20 mar 2014
Canadian journalist and human-rights activist Eva Bartlett pictured just prior to her lecture at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship in Chico on Monday, March 17.
By Howard Hardee
Touring journalist shares eye-opening stories of activism
By her own admission, Eva Bartlett is fortunate to be alive. Since 2008, the Canadian journalist and human-rights activist has spent a total of three years in the Gaza Strip, one of the most volatile and war-ravaged places in the world.
Not only that, Bartlett and fellow volunteer activists with the International Solidarity Movement (ISM) purposely put themselves in harm’s way, striving to be as visible as possible when they escort Palestinian civilians targeted by the Israeli military. For instance, when a group of Palestinian farmers came under heavy gunfire near the Israeli military’s “buffer zone”—a narrow strip of land along Gaza’s border with Israel—Bartlett was front-and-center, wearing a fluorescent vest and armed only with a megaphone.
“The reason we wore [the vests] was to counter the Israeli narrative that they were shooting at a ‘suspicious person approaching the border fence,’ which is what the Israeli spokespeople invariably say,” Bartlett said. “When you see someone like me wearing a fluorescent vest, it makes it quite clear that the Israeli military is targeting unarmed civilians and they know very well that they’re doing it.”
Bartlett is currently on tour, lecturing throughout Canada and the United States on the ongoing conflicts in Gaza and the West Bank. On Monday, March 17, she stopped at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship for a lecture hosted by the Chico Palestine Action Group. Drawing on first-hand experiences, Bartlett argued that Israel has systematically oppressed Palestine with a series of “genocidal policies” and heinous war crimes, which she personally documented through a series of graphic videos and images.
“There are some photos—I notice some children in the crowd—that I do not censor,” she warned the audience. “The reason I don’t is that I think it’s imperative that we understand what’s happening to Palestinians.
“With that,” she said, “let me take you on a disturbing ride.”
The Gaza Strip comprises a relatively small area—a stretch of 25 miles on the eastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea that’s only seven miles across at its widest point—but is home to some 1.7 million people, including more than 1 million United Nations-registered refugees.
Dating back to Israel’s creation following World War II, Gaza has been the focal point of the greater Arab-Israeli conflict. In recent years, some human-rights advocacy groups have criticized Israel’s military occupation of Gaza and an Israeli-enforced blockade that has limited the import of basic goods.
Bartlett’s presentation included a slideshow with images of a Palestinian baby girl’s corpse, blackened by chemical burns; a grieving husband gathering his wife’s remains following an aerial strike; a young man lying unconscious on a hospital bed, his brain matter exposed by a gruesome head injury; and another young man, killed from a gunshot wound to the head.
In each instance, Bartlett made a point of explaining the context of the images and sharing the names of each victim—part of her effort to humanize the Palestinian people.
“I really felt it was important to be able to show people who have fallen prey to propaganda dehumanizing Palestinians and Arabs in general,” she said. “I make a point of showing that because I want people to really feel how [Palestinians] are made to suffer.”
The broader economic and social oppression of Gaza’s people illustrated by Bartlett’s presentation was equally powerful. She explained how police stations, schools, hospitals, UN warehouses, mosques and government buildings were targeted by Israeli air strikes during the Gaza War in 2008, and how Israel’s border blockade of Gaza has since prevented the Palestinians from rebuilding.
Further, Bartlett said Israel’s effort to target certain civilian groups—namely, farmers, anglers and medical personnel—has contributed to widespread food insecurity and increasingly poor public health. In response, ISM volunteers often accompany these working Palestinians, hoping that their presence would prevent the citizens from being shot.
Bartlett shared a video from 2008 in which parsley farmers, merely attempting to harvest their crop, were forced to the ground by a hail of gunfire. Bartlett’s desperate voice can be heard over her megaphone: “No! Stop! Stop! Stop! Please stop shooting. We are unarmed civilians. We are with farmers working their land. There is no need to shoot.” After more gunfire, Bartlett screams, “Why are you shooting? We have no weapons!”
Bartlett concluded her presentation on a decidedly more upbeat note, sorting through several photographs of Palestinians in everyday situations.
“In closing, I always show nicer images,” she said. “Despite all of these oppressive and genocidal policies, they are still the most loving and generous people I’ve ever met.
“They don’t want handouts and they don’t want to be saved,” she continued. “They want normal lives and open borders.”
Source: NEWS REVIEW COM
By Howard Hardee
Touring journalist shares eye-opening stories of activism
By her own admission, Eva Bartlett is fortunate to be alive. Since 2008, the Canadian journalist and human-rights activist has spent a total of three years in the Gaza Strip, one of the most volatile and war-ravaged places in the world.
Not only that, Bartlett and fellow volunteer activists with the International Solidarity Movement (ISM) purposely put themselves in harm’s way, striving to be as visible as possible when they escort Palestinian civilians targeted by the Israeli military. For instance, when a group of Palestinian farmers came under heavy gunfire near the Israeli military’s “buffer zone”—a narrow strip of land along Gaza’s border with Israel—Bartlett was front-and-center, wearing a fluorescent vest and armed only with a megaphone.
