24 june 2014
Israeli soldiers take part in an operation to locate three Israeli teens in valley of Haska near the West Bank City of Hebron June 24, 2014
Israel scaled back a search for three missing teenagers in the occupied West Bank on Tuesday after 11 days of operations raised fears of a general uprising and undermined Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. Israel has accused Abbas's political rivals, the Islamist group Hamas, of orchestrating the abduction of the Jewish youths on June 12. It has launched a massive crackdown in its search for the trio, which has so far failed to find any trace of them.
Up to six Palestinians have died as a result of the military sweep, locals say, and some 355 people have been arrested.
A senior United Nations official cautioned on Monday the army action risked provoking a revolt, while Palestinians in the West Bank have turned on Abbas for offering to help Israel find those behind the kidnapping.
With the Muslim holy month of Ramadan set to start on Saturday, an Israeli government official said members of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's security cabinet had expressed concern that events could "escalate out of control".
Growing international criticism about the impact on ordinary Palestinians has also been taken into account, he said.
"Following this, a decision was made to significantly narrow the operation and focus it on pinpoint actions to return the abductees," said the official, who declined to be named.
Signalling the change in policy, the Israeli military said on Tuesday that only four Palestinians had been arrested during overnight operations compared with 37 the day before.
Hamas has declined to deny or acknowledge responsibility for snatching the youths, who vanished while hitchhiking near a Jewish settlement, although it has praised the kidnapping.
Abbas himself denounced those behind the abduction and promised to work with Israel to locate the missing teenagers.
ANGER
Many Palestinians reacted angrily to Abbas's stance, seeing it as a sign of weakness in the face of the Israeli occupation. Locals clashed with his security forces in central Ramallah on Sunday, while social media were filled with images of glum policemen watching from a balcony in the city of Hebron as dozens of Israeli soldiers took charge of the streets below.
The Palestinian Authority has self-rule in the major West Bank cities, but the Israeli crackdown has shown the limited scope of its powers, with soldiers carrying out searches and raids just one block from Abbas's own house in Ramallah.
"The Palestinian anger is growing and no-one knows where it will end," said Hazem Abu Hilal, a political activist who has taken part in a number of Ramallah rallies to protest against ongoing security coordination with Israel.
The abduction came two months after the collapse of U.S.-led peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians - the latest in a long line of failed efforts to secure a negotiated end to the generations-old conflict.
It also came fast on the heels of a deal signed by Abbas's Fatah faction and Hamas to overcome seven years of ferocious feuding, opening the way for the formation of a unity government earlier this month.
The future of that administration is now in doubt.
With Israel promising to show more restraint in its operations, political analyst Hani Al-Masri said Abbas and his Palestinian Authority needed to show his people that they were confronting the Israeli occupation, not aiding it.
"The Authority cannot play two games at a time, maintaining security coordination (with Israel) and defending the people," Masri said. "It has to choose to defend its people and chase Israel through diplomatic means at the United Nations. If it does not do that, it will fall," he added.
Israel scaled back a search for three missing teenagers in the occupied West Bank on Tuesday after 11 days of operations raised fears of a general uprising and undermined Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. Israel has accused Abbas's political rivals, the Islamist group Hamas, of orchestrating the abduction of the Jewish youths on June 12. It has launched a massive crackdown in its search for the trio, which has so far failed to find any trace of them.
Up to six Palestinians have died as a result of the military sweep, locals say, and some 355 people have been arrested.
A senior United Nations official cautioned on Monday the army action risked provoking a revolt, while Palestinians in the West Bank have turned on Abbas for offering to help Israel find those behind the kidnapping.
With the Muslim holy month of Ramadan set to start on Saturday, an Israeli government official said members of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's security cabinet had expressed concern that events could "escalate out of control".
Growing international criticism about the impact on ordinary Palestinians has also been taken into account, he said.
"Following this, a decision was made to significantly narrow the operation and focus it on pinpoint actions to return the abductees," said the official, who declined to be named.
Signalling the change in policy, the Israeli military said on Tuesday that only four Palestinians had been arrested during overnight operations compared with 37 the day before.
Hamas has declined to deny or acknowledge responsibility for snatching the youths, who vanished while hitchhiking near a Jewish settlement, although it has praised the kidnapping.
Abbas himself denounced those behind the abduction and promised to work with Israel to locate the missing teenagers.
