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March 6, 2014
Daily summary- Thursday, March 06,2014
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Main News
US House Approves bill considering Israel a strategic partner
The US House of representatives approved by an overwhelming majority of votes last night a Bill considering Israel “a central strategy partner of the United States”, giving it a special status.The purpose of the decision is to provide the necessary legal ground for closer cooperation between the United States and Israel in various fields, including security, homeland security, energy, agriculture and trade.The original text of the draft law included provision for an exemption for Israelis from the need to obtain a visa to visit the United States, but this was ruled out because of opposition by some members of the House of representatives, on the grounds that Israel is acting strictly with US citizens of Arab descent who want to visit it.This bill still requires Senate approval.(http://maannews.net/arb/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=679105)
Obama promises Netanyahu to pressure the Palestinians and extend negotiations
US President Barack Obama promised Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, during their meeting in the White House, he would press the Palestinians to continue negotiations beyond next April 30th, set as a time limit for completing a peace agreement between the Palestinians and Israel. “Al-Quds” learned that Netanyahu, who received a copy of the proposed "framework agreement", agreed to receive a copy of it and expressed his initial approval of a large part of it, and that he had asked President Obama for continuing negotiations until the end of the year 2014 at least, Obama promised that he would try to convince the Palestinians to continue negotiations.(Al-Quds)
Clashes with PA security in Al-Fara'a refugee camp
Clashes broke out at dawn today (Thursday) between PA security forces and youths in Al-Fara'a refugee camp North of Nablus in the northern West Bank.Local sources said that clashes erupted after PA security forces stormed the camp during the night hours to arrest a wanted militant; gunfire was heard in the camp during the presence of security agents, while youth threw Molotov bottles at them, the sources added that the forces did not manage to arrest the wanted militant. A group of masked gunmen distributed leaflets about a month ago inside the camp signed by Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, threatening drugs dealers of prosecution while shooting in the air.(http://safa.ps/details/news/123999/%D9%85%D9%88%D8%A7%D8%AC%D9%87%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D9%85%D8%B9-%D8%A3%D9%85%D9%86-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B3%D9%84%D8%B7%D8%A9-%D8%A8%D9%85%D8%AE%D9%8A%D9%85-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%81%D8%A7%D8%B1%D8%B9%D8%A9.html)
Knesset constitutes a Special Commission to enforce the principle of temporal and special division of Al-Aqsa
An internal Committee in the Israeli Knesset officially approved yesterday forming a specialist Subcommittee preparing g for implementing the government decisions regarding Jewish settler incursions of Al-Aqsa Mosque, and to examine the possibility of implementing these daily for three and a half hours. Al-Aqsa Foundation of Waqf and Heritage said in a statement that the Committee was initiated by extremist MP Miri Regev and chaired by Member of Knesset David Tzur, and was granted with three months to provide its recommendations and decisions.Relatedly, what is known as the "Temple organizations”, announced organizing a conference on April 11th to incite Jews to enter Al-Aqsa Mosque, which is expected to be attended by Deputy Speaker of the Knesset Moshi Feiglin, and member of Knesset Elerav Yisrael,Yehufda Gleick and other extremist Jewish figures.(http://www.qudsn.ps/article/38966)
A rocket from the Gaza Strip landed near the security fence in western Negev
“Walla”website reported late yesterday that a rocket fired from the Gaza Strip landed near the security fence in western Negev. According to Israeli security sources the rocket apparently landed in the Palestinian side of the fence in the northern Gaza Strip, and that the alert was heard in Sderot and Sha’ar Hanegev. (http://arabic.pnn.ps/index.php/policy/83267-%D8%B3%D9%82%D9%88%D8%B7-%D8%B5%D8%A7%D8%B1%D9%88%D8%AE-%D9%85%D9%86-%D9%82%D8%B7%D8%A7%D8%B9-%D8%BA%D8%B2%D8%A9-%D9%82%D8%B1%D8%A8-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B3%D9%8A%D8%A7%D8%AC-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%85%D9%86%D9%8A-%D8%A8%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%86%D9%82%D8%A8-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%BA%D8%B1%D8%A8%D9%8A)
Shahwan: arms ship is a justification for the siege on the Strip
Spokesman for the Palestinian Interior Ministry of the deposed Government in Gaza, Islam Shahwan, said that the occupation's claims of seizing a ship loaded with weapons bound for Gaza are only to justify its siege on the Strip.Shahwan said in a statement posted on his Facebook page: "this news comes to justify the siege on the Gaza Strip, in light of some institutions in Europe intending to sail to the Gaza Strip to break the siege."Shahwan added: "we view this with great severity, since this comes to justify all kinds of siege on the Gaza Strip, in addition to what the Egyptian judiciary is implementing against the Palestinian resistance in Gaza."(http://paltimes.net/details/news/60542/%D8%B4%D9%87%D9%88%D8%A7%D9%86-%D8%B3%D9%81%D9%8A%D9%86%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A3%D8%B3%D9%84%D8%AD%D8%A9-%D8%AA%D8%A8%D8%B1%D9%8A%D8%B1-%D9%84%D8%AD%D8%B5%D8%A7%D8%B1-%D8%BA%D8%B2%D8%A9.html)
Citizens detain a settler during cutting olive trees in the village of Talfit
Residents of the village of Talfit Southeast of Nablus detained a Jewish settler, in the vicinity of the village. Settlement file in northern West Bank official Ghassan Daghlas, the citizens detained the settler while cutting olive trees owned by some villagers. The Israeli occupation forces announced it arrested yesterday a settler carrying an electric sawwho intended to cut olive trees in the village of Talfit.(Al-Ayyam)
