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Dec. 16, 2013
Daily summary - Monday, December 16, 2013
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Main News
ISRAELI SOLDIER KILLED IN THE NORTH BY LEBANESE SOLDIER
Israel officially announced that one of its soldiers was killed today after a Lebanese soldier shot 6-7 bullets towards a military force in Ras Al Naqoura in South Lebanon. In an official statement, the Israeli army said that an exchange of fire took place in Ras Al Naqoura during which the soldier was killed. The statement said that a strong-worded protest was sent to the UN forces and that the Israeli army was investigating into the incident. The statement also said that the Israeli army “reserves the right to respond at the time and in the place it sees fit.” Initial investigations revealed that 31-year old Shlomi Cohen from Afula was killed while he was driving in the area. The Israeli army says the Lebanese soldier most likely opened fire at the Israeli patrol of his own accord.
Meanwhile, a Lebanese security source denied that its army was responsible for the shooting. A Lebanese press source also announced that Hizbalalh had declared a state of alert among its fighters, while the Israeli army has sent military reinforcements to the border with Lebanon. The Hizballah-run Al Manar television station announced last night that the exchange of fire between the two armies resulted in a Lebanese soldier going missing. UNIFIL said in a statement that the exchange of fire had taken place on the Israeli side of the blue line and that both parties were responding to UNIFIL. The Lebanese army has also declared a state of emergency with Israeli reconnaissance planes flying low over the Ras Al Naqoura area. (http://maannews.net/arb/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=657315)
GAZA STRIP AT THE BRINK OF A HUMANITARIAN DISASTER; 4,316 CITIZENS IN SHELTER CENTERS
The Hamas government in Gaza confirmed yesterday that the current situation in the Strip was at the precipice of a wide scale humanitarian disaster because of the harsh weather conditions. English-language spokesperson Isra’ Mudallal said in a press conference from a school in Gaza City that the siege on Gaza as a type of ‘collective punishment” by the occupation and that it had resulted in tremendous human suffering for Gazans. She said there was a sharp lack of energy and fuel and that there were no appropriate pumps for draining the water. She said people tried to save others whose homes were flooded with their bare hands and simple tools instead. She also said the health sector had been badly hit along with water and sewage service. Mudallal said government relief forces were able to evacuate hundreds of people and set them up in shelter centers in schools and police stations, providing them with food, clothes and blankets.
Meanwhile, the government press office said that 4,316 people were in shelter centers including 312 families from northern Gaza with 1,670 family members and 369 families from Gaza City with 1,906 members. From central Gaza, 65 families with 303 family members took shelter in the centers and 85 families from the Khan Younis region. The press office also said that the losses to the agricultural sector had totaled around $7.8 million while the animal production sector losses were $1.735 million. The government has called on the international community and UNRWA to step in to help the Gazans and bring them back from the brink of this disaster. (Al Quds)
WEST BANK STATISTICS FROM THE STORM: ONE CITIZEN KILLED; 7,119 SAVED IN 5,270 ACCIDENTS; PRELIMINARY LOSSES TO AGRICULTURAL SECTOR: NIS42 MILLION
Reports from the Palestinian civil defense in the West Bank said that since the polar front entered last Tuesday evening until yesterday morning, teams had helped 5270 cases during which one citizen died and 69 people were injured while 7,119 stranded people were saved. The highest number of accidents took place in Ramallah with Hebron coming in second.
The agricultural minister said preliminary losses to the agricultural sector in the West Bank and reached 20%, mostly in the southern West Bank where agriculture infrastructures were badly damaged. Minister Assaf estimated the losses to be around NIS42 million. (Al Quds)
KERRY ANNOUNCES PROGRESS MADE IN ISRAELI-PALESTINIAN NEGOTIATIONS
US Secretary of State John Kerry announced yesterday that progress had been made in terms of the difficult issues in negotiations between Palestinians and Israelis. In an interview with ABC, Kerry said the parties had agreed not to divulge details because this could raise expectations and put more pressure in addition to creating more opposition. He said that personally, he was ‘encouraged’ because progress had been made on some of the more difficult issues in terms of several options. He warned that things ‘don’t happen overnight’ however.
