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Dec. 19, 2013
Daily summary - Thursday, December 19, 2013
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Main News
The President sent a reservation letter to President Obamaon Kerry's vision of the final solution
Ha'aretz reported that President Mahmoud Abbas sent a letter to US President Barak Obama, expressing his reservations of the ideas put forward by US Secretary of State John Kerry during his recent trip to the region, to resolve core issues of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The paper quotedinformed Palestinian and Israeli sources as saying that Abbas decided not only to express his reservations to Kerry, and sent the letter to Kerry and President Obama directly.This came due Abbas feeling deeply disappointed from these ideas, especially those on security arrangements in the West Bank in a future settlement.The sources said that President Abbas decided to express his reservations in an informal document in order not to close the door completely forUS mediation and to keep it open for negotiation.(http://maannews.net/arb/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=658276)
A martyr and 6 wounded in occupation operation in Jenin refugee camp
Palestinian sources said that young Palestinian Nafe’ Jamil Sa’di, 23 years old, was killed by Israeli soldiers during his arrestwhile bleeding, as a result of an Israeli special forces operation in Jenin refugee camp yesterday.Israeli forces arrested NAfe’ Sa’di after being shot by soldiers, then was announced dead and his body was handed over and transferred at 22:30 to Khalil Suleiman Hospital.6 others were injured during the operation carried out by the occupation at about 20:30, during which also young Palestinian Ali Al-Sa’di was arrested. (http://www.alquds.com/news/article/view/id/478746)
Washington demands from Netanyahu not to build more settlements after the release of the third batch of prisoners
Haaretz reported on Wednesday that the US Administration is pressing Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and demanded not issuing new biddings for the construction of housing units in the West Bank after the release of the third batch of prisoners planned in the month of December.A senior Israeli official told the newspaper that US Secretary of State, John Kerry, and the US Envoy for the peace process, Martin Indyk, and other US officials demanded Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu's and other officials in Israel to minimize announcement of new construction in the wake of the release of prisoners, fearing that such announcement would lead to exploding peace talks with the Palestinians.The paper said that US Secretary of State John Kerry who visited over the past three weeks, both Jerusalem and Ramallah, during which he met with Netanyahu and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, plans to visit the region again possibly today (Thursday) upon his return from a visit to Southeast Asia.(http://www.pnn.ps/index.php/policy/76077-%D9%88%D8%A7%D8%B4%D9%86%D8%B7%D9%86-%D8%AA%D8%B7%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A8-%D9%86%D8%AA%D9%86%D9%8A%D8%A7%D9%87%D9%88-%D8%A8%D8%B9%D8%AF%D9%85-%D8%A8%D9%86%D8%A7%D8%A1-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D8%B2%D9%8A%D8%AF-%D9%85%D9%86-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D8%B3%D8%AA%D9%88%D8%B7%D9%86%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D8%A8%D8%B9%D8%AF-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%81%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%AC-%D8%B9%D9%86-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AF%D9%81%D8%B9%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AB%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AB%D8%A9-%D9%85%D9%86-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A7%D8%B3%D8%B1%D9%89)
Abbas dismissed PLC member Abu Al-Rob from Fateh, for attacking Rajoub
Member of the Central Committee of Fatah movement Abbas Zaki said on Wednesday that President Mahmoud Abbas signed a decision to dismiss MP and member of the Revolutionary Council, Jamal Abu Al-Rub from Fateh. Zaki said in a statement to “Al-Mayadin” channel that the President decided after a meeting of the movement's Revolutionary Council to dismiss Jamal Abu Al-Rub. Abu Al-Rub, who is from Jenin in the northern West Bank, attacked the movement's Central Committee member Jibril Rajoub "in a revenge for being attacked, punched and humiliated earlier this year by Rajoub's bodyguards.”(http://safa.ps/details/news/118466/%D8%B9%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%B3-%D9%8A%D9%81%D8%B5%D9%84-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%86%D8%A7%D8%A6%D8%A8-%D8%A3%D8%A8%D9%88-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B1%D8%A8-%D9%85%D9%86-%D9%81%D8%AA%D8%AD.html)
