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Dec. 30, 2013
Daily summary - Monday, December 30, 2013
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Main News
Israel will release 26 prisoners today
Israel is scheduled to release today midnight 26 prisoners imprisoned for more than 20 years, before the signing of the Oslo accords.The 26 prisoners to be released after midnight will go through medical examinations and procedures.The PNA expects that the approval of the fourth and final batch of the prisoners will be after three months and will include prisoners of Palestinians 1948.The release of the third batch of the 104 prisoners comes within the understandings concluded between the PNA and the United States and Israel on the eve of the resumption of Israeli-Palestinian negotiations in July, with each batch including 26 prisoners.(http://maannews.net/arb/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=661279)
Preparations for receiving the prisoners; and fears of impeding the release of the last batch
Preparations began in occupied Jerusalem, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip to receive a new batch of prisoners detained by Israel since before 1993, while concerns of the possibility of blocking the release of the fourth and final instalment prevail among Palestinian officials, comprising of Palestinians from inside the green line. The three batches did not include any of the 14prisoners from inside the green line, making Palestinian officials believe that Israel kept them for the final batchto bargain with the American for Israeli spy Jonathan Pollard, detained in the United States. President of the prisoners' club, Qaddoura Faris, said to France Press: "estimations are that the fourth and last batch of released prisoners will face problems," adding that "Israel said from the beginning that releasing prisoners from the West Bank and Gaza will be based on a decision by a special Ministerial Committee, but the fourth batch will be subject to the decision of the Israeli Government."(Al-Hayat Al-Jadida)
Israeli ministerial Commission approves the annexation of the Jordan Valley in a tense political week
An Israeli Ministerial Committee approved a proposed legislation yesterday to annex the Jordan Valley in the West Bank, which is likely to be the eastern border of a future Palestinian State. While an Israeli official accused Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of pushing Israel towards international isolation for its interests in the party (Likud) and maintain his position. The official said that Netanyahu doesn't want a deal with the Palestinian Authority, and has caused great harm to President Mahmoud Abbas.(Al-Hayat Al-Jadida)
Such a step called for by members of the ruling Likud right-wing party, headed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will affect the troubled peace negotiations sponsored by the United States, several days before another visit to the region of Secretary of State John Kerry.Justice Minister Tzipi Livni who is in charge of the negotiations with the Palestinians, immediately opposed the proposal and said she would use her powers to block voting on the legislation in the Knesset.(http://www.alquds.com/news/article/view/id/480491)
Fateh Central Committee: law annexing the Jordan Valley aims to thwart US efforts
Fateh Central Committee strongly condemned the approval of Israeli Ministerial Committee for Legislative Affairs for a law to annex the Jordan Valley to Israel. The Central Committee considered this decision as null and void, and a crime against humanity, aiming atfailing US and international efforts to achieve a just, comprehensive and lasting settlement in the region. The Central Committee also renewed its condemnation and rejection of the Israeli Government's decision to build thousands of settlement units, arguing that these decisions and all forms of settlement and Judaization are null and illegal and represent a direct attack on our people.The Central Committee reiterated its commitment to the legitimate national rights of the Palestinian people approved by international legitimacy, in particular their right to return, to self-determination, and the establishment of an independent Palestinian State on the borders of 4 June 1967, with Jerusalem as its capital.(http://safa.ps/details/news/119255/%D9%85%D8%B1%D9%83%D8%B2%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D9%81%D8%AA%D8%AD%D9%82%D8%A7%D9%86%D9%88%D9%86-%D8%B6%D9%85-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A3%D8%BA%D9%88%D8%A7%D8%B1-%D9%8A%D9%87%D8%AF%D9%81-%D9%84%D8%A5%D9%81%D8%B4%D8%A7%D9%84-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AC%D9%87%D9%88%D8%AF-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A3%D9%85%D8%B1%D9%8A%D9%83%D9%8A%D8%A9.html)
