|
|
Dec. 31, 2013
Daily summary - Tuesday, December 31, 2013
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Main News
Prisoners breathe freedom in the West Bank, Gaza and Jerusalem
Israeli authorities released at 2:15 dawn Tuesday, 26 Palestinian prisoners from the West Bank, Gaza Strip and Jerusalem.18 prisoners to Ramallah after the release from Ofer prison, and five prisoners from Jerusalem arrived at Al-Zaituna checkpoint and 3 prisoners to the Erez crossing in Gaza, where they were received by their relatives and thousands of citizens and a large number of Palestinian officials.Prisonerswerereceived at the Presidency headquarters in Ramallah by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and leaders of the factions and members of the Executive Committees of the PLO and Fatah. The freed prisoners laid a wreath at the mausoleum of late President and martyr Yasser Arafat. Occupation fired stun grenades toward the crowd after the release of Jerusalemites to disperse them and prevent them from celebrating, along with dispersing citizens before the Ofer prison with tear gas.Minister of prisoners Affairs Issa Qaraqe said that the release of prisoners before Oslo is one of the largest national and political achievements for the Palestinian leadership in 2013.(http://maannews.net/arb/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=661598)
Abbas: no final agreement without the release of all prisoners
President Mahmoud Abbas said that there will not be a final agreement before the release of all prisoners to their homes, saying the release of 26 prisoners tonight won't be the last time and will be followed by another batch soon. During his speech, Tuesday, before the released prisoners and their families and crowds in Ramallah, Abbas congratulated the Palestinian people on the occasion of the release of prisoners, Christmas and the New Year. Abbas said: "as part of our promise, the 104 prisoners under the release agreement will all be released to their homes, not anywhere else, and we hope from God to help us to complete this journey."With regard to the approval of the Israeli Ministerial Committee on annexation of the Jordan Valley to Israel, Abbas threatened, saying: "this is a red line that may not be crossed, we will not let them cross it, and if they do we will act accordingly.” (http://safa.ps/details/news/119342/%D8%B9%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%B3%D9%84%D8%A7-%D8%A7%D8%AA%D9%81%D8%A7%D9%82-%D9%86%D9%87%D8%A7%D8%A6%D9%8A-%D9%82%D8%A8%D9%84-%D8%A5%D8%B7%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%82-%D8%B3%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%AD-%D8%AC%D9%85%D9%8A%D8%B9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A3%D8%B3%D8%B1%D9%89.html)
Abu Mazen: we are committed to negotiations for nine months as agreed with Kerry
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen) said: "we remain committed to the agreement with Foreign Minister, John Kerry, to continue the negotiations for nine months."Abbas made the statement, reported by the official Palestinian news agency Wafa, while local daily Al-Quds said that US Secretary of State, John Kerry’s visits to the region recently were part of intensified efforts to conclude an agreement between Palestinians and Israelis and even if a partial. (http://qudsnet.com/news/View/261533/%D8%A3%D8%A8%D9%88-%D9%85%D8%A7%D8%B2%D9%86-%D9%85%D9%84%D8%AA%D8%B2%D9%85%D9%88%D9%86-%D8%A8%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D9%81%D8%A7%D9%88%D8%B6%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D9%84%D9%85%D8%AF%D8%A9-9-%D8%B4%D9%87%D9%88%D8%B1-%D8%AD%D8%B3%D8%A8-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A7%D8%AA%D9%81%D8%A7%D9%82-%D9%85%D8%B9-%D9%83%D9%8A%D8%B1%D9%8A/)
A protest demonstration of settlers in Jerusalem against the release of prisoners
Large numbers of Israeli settlers demonstrated on Monday night, against the release of the third batch of Palestinian prisoners. Protesters gathered outside the home of Jerusalemiteprisoner Ahmed Khalaf in Al-Selselah gate near the Al-Aqsa Mosque under the protection of Israeli police, prisoner Khalaf was sentenced for 2 years and already spent most of his sentence. Eyewitnesses said that “a large force of Israeli soldiers and settlers were present Al-Selselah Gate Street near the House of prisoner Ahmad Khalaf, and prevented from creating a celebration atmosphere in preparation for receiving the prisoner.(http://qudsnet.com/news/View/261503/%D8%AA%D8%B8%D8%A7%D9%87%D8%B1%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D8%AD%D8%AA%D8%AC%D8%A7%D8%AC%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D9%84%D9%84%D9%85%D8%B3%D8%AA%D9%88%D8%B7%D9%86%D9%8A%D9%86-%D9%81%D9%8A-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%82%D8%AF%D8%B3-%D8%B6%D8%AF-%D8%A7%D8%B7%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%82-%D8%B3%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%AD-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A7%D8%B3%D8%B1%D9%89/)