ANGER
Many Palestinians reacted angrily to Abbas's stance, seeing it as a sign of weakness in the face of the Israeli occupation. Locals clashed with his security forces in central Ramallah on Sunday, while social media were filled with images of glum policemen watching from a balcony in the city of Hebron as dozens of Israeli soldiers took charge of the streets below.
The Palestinian Authority has self-rule in the major West Bank cities, but the Israeli crackdown has shown the limited scope of its powers, with soldiers carrying out searches and raids just one block from Abbas's own house in Ramallah.
"The Palestinian anger is growing and no-one knows where it will end," said Hazem Abu Hilal, a political activist who has taken part in a number of Ramallah rallies to protest against ongoing security coordination with Israel.
The abduction came two months after the collapse of U.S.-led peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians - the latest in a long line of failed efforts to secure a negotiated end to the generations-old conflict.
It also came fast on the heels of a deal signed by Abbas's Fatah faction and Hamas to overcome seven years of ferocious feuding, opening the way for the formation of a unity government earlier this month.
The future of that administration is now in doubt.
With Israel promising to show more restraint in its operations, political analyst Hani Al-Masri said Abbas and his Palestinian Authority needed to show his people that they were confronting the Israeli occupation, not aiding it.
"The Authority cannot play two games at a time, maintaining security coordination (with Israel) and defending the people," Masri said. "It has to choose to defend its people and chase Israel through diplomatic means at the United Nations. If it does not do that, it will fall," he added.
Leader of Hamas political bureau, Khaled Meshal, said that Hamas has no information about the disappearance of three Israeli soldiers 11 days ago near Hebron in the southern West Bank. In an interview with Al Jazeera television on Monday, Meshal said that Hamas has no information about the missing soldiers. The movement has nothing to prove or disprove about the missing soldiers.
He emphasized the right of Palestinians to free the detainees in Israeli prisons and that the occupation must pay the price for Palestinian suffering.
"The Israeli occupation does not need any justification to escalate their aggression against Palestinians. I rule out the possibility that their disappearance is an Israeli fabrication," he said.
He told the families of the three missing soldiers that "Netanyahu is ignoring the suffering of Palestinian people and prisoners. He is the reason behind your sons' loss.
Meshal denied the Israeli accusations that he gave the green light for any group to detain the Israelis. "The resistance knows its duty, and it does not wait for instructions to move", he added.
Denouncing the U.S biased Israel position, he emphasized that Israeli threats don’t frighten Hamas.
He pointed out that the Palestinian national reconciliation agreement stressed the importance to work to release prisoners as a sacred national duty, and the right to use any means necessary to achieve their liberation.
He called on the Palestinian leadership to study and discuss an appropriate response to the ongoing Israeli aggressions against the Palestinian people.
Mashal said that the international community holds the responsibility of the continued Israeli aggressions against Palestinians and its repressive policies, pointing out that all delegations, he received, emphasized the justice of Palestinian cause.
Israeli army has launched a military campaign in the West Bank killing at least five Palestinians, detaining more than 500, and raiding more than 1,100 sites including homes, offices, and universities in hunt for three settlers who were missed last June, 12 in the West Bank city of Hebron. Yet, no clear evidence the three settlers were abducted as Israel claimed.
He emphasized the right of Palestinians to free the detainees in Israeli prisons and that the occupation must pay the price for Palestinian suffering.
"The Israeli occupation does not need any justification to escalate their aggression against Palestinians. I rule out the possibility that their disappearance is an Israeli fabrication," he said.
He told the families of the three missing soldiers that "Netanyahu is ignoring the suffering of Palestinian people and prisoners. He is the reason behind your sons' loss.
Meshal denied the Israeli accusations that he gave the green light for any group to detain the Israelis. "The resistance knows its duty, and it does not wait for instructions to move", he added.
Denouncing the U.S biased Israel position, he emphasized that Israeli threats don’t frighten Hamas.
He pointed out that the Palestinian national reconciliation agreement stressed the importance to work to release prisoners as a sacred national duty, and the right to use any means necessary to achieve their liberation.
He called on the Palestinian leadership to study and discuss an appropriate response to the ongoing Israeli aggressions against the Palestinian people.
Mashal said that the international community holds the responsibility of the continued Israeli aggressions against Palestinians and its repressive policies, pointing out that all delegations, he received, emphasized the justice of Palestinian cause.
