7 feb 2015
Research institutions and economists said that "Israel misappropriates at least 6 billion dollars of the West Bank resources; oil, gas, marble, rare minerals from the Dead Sea, as well as agriculture and tourism activity."
In October 2013, a study issued by The World Bank indicated that the Palestinian economy lost about 75 billion dollars throughout 22 years of the Palestinian-Israeli negotiations as a result of preventing the Palestinians from exploiting the lands known as the (C) areas, and that Israel controls 46% of the Palestinian gross domestic product (GDP). According to the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics, the real GDP in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip was 7.3 billion dollars last year.
The World Bank further said that Israel and Jordan together gain about 4.2 billion dollars from the annual sales of the Dead Sea products which comprise 6% of the world's supply of potash and 73% of the world's production of bromine whereas the Palestinians are completely prevented from utilizing their rightful resources, bearing in mind that one-third of the western shore of the Dead Sea lies in the Israeli-occupied West Bank.
After Oslo Accords in 1993 between Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), the West Bank was divided into three areas: A, B and C; the A areas 18% of the West Bank are under full control of the Palestinian Authority (PA), B areas, 20% of the West Bank, are under a joint control of Israel and PA, and the C areas, 60% of the West Bank, are under Israeli security and civil control. 400,000 Israeli settlers live in the (C) areas along with 150,000 Palestinians prevented from building or investing.
Adel Shadid, a researcher in Israeli affairs, said in a statement that "the Israeli negotiator bore in mind the economic considerations when the occupied West Bank areas were divided by Oslo Accords."
Oslo Accords state that by 1998 the (C) areas will have been under a full PA control, but that never happened and the number of settlers in that area has notably increased.
Two years ago, a study by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) estimated the annual loss of the Palestinian economy at 6 billion dollars at the very least.
Sha'wan Jabarin, head of Palestinian al-Haq Foundation, an independent human rights group, said that if the Palestinians were given the chance to utilize the West Bank resources, they would be providing aid to the poor countries instead of depending on foreign and Arab donors to bridge the Palestinian budget deficit which amounted to 1.3 billion dollars last year amid expectations that it will reach 2 billion dollars in 2015.
Dr. Samir Abdullah, the former Palestinian minister of planning, said that the Israeli settlements project is aimed at stealing the Palestinian resources and forcing the indigenous people to migrate other than luring aid from the Zionist groups around the world. He added that settlements’ control over the surface and groundwater aquifers in the West Bank obstructed the development of all the Palestinian economic sectors.
In November 2013, the Palestinian government announced an international tender to explore oil and gas in the West Bank, and re-announced it in March 2014 but the Israeli obstacles prevented the process.
Moreover, the Israeli occupation prevents the Palestinians from opening new quarries and at the same time encourages the Israeli companies to do so, whereas the international law prohibits the occupying power from exploiting the natural resources of the occupied territories.
The harsh living conditions and the high unemployment rates among graduates forced 30,000 Palestinians to work in the industrial and agricultural settlements, according to the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics.
In October 2013, a study issued by The World Bank indicated that the Palestinian economy lost about 75 billion dollars throughout 22 years of the Palestinian-Israeli negotiations as a result of preventing the Palestinians from exploiting the lands known as the (C) areas, and that Israel controls 46% of the Palestinian gross domestic product (GDP). According to the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics, the real GDP in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip was 7.3 billion dollars last year.
The World Bank further said that Israel and Jordan together gain about 4.2 billion dollars from the annual sales of the Dead Sea products which comprise 6% of the world's supply of potash and 73% of the world's production of bromine whereas the Palestinians are completely prevented from utilizing their rightful resources, bearing in mind that one-third of the western shore of the Dead Sea lies in the Israeli-occupied West Bank.
After Oslo Accords in 1993 between Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), the West Bank was divided into three areas: A, B and C; the A areas 18% of the West Bank are under full control of the Palestinian Authority (PA), B areas, 20% of the West Bank, are under a joint control of Israel and PA, and the C areas, 60% of the West Bank, are under Israeli security and civil control. 400,000 Israeli settlers live in the (C) areas along with 150,000 Palestinians prevented from building or investing.
Adel Shadid, a researcher in Israeli affairs, said in a statement that "the Israeli negotiator bore in mind the economic considerations when the occupied West Bank areas were divided by Oslo Accords."
Oslo Accords state that by 1998 the (C) areas will have been under a full PA control, but that never happened and the number of settlers in that area has notably increased.
Two years ago, a study by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) estimated the annual loss of the Palestinian economy at 6 billion dollars at the very least.
Sha'wan Jabarin, head of Palestinian al-Haq Foundation, an independent human rights group, said that if the Palestinians were given the chance to utilize the West Bank resources, they would be providing aid to the poor countries instead of depending on foreign and Arab donors to bridge the Palestinian budget deficit which amounted to 1.3 billion dollars last year amid expectations that it will reach 2 billion dollars in 2015.
Dr. Samir Abdullah, the former Palestinian minister of planning, said that the Israeli settlements project is aimed at stealing the Palestinian resources and forcing the indigenous people to migrate other than luring aid from the Zionist groups around the world. He added that settlements’ control over the surface and groundwater aquifers in the West Bank obstructed the development of all the Palestinian economic sectors.
In November 2013, the Palestinian government announced an international tender to explore oil and gas in the West Bank, and re-announced it in March 2014 but the Israeli obstacles prevented the process.
Moreover, the Israeli occupation prevents the Palestinians from opening new quarries and at the same time encourages the Israeli companies to do so, whereas the international law prohibits the occupying power from exploiting the natural resources of the occupied territories.
The harsh living conditions and the high unemployment rates among graduates forced 30,000 Palestinians to work in the industrial and agricultural settlements, according to the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics.
6 feb 2015
A group of 63 members of the European Parliament (MEPs) from across the five biggest political blocs in the parliament have called on European Union foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini to suspend the EU-Israel "association agreement."
The association agreement facilitates largely unrestricted trade between the EU and 'Israel', allowing 'Israel' to participate in a wide range of the EU's programs. It also permits Israeli arms companies to receive EU funding.
The MEPs argue that allowing the agreement to stay in place despite 'Israel's recent massacre of Palestinians in Gaza "sends Israel the message that its violations of basic principles of human rights will be tolerated."
This appeal for tough action against 'Israel' is one of the most widely-supported initiatives from European parliamentarians in recent years. It follows the publication in December of a statement calling for the suspension of the association agreement that was signed by more than 300 groups across Europe, including some of the continent's biggest trade unions, political parties and non-governmental organizations.
