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Nov. 24, 2013
Daily summary - Sunday, November 24, 2013
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Main News
The President says he's ready to go to the Knesset
President Mahmoud Abbas said he is ready to go to the Knesset to say what he wants to say, not what the Israeli Prime Minister wants. The President told the voice of Russia“he(Netanyahu) propose and then says you should say so and so, if he is inviting me with conditions, I do not accept theseconditions, but if he wants to invite me to say what I want to say, I'm ready to go there and say what I want not what he wants.” (http://maannews.net/arb/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=650091)
Palestinian Foreign Affairs Minister Riyadh al-Maliki, said in a statement that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu invitation for President Mahmoud Abbas to visit the Knesset,is to recognize Israel as a Jewish State, insisting that if Abbas decides to go to the Knesset, he would talk about the rights of the Palestinian people.(http://www.amad.ps/ar/?Action=Details&ID=5987)
Six Palestinians injured of live bullets in Al-Jalazone camp
Six Palestinians were injured yesterday (Saturday) during clashes with the occupation forces in Al-Jalazone refugee camp, north of Ramallah.Medical sources said that six Palestinians were injured by live ammunition and rubber-coated metal bullets during the clashes, and that the inured Palestinians were moved to Palestine medical complex in Ramallah, were injuries of one of them were describes as severe. The sources added that ambulances had to go through Birzeit-Jefna route to get to the camp and transfer the injured, due to closing the camp entrances by the occupation forces. In addition, settlers from Beit El threw stones at vehicles on Alp-Jalazone road to Ramallah yesterday evening. (http://wattan.tv/ar/news/80494.html)
Administrative prisoners announce a hunger strike next Monday for one day
Administrative prisoners in the Negev prison said that Monday the 25th of this month will be a one day hunger strike.The prisoner club said in a statement that administrative prisoners will embark a strike for two days each week in addition to their continued boycott of military courts. The Club added that “if there will be no response from Israeli prisons authoritiesto the prisoners demands, the 30th of next month will be a breaking point, where prisoners will examine theirprotest steps, and that an open strike is a valid option.” (http://www.pnn.ps/index.php/prisoner/73598-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A7%D8%B3%D8%B1%D9%89-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A7%D8%AF%D8%A7%D8%B1%D9%8A%D9%88%D9%86-%D9%8A%D8%B9%D9%84%D9%86%D9%88%D9%86-%D9%8A%D9%88%D9%85-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A7%D8%AB%D9%86%D9%8A%D9%86-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%82%D8%A7%D8%AF%D9%85-%D8%A7%D8%B6%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%A8%D8%A7-%D9%85%D9%81%D8%AA%D9%88%D8%AD%D8%A7-%D8%B9%D9%86-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B7%D8%B9%D8%A7%D9%85)
MP Barghouti: Palestinian political process threatens the right of return
Secretary General of the Palestinian National Initiative Mustafa Barghoutisaid that main threat for the right of return today is the political process in managing the conflict with the occupation. Also, member of the political Bureau of the popular front, Omar Shehadeh said: "recognition of Israel in the Oslo agreement without linking it to the implementation of resolution 194 did not constitute only a free waiver, but caused the greatest damage to the national case, and set a precedent and serious infringement of the right of return."In the same context, General Secretary of the People's Party Bassam Al-Salhi said that "Israel is trying to create a kind of barter between the state and the right of return, as if the state means giving up the right of return."(http://wattan.tv/ar/video/80487.html)
Serious cracks in Jerusalemites family house due to the excavations below Al-Aqsa
Haj Mahmoud Zaghloul family (Jerusalemite family) were surprised of serious cracks in the walls and ceiling of their house in Bab Al-Selselah near Al-Aqsa mosque. According to citizen Um Samer Zaghloul, the house is being exposes to cracks since more than 8 years due to the continuing excavations beneath Al-Aqsa Mosque, Um Samer said, "after all these years, r cracks began to appear in a very dangerous matter, and last night (Friday 22-11) we were surprised that the kitchen ceiling collapsed, and cracks appeared at the house entrance.” (http://qudsnet.com/news/View/258338/%D8%B5%D9%88%D8%B1-%D8%AA%D8%B4%D9%82%D9%82%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D8%AE%D8%B7%D9%8A%D8%B1%D8%A9-%D9%81%D9%8A-%D9%85%D9%86%D8%B2%D9%84-%D8%B9%D8%A7%D8%A6%D9%84%D8%A9-%D9%85%D9%82%D8%AF%D8%B3%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D8%A8%D9%81%D8%B9%D9%84-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AD%D9%81%D8%B1%D9%8A%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D8%A7%D8%B3%D9%81%D9%84-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%82%D8%B5%D9%89/)
Abu Amr: the Gaza electricity crisis will be solved soon