Israeli army has launched a military campaign in the West Bank killing at least five Palestinians, detaining more than 500, and raiding more than 1,100 sites including homes, offices, and universities in hunt for three settlers who were missed last June, 12 in the West Bank city of Hebron. Yet, no clear evidence the three settlers were abducted as Israel claimed.
Palestinian medical sources have reported that two Palestinians were wounded after a number of settlers chased their car, and threw a gas bomb at it, near the central West Bank city of Ramallah.
Local sources said the attack took place near Deir Bzei’ village, west of Ramallah. The settlers came from a nearby illegal Israeli settlement.
The sources said that a settler’s car chased a Palestinian car on a joint road, used by Israeli settlers, and also leads to a number of Palestinian villages and towns, west of Ramallah, before a settler threw a gas bomb at the car.
Medical sources said the bomb appears to contain ingredients that target the nervous system, causing symptoms similar to paralysis.
Barely able to move and speak, the two wounded Palestinians told Israeli soldiers, at a nearby roadblock, that the settlers have attacked them, and even identified the vehicle, as it was parked nearby the roadblock.
The soldiers did not listen to the complaining Palestinians, and pushed them away after threatening to kidnap them.
On Monday, a number of settlers fired rounds of live ammunition at eight Palestinian workers, near al-Mazra’a al-Gharbiyya village, north of Ramallah, and fled the scene. The Palestinian managed to escape unharmed.
Local sources said the attack took place near Deir Bzei’ village, west of Ramallah. The settlers came from a nearby illegal Israeli settlement.
The sources said that a settler’s car chased a Palestinian car on a joint road, used by Israeli settlers, and also leads to a number of Palestinian villages and towns, west of Ramallah, before a settler threw a gas bomb at the car.
Medical sources said the bomb appears to contain ingredients that target the nervous system, causing symptoms similar to paralysis.
Barely able to move and speak, the two wounded Palestinians told Israeli soldiers, at a nearby roadblock, that the settlers have attacked them, and even identified the vehicle, as it was parked nearby the roadblock.
The soldiers did not listen to the complaining Palestinians, and pushed them away after threatening to kidnap them.
On Monday, a number of settlers fired rounds of live ammunition at eight Palestinian workers, near al-Mazra’a al-Gharbiyya village, north of Ramallah, and fled the scene. The Palestinian managed to escape unharmed.
Vandals slash tires, spray graffiti near Jerusalem
Israeli forces raided a currency exchange shop today, in Bethlehem, where they confiscated surveillance cameras, according to a security source. Late last night, Israeli 'price tag' vandals slashed the tires of nine cars and a lorry just north of Jerusalem, in the town of Beit Hanina.
At dawn, forces stormed the exchange shop located on Nativity Street, in Bethlehem, blowing up its door and thoroughly ransacking it before confiscating surveillance cameras.
WAFA Palestinian News & Info Agency reports that, as part of the large-scale "search" operations to allegedly find the three missing settlers for what is now the eleventh consecutive day, Israeli forces have raided several West Bank cities, village and towns, with a focus on Hebron governorates.
Over 500 Palestinians have been detained, including 11 parliamentarians, and members of targeted charities, universities and media outlets.
Israeli forces have killed several Palestinians during the campaign, including two men who were shot dead on Sunday.
In nearby Beit Hanina, north of Jerusalem, surveillance cameras have revealed that three individuals from a nearby settlement slashed the tires of 9 Palestinian-owned cars and a lorry, in addition to spraying racist anti-Arab graffiti in the area.
The group has conducted dozens of similar attacks during the past two years.
Israeli forces raided a currency exchange shop today, in Bethlehem, where they confiscated surveillance cameras, according to a security source. Late last night, Israeli 'price tag' vandals slashed the tires of nine cars and a lorry just north of Jerusalem, in the town of Beit Hanina.
At dawn, forces stormed the exchange shop located on Nativity Street, in Bethlehem, blowing up its door and thoroughly ransacking it before confiscating surveillance cameras.
WAFA Palestinian News & Info Agency reports that, as part of the large-scale "search" operations to allegedly find the three missing settlers for what is now the eleventh consecutive day, Israeli forces have raided several West Bank cities, village and towns, with a focus on Hebron governorates.
