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March 25, 2012
Daily Summary 03/22/2012
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VITAL SERVICE UTILITIES IN GAZA ARE SUSPENDED
AN EGYPTIAN DIPLOMATIC SOURCE: HAMAS-LED GOVERNMENT IS BLAMING EGYPT TO COVER ITS”MISMANAGEMENT”
HANIYYEH ORDERS HIS GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES NOT TO GIVE STATEMENTS ON THE ELECTRICITY AND FUEL CRISIS

Most of the vital service utilities in the Gaza strip have been suspended. Spokesperson of the higher emergency medical services committee in Gaza Adham Abu Selmiyyeh affirmed that “fifty percent of emergency medical services and fire fighting services have been suspended due to the fuel crisis”. He added: “if the electricity crisis would exacerbate in the coming 72 hours, all services would be halted”, citing that the persistence of the crisis would lead to “deterioration in the humanitarian situation” in the Gaza strip. Abu Selmiyyeh appealed to Arab and Islamic states and to the international community “to immediately interfere and rescue the humanitarian conditions” in the Gaza strip.
A spokesperson of the ministry of health in Gaza Ashraf al-Qedreh said in a press communiqué that “a number of health services are under threat of cessation due to daily 12-hour power cut in addition to the daily scarce diesel supplies that are necessary to operate the electricity generators in hospitals and first medical aid centers”. Al-Qedreh added that “39 operation rooms in various hospitals in Gaza are under threat of suspension in the coming days because of the crisis”    
Meanwhile, in a first punitive measure against the head of the energy authority that is subordinated to Hamas-led government, prime minister Ismail Haniyyeh has banned all government`s employees, except of deputy prime minister Muhammad Awad and the government spokesperson Taher a-Nunu, from pronouncing any statement on the fuel and electricity crisis.
Hamas-led government called Egypt in a press communiqué to “help our people to overcome this strangulating crisis”, expressing its appreciation “of the Egyptian efforts that have been exerted so far to resolve the crisis, particularly by the intelligence service and the department in charge of the Palestinian file, which we have been in intensive and constant contact with to reach complete solutions that could end this suffering”.
This press communiqué came in wake of statements that were voiced by head of the energy authority in Gaza Kena`an O`beid in which he accused the Egyptian intelligence of “foiling the agreement that he reached with the Egyptian energy and petroleum commission on fuel supplies to Gaza”.
Member of Hamas politburo Mahmoud a-Zahhar rushed to describe Obeid`s statements as “irresponsible”. He held the Israeli occupation authorities and the PA “complete responsibility for the crisis” in the Gaza strip, citing that “Egypt is currently suffering from fuel crisis”. Yet, a-Zahhar called on Cairo “to facilitate the entry of petroleum donations” into the Gaza strip.
A-Zahhar told al-Hayat” that “head of electricity company Waleed Sayel and Ramallah authority are responsible for resolving the electricity crisis in Gaza”, pointing that the electricity company in Gaza is neither subordinated to Gaza municipality nor to Hamas movement, because its administrators are in the West Bank including Waleed Sayel who is the director of the Contractors Union Company that is subordinated to president Mahmoud Abbas.
Additionally, a-Zahhar said: “we receive all our needs of electricity through Israel”, citing that the EU was responsible to cover the bills to Israel via the PA in Ramallah. However, a-Zahhar added, the PA took the EU money and spent it on salaries instead of paying the costs of electricity to Israel, citing that the EU has consequently stopped covering the electricity bills. He added: “Gaza-led government paid money for the electricity costs to the electricity company in Ramallah, but this money was not transferred to Israel”. (http://international.daralhayat.com/print/377446

Meanwhile, An Egyptian diplomatic source strongly criticized the deposed government in the Gaza strip by saying: “this is an attempt by the deposed government in Gaza to export its internal crisis to Egypt and to cover its mismanagement  that has led to an exacerbated diesel and fuel crisis in Gaza”. He added: “the deposed government is trying to direct the public`s anger to Egypt in bid to evade responsibility in light of augmenting public`s anger because of the failure of this government to provide basic services” in the Gaza strip. (http://www.alquds.com/news/article/view/id/342659)


