NOVANEWS
Posted By: Sammi Ibrahem
Chair of West Midland PSC
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Vittorio Arrigoni on our mind
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Two Palestinian teens from Awarta arrested for Itamar murders
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‘Move over AIPAC’ conference to honor Helen Thomas
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Obama learns how big his district is
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Death in a Palestinian town
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Why BDS can’t be an internal Jewish conversation
Vittorio Arrigoni on our mind
Apr 17, 2011
annie
Voices of Vittorio’s Friends “He’s really a hero” “He shared with us everything we shared, he was with us in thick and thin.” “Vittolio is a Palestinian brave man”
“I want to sing this song for Vittorio, my song is Bella Ciao”
This video was sent to us by our friend Mohammed Fares Al Majdalawi in Gaza.
Two Palestinian teens from Awarta arrested for Itamar murders
Apr 17, 2011
Kate
Two teens from West Bank village arrested over Itamar massacre
Haaretz 17 Apr — Israeli security forces have arrested two teenage residents of the West Bank Arab village of Awarta for allegedly carrying out last month’s murder of five family members in the settlement of Itamar, the lifting of a gag order revealed on Sunday. Palestinian students Amjad Awad, 19, and Hakim Awad 18, both admitted to committing the murder … Shin Bet investigators have at this point not identified the murder as being carried out under the auspices of the Popular Front organization. According to what is currently known, the murders were carried out independently by the two suspects. Six additional Palestinian suspects from Awad were also arrested in connection to the crime, four of whom belong to the same family. The six purportedly aided the two alleged perpetrators in hiding the murder weapon and in suppressing additional evidence.
Israel holds 2 Palestinians over settlement killings
Reuters 17 Apr — …Nimrod Aloni, a senior military officer who commanded Israeli troops in the search for suspects in Awarta, said in a conference call the killings were not premeditated but that the brothers were egged on by their own daring.”The murders were not planned, they were something that happened when they entered and exited the house twice. They wanted to test their own ability to break into a house and steal a weapon. The killings took place when they went in for a second time,” Aloni said. Hakim’s mother, Nof, told Reuters by phone that her son was innocent and suggested he may have been pushed into a confession by Israeli questioning. “Maybe my son went crazy as a result of the interrogation or they asked him to sign some paper. My son cannot do such a thing … They had taken his sister to prison for six days (to pressure him) and they also took me in for two days,” she said. Aloni said he had no doubt the killers had been caught, although he did not elaborate on the evidence that had been uncovered other than mentioning the assault rifle found in the two men’s possession.
Itamar massacre solved; 2 arrested
Ynet 17 Apr — …The first suspect is Hakim Mazen Awad, 18, a high school student whose father was active in the Popular Front terror organization. Awad has a prison record. His uncle, who was killed in clashes with IDF forces in 2003, was involved in a June 2002 terror attack in Itamar, which left five dead. The second suspect, Amjad Mahmad Awad, 19, also a student, is affiliated with the Popular Front … On April 5 and April 10, IDF forces arrested Amjad and Hakim. The investigation into the attack revealed that the two decided to carry out a terror attack and attempted to acquire weapons three days before the March 11 attack. In order to obtain the weapons they turned to a Popular Front militant in their village, but he refused to acquiesce to their request. And yet, at midday on Friday March 11, they decided that they would go to Itamar that night, armed with knives and carry out the attack. … Sources familiar with the investigation said the two offered a dispassionate account of the attack, and “a chilling reenactment.”
Awarta stunned over Itamar attack revelation; ‘They’re just kids’
Ynet 17 Apr — Awarta village neighbors of two suspects in Itamar massacre stunned by their arrest. Village chief says confessions must have been coerced, demands international probe … Other villagers didn’t try to claim that the two teens weren’t involved in the massacre but they received the news with a great deal of sadness. “We’re in the stage where we’re just trying to digest the details and people here are in complete shock,” Samir, a villager told Ynet.
Family of Awarta teen deny allegations
AWARTA, West Bank (Ma‘an) 17 Apr — The family of one of two teens charged by Israeli forces in the murder of a settler family last month is contesting the allegations, saying 19-year-old Hakim Awwad was too ill to have carried out the gruesome attack. Nouf Awwad told Ma‘an on Sunday, the day reports of the allegations against her son were made public with the lifting of an Israeli gag-order on the case of the slain settlers, that her son was still recovering from a recent surgery, which prevented him from walking long distances and required him to use the toilet every hour. “We have the medical records, he is in unstable health,” she said, adding that the family is gathering the papers to present as evidence.
Solving the Itamar case does not justify the means the army uses on Palestinians / Noam Sheizaf
17 Apr — Now that Israel has in custody two people who admitted to committing the murder in Itamar a month ago, I received several comments demanding I “update” my post on Awarta, meaning retract on the allegations in its last few paragraphs. I really don’t see a reason why. Hundreds of Palestinians were arrested and interrogated without due process. Such “investigation” would have never taken place were the suspects Jews. The legal system in the West Bank is purely Apartheid: One law for Jews and another for Arabs. The fact that alleged killers of Palestinians from Itamar were never located is further proof to that matter — Itamar was never terrorized the way Awarta was. When Awara tactics will be used everywhere – or preferably, when Palestinians enjoy due process – will there be a need to retract.
And more news from Today in Palestine:
Palestinian Prisoners’ Day / Detention
Palestinian Prisoners’ Day
AIC –Today, 17 April, is Palestinian Prisoners’ Day. The day commemorates the release of Palestinian prisoner Mahmoud Hijazi in the first prisoners’ exchange between the Palestinians and the Israelis in 1974 … The situation for Palestinians in Israeli prisons is grim. According to ADDAMEER, the Palestinian Prisoners’ Rights NGO, over 6,800 Palestinians, from the West Bank, Gaza, East Jerusalem, and 1948 Palestine, are currently imprisoned by the Israeli state. Of those, over 300 are children, 34 are women, 18 are elected Palestinian representatives and almost 300 are ‘Administrative Detainees’ – that is they have been interned without trial not having been charged with any crime or seeing the secret evidence against them.
http://www.alternativenews.org/english/index.php/topics/news/3535-palestinian-prisoners-day
IOF troops detain 845 Palestinians in three months, including 105 children
GAZA, (PIC) 16 Apr — A statistics report by the Ansar Al-Asra society said on Saturday that Israeli occupation forces (IOF) detained 845 Palestinians in the first three months of 2011. The statement added that among those were 105 children and three members of the Palestinian legislative council. It noted that the IOF detention spree in the first quarter of 2011 witnessed an upsurge as it started with 180 people in January, then 285 in February and 380 in March.
http://www.palestine-info.co.uk/En/default.aspx?xyz=U6Qq7k%2bcO
VIDEO: Israeli prison raid footage released
AJ 17 Apr — Hundreds of Palestinians have died inside Israeli prisons and now an Israeli television channel has aired shocking footage of Israel’s so-called Control and Restraint unit, or Masada, attacking Palestinian prisoners. Activists have demanded people in charge of the operation, carried out in 2007, be charged and the family of one of the victims told Al Jazeera that they would consider suing Masada. Al Jazeera’s Nisreen El-Shamayleh reports from Seida in the occupied West Bank.