Analysts: Egyptian Court's decision to ban Hamas puts the movement before hard choices
Egyptian judiciary decision to ban activities of Hamas which controls the Gaza Stripputs the Islamic movement before difficult choices that might push it to start a new confrontation with Israel, according to analysts.Professor of political science at Al-Azhar University Mekhemar Abu Sa’adasaid the decision brought the situation between Egypt and Hamas to "point of no return" in the already tensed relations since President Mohamed Morsi isolation last July.According to Abu-Sa'ada options "too narrow" and confined to "proceed immediately to reconciliation with President Mahmoud Abbas and open confrontation with Israel to embarrass Egypt and all the Arabs and bring compassion," adding that Israel would be "with the escalation option too expensive and adventure."(Al-Ayyam)
Netanyahu and Erekat received a copy of the framework agreement
Sources in Washington said that the Palestinians are convinced that they have no real choice but to continue negotiations if they want to avoid blame in the event of failure of the negotiations with Israel. The sources said that Chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat, who is currently visiting the United States, received a draft of the framework agreement, the same document that was handed to Prime Minister Netanyahu by US President Obama earlier yesterday. Meanwhile, Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman said that it is important to continue the Israeli-Palestinian negotiations even if the parties did not sign a final settlement agreement.Lieberman added that the Palestinian side obstructs the negotiations by setting preconditions, stressing that Israel will not agree to any conditions before further negotiations.Lieberman made the remarks in a radio interview before leaving for Rome, where he will meet with a number of his counterparts, including America Foreign Minister John Kerry and Russian Sergei Lavrov.(http://maannews.net/arb/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=679108)
Maqboul: the President will deliver an important speech before the "Revolutionary Council" next
Secretary of Fatah Revolutionary Council Amin Maqboulsaid that the thirteenth session of the revolutionary council will be held next Monday, confirming the Council's support for the President's positions. Maqboul said in an interview for “Mawtini” radio yesterday, that the main issue in the meeting will be the political file and its developments, and American Foreign Minister John Kerry’s efforts, adding that "President Abbas will deliver a comprehensive and important speech to Fatah's Revolutionary Council, which will clarify the Palestinian position in the negotiations and the Palestinian internal situation."(Al-Hayat Al-Jadida)
Al-Hamdallah sign an international tender for oil exploration and development of oil resources
Prime Minister Rami Al-Hamdallah signed an international tender for oil exploration and development of oil sources in concession area of 400 km 2 covering many parts of districts in the West Bank. Al-Hamdallah appointed Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs Mohammad Mustafa, to take the necessary measures to implement the decision, and appointed the Special Committee formed for this purpose to study tenders that will be presented in this regard, and make the appropriate recommendations to the Council of Ministers to take a decision according to the legal requirement in a future meeting.(Al-Hayat Al-Jadida)
B'Tselem: suspicion that orders to shoot allow killing Palestinians whodo not pose any danger
Israeli human rights group B'Tselem said "there are suspicions that orders to shoot issued to the army, allow killing Palestinians who do not pose any danger."B'Tselem said in a press release yesterday, that there is a sharp rise in the number of Palestinians killed near the Gaza Strip border, saying that five killings incidents occurred in the past three months, in which citizens from the Gaza Strip who have not been involved in fighting with the Israeli army were killed, while they were staying next to the Palestinian side of the border, the latest was Amena Qudeih (57 years old) resident of Khuza'a.(Al-Hayat Al-Jadida)
Nassar and Al-Zubeidi acquitted of the murder of the Governor of Jenin
Ramallah’s Court of first instance beginning issued a decision acquitting Al Aqsa Brigades former leader Zakaria Zubeidi, and Salim Nassar of complicity in the attempted murder of the former Governor of Jenin, Kadoura Mousa. Lawyer Fared Hawash said in a press statement that "during the court hearing yesterday (Wednesday) the Court unanimously decided to acquit Al-Zubeidi of anything to do with the shooting at the Governor house". The lawyer also said the Court added that Zubeidi "had no prior knowledge of the incident."Zubeidi told AFP that "the decision confirms the integrity of the Palestinian judiciary, its strength and durability”, and demanded President Mahmoud Abbas of “moral rehabilitation and compensation for the injustice and my arrest over 6 months.” (Al-Hayat Al-Jadida)
Occupation arrested two youths including a security officer in Nablus
Israeli occupation forces arrested two youthsyesterday night including one Palestinian security officer, from Assira Al-Qibleyah village, south of Nablus.Local Palestinian sources said that the occupation forces arrested Ahmed Saleh (25 years old) near Burin Bridge, who is a Palestinian security officer, and young Palestinian Muhammad Fawaz Saleh (22 years old), both from Assira Al-Qibleyah village, south of Nablus.The sources added that the occupation forces transferred the two to Hawara military base, south of Nablus.(Al-Ayyam)
Arab group at the United Nations calls for urgent action to protect Jerusalem and its holy sites
The Arab group at the United Nations called the international community, especially the Security Council and the members of the Quartet, to act urgently and immediately to protect Jerusalem and its Islamic and Christian sanctities, particularly the Al-Aqsa Mosque.The group called in identical letters sent by the Chairman for this month, the Permanent Representative of Iraq to the United Nations, addressing the Secretary-General of the United Nations, the President of the Security Council (Luxembourg) and the President of the General Assembly of the United Nations, to compel Israel to respect the resolutions of international legitimacy and international law, and the Fourth Geneva Convention and cease all violations in the occupied Palestinian territory, including east Jerusalem.(Al-Ayyam)