A SPECIAL ISRAEL FORCE ASSASSINATES A PALESTINIAN IN NABLUS
Ibarahim Abu E`jel was shot dead by a special Israeli force in Nablus city last night. Abu E`jel was an operative in “al-Aqsa Martyrs” Brigades and he was pardoned after being wanted by the Israeli occupation authorities for ten years (http://www.alresalah.ps/ar/index.php?act=post&id=49013)


A PALESTINIAN REJECTION OF AN ISRAELI OFFER TO DEPORT PRISONER SHALABI OR TO CONSIDER HER AS MENTALLY ILL
Israel has proposed the attorney of the Palestinian Prisoner Club to deport prisoner Hana` Shalabi abroad for a limited time, or to announce her as mentally ill in return for her release. Head of Palestinian Prisoner Club Fares Qaddourah told “al-Hayat” that the Club has rejected discussing the Israeli proposals and offered an alternative proposal for her release whereby she could work at the Prisoner Club and study at a university in Ramallah. Fares said that the Israeli authorities have been holding Shalabi under the claim “there is a probability that she would consider carrying out a military operation”. (http://international.daralhayat.com/print/377452)


THE ISRAELI SUPREME COURT REJECTS A PETIITON TO HALT REVOKING RESIDENCY RIGHTS OF EAST JERUSALEM POPULATION
OVER 7 THOUSANDS JERUSALEMITES HAVE LOST THEIR RESIDENCY RIGHTS IN FIVE YEARS

The Israeli Supreme Court rejected last Wednesday a petition by the Association for Civil Rights in Israel and “HaMoked” organization to halt the policy of revoking residency rights of Palestinians in East Jerusalem, and to grant them “protected residents” status to distinguish them as indigenous people from foreign immigrants who have immigrated to the country and got permanent stay permits.
The court dropped the petition under the claim it was not filed by a specific petitioner who has been harmed by the policy of revoking residency rights. (Al-Quds)

THE DONORS CALL FOR  OFFERING THE PA 2012 BUDGET $1 BILLION
A WESTERN DIPLOMAT: 2012 WILL BE A DIFFICULT YEAR FOR THE PA
The Ad-Hoc Liaison Committee (AHLC) called during its meeting yesterday in Brussels on the donors to support the PA 2012 budget with 1$ billion and to commit to continuous sufficient and regular funding of the PA recurring expenditures but it has also warned of an exacerbating fiscal crisis of the PA.
A summary issued by the chairman after the committee meeting called on countries to ensure they provide the $1 billion (760 million Euros) the Palestinians need for 2012.
The text said the crisis threatens to become protracted due to a decline in donor assistance but that nations recognized that the Palestinian Authority cannot slash its deficit on its own.
"Therefore, in the short-term, it is imperative that additional donor funding be identified and transferred immediately to reverse the crisis before it becomes totally unmanageable," the summary said. (Al-Quds)  

THE PRESIDENT DICUSSES WITH CLINTON THE SITUATION IN THE REGION; RECEIVES THE US GENERAL CONSUL IN RAMALLAH
President Mahmoud Abbas discussed in a phone conversation yesterday with the US secretary of state Hillary Clinton the political developments in the Middle East. The president`s spokesperson Nabil Abu Rdeineh told AFP that “the president received a telephone call from the US secretary of state Hillary Clinton”, and he talked “with Clinton about the meeting of the Quartet Committee scheduled next month”.  He added that Clinton`s phone call is a follow up to president Obama`s phone call two days ago, and that the US envoy David Hale will arrive in the region soon to continue the contacts.
Also, president Abbas received yesterday at the presidential headquarter in Ramallah the US general consul Daniel Rubinstein. They discussed the latest developments pertinent to the peace process and the efforts being exerted to revive it, in addition to the content of Abbas-Obama recent phone conversation. (Al-Hayat Al-Jadida)

