28 sept 2013
Grenada and Haiti have officially recognized the State of Palestine in a ceremony held at the United Nations headquarters in New York City on Friday, Palestinian Authority Foreign Affairs Minister Riyad al-Maliki said.
Al-Malki signed separate agreements to establish diplomatic relations with his Grenadian and Haitian counterparts. The agreement means that the states will exchange ambassadors.
"This recognition highlights the collective international approval of Palestinian rights," said al-Maliki.
"It is a new success for Palestinian diplomacy," he added.
Grenada and Haiti join more than 130 states worldwide that maintain diplomatic relations and recognize the state of Palestine.
In 2012, the UN General Assembly overwhelmingly approved a resolution to upgrade Palestine to a "non-member state" at the United Nations, implicitly recognizing a Palestinian state.
The Czech Republic was unique in Europe, joining the United States, Israel, Canada, Panama and tiny Pacific Island states likes Nauru, Palau and Micronesia in voting against the move.
Al-Malki signed separate agreements to establish diplomatic relations with his Grenadian and Haitian counterparts. The agreement means that the states will exchange ambassadors.
"This recognition highlights the collective international approval of Palestinian rights," said al-Maliki.
"It is a new success for Palestinian diplomacy," he added.
Grenada and Haiti join more than 130 states worldwide that maintain diplomatic relations and recognize the state of Palestine.
In 2012, the UN General Assembly overwhelmingly approved a resolution to upgrade Palestine to a "non-member state" at the United Nations, implicitly recognizing a Palestinian state.
The Czech Republic was unique in Europe, joining the United States, Israel, Canada, Panama and tiny Pacific Island states likes Nauru, Palau and Micronesia in voting against the move.
Page 31 from US Army Terrorist, Insurgent & Militant Group Logo Recognition Guide [PDF]
A declassified US Army guide designed to help personnel recognize the logos of “Terrorist, Insurgent and Militant” groups includes a Palestinian flag.
The website Gizmodo describes the guide:
Written by the U.S. Army Training And Doctrine Command in 2009, this 60-odd page document (PDF) was designed to function, in the words of its creators, as “a hip pocket” reference book for soldiers in the field. Categorized by geography, it groups the logos and insignia of “insurgents, terrorists, paramilitary, and other militant groups worldwide.” That includes everything from photos of Russian mafia tattoos to Hezbollah logos, as well as a thorough auxiliary list of branding from the “media wings” of each group. It’s a visual taxonomy of terror.
But on page 31 of the army guide itself, [PDF] a simple Palestinian flag appears next to the name “Abu Nidal Organization (Sunni).”
The group, notorious in the 1970s, is designated as “inactive” by the US Department of Homeland Security-funded National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism at the University of Maryland.
Abu Nidal, the alias of Sabri al-Banna, died in Iraq in 2002.
Every other organization listed in the US Army guide’s “Israel-Palestine” section includes a specific logo. In other cases, such as in the “Central Africa” section on pages 43-44 of the guide, the notation “Not Available” is included next to the names of groups where no logo appears.
An Internet search did not reveal an example of a specific logo for the Abu Nidal Organization. Did the author of the Army guide, identified by Gizmodo as David Friedman, have the same problem and simply substitute a Palestinian flag?
In any case, even if the Palestinian flag were indeed the logo of any specific organization, the guide provides no warning or caveat that the Palestinian flag by itself should not be “recognized” as the symbol of a “terrorist, insurgent or militant” group given its global recognition as the flag of a country.
But that is what any army personnel relying on the guide would do.
Confused
A declassified US Army guide designed to help personnel recognize the logos of “Terrorist, Insurgent and Militant” groups includes a Palestinian flag.
The website Gizmodo describes the guide:
Written by the U.S. Army Training And Doctrine Command in 2009, this 60-odd page document (PDF) was designed to function, in the words of its creators, as “a hip pocket” reference book for soldiers in the field. Categorized by geography, it groups the logos and insignia of “insurgents, terrorists, paramilitary, and other militant groups worldwide.” That includes everything from photos of Russian mafia tattoos to Hezbollah logos, as well as a thorough auxiliary list of branding from the “media wings” of each group. It’s a visual taxonomy of terror.
But on page 31 of the army guide itself, [PDF] a simple Palestinian flag appears next to the name “Abu Nidal Organization (Sunni).”
The group, notorious in the 1970s, is designated as “inactive” by the US Department of Homeland Security-funded National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism at the University of Maryland.
Abu Nidal, the alias of Sabri al-Banna, died in Iraq in 2002.
Every other organization listed in the US Army guide’s “Israel-Palestine” section includes a specific logo. In other cases, such as in the “Central Africa” section on pages 43-44 of the guide, the notation “Not Available” is included next to the names of groups where no logo appears.
An Internet search did not reveal an example of a specific logo for the Abu Nidal Organization. Did the author of the Army guide, identified by Gizmodo as David Friedman, have the same problem and simply substitute a Palestinian flag?
In any case, even if the Palestinian flag were indeed the logo of any specific organization, the guide provides no warning or caveat that the Palestinian flag by itself should not be “recognized” as the symbol of a “terrorist, insurgent or militant” group given its global recognition as the flag of a country.
But that is what any army personnel relying on the guide would do.
Confused
Page 30 from US Army Terrorist, Insurgent & Militant Group Logo Recognition Guide [PDF]
The guide, which includes everything from Salvadoran gangs to Lebanon’s Hizballah to the Earth First environmental movement, appears to contain a lot of confused and incorrect information and careless categorizations typical of government agencies that lump all perceived enemies under the label “terrorist.”
For example, it arbitrarily categorizes many groups as “Islamist,” including, bizarrely the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine – both secular.
The Jewish extremist group, Kahane Chai, the only Jewish group in the section, is labeled “Radical Israeli” with no mention of its explicitly Jewish ideology.
The PLO’s dominant Fatah faction is described as “Sectarian Palestinian,” another nonsensical label.
US army training “terrorists”?
It is also bizarre that the PLO and its main faction Fatah should appear in a guide to “terrorist” groups at all.
