4 dec 2013
Kerry hopes that if he comes to an understanding with Netanyahu on the security issue, the premier will be obliged to present a clear position on borders.
The United States has developed a plan for security arrangements in theWest Bank following the establishment of a Palestinian state. Retired U.S. Gen. John Allen, who developed the security concept, will present it during a meeting in Jerusalem on Thursday between Prime MinisterBenjamin Netanyahu and U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, according to informed sources.
Against the backdrop of tension between Israel and the United States over the Iranian nuclear issue, Netanyahu will try to focus the talks with Kerry on the nuclear issue and preparations for permanent agreement negotiations between Iran and the major powers. Kerry, who will land in Israel on Wednesday evening, will attempt to focus his visit to Jerusalem and Ramallah on the peace process between Israel and the Palestinians.
Negotiating teams for the two sides are in fact continuing to meet twice a week, with the special American envoy, Martin Indyk, also in attendance. The talks are not making progress, however, and the sides are engaged primarily in mutual accusations over construction in West Bank settlements by Israel and incitement by the Palestinians.
Kerry, who is scheduled to have separate lengthy meetings Thursday with Netanyahu and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, will try to take advantage of his visit to the region to "shake up" the two leaders and demand that they return to serious negotiations and refrain from a blame game.
Kerry's talks with Netanyahu and Abbas will focus this time on security issues. Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon and Justice Minister Tzipi Livni, who is in charge of the negotiations with the Palestinians on behalf of the government, are also expected to participate.
In talks with Netanyahu before the start of the current negotiations last July, Kerry understood that the security issue would be critical for the Israeli prime minister. Without an understanding on the security issue, the Americans concluded, Netanyahu would not agree to move forward on other issues, such as the borders of a Palestinian state. Netanyahu's stance on the security issue has only hardened, following the interim agreement between the major powers and Iran.
Gen. Allen's briefing on the proposed American security concept will represent the first United States contribution of its own ideas on the core issues involved in a final peace arrangement since the latest round of talks began.
Allen, who until half-a-year ago was commander of American forces in Afghanistan, was appointed special adviser to Kerry and to American Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel in May. As part of his role, Allen is a special U.S. administration envoy to the peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians on security arrangements.
Since his appointment, Allen, with the assistance of a team of American military officers and security experts, has made efforts to develop a U.S. plan for security arrangements that would accompany the establishment of a Palestinian state. The American idea was to develop a proposal in consultation with the two sides, in an effort to balance Israel's security needs and the Palestinian demand for maximum sovereignty over the territory of the future Palestinian state.
Allen has visited the region several times in recent months. Most of his meetings have been conducted with the Israeli side, but he has also met with senior Palestinian Authority officials in Ramallah. Allen's contact people in Israel have been Defense Minister Ya'alon, the head of the political-security division at the Defense Ministry, Amos Gilad, Maj. Gen Nimrod Sheffer, who heads the General Staff's planning division and the head of strategic planning, Brig. Gen. Assaf Orion.
In the course of the discussions, the Israeli side presented Allen with its security requirements for a future final peace agreement with the Palestinians. Israel underlined the need to leave military forces along the length of the Jordan River for an extended period, as well as the need for an Israeli presence at the border crossing at the Jordan River, continued Israeli control of the air space over the West Bank, the stationing of Israeli early-warning stations at several strategic points in the West Bank and an extensive series of other security demands.
According to a knowledgeable source, Allen's plan will include provisions that individually address the security needs that Israel has presented. Allen is expected to present American ideas for solutions that combine physical security arrangements in the territory of the West Bank with American security guarantees for Israel and proposed American military aid to the Israel Defense Forces.
The Americans hope that, if they come to an understanding with Netanyahu on the security issue, they can demand that the Israeli premier begin to present clear positions on the borders of the future Palestinian state. It's not a take-it-or-leave-it proposition, a knowledgeable source said, adding that the concept that Allen will present will be a basis for discussion and he will want to hear Israel's reaction. "The security arrangements," the source added,"are the key vis-a-vis Netanyahu that can open a lot of doors on other issues such as the borders of the Palestinian state. If an understanding is reached with Netanyahu on security arrangements, it would be significant," the source said.
Source: Haaretz
The United States has developed a plan for security arrangements in theWest Bank following the establishment of a Palestinian state. Retired U.S. Gen. John Allen, who developed the security concept, will present it during a meeting in Jerusalem on Thursday between Prime MinisterBenjamin Netanyahu and U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, according to informed sources.
Against the backdrop of tension between Israel and the United States over the Iranian nuclear issue, Netanyahu will try to focus the talks with Kerry on the nuclear issue and preparations for permanent agreement negotiations between Iran and the major powers. Kerry, who will land in Israel on Wednesday evening, will attempt to focus his visit to Jerusalem and Ramallah on the peace process between Israel and the Palestinians.
Negotiating teams for the two sides are in fact continuing to meet twice a week, with the special American envoy, Martin Indyk, also in attendance. The talks are not making progress, however, and the sides are engaged primarily in mutual accusations over construction in West Bank settlements by Israel and incitement by the Palestinians.
Kerry, who is scheduled to have separate lengthy meetings Thursday with Netanyahu and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, will try to take advantage of his visit to the region to "shake up" the two leaders and demand that they return to serious negotiations and refrain from a blame game.
Kerry's talks with Netanyahu and Abbas will focus this time on security issues. Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon and Justice Minister Tzipi Livni, who is in charge of the negotiations with the Palestinians on behalf of the government, are also expected to participate.
In talks with Netanyahu before the start of the current negotiations last July, Kerry understood that the security issue would be critical for the Israeli prime minister. Without an understanding on the security issue, the Americans concluded, Netanyahu would not agree to move forward on other issues, such as the borders of a Palestinian state. Netanyahu's stance on the security issue has only hardened, following the interim agreement between the major powers and Iran.
Gen. Allen's briefing on the proposed American security concept will represent the first United States contribution of its own ideas on the core issues involved in a final peace arrangement since the latest round of talks began.
Allen, who until half-a-year ago was commander of American forces in Afghanistan, was appointed special adviser to Kerry and to American Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel in May. As part of his role, Allen is a special U.S. administration envoy to the peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians on security arrangements.
Since his appointment, Allen, with the assistance of a team of American military officers and security experts, has made efforts to develop a U.S. plan for security arrangements that would accompany the establishment of a Palestinian state. The American idea was to develop a proposal in consultation with the two sides, in an effort to balance Israel's security needs and the Palestinian demand for maximum sovereignty over the territory of the future Palestinian state.
Allen has visited the region several times in recent months. Most of his meetings have been conducted with the Israeli side, but he has also met with senior Palestinian Authority officials in Ramallah. Allen's contact people in Israel have been Defense Minister Ya'alon, the head of the political-security division at the Defense Ministry, Amos Gilad, Maj. Gen Nimrod Sheffer, who heads the General Staff's planning division and the head of strategic planning, Brig. Gen. Assaf Orion.
In the course of the discussions, the Israeli side presented Allen with its security requirements for a future final peace agreement with the Palestinians. Israel underlined the need to leave military forces along the length of the Jordan River for an extended period, as well as the need for an Israeli presence at the border crossing at the Jordan River, continued Israeli control of the air space over the West Bank, the stationing of Israeli early-warning stations at several strategic points in the West Bank and an extensive series of other security demands.
