:icon_sadangel2: Palestine Peace a dream?

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Amid tense relations with Israel, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez says he recognizes Israel's right to live within secure and recognized borders.

In an interview with Le Figaro, Chavez accused Israel of genocide against the Palestinians, rejecting that the Israeli offensive in Gaza early this year was provoked by rocket attacks from Hamas, a Palestinian movement in charge of the tiny strip.

"The question is not whether the Israelis want to exterminate the Palestinians. They're doing it openly," Chavez told the French paper. "What was it, if not genocide?"

"The Israelis were looking for an excuse to exterminate the Palestinians," he added.

However, when asked if he recognized the rights of Israel to live within secure and recognized borders, the Venezuelan president made a controversial acknowledgement, admitting that he recognized such rights for Israelis.

"I recognize the right of Israel to live, like those in every other country. They all have the same rights, and that includes the future Palestinian state. But Israel must respect this principle of self-determination for Palestinians," Chavez said.

The controversial comment comes as Venezuela ordered the expulsion of the Israeli ambassador and some embassy staff from Caracas earlier in 2009 to protest the Israeli offensive in the Gaza Strip.

Following the expulsion, Israel declared Venezuela's ambassador to Tel Aviv and two other embassy staffers persona non grata.

The Latin American leader made the controversial remark about Israel while admitting his close alliance with the Iranian president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

"I am actually friends with President Ahmadinejad. I am his ally," Chavez said.

President Ahmadinejad has in many of his tirades against Tel Aviv stated firmly that he does not recognize Israel.

CS/MD

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Fragments of Palestine to Tour Germany, Austria Date : 11/9/2009 Time : 20:09
JENIN, September 11, 2009 (WAFA)- During September and October 2009, The Freedom Theatre Acting Students will tour Germany and Austria with their play Fragments of Palestine. The play opened at The Freedom Theatre in July 2009.

The following performances are scheduled for the tour: Döbeln, Tanzhaus Central; Frankfurt/Main, Theater Willy Praml; Höxter, Forum Jacob Pins; Bremen, Schlachthof, Kesselhalle; Gütersloh, Die Weberei; Bahnhof Langendreer; Bonn, Rheinisches Landesmuseum; Aschaffenburg, Jugend- und Kulturzentrum; Aschaffenburg, Martinushaus; Kempten, Stadttheater; Gaienhofen, Ambrosius-Blarer-Gymnasium; Heidelberg, Theater der Stadt Heidelberg; Kiel, KulturForum in der Stadtgalerie, Neues Rathaus; Braunschweig, Staatstheater; Wien, Dschungel Wien; Graz, 'Orpheum'; Leipzig, Schauspiel Leipzig, SpinnWerk; and Berlin, Schaubühne.



The Fragments of Palestine is a “ wedding that becomes a tragic exodus of dispossession, occupation and oppression. Facing an ultra-organized enemy the resistance hides and acts in the most unthinkable places. Funeral of a martyr who refuses to be buried. A concrete wall and electric fences that strangle the mountains. Children born to die for freedom. The normality of an absurd life in a refugee camp. Love at curfew hours and late night dreams about the sea.”

Freedom Theatre says “Fragments of Palestine is an attempt to bridge the gap between life and art. Utilizing primarily physical means, the picture goes beyond the verbal narrative. The cry of the individual is expressed through a universal language.”

“Fragments of Palestine is directed by: Nabeel Al Raee; the Choreography by : Camilla Bakken; the Artistic Supervision by: Juliano Mer Khamis and the students/actors are: Adel Massarwah, Batool Taleb, Moe'men Switat, Eyad Hoorani, Mariam Abu Khaled, Faisal Abu Al Haija, Haroon Abu Arrah, Qais Al Sa'di and Rami Awni.

Using the arts as a model for social change, The Freedom Theatre says it is “developing the only professional venue for theatre and arts in the north of the Occupied Palestinian Territory. The aim of this project is to empower and give voice to the children of Jenin Refugee Camp through a unique programme of workshops and activities in theatre, supporting arts and multi-media, ranging in their emphasis from the largely therapeutic and healing, to the presentation of high-quality artistic products.”

