10 aug 2016
Secretary General of the Palestinian National Initiative MP Mustafa al-Barghouti said that the Canadian authorities did not issue him along with dozens of other Palestinians the required visas to enter Canada for the participation in the events of the international social forum which is to kick off on Tuesday in Montreal city.
Barghouti said in a statement that he received an invitation to attend the forum from members of the Canadian parliament and parties, but being unable to obtain the visa prevented his participation despite the intervention of so many Canadian institutions.
“I am sorry that hundreds of participants from Arab, African and many other countries were deprived of attending the most important social forum for the international civil community just because of the refusal of entry visas, which means denying their right of participation and speech”, he said.
Barghouti said in a statement that he received an invitation to attend the forum from members of the Canadian parliament and parties, but being unable to obtain the visa prevented his participation despite the intervention of so many Canadian institutions.
“I am sorry that hundreds of participants from Arab, African and many other countries were deprived of attending the most important social forum for the international civil community just because of the refusal of entry visas, which means denying their right of participation and speech”, he said.
7 aug 2016
A Germany university has cancelled an academic course regarding the lives of Palestinian youth inside Israeli-occupied territories, Ynet news reported.
According to Al Ray Palestinian Media Agency, the site reported that the university canceled the course under Israeli pressure, claiming that the course includes “anti-Semitic” concepts and content.
The site claimed that the University of Applied Sciences and Arts in Hildesheim announced, on Saturday, that it will review its academic programs relating to Mideast conflicts and academic programs of social service, and noted that the university canceled a course about the social status of Palestinian youth in Palestine.
The Central Council of German Jews and other pro-Israeli bodies sharply criticized the university, forcing it to mark out the course, saying that it is “just for reading”.
According to Al Ray Palestinian Media Agency, the site reported that the university canceled the course under Israeli pressure, claiming that the course includes “anti-Semitic” concepts and content.
The site claimed that the University of Applied Sciences and Arts in Hildesheim announced, on Saturday, that it will review its academic programs relating to Mideast conflicts and academic programs of social service, and noted that the university canceled a course about the social status of Palestinian youth in Palestine.
The Central Council of German Jews and other pro-Israeli bodies sharply criticized the university, forcing it to mark out the course, saying that it is “just for reading”.
Six sportsmen will represent Palestine in the 2016 Olympic Games held in Rio de Janeiro.
Christian Zimmermann, 55, stands out among the six members of the Palestinian Olympic team.
Christian Zimmerman, a German-Palestinian with dual citizenship, will compete in the Olympics dressage competition — the art of controlling a horse in predetermined movements.
Zimmerman, a resident of Cologne, is the owner of the UNIPLAN Company. Of the six Palestinians who will compete in Brazil, three are Germans of Palestinian descent.
Runners Mayada al-Sayad, 23, and Muhammad Abu Khoussa, 23, along with the swimmers Ahmad Jibril, 24, and Miray al-Aatrash, 22, are Palestine representatives in the competition.
Simon Yacoub will represent Palestine in the Judoka. The Palestinians first fielded a summer Olympic team for the 1996 games in Atlanta, and have participated in the competition every four years since.
Christian Zimmermann, 55, stands out among the six members of the Palestinian Olympic team.
Christian Zimmerman, a German-Palestinian with dual citizenship, will compete in the Olympics dressage competition — the art of controlling a horse in predetermined movements.
Zimmerman, a resident of Cologne, is the owner of the UNIPLAN Company. Of the six Palestinians who will compete in Brazil, three are Germans of Palestinian descent.
Runners Mayada al-Sayad, 23, and Muhammad Abu Khoussa, 23, along with the swimmers Ahmad Jibril, 24, and Miray al-Aatrash, 22, are Palestine representatives in the competition.
Simon Yacoub will represent Palestine in the Judoka. The Palestinians first fielded a summer Olympic team for the 1996 games in Atlanta, and have participated in the competition every four years since.
6 aug 2016
Palestinian athletes representing Palestine walked in the opening ceremonies of the Summer Olympics in Rio on Friday – marking the largest team since Palestine began competing in the Olympics in 1996.
The team wore traditional embroidered dresses and kaffiyeh scarves, and waved the Palestinian flag.
No athlete representing Palestine has yet won a medal in the Olympics, which sports analysts say is not surprising, considering the lack of facilities in Palestine, and travel restrictions imposed by the Israeli military authorities that control all aspects of Palestinian life.
Because of these restrictions, Palestinian athletes are prevented not only from traveling abroad for competitions, but also from traveling within Palestine for competitions with other Palestinian athletes.