According to a knowledgeable source, Allen's plan will include provisions that individually address the security needs that Israel has presented. Allen is expected to present American ideas for solutions that combine physical security arrangements in the territory of the West Bank with American security guarantees for Israel and proposed American military aid to the Israel Defense Forces.
The Americans hope that, if they come to an understanding with Netanyahu on the security issue, they can demand that the Israeli premier begin to present clear positions on the borders of the future Palestinian state. It's not a take-it-or-leave-it proposition, a knowledgeable source said, adding that the concept that Allen will present will be a basis for discussion and he will want to hear Israel's reaction. "The security arrangements," the source added,"are the key vis-a-vis Netanyahu that can open a lot of doors on other issues such as the borders of the Palestinian state. If an understanding is reached with Netanyahu on security arrangements, it would be significant," the source said.
Source: Haaretz
European Union officials warned Tuesday that the union may cut off financial assistance to the Palestinian Authority, if the Israel-Palestinian peace talks were to fail.
According to Haaretz daily newspaper, a senior official said in a press conference in Brussels that EU officials raised questions about continuing assistance to the PA a few months ago, in view of the lack of progress in the talks.
"Some people suggested giving the money to other countries, like Syria, Mali and other places around the world," the official said.
He added that the issue may be raised again, if the talks end in failure at the end of the allotted nine month period.
According to Haaretz daily newspaper, a senior official said in a press conference in Brussels that EU officials raised questions about continuing assistance to the PA a few months ago, in view of the lack of progress in the talks.
"Some people suggested giving the money to other countries, like Syria, Mali and other places around the world," the official said.
He added that the issue may be raised again, if the talks end in failure at the end of the allotted nine month period.
The Israeli occupation authorities (IOA) started building a new settlement in Mazra Gharbiya village to the north of Ramallah. Eyewitnesses told the PIC that IOA bulldozers were working for the past week in leveling Palestinian land in Wadi Al-Qara’a area, north of the village.
They said that the villagers were stunned at the site of mobile homes set up on that land on Tuesday.
Citizens told the PIC reporter that they own documents proving their ownership of the land, adding that the IOA had confiscated the land last month.
They said that Jewish settlers had started cultivating the land and paved routes for their motorbikes to facilitate their movement and attacks on villagers.
The IOA had declared intention to build thousands of settlement units in the West Bank despite the ongoing negotiations with the Palestinian Authority.
Media sources, meanwhile, reported that US secretary of state John Kerry would visit the region on Wednesday and hold talks with PA chief Mahmoud Abbas in Ramallah on Thursday in a bid to support the negotiations process between the PA and the IOA.
They said that the villagers were stunned at the site of mobile homes set up on that land on Tuesday.
Citizens told the PIC reporter that they own documents proving their ownership of the land, adding that the IOA had confiscated the land last month.
They said that Jewish settlers had started cultivating the land and paved routes for their motorbikes to facilitate their movement and attacks on villagers.
The IOA had declared intention to build thousands of settlement units in the West Bank despite the ongoing negotiations with the Palestinian Authority.
Media sources, meanwhile, reported that US secretary of state John Kerry would visit the region on Wednesday and hold talks with PA chief Mahmoud Abbas in Ramallah on Thursday in a bid to support the negotiations process between the PA and the IOA.
3 dec 2013
Israeli war minister Moshe Ya'alon approved during his last four months in office, the construction of 3,000 settlement units in the West Bank, according to data issued by his ministry. Israeli Haaretz newspaper, quoting a report for Peace Now, said on Tuesday that Ya'alon approved the construction of three thousand settlement units during the period between April and July of this year, adding that a large portion of these units will be established in settlements located in the center of the West Bank and outside the large settlement blocs.
"During that period, Ya'alon approved the construction of 386 housing units in Beit El settlement, 277 units in Elei Zahav, 290 units in the Har Ephraim neighborhood of Kedumim, 550 units in Talmon, and a total of 984 units in two areas of Givat Ze'ev," according to Haaretz.
Ya'alon also approved expanding the boundaries of the settlement of Shiloh, making further construction there possible, and a nature reserve was appended to the settlement of Negohot. The Civil Administration is now considering whether to change the definition of the area as a nature reserve, which would enable construction on the land.
Despite Israel's declarations that construction will be limited only to settlement blocs, many buildings have been built in the outposts adjacent to the separation wall.
According to information made available to Peace Now, Ehud Barak, the former war minister, had approved 6,200 new settlement units in the West Bank during his last four months in office, between November last year and until last March.
Haaretz said that Ya'alon, since taking office, has been organizing lots of tours in the settlements and their regional councils. He was described by the head the Regional Council of Gush Etzion as "the true friend of settlement."
Peace Now movement said in its report that Ya’alon has “become a rubber stamp of the Yesha Council of Settlements,” and despite the attempts to cover up many of the most controversial expansions "we have uncovered plans to build 9,000 settlement units."
"During that period, Ya'alon approved the construction of 386 housing units in Beit El settlement, 277 units in Elei Zahav, 290 units in the Har Ephraim neighborhood of Kedumim, 550 units in Talmon, and a total of 984 units in two areas of Givat Ze'ev," according to Haaretz.
Ya'alon also approved expanding the boundaries of the settlement of Shiloh, making further construction there possible, and a nature reserve was appended to the settlement of Negohot. The Civil Administration is now considering whether to change the definition of the area as a nature reserve, which would enable construction on the land.
Despite Israel's declarations that construction will be limited only to settlement blocs, many buildings have been built in the outposts adjacent to the separation wall.
According to information made available to Peace Now, Ehud Barak, the former war minister, had approved 6,200 new settlement units in the West Bank during his last four months in office, between November last year and until last March.
Haaretz said that Ya'alon, since taking office, has been organizing lots of tours in the settlements and their regional councils. He was described by the head the Regional Council of Gush Etzion as "the true friend of settlement."
Peace Now movement said in its report that Ya’alon has “become a rubber stamp of the Yesha Council of Settlements,” and despite the attempts to cover up many of the most controversial expansions "we have uncovered plans to build 9,000 settlement units."
2 dec 2013
The World Zionist Organization’s Settlement Division proposed a plan to establish new Jewish towns and expand rural communities in the central Galilee, the Israeli daily Haaretz reported Tuesday. The plan’s intention is to “achieve demographic balance with the area’s Arabs” according to the report.
According to a letter from the Settlement Division to Israeli planning firms, the plan’s objective is to bring 100,000 Jewish residents to the Galilee by offering houses that “will attract a stable Jewish population and create a meaningful demographic balance." The plan emphasized the construction of single-family homes instead of apartment buildings.
The Haaretz also said that the plan calls for the expansion of existing rural communities “beyond what the national master plan allows,” without indicating exactly what that means.
Chariman of the Tur'an Local Council, Imad Dahla, expressed his reasons for opposing the plan, explaining that one of the planned communities, Shibolet, would be constructed directly north of Tur'an, a predominantly Palestinian city in the northern 1948 occupied territories, preventing its future expansion.
Dahla explained, “To the east of us is a quarry that ruins our quality of life, to the north is the plan for Shibolet, to the west is a nature reserve and to the south they are laying a gas pipeline that blocks our economic development.” He added that the WZO’s letter had defined the plan as “an expression of Israeli sovereignty,” which Dahla said was a “racist expression,” according to Haaretz.
