22 may 2014
In a region marked by sectarian division, Israel is trying to bring its Christian Palestinian population on side in a move aimed at splitting them from their Muslim compatriots, experts say.
This Israeli charm offensive has recently led to the army calling for the first time on Arab Christians to sign up for military service, and in a newly-passed law which formalizes a distinction between Christian Palestinians and Muslims.
"We and the Christians have a lot in common," MP Yariv Levin said at the time.
"They're our natural allies, a counterweight to the Muslims who want to destroy the country from within," said Levin, a member of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's right-wing Likud party which sponsored the bill.
It is a discourse in keeping with the neo-conservative world view of a "clash of civilizations" between the Judeo-Christian West and Islam which has been embraced by Netanyahu - a close ally of both the US Republican right and the Zionist evangelicals.
It is not the first time Israel has tried to align itself with its "natural allies" in the predominantly Muslim Middle East. It did so in Lebanon in the 1980s by backing the Christian Phalangist militia and its ally the South Lebanon Army against their Muslim opponents.
"There is indeed a significant decline in the condition of the Christians in the Middle East," said professor Gabriel Ben-Dor, head of national security studies at Haifa University.
"In Israel, this is perceived as the moment to improve the standing of the Christian minority in Israel," he explained, saying it would also "significantly improve" Israel’s international standing.
But ahead of a key visit to the Holy Land by Pope Francis which begins on Saturday, this apparent strategy of divide and rule has Israel's Palestinian community worried.
'They are Palestinians'
Israel's Palestinian population -- descendents of some 160,000 Palestinians who remained after Israel was established in 1948 -- today numbers 1.4 million, 130,000 of whom are Christians.
Military service is not compulsory for Israel's Palestinians, except for the tiny Druze community, and only around 100 Christians volunteer for service each year, army figures show.
But last month, Israel said it would start sending enlistment papers to all Christian Arabs of military service age, angering Palestinian MKs who accused the government of seeking to divide Christians from Muslims.
The reaction of the Christian Churches was not slow in coming.
In Nazareth, the largest Palestinian city in Israel, the Greek Orthodox Church sacked one of its priests after he publicly encouraged young Christians to join the army to understand "the importance of serving and getting involved in the country in which they live and which protects them."
The Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, which represents the Roman Catholic Church, protested against the army's decision to seek a tenfold increase in the number of Christian recruits annually.
"The issue is that these Christians are Palestinian," said Michel Sabbah, patriarch between 1988-2008 and the first Palestinian to hold the post for centuries.
"If you accept yourself as Palestinian, you must be logical with yourself -- you don't go into an army which maintains occupation on Palestinians, or kills Palestinians.
"You have to be a good citizen inside the state of Israel, but being a good citizen does not imply that you are ordered to kill your brothers who are Palestinians," he said.
Playing the sectarian card
Opponents accuse nationalist right-wing elements within Netanyahu's coalition of playing the "sectarianism" card and seeking to create a divide between Christians and Muslims.
"I don't think that Israel is serious about integrating Arab Christians in Israeli society on the basis of full, equal-rights citizens. This is a clear attempt to split the Arab-Palestinian minority in Israel," said political analyst Wadie Abu Nasser.
"If Israel is serious, why does discrimination continue vis-a-vis the Druze who serve in the army? And why it doesn't allow Palestinian refugees of Christian background to come back?" said Abu Nasser, a former spokesman for the Latin Patriarchate.
If the strategy succeeds, it will only be "in a very limited way," he said.
"Israel's strategic mistake is not to reply to regional instability in positive ways.
"Making peace with the Palestinians and offering full equality to all of its citizens are the best guarantees for Israel's future in the region."
This Israeli charm offensive has recently led to the army calling for the first time on Arab Christians to sign up for military service, and in a newly-passed law which formalizes a distinction between Christian Palestinians and Muslims.
"We and the Christians have a lot in common," MP Yariv Levin said at the time.
