyahu is not really a shrewd or wise politician. He is actually a visionless, tactless and dishonest extremist who is leading Jews to disaster. Netanyahu and like-minded Israeli leaders have effectively decapitated any remaining chances for peace, not only with the Palestinians, but also with the Muslim world.
With characteristic arrogance, Netanyahu thinks Israel will remain strong forever and Muslims will remain weak forever. But that is no less than moral and historical blindness. It is a blindness the consequences of which Jews will undoubtedly suffer rather badly and for a long time. This is because the strong, whether the Roman Empire, or the Ottoman State, or Great Britain, or the Soviet Union, doesn't remain strong forever nor does the weak remain weak for ever. This is an evident and timeless historical axiom that never stops functioning, regardless of time and place.
Besides, Muslims are not known for having a short historical memory. The Crusades had occupied Palestine for over 120 years. They murdered untold numbers of Muslims (and Christians). They actually converted the Aqsa Mosque into a stable for their horses.
There is no doubt that Israel is moving on a losing course as the facts of geography and history stand decidedly against the Zionist enterprise. The Crusades created kingdoms and fiefdoms in Palestine and elsewhere in the region which lasted for a longer duration than has Israel.
But, the Crusades met their ultimate fate because they couldn't overcome the basic dichotomy between their colonialist dreams and the geographic and demographic realities of the Middle East.
Eventually, Israel will have to meet the same fate of the Crusades.
Yes, Israel does possess a huge arsenal of deadly weapons. Israel also controls the politics and policies of the United States. But states also need a real moral fabric to survive the treacherous pitfalls of history. Nations don’t live by F-16s alone.
As to Leiberman, he represents the Stalinist part of Netanyahu, but obviously without Stalin's intelligence.
Leiberman is notorious for his Nazi-like ideas, which include, inter alia, a proposed blanket bombing of Palestinian population centers, drowning Palestinian political prisoners in the Dead Sea and bombing the Aswan High Dam in Egypt .
Leiberman is also a known proponent of ethnic cleansing of Palestinians not only in the West Bank but also across the Green Line, e.g. in the territories occupied in 1948.
Leiberman and Netanyahu are expected to receive the biggest share of votes in the upcoming Israeli elections scheduled for 22 January. This is a telling fact about the collective mentality of the bulk of the Israeli Jewish society.
Hence, pundits predict the next Israeli government will be the most extremist ever since the establishment of the Jewish state in 1948. This means that all remaining hopes for a peaceful settlement between Israel and the Palestinians, especially one based on the land-for peace formula and the two-state solution strategy will evaporate. In fact, vestiges of the next government's policies are already apparent before our eyes with the latest plethora of Israeli government decisions to build thousands of additional settler units all over the West Bank, especially in occupied East Jerusalem.
Some naïve or overly optimistic observers would argue that the international community will not allow Israel to destroy the peace process and therefore perpetuate the conflict in a sensitive part of the world for many decades to come.
But such dismal arguments are based on wishful thinking as well as the erroneous presumption that the international community has the ability and resolve to restrain Israel, let alone force the Jewish state to give up the occupied territories which Israel seized in 1967.
The truth of the matter is that both Europe and the United States lack the ability, even if they had the inclination, to force Israel to walk in the path of peace.
This is not only due to the fact that Israel and her supporters and allies in Washington dominate the American government, especially the Congress.
The situation on the ground in the West Bank, especially in Jerusalem, is extremely unlikely to enable any prospective Israeli government to undo the settlement enterprise since doing so would be a political suicide for any government.
And if we add the other equally insurmountable problems, such as the paramount issue of the right of return for millions of uprooted Palestinian refugees awaiting repatriation to their former homes and villages in what is now Israel, the prospects of a lasting reconciliation becomes more than farfetched.
True, one should always be hopeful and optimistic. But one should also free oneself from the illusions of false hope and deal realistically with reality.
25 dec 2012
Israeli regime brings Jewish Indians to live in settlements
53 Jewish immigrants from India arrived on Monday in the occupied Palestinian territories to live in Israeli settlements.
The Hebrew radio said that these Indians descend from Bnei Menashe tribe which was recognized as Jewish by the chief rabbinate in 2005.
There are still about 7,000 Jewish Indians from this tribe who expressed their willingness to live in occupied Palestine.
The Hebrew radio said that these Indians descend from Bnei Menashe tribe which was recognized as Jewish by the chief rabbinate in 2005.
There are still about 7,000 Jewish Indians from this tribe who expressed their willingness to live in occupied Palestine.
18 dec 2012
Knesset Head: “Jerusalem Not Part of Negotiations”
Reuven Rivlin
Head of the Israeli Knesset, Reuven Rivlin, of the Likud Party of Benjamin Netanyahu, stated that settlement construction in Jerusalem will continue, and claimed that Israel will never give-up control over occupied East Jerusalem under any peace agreement with the Palestinians.
He claimed that Israel’s construction and control over the E1 area, between occupied East Jerusalem and the illegal Ma’ale Adumim settlement, is a “legitimate right” to construct on areas that “will always be part of unified Jerusalem, and the state of Israel”.
In a letter sent to his counterparts in different parts of the world “wishing them a happy new year” Rivlin said that “Europe seems to be consumed in the establishment of a Palestinian state more than it is thinking about the existence of a Jewish state”, and added that “the Europeans are mistaken when they think that Israel is secure”.
On Tuesday, sources in the office of Benjamin Netanyahu stated that the approved constructions in Ramat Shlomo illegal settlement in occupied Jerusalem “are only in the planning stage, and not an actual implementation of the project”.
On Monday, the so-called “Regional Committee for Construction and Planning in Jerusalem approved the construction of 1500 units for Jewish settlers in Ramat Shlomo.
Furthermore, Israel recently approved the construction of thousands of units for Jewish settlers in occupied East Jerusalem as part of the E1 illegal plan to link Ma’ale Adumim illegal block with occupied Jerusalem, by confiscating thousands of Dunams of Palestinian lands leading to the total isolation of East Jerusalem from the rest of the occupied West Bank, and blocking geographical contiguity of the Palestinian territory.
Settlements, regarding of what names and statuses Israel gives them, violate International Law and the Fourth Geneva Convention to which Israel is a signatory.
They are mainly built on privately-owned Palestinian lands, and on lands Israel dubs as “state lands” but the West Bank, including occupied Jerusalem, falls under Israeli occupation and are not legally part of Israel.
Israel’s settlements and its illegal Annexation Wall transformed the occupied territory into isolated cantons, are blocking the access of Palestinian villagers to their remaining farmlands and orchards, and completely surrounded and isolated several villages.
Head of the Israeli Knesset, Reuven Rivlin, of the Likud Party of Benjamin Netanyahu, stated that settlement construction in Jerusalem will continue, and claimed that Israel will never give-up control over occupied East Jerusalem under any peace agreement with the Palestinians.
He claimed that Israel’s construction and control over the E1 area, between occupied East Jerusalem and the illegal Ma’ale Adumim settlement, is a “legitimate right” to construct on areas that “will always be part of unified Jerusalem, and the state of Israel”.
In a letter sent to his counterparts in different parts of the world “wishing them a happy new year” Rivlin said that “Europe seems to be consumed in the establishment of a Palestinian state more than it is thinking about the existence of a Jewish state”, and added that “the Europeans are mistaken when they think that Israel is secure”.
On Tuesday, sources in the office of Benjamin Netanyahu stated that the approved constructions in Ramat Shlomo illegal settlement in occupied Jerusalem “are only in the planning stage, and not an actual implementation of the project”.
On Monday, the so-called “Regional Committee for Construction and Planning in Jerusalem approved the construction of 1500 units for Jewish settlers in Ramat Shlomo.
Furthermore, Israel recently approved the construction of thousands of units for Jewish settlers in occupied East Jerusalem as part of the E1 illegal plan to link Ma’ale Adumim illegal block with occupied Jerusalem, by confiscating thousands of Dunams of Palestinian lands leading to the total isolation of East Jerusalem from the rest of the occupied West Bank, and blocking geographical contiguity of the Palestinian territory.
Settlements, regarding of what names and statuses Israel gives them, violate International Law and the Fourth Geneva Convention to which Israel is a signatory.