PLO security forces, dominated by Fatah, and nominally commanded by US-backed Fatah leader Mahmoud Abbas, have been trained and funded for years by the United States.
Indeed, much of the training was done under the leadership and supervision of US Army general Keith Dayton.
The guide, which includes everything from Salvadoran gangs to Lebanon’s Hizballah to the Earth First environmental movement, appears to contain a lot of confused and incorrect information and careless categorizations typical of government agencies that lump all perceived enemies under the label “terrorist.”
For example, it arbitrarily categorizes many groups as “Islamist,” including, bizarrely the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine – both secular.
The Jewish extremist group, Kahane Chai, the only Jewish group in the section, is labeled “Radical Israeli” with no mention of its explicitly Jewish ideology.
The PLO’s dominant Fatah faction is described as “Sectarian Palestinian,” another nonsensical label.
US army training “terrorists”?
It is also bizarre that the PLO and its main faction Fatah should appear in a guide to “terrorist” groups at all.
PLO security forces, dominated by Fatah, and nominally commanded by US-backed Fatah leader Mahmoud Abbas, have been trained and funded for years by the United States.
Indeed, much of the training was done under the leadership and supervision of US Army general Keith Dayton.
26 sept 2013
Minister of Endowments and Religious Affairs in Gaza, Dr. Ismail Radwan warned that some bodies in the Ramallah government seek "to endanger the safety of some pilgrims from Gaza." Radwan expressed deep concern for the lives and safety of some pilgrims, in the wake of the information published by the Awraq News Network and which reveal that the General Intelligence Service of Ramallah government sent documents to the Egyptian military intelligence containing the names of 93 people described as Islamist activists and elements of the resistance.
The Minister of Endowments said his ministry ascertained that all the names contained in the published statements are names of pilgrims, and denounced such inciting practices.
He pointed out that these practices come within the series of fabrications and lies that aim to incite against the people of the Gaza Strip.
The official documents released by the PA's intelligence claimed that investigations disclosed that about 93 pilgrims from Gaza are affiliated with Hamas and the Islamic Jihad, in an attempt to prevent them from traveling to perform the pilgrimage in coordination with the Egyptian military intelligence.
The Minister of Endowments said his ministry ascertained that all the names contained in the published statements are names of pilgrims, and denounced such inciting practices.
He pointed out that these practices come within the series of fabrications and lies that aim to incite against the people of the Gaza Strip.
The official documents released by the PA's intelligence claimed that investigations disclosed that about 93 pilgrims from Gaza are affiliated with Hamas and the Islamic Jihad, in an attempt to prevent them from traveling to perform the pilgrimage in coordination with the Egyptian military intelligence.
On Saturday 28 September 2013, at 7:30 PM, AICafe invites you for Corporate responsibility for Israel's occupation: landmark case of Royal HaskoningDHV with Elisabeth Koek of Al Haq.
The Dutch company Royal HaskoningDHV pulled out of a project to design a wastewater treatment plant outside occupied East Jerusalem, after the Dutch government warned that its participation could violate international law. Israel claimed the plant would serve Palestinians. Israel, however, has cynically and systematically blocked development of Palestine's wastewater and sanitation sector, exploiting the resultant lack of plants to build its own in occupied Palestinian territory in order to "serve the Palestinians."
Come hear about this landmark case, the first in which a Dutch company cited concerns about international law as a reason for contract termination. What is the political importance of this case for the future of international corporate involvement in Israel's economy of occupation?
Elizabeth Koek is an international lawyer with the premiere Palestinian human rights organisation Al Haq.
Please join us for this important evening!
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.
The Dutch company Royal HaskoningDHV pulled out of a project to design a wastewater treatment plant outside occupied East Jerusalem, after the Dutch government warned that its participation could violate international law. Israel claimed the plant would serve Palestinians. Israel, however, has cynically and systematically blocked development of Palestine's wastewater and sanitation sector, exploiting the resultant lack of plants to build its own in occupied Palestinian territory in order to "serve the Palestinians."
Come hear about this landmark case, the first in which a Dutch company cited concerns about international law as a reason for contract termination. What is the political importance of this case for the future of international corporate involvement in Israel's economy of occupation?
Elizabeth Koek is an international lawyer with the premiere Palestinian human rights organisation Al Haq.
Please join us for this important evening!
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.
25 sept 2013
By Hugh Naylor
Within weeks after the Arab uprisings erupted in late 2010, Palestinians began voicing concerns that their struggle with Israel, the region’s main diplomatic preoccupation for decades, would be pushed into the shadows.
As predicted, the upheavals in Libya, Egypt, Bahrain and Syria soon replaced the Palestinian cause as the centre of diplomatic attention in Arab and western capitals.
Now the crisis over Syria’s chemical weapons and renewed hopes of a multilateral deal with Iran over its nuclear programme have, if anything, worsened the Palestinians’ predicament, said Palestinian Authority (PA) officials and analysts.
“Nobody’s talking about the Palestinians,” said Zakaria al Qaq, a lecturer on security issues at Jerusalem’s Al Quds University. “Once again, we’re alone.”
The resumption of talks with the Israelis in July, spurred by the dogged efforts of US Secretary of State John Kerry, provided a fleeting glimmer of hope. Since then, however, the negotiations have been orphaned by Washington, which instead has focused on efforts to cobble together a deal to put Syria’s chemical weapons arsenal under international supervision.
A particular source of dismay for the Palestinians is the absence of Martin Indyk, the chief US envoy to the talks, from all but one of the six negotiating sessions that have taken place so far.
“We complained to the [US] administration but they’ve done nothing,” the Palestinian official said.
Mr Kerry has acknowledged that his preoccupation with other issues has come at the expense of the Palestinian-Israeli talks and reportedly has promised Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas that he would devote more time to advancing them.
Despite these reassurances, however, there is a lingering suspicion among Palestinian officials that the Israelis and Americans have again abandoned Mr Abbas and left him politically exposed, even after he appeased Israel and the US by opting in favour of talks instead of further moves for Palestinian statehood in multilateral organisations.
That suspicion was reinforced after the restart of negotiations, when Israel announced the construction of more than 3,000 new homes for Jewish settlers in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem.