Deputy Prime Minister Ziad Abu Amr, said that President Mahmoud Abbas currently holds contacts at various Arab and International levels to solve the electricity crisis in the Gaza Strip. Abu Amr added that the President's communication with various parties to solve the electricity crisis experienced by our people in the Gaza Strip reached good results, and a solution to end this suffering became close, making sure this will not be repeated in the future. Deputy Prime Minister added that the President's efforts to solve the electricity crisis underscores his national responsibility toward our people in the Gaza Strip, and affirms that this responsibility is an integral part of the responsibility of the State of Palestine and its legitimate institutions towards the united Palestinian homeland in the West Bank and Gaza, and at the same time stressing the need to end the tragic division and restore national unity.(http://www.alwatanvoice.com/arabic/news/2013/11/23/462974.html)
Hamas denies forming the "Tunnels Ministry"
Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoum denied Egyptian intelligence Chief Mohammed Touhami’s statements that Hamas has formed the “Tunnels Ministry”. “Al-Ra’y” news agency quoted Barhoum as saying that "this is not true, tunnels were established as a result of the siege, and there is no justification for its destruction by Egypt and the siege of Gaza," adding that some try to distort the image of Hamas and the Government through media fabrications.Barhoum said Hamas wants proper, formal and legal ways to connect Gaza with the world,as it is a right guaranteed in all international pacts and laws, and urged Egypt to open the Rafah crossing for people and goods for it to be the alternative for tunnels.(http://www.alquds.com/news/article/view/id/474619)
Occupation army arrests three Palestinians near Gaza border
Palestinian eyewitnesses said today that the Israeli army arrested three Palestinian youths near the border east of Al-Bureij refugee camp in central Gaza Strip.The eyewitnesses said that the “three Palestinians crossed the border fence (between Gaza and Israel) when an Israeli army force arrested them and took them to an unknown destination.” The eyewitnesses said the three "were unarmed and apparently workers trying to enter Israel for work.” (Al-Ayyam)
Egyptian Ambassador: President Abbas visit to Cairo was more than successful
Ambassador of the Arab Republic of EgyptYasser Uthman confirmed that Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas visit to Cairowas more successful, and reflected the depth and durability of the brotherly relationships between the leaderships and peoples of Egypt and Palestine. Uthman said in statements to "Wafa" that the Egyptian leadership was grateful to President Abbas and the Palestinian leadership, for their strong positions and leading support for the Egyptian people and their glorious revolution. Uthman noted that the Palestinian and Egyptian leaders discussed during the visit files related to developments in the peace process, the Palestinian reconciliation and the siege on the Gaza Strip, and how to support the Palestinian leadership, in addition to a number of regional files.(Al-Hayat Al-Jadida)
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Headlines
** Partial strike today at schools; union discusses a proposal for a raise (A-Ayyam)
** Obscurity surrounds Geneva negotiations on Iranian nuclear file (Al-Ayyam)
** ‘Grad’ fell in Egyptian territory from the border with Israel (Al-Ayyam)
** Syria: 29 killed in bloody airstrikes (Al-Ayyam)
** Egypt expels Turkish ambassador and reduces level of relations with it; Ankara answers in a similar step (Al-Ayyam)
** Abu Znied: we transferred around 25 cases since the beginning of the year for the anti-corruption (Al-Hayat Al-Jadida)
** "Transport" stops dealing with 15 companies engaged in importing vehicles; and "anti-corruption" start investigates falsification of customs documents (Al-Hayat Al-Jadida)
** President receives head of Jordanian civil service board (Al-Hayat Al-Jadida)
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Front Page Photos
Al- Quds:
Al-Ayyam:Jerusalem – serious cracks in the ceiling and walls of Zaghloul family’s house in Bab Al-Selselah (the old city) due to excavations under al-Aqsa mosque.
Al Hayat Al Jadida:1) Dr. Samir Abu Znied, 2) Zaghloul family’s house in Bab Al-Selselah threated to collapse due to excavations under Al-Aqsa mosque.
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Voice of Palestine News
Gaza: on the electricity crisis.
People here in the Gaza strip hope that this crisis will end very soon and that President Abbas effort will succeed. But at the same time citizens are getting used to the situation, and they no longer trust statements and news regarding this issue before they see something happening on ground. In all cases, they hope this time the efforts will result in solving this problem and ending the electricity crisis in Gaza. This of course comes amid the continuing closer of the Rafah crossing. Which adds to the suffering of citizens in the Gaza Strip?
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Voice of Palestine Interviews
** Mahmoud Mubarak, Head of Popular Committee of al-Jalazone refugee camp, on clashes with the occupation army.
Q: Can you tell us more about the events yesterday, and what is the situation today?
Our problem is very serious, since the opening of this road (Al-Jalazone road), provocations of settlers and the Israeli army are on daily basis, they throw stones at our cars, provocations and attacks against students, some were injured, and some were paralyzed as a result of these attacks. Yesterday the army stormed the camp without any reason, they stormed the camp with dogs and clashes erupted and this is only normal that citizens will protect their houses when the army decides to storm the camp. A huge force of the army stormed the camp with dogs shooting and chasing children with their dogs. Our problem is very serious this happens at least twice a week, during day and night.
Q: According to new, clashes erupted after settlers threw stones at citizens, is this true?