Over 500 Palestinians have been detained, including 11 parliamentarians, and members of targeted charities, universities and media outlets.
Israeli forces have killed several Palestinians during the campaign, including two men who were shot dead on Sunday.
In nearby Beit Hanina, north of Jerusalem, surveillance cameras have revealed that three individuals from a nearby settlement slashed the tires of 9 Palestinian-owned cars and a lorry, in addition to spraying racist anti-Arab graffiti in the area.
The group has conducted dozens of similar attacks during the past two years.
23 june 2014
The Palestinian Prisoners Society (PPS) has reported that Israeli soldiers have kidnapped 529 Palestinians, during daily invasions and assaults, since three Israeli settlers went missing ten days ago.
The PPS said that the army, in extensive invasions targeting hundreds of Palestinian homes, has kidnapped at least 61 Palestinians, Monday.
As part of the ongoing military invasions, the PPS stated that 179 Palestinians have been kidnapped in the Hebron district, 87 in Nablus, 75 in Bethlehem, 52 in Jenin, 49 in Ramallah, 36 in Jerusalem, 23 in Tulkarem, 13 in Qalqilia, 7 in Tubas, 7 in Salfit, and one in Jericho.
The PPS said that the army, in extensive invasions targeting hundreds of Palestinian homes, has kidnapped at least 61 Palestinians, Monday.
As part of the ongoing military invasions, the PPS stated that 179 Palestinians have been kidnapped in the Hebron district, 87 in Nablus, 75 in Bethlehem, 52 in Jenin, 49 in Ramallah, 36 in Jerusalem, 23 in Tulkarem, 13 in Qalqilia, 7 in Tubas, 7 in Salfit, and one in Jericho.
IDF soldiers search two cars at a flying checkpoint near the intersection the three Israeli settlers went missing on June 12th
As the search for the three missing teenage settlers intensifies, the city of Hebron continues to experience complete lockdown. Checkpoints are set up across the district, barring any residents from leaving Hebron. These checkpoints are additional to the previous ones that have been in place for years. Generally checkpoints aren’t found in Area A (the 18% of the occupied West Bank that the Palestinian Authority has control over) but since the search for the three missing settlers has launched, checkpoints have been set up at the entrances to Area A in Hebron and other districts, as well as flying (temporary roadblock) checkpoints within Area A roads in the middle of Palestinian cities and towns.
As the search for the three missing teenage settlers intensifies, the city of Hebron continues to experience complete lockdown. Checkpoints are set up across the district, barring any residents from leaving Hebron. These checkpoints are additional to the previous ones that have been in place for years. Generally checkpoints aren’t found in Area A (the 18% of the occupied West Bank that the Palestinian Authority has control over) but since the search for the three missing settlers has launched, checkpoints have been set up at the entrances to Area A in Hebron and other districts, as well as flying (temporary roadblock) checkpoints within Area A roads in the middle of Palestinian cities and towns.
IDF soldier talks on her phone while cars wait to exit Hebron at a new Area A entrance checkpoint.
Protests against the siege of the city have become frequent, and injuries and arrests are common. Hebron was the first city and district to feel the force of the army’s crackdown ten days ago, however other population areas throughout the occupied West Bank are now beginning to experience similar tactics. Currently over 350 Palestinians have been arrested in the West Bank and five Palestinians have been shot dead.
Normal life in Hebron, which due to military occupation and the placement of an illegal Israeli settlement within the city center, has always been difficult, but this week life has become even more grim and problematic.
Protests against the siege of the city have become frequent, and injuries and arrests are common. Hebron was the first city and district to feel the force of the army’s crackdown ten days ago, however other population areas throughout the occupied West Bank are now beginning to experience similar tactics. Currently over 350 Palestinians have been arrested in the West Bank and five Palestinians have been shot dead.
Normal life in Hebron, which due to military occupation and the placement of an illegal Israeli settlement within the city center, has always been difficult, but this week life has become even more grim and problematic.
A woman walks by a burning tire in the city center, trying to avoid the clashes
On Friday, Hebron’s city center erupted in clashes between the shabaab (young men), and Israeli Defense Force (IDF). While protests and clashes with the IDF are common in the West Bank, they usually occur in the small villages outlying larger cities, and seldom happen in the center of Palestinian cities. However now with soldiers frequently making trips into Hebron city center along with the thousands of soldiers being deployed throughout the whole district, the atmosphere is tense. Friday’s clash in the center of Hebron lasted for over four hours; a ten-year-old boy was arrested, along with a young man, while soldiers opened live fire on protestors.