Still, the PA officials have little choice but to mute their criticism, due to their dependence on aid from Washington. Mr Abbas does not want to anger Washington, Palestinian officials said.
“They are doing everything by the book because they know they will be blamed if the talks fail,” said Nour Odeh, a former PA spokeswoman.
Labib Kamhawi, an independent political analyst who lives in Amman, said there are precedents for continuing some semblance of talks and crises swell elsewhere, citing Palestinian-Israeli peace initiatives during the US-led invasions of Iraq in 1991 and 2003.
“This seems to show the Americans want to demonstrate there is some sort of process going on,” he said, “hoping this might release tensions in the region.”
More worrying still to the Palestinians are recent events in Egypt, which have seen Israel emboldened by the ouster of the Islamist president, Mohammed Morsi, and his replacement by a military-led interim government, Mr Kamhawi said.
“If we are to conclude from all the latest developments, we can safely conclude that Israel is the only country that has benefitted from the situation,” he said.
If there is any Palestinian that can be said to be worse off than a resident of the West Bank, it is a resident of the Gaza Strip.
Israel has been joined in its blockade of the Gaza Strip by Egypt, which is collapsing the tunnels that have served as a vital economic channel to the outside world. Cairo fears that Hamas militants could join the Muslim Brotherhood if it chooses to take up arms against efforts by the interim government to eradicate it.
Many ordinary Palestinians say that the removal of Mr Morsi, Hamas’s ally in Cairo, has undermined the one alternative to Palestinian-Israeli talks that could substantially improve the Palestinians’ predicament: Fatah-Hamas reconciliation.
For Fatah officials who chaffed at being pushed aside by Mr Morsi as Cairo’s preferred Palestinian political faction, his ouster has brought quiet gloating. For leaders of Hamas, it has aroused “paranoia,” said Nathan Thrall, a Jerusalem-based analyst for the International Crisis Group.
“They do have a real fear of some kind of collusion between Israel, the PA and Egypt,” he said.
The addition of yet another source of antagonism between the two main Palestinian political factions has shattered hopes of Palestinian reconciliation any time soo.
Within weeks after the Arab uprisings erupted in late 2010, Palestinians began voicing concerns that their struggle with Israel, the region’s main diplomatic preoccupation for decades, would be pushed into the shadows.
As predicted, the upheavals in Libya, Egypt, Bahrain and Syria soon replaced the Palestinian cause as the centre of diplomatic attention in Arab and western capitals.
Now the crisis over Syria’s chemical weapons and renewed hopes of a multilateral deal with Iran over its nuclear programme have, if anything, worsened the Palestinians’ predicament, said Palestinian Authority (PA) officials and analysts.
“Nobody’s talking about the Palestinians,” said Zakaria al Qaq, a lecturer on security issues at Jerusalem’s Al Quds University. “Once again, we’re alone.”
The resumption of talks with the Israelis in July, spurred by the dogged efforts of US Secretary of State John Kerry, provided a fleeting glimmer of hope. Since then, however, the negotiations have been orphaned by Washington, which instead has focused on efforts to cobble together a deal to put Syria’s chemical weapons arsenal under international supervision.
A particular source of dismay for the Palestinians is the absence of Martin Indyk, the chief US envoy to the talks, from all but one of the six negotiating sessions that have taken place so far.
“We complained to the [US] administration but they’ve done nothing,” the Palestinian official said.
Mr Kerry has acknowledged that his preoccupation with other issues has come at the expense of the Palestinian-Israeli talks and reportedly has promised Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas that he would devote more time to advancing them.
Despite these reassurances, however, there is a lingering suspicion among Palestinian officials that the Israelis and Americans have again abandoned Mr Abbas and left him politically exposed, even after he appeased Israel and the US by opting in favour of talks instead of further moves for Palestinian statehood in multilateral organisations.
That suspicion was reinforced after the restart of negotiations, when Israel announced the construction of more than 3,000 new homes for Jewish settlers in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem.
Still, the PA officials have little choice but to mute their criticism, due to their dependence on aid from Washington. Mr Abbas does not want to anger Washington, Palestinian officials said.
“They are doing everything by the book because they know they will be blamed if the talks fail,” said Nour Odeh, a former PA spokeswoman.
Labib Kamhawi, an independent political analyst who lives in Amman, said there are precedents for continuing some semblance of talks and crises swell elsewhere, citing Palestinian-Israeli peace initiatives during the US-led invasions of Iraq in 1991 and 2003.
“This seems to show the Americans want to demonstrate there is some sort of process going on,” he said, “hoping this might release tensions in the region.”
More worrying still to the Palestinians are recent events in Egypt, which have seen Israel emboldened by the ouster of the Islamist president, Mohammed Morsi, and his replacement by a military-led interim government, Mr Kamhawi said.
“If we are to conclude from all the latest developments, we can safely conclude that Israel is the only country that has benefitted from the situation,” he said.
If there is any Palestinian that can be said to be worse off than a resident of the West Bank, it is a resident of the Gaza Strip.
Israel has been joined in its blockade of the Gaza Strip by Egypt, which is collapsing the tunnels that have served as a vital economic channel to the outside world. Cairo fears that Hamas militants could join the Muslim Brotherhood if it chooses to take up arms against efforts by the interim government to eradicate it.
Many ordinary Palestinians say that the removal of Mr Morsi, Hamas’s ally in Cairo, has undermined the one alternative to Palestinian-Israeli talks that could substantially improve the Palestinians’ predicament: Fatah-Hamas reconciliation.
For Fatah officials who chaffed at being pushed aside by Mr Morsi as Cairo’s preferred Palestinian political faction, his ouster has brought quiet gloating. For leaders of Hamas, it has aroused “paranoia,” said Nathan Thrall, a Jerusalem-based analyst for the International Crisis Group.
“They do have a real fear of some kind of collusion between Israel, the PA and Egypt,” he said.
The addition of yet another source of antagonism between the two main Palestinian political factions has shattered hopes of Palestinian reconciliation any time soo.
MP Khaled Tafesh said that the Palestinian people would not remain silent for long vis-à-vis the Israeli occupation’s practices. He told the PIC on Wednesday that the Israeli arrogance and practices in the West Bank and Judaization schemes in Jerusalem would soon trigger a third intifada.