"They're our natural allies, a counterweight to the Muslims who want to destroy the country from within," said Levin, a member of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's right-wing Likud party which sponsored the bill.
It is a discourse in keeping with the neo-conservative world view of a "clash of civilizations" between the Judeo-Christian West and Islam which has been embraced by Netanyahu - a close ally of both the US Republican right and the Zionist evangelicals.
It is not the first time Israel has tried to align itself with its "natural allies" in the predominantly Muslim Middle East. It did so in Lebanon in the 1980s by backing the Christian Phalangist militia and its ally the South Lebanon Army against their Muslim opponents.
"There is indeed a significant decline in the condition of the Christians in the Middle East," said professor Gabriel Ben-Dor, head of national security studies at Haifa University.
"In Israel, this is perceived as the moment to improve the standing of the Christian minority in Israel," he explained, saying it would also "significantly improve" Israel’s international standing.
But ahead of a key visit to the Holy Land by Pope Francis which begins on Saturday, this apparent strategy of divide and rule has Israel's Palestinian community worried.
'They are Palestinians'
Israel's Palestinian population -- descendents of some 160,000 Palestinians who remained after Israel was established in 1948 -- today numbers 1.4 million, 130,000 of whom are Christians.
Military service is not compulsory for Israel's Palestinians, except for the tiny Druze community, and only around 100 Christians volunteer for service each year, army figures show.
But last month, Israel said it would start sending enlistment papers to all Christian Arabs of military service age, angering Palestinian MKs who accused the government of seeking to divide Christians from Muslims.
The reaction of the Christian Churches was not slow in coming.
In Nazareth, the largest Palestinian city in Israel, the Greek Orthodox Church sacked one of its priests after he publicly encouraged young Christians to join the army to understand "the importance of serving and getting involved in the country in which they live and which protects them."
The Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, which represents the Roman Catholic Church, protested against the army's decision to seek a tenfold increase in the number of Christian recruits annually.
"The issue is that these Christians are Palestinian," said Michel Sabbah, patriarch between 1988-2008 and the first Palestinian to hold the post for centuries.
"If you accept yourself as Palestinian, you must be logical with yourself -- you don't go into an army which maintains occupation on Palestinians, or kills Palestinians.
"You have to be a good citizen inside the state of Israel, but being a good citizen does not imply that you are ordered to kill your brothers who are Palestinians," he said.
Playing the sectarian card
Opponents accuse nationalist right-wing elements within Netanyahu's coalition of playing the "sectarianism" card and seeking to create a divide between Christians and Muslims.
"I don't think that Israel is serious about integrating Arab Christians in Israeli society on the basis of full, equal-rights citizens. This is a clear attempt to split the Arab-Palestinian minority in Israel," said political analyst Wadie Abu Nasser.
"If Israel is serious, why does discrimination continue vis-a-vis the Druze who serve in the army? And why it doesn't allow Palestinian refugees of Christian background to come back?" said Abu Nasser, a former spokesman for the Latin Patriarchate.
If the strategy succeeds, it will only be "in a very limited way," he said.
"Israel's strategic mistake is not to reply to regional instability in positive ways.
"Making peace with the Palestinians and offering full equality to all of its citizens are the best guarantees for Israel's future in the region."
21 may 2014
A Palestinian man inspecting the remains of his tent
Gilad Atzmon writes:
The Israeli newspaper Haaretz reported today that the Israeli army admitted earlier this week using live-fire zones in order to expel Palestinians from areas in the West Bank.
Military training in live-fire zones in the West Bank is used as a way of reducing the number of Palestinians living nearby, and serves as an important part of the campaign against Palestinian illegal construction, an army officer revealed at a recent Knesset committee meeting.
Colonel Einav Shalev, operations officer of Central Command, told the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defence Committee that the goal of preventing “illegal” construction is one of the main reasons the Israeli army has recently increased its training in the Jordan Valley.
