25 aug 2015
President makes remarks in meeting with settler leaders in the wake of harsh criticism leveled at him during the aftermath of the Duma attack.
President Reuven Rivlin said during talks with settler leaders on Monday that Israel had a "right" to build settlements in the West Bank, his office said in a statement.
"I love the land of Israel with all my heart. I have never and will never give up on this land. For me, our right to this land is not a matter of political debate. It is a basic fact of modern Zionism," Rivlin said,
For Rivlin the "land of Israel" includes the West Bank, where Jewish settlements are considered illegal under international law.
"We must not give anyone the sense that we are in any doubt about our right to our land. For me, the settlement of the land of Israel is an expression of that right, our historical right, our national right," Rivlin said.
"I have no doubt that it is clear to all of us, that in order to realize the ultimate goal of building the land of Israel, we must be sure to do so only with the use of the legal tools available to us. Our sovereignty in this land, means responsibility for all those who live here, and obliges all of us to uphold the strictest of moral codes, which is inherent in each and every one of us," the president continued.
His comments come at a time of heightened tension between Israel and the Palestinians following the death in July of a Palestinian toddler and his father in an arson attack on their home.
In the wake of the firebombing in the West Bank village of Duma, three alleged Jewish extremists were placed in administrative detention.
On Sunday, the Shin Bet domestic security agency said the deadly attack had "emanated" from a wildcat Jewish settlement outpost near Duma.
The agency said "restraining orders" restricting the movement of 10 activists had been issued as a result.
Rivlin condemned "Jewish terrorism" after the July arson attack in a post on Facebook, which was later followed by death threats against him.
President Reuven Rivlin said during talks with settler leaders on Monday that Israel had a "right" to build settlements in the West Bank, his office said in a statement.
"I love the land of Israel with all my heart. I have never and will never give up on this land. For me, our right to this land is not a matter of political debate. It is a basic fact of modern Zionism," Rivlin said,
For Rivlin the "land of Israel" includes the West Bank, where Jewish settlements are considered illegal under international law.
"We must not give anyone the sense that we are in any doubt about our right to our land. For me, the settlement of the land of Israel is an expression of that right, our historical right, our national right," Rivlin said.
"I have no doubt that it is clear to all of us, that in order to realize the ultimate goal of building the land of Israel, we must be sure to do so only with the use of the legal tools available to us. Our sovereignty in this land, means responsibility for all those who live here, and obliges all of us to uphold the strictest of moral codes, which is inherent in each and every one of us," the president continued.
His comments come at a time of heightened tension between Israel and the Palestinians following the death in July of a Palestinian toddler and his father in an arson attack on their home.
In the wake of the firebombing in the West Bank village of Duma, three alleged Jewish extremists were placed in administrative detention.
On Sunday, the Shin Bet domestic security agency said the deadly attack had "emanated" from a wildcat Jewish settlement outpost near Duma.
The agency said "restraining orders" restricting the movement of 10 activists had been issued as a result.
Rivlin condemned "Jewish terrorism" after the July arson attack in a post on Facebook, which was later followed by death threats against him.
23 aug 2015
Hebrew sources revealed that Israeli municipality in Occupied Jerusalem is to build a temporary park for five years on Mount of the Watchmen over lands owned by Palestinians.
A Hebrew weekly newspaper stated that the park will be established over 1300 dunums of Palestinian lands located between al-Tour and al-Isaweiyeh towns in Occupied Jerusalem.
Palestinians of both towns appealed to the Israeli local affairs court demanding cancellation of the municipality’s order which was described as a new method of confiscating Jerusalemites’ lands, the newspaper stated.
Four years ago, the municipality tried to establish a state park in the area, but the regional appeals committee refused the proposal after Jerusalemites appealed it, the Hebrew newspaper pointed out.
A Hebrew weekly newspaper stated that the park will be established over 1300 dunums of Palestinian lands located between al-Tour and al-Isaweiyeh towns in Occupied Jerusalem.