The MP said that the futile negotiation, which did not bring anything good for the Palestinian people, was another factor in igniting a new uprising.
Asked whether the Palestinians’ economic conditions allowed for a new uprising, Tafesh said that there would be no obstacles before the Palestinian people’s revolt and the bad economic condition would serve as another impetus for the revolt.
The lawmaker explained, “The economic conditions, whether good or bad, will not sway the Palestinian people away from resisting occupation and standing up to its aggressive policy”.
The MP said that the futile negotiation, which did not bring anything good for the Palestinian people, was another factor in igniting a new uprising.
Asked whether the Palestinians’ economic conditions allowed for a new uprising, Tafesh said that there would be no obstacles before the Palestinian people’s revolt and the bad economic condition would serve as another impetus for the revolt.
The lawmaker explained, “The economic conditions, whether good or bad, will not sway the Palestinian people away from resisting occupation and standing up to its aggressive policy”.
The Palestinian government in Gaza strongly denounced the daily attempts by the Israeli occupation forces and the Jewish settlers to desecrate the Aqsa Mosque, renewing its appeal to the Arab League and the organization of Islamic cooperation (OIC) to urgently move to save the Mosque. In a press release issued following its weekly meeting on Tuesday, the government declared its support for the invitation made by head of Hamas's political bureau Khaled Mashaal for the Palestinians to go on angry massive marches for the Aqsa Mosque next Friday throughout occupied Palestine.
The government also appealed anew to the de facto Egyptian regime to immediately open the Rafah border crossing to avoid further deterioration of the humanitarian situation in Gaza.
The government expressed its shock and dismay at the remarks made recently by the Egyptian minister of foreign affairs about military and security options against Gaza, stressing that this position contradicts Egypt's historical role in protecting the Palestinian people and supporting their national cause.
It added that such threats by an Egyptian official were unjustified and would fuel the tense atmosphere between Gaza and Egypt.
In another context, the government deplored de facto president Mahmoud Abbas for his stated position against the recent resistance attacks on Israeli soldiers and his appeal to the Jews to support him personally.
It also condemned the Palestinian authority and Fatah for inciting through the media against the Palestinians and their resistance in Gaza and urging Egypt to close the Rafah border crossing.
The government also appealed anew to the de facto Egyptian regime to immediately open the Rafah border crossing to avoid further deterioration of the humanitarian situation in Gaza.
The government expressed its shock and dismay at the remarks made recently by the Egyptian minister of foreign affairs about military and security options against Gaza, stressing that this position contradicts Egypt's historical role in protecting the Palestinian people and supporting their national cause.
It added that such threats by an Egyptian official were unjustified and would fuel the tense atmosphere between Gaza and Egypt.
In another context, the government deplored de facto president Mahmoud Abbas for his stated position against the recent resistance attacks on Israeli soldiers and his appeal to the Jews to support him personally.
It also condemned the Palestinian authority and Fatah for inciting through the media against the Palestinians and their resistance in Gaza and urging Egypt to close the Rafah border crossing.
24 sept 2013
At this week’s annual top-level UN General Assembly meetings, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas will honour a promise to the US to suspend a Palestinian quest for further UN recognition.
But Palestinians have made clear that the strategy is not off the table, particularly if negotiations with Israel on Palestinian statehood don’t produce an agreement by April, the target proposed by Washington.
A poll published Monday indicates overwhelming support among Palestinians for the most dramatic element of the “international strategy” — bringing up Israel on war crimes charges at the International Criminal Court in connection with Israel’s continued settlement-building on war-won lands that the Palestinians want for their state.
For now, Abbas will stick to his promise to US Secretary of State John Kerry, who prodded Israelis and Palestinians back to negotiations in late July, after a five-year break. “We will not apply for any agency of the United Nations this time,” Riad Mansour, the head of the Palestinian mission at the UN, said of the General Assembly meetings that began Monday.
This year’s UN diplomacy is likely dominated by Syria’s civil war and Iran’s suspected nuclear ambitions. Abbas is addressing the plenum Thursday and is to meet a series of leaders, including President Barack Obama, on Tuesday. He is also set to talk with Kerry, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton.
A year ago, Abbas used the General Assembly gathering to lobby for recognition of Palestine as a non-member observer state at the UN. Two months later, the General Assembly overwhelmingly approved the request, recognising a state of Palestine in the West Bank, Gaza Strip and East Jerusalem — lands Israel occupied in 1967 — by a vote of 138-9, with 41 abstentions.
Israel and the US objected, arguing that such recognition harms attempts to negotiate the terms of Palestinian statehood in Israeli-Palestinian talks, with US mediation. Talks between Abbas and then-Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert had broken down in 2008, and Abbas and Olmert’s successor, Benjamin Netanyahu, failed to find sufficient common ground.
Abbas has said UN recognition is not a bypass to negotiations, but meant to improve Palestinian leverage in the lopsided relationship between occupier and occupied. Palestinians say that in affirming the 1967 frontier, the UN helped counter Israeli attempts to blur that line through massive settlement building. More than a half-million Israelis now live on war-won lands, complicating any effort to partition the territory under a future peace deal.
Palestinians resumed talks with Israel in July despite low expectations, and without getting Israel to freeze settlement-building first. Yet Abbas could not afford to rebuff Obama at the time by saying no. Israel’s promise to release 104 long-held Palestinian prisoners over the course of the talks also helped bring Abbas back to the table.
Abbas, in turn, promised to suspend his UN strategy, which Israel fears will heighten its diplomatic isolation. As part of that strategy, the Palestinians would seek membership in a number of UN agencies. The most dramatic step would be to seek action by the International Criminal Court, though Abbas hasn’t yet given the green light.
The Palestinian Centre for Policy and Survey Research said 60 per cent of Palestinians back Abbas’ decision to refrain from seeking membership in UN agencies for the duration of negotiations with Israel, in return for the release of prisoners.
However, 67 per cent support going to the ICC immediately, even if it means prisoners won’t be released or Israel retaliates with financial sanctions, according to pollster Khalil Shikaki.