Shooting at the Ministry of Awqaf while Minister A-Habbash was at Ministry
“Ajyal” radio reported yesterday evening that a shooting occurred yesterday evening at the Ministry of Awqaf in the city of Ramallah.The radio said that the shooting occurred at the Ministry, while Minister Mahmoud Al-Habbash was at the Ministry, before the Police managed to evacuate the Minister under strict protection. Without mentioning who committed the shooting.(http://www.wattan.tv/ar/news/82200.html)
Erekat: if we reach a framework agreement, negotiations on final agreement will be held for a year
Saeb Erekat, head of the Palestinian negotiations team, said that in the event of reaching a framework agreement next April, negotiations on final agreement will be held for last 6-12 months.Erekat said during an interview to “Ma’an” in the town of Beit Jala : "if we reach a framework agreement, negotiations on final agreement will be held for a year.” Adding that “2013 was different, having the return of negotiations but the difference this time is John Kerry and how often he visits us and meet with the President in many capitals from London to Riyadh, in addition to the nine months period.” (http://maannews.net/arb/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=658257)
Al-Ahmed: situation of the Palestinian issue is extremely difficult
Fatah Central Committee member Azzam Al-Ahmad said that "situation the Palestinian issue is very difficult, because of the conditions in which the Palestinian issue passes through, to emerge to a positive stage experienced by everyone, but the people’s will not fail." Regarding the national reconciliation between Fatah and Hamas, Al-Ahmad said in response to news denied officials the two movements around a near formation of a national unity government ahead of presidential and legislative elections, Al-Ahmad said: "those who leaked the news about a near formation of a national unity Government wantto disable reconciliation, and want to create confusion for not completing the reconciliation."(http://www.qudsnet.com/news/View/260416/%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A7%D8%AD%D9%85%D8%AF-%D9%88%D8%B6%D8%B9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%82%D8%B6%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%81%D9%84%D8%B3%D8%B7%D9%8A%D9%86%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D9%81%D9%8A-%D8%BA%D8%A7%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B5%D8%B9%D9%88%D8%A8%D8%A9/)
Netanyahu: I cannot guarantee reaching an agreement with the Palestinians
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed his doubts yesterday about reaching a final status agreement in the ongoing peace talks with the Palestinians.Referring to the mediating role of the United States, Netanyahu said at a Conference of Likud, "they say you need two to Tango dance but in the Middle East you need at least three,” according to the Jerusalem Post. Netanyahu added amid applause from the audience, "If agreement is reached, it will be presented to the Knesset and be put to a referendum."(http://www.amad.ps/ar/?Action=Details&ID=8653)
UNRWA: million citizens in Gaza will need food aid in 2014
UN Agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) expected Wednesday that nearly a million people in Gaza will need food assistance next year and appealed to donors to provide $ 95 million.Robert Turner, Director of UNRWA operations in Gaza said813 thousand Palestinian refugees receive food assistance from UNRWA, but the Agency expects an increase in demand of between ten and twenty per cent in 2014.(Al-Hayat Al-Jadida)
Knesset drops a law forbidding negotiations on Jerusalem
Knesset dropped with an overwhelming majority of votes, a law forbidding negotiations on a political settlement in the city of Jerusalem without reaching a vote of 80 deputies. 51 members opposed the law, while 12 did not agree and 1 did not vote. The law was supported by "Shas" and "Yahadot Hatora", in addition to Deputy Moshe Fieglin from Likud, while the rest of Likud members, including Prime Minister Netanyahu, and Israeli Beitinu members, were absent. (Al-Ayyam)
President meets with Chinese Foreign Minister