Fateh rejected any political solution that does not meet the aspirations of our people and their right to freedom and independence, and rejected any partial, transitional or temporary solutions that would prolong the occupation, and deprive our people from exercising their right to self-determination.(Al-Ayyam)
Former Preventive Security chief Rashid Abu Shbak sentenced for 15 years
Corruption Court in Ramallah convicted on Sunday, accused Rashid Ali Rashid Abu Shbak, former head of Palestinian security in Gaza, and former head of preventive security in Gaza, and sentenced him for imprisonment and temporary hard labor for 15 years, and a fine of us $ 930496 and the amount embezzled, after being convicted in corruption and embezzlement. The judicial information center said,"The Court's sentence was issued in absentia against accused Abu Shbak, currently residing in the ArabRepublic of Egypt, new Cairo, who was Director-General of the internal security in Gaza until his dismissal in June 2007, and head of the preventive security service in Gaza from 2002 until 2006.(http://www.qudsn.ps/article/35548)
Occupation distributed demolition orders to a mosque and houses in Silwan; settlers storm Al-Aqsa
Groups of settlers stormed Al-Aqsa mosque yesterday from Al-Magharebah gate under heavy protection of special units of the occupation police. Extremist Rabbi Yehuda Glick, lead one of these groups and was preaching on the legend and myth of the alleged Temple during a tour in Al-Aqsa courtyards and the Holy Mosque facilities, especially in the area known as 'Al-Hursh'.In the meantime, the occupation's municipality crews distributed five demolition orders, in Bir Ayyub and Al-Louzeh neighborhoods in Silwan, South of Al-Aqsa Mosque, on the pretext of building without a permit. Demolition orders included a mosque, houses, and other houses under construction, parking lot. The order were based on law “212" providing owners with only 30 days to object, or demolition will be carried out.(Al-Hayat Al-Jadida)
Death of a Palestinian patient at a checkpoint
Adel Mohammed Sa'id Amarneh (81 years old) from Ya'bad village in Jenin,died yesterday while Israeli forces detained the vehicle taking him to a Hospital at a military checkpoint at the entrance to the town and prevent him from reaching to Jenin Hospital. According to his son, Faraj, his father suddenly felt bad, after examination by a local clinic in Ya’bad it was decided that he will be transferred to Jenin Hospital.Faraj said: "I rushed with two of my brothers to transfer him in my own car, and when we reached the eastern entrance of the village we were stopped by soldiers who prevented us from passing,” adding: "we showed them the medical report, and my father who was in pain and in a difficult situation in the car, but to no avail, but they threatened us with their weapons and made us leave the checkpoint." Faraj said:” occupation killed my father because we were prevented from passing.” (Al-Quds)
Israeli Minister: we will have to evacuate quarter of settlements
Israeli Science and Technology Minister, Yaakov Perry, said that Israel "will have to pay for the planned settlement with the Palestinians, with the need to evacuate 15% - 25% of existing settlements in the West Bank."Maariv, which reported the news yesterday, considered this as an expansion of the gap between Yesh Ated and the Jewish Home.Perry added that announcement of construction in the Israeli settlements "must be only in settlement blocs that will gather the settlers following the signing of a permanent agreement with the Palestinians."(Al-Ayyam)
Erekat calls for joining international organizations in response to the law annexing the Valley
Head of the negotiations Affairs Department of the Palestine Liberation Organization, Palestinian Chief Negotiator Saeb Erekat, considered Israeli decision to approve the law annexing the Jordan valley as a destruction of the peace process and efforts of Secretary of State John Kerry specifically, and that this indicates the Israeli Government's disregard for international law and the Quartet efforts.Erekat said that the Palestinian response now should be that the State of Palestine within the 1967 borders join all international institutions as the only way to deal with the Israeli Government.(Al-Ayyam)
An Israeli General calls for the assassination of Haneyeh and Hamas leader
An Israeli General called the Government of Benjamin Netanyahu to draw lessons from the war waged by the Government in Egypt against Islamic movements and apply in the war against Hamas. Gen. Tzvika Fogel, former Commander of the southern command of the army forces,criticized the Israeli Government behavior with regards to the Gaza Strip, accusing it of hesitance.In an article published in the "Israel today", Fogel said that Israel should have bombed the house of Ismail Haneyeh and other Hamas leadership in Gaza immediately after the sniping last Tuesday which killed an Israeli worker. Fogelconsidered this action was necessary in order to show “the enemy that we are determined to defend ourselves by all means."(Al-Ayyam)
