11 apr 2013
Rights group slams Hamas failure to investigate Gaza deaths
Human Rights Watch on Thursday criticized the Hamas government in Gaza's apparent failure to investigate the murders of seven prisoners accused of collaboration with Israel.
The prisoners were publicly killed during two days in November, during Israel's week-long assault on the enclave.
An image of one of the victims being dragged behind a motorcycle through Gaza City quickly became a symbol of the conflict, which killed at least 170 Palestinians.
“Hamas’s inability or unwillingness to investigate the brazen murders of seven men makes a mockery of its claims that it’s upholding the rule of law in Gaza,” said Sarah Leah Whitson, HRW's Middle East director.
Human Rights Watch said that despite the circumstances of their deaths, the military courts that convicted the men decided primarily on the basis of coerced confessions, ignoring credible evidence that interrogators tortured at least six of them.
“Even before the killings, the abuses the men suffered made the criminal justice system a travesty, regardless of their guilt or innocence,” Whitson said in a statement.
She accused the government in Gaza of failing to take even basic steps toward identifying the killers.
“Months after seven Palestinians were murdered in broad daylight, seemingly with the collusion of security officials, the Hamas authorities in Gaza appear not to have lifted a finger to investigate, let alone to hold those responsible to account,” Whitson said.
“Hamas should be taking concrete steps to reform the criminal justice system and break the cycle of impunity that, as these men’s cases show, lets torturers and killers roam free.”
The Hamas government announced in November it was investigating how the men died.
Palestinian human rights activists along with senior Hamas officials also condemned the killings as illegal, saying the men should have been brought to justice under the law.
The prisoners were publicly killed during two days in November, during Israel's week-long assault on the enclave.
An image of one of the victims being dragged behind a motorcycle through Gaza City quickly became a symbol of the conflict, which killed at least 170 Palestinians.
“Hamas’s inability or unwillingness to investigate the brazen murders of seven men makes a mockery of its claims that it’s upholding the rule of law in Gaza,” said Sarah Leah Whitson, HRW's Middle East director.
Human Rights Watch said that despite the circumstances of their deaths, the military courts that convicted the men decided primarily on the basis of coerced confessions, ignoring credible evidence that interrogators tortured at least six of them.
“Even before the killings, the abuses the men suffered made the criminal justice system a travesty, regardless of their guilt or innocence,” Whitson said in a statement.
She accused the government in Gaza of failing to take even basic steps toward identifying the killers.
“Months after seven Palestinians were murdered in broad daylight, seemingly with the collusion of security officials, the Hamas authorities in Gaza appear not to have lifted a finger to investigate, let alone to hold those responsible to account,” Whitson said.
“Hamas should be taking concrete steps to reform the criminal justice system and break the cycle of impunity that, as these men’s cases show, lets torturers and killers roam free.”
The Hamas government announced in November it was investigating how the men died.
Palestinian human rights activists along with senior Hamas officials also condemned the killings as illegal, saying the men should have been brought to justice under the law.
Abbas Meets Jordanian, Bahraini Foreign Ministers in Jordan
President Mahmoud Abbas Thursday met with the Jordanian and Bahraini foreign ministers, Nasser Judeh and Shaikh Khalid bin Ahmed Al Khalifa, respectively, at his residence in the Jordanian capital, Amman.
Abbas discussed the latest development of the Palestinian issue in all its aspects, the recent calls with the U.S. administration and the importance of coordinating the Arab position regarding the task of the Arab peace initiative committee, which will be visiting Washington at the end of April.
Abbas discussed the latest development of the Palestinian issue in all its aspects, the recent calls with the U.S. administration and the importance of coordinating the Arab position regarding the task of the Arab peace initiative committee, which will be visiting Washington at the end of April.
27 Arab and foreign delegations visited Gaza last month
The government committee for the reception of delegations in the Gaza Strip declared that it has received about 27 solidarity delegations during March 2013. The committee said that about 500 visitors entered the Gaza Strip from various Arab and foreign nationalities in solidarity with the people of Gaza.
The delegation included various political and societal segments and not only solidarity activists, where the delegations comprised MPs, diplomats, politicians, doctors, jurists, academics and journalists, the committee's vice-Chairman added.
March has witnessed the arrival of 18 Arab delegations most notably the Egyptian delegation consisting of 40 people, in addition to 7 delegations from foreign countries, most notably Miles of Smiles-20 convoy consisting of 120 activists.
The delegation included various political and societal segments and not only solidarity activists, where the delegations comprised MPs, diplomats, politicians, doctors, jurists, academics and journalists, the committee's vice-Chairman added.
March has witnessed the arrival of 18 Arab delegations most notably the Egyptian delegation consisting of 40 people, in addition to 7 delegations from foreign countries, most notably Miles of Smiles-20 convoy consisting of 120 activists.
10 apr 2013
Erdogan postpones Gaza visit at Obama's urging
Following meeting with Kerry, Turkish premier announces he'll visit Gaza after trip to Washington in mid-May, Turkish media reports
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said he will probably visit Gaza after his trip to Washington to meet US President Barack Obama on May 16, Turkish daily Hurriyet reported. Asked about his Gaza trip by a journalist flying with him to Kyrgyzstan, Erdogan said: “It will probably take place after my visit to America."
The statement comes days after the Turkish premier met with US Secretary of State John Kerry in Istanbul. Kerry advised the Turks to consider the timing of the Gaza visit and urged local leaders to fully restore diplomatic ties with Israel. Immediately after Israel apologized to Turkey over the IDF raid on the Mavi Marmara, Erdogan announced his plans to visit Gaza in April. However it appears Kerry's visit affected the his plans.
In Istanbul on the first leg of a 10-day overseas trip, Kerry met with Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu with the aim of firming up the rapprochement between Turkey and Israel that President Barack Obama kick-started during a visit to the Jewish state last month.
