Dec. 17, 2014

Daily summary - Wednesday, February 19, 2014

Text

Main News
NEW SETTLEMENT PROJECT IN AL AIN REGION BENEATH WADI HILWEH IN SILWAN
A new settlement project was revealed yesterday, slated for construction east of Wadi Hilweh in Silwan and said to be a ‘tourist center’ in the so-called national park of the City of David. According to the Wadi Hilweh Information Center last night, the project will be carried out in the Al Ain region beneath Wadi Hilweh neighborhood over an area of 1,200 square meters. The building will be two-stories high and will have a “museum of Jewish history’ in it. The project is a continuation of the “Kedam” settlement project which will be built at the entrance to the neighborhood, with the tunnels running under Wadi Hilweh connecting the two projects. The information center clarified that the project was government-run under the supervision of the Elad settlement association and will be turned into a public and open area. A visitors’ center will be built underground. The information center also said that municipality teams handed seven families notices informing them of the settlement plans and giving them 60 days to appeal the plan, which will be built on their land. The families are: Al Abbasi, Abu Mayaleh, Abu Sbeih and Abu Sneineh, all of who live in 22 apartments over a five-dunam piece of land. Their lawyer, Sami Irsheid, said the families would appeal against the confiscation of their land, saying this was privately owned land for Jerusalem residents. (Al Quds)

PRESIDENT ABBAS IN PRESS CONFERENCE WITH PERUVIAN COUNTERPART: THE SOLUTION TO OUR CAUSE IS THE KEY TO PEACE IN THE MIDDLE EAST
President Mahmoud Abbas held a joint press conference with his Peruvian counterpart Ollanta Humala yesterday at his Ramallah headquarters, praising the friendship between the two countries and looking forward to developing this relationship further. He also thanked Humala for his country’s vote at the UN which raised the status of Palestine to observer state. Abbas said he briefed his Peruvian counterpart on the status of the peace process and the ongoing Israeli violations namely settlements in addition to other pressing issues on the Palestinian agenda. He also confirmed that the Palestinian cause was the ‘key to peace and stability in the Middle East.” On his part, Humala said that it was a ‘great honor’ to visit Palestine for the first time since the UN recognition of its statehood, reiterating his country’s support for peace in the region.” (Al Quds)

SYRIA: 19 PALESTINIAN REFUGEES KILLED AND 50 OTHERS INJURED FROM EXPLOSIVE BARREL NEAR DARA’
19 Palestinians were killed yesterday in a massacre that targeted a conglomeration of Palestinian refugees in the town of Muzeirib near the Dara’ refugee camp close to the Jordanian border. Eyewitnesses confirmed that Syrian regime airplanes dropped an explosive barrel near the UNRWA Ein Zeiyton school in the town, resulting in the collapse of the two-story building over the heads of those inside and the deaths of 19 people and injury of 50 others. “Ahmad’ a resident of the camp, said children, women and elderly Palestinians were among those killed in the attack, all of whom had fled the battles raging over the past few weeks in Dara’ camp and come to Muzeirib for protection. He also said that more than on barrel had been dropped on the town. Muzeirib is located very close to Dara’ camp in the south of Syria and is home to more than 9,000 Palestinian refugees.
Also yesterday, seven other Palestinians, including at least three children, died of hunger between Monday and Tuesday in Yarmouk. (Al Ayyam)

KERRY TO PRESENT A MODIFIED FRAMEWORK AGREEMENT TO ABBAS TODAY
Palestinian official say they expect that US secretary of state John Kerry would present President Abbas today during their meeting in Paris with a modified version of his framework agreement. Kerry’s previous agreement was rejected by both the Palestinians and Israelis. Some Palestinian officials also say they do not rule out the possibility that Abbas will accept to extend the negotiations if he receive some sort of political compensation for this, such as a freeze in settlement construction in parts of the West Bank or a release of sick prisoners. (http://alhayat.com/Details/604952)

HANIYEH DENIES SENDING SECRET MESSAGE TO NETANYAHU; REAFFIRMS HAMAS’ INTENTIONS OF PERSERVING THE TRUCE
Yesterday, the Israeli news website Walla reported that head of the Hamas government in Gaza Ismail Haniyeh had sent a secret letter to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu asking him not to make any military moves against Gaza in response to the rocket fire on Israel. Israeli peacenik Gershon Baskin was said to have carried the letter to Netanyahu. The letter said Hamas was not interested in a confrontation with Israel.
Yesterday, deputy foreign affairs minister in the deposed Hamas government Ghazi Hamad denied any correspondence, whether direct or indirect, between Haniyeh and Netanyahu. In statements to the press, Hamad said the news report was a lie and a “complete Zionist fabrication”, saying Haniyeh had never made such contacts. Hamad reaffirmed that any contacts regarding the truce or the occupation’s attacks on Gaza were with the Egyptians and not Israelis. “We have no contacts with the occupation, neither oral or in writing,” he said. (Al Ayyam)

PALESTINAIN OFFICIAL: THE US SUGGESTED TO PREPARE A LIST OF NAMES OF REFUGEES WANTING TO RETURN TO THEIR HOMES
Radio Israel quote4d yesterday a high-ranking Palestinian source who said that the United States had proposed that a list of names of Palestinian refugees who wanted to return to their country be drawn up. The radio said the Palestinian source maintained that “according to our estimations, the number of Palestinians who would agree to this proposal would be very small,” and confirming that Israel would have to be the party to determine how many refugees it could absorb. The Palestinian source said he did not expect a large number of Palestinian refugees, especially those residing in Lebanon, to want to return to their original homes in light of the fact that “they would have to sing the Israeli national anthem every morning” and would have to enlist in military service and be part of the Israeli police force. He said they would also not accept to return if their children were forced to study the Israeli curriculum, adding that they realized if they did agree to return, it would not be to their original homes in Haifa and Jaffa. The Palestinian official continued that: “No Palestinian leader can ever relinquish the right of return; so there is no way to determine the number of refugees who will be allowed to return to their homeland as part of an agreement given that this is in the hands of the Israelis. They will have to be the ones to draw up the lists.” (Al Quds)

