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Vermonters for a Just Peace in Palestine/Israel News Archives - April 2007 Select News by subject: Conflict • Diplomacy • Government • Human Rights • Economy • People • International |
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Israeli army arrests 17 Palestinians across the West Bank Ma’an News Agency 4/30/2007 Bethlehem - Ma’an - The Israeli forces arrested 17 Palestinians on Monday at dawn from various areas in the occupied West Bank, claiming that they are wanted by the Israeli authorities. Israeli sources said that the arrests took place in the regions of Nablus, Ramallah, Bethlehem and Tulkarem. They said that the arrested Palestinians are members of Hamas, Fatah and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP). The Israeli sources also reported that the Israeli army found an explosive device in Nablus city while carrying out a "security activity." They said the explosive device was detonated and controlled with no casualties. The Israeli forces arrested 8 Palestinians in a comprehensive military operation in different regions of the West Bank city of Nablus. more.. Israeli troops invade city of Tulkarem Ma’an News Agency 4/30/2007 Tulkarem – Ma’an - Israeli military forces have invaded the refugee camp and other areas in the city of Tulkarem in the northern West Bank on Monday at dawn. Troops stormed several homes of Al-Aqsa Brigades’ activists and arrested a young man. Ma’an’s correspondent reported that the Israeli forces arrested Samer Jihad Saleh, 22, from Tulkarem city, after entering and searching his home. Troops also forcibly entered the home of Mohamed Zaki Kozah, an activist of the Al-Aqsa Brigades in Tulkarem refugee camp. The Israeli troops found that the wanted man was not at home, and attacked his family, devastating the house and destroying their belongings. The Israeli soldiers told the wanted man’s father that "he [Mohamed Kozah] has to give up himself to them, or he will face death. more.. Settlers vandalize Islamic holy places in Hebron in preparation for Jewish festival Ma’an News Agency 4/30/2007 Hebron - Ma’an – A group of Israelis settlers vandalized the Awqaf (religious sanctities) directorate and Al-Aqtab Mosque in Hebron city centre, in the presence of the Israeli army, on Monday. The doors were broken and the contents of the building were thrown outside. The head of the supreme counsel for legitimate court, Dr. Sheikh al-Tamimi, condemned the assault. He warned that it is a dangerous act, especially after Awqaf officials received threats that several important documents may be abused in the Jewish festival of Lag Ba’omer, in which items are burnt. This year the Lag Ba’omer festival is to take place on the 6th of May. Al-Tamimi said that the attack on the two closed buildings, which have been closed for five years by the Israeli forces, is one of a series of assaults by Israelis in the centre of Hebron. more.. Army invades Tulkarem city and surrounds a house of Palestinian activist Ghassan Bannoura - IMEMC News, International Middle East Media Center 4/30/2007 An Israeli army force invaded the northern West Bank city of Tulkarem surrounded the house of a Palestinian activist in an attmpet to kidnap him on Monday morning. Mohamed Zaki, said to be Aqsa brigades of Fatah activist, was not at his home during the Israeli attack, after ransacking and damaging the house of Zaki the army left the city. [end] Settlers attack a mosque and Islamic Waqf offices in Hebron city Ghassan Bannoura - IMEMC & Agencies, International Middle East Media Center 4/30/2007 A group of illegal Israeli settlers attacked and ransacked Al Aqtab mosque and the nearby Islamic Waqf offices in downtown Hebron city located in the southern part of the West Bank on Monday. [end] Brigades fire at Kerem Shalom, Ashkelon and Nahal Oz Ma’an News Agency 4/30/2007 Gaza - Ma’an - The An-Nasser Salah Addin brigades, the military wing of the Popular Resistance Committees (PRC), have claimed responsibility for launching two homemade projectiles in the direction of the Kerem Abu Salem/ Kerem Shalom border post on Monday morning. The brigades said in a statement for Ma’an that the launching was photographed and will be distributed to the media. They explained that the operation was in response to "Israeli crimes." While on Sunday evening, the Al-Mujahidin brigades, an armed group affiliated to the Fatah movement, claimed responsibility for launching one homemade projectile at the southern Israeli city of Ashkelon in addition to three more projectiles at Nahal Oz, close to the border with the Gaza Strip. more.. Army of Al-Buraq attack Israeli workers near separation wall Ma’an News Agency 4/30/2007 Bethlehem – Ma’an – The Fatah-affiliated, Palestinian Army of Al-Buraq, claimed on Sunday evening that their fighters attacked a group of Israeli workers at the separation wall near the Israeli settlement of Ma’ale Adummim, in the southern West Bank. The group said in a statement that the attack hit the Israeli workers directly; causing injuries amongst them. more.. Abu Ali Mustafa Brigades frustrate an infiltration attempt into Gaza by Israeli Special Forces Ma’an News Agency 4/30/2007 Gaza - Ma’an - One of the groups of the Abu Ali Mustafa Brigades, the military wing of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), was able to frustrate an infiltration operation of the Israeli Special Forces near Gaza City, on Monday at dawn. The Special Forces attempted to infiltrate the area, but the group discovered the force and managed to detonate an explosive device near the electricity station, east of Gaza City. The group assured in a statement for Ma’an, that it will continue on the path of Jihad and resistance, and retaliate to the Israeli atrocities against the Palestinian people. more.. Home of director of preventive security in Hebron attacked with a torrent of gunfire Ma’an News Agency 4/30/2007 Hebron - Ma’an – Anonymous gunmen shot at the home of director of preventive security in Hebron, Major Jihad Abu-Omar, on Monday at dawn. No injuries were reported. Abu-Omar said that his house was shot at while he and his family were sleeping. He said that the assailants were a group of people who he described as "devious". The bullets penetrated the walls and created a state of panic among his children. The children’s bedroom was penetrated by 120 bullets, according to Abu Omar. Abu Omar said that he had received several threats for implementing the security plan. He says "there are huge and dangerous crimes happening in Hebron and the criminals want us to stop our work." He clarified that there are cases that the security services are following up in Hebron, including the murder of Usama Hassunah. more.. Fatah-affiliated group launch ’Summer Storm’ campaign against Israel Ma’an News Agency 4/30/2007 Gaza - Ma’an – The Fatah-affiliated Al-Aqsa brigades group of Yasser Arafat, announced responsibility for launching five homemade projectiles at the Israeli towns of Sderot and Ashkelon on Monday at dawn. The group stated that the operation is "the start of a military campaign called ’Summer Storm’, and in response to the damage done to Al Aqsa Mosque and the pursuit of resisters." [end] UN launches development program for Dahiyeh Nour Samaha, Daily Star 5/1/2007 Local leaders welcome project but question features of job creation strategy -- BEIRUT: The United Nations Development Program launched the ART GOLD Lebanon project on Monday to boost economic development in the capital’s southern suburbs, but local leaders registered doubts about the long-term viability of the program in an area they described as transitional. Local leaders from Dahiyeh municipalities gathered with ART GOLD at Rotana Hotel in Hazmieh to discuss and implement action plans to generate employment and revenues for areas most affected by the summer 2006 war with Israel. Through the "ART GOLD Lebanon Program Strategy for Enhancing Local Economic Development," organizers hope that long-term investment and sustainability will remain in Lebanon, specifically in areas outside of the traditional income-generating centers. more.. Four Palestinians killed in Gaza Al Jazeera 4/28/2007 Israeli soldiers have shot dead three Palestinian fighters and critically wounded another near the border, east of Gaza city. In a separate incident in southern Gaza, a Palestinian civilian was killed on Friday night by what local medics and residents said was an Israeli tank shell. The Israeli army said it was not involved. Fawzi Barhoum, a Hamas spokesman, accused Israel of violating a ceasefire in Gaza and said it has the right to respond by "all means available". Khaled Meshaal, the political leader of Hamas, defended recent rocket attacks on Israel, saying the Palestinians had a right to defend themselves. "This is the right of Palestine; it has the right to defend itself, and there were nine martyrs in one day and violations that must be responded to," Meshaal told reporters after talks with Amr Moussa, the Arab League’s secretary-general, in Cairo. more.. Israeli forces arrest 10 ’wanted’ Palestinians on Sunday at dawn Ma’an News Agency 4/29/2007 Bethlehem - Ma’an - The Israeli forces arrested ten Palestinians in the West Bank on Sunday at dawn. Israeli media reported that the Israeli forces arrested two Palestinians in Al Fureidis village, east of Bethlehem, and 8 others in the Al ’Auja area, in northern Jericho. Ma’an’s correspondent reported that several Israeli military vehicles broke into Al’Auja and conducted house-to-house searches before arresting Hani Sa’ayda, Yousif Sa’ayda, Muhannad Sa’ayda, Ammar Sa’ayda, Yousif Muhammad Sa’ayda, Hilmi Ka’abna and Shlash Jarhoud from their homes. The Israeli forces then arrested Hussain Atiyyat from his work at a factory in the town. The Israeli forces claimed that the arrested men were ’wanted’ Palestinians. more.. IDF chief: Ground offensive only way to halt Qassam rocket fire Haaretz Service and Agencies, Ha’aretz 4/30/2007 Ashkenazi told the weekly cabinet meeting that a number of alternatives would also be presented to the government. Meanwhile, a Qassam rocket was fired at the Western Negev on Sunday, Israel Radio reported. There were no reports of injuries. Since the Gaza truce came into effect some five months ago, roughly 250 rockets and mortar shells have been fired at Israel, the IDF chief said. He added that the rocket barrage on Israel’s Independence Day last week was an exception to the norm. On the subject of Israel’s northern border with Lebanon, Ashkenazi said Hezbollah is trying to reestablish its presence south of the Litani River in southern Lebanon. United Nations Interim Forces In Lebanon (UNIFIL) and the Lebanese army in the area seem incapable of preventing Shiite militants from accessing the area, he said. more.. Instead of ’calming down,’ Israeli forces escalate attacks Nablus - Amin Abu Wardeh, Palestine News Network 4/29/2007 The last week witnessed a marked escalation in Israeli attacks, including assassinations and arrests. Observers say it seems they are running a race against time, trying to take out the maximum number of armed resistance members before being required to adhere to a ’period of calm. ’Although one was declared last week, Israeli forces increased efforts to destroy the interior of the armed resistance. The attacks on the Gaza Strip and the armed resistance that launches projectiles from there was only part of it. Israeli forces are also seeking to weaken the capacity of the armed resistance in the West Bank, and here that was done last week through assassinations and arrests. Nablus and Jenin in the north have been hit hardest, not only throughout the week, but throughout the entirety of the Intifada. more.. Tensions hit peak over Gaza clashes Mitchell Prothero in Gaza, The Guardian 4/29/2007 TENSIONS IN the Gaza Strip reached ’an unprecedented high’ yesterday as Palestinians prepared for an expected Israeli military onslaughtIn an overnight operation three members of Palestinian Islamic Jihad were killed at the border fence while trying to plant bombs along a security road on the outskirts of Gaza city. At yesterday’s funeral of two of them, Abdel Khalim Al-Sayoumi and Said Helas, thousands of demonstrators took to the street, shooting guns in the air and throwing hand grenades into an open field vowing revenge against Israel. Israeli tanks were massing at the border, fresh from a huge exercise to practise reoccupying the strip, while the Palestinians were making preparations of their own. Militants were flooding into the border town of Beit Hanoun, building bunkers, stretching tarpaulins across streets... more.. Settlers occupying Hebron house to get eviction orders Sunday Ze'ev Schiff and Nadav Shragai, Ha’aretz 4/29/2007 Settlers occupying a house in Hebron will receive eviction orders on Sunday, Defense Minister Amir Peretz decided. Anticipating the move, which has been in the works for more than two weeks, the settlers have prepared a response. Attorney Nadav Haetzni, representing the Hebron settlers, argues in a document presented to the civil administration head that the decisions on the disputed home lack authority. He is referring to the Defense Ministry’s decision not to grant "approval to the deal" for the home acquisition, and the decision to serve the settlers, for the first time, an order accusing them of obstructive use. Haetzni begins the document by pointing to government decisions made in 1980 and 1998, which determined that Jews would be permitted to live in Hebron, and that the timing and location would be decided by the government, not the defense minister. more.. Israeli army breaks into the house of a Palestinian security officer in Ramallah Rami Almeghari - IMEMC & Agencies, International Middle East Media Center 4/29/2007 Israeli army broke Sunday into the house of the commander of the Palestinian presidential guards in Ramallah. Palestinian security sources said that the Israeli soldiers stormed and ran a havoc in the house of Mohammad Abu Samra, the presidential guards commander. The sources added that an Israeli infantry force was deployed in the vicinity of the house before breaking into it. Abu Samra condemned the attack on his house, saying in a statement to press that five Israeli military jeeps, accompanying a person dressed in red and wearing a red hat on, surrounded the house and them broke into which. Israeli army actions across the West Bank are non-stopping since the outbreak of the Palestinian Intifada (uprising) in September2000. more.. An Nasser Brigades launch 2 projectiles at Israeli military post Ma’an News Agency 4/29/2007 Gaza - ma’an "“ The An Nasser Salah Addin Brigades, the military wing of the Popular Resistance Committees (PRC), announced responsibility for launching of two homemade projectiles at an Israeli military post east of Juhor ad Dik, in the Gaza Strip, on Sunday morning. In a statement the brigades said "we are ready to retaliate for Israeli aggression and the resistance will continue." The statement also called on the Palestinian factions to be united in order to "frustrate the Israeli plans, which intend to harm the principles and rights of the Palestinians." more.. Three more projectiles launched from Gaza Strip Ma’an News Agency 4/28/2007 Gaza - Ma’an "“ The Popular Resistance Committees-affiliated An Nasser Salah Addin Brigades and the Fatah-affiliated Al Mujahideen have announced their responsibility for the launching of three homemade projectiles at the Israeli town of Sderot early on Saturday morning. In a statement received issued Saturday the brigades announced that "the operation is a retaliation for the Israeli arrests and incursions in the West Bank." The statement also threatened that "any aggression in the West Bank will be met with immediate retaliation." [end] Al Aqsa Brigades shoot 2 Israeli soldiers in a military watchtower east of Gaza Ma’an News Agency 4/28/2007 Khan Younis - Ma’an "“ The Fatah-affiliated Al Aqsa Brigades have claimed responsibility for shooting two Israeli soldiers on Saturday. The soldiers were in a watchtower at Megean military post, east of Al-Maghazi refugee camp, in the central Gaza Strip. The brigades said in a statement that the operation came in retaliation to Israeli atrocities, which culminated in the assassination of the leader of the Mujahideen brigades, Omar Abu Sharee’a, and the other attacks in the southern Gaza Strip. more.. Israeli authorities annex vast area of farmland in Jordan Valley Ma’an News Agency 4/28/2007 Jericho "“ Ma’an "“ The Israeli authorities announced on Saturday that they intend to confiscate large areas of agricultural land in the north of the Jordan Valley, in the eastern West Bank. According to the coordinator of the ’public relief campaign in the Jordan Valley’, Fathi Khudeirat, "the land, which is to be confiscated, will separate the Qa’oon Meadows, which are 5,000 dunams [5,000,000m²]." Khudeirat added that the farmers contacted the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in order to exert pressure on Israel to permit the farmers to plant in the meadows, but the ICRC said the land had already been annexed. more.. Israeli troops raid vicinity of Islamic college near Qalqilia Ma’an News Agency 4/28/2007 Qalqilia "“ Ma’an "“ Occupying Israeli military forces on Saturday raided the area surrounding the Islamic college, east of the city of Qalqilia in the northern West Bank. Palestinian security sources stated that Israeli troops were witnessed searching and extensively checking the area. The reasons for this search were not made apparent, adding that another force was noticed in the Khallat al Yasin neighbourhood in thenorth of the city. Israeli officials informed the Palestinian coordination office that they will be "carrying out further military activity in that area". [end] One civilian kidnapped from Hebron by the Israeli army Ghassan Bannoura - IMEMC & Agencies, International Middle East Media Center 4/28/2007 The Israeli army attacked and searched a number of homes in Hebron city on Saturday and kidnapped one civilian. Mohamed Missik, 19, was taken from his home after Israeli troops searched and ransacked it, he was taken to unknown detention camp, his family reported. [end] Israeli settlers shoot at house in Hebron before soldiers arrest owner and son Hebron - Palestine News Network, Palestine News Network 4/28/2007 A group from what is largely considered to be the most violent of all Israeli settlements, Kiryat Arba, opened fire on a Palestinian home in Hebron last night. The Israeli military occupying the area also arrested three Palestinians from the city and a nearby town. Sources in the Palestinian security’s Chamber of Joint Operations in the southern West Bank reported that settlers from Kiryat Arba opened fire on the home of Abdel Karim Jabari on Friday night. None of his family members were seriously hurt during the shooting at the house that the settlement abuts. However, sources in the Jabari family report that Israeli forces physically assaulted Abdel Karim and his sons, 18 year old Ala’ and 16 year old Uday. The attack resulted in bruising, cuts and sprains through their bodies. more.. Qalqilia shopkeeper shot by unknown gunmen Ma’an News Agency 4/29/2007 Qalqilia "“ Ma’an "“ A Palestinian citizen was shot late on Saturday night in Qalqilia, in the West Bank. 27-year-old Mamdouh Abu Shihab was injured when unknown gunmen shot at him while he was in his shop in the Naqqar neighborhood, in the west of the city. Security sources reported that the man was injured in the stomach and was transported to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNWRA) hospital where he is in a stable condition. more.. Islamic leader attacked by right-wing Israelis in Jerusalem Ma’an News Agency 4/29/2007 Jerusalem - Ma’an - Israeli online news source, Ynet News, reported that head of the Islamic movement’s northern branch, Sheikh Raed Salah, was attacked by right-wing Israelis in Jerusalem. Salah was confronted outside a Jerusalem court on Sunday and fell victim to aggressive taunts, including being labelled as a "terrorist". Security guards stood between Salah and the assailants, who are members of Baruch Marzel’s National Jewish Front movement. [end] Two Palestinian citizens injured in shooting attack in Khan Younis Ma’an News Agency 4/29/2007 Khan Younis "“ Ma’an "“ Two Palestinian citizens were injured in Khan Younis, in the southern Gaza Strip, when unidentified gunmen opened fire at them on Sunday. Palestinian medical sources from Nasser hospital said that Soheil Abu Aida, aged 41, and Amin Sofie, aged 43, were found injured in what was previously known as the Israeli settlement of Jana Tal. The medical sources described the injuries as ’moderate’ and ’slight’. The two citizens received gunshot wounds to their legs. The motives for the attack remain unknown. [end] Israeli settlers return to two evacuated settlements in northern West Bank Nablus - Amin Abu Wardeh, Palestine News Network 4/28/2007 Israeli settlers returned to settlements built on Burka Village lands, north of Nablus City, last night. Hundreds of Israeli soldiers arrived to protect them in the move to retake that portion of the northern West Bank. Town resident Atef Shursh said the in recent weeks the evacuated settlers had reemerged and pitched tents. He told PNN that settlers and soldiers stormed the village twice last night and damaged property. He said hardest hit were the rooftop water tanks. The Agricultural Relief Committee says that the settlers’ ambition is to control the land that was illegally settled and then evacuated as part of a political agreement. Iyad Abu Omar of the Burka Village Council said that it is imperative that all residents known the dates of Jewish holidays to ensure that no one cultivate their lands during that time or the period just before. more.. Exhibition in Jerusalem displays photos of assaults on Al Aqsa Mosque since 1967 Ma’an News Agency 4/28/2007 Jerusalem "“ Ma’an - The Al-Aqsa Association for the Reconstruction of Muslim Holy Places on Wednesday opened a photo exhibition in the Commodore Hotel in East Jerusalem. The exhibition displays photos showing the Israeli assaults in the Moroccan area of Jerusalem since 1967 up until the last excavations in 2007, which included the demolition of the Moroccan gate and two rooms of the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound. According to the association, the exhibition is being visited by several delegations from Palestinian cities and villages within the Israeli territories. [end] IDF kills 3 Palestinians attempting to place explosives in Gaza Amos Harel, Ha’aretz 4/28/2007 Israel Defense Forces troops on Saturday killed three Palestinians who were attempting to place an explosive device near the Gaza Strip security fence. Soldiers from the Givati Brigade noticed the three approaching the fence north of the Kisufim crossing. The soldiers then crossed the fence, attacked the men and killed them. A Kalashnikov rifle and explosive devices were found in the men’s possession. Palestinian officer killed in Rafah clash A Palestinian security officer was killed Friday in an exchange of fire between Palestinian Presidential Guard officers and Gaza residents at the Rafah border crossing between the Gaza Strip and Egypt, security and medical officials said. Three other people, including a civilian, were wounded in the incident. more.. Unknown gunmen kill security officer and wound three policemen at Rafah terminal Rami Almeghari - IMEMC, International Middle East Media Center 4/27/2007 Palestinian sources confirmed Friday that one national security personnel was killed and three other policemen were wounded after unknown gunmen opened fire at the Rafah crossing terminal in Rafah, Gaza. Spokesman of the presidential guards at the crossing, Wael Dahab, told IMEMC that that a number of gunmen opened fire at the crowd at the crossing, killing one national security personnel and wounding three other police members. "Gunmen outside the vicinity of the crossing shot at the crowd of travelers, killing a national security officer and wounding three other police personnel", Dahab confirmed to IMEMC. Dahab maintained that the crossing has been over-crowded over the past 24 hours after it was opened yesterday. The spokesman added that the commander of the presidential guards had ordered a swift investigation... more.. One Palestinian security officer killed during a car chase in Ramallah Ghassan Bannoura - IMEMC & Agencies, International Middle East Media Center 4/27/2007 Palestinian sources reported that a Palestinian security officer died during an armed car chase in Al Birah town, near the central West Bank city of Ramallah on Wednesday night. [end] Three civilians kidnapped from Bethlehem by inavding Israeli forces Ghassan Bannoura - IMEMC & Agencies, International Middle East Media Center 4/27/2007 The Israeli army invaded the southern West Bank city of Bethlehem and kidnapped three civilians on Friday morning. [end] Daily invasion of Nablus targets high school students Nablus - Amin Abu Wardeh, Palestine News Network 4/26/2007 Before dawn this morning Israeli forces invaded the northern West Bank’s Nablus. It is the nearly daily routine of the past five years for military vehicles to storm the city or its camps and surrounding villages, break into homes and arrest residents. In recent days the targets have been youth, particularly high school students. On Thursday six young people from throughout the city were taken away, bound and blindfolded, in the back of military jeeps. Palestinian security sources report that Israeli forces invaded Nablus and Balata Refugee Camp in the eastern part of the city. Among the arrested this morning were 17 Jihad Azzam Qmaheh, 18 year old Mohamed Awad Wawi, Mujahid Hassan and 22 year old Sameeh Ho’uah. Israeli forces also broke into houses in the southern area of the camp, the Northern Mountain neighborhood and another belonging to the Abu Zeid family. more.. IDF arrests 4 wanted Palestinians in West Bank Jerusalem Post 4/28/2007 IDF soldiers arrested four wanted Palestinians in the West Bank on Friday night. While the arrests were made, gunmen fired at the soldiers. No on was injured and no damage was caused in the incident. more.. Huwara: between settler attacks and military curfews Nablus - Amin Abu Wardeh, Palestine News Network 4/26/2007 Residents of the town of Huwara, stuck between a military checkpoint and a settlement, are subjected to daily harassment. Just south of Nablus, curfews are often imposed by the military, while settlers assault students. The fate of Huwara is up to the whim of Israeli forces, both soldiers and settlers, residents say. Commercial and economic interests are often closed, and getting to work or school becomes impossible, report townspeople. A local businessperson said today that the Israeli army imposed curfew on the town under the pretext of their latest holiday and stone-throwing. Young Muhmmad Shahrour says that the town’s schools suffer from attacks by soldiers and their overwhelming presence, particularly at midday throughout the area. more.. Study finds IDF combat soldiers temper views during service DPA, Ha’aretz 4/26/2007 Israel Defense Forces soldiers who serve in combat units become less hawkish and more open to compromise on security issues during the course of their service, a study released by Haifa University has found. At the same time, women also undergo a political change, becoming more hawkish, a university spokesman said Thursday, confirming the findings. The study, conducted by the university’s School for Political Science, surveyed 490 male and female soldiers of every rank and in every branch of service. Respondents were asked to answer the same series of questions before induction, six months into their service and immediately after mobilization. Initial interviews found that a large percentage of soldiers began their service with clear right-wing views. more.. Two civilians kidnapped by Israeli army near Ramallah Ghassan Bannoura - IMEMC & Agencies, International Middle East Media Center 4/26/2007 Israeli forces invaded Al Jalazon refugee camp located in the northern part of the central West Bank city of Ramallah and kidnapped two residents on Thursday. Jamal Nakhlah, 40, and Othman Nakhlah, 26, were kidnapped from their homes when soldiers searched and ransacked both of their houses. They were taken to an unknown location, witnesses reported. [end] Zahrani bridge to reopen on May 25 - contractor Mohammed Zaatari, Daily Star 4/28/2007 SIDON: Contractors rebuilding the Zahrani bridge near Sidon expect to open the new span for traffic on May 25, the anniversary of the Israeli withdrawal from most of South Lebanon in 2000, the director of the company overseeing the work says. The bridge was destroyed by an Israeli air strike during the summer 2006 war. The bridge is a crucial link in traffic routes joining Sidon, Tyre and Nabatieh. Its destruction generated months of traffic delays and headaches for area residents and visitors. The first phase of renovation of the highway linking Sidon to other Southern coastal towns was completed in late October. Bashir Dimassi, head of GENECO, the contractor, told The Daily Star that preparations to reopen the bridge "have reached their final stages. more.. Protestors return to Homesh after forced IDF evacuation Amos Harel Nadav Shragai, Ha’aretz 4/28/2007 IDF, police use force to stop Homesh protest; group planned to spend Shabbat at settlement ruins. Dozens of right wing activists returned on Friday evening to the former settlement of Homesh, hours after their forced eviction by Israel Defense Forces troops and Police. The police and soldiers forcibly removed around 100 protestors who arrived at the ruins of the former West Bank settlement of Homesh on Friday with the goal of spending the Shabbat there. A spokesman for the protestors stated that security forces used violent means during the evacuation. Police spokesman Moshe Pinchi said between 70 to 100 people attempted to return to the former settlement. Pinchi said seven were arrested and held for questioning. Around 30 to 40 other protestors are believed to have fled to the nearby hills that surround the Homesh area. Most of the protestors returned to the ruins later in the evening. IDF sources said they completed the evacuation before the sundown, when the Sabbath begins, and as part of the evacuation, removed all the equipment the protestors brought with them in order to spend the night at the ruins. more.. Israel claims Israeli settler disappeared near Tulkarem Moeen Shaheed - IMEMC, International Middle East Media Center 4/28/2007 The Israeli Authorities informed the Tulkarem Palestinian District Coordination Office that the army intends to operate in the area after Israeli media sources reported that an Israeli settler went missing in Tulkarem area, in the northern part of the West Bank. The army installed dozens of additional roadblocks at the entrances of Tulkarem, and closed Ennab checkpoint, north of the city, Jabara checkpoint, south of the city, and conducted military searches after stopping hundreds of Palestinian vehicles. Soldiers also installed roadblocks at the entrance of Bal’a village, east of Tulkarem, and several other roadblocks along the main road between Tulkarem and several villages in the north of the city. Troops searched the vehicles and interrogated dozens of residents, while additional troops deployed in the mountains and fields. more.. Red Cross still battling effects of last war - and preparing for the next one Nour Samaha, Daily Star 4/27/2007 International group banks on reputation for neutrality -- Interview -- BEIRUT: Following the summer 2006 war with Israel, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has intensified efforts in Lebanon to promote the adoption of international humanitarian law and provide care for the conflict’s victims. In an exclusive interview with The Daily Star, the head of the ICRC delegation in Lebanon, Jordi Raich, and communication coordinator Virginia de la Guardia explained their work in the country, in the process praising the performance of Lebanon’s local Red Cross team. "At the moment we are working in several areas, most importantly water and sanitation, and on the promotion of international humanitarian law within society," Raich said. more.. Hezbollah erects large photograph of two kidnapped IDF soldiers DPA, Ha’aretz 4/27/2007 Hezbollah militants erected a large photograph on Thursday of abducted Israel Defense Forces soldiers Ehud Goldwasser and Eldad Regev in an area along Lebanon’s border with Israel. Lebanese security sources said the three-by-five meter photograph showing Goldwasser and Regev had been put up in Aita Al-Shaab, near where they were seized on July 12, 2006. Hezbollah supporters looked on, chanting anti-Israel slogans, while the poster bearing the slogan "for the sake of our detainees" and a yellow Hezbollah flag, was being erected. A United Nations peacekeeping patrol monitored the event in the area, which is heavily monitored by IDF patrols across the border. Hezbollah is demanding the release of Lebanese prisoners in Israeli jails in exchange for the two men, whose kidnapping sparked the Second Lebanon war. more.. IDF officer: Missed intelligence could have foiled kidnapping Amos Harel, Ha’aretz 4/27/2007 One of the important issues likely to be decided by the Winograd Committee’s interim report on the Second Lebanon War is a dispute that emerged over the abduction of two reservists, Eldad Regev and Udi Goldwasser, on July 12, 2006. The committee is likely to have the final word in this dispute, between Brigadier General Gal Hirsch, who commanded Division 91 during the war, and the two senior reserve officers who carried out the in-house investigation of the incident: Major General Doron Almog and Brigadier General Pinhas Buchris. Almog and Buchris blamed the kidnapping on Hirsch, who vociferously rejected their findings. Hirsch, who resigned his command in protest, offered two alternative explanations: Israel’s "soft" policy of allowing Hezbollah to occupy positions along the border, which made the abduction... more.. As Gaza burns Avi Issacharoff, Ha’aretz 4/27/2007 Members of the Abu-Sharah family, one of the most famous clans in the Gaza Strip, marched through the streets of Gaza City on Tuesday, carrying the body of Hassan Abu-Sharah. They took the body straight to the courtyard of the Palestinian parliament. Palestinian policemen tried to prevent the group from entering, but several dozen armed men from the clan easily pushed past them and started shooting in the air. They demanded that the Palestinian Authority arrest Hassan’s murderers, although they were aware that the chances of the security forces taking such action were virtually nil. Hassan, 54, had been shot dead two days earlier by members of one of the largest and strongest clans in the city: the Durmush clan. Supporters of clan head MumtazDurmush - who call themselves the Army of Islam - had apparently, due... more.. Israeli army detonates an explosive device near the wall surrounding Gaza Moeen Shadid - IMEMC News, International Middle East Media Center 4/27/2007 Israeli army troops found a suspicious device near the wall that surrounds the Gaza Strip, a military spokesperson said on Friday. Sappers unit arrived at the scene and safely detonated. No injuries were reported. [end] This Week In Palestine -week 17 2007 IMEMC - Audio Dept, International Middle East Media Center 4/27/2007 Click here to play or download MP3 file || 19. 2MB || Time 21m 0s|| This Week In Palestine, a service of the International Middle East Media Center, www. IMEMC. org, for April 14th through April 20th, 2007. Nonviolent Resistance in West Bank Let’s begin our weekly report with the nonviolent demonstrations in Bil’in and Bethlehem. Bil’in On Friday, villagers from the Bil’in, near the central West Bank city of Ramallah, along with international and Israeli peace activists, marched in the weekly nonviolent protest against the illegal wall Israel is building on stolen village land. Although Israeli army troops were deployed around the village to keep the protesters away, this week, the organizers of the protest decided to change the route of the demonstration, taking the soldiers by surprise. more.. Olmert rules out Gaza offensive Al Jazeera 4/25/2007 Hamas’ armed wing signalled an end to truce with a series of rocket attacks on Tuesday [AFP]Israel’s prime minister has opted for limited military action in Gaza after Hamas’ armed wing declared the end of a ceasefire in the territory on Tuesday and fired rockets into Israel. Ruling out a ground offensive, Ehud Olmert decided in emergency talks with security chiefs to step up "targeted attacks" against Palestinian rocket launchers. Olmert’s office said in a statement after Wednesday’s meeting: "Israel will not hesitate to take harsh measures against those who try to harm its sovereignty by firing rockets into our territory, attempting attacks on soldiers, and [by] other means." Training programmePolitical sources said Olmert would refrain from going after senior Palestinian faction commanders or political leaders. more.. Top IDF officer: We knew war would not get abducted soldiers back Jack Khoury, Ha’aretz 4/26/2007 The GOC Northern Command Major General Gadi Eisenkott said Wednesday that the Israel Defense Forces embarked on the Second Lebanon War last year even though it was clear the conflict would not return the two IDF soldiers whose kidnap by Hezbollah sparked the hostilities." After a couple of hours it became clear that we would not get the kidnapped soldiers back through military means," Eisenkott told students at a Nahariya school. IDF reservists Eldad Regev and Ehud Goldwasser were snatched by Hezbollah guerillas on July 12, 2006, during a patrol on the Israeli side of the border with Lebanon. Eisenkott, who was the IDF director of operations at the time of the war, said that it was more than half an hour after the abduction before the code for kidnapped soldiers - "Hannibal" - was employed. more.. Ambush in southern West Bank Hebron - Palestine News Network, Palestine News Network 4/25/2007 Israeli special forces invaded Hebron late last night and arrested four members of the Al Aqsa Brigades. The ambush of the Fateh-linked armed resistance wing was orchestrated along the road between the towns of Yatta and Samua. Palestinian security sources report that the Israeli special forces laid a trap at 10:30 pm in the southern West Bank after receiving information that people on its "wanted" list were in the area. The four men drove their car along the road and were attacked. They are 43 year old taxi driver, Mohamed Khalid Alchuahin, 28 year old policeman, Hassan Hosni Al Heles, 34 year old teacher, Saleh Ahmed Saleh Abouhsan, and 30 year old General Intelligence officer, Mohammed Salem Abu Musa Hassan. On a related note, Israeli forces occupying the West Bank arrested 30 year old Said Mohamed Mustafa Qafqaz... more.. Major invasion of Gaza Strip expected Gaza City - Palestine News Network, Palestine News Network 4/25/2007 Sources indicated late Wednesday morning that Israeli forces are preparing to invade parts of the Gaza Strip within hours. The Palestine Observer to United Nations, Dr. Riyad Mansour, said, "The Israeli military build-up, incursions and attacks around the Gaza Strip constitute a clear threat of widespread aggression." However, the head of negotiations in the Palestine Liberation Organization, Dr. Sa’eb Erekat, said Wednesday afternoon that contacts had been between the Palestinian, Israeli and American administrations in order to prevent a further deterioration in the situation. Government spokesperson Ghazi Hamad told the press yesterday that it is impossible to suggest that there is anything resembling a "cease-fire" in play. "The truce has collapsed in light of serious developments, including the intensification of Israeli military operations..." more.. Israel vows response to Gaza fire BBC Online 4/25/2007 Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has ordered what officials called limited military action in Gaza after renewed rocket fire by Palestinian militants. Mr Olmert ruled out a larger ground offensive, but said the army could carry out "pinpoint" operations against rocket-launching crews, officials said. On Tuesday, the armed wing of the Hamas movement said a five-month truce with Israel was over. It fired a barrage of rockets from Gaza into Israel, but no-one was injured. The attack was in revenge for the killing of nine Palestinians by the Israeli army, Hamas said. ’All options open’The decision came at a meeting between Mr Olmert and his defence chiefs. In a statement, the government pledged "harsh steps" against those responsible for the rocket fire. "The army has been ordered to continue its preparations to prevent other attacks against Israeli territory from the Gaza Strip..." more.. Settlers trying to buy two more Palestinian houses in Hebron Amos Harel, Ha’aretz 4/25/2007 Settlers have recently been trying to purchase two more Palestinian houses in Hebron. The houses are located near "the brown house," a building inhabited by Jewish squatters whom Defense Minister Amir Peretz has ordered evicted in another two and a half weeks. From the settlers’ perspective, the brown house is strategically located, as it is near the road leading from Kiryat Arba to the Cave of the Patriarchs. The purchase of other houses nearby would create an area of Jewish control that would further the settlers’ goal of creating territorial continuity between the Jewish settlements of Kiryat Arba and Hebron. Peretz ordered the brown house vacated on April 10, but the procedure will take about a month: First, the squatters were given 15 days to evacuate voluntarily; then, this period was extended by another 15 days. more.. Armed resistance responding to spate of Israeli killings Gaza City) Wisam Afifeh, Palestine News Network 4/24/2007 At dawn on Tuesday Hamas’ Al Qassam Brigades began responding to the recent spate of Israeli escalations in killings. Thirty projectiles and 61 mortar rounds have been launched. Abu Obeidya in Al Qassam’s media office said this morning that "a campaign to pound Zionism" began at 6:00 am. He said, "The Zionist enemy will pay for the crimes of occupation, particularly the recent killings and assassinations in the Gaza Strip and West Bank." The Al Qassam Spokesperson also indicated that Israel has once again destroyed any hope of peace or justice for the Palestinians. "There is no calm between us and the occupation. They have not stopped since the truce began. From the outset we did not trust the intentions of the occupation, and then it proved to the world that the occupiers are committing crimes that violate any agreement for calm." more.. Israeli aircraft drop notices threatening increased attacks Gaza City) Wisam Afifeh, Palestine News Network 4/23/2007 With seemingly impossible abilities to stop it, a major Israeli invasion invasion of the Gaza Strip is inevitable. Eyewitnesses report that Israeli aircraft dropped leaflets at Monday warning residents of the north that Israeli forces will attack. The Israeli threat is that if the armed resistance does not stop launching projectiles against occupation forces, however legitimate under international law, they will increase the attacks. Fateh’s Al Aqsa Brigades and Saraya Al Quds announced today that in response to the continual Israeli killings in the West Bank and Gaza Strip they launched projectiles at Sderot and Asklon, in addition to the Israeli military installation in Nahal Oz, northeast of Gaza City. Israeli forces killed nine Palestinians between Saturday morning and Sunday afternoon. more.. Settlers trying to buy two more Hebron homes, create area of control Amos Harel, Ha’aretz 4/24/2007 Settlers have recently been trying to purchase two more Palestinian houses in Hebron. The houses are located near "the brown house," a building inhabited by Jewish squatters whom Defense Minister Amir Peretz has ordered evicted in another two and a half weeks. From the settlers’ perspective, the brown house is strategically located, as it is near the road leading from Kiryat Arba to the Cave of the Patriarchs. The purchase of other houses nearby would create an area of Jewish control that would further the settlers’ goal of creating territorial contiguity between the Jewish settlements of Kiryat Arba and Hebron. Peretz ordered the brown house vacated on April 10, but the procedure will take about a month: First, the squatters were given 15 days to evacuate voluntarily; then, this period was extended by another 15 days. more.. Israeli forces arrest five high school students and use another as human shield Nablus) Amin Abu Wardeh, Palestine News Network 4/23/2007 Israeli forces arrested five young men from Balata Refugee Camp during early Monday invasions in a campaign against 20 youth. Palestinian security services reported today that all five young men taken today were secondary school students. Israeli forces raided the house of Mahmoud Abu Jarim and took his son Mahmoud as a human shield, despite the long-standing contravention of the practice to international law and the recent illegality under Israeli law. Eyewitnesses report that 12 military mechanisms invaded Faisal Street in Nablus and besieged the gas station area before withdrawing in the early morning hours. Israeli forces also raided another home in Nablus, with armed resistance responding according to an Israeli military spokesperson. more.. Hamas fighters end Israel truce BBC Online 4/24/2007 The armed wing of the Palestinian Hamas movement has said it is ending its five-month truce with Israel. Earlier in the day the group launched a sustained barrage of rockets and mortars into Israel, the first such attack since November. The group, the Izzedine al-Qassam Brigades, said the attacks were in revenge for recent killings of Palestinians by Israeli forces. The ending of the truce has not been confirmed by Hamas political leaders. The Palestinian prime minister, Hamas’s Ismail Haniya, whilst not confirming that the ceasefire was over, said the Palestinians had tried hard to observe the truce, but this had been undermined by what he called Israeli aggression. No casualties -- An Israeli spokesman said only a small number of rockets landed in Israeli. There were no reports of casualties. more.. Two IDF soldiers wounded by protesters on march to Homesh Amos Harel and Nadav Shragai, Ha’aretz 4/24/2007 Two Israel Defense Forces soldiers were lightly wounded on Tuesday as they attempted to prevent protestors from reaching the site of the evacuated West Bank settlement Homesh. The soldiers were treated on the scene for light injuries and were not hospitalized. According to organizers of the event, however, no soldier was attacked, saying a verbal argument broke out after a Border Police jeep struck a protester’s leg. She was taken to hospital for medical treatment. The organizers say some 25,000 people reached the site of the former settlement Tuesday. Zafrir Ronen of "Homesh First" said that organizers "had prepared for 2,000 to 3,000 participants, but there are between 20 and 30,000 - religious, secular, ultra-Orthodox, youth, and elderly. The police have given up..." more.. 100 activists stay at Homesh after banned march Amos Harel and Nadav Shragai, Ha’aretz 4/24/2007 Thousands of settlers and right-wing activists streamed to the ruins of the settlement of Homesh in the northern West Bank yesterday despite a ban by the defense minister and the IDF chief of staff. The IDF refused to allow buses to the site to take demonstrators back andsources estimated that about100 activists remained at the site last night. The Israel Defense Forces tried to set up road-blocks to stop the march, but there were limited troops in the area, and they could only prevent vehicles from reaching the site. Homesh was evacuated during the withdrawal from Gaza and three other West Bank settlements almost two years ago. The army estimated the number of marchers at between 2,000 and 3,000. The march, the second in the past several weeks,as organized by an organization calling itself "Homesh First," consisting of a number of right-wing extra-parliamentary groups. more.. Tempers Rise Over Reconstruction Dahr Jamail, Inter Press Service 4/25/2007 BINT JBAIL, Apr 23(IPS) - Eight months after Israeli attacks left devastation across many villages in southern Lebanon, reconstruction comes with mounting anger towards both Israel and the central Lebanese government. The war which raged between Israel and Hezbollah Jul. 12 to Aug. 14 last year destroyed many villages in the south, and left others badly damaged. Starting from within hours of the ceasefire, about a million people wh had fled southernLebanon began to return, many to wrecked homes. One of the towns almost completelydestroyed was Bint Jbail, less than 5km from the Lebanese-Israeli border. "Israeli warplanes would bomb us, then their tanks up above the hill outside our city would shell people when they fled their homes," mayor Ali Beydoun told IPS at his partially destroyed house. more.. In Sderot, protecting your home means violating city laws Haaretz Staff, Ha’aretz 4/24/2007 People in the southern town of Sderot have a choice: obey the law, or protect their homes against constant Qassam fire. One of them is Dr. Boris Singer, who is conducting a legal battle with the municipality so he could build a sheltered area for his family. Sixteen years ago, Singer immigrated to Israel from Russia. Now, the 68-year-old lives with his son’s family in Sderot, near the fence separating Israel from the Gaza Strip. "Some Qassam rockets actually fly over our house. 