22 may 2013
From Khalid Amayreh in occupied Jerusalem
With U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry making a last effort to salvage the moribund peace process between Israel and the Palestinian Authority (PA) it seems that Israel has finally made any prospective peace deal based on the two-state solution vision utterly unworkable, Israel this week decided to legalize four additional settlements in the occupied West Bank, including one a few blocks away from the heart of Ramallah, the temporary PA capital.
All Jewish settlements established in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, since 1967 are illegal and unlawful according to international law.
Israel had promised rather ad nauseam successive American administrations to dismantle "illegal settlements." However, due to apparent bad faith and repeated procrastination, none of the illegal outposts has been removed.
In contrast to virtually all nations of the world, which consider the West Bank, East Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip "illegally occupied territories," Israel views these Arab lands as "disputed rather than occupied."
Even the United States, Israel's guardian-ally and ultimate bankroller, doesn't share the Israeli view with regard to the status of the territories, including East Jerusalem.
The U.S. has consistently refused to move its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, ostensibly in deference to international law. This happened despite massive pressure on various American administrations by Congress and other pro-Israel pressure groups.
Decapitating the two-state solution
The new settlement scheme drew angry reactions from the PA, with one official accusing the Israeli government of "effectively decapitating the two-state solution."
"They are dotting the West Bank with Jewish settlements that Palestinian population centers have become isolated islands in the midst of a huge sea of Jewish colonies, said Abbas Zaki, an aide to PA chairman Mahmoud Abbas..
"But the Israelis are quite mistaken if they think the Palestinian people or their political leadership will succumb to the fait accompli, added the prominent Fatah leader, hinting that the Palestinians will not settle for anything less than a viable and territorially contiguous state on 100% of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.
Another PLO official, Hanan Ashrawi, said the timing of the authorization of the new settlements was very significant.
"It is a direct affront to all efforts at trying to revive any kind of peace negotiations. It is an attempt to tell the Americans that Israel calls the shots. It is also a message about the true nature of the Israeli government; it is an anti-peace government."
Another official was quoted by the Israeli English daily, the Jerusalem Post, as saying that "Israel simply doesn't want peace.”
Even the Israeli Peace-now movement rejected the new settlement expansion in the heart of the West Bank. , calling it "an attempt to legalize an illegal action."
"It is legalizing an illegal action and creating a possibility for more illegal construction. This gives a green light to the illegal establishment of outposts because it shows permission can be sorted out retrospectively," says Peace Now spokeswoman Melaine Robbins.
Lies and deceit
The Israeli government has responded to international criticisms over its unmitigated settlement-expansion with a combination of lies, deceit and defiance.
Last week, the Israeli media reported that Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu had quietly halted the construction of some settlements by freezing tenders for new settler units. However, a few days later the government announced that it had given its preliminary approval for building 300 settler units in the settlement of Beit El outside Ramallah.
The PA has been saying it won't return to peace talks with Israel until Israel freezes settlement expansion. The US has exerted some verbal pressure on Israel to halt the building of settlements especially in those parts of the West Bank destined to be located within the boundaries of a future Palestinian state.
However, Israel rejected all American and European efforts to this effect, with President Obama ostensibly reaching the conclusion that it is pointless to challenge Netanyahu, both at the Israeli and American home turfs.
In fact, instead of punishing Israel for its intransigence and rejectionism, both the U.S. Germany have been rewarding the Jewish state with state-of-the-art offensive weapons to further enhance Israel 's ability to attack neighbors, near and distant.
Earlier this month, the U.S. decided to sell Israel an assortment of advanced weapons and laser-guided bombs, reportedly intended to improve Israel's capability of striking distant targets such as Iran.
Likewise, Germany is reportedly due to hand Israel a fifth nuclear-capable submarine of the Dolphin class. Furthermore, the EU, under American pressure, has also decided to reconsider measures to mark produces and other commodities originating from Jewish settlements.
Some European and American officials often make the claim that a "softer approach" toward Israel would induce the Jewish state to be more forthcoming with regard to the peace process.
However, in light of the experience of more than five decades, it is crystal clear that this argument is nearly totally fallacious as more "inducements" Israel receives from the West, particularly from the United States, consistently made the Jewish state more intransigent and less flexible.
Kerry's last shot?
According to sources in Ramallah, the Palestinian leadership believes it is highly unlikely that U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry will make any significant progress during his current visit to the region, due to start Thursday.
One source was quoted as saying that the Americans are working on a formula that will make possible the resumption of peace talks, and are working in parallel on a political and economic framework.
However, it is unlikely that the PA will agree to resume talks with Israel without having the Jewish state agree to some sort of settlement freeze and also accept to negotiate on the basis of the 1967 borders.
PA official Saeb Ereikat on Monday told a UN committee in New York that a settlement freeze and the release of Palestinian prisoners were not conditions for returning to negotiations but rather obligations that Israel had to fulfill.
"We have no conditions to resume negotiations, the chief Palestinian negotiator told the Committee on the Right of the Palestinian People.
"Make no mistake; we are exerting every possible effort in order to see that Mr. Kerry succeeds. No one benefits more from the success of Secretary Kerry than the Palestinians and no one loses more from his failure."
Stressing that the proverbial ball was decidedly in the Israeli court, the Palestinian official described the situation in occupied Palestine as "apartheid par excellance that is worse than that which existed in South Africa."
He also said that the PA had finished preparations for joining a host of international bodies, including the International Criminal Court (ICC), adding, however, that the Palestinians wouldn't act yet in order to give the Obama administration another chance to pursue peace in Palestine.
A few weeks ago, Kerry was quoted as suggesting that the two-state solution strategy was coming to an end, apparently due to the intensive expansion of Jewish settlements. He said if the "parties" didn't reach a settlement within one or one and a half years, then chances of the two state solution would be over for ever.
With U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry making a last effort to salvage the moribund peace process between Israel and the Palestinian Authority (PA) it seems that Israel has finally made any prospective peace deal based on the two-state solution vision utterly unworkable, Israel this week decided to legalize four additional settlements in the occupied West Bank, including one a few blocks away from the heart of Ramallah, the temporary PA capital.
All Jewish settlements established in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, since 1967 are illegal and unlawful according to international law.
Israel had promised rather ad nauseam successive American administrations to dismantle "illegal settlements." However, due to apparent bad faith and repeated procrastination, none of the illegal outposts has been removed.
In contrast to virtually all nations of the world, which consider the West Bank, East Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip "illegally occupied territories," Israel views these Arab lands as "disputed rather than occupied."
Even the United States, Israel's guardian-ally and ultimate bankroller, doesn't share the Israeli view with regard to the status of the territories, including East Jerusalem.
The U.S. has consistently refused to move its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, ostensibly in deference to international law. This happened despite massive pressure on various American administrations by Congress and other pro-Israel pressure groups.
Decapitating the two-state solution
The new settlement scheme drew angry reactions from the PA, with one official accusing the Israeli government of "effectively decapitating the two-state solution."
"They are dotting the West Bank with Jewish settlements that Palestinian population centers have become isolated islands in the midst of a huge sea of Jewish colonies, said Abbas Zaki, an aide to PA chairman Mahmoud Abbas..
"But the Israelis are quite mistaken if they think the Palestinian people or their political leadership will succumb to the fait accompli, added the prominent Fatah leader, hinting that the Palestinians will not settle for anything less than a viable and territorially contiguous state on 100% of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.
Another PLO official, Hanan Ashrawi, said the timing of the authorization of the new settlements was very significant.
"It is a direct affront to all efforts at trying to revive any kind of peace negotiations. It is an attempt to tell the Americans that Israel calls the shots. It is also a message about the true nature of the Israeli government; it is an anti-peace government."
Another official was quoted by the Israeli English daily, the Jerusalem Post, as saying that "Israel simply doesn't want peace.”
Even the Israeli Peace-now movement rejected the new settlement expansion in the heart of the West Bank. , calling it "an attempt to legalize an illegal action."
"It is legalizing an illegal action and creating a possibility for more illegal construction. This gives a green light to the illegal establishment of outposts because it shows permission can be sorted out retrospectively," says Peace Now spokeswoman Melaine Robbins.