They are mainly built on privately-owned Palestinian lands, and on lands Israel dubs as “state lands” but the West Bank, including occupied Jerusalem, falls under Israeli occupation and are not legally part of Israel.
Israel’s settlements and its illegal Annexation Wall transformed the occupied territory into isolated cantons, are blocking the access of Palestinian villagers to their remaining farmlands and orchards, and completely surrounded and isolated several villages.
15 dec 2012
Lieberman resigns after being accused of fraud and breach of trust
Israeli foreign minister Avigdor Lieberman declared his intention to resign from his post on Friday after being charged with fraud and breach of trust, in a move that could have profound implications for the next general election.
Lieberman's declared resignation came after Israel's attorney general issued a legal indictment against him in this regard.
On his facebook page, Lieberman, who leads the extremist Yisrael Beiteinu party, claimed he stepped down, although he was sure he had committed no crime.
The indictment he will face stems from an investigation into other offences he has committed. He is accused of promoting Israel’s former ambassador to Belarus for another post after the ambassador gave him confidential information regarding an Israeli police investigation into Lieberman’s activities.
Lieberman said on his page that he had been hounded by corruption accusations since July 1996.
He was already accused of financial corruption and money laundering, but the attorney general had to drop those charges against him for insufficient evidence.
Lieberman's declared resignation came after Israel's attorney general issued a legal indictment against him in this regard.
On his facebook page, Lieberman, who leads the extremist Yisrael Beiteinu party, claimed he stepped down, although he was sure he had committed no crime.
The indictment he will face stems from an investigation into other offences he has committed. He is accused of promoting Israel’s former ambassador to Belarus for another post after the ambassador gave him confidential information regarding an Israeli police investigation into Lieberman’s activities.
Lieberman said on his page that he had been hounded by corruption accusations since July 1996.
He was already accused of financial corruption and money laundering, but the attorney general had to drop those charges against him for insufficient evidence.
Colonizing Christmas: Facts on Israeli Occupation and Bethlehem
PLO Negotiations Affairs Department Issued Their Latest Fact Sheet entitled “Colonizing Christmas: Facts on Israeli Occupation and Bethlehem”.
Bethlehem is a vivid example of the severe and appalling effects that Israeli colonization policies have had in Palestine. Illegal confiscation of land, expulsion of Palestinian families and on-going construction of Israeli settlements are few of countless stories that can be heard from the inhabitants of Palestine in general, and Bethlehem in particular.
Effectively, Israel has sought to change the demographic and geographic composition of the Occupied Palestinian Territory, particularly in occupied East Jerusalem, by taking as much as land and as many natural resources as possible with as few Palestinians as possible, for the benefit of the illegal colonial enterprise.
Israeli settlements and Bethlehem
Since the Israeli occupation of 1967, Israel has employed several policies to annex important areas of the Bethlehem district, so that Bethlehem has had most of its northern land stolen by Israeli settlements.
Since 1967, some of the largest illegal settlement projects, which dramatically increased after the Oslo Accords in 1993, have been carried out in and around occupied East Jerusalem, particularly between Bethlehem and occupied East Jerusalem.
Currently there are 22 Israeli settlements established on Bethlehem's land, including Gilo, Giv'at Hamatos and Har Homa to the north; Teqoa and Nokdim (where Israeli FM Avigdor Lieberman lives) to the east; Efrata and Navi Daniel (where Israeli Public Diplomacy minister Yuli Edelstein lives) to the south; as well as Har Gilo and Betar Illit to the west, effectively turning Bethlehem into an open air prison.
In Bethlehem's northern area (including Beit Jala and Bait Sahour) Israel has illegally confiscated around 22,000 dunums of land (22 square kilometers), roughly the size of the country of Nauru.
From the 22,000 dunums that have been confiscated, Israel illegally annexed 18,000 dunums to the so-called ―Jerusalem municipality‖, which Israel has been unilaterally expanding since 1967. This confiscated land was used to expand the illegal settlements of Gilo, Giv'at Hamatos and Har Homa.
The illegal Wall has effectively annexed 4,000 dunums of land belonging to Bethlehem itself.
Focus on the northern entrance: Gilo, Giv'at Hamatos and Har Homa settlements
The network between Har Gilo, Cremisan Wall, Gilo, Giv'at Hamatos and Har Homa Settlements will effectively isolate Bethlehem from Jerusalem. This network could potentially expand to the Eastern Bethlehem area, stopping any possible growth of Bethlehem towards the Jordan Valley and Dead Sea, all within the State of Palestine.
Some of the Israeli announced plans for the settlements of Gilo, Giv'at Hamatos and Har Homa are hotels that will eventually benefit from the proximity to Bethlehem, as well as enjoying a perfect view of the city.
While the hotels will be located on Bethlehem's land, they will be used for the business of colonization and benefit of illegal Israeli settlers rather than for the benefit of the rightful land owners.
This move will dramatically affect Palestinian hotels in Bethlehem and East Jerusalem.
Most of the affected land owners are Palestinian Christians from Bethlehem, Beit Jala and Beit Sahour, in addition to Churches from various denominations.
The "Permit Regime" and Israeli attacks on Palestinian freedom of worship
The Israeli occupation policy of separating and isolating different Palestinian communities has divided historic communities in a very intensive manner. In particular, the Wall and the imposition of a racist permit regime have further intensified the disconnection between Bethlehem and Jerusalem.
The permit regime requires Palestinians who do not reside in Jerusalem to obtain a security permit in order to cross from one side to the other. This includes Christian and Muslim religious authorities, women, elderly and youth.
Demanding that Palestinians from Bethlehem apply for permits to enter occupied East Jerusalem is an additional legal measure taken by Israel, in order to consolidate its unilateral and illegitimate annexation of occupied East Jerusalem.
To improve its international image, Israel markets the numbers of permits to Palestinian Christians during Easter and Christmas. They present it as a ―goodwill gesture‖ and sign of cooperation, although Palestinians are required to ask for permits from the occupying power to go from one side of their own country to the other, not to a different country.
Regardless of this fact, not everyone who applies for permits gets them. For example, in April 2011, 15,000 Christian Palestinians applied for a permit to enter occupied East Jerusalem, but Israel only issued around 2500 permits.
Israel also issues permits randomly; often to one or two members of a family. This results in permits not being used, as families who opt to stay together are forced to celebrate at home.
Palestinian ID holders who do obtain permits are only allowed to enter Jerusalem through 3 of the 14 military checkpoints that encircle the occupied City. These checkpoints are limited to pedestrians, thus causing long, uncomfortable delays.
In and around Bethlehem there are 32 physical barriers erected by Israeli Occupation Forces — including checkpoints, roadblocks, dirt mounds, and gates.
International reports have echoed this situation. The EU ‗Heads of Mission Report on Jerusalem' (2012) found that: ―The [Government of Israel] selectively enforces legal and policy restrictions on religious freedoms and access by Christian and Muslims [sic] religious worshippers to their holy sites located in Jerusalem/Old City throughout the year.
The majority of Palestinian Christians in Palestine live between occupied East Jerusalem and the Bethlehem District. (2007)
Latest Developments: Cremisan and Mar Elias (Giv'at Hamatos)
For more than a year, Palestinians from Beit Jala have conducted special prayers to save their land from further annexation.
After having lost almost 70% of their land to the Israeli settlements of Gilo and Har Gilo, Israel plans to build a Wall that will separate them from one of the last green areas of Bethlehem, the Cremisan Valley.
The valley Israel plans to take is owned by 58 Palestinian Christian families as well as by churches. It lies between Israeli settlements of Gilo and Har Gilo, including the planned settlement of Giv'at Yael.
More than half of Beit Jala's olive trees are located at Cremisan. The town's olive oil is considered one of the finest in Palestine.
A Catholic kindergarten run by Salesian nuns will be heavily affected by the Israeli plans, while a Catholic Seminary and the winery run by Salesian Brothers, which employs workers from Beit Jala, will be left at the western side of wall.
