This Week In Palestine, a service of the International Middle East Media Center, www.IMEMC.org, for December 22sec., through December 28th, 2007.
Palestinian and Israeli leaders meet this week while the Israeli army kill 12 Palestinians in the Gaza strip, these stories and more coming up stay tuned.
Nonviolent Resistance in West Bank
Let's begin our weekly report with the nonviolent actions in Bethlehem and Ramallah.
Bethlehem
At least five hundred Palestinians, joined by a number of international solidarity groups and some Israelis attended a conference in Bethlehem on Friday organized by the Palestinian National Initiative to support the popular nonviolent resistance against the Wall and the Israeli occupation.
Dr. Mustafa Barghouthi, Secretary General of the Initiative and Member of the Palestinian Legislative Council spoke to the conference about the need to adopt nonviolent popular resistance as a national strategy to end the Israeli occupation.
Louisa Morgantini, vice President of the European Parliament from Italy said the popular resistance in Palestine is not new, adding that she has been involved in nonviolent activities in Palestine for the past twenty years.
A number of speakers from different parts of the West Bank spoke about their nonviolent struggle in their respective villages and towns. During the conference, the Nonviolence Network in Arab Countries was introduced by a speech by one of its steering committee members.
The conference was concluded with a nonviolent march from the location of the conference at the International Center of Bethlehem to the Wall near Rachel's Tomb at the northern entrance to Bethlehem.
In a separate event, a number of Palestinian villagers along with some international and Israeli activists protested against the construction of the wall on the land of Um Salamouna in southern Bethlehem. Israeli troops assaulted the nonviolent protestors with tear gas and sound bombs. Eyewitnesses reported that two protestors were slightly wounded.
Bili'n
On Friday at midday, Palestinians from the village of Bil'in, near Ramallah in central West Bank, along with their international and Israeli supporters conducted their weekly protest against the Israeli Annexation Wall. Shortly after the midday Friday prayers, the protestors marched towards the location of the illegal wall built on the village land.
The Israeli army installed a barbed-wire roadblock to try and prevent the protesters reaching the construction site. As soon as the demonstration reached the roadblock troops showered the protesters with tear gas and metal rubber coated bullets injuring six people.
Political report
During a meeting on Thursday in Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's West Jerusalem residence, Olmert told Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, that Israel would suspend any building of settlements on occupied Palestinian lands, including in East Jerusalem. With the details here is IMEMC's Louisa white:
The meeting on Thursday was the first between the two leaders since both sides started the stalled peace talks in the U.S-sponsored Annapolis conference on November 27. Palestinian and Israeli negotiators have so far failed to advance the talks despite two rounds of negotiations since the Annapolis summit was launched.
Palestinians are upset over the planned construction of 370 housing units in the Har Homa settlement or what Palestinians call, the Gabal Abu Ghonaim in occupied East Jerusalem. Speaking to the IMEMC, Michael Warchanisky, an Israeli political analyst, doubted Israel's willingness to halt settlement activities.
According to the U.S-backed Road Map peace plan of 2003, Israel is obliged to halt all settlement activities on occupied Palestinian lands, including Jerusalem. However, settlement activities have gone on unabated; with 440,000 settlers remaining in the West Bank and East Jerusalem Settlements. Such settlements cost the Israeli government about $556m each year.
Also this week, Cairo voiced concerns over the Israeli actions, calling them ' a threat to peace-making'. these concerns were voiced during a meeting in Egypt between Egyptian president Husni Mubarak and Israeli defense minister, Ehud Barak. Barak discussed with his host a variety of issues, including Egypt's crackdown on smugglers at Gaza-Egypt border line, calling on Cairo to exert greater efforts.
Egyptian officials were reportedly responding to Israeli foreign minister, Tzibi Livni's related-statement by stating "Instead of addressing such an issue, the Israeli foreign minister, should instead advance peace with the Palestinians. She should not talk about things she does not understand".
Israel has been accusing Cairo of not doing enough about 'smuggling of weapons into Gaza, through underground tunnels on the Egypt-Gaza border line".
