Tag Archive for Palestinian Authority

| March 31, 2013
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Palestinian imprisoned for clicking ‘like’ on anti-PA facebook page

West Bank man sentenced to 6 months in prison for clicking “like” on a Facebook page that criticized a Palestinian Authority official.

By KHALED ABU TOAMEH

 

A Palestinian man who clicked “Like” on a Facebook status criticizing a Palestinian Authority official has been sentenced to six months in prison.

Anas Ismail, 29, of Salfit, near Nablus, was found guilty of “libel and slander.”

Facebook - Photo: IsraelandStuff/PP

Facebook – Photo: IsraelandStuff/PP

Ismail is the second Palestinian to be imprisoned for Facebook activities in the past few days.

He was sentenced to prison on the same day another PA court in Bethlehem sentenced Palestinian journalist to one year in prison for sharing a photo on Facebook that compared PA President Mahmoud Abbas to a villain and the spy of French colonial authorities in a Syrian drama. Continue Reading »

Category: Mid-East News | Tags: , ,
| March 29, 2013
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What happened in Jerusalem….

Obama offered the ritual incantations about settlements being unhelpful. Nothing new here. He could have called them illegal or illegitimate. It wouldn’t have mattered — because Obama officially declared them irrelevant.

I honestly believe that if any Israeli parent sat down with those [Palestinian] kids, they’d say, ‘I want these kids to succeed.’ 

– Very true. But how does the other side feel about Israeli kids?

Consider that the most revered parent in Palestinian society is Mariam Farhat of Gaza. Her distinction? Three of her sons died in various stages of trying to kill Israelis — one in a suicide attack, shooting up and hurling grenades in a room full of Jewish students.
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Category: Israel News | Tags: , ,
| March 28, 2013
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Palestinian journalist jailed for a year for ‘insulting’ Abbas

Arab Journalist sentenced to a year in prison by Palestinian Authority court after posting photo comparing Abbas’s face to a fictional villain on a Syrian TV show.

By KHALED ABU TOAMEH

Palestinian journalist Mamdouh Hamamreh from Bethlehem was sentenced on Thursday to one year in prison for “insulting” Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas on Facebook.

The photo that landed Palestinian journalist Mamdouh Hamamreh in jail.

The photo that landed Palestinian journalist Mamdouh Hamamreh in jail. – Photo: Courtesy

He is the second Palestinian to be sentenced to prison for one year on the same charges since the beginning of the year.

Hamamreh, who works for the Palestinian Al-Quds TV station, was found guilty of sharing a photo on Facebook that compared Abbas with a villain who played the role of a French spy in a popular Syrian TV series.

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Category: Mid-East News | Tags: , , ,
| March 28, 2013
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Obama tells Palestinians: Accept Israel as the Jewish State

While telling the Palestinians to accept Israel as the Jewish state is not the only shift in US policy announced during Obama’s Jerusalem trip (another: telling the Palestinians not to set preconditions for negotiations), this one looms largest because it starkly contravenes the Palestinian consensus.

By Daniel Pipes

One key shift in U.S. policy was overlooked in the barrage of news about U.S. President Barack Obama’s eventful fifty-hour visit to Israel last week. That would be the demand that Palestinians recognize Israel as the Jewish state, called by Hamas leader Salah Bardawil “the most dangerous statement by an American president regarding the Palestinian issue.”

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Category: Israel News | Tags: , , ,
| March 27, 2013
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Palestinian Authority Against Turkish PM’s visit to Gaza

Senior official in the PA says that since Gaza is not an independent Palestinian state & Hamas is not the legitimate representative of the Palestinians,  diplomatic visits should be via Ramallah.

By KHALED ABBU TOAMEH

 

The Palestinian Authority is opposed to Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s intention to visit the Gaza Strip, a senior PA official in Ramallah said Wednesday.