Israel expects to resume construction during the early months of 2013. If the Wall is built, Palestinians from the Bethlehem area will lose one of its most precious traditions: During the last days of May, the Roman Catholic community conducts a procession from the statue honoring the Virgin Mary at Cremisan, to the Church of the Annunciation in Beit Jala.
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Mar Elias – Giv'at Hamatos settlement
Mar Elias is one of the holiest Christian places in Palestine. It is where the Christmas procession to Bethlehem begins every year. Though historically it has always been part of Bethlehem, Israeli restrictions have made the church off limits to Palestinian Christians seeking to pray in the area.
The land surrounding Mar Elias is owned mainly by Churches and Palestinian Christian families from Bethlehem, though most of it has been illegally confiscated by Israeli Occupation authorities for the expansion of Israeli settlements. Giv'at Hamatos settlement becomes the link between the settlements of Gilo and Har Homa, cutting off Bethlehem from Jerusalem and threatening a holy place located at the historic Jerusalem – Hebron road.
Thousands of settlement units were announced between 2011 and 2012. A number are considered to be a retaliatory measure against Palestine's UN Bid (2,610 units).
Divided into three plans (A with 2610 units, B with 549 units and C with 813 units), the southern part of Giv'at Hamatos begins at the Tantour area (historically part of Beit Jala) while the northern area reaches Talpiyot, in West Jerusalem.
If implemented, this settlement would have a similar effect to the E1 expansion of Ma'ale Adumin settlement: it would further isolate Occupied East Jerusalem, turning Palestinian communities into walled Bantustans by completing the ―southern West Bank Bantustan.
Bethlehem is a vivid example of the severe and appalling effects that Israeli colonization policies have had in Palestine. Illegal confiscation of land, expulsion of Palestinian families and on-going construction of Israeli settlements are few of countless stories that can be heard from the inhabitants of Palestine in general, and Bethlehem in particular.
Effectively, Israel has sought to change the demographic and geographic composition of the Occupied Palestinian Territory, particularly in occupied East Jerusalem, by taking as much as land and as many natural resources as possible with as few Palestinians as possible, for the benefit of the illegal colonial enterprise.
Israeli settlements and Bethlehem
Since the Israeli occupation of 1967, Israel has employed several policies to annex important areas of the Bethlehem district, so that Bethlehem has had most of its northern land stolen by Israeli settlements.
Since 1967, some of the largest illegal settlement projects, which dramatically increased after the Oslo Accords in 1993, have been carried out in and around occupied East Jerusalem, particularly between Bethlehem and occupied East Jerusalem.
Currently there are 22 Israeli settlements established on Bethlehem's land, including Gilo, Giv'at Hamatos and Har Homa to the north; Teqoa and Nokdim (where Israeli FM Avigdor Lieberman lives) to the east; Efrata and Navi Daniel (where Israeli Public Diplomacy minister Yuli Edelstein lives) to the south; as well as Har Gilo and Betar Illit to the west, effectively turning Bethlehem into an open air prison.
In Bethlehem's northern area (including Beit Jala and Bait Sahour) Israel has illegally confiscated around 22,000 dunums of land (22 square kilometers), roughly the size of the country of Nauru.
From the 22,000 dunums that have been confiscated, Israel illegally annexed 18,000 dunums to the so-called ―Jerusalem municipality‖, which Israel has been unilaterally expanding since 1967. This confiscated land was used to expand the illegal settlements of Gilo, Giv'at Hamatos and Har Homa.
The illegal Wall has effectively annexed 4,000 dunums of land belonging to Bethlehem itself.
Focus on the northern entrance: Gilo, Giv'at Hamatos and Har Homa settlements
The network between Har Gilo, Cremisan Wall, Gilo, Giv'at Hamatos and Har Homa Settlements will effectively isolate Bethlehem from Jerusalem. This network could potentially expand to the Eastern Bethlehem area, stopping any possible growth of Bethlehem towards the Jordan Valley and Dead Sea, all within the State of Palestine.
Some of the Israeli announced plans for the settlements of Gilo, Giv'at Hamatos and Har Homa are hotels that will eventually benefit from the proximity to Bethlehem, as well as enjoying a perfect view of the city.
While the hotels will be located on Bethlehem's land, they will be used for the business of colonization and benefit of illegal Israeli settlers rather than for the benefit of the rightful land owners.
This move will dramatically affect Palestinian hotels in Bethlehem and East Jerusalem.
Most of the affected land owners are Palestinian Christians from Bethlehem, Beit Jala and Beit Sahour, in addition to Churches from various denominations.
The "Permit Regime" and Israeli attacks on Palestinian freedom of worship
The Israeli occupation policy of separating and isolating different Palestinian communities has divided historic communities in a very intensive manner. In particular, the Wall and the imposition of a racist permit regime have further intensified the disconnection between Bethlehem and Jerusalem.
The permit regime requires Palestinians who do not reside in Jerusalem to obtain a security permit in order to cross from one side to the other. This includes Christian and Muslim religious authorities, women, elderly and youth.
Demanding that Palestinians from Bethlehem apply for permits to enter occupied East Jerusalem is an additional legal measure taken by Israel, in order to consolidate its unilateral and illegitimate annexation of occupied East Jerusalem.
To improve its international image, Israel markets the numbers of permits to Palestinian Christians during Easter and Christmas. They present it as a ―goodwill gesture‖ and sign of cooperation, although Palestinians are required to ask for permits from the occupying power to go from one side of their own country to the other, not to a different country.
Regardless of this fact, not everyone who applies for permits gets them. For example, in April 2011, 15,000 Christian Palestinians applied for a permit to enter occupied East Jerusalem, but Israel only issued around 2500 permits.
Israel also issues permits randomly; often to one or two members of a family. This results in permits not being used, as families who opt to stay together are forced to celebrate at home.
Palestinian ID holders who do obtain permits are only allowed to enter Jerusalem through 3 of the 14 military checkpoints that encircle the occupied City. These checkpoints are limited to pedestrians, thus causing long, uncomfortable delays.
In and around Bethlehem there are 32 physical barriers erected by Israeli Occupation Forces — including checkpoints, roadblocks, dirt mounds, and gates.
International reports have echoed this situation. The EU ‗Heads of Mission Report on Jerusalem' (2012) found that: ―The [Government of Israel] selectively enforces legal and policy restrictions on religious freedoms and access by Christian and Muslims [sic] religious worshippers to their holy sites located in Jerusalem/Old City throughout the year.
The majority of Palestinian Christians in Palestine live between occupied East Jerusalem and the Bethlehem District. (2007)
Latest Developments: Cremisan and Mar Elias (Giv'at Hamatos)
For more than a year, Palestinians from Beit Jala have conducted special prayers to save their land from further annexation.
After having lost almost 70% of their land to the Israeli settlements of Gilo and Har Gilo, Israel plans to build a Wall that will separate them from one of the last green areas of Bethlehem, the Cremisan Valley.
The valley Israel plans to take is owned by 58 Palestinian Christian families as well as by churches. It lies between Israeli settlements of Gilo and Har Gilo, including the planned settlement of Giv'at Yael.
More than half of Beit Jala's olive trees are located at Cremisan. The town's olive oil is considered one of the finest in Palestine.
A Catholic kindergarten run by Salesian nuns will be heavily affected by the Israeli plans, while a Catholic Seminary and the winery run by Salesian Brothers, which employs workers from Beit Jala, will be left at the western side of wall.
Israel expects to resume construction during the early months of 2013. If the Wall is built, Palestinians from the Bethlehem area will lose one of its most precious traditions: During the last days of May, the Roman Catholic community conducts a procession from the statue honoring the Virgin Mary at Cremisan, to the Church of the Annunciation in Beit Jala.
\
Mar Elias – Giv'at Hamatos settlement
Mar Elias is one of the holiest Christian places in Palestine. It is where the Christmas procession to Bethlehem begins every year. Though historically it has always been part of Bethlehem, Israeli restrictions have made the church off limits to Palestinian Christians seeking to pray in the area.
The land surrounding Mar Elias is owned mainly by Churches and Palestinian Christian families from Bethlehem, though most of it has been illegally confiscated by Israeli Occupation authorities for the expansion of Israeli settlements. Giv'at Hamatos settlement becomes the link between the settlements of Gilo and Har Homa, cutting off Bethlehem from Jerusalem and threatening a holy place located at the historic Jerusalem – Hebron road.
