* Jewish extremists attempted to break into the al-Aqsa mosque but dozens of citizens and the mosque`s guards repelled them. (Al Quds)

* In a report they submitted to the Quartet, Un agencies warn of Israel`s violations in “C” areas and assert that the transfer of settlers into occupied territories is illegal. (Al Quds)

*Shtayyeh: the leadership is mulling the option of non-state membership in the UN General Assembly. (Al Quds)

* The Israeli army announced arresting a Palestinian with seven explosive packs in his possession in the Jordan Vally. (Al Quds)

* Israel continues preparations to ban arrival of foreign solidarity activists to the Palestinian territories through Lydda airport. (Al Quds)

* Death of first Algerian president after the independence Ahmad Ben Bella. (Al-Quds

* The Syrian defense ministry announced cessation of military actions as of this morning. Al-Quds)

*Sheikh A`zzam al-Khatib warns of increasing number of Jewish extremists who enter into al-Aqsa compound. (Al-Quds)

* Fatah” we have not received yet a response from Meshaal on the interim government. (Al-Quds)

* “Haaretz”: Israeli-Lebanese cooperation to counter navy fleets coming to Gaza. (Al-Quds)

* Israel confirms next Tuesday as the date for Fayyad-Netanyahu meeting. (Al Ayyam)

* US newspaper: Netanyahu seeks retaining West Bank settlements. (Al Ayyam)

* The president makes a stop in Bangkok on route to the Japanese city of Sandai. (Al Ayyam)

* Egyptian court: “Abu Ismail” is eligible to run the presidential election. (Al-Ayyam)

* Palestinian resident accuses the occupation army of stealing gold from his home. (Al-Ayyam)

* The Knesset speaker: early Israeli election within five months. (Al-Ayyam)

* The Israeli army conducts trainings on landing military jeeps with soldiers on board. (Al-Ayyam)

* The Tunisian government opens inquiry in the “Black Monday” events. (Al-Ayyam)

* the president`s wife arrived in Turkey for three-day visit. (Al Hayat Al Jadida)

* Israel: Molcho will deliver a letter to president Abbas after Fayyad-Netanyahu meeting due in April 17. (Al Hayat Al Jadida)

* The interior ministry denies revoking Jordanian nationality from Palestinians. (Al Hayat Al Jadida)

* The prisoners hold coordination to implement an open-end hunger strike. (Al Hayat Al Jadida)

* A US writer sees his country as a military empire that does not comply with international law. (Al Hayat Al Jadida)

* Fayyad stresses the importance of promoting national product and its competitiveness. Al-Hayat Al-Jadida)

Al-Quds: 1) Hebron- Israeli soldiers banning a foreign peace activist from accessing al-Haram al-Ibrahimi; 2) Ahmad Ben Bella.  

Al-Ayyam:  1) Hebron- settlers desecrating al-Haram al-Ibrahimi after a decision by the occupation authorities to shut it down in the face of Muslims due to the Jewish Passover holiday; 2) A burnt house in Diyala province in Dara`a district after heavy shelling by the regime`s forces in the recent days; 3) Ahmad Ben Bella.

Al-Hayat Al-Jadida:  1) Occupation soldiers while attacking a French peace activist in Hebron; 2) Archive photo of late Ahmad Ben Bella.

**Coordinator for the coordinator for the campaign against settlements and the wall, Jamal Juma’, on new settlement expansions in the West Bank

Q:Where is this new settlement outpost east of Ramallah?

First let me say that the settlement project is not a random act – there is a clear exchange of roles between the settlers and the Israeli government. When settlers occupy a hilltop and establish an outpost, at the same time the government is legitimizing these outposts. These outposts are continuations of the settlement project and comprise links with the major settlement blocs. The government has a clear plan, which is to annex the West Bank through strengthening these settlement blocs. There have never been so many announcements of settlement construction than over the last year.


Q: This new settlement outpost “Or Hadash” is near the Hashmonaem settlement east of Ramallah.  What kind of settlement expansion is this?

Settlement outposts are never far from the major settlements. They are always further occupation of the area and when they are linked in the future, they will make a continuous settlement barrier. All of the settlements east of Ramallah constitute a settlement barrier and therefore prohibit any Palestinian expansion to the east and is a way of moving closer to the Jordan Valley to take control over it. In other words, the decisions taken in 2001 in the Herzelia about the separation plan is now being implemented on the ground through these settlements and walls. They are setting up cantons and in a few years, the Palestinians will be left with city centers and some villages, perhaps.