Yes, again, this happens on a daily basis, while the army is watching them. Some had accidents because of throwing stones. These are daily provocations made by settlers under protection of t eh army.
Q: Since these confrontations are repeated and settlers’ provocations are on daily basis, do you fear escalation and further attacks>
Yes we do, we feel that they are trying to lead us into a very difficult situation, and they target our children with live bullets. We don’t know what to do.
Q: What about the injuries yesterday, are there serious injuries?
Almost all injuries yesterday were in the legs
** Issa Qaraqe’, Minister for Prisoners’ Affairs, on prisoners’ hunger strike.
Q: What is the reason for the administrative prisoners’ latest steps?
Yes, they decided to boycott military courts since 25.3.2013 protesting this policy of administrative detention, they said that this step will be followed by other steps, and they will start returning meals two days a week until the end of December, and then they will decided if they will start an open hunger strike. This depends on how the authorities will respond to their demands and stop administrative detention. This is what was announced by the 150 administrative prisoners in a statement.
Q: What are the most important demands?
Stopping administrative detention that is not based on any law, where prisoners are not aware why are they arrested and it usually being renewed by the Israeli intelligence reaching sometimes 4 or 5 years in administrative detention. This was denounced by human right organizations all over the world, this only a revenge act of Israel nothing more only. Since 2000, more than 23,000 Palestinian citizens were subjected to administrative detention. I think it’s a strategic step that needs political and popular support. We know that a committee of the Israeli intelligence already been formed to negotiate with eth prisoners but we still don’t know what are the results.
Q: The prisoners had already implemented such steps in the past for the same demands but they did not succeed, is it different this time?
Yes, the difference this time is that all administrative prisoners are united this time in these steps, especially boycotting courts, what used to take place in the past was individual hunger strikes and most of them succeeded since their detention were not renewed after their strike, this time it’s a massive act. That’s why think this time these steps are more powerful.
** Dr, Reyad Al-Malki, Minister for Foreign Affairs, on a statement by the ministry denouncing an Israeli claim that Bethlehem and other Palestinian sites are Israeli tourist sites.
Q: what are the dangers of such Israeli acts and claims?
These are continuous claims, they claim these sites are Israeli, and they try to say so through tourism advertisements and in coordination with their embassies and tourism companies in the world. We at the Ministry follow up on this issue and ask our embassies to monitor these acts, and this is what happened in Italy where the Israeli embassy in Italy in coordination with tourism companies asked them to advertise for these sites as Israeli tourism sites. This made us act immediately and contact all related parties.
Q: What are the sites we are talking about?
Israel claims in this advertisement that Bethlehem is an Israeli tourism city, and that occupied Jerusalem including all its holly sites is an Israeli tourist city, and other sites in occupied West Bank, like Qumran and so on. This is against international law, we are following up with all concerned parties like the international tourism council since Israel is a member of the council, and issue a formal complaint against Israel, and we are following up with the Italian Foreign Ministry also. We are working towards setting up a strategy to battle this issue.
Q: What are the political aspects of such claims?
Israel consider itself as a power who can do whatever it wants with all that it control as an occupation force, like what it is doing with potash in the Dead Sea, underground water and oil that was revealed lately near the border west of Ramallah. The same happens with these tourism sites, Israel thinks it can deal with these places the way it wants. We should act in order to stop Israel from continuing to act in such a way. Among our attempts id approaching the UNESCO as one of the main organizations we approach to deal with this issue.
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More Headlines
A general strike in the Negev and youth movement protesting against the “Prawer” plan
The Negev is on general strike since today morning including all facilities, public institutions and educational institutions, to protest the uprooting “Prawer” plan which threatens Arab lands in the Negev, and against a visit of a delegation from the Knesset Interior Committee to the Negev today, in preparation for the “day of wrath” on 30-11-13. It is also anticipated that protest activities will be organized today at junctions in the Negev. (http://wattan.tv/ar/news/80517.html)
Settlers led by "Glick" storm Al-Aqsa
Jewish settlers lead by extremist ‘Yehuda Glick’ broke into Al-Aqsa mosque courtyards today morning, from the Moroccans’ gate, at a time when Israeli police arrested two teachers and a student at Al-Aqsa, and took them to a police center for investigation.Media officer of Al-Aqsa foundation for Waqf and heritage Mahmoud Atta, said that about 20 settlers led by Glickstormed Al-Aqsa Mosque since the early morning amid tight police protection, and toured throughout its open space.Atta added that thepolice arrested two teachers: Hanadi Al-Halawani and Zeina Amr, as well as student Alaa Abu Al-Haija, and moved them to "Al-Qishleh" police station in Jerusalem for investigation.(http://safa.ps/details/news/116727/%D9%85%D8%B3%D8%AA%D9%88%D8%B7%D9%86%D9%88%D9%86-%D8%A8%D9%82%D9%8A%D8%A7%D8%AF%D8%A9-%D8%BA%D9%84%D9%8A%D9%83-%D9%8A%D9%82%D8%AA%D8%AD%D9%85%D9%88%D9%86-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A3%D9%82%D8%B5%D9%89.html)
