"Mubarak has been an ally of ours in a number of things and he's been very
responsible on, relative to geopolitical interest in the region, the Middle
East peace efforts; the actions Egypt has taken relative to normalizing
relationship with Israel.. I would not refer to him as a dictator" US Vice
President Je Biden ( a lackey of AIPAC)
I first visited Egypt 30 years ago in 1981 to do research for my master's
thesis which was later published in my first book "The Bats of Egypt". I
visited Egypt twice since then and I recall vividly police abuse of their
own people and yet the Egyptians I encountered mocked and joked about
dictatorship. We tried at least from a distance to support our Egyptian
brothers and sisters as they struggle for freedom. Arabs everywhere (yes
even here in occupied Palestine) are talking about a transformation and
about revolution. But all such transformations carry pain. Over 200
Egyptians were killed, thousands injured, and there is much destruction.
Yet in a nation of 85 million people this is still a relatively peaceful
transformation. While dealing with the present is critical we must also at
this juncture start to look post dictatorship in the Arab world and plan the
future.
I recall vividly a talk by a self-described "Liberal Zionist" (an oxymoron)
at Duke University on 1 March 198l; at 77 year old he had no inhibitions in
saying "Zionists do not want democracy in the Arab world." He explained
that if Egypt was a democracy, it would not have signed a peace deal with
Israel since the sentiments of the Arab people does not accept such
arrangements that could be done with someone like President Sadat or King
Hussein. On this point he was absolutely correct but in the long run such
short-sighted perspective is self-destructive (1).
As I watched last night Hosni Mubarak make his (hopefully last) speech, I
was very much reminded of the last speech of the Shah of Iran, Marcos of the
Philippines, Bin Ali of Tunisia. They all claimed after so many years of
torturing their own people that they now want to "reform". The US funded
and supported the brutal Mubarak regime for over 30 years even as plenty of
evidence from human rights organizations documented its abuse of its own
citizens. See example videos of torture by Egyptian police (2). This is
also the same police who, on the instruction of the Mubarak dictatorship,
beat international activists trying to provide humanitarian relief to
besieged Gaza (3). Mubarak then went on to for the first time appoint a
vice president (his intelligence chief and ex-army buddy Omar Suleiman) and
appoint another army officer as prime minister. It is now recognized that
his reign is ending and a new era is beginning.
It is rather amusing that the brutal dictator of "Saudi" Arabia (a country
named after a ruling family!) called to support Mubarak and stated that the
demonstrators are hooligans and criminals. Anyone who knows anything about
Egypt knows that this amazing and inspiring mostly nonviolent revolution is
a true expression of the will of the Egyptian people regardless of their
political or religious persuasions (leftist, Muslim Brotherhood, Nasserite
Arab Nationalist, Christians, Muslims, etc).
In other news in brief for those who don't keep up with internet news or
those who watch mainly the (supine) Western Media:
-Large demonstrations by Egyptians and human rights defenders at Egyptian
embassies around the world all demanding democracy
-Israeli embassy in Cairo essentially emptied (an apartheid state embassy in
the largest Arab country is an abomination)
-Israeli pundits very worried about how Egypt might look after Mubarak.
-There are many signs that the Egyptian military (like the Tunisian
military) may be critical in this struggle. Already there are instances
where the demonstrators were protected from the Egyptian police by the
Egyptian military. See footage (4)
-A number of human rights groups and Egyptian community representatives
abroad all called for ending the Egyptian police brutality. By contrast EU
and US government officials are making feeble statements to hedge their bets
and at best call for "peaceful" actions from "all sides". Slowly they
were
forced to modify their retorhic to talk about "change" but must finally call
on their puppet Mubarak to leave power and insist that he and his sons and
family return the billions stolen from the Egyptian people.
-A number of religious and civil organizations in Egypt broke their silence
to support the ouster of the "last Pharaoh"
-The dictatorship cutting of web and mobile phone services and banning
reporting by groups like Al-Jazeera did little to stem the tide of protest
because people are living it daily in their homes and on the streets and
they are not being incited from outside.
