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March 3, 2014
Daily summary- Monday, March 03, 2014
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Main News
COLLAPSE OF TRUCE IN YARMOUK CAMP; VIOLENT CONFRONTATIONS BETWEEN AL NUSRA AND PFLP-GENERAL COMMAND LEAD TO A HALT TO ENTRY OF FOOD AND MEDICAL AID
Gun battles and shelling was resumed yesterday in the Yarmouk camp for Palestinian refugees in Damascus. According to the Syrian monitor for human rights, Al Nusra Front and the PFLP-General Command under Ahmad Jibril and who is loyal to President Assad, exchanged accusations of violating the truce announced mid-February. According to the monitor, violent confrontations took place between Al Nusra and the PFLP-GC leaving one person dead. Al Nusra claimed Syrian forces and PFLP-GC fighters failed to commit to “any article in the agreement to neutralize Yarmouk Camp” saying its troops had earlier pulled out of the camp because of the deteriorating situation. The front said Syrian forces had not withdrawn from all the areas agreed on, in addition to failing to allow the entry of the agreed on number of food baskets to the camp’s residents. The PFLP-GC meanwhile, accused Al Nusra of returning to the camp, which hindered the peace initiative on ways to address the tragic situation of the camp.
Activists inside the camp confirmed the return of Nusra fighters, saying shelling was resumed all of a sudden. One resident said there were no more citizens in the streets, all of whom were hiding in fear of the renewed fighting.
UNRWA spokesperson, Chris Gunness also tweeted yesterday that there was ‘bad news” confirming that UNRWA had not been able to distribute food baskets in the camp. (Al Quds)
ABU MARZOUQ: CONSIDERING HAMAS A TERRORST MOVEMENT IS AN ISRAELI CATEGORIZATION
Deputy chief of Hamas, Mousa Abu Marzouq refused to discuss with an Egyptian court a lawsuit categorizing Hamas as a ‘terrorist’ movement. On his Facebook page, Abu Marzouq said that Hamas was a Palestinian liberation movement whose operations only target the Israeli enemy and are confined to the occupied Palestinian territories. He said its compass has never and will never be shifted in another direction and that Hamas’ position is fixed in terms of not interfering in the affairs of Arab countries. He also said that such a categorization was ‘an Israeli one” and showed that some parties “were in alliance with the occupation and standing by its side.” Abu Marzouq said he was ‘surprised” that such a discussion was accepted in an Arab Egyptian court, saying they were waiting an expecting support for the Palestinian resistance from the Arab nation not to be put on trial. He said this move was ‘judicial on the surface, but political underneath” and only served the goals of the Israeli occupation.” (Al Quds)
US STATE DEPARTMENT REPORT ON HUMAN RIGHTS CONFIRMS INCREASE IN VIOLENCE OF THE OCCUPATION IN THE WEST BANK”
The US State Department issued its annual report on human rights around the world, with its section on the occupied territories and Israel, Gaza and the PA saying there were flagrant violations in terms of movement of citizens in the West Bank and rocket firing from Gaza into Israel in addition to impingements of freedom of the press in the occupied territories in areas under PA rule. The report also mentioned allegations against Israel of violating Palestinian human rights under the occupation, based on evidence such as the death of Arafat Jaradat in prison. Palestinians accused Israel of killing Jaradat under torture, while Israel said the autopsy results had not been completed.
