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Dec. 15, 2014
Daily summary - Thursday, December 6, 2012
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Main News
THE USA HINTS IT MAY FAIL THE PALESTINIAN MOVE IN THE UNSC ON SETTLEMENTS
US State Department spokesperson Mark Toner said Wednesday the USA opposes a Palestinian move in the UNSC against the Israeli decision to build 3,000 new settlement housing units in the “E1” area, and more 1,600 in Ramat Shlomo settlement, in occupied East Jerusalem.
Toner was answering a question which was addressed by “al-Quds” reporter during the daily briefing. He said: “the rhetoric yesterday about taking it to the ICC, and then this today about taking it to the Security Council, that all this – we need to end this kind of rhetoric and get back to the issue at hand, which is getting back into direct negotiations.”
In his answer to another question about whether the USA would veto a Palestinian move in the UNSC, Toner said: “All of this is unhelpful. We’re very clear in our position on settlements…our position privately, publicly, is very clear that any of these issues can only be resolved through final negotiations. They know that, the Palestinians know that.” (http://www.alquds.com/news/article/view/id/402375)
PALESTINE UN REPRESENTATIVE CALLS ON THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY TO HOLD ISRAEL ACCOUNTABLE
Deputy Palestinian representative in the UN Feda Abdel Hadi sent letters to the UN chief, the UNSC president and the UNGA president calling again on the international community, particularly the UNSC and the Quartet Committee, to bear its responsibilities and act towards halting the continuous intensive illegal Israeli settlement campaign across the lands of the occupied state of Palestine, including East Jerusalem and its surroundings. (http://www.maannews.net/arb/Print.aspx?ID=545403)
THE CIVIL ADMINISTARTION IN ISRAEL RATIFIES THE “E1” SETTLEMENT PLAN
The so-called “higher planning and building council” that belongs to the Civil Administration ratified on Wednesday the new settlement projects in E1 area, between Maaleh Adomim settlement east of Bethlehem and occupied Jerusalem and through the outskirts of Jericho.
The council decided to present the plan to the public for 60-day objections.
The plan includes establishing many public buildings, commercial centers and educational institutions, whereas the second part of the plan is to build 2,000 housing units for settlers.
To give the political level full control over the entire stages of planning, the council stipulated the ratification of any stage of the project with the approval of the Coordinator of Government Activities in the (Palestinian) Territories, which means that the Israeli political level could halt the measures at any time. (http://www.maannews.net/arb/Print.aspx?ID=545380)
THE PRESIDENT: SETTLEMENT PLANS IN THE PALESTINIAN TERRITORIES ARE RED LINE
The president of the state of Palestine Mahmoud Abbas affirmed yesterday that settlements in the Palestinian territories, particularly the so-called E1 plan that Israeli announced, is a “red line” because it could divide the Palestinian lands.
Speaking to Palestinian journalists in his Ramallah office, Abbas said that the PA leadership has been in contact with several international parties to prevent Israel from implementing its plan.
“If that happens, we will resort to all legitimate and legal methods,” Abbas said, hinting at the possibility that the PA may lodge a complaint against Israel with the International Criminal Court. “There is what we could do and say to prevent this dangerous decision.”
Abbas said that all Israeli measures on the ground must be removed “because international law forbids the occupation from taking any action in the lands of an occupied state.”
Today, Abbas added, “We are an occupied state and the Fourth Geneva Convention applies to us as a non-member observer state in the UN General Assembly.” Abbas revealed that the PA has set up a special committee to discuss the Palestinians’ future steps in wake of their success at the UN.
The committee will discuss all legal aspects and ways of applying for membership in various international organizations and agencies, he said.
Abbas said that the decision to go to the UN was not aimed at delegitimizing or isolating Israel.
“Rather, we want to live in security and stability with Israel,” he stressed. “Israel used to say that this is a disputed land. We went to the UN to affirm that this is a state under occupation and it is forbidden to change its demographic character.”
The PA president said the Palestinians would file a complaint against Israel with the International Criminal Court “when it attacks us.”
Palestinians were entitled to defend themselves against “occupation through a peaceful and unarmed resistance as ensured by international law,” he added. (Al-Ayyam)
THE JORDANIAN AMBASSADOR TO “AL-QUDS”: THE KING WILL VISIT RAMALLAH TODAY TO CONGRATULATE THE PALESTINIAN LEADERSHIP ON THE STATEHOOD
The Jordanian ambassador to the PA A`wwad a-Sarhan said that visit of “king Abdullah II in Palestine on Thursday is aimed at congratulating president Mahmoud Abbas and the Palestinian leadership on obtaining Palestine`s non-member observer state in the UN”, adding it is a supportive gesture to the Palestinian stances which seek the acquisition of the legitimate Palestinian rights in international forums.
The ambassador denied that more economic agreements will be signed during the visit other than those that were already signed two months ago. (http://www.alquds.com/news/article/view/id/402242)
AN ISRAELI PLAN TO “RENOVATE” THE OLD CITY OF JERUSALEM AND EXPAND “AL-BURAQ” PREMISES
The Jerusalem Municipality debated yesterday a new structural plan to “renovate” the old city of Jerusalem, including al-Buraq (Wailing Wall) premises, the Damascus Gate and other historic buildings, in addition to infrastructure works “underneath the lands of Jerusalem”, according to Maariv newspaper.
According to the plan, historic buildings are going to be renovated and walls will be established around them in addition to preserving archeological pieces and setting height limit to buildings inside the Old City area.
The goal of the new Israeli plan according to the Municipality is to modernize the Old City in terms of accessing the area, and its external view as the external faces of shops are going to be renovated, in addition to the possibility of planting trees in streets and installing lightening pillars and public seats for the residents of the city.