Thousands of settlement units were announced between 2011 and 2012. A number are considered to be a retaliatory measure against Palestine's UN Bid (2,610 units).
Divided into three plans (A with 2610 units, B with 549 units and C with 813 units), the southern part of Giv'at Hamatos begins at the Tantour area (historically part of Beit Jala) while the northern area reaches Talpiyot, in West Jerusalem.
If implemented, this settlement would have a similar effect to the E1 expansion of Ma'ale Adumin settlement: it would further isolate Occupied East Jerusalem, turning Palestinian communities into walled Bantustans by completing the ―southern West Bank Bantustan.
14 dec 2012
Israeli FM Resigns Following Fraud, Breach Of Trust, Indictment
Israeli Foreign Minister of the far right ‘Israel Our Home” Party, Avigdor Lieberman, had to submit his resignation Friday after facing an indictment of fraud and breach of trust, and said that he will also resign from his post as vice Prime Minister despite claiming that he “committed no crime”.
Lieberman said that he will try to end the whole issue, and clear that indictments against him before the general Israeli elections that are scheduled to be held on January 22, 2013.
His resignation came via email after consulting with his defense attorney who said that he will clear the breach of trust and fraud charges. Lieberman, according to his lawyer, intends to run in the upcoming Israeli elections.
Israeli Attorney General, Yehuda Weinstein, closed yesterday, December 13, a 12-year long investigation targeting Lieberman, but still indicted him for fraud and breach of trust .
The Global News Service of the Jewish People reported that the “indictment is for advancing the position of former ambassador to Belarus for fraud and breach of trust Ze'ev Ben Aryeh's position in the Foreign Ministry allegedly in exchange for information about an investigation against Lieberman being conducted in Belarus. Last spring, Ben Aryeh confessed that he had received and passed documents to Lieberman in 2008”.
Lieberman said in his statements that he is resigning due to the fact that he believes that the Israelis in the country are entitled to head to the ballots after the whole issue has been settled, and that “he will continue to serve Israel and its citizens” , the news service reported.
Furthermore, Israeli Ynet News, reported that Lieberman will not be stepping down from his membership in the new Halikud Beitreinu merger between his party and the Likud Party of Benjamin Netanyahu. He will also remain in his post as the head of the Yisrael Beiteinu (Israel Our Home) party.
Netanyahu’s office also issued a statement Friday saying that the Prime Minister spoke to Lieberman and wished that he will be able to prove his innocence very soon so that he can take a senior cabinet position in the upcoming Israeli government.
Israeli leftist parties demanded the resignation of Lieberman who promised, several years ago, that he will be resigning from his post “the moment he faces an indictment”.
On Friday, Meretz Party head, Zahava Gal-On, headed to the Israeli Supreme Court demanding the resignation of Lieberman.
Lieberman said that he will try to end the whole issue, and clear that indictments against him before the general Israeli elections that are scheduled to be held on January 22, 2013.
His resignation came via email after consulting with his defense attorney who said that he will clear the breach of trust and fraud charges. Lieberman, according to his lawyer, intends to run in the upcoming Israeli elections.
Israeli Attorney General, Yehuda Weinstein, closed yesterday, December 13, a 12-year long investigation targeting Lieberman, but still indicted him for fraud and breach of trust .
The Global News Service of the Jewish People reported that the “indictment is for advancing the position of former ambassador to Belarus for fraud and breach of trust Ze'ev Ben Aryeh's position in the Foreign Ministry allegedly in exchange for information about an investigation against Lieberman being conducted in Belarus. Last spring, Ben Aryeh confessed that he had received and passed documents to Lieberman in 2008”.
Lieberman said in his statements that he is resigning due to the fact that he believes that the Israelis in the country are entitled to head to the ballots after the whole issue has been settled, and that “he will continue to serve Israel and its citizens” , the news service reported.
Furthermore, Israeli Ynet News, reported that Lieberman will not be stepping down from his membership in the new Halikud Beitreinu merger between his party and the Likud Party of Benjamin Netanyahu. He will also remain in his post as the head of the Yisrael Beiteinu (Israel Our Home) party.
Netanyahu’s office also issued a statement Friday saying that the Prime Minister spoke to Lieberman and wished that he will be able to prove his innocence very soon so that he can take a senior cabinet position in the upcoming Israeli government.
Israeli leftist parties demanded the resignation of Lieberman who promised, several years ago, that he will be resigning from his post “the moment he faces an indictment”.
On Friday, Meretz Party head, Zahava Gal-On, headed to the Israeli Supreme Court demanding the resignation of Lieberman.
13 dec 2012
Jordan bans public religious rituals for Israeli tourists
An official Jordanian tourism circular banned religious rituals for Israeli tourists and wearing religious attire in public during visits to Jordan.
The Jordanian ministry of tourism sent a circular to travel and tourism agencies in the country that was published by Al-Arab Al-Youm newspaper on Wednesday instructing them to coordinate with their Israeli counterparts so as to abide by certain conditions during Israeli tourists’ visit to Jordan.
It said that Israeli tourists during their stay in Jordan should abide by those rules in view of the sensitivity of such behavior on the Jordanian citizen and in view of the conditions prevailing in the region at present.
A reliable source told the paper that the decision was taken after citizens and owners of restaurants complained of such behavior to the concerned authorities.
The Jordanian ministry of tourism sent a circular to travel and tourism agencies in the country that was published by Al-Arab Al-Youm newspaper on Wednesday instructing them to coordinate with their Israeli counterparts so as to abide by certain conditions during Israeli tourists’ visit to Jordan.
It said that Israeli tourists during their stay in Jordan should abide by those rules in view of the sensitivity of such behavior on the Jordanian citizen and in view of the conditions prevailing in the region at present.
A reliable source told the paper that the decision was taken after citizens and owners of restaurants complained of such behavior to the concerned authorities.
12 dec 2012
Lieberman: “Heading To ICC, A Palestinian Declaration Of War On Israel”
Israeli Foreign Minister of the extremist far-right "Israel Our Home Party", Avigdor Lieberman, stated that should the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank head to the International Criminal Court (ICC) to sue Israeli for its decision to build 3000 settlement units, the move will be regarded by Israel as a “declaration of war on Tel Aviv”.
The Foreign Minister said that that Palestinian “will get peace from Israel if they really want peace”, and that “should they choose war, they will also get it”.
The threats uttered by the former member of the terrorist Kach movement, that was outlawed by Israel itself, also included a direct threat not only to attack Gaza should the resistance fire missiles into Israel, but to conduct a large-scale ground military invasion.
He said that this invasion will not have any restrictions, and will lead to a full Israeli military control over the entire coastal region.
Lieberman went on to attack the Israeli left, and centrist parties, and stated that Labor party head, Shelly Yachimovich, Chairwoman of the Meretz Party, Zahava Gal-on, and Tizpi Livni, head of the newly-formed Hatnua Party, and claimed that they “are siding with the Palestinian Authority”, Israeli Ynet News reported.
He also said that he is annoyed by Israeli politicians who consider Palestinian President, Mahmoud Abbas, to be a partner in peace, and described them as "small parrots”.
The Israeli Foreign Minister claimed that only his party and its coalition with the Likud Party of Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, can lead Israel to safety, and can fix the security situation in the country, adding that Gal-On cannot ensure Israel’s security.
The Ynet News also reported that Lieberman slammed Israeli soldiers who were caught on tape escaping from Palestinians throwing stones at them in the West Bank, and claimed that “the soldiers chose to run away because “they wanted to avoid being investigated by the Military Police”.
When Lieberman previously served a member of Knesset, he repeatedly described the Palestinians in Israel and the Palestinians in the occupied territories as “demographic threats”, and uttered various calls to have them exiled to Jordan, and other Arab countries.
He also made several statements describing Jordan as the alternative homeland of the Palestinians, and that they should all just leave and build their Palestinian state in Jordan.
The Foreign Minister said that that Palestinian “will get peace from Israel if they really want peace”, and that “should they choose war, they will also get it”.
