|
|
Dec. 4, 2013
Daily summary - Wednesday, December 04, 2013
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Main News
YA’ALON APPROVES 3,000 SETTTLEMENT UNITS IN FOUR MONTHS; HOUSING MINISTER: WE WILL CONTINUE WITH SETTLEMENTS, THEY CAN SAY WHATEVER THEY WANT
Israeli defense minister Moshe Ya’alon approved the construction of 3,000 housing units over the past four months in the West Bank and East Jerusalem according to Peace Now, which is since he assumed office. Housing minister Uri Ariel, meanwhile, responded to Palestinian statements that if settlement construction did not stop, this would lead to the breakdown of negotiations, saying: “They can say whatever they want; we are going to keep building.” Ariel, who was speaking to Israel’s Channel 7, said “We will continue building, anyone who thinks it is necessary to continue talking with them [Palestinians] can go ahead and keep talking, but in all cases, we will continue to build.” (Al Ayyam)
ISRAELI GOVERNMENT APPROVES CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW JEWISH TOWN IN THE NEGEV
The regional planning and construction committee in Israel approved yesterday the construction of a new Jewish town named “Shizav” within the Ramat Negev regional council perimeters in the Negev Desert. The Israeli interior ministry said that the new town would be comprised of 250 housing units for young couples and would include all of the necessary infrastructure such as electricity, water, sewage system and transportation. (Al Quds)
ISRAELI FORCES CONTINUE DEMOLITIONS AND LAND LEVELING IN NORTHERN JORDAN VALLEY; SETTLERS VIOLENT AND PROVOCATIEVE TOWARDS PALESTINIANS
At a time when Israeli forces continue to demolish buildings and sheds and level land on an almost daily basis in a number of areas in the northern Jordan Valley, settlers are raiding and attacking several cities and villages to impose their control over certain areas for settlement or religious purposes. Israeli bulldozers demolished several homes and agricultural facilities yesterday in the Jordan Valley, including two homes in Tammun. Israeli forces also demolished water collection wells near Khirbet Yarza.
In the village of Deir Istaya, north of Salfeet, settlers from Ravava spilled sewage water into the villagers’ land, while in Hebron, settlers raided the Budeiri building yet again near the Ibrahimi mosque, moving in furniture ahead of turning it into a Jewish temple. (Al Quds)
EUROPE THREATENS THE PA WITH HALTING FINANCIAL AID
The EU warned yesterday of the consequences of not achieving results in Palestinian-Israeli negotiations and reaching an agreement. According to the Israeli website Yedioth Ahranoth, a senior European source said not reaching an agreement through the current negotiations could lead to a halt in financial aid offered by the EU to the Palestinian Authority. The source, who was talking to a group of Israeli journalists during an EU conference in Brussels, added that the financial aid offered to the PA by the EU since the signing of the Oslo Accords has been aimed at the establishment of a Palestinian state, adding that if the negotiations did not lead to this state, there would be no point in continuing European financial support. The source said discussions over halting the aid to the PA had begun before the negotiations between the two sides commenced but had been suspended after they were resumed. He said they were still pending but would be seriously reconsidered if no progress is made.
According to the newspaper, if the aid is halted, this would lead to the collapse of the PA almost immediately, adding that the threat therefore was directed at the Israelis as well, because halting this aid would immediately affect security and the work of Palestinian security services not to mention that the collapse of the PA would also return civil responsibilities and jurisdictions for the West Bank and its residents, to Israel.