The Palestinian Olympic team in 2016 consists of:
Mayda al-Sayed – Women’s marathon
Mary al-Atrash – Swimming – Women’s 50m freestyle
Ahmed Gebrel – Swimming – Men’s 200m freestyle
Mohammed Abukhousa – Track and Field – Men’s 100m
Simon Yacoub – Judo – Men’s 60 kg
Christian Zimmermann – Equestrian
The two swimmers who are participating in the Olympics point out that there is no Olympic-size swimming pool anywhere in Palestine (although there are many such pools in Israel, Palestinian athletes are not allowed to use them).
Mary al-Atrash, who is a Palestinian Christian from Beit Sahour, swims in a pool that is half the size of the Olympic-size pool where she will be competing in Rio.
She said that she does not expect to win a medal, noting, “Because of all the difficulties that Palestinians live under … it makes it harder to practice and compete in our sports”.
Al-Atrash and the other athletes say that they hope their participation in the Olympics will help raise awareness about the plight of the Palestinian people, who have been living under Israeli military occupation since the state of Israel was created on Palestinian land in 1948.
Despite some Israeli commentators’ claims that the six members of the team are not all Palestinian, the Palestinian athletes have provided documentation of their Palestinian identity – although a couple of them are refugees unable to return to their homeland by the Israeli occupation authorities. Video's
The team wore traditional embroidered dresses and kaffiyeh scarves, and waved the Palestinian flag.
No athlete representing Palestine has yet won a medal in the Olympics, which sports analysts say is not surprising, considering the lack of facilities in Palestine, and travel restrictions imposed by the Israeli military authorities that control all aspects of Palestinian life.
Because of these restrictions, Palestinian athletes are prevented not only from traveling abroad for competitions, but also from traveling within Palestine for competitions with other Palestinian athletes.
The Palestinian Olympic team in 2016 consists of:
Mayda al-Sayed – Women’s marathon
Mary al-Atrash – Swimming – Women’s 50m freestyle
Ahmed Gebrel – Swimming – Men’s 200m freestyle
Mohammed Abukhousa – Track and Field – Men’s 100m
Simon Yacoub – Judo – Men’s 60 kg
Christian Zimmermann – Equestrian
The two swimmers who are participating in the Olympics point out that there is no Olympic-size swimming pool anywhere in Palestine (although there are many such pools in Israel, Palestinian athletes are not allowed to use them).
Mary al-Atrash, who is a Palestinian Christian from Beit Sahour, swims in a pool that is half the size of the Olympic-size pool where she will be competing in Rio.
She said that she does not expect to win a medal, noting, “Because of all the difficulties that Palestinians live under … it makes it harder to practice and compete in our sports”.
Al-Atrash and the other athletes say that they hope their participation in the Olympics will help raise awareness about the plight of the Palestinian people, who have been living under Israeli military occupation since the state of Israel was created on Palestinian land in 1948.
Despite some Israeli commentators’ claims that the six members of the team are not all Palestinian, the Palestinian athletes have provided documentation of their Palestinian identity – although a couple of them are refugees unable to return to their homeland by the Israeli occupation authorities. Video's
4 aug 2016
Islamic Resistance Movement, Hamas, found out more than 25,000 repeated names listed in the Palestinian electoral register a few days after the registration process for municipal elections, to be held next October, was over.
Special sources according to the website of al-Jazeera net said that Hamas's representatives Tuesday evening handed over the repeated names to the elections committee in Gaza.
Hamas stressed in a statement the importance to conduct the elections in consistence with the people’s free will and through fair elections.
Special sources according to the website of al-Jazeera net said that Hamas's representatives Tuesday evening handed over the repeated names to the elections committee in Gaza.
Hamas stressed in a statement the importance to conduct the elections in consistence with the people’s free will and through fair elections.
2 aug 2016
Until 2020 Jerusalem will be in need of 30,000 housing units, the Palestinian Housing Council said Monday.
The council’s technical director in the occupied West Bank, Zuheir Ali, said, at a workshop held in al-Bireh under the title “Housing in Occupied Jerusalem: Facts and Challenges,” that the Palestinians have been facing difficulties in constructing new homes on at least 13% of east Jerusalem lands.
Ali added that Israeli restrictive measures resulted in a sharp housing crisis and that Occupied Jerusalem is in need of 30,000 housing units, to the tune of around three billion dollars, until 2020.
Chairman of the council’s Management Board, Hesham al-Omari, said the council has done every possible effort to provide homeless Palestinians with 8,000 housing units with a total value of up to 205 million dollars.