APPROXIMATELY 3,000 CUPS A DAY OF WASTE WATER FROM THE SETTLEMENT OF ARIEL POLLUTES THE PALESTINIAN ENVIRONMENT
Waste water from the settlement of Ariel continues to flow into neighboring Palestinian villages, whereby around 3,000 cups of waste water is pumped daily from Sunday to Friday from the settlement into neighboring areas. This amount increases to 5,000 cubs on holidays and on weekends. Waste water from the settlement of Efrat also floods agricultural land in the village of Al Khader in the Bethlehem district. Environmental expert Dr. Aqel Abu Qare’ said the waste water could potentially carry dangerous pollutants, both chemical and biological, depending on the source of the waste water, calling for immediate legal intervention in accordance with international law to halt this slow destruction of Palestinian areas and natural resources. He also called for taking samples from the regions affected by settlement waste water to be tested in order to assess the environmental and health damages it is causing. (Al Quds)

EREKAT: THE NEGOTIATIONS WILL NOT BE EXTENDED; IF THEY FAIL, WE WILL GO TO INTERNATIONAL COURTS
Chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat reiterated yesterday that Palestinian-Israeli negotiations would not be extended after the nine-month period, adding that if they failed, the leadership would resort to international courts and request membership in UN agencies. In statements to France Presse, Ereket said the negotiations would not be extended ‘for one minute’ and would last until the end of April as agreed on with the Americans and Israelis. He said the leadership would turn to the ICC and the ICJ if the talks failed, adding that the Palestinians would also join UN agencies and push towards a call for an economic boycott of Israel. (http://www.alquds.co.uk/?p=135032)

TWO ROCKETS FIRED FROM SYRIA INTO THE GOLAN HEIGHTS
The Israeli army announced yesterday that two rockets were fired from Syria into the Israeli-occupied part of the Golan Heights a bit after Israeli PM Netanyahu had visited the area. An Israeli army spokesperson confirmed that no injuries or damages had been reported. Netanyahu had visited the Golan and gone to an Israeli field hospital where Syrians who had been injured in the ongoing conflict in their country, were being treated.(http://www.alquds.co.uk/?p=135017)

ISRAELI ARMY CONSIDERING A HALT TO OPERATIONS AND ARRESTS IN PA TERRORITIES DURING THE NIGHT
Senior Israeli sources said yesterday that the Israeli army is looking into the idea of implementing a new approach of summoning Palestinian suspects for questioning instead of arresting them in night raids. The army is expected to announce this new policy, which would mean sending written summons to Palestinians it wants to question. Unofficial sources predict that the change in policy is because of UNICEF’s criticism of Israel’s treatment of Palestinian children and also the Australian television program which recently spoke about this subject. Morris Hersh told the Knesset that the main reason for night raids had been to prevent demonstrations that took place when day arrests were made, adding that Israel denied all of the allegations of abuse of children during these arrests. He added that this new approach was still in its ‘pilot stage’ (Al Ayyam)

SETTLER RUNS A CHILD OVER NEAR A HEBRON-AREA SETTLEMENT
This morning, a Jewish settler ran over a Palestinian child near the settlement of Kiryat Arba’ east of Hebron. Medical sources said the settler hit 7-year old Ahmad Burqan near the settlement, saying his condition was moderate and that he had suffered from cuts and abrasions all over his body. (http://safa.ps/details/news/122999/.html)

SETTLERS WREAK HAVOC IN JERUSALEM; SLASH TIRES OF 30 PALESTINIAN CARS
Settlers from the ‘price-tag’ group slashed the tires of around 30 Palestinian cars near Beit Safafa south of occupied Jerusalem. According to eyewitnesses, extremist settlers also wrote racist slogans on the walls of one home including the phrase “Arabs are thieves.” Israeli police who arrived at the scene commented that the attack was for ‘nationalistic purposes.” (http://www.qudsnet.com/news/View/266385/)

BODY OF GIRL FOUND BURIED WEST OF RAMALLAH
Yesterday, local residents found the body of a girl who was partially buried in an agricultural area between the towns of Beit Anan and Beit Liqya west of Ramallah. Residents informed the police, who arrived at the area and pulled out the body before taking it for autopsy. The girls’ identity has not yet been revealed, but initial estimations show that she has been deceases for approximately two weeks. (Al Hayat Al Jadida)

ISRAELI OCCUPATION FORCES PREVENT THE DESTRUCTION OF SETTLEMENT PRODUCTS IN BETHLEHEM
Yesterday, Israeli occupation forces prevented workers from the Ministry of Economy from destroying 30 tons of settlement products in the town of Al Khader in the Bethlehem district. The ministry said an Israeli army force and a group of settlers prevented its employees from confiscating 30 tons of settlement products which were found in Al Khader. The statement said that while the employees were confiscating the products, the army and settlers surrounded the area to prevent them from destroying them, confiscating the keys to the ministry’s cars. The ministry said that a network of providers had recently been discovered who were bringing in these products to local markets, saying that after one of its members was apprehended, the army and settler merchants intervened to halt the destruction of the products. (Al Hayat Al Jadida)

MUHEISEN: COMMITTEE TO END CLIQUES INSIDE FATAH; DISMISSAL OF ANYONE LINKED TO DAHLAN
Fatah central committee member Jamal Muheisen said yesterday that they had decided to form a committee to end the ‘cliques’ that had formed within Fatah. Muheisen said the goal of the committee was to stymie any clique that was harmful to the movement and to dismiss it, especially those linked to Mohammed Dahlan, who was previously dismissed from Fatah. He said the move was to reaffirm the unity of Fatah and so that its members would abide by its organizational legitimacy. (Al Quds)

NEW SETTLEMENT NEIGHBORHOOD NEAR HADASSEH HOSPITAL IN JERUSALEM
The Israeli daily Haaretz’ Hebrew edition today revealed a new settlement plan by Israeli housing minister Yuri Ariel to build a neighborhood of 2,250 housing units in the Ein Karem neighborhood of Jerusalem. the newspaper said Ariel was planning to transfer Israeli government “state lands” to be marketed for construction through the Israel Land Authority at a cost of NIS800 million.(http://safa.ps/details/news/122997.html)