Also at the meeting, 14 EU countries including France and the UK said they were willing to mark settlement products in their markets, showing a sharp rise in EU countries that agreed to do this, up from only two. (http://maannews.net/arb/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=653900)
NEGOTIATING SESSION CANCELLED BECAUSE OF SETTLEMENTS
A senior Palestinian official said yesterday that a negotiating session with the Israelis had been cancelled Monday night after Palestinian negotiators refused to attend because Israel had not officially reneged on its decision to stop major settlement expansion in the West Bank. The official, who asked to remain unnamed, said the cancellation came after Israel refused to give a clear answer to its plans to build 20,000 settlement units in the West Bank. (Al Ayyam)
PRESIDENT RECEIVES DELEGATION OF ISRAELI BUSINESSMEN
President Mahmoud Abbas received yesterday a delegation of Israeli businessmen under former head of the Israeli government’s office Dov Weizglass. The president briefed them on the latest developments in the negotiations and said that economics “plays a huge role in achieving peace and ending the conflict because economics needs security and stability, which can be achieved by a just and lasting peace.” The issue of exporting Palestinian products to Israel was also discussed such as clothes and shoes. (Al Ayyam)
ISRAEL SAYS IT IS OFFERING HUMANITARIAN AID TO SYRIANS NEAR THE GOLAN
The Israeli defense minister said yesterday that Israel is offering humanitarian aid to Syrian civilians besieged because of the battle between Assad and opposition forces near the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights. Dozens of wounded Syrians have been transferred to Israeli hospitals through the Golan, which has been sporadically hit with gunfire during the course of the conflict. Minister Moshe Ya’alon told journalists during a tour of the Golan that Israel ‘could not sit with its hands behind its back as it watches the human suffering on the other side – not when it has to do with the wounded or regarding preparations for winter or other problems such as food for infants.” Ya’alon said they were providing ‘the other side” with humanitarian necessities including food, baby food and water. He said the recipients of the aid were villagers who were locked in the confrontations between Assad’s forces and the opposition east of the Golan. (http://www.alquds.co.uk/?p=109956)
PALESTINIANS SKEPTICAL ABOUT FRENCH REPORT THAT RULES OUT THEORY OF ARAFAT’S POISONING
A source who say the results of the French forensic report said the tests concluded that President Yasser Arafat had not died of poisoning, contrary to the previous report. The source said the reports showed that the cause of death was a massive stroke but that at the time, there had been no indication as to what caused it. Arafat’s wife, Suha, said she was ‘extremely annoyed” by the contradictions in the Swiss and French reports over her husband’s death, saying “she didn’t know who to believe, but that she was not blaming anyone.” (http://www.alquds.co.uk/?p=110155)
Apparently, the French report indicated that Arafat had died of “natural causes” because of aging and overall infections. (Al Ayyam)
TIRAWI DENIES STATEMENTS ATTRIBUTED TO HIM ABOUT REVEALING THE NAMES OF THOSE INVOVLED IN ARAFAT’S ASSASSINATION
Head of the investigations committee into the death of late President Yasser Arafat, and member of Fatah’s Central Committee Tawfiq Tirawi, denied yesterday statements attributed to him about revealing the names of those involved in the assassination of late President Yasser Arafat. Tirawi told MAAN that he had not made any statements of the sort, reaffirming that the investigation was still ongoing and that the names would be revealed once the results were conclusive and the perpetrators reached.
A Facebook page with Tirawi’s name had said yesterday that the names of the culprits in the assassination would be revealed. The page also attributed quotes to Tirawi saying that people should ‘expect to hear charges against members of the committee or the president in cases that would harm their reputation.” (http://maannews.net/arb/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=653766)
GENERAL STRIKE IN ALL UNRWA FACILITIES IN THE WEST BANK
A general strike has swept all UNRWA facilities and sectors in the West Bank since yesterday morning including the educational, health and operational sectors, with a total of 5,000 employees in addition to 2,000 from the emergency program abstaining from work. The strike comes after the employee union said talks had failed with UNRWA administration over their demands, which are related to salary raises. (Al Quds)
ISRAELI COORDINATOR FOR THE TERRITORIES WARNS OF HUMANITARIAN DISASTER IN GAZA
Etan Dangot, government coordinator for Israeli affairs in the territories warned during several meetings last week in Brussels with EU officials of a ‘humanitarian disaster’ in Gaza. According to the Israeli daily Maariv, Dangot showcased the issue of lack of fuel and the electricity crisis in Gaza, which he says has affected home economics and public facilities such as hospitals. Dangot said the electricity was cut off for 16 hours a day on average and that sewage water is flowing through the streets since the pumps cannot work properly without electricity. He also said there was a shortage in drinking water. Fuel shortages have resulted in garbage trucks not collecting trash, attributing this crisis to the problems between Hamas and Egypt. He said Hamas, meanwhile, was not escalating its battle against Israel because it knows it would not get support from Egypt. Dangot said he was working with the PA to find at least a partial solution to the fuel crisis, but said Hamas was not willing to heed to the jurisdictions of the PA. (Al Quds)
