Vermonters for a Just Peace in Palestine/Israel
Elections Archive - October 2008
Elections Archive - October 2008
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Abbas, Olmert to Meet Friday The Jordan Times, MIFTAH 10/15/2008 Outgoing Israeli PRIME Minister Ehud Olmert is to meet Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas for a new round of peace talks this week, the Palestinian foreign minister said on Monday. " [Abbas] will meet Prime Minister Olmert on October 17 within the framework of their regular meetings," Riyad Malki said at a news conference in Ramallah. Olmert and Abbas have been meeting about twice a month since the peace process was relaunched at a US conference in November. Hounded by a series of corruption scandals, Olmert formally resigned on September 21 after the governing Kadima Party elected Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni as its new leader. Livni is trying to form a new coalition government so she can also take over as prime minister and avert early elections. Last month, Olmert said Israel must give up almost the entire occupied West Bank including east Jerusalem as the price for peace with the Palestinians. But he later said the comments, made in a newspaper interview, reflected his private view and were not binding for Livni. Israeli Official Says Livni Closer to PM Post Karin Laub, MIFTAH 10/15/2008 Prime Minister-designate Tzipi Livni’s Kadima Party initialed a partial agreement Monday on bringing the Labor Party into a new governing coalition, but several issues remained to be settled before a formal pact, a Labor official said. Livni also will need to attract support from smaller parties to form a new government to replace the one headed by former Kadima leader Ehud Olmert, who resigned as prime minister under the cloud of a corruption investigation. If Livni fails to put together a coalition in the coming weeks, early elections would have to be called, further disrupting Israel’s peace negotiations with the Palestinians. Lior Avnon, a spokeswoman for Labor, said her party’s leader, Defense Minister Ehud Barak, and Livni would try to produce a final agreement at a meeting Tuesday evening. She did not give any details on the unresolved issues. Labor would be Kadima’s key partner in any coalition and a deal would make it easier for Livni to bring in the ultra-Orthodox Shas Party and reach a majority in parliament. Fateh working out details of Cairo meeting with Hamas PNN, Palestine News Network 10/11/2008 Egypt -- After the Hamas party announced this week that it would sit down with Fateh later this month, President Abbas began "studying the possibility," according to Nabil Amr. Hamas official Mahmoud Zahar, said that an agreement was struck to hold a conference between the two parties on 25 October in Cairo in order to end the internal rift. A transitional government may be arranged during the conference which Abbas expects the Egyptians to play a major role in, as the Palestinian Ambassador to Egypt, Nabil Amr, is suggesting. Egyptian efforts have been intrinsic in bringing the conflicted parties to this point. The Presidential term is slated to end in January 2009, with the Legislative term not over until 2010. The latest conflict has been whether Abbas can stay in power for an extra year in order to hold simultaneous elections, or if the Legislative term could be cut short. Egypt’s Carrot, Stick for Hamas Mahmoud Ali, MIFTAH 10/11/2008 Egypt has presented Hamas with a package proposal to solve the long-running Palestinian inter-factional crisis, threatening sanctions for whichever faction foiling the initiative. " The Egyptian paper calls for the resignation of the Gaza-based government of Ismail Haniyeh and the Salam Fayyad cabinet in the West Bank," a well-placed Egyptian source told IslamOnline. net. " It also calls for forming a government of independents or technocrats or a national unity government acceptable to Fatah, Hamas and other factions," he added. " The mission of the new government will be ending the months-long siege on Gaza Strip, preparing for legislative and presidential elections, restructuring security agencies and reforming the Palestine Liberation Organization. " The Egyptian paper, seen by IOL, was presented to a high-level Hamas delegation during a meeting with Egyptian intelligence chief Omar Suleiman. Spokesperson: Hamas fully cooperative at Cairo talks Ma’an News Agency 10/10/2008 Gaza – Ma’an – A Hamas spokesperson affirmed on Friday the necessity of discussing all elements of the Palestinian national dialogue simultaneously at talks in Cairo next month. Spokesman Fawzi Barhum told Ma’an that the movement had offered “everything the Egyptians asked for,” saying that it is Fatah’s turn to make requests or demands for changes. In the interview, Barhum spoke on Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas’s term, saying a “specialized committee” ought to discuss the issue during the Egyptian-sponsored talks. “The issues related to the elections should be studied in a legal and constitutional framework, with the basic law and Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC) consulted at all times,” he said. On the nature of a future unity government, Barhum added that the movement’s approval of any consensus should be “handled on national and professional bases that. . . Palestinian PM’s advisor: failure of Cairo dialogue unaccepted Rami Almeghari & Agencies, International Middle East Media Center News 10/8/2008 