Also in December, the European Coordination of Committees and Associations for Palestine, an umbrella group of European solidarity campaigns, set up a website to make it easy for people to lobby their MEPs on the issue of EU-Israel ties.
Imposing "restrictive measures"
In the wake of 'Israel's attack on Gaza this summer, the European United Left/Nordic Green Left party and the European Green Party both included the suspension of the association agreement in motions submitted to the European Parliament.
Members of the Socialists & Democrats, Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe and the center-right European People's Party also signed the recent letter.
Pablo Iglesias, the leader of the Spanish left-wing, anti-austerity Podemos party currently leading the polls, is among the signatories — as is Irish MEP Martina Anderson, who chairs the Palestine committee within the European parliament.
The letter also calls on the EU to impose "restrictive measures" on trade and economic relations that facilitate the expansion and growth of Israel's illegal settlements in the occupied West Bank.
"Restrictive measures" is the term used to describe the sanctions that the EU metes out against dozens of states, including the total ban on economic ties to Ukrainian territory annexed by Russia.
"The EU's lack of substantial action with regards to Israel appears out of step with the speed at which it has implemented restrictive measures on Russia with regards to the Ukraine crisis in recent months," the letter from MEPs also notes.
In June 2013 the EU introduced a ban on its funds being awarded to Israeli entities in the West Bank.
Last year, the EU worked with its member states to issue statements about the legal and political "risks" associated with doing business with companies based in illegal Israeli settlements.
Both measures were hard-won victories for Palestinian campaign groups and the solidarity movements in Europe that had worked with MEPs and built grassroots campaigns for them to be introduced.
Stopping short
While welcome steps in the right direction, these settlement-focused policies clearly stop way short of the type of meaningful action against Israel that is needed to hold it to account.
EU officials highlight these policies as examples of an approach based on upholding international law. In reality, besides a few relatively strong statements, the EU has failed to take any meaningful action in response to Israel's war crimes in Gaza, and has even sought to block attempts by Palestinians to file charges at the International Criminal Court.
Hopefully the 63 MEPs now calling for tougher action can help drive forward grassroots campaigning in Brussels and across Europe for the EU and its member states to end more aspects of its still largely unconditional support for Israel.
Here's the full text of the letter along with the list of signatories:
Honourable High Representative,
As you know, over 300 human rights groups, trade unions and political parties from across the European Union have written to you to call for the EU to suspend the EU- Israel Association Agreement.
Amnesty International and Palestinian organisations have documented that Israel deliberately targeted civilians and committed other war crimes during its recent onslaught against Palestinians in Gaza. These are serious violations of international law and international humanitarian law that cannot be tolerated.
The EU has quite rightly condemned Israel's construction of settlements on occupied Palestinian territory as illegal under international law. Unfortunately, the EU's objections about settlement construction do not appear to have had a significant impact on Israeli policy. Various bodies of the United Nations, including the Human Rights Council, have also condemned Israel's violations of international law repeatedly.
Article 2 of the Association Agreement states that relations between the EU and Israel must "be based on respect for human rights and democratic principles". There is an increasing concern that the failure of the EU to react appropriately to Israel's breaches of its commitments according to Article 2 of the Association Agreement sends Israel the message that its violations of basic principles of human rights will be tolerated.
Furthermore, the EU's lack of substantial action with regards to Israel appears out of step with the speed at which it has implemented restrictive measures on Russia with regards to the Ukraine crisis in recent months, as well as the restrictive measures implemented against more than 30 other countries.
The Lisbon Treaty states that the Union's external actions must be guided by the principles of fundamental freedoms, respect for human dignity, equality and solidarity, democracy, the rule of law, the UN Charter and international law.
For the EU to meet these legal obligations and in order to remain a credible actor that is able to improve human rights and fundamental freedoms through its actions, it is necessary that the EU enforces conditionality clauses such as the Article 2 of the EU- Israel Association Agreement
The EU should play a leading role in the promotion of a just peace between Israel and the Palestinians that is based on international law.
For these reasons, we call on the Commission to consider the suspension of Association Agreement with Israel unless Israel takes substantial and immediate steps to bring its conduct in line with international law.
At the very least, we urge the Commission to consider what steps must be taken for the EU and its member states to meet their legal obligation, as set out in the 2004 ruling of the International Court of Justice, not to render recognition, aid or assistance to Israeli violations of international law, including by imposing restrictive measures on trade and economic relations that facilitate the ongoing existence and expansion of illegal Israeli settlements.
We urge you to take strong action in support of a just peace between Israel and the Palestinians.
Yours sincerely,
1. Martina Anderson MEP (Ireland, GUE/NGL)
2. Patrick Le Hyaric MEP (France, GUE/NGL)
3. Angela Vallina MEP (Spain, GUE/NGL)
4. Marisa Matias MEP (Portugal, GUE/NGL)
5. Lynn Boylan MEP (Ireland, GUE/NGL)
6. Liadh Ní Ríada MEP (Ireland, GUE/NGL)
7. Matt Carthy MEP (Ireland, GUE/NGL)
8. Younous Omarjee MEP (France, GUE/NGL)
9. Lidia Rodriguez Senra MEP (Galicia, GUE/NGL)
10. Marie Christine Vergiat MEP (France, GUE/NGL)
11. Lola Sanchez Caldentey MEP (Spain, GUE/NGL)
12. Anne-Marie Mineur MEP (Netherlands, GUE/NGL)
13. Dennis De Jong MEP (Netherlands, GUE/NGL)
14. Pablo Iglesias MEP (Spain, GUE/NGL)
15. Teresa Rodriguez-Rubia MEP (Spain, GUE/NGL)
16. Tania Gonzalez Peña MEP (Spain, GUE/NGL)
17. Pablo Echenique MEP (Spain, GUE/NGL)
18. Neoklis Sylikiotis MEP (Cyprus, GUE/NGL)
19. Josè Bovè, MEP (France, Greens/EFA)
20. Merja Kyllonen MEP (Finland, GUE/NGL)
21. Javier Nart MEP (Spain, ALDE)
22. Keith Taylor MEP (UK, Greens/EFA)
23. Ana Gomes MEP (Portugal, S&D)
24. Marina Albiol MEP (Spain, GUE/NGL)
25. Josu Juaristi MEP (Basque, GUE/NGL)
26. Javier Couso MEP (Spain, GUE/NGL)
27. Paloma Lopez MEP (Spain, GUE/NGL)
28. Malin Björk MEP (Sweden, GUE/NGL)