Hamas denies the death of deputy Supreme Leader of the Brotherhood in Gaza
Spokesman of the Ministry of Interior of deposed Government in Gaza, Islam Shahwan, denied reports of the death of the Deputy Supreme Leader of the Muslim Brotherhood Dr. Mahmoud Ezzat in Gaza. Shahwan said in a statement yesterday that the news are completely false, and are not worthy of a response, stressing that the brotherhood's Deputy SupremeLeader is not in Gaza. (Al-Ayyam)
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Headlines
** Israel Announces interception of an Iranian ship in the Red Sea carrying sophisticated weapons to Gaza (Al-Ayyam)
** Israel: weaponswere on the way to the Islamic Jihad and Hamas (Al-Ayyam)
** US-Israeli coordination to monitor "Iranian rocket ship" (Al-Ayyam)
** Daylight saving time begins on March 28 (Al-Ayyam)
** Saturday, a holiday on the occasion of international women's day (Al-Ayyam)
** Gulf blow to Qatar: Saudi Arabia, UAE and Bahrain decides collectively to withdraw their ambassadors from Doha (Al-Ayyam)
** The death of two citizens in two incidents in Nablus and Gaza, and a young man found dead at Al-Fawwar Camp (Al-Hayat Al-Jadida)
** The Israeli army lift alert to maximum in the Golan (Al-Hayat Al-Jadida)
** President receives the Board of Directors of the NorthElectricity Distribution company (Al-Hayat Al-Jadida)
** Israeli fire at the border with Syria; two Hezbollah elements injured (Al-Quds)
** Israel pursue Palestinian activist on Facebook while ignoring racial incitement by its extremists (Al-Quds)
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Front Page Photos
Al- Quds:Rafah – Egyptian masked soldiers operate on the border with Gaza.
Al-Ayyam: 1) Occupation sources checking the cut olive trees in Talfit, 2) Egyptian soldiers at the border with Gaza, 3) Gaza – women participating in a protest before UNRWA against reducing food aid.
Al Hayat Al Jadida:.1) Occupation sources checking the cut olive trees in Talfit, 2) one of the rocket seized on the ship, 3) Egyptians check a house demolished by the army.
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Voice of Palestine News
Jerusalem: The Knesset decision yesterday on Al Aqsa is an attempt to cover up the original proposal to strip Jordan of its authorities in the Noble Sanctuary. This decision means the authority will be stripped from a practical sense even if it is not declared by the Knesset or the government, to avoid pressure against the decision. This consolidates the measures already in place in Al Aqsa and doubles the time allowed for settlers to break into the grounds. It also puts conditions on the time for entry and exit of the compound, something which was not something implemented in the past. There are two periods in which settlers are allowed to enter – the first period is between 7:30 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. and the second is at 1:00 p.m. for about half an hour. This is an unprecedented decision and a circumvention of the original draft law, and it will have ramifications on the ground and in Israel’s regional relations.
The decision also comes in tandem with an escalation of break ins into Al Aqsa from settlers including extremist rabbis from all over the West Bank. Israeli intelligence and army officials were also part of the break-ins.
The temporal division of Al Aqsa is already a reality, but with this new Knesset decision, the fear is that the division will also be spatial where certain areas are only allowed for Jews at certain times in the day.
Furthermore, Israeli authorities continued to cut off water from dozens of homes in the Old City and today this measure was expanded to areas around the city, which hare considered hot spots for confrontation, such as Shufat refugee camp. The residents there have suffered from water cuts for the past four days.
Nablus: In Beita this morning, Israeli authorities claimed four firebombs were thrown at Israeli buses; no settlers were injured. the area was completely closed. In the village of Madama, there are 12 Israeli army vehicles patrolling the area and checkpoints are being set up there after a settler was detained yesterday in the region. The settler managed to escape after the army approached.
Jenin: Last night, Israeli forces arrested four people from Jenin camp and city, raiding homes. They also raided the town of Ya’abad, which is being raided on an almost daily basis.
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Voice of Palestine Interviews
**Mazen Al Azza from the anti-settlement and wall committee in Bethlehem on the leveling of lands by Israeli forces in Irtas?
Q: What is going on exactly in Irtas?
This is a vicious Israeli campaign in the Bethlehem area aimed at taking over more Palestinian land in order to expand the Kfar Etzion settlement bloc and the Efrat settlement. Every day they level lands and expand the settlements. Every day there is more and more confinement of Palestinian populated areas, which have become foreign in their own space because of the huge settlement blocs around them. This all comes in the midst of talk about peace talks and agreements, so this proves that Israel is completely entrenched in the settlement enterprise.
Q: Does this area being leveled in Irtas also have settlements around it?
This land does not have a settlement enclave built on it, but there is one very close, about two kilometers away. But every day the nearby settlements are expanding; there is a huge conflict with settlers over Solomon’s Pools. Settlers have broken into the Pools more than once, claiming that they are part of the Torah; they insist that they want to conquer them, even though they are located in Area A. So these measures today are a precursor for that. Settlers are always in the Pools’ vicinity. The Efrat settlement is very close to Solomon’s Pools and is being expanded every day.