Lies and deceit
The Israeli government has responded to international criticisms over its unmitigated settlement-expansion with a combination of lies, deceit and defiance.
Last week, the Israeli media reported that Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu had quietly halted the construction of some settlements by freezing tenders for new settler units. However, a few days later the government announced that it had given its preliminary approval for building 300 settler units in the settlement of Beit El outside Ramallah.
The PA has been saying it won't return to peace talks with Israel until Israel freezes settlement expansion. The US has exerted some verbal pressure on Israel to halt the building of settlements especially in those parts of the West Bank destined to be located within the boundaries of a future Palestinian state.
However, Israel rejected all American and European efforts to this effect, with President Obama ostensibly reaching the conclusion that it is pointless to challenge Netanyahu, both at the Israeli and American home turfs.
In fact, instead of punishing Israel for its intransigence and rejectionism, both the U.S. Germany have been rewarding the Jewish state with state-of-the-art offensive weapons to further enhance Israel 's ability to attack neighbors, near and distant.
Earlier this month, the U.S. decided to sell Israel an assortment of advanced weapons and laser-guided bombs, reportedly intended to improve Israel's capability of striking distant targets such as Iran.
Likewise, Germany is reportedly due to hand Israel a fifth nuclear-capable submarine of the Dolphin class. Furthermore, the EU, under American pressure, has also decided to reconsider measures to mark produces and other commodities originating from Jewish settlements.
Some European and American officials often make the claim that a "softer approach" toward Israel would induce the Jewish state to be more forthcoming with regard to the peace process.
However, in light of the experience of more than five decades, it is crystal clear that this argument is nearly totally fallacious as more "inducements" Israel receives from the West, particularly from the United States, consistently made the Jewish state more intransigent and less flexible.
Kerry's last shot?
According to sources in Ramallah, the Palestinian leadership believes it is highly unlikely that U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry will make any significant progress during his current visit to the region, due to start Thursday.
One source was quoted as saying that the Americans are working on a formula that will make possible the resumption of peace talks, and are working in parallel on a political and economic framework.
However, it is unlikely that the PA will agree to resume talks with Israel without having the Jewish state agree to some sort of settlement freeze and also accept to negotiate on the basis of the 1967 borders.
PA official Saeb Ereikat on Monday told a UN committee in New York that a settlement freeze and the release of Palestinian prisoners were not conditions for returning to negotiations but rather obligations that Israel had to fulfill.
"We have no conditions to resume negotiations, the chief Palestinian negotiator told the Committee on the Right of the Palestinian People.
"Make no mistake; we are exerting every possible effort in order to see that Mr. Kerry succeeds. No one benefits more from the success of Secretary Kerry than the Palestinians and no one loses more from his failure."
Stressing that the proverbial ball was decidedly in the Israeli court, the Palestinian official described the situation in occupied Palestine as "apartheid par excellance that is worse than that which existed in South Africa."
He also said that the PA had finished preparations for joining a host of international bodies, including the International Criminal Court (ICC), adding, however, that the Palestinians wouldn't act yet in order to give the Obama administration another chance to pursue peace in Palestine.
A few weeks ago, Kerry was quoted as suggesting that the two-state solution strategy was coming to an end, apparently due to the intensive expansion of Jewish settlements. He said if the "parties" didn't reach a settlement within one or one and a half years, then chances of the two state solution would be over for ever.
21 may 2013
The Jerusalemite researcher Jamal Amr stated that canceling UNESCO delegation's visit to Jerusalem by the occupation authorities aims to hide the Israeli violations. The UNESCO delegation came under Israeli conditions after international guarantees to Israel not to prosecute its violations, he stated.
He told Quds press that the occupation rejects any international investigation of its crimes. The occupation tries to hide its violations against Arab and Islamic monuments in Jerusalem.
The Jerusalemite researcher denied the alleged victory over Israeli authorities by accepting the committee's visit to Jerusalem. Israel managed to escape from international condemnation by canceling the 5 draft resolutions against its practices in Jerusalem.
The occupation asked not to include the Mughrabi Gate or al-Aqsa mosque within the delegation's visit in order to hide its excavation and violations.
Hebrew media sources reported that Israel decided on Monday to cancel a planned visit by UNESCO delegation to the occupied Jerusalem.
He told Quds press that the occupation rejects any international investigation of its crimes. The occupation tries to hide its violations against Arab and Islamic monuments in Jerusalem.
The Jerusalemite researcher denied the alleged victory over Israeli authorities by accepting the committee's visit to Jerusalem. Israel managed to escape from international condemnation by canceling the 5 draft resolutions against its practices in Jerusalem.
The occupation asked not to include the Mughrabi Gate or al-Aqsa mosque within the delegation's visit in order to hide its excavation and violations.
Hebrew media sources reported that Israel decided on Monday to cancel a planned visit by UNESCO delegation to the occupied Jerusalem.
Muatazz Kamal Abu Safiyya
A journalist and human rights activist were shot dead in Gaza overnight during a suspected clan clash, locals said.
Muatazz Kamal Abu Safiyya, 23, and his uncle Ahmad Hasan Abu Safiyya, 42, were killed during the clash in Gaza City's Tal al-Hawa neighborhood.
Muatazz was a correspondent with an Algerian TV station and his uncle was a lawyer and board member of Addameer prisoner rights organization.
Four other family members were injured in the brawl.
Gaza health official Ashraf al-Qidra said two bodies arrived at al-Shifa medical complex overnight. Both had gunshot wounds to the head, he added.
Gaza police have opened an investigation into the killings and have arrested several suspects.
A journalist and human rights activist were shot dead in Gaza overnight during a suspected clan clash, locals said.
Muatazz Kamal Abu Safiyya, 23, and his uncle Ahmad Hasan Abu Safiyya, 42, were killed during the clash in Gaza City's Tal al-Hawa neighborhood.
Muatazz was a correspondent with an Algerian TV station and his uncle was a lawyer and board member of Addameer prisoner rights organization.
Four other family members were injured in the brawl.
Gaza health official Ashraf al-Qidra said two bodies arrived at al-Shifa medical complex overnight. Both had gunshot wounds to the head, he added.
Gaza police have opened an investigation into the killings and have arrested several suspects.
20 may 2013
"If the day comes when the two-state solution collapses, and we face a South African-style struggle for equal voting rights (also for the Palestinians in the territories), then, as soon as that happens, the State of Israel is finished."
Ehud Olmert, Prime Minister of Israel (2006-2009)
While international attention has shifted to the war in Syria, little media focus is given to the recent successful initiative at Blair House in Washington D.C. between Secretary of State John Kerry and Qatar's Foreign Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim al-Thani on behalf of Arab League states. Sheikh Hamad agreed with Secretary Kerry to endorse the American-backed proposal for a two-state solution that partitions Israel in order to create a new Palestinian state. As Arab state representatives retreated from their prior demands that Israel return to its pre-1967 borders, the Arab League initiative represents progress toward a peaceful resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Currently, Israelis and Palestinians live interspersed together within non-contiguous borders. However, the problem with partition is that it divides the population based upon ethnic, racial, religious, or linguistic characteristics. Partition actions use types of profiling to assign people to states based upon their human characteristics. The use of profiling contradicts human rights, because equal treatment requires that people be recognized as individuals irrespective of their ethnic, racial or religious identity. So, Israelis and Palestinians must reject obnoxious forms of human profiling should they agree on a partition plan. This poses a particular challenge for Israel, because it is the homeland of the Jewish peoples who are themselves a persecuted religious group.
International human rights treaties offer states alternatives to partition. Instead, human rights conventions offer types of integration that protect the existence and identity of national linguistic, ethnic, and religious groups. Human rights distinguish integration from assimilation, in which a group's ethnic characteristics, including language, education, culture, and religion are melted away in the so-called melting-pot to blend with that of the majority. Instead, integration guarantees autonomy (self-government) by permitting minorities to perpetuate their unique characteristics. Since Israelis and Palestinians live interspersed, they are already compelled to cooperate in areas of mutual responsibility, such as border security, migration, right-of-return, dual-citizenship, public services, trade, and employment.