On Friday, Hebron’s city center erupted in clashes between the shabaab (young men), and Israeli Defense Force (IDF). While protests and clashes with the IDF are common in the West Bank, they usually occur in the small villages outlying larger cities, and seldom happen in the center of Palestinian cities. However now with soldiers frequently making trips into Hebron city center along with the thousands of soldiers being deployed throughout the whole district, the atmosphere is tense. Friday’s clash in the center of Hebron lasted for over four hours; a ten-year-old boy was arrested, along with a young man, while soldiers opened live fire on protestors.
Young man shot in the ankle with live fire during clashes in Hebron city center.
Now raids on houses have become commonplace. In the village of al-Dura a few kilometers from Hebron, a 14 year-old-boy was killed by live ammunition to the chest during one of these night raids. With every day bringing uncertainty around Israel’s next move, it appears the only constant is knowing that the arrests, night raids, and the crackdown will most likely continue.
“The soldiers are now everywhere” Mohammed Rabah, who lives in Halhul in the Hebron district, said. “Last night they were occupying and sleeping in the masjid [mosque] and using it as a base. Every day they are throwing so much gas, raiding people’s homes and arresting people. Yesterday they broke into my cousin’s house and pointed their guns at her and her two year old daughter. I think this is not right, this not looking for the missing settlers, it is just trying to punish us.”
Now raids on houses have become commonplace. In the village of al-Dura a few kilometers from Hebron, a 14 year-old-boy was killed by live ammunition to the chest during one of these night raids. With every day bringing uncertainty around Israel’s next move, it appears the only constant is knowing that the arrests, night raids, and the crackdown will most likely continue.
“The soldiers are now everywhere” Mohammed Rabah, who lives in Halhul in the Hebron district, said. “Last night they were occupying and sleeping in the masjid [mosque] and using it as a base. Every day they are throwing so much gas, raiding people’s homes and arresting people. Yesterday they broke into my cousin’s house and pointed their guns at her and her two year old daughter. I think this is not right, this not looking for the missing settlers, it is just trying to punish us.”
Jewish temple groups have sent a letter to Israeli prime minister Benyamin Netanyahu calling for allowing Jewish settlers to pray at the Aqsa Mosque for the safe return of the three missing Jewish settlers.
The Aqsa foundation for endowment and heritage confirmed that Netanyahu received a letter from Jewish groups asking for permission to perform Talmudic prayers permanently at the Aqsa Mosque till the return of the three missing settlers.
In a separate incident, the Aqsa foundation said that guards of the Mosque and Palestinian worshipers prevented on Sunday Israeli rabbis and settlers from desecrating the Mosque and performing Talmudic prayers under police protection.
Approximately 22 settlers stormed the Aqsa mosque from the Maghariba gate under Israeli police protection and started provoking Palestinian worshipers, the foundation confirmed.
The Aqsa foundation for endowment and heritage confirmed that Netanyahu received a letter from Jewish groups asking for permission to perform Talmudic prayers permanently at the Aqsa Mosque till the return of the three missing settlers.
In a separate incident, the Aqsa foundation said that guards of the Mosque and Palestinian worshipers prevented on Sunday Israeli rabbis and settlers from desecrating the Mosque and performing Talmudic prayers under police protection.
Approximately 22 settlers stormed the Aqsa mosque from the Maghariba gate under Israeli police protection and started provoking Palestinian worshipers, the foundation confirmed.
|
|
Settlers vandalized 12 Palestinian vehicles and a school bus in the East Jerusalem neighborhood of Beit Hanina on Monday, locals said.
Owners of the vehicles told Ma'an that three masked settlers raided the al-Ashqariya neighborhood at 3 a.m. and punctured tires on 12 cars. The settlers also sprayed "Death to Arabs" and "Revenge" on a school bus and another private vehicle. Local resident Mahmoud Shanak told Ma'an that this is the first incident of its kind in al-Ashqariya. |
The damaged vehicles belong to Riyad al-Halwani, Ramadan Bader, Mahmoud al-Shanak, Muhammad al-Shanak, Alaa al-Leftawi, Ulfat al-Bakri, Muhammad Hussein Barqan, Nisreen Hamad, Younes Ghazawi and Issa Jabarin.
