27 aug 2015
In a move likely to upset Israel's government, Palestinians and the Vatican are seeking to raise their flags at UN headquarters -- just in time for Pope Francis' visit, next month.
According to Al Ray/AP, supporters of the idea hope that the UN General Assembly will adopt a resolution on the flag-raising shortly before the pope arrives.
They're betting that the United States or other allies of Israel will not block the plan and risk offending the Vatican on Francis' first US visit. The Palestinian proposal has been tabled, and a draft of the resolution set to be made public was seen by the Associated Press, on We3dnesday. The draft would allow non-member observer states -- there are only two -- to display their flags with the 193 member states.
The United States and Israel oppose recognizing the Palestinian state, arguing that it undermines efforts to negotiate a peace agreement. This process, however, has largely been at a standstill since the deadly conflict in Gaza a year ago.
Many states have shown support for the Palestinians' pursuit of statehood, including the Vatican. In May, the Vatican officially recognized the state of Palestine in their first formal, bilateral treaty. Israel's foreign ministry said it was "disappointed".
During Francis' 2014 visit to the Holy Land, the Vatican's official program referred to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas as the president of the "state of Palestine."
In 2012, the Vatican welcomed an overwhelming vote in the General Assembly to upgrade the Palestinians' status to a UN non-member observer state. Their delegation promptly unfurled the flag in the chamber.
Pope Francis has not been shy about ambitious diplomacy.
He helped bring the United States and Cuba together for their historic reestablishment of diplomatic ties. Last year, he invited the Israeli and Palestinian presidents for a day of peace prayers at the Vatican.
Most countries in Western Europe have held off on recognizing a Palestinian state, but some have hinted that their position could change, if peace efforts remain deadlocked. Most countries in Africa, Asia and South America have recognized Palestine.
Francis is scheduled to address the General Assembly on Sept. 25, just before world leaders meet to launch a set of development goals aimed at ending both poverty and hunger over the next 15 years.
According to Al Ray/AP, supporters of the idea hope that the UN General Assembly will adopt a resolution on the flag-raising shortly before the pope arrives.
They're betting that the United States or other allies of Israel will not block the plan and risk offending the Vatican on Francis' first US visit. The Palestinian proposal has been tabled, and a draft of the resolution set to be made public was seen by the Associated Press, on We3dnesday. The draft would allow non-member observer states -- there are only two -- to display their flags with the 193 member states.
The United States and Israel oppose recognizing the Palestinian state, arguing that it undermines efforts to negotiate a peace agreement. This process, however, has largely been at a standstill since the deadly conflict in Gaza a year ago.
Many states have shown support for the Palestinians' pursuit of statehood, including the Vatican. In May, the Vatican officially recognized the state of Palestine in their first formal, bilateral treaty. Israel's foreign ministry said it was "disappointed".
During Francis' 2014 visit to the Holy Land, the Vatican's official program referred to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas as the president of the "state of Palestine."
In 2012, the Vatican welcomed an overwhelming vote in the General Assembly to upgrade the Palestinians' status to a UN non-member observer state. Their delegation promptly unfurled the flag in the chamber.
Pope Francis has not been shy about ambitious diplomacy.
He helped bring the United States and Cuba together for their historic reestablishment of diplomatic ties. Last year, he invited the Israeli and Palestinian presidents for a day of peace prayers at the Vatican.
Most countries in Western Europe have held off on recognizing a Palestinian state, but some have hinted that their position could change, if peace efforts remain deadlocked. Most countries in Africa, Asia and South America have recognized Palestine.
Francis is scheduled to address the General Assembly on Sept. 25, just before world leaders meet to launch a set of development goals aimed at ending both poverty and hunger over the next 15 years.
26 aug 2015
The Vatican, on Tuesday, asked the Palestinian UN mission to remove all references to it from a draft resolution the Palestinians have prepared for the General Assembly calling for the flags of Palestine and the Holy See to fly at the UN.
The Palestinian draft resolution, which was seen by Reuters, says that the flags of non-member observer states “shall be raised at the United Nations Headquarters and Offices following the flags of the member states of the United Nations.”
