:icon_sadangel2: Palestine Peace a dream?

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PA rejects Israeli guards on Palestinian state borders
Thu, 21 Jan 2010 22:23:35 GMT

The Palestinian Authority (PA) rejects hawkish Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's idea of policing eastern borders of a future Palestinian state.

A spokesman for the Acting Palestinian Authority Chief Mahmoud Abbas said on Thursday that once the Israeli occupation ends, the Palestinians will not accept anything less than a completely sovereign Palestinian state.

"The Palestinian leadership will not accept the presence of a single Israeli soldier in the Palestinian territories after the end of the occupation," said the spokesman, Nabil Abu Rudeina, adding that they will not accept that "our land be under Israeli protection."

"We will not accept anything less than a completely sovereign Palestinian state on all the territories with its own borders, resources and airspace," Abu Rudeina said.

He emphasized that Netanyahu's insistence on an Israeli border guard would place more obstacles in the way of restarting peace talks.

The PA announcement comes a day after Netanyahu said Tel Aviv aims to patrol the eastern borders of any future Palestinian state.

This is while the Palestinian side has repeatedly stated that without a complete freeze on illegal settlement constructions, they will not return to the negotiating table.

FTP/MMN

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Israel OKs new controversial weapon
Fri, 22 Jan 2010 16:50:12 GMT

The Thunder Generator produces shock waves that result in a loud sonic boom and extreme air pressure.
Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak has approved the use and sale of a new weapon that simulates a feeling of being shot in those targeted.

The cannon called "the Thunder Generator" has been produced by the Netanya-based technology development advisory firm, ArmyTec company, and is capable of creating shockwaves that pass through people.

The feeling of "being hit" produced by the stun gun is said to be similar to that of standing in front of a firing squad.

The weapon uses a mixture of liquefied petroleum, cooking gas and air which traveling through the cannon barrel detonates and intensifies until it exits.

The process generates a succession of 60 to 100 high-velocity shock bursts per minute, each traveling at about 2,000 meters per second and lasting up to 300 milliseconds, according to a report by Defense News website, citing company data.

"That's more than enough for hours of continuous operation," said ArmyTec President Shlomo Tabak, a former Israeli military special operations officer, describing the new device as "controlled and safe."

Experts, however, say the Thunder Generator could be lethal or inflict permanent damage if fired at less than 10 meters.

MRS/HGH/MD

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Israel arrests 20 protestors in Jerusalem Al-Quds
Fri, 22 Jan 2010 22:24:12 GMT

Hundreds of people, mostly Israeli activists, held a demonstration against Israeli settlement activities in the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood of East Jerusalem Al-Quds on Friday.

The crowd estimated that as many as 600 people marched from the city center to the outskirts of Sheikh Jarrah to protest the "Jewish takeover" of several Palestinian homes by settler groups armed with court orders, The Jerusalem Post reported.

Scuffles broke out as "police used riot dispersal means" to disperse the crowd, saying organizers had failed to get a permit for the gathering.

The Israeli forces arrested 20 people during the demonstration.

The neighborhood became the site of near-weekly demonstrations after several Palestinian families were evicted from their homes in recent months by settlers claiming Jewish ownership of the land.

Israel occupied East Jerusalem Al-Quds in the 1967 Six Day War and annexed it shortly afterwards in a move not recognized by the international community.

The Israeli regime claims the holy city as its "eternal, indivisible" capital, while the Palestinian Authority wants at least the implementation of the UN resolutions, which assign the control of the eastern part of the city to them.

SB/MMN

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US-PA talks futile, thanks to Israeli settlements
Sat, 23 Jan 2010 02:27:10 GMT

US President Barack Obama's Mideast envoy failed to bring back the acting Palestinian Authority chief to the negotiating table with Israel due to Tel Aviv's refusal to halt settlement activities.

During a three-hour meeting with George Mitchell in Ramallah, Mahmoud Abbas reiterated calls for a complete halt to Israel's settlement construction as a precondition for the resumption of peace talks, Ynet reported.

According to chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erakat, Israel's insistence on maintaining control over the Jordan Valley — which makes up 28% of the West Bank, has hindered the peace process.

Israel is also refusing to negotiate on the future of Jerusalem Al-Quds, claiming it was one of the conditions for Palestinian recognition of Israel as a "Jewish state," according to Erakat.

"All of these things have derailed President Obama's peace train," he added.

Mitchell, who will leave the region over the weekend, said Obama remains committed to trying to broker a Mideast deal, but that his next move remains unclear.

Tel Aviv has so far refused to heed international calls for a complete freeze in illegal settlement activities, which violate the United Nations Security Council Resolutions 446, 452 and 465.

SB/MMN

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IDC to Continue Support to PA
Date : 27/1/2010 Time : 20:52

PARIS, January 27, 2010 (WAFA)- The chair and the co-chairs of the International Donors’ Conference (IDC), for the Palestinian State said they are going to continue support to the Palestinian Authority.