29. Rina Ronja Kari MEP (Denmark, GUE/NGL)
30. Jill Evans MEP (UK, Greens/EFA)
31. Sofia Sakorafa MEP (Greece, GUE/NGL)
32. Nessa Childers MEP (Ireland, S&D)
33. Eleonora Forenza MEP (Italy, GUE/NGL)
34. João FERREIRA MEP (Portugal, GUE/NGL)
35. Ines Zuber MEP (Portugal, GUE/NGL)
36. Miguel Viegas MEP (Portugal, GUE/NGL)
37. Marian Harkin MEP (Ireland, ALDE)
38. Marie-Christine VERGIAT MEP (France, GUE/NGL)
39. Bodil Ceballos MEP (Sweden, Greens/EFA)
40. Karima Delli MEP (France, Greens/EFA)
41. Pascal Durand MEP (France, Greens/EFA)
42. Yannick Jadot MEP (France, Greens/EFA)
43. Eva Joly MEP (France, Greens/EFA)
44. Michele Rivasi MEP (France, Greens/EFA)
45. Alyn Smith MEP (UK, Greens/EFA)
46. Molly Scott Cato MEP (UK, Greens/EFA)
47. Curzio Maltese MEP (Italy, GUE/NGL)
48. Jordi Sebastia MEP (Spain, Greens/EFA) (mandate 2014-2015)
49. Florent Marcellesi MEP (Spain, Greens/EFA) (mandate 2016-2017)
50. Dimitrios Papadimoulis MEP (Greece, GUE/NGL)
51. Ivo Vajgl MEP (Slovenia, ALDE)
52. Josep-Maria Terricabras MEP (Spain, Greens/EFA)
53. Sirpa Pietikäinen MEP (Finland, EPP)
54. Tanja Fajon MEP (Slovenia, S&D)
55. Philippe Lamberts MEP (Belgium, Greens/EFA)
56. Ernest Urtasun MEP (Spain, Greens/EFA)
57. Judith Sargentini MEP (Netherlands, Greens/EFA)
58. Luke Ming Flanagan MEP (Ireland, GUE/NGL)
59. Margrete Auken MEP (Denmark, Greens/EFA)
60. Bart Staes MEP (Belgium, Greens/EFA)
61. Fernando Maura Barandiarán MEP (Spain, ALDE)
62. Barbara Spinelli MEP (Italy, GUE/NGL)
63. Maria Arena MEP (Belgium, S&D)
The association agreement facilitates largely unrestricted trade between the EU and 'Israel', allowing 'Israel' to participate in a wide range of the EU's programs. It also permits Israeli arms companies to receive EU funding.
The MEPs argue that allowing the agreement to stay in place despite 'Israel's recent massacre of Palestinians in Gaza "sends Israel the message that its violations of basic principles of human rights will be tolerated."
This appeal for tough action against 'Israel' is one of the most widely-supported initiatives from European parliamentarians in recent years. It follows the publication in December of a statement calling for the suspension of the association agreement that was signed by more than 300 groups across Europe, including some of the continent's biggest trade unions, political parties and non-governmental organizations.
Also in December, the European Coordination of Committees and Associations for Palestine, an umbrella group of European solidarity campaigns, set up a website to make it easy for people to lobby their MEPs on the issue of EU-Israel ties.
Imposing "restrictive measures"
In the wake of 'Israel's attack on Gaza this summer, the European United Left/Nordic Green Left party and the European Green Party both included the suspension of the association agreement in motions submitted to the European Parliament.
Members of the Socialists & Democrats, Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe and the center-right European People's Party also signed the recent letter.
Pablo Iglesias, the leader of the Spanish left-wing, anti-austerity Podemos party currently leading the polls, is among the signatories — as is Irish MEP Martina Anderson, who chairs the Palestine committee within the European parliament.
The letter also calls on the EU to impose "restrictive measures" on trade and economic relations that facilitate the expansion and growth of Israel's illegal settlements in the occupied West Bank.
"Restrictive measures" is the term used to describe the sanctions that the EU metes out against dozens of states, including the total ban on economic ties to Ukrainian territory annexed by Russia.
"The EU's lack of substantial action with regards to Israel appears out of step with the speed at which it has implemented restrictive measures on Russia with regards to the Ukraine crisis in recent months," the letter from MEPs also notes.
In June 2013 the EU introduced a ban on its funds being awarded to Israeli entities in the West Bank.
Last year, the EU worked with its member states to issue statements about the legal and political "risks" associated with doing business with companies based in illegal Israeli settlements.
Both measures were hard-won victories for Palestinian campaign groups and the solidarity movements in Europe that had worked with MEPs and built grassroots campaigns for them to be introduced.
Stopping short
While welcome steps in the right direction, these settlement-focused policies clearly stop way short of the type of meaningful action against Israel that is needed to hold it to account.
EU officials highlight these policies as examples of an approach based on upholding international law. In reality, besides a few relatively strong statements, the EU has failed to take any meaningful action in response to Israel's war crimes in Gaza, and has even sought to block attempts by Palestinians to file charges at the International Criminal Court.
Hopefully the 63 MEPs now calling for tougher action can help drive forward grassroots campaigning in Brussels and across Europe for the EU and its member states to end more aspects of its still largely unconditional support for Israel.
Here's the full text of the letter along with the list of signatories:
Honourable High Representative,
As you know, over 300 human rights groups, trade unions and political parties from across the European Union have written to you to call for the EU to suspend the EU- Israel Association Agreement.
Amnesty International and Palestinian organisations have documented that Israel deliberately targeted civilians and committed other war crimes during its recent onslaught against Palestinians in Gaza. These are serious violations of international law and international humanitarian law that cannot be tolerated.
The EU has quite rightly condemned Israel's construction of settlements on occupied Palestinian territory as illegal under international law. Unfortunately, the EU's objections about settlement construction do not appear to have had a significant impact on Israeli policy. Various bodies of the United Nations, including the Human Rights Council, have also condemned Israel's violations of international law repeatedly.
Article 2 of the Association Agreement states that relations between the EU and Israel must "be based on respect for human rights and democratic principles". There is an increasing concern that the failure of the EU to react appropriately to Israel's breaches of its commitments according to Article 2 of the Association Agreement sends Israel the message that its violations of basic principles of human rights will be tolerated.
Furthermore, the EU's lack of substantial action with regards to Israel appears out of step with the speed at which it has implemented restrictive measures on Russia with regards to the Ukraine crisis in recent months, as well as the restrictive measures implemented against more than 30 other countries.
The Lisbon Treaty states that the Union's external actions must be guided by the principles of fundamental freedoms, respect for human dignity, equality and solidarity, democracy, the rule of law, the UN Charter and international law.
