Tag Archive for Palestinians

| May 16, 2012
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Irish writer Gerard Donovan accuses pro-Palestinian group of ‘bullying’ him to boycott Israel

Israeli diplomats say Ireland one of the top three countries in Europe in terms of anti-Israel hostility; Irish Justice Minister accuses activists of ‘cyberbullying.’

Irish writer Gerard Donovan has attacked the pro-Palestinian boycott movement for trying to “bully” him to abstain from visiting Israel and take part in the International Writers Festival in Jerusalem this week. Donovan, a prominent novelist and poet, accused the Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign (IPSC) of “outright intimidation.”

Boycott - Reuters - May 31, 2010

A demonstrator displays a sign reading "Boycott Israel, racist state" outside the Belgian foreign affairs building during a protest in Brussels - Photo by Reuters

Over the last few weeks, Donovan has been the focus of a campaign by pro-Palestinian activists to observe a pledge to boycott Israel, signed in 2010 by 219 Irish artists, and not to legitimize Israel’s occupation of the West Bank by participating in the writers’ festival. Continue Reading »

Category: Mid-East News | Tags: ,
| May 15, 2012
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Rocket and Molotov cocktails mark start to Nakba Day

Army chief: ‘We are hoping for the best and preparing for the worst’

Palestinians hurled molotov cocktails at an IDF post near the city of Hebron overnight and a rocket was shot from Gaza into southern Israel early Tuesday as the country braced for protests and violence as Palestinians mark Nakba Day.

No injuries were reported in Hebron, and there were no reports of injuries or damage after the rocket fell in the Sha’ar Hanegev region.

Nakba, or catastrophe, is the Palestinian term for Israel’s founding in 1948. It is marked on May 14 or May 15 each year.

The IDF has deploying on the borders while police forces are beefing up presence at friction points in anticipation of possible Nakba Day clashes.

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Category: Mid-East News | Tags: ,
| May 14, 2012
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PA arrests former top militant after attack on Palestinian official’s home

Zakaria Zubeidi, who Israel again listed as ‘wanted’ as of late 2011, is considered to be one of the most powerful people in Jenin’s refugee camp.

Palestinian Authority forces arrested former top militant Zakaria Zubeidi on Sunday, over his suspected link to a recent attack on the house of a top PA official.

Earlier this month Jenin District Governor Kadura Musa died of a heart attack, shortly after armed attackers opened fire on his home.

A number of assailants took positions outside Musa’s home, before opening fire. The governor’s bodyguards returned fire, and Musa himself came out of his house and fired a number of shots into the air. Continue Reading »

Category: Mid-East News | Tags: , ,
| May 13, 2012
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Netanyahu ordered evacuation of Hebron home over fears of war crimes suits

AG’s fear of legal action against Israeli officials at The Hague also reason for state’s hesitance regarding authorization of the Ulpana Hill West Bank outpost.

 

Senior officials in the prime minister’s office said at the time that the evacuation was carried out after careful coordination between the defense minister and the prime minister. Nevertheless, Netanyahu’s aides went on the defensive against right-wing criticism and said that the premier had no choice but to approve the evacuation out of security and legal consideration.

 

Hebron evacuation - Olivier Fitoussi - 4.4.2012
Border Police officials evacuating a Hebron house taken over by settlers, April 4, 2012. Photo by Olivier Fitoussi

The aides said that during the late night discussion prior to the evacuation no decisions were made regarding the immediate evacuation of the house. Continue Reading »

Category: Jewish News | Tags: , ,
| May 10, 2012
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UN seeks upgrades for Palestinian refugee camps

UN says the time has come to add more permanent structures for the growing populations of camp residents.

 

BETHLEHEM, West Bank – Three generations of Palestinians displaced by the founding of Israel in 1948 know only life in UN refugee camps, going to schools beneath the blue-and-white UN flag and drawing their food stocks from UN warehouses.

UNRWA
UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees

For these Palestinians whose long-cherished goal is “right of return” to the lands they lost 64 years ago, the camps must be seen as temporary no matter how permanent they might seem to others.

Which explains why the latest program by the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) to upgrade the camps’ dilapidated facilities is such a delicate operation.