Article 27 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights recommends standards to protect the existence and identity of minority groups that include forms of self-governance. Also, increasing numbers of state constitutions recognize self-government for domestic minority groups, with some guaranteeing the right to secession. Examples of this can be found in Ethiopia, Fiji, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, and Spain.
These approaches offer a continuum of remedies short of statehood. For example, Canada established the Nunavut territory that protects the Inuit peoples (former Eskimos). It also initiated a prestigious Royal Commission on Aboriginal Affairs to study the history of Aboriginal problems and recommend actions to correct injustices. Because each case is different, such studies about the plight of minorities and indigenous groups are critical, as they help states choose the appropriate remedial policies. The Royal Commission recommended the creation of a House of First Peoples as a branch of the Canadian Parliament, which would provide equal representation for Aboriginals. This is an example of Best Practices that could also assist the Palestinians.
Other states are implementing different forms of autonomy (self-government) to support aspiring nations. This is because many groups decide to live autonomously within their host state. A few examples are Great Britain's Westminster Parliament devolution schemes for Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland; Finland's Accession Treaty for the Swedish populated Aland Islands; the Nordic Council of Ministers' initiative on Sami autonomy; and the Italy and Austria treaty granting autonomy to Trentino-South Tryrol.
So far, Israelis have taken actions that are contrary to partition. For instance, Israel's ruling Likud party promotes Israeli settlement on Palestinian populated territories--namely, the West Bank. However, Israeli settlement policies have the unintended consequence of assimilating Palestinians into the Israeli population. Some Israelis describe their goal as Eretz Yisrael, meaning greater Israel. These Israelis claim a biblical right to annex the West Bank (Judea & Samaria). Israeli territorial expansion has been so successful that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu himself warned about Israel's demographic time bomb--the inevitability of an eventual Palestinian majority in Israel. Several demographic studies by The Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics, as well as the Arab Strategic Report, point to high Palestinian birth rates and a projected Palestinian majority (2025-2048).
Surprisingly, similar views are held by Palestinians themselves. Recent polling conducted by the Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research found that, although 55% of Palestinians polled support a two-state solution, 44% of them oppose partition. However, an earlier poll of Palestinian West Bank and Gaza residents conducted by Stanley Greenberg of Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Research, along with the Palestinian Center for Public Opinion, revealed that, by a two-thirds majority, most Palestinians want only to start with a two-state solution, and then move to a single Palestinian state. So, there remains substantial support among both Israelis and Palestinians for maintaining a unitary state, albeit one with different national characteristics.
Palestinian rights to self-determination are statu nascendi, meaning they apply only at the beginning of the process leading to statehood. However, self-determination rights are not synonymous with statehood. Instead, the final decision remains with the right-holder to decide whether to live autonomously within the host-state, or as an independent state.
A human rights-based approach could assist both Israel and the Palestinians. This is because human rights contain reciprocal responsibilities against irredentism, as well as a commitment to state unity. Also, human rights do not exclude a partition of Israel. Instead, they can help to facilitate Palestinian self-determination through to statehood, but in a manner that comports with other important rights, such as the rule of non-discrimination. In fact, human rights merely require that groups treat each other with what legal philosopher Ronald Dworkin termed "equal concern and respect."
Dr. William K. Barth's book is entitled, On Cultural Rights: The Equality of Nations and the Minority Legal Tradition (Boston, Martinus Nijhoff Publishers, 2008). He received his doctorate from the Univeristy of Oxford.
Ehud Olmert, Prime Minister of Israel (2006-2009)
While international attention has shifted to the war in Syria, little media focus is given to the recent successful initiative at Blair House in Washington D.C. between Secretary of State John Kerry and Qatar's Foreign Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim al-Thani on behalf of Arab League states. Sheikh Hamad agreed with Secretary Kerry to endorse the American-backed proposal for a two-state solution that partitions Israel in order to create a new Palestinian state. As Arab state representatives retreated from their prior demands that Israel return to its pre-1967 borders, the Arab League initiative represents progress toward a peaceful resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Currently, Israelis and Palestinians live interspersed together within non-contiguous borders. However, the problem with partition is that it divides the population based upon ethnic, racial, religious, or linguistic characteristics. Partition actions use types of profiling to assign people to states based upon their human characteristics. The use of profiling contradicts human rights, because equal treatment requires that people be recognized as individuals irrespective of their ethnic, racial or religious identity. So, Israelis and Palestinians must reject obnoxious forms of human profiling should they agree on a partition plan. This poses a particular challenge for Israel, because it is the homeland of the Jewish peoples who are themselves a persecuted religious group.
International human rights treaties offer states alternatives to partition. Instead, human rights conventions offer types of integration that protect the existence and identity of national linguistic, ethnic, and religious groups. Human rights distinguish integration from assimilation, in which a group's ethnic characteristics, including language, education, culture, and religion are melted away in the so-called melting-pot to blend with that of the majority. Instead, integration guarantees autonomy (self-government) by permitting minorities to perpetuate their unique characteristics. Since Israelis and Palestinians live interspersed, they are already compelled to cooperate in areas of mutual responsibility, such as border security, migration, right-of-return, dual-citizenship, public services, trade, and employment.
Article 27 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights recommends standards to protect the existence and identity of minority groups that include forms of self-governance. Also, increasing numbers of state constitutions recognize self-government for domestic minority groups, with some guaranteeing the right to secession. Examples of this can be found in Ethiopia, Fiji, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, and Spain.
These approaches offer a continuum of remedies short of statehood. For example, Canada established the Nunavut territory that protects the Inuit peoples (former Eskimos). It also initiated a prestigious Royal Commission on Aboriginal Affairs to study the history of Aboriginal problems and recommend actions to correct injustices. Because each case is different, such studies about the plight of minorities and indigenous groups are critical, as they help states choose the appropriate remedial policies. The Royal Commission recommended the creation of a House of First Peoples as a branch of the Canadian Parliament, which would provide equal representation for Aboriginals. This is an example of Best Practices that could also assist the Palestinians.
Other states are implementing different forms of autonomy (self-government) to support aspiring nations. This is because many groups decide to live autonomously within their host state. A few examples are Great Britain's Westminster Parliament devolution schemes for Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland; Finland's Accession Treaty for the Swedish populated Aland Islands; the Nordic Council of Ministers' initiative on Sami autonomy; and the Italy and Austria treaty granting autonomy to Trentino-South Tryrol.
So far, Israelis have taken actions that are contrary to partition. For instance, Israel's ruling Likud party promotes Israeli settlement on Palestinian populated territories--namely, the West Bank. However, Israeli settlement policies have the unintended consequence of assimilating Palestinians into the Israeli population. Some Israelis describe their goal as Eretz Yisrael, meaning greater Israel. These Israelis claim a biblical right to annex the West Bank (Judea & Samaria). Israeli territorial expansion has been so successful that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu himself warned about Israel's demographic time bomb--the inevitability of an eventual Palestinian majority in Israel. Several demographic studies by The Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics, as well as the Arab Strategic Report, point to high Palestinian birth rates and a projected Palestinian majority (2025-2048).
Surprisingly, similar views are held by Palestinians themselves. Recent polling conducted by the Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research found that, although 55% of Palestinians polled support a two-state solution, 44% of them oppose partition. However, an earlier poll of Palestinian West Bank and Gaza residents conducted by Stanley Greenberg of Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Research, along with the Palestinian Center for Public Opinion, revealed that, by a two-thirds majority, most Palestinians want only to start with a two-state solution, and then move to a single Palestinian state. So, there remains substantial support among both Israelis and Palestinians for maintaining a unitary state, albeit one with different national characteristics.
Palestinian rights to self-determination are statu nascendi, meaning they apply only at the beginning of the process leading to statehood. However, self-determination rights are not synonymous with statehood. Instead, the final decision remains with the right-holder to decide whether to live autonomously within the host-state, or as an independent state.