WASHINGTON DOES NOT EXPECT INTERNATIONALIZATION OF PALESTINIAN-ISRAELI PEACE TALKS
US State Department spokesperson Jennifer Psaki said yesterday before travelling with Secretary of State John Kerry to Israel and the Palestinian territories that the United States was determined to continue its efforts to sponsor the peace process but does not see any need for internationalizing the negotiations. In response to a question asked by Al Quds about information leaked that the PA was “positively” waiting on the idea of an international conference to sponsor the peace talks, Psaki said that the US “had heard about these reports” but that they were focused on continuing direct negotiations between Palestinians and Israelis with their role as ‘facilitator’, saying the US was not privy to the idea of holding an international conference like the Geneva conference on Iran for the Palestinian-Israeli talks (AlQuds)
ISRAELI ESCALATION AT THE AQSA MOSQUE HOURS AHEAD OF KERRY’S ARRIVAL TO THE REGION
Hours before US Secretary of State John Kerry is to arrive in the region, the “Temple Mount Faithful” announced that it would organize a march towards the Aqsa Mosque today on the occasion of Hanukah. Yesterday, around 140 settlers broke into the grounds, protected by Israeli police and special forces. According to the Temple Mount message, the march today will be ‘an annual pilgrimage’ for Hanukah, from Modiin to the Aqsa Mosque. The Aqsa Institute for Waqf and Heritage has warned of the dangers of such an escalation, warning against the Temple Mount plan to place a menorah in the Aqsa. (Al Ayyam)
|
Headlines
*Government decides to cut salaries and replace striking teachers; union sticks to strike (Al Hayat Al Jadida)
*The President: the negotiations are facing difficulties because of Israel (Al Hayat Al Jadida)
*The President receives phone call from Erdogan (Al Hayat Al Jadida)
*Dmeiri: file of imported vehicles will not be closed until public funds are returned (Al Hayat Al Jadida)
*Lapid discusses with Netanyahu calming the situation with Obama; Lieberman heads to Washington (Al Hayat Al Jadida)
*Occupation forces arrest young man in Hebron, claiming he tried to stab a soldier (Al Ayyam)
*Nahhal: The president is working to solve the problem of Gaza martyrs’ families within 48 hours (Al Ayyam)
*Ahmad Fouad Negem dies (Al Ayyam)
*Israeli sources: Hamas is carrying out tests of missiles that reach Tel Aviv (Al Ayyam)
*Kerry to arrive in Israel amidst sharp dispute over relationship with Washington (Al Quds)
*Ya’alon: The Syrians can keep killing one another, there is no problem (Al Quds)
*6,000 Israeli boys tried to commit suicide in 2011 (Al Quds)
*One woman dies and 22 children injured in traffic accident near Dead Sea (Al Quds)
|
Front Page Photos
Al- Quds:Sayda: Woman passes by a mural of President Yasser Arafat
Al-Ayyam:New settlement site built on lands taken over from village of Mazra’a Qabaliyeh northwest of Ramallah
Al Hayat Al Jadida:Suha Arafat and two lawyers Pierre Olivier and Saad Jaber speaking at a press conference in Paris; Nabil Dmeiri
|
Voice of Palestine News
It is anticipated that today we will see more break inns to Al-Aqsa as a result of call during the last two days from extreme Jewish groups to storm Al-Aqsa, in addition, the police is also expected to take more measures at all gates of Al-Aqsa, as a response to calls for Palestinians from Jerusalem and inside the green line to reach Al-Aqsa to protect it, also, calls for a general strike in Jerusalem today protesting the continuous storming of Al-Aqsa, that continued yesterday and anticipated today.
Extreme Jewish groups called on the Israel government yesterday to appoint a Rabbi forAl-Aqsa, in an attempt to change the status quo in Al-Aqsa. With regards to attacks and arrests against Jerusalemites, the occupation forces arrested a child of Lujin family form the old city on the pretext of throwing stones at settlers and soldiers.
Update:
The first group of 20 extreme Jewish settlers stormed Al-Aqsa today, led by Yehuda Glick, they stormed al-Aqsa through Al-Selselah gate under protection of the occupation police, huge big numbers of the occupation special police forces were deployed in Al-Aqsa courtyards, according to Al-Aqsa guards tension is prevailing while anticipating developments in the coming hours.
|
Voice of Palestine Interviews
** Sheikh Abdul-Azem Salhab, President of the Islamic Waqf in Jerusalem, on Israeli violations in Jerusalem.
Q: How do you view the continuous storming of al-Aqsa and attempts to enter the Talmudic candlestick?
The occupation policy is revealed and it aims at Judaizing Jerusalem, and in administering Al-Aqsa, storming of Al-Aqsa became a daily act, these are being executed by extremists recruited by the occupation authorities who enters these extremists from Bab Al-Magharebah under its protection, the situation is very dangerous, Israel is trying to take over Al-Aqsa, and divide it, in addition to changing the status quo.
Q: any connection in order to stop this from happening?
We appreciate the position of our people in Jerusalem and all those who can reach the mosque, they try to face these actions, but we need support from Jerusalemites and organizations providing services for those who protect the mosque, we are in continuous connections with consulates and ambassadors, with Jordan. Our Arab nation is demanded to support us, the peoples and governments, should have Al-Aqsa as their haggiest priority.
** Murad Eshtewwy, coordinator of the popular campaign in Kufur Qadoum, on settlers and army attacks in Kufur Qadoum, east of Qalailya.
Q: Can you tell us more about the confrontations in Kufur Qadoum yesterday?