http://www.aljazeera.com/video/middleeast/2011/04/2011417101015775554.html
***Another country / Alon Idan
Haaretz 15 Apr — …This is the Ofer military court. Its purpose is to enclose the occupation within a defined, justiciable framework. At night, IDF soldiers enter villages and arrest Palestinians; in the morning, Palestinians are brought, handcuffed, to Ofer, and sent to a jail located a few meters from the court. Hearings about the detainees are held on Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday of each week in seven trailers called “halls.” In 2009, 12,428 persons were detained; in 2008, the figure was 13,003; in 2007, 14,198; in 2006, 16,451. This is a factory for detainees. I’ve come to observe this factory, to see how it works … “…I sentence [S.] to a month’s suspended sentence, and an NIS 800 fine.” Here’s the story: It turns out that S. has a Palestinian father and an Israeli mother. One day, loneliness overcame her, and she decided to visit her mother in Jerusalem. She traveled there and was apprehended by security forces. She was put on trial for this offense. The judge now trusts that she will rehabilitate herself, that she will change her ways. If not, next time she will spend a month in prison.
http://www.haaretz.com/weekend/magazine/another-country-1.356147
PCHR: Narratives behind locked doors
In honor of Prisoners’ Day, several articles: The Transformation of Palestinian Prisoners’ Visitation Rights over the Years; Arwa Abdel-Rahim, a Mother of two Prisoners; Abla Sa’adat: A husband imprisoned; Trying to See Her Brother – The Struggle of the Family of a Prisoner from the West Bank; No Family Visitation for Prisoners from Gaza: the Case of Abdallah Inshahsi; and others.
http://www.pchrgaza.org/portal/en/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&layout=blog&id=142&Itemid=303
Report: More than 130 prison raids in 2010
VIENNA, (PIC) 17 Apr — A report by Vienna-based Friend of Humanity International documents that this year was ”not normal in the lives of Palestinian prisoners”, as the Israeli prison authority more than 130 cell raids on Palestinian prisoners this year alone. The report details human rights violations that took place in Israeli prisons throughout 2010. Its release was time to coincide with the Palestinian prisoner day observed on April 17. The report documents that special security units and soldiers sprayed gas and used fists and electric batons and isolated prisoners in a year rife with abuses.
http://www.palestine-info.co.uk/En/default.aspx?xyz=U6Qq7k%2
Military court orders Nabi Saleh protest organizer Bassem Tamimi remanded until end of legal proceedings
ISM 17 Apr — The arrest of Bassem Tamimi, a 44 year-old protest organizer from Nabi Saleh and the coordinator of the village’s popular committee, was extended indefinitely today at the Ofer Military Court. Tamimi will remain in detention until the end of legal proceedings in his case. The indictment against Tamimi, filed two weeks ago, is based on questionable and coerced confessions of youth. He is charged with incitement, organizing unpermitted marches, solicitation to throw stones, disobeying the duty to report to questioning, and a scandalous obstruction of justice charge, for allegedly giving youth advice on how to act under interrogation by the police in the event that they are arrested.
http://palsolidarity.org/2011/04/17799/
IOF troops detain 7 in Silwan
OCCUPIED JERUSALEM, (PIC) 17 Apr — …The Hebrew radio said on Sunday that the Israeli police rounded up seven Jerusalemites over the past few days on suspicion of throwing stones and firebombs at police vehicles. It claimed that the youth confessed to the charge of organizing riots in Silwan and would face a trial hearing in the central court on Sunday … IOF soldiers at dawn Sunday stormed the city of Jenin and nearby villages but no detentions were reported. The soldiers installed a roadblock between Jenin and Nablus and searched vehicles on Sunday morning.
http://www.palestine-info.co.uk/En/default.aspx?xyz=U6Qq7k%2bcO
Army arrests Hebron child after settlers attack home
HEBRON (Ma‘an) 16 Apr — Israeli soldiers detained a child from Hebron’s Old City after settlers attacked the boy’s home Saturday. Mu‘taz Al-Muhtaseb was beaten by soldiers and arrested, locals told Ma‘an. They added that Israeli forces came to the area after settlers from the illegal outpost Beit Hadasa attacked Mu‘taz’s home. An Israeli army spokesman confirmed that soldiers arrested a Palestinian but said that the army was unaware of any beating or unusual incidents since his arrest. He also told Ma‘an that the incident came after several Israeli civilians hurled rocks at a Palestinian house. “When an IDF force arrived at the scene, they dispersed,” the official said.
http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=379347
Detainees announce hunger strike to mark Prisoners’ Day
RAMALLAH (Ma‘an) 16 Apr — Palestinians detained in Israeli jails announced that they will commemorate Prisoners’ Day on Sunday by declaring a one-day hunger strike. The strike was a symbolic action to draw attention to the violations and abuse carried out against Palestinian political prisoners and their families, detainees said.
http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=379305
Hamas condemns PA’s arrest of lawmaker’s husband
GAZA CITY (Ma‘an) 16 Apr — Hamas on Saturday denounced the arrest of the husband of a Hamas lawmaker by the Palestinian Authority. The Islamist party said Samir Halayqa’s husband was detained by PA forces in the West Bank.
http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=379266
IOF troops violently disperse relatives of Palestinian prisoners
RAMALLAH, (PIC) 17 Apr — Israeli occupation forces (IOF) and Ofer prison guards used force to disperse a peaceful rally by relatives of Palestinian prisoners held in that notorious jail on Sunday. Hundreds of Palestinians staged a sit-in before the military jail in which Israel is holding around one thousand Palestinian prisoners demanding their release. The participants hoisted Palestinian flags and photos of their relatives in the rally organized to mark the Palestinian prisoner’s day.
http://www.palestine-info.co.uk/En/default.aspx?xyz=U6Qq7k%2bcOd8
Report: Sheikh Salah detained at Allenby
TEL AVIV (Ma‘an) 17 Apr — Israel’s Jerusalem Post reported Sunday night the arrest of the head of the Islamic Movement in Israel Sheikh Raed Salah at the Allenby Bridge border crossing as he returned from a trip to Jordan. According to the report, Salah was detained because he refused to submit to investigations and searches that border staff at the crossing intended to carry out. Police told the Post that Salah arrived at the border crossing with his wife and refused a search of his wife, standing between police and his spouse to prevent it.
http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=379717
Haniyeh says no to Shalit compromise
Ynet 16 Apr — Hamas Prime Minister in Gaza, Ismail Haniyeh, urged the Palestinian factions holding Gilad Shalit to insist on their prisoner swap demands. Haniyeh made the remarks Saturday during a special session of the Palestinian parliament in Gaza convened to mark Palestinian Prisoners Day.