Salah Suleiman, chairman of the Bu’eine-Nujeidat Local Council, a town that would also be affected by Shibolet, said that the Israeli authorities should also invest in adjacent Palestinian communities. “Our situation is very bad,” Suleiman said. “I’m not against development, but there should be development for everyone.”
According to a letter from the Settlement Division to Israeli planning firms, the plan’s objective is to bring 100,000 Jewish residents to the Galilee by offering houses that “will attract a stable Jewish population and create a meaningful demographic balance." The plan emphasized the construction of single-family homes instead of apartment buildings.
The Haaretz also said that the plan calls for the expansion of existing rural communities “beyond what the national master plan allows,” without indicating exactly what that means.
Chariman of the Tur'an Local Council, Imad Dahla, expressed his reasons for opposing the plan, explaining that one of the planned communities, Shibolet, would be constructed directly north of Tur'an, a predominantly Palestinian city in the northern 1948 occupied territories, preventing its future expansion.
Dahla explained, “To the east of us is a quarry that ruins our quality of life, to the north is the plan for Shibolet, to the west is a nature reserve and to the south they are laying a gas pipeline that blocks our economic development.” He added that the WZO’s letter had defined the plan as “an expression of Israeli sovereignty,” which Dahla said was a “racist expression,” according to Haaretz.
Salah Suleiman, chairman of the Bu’eine-Nujeidat Local Council, a town that would also be affected by Shibolet, said that the Israeli authorities should also invest in adjacent Palestinian communities. “Our situation is very bad,” Suleiman said. “I’m not against development, but there should be development for everyone.”
Popular Assembly against Negotiation said that the resignation of the Palestinian delegation to the negotiations was a proof to the failure of the process of negotiations between Israeli and Palestinian authorities. During a press conference on Sunday, spokesman for the Assembly Ahmed Abul Amrain affirmed the Assembly's total rejection of the ongoing peace talks with the Israeli occupation authority.
“We strongly reject the futile negotiations that provide a cover to Israeli crimes and violations against the Palestinian people”, the spokesman said.
He called on those who want to join the Popular Assembly to do so via its official Facebook page.
The Popular Assembly has been established in Gaza on the 24th of November 2013 based on a large societal agreement among Palestinians in Gaza, West Bank, the Diaspora, and inside the Green Line.
The Assembly represents all Palestinians, regardless of their political affiliation, who reject the Israeli-Palestinian negotiations especially in light of the escalated Israeli settlement and judaization schemes in the West Bank and Jerusalem in addition to the oppressive siege on Gaza.
“We strongly reject the futile negotiations that provide a cover to Israeli crimes and violations against the Palestinian people”, the spokesman said.
He called on those who want to join the Popular Assembly to do so via its official Facebook page.
The Popular Assembly has been established in Gaza on the 24th of November 2013 based on a large societal agreement among Palestinians in Gaza, West Bank, the Diaspora, and inside the Green Line.
The Assembly represents all Palestinians, regardless of their political affiliation, who reject the Israeli-Palestinian negotiations especially in light of the escalated Israeli settlement and judaization schemes in the West Bank and Jerusalem in addition to the oppressive siege on Gaza.
Arab Knesset member Ahmed Tibi said that the Israeli plan to build 20,000 settlement units in the West Bank and Jerusalem has never been frozen as the Israeli government had declared earlier to revive the peace talks with the Palestinian Authority. In a press release, Tibi cited as evidence that on the far right of an illustration of the plan on the Israeli housing ministry's website, there is a word in Hebrew referring that it is still "active" and not frozen.
"The tender remained on the housing ministry's website until November 28, which was its deadline, and was not deleted or withdrawn, and furthermore, many Jewish businessmen and companies submitted their tenders officially to the government, which makes everything declared by Netanyahu just an attempt to pool the wool over others' eyes," the Knesset member underlined.
Tibi's remarks vindicated further what Israeli minister of housing Uri Ariel, himself, had confirmed about two weeks ago that the planning procedures for the construction of thousands of settlement units in the West Bank were not suspended as the office of premier Benjamin Netanyahu claimed lately.
"There is no freeze on construction activities in the settlements of the West Bank and Jerusalem, even during the current negotiations with the Palestinians," Ariel told the Hebrew radio.
"The tender remained on the housing ministry's website until November 28, which was its deadline, and was not deleted or withdrawn, and furthermore, many Jewish businessmen and companies submitted their tenders officially to the government, which makes everything declared by Netanyahu just an attempt to pool the wool over others' eyes," the Knesset member underlined.
Tibi's remarks vindicated further what Israeli minister of housing Uri Ariel, himself, had confirmed about two weeks ago that the planning procedures for the construction of thousands of settlement units in the West Bank were not suspended as the office of premier Benjamin Netanyahu claimed lately.
"There is no freeze on construction activities in the settlements of the West Bank and Jerusalem, even during the current negotiations with the Palestinians," Ariel told the Hebrew radio.
29 nov 2013
Israeli Central Bureau of Statistics reported an increase of 5.5% in settlement construction in the West Bank since the beginning of 2013 compared to the corresponding time frame in 2012, despite the fact that 2013 has witnessed a resumption of “peace” between Palestinian and Israeli authorities. About 32,290 construction sites for new housing units were erected this year across the occupied West Bank, Hebrew media said.
The number of settlement projects in the West Bank rose by nearly 130% compared to 2012, according to statistics released Thursday.
"I am delighted that construction starts exceeded predictions and erroneous statements in different media outlets," Housing and Construction Minister Uri Ariel said Thursday, stressing that his ministry planned to further increase building across the country in the coming year.
The number of settlement projects in the West Bank rose by nearly 130% compared to 2012, according to statistics released Thursday.
"I am delighted that construction starts exceeded predictions and erroneous statements in different media outlets," Housing and Construction Minister Uri Ariel said Thursday, stressing that his ministry planned to further increase building across the country in the coming year.
Hamas movement's political leaders and deputies have strongly condemned the continuation of negotiations between the PA and Israeli occupation after the assassination of three Palestinians in al-Khalil by Israeli occupation soldiers. Mossa Makhamreh, Mahmoud al-Najjar, and Mohammed Naruch were shot and killed by the Israeli army at the entrance to Yatta town southern al-Khalil last Wednesday for planning to carry out an armed attack against the occupation, according to Israeli claims.
The Israeli crime came a few days after decision of the PA President Mahmoud Abbas to continue negotiation with the occupation despite the resignation of the Palestinian negotiating delegation members.
For his part, PLC speaker Aziz Dweik confirmed that the occupation does not have any evidence to justify the killing of three Palestinian young men in cold blood.
Occupation forces continued to carry out daily heinous crimes against Palestinians just because they are Palestinians, he added.
For her part, MP Samira Halaiqa strongly condemned PA policy of security coordination and negotiation with occupation, stressing that it provides cover to Israeli crimes.
Since the signing of the Oslo accords, the PA stressed its adherence to security coordination and political arrests.
Change and Reform bloc MP Halaiqa stated that the PA is unable to prevent Israeli forces from carrying out crimes and arrests against Palestinians in the West Bank.
On the other hand, Nazih Abu Aoun a leader in Hamas movement has called on PA to stop what he called the "Negotiations Marathon," that covers up Israeli violations and crimes against Palestinian people.
Abu Aoun stressed that negotiations would lead to no results in light the Israeli escalated settlement construction and violations.
The Israeli crime came a few days after decision of the PA President Mahmoud Abbas to continue negotiation with the occupation despite the resignation of the Palestinian negotiating delegation members.