Yesterday at 15:30, we were surprised military vehicles entering the village, while attacking the village with tear gas and rubber bullets, the young citizens did not stand doing nothing and confrontations erupted between youth and the occupation army, resulting in tens of injuries and an arrest of one young Palestinian in front of his home. This came as a result of a threat of an Israeli army officer who threaten citizens of Kufur Qadoum of sever measures, and closing the village from 7:00 am every day.
** Azzam Al-Ahmad, Chairman of the parliamentary block of Fatah.
Q: with regards to the latest development of the teachers’ issue, what is your position in Fateh regarding this issue?
We said participated form the beginning more than a month ago, in the efforts to stop the strike and reach an agreement between the government and the teachers union, and we reached an agreement. Few days ago the president meet with the union and agreed with them to stop the strike in order to give the government the time to implement the agreement, stressing that strikes that harm the education is one thing and their right is another thing, even if it was through a limited strike, but a general and continuous strike is harmful for students and teacher. We hope that dialogue will be away from the different agendas that might harm education in Palestine; we will continue in our efforts with all side to reach a final agreement away from the language of strikes, as we live in normal situation, we forgot that there is occupation and very difficult challenges.
Q: with regards to the reconciliation, is there anything new, there is news about Turkish and Qatari sponsorships?
No, nothing is new, no movement in this regards from Turkey or Qatar, we announced more than once that the reconciliation process was stopped last August with a decision from Hamas, since it did not implement what was agreed in the Doha and Cairo agreements, namely deciding on dates for elections, it seems like that Hamas decided, because of the situation in Egypt, not to implement, we don’t need any new sponsorship or new efforts at all, we don’t need any new dialogue we only need Hamas to implement the agreements, but Hamas is experiences difficult conditions no, which we all know, so it uses the media for deception, for example, Mousa Abu Marzouq was the one who declared a new Turkish movement, but then Haneye’s advisor Yousef Rezqa, announced that Hamas insist of Egyptian sponsorship, so why announcing Turkish involvement from the beginning? I say we should put all this aside, and again, we are not ready to have anew dialogue, there is a clear position, we want to implement what was agreed upon, period!
Q: With regards to the Martyrdom of late President Arafat, news say that the PA received the French report, and that this report did not say whether Arafat was poisoned or not, can you provide us with more details?
We did not receive any new report form the French, it was deiced that they would provide us with some of the specimen, the Swiss laboratories provided us with the report but what was reported in the media with regards to the French report was only in the media, we did not receive anything yet, we only received the first report. We will follow up on the issue through official channels regarding news reported by the AFP.
|
More Headlines
Maariv: Israel plans to give PA control over 20,000 dunams of land in Area C
According to the Israeli daily Maariv this morning, Israel is planning to give the PA control over 20,000 dunams of land in Area C in order to invest in it from an economic aspect after pressure from the United States. According to the newspaper’s website, the Israeli army ministry is preparing to approve the handover of control of these areas, which are far from settlements or the separation wall. According to Israeli security sources, economic projects funded by USAID will be established in these areas in order to develop the Palestinian economy. Maariv said the land to be given to the PA equals 10% of Area C, the overall area of which is two million dunams. (http://maannews.net/arb/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=653921)
Nahhal: The President promised to solve the problem of martyrs’ families within 48 hours
Mohammed Nahhal, head of the organization for caring for the families of martyrs and the wounded said yesterday that President Abbas had promised to solve the problem of families of martyrs of the Gaza war 2008-2009 and the 2012 war within 48 hours. The families of the martyrs have been holding an open sit-in in front of the PLO-affiliated organization since October 27, demanding that their monthly allowances for families of martyrs’ be paid to them just like all other martyrs of the Palestinian revolution. (Al Ayyam)
Egyptian authorities arrest Palestinians fleeing Syria
The working group for Palestinians in Syria said today that Egyptian authorities have waged raids and pursuits of Palestinian refugees fleeing Syria to Egypt over the past three days. The group said the campaign included house raids where police believe Palestinian and Syrian fugitives are being harbored along with refugees who were picked up in the street while shopping or walking by. Egyptian authorities claim the arrests were made because the refugees were in Egypt illegally even though the immigration office refuses to offer them any kind of residency permits. (http://qudsnet.com/news/View/259275/السلطات-المصرية-تعتقل-فلسطينيين-فارين-من-سوريا/)
Settlers break into the Aqsa, threaten to set up a menorah inside
Muslim worshippers inside the Aqsa Mosque compound faced off with settlers early this morning after they broke into the compound from the Moroccan Gate on the occasion of Hanukah. Eyewitnesses said a group of settlers, led by extremist Yehuda Glick, broke into the grounds under heavy police protection and were met by Palestinian youths who threw firecrackers at them. Police quickly rushed the settlers out. There has been a heavy Israeli military presence in the Aqsa compound since this morning along with Muslim worshippers inside who are ready to confront plans by the Temple Mount to set up a menorah on top of the Dome of the Rock.(http://maannews.net/arb/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=653920)
|
Arab Press
Turkish culture popular among Gaza Palestinians
By Rasha Abou Jalal
GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip — The deadly raid by the Israeli navy on May 31, 2010, against the Mavi Marmara marked the beginning of a push by Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan to support an end to the Israeli blockade against the Gaza Strip. His stance led to a widespread belief among Gazans that their savior might arrive in the form of a Turkish man. Soon after, "Turkmania" swept the Gazan Street. To this day, Palestinians in Gaza remain captivated by Turkish culture.