“The reason we wore [the vests] was to counter the Israeli narrative that they were shooting at a ‘suspicious person approaching the border fence,’ which is what the Israeli spokespeople invariably say,” Bartlett said. “When you see someone like me wearing a fluorescent vest, it makes it quite clear that the Israeli military is targeting unarmed civilians and they know very well that they’re doing it.”
Bartlett is currently on tour, lecturing throughout Canada and the United States on the ongoing conflicts in Gaza and the West Bank. On Monday, March 17, she stopped at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship for a lecture hosted by the Chico Palestine Action Group. Drawing on first-hand experiences, Bartlett argued that Israel has systematically oppressed Palestine with a series of “genocidal policies” and heinous war crimes, which she personally documented through a series of graphic videos and images.
“There are some photos—I notice some children in the crowd—that I do not censor,” she warned the audience. “The reason I don’t is that I think it’s imperative that we understand what’s happening to Palestinians.
“With that,” she said, “let me take you on a disturbing ride.”
The Gaza Strip comprises a relatively small area—a stretch of 25 miles on the eastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea that’s only seven miles across at its widest point—but is home to some 1.7 million people, including more than 1 million United Nations-registered refugees.
Dating back to Israel’s creation following World War II, Gaza has been the focal point of the greater Arab-Israeli conflict. In recent years, some human-rights advocacy groups have criticized Israel’s military occupation of Gaza and an Israeli-enforced blockade that has limited the import of basic goods.
Bartlett’s presentation included a slideshow with images of a Palestinian baby girl’s corpse, blackened by chemical burns; a grieving husband gathering his wife’s remains following an aerial strike; a young man lying unconscious on a hospital bed, his brain matter exposed by a gruesome head injury; and another young man, killed from a gunshot wound to the head.
In each instance, Bartlett made a point of explaining the context of the images and sharing the names of each victim—part of her effort to humanize the Palestinian people.
“I really felt it was important to be able to show people who have fallen prey to propaganda dehumanizing Palestinians and Arabs in general,” she said. “I make a point of showing that because I want people to really feel how [Palestinians] are made to suffer.”
The broader economic and social oppression of Gaza’s people illustrated by Bartlett’s presentation was equally powerful. She explained how police stations, schools, hospitals, UN warehouses, mosques and government buildings were targeted by Israeli air strikes during the Gaza War in 2008, and how Israel’s border blockade of Gaza has since prevented the Palestinians from rebuilding.
Further, Bartlett said Israel’s effort to target certain civilian groups—namely, farmers, anglers and medical personnel—has contributed to widespread food insecurity and increasingly poor public health. In response, ISM volunteers often accompany these working Palestinians, hoping that their presence would prevent the citizens from being shot.
Bartlett shared a video from 2008 in which parsley farmers, merely attempting to harvest their crop, were forced to the ground by a hail of gunfire. Bartlett’s desperate voice can be heard over her megaphone: “No! Stop! Stop! Stop! Please stop shooting. We are unarmed civilians. We are with farmers working their land. There is no need to shoot.” After more gunfire, Bartlett screams, “Why are you shooting? We have no weapons!”
Bartlett concluded her presentation on a decidedly more upbeat note, sorting through several photographs of Palestinians in everyday situations.
“In closing, I always show nicer images,” she said. “Despite all of these oppressive and genocidal policies, they are still the most loving and generous people I’ve ever met.
“They don’t want handouts and they don’t want to be saved,” she continued. “They want normal lives and open borders.”
Source: NEWS REVIEW COM
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas’s latest speech against dismissed Fatah leader Mohammed Dahlan aimed to prevent a strong Egyptian median to reconcile between them,“Alquds Alaraby” newspaper said. According to an authorized source, the newspaper said that Abbas allowed, for the first time, his speech to be aired on the Palestinian official TV channel without any cut although it came during a closed meeting for Fatah members.
Abbas received many letters recently, transferred by Palestinian officials who visited the capital of Egypt, Cairo, calling him to launch a reconciliation with Dahlan and let him rejoin Fatah, the sources confirmed.
The sources added that Abbas’s latest speech created a state of dissatisfaction among Egyptian circles. This justified Dahlan’s appearance on Egyptian Dream TV channel to post a series of accusations against Abbas.
Abbas dismissed Dahlan -- who was accused of engineering a coup with US support that led to a counter-coup by Hamas in the Gaza Strip in 2007 -- from Fatah's central committee in 2010. He had previously been in charge of the security forces in Gaza.
In a speech in front of the Fatah council, Abbas accused Dahlan of being involved in the murder of six outstanding Palestinian leaders including Seikh Shehadah of Hamas.
Abbas received many letters recently, transferred by Palestinian officials who visited the capital of Egypt, Cairo, calling him to launch a reconciliation with Dahlan and let him rejoin Fatah, the sources confirmed.
The sources added that Abbas’s latest speech created a state of dissatisfaction among Egyptian circles. This justified Dahlan’s appearance on Egyptian Dream TV channel to post a series of accusations against Abbas.
Abbas dismissed Dahlan -- who was accused of engineering a coup with US support that led to a counter-coup by Hamas in the Gaza Strip in 2007 -- from Fatah's central committee in 2010. He had previously been in charge of the security forces in Gaza.
In a speech in front of the Fatah council, Abbas accused Dahlan of being involved in the murder of six outstanding Palestinian leaders including Seikh Shehadah of Hamas.