Headlines
*Two companies pull out of bid to build Israeli ports (Al Quds)
*Israeli unmanned airplane crashes on Lebanese border (Al Quds)
*Four Palestinian martyrs in Syria (Al Quds)
*Cabinet holds Israel responsible for violations and incitement against our people and leadership (Al Quds)
*Keren Kayameth to move its offices to Jerusalem (Al Ayyam)
*Israel trying to impose a buffer zone to prevent Palestinians from entering the Gaza Strip (Al Ayyam)
*Israeli army continues its threats against rocket launchers in Gaza (Al Ayyam)
*The President: we will deal positively with American peace efforts during the time allotted for negotiations (Al Hayat Al Jadida)
*The government approves draft retirement system for non-government sector (Al Hayat Al Jadida)
*Sound of explosions and rise in transportation expenses scare Gazans (Al Hayat Al Jadida)

Front Page Photos
Al- Quds:Ramallah: President Abbas and Peruvian counterpart shake hands after their joint press conference
Al-Ayyam: 1) Man injured in his leg after Syrian air raid on Aleppo; 2) Ramallah: President Abbas and Peruvian counterpart stand before honor guard; 3) Baghdad: Municipality workers clean up explosion site in Karada neighborhood
Al Hayat Al Jadida:.The president and his Peruvian counterpart stand before honor guard

Voice of Palestine News
Jerusalem:
With regards to new settlement plans in Jerusalem, we are talking about two o plans, the first in Al-Ain neighborhood east of Wadi Hilwa, south of Al-Aqsa. This plan is about to construct the Jewish History Museum, a two floors building, including a tourism center and a museum. The second project is the municipality approval of a 15 floors tower in Jerusalem, this tower will be a headquarters for the Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael (Jewish National Fund); the tower will be constructed in an area close to Mamilla cemetery in east Jerusalem, near an area with demolished historic site.
With regards to arrests, 4 young Jerusalemites were arrested from Al-Aqsa, in addition to an arrest campaign in Essaweyyah. Finally we would note the racists fascist attack on two young Jerusalemites form Beit Hanina at Qalandai checkpoint last night, the two young Jerusalemites were attacked by security guards at the checkpoint injuring both of them, their only sin was that they asked the guards to talk to them in Arabic, knowing that one of these guards is a Palestinian citizen of Israel.
Q: Among the arrests yesterday was your son Amir, because what he wrote regarding the occupation municipality mayor, can you tell us more on this?
Yes this is true, Amir works as a correspondent of Panet.co.il and Panorama newspaper inside 1948, Amir covered an opening of a public center for the occupation municipality, his investigation was around un=sing the term “Nir Barkat mayor of the occupation municipality”, and he was asked why he uses this term, the investigation was for more than hour, in addition to being asked how he enters a camera into Al-Aqsa during the Friday prayer, it is worth mentioning that this is the first time a journalist being investigated on using such terms before.

Voice of Palestine Interviews
** Jawad Syam, Director of Wadi Helwa Information center, on new settlement Project in Jerusalem.
Q: Can you tell us more about this project?
I’ve just received information that extreme settlers attacked Shurafat village and punctured tires of vehicles. With regards to the project, it is a very dangerous project to Al-Aqsa, since it will control 35% of Ein Helwi lands, and it will end all links between Al-Aqsa and its Arab Muslim surrounding. This is not only about confiscating lands, but there are about 20 families that will be deported from eth area in order to build this museum. This is a continuation of the Kedem settlement project.
Q: what are the dangers in implementing this project is implemented?
The danger is very clear, full control of Al-Aqsa surrounding, and Judaizing Silwan through the project, in order to facilitate control over other neighborhoods like Silwan, the danger in also for facilitating the destruction of Al-Aqsa through excavation of tunnels under it.
Q: With regards to the settlers attack in Shurafat, is there more information?
We are talking about 5 vehicles, and spraying extreme slogans like “Price Tag”, this organization is well known and its activists are well known to the occupation police without arresting them.
** Adnan Abu Hasna, UNRWA spokesman in the Gaza Strip, on refugees’ demonstration in Gaza protesting UNRWA reducing services in the camps.
Q: How do you deal with these demonstrations?
We understand these protests and the anger as a result of the UNRWA implementing some actions to reflect more justice in services distribution to more than 8350,000 refugees, what the UNRWA are attempts to be more just, and provide the poorer with more aids, so aids are being stopped to those who can aid themselves. So we are not talking about reducing services at all since the number of beneficiaries today is 835,00 refugees , and those number is expected to reach 1 million refugees in a month or two.
Q: You said there is reduction of services but you announced more than once a financial crisis, is it over?
There is financial crisis in UNRWA 2014 budgetwith deficit of $ 65 million, but the food distribution program does not have any financial crisis, we are talking only about being more just with distribution. And we are ready to correct any wrong decision regarding any of the families who were taken out of this program, by reconsidering their situation.
Q: Is there any dialogue between you and the refugees?
Yes of course we are in constant dialogue.
Q: So you think that those involved in the demonstrations are in need of any aid?
No, of course they are, we are talking about two kinds, the popular committees who are demonstrating as representatives of the refugees and those who suffer from the new decisions.
Q: the Popular Committees say there is reduction in aid.
This reduction is only on the surface, but it is only according to a serious research by UNRWA to know who really deserve the aid. Some in the popular committees say this is part of a systematic policy, we reject this, and there is no policy.
** Dr. Hanan Ashrawi, PLO Executive Committee member, on the political process.
Q: President Abbas meeting with Kerry today came upon Kerry’s request; do you expect anything new this time?
No, this was a request by Kerry to continue discussion regarding the framework agreement; we are waiting to hear what Kerry will bring this time, knowing that until now all indicators don’t show anything that might lead to an agreement.
Q: news say that the leadership began with collecting statistics about refugees who want to return to Palestine, is this true?
No, there is a lot of movement in organizations abroad, in addition to the Department of Refugees in the PLO, but this is not according to a decision to check who want to return. The only decision is that all refugees have the right to return and that they will see what will be offered and decide, we still did not reach any agreement on the refugees’ issue, the Israeli side insists on abolishing the whole issue. And we insist on 194 andon their right to return.
Q: According to Netanyahu’s statements, again an Israeli insistence of the Jewish state, and total rejection of any third party presence in the Jordan Valley, what would the Palestinian position be if the Israeli position stays the same?
This is impossible, the Jewish state issue is totally rejected, our recognition of Israel’s right to live in peace and security with its neighbors according to international agreements and resolutions, we are not requested today to adopt the Israeli and Zionist ideology and abolish the refugees’ right of return and provide them with historic ownership over Palestine etc… we cannot accept all of this, the Jewish states is a condition set by Netanyahu since he knew this is an impossible condition that we will never agree to, and contradicts with simplest concepts of democracy and human rights, so he can speak of and defend Zionism but he will never find any Palestinian to do this for him. As for the international forces, Netanyahu defines the Israeli security as the basis for any peace process, and defines the Israeli security as based on military control of other’s lands, we also have security demands, since Israeli attacks all components of Palestinian reality, this also rejected.
Q: American statement says that Kerry is optimistic regarding signing the framework agreement by the end of this month; do you think that the US will impose a solution on both sides?
No, Kerry was optimistic from the beginning, despite all obstacles and despite the d=fact that one side doesn’t want to reach an agreement, or reach an agreement based on its international law violations. So no, there are very difficult issue, if both sides have reservations on the framework agreement that mean there is no agreement, and that it is only an attempt to show that there is document for new indefinite negotiations, the framework agreement should be agreed on both sides, but now it became an agreement in order to continue negotiations and provide Israel with more time. So, such agreement is not an agreement at all.
Q: With regards to the fourth batch of prisoners to be released, there are fears that Israel will not implement it, since most of these prisoners are form inside the green line?
The agreement is with eth Americans, with Kerry, including prisoners form the green line, and it listed them in the last batch, and we know it will try to find a way not to release them, we will insist on their release, they are Palestinians and did what they’ve did for Palestine. We are aware that Israel will try to find anyway for accusing the Palestinians for not being committed to the agreement and then not release them.