Mashaal and Erdogan meet in Ankara

Mashaal and Erdogan meet in Ankara – Photo: REUTERS

“The Palestinian Authority leadership has informed the Turkish government that we are opposed to such a visit because it would deepen divisions among the Palestinians,” the PA official said. “The Gaza Strip is not an independent Palestinian state and Hamas is not the legitimate representative of the Palestinians.” Continue Reading »

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| March 25, 2013
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Entry from the PA Areas Closed by IDF until Tuesday Midnight

Defense Minister imposed a general closure from PA-assigned areas ahead of the Passover holiday. Closure remains in effect until Tuesday at 11:59 p.m.

By Elad Benari

 

The IDF imposed a general closure on the Palestinian Authority-assigned areas of Judea and Samaria ahead of the holiday of Passover. The closure went into effect as of 11:59 p.m. on Sunday evening, the IDF Spokesperson’s Unit announced.

The decision on the closure was made by Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon following an assessment of the current situation. It will be removed on Tuesday at 11:59 p.m., pending another assessment of the situation.

During the closure, entry from the PA into Israel will be allowed only in humanitarian, medical and other exceptional cases, all subject to the approval of the Civil Administration. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: , , ,
| March 23, 2013
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US Congress releases $500M for Palestinians

US St. Dept. spokeswoman Nuland reported that the aid money, which had been frozen by Congress for months, was freed to support Abbas, as the PA faces worst economic crisis in years.

By AFP

 

The United States has quietly unblocked almost $500 million in aid to the Palestinian Authority which had been frozen by Congress for months, a top US official said Friday.

US SenateThe news that the funds had finally been freed up came after US President Barack Obama met top Israeli and Palestinian leaders in a landmark visit to Israel and the West Bank earlier this week.

“To date, we have moved $295.7 million in fiscal year 2012 money… and $200 million in fiscal year 2013 assistance,” State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland told reporters. Continue Reading »

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| March 22, 2013
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Palestinians disappointed with Obama – Calls for resistance against occupation

PA disappointed at US president’s stance on prisoners, and Jewish construction. 

Obama rejects Palestinian preconditions to peace talks.

By KHALED ABU TOAMEH

Even before US President Barack Obama left Ramallah, Palestinian Authority officials were quick to express disappointment with the result of his talks with PA President Mahmoud Abbas.

Obama shakes hands with a Palestinian teen during his visit to the Bireh Youth Center in Ramallah - Photo REUTERS

Obama shakes hands with a Palestinian teen during his visit to the Bireh Youth Center in Ramallah – Photo REUTERS

The officials discussed the differences between Abbas and Obama on two major issues: settlements and Palestinian prisoners in Israel.

Click here for full JPost coverage of Obama’s visit to Israel

They said that during the meeting Abbas reiterated his demand for a full cessation of settlement construction and the release of Palestinian prisoners in order to pave the way for the resumption of the peace process. Continue Reading »

Category: Mid-East News | Tags: , ,
| March 19, 2013
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PA Pleads to the World: We Need More Money

The PA is urging the world to step up additional financial aid again & force Israel to allow Palestinian economic development.

By Elad Benari

 

The Palestinian Authority has urged the world to step up financial aid and press Israel to allow economic development, over fears of “political collapse”, AFP reported.

“We call on the international community to… pressure the government of Israel to release our revenues and to provide the financial support required to maintain basic functions and services,” said a Palestinian Authority report seen by the news agency on Monday.

“The recent confiscation of Palestinian-owned revenues by Israel comes on top of an already severe fiscal crisis that was caused by a large shortfall of external support,” it added. Continue Reading »

Category: Mid-East News | Tags: ,
| March 19, 2013
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EU Signs Money Deal With PA, Cites ‘Palestinian State’

The European Union signed an aid deal Tuesday with the Palestinian Authority to reportedly bolster ties and promote economic development for the State of Palestine.

Fayyad said Area C “is of vital importance to the economic and political viability” of a future “Palestinian state,” despite Jewish claims to the land.

By Arutz Sheva staff

 

The European Union signed an aid deal Tuesday with the Palestinian Authority to reportedly bolster ties and promote economic development.

EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton with Salam Fayyad - Reuters

EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton with Salam Fayyad – Reuters

EU foreign affairs head Catherine Ashton told visiting Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad that an action plan approved by EU leaders was based on a “shared commitment to deepen our bilateral relations and strengthen our privileged partnership,” AFP reported. Continue Reading »

Category: Mid-East News | Tags: , ,
| March 18, 2013
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Rioters in Bethlehem burn pictures of Obama

Protestors in Bethlehem say Obama is not welcome in their city. First they throw shoes at US diplomatic vehicle, then at a billboard with Obama’s picture, then they burned his pictures.

By KHALED ABU TOAMEH

Palestinians in Bethlehem on Monday set fire to pictures of US President Barack Obama, saying he was not welcome in their city.

Scores of protesters gathered near Manger Square and threw shoes at a US diplomatic vehicle as it arrived at the scene in the context of preparations for Obama’s visit to the city later this week.

Palestinian protestors - Photo Reuters

Palestinian protestors – Photo: Reuters

The protesters also set fire to signs posted in the city earlier this week and reminding Obama that Palestinians still don’t have 3G communications technology. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: , ,
| March 18, 2013
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69% of Americans are against US pushing peace on Israel

55% of Americans sympathize more with Israel, 9% sympathize more with the Palestinians  according to Washington Post-ABC poll.

Only 26% of Americans think US should take leading role in resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

By JPOST.COM STAFF

 

A large majority of Americans (69 percent) believe that the administration of US President Barack Obama should leave the handling of the peace process to Israel and the Palestinians rather than taking the lead in resolving the conflict between the sides, a Washington Post-ABC News poll released Monday found.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Barack Obama meeting at the White House

The poll showed a serious decline among Americans in the desire that the US should take a leading role in arranging an Israeli-Palestinian peace agreement.

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Category: Israel News | Tags: , , ,
| March 15, 2013
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IMF reports of PA’s ‘increasingly precarious’ fiscal sustainability

The Int’l Monetary Fund (IMF) calls for immediate action to assist Palestinian Authority close its huge budget deficit.

“Domestic sources of financing are drying up … Left unchecked, these trends will ultimately lead some to question the legitimacy of the PA.”

By Reuters and Israel Hayom Staff

 

The Palestinian Authority’s fiscal situation is “increasingly precarious,” the International Monetary Fund warned on Thursday.

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas. In the past few months, the PA has failed to pay full salaries to its 160,000 employees in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. – Photo: Reuters

The IMF called for urgent action to help it close a gaping budget deficit and to stabilize the economy.

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Category: Mid-East News | Tags: ,
| March 12, 2013
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PA arrests Palestinian over participating in Al Jazeera course

Journalist is facing incarceration by Palestinian Authority security forces for visiting Qatar to participate in Al-Jazeera training program.

By KHALED ABU TOAMEH

 

A Palestinian journalist from the West Bank complained Tuesday that Palestinian Authority security forces have been harassing him ever since he visited Qatar.
The Doha skyline - Photo REUTERS

The Doha skyline – Photo REUTERS

The journalist, Tarek al-Sarkaji, said that if visiting Qatar were a crime in the eyes of the PA security forces, then they should also arrest PA President Mahmoud Abbas for visiting the Gulf country.

Al-Sarkaji, who lives in Nablus and also works as a TV producer, said his problems began when he return to the West Bank after attending a training course for the Doha-based Al-Jazeera TV station.

Continue Reading »
Category: Mid-East News | Tags: , , ,
| March 7, 2013
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PA Advances Plans to Register Additional Sites with UNESCO

Palestinian Authority forms committee to prepare applications to register additional sites, including the Dead Sea, on UNESCO’s world heritage list.

By Elad Benari

 

The Palestinian Authority cabinet on Tuesday decided to form a committee to prepare applications to register sites on UNESCO’s world heritage list, the Bethlehem-based Ma’an news agency reported.

Omar Awadallah, the head of UN file in the PA’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said that the committee’s mission was to prepare heritage sites for the list to “protect them from harm.”

Each ministry has been asked to cooperate with the UNESCO committee, and will prepare the files, he said. Continue Reading »

Category: Mid-East News | Tags: , , ,
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