The draft resolution specifically refers to both the Vatican and the State of Palestine, both of which are non-member observer states at the United Nations.
The initiative comes one month before the scheduled appearance of Pope Francis for a major speech before a high-level gathering of the 193-nation UN General Assembly on September 25th.
Currently, according to the PNN, only member states’ flags fly at UN headquarters. UN diplomats say the United States and Israel, which do not recognize Palestinian statehood, would likely be irked by any move to fly the Palestinian flag at UN headquarters in New York City.
The flag-flying resolution, which diplomats said the Palestinians were expected to circulate to the full assembly as early as on Wednesday, had apparently been prepared without the explicit consent of the Vatican’s mission to the United Nations.
In a note circulated to some UN members and seen by Reuters, the Vatican made clear that while it did not object to the Palestinians proposing a resolution to fly their own flag, the Holy See had no plans to join the initiative – even though the Vatican formally recognized the State of Palestinian earlier this year.
“The Holy See does not intend to co-sponsor a draft resolution that the State of Palestine may eventually present on the matter,” the note said.
“The Holy See asks the Permanent Observer Mission of the State of Palestine to the United Nations kindly to remove in its draft resolution any reference to the ‘Holy See’ and any generic reference ‘on behalf of the Observer States’,” it added.
A diplomat at the Palestinian mission did not respond immediately to a request for comment.
In 2012 the General Assembly overwhelmingly approved the de facto recognition of the sovereign state of Palestine. That de facto recognition came after a failed bid by the Palestinians to secure full membership in the United Nations.
The Palestinian draft resolution, which was seen by Reuters, says that the flags of non-member observer states “shall be raised at the United Nations Headquarters and Offices following the flags of the member states of the United Nations.”
The draft resolution specifically refers to both the Vatican and the State of Palestine, both of which are non-member observer states at the United Nations.
The initiative comes one month before the scheduled appearance of Pope Francis for a major speech before a high-level gathering of the 193-nation UN General Assembly on September 25th.
Currently, according to the PNN, only member states’ flags fly at UN headquarters. UN diplomats say the United States and Israel, which do not recognize Palestinian statehood, would likely be irked by any move to fly the Palestinian flag at UN headquarters in New York City.
The flag-flying resolution, which diplomats said the Palestinians were expected to circulate to the full assembly as early as on Wednesday, had apparently been prepared without the explicit consent of the Vatican’s mission to the United Nations.
In a note circulated to some UN members and seen by Reuters, the Vatican made clear that while it did not object to the Palestinians proposing a resolution to fly their own flag, the Holy See had no plans to join the initiative – even though the Vatican formally recognized the State of Palestinian earlier this year.
“The Holy See does not intend to co-sponsor a draft resolution that the State of Palestine may eventually present on the matter,” the note said.
“The Holy See asks the Permanent Observer Mission of the State of Palestine to the United Nations kindly to remove in its draft resolution any reference to the ‘Holy See’ and any generic reference ‘on behalf of the Observer States’,” it added.
A diplomat at the Palestinian mission did not respond immediately to a request for comment.
In 2012 the General Assembly overwhelmingly approved the de facto recognition of the sovereign state of Palestine. That de facto recognition came after a failed bid by the Palestinians to secure full membership in the United Nations.
25 aug 2015
President makes remarks in meeting with settler leaders in the wake of harsh criticism leveled at him during the aftermath of the Duma attack.
President Reuven Rivlin said during talks with settler leaders on Monday that Israel had a "right" to build settlements in the West Bank, his office said in a statement.
"I love the land of Israel with all my heart. I have never and will never give up on this land. For me, our right to this land is not a matter of political debate. It is a basic fact of modern Zionism," Rivlin said,
For Rivlin the "land of Israel" includes the West Bank, where Jewish settlements are considered illegal under international law.
"We must not give anyone the sense that we are in any doubt about our right to our land. For me, the settlement of the land of Israel is an expression of that right, our historical right, our national right," Rivlin said.
"I have no doubt that it is clear to all of us, that in order to realize the ultimate goal of building the land of Israel, we must be sure to do so only with the use of the legal tools available to us. Our sovereignty in this land, means responsibility for all those who live here, and obliges all of us to uphold the strictest of moral codes, which is inherent in each and every one of us," the president continued.