For the EU to meet these legal obligations and in order to remain a credible actor that is able to improve human rights and fundamental freedoms through its actions, it is necessary that the EU enforces conditionality clauses such as the Article 2 of the EU- Israel Association Agreement
The EU should play a leading role in the promotion of a just peace between Israel and the Palestinians that is based on international law.
For these reasons, we call on the Commission to consider the suspension of Association Agreement with Israel unless Israel takes substantial and immediate steps to bring its conduct in line with international law.
At the very least, we urge the Commission to consider what steps must be taken for the EU and its member states to meet their legal obligation, as set out in the 2004 ruling of the International Court of Justice, not to render recognition, aid or assistance to Israeli violations of international law, including by imposing restrictive measures on trade and economic relations that facilitate the ongoing existence and expansion of illegal Israeli settlements.
We urge you to take strong action in support of a just peace between Israel and the Palestinians.
Yours sincerely,
1. Martina Anderson MEP (Ireland, GUE/NGL)
2. Patrick Le Hyaric MEP (France, GUE/NGL)
3. Angela Vallina MEP (Spain, GUE/NGL)
4. Marisa Matias MEP (Portugal, GUE/NGL)
5. Lynn Boylan MEP (Ireland, GUE/NGL)
6. Liadh Ní Ríada MEP (Ireland, GUE/NGL)
7. Matt Carthy MEP (Ireland, GUE/NGL)
8. Younous Omarjee MEP (France, GUE/NGL)
9. Lidia Rodriguez Senra MEP (Galicia, GUE/NGL)
10. Marie Christine Vergiat MEP (France, GUE/NGL)
11. Lola Sanchez Caldentey MEP (Spain, GUE/NGL)
12. Anne-Marie Mineur MEP (Netherlands, GUE/NGL)
13. Dennis De Jong MEP (Netherlands, GUE/NGL)
14. Pablo Iglesias MEP (Spain, GUE/NGL)
15. Teresa Rodriguez-Rubia MEP (Spain, GUE/NGL)
16. Tania Gonzalez Peña MEP (Spain, GUE/NGL)
17. Pablo Echenique MEP (Spain, GUE/NGL)
18. Neoklis Sylikiotis MEP (Cyprus, GUE/NGL)
19. Josè Bovè, MEP (France, Greens/EFA)
20. Merja Kyllonen MEP (Finland, GUE/NGL)
21. Javier Nart MEP (Spain, ALDE)
22. Keith Taylor MEP (UK, Greens/EFA)
23. Ana Gomes MEP (Portugal, S&D)
24. Marina Albiol MEP (Spain, GUE/NGL)
25. Josu Juaristi MEP (Basque, GUE/NGL)
26. Javier Couso MEP (Spain, GUE/NGL)
27. Paloma Lopez MEP (Spain, GUE/NGL)
28. Malin Björk MEP (Sweden, GUE/NGL)
29. Rina Ronja Kari MEP (Denmark, GUE/NGL)
30. Jill Evans MEP (UK, Greens/EFA)
31. Sofia Sakorafa MEP (Greece, GUE/NGL)
32. Nessa Childers MEP (Ireland, S&D)
33. Eleonora Forenza MEP (Italy, GUE/NGL)
34. João FERREIRA MEP (Portugal, GUE/NGL)
35. Ines Zuber MEP (Portugal, GUE/NGL)
36. Miguel Viegas MEP (Portugal, GUE/NGL)
37. Marian Harkin MEP (Ireland, ALDE)
38. Marie-Christine VERGIAT MEP (France, GUE/NGL)
39. Bodil Ceballos MEP (Sweden, Greens/EFA)
40. Karima Delli MEP (France, Greens/EFA)
41. Pascal Durand MEP (France, Greens/EFA)
42. Yannick Jadot MEP (France, Greens/EFA)
43. Eva Joly MEP (France, Greens/EFA)
44. Michele Rivasi MEP (France, Greens/EFA)
45. Alyn Smith MEP (UK, Greens/EFA)
46. Molly Scott Cato MEP (UK, Greens/EFA)
47. Curzio Maltese MEP (Italy, GUE/NGL)
48. Jordi Sebastia MEP (Spain, Greens/EFA) (mandate 2014-2015)
49. Florent Marcellesi MEP (Spain, Greens/EFA) (mandate 2016-2017)
50. Dimitrios Papadimoulis MEP (Greece, GUE/NGL)
51. Ivo Vajgl MEP (Slovenia, ALDE)
52. Josep-Maria Terricabras MEP (Spain, Greens/EFA)
53. Sirpa Pietikäinen MEP (Finland, EPP)
54. Tanja Fajon MEP (Slovenia, S&D)
55. Philippe Lamberts MEP (Belgium, Greens/EFA)
56. Ernest Urtasun MEP (Spain, Greens/EFA)
57. Judith Sargentini MEP (Netherlands, Greens/EFA)
58. Luke Ming Flanagan MEP (Ireland, GUE/NGL)
59. Margrete Auken MEP (Denmark, Greens/EFA)
60. Bart Staes MEP (Belgium, Greens/EFA)
61. Fernando Maura Barandiarán MEP (Spain, ALDE)
62. Barbara Spinelli MEP (Italy, GUE/NGL)
63. Maria Arena MEP (Belgium, S&D)
It was reported that several high-ranking Democrats are considering a boycott of the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's address to Congress in March 3. The Democrats are complaining that the politicized event is meant to embarrass U.S. President Barack Obama, since the invitation of the Israeli leader was extended without the blessing of the White House, and back up Netanyahu before the Israeli elections in March 17.
"Colleagues of mine are very concerned about it and I'm troubled by it. I won't name names, of course," said Senator Dick Durbin, D-Illinois, the No. 2 Senate Democrat who is also a close ally of President Barack Obama. "It's a serious mistake by the speaker and the prime minister. The relationship between Israel and the United States has been so strong, so bipartisan."
"One of my closest friends- one of the strongest supporters of Israel- described this Boehner tactic as a disaster, a terrible disaster for Israel," Durbin added, referring to Republican House Speaker John Boehner who invited Netanyahu. "I won't speak for any other members but they've been talking to me about what is the right way to react to what could turn out to be a divisive event."
On the other hand, Jewish Senator Dianne Feinstein of California said when asked about a boycott: "there are people discussing it." Implying that she hasn't made a decision yet.
"I take it very seriously," Feinstein said. "My concern is that it is obviously political and it uses the backdrop of the United States House of Representatives and the Senate two weeks before a political campaign and violates all the protocol that's always existed in terms of working this out with the President and I don't think that helps Israel."
Other senators have also said that they're weighing a boycott.
House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, however, said that there will be no boycott. She suggested that some congressmen might just be busy to attend, and that at least two Democrats have already said that they won't be present.