180 of them hit as near as 50 meters from here," he says, explaining the urgent need for a sheltered zone in the house. Singer and his family are by no means the only ones who are barred from protecting themselves from the daily firing of Qassams. For now, they are prevented from doing so by rigid building regulations. more.. Hamas’ motivation / Renewed force, renewed truce Ze'ev Schiff, Ha’aretz 4/24/2007 Hamas is under heavy pressure from the Israel Defense Forces and the Shin Bet security service in the West Bank, and therefore, it resumed rocket and mortar fire at Israel from the Gaza Strip. Its assumption is that it has an operational advantage against civilian communities in the Negev - an edge it would like to utilize to obtain a cease-fire in the West Bank. However, the chances of Israel agreeing to this are currently nil. From Israel’s perspective, the main danger is that Hamas will surprise the IDF by kidnapping a soldier or civilian, just as it did last June, when it kidnapped Gilad Shalit and killed two other soldiers. This danger should not be underestimated: The IDF’s operational deployment in Gaza is nonideal, entailing various risks. Abu Obeid, a spokesman for Hamas’ military wing, claimed yesterday that Israel long ago abandoned the Gaza cease-fire... more.. Escalation in Gaza /The inevitable war Amos Harel and Avi Issacharoff, Ha’aretz 4/24/2007 From Israel’s perspective, the timing of Hamas’ attack on southern Israel yesterday was problematic. With the government and army virtually paralyzed by fear of the upcoming publication of the Winograd Committee’s report, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert cannot easily order a harsh reprisal in Gaza. And this time, good intelligence and the army’s preparedness foiled what was apparently another kidnapping attempt, which ostensibly enables Olmert to make do with a limited response. Yet the premier must ask himself whether this would not be a mistake. Just as Hamas did in its kidnapping of Gilad Shalit last June, the organization, or parts of it, is signaling that all its promises of a cease-fire are nonbinding. Since Hamas agreed to the cease-fire in Gaza, more than 200 Qassam rockets have been fired at Israel from Gaza... more.. IDF: Kidnapping foiled in Gaza; no invasion planned Amos Harel Aluf Benn and Avi Issacharoff, Ha’aretz 4/24/2007 Senior IDF officers say the Israel Defense Forces foiled a Hamas attempt to kidnap a soldier on the Gaza border yesterday. Apparently as part of this attempt, dozens of rockets and mortar shells - for which Hamas claimed responsibility - were fired at southern Israel. There were no casualties. Government and army sources predicted that Israel’s response would be localized and not involve a major ground operation in Gaza because no one was hurt and due to pleas for calm by members of the Palestinian government. The sources said Hamas’ claim of responsibility - the first since it formed a unity government with Fatah - should make it clear to all that this is a terrorist government. Hamas began launching rockets and mortars along the Gaza-Israel border at about 8:00 A. M. more.. Israeli forces kill eight, including child, in weekend attacks PCHR, Electronic Intifada 4/22/2007 In the past 24 hours, Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) have escalated attacks in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT). They have killed eight Palestinians, including a child. Four of the victims were extra-judicially executed. PCHR strongly condemns this latest escalation and the reactivation of the policy of extra-judicial executions, which increases tension in the region and threatens the life of Palestinian civilians. According to investigations conducted by PCHR: At approximately 05:00 on Saturday, 21 April 2007, IOF moved into Kufor Dan village, west of Jenin. They besieged and opened fire at a house belonging to the family of Mahmoud Nasfat Naddaf, 20, in the west of the village. They also raided a number of neighboring houses and transformed them into military sites, from which they fired at whatever moved in the area. In the meantime, Mohammed Sa’id Talal ’Aabed, 23, stepped up to the roof of his house to check what was going on. Immediately, an IOF soldier positioned in a neighboring house belonging to Mohammed Saleh ’Aabed shot him dead with two gunshots to the jaw and the chest. The victim was a member of the Palestinian police, but he was not on duty and was wearing civilian clothes. more.. Chaos; Two brothers killed near Gaza shore, one resident killed in northern Gaza Saed Bannoura - IMEMC & Agencies, International Middle East Media Center 4/22/2007 Palestinian medical sources in the Gaza Strip reported on Sunday at night that two brothers were killed by unknown gunmen and a third resident was injured in an area close to the Gaza shore, a third resident was killed in the northern part of the Gaza Strip, the Maan News Agency reported. The sources stated that Haitham and his brother Mohammad Abu Amro, both in their twenties, were killed, while a third resident was serious injured during armed clashes. The causes of the clashes remained unknown. Eyewitnesses stated that heavy gunfire took place at the coastal road linking between Gaza and its southern part, and that the two brothers were killed in these clashes. The third resident was killed in separate clashes that took place in the northern part of the Gaza Strip. more.. Two teenagers among dead as Israelis raid Gaza, West Bank Daily Star 4/23/2007 Haniyya condemns talks as ’political deception’ -- Israeli troops killed two Palestinian militants and a teenager in the occupied West Bank on Sunday, bringing to nine the death toll from the bloodiest weekend of violence in monthsResponding to the deaths, Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyya of Hamas called on Arab countries to drop any notion of negotiating peace with Israel"I urge them to stop any political initiative that would lead to creating a state of normalization with the Israeli occupation," he told ReutersHaniyya added during the interview in Gaza City that Israel’s killings "reveal the political deception which is being practiced on the Palestinian people through the political meetings and the meetings of leaders" with IsraelisKarim Zahran, 17, was shot dead while throwing stones at Israeli troops near the city of Ramallah in the occupied West Bank... more.. Israeli forces have now killed 9 Palestinians in a day and a half Nablus - Amin Abu Wardeh, Palestine News Network 4/22/2007 In addition to killing six Palestinians in Jenin and Gaza yesterday, including a 17 year old girl, and two this morning in Nablus, Israeli forces have killed a 16 year old boy in western Ramallah on Sunday afternoon. Israeli forces shot and killed 16 year old Karim Zahran of 'Abud Village in western Ramallah under the pretext he intended to throw a bottle, earlier claimed to be incendiary. Earlier today Israeli forces invaded the outskirts of the Old City of Nablus and killed two people. Amin Labadeh and Fadel Nur were members of the Fateh-linked armed resistance wing, Al Aqsa Brigades. Palestinian security sources report that this morning in Nablus Israeli special forces, followed by the arrival of major reinforcements, surrounded a house and opened fire. Members of the armed resistance responded until Israeli forces shot missiles into the house, leading to full combustion. more.. Six homes to be destroyed for Wall under pretext of lack of Israeli-issued permits Bethlehem - Najib Farag, Palestine News Network 4/22/2007 Israeli forces will destroy six more Bethlehem homes. The Israeli Major General Yair Naveh issued notices to six citizens in Umm Salamuna Village in southern Bethlehem. Israeli forces occupying the West Bank are building the Wall straight through the village. This Israeli military leader claims he will destroy these homes due to a lack of permits required because they are in Area C since the days of Oslo. Chairperson of the Land Defense Committee, Khalid Al Azzeh, received copies of the notices from homeowners. He said that there is one month to appeal the decision, but it is back-dated to 10 April. Soby 10 May something must change or the homes will be destroyed. The weekly nonviolent resistance to the Wall and settlement expansion, although drawing some attention, is not stopping the Israeli policy of ethnic cleansing, which actions such as this illustrate. more.. Two fighters assassinated in Nablus Ameen Abowardeh - IMEMC - Translated by Saed Bannoura - IMEMC, International Middle East Media Center 4/22/2007 Israeli soldiers invaded on Saturday night after midnight the northern West Bank city of Nablus and assassinated two fighters of the Al Aqsa brigades, the armed wing of Fateh movement. The two fighters were identified as Amin Lubbada, 21, and Fadel Nour, 22. They were shot and killed during armed clashes with the invading Israeli forces. Palestinian sources reported that soldiers surrounded the house of Tha’er Al Zorba, in Kroum Ashour area, and exchanged fire with resistance fighters hiding there. Soldiers fired several shells at the house completely burning and destroying it before kidnapping Ashour and taking him to an unknown destination. Also, soldiers broke into the houses of Fawzi Younis and Kamal Ashour and searched them; damage was reported. more.. Youth girl killed in Jenin refugee camp, eight Palestinians killed in 24 hours Saed Bannoura - IMEMC & Agencies, International Middle East Media Center 4/22/2007 Palestinian medical sources in Jenin, in the northern part of the West Bank, reported on Saturday evening that a 17-year old girl was shot and killed by Israeli military fire during an invasion to Jenin refugee camp. The invasion is the third in less than 24 hours. A total of eight Palestinians were killed by the army in 24 hours. The sources identified the girl as Boshra Naji al Wash; she was hit by a round of live ammunition in the head causing instant death. She was at home in the Jenin refugee camp when the army randomly fired at dozens of houses. The invasion was carried out by thirty armored vehicles and jeeps, and was concentrated in Jenin refugee camp, and the western section of Jenin city close to the camp. Eyewitnesses reported that dozens of fighters exchanged fire with the invading forces. more.. One child killed by Israeli army fire as army invaded village near Ramallah Ghassan Bannoura - IMEMC News, International Middle East Media Center 4/22/2007 One Palestinian child was shot and killed by Israeli army fire during an invasion to the village of Dier Abu Mish’al located west of the central west Bank city of Ramallah on Sunday morning. A massive Israeli force invaded the village on Sunday at dawn, troops then searched and ransacked scores of residents homes, during the search campaign local youth hurled stones at the invading soldiers who opened fire randomly at the youth and nearby houses and killed the boy. Medical sources stated that Kareem Zahran, 14, susnaied critical wounds during the clashes, soldiers detained the boy until he died from sever bleeding, after two houres Israeli forces handed the boy’s body to a Palestinian ambulance that took him to a hospital in Ramallah city. On the way to the hospital the army also detained the ambulance car from one hour the medical team reported. more.. Israeli, Palestinian lightly hurt in East Jerusalem shooting Amos Harel and Jonathan Lis, Ha’aretz 4/21/2007 An Israeli and a Palestinian were lightly wounded in a shooting Sunday evening in East Jerusalem. According to Army Radio, an East Jerusalem resident opened fire on an Israeli car, injuring the driver in the arm. A Palestinian bystander was lightly wounded by shrapnel. At this point, it is unclear whether the shooting was a terror attack or was criminally motivated. Police sources told Army Radio, however, that the attack was in all likelihood a terror attack. Magen David Adom emergency medical services evacuated the wounded to the capital’s Hadassah University Hospital at Ein Karem. The assailant fled to nearby neighborhood of Beit Hanina, and a large police force entered the neighborhood to search for the suspect. more.. Settlers to ignore IDF declaration that Homesh is off limits Amos Harel, Ha’aretz 4/21/2007 The Israel Defense Forces and police are preparing to prevent settlers from marching Tuesday to the ruins of the settlement of Homesh in the northern West Bank. Defense Minister Amir Peretz and IDF Chief of Staff Gabi Ashkenazi on Sunday suspended discussions on granting the settlers a demonstration permit. IDF sources admitted it was unlikely that access could be completely blocked, saying that no additional troops had been allocated to the task beyond the two battalions assigned to the area. Despite Sunday’s announcement that Homesh, a settlement evacuated during the 2005 disengagement, is legally off limits, march organizers said there has been no change of plans. On Friday, the organizers said they would go ahead with their plans despite the fact that Peretz and Ashkenazi had reversed their decision to allow the march. more.. Security forces on high alert for Memorial, Independence Day Amos Harel and Nadav Shragai, Ha’aretz 4/21/2007 Security forces have been placed on high alert for Remembrance and Independence days for fear over terror attacks. A number of suicide bombing alerts have been placed within the Green Line and shooting alerts on West Bank roads for the two-day period. Israel Defense Forces troops killed three Palestinians in the West Bank on Sunday. Two of them, aged 20 and 21, were killed during a fire exchange in the city of Nablus. The third, a 17-year-old, was killed west of Ramallah after throwing a firebomb at an IDF vehicle. Hamas called Sunday for new attacks on Israel after nine Palestinians were killed by Israel Defense Forces troops in a 24-hour surge of violence over the weekend. On Saturday, six Palestinians, including a 17-year-old girl, were killed by IDF and Border Police troops in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, Palestinian sources said. more.. Palestinian militants shot dead BBC Online 4/21/2007 Three Palestinian militants have been shot dead by Israeli troops in the West Bank, local officials have said. Two members of the al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades and one Islamic Jihad member were killed when their car was fired on in the city of Jenin, the sources said. Israel confirmed an undercover unit had fired on the car and hit three men. Hours later, Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip fired three rockets at the southern Israeli town of Sderot, one of them hitting a house. Two people were taken to hospital with light wounds, medical sources told AFP news agency. Four other people were treated for shock at the site,In other violence, a Palestinian policeman was shot dead by Israeli troops near Jenin, Palestinian sources said. And in Gaza, masked gunmen detonated explosives at the American International School in Gaza but no-one was hurt. more.. Hours of attack on Beit Fourik leaves several injured and a home demolished By Nablus) Amin Abu Wardeh, Palestine News Network 4/21/2007 The town of Beit Fourik, east of Nablus City, saw a major Israeli invasion beginning Friday evening and lasting into Saturday morning. Several Palestinians are injured and a house is destroyed. When the Israeli military invaded, young people with stones responded. An active member of the Central Committee of the Popular Struggle Front, and a town resident, reported dozens of military vehicles entering on Friday night. Young people from Beit Fourik began throwing stones and Israeli soldiers opened fire. Several injuries were incurred among residents, including 15 year old Mohammad Iyad Hanni. Palestinian security sources report that Israeli forces surrounded the home of Fadi Rajeh Hanni. Bulldozers plowed through the house, destroying it completely. The Israeli claim is that the military was fired upon from the house. more.. Gunmen blow up part of American school in northern Gaza Strip By News Agencies, Ha’aretz 4/21/2007 Armed assailants set off explosives early Saturday at an international school in northern Gaza, damaging the building but causing no casualties, Palestinian security sources said. The security sources and school officials said the militants detonated three explosive devices in two of the buildings of the school in the northern Gaza Strip. The blast occurred before the start of the school day and no one was injured in the attack. The explosions, which took place at 4 a. m. , caused a fire that burnt most of the furniture at Gaza’s only international school." A large number of masked gunmen attacked the school at dawn. They poured petrol all around and blew up several explosive devices and destroyed some of the premises," said Rebhi Salem, the school’s director. The gunmen identified themselves as an Al-Qaida organization operating in Gaza, Salem said. more.. Palestinians: 6 die in territories; Qassam hits house in Sderot By Zvika Gottlieb, Avi Issacharoff and Amos Harel, Ha’aretz 4/21/2007 Six Palestinians, including a 17-year-old girl, were killed Saturday by Israel Defense Forces and Border Police troops in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, Palestinian sources said. The troops were reportedly searching for the girl’s brother, a wanted Islamic Jihad militant. It is unclear why she remained in the house. Three militants were killed in the city Saturday afternoon, and a policeman was killed earlier in the day in a nearby village. On Saturday night, a 37-year-old Palestinian man was killed and another wounded when an Israel Air Force aircraft fired a missile at a vehicle in the Jabalya refugee camp in the northern Gaza Strip. The Islamic Jihad militant group described the man as a civilian but said he was riding in a car with two other militants, who were seriously wounded. more.. Army invades Kufer Daan near Jenin kills one civilians and abducts several others By Ali Samodi - Translated by Ghassan Bannoura - IMEMC, International Middle East Media Center 4/21/2007 The Israeli army invaded the village of Kufer Daan village west of the northern West Bank city of Jenin, killed one civilian and abducted ten residents, on Saturday morning. Palestinian sources identified the man as Mohamed 'Abed, 23. Resident s of the village reported that ‘Abed, who worked as a Palestinian policeman was hit by three rounds of live ammunition in his head as he was standing on his rooftop. His body was moved to the Jenin governmental hospital. A massive Israeli force invaded the village of Kufer Daan, soldiers took over some homes and turned them to militaryposts. Resistance fighter exchanged fire with the invading forces, eyewitnesses reportedSoldiers also searched and ransacked scores of residents' homes and abducted fifteen civilians and took them to unknown ddestinations. more.. Israeli army invades down town Bethlehem city and abducts three civilians By Najeep Faraj - IMEMC News, International Middle East Media Center 4/21/2007 On Saturday midday a number of Israeli army vehicles along with one unmarked vehicles invaded the down town Bethlehem city in the southern part of the West Bank and abducted two residents. The force stopped a bus then forced people out said, soldiers took ID cards of the passengers and checked them, two local youth were then forced in an army vehicle and were taken away, eyewitnesses reported. The two men were known as Ihsan Al Assa and Na’em Al Assa, both from Obadiya village, located to the east of Bethlehem city Several army jeeps droving around in the city and the two nearby towns of Beit Sahour and Beit Jala, residents stated that the military jeeps caused traffic and used loud speakers to harass people. After some time the Israeli force stormed the village of Obadiya of and surrounded the house of Mohamed Radaidah and abducted him. more.. Undercover Israeli troops assassinate three Palestinian militant operatives Ma’an News Agency 4/21/2007 Jenin - An Israeli undercover unit operating in the northern West Bank city of Jenin on Saturday afternoon has assassinated two Palestinian activists affiliated to the Al-Aqsa Brigades, the main armed wing of the Fatah movement, and a third affiliated to the Al-Quds Brigades of the Islamic Jihad movement Palestinian security sources stated that an undercover Israeli military force infiltrated Jenin and shot dead the three activists near the Jenin girls’ secondary school. The victims were named as Ahmad Al-’Yasa and Abbas Ad-Damj from the Al-Aqsa Brigades, and Mahmoud Abu Jalil from the Al-Quds Brigades. [end] 1 killed, several injured in Gaza Strip shootings Ma’an News Agency 4/21/2007 Gaza - Ma’an - One Palestinian man was killed and five others injured in several shooting incidents throughout the Gaza Strip on Friday and late on Thursday. Palestinian medical sources said that 25-year-old Raed Saeed Abid died after being shot during a family dispute in Ash Shajaiya neighborhood, east of Gaza City. In the same area 60-year-old As’ad Ar Ra’I was injured after being shot in the neck and his condition said to be critical. In the Toffah area in northern Gaza two boys were injured when armed men shot at a wedding party. Another two citizens were injured when they misused their weapons. Security sources claimed that one is a Hamas activist who was injured in the hand by the shrapnel of a hand-grenade at his home in Rafah. The other was shot in the leg with a bullet from his own weapon; he was transported to Al Aqsa hospital in Deir al Balah. [end] Palestinian policeman shot dead by Israeli sniper near Jenin Ma’an News Agency 4/21/2007 Jenin - Ma’an - A Palestinian policeman was killed by Israeli soldiers on Saturday morning when they raided Kafr Dan, west of Jenin. Security sources stated that the Israeli forces launched a campaign of search and arrest in the town in which 10 Palestinians were arrested. Eyewitnesses said that Palestinian policeman, 23-year-old Mohammad Talal Abid, was killed by two bullets; one to the head and one to the heart, shot by an Israeli sniper whilst Abid was on the roof of his home with his brother. He was killed instantly. The witnesses added that the snipers were on a nearby roof when they killed Abid. Two hours after the raid, armed clashes erupted between the Israeli forces and Palestinian fighters, no casualties were reported. [end] Al-Mujahidin Brigade attacks Israeli soldier Ma’an News Agency 4/21/2007 Gaza "“ Ma’an - The Al-Mujahidin ["strugglers"] Brigade, one of Fatah movement’s smaller military wings claimed responsibility on Saturday for shooting an Israeli soldier, near the Sofa crossing in the southern Gaza Strip. In their statement, the brigade affirmed willingness to continue in their resistance "until the Israeli occupation is over". [end] Al Aqsa Brigades target settlers’ cars near Hebron Ma’an News Agency 4/21/2007 Hebron - Ma’an - The Al-Aqsa Brigades, the main armed group affiliated to the Fatah movement on Saturday ambushed two cars belonging to Israeli settlers near Mount Hebron in the southern West Bank In a statement received by Ma’an, the brigades announced that their resistance fighters targeted the settlers’ cars, "and came back safely after injuring and killing settlers". The statement declared that the operation was in retaliation to Israeli assaults against Palestinian people, "specifically the attempts to transform the Al-Aqsa mosque into a purely Jewish site." more.. Israeli military enter Bethlehem, arrest two, ransack homes Ma’an News Agency 4/21/2007 Bethlehem - Ma’an - Israeli forces invaded Bethlehem, Beit Jala and Al-’Ubaydiyya, all in the southern West Bank and apprehended Palestinian citizens on Saturday. Ma’an’s correspondent reported that Israeli military forces arrested Ghassan and Mahmoud Al-’Asa, after intercepting a bus in which they were travelling in the centre of Bethlehem. After that, the Israelis invaded the village of Al-’Ubaydiyya, east of Bethlehem city and ransacked the home of Ghassan Al-’Asa, who was arrested in Bethlehem. Troops performed a room-to-room inspection after evacuating the residents. Palestinian security sources affirmed that over 15 military vehicles took part in the invasion. [end] Palestinian youth threatens to conduct bombing against Palestinian police after illegal car seized Ma’an News Agency 4/21/2007 Ramallah - Ma’an - A Palestinian youth has threatened to detonate an explosive belt and blow himself up in a police station in Ramallah, if the police will not return his illegal car to him. The car was seized during a campaign launched by the Palestinian police in the city. The commander of the police in the territories told Ma’an, "the police forces seized the man’s car as it was a stolen car, during the campaign which the police launched. The citizen then returned to the station with an explosive belt around his waist, threatening to detonate himself if the car was not returned to him." more.. 17 injured during Israeli invasion of Beit Furik in search of ’wanted’ Palestinian Ma’an News Agency 4/21/2007 Nablus - Ma’an - 17 Palestinian citizens were injured on Friday when Israeli forces broke into the town of Beit Furik, east of Nablus, in the northern West Bank. Ma’an’s correspondent reported that the Israeli forces besieged a house belonging to Fadi Hannani, claiming there was a ’wanted’ Palestinian hiding in it. Confrontations erupted between citizens of the town and the Israeli soldiers, the citizens used stones and empty bottles and the soldiers used live ammunition and tear gas. 17 citizens were reportedly injured by rubber bullets and tear gas fumes. more.. PFLP fires a grenade at an Israeli military jeep in northern Gaza By Rami Almeghari - IMEMC & Agencies, International Middle East Media Center 4/20/2007 Abu Ali Mustafa brigades, an offshoot of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) claimed Friday it fired a rocket-propelled grenade at an Israeli military jeep to the north of the Gaza Strip. [end] Fatah-affiliated armed group calls for further capturing of Israeli soldiers Ma’an News Agency 4/20/2007 Gaza - Ma’an - Israel is responsible for the consequences of not releasing the Palestinian prisoners, the spokesman of the Yasser Arafat group, Abu Marwan, warned in a press statement released Friday. This group is part of the Al-Aqsa brigades, which is a collection of armed groups making up Fatah’s armed wing. Abu Marwan called on the military factions to capture more Israeli soldiers in response to Israel’s inaction, adding that his group is already planning to capture further Israeli soldiers. He also denied the media reports that his group is intending to stop its attacks or resistance. more.. Israeli army raids village east of Qalqilya, arrests six men Ma’an News Agency 4/20/2007 Qalqilya - Ma’an - The Israeli forces arrested six Palestinians from ’Azzun, a village east of Qalqilya in the northwest of the occupied West Bank, on Thursday evening. Palestinian security sources said that several Israeli military vehicles broke into the village and stormed several houses before arresting ’Amro ’Ali Abu Haniyeh, Murad Saker Salim, Samir Salim, Iyad Abu Haniyeh, ’Abdullah Abu Haniyeh and Qusai Hamzeh ’Abed Al-Halim Hussein. Qalqilya city and its environs have been subjected to near-daily Israeli arrest raids for the last three weeks. more.. PFLP’s military wing fires grenade at Israeli jeep in northern Gaza Strip Ma’an News Agency 4/20/2007 Gaza - Ma’an - The Abu Ali Mustafa brigades, the military wing of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), have claimed that they fired a rocket-propelled grenade at an Israeli military jeep north of Beit Hanoun, in the north of the Gaza Strip, on Friday at dawn. The brigades assured in a statement for Ma’an that they have the right to continue their resistance. Thy also called all the Palestinian factions to form a unified resistance front to confront the Israeli occupation and their assistants. more..  Diplomacy
Hamas chief issues intifada warning Al Jazeera 4/30/2007 Khaled Meshaal, the Hamas leader, has told Israel that it could face another Palestinian uprising unless conditions in the Gaza Strip and occupied West Bank improve. Meshaal said that the continuation of an international economic embargo of the Palestinian government and military actions by Israel would present a catalyst for such actions. He said that current conditions would "give notice to a huge explosion that would not only affect the Palestinians but also the entire region, especially the Zionist entity". Meshaal made the comments to al-Ayyam, a Palestinian daily newspaper, in an interview published on Monday. Meshaal said: "I warn and say that I see that the current situation is heading in the direction of the conditions that prevailed in the late 1990s. more.. Palestinians balk at demands of kidnappers of BBC man in Gaza The Associated Press, Ha’aretz 4/30/2007 RAMALLAH - The kidnappers of BBC reporter Alan Johnston made new demands in a phone call yesterday, but were turned down, a senior Palestinian government official said. Deputy Prime Minister Azzam al-Ahmed said the kidnappers confirmed that Johnston, seized near his Gaza City apartment on March 12, is in good health. Al-Ahmed said that efforts to win Johnston’s release had reached a sensitive stage. "We hope it will end soon," he said. "If we don’t reach an agreement, the law will take its course," he added, saying the government would use "whatever method" necessary "to end this issue, which has given the Palestinians a bad image." Al-Ahmed said the kidnappers had repeatedly delivered demands in phone calls, most recently yesterday. He described the abductors as a criminal gang, but would not say whether they demanded ransom. He said that the kidnappers have been trying to present the abduction as an ideological act. more.. Hezbollah: Report confirms Israeli confusion in war The Associated Press, Ha’aretz 4/30/2007 BEIRUT - Hezbollah and Lebanese officials were mostly mum yesterday after the Winograd report accused Israel’s wartime leaders of severe failures during last summer’s war in Lebanon. But one Hezbollah official had harsh words for Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and others, saying the report confirmed that Israel’s leaders were in a state of confusion during the 34-day war." The report confirmed the inability of the Israeli political and military leadership to take the appropriate decision to confront Hezbollah during the summer war," said Sheik Hassan Ezzeddine, Hezbollah’s most senior political officer in southern Lebanon. Other Hezbollah officials declined to comment on the report, saying they needed time to carefully read it. A spokesman for Lebanese Prime Minister Fuad Siniora also declined to comment immediately. more.. Various Arab and European countries urge PA to go for early elections Rami Almeghari - IMEMC & Agencies, International Middle East Media Center 4/30/2007 Various Arab and European countries urged President Mahmoud Abbas during the his seven-European countries tour to hold elections early in a bid to end the internationally-imposed economic embargo on the Palestinian Authority. Local Palestinian news agency ’Sama’, reported that a high-ranking Palestinian official, speaking on condition of anonymity, revealed that ’these countries believe that an early election is the solution out of current impasse’. The Islamist Hamas group, described as ’terrorist’ by Israel, United States and European countries, defeated the more moderate Fatah party of Mahmoud Abbas during the January 2006’s parliamentary elections. In late February, Fatah and Hamas established a unity government in a bid to end internal violence and win international recognition. more.. Palestinian deputy-PM expects more pressure on Palestinians in light of Winogard report Rami Almeghari - IMEMC & Agencies, International Middle East Media Center 4/30/2007 Palestinian deputy-prime minister, Azzam Al-Ahmad, expected Monday that more pressure will be exerted on the Palestinians in light of Winogard report over failure of Israeli army in its last summer war on Lebanon. The Winogard report, released Monday, has put much blame on the Israeli Prime Minister, Ehud Olmert, for what the report called ‘Israeli army failure’ during the last summer war on Lebanon. The report also owed the failure to other Israeli army officials, mainly in the military establishment. Al-Ahmad told reporters in Ramallah that the ‘Palestinians will encounter further difficulties, reiterating that the Palestinians ‘had no peace partner. Many voices in Israel have called for the resignation of Olmert in light of the Winogard panel’s report, a matter that would threaten the current Israeli... more.. High-level delegation of European parliamentarians visits the Palestinian territories Ma’an News Agency 4/30/2007 Bethlehem - Ma’an - A high-level European Parliament delegation headed by Mr Kyriacos Triantaphyllides (Cyprus) is visiting the occupied Palestinian territories from 29 April to 4 May 2007. The delegation, which comprises European parliamentarians from seven different EU nations, is expected to meet with high-level representatives of the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC) and the Palestinian government, according to a press release from the European Commission office in Jerusalem. The press release adds that, "The delegation is visiting Palestine at a crucial time following the formation of the Palestinian National Unity Government and the relaunching of the Arab League initiative that have raised hopes for a breakthrough and progress towards a solution of the Palestinian problem." more.. European Commission launches training for Palestinian customs officers at Rafah Ma’an News Agency 4/30/2007 Gaza - Ma’an - The European Commission launched on Sunday its first training programme for Palestinian customs officers at the Rafah crossing between the southern Gaza Strip and Egypt. According to a press release from the European Commission office in Jerusalem, the Palestinian customs department has identified 40 Palestinian officers for this initial training programme. Training will be provided to 10 officers at any one time to ensure the full availability of other staff for normal work at the crossing. The courses will run until late June. Speaking about the programme, Mr. John Kjaer, head of the European Commission Technical Assistance Office said in the press release: "It is vital for the Palestinian people and the economy that the Rafah border functions, as provided for under the Agreement on Movement and Access. more.. Fatah spokesman praises Egyptian delegation Ma’an News Agency 4/30/2007 Khan-Younis - Ma’an – The spokesman of the Fatah movement, Abdulhakim Awwad, has praised "the positive role played by Egyptian authorities in defending the Palestinian people". Awwad stressed that "any attempt to harm our Egyptian brothers, or the security delegation in Gaza, will be harming the Palestinian interest." Awwad also hailed the role of the head of the security delegation, for his efforts in "bridging the gaps between Palestinians in the internal conflict". Earlier today, relatives of Palestinian prisoners in Egyptian jails demonstrated in front of the Egyptian representative office to the PA in the Gaza Strip, and were dispersed by Palestinian presidential security forces, who shot in the air after protestors tried to forcibly enter the building. more.. Syria built underground missile complex - Israeli paper Agence France Presse (AFP, Daily Star 5/1/2007 JERUSALEM: Syria has built a fortified complex buried deep underground and cloaked in secrecy to manufacture and store ballistic missiles capable of striking Israel, an Israeli newspaper said on Monday. The complex includes 30 reinforced concrete bunkers, production facilities, development laboratories and command posts, the mass-selling Yediot Ahronot quoted "foreign experts" as saying, without specifying its location. The "missile city" houses mainly Scud missiles capable of reaching anywhere in Israel. Given its weak air power, Damascus is boosting its arsenal of surface-to-surface missiles and protecting them in the complex, Yediot said. According to the paper, Syria has 200 Scud-B missiles, 60 Scud-C and a certain number of North Korean Scud-D missiles with a range of 700 kilometers, and has developed chemical warheads for all its Scuds. more.. Ex-CIA chief: U.S. must revive Palestinian-Israeli peace effort The Associated Press, Ha’aretz 5/1/2007 In an interview with The Associated Press, Tenet said discussions about Iraq need to be broadened to consider the entire region - with an eye toward "cauterizing and minimizing" Iranian political influence. "The Palestinian-Israeli peace process has to be resuscitated at some point," said Tenet, whose new memoir, "At the Center of the Storm," provides details about his involvement in the peace talks during the Clinton administration. Tenet said Monday that he worries about Iranian influence for a number of reasons, including Iran’s sway over Syria and an influence in Palestinian politics that affects Israeli security. He said U.S. political, diplomatic and economic strength is enormous - and can be used to offset Iranian influence. "We need to look at this region. more.. Palestinians fear for peace talks The Associated Press, Ha’aretz 4/30/2007 RAMALLAH - Senior Palestinian officials worried yesterday that the Winograd report, which charged Prime Minister Ehud Olmert with severe failures in handling last summer’s war in Lebanon, might further complicate delicate Mideast peace efforts by weakening his government. The harsh report, which sparked new calls for Olmert’s resignation, comes at a time when the United