Informed Palestinian sources, meanwhile, said Kerry was seeking to bring President Abbas and Israeli PM Netanyahu in a bid to smooth out differences which the negotiating teams have not yet surpassed. Until now, Abbas has refused to meet with Netanyahu but has left the door open for such a meeting in the future. (Al Quds)
ISRAELI MILITARY COMMANDER: NEXT CONFRONATION WILL BE IN THE FORM OF GUERILLA WARS IN CITIES
Israeli army commander Colonel Ben Lolo said yesterday the next war would not be artillery brigades or army units but would be more of guerilla wars and attack operations inside residential areas. Ben Lolo was quoted in the Israeli newspaper Maariv, saying the “Kafir” brigade understands that an upcoming confrontation is “inevitable” and that he, as the commander, would have to bring in his forces to the battle to take control of villages and areas from where rockets are fired. Ben Lolo said that Israel’s enemies, namely Hizbullah and similar organizations understand the superiority of the Israeli army and air force and their intelligence network, saying that is why Hizbullah would enter into built-up areas and would try to fight from underground in order to undermine Israel’s military superiority. Ben Lolo admitted that Hizbullah was Israel’s “smartest’ enemy. (Al Quds)
MEETING BETWEEN SAUDI AND ISRAELI DIPLOMATS
A historical meeting took place yesterday between Israeli and Saudi representatives on the margins of a conference in Monaco. The former Saudi ambassador to the United States Prince Turki Al Faysal shook hands with Israel’s former ambassador to Washington Itimar Rabinovich and Knesset member Meir Shitreet. Prince Faisal reportedly urged Israel to accept the Saudi Peace Initiative. (Al Quds)
ISRAEL CUTS POWER OFF OF PARTS OF RAMALLAH IN FAVOR OF SETTLEMENTS
Israeli authorities informed their Palestinian counterparts last night of their intention to cut power off of areas surrounding Ramallah, claiming that they wanted to repair the electricity network on Road 60 connecting between the central and southern West Bank, according to Quds Net. The central electricity network in Israel suffered the collapse of huge transmitters that feed settlements and areas inside Israel; Israeli electricity teams are working to restore electricity to it settlers in the northern West Bank, which means power cuts on Palestinians. the areas which were cut off for 5-10 hours were Ramallah, Biteen, Ein Yabroud, Turmusaiyeh and Deir Dibwan, east of Ramallah. (http://qudsnet.com/news/View/260145/إسرائيل-تقطع-التيار-الكهربائي-عن-أجزا-من-رام-الله-لصالح-المستوطنات/)
6 MILLION DOLLARS IN EMERGENCY AID FOR GAZA
Yesterday, the fifth conference for the Islamic Cooperation Organization concluded in Istanbul with more than 230 relief organizations. One of the most significant recommendations was a call to these organizations to send relief to the Palestinians of Gaza in light of the poor weather conditions, resulting in the allocation of aid amounting to $6 million. Fouad Majroui, head of humanitarian affairs in the ICO said the aid would be distributed to displaced persons who had to evacuate their homes in Gaza and would be sent through special committees affiliated with the ICO so it could arrive as quickly as possible. (http://qudsnet.com/news/View/260157/6-ملايين-دولار-بشكل-عاجل-للمنكوبين-فى-غزة/)
RESIDENTS NEAR HEBRON TOLD TO EVACUATE VILLAGE FOR EXPANSION OF SETTLEMENT
The Israeli military force informed the residents of a small village near Hebron yesterday that they would have to evacuate their village, claiming they were on Area C land, so that they could expand a settlement, according to coordinator for the anti-settlement and wall committee in Hebron, Rateb Jbour. He said that the Israeli army arrived in Khirbet Um Khayr and informed their residents that they would have to leave their homes as soon as possible, threatening them with force if they did not follow orders. Jbour said the village had around 180 residents and lived in tents and corrugated iron shacks and have been living there from before the Israeli occupation in 1967. He said Israel was planning to expand the settlement of Carmael built on the land of Yatta, south of Hebron. He also said he orders did not specify a final date for the evacuation. (http://qudsnet.com/news/View/260159/مطالبة-أهالى-قرية-قرب-الخليل-بإخلائها-لتوسيع-مستوطنة/)
PRESS REPORT: MESHAAL SPOKE TO ABBAS ON THREE ISSUES
According to the London-based Al Hayat, which quoted a source close to Hamas, a phone call took place between Hamas chief Khaled Meshaal and President Mahmoud Abbas day before yesterday during which the two leaders spoke about three subjects. The source said the three were: a settlement, negotiations between the PA and Israel, and Jerusalem and Al Aqsa, in addition to Gaza and the siege. The two agreed to continue contacts between them and to continue negotiations. According to a Hamas leaders, Meshaal stressed on two issues in particular: the reconciliation and the need to accomplish it and also the urgent need for a unified national strategy for confronting ‘Zionist dangers and threats.” The source said Meshaal told Abbas that any negative outcomes of the negotiations would reflect, not only on the PA but on all of the people, saying they must remain adherent to Palestinian rights and not give any concessions. (http://safa.ps/details/news/118266/صحيفةمشعل-تحدث-مع-عباس-في-3-قضايا.html)