The al-Buraq (Wailing) Wall is one of the key goals of this Israeli plan that seeks to facilitate public`s access to it underground by establishing a visitors center and expanding the premises by 600 meters. (http://www.maannews.net/arb/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=545346)
The al-Aqsa Association for Waqf and Heritage has warned in a statement of this plan which is “aimed at conducting substantive transformations in the Islamic and Christian buildings and features in occupied Old City of Jerusalem”, adding it “will have grave consequences on the al-Aqsa mosque and the entire area of the Old City”. (http://www.alquds.com/news/article/view/id/402368)
THE PRESIDENT IN ANKARA NEXT TUESDAY
A source in the Turkish presidency said president Mahmoud Abbas will visit Ankara on Tuesday in a first tour after Palestine became a non-member observer state in the UN, to thank Turkey for its supportive stance.
The source told the AFP that Abbas will meet his Turkish counterpart Abdullah Gul. (Al-Ayyam)
The Palestinian ambassador in Ankara Nabil Ma`roof said Abbas will visit the Turkish capital on Monday during which he will meet with Gul, PM Rajab Tayeb Erdogan and foreign minister Ahmad Davutoglu.
He pointed out that in addition to thanking the Turkish leadership for its distinguished support to the Palestinian UN move in the UN, Abbas will exchange with the Turkish officials views on efforts related to the formation of a national agreement government composed of Fatah and Hamas movements. (http://www.alquds.co.uk/scripts/print.asp?fname=data\2012\12\12-05\05x88.htm)
SOURCES TO “AL-QUDS AL-ARABI” AFFIRM THERE IS NO SET DATE FOR RECONCILIATION MEETINGS IN CAIRO, RULING OUT THEY COULD BE HELD THIS MONTH DUE TO THE INTERNAL EGYPTIAN CONDITIONS
Informed Palestinian sources have ruled out holding meetings on reconciliation during this month considering that the Egyptian mediator is preoccupied with internal affairs. A Palestinian official told “al-Quds al-Arabi” that the meeting of the Palestinian leadership last Tuesday in Ramallah with the participation of Hamas official (Naser a-Dein a-Shaer) did not tackle the issue of setting a specific date for the meetings. (http://www.alquds.co.uk/scripts/print.asp?fname=data\2012\12\12-05\05qpt953.htm)
Meanwhile, Hamas official Ahmad Yousef said the reconciliation meetings depend on the stability of the conditions on Egypt. He pointed out that no contacts are being held on official levels regarding reconciliation, citing the underway contacts are unofficial with the purpose of preparing appropriate climates for reconciliation.
Regarding Hamas politburo chief Khaled Meshaal`s visit in Gaza, Yousef said he may come on Thursday or Friday. (http://www.maannews.net/arb/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=545329)
THE ISLAMIC JIHAD: SHALLAH`S VISIT IN GAZA DEPENDS ON THE SECURITY CONDITIONS
The Islamic Jihad movement affirmed yesterday the right of its secretary general Ramadan Shallah to visit the Gaza strip anytime he wishes to, denying he would pay this visit in the two coming days.
The movement spokesperson Dawood Shehab said the visit depends on ensuring appropriate political and security conditions. (http://www.alquds.co.uk/scripts/print.asp?fname=data\2012\12\12-05\05qpt963.htm)
DIRCET LOSSES OF THE GAZA-BASED ELECTRIC COMPANY DUE TO THE WAR STANDS AT $5.5 MILLION
The Electric company said that the recent Israeli aggression on Gaza has inflicted on it losses valued at $5.5 million, due to the massive destructions and direct damages to electrical networks, in addition to NIS 7.7 indirect losses related to tax collection and services. (http://www.maannews.net/arb/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=545211)
QATARI EFFORTS TO HOLD A CONFERENCE IN PARIS ON THE REBUILDING OF GAZA FAILED WITHOUT COORDINATION WITH THE PA
Informed Palestinian sources said there were Qatari efforts to hold a conference in Paris on the rebuilding of the Gaza strip without coordination with the PNA.
These sources affirmed to “al-Ayyam” the Qatari efforts which were pursued few weeks ago are facing increasing difficulties to convince the participating states.
The PNA was informed about the Qatari move by many parties that were invited to take part in the conference, but it prefers to maintain calm towards Qatar`s attempts to bypass it, the sources pointed out.
They added that the PA backs any attempt to rebuild the Gaza strip and attract projects to the population of Gaza but on condition these projects would not harm the role of the PNA.
The sources expected the Qatari efforts to totally fail, especially after the upgrade of the status of Palestine to a non-member observer state in the UN which could impose several obstacles to any attempt to circumvent the role of the PA and the PLO. (Al-Ayyam)
THE OCCUPATION HANDS HOME-DEMOLITION ORDERS IN BEIT UMMAR
Occupation forces handed yesterday resident Jamal Abu Sara and his brother Yousef an order according to which their marble factory should be demolished.
Another order was handed to resident Ibrahim al-Alami whereby his grocery will be demolished.
In al-Aroub camp, north of Hebron, occupation forces noted resident Ribhi Jawabreh that his three-story home is going to be demolished. (http://www.maannews.net/arb/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=545363)
EIGHT PALESTINIANS KILLED IN SYRIA
Eight Palestinians were killed Wednesday due to shelling and attacks at many Palestinian refugee camps in Syria.
Special sources told “al-Quds” that five Palestinians were killed in Dara`a refugee camp, south of Syria, due to continued shelling at the camp for three days. Another young Palestinian by the name of Saleh Abdel Ghani was killed in shelling at a-Tadamon neighborhood nearby al-Yarmouk camp, and one more Palestinian, Yamen Muhammad, was targeted by armed men in al-A`roubah neighborhood near the camp.