**Karim Jubran from B’Tselem, on its report on the increase of Palestinians shot near the border strip in Gaza and a change in Israeli rules of engagement
Q: Was this the most significant statistic in your report?
The increased number of shootings, deaths and injuries over the past three months indicate that there has been a change in the Israeli army’s rules of engagement at the border, which are always kept confidential. According to Israeli law, shots should only be fired if the soldiers feel their lives are in danger. But recently, we have noticed from what is happening on the ground that all of those killed in that area were citizens and posed no threat to the soldiers. On the contrary, some of them were laborers collecting gravel, others were youths just walking around and there was one woman who lost her way and was shot and killed. She was left for hours to bleed and was only found in the morning. These developments have raised red flags and indicate that the area has turned into a hunting ground for Palestinians. We are demanding an investigation into this and also demand that no ammunition is used except if the army is in danger. There are other ways the army could use to get people to move away from the fence. But the army does not have the right to prevent Palestinians from moving around in Palestinian areas.
Q: OCHA also noted that there has been an increased number of shootings in the same area; will reports like these have any affect from a legal aspect by organizations like yours?
We have asked that an investigation be opened into these cases and into the rules of investigation, and for those responsible for the deaths and injuries to be held accountable – 55 people have been injured, 43 from live ammunition in addition to five martyrs in this short period of time. We want to spread this information so that Israel’s policies in this area can be changed. The whole area has been turned into a wasteland. Farmers cannot till their land and people cannot move in the area freely.
Q: If these numbers point to the Israeli army purposely targeting Palestinians for no reason, what does this indicate to?
Our analysis was that the increase in incidents is a result of the change in the rules of engagement. We don’t know what the justification is for this change though, but this is something we need to know. This is a provocation to all the people in the area – they cannot prevent people from moving around in that area, to work there or just take a walk. Even if they come to the security fence to protest. This is their right, to protest the siege and the Israeli army doesn’t have a right to target the protesters, even if they throw rocks at the fence, there are other less lethal ways to disperse these protests.
**Adnan Abu Hasna, UNRWA spokesperson in Gaza, on the $150 million in projects suspended because of the siege
Q: What are these projects and why exactly are they suspended?
There are different projects for schools, infrastructure, houses, clinics, etc. The projects unfortunately have to wait for Israeli approval and only after this approval are construction materials allowed in. But funding is ready, some for years, others for months. We do have projects taking place, such as compensation for those harmed by the poor weather conditions. UNRWA received $2.5 million from Saudi Arabia with which we are compensating these families – about 1,100 families.
**PLO executive committee member Hanna Amira on President Obama’s intervention in the peace process
Q: Should we expect more pressure on President Abbas during his meeting with President Obama next week?
American pressures are nothing new, they have continued ever since the negotiations began seven months ago. Perhaps there will now be more pressure on President Abbas to continue the negotiations. Over the past few months, the huge differences have become clear between us and the Israelis and this is a step backwards. I think the continuation of the negotiations must be based on specific foundations, on international law and legitimacy and a complete halt to settlements. This is the least that must happen.
Q: But it seems that the Americans have adopted the Israeli version of the negotiations, which may be conveyed during this visit. If this is the case, what do you think may happen after the visit is finished?
Unfortunately, American positions have retreated and coincided with the Israeli position. There are issues that they backtracked on and moved towards the Israelis more. This is very clear to the leadership. If the US does present any document, the leadership will discuss it. But let me say, without a complete halt of settlements, the leadership’s position will remain against any continuation of the negotiations.
Q:So what will happen if the American proposals are rejected and do not coincide with the international perimeters for the peace process?
First, we can go to the UN and take several other steps. In terms of the negotiations, I don’t think Israel has left the Palestinians any options. Either settlements stop or the leadership is freed of its promise not to go to the UN during the course of the negotiations. They cannot have both. If things do change, the situation will move towards more tension.
Q: What about the UN’s opposition to Israel’s actions in the Aqsa Mosque – will this have any ramifications on Israel’s plans to divide the Aqsa?
It is important that the international community denounces Israel’s measures against places of worship, wherever they are. But how much will it have an impact? This depends on political positions. How willing is the international community to turn these decisions into political positions. Until now there is nothing clear, but there are positive signs, such as boycotting the occupation.