On the eve of the Mubarak-Barak meeting, the Egyptian authorities seized a ton of explosive materials and arrested one suspect. Palestinian sources reported that the said meeting made a breakthrough with respect to the issue of captured Israeli soldier Gil'ad Shalit, who was abducted by Hamas and other groups in the Hamas-run Gaza Strip last June. Israel agreed to releasing 200 Palestinian prisoners in swap of Shalit, yet groups, holding Shalit denied any knowledge, Maan News published.
Cairo has been mediating a possible swap deal over the past 9 months. At the internal level, acting-speaker of Palestinian parliament in Gaza, Ahmad Bahar of Hamas, called on Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to name a new prime minister to form a coalition government.
Former Palestinian information minister, Mustafa Barghouti, believed this week that holding an early election could be the way out of the current Palestinian political turmoil, following Hamas's takeover of Gaza. Currently, there are two Palestinian cabinets; one headed by deposed prime minister of Hamas, Ismail Haniya, in the Gaza Strip and the other headed by the Abbas-appointed Salam Fayad in the West Bank.
Hamas has recently accused Fayad's government of contributing to the current Gaza siege, by, Hamas says 'excluding Gaza from December 17ths Paris economic conference, which pledged a total of $7 billion to Abbas's Palestinian Authority.
For IMEMc.org this Louisa white.
The Israeli attacks
The West Bank
This week the Israeli army conducted at least 24 military invasions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank. During those invasions the Israeli troops kidnapped 87 Palestinian civilians. IMEMC's Mannar Jbreen with the details
Among those kidnapped by the Israeli army this week were 2 children, a member of the Palestinian Legislative Council, 2 members of the municipal council of Nablus and 3 university professors. Thus, the number of Palestinians kidnapped by the Israeli army in the West Bank since the beginning of this year has mounted to 2,640.
Just hours after the Palestinian Chief Negotiator, Ahmed Qureia, and the Palestinian President, Mahmoud Abbas, met with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert in Jerusalem, their envoy was attacked by Israeli forces invading the central West Bank city of Ramallah.
Mu'atasam Sharif al-Mahdi, a member of the Palestinian Presidential Guard, and a top-ranking security official, was killed by Israeli gunfire near Ramallah. Israeli sources claim that al-Mahdi was carrying a (licensed) handgun, which was why Israeli soldiers mistook him for a fighter. But Palestinian eyewitnesses report that the soldiers gunned down al-Mahdi in cold blood.
The Israeli army invaded the village of Sourif located near the southern West Bank city of Hebron midday on Thursday and clashed with local school boys. Local sources said that several military jeeps stormed the village and started to provoke the boys as they were leaving their school. Soldiers detained some of the children and beat them up.
Witnesses said that in response to the soldiers' actions the children threw stones and empty glass bottles at the invading troops. The soldiers in turn opened fire using live rounds and tear gas. Medical sources reported no injuries. Soldiers left the village shortly after.
On Tuesday, an Israeli soldier shot and wounded a Palestinian youth in the West Bank village of Nahalin, Palestinian media sources reported. Local medical sources confirmed that Salah Najajra,18, sustained moderate wounds after being hit with an Israeli bullet.
Witnesses said that Najajra was walking, along with some villagers, along the nearby Israeli settlement of Betar, when Israeli soldiers opened fire from a hilltop. Witnesses added that no clashes were taking place in the area and the Israeli army opened fire abruptly and randomly.
In Jerusalem this week the Israeli army demolished a Palestinian house in the Wad al-Jouz neighborhood in East Jerusalem. And on Tuesday a number of Israeli settlers attacked and injured a Palestinian farmer in Til village, southwest of Nablus.
For IMEMC.org this is Mannar Jbreen.
The Gaza strip
The Israeli army continues to beleaguer the Gaza strip: army attacks this week left 11 Palestinians killed in the coastal region, from Gaza IMEMC's Rami Al Mughari with the details:
Palestinian medical sources reported that one Palestinian fighter was killed and 5 others were injured when Israeli jet fighters fired missiles at a group of resistance men in Khaza'a town in the southern part of the Gaza strip on Friday at dawn. Sources from the al Qassam brigades, the armed wing of the Hamas movement, said that the resistance fighter killed was one of their fighters.
Seven Palestinian resistance fighters were killed on Thursday evening in three different Israeli army attacks. Among them was Mohamed Abullah, 41, a high leader in the Islamic Jihad armed wing al Qudes brigades.