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Category: Mid-East News | Tags: ,
| May 8, 2012
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ICRC, UN appeal for Palestinian hunger strikers

Int’l Red Cross urges Israel to transfer 6 prisoners to hospital, to allow family visits; UN also expresses concern.

 

GENEVA – The International Committee of the Red Cross called on Israel on Tuesday to transfer six Palestinians who have been on hunger strike for weeks to hospital and allow visits from their families.

PALESTINIANS RALLY in Ramallah for Prisoners Day - Photo: Mohamad Torokman/Reuters

PALESTINIANS RALLY in Ramallah for Prisoners Day - Photo: Mohamad Torokman/Reuters

All six are in prison under Israel’s long-standing policy of detaining people it suspects of security offenses or plotting attacks in a closed military proceeding between security forces and military judges rather than after a formal trial.

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Category: Mid-East News | Tags: , ,
| May 7, 2012
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‘Victory will be greater if hunger strikers die’

Khader Adnan, who refused food for two months until Israel agreed to release him, says Palestinian prisoners’ strike will be hailed as victory regardless of its outcome

 

Israeli security officials fear that the death of any Palestinian prisoner as a result of the ongoing hunger strike, which has entered its 21st day, may lead to an eruption of violence in the territories, the Yedioth Ahronoth daily reported Monday.

Khader Adnan (Photo: Sebastian Scheiner)

Khader Adnan - Photo by Sebastian Scheiner

Some 1,600 Palestinian prisoners are protesting against the conditions of their incarceration, which were significantly worsened while Gilad Shalit was held captive by Hamas in Gaza. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags:
| May 6, 2012
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LGBT rights in Israel: ‘Pinkwashing’ oppression of Palestinians or illuminating the Middle East?

Michael Oren tells U.S. crowd that while Palestinian suicide bombers blew up Israeli restaurants and buses, Israel provided shelter for LGBT Palestinians.

Tel Aviv is the best gay destination in the world. That’s what a world-wide survey hosted in January by GayCities.com and American Airlines showed, and Israeli diplomats in Western countries proudly put the fact on display.

Tel Aviv gay parade in 2011.

Tel Aviv gay parade in 2011 - Photo by: Ofer Vaknin

Many liberal pro-Palestinian activists saw this as “pinkwashing” the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories. The website pinkwatchingisrael.com called upon Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender community members to boycott the 20th Annual Equality Forum in Philadelphia, which features Israel this year and has invited Israeli Ambassador Michael Oren to be a keynote speaker.

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Category: Israel News | Tags: ,
| May 4, 2012
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Israel’s medical tourism industry

Israeli hospitals boost revenues by treating foreigners, but Palestinian patients pose a special challenge

 

Medical tourism has become a major money maker for Israeli hospitals. According to data from recent years, annual revenues in Israeli hospitals from medical tourism amount to NIS 400 million (roughly $120 million.)

Illustration

Medical tourism is considered a lucrative Industry because, on average, Israeli hospitals charge 30% more from foreign patients than they do from Israeli patients.

A good medical reputation and relatively lower costs as compared to other hospitals around the world draw patients from all over the globe to receive medical care in Israel, and the arrangement is a win-win situation – they get good treatment and hospitals get to boost revenues. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: ,
| May 4, 2012
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Courtroom drama: Tibi treats unconscious Palestinian prisoner

Prisoner on 2-month hunger strike collapses during High Court hearing; MK Tibi treats inmate at justice’s order

 

A Palestinian prisoner who went on a hunger strike 66 days ago collapsed Thursday during a hearing on his case at the High Court of Justice in Jerusalem.

Justice Elyakim Rubinstein asked Knesset Member Ahmad Tibi (United Arab List-Ta’al), a gynecologist, to treat the prisoner.

Tibi was initially blocked by guards from the Israel Prison Service’s Nachshon Unit, but he was eventually allowed to treat the prisoner after Justice Rubinstein instructed the guards to let him pass.