Netanyahu: agreement between Iran and the West a “historic mistake"; Israel is not bound by it and will defend itself
Hebrew Media quoted Israeli officials criticizing the agreement announced between the group of six and Iran over the Iranian nuclear file.Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that the Geneva agreement reached hours earlier between Iran and major powers is not a historic agreement but a historic mistake.Netanyahu added at the beginning of the Cabinet meetingtoday that the deal greatly increases the seriousness of the situation, since the most dangerous regime in the world made a significant step forward towardsteaching the most dangerous weaponwith the agreement. Netanyahu added that the great powers agreed to allow Iran enrich uranium, ignoring international sanctions imposed on Iran, which only offered cosmetic concessions that can be undone within weeks, stressing that Israel is not bound by the agreement and that it would not allow Iran to develop nuclear capabilities.(http://www.pnn.ps/index.php/israel/73627-%D8%A7%D9%88%D8%A8%D8%A7%D9%85%D8%A7-%D8%B3%D9%8A%D8%AA%D8%B5%D9%84-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%8A%D9%88%D9%85-%D8%A8%D9%86%D8%AA%D9%86%D9%8A%D8%A7%D9%87%D9%88-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A7%D8%B3%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%A6%D9%8A%D9%84%D9%8A%D9%88%D9%86-%D9%8A%D9%86%D8%AA%D9%82%D8%AF%D9%88%D9%86-%D8%A8%D8%BA%D8%B6%D8%A8-%D8%A7%D8%AA%D9%81%D8%A7%D9%82-%D8%AC%D9%86%D9%8A%D9%81-%D9%85%D8%B9-%D8%A7%D9%8A%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%86)
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Arab Press
Clash of the titans
By URI AVNERY
This is not merely a fight between Israel and the US. Nor is it only a fight between the White House and Congress. It is also a battle between intellectual titans.
On the one side there are the two renowned professors, Stephen Walt and John Mearsheimer. On the other, the towering international intellectual, Noam Chomsky.
It’s all about whether the dog wags the tail or the tail wags the dog.
Six years ago the two professors shocked the US (and Israel) when they published a book, “The Israel lobby and US Foreign Policy,” in which they asserted that the foreign policy of the United States, at least in the Middle East, is practically controlled by the State of Israel.
To paraphrase their analysis, Washington, D.C. is in effect an Israeli colony. Both the Senate and the House of Representatives are Israeli occupied territories, much like Ramallah and Nablus.
This is diametrically opposed to the assertion of Noam Chomsky that Israel is a US pawn, used by American imperialism as an instrument to promote its interests.
(I commented at the time that both sides were right, and that this is a unique dog-tail relationship. I even quoted the old Jewish joke about the rabbi who tells a plaintiff that he is right, and then says the same to the defendant. “But they can’t both be right!” remonstrates his wife. “You are right, too!” he answers.)
Intellectual theories can seldom be put to a laboratory test. But this one can. It is happening now.
Between Israel and the US a crisis has developed, and it has come into the open. It’s about the putative Iranian nuclear bomb. President Barack Obama is determined to avert a military showdown. Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu is determined to prevent a compromise.
For Netanyahu, the Iranian nuclear effort has become a defining issue, even an obsession. He talks about it incessantly. He has declared that it is an “existential” threat to Israel, that it poses the possibility of a second Holocaust. Last year he made an exhibition of himself at the UN General Assembly meeting with his childish drawing of the bomb.
Cynics say that this is only a trick, a successful gimmick to divert the world’s attention away from the Palestinian issue. And indeed, for years now the Israeli policy of occupation and settlements has been advancing quietly, away from the limelight.
But in politics, one gimmick can serve several purposes at once. Netanyahu is serious about the Iranian bomb. The proof: On this issue he is ready to do something that no Israeli prime minister has ever dared to do before: Endanger Israeli-US relations.
This is a momentous decision. Israel is dependent on the US in almost every respect. The US pays Israel a yearly tribute of at least $3 billion, and in fact much more. It gives us modern military equipment. Its veto protects us from UN Security Council censure, whatever we do.
We have no other unconditional friend in the world, except, perhaps, the Fiji Islands.
If there is one thing on which practically all Israelis agree, it is this subject. A break with the US is unthinkable. The US-Israeli relationship is, to use a Hebrew expression much loved by Netanyahu, “the rock of our existence.” So what does he think he is doing?
Netanyahu was brought up in the US. There he attended high school and university. There he started his career. He does not need advisers on US affairs. He considers himself the smartest expert of all. He is no fool. Neither is he an adventurer. He bases himself on solid assessments. He believes that he is able to win this fight.
You could say that he is an adherent of the Walt-Mearsheimer doctrine.
His present moves are based on the assessment that in a straight confrontation between Congress and the White House, Congress will win. Obama, already blooded by other issues, will be beaten, even destroyed.
True, Netanyahu was proved wrong the last time he tried something like this. During the last presidential elections, he openly supported Mitt Romney. The idea was that the Republicans were bound to win. The Jewish casino baron, Sheldon Adelson, poured money into their campaign, while at the same time maintaining an Israeli mass-circulation daily for the sole purpose of supporting Netanyahu.