The rocket hit an open area in “Sha’ar Hanegev” without injuries
Channel 7 of Israeli television reported that a homemade rocket launched from the Gaza Strip and landed in an open area in the Regional Council of “Sha’ar Hanegev” adjacent to the Gaza Strip.Israeli army spokesman said there were no casualties or damage as a result of the fall.(http://www.pnn.ps/index.php/policy/77127-%D8%B3%D9%82%D9%88%D8%B7-%D8%B5%D8%A7%D8%B1%D9%88%D8%AE-%D8%B9%D9%84%D9%89-%D9%85%D9%86%D8%B7%D9%82%D8%A9-%D9%85%D9%81%D8%AA%D9%88%D8%AD%D8%A9-%D9%81%D9%8A-%D8%B4%D8%A7%D8%B9%D8%B1-%D9%87%D8%A7%D9%86%D9%8A%D8%BA%D9%8A%D9%81-%D8%AF%D9%88%D9%86-%D8%A7%D8%B5%D8%A7%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%AA)
Livni: Israeli internal policy move towards international isolation endured by the people
Israeli Justice Minister Tzipi Livni said yesterday that Israeli internal policy move towards international isolation. According to “Walla” website, Livni said that Likud Ministers and Jewish Home in the Government are involved in decisions to isolate Israel internationally, while criticizing the approval of alawannexing the Jordan Valley settlement to Israel, pointing out that those decisions would be confronted by harsh criticism that will affect Israel and its people. Livni added “it is impossible that Israeli citizens pay the price of internal policy that would threaten democracy.” (http://www.pnn.ps/index.php/israel/77120-%D9%84%D9%8A%D9%81%D9%86%D9%8A-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B3%D9%8A%D8%A7%D8%B3%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A7%D8%B3%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%A6%D9%8A%D9%84%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AF%D8%A7%D8%AE%D9%84%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D8%AA%D9%85%D8%B6%D9%8A-%D9%86%D8%AD%D9%88-%D8%B9%D8%B2%D9%84%D8%A9-%D8%AF%D9%88%D9%84%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D9%8A%D8%AA%D8%AD%D9%85%D9%84%D9%87%D8%A7-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B4%D8%B9%D8%A8)
Netanyahu links the release of prisoners from inside the green line to releasing Pollard
An Israeli official said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will not release Arab prisoners from inside the green line as a gesture of goodwill to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, but they will be released if Jonathan Pollard, an Israeli spy imprisoned in the United States, is released. Channel 2 of the Israeli television quoted an unnamed official yesterday evening as saying that Netanyahu informed Secretary of State John Kerry, that Israel will not release any Arab prisoners from inside the green line on the fourth and final batch. Reports say that Netanyahu asked the Israeli internal security service “Shin Bet” and the Israel prison administration to prepare a list of other prisoners to replace the Arab prisoners from inside the green line listed already in the list. The official told the channel that “Israel felt it was tricked by Kerry, who acquiesced to the request of Abbas to increase the number of released prisoners from 82 to 104, making it believe that Israel would be willing to release prisoners of Israeli nationality.Reports said that Netanyahu told Kerry that while Israel is unwilling to release Arab prisoners from inside the green line as a goodwill gesture to the Palestinians, it would be prepared to release them if the United States released Pollard. (Al-Ayyam)
Netanyahu: no peace without recognition of Israel is a State for the Jewish people and canceling the right of return
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, said he will sign a peace agreement with the Palestinians only if securing the interests of Israel, most importantly "our security and their disarmament", and only with a recognition of Israel as the nation State of the Jewish people, and only if the Palestinians forget their dream of “return" and their other demands on the territory of the Jewish State. Netanyahu said in a Likud parliamentary session: “we have made many attempts to launch peace negotiationsduring the past five years; we hold great importance to our willingness to begin the negotiations regarding the strategic needs of the State of Israel. Six months ago, we entered into negotiations with the Palestinians. The two sides took upon themselves, with the start of the talks, to refrain from taking unilateral steps in international forums. Leadership is tested by its ability to implement difficult decisions no matter what. We were not elected to lead the State of Israel to make easy decisions. I think that the State of Israel has a strategic interest in peaceful negotiations aimed at reaching agreement and ending the conflict. Netanyahu added: “during these negotiations we insist on our vital interests, including guaranteeing housing in the land of Israel. And a political agreement will be signed only if ensuring our vital interests and our security and their disarmament. And only with recognition of Israel as the nation State of the Jewish people, and only if the Palestinians forget their dream of “return"."(Al-Ayyam)