In a meeting held Tuesday in Paris, they reiterated the call from the Ad-Hoc Liaison Committee meeting last September and the informal consultations between the United States, the European Union, France, Norway and the Quartet Representative on January 12 this year, to continue providing support to the Palestinian Authority in 2010 at least at the same level as in 2009 and as pledged in Paris Conference in December 2007.

The chair and the co-chairs (Foreign Minister Kouchner, Foreign Minister Stoere, High Representative Ashton and Quartet Representative Blair) welcomed the participation of Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad and Egyptian Minister of Foreign Affairs Ahmed Aboul Gheit at their meeting on 26 January 2010.

The chair and co-chairs of the Conference commended the fact that most donor countries followed through on their pledges in 2007. The chair informed the co-chairs that some $5.5 billion of the $7.7 billion in budgetary aid, humanitarian aid and project assistance pledged has already been disbursed in two years.

The chair and co-chairs welcomed the reforms that the Palestinian Authority has carried out, particularly in the areas of public finance, governance and security. These reforms, financed by international aid and in past months complemented by commendable measures taken by the Israeli government to reduce obstacles to movement in the West Bank, helped obtain an encouraging economic growth rate again last year. Yet more measures need to be taken immediately to improve the movement of persons and goods, not only in the West Bank.

The chair and co-chairs noted that some measures, especially settlement activity in East Jerusalem, are illegal and prejudice the final realization of the two-state solution.

The co-chairs welcomed the Palestinian Authority’s will to continue the reforms, especially those concerning budgetary and judicial matters. They noted their expectation that the Palestinian Authority will continue in 2010 sound management of public expenditure.

They discussed the deplorable situation for the Palestinian people living under blockade in Gaza. Recalling the many appeals calling for the opening of border crossings, they agreed to intensify their efforts to provide more assistance and necessary support for reconstruction. The chair and co-chairs welcomed Egypt’s efforts to achieve reconciliation among Palestinians.

They emphasized the importance of early disbursements in order to ensure progress and safeguard political stability in the occupied Palestinian territory.

The chair and co-chairs underscored the fact that financial efforts will be all the more effective if political negotiations are swiftly resumed in pursuit of a viable, contiguous, independent and democratic Palestinian State, living side by side with Israel in peace and security within secure and recognized borders, established on the basis of UN Security Council resolutions and the Arab Peace Initiative.

They endorsed the Quartet Representative’s efforts to support Prime Minister Fayyad’s state building program, ensuring its robust implementation in support of political negotiations, and to secure measures to improve the situation in Gaza.

The chair and co-chairs expressed their full support to the steps undertaken by the Quartet and by the US to resume negotiations between the parties as soon as possible. Norway informed the participants that a next Ad Hoc Liaison Committee meeting is planned to take place during the first half of 2010.

As agreed at the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee and Quartet meetings in September 2009, the chair and co-chairs reaffirmed their support for the “Ending the Occupation, Establishing the State” program that Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad put forward last summer. They called on the international community to intensify support to that plan’s implementation, both financially and politically.

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Israel pays UN $10.5mn for Gaza war damage
Sat, 23 Jan 2010 10:53:25 GMT

Israel has paid $10.5m to the United Nations in compensation for damage to the world body facilities in the Gaza Strip during the three-week Israeli assault.

"The government of Israel has made a payment of 10.5 million US dollars to the United Nations, in respect to the losses sustained," UN spokesman Martin Nesirky said on Friday.

"With this payment, the United Nations has agreed that the financial issues... are concluded," he added.

“The money will not itself repair the buildings and facilities damaged,” he further explained.

Some 53 installations used by the United Nations Relief and Works agency were damaged during Israel's Gaza campaign, including 37 schools, six health centers, and two warehouses.

According to UN figures, a total of 1,400 Palestinians and 13 Israelis lost their lives during the Israeli onslaught on Gaza.

HRF/JG/

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India Celebrates ITEC Day in Palestine
Date : 27/1/2010 Time : 19:37

RAMALLAH, January 27, 2010 (WAFA)- The Representative Office of India to Palestinian National Authority organized Wednesday a reception for celebrating ‘ITEC Day’.

Around 100 Palestinian alumni of the ITEC courses, journalists , officials from Universities, Governorates and Palestinian Authority attended the function. The participants came not only from Ramallah but also from various governorates such as Jerusalem, Jenin, Nablus, Qalqilya, Tulkarem and Hebron.

Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation programme popularly known as 'ITEC' of the Ministry of External Affairs of the Government of India was launched in Palestine in 1998 as a bilateral programme of assistance of the Government of India, and so far around 350 Palestinians have been participated under ITEC training programmes till January 2010.

Government of India has committed to provide 100 slots for training courses under ITEC programme to Palestine annually.

During the current year (March 2009-April 2010) over 90 Palestinian nationals, have already been admitted to various courses under ITEC programme. Around 57 candidates have already left for India to attend the courses for this year.