More Headlines
Knesset member climbs to the top of the Dome of the Rock and calls for the expulsion of Palestinians to Saudi Arabia
Extremist Israeli MK Moshe Feglein broke into the Aqsa Mosque this morning under tight Israeli police and special forces protection. According to Sheikh AzzamKhatib, Feiglin walked around the grounds before climbing to the rooftop of the Dome of the Rock in a tour that lasted about half an hour. during his tour, Feglein said that “The Aqsa is for the Jews and the Arabs should leave and go to Saudi Arabia; that is where they belong.” He said the ‘golden dome’ was a Jewish temple and not Muslim at all. (http://maannews.net/arb/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=674704)
Israeli authorities raise price of waste disposal for local Palestinian councils tenfold
The Israeli waste disposal authority in Abu Dis decided yesterday to raise the price of disposing of garbage in Palestinian local councils to ten times its current price. Head of the Abu Dis local council Adel Salah said the authority had verbally informed him that the price of waste disposal for the local councils of Abu Dis, Ezarriyeh, Sawahreh and Sheikh Saad would go from NIS25 a ton to NIS242 a ton. He said the decision would go into effect as of next Sunday. Salah said many local councils dump their garbage in the Abu Dis dumpsite including some Bethlehem areas, adding that this hike in prices would amount to a huge financial burden. He said that with such high prices, the councils would have to think of other solutions to get rid of waste. (http://maannews.net/arb/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=674669)
Israeli high court legitimizes settler takeover of hundreds of dunams of land in Yatta
The Israeli High Court rejected an appeal submitted by a Palestinian family in Yatta, south of Hebron asking it to recognize its ownership of 300 dunams of land taken over by Israeli settlers. According to the Israeli daily Haaretz today, the high court justified its rejection, saying the takeover of the land took place in 2002 and it could not obligate the army or the civil administration to take any measures against the setters today. The appeal was submitted by Rabbis for Human Rights on behalf of the Houshiya family. The family has been paying taxes on the land for all these years but the land had not been registered in the Tabo land registry during the Jordanian rule before 1967, which made it easier for Israel to declare it as state land. The settlers from Susiya claim they bought the land in 1990 even though no papers were produced to prove this. (http://arabs48.com/?mod=articles&ID=105762)

Arab Press

Waiting for Kerry’s framework agreement

By Rami G. Khouri

With perhaps just weeks to go before the United States unveils its framework accord that it hopes will prod Palestinians and Israelis toward a comprehensive negotiated resolution of their conflict, it seems that every dimension of this struggle is generating new ideas, trial balloons or fresh pressures on both sides, as the moment of truth approaches.

Consider just these recent developments: Hamas and Fatah are trying again to create a single, unified Palestinian national leadership. Spain is working on a law that would give citizenship to Sephardic Jews in Israel or elsewhere whose ancestors once lived in Spain. German banks and European companies and investment funds are almost daily listing Israeli firms or enterprises with which they will not do business because the latter profit from the colonization of the West Bank, Gaza Strip and Arab East Jerusalem. An American-backed effort underway proposes to financially compensate the 700,000 or so Jews who fled or were driven out of Arab countries since 1948. Israelis and Western Jews are increasingly debating what exactly the Israeli government means when it wants the Palestinians to formally accept and recognize Israel as “the homeland of the Jewish people.” And earlier this week, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas told a visiting Israeli youth delegation that in any permanent peace agreement he did not intend “to drown Israel with millions of refugees.”

These and other developments touch on some of the most delicate but important issues that have long stoked the conflict and that must be resolved without ambiguity for a permanent peace agreement to see the light of day. As Israelis and Palestinians near the point where they must come clean on core issues that they have allowed to float in a sea of ambiguity for 70 years, they will both find it important to engage in tough debates on the two huge issues that define and dominate everything else in this conflict.

First, what is the precise required relationship between one’s Zionist or Palestinian identity and the same land that each side sees as its rightful patrimony? Since its inception in the late 19th century, this has always been a conflict over two interrelated things: identity and land. The two are equally important in different ways, but also inseparable.

