Israel lashed out at a number of European moves this week, all of which criticized Israel in some form or fashion. On December 18, Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Moratinos said that as the next EU president, he intends to work towards the realization of a Palestinian state in 2010, saying he would push for quick talks once his country assumed the presidency. "My idea and my dream ... is to work for having in 2010, finally, a Palestinian state that could live in peace and security with Israel," he said.
While Israel doesn't seem to be in any rush to see a Palestinian state come into being, it was the new European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Catherine Ashton who really raised Israel's ire. Ashton told the European parliament in Strasbourg that in the EU's opinion, "East Jerusalem is occupied territory, together with the West Bank." She also said that Israel should immediately lift its blockade on the Gaza Strip, stressing that the EU opposes the West Bank separation fence and the evictions of Palestinians from their homes in east Jerusalem.
Israel, which is not accustomed to such straightforward criticism from Europe, didn't take the change well. Israeli officials said Ashton's remarks "cast a pall over relations with the European Union," adding that the government was particularly upset by the fact that she did not show as much enthusiasm over the so-called settlement construction freeze like her European colleagues. Rather, the EU stateswoman said the freeze was a "first step," falling short of calling it "positive".
Israel was not too happy with London either this week. On December 13, a Westminster magistrates' court issued an arrest warrant for former Israeli foreign minister Tzipi Livni for war crimes committed during Israel's Cast Lead Operation into Israel last winter. Unfortunately, the warrant, which was issued at the request of lawyers representing Palestinian victims, was withdrawn after it became apparent that Livni was not actually in the UK. The move was carried out under a British law that allows for the persecution of war criminals under universal jurisdiction.
Israeli officials were not amused however. After Israel officially complained to London, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown announced that any arrest warrants issued in the future against suspected war criminals would have to be approved by the attorney general. On her part, Livni's office defended the Kadima leader and former member of the Israeli troika, which decided on Gaza's invasion which resulted in the killing of over 1,400 Palestinians. "She is proud of all her decisions regarding Cast Lead," her office said.
On the domestic front, on December 13, Israel's cabinet passed what it called a national priority map, which gives permanent status to dozens of West Bank settlements. As such, NIS 110 million will be allocated to 110,000 settlers included in the plan. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defended the map saying the future of settlements would only be determined within the framework of a permanent agreement. According to Peace Now, 91 out of 121 settlements are on the list of "communities" that are part of the plan, including many settlements in isolated West Bank spots located beyond the separation wall.
Chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat called Israel's so-called national priorities map a "blueprint for future settlement expansion."
"Rather than make peace its number one priority, Israel continues to prioritize settlements and the relentless colonization of occupied Palestinian land, rendering the two-state solution politically and economically unviable," Erekat said in a statement.
Settlements are definitely a priority with Israel, as is evident from statements on December 17 from its Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman. He made it very clear that Israel's 10-month partial moratorium on settlement construction in the West Bank "was only a tactical and a temporary move."
"It is clear to everyone that in 10 months, we will be building again full force; anyone who understands anything knows this," he said during a meeting in one of the West Bank's biggest settlements, Ariel.
Settlers, meanwhile, continue to wreak havoc on Palestinians, this week namely in Jerusalem. On December 18, three Palestinians, including two children and a journalist were attacked by Israeli settlers near homes in Sheikh Jarrah. According to eyewitnesses, a mob of settlers descended on the Atiyeh and Ghuwar homes in the neighborhood a day after Palestinians, internationals and Israeli left-wing activists protested the eviction of the Kurd family. Brothers Imad and Mohammed Atiyeh, 13 and 15 years old, were injured along with a Palestinian journalist.
Also in Jerusalem, on December 14, an Israeli court issued a ban on Hatem Abdel Qader from entering the Old City or the Aqsa Mosque for a period of six months. On December 17, Israeli authorities issued demolition orders against one mosque and seven homes in Jabal Mukkaber, another neighborhood of east Jerusalem.
On December 16, Jewish settlers attacked residents of Qaryout in the northern West Bank as part of what they call the "price tag" policy for their government's decision to the 10-month freeze. Near Bethlehem, settlers also reportedly, laid the cornerstone for a new settlement and construction work continued at a settlement outpost south of Nablus.
Nonetheless, President Mahmoud Abbas still optimistically said a solution could still be reached. In an interview with the Israeli daily Haaretz on December 16, Abbas said, "If Israel completely halts construction in the settlements, negotiations with the Palestinians on a final-status agreement can be completed within six months." The president also said he was very keen on finishing up a prisoner exchange with Israel.
On that note, media reports said Abbas sent a letter to Netanyahu via a third party on December 13 calling on him to move faster on finalizing a prisoner exchange deal that would include releasing prisoners serving long sentences. According to the Hebrew daily Maariv, the letter specifically called for the release of Hamas prisoners, Fateh West Bank secretary Marwan Barghouthi and PFLP head Ahmad Sa’dat.