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4057661,00.html
Haniyeh urges support for Shalit swap deal
GAZA CITY (Ma‘an) 16 Apr — Gaza Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh on Saturday urged Palestinians to support a deal to release Palestinians imprisoned in Israel in exchange for an Israeli soldier held in Gaza.
http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=379284
Report: Hamas military wing rejected Shalit deal accepted by political branch
Haaretz 15 Apr — The German mediator negotiating for the release of abducted Israel Defense Forces soldier Gilad Shalit is currently in the region attempting to push forth a prisoner swap deal with Hamas, the A-Sharq al-Awsat newspaper reported on Friday. Citing an Israeli political source, the newspaper said that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had offered Hamas a deal accepted by the movement’s political branch accepted, but rejected by its military wing. The schism has led Netanyahu to give up on that proposal, the source reportedly said, adding that the offer had been better than the one offered by former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert.
http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/report-hamas-military-wing-rejected-shalit-deal-accepted-by-political-branch-1.356131
Abbas: No peace deal until political prisoners freed
RAMALLAH (Ma‘an) 17 Apr — President Mahmoud Abbas said Saturday that no peace deal could be reached with Israel until all political prisoners were released. Abbas’ comments were made in a televised address ahead of Palestinian Prisoners’ Day on Sunday.
http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=379500
Relatives of detainees ask Ramallah authority to release them
RAMALLAH, (PIC) 17 Apr — The relatives of detainees held in jails of the Fatah-controlled Ramallah authority have called for their immediate release. The relatives’ committee issued a statement hailing the steadfastness of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli occupation prisons. It described the authority’s arrest of prisoners liberated from Israeli jails as a “shame”, and called for an immediate end to the political detention policy. The committee along with human rights groups had said that the Ramallah authority was detaining 420 Palestinians including 300 ex-prisoners in Israeli jails.
http://www.palestine-info.co.uk/En/default.aspx?xyz=U6Qq7k%2bcO
Land, property,resources theft & destruction / Ethnic cleansing / Settlers
Israel army tightens restrictions on Tubas villagers
TUBAS (Ma‘an) 16 Apr — The Israeli army tightened restrictions on Palestinians in Al-Bequie‘a in the northern Jordan Valley, locals said. Residents of several settlements around Al-Bequie‘a recently entered the area with maps and surveying equipment, villagers said. Settlers have repeatedly attacked pipelines bringing water from Khirbet Keshda to farmland in the area, and dug up fields of vegetables on the land, locals added. They said settlers were trying to force them from their land.
Israeli soldiers raided the area Friday and arrested several farmers, including Ziad Abu Khiezaran who said he was detained while he was irrigating his crops.
http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=379320
Internationals and national volunteers start building a mud brick school in Al Awja
JVS 15 Apr — Few days ago, the Bedouin community of Ras Al Awja, along with International and Palestinian volunteers from Jordan Valley Solidarity, have started to build a school made of mud bricks. Ras Al Awja is a community of about 300 families living in very hard conditions. They used to live in another part of the village where today a settler lives alone in a settlement that takes the best agricultural land of the area. They now live not far from Al Awja water spring. This spring used to be one of the main water resources in the Jordan Valley, giving water for a big part of the Southern Palestine. Today the spring is dried. The occupational forces dug a deep well beside the spring and its water is now distributed only to the settlements. Settlers enjoy all kind of accommodation – running water, electricity, transportation, telecommunication, land, etc – and Palestinians live with electric pylons over their heads and water lines under their feet but can not benefit from them.
http://www.jordanvalleysolidarity.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=231
At-Tuwani: Palestinian Authority representatives respond to Israeli military escort delay
CPT 16 Apr — …The escort accompanies the children on the road that runs between the Israeli settlement of Ma’on and settlement outpost of Havat Ma’on because the children have suffered many threats, and attacks from settlers along this route. The visiting governmental officials, together with the local school headmaster, the mayor, and representatives from the local council, observed the military escort arrive on time and accompany the children without incident — unlike the two previous afternoons. Palestinian TV was also present, documenting the visit and escort. The preceding days, 10 and 11 April, the children waited nearly two hours each day for the escorting soldiers to arrive. On 10 April, the escort failed to arrive at all, and after waiting from 1:30 until 3:20, the children had to take a much longer route home.
http://cpt.org/cptnet/2011/04/16/tuwani-palestinian-authority-representatives-respond-israeli-military-escort-delay
Clashes rage in Silwan
[with photos] Silwan, Jerusalem (SILWANIC) 16 Apr 00:37 — Dozens of Palestinians marched in Silwan village today [Friday] in condemnation of Israeli siege on the Gaza Strip and collective punishment of Palestinians living in Gaza, with many joining from the public prayer at the threatened Al-Bustan protest tent. Clashes erupted between Palestinian youth and Israeli armed forces, with police and army units closing off the Wadi Rababa entrance to Silwan since early morning heightening tensions. The busy Wadi Rababa thoroughfare links the Al-Thouri district to West Jerusalem.
Israeli forces fired tear gas at protesters in ‘Ein Silwan district at Samer Sarhan Street. A heavy presence of Israeli troops was also found near Israeli settlements in Wadi Hilweh area.
http://silwanic.net/?p=14814
Army brutality as violent clashes sweep through Silwan
SILWANIC Saturday, 16 April, 2011 | 23:29 Clashes erupted tonight between Israeli troops and Palestinian youth in Bir Ayyub district of Silwan. Massive quantities of tear gas have been fired by Israeli forces on Palestinian residents. Palestinians responded by throwing stones at military vehicles, causing damage to one settler vehicle in the process … Several entrances to Silwan have been sealed off by the military, including the Wadi Rababa entrance that links Silwan to West Jerusalem … Israeli forces have also assaulted journalist Hamza Najib, a photographer for Pal Media, while he was covering events in Samer Sarhan Street. Silwanic photographer Ahmed Siam was also assaulted and threatened by armed forces in an attempt to stop him covering unfolding confrontations in the area.
http://silwanic.net/?p=14881
Peaceful demonstration in Sheikh Jarrah
[with photos] Silwan, Jerusalem (SILWANIC) — Dozens of Palestinian citizens marched alongside Israeli and international left-wing activists in the weekly demonstration in Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood of Jerusalem yesterday. While the march is generally under tight control of Israeli forces, yesterday witnessed a quiet atmosphere. No protesters were arrested. The weekly Friday demonstrations in Sheikh Jarrah started in 2009 in opposition the the gradual annexation of Palestinian homes and land by Israeli settler groups.
http://silwanic.net/?p=14843
Shas MK: East Jerusalem building blocked for political reasons
Haaretz 17 Apr — Statements made by Housing and Construction Minister Ariel Atias represent first time a senior Israeli figure discussed existence of freeze on East Jerusalem construction, which runs contrary to PM’s public stance.