The Jewish state is not an apartheid apparatus! it is actually far worse. Israel doesn’t attempt to exploit the Palestinians, it wants them gone. Israel puts into action Nazi-like (lebensraum) ethnic cleaning tactics because Jewish nationalism is an expansionist ideology driven by judeo-centric racist supremacy.
The truth is simple and devastating. However, the diaspora Jewish left’s attempts to conceal it all is actually embarrassing, yet symptomatic.
Gilad Atzmon writes:
The Israeli newspaper Haaretz reported today that the Israeli army admitted earlier this week using live-fire zones in order to expel Palestinians from areas in the West Bank.
Military training in live-fire zones in the West Bank is used as a way of reducing the number of Palestinians living nearby, and serves as an important part of the campaign against Palestinian illegal construction, an army officer revealed at a recent Knesset committee meeting.
Colonel Einav Shalev, operations officer of Central Command, told the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defence Committee that the goal of preventing “illegal” construction is one of the main reasons the Israeli army has recently increased its training in the Jordan Valley.
The Jewish state is not an apartheid apparatus! it is actually far worse. Israel doesn’t attempt to exploit the Palestinians, it wants them gone. Israel puts into action Nazi-like (lebensraum) ethnic cleaning tactics because Jewish nationalism is an expansionist ideology driven by judeo-centric racist supremacy.
The truth is simple and devastating. However, the diaspora Jewish left’s attempts to conceal it all is actually embarrassing, yet symptomatic.
19 may 2014
Israeli lawmakers will elect a successor to outgoing President Shimon Peres on June 10, parliamentary speaker Yuli Edelstein told reporters on Monday.
Edelstein's announcement marks the official start of the race for the position, which has been held by Peres since 2007.
Candidates must receive the backing of at least 10 other members of the Knesset, and formally present their requests in writing to the speaker on May 27, Edelstein said.
In Israel, the post of president is largely ceremonial and executive power rests with the prime minister.
Peres will step down at the end of July, just before his 91st birthday, following a political career spanning nearly seven decades.
Edelstein's announcement comes after months of vigorous unofficial lobbying by would-be candidates, among them Energy Minister Silvan Shalom who in March was questioned by police over allegations of sexual assault dating back 15 years.
Earlier this month, the attorney general called off the inquiry, citing the statute of limitations.
Shalom, a member of the ruling right-wing Likud party, has yet to announce whether he will still run for the post.
Another presidential hopeful is veteran Labor parliamentarian Benjamin Ben Eliezer, who has held several ministerial portfolios and has already accrued the required support from fellow MPs.
Following months of infighting and mudslinging over the prospective candidates, Edelstein called for a clean campaign -- "one which respects the presidency, respects the Knesset, and that will enable all of us after the election to respect the man or woman chosen."
Former president Moshe Katsav began a seven-year jail sentence in December 2011 after being convicted on two counts of rape and other sexual offences.
Edelstein's announcement marks the official start of the race for the position, which has been held by Peres since 2007.
Candidates must receive the backing of at least 10 other members of the Knesset, and formally present their requests in writing to the speaker on May 27, Edelstein said.
In Israel, the post of president is largely ceremonial and executive power rests with the prime minister.
Peres will step down at the end of July, just before his 91st birthday, following a political career spanning nearly seven decades.
Edelstein's announcement comes after months of vigorous unofficial lobbying by would-be candidates, among them Energy Minister Silvan Shalom who in March was questioned by police over allegations of sexual assault dating back 15 years.
Earlier this month, the attorney general called off the inquiry, citing the statute of limitations.
Shalom, a member of the ruling right-wing Likud party, has yet to announce whether he will still run for the post.
Another presidential hopeful is veteran Labor parliamentarian Benjamin Ben Eliezer, who has held several ministerial portfolios and has already accrued the required support from fellow MPs.