Romney “couldn’t lose” — but he did. This should have been a lesson for Netanyahu, but he didn’t absorb it. He is now playing the same game, but for vastly higher stakes.
We are now in the middle of the fight, and it is still too early to predict the outcome. The Jewish pro-Israel lobby, AIPAC, supported by other Jewish and Evangelical organizations, is marshalling its forces on Capitol Hill. It’s an impressive show.
Senator after senator, congressman after congressman comes forward to support the Israeli government against their own president. The same people who jumped up and down like string puppets when Netanyahu made his last speech before both houses of Congress, try to outdo each other in assertions of their undying loyalty to Israel.
This is now done in the open, in an exhibition of shamelessness. Several senators and congressmen declare publicly that they have been briefed by the Israeli intelligence services, and they trust them more than the intelligence agencies of the US. Not one of them said the opposite. This would have been unthinkable if any other country was involved, say Ireland or Italy, from which many Americans are descended. The “Jewish State” stands unique, a kind of inverse anti-Semitism.
Indeed, some Israeli commentators have joked that Netanyahu believes in the Protocols of the Elders of Zion, the famous — and infamous — tract fabricated by the secret police of the Czar. It purported to expose a sinister conspiracy of the Jews to rule the world. A hundred years later, controlling the US comes near to that.
The senators and representatives are no fools (not all of them, in any case). They have a clear purpose: To be re-elected. They know on which side their bread is buttered. AIPAC has demonstrated, in several test cases, that it can unseat any senator or congressman who does not toe the straight Israeli line. One sentence of implied criticism of Israeli policies suffices to doom a candidate.
Politicians prefer open shame and ridicule to political suicide. No kamikaze pilots in Congress.
This is not a new situation. It is at least several decades old. What is new is that it is now out in the open, without embellishment.
It is difficult to know, as of now, how much the White House is cowed by this development.
Obama and his Secretary of State John Kerry know that the US public opinion is dead set against any new war in the Middle East. Compromise with Iran is in the air. This is supported by almost all the world’s powers. Even the French tantrums, which have no clear purpose but to throw their supposed weight around, are not serious.
President Francois Hollande was received in Israel this week like the harbinger of the Messiah. If one closed one’s eyes, one could imagine that the happy old pre-de Gaulle days were back again, when France armed Israel, supplied it with its military atomic reactor and the two countries went on escapades together (the ill-fated 1956 Suez adventure.)
But if Obama and Kerry hold fast and stay their course on Iran, can Congress impose the opposite course? Could this turn into the most serious constitutional crisis in US history?
As a sideshow, Kerry is going on with his effort to impose on Netanyahu a peace he does not want. Kerry did succeed in pushing Netanyahu into “final status negotiations” (nobody dared to utter the word peace, God forbid), but nobody in Israel or Palestine believes that anything will come out of this. Unless, of course, the White House puts the whole might of the US behind the effort — and that seems more than unlikely.
Kerry has allotted nine months to the endeavor, as if it were a normal pregnancy. But the chances of a baby emerging at the end of it are practically zero. During the first three months, the sides have not progressed a single step. So who will win? Obama or Netanyahu? Chomsky or Walt/Mearsheimer?
As commentators love to say: Time will tell. In the meantime, place your bets.(http://www.arabnews.com/news/481601)
How anti-Israel Turkey really is
By Ceylan Ozbudak
Countries cannot choose their neighbors. However, they can choose the sort of relations they will have with their neighbors. The Arab world has been vehemently opposed to Israel for the past 60 years, yet this still doesn’t change the fact that Israel is a Middle Eastern democracy and the latest fashion in policy towards this strongly unwanted neighbor is a secretive constructive diplomacy.
The Saudis have seen eye to eye with Israel on Iran because of the new nuclear threat, Egypt allies with Israel on Sinai matters, Turks have increasing trade and tourism ties with Israel and still have ongoing military agreements. Various Arab nations share Israeli intelligence and cooperate with Israel about matters concerning Syrian civil war. Why don’t we as Muslim nations do it in the open and say Israel is a Middle Eastern democracy and our neighbor?
After the “one minute” incident with Erdo?an during the Davos summit in 2009, Turkey seemed to have joined in with the ranks of those Middle East countries pitted against Israel. The Marmara flotilla incident in 2010 added fuel to the fire and many Turkish politicians garnered praise in the Arabic world with their harsh words for Israel after this incident. But how does Turkey really see Israel?
If we pay attention to only what is visible when it comes to international relations, we will be missing the real details forming the background and that will mean wasting time on unimportant details instead of seeing the larger picture and achieving real results. Most Arabs dislike the Turkish-Israeli relationship. They regard the two countries as Middle Eastern subsidiaries of Western civilization. A troubled historical legacy (colonial in Turkey’s case) leaves its mark on the Arab world’s relations with both Turkey and Israel.