http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/news/shas-mk-east-jerusalem-building-blocked-for-political-reasons-1.356317
Jerusalem aid committee announced in Washington
WASHINGTON, (PIC) 16 Apr — The establishment of an international campaign designed to curb the Israeli Judaization of Jerusalem was announced in United States capital Washington, DC on Friday. The campaign will include a group of international figures as well as political and media events from across the world. The campaign said it would take Jerusalem as its main contact center, and that the center would be linked to Ramallah, Nazareth, and Gaza to provide information. The Jerusalem protection campaign is aimed at protecting Jerusalem families who are threatened by Israeli plans to displace major portions of the Arab population in the city and replace them with Jewish settlers.
http://www.palestine-info.co.uk/En/default.aspx?xyz=U6Qq7k%2bc
Demolition orders handed out in south
HEBRON (Ma‘an) 17 Apr — Israeli authorities gave a military order to demolish a barn and a water well in the village of Al-Bira village southwest of Hebron on Thursday afternoon. According to the Land Research Center, land owner Yasser Salem Al-Awawda was handed the notification, which gave one week for the structures on the property to be taken down. Al-Awawda told the center that he removed the barn’s roof, citing concern that the demolition would harm his cattle.
http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=378669
The effect of Passover on Palestinians
More youths’ detention extended in the leadup to Passover
Silwan, Jerusalem (SILWANIC) — A hearing was held in the Israeli Central Court today regarding the arrest of a young man and 3 children from Silwan … A member of the Rajabi family stated that “an overwhelming number of Silwan’s youth have been seized and their detention extended recently. We take this as a precautionary tactic employed by Israeli authorities in the leadup to their holiday of Passover. We, meanwhile, must suffer the closure of roads, acts of provocation and the arrest of our children – throughout every Jewish holiday.”
http://silwanic.net/?p=14913
Military closure for West Bank on Passover
TEL AVIV (Ma‘an) 17 Apr — Israel’s military announced a “general closure” of the West Bank during the Jewish Passover holiday, which will begin on Sunday at 11:50 p.m. and continue for ten days. The closure will affect Palestinians with work permits, barring them from access to Israel and Jerusalem until 11:50 p.m. on 26 April.
In addition, Israeli officials announced heightened security measures around Jerusalem as the country’s religious Jewish residents prepare to celebrate Passover, Israel Radio said, with Palestinians expecting restrictions on freedom of worship and movement … Israel’s police department told the station that extra officers would be deployed around areas where Christian pilgrims would gather for the upcoming Easter holiday.
http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=379718
West Bank Palestinian Christians denied access to holy places in Jerusalem during Easter
LA Times 16 Apr — As Christians get ready to celebrate Easter, Palestinian Christians living in the West Bank and Gaza Strip are envious of fellow Christians from all over the world who are able to visit Jerusalem’s holy Christian sites and worship freely while they cannot. Since Israel cut off East Jerusalem from the rest of the occupied Palestinian territories in the early 1990s, Palestinian residents of the West Bank and Gaza Strip have been required to get Israeli army permission before they can enter Jerusalem. The situation worsened since the turn of the century and restrictions got tighter after a 20-foot concrete wall was built all around East Jerusalem barring both Muslim and Christian Palestinians from reaching their holy sites in Jerusalem and its Old City
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/babylonbeyond/2011/04/west-bank-palestinian-christians-denied-access-to-holy-places-in-jerusalem-during-easter.html
Closures at Allenby border crossing over Jewish holidays
JERICHO (Ma’an) 16 Apr — The Allenby Bridge border crossing will operate from 8 a.m. until 10:30 a.m. only on Monday [Apr 18] due to Israeli holidays, according to Palestinian police stationed at the crossing. On April 19 and April 24-25 the crossing will operate from 8 a.m. until 6 p.m … The Israeli-controlled Allenby Bridge is the only public border crossing between the West Bank and Jordan, and the only crossing for most Palestinians to leave or enter the West Bank.
http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=379130
Gaza
Israeli warplanes strike Gaza
GAZA CITY (Ma‘an) 16 Apr 3:08am — Israeli warplanes launched two airstrikes Saturday morning in the northern Gaza Strip. No injuries were reported. Local sources said the shelling targeted two military bases of Hamas’ armed wing the Al-Qassam Brigades in Ash-Shati refugee camp in the northern Gaza Strip, and the Zaytoun neighborhood of Gaza City, also in the north. Witnesses said several houses near the military bases sustained damages and locals said they feared further attacks as warplanes and drones continued to hover over the besieged coastal enclave.
http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=379090
Israeli navy gunboats fire at Palestinian fishing boats
GAZA, (PIC) 16 Apr — Israeli navy gunboats opened heavy machinegun fire at Palestinian fishing boats off the coast of Gaza city on Saturday evening, local sources reported. They said that no casualties were suffered as a result of the shooting, which is repeated practiced by those gunboats. [Nicole Johnston of Al Jazeera, in Gaza, tweeted this afternoon “Two Israeli navy ships sitting very close to Gaza port. Closest I’ve ever seen them. No fishermen going out.”]
http://www.palestine-info.co.uk/En/default.aspx?xyz=U6Qq7k%2bc
Israeli tanks open fire in northern Gaza
GAZA CITY (Ma’an) 17 Apr — Several Israeli army tanks entered northern Gaza on Sunday and opened fire, witnesses said. No injuries were reported, but residents said fields sustained heavy damage from the tanks’ caterpillar tread, which ripped through crops.
http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=379530
European campaign: IOF deceives the world on Gaza assistance
BRUSSELS, (PIC) 15 Apr — Organizers of the European Campaign to End the Siege on Gaza (ECESG) said on Thursday they received information from UN agencies that that the Israeli occupation authorities were willing to allow construction materials into Gaza Strip, but accused Israel of misleading the world by such information. “What the Israeli occupation is telling the international community of being ready to allow cement and construction materials confiscated from freedom flotilla 1 last year was only for media consumption because all of us know that those materials were already expired and couldn’t be used for construction anymore”
http://www.palestine-info.co.uk/En/default.aspx?xyz=U6Qq7k%2bcOd8
Barak hails US decision to continue funding Iron Dome
Haaretz 15 Apr — U.S. House passes budget including $205 million intended for developing Iron Dome anti-missile system; defense minister calls it ‘significant reinforcement of Israel’s defense capabilities against missiles.’
http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/barak-hails-u-s-decision-to-continue-funding-iron-dome-1.356227
‘Oliva’ in Gaza: Launch of international boat to monitor human rights in Palestinian waters
17 Apr — On Wednesday, April 20th, “Oliva”, a human rights monitoring boat with an international crew, will launch from the port of Gaza City. The crew of the Civil Peace Service, which currently consists of citizens from Spain, the United States, Italy and Belgium, will accompany Gazan fishermen within Palestinian waters. Violations of international law will be monitored and documented. Data and video materials will be collected and disseminated. Vittorio Arrigoni, the murdered human rights activist, was involved in setting up this project and therefore a commemoration of his life and work will be held at the end of the press conference.
