Dividing East Jerusalem

by: Muhammed ‘Abed Rabbo

East Jerusalem will be divided into nine administrative districts under the direct supervision of Israeli mayor Ehud Olmert, under a new plan currently under consideration by Israeli officials. Local committees would be in charge of the affairs of the Palestinian neighborhoods in the city, a proposal which recalls a strategy put forward and later abandoned by long-time Israeli mayor of Jerusalem Teddy Kollek.

Four such committees have already been established in neighborhoods such as 'Issawiya, Beit Hanina, Jabal al-Mukaber and a-Tor. Work in these four committees is supervised by local officials liaise between the committee and the West Jerusalem municipality. Apparently, the only thing stopping Israeli officials from extending the council model to other Palestinian neighborhoods is money “ an estimated NIS10 million is required for the establishment, which the West Jerusalem municipality finds difficult to raise.

The duties of the four committees already in place is basically limited to following up on a few services, and supervising municipality-established cultural and entertainment centers called “Mitnazim.” These Mitnazim are regarded with suspicion by Palestinian officials in East Jerusalem; Legislative Council member for Jerusalem Hatem 'Abdel Qader termed them another part of the plan to Judaize Arab Jerusalem. He pointed to the takeover of the East Jerusalem health sector as another example; there is now a network of more than 30 health centers run by the Israeli Health Fund.

Palestinian officials are also worried about Israeli control over East Jerusalem education, with increasing signs that the municipality plans to impose an Israeli, Hebrew-language curriculum on Arab schools in the city. According to the head of the General Union for Palestinian Teachers, Mohammed Sowanna, the Israeli municipality currently supervises 34 of 101 schools, most of the other schools being private or run by the United Nations. And apparently, financial incentives are responsible for more and more Palestinian teachers from private schools leaving their jobs to work for Israeli government schools.

If the plan to divide Jerusalem into nine administrative divisions is aimed at increasing Israeli control over the occupied eastern part of the city, then the recently publicized plan to expand the municipal boundaries to the west complements this objective by giving the Israeli municipality jurisdiction over a wide area of “Greater Jerusalem” which ultimately will cover 10-15 percent of the area of the West Bank.

Securing Israeli control over Arab East Jerusalem has been prioritized by the formation of a government committee called the Ministerial Committee for Jerusalem Affairs. Committee members include the Israeli interior minister, minister for internal security, the foreign minister and defense minister in addition to West Jerusalem municipal officials, including Likud hard-liner, mayor Ehud Olmert. This ministerial committee represents a right-wing coalition which is the most extreme in the history of the Jewish state.

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by: Hanna Amira

It's as if Washington's decision to defer the idea of a 13.1 percent redeployment to direct negotiations between the Palestinians and Israelis was something new. As if the two sides have never talked directly before. Once again, the US administration's so-called honest and neutral mediation is exposed.

This is not the first time we've been stung by the US mediation. The history of this mediation is one of deceit and broken promises from the beginning of the negotiations in Madrid until the present. But what Washington has done this time has been even more painful to those who were betting on the US and who had agreed to reduce the scope of negotiations in hopes that it would lead to the Americans placing at least some pressure on the Israelis, who continue to reject the American proposals.

But nothing like this has happened. The Palestinian agreement only reinforced concepts which have been rejected and which in any case have to be negotiated, according to the Americans. The Palestinians waited patiently for the great god America to pressure Israel, but this didn't happen. And the story does not stop there...because now, whoever agreed to the American ideas is now being asked to negotiate with theIsraelis over their amendments to these ideas. And just in case an agreement is not reached, then the ball is back in the US court and the Americans will develop more new ideas which are more in line with the Israeli interpretation. And so continues the cycle of American deceit and Israeli blackmail.