Q: Is there any point to these solidarity groups who protest the settlements and outposts since Israel is carrying out its plan no matter what?

There should always be international support on the ground, which strengthens us because our cause is not just a Palestinian cause. Israel was established on the Zionist philosophy that it is the victim state in the world. We are in a counter battle to this at present. There is an awakening in world opinion. When there are 2,000 people from around the world who want to come to Palestine and say this openly, there is a clear message to Israel: we have a right to receive whoever we want and there is real solidarity with the Palestinian people. The activists should also have the right to travel wherever they want in the world without having to hide it. International solidarity should go hand in hand with Palestinian popular resistance, whose main goal is to end the occupation and also to debunk the Zionist concept that Israel is the victim state in the world but is a criminal state carrying out crimes against the Palestinian people.


**Legal expert Osama Halabi, on Netanyahu’s use of Israeli law to legitimize settlement outposts

Q: Is there anything in Israeli law that allows for the legitimization of settlement outposts?

In general, international law does not recognize the legitimacy of any of the settlements -- they are all illegitimate because they are built on occupied land according to the Fourth Geneva Convention.  Israel’s most recent effort, especially about legitimizing three settlement outposts in the West Bank, which Israel says were built on “state lands” and thus means the land does not immediately belong to individuals whose names are registered in the “tabo” or land registry department. This effort is completely rejected by us and is unacceptable in terms of international law. However, in terms of Israeli law, the Israelis say this is permissible because the land is state land and not private land.


Q: Aren’t even these laws sometimes influenced by certain officials in the government?

Most definitely. Political pressures from inside the government often shift the legality of decisions. For example, there are Israeli High Court decisions to evacuate parts of settlements such as in Ofra, where the order was to evacuate three buildings. Some right wing Israeli members of parties pressured to postpone the verdict and to “find a solution” to the issue, which is what happened. Israel’s draft laws always seek what they call a “balanced solution” which means paying compensation to the Palestinian whose land the settlement was built on (if he is still around) in exchange for keeping the  outpost intact


**Shaddad Al Atili, head of the Water Authority, on the water crisis the Palestinian territories are expected to face this summer

Q: Many are asking if we will have a water crisis this summer after so much rainfall this year.

We should always remember that the water issue in Palestine is a political issue just like settlements, refugees and Jerusalem. It is always a pending issue with the Israelis. The rainfall this year was more than usual but this is only slightly reflect in the levels of water provided and available overall and which is linked to the amounts in natural springs.  If we are unable to dig new wells and since we don’t have dams, there will be no extra water. The crisis is still present and the Water Authority always says that it manages a crisis not water resources because Israel controls these resources.


Q: Is there a difference between one district and the other in terms of the severity of the crisis?

We always try to improve the distribution of available water through establishing water networks and distribution pipes and in building water tanks. We succeeded in this last year. But the crisis is worse in the northern districts and in Bethlehem and Hebron but we were still able to rehabilitate all the wells which service these districts. In Bethlehem we do not have a problem with the amount of water but with two other issues: managing water and in the lack of water networks. We did get funding to rehabilitee these networks to alleviate the problem. Right now, we are also faced with the financial crisis which means we cannot propose tenders for projects unless funds are allocated for them specifically.


Q: Do you meet with the Israelis over water issues?

We meet in a joint committee in accordance with the Oslo accords. But as you know, we are bound by this committee – we cannot bring in any materials to the West Bank unless we get the approval of the joint committee. There is not just a siege on Gaza but also on water projects in the West Bank.  


**PLO Executive Committee member Saeb Erekat, on Netanyahu’s call to Palestinians to go to direct negotiations

Q: what do you make of this call just hours after the Quartet statement also calling for a return to negotiations?

I heard that the Israeli government ‘welcomed’ the statement. We hope so because the statement calls on Israel to halt settlements, to implement their obligations, not to preempt final status negotiations. So whoever welcomes the statement must also implement it. The statement covered all the issues – to help the PA financially, settlements, etc. and we call on the Quartet to place mechanisms for implementation as well for this statement. This has always been the problem with the Quartet. Their statements have everything but when it comes to implementation, only the Palestinians carry out their obligations.