"We would like to see this relationship that is important to stability in the Middle East and critical to the peace process ... get back on track in its full measure," Kerry told reporters at a joint news conference with Davutoglu. He said that meant promises of "compensation be fulfilled, ambassadors be returned and full relations be embraced."
Kerry said he would return to Turkey in two weeks in order to discuss the situation in Syria.
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said he will probably visit Gaza after his trip to Washington to meet US President Barack Obama on May 16, Turkish daily Hurriyet reported. Asked about his Gaza trip by a journalist flying with him to Kyrgyzstan, Erdogan said: “It will probably take place after my visit to America."
The statement comes days after the Turkish premier met with US Secretary of State John Kerry in Istanbul. Kerry advised the Turks to consider the timing of the Gaza visit and urged local leaders to fully restore diplomatic ties with Israel. Immediately after Israel apologized to Turkey over the IDF raid on the Mavi Marmara, Erdogan announced his plans to visit Gaza in April. However it appears Kerry's visit affected the his plans.
In Istanbul on the first leg of a 10-day overseas trip, Kerry met with Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu with the aim of firming up the rapprochement between Turkey and Israel that President Barack Obama kick-started during a visit to the Jewish state last month.
"We would like to see this relationship that is important to stability in the Middle East and critical to the peace process ... get back on track in its full measure," Kerry told reporters at a joint news conference with Davutoglu. He said that meant promises of "compensation be fulfilled, ambassadors be returned and full relations be embraced."
Kerry said he would return to Turkey in two weeks in order to discuss the situation in Syria.
Haneyya visits liberated prisoner Ibrahim Baroud
Prime Minister Ismail Haneyya visited on Wednesday morning the liberated prisoner Ibrahim Mustafa Baroud to congratulate him on his release, saying that his determination had achieved victory over the occupation.
Haneyya stressed the government's full commitment towards prisoners' issue, stressing that it is on the top of the government's priorities, pointing to the government's efforts in this regard.
The Prime Minister congratulated Baroud family for the liberation of their son, who served 27 years in custody.
For his part, Baroud stressed the captive movement's determination to continue their resistance against the Israeli jailer, calling on the concerned parties to work to end the prisoners' suffering.
At the end of the visit, Haneyya offered a shield for the liberated prisoner in recognition to his sacrifices.
Haneyya stressed the government's full commitment towards prisoners' issue, stressing that it is on the top of the government's priorities, pointing to the government's efforts in this regard.
The Prime Minister congratulated Baroud family for the liberation of their son, who served 27 years in custody.
For his part, Baroud stressed the captive movement's determination to continue their resistance against the Israeli jailer, calling on the concerned parties to work to end the prisoners' suffering.
At the end of the visit, Haneyya offered a shield for the liberated prisoner in recognition to his sacrifices.
9 apr 2013
Haneyya discusses with Egyptian Intelligence Minister latest developments
Palestinian Prime Minister in Gaza Ismail Haneyya discussed with the Egyptian Intelligence Minister Gen. Raafat Shehata the latest Palestinian developments especially the Israeli breaches of the truce agreement.
This came during a phone call between Haneyya and Shehata on Monday evening, according to the Office of the Palestinian prime minister in Gaza.
The Palestinian Premier had met Shehata during his last visit to Egypt last week, and discussed with him a series of topics, including the Palestinian reconciliation.
The Israeli occupation has continued to breach the agreement it had signed with the Palestinian resistance in Gaza under Egyptian auspices. The Israeli forces have been waging raids and attacks on the Gaza Strip and imposing more restrictions on Gaza's fishing zone.
This came during a phone call between Haneyya and Shehata on Monday evening, according to the Office of the Palestinian prime minister in Gaza.
The Palestinian Premier had met Shehata during his last visit to Egypt last week, and discussed with him a series of topics, including the Palestinian reconciliation.
The Israeli occupation has continued to breach the agreement it had signed with the Palestinian resistance in Gaza under Egyptian auspices. The Israeli forces have been waging raids and attacks on the Gaza Strip and imposing more restrictions on Gaza's fishing zone.
Bahar calls on Fatah movement to stop negotiations with occupation
The First Deputy Speaker of the Palestinian Legislative Council, Dr. Ahmad Bahar, called on Fatah movement to halt negotiations with the Israeli occupation and to back resistance as the chosen option of the Palestinian people.
Bahar called on the Palestinian resistance to kidnap Israeli soldiers in order to exchange them with Palestinian prisoners, pointing to the abduction of Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit that led to the release of over 1,000 Palestinians in 2011 in a prisoner exchange deal between Hamas movement and Israeli occupation under Egyptian auspices.
Bahar's statements came during a press conference held by the Ministry of Prisoners' Affairs in Gaza on Monday to launch events to commemorate Palestinian Prisoners' Day on 17th April.
The press conference was held outside the Martyr Ahmed Jabari's house, who served as deputy leader of the Qassam Brigades before his assassination in an Israeli air raid that targeted his car.
The Martyr Ahmed Jabari has led Wafa al-Ahrar deal and forced the occupation to comply with the resistance's terms, Bahar said.
Bahar called on the Palestinian resistance to kidnap Israeli soldiers in order to exchange them with Palestinian prisoners, pointing to the abduction of Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit that led to the release of over 1,000 Palestinians in 2011 in a prisoner exchange deal between Hamas movement and Israeli occupation under Egyptian auspices.
Bahar's statements came during a press conference held by the Ministry of Prisoners' Affairs in Gaza on Monday to launch events to commemorate Palestinian Prisoners' Day on 17th April.
The press conference was held outside the Martyr Ahmed Jabari's house, who served as deputy leader of the Qassam Brigades before his assassination in an Israeli air raid that targeted his car.
The Martyr Ahmed Jabari has led Wafa al-Ahrar deal and forced the occupation to comply with the resistance's terms, Bahar said.