His comments come at a time of heightened tension between Israel and the Palestinians following the death in July of a Palestinian toddler and his father in an arson attack on their home.
In the wake of the firebombing in the West Bank village of Duma, three alleged Jewish extremists were placed in administrative detention.
On Sunday, the Shin Bet domestic security agency said the deadly attack had "emanated" from a wildcat Jewish settlement outpost near Duma.
The agency said "restraining orders" restricting the movement of 10 activists had been issued as a result.
Rivlin condemned "Jewish terrorism" after the July arson attack in a post on Facebook, which was later followed by death threats against him.
President Reuven Rivlin said during talks with settler leaders on Monday that Israel had a "right" to build settlements in the West Bank, his office said in a statement.
"I love the land of Israel with all my heart. I have never and will never give up on this land. For me, our right to this land is not a matter of political debate. It is a basic fact of modern Zionism," Rivlin said,
For Rivlin the "land of Israel" includes the West Bank, where Jewish settlements are considered illegal under international law.
"We must not give anyone the sense that we are in any doubt about our right to our land. For me, the settlement of the land of Israel is an expression of that right, our historical right, our national right," Rivlin said.
"I have no doubt that it is clear to all of us, that in order to realize the ultimate goal of building the land of Israel, we must be sure to do so only with the use of the legal tools available to us. Our sovereignty in this land, means responsibility for all those who live here, and obliges all of us to uphold the strictest of moral codes, which is inherent in each and every one of us," the president continued.
His comments come at a time of heightened tension between Israel and the Palestinians following the death in July of a Palestinian toddler and his father in an arson attack on their home.
In the wake of the firebombing in the West Bank village of Duma, three alleged Jewish extremists were placed in administrative detention.
On Sunday, the Shin Bet domestic security agency said the deadly attack had "emanated" from a wildcat Jewish settlement outpost near Duma.
The agency said "restraining orders" restricting the movement of 10 activists had been issued as a result.
Rivlin condemned "Jewish terrorism" after the July arson attack in a post on Facebook, which was later followed by death threats against him.
First Deputy Chairman of the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC) Dr. Ahmed Baher called Tuesday for forming a Palestinian-Egyptian investigatory committee to reveal the destiny of the four Palestinians abducted in Sinai.
During a protest vigil organized Tuesday in solidarity with the abducted youths’ families, Dr. Baher considered the kidnapping of four Palestinians in Sinai as a political and moral crime par excellence.
It was a serious attempt to drag Gaza Strip and Palestinian resistance into a mysterious trap, he said.
Such serious operation aims to drive a wedge between the Palestinians and Egyptians brothers, and to prevent any efforts made to restore Palestinian-Egyptian official relations, Dr. Baher continued.
He called on Egyptian authorities to work for the release of the four abducted young men, saying that Egypt is completely responsible for their safety.
On the other hand, he slammed the continued silence of the Palestinian Authority and its Embassy in Egypt over the kidnapping of four Palestinians outside the Palestinian territories.
The PA continued silence raises strong doubt and suspicion, he said.
For its part, the Palestinian Scholars Association condemned the abduction of four Palestinians in Egyptian territories and called for their immediate release and return to their families.
During the vigil, the abducted youths’ families launched an appeal for their release especially that they entered Egypt with a legal permit.
The families also called on PA chairman Mahmoud Abbas and human right institutions to immediately intervene for their sons’ release.
On Wednesday evening, armed men stopped a bus that was transferring passengers from Rafah crossing to Cairo Airport, just a short distance of the border crossing, and abducted four Palestinians.
During a protest vigil organized Tuesday in solidarity with the abducted youths’ families, Dr. Baher considered the kidnapping of four Palestinians in Sinai as a political and moral crime par excellence.
It was a serious attempt to drag Gaza Strip and Palestinian resistance into a mysterious trap, he said.
Such serious operation aims to drive a wedge between the Palestinians and Egyptians brothers, and to prevent any efforts made to restore Palestinian-Egyptian official relations, Dr. Baher continued.