The report also said Israel had escalated violence in 2013 against the Palestinians who threw rocks at the Israeli army, with the State Department expressing its ‘concern” about the rise in violence. (Al Quds)
200 OLIVE SAPLINGS UPROOTED IN KUFR KADUM
Yesterday, Israeli settlers from the Qadumim settlement built on land belonging to residents east of Qalqilya, uprooted 200 olive saplings belonging to the people of Kufr Qaddum. According to head of the settlement file in the northern West Bank Ghassan Daghlas, the olive trees belong to Nathmi Obeid from the village. (Al Quds)
NETANYAHU VOWS TO RESIST AMERICAN PRESSURES BEFORE HEADING TO WASHINGTON; REFUSES TO FREEZE SETTLEMENTS
Israeli PM Netanyahu vowed before heading to the US to meet with President Obama to ‘resist American pressures” on Israel regarding peace talks with the Palestinians. Netanyahu’s office quoted the PM as he boarded the plan, saying the two leaders would discuss the Iranian file and the peace process, adding that “in recent years, Israel has been under several pressures, which we have rejected and which we will also do in the future.” (Al Quds)
According to Israel’s Channel Seven, Netanyahu also confirmed senior Likud officials before travelling that he would not agree to freeze settlement construction in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. (Al Ayyam)
NETANYAHU: YOU NEED THREE TO TANGO IN THE MIDDLE EAST
Israeli PM Netanyahu said after arriving in the US today that you need at least ‘three to tango’ in the Middle East. He said now there were two parties – Israel and the United States – adding that ‘now we have to see if the Palestinians are ready as well.” He continued that in any case, in order to reach an agreement, Israel would have to protect its vital interests. “It has been proven that I have done just that, in spite of all the pressures and I will continue to do that here.” (http://maannews.net/arb/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=678105)
EREKAT: THE AMERICAN ADMINISTRATION DID NOT PRESENT US WITH ANYTHING OFFICIAL IN WRITING
Chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat said yesterday after his meeting with Egyptian foreign minister Nabil Fahmi that until this moment, the US administration had not yet offered anything written or official in terms of an agreement. “We read into a lot of test balloons, and 95% Israel’s negotiating style is to spread rumors and offer up half-truths.” Erekat also said the leadership appreciated the position of the Arabs in their meeting with US secretary John Kerry in Paris. He said the Palestinians ‘sought peace and wanted peace’ explaining that nobody would gain more than the Palestinians from the success of Kerry’s efforts and no one would loves more from their failure. Erekat also reiterated the leadership’s refusal to recognize Israel as a Jewish state. “Israel is registered in the UN under the name of ‘Israel’ and this is what we will continue.” (Al Ayyam)
SOURCE REVEALS ABBAS’ CONDITIONS FOR EXTENDING NEGOTIATIONS
A source within the PA revealed to “Safa” last night that President Abbas gave Secretary of State John Kerry his initial approval for extending the negotiations with Israel on three conditions. The source, which asked to remain unnamed, said these were: a release of a ‘considerable number’ of prisoners; a freeze on settlements; and the PA receiving a “quality” financial aid package. The source said Abbas told Kerry he would accept an undeclared freeze on settlement so that Israel would agree. (http://safa.ps/details/news/123759.html)
WAEL ATIYEH IS NEW EGYPTIAN AMBASSADOR TO PALESTINE
According to the Egyptian website “Al Youm Al Sabe’”, Egypt has nominated commissioned minister Wael Atiyeh as the new ambassador to Palestine, succeeding Yasser Othman who completed his term and returned to Cairo two weeks ago. The site said Atiyeh left Cairo yesterday en route to Ramallah and would present his credentials to the PA foreign ministry and President Mahmoud Abbas within two days. (Al Ayyam)
JERUSALEM: ISRAELI OCCUPATION FORCES HAND A HOME DEMOLITION ORDER TO A RESIDENT OF ‘JABAL BABA’
Israeli civil administration teams along with Israeli army forces handed a demolition order for the homes of Suleiman Jahaleenin the Jabal Baba area east of Ezzariyeh. Jahaleen, who is blind, said the teams handed him demolition orders for two homes built of corrugated iron and cement. He said they did not give him a date for the demolition, adding that 10 people live in the homes. Jahaleen said he had been living on the land since 1967 and would not leave. (Al Ayyam)
ISRAELI OCCUPATION RAIDS DOZENS OF HOUSES, ARRESTS SIX SOUTH OF NABLUS
Israeli occupation forces carried out a military operation this morning in which dozens of houses were raided in the villages of Madama. Several young men were questioned on the spot and six were then arrested. According to local sources, Israeli army troops raided the village after midnight last night and searched dozens of houses. They withdrew this morning. The six youths arrested ranged between the ages of 17 and 23. (http://maannews.net/arb/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=678106)
AFTER BEING ACCUSED OF STAGING A COUP INSIDE FATAH, THE BATTLE OF ‘BREAKING BONES’ BEGINS WITH DAHLAN’S FOLLOWERS