A Palestinian resistance fighter died late Wednesday night when a tunnel collapsed on him in the city of Rafah in the southern part of the coastal region. In a statement faxed to the press, the al Qassam brigades, the armed wing of Hamas said that the fighter was a member of the brigades and identified him as Mohamed Dahier who was 24 years old.
The brigades said he and his comrades were digging a tunnel used to fight the Israeli army during the continuous Israeli invasions into the area.
On Monday Dr. Moa'wiya Abu Hasanin, chief of the emergency dept. at the Palestinian health ministry, announced that the Israeli authorities, allowed the passage of 19 patients to hospitals outside Gaza.
In a statement, faxed to the press, Hasanin maintained that those allowed to pass are expected to receive medication at Israeli and West Bank hospitals, but there were seven people denied permission to leave the coastal region. The health official confirmed that so far 49 patients have died because they were denied passage outside of Gaza for treatment. The Israeli army has imposed a crippling closure on the Gaza Strip since June, and in September, Gaza was declared a 'hostile entity'.
In October, a series of 'punitive' measures were imposed upon Gaza's 1.4-million-strong population. This has led to Human rights groups, like the Physicians for Human Rights to file a petition to the Israeli high court of justice, demanding ease on the restrictions of patients movement. The court has not yet responded.
Also on Monday, Israeli war planes launched an air strike on central Gaza Strip, leaving two people dead. Palestinian medical sources announced that Attallah aL-Awawda and Jom'a Abu Hjayer, were admitted to the Shuhada aL-Aqsa hospital in central Gaza Strip, as dismembered corpses and that their bodies had numerous burns.
Witnesses said that at dawn on Monday an Israeli warplane fired at least one missile on the Palestinian residents in the Buraij refugee camp.
For IMEMC.org this is Rami Al Mughari in Gaza.
Christmas 2007
On Monday December 24th the Palestinians in the southern West Bank city of Bethlehem started the Christmas celebration for this year, IMEMC's Caroline Jones was there:
The normally quiet Manger square in Bethlehem comes alive on this day with people from all over the world joining in the Christmas celebrations. Under cloudless blue skies and brilliant sunshine the bells of the Nativity Church rang out to greet the endless procession of scout troops, who marched around the square playing drums and bagpipes. Representing Palestinians from all over the West Bank and also areas in Israel, they entertained the crowds of Palestinians and internationals along with the world press.
Glitter and confetti rained over the procession adding to the magical and joyous atmosphere of the festivities. Palestinian wishes for this day included wishes for the reunification of Gaza and the West Bank; Mustafa Al Barghouthi talked to IMEMC:
To feel the happiness of this holy day we have to gain back our national unity and to continue our struggle to end the injustice and this apartheid racist regime and the Israeli occupation
The city of Bethlehem lies surrounded with Israeli settlements and the Wall, another reason for the residents of Bethlehem to celebrate Christmas with hope for the future. Ishak Zaroup, a resident of Bethlehem talked about the settlements:
If the Israelis continue their settlement activities, for sure, for us as Palestinians, will continue to demand our state. The political situation will not be stable, I do not think that there is any Palestinians that do not wish for freedom and to celebrate those holydays with joy.
As the call to prayer rang out from the Mosque over the square, the security forces cleared the way for the Michael Sabah the Patriarch of the Catholic Church in Jerusalem. He was welcomed by both the Mayor of Bethlehem and Governor of the Bethlehem district after which he held midday mass. Palestinians President Mahmoud Abbas and other Palestinians officials came to the city to give support, and their best wishes, for this special occasion.
An American tourist who chose to withhold her name talked about her visit to Bethlehem:
In the late afternoon the concerts began. A variety of local and international singers, bands, and orchestras performed for a mixed audience of Palestinians and internationals. From beginning to end the entire Manger Square was full of people. The night proved a success as crowds gathered around the stage for the entirety of the performances. At eleven on Monday night the outdoor festivities finished as the celebrators moved towards the church of Nativity to start the midnight mass.
For IMEMC.org this is Caroline Jones in Bethlehem.