ISRAEL NABS A HAMAS ACTIVIST IN GAZA ON CHARGES OF PLANNING OPERATIONS AND ABDCUTION OF SOLDIERS
Israeli press reported last Wednesday that the “Shabak” prevented an attempt to carry out a suicide bombing operation and abduction of an Israeli soldier. The “Shabak” lift the gag on a list of charge that has been submitted against Muhammad Abu al-A`zrah, from Rafah, and who was nabbed in the end of last month after he stayed Sinai for a while.
The Israeli press pointed out that Abu al-A`zrah is affiliated with “Hamas” movement and that he was arrested while attempting to enter into Israel with other people through the borders with the Gaza strip. (http://www.arabs48.com/?mod=articles&ID=90153)


A-RESHEQ: THANKS TO CATHERINE ASHTON
Member of Hamas politburo Izzat a-Resheq welcomed on his Facebook page the connection EU`s Catherine Ashton made between the killing of children in Toulouse incident and the killing of children in Gaza, although Ashton has backtracked on her statements following Israeli pressure.
A-Resheq said that “Ashton deserves gratitude and appreciation…and support in the face of Zionist attempts to terrorize and pressure her”. (http://www.alquds.com/news/article/view/id/342657)


Israel Magistrate court rules to deport a Jerusalemite child to “Jabal al-Mukabber”
The Israeli magistrate court in West Jerusalem decided last Wednesday to expel 16-year old Elias al-A`war from Silwan, south of al-Aqsa mosque, to “Jabal al-Mukabber”, southeast of occupied Jerusalem, and to pay five-thousand NIS fine in addition to putting him under house arrest until his court date. (http://www.alquds.com/news/artcile/view/id/342651)

  
Spokesperson for the Muslim Brotherhood in Jordan: no split by Jordanian Muslim Brotherhood leaderships to join the “Palestine-branch”
Spokesperson for the Muslim Brotherhood in Jordan Jamil Abu Baker denied that leaderships in the Jordan-based organization have split and joined the “Muslim Brotherhood- Palestine branch”.
Abu Baker added that the separation between Palestine-branch and Jordan-branch is final, and that the press reports (in London-based “al-Hayat”) on splits are attempts to cause confusion and raise doubts to divert the attention of the Muslim Brotherhood from important affairs.


Turkish banks in Ramallah soon  
Governor of the Palestinian Monetary Authority Jihad al-Wazeer said that Turkey intends to open branches for the two biggest Turkish banks in the West Bank soon, adding that Turkish teams will visit the West Bank next April to follow up on the issue.
Al-Wazeer told reporters: “This step could promote Turkish investment in Palestine, mainly because there are Turkish companies that are interested in supporting the Palestinian economy, particularly the industrial zone in Jenin”.
(http://www.alresalah.ps/arb/index.php?ajax=preview&id=49009)


The Israeli foreign ministry: cleaning out the embassy in Cairo is a totally logistic measure
Spokesperson for the Israeli foreign ministry Lior Ben Dror has affirmed to “a-Sharq al-Awsat” that the cleaning out of the deserted Israeli embassy in Cairo is a routine measure which has no political implications.
Early Thursday, Israel sent two “C 130” aircrafts to clear out its embassy in Cairo. The assets of the embassy building and the diplomats` homes were transferred in five cars to the Cairo airport before being transported to Israel.
Meanwhile, the embassy team has been looking to purchase or rent a new building for the embassy in cooperation with Egyptian authorities. Ben Dror said that efforts moved forward but are not final.
(http://www.aawsat.com/print.asp?did=669158&issueno=12168)

  
Total number of prisoners on hunger strike rises to 25
A report by the ministry of prisoners and ex-prisoners affairs said that the number of Palestinian prisoners who are now on hunger strike has reached 25 and that this number would likely rise.
The report also indicated that the strikers are divided into three categories: 1) prisoners on hunger strike protesting administrative detention, namely prisoner Hana` a-Shalabi; 2) prisoners on hunger strike in solidarity with Hana` Shalabi; and 3) prisoners on hunger strike seeking recognition of Palestinian prisoners as prisoners of war and freedom fighters. (http://www.maannews.net/arb/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=470144)


Assistant to the Arab League chief: only $30 million of a total $100 million in Arab pledges to Palestine have been transferred
Assistant to the Arab league chief on Palestine affairs Muhammad Subeih said that “this year will be difficult on all fronts, particularly in economic support for Palestine because the situation in the Arab world is difficult on all levels including the financial”.
Subeih added: “we have formed a safety net of $100 million from the Arab states to support the PA in case US aid is cut off and if Israel halts the transfer of tax revenues; however, only $30 million have been transferred so far”.
(http://www.maannews.net/arb/Print.aspx?ID=470080