http://www.cpsgaza.org/2011/04/oliva-in-gaza-launch-of-international.html
Rafah crossing to open to pilgrims only
GAZA CITY (Ma‘an) 17 Apr — Egypt’s Rafah crossing will be opened on Monday only for Gaza residents registered as pilgrims set to perform the Umrah pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia. Crossings chief in Rafah Ayoub Abu Sha‘ar said other travelers who scheduled to leave on Monday were delayed to Tuesday, but said no other disruptions were expected.
http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=379673
Gaza: 1 border crossing partly open
GAZA CITY (Ma‘an) 17 Apr — Israeli authorities on Sunday opened Gaza’s Kerem Shalom crossing to allow the limited entry of commercial merchandise and humanitarian aid into the besieged coastal enclave.
http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=379403
The murder of Vittorio Arrigoni
Gazans to hold ‘state funeral’ for slain Italian
AFP 17 Apr — Hamas foreign affairs and planning minister Mohammed Awad told reporters that slain activist Vittorio Arrigoni’s body would be moved to Egypt via the Rafah border crossing on Monday after a funeral in Gaza. “We’re waiting for his friends and relatives to arrive in Gaza. Some are already here but there are others we are waiting for, and then there will be a state funeral,” Awad said. “We expect afterwards that his body will be taken to the Rafah crossing and then on to Cairo, according to the wishes of his family.” Hamas officials said Arrigoni’s girlfriend was already in Gaza, and his mother told Israeli media that she too planned to visit the coastal territory to see where her son “lived and died.”
http://uk.news.yahoo.com/18/20110417/twl-gazans-to-hold-state-funeral-for-sla-3cd7efd.html
Gaza police up stakes for arrest in activist murder
GAZA CITY (Ma‘an) 1 Apr — Chief of police in the Gaza Strip Abu Ubayda Al-Jarrah announced Sunday a reward to any security officer who helped locate the killers of an Italian solidarity activist found dead two days earlier. The statement was made despite the arrest and questioning of four men currently being interrogated over the murder of Italian reporter and activist Vittorio Arrigoni, who was found hanged early Friday morning.
http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=379549
Man arrested in the Arrigoni murder case suspected of collaboration
GAZA, (PIC) 17 Apr — The murder of Italian activist Vittorio Arrigoni raised the serious question as to who stands behind such a gruesome act, especially after the Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu declared he has plans to thwart solidarity with the Gaza Strip “at any price”. The Palestinian security awareness website Majd has revealed a few surprise discoveries as the case unravels and after several men were taken into custody over suspected involvement in the abduction and murder. It has come to light that one of the suspects that has been arrested is also suspected of collaboration and has a number of violations on his list, while others appeared naïve.The website said that one of the men got orders to abduct and kill Arrigoni on the internet.
http://www.palestine-info.co.uk/En/default.aspx?xyz=U6Qq7k%2bcOd
Gazans angered over Arrigoni hit
GAZA, (PIC) 16 Apr –…Palestinians in the Gaza Strip expressed shock over the acts leading to Arrigoni’s death, saying they went beyond law, values and morals. “I want to know why they killed him,” said Palestinian woman Iman Abdul-Salam. “Didn’t he come to support the Palestinians and end the siege?” “It is impossible that the one who killed this person was a Palestinian,” she said angrily. “He certainly had outside agenda in harmony with Israel’s talks of thwarting the Freedom Flotilla 2 from reaching Gaza in their own ways.” “This was one of their own ways,” she said. Mohammed Issa, an elderly Gazan, called on the government to carry out the death penalty on those who planned, financed or carried out the murder. “How can we kill our guests, whoever they are?” he said. “Let alone those who come to end the siege and help us.”
http://www.palestine-info.co.uk/En/default.aspx?xyz=U6Qq7k%2bcOd
Abu Zuhri phones Arrigoni’s fiancée to offer condolences
GAZA, (PIC) 16 Apr — Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri on Friday evening offered his Movement’s condolences in a telephone call to Claudia Melanie for the murder of her fiancé Vittorio Arrigoni. Spokesman Abu Zuhri expressed his Movement’s grief and dismay for the barbaric murder of her fiancé, and reassured her that Hamas would not rest until it arrests all perpetrators. The spokesman told Melanie that Hamas would facilitate her visit to Gaza to enable her to transport the body of Arrigoni in a solemn ceremony through Rafah border crossing. For its part, the Palestinian center for defending prisoners said on Friday that a number of prisoners and their families expressed their deep shock and sorrow for hearing about the killing of Arrigoni.
http://www.palestine-info.co.uk/En/default.aspx?xyz=U6Qq7k%2bcOd
Egypt offers to help slain activist’s family enter Gaza
BETHLEHEM (Ma‘an) 16 Apr — Egyptian authorities have offered to make arrangements for the family of murdered Italian activist Vittorio Arrigoni to enter Gaza, Egyptian Ambassador to the Palestinian Authority Yaser Othman said. “Egypt will work on allowing the activist’s family to enter Gaza via Rafah as well as facilitating moving his body through the same crossing back to Italy,” Othman said. [His mother is said to have requested that his body pass through Egypt, not Israel]
http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=379323
GazaFriends Video: Arrigoni documented Israeli attacks on Palestinian ambulance workers, ‘the most heroic people I ever met’
Mondoweiss 16 Apr — An amazing video of the late Vik Vittorio Arrigoni from May 2009. At minute 6 he documents the attacks on Palestinian ambulance drivers during Cast Lead; you see two stretcher-bearers being shot at in Gaza City. Remember, this is an essential point of the now-disputed al-Samouni case, in which ambulances were prevented from approaching the bombed family, and at least one person died who surely might have survived their injuries. Doesn’t that constitute a deliberate attack on civilians?
http://mondoweiss.net/2011/04/arrigoni-documented-israeli-attacks-on-palestinian-ambulance-workers-the-most-heroic-people-i-ever-met.html
Vale Vittorio Arrigoni, ‘hero of Palestine’ / Pennie Quinton
Guardian 16 Apr — Hearing of the murder of Vittorio Arrigoni, a committed peace activist who for the last 10 years campaigned for recognition of Palestinian human rights under Israeli occupation, has left me shaking and crying with rage at the sheer cruelty and stupidity of those who would carry out such an act … Arrigoni’s brutal murder comes after the murder of a settler family and the shooting of theatre director Juliano Mer-Khamis last week. Writing as someone who has spent a great deal of time in the West Bank over the years, these events seem alien to the Palestinian culture of resistance I have come to know and respect. Such actions smack of some kind of dirty war, based on motives that have little to do with the ongoing struggle for Palestinian self-determination.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2011/apr/16/vittorio-arrigoni-murder-peace-activist-palestinian
Mona El-Farra’s remembrance
16 Apr — With deep sadness in my heart I write. I am sad and shocked that Vik has been taken from our world so soon and so tragically. I am appalled that such ignorant brutality and violence still exists in Palestinian society. Vik you were dedicated, full of humanity, and fun. Your love for life, music and laughter meant that your presence always created a nice atmosphere, for our youth and children in different occasions. You shared our lives in Gaza for more than 2 years, you danced Dabbka, you would always reach out and shake hands with little boys and girls in the streets, you would play football with them. You were there in our funerals as well as our weddings, and more than that your daily protesting as member of the ISM alongside with Palestinians, on the borders against the buffer zone that was created by Israel, where Farmers were unable to reach their land
http://www.maxajl.com
Idealistic blogger was more Palestinian than the criminals who killed him / Matthew Kalman
16 Apr — Profile. Vittorio Arrigoni’s middle name was Utopia, yet he chose to spend most of the past three years in the hell of Gaza, acting as a human shield for Palestinian fishermen harassed by the Israeli navy and reporting to a worldwide audience … Greta Berlin, a founder of the FGM, said Arrigoni’s death would not derail the struggle of foreign activists, who would remain in Gaza. The kidnapping came a week after the assassination of Juliano Mer-Khamis, a Palestinian-Israeli theatre director in Jenin. “With Juliano murdered and now Vik, it makes us so terribly sad the killings continue,” Ms Berlin told The Independent. “If the people behind these murders think we will quit, they are mistaken. Like the murder of Rachel Corrie, hundreds of us signed on to work for justice for the Palestinians. We will do the same this time.”