Relations between the Turkish and Palestinian peoples go back centuries, with Palestine for a time being part of the Ottoman rule. According to Hani Agha, director of the Turkish Yardim Eli (Helping Hand) Foundation, which is active in Gaza, relations were reinvigorated by Erdogan's public stance on Israeli policy toward Gaza, when the prime minister put Israeli President Shimon Peres in an awkward position at the Davos economic summit in January 2009, accusing him of killing Palestinian children in Gaza. Erdogan's popularity skyrocketed among Gazans, some of whom named newborns after him.
Agha told Al-Monitor, "Since that incident, Gazans felt that Turkey — both the government and the people — was concerned [about Palestine] in a way that differs from the Arab states, which are only good at making statements. But the incident involving the Mavi Marmara flotilla, which [tried] to break the Israeli siege on Gaza in May 2010, constituted the real beginning of the Turkish 'opening.' Following the raid, the Turkish government began widespread development and relief work in Gaza."
Among the most prominent such efforts is the Al-Ikhwa project, which tries to foster social and spiritual integration between Palestinians in Gaza and Turks. As Agha described it, "This project is based on establishing a partnership between a family in Turkey and another in Gaza, within the framework of the 'brother families' project. The two families exchange family photos and get to know each other via phone calls, with the help of an interpreter. They exchange gifts and letters on special occasions and holidays."
A large food aid campaign organized by the Turkish Humanitarian Relief Foundation (IHH) is also responsible for strengthening relations between Turkey and Gaza at the popular level. The foundation works to provide aid to orphans, establish educational facilities, organize training programs and build hospitals, clinics and mosques.
The IHH, which provides Gazans with needed assistance, has also been the subject of criticism and demands for its closure. On June 24, 2010, 87 US senators called on President Barack Obama to place the IHH on a terrorist list, as Israel has done, on the ground that it supports Hamas and Hezbollah.
In light of the Turkish opening in Gaza, Palestinians there developed an interest in all things Turkish and have set out to learn more about the country. "Turkish drama has become the focus of great interest for Palestinians in Gaza, because of [Turkey's] rich history and culture. The names of Turkish actors are well-known in Gaza, and residents of the Strip follow the details of their lives," Agha asserted.
Turkish soap operas dubbed into Arabic are quite popular, especially the ones that address the Palestinian-Israeli conflict in some way. These include Hareem al-Sultan, which conveys the extensive power of by the Ottoman Empire, and Ala Mur al-Zaman, a series that deals with Arab events in general and Palestinian affairs in particular. This is in addition to The Valley of the Wolves and Farewell, two series that speak out about the Palestinian cause have attracted the ire of Israel.
Meanwhile, hundreds of Gazans have begun to learn the Turkish language amid a growing desire to visit Turkey. Al-Monitor spoke with Safa Martada, a graduate of a Turkish-language course in Gaza. "Learning the Turkish language has become very important in light of the huge opening between Turkey and Gaza, and [is a way] to exchange experiences between the two peoples," Martada noted. She hopes to visit Turkey to learn about it firsthand and perhaps complete her university studies there.
Martada's colleague Faten Mansour told Al-Monitor that she is learning Turkish so she can connect with Turks through social networking sites and teach them about the Palestinians' suffering to strengthen their support for Gaza. "Turkish people love Gaza, but they do not know a lot about it," she asserted.
According to Agha, Gazans have begun learning Turkish for a number of other reasons. Some are interested in forming business relationships, especially since Turkish goods are in demand in Gaza. Others study the language in the hope of getting educational scholarships in Turkey or developing social relationships with Turkish citizens.
Although Palestinian custom discourages Palestinian women from marrying foreign men, marriages between Turks and Gazan residents have begun to strengthen the bonds between the two peoples. Take for instance the case of Matin Kaya, 22, a Turkish man who married Ishraq, 20, the daughter of Ahmed Yousef who previously headed the Hamas government's Committee to Confront the Israeli Blockade.
"The idea of marrying [a Gazan] was part of my position toward the Palestinian cause, which stemmed from the Turkish people's position toward Gazans. In all honesty, I've dreamed of marrying a Gazan [woman] for years," Kaya told Al-Monitor.
