Main News
NETANYAHU CANCELS PRAWER PLAN; CAUTIOUS JOY ENSUES
The Arabs of the Negev received the Israeli government decision to cancel the Prawer-Begin Plan with cautious joy regarding the possibility that the Netanyahu government could go forward with an even more right-wing and extremist plan according to Zionist organizations, which do not want to see any Arab villages in the Negev. Netanyahu canceled the plan after, contrary to government reports that 80% of the Bedouin in the Negev had accepted the plan, it became apparent that they had not. (See Haaretz story below).
Following the decision, the Palestinian youth movement inside the 48 territories issued a statement entitled “We brought Prawer down”, saying that the decision was a result of strong and courageous objection and the demonstrations that took place against it. The statement said that “bringing down Prawer was an important achievement resulting from national unity and the cohesiveness of youth groups.” The statement also referenced the mass demonstrations of July 15 and November 30 against the plan, saying these “showed the entire world that there is no possibility of implementing the Prawer Plan and passing the law,” adding that “our people will prevent the expulsion of our people in the Negev and the demolition of their villages no matter the price.” The Youth statement also acknowledged that although this achievement was very important, “The road to victory is still long”, but said “we can see the light at its end, which is recognition of our historical ownership of the land and a recognition of unrecognized Negev villages, the immediate halt to the demolition of houses and the release of prisoners of freedom.”
Former Arab Knesset member Talab Al Sane meanwhile said that the cancellation of the plan showed that “our people would not allow another Nakba and that plans of Arab ethnic cleansing and displacement were doomed to fail.” He warned the government of trying to adopt another extremist plan saying that the only acceptable option to the Arabs was to recognize all the villages without exception and the right of ownership to the land of our forefathers.”
Head of the regional council for unrecognized villages, Atiya Al Asam said he expected that the plan would be cancelled because it had been rejected by all of the residents, saying it was not a plan aimed at ‘solving the problem of unrecognized villages but one aimed at confiscating the land and destroying the villages then compensating the people with money in exchange for their expulsion. “We rejected this from the start,” he said. (http://maannews.net/arb/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=656847)
KERRY PROPOSES ISRAELI PRESENCE IN THE JORDAN VALLEY FOR 10 YEARS; PRESIDENT REJECTS
A Palestinian source said the meeting between President Mahmoud Abbas and US Secretary of State John Kerry last night did not last more than half an hour and that it was abruptly ended after Kerry proposed ideas that represented a complete reneging on ideas proposed by the former US envoy John Jones, especially in terms of the Jordan Valley. The source, who asked to remain unnamed, said the American ideas stipulated an Israeli presence in the Jordan Valley for a 10 year period during which Palestinian security forces would be prepared to take control over the area, something which the Palestinian leadership rejected. Kerry also proposed an invisible Israeli but decisive presence at the border between the West Bank and Jordan in addition to early warning stations on the hills of the West Bank. The source said these ideas were a complete backtracking from Jones’s ideas which spoke about an international presence in the Jordan Valley, namely NATO forces and that there would be no Israeli presence.
Apparently, the President informed the US Consul General in Jerusalem Michael Ratney two days ago that the Palestinian position remained that no Israeli soldier could remain in the Palestinian state and that they would only accept a third party to ensure that the agreement is implemented. The president also completely rejected the postponement of the release of pre-Oslo prisoners. (http://maannews.net/arb/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=656837)
DETAILS OF THE DEAL: ISRAEL IN THE JORDAN VALLEY AND THE GULF TO FUND COMPENSATION FOR REFUGEE RETURN
According to Al Quds Al Arabi, the agreement, which was basically accepted by Israeli PM Netanyahu, also includes the freezing of settlement projects in a number of outposts and does not include settlement blocs around Jerusalem. In addition the agreement stipulates an article that gives Israel the right to call itself whatever it wants, which is a way to secure an implicit recognition of Israel as a Jewish state.
As for the refugees, the agreement includes a stipulation allowing some Palestinian families reunification in the West Bank, Rafah and Gaza and grants refugees the right of compensation or immigration. Here, Arab countries – namely the Gulf countries which already have Palestinian populations, will open its doors and facilitate this immigration, rehabilitate them and offer them citizenship. Several countries such as Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Kuwait and Qatar are also called on to fund the ‘right of return’ in this regard. (http://www.alquds.co.uk/?p=113123)
ALEXA HITS GAZA; SHELTERS BEGIN RECEIVEING DISTRAUGHT FAMILIES WITH HAMAS GOVERNMENT WARNING OF A DISASTER; HANIYEH MAKES PLEA TO WTHE WORLD
Storm Alexa, which hit the region has multiplied the hardships for the residents of the Gaza Strip; many homes and streets have been flooded in rainwater and dozens of citizens have been injured or forced to leave their damaged homes, taking shelter in shelter centers in the southern Strip. Hamas, which runs the shelters have called on the ‘free people of the world” to intervene to save the Strip from a ‘humanitarian disaster”.
In the field, rescue teams have carried out dozens of operations to save those harmed by flooding in their homes, with 40 people taken to hospitals for injuries related to the polar front.
The ministry of social affairs also opened several shelters in Khan Younis for families whose homes had been flooded, distributing blankets, food and baby formula to them. Electricity networks were also destroyed and power, which is already extremely limited in Gaza, was cut for more than 24 hours.