Bardawil mock factions and describes them as "mad"
Hamas leader Salah Bardawil Mocked calls by some factions of the PLO against Hamas to disengage from the Muslim Brotherhood, describing them as "parrots".Bardawil said in a statement yesterday, on his Facebook account: "with the first of the month approaching, waiting for the monthly bribes of President Abbas some (mercenaries) from the parrots issued statements demanding Hamas to disengagefrom the MuslimBrotherhood in Egypt to preserve it from the flood of the coup". Bardawil added: He added: "those mad people forgotthat Hamas is not linked to the Brotherhood in Egypt but is the brotherhood itself in Palestine, and we are honored of this Association", indicating that the brotherhood everywhere wishes to be associated with the organization in Palestine.(Al-Hayat Al-Jadida)
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Headlines
** Israel bomb South Lebanon with 33 artillery shell in response to Katyusha rockets (Al-Ayyam)
** Washington: there is no connection between the release of prisoners and spy Pollard (Al-Ayyam)
** Civilians suffer from burns and shrapnel from artillery shells fired by occupation forceseast of Al-Maghazi (Al-Ayyam)
** A new Israeli policy towards Gaza… Bread for the security of settlements(Al-Ayyam)
** Syria: 517 killed in air strikes on Aleppo in two weeks (Al-Ayyam)
** President receives Director-General of Arab administrative development organization and the young inventor Shkukani (Al-Hayat Al-Jadida)
** Egyptian Ambassador: behavior of Hamas will determine itsfate for Cairo (Al-Hayat Al-Jadida)
** The only power plant in Gaza Strip starts working (Al-Hayat Al-Jadida)
** Explosion near the building of the military intelligence in Egypt (Al-Hayat Al-Jadida)
** Israeli population exceed 8,130,000 (Al-Quds)
** Israeli aggression against Gaza in 2008 and 2012 was planned for months (Al-Quds)
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Front Page Photos
Al- Quds:Kibbutz Manara – Israeli soldier watching the Lebanese borders after launching Katyusha on Israel
Al-Ayyam:Khan Younis – Family of prisoner Rami Barbakh celebrate after being informed of his release.
Al Hayat Al Jadida:1) Family of prisoner Barbakh after being informed of his release, 2) Jerusalem - Family of Prisoner Bilal Abu Hussein after being informed of his release
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Voice of Palestine News
Q: News say that Israeli intelligence informed families of prisoners from Jerusalem that the prisoners will be released at 22:00 , can you provide us with more information?
Tis true, it is decided that the families will meet their sons (prisoners) near the so-called Al-Zaitunah checkpoint, east of the old city of Jerusalem. The occupation authorities called some of these families and asked them to be there at 22:00 to meet their sons. These prisoners were supposed to be released with all the others were they will be celebrating at Al-Moqata’ah, but preparations changed since the occupation changed the plan. All of this was confirmed to us by the director of the Prisoners’ Club in Jerusalem, Nasser Qous, and some families who received calls form the occupation authorities.
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Voice of Palestine Interviews
** Ahmad Ruedy, Advisor to the president on the Jerusalem Affairs, on releasing Jerusalemite prisoners.
Q: With regards to the Jerusalemite prisoners’ release at 22:00 alone, how do you view this?
As I said at the press conference held yesterday, this batch include Jerusalemites, we have 8 prisoners form the Jerusalem district, 5 of them are from inside the separation wall, meaning that they hold a blue ID, Jerusalem is waiting and preparing for receiving these heroes. This is huge celebration but it will not be completed until all prisoners are released.
Q: with regards to the escalation in Jerusalem, news reported on demolition orders in Jerusalem?
There is daily escalation against Jerusalemites, demolitions, arrest etc.. We should guarantee means of steadfastness in Jerusalem, yesterday we had a meeting with the Prime Minister, during which we said that the government should provide all that is needed for Jerusalemites, and the Prime Minister promised to double the Jerusalem budget, and help is facilitating aid to Jerusalemites. We hope these decisions will be implemented, especially since the President’s orders for all parties to help Jerusalemites.
** Jawad Bolus, Director of the legal unit at the Prisoners’ Club, on the Prisoners’ release.
Q: the names are set, what are the procedures now until the release?
They already started with gathering the prisoners from prisons to Ofer prison, all procedures are done now, and nothing is left other than releasing them.
Q: At what hour they are supposed to be released?