EMPLOYEE OF PALESTINIAN EMBASSY IN DAMASCUS DIES UNDER TORTURE
The Working Group of Palestinians in Syria said yesterday that a Palestinian employee of the Palestinian embassy in Damascus died after being tortured in a Syrian regime detention camp. According to the group’s Facebook page, Ismail Aboud from the Yarmouk refugee camp died after being tortured in a Syrian security facility. Aboud was imprisoned a year and a half ago, released and then re-arrested about six months ago. (http://www.alquds.co.uk/?p=114087)
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Headlines
We apologize for not providing front page headlines today due to the weather conditions
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Front Page Photos
We apologize for not providing front page photos today due to the weather conditions
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Opinions
The Prawer law
Al-Khaleej Editorial
Discussion of the Prawer law that was approved at first vote by the Government was postponed, after Minister Begin’s adjustments in May this year. It was supposed to be discussed by the Knesset for approval, but was postponed days before its discussion for an indefinite period. During the period in which the law was discussed, many Palestinian and international organizations pushed the international community to put pressure on Israel not to compile the project into an executable decision.
The law as many of the Israeli laws has an essence of racial discrimination against the Palestinian population inside the Zionist entity. It is based on the displacement of over 70,000 Palestinians from their 35 villages in the Negev. These villages are not formally recognized by the entity, and thus were deprived of all the potential growth or change. The population had to go back to military authorities for approval any time they wanted a simple renovation such as water pipes in their homes, and this approval usually occasionally is not achieved.
When the Zionist occupation authorities found that although all types of persecution which touches the daily lives these citizens, they insisted on adhering to the land, the authorities moved to the second step to uproot these citizens form their land.
This entity acted since its establishment to make all kinds of oppression and racial discrimination against the Palestinians, codified in laws to respond to its form of democracy.
The postponement was appropriate for many who have worked against this law on the Palestinian and international levels, and considered it as an achievement; it is pretty much of an achievement for those organizations that have implemented political and media efforts through which they revealed the real dimensions of this project and the racist Zionist entity.
On the other hand, observers who follows the Zionist entity’s behavior knows that this entity is rarely interested in international community and its resolutions. It is rather challenging those decisions and didn’t obey them on more than one occasion.
It is difficult to say that postponing the discussion in the Knesset came only because of the moral pressure imposed on "Israel", which practices murder and rape on a daily basis. Some have suggested that the postponement was due to the dissatisfaction of some of the Zionist entity leaders of the compensation for Palestinians included in the law, because they considered it too much. There may be other motives that the coming days will reveal. (http://www.alkhaleej.ae/studiesandopinions/detailedpage/eb3e726e-4e08-4583-afe7-e544c1943e67)
ARAB AND OTHER PRESS______________________________________
An Arab Mandela
By Abdel Monem Said
Today, we are laying to rest the great African leader Nelson Mandela, who passed away on Dec. 5 at the age of 95. Of his long life, he spent 27 years in prison and 23 years after that in freedom as a political activist, a president, a leader, an inspiration to the African continent, a Nobel laureate and a symbol of the struggle for a better world. In the days since he left this life, newspapers and television stations around the world have discussed the details of Mandela’s life, from his birth and adolescence to his fight for freedom and his leadership after his release from prison. They have assessed the period he spent in power and his relationship with other world leaders, especially American ones. Some of these leaders, such as Ronald Reagan, branded him a terrorist, while others, such as Bill Clinton and Barack Obama, regarded him as a beacon of freedom and hope.
