While the Israeli blockade on the Gaza Strip continues for its seventh week, Palestinian rival parties trade accusations for failing to reach a national agreement, these and more are coming up, stay tuned.

Nonviolent Activities
Let us begin our weekly report with the nonviolent activities in the West Bank with IMEMC's Samer Jaber
Bethelehm
The Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) suppressed residents from Al Masara village today during a popular demonstration against the wall that’s been built on Palestinian lands. This is happening on the 21st anniversary of the first Palestinian Intifada. When the people reached the village entrance, the IOF opposed them and assaulted them with sticks and the butt ends of their rifles, while forcing the demonstrators away from the confiscated Palestinian lands.

Dutch scouts were involved in the demonstration and they played the Palestinian National anthem, while marching on the Palestinian streets as a sign of solidarity with the Palestinian People. A spokesperson for the popular Committee against the Wall, said “today we are standing beside the Greek child that was killed by Greek police in Athens, but who will be standing with us while thousands of our children are killed?”


Bil'in
The people of Bil'in went into a demonstration after Friday’s prayers that included international and Israeli activists, as well as a community from the Bethlehem district. They raised Palestinian flags and rang bells for the anniversary of the first Palestinian Intifada that occurred in 1987.

The demonstrators marched inside the village, approaching the area where the wall is erected. Israeli soldiers stopped them from entering through the main gate, When the demonstrators approached, the Israeli soldiers shot tear gas canisters, sound grenades and rubber-coated bullets at the crowd, which caused many to choke, including Mohamad Basem, an eight year old child as well as Baasem Abu Rahma 30 and Abed Hamamra 37 years old .


Ni'lin
In Nil'in, during Friday prayers, on the lands near the construction area of the wall, Israeli soldiers surrounded the area in front of the demonstrators and shot tear gas while the prayers were still going on.

The Israeli Army command called for more vehicles and units that, upon arrival, shot live ammunition and tear gas at the demonstrators. The excess tear gas created a massive cloud, causing many people to choke. Six young men were shot by live ammunition, among them a camera man from the International French Press (IFP), Abed Khabesa, who was shot with a tear gas canister while he was recording at the scene.

For IMEMC's This is Samer Jaber


Political Report
LEDE: This week, Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas blamed the ruling Hamas party in Gaza for failed national dialogue. Meanwhile, Abbas' prime minister, Salam Fayyad voiced resentment over a European Union's decision to upgrade Israel's status at the EU. IMEMC’s Justin Theriault has the details.

During an interview with the London-based Arabic newspaper of Alsharq Alawsat, published this week, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas blamed the ruling Hamas party in Gaza for what he considered a failure of the national unity talks.

Abbas believed that the real reason behind Hamas's refusal to take part in November- scheduled Cairo-hosted conference was the rejection of himself after reciting a speech in the conference.

At the peace process track, Abbas said that the newly-elected U.S President, Barack Obama, would exert more efforts to reach peace between Palestinians and Israelis.

In a related story, senior advisors to Obama suggested this week that the U.S president backs a national unity dialogue between the leaders of Hamas and Fatah.

As the Palestinian-Israeli peace process is stalled, Israel released, this week, 231 Palestinian prisoners from its jails, as a good-will gesture to president Abbas.

President Abbas reacted to the said move by saying that “peace can never be achieved unless all Palestinian prisoners are released from Israeli jails”.

On a related note, Israeli Online Harretz reported this week that Hamas’ influential leader in Gaza, Mahmoud Alzahar, believed that captured the Israeli soldier, Gil'ad Shalit, can be release in a day if Israel has the courage to accept Hamas's list of prisoners that they want to see freed in exchange for Shalit.

Meanwhile, Israeli media sources reported that Egypt does not object to a third party taking responsibility for the mediation on a swap deal between Israel and Hamas following prolonged failed Egyptian brokerage efforts.

On another issue, Israeli Foreign Minister, Tzipi Livni, stated this week that Palestinians inside Israel need to be ready to be transferred to within the boundaries of a future Palestinian state once a peace agreement is reached with the Palestinians.

Also, Livni reportedly objected to a Qatari official request that Israel allows in a Qatari aid ship into Gaza shores.

