More than 500 Palestinian men of all ages were arrested this week by
the Israeli military, in a sweeping raid carried out in villages near Nablus
lying in Areas B and C. The raids began on Saturday night, September 20,
in what was first described by Israeli officials as an operation aimed
at "preventing terrorism", reportedly involving Israeli army units brought
in from southern Lebanon.
It later emerged that the focus of the raids was the village
of 'Asira al-Shamaliya, which lies just north of Nablus in Area B. The
entire Nablus area was declared a "closed military zone" as Israeli troops
swept through, making house-to-house searches and taking men away for interrogation.
Israeli prime minister Binyamin Netanyahu, responding to press queries
on the military operation, was quoted as saying that he is "100 percent
sure" that the suicide bombers responsible for the Mahane Yehuda and Ben
Yehuda bombings in Jerusalem came "from the territories", rather than from
abroad, as has been widely speculated.
Men taken away by Israeli troops and later released reported that they had been questioned about the possible whereabouts of five Hamas activists from 'Asira al-Shamaliya who are believed to belong to the 'Izz a-Deen al-Qassam Brigades (a Hamas military unit), and who have been in hiding and wanted by Israel for some months. The five, all men in their 20s, with one exception, are Mahmoud Abu Hnoud, Mu'awyeh Jarar'a, Bashar Sawalha, Tawfiq Yassin and Yousef Sholi. Abu Hnoud is aged 34. Apparently believing that the men, if they were still alive and on the run, might make their way to Jordan, the Israeli military authorities imposed a travel ban on all Palestinians from the northern West Bank and Jericho, which prohibits their travel via the bridge to Jordan. By press time, it had been confirmed that DNA tests carried out on family members of the four younger men had identified them as four of the five suicide bombers responsible for the two recent West Jerusalem bombings.
Also at press time, the travel ban and tight siege being imposed
on the area was continuing in force, with no one allowed out, even those
requiring medical care.
Israeli intelligence sources appear now to think that the explosives
used in the operations in West Jerusalem were prepared in Beit Sahour,
where a "bomb factory" was discovered two months ago.
There were also reports this week that a possible suicide bombing
at the Canyon Jerusalem shopping mall had been headed off and several Hamas
activists from the Jerusalem area arrested. Meanwhile, leading Hamas spokesperson
'Abdel 'Aziz Rantisi, interviewed in the Spanish newspaper La Vanguardia
this week, declared that there are "dozens of Palestinians ready to commit
suicide operations in Israel." And he said he believes this is because
"Palestinians prefer to die rather than live in humiliation."
It was Palestinian Authority president Yasser Arafat's much-photographed hug of Rantisi at a recent National Unity Dialogue conference in Gaza which sparked angry Israeli and American rhetoric about the PA promoting terrorism. In response this week, Arafat advisor Dr. Ahmad Tibi released a detailed report on the links between the Israeli government and the Israeli extremist right (see page 11). In his report, Tibi lists numerous examples of Israel's promotion of a Jewish terrorist infrastructure and Israeli government officials' warm relations with individual Israelis, particularly settlers, who have been responsible for killing unarmed Palestinian civilians, including children.
On the negotiations front, Arafat deputy Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen) met with US State Department envoy Dennis Ross in Washington DC on Tuesday, September 23, in preparation for a meeting scheduled the following day with Israeli foreign minister David Levy and the foreign ministers of Egypt, Jordan and Turkey. Ross held preparatory meetings with a delegation from Israel as well. A joint Palestinian-Israeli meeting is scheduled with secretary of state Madeleine Albright for later in the week.
Meanwhile, the Israeli-imposed closure on the West Bank and Gaza continued this week, with some slight additional easing. The total number of Palestinian laborers allowed to enter Israel now is just 13,000. The economic losses of this latest comprehensive closure, imposed on September 4, continue to grow. Gazan farmers this week announced losses of some 90 percent of their current crop, due to the ban on exporting their produce to the West Bank or abroad. The United Nations' Special Coordinator in the Occupied Territories, Chinmaya Gharekhan, speaking from Gaza, pronounced the economic situation "difficult and dangerous" this week. He warned of a further loss in confidence in the peace process by the Palestinian public, saying they are already extremely depressed and frustrated.