A human rights-based approach could assist both Israel and the Palestinians. This is because human rights contain reciprocal responsibilities against irredentism, as well as a commitment to state unity. Also, human rights do not exclude a partition of Israel. Instead, they can help to facilitate Palestinian self-determination through to statehood, but in a manner that comports with other important rights, such as the rule of non-discrimination. In fact, human rights merely require that groups treat each other with what legal philosopher Ronald Dworkin termed "equal concern and respect."
Dr. William K. Barth's book is entitled, On Cultural Rights: The Equality of Nations and the Minority Legal Tradition (Boston, Martinus Nijhoff Publishers, 2008). He received his doctorate from the Univeristy of Oxford.
Prof. Mustafa Kabaha, Department of History and Philosophy at the Quds Open University, said that the Israeli occupation seeks to blur and thieve the Palestinian identity and history.
In an exclusive interview with the PIC reporter, Kabaha said that The Israeli authorities started renaming the Palestinian towns, cities and streets in order to impose the Israeli ideological, religious, and national control over the Palestinian territories in an attempt to falsify the land's history.
The Palestinian historical and cultural discourse is on the decline in light of the Israeli attempts to judaize the Palestinian names, he stated.
He called for confronting and thwarting the Israeli Judaizing schemes through reinforcing the new generation's awareness and adherence to the Palestinian history.
Kabaha revealed that there is an Israeli committee specifically charged with Judaizing and changing the Palestinian Arab names.
In an exclusive interview with the PIC reporter, Kabaha said that The Israeli authorities started renaming the Palestinian towns, cities and streets in order to impose the Israeli ideological, religious, and national control over the Palestinian territories in an attempt to falsify the land's history.
The Palestinian historical and cultural discourse is on the decline in light of the Israeli attempts to judaize the Palestinian names, he stated.
He called for confronting and thwarting the Israeli Judaizing schemes through reinforcing the new generation's awareness and adherence to the Palestinian history.
Kabaha revealed that there is an Israeli committee specifically charged with Judaizing and changing the Palestinian Arab names.
Sheikh Dr. Ikrima Sabri, head of the Supreme Islamic Council and the Al Aqsa Mosque preacher, issued a Fatwa prohibiting Land Swaps with the occupation which was recently accepted by the PA and the Arab league.
Palestine is the land of gathering (mahshar) and the Resurrection (Manshar) therefore it is not for sale nor for compromise, he said.
The Palestinian land, he continued, is a purely Islamic endowment, and no one is entitled to compromise or swap an inch of it.
He added that the previous attempts to compromise the Palestinian lands have all failed.
Palestine is the land of gathering (mahshar) and the Resurrection (Manshar) therefore it is not for sale nor for compromise, he said.
The Palestinian land, he continued, is a purely Islamic endowment, and no one is entitled to compromise or swap an inch of it.
He added that the previous attempts to compromise the Palestinian lands have all failed.
18 may 2013
Risheq denies claims that Hamas has cells in US
Hamas Politburo member Izzat al-Risheq denied New York authorities' claims concerning the arrest of 15 elements affiliated to Hamas movement for smuggling untaxed cigarettes. These allegations are failed attempts to tarnish the Palestinian people’s struggle and just cause, he said on Friday.
New York authorities have claimed on Thursday the arrested of 15 Palestinians for smuggling untaxed cigarettes, pointing that some of them are affiliated to Hamas movement and another “extremist” group.
New York Attorney General and Police Commissioner stated during a press conference that "the smuggling ring has made a fortune selling more than a million cartons of untaxed cigarettes in New York."
According to the indictment, the suspects, if they are found guilty, could be sentenced up to 25 years.
For his part, the Deputy Chairman of Hamas Political Bureau,Dr. Mousa Abu Marzouk, denied Hamas's involvement in the kidnapping of the 7 Egyptian soldiers in Sinai. All what is being said is without evidence, he confirmed.
Abu Marzouk stressed that the Palestinian people could never hold hostile attitudes toward the Egyptian army and police.
Regarding the tunnels' issue, Abu Marzouk said that the tunnels between Gaza and Egypt came into being as a result of the absence of legal and political arrangements between the two parties.
New York authorities have claimed on Thursday the arrested of 15 Palestinians for smuggling untaxed cigarettes, pointing that some of them are affiliated to Hamas movement and another “extremist” group.
New York Attorney General and Police Commissioner stated during a press conference that "the smuggling ring has made a fortune selling more than a million cartons of untaxed cigarettes in New York."
According to the indictment, the suspects, if they are found guilty, could be sentenced up to 25 years.
For his part, the Deputy Chairman of Hamas Political Bureau,Dr. Mousa Abu Marzouk, denied Hamas's involvement in the kidnapping of the 7 Egyptian soldiers in Sinai. All what is being said is without evidence, he confirmed.
Abu Marzouk stressed that the Palestinian people could never hold hostile attitudes toward the Egyptian army and police.
Regarding the tunnels' issue, Abu Marzouk said that the tunnels between Gaza and Egypt came into being as a result of the absence of legal and political arrangements between the two parties.
PA appeals to Europe to help treat freed prisoner
The Palestinian Authority has appealed to Europe to provide medical treatment for a prisoner who Israel released on health grounds.
Israel freed Mohammad al-Taj in April on health grounds, after he had carried out two long-term hunger strikes. He suffers from pulmonary fibrosis and heart hypertrophy.
President Mahmoud Abbas' office has written to several European countries seeking specialist medical treatment for al-Taj, Prisoners Minister Issa Qaraqe said Friday.
The Foreign Ministry has sent al-Taj's medical reports to Europe, hoping that a European country will offer to perform a lung transplant.
Qaraqe on Friday appealed to all countries with advanced medical services to help al-Taj, adding that the former detainee's condition was worsening everyday.
Israel freed Mohammad al-Taj in April on health grounds, after he had carried out two long-term hunger strikes. He suffers from pulmonary fibrosis and heart hypertrophy.
President Mahmoud Abbas' office has written to several European countries seeking specialist medical treatment for al-Taj, Prisoners Minister Issa Qaraqe said Friday.
The Foreign Ministry has sent al-Taj's medical reports to Europe, hoping that a European country will offer to perform a lung transplant.
Qaraqe on Friday appealed to all countries with advanced medical services to help al-Taj, adding that the former detainee's condition was worsening everyday.
Egyptian brotherhood leader: Hamas has nothing to do with kidnappings
Saber Aboul Fotouh, a leader in the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood, stressed that charging Hamas with the Egyptian soldiers' kidnapping only misleads justice. Hamas is engaged in the battle against the Israeli occupation, and it has no reason to abort the Egyptian-Palestinian good relationship, said Aboul Fotouh.
The kidnapping of 7 Egyptian soldiers in Sinai is a catastrophe, he continued, calling on the Egyptian armed forces to work for their release by any possible means.
Meanwhile, Director General of border crossings Maher Abu Sabha confirmed on Friday morning that the Egyptian authorities refused to re-open Rafah crossing in both directions.
He told PIC reporter that a number of Egyptian police and army conscripts have closed the crossing in both directions on Friday morning protesting the abduction of a number of their colleagues in Sinai.
Crowds of hundreds of Palestinians have gathered on the Palestinian side of the Rafah border crossing following the Egyptian decision to close the crossing until further notice.
Egyptian security sources have confirmed that a group of unidentified militants kidnapped seven Egyptian soldiers near the town of El Arish North Sinai.
The kidnapping of 7 Egyptian soldiers in Sinai is a catastrophe, he continued, calling on the Egyptian armed forces to work for their release by any possible means.
Meanwhile, Director General of border crossings Maher Abu Sabha confirmed on Friday morning that the Egyptian authorities refused to re-open Rafah crossing in both directions.
He told PIC reporter that a number of Egyptian police and army conscripts have closed the crossing in both directions on Friday morning protesting the abduction of a number of their colleagues in Sinai.
Crowds of hundreds of Palestinians have gathered on the Palestinian side of the Rafah border crossing following the Egyptian decision to close the crossing until further notice.
Egyptian security sources have confirmed that a group of unidentified militants kidnapped seven Egyptian soldiers near the town of El Arish North Sinai.