President of the State of Palestine, Mahmoud Abbas, received in Ramallah on Wednesday, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and his entourage, in the presence of Chinese Ambassador to Palestine Liu Aishtongh.The President briefed the guest on the latest developments in the Palestinian-Israeli peace process.The President stressed the Palestinian side's commitment to achieving a just and lasting peace through negotiations, in accordance with the time period agreed with the US administration, for the establishment of an independent Palestinian State on the 1967 borders with Jerusalem as its capital. Chinese Foreign Minister stressed the bilateral relations between Palestine and China, noting that Palestine was his first stop in his tour in the region, as evidence of the importance of Palestine and its people for China's foreign policy. (http://www.wafa.ps/arabic/index.php?action=detail&id=165311)
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Headlines
** UNRWA strike and snowstorm increase the suffering of refugees in the West Bank (Al-Hayat Al-Jadida)
** Patriarch Twal: settlementshinder peace efforts (Al-Hayat Al-Jadida)
** Referral of Morsi, Bade’ and leaders of the Moslem brotherhood to trial for collaborating with foreign organizations (Al-Hayat Al-Jadida)
** American newspaper: Israel is preparing to wage a short war against Hezbollah (Al-Ayyam)
** Egyptian army captures weapons and ammunition at the borders with Gaza (Al-Ayyam)
** Abed Rabbu: nothing supports Kerry’s optimism; and a framework agreement supports Israel’s interests (Al-Ayyam)
** Presidency praises EU position supportive of the Palestinian people (Al-Ayyam)
** Unknown armed men stab a young Palestinian and rob him in Hebron (Al-Quds)
** Jihadists cut the heads of three Alawites in Adra near Damascus (Al-Quds)
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Voice of Palestine News
Jenin: The Jenin camp is in deep mourning and condemnation of what happened there yesterday when Nafe’ Saadi was killed. The people said Israeli forces executed Saadi in cold blood. Seven people have been injured, five with live bullets.
The latest narrative of his death is still eyewitness reports, but there has not yet been an official report released. According to the residents, Israeli troops raided the area wearing uniforms from PalTel, entered the camp and into a home to arrest a youth. When they were exposed, confrontations broke out with the youths, who pelted the troops with stones. The soldiers responded with live fire, injuring seven and killing Saadi. The troops actually arrested Saadi from Jenin and then crossed the Green Line, where he was killed and pronounced dead. They later handed over the body to Palestinian authorities.
Qabatiya: This morning, Saleh Yassin, 29, was killed by Israeli forces on Nablus Street in the center of Qalqilya. Israeli forces stormed the city at around 4 in the morning with three military vehicles. Yassin was at a friend’s house at the time and when he left and was in the street, he was taken by surprise by Israeli troops who shot him in the chest. He died in the Darwish Nazzal Hospital. Yassin is the brother of martyr Abdel Rahman Yassin who was killed on May 30, 2007 by Hamas operatives. Saleh was a member of the Palestinian intelligence services in Qalqilya. He will be buried after noon prayers today.
Jerusalem: Each day new developments are uncovered in the Aqsa in terms of imposing a new reality on the ground there. The latest was that 100 Jewish extremist organizations backed by the Israeli government formed a so-called “Jewish commission” to administer the Aqsa Mosque compound, in parallel to the Islamic Waqf authorities. This means there is a real intention to divide the Aqsa, not only spatially and temporally but also in terms of supervision and administration. Yesterday, female Israeli soldiers took provocative pictures inside the Aqsa Mosque compound
Also in the city, arrests have been made over the past two days among Palestinian youths, especially in the Old City and in Silwan.
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Voice of Palestine Interviews
**Jenin governor Talal Dweikat, on the Israeli army raid yesterday into the Jenin camp
Q:You said that the Israelis raided the home of ex-prisoner Jamal Abul Haija to arrest his son. What happened to him?
They did arrest him and until now we have no news on his whereabouts. What is clear is that the occupation entered the camp and already had made up its mind that there would be a martyr before they left. The occupation is sending a message to the Palestinian people that it is staying and that it will continue carrying out these crimes.
Q: We heard news that shots were fired at the police station in Qabatya last night. Is this true?
No, this is not true. There was a meeting in Qabatya to discuss other issues but there was not confrontation between the people and the PA in the city. These are all rumors.
**Head of the Waqf Council Sheikh Abdel Atheem Salhab, on the new Jewish commission to administrate the Aqsa
Q: Do you consider this decision as official?