Following months of infighting and mudslinging over the prospective candidates, Edelstein called for a clean campaign -- "one which respects the presidency, respects the Knesset, and that will enable all of us after the election to respect the man or woman chosen."
Former president Moshe Katsav began a seven-year jail sentence in December 2011 after being convicted on two counts of rape and other sexual offences.
16 may 2014
The Israeli occupation state has started importing oil from Iraqi Kurdistan, Reuters news agency revealed on Friday.
At least four shiploads of Kurdish crude have gone to Israel since the start of this year, while two cargoes within the last 9 months, Reuters quoted Iraqi traders as saying.
Israel neither confirmed nor denied the report.
The Iraqi government has repeatedly said oil sales bypassing Baghdad are illegal and has threatened to sue any company involved in the trade, the sources added
At least four shiploads of Kurdish crude have gone to Israel since the start of this year, while two cargoes within the last 9 months, Reuters quoted Iraqi traders as saying.
Israel neither confirmed nor denied the report.
The Iraqi government has repeatedly said oil sales bypassing Baghdad are illegal and has threatened to sue any company involved in the trade, the sources added
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (right) speaks to the press ahead of a meeting with US Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel in Jerusalem, on May 16, 2014
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told US Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel Friday that world powers must deny Iran any possibility of developing a nuclear weapon as the search for a deal intensifies.
"I think that, while the talks with Iran are going on, there is one thing that must guide the international community and that is not to let the ayatollahs win," Netanyahu's office quoted him as saying at the beginning of their meeting in Jerusalem.
"We must not allow Iran, the foremost terrorist state of our time, to develop the ability to develop a nuclear weapon," Netanyahu said.
Hagel said that Washington had the same goal.
"I want to assure you prime minister, and the people of Israel, of the United States' continued commitment to assuring Iran does not get a nuclear weapon," he said in video distributed by the US embassy.
"America will do what we must to live up to that commitment," he added.
Although Iran currently has a nuclear energy program that it claims is meant for civilian purposes, Israel is known to have a large stockpile of undeclared nuclear weapons.
The Pentagon chief's visit to Israel came as the United States and other major powers pressed talks with Iran on a long-term agreement to allay international concerns about its nuclear ambitions.
A historic deal reached in November between Iran and the United States following the election of Iranian president Rouhani in June has been hailed by many around the world as a harbinger of better relations between the two power.
Israel, however, has strongly opposed the negotiations with its arch-enemy, and has said repeatedly that it is prepared to launch military action on its against Iran's nuclear facilities if it feels it necessary.
Netanyahu says that the diplomatic opening to the West overseen by President Hassan Rouhani since he took office last August is a charade as real power remains in the hands of Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
At a meeting with Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon on Thursday, Hagel said the negotiations between the powers and Iran were not open-ended -- the parties are working to a July 20 target for an agreement.
He said Washington was continuing to cooperate closely with its Israeli ally on the Iran issue, even while the negotiations go on.
Hagel is on the last leg of a Middle East tour that also took him to Saudi Arabia, which has its own concerns about the nuclear talks with its regional rival.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told US Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel Friday that world powers must deny Iran any possibility of developing a nuclear weapon as the search for a deal intensifies.
"I think that, while the talks with Iran are going on, there is one thing that must guide the international community and that is not to let the ayatollahs win," Netanyahu's office quoted him as saying at the beginning of their meeting in Jerusalem.
"We must not allow Iran, the foremost terrorist state of our time, to develop the ability to develop a nuclear weapon," Netanyahu said.
Hagel said that Washington had the same goal.
"I want to assure you prime minister, and the people of Israel, of the United States' continued commitment to assuring Iran does not get a nuclear weapon," he said in video distributed by the US embassy.
"America will do what we must to live up to that commitment," he added.
Although Iran currently has a nuclear energy program that it claims is meant for civilian purposes, Israel is known to have a large stockpile of undeclared nuclear weapons.