Headlines

* Turkey to open banks in the Palestinian territories soon. Al-Quds)
* Munib al-Masri: Nablus governate says today “Yes” to national unity and “No” to the division. (Al-Quds)
* Prisoner Shalabi evacuated to “Mair” hospital due to her grave health condition. The World Health Organization shows interest in the prisoners` conditions particularly the “DNA” tests. “Nafhah” prisoner on hunger strike today and next Saturday. The Israeli prison service forces a number of prisoners in the Negev prison to undergo “DNA” tests. (Al-Quds)
* Israeli forces shell with heavy guns East of Khan Yunis. (Al-Quds)
* The suspect in two the attacks of Montauban Toulouse holed up in his home and expresses “regret” for not causing additional victims. (Al-Quds)
*The UNSC adopts a modified resolution draft on Syria. (Al-Quds)
* Last hour: one rocket lands on “Ashkol”. Gaza: an explosive pack detonated at an Israeli patrol east  of al-Mughazi. (Al-Ayyam)
* Again…Israel proposes the PA economic facilitations in return for not turning to the UN. Al-Ayyam)
* Fayyad” we reject exploiting the Palestinian cause to justify terror actions. (Al-Ayyam)
* Egypt: the Muslim Brotherhood seeks to end the siege on the Gaza strip. (Al-Ayyam)
* Israel clears out its embassy in Cairo. (Al-Ayyam)
* Assaf: the PA spent in Gaza $7 billion since the coup. (Al-Hayat al-Jadida)
* Mair Dagan: Israel will have sufficient warnings to learn if Iran would decide to manufacture nuclear arm. (Al-Hayat Al-Jadida)

Front Page Photos

Al-Quds: 1) Gaza- A child undergoing kidney dialysis one day after the ministry of health in the deposed government announced on halting services due to power cuts.
Al-Ayyam: 1) Two children buying flowers for their mother on the occasion of the Mother`s Day yesterday.
Al-Hayat Al-Jadida: 1) Fayyad speaking with Robert Serry on the sidelines of the donors` meeting in Brussels; 2) President Abbas during a meeting with the general US consul in Ramallah yesterday; 3) A child connected to kidney dialysis machine in a hospital in Gaza.

Voice of Palestine Interviews

*Yousef Abu Mriya, media spokesperson for popular committee in Beit Ummar, on the deportation of eight. children from the village
Q: Can you tell us the details of this decision?

This happened two days ago; the Ofer military court decided to deport eight children from Beit Ummar all between the ages of 14 and 15. They must keep a 30 kilometer distance from the town. This is an unjust decision against the children and against humanity. According to international law, the occupation cannot deport any child from his home. The children had been imprisoned for more than 20 days. They want to suppress the popular resistance in our town because these children were involved in popular marches against the wall, settlements and against the occupation in general. But we sent a message through the lawyer that this resistance will continue. We want the PA and international organizations to stand by these children.

Q: You are calling on the parents to reject this decision; on what are you basing this call?
We have a lawyer from Adaleh and we are working through him. The occupation is trying to play on the emotions of the children and the parents and we in the committee are supporting them and telling them that the Israelis are just trying to scare the children so they do not participate in the activities. We condemn this decision and will follow up on it legally; we won’t let it pass because if it does, it will be repeated.

Prisoner Affairs minister Issa Qaraqe, on what the ministry can do to intervene in the court order against the children
Q: This is a precedent by Israeli military courts to deport children from their homes. Yousef Abu Mriyeh said no official parties intervened in the case. Can the ministry play a role?

Yes it can. The committee head could have called us when the news broke. There have been cases when Israeli courts ordered the deportation of children from their homes in which Palestinian lawyers defended them. It is clear this has become a systematic policy with Israel. We will follow up on the case of the children in Beit Ummar, which I heard about last night. I already talked to the legal unit in the ministry to follow up on it.