Palestinians of both towns appealed to the Israeli local affairs court demanding cancellation of the municipality’s order which was described as a new method of confiscating Jerusalemites’ lands, the newspaper stated.
Four years ago, the municipality tried to establish a state park in the area, but the regional appeals committee refused the proposal after Jerusalemites appealed it, the Hebrew newspaper pointed out.
22 aug 2015
Israeli media sources revealed Friday a new plan for the establishment of 252 new housing units in Pisgat Ze'ev settlement in occupied Jerusalem.
Yerushalem weekly newspaper mentioned that Tsarfati Shimon company managed to market a new housing project in Pisgat Ze'ev settlement to the north of occupied Jerusalem.
The project includes the establishment of 160 new housing units, in addition to 92 housing units that had been earlier marketed by the company in the same settlement, the Hebrew paper added.
As a whole, 252 housing units are to be established in Pisgat Ze'ev settlement.
The Israeli government has revealed over the past few years several settlement projects in occupied Jerusalem and different areas in occupied West Bank, putting into question its commitment to the Middle East peace process.
Yerushalem weekly newspaper mentioned that Tsarfati Shimon company managed to market a new housing project in Pisgat Ze'ev settlement to the north of occupied Jerusalem.
The project includes the establishment of 160 new housing units, in addition to 92 housing units that had been earlier marketed by the company in the same settlement, the Hebrew paper added.
As a whole, 252 housing units are to be established in Pisgat Ze'ev settlement.
The Israeli government has revealed over the past few years several settlement projects in occupied Jerusalem and different areas in occupied West Bank, putting into question its commitment to the Middle East peace process.
19 aug 2015
Republican Presidential hopeful stresses Jewish connection to West Bank territories in exclusive Ynet interview, says US embassy should be in Jerusalem.
Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee reiterated Israel's connection to Judea and Samaria, and stated that peace cannot be possible with ongoing incitement in Palestinian schools, during a special interview with Ynet on Wednesday.
Huckabee is visiting Israel in the middle of the race for the Republican nomination for president. He visited the settlement of Shiloh on Tuesday stating that, "Shiloh was the capitol of Israel 3,500 years ago, to say Jews have no connection to Shiloh is bizarre. If you're going to visit Israel, you should visit all of Israel and that would include Judea and Samaria."
Huckabee reiterated his statement in his interview with Ynet Wednesday saying, "Jews have a stronger connection to Shiloh than Americans do to Manhattan."
Huckabee said that he has been coming to Israel for 41 years, and views the relations between the US and Israel as organic and not political, promising that as president he would, "Always make sure the US stood by its ally Israel."
Israeli-Palestinian Peace
When prompted on the matter of the peace process, Huckabee asserted that a real peace could not exist so long as, "one of the sides acknowledging Israel's right to exist." He continued to state that a major problem in achieving peace lay in the ongoing incitement within the Palestinian school system, "You can't have Palestinian kids learning to hate Jews in school."
Huckabee dismissed criticism of Israel's settlement policy, saying, "I would love to see a true peace in the world, but the question is does Israel have a right to build bedrooms for the expanding number of people who are coming here, who are making aliyah, to make sure there people have a secure land they can defend; I don’t know why anyone on this earth would think that they should surrender that right."
He also added that previous attempts at withdrawing from territory had failed, saying, "Land for peace has not worked for Israel, They lose the land and they lose the peace."
Asked whether he would move the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, he stated that, "I think it’s the capitol designated by the Israeli government and the us should respect that. We don’t insinuate that the Israelis have their embassy in new York or los Angeles; they put their embassy where the us capital is. Last time I checked, and I have been here many times in the past 40 years, the Israeli seat of government is in Jerusalem so it make perfect sense that the embassy be in Jerusalem."