Advisor of Palestinian Prime Minister of Hamas, Mr. Ahmad Yousef, said on Wednesday that failure of underway Cairo dialogue can not be accepted by the Palestinian people. Yousef maintained in a statement, emailed to press, that if Egyptian mediators will be able to reach a common ground among the rival Palestinian factions, mainly between Hamas and Fatah, ’we will thus overcome a major obstacle in the path of national unity’ Yousef also believed that the main criterions for a successful dialogue for the ruling Hamas party are five major ones; forming a national unity government, returning the situation back prior to June14, 2007, dealing with all division-related problems, holding presidential and parliamentary elections and reconstructing the Palestinian security services on professional and national basis. " such an internal fighting with all its political and security dimensions. . . Cairo hosts Hamas men to discuss Fatah feud Agence France Presse - AFP, Daily Star 10/9/2008 CAIRO: Senior Hamas officials met Egyptian intelligence chief Omar Suleiman in Cairo on Wednesday to discuss an Egyptian proposal for a Palestinian unity government, Egypt’s official Middle East News Agency reported. Suleiman’s talks with the Islamist Hamas came after a string of meetings with a dozen Palestinian factions, including the Fatah movement of President Mahmoud Abbas, over the past two months to form a national unity government. The Egyptian proposal includes a transitional government made up of ministers acceptable to all factions and a restructuring of Palestinian security forces with Arab oversight. The proposal also provides for new parliamentary and presidential elections, after Hamas has said it will not recognize the Palestinian Authority president after his mandate ends in January. The head of Fatah’s parliamentary bloc said on Tuesday that his movement supported. . . Hamas gives nod to Egyptian proposal for Palestinian reconciliation The Associated Press, Ha’aretz 10/8/2008 Hamas officials in Cairo signaled their willingness on Wednesday to discuss conflicting Palestinian agendas for new elections, following a meeting with Egypt’s intelligence head meant to promote reconciliation among feuding Palestinian factions. The high level Hamas delegation, including members from Syria and Gaza, met with Egyptian intelligence chief Omar Suleiman to discuss Egyptian proposals to resolve the split between them and Fatah, especially over the issue of the timing of new elections. "We in Hamas accept that elections are on the table for discussion," said Khalil al-Haya, Gaza-based Hamas member, who still made it clear that Hamas opposes Fatah’s call for simultaneous presidential and legislative elections. Fatah and Hamas have been at odds since the latter’s violent takeover of the Gaza Strip in June 2007. Fatah’s spokesperson: Hamas’ views over presidency are baseless International Middle East Media Center News 10/7/2008 Fatah’s spokesman in the West Bank, Fahmi aL-Za’areer, stated on Tuesday that Hamas’ views on the term in office of Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas are baseless from a constitutional and legal perspectives. In a statement received by media outlets, Al-Za’areer said that Palestinian basic law stipulates that the Palestinian president’s term is terminated with the termination of the Palestinian legislative council, adding that Hamas’s parliamentary bloc’s position is useless. He confirmed that despite Hamas’ view that Abbas’s term in office will end officially by January 8,2009, the president will continue to assume his responsibilities as stated in Palestinian law. He also expressed his party’s readiness for holding general elections immediately, in a bid to end Palestinian political turmoil currently underway. Hamas: ’Jewish Lobby’ in U.S. to blame for global financial crisis News Agencies and Haaretz Service, Ha’aretz 10/8/2008 The Palestinian militant group Hamas on Tuesday accused a "Jewish Lobby" in the United States of fomenting the global financial crisis. The crisis was the result of "bad administrative and financial management and a bad banking system put into place and controlled by the Jewish lobby," Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhum said in a statement. Barhum said that despite approving a bailout plan of $700 billion dollars, the U. S. government was ignoring the role of "the Jewish lobby that put the U. S. banking and financial sector into place. " This lobby, said Barhum, "controls the U. S. elections and defines the foreign policy of any new administration in a manner that allows it to retain control of the American government and economy. "The Anti-Defamation League reported last week a major upsurge in the number of anti-Semitic postings. . . IDF officer: Major Fatah assault on Hamas close Yaakov Katz, Jerusalem Post 10/5/2008 There are signs that Fatah is preparing to launch a major operation against Hamas in the West Bank in the coming weeks ahead of expected turmoil when Mahmoud Abbas’s term as PA president ends in January, a top IDF officer has told The Jerusalem Post. Abbas’s presidential term is scheduled to end on January 9, and the IDF Central Command is preparing for the possibility that Hamas will try to take advantage of political instability in Ramallah to take over West Bank towns and cities. In the absence of elections or a compromise with Hamas, according to the Palestinian Authority constitution, Abbas will be replaced by the speaker of the