-Protests spread to Jordan and Yemen (two other Western supported
governments). There are now plans for large protests in Syria and other
countries.
-On the Palestinian Authority TV news, they noted that Mahmoud Abbas called
Mubarak and stated his support for stability of Egypt. Other news outlets
stated that he fully supports the Mubarak regime. Hamas then came in to say
that they support the Egyptian people. Sadly, I think all rational human
beings know which horse to bet on in this struggle between people and a
western-supported dictator who accomplished nothing for his people and
instead enriched his family (his sons are billionaires in a country in which
tens of millions of people live on less than $1 a day).
I wrote seven months ago that "The political leadership in the fragmented
Arab countries and Palestinian authority have convinced themselves that they
have no option but to endlessly try to talk to politicians from Tel Aviv and
Washington (the latter also Israeli occupied territory) hoping for some
'gestures'..I know most politicians like to feel 100% safe (mostly for their
position of power) and are afraid of any change. But I wish they would
realize that daring politicians make the history books and those who hang
around trying to protect their seats will be forgotten. Cowardice is never
a virtue." And then I concluded that "In the demonstrations yesterday, a
child in Gaza was carrying a sign that says 'we demand freedom' and a child
in Cairo that says 'children in Egypt and in Gaza want the siege lifted'.
That is our future - not elderly politicians meeting to do media damage
control with empty words. "(5)
But make no mistake about it: no power transformation happens without a
period of unrest, instability, and pain. I believe in these difficult
periods, humans are tested. Some are weak and may even try to use the
situations to make some quick personal profit. Others are of strong and
decent character and this shows in their watching for their neighbors and
their community. I have seen countless pictures and heard countless stories
of acts that can only be described as heroic (e.g. people protecting the
national museum in Cairo or their neighbors' houses). Intellectuals are
stepping forward to articulate rational scenarios for the future. People
helping other people. So I think we will weather the transition. As to
what the future holds. Clearly, the era of ignoring the masses is gone. It
will not be easy since we have a legacy of decades of poor education (one
that does not emphasize civic and individual responsibility etc). Getting
rid of dictators is not enough. Building a civic participatory society is
not easy (Europe's enlightenment did not come just from removing a few
dictators).
People's expectation raised for change will dash against the reality that it
will take decades to create systems of governance, accountability, economic
justice, etc to allow for unleashing the great potential in the Arab world.
And there is great potential (natural resources, water, educated
hard-working middle class etc). It is critical that people begin to chart
this future honestly and pragmatically. Slogans will not work. We the
people must take responsibility for our own lives and for our communities.
We need to take time to educate children in a very, very different way than
we were educated. The beginnings may be simple. For example, in many Arab
countries, people were thinking that as long as the country is not theirs
(ruled by dictators), they can only watch over their own personal space and
literally dump trash in the public space. In the new era, they have to
learn that public space is theirs too. Order and respect for fellow
citizens and for the country will have to be taught very early to our
children. This is but one example for laying a brick in the road to real
freedom and real prosperity. The bricks though are many and they will have
to be fashioned and laid by the people. It is very hard work but it is the
only way forward.
(1) I challenged him on this in the Q&A and then wrote a follow-up letter
that was published in the Duke Chronicle. See
http://www.qumsiyeh.org/zionistpositionfailstorecognizeotherside/
(2) Torture at Egyptian police stations, here are three examples (warning
disturbing content!)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VhQRFz65M6s
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iCHM6LYiBsY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a8KG5N_yq1s
3) Egyptian police beat Free Gaza convoy activist on December 30, 2009
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yT4tk2RiNIo
4) See this associated press story about role of Egyptian military
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2011/01/29/ap/middleeast/main7296653.shtml
and this interesting footage of military shielding demonstrators
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IfqcEsDwgYQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DQD-X9G9xfk
5) Mazin Qumsiyeh "Of Cowardice, Dignity and Solidarity"
http://www.qumsiyeh.org/ofcowardicedignityandsolidarity/
Mazin Qumsiyeh, PhD
http://qumsiyeh.org
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Jerusalem and the unraveling of "the peace process industry"
From Mazin Qumsiyeh's journal
Dedicated to our friend Anna Aschenbach who died shortly after suffering a
stroke while receiving an award from the International League for Peace and
Freedom (WILPF) yesterday. Antizionist feminist and humanist from
Connecticut.