In international Politics, Palestinian Prime Minister, Salam Fayyad, objected this week to a European Union decision to upgrade Israel's status at the EU.

Fayyad stated that such a decision contradicts a previous EU resolution that conditioned upgrading Israel's diplomatic ties with the EU contingent on Israel's compliance with peace process obligations.

"Israel does not live up with its commitments, particularly those pertaining to the illegal settlement activities on occupied Palestinian lands", he was quoted as saying.

The Palestinian Prime Minister also asserted that the Palestinian Authority would keep up pressure until the matter is resolved.


For IMEMC's This is Justin Theriault

Gaza Report
Lead: As the Israeli blockade on Gaza enters its 35th day, Israeli military attacks on Gaza continue, coincidently, with continued homemade shell fire into nearby Israeli towns. The details with IMEMC's Rami Al Meghari in Gaza

On Friday, Israeli military detained three Palestinian residents from southeastern Gaza as the armed wing of the ruling Hamas party declared that they fired three mortar shells into nearby Israeli towns to the east of Gaza.

On Wednesday night, two Gaza-based resistance groups jointly declared that their fighters clashed with Israeli forces to the east of Gaza. No causalities were reported as no other sources verified the report.

Meanwhile, almost a dozen homemade shells have been fired into nearby Israeli territories this week, as the Israeli blockade on the coastal territory has continued for over 35 days.

Israeli military and political officials warned this week of an imminent large scale military offensive into the Gaza Strip in a bid to stop the homemade shell fire, as Israeli defense minister, Ehud Barak, hinted at the possibility of working out other means to curb the shell fire into Southern Israel

According to Israeli Ma'areef newspaper, Barak's new proposal suggests retaliating militarily to sources of homemade shells as well as imposing further blackouts on Gaza's 1.5 million residents.

Early this week, residents of Gaza spent the Aladha Eid holiday under widespread blackout, with no accessibility to cash, as Israel has denied transfer of cash into Gaza banks.

Later in the week, Israel allowed partial transfer of Israeli Shekel currency into Gaza and allowed the shipment of limited food, commodities and fuel into the besieged Gaza Strip.

Also this week, the fourth Dignity boat of the Free Gaza Movement, a congregation of international solidarity campaigners, managed to dock at Gaza's abandoned sea port. The boat, which included British academics, left Gaza on Thursday, taking on board 11 students out of 700 others who Israel has denied exit for study abroad.

For IMEMC's This is Rami Almaghari in Gaza


West Bank
LEDE: Israeli attacks on the Occupied West Bank continued this week More with IMEMC’s Terrina Aguilar in the West Bank.

This week, Israeli military carried out a series of attacks on the occupied West Bank, detaining almost a dozen Palestinian residents as well as attacking various other areas within the West Bank.

In the West Bank city of Jenin, the Israeli military invaded a number of villages where Israeli soldiers ransacked many Palestinian homes, detaining at least three residents.

Also, in the West Bank city of Nablus, Israeli military swept into some neighborhoods, searched houses and rounded up six Palestinian residents.

Meanwhile, Israeli media sources reported that the Israeli military would allow the Palestinian Authority to deploy scores of Palestinian Authority security personnel throughout the occupied West Bank city of Bethlehem.

According to the sources, the deployment of Palestinian Authority forces is aimed at preserving order and security ahead of Christmas Eve.

Although, in Hebron, Israel informed the Palestinian Authority that it plans on withdrawing 500 Palestinian Authority personnel. Israel allowed the deployment of the force nearly two months ago.

Earlier this week, Israeli security services declared a state of high alert following a series of armed Israeli settler attacks on Palestinian residents in Hebron city, which caused the injury of more than 30 Palestinians.

In other news, Hamas sources in Gaza said that one of Hamas members was shot and wounded by Palestinian Authority fire in the West Bank.

For IMEMC's This is Terrina Aguilar


Conclusion
And that was just some of the news this week in Palestine. For constant updates, please check out our website, www.IMEMC.org. Thanks for joining us from occupied Bethlehem. This week's report has been brought to you by Hussam Qassis and George Rishmawi.