Visa free travel to Turkey for Israeli citizens
Israeli citizens are not required to obtain a visa to enter Turkey, which is surprising considering how the media seems to be full of anti-Israeli sentiment. Americans, on the other hand, have to get a visa, even though Turkey has been a NATO member since its inception, while Israelis can travel to Turkey without any restrictions, as if they are in their own country. Although this is not very uncommon for Turkey, there are some special privileges given only to Israeli citizens.
In 1949, Turkey was the first majority Muslim nation in the world to recognize Israel
Ceylan Ozbudak
For instance, Turkey has no-visa agreements with more than 100 countries, however the citizens of those countries can stay in Turkey without a visa for a maximum of one month, while Israelis can stay for three months. This example alone is sufficient to prove that there is no war of intelligence between the Republic of Turkey and Israel. An Israeli citizen without a visa can perform many activities in Turkey in three months and the mutual trust agreements show that the Turkish people have no such problems. On the part of Israel, the reason for Israel to ask for visas from Muslim Turkish citizens is because Iranian citizens can also travel to Turkey without a visa. This proves that Israel, who feels alone in the Middle East, has an unspoken friendship with Turkey.
Military cooperation
Israeli-Turkish military cooperation touches upon many domains: Air, sea, land (both infantry and armor), intelligence, and the manufacturing of aircraft, armaments, and missiles. It is close, institutionalized, and structured, involving steering committees, regular meetings, and strategic dialogues. It includes a hierarchy of deliberations that reaches up to defense ministers and even higher. Cooperation involves financial dealings in the hundreds of millions of dollars, if not more.
Private initiatives for easier commerce activities
This is not the only recent activity of mutual trust between the two countries. This week, The Jerusalem Arbitration Center (JAC), which will solve the problems between Israeli and Palestinian businesspersons, officially started its work by holding its first meeting of its board of directors. As the entry and exit doors are controlled by the Israelis, and they face serious trade difficulties due to long waiting periods on goods purchased, Palestinian businessmen in particular feel the need for intensive contact with their Israeli counterparts. The JAC will solve commercial disputes between Israeli and Palestinian businesspersons. When the businesspeople of the two countries commit to the slogan “we accept the JAC in solving disputes,” they will have given their consent to the disputes being solved by the center, without having to resort to Israeli or Palestinian courts.
It is expected that the trade volume will increase, thanks to the mediation of the arbitration center. How does this relate to Turkey? This center to solve Israeli-Palestinian business problems is led by a Turkish president. The president of the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB), R?fat Hisarc?kl?o?lu, is the head of the JAC, which has been established within the International Chamber of Commerce. Adil Konuko?lu, the head of the Gaziantep Industry Chamber, will serve on the seven-member board. While talking about the significance of the JAC, the former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, who also participated in the opening ceremony said: “We could not have found a better country than Turkey to head the center.” Emergence of a de facto regional economy propelled by the cross-border activities of economic actors is lately what states see fit to pool resources. It is a very important sign if both Israeli and Arab businessmen feel comfortable with relying on Turkey to solve their problems of commerce.
The history of the Israeli – Turkish relationship
In 1949, Turkey was the first majority Muslim nation in the world to recognize Israel, and for three decades, remained the only such country to do so. The establishment of formal ties with Israel sent a strong message about Turkey’s international orientation and its desire to align itself with the West. Diplomatic missions were opened in 1950 at the legation level. But until the 1990s, relations were more symbolic than substantive. For the first forty years, Turkey withstood unceasing Arab diplomatic and economic pressure to cut diplomatic ties with Israel. The shift in Israeli-Turkish ties began in 1991 in the wake of the Madrid Peace Conference, when Turkey moved to upgrade relations to full ambassadorial status; but the real breakthrough occurred in November 1993, when Turkish foreign minister Hikmet Cetin visited Israel. During the visit, he signed a memorandum on mutual understanding and guidelines on cooperation with his Israeli counterpart.
Starting in the mid-1990s, many in Turkey found the anti-Israeli and anti-Semitic tone of discourse in the Middle East disturbing. Several months ahead of the formation of the right-wing Erbakan government, President Demirel offered the following comments in an address to the National Security Council:
“Are the Turks, who did not engage in anti-Semitism five hundred years ago, now to become anti-Semites? Was the Islam of five hundred years ago more progressive than the Islam of our time? Is that which was not done then to be done now?”
Despite some ups and downs, and occasional disagreements, the relationship between Turkey and Israel is far from breaking down. The long-standing friendship between the two nations will no continue going forward, and – as friends – Turks and Israelis will weather the storms that are currently buffeting the region. On the contrary to popular discourse on the media, Turkey in practice is not anti-Semite at all. Turkey should stand up as a courageous and honest actor in the region who can openly support Israel’s existence and cooperation for better regional integration rather than resorting to various back door policies like her Arab neighbors.(http://english.alarabiya.net/en/views/2013/11/23/How-anti-Israel-Turkey-really-is.html)
Palestinian women protest to end political Hamas-Fatah split
By Asmaa al-Ghoul
GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip — No one expected the four Israeli mothers to be successful in their series of sit-ins in front of the homes and offices of Israeli authorities in demanding their sons, soldiers serving in South Lebanon, be saved. However, they got what they wanted, Israel retreated and the movement of the four mothers came to mark a turning point in history.