Conclusion
And that’s just some of the news this week in Palestine. For constant updates, check out our website, www.IMEMC.org. Thanks for joining us from Occupied Bethlehem; this is Raphael Anderson and Ghassan Bannoura.
Nonviolent Resistance in West Bank
Let's begin our weekly report with the nonviolent actions in Bethlehem and Ramallah.
Bethlehem
At least five hundred Palestinians, joined by a number of international solidarity groups and some Israelis attended a conference in Bethlehem on Friday organized by the Palestinian National Initiative to support the popular nonviolent resistance against the Wall and the Israeli occupation.
Dr. Mustafa Barghouthi, Secretary General of the Initiative and Member of the Palestinian Legislative Council spoke to the conference about the need to adopt nonviolent popular resistance as a national strategy to end the Israeli occupation.
Louisa Morgantini, vice President of the European Parliament from Italy said the popular resistance in Palestine is not new, adding that she has been involved in nonviolent activities in Palestine for the past twenty years.
A number of speakers from different parts of the West Bank spoke about their nonviolent struggle in their respective villages and towns. During the conference, the Nonviolence Network in Arab Countries was introduced by a speech by one of its steering committee members.
The conference was concluded with a nonviolent march from the location of the conference at the International Center of Bethlehem to the Wall near Rachel's Tomb at the northern entrance to Bethlehem.
In a separate event, a number of Palestinian villagers along with some international and Israeli activists protested against the construction of the wall on the land of Um Salamouna in southern Bethlehem. Israeli troops assaulted the nonviolent protestors with tear gas and sound bombs. Eyewitnesses reported that two protestors were slightly wounded.
Bili'n
On Friday at midday, Palestinians from the village of Bil'in, near Ramallah in central West Bank, along with their international and Israeli supporters conducted their weekly protest against the Israeli Annexation Wall. Shortly after the midday Friday prayers, the protestors marched towards the location of the illegal wall built on the village land.
The Israeli army installed a barbed-wire roadblock to try and prevent the protesters reaching the construction site. As soon as the demonstration reached the roadblock troops showered the protesters with tear gas and metal rubber coated bullets injuring six people.
Political report
During a meeting on Thursday in Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's West Jerusalem residence, Olmert told Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, that Israel would suspend any building of settlements on occupied Palestinian lands, including in East Jerusalem. With the details here is IMEMC's Louisa white:
The meeting on Thursday was the first between the two leaders since both sides started the stalled peace talks in the U.S-sponsored Annapolis conference on November 27. Palestinian and Israeli negotiators have so far failed to advance the talks despite two rounds of negotiations since the Annapolis summit was launched.
Palestinians are upset over the planned construction of 370 housing units in the Har Homa settlement or what Palestinians call, the Gabal Abu Ghonaim in occupied East Jerusalem. Speaking to the IMEMC, Michael Warchanisky, an Israeli political analyst, doubted Israel's willingness to halt settlement activities.
According to the U.S-backed Road Map peace plan of 2003, Israel is obliged to halt all settlement activities on occupied Palestinian lands, including Jerusalem. However, settlement activities have gone on unabated; with 440,000 settlers remaining in the West Bank and East Jerusalem Settlements. Such settlements cost the Israeli government about $556m each year.
Also this week, Cairo voiced concerns over the Israeli actions, calling them ' a threat to peace-making'. these concerns were voiced during a meeting in Egypt between Egyptian president Husni Mubarak and Israeli defense minister, Ehud Barak. Barak discussed with his host a variety of issues, including Egypt's crackdown on smugglers at Gaza-Egypt border line, calling on Cairo to exert greater efforts.
Egyptian officials were reportedly responding to Israeli foreign minister, Tzibi Livni's related-statement by stating "Instead of addressing such an issue, the Israeli foreign minister, should instead advance peace with the Palestinians. She should not talk about things she does not understand".
Israel has been accusing Cairo of not doing enough about 'smuggling of weapons into Gaza, through underground tunnels on the Egypt-Gaza border line".
On the eve of the Mubarak-Barak meeting, the Egyptian authorities seized a ton of explosive materials and arrested one suspect. Palestinian sources reported that the said meeting made a breakthrough with respect to the issue of captured Israeli soldier Gil'ad Shalit, who was abducted by Hamas and other groups in the Hamas-run Gaza Strip last June. Israel agreed to releasing 200 Palestinian prisoners in swap of Shalit, yet groups, holding Shalit denied any knowledge, Maan News published.