He called on Egyptian authorities to work for the release of the four abducted young men, saying that Egypt is completely responsible for their safety.
On the other hand, he slammed the continued silence of the Palestinian Authority and its Embassy in Egypt over the kidnapping of four Palestinians outside the Palestinian territories.
The PA continued silence raises strong doubt and suspicion, he said.
For its part, the Palestinian Scholars Association condemned the abduction of four Palestinians in Egyptian territories and called for their immediate release and return to their families.
During the vigil, the abducted youths’ families launched an appeal for their release especially that they entered Egypt with a legal permit.
The families also called on PA chairman Mahmoud Abbas and human right institutions to immediately intervene for their sons’ release.
On Wednesday evening, armed men stopped a bus that was transferring passengers from Rafah crossing to Cairo Airport, just a short distance of the border crossing, and abducted four Palestinians.
Senior Hamas official Mahmoud al-Zahhar has revealed that his Movement turned down an invitation from Tony Blair, the former envoy of the international Quartet on the Middle East, to visit London.
In remarks televised by al-Aqsa satellite channel on Monday, Zahhar stated that the steadfastness and strength which the Palestinian resistance had showed during its wars with the Israeli occupation army in Gaza compelled international parties to seek to meet with it.
The Hamas official highlighted the issue of the blockade on Gaza and accused the Palestinian Authority and Fatah faction of being involved in the siege on the Strip and obstructing international efforts to reconstruct it.
He noted that the PA leadership does not want the establishment of a seaport in Gaza for personal and financial reasons.
Zahhar also reiterated his Movement's position on the truce with the Israeli occupation and stressed the need for ending the blockade before talking about solidifying the ceasefire agreement in Gaza.
In remarks televised by al-Aqsa satellite channel on Monday, Zahhar stated that the steadfastness and strength which the Palestinian resistance had showed during its wars with the Israeli occupation army in Gaza compelled international parties to seek to meet with it.
The Hamas official highlighted the issue of the blockade on Gaza and accused the Palestinian Authority and Fatah faction of being involved in the siege on the Strip and obstructing international efforts to reconstruct it.
He noted that the PA leadership does not want the establishment of a seaport in Gaza for personal and financial reasons.
Zahhar also reiterated his Movement's position on the truce with the Israeli occupation and stressed the need for ending the blockade before talking about solidifying the ceasefire agreement in Gaza.
Deputy Head of Hamas’s Political Bureau Ismail Haneyya asserted his Movement’s keenness to exert all possible efforts to save the lives of the abducted Palestinians in Sinai.
This came during Haneyya’s meeting on Monday with the families of the four Palestinian young men who were abducted in Sinai while travelling to Cairo via Rafah border crossing last Wednesday.
The four were identified as Yaser Zanoun, Hussein al-Zebdeh, Abdullah Abu Al-Jebin and Abduldayim Abu Lebdeh.
Haneyya listened to the families’ demands in the meeting, which was attended by member of Hamas political bureau Imad al-Alami, and two leaders of Islamic Jihad, Fathi Hammad and Tawfiq Abu Naeim. Haneyya, in return, expressed his solidarity with the families.
He asked the Egyptian authorities to work immediately on releasing the abducted young men as being in charge of security affairs in the region.
Hamas released a press statement on Monday in which it held the Egyptian authorities completely responsible for the safety of the abducted men. Hamas urged the authorities to release the four Palestinians immediately in order to maintain the Palestinian-Egyptian relations.
On Wednesday evening, armed men stopped a bus that was transferring passengers from Rafah crossing to Cairo Airport, just a short distance of the border crossing, and abducted four Palestinians.
This came during Haneyya’s meeting on Monday with the families of the four Palestinian young men who were abducted in Sinai while travelling to Cairo via Rafah border crossing last Wednesday.
The four were identified as Yaser Zanoun, Hussein al-Zebdeh, Abdullah Abu Al-Jebin and Abduldayim Abu Lebdeh.
Haneyya listened to the families’ demands in the meeting, which was attended by member of Hamas political bureau Imad al-Alami, and two leaders of Islamic Jihad, Fathi Hammad and Tawfiq Abu Naeim. Haneyya, in return, expressed his solidarity with the families.