The threats uttered by the former member of the terrorist Kach movement, that was outlawed by Israel itself, also included a direct threat not only to attack Gaza should the resistance fire missiles into Israel, but to conduct a large-scale ground military invasion.
He said that this invasion will not have any restrictions, and will lead to a full Israeli military control over the entire coastal region.
Lieberman went on to attack the Israeli left, and centrist parties, and stated that Labor party head, Shelly Yachimovich, Chairwoman of the Meretz Party, Zahava Gal-on, and Tizpi Livni, head of the newly-formed Hatnua Party, and claimed that they “are siding with the Palestinian Authority”, Israeli Ynet News reported.
He also said that he is annoyed by Israeli politicians who consider Palestinian President, Mahmoud Abbas, to be a partner in peace, and described them as "small parrots”.
The Israeli Foreign Minister claimed that only his party and its coalition with the Likud Party of Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, can lead Israel to safety, and can fix the security situation in the country, adding that Gal-On cannot ensure Israel’s security.
The Ynet News also reported that Lieberman slammed Israeli soldiers who were caught on tape escaping from Palestinians throwing stones at them in the West Bank, and claimed that “the soldiers chose to run away because “they wanted to avoid being investigated by the Military Police”.
When Lieberman previously served a member of Knesset, he repeatedly described the Palestinians in Israel and the Palestinians in the occupied territories as “demographic threats”, and uttered various calls to have them exiled to Jordan, and other Arab countries.
He also made several statements describing Jordan as the alternative homeland of the Palestinians, and that they should all just leave and build their Palestinian state in Jordan.
Soldiers Granted More Freedom In Live Ammunition Regulations
The Israeli army has modified its instructions to the soldiers regarding the use of live ammunition against Palestinian protesters in the occupied West Bank, allowing the soldiers in the field to make such decisions based on their situation, granting them more freedom in using live ammunition instead of gas bombs, rubber-coated metal bullets, concussion grenades and similar ammunition.
Israel TV, Channel 7, reported that a senior Israeli military commander in the West Bank said that “a soldier operating in the field has the option to make the appropriate decision after evaluating the situation and the amount of danger he and his colleagues are facing, and that based on his personal evaluation, he can resort to the use of live ammunition”.
The recent modifications came after videos were published showing Israeli soldiers running away from Palestinian protesters in Kufur Qaddoum village near the northern West Bank city of Qalqilia, and in Hebron, in the southern part of the occupied West Bank.
It is worth mention that the Israeli Interior Minister, Elie Yishai, and head of the Kadima opposition party, Shaul Mofaz, demanded during a meeting of the Ministerial Council, known as the “The Cabinet”, that the soldiers should be allowed to use maximum force against the Palestinians.
Furthermore, an Israeli military source stated Tuesday that the “open fire” orders that the army has, are clear, and never imposed restrictions on the soldiers, and added that “the soldiers have to evaluate their situation in the field and act accordingly, if they feel that their lives are in danger, then they always can use live ammunition”, the Maan News Agency said.
The source added that, last year, Israeli soldiers frequently resorted to the use of live ammunition even without needing to resort to live fire, and that the number of times the soldiers chose to use live ammunition is much larger than the number of times he refrained from doing so.
Furthermore, military correspondent of the Reshet Bet Israeli Radio, stated that the army is currently investigating two incidents where Israeli soldiers were caught on film running away from Palestinian protesters, in Kufur Qaddoum, and a similar incident in Hebron where the soldiers had to hide in a local shop in the city.
The videos and images of those fleeing soldiers also granted a fertile ground for fundamentalist Israeli leaders like Foreign Minister, Avigdor Lieberman, and Elie Yishai, along with ring-wing columnists, who demanded a significant change in the open fire policy to allow the soldiers more freedom to use live ammunition against the Palestinians “in order to avoid scenes of defeat and humiliation of the soldiers of the Israeli army”.
Israeli soldiers use rubber-coated metal bullets, gas bombs and concussion grenades against nonviolent protesters against the Wall and settlements in the West Bank, in addition to spraying them with water mixed with chemicals, an issue that led to hundreds of injuries and even several deaths among the protesters.
They also frequently use live ammunition leading to further deaths and injuries, but the new regulation will grant them more freedom in the use of live ammunition based on their own evaluation and judgment which could mean a larger and much more frequent use of live ammunition.
Israel TV, Channel 7, reported that a senior Israeli military commander in the West Bank said that “a soldier operating in the field has the option to make the appropriate decision after evaluating the situation and the amount of danger he and his colleagues are facing, and that based on his personal evaluation, he can resort to the use of live ammunition”.
The recent modifications came after videos were published showing Israeli soldiers running away from Palestinian protesters in Kufur Qaddoum village near the northern West Bank city of Qalqilia, and in Hebron, in the southern part of the occupied West Bank.
It is worth mention that the Israeli Interior Minister, Elie Yishai, and head of the Kadima opposition party, Shaul Mofaz, demanded during a meeting of the Ministerial Council, known as the “The Cabinet”, that the soldiers should be allowed to use maximum force against the Palestinians.
Furthermore, an Israeli military source stated Tuesday that the “open fire” orders that the army has, are clear, and never imposed restrictions on the soldiers, and added that “the soldiers have to evaluate their situation in the field and act accordingly, if they feel that their lives are in danger, then they always can use live ammunition”, the Maan News Agency said.
The source added that, last year, Israeli soldiers frequently resorted to the use of live ammunition even without needing to resort to live fire, and that the number of times the soldiers chose to use live ammunition is much larger than the number of times he refrained from doing so.
Furthermore, military correspondent of the Reshet Bet Israeli Radio, stated that the army is currently investigating two incidents where Israeli soldiers were caught on film running away from Palestinian protesters, in Kufur Qaddoum, and a similar incident in Hebron where the soldiers had to hide in a local shop in the city.
The videos and images of those fleeing soldiers also granted a fertile ground for fundamentalist Israeli leaders like Foreign Minister, Avigdor Lieberman, and Elie Yishai, along with ring-wing columnists, who demanded a significant change in the open fire policy to allow the soldiers more freedom to use live ammunition against the Palestinians “in order to avoid scenes of defeat and humiliation of the soldiers of the Israeli army”.
Israeli soldiers use rubber-coated metal bullets, gas bombs and concussion grenades against nonviolent protesters against the Wall and settlements in the West Bank, in addition to spraying them with water mixed with chemicals, an issue that led to hundreds of injuries and even several deaths among the protesters.
They also frequently use live ammunition leading to further deaths and injuries, but the new regulation will grant them more freedom in the use of live ammunition based on their own evaluation and judgment which could mean a larger and much more frequent use of live ammunition.
Abbas Threatens To Head To ICC Should Israel Implement E1 Project
Abbas (Left) And Gül
Palestinian President, Mahmoud Abbas, threatened to head to the International Criminal Court (ICC) should Israel insist on implementing its decision to build more than 3000 homes for Jewish settlers as part of its E1 illegal settlement project in occupied East Jerusalem.
The statements of Abbas came during a press conference with the Turkish President, Abdullah Gül, in Ankara.
“Should Israel continue to build new homes for settlers, we will retaliate with all available peaceful means”, Abbas said, “One of those means is for sure heading to the ICC”.
“Should Israel choose peace, it will find us ready and willing”, the Palestinian President added, “But should the Israeli government choose settlements, especially in E1, then we will have our legal options”.
Abbas also stated that the recently declared Israeli plan to build thousands of settlement units on lands that belong to the Palestinian State, on lands around occupied Jerusalem, is a red line, and added, “We will not allow Israel to implement its illegitimate plan, as it violates all international treaties, and the Fourth Geneva Convention”.
The President further stated that the Israeli plan, that brought massive international condemnation, aims at punishing the Palestinians for heading to the UN General Assembly, and for managing to achieve a nonmember state status.
Tel Aviv claimed that the vote is an obstacle to any negotiated settlements to the conflict.
On his part, the Turkish President strongly condemned the Israeli decision and urged Tel Aviv “to refrain from playing with fire”.
Gül said that Turkey supports the Palestinian people, and their internationally guaranteed rights for liberation and independence.