States is pushing to revive Israeli-Palestinian peacemaking. Earlier this year, U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice extracted promises from Olmert and Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas to meet twice a month and eventually start talking about the outlines of a peace deal. Also, the Arab world last month renewed its peace initiative, which offers Israel full recognition in return for a full withdrawal to the pre-1967 armistice lines and a solution to the refugee problem. more.. Peace on the wings of the fly Yossi Melman, Ha’aretz 4/30/2007 At a time when talk of an agreement between Israel and the Palestinian Authority sounds like a daydream and nuclear technology is usually mentioned in the context of Iran and the bomb it is trying to develop, there is one project in which a small, pernicious fly and the United Nations’ International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) are involved that is helping to maintain optimism for regional peace in the future. The fly is the Ceratitis capitata, known in English as the Mediterranean fruit fly. It is responsible for extensive trans-border damage to fruit and vegetable crops. As for the IAEA, preventing the proliferation of nuclear weapons is just one of its tasks. The organization also engages in helping countries use atomic know-how and technology for peaceful purposes. more.. Hamas: New Intifada could erupt if West fails to lift embargo Reuters, Ha’aretz 5/1/2007 Meshal told the Palestinian daily al-Ayyam in an interview published on Monday that continuation of a Western economic embargo of the Palestinian government and military actions by Israel would "give notice to a huge explosion that would not only affect the Palestinians but also the entire region, especially the Zionist entity." Meshal also defended the firing of rockets, saying it was a response to Israeli killing of Palestinians, but told al-Ayyam he hoped a ceasefire could be expanded from Gaza to the West Bank. Western powers imposed severe sanctions on the Palestinian Authority after Hamas came to power in March 2006, beating Fatah in parliamentary elections. "I warn and say that I see that the current situation is heading in the direction of the conditions that prevailed in the late 1990s. more.. Hezbollah: Winograd report is proof we were victorious Yoav Stern, Ha’aretz 5/1/2007 Hezbollah on Monday hailed a report into the Second Lebanon War, which accused the Israeli leadership of serious failures during the conflict, calling it proof that the guerilla group had been "victorious" in the summer fighting. The 34-day war was triggered by a July 12 Hezbollah cross-border attack in which two Israel Defense Forces soldiers were abducted and eight others killed. "The Winograd report stressed that Hezbollah was victorious and that Israel is beatable," a senior spokesman for the Iranian-backed group told the organization’s Al-Manar television channel. Nawaf Musawi, head of international relations for Hezbollah, called the war a "divine victory" against Israel. He said that the report proves that senior Israeli officials had underestimated Hezbollah’s power, adding that "no one will take us... more.. German weekly: Olmert believes 1,000 missiles will hurt Iran nukes; PMO denies Assaf Uni, Ha’aretz 4/29/2007 The Prime Minister’s Office yesterday denied that Ehud Olmert had told a German magazine Iran’s disputed nuclear program could be severely hit by firing 1,000 cruise missiles during a 10-day attack. The weekly news magazine Focus said its reporter, Amir Taheri, asked Prime Minister Ehud Olmert in an interview whether military action would be an option if Iran continued to defy the United Nations. It quoted Olmert as responding: "Nobody is ruling it out. "It is impossible perhaps to destroy the entire nuclear program but it would be possible to damage it in such a way that it would be set back years," Focus quoted Olmert as saying. "It would take 10 days and would involve the firing of 1,000 Tomahawk cruise missiles," it quoted him as saying. more.. Head of negotiations: there is nothing called ’freedom of movement for security’ Ramallah - Rashid Hilal, Palestine News Network 4/28/2007 Dr. Sa’eb Erekat told PNN this afternoon that there is no test project between Palestinians and Israelis referred to as "freedom of movement for security." The head of Negotiations Affairs in the Palestine Liberation Organization was responding to questions about a report published in the Israeli daily Har’aretz which suggested that the United States had created a specific exchange plan as a test. Dr. Erekat said, "There is nothing called ’freedom of movement for security. ’ We asked the American side to help us remove the barriers and have freedom of movement for Palestinians at the crossing points through timetables." He pointed out that the issue of "security" was not only for the Palestinians to provide. The Israelis are required to provide security for the Palestinians and to commit to a period of ’calm. more.. EU Parliament Delegation Visits Palestine Palestine News Agency - WAFA, International Middle East Media Center 4/29/2007 A high-level European Parliament delegation started today a six-day visit to Palestine. The delegation, headed by Mr Kyriacos Triantaphyllides (Cyprus), would discuss the relaunching of the Arab League initiative that have raised hopes for a breakthrough and progress towards a solution of the Palestinian problem, the European Commission office in Jerusalem stated. The delegation, headed by Mr Kyriacos Triantaphyllides (Cyprus), would discuss the relaunching of the Arab League initiative that have raised hopes for a breakthrough and progress towards a solution of the Palestinian problem, the European Commission office in Jerusalem stated. During the visit, would end on May 4, the delegation will discuss this and various aspects of the problem with high-level representatives of the Palestinian Legislative Council and the Palestinian Government. more.. Israeli PM says Israel might launch a military attack on Gaza Rami Almeghari - IMEMC & Agencies, International Middle East Media Center 4/29/2007 Israeli Prime Minister, Ehuld Olmert, said Israel might carry out a ground attack on the Gaza Strip, Israeli media sources reported Sunday. The sources said that the Israeli PM sent out messages to international mediators, hinting that ‘Israel has no interest in escalating the situation on the ground in Gaza, but it can not ignore continued Qassam homemade shells fire and what he termed ‘attempted infiltration by Palestinian groups into Israeli-controlled territories. Ghabi Ashkenazi, chief of staff of the Israeli army and chief of interior intelligence service ( Shen Bit) Yuval Diskin, will shortly submit an assessment for the situation in Gaza to the Israeli parliament (Knesset), the sources revealed. They also pointed out that the Israeli cabinet members will discuss possible increase of transportation... more.. Israel threatens ’steps’ to curb rocket fire Daily Star 4/30/2007 Prime Minister Ehud Olmert warned Sunday that Israel would be forced to act if Palestinian militants continue to fire rockets, as Egypt suspended negotiations on a prisoner swap in an attempt to salvage a truce between the two sides. Violence at the Israel-Gaza frontier has increased in recent days since militants of the ruling Hamas faction declared a five-month cease-fire to be over last week after Israel killed nine Palestinians in clashes in the occupied West Bank. On Sunday, soldiers killed three Hamas members in a clash near the Gaza Strip border fence and Palestinians fired one rocket at Israel. After consulting with top security officials during the week, Olmert said he decided against a large offensive in Gaza, giving one last chance to preserve the truce. more.. Hamas chief says attacks on Israel are ’legitimate resistance’ DPA, Ha’aretz 4/30/2007 Meshal, in comments after talks between Egyptian and Palestinian leaders in Cairo on Saturday, said that "firing rockets (at Israeli territory) is the right of the Palestinian people, and a matter of legitimate resistance against the occupier." As to whether "the rockets" are also meant to put pressure on Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, Meshal only said that exerting "internal pressure" is not part of his group’s policy. "We want dialogue in internal and external issues (with Abbas)," he added. Meshal, during a joint press conference with Arab League chief Amr Moussa, urged Arab countries and the international community to take immediate steps to lift the economic embargo or else the situation in the Palestinian territories "will explode. more.. Palestinian factions assert their right to retaliate and refute accusations of "gambling" Ma’an News Agency 4/29/2007 Gaza "“ Ma’an "“ Several Palestinian resistance factions on Sunday affirmed their right to retaliate to Israeli military operations, rejecting the statement of the head of the Egyptian security delegation, who depicted the launching of homemade projectiles at Israeli targets as "a lost gamble". The spokesperson of the Hamas movement, Ismail Radwan, said "resistance is not gambling, but a legal right for the Palestinian people, secured by all international laws and conventions." He told Ma’an "the Palestinian factions adhered to the ceasefire for a sufficient time, yet the Israelis broke it and so they are to blame for their aggressive actions." Radwan affirms that as long as the Israelis violate the ceasefire, the homemade projectiles will continue to land on Israeli towns. more.. PLO leader concludes British visit Ma’an News Agency 4/28/2007 Bethlehem - Ma’an "“ The head of the political dept of the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO), Farouq al Qaddoumi has concluded his four-day visit to the United Kingdom. During his visit, he has been assisting with the preparations for the European Palestinian Diaspora conference, to be held in the Netherlands in May. During his visit to Britain, Qaddoumi met with parliamentarians supportive of the Palestinian cause, and with Palestinian community and other solidarity committees. Qaddoumi presented a lecture about the Palestinian political arena, which was coordinated by representatives of British political parties. He stressed the importance of the release of BBC reporter Alan Johnston. He stressed the necessity to reach "a just, comprehensive and durable peace" in the region, saying "the Arab initiative... more.. Mash’al warns: "Palestinians cannot tolerate the prevailing situation and it may blow up" Ma’an News Agency 4/28/2007 Bethlehem "“ Ma’an "“ Head of the Hamas politburo, Khaled Mash’al, warned of the continuation of the crippling economic embargo and Israeli attacks on the Palestinian people. Mash’al said that Israeli measures seek to block any political horizon between Israel and Palestinians. He said that Israel aims to corner Palestinians in order to force them to make more concessions. "The Palestinians," Mash’al says, "will not tolerate the prevailing situation and it may blow up." Mash’al spoke to the press following his meeting with the Secretary General of the Arab League, Amr Mousa. He says "after the Mecca agreement was signed, the unity government was composed and the Arab Summit has made decisions, everyone is looking forward to lifting the siege imposed on the Palestinian people, yet it is moving in slow motion. more.. Gordon Brown pledges support for Israel Ma’an News Agency 4/28/2007 Bethlehem - Ma’an - British Chancellor of the Exchequer, Gordon Brown, has confirmed that he will always support Israel. Brown is expected to succeed Tony Blair as next leader of the Labour party. Brown was speaking at a dinner reception organized by a Jewish community in London. The possible leader of the future British government pledged that Britain will never bargain its friendship to Israel, regardless of any political benefits, which will not be parallel what he described as "ethics and principles". The Jewish Chronicle newspaper reported that Brown commended the role of the Jewish Rabbi of the UK; Sir Jonathan Sax. Arab observers in London said that Brown will be continuing Blair’s policy of supporting Israel. [end] Palestinian Legislative Council to discuss humanitarian crisis with EU delegation Jerusalem - Alix de Mauny, Palestine News Network 4/29/2007 A high-level European Parliament delegation headed by Kyriacos Triantaphyllides of Cyprus will arrive today and stay until 4 May. The visit to Palestine comes at a crucial time following the formation of the Palestinian national unity government and the relaunching of the Arab League have raised hopes for a breakthrough and progress towards a solution to the Palestinian situation. The delegation will discuss this and various aspects of the problem of living under Israeli occupation with high-level representatives of the Palestinian Legislative Council and the Palestinian Government. The European Parliamentarianswill reiterate the position that the killing of and attacks on civilians is only increasing tensions and is jeopardizing prospects for solution. more.. Syrian families are asking that the UN get their children out of Israeli prisons Nablus - Palestine News Network, Palestine News Network 4/29/2007 The families of Syrians in Israeli jails are demanding the release of their children. Directed to the United Nations, today’s call demanded that the "UN move to support our children and stop the Israeli crimes against them, lift the pressure they are under, and work for their release." A letter was penned to Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and delivered via the UN representative in Damascus. "Urgent intervention is needed to reduce the suffering of the prisoners, to save their lives from slow death, and to achieve their full freedom." In the short-term, requests were made for proper medical care and the removal of the glass partition during visiting. The ongoing issue for political prisoners in Israeli jails is the utter lack of medical care, the inadequacy, or the indifference of prison administrations to allow it in a timely fashion. more.. Palestinians attend ’Building Partnership to Limit the Danger of Natural Disasters’ workshop Ma’an News Agency 4/28/2007 Cairo "“ Ma’an "“ A Palestinian delegation has taken part in a Middle East and north African regional workshop entitled ’Building Partnership to Limit the Danger of Natural Disasters’. The workshop was held in Cairo from the 18th to the 21st of April. Palestine was represented by the director of the Earth Sciences and Seismic Engineering Centre (ESSEC) at An Najah National University, Dr Jalal Dabeek, the Palestinian civil defence, represented by Sami Hamdan and Walid Al-Qirm. Several international institutions and organizations took part in the workshop such as the United Nations and the World Bank, among others. Dr Dabeek said that Palestinian participation was of major importance, and among the subjects discussed were the strengths and weaknesses of Palestinian society and institutions. more.. EU Commissioner Louis Michel calls for preservation of humanitarian space in Middle East Jerusalem - Alix de Mauny, Palestine News Network 4/27/2007 Louis Michel, the European Commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Aid, is assessing the humanitarian situation in the Middle East, in the context of a five day visit to the region. In a speech on the humanitarian dimension of the Middle East Peace Process, delivered today at a conference in Jerusalem, the Commissioner underlined the need for all parties involved to respect the core element of international humanitarian law, the protection of civilians. In particular, he recalled the need to ensure access to the victims of conflict, and urged all parties to respect the humanitarian space. "I am more and more worried by the constant infringement of international humanitarian law", said the EU Commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Aid, just a few weeks before the 40th anniversary of the occupation of the Palestinian territory. more.. EU refuses to lift boycott of Palestinian government Rory McCarthy in Jerusalem, The Guardian 4/27/2007 The European Union said today it would not lift a boycott of the Hamas-dominated Palestinian government, despite warnings from aid organisations that the structure of a future Palestinian state is being severely eroded. Since the formation of a new Palestinian unity government two months ago, some countries have begun to take a more open approach, either recognising it or promising to restart direct funding. But the EU, which makes the largest donation to the Palestinians, has yet to lift its boycott despite growing differences between member states." There is no change as long as you have in the government a party that refuses to leave its armed wing and armed action," Louis Michel, the EU aid commissioner, said today. "We cannot deal with people who have an armed wing. more.. EU hints at additional aid for Palestinians, but embargo stays in effect to pressure Hamas Daily Star 4/28/2007 Haniyya condemns continuing sanctions as ’political blackmail’ The European Union is likely to increase aid to the Palestinians this year, the bloc’s aid commissioner said on Friday. Though he saw signs of "movement" from Hamas on EU political demands, Commissioner Louis Michel said the European bloc would maintain its embargo on all but vital humanitarian aid until the Islamist movement meets conditions that include recognizing Israel and renouncing violence. Michel said he believed there was some willingness on the part of Hamas leaders to meet three conditions laid down by foreign donors for a resumption of full funding - recognition of Israel, renouncing violence and accepting previous peace deals. "I think there are some moves... and we must recognize that," he said, but insisted there would be no softening of the EU embargo before the conditions were met. more.. EU: "Aid to the Palestinians will bypass unity government" Saed Bannoura - IMEMC & Agencies, International Middle East Media Center 4/27/2007 The European Union stated that its aid will bypass the Palestinian National Unity Government until it accepts the conditions of the Quartet committee. The statement was made by the EU aid commissioner, Louis Michel, during his Thursday meeting with the Israeli Foreign Minister, Tzipi Livni, Reuters reported. Michel stated that the sanctions imposed on the occupied Palestinian territories have caused a sharp deterioration of the Palestinian situation. He added that until the Palestinian Unity Government officially meets the demands of the Quartet, the process of providing aid to the Palestinians will not change. After the Palestinians formed the unity government, dominated by Hamas and Fateh, the Palestinian leadership was hoping that the major donors and the EU would lift the year-old sanctions that were imposed... more.. Abbas: Calm restored in Gaza, no justification for Israeli assault Haaretz Staff and Agencies, Ha’aretz 4/27/2007 Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas said Thursday that calm had returned to Gaza and he appealed for Israel to refrain from embarking on a large-scale military operation in the coastal strip. "There is a truce between us and the Israelis, which was impinged on," he told reporters during a trip to Geneva. "We don’t want... to lay blame on who impinged on the cease-fire, but the important thing is that there is calm and there is nothing there to justify an assault on Gaza." The Prime Minister’s Office issued a statement Wednesday saying Israel would not carry out a large-scale ground offensive in the Gaza Strip. A spokeswoman for the prime minister, however, warned Israel’s patience was wearing thin. "Israel will not be restrained forever," said Miri Eisin. more.. Israel said seeking expanded role for EU at Gaza-Egypt crossing Associated Press, Ha’aretz 4/28/2007 Israel has asked the European Union to expand the powers of its monitors at Gaza’s border crossing with Egypt to help prevent militants from bringing in money and equipment, EU diplomats said on Friday. "There is some flexibility" to negotiate the mandate of the monitors, said a senior EU official involved in talks, a month before the expiry of the current mandate at the border. But the official said the bloc would not accept changes that transform the monitoring mission into one with expansive executive powers. European and Israeli officials sought to play down any discord, but one Western diplomat involved in the matter said preparations were under way in case the EU decided to pull the monitors out of the Rafah crossing with Egypt altogether. more.. UNIFIL rejects Lebanese Army claim of Israeli incursion in South Daily Star 4/28/2007 South Korea to dispatch UN contingent to Lebanon in July TYRE: UN peacekeepers in South Lebanon denied on Friday reports a day earlier that Israeli foot soldiers had crossed the border. Milos Strugar, spokesman for the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), said an Israeli patrol had come close to the border "but did not cross the Blue Line." UNIFIL did receive at "around half past noon on Thursday" a report claiming that an Israeli patrol "had crossed into Southern Lebanon near the villages of Kfar Shouba and Shebaa," according to Strugar. "As soon as we received the report UNIFIL immediately dispatched a unit to document the violation, as well as a group of technical experts to ascertain facts," Struger said. The Lebanese Army had said in a Thursday statement that a 10-member Israeli patrol... more.. Report: Haniyeh to visit Switzerland in first official state visit Haaretz Service, Ha’aretz 4/28/2007 Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh will visit Switzerland in May in what will be his first official state visit to Europe since becoming prime minister, according to a report in the French news agency AFP released Friday. The report stated that a date has still not been set for the trip. Ten days ago, Palestinian Information Minister Mustafa Barghouti said that China and Switzerland informed Palestinian officials that they would meet with the new unity government, a coalition of the Islamic militant Hamas and the moderate Fatah movement. "We appreciate the position of China and Switzerland, the states that informed us that they are going to deal with our government, without any discrimination between its members," said Barghouti. Many other countries have said they would meet with only meet with non-Hamas members of the Cabinet. more.. Minister of Social Affairs meets French general-consul Moeen Shaheed - IMEMC, International Middle East Media Center 4/28/2007 Palestinian Minister of Social Affairs, Saleh Zeidan, met in Gaza on Thursday evening with the French general-consul in Jerusalem, Alain Remy, and discussed with him the latest developments in the Palestinian arena, and the national unity government. Remy stated that the French government supports the Palestinian National Unity Government, and the efforts that aim to lift the international embargo imposed on the Palestinians and their government. Meanwhile, Zeidan told Remy that the Israeli threats to invade the Gaza Strip are causing further escalation in the area, and demanded the European Union to take practical measures to stop the Israeli aggressions in the occupied territories. Zeidan added that the Palestinian government calls for a bigger French role in lifting the siege, especially since France has. more.. P.A Information minister visits Spain, meets Moratinos Naseer Faleh – IMEMC, International Middle East Media Center 4/28/2007 Spanish Foreign Minister, Miguel Angel Moratinos, welcomed at the Spanish Foreign Ministry, the Palestinian Minister of Information, Dr. Mustafa Barghouthi, Who is also the official spokesperson of the Palestinian National Unity Government. The meeting is considered a positive step towards the European position regarding dealing with the Palestinian unity government. Barghouthi stated that the meeting focused on the harsh conditions that the Palestinian residents are facing under the siege, and Israel’s withholding of Palestinian tax revenues in addition to the Israeli attacks and invasions into the Palestinian areas. He added that he explained to Moratinos the agenda of the unity government, and the initiatives made by the Palestinians during the past period, including the prisoner swap initiative and the initiative which calls for a parallel truce with Israel. more.. New football stadium in Bethlehem’s Al Khader donated by Portuguese Palestine News Network, Palestine News Network 4/27/2007 A new international football stadium will be inaugurated on Monday in the southwestern Bethlehem town of Al Khader. It was funded by Portugal, through the Portuguese Institute for Cooperation for Development (IPAD). The stadium represents an offer from Portugal to Palestinian athletes sports enthusiasts. It cost around two million dollars to build, can host 6,000 spectators, has a synthetic pitch, illumination and is certified by FIFA. The inauguration ceremony, under the patronage of President Mahmoud Abbas, will begin with a march by the local scouts who will carry both the Portuguese and Palestinian flags. The two national anthems will be performed. The ceremony will include speeches by the Minister of Tourism, Dr. Khaloud D’eibes, who will represent the President. more.. Iranian official says Iran will strike U.S., Israel if attacked News Agencies, Ha’aretz 4/27/2007 Iran will strike U.S. interests around the world and Israel if attacked over its disputed nuclear program, a senior official was quoted on Thursday by the official IRNA news agency as saying. "Nowhere would be safe for America with (Iran’s) long-range missiles... we can fire tens of thousands of missiles every day," said Mohammad Baqer Zolghadr, the deputy interior minister in security affairs. ’With long-range missiles Iran can also threaten Israel as America’s ally. ’ Iran says its Shahab-3 missile with a range of 1,250 miles (2,000 km) is capable of hitting Israel and U.S. bases in the Gulf. Iran’s top nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani and European Union foreign and security policy chief Javier Solana on Thursday described their latest set of meetings as "positive" with both sides saying they were working towards a diplomatic solution to defuse the nuclear dispute. more.. Sinai Bedouin seek entry into Israel after clash with Egyptian police Reuters, Ha’aretz 4/27/2007 Hundreds of Egyptian Sinai Bedouin massed at the border with Israel on Thursday seeking entry to Israel a day after two Bedouin men died in a police chase, security sources and witnesses said. The security sources said Egyptian police were monitoring the tribesmen from a distance but had not approached them, as a significant number of them were armed. The massing at the border came a day after many Bedouin took to the streets and set fire to dozens of tires in anger over the death of two Sinai Bedouin men on Wednesday in a chase with Egyptian police. Security sources said the two men had exchanged fire with police after driving through a checkpoint in a pick-up truck with no license plates. Tribal sources said the Bedouin headed to the border fearing a police crackdown and a wave of arrests after Wednesday’s deaths and protests. more.. Erekat: we appreciate Egyptian efforts to stabalize ’calm’ and put international pressure on Israel Ramallah - Rashid Hilal, Palestine News Network 4/26/2007 Egyptian security and diplomatic efforts are underway to prevent Israeli forces from fully invading the Gaza Strip. Head of Negotiations Affairs in the Palestine Liberation Organization, Dr. Sa’eb Erekat, stressed the importance of stabilizing the "cease-fire" between the Israeli military and armed Palestinian resistance. Dr. Erekat told PNN on Thursday, "We highly appreciate the Egyptian efforts to prevent any further military operation carried out by Israel in the Gaza Strip. Israel should know that its threats lead to an expansion of the cycle of violence and will only bring destruction." The Israeli government has used the Palestinian armed resistance practice of launching projectiles from the Gaza Strip as its pretext to continue air and ground attacks, and have threatened more. more.. Peres: Israel, Croatia keen to nurture ties after past tensions AP, Ha’aretz 4/26/2007 Israel’s Vice Premier Shimon Peres said Thursday his country and Croatia were keen to nurture mutual relations, after years of Israel shunning the Balkan country because of past nationalism reminiscent of its World War II regime. Peres said ties between the two nations are in very good shape. "I think both governments are very interested in having (the relations) developed into something serious and important for the future", he told reporters before meeting Croatian Prime Minister Ivo Sanader and President Stipe Mesic. Israel recognized Croatia’s independence from the former Yugoslavia in 1992, but established diplomatic ties only five years later - after the late President Franjo Tudjman deleted sections from his book that questioned the number of Holocaust victims. more.. Abbas: Hamas truce violations are an exception, won’t continue Haaretz Service and Reuters, Ha’aretz 4/25/2007 Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas said Tuesday that Hamas’ violation of the five-month-old Gaza Strip cease-fire was an exception and would not be repeated, calling on Israel to show restraint in order to avoid a security deterioration." The violation of the truce is an exceptional event that will not last," said Abbas at a news conference with Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi in Rome." I take this opportunity to appeal to Israel to show the necessary self-control so that this will not happen again." Palestinian militants fired a barrage of rockets at southern Israel on Tuesday in what the army said was part of an attempt by Hamas to kidnap an Israel Defense Forces soldier. Hamas militants claimed responsibility for rocket fire for the first time since the Gaza Strip cease-fire took effect. more.. Ban to raise issue of Shebaa Farms at UN Mohammed Zaatari, Daily Star 4/26/2007 NAQOURA: The spokesperson of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), Milos Strugar, said Wednesday that UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon is expected to raise the issue of the occupied Shebaa Farms in his next report to the UN Security Council." UNIFIL geographical as well typographical experts are currently studying maps of the Farms and will compile their reports shortly after," Strugar added. Prime Minister Fouad Siniora had suggested during a visit to Egypt earlier this week that the Shebaa Farms be placed under the control of the United Nations until a peace agreement is reached between Lebanon, Syria, and Israel. The Shebaa Farms is a small area of disputed ownership located on the border between Lebanon and the Syrian Golan Heights which Israel captured concurrent to capturing the Golan Heights from Syria during the1967 war. more.. Hammad: Israeli government’s escalation is an exercise to avoid Arab Initiative and "peace process" Ramallah - Rashid Hilal, Palestine News Network 4/25/2007 Political Advisor to President Abbas, Nimer Hammad, told PNN on Wednesday afternoon that the policy of escalation pursued by the Israeli government is designed to avoid accepting the Arab Peace Initiative or from moving forward with the "peace process." Over the course of the last weeks and months Israeli forces have increased the assassinations and killings in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, including members of the armed resistance, police officers, and teenagers. Hammad said that it became apparent long ago that the Israelis were "increasing the practices of killings, incursions and arrests, particularly in the West Bank." He told PNN today that the escalation is "designed to entice reactions in order to provide a cover for the Israeli government’s desire to avoid dealing positively with the Arab Peace Initiative..." more.. European Commission: Wall has provoked a serious decline in living conditions Jerusalem - Alix de Mauny, Palestine News Network 4/25/2007 The European Commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Aid, Louis Michel, is today in the Palestinian Territories to meet with civilian victims on all sides of the conflict and to reaffirm Europe’s solidarity. This solidarity is expressed by significant financial support from the European Commission, one of the world’s major donors. For 2007, The Commission has pledged a €60million. This afternoon, the Commissioner will meet with Mr Azzam Al-Ahmad, the Deputy Prime Minister of the Palestinian Authority." Today, the humanitarian situation in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip is increasingly worrying. The conflict, constant infringements of international humanitarian law, the restrictions on movement of people and products, as well as the construction of the security barrier have provoked a serious decline in living conditions. more.. Abbas: Mideast peace can pacify ’all flash points in the world’ The Associated Press, Ha’aretz 4/25/2007 Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas on Monday said a resolution to the Israeli Palestinian conflict would pacify all major conflicts around the world. Speaking in Athens after talks Monday with Greek Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis, Abbas said, "Everyone recognizes that peace in the Middle East and a resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict can put out the fires at all the flash points in the world." Abbas also appealed to the international community to lift an aid embargo imposed on the Palestinian Authority after Hamas came into power, saying the sanctions hurt prospects for peace in the Middle East." If the international community wants to help us, it must lift this embargo so that we can lead a normal life," Abbas said. "We are requesting that the embargo be lifted." more.. Report: Israel, Hezbollah to complete prisoner swap by summer’s end Yoav Stern, Ha’aretz 4/25/2007 An United Arab Emirates newspaper said Wednesday that a prisoner exchange between Israel and Hezbollah, which will include the two Israel Defense Forces soldiers held by the Lebanese-based guerilla group, will be concluded by the end of the summer. Al-Ittihad said that the talks on the swap for the two soldiers are at the stage of "determining names." It is impossible to determine the veracity of the report, which came from the paper’s reporter in Beirut and credits political sources. According to the report, Iranian-backed Hezbollah has requested the release by Israel of Lebanese, Syrian, Jordanian and Palestinian prisoners, in return for IDF reservists Eldad Regev and Ehud Goldwasser, who were snatched during a patrol along the border with Lebanon in July 2006. more.. Husband of Israeli diplomat shot; criminal motive suspected Yoav Stern, Ha’aretz 4/25/2007 The husband of a senior Israeli diplomat in Houston was shot and wounded by his neighbor Monday, in what the Foreign Ministry in Jerusalem said was not a politically-motivated incident. The ministry said he was taken to a nearby hospital, and is in stable condition. The incident occurred when Deputy Consul-General Belaynesh Zevadia was at the Houston consulate, and their daughter was at preschool. According to an initial investigation, Zevadia’s husband, Serkalem, opened the door after hearing knocking and was shot by the neighbor. The gunman later went downstairs and shot the building’s superintendent, killing her. He then took his own life. In the incident, the superintendent of the apartment building where the shooting took place was killed, and shortly thereafter the gunman committed suicide. more.. Ceasefire under threat after Israeli raids kill nine The Guardian 4/23/2007 A five-month ceasefire between Israelis and Palestinians in Gaza was today under threat after weekend Israeli army raids killed nine people, including a Palestinian teenager. Hamas called for retaliatory attacks and attempted to rally other Palestinian militant groups in a new offensive." The blood of our people is not cheap," it said in a statement calling on Palestinians to unite and "use all possible means of resistance and to respond to the massacres". The Palestinian president, Mahmoud Abbas, has been urged by some in his own Fatah party to break off ties with the Israeli government in response to the bloodshed." The Arab and the Palestinian leadership should evaluate the contacts with [Ehud] Olmert’s government and reconsider these contacts and meetings," Abdel Hakim Alwad, a Fatah spokesman, said. more.. Hamas shoots back at Israel, calls end to five-month truce Daily Star 4/25/2007 The armed wing of Hamas declared an end to a five-month-old Gaza cease-fire Tuesday by firing rockets into Israel in retaliation for deadly Israeli raids in the Occupied Territories, but the Palestinian government led by the Islamist group called for the shaky truce to be restored. The movement’s armed wing said it fired the rockets from the Gaza Strip in response to the killing of nine Palestinians over the weekend by Israeli forces. There was no immediate Israeli government response to the rocket fire. Israeli Premier Ehud Olmert will meet with his senior security advisers Wednesday to consider their options, Israel Radio reported. Army sources told the Haaretz newspaper that any Israeli military response would be limited." There is no calm between us and the occupation. The occupation ended the calm," Abu Ubaida, spokesman for Hamas’ armed wing, the Izz al-Deen al-Qassam Brigades, said... more.. Cracks in unity as Hamas ends ceasefire Rory McCarthy in Jerusalem, The Guardian 4/24/2007 The first public signs of division within the Hamas movement emerged today when the armed wing of the Palestinian Islamist movement fired rockets from Gaza into Israel and announced the end of a ceasefire. A spokesman for the Hamas-dominated government, however, said it wanted the ceasefire with Israel, which has lasted six months, to continue. Several mortars and crude rockets were fired early today from the Gaza Strip as Israelis celebrated their 59th Independence Day. Nobody was injured, but for the first time since the November ceasefire, Hamas claimed responsibility. Dozens of homemade Qassam rockets have been fired out of Gaza in recent months, but by other militant groups...." The ceasefire has been over for a long time, and Israel is responsible for that..." more.. Olmert vows not to repeat ’past mistakes’ of prisoner swaps Haaretz Service, Ha’aretz 4/24/2007 Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, telling bereaved families of terror victims Monday that their feelings would be taken into account in seeking the release of captured soldiers, pledged not to repeat "mistakes made in the past," when terrorists freed in exchange deals again engaged in deadly attacks on Israelis. Israel came to a standstill for two minutes earlier in the morning, as sirens wailed and Israelis stood at attention to honor the dead. Official ceremonies were held in 43 military cemeteries throughout the country, attended by government ministers, MKs, officers and bereaved families. Addressing the memorial service for victims of terror, Olmert said that "in the range of heavy and agonizing considerations involved, there is, of course, an honorable place for consideration of your feelings and those of the bereaved families, the victims of acts of hatred and terror." more.. PLO: Israeli forces looking for way out of negotiations by attacking Palestinians PLO - DAIR, Palestine News Network 4/23/2007 With formation of the Palestinian National unity government, the 19th Arab summit have agreed that the Arab Peace Initiative is the key towards a dialogue with Israel in order to reach a comprehensive Peace agreement and to establish the independent Palestinian state on the 1967 borders. Israel on the other side is using all its power to divert away from its obligations towards peace. The latest Israeli military invasions against Gaza strip, Jenin, and Nablus leaves the Palestinians and Arabs with no partner in their serious search for Peace; the Israeli government is escalating its terror in an attempt to bring the Palestinian unity government to a deadlock and to minimize any positive impacts for President Abbass efforts to break the International siege against the Palestinians. more.. Livingstone urges Johnston’s release The Guardian 4/24/2007 Ken Livingstone has told an Arab TV station that the kidnap of Alan Johnston was a "catastrophic miscalculation" that has robbed Gaza of one of its best reporters. Speaking during an appeal on London-based TV channel al-Hiwar last night, the mayor of London said that the only thing the Palestinian people needed was for the truth to be reported." His abduction was a catastrophe. If you wanted to find a better person whose abduction could damage the Palestinian cause, you couldn’t find anyone better to do the job," he added. Mr Livingstone appealed to the kidnappers directly on al-Hiwar, which has around 2 million viewers across Europe, the Middle East and north Africa." Look what you have done. Instead of the foreign media continuing to report on the situation in Palestine, the media focus has been shifted to the story of the kidnapping," he said. more.. U.S. State Department Pushes for Palestinian Resettlement Khody Akhavi, Inter Press Service 4/25/2007 WASHINGTON, Apr 24(IPS) - U.S. State Department officials confirmed this week that they have been in discussions with Israel and the Kurdish regional government about possible resettlement solutions for the estimated 15,000 Palestinian refugees currently stranded in Iraq. "At this point, we have had no positive response, but we continue to work on this," said Ellen Sauerbrey, Assistant Secretary of the State Department’s Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration, during a press briefing. "There is no question that this is the most vulnerable population, and that they have no place to go." The security of Palestinian refugees in Iraq has deteriorated dramatically since the U.S. -led invasion in 2003. Palestinians and human rights officials say members of the group, who are predominantly Sunni, are being targeted with violence, harassment, and eviction from their homes... more.. EU’s Commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Aid to visit Palestine Jerusalem) Alix de Mauny, Palestine News Network 4/24/2007 The following is a statement from the European Commission Technical Assistance Office: Louis Michel to visit the Middle East to assess the humanitarian situation Louis Michel, the EU’s Commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Aid, will visit the Middle East from April 25-29 taking in Israel, the Palestinian Territories, Jordan and Syria. He will assess, at first hand, the humanitarian situation in the region which hosts one of the biggest refugee and displaced population in the world. He will notably visit camps of Palestinian and Iraqi refugees. Michel will also have discussions with the Commission’s implementing partners in the provision of relief assistance. He will also meet leading politicians in the region and deliver a speech on the humanitarian dimension of the Middle-East Peace Process at a conference on humanitarian issues. more.. EU foreign ministers discuss Middle East Palestine News Network, Palestine News Network 4/24/2007 The Middle East was one of the major items discussed at the European Union foreign ministers meeting in Luxembourg on Monday and Tuesday. Ministers welcomed the 29 March Arab League summit’s peace initiative and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Ohmert’s "positive reaction" to it. They said that they looked forward to an early meeting of the Quartet, which they invited "to lead an effort by the international community for successful negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians on the basis of the Road Map and to reach a comprehensive settlement of the Israeli-Arab conflict." They also welcomed the intention of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Prime Minister Ohmert to meet regularly, which they hoped "will soon lead to meaningful negotiations on the final status." more.. U.S. had emergency plan for attacking Israel in 1967 Amir Oren, Ha’aretz 4/25/2007 For some time, the United States had had an emergency plan to attack Israel, a plan updated just prior to the 1967 war, aimed at preventing Israel from expanding westward, into Sinai, or eastward, into the West Bank. In May 1967, one of the U.S. commands was charged with the task of removing the plan from the safe, refreshing it and preparing for an order to go into action. This unknown aspect of the war was revealed in what was originally a top-secret study conducted by the Institute for Defense Analyses in Washington. Thefull storyis detailed in Haaretz’ Independence Day Supplement. In February 1968, an institute expert, L. Weinstein, wrote an article called "Critical Incident No. 14," about the U.S. involvement in the Middle East crisis of May-June 1967. Only 30 copies of his study were printed for distribution. more.. Obama reassures Jewish voters about Muslim ties Jerusalem Post 4/25/2007 US Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama on Tuesday tried to reassure Jewish voters concerned about his Muslim ties that he has "unwavering" commitment to Israel’s security. Speaking to the National Jewish Democratic Council, Obama said his experience living in Indonesia for four years as a child could make him a better president. "If I go to Jakarta and address the largest Muslim country on earth, I can say, `Apa kabar,’ - you know, `How are you doing? ’ - and they can recognize that I understand their common humanity," Obama said. "That is a strength, and it allows me to say things to them that other presidents might not be able to say. And that’s part of what’s promising, I think, about this presidency." Obama’s stepfather was Indonesian, and the future senator lived in the country from ages 6-10. more.. UN envoy asks Israel for records of cluster bomb strikes Report, Electronic Intifada 4/22/2007 JERUSALEM, 22 April 2007 (IRIN) - A UN envoy has asked Israel to hand over detailed electronic records of its cluster bomb strikes on southern Lebanon last summer to help munitions-clearing teams with their task. Radhika Coomaraswamy, the UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict, said she had asked Israeli foreign minister Tzipi Livni for the files which are automatically produced when munitions are fired. "There is a computer sheet generated when targets are attacked. If the mine clearers can get that, they can identify where the cluster munitions are," she said, adding that Livni had told her she would look into the matter. By last month, 30 people had been killed and 191 injured by mines or unexploded ordnance (UXO) in southern Lebanon since the ceasefire last August. more.. Hamas calls for new attacks after IDF soldiers kill nine in 24 hours Zvika Gottlieb, Avi Issacharoff and Amos Harel, Ha’aretz 4/21/2007 The Islamic militant group Hamas called Sunday for new attacks on Israel after nine Palestinians were killed by Israel Defense Forces troops in a surge of fighting over the weekend. Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoum said Sunday that Palestinians must brace for a new round of confrontation." The blood of our people is not cheap," Barhoum said in a statement." Therefore we are calling on... (Hamas’ armed wing) and the Palestinian resistance groups to be united in the trench of resistance and to use all possible means of resistance and to respond to the massacres." On Sunday, IDF troops shot dead a Palestinian teen who had hurled a firebomb at a military vehicle northwest of Ramallah in the West Bank, the army said. Palestinian sources, however, said the 17-year-old had been throwing rocks, not firebombs. more.. Israel’s message in talks with Gates: Syria is preparing for war Ze'ev Schiff, Ha’aretz 4/21/2007 The gist of the Israeli message in its recent talks with United States Defense Secretary Robert Gates is that Syria is preparing for a military confrontation with Israel. The U.S. message to Israel on Syria, in contrast, remained unchanged: Israel should at present avoid diplomatic talks with Damascus because President Bashar Assad plans to use such talks to extricate Syria from its isolation. Israeli talks with Damascus would be a knife in the back of the government of Fouad Siniora in Lebanon. No tangible evidence exists, Israel told the U.S. , that Damascus is planning an all-out war with Israel. But it is believed that Damascus has concluded that Israel might respond to various Syrian actions and that would be the cause of a full-blown confrontation. more.. Armed resistance: we can no longer pretend that Israel is talking to us about calm or negotiations Jenin - Ali Samoudi, Palestine News Network 4/22/2007 Israeli special units assassinated Saturday afternoon three leaders of the armed resistance in the northern West Bank's Jenin. Abbas Damj was a 21 years old resident of Jenin Refugee Camp. Ahmed Al Aisa was also 21 years old, from Sanour Village. They were both members of the Fateh-linked Al Aqsa Brigades. Twenty-four year old Mahmoud Afif Sarhan Jalil was a resident of Jenin Refugee Camp and a member of the Islamic Jihad-linked Saraya Al Quds. Eyewitnesses report that Israeli special forces were in cars near the school between Zahra and the city yesterday. They opened fire on the three young men in another car. Four Israeli soldiers dressed in civilian clothes suddenly began directly firing. An eyewitness told PNN, "They did not stop firing for several minutes. They then swooped down toward the bodies and saw one slightly moving. It was Mahmoud." more.. Olmert says polite ’no’ to Musharraf Mideast mediation offer News Agencies, Ha’aretz 4/21/2007 Prime Minister Ehud Olmert on Sunday politely turned down an offer by Pakistan’s President General Pervez Musharraf to serve as a go-between Israel and the Palestinians. Speaking in a radio interview, Olmert said he preferred to maintain direct contacts with Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas and not depend on an intermediary." We don’t need someone to come from afar in order for me and Abu Mazen to meet," Olmert said, calling Abbas by his widely-used nom de guerre. Musharraf made the surprise offer Friday in an interview with the Arab satellite station Al-Arabiya. He told the Dubai-based station that he would even be willing to visit Israel to help bring peace to the Middle East. Israel on Saturday gave a cautious welcome to the offer, saying it was doubtful the Pakistani leader could make much progress. more.. Jordan denies remarks ascribed to Abdullah on right of return DPA, Ha’aretz 4/21/2007 The Jordanian royal court on Saturday denied as "utterly baseless remarks attributed by Haaretz on Friday to King Abdullah II. "What some Israeli newspapers quoted the king to have said during his meeting on Thursday with the Speaker of the Israeli Knesset, Dalia Itzik, is completely baseless," said Amjad Adayleh, the head of the Media Department at the royal court. The reported quotes had "nothing to do with the connotations of the dialogue that took place during the encounter," he added. "The quotations carried by Haaretz represented a clear offence to Jordan and its leadership as well as a distortion of the sincere efforts the Kingdom has been leading in defense of the Palestinian people’s rights," the spokesman said. Haaretz, quoting Israeli lawmakers, said King Abdullah had assured Itzik... more.. Abbas says efforts being made to free kidnapped BBC reporter Avi Issacharoff, Haaretz Correspondent and Reuters, Ha’aretz 4/21/2007 Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas said on Saturday efforts were being made to secure the release of a BBC journalist abducted in Gaza as well as an Israeli soldier held by militants. British reporter Alan Johnston has been missing since March 12 and Abbas has dismissed a claim from an Islamist group to have killed him." I have said he is alive and we are making efforts to get him released," Abbas said after meeting Greek Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis in Athens. Abbas also said Palestinian authorities were working to secure the release of Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, who has been held by militants for 10 months. At the same time, he called on Israel to release of thousands of Palestinian prisoners. Abbas repeated a call for the lifting of a year-old Western aid embargo on the Palestinian Authority. more.. U.S. had operational plans to fight against IDF in 1967 Amir Oren, Ha’aretz 4/21/2007 In the 1960s, the U.S. Defense Department drew up operational plans calling for a military confrontation with the Israel Defense Forces to prevent Israel from occupying territory in Egypt and other Arab countries. During the crisis in May-June 1967, on the eve of the Six-Day War, the plan for a military attack against Israel in the event it initiated a war, was updated. The plan involved using air power, paratroopers and Marines to block the advance of IDF armored brigades in Sinai. The full version of the story will appear in the Monday Independence Day issue of Haaretz. more.. Olmert: Iran ’not as close as it pretends’ to nuclear capability Haaretz Service, Ha’aretz 4/21/2007 Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said in an interview broadcast on Sunday that that Iran is "not as close as it pretends" to developing nuclear weapons. Olmert, speaking to Israel Radio, also said he believes that international diplomatic pressure on Iran will in the end keep Tehran from attaining nuclear weapons, and that a military confrontation over the issue will not be necessary. "There is a possibility of bringing about a situation in which Iran is ’non-nuclear’without a military operation." "I hear the declarations of Iran’s leaders from time to time, and I am telling you that Iran is far from crossing the technological line" into nuclear capability. "To my regret, it is not as far as I would wish, but it is not as close as it pretends. more.. Olmert says Iran’s nuclear program can be stopped The Associated Press, Ha’aretz 4/21/2007 Prime Minister Ehud Olmert yesterday tried to soothe the public’s fears about Iran’s nuclear program, saying in a radio interview that Tehran has exaggerated its progress. Olmert also said he is confident that international diplomatic efforts to curb Iran’s nuclear program are working. "Iran is far from crossing the technological threshold," he told Israel Radio. "Unfortunately, it is not as far as I would like it to be, but it is also not as close as it proclaims to be. I believe the international efforts will achieve their goals. There is no need to get caught up in any apocalyptic prophecies that have no basis in reality." In the interview, he said there was still time for international diplomatic efforts to work, echoing the assessment of U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates, who visited the region last week. more.. Hezbollah deputy chief: Prisoner swap talks with Israel ’serious’ Haaretz Service and The Associated Press, Ha’aretz 4/21/2007 Hezbollah’s deputy leader said Sunday that the negotiations mediated by the United Nations to secure a prisoner swap between Hezbollah and Israel are "serious." "[The negotiations are] proceeding in a serious manner, but so far there have been no results," Sheik Naim Kassem said. The statement was significant as Hezbollah officials rarely broach the topic of negotiations with Israel. Kassem also stressed that Israel Defense Forces soldiers Ehud Goldwasser and Eldad Regev, whose capture by Hezbollah on July 12 triggered a 34-day war between Israel and the guerilla group, would be released only in exchange for the release of all Lebanese prisoners held in Israel, including Samir Kuntar. Kuntar is serving a 542-year prison sentence in Israel for the 1979 murder of an Israeli man and his daughter in the northern town of Nahariya. He is one of four men whose release Hezbollah demands. more.. A war in the summer? Orit Shohat, Ha’aretz 4/21/2007 The talk about a sizable war this summer already started in the midst of the war last summer (there were those who called it a promo and thanked Hezbollah for having revealed its weaknesses in ample time). A "sizable war" is a code name for a war that includes Syria. The outgoing chief of staff estimated in November that there would be a war with Syria this summer, and in a series of general-staff discussions he held, there was talk of "a working assessment" that dictated exercises in anticipation of a war this summer. Now the summer is almost upon us. Was this an assessment or a self-fulfilling prophecy? When the Syrian president says that if there is no peace there will be a war, he is responding to incessant mumbling from our side. This is where the dynamics of another war start. more.. Palestinian officials making headway during European tour Brussels - Mohamad Al Arabi, Palestine News Network 4/22/2007 During a two-day stay in Sofia, one of the seven stops during President Abbas' current European trip, methods to mobilize international support topped the agenda. Bulgarian President Georgi Parvanov and Chairperson of the National Assembly of Bulgaria, Georgi Pirinski, discussed with President Abbas ways in which to encourage interaction with all parties in the government. Particularly important is to cease the international policy of differentiating among government officials based on party, such as members of Hamas who are still off-limits to many following the American lead. The talks were attended by several Palestinian officials on the European tour. Among them were head of negotiations in the Palestine Liberation Organization, Dr. Sa'eb Erekat, Foreign Minister Ziad Abu Amr, Presidential Spokesperson Nabil Abu Rudeineh, and Media Advisor Nabil Amr. more.. Senior IDF officer confirms Iran training militants in Gaza Amos Harel, Ha’aretz 4/21/2007 GOC Southern Command Major General Yoav Galant has confirmed that Iranian terror and guerrilla experts are in the Gaza Strip training Palestinian terror organizations. Galant says the Iranians are the source of most of the know-how coming to the West Bank, Lebanon and Iraq on the use of land mines, explosives and anti-tank missiles. The crux of Maj. -Gen. Galant’s remarks, delivered at a lecture at the Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs, a Middle East policy think-tank headed by Dore Gold, were published by the center last week. Galant said terrorists move freely between the Gaza Strip and Egypt and from there to Syria, Lebanon and Iran for training. "Iranians also come to Gaza to inspect the situation and hold training exercises." he said. more.. White House announces potential sale of military equipment to Israel By Reuters, Ha’aretz 4/21/2007 The Bush administration announced on Friday what would be the first officially disclosed sale of United States military equipment to Israel since the end of the Second Lebanon War this past summer. In a notice to Congress, the Pentagon’s Defense Security Cooperation Agency said Israel had requested as many as 3,500 MK-84 "general purpose" bombs, spares and repair parts plus U.S. government technical assistance in a deal worth up to $65 million if all options are exercised." Israel’s strategic position makes it vital to U.S. interests throughout the Middle East," the notice said. It said U.S. policy has been to promote peace in the Middle East, support the Israeli commitment to peace with its Arab neighbors, enhance regional stability and promote Israeli readiness and self-sufficiency. more.. Prime Minister: there is a limited time for blockade to continue before we consider other options By Gaza City) Wisam Afifeh, Palestine News Network 4/20/2007 Prime Minister Ismail Haniya says that the experience of the government is being evaluated and if the blockade continues it will be necessary to discuss other options. In a sit-down with PNN, the Prime Minister said that changes will be discussed in order the preserve the dignity of the people who continue to suffer under the year-long blockade. Haniya confirmed that Hamas adheres to the principles of unity and resistance, and at the same time is trying to resolve the issues of occupation. He specifically referred to the ongoing crisis in the Ministry of Health. He also said that he hopes to conclude the issue of political prisoners and their suffering families. “We have taken major steps to untie the twisted siege... we concluded the Mecca agreement and formed a government of national unity... we have drafted a political program and now the ball is in the other court. ” more.. More action urged on BBC reporter BBC Online 4/20/2007 A media watchdog group has called on Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to do more to secure the release of the BBC’s kidnapped Gaza correspondent. Alan Johnston, 44, has not been seen since he was seized at gunpoint on his way home in Gaza City on 12 March. Reporters Without Borders called on Mr Abbas to urge the kidnappers to provide evidence Mr Johnston is still alive. Mr Abbas has said Mr Johnston is alive and that his government is working with the British authorities on the case. Mr Abbas said again on Friday that Mr Johnston was alive but that he could not provide more details in order to protect the reporter’s security. On Thursday, Mr Abbas said he knew which group was holding MrJohnston but he would not say whether any contact had been made with the captors. more.. Prime Minister Haniya: the newly-announced security plan won’t affect resistance By Rami Almeghari - IMEMC & Agencies, International Middle East Media Center 4/20/2007 Palestinian Prime Minister, Ismail Haniya of Hamas, stated Friday that the recently-announced interior ministry’s security plan, aimed at containing internal unrest, would not affect the Palestinian resistance. Palestinian Prime Minister, Ismail HaniyaSpeaking to worshippers during the Friday sermon in the Jabalya refugee camp in northern Gaza, PM Haniya maintained “the security plan would organize carrying weapons across the Palestinian territories” “The security plan would not harm the Palestinian resistance and the weapons of Palestinian factions. This plan is intended at putting an end to chaos, surrounding the resistance”, the PM pointed out. The Palestinian premier added that the new security plan would work on containing family feuds and rein in weapons carried by gangs and ‘mobs’ across the territories. more.. Olmert denies Israel’s intention to go to war with Syria Ma’an News Agency 4/20/2007 Jerusalem - Ma’an - Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has denied his government’s intention to enter into confrontations with Syria. Olmert said that the two states should be concerned not to make any calculated mistakes that might lead to confrontations not wished for by either side. This came in a statement released by Olmert’s office on Thursday following talks with the American defense secretary, Robert Gates. The Israeli intelligence services have noted within recent months that Syria is preparing itself for a war with Israel. However, the Syrian media minister, Muhsen Bilal, said in a statement on Monday that his country wishes to achieve a just and permanent peace and he called on Israel to agree to the Arab peace initiative; otherwise, "resistance" will be considered the way to return the Golan Height to Syrian authority. more.. Egyptian gets 15 years for spying Al Jazeera 4/21/2007 Al-Attar’s confession to spying for Israel was made under duress, his defence lawyer says [AFP]An Egyptian court has convicted an Egyptian-Canadian dual citizen of spying for Israel and sentenced him to 15 years in prison, with three Israelis tried in absentia also found guilty and sentenced to the same term. Egyptian prosecutors said Israel recruited Mohamed al-Attar, 31, in 2001 when he was living in Turkey. They said intelligence agents helped al-Attar obtain a residency permit in Canada under a false name and found him work in a bank. Al-Attar, a former student at the Al-Azhar university in Cairo, was arrested on January 1 at Cairo airport on his return to Egypt for a family visit. more.. Kidnapping of BBC correspondent puts strain on EU – Palestinian relations By Brussels) Mohammed Arabi, Palestine News Network 4/21/2007 The High Commissioner for Foreign Policy in the European Union is in contact with the new government. But the issue at hand is not the blockade or political partnerships, rather it is kidnapping by unknown persons of the BBC correspondent in Gaza. Javier Solana is calling to intensify attempts to garner the release of Alan Johnston. The British citizen had lived in Gaza for three years and was kidnapped in mid-March enroute from work to home. In a letter to Director General of the British Broadcasting Company Mark Thompson, Solana wrote, “I am writing to you to express my deep sympathy and concern over the fate of you colleague, Alan Johnston, who was kidnapped six weeks ago, as you know. "He wrote, "I am in constant contact with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.... ” more.. EU’s foreign policy chief calls for releasing an abducted BBC reporter in Gaza By Rami Almeghari - IMEMC & Agencies, International Middle East Media Center 4/20/2007 European Union’s chief for foreign policy, Javier Solana, called on Friday for the release of the BBC reporter, Alan Johnston, who has been kidnapped in Gaza for the past five weeks. Javeir SolanaIn a letter, he delivered to Mark Thompson, director general of the BBC, Solana voiced deep concern over the safety of Johnston. “I have been in constant contact with President Mahmoud Abbas until Johnston is released unharmed”, Solana said. Solana maintained that he is aware of the fact that President Mahmoud Abbas has been exerting relentless efforts over the case. Meanwhile, The British National Union of Journalists (NUJ), called on members to show their support at a vigil for kidnapped BBC correspondent and union member Alan Johnston. more.. "EU contributes $90 million to UNRWA"s General Fund for 2007 Ma’an News Agency 4/20/2007 Ramallah - Ma’an - The European Union has agreed on Friday to contribute €66 million (~US $90m) to UNRWA’s General Fund for 2007. At a ceremony in Qalandia refugee camp, close to the West Bank city of Ramallah, the head of the European Commission Technical Assistance Office for the West Bank and Gaza Strip (ECTAO), Mr. John Kjaer, and the Deputy Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), Mr. Filippo Grandi, signed the agreement for €66 million in EU funds. This was an increase of €1. 5 million compared to the previous year. According to a press release from the European Union office in Jerusalem, this figure represents the first instalment in an agreement made between the EU and UNRWA in which the EU pledged €264 million (~US $360m) to support UNRWA’s General Fund 2007-2010. more.. Jamal Nazzal condemns bombing of American school in Gaza, on behalf of Fatah Ma’an News Agency 4/21/2007 Bethlehem "“ Ma’an "“ Jamal Nazzal, the spokesperson of the Fatah movement on Saturday condemned the bombing of the American school in Gaza City, describing the assault as "œan act of cowardice against an educational institution, which has nothing to do with politics". In a statement received by Ma"™an, Nazzal depicted the act as "brutal", behind which stands "forces of backwardness, which target libraries, theatres, cinemas, and internet cafés, in addition to Palestinian women." Nazzal went as far as to say that the bombing of the school signified "œa new stone added to the construction of the Taliban state being established in Gaza Strip." Using another metaphor, he also called the incident "œan additional nail in the coffin of Palestinian civil society". Nazzal concluded by saying, "such practices serve the Israeli propaganda..." more.. PRC condemn statements of Jordanian monarch Ma’an News Agency 4/21/2007 Gaza - Ma’an - The Palestinian Popular Resistance Committees (PRC), and their military wing, The An-Nasser Salah Addin Brigades on Saturday expressed their surprise over the Jordanian monarch’s declarations regarding the Palestinian refugees’ right of repatriation. King Abdullah II of Jordan argued that there was a possibility to discuss compensations for the Palestinian refugees as an alternative to their right of repatriation In a statement receivedy bMa’ann, the PRC accused the Jordanian monarch of calling for "œthe deletion of the right of repatriation". They described these declarations as "free of charge service being offered to the Israelis, and soft support which is unacceptable to Arabs and Muslims. more.. King Abdullah II of Jordan may visit Israel, speak in Knesset, Maariv says Ma’an News Agency 4/20/2007 Bethlehem - Ma’an - The Israeli newspaper Ma’ariv disclosed on Friday that Jordanian King Abdullah II may make a historic visit to Israel; he may even deliver a speech in front of the Israeli Knesset. The newspaper added that that this visit was agreed during a phone call between Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and the Jordanian king on Wednesday. The speaker of the Knesset, Dalia Itzik, also renewed Israel’s invitation to King Abdullah during her visit to Amman on Thursday. The office of the Israeli prime minister said that Jordan has not yet given a clear response to this invitation; also the timing of the royal visit has not yet been specified. more.. From Sweden, President Abbas cautiously optimistic about blockade being lifted By Brussels) Mohammad Arabi, Palestine News Network 4/20/2007 At last night's press conference from Sweden President Abbas expressed optimism that the blockade will be lifted. During the current European tour for just such purpose, President Abbas said that several European countries have indicated their willingness to deal both politically and economically with the new Palestinian government. However, the President did temper his optimism with caution. “There are positive signs towards the lifting of the blockade, but we do not want to anticipate events before the position of the EU foreign ministers is presented at their meeting scheduled for Monday. ”President Abbas thanked the Swedes for their political and financial support, and reiterated the dire need to have the blockade lifted from the Palestinian people. more.. Egyptian jailed for Israel spying BBC Online 4/21/2007 A Cairo court has sentenced a man with dual Egyptian-Canadian citizenship to 15 years in jail for spying. Mohammed al-Attar was convicted of being an agent for the Israeli intelligence agency Mossad. The 31-year-old had confessed to the charge, but later said the admission had been extracted under torture by Egypt’s intelligence services. Three Israeli defendants who were being tried in absentia on related charges were also convicted. Like Attar, the trio were handed 15 year sentences and a fine of 10,000 Egyptian pounds ($1,700; £850) by Judge Sayyed al-Gohary of Cairo’s State Security Emergency Court. A former student at Cairo’s al-Azhar university, 31-year-old Attar had been accused of contacting Israeli agents in Turkey and spying on expatriate Arabs there and in Canada. more.. Jailed Hamas official decries abduction of BBC journalist By Avi Issacharoff, Haaretz Correspondent, Ha’aretz 4/21/2007 Jailed Hamas official Sheikh Hassan Yusef on Friday called for the immediate release of British journalist Alan Johnston who was abducted by unknown gunmen in Gaza over a month ago. Yusef, who is one of the prisoners Hamas wants in return for captured Israel Defense Forces soldier Gilad Shalit, said the abduction was "morally wrong. Haniyeh did not offer any details about what these demands might entail and said the British government had made clear to the Palestinian Authority that it should not use force to free Johnston because it could endanger his life. Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas said Thursday that intelligence services have confirmed that kidnapped British journalist Alan Johnston is alive." Yes, I believe he is still alive," Abbas told reporters in Stockholm. "Our intelligence services have confirmed to me that he’s alive." more.. Israel welcomes Musharraf’s mediation offer By Haaretz Service and News Agencies, Ha’aretz 4/21/2007 Israel on Saturday welcomed an offer by Pakistan’s President Gen. Pervez Musharraf to help resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, but said it was doubtful the Pakistani leader could make much progress. Musharraf made the surprise offer Friday in an interview with the Arab satellite station Al-Arabiya. He told the Dubai-based station that he would even be willing to visit the Jewish state to help bring peace to the Middle East." Israel believes that moderate Muslim countries like Pakistan can play a very important role in helping and strengthening the Middle East peace process," Regev said." Having said that, experience has clearly demonstrated that the most successful mediators have always been those that have established and solid relationships with both sides," he said. more.. Palestinian foreign minister meets with Portuguese counterpart Ma’an News Agency 4/21/2007 Gaza - Ma’an - Palestinian foreign minister Ziad Abu Amr met on Saturday with his Portuguese counterpart in the Portuguese city of Sofia. The ministers discussed the latest political developments, including the Arab ministerial committee which was entrusted to revive and promote the Arab peace initiative Abu Amr arrived in the capital of Portugal yesterday Friday as the first leg in the European tour started by himself and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas The minister of foreign affairs told the Portuguese official of the Palestinian position towards the latest political developments, and explained to him that the Palestinian government - interacts positively with the international community, hoping to end the embargo on the Palestinian people through European support. more.. GovernmentIsraeli war report charges Olmert with ’severe failure’ Daily Star 5/1/2007 Premier has ’no intention’ of resigning in wake of stinging criticism of conduct of 2006 war on lebanonThe much-anticipated interim report into the decisions of senior Israeli military and political officials to go to war in Lebanon last summer accused Prime Minister Ehud Olmert on Monday of a "severe failure" in his handling of the conflict, dealing a harsh blow that further weakened the embattled Israeli leader and his party. The commission also charged that the Israeli Army "was not ready for this war," according to a statement released by the commission, headed by retired Judge Eliyahu Winograd. The 232-page report, officially released at a 5 p. m. news conference in Jerusalem, says Olmert acted hastily in leading the country to war last July 12, without having a comprehensive plan. more.. Politicians across the board call on Olmert and Peretz to resign Shahar Ilan Jonathan Lis, Ha’aretz 5/1/2007 Lawmakers and public bodies from across the political spectrum have called for the resignation of Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Defense Minister Amir Peretz, with few dissenting voices after the publishing of the Winograd report on Monday. MK Yuval Steinitz (Likud) said that during the Lebanon war last summer the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee had to issue ultimatums to the army to move troops to defend the Golan Heights, which had been left totally unprotected. MK Ophir Pines-Paz (Labor) called for mass demonstrations to demand that Olmert and Peretz step down. Advertisement MK Zevulun Orlev, the chairman of the National Religious Party, said "the prime minister, because of whose failures lives of soldiers and civilians were lost, must stop barricading himself behind his position. more.. Winograd C’tee: Olmert bears personal responsibility Lilach Weisman and Globes’ correspondent, Globes Online 4/30/2007 It is unclear whether Prime Minister Ehud Olmert will own up to his personal responsibility and say that he was responsible for mistakes made. The Winograd committee has published its interim report, after delivering copies to Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Minister of Defense Amir Peretz at 4 pm today. According to Channel 10, “The report is harsher than what the leaks to the media claim. ” The Winograd committee found “ministerial and personal responsibility by Prime Minister Ehud Olmert,” and that “the IDF chief of staff failed by not being prepared for a war in the north. ” Channel 10 added that Peretz did not wait for the report, and that his aides prepared 20 media messages in advance. Olmert’s aides predict that there will be no “earthquake” from the report, adding that a newspaper article or street demonstration does not bring down a government. more.. Palestinian factions hold joint discussions over political partnership Ma’an News Agency 4/30/2007 Khan-Younis - Ma’an – A prominent leader of the Islamic Jihad movement, Nafiz Azzam, has confirmed that Fatah, Hamas, Islamic Jihad, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) and the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine (DFLP) have held discussions together on Sunday. Several important issues, including the national security council, were discussed. It was agreed to write a joint memo to President Mahmoud Abbas in this regard. Azzam also said that the smaller factions urged Hamas and Fatah to reconsider their political partnership, and to include the other factions "in the committee of political partnership". Azzam stated that the factions called on President Abbas "to amend his decree regarding the national accord committee, so the factions can be part of it also". more.. Police chief promises change in Nablus Katya Adler, BBC Online 4/29/2007 Nablus police are squeezed between the Israelis and the gunmen -- It is late morning in Nablus. The market is busy as usual. All around are wooden carts piled high with strawberries, tomatoes and fresh green almonds. Youngsters scamper about carrying copper trays laden with cups of sweet, steaming Arabic coffee. Then suddenly... gunfire and panic. Like everyone else, my cameraman and I run for cover. Inside a bakery along with a nervous crowd of shoppers, we watch as policemen fire seemingly at random around the square, as bullets rain down on them from the surrounding buildings. Luckily no-one was seriously hurt. It was the latest spat between local gunmen and the Nablus police. I can’t be like the chief of police in London, Berlin or New York, you know. more.. Israel to launch spy satellite into space in August Ma’an News Agency 4/30/2007 Bethlehem - Ma’an – In August Israel will be launching a highly-developed spy satellite into space. Israel’s space plans were reported in the Indian media and the satellite will be launched from the Indian space centre. Israeli newspaper, Yedioth Ahronoth, reported on Monday that the satellite is an Israeli aero-technology industry product, which is supplied with a unique radar able to observe targets in very bad weather conditions. It will also be able to observe any state at night, including Iran and Syria. more.. Israeli billionaire finally announces candidacy for Jersualem mayoral bid Ma’an News Agency 4/30/2007 Jerusalem – Ma’an - Billionaire businessman Arkadi Gaydamak has announced his intention on Monday morning to stand as a candidate in the next Jerusalem mayoral elections." I have no doubt that the entire city will vote for me," the tycoon said in an interview with the Israeli daily Yedioth Ahronoth. "There’s not one person who is not familiar today with Gaydamak and what he is capable of." He went on to say that "Jerusalem is a symbol for the Jewish people, and I plan to turn it into a symbol for peace and Judaism." Gaydamak, who also owns the Beitar Jerusalem football team, announced his decision after Jerusalem Mayor Uri Lupolianski criticized the annual ’Veterans Parade’ for Russian veterans of World War II, which has been financed by the billionaire for the past three years. more.. Winograd slams PM for ’rash’ decision making Aluf Benn, Ha’aretz 4/30/2007 The Winograd Committee was particularly harsh on Prime Minister Ehud Olmert for the way he embarked on the Second Lebanon War, describing his conduct during the conflict as "a serious failure." The committee said Olmert had "made a personal contribution" to the fact that the declared goals of the war " were over-ambitious and not feasible." "A leader who sends his army into an extensive military operation has an obligation to the country, the fighters of the Israel Defense Forces who risk their lives, and the citizens both of Israel and Lebanon. These obligations include and in-depth analysis of the necessity for a military move, its timing and its nature, and of the chances of its success given the area. We saw that the rash decisions to go to war made by the government headed by Olmert did not meet these conditions. more.. Anti-government protestors say report boosts resolve Barak Ravid, Ha’aretz 4/30/2007 Protest organizers, who include Tafnit movement chair Uzi Dayan, leaders of the reservists’ protest movement and bereaved families, plan to hold a press conference this morning, launching a campaign they call "Losers go home!" In the coming days, the leaders of the protest movement will decide whether to include senior politicians in Thursday’s rally, or if it will remain apolitical. Sources at the protest headquarters said yesterday that the harsh report is likely to increase the turnout at the demonstration. Many organizations are expected to participate, including Tafnit, Family Forum for bereaved families, the reservists’ protest movement, student organizations, quality government advocacy groups, the Yesha Council of settlements and representatives of frontier communities in northern and southern Israel. more.. ANALYSIS: Olmert and his gov’t are unfit to run the next war Ze'ev Schiff, Ha’aretz 5/1/2007 The key question arising from the Winograd Committee’s partial report is not the level of personal responsibility for the failed management of the war. That is a question that relates in principle to the past. The more important question is the one that relates to the future: Can this government headed by Ehud Olmert lead the nation in the next war - which according to intelligence estimates could take place - and win. The conclusion drawn from the inquiry’s report is a clear no, and therefore this government must step down in one way or another. This is not a conclusion drawn by the Winograd Committee. It is a question that is beyond the mandate given to the committee, but it must be at the top of the Israeli public’s priorities. Many politicians are not dealing with this because they see the Winograd Committee’s... more.. Olmert has no intention of resigning - aide Daily Star 4/30/2007 Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has no intention of resigning over the expected harsh criticism of his leadership during last year’s inconclusive war in Lebanon, an aide told AFP on Sunday. "The prime minister has no intention of resigning, he will remain at the head of the government," the aide said on condition of anonymity a day before publication of an initial report on the war’s failures by a government inquiry, headed by retired judge Eliahu Winograd. Government spokeswoman Miri Eisin told AFP that Olmert, who is expected to be harshly criticized over his handling of the 34-day war, "will not react to partial leaks in the media." "We will wait patiently for the report to be published on Monday afternoon before reacting," Eisin said. more.. A Hamas official: Mash’al and Abbas agree to reactivate the PLO Rami Almeghari - IMEMC & Agencies, International Middle East Media Center 4/29/2007 Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Hamas supreme leader, agreed yesterday to reactivate the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), Yehia Mussa, a Hamas MP revealed. Mussa said that the two leaders agreed to hold more meetings in the near future, but they are yet to set a date and place, but he explained the meetings may be held in Cairo and Damascus, where Mash’al is based. Mussa denied reports that the ruling Hamas has finally agreed to joining the PLO, yet he confirmed that Hamas will join the PLO as soon as it is rehabilitated. “ It has been quite clear that Hamas has no veto on joining the PLO, since we agreed to talk on the organization”, Mussa made clear. The Palestinian Islamic Jihad (holy war) and Hamas have been outside the PLO, since the latter has signed Oslo peace accords with Israel in 1993. more.. MK Barakeh: Bishara must return to Israel to face the accusations Shahar Ilan, Ha’aretz 4/30/2007 Hadash Chairman Mohammed Barakeh said Sunday that Balad Chairman Azmi Bishara must return to Israel in order to face the accusations against him, which include aiding the enemy in wartime and passing information on to the enemy. "Bishara can’t talk about it only in television broadcasts," the Arab MK told Haaretz. "We are members of Knesset. When we decided to run for the Knesset and were elected we accepted the rules of the game for better or for worse." Barakeh said that whoever violates a law, even a law he does not recognize, "must recognize the right of the law to hold him to account." Barakeh cited the law that had forbidden Israelis from having contacts with the Palestine Liberation Organization - a law that was repeatedly violated by MKs prior to the Oslo peace process. more.. Israeli war inquiry ’rebukes Olmert over military errors’ Conal Urquhart in Tel Aviv, The Guardian 4/30/2007 The Israeli prime minister, Ehud Olmert, and defence minister, Amir Peretz, faced further calls for their resignation yesterday after leaks of a report into their management of last summer’s Lebanon war which suggests they made a series of errors. The Winograd report, to be published today, directs strong criticism at the government’s conduct in the first days of the war, according to leaks in the Israeli media yesterday. In particular, Mr Olmert and Mr Peretz are rebuked for not seeking proper consultation and for accepting the army’s recommendations without question. The politicians’ lack of experience in military matters, the report says, meant they accepted the belief of Dan Halutz, the former chief of staff, that the war could be won by air power alone. more.. Aide: Peretz did not fail as defense minister during war Yuval Azoulay, Haaretz Correspondent, and Agencies, Ha’aretz 4/30/2007 Speaking on Israel Radio, Boaz Ben-Tsur said that some failures had been discovered and they were being addressed. Ben-Tsur said that the July 12 decision to go to war had been taken after consultations with defense officials as well as retired members of the military." There was a belief that we could not show restraint over the kidnapping of the soldiers, and that the IDF operation had international approval," Ben-Tsur said. He added that there was a substantial difference between the perception of Peretz and the facts that showed a defense minister who acted with consideration, asked the right questions and stressed what needed to be stressed. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said Sunday that the government would formally respond to the interim report only after its publication Monday. more.. Khalid Mashal may be Vice-Chair of PLO Executive Committee Ramallah - Rashid Hilal, Palestine News Network 4/29/2007 The Palestine Liberation Organization is supposed to be undergoing a "revitalization," but it will most likely be getting a major face-lift. It seems that head of the Hamas political bureau, Khalid Mashal, is to be appointed Vice-Chairperson of the Executive Committee. But it may prove too much for some. Political Advisor to President Abbas, Nimer Hammad, said on Sunday, "I do not think we have come to this point." He continued, "There is ongoing dialogue for engagement in the Palestine Liberation Organization, but any faction that intends to enter the organization must adhere to its programs and not enter in order to stage a coup." Hammad said that there is a spot for Mashal in internal security. He explained that there is a genuine desire among all factions to form a joint committee for internal security,... more.. A shaky unity government Danny Rubinstein, Ha’aretz 4/29/2007 And indeed, despite the Mecca agreement and despite their partnership in the national unity government, the Fatah movement under the leadership of Abu Mazen and Hamas under Meshal rarely agree about anything at all: not about the diplomatic approach ("At Mecca we agreed to honor the previous agreements, but we did not explicitly agree to accept them," was the cunning formulation of the former foreign minister on behalf of Hamas, Dr. Mahmoud al-Zahar, who is now leading the more extreme line in the movement); not about the distribution of funds, which are not yet flowing in as expected; and not about how to delegate authority on security issues. In this context Palestinian Interior Minister Hani Al-Qawasmi tendered his resignation (which was not accepted) and argued that Abu Mazen had in effect granted security control... more.. Dismissed leaders urge Fatah to investigate all cases of corruption in the movement Ma’an News Agency 4/29/2007 Jerusalm - Ma’an - Leaders of the Fatah movement, who were dismissed for their participation in the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC) elections contrary to the movement’s decisions, have called for investigating all cases of corruption in the movement. The call was made in a document signed by 33 of the advanced leaders from Fatah, which declared their refusal of the decisions taken against them. The 33 leaders deemed the decisions "shameful and unfair". The document was sent to president Abbas, Secretary General of Fatah’s Central Committee, Farouq Qaddoumi, the recruiting commissioner and members of the revolutionary council. The main subject of the document was the discharge of the leaders from the movement after they nominated themselves in the PLC elections independently. more.. Palestinian factions to hold a general meeting in Gaza to discuss the pending issues Ma’an News Agency 4/29/2007 Khan Younis "“ Ma’an "“ The spokesperson of Fatah movement, Abdul-Hakim Awad said on Sunday that the Palestinian factions in Gaza Strip would continue consultations based on the discussions between Palestinian president, Mahmoud Abbas, and the head of the Hamas politburo, Khalid Mash’al, held in Cairo over the past two days. Awad told Ma’an that the meeting between president Abbas and Khalid Mash’al was fruitful since they agreed to work out solutions for the pending issues including the political partnership and the reconstruction of the Palestine Liberation Organization PLO. In this regard, Awda said that Fatah movement and the other Palestinian factions are preparing for a general meeting for all factions, to be heldin Cairo next month in order to discuss the whole suspended issues. more.. Barghouthi: "Only the Ministers Council is authorized to set date for local elections" Rasheed Hilal - IMEMC, International Middle East Media Center 4/28/2007 Palestinian Minister of Local Government, Mohammad Al Barghouthi, stated on Saturday that his latest meeting with Hanna Nasser, head of the Central Elections Committee, is a primary meeting to set the date for the fifth stage of the local municipal elections. Barghouthi added that this meeting was not meant to set the final date of these elections, but it was more of a primary meeting to set the criterions that would enable the remaining 1. 200. 000 residents to practice their voting rights. He said that some legal differences remained unsolved, such as the date and some legal issues, and added that when everything is finalized, the elections plan which includes the final date will be presented to the ministers’ council for approval, since the Ministers Council is the only side which is authorized to set the date for the local elections. more.. Governor of Jenin meets father of a child murdered by Israeli forces Ma’an News Agency 4/28/2007 Jenin "“ Ma’an "“ The governor of Jenin, Qaddora Mousa, on Saturday received Ismail Al-Khateeb, father of 13-year-old Ahmad Al-Khateeb, who was shot dead by the Israeli forces on the first day of the Al-Fitir ’Eid (the feast after Ramadan) in 2005. Ahmad was killed whilst playing with a toy gun, which the Israeli soldiers allegedly thought was a real gun. Mousa told Ismail that a school playground in Ispezia, in Italy, was named after his son. He handed the father a picture of the playground, which has an olive tree planted in the centre of it. The picture was sent as a present from the Italian school. The child’s family donated their son’s organs to an Israeli child who was in urgent need of a transplant. more.. PFLP alleges that Arab countries are hindering the reformation of the PLO Ma’an News Agency 4/28/2007 Khan Younis "“ Ma’an "“ The member of the politburo for the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), Kayid Al-Ghoul, on Saturday accused Arab and international authorities of attempting to hinder the reform and reactivation of the PLO. He said that they had stipulated a predetermined agreement over the amendments and changes to be added to the PLO’s political program. Al-Ghoul stressed the necessity of holding a meeting of the Palestinian National Council (PNC), based on proportional representation, "in order to include larger Palestinian sectors". He also referred to the necessity that the intended Palestinian Security Council comprises the five major forces, affirming that "if it is to represent only Fatah and Hamas, it would be a bipolar committee rather than a joint committee". more.. War probe panelist terms IDF action in north as longterm ’system failure’ Amos Harel and Akiva Eldar, Ha’aretz 4/29/2007 A member of the committee investigating the conduct of the Second Lebanon War has branded ongoing military action in the north, from the first Lebanon War in 1982 to the present, as "system failure." Professor Yehezkel Dror said that Israel must undertake far-reaching and painful reforms, which include, among others, replacing a significant proportion of the Israel Defense Forces command. The statements appear in a draft academic essay written by Dror for Bar-Ilan University published Sunday and written shortly before his appointment to the Winograd Committee. The committee’s interim report, believed to contain a harsh indictment of Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, Defense Minister Amir Peretz and former IDF chief Dan Halutz, will be issued Monday. more.. 90% of MKs backed the war Shahar Ilan, Ha’aretz 4/29/2007 Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and his associates constantly reiterate the mantra that 111 MKs voted in favor of Olmert’s decision to go out to war last summer. Anyone possessing even a rudimentary understanding of the Knesset’s arithmetic would realize that this figure cannot be accurate. Yet in essence, Olmert is telling the truth. Granted, the Arab factions alone comprise 10 MKs, who all opposed the war. Then there are Meretz’s Zahava Gal-On and Ran Cohen, who were also opposed. Finally, it is hard to ignore the fact that there never was a vote on the prime minister’s announcement regarding the war. MK Gal-On believes Olmert is hoping that if only he repeats this claim often enough, "the lie will be perceived as true." In response, however, the Prime Minister’s Bureau explained that this claim related to the... more.. Peretz won’t have to resign, team says Mazal Mualem, Ha’aretz 4/29/2007 Defense Minister Amir Peretz will apparently not be forced to resign by the Winograd Committee’s findings regarding his performance during the Second Lebanon War, Peretz’s associates told Haaretz yesterday. The associates, who have been helping him prepare for the report’s release today, denied that Labor Party officials had advised Peretz to resign before next month’s leadership primary. The associates said that they could easily counter any claims against Peretz. Allegations that he acted as a rubber stamp in approving the military’s operational blueprints were easily refutable, they said, since he consulted high-ranking security officials before approving the army’s plans. Peretz’s political associates also listed several occasions on which, they said, he vetoed then chief of staff Dan Halutz’s proposals and issued different orders instead. more.. PM to receive Winograd report at 4 P.M. today / Kadima source: Party could oust Ehud Olmert by summer Mazal Mualem and Nir Hasson, Ha’aretz 4/29/2007 A senior Kadima member said last night that Ehud Olmert would sooner or later be asked by his party to step down as prime minister, in order to avoid "dragging the party down with him." The source suggested that Olmert could be ousted after publication of the final Winograd report, which is due in the summer. According to the source, there is a potential majority - 15 of the party’s 29 Knesset members - who would support Olmert’s ouster. For the time being, the prime minister’s camp is adopting a strategy of spreading responsibility around for the Second Lebanon War, in an effort to dilute the anticipated criticism of Olmert in the interim report of the Winograd Committee, which is investigating the war. Those close to Olmert declared yesterday that "it is impossible to lay the blame on one person and assert... more.. Mazuz tells Olmert: You cannot be acting finance minister Noam Sharvit, Globes Online 4/26/2007 The reason is the Bank Leumi privatization investigation. Police will question Frank Lowy in Australia in the case. -- Attorney General Menachem (Meni) Mazuz has informed Prime Minister Ehud Olmert that he may not serve as acting minister of finance because of the investigations against him in privatization of Bank Leumi affair. Mazuz will allow Olmert to keep the finance portfolio only briefly, until the cabinet appoints an acting minister to replace Minister of Finance Abraham Hirchson, who took a three-month leave of absence because of suspicions of his involvement in embezzlement at the National Workers Organization (Histadrut HaOvdim HaLeumit). In a reply to the Legal Forum for the Land of Israel, Mazuz’s assistant, Adv. Raz Nizri, said in response, “There is a legal problem with the prime minister serving... more.. Justice Min.: Olmert need not suspend himself over probes Yuval Yoaz, Ha’aretz 4/28/2007 Prime Minister Ehud Olmert does not need to suspend himself while he faces a criminal probe, Justice Minister Daniel Friedmann said Friday. The state comptroller issued a report Wednesday calling for a criminal probe of Prime Minister Ehud Olmert. The justice minister, however, said the comptroller has no authority to investigate suspicions of criminal activity. Friedmann stressed that by law, the attorney general must decide whether an investigation is necessary. "The job of the comptroller is to examine whether financial issues are being administered properly, and if he suspects a criminal offense has been committed, he must notify the attorney general," Friedmann said in a radio interview. He added that according to Clause 30 of Israel’s State Comptroller Law, conclusions reached by the State Comptroller are not admissible as evidence in court. more.. Report: Winograd won’t call for Olmert’s ouster Yuval Azoulay, Haaretz Correspondent, Ha’aretz 4/28/2007 The Winograd Committee’s pending report on the failings of last year’s Lebanon war will censure Prime Minister Ehud Olmert but will not recommend he resign, Israeli television Channel 10 reported on Friday. Channel Ten quoted a leaked copy of the Winograd Commission report, which is due out on Monday, as criticizing Olmert for "misguided and rash judgment" in launching the July-August offensive against Hezbollah. The 320-page report suggests no concrete recommendations for how the subjects of the report should be dealt with. In the seventh chapter of the report, entitled "Conclusions and Lessons," outlines a series of harsh criticisms towards Israeli political leaders examined by the Committee. The report levels fierce criticism against PM Olmert, saying that his judgment was flawed and he reacted haphazardly in the early days of the conflict. more.. Peres calls for government company for peace valley project Dalia Tal and Lior Baron, Globes Online 4/26/2007 Minister of National Infrastructures Benjamin Ben-Eliezer says the project could endanger the Dead Sea and surrounding Arava region. Sources inform ’’Globes’’ that Vice Premier Shimon Peres has filed a request with the Government Companies Authority for the establishment of a government company to run the "Peace Valley" project. The project’s core proposal is the construction of the controversial canal between the Dead Sea and Red Sea, which has been described by businessman Yitzhak Tshuva as the "future of the State of Israel." Tshuva has already expressed his support publicly for the NIS 3. 5 billion project, which he views essentially as a means for producing electricity and promoting settlement in the Negev. In its letter to the Government Companies Authority, Peres’s office stated that the company would... more.. Comptroller calls for criminal probe into PM for financial wrongdoing Yuval Yoaz, Ha’aretz 4/25/2007 State Comptroller Micha Lindenstrauss has recommended that police investigate Prime Minister Ehud Olmert on suspicion of illicitly arranging investment opportunities for friends while in a previous cabinet post, officials said Wednesday. The Knesset State Control Committee will hold a special session next week over the suspicions. The parliamentary panel chairman, MK Zevulun Orlev (National Religious Party-National Union), on Wednesday announced he would convene the committee next week and would exercise his power to summon Olmert to the hearing. Lindenstrauss made the recommendation in a letter submitted to Attorney General Menachem Mazuz, who is responsible for ordering high-level investigations and prosecutions, the Justice Ministry said. The suspicions center on Olmert’s tenure as industry and trade minister under former Prime Minister Ariel Sharon... more.. Israel suspects Arab MP spied for Hizbullah Agence France Presse (AFP, Daily Star 4/26/2007 JERUSALEM: Arab Israeli leader Azmi Bishara is being investigated for allegedly feeding intelligence to Hizbullah during the recent Lebanon war, police said Wednesday after a one-month news blackout expired. The allegations, which saw the loved and loathed politician resign from the Israeli Parliament while in Cairo on Sunday, were unveiled after a court partially lifted the news blackout imposed on March 26." He’s suspected of passing information on to Hizbullah during the Second Lebanon War and receiving money in exchange," a police source told"The national police unit for international crimes is currently carrying out an investigation involving Azmi Bishara," confirmed spokesman Micky Rosenfeld after weeks of speculation in the Israeli media. more.. Former security advisor: new security plan inadequate Nablus - Amin Abu Wardeh, Palestine News Network 4/25/2007 Although the government rejected the resignation of the Interior Minister, Hani Al Qawasmi quitting so soon into the job magnifies several problems. Both the new internal security plan and the make-up of the new security council are unacceptable to many critics. Among the problems is the ongoing issue of partisanship and who controls internal security. Power-sharing among factions in regard to internal security has been problematic since 2003 under the then-prime minister, as pointed out by an organization promoting democracy, MIFTAH. The new plan issued by the Ministry of the Interior two weeks ago to curb what is largely described as "security chaos,"was seen by many as inadequate. Former security advisor, Jabril Rajoub, was quoted in the Al Hiyat daily as saying the plan "would not be able to limit the chaos..." more.. Bishara suspected of aiding enemies during Second Lebanon War Yoav Stern and Shahar Ilan, Ha’aretz 4/26/2007 Former MK Azmi Bishara is suspected of acting against the security of the State of Israel during the Second Lebanon War, according to details of the investigation against him released Wednesday after a court partially lifted a gag order on the probe. The suspicions include aiding Israel’s enemies during wartime, passing intelligence to the enemy, contacts with foreign agents, some of which allegedly took place during the Second Lebanon War. Bishara is also suspected of money laundering by allegedly personally receiving large amounts of money from abroad, some of which was transferred during the war last year. Responding to the allegations, Bishara told Al-Jazeera television "the accusations against me are an attempt to frighten me and my constituents." more.. Comptroller finds suspicion of dishonesty by prime minister Hadas Magen, Globes Online 4/25/2007 State Comptroller Micha Lindenstrauss has sent the Investment Promotions Center report to Attorney General Menachem Mazuz. -- State Comptroller Micha Lindenstrauss states in his report on the Investment Promotion Center affair that the conduct of Prime Minister Ehud Olmert raises suspicion of dishonesty. Lindenstrauss has sent the report to Attorney General Menachem (Meni) Mazuz. The report covers benefits given to YY Silicate Block Ltd. in Dimona, which was represented by a close friend of Olmert, Adv. Uri Messer, the husband of Deputy Attorney General Davida Lahman-Messer. The report found that Olmert, when he was minister of industry, trade and labor, intervened on behalf of the company and helped it to obtain various benefits amounting to millions of dollars. more.. Israel PM faces corruption probe BBC Online 4/25/2007 Israel’s commissioner for standards in public life has recommended police investigate a business deal Ehud Olmert made before he became prime minister. State Comptroller Micha Lindenstrauss accused Mr Olmert of arranging investment opportunities for a friend while he was industry minister. Mr Olmert’s office said he denied any wrongdoing in the latest case and had "lost faith" in the state watchdog. He has faced other corruption inquiries but no formal charges have been filed. Last month, state prosecutors ordered an investigation into his role in the privatisation of a bank in 2005 two years ago, when he was finance minister. The prime minister was also questioned for four hours earlier this month for an inquiry into a top aide’s possible involvement in corruption. more.. PMO: Ex-minister Ramon not returning to the cabinet for now Moti Bassok, Ha’aretz 4/25/2007 The Prime Minister’s Office legal advisor, Shlomit Barnea Farago, has written a letter to the watchdog organization Ometz stating that despite all the speculation in the press, Haim Ramon is not a candidate to return to the cabinet. Ometz chairman Aryeh Avneri had objected to Ramon receiving an appointment in light of his conviction for indecent behavior. Barnea Farago wrote in response that the appointment is not on the agenda at this time. Ometz also appealed to Attorney General Menahem Mazuz, requesting that Olmert appoint someone else in his stead as acting finance minister in place of Abraham Hirchson, who took a three-month leave of absence. [end] PM focuses on Winograd, lawmakers call for his resignation Mazal Mualem and Shahar Ilan, Ha’aretz 4/25/2007 Prime Minister Ehud Olmert believes it will take time to turn the State Comptroller’s recommendations into a criminal investigation and is concentrating his efforts on the day after the release of the Winograd Committee’s interim report, which is set for Monday. Olmert is also troubled by Labor’s leadership primaries, due on May 28. He hopes Ehud Barak will win and enable him to form a broad, stable coalition, which would give him more time in office. If Ami Ayalon or Amir Peretz are elected Labor leader, Olmert could find himself without Labor in the coalition. He sees this as a much greater threat than the comptroller’s report." Olmert already has the image of a wheeler-dealer, so the latest report makes no difference. The next tests are the Winograd report, which he believes he will survive, and the primaries," an associate of Olmert’s said. more.. Fateh wins Bethlehem University elections Bethlehem - Najib Farag, Palestine News Network 4/26/2007 Fateh won the Bethlehem University student elections held on Wednesday. With 16 out of 31 seats, the Fateh party qualifies to form the governming body of the Council. It can stand alone without needing a strong alliance with any other student party. Dr. Abdul Rahman, Dean of Students and the head of the Electoral Supervisory Commission, declared the final results after a two hour screening process. Out of the 2,143 students eligible, 1,834 cast their ballots. Fateh received 900, the leftists 481, Hamas 254, and Islamic Jihad 133. The electoral process was described as fair and positive by Dr. Abdel Rahman speaking to PNN, despite a few negative indicidents. Polls were open from 8:30 am through 4:30 pm. Fateh members in Bethlehem took to the streets in celebration... more.. Palestinian interior minister submits resignation Rory McCarthy in Jerusalem, The Guardian 4/23/2007 The new Palestinian government hit its first crisis today when the interior minister tried to resign because of the cabinet’s failure to tackle the growing lawlessness engulfing the Gaza Strip. Hani al-Qawasmi, a little known bureaucrat who was given the hardest job in the new government, handed in his resignation to the Hamas prime minister, Ismail Haniyeh. Mr Haniyeh refused to accept it and Mr al-Qawasmi then agreed to stay on in the job for now. The coalition government, made up of politicians from the rival factions Hamas and Fatah together with several independents, was widely welcomed by Palestinians when it was formed nearly three months ago. However, it has struggled to resolve the two most pressing issues it faces - an economic crisis and a collapse of security in Gaza. In. more.. Balad chairman Azmi Bishara’s resignation from Knesset takes effect Jack Khoury Yoav Stern, Ha’aretz 4/24/2007 Balad Chairman Azmi Bishara’s resignation from the Knesset came into effect on Tuesday, 48 hours after his letter of resignation reached the office of Knesset Speaker Dalia Itzik. Bishara, who is currently abroad, resigned from the Knesset on Sunday. The Arab MK is currently the subject of an ongoing investigation, although a court-issued gag order prevents publishing the details of the investigation. On Sunday, police had agreed to partially lift the gag order, but the court hearing on the matter was delayed until Wednesday due to the Israeli Arab party’s objections. Also Sunday, the Justice Ministry barred entry to Bishara’s Knesset office, hours after he submitted his resignation from parliament at Israel’s embassy in Cairo. more.. $500,000 funneled to Lieberman associates Gidi Weitz and Uri Blau, Ha’aretz 4/24/2007 Three months after Avigdor Lieberman was appointed infrastructures minister in Ariel Sharon’s cabinet, in May 2001, a company owned by businessman Michael Cherney, the so-called "Russian oligarch," transferred about $500,000 to a bank in Cyprus, Haaretz has learned. Shortly thereafter, the account was almost completely emptied, and hundreds of thousands of shekels were transferred to associates of Avigdor Lieberman. Cherney’s attorney Yaakov Weinrot said the money was transferred by his client for a "wine deal." At the beginning of the week, police questioned Lieberman, now deputy prime minister and strategic threats minister, regarding the Cyprus accounts. They are investigating whether the money reached Lieberman, and suspect that Lieberman may have undertaken financial dealings while in office, which is prohibited for MKs and ministers. more.. Palestinian minister tries to go BBC Online 4/23/2007 A key figure has submitted his resignation from the Palestinian unity government but it has been refused by the prime minister, officials say. Interior minister Hani Qawasmi’s move is the first crack to appear in the unity government formed one month ago. The government is currently in a cabinet meeting, where the matter is being discussed. Analysts say Mr Qawasmi is frustrated by lack of co-operation between rival security chiefs." He submitted his resignation to the prime minister but the latter refused and asked him to remain in his post," government spokesman Ghazi Hamad said. Independent candidateThe month-old cabinet, which contains 25 ministers from the two main Palestinian political factions, Hamas and Fatah, and various other parties was an attempt to heal the rift between the rival factions. more.. In Cairo, Bishara quits the Knesset Shahar Ilan and Yoav Stern, Ha’aretz 4/21/2007 MK Azmi Bishara submitted his resignation from the Knesset at Israel’s embassy in Cairo yesterday. In an interview with Al Jazeera he said he decided to waive his immunity due to the "chorus of incitement" against him. Bishara vowed to return to Israel but doesn’t know when. "I am a son of Palestine and a son of Greater Syria - exile is not an option for me and my return is certain," he said. "I have contributed to a new parliamentary discussion of the Arab population as a national collective," Bishara added in his resignation letter. He did not mention the police investigation against him. He asserted that he made his decision after the elections a year ago. "I always believed I was in the Knesset as a mission, not a profession," he wrote. Bishara signed the letter after identifying himself before the Israeli consul in Egypt, Eli Sisso. more.. Balad opposition delays partial lifting of Bishara case gag order Jack Khoury and Yoav Stern, Ha’aretz 4/21/2007 Police had agreed on Sunday to partially lift the gag order regarding the investigation into Balad chairman Azmi Bishara, but the court hearing on the matter was delayed until Wednesday due to the Israeli Arab party’s objections. The Justice Ministry on Sunday afternoon banned all entry to Balad’sKnesset office of Balad party chairman MK Azmi Bishara, hours after he submitted his resignation from parliament at Israel’s embassy in Cairo. Balad announced Sunday it would prefer that the gag order, which prohibits publication of suspicions against Bishara or details of police investigations into the allegations, be rescinded completely. Balad sources said that "a partial lifting of the gag order will allow police to present their version in a selective and distorted manner, while Balad is prevented from publishing details." more.. Israeli minister takes leave amid corruption probe Agence France Presse (AFP, Daily Star 4/23/2007 JERUSALEM: Israel’s finance minister, under investigation by police probing claims that millions of dollars were embezzled from a labor union he once headed, took a three-month leave of absence on Sunday. "A short while ago Finance Minister Avraham Hirshson called me and told me that he requests to suspend himself temporarily from his office... in view of the ongoing investigation carried out against him," Prime Minister Ehud Olmert told a weekly Cabinet meeting. Olmert said that he had granted the request and that he would serve as acting finance minister during Hirshson’s leave, which the minister’s lawyer had earlier told Army Radio would last three months. The Tel Aviv TA-25 stock index, which groups the 25 largest Israeli public companies, did not seem to be affected by the announcement, opening up 0. 80 percent. more.. Israeli minister suspends himself BBC Online 4/22/2007 Israel’s finance minister says he will step down from his post temporarily while police probe a case of suspected embezzlement by a former employee. Avraham Hirchson is under investigation for failing to report an embezzlement which took place in 2003. When he was head of a workers’ union, Mr Hirchson was told by an employee that he had taken 5. 6m shekels ($1. 3m; £700,000) to pay for gambling debts. Although Mr Hirchson suspended the employee, he did not report the fraud. His lawyer, Yaakov Weinrot, said the minister had stepped down because he needed "all the energies to fight the suspicions against him"." So it would not be right to perform the operational role of finance minister," he added. The finance ministry made no immediate comment on MrHirchson’s decision. more.. Police question Lieberman Noam Sharvit, Globes Online 4/22/2007 Austrian tycoon Martin Schlaff allegedly gave Avigdor Lieberman millions of dollars through a Cypriot bank -- The Israel Police National Fraud Unit today questioned Minister for Strategic Affairs Avigdor Lieberman at its Bat Yam headquarters on suspicion of accepting millions of dollars from associates of Austrian tycoon Martin Schlaff. The money was allegedly transferred to bank accounts in Cyprus linked to LiebermanThe police conducted investigations in Cyprus in this case, and summoned Lieberman to answer questions about the findings. This is the second investigation into Lieberman, and is based on new evidence obtained in early 2006The first investigation against Lieberman began in 2000 on the basis of a report by the Office of the State Comptroller into NGOs affiliated with Israel Beiteinu, the party that Lieberman heads, and election financing. more.. Mazuz may seek more than Hirchson’s 3 month leave Noam Sharvit, Globes Online 4/22/2007 The Attorney General feels that this action is inappropriate for a senior minister under investigation. -- Attorney General Menahem (Meni) Mazuz may reject Minister of Finance Abraham Hirchson’s decision to take a leave of absence since the action represents a farfetched interpretation of the law covering governing such practices. Hirchson has, in effect, declared that he is temporarily indisposed. The Basic Law: The Government (1992) provides that, "Where a minister has ceased to serve in his post or is unable to fulfill his duties due to a temporary indisposition, the prime minister, or another minister appointed by the cabinet, shall fulfill these duties instead." The law allows for a leave of absence of up to three months. more.. Police question Lieberman over allegedly illegal funding of primaries Gidi Weitz and Uri Blau, Ha’aretz 4/21/2007 Police questioned Strategic Threats Minister and chairman of Yisrael Beiteinu Avigdor Lieberman Sunday morning over allegations of illegal funding during the 1999 party primaries. Lieberman was summoned for questioning after an investigation revealed suspicious bank accounts, owned by the minister, in Cyprus. Investigators have been trying to follow the transactions made by Lieberman and see whether they correlate with transactions made by relevant Israeli figures. In addition to the private accounts, the State Prosecutor’s office has asked police to look into an account owned by a company previously linked to Lieberman. Lieberman’s media consultant, Yossi Levi, said Sunday that during the past year, Lieberman has requested four times to be questioned over this matter in order to clear his name. more.. Finance Minister suspends himself over embezzlement allegations Jonathan Lis and Yuval Yoaz, Ha’aretz 4/21/2007 Finance Minister Abraham Hirchson announced Sunday morning to Prime Minister Ehud Olmert that he will suspend himself from office for three months due to the investigation being conducted against him over suspicions of embezzlement. The suspension will begin immediately, and the finance minister position will be filled by Olmert for the time being. Hirchson’s attorney Yaakov Weinroth confirmed his client’s suspension in an interview with Army Radio Sunday morning. Olmert does not intend to dismiss Hirchson from his position, nor is he planning to appoint a replacement. In about a month, former Justice Minister Haim Ramon will complete serving a community service sentence for an indecent act conviction, and will be the leading candidate to replace Hirchson. more.. Knesset panel extends President’s suspension until end of his term Shahar Ilan, Ha’aretz 4/21/2007 The Knesset House Committee on Sunday extended President Moshe Katsav’s temporary suspension until the end of his presidency on July 15. The president had asked the committee to extend his suspension "until further notice," but Knesset legal advisor Nurit Elstein determined that the suspension could only be expanded for a specific period of time. Katsav can, however, terminate the period of incapacitation at any time. In its decision, the committee criticized the president for not resigning. The extension was approved by an 11-4 margin, with all those who voted in favor being members of the governing coalition. Most of those opposed to the measure were opposition members, and said they were opposed to extending the temporary suspension in order to bring public pressure to bear on the president to resign. more.. PM to take over as finance minister in Hirchson’s stead Mazal Mualem, Yuval Yoaz and Jonathan Lis, Ha’aretz 4/21/2007 Finance Minister Abraham Hirchson yesterday announced that he is taking a three-month leave of absence from his position, due to the criminal investigation against him. Sources close to Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said yesterday that Olmert intends to preside as acting finance minister for a period of at least several weeks. Good government organizations charged that this would constitute an improper conflict of interests, due to the criminal investigation against Olmert over his actions during his last stint as finance minister. Several prominent politicians are vying for the position, under the assumption that Hirchson will not return to the treasury after the investigation against him ends. Hirchson’s decision to step down follows a criminal investigation into his behavior during his stints as chairman of the National Workers Organization and the Nili nonprofit organization. more.. PM seeks MK media blitz to counter war probe Mazal Mualem, Ha’aretz 4/21/2007 Prime Minister Ehud Olmert’s associates have asked Kadima MKs to prepare a media blitz to counter the onslaught expected upon publication of the Winograd Committee’s interim report next week. Olmert’s aides want to turn public opinion in his favor in the event of an expected chorus of calls from politicians, non-government organizations and bereaved parents for his resignation. The prime minister’s bureau chief of staff, Oved Yehezkel, is coordinating political preparations for the day of the report’s release, senior Kadima sources said. Yehezkel has enlisted political figures and Kadima MKs to come to Olmert’s defense in the media as soon as the Winograd report is released on Sunday. The campaign team will emphasize the "collective responsibility" of the cabinet and Knesset, as well as public support for the decision to launch the second Lebanon War. more.. PM defends war in shadow of probe: ’Main objective was achieved’ Avi Issacharoff, Nir Hasson and Mazal Mualem, Ha’aretz 4/21/2007 Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, speaking as reports emerged Sunday that the Winograd Committee would harshly criticize the wartime performance of senior government and military officials, defended the war as an "unavoidable" struggle that had achieved its main objective, and had brought about a situation in which Hezbollah operations had been "entirely neutralized." "The fact is that the northern border is absolutely quiet. There is no threat to the border, because there are no Hezbollah emplacements there," Olmert told Israel Radio in remarks broadcast on Sunday. "There is an international army and the Lebanese army, 26,000 soldiers, which have neutralized Hezbollah operations entirely in the area of the south." The principle aim we sought to attain, the ’change of the equation,’ was realized, at a very tough price, under difficult circumstances." more.. Secrecy Surrounds Probe of Arab-Israeli Lawmaker By Eli Clifton, Inter Press Service 4/22/2007 WASHINGTON, Apr 20(IPS) - The Israeli leader of an Arab-nationalist political party is under investigation, but an Israeli magistrate has put a ban on detailing in the Israeli media just what charges he faces. Azmi Bishara, an Arab-Israeli member of the Knesset and leader of the Balad party, was outside of Israel when news of the probe was leaked and he has not stated when or if he intends to return. The investigation -- which allegedly hinges on serious security infractions -- and the secrecy surrounding it have resulted in an ethnic and political malaise. Ma’an, an independent Palestinian news service, offered explicit and seemingly reliable information suggesting that Bishara is under investigation for receiving five million dollars passed to him by two money changers in Jerusalem and for communicating with Hezbollah representatives during the war in Lebanon. more.. Tamir: Military echelon provided false information at start of war By Haaretz Service, Ha’aretz 4/21/2007 Education Minister Yuli Tamir said Saturday that the military echelon supplied false information to the government at the start of the summer’s Second Lebanon War. Speaking on the Channel 2 television program "Meet the Press," Tamir said "the heart of the problem was the feeling given to the ministers that this would be a short operation, the goals of which could be achieved by the Air Force, with a very focused ground operation. Tamir said that as in the period preceding the 1973 Yom Kippur War, the government received information that was "one-dimensional, and not enough. When asked about the responsibility of former IDF chief of staff Dan Halutz for the faulty information, Tamir said, "it is not a coincidence that that chief of staff is no longer serving in his position. more.. Minister of Information renews denial of government taking loans from banks to pay salaries Ma’an News Agency 4/21/2007 Ramallah - Ma’an – Palestinian Minister of Information, Dr Mustapha Barghouthi, has denied published reports of a suggestion made to take loans from banks in order to pay the salaries of the government employees. He renewed the Finance minister’s earlier denial "this news is baseless, and not more than a rumour. The aim behind it is to confuse the Palestinians". The minister also stated that the government is committed to pay “all the unpaid salaries, and the minister of finance is continuing his contacts in this regard. ” more.. Bassam As Salhi resigns leadership of Palestinian People’s Party Ma’an News Agency 4/21/2007 Bethlehem - Ma’an - Ma’an news agency has learned from informed sources that the General-Secretary of the Palestinian People’s Party, Bassam As Salhi, has resigned from the leadership of the party. It has been instead decided to form a trilateral leadership, headed by the party’s politburo chief Fuad Rizq. Mr Rizq himself has refused to make any comment on this news, saying only that “comment will come in an official statement one week from nowâ€. Tal’at As Safadi, a member of the general assembly, stated that the party’s central committee convened in Gaza and the West Bank. The meeting was headed by As Salhi, and a preparation committee was elected, including new politburo members. In a statement issued late on Friday, the party said that the internal rules of the party prohibit gathering between the PLO Executive Committee membership, or the Palestinian Authority, and the leadership of the party. more.. Fatah refute Hamas allegations over Mohammad Dahlan Ma’an News Agency 4/21/2007 Ramallah - Ma’an - Fatah spokesman Fathi Az Za’arir has expressed the dissatisfaction of his movement over the way the Hamas movement launched an attack on Mohammad Dahlan." It is better for everyone to be aware of the national interests, apart from the personal attacks and defaming [statements]" said Az Za’arir in a statement, responding to reports published in Al Quds and Al Arabi newspapers regarding the appointment of Dahlan as the president’s advisor for national security. Hamas figures, including Mahmoud Zahhar, have made statements critical of this appointment. Fatah’s statement declared, “we in Fatah differentiate between the right of Hamas, as a bloc in the PLC, to they reject such appointments, and between the accusations against Dahlan, that he was behind the regrettable incidents in the [Gaza] Strip, which we refute absolutely. ” more.. New security plan: restrict weapons in society while preserving legitimacy of resisting occupation By Palestine News Network, Palestine News Network 4/20/2007 The verdict is still out on the new internal security plan, although it was accepted during a special government session last week. After Interior Minister Hani Al Qawasmi's plan gained approval on Saturday, spokespeople for both the Interior Ministry and the Al Aqsa Brigades weighed in with PNN. Spokesperson for Fateh's Al Aqsa Briagades, Abu Fuad, addressed the intention of the internal security plan and the clear difference from that of legitimate resistance to the occupation. “Fateh, since the formation of the military wings, knows where topointits guns, which is at the occupation. And I think that the security plan that is being talked about has not been dealt with by us formally becauseit wasn'tofficially announced. But if it were, I think that we will, God willing, be responsive like of the rest of the resistance parties. ” more.. Human
Rights