8 apr 2013
Hamas will not commit suicide by recognizing Israel
Comment by Khalid Amayreh
There have been sporadic reports of late suggesting that Hamas might rethink its principled stance of refusing to recognize Israel. The reelection of Khalid Mashaal as the chief of the movement's politburo may have created a certain impression that Hamas is opting for more pragmatism. Moreover, the United States has reiterated its refusal to talk with Hamas until Hamas recognizes Israel and ends armed resistance to the Israeli occupation.
Such rumors are not being circulated in the media for the first time. In fact, we have been hearing such rumors for decades, effectively ever since the creation of the Islamist liberation group in 1987.
The circulation of these rumors is not an innocent act, it is intended to create an impression that Hamas is walking in the same path that Fatah walked in when it recognized Israel and signed the hapless Oslo Accords 20 years ago.
It is also meant to create confusion and discredit Hamas, especially after the Palestinian Islamist movement more or less succeeded in achieving a semblance of deterrence vis-à-vis Israel.
The truth of the matter is that Hamas has not changed its mind about the basic issues of the Arab-Israeli conflict. Hamas will not recognize Israel for religious reasons, first and foremost. For Hamas, recognizing Israel would be an instant and clarion political and moral suicide.
In a nutshell, the bulk of Hamas supporters would abandon the movement and form a new organization in case Hamas recognized the Zionist regime. Recognizing Israel is no less than committing adultery with the Palestinian cause.
It would make Hamas look a poor mimicry of Fatah, which would make customers opt for the original version, not the imitation.
The PLO recognized Israel back in 1993, even without a reciprocal Israeli recognition of a Palestinian state. So what was the result? Did the Palestinians recover their rights? Did Israel allow for the creation of a viable Palestinian state? Did Israel stop Judaizing Jerusalem and come to terms with the right of return for millions of Palestinian refugees, uprooted from their ancestral homes at the hands of Zionist-Jewish invaders from Eastern Europe?
The answers for these questions are clear to all and show that posing the very question of whether Hamas will recognize Israel is actually a red herring.
Besides, why is the question directed to Hamas not to the myriad of Jewish political parties in Israel which don’t even recognize the very existence of the Palestinian people? Does the Bayt Yehudi (which is a coalition partner in the Netanyahu government) recognize the Palestinian people? Does Yisrael Betenu recognize the Palestinian national existence on its ancestral homeland? The answer for these entire questions is, of course, "NO."
If so, then why doesn't the so-called honest broker, the U.S., refrain from exerting any pressure on Israel and only have a fixation on Hamas?
Well, Hamas is not and will not be eager to talk to the Americans or even the Europeans. In the final analysis, the U.S. is part of the problem. After all it was thanks to America's unlimited and unrestricted support and backing of Israel that Israel has been able to spread its aggression and insolence all over the region.
Indeed, it has been due to America's obsequious approach to Israel that Israel has been able to decapitate the two-state solution strategy altogether by building hundreds of Jewish-only colonies, inhabited by die-hard Talmudic-minded Jewish fanatics who believe that all non-Jews are beasts in a human shape whose lives have absolutely no sanctity.
In fact, the United States would be utterly unable to force Israel to give up the stolen Arab land even if all Muslim countries and organizations were to unanimously recognize Israel.
The U.S. is too subservient to Jewish pressure groups to grant itself the free will necessary to pursue a truly independent and honest foreign policy. Indeed, for the US to be able to play a truly constructive role in the task of Middle-East peace-making, the US must first free itself from the tight Israeli-Jewish stranglehold.
As to the Europeans (the original sinners) they, too, could do very little. Haven't these hypocrites asked themselves who needs to recognize whom, Israel, the nuclear-armed state which also has the only super-power in this world at her beck and call, or the tormented and savaged Palestinians who have been languishing under history's longest military occupation?
Hamas will not be striving to satisfy world powers for a certificate of good conduct, it is certainly not eager to be invited to the White House or to the European Union headquarters in Brussels in order to "join the civilized world," the very same world which superimposed Israel on Palestine, leading to history's grandest theft. It is the same civilized world which had murdered millions of innocent people and called the genocidal ethnic cleansing "manifest destiny."
Hamas is not against Israel because Israel is Jewish. Any suggestion or allusion to that effect has no iota of truth. True followers of Moses have both historical and religious legitimacy in Islam.
Hamas is against Israel because Israel happens to be murderer, thief and aggressor. Israel stole our homeland, murdered our people, destroyed our homes and villages, and dispersed us to the four winds. Are we supposed to recognize a state as such, based on terror, violence and war? Were the French asked to recognize the legitimacy of the Nazi occupation of their country?
And now a last word. Israel has been negotiating with the PLO for two decades. The PLO carried out every conceivable Israeli demand, including torturing and even killing Palestinian activists on Israel's behalf. The PLO groveled at Israel's feet for too long and went to previously unimaginable extents to appease Israel.
But Israel treated the PLO as a vanquished supplicant, not a peace partner.
Hamas must not repeat the same experience under any circumstances, even at the expense of being viewed as a pariah by the U.S. In this hypocritical world, being viewed as a pariah should be considered an ultimate virtue, not a stigma.
There have been sporadic reports of late suggesting that Hamas might rethink its principled stance of refusing to recognize Israel. The reelection of Khalid Mashaal as the chief of the movement's politburo may have created a certain impression that Hamas is opting for more pragmatism. Moreover, the United States has reiterated its refusal to talk with Hamas until Hamas recognizes Israel and ends armed resistance to the Israeli occupation.
Such rumors are not being circulated in the media for the first time. In fact, we have been hearing such rumors for decades, effectively ever since the creation of the Islamist liberation group in 1987.
The circulation of these rumors is not an innocent act, it is intended to create an impression that Hamas is walking in the same path that Fatah walked in when it recognized Israel and signed the hapless Oslo Accords 20 years ago.
It is also meant to create confusion and discredit Hamas, especially after the Palestinian Islamist movement more or less succeeded in achieving a semblance of deterrence vis-à-vis Israel.