Usually it is late at night, we know this is an Israeli policy.
Q: our reporter in Jerusalem said that the occupation intelligence informed Jerusalemite families that their sons will be released at Al-Zaituna checkpoint on 22:00, is this information final?
We were not informed with an exact hour yet, we will check soon and see, we will inform everyone when we know.
Q: after this batch, how many prisoners will remain for the last batch?
According to what we issued yesterday, there will still be 32 prisoners since before Oslo, so everyone know that we are aware of the exact numbers.
** Saeb Erekat, Chief Palestinian Negotiator, on Israeli decision to annex the Jordan Valley and the Negotiations.
Q: With regards to approving the annexation o the Jordan Valley, how dangerous is this step?
This step finishes all that is called the peace process, this comes just before the arrival of Kerry for the tenth time, it cannot be done without full coordination with Netanyahu and his government, since it is a settlers government, and it shows their intentions, so we there are three steps that must be done immediately, 1) we should approach international organizations to join these organizations and conventions, this will make Palestine a state under occupation in the 1967 borders with east Jerusalem as its capital, and to join international court. 2) The world should announce that they stop dealing with the occupation, especially with settlements. 3) The world should immediately recognize Palestine in the 1967 borders with Jerusalem as its capital, especially the EU, and other states that did not recognize the state pf Palestine yet. It is time for the world and the US to stop dealing with Israel as a state above law.
Q: before the negotiations the leadership was clear, 9 months, and if it fail we approach international organizations, now you are calling for approaching these organizations before completing the 9 months, I understand that you’re saying negotiations failed?
I think it did, yes it failed, Israel with all its actions failed these negotiations, we don’t need the 9 months anymore, and they are destroying the negotiations.. what is the meaning of these decisions, if we are talking about two states on the borders of 1967, and peace process what I is the meaning of discussing in legislative committees the annexation of 29% of eth West Bank, what is the meaning of issuing tenders for building 7392 housing units in the West Bank, this is not only destroying the peace process but destroying the two states principle, the Israeli government is the only side responsible for this failure.
Q: Did preparations to approach international organization begin?
To be honest, we are fully prepared to join 63 organization and convention, it is now the decision of the leadership to choose to do so.
Q: But Kerry is still continuing with his efforts, he is arriving next week to meet President Abbas and Netanyahu?
Yes this is true, the one who seeks to fail Kerry’s efforts is the one who takes such decision and annex the Jordan Valley, and issue tenders for settlement units.
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More Headlines
Lapid: it's time to divorce Palestinians
Finance Minister Yair Lapid, leader of “Yesh Ated” said today that “it is time to separate ourselves from the Palestinians, we do not want to reach a time we have to accommodate 4 million Palestinians in Israel.” Lapid said Israel should seek to reach agreement with the Palestinian side, according to Maariv, stressing that “it is time to separate ourselves from the Palestinians, and that Israel is not trying to marry Palestinians, and that the divorce with them is coming so we should work to end the conflict and reach an agreement with them, otherwise we will find ourselves compelled to accommodate 4 million Palestinians in Israel.” (http://maannews.net/arb/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=661317)
The United States warns the Palestinian Authority from approaching the United Nations
"Israel today" reported today morning that the Palestinian Authority leadership has threatened to go to the United Nations to demand recognition as an independent State, after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's decisions on building more settlements in the West Bank in conjunction with the release of the third batch of Palestinian prisoners. The newspaper reported the first comments on the subject from the US, US Ambassador to Israel Dan Shapiro said "news report on bypassing all red lines and this is forbidden from the PNA, which will lead to an explosion of negotiations between the two sides which we do not expect at this stage."(http://qudsnet.com/news/View/261448/%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%88%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%8A%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D8%AA%D8%AD%D8%AF%D8%A9-%D8%AA%D8%AD%D8%B0%D8%B1-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B3%D9%84%D8%B7%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%81%D9%84%D8%B3%D8%B7%D9%8A%D9%86%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D9%85%D9%86-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AA%D9%88%D8%AC%D9%87-%D9%84%D9%84%D8%A3%D9%85%D9%85-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D8%AA%D8%AD%D8%AF%D8%A9/)
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Arab Press
On the ‘Jewish State of Israel’
By John V. Whitbeck
News reports continue to suggest that one of the primary roadblocks to any agreement in the current round of Israeli-Palestinian negotiations is the understandable Palestinian refusal to accept the Israeli demand that Palestine explicitly recognize Israel as a, or the, “Jewish State” — a legally and intellectually bizarre demand clearly intended to make any agreement impossible.