Over 90 percent of investigations into settler violence by Israeli police fail to lead to an indictment.
More than 500,000 Israeli settlers live in settlements across the West Bank and East Jerusalem, in contravention of international law.
Over 90 percent of investigations into settler violence by Israeli police fail to lead to an indictment.
More than 500,000 Israeli settlers live in settlements across the West Bank and East Jerusalem, in contravention of international law.
By Mohammad al-Herbawi
On their 50th day of the longest mass hunger strike in Palestinian history, Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails received news of the three Israeli soldiers who went missing in the occupied West Bank with hopes that they were captured by the Palestinian resistance, and held for a future prisoners’ swap deal. The news has breathed life into their emaciated bodies that atrophy day by day throughout their open-ended hunger strike.
In light of the unjustified rush of several official bodies and International organizations to condemn the capture of the Israeli soldiers, it is unjust and illogical to take that action out of its context. In fact, it should be examined in the context of its backgrounds and causes that led up to it.
Palestinian Prisoners at a Glance
Israel has used the detention of Palestinians as a tool of deterrence to counter any form of resistance levelled against its unlawful occupation of the land of Palestine. Over 800,000 Palestinians have been detained by Israel since 1967. This staggering number amounts to around 20% of the Palestinian population, and approximately 40% of the Palestinian male population. Put simply, there is no single Palestinian family that is not touched or directly affected by the prisoners’ cause and dilemma.
According to Al-Dameer Institution, there are currently over 5,200 Palestinians in Israeli jails, including 190 held under administrative detention with neither charge nor trial, on the basis of “secret files” that cannot even be revealed to detainees' lawyers. Among the Palestinian prisoners, there are over 200 children, 17 women, 100 elderly, 1,400 ill and 20 Palestinian Members of Parliament (PLC) as well as its Speaker and several former Palestinian ministers and officials.
Prisoners in Israeli jails face every conceivable form of humiliation and ill-treatment including strip searches, prolonged solitary confinement, aggravated abuse and vindictive medical negligence. Over 150 Palestinians died in Israeli jails since 1967, three of them were tortured to death in the past year alone.
Palestinian administrative detainees decided to carry out several protest measures to force Israel to end its arbitrary administrative detention, beginning with the boycott of Israeli military courts, followed by boycotting prisons’ clinics, then carrying out a partial mass hunger strike. Their protests intensified - due to Israeli neglect to their demands - culminating in an open-ended mass hunger strike that began on April 24th and is still ongoing.
Failure of Peace Process
In July 2013, the Palestinian Authority (PA) accepted the resumption of negotiations with Israel, dropping its major precondition of freezing Israeli settlement construction, and accepting to replace this requisite condition with the release of 104 Palestinian prisoners who had been detained before the Oslo Agreement, and who were supposed to be released upon the signing of the agreement in 1993. However, with Israeli stubbornness and Palestinian official negligence of their cause, Israel kept them in its jails for 20 more years, as revealed by Israeli president Shimon Peres in his personal diary.
Israel accepted to release the 104 prisoners in four stages within nine months of negotiations to win more time to further its expansion agenda beneath the umbrella of the “Peace Process." However, the Israeli promise was reneged upon, where only three batches of the prisoners were released, with the fourth one, which was kept in limbo, consisting of prisoners serving the highest sentences as well as prisoners from Jerusalem and the 1948 occupied lands. The release was halted by Israel to pressure the PA into giving more concessions in the peace process.
Finding an Alternative
While Israel continues its arbitrary detention of Palestinians, placing them in inhuman conditions, and refusing to release them even through the political peace process, the Palestinians have been forced to search for alternatives to free their fellow brothers from Israeli jails.
Capturing Israeli soldiers and exchanging them with Palestinian prisoners proved to be the most effective form of resistance to pressure Israel into releasing them. Throughout the past few decades, Palestinian resistance succeeded in securing the release of thousands of Palestinian prisoners through swap deals. The most famous deals are the following:
- In 1983, Israel released over 4,800 Palestinian and Arab prisoners in return for the release of 8 Israeli soldiers who were captured by Fatah and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine-The General Command.
- In 1985, Israel released 1,150 Palestinian and Arab prisoners in return for the release of 3 Israeli soldiers who were captured by the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine-The General Command.