Ya’alon: I prefer European boycott on the Palestinian rockets
Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alonsaid that if he was to choose between a European boycott, and Israeli territory being attacked by rockets from the West Bank, he would prefer the European boycott.On the other hand, Ya’alon said that rockets launch the day before yesterday from South Lebanon toward Israel, perhaps was implemented by jihadist elements trying to drag Israel to escalate the situation on the border between the two countries, in the context of the war Hezbollah involved in.(Al-Ayyam)
Opening of a new neighborhood at an Israeli settlement in the Jordan Valley in two days
Israeli Interior Minister, Gideon Sa'ar, will open in the next two days, a new neighborhood in the settlement of “Getit” in the Jordan Valley.Maariv said that "lobby for land of Israel" in the Knesset, has sent invitations to Knesset members from right-wing parties to participate in the opening and listen to a lecture about the strategic importance of the Jordan Valley to Israel. Sa’ar will be joining a delegation of Knesset members from the right-wing and religious parties to attend the event under the slogan "Jordan Valley is for Israel."(Al-Ayyam)
Committee of the Knesset ratified the transfer of 60 million shekels for settlements
The Knesset Finance Committee approved on Monday, following a tumultuous meeting to transfer 60 million shekels for settlements in the West Bank, under the so-called "local authorities" paybacks.Haaretz that members of the Committee of the labor party asked during the discussion: why this urgent exceptional meeting of the Committee on Sunday? Members of the committee from "Hatnoa’" and "Yahadot Hatorah” accused the committee Chairman Nitsan Smolnski of the Jewish “Home" of transferring the Coalition funds illegally for settlements, while Labor's Knesset member demanded to receive clear reports on the amounts transferred to settlements in the West Bank.(Al-Hayat Al-Jadida)
The Government holds its meeting today in the Jordan Valley
Dr. Ehab Bseiso the Government spokesman, and Director of the Government information Centre, said that the Cabinet meeting will be held in “Ein Al-Baida” Village Council in the Valley today, emphasizing "the Government's interest in the Jordan Valley that constitute the food basket for our people, and the eastern Gate of the Palestinian State which cannot be established without it."(Al-Ayyam)
Israeli position paper: annexation of the Jordan Valley would destroy our economy
Position paper of the “Molad Center” showed that the annexation of the Jordan Valley would lead to destroying the Israeli economy. The position paper said that this step will lead to the abolition of free trade agreements and relations with the European Union, in addition to the loss of most of the budgets for scientific research in Israel. The position paper also said that the proposal made by the right-wing Likud MP Miri Regev, will not only pose a threat to the political process, but on the Israeli economy as a whole, since the Israeli economy depends mostly on foreign relations, and these relations will change dramatically if the annexation implemented unilaterally.(Al-Ayyam)
|
Headlines
** Erekat: Israel failed negotiations and we have to move to join international organizations (Al-Ayyam)
** Lapid: it is time for separation from the Palestinians (Al-Ayyam)
** UNRWA confirms the death of 16 Palestinian refugees from hunger in Yarmouk refugee camp in Damascus (Al-Ayyam)
** Jenin: Citizen killed by a live bullet in “Jalqamous” (Al-Ayyam)
** The Palestinian territories likely to escalate with the entry of negotiations with Israel critical months (Al-Ayyam)
** Fateh in Gaza celebrates its foundation today and arranges a mass Festival (Al-Hayat Al-Jadida)
** Bishara denies a fuel crisis; Shaka’ speaks about impossible conditions for owners (al-Hayat Al-Jadida)
** UNRWA appealed to the Syrian opposition and allows aid to Yarmouk camp (Al-Hayat Al-Jadida)
** Peace Now: construction of 4300 housing units; and tender for building 8056 units since restarting negotiations (Al-Quds)
** Mayor of Gaza resigns (Al-Quds)
|
Front Page Photos
Al- Quds:1) Jerusalem – Jerusalemite prisoners leaving the Border Guard headquarters in Jerusalem, 2)Ramallah – President Abbas during receiving prisoners in Ramallah, 3) Khan Younis – mother of prisoner Rami Barbakh kisses her brother after the release of her son.