The Aqsa mosque has been targeted by this right wing government which wants to Judaize the Aqsa and also the whole city. It wants to take over authority over the Aqsa from the Waqf and make the necessary renovations to this mosque to their service. They are employing Israeli security forces to destroy the mosque, breaking its doors, etc. The mosque is completely besieged by Israeli authorities. But we will continue to remain strong in our positions. This is a Muslim holy site and the Jews have no right to it. That includes everything above and beneath it.
In terms of this decision to form a commission, we are still just following what is being reported in the media. Our Arab Knesset brothers have told us that there are attempts to discuss this subject inside the Knesset and that they have stood against it. We don’t have any official information about it.
Q: But what would this mean if there really is a plan for this?
They want the Aqsa to be exclusively for the Jews and to destroy it. But God willing, we will not let this happen. The Aqsa needs support from the citizens in Jerusalem and anyone who can get there, to confront these plans. Israel must halt the militarization of the Aqsa and get their police out, and stop their raids. We call for them to return the key to the Moroccan Gate, which they took from the Waqf forcefully.
**Head of the Palestinian security services Adnan Dmeiri, on the shooting incident at the Waqf ministry and assassination attempt on Minister Habbash
Q: What has your preliminary investigation shown about this assassination attempt on the Waqf Minister Mahmoud Habbash?
The investigation is still ongoing and we are pursuing the criminals who opened fire. We still don’t’ have details but it is clear that the target was the Waqf minister. They sprayed his office with bullets while he was working there. Hopefully in the next few days, we will get some results.
Q: So, you have no idea who carried out the shooting?
No, they are still unidentified until now. But we are hoping for some results soon with the help of the public.
Q: A similar shooting took place at the house of Sufyan Abu Zaydeh. Are you afraid of a group or pattern developing?
For sure, there are political figures and people behind these acts, and of course this means we are very serious in investigating these incidents so we can reach them and bring them to justice.
Q: Is the problem of illegal weapons that widespread?
Not necessarily. It only takes one rifle to pull something like this off. And like you know, Palestine’s borders are not controlled by the Palestinians, so there is no stability there.
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More Headlines
Palestinian security member killed in Qalqilya; presidential guard arrested in Nablus
This morning Saleh Yassin, 28, was shot and killed by Israeli occupation forces who stormed the Nazzal neighborhood in the center of Qalqilya. According to eyewitnesses, the soldiers opened fire at Yassin in cold blood and left him to bleed to death. His funeral will be held this afternoon. Yassin is married and worked for the Palestinian general intelligence services. (http://maannews.net/arb/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=658279)
In related news, Israeli occupation forces arrested one of President Mahmoud Abbas’ presidential guards this morning after raiding his home in the village of Beita south of Nablus. According to eyewitnesses, a large Israeli force raided Beita and stormed the home of Radi Hamayel, 24, who works in the presidential guard, taking him to the Huwwara military camp south of the city. (http://maannews.net/arb/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=658291)
Abu Rmeileh: No resignations; a decisive meeting today
Fatah secretary in Jenin Ata Abu Rmeileh refuted today news about dozens and even hundreds of Fatah members handing in their resignations after the decision by President Abbas to dismiss PLC member for Fatah Jamal Abul Rub following his attack on Fatah central committee member Jibril Rjoub yesterday. Abu Rmeileh told Maan that Fatah in Jenin had not received any official resignations, saying the movement would hold an emergency meeting in Jenin today to discuss the situation. (http://maannews.net/arb/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=658325)
Falk: Israel practices genocide against the Palestinians
UN official on Palestinian human rights Richard Falk said yesterday that Israel was incurring purposeful damage on the Palestinians in order to carry out genocide and ethnic cleansing, according to the Israeli news website Maariv today. Falk, who is Jewish, was speaking to English-language Russian channel, RT at the beginning of this week. An Israeli foreign ministry spokesperson responded sharply, saying that Falk was ‘ a man known for his crazy and extremist positions against Israel for years, adding that keeping in at his post at the UN was a ‘mark of moral shame’ on the forehead of the organization. (http://qudsnet.com/news/View/260443/متحدث-اممي-اسرائيل-تمارس-التطهير-العرقي-ضد-الفلسطينيين/)
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Arab Press
Saga of settlements
Daily Star Editorial
The differences between American and European policies on the Palestinian-Israeli conflict are often remarked on by analysts and politicians, who naturally give the Europeans better marks. But the EU’s decision this week to ask Israel to refrain from announcing any new settlement construction in the West Bank, in order to boost the comatose peace process, shows how such European-American differences are largely irrelevant.