There is little that one can add to the information about this man’s life that has not already been said. But there still remains the question as to why this type of man is so rare.
With respect to the Arab people, this question is of particular urgency at this time of sweeping change in the region. In fact, it is surprising that not a single Arab nation has produced a leader we can respect the way we respect Nelson Mandela. What we have instead are old leaders who took center stage. There was not much about them that we did not know before, and they had nothing new to offer apart from some repackaging of the Arab Spring and Arab Autumn revolutions in old wrapping paper.
The revolutionaries themselves had little to offer, save the transition from one revolution to another - or, in cases such as Libya and Syria, the transition to proliferating militias and all-engulfing violence and warfare.
South Africa stood apart from most Third-World colonized countries that clamored for liberation in the years following the Second World War. Like many former colonies, South Africa had been the object of a massive settlement drive in which thousands of people of Dutch, French and British origin seized control over large tracts of land and established a settler government. The phenomenon was not all that different from what occurred in Palestine or elsewhere in Africa, such as Zimbabwe. Those settlers were not there to colonize on behalf of their countries of origin. They wanted a state of their own, and that state was founded on the vilest of the reactionary ultra-right-wing ideas to emerge from Europe. This gave rise to South Africa’s notorious apartheid system, which was based on total racial segregation and the systematic reduction of the indigenous people to poverty and weakness. The architects of apartheid truly believed there state was appropriate for people they saw as “backwards.”
The makings of a freedom fighter
It was an environment that inherently bred resistance and violence, which also occurred in other African and Third-World countries. Mandela took part in many revolutionary activities, for which he received a lengthy prison sentence. His was the story of the creation of a freedom fighter through oppression by a formidable enemy: The powerful, reactionary and colonialist settler government endowed with vast wealth and resources, which enjoyed the support of many major international powers.
But another Mandela was born in prison. This was the Mandela who inspired millions of oppressed and persecuted peoples around the world, and who became part of that small club that includes such figures as Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr., whose ideas of resistance and liberation were framed in a larger humanitarian concept that envisioned the emancipation not only of the oppressed, but of the oppressors as well. Because of its more tolerant nature, this approach lets people understand the mindset of both sides of a conflict. Thus, they are able to approach in the spirit of tolerance and inclusiveness, and to search for solutions that promote peaceful coexistence.
This region has produced quite a few national liberation leaders, but none with a vision that extended beyond ending colonial rule
Abdel Monem Said
This is not to suggest that Mandela was ever prepared to surrender his principles. He remained firm and unyielding on the need for a new South Africa ruled by the majority of its people, which is to say the native African majority. He rejected all “compromises” that would officially eliminate apartheid but keep whites in power or grant them a permanent majority in parliament. But at the same time, he knew that a new South Africa—if it was truly to be a “new” South Africa - had to be able to accommodate all that lived there. This is the spirit that made the South African national struggle on a path of construction rather than revenge, a means to move away from hatred and rancor and toward love and understanding, a way to uproot the fear instilled by the oppressive past and to look forward with hope.
Mandela only served one term as president. But after that one term, and the many extraordinary things he accomplished, Mandela continued to devote himself to the major issues of concern to his country and the world. The many details regarding this are being discussed by others. Here, I would like to focus on that urgent question of concern to the Arab world.
Concerning the Arab world
This region has produced quite a few national liberation leaders, but none with a vision that extended beyond ending colonial rule. Yes, they had some vague ideas about development, but they lacked any broader understanding of the need to reconcile the existing diversity in their societies. They failed to appreciate that development and progress requires education and the promotion of new and different values.
It is impossible to explain the explosion of ethnic, religious and sectarian violence in the Arab world today without taking into account the fact that the Arab liberation wars and revolutions not only failed to generate mutual understanding and peaceful coexistence between ethnic and religious communities, it actually laid the foundations for conflict between them. The societies that had been shaped by fear of foreign occupiers and colonial rule remained societies based on fear, whether of the ruling authority or of the “other” in society. This has proven more brutal than the colonialists were in the past - and even more brutal than some post-colonialist authorities.