Al-Ayyam:Ramallah – thousands of citizens celebrate the release of prisoners at the Moqata’.
Al Hayat Al Jadida: 1) President Abbas during receiving the released prisoners, 2) and during lighting Fateh’s foundation flame.
|
Voice of Palestine News
On receiving released prisoners in Gaza:
First of all seems like the occupation tried to kill the Joy as always, despite that tens of citizens were at the Palestinian side of Erez crossing, and received the three released prisoners despite the bad weather conditions. The prisoners reached the crossing at1:00 after midnight, and then they were transferred to their homes were hundreds of citizens were waiting for the prisoners to celebrate with them.
Inside the green line:
Q: What can you understand from statement regarding the release of the third batch and the fourth that is supposed to include prisoners from Jerusalem and from inside the green line?
First of all there is a huge disappointment from Palestinian inside the green line, especially since their prisoners are still waiting for their release and they hopped they will be release in one of the three batches, and they are still hoping to be released in the last batch, but then we heard about this weird Israeli demand to condition their release with the release if Israeli spy Polard.
The other issue is the delay in releasing the prisoners, this is being made in order to prevent Palestinians from celebrating the release, this time the release was even more delayed, and Israel expected that celebrations will be limited, and tried by approaching Jerusalemites and demanding not holding any celebrations, but what happened was on the contrary, celebrations were more than previous times. In addition, as always, with any release of prisoners, Israel announces new constructions in settlements, this time the release came with an announcement of building 1400 units and the decision to approve the annexation of the Jordan Valley to be issued for the Knesset for final approval of the law. This of course comes just before the arrival of Kerry to present ideas to support the peace process.
Q: We heard of attacks by settlers east of Ramallah, burning Palestinian cars near Biet El, should we expect more attacks?
Such attacks were always there before the release; these extreme groups are always there and continue to attack Palestinians with different names, with only few arrests. Today they continue with these attacks as a response to the release, this happened with a demonstration which took place in Jerusalem under the protection of Israeli police. I think that these attacks will be repeated even more.