The Turkish-Israeli relations suffered a sharp blow after Israeli soldiers pirated and attacked in late May 2010, the MV Marmara solidarity ship, part of the Freedom Flotilla that was heading to Gaza to deliver medical and humanitarian supplies, and killed nine Turkish nationals, including a Turkish American citizen.
Palestinian President, Mahmoud Abbas, threatened to head to the International Criminal Court (ICC) should Israel insist on implementing its decision to build more than 3000 homes for Jewish settlers as part of its E1 illegal settlement project in occupied East Jerusalem.
The statements of Abbas came during a press conference with the Turkish President, Abdullah Gül, in Ankara.
“Should Israel continue to build new homes for settlers, we will retaliate with all available peaceful means”, Abbas said, “One of those means is for sure heading to the ICC”.
“Should Israel choose peace, it will find us ready and willing”, the Palestinian President added, “But should the Israeli government choose settlements, especially in E1, then we will have our legal options”.
Abbas also stated that the recently declared Israeli plan to build thousands of settlement units on lands that belong to the Palestinian State, on lands around occupied Jerusalem, is a red line, and added, “We will not allow Israel to implement its illegitimate plan, as it violates all international treaties, and the Fourth Geneva Convention”.
The President further stated that the Israeli plan, that brought massive international condemnation, aims at punishing the Palestinians for heading to the UN General Assembly, and for managing to achieve a nonmember state status.
Tel Aviv claimed that the vote is an obstacle to any negotiated settlements to the conflict.
On his part, the Turkish President strongly condemned the Israeli decision and urged Tel Aviv “to refrain from playing with fire”.
Gül said that Turkey supports the Palestinian people, and their internationally guaranteed rights for liberation and independence.
The Turkish-Israeli relations suffered a sharp blow after Israeli soldiers pirated and attacked in late May 2010, the MV Marmara solidarity ship, part of the Freedom Flotilla that was heading to Gaza to deliver medical and humanitarian supplies, and killed nine Turkish nationals, including a Turkish American citizen.
11 dec 2012
PCHR Condemns Raids of Three Civil and Human Rights Organisations in Ramallah by Israeli Forces
The Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR) condemns the raids of the offices of three civil and human rights organisations in Ramallah in the West Bank by Israeli Occupation Forces. The organisations affected were the Palestinian NGO Network, the Union of Palestinian Women's Committees, and Addameer Prisoner Support and Human Rights.
Israeli soldiers searched the offices and confiscated a number of items. PCHR believes that these raids are an act of Israeli aggression against the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt).
According to the findings of investigations by PCHR, at approximately 03:00 on Tuesday, 11 December 2012, Israeli forces, accompanied by military vehicles, moved into Ramallah. They broke the front gates and stormed the Sabat building, in al-Masyon neighborhood in the centre of Ramallah, where the offices of Addameer Prisoner Support and Human Rights and the Palestinian NGO Network are located.
During the raid, Israeli soldiers searched the offices, employees’ desks and the work files of the two organisations. Before withdrawing, they confiscated a number of PCs and laptops from the Documentation and Search Unit of from Addameer, files and documents from the Media Unit, and a memory card, a hard drive, a video camera and papers related to the organisation’s work.
At the same time, a unit of Israeli forces stormed the Headquarters of the Union of Palestinian Women's Committees, in the Ahmed Ryad building, near Palestine Public Health Complex, in Qadoura Refugee Camp, in Ramallah.
Soldiers broke the front gate of the Headquarters, broke in the office doors, searched the offices and interfered with the contents of the office. During the raid, Israeli soldiers confiscated 7 laptops, 3 PC hard drives, the internet server and a number of other items. They also stole nearly NIS 3000.
PCHR strongly condemns this attack by Israeli forces against civil society organisations in the West Bank, and reiterates its call to the international community and the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention to take serious measures to put an end to Israeli crimes against Palestinian civilians and against Palestinian civil society organisations.
Israeli soldiers searched the offices and confiscated a number of items. PCHR believes that these raids are an act of Israeli aggression against the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt).
According to the findings of investigations by PCHR, at approximately 03:00 on Tuesday, 11 December 2012, Israeli forces, accompanied by military vehicles, moved into Ramallah. They broke the front gates and stormed the Sabat building, in al-Masyon neighborhood in the centre of Ramallah, where the offices of Addameer Prisoner Support and Human Rights and the Palestinian NGO Network are located.
During the raid, Israeli soldiers searched the offices, employees’ desks and the work files of the two organisations. Before withdrawing, they confiscated a number of PCs and laptops from the Documentation and Search Unit of from Addameer, files and documents from the Media Unit, and a memory card, a hard drive, a video camera and papers related to the organisation’s work.
At the same time, a unit of Israeli forces stormed the Headquarters of the Union of Palestinian Women's Committees, in the Ahmed Ryad building, near Palestine Public Health Complex, in Qadoura Refugee Camp, in Ramallah.
Soldiers broke the front gate of the Headquarters, broke in the office doors, searched the offices and interfered with the contents of the office. During the raid, Israeli soldiers confiscated 7 laptops, 3 PC hard drives, the internet server and a number of other items. They also stole nearly NIS 3000.
PCHR strongly condemns this attack by Israeli forces against civil society organisations in the West Bank, and reiterates its call to the international community and the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention to take serious measures to put an end to Israeli crimes against Palestinian civilians and against Palestinian civil society organisations.
Report: “Obama Will Let Netanyahu Face International Isolation On His Own”
A recent report published in the Newsweek by Peter Beinart, who is described as a “Jewish liberal at the American-Jewish community in the United States", also close to the Obama Administration, stated that Barack Obama will not help Netanyahu in overcoming international pressure against his policies with the Palestinians.
Beinart said that, by facing the International Community on his own, Netanyahu will feel the heat of isolation, and might change his policies, mainly the ongoing construction and expansion of illegal settlements in the occupied West Bank, and in occupied East Jerusalem.
The new U.S approach that Obama likely to initiate in dealing with Netanyahu was described as “benign neglect”.
Beinart says that Obama, serving his second and final term in office, will not be directly confronting Netanyahu “and will “stand back and allow the world, especially the European Union, to exert pressure on Netanyahu”, Israeli daily, Haaretz, reported.
The Obama Administration will not be appointing what was described as “big name” Middle East Envoy, and will not be presenting a peace plan with the Palestinians because it knows that Netanyahu wants to avoid international isolation by conducting fruitless and extended peace talks, similar to talks he held with the Palestinians before, without changing his policies, therefore, “Obama decided not to help Netanyahu, hoping that he will eventually realize that he must change his policies”.
But the new approach does not mean a halt of U.S military and financial support to Israel, and the United States will continue to finance the Israeli Iron Dome anti-missile system, and will also act against any Palestinian move that is meant to file lawsuits against Israel at the International Criminal Court for crimes committed against the Palestinian people.
The U.S. will also continue to act in order to prevent the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank from collapsing in order to prevent any deterioration of the security situation, and will act on preventing the resistance in Gaza from firing shells into Israel.
Meanwhile, Israeli Yedioth Aharonoth reported that the international pressure Israel is facing is mounting especially after the Netanyahu government declared its E1 illegal settlement plan meant at building more than 3000 units linking the Maale Adumim settlement with occupied East Jerusalem by annexing more Palestinian lands.
The plan will also block geographical contiguity between the northern and southern parts of the occupied West Bank, and will fragment that already fragmented West Bank due to illegal settlements and the illegal Annexation Wall.
The paper said that a European Diplomat in Brussels stated that this issue will be discussed by EU Ministers, who also intend to discuss certain sanctions on the import of products made in Israeli settlements.
Several EU Ministers are also asking for effective measures against Israel’s settlement activities but are facing strong objection from some major EU countries, topped by Germany.
The European Union is expected to renew its call on Israel to halt its settlement activities in occupied Palestine, and to present initiatives that indicate that Tel Aviv is really committed to the political process with the Palestinians.
Beinart said that, by facing the International Community on his own, Netanyahu will feel the heat of isolation, and might change his policies, mainly the ongoing construction and expansion of illegal settlements in the occupied West Bank, and in occupied East Jerusalem.
The new U.S approach that Obama likely to initiate in dealing with Netanyahu was described as “benign neglect”.