"I don't think anybody should use the word 'boycott,'" Pelosi said in her weekly press conference. "When these heads of state come, people are here doing their work, they're trying to pass legislation, they're meeting with their constituents and the rest. It's not a high-priority item for them."
White House spokesman Josh Earnest said Obama believes that individual members of Congress will have to decide for themselves whether to attend Netanyahu's speech. As to whether Vice President Biden, the Senate's presiding officer, will go, Earnest said the vice president's schedule for that week has not been set.
Republican House speaker John A. Boehner was the one who extended the invitation to the Israeli Prime Minister and has since faced waves of criticism from other senators for not consulting with Obama about the event. Boehner, however, has not backed down under the criticism, suggesting that Netanyahu, in his opinion, is the best spokesman for an effective approach toward Iran. Other Republicans said that it would be disgraceful for Democrats to not show up for the address in March.
"Colleagues of mine are very concerned about it and I'm troubled by it. I won't name names, of course," said Senator Dick Durbin, D-Illinois, the No. 2 Senate Democrat who is also a close ally of President Barack Obama. "It's a serious mistake by the speaker and the prime minister. The relationship between Israel and the United States has been so strong, so bipartisan."
"One of my closest friends- one of the strongest supporters of Israel- described this Boehner tactic as a disaster, a terrible disaster for Israel," Durbin added, referring to Republican House Speaker John Boehner who invited Netanyahu. "I won't speak for any other members but they've been talking to me about what is the right way to react to what could turn out to be a divisive event."
On the other hand, Jewish Senator Dianne Feinstein of California said when asked about a boycott: "there are people discussing it." Implying that she hasn't made a decision yet.
"I take it very seriously," Feinstein said. "My concern is that it is obviously political and it uses the backdrop of the United States House of Representatives and the Senate two weeks before a political campaign and violates all the protocol that's always existed in terms of working this out with the President and I don't think that helps Israel."
Other senators have also said that they're weighing a boycott.
House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, however, said that there will be no boycott. She suggested that some congressmen might just be busy to attend, and that at least two Democrats have already said that they won't be present.
"I don't think anybody should use the word 'boycott,'" Pelosi said in her weekly press conference. "When these heads of state come, people are here doing their work, they're trying to pass legislation, they're meeting with their constituents and the rest. It's not a high-priority item for them."
White House spokesman Josh Earnest said Obama believes that individual members of Congress will have to decide for themselves whether to attend Netanyahu's speech. As to whether Vice President Biden, the Senate's presiding officer, will go, Earnest said the vice president's schedule for that week has not been set.
Republican House speaker John A. Boehner was the one who extended the invitation to the Israeli Prime Minister and has since faced waves of criticism from other senators for not consulting with Obama about the event. Boehner, however, has not backed down under the criticism, suggesting that Netanyahu, in his opinion, is the best spokesman for an effective approach toward Iran. Other Republicans said that it would be disgraceful for Democrats to not show up for the address in March.
Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu
The Turkish foreign minister has withdrawn from the Munich Security Conference over the presence of an Israeli delegation in a marginal session.
Mevlut Cavusoglu decided on Friday to pull out of the conference at the last minute after he found out that organizers of a meeting on Middle East had included representatives from Israel.
"I was going to attend the conference but we decided not to after they added Israeli officials to the Middle East session at the last minute," Cavusoglu said in a news conference after a meeting in Berlin with Turkey’s envoys to the European countries.
However, he said that the decision has nothing to do with Turkey’s relations with Germany.
The move highly infuriated the Israelis present at the talks with head of the delegation Yuval Steinitz, who serves as Israel’s minister of strategic affairs, saying that Cavusoglu’s decision to pull out of the conference heavily clouded “Turkey's future and character.”
Turkey downgraded its ties with Israel after the Tel Aviv regime killed nine Turkish pro-Palestinian activists on board of a flotilla that was heading toward Gaza in 2010. Another Turkish activist later died of wounds from the attack. Ankara reacted harshly and made the Israelis apologize for the killing, but the ties of the former allies remain to be normalized.
The 2010 tragedy has also made Turkish officials more outspoken against Israel’s crimes against the Palestinians.
Last summer, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan called Israel’s massive assault on Gaza a clear case of barbarism which even outsized atrocities committed by Hitler.
The Munich Security Conference is the largest gathering on international security policy and has been taking place annually since 1963.
The Turkish foreign minister has withdrawn from the Munich Security Conference over the presence of an Israeli delegation in a marginal session.
Mevlut Cavusoglu decided on Friday to pull out of the conference at the last minute after he found out that organizers of a meeting on Middle East had included representatives from Israel.
"I was going to attend the conference but we decided not to after they added Israeli officials to the Middle East session at the last minute," Cavusoglu said in a news conference after a meeting in Berlin with Turkey’s envoys to the European countries.
However, he said that the decision has nothing to do with Turkey’s relations with Germany.
The move highly infuriated the Israelis present at the talks with head of the delegation Yuval Steinitz, who serves as Israel’s minister of strategic affairs, saying that Cavusoglu’s decision to pull out of the conference heavily clouded “Turkey's future and character.”
Turkey downgraded its ties with Israel after the Tel Aviv regime killed nine Turkish pro-Palestinian activists on board of a flotilla that was heading toward Gaza in 2010. Another Turkish activist later died of wounds from the attack. Ankara reacted harshly and made the Israelis apologize for the killing, but the ties of the former allies remain to be normalized.
The 2010 tragedy has also made Turkish officials more outspoken against Israel’s crimes against the Palestinians.
Last summer, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan called Israel’s massive assault on Gaza a clear case of barbarism which even outsized atrocities committed by Hitler.
The Munich Security Conference is the largest gathering on international security policy and has been taking place annually since 1963.
5 feb 2015
Israel has ordered the immediate suspension of three diplomats for publicly criticizing the policies of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman.
Israel's Ambassador to Switzerland Yigal Caspi and two other diplomats were suspended on Wednesday for behavior deemed “unacceptable” and unbefitting their profession, Lieberman said on Thursday.
The diplomats held posts in Switzerland, India and Jerusalem (al-Quds), Israeli media reported.
Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman, Emmanuel Nahshon, confirmed the report but declined to provide additional details.
The three diplomats twitted on Tuesday criticizing Netanyahu for planning a speech before the US Congress on Iran's nuclear program.
Netanyahu’s speech has not been coordinated with the White House and is expected to deepen rifts within the US administration.
Dozens of American lawmakers have already threatened not to attend the speech to protest Netanyahu’s visit to Washington.
Israeli media reported that the diplomats could face dismissal over their remarks.