On December 19, the Hamas leadership in Gaza sent out an invitation to all Palestinian factions and independent leaders to participate in a meeting with Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh on December 20 to discuss the conciliation agreement. So far, PLO factions and the West Bank government have not decided whether they will attend the meeting but said they were discussing it.
On December 16, the PLO central council ended its two-day session in Ramallah. Among other decisions, the Council approved a resolution calling on President Mahmoud Abbas to stay in power until new elections are held in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Muhammad Subaih, deputy chairman of the council, said Abbas would stay in power at least until June 28, 2010, the scheduled date for new presidential and legislative elections, set by Egypt as part of its efforts towards reconciliation between Hamas and Fateh.
UN Resolution 1325
Date posted: February 03, 2021
By MIFTAH
Kerry talks peace while Israel bars UNESCO mission [May 19 - May 25]
Date posted: May 25, 2013
By MIFTAH
President Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu both met with US Secretary of State John Kerry this week in the latter’s fourth visit to the region since he assumed office.
After meeting with the two to ostensibly find ways to restart stalled negotiations between the two sides, Kerry urged on May 24 both Israeli and Palestinian leaders to take "hard decisions" to revive the peace process.
"We're getting toward a time now when hard decisions need to be made," he said at the end of his visit.
Kerry admitted a day before after meeting with the two leaders that there was skepticism and cynicism about his efforts to revive talks.
"I know this region well enough to know there is skepticism, in some quarters there is cynicism, and there are reasons for it. There have been bitter years of disappointment," he said. Still, he maintained: "It is our hope that by being methodical, careful, patient, but detailed and tenacious, that we can lay on a path ahead that can conceivably surprise people and certainly exhaust the possibilities for peace."
British foreign secretary William Hague was also in the region visiting with leaders on both sides and even visited the Bedouin community of Khan Al Ahmar between Jerusalem and Jericho, whose residents are under the threat of displacement.
On May 23, Hague was poignantly clear on where his country stands on Israeli settlements in the West Bank. "Israel has lost some of its support in Britain and in other European countries over time - this is something I've often pointed out to Israeli leaders -because of settlement activity, which we condemn,” he said.
"We strongly disagree with settlements on occupied land. Israel is a country we work with in many ways but we do disapprove of settlements,” he maintained, adding that: "We want to see both Israelis and Palestinians really commit themselves to the peace process while there is still a chance of a two-state solution."
In Khan al Ahmar, Hague listened to the residents’ grievances from Israeli efforts to push them out to make way for more settlement expansion. "We (in Britain) strongly condemn the building of settlements and recognise they are a severe threat to a two-state solution,” he told the people there.
On March 21, Israeli forces demolished two residential buildings in the Jabal al-Mukabbir in East Jerusalem. Earlier, they demolished two Palestinian homes in al-Tur, all under the pretext of unlicensed construction. Dozens of people have been left homeless from the demolitions.
A UNESCO fact-finding mission was supposed to arrive this week to look into Israeli measures in the Old City of Jerusalem and their impact on the archeological, cultural and heritage significance of the place, but was denied entry by Israel on May 20. Israel justified its decision by saying Palestinians were trying to politicize the visit.
"The Palestinians were not respecting the understandings,” an Israeli foreign ministry official said. “The visit was supposed to be professional, (but) they were taking measures that showed they were politicizing the event and not letting the delegation focus on professional sides of it," the official said.
UNESCO maintained that the mission was not cancelled, but postponed, the agency’s spokeswoman Sue Williams said.
The Palestinians said they expected Israel to pull something like this. “We weren't surprised by this decision because we believed that Israel's agreement to (allow the mission) was not convincing," minister of foreign affairs Riyad Al Malki said.
The Rafah crossing between the Gaza Strip and Egypt was reopened on May 22 after a five day closure. Egyptian soldiers and policemen closed the crossing following the kidnapping of seven Egyptian soldiers in Sinai, only reopening it after the soldiers were freed. Over 2,400 Palestinians had been stranded on both sides of the crossing during the days of the closure.
Extremist Israelis extended their attacks this week all the way to the Negev desert. On May 19, residents of the Retamim Kibbutz attacked the nearby Bedouin village of Bir Hadaj and set fire to a tent, according to head of the local village council, Salman Ibin Hamid
"The setters of Retamim are acting like they are in the West Bank," Ibn Hamid said. "These people have the mentality of the occupying settler to attack every Arab."
Finally, on May 23, the US appointed Gen. John Allen as special envoy on security issues in negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian Authority. According to a US official, Allen will deal with the U.S. position on Israeli security needs and the security arrangements that would accompany the establishment of a future Palestinian state.