For his part, PLC speaker Aziz Dweik confirmed that the occupation does not have any evidence to justify the killing of three Palestinian young men in cold blood.
Occupation forces continued to carry out daily heinous crimes against Palestinians just because they are Palestinians, he added.
For her part, MP Samira Halaiqa strongly condemned PA policy of security coordination and negotiation with occupation, stressing that it provides cover to Israeli crimes.
Since the signing of the Oslo accords, the PA stressed its adherence to security coordination and political arrests.
Change and Reform bloc MP Halaiqa stated that the PA is unable to prevent Israeli forces from carrying out crimes and arrests against Palestinians in the West Bank.
On the other hand, Nazih Abu Aoun a leader in Hamas movement has called on PA to stop what he called the "Negotiations Marathon," that covers up Israeli violations and crimes against Palestinian people.
Abu Aoun stressed that negotiations would lead to no results in light the Israeli escalated settlement construction and violations.
28 nov 2013
Israeli housing and construction minister Uri Ariel has vowed to continue building in occupied Jerusalem and the West Bank with full force. Ariel, who was laying down the foundation stone of an educational institute in Itamar settlement to the southeast of Nablus on Wednesday evening, said that most members of the Israeli cabinet are with him in his views.
The electronic website of Hebrew daily Ma’ariv quoted the minister as saying that he will endorse the construction of thousands of houses in Jerusalem and Judea and Samaria (the West Bank).
Ariel had recently announced intention to build 24,000 housing units in Jerusalem and the West Bank but his premier Benjamin Netanyahu suspended the plan so as not to increase the isolation of Israel and affect negotiations with the Palestinians.
The electronic website of Hebrew daily Ma’ariv quoted the minister as saying that he will endorse the construction of thousands of houses in Jerusalem and Judea and Samaria (the West Bank).
Ariel had recently announced intention to build 24,000 housing units in Jerusalem and the West Bank but his premier Benjamin Netanyahu suspended the plan so as not to increase the isolation of Israel and affect negotiations with the Palestinians.
27 nov 2013
MP Dr. Mustafa Al-Barghouthi, secretary general of Mubadara movement, said on Wednesday that the Israeli murder of three Palestinian citizens in Al-Khalil last night was a “vicious crime”. Barghouthi described in a press release the Israeli cold-blooded murder of those citizens as a war crime and a violation of all international doctrines.
The MP said that Israel should be brought o account and the negotiations with it should come to a halt especially when Israel was exploiting the talks to cover for its crimes.
Meanwhile, Palestinian political forces in Al-Khalil mourned the death of the three resistance fighters in a statement on Wednesday and declared a state of public mourning in the entire province for three days.
The forces refused Israel’s pretexts to justify its “crimes and terrorism” against the Palestinian people.
The MP said that Israel should be brought o account and the negotiations with it should come to a halt especially when Israel was exploiting the talks to cover for its crimes.
Meanwhile, Palestinian political forces in Al-Khalil mourned the death of the three resistance fighters in a statement on Wednesday and declared a state of public mourning in the entire province for three days.
The forces refused Israel’s pretexts to justify its “crimes and terrorism” against the Palestinian people.
Atiya Alaasm ,the head of Regional Council of Arab villages and the Supreme Arabs committee
Israel is working on applying two colonizing schemes in Negev south of occupied Palestine, Atiya Alaasm ,the head of Regional Council of Arab villages and the Supreme Arabs committee, said. He explained that Israel occupation undertook Prawer plan which will result in the destruction of more than 35 unrecognized villages in Al-Naqab and the forced expulsion and confinement of more than 70,000 Palestinian Bedouins. Israel will replace Bedouin villages with settlements units.
He noted that Israel plans to build 20 settlement units instead of Arab villages in Negev, " these schemes epitomizes the nature of Israel’s policy; Israeli-Jewish demographic expansion and Palestinian-Arab demographic containment," he said.
He went on saying that these plans go back to 1948, since when Israel applies several types of plans that all seeks to displace Palestinians from their homeland.
In 2012 Israel destroyed 1200 houses in Negev , and this number increased in 2013.
Injustice, humiliation and forced displacement are a recurring theme in Palestine’s history. "Palestinian people will oppose, resist and work against the continuous assault that our communities, across Palestine face'" Alaasm said.
Israel is working on applying two colonizing schemes in Negev south of occupied Palestine, Atiya Alaasm ,the head of Regional Council of Arab villages and the Supreme Arabs committee, said. He explained that Israel occupation undertook Prawer plan which will result in the destruction of more than 35 unrecognized villages in Al-Naqab and the forced expulsion and confinement of more than 70,000 Palestinian Bedouins. Israel will replace Bedouin villages with settlements units.
He noted that Israel plans to build 20 settlement units instead of Arab villages in Negev, " these schemes epitomizes the nature of Israel’s policy; Israeli-Jewish demographic expansion and Palestinian-Arab demographic containment," he said.
He went on saying that these plans go back to 1948, since when Israel applies several types of plans that all seeks to displace Palestinians from their homeland.
In 2012 Israel destroyed 1200 houses in Negev , and this number increased in 2013.
Injustice, humiliation and forced displacement are a recurring theme in Palestine’s history. "Palestinian people will oppose, resist and work against the continuous assault that our communities, across Palestine face'" Alaasm said.
25 nov 2013
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Israeli occupation authorities (IOA) have approved recently the construction of 800 new settler units in several illegal settlements in occupied West Bank, Hebrew media sources revealed Monday. The construction of 800 homes has been approved by the so called Civil Administration, thirty percent of the new units will be built in Novi Prat, a suburb of the Maale Adumim settlement, Israeli daily Haaretz has reported.
As many as 94 new units will be installed in the Salit outpost in the Jordan Valley and another 30 in the Shilo settlement, the Hebrew paper reported. Meanwhile, the IOA continued construction work for the expansion of Atnaúal settlement built on Palestinian lands in al-Khalil. |
Eyewitnesses confirmed that the IOF escalated construction work for number of settlement units in Atnaúal settlement established at the expense of Palestinian villages in al-Khalil.
It should be mentioned that 840 settlement units have been approved in al-Khalil, most of which were already established in different parts of Al-Khalil province.
It should be mentioned that 840 settlement units have been approved in al-Khalil, most of which were already established in different parts of Al-Khalil province.
Popular Assembly against Negotiations has been established in Gaza yesterday evening based on a large societal agreement among Palestinians in Gaza, West Bank, the Diaspora, and inside the Green Line. The spokesman for the assembly has stressed during the founding conference held in Gaza on Sunday that hundreds of Palestinian figures have joined the assembly. Media and Information committees have been declared during the conference, in addition to launching an official Facebook page for the Assembly, and assigning two spokesmen both in Arabic and English.
The Assembly represents all Palestinian people regardless of political affiliation, the spokesman added, pointing that It came in total rejection to the continued absurd negotiations especially in light of the escalated Israeli settlement and judaization schemes in the West Bank, in addition to the unfair siege on our people in Gaza.
We call on Palestinian Authority to respect the people's will and to immediately stop negotiations and to activate resistance legalized by all international and human rights laws, the spokesman continued.
The new assembly said that any results reached through these absurd negotiations will be no more than ink on paper that future Palestinian generations will not be bound by.