The Pentagon chief's visit to Israel came as the United States and other major powers pressed talks with Iran on a long-term agreement to allay international concerns about its nuclear ambitions.
A historic deal reached in November between Iran and the United States following the election of Iranian president Rouhani in June has been hailed by many around the world as a harbinger of better relations between the two power.
Israel, however, has strongly opposed the negotiations with its arch-enemy, and has said repeatedly that it is prepared to launch military action on its against Iran's nuclear facilities if it feels it necessary.
Netanyahu says that the diplomatic opening to the West overseen by President Hassan Rouhani since he took office last August is a charade as real power remains in the hands of Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
At a meeting with Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon on Thursday, Hagel said the negotiations between the powers and Iran were not open-ended -- the parties are working to a July 20 target for an agreement.
He said Washington was continuing to cooperate closely with its Israeli ally on the Iran issue, even while the negotiations go on.
Hagel is on the last leg of a Middle East tour that also took him to Saudi Arabia, which has its own concerns about the nuclear talks with its regional rival.
15 may 2014
US Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel stands in front of surface to air defense systems while speaking to US and Israeli soldiers at Hatzor Israeli Air Force Base, in central Israel, near kibbutz Hatzor on May 15, 2014
Israel's defense minister said Thursday that Israel and the US should be prepared to use "all means" to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapons capability.
"I believe that it should be in the first priority of each of us to deal with this threat by all means, in all fields," Moshe Yaalon said at joint press conference with visiting US Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel.
The Pentagon chief's visit came as the United States and other major powers pressed talks with Iran on a long-term agreement to allay international concerns about its nuclear ambitions.
Israel has strongly opposed the negotiations with its arch-enemy, and has said repeatedly that it is prepared to go it alone if necessary with preemptive military action against Iran's nuclear facilities.
"I believe the United States and Israel share the same goal -- not to allow a military nuclear Iran," Yaalon said.
"We might have differences, even disputes regarding how to get it but we have the open channels, the secretary of defense and myself.
"The bottom line is that Israel should be ready to defend itself, by itself."
Hagel said the negotiations between the powers and Iran were not open-ended -- the parties are working to a July 20 target for an agreement.
He said Washington was continuing to cooperate closely with its Israeli ally on the Iran issue, even while the negotiations continued.
"Because we're on a diplomatic track... does not preclude all of the other security and defense measures that we continue to pursue outside that diplomatic track, including this relationship with Israel," he said.
Hagel was on the last leg of Middle East, which also took him to Saudi Arabia, which has its own concerns about the nuclear talks with its regional rival.
Israel's defense minister said Thursday that Israel and the US should be prepared to use "all means" to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapons capability.
"I believe that it should be in the first priority of each of us to deal with this threat by all means, in all fields," Moshe Yaalon said at joint press conference with visiting US Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel.
The Pentagon chief's visit came as the United States and other major powers pressed talks with Iran on a long-term agreement to allay international concerns about its nuclear ambitions.
Israel has strongly opposed the negotiations with its arch-enemy, and has said repeatedly that it is prepared to go it alone if necessary with preemptive military action against Iran's nuclear facilities.
"I believe the United States and Israel share the same goal -- not to allow a military nuclear Iran," Yaalon said.
"We might have differences, even disputes regarding how to get it but we have the open channels, the secretary of defense and myself.
"The bottom line is that Israel should be ready to defend itself, by itself."
Hagel said the negotiations between the powers and Iran were not open-ended -- the parties are working to a July 20 target for an agreement.
He said Washington was continuing to cooperate closely with its Israeli ally on the Iran issue, even while the negotiations continued.
"Because we're on a diplomatic track... does not preclude all of the other security and defense measures that we continue to pursue outside that diplomatic track, including this relationship with Israel," he said.
Hagel was on the last leg of Middle East, which also took him to Saudi Arabia, which has its own concerns about the nuclear talks with its regional rival.