As is well-known, the entire cost of training, including the return international airfare, tuition fees, accommodation, emergency medical treatment, stipend, book allowances, and study tour, is borne by the Government of India. As many as 45 Institutions in different parts of India have been empanelled for conducting 206 training courses. Under ITEC 158 countries are invited to share in the Indian developmental experience in various fields. Since 1964, India has provided over US $2 billion worth of technical assistance to developing countries.

The training courses under ITEC programme cover a wide variety of subjects such as Information Technology (IT); Parliamentary Studies; Accounts & Finance; Mass Communication; English Language Courses; Rural Development; Teachers’ training; Bank Management; Educational Planning & Administration; Entrepreneurship Development; Secretariat Training and Management; Standardization & Quality Assurance; Repair and Maintenance of Telecom Equipment and Computers; Fertilizer Quality control; Food Technology; Tool Design; Poultry Training; Manpower Research; Statistical Education; Non Conventional Energy Resources; IT in Law Enforcement; Entrepreneurship and Small Business Development; Water Recourses,

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Israeli minister: Third war on Lebanon in sight
Sat, 23 Jan 2010 16:14:28 GMT

An Israeli cabinet minister warns of the third Israeli war on Lebanon amid reports that Tel Aviv has mobilized its troops.

"We are heading toward a new confrontation in the north," said minister without portfolio, Yossi Peled in remarks carried by military radio and the Israeli news website Ynet, the AFP reported.

The London-based A-Sharq al-Awsat newspaper reported Friday that the troops had been called to the northern border with Lebanon to carry out "military maneuvers."

"I don't know when it will happen, just as we did not know when the second Lebanon war would erupt," Peled added, referring to Israel's ground and aerial bombardment of southern Lebanon in 2006, which left some 1,200, mostly civilian, Lebanese dead.

The 33-Day War and another bloody incursion in 2000 were fought off by Lebanon's Hezbollah resistance movement, which is an active member of the country's coalition government.

The movement has, meanwhile, reportedly tightened security measures along Lebanon's southern border in reaction to successive reports of Israeli military escalation.

Peled added that Israel would hold Hezbollah and Syria responsible for any attack on Israel.

Hezbollah leader, Seyyed Hassan Nasrallah and authorities in Damascus have repeatedly warned Tel Aviv against warlike incitements, promising due response.

HN/MMN

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Israeli Soldier Breaks Nose of Palestinian Villager
Date : 27/1/2010 Time : 19:31

HEBRON, January 27, 2010 (WAFA)- At least eighteen Jewish settlers, accompanied by Israeli soldiers, attacked Tuesday Palestinians in the West Bank village of At-Tuwani in the southern hills of Hebron. An Israeli soldier punched a Palestinian villager, who was hospitalized for his injuries. Doctors reporte that the nose of the villager has been broken and will require an operation.

Christian Peacemaker Teams (CPT) said in a press release Women of At-Tuwani also told CPTers that during the attack soldiers threatened them and their children, saying that if they did not leave the area, soldiers would arrest all of the men of the village and kill at least one. Despite being extremely frightened, the women remained where they were and told the soldiers they were welcome to arrest them as well as the men.

As previously reported, the day’s incident began at 9:20 am when three army jeeps and a pickup truck with a settler from Havat Ma’on and the settlement security guard from Ma’on drove into At-Tuwani. The settler walked throughout the village, entering Palestinian homes, accompanied by the soldiers and settlement security guard, and then remained in the village and made phone calls until other settlers arrived.

The settlers were accompanied by Israeli soldiers in three army jeeps and the settlement security agent of Ma’on. Villagers from At-Tuwani arrived, protesting the settlers coming into their village. Immediately thereafter, Israeli settlers began throwing stones at the Palestinian villagers while soldiers fired three canisters of tear gas at Palestinians.

Afterwards, the settlers drove to the entrance of At-Tuwani, and began throwing stones at passers-by on the road.

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Netanyahu seeks to ease tension over 'Lebanon war'
Sun, 24 Jan 2010 05:48:18 GMT

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has played down the possibility of a war on Lebanon after a member of his cabinet warned of a likely conflict with Hezbollah.

In a statement released by the prime minister's office, Netanyahu said Tel Aviv was not planning any attack on Lebanon, Reuters reported.

"Israel is not seeking any conflict with Lebanon," said the premier.

An official at the premier's office said Netanyahu's statement came in response to fears expressed recently over a minister's remarks about a new conflict with Hezbollah.

Earlier on Saturday, Yossi Peled, a minister without portfolio and a reserve army general, said another confrontation with Hezbollah was almost inevitable but he could not say when it might happen.

The London-based A-Sharq al-Awsat newspaper also reported escalated tension between the two sides after Tel Aviv called up its army forces to Lebanon's southern border.

The daily said Hezbollah also put its forces on high alert to retaliate a possible surprise attack on the country.

In 2006, Israel fought a 33-day war with Lebanon which was aimed at destroying Hezbollah's military power but eventually left the battle scene without achieving any of its objectives.

SB/DT