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March 12, 2014
Daily summary - Wednesday, March 12, 2014
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Main News
FOUR MARTYRS IN THE WEST BANK AND GAZA KILLED BY ISRAELI TROOPS; PALESTINIAN CONDEMNATION
Four Palestinians were killed yesterday in the West Bank and Gaza Strip at the hands of Israeli forces in a noticeable military escalation following the deaths two days ago at the Allenby Bridge and in the village of Beitin. Three resistance fighters from Al Quds Brigades, the military wing of the Islamic Jihad were killed yesterday afternoon near the Sufa crossing east of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip after being struck by a missile fired from an Israeli reconnaissance plane. The martyrs were identified as Ismail Abu Judeh, 23, Shaher Abu Shanab, 24 and Abdel Shafi Abu Muaamar, 33. According to the Quds Brigades in a statement, the three members were in a confrontation with the army in the region. The brigades also announced that it had targeted an Israeli army site with mortar rockets near the crossing in response to the three men’s deaths. The Israeli army confirmed that it had targeted the cell, which it said had been firing mortars towards an Israeli military force, also confirming that none of their troops had been injured. The Islamic Jihad also said the declared truce must be ‘seriously reconsidered” after this Israeli aggression. They added that ‘all options were open.” The three were buried yesterday in the martyrs’ cemetery northeast of Rafah.
Also, Fida Majadbeh from the village of Ateel in the Tulkarm area was killed after a hot pursuit with the Israeli police. His car flipped over, killing him.
Meanwhile, the Palestinian presidential advisor Nabil Abu Rdeineh warned Israel that returning to the policy of assassinations coupled with the barring of worshippers from entering the Aqsa Mosque would led to ‘a situation that cannot be controlled.” He said the killings yesterday were a ‘dangerous provocation’ that would lead to the destruction of whatever was left of the peace process.
The PLO’s executive committee, meanwhile denounced the killing of six Palestinians within the span of 24 hours in addition to Israel’s other measures, namely in the Aqsa mosque, calling on the international community, the Security Council and the Arab and Islamic nations to take serious steps to halt these Israeli violations and to force Israel into obliging by international law. (Al Quds)
QUDS BRIGADES COMMANDER: RESPONSE TO ISRAELI ACTIONS WILL BE PAINFUL AND SOON
Field commander in the Islamic Jihad’s Quds Brigades said yesterday that “Israel would pay the price for targeting our precious members; the response will be painful and soon.” The commander, who calls himself “Abu Hamza” said the brigades would not take the conventional route of retaliation such as firing rockets or kidnapping soldiers, but would response in a more painful manner, not clarifying exactly how. (http://www.qudsnet.com/news/View/268336/)
MAAN REVEALS DETAILS OF THE KILILNG OF SAJI JARABAA’
Several residents of Beitin east of Ramallah confirmed yesterday that Saji Darwish Jarabaa’, 18 who was killed on Monday night, was shot by an Israeli settler and not a soldier. Israeli military sources had claimed last night that a group of youth was throwing rocks at settlers’ cars east of Ramallah, which resulted in the smashing of several windshields. The army intervened, according to the army, setting up an ambush for the youths and shot towards them, killing Jarabaa’. The villagers refute this narrative.
They say that the young man was standing near his house close to the horse stables where he was taking care of his horse. At that moment, a settler approached, directly shooting at him. Even though Saji was seriously wounded, Israeli forces left him to bleed until he took his last breath. They also prevented Palestinian ambulances from taking him to hospital until after they were sure he had died and they had concocted a media story justifying his death.
The villagers say Jarabaa’ was killed while there were no confrontations taking place and no rocks being thrown at settlers. However, his house is very close to the settler bypass road, no more than 30 meters. After his death, Israeli troops took the body and threw it near the settlement of Givat Asaf, saying he was throwing stones at the settlers. (http://maannews.net/arb/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=680761)
ZUEITAR LAID TO REST IN OFFICIAL AND POPULAR FUNERAL IN NABLUS; JARABAA’ LAID TO REST IN BEITIN
Residents of Nablus lay to rest Jordanian judge, martyr Raed Zueiter, who was killed day before yesterday at the Allenby Bridge. He was given a military funeral and was wrapped in both the Palestinian and Jordanian flags. Also yesterday, Jarabaa’ was also laid to rest in his hometown of Beitin. The funeral procession reached Birzeit University, where Jarabaa’ was a student of media. Thousands of fellow students participated in the procession (Al Quds)
GUNSHOTS FIRED AT A SETTLER CAR WEST OF RAMALLAH; MISSILE FIRED NEAR SDEROT
The national resistance brigades, the military wing of the DFLP claimed responsibility yesterday evening for shooting at an Israeli car near the settlement of Halmeesh, west of Ramallah. The brigades stressed on the need to form a joint operations room and a unified resistance front to confront Israeli threats.