He said that the Mavi Marmara incident had driven Turkish public opinion in supporting the Palestinian cause and amplified Turkish feelings of solidarity with the Palestinians. "Many in Turkey want to marry Gazan girls and live in Gaza. They envy me for doing this," Kaya contended.
His wife interrupted him. "My husband and his family sacrificed a lot to come to Gaza and support the Strip. Marrying him was the least I could do in exchange for these sacrifices," Ishraq said. She added, "I'm very happy with my marriage to Matin." Ishraq also told Al-Monitor that she did not hesitate for a moment when it came to marrying a Turkish man after she saw how a number of Turks on the Mavi Marmara sacrificed their lives to deliver aid to Gaza.
Israel apologized to Turkey for the Mavi Marmara incident on March 22, and the two countries established a joint committee to discuss compensation for the families of the victims and the restoration of relations. Regardless, Turkish activity in the Gaza Strip has not abated, and Gazans continue to welcome anything Turkish.(http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2013/12/gaza-mavi-marmara-turkey-culture-palestine-siege.html)
Jewish suffering, Palestinian suffering
By Joseph Massad
Solidarity with Jewish suffering should lead to solidarity with victims of Zionist racism, the Palestinians.
The late French scholar Pierre Bourdieu once said that the tragedy of the Palestinians is that their oppressors are the victims of Europe, which led him to call the Palestinians "the victims of the victims".
For Bourdieu, as for many European and American intellectuals who may be inclined to support the Palestinian struggle against oppression, the "tragic question" is "how to choose between the victims of racist violence par excellence and the victims of these victims?" The answer, of course, should be simple, namely that one should always stand with Jews as victims of European anti-Semitic violence and stand with Palestinians as victims of Jewish racist violence. There is no choice to be made between the two: The first position must lead to the second. Alas, many find this point difficult to grasp.
Over the last century and a quarter, many European and Euro-American Jewish intellectuals have come to recognize the oppressiveness of Zionist and Israeli Jews towards the Palestinians and have taken public positions that criticize Zionist and Israeli conduct and defend the Palestinians. This Jewish dissent began with Zionism itself.
Today the Palestinians are the Jews of the Israelis.
-Primo Levi, holocaust survivor
Zionist brutality
If Ahad Ha'Am recognized the brutality of European Jewish colonial settlers to the Palestinian peasants in the late 19th century, Judith Butler condemns this on-going brutality towards all Palestinians at present. In her recent book, Parting Ways: Jewishness and the Critique of Zionism, which discusses Jewish critiques and criticisms of state violence, and of Zionism and Israel, Butler speaks of the difficulty encountered by Italian holocaust survivor Primo Levi when he criticized Israel during its 1982 invasion of Lebanon, and when he demanded that Menachem Begin and Ariel Sharon resign from office. Levi had declared: "Today, the Palestinians are the Jews of the Israelis."
While Israeli Jews were slaughtering Palestinians and the Lebanese, anti-Semitic Italians scribbled racist slogans on the walls of Levi's town, which alarmed him as it did other Jewish critics of Israel. Butler writes that, "This was an untenable situation, and it produced a conflict: Could he continue to elaborate those principles derived from his experience of Auschwitz to condemn state violence without contributing to an anti-Semitic seizure of the event?"
The answer is straightforward of course, namely, that any condemnation of Israeli Jewish brutality in a European context should always contextualize it in the history of European political power, and contrast it with the situation when European Jews had no such power in Europe and were subject to European Christian brutality and genocide. The way to counter the European anti-Semites is precisely to show that Zionist and Israeli Jewish brutality is not on account of the Jewishness of the perpetrators, but on account of their holding power to brutalize another population and act out their racist colonial violence against them. This is not unlike when European Christians oppressed Jews, as they did not do so because they were Christians but on account of the anti-Semites amongst them holding power to act out their genocidal anti-Semitism on Jews.
Recognizing Israel's constant invocation of the holocaust to justify its colonial crimes against the Palestinians, Butler adds, "If we say that the Holocaust is deployed for the purposes of justifying brutal (Israeli) state and military actions, we must also say that the Holocaust is not reducible to this (Zionist and Israeli) deployment, that it devalues and effaces the specific suffering and political challenge of the Holocaust to make such a reduction."
One should not be able to speak about the holocaust without condemning Israeli and Zionist crimes either.
Justifying brutality
I agree with Butler's understanding here but would want to add that as Zionism and Israel and their international supporters have invoked and continue to invoke the holocaust as much to condemn Nazi crimes as to justify Israeli Jewish crimes, we must be vigilant in dealing with this constitutive coupling, which emerges with every Zionist and Israeli invocation of the holocaust.