Cairo has been mediating a possible swap deal over the past 9 months. At the internal level, acting-speaker of Palestinian parliament in Gaza, Ahmad Bahar of Hamas, called on Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to name a new prime minister to form a coalition government.
Former Palestinian information minister, Mustafa Barghouti, believed this week that holding an early election could be the way out of the current Palestinian political turmoil, following Hamas's takeover of Gaza. Currently, there are two Palestinian cabinets; one headed by deposed prime minister of Hamas, Ismail Haniya, in the Gaza Strip and the other headed by the Abbas-appointed Salam Fayad in the West Bank.
Hamas has recently accused Fayad's government of contributing to the current Gaza siege, by, Hamas says 'excluding Gaza from December 17ths Paris economic conference, which pledged a total of $7 billion to Abbas's Palestinian Authority.
For IMEMc.org this Louisa white.
The Israeli attacks
The West Bank
This week the Israeli army conducted at least 24 military invasions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank. During those invasions the Israeli troops kidnapped 87 Palestinian civilians. IMEMC's Mannar Jbreen with the details
Among those kidnapped by the Israeli army this week were 2 children, a member of the Palestinian Legislative Council, 2 members of the municipal council of Nablus and 3 university professors. Thus, the number of Palestinians kidnapped by the Israeli army in the West Bank since the beginning of this year has mounted to 2,640.
Just hours after the Palestinian Chief Negotiator, Ahmed Qureia, and the Palestinian President, Mahmoud Abbas, met with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert in Jerusalem, their envoy was attacked by Israeli forces invading the central West Bank city of Ramallah.
Mu'atasam Sharif al-Mahdi, a member of the Palestinian Presidential Guard, and a top-ranking security official, was killed by Israeli gunfire near Ramallah. Israeli sources claim that al-Mahdi was carrying a (licensed) handgun, which was why Israeli soldiers mistook him for a fighter. But Palestinian eyewitnesses report that the soldiers gunned down al-Mahdi in cold blood.
The Israeli army invaded the village of Sourif located near the southern West Bank city of Hebron midday on Thursday and clashed with local school boys. Local sources said that several military jeeps stormed the village and started to provoke the boys as they were leaving their school. Soldiers detained some of the children and beat them up.
Witnesses said that in response to the soldiers' actions the children threw stones and empty glass bottles at the invading troops. The soldiers in turn opened fire using live rounds and tear gas. Medical sources reported no injuries. Soldiers left the village shortly after.
On Tuesday, an Israeli soldier shot and wounded a Palestinian youth in the West Bank village of Nahalin, Palestinian media sources reported. Local medical sources confirmed that Salah Najajra,18, sustained moderate wounds after being hit with an Israeli bullet.
Witnesses said that Najajra was walking, along with some villagers, along the nearby Israeli settlement of Betar, when Israeli soldiers opened fire from a hilltop. Witnesses added that no clashes were taking place in the area and the Israeli army opened fire abruptly and randomly.
In Jerusalem this week the Israeli army demolished a Palestinian house in the Wad al-Jouz neighborhood in East Jerusalem. And on Tuesday a number of Israeli settlers attacked and injured a Palestinian farmer in Til village, southwest of Nablus.
For IMEMC.org this is Mannar Jbreen.
The Gaza strip
The Israeli army continues to beleaguer the Gaza strip: army attacks this week left 11 Palestinians killed in the coastal region, from Gaza IMEMC's Rami Al Mughari with the details:
Palestinian medical sources reported that one Palestinian fighter was killed and 5 others were injured when Israeli jet fighters fired missiles at a group of resistance men in Khaza'a town in the southern part of the Gaza strip on Friday at dawn. Sources from the al Qassam brigades, the armed wing of the Hamas movement, said that the resistance fighter killed was one of their fighters.
Seven Palestinian resistance fighters were killed on Thursday evening in three different Israeli army attacks. Among them was Mohamed Abullah, 41, a high leader in the Islamic Jihad armed wing al Qudes brigades.