|
|
More Headlines
The Palestinian territories likely to escalate with the entry of negotiations to critical months
Palestinian analysts and observers see that the situation in the Palestinian territories is might escalate with peace negotiations with Israel entering its critical months. While these talks which resumed last month, sponsored by the US, limited in nine months after being stopped for three years, did not reach any substantial progress that can show any optimism to reach a peace agreement ending the prolonged conflict in decades.With the increasing incidents of stress since the start of peace talks, observers believe that the coming months might include escalating confrontations amid the prevailing tension, but at the same time observers excluded a complete explosion of the situation.(Al-Ayyam)
The American administration hushescontent of the framework agreement
The State Department withheld is reticence regarding details of the content of the framework agreement that Minister John Kerry will present during his meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and President Abbas.Spokeswoman of the State Department said in a statement today that“Kerry will discuss during his new visit with Netanyahu and Abbas a framework that might form guidelines to deal with all the core issues.” The Spokeswoman refused to give any details about the content of the framework agreement, adding that the US administration remained committed to the time frame set for the negotiations process of 9 months.(http://maannews.net/arb/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=661626)
Statistics Bureau: the number of Palestinians in historic Palestine will exceed Jews by 2020
The Palestinian Bureau of statistics said that the number of Palestinians in historic Palestine exceed the number of Jews by the end of 2020. Director of the Bureau, Ola Awad said that the number of Palestinians in historic Palestine is about 5.9 million, while the number of Jews is 6.0 million according to Israelistatistics estimationsby the end of2012;this number is expected to reach 6.1 million by the end of 2013. Number of Palestinian and Jewish population will be equal by the end of the year 2016 reaching about 6.4 million, if current growth rates continue as the same. The Jewish population would be approximately 48.9% of the population by the end of 2020, which would reach to about 6.9 million Jews for 7.2 million Palestinians.)http://qudsnet.com/news/View/261560/%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A7%D8%AD%D8%B5%D8%A7-%D8%B9%D8%AF%D8%AF-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%81%D9%84%D8%B3%D8%B7%D9%8A%D9%86%D9%8A%D9%8A%D9%86-%D9%81%D9%8A-%D9%81%D9%84%D8%B3%D8%B7%D9%8A%D9%86-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AA%D8%A7%D8%B1%D9%8A%D8%AE%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D8%B3%D9%8A%D8%AA%D8%AE%D8%B7%D9%89-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%8A%D9%87%D9%88%D8%AF-%D9%81%D9%8A-2020/)
|
Arab Press
Another year of sham talks, hollow claims
By RAMZY BAROUD
During 2013 the so-called peace process charade was allowed to continue, leading Palestinians on yet another futile journey of broken promises. Meanwhile, the Israeli colonial project in the West Bank and East Jerusalem carried on unabated. But it was not entirely a year of doom and gloom either, for the global boycott campaign (BDS) has taken off like never before, surpassing the capricious Palestinian leadership and its confined political platforms.
Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas is an unsuccessful leader, to say the least. But a much harsher judgment can arguably be made. When he rejected the boycott of Israel in an interview while attending the memorial service of South Africa’s iconic leader Nelson Mandela, many Palestinians went on to describe his words as an act of treason. “We don’t ask anyone to boycott Israel itself. We have relations with Israel, we have mutual recognition of Israel,” he was quoted as saying.
The irony is that an international boycott movement was another facet of the anti-apartheid struggle in South Africa. For Abbas to reject boycotting in the Palestinian context — of the very country that is responsible for military occupation, countless war crimes, the siege on Gaza, violation of numerous international laws, the apartheid wall and for much more — while attending Mandela’s funeral is a testament to Abbas’ own political and moral bankruptcy.
Yet merely two weeks after Abbas’ statement, his chief negotiator, Saeb Erekat, was once more threatening to take Israel to the International Criminal Court (ICC) if it carried on another settlement expansion scheme in occupied East Jerusalem and the West Bank.
Erekat is understandably angry that the rightwing government of Benjamin Netanyahu plans to build another 1,400 homes for illegal settlers in several colonies, including 600 in Ramat Shlomo, which is located in the West Bank but was illegally annexed into occupied East Jerusalem. 800 other homes will be built in various settlements in the occupied West Bank, which Israel plans to keep in any future agreement.
“We strongly condemn this and consider it damaging for the peace process,” said Erekat. He described Netanyahu’s move as “a war crime.” Even by the ever- tolerant standards of the PA, its officials have invoked the term “war crimes” on so many occasions, and threatened to resort to the ICC, a threat that, of course, was never carried out.
Yet, there is no serious drive championed by the Palestinian leadership calling for punitive measures against Israel, only a halfhearted step that was taken in November 2012, when Palestine exacted international recognition in the UN, becoming a non-member state. Faced by Israeli obstinacy and a growing resentment among Palestinians of Abbas and his authority’s mounting corruption and failures, the Palestinian leader had no option but to seek anything that could be promoted by his jubilant supporters in the occupied territories as a “victory.” Abbas returned home to be greeted as a liberation hero by his loyalists in Ramallah, a stunt that didn’t fool many.
But in theory, the recognition also meant that if the PA agreed to sign up to the ICC’s Rome Statute, it could finally take Israel to the criminal court. Other practical steps could have also been taken, whereby Palestine could join dozens of international organizations, and hold Israel accountable for its continued crimes to whichever capacity possible. None of that took place to the dismay of Palestinians and their supporters.