Source: AJP

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RAMALLAH: The Al-Aqsa Foundation for Endowment and Heritage said on Friday that Israeli authorities had begun excavation to build a tunnel near Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem.

The foundation, in a press statement, said the tunnel was being built underneath the Arab neighborhood of Silwan and is now 120 meters long, 1.5 meters wide and 3 meters high. The foundation added that the tunnel was heading north toward Al-Aqsa Mosque.

It said the tunnel would be connected with another one being built underneath Silwan neighborhood, with the aim of eventually connecting it with the network of tunnels that leads to Al-Aqsa Mosque. According to the foundation, the Israeli Antiquities Authority and the right-wing group Elad with the help of Jewish occupiers are working six days a week to complete the tunnel. The organization warned that the use of heavy machines was weakening the foundations of Al-Aqsa Mosque and endangering the houses in Silwan neighborhood.

The foundation stressed that the Israeli move aimed at Judaizing Jerusalem and the Al-Aqsa Mosque surroundings. The objective of the excavation is to demolish Al-Aqsa Mosque and to build the so-called second temple on the ruins of Al-Aqsa, the foundation said.

It explained that Israeli authorities were carrying out the excavations in order to construct trade and tourism facilities and that some of these facilities will start underground.

The Grand Mufti of Jerusalem and Palestine Sheikh Mohammed Hussein criticized the Israeli move. Speaking to Arab News, he said that Tel Aviv was provoking Muslims by building a tunnel near Al-Aqsa in the holy month of Ramadan.

Hussein and the Al-Aqsa Foundation have urged Muslim states to take action to stop the Israeli excavation in the area.

Meanwhile, around 100,000 Palestinians reached Al-Aqsa Mosque for Friday prayers.

Hussein told Arab News that Israeli occupation forces barred thousands of worshippers from reaching the mosque.

Since early Friday morning, thousands of Palestinians from across the northern West Bank cities waited in queues to be allowed entry.

Arab News

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U.S. Pension Fund Divests from Israel Firm Date : 12/9/2009 Time : 19:15
TEL AVIV, September 12, 2009 (WAFA)- The U.S. pension fund giant, TIAA-CREF, confirmed in statements to the media on Friday that it divested from Africa Israel Investments, owned by Israeli billionaire Lev Leviev, earlier this year, the Israeli daily Haaretz said Saturday.

Adalah-NY , a Coalition for Justice in the Middle East, said the statements came in response to a letter initiated by Adalah-NY and signed by TIAA-CREF clients.

The fund's investment in Africa Israel amounted to only $257,000, so the financial effect of the divestment is minimal.

Officials at Adalah-NY said that TIAA-CREF made the decision before the organization presented data on Africa Israel's activities in the West Bank.

Adalah NY noted in its press release that 'Despite the recent divestment from Africa-Israel, the new June 30 TIAA-CREF report indicates that the fund continues to invest clients' money in a number of companies supporting Israeli settlement activity including Israel Discount Bank, Cellcom Israel, Bezeq Israeli Telecommunications Corp, Bank Leumi, and Motorola, among others.'

Earlier this month the Norwegian government announced it was pulling all of its investments from Elbit Systems, which manufactures the monitoring system installed on several parts of the West Bank separation fence.

Norwegian Finance Minister Kristin Halvorsen said that the decision was based on the recommendation of her ministry's council. 'We do not wish to fund companies that so directly contribute to violations of international humanitarian law,' Halvorsen was quoted as saying, explaining that the separation Wall impinged on the freedom of movement of West Bank citizens.

Source: AJP

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Palestinians Hold iftar outside Ofer Prison Date : 12/9/2009 Time : 18:55
RAMALLAH, September 12, 2009 (WAFA)- Palestinians, international and Israeli solidarity activists gathered to break the Ramadan fast (Iftar) on a hilltop overlooking the Israeli prison, Ofer, the International solidarity Movement said Saturday.