The truth of the matter is that Hamas has not changed its mind about the basic issues of the Arab-Israeli conflict. Hamas will not recognize Israel for religious reasons, first and foremost. For Hamas, recognizing Israel would be an instant and clarion political and moral suicide.
In a nutshell, the bulk of Hamas supporters would abandon the movement and form a new organization in case Hamas recognized the Zionist regime. Recognizing Israel is no less than committing adultery with the Palestinian cause.
It would make Hamas look a poor mimicry of Fatah, which would make customers opt for the original version, not the imitation.
The PLO recognized Israel back in 1993, even without a reciprocal Israeli recognition of a Palestinian state. So what was the result? Did the Palestinians recover their rights? Did Israel allow for the creation of a viable Palestinian state? Did Israel stop Judaizing Jerusalem and come to terms with the right of return for millions of Palestinian refugees, uprooted from their ancestral homes at the hands of Zionist-Jewish invaders from Eastern Europe?
The answers for these questions are clear to all and show that posing the very question of whether Hamas will recognize Israel is actually a red herring.
Besides, why is the question directed to Hamas not to the myriad of Jewish political parties in Israel which don’t even recognize the very existence of the Palestinian people? Does the Bayt Yehudi (which is a coalition partner in the Netanyahu government) recognize the Palestinian people? Does Yisrael Betenu recognize the Palestinian national existence on its ancestral homeland? The answer for these entire questions is, of course, "NO."
If so, then why doesn't the so-called honest broker, the U.S., refrain from exerting any pressure on Israel and only have a fixation on Hamas?
Well, Hamas is not and will not be eager to talk to the Americans or even the Europeans. In the final analysis, the U.S. is part of the problem. After all it was thanks to America's unlimited and unrestricted support and backing of Israel that Israel has been able to spread its aggression and insolence all over the region.
Indeed, it has been due to America's obsequious approach to Israel that Israel has been able to decapitate the two-state solution strategy altogether by building hundreds of Jewish-only colonies, inhabited by die-hard Talmudic-minded Jewish fanatics who believe that all non-Jews are beasts in a human shape whose lives have absolutely no sanctity.
In fact, the United States would be utterly unable to force Israel to give up the stolen Arab land even if all Muslim countries and organizations were to unanimously recognize Israel.
The U.S. is too subservient to Jewish pressure groups to grant itself the free will necessary to pursue a truly independent and honest foreign policy. Indeed, for the US to be able to play a truly constructive role in the task of Middle-East peace-making, the US must first free itself from the tight Israeli-Jewish stranglehold.
As to the Europeans (the original sinners) they, too, could do very little. Haven't these hypocrites asked themselves who needs to recognize whom, Israel, the nuclear-armed state which also has the only super-power in this world at her beck and call, or the tormented and savaged Palestinians who have been languishing under history's longest military occupation?
Hamas will not be striving to satisfy world powers for a certificate of good conduct, it is certainly not eager to be invited to the White House or to the European Union headquarters in Brussels in order to "join the civilized world," the very same world which superimposed Israel on Palestine, leading to history's grandest theft. It is the same civilized world which had murdered millions of innocent people and called the genocidal ethnic cleansing "manifest destiny."
Hamas is not against Israel because Israel is Jewish. Any suggestion or allusion to that effect has no iota of truth. True followers of Moses have both historical and religious legitimacy in Islam.
Hamas is against Israel because Israel happens to be murderer, thief and aggressor. Israel stole our homeland, murdered our people, destroyed our homes and villages, and dispersed us to the four winds. Are we supposed to recognize a state as such, based on terror, violence and war? Were the French asked to recognize the legitimacy of the Nazi occupation of their country?
And now a last word. Israel has been negotiating with the PLO for two decades. The PLO carried out every conceivable Israeli demand, including torturing and even killing Palestinian activists on Israel's behalf. The PLO groveled at Israel's feet for too long and went to previously unimaginable extents to appease Israel.
But Israel treated the PLO as a vanquished supplicant, not a peace partner.
Hamas must not repeat the same experience under any circumstances, even at the expense of being viewed as a pariah by the U.S. In this hypocritical world, being viewed as a pariah should be considered an ultimate virtue, not a stigma.
Dr. Rizqa: The Palestinian official representation is not exclusive to Abbas
Dr. Yousuf Rizqa, the political advisor to the Palestinian premier, said that the Palestinian official representation is not restricted to Mahmoud Abbas, the president of the Palestinian Authority (PA).
"The official representation in summits and events is shared by three bodies and not one according to the Palestinian law, namely, the PA leadership, the legislative council and the Palestinian government in Gaza," Riqa stated in the local TV show, a meeting with an official, on Sunday.
Rizqa made his remarks in response to the PA which demanded Qatar to take into account the Palestinian official representation if it wanted to hold a mini Arab summit on the inter-Palestinian reconciliation.
During his opening speech at the Arab summit that took place in Doha last March, Sheikh Hamad Al Thani, the Emir of Qatar, suggested holding a mini Arab summit in Cairo with the participation of any interested Arab countries and in the presence of Palestinian officials from Hamas and Fatah in order to push forward the Palestinian reconciliation.
The political advisor underlined that when the Emir of Qatar tabled the issue of the mini summit, his main focus was not on any ceremonial representation but on the output that can ensue from that meeting, which would be aimed at pressuring the Palestinian rivals into ending the division.
He said that Abbas at first did not raise the representation issue and welcomed the Qatari mini-summit initiative, accusing the PA and its government in Ramallah city of attempting to abort the Qatari efforts in this regard.
"The official representation in summits and events is shared by three bodies and not one according to the Palestinian law, namely, the PA leadership, the legislative council and the Palestinian government in Gaza," Riqa stated in the local TV show, a meeting with an official, on Sunday.