In Handarat camp in Aleppo, one Palestinian was killed and others were injured after scores of mortar shells landed on their homes. Meanwhile, Syrian regime forces arrested eight Palestinians in al-Nayrab camp. (http://www.alquds.com/news/article/view/id/402365)
Meshaal in Gaza tomorrow to celebrate the foundation anniversary of Hamas
Hamas has officially confirmed that the movement`s politburo chairman Khaled Meshaal will arrive on Friday in Gaza for two-day visit to celebrate the 25th anniversary for the foundation of Hamas movement.
Hamas spokesperson Sami Abu Zouhri confirmed the visit saying “it represents one of the fruits of the victory of the resistance”.
Hamas sources said that Egyptian sources have coordinated the visit of Meshaal who is expected to deliver a speech before masses during the celebrations due on Saturday. (http://www.samanews.com/index.php?act=Show&id=144594)
The Israeli public security minister decides to limit the work of undercover police to dealing with Arabs
The Israeli public security minister Yitzhak Aharonovitch, issued yesterday an order whereby limiting the work of undercover police units to dealing only with Arabs.
“Maariv” website reported that the decision was recently taken following an incident that took place two months ago in Hebron hills in occupied West Bank against settlers. A video tape which showed three undercover police dealing with settlers caused a big fuss. They were disguised in Palestinian outfits near Susyia settlement when four settlers approached them and altercation erupted between them. The disguised policemen used electric pistol and tear gas against the settlers whereas the later attacked the undercover policemen with clubs injuring one of them. Afterwards, Police forces went out of their hidden places and arrested the settlers.
During a later assessment meeting, Aharonovitch, decided to stop using undercover units in dealing with Jews. (http://www.arabs48.com/?mod=articles&ID=96367)
Palestinian prisoners on hunger strike in “Nafhah” and “Shattah”
Head of the Palestinian Prisoner Club Qaddoura Fares said prisoners in Shattah jail have staged a hunger strike protesting measures that were imposed by the prison service against prisoners in room 13 of cell 7.
Fares told “al-Quds” that the prison service, after conducting search in the room and destroying the prisoners` belongings, decided to punish them by isolating them and closing the room for one month in addition to denying them all rights under the pretext a cell phone was found in their room.
Meanwhile, prisoners in “Nafhah” jail continue being on hunger strike for three days in a row, protesting the attack of the prison service against room 55 of cell 11 last Monday night, and the harassment of Hamas leader Jamal al-Hour and his son Taqi for trying to protect his father.
An attorney of the PA ministry of prisoners and ex-prisoners affairs said that during his visit in the jail two days ago special Israeli police forces held prisoner Jamal al-Hour, tied him with hand and leg shackles and beat him harshly on his eyes and abdomen. Prisoners responded with “Allah Akbar” and strong beating on the cells doors. The prison service announced in return the jail is closed and that the entire prison will be banned leaving their cells. (http://www.alquds.com/news/article/view/id/402448)
Increase in trade exchange between Morocco and Israel since “al-Adalah Watanmiyah” party took power
Despite of the unified will of the Moroccan government and civil society over combating normalization with Israel, tends of normalization have been continuous and trade exchange has noticeably increased, especially since the Islamic “al-Adalah Watanmiya” party took power in December 2011.
According to official Israeli statistics, trade exchange between Israel and Morocco witnessed in the first ten months of 2012 a rise compared to the same period in 2011, as Israeli exports to Morocco increased during last October by 216 percent, whereas Moroccan exports to Israel increased by 150 percent. Total Moroccan exports to Israel in the first ten months of 2012 stood at 42 million dirham ($5 million) as oppose to 27 million during the same period in 2011, which equals 54 percent rise. (http://www.alquds.co.uk/scripts/print.asp?fname=data\2012\12\12-05\05qpt967.htm)
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Headlines
* Fierce clashes between pro-Morsi supporters and oppositionists; scores of injuries and headquarters of the Muslim Brotherhood set aflame. (Al Quds)
* Hamas is preparing for Meshaal`s historic visit in the Gaza strip. (Al Quds)
* The EU summons the Israeli ambassador to pretest against settlements. (Al Quds)
* The Israeli police are searching a missing soldier. (Al Quds)
* Jordan backs off the Red-Sea Dead-Sea Canal project which could save the Dead Sea. (Al Quds)
* Canada will continue offering financial support to the PA. (Al-Ayyam)
* Netanyahu thanks Prague for its “courage” in the vote and is “disappointed” by Germany. (Al-Ayyam)
* The USA calls the Palestinians and Israelis to stop media exchange of accusations. (Al-Ayyam)
* The EU and Italy summon their Israeli ambassadors over the settlements. (Al-Ayyam)
* A Palestinian needs no entry visa to Venezuela. (Al-Hayat Al-Jadida)
* Resignations in Morsi`s administration and fire bombs in the streets. (Al-Hayat Al-Jadida)
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Front Page Photos
Al-Quds: 1) Cairo- Muslim Brotherhood`s members removing a tent which belongs to oppositionists of Morsi.
Al-Ayyam: 1) Cairo- president Morsi`s supporters during clashes with oppositionists outside the presidential palace yesterday.
Al-Hayat Al-Jadida: 1) An Egyptian citizens screaming during a pro-Morsi march in front of the presidential palace yesterday; 2) Chelsea player Torres while scoring a goal.
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Voice of Palestine News
Jerusalem: This project to “renovate the Old City” is part of Israel’s plans to Judaize Jerusalem, not what they claim which is to get Jerusalem up to par with the 21st century. It plans to stifle the Arab character of the city. The Sharaf neighborhood, which Israel completely destroyed and turned into the Jewish quarter will be a prototype of what they are planning now in the Old City. We are talking about a whole new character to the Old City. This entails changing many properties and artifacts and giving them a Jewish nature.