He said the ICC option is popular because a majority of Palestinians don’t have faith in negotiations but also oppose a return to violence. “People want revenge because they see Israel is getting away with ... the theft of their land, confiscation of their property, bringing in settlers... and they feel there’s absolutely nothing they are able to do against it,” Shikaki added.
The survey was conducted September 19-21 among 1,261 respondents, with an error margin of 3 percentage points.
Political analyst Majed Swailem said Abbas is unlikely to abandon the UN strategy, despite the current suspension.
“The UN is the only strategy for Abbas, in case the current round of negotiations fails, as is expected,” Swailem said. “By the end of the assigned nine months, he can’t continue talking without any result and, of course, will return to the UN”.
But Palestinians have made clear that the strategy is not off the table, particularly if negotiations with Israel on Palestinian statehood don’t produce an agreement by April, the target proposed by Washington.
A poll published Monday indicates overwhelming support among Palestinians for the most dramatic element of the “international strategy” — bringing up Israel on war crimes charges at the International Criminal Court in connection with Israel’s continued settlement-building on war-won lands that the Palestinians want for their state.
For now, Abbas will stick to his promise to US Secretary of State John Kerry, who prodded Israelis and Palestinians back to negotiations in late July, after a five-year break. “We will not apply for any agency of the United Nations this time,” Riad Mansour, the head of the Palestinian mission at the UN, said of the General Assembly meetings that began Monday.
This year’s UN diplomacy is likely dominated by Syria’s civil war and Iran’s suspected nuclear ambitions. Abbas is addressing the plenum Thursday and is to meet a series of leaders, including President Barack Obama, on Tuesday. He is also set to talk with Kerry, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton.
A year ago, Abbas used the General Assembly gathering to lobby for recognition of Palestine as a non-member observer state at the UN. Two months later, the General Assembly overwhelmingly approved the request, recognising a state of Palestine in the West Bank, Gaza Strip and East Jerusalem — lands Israel occupied in 1967 — by a vote of 138-9, with 41 abstentions.
Israel and the US objected, arguing that such recognition harms attempts to negotiate the terms of Palestinian statehood in Israeli-Palestinian talks, with US mediation. Talks between Abbas and then-Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert had broken down in 2008, and Abbas and Olmert’s successor, Benjamin Netanyahu, failed to find sufficient common ground.
Abbas has said UN recognition is not a bypass to negotiations, but meant to improve Palestinian leverage in the lopsided relationship between occupier and occupied. Palestinians say that in affirming the 1967 frontier, the UN helped counter Israeli attempts to blur that line through massive settlement building. More than a half-million Israelis now live on war-won lands, complicating any effort to partition the territory under a future peace deal.
Palestinians resumed talks with Israel in July despite low expectations, and without getting Israel to freeze settlement-building first. Yet Abbas could not afford to rebuff Obama at the time by saying no. Israel’s promise to release 104 long-held Palestinian prisoners over the course of the talks also helped bring Abbas back to the table.
Abbas, in turn, promised to suspend his UN strategy, which Israel fears will heighten its diplomatic isolation. As part of that strategy, the Palestinians would seek membership in a number of UN agencies. The most dramatic step would be to seek action by the International Criminal Court, though Abbas hasn’t yet given the green light.
The Palestinian Centre for Policy and Survey Research said 60 per cent of Palestinians back Abbas’ decision to refrain from seeking membership in UN agencies for the duration of negotiations with Israel, in return for the release of prisoners.
However, 67 per cent support going to the ICC immediately, even if it means prisoners won’t be released or Israel retaliates with financial sanctions, according to pollster Khalil Shikaki.
He said the ICC option is popular because a majority of Palestinians don’t have faith in negotiations but also oppose a return to violence. “People want revenge because they see Israel is getting away with ... the theft of their land, confiscation of their property, bringing in settlers... and they feel there’s absolutely nothing they are able to do against it,” Shikaki added.
The survey was conducted September 19-21 among 1,261 respondents, with an error margin of 3 percentage points.
Political analyst Majed Swailem said Abbas is unlikely to abandon the UN strategy, despite the current suspension.
“The UN is the only strategy for Abbas, in case the current round of negotiations fails, as is expected,” Swailem said. “By the end of the assigned nine months, he can’t continue talking without any result and, of course, will return to the UN”.
23 sept 2013
Political bureau member of Hamas Dr. Mousa Abu Marzuok has belittled the importance of US secretary of state John Kerry’s economic plan for the West Bank. He said in a statement on his Facebook account on Monday that the four billion dollars plan would not succeed in saving the Palestinian Authority from political failure and would not abort a third intifada, which is in the offing.
Abu Marzouk noted an escalation in Israeli raids into West Bank refugee camps over the past few weeks that led to the martyrdom of a number of young men.
He also noted growing protests against negotiations and security coordination.
The Hamas leader said that recent targeting of Israeli soldiers served, along with the previous facts, as additional pointers to the approaching intifada.
Abu Marzouk noted an escalation in Israeli raids into West Bank refugee camps over the past few weeks that led to the martyrdom of a number of young men.
He also noted growing protests against negotiations and security coordination.
The Hamas leader said that recent targeting of Israeli soldiers served, along with the previous facts, as additional pointers to the approaching intifada.
22 sept 2013
Coalition of Palestinian Youths of Intifada called for a day of escalation of protests against the occupation on the 13th anniversary of Al-Aqsa Intifada, and organizing next Friday events in support of the Aqsa Mosque against the ongoing Judaization plans. The coalition called in a statement on Saturday evening on the Palestinian masses, particularly the youths, to protest against the occupation, reminding of the role of young people in igniting the uprisings of 1987 and 2000.
The statement pointed out that the Intifada will always unite the Palestinian people as it did in the past, and called for confronting the occupation forces in all areas of contact in the occupied West Bank, the Gaza Strip, Jerusalem and the 1948 occupied territories.
The statement was marking the anniversary of the Al-Aqsa Intifada, and hailed the Palestinian people for the enormous sacrifices they made to achieve their goals, liberate their land and achieve the right of return.
It also reiterated that Al-Aqsa Intifada has proved that the Israeli repression and terrorism cannot break the will of the people.