And in Jerusalem this week, Palestinians in Ras al-Amoud expressed bitter disappointment at the US approval of the "compromise" arrangement worked out between the Israeli government and extremist settlers who had moved into property in the neighborhood. Under the terms of the agreement, the 15 settlers would move out and be replaced by 20 others, 10 of whom would be responsible for "security" and for carrying out renovations of the property, to prepare for the future residence of the original 15. The other 10 are yeshiva students, and as "religious students" must have appeared less extremist to the US and others outside, which could account for the US acceptance of the arrangement. But Palestinians say past experience has shown it is this hard core of religious fundamentalists who are the backbone of the Israeli settler movement.
PA president Yasser Arafat demanded the immediate evacuation of the Ras al-Amoud properties this week, saying that the "patience of the Palestinian people has its limits." However, popular demonstrations called for after Friday prayers on September 19 and on the following Sunday failed to draw the huge crowds anticipated. One observer commented that this showed the "generally demoralized" state of the Palestinian people. Another believed that, after seeing the level to which Israel was prepared to respond to popular protests (as witnessed in the September 1996 clashes which left 85 Palestinians dead), "people are not ready to die for the PA" in civil protests, but because of their growing frustration and anger, they are now far more supportive of armed struggle.
by Rose-Marie Barbeau
"Settlers for hire" -- Ras al-Amoud
in dire straits
by Khader Abusway
Ras al-Amoud- Ziad Hammad, 42, runs a family bus company in Ras al-Amoud. On Sunday night September 14, a group of armed Jewish settlers broke into his bus company parking lot on a side street bordering the area claimed by Irving Moskowitz and his hired settlers. "My father rented the lot in 1951. Under the Jordanian Law which prevailed, I am a protected tenant," says Ziad.
After neighbors of the lot called him, Ziad arrived at his business to find settlers there together with a crane. They had already destroyed the fence and removed one of his buses, using the crane and breaking the front of the bus. Rateb, Ziad's brother, followed him to the site. He was forced at gunpoint to move the other buses from the lot. "An Israeli policeman in civilian clothes, but with an official badge was guarding the settlers' presence. He presented his badge immediately to us as we tried to defend our property," says Ziad.
Under police supervision, the settlers broke into the office of the company, using a machine to sever the locks. "We ran to the nearby (Israeli) police station to ask for help. They turned us down."
After the Ras al-Amoud community gathered, the police formed a human barricade to protect the settlers. Ziad said that the police told the people that they had to be protected because they had documents to substantiate their claim to the land. "As a tenant I am protected by the law too. They had no business destroying my property. If they have a a real claim, it is with the owner of the land. To this date, no documents have been produced by the settlers to prove their claim," says Ziad.
As a result of strong protests and the insistence of the community to remain at the site of theHammad property, the police were forced to allow them to stay on a small part of the lot near the entrance. Ziad said that they have been manning that space since the incident in order to protect "our rights".
Since the Jewish settlers have occupied areas in Ras al-Amoud, Israeli
police have consistently shown clear preferential treatment in favor of
the settlers. The group of settlers who illegally broke into the bus company
lot in Ras al-Amud evicted Palestinian company staff at gunpoint.
The Palestinian staff have only been able to return to a small area near
the entrance of the lot.
The settlers, under the protection of the police, have now occupied
most of the lot leaving the Palestinians a small area near the entrance.
While the Israeli police allow settlers free access to the lot, they limit
Palestinian access by setting arbitrary limits on the numbers and
who should and should not be there. They allow settlers to bring their
cars and motorcycles into the lot, but do not allow the bus company to
park their buses or any other vehicles. A tent has been set up by the settlers
to shelter them,but police forced the Palestinians to remove a similar
tent, threatening to kick them out if they refused.