He asked the Egyptian authorities to work immediately on releasing the abducted young men as being in charge of security affairs in the region.
Hamas released a press statement on Monday in which it held the Egyptian authorities completely responsible for the safety of the abducted men. Hamas urged the authorities to release the four Palestinians immediately in order to maintain the Palestinian-Egyptian relations.
On Wednesday evening, armed men stopped a bus that was transferring passengers from Rafah crossing to Cairo Airport, just a short distance of the border crossing, and abducted four Palestinians.
24 aug 2015
Palestinian lawmaker Mohamed al-Ghoul has criticized the resignation of Palestinian Authority president Mahmoud Abbas and others from the executive committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) and described it as a "debunked show."
In press remarks on Sunday, Ghoul said that their resignation was aimed at convening the illegitimate National Council for an emergency session attended by a select group of people, pointing out that the National Council had been on the shelf for about 16 years.
"Such step taken by Abbas would deepen the split, eliminate any last chance for reconciliation and provide free concessions and services for the Zionist occupation, which seeks to keep Abbas in power without being held accountable by any institution or person opposing him," the lawmaker underscored.
He appealed to all patriotic political forces not to deal with any suspicious step by Abbas that would lead to undermining the national liberation project.
In press remarks on Sunday, Ghoul said that their resignation was aimed at convening the illegitimate National Council for an emergency session attended by a select group of people, pointing out that the National Council had been on the shelf for about 16 years.
"Such step taken by Abbas would deepen the split, eliminate any last chance for reconciliation and provide free concessions and services for the Zionist occupation, which seeks to keep Abbas in power without being held accountable by any institution or person opposing him," the lawmaker underscored.
He appealed to all patriotic political forces not to deal with any suspicious step by Abbas that would lead to undermining the national liberation project.
By Khalid Amayreh in Occupied Palestine
Palestinian Authority (PA) sources have been disseminating rumors indicating that Chairman Mahmoud Abbas has submitted his resignation as Chairman of the PLO Executive Committee.
It is uncertain whether these leaks contain any modicum of truth or are just balloon tests meant to gauge Palestinian public reactions to the possible resignation of the PA leader.
Abbas did on several occasions "threaten" to resign. According to sources close to him, Abbas, now 82 years of age, probably thought that the overall Palestinian scene would fall into shambles should he quit his post.
A disaster
I believe that the Palestinian people are entitled to know the truth about Abbas in case they don't already know it. And the truth is that Abbas has been a colossal failure in every conceivable respect.
A nominal leader of a nominal entity that is bereft of sovereignty and authority, Abbas has failed to carry out the most basic duties toward his people.
Instead, he continued to indulge in futile rhetoric about Palestinian statehood and a political process that has been in a state of clinical death for many years.
In this sense, one can safely accuse Abbas and the hangers-on around him of knowingly deceiving the people. This is a grave matter bordering on treason.
After all, a true leader ought to be first and foremost honest with his people who trusted him to lead them to the safety shore, not plunge them into uncertainty and precariousness.
No one expect Abbas to be another Salahuddin. But we do expect him to be honest at the very least.
But Abbas has not been honest. He clung to a sham "peace process" that was totally and manifestly void not only of peace but also of honestly as well from the very inception.
This is alone a clarion and indicting proof that the man has utterly failed to perform the tasks the Palestinian people entrusted him to perform.
Abbas should have declared the death of the so-called peace process a long time ago. However, instead of telling the truth, all the truth and nothing but the truth, he opted to chase a mirage in the desert, thinking that water would eventually show up. But water never showed up and probably never will.
In a nut-shell, one can claim, with little exaggeration, that Abbas has sacrificed whatever prospects for the creation of a viable Palestinian state for the sake of maintaining his hapless and disingenuous Palestinian "authority", an authority without authority, save the authority to arrest, torment and persecute honorable Palestinians deemed hostile toward the "Israeli partner."
Israel has always wanted the PA to be a police state without a state, an entity that would repress the Palestinian people on Israel's behalf.