- In 2011, Israel released 1,027 Palestinian prisoners including 500 prisoners with life sentences in return for the release of the Israeli soldier “Gilad Shalit” who was captured by Hamas and held for 5 years in the Gaza strip.
On the other hand, throughout 25 years of peace process negotiations, Israel has released few hundred Palestinian prisoners as a goodwill gesture to the PA, arguably to deceive the international public opinion, whereby most of the released prisoners were nearing the completion of their prison sentences, which literally amounted to a few months or days in most cases.
In this regard, it is clearly seen that Israel has never made any concession willingly; furthermore, it has been proven time and time again throughout the past decades that Israel concedes under the pressure of resistance alone.
A Double Standard
Since the capture of the three Israeli soldiers, several pro-Israel organizations have launched a media campaign with the hashtag “#BringBackOurBoys,” claiming that Palestinian terrorists have “kidnapped” Israeli teenagers or boys. It is a clear act of double standards when many international media outlets and organizations adopt the Israeli narrative and refer to the missing Israelis as “teenagers,” blinding their eyes to hundreds of Palestinian children who are being kidnapped and held in Israeli jails, dozens of them are below 16 years old. According to the Palestinian Prisoners’ Ministry, over 10,000 Palestinian children were detained since the outbreak of the Second Palestinian Intifada in the year 2000.
On the other hand, the missing Israelis are soldiers in the first place, and serving in 1967 lands which are occupied lands according to UN resolutions; the question, therefore, arises as to what were these “boys” doing in an occupied territory?
Resistance in all its forms, diplomatic, popular or armed, is a legitimate right for all peoples suffering from occupation until they restore their land, rights and freedom. Simply put therefore, it is Israel that should bring back our boys.
On their 50th day of the longest mass hunger strike in Palestinian history, Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails received news of the three Israeli soldiers who went missing in the occupied West Bank with hopes that they were captured by the Palestinian resistance, and held for a future prisoners’ swap deal. The news has breathed life into their emaciated bodies that atrophy day by day throughout their open-ended hunger strike.
In light of the unjustified rush of several official bodies and International organizations to condemn the capture of the Israeli soldiers, it is unjust and illogical to take that action out of its context. In fact, it should be examined in the context of its backgrounds and causes that led up to it.
Palestinian Prisoners at a Glance
Israel has used the detention of Palestinians as a tool of deterrence to counter any form of resistance levelled against its unlawful occupation of the land of Palestine. Over 800,000 Palestinians have been detained by Israel since 1967. This staggering number amounts to around 20% of the Palestinian population, and approximately 40% of the Palestinian male population. Put simply, there is no single Palestinian family that is not touched or directly affected by the prisoners’ cause and dilemma.
According to Al-Dameer Institution, there are currently over 5,200 Palestinians in Israeli jails, including 190 held under administrative detention with neither charge nor trial, on the basis of “secret files” that cannot even be revealed to detainees' lawyers. Among the Palestinian prisoners, there are over 200 children, 17 women, 100 elderly, 1,400 ill and 20 Palestinian Members of Parliament (PLC) as well as its Speaker and several former Palestinian ministers and officials.
Prisoners in Israeli jails face every conceivable form of humiliation and ill-treatment including strip searches, prolonged solitary confinement, aggravated abuse and vindictive medical negligence. Over 150 Palestinians died in Israeli jails since 1967, three of them were tortured to death in the past year alone.
Palestinian administrative detainees decided to carry out several protest measures to force Israel to end its arbitrary administrative detention, beginning with the boycott of Israeli military courts, followed by boycotting prisons’ clinics, then carrying out a partial mass hunger strike. Their protests intensified - due to Israeli neglect to their demands - culminating in an open-ended mass hunger strike that began on April 24th and is still ongoing.
Failure of Peace Process
In July 2013, the Palestinian Authority (PA) accepted the resumption of negotiations with Israel, dropping its major precondition of freezing Israeli settlement construction, and accepting to replace this requisite condition with the release of 104 Palestinian prisoners who had been detained before the Oslo Agreement, and who were supposed to be released upon the signing of the agreement in 1993. However, with Israeli stubbornness and Palestinian official negligence of their cause, Israel kept them in its jails for 20 more years, as revealed by Israeli president Shimon Peres in his personal diary.