What did happen is that last July, Abbas and his negotiators were dragged back to yet another round of useless and unconditional negotiations. And as they negotiated, the Israeli government had in fact sped up construction in its colonies in the West Bank and tightened the siege on Gaza. It was such a mockery that on Nov. 13, the entire Palestinian negotiation team had resigned in protest.
But since “the man in charge” — according to a senior US administration official, quoted in CNN — is Saeb Erekat, then, such resignation meant very little. “We’ve seen Saeb Erakat do this before where he’d threaten to resign because he’s not happy with the way talks are going but ... he ends up taking it back and continuing with the negotiations.”
It is an embarrassing spectacle, really, and the PA doesn’t seem to notice, or perhaps care. Instead of marching to The Hague with utter resolve, and putting Israel on the defensive for once, Erekat continues to use the same worn out tactic, used by Abbas himself in the past, of empty threats, which don’t seem to even register on the Israeli or US radar.
There is no question that the PA is in a much weaker position than Israel. The latter, aside from its military strength and total domination over every aspect of Palestinian life, is unconditionally supported by the US administration. While the Obama administration did dare choose a course of action regarding Iran that is not consistent with the wishes of the Zionist lobby in Washington, and its ever-enthusiastic supporters in Congress, it remains beholden to the wishes of the lobby regarding Palestine.
US Secretary of State John Kerry has proved once again that it is not individuals, but established policies that control US behavior in the Middle East. His latest proposal, based on the work of 160 US officials, including retired US Marine Corps Gen. John Allen, went as far as Netanyahu had hoped for to ensure Israel’s “security,” should a Palestinian state be established. According to the rightwing Israeli daily, the Jerusalem Post, Kerry’s “ideas” in the proposal include Israeli control over Palestine’s borders with Jordan, and continued Israeli military presence in the Jordan Valley.
The Americans are bending over backwards for Israel as they have no reason not to: The lobby still has the upper hand in shaping US foreign policy regarding Israel and Palestine, and the PA is proving to be as accommodating as both Israel and the US expect of it. Disappointingly, the few available outlets that could in fact empower the Palestinian leadership such as supporting the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement, and resorting to such international bodies as the ICC, are either shunned out completely or simply used as a tactic of empty threats.
There is no evidence that the PA plans to change course in 2014. The sorry legacy of Oslo will continue, as well as Israeli’s illegal colonial projects, the American peace process charade, and all the rest. But what will continue to change is that the BDS movement is moving ahead with or without Abbas and Erekat, whose claims to leadership are merely that of titles and hollow prestige.(http://www.arabnews.com/news/500921)
Will Palestinian-Israeli deal be finalized before talks deadline?
Arabic News Digest | the National
The US secretary of state, John Kerry, continues to attempt to persuade Israel and the Palestinian Authority to reach a settlement to their chronic conflict. He continues to believe it possible even though the nine-month term set for negotiations expires soon without any significant breakthrough, wrote columnist Sarkis Naoum in the Lebanese daily Annahar.
Two essential motives propel Mr. Kerry in his Middle Eastern endeavor. Firstly, his drive to realize an Israeli-Palestinian peace deal boosts his chances for the Democratic Party nomination in the next presidential elections over those of his co-partisan and former US secretary of state Hillary Clinton, who enjoys substantial popular support.
Secondly, President Barack Obama wouldn’t mind an Israeli-Palestinian settlement, as it would make him the first US president to overcome the rejection of such a settlement. Nonetheless, Mr. Obama is well aware of the many hurdles that make a settlement, at this phase in time, a sheer illusion. He is also aware that the turbulent issues in the Middle East are taking too much of his time and keeping him from handling other issues.
Mr. Kerry is preparing for his tenth visit to the area this year to oversee a framework agreement that would pave the way for a subsequent settlement. But reports from his assistants in Israel and the West Bank reveal that both parties continue to diverge.
Will Mr. Kerry eventually succeed in making the deal, even on a temporary basis?
“It is hard to say for certain in light of the Palestinian side’s insistence on its positions and Israel’s refusal to acknowledge the existence of Palestinian partners with whom an agreement over a two-state solution could be signed,” the writer noted.