Humanitarian situation worsened in OPT in 2006 IRIN, Electronic Intifada 4/30/2007 JERUSALEM, 29 April 2007 (IRIN) - A recent United Nations report reveals that the humanitarian situation in the occupied Palestinian territories (oPt) continued to deteriorate in the second half of last year, largely because of a collapsing economy. Many Palestinians fell further into poverty. The Gaza Strip was the hardest hit with about 80 percent of households earning less than US $1 a day, twice the percentage of those earning that little in the West Bank. Published by the UN Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), the report indicates that the international boycott on the Palestinian Authority (PA), coupled with Israel’s withholding of tax revenues destined for oPt had the harshest affects on the PA’s ability to offer basic services. more.. Vanunu convicted for media links BBC Online 4/30/2007 A court in Israel has convicted former nuclear technician Mordechai Vanunu of violating a military order banning him from speaking to foreign journalists. The verdict could mean a fresh jail term for Mr Vanunu, who served 18 years in prison for revealing details of Israel’s clandestine nuclear programme. His lawyer called it intolerable to convict a person for the mere act of speaking, never mind whatever was said. A sentencing hearing is set for 18 May. Vanunu is banned from leaving Israel." We should be clear here that Vanunu was convicted for the very act of speaking to non-Israelis, rather than the content of those conversations," lawyer Michel Sfard said. "We do not consider this appropriate for a democracy in the 21st Century. more.. Missing BBC man ’alive’, MEPs say BBC Online 4/30/2007 Members of the European Parliament have been told by Palestinian leaders that the kidnapped BBC correspondent, Alan Johnston, is alive. A 12-member delegation of MEPs were given the assurances in a meeting with Palestinian Deputy PM Azzam al-Ahmad in the West Bank city of Ramallah. Mr Azzam also told them the Palestinian security services knew what they had to do to secure the reporter’s release. Mr Johnston was seized at gunpoint in Gaza City on 12 March. Speaking to MEPs, Mr Azzam said the Palestinian security services knew what they had to do to secure the reporter’s release. There has been no direct information on his fate. Vigils are held by his colleagues and friends in London every Monday to keep his disappearance in the public eye. more.. Tell Israeli government that new Hebron settlement is violation of international law Christian Peacemaker Teams, Electronic Intifada 4/30/2007 On 19 March 2007, Israeli settlers illegally occupied an empty four-story Palestinian building. This multi-unit Hebron building is close to the Kiryat Arba settlement of 7000 residents and is strategically located to link Kiryat Arba to the smaller enclaves inside Hebron’s Old City. Under Israeli law, settlers need permission from the Ministry of Defense before expanding their presence in the West Bank. Since they have not received permission, this occupation is illegal. Amir Peretz, the Israeli Minister of Defense, is reportedly ready to order the Israeli army to evict the settlers, but that his cabinet colleagues are more cautious. Initial reports said that the military would evict the settlers by 19 April. However, the Israeli government has undertaken no action to remove the illegal settlement so far. more.. PICCR initiates a probe in the killing of a Gaza resident Ali Samoudi - IMEMC, International Middle East Media Center 4/30/2007 The Palestinian Independent Commission for Citizens’ Rights (PICCR) initiated a probe into the incidents that led to the killing of resident Izzat Rasheed Al Bazary, who was abducted last week. The Commission went to Bazaria village, where the slain resident resided, met with his family and listened to their testimonies regarding the incident and the way the abduction was carried out. Members of the Commission also met with several Palestinian security officials in the area and obtained their testimonies, in an attempt to determine the conducts of the security devices regarding this case. The unknown gunmen apparently abducted Izzat due to a financial conflict with his son Rasheed, who is detained by the Palestinian police. Um Rasheed, the wife of the slain resident said that he have high hopes... more.. Gazan families of Palestinian prisoners in Egypt attempt to invade Egyptian embassy in Khan-Younis Ma’an News Agency 4/30/2007 Khan-Younis - Ma’an - Palestinian security forces on Monday foiled an attempt to break into the Egyptian embassy by Palestinian family members, whose sons are being held in Egyptian jails. Ma’an’s correspondent reported that a number of people have been participating in a ’sit-in’ strike for the last two days in front of the embassy, calling for the release of their sons. Today, they attempted to forcibly enter the embassy, but presidential forces intervened and dispersed them after shooting in the air. The Hamas movement has expressed reservations over handling of the events, and rejected dealing with the issue of the arrested Palestinians in Egypt through violent means. In a statement issued on Monday, the movement stated that "dealing with this issue can be only through dialogue. more.. Police forces search Azmi Bishara’s Knesset office Shahar Ilan, Ha’aretz 4/30/2007 Balad Chairman Jamal Zahalka was summoned to the Knesset on Monday because police, according to Zahalka, wanted him to be present while they searched former Balad Chairman Bishara’s office at the Knesset. Bishara is suspected of serious security violations, including assistance to the enemy in time of war, passing information to an enemy and contacts with a foreign agent. Bishara denies all the allegations and he does not see any possibility of receiving a fair trial in Israel. With Bishara’s resignation last week from the Knesset at the Israeli embassy in Cairo, police requested that Bishara’s office be sealed off so that they could search it. "This is unacceptable and a provocation. The building has immunity", said Zahalka in response to his summoning. more.. Whistleblower Vanunu convicted of violating terms of conditional release Nir Hasson, Ha’aretz 4/30/2007 Nuclear whistleblower Mordechai Vanunu was convicted yesterday by the Jerusalem Magistrates Court of violating an order prohibiting him from having contacts with foreigners and granting media interviews. Vanunu was released in April 2004 after serving 18 years in prison for aiding the enemy. He had given an interview to a British newspaper, The Sunday Times, in which he discussed his work at the Dimona nuclear reactor. Two days before his release, then GOC Home Front Command Yair Naveh issued an order forbidding him from "holding contacts or exchanging information" with foreigners, including participating in Internet chats. An additional order prevented him from leaving Israel. Vanunu was convicted of 14 counts relating to contacts with journalists, during which he apparently provided information on Israel’s nuclear arsenal. more.. DAIR: ’Palestinians are on the brink of a humanitarian disaster’ Ma’an News Agency 4/29/2007 Bethlehem "“ Ma’an "“ The Department of Arab and International Relations (DAIR) has issued a press release entitled ’The Palestinians are on their way to the brink of a Humanitarian Disaster’. The department, which is affiliated to the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO), reported that the living conditions of Palestinians have been severely deteriorating for over a year. The plummet in living condition is due to a tightening siege imposed by Israel, the US, EU and several other nations, since the election of Hamas to government in 2006, according to DAIR. Following the formation of the Palestinian government of national unity, Palestinians hoped for the resumption of international aid to the Palestinian Authority, but it failed to happen and DAIR stated that Palestinians are on the "edge of a humanitarian crisis. more.. Israel defends confiscation of Palestinian land Agence France Presse, Daily Star 4/30/2007 JERUSALEM: The Israeli Army on Sunday denied it was seizing additional land near Jericho in the occupied West Bank for the Jewish state’s separation barrier. According to a military order seen by AFP on Saturday, the army told the village council in Bardaleh, north of Jericho, that nearly 59 acres of Palestinian farmland would be confiscated "for security reasons" to extend the barrier. An army spokesman told AFP the order was not for seizure of new land, but an extension of an order issued in 2004. "The works for construction of the barrier in this sector are finished. The confiscation order that we issued is nothing but a renewal of one that we issued in 2004," he said. "In those cases where the closures are provisional, the confiscation orders have to be periodically renewed," he said. more.. Thousands protest in Nazareth in support of former MK Bishara Jonathan Lis Yoav Stern, Ha’aretz 4/29/2007 Thousands of protestors took part in a demonstration in Nazareth on Saturday held in support of former MK Azmi Bishara. Among the protestors and speakers were representatives from each of Israel’s Arab political parties and members of Bishara’s family. The majority of the protestors were reported seen carrying photos of Bishara and placards reading "My guilt is that I love my homeland." Many of the demonstrators were also heard chanting, "With blood and fire we will redeem you Azmi." Bishara spoke by telephone to the protesters, stating "our intellect and our words are our weapons. Never in my life did I draw a gun or kill anyone." The chairman of the Higher Arab Monitoring Committee, Shuweiki Hatib, told protesters that "the entire Arab public is united against this incitement. more.. Bishara fears Mossad assassination attempt, Israel to release international arrest request Ma’an News Agency 4/29/2007 Bethlehem "“ Ma’an "“ Israeli Member of Knesset, Azmi Bishra, has expressed concerns that he may be assassinated by Israeli intelligence agency, Mossad. Israeli news sites reported that Bishara told his friends and some journalists "despite my belief that the Israeli Mossad might consider assassinating me, I am not afraid as I am an Arab patriot." He added "I don"™t exclude this possibility but I am not afraid". Bishara revealed that he has received threats via telephone and email, and said that many Israeli extremists have taken photos of his house, according to Israeli websites. International arrest request The Israeli Attorney General completed the accusation list against Bishara in preparation for an international request to arrest him after he fled from Israel. more.. Prisoners’ Association and ministry of prisoners’ affairs close in dire financial circumstances Ma’an News Agency 4/29/2007 Bethlehem "“ Ma’an "“ Branches of the Palestinian Prisoners’ Association and the ministry of prisoners’ affairs in the West Bank closed on Sunday in response to numerous requests from Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails. The prisoners are reacting to the dire financial situation of the association and ministry, and the non-payment of stipends that Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails should receive in order to afford basic goods, such as food. The closure was implemented by the association’s directors, but its chairperson, Qaddora Faris, described the closure as "a hasty decision that will not support the prisoners." Faris told Ma’an "if the prisoners think the closure will exert pressure on the ministry to pay their dues, it is their decision; however, it will prevent their families from keeping in touch... more.. Hundreds march against Wall in southern Bethlehem Bethlehem - Najib Farag, Palestine News Network 4/28/2007 In southern Bethlehem yesterday at least 300 people marched against the Wall. This was in spite of Israeli forces’ erecting flying checkpoints to keep out foreign supporters and journalists, and the physical assaults that have become par for the course at the weekly demonstrations. Palestinian government officials Jabril Rajoub and Qais Abdel Karim were among those protesting the continued dismembering of the West Bank. With flags and banners, hundreds of people walked together after Friday prayers from the center of Umm Salamuna Village to the site of the Wall. Signs were painted in Arabic, English and Hebrew, all condemning the land confiscation. Israeli soldiers rushed the nonviolent activists with batons and rifle butts. Brigadier General Jabril Rajoub spoke during the demonstration, telling... more.. Mother must tell imprisoned son of father’s death Jerusalem - Maisa Abu Ghazaleh, Palestine News Network 4/28/2007 Amer Asaid’s mother does not know how her son will take the news. His father, Abu Daoud Asaid, has died. Amer is now in Nafha Prison. The last time he was his father was during his first and only visit during which he was not allowed to take a photo, says his mother, Umm Daoud. It has been seven years of Israeli prisons thus far for Amer. "I do not know how the visit will go. I don’t know if Amer has found out about his father’s death. I will have to tell him." She said, "When my husband died at dawn last Saturday I screamed for Amer, that he would be able to come to his father’s funeral. I know that Abu Daoud did not want to die before his son was released." Umm Daoud appealed to the international community to intervene to allow political prisoners to see their parents in the event of their deaths, to march in funeral processions. more.. Army attacks a training school and kidnaps one student in Qalqilia Ghassan Bannoura - IMEMC & Agencies, International Middle East Media Center 4/28/2007 An Israeli army force invaded the northern West Bank city of Qalqilia attacked a training school in the city and kidnapped one student on Saturday afternoon. Troops surrounded the school building forced all students out then searched the place soldiers kidnapped one of the students then left. [end] Al Haq report on "disturbing trends" in human rights violations in the West Bank Ma’an News Agency 4/28/2007 Bethlehem "“ Ma’an "“ Palestinian human rights group, Al Haq, have released a report on human rights abuses committed by the "Israeli Occupying Power and the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem." The report is compiled by the Monitoring and Documentation Department. Al Haq noted that "each field report highlights a particularly important and disturbing trend". Al Haq reported that the human rights situation has deteriorated since the outbreak of the second intifada in 2000. Since the outbreak of the second intfada, Al Haq’s report revealed that the Israeli forces have assassinated 1,745 Palestinians in the occupied Palestinian West Bank, 334 of whom were children and 71, who were women. The human rights group estimated that 285 were killed in targeted assassinations. more.. Haaretz: Protest in Jaffa against home demolitions Yigal Hai, International Solidarity Movement 4/28/2007 Hundreds of Jaffa residents on Friday participated in a march to protest measures that the Israel Lands Authority and the Amidar housing company have taken in the past year to evict Arab families from Jaffa. The Israel Lands Authority and Amidar claim the families invaded the properties and built on them illegally. The march was organized by The Popular Committee to Defend the Land and the Right to Residency, which was established by the Arab residents of Jaffa several weeks ago. According to the committee’s leaders, the Authority and Amidar in the past year issued 500 eviction notices to Arab families from the Al Ajami and Givat Aliya neighborhoods, and some of the notices have evolved into eviction lawsuits. The organizers of the march questioned why the Authority and Amidar have taken a sudden interest... more.. Israeli settler attacks Palestinian girl, Police detain four human rights workers On Tuesday, April 24, just after 11 am, two human, International Solidarity Movement 4/28/2007 On Wednesday April 25, the soldiers entered a residence housing a number of international HRW"™s in Tel Rumeida. They attempted to make a search for both persons and evidence of involvement in a recent incidence of graffiti in the locality. Initially, there were two HRWs on the roof. Another HRW came out soon after following the commotion. Having established they had no papers to qualify their search and refusals by the army to outline the reason for their presence, they were repeatedly asked to leave. It was only after several minutes the HRWs were able to get the military out of the building. Even after the military were leaving a soldier was intent on causing continued harrassment by preventing the HRW from closing the door by putting both his foot and gun in the way. more.. Bishara tells Al Hiyat he will not become a political refugee Palestine News Network, Palestine News Network 4/29/2007 Chairman of the Israeli National Democratic Party, Dr. Azmi Bishara, told the Al Hiyat daily that he does not intend to become a political refugee. After the Palestinian member of Israeli Knesset resigned due to intense political persecution, Israeli police raided his offices. He is threatened with arrest. Bishara said that several countries have offered him political asylum and that he will not leave political life. He is hoping for some time work on several issues, including finishing a book he is writing, Israel’s plan to prevent his party from contesting the elections, and defending his resignation from membership in the Knesset. He stressed that the Israeli government body is not parliamentary, but rather partisan. Bishara said there are many who spearheaded a violent campaign. more.. Palestinian family appeals the release of their detained son Moeen Shadid - IMEMC, International Middle East Media Center 4/29/2007 Family of detainee Ali Hasan Odah, 27, from the northern West Bank city of Tulkarem, appealed human rights organization, the Palestinian Ministry of Detainees and all institutions advocating the rights of the detainees, to act in order to release their son who was taken prisoner when he was only 17-year old, more than 10 years ago. Odah was accused of killing an Israeli citizen inside Israel after the later attempted to abuse him. The father of Odah said that his son was arrested in April 1998 after he killed the Israeli employer who attempted to abuse him. The court sentenced him to 12 years after transferring his case from the military court to the criminal court. The father stated that the prosecution wanted the court to sentence his son to a life-term, but the court sentenced him to 12 years since the... more.. Nafha Society calls for releasing a ailing detainee Amin Abu Wardeh - IMEMC, International Middle East Media Center 4/29/2007 The Nafha Society which advocates the rights of Palestinian detainees in Israeli prisons and detention facilities called on human rights organizations to practice pressures on Israel to release an ailing detainee who lost the ability to walk due to a sharp deterioration in his health condition. The society stated that Ahmad Yousef, from Jalboun village, near the northern West Bank city of Jenin, is suffering from several diseases and lost the ability to stand and walk without crutches, but yet prison administration is not providing him with the needed medical help. The report revealed that Abu Al Rob, sentenced to fifteen years, suffered a disease in his left leg some four months ago, and lost the ability to use it efficiently. 45 days ago, he suffered the same issue with his right leg. more.. Gang caught attempting to kidnap schoolchildren for ransom in Gaza Strip Ma’an News Agency 4/29/2007 Khan Younis "“ Ma’an "“ The Palestinian Executive Force (EF), which is affiliated to the ministry of interior, announced on Sunday that they arrested a gang that planned to kidnap children and hold them hostage for ransom money. The group was caught whilst attempting to kidnap a child in front of a school in Gaza City. The EF have been investigating and monitoring the suspects for 3 days. The EF said in a statement "the group was caught whilst attempting to kidnap a boy near his school and they admitted during interrogation that they were planning to ask for $10,000 from his father." [end] Gaza citizen killed in clan clash Ma’an News Agency 4/29/2007 Gaza "“ Ma’an "“ A 55-year-old Palestinian man, Faris Abu Jabal, was killed on Sunday in clan clashes, which erupted in the Shujaiyya neighbourhood, in Gaza City. Palestinian medical sources reported that Abu Jabal’s bullet-ridden corpse arrived at the Dar Ash-Shifa hospital. The deceased received several bullets to the head and chest. [end] Israeli authorities to release a long term Palestinian prisoner after ending 20 year sentence Ma’an News Agency 4/29/2007 Gaza "“ Ma’an "“ The spokesperson of the long term Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails, Mahmoud Abu Hasira, affirms that the Israeli authorities will release today, Sunday, one of the long term Palestinian prisoners, Majid Shaheen. According to the spokesperson, Shaheen was imprisoned in Israel 20 years ago, and he will be released today after having served his 20 year sentence. Shaheen is affiliated to the Islamic Jihad movement. [end] Chief Palestinian Justice calling on UN to implement resolutions against occupation Jerusalem - Palestine News Network, Palestine News Network 4/28/2007 The Chief Palestinian Justice says that Israeli forces have given the army a green light to kill Palestinians. Speaking on Saturday Sheikh Taysir Al Tamimi said that he too is being targeted more than ever. As one of the prominent leaders of the charge to save Al Aqsa Mosque, the Sheikh expressed his supreme disappointment that the international community has not issued a denunciation of the excavations. He asked for any human rights report or statement regarding Israeli violations. Sheikh Al Tamimi called upon the Quartet and the UN Security Council to provide international protection for the people and to "take a firm and resolute stand to stop the crimes and terrorism perpetrated by the brutal occupation authorities with the support of the American administration." more.. Palestinian prisoners of Israel call for President Abbas to halt his regular meetings with Israeli officials Ma’an News Agency 4/28/2007 Tulkarem "“ Ma’an "“ Palestinian prisoners at the Israeli "Shatta" jail appealed on Saturday to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, calling on him to stop his regular meetings with the Israelis, "as they continue to practice aggressive assaults against the Palestinian people, regardless of previous agreements and treaties". In a letter they wrote to President Abbas, via the prisoners’ association in Tulkarem, the prisoners called for further endeavours "to activate the prisoners’ issue, as one of the highest Palestinian priorities". Their letter also stated that the prisoners’ living conditions in Israeli jails were worsening still. more.. Seattle Post Intelligencer: Corrie personified Northwest idealism Joe Copeland, International Solidarity Movement 4/28/2007 Rachel Corrie’s beautiful life and sad story echo with the Northwest: idealism, independence and adventure. It’s fitting the inspiring play, "My Name is Rachel Corrie," will be back in Seattle after a weekend trip to her hometown, Olympia. As to how much of America gets to see the play, it’s tempting to ask who cares? But that would be to give into censoring theaters, or convincing them that the play isn’t adequately balanced. As if plays ever were balanced. The standard ought to be whether they are engaging, true to their subject and have a worthy subject. For all the dissuasion (recently, a Florida theater cut and ran), this play meets the mark, especially on the subject: Rachel Corrie - the real person. more.. Taking the piss out of war games in Hebron by: Yifat Appelbaum, International Solidarity Movement 4/28/2007 Israeli soldiers in Hebron sometimes do exercises to practice for combat situations. Ok, I can accept that. They need to always be on their toes in case there is a terrorist, right? *wink wink nudge nudge* But when they do it around Palestinian homes it is just a form of harassment, the purpose of which is to scare and intimidate the residents. Remind them who’s boss, so to speak. Last night we were walking down the street at about 9pm and we saw about 10 Israeli soldiers playing their war games in the street. They were prancing around, running, ducking, hiding and pointing their guns at all of us. But you have to put your foot down when they enter onto Palestinian property and start doing this thing in people’s front yards. When they entered a yard, we followed, wondering if they were going try to force their way into the house. more.. Arab-Israeli ex-MP home raided Al Jazeera 4/27/2007 Israeli police have raided the home and offices of Azmi Bishara, a prominent Arab-Israeli politician, who has been accused of helping Hezbollah, the Lebanese Shia group, during the conflict in 2006. Police seized computers from Bishara’s home in Jerusalem, as well as his offices in Jaffa and Nazareth, on Friday. The raids come shortly after Bishara lost his parliamentary immunity, when he resigned from the Knesset earlier this week. A police source said Bishara could be arrested immediately if he returned to Israel, which he has said he intends to do. "My stay outside is temporary," he said in a phone interview with Al Jazeera. Bishara, 50, is under investigation for passing information to state enemies and receiving money in exchange. more.. Peaceful demonstration against the illegal wall and settlements near Bethlehem Polly Bangoriad - 1 of International Middle East Media Center - IMEMC, International Middle East Media Center 4/27/2007 "Stop the Bleeding of Bethlehem Campaign" is Launched -- On Friday midday Palestinian, Israeli and international peace activists held a non-violent demonstration near the southern West Bank city of Bethlehem, protesting against illegal Israeli settlement expansion and the Illegal Wall. Israeli army watch over non-violent demonstration - Photo by Polly Bangoriad On Friday midday Palestinian, Israeli and international peace activists held a non-violent demonstration near the southern West Bank city of Bethlehem, protesting against illegal Israeli settlement expansion and the Illegal Wall. Over one hundred non-violent activists gathered at the junction on route 60, near the illegal Israeli settlement of Effrat, and stood near the busy road holding large banners bearing anti-occupation slogans such as ’Stop Bethlehem Bleeding’. more.. Balad Chairman Bishara: I cannot receive a fair trial in Israel Jonathan Lis Yoav Stern Shahar Ilan, Ha’aretz 4/28/2007 Balad Chairman Azmi Bishara, who is currently being investigated for a number of security violations, said Thursday that he does not believe he will receive a fair trial in Israel. In an interview with the Nazareth-based A-Shams radio, Bishara said, "We don? t believe that in this atmosphere of incitement ? we will receive a fair trial." He added that he does not fear the severe sentence he is expected to receive if convicted. A police source said Thursday that Bishara would be arrested the moment he returned to the country, Israel Radio reported. A gag order on the investigation against Bishara was partially lifted Wednesday, revealing that the former MK is accused of aiding the enemy during wartime, passing information on to the enemy and contacts with a foreign agent, including during the Second Lebanon War. more.. Police may seek to declare Bishara a ’wanted fugitive’ Jonathan Lis and Yoav Stern, Ha’aretz 4/28/2007 Unless former MK Azmi Bishara returns to Israel for a police interview within a reasonable period of time he may be declared a "fugitive from justice," police sources said on Thursday. However, this definition is essentially irrelevant in Bishara’s case: declaring him a fugitive from justice is meant to assist the police in locating criminals who are not public figures and who are trying to flee the country. "Bishara is a famous person in Israel, and therefore it will be difficult to pass through border crossings [without being noticed]," a police source said. A document released on Thursday to the media on the Bishara investigation implies that the police will arrest him when he returns to Israel, as he no longer enjoys parliamentary immunity. more.. Report: Settlers assault left-wing activists protecting shepherds Mijal Grinberg, Haaretz Correspondent, Ha’aretz 4/28/2007 However, police said there were no casualties. Arik Ascherman, the executive director of Rabbis for Human Rights, said eight settlers, with dogs, assaulted the three Israeli and seven foreign left-wing activists, breaking several cameras. Israeli security forces arrived at the scene and detained Ascherman and two of the settlers for questioning. [end] Protestors rally in Jaffa against move to evict local Arab families Yigal Hai, Haaretz Correspondent, Ha’aretz 4/28/2007 Hundreds of Jaffa residents on Friday participated in a march to protest measures that the Israel Lands Authority and the Amidar housing company have taken in the past year to evict Arab families from Jaffa. The Israel Lands Authority and Amidar claim the families invaded the properties and built on them illegally. The march was organized by The Popular Committee to Defend the Land and the Right to Residency, which was established by the Arab residents of Jaffa several weeks ago. According to the committee’s leaders, the Authority and Amidar in the past year issued 500 eviction notices to Arab families from the Al Ajami and Givat Aliya neighborhoods, and some of the notices have evolved into eviction lawsuits. The organizers of the march questioned why the Authority and Amidar have taken a sudden interest... more.. Palestinians from inside ’48 demand inclusion in prisoner exchange deal Nablus - Amin Abu Wardeh, Palestine News Network 4/27/2007 Dozens of Palestinians demonstrated after the Follow-Up Committee for Prisoners’ Freedom called for a sit-in at Sharon prison. Participants held banners and shouted for "Freedom for Prisoners," in direct reference tothe Palestinians from inside Israeli boundaries currently in its prisons. Several public figures attended the protest, including head of the Islamic Movement inside the Green Line, Sheikh Ra’ed Salah, and chairman of the committee. "We are calling for more protests at every prison from Nafha to Jilboa, and insist on this until everyone is freed." Speaking at today’s demonstration, Sheikh Ra’ed Salah added, "We need to continue such events that effectively deliver our message to everyone which says that our people must be released. more.. From Jerusalem to Beit Jala: scene similar to that on either side of Israeli occupied Syrian border Jerusalem - Maisa Abu Ghazaleh, Palestine News Network 4/27/2007 Most of the family could not accompany Umm Issam’s body to the cemetery. They were from Hebron and were not allowed to pass the Israeli checkpoint in Beit Jala along the route to Jerusalem near Bethlehem. There were five minutes alloted for more than 50 people, including her mother, brother and sisters, to have their final viewing. The scene here is similar to that for residents of the Israeli occupied Golan Heights on either side of the Syrian -- Israeli border. The family gathered at the top of Beit Jala, the small city just up the hill from Bethlehem. Umm Issam’s daughter described her farewell as where the "tears and sorrow of unity and exile meet." She said that the family tried to get permits from Israeli forces occupying the West Bank, but were denied. more.. Al Haq: British government being sued for complicity Ramallah - Palestine News Network, Palestine News Network 4/27/2007 The British government is being sued for failure to adhere to international law. Specifically the suit cites British complicity with the Israelis who blatantly violate the rights of the Palestinians. The General Director of Al Haq, a Palestinian NGO focusing on the legal side of human rights issues, said Friday that judges in the High Court in London have agreed to hear the case. The hearing date will be determined by 18 May but is expected to be held before the end of July. In mid-November of 2006 the British High Court in London received the second petition filed on behalf of several Palestinians affected the Wall. Residents on whose land, or near whose homes, Israeli forces are building the Wall, are named in the suit as people under specific attack. more.. European Parliament calls for release of abducted BBC Gaza reporter Reuters, Ha’aretz 4/27/2007 The European Parliament added its voice Thursday to international calls for the release of a BBC reporter who is being held in the Gaza Strip. Alan Johnston, 44, the only foreign correspondent based fulltime in Gaza, has not been heard of since he was abducted on March 12. In a resolution, the parliament called for Johnston "to be immediately and unconditionally released unharmed and returned to safety." It pushed the Palestinian Authority to "redouble its efforts to secure Mr. Johnston’s speedy release... and to ensure that all attacks against journalists and other civilians are investigated thoroughly and those responsible brought to justice." Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas said last week that intelligence services have confirmed that Johnston is alive, despite claims by a previously-unknown group to have executed the journalist. more.. Weekly Report on Human Rights Violations Report, Electronic Intifada 4/26/2007 Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) Continue Systematic Attacks on Palestinian Civilians and Property in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT) Nine Palestinians, including two children, were killed by IOF in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. Four of the victims were extrajudicially executed by IOF. Eighteen civilians were wounded by IOF gunfire in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. Thirteen of these civilians, including a journalist, four women and four international human rights defenders, were wounded when IOF used force to disperse a peaceful demonstration against the construction of the Annexation Wall in Bal’ein village near Ramallah. Two children were wounded as a result of the explosion of a mysterious object of the remainders of IOF. more.. PCHR Weekly Report: "Israeli army killed 9 Palestinians, including two children" Saed Bannoura - IMEMC, International Middle East Media Center 4/27/2007 The Palestinian Center For Human Rights (PCHR), based in Gaza, published its weekly report documenting the Israeli violations of human rights in the occupied Palestinian territories in the period between April 19 -- April 25. During the reported period, Israeli troops killed nine Palestinians, including two children. The PCHR reported that four of the casualties were extra-judicially executed by the Israeli army, and that eighteen people were injured during the past week. The Center stated that on April 21st, Israeli soldiers shot and killed a Palestinian who stepped out on to the roof of his own home in a village near the northern West Bank city of Jenin. On the same say, under-cover forces of the Israeli army assassinated three Palestinians in Jenin, while soldiers shot dead a Palestinian child after surrounding his family’s home to kidnap his brother. more.. Israeli army kidnap elderly woman from a village near Hebron Ghassan Bannoura - IMEMC News, International Middle East Media Center 4/27/2007 An elderly Palestinian woman was kidnapped by Israeli forces which invaded and searched homes in the village of Yatta, south of Hebron city, in the southern part of the West Bank on Friday morning. [end] The Israeli army attack the weekly nonviolent protest in Bil’in injures three Ghassan Bannoura - IMEMC News, International Middle East Media Center 4/27/2007 On Friday, villagers from the Bil’in, near the central West Bank city of Ramallah, along with international and Israeli peace activists, marched in the weekly nonviolent protest against the illegal wall Israel is building on stolen village land. Although Israeli army troops were deployed around the village to keep the protesters away, this week, the organizers of the protest decided to change the route of the demonstration, taking the soldiers by surprise. The nonviolent activists managed to reach the illegal wall and hold their protest on a security road between the wall and the so called "security fence", made of razor wire. As is the case each week, the army used violence against unarmed civilians. Three protesters were injured and had to be transferred to hospital, while Abdullah Abu Rahamah, the coordinator... more.. Israeli anxiety over ’enemy within’ Claire Bolderson, BBC Online 4/26/2007 Israeli Arabs are becoming more assertive in calling for autonomy "There’s one thing in common between Arabs and Jews in Israel," says Amnon Rubinstein with a wry smile. "They can’t stand each other. It’s sad but it’s true". The former Israeli education minister, now at the Centre for Interdisciplinary Studies in Herzliya is not the only Israeli anxious about deteriorating relations between Jewish Israel and its Arab minority. A series of events since last summer’s war in Lebanon have reawakened fears in Israel of an enemy within. At the time, some Israeli Arabs were very critical of Israel’s actions. And this week, one of the most outspoken critics has resigned his seat in the Israeli parliament, the Knesset. It has emerged that Azmi Bishara is being investigated by the Israeli police, reportedly for aiding the enemy during war time. more.. Islamic civilization bulldozed for Israeli takeover of Jerusalem Jerusalem - Maisa Abu Ghazaleh, Palestine News Network 4/25/2007 Israeli bulldozers demolished parts of the Supreme Islamic Council near Al Aqsa Mosque beginning on Sunday. Located dozens of meters from the western wall near Jaffa Gate in East Jerusalem’s Old City, the building is slowly being destroyed. The Al Aqsa Foundation has reported that the Israelis began bulldozing parts of the southern and western facade and several internal rooms. Adjacent to the building the Israelis are constructing apartments in the "modern western style, with architectural features in discord with the Arab-Islamic architecture." As part of continuing efforts to overtake Jerusalem, the Israelis are building luxury apartments in and around the ancient Islamic building. The apartments are being sold for millions. more.. Azmi Bishara: I have been targeted Al Jazeera Bishara says Israel is looking for a scapegoat for what he terms its defeat in the 2006 war in Lebanon. Israeli police say Azmi Bishara, who resigned from Israel’s parliament on Sunday, aided enemies of the country during last year’s war against Hezbollah. Bishara, who heads the anti-Zionist party Balad, has denied any wrongdoing, telling Al Jazeera he did not have direct contact with the Lebanese fighters. A police document, released after a court partially lifted a gag order on Wednesday, said Bishara, 50, is suspected of aiding the enemy in wartime through information he conveyed, violating money-laundering laws and committing other security-related crimes. ’Racist’ climate. The document did not specifically mention Hezbollah nor elaborate on the allegations. No charges have been brought in the case. more.. Women in isolation Qaqilia - Mustafa Sabre, Palestine News Network 4/25/2007 One tooth is falling out, the ones in back are in pain, breathing is laborious and the eye pain unceasing. The skin is sensitive after the narrow isolation cells. These are not the ailments of people trapped in the dungeons of the Middle Ages, but rather those of Palestinian women currently in Israeli prisons. A northwestern West Bank woman was sentenced to 16 years and after four her teeth began to rot. The prison administration refused dental treatment. Her family sent 2,500 shekels to the Israelis to pay for a dentist, but the results were disasterous with a failed health policy and malnutrition. The Prisoner Society in Tulkarem reports that 23 Palestinian women have been isolated since September 2006 in Ramallah’s Ofar, Jilboa, and Jalama in the northern West Bank’s Jenin. more.. Demonstrations for BBC’s Johnston BBC Online 4/25/2007 A rally for kidnapped BBC reporter Alan Johnston has been held by the National Union of Journalists in London. The union demanded that more resources are devoted to secure the release ofMr Johnston, 44, who was abducted by gunmen more than six weeks ago. Earlier, a rally was held by journalists at the main crossing point between Israel and the Gaza Strip. Members of the Foreign Press Association in Israel gathered on both sides of the Erez checkpoint. The Londonvigil, backed by the International Federation of Journalists, was held outside the Palestinian General Delegation office. NUJ General Secretary Jeremy Dear said: "We will not cease until Alan is free to rejoin his friends and family and resume his life as an internationally respected BBC journalist." more.. Reporting risks leave Gaza neglected Martin Patience, BBC Online 4/25/2007 Palestinian journalists have called for security to be improved in GazaAbout a hundred foreign journalists gathered at the Erez crossing - the gateway from Israel to Gaza - to show solidarity with the kidnapped BBC correspondent, Alan Johnston. Holding placards and pictures of the kidnapped correspondent, the journalists rallied in a dusty car park in front of the crossing’s new, gleaming terminal building." Alan is the only foreign correspondent living full time in the Gaza Strip," said the chairman of the Foreign Press Association, Simon McGregor-Wood." In doing so for three years he showed his personal commitment and that of the BBC to report the story of Gaza and its people in a fair and balanced way," he added. more.. 12-year-old killed after caught in crossfire of Gaza family feud News Agencies and Haaretz Service, Ha’aretz 4/25/2007 A 12-year-old Palestinian boy was killed Monday night in the northern Gaza Strip when he was caught in the crossfire between two feuding families near his home. In central Gaza Monday, armed militants shot a pharmacist and his son, wounding them. The men also stole the pharmacist’s car. In Gaza City, two Palestinians were hurt during fighting that broke out following a soccer match at a local soccer stadium. Three Palestinians were hurt in an explosion Monday at a Hamas militant’s home, near the Gaza beach. The explosion was apparently triggered by the mishandling of explosives inside the home. [end] State must justify tough stance on foreign workers who give birth Ruth Sinai, Ha’aretz 4/25/2007 The state must explain why foreign workers are deported after giving birth instead of being allowed to complete their five-year employment period. On Sunday, a High Court of Justice panel gave the state 90 days to respond to an appeal by five social welfare organiziations against the Interior Ministry. In late 2004, a rights group petitioned the court, demanding that the ministry set a clear policy regarding pregnant foreign workers, rather than allowing individual officials to decide on a case-by-case basis, usually forcing the women to leave the country. The ministry responded by requiring the foreign workers to choose between their livelihoods and their babies, deciding that the infants be sent abroad if the mothers wanted to continue to work. Kav La’Oved called the policy cruel, and the ministry again changed course, this time mandating that the women leave the country with the babies. more.. Defense minister orders IDF to lift travel restrictions on Palestinians in Jordan Valley Amira Hass, Ha’aretz 4/25/2007 Restrictions blocking Palestinians from entering the Jordan Valley will be lifted in May, Defense Minister Amir Peretz’s bureau has informed the Association for Civil Rights in Israel (ACRI). The ACRI wrote to the defense minister in December 2006, demanding that limitations on movement in the area be rescinded. Starting in 2005, the Israel Defense Forces has been prohibiting movement by Palestinians in the Jordan Valley, which constitutes about a third of the area of the West Bank. The order excluded Palestinians registered as Jordan Valley residents -- approximately 27,000 people -- but included residents of Jericho. Exceptions were also made for a small number of people who received limited permits from the Civil Authority, or those working in Jordan Valley settlements. more.. Israeli military targets young shepherds in South Hebron Hills Christian Peacemaker Teams, Electronic Intifada 4/23/2007 In the past ten days, Israeli soldiers abducted several shepherds, including a seven-year-old boy, who were grazing their sheep near Israeli settlements in the Southern Hebron District. In none of the cases did they send them to the Israeli civilian police for the required legal processing. On Sunday, 14 April, Israeli soldiers detained seven-year-old Maher Ahmed Moussa Ibnes and his cousin, sixteen year old Nadal Samir Moussa Ibnes in Imneizel. At approximately 9:00 a. m. , Maher Ahmed Moussa Ibnes was grazing sheep on Palestinian land near the Israeli settlement of Beit Yatir when a stone he threw to move the sheep in the desired direction hit the settlement fence. At approximately 9:00 a. m. , Israeli soldiers arrived at the boy’s home. They informed the family that they had surveillance video of the boy throwing a stone at the settlement and insisted on taking him into custody. more.. Jenin in mourning for three