'Outrageous conduct.' MK Tibi Photo: Avihu Shapira

'Outrageous conduct.' MK Tibi - Photo by Avihu Shapira

The prisoner, Balal Diab, apparently lost consciousness due to weakness. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags:
| May 3, 2012
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Methodist church says no to Israel divestment initiative

United Methodist Church in Florida votes against initiative backed by South African Archbishop Desmond Tutu, who says Israelis ‘not yet ready to reckon with the apartheid nature of Israel.’

 

The majority of delegates at the plenary of the general conference of the United Methodist Church that convened in Tampa, Florida on Wednesday rejected an initiative to divest from Caterpillar, Motorola Solutions and Hewlett-Packard, companies that trade with Israel.

Archbishop Desmond Tutu

Archbishop Desmond Tutu - Photo by AP

Palestinian Christians behind the initiative, United Methodist Kairos Response, expressed disappointment with the decision, saying these three companies “profit from Israel’s violations of Palestinian human rights and denial of Palestinian freedom.”

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Category: Israel News | Tags: ,
| May 1, 2012
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IDF closes probe into Israeli air strike that killed 21 members of Gaza family

Military prosecution says will take no legal steps against those responsible for deaths of Samouni family, killed in their home during Operation Cast Lead.

 

Israel’s military prosecution announced Tuesday that no legal steps will be taken against those responsible for the killing of 21 members of the Samouni family during the 2009 Operation Cast Lead in Gaza.

A letter was received by the human rights group B’Tselem from Major Dorit Tuval, Deputy Military Advocate for Operational Matters. Tuval said that the case has been closed after the investigation has found that the attack on the civilians, “who did not take part in the fighting,” and their killing were not done knowingly and directly, or out of haste and negligence “in a manner that would indicate criminal responsibility.”

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Category: Mid-East News | Tags: , ,
| April 20, 2012
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US mulls prosecution of Schalit deal prisoners

FBI, US Justice Dept. “reviewing info” about prisoners freed in Schalit deal for “potential prosecution,” ‘Post’ learns.

The US is reviewing terror attacks linked to Palestinian security prisoners released in exchange for soldier Gilad Schalit, for further investigation and potential prosecution in US courts, The Jerusalem Post has learned.

Freed Palestinian prisoners honored entering Gaza - Photo: REUTERS

Freed Palestinian prisoners honored entering Gaza - Photo: REUTERS

Those involved include the FBI, the US Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, and the National Security Division’s Counter-terrorism Section. However, according to US Assistant Attorney-General Ronald Weich, there are “significant impediments” to prosecuting Palestinian terrorists in the US who are connected to attacks in which Americans are killed or maimed.

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Category: Mid-East News | Tags: ,
| April 18, 2012
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Essay by Moshe Arens: Palestinians are not wanted in Jordan

Jordan refuses to let in the more than 1,000 Palestinians stranded along the Syria-Jordan border, even though it has allowed 100,000 Syrian refugees to enter. There are at present an estimated 500,000 Palestinian refugees in Syria, and clearly the last thing the rulers of Jordan want is for them to come streaming into Jordan.

Jordan’s King Abdullah, left, embracing Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas in Ramallah.

Jordan’s King Abdullah, left, embracing Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas in Ramallah last year. Jordanian and Israeli objections notwithstnading, if Jordan is not a Palestinian state - Photo by: Emil Salman

The rulers of Jordan believe they have a demographic problem, and Palestinians are not wanted in Jordan.

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Category: Mid-East News | Tags: ,
| April 18, 2012
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Fayyad Pulls Out of Netanyahu Meet

Without explanation, Palestinian Authority PM Salam Fayyad will not join the delegation delivering chairman Abbas’ letter to PM Netanyahu

Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Salam Fayyad pulled out of a planned meeting with Prime Minister Binyamin Netayahu on Tuesday.

The move scuttled what was set to be the highest-level talks between Israeli and PA officials in nearly two years.
Fayyad and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu were scheduled to meet Tuesday evening in what the PA portrayed as “a last-ditch effort to salvage peace talks” before the US election season.
However, shortly before the meeting was to start, PLO chief negotiator Saeb Erekat said that only he and a senior PA security official, Majed Faraj, would attend.
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Category: Israel News | Tags: ,
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