Exclusive sources within Fatah told Al Quds Al Arabi that the movement’s central committee had formed a secret committee to oversee the dismissal of 12 pro-Mohammed Dahlan members from the group and to halt their salaries and financial allocations. This was based on information about the aforementioned who they say ‘work against the organization in favor of Dahlan.” The list includes former leaders of Fatah and security officials who served during Dahlan’s term in office as head of the preventive security forces in the Gaza Strip. Some of these people now reside in Egypt after the Hamas’ takeover of the Strip. Others live in the UAE and in Gaza. the sources said those on the list were very close to Dahlan and totaled 105 people. PA officials said the list was ‘preliminary’ Al Quds Al Arabi said it had knowledge that Dahlan’s people were aware of the list and that some had already been told of their dismissal a few days ago. (http://www.alquds.co.uk/?p=139208)
CONFRONTATIONS BETWEEN ARMED HAMAS AND JIHAD FORCE IN KHAN YOUNIS
Armed clashes broke out late last night between members of the Quds brigades, the armed wing of the Islamic Jihad, and the Qassam brigades, Hamas’ armed wing, in Khan Younis, south of the Gaza Strip. Sources in the field said the real dispute between the two sides was not yet known, but was most likely over “military matters”. The sources added that tensions had been rising between the two forces in Khan Younis over the past three days but that it has escalated into a shootout last night. No injuries have been reported, but security forces of the deposed Hamas government are said to have arrested a number of Quds brigades operatives believed to have been involved in the gun battle. Political figures in the city are trying to calm the situation between the two sides. (http://www.qudsnet.com/news/View/267433/)
NEW JEWISH CALLS TO INCREASE BREAK INS INTO AL AQSA
The Temple Mount Faithful Jewish groups have made new calls to increase the number and intensity of break ins into the Aqsa Mosque Compound, backed by a number of ‘religious decrees’ that encourage the break ins. The groups have accompanied their calls with maps and instructions for the break ins. The calls were made in a magazine distributed in syn¬agogues throughout the country, which included a statement from an Israeli intelligence officer who encouraged the break ins, especially by public figures, which he said would achieve more Israeli control over the compound. In response, the Waqf institute warned against the break ins, calling for a constant presence of worshippers inside the compound to be able to protect and defend the mosque. (Al Ayyam)
SHAATH DELIVERS SPEECH AT TEL AVIV UNIVERSITY
Head of the committee for contacts with the Israeli society Mohammed Madani said that Fatah central committee member Nabil Shaath will deliver a speech today at Tel Aviv University in front of Israeli academicians and students. Madani said last night that the speech was part of the committee’s program to clarify the Palestinian position in the face of Israeli incitement, all of which is aimed at foiling the negotiations and the peace process. Madani told Ajyal radio that the meetings aimed at influencing Israeli public opinion, which receives a distorted narrative from the Israeli government about the conflict, confirming that these meetings are in the Palestinians’ national interest. He refused to accept accusations that the meetings were ‘normalization” with Israel. (http://www.alquds.com/news/article/view/id/491548)
INFORMED SOURCES CONFIRM THAT DISMISSAL OF HAMAS SPOKESPERSON AYMAN TAHA ON CHARGES OF CORRUPTION
Informed sources within Hamas revealed a decision taken by the movement days ago to dismiss Hamas leader and spokesperson Ayman Taha after evidence was found showing his involvement in a number of issues that violate the movement’s bylaws and its relationship with Arab countries, namely Egypt. According to the sources, Taha is involved in financial issues and unlawful profiting in addition to abuse of power in allowing his people to be involved in illegal trade, resulting in the swindle of hundreds of people who put their money into these projects, mostly in the tunnels. They said Taha confessed during questioning that he had contacts with Egyptian officials behind the movement’s back in addition to contacts with Arab figures and Palestinians outside of Palestine who are opposed to Hamas. (Al Quds)
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Headlines
Ukrainian crisis ignites a ‘cold war’ between America and Russia (Al Ayyam)
*Poet of the revolution, Abu Arab, dies in Homs (Al Ayyam)
*Dozens of settlers break into the Aqsa Mosque; plans to lower calls to prayer in mosques (Al Ayyam)
*Shaath says unlikely that negotiations will continue without a halt to settlements and release of prisoners (Al Ayyam)
*Israel: new NIS50 bill to be released at end of 2014 (Al Ayyam)
*Hundreds of thousands of orthodox Jews demonstrate against their recruitment in the army (Al Ayyam)
*Mustapha: tender to be proposed in days to develop fuel sources in the West Bank (Al Ayyam)
*Elderly man killed by settler in Ramallah (Al Hayat Al Jadida)
*Obama to Netanyahu today: Israel will face a lonely future if it rejects framework agreement (Al Hayat Al Jadida)