Thus, it seems to me that if one cannot criticize Israel's use of the holocaust without condemning anti-Semitism at the same time, lest the anti-Semites use one's criticisms to justify their rhetorical or physical attacks on Jews, it stands to reason that given the history of the use of the holocaust to justify Israeli and Zionist crimes, one should not be able to speak about the holocaust without condemning Israeli and Zionist crimes either, lest one's invocation of the holocaust be used by Zionists to justify their on-going crimes against the Palestinians.
To speak of the holocaust (which, through Israeli exploitation does not exist only as a memory of the Nazi genocide, but is always presented as an argument justifying past and present Jewish colonial violence in Palestine) without condemning Israeli Jewish crimes, I contend, "devalues and effaces the specific suffering and political challenge" of the on-going colonialism to which Palestinians remain subject.
It is Israel's exploitation of the holocaust that has made it incumbent not only on Jewish critics of Israel, like Butler, but on all critics of racist and colonial oppression, to always be alert to address Palestinian suffering when they speak of Jewish suffering. It is Israel, after all, that justifies Palestinian suffering by invoking Jewish suffering.
In response, Israel's critics and opponents must show solidarity with Palestinian suffering at the hands of Zionists and Israeli Jews by invoking their solidarity with Jewish suffering at the hands of anti-Semites. At the same time, they must show solidarity with Jewish suffering at the hands of anti-Semites by invoking their solidarity with Palestinian suffering at the hands of Zionists and Israeli Jews. Butler's example shows that this should not be difficult for anyone with a serious commitment to end colonial, racial, and religious oppression.(http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/2013/12/jewish-suffering-palestinian-suffering-201312141957378782.html)
Galilee is a taste of Israeli apartheid
National Editorial
Whatever faint prospect that a one-state solution could be in any way acceptable to the Palestinians can be dismissed simply by looking at Israel’s recent conduct in Galilee and the Negev. In both the far north and far south of the nation, Arab Israelis are finding themselves cast in the role of second-class citizens compared to their Jewish compatriots, who receive generous financial benefits to settle in the two regions.
The World Zionist Organization’s Settlement Division, an executive branch of the Israeli government, has declared that the proportion of Arabs in Galilee is too high. The Israeli daily Haaretz said this imbalance would be addressed by creating new towns and expanding existing ones beyond the limits set in the development master plans. Meanwhile, Arab Israelis are finding themselves unable to expand their own towns.
In the Negev, the displacement of the Bedouins includes the demolition of supposedly “unofficial” villages which were in place hundreds of years before Zionism was founded as a movement.
This is a taste of what could happen on the West Bank. With every new Jewish settlement on occupied Palestinian land, the prospect of two separate and viable states for the Israelis and the Palestinians becomes inexorably less likely.
The Israeli government knows full well that if the two-state solution eventually collapses and a one-state outcome emerges by default, it will have to choose between being a Jewish state or a democratic one.
The developments in Galilee and the Negev suggest which way events are likely to go if that occurs, and that Israel will become, in effect, an apartheid state with the best land and a disproportionate share of resources, such as water, given to the Jewish population.
By going down this route, the prospects for Israeli Arabs and the Palestinians will be bleak. It certainly seems the direction in which the Netanyahu government is headed.
But Israel needs to be aware that there is a sea-change underway in world attitudes to its actions in the territories and within Israel itself. The UN and the EU are increasingly outspoken in their criticisms and even the US doesn’t seem quite so attentive to the Israeli lobby.
All this ought to add Israeli impetus to the peace negotiations that are still – at least nominally – continuing with the Palestinians.(http://www.thenational.ae/thenationalconversation/editorial/galilee-is-a-taste-of-israeli-apartheid)
|
Opinions
Building the alleged temple enters the implementation phase
Al-Dustuor Editorial
Building the alleged temple entered the implementation stage when Prime Minister of the enemy’s Government Netanyahu lit the Talmudic candlestick, and entered it into
Al-Aqsa exploiting religious holidays… pushing Jewish extremists to break into Al Aqsa and defiling it, and attacking worshipers and students and terrorizing women and children.
This Zionist provocation, is not a coincidence, but rather falls within the context of a sly approach for temporal and spatial division of the Mosque in preparation for its demolition and building the temple, having the enemy completed its plans, and presented them in Al-Aqsa courtyards, and in this context we should note the racist actions of the enemy, leading to the announcement of building the temple including all Waqf and heritage buildings surrounding the mosque,building biblical synagogues on its ruins, expansion of Al-Boraq yards and constructing bridge connecting it with Baba Al-Maghareba (Moroccans’ Gate), despite the UNESCO protest and its rejection of these measure, which are a flagrant violation of international law and relevant treaties that prohibit any changes in the Holy places, affecting the right of citizens to worship and freedom to perform their prayers.