The Europeans are threatening the Israelis with sanctions against settlements if the current peace “drive” fails. The EU stance symbolizes what is wrong with all of the peace efforts being pursued by Western states.
The settlements are, by definition, illegal. They are being built on occupied Palestinian land, taken by Israel in a war of aggression in 1967. They shouldn’t have been allowed to appear in the first place, and the international community’s leniency is entirely to blame. Instead of throwing money and all sorts of other favors at Israel over the last few decades, politicians and officials from Europe and the U.S. should have spent their time adhering to international law, and opposing the kind of policies that they denounce in so many other countries. As if all of this weren’t enough, the latest EU statements also leave people wondering whether the Europeans are against settlement construction, or merely the announcement of settlement construction.
One of the “threats” being made by European officials is that goods that are made or produced in the Israeli settlements will be clearly marked as such if they are sent to EU countries. It’s a tragi-comic situation. Such goods are illegal to begin with, because they were produced illegally, on illegally seized territory, and shouldn’t be imported, label or no label.
European statements and policies have often been justified because Europe, and specifically Germany, wishes to overcome its historical guilt complex when it comes to Israel. But the constant invocation of the persecution of the Jewish people only plays into the hands of people who want to distort who is victimizing whom today. The millions of Jews who died in the Holocaust perished at the hands of Europeans, not Palestinians. If Europeans want to assuage their guilt they should start at home, and not at the expense of homes belonging to the original inhabitants of Palestine.
The Israelis are allowed to routinely violate international law on many fronts: Seizing territory by force, carrying out mass detention and other types of collective punishment, using globally banned weapons and munitions, and committing extrajudicial execution are just several of the practices that come to mind.
When it comes to EU policies on Israel, and the threat to punish Israel over settlements, the credibility gap is as big in Brussels as it is in Washington.(http://www.dailystar.com.lb/Opinion/Editorial/2013/Dec-19/241603-saga-of-settlements.ashx#axzz2noUz9ZlK)
Colonists and Israel proper — no distinction
by Michael Jansen
Since becoming US secretary of state, John Kerry has visited this region 10 times with the aim of forging an agreement between Palestinians and Israelis that would end the more than century-old struggle for possession of Palestine.
The latest US proposal focuses on Israeli “security” in the highly unlikely event that Israel withdraws its soldiers and settlers from much or some of the West Bank.
The plan, drawn up by a 160-member team headed by a retired US Marine general, John Allen, would demilitarise the Palestinian state, provide for US monitoring of demilitarisation, leave an Israeli military presence in the Jordan Valley along the Jordan River border with Jordan, put border crossings with Jordan under joint Palestinian-Israeli control and permit Israel to operate early warning stations on the eastwards slopes of the West Bank mountain range.
Allen also put forward ideas on control of airspace and drone and satellite surveillance. His ideas were the most comprehensive, detailed ever put forward on the issue of “Israeli security”.
Both sides rejected the proposals.
The Palestinians know full well that unless Israel withdraws completely from the Jordan Valley and cedes control of West Bank airspace and border crossings, a future Palestinian state will have no integrity or sovereignty.
Israel would continue to exercise control over land, sea and air access to this entity as it does Gaza, an example the Palestinians do not want to repeat.
To put pressure on the Palestinian side to go along, the US apparently suggested that the December 29 release of 26 long-serving Palestinian prisoners could be postponed. This, of course, has infuriated the Palestinian side, as the promise to free 100-plus long-term prisoners was the only benefit secured by going into negotiations last summer.
In the weekly Cabinet meeting last Sunday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also rejected the US “security” proposals, apparently because of elements, which could be managed by the US.
Netanyahu insists that Israel must be in full charge of its “security”.