Ziad, his brothers and children are not allowed to use any kind of shelter. The police are refusing to allow them to use a tent. The border police units are sitting with the settlers under their sun shade most of the time. "There is no chance for settlers in Ras al-Amoud," said Ziad, since the neighborhood regards them as dangerous "occupiers, bandits and implants." He continued, "my business is ruined, and at the same time, these bandits are being paid to destroy my livelihood. I want to keep doing the business no matter who the owner is. I am a protected tenant. The law must be applied in this country which claims so much for itself. I haven't committed a crime."
The property has been openly vandalized and innocent Palestinians driven
at gunpoint to facilitate the takeover of Arab private property in Arab
East Jerusalem by a group of settlers. "We will not allow them to live
amongst us. They are loose guns. They have a history of killing children
and old men and night guards. They have to go. The Israeli government is
responsible. The Israeli police gives them protection," Ziad says.
Report: Legislative Council reconvenes
by Nedal Ismail
Ramallah -- The second term of the second session of the Palestinian Legislative Council (LC) began its 18th session after the summer holiday on September 16 with two main issues on the agenda: the current political situation, and variety of laws that members hope to pass in the coming session.
The session began with a discussion of the political situation, focusing on the recent visit of United State Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, and the decision of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA). Debate began with a discussion of the "dangerous steps" taken by Israelis in Ras al-Amoud. Members strongly denounced the move by Israeli settlers to seize two homes in the Arab neighborhood, and held the Israeli government totally responsible, calling on them to remove the settlers quickly. They went on to say that these actions were as dangerous as those made by Israel at Mt. Abu Ghneim and the tunnel below al-Aqsa mosque, but more sensitive because it is in the heart of an Arab neighborhood. The Council called on the US government, in their capacity as sponsor of the peace process, to act quickly and pressure Israel to remove the settlers.
On the subject of Albright's visit, the Council concluded that it had been positive, if indeed it signals the beginning of a continuos and balanced US effort to end the crisis the peace process is currently in, and a return to negotiations on the basis of United Nations resolutions 242 and 338, and the principle of land for peace.
Council members suggested it was unreasonable for the US to pressure and hold responsible only the Palestinian side, with no mention of the fact that the Israeli government is totally opposed to the peace process and the Oslo agreements and continually violates these agreements. Council members said they were "surprised" by the way in which Albright dealt with the issue of security, when the Palestinian people "are suffering the effects" of mass punishment, home demolitions, settlement expansion, withholding of Palestinian tax revenues, and cold-blooded executions.
Security, said members, is one of the most important issues of the peace process, and true security can only be achieved through a just and comprehensive peace, for which the peace process must be returned to "the right track."
The LC devoted a portion of its session to discussion of the UNRWA decision, and the subsequent reversal of that decision, to reduce its services to refugees, acknowledging the importance and sensitivity of the issue of refugees (see page 5).
Turning to legislative issues, the Council discussed the emergency section of the Basic Law, completing the second reading. The emergency section of the Basic Law specifies the powers of the president of the Palestinian Authority in declaring a state of emergency. Under the proposed law, when there is a threat to national security because of war, invasion, attack or natural disaster, the president may, by presidential decree, declare a state of emergency for a period of not more than 30 days. If there is a request by ten LC members or more, at the next Council session members may review the procedures and actions taken during the state of emergency. The Basic Law has not yet been sent to the Cabinet for comment.
The Palestinian General Petroleum Council law passed its first reading at the session. It designates the official PA agency that will regulate the import, marketing, and refining of petroleum, oil, natural gas and petrochemicals to meet Palestinian requirements. The petroleum council will be administered by a nine member board of directors, with a chair appointed by the PA president; four government representatives (from the Ministry of Industry, the Ministry of Trade and Economy, the Ministry of Finance, and the Palestinian Energy Authority) to be appointed by the Cabinet, with approval by the president: and four experts from the private sector (appointed by the Cabinet, with the confirmation of the president of the PA).