The assembly's founding statement called on Palestinians in Gaza, the West Bank, Jerusalem and the occupied territories in 48, and the Diaspora to join the Popular Assembly against Negotiations.
Dozens of Palestinian representatives of Trade Unions, civil society organizations, academics, leading personalities and mayors, in addition to families of martyrs and injured and liberated prisoners and prisoners' families, student blocs and representatives of Palestinian woman have attended the founding conference.
The Assembly represents all Palestinian people regardless of political affiliation, the spokesman added, pointing that It came in total rejection to the continued absurd negotiations especially in light of the escalated Israeli settlement and judaization schemes in the West Bank, in addition to the unfair siege on our people in Gaza.
We call on Palestinian Authority to respect the people's will and to immediately stop negotiations and to activate resistance legalized by all international and human rights laws, the spokesman continued.
The new assembly said that any results reached through these absurd negotiations will be no more than ink on paper that future Palestinian generations will not be bound by.
The assembly's founding statement called on Palestinians in Gaza, the West Bank, Jerusalem and the occupied territories in 48, and the Diaspora to join the Popular Assembly against Negotiations.
Dozens of Palestinian representatives of Trade Unions, civil society organizations, academics, leading personalities and mayors, in addition to families of martyrs and injured and liberated prisoners and prisoners' families, student blocs and representatives of Palestinian woman have attended the founding conference.
23 nov 2013
Hebrew media sources revealed that the Israeli Ministry of Housing and the Land Authority published tenders to build about 300 new settlement units in the Jewish neighborhood of Gilo, built on Palestinian lands south of occupied Jerusalem. Kol Ha'ir Newspaper said the applicants for tenders are scheduled to hold a tour in the region on December 17 to see the space allocated for the construction.
The paper quoted officials in the Israel Land Authority as saying that the construction operations, which will include residential units and parking lots, will take place in five different regions near Gilo on an area of more than 40 thousand square meters.
It added that the average minimum of these tenders will be around 2.5 million U.S. dollars
The paper quoted officials in the Israel Land Authority as saying that the construction operations, which will include residential units and parking lots, will take place in five different regions near Gilo on an area of more than 40 thousand square meters.
It added that the average minimum of these tenders will be around 2.5 million U.S. dollars
By Khalid Amayreh in Occupied Jerusalem
Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu has once again demanded that the Palestinian Authority (PA) recognize Israel as a Jewish state.
Speaking during a joint press conference with visiting French President François Hollande in Occupied Jerusalem earlier this week, Netanyahu said he would travel to Ramallah in order to demonstrate Israel 's desire for peace.
He called on PA leader Mahmoud Abbas to reciprocate by visiting Occupied Jerusalem, addressing the Knesset and recognizing Israel as a Talmudic Jewish state where non-Jews can only maintain a precarious survival depending on Jewish "tolerance and magnanimity."
Netanyahu is a professional liar par excellance. He is a master of prevarication, quibbling and verbal juggling. Devoid of simple honesty and rectitude, the Israeli premier has a zero credibility.
First of all, Netanyahu's occupation army occupies every street and neighborhood in Ramallah and the rest of Palestine from Lebanon to Gaza and from the River Jordan to the Mediterranean . Hence, he doesn't need a permission from Mahmoud Abbas to go to the "capital" of the PA administration.
Furthermore, Netanyahu's pretension about longing for peace is absolutely false. In the final analysis, a country that truly desires peace doesn't build hundreds of colonies in occupied territories nor does transfer hundreds of thousands of its citizens to neighbors' territories in order to live on land that belongs to another people.
But what do Netanyahu and other Israeli officials really mean when they keep invoking the mantra of recognizing Israel as a Jewish state?
They surely don't have in mind the encapsulation of equality and justice in Israeli laws, nor the necessary absence of any systematic discrimination based on ethnicity and confessional affiliation.
The truth of the matter is that when Zionist leaders invoke the "Jewish state" mantra, they have two things in mind:
First, completing the ethnic cleansing of the indigenous Palestinians, the native inhabitants of the land, which began in 1948?
Israeli spokespersons and intellectuals often express remorse for not "completing the job" they started 65 years ago.
They are so sorry that Israel allowed a quarter of a million Palestinians to stay in their homes.
These 250,000 Palestinians have grown in number, reaching 1.6 million people in " Israel proper" alone. They now constitute about one fourth of Israel 's population.
Israeli demographers and strategic planners view the very existence of this large non-Jewish demographic mass as a painful thorn in Israel 's side. If added to the Palestinian population in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, Palestinians constitute an absolute majority of about 51% of the population west of the River Jordan. Hence, the Israeli dilemma.
The other issue behind incessant Israeli demands for a Palestinian recognition of Israel as a Jewish state is the right of return for millions of Palestinian refugees uprooted from their ancestral homeland when the Zionist entity was established more than 65 years ago.
The right of return is considered the ultimate anathema for Israel and Zionism. After all, Israel wouldn't have survived and grown had it not been for the expulsion and dispersion of these Palestinians all over the globe.
Yet, the right of return represents the essence of the Palestinian problem as no durable solution to the conflict can be imagined in the absence of repatriating the refugees.
To his credit, the late Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat resisted all Israeli and American pressure to cede the right of return for the refugees. He told the Americans on several occasions that ceding the right of return could cost him his life.
The current Palestinian leaderm Mahmoud Abbas, doesn't expressly say he would give up the right of return. However statements by Abbas, such as voicing his willingness to give up his right to return to Safad, his native town and birthplace, raises question- marks about the depth of his commitment to this paramount national issue.
Moreover, it is often noted that Abbas's responses to Israel 's "Jewish state's whims" have been flaccid, mediocre and quite tepid.
The likely reason for this flaccidity is Abbas's keenness not to anger the Americans, the bankroller of his regime.
However, Palestinians must communicate a strong message to Abbas, telling him in an unmistakable manner that the right of return is not and must not be a subject of political maneuvers and bargaining.
Indeed, clinging to the right of return is the best response to Israel 's whims about Jewish statehood. After all, this right is well-rooted in international law.
Now the question that begs itself is: Will the PA have the political courage to tell Israel and her guardian-ally, the United States, that the right of return is an ultimate red line and that there can be no real solution to the decades-old strife without granting these wretched refugees their natural right to return to their homes from which they were expelled at gunpoint at the hands of barbarian Jewish invaders from Eastern Europe?
Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu has once again demanded that the Palestinian Authority (PA) recognize Israel as a Jewish state.
Speaking during a joint press conference with visiting French President François Hollande in Occupied Jerusalem earlier this week, Netanyahu said he would travel to Ramallah in order to demonstrate Israel 's desire for peace.
He called on PA leader Mahmoud Abbas to reciprocate by visiting Occupied Jerusalem, addressing the Knesset and recognizing Israel as a Talmudic Jewish state where non-Jews can only maintain a precarious survival depending on Jewish "tolerance and magnanimity."
Netanyahu is a professional liar par excellance. He is a master of prevarication, quibbling and verbal juggling. Devoid of simple honesty and rectitude, the Israeli premier has a zero credibility.
First of all, Netanyahu's occupation army occupies every street and neighborhood in Ramallah and the rest of Palestine from Lebanon to Gaza and from the River Jordan to the Mediterranean . Hence, he doesn't need a permission from Mahmoud Abbas to go to the "capital" of the PA administration.
Furthermore, Netanyahu's pretension about longing for peace is absolutely false. In the final analysis, a country that truly desires peace doesn't build hundreds of colonies in occupied territories nor does transfer hundreds of thousands of its citizens to neighbors' territories in order to live on land that belongs to another people.