In related news, a homemade rocket was fired last night near the Israeli town of Sderot. According to the Israeli daily Yedioth Ahranoth, the missile fell in open land and no injuries or damages were reported. (Al Quds)
ISRAELI BULLDOZERS DEMOLISH AL ARAQEEB FOR THE 66TH TIME
Israeli bulldozers from the so-called ‘Israel Land Authority” backed by a large police force demolished the Bedouin village of Araqeeb this morning near the town of Rahat for the 66th time. The residents were left in the open in spite of the heavy rains. The demolitions came two days after Israeli interior ministry teams and police raided the Muslim cemetery in Araqeeb and photographed the inside, where the village’s residents take shelter from the continuous demolitions. One resident Sabbah Al Touri, said the responsibility lies completely with the Israeli government, adding that “this is a crime against humanity”. He also said that no matter how many times they demolish the village, the people ‘would not give up one inch of land from Araqeeb, the land of our fathers and forefathers.” (http://maannews.net/arb/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=680781)
GAZA: ISRAELI RECONNAISSANCE PLANE DOWN; QASSAM DECLARES ITS TAKEOVER OF IT
An Israeli reconnaissance plane crashed yesterday at the eastern border of Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip according to the Israeli army. The army spokesperson said a Sky Raider plane crashed due to technical failure. On its part, Hamas’ military wing, the Izzedin Qassam Brigades said in a short statement that it had taken over the “Zionist reconnaissance plane south of the Gaza Strip.” On its website, the Brigades published pictures of the plane, including one picture of a Qassam member in military garb. (Al Ayyam)
ISRAELI DISTRICT COURT CANCELS REGISTRATION OF LAND IN ALFEH MENSHEH
Two days ago, the Israeli district court decided to cancel the registration contracts of Palestinian land in the registry office for the sake of a major settlement firm. It decided, based on a report by handwriting and document experts that the Israel notary public had forced powers of attorney so that the privately owned Palestinian land could be registered with a settlement company. The Israeli settlement company in question is Me’or Hasharon Yezmot and the land that was falsely claimed as its own is originally owned by deceased Palestinian Ghazi Radi from the town of Asla near Qalqilya. The land is 14 dunams and is located in the heart of Alfeh Mensheh and was taken over in 2012.
According to the court order, the registration with the settlement company will be cancelled and the land returned under the name of its owner. His heirs will be able to transfer ownership to their names and claim their full rights. (Al Quds)
BEIT HANOUN: THREE CITIZENS KILLED AND SIX INJURED IN EXPLOSION INSIDE A HOME
Three Palestinians were killed and another six injured including three who are in critical condition after an explosion took place inside the Hamdein home in Beit Hanoun last night. The three deceased were identified as Mohammed Hamdein, Kareem Hamad and Jaafar Odwan. Child Mohammed Hamdein, one and a half years old, is in critical condition. Local and security sources say the explosion most likely was a result of tampering with a rocket that had been placed in the home. The Israeli army denied any involvement in the incident (Al Ayyam)
TENDERS FOR 387 HOUSING UNITS NORTH OF JERUSALEM
The Israeli housing ministry issued tenders yesterday for the construction of 387 settlement units in the settlement of Ramat Shlomo in order to expand the settlement towards Shufat, north of Jerusalem. Settlement expert Ahmad Sub Laban said the original plan was approved in 2012, adding that the project entailed the confiscation of 580 dunams of land from Shufat, thus stymying Palestinian expansion in Beit Hanina and Shufat. Sub Laban said the 387 units were part of a large plan to build 1,500 units in Ramat Shlomo.
PLO Executive Committee member Ahmad Qrei, who is also head of the Jerusalem affairs department, said the new tenders would devour more land from Shufat and deny the citizens of Shufat and Beit Hanina chances to invest in their land. Qrei said in a statement that the reason behind this race with time by Israeli authorities is to build settlement Road 21, which would effectively add two new entrances to Ramat Shlomo (Al Ayyam)
INJURIES AND ARRESTS DURING CONFRONTATIONS IN JERUSALEM
Ten Palestinian youths were injured and five others arrested yesterday evening during confrontations with Israeli police forces at Damascus Gate, according to eyewitnesses. The confrontations broke out after youths demonstrated in protests of the security restrictions imposed by police on the entry to Al Aqsa Mosque and in protest of the killing of six Palestinian in the West Bank and Gaza by Israel’s army. Israeli authorities barred anyone under the age of 50 from entering the mosque yesterday. Israeli forces stormed the demonstration using nightsticks and teargas, resulting in the injury of 10 people. Clashes also broke out in the Jerusalem suburb of Abu Dis. (http://www.alquds.co.uk/?p=142630)
ISRAEL HANDS OVER THE REMAINS OF FIVE MARTYRS
Last night, Israel handed over the remains of five martyrs at the Taybeh checkpoint near Tulkarm, who had been interred in the ‘cemetery of numbers’ for more than 10 years. The martyrs were: Muhyedeen Habeesheh; Imad Zubeidi, Anas Abul Eila, Khaled Sanjaq and Kamel Awalneh. The martyrs will all be laid to rest today in their hometowns. (Al Quds)
ABU RDEINEH DENOUNCES ATTEMPTS TO SABOTAGE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PALESTINE AND EGYPT; REVOLUTIONARY COUNCIL SAYS ATTEMPS ARE “DEFAMATION”
Presidential spokesperson Nabil Abu Rdeineh denounced yesterday ‘suspicious’ parties that he said were spreading lies about President Abbas in terms of statements he made about Egypt and its defense minister Abdel Fattah Sisi. He said this was an attempt to sabotage the strategic relationship between Egypt and Palestine. Abu Rdeineh confirmed that the Palestinian position towards Egypt was fixed and constant, saying the president described Sisi as ‘nationalist and patriotic” and someone that the entire Arab world takes pride in.