In light of the PA record, is hard to say that Israel has failed to accomplish its desires in this regard.
In fact, it is hard to pinpoint any field where the PA has scored a real success. Not only, the prospects of establishing Palestinian statehood have been dashed irreversibly, but our collective steadfastness as a people has been considerably eroded due to the disastrous political management of the Palestinian cause by the PA and the PLO.
The rift with Hamas
While Hamas cannot really be completely vindicated of blame for the persistence of the rift with Fatah, one can honestly claim that Chairman Abbas bears the bulk of the blame for the failed reconciliation efforts between two chief political camps in occupied Palestine.
Abbas invoked ad nauseam the mantra that that the PLO was the sole legitimate representative of the Palestinian people, ignoring the fact that the PLO belongs to a bygone era and no longer envoys acceptance by the bulk of Palestinians.
Abbas also repeatedly called for organizing elections to allow Palestinians to elect a new national leadership. However, he has always proven unable or unwilling to secure the right environment for holding free, transparent and honest elections.
For example, he gave his undisciplined security agencies a free rein to suppress human rights and civil liberties, a condition without which no true elections can be held.
Likewise, Abbas doggedly maintained the ignominious "security coordination regime" with Israel whereby Israel and the PA cracked down harshly not only on Palestinian activists demanding freedom and liberation but also on activists voicing banal grievances pertaining to living conditions and economic rights.
I really don't know how true elections can be held in an atmosphere of fear. This is a serious matter that Abbas and his regime have utterly failed to address as they continued to shamelessly demand that elections be held while the Israeli occupation army remains in tight control of every corner and street and refugee camp in the West Bank.
None the less, the biggest scandal surrounding the PA and its chairman is related to their conspiratorial stance on Gaza and the hermetic Israeli-Egyptian siege on the coastal enclave.
We all know that numerous elements within the PA had prayed hard for the success of Israeli wars on Gaza (2008-2014) in the hope that Israel would crush Hamas and consequently enable the PLO to return to the Strip, reach a lasting peace with Israel and enjoy a lasting victory over the forces of resistance.
But the PA audacity actually went far beyond indulgence in morbid dreaming. The PA leadership effectively incited the Egyptian regime to tighten the noose on Gaza so that Hamas would beg the Ramallah regime to come to its rescue.
For years now, the PA has been waging a relentless war of words against Hamas, accusing the resilient Islamic movement of conceivable harm done to the Palestinian cause.
But the real PA goal has remained unchanged, namely the destruction or dismantlement of the resistance forces in Gaza, the very people who put up the severest resistance ever to the Zio-Nazi onslaught that murdered and maimed thousands of Palestinians and reduced the Gaza Strip to rubble.
What is more scandalous still is that this criminal goal would be carried out under the rubric of national reconciliation as if Palestinian national unity could only be achieved if only Palestinians succumbed to Zionist depravity, arrogance and supremacy.
In light, no Palestinian would or should shed tears for Abbas and his failed leadership. On the contrary, Palestinians ought to entertain the hope that the post-Abbas era will be auspicious and promising for our people and their enduring just cause.
Khalid Amayreh is a Palestinian journalist and political commentator living in Occupied Palestine.
Palestinian Authority (PA) sources have been disseminating rumors indicating that Chairman Mahmoud Abbas has submitted his resignation as Chairman of the PLO Executive Committee.
It is uncertain whether these leaks contain any modicum of truth or are just balloon tests meant to gauge Palestinian public reactions to the possible resignation of the PA leader.
Abbas did on several occasions "threaten" to resign. According to sources close to him, Abbas, now 82 years of age, probably thought that the overall Palestinian scene would fall into shambles should he quit his post.
A disaster
I believe that the Palestinian people are entitled to know the truth about Abbas in case they don't already know it. And the truth is that Abbas has been a colossal failure in every conceivable respect.
A nominal leader of a nominal entity that is bereft of sovereignty and authority, Abbas has failed to carry out the most basic duties toward his people.
Instead, he continued to indulge in futile rhetoric about Palestinian statehood and a political process that has been in a state of clinical death for many years.