Today, Palestinians in Europe launch their 11th conference in Belgium
The 11th Palestinians in Europe conference is slated to kick off on Saturday in the Belgian capital Brussels with the participation of thousands of Palestinian refugees and some Arab and international figures. The conference will be held under the title "the signs of return are blossoming" and the speakers will table Palestinian central issues such as the right of return, Jerusalem, the prisoners and the blockade on Gaza.
Dozens of Palestinian families will flock to Brussels to participate in the social and folkloric events and activities to be organized on the sidelines of the conference.
Among the most prominent guests of the conference will be Rashed Ghannouchi, head of the Tunisian political movement Al-Nahda, Wadah Khanfar, head of Al-Sharq forum, and Jamal Al-Khudari, head of the popular committee against the siege.
Palestinian lawmaker and ex-detainee Mohamed Abu Tir will be among the speakers at the conference and he will highlight the escalating Judaization activities in occupied Jerusalem.
A festival of documentary films on Palestine will also be held as part of the activities of this annual conference.
Dozens of Palestinian families will flock to Brussels to participate in the social and folkloric events and activities to be organized on the sidelines of the conference.
Among the most prominent guests of the conference will be Rashed Ghannouchi, head of the Tunisian political movement Al-Nahda, Wadah Khanfar, head of Al-Sharq forum, and Jamal Al-Khudari, head of the popular committee against the siege.
Palestinian lawmaker and ex-detainee Mohamed Abu Tir will be among the speakers at the conference and he will highlight the escalating Judaization activities in occupied Jerusalem.
A festival of documentary films on Palestine will also be held as part of the activities of this annual conference.
Morsi and Haneyya discuss over phone political and security issues
Palestinian premier Ismail Haneyya received on Friday night a telephone call from Egyptian president Mohamed Morsi and discussed with him some issues of common interest. In a press release, the information office of the Palestinian cabinet said that Haneyya and Morsi talked about the developments in the Palestinian arena and the reconciliation efforts as well as the security cooperation between the two sides.
The cabinet office added that Morsi stressed the need for keeping in touch with the Palestinian government in Gaza to address any shared issues.
The phone call took place after a group of Egyptian policemen closed the Rafah border crossing in protest at the kidnapping of seven policemen and soldiers in Al-Arish area, but later the Egyptian authorities revealed the identity of the captors and said they were from the Sinai Bedouins.
The kidnapping incident also tempted some notorious Egyptian media outlets to launch as usual a finger-pointing campaign against the Palestinians in Gaza with no evidence.
The cabinet office added that Morsi stressed the need for keeping in touch with the Palestinian government in Gaza to address any shared issues.
The phone call took place after a group of Egyptian policemen closed the Rafah border crossing in protest at the kidnapping of seven policemen and soldiers in Al-Arish area, but later the Egyptian authorities revealed the identity of the captors and said they were from the Sinai Bedouins.
The kidnapping incident also tempted some notorious Egyptian media outlets to launch as usual a finger-pointing campaign against the Palestinians in Gaza with no evidence.
17 may 2013
Calls for adopting a law for Palestinian wounded
Palestinian researchers have called for adopting a law for Palestinian wounded in order to rehabilitate and reintegrate them in the Palestinian society. During a workshop related to the Palestinian wounded issue held in Gaza on Thursday, Palestinian researchers called for forming a national database for Palestinian wounded, and to shed more light on their issue.
The workshop came as part of the First International Conference for Palestinian Wounded organized by Assalama Charitable Society and Creation for Research, Studies and Training under the auspices of the Qatari Charity Society which will be held on May 25, 2013.
The deputy chairman of the preparatory committee for the Conference, Musab Abdul Malik, stated that the conference aims to highlight the wounded issue from 4 perspectives: the wounded health and social status, the role of governmental and non-governmental organizations, the role of the media, in addition to the legal side.
There are nearly 30 thousand wounded in the Gaza strip, 90% of them were targeted in their homes, he noted.
The Ministry of Social Affairs' representative stated during the meeting that the ministry provided necessary relief services and financial aid for the wounded.
The workshop came as part of the First International Conference for Palestinian Wounded organized by Assalama Charitable Society and Creation for Research, Studies and Training under the auspices of the Qatari Charity Society which will be held on May 25, 2013.
The deputy chairman of the preparatory committee for the Conference, Musab Abdul Malik, stated that the conference aims to highlight the wounded issue from 4 perspectives: the wounded health and social status, the role of governmental and non-governmental organizations, the role of the media, in addition to the legal side.
There are nearly 30 thousand wounded in the Gaza strip, 90% of them were targeted in their homes, he noted.
The Ministry of Social Affairs' representative stated during the meeting that the ministry provided necessary relief services and financial aid for the wounded.
Al-Risheq denies Hamas’s willingness to negotiate with the occupation
Izzat Al-Risheq, member of Hamas's political bureau, denied statements attributed to Khaled Meshaal concerning the movement's willingness to negotiate with the occupation.
Al Masry Al Youm Egyptian newspaper claimed that Meshaal expressed, during an interview with Foreign Policy American magazine, Hamas's willingness to negotiate with the Israeli occupation.
Al-Risheq confirmed that the American newspaper report does not include such fabrications.
Al Masry Al Youm has alleged that Meshaal declared Hamas's readiness to conduct negotiations with Israel despite its uselessness.
Al Masry Al Youm Egyptian newspaper claimed that Meshaal expressed, during an interview with Foreign Policy American magazine, Hamas's willingness to negotiate with the Israeli occupation.
Al-Risheq confirmed that the American newspaper report does not include such fabrications.
Al Masry Al Youm has alleged that Meshaal declared Hamas's readiness to conduct negotiations with Israel despite its uselessness.
16 may 2013
Baraka: Resolving Palestinian issue is to achieve reinstate all rights
Ali Baraka, Hamas representative in Lebanon, stressed that the only just solution to the Palestinian issue is represented in achieving all the Palestinian national aspirations.
Baraka's remarks came during a political literary meeting organized by the Association of Palestinian writers at its headquarters in central Gaza City on Wednesday.
"The world is talking about a solution represented in the withdrawal from the 1967-occupied territories; however this is not a solution," he said, adding that all the Palestinian land belongs to the Palestinian people and that it "is not fair to divide Palestine between the thief who has stolen it and its original owners."
For his part; head of the Association of Palestinian Authors and Writers Minister Atallah Abu Subbah pointed out that the Palestinian people are walking on the path of liberating the land.
Baraka's remarks came during a political literary meeting organized by the Association of Palestinian writers at its headquarters in central Gaza City on Wednesday.
"The world is talking about a solution represented in the withdrawal from the 1967-occupied territories; however this is not a solution," he said, adding that all the Palestinian land belongs to the Palestinian people and that it "is not fair to divide Palestine between the thief who has stolen it and its original owners."
For his part; head of the Association of Palestinian Authors and Writers Minister Atallah Abu Subbah pointed out that the Palestinian people are walking on the path of liberating the land.
Captive Abbas Sayyed: Arab Peace Initiative is worse than Balfour Declaration
Captive leader Abbas Al-Sayyed, head of the leadership of Hamas prisoners in Israeli jails, stressed that the prisoners are in permanent conflict with the Israeli occupation inside its jails.
In an interview with the Ahrar center for Prisoners studies and human rights on the occasion of the twelfth anniversary of his arrest, Al-Sayyed said "We are constantly working on improving the prisoners' living conditions."
He considered that the Arab Peace Initiative is worse than the Balfour Declaration, and that the Arab Peace Initiative Follow-up Committee has recently encouraged the abuses and arrogance of the occupation by giving it new waivers.
The Palestinian prisoner sentenced to life imprisonment denounced the intentions to resume the negotiations, which have provided nothing for the Palestinian people.
Concerning the reconciliation, Al-Sayyed called for ending the division and achieving the reconciliation on the basis of a program that respects and practices all forms of struggle.
In an interview with the Ahrar center for Prisoners studies and human rights on the occasion of the twelfth anniversary of his arrest, Al-Sayyed said "We are constantly working on improving the prisoners' living conditions."