Representative of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation in the occupied Palestinian territories, Ahmad al-Ruweidi, sounded the alarm over the tragic situation endured by Palestinians in Occupied Jerusalem in light of the crippling procedures perpetrated by the Israeli occupation as regards construction licenses.
The council’s technical director in the occupied West Bank, Zuheir Ali, said, at a workshop held in al-Bireh under the title “Housing in Occupied Jerusalem: Facts and Challenges,” that the Palestinians have been facing difficulties in constructing new homes on at least 13% of east Jerusalem lands.
Ali added that Israeli restrictive measures resulted in a sharp housing crisis and that Occupied Jerusalem is in need of 30,000 housing units, to the tune of around three billion dollars, until 2020.
Chairman of the council’s Management Board, Hesham al-Omari, said the council has done every possible effort to provide homeless Palestinians with 8,000 housing units with a total value of up to 205 million dollars.
Representative of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation in the occupied Palestinian territories, Ahmad al-Ruweidi, sounded the alarm over the tragic situation endured by Palestinians in Occupied Jerusalem in light of the crippling procedures perpetrated by the Israeli occupation as regards construction licenses.
23 july 2016
The registration process for the Palestinian municipal elections began on Saturday, and is to continue over the next five days. The Central Committee for Municipal Elections has called on Palestinian citizens to register their names according to their place of residence.
The registration process will continue until next Wednesday, the committee said. The committee also pointed out that electronic registration is available, as well, on its website.
An awareness campaign was launched, over the past few days, to raise awareness among citizens about election registration in the occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip.
The West Bank-based Palestinian Authority (PA), headed by Mahmoud Abbas, has said local and municipal polls will be held on October 8 throughout the Palestinian territories.
Palestinian resistance movement and political party, Hamas, has earlier vowed to work for the success of local Palestinian elections, set for October, considering it “a necessary and important step” in the path towards democracy and national partnership.
Head of Hamas’s political bureau Khaled Mashal has affirmed, according to the PNN, that his political movement is not afraid of participating in any election, and will respect its results.
Mashal made his remarks in a recorded speech delivered during a graduation ceremony held to honor young participants in a resistance training program in Gaza on Friday:
“We are on the threshold of a municipal election, and we have announced that we will engage in it, although some people may want to test us. We respect the result of the election and we are not afraid of it.”
He emphasized Hamas’ respect for the Palestinian people’s free voice and strong will, and its keenness on having a real political partnership with other factions. He also hailed the armed wing of Hamas, al-Qassam Brigades, for its military achievements and its adherence to the resistance and liberation option.
The Hamas official expressed his belief that the conflict with the Israeli occupation is “complex and ferocious” and needs strong strategies to confront it.
He highlighted the importance of providing the Palestinian people with a decent life and all means of steadfastness, in order for them to be able to continue their resistance to the Israeli occupation.
The registration process will continue until next Wednesday, the committee said. The committee also pointed out that electronic registration is available, as well, on its website.
An awareness campaign was launched, over the past few days, to raise awareness among citizens about election registration in the occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip.
The West Bank-based Palestinian Authority (PA), headed by Mahmoud Abbas, has said local and municipal polls will be held on October 8 throughout the Palestinian territories.
Palestinian resistance movement and political party, Hamas, has earlier vowed to work for the success of local Palestinian elections, set for October, considering it “a necessary and important step” in the path towards democracy and national partnership.
Head of Hamas’s political bureau Khaled Mashal has affirmed, according to the PNN, that his political movement is not afraid of participating in any election, and will respect its results.
Mashal made his remarks in a recorded speech delivered during a graduation ceremony held to honor young participants in a resistance training program in Gaza on Friday:
“We are on the threshold of a municipal election, and we have announced that we will engage in it, although some people may want to test us. We respect the result of the election and we are not afraid of it.”
He emphasized Hamas’ respect for the Palestinian people’s free voice and strong will, and its keenness on having a real political partnership with other factions. He also hailed the armed wing of Hamas, al-Qassam Brigades, for its military achievements and its adherence to the resistance and liberation option.
The Hamas official expressed his belief that the conflict with the Israeli occupation is “complex and ferocious” and needs strong strategies to confront it.
He highlighted the importance of providing the Palestinian people with a decent life and all means of steadfastness, in order for them to be able to continue their resistance to the Israeli occupation.
22 july 2016
Israeli Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman has compared the broadcast of poetry by Palestinian poet Mahmoud Darwish on Israeli radio to glorifying Adolf Hitler’s “Mein Kampf,” the Ministry of Defense said on Thursday.
On Tuesday, Israeli army radio broadcast works by the iconic Palestinian writer as part of its “University on Air” program, including Darwish’s famous poem “Identity Card,” which drew the ire of Lieberman and other Israeli officials.