In this sense, one can safely accuse Abbas and the hangers-on around him of knowingly deceiving the people. This is a grave matter bordering on treason.
After all, a true leader ought to be first and foremost honest with his people who trusted him to lead them to the safety shore, not plunge them into uncertainty and precariousness.
No one expect Abbas to be another Salahuddin. But we do expect him to be honest at the very least.
But Abbas has not been honest. He clung to a sham "peace process" that was totally and manifestly void not only of peace but also of honestly as well from the very inception.
This is alone a clarion and indicting proof that the man has utterly failed to perform the tasks the Palestinian people entrusted him to perform.
Abbas should have declared the death of the so-called peace process a long time ago. However, instead of telling the truth, all the truth and nothing but the truth, he opted to chase a mirage in the desert, thinking that water would eventually show up. But water never showed up and probably never will.
In a nut-shell, one can claim, with little exaggeration, that Abbas has sacrificed whatever prospects for the creation of a viable Palestinian state for the sake of maintaining his hapless and disingenuous Palestinian "authority", an authority without authority, save the authority to arrest, torment and persecute honorable Palestinians deemed hostile toward the "Israeli partner."
Israel has always wanted the PA to be a police state without a state, an entity that would repress the Palestinian people on Israel's behalf.
In light of the PA record, is hard to say that Israel has failed to accomplish its desires in this regard.
In fact, it is hard to pinpoint any field where the PA has scored a real success. Not only, the prospects of establishing Palestinian statehood have been dashed irreversibly, but our collective steadfastness as a people has been considerably eroded due to the disastrous political management of the Palestinian cause by the PA and the PLO.
The rift with Hamas
While Hamas cannot really be completely vindicated of blame for the persistence of the rift with Fatah, one can honestly claim that Chairman Abbas bears the bulk of the blame for the failed reconciliation efforts between two chief political camps in occupied Palestine.
Abbas invoked ad nauseam the mantra that that the PLO was the sole legitimate representative of the Palestinian people, ignoring the fact that the PLO belongs to a bygone era and no longer envoys acceptance by the bulk of Palestinians.
Abbas also repeatedly called for organizing elections to allow Palestinians to elect a new national leadership. However, he has always proven unable or unwilling to secure the right environment for holding free, transparent and honest elections.
For example, he gave his undisciplined security agencies a free rein to suppress human rights and civil liberties, a condition without which no true elections can be held.
Likewise, Abbas doggedly maintained the ignominious "security coordination regime" with Israel whereby Israel and the PA cracked down harshly not only on Palestinian activists demanding freedom and liberation but also on activists voicing banal grievances pertaining to living conditions and economic rights.
I really don't know how true elections can be held in an atmosphere of fear. This is a serious matter that Abbas and his regime have utterly failed to address as they continued to shamelessly demand that elections be held while the Israeli occupation army remains in tight control of every corner and street and refugee camp in the West Bank.
None the less, the biggest scandal surrounding the PA and its chairman is related to their conspiratorial stance on Gaza and the hermetic Israeli-Egyptian siege on the coastal enclave.
We all know that numerous elements within the PA had prayed hard for the success of Israeli wars on Gaza (2008-2014) in the hope that Israel would crush Hamas and consequently enable the PLO to return to the Strip, reach a lasting peace with Israel and enjoy a lasting victory over the forces of resistance.
But the PA audacity actually went far beyond indulgence in morbid dreaming. The PA leadership effectively incited the Egyptian regime to tighten the noose on Gaza so that Hamas would beg the Ramallah regime to come to its rescue.
For years now, the PA has been waging a relentless war of words against Hamas, accusing the resilient Islamic movement of conceivable harm done to the Palestinian cause.
But the real PA goal has remained unchanged, namely the destruction or dismantlement of the resistance forces in Gaza, the very people who put up the severest resistance ever to the Zio-Nazi onslaught that murdered and maimed thousands of Palestinians and reduced the Gaza Strip to rubble.
What is more scandalous still is that this criminal goal would be carried out under the rubric of national reconciliation as if Palestinian national unity could only be achieved if only Palestinians succumbed to Zionist depravity, arrogance and supremacy.