Al-Jazeera just announced the release of 1600 internal and classified
documents that reveal devastating information on the nature and scale of
concessions offered by Palestinian negotiators. The Guardian reported that
" The overwhelming impression that emerges from the confidential records of
a decade of Middle East peace talks is of the weakness and desperation of
Palestinian leaders, the unyielding correctness of Israeli negotiators and
the often contemptuous attitude towards the Palestinian side shown by US
politicians and officials. " I think that it spells the end of the peace
process industry an 18 year sham that facilitated colonization and enriched
a few individuals while destroying our lives.
Prime Minister Salam Fayyad maybe the guy salvaged from the process as he
can claim only overseeing the institutions to serve the Palestinian
population in the ghettos and concentration camps in the rest of the West
Bank. The gates to areas like what remains of Bethlehem district (13%) are
for now open (yes there are literal gates). The message sent over the past
few years is that life is bad for those who resist, easier for quiet
Palestinians, and very good for collaborating Palestinians. There are
thousands of "general managers" and other office holders in the Palestinian
authority. There are tens of thousands of uneducated individuals (selected
for being uneducated and for passing security clearance by Israeli and
American officials) who serve in the many security divisions of the
Palestinian Authority. The rich get richer and the poor get poorer here but
this still meant that on average the GDP is higher in the Palustans today
than 8 years ago (though per capita not higher than 1999). In Gaza the
situation is worse economically as the whole pie is smaller (mostly
humanitarian aid and tunnel trade) and thus while the rich there are still
rich and the poor poor, their poor are far poorer than our poor.
I as a Palestinian and millions of other fellow Palestinians are denied the
right to enter Jerusalem whose character is being transformed as the talk
about more talks goes on! I managed to enter Jerusalem many times like
thousands of Palestinians do without seeking permission from the occupying
army. Years ago, I taught high school in Jerusalem and I know the city very
well. This youtube from a recent visit gives you a glimpse
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3RbhpyDGIac I was both saddened and yet
strangely energized by the visit. The relentless effort to transform the
city to make it "Jewish" (whatever that means) involved relentless efforts
at ethnic cleansing. Just in the past two years, over 10,000 Palestinians
from East Jerusalem had their residency rights revoked. This is done under
101 pretexts ranging from marrying someone from outside the city to getting
a job in another city or renting or buying a peace of real estate outside
the city. The latest bizarre situation is ruling that four elected members
of the Palestinian Legislative Council must renounce their election or face
deportation. One was already deported (for not showing allegiance to the
Jewish state that illegally occupied annexed, and colonized his city).
Three others have spent 205 days now in a tent in the yard of the Red Cross
Building in Silwan. Yes, as I saw the amazing popular resistance carried out
by all natives of Jerusalem against the colonial occupiers, I was uplifted
in my spirits. It is just sad that many world governments continue to be
silent on this.
There is a clear diplomatic impasse here which will get exacerbated now that
the papers on the negotiations have been revealed. Everyone had a "plan"
before and the question is will these plans change:
1) The Zionist leaders have a plan to recognize Palestine as a state in
so-called "provisional borders" which will become permanent borders but
without recognizing any of the basic Palestinian rights (right to return,
self determination, freedom etc). The discussion between extremists like
Lieberman and more moderates like Kadima is what are the dimensions of the
Palestinian population warehouses (as a friend calls them). This is
intended to solve the demographic problem for the state of Israel and get
the pressure off for Israel to take care of millions of unwanted non-Jews in
the Jewish state. The size of these warehouses range from Lieberman's 42% of
the West Bank (itself with Gaza are 22% of historic Palestine) to 60%
(Netanyahu's maximum) to 92% (some Labor and Kadima ideas). In other words
will the Bantustans end-up occupying 9% or 18% (at best) of historic
Palestine? It will of course have no control over its borders or its air
space or its natural resources or its tourism industry. But the right-wing
racist government in Israel is ultimately self-destructive. The world is
wising up.