The current negotiations, and the American mediation that seeks to nudge them forward with the framework accord, have focused on a series of issues such as security, borders, water, Jerusalem, settlements and refugees, by disaggregating them into smaller items that can be addressed in a technical manner. Such solutions often rely on money (compensation) or guns (security) as the final arbiters, but this approach is unlikely to work if it does not recognize the centrality of, and wrestle with, the much deeper emotional, psychological and nationalist issue that are anchored in that fundamental twinning of land and identity – and also of their denial.

Second, how far is each side willing to go to acknowledge the other side’s need to be recognized in the manner that it defines itself? In other words, to what extent can Palestinians acknowledge Israel in a peace accord as “a Jewish state,” or “the homeland of the Jewish people,” a land where Jews have always lived as indigenous natives and not only as colonial settlers? Conversely, to what extent can Israelis acknowledge the deliberate and documented role of Zionist political and military organizations in creating the Palestinian refugee problem in 1947-48? What actions would supplement such an Israeli acknowledgment that remains absolutely central to the Palestinian national and individual psyche? What combination of options would be offered the Palestinians to finally resolve and permanently leave behind their refugee status and the pain they have suffered from it – and would those same options be mirrored by choices offered to Jews who left or were driven from Arab lands?

In other words, are both sides prepared to admit to the other that they both have a natural and historical link with the same land? If so, are they able then to share the land in an equitable manner that removes the pains of the past and provides them both with secure, viable and meaningful statehood for the future? Can this happen with honor and dignity for both sides and in accordance with international law and U.N. resolutions?

I believe that the answer to all these questions is an emphatic “yes” if we assume both people have equal rights in the eyes of God, the law and, more importantly, each other. For it is in each other’s eyes that Palestinians and Israelis encounter the critical and reciprocal nexus of identity, land and historical trauma that demands acknowledgment, then equitable resolution, because it is what has always shaped their conflict with each other. We will know soon if the American framework accord affirms this and if the parties to the conflict are prepared to address this.(http://www.dailystar.com.lb/Opinion/Columnist/2014/Feb-19/247742-waiting-for-kerrys-framework-agreement.ashx#axzz2tk64M3JE)

Abbas delivers message of peace to Israeli students

By Daoud Kuttab

When Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas met with 300 Israeli university students in Ramallah on Feb. 16, he accomplished more than one goal. He simultaneously sent a powerful message of peace to the Israeli public while indicating to his own people, and the region as a whole, the areas where Palestinian negotiators are willing to compromise.

The visit, which had been planned for last December but was postponed for logistical reasons, was organized by One Voice, an international organization whose mission is to “amplify the voices of Palestinians and Israelis.” The students chosen to attend were selected from 1,000 applicants who had written essays about why they would like to meet with the Palestinian leader.

Among the most highly quoted statements was Abbas’ insistence that he does not plan to "drown" Israel with refugees. This statement came after Labor Party Knesset member Hilik Bar, born in Safad, invited the Palestinian leader to visit his birthplace as a “tourist.” Abbas had previously said that he has no plans to return to the city where he was born.

In his talk to the Israeli students, Abbas covered almost all the issues of contention, including Jerusalem, water, borders, settlements, incitement to violence and recognizing Israel as a Jewish state. In his answers, the Palestinian leader was honest and persuasive. For example, he admitted without reservation or explanation that the Palestinian media and school books do include "incitement," but argued that Israelis also "incite" against Palestinians. In order to deal with both, he argued, a third party, the United States could be the judge as to what is and what is not considered incitement.

One of the issues that came up repeatedly in Abbas’ speech was Israeli apathy toward the Arab Peace Initiative. Abbas repeated a number of times that 57 Arab and Islamic countries are willing to normalize relations with Israel if the latter withdraws from the occupied Arab territories captured in 1967 and reaches a just and agreed upon resolution to the Palestinian refugee problem.

Abbas said the plan has been translated and published in Hebrew, but that he is often surprised when he talks to Israelis who have never seen or read it. Abbas brought up the clause on refugees, explaining that the phrase “just and agreed upon” gives Israel a central role, indirectly implying that the Israelis have the right to veto proposals to which it objects.

At this point, Abbas’s gestures were telling. When he spoke about finding a solution to the refugee problem, he repeatedly used the phrase “creative solution” and made a gesture that means "money." His answer to a question about recognizing Israel as a Jewish state was short and to the point. He said that this condition was never made of Egypt or Jordan or during his talks with Israelis until 2010. Abbas also said, however, that he would be open to recognizing any name change made at the United Nations if Israel wanted to change its name, reiterating that the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) has recognized Israel since 1993.

Perhaps the most effective portion of the speech was when Abbas spoke about water, saying that it was unacceptable that Palestinians cannot use the rainwater that falls on their land. He repeated various statistics illustrating the great discrepancy between how much water Israelis, and especially settlers, use compared to the small fraction that Palestinians are allowed to use.

Abbas repeated his position that the Palestinians do not want an army, only a strong police force, as stated in the Oslo Accords. The Palestinian president also said that he wishes for Jerusalem to be undivided, and he scoffed at claims that he is a Holocaust denier, stating that he is well aware that millions of Jews were slaughtered during World War II.

Abbas appeared confident and was convincing in his arguments. He often bordered on pleading with the students to understand the Palestinian predicament in the face of a nonreceptive, official Israeli counterpart that responds to Palestinian compromises by pocketing these concessions and then asking for more.

That Abbas’ entire speech and his responses to questions, minus translation, were later broadcast on prime time Palestine TV reflects the seriousness of the ongoing talks and the general willingness of the Palestinian leader to make concessions. Abbas’ public statements were quickly attacked in Gaza by Hamas, which said that the Palestinian leader’s agreeing to meet “normalizes” relations with Israel. The Arab Peace Initiative had called for normalizing relations only after an Israeli withdrawal.

The gathering with Israeli students and the honest and direct way in which the Palestinian leader spoke to them is certainly unprecedented. Abbas, often referred to as Abu Mazen, seemed like a grandfatherly figure trying hard to put concerned Israelis at ease. His warm and fuzzy approach will certainly help improve the climate in Israel for those in favor of peace.

Furthermore, Abbas' speaking in Arabic and Palestinian television rebroadcasting the speech show that he made no attempt to speak in "two tongues," as the late PLO leader Yasser Arafat was often accused of doing when he made gestures of peace.