Meanwhile, Fatah’s Revolutionary Council also condemned claims that a member of the council had also made statements against Egypt of the same nature, saying they all appreciate and respect Sisi. (Al Hayat Al Jadida)
ISRAELI HIGH COURT RULES IN FAVOR OF SETTLERS IN THE CASE OF THE RAJABI HOME IN HEBRON
The Israeli high court ruled yesterday that Jewish settlers were the legitimate owners of the Rajabi home, comprised of four floors in the center of Hebron’s old city. The verdict puts a seven-year court battle to rest, first filed by the Rajabi family who owned the home and who accused settlers, who have resided in it for several months in 2007 of forgery. The home is located near the Ibrahimi Mosque. (Al Hayat Al Jadida)
LEIBERMAN: WE WILL VOTE AGAINST THE RELEASE OF PRISONERS FROM INSIDE THE GREEN LINE
Israeli foreign minister Avigdor Lieberman said yesterday that he would oppose any release of Palestinian prisoners from inside the Green Line, maintaining that his party would vote against any decision that called for this. He also said his party, Israel Beitanu would vote against any future releases of Palestinian prisoners. (Al Hayat Al Jadida)
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Headlines
Two workers killed from Jamayeen and Thahriyeh; one dies after being injured in Rafah tunnel (Al Hayat Al Jadida)
*Netanyahu: no peace deal without canceling the right of return and recognizing the Jewish state (Al Hayat Al Jadida)
*Woman from Yatta gives birth to quadruplets (Al Hayat Al Jadida)
*Government confirms its full support for the President and his adherence to national positions (Al Quds)
*Erekat: alternative to the failure of the two-state solution is one secular state (Al Quds)
*The president confirms Palestinians constants in speech to Revolutionary Council (Al Ayyam)
*Israel ‘apologizes” and Jordan holds it responsible for crime of Zeitar’s killing (Al Ayyam)
*Jerusalem: the occupation restricts entry of Muslims to Al Aqsa; facilitates for settler break ins (Al Ayyam)
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Front Page Photos
Al- Quds:Nablus: Ala’ Eddin Zeiter cries during the funeral of his son Judge Raed Zeiter ; Birzeit university students walk in funeral of Jarabaa’.
Al-Ayyam: Ramallah: masses walk in funeral of Saji Jarabaa’ in Birzeit University before laying him to rest in Beteen
Al Hayat Al Jadida:.Father of martyr Zeiter cries during his funeral in Nablus; masses walk in funeral of Saji Jarabaa’ in Birzeit University
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Voice of Palestine News
Gaza:
Q: After the escalation yesterday, what is the situation now in Gaza?
The situation is calm since the late night hours and until the early hours of today, especially after the Israeli attack in the southern areas resulting in the martyrdom of three resistance activists of Al-Quds Brigades, after being attacked by an Israeli reconnaissance aircraft, north east of Rafah, in addition to incursions of Israeli soldiers and the Israeli navy attacking Palestinian fisher boats. This comes after a series of explosions, especially in Beit Hanoun, resulting in the death of 4 citizens and the injury of two Childs and one woman, in the Hamadin house in Beit Hanoun. Another explosion occurred in Soq Al-Zaweyah, where a hand grenade exploded injuring 4 citizens who were transferred to Al-Shifa hospital for treatment.
Inside the Green line:
Q: Israeli announces a high alert at the border with Gaza, what does Israel want from the Strip according to Israeli sources?
Israel wants to continue the pressure and attacks against the Gaza Strip in case there are any preparations for missile launching to Israel, at the same time is talks a lot about the ship it claims was on its way to the Strip, to the Islamic Jihad, every time it attacks Gaza it says it attacked a group who was intending to attack Israel with missiles, and this is what happened yesterday when Israel killed to citizens. But in general there are clear Israeli plans but they are not ready for immediate implementation, so it keeps on attacking Gaza like such attacks away from Implementing a serious incursion.
Q: is there a consensus in the political arena regarding such escalation and attacks?
There are no real differences in the Israeli political arena, not only with regards to Gaza, but with regards to the Israeli internal and external political affairs, even yesterday when the opposition decided to boycott Knesset voting on some laws, the coalition ignored this and continued with their plan, there is an Israeli government that the opposition cant object its decisions easily, so it does what it wants in the Knesset. I think that after approving this law (raising the threshold to 3.25) right wing parties will have more power in eth Knesset, all of them will unite under one huge party, and the opposition will almost disappear unless they also unite.
Q: Ali Sallam announced as the winner of Nazareth elections yesterday
Yes the difference between the two was huge, this shows that Nazareth wanted change, and wanted someone else other than Jaraisy who was elected as mayor for consecutive times, this is not different from what we had before, since Sallam was deputy of Jaraisy in the past, but he decided to leave “Al-Jabha” (the Front) and establish his own party. Nazareth is considered the biggest Arab city inside the green line so it represents the general Arab mode inside the green line, and now that the threshold was raised, Arab parties have to unite including Al-Jabha despite their differences.