As clarified by Israeli defense minister Yitzhak Mordechai who announced that, the Israelis now want “negotiations according to the Hebron style.” This means that, if the Palestinians agree, selected parts of the American ideas will be made into separate points and new negotiating subcommittees will be created in order to negotiate each detail on its own, as a separate issue. For example, a division of Israeli redeployment requires the formation of a special committee to negotiate the definition of the new Zone “D”...in addition to committees for security coordination, fighting terrorism, prohibiting incitement, and reviewing the proposal for a third redeployment. The Israelis are also demanding the establishment of a committee to oversee the amendment of the Palestinian National Charter, and reactivating old committees such as the sea port, airport, industrial zone, and safe passage committees, all in order to waste time and cause delay.

As for the issues of concern to Palestinians, such as settlement construction, settlement expansion, and the demolition of Palestinian homes, these are all, from Israel's point of view, less important, and so do not need the establishment of a committee to deal with them.

Clearly, negotiating via the Hebron model with its numerous committees, is aimed at reworking the American ideas, breaking them down into tiny, isolated topics, each one entailing a great many conditions and restrictions. The area scheduled for redeployment “ and this is the most important point “ has been cut from 13.1 percent to tiny shrunken bits of land, with redeployment to be implemented only if the Palestinians stick to the commitments determined for them by the aforementioned committees.

Supported by the United States, Israel has used this multi-committee strategy many times since the start of the current negotiating process, and the only outcome has been the disintegration of the Palestinian position and diversion from the core issue “ that is, ending the occupation and securing an Israeli withdrawal from all Palestinian occupied territories. And now again, we enter the tunnel of committees and the negotiation over ideas, all of which is intended to replace the frame of reference of the peace process “ land for peace and the implementation for Security Council Resolutions 242 and 338. This will not lead to the fulfillment of Palestinian aspirations, but rather will only create more obstacles in the path of peace.

Getting out of this current crisis and breaking through the net which Washington and Tel Aviv are tightening around the Palestinian position, will not be achieved through a continuation of this current process of “the American ideas and negotiating subcommittees”. This road led to a dead end for Palestinians long ago and nothing remains down that way except more conditions and demands for more concessions.

Amending the current negotiating track will require, to begin with, a clear Palestinian position which is based on the recognition that nothing will ever come of the Netanyahu government and any settlement proposed by this government will not provide the foundation for the Palestinian people to attain their goals and their independence. The date for final status negotiations and the end of the transitional period is fast approaching, and here we are in the same place. Believing that we can deal with the American ideas and their obligations on one hand and make progress towards the declaration of a Palestinian state in May 1999 on the other is a risky strategy and continuing down this road is a waste of time.

We have tried the option of the American ideas, giving them a chance and leaving the door open to the unique role of the US. In response, the convening of an Arab summit was put off, activating the European role was postponed, and no demands were made for Israel to implement all its obligations. In addition, popular reaction to Israeli settlement and the tone of criticism by international organizations was kept at a minimum “ the Palestinians contented themselves with a non-binding statement in the name of the head of the Security Council on Israel's decision to expand the boundaries of Jerusalem, instead of pressuring for a resolution condemning Israel's expansionist policy. All this reinforced the unique role of the US, which is defined by what the Israeli government agrees to. This is confirmed by the US administration's latest decision regarding “direct negotiations between the two concerned parties.”

Since things have reached this point, reevaluating the path which led to this dead end and breaking free from its chains has become an urgent priority which cannot be put off any longer. This step will pave the way for the return of all the options which have been bypassed or postponed under the slogan of accepting the American ideas!

We have tried to stick to the path of the American ideas; we do not have to try Netanyahu's ways of implementing these ideas.

Hanna Amira is a member of the Palestinian People's Party politburo and is also a member of the Palestine National Council. Trans. by J. Baker.

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by: Ghassan Khatib

The last two weeks have seen dramatic developments which were the climax of a long build-up of tension between the Legislative Council and the Palestinian executive authority led by President Arafat. This healthy competition between the two branches of government became open conflict in July of last year, when the Council widened its criticism of the executive authority to include the mismanagement, poor performance and sometimes corruption among Cabinet ministers. The public was following events with interest, and there was widespread admiration for the courageous stand of Council members, who raised issues that are usually considered untouchable by parliaments in most of the countries in the region.