Iran Deal
On the issue of the Iran deal and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's alleged interference in American political affairs, the presidential hopeful said, "Well, the Prime Minister of Israel is not endorsing any candidate, but I don’t hesitate in endorsing his actions in protecting Israel, I support his bold actions."
The frequent visits by Israeli Ambassador to the US Ron Dermer don't faze Huckabee, as he puts it, "What is the purpose of the ambassador if not to present the interests of the country which he represents?"
"An American ambassador goes abroad not to have a nice social relations with the people of that country but to advance US policy," he concluded. Huckabee dismissed the representation of Israel and the US as being a family feud, "Generally Americans are supportive of Israel and understand the relations we have. I don’t see this as a family fight, more like a dispute with members of this administration who will only be in office for another year and a half."
Huckabee added that he believes an overwhelming majority of Americans are against the Iran deal, saying that he "Hoped more and more members of congress would go home and listen to the overwhelming portion of the population which elected them."
On the content of the deal he added, "The US and Israel have vowed to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon. This is a terrorist state, and we are empowering and enriching them through this deal, by unfreezing $150 billion in assets which they will use to buy conventional weapons."
According to Huckabee, if Israel feels the need to strike Iran, "Israel has the power to make that decision they don’t need my assistance or approval to pursue whatever makes them safe."
Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee reiterated Israel's connection to Judea and Samaria, and stated that peace cannot be possible with ongoing incitement in Palestinian schools, during a special interview with Ynet on Wednesday.
Huckabee is visiting Israel in the middle of the race for the Republican nomination for president. He visited the settlement of Shiloh on Tuesday stating that, "Shiloh was the capitol of Israel 3,500 years ago, to say Jews have no connection to Shiloh is bizarre. If you're going to visit Israel, you should visit all of Israel and that would include Judea and Samaria."
Huckabee reiterated his statement in his interview with Ynet Wednesday saying, "Jews have a stronger connection to Shiloh than Americans do to Manhattan."
Huckabee said that he has been coming to Israel for 41 years, and views the relations between the US and Israel as organic and not political, promising that as president he would, "Always make sure the US stood by its ally Israel."
Israeli-Palestinian Peace
When prompted on the matter of the peace process, Huckabee asserted that a real peace could not exist so long as, "one of the sides acknowledging Israel's right to exist." He continued to state that a major problem in achieving peace lay in the ongoing incitement within the Palestinian school system, "You can't have Palestinian kids learning to hate Jews in school."
Huckabee dismissed criticism of Israel's settlement policy, saying, "I would love to see a true peace in the world, but the question is does Israel have a right to build bedrooms for the expanding number of people who are coming here, who are making aliyah, to make sure there people have a secure land they can defend; I don’t know why anyone on this earth would think that they should surrender that right."
He also added that previous attempts at withdrawing from territory had failed, saying, "Land for peace has not worked for Israel, They lose the land and they lose the peace."
Asked whether he would move the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, he stated that, "I think it’s the capitol designated by the Israeli government and the us should respect that. We don’t insinuate that the Israelis have their embassy in new York or los Angeles; they put their embassy where the us capital is. Last time I checked, and I have been here many times in the past 40 years, the Israeli seat of government is in Jerusalem so it make perfect sense that the embassy be in Jerusalem."
Iran Deal
On the issue of the Iran deal and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's alleged interference in American political affairs, the presidential hopeful said, "Well, the Prime Minister of Israel is not endorsing any candidate, but I don’t hesitate in endorsing his actions in protecting Israel, I support his bold actions."
The frequent visits by Israeli Ambassador to the US Ron Dermer don't faze Huckabee, as he puts it, "What is the purpose of the ambassador if not to present the interests of the country which he represents?"
"An American ambassador goes abroad not to have a nice social relations with the people of that country but to advance US policy," he concluded. Huckabee dismissed the representation of Israel and the US as being a family feud, "Generally Americans are supportive of Israel and understand the relations we have. I don’t see this as a family fight, more like a dispute with members of this administration who will only be in office for another year and a half."