The Ambassador of Palestine to the Holy See, Issa Kassissieh, sent a letter to the Holy See on the first anniversary of his Holiness Pope Francis, as follows:
"From the Holy Land of Palestine, I am pleased to deliver sentiments of love and admiration from the Palestinian people towards a loving and caring Father, a leader for peace and justice and a prince of the poor.
"In the past week, we have had the pleasure to engage with an advance team from the Holy See, as we prepare to welcome His Holiness the Pope, along with His Holiness the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew into our homeland. It is with great honor that President Mahmoud Abbas, on behalf of Palestine, has extended all efforts to ensure that Your holy visit will be a historic one. We hope that through this pilgrimage, we can begin to formalize the strong bonds between the Holy See and our noble country and that one day soon, Palestine may serve as the entry point of the Holy See into the Middle East and the rest of the Arab World.
"Jerusalem and Bethlehem are ready and all Palestinians are eager to be there to witness this visit. They will join from all over our nation, including Gaza, Jenin, Zababdeh, Nablus, Jericho and the towns and villages of the Bethlehem, Jerusalem and Ramallah districts. We are also making arrangements to allow thousands of Palestinian Christians from the Galilee to attend Mass in Bethlehem, reaffirming their commitment to their church as well as to their Palestinian identity.
"One year has passed with the grace of His Holiness prayers and good endeavors, One year has passed with the light of hope shining more than before from the Vatican in Rome, One year has passed and I am proud to be serving in this City representing my people's aspirations among teachers of peace and love.
"God bless all Your steps throughout the years. We wish Your Holiness all good health and we look to Your example as we strive to retain hope and to overcome occupation, separation, exile and injustice in this land."
"From the Holy Land of Palestine, I am pleased to deliver sentiments of love and admiration from the Palestinian people towards a loving and caring Father, a leader for peace and justice and a prince of the poor.
"In the past week, we have had the pleasure to engage with an advance team from the Holy See, as we prepare to welcome His Holiness the Pope, along with His Holiness the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew into our homeland. It is with great honor that President Mahmoud Abbas, on behalf of Palestine, has extended all efforts to ensure that Your holy visit will be a historic one. We hope that through this pilgrimage, we can begin to formalize the strong bonds between the Holy See and our noble country and that one day soon, Palestine may serve as the entry point of the Holy See into the Middle East and the rest of the Arab World.
"Jerusalem and Bethlehem are ready and all Palestinians are eager to be there to witness this visit. They will join from all over our nation, including Gaza, Jenin, Zababdeh, Nablus, Jericho and the towns and villages of the Bethlehem, Jerusalem and Ramallah districts. We are also making arrangements to allow thousands of Palestinian Christians from the Galilee to attend Mass in Bethlehem, reaffirming their commitment to their church as well as to their Palestinian identity.
"One year has passed with the grace of His Holiness prayers and good endeavors, One year has passed with the light of hope shining more than before from the Vatican in Rome, One year has passed and I am proud to be serving in this City representing my people's aspirations among teachers of peace and love.
"God bless all Your steps throughout the years. We wish Your Holiness all good health and we look to Your example as we strive to retain hope and to overcome occupation, separation, exile and injustice in this land."
19 mar 2014
by Charlie Andreasson, International Solidarity Movement
I have seen her standing there more then once, at the edge of the port, looking out over the boats in the harbor and then towards the horizon. And for a short second, I have seen myself, when as a child I took my bicycle down to the harbor just to stand at the pier and gaze, for a long, long time, at the boats that disappeared beyond the horizon, and wonder what was beyond that line. And I have briefly asked myself if she does the same. But she is not a child, she is a young, adult woman. A strong woman.
I asked a good friend to arrange a meeting with Madleen Kolab, 19 years old and Gaza's only fisherwoman, for an interview. Later, she would reveal this was only to tell me face to face tell me that she does not give interviews. For almost two years, she has declined all requests from journalists because they, as she says, only writes for their careers. But she decided to make an exception when she recognized me and knew that I was involved in the rebuilding of Gaza's Ark, and thus in work for Palestine. Her firm look told me that she was serious and I felt honored, but also a little embarrassed, and was grateful that I could lower my eyes towards my notepad.
When she was six years old, she already accompanied her father when he was fishing, and she knew early what her coming profession would be. She loves her work. It gives her a sense of freedom to be on the sea, and she was careful to point out that nobody forced her to become a fisherman. Her rapt answers to my questions, that she never needed any consideration, unwavering eyes and lack of hesitation left no doubt or room for me to think otherwise. I could not doubt her word when she said that the other fishermen respect her as an equal colleague. It was only after I stressed that women all over the world find it difficult to break into an extremely male-dominated industry like fishing that she confessed she too has been fighting for her rights, and has been treated with prejudice, but that has now changed.
I have seen her standing there more then once, at the edge of the port, looking out over the boats in the harbor and then towards the horizon. And for a short second, I have seen myself, when as a child I took my bicycle down to the harbor just to stand at the pier and gaze, for a long, long time, at the boats that disappeared beyond the horizon, and wonder what was beyond that line. And I have briefly asked myself if she does the same. But she is not a child, she is a young, adult woman. A strong woman.