The statement pointed out that the Intifada will always unite the Palestinian people as it did in the past, and called for confronting the occupation forces in all areas of contact in the occupied West Bank, the Gaza Strip, Jerusalem and the 1948 occupied territories.
The statement was marking the anniversary of the Al-Aqsa Intifada, and hailed the Palestinian people for the enormous sacrifices they made to achieve their goals, liberate their land and achieve the right of return.
It also reiterated that Al-Aqsa Intifada has proved that the Israeli repression and terrorism cannot break the will of the people.
21 sept 2013
The syndicate of West Bank engineers is set to start a series of protests against the Palestinian Authority on Sunday, an official said.
Ahmad Adeli, who chairs the syndicate, told Ma'an Saturday that demonstrations would take place in all major West Bank cities at 10.30 a.m. to protest the PA's failure to implement agreements signed with the syndicate six months ago.
The PA approved a 25 percent salary bonus to 1,680 engineers working in the public sector and approved a regular salary increase for engineers, Adeli said.
None of the promised agreements have been implemented.
Ahmad Adeli, who chairs the syndicate, told Ma'an Saturday that demonstrations would take place in all major West Bank cities at 10.30 a.m. to protest the PA's failure to implement agreements signed with the syndicate six months ago.
The PA approved a 25 percent salary bonus to 1,680 engineers working in the public sector and approved a regular salary increase for engineers, Adeli said.
None of the promised agreements have been implemented.
20 sept 2013
Palestinian Foreign Minister Riad al-Malki paid a visit to Canada and met with the Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird. They discussed last developments on the Palestinian and Arabic political arena and also talked about the obstacles Israel has created to discussing the basic issues of the peace process during negotiations.
They also talked about the continued illegal Israeli settlement construction and the Israeli government's and settlers' attacks on Palestinians and their properties as well as the daily raids on the Palestinian cities; especially the refugee camps.
Al-Malki said during a joint Ottawa news conference with Minister John Baird that Canada has been a great contributor to the Palestinian Authority's building and developing projects. Baird pointed out that Canada's $300 million, five-year aid pledge to the Palestinian Authority, which was due to expire in March, has been extended for one year. He also committed to another long-term package.
Al-Malki praised Canada for its support of the peace process, and for extending the aid pledge as well as giving aid to the building of a court in the West Bank city of Tulkarem.
They also talked about the continued illegal Israeli settlement construction and the Israeli government's and settlers' attacks on Palestinians and their properties as well as the daily raids on the Palestinian cities; especially the refugee camps.
Al-Malki said during a joint Ottawa news conference with Minister John Baird that Canada has been a great contributor to the Palestinian Authority's building and developing projects. Baird pointed out that Canada's $300 million, five-year aid pledge to the Palestinian Authority, which was due to expire in March, has been extended for one year. He also committed to another long-term package.
Al-Malki praised Canada for its support of the peace process, and for extending the aid pledge as well as giving aid to the building of a court in the West Bank city of Tulkarem.
Former Minister of Detainees, Wasfi Qabaha confirmed that the so-called Rebellion movement in the Gaza Strip is an attempt to create a state of chaos in the strip as part of the enemies' schemes. Suspicious efforts have been made to support this movement in the besieged strip, he said calling on the Gaza government and Hamas to deal seriously with such attempts.
Concerning the ongoing protests against Oslo accords and resumption of “peace talks”, Qubaha stressed the need to unite all Palestinian efforts to cancel the Oslo agreement.
He expressed satisfaction towards the Palestinian youths' awareness of the serious impacts of the agreement on the Palestinian cause and constants, calling for reinforcement of the culture of resistance in the Palestinian society.
He said that Israeli attacks against al-Aqsa mosque have been escalated where the ongoing negotiations provide a cover to the occupation Judaization schemes.
Concerning the ongoing protests against Oslo accords and resumption of “peace talks”, Qubaha stressed the need to unite all Palestinian efforts to cancel the Oslo agreement.
He expressed satisfaction towards the Palestinian youths' awareness of the serious impacts of the agreement on the Palestinian cause and constants, calling for reinforcement of the culture of resistance in the Palestinian society.
He said that Israeli attacks against al-Aqsa mosque have been escalated where the ongoing negotiations provide a cover to the occupation Judaization schemes.
Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah and his 24 Cabinet ministers were sworn in on Thursday, in front of Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas in the West Bank city of Ramallah, on Thursday. This is the 16th Palestinian government since the formation of the Palestinian Authority (PA) 20 years ago.
Hamdallah, former president at An-Najah University in Nablus, resigned as prime minister on June 21, less than three weeks after taking office, due to disagreements with President Abbas.
However, Hamdallah later backtracked and apologized to Abbas for his resignation. Yesterday Hamdallah presented the ‘new’ government, which is identical to its predecessor.
The Los Angeles Times reports that Hamdallah's spokesman, Ihab Bseiso, said the new government plans to focus on economic development and investment.
Abbas and Hamdallah will be attending United Nations General Assembly and a meeting of the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee of donor countries in New York. While in New York, Abbas will also meet with President Obama to discuss Palestinian-Israeli peace negotiations on Monday.
Hamdallah, former president at An-Najah University in Nablus, resigned as prime minister on June 21, less than three weeks after taking office, due to disagreements with President Abbas.
However, Hamdallah later backtracked and apologized to Abbas for his resignation. Yesterday Hamdallah presented the ‘new’ government, which is identical to its predecessor.
The Los Angeles Times reports that Hamdallah's spokesman, Ihab Bseiso, said the new government plans to focus on economic development and investment.
Abbas and Hamdallah will be attending United Nations General Assembly and a meeting of the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee of donor countries in New York. While in New York, Abbas will also meet with President Obama to discuss Palestinian-Israeli peace negotiations on Monday.
19 sept 2013
Later today the 16th Palestinian government, headed by Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah, will be sworn in.
Following a meeting between Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbasand Hamdallah at the president's office in Ramallah, Abbas announced his approval of the transitional government’s performance. He praised the government for gaining international and Arab support throughout the world in such a short time.
Rami Hamdallah stressed his governments dedication and commitment to implementing President Abbas’ agendas.