It is unlikely, however, that Abbas' meeting will have the same effect as that of Egyptian President Anwar Sadat when he visited Jerusalem and spoke to the Knesset. The Israeli media generally reported that his speech was favorably received, but it does not appear that it will affect the sea change for which Abbas and his aides had hoped. The Israeli public will continue to look to its own prime minister for direction. The question remains, if and when Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu makes a genuine move toward peace, will he find an Israeli public that is willing to embrace it?(http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2014/02/abbas-israel-students-peace.html)

Will the Palestinians recognize Israel as a Jewish state?

Dr. Naser al-Tamimi

Through recent rounds of peace negotiations regarding the Middle East, the recognition of a “Jewish state” has become an elementary component of the current Israeli government negotiation strategy. The focus on this concept prompted many Jewish leaders (from the government and opposition) to demand that the Palestinian Authority (PA) recognizes Israel as a Jewish state. This strange and suspicious demand by the Israeli government promotes the obvious question: what is meant by a Jewish state?

Many Israeli politicians have given us various interpretations of this term, but the explanations are ultimately unconvincing and contrary to political logic, not to mention the historical, geographical and demographical facts. How can a state be democratic and called only Jewish? Does Jewish here mean identity, nationalism, or religion? How will the “others” fit into this picture? And wouldn’t it seem hypocritical to accuse some Americans, Europeans or whoever who demand turning their county into a Christian state or something else of anti-Semitism or racism, while they are demanding a Jewish state for themselves? Above all, why has Israel waited for about a quarter of a century of negotiations with the Palestinians to raise the subject now?

Palestinian position

It seems the camp that put pressure on the Palestinian side to accept the Israeli conditions(Arabs and Americans) espouse arguments based on three basic assumptions: firstly, that the aim of Israel’s obstinacy is to push the Palestinians to take up rigid positions in order to put an end to the peace process. Secondly, the Israeli extreme right seeks to make a peace agreement harder to reach, placing the responsibility on the PA in order to stop the negotiation, continue building settlements and take unilateral steps. Finally, that the Palestinians are the weaker side and do not have many options.

“From my point of view, the term Jewish state will only add to the complexity of the current situation” - Dr. Naser al-Tamimi

If these assumptions are correct, this in turn should make the Palestinians more determined to reject the Israeli conditions, because their acceptance will bring new conditions. Also, the building of Jewish settlements has never stopped; in fact, under the so-called peace process (and under the current Israeli government) the building of settlements has accelerated more than ever in the history of the Arab-Israeli conflict. Although it is true that the Palestinians have few options, throughout the history of colonialism the people who have been subjected to occupation never did have many good options.

New conflict

From my point of view, the term Jewish state will only add to the complexity of the current situation and open a door to new conflicts rather than solving the old ones. Indeed, the Middle East has suffered more than enough from religious and sectarian conflicts. Perhaps more importantly, the term of Jewish state might provide the Islamists with new and more affective ammunition and further weaken the already weak Palestinian authority. Here it brings to mind another question: Do some Israelis intentionally want the conflict to take on a religious dimension?

However, on deep reflection through the history of the conflict, the term itself expresses Israel’s anxieties more than anything else. From the Israelis’ perspective, all political solutions represent the process of choosing between bad and worse. Or to put it bluntly: the issue of Palestinian recognition of the Jewish state is only smoke screen to cover-up Israel’s strategic dilemma rather than looking for a solution to the conflict.

More crucially, the situation reminds us of the same predicament that once faced the late Israeli PM Yitzhak Rabin in dealing with the first Palestinian Intifada during the 1990s, as a result he famously said that he wished to wake up in the morning and see that “the sea swallowed Gaza.” Rabin was himself killed by a Jewish extremist. Either way, Gaza is still there.

The Arab weakness

The above analysis leads us to the next important point: to impose impossible conditions on the weaker party will not lead to peace. Yes in the circumstances currently prevailing in the Middle East it’s safe to argue that Israel’s current strategic position is secure as it faces no existential threats. Or as the Israelis always repeat among themselves: “We won the war…Why would we want peace and give up land?”

Meanwhile the Palestinians are weak, divided and do not hold any of the “power cards” by which they can become an equal partner in the negotiation process. Perhaps this Palestinian predicament in parallel with the fractious nature of Israeli coalition politics could tempt the supporters of the “Jewish state” to be more ambitious in their wishes than Rabin, as they may wish this time that “the sea swallows all the Palestinians.”

Indeed, as the drama of the so-called “Arab Spring” is still unfolding with its unknown long-term repercussions, the weakness of the Arab side has created a situation in which the Israelis no longer (at least for now) have to worry about any collective Arab conventional military attack. Consequently the Israeli government is taking advantage of this situation to create new realities on the ground.

Israel’s limited options

Nevertheless, Israel’s strategic environment is not as predictable as it may have seemed before the regional upheaval. The protracted conflict with the Palestinians in a small land mass with multiple frontiers, the political uncertainty in neighboring countries and the strategic repositioning of the United States means there are persistent security risks and an uncertain future.

Logic says that weakness is not permanent, and even the weaker party accompanied with supportive regional and international environment could make a surprise strike from nowhere. Indeed, factors of geography, history and demography still present Israel’s strategists and policy-makers with the same old dilemma, thus making their options limited. This is something that Rabin understood very well earlier - that “the sea will never swallow Gaza” - and he began acting accordingly.

Ultimately, until the supporters of the “Jewish state” understand as Rabin did a long time ago that “the sea will not swallow the Palestinians,” we may witness new chapters in the conflict, but this time in more “innovative” ways.(http://english.alarabiya.net/en/views/2014/02/18/Will-the-Palestinians-recognise-Israel-as-a-Jewish-state-.html)

World Bank Violates its Own Mandate, Invests in Israeli Based Companies

By Abir Kopty

A few months ago, the International Finance Corporation (IFC), World Bank’s investment arm, made an investment in two Israeli private companies, based in Israel. This violates IFC mandate to operate only in developing countries.