Jerusalem:
Clashes erupted yesterday night at Bab Al-Amoud, as a result of calls by the Jerusalemite youth movement, protesting crimes committed by the occupation during the last two days, the clashed resulted in the injury of 10 Jerusalemites with rubber bullets including photo journalists, the occupation police began shooting rubber bullets without any prior warning towards the youths, in addition to arresting 5 young Jerusalemites. This came with eth continuous incursions of Al-Aqsa, and closing the mosque yesterday, while extreme organizations held a huge conference in Deir Yassin, west of Jerusalem, discussing with Knesset members like Feiglin and Rabbis, actions to hold religious rituals for “Pesah” in Al-Aqsa, and to organize wide incursions at the same time, in addition to future actions to impose division of Al-Aqsa in the future.
Q: Social media website reported Jerusalemites’ concerns of kidnapping children
During the last two days, a state of tensions prevailed as a result of rumors of kidnapping children in Jerusalem, this began with a rumor of a woman trying to kidnap a child without any success, Jerusalemites expressed their concern regarding the issue, but national bodies released a statement yesterday denying these rumors.
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Voice of Palestine Interviews
** Khalil Tufakji, settlement specialist, on announcing construction of 387 settlement units in Jerusalem.
Q: Can you tell us more on these new units?
This project is part of bigger project to construct 1600 settlement units in a settlement called Ramat Shlomo, named after Rabi Shlomo Zalman, the number units was decreased from 1600 to 1500, and these new 389 units are part of the 1500, as part of the settlement expansion project in the area. this project is also related to road 21 being constructed now in order to provide an entry and exit to this settlement, if we look at this settlement, it was established in 1990, on lands confiscated in 1970, and it is a settlement for religious Jews, the new thing here is that the Israeli side is making use international conditions in order to construct here in there as part of the bigger project to construct 58,000 housing units by the year 2030.
Q: Netanyahu suggested evacuating some settlements from the West Bank according to the Dutch – Belgian model; can this model be applied in this case?
This model is already being applied on the ground, if we look at settlement blocks that will be annexed to Israel like Maali Adomim and Gosh Etzion, but what is being expanded now are settlements like Shilo and Maali Levona, between Ramallah and Nablus, this huge block will not be evacuated, since the occupation believes that Shilo is a historic Jewish area, so Israel’s proposal of the Dutch – Belgian model is only to create new blocks inside a Palestinian state with an autonomy related to Israel, this is different form eth Dutch – Belgian model, but from the Hadasa hospital area between 48 and 67, where this area was an Israeli area inside the Jordanian area, so convoys would come every two weeks carrying water and food form west Jerusalem to thisarea. The Israeli side studies every model that might prevent the establishment of the Palestinian state, in addition to the fact the Israeli coalition agrees only on two issue, Jerusalem and settlements.
** Imad Hamdan, member of the reconstruction committee in Hebron, on Israeli court issuing a decision in favor of settlers’ ownership of the Al-Rajabi house.
Q: What can you tell us about this decision?
This is of course an unjust decision but we have anything else to do in such cases other than approaching Israeli courts, we usually do this through our legal department, knowing that it is a biased judiciary, and we don’t anticipate a lot, but we have to do this.
Q: yesterday Qalqilya managed to return 4 areas from Israeli companies that falsified ownership papers of these lands, how can you make use of this experience?
There are always attempts by the Israeli judiciary to appear as accountable; we managed to succeed more than once over the last years, and returned some property, but in this case, there was a deal between the owner and another Palestinian, and after we realized this man is suspected in transferring land to settlers, the deal was canceled, and the Israelis issued falsified documents showing the deal was completed, the falsification was very clear, but they decided the deal was legal.
Q: are you going to be satisfied with eth court decision, or are there any further actions?
This comes after 7 years in court, and this is the last station… so this is final decision.
** Yasser Abed Rabbu, Secretary of the PLO Executive Committee, on the Executive Committee meeting today.
Q: You are meeting today after the Israeli escalation killing 6 Palestinian in the West Bank and Gaza, what will be the leadership response?
The response came immediately, by warning that these Israeli actions are clear indications that Israel wants more escalation and crime against the Palestinianpeople and the aim is very clear, they want to impose high levels oftension in order to help them to suppress any attempt to reach a fruitful political process, this this aim of this clear escalation.
Q: Members of the PLO and the Palestinian public demands stopping the negotiations as a result of Israeli crimes, how will you deal with these demands?
As an answer to these crimes and other crimes, like the settlements crime, especially during the so-called negotiations, since there are no real negotiations, the Israelis negotiate the Americans and the Americans negotiate us, but there are no real and serious negotiations at all. During this process, Israeli practiced unprecedented settlement actions, so it’s everybody’s right to demand stopping these negotiations. This is only running in circle no matter what you call it and should be stopped, since nothing came out of these negotiations other than more disasters for the Palestinian people.
Q: IS this issue planned for discussion in the meeting today?
Of course…
Q: I mean the demand to stop the negotiations?