A Palestinian resistance fighter died late Wednesday night when a tunnel collapsed on him in the city of Rafah in the southern part of the coastal region. In a statement faxed to the press, the al Qassam brigades, the armed wing of Hamas said that the fighter was a member of the brigades and identified him as Mohamed Dahier who was 24 years old.
The brigades said he and his comrades were digging a tunnel used to fight the Israeli army during the continuous Israeli invasions into the area.
On Monday Dr. Moa'wiya Abu Hasanin, chief of the emergency dept. at the Palestinian health ministry, announced that the Israeli authorities, allowed the passage of 19 patients to hospitals outside Gaza.
In a statement, faxed to the press, Hasanin maintained that those allowed to pass are expected to receive medication at Israeli and West Bank hospitals, but there were seven people denied permission to leave the coastal region. The health official confirmed that so far 49 patients have died because they were denied passage outside of Gaza for treatment. The Israeli army has imposed a crippling closure on the Gaza Strip since June, and in September, Gaza was declared a 'hostile entity'.
In October, a series of 'punitive' measures were imposed upon Gaza's 1.4-million-strong population. This has led to Human rights groups, like the Physicians for Human Rights to file a petition to the Israeli high court of justice, demanding ease on the restrictions of patients movement. The court has not yet responded.
Also on Monday, Israeli war planes launched an air strike on central Gaza Strip, leaving two people dead. Palestinian medical sources announced that Attallah aL-Awawda and Jom'a Abu Hjayer, were admitted to the Shuhada aL-Aqsa hospital in central Gaza Strip, as dismembered corpses and that their bodies had numerous burns.
Witnesses said that at dawn on Monday an Israeli warplane fired at least one missile on the Palestinian residents in the Buraij refugee camp.
For IMEMC.org this is Rami Al Mughari in Gaza.
Christmas 2007
On Monday December 24th the Palestinians in the southern West Bank city of Bethlehem started the Christmas celebration for this year, IMEMC's Caroline Jones was there:
The normally quiet Manger square in Bethlehem comes alive on this day with people from all over the world joining in the Christmas celebrations. Under cloudless blue skies and brilliant sunshine the bells of the Nativity Church rang out to greet the endless procession of scout troops, who marched around the square playing drums and bagpipes. Representing Palestinians from all over the West Bank and also areas in Israel, they entertained the crowds of Palestinians and internationals along with the world press.
Glitter and confetti rained over the procession adding to the magical and joyous atmosphere of the festivities. Palestinian wishes for this day included wishes for the reunification of Gaza and the West Bank; Mustafa Al Barghouthi talked to IMEMC:
To feel the happiness of this holy day we have to gain back our national unity and to continue our struggle to end the injustice and this apartheid racist regime and the Israeli occupation
The city of Bethlehem lies surrounded with Israeli settlements and the Wall, another reason for the residents of Bethlehem to celebrate Christmas with hope for the future. Ishak Zaroup, a resident of Bethlehem talked about the settlements:
If the Israelis continue their settlement activities, for sure, for us as Palestinians, will continue to demand our state. The political situation will not be stable, I do not think that there is any Palestinians that do not wish for freedom and to celebrate those holydays with joy.
As the call to prayer rang out from the Mosque over the square, the security forces cleared the way for the Michael Sabah the Patriarch of the Catholic Church in Jerusalem. He was welcomed by both the Mayor of Bethlehem and Governor of the Bethlehem district after which he held midday mass. Palestinians President Mahmoud Abbas and other Palestinians officials came to the city to give support, and their best wishes, for this special occasion.
An American tourist who chose to withhold her name talked about her visit to Bethlehem:
In the late afternoon the concerts began. A variety of local and international singers, bands, and orchestras performed for a mixed audience of Palestinians and internationals. From beginning to end the entire Manger Square was full of people. The night proved a success as crowds gathered around the stage for the entirety of the performances. At eleven on Monday night the outdoor festivities finished as the celebrators moved towards the church of Nativity to start the midnight mass.
For IMEMC.org this is Caroline Jones in Bethlehem.
Conclusion
And that’s just some of the news this week in Palestine. For constant updates, check out our website, www.IMEMC.org. Thanks for joining us from Occupied Bethlehem; this is Raphael Anderson and Ghassan Bannoura.
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