The E1 plan, which Israel ratified recently will devour over 12,000 dunams from lands of Al Tour, Essawiyeh and Anata. This will entail the demolition of dozens of Palestinian homes as part of this plan. This has already started – the first stage of demolitions has already begun in Al Tor, east of Jerusalem. An Israeli “national park” is slated to be built in their place.
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Voice of Palestine Interviews
**Minister of Jerusalem affairs, Adnan Husseini, on the Israeli plan to change the Old City
Q:Have the actual excavations and so-called renovation works begun in the Old City?
In Al Wad, the works have already begun, near the Buraq wall. This has nothing to do with renovating the infrastructure of the Old City. It doesn’t need renovations. They want to implement other plans.
Q: What steps are you taking to counter this plan?
The people have taken wonderful stance already – homeowners and merchants have gone to the courts and expressed their opposition to this plan, which will harm their economic situation, which is already bad. But occupation authorities are finding ways to circumvent any and all objections to their plans. No doubt, this plan will have very bad economic and other impacts to show up in the feature. We already heard that Muslim and Arab artifacts were stolen and taken to an Israeli museum. But we are following closely. The UNESCO must make a move. It has been almost dead for the past few years. It is time for it to move.
**Minister of Prisoner Affairs, Issa Qaraqe, on the prisoner situation
Q: We hear the prisoners are on a state of alert in solidarity with the hunger striking prisoners. Do you have updated information on the situation in prisons?
The prisoners have already begun a series of protests, which is also in response to the raids on rooms in prisons by Israeli authorities like what happened in Nafha two days ago. The prisoners have begun to return meals in solidarity with the hunger strikers, who are now in very serious condition, especially Samer Essawiyeh. He has been on a hunger strike for four months. The prisoners say they will not abandon their colleagues and will continue with their protests until their demands are met. They warned that if Israel doesn’t, it will not just be the battle of hunger strikers but of all the prisoners.
Q: What about the legal status of the prisoners who are now prisoners from the state of Palestine in Israeli jails. Have you looked into this and what steps can be taken?
The PLO and leadership has formed a committee to follow up on the new UN status of the state of Palestine and the procedures that could be taken to take advantage of this decision at the political and legal levels. Yesterday, at one of the committee’s meetings, we decided to form a legal team to begin taking practical steps to cement our status as a state at the international level especially by joining the Fourth Geneva Convention and the other UN organizations on human rights and going to the Hague’s ICC so it could issue a legal verdict on the status of prisoners, now that they are prisoners of war. We need a practical plan for investing in this UN status to guarantee the legal right of the prisoners and develop their human rights as prisoners – that is, to put an end to the arbitrary measures taken against them which are completely unrelated to international humanitarian law.
Q: Is there a timeframe for when you will begin taking these practical steps?
According to the team, they should begin very soon; we should not stall because the expectations are high in this regard. This is our right and it should be cemented.
**Nafeth Abu Bakr, economic expert on the decision to set up a system to unify revenues in government institutions, which will raise revenues by 50%.
Q: Is this an economically feasible and fruitful plan?
This plan to unify revenues in government institutions is actually the third part of the reform plan the finance ministry formulated in 2007. This system is aimed at increasing the collection process of revenues, which the government doesn’t always do. The program was delayed so much because of signed agreements with the Israelis signed in August. Unfortunately, these agreements were not given a timeframe for implementation and the mechanism for its implementation. The committees stopped working anyway during the war on Gaza. The PA will be the party that collects and unifies revenues and excludes the Israelis. I think the Israelis may put obstacles to this program given the new UN status but because we are now a state, we can propose this in international arenas and prove our right to collect our own revenues, which Israel collects on its behalf.
**PLO Executive Committee member Saeb Erekat
Q: It seems as though the Palestinian delegation has already begun to take action to oppose Israeli settlement plans. Is this true?
Yes, the issue is now at the Security Council. We just hope the US administration will refrain from using its veto power. There is a reality on the ground right now, which is a state of Palestine where settlements and occupation is not only in violation of international law but are considered war crimes. And any country that wants security, stability, peace and order must adhere to international law. The key is right here and in the hands of these countries on how to deal with Israel. What we want is an end to the Israeli occupation and work needs to happen in this direction. And if Israel is insistent on continuing with its dictates, its occupation and its settlements, then these will be considered war crimes for which they must be held accountable. This is why we are going to the Security Council along with other options.
Q: You don’t want to disclose these options?
Not yet, we don’t want to talk about anything that is still not solid. It is complicated and we have gotten our people accustomed to not talking about things we are not going to do or speak too early.
Q: Will you discuss all of these files during the visit of the Jordanian monarch?
This is a historical visit given that it is the first visit by any world leader to the State of Palestine. I can tell you that King Abdullah II is working day and night for Palestine to regain all of its rights and to become independent in its state with east Jerusalem as its capital.
Q:Are the Israeli letters to the US administration –saying the E1 project is just approval of structures and that actual construction may not happen for a long time –reassuring to you?
No, of course not. This is how settlements are built always. First there is ratification, then tenders, etc. So it is the same process. And if this plan takes place, this will be the end to the two state-solution.
Q: Are reconciliation efforts tied into calm being restored in Egypt?
First, we hope that the Egyptians can overcome all of their problems, but their security is a main pillar of the entire Arab world’s stability, especially the Palestinians. Yes, the reconciliation is linked to this since it takes place in Cairo but we will do everything we can to speed up reconciliation. I don’t think it conflicts with anything taking place in the Arab world.
Q: Is there any news about the Arab safety net given that Israel has withheld our tax money?