I asked a good friend to arrange a meeting with Madleen Kolab, 19 years old and Gaza's only fisherwoman, for an interview. Later, she would reveal this was only to tell me face to face tell me that she does not give interviews. For almost two years, she has declined all requests from journalists because they, as she says, only writes for their careers. But she decided to make an exception when she recognized me and knew that I was involved in the rebuilding of Gaza's Ark, and thus in work for Palestine. Her firm look told me that she was serious and I felt honored, but also a little embarrassed, and was grateful that I could lower my eyes towards my notepad.
When she was six years old, she already accompanied her father when he was fishing, and she knew early what her coming profession would be. She loves her work. It gives her a sense of freedom to be on the sea, and she was careful to point out that nobody forced her to become a fisherman. Her rapt answers to my questions, that she never needed any consideration, unwavering eyes and lack of hesitation left no doubt or room for me to think otherwise. I could not doubt her word when she said that the other fishermen respect her as an equal colleague. It was only after I stressed that women all over the world find it difficult to break into an extremely male-dominated industry like fishing that she confessed she too has been fighting for her rights, and has been treated with prejudice, but that has now changed.
Madleen is the eldest of four siblings. She fishes with the younger of her two brothers on a hasaka, a small open boat, with an outboard motor. Earlier she had a type of boat she needed to paddle. Now she has the opportunity to go to deeper water and get somewhat better catches. Besides, it is safer. But she has been attacked by Israeli patrol boats, and she says it has been common for bullets to whiz around the boat. Once she feared she would be arrested, but when the Israeli soldiers discovered there was a woman on board the boat, they ordered her to instead head back to the harbor, obviously unsure of how they would deal with the unfamiliar situation. Madleen knows that will not save her forever, and she avoids the edge of the group of boats that go out, preferring to fight over the catch with others than try to get a bigger share for herself in more open water. But she also knows that when the Israeli military has decided to take a particular boat, it will also be the one they separate from the others.
I asked her about the escalation of violence. In January, thirteen attacks on fishermen were carried out, one at the six nautical-mile limit and the others three or less than three nautical miles from the coast. She knows from experience that if it is allowed to go out six miles, the Israeli navy keeps them within five miles, and when they were officially allowed to go only three miles, it was in reality only two. But Madleen believes they now attack so close to land because it is a high season and Israel wants to make it difficult for Palestinian fishermen to support themselves. This view is consistent with those of fishermen I have talked to after they were temporarily arrested and had their boats and gear confiscated. And the Israeli military know they can continue their abuses, since the world is not protesting.
But what would she do if there was no blockade? Would she leave Gaza? Madleen did not hesitate. She would stay. Palestine is her home. But she would fish further out, away from the overfished and shallow waters. And she wish that global society could make Israel stop the illegal and inhumane blockade. Fishermen themselves cannot. And as Madleen rightly points out, they have the right to fish in their own water. Right now, everything is like a dark dream, she continues; the future seems bleak. Still she hopes that one day they will be free from the blockade. And to hope is the only thing they can do.
Her phone rang. Someone wondered where she was. Madleen had never meant to be away for any length of time, and she asked me if I had any more questions. I took a few photographs of her and thanked her for her time. Before she left, she offered her help to launch Gaza's Ark back into water. But I think I will see her again, standing there at the edge of the port. And it strikes me that I never asked that question, what she thinks about when she gazes towards the horizon.
I asked her about the escalation of violence. In January, thirteen attacks on fishermen were carried out, one at the six nautical-mile limit and the others three or less than three nautical miles from the coast. She knows from experience that if it is allowed to go out six miles, the Israeli navy keeps them within five miles, and when they were officially allowed to go only three miles, it was in reality only two. But Madleen believes they now attack so close to land because it is a high season and Israel wants to make it difficult for Palestinian fishermen to support themselves. This view is consistent with those of fishermen I have talked to after they were temporarily arrested and had their boats and gear confiscated. And the Israeli military know they can continue their abuses, since the world is not protesting.
But what would she do if there was no blockade? Would she leave Gaza? Madleen did not hesitate. She would stay. Palestine is her home. But she would fish further out, away from the overfished and shallow waters. And she wish that global society could make Israel stop the illegal and inhumane blockade. Fishermen themselves cannot. And as Madleen rightly points out, they have the right to fish in their own water. Right now, everything is like a dark dream, she continues; the future seems bleak. Still she hopes that one day they will be free from the blockade. And to hope is the only thing they can do.
Her phone rang. Someone wondered where she was. Madleen had never meant to be away for any length of time, and she asked me if I had any more questions. I took a few photographs of her and thanked her for her time. Before she left, she offered her help to launch Gaza's Ark back into water. But I think I will see her again, standing there at the edge of the port. And it strikes me that I never asked that question, what she thinks about when she gazes towards the horizon.
President Mahmoud Abbas' son, Taraq, says in an interview with The New York Times, that he prefers a one-state solution where Palestinians would share equal rights with Jews.
Tareq believes that the negotiations are Fruitless, and the chance for a two-state solution is long gone. "If you don't want to give me independence, at least give me civil rights," He said. "That's an easier way, peaceful way. I don't want to throw anything, I don't want to hate anybody, I don't want to shoot anybody. I want to be under the law."