Yes of course it will be suggested for discussion as part of studying the Palestinian position presented by President Abu Mazen in Washington next week, all of this will be discussed in the meeting, and we will decide the position accordingly, pour position is clear regarding all issue and was presented by more than one Palestinian side, especially Abu Mazen during the last days, also regarding the question if we should continue the negotiations or not in light of the latest development including the release of the last batch of prisoners, and the Jewish state and Jerusalem, all of these will be discussed and a decision will be taken accordingly.
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More Headlines
MORE NEWS________________________________________________
Ali Salam wins Nazareth municipal elections
Semi-final and unofficial results of elections for Nazareth mayor, which took place yesterday, showed that Ali Salam, head of the “My Nazareth” list, had won as mayor. He was running against main contender, former mayor Ramez Jarayseh. Preliminary sources said Salam had surpassed Jarayse by around 10,400 votes, winning 27,666 votes in all, or 61.57% of the overall votes. Jarayseh, meanwhile, won 17,266 votes or 38.43% of the overall votes. The elections were redone in the city with a voter turnout of around 85%. (http://www.alquds.com/news/article/view/id/493241)
Devise explodes in front of the Israeli embassy in Cairo
Egyptian security sources said a primitive-made bomb blew up in front of the Israeli embassy in Cairo last night. The sources added that the explosion targeted a police car that was parked in front of the embassy and that the embassy itself had not been targeted. The explosion did not result in any injuries but cause damage to several cars parked in the vicinity, which is now under heavy security. (http://safa.ps/details/news/124382.html)
Judge Zeiter’s widow plans to sue Israel
The widow of Raed Zeiter, the Palestinian/Jordanian judge who was shot and killed at the Allenby Bridge on Monday has called on Israeli authorities to seriously investigate the murder of her husband. Her lawyer, Murad Mufarra said his widow, Hiba Zeiter, said she found it very hard to believe that her husband, a man of the law, would try to snatch a weapon from an Israeli soldier. Mufarra said that what happened was an ‘ordinary argument, which turned into a shooting” adding that if they proved that the Israeli version of events was untrue, they would file a lawsuit against the state of Israel. (http://maannews.net/arb/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=680746)
Netanyahu will use Cameron’s visit to incite against Iran and the PA
Israeli media sources said Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu would focus in his meetings with British Prime Minister David Cameron on the Iranian file and on trying to convince him that the Palestinians are the ones who are hindering reaching a settlement. According to Israel radio, Netanyahu will confirm to Cameron that “the people of Israel want peace” adding that he will make it clear that the Palestinians are the party alienating any chances for reaching a deal. (http://arabs48.com/?mod=articles&ID=106271). Cameron is scheduled to meet with President Abbas for only a few hours in Bethlehem (Haaretz)
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Arab Press
Gazans dream of praying at Al-Aqsa Mosque
By Rasha Abou Jalal
GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip — Um Aref Yusef last saw Al-Aqsa Mosque in 1999, never to be allowed to visit again as a result of the complicated travel restrictions imposed by Israel on Palestinians in Gaza.
Yusef, 72, looked longingly at a picture of the gilded Dome of the Rock, hanging on a wall in her house in the Nasr neighborhood of Gaza City. “I can still smell the aroma of its old walls. I can never forget the thrill of praying in its midst. The time I spent in that place is a dream that I hope will repeat itself before death takes me away,” she told Al-Monitor.
Israel no longer allows Gaza residents to travel to Jerusalem and hasn't since the second Palestinian intifada in 2000. It also limited passage through the Erez border crossing, which it controls, to a small special category of travelers such as foreigners, senior businessmen and the sick.
Yusef’s constant talk about her last visit to Al-Aqsa has inspired ambition in her grandchildren, who grew up under the Israeli ban against Gazans traveling to Jerusalem. Her granddaughter Samah, 19, told Al-Monitor that she has not seen Jerusalem except on television and through her grandmother’s stories.
Samah is representative of a whole generation that now dreams of going to the city long considered the main cause of the continued Palestinian-Israeli conflict. But the Israeli ban stands in the way of the youths' dream, leading them to devise other means by which to consummate their bond with Jerusalem’s sacred monuments.
Her passion for the Jerusalem shrine drove young Sajeda Abu Ouda, who hails from Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip, to ask one of her friends in Jerusalem to write her name on a piece of paper, take a picture of it in front of the Dome of the Rock and email to her, though she hopes she can visit the shrine in person sometime soon.
“I could not contain my overwhelming joy when my Jerusalem friend granted my request. I cried and felt as if my feet were actually walking through the mosque’s hallways. I put the picture in an ornate wooden frame and hung it on a wall in my house,” Abu Odeh told Al-Monitor.
“The feeling was extraordinary, as hope seemed to course through my veins. While it is true that my body never was there, through that photograph I felt as if my soul were dancing in the mosque’s courtyards,” she added.
Young Ahmed Zeituneh, who also published a similar photograph of his name on Facebook, elaborated, “As Gazans, we cannot physically go to Jerusalem. By getting our names there, we have proven to the Israeli occupiers that Jerusalem is Arab, Muslim and Palestinian.”
He further explained that the main hurdle standing in the way of his going to Jerusalem was the restrictions imposed by the Israeli occupation. He indicated that the purpose of publishing those pictures was to “affirm all Gazans’ devotion to Al-Aqsa Mosque in the face of Israeli Judaization attempts.”