Q: There has been another case of a 16-year old in Jerusalem who was deported from his home. Can you tell us a bit about the legal ramifications of this practice in international law?
This is prohibited. Over the past two years, around 25 children have been deported from their homes. Others were placed under house arrest. This was mostly in Jerusalem but also included some children in the Hebron and Nabi Saleh area. In international law, this is prohibited. With children, this means they are taken away from their school and the practice has psychological and health ramifications as well. The Israeli government adopted the slogan of “pursuing children’, so there is a real war on children, on minors. Complaints should be made, not just to Israeli courts but to the UN and international human rights organizations to pressure Israel to halt this unjust practice against children. Palestinian children must be protected from such ugly violations including the mistreatment they receive when they are arrested.

Q: This is Hana’ Shalabi’s 37th day on hunger strike. How is her health condition?
Her condition is very dangerous according to the report from Physicians for Human Rights. The report said she is in danger of sudden death. She is now in Meir Hospital in Ramallah and is very sick. She has lost a tremendous amount of weight and her heartbeat is very slow; she is dizzy and has extreme pains all over her body. The President has called for immediate contacts to save her life and we are following up on this with international and human rights parties and even political parties. This is a critical time and I hold Israel responsible for their stalling and indifference they are showing the prisoner’s health.

Q: Are there any international parties that are directly pressuring for her release?
The EU has intervened. Also, we have held meetings with the World Health Organization and sent a letter to the UN secretary general; the Egyptians have also informed me that they are in contact with the Israeli side in addition to Arab Knesset members who are pressuring to save her life.

*Abdel Hafith Nofal, deputy minister of economy, on the Arab economic council meeting before the Arab Summit in Baghdad
Q: The meeting seems to have discussed the Libyan, Syrian and Iraqi files but there was no real news on the Palestinian file. What kind of presence did the Palestinians have at the meeting?

Yesterday was just a preparatory meeting. The actual meeting with be held on the 27th and 28th of this month. There are huge issues the Arab Summit must deal with, including the Palestinian file, which includes support for the PA budget, the reconciliation, the reconstruction of Gaza, supporting Jerusalem, etc. These are all on the agenda.

Q: Are there any Palestinians demands that will be made at the meeting?
We have a number of demands, first and foremost support for the PA budget. Recently, Arab leaders pledged an extra $100,000 during crises for the PA so we will try to get reassurances for this amount. Also, two equally important files are the reconstruction of Gaza and Jerusalem, which is being subjected to a campaign of oppression and efforts to stifle its identity. We still hope that our Arab brothers will commit to their financial pledges and implementing them. Arab support is important to us.

*Hamas leader Ahmad Yousef on the fuel and electricity crisis in the Gaza Strip
Fuel is one of the goods that come through from Egypt or from other international parties. There are certain channels that are legal to bring in fuel and I don’t think there is any problem to bring in fuel from any crossing in Gaza. We are under occupation so Israel still controls most of the border crossings. There is a crisis in Egypt just like there is a fuel crisis in Gaza and Egypt is trying – with our thanks – to bring in at least the minimum fuel for the people. this is a chronic problem created by the occupation. Under international law as an occupied people, Israel is obligated to ensure that there is enough fuel in Gaza.

Q: These statements are completely different from previous statements about ways of bringing in fuel to Gaza. So who will have the final word?
I think the PA must also make some efforts in this regard. Egypt is trying to send some fuel to Gaza and I don’t see anyone should be blamed except for the occupation. It still controls what goes in and out of Gaza. But fuel is a basic need and should be brought in by whatever means necessary. This has been a problem for years, not just recently. Its solution needs time though. But Egypt is putting in efforts, so is the government here so I hope this will be solved in the coming few days.

Q: What about the reconciliation? There are accusations directed at Hamas that after Iran started funding it again, it is no longer interested in reconciliation. Is this true?
I think whoever is saying this is underestimating the intelligence of our people and belittling our cause. There is a problem between the two parties. I was at the Cairo meeting between Mousa Abu Marzouq and Azzam Al Ahmad and neither was convinced of the other’s opinion. The reconciliation is suspended until another declaration is made. Maybe we need another one like the Doha declaration. Hamas is trying to hold the Ramallah government responsible and Fatah is trying to hold Hamas responsible. But I think both their claims are unconvincing and we need to hurry up and end the split. All of the problems – gas, fuel – will all be solved under a unity government. But if the status quo remains, the entire people are looking at a catastrophe.