The comments come a month ahead of Israel's national election, which is widely seen as a referendum on the performance of right-wing Netanyahu, who is spending his third term in office.
Domestic discord
The Israeli regime has been facing criticism over a number of issues, including its aggression against Palestinians and Netanyahu’s handling of economic problems.
Last month, the Israeli military dismissed over 40 soldiers for publicly criticizing the Tel Aviv regime’s crimes against Palestinians following Israel’s 50-day offensive on the Gaza Strip last summer.
In 2013, thousands of Israelis took to streets in different cities to protest against Tel Aviv’s austerity measures, which have led to growing poverty and unemployment.
The protests were initially triggered by soaring housing prices, but quickly evolved into a sweeping expression of rage against a wide array of economic issues, including the cost of food, gasoline and education.
There are reports that an increasing number of Israelis are renouncing their citizenship in search of a better life.
Israel's Ambassador to Switzerland Yigal Caspi and two other diplomats were suspended on Wednesday for behavior deemed “unacceptable” and unbefitting their profession, Lieberman said on Thursday.
The diplomats held posts in Switzerland, India and Jerusalem (al-Quds), Israeli media reported.
Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman, Emmanuel Nahshon, confirmed the report but declined to provide additional details.
The three diplomats twitted on Tuesday criticizing Netanyahu for planning a speech before the US Congress on Iran's nuclear program.
Netanyahu’s speech has not been coordinated with the White House and is expected to deepen rifts within the US administration.
Dozens of American lawmakers have already threatened not to attend the speech to protest Netanyahu’s visit to Washington.
Israeli media reported that the diplomats could face dismissal over their remarks.
The comments come a month ahead of Israel's national election, which is widely seen as a referendum on the performance of right-wing Netanyahu, who is spending his third term in office.
Domestic discord
The Israeli regime has been facing criticism over a number of issues, including its aggression against Palestinians and Netanyahu’s handling of economic problems.
Last month, the Israeli military dismissed over 40 soldiers for publicly criticizing the Tel Aviv regime’s crimes against Palestinians following Israel’s 50-day offensive on the Gaza Strip last summer.
In 2013, thousands of Israelis took to streets in different cities to protest against Tel Aviv’s austerity measures, which have led to growing poverty and unemployment.
The protests were initially triggered by soaring housing prices, but quickly evolved into a sweeping expression of rage against a wide array of economic issues, including the cost of food, gasoline and education.
There are reports that an increasing number of Israelis are renouncing their citizenship in search of a better life.
A view of Israel's Central Bank
Israel’s Central Bank says the Tel Aviv regime has to increase taxes to cover its rising military costs as the economy is still suffering from the effects of its recent costly war on the Gaza Strip.
The bank said on Wednesday that the cabinet should raise taxes by up to 14 billion shekels (USD 3.6 billion) to cover the regime’s military costs.
“The treasury paid for last summer’s 50-day war with Hamas and its allies in Gaza without exceeding its 2.8 percent budget deficit target, but only by cutting public spending,” Haaretz newspaper quoted the bank as saying.
“If tax hikes or spending cuts totaling 1.5 percent of the gross domestic product (GDP) are not made, the deficit is expected to grow to more than 3 percent of GDP and the debt-to-GDP ratio is expected to be about 70 percent of GDP,” the bank warned.
The report said that the new Israeli cabinet, which is due to be formed after the March 17 elections, will face problems in easing the rising cost of living and boosting education and health care.
Low economic growth
The bank had earlier warned that the economy has not yet recovered from the 50-day offensive on Gaza, which left more than 2,140 Palestinians, including 577 children, dead last summer.
Israel unleashed aerial attacks on Gaza in early July 2014 and later expanded its military campaign with a ground invasion of the Palestinian coastal enclave. The war ended in late August 2014 with an Egyptian-brokered truce.
The Israeli bank said in its January report that the regime’s economic growth in 2014 reached its lowest level in five years. The data showed that the Israeli gross domestic product (GDP) fell at an annual rate of 0.4 percent in the third quarter of 2014.
Israeli authorities are under fire over growing poverty and unemployment. There are reports that an increasing number of Israelis are renouncing their citizenship in search of a better life.
According to data collected by Israeli embassies abroad, the number of the Israelis who requested to renounce their citizenship in 2014 rose by 65 percent.
Israel’s Central Bank says the Tel Aviv regime has to increase taxes to cover its rising military costs as the economy is still suffering from the effects of its recent costly war on the Gaza Strip.
The bank said on Wednesday that the cabinet should raise taxes by up to 14 billion shekels (USD 3.6 billion) to cover the regime’s military costs.
“The treasury paid for last summer’s 50-day war with Hamas and its allies in Gaza without exceeding its 2.8 percent budget deficit target, but only by cutting public spending,” Haaretz newspaper quoted the bank as saying.
“If tax hikes or spending cuts totaling 1.5 percent of the gross domestic product (GDP) are not made, the deficit is expected to grow to more than 3 percent of GDP and the debt-to-GDP ratio is expected to be about 70 percent of GDP,” the bank warned.
The report said that the new Israeli cabinet, which is due to be formed after the March 17 elections, will face problems in easing the rising cost of living and boosting education and health care.
Low economic growth
The bank had earlier warned that the economy has not yet recovered from the 50-day offensive on Gaza, which left more than 2,140 Palestinians, including 577 children, dead last summer.
Israel unleashed aerial attacks on Gaza in early July 2014 and later expanded its military campaign with a ground invasion of the Palestinian coastal enclave. The war ended in late August 2014 with an Egyptian-brokered truce.
The Israeli bank said in its January report that the regime’s economic growth in 2014 reached its lowest level in five years. The data showed that the Israeli gross domestic product (GDP) fell at an annual rate of 0.4 percent in the third quarter of 2014.
Israeli authorities are under fire over growing poverty and unemployment. There are reports that an increasing number of Israelis are renouncing their citizenship in search of a better life.
According to data collected by Israeli embassies abroad, the number of the Israelis who requested to renounce their citizenship in 2014 rose by 65 percent.
The Jordanian government approved the Israeli appointment of the new Israeli ambassador to Jordan, Einat Shlain, according to the Jordanian ministry for foreign Affairs.
The official source disclosed on Thursday that the Jordanian approval has been issued while the date of her arrival, which depends on the Israeli side, has not been announced yet. It also said the current Israeli ambassador, Daniel Nevo, is still serving the position.
Haaretz Hebrew Newspaper quoted on Wednesday the Israeli foreign ministry as stating that the Jordanian government has approved the appointment of the new Israeli ambassador. It added that the Israeli ministry praised the Jordanian government’s decision to return its ambassador, Walid Obaidat, to Israel.