The Palestinian General Petroleum Council will issue licenses for the sale of petroleum products, recycling, market, distribute, regulate the processing of petrochemicals for industrial use, as well as determine prices.
LC secretary-general Rawhi Fattouh has denied press reports quoting him as saying that the next session of the Council, beginning in October, would be devoted to dealing with charges of official corruption, and that the Council would entertain a government no-confidence vote if none of those implicated were to be charged.
The council reviewed the dangerous political ramifications of this decision and the possibility of its effect on a strategic solution of the refugee problem, as stipulated in the UN General Assembly resolution 194. Specifically, the council reviewed the issue in light of the peace process which has been blocked due to the Israeli government's refusal to commit to signed agreements, and its attempts to invalidate final status negotiation issues, including the refugee problem. The council also reviewed the statement issued from the above-mentioned special session. The council demands the following:
1. That the United Nations takes responsibility for continuing UNRWA's work as the implementing bodies serving Palestinian refugees until a comprehensive and just solution for their problem is reached.
2. That the commisioner general of UNRWA cancels all services reductions without exception, and under no condition harm the living situation of the Palestinian refugees.
3. That UNRWA offers additional services to refugees which will accomodate the refugee population growth.
4. That the UN and the international community distinguish between donor countries to the PA and countries which donate to UNRWA, and to reject dictatorial policies of some executive countries in the UN assembly.
The council affirmed its continuing support for the popular committees in the refugee camps, and called for their support at all official levels. The council noted its appreciation of all official and popular activities in Palestine and abroad taken to confront the UNRWA decision, stressing the need to be prepared to face any future steps which might aim to harm and offend the rights of the Palestinian refugees.
The Legislative Council extends its thanks to those countries which helped in covering the UNRWA deficit for this year. It also would like to thank the donor countries who expressed their willingness in paying their share to the agency in order to allow it to carry on its duties.
The council noted the anniversary of the massacres of Sabra and Shatilla
which coincided with the convening of the session. Council members condemned
the series of massacres committed by consecutive Israeli governments against
the Palestinian people, and noted that the anniversary comes at a time
when the Israeli government is imposing a strict seige and implementing
an oppressive policy of collective punishment on the people. This is further
evidence of a persistent mentality which aims to expand and stabilize the
occupation, and oppress and exile the Palestinian people. The council saluted
the martyrs of Sabra and Shatilla and all martyrs of the Palestinian people,
and promised to continue the struggle to achieve Palestinian national and
legitimate rights, primarily the right of Palestinian refugees to
return, and the right to establish our independent state with Jerusalem
as its capital.
Poisoning a nation: the merchants
of death
by Muna Hamzeh-Muheisen
Palestinians who read the local papers can easily follow the trend.
Though the news items are often small and inconspicuous, they are there
for all to read, ranging from "family of four treated for food poisoning"
to "recent report indicates that 514,666 tons of spoiled food supplies
were confiscated from shops throughout the West Bank and Gaza Strip."
The list goes on and on. Food supplies not fit for human consumption
flood the local Palestinian market. In Bethlehem alone, five to seven tons
of spoiled foods are confiscated and destroyed by the Ministry of Supply
each month.
"We no longer know from which direction to take the blows," says
Hiam Isa, a 36-year-old homemaker who recently attended a lecture on the
detection of spoiled food supplies held at the Arab Women's Union in Bethlehem.
She lists the bad news that fills the papers: the dire state of the economy,
a worsening political situation, consecutive closures, reports of corruption
in the PNA, and on top of it all, "the unfit food we're consuming."
Indeed, unsuspecting consumers are buying everything from spoiled
frozen meat, frozen fish and canned vegetables to biscuits, soft drinks,
chocolates, flour and luncheon meat.