The idea quickly caught on in the minds of Jerusalem and Gaza residents alike, until campaigns were launched through social networking sites under the slogan of “Today your name, tomorrow yourself.” It quickly became very popular for Gazans' names to be photographed in front of Al-Aqsa to signify their hope that they would be able to pray there in person soon.
Among the Facebook pages dedicated to such campaigns are the “Your name at Aqsa” and “Your name from Aqsa” pages, where readers can see hundreds of pictures of Gazan names in front of Al-Aqsa or the Dome of the Rock, photographed there by Jerusalem volunteers.
Young Gaza resident Salah Khudeir is a moderator of the “Your name at Aqsa” page. He told Al-Monitor that he receives hundreds of requests on a daily basis. He said, “Many Gazans long to see Al-Aqsa Mosque, and their deprivation thereof can be clearly felt. As a result, I fulfill the wishes of hundreds without exception or remuneration.”
“When the campaign started, we received 50 to 100 daily requests. But lately, that number has swelled to over 1,000 requests in a single day. We are therefore looking for Jerusalem volunteers to take the required photos and fulfill the wishes of those Gazans hoping to visit Jerusalem,” he added.
The spread of the Gazan photographs through social networking sites has prompted Palestinian youths in Gaza to demand their right to visit Jerusalem. Many campaigns and sit-ins have been organized in the Gaza Strip under the slogan of “I am a Palestinian from Gaza, and I demand my right to pray in Jerusalem.”
Raid Moussa, one of the campaign organizers, clarified that the aim was to put pressure on all concerned parties to allow Gazans to visit Jerusalem and pray at Al-Aqsa, which, to them, is a dream made difficult to attain by Israeli intransigence.
Speaking to Al-Monitor, Moussa explained that his youth group had collected hundreds of requests from people wishing to visit Jerusalem and took them to the Civil Authority in Gaza — the administration in charge of managing travel through the Erez crossing — to demand that right.
“Officials there informed us that the Israelis refused to accept such requests, leading us to protest for days in front of the authority’s offices in an unsuccessful bid to regain our rights,” he said.
When asked about the reasons for the Israeli ban on Gazan travel to Jerusalem, Maher Abu Aref, the head of the Civil Authority in the Gaza Strip, refused to comment.
But he did address the issue in an interview with the local Felesteen newspaper in August 2013, when he said, “The issue of allowing citizens to travel through the Erez crossing is not being deliberated. This is a political matter and we, as the Civil Authority, do not interfere in such affairs.”
In the face of the continued Israeli ban on Gazans traveling through the Erez crossing, citizens continue to dream of all these restrictions and hurdles being lifted, allowing them to safely travel to Jerusalem and pray at Al-Aqsa.(http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2014/03/aqsa-mosque-dome-jerusalem-gaza-israel-occupation.html)
A war of words in the Middle East
By Octavia Nasr
A major power shift is taking place in the Middle East, this time it signals leaderships waking up to realities long overlooked and left to fester into insurmountable obstacles.
Saudi Arabia has historically played a leading role among Arab nations mediating among factions and providing counsel in conflict resolution; but it has taken a back seat in the past decade, opening the door for the relatively more progressive Qatar and UAE to press forward with ideas and examples of how Arabs can play a role in their affairs rather than be other nations’ foreign policy recipients.
Qatar, in particular, was very bold in its approach starting with Al-Jazeera’s creation, quickly turning it into a worldwide power, all the way to winning the World Cup in 2022. All this in between hosting two major U.S. think tanks, mediating reconciliation talks, playing a leading role at Arab Summits and taking over the conversation about relations with Israel.
Controversial ties
On the other hand, Qatar never explained its controversial ties to terrorist groups such as al-Qaeda and the Taliban in Afghanistan. Despite all efforts by Qatari leaders to distance themselves from Al-Jazeera by claiming it was free of their control, people and governments came to identify the politics of the nation through the channel which has taken a side in almost every conflict it covered.
The threats the region faces are explosive and deadly. This latest episode shows the decay in relationships, loyalties and responsibilities
During the U.S. war in Afghanistan, Al-Jazeera’s close ties to al Qaeda made the U.S. accuse it of serving as the mouthpiece of the terror group. When Doha became home to the first Taliban headquarters, it was under the guise of facilitating peace talks with the U.S. and Afghanistan. Quickly, intentions were scrutinized and the lack of transparency backfired with the closing of the offices.
During the split between Fatah and Hamas, Al-Jazeera sided with Hamas, polarizing viewers and Palestinian leadership. The network sided with Hezbollah against other Lebanese groups, polarizing Lebanon. In Egypt, the coverage bluntly supported the Muslim Brotherhood. The confrontation became so severe that Al-Jazeera journalists are now in jail accused of aiding a terrorist organization. Since its inception, Al-Jazeera has been kicked out of many countries with accusation of incitement meant for Qatar itself not only the media organization.