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More Headlines
Egyptian source denies sending warnings to Hamas: Egypt does not play any role in a Palestinian reconciliation
A reliable Egyptian source told the London-based daily “Al-Hayat” that "reaching reconciliation is a Palestinian matter," saying it "will be achieved only with serious will, sincere intentions and consensus on holding elections and forming a Government of national consensus." On opportunities to resume Egypt's role in reconciliation the source said: "we will not interfere unless they both ask us," adding: "we have done our part, and even more than is expected of us, Egypt now does not play any role in this file.” On the ban decision against Hamas in Egypt, the source said: "the Egyptian judiciary provisions is respected by everyone, but there was no communication between us and Hamas before the decision," dismissing "news reports about Egyptian intelligence sending several warnings to a number of Hamas leaders, demanding to stop attempts to blackmail Egypt with regard to procedures for the operation of the Rafah crossing, and threatening to unravel size on tunnels’ trade managed by the leaders of Hamas." (http://www.amad.ps/ar/?Action=Details&ID=17147)
Egypt prevents an international women's delegation from reaching the Gaza Strip
Egyptian authorities in Cairo International Airport prevented early today an international women's delegation from entering Egyptian territory to reach the Gaza Strip. According to a participant in the international delegation which includes 80 Arab and international activists, Egyptian security at Cairo International Airport detained the delegation, and told them they will be deported today. Egyptian news agency MENA quoted a security source as saying that the Egyptian authorities would not allow the international women's delegation from entering Egypt and go to the Gaza Strip. (http://www.qudsn.ps/article/38995)
Six Palestinian martyrs in Syria; two of them died of hunger
Six Palestinians died yesterday in Syria, two of them as a result of drought due to the ongoing siege on Yarmouk camp, and others following the shelling of Handrat camp. The "action group for Palestinians in Syria" said in a statement that elderly Mohamad Deib Zain, and elderly Muhammad Khalid Abdullah, died because of drought caused by the continuing siege on Yarmouk camp, in addition to Tayseer Ahmed Al-Hussein who also died in Yarmouk. The group added that the two children Omar Mohammed Hamadi and Mahmoud Shalabi died in a shelling at Handrat camp in the city of Aleppo, which also resulted in the destruction of many houses. (http://paltoday.ps/ar/post/192320)
Clashes, incursions and arrests in Hebron
Israeli occupation forces stormed several areas in Hebron district today morning, mainly the towns of Dora to the South and Beit Ummar to the North, clashes broke out and a number of young Palestinians were arrested. Coordinator of the Popular Committee in Beit Ummar Muhammad Awad said that "the Israeli occupation forces stormed Khalet Al-Ain area in the town, raided the House of Yousef Awad khdair Muhaisen, searched it and arrested his son Khdier (18 year old).” In Dura, South of Hebron, the occupation army stormed the town and violent clashes broke out. Local sources said that “14 military vehicles stormed the town and started breaking into homes and arrested a number of young Palestinian, without knowing their identity yet, while firing tear gas amid neighborhoods heavily populated.” (http://qudsnet.com/news/View/267775)
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Arab Press
By: Nicola Nasser
In the Palestinian West Bank town of Birzeit early last February 27, the Israeli (IDF) Occupation Forces (IOF) acted determinedly, under the media spotlights, to feed Amnesty International with a show case study to vindicate the report it released only hours earlier, entitled “Trigger-happy: Israel’s use of excessive force in the West Bank,” and to refute the Israeli official diplomatic denial of the contents thereof.
Under the command of Col. Yossi Pinto, a Nahal infantry force of the Binyamin Territorial Brigade, joined by the Border Police’s elite Counterterrorism Unit, Yamam, according to Israeli The Jerusalem Post on the same day and “200 Israeli soldiers, dozens of jeeps, two (military) bulldozers and many Shin Bet [internal security] officers” according to Amira Hass of Haaretz on this March 3, including some 28 – more than thirty army patrol armored vehicles according to the count of Arab natives of Birzeit who spoke to this writer, were amassed in this Birzeit University town, raising a hell of explosives and gunfire and disrupting its peaceful countryside early spring morning.
Amira Hass was on the scene. Wondering what was all that military mobilization for, a former mayor of Birzeit told this writer that he heard her asking in repudiation, “Was it (the late al-Qaeda founder Osama) Bin Laden inside?!”
Their mission, according to Israeli military spokespeople, was to arrest a “wanted individual” who, according to the Shin Bet internal security agency, quoted by Hass, had “intended” to carry out an “aggressive operation” against Israeli targets. An Israeli army spokeswoman said the man was “suspected” of “terror activity.” www.israelnationalnews.com on the same day quoted “the IDF Spokesman's Unit” as saying that he was “a wanted man suspected of terror activity.” Gideon Levy in Haaretz on this March 2 quoted “the military correspondents” as repeating what the “IDF claimed” that the man “had the intention to carry out a terror attack in the near future.”
Hass wrote: “In the unofficial Israeli law code, unproved “terrorist intentions” are enough to be punishable by death. In Hebrew, “terror attack” is a magic phrase that exempts the Israelis from wondering why an arrest needs so many troops and fanfare, and has such a murderous end.”
Gideon Levy sarcastically repeating the self-described as “the most moral army in the world” wrote that the Israeli army “is also an army that reads intentions,” but Levy did not add that this army has had it as a rule to act accordingly as well.
An Israeli army spokeswoman said: “After the suspect was called to turn himself in, he barricaded himself inside his house, effectively resisting arrest. Under the premise that he had weapons in his possession, the forces used different means to complete the arrest, including live fire.”
The “suspect” was 24-year old Muatazz Abdul-Rahim Washaha, an unemployed Palestinian native of Birzeit.
Hass questioned the accuracy of this statement. Claiming that the victim had “barricaded himself” in would make people “think he built a fortress and surrounded himself with explosives. This is very inaccurate,” she wrote.
The IDF Spokesman’s Office said that the “troops forcibly entered the building and found his body.” Hass said that “this is a lie.” “The elite police unit had shot Washaha at point-blank range dozens of times, according to the pieces of brain that covered the room, not to mention his legs, arms and fingers that were nearly severed from his body,” she added. Washaha's head was split open after being struck by a projectile, a doctor at the Palestinian Ramallah Hospital told AP on the same day.
It was left to Levy and others to specify the details of “live fire.”
Levy reported that “the most moral army in the world fired an (M72 LAW) anti-tank missile at the house in which a wanted young Palestinian was hiding … ran a bulldozer over the top of the house and destroyed it,” using “a drill it calls a ‘pressure cooker’ – a rather disgusting drill it invented for itself.”