*Abu Aliya: no mass resignations in Fatah in Deir Salah (Al Hayat Al Jadida)
*Hamas calls on Egyptian authorities to open Rafah Crossing (Al Hayat Al Jadida)
*This is how the secret war began between Hizbullah and Israel (Al Quds)
*Washington considering to present a paper addressing all core issues to allow extension of negotiations without approval of Palestinians or Israelis (Al Quds)
*Hamas: Al Ahmad’s statements are opportunist; we call on a halt to our slandering (Al Quds)
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Front Page Photos
Al- Quds:Damascus: picture distributed by UNRWA of Yarmouk residents waiting for food aid
Al-Ayyam: 1) Russian soldiers in the Ukrainian Crimean peninsula; 2) Hundreds of thousands of orthodox Jews demonstrate in Jerusalem yesterday
Al Hayat Al Jadida:.Caricature of Abu Arab; 2) Youths in Wadi Qana
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Voice of Palestine News
Jerusalem:
I’ll start with eth repeated storming acts to al-Aqsa, and what happened yesterday where extreme Rabbi Yehuda Glick, stormed Al-Aqsa with a group of 75 extreme settlers and confronted with Al-Aqsa guards after trying to perform Talmudic rituals. A confrontation also took place between the guards and the police who protected the settlers.
This comes at a time of renewed attempts to prevent Athan or reduce its sound; these attempts are being led with extreme Arie King, claiming that these sounds disturb settlers in the old city of Jerusalem, this campaign include more than 200 mosques. We note that Arie King is the same one who leads the campaign to control houses of Jerusalemites in the old city.
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Voice of Palestine Interviews
** Salah Khawaja, Coordinator of the Popular Resistance Committees, on a plan to increase boycott.
Q: The Norwegian YMCA, the oldest and biggest association in Norway, decided to join the boycott movement for Israel and settlements, you have a plan to increase boycott this year. Can you tell us more information about this plan?
First of all there more than one development in this issue, the first one would be the “Kairos Document group”, which is a group of churches around the world, including more than 500 million around the world, this group requested to be observer members of the boycott campaign. This is considered to be a very important step, since there conference will be held in Palestine to conform their support to the Palestinian people and their cause. This will expand the boycott campaign, in addition to the Norwegian YMCA and banks that are boycotting Israeli settlements and companies which invest in settlements. We had a meeting two days ago, and agreed that we will escalate the campaign in all fronts, and widening the boycott to all Israeli products, not only settlements, it is clear that this is becoming a disturbing issue for Israel.
Q: some of you activities are for raising Palestinian flags on hills controlled by the occupation.
Yes, we believe that with the escalation of the occupation and settlers we will have to confront with them especially in area “c”, some of these activities are organized and some are being totally popular without our organization. These activities include planting trees and flags in areas controlled by the occupation and settlers. This aims at supporting Palestinian steadfastness in these areas that are threatened with full Israeli control, demolition and deportation.
Q: Yesterday a checkpoint was removed in Beit Furiek; do you have a plan to remove more checkpoint in the West Bank through popular resistance activists?
Yes of course, when we launched this campaign in Al-Walajah where we removed AL-Walajah checkpoint, we planned for continuing this campaign, this is considered to be a challenge for the occupation and we are planning more steps in the future in this regards.
** Aref Daraghmeh, head of Al-Maleh Council, on calling on humanitarian and right organizations to issue law suits against the occupation for closing more than 58% from the lands in Al-Maleh area for military training.
Q: did you begin coordination to issue law suits against the occupation?
Since the beginning of the occupation of the Jordan in 1967, the occupation confiscates and closes areas for military exercises on a daily bases, we began preparing plans and archives of stolen lands for the occupation exercises, in order to issue law suits, we hope that all humanitarian and rights organizations support us in this matter.
Q: Do you have any coordination in order to include international organizations not only local ones?
Of course we did, we are in direct connection with the Red Cross and other international organizations, and the occupation implements a policy of evacuating the land of its people through its military exercises. This is a national duty all should stand with us in our battle.
Q: What is needed now in order to issue these law suits?
A real stand of the relevant organizations and all Palestinians should support us, the Valley is a strategic Palestinian area and it deserves to be fully supported by all Palestinians. The popular resistance and the lawyers union should support us and all other Palestinian bodies…
Q: Files for law suits are ready?