Swedish authorities refused, on Sunday, to allow the plane of Israeli President Shimon Peres to cross into its airspace en route to Norway, according to the Middle East Monitor (MEMO). In effect, Peres arrived late to his official reception.
When Stockholm refused the plane permission to cross, MEMO went on to say, the pilots were forced into a holding pattern over the Baltic Sea for 20 minutes until they were rerouted via Denmark's airspace.
Peres' office blamed Stockholm, while the Israeli Foreign Ministry pointed the finger back at his office, in addition to the airline company responsible for arranging the trip.
President Peres' visit to Norway was met with mass demonstrations organized by popular human rights organizations and leftist parties calling for his expulsion, on Tuesday.
When Stockholm refused the plane permission to cross, MEMO went on to say, the pilots were forced into a holding pattern over the Baltic Sea for 20 minutes until they were rerouted via Denmark's airspace.
Peres' office blamed Stockholm, while the Israeli Foreign Ministry pointed the finger back at his office, in addition to the airline company responsible for arranging the trip.
President Peres' visit to Norway was met with mass demonstrations organized by popular human rights organizations and leftist parties calling for his expulsion, on Tuesday.
14 may 2014
The British government has granted temporary diplomatic immunity to Israeli justice minister Tzipi Livni few days before her visit to the UK to protect her against arrest and potential prosecution for breaches of international law including war crimes, Israeli media sources said. "Since the visit meets all the essential elements for a special mission, and for avoidance of any doubt on the matter, the British Foreign Office has confirmed consent to the visit as a special mission," the media sources quoted the British Foreign Office as declaring.
The British decision came following a warrant for Livni's arrest submitted by lawyers acting on behalf of a relative of a Palestinian killed in the bombing of a police compound on the first day of Israel's military assault on Gaza, which began in December 2008.
For her part, director of Palestine Solidarity Campaign Sarah Colborne expressed her disappointment at the British government's decision for giving a safe haven to suspected war criminals.
On the 66th anniversary of Palestinian Nakba (catastrophe), Palestine Solidarity Campaign declared its intention to organize a demonstration on Thursday protesting Livni's visit to the UK for her involvement in war crimes during Israeli aggression on Gaza in 2008, during which 1,417 Palestinians were killed including 313 children while 5,303 Palestinians were injured.
Livni had cancelled in 2009 a visit to London after an arrest warrant was issued by Westminster court. However; the British government has later changed the law to require prior approval from the Department of Public Prosecutions before an arrest warrant in connection with international war crimes could be issued.
During her visit, Livni is expected to meet with a number of British Ministers, and to give a speech at the headquarters of the Jewish National Fund.
The British decision came following a warrant for Livni's arrest submitted by lawyers acting on behalf of a relative of a Palestinian killed in the bombing of a police compound on the first day of Israel's military assault on Gaza, which began in December 2008.
For her part, director of Palestine Solidarity Campaign Sarah Colborne expressed her disappointment at the British government's decision for giving a safe haven to suspected war criminals.
On the 66th anniversary of Palestinian Nakba (catastrophe), Palestine Solidarity Campaign declared its intention to organize a demonstration on Thursday protesting Livni's visit to the UK for her involvement in war crimes during Israeli aggression on Gaza in 2008, during which 1,417 Palestinians were killed including 313 children while 5,303 Palestinians were injured.
Livni had cancelled in 2009 a visit to London after an arrest warrant was issued by Westminster court. However; the British government has later changed the law to require prior approval from the Department of Public Prosecutions before an arrest warrant in connection with international war crimes could be issued.
During her visit, Livni is expected to meet with a number of British Ministers, and to give a speech at the headquarters of the Jewish National Fund.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed on Tuesday his frustration over the Palestinian Authority reconciliation agreement with Hamas. “If Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas insists on the reconciliation agreement with Hamas, we will blame him on every rocket fired from the Gaza Strip,” he threatened.