After the meal, a series of speeches were given voicing opposition to Israel’s illegal occupation of Palestinian lands and brutal detention policy, noting that there are approximately 11,000 political Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails.

During the month of Ramadan, families and communities break the fast together and iftar was taken collectively as a sign of solidarity with the prisoners in Ofer.

At least 150 people came from various villages in the region around Ramallah to support this action.

Relatives of incarcerated Palestinians gave the speeches following iftar and the evening culminated with a speech, via mobile phone, by Hamsa Sulliman Yasen, a current inmate in the Israeli prison system.

This display of solidarity with the prisoners of Ofer follows three weeks of regular Monday morning protests at the gates of the prison by local Palestinians and international activists.

The response of the Israeli forces to these peaceful protests is becoming increasingly aggressive. At the latest demonstration border police were seen preparing tear gas to fire on the crowd before the leaders of the protest chose to end the demonstration.

Ofer prison holds well over 1,000 of the 11,000 Palestinians currently incarcerated by Israeli Occupation Forces.

Source: AJP

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Bil’in Raided at Dawn Date : 12/9/2009 Time : 18:49
RAMALLAH, September 12, 2009 (WAFA)- Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) invaded on Saturday dawn the West Bank village of Bil’in from two different directions .

They raided two houses in an attempt to arrest Mohammed Ahmed Yasseen and Yasseen Mohammed Yasseen .

In the first house soldiers were quite aggressive during their operation. Neither of the wanted men was home at the time.

At the second house, the soldiers, disguised with face masks as usual, met a lot of resistance from Palestinian and international activists who were standing in their way and filming the event.

As they did not find their victim, they eventually retreated to the four waiting Jeeps, arresting one international activist from Great Britain on their way.

Yet, according to their conversation in Hebrew, they planned to release him a little further on their way toward the Apartheid Wall. He was indeed released a few minutes later before they exited through the Wall.

Source: AJP

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Brazilian Parliament recommends freezing out Israelis from third largest export market


12.09.09 - 15:44
“This decision is an enormous blow for Israel’s economy and foreign relations”, says Jamal Juma’ of the Stop the Wall Campaign.

The Brazilian Parliamentary Commission on Foreign Relations and National Defense has recommended that the parliament should not ratify the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between Mercosur and the State of Israel until “Israel accepts the creation of the Palestinian state on the 1967 borders”.

This decision is an explicit act of pressure on the Israeli government to comply with international law, and a rejection of years of incessant Israeli lobbying, pressuring for a vote to ratify the agreement.

The Palestinian Grassroots Anti-Apartheid Wall Campaign and the Palestinian Boycott Divestment and Sanctions National Committee (BNC)*, issued a joint statement today outlining the call by Brazilian Parliament for the freeze of the Israel-Mercosur Free Trade Agreement.

This decision is an enormous blow for Israel’s economy and foreign relations. It poses a massive stumbling block for the enactment of the agreement, which since its signing in 2007 has been stalled due to a lack of ratification by Mercosur member countries. The Mercosur is one of the world’s most quickly expanding markets and the fifth largest economy in the world. Israeli exports to the Mercosur amounted nearly 600 million dollars in 2006.

Israel has invested heavily in pushing for the agreement, focusing particularly on Brazil, the Mercosur’s largest economy and most powerful political player. Brazil alone, even without an FTA, is Israel’s third largest export destination. In 2005, Ehud Olmert, the trade minister at the time, visited Brazil to get President Lula’s support for the agreement. A little over a month ago, Israeli minister of foreign affairs, Avigdor Liberman traveled to Brazil to urge the ratification of the agreement.