Yes we are ready with the files with all needed information.
Q: Did you issue a request to the Lawyers union and other reorganizations to move?
Yes we did, but we haven’t approach the lawyers union yet, this will be done very soon.
** Saeb Erekat, Member of the PLO Executive Committee, on the political situation.
Q: You held several meetings in Cairo.
I met with Egyptian Foreign Minister, Nabil Fahmy, and with the Arab League Secretary Nabil Elaraby, these meeting aimed mainly at exchanging views regarding the current situation, where I passed a message form President Abbas to the Egyptian leadership, I updated the Egyptian leadership with all the details regarding the connections with the American side, and I told them no written proposals were presented by the Americans until the moment, but there is a total agreements between us and the Egyptian leadership regarding all issues in eth peace process and its references as the international resolutions. Before reaching Cairo I was also in Amman, I met with the Jordanian Foreign Minister Nassir Joudeh, where we exchanged views and there is also total agreement between us the Jordanian side. In Cairo, we also discussed the reconciliation, since Egypt is the only party sponsoring the reconciliation, as I said before, the only side that is benefiting for the coup is Israel, the division should end and reconciliation should be achieved.
Q: New say that there are American scenarios being presented top reach framework agreement in addition to extending negotiations to the end of the year, and imposing solution set by the Americans on both sides, can these scenarios be implemented?
I think all of these are nothing but predictions, with regards to extending the negotiations, we said more than once that the deadline for the negotiations in 9 month ending on the 29th of April, and on the 29th of March the fourth batch of prisoners will be released, we hope this will happen. After the 29th negotiations will not be extended with a government that continues with violations, arrests and imposing facts on ground, why suggesting extension of the negotiations is this case?
Q: News say that President Abbas provided Kerry with his principled agreement on extending the negotiations for three conditions, releasing prisoners, settlement freeze and financial aid for the PA?
What is being reported in the media is something else, and I don’t know anything about it, I know the official position of President Abbas, that negotiations will end on the 29th of April, so the whole world now know that Palestine is a non-member state in the US, and if the Israeli occupation continue Its disregard for international resolutions I think that we will approach international organizations to protect our national cause.
Q: With regards to Netanyahu’s visit to Washington, he wily trying to legalize settlements including the Jordan Valley, what will happen if the Americans agree to this?
The American administration can’t agree to such thing, these are all war crimes, settlements are war crimes, agreeing to this is a war crime itself, it is not possible that mains power like the United States changes it position, as it was voiced by Minister Kerry and President Obama that settlements are not legal and they will not establish any legal bases in the future, so as you said there are a lot of scenarios etc.. All of these are only Israeli test balloons, we will not discuss anything else other that facts on the ground.
Q: Will you visit Washington soon to prepare the Present’s visit?
Yes.
Q: When will the visit take place?
Majed Faraj and I will travel tomorrow to the United States.
Q: We mentioned yesterday some scenarios prepared by the leadership in case of failure of the negotiations, one of these scenarios is holding an international conference, especially since you visited Russia lately, and news say that Russia, France and other European countries agreed to hold such a conference, but they are waiting for the end of the negotiations period.
The issue was discussed, but our friends in Russia don’t want a conference for public affairs only, so if the negotiations fail because of settlements and imposing facts on ground, we will have to develop a mechanism similar to what happened in Geneva regarding Syria and Iran, in order to compel Israel to accept international resolutions and legitimacy.
Q: We just received news saying that Obama warn Netanyahu of the dangers of international isolation of Israel, would that mean the beginning of American pressures on Israel?
I read the interview of President Obama, and he is saying that time is not in the interest of any side, and that peace is in the interests of all, and that settlements are not legal and will not provide Israel with security, all of these are facts, but Obama’s guest, Netanyahu, needs to understand this, this is the truth, this man insists on settlements, assassinations, wall etc… thinking that this will provide peace and security, and we all know that this is an illusion.