But what do Netanyahu and other Israeli officials really mean when they keep invoking the mantra of recognizing Israel as a Jewish state?
They surely don't have in mind the encapsulation of equality and justice in Israeli laws, nor the necessary absence of any systematic discrimination based on ethnicity and confessional affiliation.
The truth of the matter is that when Zionist leaders invoke the "Jewish state" mantra, they have two things in mind:
First, completing the ethnic cleansing of the indigenous Palestinians, the native inhabitants of the land, which began in 1948?
Israeli spokespersons and intellectuals often express remorse for not "completing the job" they started 65 years ago.
They are so sorry that Israel allowed a quarter of a million Palestinians to stay in their homes.
These 250,000 Palestinians have grown in number, reaching 1.6 million people in " Israel proper" alone. They now constitute about one fourth of Israel 's population.
Israeli demographers and strategic planners view the very existence of this large non-Jewish demographic mass as a painful thorn in Israel 's side. If added to the Palestinian population in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, Palestinians constitute an absolute majority of about 51% of the population west of the River Jordan. Hence, the Israeli dilemma.
The other issue behind incessant Israeli demands for a Palestinian recognition of Israel as a Jewish state is the right of return for millions of Palestinian refugees uprooted from their ancestral homeland when the Zionist entity was established more than 65 years ago.
The right of return is considered the ultimate anathema for Israel and Zionism. After all, Israel wouldn't have survived and grown had it not been for the expulsion and dispersion of these Palestinians all over the globe.
Yet, the right of return represents the essence of the Palestinian problem as no durable solution to the conflict can be imagined in the absence of repatriating the refugees.
To his credit, the late Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat resisted all Israeli and American pressure to cede the right of return for the refugees. He told the Americans on several occasions that ceding the right of return could cost him his life.
The current Palestinian leaderm Mahmoud Abbas, doesn't expressly say he would give up the right of return. However statements by Abbas, such as voicing his willingness to give up his right to return to Safad, his native town and birthplace, raises question- marks about the depth of his commitment to this paramount national issue.
Moreover, it is often noted that Abbas's responses to Israel 's "Jewish state's whims" have been flaccid, mediocre and quite tepid.
The likely reason for this flaccidity is Abbas's keenness not to anger the Americans, the bankroller of his regime.
However, Palestinians must communicate a strong message to Abbas, telling him in an unmistakable manner that the right of return is not and must not be a subject of political maneuvers and bargaining.
Indeed, clinging to the right of return is the best response to Israel 's whims about Jewish statehood. After all, this right is well-rooted in international law.
Now the question that begs itself is: Will the PA have the political courage to tell Israel and her guardian-ally, the United States, that the right of return is an ultimate red line and that there can be no real solution to the decades-old strife without granting these wretched refugees their natural right to return to their homes from which they were expelled at gunpoint at the hands of barbarian Jewish invaders from Eastern Europe?
21 nov 2013
The Deputy Speaker of the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC) has said that the ongoing peace talks hinder the prosecution of Israel for its crimes, especially through the International Criminal Court for the assassination of Yasser Arafat. Hassan Khreisheh told Al Ghad news that the Palestinian leadership is committed to the negotiations until the end of their preset timeline, but after that the PA will be free to approach the United Nations and join organisations such as the ICC.
"The Palestinian Authority is the only official body to demand the formation of an international commission to investigate the circumstances surrounding the assassination of President Arafat and to prosecute those involved," he pointed out. The PA's demand was put to US Secretary of State John Kerry during his recent visit to the occupied territories.
"However," added Khreisheh, "the Palestinian leadership is not serious about an international investigation into Arafat's death because then it would have to stop the negotiations with Israel and go to the International Criminal Court to prosecute Israeli leaders as war criminals."
According to the PLC official, the Palestinian commitment to freeze requests for UN assistance during the negotiations will override the "seasonal" interest in Arafat's death and will relieve Israel from any pressure to hold its leaders accountable for assassinating the late president. "The Palestinian people do not need to wait for the investigation results to reveal the identity of those involved in Arafat's assassination," he said. "They understand fully that Israel was responsible."
Arab states, regional and international parties as well as Palestinian parties have been unwilling to uncover the facts since the first day, alleged Khreisheh. "France has not yet submitted its report, making it complicit in hiding the fact as well." French President Francois Hollande's visit to Palestine, which coincided with the anniversary of Arafat's death, was made in order to reassure the Israelis that France will not provide any reports or information to the Palestinians as recent rumours suggested, the Deputy Speaker claimed. Arafat died in a French military hospital on November 11, 2004.
Furthermore, he suggested that earlier demands for an international inquiry were ignored and the Palestinian investigation was not thorough. "Arab doctors from Tunisia, Egypt and Jordan who treated the late president before his death evaded questions from the parliamentary commission of inquiry and refused to sit with its members." Despite the best efforts of the current internal investigation team, led by General Tawfiq Tirawi of the Fatah Central Committee, the leadership must push for an international inquiry, he insisted.
Swiss experts confirmed earlier this month that post-mortem medical tests on samples taken from Arafat's body and clothes "support and are consistent with the hypothesis" that he was poisoned with polonium. They did not, however, assert that polonium actually caused his death.
"The Palestinian Authority is the only official body to demand the formation of an international commission to investigate the circumstances surrounding the assassination of President Arafat and to prosecute those involved," he pointed out. The PA's demand was put to US Secretary of State John Kerry during his recent visit to the occupied territories.
"However," added Khreisheh, "the Palestinian leadership is not serious about an international investigation into Arafat's death because then it would have to stop the negotiations with Israel and go to the International Criminal Court to prosecute Israeli leaders as war criminals."
According to the PLC official, the Palestinian commitment to freeze requests for UN assistance during the negotiations will override the "seasonal" interest in Arafat's death and will relieve Israel from any pressure to hold its leaders accountable for assassinating the late president. "The Palestinian people do not need to wait for the investigation results to reveal the identity of those involved in Arafat's assassination," he said. "They understand fully that Israel was responsible."
Arab states, regional and international parties as well as Palestinian parties have been unwilling to uncover the facts since the first day, alleged Khreisheh. "France has not yet submitted its report, making it complicit in hiding the fact as well." French President Francois Hollande's visit to Palestine, which coincided with the anniversary of Arafat's death, was made in order to reassure the Israelis that France will not provide any reports or information to the Palestinians as recent rumours suggested, the Deputy Speaker claimed. Arafat died in a French military hospital on November 11, 2004.
Furthermore, he suggested that earlier demands for an international inquiry were ignored and the Palestinian investigation was not thorough. "Arab doctors from Tunisia, Egypt and Jordan who treated the late president before his death evaded questions from the parliamentary commission of inquiry and refused to sit with its members." Despite the best efforts of the current internal investigation team, led by General Tawfiq Tirawi of the Fatah Central Committee, the leadership must push for an international inquiry, he insisted.
Swiss experts confirmed earlier this month that post-mortem medical tests on samples taken from Arafat's body and clothes "support and are consistent with the hypothesis" that he was poisoned with polonium. They did not, however, assert that polonium actually caused his death.
Israeli Soldiers invaded on Thursday morning [November 21, 2013] the Deerat village, east of Yatta in the southern West Bank city of Hebron, and illegally confiscated seven Dunams of Palestinian lands in order to pave a road for Jewish settlers.