In addition to this serious issue, the enemy prepared for the aggression on Al Aqsa by exploiting religious biblical and Talmudic events and mobilized the largest number of spitefulreligious people to storm Al-Aqsa, defiling it and attacking worshippers, which led to clashes with worshippers who flocked from the Palestinian towns, villages and camps to defend it, and prevent settlers from storming it. Palestinian managed to block these spiteful waves, and prevented settlers form achieving their aims and objectives, which aims at terrorizing worshippers, and prevent their access to the mosque, and finally agree to share it as happened in the Ibrahimi Mosque in Hebron.
The enemy’s criminal attempts will not stop, and it will insist on achieving its objectives in establishing the temple on Al-Aqsa ruins, these are no longer secret undisclosed goals, Netanyahu declared from the rostrum of the Knesset that Jerusalem will remain the capital of Israel, and Housing Minister announces that Al-Aqsa is a property of Israel since it is built on the temple land... This means the Judaization of its courtyards converting it to biblical synagogues, as the Knesset fascist decision allows for Jews to enter the Al-Aqsa Mosque whenever they wish, which means the start of the actual counting for its temporal and spatial division, then came lighting the Talmudic candlestick to inaugurate construction of the temple.
In short: the Zionist enemy started a while ago preparing to the build the alleged temple and Judaize Al-Aqsa, and did not hesitate to declare itsracism and fascism plans exploiting the Arab differences and Palestinian Division, and the US and European support and complicity, in addition to developments in the region, that shakes it after the explosion of sectarian conflicts.This makes it necessary for the Palestinian people to declare its readinessto protect Al-Aqsa from Judaization and foil the plot to build the alleged temple.(http://www.addustour.com/17054.html)
Lifting the siege and ending the division is needed
Al-Quds Editorial
Hamas Government in Gaza is certainly demanded to move to end the division and restore Palestinian national unity, particularly given that its current position is consistent with the overall position the Fatah movement in the West in terms of maintaining calm, and creating any reasons for Israeli attacks on innocent Palestinian victims, and it does not affect the current strategic realities in the occupied territories.
The names may vary on characterizing the current reality, but this reality is essentially identical in the Gaza Stripand in the West Bank. Hence, no serious move by Hamas to end the Division on the basis of presidential and legislative elections in the two wings of the homeland, in accordance with the agreements and understandings reached by the two big factions, poses a threat to the Palestinian cause, and provides a pretext for Israel to implement its threat to launch a large-scale attack on the Strip -including the likelihood of threatening the lives of hundreds and perhaps thousands of people there.
The current situation in Gaza is the beginning of a humanitarian disaster, sincestoppage of power plants several weeks ago had a negative effect, perhaps tragic, to citizens. In addition, the suffocating siege on land, sea and air from the Israeli side, and on the land from the big sister Egypt, for reasons related to the sensitivity between the Egyptian Government and the Hamas movement who belongs to the Muslim Brotherhood, and its relationship with the Government of former President Mohammed Morsi.
Lifting the siege and opening all the ports of the strip to the world is needed. Here we recall that these ports include, in addition to the Rafah crossing, the gate to Egypt and the world, the Gaza airport and Harbor. In addition to the Gaza crossings within the green line, in particular the Beit Hanoun crossing which is supposed to be a two-track connection,north and southto the West Bank, Jordan and the world if circumstances were usual, and if Israel implemented agreements with the Palestinian Authority in this regard.
The fact that should be highlighted is in that there are nearly two million people in Gaza, and most of those do not belong to Hamas but ordinary people who would like to live a normal life like other people around the world, and enjoy their human rights like movement to and from the Gaza Strip, through the strip’s land, sea and air ports. The embargo imposed on the private sector certainly represents a collective punishment and a violation of human rights, not to say crime against humanity according to international humanitarian law.
Ending the division is the responsibility of the Palestinian people and the Palestinian official institution;this will not be through the siege, no matter how long the siege is. Because most of those affected are the majority of the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip. Hence, the international community must act to lift the siege and facilitate the movement of Palestinians from the Gaza Strip, through land, sea and air, which is supposed to be made available to them.
If there are “security” obstructions, according to Israeli considerations, it is possible to overcome these as what was known when the airport was open. The question is: what is preventing the Palestinian Authority from controlling all Gazan border crossings and ports?.
this unjust siege prolonged and it is time to end it with the participation of all Palestinian, regional and international players, since the continuation and continuation of the division represent a major disaster to the Palestinian people and their cause, and a model for the international community's inability to carry out its responsibilities in putting an end to this unnecessary and of no use suffering.(http://www.alquds.com/news/article/view/id/476373)
|
|
WHAT'S NEW
BACKGROUND
POLLS
WAYS TO GET JMCC
CONTACT US
|
To subscribe to free newsletter submit your email |
|
|
|