The President and I will go to Qatar on Sunday to hold a meeting with the Arab follow up committee to get this issue moving – it is a promise they made to us and we have all the hope that they will do it.
**PLO executive committee member and coordinator of the national and Islamic forces Wasel Abu Yousef
Q: The official discourse is calling for peaceful popular action. Aare the national and Islamic forces discussing ways to push this forward?
Yes, this is what we are doing now – finding ways to promote peaceful and popular resistance against the Israeli occupation and to express our rejection of anything that may prevent the establishment of a Palestinian state. Now, with Israel’s latest settlement plans which aim to abort any attempts at establishing this state has urged the forces to discuss ways on how to encourage the role of popular action and how to mobilize and organize it in which all sectors of Palestinian society participates.
Q: So you are talking about a strategy that will soon be announced?
Yes, we are looking for common denominators between us so we can formulate a unified strategy in this regard and in our resistance of the occupation.
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Arab Press
Jerusalem and its new enemies!
By Ziad Aldrees
The city of Jerusalem has, throughout history, been the scene of conflicts and shifts in who rules it, given that it is the capital of the three monotheistic religions. This religious capital never remained in the hands of one leader from one specific religion or race. Hence, every time a newcomer decorates and adorns it, there is upheaval once again.
I ended my last article entitled “Will we now visit the Aqsa Mosque?” by looking into the Israeli position on the Arab and Islamic calls, which have now increased, to visit Jerusalem and pray at Al Aqsa. I said that the counter Israeli scenario to these calls – which is the most ideal and which will incur the least amount of human and material losses – is to ignite an Arab-Arab conflict over Jerusalem. Lo and behold, the start of such a conflict has begun to appear on the horizon!
The new conflict in Jerusalem is a Palestinian/Jordanian conflict. The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, which has maintained responsibility for administrating the holy sites and Islamic and Christian Waqf property since the Israeli occupation of Jerusalem, now fears that it may lose this honor and privilege. This is not because of the violations of the Zionist enemy and the way Israeli soldiers marginalize Jordan’s mandate but out of fear that this ‘deposit’ and “temporary” privilege will be returned to the Palestinian state, which is now up and coming and has gained the recognition of one international organization after another.
What is new is that Jordan has now declared that its mandate over the holy sites is not temporary or as a proxy for the absentee Palestinian state, but as an original right afforded to the Hashemite clan which is practicing the right of the ‘homeowners’ in running the affairs of Islamic holy sites in Jerusalem. They clearly point to this in an official document issued by the Jordanian printing and publishing department which says that “Jerusalem is Arab Islamic land which was occupied in 1967 as part of the lands of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.” It is important to not hear that this document was issued in February, 2012, that is, after Palestine became a member at UNESCO and ratified the agreement for the protection of world heritage sites. This raised a ‘buzz’ over when the file of Jerusalem, registered under the list of Jordanian world heritage sites would be transferred to the Palestine list!
The Jordanian document, which is no secret, does not fail to point out that the late Jordanian King Hussein Bin Talals decision to disengage between the West and East banks in 1988 did not include disengagement of the Hashemite authority over holy sites in the occupied city!
The campaign to undermine the disengagement decision made by King Hussein is now being commandeered by his brother Prince Hassan Bin Talal, who recently visited Nablus, one of the most significant cities in the West Bank, declaring in front of the crowds that: “The west Bank of the Jordan River is part of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, which was formed from both banks of the river.” Hassan added: “I hope I never see the day when Jordan concedes its land occupied in 1967.”
What further complicates this problem is that Jordan, which has seriously begun to feel the winds of the Arab Spring, understands that maintaining the honor and privilege of its authority over Jerusalem and the holy sites heightens its legitimacy and clout among the people; if it loses this honor, the opposite will happen.
Hence, the Jordanians want to maintain the Hashemite authority over Jerusalem and the Palestinians have been longing for years to regain Jerusalem, the jewel of Palestine.
So what is the solution?
Far from any extreme solutions that will only stoke the flames of an Arab-Arab conflict, there is one conciliatory formula being floated as a proactive solution. This is to set up a confederation between the two neighboring countries whereby Palestine preserves it lands and rights and the Hashemite family preserves its presence and prestige there.
However, before Palestine has completed its growth and Jordan recovers from its “illness” and the sides begin to think about the limited options available to solve the dispute, in the coming few days we will see an increase in the spats between the rival neighboring brothers. As for real enemy, it will not leave any means of heightening these spats and differences, which provides it with ammunition and so that all the commotion over the conflict over Jerusalem can be moved from its “room” to the next door one.
And thus, Jerusalem – the land of peace – will continue to remain the land of eternal struggle! (http://alhayat.com/OpinionsDetails/459012)
Israel’s Doomsday E-1 Settlement
By: Nicola Nasser
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has definitely crossed an international red line to vindicate a swift and firm rejection from Israel’s closest allies when he announced plans recently to build a new settlement on a corridor of occupied Palestinian land in East Jerusalem, which will render any prospective Palestinian contiguous state territorially impossible. Daniel Seidemann, the Israeli founder of Terrestrial Jerusalem, has condemned it as “the doomsday settlement” and “not a routine” one.
Netanyahu risks a diplomatic confrontation that will not develop into a diplomatic isolation of Israel because Israel’s allies have decided to pressure him to backtrack by “incentives and disincentives” instead of “sanctions,” in the words of the British Foreign Secretary William Hague.
Summoning Israeli ambassadors to protest Netanyahu’s plans by Australia, Brazil, France, UK, Sweden, Denmark and Spain was nonetheless an unusual international outcry because “if implemented,” his “plans would alter the situation, with Jerusalem as a shared capital increasingly difficult to achieve,” according to William Hague, thus “seriously undermining the two - state solution” of the Palestinian – Israeli conflict according to the French foreign ministry spokesman Philippe Lalliot, which is a “solution without which there will never be security in Israel,” according to the Australian Foreign Minister Bob Carr.