Abbas junior belong to a growing faction in the younger Palestinian generation that sees a one-state solution as the only viable way of settling the conflict. According to a poll by the Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research, 65 percent of people over 50 supports the two-state solution, while only 47 of the 18-35 year olds does the same. The center's director, Khalil Shikaki, reported that a third of the Palestinian population expressed a desire for the one-state solution, but the backing from those under 45 are more solid. Mr. Shikaki elaborated with his views on the poll; "The views of my generation were formed during the heyday of the Palestinian national movement; [my son's] views were formed during the failed years of Oslo, the days of perceived Palestinian Authority corruption and tyranny, the Internet and social media," He further added, referring to the Oslo accords; "We are pragmatic; he is idealistic. We demand independence and sovereignty; he demands equal rights."
In a binational state the Arab Palestinians would be in majority, counting the millions of refugees, that would return.
Tareq Abbas' opinions comes from frustrations with the current economic situation in Palestine. As a business man, he has experienced a lot of difficulties with the occupations restrictions on import, export, work permits for foreigners etc.
The views of Abbas junior stands in contrast to his fathers, who at the moment is in Washington D.C. to discuss the peace negotiations with U.S. President Barack Obama.
Tareq believes that the negotiations are Fruitless, and the chance for a two-state solution is long gone. "If you don't want to give me independence, at least give me civil rights," He said. "That's an easier way, peaceful way. I don't want to throw anything, I don't want to hate anybody, I don't want to shoot anybody. I want to be under the law."
Abbas junior belong to a growing faction in the younger Palestinian generation that sees a one-state solution as the only viable way of settling the conflict. According to a poll by the Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research, 65 percent of people over 50 supports the two-state solution, while only 47 of the 18-35 year olds does the same. The center's director, Khalil Shikaki, reported that a third of the Palestinian population expressed a desire for the one-state solution, but the backing from those under 45 are more solid. Mr. Shikaki elaborated with his views on the poll; "The views of my generation were formed during the heyday of the Palestinian national movement; [my son's] views were formed during the failed years of Oslo, the days of perceived Palestinian Authority corruption and tyranny, the Internet and social media," He further added, referring to the Oslo accords; "We are pragmatic; he is idealistic. We demand independence and sovereignty; he demands equal rights."
In a binational state the Arab Palestinians would be in majority, counting the millions of refugees, that would return.
Tareq Abbas' opinions comes from frustrations with the current economic situation in Palestine. As a business man, he has experienced a lot of difficulties with the occupations restrictions on import, export, work permits for foreigners etc.
The views of Abbas junior stands in contrast to his fathers, who at the moment is in Washington D.C. to discuss the peace negotiations with U.S. President Barack Obama.
It is expected that the Israeli Knesset will approve on Wednesday the extension of a law prohibits the Palestinian families reunification for another year. Haaretz daily newspaper said, this law prohibits the Palestinians reunification claiming that it (reunification) constitutes a security risk.
The Israeli government will hold a meeting today to take a decision that will be then presented to the Knesset for ratification.
Tomorrow will be a holiday for the Knesset and the previous extension of the law will expire at the end of this month, that is the reason that pushed the Israeli occupation to present the decision in a rush.
The Israeli government will hold a meeting today to take a decision that will be then presented to the Knesset for ratification.
Tomorrow will be a holiday for the Knesset and the previous extension of the law will expire at the end of this month, that is the reason that pushed the Israeli occupation to present the decision in a rush.
A Jerusalemite initiative under the name “ Worship is my right” started on Wednesday aiming to expose Israel’s policies and violent practices against Palestinians, Muslims and Christians, in Jerusalem in order to get thousands of signatures enough to sue Israel in the international courts . Israeli forces impose severe restrictions on the entry of people of Jerusalem and pre-1948 Palestine to al-Aqsa mosque and also prevent the people of the Gaza Strip and West Bank from reaching it.
They erected a number of checkpoints at the entrances of the holy city, hindering the movement of the West Bank citizens .
The Israeli occupation deprived also Christians from reaching the Church of the Holy Sepulchre by not giving them permits specially during holidays.
The owner of the initiative Amid Barahma said that it does not belong to any party but targets all the people of Palestine in Jerusalem, Gaza and the West Bank to highlight the Israeli unfair and repressive measures against Muslims and Christians and the restriction on the freedom of movement through checkpoints.
He indicated that several youth volunteers participated in the initiative and they will exert their efforts to accomplish success.
They erected a number of checkpoints at the entrances of the holy city, hindering the movement of the West Bank citizens .
The Israeli occupation deprived also Christians from reaching the Church of the Holy Sepulchre by not giving them permits specially during holidays.
The owner of the initiative Amid Barahma said that it does not belong to any party but targets all the people of Palestine in Jerusalem, Gaza and the West Bank to highlight the Israeli unfair and repressive measures against Muslims and Christians and the restriction on the freedom of movement through checkpoints.
He indicated that several youth volunteers participated in the initiative and they will exert their efforts to accomplish success.
18 mar 2014
By Khalid Amayreh
It is a little appealing to let PA leader Mahmoud Abbas and former Fatah strong man in Gaza Muhammed Dahlan batter each other in public as they have been doing recently.