Coordinator of the Popular Committee Against the Wall and Settlements in Hebron Rateb Jabour stated that the army carried maps showing the new planned settler-only road that would split the village and lead to the destruction of several houses.
Jabour added that the homes are part of the village, but Israel considers them to be out of the zoning area.
The road would lead to the illegal annexation of thousands of Dunams of Palestinian lands in the region.
Also on Thursday, soldiers kidnapped Mohannad Al-Mohtaseb, 17 years of age, from the Old City of Hebron.
Coordinator of the Popular Committee Against the Wall and Settlements in Hebron Rateb Jabour stated that the army carried maps showing the new planned settler-only road that would split the village and lead to the destruction of several houses.
Jabour added that the homes are part of the village, but Israel considers them to be out of the zoning area.
The road would lead to the illegal annexation of thousands of Dunams of Palestinian lands in the region.
Also on Thursday, soldiers kidnapped Mohannad Al-Mohtaseb, 17 years of age, from the Old City of Hebron.
20 nov 2013
Minister of Justice in Gaza Mohammed Abul Sabh has affirmed that the Palestinian refugees’ right of return to their homeland was inalienable and none could surrender it. Abul Sabh was speaking on Wednesday in response to French president Francois Hollande’s statement that the Palestinian Authority in Ramallah could give up the right of return.
He said that the right of return was guaranteed by the international law, adding that the 13th article of the international declaration of human rights stipulates:
“Everyone has the right to freedom of movement and residence within the borders of each State.
Everyone has the right to leave any country, including his own, and to return to his country.”
The minister said that the right of return is the individual and collective right of more than six million Palestinian refugees who were displaced by occupation.
He underlined that the right of return is “a national, sacred right” according to the international law and the international declaration of human rights that was issued on 10th December 1948.
Abul Sabh said that RoR was not for bargaining or negotiations and could not be surrendered or replaced or amended.
Hollande revealed in statements published by Hebrew daily Ha’aretz that the PA leadership had displayed flexibility regarding RoR in return for its demand of halting Israeli settlement activity.
He said that the right of return was guaranteed by the international law, adding that the 13th article of the international declaration of human rights stipulates:
“Everyone has the right to freedom of movement and residence within the borders of each State.
Everyone has the right to leave any country, including his own, and to return to his country.”
The minister said that the right of return is the individual and collective right of more than six million Palestinian refugees who were displaced by occupation.
He underlined that the right of return is “a national, sacred right” according to the international law and the international declaration of human rights that was issued on 10th December 1948.
Abul Sabh said that RoR was not for bargaining or negotiations and could not be surrendered or replaced or amended.
Hollande revealed in statements published by Hebrew daily Ha’aretz that the PA leadership had displayed flexibility regarding RoR in return for its demand of halting Israeli settlement activity.
19 nov 2013
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday called on President Mahmoud Abbas to address the Israeli Knesset and to "recognize Jewish links to the land of Israel." "I call on him from here today: let's break the deadlock," Netanyahu said on Tuesday in a special address to the Knesset, in honor of a visit by French President Francois Hollande.
"Come to the Israeli Knesset and I'll come to Ramallah. Get up on this platform and recognize the historical truth: the Jews have a nearly 4,000-year-old link to the land of Israel, he said addressing PA chairman Mahmoud Abbas.
Meanwhile, Israel's chief negotiator Tzipi Livni declared a new round of negotiations to be held in few days with PA delegation.
Livni confirmed that Saeb Erekat, who recently announced his resignation as head of the Palestinian negotiating team, "is still in his office and he will head the Palestinian delegation at the upcoming meeting."
Erekat decided along with members of the Palestinian negotiating team to resign in protest against the Israeli government's decision to approve more tenders to build thousands of settlement units.
Sources in Fatah movement pointed out that Erekat withdrew his resignation after Fatah Central Committee decided to continue the negotiations despite Israeli settlement escalation and the killing of 14 Palestinians since talks' resumption three months ago.
"Come to the Israeli Knesset and I'll come to Ramallah. Get up on this platform and recognize the historical truth: the Jews have a nearly 4,000-year-old link to the land of Israel, he said addressing PA chairman Mahmoud Abbas.
Meanwhile, Israel's chief negotiator Tzipi Livni declared a new round of negotiations to be held in few days with PA delegation.
Livni confirmed that Saeb Erekat, who recently announced his resignation as head of the Palestinian negotiating team, "is still in his office and he will head the Palestinian delegation at the upcoming meeting."
Erekat decided along with members of the Palestinian negotiating team to resign in protest against the Israeli government's decision to approve more tenders to build thousands of settlement units.
Sources in Fatah movement pointed out that Erekat withdrew his resignation after Fatah Central Committee decided to continue the negotiations despite Israeli settlement escalation and the killing of 14 Palestinians since talks' resumption three months ago.
18 nov 2013
IOA allows expansion of settlements without announcing it
The Israeli occupation authorities (IOA) allowed the continuation of building more housing units and expansion of settlements south of Al-Khalil without announcing it. Ratib Jabour, the coordinator of popular committees against the wall in Yatta to the south of Al-Khalil, told the PIC on Monday that construction works in four settlements near Yatta did not stop over the past few days.
He said that trucks loaded with construction materials were seen entering those settlements while new housing units were being built.
The activist said that more Palestinian land lots were confiscated in the area to allow room for the new expansion, adding that bulldozing those lands and building over them was progressing without announcement.
The Israeli occupation authorities (IOA) allowed the continuation of building more housing units and expansion of settlements south of Al-Khalil without announcing it. Ratib Jabour, the coordinator of popular committees against the wall in Yatta to the south of Al-Khalil, told the PIC on Monday that construction works in four settlements near Yatta did not stop over the past few days.
He said that trucks loaded with construction materials were seen entering those settlements while new housing units were being built.
The activist said that more Palestinian land lots were confiscated in the area to allow room for the new expansion, adding that bulldozing those lands and building over them was progressing without announcement.
17 nov 2013
The popular front for the liberation of Palestine (PFLP) revealed that the American administration is working on developing a new solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict based on creating a Palestinian state with provisional borders. In a press release on Saturday, the PFLP said that this planned US solution would be in essence the final solution to the Palestinian cause in accordance with the Israeli vision.
The PFLP warned of any Palestinian acceptance of such solution and described it as extremely grave and aimed at liquidating the Palestinian cause.
It expressed its fears that the US administration could impose this solution on the Palestinians and force them to accept the Israeli vision, but it stressed that this solution is not a destiny and the Palestine liberation organization (PLO) and the Palestinian Authority are able to face such pressures through seeking a unified Palestinian position and an Arab support.
It stressed the need for ending the inter-Palestinian division and restoring the national unity based on a national consensus program capable of supporting the Palestinian steadfastness and thwarting the US solutions.
The PFLP warned of any Palestinian acceptance of such solution and described it as extremely grave and aimed at liquidating the Palestinian cause.
It expressed its fears that the US administration could impose this solution on the Palestinians and force them to accept the Israeli vision, but it stressed that this solution is not a destiny and the Palestine liberation organization (PLO) and the Palestinian Authority are able to face such pressures through seeking a unified Palestinian position and an Arab support.
It stressed the need for ending the inter-Palestinian division and restoring the national unity based on a national consensus program capable of supporting the Palestinian steadfastness and thwarting the US solutions.