Palestinian acceptance of this Israeli demand would constitute explicit Palestinian acquiescence in permanent second-class status for Palestinian citizens of Israel and in the liquidation of the rights of millions of Palestinian refugees, as well as implicit Palestinian acceptance that the ethnic cleansing of Palestine was morally justified, which in turn would require conceding that Palestinians are sub-humans not entitled to fundamental human rights.
No Palestinian leader could accept this demand and survive. Israelis know that. That is why the demand is being made.
While few anticipate that the current round of negotiations (which, according to Israeli press reports, Benjamin Netanyahu now wants to extend for a further year beyond their end of April deadline, so as to kill more time while building more settlements) will produce anything, the state of Palestine could and should take constructive action now to disarm the “Jewish State” gambit, which the Israeli prime minister appears to view as his best hope for shifting blame, at least in Western eyes, to the Palestinians.
The State of Palestine could and should reiterate that Israel’s self-identification is a matter for Israelis (not Palestinians) to decide and then publicly announce that should Israel choose to change its official name from “State of Israel” to “Jewish State of Israel”, the State of Palestine, while preferring democracy as a matter of principle and hoping that Israel will, in the future, become a fully democratic state, according equal rights, without any discrimination based on race or religion, to all its citizens, would persist in its efforts to end the Israeli occupation and would enter into any agreements which might subsequently be reached with the relabeled Israeli state.
Subject only to one exception noted below, all states are free to determine and embellish their “official names” as they please.
There are four officials “Islamic Republics”, the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Islamic Republic of Mauritania and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan.
Some official names are eccentric, such as the Oriental Republic of Uruguay (so named because the country is located on the eastern side of the Uruguay River) and the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (so named, relatively recently, because Simon Bolivar was Hugo Chavez’s personal hero).
Some official names are counterintuitive to the point of absurdity, such as the Democratic Republic of Congo and the People’s Democratic Republic of Korea ... or, potentially, the “Jewish and Democratic State of Israel”.
In one case, a state’s official name has been imposed by the United Nations as a condition for UN membership and is rejected and not used by the state itself — the “Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia”, which prefers to call itself the “Republic of Macedonia” but whose right to use the name “Macedonia” is disputed by Greece.
By choice, the Republic of Moldova and the State of Palestine are listed in the UN’s alphabetical listings among the Rs and Ss, respectively, while the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia is, involuntarily, listed among the Fs.
If a relabeled “Jewish State of Israel” wished to emphasize its Jewish character by being listed among the Js (as the State of Palestine has emphasized its state status by being listed among the Ss), its wish would presumably be granted.
If formalizing the status of Israel as a “Jewish State” were a genuine concern of the Israeli government or a deeply felt need of the Israeli people, and not simply a cynical gambit to achieve and excuse failure in negotiations, and if the Israeli government wishes to proclaim this status officially to the world, the road is open and nothing is stopping Israel from achieving this on its own.
However, Israel’s preferred self-identification and official name are not matters in which the State of Palestine has any role to play.
If the Israeli government does not dare to proclaim its state officially “Jewish” (and accept the concomitant risks of doing so), how can it demand that those whose country has been conquered and colonized, and whose people have been dispossessed and dispersed, make the State of Israel possible on its behalf?
Whether or not the Palestinian leadership in Ramallah has any hope (or fear) that the current round of negotiations will produce anything, it should make the artificiality of the Israeli government’s demand and the reasonableness of the Palestinian refusal to accept it emphatically clear, in terms that the international community, and particularly Western governments and peoples, can understand.(http://jordantimes.com/on-the-jewish-state-of-israel)
Netanyahu’s payback politics is key hurdle in peace process
By HASSAN BARARI
The timing of Israel’s intention to build 1,400 housing units in settlements in the Palestinian territories cannot be more outrageous. This decision comes amid the American efforts to help the Palestinians and Israelis cut a deal.
I cannot see how US Secretary of State John Kerry can persuade the Arabs, let alone the Palestinians, that Netanyahu is a partner for any possible resolution to the long-standing Palestinian-Israeli conflict.