For his part, Abdel Bari Atwan the editor of the online news website Rai Al Youm, said: “The Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas is addicted to negotiations, overt and secret, with the Israelis.”
His comments came following reports of secret meetings in London between one of Mr. Abbas’s top advisers and one of the close assistants of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in parallel with the continuing US-moderated negotiations.
The writer went on: “For 20 years, the Palestinian president has been negotiating in vain. Nothing has been reaped but additional insults, Israeli settlements and crippling conditions. Hasn’t he despaired yet? Hasn’t he had enough? Isn’t it time for him to find a cure for this disease called secret negotiations?
“President Abbas and his negotiation team aren’t the problem in my opinion. The problem is the Palestinian people, and especially the Palestinian resistance movements, that condoned this farce that has been going on under their noses,” he concluded.
Musicians complain about their bad rap
Three years after the outbreak of the Arab Spring, things, it seems, are not any better for rappers in its birthplace, Tunisia, noted Saleh Souissi in the London-based newspaper Al Hayat.
Tunisia’s rappers have increased remarkably in number after January 14, 2011 when longtime autocrat Zine El Abidine ben Ali was ousted. But these musical artists have been complaining about repressive reactions from the government towards songs that criticize social and political irregularities in the country, the report said.
Tunisian rapper Ahmed bin Ahmed, known as Klay BBJ, was sentenced to six months in prison; Kafon, whose song with his companion Hamzaoui Med Amine (“Houmani”) has attracted more than five million views on YouTube, was also arrested.
Rapper Ala Yaacoubi, better known as Weld El 15, was sent back to jail before he was acquitted on appeal for insulting the police, the same charge for which he was convicted earlier.
The National Rap Union, which was created this year to promote rap and defend rappers, condemned the trial of Weld El 15 and called for him to be immediately released, saying the trial targeted freedom of expression and rap music.
Critics of this music say that vocabulary used does not tally with Tunisia’s traditions, while rap enthusiasts maintain that it is best the art form to convey their messages.
How unemployment can benefit society
Unemployment in the Arab world offers a lot of benefits that are often ignored by people who discuss ways of overcoming the challenges of entering the job market, wrote Ahmed Hasan Al Zaabi in a satirical column for the Dubai-based Al Emarat Al Youm.
For one thing, he wrote, unemployment helps alleviate traffic jams. Just imagine all those extra people heading to work at the same time every morning.
It’s also a major earner for certain businesses. Who will visit the malls that are everywhere? Who will sit in cafes and consume all the shisha and cappuccinos, and communicate on WhatsApp? Who will use their phones just to say “hi”?
Unemployment is a deterrent to crime, because it means people are at home day and night, and can thwart would-be robbers.
It is also the best means to familiarize young people with the country’s institutions and the shortcuts to get to them, which could be of benefit if ever they decide to become taxi drivers.
Unemployment is also an engine of hope because, as they say, “the mouthful you wait for is better than the one you are eating”.
And, finally, without unemployment, strategic centers and workshops concerned with the issue of unemployment would shut down and thousands of specialists would be sent home.(http://www.thenational.ae/thenationalconversation/comment/will-palestinian-israeli-deal-be-finalised-before-talks-deadline)
Israeli government undermines peace talks
By Hassan A. Barari
As if the intention to build 1,400 housing units on the Palestinian territories was not enough to undermine the upcoming peace talks, the Israeli Ministerial Committee on Legislation approved on Sunday a bill to annex the Jordan Valley, to guarantee that this important strategic chunk of territory remains under Israel’s sovereignty forever.
In effect, if it carried out, this decision will preempt the possibility of an independent Palestinian state on the border with Jordan, and will for sure derail the upcoming talks.
The timing of these two developments cannot be more outrageous. These two developments come amid American efforts to help Palestinians and Israelis iron out their differences and reach a deal.
Now one cannot see how US Secretary of State John Kerry can persuade the Arabs, let alone the Palestinians, that Netanyahu is a partner in any possible resolution to the long-standing Palestinian-Israeli conflict.
To be sure, 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 on 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.