According to Haaretz, Shlain had worked years ago in the diplomatic field at the Israeli embassy in Amman, making her Israel’s first female ambassador to an Arab state. She also served as the Israeli ambassador to Washington.
The Jordanian government returned a few days ago the Jordanian ambassador Obeidat to Israel after summoning him for consultation following escalation in Israeli violations against al-Aqsa Mosque last November.
The official source disclosed on Thursday that the Jordanian approval has been issued while the date of her arrival, which depends on the Israeli side, has not been announced yet. It also said the current Israeli ambassador, Daniel Nevo, is still serving the position.
Haaretz Hebrew Newspaper quoted on Wednesday the Israeli foreign ministry as stating that the Jordanian government has approved the appointment of the new Israeli ambassador. It added that the Israeli ministry praised the Jordanian government’s decision to return its ambassador, Walid Obaidat, to Israel.
According to Haaretz, Shlain had worked years ago in the diplomatic field at the Israeli embassy in Amman, making her Israel’s first female ambassador to an Arab state. She also served as the Israeli ambassador to Washington.
The Jordanian government returned a few days ago the Jordanian ambassador Obeidat to Israel after summoning him for consultation following escalation in Israeli violations against al-Aqsa Mosque last November.
3 feb 2015
The Jordanian House of Representatives voiced deep disappointment over a government decision announcing that Jordan’s ambassador to Israel would return to his post in Tel Aviv as of Monday.
11 Members of the Jordanian parliamentary committee on Palestine said in a preliminary commentary on the decision: “We, members of the parliamentary committee on Palestine, have been shocked by the government’s decision to return Jordanian ambassador to Tel Aviv, Walid Ubaidat, to resume his diplomatic mission.”
“The Jordanian government is overlooking the ongoing daily assaults perpetrated by the Israeli occupation on Jerusalem’s Islamic and Christian sanctuaries. It also turns blind eyes to the despotism executed against Palestinians and the sacrilegious assaults targeting Muslims’ holy al-Aqsa Mosque from the crack of dawn to twilight,” the statement added.
The committee said it would step up protest moves in case the decision is officially adopted by the Jordanian government.
“This is an out-of-the-place decision Mr. premier [Abdullah Ennsour]. We appeal to you to reconsider the decision,” the statement read.
Israel should bear in mind that preserving the dignity of the Palestinian people and the sanctity of holy Jerusalem and al-Aqsa Mosque is the only way to make any diplomatic ties with Jordan see the day, they said.
The Jordanian government asked ambassador Walid Obeidat to return to Tel Aviv three months after being recalled over vandalism on Jerusalem's al-Aqsa Mosque, government spokesman Mohammed al-Momani said.
Al-Momani, speaking during a meeting of the Jordanian parliament’s finance committee on Monday, said that the return of the ambassador to Tel Aviv was approved after the circumstances for his recall to Amman had changed.
He said that the number of worshipers at the Al-Aqsa Mosque had risen, reaching 65,000 on special prayer days.
Speaking to the Anadolu News Agency, former deputy parliament speaker, MP Khalil Attia, dubbed the move “a free service paid to the Israeli occupation premier, Benjamin Netanyahu, ahead of the electoral race.”
The recall had put enormous pressure on already frosty ties between Israel and Jordan. Tensions soared to a new level when in early November Israeli occupation officers and settlers stepped up desecration assaults on holy al-Aqsa Mosque and Islamic sanctuaries across the Occupied Palestinian territories.
11 Members of the Jordanian parliamentary committee on Palestine said in a preliminary commentary on the decision: “We, members of the parliamentary committee on Palestine, have been shocked by the government’s decision to return Jordanian ambassador to Tel Aviv, Walid Ubaidat, to resume his diplomatic mission.”
“The Jordanian government is overlooking the ongoing daily assaults perpetrated by the Israeli occupation on Jerusalem’s Islamic and Christian sanctuaries. It also turns blind eyes to the despotism executed against Palestinians and the sacrilegious assaults targeting Muslims’ holy al-Aqsa Mosque from the crack of dawn to twilight,” the statement added.
The committee said it would step up protest moves in case the decision is officially adopted by the Jordanian government.
“This is an out-of-the-place decision Mr. premier [Abdullah Ennsour]. We appeal to you to reconsider the decision,” the statement read.
Israel should bear in mind that preserving the dignity of the Palestinian people and the sanctity of holy Jerusalem and al-Aqsa Mosque is the only way to make any diplomatic ties with Jordan see the day, they said.
The Jordanian government asked ambassador Walid Obeidat to return to Tel Aviv three months after being recalled over vandalism on Jerusalem's al-Aqsa Mosque, government spokesman Mohammed al-Momani said.
Al-Momani, speaking during a meeting of the Jordanian parliament’s finance committee on Monday, said that the return of the ambassador to Tel Aviv was approved after the circumstances for his recall to Amman had changed.
He said that the number of worshipers at the Al-Aqsa Mosque had risen, reaching 65,000 on special prayer days.
Speaking to the Anadolu News Agency, former deputy parliament speaker, MP Khalil Attia, dubbed the move “a free service paid to the Israeli occupation premier, Benjamin Netanyahu, ahead of the electoral race.”
The recall had put enormous pressure on already frosty ties between Israel and Jordan. Tensions soared to a new level when in early November Israeli occupation officers and settlers stepped up desecration assaults on holy al-Aqsa Mosque and Islamic sanctuaries across the Occupied Palestinian territories.
2 feb 2015
The Israeli right-wing parties have submitted a request to the central election committee to disqualify the Arab Knesset member Hanin Zoabi from running for the elections in March.
MK Alex Miller of the right-wing Yisrael Beytenu party, claimed that banning Zoabi would be in accordance with the constitutional basic law, which prohibits Knesset candidates who reject Israel as a Jewish and democratic state or promote terrorism from running for election.
The request was backed by the rest of Yisrael Beytenu MKs as well as the Likud and Shas parties, which are working together to disqualify Zoabi.
Zoabi, a member of the Balad party and now running with the newly unified Arab party, is an outspoken critic of Israel who first came under fire for taking part in the Freedom Flotilla aid convoy to Gaza in 2010. More recently, she refused to label as terrorists the men who kidnapped and killed three Jewish settlers in the West Bank.
In response, Zoabi said she would not deign to respond to Knesset members from parties afflicted with corruption, which she said would disappear from the political map in the coming elections.
MK Alex Miller of the right-wing Yisrael Beytenu party, claimed that banning Zoabi would be in accordance with the constitutional basic law, which prohibits Knesset candidates who reject Israel as a Jewish and democratic state or promote terrorism from running for election.