16 nov 2013
Head of the Palestinian National Initiative Movement, Dr. Mustafa al-Barghouthi, received a Norwegian solidarity delegation in Ramallah. Barghouthi briefed the delegation members about Israeli settlement expansion and Apartheid Wall construction in West Bank, in addition to Israeli demolition and deportation policy in Jerusalem and Jordan Valley.
Israeli occupation authority (IOA) uses the negotiations to cover for its expansionist policy on Palestinian lands, he said, pointing to Israeli tenders for the construction of 12,415 housing units and a National Park on the lands of Tur and Issawiyya villages.
Barghouthi provided the delegates with documents and maps documenting Israeli forces and settlers' attacks and assaults against Palestinians and their properties such as the burning of a house in Sinjel village, the destruction of more than 100 olive trees in Jenin, and daily break-ins into al-Aqsa mosque, in addition to demolition orders in Jerusalem.
He stressed the need for an international solidarity movement against Israeli settlement expansion and Apartheid Wall.
The head of the Palestinian National Initiative Movement stressed the importance of the peaceful popular resistance against the Israeli racist policy.
Israeli occupation authority (IOA) uses the negotiations to cover for its expansionist policy on Palestinian lands, he said, pointing to Israeli tenders for the construction of 12,415 housing units and a National Park on the lands of Tur and Issawiyya villages.
Barghouthi provided the delegates with documents and maps documenting Israeli forces and settlers' attacks and assaults against Palestinians and their properties such as the burning of a house in Sinjel village, the destruction of more than 100 olive trees in Jenin, and daily break-ins into al-Aqsa mosque, in addition to demolition orders in Jerusalem.
He stressed the need for an international solidarity movement against Israeli settlement expansion and Apartheid Wall.
The head of the Palestinian National Initiative Movement stressed the importance of the peaceful popular resistance against the Israeli racist policy.
15 nov 2013
Hamas movement reiterated its adherence to the resistance as the only way to defend the Palestinian constants and holy sites, until the liberation of the land and the achievement of the right of return. It stressed that "the resistance in all its forms, especially the armed one, is the strategic option to deter the occupation, restore the rights, protect the holy sites and liberate the land and the prisoners."
Hamas condemned in a statement on Thursday, on the occasion of the first anniversary of the Shale Stones war, the continuation of the futile negotiation and the security coordination between the Palestinian Authority and the occupation, under the U.S. administration pressures, and said the negotiations represent cover for the Israeli ongoing war on Palestinian land and people.
The movement called for immediately halting the negotiations and the security coordination, preserving the constants of the Palestinian people and liberating the land and holy places.
It also called on all the Palestinian factions and forces to end the division, to achieve the national reconciliation and to adhere to the rights and constants, in order to confront the Israeli organized terrorism and persistent crimes.
"We categorically reject the accusations and incitement against the Palestinian resistance and its leaders who have been working and making sacrifices to defend Palestine and the honor of the nation", Hamas's statement added:
It also urged the Arab League to fulfill its obligations by lifting the unjust siege imposed the Gaza Strip and opening the Rafah crossing to end the suffering of the population that threatens a humanitarian disaster.
Hamas condemned in a statement on Thursday, on the occasion of the first anniversary of the Shale Stones war, the continuation of the futile negotiation and the security coordination between the Palestinian Authority and the occupation, under the U.S. administration pressures, and said the negotiations represent cover for the Israeli ongoing war on Palestinian land and people.
The movement called for immediately halting the negotiations and the security coordination, preserving the constants of the Palestinian people and liberating the land and holy places.
It also called on all the Palestinian factions and forces to end the division, to achieve the national reconciliation and to adhere to the rights and constants, in order to confront the Israeli organized terrorism and persistent crimes.
"We categorically reject the accusations and incitement against the Palestinian resistance and its leaders who have been working and making sacrifices to defend Palestine and the honor of the nation", Hamas's statement added:
It also urged the Arab League to fulfill its obligations by lifting the unjust siege imposed the Gaza Strip and opening the Rafah crossing to end the suffering of the population that threatens a humanitarian disaster.
The Israeli government is considering forcing Palestinian detainees from Jerusalem and historic Palestine into exile should they be released under an agreement with the Palestinian Authority.
The detainees have been imprisoned since before the first Oslo Agreement of 1994.
Israel refused to release any of the 27 detainees during the first and second phases in which it released, back in mid-August 26 veteran detainees (14 from Gaza and 12 from the West bank, and in late October when it released 26 veteran detainees (21 from Gaza and five from the West Bank).
Tel Aviv will be releasing more detainees on December 29, and on March 28 2014.
A number of Arab members of the Israeli Knesset visited veteran Palestinian detainees who told them that “not being released this December would be an act of betrayal against them”, and “a sort of capital punishment imposed on them by Palestinian negotiators.”
They urged the Palestinian Authority (PA) not to succumb to Israeli pressure, and said that they will not accept to be forced into exile in return for their release. They are demanding to be sent home once they are freed.
The Wattan News Agency has reported that Arab Mk’s Basel Ghattas and Ibrahim Sarsour met a number of senior Palestinian political leaders held by Israel, including Marwan Barghouthi, who said that all Jerusalem and historic Palestine detainees must be released during the third phase.
Ghattas told the Qatar-based Al-Jazeera that the detained leaders said all detainees refuse to be exiled from Palestine in return for their release, adding that this issue resembles one of the ways Israel avoids implementing its agreements and vows.
He further stated that the release of all 114 veteran detainees has nothing to do with the progress of peace talks, as the talks were resumed in exchange of having the P.A. suspend its lawsuits against Israel in International Courts.
On his part, Sarsour said Israel has been using the issue of the detainees to blackmail the P.A into providing more concessions on core issues, while the steadfastness and the ongoing struggle of the detainees themselves has always been strong.
The detainees have been imprisoned since before the first Oslo Agreement of 1994.
Israel refused to release any of the 27 detainees during the first and second phases in which it released, back in mid-August 26 veteran detainees (14 from Gaza and 12 from the West bank, and in late October when it released 26 veteran detainees (21 from Gaza and five from the West Bank).
Tel Aviv will be releasing more detainees on December 29, and on March 28 2014.
A number of Arab members of the Israeli Knesset visited veteran Palestinian detainees who told them that “not being released this December would be an act of betrayal against them”, and “a sort of capital punishment imposed on them by Palestinian negotiators.”
They urged the Palestinian Authority (PA) not to succumb to Israeli pressure, and said that they will not accept to be forced into exile in return for their release. They are demanding to be sent home once they are freed.
The Wattan News Agency has reported that Arab Mk’s Basel Ghattas and Ibrahim Sarsour met a number of senior Palestinian political leaders held by Israel, including Marwan Barghouthi, who said that all Jerusalem and historic Palestine detainees must be released during the third phase.
Ghattas told the Qatar-based Al-Jazeera that the detained leaders said all detainees refuse to be exiled from Palestine in return for their release, adding that this issue resembles one of the ways Israel avoids implementing its agreements and vows.
He further stated that the release of all 114 veteran detainees has nothing to do with the progress of peace talks, as the talks were resumed in exchange of having the P.A. suspend its lawsuits against Israel in International Courts.
On his part, Sarsour said Israel has been using the issue of the detainees to blackmail the P.A into providing more concessions on core issues, while the steadfastness and the ongoing struggle of the detainees themselves has always been strong.