The International Finance Corporation (IFC) is the arm of the World Bank that funds the private sector in developing countries in an aim to fight poverty, as explained on its website (see note 1): “IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, is the largest global development institution focused exclusively on the private sector in developing countries.” Furthermore, “IFC’s vision is that people should have the opportunity to escape poverty and improve their lives.” It provides funding in the form of loans and/or equities to companies operating in developing countries. By its mandate it cannot invest in high income countries.

That is particularly the case for Western Europe. Here is the overview of IFC operations in the region:

"IFC's Western Europe operations cover relations with 21 countries including Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom, as well as the European Union. Western Europe is an important region for IFC with Western European countries holding 31.88% of IFC capital, representing the largest IFC member if taken as a whole. Given its mandate as part of the World Bank Group, IFC does not invest in Western Europe, but rather supports the investment projects of Western European sponsors in emerging markets." (IFC’s website) (2)

That means that the IFC could still invest in Western European companies for their operations in developing countries but not for their operations in Western Europe. (As an OECD member, Israel is included in the category of Western Europe.)

Indeed this rule is confirmed by a search for IFC investment projects on the online search tool on the IFC website (3). The search returns no results for all the countries in Western Europe, with one exception: Israel. In this case, the search shows a capital investment by IFC in Kaiima Bio-Agritech, an Israeli seed-and-breeding technology company.

This investment was confirmed by the Jerusalem Post in a recent article (16.9.2013) highlighting that this was the first ever IFC investment in Israel. (4) This was soon followed by one in another Israeli-based IT company, DiviNetwroks, that provides network operators and internet service providers (ISPs) with cloud-based broadband solutions.

The description of the project on the Kaiima’s Website (5) or on the IFC Website (6) confirms the breach of IFC’s own rules. Kaiima's mission is to “help feed the world and energize it by introducing new varieties of key agricultural crops, specifically designed for sustainable agriculture, with vastly improved yields.” (Kaiima website) (5). Furthermore, “The Company’s proposed investment plan will be used to support the scale-up of its R&D and commercial activities globally, including developing countries such as China, Kazakhstan and Mexico.” (IFC Website) (6).

Hence, the project which is linked to the IFC funding is aimed at improving the company’s technology (that may be eventually useful for developing countries), and ability to sell its technology to developing countries. But the operations of Kaiima are all based in Israel and there is no mention that any of these new investments will be carried out in developing countries’ factories or labs. This explains why the IFC classifies the investment as an investment in Israel, in clear breach of the IFC mandate in Western Europe.

That mandate is also stated on Israel’s IFC page, "Given its mandate as part of the World Bank Group, IFC does not invest in Western Europe, but rather supports the investment projects of Israeli sponsors in emerging markets." (7) But in this case there is no Israeli investment in emerging markets. Rather it is an investment in Israel that may (eventually) be used in emerging markets. Following this logic, it can be said that the IFC could also invest in a Volkswagen’s factory in Germany on the account that the cars produced there will be eventually bought and driven in emerging markets.

The case with DiViNetworks, might be less straightforward than the case of Kaiima. The investment of the World Bank in DiviNetworks does not show under search results for Israel (as part of Western Europe) on the IFC’s website, rather it is classified under “WORLD” projects. However in this case too, there is no mention in project documents on IFC website (8) or on the company's website (9) of any investments in developing countries but rather only marketing activities in developing countries:

"DiviCloud currently has points-of-presence (“PoP”) in 15 global Internet hubs and servers in more than 60 client locations in emerging markets. The Project envisages further expansion of DiviCloud footprint to over 1,000 client locations in the next three years, with the strong focus on emerging market." (IFC Website) (10)

"The DiViCloud service uses DiViNetworks’ patented technology to increase Internet transmission capacities and free up congested internet connections. With deployment in 21 developing countries, the solutions lower costs and increase internet access for enterprises and consumers…The majority of DiViNetworks’ clients are located in Sub-Saharan Africa, Latin America and South East Asia." (IFC Website) (10).

DiviNetwork’s form of presence in developing countries is unclear, but it is likely to be a presence through foreign distributors to market their products in those countries. Three pieces of information support this impression: 1) The use of the term “client” by both, Divi and IFC; 2) The IFC project does not mention any investment that the company should undertake in developing countries; and 3) “IFC will provide financing essential for the Company's growth, expansion to new markets and development of new products” (from project description page on IFC’s website). (8)

To summarize, it may be assumed that the main reason why both companies received the money is that they are developing technologies that will be useful to developing countries. That will probably allow a commercial (but not production) expansion in these countries. This expansion is eventual and there is nothing in the investment that makes it look as a necessary condition for the investment to take place. IFC decided to give funding regardless of whether the companies will eventually invest (not sell) in developing countries or not.

Again, let us use Volkswagen as an example of a European multinational company. The company has subsidiaries all around developing countries including production facilities and distributors. But according to its mandate, the IFC should not (and indeed does not) fund Volkswagen for its (technology or other) activities in Germany.

The use of money by an international organization, whose goal is to fight global poverty, to fund a company in a high income country is already perverse. If that company is in Israel, that adds insult to injury. The World Bank has often said (see for instance coverage by The Guardian) (11) that Israeli restrictions are the major impediment to Palestinian development. So it is really puzzling that its private sector arm dodges its own rules to invest in Israel, to reward Israel for its “good development actions”.(https://www.oximity.com/article/World-Bank-Violates-its-Own-Mandate-In-1)