In societies of fear, there is very little room for hope. The little optimism that exists is artificial, confined to public displays or celebrations. In fact, rare is the Arab leader who smiles, especially that genuine type of smile for which Mandela was famous. That smile was one of his most important weapons in his struggle against apartheid and for change. Far and few between are the occasions when Saddam Hussein, Hafez al-Assad, Muammar Qaddafi, Ali Abdullah Saleh or other Arab dictators were caught in the act of smiling. Apparently, they consciously avoided the smile, as though it would betray weakness or a relaxation of their grip of power and authority.
I wonder whether we will ever see the birth of an Arab Mandela, now that the Arab Spring has prematurely segued into an autumnal nightmare. The youth of that spring appear little different from their revolutionary forefathers.
Still, history brings many surprises. (http://english.alarabiya.net/en/views/2013/12/15/An-Arab-Mandela.html)
Previous agreements point to a possible failure of the Iran deal
By Majid Rafizadeh
Iran’s domestic politics will be the crucial factor in determining the future of the interim nuclear agreement between the Islamic Republic of Iran and P5+1. Since the details of the deal were released on Fars news last month, reaction from Iranian hardliners has added another layer of complexity to the prospects of turning this six-month nuclear deal into a more comprehensive, final deal.
Iran’s hardliners have already launched a political campaign to reverse the agreement. Kayhan newspaper’s editor-in-chief, Hossein Shariatmadari (a hardliner appointed by the supreme leader, Ayatollah Khamenei), wrote about the impracticality and possible failure of the six-month deal. He wrote: “This [nuclear] agreement is temporary and for six months. It is not unusual that Iran has previously made such an agreement at least three times,” adding, “[this agreement] is a gradual process which depends on next steps and next negotiations.”
Although Mr Khamenei has presented the efforts of his nuclear team as a success by stating that “achieving what you have written is worth appreciation and praise to the nuclear negotiating team and other relevant officials and can be the basis for future smart moves”, it would not be totally unprecedented for the leader to reverse his position.
In his book National Security and Nuclear Diplomacy, published in 2011, Hassan Rouhani includes a letter from Mr Khamenei approving the efforts of Iran’s nuclear team in 2003 (when Mr Rouhani served as chief nuclear adviser) that reached a deal with the P5+1. But, at the same time, hardliners launched their criticism against that deal, arguing that Iran should continue enriching at the former level of 20 per cent and install new nuclear sites. Eventually, Mr Khamenei changed his position and criticised the deal.
The shift in Mr Khamenei’s tone is already evident in his latest remarks. Mr Khamenei said: “God willing, resistance against greediness [of the other sides] should always remain as an indicator showing that the officials in this sector are moving on a correct path.”
Observers of Iran’s nuclear programme for the last decade would be cognisant of the fact that although initial agreements were often reached, these interim deals later fell through as parties failed to agree on the fundamental details.
The eagerness and pressure from both sides, along with the generality and ambiguity in interpreting the interim texts, were some of the main reasons that led to the signing of these deals, including the latest one. For example, this interim deal does not call for the dismantling of any of Iran’s nuclear sites or for the rollback of the number of centrifuges (currently around 19,000).
Should the Fordow nuclear site be dismantled? How about the heavy water reactor, which can produce plutonium in Arak? What of the nearly 440 pounds of highly enriched uranium? Iran also interpreted some of the texts as recognition from the West for Tehran’s right to enrich uranium, while the United States rejects that interpretation.
When the more fundamental issues will be discussed in the next phase of negotiations, unresolvable challenges will emerge. Iran’s stance has been very clear. The first message that Mr Rouhani, Mr Khamenei and Foreign Minister Javad Zarif gave was that Iran scored a victory by making the West recognise its nuclear rights to keep its nuclear infrastructure and continue enriching. Mr Rouhani specifically pointed out: “Recognition of Iran’s nuclear rights and safeguarding Iran’s nuclear achievements” combined with the removal of the cruel economic sanctions are Iran’s main victories in this deal.
Across Iran’s political spectrum (hardliners, reformists and moderates), there is a high level of consensus that Tehran will not give up its rights to enrich uranium. Also, Iran will not dismantle its nuclear sites.
As a result, the concerns regarding Iran’s nuclear defiance or Iran as a nuclear threat will remain for as long as the ruling clerics maintain their staunch position to continue enriching. The gap between Tehran’s stance on nuclear proliferation, and the P5+1 position is too wide to bridge. (http://www.thenational.ae/thenationalconversation/comment/previous-agreements-point-to-a-possible-failure-of-the-iran-deal)
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