Beinart says that Obama, serving his second and final term in office, will not be directly confronting Netanyahu “and will “stand back and allow the world, especially the European Union, to exert pressure on Netanyahu”, Israeli daily, Haaretz, reported.
The Obama Administration will not be appointing what was described as “big name” Middle East Envoy, and will not be presenting a peace plan with the Palestinians because it knows that Netanyahu wants to avoid international isolation by conducting fruitless and extended peace talks, similar to talks he held with the Palestinians before, without changing his policies, therefore, “Obama decided not to help Netanyahu, hoping that he will eventually realize that he must change his policies”.
But the new approach does not mean a halt of U.S military and financial support to Israel, and the United States will continue to finance the Israeli Iron Dome anti-missile system, and will also act against any Palestinian move that is meant to file lawsuits against Israel at the International Criminal Court for crimes committed against the Palestinian people.
The U.S. will also continue to act in order to prevent the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank from collapsing in order to prevent any deterioration of the security situation, and will act on preventing the resistance in Gaza from firing shells into Israel.
Meanwhile, Israeli Yedioth Aharonoth reported that the international pressure Israel is facing is mounting especially after the Netanyahu government declared its E1 illegal settlement plan meant at building more than 3000 units linking the Maale Adumim settlement with occupied East Jerusalem by annexing more Palestinian lands.
The plan will also block geographical contiguity between the northern and southern parts of the occupied West Bank, and will fragment that already fragmented West Bank due to illegal settlements and the illegal Annexation Wall.
The paper said that a European Diplomat in Brussels stated that this issue will be discussed by EU Ministers, who also intend to discuss certain sanctions on the import of products made in Israeli settlements.
Several EU Ministers are also asking for effective measures against Israel’s settlement activities but are facing strong objection from some major EU countries, topped by Germany.
The European Union is expected to renew its call on Israel to halt its settlement activities in occupied Palestine, and to present initiatives that indicate that Tel Aviv is really committed to the political process with the Palestinians.
Israel To Sponsor Ads Attacking Abbas In European Papers
Israeli daily, Maariv, reported, Tuesday morning, that Israeli Foreign Minister, Avigdor Lieberman, instructed Israeli ambassadors in five European countries to sponsor ads in major newspapers attacking the Palestinian president, Mahmoud Abbas, and describing him as an obstacle to peace.
Maariv stated that the World Jewish Congress will be funding these ads that will target Abbas, and “will be explaining the Israeli stance to Europe”.
Lieberman, of the fundamentalist Israel Our Home Party, made his decision despite objections raised by senior personnel at the Israeli Foreign Ministry who are not convinced that this is a smart move at the current time.
Maariv reported that the ads will be published in major newspapers in France, Spain, Germany, Italy, and Britain, and said that the essence of these ads is a direct attack on Abbas.
A senior official at the Israeli Foreign Ministry said that “such advertisements will harm Israel’s foreign policy, and its credibility in Europe".
But Lieberman claims that Jewish communities in Europe offered to help the Israeli Foreign Ministry in media campaigns, or any other campaigns, meant at improving Israel’s image in Europe, and the Ministry asked them to start publishing these ads in major papers.
Israel was angered by the recent visit of Khaled Mashal, head of the Political Bureau of the Hamas movement, to Gaza, who said that his visit was a result of the victory of the resistance against Israel in its recent aggression on Gaza, and also stated that the Palestinians will liberate Palestine, the entire country, from the river to the sea by ongoing resistance and determination.
The new campaign against Abbas comes as Fateh movement, headed by Abbas, and the Hamas movement, appear to be closer than ever to reaching a reconciliation agreement and comprehensive unity in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank.
Israel is not interested in internal Palestinian unity, and wants to keep the Hamas movement isolated in the Gaza Strip.
Tel Aviv decided to continue to withhold Tax money it collects on behalf of the P.A on border terminals in the West Bank, to punish the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank for heading to the United Nations General Assembly, and the overwhelming victory it garnered in its nonmember state status application.
Meanwhile, the Arab Follow-up Committee decided, during its meeting Sunday in Doha – Qatar, to immediately implement a decision that was made during the Baghdad Summit late in March this year, by immediately starting the transfer of $100 Million to the Palestinian Authority every month. The P.A. needs at least $240 Million in order to be able to function properly.
Israel withholds around $150 million a month of Palestinian tax and customs money it collects on behalf of the P.A on border terminals in the West Bank as the P.A. has no control, or even presence, on borders terminals.
Maariv stated that the World Jewish Congress will be funding these ads that will target Abbas, and “will be explaining the Israeli stance to Europe”.
Lieberman, of the fundamentalist Israel Our Home Party, made his decision despite objections raised by senior personnel at the Israeli Foreign Ministry who are not convinced that this is a smart move at the current time.
Maariv reported that the ads will be published in major newspapers in France, Spain, Germany, Italy, and Britain, and said that the essence of these ads is a direct attack on Abbas.
A senior official at the Israeli Foreign Ministry said that “such advertisements will harm Israel’s foreign policy, and its credibility in Europe".
But Lieberman claims that Jewish communities in Europe offered to help the Israeli Foreign Ministry in media campaigns, or any other campaigns, meant at improving Israel’s image in Europe, and the Ministry asked them to start publishing these ads in major papers.
Israel was angered by the recent visit of Khaled Mashal, head of the Political Bureau of the Hamas movement, to Gaza, who said that his visit was a result of the victory of the resistance against Israel in its recent aggression on Gaza, and also stated that the Palestinians will liberate Palestine, the entire country, from the river to the sea by ongoing resistance and determination.
The new campaign against Abbas comes as Fateh movement, headed by Abbas, and the Hamas movement, appear to be closer than ever to reaching a reconciliation agreement and comprehensive unity in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank.
Israel is not interested in internal Palestinian unity, and wants to keep the Hamas movement isolated in the Gaza Strip.
Tel Aviv decided to continue to withhold Tax money it collects on behalf of the P.A on border terminals in the West Bank, to punish the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank for heading to the United Nations General Assembly, and the overwhelming victory it garnered in its nonmember state status application.
Meanwhile, the Arab Follow-up Committee decided, during its meeting Sunday in Doha – Qatar, to immediately implement a decision that was made during the Baghdad Summit late in March this year, by immediately starting the transfer of $100 Million to the Palestinian Authority every month. The P.A. needs at least $240 Million in order to be able to function properly.
Israel withholds around $150 million a month of Palestinian tax and customs money it collects on behalf of the P.A on border terminals in the West Bank as the P.A. has no control, or even presence, on borders terminals.
9 dec 2012
Why is the birth rate in Israel's Ethiopian community declining?
Ethiopian women in Israel. Some have said they were coerced into taking birth control before and after arriving in Israel
Women say that while waiting in transit camps in Ethiopia they were coaxed into agreeing to injections of long-acting birth control drugs.
Women who immigrated from Ethiopia eight years ago say they were told they would not be allowed into Israel unless they agreed to be injected with the long-acting birth control drug Depo Provera, according to an investigative report aired Saturday on the Israel Educational Television program "Vacuum."
The women say that while waiting in transit camps in Ethiopia prior to immigration they were placed in family planning workshops where they were coaxed into agreeing to the injection - a charge denied by both the Joint Distribution Committe, which ran the clinics, and the Health Ministry.
"We said we won't have the shot. They told us, if you don't you won't go to Israel And also you won't be allowed into the Joint (American Joint Distribution Committee) office, you won't get aid or medical care.
We were afraid... We didn't have a choice. Without them and their aid we couldn't leave there. So we accepted the injection. It was only with their permission that we were allowed to leave," recounted Emawayish, who immigrated from Ethiopia eight years ago.
Emawayish was one of 35 women, whose stories were recorded by Sebba Reuven, that relate how they were coaxed and threatened into agreeing to receive the injectable birth control drug.
The birth rate among Israel's Ethiopian immigrant population has dropped nearly 20 percent in 10 years.
According to the report, the women were given the Depo Provera injections in the family planning workshops in transit camps, a practice that continued once they reached Israel. The women who were interviewed for the investigation reported that they were told at the transit camps that having many children would make their lives more difficult in Ethiopia and in Israel, and even that they would be barred from coming to Israel if they refused.