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More Headlines
Hamas calls on Egyptian authorities to open the Rafah Crossing
The deposed Hamas government’s interior ministry in Gaza called on Egyptian authorities yesterday to ‘bear their legal and moral responsibilities and immediately open the Rafah border crossing and to appreciate the suffering of the people in Gaza.” The ministry also called on
Egypt not to be ‘accomplices to the Israeli occupation in besieging Gaza and its people.” The ministry said the crossing has been ‘semi-closed’ since the events of June 30, with it intermittently opening 88 days. (Al Hayat Al Jadida)
‘Active citizens’ write “The history of the country, from the grandfather to the grandchild” in Wadi Qana
Two hundred young men and women are rewriting history in the Wadi Qana area south of Nablus in their own way. Volunteers flocked to the area with the slogan, “The history of the country, from the grandfather to the grandchild”. The youths planted olive trees in the area, which the Israeli occupation is constantly trying to take over and build settlements in its place. The volunteers were part of the national campaign to preserve cultural heritage. (Al Hayat Al Jadida)
Israel high court acknowledges that Nahshon unit committed crime against prisoner Rimawi
The Palestine Prisoners Studies Center confirmed today that the Israel High Court in Jerusalem convicted the Nahshon unit eight years later of carrying out a crime against prisoner Yacoub Rimawi from Beit Rima near Ramallah. Director of the center, Osama Shahin said Rimawi was beaten brutally on March 27, 2006 with sticks and teargas while he was hand and foot cuffed. The beating lasted for more than half an hour, leading to Rimawi losing sight in his left eye, and neurological sensation in his right leg, which he now cannot move without crutches. He also later had complications from medical negligence such as a weakened heart, a liver virus and an ulcer. Rimawi had filed a lawsuit against the Nahshon unit for compensation even after the Shabak tried to pressure him into backing down. (http://maannews.net/arb/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=678125)
Religious student arrested after settlers break into Al Aqsa
Israeli police arrested this morning Moahmmed Ghazali, a religious student in Al Aqsa after 11settlers broke into the grounds under heavy police protection. Hundreds of Muslim worshipers and religious students were present inside the courtyard in anticipation of the break in. (http://safa.ps/details/news/123787.html)
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Arab Press
By HASSAN BARARI
NOT a while ago, King Abdallah expressed his frustration with some Jordanian politicians who warned against the scheme of the “alternative homeland” for the Palestinians in Jordan. Since the US Secretary of State John Kerry announced that he would present a framework agreement for solving the Palestinian-Jordanian conflict, Jordanians have been debating the consequences of Kerry’s effort on their country. Thus far, the debate has been divisive.
The overwhelming majority of Jordanians oppose Kerry’s ideas. In fact, many suspect that Jordan will accept Kerry’s ideas even if they turn Jordan to a permanent homeland for refugees. Rumor has it that Jordan would accept resettling Palestinian refugees in exchange for tens of billions of dollars. Skeptics suspect that Jordan’s official line is amenable to this scenario. Indeed, this is a widespread impression in Jordan.
The king has an uphill battle with these entrenched conceptions on the part of the majority of Jordanians. He told his audience that he would announce the name of those who talk about the alternative homeland. He considered the mere talking about this topic is tantamount to promoting the idea thus sedition! It is not the first time that the king spoke about the issue. Time and again he reassured Jordanians that this notion is an “illusion.” And yet, some political forces insist on bringing up this matter every time Palestinians and Israelis negotiate a solution. Even senior officials, such as former Prime Minister Ma’rouf Bakhit, warned that the Palestinian leadership might reach a deal with the Israelis at the expense of Jordan.
Many Jordanians have a difficult time believing that the “alternative homeland” is not going to materialize. This attitude has triggered unnecessary political tension in the country. Denying the existence of such an option or a speech by the king is not going to change this attitude. One needs to go to the bottom of the issue to understand why many political forces, as well as citizens, fear such an outcome.
Put differently, it does not matter how many times the king reassure his people, still there are many citizens who still feel uneasy. A wide segment of our society does not trust the government, nor does it trust the institutions. The king reached this conclusion earlier on. He had instructed the governments to work to restore people’s trust in it.
Unfortunately, successive governments failed to live up to this expectation. The insistence on a modest package of reform has backfired. I believe that the number of Jordanians who believe that the government and the Parliament are trustworthy has taken a nosedive. Therefore, short of effective genuine reform, senior officials will continue to suffer from a lack of credibility.
Political forces will not stop talking about the “alternative homeland” due to parochial political interests. Putting an end to these rumors entails genuine reform and transparency on the part of the government. This seems to be the only way to overcome the atmosphere of mistrust and confusion. Unfortunately, the official media has added fuel to fire. Instead of debating the issue rationally, it turned against everyone warned against the alternative homeland. One daily went a step further when it accused the veteran soldiers of bringing up this issue for non-national agendas!