In a press conference held by the civil defense, interior minister in the Hamas government Fathi Hammad called for help in Gaza and for ‘its neighbors” to lift the siege to allow the entry of medicine and assistance, saying the Strip was at the brink of a ‘humanitarian disaster.” (http://www.alquds.co.uk/?p=113213)
De facto Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh also made a plea to the world to intervene and solve the electricity and fuel crisis in Gaza, saying that the civil defense services were doing their best with their ‘humble capabilities” to offer aid to the people. (http://www.al-ayyam.ps/article.aspx?did=229466&date=)
Four people were saved from floods resulting from the flooding of Wadi Jabalya. Civil defense teams also said they pulled out 10 cars and eight fallen trees. (http://safa.ps/details/news/118106/إنقاذ-4-مواطنين-من-الفيضانات-شمال-غزة.html)
ABU MAZEN REITERATES HIS POSITION REJECTING ANY ‘ARMED INTIFADA’ IN THE PALESTINIAN TERRITORIES
President Mahmoud Abbas reiterated his position rejecting any armed Intifada in the Palestinian territories, stressing that his administration was working to reach security and clear borders for Palestine. In an interview with Sky News yesterday, Abu Mazen stressed that an armed intifada was not in the interests of the Palestinians, pointing out that the armed intifada of 2000 against the Israeli occupation resulted in huge losses for the Palestinians and tremendous damages. He reiterated the Palestinian right to conduct peaceful demonstrations demanding their rights. (http://qudsnet.com/news/View/259936/أبو-مازن-يجدد-موقفه-الرافض-لأي-انتفاضة-مسلحة-فى-الأراضى-الفلسطينية/)
CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTER TO VISIT PALESTINE AFTER MIDDLE OF THE MONTH
A spokesperson for the Chinese foreign ministry said yesterday that the Chinese foreign minister Yang Jiechi, would visit Palestine upon an invitation by minister for foreign affairs Riyad Al Malki. The spokesperson said that Jiechi would tour the region and would also visit Saudi Arabia, Algeria, Morocco, Israel and Palestine between December 17 and 26. (http://qudsnet.com/news/View/259952/وزير-خارجية-الصين-يزور-دولة-فلسطين-بعد-منتصف-الشهر-الجاري/)
MUIN AL ATRASH DIES FROM WOUNDS SUSTAINED IN 2004
28-year old Muin Al Atrash died yesterday morning in the Maqased Hospital in Jerusalem from wounds sustained in 2004 after being shot by Israeli army forces. Al Atrash, from the Dheisheh refugee camp near Bethlehem, was brought to hospital about a month ago after his health deteriorated. Al Atrsah was shot during confrontations near Rachel’s Tomb north of Bethlehem in 2004 in protest of the assassination of Sheikh Ahmad Yassin. He was struck in the spinal cord, which led to paralysis in his limbs and complete paralysis in the lower part of his body. Al Atrash was eulogized by Fatah in Bethlehem as “ a great Fatah member to the bone.” (http://www.alquds.com/news/article/view/id/477773)
EIGHT PALESTINIAN REFUGEES IN SYRIA KILLED INCLUDING MOTHER AND CHILD
The working group for Palestinians in Syria said yesterday that six Palestinians were killed during the ongoing conflict in Syria. One man, Mohammed Bru, died while serving in the Palestinian Liberation Army in the Damascus countryside. Maha Saadi and her child Abdel Rahman, meanwhile, died after they drowned off of the shores of Greece after Greek coast guards forced them to turn back into Turkish regional waters.
In related news, displaced Palestinian families in the Adra region released a plea to the PLO and Palestinian factions to intervene and save their lives because of the fighting between Syrian forces, which have resulted in their being besieged in the basements of building with hardly any food. (http://www.al-ayyam.ps/article.aspx?did=229465&date=)
HOME DEMOLISHED IN THE VILLAGE OF DWEIK; UN CALLS ON ISRAEL TO HALT THIS POLICY
Israeli occupation authorities demolished yesterday the home of Nidal Salem Baleelat in the Dweik village north of Jericho without prior notice. Humanitarian affairs coordinator for the Palestinian territories James Rowley called on Israel to immediately halt this policy of demolishing homes in the West Bank. Rowley expressed his concern for the demolition of Palestinian homes in the Jordan Valley saying that 30 buildings had been demolished resulting in the displacement of 41 people including 24 children. He said the policy had to be halted and that it contravened international law. Rowley went on to say that the demolitions were especially concerning given that the families were left without shelter in these poor weather conditions. According to his statement, since the beginning of the year, over 630 buildings were demolished in East Jerusalem and in areas under full Israeli control in the West Bank, leading to the forced displacement of 1035 people, including 526 children, mostly in the Jordan Valley. (http://www.alhayat-j.com/newsite/details.php?opt=2&id=223147&cid=3152)
THREE PRISONERS SUFFER SUFFOCATION IN MEGIDDO; LACK OF BLANKETS IN RIMON
Israeli occupation forces fired teargas at prisoners in the Megiddo prison yesterday, resulting in three prisoners suffering teargas suffocation. Israeli media sources said the crackdown took place after prisoners began banging on the doors and throwing things at police, also saying they burned down the laundry room in protest of the transfer of two prisoners into isolation. Families of prisoners who went to visit their sons in Megiddo said their visits were cancelled without prison services giving any reason. Meanwhile, head of the prisoners club in Hebron Amjad Najjar said Rimon prison services had transferred several prisoners to the prison clinic as a result of the cold and lack of heating and blankets in their rooms. Najjar called on rights organizations to intervene and demand that prison services provide covers for the prisoners. http://www.alhayat-(j.com/newsite/details.php?opt=2&id=223150&cid=3152)