miltary activists and a 17-year-old girl, all assassinated by the Israeli army Sunday Ma’an News Agency 4/23/2007 Jenin - Ma’an - Only a few hours separated the assassination of three Palestinian military activists and that of a high school student, a 17-year-old girl called Bushra Bargheish, from Jenin refugee camp in the northern West Bank. The Israeli soldiers’ bullets penetrated her head while she was revising for her final school exams, the ’tawjihi’. She had been dreaming of pursuing her higher education in political science in the hope of becoming an eminent Palestinian woman in the future. She was known amongst her peers as friendly and giving, and they were stunned to hear about her death. The bereaved motherBushra’s mother, who is in her fifties, said: "At around 9:30 pm on Saturday evening, my daughter and I completed the evening prayer (’Al-’Isha’). After she finished, she sat down and began praying that she passes her exams, and then she kissed me. more.. Security crisis erodes cash-strapped Palestinians’ livelihoods IRIN News.org, Daily Star 4/25/2007 Surrounded by Lebanese Army, residents of Nahr al-Bared camp in North Lebanon face even tougher conditions than usualNAHR AL-BARED: In 12 years of selling household goods to Lebanese and Palestinian customers, Khaled Saadi says he has never seen the marketplace in Nahr al-Bared, a Palestinian refugee camp in North Lebanon, as quiet as it is today. "This used to be a key shopping market for all of North Lebanon. I used to sell around $4,000 worth of goods every day," said the Palestinian refugee who is a father of six." Today, the most I sell is $1,000. I have six children, a wife and an elderly father to look after. Things can’t go on like this for long." Through the winding alleys of this 1-kilometer-square camp, home to up to 40,000 people and one of 12 official camps where Lebanon’s Palestinian refugee population live in varying degrees of squalor and struggle, lies the source of Saadi’s current woes... more.. Hadash MK speaks at memorial for Palestinian ’catastrophe’ Yoav Stern, Ha’aretz 4/25/2007 MK Dov Khenin (Hadash) participated Tuesday in a ceremony marking the "Nakba", along with left-wing Israeli Arab and Jewish activists in the abandoned village of Mishkeh, near Tira. The term "Nakba" refers to the outcome of the 1948 Arab-Israeli War, during which about 700,000 Palestinians fled from villages and cities in the area, which eventually became the State of Israel. They were never allowed to return, and their land was seized by the government and given to Jewish immigrants." The time has come for the state to recognize the Palestinian peoples’ tragedy," Khenin said at the ceremony. "The time has come to heal the wounds that the state itself inflicted upon its citizens- the national Arab minority. True freedom of a people cannot be built upon the destruction of another people." more.. Israelis celebrate the occupation of Palestine The Enough Campaign, Palestine News Network 4/23/2007 2007 marks the 40-year anniversary of the Six Day War, in which the Israeli army took military control of the Gaza Strip and West Bank, including East Jerusalem. Since that time the government of Israel has built ’settlements’ in the Occupied Palestinian Territories and assisted its citizens in setting up homes and businesses using land and resources stolen from the Palestinian people. This situation has continued to the current day despite Israel being in violation of international humanitarian law and over 60 UN resolutions. Enough Barbed Wire -- The Occupation has created serious poverty for the Palestinians, as well as severe human rights violations. But Palestinian suffering dates back further to 1948, when the state of Israel was created and 750,000 Palestinians were driven or fled from their homes. more.. BBC’s Johnston ’in good health’ BBC Online 4/24/2007 BBC correspondent Alan Johnston, abducted in Gaza on 12 March, is in good health, Palestinian Deputy Prime Minister Azzam al-Ahmad has said. Mr Ahmad met the UK’s consul-general to Jerusalem, Richard Makepeace, in Ramallah to discuss the efforts being made to secure Mr Johnston’s release. The 44-year-old reporter has not been seen since he was seized at gunpoint. A BBC News website petition has now registered its 50,000th name in support of Mr Johnston. Multi-faith vigil -- Mr Ahmad’s office said in a statement: "The information that we have indicates that Johnston is in good health." The [Palestinian] government is fully co-ordinating with the presidency and all security services to pursue the extensive efforts to release Johnston and bring him back safely to his home, family and his work. more.. Multi-faith appeal for Johnston BBC Online 4/23/2007 A multi-faith service has been held to call for the safe return of BBC Gaza correspondent Alan Johnston. People from different religious communities gathered for the vigil at St Martin in the Fields, London. BBC deputy director general Mark Byford told the congregation that Mr Johnston was a "remarkable and courageous" journalist who was "driven by truth". The 44-year-old reporter has not been seen since he was seized at gunpoint on his way home in Gaza City on 12 March. Mr Byford said: "For the last 75 years the BBC has relied on an extraordinary group of people who go into the world’s trouble spots, often just as everyone else is getting out." No-one is braver or has faced more hardship than Alan Johnston," he added. London Mayor Ken Livingstone later made a public appeal for information on Arab TV, calling the journalist’s abduction "a catastrophe". more.. Israeli administration prohibits high Islamic leader from leaving West Bank to Jordan Jerusalem) Maisa Abu Ghazaleh, Palestine News Network 4/24/2007 The Israeli administration prevented the head of the Supreme Islamic Council, Sheikh Ikrima Sabri, from leaving the West Bank on Monday. The Mufti of Jerusalem and the Holy Land was on his way to Jordan via the King Hussein Brigade, the only way that Palestinians can leave the West Bank. All borders are occupied by Israeli forces and those yesterday prevented Sheikh Sabri from passing for political reasons. The Sheikh explained that he was going to Jordan in order to travel to Russia for a week-long conference on contemporary Islamic issues. The Israelis destroyed the Palestinian airport years ago and the common method of travel is through the international airport in Amman. However, the Israelis banned Sheikh Sabri from passing over the bridge due to undisclosed information recorded in their computer. more.. Azzun Al Atma: gate in the Wall controlled by soldiers who photograph girls Qalqilia) Mustafa Sabre, Palestine News Network 4/24/2007 Secretary of the Local Council in Azzun Al Atma Village reported that Israeli soldiers are using their mobile phone cameras to photograph girls. Abed Ayub said that soldiers at the gate to the Wall which surrounds the town seven kilometers south of Qalqilia stopped a private car and photographed the girls inside. When driver Hassan Ahmed protested and asked that the soldiers delete the images of the young Palestinian girls from their phones, they refused. Dozens of residents stuck at the gate joined in demonstrating against the violation. At the same gate in Azzun Al Atma a security room is using X-rays. And two months ago a young man died awaiting medical treatment when soldiers refused to allow an ambulance to pass through the gate after an auto accident. Recently all agricultural vehicles have been banned. more.. Puerto Rican activist arrested at Second Bil’in International Conference on Nonviolence Jonas Martinez writing from Bil'in, occupied Palestine, Electronic Intifada 4/23/2007 Thanks to the media here for telling the truth... Bring this truth to whatever country you come from!" These were Mairead Maguire’s words, a Nobel Peace Prize winner from Northern Ireland, just one hour before she was shot with a rubber-coated steel bullet by Israeli Occupation Forces. At a press conference next to the Apartheid Wall in Bil’in, she stood beside Dr. Mustafa Barghouti, Palestinian Information Minister. "Nonviolence will solve the problems here in Israel and Palestine," Ms. Macguire continued. "Often, the world sees only violence. But Palestinians are a good people, working towards nonviolence. This Wall must fall! It is an insult to the human family and to the world -- that we are building Apartheid Walls in the twenty-first century! More than forty years of Occupation and land appropriation. more.. Workers inside ’48 Qalqilia) Mustafa Sabre, Palestine News Network 4/23/2007 Secretary of the Federation of Trade Unions, Mahmoud Dhiyab of Qalqilia, has secured a modicum of protection for Palestinian workers within Israeli boundaries. The Israeli employer must now pay in advance in order to end the phenomenon of rampant exploitation of Palestinian workers. This resolution includes disallowing moving a group of workers to a different site without prior approval. In general the Israeli economy relies on Palestinian workers as a large part of its low wage labor force. The decision came after Israeli brokerage firms were taking major advantage of the high level of Palestinian unemployment due to the blockade that cost thousands of jobs in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. But under the union rules workers must now be paid at least 15 days in advance and unions will take care of fighting for workers compensation claims in case claims. more.. Audio Interview: Sami Al-Arian’s wife speaks on husband’s incarceration Audio, Electronic Intifada 4/23/2007 Professor Sami al-Arian has been incarcerated for over four years in federal custody. Although he was acquitted of all charges to ties with a Palestinian "terrorist" organization, a Federal judge remanded him indefinitely. EI contributor and producer of the weekly podcastCrossing the LineChristopher Brown interviews Nahla al-Arian, the wife of Sami al-Arian, as she discusses his current situation, and the affect that a recent 60-day hunger strike had on him and his family. Listen now[MP3 - 8. 1 MB, 17:44 min] more.. UK Journalist Union: Support boycott of Israeli goods Statement, Electronic Intifada 4/24/2007 The National Union of Journalists (NUJ) issued this statement on 17 April 2007 following a vote at the 2007 Annual Delegate Meeting in Birmingham, UK The call for the boycott in part related it to the kidnap of Alan Johnston. The Palestinian journalists union has given huge support to the campaign for his release - holding demonstrations and strikes against the Palestinian authority to demand more action from them. We work closely with the Palestinian union through the International Federation of Journalists and the boycott call was a gesture of support for the Palestinian people - notably those suffering in the siege of Gaza, the community Alan Johnston has been so keen to help through his reporting. The boycott call has nothing to do with reporting. more.. Report to Knesset: Israeli women more educated, paid less Ruth Sinai, Ha’aretz 4/24/2007 Women in Israel are considerably more educated than men and hold more than half of all academic degrees, but they are paid less, according to a report on the social status of women to be reviewed by the Knesset next week. The media shares the blame because it portrays women as no more than sex objects, the report says. It says women are fired more often and their work is scrutinized more carefully than that of their male counterparts, and they are represented less in the media, positions of power and business." For decision-makers, women are still invisible in many areas," said Rina Bar-Tal, chair of the Israel Women’s Network, after reviewing the new report. "Over the years, they have been subjected to sexist discrimination, and systematically barred from power..." more.. Reporters Without Borders looking for confirmation that BBC correspondent is still alive Palestine News Network 4/22/2007 Reporters Without Borders released an appeal on Friday to Palestinian officials to do their utmost to garner the release of Alan Johnston. They have asked for proof that he is still alive. Their report follows. On the 40th day since BBC correspondent Alan Johnston’s abduction in Gaza, Reporters Without Borders today called on Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to urge his kidnappers to produce evidence that he is still alive." We continue to be worried about Johnston’s fate and we call on President Abbas and Prime Minister Haniyeh to coordinate their efforts to obtain his release as soon as possible," the press freedom organisation said. Abbas yesterday said the Palestinian intelligence services had information indicating Johnston is still alive. more.. UK Physicians call for boycott of Israeli Medical Association Statement, Electronic Intifada 4/22/2007 130 UK Physicians Call for a Boycott of the Israeli Medical Association (IMA) and its expulsion from the World Medical Association (WMA) -- In a letter appearing in the Guardian on 21 April 2007, prominent UK physicians have called for a boycott of the IMA and its expulsion from the WMA. The letter follows: "... Persistent violations of medical ethics have accompanied Israel’s occupation. The Israeli Defence Force has systematically flouted the fourth Geneva convention guaranteeing a civilian population unfettered access to medical services and immunity for medical staff. Ambulances are fired on (hundreds of cases) and their personnel killed. Desperately ill people, and newborn babies, die at checkpoints because soldiers bar the way to hospital. The public-health infrastructure, including water and electricity supplies, is wilfully bombed... more.. Minister of Information slams Israel for detaining a peace activist Saed Bannoura - IMEMC & Agencies, International Middle East Media Center 4/21/2007 Alberto De Jesus, also known as Tito Kayak, performed an incredible non-violent stunt at the demonstration. Despite Israel’s tight security, he managed to scale a 100 meter Israeli communications tower and unfurl the Palestinian flag at the Bilin wall, IMEMC reporter said. Barghouthi added that Israel is carrying repeated attacks and violations against international peace activists in order to keep them out of the occupied territories since they expose the Israeli violations against the Palestinians and their land. He also said that Israel is trying to bar the internal peace activists from entering the occupied territories and repeatedly deported them or even forced them out of the country directly after they landed in Tel Aviv, or as they were trying to enter the country through Jordan. more.. Palestinian website for BBC man BBC Online 4/22/2007 Two Palestinians in Gaza have launched a website calling for the release of missing BBC reporter Alan Johnston. The website free-alan. com includes a brief biography of Mr Johnston and messages in Arabic and English calling on his captors to let him go. Alan Johnston, 44, has not been seen since he was seized at gunpoint on his way home in Gaza City on 12 March. On Saturday, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, on a visit to Athens, insisted that Mr Johnston was alive." I have said he is alive and we are making efforts to get him released," Mr Abbas said after meeting Greek Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis. Increasing pressureOn Friday, the media watchdog group Reporters Without Borders called on Mr Abbas to do more to secure Mr Johnston’s release. In the past Mr Abbas has said that he knows who is holding Mr Johnston... more.. Nonviolent conference ends in Bil’in, Israeli forces injure journalists & Nobel Peace Prize winner By Ramallah) Palestine News Network, Palestine News Network 4/21/2007 The international conference hosted by the Popular Resistance in Bil'in ended with a demonstration in which Israeli forces injured 24 people. A Puerto Rican supporter climbed a observation tower used by Israeli forces occupying the West Bank and planted a Palestinian flag. He was later arrested. The 1976 Nobel Peace Prize winner from Northern Ireland Mairead Corrigan, and the former French Ambassador to the United Nations, Stephane Hessel, were among dozens of dignitaries who participated in the activities of the several day conference. Palestinian Information Minister, Dr. Mustafa Barghouthi, held a press conference expressing support for the struggle in western Ramallah's Bil'in. The town's impressive history of nonviolent resistance against the Wall “must be extended throughout the country, as is the case in southern Bethlehem... more.. 22 wounded in weekly Bil’in anti-separation fence protest By Haaretz Service, Ha’aretz 4/21/2007 Two Border Policemen and 20 protestors were wounded Friday during the course of a demonstration against the construction of the West Bank separation fence held in village of Bil’in, west of Ramallah. Over the last two years, the village of Bil’in has become the site of a weekly demonstration protesting the erection of a security fence Israel claims is intended to keep out terrorists, which Palestinians say is a land-grab. [end] Balad Chair Bishara, in Egypt, says considering staying abroad By Yoav Stern Jack Khoury and Shahar Ilan, Ha’aretz 4/21/2007 Balad party Chairman Azmi Bishara, who left Israel amid a police investigation into his foreign contacts was quoted Saturday as saying in Egypt that he is considering staying abroad because he fears a long term jail sentence and an end to his political career. Bishara, a fiery nationalist Arab lawmaker, left the country earlier this month after Israeli media outlets speculated that the police investigation could lead to charges ranging from treason to corruption. Bishara told a group of Egyptian intellectuals late Saturday that he might not return to Israel, to avoid a trial. According to several people who attended the meeting with Bishara at the Egyptian Press Syndicate, the lawmaker said he was being investigated in Israel on accusations that include providing enemy with information at a time of war, visiting an enemy country and bringing money illegally into the state of Israel. more.. UN child rights expert criticises Israel’s imprisonment of Palestinian children Ma’an News Agency 4/20/2007 JERUSALEM, 20 April 2007 (IRIN) - Radhika Coomaraswamy, the UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict, talked to children in the Askar refugee camp near the West Bank city of Nablus and the Israeli town of Sderot, which has been battered by missiles fired from the nearby Gaza Strip. She described the humanitarian impact of Israel’s West Bank barrier on Palestinian children as unconscionable and said the Palestinian Authority (PA) needed to do more to stop youngsters getting involved with the armed factions. "I found the situation worse than I expected. I spent time with the children and I was struck by their sense of hopelessness and despair. I have been in other regions where the conflict has been terrible but the children were more resilient and playful. Here they were less so, particularly in the Palestinian refugee camps," she said. more.. Human rights report: Israeli forces injure children, women and the disabled this week By Gaza City) PCHR, Palestine News Network 4/20/2007 For its report marking the 12 through 18 April, the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights included the photo captioned, "Palestinian civilians attempting to confront aggressive practices of Israeli occupation. ". This week Israeli forces assassinated a Palestinian activist in Jenin after having arrested him. The Israelis also invaded West Bank towns 33 times and arrested 70 people, including children. The PCHR report follows. IOF extra-judicially executed a Palestinian activist in Jenin after having arrested him. IOF destroyed a Palestinian house in Qalqilya in the context of collective punishment. 6 Palestinian civilians (2 women, 3 children and a mentally disabled man) were wounded by IOF gunfire. IOF conducted 33 incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank. more.. Security services: BBC corespondent is alive and well By Bethlehem) Najib Farag, Palestine News Network 4/20/2007 By the latest Palestinian security reports, Alan Johnston is alive. News circulated last week that the BBC corespondent had been killed a month after he was kidnapped in Gaza City. But informed sources told PNN last night that security agencies have given President Abbas credible information to the contrary. Palestinian journalists, officials, and civil society have demonstrated continually demanding Johnston's release since 12 March. International journalist protection agency protests have mounted as well. The latest findings have narrowed the search, a relief after weeks of the security services failing to obtain accurate information as to the circumstances of Johnston's abduction, including who the perpetrators are. more.. Abducted BBC reporter ’still alive Al Jazeera 4/20/2007 Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian president, says he has information that Alan Johnston, the BBC journalist seized over a month ago in Gaza, is "still alive. The BBC cautiously welcomed Abbas’s statement on Thursday and called for his release as Johnston’s father acknowledged the "really good news" and asked for "proof" that his son is alive. "Our intelligence services have confirmed to me that he is alive," Abbas told reporters during a visit to Sweden, stressing that he wanted "to acquire his release alive". more.. Family of Palestinian prisoner allege torture Ma’an News Agency 4/21/2007 Jenin - Ma’an - The family of a Palestinian prisoner have revealed that their son has been transported to Beer Sheeva jail, where it believed he has been suffering cruel and unusual punishment for the last fifty days. Anas Jaradat, 25, was transported to the criminal section of the jail with his hands and feet bound. His family state that he has been tortured since arriving there by the Israeli authorities. The family also testify that he is suffering from the pressure put upon him “by the Israeli intelligence on a daily basis". The family urged human rights institutions and the International Committee of the Red Cross to intervene and save their son’s life. Anas was arrested in May 2003 and was sentenced to 35 life sentences, in addition to a further 35 years. more.. The American school of Gaza, another nightmare By Rami Al-Meghari - IMEMC, International Middle East Media Center 4/21/2007 "We have become Iraq”, one of the dust men, said while bending down on the floor, trying to clear away the debris, resulting from an explosion that rocked the school early on Saturday morning. The school’s principal office only contains torn apart seats and a shelf, with black big spots on its walls, the cafeteria’s chairs is colored with ‘black’, while the computers room is no longer containing hi-tech. A great deal of destruction is now the scene in the American school in northern Gaza, a school that has nothing to do with internal Gaza violence, a school that has nothing to do with the various trends throughout the coastal region. Rebhi Salem, the school’s principal and director general, whose office was blown up early this morning, has expressed grievance over what’s happened to his beautiful school. more.. Israeli administration imprisoning mothers and wives of political prisoners to pressure confessions By Qalqilia) Mustafa Sabre, Palestine News Network 4/21/2007 Kawthar Nofal told PNN that Israeli intelligence has taken to arresting the mothers and wives of Palestinian political prisoners in order to extract confessions. Nofal, known as Umm Said for her eldest son, said that the idea is to threaten the prisoners by harming their loved ones. Israeli intelligence wants information, and will take what they can get, real or fabricated, the northwestern West Bank woman said candidly on Saturday. “They arrested me from inside my house after the arrest of others in my family, and immediately took me to Jalama Prison so that my captive son, Said, could see that they had me. ”Now out of prison, Umm Said, continued, “I was subjected to two hours of interrogation tied to a chair with my feet and hands bound in chains without mercy or compassion. ” more.. Wall resistance in Bethlehem plants olive trees for Virginia Tech victims By Bethlehem) Najib Farag, Palestine News Network 4/21/2007 Palestinians held their weekly nonviolent demonstration against the Wall in southern Bethlehem's Umm Salamuna, but dedicated Friday's protest to the victims of Virginia Tech. For the 32 people killed, Palestinians, with foreign supporters, planted 32 olive trees on their land. While Israeli bulldozers tore away at the village, going on two months now to build the Wall in southern Bethlehem, dozens of people demonstrated for justice. The Chairperson of the Popular Committee against the Wall and Settlements in Bethlehem, Khalid Al Azzeh, was among those planting trees for the number of victims in the Virginia shootings. He said, “We have come to reaffirm our condemnation of all massacres and crimes carried out against civilian and innocent people, regardless of sex, race, color. ” more.. Palestinian condemnations of attack on American School By Gaza City) Palestine News Network, Palestine News Network 4/21/2007 Unknown persons detonated explosives this morning at the American School in the northern Gaza Strip. Information Minister, Dr. Mustafa Barghouthi, immediately issued a condemnation from the West Bank's Ramallah. “The explosion damaged large parts of the school, which is a violation of the law and an abuse of an institution trying to serve the Palestinian people. This event seems to be an attempt to undermine national unity and the Palestinian people. ” Dr. Barghouthi added that the continued encroachment on public and private property during this time of internal security chaos serves only the interests of the enemies of the Palestinian people. “The government has a plan to control the security problems and will not allow such violations to occur. The competent authorities will bring the perpetrators to justice. ” more.. Syrians, Golan residents rally in support of prisoners held in Israel By DPA and Haaretz Service, Ha’aretz 4/21/2007 Some 100 Syrians and Golan Heights residents marched Saturday to the office of the International Red Cross to mark Arab Detainees Day. The marchers, most of them relatives of the 15 Syrians held in Israeli jails and students from the Golan Heights who study in Damascus, carried photos of Palestinian and Syrian detainees and Syrian flags. They sent a message to the head of the International Red Cross in Geneva to work for the release of the detainees as soon as possible. In their letter, they protested against what they called a "double-standard policy espoused by the U.S. administration which controls the UN Security Council. Abdul-Karim al-Omar, the head of the Committee for Supporting Syrian Detainees and Prisoners in Israeli jails, said the march was to "remind the world of the Syrian detainees’ suffering," noting that four detainees have been in jail for more than 21 years and were suffering serious health problems. more.. Palestinians and Arab Human Rights groups to commemorate Arab Prisoner Day By Najib Farag – IMEMC, International Middle East Media Center 4/21/2007 Palestinian residents, Arab nations and human rights groups in the Arab World are set to commemorate the Arab Prisoner Day on April 22, which is also the day when Sameer Quntar, a Lebanese citizen, was kidnapped by the Israeli army thirty years ago. Detainee Samir QuntarIssa Qaraqe’, the previous head of the Palestinian Prisoner Society, and the current legislator in charge of the Detainee’s Committee at the Palestinian Legislative Council, saluted on Friday the Arab and Palestinian detainees held by Israel, and said that Palestinian and Arab prisoner share the same fate, suffering and oppression in Israeli detention facilities. Qaraqe’ added that there are 60 Arab detainees imprisoned by Israel, and more than 10. 000 Palestinians. He demanded the immediate and unconditional release of all detainees... more.. Bethlehem: activists plant trees in memorial to students killed in Virginia By Najib Farag – PNN; translated by Saed Bannoura -- IMEMC, International Middle East Media Center 4/21/2007 Palestinian residents and international peace activists, including Americans, and Israelis, held on Friday a protest against the Israeli Annexation Wall surrounding and suffocating Um Salmouna village, near the West Bank city of Bethlehem, and planted 32 trees to commemorate the students killed in Virginia – USA when a student opened fire at his fellow students in the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. Archive - Section of the Annexation WallThe protesters planted olive trees to commemorate the casualties in that deadly shooting. The trees were planted in an area where the Israeli army bulldozed the lands and uprooted trees to construct the Annexation Wall. The Wall construction around Um Salmouna village started two months ago; it will annex and isolate more than 1500 Dunams or orchards that belong to the residents. more.. Journalist injured in internal clashes in northern Gaza strip By Ghassan Bannoura - IMEMC News, International Middle East Media Center 4/21/2007 Ashraf El Ajrami, a journalist and employee of the Ministry of Information was injured during clashes with Palestinian Authority security force and gunmen from the same family in Jabalia town in the northern part of the Gaza strip on Saturday. El Ajrami was injured in the exchange of fire and taken to Kamal Adwan hospital for treatment. Medical sources reported that that the El Ajrami injured by shrapnel from a grenade was thrown near him, the sources added that his injury is moderate. Security sources reported that an exchange of fire took place between members of the executive force and members of El Ajrami family of Jabalia, another family member was moderately wounded. The clashes erupted after executive force troops arrested a number of El Ajrami family. El Ajrami family gunmen then abducted members of the Hamas movement more.. Ynet: Noble Peace Prize laureate Mairead Corrigan was treated for injury in leg sustained by rubber bullet By Ali Waked, International Solidarity Movement 4/21/2007 Nobel Peace Prize Mairead Corrigan has been injured during confrontations between security forces and left-wing activists protesting the security fence route near Bilin, activists said. Corrigan, who won the prize in 1976 for her work in encouraging a peaceful solution to the Northern Ireland dispute, was hit in the leg by a rubber bullet and was transferred to a hospital for treatment. She was also said to have inhaled large quantities of teargas. Policemen and soldiers used teargas grenades and rubber bullets to disperse the routine Friday protest against the security fence near the Palestinian village of Bilin and were confronted by a hail of stones. Two Border Guard policemen were lightly injured by stones. The security forces say the area where activists hold their protest is a no-access military zone which they have to evacuate of Palestinian and Israeli protesters every Friday. more.. Puerto Rican activist arrested at Bil’in demonstration against Apartheid Wall By the ISM Media Team, International Solidarity Movement 4/21/2007 After planting the Palestinian flag upon the Israeli army camera tower which watches over the village of Bil’in, Puerto Rican activist Tito was arrested and taken to jail. The military commander is using his authority to keep Tito in jail for 96 hours, a tactic which is regularly used on Palestinians. After the 96 hours and before seeing a judge, the military commander can extend the jail time for another 96 hours. Tito’s is a very rare case. In situations like this, with Israeli or international activists, arrestees are normally held for 24 hours or lessBecause Tito was scheduled to depart from Palestine on Sunday, it is suspected that Tito may be heldin jail until sometime before his flight departs and escorted to the airport. more.. In run-up to ’Nakba’ commemorations, Palestinians unite for freedom from occupation and the right of return Ma’an News Agency 4/20/2007 Bethlehem - Ma’an - Preparations are underway for the commemoration of the 59th anniversary of the Palestinian ’Nakba’ (’Catastrophe’) in May. 2007 marks the 40th anniversary of Israel’s occupation of the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip, and 59 years since Israel’s establishment and the consequent Palestinian ’catastrophe’ in which thousands of Palestinians were forced into exile. Palestinians today are still struggling, particularly against the ongoing construction of the separation wall. As a result, this year there are a huge number of events planned. The Bethlehem-based BADIL Resource Center for Palestinian Residency and Refugee Rights announced in a press release that a national coordination committee has been formed, representing Palestinian civil society and political movements... more.. Two Palestinians injured due to misuse of weapons in Gaza Strip Ma’an News Agency 4/20/2007 Gaza - Ma’an - Palestinian security sources have reported that two Palestinians were injured on Friday as a result of misuse of weapons in the Rafah and Deir Al-Balah areas of the Gaza Strip. The security sources told our correspondent in Gaza that the first citizen is an activist in the Islamic Jihad movement. He received an injury to his hand when a hand grenade exploded inside his home in Rafah, in the south of the Strip. The second injury occurred when a bullet was mistakenly released from a machine gun in Deir Al-Balah, in the central Gaza Strip. The holder of the gun was injured in his left leg. more.. The 60 Arab prisoners detained in Israel suffer double, senior official says Ma’an News Agency 4/20/2007 Bethlehem - Ma’an - The special rapporteur for prisoners in the Palestinian Legislative Council, ’Issa Qaraqi’, has saluted the Arab prisoners held in Israeli detention, who number 60 prisoners, on the occasion of Arab Prisoners’ Day, 22 April. On this day, the prominent Lebanese prisoner, Samir Quntar, will have completed 28 years of imprisonment, representing the longest-serving Arab prisoner in Israeli detention. Qaraqi’ said in a media statement on Friday, which Ma’an received a copy, that Arab Prisoners’ Day complements Palestinian Prisoners’ Day as they are unified in blood, fate and sufferings. He demanded that the Arab prisoners’ names be included in any prisoners’ exchange deal, and in any negotiations. He recalled that these prisoners also fought for freedom and for Palestine, and they sacrificed their youth for the Arab and Islamic national cause. more.. Gunshots at a wedding in Hebron leave seven injured Ma’an News Agency 4/20/2007 Hebron - Ma’an - Seven Palestinians were injured during a wedding in the West Bank city of Hebron on Thursday evening when shots were fired in the air. Palestinian security sources reported that the groom’s brother started shooting in the air using an automatic weapon. Just minutes later, his hand slipped and he injured 7 guests who were taken to hospital. One of them was described as being in a critical condition. The security officials in Hebron condemned this incident, assuring the need to confiscate weapons from the citizens because the proliferation of weapons contributes to the increase of lawlessness. more.. EconomyPA teachers push into gov’t offices in Ramallah, demand wages Reuters, Ha’aretz 4/30/2007 Palestinian public school teachers pushed their way into government offices in the West Bank city of Ramallah on Monday demanding their full wages in the first protest of its kind since a Hamas-led unity government was formed last month. Hundreds of teachers took part in the protest. Police used batons to push back a small group of the teachers at the offices of the Palestinian pirme minister. Some of the protesters were hit but none sustained serious injuries. The teachers had earlier tried to storm the offices of Palestinian Education Minister Naser al-Shaer but he was not there. The protest underscored the difficulties faced by the Palestinian government in meeting the expectations of Palestinians who have not received their full wages since Hamas came to power in March 2006. The teachers chanted and held up banners, one of which read: "Salaries are our right." more.. Wednesday General Strike for all teachers in Palestine Ali Samoudi – IMEMC, International Middle East Media Center 5/1/2007 Bassam Zakarna, head of the Government Teachers Union stated on Monday that all governmental teachers will hold a general strike on Wednesday, and that they will escalate their procedures if the government does not abide by the signed agreement regarding transferring their salaries. Zakarna stated that the Dr. Nasser Ed Deen El Sha’er, the Finance Minister, said that the government will transfer a half-month salary to the teachers, adding that if these statements and other promises are not fulfilled, the teacher will hold further strikes. He added that these strikes are not against the government as a legitimate institution, but theyare carried out since the teachers became unable even to pay for their transportation expenses, and do not have money to feed their children. more.. On Labor Day; Workers Unity Bloc appeals ending the siege Najeeb Farraj - IMEMC, International Middle East Media Center 5/1/2007 May 1 marks Labor Day, but the Palestinian territories remain under a strict siege and the Palestinian workers remain unemployed facing poverty and hardships. The Palestinian Labor Unity Bloc demanded the Palestinian government and the Legislative Council to act in order to lift the unjust international, Israeli-American led siege on the Palestinians. The Bloc demanded providing the workers with the needed social security and to maintain and encourage the national products. Also, the Bloc demanded the specialized authorities to protect the rights of the workers, and solve the issues of unpaid salaries of the governmental employees and security personnel. The Bloc further demanded the creation of a national fund to solve the issue of unemployment, which has significantly increased due to the international embargo imposed on the Palestinian people. more.. Angry teachers storm the education ministry building in Ramallah Ghassan Bannoura - IMEMC & Agencies, International Middle East Media Center 4/30/2007 Scores of angry teachers stormed the ministry of information building located in the central West Bank city of Ramallah on Monday midday. The teachers stormed the building when the education minister Dr. Nasser Al Deen Sha’er refused to meet with the striking teachers who had organized a protest in front of the education ministry building in Ramallah. The protesters stormed the ministry’s offices then tried to get in the minister’s office chanting anti Palestinian government slogans and demanding their overdue salaries. The Palestinian teachers started a general strike on Monday after the Palestinian government was not able to pay their overdue salaries. The public schools’ teachers union called for this strike on Sunday after the Palestinian government did not pay the overdue salaries as stated in the agreement... more.. Go figure: Market rose 300% - but the public lost 60% Meirav Arlosoroff, Ha’aretz 4/30/2007 Is it possible to lose money investing in the stock market when the market is rising? If you believe the answer is no, you may want to check your bank accounts over the past decade. This is exactly what happened to you, and the Israeli public in general: huge losses during one of the most flourishing eras that the Israeli capital market has known. During the decade between July 1996 and June 2006 the Tel Aviv Securities Exchange (TASE) index rose by 301 percent. That pace is impressively enormous, representing a nominal yield of 14. 9 percent. Seemingly, there is nothing simpler than making a profit on an exchange rising so sharply: the only thing you need to do is buy shares and then hold on. And that’s the one thing the Israeli public didn’t do. more.. Palestinian teachers go on strike, public sector employees to follow on Wednesday Ghassan Bannoura - IMEMC & Agencies, International Middle East Media Center 4/30/2007 The Palestinian teachers started a general strike on Monday after the Palestinian government have not been able to buy their over due salaries. The public schools teachers union have called for this strike since Sunday after the Palestinian government did not bayed the over due salaries as stated in the agreement reached with the teachers union several month ago to end six months strike. Moreover the public civil servants employees union has announced on Monday that its members will implement a general strike starting from this coming Wednesday. Bassam Zakarnah, the director of that union said that the union decided to go on strike not because of the government only but because that the public civil servants employees have no money to get to their jobs and to feed their children. more.. Palestinian public sector employee attempts suicide in protest of not being paid by the gov. Ghassan Bannoura - IMEMC & Agencies, International Middle East Media Center 4/30/2007 A Palestinian public sector employee from the city of Khan Younis, located in the southern part of the Gaza strip tried to commit suicide on Monday midday by throwing him self from a window of the city municipality building. The act was in protest of not being paid by the Palestinian government. The man who’s name remains unknown lost hope after suffering from severe economic hardships caused by not getting his salary for months from the municipality were he works. The municipality stated that the man entered the office of the Khan Younis Mayor then opened a window and tried to jump. Other fellow employees and some of his friends rushed to him and tried to convince him not to jump, after several houres of talking to the man he was persuaded not to jump. more.. Palestinian workers without employment or income on Labor Day republished from Palestine News Network, International Middle East Media Center 4/30/2007 Tomorrow is May Day when workers of the world are meant to unite, to organize, unionize. Some take to the streets and demonstrate, while others stay at home with their families. But this year the day seems a mockery in Palestine where the blockade has exacerbated an already troubled economic structure trying to survive decades of occupation. Unemployment is up and thousands who found work as part of the Israeli cheap labor force can no longer reach jobs due to closure, the Wall and an campaign of arrests. In the public sector, strikes have at times over the course of the year crippled government offices, the education and health systems, security and municipal services. Trying to reach work within the West Bank and East Jerusalem has become even more difficult with the Wall completely blocking access for some, while others are forced to find lengthy routes around it. more.. Palestinian workers mark Labour Day with peaceful marches throughout the West Bank and Gaza Strip Ma’an News Agency 4/30/2007 Nablus - Ma’an - The general union of Palestinian workers organized a peaceful march to Huwwara checkpoint, south of the West Bank city of Nablus. Dozens participated in the march, including national and official dignitaries, on the occasion of the 1st of May: International Labour Day. The secretary general of the union, Shaher Sa’ed, warned of the dire conditions for Palestinian workers, especially due to the Israeli checkpoints. Sa’ed said in a speech at Huwwara checkpoint that the unemployment rate among Palestinian workers has exceeded 42% and that poverty has reached 54%. He demanded the international and humanitarian institutions to intervene and force the Israeli occupation authorities to remove the checkpoints, which hinder citizens’ movement, making them unable to supply food to their children. more.. 40% unemployment in parts of Gaza, PCBS reveals in survey marking International Workers’ Day Ma’an News Agency 4/30/2007 Bethlehem - Ma’an - On the occasion of International Workers’ Day, May 1, the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS) has released a survey describing Palestinian working conditions and data. 4 out of 10 Palestinians counted in the labour forcePCBS reports that 4 out of 10 Palestinians over the age of 15 participate in the labour force. The survey says that, "Participation in the labour force is considered the main indicator for the efficiency and activity of the labour market in providing job opportunities." PCBS’s data showed a decrease in the general participation rate in the labour force from 41. 