Main News
Weinsteinapproves draft law of “force feeding” striking prisoners
Israeli radio reported that the Israeli Attorney General Yehuda Weinstein gave the green light to a law that allows “forced feeding" to prisoners on hunger strike in the event of a threat to theirlives. The radio said yesterday morning that the lawstates several conditions for feeding under a judicial order and a doctor approval, adding that the law was prepared following long hunger strikes, and the occupation had to release a number of these prisoners during the last months contrary to the security establishment demands not to respond to the prisoners demands. The International Committee of the Red Cross opposed the forced feeding arrangement, stressing the need to respect prisoners’ choice, and maintain their human dignity according to the position of the World Medical Association declarations in Malta and Tokyo in 2006.(http://safa.ps/details/news/121446/%D9%81%D8%A7%D9%8A%D9%86%D8%B4%D8%AA%D8%A7%D9%8A%D9%86-%D9%8A%D9%88%D8%A7%D9%81%D9%82-%D8%B9%D9%84%D9%89-%D9%85%D8%B4%D8%B1%D9%88%D8%B9-%D9%82%D8%A7%D9%86%D9%88%D9%86-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AA%D8%BA%D8%B0%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%82%D8%B3%D8%B1%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D9%84%D9%84%D8%A3%D8%B3%D8%B1%D9%89-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D8%B6%D8%B1%D8%A8%D9%8A%D9%86.html)
Jerusalem International Foundation: settlement road in Beit Safafa is a result of the Kerry plan
The Jerusalem International Foundation considered the occupation decision to establish a road in the village of Beit Safafa in Jerusalem, which would split the town into two parts, "an outcome of US Secretary of State John Kerry’s planto resolve the Palestinian issue.” The Foundation said:"the Israeli decision is an outcome of the Kerry plan to sign a final agreement between Israeli authorities and the Palestinian Authority, and establishing the assumed state on the Palestinian territories in 67, and make part of Jerusalem as the capital of Palestine."The Foundation added in a press release: "the occupation decision in is illegal, this is an authorization from the Palestinian negotiator of the Israeli occupation,which tries to Judaize the city," adding that “the resolution is illegal and is a Zionist plan for more than 20 years, the occupation authorities seek to link illegal settlements in occupied Jerusalem to prevent Palestinian statehood."(http://www.qudsn.ps/article/37158)
Abbas proposes transition for 3 years
President Mahmoud Abbas proposed that the Israelis and Palestinians enter a transitional period of three years from now to reach a permanent agreement.President Abbas said in an interview to be broadcast in the framework of the annual Conference of the National Security Research Institute in Israel, that NATO will oversee implementation of the agreement's commitment to a two-State solution, by which "the State of Israel living side-by-side with a Palestinian State on the 1967 borders, with security and stability."The President warned that the opportunity to reach an agreement following the efforts of Secretary of State John Kerry will not be repeated.The President stressed, according to "Ynet", the importance of the status of Jerusalem under a permanent agreement, saying "Jerusalem will be the capital of the Palestinian State, and will be an open city for all religions, with arrangements between the two sides."Abbas said that the Palestinians, not the Israelis, will oversee the border. With regards to the issue of refugees, Abbas reiterated his position that the issue should be resolved according with the ArabPeace Initiative, "which talks about a just and agreed solution with Israel in accordance with UN General Assembly resolution 194." With regards to Hamas’ relations with the PA, Abbas said: "a formal agreement is writing between us and Hamas, they agree to negotiations aimed at establishing a Palestinian State on the 1967 borders. They agree with the existence of peaceful popular resistance.” (http://www.alquds.com/news/article/view/id/485756)
Hamas: we did not authorize Abbas to accept the two-State solution
An official source at the Islamic resistance movement Hamas, denied what President Mahmoud Abbas said regarding the movement’sauthorizing him to approve the State solution on the borders of 1967.The source said in a statement: “Hamas did not give Mr. Abbas and no one else any authorization in agreeing to a two-State solution, Hamas reiterates that it cannot accept this solution and does not accept to waive any part of the Palestinian soil.”The source called on Abbas to immediately stop the negotiations and losing bets, and stop security coordination and release political prisoners as a means of restoring the Palestinian national unity.(http://paltimes.net/details/news/57801/%D8%AD%D9%85%D8%A7%D8%B3-%D9%84%D9%85-%D9%86%D9%81%D9%88%D8%B6-%D8%B9%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%B3-%D8%A8%D9%82%D8%A8%D9%88%D9%84-%D8%AD%D9%84-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AF%D9%88%D9%84%D8%AA%D9%8A%D9%86.html)
Ya’alon: the Palestinians should stop talking with two tongues!
Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon accused the Palestinian Authority of “inciting against Israel while saying that it is seeking peace with it," and demanded the PA to "stop talking with two tongues.” Ya’alon made the remarks in a speech at the Holocaust remembrance yesterday in Israel, according to channel 10, Ya’alon stressed that "it's time to stop incitement by the PA on Israel,” saying the Jewish people still suffers from racism and incitement even in the twenty-first century, linking between the Pa incitement and calls to boycott Israel. Ya’alon added that "the Palestinian side rejected the concept to recognize Israel as the national homeland of the Jewish people as well as the Middle East countries, and their rejection of this right is an expression of their continuous incitement and racism against the Jewish people, who faces various campaigns against, after their militaryfailure they return to incitement."(Al-Ayyam)
Newspaper: Kerry seeks to extend negotiations
Western diplomatic sources said that US Secretary of State John Kerry seeks to reach a "framework agreement" before the end of the Palestinian-Israeli negotiations in April, in order to extend negotiations until the end of the year to say the least. The London-based newspaper Al-Hayat published yesterday, quoting Western diplomatic sources as saying: "Kerry sought at this stage to reach a modest agreement, and general principles to facilitate the process of extending the negotiations."The newspaper said that two delegations, one Palestinians headed by Saeb Erekat and another one headed by Israeli Tzipi Livni, held meetings with US officials in Washington this week, including Foreign Minister John Kerry.The meetings called for by Kerry, aimed at discussing the possibility of a "framework agreement" in preparation for the extension of the negotiations.(http://safa.ps/details/news/121449/%D8%B5%D8%AD%D9%8A%D9%81%D8%A9%D9%83%D9%8A%D8%B1%D9%8A-%D9%8A%D8%B3%D8%B9%D9%89-%D8%A5%D9%84%D9%89-%D8%AA%D9%85%D8%AF%D9%8A%D8%AF-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D9%81%D8%A7%D9%88%D8%B6%D8%A7%D8%AA.html)
Haniyeh: 120 Member of Fateh will return soon to Gaza
Prime Minister deposed Government in Gaza Ismail Haniyeh said his Government would allow for 120 member of Fateh to return to the Gaza Strip to boost reconciliation forward.Haniyeh told “Al-Ketab” TV yesterday that reconciliation is moving forward with a convergence of wills in the Gaza Strip and West Bank to complete the reconciliation and ending the split.(Al-Ayyam)
Kerry meets with Erakat in Washington amid low expectations of progress in the ongoing negotiations; Kerry prepares to put forward a "framework agreement" next month
Chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat meets with USSecretary of State John Kerry today in Washington, amid low expectations for the success of the Palestinian-Israeli negotiations, resumed on 30 July 2013 in the US capital, and moved to Ramallah and Jerusalem, without reaching any progress despite the intensified US efforts.Erekat said last week that the meeting with Kerry is a continuation of limiting the negotiations toPalestinian and Israeli talks with the American side.(Al-Quds)
1,800 new settlement units in Jerusalem
The Planning and Building Department of the Israeli municipality in Jerusalem approved yesterday evening, construction of 1,800 housing units in Armon neighborhood. According to the website of Israeli channel 7, the plan was approved by the municipality aiming at allocating land for parks and public projects near the neighborhood itself.(http://www.alquds.com/news/article/view/id/485737)
The demolition of houses in Jerusalem's Issawiya, Beit Hanina and Al-Ashqareyah
The Jerusalem municipality demolished yesterday a number of houses in the neighborhoods of Issawiya, Beit Hanina and Al-Ashqareyah under the pretext of unauthorized building. The demolished houses belong to Ahmad Dari form Issawiya, Hassan Khalil from Issawiya, Fatina Edris from Al-Ashqareyah, Muhammad Al-Dabgh from Al-Ashqareyah and Ibrahim El-Kiswani from Beit Hanina. (Al-Quds)
Livni: negotiations aimed at reaching a deal that serves the Israeli interests
Israeli Justice Minister and head of the Israeli negotiating team, Tzipi Livni, said that the aim of the negotiations with the Palestinians is not only to reveal their true face, commenting on what was said two days ago by a source in the Cabinet.Livni stressed in statements quoted by Israeli radio today that "Israel is not engaged in the political process in response to the desire of the American President, and not to serve the Palestinian interests, but to serve Israel's interests." Livni added: "We will waive some parts of this land in order to preserve the Jewish and democratic character of the State."(http://safa.ps/details/news/121447/%D9%84%D9%8A%D9%81%D9%86%D9%8A%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D9%81%D8%A7%D9%88%D8%B6%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D9%87%D8%AF%D9%81%D9%87%D8%A7-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AA%D9%88%D8%B5%D9%84-%D9%84%D8%A7%D8%AA%D9%81%D8%A7%D9%82-%D9%8A%D8%AE%D8%AF%D9%85-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D8%B5%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AD-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A5%D8%B3%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%A6%D9%8A%D9%84%D9%8A%D8%A9.html)
"Special forces" arrest two former prisoners from Beit Ummar
Israeli "Special forces" arrested yesterday, two citizens, Ashraf Azam Zaakik(26 years old), and Mohammed Hussein Zaakik (22 years old) from Beit Ummar village, north of Hebron. The two were arrested at the Israeli occupation roadblock Za’ayyem, east of Jerusalem, on their way back from work. Resistance activist Muhammad Ayyad Awad said that the two are former prisoners. (Al-Ayyam)
Israel is frightened from boycott
Israel is going through a state of fright on all levels as a result of the growing boycott, making it lose a lot of its friends, while the boycott “Knockout” depends of stopping the negotiations with the Palestinians. Israeli television reported the size of damage cause for Israeli companies as a result of the boycott, especially goods produced in settlements in eth West Bank. One of the lawyers said: "the damage is very large due to the boycott, but Israel is hiding the facts, dozens of companies come for advice on what to do because of this, there are companies that lost contracts and foreign investors."(Al-Hayat Al-Jadida)