He added during a meeting with Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kashia in Tokyo, “ we have seen negative changes since the Palestinian Authority signed agreement with Hamas that aims to destroy us.”
“We will remain committed to push the peace process forward; peace can be achieved only through negotiations,” He added.
Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman, for his part, said, “Abbas is not interested in reaching an agreement with Israel.”
On April 23, the Fatah-led PLO and Hamas announced a national unity deal to end seven years of political division between the largest two Palestinian parties, with a national unity government to be set in place within five weeks.
The division between Fatah and Hamas began in 2006, when Hamas won Palestinian legislative elections.
In the following year, clashes erupted between Fatah and Hamas, leaving Hamas in control of the Strip and Fatah in control of parts of the occupied West Bank.
The groups have made failed attempts at national reconciliation for years, most recently in 2012, when they signed two agreements -- one in Cairo and a subsequent one in Doha -- which have as of yet been unimplemented.
He added during a meeting with Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kashia in Tokyo, “ we have seen negative changes since the Palestinian Authority signed agreement with Hamas that aims to destroy us.”
“We will remain committed to push the peace process forward; peace can be achieved only through negotiations,” He added.
Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman, for his part, said, “Abbas is not interested in reaching an agreement with Israel.”
On April 23, the Fatah-led PLO and Hamas announced a national unity deal to end seven years of political division between the largest two Palestinian parties, with a national unity government to be set in place within five weeks.
The division between Fatah and Hamas began in 2006, when Hamas won Palestinian legislative elections.
In the following year, clashes erupted between Fatah and Hamas, leaving Hamas in control of the Strip and Fatah in control of parts of the occupied West Bank.
The groups have made failed attempts at national reconciliation for years, most recently in 2012, when they signed two agreements -- one in Cairo and a subsequent one in Doha -- which have as of yet been unimplemented.
Palestinian citizens of Israel are increasingly emphasizing their Palestinian identity and making national demands, as hate attacks by Jewish extremists and laws perceived as discriminatory have multiplied.
Some 10,000 Palestinians rallied in northern Israel earlier this month for the right of return for refugees who fled or were driven from their homes during the war that led to the creation of Israel 1948.
It was a much higher than usual turnout for the annual commemoration of the Nakba (Arabic for catastrophe) and drew an angry response from Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman.
He described the protesters as a "fifth column," and thundered that they should "march directly to Ramallah," a Palestinian city in the West Bank "and stay there."
A growing number of Palestinians based in Israel are visiting the cities of West Bank, if only to spend the odd weekend.
"The Palestinian people are one, wherever they live," said Shaher Mahameed, from the town of Umm al-Fahm, on a visit to the northern West Bank city of Nablus.
"My ID card says I'm Israeli, but my heart is Arab Palestinian, and always will be."
More than 760,000 Palestinians -- estimated today to number more than 5 million with their descendants -- fled or were driven from their homes in 1948 and commemorate Nakba Day on Thursday.
The 160,000 who stayed behind are now known as "Arab Israelis" and number about 1.4 million, some 20 percent of Israel's population.
Each weekend, growing numbers of Palestinians based in Israel pack out cafes and hotels in the West Bank and flock to the markets, combining visits to relatives with cheaper shopping and leisure.
"The Palestinians who live inside Israel coming here to shop in Nablus has really given a boost to the city's markets," said clothes shop owner Abu Hussein.
'Nationalism and marginalization'
The reassertion of a Palestinian identity by growing numbers of so-called "Arab Israelis" comes after a string of attacks on Christian and Muslim properties by suspected Jewish extremists, and after several new Israeli laws they perceive as infringing on their civil rights.
"Palestinians inside Israel have never lost their national awareness. But at the moment it's growing," said Nadeem Nashef, director of an Palestinian youth organization based in the northern Israeli city of Haifa.
The attacks, and attempts "to give more privileges to Jews, have pushed people into taking firmer (nationalist) positions," Nashef said.