After failed political meetings to end the division between Fatah and Hamas, all that is left is the weekly sit-in organized by a group of women in the Park of the Unknown Soldier each Tuesday. It brings together different parties, except for Islamist ones, to demand the end of the Palestinian political division.
Last Tuesday, Nov. 19, at 12:00 pm, Al-Monitor attended the sit-in organized by the General Union for Palestinian Women (GUPW) with the participation of women’s associations. Men from the investigative services, dressed in civilian clothing, surrounded the women who had begun to arrive.
One detective asked the campaign’s coordinator, Nawal Zaqout, about the event’s licensing. She replied that according to the law, there is no need for licensing. Even so, she had tried to contact a number of offices from the security apparatuses, which had not replied to her. They exchanged more questions and answers before he asked that they quietly leave before any problems begin.
Another detective also warned Al-Monitor to disappear from the gathering. “Leave from here, the press is not allowed. It is forbidden for you to write anything even if nothing happens,” he said to Al-Monitor. The threats began to escalate and the security men formed a circle around the women who were carrying out the sit-in.
Mariam Abu Daqqa, a member of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine’s politburo was carrying a Palestinian flag. “We have come here since September of last year and they always tell us not to. Last Tuesday they arrested a large number of women,” she said.
Amal Hamad, president of the GUPW and a member of the Fatah central committee, spoke to Al-Monitor, saying, “Our message is to end the division. As women it is our national responsibility to end the harm that is being done to the Palestinian people.”
Another security figure appeared to mock the group. “Ask them if they are here on orders from their parties and how much they’re being paid,” he scoffed.
Amal ignored the listening ears of the security men. “We are not connected to parties or organizations. We are here from the GUPW and women’s centers — we regard this sit-in as part of our feminist struggle,” she added.
Saada Hajo, 60, seemed enthusiastic as she chanted: “The people want the end of the division.”
“I come every week from Khan Younis. Despite the security presence and the fear it tries to instill in us, we do not despair. We will come each Tuesday in order to end the division and bloodshed and to return to the period that existed in the seventies and eighties,” she said.
Iktimal Hamad, a member of the GUPW’s secretariat, was moving among the women trying to gather them together to face the security personnel that had begun to try to break them up. “The campaign is almost a year old. Each Tuesday we come out and we will continue no matter what. It has nothing to do with the political parties. We are just a group of women trying take effective action on the ground to end the division,” she said.
The security apparatus’ group increased in numbers and the women went to sit by the monument. Others who had been standing in the street joined them and raised the Palestinian flag. Their chants became louder and more organized when a van arrived. The women smiled, for the sit-in had been successful. The security vehicle retreated from the park while some well-known security personnel remained and tried to enter the sit-in to film it and take photographs. The chants became even livelier and louder: “National unity — unity!”
Zaynab Abu Moussa from the Popular Struggle Front (PSF) ran to grab a microphone from a nearby building. “Our sit-in has succeeded and the security apparatus has retreated — we will finish our work. It is our time to persevere until the division ends,” she told Al-Monitor.
Nebras Basisou, the official in charge of women’s issues in Fatah told Al-Monitor, “This sit-in began as a women’s initiative, after which it was backed by political forces and factions as a serious step towards ending the division.”
After several repetitions of the chants came a period of attack, which included the confiscation of identity cards of some of the participants, one of which belonged to the lawyer Salah Abdul Ati. The women were informed that there were Israeli planes in the sky and that the situation had grown dangerous. The sit-in then dispersed.
“The sit-in was not dispersed, it just ended,” Arabieh Abu Jayib told Al-Monitor as she left.
Ibtisam al-Zaanin of the Arab Liberation Front recalled Nov. 4, 2012, when the women’s police and security men came and beat the participants of the sit-in. “I was severely beaten on my head, forcing me to go to the hospital. Then I went to the police to file a complaint, where they refused to take it, so we filed a complaint with human rights organizations,” she explained to Al-Monitor.
Zaqout, the campaign’s organizer, spoke of previous harassment by security forces. “Last Tuesday, they detained me and my signs. They insisted that we were involved in unlicensed activity and that the security situation did not allow for any sit-ins. A few arguments broke out and they did not allow us to leave until the women protesting at the Park of the Unknown Soldier refused to stop except in exchange for our release,” she opined.
She added that she had gone on four occasions to notify the security apparatus of the event. “I went to the General Director of the Interior Security Forces, Salah Abu Sharkh, as well as to the faction coordinating office and the association security office at the Abu Khadra government compound, but I never received a response to the affirmative or the negative,” she said.
In a response from the Interior Ministry, Iyad Al-Bizm, the director of the ministry’s media office, explained that the sit-in had been going illegally on for more than a year, having not gone through the necessary procedures.
“Security personnel who go to the sit-in each week are monitoring the sensitivity of those women present, avoiding any confrontation with them,” he told Al-Monitor during a meeting at his office. He affirmed that everyone was entitled to express their opinion in accordance with the law.