In the final analysis, both don't belong to the realm of saints, to put it extremely mildly.
For his part, Abbas is not the kind of leader who particularly values truth, transparency.
Moreover, it is also highly likely that his "presidency" is involved in a substantial degree of corruption, including nepotism and favoritism.
The reportedly huge wealth his sons have amassed since he became president following Yasser Arafat's death in 2004, raises compelling questions as to the wanton corruption permeating through PA institutions.
The very least one could argue is that the principle of equal opportunity was not always considered when Abbas's sons were involved in winning tenders and business contracts from the PA government.
Politically, there is also compelling evidence that Mahmoud Abbas is not the ideal nationalistic leader who would not compromise inalienable Palestinian rights, especially the paramount right of return for millions of Palestinians expelled from their ancestral homeland in 1948 at the hands of Jewish invaders from Eastern Europe.
The remarks he made last year that he wouldn't exercise his right to return to his hometown of Safad went decidedly against national Palestinian consensus and further emboldened Israel to reject the repatriation of the refugees.
Having said that, I believe that Abbas is not the ultimate evil man Muhammed Dahlan wants to convince us he is.
Last week, Abbas told Fatah's revolutionary council that he wouldn't conclude his life with betraying the Palestinian national cause. That was probably the best thing Abbas has ever said.
We would like to see the PA leader stick to his words, because if he doesn't, everyone, including Abbas and us, will suffer rather immensely and our enemies, Israel will be the ultimate winner.
Finally, we have to be honest and give Abbas credit for the fact that the rift between Fatah and Hamas didn't evolve into an internecine civil war as has been the case in Syria and Egypt. Indeed, had Abbas behaved like Bashar el-Assad and Abdul Fattah al-Sissi, we would have seen the streets of Gaza and the West Bank overflow with Palestinian blood.
True, credit for this should be given to many people, including Hamas. However, Abbas, too, ought to be lauded for his non-convulsive approach to Hamas.
He should also be praised for suppressing gung-ho Fatah leaders, especially Dahlan, who wanted to stoke the fire of civil war and "be it as it may."
Needless to say, had Abbas allowed Dahlan to have his way, perhaps another Palestinian Nakba would have befallen the Palestinian people.
Dahlan: The irredeemable thug
I have no doubt in my mind that Muhammed Dahlan is a key Israeli agent at the Palestinian arena. At the very least, he has been acting like one.
His mission has always been to fight the Islamists and destabilize political life in the occupied territories, all on Israel's behalf.
Several years ago I wrote the following on Dahlan's role in sabotaging the fledgling Palestinian democracy, especially after Hamas defeated Fatah in the 2006 elections.
(As a confidante of Yasser Arafat, Dahlan was entrusted with the difficult task of routing or weakening Hamas in the Gaza Strip, which Dahlan carried out to the best of his ability, with the help of his deputy, Rashid Abu Shbak. Dahlan's men are widely believed to have employed extremely cruel and "hair-raising torture methods" against Islamist leaders, including Mahmoud Al-Zahhar and the late Abdel-Aziz Al-Rantisi.
When Hamas unexpectedly won the Palestinian legislative elections in 2006, Dahlan, who was at the zenith of his power, warned his fellow Fatah lawmakers that, "I will deal roughly with anyone opting to cooperate with Hamas". He also vowed to make Hamas "eat shit", claiming the Islamist movement should understand that "giving sermons in the mosques is one thing while running a country is quite another thing.")
In 2008, US magazine Vanity Fair published what seemed to be a meticulously researched expose showing that Dahlan actively conspired with the Bush administration to topple the democratically elected government of Hamas in the occupied territories. The lengthy article, based on confidential documents corroborated by intelligence sources, spoke of a covert US operation, approved by president George W. Bush and implemented by secretary of state Condoleezza Rice to provoke a Palestinian civil war.
"With confidential documents, corroborated by outraged former and current US officials, David Rose reveals how president Bush, Condoleezza Rice, and deputy national security adviser Elliott Abrams backed an armed force [operation] under Fatah strongman Mohamed Dahlan, touching off a bloody civil war in Gaza and leaving Hamas stronger than ever.
Dahlan worked closely with the FBI and the CIA, and he developed a warm relationship with CIA Director George Tenet, a Clinton appointee who stayed on under Bush until July 2004."
In 2001, president Bush famously said that he had looked Russian president Vladimir Putin in the eye, gotten "a sense of his soul," and found him to be "trustworthy". According to three US officials quoted by Vanity Fair, Bush made a similar judgment about Dahlan when they first met, in 2003. All three officials recall hearing Bush say, "He's our guy."
Dahlan has argued repeatedly that all his dealings with the CIA and neoconservative figures such as Abrams were not secret and were done in close coordination with Abbas. Abbas's people concur, at least in part, but insist that Dahlan would have been willing to go to any extent to satisfy his self-inflated ego and unlimited ambitions.
Dahlan, who once described himself as akroot, which can mean "survivalist" or "thug", has often accused his detractors of hypocrisy and moral duplicity. "Do you really think the one who embezzled a hundred million dollars is qualified to judge petty thieves who might have embezzled a few hundred dollars?"