Ma’an News Agency reports that, in a meeting with Army Radio chief Yaron Dekel, Lieberman said that broadcasting the poem contravened the station’s mission to “strengthen solidarity in society, not to deepen rifts, and certainly not to offend public sensibilities.”
Lieberman added that Darwish’s poems could not “be part of the Israeli narrative program” aired on the station, adding: “By that same logic, we can also add to the Israeli narrative Mufti al-Husseini, or broadcast a glorification of the literary merits of ‘Mein Kampf,’” referring to the Grand Mufti of Jerusalem in the 1920s and 1930s — whom Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu controversially blamed in October for the Jewish holocaust.
“Identity Card,” written in 1964, details the indignities of life subjected to the bureaucracy of the Israeli occupation, and includes the lines “I do not hate people/Nor do I encroach/But if I become hungry/The usurper’s flesh will be my food,” presumably the part targeted by Lieberman.
According to the Ministry of Defense statement, Lieberman said that there was “a big difference between freedom of expression and freedom of incitement.”
Israeli newspaper Haaretz reported that Israeli Attorney General Avichai Mendelblit called Lieberman “to remind him he has no authority to intervene in Army Radio’s programming.”
Born in Moldova, Avigdor Lieberman is one of the only foreign ministers in the world who does not live in territory officially recognized as his own country.
Originally under suspicion over charges of money-laundering and bribery, Lieberman was formally indicted in December of 2012, on lesser charges of fraud and breach of trust.
His party was recently the focus of a corruption probe within the Israeli political spectrum, and, more recently, Lieberman’s life was threatened with an assassination attempt.
On Wednesday, Israeli Culture Minister Miri Regev called the broadcast of Darwish’s poems “dangerous,” adding that Army Radio “cannot allow itself to glorify the anti-Israel historical tale, as Mahmoud Darwish is not an Israeli, his poems are not Israeli, and they go against the main values of Israeli society.”
Darwish, who died in 2008, is also known as Palestine’s national poet, and stands as one of the most prominent figures of modern Palestinian literature. He has long been criticized by Israeli political figures for his stance against the occupation.
On Tuesday, Israeli army radio broadcast works by the iconic Palestinian writer as part of its “University on Air” program, including Darwish’s famous poem “Identity Card,” which drew the ire of Lieberman and other Israeli officials.
Ma’an News Agency reports that, in a meeting with Army Radio chief Yaron Dekel, Lieberman said that broadcasting the poem contravened the station’s mission to “strengthen solidarity in society, not to deepen rifts, and certainly not to offend public sensibilities.”
Lieberman added that Darwish’s poems could not “be part of the Israeli narrative program” aired on the station, adding: “By that same logic, we can also add to the Israeli narrative Mufti al-Husseini, or broadcast a glorification of the literary merits of ‘Mein Kampf,’” referring to the Grand Mufti of Jerusalem in the 1920s and 1930s — whom Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu controversially blamed in October for the Jewish holocaust.
“Identity Card,” written in 1964, details the indignities of life subjected to the bureaucracy of the Israeli occupation, and includes the lines “I do not hate people/Nor do I encroach/But if I become hungry/The usurper’s flesh will be my food,” presumably the part targeted by Lieberman.
According to the Ministry of Defense statement, Lieberman said that there was “a big difference between freedom of expression and freedom of incitement.”
Israeli newspaper Haaretz reported that Israeli Attorney General Avichai Mendelblit called Lieberman “to remind him he has no authority to intervene in Army Radio’s programming.”
Born in Moldova, Avigdor Lieberman is one of the only foreign ministers in the world who does not live in territory officially recognized as his own country.
Originally under suspicion over charges of money-laundering and bribery, Lieberman was formally indicted in December of 2012, on lesser charges of fraud and breach of trust.
His party was recently the focus of a corruption probe within the Israeli political spectrum, and, more recently, Lieberman’s life was threatened with an assassination attempt.
On Wednesday, Israeli Culture Minister Miri Regev called the broadcast of Darwish’s poems “dangerous,” adding that Army Radio “cannot allow itself to glorify the anti-Israel historical tale, as Mahmoud Darwish is not an Israeli, his poems are not Israeli, and they go against the main values of Israeli society.”
Darwish, who died in 2008, is also known as Palestine’s national poet, and stands as one of the most prominent figures of modern Palestinian literature. He has long been criticized by Israeli political figures for his stance against the occupation.
15 july 2016
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“Since over the past several years, you refused to meet me and sit down and negotiate peace, I hope you’ll hear this message,” the Israeli PM said, addressing the PA president.