The last month was one of strong pressure from the Council for a change of government, which was the conclusion drawn in last year's corruption report. The Council's demand was supported by public sentiment, as evidenced consistently in public opinion polls (on average over the past year and a half, 83 percent of those surveyed by JMCC believed corruption to be a problem in the Authority). And as a result of that pressure, the president finally promised a Cabinet reshuffle. This was then postponed three times and finally, on August 5, President Arafat stood before the Council, made a speech, and then said that, concerning the Cabinet reshuffle, “the entire government will remain, however, we will be adding the following names...”

This non-shuffle came as a disappointing surprise to Council members, ministers and the public at large. The Council was disappointed to find they had completely lost the battle they thought they had won. The ministers had wanted a change in the cabinet which would improve its public credibility, each thinking of course that since they themselves were not the problem, any change would not affect them. The public “ the biggest loser in all this “ was really disappointed, if one judges by public opinion poll results and by the resignation of two credible cabinet members and the declining of a government position by another Council member.

The most significant thing about the recent events is that the president managed to have his cake and eat it too. He came up with a “new” cabinet that managed to get a vote of approval from the same Council which has been struggling for the last year to replace this same cabinet whom the Council had accused of corruption.

All this only confirms the pessimistic analysis of the possible future value of this Council, the limitations of which are due to its huge Fateh majority and to the one-party political system now developing in Palestine, which has been further consolidated by this recent reshuffle. Howe, the main danger posed by the Council's approval of the new Cabinet is that it will be extremely difficult, if not impossible from now on, for the Council to gain the public's support in any future confrontation with the executive authority. And so, by this vote, the PLC has to a great extent undermined itself, its popularity and its present and future credibility.

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Paying Up

The Israeli justice ministry has presented a list to the Palestinian Authority of 20 businessmen who the Israelis say owe Israeli suppliers “tens of millions of shekels.” Israeli justice minister Tzahi Hanegbi has warned that if the debts are not paid, the Palestinians would not be allowed inside the country. This is the first implementation of Israel's decision to prevent West Bank and Gazan debtors from entering Israel (Ha'aretz).

March For Education

Up to 100 international and Palestinian students are scheduled to march to the Israeli checkpoint at a-Ram on August 17 to protest Israel's refusal to allow Gaza students to study in the West Bank. The march is part of a campaign organized by the Gaza Students Campaign for Academic Freedom (GSC) which will culminate in an international day of action on November 19, 1998. The peaceful march will take place at 12:00 noon. There are approximately 600 Gaza students who are currently living “illegally” in the West Bank who are denied permits by the Israeli administration to reside or study in the West Bank. According to the Gaza Center for Law and Rights, there are 1,300 students from Gaza who are not allowed to resume their studies in West Bank universities (al-Ayyam, GSC).

Losing Faith

A public opinion poll conducted by the Palestinian Center for Studies and Research in Nablus has shown a six percent decrease in support for military operations among Palestinians in the West Bank (from 50 percent in the last poll to 44 percent). Although the majority of Palestinians still seem to support the peace process (68 percent), less now believe that a Palestinian state will actually be established. Fifty-six percent of respondents in Nablus believe there is corruption in PA institutions and 83 percent believe there is favoritism in Palestinian society (al-Quds).

Suicides in Palestine

According to Dr. Sameer Qouta from the Gaza Community Mental Health Project, there are approximately 10-20 suicide attempts and two to five deaths every month in the Palestinian territories (al-Risala).

Angering the Vatican

A Roman Catholic Church source said that Israel angered the Vatican when it intervened in the appointment of a bishop for a Roman Catholic congregation in the Galilee. According to the source, Israeli prime minister Binyamin Netanyahu tried to ensure the appointment Father Emil Shoufani over Mon. Boutros Mu'allem who was appointed by the church. Netanyahu claims that Mu'allem is a strong supporter of the Palestinian cause and has close relations with PLO member Farouq Qaddoumi (al-Quds).