Today, Dahlan continues with his dirty role, not only against the Palestinian people and their just cause, but also against Egypt and revolutionary forces in the Arab world.
His shameless vilification of the Muslim Brotherhood, along with his demeaning sycophancy to the bloody coup authorities in Cairo caricature a man with cheap character and very little morality and virtually with no conscience or rectitude. Such a man is a disaster upon himself and his people.
It is a little appealing to let PA leader Mahmoud Abbas and former Fatah strong man in Gaza Muhammed Dahlan batter each other in public as they have been doing recently.
In the final analysis, both don't belong to the realm of saints, to put it extremely mildly.
For his part, Abbas is not the kind of leader who particularly values truth, transparency.
Moreover, it is also highly likely that his "presidency" is involved in a substantial degree of corruption, including nepotism and favoritism.
The reportedly huge wealth his sons have amassed since he became president following Yasser Arafat's death in 2004, raises compelling questions as to the wanton corruption permeating through PA institutions.
The very least one could argue is that the principle of equal opportunity was not always considered when Abbas's sons were involved in winning tenders and business contracts from the PA government.
Politically, there is also compelling evidence that Mahmoud Abbas is not the ideal nationalistic leader who would not compromise inalienable Palestinian rights, especially the paramount right of return for millions of Palestinians expelled from their ancestral homeland in 1948 at the hands of Jewish invaders from Eastern Europe.
The remarks he made last year that he wouldn't exercise his right to return to his hometown of Safad went decidedly against national Palestinian consensus and further emboldened Israel to reject the repatriation of the refugees.
Having said that, I believe that Abbas is not the ultimate evil man Muhammed Dahlan wants to convince us he is.
Last week, Abbas told Fatah's revolutionary council that he wouldn't conclude his life with betraying the Palestinian national cause. That was probably the best thing Abbas has ever said.
We would like to see the PA leader stick to his words, because if he doesn't, everyone, including Abbas and us, will suffer rather immensely and our enemies, Israel will be the ultimate winner.
Finally, we have to be honest and give Abbas credit for the fact that the rift between Fatah and Hamas didn't evolve into an internecine civil war as has been the case in Syria and Egypt. Indeed, had Abbas behaved like Bashar el-Assad and Abdul Fattah al-Sissi, we would have seen the streets of Gaza and the West Bank overflow with Palestinian blood.
True, credit for this should be given to many people, including Hamas. However, Abbas, too, ought to be lauded for his non-convulsive approach to Hamas.
He should also be praised for suppressing gung-ho Fatah leaders, especially Dahlan, who wanted to stoke the fire of civil war and "be it as it may."
Needless to say, had Abbas allowed Dahlan to have his way, perhaps another Palestinian Nakba would have befallen the Palestinian people.
Dahlan: The irredeemable thug
I have no doubt in my mind that Muhammed Dahlan is a key Israeli agent at the Palestinian arena. At the very least, he has been acting like one.
His mission has always been to fight the Islamists and destabilize political life in the occupied territories, all on Israel's behalf.
Several years ago I wrote the following on Dahlan's role in sabotaging the fledgling Palestinian democracy, especially after Hamas defeated Fatah in the 2006 elections.
(As a confidante of Yasser Arafat, Dahlan was entrusted with the difficult task of routing or weakening Hamas in the Gaza Strip, which Dahlan carried out to the best of his ability, with the help of his deputy, Rashid Abu Shbak. Dahlan's men are widely believed to have employed extremely cruel and "hair-raising torture methods" against Islamist leaders, including Mahmoud Al-Zahhar and the late Abdel-Aziz Al-Rantisi.
When Hamas unexpectedly won the Palestinian legislative elections in 2006, Dahlan, who was at the zenith of his power, warned his fellow Fatah lawmakers that, "I will deal roughly with anyone opting to cooperate with Hamas". He also vowed to make Hamas "eat shit", claiming the Islamist movement should understand that "giving sermons in the mosques is one thing while running a country is quite another thing.")
In 2008, US magazine Vanity Fair published what seemed to be a meticulously researched expose showing that Dahlan actively conspired with the Bush administration to topple the democratically elected government of Hamas in the occupied territories. The lengthy article, based on confidential documents corroborated by intelligence sources, spoke of a covert US operation, approved by president George W. Bush and implemented by secretary of state Condoleezza Rice to provoke a Palestinian civil war.
"With confidential documents, corroborated by outraged former and current US officials, David Rose reveals how president Bush, Condoleezza Rice, and deputy national security adviser Elliott Abrams backed an armed force [operation] under Fatah strongman Mohamed Dahlan, touching off a bloody civil war in Gaza and leaving Hamas stronger than ever.
Dahlan worked closely with the FBI and the CIA, and he developed a warm relationship with CIA Director George Tenet, a Clinton appointee who stayed on under Bush until July 2004."
In 2001, president Bush famously said that he had looked Russian president Vladimir Putin in the eye, gotten "a sense of his soul," and found him to be "trustworthy". According to three US officials quoted by Vanity Fair, Bush made a similar judgment about Dahlan when they first met, in 2003. All three officials recall hearing Bush say, "He's our guy."