Huckabee added that he believes an overwhelming majority of Americans are against the Iran deal, saying that he "Hoped more and more members of congress would go home and listen to the overwhelming portion of the population which elected them."
On the content of the deal he added, "The US and Israel have vowed to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon. This is a terrorist state, and we are empowering and enriching them through this deal, by unfreezing $150 billion in assets which they will use to buy conventional weapons."
According to Huckabee, if Israel feels the need to strike Iran, "Israel has the power to make that decision they don’t need my assistance or approval to pursue whatever makes them safe."
18 aug 2015
Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee attends a news conference near the West Bank Jewish settlement of Shiloh
Republican presidential hopeful Mike Huckabee waded into Middle East politics by declaring on Tuesday that the West Bank was a part of Israel.
Huckabee was visiting a West Bank settlement, telling reporters "if you're going to visit Israel you should visit all of Israel, and that would include Judea and Samaria," the biblical names for the West Bank.
Huckabee is visiting Israel to meet with officials to discuss the Obama administration's nuclear deal with Iran.
Mike Huckabee declares West Bank to be part of Israel during settlement visit
Republican presidential hopeful Mike Huckabee waded into Middle Eastern politics by declaring the West Bank to be part of Israel.
Huckabee made the remarks on Tuesday while visiting a West Bank settlement.
He told reporters “if you’re going to visit Israel you should visit all of Israel, and that would include Judea and Samaria”, the biblical name for the West Bank.
His comments are at odds with US policy.
Israel captured the West Bank from Jordan in the 1967 war. Palestinians demand the area along with Gaza and East Jerusalem for a future state.
The fate of West Bank settlements is one of the core issues at the heart of the conflict. Palestinians blamed settlement expansions for the breakdown in 2014 of US-mediated peace talks with Israel – a position supported in part by Washington, but rejected by the Israelis.
Many evangelical Christians in the US view Israel as the modern iteration of the Old Testament Israelites designated as God’s chosen people. Huckabee, an ordained southern Baptist minister, noted on Sunday that he has travelled to Israel “dozens and dozens of times” since his first trip in 1973.
Huckabee said he is visiting Israel to meet with officials to discuss the Obama administration’s nuclear agreement with Iran.
Last month, Huckabee said President Obama was “marching the Israelis to the door of the oven” with the recent Iran nuclear deal.
Republican presidential hopeful Mike Huckabee waded into Middle East politics by declaring on Tuesday that the West Bank was a part of Israel.
Huckabee was visiting a West Bank settlement, telling reporters "if you're going to visit Israel you should visit all of Israel, and that would include Judea and Samaria," the biblical names for the West Bank.
Huckabee is visiting Israel to meet with officials to discuss the Obama administration's nuclear deal with Iran.
Mike Huckabee declares West Bank to be part of Israel during settlement visit
Republican presidential hopeful Mike Huckabee waded into Middle Eastern politics by declaring the West Bank to be part of Israel.
Huckabee made the remarks on Tuesday while visiting a West Bank settlement.
He told reporters “if you’re going to visit Israel you should visit all of Israel, and that would include Judea and Samaria”, the biblical name for the West Bank.
His comments are at odds with US policy.
Israel captured the West Bank from Jordan in the 1967 war. Palestinians demand the area along with Gaza and East Jerusalem for a future state.
The fate of West Bank settlements is one of the core issues at the heart of the conflict. Palestinians blamed settlement expansions for the breakdown in 2014 of US-mediated peace talks with Israel – a position supported in part by Washington, but rejected by the Israelis.
Many evangelical Christians in the US view Israel as the modern iteration of the Old Testament Israelites designated as God’s chosen people. Huckabee, an ordained southern Baptist minister, noted on Sunday that he has travelled to Israel “dozens and dozens of times” since his first trip in 1973.