Shot and Wounded

An unidentified Palestinian from Anata near Jerusalem was shot and seriously wounded on August 8 by Israeli occupation soldiers at the a-Ram checkpoint north of Jerusalem. The wounded man was taken to Hadassah Hospital for treatment (al-Hayat al-Jadida).

2000 In Trouble

Mayor of Nazareth Ramez Jarayseh recently criticized the Israeli government for not honoring its commitments towards the Nazareth municipality, stressing that the Israeli Housing and Construction Ministry has decided to designate Nazareth as “Class B” while the neighboring Jewish Nazareth Elite is “Class A”. Jarayseh maintained that, due to a deficit in the budget, the municipality is not expected to finish more than 10 projects under construction as part of Nazareth 2000. Officials have expressed fear that the celebrations may not be held as scheduled and that the celebrations in Nazareth and Bethlehem will most likely not be held at the same time due to a halt in the peace process and lack of coordination between Israel and the Palestinians (al-Quds).

Small Victory

According to advocate Muna Rishmawi of the International Commission of Jurists in Geneva, the Arab states have succeeded in adding a paragraph in the basic law of the International Court for War Crimes in which it considers that occupiers who directly or indirectly force people to move from their land is considered a war crime. The paragraph denounces Israeli policies aimed at forcing Palestinians from their land and considers settlement a war crime (WAFA).

Heat Wave

According to meteorologists in the country, the current heat wave is the hottest in 34 years. Temperatures have reached as high as seven degrees above their annual average. On August 9 temperatures in Jerusalem reached 39 degrees Celsius with 40 percent humidity. Forty-five year-old Waleed Qawasmeh died from heat stroke after being in a jail cell in Jericho for 10 days (Ha'aretz).

Thanks But No Thanks

Israeli prime minister Binyamin Netanyahu has turned down an invitation to a fifth anniversary commemoration of the Oslo Accords in Norway at the end of the month. According to one of the prime minister's aides, Netanyahu is not attending because the “work of Oslo is not completed here.” Both Palestinian president Yasser Arafat and former Israeli prime minister Shimon Peres are planning to attend the event (Ha'aretz).

Ring Around Jerusalem

The Mapping Department of the Arab Studies Society in Jerusalem has stated that Israel ratified on August 9 a project to open “Road no. 16” which entails the confiscation of 53 dunams from Palestinian lands in Mount Scopus and the Mount of Olives in East Jerusalem. The road is to connect between the settlements of Ramot Eshkol and Ma'aleh Adumim (al-Ayyam).

Punished Policeman

On August 9, an Israeli military court sentenced Palestinian policeman Mahmoud Hamayal, 24, to eight months in prison on charges of throwing stones at Israeli soldiers. Hamayel, who was arrested last April in Jenin, is accused of participating with Palestinian demonstrators during marches marking Land Day last March. The judge justified such a severe sentence by saying that the act is a very serious one since Israel expects Palestinian policemen to disperse such marches and not participate in them (al-Quds).

Prison Statistics

Approximately 3,228 Palestinian political prisoners are serving sentences in Israeli prisons not including administrative detainees, according to Israeli official sources. From this number, 537 are serving sentences of seven to 10 years; 549 are serving from 10 to 15 years; 351 are serving from 15 to 20 years and nearly 1,400 Palestinian prisoners are serving life sentences (Ha'aretz).

University Strike

Hebron University employees went on a partial strike on August 10 after not getting paid for the past three months (al-Quds).

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While Israeli troops have redeployed to the edge of the Gaza Strip and from all or part of seven West Bank cities, the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territory is by no means finished. The JMCC seeks to keep a record of acts of Israeli violence (both military and civilian), and collective punishment. The following figures are for the week August 6 to 12 and were compiled from the Palestinian press and JMCC sources. They should not be considered a complete list of the ongoing Israeli violations of human rights of Palestinians.

CONFISCATED over 50 dunams of land in Jerusalem for the opening of a bypass road.

UPROOTED 100 olive trees in Sourif near Hebron by Israeli authorities.