Q:What is your position on the Israeli request for a meeting between President Abbas and Netanyahu?

They have met several times before, so that is not what we need in and of itself. What the resumption of negotiations need is the implementation of the Quartet statement on the settlements, the 1967 borders and the release of prisoners. Negotiations cannot be a goal in and of itself. It must be means to reach the establishment of a Palestinian state.


Q: Israel insists that the Fayyad-Netanyahu meeting is on the 17th

We were told that the meeting will be after the Jewish holidays, so this could be true. When the meeting is held, we will announce it.


Q: Where is the leadership in terms of heading to the UN General Assembly?

We are in the advanced stages of this. We have consulted with countries but as you know, we will see what happens after the letter is sent to Netanyahu. This is not a threat, but it is to clarify the Palestinian position. It is a strategy. Israel has a strategy too, which is to keep things the way they are and to make the operation free of military and political cost. Then they will discuss temporary borders. They also want to completely isolate Gaza and throw it into Egypt’s lap.


**Head of the Prisoner Society, Qaddoura Fares, on the prisoner movement inside Israeli jails

Q: Are prisoners moving towards going on an open hunger strike?

Discussions are still ongoing. The reasons for going on such a hunger strike of course are still present but it seems that Hamas and some in other factions have come to the conclusion that this strike should begin on the 17th, however Fatah still has not decided on one position. We don’t want the prisoners to go on a divided strike; we want it to be united among all the factions but until now, this has not happened.


Q: What is the general program for Palestinian Prisoners’ Day on April 17th?

All the programs and activities are aimed at solidarity and celebration of the prisoners in addition to giving the prisoner movement a voice. There is a variety of activities such as demonstrations, festivals and marches for the prisoners.


Q: What is the condition of prisoners on hunger strike?

The situation is extremely bad and dangerous. The prisoners have now entered their 46th day of hunger strike and they are in very poor condition. There are others also, who have been on strike for different periods – some 38 days, some 22 days, etc. While they are in serious condition, it is clear that Israeli authorities are indifferent to them.


**PFLP leader Rabah Mhanna, on the party’s critical stances towards the cabinet reshuffle, the budget ratification, and charges of arrests among resistance fighters in the West Bank

Q: The PFLP says the PA is preventing resistance in the West Bank because it keeps arresting resistance fighters. Is this accurate?

First, let me just say that the situation we are in today, with the political split, is very unfortunate. It is shameful for us and for our prisoners that this is happening and we need to pool all of our efforts to end this. As for the PFLP statement that says the PA security forces are arresting activists, I think this is true because it has security arrangements with the Israelis, which is wrong and must end.


Q: Are you talking about PLFP members being arrested?

No, the statement talks about arrests among activists in the resistance.


Q:It seems as if the PFLP has suddenly come out with all these angry statements; why would you reject ratification of the budget?

We have always had these positions about Fayyad’s government and our differences with it on the political and even democratic levels? These are not surprising positions. On the budget, ask yourself who ratifies the budget? The government must present it to the legitimate parties, which is the PLC and if it is no working, the PLO, which they did not.


*Government press officer, Ghassan Khatib on the PFLP’s rejections

Q:The PFLP believes all of the government’s actions are illegitimate. What is the legal framework the government uses for these decisions?

Everyone of course hoped there would be a working PLC that could have received the draft budget, discussed it and amended it before ratifying it. But in the case of the PLC’s absence, the PA has no other choice but to work according to the Basic Law, which says the PA’s president can issue the necessary laws for the continued work of the PA. And if the PLC begins work at a later stage, it can review the budget for modification. We carried out this to the word. But this has been the case for the past five years since the split happened even though this is not the preferred option for the PA.