Despite his lip service to the notion of a two-state solution, Netanyahu’s policies have only derailed the process altogether.
Historically speaking, construction of settlements in the Palestinian land has been a classic Zionist tactic designed to maximize Israel’s territorial gains at the expense of the Palestinians and to present Israeli expansion as a fait accompli. Since the military occupation of the Palestinians territories in 1967, successive Israeli governments — whether under Labor or Likud — have built settlements on the Palestinian land. For some influential and important political forces, building settlements anywhere possible in the Palestinian land is a means to make any Israeli withdrawal from the Palestinians territories a difficult task to implement. Indeed, one of the paramount objectives behind Likud-led governments in late 1970s and 1980s to build settlements was to prevent a future Labor-led government from offering the Palestinians any meaningful territorial concessions.
At one point, some Israeli premiers began to realize that their political survival and their abilities to stay at the helm of politics was contingent on political forces that represent settlers’ interests.
Netanyahu, in his first term, adopted the policy of paying back to the religious and rightwing forces every time he made a concession to the Palestinians. For instance, to get the religious parties agree on the Hebron Protocol in January 1997 (an agreement signed by late Yasser Arafat and Netanyahu), he paid back by announcing the government’s decision to build houses in Jabal Abu Ghneim south of Jerusalem. It is as if Netanyahu had to please the extremists within his coalition at the expense of Palestinian land.
Observers argue Netanyahu’s reliance on settlers and anti two-state political parties forces him to conform to their pressure for more settlements. Therefore, for releasing tens of Palestinian prisoners, Netanyahu seeks to ease the pressure by supporting a new scheme of settlements.
Explicitly, the Israeli government is working at cross-purposes. To be sure, the Israeli decision to release some Palestinian prisoners is seen by Kerry as a vital confidence-building measure. Such a move can help Kerry in his talks to the Palestinians. Yet, the decision to build new homes in settlements can destroy any prospects of hope that Netanyahu is a peace partner. For Palestinians, Netanyahu is anything but genuine peace partner.
To be sure, even the Israeli opposition is not happy with Netanyahu’s intention to resume settlement activities. Isaac Herzog, the opposition leader, wrote Netanyahu a letter urging him not to announce new settlement construction especially when negotiations with the Palestinians are about to start. “Israel should be announcing a settlement freeze…There is no point in building when we are in the process of negotiating our final borders,” said Herzog.
The fact that the Israeli premier has to succumb to the pressure of the extremists within his coalition is difficult to square with his declared understanding that the failure of a two-state solution can compromise Israel’s character as a Jewish and democratic state. Israel will soon face a puzzle of paramount consequence. If settlement activities continue unchecked, there will be nothing left for the Palestinians to establish their viable state. But soon, the Palestinians will take over the Jews demographically. What is Israel going to do with this new unfolding reality? Needless to say, there are some Palestinians who have started thinking of a one-state solution!
Israel’s tragic situation cannot be solved as long as Israeli prime ministers succumb to the desires and whims of extremists. It is about time that Netanyahu needs to understand that the payback politics can help him maintain his position but will jeopardize the Israelis position in years to come. The blackmail practiced by pro-settlers political parties will only push Israel to a slippery road. In brief, one can argue that the whole peace process is held hostage to the power dynamics within Israel that only weakens the prime minister and pushes him to adopt policies that undermine the peace process.(http://www.arabnews.com/news/500556)
The year in Palestinian hip-hop
By Janne Louise Andersen
“Hip-hop is not dead, it lives in Palestine,” reads a popular T-shirt design. Indeed, 2013 proved that the Palestinian hip-hop scene, one of the first in the Middle East, is alive and kicking. Both its godfathers and newcomers released a broad variety of hip-hop productions that are pushing the scene to another level.
Producer Anan Ksym, 28, along with his organization Mazaj Productions and the UG Records label, stood out this year. Ksym is himself a rapper from the group WE7 / Wlad El 7ara, which he established in 2001 with fellow rappers Alaa Bishara and Adi Krayem. Their last album, “Wednesday,” which was released on YouTube on Dec. 6 before their split, was the result of a collaboration project called "Kayaan" with the Swiss composer Christian Mueller. This “Arabic jazz-rap” album is one of the most innovative of the year.