He considered that the Arab Peace Initiative is worse than the Balfour Declaration, and that the Arab Peace Initiative Follow-up Committee has recently encouraged the abuses and arrogance of the occupation by giving it new waivers.
The Palestinian prisoner sentenced to life imprisonment denounced the intentions to resume the negotiations, which have provided nothing for the Palestinian people.
Concerning the reconciliation, Al-Sayyed called for ending the division and achieving the reconciliation on the basis of a program that respects and practices all forms of struggle.
Meshaal renews rejection of a two-state solution
Khaled Mashaal, head of the political bureau of Hamas movement, confirmed his movement's adherence to resistance in confronting the occupation and liberating Palestine.
Meshaal's remarks came during an exclusive interview with the American Foreign Policy magazine, through which he stressed on Hamas's rejection of the two-state solution and criticized the recent visit of U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry.
Khaled Meshaal said that Hamas will continue the armed struggle as an option to liberate the land, while Fatah movement has chosen to continue its diplomatic efforts.
Meshaal renewed Hamas's rejection of a two-state solution, stressing that his movement is not against the Israelis because they hold a different belief, but it struggles against the occupation of its land.
"Palestinians are suffering from the settlement. They are suffering in the detention camps and in the prisons of the occupation," Meshaal said "[We aim] to stop the suffering of our people in Jerusalem as they are suffering from the judaization of the city ... We want real peace that would regain the rights of our people."
The Palestinian leader has also criticized the visit of U.S. Secretary of State, John Kerry, saying that "Kerry does not have a new project for peace."
"Kerry does not have a serious project or vision. The international community should focus on the real problem here, which is that Israel occupies the land and commits most brutal kinds of murders."
Concerning the Syrian conflict, the Hamas leader said that the Assad regime took the wrong option and was wrong about the vision towards the conflict, not only towards the internal conflict in Syria but towards the whole Arab Spring
"People aspiring for democracy and freedom should have been dealt with through political arrangement to meet their rightful aspirations. This would have reinforced the power of the state and bonds between the people and their leadership and it would have been for the best interest of the country," Meshaal said.
He revealed to the American Magazine that his movement had presented Assad with a seven-point program for defusing the crisis; however Assad ignored Hamas's recommendations.
Meshaal's remarks came during an exclusive interview with the American Foreign Policy magazine, through which he stressed on Hamas's rejection of the two-state solution and criticized the recent visit of U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry.
Khaled Meshaal said that Hamas will continue the armed struggle as an option to liberate the land, while Fatah movement has chosen to continue its diplomatic efforts.
Meshaal renewed Hamas's rejection of a two-state solution, stressing that his movement is not against the Israelis because they hold a different belief, but it struggles against the occupation of its land.
"Palestinians are suffering from the settlement. They are suffering in the detention camps and in the prisons of the occupation," Meshaal said "[We aim] to stop the suffering of our people in Jerusalem as they are suffering from the judaization of the city ... We want real peace that would regain the rights of our people."
The Palestinian leader has also criticized the visit of U.S. Secretary of State, John Kerry, saying that "Kerry does not have a new project for peace."
"Kerry does not have a serious project or vision. The international community should focus on the real problem here, which is that Israel occupies the land and commits most brutal kinds of murders."
Concerning the Syrian conflict, the Hamas leader said that the Assad regime took the wrong option and was wrong about the vision towards the conflict, not only towards the internal conflict in Syria but towards the whole Arab Spring
"People aspiring for democracy and freedom should have been dealt with through political arrangement to meet their rightful aspirations. This would have reinforced the power of the state and bonds between the people and their leadership and it would have been for the best interest of the country," Meshaal said.
He revealed to the American Magazine that his movement had presented Assad with a seven-point program for defusing the crisis; however Assad ignored Hamas's recommendations.
Dweik voices cautious optimism over reconciliation agreement
Palestinian Legislative Council Chairman, Dr. Aziz Dweik, voiced cautious optimism over reconciliation agreement between Hamas and Fatah movements.
Fatah only aims to accelerate the election in order to get Hamas out through the door it came in, Dweik said.
Dweik stressed the importance of implementing all the reconciliation files including the government formation, the presidential and legislative elections, the PLO, and public freedoms.
The PLC chairman also stressed the need to stop the external intervention and pressures, to stop political arrests, and to activate public freedoms in order to implement the national reconciliation.
Dweik praised the Egyptian president's efforts to end the Palestinian division and to implement the reconciliation.
Hamas and Fatah movement have agreed to set a timetable to form a unity government and organize elections.
Fatah only aims to accelerate the election in order to get Hamas out through the door it came in, Dweik said.
Dweik stressed the importance of implementing all the reconciliation files including the government formation, the presidential and legislative elections, the PLO, and public freedoms.
The PLC chairman also stressed the need to stop the external intervention and pressures, to stop political arrests, and to activate public freedoms in order to implement the national reconciliation.
Dweik praised the Egyptian president's efforts to end the Palestinian division and to implement the reconciliation.
Hamas and Fatah movement have agreed to set a timetable to form a unity government and organize elections.
Palestinian fundamentals conference in Cairo
A conference held in Cairo about Palestinian Fundamentals to mark the 65th anniversary of the Palestinian Nakba stressed Palestinian fundamentals are the same as those of any nation are not subject to the wishes of individuals or groups.
Dr Mahmoud al-Zahar, a senior Hamas leader, confirmed during the conference that the current Islamic awakening in the Arab region reinforces the nation's adherence to the Palestinian fundamentals.
Dr al-Zahar denounced compromising the nation's fundamentals and lending legitimacy to the Israeli occupation, calling for raising awareness about the Palestinian fundamentals and historical rights.
For his part, Dr. Ismail Radwan, Minister of Awqaf in the Gaza government, stressed the Palestinian fundamentals topped by the right of return. He referred to the resistance option as the only option to liberate the Palestinian prisoners.
Dr. Mohammed al-Hindi, of the Jihad movement political bureau, called on Arab leaders to withdraw the Arab modified initiative and to stand by the Palestinian rights and not to reinforce the Israeli settlement project.
The Egyptian minister of Awqaf and Religious Affairs, Talaat Mohamed Afifi, confirmed that the Palestinian issue is the central cause of all the Arab and Islamic nation, stressing that al-Aqsa mosque is the first qibla and the third holiest site in Islam.
Dr Mahmoud al-Zahar, a senior Hamas leader, confirmed during the conference that the current Islamic awakening in the Arab region reinforces the nation's adherence to the Palestinian fundamentals.
Dr al-Zahar denounced compromising the nation's fundamentals and lending legitimacy to the Israeli occupation, calling for raising awareness about the Palestinian fundamentals and historical rights.
For his part, Dr. Ismail Radwan, Minister of Awqaf in the Gaza government, stressed the Palestinian fundamentals topped by the right of return. He referred to the resistance option as the only option to liberate the Palestinian prisoners.
Dr. Mohammed al-Hindi, of the Jihad movement political bureau, called on Arab leaders to withdraw the Arab modified initiative and to stand by the Palestinian rights and not to reinforce the Israeli settlement project.
The Egyptian minister of Awqaf and Religious Affairs, Talaat Mohamed Afifi, confirmed that the Palestinian issue is the central cause of all the Arab and Islamic nation, stressing that al-Aqsa mosque is the first qibla and the third holiest site in Islam.
Arab organization: The Arab and Islamic stance towards Palestine waned
The London-based Arab organization for human rights said that the positions of the Arab and Muslim worlds towards the Palestinian cause have waned and should be reassessed.
In a press release issued on the occasion of the Nakba day, the Arab organization stressed that the Palestinian rights are inalienable and protected by the international law and the Palestinian people's determination to restore them.
The organization underlined that the Palestinian people have been facing successive catastrophes and tragedies since the first Nakba in 1948.
"In occupied Jerusalem, there is a concentration of catastrophes where the occupation commits violations against everything in the city, the human being, the stone and the trees, and even the dead in their graves have never been spared," the organization stated.