The international outcry is not against the Israeli policy of settlements on Palestinian occupied land per se, but against this one particular E-1 settlement, which was Netanyahu’s answer to the overwhelming recent recognition of Palestine as a non-member state by the UN General Assembly.
Because, on the ground, the site of some 4.6 square miles (12 square km) of this settlement on the easternmost edge of eastern Jerusalem will close the only territorial link between the north and south of the West Bank and sever it from East Jerusalem, the prospective capital of the State of Palestine, thus undermining any viable and contiguous Palestinian state on the territories occupied by Israel in 1967 and turning the recognition of the UN General Assembly on November 29, 2012 as merely a Palestinian paper achievement.
The U.S. and the EU opposed the E-1 (East One) plan since it was taken out of Israeli drawers in 2005; because they were alert to its potential undermining effect on the “peace process.” Now, the five permanent members of the UN Security Council and the United Nations have all warned against the E-1 plan.
The White House and US State Department described the plan as “unilateral,” “counterproductive,” “sets back” peace efforts, “especially damaging to efforts to achieve a two-state solution,” “complicate efforts to resume direct, bilateral negotiations” and “risk prejudging the outcome” of such negotiations, and “contrary to US policy.”
The EU high Representative Catherine Ashton on Dec. 2 said she was “extremely concerned,” described the plan as “an obstacle to peace,” condemning “all settlement construction” as “illegal under international law,” a judgment shared by UK’s William Hague who added the plan “would undermine Israel’s international reputation and create doubts about its stated commitment to achieving peace.” Italian Premier Mario Monti and French President Francois Hollande in a joint statement said they were "deeply worried" by the plan. German government spokesman Steffen Seibert said his country was “deeply concerned.” Sweden’s Foreign Minister Carl Bildt said the plan was “extremely worrying.”
China’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said his country “has always firmly opposed Israel's construction of settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory of East Jerusalem and the West Bank.” Russia “views” the plan “with the most serious concern” because it “would have a very negative effect.” UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon warned the plan “would represent an almost fatal blow to remaining chances of securing a two-state solution.”
All the five permanent members of the UN Security Council and the United Nations called on Israel to “rescind,” “reconsider,” “reverse” its plans, “go back on them,” “exercise restraint” and “eliminate obstacles to the peace talks with Palestine.”
However, when it comes to translating their words into action they stand helpless, to render all their statements “an audio phenomenon” as described by Abdul Bari Atwan, the editor–in–chief of the London – based Arabic daily Al-Quds Al–Arabi, a hollow outcry short of an overdue action by the world community.
It is no surprise therefore that Netanyahu is encouraged enough to insist on pursuing his plans.
The international community’s inaction could not but vindicate the expected Palestinian reaction. President Mahmoud Abbas late on Dec. 4 chaired a Palestinian leadership meeting in Ramallah, attended for the first time by the representatives of the rival Hamas and Islamic Jihad movements. They decided to ask the UN Security Council to adopt a binding resolution obliging Israel to stop all settlement activities in the occupied State of Palestine, concluding that Israel “is forcing us to go to the International Criminal Court (ICC).”
Netanyahu’s defiance and the Palestinian leadership’s decision will both put the credibility of all the five permanent members of the UN Security Council to an historic test: They either decide to act on their own words or their inaction will inevitably leave the Palestinians with the only option of defending their very existence by all the means available to them.
For Palestinians, to be or not to be has become an existential issue that could no longer be entrusted to international community. (http://www.amin.org/articles.php?t=ENews&id=4022)
Adamant Israel colonises with impunity
by Michael Jansen
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu remains determined to hamstring and humiliate US President Barack Obama before he even begins his second term, in the belief that once crippled and shamed, Obama will not dare counter Israel on any issue.
Reporting in the Israeli liberal daily Haaretz, well-connected analyst Chemi Shalev revealed that Netanyahu’s decision to expand colonisation activity in the West Bank and East Jerusalem and, in particular, proceed with construction on the E-1 site near Maale Adumim was intended to respond to Obama’s refusal to reaffirm the 2004 Sharon-Bush letter on settlement blocks.
According to the letter sent by US president George W. Bush to Israeli premier Ariel Sharon, in any final deal with the Palestinians, it would be “unrealistic to expect that the outcome of final status negotiations will be a full and complete return to the armistice lines of 1949 [the old Green Line]…” due to “new realities on the ground, including existing Israeli population centres”.
In other words, Bush assured Israel that it would be able to retain major settlement blocks constructed, illegally, across the Green Line and in the West Bank adjacent to the line. Israel would, in turn, give Palestinians the equivalent amount of territory (probably in the Negev along the Gaza border — which would not be of the same quality as the annexed West Bank land.
Apparently, Netanyahu has told the Obama administration that Israel “no longer” feels “bound” by a 2009 commitment not to build on E-1.
Former US ambassador to Israel Dan Kurtzer told Haaretz: “What that suggests to Washington is that Jerusalem was waiting for an opportunity to do this, that it was designed to provoke anger in the administration, and that they picked what they thought was a convenient moment.”
The moment being the Palestinian application to the UN General Assembly for an upgrade in its status from “observer entity” to “non-member observer state”, “state” being the operative — and explosive — word as far as Israel is concerned.
E-1 “is not just another few houses in Jerusalem or another hilltop in the West Bank”, Kurtzer told The New York Times.
“This is one of the most sensitive areas of territory, and I hope the United States will lay down the law.”