Huckabee said he is visiting Israel to meet with officials to discuss the Obama administration’s nuclear agreement with Iran.
Last month, Huckabee said President Obama was “marching the Israelis to the door of the oven” with the recent Iran nuclear deal.
Herzog and Abbas meet in Ramallah
Opposition leader meets with Palestinian President Abbas in Ramallah, calls on both Israeli government and PA to work to prevent another intifada.
Opposition leader Isaac Herzog (Zionist Union) met with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Ramallah on Tuesday, where he expressed concern a third intifada could erupt amid increase of tensions in the West Bank.
Tensions have been high since a July firebombing attack by suspected Jewish extremists in the West Bank last month killed an 18-month-old Palestinian toddler and his father. Since then, there have been a series of Palestinian stabbings and a firebombing on Israelis, and three suspected attackers shot dead.
Addressing reporters in Ramallah, Herzog said he and Abbas held an "in-depth" discussion that lasted more than an hour. He said both men agreed on the need to calm the deteriorating situation and prevent a new intifada, or Palestinian uprising, from breaking out.
"We first and foremost must prevent a third intifada and we have agreed that in order to prevent a third intifada we must combat terror on the one hand aggressively, and on the other hand move toward a diplomatic process," he said.
Preventing another violent uprising in the West Bank "means an uncompressing war against terrorism, and on this issue I am more extreme than Netanyahu," the Zionist Union leader said.
Israel and the Palestinians have held on-again, off-again peace talks over the past two decades but have never managed to agree on a final deal. The most recent round of talks, brokered by US Secretary of State John Kerry, broke down more than a year ago and show no signs of restarting. "We must ignite the process yet again and give it another effort," Herzog said.
Herzog asserted that Israel and the Palestinians could negotiate a peace agreement in two years, noting he would continue "trying to convince the public in Israel of the need for a diplomatic process."
"We must not miss this opportunity, which offers the backing of neighboring countries for a direct diplomatic effort between us and the Palestinians," he added.
Abbas did not join Herzog during his address to reporters. But in a statement, the Palestinian leader, an outspoken critic of violence, affirmed his commitment to reaching a peace deal with Israel.
Opposition leader meets with Palestinian President Abbas in Ramallah, calls on both Israeli government and PA to work to prevent another intifada.
Opposition leader Isaac Herzog (Zionist Union) met with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Ramallah on Tuesday, where he expressed concern a third intifada could erupt amid increase of tensions in the West Bank.
Tensions have been high since a July firebombing attack by suspected Jewish extremists in the West Bank last month killed an 18-month-old Palestinian toddler and his father. Since then, there have been a series of Palestinian stabbings and a firebombing on Israelis, and three suspected attackers shot dead.
Addressing reporters in Ramallah, Herzog said he and Abbas held an "in-depth" discussion that lasted more than an hour. He said both men agreed on the need to calm the deteriorating situation and prevent a new intifada, or Palestinian uprising, from breaking out.
"We first and foremost must prevent a third intifada and we have agreed that in order to prevent a third intifada we must combat terror on the one hand aggressively, and on the other hand move toward a diplomatic process," he said.
Preventing another violent uprising in the West Bank "means an uncompressing war against terrorism, and on this issue I am more extreme than Netanyahu," the Zionist Union leader said.
Israel and the Palestinians have held on-again, off-again peace talks over the past two decades but have never managed to agree on a final deal. The most recent round of talks, brokered by US Secretary of State John Kerry, broke down more than a year ago and show no signs of restarting. "We must ignite the process yet again and give it another effort," Herzog said.
Herzog asserted that Israel and the Palestinians could negotiate a peace agreement in two years, noting he would continue "trying to convince the public in Israel of the need for a diplomatic process."
"We must not miss this opportunity, which offers the backing of neighboring countries for a direct diplomatic effort between us and the Palestinians," he added.