A lawyer from the Independent Commission for Human Rights (ICHR), Salah Abdul Ati, affirmed to Al-Monitor that the right to peaceful assembly is guaranteed by international charters for human rights, by virtue of basic Palestinian law, and the General Meetings Law from 1998, as a form of expression.
“The law does not stipulate acquiring a license, though it does require notifying the police if the assembly involved more than 50 individuals. This does not apply to the weekly women’s sit-in. It is impermissible to obstruct it from happening so long as those assembling do so peacefully,” he said.(http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2013/11/palestinian-division-fatah-hamas-women-protest.html)
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Opinions
Netanyahu alone against the agreement with Iran
By Randa Haidar
Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu failed to persuade leaders of major countries not to ease sanctions on Iran in return for freezing its nuclear program for six months. Netanyahu tried to convince French President Francois Hollande, but failed despite the hospitality of which Hollande was welcomed in Israel, and exaggeration by Netanyahu in expressing his appreciation for the firm French stance in the previous round of nuclear talks with Iran. Indeed, Netanyahu’s insistenceto commend the French guest dealt with satire in Israel media, and described as politically unwise behavior, aiming at irritatingand teasing the Obama administration, some Israeli commentators accused Netanyahu of endangering the historic relations with the United States for the sake of creating an alliance with France, which in their view could not be relied on.
Netanyahu is in Moscow now trying to convince Russian President Vladimir Putin on his point of view but to no avail, since the Russians' enthusiasm for the agreement with Iran reaches beyond the enthusiasm of other countries, and that the relationship between Israel and Russia in recent months has experienced much stress because of the opposition of Israel to Russians providing advanced missile systems to Syria that Israel view as a threat and reducesthe capability of maneuver for the Israeli air force, and also because Israel attackedadvanced Russian-made missiles inside Syrian territory more than once.
In the meantime, listlessness in the relationship between Israel and the Obama administration continues due to Netanyahu's campaign against the administration’s positions that it considers as lenient with Iran, and Israeli accusations that Obama wants to reach a quick agreement with Iran that will pose a danger of collapse of all diplomatic pressure on Iran, and that Obama denied all his promises to Israel to stand by its side, preventing Iran through various means to obtain military nuclear capacity.
In this campaign waged by Netanyahu against an agreement with Iran, voices of former military officials close to Netanyahu were heard saying that Israel is capable of solely attack Iranian nuclear facilities, and that Israel is not obliged to a bad agreement with Iran.
Regardless of the outcome of the ongoing talks with Iran, it is clear today that Israel no longer has the ability to launch a military attack on Iran, and that its ability to disable diplomatic solution is very limited, so what is Netanyahu is looking for the most now is to improve the terms of the agreement.(http://newspaper.annahar.com/article/85703-%D9%86%D8%AA%D9%86%D9%8A%D8%A7%D9%87%D9%88-%D9%88%D8%AD%D9%8A%D8%AF%D8%A7-%D8%B6%D8%AF-%D8%A7%D8%AA%D9%81%D8%A7%D9%82-%D9%85%D8%B9-%D8%A5%D9%8A%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%86)
Abu Mazen at the Knesset!?
Al-Quds Editorial
The anniversary of President Sadat's visit to Jerusalem and his famous speech in the Knesset was some days ago, followed by different stages of the peace agreements and relations which changed the course of history in the region and changed the equations until today and for the foreseeable future.
In this fiftieth anniversary, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu invited President Abu Mazen to deliver a speech in the Knesset and declared his readiness to deliver a speech ...In Ramallah, he did not stop at the big fallacy and the ridiculous comparison between Ramallah, Jerusalem and the Knesset, but called on Abbas to recognize Israel a Jewish State, united Jerusalem and illegal settlement... to the lastof positions contrary to all simplest concepts of peace and justice, practices on ground that destroy the possibilities and opportunities of reaching a settlement stability, developmentand forsake hatred.
President Abbas in return shows an unprecedented concession and confirms his well to knock all doors and pursue all possibilities hoping peace may be achieved. He insists on continuing the negotiations until the nine months set by the US administration are over, despite the resignation of the negotiating team, and despite the objections of national, Islamic and popular forces for its continuation.
Abu Mazen made yesterday a further step in this direction, declaring his readiness to deliver a speech in the Knesset, but not according to Netanyahu’s conditions, announcing his initial approval to go to the Knesset and deliver a speech, according to views of a number of observers he was going to the Knesset soon, because such a step is fully consistent with his approach, and no conditions will stand in his way.
President Abbas will not lose anything if he go to the Knesset and deliver a clear and specific speech, with the terms of reference of peace based on the 1967 borders and the establishment of a State with its capital in Jerusalem, to stop settlement building and to find a solution to the refugee issue based on international legitimacy and resolutions on this subject, and an agreed and balanced land swaps and other issues, on the contrary, such a step may have positive results at the international political level, and the internal Israeli level.(http://www.alquds.com/news/article/view/id/474636)
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