For some influential and important political forces, building settlements anywhere possible in the Palestinian land is a means to make an Israeli withdrawal from the Palestinians territories a difficult task.
Obviously, Netanyahu believes that his political survival and his chance to stay at the helm of politics are contingent on political forces that represent settlers’ interests.
During his first term, Netanyahu adopted the policy of paying back the religious and rightwing forces every time he made a concession to the Palestinians. For instance, to get the religious parties to agree on the Hebron Protocol in January 1997 (an agreement signed by Yasser Arafat and Netanyahu), he paid back by announcing the government’s decision to build houses in Jabal Abu Ghneim, south of Jerusalem.
Observers argue that Netanyahu’s reliance on settlers and political parties against the two-state solution 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 settlement scheme.
The Israeli government is working at cross-purposes.
The Israeli decision to release some Palestinian prisoners is seen by Kerry as a vital confidence-building measure; it can help him in his talks to the Palestinians. Yet, the decision to build new houses in settlements can destroy any hope that Netanyahu is a peace partner.
For Palestinians, Netanyahu is anything but a genuine peace partner.
Interestingly, not even Israeli opposition is 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 Netanyahu 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 problem of paramount consequence. If settlement activities continue unchecked, there will be nothing left for the Palestinians to establish a viable state on. But soon, the Palestinians will take over the Jews demographically.
It remains to be seen how Israel will handle this new unfolding reality.(http://jordantimes.com/israeli-government-undermines-peace-talks)
|
Opinions
All respect and tribute to the freed prisoners
Al-Quds Editorial
As always, Israel is trying to minimize our people’s celebrations of the freed prisoners to be released after midnight, but it has not and will not prevent our people from paying respect and appreciation for these heroes freedom fighters, and that's what happened when receiving the second batch, and what happened at the dawn of this day, at the official and popular levels, despite all the obstacles and difficulties and despite the bad weather.
The third batch included a number of Jerusalemiteprisoners that Israel delayed their release, but didn't release any prisoners form inside the green line asthey are anticipated to be released in the fourth and last batch and after about a month from today. Among these heroes are a number of patients. Many cities and homes celebrated with joyful families of those brave sons, particularly after the long suffering behind bars.
On this happy occasion we will not forget even for a moment that there are still thousands men, women and children in imprisonment or administrative detention, and efforts must be redoubledto focus on their legal and humanitarian issue in all areas of international, local and Arab levels, until their released and returned to their families and their people and their homeland who provided so much for its freedom and independence.
All greetings and respect and love for the freed prisoners, and all solidarity with those who are still in prison.
Al-Quds 20 years ago
… Since it speaks of what is happening today!!
Al-Quds headlines 20 years ago raised remarkable attention as what was published yesterday, which included literally: America issues an official protest to Israel ... Because of continued settlement construction in Jerusalem and its outskirts… And Olmert confirms the intention of the municipality to continue implementing settlement plans. Title II: Israel announces an agreement… And PLO refers to continued differences! It also mentioned: a list of 3,000 prisoners; Israeli army ready to release them...!!
The US criticized settlements since 20 years... And settlements did not stop. Talk about agreements and disagreements did not stop for 20 years, and arrests and families talk about the possible release of their some did not stop for 20 years.
Today we enter a new year, the situation remains as it is in terms of Israeli politics, and reality has changed much during this long period, settlements expanded and proliferated and the Judaization of Jerusalem and attempts to strangle it and changing its character and falsifying its history continues. This flagrant paradox is known foreveryone, but it reaches the ears of those who don't want to hear, and a ray dazzling the eyes of those who do not want to see the facts or they try to be blind and ignorant...
The Israeli Ministerial Committee decision to annex the Jordan Valley settlements, and Chief Negotiator's remarks that the negotiations had reached a deadlock and ended because of Israeli policies must reach Secretary of State John Kerry, who comes to us as if things are as he wants, and as if the solution is still possible, and as if his country continuescondemning settlement and tolerate it throughout the past 20 years.(Al-Quds)
|
|
WHAT'S NEW
BACKGROUND
POLLS
WAYS TO GET JMCC
CONTACT US
|
To subscribe to free newsletter submit your email |
|
|
|