*Fatah official Ahmad Assaf on the reconciliation
Q:Are there some in Hamas who are criticizing the movement like we heard Yousef say before: that is blames both sides?
There are some in Hamas’ leaders who want to appear that way; they speak in the capacity of a political analyst or an observer and not an accomplice in the crime against the people which is aborting the efforts to reach reconciliation and turn on the Doha Agreement. All of Hamas’ leadership bears this responsibility. We in Fatah need to know which Hamas to deal with. Hamas does not want to end the reconciliation or reach unity. Their actions speak for themselves.


*Prime Minister Salam Fayyad on the outcome of the donor country meeting in Brussels
Q: The PA has requested $1 billion and the donors also called for this amount as well. Is this enough?
Of course, this is very important that such a decision was taken but what is more important is that this money, or at least part of it, is transferred as quickly as possible so the PA can deal with its difficult financial crisis.

Q: There are warnings that this will be a difficult year for the PA. We also hear Israel saying it would provide facilitation in exchange for the Palestinians not going to the UN. Was this an issue in the meeting?
This was not brought up in the meeting but it has been the case for some time. Israel always hints at the difficult financial situation we are in by saying Israel will ease certain aspects. They always threaten to stop money and aid from coming in. But we have said before that our need for financial aid to enable us to carry out its duties will never be subjected to any direct or indirect link to our willingness to offer services to the people. Our national interests are always at the top of the PA’s priorities.
What is important is a commitment to send this donor money. The EU has pledged 155 million euros. The US administration is working at Congress to begin cashing what is left from the 2011 allocations to the PA so it can begin with its 2012 allocations. What is equally important is funding from the Arab countries.  Funding from the region is crucial. Until now, all we have gotten from the Arab countries in 2012 is $32 million from Qatar, which we are grateful for but we need much more. Let me remind everyone that this money is not just to pay off the debts in the current budget but to enable the PA to begin paying back the dues in other sectors – the private sector, hospitals, pharmaceutical companies, contractors, etc. Every sector has been harmed.
The meeting also addressed the need for measures to be taken by Israel. The Palestinian economy is very shackled because of the occupation and its practices including settler violence or terror.

Q: How can the recommendation for funds be turned into action? What is the mechanism for this?
It needs close follow up with the donors. For example, the desalination project in Gaza which is to be funded by the Euro-Mediterranean Union. There needs to be efforts to secure the money, which is more than half a million dollars. We confirmed this with them but we need to follow up. We decided there would be a special meeting for the project.

Q: How will the Palestinian file get appropriate space in the upcoming Arab summit given the other “heavy” files at hand?
We appreciate that there are other important files but that does not mean there should not be support for the PA. What we are asking is for implementation of decisions already taken, in supporting the budget in particular. Also the promises to support Jerusalem – this needs implementation.

Q: Will there be a salary crisis if the money doesn’t come through?
There is nothing new in this regard or was brought up by the reports from international agencies. It is clear that the PA depends on its tax revenues in addition to financial aid in order to fulfill its obligations, including salaries. If the aid doesn’t come through in light of the crisis the PA is in, will seriously hinder the PA in fulfilling its obligations. But we are making efforts at all levels so this will not happen.  

Q: Has Israel really offered the Palestinians “facilitations” if they do not go to the UN?
No, it isn’t like that. There has been much said about these ‘facilitations”. What we are talking about is a system of arbitrary control by the Israeli occupation. And every now and then, there is talk about removing some obstacles, which are anyway linked to a system on restricting the Palestinian economy. The siege on Gaza will remain in place, movement in the West Bank remains difficult, etc. this is besides the prevention of any real development in the Palestinian areas. So we don’t depend on this very much. We are depending more on the international community and law to obligate Israel to fulfill its obligations towards the Palestinians.

Arab Press

Comprehensive popular resistance in historical Palestine
By Ahmad Jamil Azem

As part of the activities for the Land and Dignity Week, (international week for resisting the Zionist colonization and apartheid) the Balad Theater in Amman hosted leading activists from the popular resistance in Palestine including Mazen Azza and Jamal Jumaa’. They both made several important points about the current Palestinian condition, some of which I will make here.

