Vermonters for a Just Peace in Palestine/Israel
Elections Archive - May 2009
Elections Archive - May 2009
| Home | Vermonters for a Just Peace in Palestine/Israel Elections Archive - May 2009 |
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Gaza convoy joined by 12 European parliamentarians Ma’an News Agency 5/10/2009 - Gaza - Ma’an - Twelve European parliamentarians have joined the "Hope" aid convoy to Gaza, which leftthe Italian port of Genoa last Sunday, said Hamdi Sha’ath, who heads the Palestinian governmental committee in charge of hosting delegations, on Saturday. Sha’ath said in a statement released by the committee’s information office that the convoy would include 120 foreign solidarity activists headed by member of Italian Senate Fernando Rossi. Parliamentarians from Britain, Italy, Greece, Scotland, and Switzerland have also joined the aid convoy, which is expected to arrive at Alexandria port in Egypt by mid-May, before heading to Gaza by land. According to Sha’ath, the convoy includes 15 ambulances, 12 vehicles for people with special needs, and 13 other vehicles. The convoy will also bring 50 copies of special computer software to help the blind, as well as electric wheelchairs. PA: Explosives discovered at Qalqiliya homes and mosques Ma’an News Agency 5/10/2009 - Bethlehem - Ma’an - Quantities of homemade explosives were found in homes and mosques in Qalqiliya, a city in the northern West Bank, on Saturday, according to Palestinian Authority security services spokesperson Adnan Dmeiri. Dmeiri said at a news conference held at the PA Information Ministry on Sunday that the explosives were primitive, which increases the danger to residents, as "they could explode at any moment, endangering citizens. " He also insisted that the Palestinian Authority will not allow manufacturing and storing of explosives in residential neighborhoods, whatever the justification, because it endangers residents’ lives. Dmeiri did not name any particular faction thought to be responsible for storing the explosives, however, he highlighted that statements were found near the explosives bearing the signature of Hamas’ militant wing, the Al-Qassam Brigades. Abbas to ask Fayyad to form a new transitional government International Middle East Media Center 7 May 2009 - Palestinian President, Mahmoud Abbas, stated the he intends to ask Dr. Salaam Fayyad, to form a new transitional government. The President added that he does not believe that reassigning Fayyad would negatively affect internal Palestinian unity talks, especially Hamas-Fateh talks. Mash’al: Outside intervention threatens unity Ma’an News Agency 5/7/2009 - Gaza - Ma’an - Success of conciliation talks rests on three points, Hamas’ leader in exile Khalid Mash’al told videoconference participants in Gaza City on Thursday. The videoconference was organized by the Gazan center for Research, Study and Training (Ibda’a) and gave Mash’al a platform to explain his stance on conciliation to a group of citizens. The issue of the new transitional government, the security services and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) are the central issued, Mash’al confirmed, but working out these issues will require some serious efforts to eliminating "external conditions," he said. He suggested the remaining "dialogue issues" be dealt with as a package. Sides must realize that division came about when external factors staged a coup that undermined the elected government, he said. Abbas plans new government that will exclude Hamas Daily Star 7 May 2009 - Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas plans to ask his prime minister within the coming week to form a new government without the Gaza Strip’s Hamas rulers, signaling a breakdown in unity talks with the Islamic group. Months of power-sharing talks between Abbas’ Fatah movement and Hamas have gone nowhere.  Articles
The complicit silence continues The Palestine Telegraph Dr. Haidar Eid, The Palestine Telegraph 5/1/2009 - Millions of people looked forward to Barack Obama’s presidency with a sense of pride and hope. But Obama’s first 100 days have raised critical questions about the limits of what we can expect from a Democrat in the White House--and what it will take to get the change we want., What do you think of Obama’s 100 days? And what does the left need to do now to move the struggle forward? We asked a group of writers and activists for their answers to these questions. This commentary is from Haidar Eid, a professor, a resident of Gaza City, and a leading activist in the boycott, divestment and sanctions movement against Israel’s apartheid., I NEVER had high expectations for Barack Obama, because he still represents the Democratic Party, which is a part of the American establishment. Obama’s victory in the presidential elections did not produce a change in the nature of American imperialism., I think the difference between the Democrats and Republicans in the U.S. is similar to the difference between Likud and the Labor Party in Palestine., I thought, even prior to his taking office, that Obama’s role would be to bring about a new fiction--or rather renew the of fiction--of a two-state solution in Palestine-Israel. That is, to breathe new life into the idea that one state for Jews and another state for Palestinians will bring peace to the region. Understanding Lebanon’s June Elections Palestine Chronicle 30 Apr 2009 - By Rannie Amiri ".. it is in the interest of Lebanon and its stability that there is understanding and partnership among Lebanese in running their country’s affairs." -- Hezbollah leader Sayyid Hassan Nasrallah, on Lebanon’s upcoming parliamentary elections. "We will not take part in the government if the [Hezbollah-led] March 8 Alliance wins the elections .." -- Parliamentary majority leader Saad Hariri. In the Middle East, there are "elections" and there are elections. The majority, when they do occur, invariably fall under the first category. There are a few however, that fall under the second - transparent, legitimate, meaningful contests that have both domestic and regional implications. One of the most notable took place in January 2006 when Hamas swept Palestinian parliamentary polls, giving them the majority in the Palestine National Council and the ability to form a government. Monitored by the Carter Center, former President Jimmy Carter called them "open, honest, and fair contests." The reaction they engendered in the U.S., Israel and Egypt - and the subsequent punishment meted out on the electorate - needs little elaboration. This June, two Middle East countries will be holding elections of consequence a mere five days apart; Lebanon on June 7 and Iran on June 12. Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s faceoff against reformist candidates Mir-Hossein Mousavi and Mahdi Karroubi was recently discussed. Due to the Lebanon’s complex, sectarian-based political framework, understanding the mechanics and dynamics behind its upcoming parliamentary vote is more complicated. March 8 vs. March 14 In Lebanon today... Links
Mossawa - The Advocacy Center for Arab Citizens of Israel Mossawa, The Advocacy Center for Arab Citizens in Israel, was established in October of 1997 as a Non Governmental Organization. Mossawa works to promote equality for ArabPalestinians within the borders of Israel. Palestinian Authority Ministry of Health This website requires Internet Explorer. Palestinian Authority Ministry of Information General information from the PA Palestinian Information Center Hamas news site Palestinian National Initiative - Al Mubadara The main objective of the Initiative is the realization of Palestinian national rights and of a durable, just peace. Both of these objectives can be best achieved at this juncture through the establishment of a national emergency leadership, the immediate implementation of democratic elections at all levels of the political system, and reform of political, administrative, and other institutional structures in order to meet the needs of the Palestinian people. PLO Negotiations Affairs Department Documents, maps, fact sheets and reports related to the occupation.
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