Following a meeting between Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbasand Hamdallah at the president's office in Ramallah, Abbas announced his approval of the transitional government’s performance. He praised the government for gaining international and Arab support throughout the world in such a short time.
Rami Hamdallah stressed his governments dedication and commitment to implementing President Abbas’ agendas.
Marwan Abdel Hamid, The president of World Federation of Engineering Organizations
Engineer Marwan Abdel Hamid, the Secretary-General of the Palestinian Engineers Union, won the presidency of World Federation of Engineering Organizations (WFEO) which comprises of 93 countries and more than 20 million engineers as members. Adnan Samara, the official of internal relations at the WFEO said on Wednesday that this success is a great achievement for Palestine , " it will open the door widely for the partnership between Palestinian engineers and their counterparts in other countries," he said.
Samara noted that Palestine will gain a lot of benefit on information, economic, political and experience level , " We do not fear of Israel, it is a weak member in the federation and does not have so much effect ," he went on.
Engineer Marwan Abdel Hamid, the Secretary-General of the Palestinian Engineers Union, won the presidency of World Federation of Engineering Organizations (WFEO) which comprises of 93 countries and more than 20 million engineers as members. Adnan Samara, the official of internal relations at the WFEO said on Wednesday that this success is a great achievement for Palestine , " it will open the door widely for the partnership between Palestinian engineers and their counterparts in other countries," he said.
Samara noted that Palestine will gain a lot of benefit on information, economic, political and experience level , " We do not fear of Israel, it is a weak member in the federation and does not have so much effect ," he went on.
18 sept 2013
Unidentified gunmen shot and injured a wedding singer and his brother in the Jenin district late Tuesday, locals said.
Basil Jabarin and his brother Anas, both from al-Tayba, were on their way home after singing at a wedding party in the neighboring village when their car came under fire.
The attack took place on a road between Silat al-Harithiya and Tinnik, north of Jenin.
Both men were evacuated to hospital with leg injuries.
Basil Jabarin and his brother Anas, both from al-Tayba, were on their way home after singing at a wedding party in the neighboring village when their car came under fire.
The attack took place on a road between Silat al-Harithiya and Tinnik, north of Jenin.
Both men were evacuated to hospital with leg injuries.
17 sept 2013
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Four female officers in the Palestinian national security service have received training in Russia as paratroopers, a security official told Ma'an Tuesday.
"Four women in their early twenties were chosen for this unprecedented experience in the Arab world, and in Palestine in particular," Hafith Rifaay, a national security spokesman told Ma'an. "They hovered like hawks in the sky seeking to raise the name of a homeland which has always been present in the international arena," he added. The four security officers completed various training courses, including training in 'thunderbolt' units. They were chosen to perform paratrooper training in Russia and will join several other training courses afterwards. |
"At first we felt a little bit scared, but as we remembered we are here to raise the name of our homeland high, we forgot our fears and started to check on each other until we landed safely," Manar Barahma, 20, told Ma'an
Barahma said that she and several other women joined the Palestinian national security services over a year ago.
Barahma said that she and several other women joined the Palestinian national security services over a year ago.
Senior Hamas official Mahmoud Azzahar said that his Movement and Islamic Jihad formed a joint command aimed at coordinating the efforts at all levels to address the current challenges and developments in the Gaza Strip. Zahhar made his remarks during a political meeting held on Monday evening between Hamas and Islamic Jihad leaders.
"We are confident that God will help us if we join our ranks and strengthen our front," Zahhar stated during the meeting.
"We have held with the Islamic Jihad Movement seven conferences during which we were able to form a unified command and choose four leaders from both factions to run the meetings and coordinate the work," he added.
For his part, senior Islamic Jihad official Mohamed Al-Hendi said that the meetings between the two movements are an important step to pool the efforts and face the challenges.
During his speech, Hendi talked about the Zio-American schemes to control the world mentally and geographically in order to prevent any Islamic renaissance in the region.
"The Arab Spring people revolted unexpectedly and the regimes were violently hit. We also did not imagine that the Islamists would win in Egypt and Tunisia, but now America is back again to control the potentials of these countries," the Islamic Jihad official stated.
"We are confident that God will help us if we join our ranks and strengthen our front," Zahhar stated during the meeting.
"We have held with the Islamic Jihad Movement seven conferences during which we were able to form a unified command and choose four leaders from both factions to run the meetings and coordinate the work," he added.
For his part, senior Islamic Jihad official Mohamed Al-Hendi said that the meetings between the two movements are an important step to pool the efforts and face the challenges.
During his speech, Hendi talked about the Zio-American schemes to control the world mentally and geographically in order to prevent any Islamic renaissance in the region.
"The Arab Spring people revolted unexpectedly and the regimes were violently hit. We also did not imagine that the Islamists would win in Egypt and Tunisia, but now America is back again to control the potentials of these countries," the Islamic Jihad official stated.
Palestinian MP Mona Mansour said Israel seeks to impose on the Palestinians its racist vision of the form and the borders of a future Palestinian state that will have no borders outside the occupation state. MP Mona Mansour strongly denounced the demolitions in Khirbet Makhoul in the Northern Jordan Valley and the displacement of its inhabitants by the Israeli occupation authorities.
She said in a press statement on Monday, commenting on the demolition, that the IOA seeks through its attacks and racist procedures against the Palestinians to facilitate the process of grabbing the Palestinian land after evacuating it from its owners and indigenous population.
Mansour pointed out that "the occupation authorities are using the negotiations as a cover for its persistent aggressions against the Palestinian people and their properties in the West Bank, the Jordan Valley and the city of Jerusalem."
She added that the international and local silence had encouraged Israel to commit more crimes.
The MP called on the Palestinian negotiator to shoulder his responsibilities by taking a bold step and stop the negotiations with the occupation, then work on achieving national unity.
She said in a press statement on Monday, commenting on the demolition, that the IOA seeks through its attacks and racist procedures against the Palestinians to facilitate the process of grabbing the Palestinian land after evacuating it from its owners and indigenous population.