That being said, the ruling elite think that it can continue with in the same manner. To them, Jordan can keep on with the same tools of ruling regardless of the changes that the Jordanian society has been undergoing. More than any time before, Jordan badly needs a solid domestic front to deal with challenges. The only way for creating a solid internal front to help Jordan face challenges is by empowering citizens politically. Short of doing that, the trust gap will continue to grow and the cost of regaining it will be extremely high.(http://www.arabnews.com/news/533921)
Community radio in MENA gets a boost
BY DAOUD KUTTAB
Community media received a major boost this week with the launch of the third Aswatona conference at the Dead Sea in Jordan.
More than 120 community radio activists from 14 Arab countries gathered at the lowest spot on Earth to talk about the challenges of producing, broadcasting and sustaining community owned media, especially radio.
Community radio activists from areas not under the control of the Syrian regime were the stars of the event organized by a local Jordanian NGO, Community Media Network, and the UK-based Community Media Solutions in association with Jordan's Audio Visual Commission and the World Association of Community Broadcasters.
Broadcasting radio in the Middle East and North Africa is a huge challenge. The post-colonial region witnessed many revolts and military coups that always included taking over national radio. New powers were careful not to allow others to own radio stations so as not to have them do what they did when they took power.
For decades since, radio ownership has been the monopoly of governments. In recent years, private radio licenses were given in some countries, usually to individuals who were very close to governing regimes. In most cases such licenses did not include permission to produce news or public affairs content.
The revolutions and chaos witnessed in the region has been a godsend to community radio activists who used the absence of a centralized power to come up with locally owned radio stations, often using amateur equipment and untrained staff.
Aswatona, an initial network of seven countries (Libya, Tunisia, Egypt, Yemen, Jordan, Syria and Palestine) began with Swedish government funding that supported Internet radio in these countries as well as advocacy efforts to change the media laws in these countries to be more receptive to community owned media.
Wherever possible, these Internet stations were able to turn into FM.
The network expanded with further funding from the UK's Foreign & Commonwealth Office through the Sheffield-based Community Media Solutions, to include Algiers and Morocco, and to add many more Internet radio stations, especially in Palestine and Egypt. The project also included training workshops in Egypt, Palestine, Libya and Tunisia.
UNESCO and other international bodies have for years argued that radio should include three forms of ownership: state ownership in the form of public service broadcasting, commercial radio and community owned (or civil society owned) community radio.
UNESCO considers supporting community radio in the world to be one of its top priorities.
New constitutions in Egypt and Tunisia that saw the light because of strong efforts by civil society gave strong impetus translated into constitutional articles guaranteeing the right of citizens and local institutions owning broadcasting licenses.
The International Telecommunications Union says that of the 6,000 frequencies available to the Middle East and North Africa only 10 per cent are being used.
Bureaucratic policies, restrictive laws and regulations, and exorbitant license fees are holding back the growth of community owned broadcasting.
World Bank studies have shown that countries that support community radio are known to experience improved economic growth and a much more open environment for freedom of expression.
Jordan's government, which distributes radio licenses based on a temporary 2003 audiovisual law, will soon witness parliamentary debate on a permanent law that some hope will reduce some of the inadequacies in the current temporary law.
The convening of a community radio conference in Jordan has shown the diversity and pluralism in the region and the thirst that people of different ethnicities and backgrounds have for creating and owning media through which they can express themselves.(http://www.timesofoman.com/Columns/Article-1738.aspx)
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Opinions
Applied madness
Al-Khaleej Editorial
Israeli lenders’ statements and behaviors reflects unequivocally the flounder one with a touched of madness. Seems like madness is driving them to the deadlock, although they are trying to ignore it, their allies and their sponsors are starting to realize this and are acting to rescue them.
The German Chancellor's visit clearly reflected this, despite the fact that she was trying not to show what she clearly sees, the information indicates that she sees as the American sponsor does, that the Zionist entity should take advantage of the current regional and international conditions to reach a settlement.