The Next Stage
Soon after Ksym built his own studio in the basement of his family home in Nazareth, aspiring young emcees started to ask for beats and mentoring. Today, Ksym has a full entourage of promising rappers and musicians under his wing.
One of them is Hussam Ikbarey, 16, better known as Hoss Basha — the Eminem of Palestine, according to Ksym. Ikbarey considers the hip-hop icon a “rap God,” and he resembles the young Eminem both in physical appearance and style. Moreover, he is an incredible freestyler. His upcoming album, “Made in Safafri,” takes listeners to his neighborhood in Nazareth — one of the most impoverished, drug-infested and crime-ridden cities in Israel — where Ikbarey works after school at his brother’s car wash to support the family.
“I see that my community is in deep, and I don’t want to be connected to that. I want to change that,” he said.
Hoss Basha is a mix of raw talent, dedication and intelligence. He speaks for Palestine but from a personal place. He plans to release his debut album mid-February.
Khalset Rap
Ksym also produced the album "Talea Min Ghetto" for the hip-hop veteran Murad Abo Ahmad, which UG Records released in July. He joined forces with another veteran, Tamer Nafar from the group DAM, on the song "Super Lancer," which is based on the instrumental from "Black and Yellow." In the video, which is produced by Mazaj, the two proud emcees cruise in a Mitsubishi Lancer through Nazareth. No “bling,” just two emcees and clever, satirizing punch lines about the most popular car among the shabaab (youths) in town. This has to be the best music video of the year.
Super Lancer
Nafar is himself a hip-hop powerhouse from the city of Lid. Since DAM released their second album “Dabke on the Moon” in December 2012, Tamer Nafar, Suhell Nafar and Mahmoud Jreri have toured abroad and within the country. But both Tamer Nafar and Jreri are already back in the studio with Ksym, working on their own solo albums. Jreri is working with local rock musicians; Nafar is trying out rhyming in English. The two renowned lyricists say it is time to bring out the honest personal narratives in Palestinian hip-hop music.
“I don’t think DAM is ready to do anything new before we each put out our own personal stuff,” said Nafar who is also working on a feature film about the birth of hip-hop in Palestine, building on his own experience.
The hip-hop godfather and father of two is also bridging hip-hop and activism. In November, he and the Madaa Silwan Creative Center in East Jerusalem opened a studio where Nafar produces music with young locals who rhyme and sing about life in their neighborhood of Silwan and their conflicts with Israeli settlers there.
“We are not doing this to make them musicians but to give them their childhood back,” said Nafar, who also made a song for the re-establishment of the demolished Bab Al-Shams village in east Jerusalem.
At Bab Al-Shams
Like many Palestinian hip-hop artists segregated from one another, Nafar is a proud music collaborator. He most recently worked with the Palestinian-Syrian group Refugees of Rap on the track "Ahkee" ("Speak Up"), which talks about the experience of four rappers from Yarmuk refugee camp in Damascus who lived with the threat of death until they escaped Syria earlier this year. Their upcoming album “Age of Silence” features 20 songs that reflect on life before and after the Syrian uprising, the outbreak of the war and the impact on the Palestinian minority.
The scene in the diaspora is also alive and kicking, from Katibeh Khamseh and DJ Osloob in Burj el-Barajneh refugee camp in Lebanon to the Sao Paulo-based Gazan emcee Mohammed Antar, who created "Antara 2013." The emcee Khotta Ba, or Majd Kamal, released his excellent debut album "Al Tatweer Al 7adari" in July 2012 and worked with Talbeyah MCs, two passionate 16-year-old rappers from the Palestinian refugee camp Talbieh in Jordan whose album will soon be made available on bandcamp.com.
On the other side of the Jordan River, the emcee and music producer VJ and DJ Boikutt released his first solo album "Hayawan Nateq" in Ramallah in November. With this album, the artist who was part of the former group Ramallah Underground pushes the sounds of the genre in new directions with his experimental, often dark, intense electronic beats and lyrical compositions — undoubtedly the most daring album of the year.