Mordechai Kedar, professor of Arab studies at Bar Ilan University near Tel Aviv, agreed.
"The attacks that have taken place in the last few weeks, such as the burning of cars and scrawling of (racist) graffiti, ignite feelings of nationalism and of marginalization," he said.
The uptick in racist attacks has alarmed Israeli police, who have begun working in tandem with the internal security service Shin Bet to prosecute what some politicians are calling "terrorist" acts.
But despite the government's proclamation of its determination to root out the racism of the extremists, Palestinians in Israel feel they are simultaneously marginalized by the establishment.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu this month defended plans to enshrine in law Israel's status as the national homeland of the Jewish people.
For Palestinians, accepting Israel as a "Jewish state" would mean accepting the Nakba and potentially precluding the right of return for 1948 refugees and their descendants.
In March, Israel raised the threshold of votes parties need to get seats in parliament, in a bill boycotted by all opposition MKs on the basis that it marginalizes minority parties such as the Palestinian Arab nationalist Balad.
Some 10,000 Palestinians rallied in northern Israel earlier this month for the right of return for refugees who fled or were driven from their homes during the war that led to the creation of Israel 1948.
It was a much higher than usual turnout for the annual commemoration of the Nakba (Arabic for catastrophe) and drew an angry response from Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman.
He described the protesters as a "fifth column," and thundered that they should "march directly to Ramallah," a Palestinian city in the West Bank "and stay there."
A growing number of Palestinians based in Israel are visiting the cities of West Bank, if only to spend the odd weekend.
"The Palestinian people are one, wherever they live," said Shaher Mahameed, from the town of Umm al-Fahm, on a visit to the northern West Bank city of Nablus.
"My ID card says I'm Israeli, but my heart is Arab Palestinian, and always will be."
More than 760,000 Palestinians -- estimated today to number more than 5 million with their descendants -- fled or were driven from their homes in 1948 and commemorate Nakba Day on Thursday.
The 160,000 who stayed behind are now known as "Arab Israelis" and number about 1.4 million, some 20 percent of Israel's population.
Each weekend, growing numbers of Palestinians based in Israel pack out cafes and hotels in the West Bank and flock to the markets, combining visits to relatives with cheaper shopping and leisure.
"The Palestinians who live inside Israel coming here to shop in Nablus has really given a boost to the city's markets," said clothes shop owner Abu Hussein.
'Nationalism and marginalization'
The reassertion of a Palestinian identity by growing numbers of so-called "Arab Israelis" comes after a string of attacks on Christian and Muslim properties by suspected Jewish extremists, and after several new Israeli laws they perceive as infringing on their civil rights.
"Palestinians inside Israel have never lost their national awareness. But at the moment it's growing," said Nadeem Nashef, director of an Palestinian youth organization based in the northern Israeli city of Haifa.
The attacks, and attempts "to give more privileges to Jews, have pushed people into taking firmer (nationalist) positions," Nashef said.
Mordechai Kedar, professor of Arab studies at Bar Ilan University near Tel Aviv, agreed.
"The attacks that have taken place in the last few weeks, such as the burning of cars and scrawling of (racist) graffiti, ignite feelings of nationalism and of marginalization," he said.
The uptick in racist attacks has alarmed Israeli police, who have begun working in tandem with the internal security service Shin Bet to prosecute what some politicians are calling "terrorist" acts.
But despite the government's proclamation of its determination to root out the racism of the extremists, Palestinians in Israel feel they are simultaneously marginalized by the establishment.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu this month defended plans to enshrine in law Israel's status as the national homeland of the Jewish people.
For Palestinians, accepting Israel as a "Jewish state" would mean accepting the Nakba and potentially precluding the right of return for 1948 refugees and their descendants.
In March, Israel raised the threshold of votes parties need to get seats in parliament, in a bill boycotted by all opposition MKs on the basis that it marginalizes minority parties such as the Palestinian Arab nationalist Balad.