"It is impossible to count the amount of spoiled food supplies
in Bethlehem," says Jihad Jaraisheh, director of the Ministry of Supply
office in Bethlehem. "There is a considerable amount of smuggling, as well
as heartless merchants and ignorant consumers." Smuggling of spoiled food
from Israel to the Palestinian areas occurs on a regular basis.
"Destroying food supplies whose expiration dates are imminent
is quite an expensive process in Israel," explains Jaraisheh. "That's why
Israeli distributors contact Palestinian wholesalers and offer them these
food supplies at ridiculously low prices. These merchants are eager to
make a substantial profit, so they buy the merchandise and sell it to unsuspecting
shop owners who, in turn, sell it to the consumers."
These "merchants of death," as Jaraisheh likes to call them,
go through elaborate measures to change the expiration dates on the spoiled
foods. "Sometimes we confiscate canned goods that have three different
expiration dates stamped on them," she says. For chocolate bars, for example,
the wrapping itself will be changed and a new wrapping with a new date
added.
"I have seen chocolate bars wrapped five times," says an employee
of the Ministry of Supply office in Ramallah. "I am so horrified by the
things I see [on the job] that I no longer allow my family to buy anything
other than fresh meat and produce. I simply don't trust anything else."
Facing up to this alarming, nationwide problem has not been an
easy task for the ministry. In Bethlehem, for instance, the ministry has
only two inspectors covering the hundreds of food stores in the district's
three towns, 18 villages and three refugee camps.
"We need at least three more inspectors to cover the area, in
addition to a few more office staff members," says Jaraisheh. "For the
time being, though, we try to do the best we can and we work in cooperation
with the Ministry of Health and the general prosecutor's office."
But the Ministry of Health in Bethlehem also has a shortage
of inspectors, even though it is responsible for inspecting bakeries, restaurants,
meat shops and food factories. "We need 10 inspectors but we only have
three," says George Ghattas, director of the department of the environment
at the Ministry of Health.
"We have a public awareness campaign and I have given lectures
and appeared on local Bethlehem television stations to educate the public
about the dangers of bad food supplies, but this is not enough. We need
a larger staff to tackle the problem, it is so severe," adds Ghattas.
But the shortage of staff at both ministries is nothing compared
to the problem with the laws currently in use to punish merchants
who sell food supplies unfit for human consumption.
According to the Jordanian laws of 1960, which are still in effect
in the West Bank today, merchants can be fined JD5-50 (US$8-80) and sentenced
to between one month and one year in prison if they unknowingly sells spoiled
food supplies. The sentence is three months to one year in prison with
no change in the fine if the merchant knowingly makes the sale.
And while the law is too outdated to deal with a problem of such
large proportions, it seems that no merchant has yet received a sentence
worth mentioning. "The judges are passing sentences not exceeding one week
in prison and fining the merchants JD20," says Bethlehem prosecutor-general
Ahmed Toubasi. "I don't know why our judges are doing this, but they don't
seem to be dealing with the issue of bad food supplies as strictly as they
should."
Toubasi added that the Palestinian Legislative Council is currently
updating the existing laws but he was not sure when this new legislation
would be passed. "I just hope that the fines will be increased to JD100-5000
under the new law."
As for Jaraisheh, at the Ministry of Supply, she would like the laws to be "far stiffer." On the other hand, Ghattas at the Ministry of Health, would like tougher laws, with fines ranging from JD6,000-10,000. He also wants to see laws authorizing the health ministry to shut down restaurants, bakeries and food factories which do not comply with health safety requirements. "Under the old 1960 law, the ministry has no power to shut these places down."
Whatever laws are eventually passed by the Council, judges will
have to start passing stiffer sentences on the "merchants of death" if
the problem is to be eradicated. If they don't, the efforts of the Ministries
of Supply and Health will be pointless. A one-week prison sentence is barely
a slap on the hand for a crime against public health.