What we are witnessing with recalling ambassadors and blockade threats so close to Obama’s visit to the region is an overdue duel of power and influence; what Arabs need however is a division of responsibility. The threats the region faces are explosive and deadly. This latest episode shows the decay in relationships, loyalties and responsibilities.(http://english.alarabiya.net/en/views/2014/03/12/A-war-of-words-in-the-Middle-East.html)
Indefensible act
Al-Dustuor Editorial
Irrespective of how Israel spins this one, irrespective of what the Israeli investigation into the killing of Jordanian judge Raed Zuaiter by Israeli guards at the King Hussein Bridge border crossing reveals, there are some incontrovertible facts that all have come to know.
For one, the murdered judge carried no arms and at no time did he pose a real threat to the Israeli guards.
Even if it is true that the judge had tried to wrest control of the gun of one of the Israeli soldiers — as alleged by the soldier, but refuted by eyewitnesses — after a scuffle, there is no justification for a shot to kill.
Warning shots or, still bad enough, a shot to disable the alleged assaulter would have been more than enough.
The Jordanian judge was shot by the soldier who alleges he was physically attacked and by another soldier after the first shot.
Assuming that the first shot was by the soldier who allegedly feared for his life, why did the second one shoot an already injured, or possibly dead, man lying on the pavement if not with the intent to inflict fatal wounds?
People who cross into Israel have a common complaint about Israeli guards: they are rough, arrogant, rude and unhelpful.
These soldiers are, if anything, a reflection of their society: brainwashed into hating Arabs and killing them in cold blood just because they can.
The murdered judge must have been provoked to physically attack an Israeli soldier manning the border crossing. After all, instances of Israeli soldiers exhibiting insulting behavior and inhuman treatment are not rare.
Whatever the case, the murder is heinous and unjustifiable.
Jordan cannot put all its faith in an Israeli-led investigation. A joint team of investigators has to be formed for this purpose so that the true full story comes out objectively.
Appropriate punishment has to be meted out to the guilty soldiers. No mentally disturbed label should shelter them from paying for the murder.
And Israel might wish to revise its policy of hatred and arrogance, responsible for the irresponsible behavior of most of its army personnel.(http://jordantimes.com/indefensible-act)
Israeli leaders face great danger: a peace settlement
By Zeev Maoz
Israeli politicians face a clear and present danger. It is not Iran’s nuclear program. Nor is it the risk that Egypt’s instability or the civil war in Syria will spill over into an Arab-Israeli conflagration. Rather, it is U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry’s forthcoming peace plan.
This plan will not contain major surprises. It will probably be a juxtaposition of previous plans, such as the Clinton parameters or the Bush road map. Israelis know what the plan contains and what will be required of Israel if it accepts the plan.
The threat contained in the plan is threefold. First, this is a committed secretary of state serving under a second-term president focused on his legacy. This administration, perceived to be unsupportive of Israel, is not burdened by electoral considerations. For Israeli politicians, however, electoral considerations are a permanent concern. The shakiness of the governing coalition, which binds extreme right-wing parties with more moderate centrist parties, poses a constant threat to the survival of the Israeli government.
Second, Kerry’s plan comes amid growing international criticism of Israel. Israel has faced criticism in the past. What is different today is that it is accompanied by an emerging trend of divestments and sanctions. This is a new and frightening prospect because it threatens Israeli economic and academic institutions and high-tech companies.
If this trend continues, it might pull Israel’s middle class out of its apathy. Israel has weathered the global recession of recent years largely due to its financial and high-tech sectors. While the rising cost of living and economic inequality have resulted in social protests, macroeconomic indicators have been extremely positive. The threat of a recession due to boycotts and divestments is a huge concern.
The professional middle class can be a decisive electoral force. If it supports a certain political party, it could well tip the balance in an election. The newly formed Yesh Atid party won second place in the last election, largely on a domestic economic platform. It did not have a clear foreign and security policy agenda. Its decision to join a Likud-led coalition gave life to the current government. However, if it leaves, Israel will likely go to an early election – and there is a good chance that, if recession hits, the party will emerge as the big winner.
Third, Israeli politicians who have opposed territorial concessions in the past have always had a Palestinian ally. Their most convincing claim has been Palestinian refusal to sign offers presented to them. The argument that “there is no Palestinian partner for peace” has been a common tool in Israel’s public-relations toolbox. Palestinian violence against Israelis has given this claim a convincing ring even while Israel, through its aggressive settlement policy and human-rights violations, has reduced the chance of Palestinian accommodation.
Now, the relative calm in the occupied territories and a moderate Palestine Liberation Organization leadership make this claim sound empty and manipulative. Mahmoud Abbas is the most moderate Palestinian leader the Israelis have faced. His recent statements suggest that Palestinians are willing to compromise in ways they were unwilling or unable to in the past.
Not surprisingly, the Israelis have raised the bar by requiring that the Palestinians recognize Israel as a Jewish state. The Israelis are also concerned that Palestinians will turn to a new, nonviolent resistance strategy. If this were met by Israeli violence, it would cause steep erosion in international support for Israel’s policies – erosion that may well be accompanied by sanctions.
Recent statements by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu suggest he is increasingly aware of the fundamental dilemma that Israel is bound to face: If it holds on to the occupied territories, it will be forced to choose between being a Jewish but non-democratic state and being a democratic state but seeing Jews become a minority. It is unclear whether this dilemma is a pressing concern for the government, but that Netanyahu brought it up is significant.