Prime Minister Netanyahu has filmed a new video, uploaded to video-sharing website YouTube, in which he implores Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas to denounce terrorism and work with Netanyahu towards the establishment of peace. “President Abbas,” Netanyahu began, “Since over the past several years, you refused to meet me and sit down and negotiate peace, I hope you’ll hear this message.” In the video, Netanyahu decried several examples of actions by Palestinian |
officials and prominent public institutions which encourage and embrace terrorists and/or terror activities, including statements made by Abbas’ advisor, Sultan Abu al Einein, and the upcoming dedication of a monument to terrorist Abu Sukar, a terrorist who bombed Jerusalem’s Zion Square in 1975, killing 14 people and wounding dozens more. “This will help educate future generations to love peace over war, compassion over violence. It will also help convince Israelis that they have a true partner for peace,” Netanyahu said.
The Israeli prime minister ended the video by accusing the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) of providing a monthly salary to anyone who murders Jews. “This money provides direct incentive to commit terror,” Netanyahu said, ”I ask that you stop paying murderers and instead use this money to fund co-existence education, teach tolerance not terror.”
“I will continue to work tirelessly for peace,” he concluded, “It’s time that you join this effort.”
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President Abbas, Since over the past several years, you refused to meet me and sit down and negotiate peace, I hope you’ll hear this message.
First, your advisor, Sultan Abu al Einein recently called to slit the throat of every Israeli.
Three days later, a Palestinian terrorist turned these words into action when he slit the throat of a 13-year-old beautiful girl, Hallel Yaffa Ariel, as she slept. She was a little, innocent girl. She didn't deserve this. I ask that you fire this advisor because advocating genocide is not consistent with peace.
Second, your party recently praised a terrorist on Facebook who murdered 24 civilians, innocent Israelis in cold blood. I ask that you to pick up the phone and instruct your party's social media manager to stop praising mass murderers. Impressionable children read these posts. They should be taught harmony, not hate. Such words seriously harm the chances of peace.
Third, next week the Palestinian Authority will dedicate a monument to Abu Sukar. Abu Sukar murdered 15 people by detonating a refrigerator filled with explosives on a busy Jerusalem street. Rather than dedicate a statue to a mass-murderer, I ask that you consider honoring a champion of co-existence. This will help educate future generations to love peace over war, compassion over violence. It will also help convince Israelis that they have a true partner for peace.
Fourth, the PLO currently pays a monthly salary to anyone who murders Jews. This money provides direct incentive to commit terror. I ask that you stop paying murderers and instead use this money to fund co-existence education, teach tolerance not terror.
Fifth, every Israeli and Palestinian child deserves a life of hope, of tranquility and opportunity. I will continue to work tirelessly for peace. It’s time that you join this effort.
The Israeli prime minister ended the video by accusing the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) of providing a monthly salary to anyone who murders Jews. “This money provides direct incentive to commit terror,” Netanyahu said, ”I ask that you stop paying murderers and instead use this money to fund co-existence education, teach tolerance not terror.”
“I will continue to work tirelessly for peace,” he concluded, “It’s time that you join this effort.”
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President Abbas, Since over the past several years, you refused to meet me and sit down and negotiate peace, I hope you’ll hear this message.
First, your advisor, Sultan Abu al Einein recently called to slit the throat of every Israeli.
Three days later, a Palestinian terrorist turned these words into action when he slit the throat of a 13-year-old beautiful girl, Hallel Yaffa Ariel, as she slept. She was a little, innocent girl. She didn't deserve this. I ask that you fire this advisor because advocating genocide is not consistent with peace.
Second, your party recently praised a terrorist on Facebook who murdered 24 civilians, innocent Israelis in cold blood. I ask that you to pick up the phone and instruct your party's social media manager to stop praising mass murderers. Impressionable children read these posts. They should be taught harmony, not hate. Such words seriously harm the chances of peace.
Third, next week the Palestinian Authority will dedicate a monument to Abu Sukar. Abu Sukar murdered 15 people by detonating a refrigerator filled with explosives on a busy Jerusalem street. Rather than dedicate a statue to a mass-murderer, I ask that you consider honoring a champion of co-existence. This will help educate future generations to love peace over war, compassion over violence. It will also help convince Israelis that they have a true partner for peace.
Fourth, the PLO currently pays a monthly salary to anyone who murders Jews. This money provides direct incentive to commit terror. I ask that you stop paying murderers and instead use this money to fund co-existence education, teach tolerance not terror.
Fifth, every Israeli and Palestinian child deserves a life of hope, of tranquility and opportunity. I will continue to work tirelessly for peace. It’s time that you join this effort.