Since the beginning of the negotiations of the FTA, Mercosur civil society summits have rejected the trade deal. On behalf of the Palestinian National BDS Committee (BNC), the Palestinian Grassroots Anti-Apartheid Wall Campaign has worked together with Brazilian intellectuals, social movements, parties and politicians to block the ratification of the FTA. The Front for the Defense of the Palestinian people and the Parliamentary Front against the ratification of the FTA were formed to back the Palestinian call against the FTA. In January a letter by the BNC was handed over to President Lula.

As a result, the Commission agreed to listen to a public hearing before the voting process yesterday.

Oscar Daniel Jadue, vice-president of the Palestinian Federation of Chile, intervened and called for the rejection of the bill. He argued that the ratification of the agreement is a violation of international law, to the benefit of a country that does not respect the human rights of Palestinians.

"I invite reflection on what would reward the government of Israel and opens of the Latin American market to a country that annihilates the Palestinian people", said Jadue.

Arlene Clemesha, professor of Arab History at the University of São Paulo (USP) and part of the United Nations Coordinating Network on Palestine, argued against the tokenism of ratifying the agreement with the exclusion of settlement products, warning that it is impossible to separate the two as Israel has a history of marketing settlement products as Israeli ones. Instead, she said, the path to peace requires international forces to compel Israel to end the military occupation of Palestinian territory.

The members of the parliamentary commission agreed with Clemesha and Jadue and recommended the freezing of the agreement as a means of political pressure.

"It will be a small contribution, but be specific. The agreement can only be valid if approved by the Mercosur countries. As Uruguay has already approved, we will work with Argentina and Paraguay. The Lula government has been courageous and it has to say publicly that the agreement is frozen until the resumption of peace negotiations", said Mr Nilson Mourão (PT-AC).

Jamal Juma’, coordinator of the Palestinian Grassroots Anti-Apartheid Wall Campaign comments:

“After years of campaigning, we are extremely happy with this decision. It is a major victory that has been made possible only by large and determined civil society support in Brazil.”

He continued, “This decision has shown that Latin America’s democratic governments are allies for justice and are ready to take up a principled stand on Palestine, even when under Israeli pressure. Lieberman’s delegation tried to lure Brazil with the illusion they could become ‘mediators’ in the region if they would proof ‘impartial’ and backed Israeli interests with the FTA. However, Brazilian politicians did not fall into the trap.”

Juma’ added, “We now ask the PLO and the Palestinian National Authority to ensure that the ‘No’ to the FTA will be a priority for their regional foreign policies.”

The struggle against the FTA is not over yet; the project will still be analyzed by the commissions on Economic Development and Trade and Industry, and the parliament. It will then head to the senate. However, yesterday’s decision is unlikely to be reversed and has turned the ratification process of the FTA by Brazil and other Mercosur into an effective instrument of pressure on Israel.

Photo: from left to right during the public hearing: Daniel Jadue, Arlene Clemesha, MP Marcondes Gadelha (PSB) who called for the public hearing, Dr. Rosinha (PT), president of the Mercosur parliament at the time the agreement was signed. Photo credit: Luiz Alves.
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*Current members of the BNC are: Palestinian Non-Governmental Organizations Network (PNGO), Occupied Palestine and Golan Heights Advocacy Initiative (OPGAI), Grassroots Palestinian Anti-Apartheid Wall Campaign (Stop the Wall), Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel (PACBI), Council of National and Islamic Forces in Palestine, Palestinian General Federation of Trade Unions (PGFTU), General Union of Palestinian Workers, Global Palestine Right of Return Coalition, Federation of Unions of Palestinian Universities' Professors and Employees, General Union of Palestinian Women (GUPW), Charitable Organizations Union, Independent Federation of Unions – Palestine (IFU), Palestinian Farmers Union (PFU), National Committee for the Commemoration of the Nakba, Civil Coalition for Defending the Palestinians' Rights in Jerusalem, Coalition for Jerusalem, Union of Palestinian Charitable Organizations, Palestinian Economic Monitor, Union of Youth Activity Centers - Palestinian Refugee Camps (UYAC)

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Human rights campaign sues European Union over continued economic ties with Israelis


02.09.09 - 21:22
Brussels / PNN – The European Union is being sued over its relationship with the Israelis.