This means that Israel would continue to control West Bank communication, imports and exports, and even who enters and leaves a Palestinian state.
There would be limitations on Palestinian weaponry, and on treaties and accords this state would be allowed to conclude with other states.
Palestinian objections to the Israeli military presence in the Jordan Valley look very much like a red herring, a means to divert attention from the US proposal, which would eliminate the sovereignty of a Palestinian state, transforming it into a hollow entity, a state in name with none of the attributes of statehood.
The Israelis hope that Palestinian rejection of the US proposals will sink them so colonisation of the West Bank and East Jerusalem can continue apace without criticism or pressure and Israel will not be blamed for Kerry’s desperate attempt to come up with a deal before the “two-state solution” is formally declared dead and buried.
In spite of rejection by both sides, Kerry continues to insist that by April the sides will complete an accord that defines the borders of a Palestinian state and resolves the issues of Jerusalem, Palestinian refugees, the use of natural resources and security.
However, he and his boss, US President Barack Obama, concede that this deal will be yet another framework or partial agreement not the comprehensive agreement promised.
It cannot be said often enough that Kerry and Obama do not seem to comprehend the fundamental tenets of Zionism, which has as its objective the conquest and colonisation of all of Palestine, as well as of adjacent territories which might be of use to Israel.
While its tactical peace treaties with Jordan and Egypt have limited Israel’s territorial ambitions for the time being, these treaties are not integral parts of Israel’s ultimate strategy.
Israel could eventually violate these agreements by snatching Jordanian or Egyptian territory once it has ingested East Jerusalem, the West Bank and the Syrian Golan. An initial target could be water sources in Lebanon, with which Israel has no peace treaty.
The leaking of some of the details of the Allen plan — which were supposed to remain secret — has not discouraged Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas from continuing negotiations on proposals which would leave the Palestinians with a hollow entity.
Instead of exerting some pressure of his own by endorsing the international campaign for boycott of, divestment from and sanctions (BDS) on Israel, Abbas has stated his opposition.
To make matters worse, he took this stand while attending memorial services for former South African president Nelson Mandela, a strong supporter of the Palestinian cause and of BDS.
This was the wrong place and the wrong time to make such a statement.
Abbas appeared to dismiss the campaign to boycott, sanction and withdraw investment from Israel, insulting South Africa, a country where these tools worked and helped end the racist apartheid regime.
And he declared his opposition to the campaign against Israel just as the effort was gaining support and momentum.
Abbas’ opposition disappointed and angered those leading the campaign, at some political risk to themselves.
Although he tried to contain their anger by saying that the Palestinian Authority backs a boycott of goods, services and produce from illegal Israeli colonies in East Jerusalem and the West Bank.
Unfortunately, however, the authority has not followed through with its own boycott of colony output launched several years ago by former prime minister Salam Fayyad.
That campaign did not tackle the root of the problem of Israeli colonisation.
This is not the illegal presence of Israeli colonists in East Jerusalem and the West Bank, but the entire Zionist colonial enterprise launched at the end of the 19th century.
There is no distinction between the colonists and Israel “proper”. The colonists are part and parcel of the Israeli/Zionist programme for Palestine and the region. Therefore, boycott, divestment and sanctions must target Israel just as they did South Africa under the colonial apartheid regime.(http://jordantimes.com/colonists-and-israel-proper----no-distinction)
Israel and apartheid: Confused? You will be
By Mira Bar Hillel
The lame excuses made up by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for failing to go to Nelson Mandela’s memorial on Tuesday have raised eyebrows and wry smiles all over the world. Having insisted on a £150,000 refit of the plane he and his wife took for the five-hour flight to Lady Thatcher’s funeral in London earlier this year, the trip to Johannesburg would, he claimed, be “too costly.” This from a man who spends thousands a year — from the public purse — on pistachio ice-cream and scented candles.
However, it is quite possible that Netanyahu may have been less than ecstatically welcomed in the new South Africa anyway, following revelations that the country’s apartheid regime was the Israeli defense industry’s biggest customer and sponsor.