The Joint said in a response to "Vacuum" that its family planning workshops are among the services it provides to immigrants, who learn about spacing out their children's birth, "but we do not advise them to have small families. It is a matter of personal choice, but we tell them it is possible. The claims by the women according to which 'refusal to have the injection will bar them from medical care [and] economic aid and threaten their chances to immigrate to Israel are nonsense. The medical team does not intervene directly or indirectly in economic aid and the Joint is not involved in the aliyah procedures. With regard to the use of Depo Provera, studies indicate that is the most popular form of birth control among women in Ethiopia," the Joint said.
In its response to "Vacuum," the Health Ministry said it did not "recommend or try to encourage the use of Depo Provera, and that if these injections were used it was against our position. The Health Ministry provides individual family counseling in the framework of its well baby clincs and this advice is also provided by the physicians of the health maintenance organizations."
The Jewish Agency, which is responsible for Jewish immigration from abroad, said in response that it takes a harsh view of any effort to interfere in the family planning processes of Ethiopian immigrants, adding that "while the JA has never held family planning workshops for this group in Ethiopia or at immigrant absorption centers in Israel, the immigrant transit camp in Gondar, as the investigation noted, was previously operated by other agencies."
Women say that while waiting in transit camps in Ethiopia they were coaxed into agreeing to injections of long-acting birth control drugs.
Women who immigrated from Ethiopia eight years ago say they were told they would not be allowed into Israel unless they agreed to be injected with the long-acting birth control drug Depo Provera, according to an investigative report aired Saturday on the Israel Educational Television program "Vacuum."
The women say that while waiting in transit camps in Ethiopia prior to immigration they were placed in family planning workshops where they were coaxed into agreeing to the injection - a charge denied by both the Joint Distribution Committe, which ran the clinics, and the Health Ministry.
"We said we won't have the shot. They told us, if you don't you won't go to Israel And also you won't be allowed into the Joint (American Joint Distribution Committee) office, you won't get aid or medical care.
We were afraid... We didn't have a choice. Without them and their aid we couldn't leave there. So we accepted the injection. It was only with their permission that we were allowed to leave," recounted Emawayish, who immigrated from Ethiopia eight years ago.
Emawayish was one of 35 women, whose stories were recorded by Sebba Reuven, that relate how they were coaxed and threatened into agreeing to receive the injectable birth control drug.
The birth rate among Israel's Ethiopian immigrant population has dropped nearly 20 percent in 10 years.
According to the report, the women were given the Depo Provera injections in the family planning workshops in transit camps, a practice that continued once they reached Israel. The women who were interviewed for the investigation reported that they were told at the transit camps that having many children would make their lives more difficult in Ethiopia and in Israel, and even that they would be barred from coming to Israel if they refused.
The Joint said in a response to "Vacuum" that its family planning workshops are among the services it provides to immigrants, who learn about spacing out their children's birth, "but we do not advise them to have small families. It is a matter of personal choice, but we tell them it is possible. The claims by the women according to which 'refusal to have the injection will bar them from medical care [and] economic aid and threaten their chances to immigrate to Israel are nonsense. The medical team does not intervene directly or indirectly in economic aid and the Joint is not involved in the aliyah procedures. With regard to the use of Depo Provera, studies indicate that is the most popular form of birth control among women in Ethiopia," the Joint said.
In its response to "Vacuum," the Health Ministry said it did not "recommend or try to encourage the use of Depo Provera, and that if these injections were used it was against our position. The Health Ministry provides individual family counseling in the framework of its well baby clincs and this advice is also provided by the physicians of the health maintenance organizations."
The Jewish Agency, which is responsible for Jewish immigration from abroad, said in response that it takes a harsh view of any effort to interfere in the family planning processes of Ethiopian immigrants, adding that "while the JA has never held family planning workshops for this group in Ethiopia or at immigrant absorption centers in Israel, the immigrant transit camp in Gondar, as the investigation noted, was previously operated by other agencies."
5 dec 2012
Israel Police Searching for Missing Soldier
On Wednesday 5th December, Israeli police are asking the public to help them find Liraz Benbenishti, a soldier from Gedera who has been missing since leaving his base in the city yesterday.
Yediot Ahranot Israeli newspaper said that the soldier is 20 years old, wearing an Air Force uniform and carried a black bag. The police say that his life is at threat, and asking the public to search for him.
The police say that the soldier last seen in Herzliya last night.
Yediot Ahranot Israeli newspaper said that the soldier is 20 years old, wearing an Air Force uniform and carried a black bag. The police say that his life is at threat, and asking the public to search for him.
The police say that the soldier last seen in Herzliya last night.
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Nazi slur results in Israeli team captain suspension
Israel's leading basketball team Maccabi Tel Aviv has suspended its captain for calling a rival player a Nazi.
Guy Pnini, who was caught on video unleashing a string of insults at an Israeli opponent during a game earlier this week, was ousted from his position as captain until the end of the season, suspended until further notice, and forced to pay about $26,000 to a charity. The incident touched a raw nerve with Israelis sensitive to the memory of the 6 million Jews killed in the Nazi Holocaust. Pnini, whose own family, like many others in Israel has members that survived the Holocaust, has since apologized and said his outburst came in the heat of the game. |
He broke into tears in front of reporters after being given his punishment.
"I'm ashamed of myself and the way I acted," Pnini said in a statement on Maccabi Tel Aviv's website. "I will do everything to make up for the mistake I made."
"I'm ashamed of myself and the way I acted," Pnini said in a statement on Maccabi Tel Aviv's website. "I will do everything to make up for the mistake I made."
3 dec 2012
Israel Asked Jordan’s Approval To Strike Syrian Facilities
Israeli sources reported Monday that the Israeli government of Benjamin Netanyahu asked Jordan, twice in the last two months, to grant Tel Aviv a green light to strike what Israeli claims to be Syrian chemical weapons facilities.
The issue was revealed in a report by Jeffery Goldberg of The Atlantic, who also reported that Jordan has, so far, rejected any Israeli request to strike Syria.
Goldberg added that Israel has the option to go ahead and strike the Syrian facilities without Jordan’s approval, similar to what Israel did when it bombarded what is believed to be a nuclear plant in Deir Az-Zour, in Syria, but Tel Aviv is now concerned about the political aftermath of such a strike, and the repercussions that could take place in the region.
Goldberg reported that Jordan told Israel that “the current time not right for such an action”, Israeli Israel daily, Haaretz, said.
It is worth mentioning that the Atlantic reported that Israeli and American drones are conducting surveillance over the Jordanian border with Syria “to uncover and document Syrian chemical facilities not far from the border area”.
The Atlantic added that Netanyahu even sent representatives of the Israeli Intelligence Agency (Mossad) to Amman in an attempt to coordinate the strike with Jordan but the Jordanian leadership refused to grant Israel any green light.
Meanwhile, the United States reaffirmed its stance and position that was initially stated by President, Barack Obama, who said that using chemical weapons by the Assad regime in Syria is a “red line”.
The issue was revealed in a report by Jeffery Goldberg of The Atlantic, who also reported that Jordan has, so far, rejected any Israeli request to strike Syria.
Goldberg added that Israel has the option to go ahead and strike the Syrian facilities without Jordan’s approval, similar to what Israel did when it bombarded what is believed to be a nuclear plant in Deir Az-Zour, in Syria, but Tel Aviv is now concerned about the political aftermath of such a strike, and the repercussions that could take place in the region.
Goldberg reported that Jordan told Israel that “the current time not right for such an action”, Israeli Israel daily, Haaretz, said.
It is worth mentioning that the Atlantic reported that Israeli and American drones are conducting surveillance over the Jordanian border with Syria “to uncover and document Syrian chemical facilities not far from the border area”.
The Atlantic added that Netanyahu even sent representatives of the Israeli Intelligence Agency (Mossad) to Amman in an attempt to coordinate the strike with Jordan but the Jordanian leadership refused to grant Israel any green light.
Meanwhile, the United States reaffirmed its stance and position that was initially stated by President, Barack Obama, who said that using chemical weapons by the Assad regime in Syria is a “red line”.