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/idealistic-blogger-was-more-palestinian-than-the-criminals-who-killed-him-2268635.html
Hamas holds 4 suspects over Italian’s murder
GAZA CITY (AFP) 16 Apr — The Hamas government said Saturday it has arrested two more suspects in connection with the murder of an Italian activist, hanged hours after his abduction. The interior ministry “managed to arrest two suspects” in the murder on Friday of pro-Palestinian activist Vittorio Arrigoni, in addition to two other suspects previously taken into custody, a statement said. “The security forces continue to hunt other members of the group responsible for the murder,” said the statement. The suspects arrested were being questioned about Arrigoni’s murder, it added, without revealing their names or when they were arrested.
http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=379275
Abbas: Murder of Italian activist is treason
RAMALLAH (Ma‘an) 16 Apr — President Mahmoud Abbas has ordered the Palestinian Authority attorney general to open an official investigation into the murder of an Italian activist found dead in Gaza on Friday. Abbas’ legal advisor Hasan Al-Uri said the killing of Vittorio Arrigoni would be treated as treason, and that those responsible could be sentenced to death, the official PA news agency Wafa reported.
http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=379241
True Muslims don’t do that / Khaled Amayreh
16 Apr — We don’t know for sure as of yet who murdered international Italian activist Vittorio Arrigoni. However, whoever committed this despicable crime must be a human beast walking on two legs … And while Israel can never be ruled out as an accused party, it is widely believed that the so-called Salafi group (Salafi means a true follower of the Prophet) remains the premier suspect. They are guilty until proven innocent, given the prima facie evidence that would indict them … Again, there is no doubt that these ignoramuses are victims of their ignorance. They don’t represent the true followers of the Prophet (PBUH) who was quoted as saying according to authentic hadith that “whoever oppresses a Mua’hed (a non-Muslim resident or traveler in the land of Islam), or arrogated his rights, or takes something away from him against his will, or forces him to do that which is beyond his ability, I shall be his opponent on the Day of Judgment.” In another hadith, the Prophet said “whoever killed a non-Muslim living in the land of Islam shall not smell the fragrance of paradise; verily its fragrance is smelled from a distance of a 40-year travel.”
http://uprootedpalestinians.blogspot.com/2011/04/true-muslims-dont-do-that.html
Photos from protests against murder of Vittorio Arrigoni, Bil‘in demos etc.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/activestills
Vittorio Arrigoni’s mother to join Freedom Flotilla II
Gaza – PNN 16 Apr — Agidea Prata, the mother of Vittorio Arrigoni, the Italian activist and journalist killed in Gaza on Friday, said that she will be sailing to Gaza on May with the Free Gaza flotilla. Prata on Saturday told Italian news sources that “I want to see the Gaza that my son loved and sacrificed for, I want to meet the good people living there that my son Vik always talked about”. She added that Vittorio’s work will go on though his friends.Vittorio’s mother added that her son received death threats from a right wing American group on their website two years ago because of his photos published online and the pro Palestinian tattoo he has on his shoulder.
http://jnoubiyeh.com/2011/04/vittorio-arrigonis-mother-to-join.html
He who endures shall overcome / Roqayah Chamseddine
15 Apr — I admittedly wept when I heard the news of his murder. I had watched and translated the kidnappers’ video via Twitter, wherein a seemingly abused and beaten-up Vittorio was displayed, donning a blindfold. He was stolen, so easily. As if a life had meant nothing to his captors. As if his blood had no value. This is the plight of the men and women who are not Palestinian by blood but by heart; their actions have helped bring attention to the plight of the subjugated and persecuted people of Palestine. He is an honorary Palestinian in this right. As I perused his facebook page for a picture I came across a poem by Mahmoud Darwish which he had cited under “about me” and it has much more meaning now, in death, than it could have before. Passport by Mahmoud Darwish: They did not recognize me in the shadows / That suck away my color in this Passport….
http://thecynicalarab.wordpress.com/2011/04/15/he-who-endures-shall-overcome/
VIDEO: London vigil to pay respect to Vittorio Arrigoni
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gq1pl6Ti6lg&feature=youtu.be
Activism / Solidarity / BDS
VIDEO: Remembering Bassem Abu Rahma
Anarchists against the Wall 17 Apr 2010 — On April 17th we mark one year to losing Bassem, who we also knew as Pheel. Although he is greatly missed at the village and during every demonstration, his spirit keeps on living with each and every one of us. For this anniversary we decided to share the short film made in his memory.
http://palsolidarity.org/2011/04/17791/
We honor their memories through the fight for justice / Joseph Dana
Today marks the two year anniversary of the murder of Bassem Abu Rahmah. El Pheel, as he was known to his friends, was killed when an Israeli solider fired a high-velocity tear gas canister directly at his chest from a distance of no more than ten meters. Shai Carmeli-Pollak, the Israeli filmmaker behind Bil‘in Habibti, has made a moving tribute to Bassem and the Popular Struggle in Bil’in. It is now online for the anniversary of Bassem’s death. During this week of shock and sadness at the brutal murder of Italian peace activist Vittorio Arrigoni in Gaza, we must honor the other amazing individuals that we have lost in this struggle.
http://josephdana.com/2011/04/we-honor-their-memories-through-the-fight-for-justice/
Man shot with live ammunition during Bil‘in protest for Vittorio
PSCC 15 Apr — Bil‘in Protester Shot with Live Ammunition by Sniper — The protester, a 35 year old resident of the village was hit in his shoulder and foot by 0.22 mm live bullets shot at him by a sniper during a protest in memory of Vittorio Arrigoni, murdered last night in Gaza. Around 300 people participated in the weekly demonstration against the Wall in the village of Bil‘in today. This week’s march was dedicated to the memory of Italian activist Vittorio Arrigoni, and protested his murder in Gaza City last night … While most protesters were forced to retreat due to the gas, smaller groups of protesters remained in the area of the Wall, where clashes ensued. At some point, Samir Bournat, a 35 year-old resident of the village and regular demonstrator, noted that a sniper was aiming his rifle at a group of protesters standing near the iron gate in the Wall. He approached in order to warn them, and was shot by the sniper twice. One bullet hit his right shoulder, while a second bullet penetrated his left foot. A Red Crescent ambulance which rushed to the sport to evacuate Burnat was also attacked with tear-gas projectiles shot directly at him by the soldiers.