Can Israel respond positively to Kerry’s plan? The Israelis will wait for the Palestinian response before they commit. If the Palestinians accept the plan (probably with reservations), it will be difficult for the Israeli government to reject it outright. This could result in a shakeup of the government. The extreme right-wing Yisrael Beiteinu party would likely leave the coalition. However, the government could survive by aligning with the Labor Party or the Shas religious party, or both.
The Israelis are still hoping that the Palestinians will reject some of the key elements of the plan, making it easier for them to do the same. The idea is to accept the plan in principle, but bury it in practice. The litmus test for the Obama administration is to prevent that from happening.(http://www.dailystar.com.lb/Opinion/Commentary/2014/Mar-12/249960-israeli-leaders-face-great-danger-a-peace-settlement.ashx#axzz2visf9xys)
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Opinions
Palestine has always been a priority!!
Abdurrahman Mahmoud Jamuos
Since the beginning of the Palestinian case, Saudi Arabia’s positions were clear and consistent supporting it , history is full with such positions since the reign of late King Abdul Aziz, God rest his soul, the Saudi leadership and people remained committed to these firm political positions remained, as the Palestinian cause is the cause of every Arab and free being the basis of these positions, and that the injustice and aggression against the Palestinian people could not be accept by any Arab or free in this universe, it's a case of victory for Justice in the face of injustice, oppression and aggression.
When the Palestinian leadership at the presidential level confirm that Saudi Arabia has fulfilled all its obligations to support the Palestinian people without a delay, by transferring its full share and its commitmentsin the Arab summits, particularly those regarding providing a security net and supporting the state budget of Palestine, in addition to additional amounts that came at the initiative of the Saudi king. This is a the proof of the this firm policy of Saudi Arabia, and that the Palestinian issue will remain a priority that tops any other concern, as some thought, the Palestinian case is living its worst situations of marginalization because of the preoccupation with the current Arab situation, and the tragic events in the Arab countries. Still,the Palestine cause remains a the main concern of the Saudi leadership and people, and Saudi Arabia will remain a role model for Arab countries in continuing to support the steadfastness of the Palestinian people and their cause, financially and politically, so they can recover their legitimate rights in their homeland of Palestine, primarily, their right to return, the right to self-determination and the establishment of their independent State with Jerusalem as its capital.
Saudi Arabia has neverannounceda position supportive of the Palestinian cause to be appreciated by any side, these positions are a principle, because the Palestinian cause for them is not just an international issue, it is its own basic and central issue, as it is the cause of all Arab peoples. The Saudi positions with regards to the Palestinian cause will remain responsible, reflecting the positionsof the Arab nation, correcting the Arab vision towards Palestine people and their cause, especially at this critical stage where international efforts are being made to reach a solution conducive to the achievement of the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people, the Kingdom represents the real supportive strategic depth of the Palestinian position regionally and internationally, in the face of the pressures imposed on the Palestinian people and their leadership.
Therefore, the Palestinian people and their leadership will never forget these responsible positions of the Kingdom, the Palestinian people and their leadership will always acknowledge and appreciate the Kingdom's leadership, Government and people.(http://amin.org/articles.php?t=opinion&id=23513)
Excessive Israeli violence against Palestinians
Al-Quds Editorial
Only twelve days passed of the current month, and already witnessed six Palestinian martyrs who were shot dead by the occupation forces: they killed activist Moataz Washaha in Birzeit last week without justification, according to Israeli sources, in cold blood.
Jordanian judge of Palestinian origin, Raed Zuaiter was killed yesterday, and on the same day, the Israeli army killed Betin young Sami Jaraba’h and there is no excuse for this heinous crime.
Also yesterday, in the Gaza Strip, three Palestinian youths were killed by the Israeli army who justified killing them they opening fire on its forces. Whatever the stories and analyses are, there is excessive violence of the Israeli forces against the unarmed Palestinian people, and conversely there is no reaction by the international community to stop this violence, which worsens day by day.
It seems that the orders given to Israeli security forces to shoot at Palestinians are too broad, and allows them to pull the trigger for trivial reasons, maybe for no reason. The intention is to create terror and fear in the hearts of the Palestinians, for promoting the so-called psychological and moral Israeli deterrence.
Judge Zuaiter was unarmed and did not pose any danger to the life of the Israeli soldier who shot him. Eyewitnesses’versions confirm that he was angry because of the humiliation he suffered. Was he in a position to threaten the lives of an armed soldier, and was it his intention originally, since he wanted to get to Nablus to get money to treat his child who suffers from a serious illness, and treated in a hospital in Amman?
Young Jaraba’h, even if we assumehe threw stones on a settler car according to the Israeli version, was it impossible to arrest him alive, instead of ending his life by Israeli army bullets?
Does the life of Palestinians become cheap in the eyes of the Israeli authorities? How can the principle of equal treatment in the negotiations be imposed, for example, at a time when the Israeli Government disregards the lives of our people and claim they want to achieve peace with us?
Reports that describe this Israeli violence must find its way to international bodies which are interested in stopping it, and hold those committing this violence accountable. There will be no possibility to achieve what is described as the peace process as long as the Israeli Governments exercise such violence, or find pretexts and flimsy excuses for its exercise in blatant violation of International and human laws, customs and charters.(Al-Quds)
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