Mansour pointed out that "the occupation authorities are using the negotiations as a cover for its persistent aggressions against the Palestinian people and their properties in the West Bank, the Jordan Valley and the city of Jerusalem."
She added that the international and local silence had encouraged Israel to commit more crimes.
The MP called on the Palestinian negotiator to shoulder his responsibilities by taking a bold step and stop the negotiations with the occupation, then work on achieving national unity.
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas announced on Sunday that the border between the future Palestinian state and Jordan will extend from the Dead Sea, through the Jordan Valley, and all the way up to Beit She’an, The Jerusalem Post reported.
The newspaper quoted Abbas as saying, “We are working with the US administration and the other members of the Quartet [the UN, the EU and Russia] to make the peace process succeed.”
“This is a Palestinian-Jordanian border, and that’s how it will remain,” he added, “Frankly Israel won’t be present between us and Jordan.”
An Israeli government official responded to Abbas’s comments about the new Palestinian border by saying that “if there is going to be a peace agreement, the Palestinians will have to engage seriously on Israel’s security concerns.”
According to the official, “If the Palestinians want to see an independent state, they have to be able to deal seriously with Israel’s security concerns. If they run away from this issue, they will be pushing away the chance of the deal and the creation of an independent Palestinian state.”
Abbas expressed the PA and PLO dedication to reaching a just and lasting solution to Israel’s occupation. He said, “If there are good and peaceful intentions, then we are ready for peace,” but insisted that the border of the Palestinian state will extend all the way up to Beit She’an, the newspaper added.
The newspaper quoted Abbas as saying, “We are working with the US administration and the other members of the Quartet [the UN, the EU and Russia] to make the peace process succeed.”
“This is a Palestinian-Jordanian border, and that’s how it will remain,” he added, “Frankly Israel won’t be present between us and Jordan.”
An Israeli government official responded to Abbas’s comments about the new Palestinian border by saying that “if there is going to be a peace agreement, the Palestinians will have to engage seriously on Israel’s security concerns.”
According to the official, “If the Palestinians want to see an independent state, they have to be able to deal seriously with Israel’s security concerns. If they run away from this issue, they will be pushing away the chance of the deal and the creation of an independent Palestinian state.”
Abbas expressed the PA and PLO dedication to reaching a just and lasting solution to Israel’s occupation. He said, “If there are good and peaceful intentions, then we are ready for peace,” but insisted that the border of the Palestinian state will extend all the way up to Beit She’an, the newspaper added.
The Maariv daily reported that the Israeli Government Coalition, who is participating in the negotiation process with the Palestinians, has recently approved a plan to pave a new road from the illegal Gush Etzion settlement bloc to the Dead Sea.
Israeli ministers are scheduled Tuesday to visit the Gush Etzion bloc in the West Bank to view the project that will go into effect after four months, according to the newspaper.
Israeli Transportation Minister Yisrael Katz, Agriculture Minister Yair Shamir and Chairman Avigdor Lieberman of the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee will visit Gush Etzion bloc for their first work tour associated with the giant project, the newspaper added.
Chief executive officers of the Tourism Ministry and the Department of Public Works, as well as other professionals who deal with infrastructure and the settlement enterprise in the West Bank will also take part in the tour.
The road is intended to be the largest road connecting illegal settlements located in the southern West Bank to the Dead Sea, and will also connect Gush Etzion to Israel.
The project is estimated to cost $34 million and will reduce the time between Gush Etzion and the Dead Sea to around 30 minutes.
Maariv quoted an Israeli official from the Yesha Council and an Israeli government official as saying that the road project demonstrates the Jewish identity of the land, and will also strengthen Israeli tourism.
Israeli ministers are scheduled Tuesday to visit the Gush Etzion bloc in the West Bank to view the project that will go into effect after four months, according to the newspaper.
Israeli Transportation Minister Yisrael Katz, Agriculture Minister Yair Shamir and Chairman Avigdor Lieberman of the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee will visit Gush Etzion bloc for their first work tour associated with the giant project, the newspaper added.
Chief executive officers of the Tourism Ministry and the Department of Public Works, as well as other professionals who deal with infrastructure and the settlement enterprise in the West Bank will also take part in the tour.
The road is intended to be the largest road connecting illegal settlements located in the southern West Bank to the Dead Sea, and will also connect Gush Etzion to Israel.
The project is estimated to cost $34 million and will reduce the time between Gush Etzion and the Dead Sea to around 30 minutes.
Maariv quoted an Israeli official from the Yesha Council and an Israeli government official as saying that the road project demonstrates the Jewish identity of the land, and will also strengthen Israeli tourism.
16 sept 2013
The interim Palestinian Authority cabinet of caretaker prime minister Rami Hamdallah will convene on Tuesday for the last time before the expected announcement of a new permanent cabinet.
Ehab Bseiso, spokesman for the interim PA cabinet, told Ma'an that Palestinian Basic Law allows the interim PM five weeks to form a permanent government.
The legal five week term ends on Tuesday and Hamdallah is expected to propose a new cabinet to president Abbas.
An official date has yet to be set to announce the formation of a new government, Bseiso added.
Senior PLO official Jamal Muheisin told Ma'an that only a minor cabinet reshuffle is expected. The new cabinet was not announced before due to the busy travel schedule of caretaker PM Hamdallah, he added.
Abbas asked Hamdallah to form a new government on Aug. 13, and gave him a time-frame of 5 weeks.
Hamdallah resigned on June 23 after just over two weeks on the job, and was appointed interim prime minister.
Ehab Bseiso, spokesman for the interim PA cabinet, told Ma'an that Palestinian Basic Law allows the interim PM five weeks to form a permanent government.
The legal five week term ends on Tuesday and Hamdallah is expected to propose a new cabinet to president Abbas.
An official date has yet to be set to announce the formation of a new government, Bseiso added.
Senior PLO official Jamal Muheisin told Ma'an that only a minor cabinet reshuffle is expected. The new cabinet was not announced before due to the busy travel schedule of caretaker PM Hamdallah, he added.
Abbas asked Hamdallah to form a new government on Aug. 13, and gave him a time-frame of 5 weeks.
Hamdallah resigned on June 23 after just over two weeks on the job, and was appointed interim prime minister.