http://palsolidarity.org/2011/04/17758/
Popular committee planning march to occupied Palestine borders
AMMAN, (PIC) 16 Apr — The Jordanian popular committee to commemorate the Nakba (catastrophe) announced it was planning a march to the Jordanian borders with occupied Palestine on the 64th anniversary of the Nabka on 15th May. Tawfik Abu Ershaid, the committee’s spokesman, said on Friday that the march would pose as a symbolic return of Palestinian refugees to their occupied homeland.
http://www.palestine-info.co.uk/En/default.aspx?xyz=U6Qq7k%2bc
Muslim students arraigned for disrupting Israeli ambassador at US school
AP&Haaretz 16 Apr — Eleven Muslim students have pleaded not guilty to charges stemming from the disruption of a speech by the Israeli ambassador to the United States at a California university. The students were arrested on February 8, 2010, at the University of California, Irvine, after shouting in protest at the speech by Michael Oren on U.S.-Israeli security.
http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/muslim-students-arraigned-for-disrupting-israeli-ambassador-at-u-s-school-1.356231
Helen Thomas to address anti-Israel protests during Netanyahu’s visit to U.S.
Haaretz 17 Apr — A series of anti-Israel protests, lectures and meetings are scheduled to coincide with the PM’s visit and the AIPAC conference in Washington DC in May; BDS founder meets Friday night with 250 activists calling Israel apartheid state.
http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/news/helen-thomas-to-address-anti-israel-protests-during-netanyahu-s-visit-to-u-s-1.356321
Political/Diplomatic/International news
Donor states to PA condemn provocative flotillas to Gaza
Haaretz 17 Apr — The donor states to the Palestinian Authority, which held a conference last week in Brussels, condemned in its concluding statement uncoordinated aid flotillas to Gaza. The conference called on all parties to use land terminals to the Strip and avoid provocations. The statement is signed by the chairman of the conference, Norwegian Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Store. A major force behind the clause was intense lobbying from the Israeli delegation to the conference
http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/news/donor-states-to-pa-condemn-provocative-flotillas-to-gaza-1.356322
Abbas eyes French, German help on statehood
RAMALLAH (AFP) — President Mahmoud Abbas has told AFP he will visit France next week and Germany in May to seek advice on the creation of a Palestinian state … “We will ask [French President Nicolas] Sarkozy for his advice,” Abbas told AFP, saying he wanted the Europeans’ advice about the steps leading to the recognition of a Palestinian state later this year.
http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=379413
Independents to update Hamas, Fatah on Cairo talks
GAZA CITY (Ma‘an) 16 Apr — A group of independent Palestinian political figures will meet with Hamas and Fatah to update them on their efforts to reconcile the parties in Cairo, said Abdul Aziz Ash-Shaqaqi, head of the delegation.
http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=379025
Palestinians still want Quartet-brokered peace with Israel
AP 15 Apr — Top Palestinian diplomat at UN says Palestinian leadership indicates willingness to go back to negotiations, despite unilateral Palestinian effort to attain UN recognition of statehood.
http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/palestinians-still-want-quartet-brokered-peace-with-israel-1.356218
First Palestinian full ambassador to Chile presents papers
SANTIAGO (WAFA) 16 Apr — Mai Kaileh has become the first Palestinian full ambassador to Chile since the South American country had recognized an independent Palestinian state in the West Bank and Gaza Strip in January when on Friday she presented her credentials to the president of Chile, Sebastian Pinera.
http://english.wafa.ps/index.php?action=detail&id=15896
Iran blames Israel for Stuxnet worm
AP 16 Apr — A senior Iranian military official says experts have determined the United States and Israel were behind a mysterious computer worm known as Stuxnet that has harmed Iran’s nuclear program.
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4057557,00.html
Ministers to PM: Present foreign policy in Israel, not US
Ynet 17 Apr — Prime Minister Netanyahu says his upcoming speech at US Congress is opportunity to ‘present political, security principles.’ Right-wing ministers demand him to introduce strategy in Israel first
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4057923,00.html
Druze in Golan rally against Assad
Ynet 16 Apr — For first time, Druze living in Golan Heights join protests against Syrian government
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4057638,00.html
Other news
Israeli teen wounded in attack on school bus dies
JERUSALEM 17 Apr — A hospital official says an Israeli teen critically wounded when an anti-tank rocket fired from Gaza hit a school bus 10 days ago has died. The 16-year-old did not regain consciousness. Inbal Guter, a spokeswoman for Soroka Hospital in Beersheba, says he died Sunday … The bus dropped off all its passengers except for the teenager minutes before it was hit by the anti-tank rocket from nearby Gaza.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110417/ap_on_re_mi_ea/ml_israel_palestinians_4
Ukrainian security participated in Sisi’s abduction
KIEV, (PIC) 14 Apr — A Ukrainian human rights activist has accused the Ukrainian intelligence of helping the Israeli Mossad in Kidnapping Palestinian engineer Dr. Dhurar Abu Sisi last February, describing such an incident as big shame on Ukraine. According to the eyewitness Andre Makarinko, who said he was in the same train cabin with Abu Sisi when the kidnapping incident took place, two plainclothes Ukrainian officials approached Abu Sisi and asked him in Russian to produce his documents and papers before taking him away with them to an unidentified place. “A third plainclothes person came in moments later, and searched Abu Sisi’s luggage and jackets, and when I asked him about his identity and why they took Abu Sisi, he identified himself as an Ukrainian intelligence officer and showed me his ID card to prove it saying that everything is all right,” said Makarinko in an interview with Al-Jazeera net.
http://www.palestine-info.co.uk/En/default.aspx?xyz=U6Qq7k%2bc
Palestinian support for attacks drops, poll finds
JERUSALEM (AFP) 17 Apr — …The survey conducted by the Jerusalem Media and Communication Centre found that support for Palestinian “military operations of any kind’ against Israel fell from 53.3% in January 2009 to 37.1% in April of this year. Palestinians also showed less support for the firing of rockets from Gaza into Israel, with 25.4% saying they believed the rockets “are useful in achieving the national goals,” down from 50.8% in January 2009. In Gaza, respondents felt more strongly than their West Bank counterparts that the rocket fire was harmful, with 41.5% saying the rockets harmed “Palestinian goals” as compared to 36.8% in the West Bank.