Since the 1990s, he observed, the US has warned Israel not to build in this area because a colony or colonies built there would cut off occupied East Jerusalem from the West Bank and bisect the West Bank, finishing off any prospect of creating a contiguous, viable Palestinian state based on the West Bank, East Jerusalem and Gaza.
E-1 is how Netanyahu chose to reward Obama for giving total support to Israel’s, once again, one-sided eight-day military offensive against Gaza that killed more than 170 Palestinians and inflicted great material damage on public buildings, homes and infrastructure, and for the US no vote in the UN General Assembly on recognition of Palestine as a non-member observer state.
The subservient US administration criticised Israel for putting forward new colonisation plans, particularly in E-1, but has done nothing to sanction or punish Israel by reducing diplomatic, financial or military support. Or, even threaten to take punitive measures.
The US “no” vote in the General Assembly showed just how isolated the US and Israel are on the issue of Palestine. An overwhelming 138 of the UN’s 193 members voted in favour. These included Russia, China and France, three permanent members of the Security Council; India, Pakistan, the Arabs; and 17 European countries, 14 of them members of the 27-state European Union (EU).
The 41 abstaining included Britain (a fourth Security Council member), the colonial power that created the “Jewish homeland” in Palestine, Germany and Holland, a country deeply sympathetic to Israel.
The decision of three such pro-Israel countries to abstain rather than vote “no” signified their displeasure with Israel over its colonising enterprise and rejection of serious negotiations with the Palestinians.
Only nine voted against Palestine: Israel, the US, the Czech Republic (the sole country in Europe to do so), Canada, Panama and four small Pacific island states that are US dependencies and normally capitulate to Washington’s diktat. This was a pathetic showing for the global hyper-power and a slap in the face for the Obama administration.
The administration would be wise to recuse itself from the looming confrontation between Israel and almost all of the rest of the world. Europe could and should step into the breach left by the cowardly US.
In response to Israel’s declaration that it would build fresh housing units for Jewish colonists, Britain, France, Sweden and Denmark summoned Israeli ambassadors and rebuked their government. Germany was unusually critical.
Less intimidated over the World War II legacy of persecuting and killing Jews, Europe is in a better position to exert itself to pressure or put the brakes on Israel.
Since the EU is Israel’s largest trading partner, the bloc could, for example, suspend its 1995 association agreement with Israel which gives Israeli products preferential treatment. Or, if the EU could not agree to go that far, its members could insist that all goods produced in illegal West Bank colonies be labelled as such rather than as of Israeli origin. This would give countries and consumers the opportunity to decide whether they want to buy colony-manufacture and produce.
In an opinion piece in The Guardian, former Irish president Mary Robinson and former Finnish president Martti Ahtisaari criticised the EU for failing to vote as a bloc on Palestinian statehood in the General Assembly and urged Europe to act.
They accused EU of a “lack of coherence” due to its refusal to back up its verbal support for a two-state solution to the Palestine-Israel conflict with action against Israel’s colonisation of the land required for the Palestinian state.
Unfortunately, Europe no longer has leaders as distinguished as Robinson and Ahtisaari who would be prepared to shoulder the burden Obama dares not shoulder. Instead, European prime ministers and presidents bleat over Israeli intransigence without doing anything about it.
The award of this year’s Nobel Peace Prize to the EU is just as fraudulent as was the choice of Obama in 2009. (http://jordantimes.com/adamant-israel-colonises-with-impunity)
What exactly is Palestine?
By Hugh Naylor
RAMALLAH // Mahmoud Abbas declared that Palestine had a state on his triumphant return from the United Nations, but many Palestinians are asking: what do we have and what do we call it?
The Palestinian Authority (PA) president on Sunday lauded Palestine's "historic achievement" of being recognised as a non-member state at the UN.
"Now we have a state," he told thousands gathered at his presidential compound in Ramallah.
For many Palestinians, the overwhelming support last week by the world body's General Assembly to upgrade their status from observer entity was indeed historic. But it is far from clear how the Palestinian territories of the West Bank, Gaza Strip and the desired capital, East Jerusalem, make up a viable state.
Nor is Palestine a formal UN member but, rather, an observer whose delegation to New York must still sit behind member states in the assembly hall. That distinction is lost on billboards in the West Bank that proclaim: "The State of Palestine is here".
"It's a fake state," said Linah Alsaafin, a Ramallah-based blogger for the Electronic Intifada website.
Others were more forgiving. George Khouri, 50, an owner of a supermarket in Ramallah, said Palestinians were "happy with the UN decision". But he was unsure what to call it, given Israeli restrictions.
"Can every Palestinian here travel to Jerusalem, our capital? Of course not," Mr Khouri said, referring to Israeli restrictions on Palestinian movement, adding: "Israel controls us. It's our state by force."
Still, Palestine would seem to meet some of the requirements for statehood set out by the Montevideo Convention of 1933, which are a steady population, defined territory, a government and the ability for diplomacy.
There is indeed a permanent population of Palestinians in Palestine, and its leaders are certainly no strangers to globetrotting diplomacy. Its territory and a unified control over it, however, are another matter.
Perhaps the most crucial element to state sovereignty - monopoly on the use of force within a defined geographic area - is still elusive for Palestinians. As it has for nearly 50 years, Israel occupies the lands of Palestine: it controls its borders, its trade, the identity cards of its residents and much of its resources, such as water. It has also flooded Palestine with half a million Jewish settlers who live in communities under Israeli jurisdiction.
Nor does a single Palestinian leader stake claim over all of Palestine. Fatah runs the PA in the West Bank and its Islamist rival, Hamas, controls Gaza. Israel has formally annexed East Jerusalem.
Even what to call the newly recognised state has created confusion. On its UN website, the Palestinian mission to the world body now says its name has been changed to this mouthful: "Permanent Observer Mission of the State of Palestine to the United Nations".