Palestinian Legislative Council, Abdel Aziz Dweik, a member of Hamas who has been in an Israeli prison since August 2006. The senior IDF officer said there was evidence that Fatah forces were planning a widespread West Bank operation. . . Hamas says no to government of technocrats Palestine News Network 10/1/2008 PNN - Palestinian diplomatic sources said today that the Hamas party will reject the proposal to form a professional government, that of technocrats, to handle the situation until legislative and presidential elections are held. The impending Hamas rejection comes in response to a proposal made by some Palestinian parties during the pre-national dialogue factional consultations held in Cairo throughout September. The Hamas position is reported today as being geared toward a "national consensus government in order to ensure transparent and fair elections" such as those on 25 January 2006 in which the party won. A government of technocrats is seen as weak and unable to standup to the Israeli and American pressures that could interfere in the elections.  Articles
LinksAdalah Adalah (Justice in Arabic) is the first non-profit, non-sectarian Palestinian-run legal center in Israel. The main goal of Adalah’s work is to achieve equal rights and minority rights protections for Palestinian citizens of Israel. Addameer Prisoners’ Support and Human Rights Organization: Addameer (conscience) is a Palestinian non-governmental, civil institution which focuses on human rights issues. Supports Palestinian prisoners, advocates for rights of political prisoners, works to end torture. Amnesty International Amnesty International (AI) is a worldwide movement of people who campaign for internationally recognized human rights. AI’s vision is of a world in which every person enjoys all of the human rights enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other international human rights standards. Amnesty International USA Amnesty International (AI) is a worldwide movement of people who campaign for internationally recognized human rights. AI’s vision is of a world in which every person enjoys all of the human rights enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other international human rights standards. Arab Association for Human Rights - HRA The HRA was founded in 1988 to promote and protect the political, civil, economic, and cultural rights of the Palestinian Arab minority in Israel and to further the domestic implementation of international human rights principles. It is an independent non-governmental organisation registered in Israel. Association for Civil Rights in Israel - ACRI In Hebrew - The Association for Civil Rights in Israel (ACRI) was founded in 1972 as a non-political and independent body, with the goal of protecting human and civil rights in Israel and in the territories under Israeli control. B’tselem The Israeli Information Centre for Human Rights in the Occupied Territories Boycott Israeli Medical Association UK: The Medical Committee for Boycott of the Israeli Medical Association (IMA) will document the systematic torture of Palestinian people by agents of Israel. It will publicise the practice in order to bring world opinion to bear on Israel. And it will challenge the Israeli Medical Association which has repeatedly failed to issue advice to doctors who are involved in any way with torture. Human Rights Watch Human Rights Watch is an independent, nongovernmental organization, supported by contributions from private individuals and foundations worldwide. Human Rights Watch is dedicated to protecting the human rights of people around the world. Palestinian Centre for Human Rights The Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR) is an independent legal body based in Gaza City dedicated to protecting human rights, promoting the rule of law, and upholding democratic principles in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. Palestinian Prisoners Society The Palestinian Prisoner Society is a social and human institution and its members are prisoners inside prisons and released prisoners. Membership is open to every Palestinian prisoner inside and outside prisons who meets the conditions of membership. Physicians for Human Rights - Israel Physicians for Human Rights - Israel (PHR-Israel) was established in 1988 as a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization, dedicated to promoting and protecting the medical human rights of all residents of Israel and the Occupied Territories. Public Committee Against Torture in Israel - PCATI An independent human rights organization founded that monitors the implementation conditions in detention centers and continues the struggle against the use of torture in interrogation in Israel and the Palestinian Authority. United Nations Information System on the Question of Palestine The main collection contains the texts of current and historical United Nations material concerning the question of Palestine and other issues related to the Middle East situation and the search for peace. World Organisation Against Torture OMCT is today the largest international coalition of NGOs fighting against torture,summary executions, forced disappearances and all other forms of cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment in order to preserve Human Rights. It has at its disposal a network, SOS Torture, consisting of some 240 non-governmental organisations which act as sources of information.
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