Abbas did not join Herzog during his address to reporters. But in a statement, the Palestinian leader, an outspoken critic of violence, affirmed his commitment to reaching a peace deal with Israel.
16 aug 2015
The Israeli authorities on Sunday morning confiscated a tract of land adjacent to the eastern wall of Al-Aqsa Mosque near the Golden gate, Palestinian sources told Ma'an.
Jawad Siyam, the director of Wadi Hilweh Information Center in occupied Easy Jerusalem, told Ma’an that Jerusalem inspectors from the Israeli Nature and Parks Authority stormed and confiscated land belonging to the al-Husseini and the al-Ansari families.
The nature authority inspectors were escorted by Israeli troops during the confiscation, Siyam said. Siyam added that security guards from a private security company installed barbed wire fence around the land.
The Palestinian Authority’s governor of Jerusalem and Minister of Jerusalem Affairs Adnan al-Husseini also told Ma'an that the Israeli forces and inspectors stormed the land without prior notice. He highlighted that the tract of land measures more than 7000 square meters (1.7 acres).
A lawyer representing the Palestinian owners is taking the case to the Israeli court in an attempt to stop the confiscation, the minister added. One of the owners of the land from the al-Husseini family told Ma'an that he believes the Israelis plan to confiscate the land for settlement expansion.
In effort to gain and maintain a Jewish majority in the city, Jewish residents frequently take over Palestinian buildings with the protection of Israeli security, particularly in occupied East Jerusalem, according to the Israeli rights organization the Association for Civil Rights in Israel.
The majority of Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu's right-wing coalition has vowed to expand settlements in occupied East Jerusalem and the occupied West Bank, with many opposing a future independent Palestinian state. Earlier this year the Israeli government allocated $25 million for settlement expansion in Jerusalem.
Jawad Siyam, the director of Wadi Hilweh Information Center in occupied Easy Jerusalem, told Ma’an that Jerusalem inspectors from the Israeli Nature and Parks Authority stormed and confiscated land belonging to the al-Husseini and the al-Ansari families.
The nature authority inspectors were escorted by Israeli troops during the confiscation, Siyam said. Siyam added that security guards from a private security company installed barbed wire fence around the land.
The Palestinian Authority’s governor of Jerusalem and Minister of Jerusalem Affairs Adnan al-Husseini also told Ma'an that the Israeli forces and inspectors stormed the land without prior notice. He highlighted that the tract of land measures more than 7000 square meters (1.7 acres).
A lawyer representing the Palestinian owners is taking the case to the Israeli court in an attempt to stop the confiscation, the minister added. One of the owners of the land from the al-Husseini family told Ma'an that he believes the Israelis plan to confiscate the land for settlement expansion.
In effort to gain and maintain a Jewish majority in the city, Jewish residents frequently take over Palestinian buildings with the protection of Israeli security, particularly in occupied East Jerusalem, according to the Israeli rights organization the Association for Civil Rights in Israel.
The majority of Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu's right-wing coalition has vowed to expand settlements in occupied East Jerusalem and the occupied West Bank, with many opposing a future independent Palestinian state. Earlier this year the Israeli government allocated $25 million for settlement expansion in Jerusalem.
15 aug 2015
Former US president Jimmy Carter said, recently, that the two-state solution has “zero chance” of being realized in the present day, pointing to Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu for the plan's failure.
In a wide-ranging interview with Prospect Magazine published on Thursday, Carter accused Netanyahu of adopting a “one-state solution,” and lamented that the “US had withdrawn” from making further efforts.
According to Days of Palestine, he further accused the Israeli occupation of denying Palestinians equal rights, but stopped short of labelling the Israeli occupation an apartheid state, a term he utilised in his 2006 book, "Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid".
“These are the worst prospects for peace between Israel and the Palestinians for years. At this moment, there is zero chance of the two-state solution,” Carter said.
Carter, who served as US president from 1977 to 1981, said he believes that Netanyahu has no intention of pursuing peace, and lamented that “They [Palestinians] will never get equal rights [to Israeli Jews, in a one-state solution].”