Rizqa made his remarks in response to the PA which demanded Qatar to take into account the Palestinian official representation if it wanted to hold a mini Arab summit on the inter-Palestinian reconciliation.
During his opening speech at the Arab summit that took place in Doha last March, Sheikh Hamad Al Thani, the Emir of Qatar, suggested holding a mini Arab summit in Cairo with the participation of any interested Arab countries and in the presence of Palestinian officials from Hamas and Fatah in order to push forward the Palestinian reconciliation.
The political advisor underlined that when the Emir of Qatar tabled the issue of the mini summit, his main focus was not on any ceremonial representation but on the output that can ensue from that meeting, which would be aimed at pressuring the Palestinian rivals into ending the division.
He said that Abbas at first did not raise the representation issue and welcomed the Qatari mini-summit initiative, accusing the PA and its government in Ramallah city of attempting to abort the Qatari efforts in this regard.
7 apr 2013
Palestinians burn effigy of Qatari emir in West Bank
Palestinian students gather as an effigy of Qatari emir is hanged and burned in a university in the West Bank in the West Bank city of Tulkarem on April 1
Palestinians have burned an effigy of the Qatari emir in the West Bank to protest against Doha’s foreign policy in the region.
A group of Palestinian students hanged and burned an effigy of the Qatari emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani in a university in the West Bank city of Tulkarem on April 1.
Reports say the students had links with Fatah party.
This comes as Palestinians say Qatar keeps favoring Israel over Palestinians.
Qatar is in fact the chief financier of extremist militant groups for the past 3 decades including al-Qaeda.
While Qatari state-owned news channel Al Jazeera applies a veneer of progressive pro-democracy to its narratives, Qatar itself is involved in arming, funding, and even providing direct military support for sectarian extremists from northern Mali, to Libya, to Syria and beyond.
Palestinians have burned an effigy of the Qatari emir in the West Bank to protest against Doha’s foreign policy in the region.
A group of Palestinian students hanged and burned an effigy of the Qatari emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani in a university in the West Bank city of Tulkarem on April 1.
Reports say the students had links with Fatah party.
This comes as Palestinians say Qatar keeps favoring Israel over Palestinians.
Qatar is in fact the chief financier of extremist militant groups for the past 3 decades including al-Qaeda.
While Qatari state-owned news channel Al Jazeera applies a veneer of progressive pro-democracy to its narratives, Qatar itself is involved in arming, funding, and even providing direct military support for sectarian extremists from northern Mali, to Libya, to Syria and beyond.
John Kerry urges Turkey to quickly normalize ties with Israel
US Secretary of State John Kerry (L) and his Turkish counterpart Ahmet Davutoglu give a press conference on April 7, 2013, after their private meeting in Istanbul.
US Secretary of State John Kerry has urged Turkey to restore full diplomatic relations with Israel without delay and exchange ambassadors.
Kerry told a joint news conference with Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu in Istanbul on Sunday that Washington wants Ankara-Tel Aviv relations to "get back on track in their full measure'' since they are both vital allies of the US in the region.
The top US diplomat also called on Ankara to speed up work on changing government in Syria, adding that Washington and Ankara will continue to work together to find a peaceful and speedy transition in Syria.
Kerry also met with Turkey's Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Ankara agreed to restore relations with Tel Aviv on March 22 after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu apologized to Turkey for the deaths of nine Turkish activists in an Israeli attack on a Gaza-bound international flotilla in 2010. Israel also agreed to pay compensation to the families of those who were killed by Israeli commandos.
The apology was brokered by US President Barack Obama during his visit to Israel and ended a nearly three-year rift between Israel and Turkey. But the two sides have yet to exchange ambassadors and fully restore diplomatic ties.
After Turkey, Kerry is due to visit Israel and the West Bank.
US Secretary of State John Kerry has urged Turkey to restore full diplomatic relations with Israel without delay and exchange ambassadors.
Kerry told a joint news conference with Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu in Istanbul on Sunday that Washington wants Ankara-Tel Aviv relations to "get back on track in their full measure'' since they are both vital allies of the US in the region.
The top US diplomat also called on Ankara to speed up work on changing government in Syria, adding that Washington and Ankara will continue to work together to find a peaceful and speedy transition in Syria.
Kerry also met with Turkey's Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Ankara agreed to restore relations with Tel Aviv on March 22 after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu apologized to Turkey for the deaths of nine Turkish activists in an Israeli attack on a Gaza-bound international flotilla in 2010. Israel also agreed to pay compensation to the families of those who were killed by Israeli commandos.
The apology was brokered by US President Barack Obama during his visit to Israel and ended a nearly three-year rift between Israel and Turkey. But the two sides have yet to exchange ambassadors and fully restore diplomatic ties.
After Turkey, Kerry is due to visit Israel and the West Bank.
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Families of prisoners create memorial grave near PA HQ
Some families of prisoners and ex-detainees on Saturday afternoon rallied outside the headquarters of the Palestinian Authority in Ramallah city to urge it to immediately act to save the lives of patients and hunger strikers in Israeli jails.
During the rally, the protestors established a symbolic grave in Al-Umam square near the PA headquarters to always remind the PA leadership and the world of the issue of the Palestinian prisoners, especially the patients who face death in Israeli jails. Amid intensive PA security presence, the protestors marched from the central area of Ramallah towards the square carrying pictures of prisoners. The mother of ill prisoner Mohamed Taj stated that her son is in the Ramla hospital, and he suffers from lung damage and cannot breathe without an oxygen tube connected 24 hours to his mouth. |
The mother appealed as she was crying to the world's free people to intervene to swiftly have her son released, adding that she has not been sleeping well since she heard about the death of prisoner Maysara Abu Hamdiya.
For his part, ex-detainee Thaer Halahela demanded PA president Mahmoud Abbas to assume his responsibility and move to save the lives of patients and hunger strikers in Israeli jails.
Halahela said the detainees suffer and face death while the PA does not care for what happens to them in Israeli prisons.