A settlement, any settlement, needs concessions. And concessions, no matter how few, contradict with the Zionist concept of a solution. Despite all the Israeli political and media maneuvers, these Zionist concepts remain deeply entrenched in the minds of the current Israeli officials. They don’t want a Palestinian State as it contradictswith the notion that the land of historic Palestine belongs exclusive to them. They do not want a Palestinian presence since it constantly remindsthat they are nothing but invaders and occupiers. And the Jewish State is only an expression of deep dream that will allow them at least in the long run to get rid of the Palestinians because their presence contradicts with the concept itself.
The Americaninitiatives particularly, and Western in general are trying to exploit the conditions experienced by Palestinian and Arab countries to reach a settlement that extremely suits the Israeli aspirations as they see it. Therefore these countries increase the pressure on Israel to accept the concept of settlement. This raises the madness of the Israeli leadership that expresses itself directly or indirectly with insane and stupid statements. When a member of the "Knesset" asks the US Ambassador to the Zionist entity: "when were your next to Israel”, how can this be described?
The United States has provided and continues to provide tens of billions in economic assistance to an entity where the standard of living is better than some European countries. And provided military support to this entity, and when this entity is threatened the US provides an air bridge to transport military equipment. The UStwists the hands of countries in all directions to normalize with the Zionist entity. All of this is happening and then such a crazy question is being asked. As the priests of Israel, they tell Kerry that his plan is "a declaration of war on the creator and master of the universe".(http://www.alkhaleej.ae/studiesandopinions/detailedpage/eb273d57-d8a1-41a2-9d78-de6d2da1ec42)
What’s next…?!
Al-Quds Editorial
Yesterday, a citizen was killed was ran over by a settlers in the Ramallah area, and settlers uprooted 200 olive planting belonging to a citizen fromKufor Qaddoum, while extremist Rabbi Yehuda Glick, with a group ofsettlers, broke into Al-Aqsa, in addition to continuing settlement, which raises the question: is it our destiny that victims and losses became on a daily bases, and the continued aggression of the occupation and its settlers became a daily routine that can be tolerated?
Did the Palestinian and Arab sanctities and property become permissible for all sorts of violations of this daily routine that can be overlooked?!
And does the death of prisoners one by one behind bars because of the harsh conditions imposed by the occupation authorities, medical neglect or torture and beatings; became a routine that can be ignored as nothing is happening, while the suffering of thousands of families of Palestinian prisoners continues?
We must say here that the life of Palestinian citizen under the so-called peace process or negotiations, have become more difficult and severe than in the worst previous occupation periods,whether on the economic level or at the level of suffering of the citizens being exposed to this huge amount of abuses and violations, while finding themselves at the same time constrained by commitments and promises of peace proved to be without any bases, and that this alleged peace only increased their suffering and harm their life and property.
It can quite simply be said that the overall situation has become unbearable; it is inconceivable that Palestinian lives became so cheap!!
It is inconceivable that its sanctities be cheap to this extent nor its property, rights and freedoms.
This raises the big question: what's next?!Do we expect more from the alleged peace promises we all are aware they will not be achieved with the continued fall of more victims and the continued attacks on sanctities and property, expanding settlements and the Judaization of Jerusalem under the slogan of peace.
If Netanyahu and his ultra-right Government have succeeded in entering us into the cycle of small details and the impossible conditions imposed in the name of peace, and continue implementation of plans hitting the Palestinian people and their rights, threatening their holy places and attempting to abolish their case and its major issue of refugees, and if the US Administration who became the sole sponsor of the so-called peace process, identify in many positions with the occupation and its conditions, the question is put forward to the Presidency, the Government , the factions of the PLO who signed the Oslo agreement is : What are we waiting for? And what will happen next, after all this Israeli disregard of Palestinian lives, rights sanctities and cause?
We must also say that thePalestinian citizen Husam who sacrificed both at the stage of the revolution or the stage of peace negotiations, could not be satisfied by statements of condemnation and outrage that became known after the fall of more victims and in the event of more attacks, but he is waiting for clear answers to this question: what’s next? he is waiting for a clear answer to the question of the many promises he heard at the Oslo agreement, which led him to believe that Peace can be achieved, but after 20 years he realized that these promises were merely a mirage and that the promised peace becomes farther day after day, and that he is paying the price with the lives of his sons, property, land and rights.
In the end, it is not a shame that the people and their leadership reconsider all failures and disappointments, draw lessons and mark a new road bringing hope to every citizen that the dawn of freedom is near and that the current reality is not a destiny.(Al-Quds)
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