Netanyahu “does not now and has never sincerely believed in a two-state solution for Israel and Palestine,” Carter added.
He noted that when he visited the Israeli occupation and the occupied West Bank in April, he did not bother to contact Netanyahu for a meeting, on the grounds that “it would be a waste of time to ask” — expecting that the request would be rebuffed as were previous ones.
The former president and Nobel Peace Prize winner gave the interview ahead of the launch of his new book, A Full Life: Reflections at 90, and shortly after he announced Wednesday that he has been diagnosed with cancer. He will turn 91 in October.
Responding to a question on the use of the term "apartheid" in relation to the Israeli occupation, Carter said that he is “reluctant to use that word in a news article” but asserted that the argument has legitimacy because of demographic changes in the Israeli occupation and the West Bank.
Either “Palestinians will have a majority in government, or you deprive them of equal rights,” he noted, suggesting that the Israeli occupation would not accept a Palestinian political majority.
In a wide-ranging interview with Prospect Magazine published on Thursday, Carter accused Netanyahu of adopting a “one-state solution,” and lamented that the “US had withdrawn” from making further efforts.
According to Days of Palestine, he further accused the Israeli occupation of denying Palestinians equal rights, but stopped short of labelling the Israeli occupation an apartheid state, a term he utilised in his 2006 book, "Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid".
“These are the worst prospects for peace between Israel and the Palestinians for years. At this moment, there is zero chance of the two-state solution,” Carter said.
Carter, who served as US president from 1977 to 1981, said he believes that Netanyahu has no intention of pursuing peace, and lamented that “They [Palestinians] will never get equal rights [to Israeli Jews, in a one-state solution].”
Netanyahu “does not now and has never sincerely believed in a two-state solution for Israel and Palestine,” Carter added.
He noted that when he visited the Israeli occupation and the occupied West Bank in April, he did not bother to contact Netanyahu for a meeting, on the grounds that “it would be a waste of time to ask” — expecting that the request would be rebuffed as were previous ones.
The former president and Nobel Peace Prize winner gave the interview ahead of the launch of his new book, A Full Life: Reflections at 90, and shortly after he announced Wednesday that he has been diagnosed with cancer. He will turn 91 in October.
Responding to a question on the use of the term "apartheid" in relation to the Israeli occupation, Carter said that he is “reluctant to use that word in a news article” but asserted that the argument has legitimacy because of demographic changes in the Israeli occupation and the West Bank.
Either “Palestinians will have a majority in government, or you deprive them of equal rights,” he noted, suggesting that the Israeli occupation would not accept a Palestinian political majority.
14 aug 2015
Israeli forces demolish buildings in West Bank in order to construct new settlements
A pro-settler group is continuing with its efforts to spread illegal Jewish settlements in occupied East Jerusalem. Ateret Cohanim, reported Haaretz on Thursday, has obtained a court order to evict a Palestinian family from a building that the organisation now controls in Silwan, near to the Noble Sanctuary of Al-Aqsa.
Several weeks ago, the organisation filed a request to evacuate other Palestinian families living in the area as it tries to seize more Palestinian homes. More recently, it applied for licences to build a three-story building in Silwan and widen the road leading to a Jewish settlement inside the neighbourhood, Haaretz explained.
Ateret Cohanim has been active for years, making provision for Jewish settlers in Jerusalem and Silwan neighbourhood. Its activities revolve around taking control of the area of Batan Al-Hawa in Silwan, which it claims was home to Jews of Yemeni origin more than a hundred years ago. In this context the group seized the Beit Yonatan building, which was built without a licence and is now inhabited by 10 Jewish families. It has also placed another family of Jewish settlers in the Bait Hadvash building, according to Haaretz.