"The holy sites and the Aqsa Mosque are on the top of things being violated by the occupation which seeks anxiously to demolish it and build the so-called temple."
"What is happening in Jerusalem is much more than a catastrophe; it is a process of eradicating the Arab and Islamic identity of the city and destroying hundreds of years of a human legacy under false Talmudic claims. What is happening in Jerusalem is an accelerating process of slaughtering before the whole world," it added.
In a press release issued on the occasion of the Nakba day, the Arab organization stressed that the Palestinian rights are inalienable and protected by the international law and the Palestinian people's determination to restore them.
The organization underlined that the Palestinian people have been facing successive catastrophes and tragedies since the first Nakba in 1948.
"In occupied Jerusalem, there is a concentration of catastrophes where the occupation commits violations against everything in the city, the human being, the stone and the trees, and even the dead in their graves have never been spared," the organization stated.
"The holy sites and the Aqsa Mosque are on the top of things being violated by the occupation which seeks anxiously to demolish it and build the so-called temple."
"What is happening in Jerusalem is much more than a catastrophe; it is a process of eradicating the Arab and Islamic identity of the city and destroying hundreds of years of a human legacy under false Talmudic claims. What is happening in Jerusalem is an accelerating process of slaughtering before the whole world," it added.
Jihad: No surrender of RoR
Islamic Jihad movement has emphasized that the Palestinian refugees’ right of return would never be surrendered regardless of sacrifices and attempts to circumvent it.
The movement said in a statement on Wednesday on the Nakba anniversary that all efforts should be made to reverse Israel’s attempt to perpetuate its occupation of Palestine.
It said that the public should be aware of national constants in light of ongoing attempts to forge history, change geography, and tamper with facts.
Jihad finally declared its rejection of the capitulation projects as envisaged by the Arab peace initiative committee.
For its part, the armed wing of Hamas, the Qassam Brigades, said in a similar statement on Wednesday that there would be no return to Palestine through negotiations.
Abu Obaida, the spokesman for the armed wing, said resistance is the only means to restore Palestinian national rights.
He said that the “Zionist entity” that was established on massacres would be only removed by more sacrifices.
The spokesman pointed out that the Qassam martyrs on the Nakba anniversary had reached 1948.
The movement said in a statement on Wednesday on the Nakba anniversary that all efforts should be made to reverse Israel’s attempt to perpetuate its occupation of Palestine.
It said that the public should be aware of national constants in light of ongoing attempts to forge history, change geography, and tamper with facts.
Jihad finally declared its rejection of the capitulation projects as envisaged by the Arab peace initiative committee.
For its part, the armed wing of Hamas, the Qassam Brigades, said in a similar statement on Wednesday that there would be no return to Palestine through negotiations.
Abu Obaida, the spokesman for the armed wing, said resistance is the only means to restore Palestinian national rights.
He said that the “Zionist entity” that was established on massacres would be only removed by more sacrifices.
The spokesman pointed out that the Qassam martyrs on the Nakba anniversary had reached 1948.
Qassem refuses to meet EU representatives for their bias to Israel
Professor Abdulsattar Qassem, a political science lecturer at Najah University in Nablus, has refused to meet a delegation of the European Union because of its bias in favor of Israel.
Qassem said that a representative of the EU mission in Jerusalem phoned him asking for a meeting next Wednesday to discuss a number of political issues but he refused.
He said that the Europeans had directly contributed in the displacement of the Palestinian people and continue to extend economic and military assistance to occupation.
The university lecturer said that the Europeans despite offering assistance to the Palestinian people, yet they gather information during their visits to the Palestinian land that harm the Palestinian people and cause.
Qassem said that a representative of the EU mission in Jerusalem phoned him asking for a meeting next Wednesday to discuss a number of political issues but he refused.
He said that the Europeans had directly contributed in the displacement of the Palestinian people and continue to extend economic and military assistance to occupation.
The university lecturer said that the Europeans despite offering assistance to the Palestinian people, yet they gather information during their visits to the Palestinian land that harm the Palestinian people and cause.
15 may 2013
Haneyya's government: PLO announcement to freeze negotiations was false
Palestinian government in Gaza condemned reports stating that a number of PLO officials have conducted secret negotiations with Israel, considering it a continuation of "waiving the Palestinian rights."
The government said in a statement following its weekly meeting on Tuesday in Gaza: "The announcement of the [Palestine] Liberation Organization to freeze the negotiations with the occupation was false," and warned of going too far in giving up the national rights.
It has also condemned the attacks carried out against the Turkish village of Rihaniyya and which claimed the lives of dozens of innocent people.
The Palestinian government in Gaza saluted the Palestinian people who commemorate the sixty-fifth anniversary of the Nakba, stressing that the people are holding onto their land and legitimate rights and will never relinquish any part of their land, despite the occupation crimes.
The government strongly condemned the persistent abuses by the Israeli occupation forces and settlers against the city of Jerusalem as well as the religious icons and leaders, in reference to the arrest of the Grand Mufti of Jerusalem.
It also warned of the occupation attempts to enact a law that allows Jews to pray in Al-Aqsa Mosque, and considered it a flagrant infringement on the sanctity of the mosque, which belongs to Muslims.
The government said in a statement following its weekly meeting on Tuesday in Gaza: "The announcement of the [Palestine] Liberation Organization to freeze the negotiations with the occupation was false," and warned of going too far in giving up the national rights.
It has also condemned the attacks carried out against the Turkish village of Rihaniyya and which claimed the lives of dozens of innocent people.
The Palestinian government in Gaza saluted the Palestinian people who commemorate the sixty-fifth anniversary of the Nakba, stressing that the people are holding onto their land and legitimate rights and will never relinquish any part of their land, despite the occupation crimes.
The government strongly condemned the persistent abuses by the Israeli occupation forces and settlers against the city of Jerusalem as well as the religious icons and leaders, in reference to the arrest of the Grand Mufti of Jerusalem.
It also warned of the occupation attempts to enact a law that allows Jews to pray in Al-Aqsa Mosque, and considered it a flagrant infringement on the sanctity of the mosque, which belongs to Muslims.
14 may 2013
Fateh, Hamas Meet in Cairo
Representatives of Hamas and Fatah are due to meet in Cairo on Tuesday 14th May, to discuss the formation of a Palestinian unity government.
Member of the Fatah Central Committee, Azzam al-Ahmed, said that his party will meet with Hamas to discuss the names of candidates who would serve as ministers in a unity government that would be headed by Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas.
Abbas is also scheduled to visit Cairo on Thursday for talks with Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi aimed to discuss latest development of the Palestinian affair, especially the issue of the Palestinian reconciliation under Egypt auspices.
It's worth mentioning that last year, Hamas and Fatah reached an agreement in Doha, Qatar, to form a unity government that would pave the way for new presidential and parliamentary elections. The agreement stipulates that the new government would be headed by Abbas. Yet, Hamas refused the idea and said it's an unilateral move.
Fatah is hoping that Hamas would agree to join a unity government that would prepare for long-overdue presidential and parliamentary elections.
Barakat Al-Farra, the Palestinian Authority ambassador to Egypt, said that President Abbas will start Wednesday his 3-day official visit to Egypt to meet with his counterpart Mohammed Morsi.
"The meeting between the two presidents comes upon an invitation from Egypt, to seek issues including the Palestinian reconciliation," said Al-Farra, "In addition to, {discussing} the latest developments of the Palestinian political situation."
Member of the Fatah Central Committee, Azzam al-Ahmed, said that his party will meet with Hamas to discuss the names of candidates who would serve as ministers in a unity government that would be headed by Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas.
Abbas is also scheduled to visit Cairo on Thursday for talks with Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi aimed to discuss latest development of the Palestinian affair, especially the issue of the Palestinian reconciliation under Egypt auspices.
It's worth mentioning that last year, Hamas and Fatah reached an agreement in Doha, Qatar, to form a unity government that would pave the way for new presidential and parliamentary elections. The agreement stipulates that the new government would be headed by Abbas. Yet, Hamas refused the idea and said it's an unilateral move.