In a tweet this week, Xavier Abu Eid, spokesman for the Palestinian team that negotiates with Israel, wrote: "Dear journalists: Kindly stop using PA or 'Palestinian Territories' when you refer to Palestine, a state recognised by the UNGA."
Nour Odeh, the PA spokeswoman, said it was acceptable to "call it occupied Palestine or the occupied State of Palestine".
More important about the effect of the Palestinian UN bid, however, is the international legitimacy the move has accorded to Palestinian statehood aspirations, she said.
Israel looked more isolated than ever when only nine countries opposed it, while 138 backed it.
While Palestinians cannot participate in General Assembly votes, the observer status allows them to accede to international treaties and join global institutions. That puts them on par with the Vatican, the only other observer state in the UN that engages in near full diplomatic relations with the world.
Palestinian leaders theoretically can bring claims against Israeli officials to the International Criminal Court, which classifies illegal settlements as a war crime.
Still, the "exaggerations" of what Mr Abbas and his leadership delivered for Palestinians could backfire if concrete steps are not taken to end Israel's occupuation, said Ghassan Khatib, vice president of the West Bank's Birzeit University.
But, he added, referring to the impact of Palestine’s recognition: "It's a step in the right direction on a long road ahead." (http://www.thenational.ae/news/world/middle-east/what-exactly-is-palestine?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=hmp&utm_campaign=sm)
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Opinions
The resistance: a victim not an executioner
By Mustapha Ibrahim
I, like others, understand the Palestinian peoples’ sensitivity towards the phenomenon of collaborators and the need to hold them accountable. There is an almost complete consensus over removing them and handing down the severest possible punishment to them. That is why the killing of a group of men suspected of collaborating with Israeli occupation authorities during the eight-day aggression on Gaza has raised arguments and discussions between those who are for and those who are against their killing and their bodies being thrown in the street and paraded around by a group of armed men. A fair amount of citizens also rejoiced over their executions.
The various media outlets, especially the western ones, relayed pictures of the slain men as they were being dragged through the streets in a shameful manner, contradictory to all our moral and religious ethics. It is also contradictory to the struggle of the resistance and its victory and amazing performance in resisting the occupation.. Many of the western media dropped their coverage of the occupation’s crimes against the Palestinians and focused on coverage of the collaborators killed in the street.
In terms of the Palestinians, and in the words of Hamas officials and the de facto government in Gaza, strong statements of condemnation were made demanding that those who carried out this crime be held accountable and punished. After the ceasefire was reached, the Hamas government announced that a commission of inquiry had been formed to look into the crime, which was a good step towards imposing the rule of law, achieving justice and holding accountable those responsible for such an immoral crime.
Over the eight days of the aggression on the Gaza Strip, Israel wanted to flex its muscles and show its military might against the Palestinians, to prove its military capacities and developed technology in its war on the civilian population. Its reconnaissance planes, which did not disappear from over the Gaza skies for one minute, was part of their focus on marketing this fear and intimidation among the people. it claimed it knew every detail about what was going on with the resistance in the Strip and its military capabilities. It claimed it new where its rocket launchers were and its stockpile and that, from the first strike, it had eliminated the Fajr missiles and other parts of the resistances’ military capacities.
In spite of the occupation force’s possession of advanced technology, it is aware of eh danger of the human element in action on the ground, between the people and resistance; this “human element” helps facilitate the tasks of the occupation forces in assassinating these resistance men, foiling their military operations and spreading rumors among the people in order to impact the Palestinian social fabric and take advantage of and deepen the division among them.
And so, it put its collaborators into action and recruited new ones in the process. A fair amount of citizens even volunteered to work as collaborators upon their own free will. During the recent war, there was a significant amount of collaborators working on the ground or through highly advanced technology similar to the situation in the 2008-2009 war.
The phenomenon of collaborators is very dangerous. Collaborators of the Israeli occupation are an integral part of the occupation’s security, military and political structure and are considered their most lethal weapons. They are considered a basic part of Israel’s long-reaching arms among the Palestinians, carrying out the crimes Israel continues to commit against the Palestinians. hence, they are a major pillar in all of these crimes.
Hence, the mission of pursuing the collaborators of the occupation, fighting them and bringing them to justice is an important and necessary Palestinian task. They should be pursued actively and firmly and they should not be allowed to escape punishment. The phenomenon of collaboration in Palestinian society is as old as the Israeli occupation of Palestine. It is intrinsically linked to Israel’s existence. The collaborators are a badge of shame on the forehead of the Palestinian cause and were and remain to be a dangerous security burden on the Palestinian revolution and a social concern for their families and communities.
Pursuing collaborators is the duty of the government just as it is their responsibility not to tolerate those who carried out the murders of those who were suspected of collaboration during the aggression. They are the responsibility of the government in Gaza, which should hold them accountable, pursue them in the name of justice and not allow them to escape punishment. The government should also compensation their families for all of the legal, psychological and moral damage they suffered in addition to the damage by Palestinian society and its resistance including a distortion of their image; an imagine which should remain as white as paper and innocent of such heinous and denounced actions.
The government in Gaza must bear the legal and ethical responsibility for this crime; it must bring the perpetrators to justice and take all the legal measures necessary against them through implementing principle of the rule of law.
The resistance is victim, not an executioner. Our struggle with the occupation is linked to us being victims, not because we are weak but because we are the victims of an arrogant criminal who commits its crimes under the cover and silence of the world. Resistance is our right in every shape and form. Our resistance achieved victory with its performance and the steadfastness of the people and their mobilization around it. That is what our resistance is. (http://www.amin.org/articles.php?t=opinion&id=19951)
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