For many years it was virtually a capital offense to use the word “apartheid” as an analogy to policies of the Israeli government in the Occupied Territories. In 2007 my friend Danny Rubenstein, the venerated Arab Affairs analyst of Haaretz newspaper, was invited by the Zionist Federation of Great Britain (ZFGB) to address an event. On his way he stopped to address a UN committee in Brussels, and used the word “apartheid” to describe Israel’s attitude toward the Palestinians.
In response, he was unceremoniously dumped by the ZFGB and left high and dry in a B&B in Golders Green on a Friday night. He was eventually rescued by the New Fund for Israel and invited to a crowded gathering in a North London Reform synagogue.
But while Rubenstein was mainly concerned to warn the audience of the dangers of Israel following in the footsteps of the Afrikaaners, his interviewer — and most of the questioners — kept harping on what was constantly, if coyly, referred to as “the A-word.”
Yet it now emerges that for decades Israel supported the “A-word” regime and its military with advanced weapon systems at a time when western sanctions meant no one else would. According to Haaretz editor Aluf Benn, the cooperation reached its peak in the late 1980s, the twilight of the apartheid regime.
In the summer of 1988, Benn says, Israel reportedly sold South Africa 60 Kfir combat planes in a hushed-up deal worth $1.7 billion. The planes were upgraded and renamed Atlas Cheetah and Israel’s involvement was played down because the US was party to the sanctions regime, according to Haaretz.
Israel joined the international sanctions in 1987 but said it would honor existing contracts so the deal went ahead anyway. A few weeks later, the Israelis launched the first Ofek reconnaissance satellite, which Benn claims could only have been developed with South African funding. And only in 1991 was the US able to force the Israeli government to stop selling SA short and midrange missiles.
Maps, which were only revealed in the past few days, show how the Israelis plan to create bantustans for the Nomadic Bedouin in its southern Negev region. Tens of thousands of them would be forced into ghettoes to make way for new Jewish towns and military zones. A-word, anyone?(http://www.arabnews.com/news/494926)
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Opinions
Yes, Palestine is at the heart of the Arab Spring
By Yasser Abu Hilaleh
The Arab Spring has restored the Palestinian cause to the forefront of the Arab political scene. Just a reminder – the Palestinian flag was always the common denominator between all the arenas of change in the Arab world – in Tunisia, the songs of the Palestinian revolution were brought back to life and the slogan was “The people want to liberate Palestine” alongside “The people want to change the regime”. In Egypt, the Israeli embassy was stormed for the first time since the signing of the Camp David Accords. Equally, the counter revolution toppled this forefront of the issue of Palestine. In Egypt, the media reached the point where there were curses on President Mohammed Mursi that he was ‘a Palestinian.” The strangest of these accusations directed at him was “collaborating with Hamas”. In the same context, the security forces from this cell were leaking a recording of Mursi attacking Israel!
In such an atmosphere, the Arab Center for Research and Political Studies in Doha held its conference entitled, “The Palestinian National Project”. Of course, the attendees did not devise a liberation plan—this would need more than an academic conference. However, the importance of the conference was that it represented one form of confrontation to this counter revolution, through putting the issue of Palestine on the agenda of academic research. Such an agenda, in light of the Arab collapse, has become a way of usurping organizations for foreign funding– these organizations are based on a philosophy of ending the conflict with the Zionist with the premise of their research being fighting terrorism (The Palestinian struggle retroactively). They are focused on the economies of the Mediterranean, on the corporate governance of companies and on economic partnership with Israel.
In Doha, intellectuals at the international level who have served the Palestinian cause from their research standpoints were brought back and dusted off, perhaps the most prominent of these being leftist Indian scholar Ijaz Ahmad, who was the star speaker of the opening session. With his passion and depth, he resurrected the moment of the Nakba, not as a “historical event that happened in 1948” but as a historical process that began in that year and is still continuing against the Palestinian people until this day.
Those like Ijaz Ahmad understand this process which he also has been living – not because of the occupation, but because of separation. His family fled from India to Pakistan. When he became a young man, he decided to return to his country, but Indian authorities had introduced the citizenship law that prevented Muslims from regaining their Indian citizenship. So, he emigrated to the United States and returned to his country as an American. This is a Nakba in and of itself that has continued until today, just like it has continued for millions of Palestinian refugees in their homeland and outside of it.