Singing in Hebrew
By Khalil Qandeel

The geographic divisions left behind by global colonization is still bearing fruit through the usurpation of Arab roots from the peoples of areas that were occupied and cut off from the mother nation. It did not end there either but has gone beyond this point with the occupying powers working to extricate the remaining Arab identity from these peoples.
The fact is, three historical calamities have struck the Arab geographical existence. The first happened to the Ahwaz Arabs, who were encompassed by Iran to the point that their national language – Arabic – was prohibited. The second calamity happened to the Arabs the Askandron area of Syria when this area was ripped away from the Arabs and was transformed over time into a Turkish area.
As for the third tragedy, which is still relatively fresh, it is the catastrophe of the occupation of Palestine, the displacement of its people and Arab areas and people being put under the category of “1948 Arabs”. The Arab Palestinian population inside these areas has continued to suffer from the Judaizaiton of their spirits and status because of their isolation from any Arab continuity and contact.  Even some extremist Arabs would consider shaking the hand of a Palestinian-Arab from the 1948 areas was treason and fell into the category of normalization.
There is that much ignorance and stupidity among Arabs in dealing with their plundered geography. But it gets even worse. A Palestinian girl, Nisreen Qadree just won first place in the program “Iyal Golan is calling to you”. This is a popular television program that hosts famous Israeli stars over a period of three months. Nisreen, upon winning said proudly, “I am the first Arab contestant to win this title after signing a song in Hebrew written in memory of fallen Israeli soldiers.” Nisreen went on to say how proud she is of her Israeli identity and that she had been strongly influenced by Israeli culture.
Nisreen sang a song in Hebrew which is basically a prayer to protect the people of Israel and was written in memory of Israeli soldiers who lost their lives in battle.
This is Nisreen, the Arab girl from the 1948 territories, who has lived her entire 25 years watching the trees around her covered in Hebrew ink, the signs, streets, shops and squares, even the air she breathes has all turned to Hebrew to the point that she now sings to the souls of Israeli soldiers who killed and displaced her people.
These are the results of Arab negligence and geographical divisions. Perhaps what is to come will be even worse when we see an entire generation singing in Hebrew! (http://www.addustour.com/ViewTopic.aspx?ac=\OpinionAndNotes\2012\04\OpinionAndNotes_issue1638_day12_id406162.htm

Names in our memory: Khalil Al Wazir
By Ramzi Sadeq Shahin

The Palestinian mother has brought many great symbols and people into the world – men and women who were able to etch their names in the collective memory of nations through their struggle and their commitment. This is not necessarily only at the Palestinian level or the Arab level but also at the level of all the nations of the world.  Some of these people’s stances and histories have made them the admiring talk of people everywhere.
Yasser Arafat, Sheikh Ahmad Yassin, Mahmoud Darwish, Naji al Ali, Khalil Al Wazir and Abu Ali Mustapha to name a few have become symbols for all of us and remain, even after their deaths, as a guiding light in Palestine’s struggle.
Today, let us talk about Khalil Al Wazir (Abu Jihad), the leader whose anniversary of his martyrdom will be commemorated in days. In his life, he was unique in terms of his military and organizational mentality, which was apparent in a number of operations carried out by the Palestinian resistance. His ‘fingerprints” were apparent all the way up to the first Intifada in 1987 and which comprised a huge leap forward in terms of the Palestinian-Israeli struggle. This Intifada changed history and put Israel up against the strength and resolve of the children of stones, finally deciding to reach a political solution with the PLO, the sole and legitimate representative of the Palestinian people.
In spite of the tremendous loss to our revolution and our people as a result of the martyrdom of Khalil Al Wazir, his death gave our people and freedom fighters even more determination to continue the path of resistance to fulfill the dream of liberation and a Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital.
Khalil Al Wazir was poor when he lived and poor when he died. He had nothing but his faith in god and in the justice of the cause. However, he left us rich pages of courage which he himself used to carry out his duties to his country. Abu Jihad was never a money seeker or one who chased after personal gains or titles. He spent everything he had supporting the struggle of our people and intifada and for the message he carried in his mind and heart, which was the message of Palestine, born with him but which did not die with his own death. It has stayed in the hearts and minds of generations who have carried on the struggle until today.
Abu Jihad will remain the revolutionary school from which our young Palestinians learned. They walked down this path, armed with their faith in God and the justice of the cause, which needs all efforts and actions. This is because we are faced by an occupation that has left us with so much pain and still insists on targeting more land, people and holy sites. This is an occupation that cannot understand any logic but the logic of force, which Abu Jihad believed in but coupled with alternatives through which we could continue our struggle and resistance and reach our national goals.
We salute you, Abu Jihad, the prince of martyrs. We salute all of our martyrs and our prisoners, those heroes who are fighting the most honorable battle in history. And we salute our people wherever they are, in the diaspora and in historical Palestine. And we salute those who support us, all free and honorable people in this world. (http://www.amin.org/articles.php?t=opinion&id=17681)