http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=379637
60% of polled Israelis support a new war on Gaza
NAZARETH, (PIC) 17 Apr — An Israeli opinion poll revealed that 60% of Israelis support a new sweeping attack on the Gaza Strip similar to the 23-day operation Cast Lead of late 2008. The poll conducted by “New Wave” polling institute for the Israel Today newspaper surveyed 400 Hebrew speaking Israelis. The results displayed that only 29.6% opposed such a war. A similar survey conducted last month for the same paper showed that 50.8% were supportive of a new military campaign against Gaza while 38.8% opposed it.
http://www.palestine-info.co.uk/En/default.aspx?xyz=U6Qq7k%2bcOd
Gaza lawyer elected president of Arab Organization for Human Rights
GAZA CITY (Ma‘an) 17 Apr — Palestinian lawyer and activist Raji Sourani was elected president of the board of trustees of the Arab Organization for Human Rights on Saturday. Sourani was elected to the position at a vote in Cairo on Saturday evening. He is the first Palestinian ever to hold the post.
http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=379461
No country for refugees / Ayala Panievsky
Haaretz 15 Apr — They wanted to change Israelis’ perceptions of asylum seekers, and decided the best way to do it was through a newspaper. Meet the editorial staff of ‘The Refugee Voice,’ published in four languages, including Hebrew.
http://www.haaretz.com/weekend/magazine/no-country-for-refugees-1.356153
Analysis / Opinion
Vittorio and Israel’s attack on the intellectual intifada / Lauren Booth
17 Apr — …The headline ‘Italian peace activist killed by Palestinian extremists’ is an Israeli propagandist’s wet dream. A gift as potentially large in its political implications as the now inevitable retraction by the UN of the Goldstone report. Why? Two reasons. firstly, if nothing is done, and fast, Israel will use the momentum of these two machinated events as an excuse to re invade the Gaza Strip under the auspices of ‘terrorism and security’ issues. Secondly, Israeli is seeking to end the growing momentum of the siege-breaking movement and the increasing appeal of the ISM (International Solidarity Movement).
http://lauren-booth.blogspot.com/search/label/Vittorio
Michael Jansen: Murder of Vittorio Arrigoni
17 Apr — The question that must be asked about the assassination of Arrigoni is: cui bono? Who benefits? Not the Salafis. Hamas is certain to strike them with an iron fist. Not Hamas. It has been exposed as having failed to provide security in the strip although Arrigoni’s kidnapping is the first since Hamas took power nearly four years ago. Not Gazans who count on the support given by ISM “internationals” who interpose between Israeli forces and threatened fishermen and farmers and report to the excluded outside world what is taking place in the strip. Foreign activists, who had felt safe among welcoming Palestinians, may now have doubts about their security when they go about their work. Israel, however, can claim that Salafis connected to Al Qaeda – the current bogey-movement of the Western world – are asserting themselves in Gaza and, consequently, the siege and blockade must remain. Israel can also contend that the ostracism of Hamas, which has, allegedly, permitted the Salafis to prosper, must continue. Cui bono can also be asked about the murder of Mer-Khamis, but that is another story.
http://gulftoday.ae/portal/5667ddb7-14b2-45a6-b2bf-4e6852b671b4.aspx
Lift the blockade on Gaza, talk to Hamas / Yousef Munayyer
17 Apr — … I don’t have a solution for the immediate political and diplomatic problems, but I there are a few questions which nobody seems to be asking. Looking back, wasn’t it better to let Hamas enjoy its victory in the 2006 elections? … Hamas is not ready to abandon the armed struggle and become a political movement — but when it actually did, the election results were canceled and the political leaders of Hamas put under Israeli arrest. So instead of political confrontation, the fight between Hamas and Fatah became a civil war. Shouldn’t we encourage the politicization of Hamas, as oppose to its militarization, as we do now? Second thought: Isn’t isolating the strip just making Hamas stay in power? This is pretty obvious — when Gaza is disconnected from the world, and no elections take place, who is there to challenge Hamas? And how exactly could one do so? It seems to me that by isolating Gaza, we are actually making it much easier for Hamas to exercise complete control. If we break Hamas (I’m not sure how this can be done, but still) — are we going to like those who will replace them? What if it is a group like the Salafi who killed Vittorio? What is there to be lost from talking to Hamas?
http://972mag.com/lift-the-blockade-on-gaza-talk-to-hamas/
The Settler State / Uri Avnery
16 Apr — …Some weeks ago I wrote that the problem may not be the annexation of the West Bank by Israel, but the annexation of Israel by the West Bank settlers. Some readers reacted with a chuckle. It looked like a humorous aside. It was not. The time has come to examine this process seriously: Is Israel falling victim to a hostile takeover by the settlers?
http://zope.gush-shalom.org/home/en/channels/avnery/1302911451/
Iraq
Friday: 2 Iraqis killed, 10 wounded
Light violence left two Iraqis dead and 10 wounded. Meanwhile, protesters in Baghdad’s Tahrir Square called for Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki to step down. In Mosul, four people were wounded in an attack against soldiers. A grenadewounded a policeman. An army officer was wounded in a bombing. A sticky bombwounded an officer in Kirkuk. Another sticky bomb wounded two more people. A sniper in Khalis killed one solider and wounded another. A young man was shot to death in Kut. In Ninewa, an Ansar al-Sunna emir was captured while trying to flee to Syria.
http://original.antiwar.com/updates/2011/04/15/friday-2-iraqis-killed-10-wounded/
Saturday: 4 Iraqis killed, 6 wounded
At least four Iraqis were killed and six more were wounded in light violence. In Baghdad, a policeman was shot to death in Ilam. A bomb targeting an Education Ministry official wounded two bystanders in Karrada. Gunmen wounded a policeman in Kadhimiya. A Washash bombing left two wounded. A federalpoliceman was killed in a shooting in Saidiya. In Hawija, the body of a Sahwa leader was found several days after he had been kidnapped. Two suspects werearrested in an unrelated event….
http://original.antiwar.com/updates/2011/04/16/saturday-4-iraqis-killed-6-wounded-2/
U.S.
Israel chief rabbi says Obama must free Pollard if he wants another term
Haaretz 17 Apr — The Ashkenazi chief rabbi of Israel, Yona Metzger, told congregants in a Sabbath sermon that if U.S. President Barack Obama seeks reelection, he must release Jonathan Pollard, Israel Radio reported on Sunday … Metzger said there was a feeling that many American Jews that had supported Obama in the last election were disappointed in him, in no small part because of Obama’s indifference to Pollard.
http://www.haaretz.com/news/national/report-israel-chief-rabbi-says-obama-must-free-pollard-if-he-wants-another-term-1.356383
‘Move over AIPAC’ conference to honor Helen Thomas
Apr 17, 2011
Philip Weiss
Interesting positioning. From the organizers: the veteran journalist will be giving a speech at the shindig in Washington in late May. Hat tip, Matt Duss.
Obama learns how big his district is
Apr 17, 2011 11:57 am | Philip Weiss
Haaretz:
The Ashkenazi chief rabbi of Israel, Yona Metzger, told congregants in a Sabbath sermon that if U.S. President Barack Obama seeks reelection, he must release Jonathan Pollard, Israel Radio reported on Sunday.