During the conference, generations of researchers and youth activists met with their predecessors from the older generation. It was very beneficial for young people who have confronted the racist separation wall to meet with international law experts who gave them legal tools to help them in their struggle. This did not take away from the importance of the armed struggle, which was represented by Hamas chief Khaled Meshaal; neither did it exclude the chronic negotiations represented by Saeb Erekat.
No doubt, the attendance of the head of the constituent assembly in Tunisia, Mustapha Bin Jafar, sent a clear message that the Arab Spring countries were still prioritizing the Palestinian caus. However, that did not minimize the importance of the losses suffered by this cause after the counter-revolution. Egypt presented itself as a sponsor for fighting terrorism, particularly in Gaza and Sinai; The Syrian regime was pleading for its preservation by presenting itself (along with Hizbullah) also as a sponsor for fighting terrorism, without ever mentioning the million displaced peoplein the Golan Heights. Hizbullah sufficed with accusing Israel of assassinating its leaders, responding in Qaseer and Qalamon.
In the short run, the Palestinian cause has lost. But in the long term, it wins. Freedom and liberation are two sides to the same coin, just like tyranny and occupation are the same process. Hence, the issue of Palestine falls at the heart of the struggle of Arab peoples; practically speaking, a citizen in the midst of tyranny, is a refugee in their own home. (http://www.alghad.com/index.php/afkar_wamawaqef2/article/34812/.html)
Is America’s message to Israel being sent via Europe?
Al Quds Editorial
With its settlement expansionist policies and its denial of the most basic concepts of justice and requirements for peace as decided by the international community, Israel is moving towards more isolation, condemnation and warnings against these policies. In this context, Europe has sent a warning to Israel via its five largest countries during a meeting held by the ambassadors of Britain, France, Italy, Germany and Spain, with the director general of the Israeli foreign ministry Naseem Bin Shitreet, based on their own request. During the meeting, a clear message was sent to Israel, holding it responsible for the failure of negotiations with the Palestinians mostly because of its settlement policies.
What is so noteworthy is that this European message was sent in coordination with US Secretary of State John Kerry, who is planning to return to the region to follow up on his country’s mediation in peace process. This means that Washington is the party standing behind this European stance and that the message is clear, especially because it was made before Kerry’s return.
This is certainly an important development, especially in light of the major obstacles that have come in the way of negotiations and the resignation of at least part of the Palestinian negotiating team, in addition to the increasing popular national objection to the continuation of the talks and a demand for them to be halted; this demand is based on the fact that Israel is seemingly not interested in reaching an agreement.
If this American-European message reached the Israeli government in words, the real test of how serious it is will be the action taken in its regard during Kerry’s next visit. Practical steps must be taken against Israel’s settlement policies and against the government that carries them out, so that this message does not remain a ploy to allow the continuation of negotiations and extending their duration for several more months. We have had an earful about condemning settlements, saying they are illegal and in contravention of international law, without Israel paying any attention to this and without these positions being translated into actions. But it won’t be long before the truth comes out with the knowledge that the latest American proposals regarding Israel’s so-called security and keeping the Jordan Valley under direct Israeli control was met with a clear Palestinian rejection, which was also in complete harmony with Israel’s rejection. This has prompted suspicion in many observers as to the seriousness of the positions or messages being relayed by the European ambassadors.
In this same context, the emergency meeting of Arab foreign ministers on the 21st of this month, which was called for at the request of Palestine, should constitute a strong point of pressure on Israel’s policies and on America’s positions that go hand in hand with these policies. If the Arabs wanted to make a decision, in spite of the disasters and internal problems Arab countries are currently facing, they could easily do this because they have tremendous capabilities and interests that are extremely important to the United States and Europe. If they wanted, they could take advantage of these to the fullest.
However, Arab leaders, like we have grown accustomed to, have not yet decided on taking any practical decisions and still suffice with issuing statements of condemnation. It is very unfortunate. (http://www.alquds.com/news/article/view/id/478762)
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