The European Campaign to Lift the Siege on Gaza, in cooperation with European institutions and individuals, has filed a lawsuit.

This is the first of its kind against the European Union.

The purpose, organizers say, is to force the EU to end its economic partnership agreement with the Israelis. The Campaign noted the ongoing “aggression and the imposition of the blockade on the Palestinian people, especially since the terms of this agreement include that Tel Aviv respect human rights.”

In a statement sent to PNN today, the European Campaign to Lift the Siege on Gaza wrote that it has asked the EU time and again to cancel or suspend its partnership agreement and economic relations with the Israelis. “But the European Union until this moment has rejected taking action in this direction in spite of gross violations of human rights that occurred in the war on Gaza and the war crimes committed against Palestinian citizens, especially the unfair siege imposed for more than three years in a row.”

The lawsuit was launched at the beginning of the month and is being issued to the European Court of Justice.

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Turki for tough stance on Israel
Siraj Wahab | Arab News

ALKHOBAR: Prince Turki Al-Faisal, former ambassador to the United States and the United Kingdom, in an Op-Ed piece that appeared in Sunday’s New York Times, called on Israel to return Arab lands if it truly wants peace. He said that as a leader of the Arab world, Saudi Arabia would make no further peace initiatives until Arab lands seized during the Six-Day War in 1967 had been returned. The lands in question include East Jerusalem, the West Bank, Syria’s Golan Heights and Lebanon’s Shebaa Farms. The prince, who now serves as chairman of the King Faisal Center for Research and Islamic Studies, noted that Israel had continued to occupy those territories despite condemnations by the UN Security Council and violations of the fourth Geneva Convention.

He called on Israel to remove its settlements from the West Bank as a show of good faith and cited several peace initiatives that had stalled because of its intransigence on these issues. “Israel has never presented any comprehensive formulation of a peace plan,” the prince wrote in the New York Times. “Saudi Arabia, to the contrary, has done so twice: the Fahd Peace Plan of 1982 and the Abdullah Peace Initiative of 2002. Both were endorsed by the Arab world, and both were ignored by Israel.”

He commended US President Barak Obama for his insistence on a settlement freeze, but he noted that Israel had consistently ignored such calls and continued its illegal development of Arab territories.

The prince feels there should be no overtures for peace until Israel begins the return of occupied lands, noting that the Egyptian-Israeli peace accord did not advance until Israel pledged the return of all Egyptian land it held.

“Until Israel heeds President Obama’s call for the removal of all settlements, the world must be under no illusion that Saudi Arabia will offer what the Israelis most desire — regional recognition,” the prince wrote.

“We are willing to shake the hands of any partner in peace, but only after they have released their grip on Arab lands.”

Arab News

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Palestinian sources say Israel is working on a new settlement plan that is equal to the grab of nearly 140-thousand acres of Arab land near Jerusalem (al-Quds).

The new project focuses on the areas located around al-Quds by expanding the Maale Adumim settlement and connecting other settlements around the city.

Based on the same plan, Israeli authorities have envisaged altering the current Arab-Jew proportion of the population in the city. By 2020, they are expecting the Jewish settlers to form 88 percent of the whole population.

Despite the widespread international condemnations and an apparent US opposition against Tel Aviv's settlement activities, the Israeli government has also authorized construction of hundreds of new housing units in the occupied territories of the West Bank.

The international community considers Israeli settlements in all of the West Bank including East Jerusalem to be illegal and a major obstacle on the way to permanent peace in the Middle East.

The Palestinian Authority has ruled out any peace talks with Tel Aviv, until the Israeli side proves its commitment to a complete halt to settlement activity in the occupied Palestinian territories.

Some 500,000 Israelis live in more than 100 settlements built since Israel's 1967 occupation of the West Bank and East Jerusalem, while 2,500 more housing units are currently under construction.

MGH/DT