"Do we have to wait until Issawi leaves the prison a dead body as what happened with Abu Hamdiya? There are also 25 Palestinian prisoners suffering from cancer in Israeli jails," he said.
For his part, ex-detainee Thaer Halahela demanded PA president Mahmoud Abbas to assume his responsibility and move to save the lives of patients and hunger strikers in Israeli jails.
Halahela said the detainees suffer and face death while the PA does not care for what happens to them in Israeli prisons.
"Do we have to wait until Issawi leaves the prison a dead body as what happened with Abu Hamdiya? There are also 25 Palestinian prisoners suffering from cancer in Israeli jails," he said.
Police investigate death of Ramallah woman
Police are investigating the death of a 19-year-old woman from al-Amari refugee camp in Ramallah.
The woman's body was brought to the Palestine Medical Complex on Sunday.
The hospital notified police, who opened an investigation into the death.
The public prosecutor ordered an autopsy, which will be performed at the Institute of Forensic Medicine in Abu Dis, police said in a statement.
The victim was not identified by name.
The woman's body was brought to the Palestine Medical Complex on Sunday.
The hospital notified police, who opened an investigation into the death.
The public prosecutor ordered an autopsy, which will be performed at the Institute of Forensic Medicine in Abu Dis, police said in a statement.
The victim was not identified by name.
6 apr 2013
Khuffash urges the PA to sign international treaties
Fuad Khuffash, Director of Ahrar Center for Prisoners' Studies and Human Rights, called on the PA to sign all international conventions and treaties, particularly the Geneva Conventions. He said that the step would enable the PA to file complaints and lawsuits against Israel for its crimes against Palestinian people and prisoners.
Khuffash said in a statement on Saturday that signing the international treaties gives the Palestinian people and leadership the right to go to the UN organizations and International Courts to file lawsuits against the occupation, especially after Palestine had obtained the status of a non-member observer state at the United Nations.
Khuffash said in a statement on Saturday that signing the international treaties gives the Palestinian people and leadership the right to go to the UN organizations and International Courts to file lawsuits against the occupation, especially after Palestine had obtained the status of a non-member observer state at the United Nations.
4 apr 2013
Abbas to Fatah Body: Settlements Pose Grave Danger to Peace
President Mahmoud Abbas warned in an address at the opening session of the Fatah Revolutionary Council held in Ramallah Wednesday evening that Israeli settlement activities pose a grave threat to peace in the region, Palestinian official news agency WAFA reported.
Abbas said that he discussed with US President Barack Obama, during their March 21 meeting in Ramallah, the status of the peace process.
"We explained to the US president the dangers facing the two-state solution due to unprecedented Israeli government settlement construction and its rejection of all signed agreements," he said.
The meeting with Obama, said Abbas, "Was very important and positive."
He said, "We presented very clearly the Palestinian position from the peace process and our full commitment to achieving just and comprehensive peace based on United Nations resolutions and the two-state solution on the 1967 borders, as well as a halt to the illegal settlement construction on land of the State of Palestine."
Abbas discussed as well the situation of prisoners in Israeli jails, particularly following the death of cancer patient Maysara Abu Hamdiya while in prison. He said the prisoners' issue is a top priority for him which he always discusses with Arab and world leaders.
He stressed the importance of releasing all prisoners held before the signing of the Oslo accords in 1993 as well as children, the women, the ill and the elderly.
Abbas also talked about the agreement he had signed last week with Jordan's King Abdullah on the Muslim holy sites in Jerusalem. He said the agreement was only a restatement of the 1988 understanding that gives Jordan the right to protect the holy places in Jerusalem along with the Palestinian Authority.
Abbas warned of the deteriorating situation of Palestinian refugees in Syria and said that the Palestine Liberation Organization is doing its best to protect the refugees.
Abbas said that he discussed with US President Barack Obama, during their March 21 meeting in Ramallah, the status of the peace process.
"We explained to the US president the dangers facing the two-state solution due to unprecedented Israeli government settlement construction and its rejection of all signed agreements," he said.
The meeting with Obama, said Abbas, "Was very important and positive."
He said, "We presented very clearly the Palestinian position from the peace process and our full commitment to achieving just and comprehensive peace based on United Nations resolutions and the two-state solution on the 1967 borders, as well as a halt to the illegal settlement construction on land of the State of Palestine."
Abbas discussed as well the situation of prisoners in Israeli jails, particularly following the death of cancer patient Maysara Abu Hamdiya while in prison. He said the prisoners' issue is a top priority for him which he always discusses with Arab and world leaders.
He stressed the importance of releasing all prisoners held before the signing of the Oslo accords in 1993 as well as children, the women, the ill and the elderly.
Abbas also talked about the agreement he had signed last week with Jordan's King Abdullah on the Muslim holy sites in Jerusalem. He said the agreement was only a restatement of the 1988 understanding that gives Jordan the right to protect the holy places in Jerusalem along with the Palestinian Authority.
Abbas warned of the deteriorating situation of Palestinian refugees in Syria and said that the Palestine Liberation Organization is doing its best to protect the refugees.
2 apr 2013
Hamas slams Fatah student bloc for insulting Qatar and its leadership
The Hamas Movement strongly denounced Fatah and its student bloc at Palestine Technical university in Tulkarem for insulting Qatar and its leadership and described their act as shameful and irresponsible.
Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri told the Palestinian information center (PIC) that the rude behavior of Fatah students towards the Qatari Emir would damage the reputation of the Palestinian people and its relations with an Arab country supporting the Palestinian cause.
"We, in Hamas, condemn this immoral act and we consider that any political views should be expressed properly and respectfully and not with such irresponsible acts," spokesman Abu Zuhir stated.
The spokesman praised Qatar's role in supporting the steadfastness of the Palestinian cause and urged its leadership to overlook such irresponsible acts by Fatah.