The request was backed by the rest of Yisrael Beytenu MKs as well as the Likud and Shas parties, which are working together to disqualify Zoabi.
Zoabi, a member of the Balad party and now running with the newly unified Arab party, is an outspoken critic of Israel who first came under fire for taking part in the Freedom Flotilla aid convoy to Gaza in 2010. More recently, she refused to label as terrorists the men who kidnapped and killed three Jewish settlers in the West Bank.
In response, Zoabi said she would not deign to respond to Knesset members from parties afflicted with corruption, which she said would disappear from the political map in the coming elections.
The Israeli premier Benjamin Netanyahu announced a decision to freeze the tax funds allotted to the Palestinian Authority (PA) as a punitive measure in response to its appeal to join the International Criminal Court (ICC).
The Israeli government has decided to halt the transfer of a 100- million-dollar batch of tax revenues collected this month after $127m collected on behalf of the PA were held back last month, the Yisrael Hayom newspaper said Sunday.
The decision falls in line with Israel’s dismay over Palestinians’ appeal to join the ICC in an attempt to probe Israeli war crimes.
“Abbas has crossed all red lines,” a statement by the Israeli occupation government read.
Israeli and European parties have warned of an impending breakdown to hit the PA in case Israel continues to withhold tax revenues, accounting for two-thirds of the authority's budget.
“It is unknown for how long will the Palestinians be able to survive” the newspaper quoted an informed Israeli source as wondering, adding that the PA is expected to fall apart within a four-month-deadline.
Meanwhile, the PA Premier Rami al-Hamdallah said Sunday that a portion of governmental employees' salaries would be provided as of February in case the PA’s tax revenues are still withheld.
He said international efforts have been underway to have the tax revenues dispatched to the PA at the soonest time possible.
The Israeli government has decided to halt the transfer of a 100- million-dollar batch of tax revenues collected this month after $127m collected on behalf of the PA were held back last month, the Yisrael Hayom newspaper said Sunday.
The decision falls in line with Israel’s dismay over Palestinians’ appeal to join the ICC in an attempt to probe Israeli war crimes.
“Abbas has crossed all red lines,” a statement by the Israeli occupation government read.
Israeli and European parties have warned of an impending breakdown to hit the PA in case Israel continues to withhold tax revenues, accounting for two-thirds of the authority's budget.
“It is unknown for how long will the Palestinians be able to survive” the newspaper quoted an informed Israeli source as wondering, adding that the PA is expected to fall apart within a four-month-deadline.
Meanwhile, the PA Premier Rami al-Hamdallah said Sunday that a portion of governmental employees' salaries would be provided as of February in case the PA’s tax revenues are still withheld.
He said international efforts have been underway to have the tax revenues dispatched to the PA at the soonest time possible.
1 feb 2015
Member of the Rahat municipal staff, Ata Abu Mdeighem, has warned of an Israeli preplanned scheme of ethnic cleansing aimed at mass-murdering the Palestinian residents of Negev, in 1948 Occupied Palestine.
Abu Mdeighem, who is acting municipality chief of Rahat, warned of Israeli intents to perpetrate genocides against the Palestinians of Negev city under the back-up of the Israeli extremist right-wing government.
The official spoke out against an attack launched by the Israeli police on a group of Palestinians marching in the funeral procession of the martyr Sami al-Jaar, resulting in the murder of Sami al-Zayadna and in dozens of injuries among the Palestinian mourners.
Abu Mdeighem raised alarm bells over the simmering Israeli antagonism against the Palestinians of Negev, adding that Israel’s sadistic impulses have hit the climax with the advent of the electoral race and the scramble of the Israeli officials to win as many voices as they possibly could in the upcoming ballot.
“But such racist practices have made the unity bonds between the Palestinians of Negev stronger,” he said.
He further called on the Palestinian masses to stand firm in the face of Israel’s mounting crimes and terror campaigns, pushing for an urgent appeal to international courts and institutions.
“Israel discriminates between the milk breastfed to the Arab child and the one breastfed to the Jewish child,” he said.
“Israel has not only reduced our family homes into heaps of pile, it has misappropriated our lands, uprooted our trees, swallowed up our harvest, and denied us the right to set up roots of our own in our only mother land,” he warned.
“Now Israel aims at taking away our lives and those of our innocent children,” the official added.
He warned of an anti-Arab agenda targeting the Palestinians of Negev and falling in line with a simmering crisis rocking the Israeli government and Knesset.
Israel’s right-wing government would like to fashion an image for itself as Jews’ “knight in shining armor,” he said, warning of parallel intents to force Arabs to throw in the towel.
Negev has been boiling with rage in the wake of Israel’s murder of the youths Sami al-Jaar and Sami Zayadna, bringing the number of Palestinians killed by the Israeli police in 1948 Occupied Palestine since the 2000 al-Aqsa intifada to at least 51.
Abu Mdeighem, who is acting municipality chief of Rahat, warned of Israeli intents to perpetrate genocides against the Palestinians of Negev city under the back-up of the Israeli extremist right-wing government.
The official spoke out against an attack launched by the Israeli police on a group of Palestinians marching in the funeral procession of the martyr Sami al-Jaar, resulting in the murder of Sami al-Zayadna and in dozens of injuries among the Palestinian mourners.
Abu Mdeighem raised alarm bells over the simmering Israeli antagonism against the Palestinians of Negev, adding that Israel’s sadistic impulses have hit the climax with the advent of the electoral race and the scramble of the Israeli officials to win as many voices as they possibly could in the upcoming ballot.
“But such racist practices have made the unity bonds between the Palestinians of Negev stronger,” he said.
He further called on the Palestinian masses to stand firm in the face of Israel’s mounting crimes and terror campaigns, pushing for an urgent appeal to international courts and institutions.
“Israel discriminates between the milk breastfed to the Arab child and the one breastfed to the Jewish child,” he said.
“Israel has not only reduced our family homes into heaps of pile, it has misappropriated our lands, uprooted our trees, swallowed up our harvest, and denied us the right to set up roots of our own in our only mother land,” he warned.
“Now Israel aims at taking away our lives and those of our innocent children,” the official added.
He warned of an anti-Arab agenda targeting the Palestinians of Negev and falling in line with a simmering crisis rocking the Israeli government and Knesset.
Israel’s right-wing government would like to fashion an image for itself as Jews’ “knight in shining armor,” he said, warning of parallel intents to force Arabs to throw in the towel.
Negev has been boiling with rage in the wake of Israel’s murder of the youths Sami al-Jaar and Sami Zayadna, bringing the number of Palestinians killed by the Israeli police in 1948 Occupied Palestine since the 2000 al-Aqsa intifada to at least 51.