Dahlan has argued repeatedly that all his dealings with the CIA and neoconservative figures such as Abrams were not secret and were done in close coordination with Abbas. Abbas's people concur, at least in part, but insist that Dahlan would have been willing to go to any extent to satisfy his self-inflated ego and unlimited ambitions.
Dahlan, who once described himself as akroot, which can mean "survivalist" or "thug", has often accused his detractors of hypocrisy and moral duplicity. "Do you really think the one who embezzled a hundred million dollars is qualified to judge petty thieves who might have embezzled a few hundred dollars?"
Today, Dahlan continues with his dirty role, not only against the Palestinian people and their just cause, but also against Egypt and revolutionary forces in the Arab world.
His shameless vilification of the Muslim Brotherhood, along with his demeaning sycophancy to the bloody coup authorities in Cairo caricature a man with cheap character and very little morality and virtually with no conscience or rectitude. Such a man is a disaster upon himself and his people.
On Tuesday 18 March 2014, at 7:00 PM, AICafe invites you for a Panel discussion on the One State Solution with Mohannad Abu Gosh, Mikado Warschawski and the Haifa group for One Democratic State.
Numerous commentators note that ending the Israeli-Palestinian conflict via a two state solution is doomed to failure as this increasingly unrealistic solution does not fully address all of the issues involved in the conflict.
Come discuss with leading activists and thinkers about a one state solution and what this could mean for Palestinians and Israelis. Each speaker will give a 10-15 minute presentation, after which an open discussion will be conducted with the audience.
Mohannad Abu Gosh, an activist with the Haifa group for One Democratic State, will compare the two and one state solutions and review the issues related to one state, including democracy for all and the Palestinian right of return.
Mikado Warschawski, an Israeli activist and commentator, will speak about what a one state solution could mean for Israeli society, with reference to the demographic issue and an end to the Zionist colonial project.
Delegates from the Haifa group for One Democratic State will discuss the possible realities of equality in one state, looking at examples such as South Africa where the end of apartheid did not end systematic discrimination within society.
Come be part of the discussion about a One State Solution!
The AIC is a joint Palestinian-Israeli activist organization engaged in dissemination of information, political advocacy and grassroots activism. The AICafè is a political and cultural café open on Tuesday and Saturday night from 7pm until 10pm. It is located in the Alternative Information Center in Beit Sahour, close to Suq Sha'ab (follow the sign to Jadal Center ). We have a small library with novels, political books and magazines. We also have a number of films in DVD copies and AIC publications which critically analyze both the Palestinian and Israeli societies as well as the conflict itself.
Numerous commentators note that ending the Israeli-Palestinian conflict via a two state solution is doomed to failure as this increasingly unrealistic solution does not fully address all of the issues involved in the conflict.
Come discuss with leading activists and thinkers about a one state solution and what this could mean for Palestinians and Israelis. Each speaker will give a 10-15 minute presentation, after which an open discussion will be conducted with the audience.
Mohannad Abu Gosh, an activist with the Haifa group for One Democratic State, will compare the two and one state solutions and review the issues related to one state, including democracy for all and the Palestinian right of return.
Mikado Warschawski, an Israeli activist and commentator, will speak about what a one state solution could mean for Israeli society, with reference to the demographic issue and an end to the Zionist colonial project.
Delegates from the Haifa group for One Democratic State will discuss the possible realities of equality in one state, looking at examples such as South Africa where the end of apartheid did not end systematic discrimination within society.
Come be part of the discussion about a One State Solution!
The AIC is a joint Palestinian-Israeli activist organization engaged in dissemination of information, political advocacy and grassroots activism. The AICafè is a political and cultural café open on Tuesday and Saturday night from 7pm until 10pm. It is located in the Alternative Information Center in Beit Sahour, close to Suq Sha'ab (follow the sign to Jadal Center ). We have a small library with novels, political books and magazines. We also have a number of films in DVD copies and AIC publications which critically analyze both the Palestinian and Israeli societies as well as the conflict itself.
17 mar 2014
Palestinian minister of interior Fathi Hammad said that his ministry untiringly fights a fierce war on the Israeli occupation's attempts to recruit spies and informers from the Gaza Strip. In a radio program on Saturday, Hamad stated that his ministry possesses advanced technological means to counteract espionage.
He stressed that there is an ongoing war of brains between the Palestinian security apparatuses in Gaza and the Israeli intelligence agencies, affirming that the internal security service works day and night to combat espionage and track spies.
He noted that the security apparatuses in Gaza always discover new Israeli methods to recruit or take information from unscrupulous or naive people in order to target the resistance and liquidate the Palestinian cause.
The minister said that his ministry also organizes large-scale campaigns to raise the awareness of the society about the gravity of collaboration with the Israeli occupation, and open the door of repentance for any Palestinian involved in espionage activities.
He stressed that there is an ongoing war of brains between the Palestinian security apparatuses in Gaza and the Israeli intelligence agencies, affirming that the internal security service works day and night to combat espionage and track spies.
He noted that the security apparatuses in Gaza always discover new Israeli methods to recruit or take information from unscrupulous or naive people in order to target the resistance and liquidate the Palestinian cause.
The minister said that his ministry also organizes large-scale campaigns to raise the awareness of the society about the gravity of collaboration with the Israeli occupation, and open the door of repentance for any Palestinian involved in espionage activities.