5% in 2000 to 41. 3% in 2006. In the West Bank, the participation rate was 44. 1% in 2006 while it was only 36. 1% in the Gaza Strip. more.. Ansar Al-Asra organisation appeal for workers’ rights on international Labour Day Ma’an News Agency 4/30/2007 Gaza - Ma’an - On the occasion of international Labour Day, Ansar Al-Asra organisation (’The Palestinian Prisoners’ Solidarity Organisation’) has called for fair treatment for the workers who have suffered due to Israeli practices and for them and their families to be provided with a decent and respectable life. Ansar Al-Asra demanded equal rights for the families of workers who have died on duty; with the families of martyrs, prisoners and those wounded in conflicts with Israelis. The organisation appealed for Labour Day to be considered as a day to honour Palestinian workers in all sectors and to find ways to alleviate the daily suffering caused by unemployment. more.. Treasury chief; economy will stay strong despite political troubles Shay Niv, Globes Online 4/30/2007 "The government lost the ability to provide public services, and the results were seen in the last war. ” “The economy will stay strong despite the various political troubles,” said Ministry of Finance director general Yarom Ariav today at a College of Management seminar on the “Israeli capital market from a globalized perspective. ” Ariav reviewed the Ministry of Finance’s fiscal policies for the coming year. He said that, while he supported less government intervention in the economy than was prevalent in the mid-1980s, he criticized the previous government’s welfare policy. “The government lost the ability to provide public services, and the results were seen in the last war. We must work on this matter,” he said. Ariav added, “I don’t think that everything should be turned over to the private sector. more.. Dollar-shekel rate continues to rise Michal Yoshai, Globes Online 4/30/2007 The shekel-euro exchange rate rose 0. 4% to NIS 5. 4853/€ in morning trading. The shekel weakened against the dollar and euro in foreign currency trading this morning. The shekel-dollar exchange rate has been rising since Friday, distancing itself from the NIS 4/$ threshold that it almost touched on Thursday. The Bank of Israel published its Company Survey for the second quarter of 2007 yesterday. Respondents predict that the exchange rate will reach NIS 4. 25/$ at the end of the second quarter. “Barron’s” predicts that the dollar will stage a dramatic recovery by year end against other currencies. more.. Wildcat strike shuts down rails Avi Bar-Eli, Ha’aretz 4/30/2007 The workers shut down the control network covering the Sharon region and the south of the country, forcing trains to stop in the middle of their journeys. Thousands of passengers were stranded until service was renewed, but some disembarked and began walking along the tracks. Disrupted schedules and heavy traffic continued after the strike ended. The surprise strike was launched to protest management’s restructuring plan, which includes an early retirement program. The reforms, designed to streamline operations, include turning the freight division into a subsidiary, transferring commercial activity and company real estate to another subsidiary, and outsourcing maintenance. Negotiations with workers have lasted several months, alongside talks with the Finance Ministry’s wages division and the Transportation Ministry regarding reforms. more.. Bezeq chief calls it quits Eran Gabay, Ha’aretz 4/30/2007 The embattled chief wrote a letter informing the board of his decision, in light of the accounting affairs that have plagued the telecommunications giant over the past six months. Depite the great tension between the board and the CEO over the affairs, the company expressed its admiration for Gelbard’s services and contributions over his five years on the job. Gelbard’s and Bezeq’s lawyers discussed the conditions of the CEO’s departure prior to the announcement. The board is to appoint a committee to reach an agreement with Gelbard within the next 90 days, and the committee will then submit its recommendations. The outgoing chair will likely be eligible for severance pay and will receive all the conditions promised in his employment contract, including a quarter-million shekels over the next 18 months until the end of his contract. more.. The most secret pipeline in the land of Chelm Yariv Abramovich, Ha’aretz 4/30/2007 For years dozens of factories and local authorities have been dumping waste water into the sea in which we swim. This dumping continues because almost every month a special Environment Ministry committee meets to renew the authorities’ dumping permits. Without these generously distributed permits, such dumping would be a criminal offense punishable by imprisonment. In the past, following public pressure, the ministry’s Website published a partial list of permit recipients. This list contained partial information only, and not, for example, the exact composition of the waste dumped, or the possible effects of the waste on humans and the marine environment. About a year ago, this list was removed from the Website and reclassified as top secret - and for good reason. more.. Cabinet OKs purchase of Palestinian natural gas Lior Baron, Globes Online 4/29/2007 EMG and Yam Thetis may petition the High Court against the 15-20 year deal with BG Group. -- The cabinet today abrogated a clause banning the state from purchasing or marketing natural gas from the Palestinian Authority, thereby removing the main obstacle to a contract with BG Group plc (NYSE: BRG; LSE: BG) (British Gas). 21 ministers voted in favor and three against. Last month, the cabinet postponed a decision whether to sign a contract with British Gas, after Minister of Foreign Affairs Tzipi Livni, Minister of Defense Amir Peretz and Minister of Strategic Affairs Avigdor Lieberman demanded a review of the diplomatic and security ramifications a deal. Negotiations between the government and British Gas are in an advanced stage. The government will buy natural gas directly from the company and sell it to private consumers under a 15-20 year contract worth $2 billion. more.. PA union slams Palestinian plan to pay workers partial wages Reuters, Ha’aretz 4/29/2007 Government employees’ union chief Bassam Zakarneh Saturday threatened a new round of work stoppages, starting with a one-day "warning" strike on Wednesday, to demand full wages and back pay. Hamas Islamists formed a unity government last month with Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas’s secular Fatah faction in a bid to end internal fighting and ease a year-old economic embargo. But tensions between Hamas and Fatah remain high, particularly in the Gaza Strip, and a Western ban on direct aid to the Palestinian Authority remains in place. "We are going to perform half work if they are going to give us only part of our salaries," Zakarneh told Reuters. "If this government does not live up to its promises, we will consider entering an open-ended strike. more.. Palestinian Authority temporary-contract employees demand due salaries Ma’an News Agency 4/28/2007 Gaza - Ma’an - Dozens of temporary-contract employees called for the payment of their salaries in the same way as other Palestinian Authority employees. The employees held a strike in front of the ministry of finance in Gaza on Saturday and displayed posters and signs calling for the Palestinian Authority to cease its double-standard in dealing with employees. One of the temporary-contract employees, Motasim Minawi, delivered a speech in which he said that the employees have suffered for ten years. He warned of a detrimental affect on the temporary contract employees and called for all employees to strike in front of the council of ministers on Monday. Minawi also urged Haniyeh to activate the decision of the council which stated the importance of the payment of salaries to temporary-contract employees. more.. Histadrut and employers agree on pensions for all Haim Bior, Ha’aretz 4/29/2007 The Histadrut Labor Federation and the Federation of Israeli Economic Organizations (FIEO), which represents the country’s large private employers, recently signed an agreement in principle to provide all salaried workers in Israel with pension coverage. Employers’ associations for industries in which most workers do not have pension coverage, including the Israel Chambers of Commerce and organizations representing the self-employed, are expected to ratify the deal on Wednesday. Other FIEO members, such as the Israel Manufacturers’ Association and organizations that hoteliers and contractors, have been providing pensions schemes for their workers for years. Implementation of the new plan is scheduled to start in January 2008. Under the plan, every worker will be insured for up to the average wage, now NIS 7,440 a month. more.. Rafael reorganizing around three main divisions Amnon Barzilai, Globes Online 4/29/2007 The company has disbanded its IT systems division as part of the move to double its profits. -- Rafael Armament Development Authority Ltd. has decided to disband its IT systems department as part the extensive restructuring it is carrying out. The company believes that the restructuring will boost efficiency and bring it closer to its goal of doubling profits. Rafael’s IT systems department employs 1,300 people and it developed the Trophy active protection system for armored fighting vehicles, the Typhoon naval stabilized weapons systems, and the Samson remote controlled weapon stations. It has been viewed as the company’s weak link, despite having recorded a number of marketing successes. Seven months ago, Rafael launched a restructuring process which is designed, among other things, to formulate the company’s... more.. AACI cashes in on capital real estate boom Daphna Berman, Ha’aretz 4/30/2007 The head office of the Association of Americans and Canadians in Israel (AACI) has been sold after nearly three years on the market. The building was sold Thursday to a Jewish investor from New York. The office, which houses AACI national headquarters as well as its Jerusalem region branch, occupies two floors of a historic three-story building on Pinsker Street in the capital’s upscale Talbieh neighborhood. AACI executive director David London welcomed the sale and said that the organization is now looking to purchase a larger, centrally-located facility that would be more accessible to public transportation. The current two-story office also lacks an elevator or wheelchair access, which has been a source of difficulty for many of the organization’s older members. more.. New Palestinian daily set for publication Qalqilia - Mustafa Sabre, Palestine News Network 4/26/2007 To coincide with World Press Freedom Day, the first independent daily newspaper published in the Gaza Strip will officially launch on 3 May. All legal and administrative procedures are taken care of, and the staff is ready to print the daily, "Palestine." Editor-in-Chief, Mustafa Sawaf, said that after completing a successful trial period the paper is ready for the consumption of the Palestinian public. He said it would be "a new addition to the Palestinian community, and will work to address the concerns of the Palestinian public," including diverse opinions and intensive reporting on all internal issues. Sawaf added, "Our work is in the service of the Palestinian cause, hence the paper is ’from Palestine to Palestine. ’" The paper will be "printed in two halves of the homeland, the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. more.. Defense exports up 25% in 2006 to over $3b Amnon Barzilai, Globes Online 4/26/2007 For the first time, defense contracts signed in a single year exceeded $5 billion. Israel’s defense exports exceeded $3 billion in 2006, says SIBAT - Foreign Defense Assistance and Defense Export Organization. Defense exports were 25% greater than in 2005. For the first time, defense contracts signed in a single year exceeded $5 billion in 2006, 10% more than in 2005. Defense exports and contracts have doubled within a decade. SIBAT director general Maj. -Gen. (res. ) Yossi Ben-Hanan said these were record numbers for Israel’s defense industry. [end] Environmental group claims proposed water allocation will short-change nature Zafrir Rinat, Ha’aretz 4/26/2007 The Society for the Protection of Nature (SPNI) yesterday called on the Israel Nature and National Parks Protection Authority (INNPPA) and Kibbutz Ein Gedi not to sign the agreement on water allocation in the Ein Gedi Reserve. Arguing that it would endanger the Ein Gedi Reserve, the SPNI slammed the agreement, which would allocate a much larger amount of water to the bottled mineral water production plant, partly owned by the kibbutz, than it had originally received. The agreement states that the kibbutz, the biggest consumer of water in the area, will be allocated 120,000 cubic meters of water annually. This amount can be increased to 350,000 cubic meters a year, on condition that the kibbutz channel flood water from the David Stream and the Arugot Stream back into the Ein Gedi Reserve. more.. Are we losing Stanley Fischer to the World Bank? Moti Bassok, Ha’aretz 4/27/2007 Is Bank of Israel governor Stanley Fischer about to leave us? According to The Economist and a journal of central banks published in Washington, that may be so, and it isn’t because of the protracted crisis over wage practices at the Bank of Israel. It’s because of the fresh crisis at the World Bank, whose president, Paul Wolfowitz, is under a cloud after orchestrating a promotion and a fat raise for his girlfriend, Shaha Riza. It seems that international financial circles have been speculating about Fischer and his impeccable reputation replacing the embattled Wolfowitz and his tattered reputation. The latter has been firm that he won’t resign despite the mounting chorus calling on him to do so. When Wolfowitz joined the World Bank, he disclosed his relationship with Riza. more.. Eight students hurt, eight others arrested at tuition hike protest Tamara Traubman, Haaretz Correspondent and Haaretz Service, Ha’aretz 4/26/2007 At least eight students were lightly injured and eight others arrested on Wednesday at a Tel Aviv protest demonstrating against a possible hike in tuition fees. Thousands of students gathered at Tel Aviv Museum to mark the 14th day of their strike. Violence started when police tried to prevent students them from blocking Ibn Gavirol Street, a major Tel Aviv artery. Students have been on strike protesting against the Shochat Committee on Higher Education’s unpublished findings, which they fear may include a recommendation raising the current NIS 9,000 yearly fee (aproximately $2,250)." Our struggle is for implementation of government promises, a just economy and true equality," the Chairman of the National Union of Israeli Students, Itay Shonshein, said. more.. Police recommend indicting 3 former Bank of Israel execs Globes’ correspondent, Globes Online 4/25/2007 Police recommend indicting Ephraim Gross, Zvi Tadmor, and Zion Ben-Shoshan on charges of fraud and breach of trust. -- “IDF Radio” (Galei Zahal) reports that the Israel Police recommends indicting three formerBank of Israel executives - Ephraim Gross, Zvi Tadmor, and Zion Ben-Shoshan - on charges of fraud and breach of trust. The police say that the three men sent false reports to the Ministry of Finance over a period of several years about the salaries of Bank of Israel employees. The affair was discovered when Governor of the Bank of Israel Prof. Stanley Fischer was appointed, and the police opened an investigation. [end] Report: Australia charges Israeli with large-scale drug smuggling Haaretz Service, Ha’aretz 4/24/2007 Australia charged an Israeli man Sunday on suspicion of smuggling some 113 kilograms of the drug MDMA into the country, according to a report published Monday in the Australian newspaper The Age. The Israeli man, 46-year-old Benjamin Rosenfeld, arrived in Australia for a few weeks, and was arrested in the city of Bellingen in New South Wales. He is charged with importing a commercial quantity of a border controlled drug and attempt to possess a commercial quantity of a border controlled drug. He was denied bail and his trial is expected to begin in July. Australian police sources said they believe the quantity of MDMA would have been enough to produce some 1. 2 million ecstasy tablets. The MDMA powder was discovered in packages of tennis balls that were hidden inside boilers that were being imported to Australia from Israel. more.. De Beers restructuring will hit supply to Israel Hadas Manor, Globes Online 4/25/2007 De Beers plans to stop sales to companies with no sights. -- Israel’s diamond industry is facing a new threat. The De Beers syndicate, which controls 45-50% of the world’s rough diamond production, will restructure its quota distrbution to the secondary market, carried out through subsidiary Diamdel. Reducing supplies to the secondary market is expected to affect 500 producers worldwide, who will see sales fall by $400-600 million a year. De Beers plans to stop sales to companies with no sights. The damage to Israel is estimated at $200 million a year. Diamond expert Chaim Even-Zohar told international diamond index ”Idex Online”that the restructuring was “inevitable. The writing has been on the wall for a long time." more.. ’Who packed your bags?’ - at home in your living room Zohar Blumenkrantz, Ha’aretz 4/25/2007 If you want to avoid waiting in line for the security check at the airport, then El Al has an offer for you. Yesterday the airline’s management presented a new early check-in service. For $49 per person for up to four people and only $5 for each additional traveler, passengers can complete the check-in - including the all-important security check, while still at home or at the office. Between 24 and six hours before the flight, a steward and a security officer come to the appointed address and carry out the entire security and check-in procedure, at the end of which the passenger receives a boarding pass and the luggage is taken to the airport. The service will be provided by Home Check-in, a company belonging to the Shahar group. It is owned by Nehorai Nativ, along with former basketball player Nadav Henefeld and former Mossad chief Shabtai Shavit. more.. Interest rate cut does not stop dollar’s fall Tal Levy, Ha’aretz 4/25/2007 Even the lowering of interest rates on Sunday by the Bank of Israel has not stopped the dollar’s fall. Yesterday it fell another 0. 934 percent, to NIS 4. 029. The last time the dollar was at such levels against the shekel was at the beginning of October 2000. This means it is at a six and a half year low. For now, the dollar is only 0. 7 percent away from the NIS 4 barrier. The dollar started 2006 at NIS 4. 603, and has lost 12. 5 percent against the shekel since then. At the start of 2007 it was at NIS 4. 225, and since then it has dropped another 4. 6 percent. Of course, this is not only an Israeli story, as the dollar has dropped all over the world, reaching 1. 364 dollars per euro yesterday. The Bank of Israel hopes to weaken the shekel in order to lift inflation back to the target range, which is 1 to 3 percent. more.. Strike: salaries need be paid to families of political prisoners in Israeli jails and those killed Jenin) Ali Samoudi, Palestine News Network 4/24/2007 Workers in the public sector have decided to strike again tomorrow. They are protesting what is being referred to as "the lack of government commitment to the agreements made with the union." It has been a year since the US-led political and economic blockade was imposed and the government has not been in the position to pay the public sector ona regular basis. Although some European donations have helped, the public sector had been paid in the past with funds received from trade tariffs owed by the Israelis. When the blockade began, the Israeli government froze even more Palestinian funds, leaving a devastating crisis. Banks have been hit hard as well, with open threats made by the US in the past to any bank that facilitated transfers. Although some of those restrictions have eased, many remain. more.. University heads: Semester may be canceled if student strike continues Tamara Traubmann, Haaretz Correspondent, Ha’aretz 4/24/2007 University heads released Tuesday a statement saying that the continuation of the student strike puts the "existence of the [current] semester in danger." In the statement, the university heads’ committee wrote that they decided to lengthen the semester in order to compensate for lost time during the strike. The students have been striking for two weeks. The university heads warned that, "if the strike is not over by the end of this week, the semester may be canceled." They also maintain that "the responsibility for the damage done to the student public is on the shoulders of the strike’s leaders." The university heads will decide next week whether to continue the semester as planned or cancel it. The university heads are opposed to the student strike and support the Shochat Committee, and its proposed recommendations to raise university tuition. more.. Teachers go on strike in Qalqilia Ghassan Bannoura - IMEMC & Agencies, International Middle East Media Center 4/22/2007 The public schools teachers in the northern West Bank city of Qalqilia went on strike on Sunday in protest of the Palestinian government inability to bay their salaries. The teachers union in the city stated that the strike will be implemented today and on Tuesday, on Wednesday the strike will starts at 10 by protesting in front of the education ministry building in the city. Other unions deferent Palestinian cities in the West Bank are expected to go on strike this week, Palestinian sources reported. [end] Amdocs shares jump 5% on news of AT&T deal Shiri Habib, Globes Online 4/22/2007 The size of the seven-year contract was not disclosed although market sources believe it to be worth a substantial amount. -- Amdocs Ltd. (NYSE: DOX) announced on Friday that it signed a seven-year managed services agreement with AT&T Inc. (NYSE: T) to provide application management services in support of AT&T’s legacy ordering and wholesale platforms. The project is to begin later this year. The size of the contract not disclosed, although market sources believe it to be worth a considerable amount. Amdocs’s shares gained 5% following the announcement. AT&T is the largest telephony company in the US, with tens of millions of fixed line, wireless and broadband subscribers. It owns 5% of Amdocs and it is also one of its largest customers. The two companies are also collaborating in the $4 billion Lightspeed project... more.. Fischer cuts interest rate by 25 basis points to 3.75% Zeev Klein, Globes Online 4/22/2007 The decision is based on declining estimates of future inflation, and is intended to bring it within the target range. -- Governor of the Bank of Israel Prof. Stanley Fischer has, as expected, cut the interest rate by 25 basis points to 3. 75%, after leaving the rate on hold last month. In its announcement, the Bank of Israel said that, "This step is consistent with the policy of maintaining price stability, as expressed by the inflation target of 1-3% a year." At the same time, since the last interest rate decision, estimates of future inflation - derived from the capital markets forecasters’ predictions, and the Bank of Israel econometric models - have declined. This decline reflects mainly the strengthening of the shekel against the dollar, which contributes to reductions in domestic prices. more.. Large wage raises proposed for CEOs of state companies Meirav Arlosoroff, Ha’aretz 4/21/2007 The outgoing head of the Government Companies Authority (GCA), Eyal Gabbai, has proposed significantly raising the salaries of the chief executives of state-owned companies. Gabbai recommends that the CEOs of the largest government firms be increased from about NIS 40,000 a month to between NIS 55,000 and NIS 60,000. He also proposes examining raises for CEOs of smaller government firms, who earn about NIS 35,000 a month now. The proposal by Gabbai, who has announced he is leaving his post soon, applies mostly to the leading state-owned companies such as Israel Electric Corporation (IEC), water company Mekorot, Israel Aircraft Industries, Israel Railways, Israel Military Industries and the ports. more.. Gaza fishing: an industry in danger Ma’an News Agency 4/20/2007 Gaza - Ma’an - The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has issued a report into the plight of the Gaza fishing industry. The report states that, "After a near total ban on fishing since June 2006, fishermen have finally been allowed back into coastal waters off the Gaza Strip for the high season." However, OCHA is quick to point out that fishermen are still only being allowed up to six nautical miles (nm) from the coast, which is 12 nm less than the limit set during the Oslo accords in 1995. OCHA says, "There needs to be an immediate increase in the current fishing range beyond six nautical miles (nm) for fishermen to enjoy the full economic benefits of the high season which began at the start of April. more.. People
Netanyahu voted most popular Israeli, Olmert voted least popular Ma’an News Agency 4/30/2007 Bethlehem - Ma’an - Israeli company, Geocartoghraphia, conducted a poll on the occasion of the 147th commemoration of the birth of the founder of Zionism, Theodor Herzl. The poll found that the head of the Likud party, Benjamin Netanyahu, was more popular than all of his political rivals. Geocartoghraphia said "the head of the Likud party Benjamin Netanyahu can smile after he succeeded all his political rivals with no competitor other than Herzl himself." The results were as follows: Benjamin Netanyahu 36%, Theodor Herzl 20. 5%, Tzipi Livni 17%, Ami Ayalon 16%, Ehud Barak 6. 5%, Ehud Olmert 2. 5%. more.. Majority of Palestinians believe new unity government will not succeed in ending the siege Ma’an News Agency 4/28/2007 Ramallah "“ Ma’an "“ 53% of Palestinian participants in a poll conducted by the Near East Consulting Institution believe that the new unity government will not succeed in ending the embargo imposed on the Palestinian Authority; while 47% believe the coalition will succeed. The poll was conducted via telephone, between the 25th and 27th of April. 800 Palestinians from the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, were interviewed. Compared with the findings of the previous poll last month, there was a dramatic decline in the optimism of Palestinian citizens. The number of Palestinians who believed that the unity government would be able to lift the embargo in March, was 68%. 41% of the respondents believed that the ministry of interior’s security plan will fail to end the state of chaos and... more.. Public support for war fell as casualties rose Yuval Azoulay, Ha’aretz 4/29/2007 At the start of the war, the two enjoyed broad public support, though throughout the war, the public had more faith in Olmert’s performance than in Peretz’s. Public support levels changed every few days, impacted largely by battlefield events, but the Kfar Giladi incident was the breaking point: Successive surveys by the BI and Lucille Cohen Institute for Public Opinion Research found that Olmert and Peretz never recovered from this, and the public’s evaluation of their performance dropped sharply from then until the end of the war, against a backdrop of massive shelling from Lebanon and heavy Israel Defense Forces losses. The institute began conducting surveys about a week after the war began, when IDF soldiers were already operating in Maroun al-Ras and Bint Jbail in southern Lebanon. more.. Poll: 75% of Israeli Arabs support Jewish, democratic constitution Yoav Stern, Ha’aretz 4/30/2007 A vast majority of Israeli Arabs would support a constitution that maintained Israel’s status as a Jewish and democratic state while guaranteeing equal rights for minorities, according to a poll whose results were published on Sunday. Among the 507 people who participated in the poll, some 75 percent said they would agree with such a definition while 23 percent said they would oppose it. The Israel Democracy Institute (IDI), a non-partisan research institute who commissioned the poll, said the results were proof that a constitution that maintained Israel’s status as a Jewish and democratic state could win the support of the Israeli Arab public. Over the past year a number of Israeli Arab organizations, such as Adalah and the Mossawa Center, have published plans calling for a new "multi-cultural" constitution. more.. Report: Anti-Zionist Israeli to direct movie for Israel’s 60th birthday Haaretz Service, Ha’aretz 4/30/2007 According to the report, Eyal Sivan will be given a NIS 650,000 grant, paid for by Israeli taxpayers, to direct a film for next year’s Independence Day, Israel’s 60th. The film will be part of the "Past and Present in Israel" project, meant to promote Israel’s "Jaffa" brand citrus fruit. It will be produced by Channel 8 television, together with the Jerusalem Cinematheque and the Rabinovitch Fund. Sivan, who has resided in Paris for the past 15 years, directed the 1999 film "The Specialist," which used footage from Adolf Eichmann’s trial to portray the architect of the Final Solution as just a Nazi party bureaucrat, the radio said. The film also attempted to present Sivan’s view that Eichmann’s Jewish victims could have done more to prevent themselves from being murdered, it said. more.. Jallaleddine remembered for support of resistance Mohammed Zaatari, Daily Star 4/30/2007 SIDON: For the second consecutive day, prominent political and religious figures paid their condolences to the family of Sidon’s Mufti Sheikh Mohammed Salim Jallaleddine, who passed away Friday at the age of 95. Sidon MP Bahia Hariri, who visited the Bahaa al-Dine Hariri Auditorium at Sidon’s Directory of Islamic Endowments to pay her respects on Sunday, said that Lebanon was in "deep need of Mufti Jallaleddine’s wisdom in such hard times. Hariri said the late Mufti was known for his nationalist stands "resisting Israeli attacks on Lebanon and working on promoting national cohesion." Mufti Jallaleddine is also an open-minded Islamic scholar who accepted diversity and was open to all religious as well as cultural currents. Former Speaker Hussein Husseini, Former Premier Rashid Sold, and representative of Hizbullah’s... more.. Sesame Street returns to Israel, PA, after more than decade off the air The Associated Press, Ha’aretz 4/30/2007 Producers tailored the Middle Eastern casts and story lines to the fit the audiences. "Rehov Sumsum," the Israeli version of the show, for the first time includes a Muppet of Arab origin. Its Palestinian counterpart, "Shara’a Simsim," seeks to offer positive role models to boys in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. "It’s really about respect and tolerance," said Gary Knell, president of Sesame Workshop, the New York-based nonprofit group behind Sesame Street programming worldwide. "[The show] opens up a new way to deal with issues of conflict," Education Minister Yuli Tamir said at a ceremony in a Jerusalem kindergarten on Sunday, "just teaching children how to live together, how to work together with each other despite their differences." The ceremony followed more than a week of meetings Knell had with top political... more.. Supreme Fatwa Council of Palestine issues fatwa on hairdressers Ma’an News Agency 4/29/2007 Bethlehem - Ma’an "“ The Supreme Fatwa Council of Palestine has issued a fatwa permitting men’s and women’s hairdressers to operate on condition that they do not break Islamic law. The fatwa stated that women can be employed as hairdressers as long as they only cut the hair of women that want to look attractive for their husbands and not other men or foreigners; this would be Haram (forbidden). It also stated that if a foreign man is present in the hairdressers, women must be prohibited from entering it. The council urged the Palestinian Muslims to avoid "suspicion" and to follow the religious rules and rituals according to Islamic law. The fatwa also said that men can work as barbers and activity in the barber shops is not prohibited in any way, as long as it is not against Islam. more.. Audio: Interview with "Angry Arab" As’ad AbuKhalil Audio, Electronic Intifada 4/26/2007 Last week, As’ad AbuKhalil, creater of the Angry Arab News Service blog, was in Chicago to speak at the Sixth Annual Chicago Palestine Film Festival. The Electronic Intifada’s Maureen Clare Murphy and Ali Abunimah sat down to talk with him about the film festival selection, as well as the role Palestinian culture has had in the Palestinian national movement and its influence in the wider Arab world. AbuKhalil also touched upon current events unfolding in the Middle East, including his home country of Lebanon. Also, he recommends where one can find a good felafel sandwich in the Windy City. Listen Now -- [MP3 - 14. 5 MB, 31:45 min] more.. President of Sesame Street comes to Palestine for launch of third season Palestine News Network, Palestine News Network 4/27/2007 For the first time ever the President of the highly lauded children’s television program, Sesame Street, Dr. Gary Knell, will be in Ramallah. Along with Knell, Palestinian Deputy Prime Minister, Azzam Al Ahmed, and Palestinian children, will be the guests of the launch of the third season of Shara’a Simsim, the Palestinian version of Sesame Street. The launch of Shara’a Simsimwill take place at 1:00 pm on Saturday at Al Quds University’sInstitute of Modern Media in Al Bireh, just next to Ramallah in the central West Bank.. At 30 minutes each, the 15 episode series of highly entertaining and educational segments will focus on Palestinian boy empowerment. This is the first time ever that the president of the world’s longest running children’s television program has come to Palestine. more.. Clarifying vision for contemporary art in Palestine Ramallah - Dr. Maria C. Khoury, Palestine News Network 4/26/2007 The International Academy of Art Palestine sponsored a two-day seminar on "Contemporary Art and Higher Art Education" in the West Bank city of Ramallah at the end of last month. Palestinian Minister of Culture Bassam As Salhi, and Mazen Qupty, chairman of the board of directors for the Palestinian Association for Contemporary Art, gave keynote addresses to an audience which included Palestinian and international experts in arts and culture. This September the first class of students will enter the Academy’s four-year Bachelor of Arts program. The Academy aims to produce professional artists and simultaneously serve as a progressive and productive artistic space within the Palestinian and Arab context to promote cultural change. Anticipating the start of classes, seminar participants, including representatives... more.. Unstable Israeli arrested for allegedly hijacking ambulance in U.S. Haartz Service, Ha’aretz 4/25/2007 A mentally ill 23-year-old Israeli was arrested two weeks ago in Kentucky for allegedly hijacking an ambulance and kidnapping the medical crew inside, Army Radio reported Wednesday. According to the report, it is unclear how the man, who had been committed to a hospital for the mentally ill in Israel, managed to leave the country, as Israel’s border control has no record of his departure. It is possible that he himself was kidnapped to the United States. Meir (a pseudonym), the brother of the man arrested in Kentucky, told Army Radio on Wednesday that "a week before the Passover Seder, my mother received a phone call from a man who claimed to be in the United States. He said that he would welcome my brother there. My mother asked him not to call, and explained that her son was mentally ill." more.. Israel’s ’modesty buses’ draw fire Katya Adler, BBC Online 4/24/2007 Women sit separately from men on Israel’s "modesty buses"The other day I was waiting for a bus in downtown Jerusalem. I was in the bustling orthodox Jewish neighbourhood of Mea Sharim and the bus stop was extremely crowded. When the Number 40 bus arrived, the most curious thing happened. Husbands left heavily pregnant wives or spouses struggling with prams and pushchairs to fend for themselves as they and all other male passengers got on at the front of the bus. Women moved towards the rear door to get on at the back. When on the bus, I tried to buck the system, moving my way towards the driver but was pushed back towards the other women. These are what orthodox Jews call "modesty buses". The separation system operates on 30 public bus routes across Israel. more.. Israel to celebrate 59th Independence Day with population of 7,150,000 Moti Bassok, Ha’aretz 4/21/2007 Israel will celebrate its 59th Independence Day with a population of 7,150,000. When the state was founded in 1948, there were 806,000 residents. A third of those still live in the country. Figures published Sunday by the Central Bureau of Statistics indicate that 5,725,000 residents of Israel - 80 percent - are Jewish. Most of the remainder are Arab. The population has increased 121,000 in the past year. Most of that increase - 89 percent - reflects natural growth. Since last Independence Day, 148,000 babies were born here. About 44 percent of the population resides in cities of 100,000 inhabitants or more. In 1948, Tel Aviv was the only city with more than 100,000 residents; it had 248,500 inhabitants. Today, Israel has five cities above 200,000 inhabitants: Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Haifa, Rishon Letzion and Ashdod. more.. They want to distance themselves, but can’t Lily Galili, Ha’aretz 4/21/2007 Surveys conducted for Independence Day reveal that 20,000 Israelis emigrate every year, meaning that they find an alternative homeland for themselves. Some 25 percent of Israelis have thought about leaving the country, meaning that they considered alternatives to living here. In an increasingly chaotic reality, the feeling that there is an alternative addresses our inherent need to feel in control. Lately, the search for alternatives has emerged as an end in itself, as can be seen in the succession of "alternative" events that Holocaust Memorial Day, Memorial Day and Independence Day have spawned. The alternative has become the norm - that is the only conclusion. So much so that sticking to the canonic norms has become a subversive act. The shared public space available for commemoration is dwindling. more.. Unwrapping Middle East youth - and failing to see what’s there Nichole Sobecki, Daily Star 4/23/2007 Allegra Stratton’s ’Muhajababes’ looks for explanations and misses the obvious - Review: BEIRUT: Amid the mass demonstrations in Lebanon in the spring of 2005, the first round of post-Saddam elections in Iraq and Kuwait giving women the right to vote, BBC producer Allegra Stratton traveled to the Middle East to tell a different story - about the preoccupations of young Arabs and the culture by which they choose to define themselves. Titled like a one-hit wonder, "Muhajababes: Meet the New Middle East, Cool, Sexy and Devout" is Stratton’s first book, published in London eight months ago and a visible fixture at Beirut bookstores now. It opens with her realization that the population of the Middle East is younger and more educated than ever, but due to economic stagnation across the region, there simply aren’t enough jobs to go around. more.. The new Haredi woman Tamar Rotem, Ha’aretz 4/21/2007 She does not criticize her own paper’s conduct. Yated Ne’eman, the sternest of the Haredi publications, and the one that sets the extreme conservative tone within the Haredi community, will not publish as much as a single word without permission from the Rabbinic Board (Spiritual Committee). Rothlevy, daughter of the head of the Spiritual Committee, Rabbi Natan Zuchovsky, grew up with a good dose of uncompromising Lithuanian conservatism, and identifies completely with her paper’s educational ideals. "Yated Ne’eman cannot allow itself to educate towards Sabbath observance, and [at the same time] carry advertising from clients who violate the Sabbath," she explains. But what is to be done if she cannot suppress her businesswoman’s drive? more.. Ma’an News Agency to produce a new TV drama on Yasser Arafat Ma’an News Agency 4/21/2007 Amman - Ma’an - Preparations are underway at Ma’an News Agency (MNA) to produce a TV drama series on the late Palestinian leader, Yasser Arafat. The drama will be produced by MNA and directed by Feisal Az-Zobi. The drama will highlight the different stages of the Palestinian struggle inside and outside Palestine. The drama will focus on how the late leader contributed to this struggle. The director of the drama said: "This is a huge job and it is an ethical one before it is an artistic job. Through it, we will show the [future] generations the suffering of the Palestinian people and their struggle in all forms against the Israeli occupation." He continued: "The Israeli occupation has become a real genocide act against the Palestinian people. Arafat was an inspiration his people and the Arab people in general. He was something unique in history." more.. Most Ma’an readers are pessimistic that the Abbas-Olmert meetings will yield results Ma’an News Agency 4/20/2007 Bethlehem - Ma’an - The most recent weekly questionnaire on Ma’an’s Arabic-language website has revealed that most participants believe that the meetings between Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas will not make any breakthrough in the peace process. A weekly sample of 8,696 readers participated in the poll. Of this number, 21. 27 percent said these talks may make a breakthrough while an overwhelming 72. 73 percent said it will not. 6. 36 percent were not sure one way or the other. more.. This Week In Palestine – Week 16 2007 By Ghassan Bannoura - IMEMC - Audio Dept, International Middle East Media Center 4/20/2007 Click on Link to download or play MP3 file. || 23. 8MB || Time 26m 0s. This Week In Palestine, a service of the International Middle East Media Center, www. IMEMC. org, for April 14 through 20, 2007. Nonviolent Resistance in West Bank. Let’s begin our weekly report with the Bilin Conference on popular resistance. More than four hundred Palestinian, Israeli and international peace activists participated in the Bilin International Conference on Popular Resistance, from Wednesday to Friday, held in the heart of the village of Bil’in. IMEMC’s George Rishmawi has more. The three-day conference began with a rendition of the Palestinian national anthem, followed by an address by Nasser Al-Kidweh, a senior Palestinian official representing the Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas. more.. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