When the tactic of “pressure cooker,” which involves shooting at the walls of the house that is surrounded, failed to persuade the suspect to come out and turn himself in, the IOF troops at around 7 AM bulldozed part of the outer wall of the house and fired projectiles into the building. Fire erupted in the house. At 11 AM, they issued an ultimatum, “giving Muatazz two minutes to surrender, without result. As the ultimatum expired, the army fired several artillery shells from close distance. They then stormed the burning house, killing Muatazz,” Jan Walraven reported in the Palestine Monitor on this March 3.
The four – apartment building was bulldozed and shelled out of use and its contents burned and vandalized. Four families suddenly found themselves on the street, waiting for charities.
Washaha did not “resist” his arrest; he simply refused to give himself in. Released from an IFO jail only a few months ago, he knew very well what being imprisoned by the IOF meant. “I will be free here. Leave and do not worry about me. I will stay here and not surrender. I will not return to prison,” he told a Palestinian civil defense worker who rushed in to extinguish the fire caused by the Israeli projectile. Those were his last words, quoted by The Electronic Intifada on last February 28.
“They could have taken him as a prisoner, but they did not want him as a prisoner they wanted to kill him,” his father Mr. Abdul – Rahim said. Similarly, his mother, Mrs. Eitzaaz Washaha, told Anadolu Agency: “Israeli forces could have arrested Washaha, but they were determined to kill him. My son wasn't armed. He was killed after the house was bombed.”
An Israeli Shin Bet officer, who goes under the name of Alon, gave permission to kill Muatazz because he refused to appear for an interview with him, according to Hass. “This was regarded as a personal affront by Alon,” she wrote. The victim’s brother, Tha’er Washaha, told Haaretz he implored Alon for permission to go inside and convince his brother to come out; Alon refused.
However, despite the officially acknowledged “suspicion,” an official army tweet, quoted by Los Angeles Times on the same day, convicted him as a “terrorist who resisted arrest.”
Pro – Israeli media and Israeli media, the latter being subjected to well – known strict military censorship, echoed this unconfirmed conclusion; for example, www.algemeiner.com on the same day headlined its report to conclude that a “Wanted Terrorist (was) Shot Dead by Israel Defense Forces.”
Disinformation was demonstrated by Israel Hayom, reportedly close to prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office; on the same day Hayom reported that “a firefight broke out” between the holed in victim and the besieging army brigade, but the witnesses on the site confirmed the Reuters’ report that “no shots were heard from inside the home before the Israeli forces opened fire,” a fact that is confirmed by the other fact that the raiding Israeli forces did not suffer the slightest casualty, which also refutes the IOF’ claim that the man had an AK-47 rifle, another “story” that “Israel accepted … with a yawn,” according to Levy of Haaretz.
The Palestinian Authority (PA) in a statement condemned Washaha’s killing as an “assassination,” a “crime” and a “deliberate” killing. PA’s spokesman, Ihab Bsaiso, said it was an “example of the violence perpetrated on a daily basis against our population.” In a letter sent to the UN Secretary-General, the President of the UN Security Council and the President of the UN General Assembly, Palestinian Ambassador Feda Abdelhady – Nasser said Washaha’s killing indicates Israel’s “pre-meditated intention of killing him.”
Israeli journalist Hass agrees further that his killing was a “cold-blooded assassination”; “The Israeli army did this deliberately,” she wrote. “Israel's goal” was “to embarrass the Palestinian Authority and undermine its status” among its own people and Israel was “successful” as the “Palestinian Authority officials were absent from Washaha's funeral” the next day to avoid the angry crowds, estimated at more than five thousand, who were demanding an end to peace negotiations and to PA’s security coordination with Israel.
Gideon Levy had another interpretation for the motives of “The most moral army in the world,” which was the title of his opinion column in Haaretz; “The Israel Defense Forces has also created a heartwarming name for all this: the “Tool of Disruption” – storming a civilian community for the purpose of causing panic and fear, and to disrupt its life,” or “Sometimes these operations are conducted … as a training routine in order to preserve the readiness of the forces and a demonstration of sovereign power” toward the Palestinians living under the Israeli military occupation since 1967, he wrote.
Amnesty’s Report Vindicated
Washaha’s extrajudicial execution came on the same day the Amnesty International (AI) released its 87-page report recommending that the U.S., EU and the rest of the international community should suspend all transfers of military aid to Israel because “without pressure from the international community the situation is unlikely to change any time soon,” Amnesty’s Middle East and North Africa Director Philip Luther said. “Too much civilian blood has been spilled … (and Israel’s) unlawful killings and unnecessary use of force must stop now,” he added.
The AI reported it had documented the killings of 22 Palestinian civilians in the West Bank in 2013 and in all the cases the Palestinians did not appear to have been posing a direct and immediate threat to life: “The circumstances of all their deaths point to them having been victims of unlawful killings, including — in some cases — possible willful killings.”
“Several victims were shot in the back suggesting that they were targeted as they tried to flee and posed no genuine threat to the lives of members of Israeli forces or others,” the report said. “In several cases, well-armored Israeli forces have resorted to lethal means to crack down on stone-throwing protesters causing needless loss of life” and “there is evidence that some individuals were victims of willful killings, which would amount to war crimes,” it added.
Since the U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry succeeded in resuming the Palestinian – Israeli peace talks on last July 29, the IOF killed more than 42 Palestinian civilians; Washaha was among the latest.