"About two months ago," added the newspaper, "Ateret Cohanim took over half of the so-called Abu Nab building, named for the extended family that lived in it, and which once housed a synagogue for the Yemenite community."
This settlement effort complements that of the Ir David Foundation (aka Elad), which focuses its activities in the so-called "City of David" near the walls of the Old City of Jerusalem.
Critics have asked why the Israeli government and the Israeli-controlled Jerusalem Municipality say that it is illegal for Palestinians to live in "unlicensed" buildings but acceptable for Jews to be there.
Israel is engaged in the Judaisation of Jerusalem. Evicting long-term Palestinian residents and revoking their residence permits is part of the ethnic cleansing process that has been ongoing since the state of Israel was created on Palestinian land in 1948.
A pro-settler group is continuing with its efforts to spread illegal Jewish settlements in occupied East Jerusalem. Ateret Cohanim, reported Haaretz on Thursday, has obtained a court order to evict a Palestinian family from a building that the organisation now controls in Silwan, near to the Noble Sanctuary of Al-Aqsa.
Several weeks ago, the organisation filed a request to evacuate other Palestinian families living in the area as it tries to seize more Palestinian homes. More recently, it applied for licences to build a three-story building in Silwan and widen the road leading to a Jewish settlement inside the neighbourhood, Haaretz explained.
Ateret Cohanim has been active for years, making provision for Jewish settlers in Jerusalem and Silwan neighbourhood. Its activities revolve around taking control of the area of Batan Al-Hawa in Silwan, which it claims was home to Jews of Yemeni origin more than a hundred years ago. In this context the group seized the Beit Yonatan building, which was built without a licence and is now inhabited by 10 Jewish families. It has also placed another family of Jewish settlers in the Bait Hadvash building, according to Haaretz.
"About two months ago," added the newspaper, "Ateret Cohanim took over half of the so-called Abu Nab building, named for the extended family that lived in it, and which once housed a synagogue for the Yemenite community."
This settlement effort complements that of the Ir David Foundation (aka Elad), which focuses its activities in the so-called "City of David" near the walls of the Old City of Jerusalem.
Critics have asked why the Israeli government and the Israeli-controlled Jerusalem Municipality say that it is illegal for Palestinians to live in "unlicensed" buildings but acceptable for Jews to be there.
Israel is engaged in the Judaisation of Jerusalem. Evicting long-term Palestinian residents and revoking their residence permits is part of the ethnic cleansing process that has been ongoing since the state of Israel was created on Palestinian land in 1948.
The Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement, Hamas, has held several meetings with various factions to brief them on recent efforts by Britain's ex-Prime Minister, Tony Blair, to reach a ceasefire agreement with Israel. According to Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri on Thursday, those involved in the bilateral meetings included Fatah, Islamic Jihad, the Popular Front and the Democratic Front, as well as the National Initiative in the Gaza Strip. All of the other political developments in Palestine were also discussed, he added.
This is the first time that Hamas has referred officially to the meeting with Blair after several international and Arab newspapers reported that the head of the movement's political bureau, Khaled Meshaal, met the former Middle East peace envoy in Qatar. Although Abu Zuhri did not provide any details about the results of the meetings, he stressed that any proposal for a truce with Israel will be discussed with all Palestinian factions. Further meetings with other factions will be held in the coming days, he revealed.
On Thursday, Fatah launched a scathing attack against Hamas over its reported meeting with Blair and called on the movement to put an end to such contacts.
This is the first time that Hamas has referred officially to the meeting with Blair after several international and Arab newspapers reported that the head of the movement's political bureau, Khaled Meshaal, met the former Middle East peace envoy in Qatar. Although Abu Zuhri did not provide any details about the results of the meetings, he stressed that any proposal for a truce with Israel will be discussed with all Palestinian factions. Further meetings with other factions will be held in the coming days, he revealed.
On Thursday, Fatah launched a scathing attack against Hamas over its reported meeting with Blair and called on the movement to put an end to such contacts.