Israel accepted to release the 104 prisoners in four stages within nine months of negotiations to win more time to further its expansion agenda beneath the umbrella of the “Peace Process." However, the Israeli promise was reneged upon, where only three batches of the prisoners were released, with the fourth one, which was kept in limbo, consisting of prisoners serving the highest sentences as well as prisoners from Jerusalem and the 1948 occupied lands. The release was halted by Israel to pressure the PA into giving more concessions in the peace process.
Finding an Alternative
While Israel continues its arbitrary detention of Palestinians, placing them in inhuman conditions, and refusing to release them even through the political peace process, the Palestinians have been forced to search for alternatives to free their fellow brothers from Israeli jails.
Capturing Israeli soldiers and exchanging them with Palestinian prisoners proved to be the most effective form of resistance to pressure Israel into releasing them. Throughout the past few decades, Palestinian resistance succeeded in securing the release of thousands of Palestinian prisoners through swap deals. The most famous deals are the following:
- In 1983, Israel released over 4,800 Palestinian and Arab prisoners in return for the release of 8 Israeli soldiers who were captured by Fatah and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine-The General Command.
- In 1985, Israel released 1,150 Palestinian and Arab prisoners in return for the release of 3 Israeli soldiers who were captured by the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine-The General Command.
- In 2011, Israel released 1,027 Palestinian prisoners including 500 prisoners with life sentences in return for the release of the Israeli soldier “Gilad Shalit” who was captured by Hamas and held for 5 years in the Gaza strip.
On the other hand, throughout 25 years of peace process negotiations, Israel has released few hundred Palestinian prisoners as a goodwill gesture to the PA, arguably to deceive the international public opinion, whereby most of the released prisoners were nearing the completion of their prison sentences, which literally amounted to a few months or days in most cases.
In this regard, it is clearly seen that Israel has never made any concession willingly; furthermore, it has been proven time and time again throughout the past decades that Israel concedes under the pressure of resistance alone.
A Double Standard
Since the capture of the three Israeli soldiers, several pro-Israel organizations have launched a media campaign with the hashtag “#BringBackOurBoys,” claiming that Palestinian terrorists have “kidnapped” Israeli teenagers or boys. It is a clear act of double standards when many international media outlets and organizations adopt the Israeli narrative and refer to the missing Israelis as “teenagers,” blinding their eyes to hundreds of Palestinian children who are being kidnapped and held in Israeli jails, dozens of them are below 16 years old. According to the Palestinian Prisoners’ Ministry, over 10,000 Palestinian children were detained since the outbreak of the Second Palestinian Intifada in the year 2000.
On the other hand, the missing Israelis are soldiers in the first place, and serving in 1967 lands which are occupied lands according to UN resolutions; the question, therefore, arises as to what were these “boys” doing in an occupied territory?
Resistance in all its forms, diplomatic, popular or armed, is a legitimate right for all peoples suffering from occupation until they restore their land, rights and freedom. Simply put therefore, it is Israel that should bring back our boys.
An Israeli senior officer said on Sunday that the ongoing Israeli military campaigns in the West Bank in hunt for the three missing setters are expected to be stalled within days, search operations will continue. Hebrew Walla website mentioned that the Israeli occupation forces have conducted two parallel military campaigns in the West Bank; the first concentrated on Hebron in hunt for the missing settlers. However; the second included all areas in the West Bank with great aims, mainly, destroying the infrastructure of Hamas.
Some analytics pointed out that the reason behind stalling the operation is the growing tension and anger among Palestinians in the West Bank and to prevent breaking in of a new Intifada.
Israeli army has launched military campaigns in the West Bank killing at least five Palestinians, detaining more than 370, and raiding more than 1,100 sites including homes, offices, and universities in hunt for three settlers who were missed last June, 12 in the West Bank city of Hebron. Yet, no clear evidence the three settlers were abducted as Israel claimed.
Some analytics pointed out that the reason behind stalling the operation is the growing tension and anger among Palestinians in the West Bank and to prevent breaking in of a new Intifada.
Israeli army has launched military campaigns in the West Bank killing at least five Palestinians, detaining more than 370, and raiding more than 1,100 sites including homes, offices, and universities in hunt for three settlers who were missed last June, 12 in the West Bank city of Hebron. Yet, no clear evidence the three settlers were abducted as Israel claimed.