Using “excessive force,” “arbitrary and abusive force against peaceful protesters” and displaying "callous disregard" for human life, Israeli soldiers and police officers have been operating with “near total impunity,” in a “harrowing pattern of unlawful killings and unwarranted injuries,” “as a matter of policy,” while the Israeli investigative system is “woefully inadequate,” said Luther.
The AI report accused Israel of “war crimes and other serious violations of international law.”
Israel's Ambassador to the UK, Daniel Taub, said that Amnesty was “obsessive” with a “focus on Israel” and accused the London – based rights organization of having “an agenda that has more to do with politics than human rights.” His embassy in London told The Jewish Chronicle that the AI’s report was merely a “stunt” filled with “unverifiable and often contradictory accounts.”
In Birzeit on that sad morning of last February 27, the elite military disproportionate force which the IOF used to liquidate Washaha acted as if it was intentionally determined to undermine the credibility of Israel’s official diplomacy, represented this time by ambassador Taub, and to vindicate the contents of Amnesty’s report which he tried to deny or at least to question.
Ironically, Israeli PM Netanyahu, less than a week later, was in Washington D.C. lecturing a receptive American audience at the annual conference of AIPAC about drawing a “clear line … between life and death, between right and wrong” and about the “moral divide!”(http://www.amin.org/articles.php?t=ENews&id=4390)
On Israel, the ‘tough choice’ is Obama’s
Gulf News
The United States has for decades been repeating the same mantra of “tough choices” and “painful compromises” when it comes to the Israeli occupation.
Such calls have time and again fallen on deaf ears, with Tel Aviv dismissing its patron’s “friendly advice” as a nuisance that can be dealt with. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu brazenly defies and humiliates President Barack Obama on his own turf and in front of his own constituents. He has the nerve to sidestep the White House and court Congress to become an obstacle in the path of the White House, as he has done to thwart Obama’s outreach to Iran.
The biggest thorn in America’s domestic politics is not a domestic one: it’s a small, colonial regime thousands of kilometres away that, for some odd reason, has been granted the power to significantly influence US policy. It is perhaps time that the United States made some tough choices. Cut off Tel Aviv. It worked for apartheid-era South Africa and it will work for the Israelis. As was done against the white regime in South Africa, civil society groups have begun a movement to turn the Israeli regime into an international pariah, and the movement is gaining momentum very fast.
America made the mistake of waiting too long to join the global campaign against apartheid. The question it needs to ask itself today is: Is it willing to do so again?(http://gulfnews.com/opinions/editorials/on-israel-the-tough-choice-is-obama-s-1.1299787)
Abbas’ fight of his life in Washington
by Daoud Kuttab
Palestinians expect their leader to have the fight of his life as he goes to Washington for a tough summit with US President Barack Obama.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is expected to be facing pressure from the US to accept the framework agreement being drawn up by US Secretary of State John Kerry.
The agreement will most likely declare Israel as a Jewish state, but it is unclear what it will state as to the long-term presence of Israeli troops in the Jordan Valley.
The US-sponsored framework agreement, however, has a clause that will allow the two parties to continue the talks, if they choose to, without having to sign anything or without being under the legal responsibility of carrying out every item in it.
Unlike the talks held at Camp David in the last days of Bill Clinton’s presidency, the Kerry plan does not include an end-the-conflict clause, making it at best another interim agreement without calling it that.
Palestinians, who are against any more interim agreements, have publicly vowed not to continue the talks that are scheduled to be completed by the end of April.
Some prisoner release is expected in late March, but it is not clear if this latest release will be conditional on Abbas’ behaviour at the March 18 White House summit.
Neither is it clear whether this latest prisoner release, for which Palestinian agreed to postpone their applications to join various UN agencies, will be followed (shortly after) by yet another set of new settlement announcements.
Reports in Israel say that in 2013, the Israeli right-wing government approved a vast increase in the number of settlements built on occupied territories, including East Jerusalem.
In the best-case scenario, Abbas will partially accept the framework agreement while publicly refusing to accept that Palestinians alone will have to recognise Israel as a Jewish state.
This condition was never put on the Egyptians and Jordanians who signed a peace deal with Israel, nor was the UN ever asked to amend Israel’s name to be something like the Jewish State of Israel.
Abbas said that his government would recognise any name that is given to Israel at this international body.
The more complicated question facing Abbas is what will happen the day after the scheduled end of the current nine-month peace talks.
Palestinians say they are not under obligation to abstain from joining various UN agencies, including the International Criminal Court at the Hague or the powerful International Telecommunications Union, which is one of the oldest international agencies in the world and which sets standards for all countries in regards to important areas, such as cell phone, radio and TV frequencies.
Palestinian officials have been publicly stating that there are no plans to extend the peace talks.
While these statements have been made by second-tier leaders, Abbas himself has been quiet on the topic, leaving it to be understood that an extension of the talks is possible if tangible changes are made on the ground to offset the expected storm of criticism he will face within his own movement, let alone the larger Palestinian body politic.
Some suggest that a further set of long-term prisoners, especially those associated with the PLO, can be helpful in deciding to extend the talks. Others say that Israel must begin transferring areas under its control to the Palestinian government, especially in Area C, where the Israeli army has total control.
Palestinians also insist that a settlement freeze, especially in areas all sides agree will be part of the Palestinian state, is a must.
Another idea that can win over sceptical Palestinians, has to do with the embattled and besieged Gaza Strip.
Lifting the siege on Gaza Strip after the redeployment of presidential guards at Rafah and Beit Hanoun crossings would be a major emotional lift to Palestinians and could help weaken Hamas’ stronghold on the strip.