The participants pointed out that popular resistance is currently confined to Areas C, which fall according to the Oslo Accords under complete Zionist control. The Palestinian Authority has no foot in these areas and there are no more than 4% of the total number of Palestinians from the West Bank in these areas. The activists said it was imperative for the resistance to expand and move into all areas of the West Bank, that is, A and B.  Even though there are 34 popular committees against the wall and settlements, there are major obstacles to the expansion of this resistance. One of these is that the atmosphere created by the establishment of the PA transformed many Palestinian field leaders, who bore the responsibility for previous resistance movements, into employees or members of the security services. Add to this, the obstruction by Palestinian security in many case of protest activities that could lead to confrontations with Israeli soldiers. Both activists also focused on the fact that boycotting Israel has not yet embraced its full potential. According to Mazen Azza’ the West Bank and  Gaza consume approximately $4 billion in Israeli products. The lecturers said they believed that in spite of the impasse of the political process, there does not seem to be any real weight thrown behind the idea of popular resistance by the Palestinian leadership, which seems to continue to rely on a negotiations-based political settlement.

The second noteworthy point is the development of the idea of resistance in all of the land of Palestine and also in the diaspora through an international solidarity movement. According to the activists, several meetings and discussions were held to talk about the political framework of this movement; the two-state solution was discussed as was the one-state. The solution agreed on was to raise the slogan of fighting Israel’s apartheid which prevails in all of historical Palestine and is what prevents the return of refugees. This means there are common factors among everyone and although ending the occupation in the West Bank and completing the liberation of Gaza are among the demands, this does not necessarily mean the two-state solution; the return of refugees and the unity of the Palestinian struggle in all of Palestine is a basic pillar. This, of  course, means a unified national movement with global dimensions that attempts to put the Arab dimension into action.

Having said this, a unified Palestinian movement still needs more effort; Israel, according to a deliberate strategy, is working to draw out the current political split for as long as possible. Over 1.5 million Palestinians live in Gaza over less than 1.5% of the area of historical Palestine. Israel has no problem with Fatah continuing to rule over the West Bank and Hamas over Gaza as long as this hinders unified Palestinian action. There are also geographic obstacles and clear economic and legal discrepancies between the various Palestinian territories.

The third point is that the idea of development under occupation is impossible and has very dangerous aspects to it. Thus, there should be efforts to build a resistance economy. The fact that so many Palestinians have turned into employees, borrow from banks and have to pay off their monthly debts sods not help in promoting an atmosphere of resistance. Furthermore, setting up an infrastructure could in some cases reinforce the idea of a gelatinous state with temporary borders. For example, there is a network of roads between the northern West Bank and the south, built on the basis of widening and improving emergency roads that were built because of Israel’s closure of Jerusalem and the severing of West Bank areas from one another. This means there is consolidation of the current status quo. Then there is the mechanism for collecting taxes, which is the main source of income for Palestinians; Israel collects them from the revenues and from Palestinian laborers and transfers the money to the PA, which puts Israel in complete control of the Palestinians’ economic condition.

It is clear that the idea of popular resistance is moving forward and includes all of Palestine and the Palestinians; it is also getting increased international support. However,  Jamal Jumaa’ commented on Arab support saying, “We need the Arab world” and called on it to join the ranks of international solidarity campaigns. (http://www.alghad.com/index.php/afkar_wamawaqef/article/28867.html)



Opinions

They deprive us of feeling pain for our children
Al Quds Al Arabi editorial

Ms. Catherine Ashton, the EU foreign policy chief is being subjected to an Israeli ‘terror’ campaign like never before because she made a quick reference to the children of the Gaza Strip in her statements on the killing of three Jewish children in an attack on the school in Toulouse, France. The gunman was a Frenchman of Algerian origin suspected of having ties with Al Qaeda.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was the fiercest of those attacking Ms. Ashton, saying she had committed a sin by comparing the Jewish children to the children of Gaza (that is, the slaughtering of Jewish children in Toulouse) and the surgical defensive operations of the Israeli army in the Gaza Strip. As for Israeli foreign minister Avigdor Lieberman, he did not only ask for an apology from Ashton like Netanyahu did but to also think of the children in the south who live in constant fear of Palestinian rocket attacks.
The attack on the Toulouse school should absolutely be condemned whoever the perpetrator and whatever religion its child victims belong to. But what also deserves condemnation is the clear discrimination between Jewish children and non-Jewish children like those who are slaughtered in the Gaza Strip in so-called surgical Israeli army operations.