Al Nakba commemorated amid increasing settler attacks [May 12 - May 18]
Date posted: May 18, 2013
By MIFTAH
This week Palestinians commemorated the 65th anniversary of the Nakba, the catastrophe of 1948 on May 15, with a variety of activities, demonstrations and events throughout the Palestinian territories and outside of its borders. Festivals were held in Ramallah and Nablus in addition to several protests and confrontations with Israeli occupation forces. In Jerusalem, clashes broke out between protesters and Israeli police and border guards when Palestinians commemorating Al Nakba, raising Palestinian flags and facing off with Jewish settlers and soldiers. Thirty people were wounded or arrested during the clashes in addition to six Israelis.
The Jerusalem clashes come at a time when settler break-ins to Al Aqsa have been on the rise amid increasing calls by extremist Jewish groups to make a presence at the compound. The break-ins have become a near daily event. Muslim worshippers and Palestinian youths have kept constant vigil at the mosque to stave off the break-ins which included settler groups who used children as a cover to enter the compound on the occasion of Shavuot.
Settlers in the West Bank have wreaked havoc this week as well. On May 17, three Palestinians were injured in clashes in Urif south of Nablus when dozens of settlers set fire to lands in three area-villages: Urif, Einabus, and Asira al-Qibliya. The settlers also attacked citizens and threw burning tires at people’s homes.
Jewish extremists attacked inside the Green Line as well. On May 14, extremists set fire to three cars and sprayed racist graffiti on a mosque south of Haifa, according to Israeli media reports.
"Price-tag" and "Eviatar," which is thought to refer to the name of a settler stabbed to death last week, were found on the mosque’s walls in addition to the Star of David. In Safed, even farther north, racist graffiti with the words "Arabs out" was found on walls in the city.
On May 13, Israeli settlers exhumed a number of graves and sprayed racist graffiti in the Sawiya village in Nablus. Ghassan Daghlas, head of the PA settlement activity file, said settlers from the Alia settlement were responsible for the damage.
On the same day settlers from Tel Hatimar begin building a religious school for children on Al Khader lands in the Bethlehem area.
The Israeli army meanwhile, uprooted over 1,200 olive tree saplings on May 16 and razed land Palestinian farmer in the northern West Bank, according to Daghlas. He said the army dug up over 40 dunums of farm land and demolished a water tank and stone walls in Ras Karker, near Nablus.
On May 17, three Palestinian laborers were wounded in Beit Ula northwest of Hebron after Israeli forces fired rubber-coated steel bullets and unleashed police dogs at them according to Issa al-Amla, coordinator for the popular struggle committee. He said Omar Al-Amla, 31, and Abdulkadir Al-Amla, 28, suffered multiple dog bites to the neck and hands. A third laborer, Jihad Saleem, was shot in the leg.
In Jerusalem on May 17, Israeli forces raided the home of Iyad al-Awar and insisted on taking his two children 6-year-old Qassam and 5-year-old Nasrallah for “interrogation”. While their father prevented the forces from arresting his boys, Israeli soldiers handed him a warrant ordering him to bring his children to the Russian Compound for questioning.
"We arrived to the Russian Compound and the troops wanted to take my kids for investigation; I refused and they beat me in the ear and the leg. My kids started crying and were so scared from the troops. They took my kids by force," al-Awar said.
Israeli Intelligence officers apparently questioned the children about their detained cousin Shadad, and asked if they had seen him throwing stones or Molotov cocktails at Israeli forces, Al Awar said.
On the same day however, Palestinians scored a tiny victory in the Jerusalem suburb of Abu Dis when they were able to tear a hole through part of the separation wall. Protesters marking the Nakba anniversary ripped a 4-meter hole in it, eyewitnesses said. Clashes ensued between the protesters and Israeli soldiers who fired tear gas and rubber-coated steel bullets. Several injuries were reported.
Peace Now reported on May 16 that the Israeli government planned to grant retroactive approval to four West Bank settlement outposts it had previously pledged to at least partially demolish.
The Israeli state attorney's office said that settlers had purchased the private Palestinian land on which they built, thus paving the way for the government to give its blessing.
"In the response, the government declares its intention to legalize four outposts, in isolated areas," Peace Now said in a statement, adding that the strategy was an affront to US Secretary of State John Kerry's efforts to revive dormant Israeli-Palestinian peace talks. "The intention to legalize outposts as new settlements is no less than a slap in the face of Secretary Kerry's new peace process," Peace Now said.
On May 14, Hamas and Fatah agreed in Cairo to form a national unity government within three months during which they would finalize and approve the Palestine National Council elections law. The two sides, represented by Fatah leader Azzam Al Ahmad and Hamas politburo member Mousa Abu Marzouq, came to the agreement under Egyptian sponsorship and said President Abbas would immediately begin talks on the new government formation. Once the government is formed, general elections can be held.