The Obama administration has been in favour of a contiguous Palestinian state. Allowing movement between the territories mentioned in the Oslo Accords as one unit will go a long way to prove to unconvinced Palestinians that the peace process can produce concrete results.
Such a move might hurt Israel’s attempt to isolate Gaza from the West Bank, but it can be done in such as a way that it does not cause any security harm to Israel, while allowing the Palestinian leadership to continue negotiations on the implementations of the framework agreement.(http://jordantimes.com/abbas-fight-of-his-life-in-washington)
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Opinions
On the double standards of international law
Al Khaleej Editorial
When western official speak about the violation of international law in regards to the escalating crisis in Ukraine and about the overriding of international legitimacy, it comes across as if those who are marketing these accusations are the angels of this time and age, the protectors of international law and legitimacy and the pioneers of defending human values and rights.
This is not to defend one side or the other or to be biased to either side in the conflict over Ukraine. But this could have been believable if those who are pushing these accusations were not the same people who give no value or weight to international law or legitimacy. On the contrary, they use these slogans, which essentially represent the moral foundation for relations between countries, according to their own criteria and what coincides with their interests and their global strategies without any regard to agreements or treaties, which determined the right of peoples to freedom, sovereignty, independence and protection from wars and racism and even the right of peoples to resist in the name of their liberation.
If we are to talk about those who violate international law, then dozens of wars have been waged by these countries against the peoples of the world. Whole countries have been destroyed and conquered, the most recent of these being Afghanistan and Iraq. Did all of this take place in accordance with international law and under the umbrella of international legitimacy?
Discussions on international humanitarian law are lengthy, by the Palestinian cause and the Nakba of the Palestinian people is one of the most heinous crimes against humanity and a black mark on the forehead of these countries, which support the Zionist entity, its expansion, aggression and racism. Hence, any talk about international law and legitimacy is null and void and only valueless gibberish by these countries when it comes to “Israel” and its belittling of all humanitarian values and laws.
International law is discretionary law with double standards and which submits to the law of force for these countries whenever it wants. In most cases, it is posed as a political issue, as if it is a fixed principle in its struggle with others.
If only international law and legitimacy would turn into a fundamental basis for these relations, to be respected and honored in any crisis or issue. Only then, will the storms be confined and security and peace be achieved. However, with the continuation of this struggle over power and domination based on the logic of force, these values will remain meaningless slogans. (http://www.alkhaleej.ae/studiesandopinions/detailedpage/4fc2752b-ab19-40ab-9c50-78133738e254)
What comes after Netanyahu’s statements in Washington?
Al Quds Editorial
The positions of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu towards the fundamental issues of peace are clear, well-known and always saturated with extremism. Still, his speech in Washington in front of AIPAC, just one day after his talks with US President Barack Obama, are of particular importance and have very clear indications.
Observers were expecting him to be more balanced and less harsh, but what happened was quite the opposite. By this, he is not only sending a message to the Palestinian leadership but also to President Obama personally and to his representative and envoy to the peace talks, Secretary of State John Kerry.
Before Netanyahu came to Washington, Obama had stated that Israel’s isolation was on the rise and that Netanyahu had to make some difficult decisions. It was said that Netanyahu did not take these statements well. In his AIPAC speech, he wanted to respond to these statements and so he harshly and sardonically took to criticizing the growing international boycott, which Obama said was isolated Israel, calling it ‘racist and a disgrace.” Neither did Obama’s attempts find reassurance with Netanyahu regarding the Iranian issue and his guarantee that Washington to work against Iran possessing nuclear weapons.
Netanyahu’s thundering and raucous positions from the heart of the American capital effectively turn the tables on American efforts to achieve progress or a framework agreement. He said the Palestinians must recognize Israel as a Jewish state, that Israeli forces must remain in the Jordan Valley and that no refugees would return. He did not talk about Jerusalem because this position has become a no-brainer for him, which is that Jerusalem will remain the unified and eternal capital of Israel.He did not speak about settlements either, because he supports keeping whatever settlements he chooses; he did not talk about a halt to settlement construction, which increased last year by over 100%, because he considers settlements as a non-negotiable ‘legitimate right’.
It is clear that Netanyahu closed the doors to any possibility of progress or to reaching a framework agreement, which Kerry has tried to achieve. This is because all of the conditions for peace, which he spoke about are absolutely rejected and unacceptable by the Palestinian leadership, officially and popularly. Also, it does not seem like he is willing to change these positions, at least not any time soon. What makes things even more complicated is the fact that these statements are accompanied by daily measures on the ground, which turns these words into action. Settlement expansion is moving full steam ahead, changes to Jerusalem’s character are nonstop, raids on Al Aqsa and proposals to impose Israeli sovereignty over it are continuing, citizens are being displaced and land is being confiscated in every corner of the West Bank in order to further consolidate its disconnection; dividing it has become an everyday happening.
In this case, what should we do? How do we confront this arrogance and this expansionist greed? What will Abu Mazen say when he visits Washington in a week?
It has been confirmed that the Fatah leadership will meet before the President travels. This is appropriate and necessary in order to discuss the developments that Netanyahu announced and reaffirmed in his tone of defiance and strength. Furthermore, the Palestinian leadership, represented by the PLO, must study the situation with the required seriousness and responsibility so that the national Palestinian position is clear in responding to these Israeli policies, destructive to all possibilities and opportunities for reaching any kind of agreement. (http://www.alquds.com/news/article/view/id/492134)
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