Killing is killing whether it is carried out by one person or by an army. It is also not too much to say that the crime of an army whose soldiers are supposedly disciplined, is worse in any case. All things said and done, the victims are civilians who are losing their lives.

The Israeli army did carry out a massacre in the Gaza Strip. It shelled a school and killed its students just like it bombed the Baher Al Baqar school in Egypt during the war of attrition, killing dozens of its children. It used white phosphorous bombs during its attack on Gaza and there were over 400 children among the 1400 dead. This is documented in the Goldstone Report, which confirmed that the Israeli army carried out war crimes and crimes against humanity.

This terror campaign of terror does not intimidate us like it intimidated Ms. Ashton who did apologize. We have been victims of Israel’s state terror for over 60 years. We are the ones who lost their land and their country just like we lost scores of our children and loved ones. And we will continue to do so because of Israel’s destruction of the two-state solution and all hopes for a just peace in the region.

B’Tselem said in a report published yesterday that in 2011 the number of victims killed by the Israeli army in the West Bank and Gaza doubled from the year before. No doubt, Benjamin Netanyahu does not want to see this report, especially since it comes from an Israeli human rights organization whose credibility cannot be doubted.

All of France showed sympathy for the Jewish children killed in Toulouse and this is a humane and moral stance which we take as well without reservation. But we also want the French, and Mr. Sarkozy in particular, to show just one-tenth of this compassion with our children who were slaughtered by Israeli warplanes and bombs in the Gaza Strip and before that in South Lebanon. (http://www.alquds.co.uk/index.asp?fname=today\21qpt999.htm&arc=data\2012\03\03-21\21qpt999.htm)


Talk of war and the Iranian threat should not overshadow Israeli measures
Al Quds Editorial

Israel has been able to make what it calls the Israeli nuclear threat and Tehran’s foreign policy in general, a top priority for the region and the biggest problem that needs to be solved whether politically through sanctions or militarily through threatening an imminent strike against its nuclear plants.
The situation has reached the point where even the US defense secretary carried out a simulation exercise to assess the consequences of such a war in the region because the United States will definitely be part of it and hundreds of Americans will perish because of it. The Israeli Prime Minister met with US President Obama, who tried to convince him to give up the option of war, especially during an election year because its outcomes could lead to Obama losing his presidential office.
A number of observers say it is unlikely that a strike on Iran will take place this year. Still the increased talk about it and its outcomes and the expectations that it will happen soon all aim at drawing attention away from Israel’s practices in the occupied Palestinian territories, namely the Judaization of Jerusalem, the confiscation of land under the pretext of national gardens and settlements. This is over and above the squeeze on Palestinians living in the city and attempts to drive them out and isolate them from their own city.
Israel is also taking advantage of the state of chaos taking place in the Arab world because of the revolutions there especially in Syria. This has led the Palestinian cause to be pushed to the back burner in Arab concerns, even in terms of financial support, which we hear so much about but see none of. This has all had negative ramifications on the Palestinians’ financial and political situation.

This current state, regardless of how bleak it is, will pass. The Arab situation will stabilize internally and soon. And any war on Iran, if it actually takes place, will only lead to more extremism in the region and less stability. And Israel will be in the midst of the chaos and will pay a price much higher than even the most pessimistic among us thinks.

Many have said, including logical Israelis, that failing to find a solution to the Palestinian cause will not cancel out this cause or the latent dangers that lie beneath it. There must be the search for a just solution that will ensure stability, quiet and mutual existence. The solution is clear and undisputed: the establishment of a Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital that lives and cooperates peacefully with Israel. Any evasion of this or sticking our heads in the sand will only lead to more disasters, disasters that could have otherwise been avoided. (Al Quds)

  

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