Fatah is hoping that Hamas would agree to join a unity government that would prepare for long-overdue presidential and parliamentary elections.
Barakat Al-Farra, the Palestinian Authority ambassador to Egypt, said that President Abbas will start Wednesday his 3-day official visit to Egypt to meet with his counterpart Mohammed Morsi.
"The meeting between the two presidents comes upon an invitation from Egypt, to seek issues including the Palestinian reconciliation," said Al-Farra, "In addition to, {discussing} the latest developments of the Palestinian political situation."
13 may 2013
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AL meeting on Palestine ends with no tangible result
The extraordinary meeting of the Arab League (AL) on recent Israeli aggression against Palestinian holy sites in East al-Quds (Jerusalem) has ended with no tangible results, Press TV reports.
The meeting was called for by Acting Palestinian Authority Chief Mahmoud Abbas in the Egyptian capital, Cairo, on Sunday. The meeting also discussed the recent detention of Grand Mufti of al-Quds Mohammed Hussein by Israeli forces. On Wednesday, the Israeli police said Mufti Mohammed Hussein was arrested at his home over suspicions of ‘involvement in Tuesday clashes in Al-Aqsa Mosque’. The mufti is in charge of al-Quds Islamic holy sites including Al-Aqsa Mosque. |
On Tuesday, violent clashes erupted between the Israeli settlers, soldiers and Palestinians following the entry of some 100 Israeli settlers into Al-Aqsa Mosque. Several Palestinians were reportedly injured, and several others were arrested.
Palestine representative, Barakat al-Fara, told the gathering that such acts will continue unabated as the long as the occupation exists.
The chairman of the session, for his part, condemned the Israeli aggression but didn’t allude to any new decision against such belligerent acts.
“The Israeli provocations that include an illegal blockade, an economic siege, the Judaization of al-Quds, and the continuous construction of [Zionist] settlements, indicate that Israel is not willing to achieve a just and lasting peace that would be based on international resolutions,” Egypt's Permanent Representative to the Arab League Ahmad Atta told the meeting.
Analysts say mere condemnation of Israeli aggressions is not likely to satisfy the Palestinian, Arab, and Muslim public opinion.
“The UN Security Council is the only body responsible for upholding international peace and security, and we have to admit that only the Security Council in today's world order can stop such dangerous aggressions like the ones taking place in Palestine at the hands of the Israeli occupation, or the recent aggression by the Israelis on Syria,” said Arab League Secretary-General Nabil al-Araby.
Observers say the Cairo meeting shows that the wake-up calls from the wave of Islamic Awakening across the Arab world has not reached the Arab League yet.
“At the time when the Israeli occupation continues with its relentless aggression in al-Quds, the Arab League has to cancel its so-called peace initiative that should have been considered dead by now,” said Arab journalist Ahmad Sobei.
Palestine representative, Barakat al-Fara, told the gathering that such acts will continue unabated as the long as the occupation exists.
The chairman of the session, for his part, condemned the Israeli aggression but didn’t allude to any new decision against such belligerent acts.
“The Israeli provocations that include an illegal blockade, an economic siege, the Judaization of al-Quds, and the continuous construction of [Zionist] settlements, indicate that Israel is not willing to achieve a just and lasting peace that would be based on international resolutions,” Egypt's Permanent Representative to the Arab League Ahmad Atta told the meeting.
Analysts say mere condemnation of Israeli aggressions is not likely to satisfy the Palestinian, Arab, and Muslim public opinion.
“The UN Security Council is the only body responsible for upholding international peace and security, and we have to admit that only the Security Council in today's world order can stop such dangerous aggressions like the ones taking place in Palestine at the hands of the Israeli occupation, or the recent aggression by the Israelis on Syria,” said Arab League Secretary-General Nabil al-Araby.
Observers say the Cairo meeting shows that the wake-up calls from the wave of Islamic Awakening across the Arab world has not reached the Arab League yet.
“At the time when the Israeli occupation continues with its relentless aggression in al-Quds, the Arab League has to cancel its so-called peace initiative that should have been considered dead by now,” said Arab journalist Ahmad Sobei.
12 may 2013
Abbas meets Israeli opposition leader
PA chairman Mahmoud Abbas met Israel's opposition leader and the head of Labor party Shelly Yachimovich in Ramallah on Sunday, Hebrew media sources reported.
The sources said that the two discussed peace and security conditions in the region and prospects for reinvigorating the negotiations process.The Hebrew radio said on its website that Yachimovich asked Abbas to return to negotiations and respond to the US efforts in this respect.
The radio quoted Yachimovich as saying that she had affirmed to Israeli premier Benjamin Netanyahu that the opposition would support any step toward concluding a peace deal with the Palestinians.
The sources said that the two discussed peace and security conditions in the region and prospects for reinvigorating the negotiations process.The Hebrew radio said on its website that Yachimovich asked Abbas to return to negotiations and respond to the US efforts in this respect.
The radio quoted Yachimovich as saying that she had affirmed to Israeli premier Benjamin Netanyahu that the opposition would support any step toward concluding a peace deal with the Palestinians.
Hamas delegation to Cairo to discuss reconciliation
A delegation of Hamas movement is to leave Gaza for Cairo on Sunday to discuss the faltering reconciliation process, political bureau member of Hamas Dr. Mahmoud Al-Zahhar, said.
Zahhar told a TV program on Saturday night that the reconciliation process came to a standstill a few months ago.
He said that his movement was insistent on implementing all reconciliation files as one package and holding elections for the Palestinian legislative council and the PLO at the same time.
Zahhar accused the Palestinian Authority in Ramallah with obstructing the reconciliation process because of its links to the US that refused ending the division, adding that Ramallah was still refusing to implement the Doha and Cairo agreements.
Reconciliation meetings between Hamas and Fatah came to a halt following American president Barack Obama’s visit to the region last March.
Zahhar told a TV program on Saturday night that the reconciliation process came to a standstill a few months ago.
He said that his movement was insistent on implementing all reconciliation files as one package and holding elections for the Palestinian legislative council and the PLO at the same time.
Zahhar accused the Palestinian Authority in Ramallah with obstructing the reconciliation process because of its links to the US that refused ending the division, adding that Ramallah was still refusing to implement the Doha and Cairo agreements.
Reconciliation meetings between Hamas and Fatah came to a halt following American president Barack Obama’s visit to the region last March.
Haneyya: The wounded in Gaza will continue to hold the resistance banner
Palestinian premier Ismail Haneyya said that the wounded in Gaza insist on carrying the banner of resistance and steadfastness despite the limbs or eyesight they have lost. Haneyya made his remarks during a ceremony held to inaugurate a forum for the wounded as part of the victims of war lounge in the Gaza Strip.
Haneyya said that the wounded in Gaza are still wearing the battlefield attire and ready to sacrifice more, although they have lost some of their parts, stressing that the real death does not happen to the body but to the heart.
"This place tells the story of a generation fighting and a people willing to get liberated from the occupation and have a state on the entire Palestinian soil with Jerusalem as its capital," the premier stated.
"We take pride before the nations in our martyrs, our wounded and our prisoners, who are in the lead, and we are keen on having every foreign delegation or any official or unofficial figure meet with the families of the martyrs, the prisoners and the wounded," he added.
He pointed out that Sheikh Ahmed Yasin, the founder of Hamas, was confined to a wheelchair, but he was successfully able to lead a generation and renew the spirit of this nation.
Haneyya said that the wounded in Gaza are still wearing the battlefield attire and ready to sacrifice more, although they have lost some of their parts, stressing that the real death does not happen to the body but to the heart.
"This place tells the story of a generation fighting and a people willing to get liberated from the occupation and have a state on the entire Palestinian soil with Jerusalem as its capital," the premier stated.
"We take pride before the nations in our martyrs, our wounded and our prisoners, who are in the lead, and we are keen on having every foreign delegation or any official or unofficial figure meet with the families of the martyrs, the prisoners and the wounded," he added.
He pointed out that Sheikh Ahmed Yasin, the founder of Hamas, was confined to a wheelchair, but he was successfully able to lead a generation and renew the spirit of this nation.