In light, no Palestinian would or should shed tears for Abbas and his failed leadership. On the contrary, Palestinians ought to entertain the hope that the post-Abbas era will be auspicious and promising for our people and their enduring just cause.
Khalid Amayreh is a Palestinian journalist and political commentator living in Occupied Palestine.
23 aug 2015
Islamic Resistance Movement, Hamas, said the Palestine Liberation Organization's call for the convening of its National Council for the re-formation of the PLO executive committee proves the continuation of the process of unilateral decision-making.
In a statement on Sunday, Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zhuri, said the National Council’s meeting is a preemptive step to halt any real effort to re-structure the PLO. It represents a withdrawal from the reconciliation agreement as well as an obvious call for maintaining internal division in consistence with Netanyahu’s policy.
Abu Zuhri said his Movement “is studying its options vis-a-vis the PLO’s unilateral decision-making and violation of national agreements.
In a statement on Sunday, Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zhuri, said the National Council’s meeting is a preemptive step to halt any real effort to re-structure the PLO. It represents a withdrawal from the reconciliation agreement as well as an obvious call for maintaining internal division in consistence with Netanyahu’s policy.
Abu Zuhri said his Movement “is studying its options vis-a-vis the PLO’s unilateral decision-making and violation of national agreements.
The families of the four Gazan passengers who were recently kidnapped in the Sinai have appealed to the Egyptian foreign ministry to help them know the fate of their relatives.
This came in a letter sent on Saturday by the families of the four abductees, Yaser Zanoun, Hussein al-Zabda, Abdullah Abul-Jabin and Abdul-Dayem Abu Labda, to the Palestinian affairs office at the Egyptian foreign ministry.
Their letter stated that the abductees were en route to their workplaces and universities in other countries through Cairo airport after the Egyptian authorities officially gave them entry visas, pointing out that the bus they were aboard was under the protection of the security authorities in Rafah.
The families appealed to director of the office Yaser Othman to help them know the whereabouts and fate of their relatives and to find out if they were kidnapped by an Egyptian security apparatus.
Gunmen on Wednesday night kidnapped four Palestinian passengers from a deportation bus heading for Cairo airport within walking distance of the Egyptian side of the Rafah border crossing.
This came in a letter sent on Saturday by the families of the four abductees, Yaser Zanoun, Hussein al-Zabda, Abdullah Abul-Jabin and Abdul-Dayem Abu Labda, to the Palestinian affairs office at the Egyptian foreign ministry.
Their letter stated that the abductees were en route to their workplaces and universities in other countries through Cairo airport after the Egyptian authorities officially gave them entry visas, pointing out that the bus they were aboard was under the protection of the security authorities in Rafah.
The families appealed to director of the office Yaser Othman to help them know the whereabouts and fate of their relatives and to find out if they were kidnapped by an Egyptian security apparatus.
Gunmen on Wednesday night kidnapped four Palestinian passengers from a deportation bus heading for Cairo airport within walking distance of the Egyptian side of the Rafah border crossing.
Member of Hamas's political bureau Ezzat al-Resheq has warned the Israeli occupation authority of dire consequences if it allowed the holding of a wine festival in the historic Islamic cemetery of Mamanullah in Occupied Jerusalem.
In press remarks on Saturday, Resheq condemned Israel's intention to allow a wine festival to take place in Mamanullah cemetery as "a violation of the Islamic sanctity of the site and a provocative act against the Muslims."
He emphasized that Israel's persistence in defiling and destroying the Palestinian waqf sites would never change their Islamic identity.
The Hamas official urged the Palestinian people in the occupied territories to stand up against such blasphemous festivals and prevent the Israelis from holding them by all means possible.
In press remarks on Saturday, Resheq condemned Israel's intention to allow a wine festival to take place in Mamanullah cemetery as "a violation of the Islamic sanctity of the site and a provocative act against the Muslims."
He emphasized that Israel's persistence in defiling and destroying the Palestinian waqf sites would never change their Islamic identity.
The Hamas official urged the Palestinian people in the occupied territories to stand up against such blasphemous festivals and prevent the Israelis from holding them by all means possible.