In an electoral ceremony on Monday, senior students from the Fatah student bloc at the university played on campus the scene of executing a stuffed figure they claimed it was the Emir of Qatar while they were verbally attacking him with indecent words.
Senior officials from Fatah and the Palestinian authority also attended the ceremony and watched the improper behavior of Fatah students without objection, according to eyewitnesses from the university.
Their extreme behavior raised the ire of other students who objected to what was happening.
Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri told the Palestinian information center (PIC) that the rude behavior of Fatah students towards the Qatari Emir would damage the reputation of the Palestinian people and its relations with an Arab country supporting the Palestinian cause.
"We, in Hamas, condemn this immoral act and we consider that any political views should be expressed properly and respectfully and not with such irresponsible acts," spokesman Abu Zuhir stated.
The spokesman praised Qatar's role in supporting the steadfastness of the Palestinian cause and urged its leadership to overlook such irresponsible acts by Fatah.
In an electoral ceremony on Monday, senior students from the Fatah student bloc at the university played on campus the scene of executing a stuffed figure they claimed it was the Emir of Qatar while they were verbally attacking him with indecent words.
Senior officials from Fatah and the Palestinian authority also attended the ceremony and watched the improper behavior of Fatah students without objection, according to eyewitnesses from the university.
Their extreme behavior raised the ire of other students who objected to what was happening.
Dweik: Abbas prevents us from visiting political prisoners in Jericho prison
Dr. Aziz Dweik, the Speaker of the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC), confirmed that he sent a letter to PA President Mahmoud Abbas to allow him and a number of PLC deputies to visit Palestinian political detainees in Jericho prison.
Dr. Dweik confirmed that Abbas refused his demand although that the legislative authority has the right to control everything that goes on in PA jails and to monitor human rights abuses inside PA prisons.
Dr. Dweik considered the PA president's refusal to allow Palestinian MPs to visit political prisoners in Jericho prison as a part of tyranny and dictatorship exercised by the security services against the Palestinian people and against political prisoners who have been detained since several months.
We received appeals from the families of prisoners tortured in Jericho prisons asking us to visit their sons and to check on their health conditions, PLC speaker stated, saying that no one has answered his demand to visit the political detainees in PA Jails.
Dr. Dweik denounced political arrests, asserting that "any Palestinian faction has the right to exercise its political work through its political, media and social institutions, and these rights are guaranteed by Palestinian laws."
He considered that the continued political detention and summonses as a prominent obstacle to achieve the Palestinian national reconciliation.
Dr. Dweik confirmed that Abbas refused his demand although that the legislative authority has the right to control everything that goes on in PA jails and to monitor human rights abuses inside PA prisons.
Dr. Dweik considered the PA president's refusal to allow Palestinian MPs to visit political prisoners in Jericho prison as a part of tyranny and dictatorship exercised by the security services against the Palestinian people and against political prisoners who have been detained since several months.
We received appeals from the families of prisoners tortured in Jericho prisons asking us to visit their sons and to check on their health conditions, PLC speaker stated, saying that no one has answered his demand to visit the political detainees in PA Jails.
Dr. Dweik denounced political arrests, asserting that "any Palestinian faction has the right to exercise its political work through its political, media and social institutions, and these rights are guaranteed by Palestinian laws."
He considered that the continued political detention and summonses as a prominent obstacle to achieve the Palestinian national reconciliation.
Hamas reelects Khaled Meshaal as political leader: Official
Palestinian resistance movement Hamas has reelected Khaled Meshaal for a new term as political bureau chief of the movement, a senior party official has said.
The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that the party's governing shura council reelected Meshaal as the political leader for another four years at a meeting in Egyptian capital Cairo late on Monday, AFP reported.
"The leaders of Hamas chose Meshaal," the official stated.
Hamas officials were in Cairo on Sunday and Monday to elect a new political office chief, and to discuss with Egyptian leaders reconciliation with the Fatah faction of Acting Palestinian Authority chief Mahmoud Abbas.
In 2011, Palestinian factions of Fatah and Hamas signed a reconciliation accord to form a transitional unity government, which was supposed to pave the way for legislative elections before the end of May 2012. However, the process failed and is yet to be implemented.
On January 17 in Cairo, the two rival Palestinian factions agreed to revive consultations over the unity deal by the end of the month.
Hamas and Fatah have been at odds since the former won the Palestinian parliamentary elections in January 2006.
The Israeli regime reacted to the victory by imposing a blockade on the Gaza Strip. However Fatah set up headquarters in the occupied Palestinian territory of the West Bank.
The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that the party's governing shura council reelected Meshaal as the political leader for another four years at a meeting in Egyptian capital Cairo late on Monday, AFP reported.
"The leaders of Hamas chose Meshaal," the official stated.
Hamas officials were in Cairo on Sunday and Monday to elect a new political office chief, and to discuss with Egyptian leaders reconciliation with the Fatah faction of Acting Palestinian Authority chief Mahmoud Abbas.
In 2011, Palestinian factions of Fatah and Hamas signed a reconciliation accord to form a transitional unity government, which was supposed to pave the way for legislative elections before the end of May 2012. However, the process failed and is yet to be implemented.
On January 17 in Cairo, the two rival Palestinian factions agreed to revive consultations over the unity deal by the end of the month.
Hamas and Fatah have been at odds since the former won the Palestinian parliamentary elections in January 2006.
The Israeli regime reacted to the victory by imposing a blockade on the Gaza Strip. However Fatah set up headquarters in the occupied Palestinian territory of the West Bank.
1 apr 2013
Abbas: Government and Elections to be Announced in One Day
President Mahmoud Abbas said Monday that the government and elections go together and will be announced in one day. Abbas said, after he planted a tree marking land day at the national park in Ramallah, that the election committee has almost finished its work, therefore there is no need for stalling or any new procedures to achieve the reconciliation and that the government will be announced in tandem with a decree announcing elections day.