Also in Ramallah, the MMD label, founded by emcee and producer Rami GB, will release a collaboration album titled “Mizrap” on bandcamp.com during the first week of 2014. It will feature 15 Palestinian artists from Gaza, the West Bank, Jordan and Europe. It includes a track with Shadia Mansour, whose debut album is also expected in 2014. She has actively collaborated across the region and has steadily been dropping songs such as “We Have to Change,” featuring Syrian-American Omar Offendum.
Another hip-hop project to watch for in 2014 is Al Falastine. Mohammed Mugrabi, an emcee and music producer from the former group G-Town in Shufat refugee camp in east Jerusalem, has gathered four rappers from the West Bank for the collaboration.
In Dheisheh refugee camp in Bethlehem, the three emcees Mohamad Azmi, Hisham al-Iham and Diya Milhem from the group Palestine Street are working with young talent in the camp and producing their debut album.
Solidarity with Palestine's Deaf Community
New album releases from more veteran emcees are in the works. PR-Palestinian Rapperz from Gaza is releasing a new album in March, and Saz from Ramle, who released “Min Yoom" ("Since that Day") in September, is also back in the studio working on an album in English.
So while 2013 was a big year for Palestinian hip-hop, there is still more to expect in 2014.(http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2013/12/2013-palestinian-hip-hop.html)
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Opinions
A dangerous Israeli decision that needs a serious stand
Al-Quds Editorial
The Israeli Ministerial Committee for Legislative Affairs, adopted yesterday by the majority of eight votes of Likud, Jewish Home and Israel Beitinu Ministers, partners in the Government coalition and the opposition of three Ministers, to approve a law to annex settlements in the Jordan Valley and roads leading to it and the application of Israeli law to these areas, with a view to submitting the law to Knesset for approval. This is a very serious development, both in terms of content, timing or what it reveals of the real intentions of the Israeli Government, it is also a unilateral step that is contrary to the foundations and principles of the peace process. In addition, this position is contrary to international law as Jordan Valley area is an integral part of the territories occupied in 1967, and an integral part of the territory of the Palestinian State which was recognized by the international community and recently granted observer status in the General Assembly.
There is no doubt that the content of this development means that Israel gives itself the right to annex land and areas occupied since 1967, which is contrary to international law and threatens to explode the situation again because this development undermines the foundations and principles of the peace process,meaning that the “peace” Israel wants is to cram Palestinians in specific cantons after the annexation of the territories occupied in 1967, and imposing conditions and dictationson any Palestinian entity in these areas.
In terms of timing, it is clear that the Israeli occupation seeks to impose new facts on the ground in the negotiations, while awaiting the arrival of Secretary of State for the region to put forward proposals for a framework agreement for both sides, after the Palestinian side clearly rejected any proposal that keeps Israeli control of the Jordan Valley under the pretext of security arrangements. This is why this step is considered as blocking peace negotiations and place more obstacles to thwart it.
Apart from all of this, this dangerous development reaffirms that the Israeli Government does not want a just, lasting and comprehensive peace based on international legitimacy and its resolutions, but want to a “solution” that consistent with its expansionist ambitions, placing a question mark over the future of the negotiations and the peace process which is in a place totally differs from what is published and what would change on the ground with regards to illegal occupation and settlements.
The question here, after Israel hit the peace process and negotiations with a series of strikes, with successive settlement projects, and it’s attempt today to annex another part of the occupied territories and its arbitrary practices in the occupied territories is: what will we do about this dangerous development? And is it enough to issue statements condemning and then going back to waitfor the next Israeli violation?
There is also a question for Secretary of John Kerry and the American administration: How can negotiations continuewhile Israel unilaterally impose daily facts to try to legalize occupation of large parts of the occupied territories, contradicting not only with the peace process but with the legitimate international resolutions and the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people?
It must be said here that this dangerous development is not as its predecessors of Israeli violations, and therefore, this Israeli position must confronted in a wayconsistent with its seriousness and the threat it imposes to the security and stability of the region, and the whole process. This requires a serious position of the Palestinian leadership, and a clear message to Israel and to the international community that the Palestinian side rejects the Israeli position that must be withdrawn, publicly and officially, so that negotiations could continue, since its continuation after this dangerous development would mean further encouragement to the Israeli occupation to take more steps that would blow up the remaining hopes to achieve peace, it also means providing a curtain for Israel to move forward in consolidating its occupation and settlements, which is rejected by the Palestinian side. (Al-Quds)
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