Opinions
Hashemite Guardianship… a historic guarantee
A-Dustuor Editorial
Israel is playing with fire in its attempts to impose its sovereignty over Al-Aqsa Mosque through endorsing a law aiming at abolishing the Hashemite guardianship, in a move that will have unpleasant  risks, consequences and results that will ignite a fire in the region, especially since this new Israeli aggression on Al Aqsa Mosque is contrary to Sharia and international law and conventions, besides being a violation of the legitimacy of the Hashemites in their guardianship of the holy sites in Jerusalem over the past decades and eras.
No need to stress the importance of Jerusalem for his Majesty King Abdullah II and Jordan, as an axis of peace in the region, and the essence of the Palestinian issue, it is a historic guarantee and a Jordanian, Arab and Muslim red line, as an embodiment of the Hashemite’s interests and protection of Islamic holy sites in Jerusalem, Jordan continued under the Hashemite leadership to provide care for the holy sites in Jerusalem as a  national glorious historic duty of Jordan toward the holy sites,since it is a holy and non-compromising cause, and the gateway to all the solutions to the Arab-Israeli conflict.
The Hashemite cover Jerusalem is sustained through the era of his Majesty King Abdullah II, since Jerusalem – through history- is special place to the Hashemites and the sons of the Arab and Muslimworlds, and will remain part of conscience of every Arab and Muslim, and has an eternal link to our faith and our religion that will not be ended by the occupation, checkpoint or borders.
Jordan under the leadership of his Majesty King Abdullah II, will always remain heading the journey to Jerusalem, since it lives in the consciousness of Hashemites, and will remain a priority until the Palestinian people attain theirjust rights, where his Majesty hasn’t spared any effort in defending Jerusalem and its people, leading to the establishment of an independent Palestinian State on Palestinian national soil.In this context the effort being made by his Majesty King Abdullah II in preserving holy places and Islamic Waqf in Jerusalem is highlighted, his Majesty leading all Jordanians support the Palestinian people, in a sincere and consistent approach of the immaculateHashemitesto spend all efforts to support Arabic and Muslim issues.
Jordan and Palestine and all other leaders and rulers of the Arab and Muslimnations won't stand silent in front of the Israeli aggression and criminal practices against Al-Aqsa Mosque, there will be noIsraeli sovereignty over  Al-Aqsa Mosque and all Muslim and Christian religious places, it is the right of Arabs, Muslims and Christians, and all Israeli allegations in this regard are void and inadmissible, no peace without the return of Jerusalem to full Palestinian sovereignty, especially Al Aqsa Mosque, which only Muslim can pray at.
The historic agreement signed by his Majesty King Abdullah II and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas for the guardianship of holy sites in Jerusalem, came to confirm that his Majesty reserves the right to make all legal efforts to preserve them, particularly Al-Aqsa Mosque, defined in this agreementas the entire Haram Al-Sharif, and thus Jordan has political, legal and diplomatic options to deal with the rejected Israeli actions, and to prevent Israel from reaching its aim, Al-Aqsa Mosque will remain at the heart of his Majesty King Abdullah II, as it was in the hearts Hashemites who inherited its guardianship and protectionand keep it a twin of the Haram Mosque. (http://www.addustour.com/17130/%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%88%D8%B5%D8%A7%D9%8A%D9%80%D8%A9+%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%87%D8%A7%D8%B4%D9%85%D9%8A%D9%80%D8%A9...%D8%B6%D9%85%D8%A7%D9%86%D8%A9+%D8%AA%D8%A7%D8%B1%D9%8A%D8%AE%D9%8A%D8%A9.html)

Hamas “completes Netanyahu”..!!
Adel Abdurrahman
More than one official of the Hamas coup announced their movement's rejection of the presence of international forces in the territory of the Palestinian State. These leaders of coup the said they will deal with these forces "as if they were Israeli occupation forces"...!! Which means Hamas wants to explicitly and clearly say: no to a political settlement, and to the option of a two-State solution on the 4th of June 1967 borders. In other words, Hamas wants to tell the ruling right-wing Zionist leaders, headed by Netanyahu, let us do what you can't do to foil the peace option, in the name demagogy and deception.
Perhaps the message sent by Ismail Haneya two weeks ago by Ghazi Hamad, through Israeli journalist Gershon Baskin according to Walla, deals with another issue, the issue of non-escalation and continuation of the humiliating truce, signed in November 2012 by deposed President Morsi, reveals the size of communication and coordination between the Netanyahu Government and the leadership of the coup in Gaza.
Add to that, whoever reviews the vandal role of the Hamas coup movement before and during the second intifada, 2000-2005,when carrying operating within Israel or through launching rocketsthey called the "resistance rockets", always took place with redeployment of the Israeli army in Palestinian territories occupied in 1967, in order to disrupt the Israeli withdrawal, as well as the most important goal that is preparing for the division and the, which took place mid-2007.
This means that Hamas, as a part of the Muslim Brotherhood, has been playing and still plays a subversive role in the national arena,and is not concerned with the interests of the people. If it was really interested in these interests and goals, it wouldn’t have agreed to a State with temporary borders or the great Emirate of Gaza, when the Supreme Guide of the Muslim Brotherhood and their deposed President were ready to dedicate part of the Egyptian territory south of the Gaza Strip to El Arish, an Emirate that is compatible with the Israeli vision, and was proposed by Jacob Amidror, former head of the National Security Council. Where is the eagerness of Hamas on Palestinian interests? And why it is allowed for Hamas to wave national rights, while when the legitimate leadership stick to these rights, defend it and work to achieve them, it gives away creditof those efforts? And why international forces are considered as the Israeli occupation forces? Is there anything else in this political and security approach other than synergy with the Netanyahu, Bennett and Lieberman Government orientations? Isn’t this approachcontradicts with announcements of the Chief and Deputy Chief of Hamas political Bureau, and other leaders of the movement who accepted the choice of a two states on the borders of 1967? And isn’t thisapproachcontradicts with national reconciliation? What does the coup movement aim at? And what does it bid on?
The announced position of Hamas leaders against international forces even before reaching a peace agreement, aims at achieve more than one goal, the first would be to put sticks in the wheels of the political settlement process; the second would becomplementing the Zionist extreme-right leaders and the head of the Israeli occupation and aggression, the third goal would beabolishing national reconciliation; and the fourth is a quest through security operations to reach a confusion, in order to embarrass the legitimate leadership headed by President Mahmoud Abbas, and embarrass the legitimateEgyptian leadership, especially since operations will require an Israeli response under flimsy pretexts.
The legitimate leadership and political forces should expose Hamas and reveal its position against the interests of the people, and address it through all political, media and public platforms to rein it, and bury its plans. (http://amin.org/articles.php?t=opinion&id=23354)

JMCC Services

Daily Press Translations & SMS Breaking News

Polls & Public Opinion

WHAT'S NEW

More News »

BACKGROUND

POLLS

WAYS TO GET JMCC

Staff List