He added that we don’t have differences needing all these efforts because we have agreed in Doha and Qatar agreements on two key points; the transitional government and elections.
Abbas said that when PA is invited to any summit “we will go because we are the only representatives of the Palestinian people and no one else is invited.”
“The sovereignty on the Palestinian Territory is ours and this is not negotiable,” said Abbas.
He added that we don’t have differences needing all these efforts because we have agreed in Doha and Qatar agreements on two key points; the transitional government and elections.
Abbas said that when PA is invited to any summit “we will go because we are the only representatives of the Palestinian people and no one else is invited.”
“The sovereignty on the Palestinian Territory is ours and this is not negotiable,” said Abbas.
Erekat: Ending Occupation is Way to Security, Peace in Region
PLO Executive Committee member Saeb Erekat said that security, peace, stability and democracy in the Middle East is in ending the Israeli occupation and establishing an independent State of Palestine on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital.
He added in a statement issued after meeting with US Consul General in Jerusalem Michael Ratney and with other foreign delegations that ending the occupation and establishing the Palestinian state is also the solution to all final status issues, mainly refugees, Jerusalem, security, settlements, borders, water and prisoners based on United Nations resolutions.
Erekat stressed that Israeli occupation, settlement activities and attempts to impose facts on the ground, particularly in East Jerusalem, are the real danger that threatens security, stability and peace in the region.
He added in a statement issued after meeting with US Consul General in Jerusalem Michael Ratney and with other foreign delegations that ending the occupation and establishing the Palestinian state is also the solution to all final status issues, mainly refugees, Jerusalem, security, settlements, borders, water and prisoners based on United Nations resolutions.
Erekat stressed that Israeli occupation, settlement activities and attempts to impose facts on the ground, particularly in East Jerusalem, are the real danger that threatens security, stability and peace in the region.
Mishaal, Haneyya confer with Egyptian intelligence chief
Political bureau chairman of Hamas Khaled Mishaal and Gaza premier and Hamas leader Ismail Haneyya conferred in Cairo on Sunday with Egyptian intelligence chief Rafat Shehada.
Taher Al-Nunu, the government’s spokesman, said in a statement from Cairo that the discussion tackled Palestinian reconciliation and the importance of reactivating it.
He told the PIC that the discussion also tackled the Israeli repeated violations of the calm agreement and denying Palestinian fishermen the agreed upon fishing area off the Gaza coast.
Nunu said that the issue of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli occupation jails especially those on hunger strike were on agenda of the talks, holding Israel fully responsible for the death of any one of them. He said Egypt was called upon to follow up the agreement on prisoners with the occupation.
The spokesman said that the relations between Egypt and the Hamas government in Gaza were strong, adding that Shehada expressed conviction that Hamas had nothing to do with the attack on Egyptian soldiers in Rafah refuting media claims in this regard.
Taher Al-Nunu, the government’s spokesman, said in a statement from Cairo that the discussion tackled Palestinian reconciliation and the importance of reactivating it.
He told the PIC that the discussion also tackled the Israeli repeated violations of the calm agreement and denying Palestinian fishermen the agreed upon fishing area off the Gaza coast.
Nunu said that the issue of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli occupation jails especially those on hunger strike were on agenda of the talks, holding Israel fully responsible for the death of any one of them. He said Egypt was called upon to follow up the agreement on prisoners with the occupation.
The spokesman said that the relations between Egypt and the Hamas government in Gaza were strong, adding that Shehada expressed conviction that Hamas had nothing to do with the attack on Egyptian soldiers in Rafah refuting media claims in this regard.
Al-Masri: Israeli occupation tries to drive a wedge between Egypt and Gaza
MP Mushir al-Masri stated that the idea of settling the Palestinians in Egypt's Sinai Peninsula is an Israeli attempt to drive a wedge between Egypt and Gaza.
Al-Masri stressed, during Land Day anniversary in the Egyptian Labor Party headquarters, the Palestinians definitely refuse resettlement in the Sinai, adding that "the Israeli enemy aims to drive a wedge between the Egyptian and Palestinian peoples through promoting such rumors.
The anniversary of Land Day emphasizes the Palestinian people's adherence to their land, he said, stressing the need to achieve the Palestinian people unity and to end the division.
The commemoration of Land Day in Egypt proves the unity between the two peoples and that the Egyptian army stood by the Palestinians, he pointed out, denying any Palestinian involvement in the killing of Egyptian soldiers.
Masri also said that the Hamas movement's internal elections still continue in secrecy for fear of targeting the movement leaders by the Israeli occupation.
Hamas Internal elections still continue in secrecy, he stated, stressing that it is in its final stage related to the movement's members of the political bureau and leadership.
Concerning renewing Meshaal's term in the movement's ongoing election, he explained that It has not yet been officially announced, stressing that it will be announced formally by the movement's leadership and some members of the Political Bureau after the end of the final stage.
Al-Masri stressed, during Land Day anniversary in the Egyptian Labor Party headquarters, the Palestinians definitely refuse resettlement in the Sinai, adding that "the Israeli enemy aims to drive a wedge between the Egyptian and Palestinian peoples through promoting such rumors.
The anniversary of Land Day emphasizes the Palestinian people's adherence to their land, he said, stressing the need to achieve the Palestinian people unity and to end the division.
The commemoration of Land Day in Egypt proves the unity between the two peoples and that the Egyptian army stood by the Palestinians, he pointed out, denying any Palestinian involvement in the killing of Egyptian soldiers.
Masri also said that the Hamas movement's internal elections still continue in secrecy for fear of targeting the movement leaders by the Israeli occupation.
Hamas Internal elections still continue in secrecy, he stated, stressing that it is in its final stage related to the movement's members of the political bureau and leadership.
Concerning renewing Meshaal's term in the movement's ongoing election, he explained that It has not yet been officially announced, stressing that it will be announced formally by the movement's leadership and some members of the Political Bureau after the end of the final stage.