2) Mr. Mahmoud Abbas plans to continue down the line of working with Western
governments and Western-backed Arab leaders to maybe have them apply just a
little bit of pressure on Israel to end its settlement activity. After
dropping the ball on the International court of Justice ruling on the wall
and dropping the ball on the Goldstone report, the leadership introduced via
to the UN Security Council and the US may or may not veto it. Abbas says
publicly that there may be more "initiatives" coming but ultimately he is
tied by Oslo agreements and the maximum he could ask for is 1967 borders
with some 3-5% territorial swap (which happen to be the best areas of the
West Bank) and certainly he is not going to be allowed to demand the
internationally recognized rights of refugees to return to their homes and
lands. The leaked documents at best weaken that branch of Fatah led by
Abbas that compromised basic Palestinian rights. They could even lead to
the demise of this authority whose terms had expired anyway. Of course there
is a remote possibility that Abbas will manage to avoid both assassination
and irrelevancy by coming clean with his people and offering a new real
innovative approach (like dissolve the PA and call for an anti-Apartheid
struggle led by new leaders).
3) Hamas has a plan to essentially hold on to Gaza and hope the now clear
failure of the "peace process" gives them more popular support among
Palestinians. By controlling the launch of home-made projectiles from Gaza,
they could hold on for years waiting for change in powers. Iran and
Hezbollah are also hoping the continued disregard for international law by
the world powers validates the strategy of relying on military strength and
"resisting" to get rights. Their arguments in the absence of meaningful
enforcement of international law vis a vis Israel is difficult for others to
refute. But many moderate and secular people here wonder what kind of a
future will unfold under regimes that do not separate state power from
religious authority. And even in Gaza, people would not vote for a party
that will offer only vague notions about "Islam is the solution" without a
clear strategy or vision for the future.
4) Left Parties have partial and unformulated plans. Many still cling to
old rhetoric and old divisions and are not able to think innovatively to
design a strategy to recapture their popular support that declined in the
past few decades let alone articulate a clear unified vision for goals and
ways to get to these goals.
5) The US (and by extension subservient EU) have a plan to support the
compromising section of the Palestinian authority but only to the extent
that the strong AIPAC (Israel lobby) approve of. The leaked documents show
that the ceiling for the PA demands must always be continuously lowered to
accommodate Israeli society's increasingly fascist government demands.
Recognizing Israel is not enough anymore, the PA must also recognize the
racist NATURE of Israel (as a JEWISH ZIONIST state) and renounce
internationally recognized rights like the right of refugees to return. If
they do that, will they be then required to recognize that God is indeed a
tribal God with his chosen people and that the Goyim are sub-human and not
deserving of even the Bantustans that they are allowed now to live on?
6) The Civil Society around the world which supports human rights has a plan
of Popular Resistance, Media work, boycotts, divestments, and sanctions to
arrive at justice and ending apartheid. As the pressure builds to isolate
the apartheid (aka Hafrada in Hebrew) regime, these activists believe more
Israelis and others around the world will come around to see that giving
back what was stolen is the only real road to peace (at least partial
restorative justice). It is an uphill battle because of all the brainwashing
that goes on by subservient media and essentially a populace around the
world that is largely apathetic. But the vocal minority that always changes
things is getting more vocal.
As I say in my lectures: collectively all humanity has a choice and it is
not between one-state or two-states, colonialism or an Fundamentalist state
structure (whether Islamic Jewish, or Christian). The choice is between
having a set of International laws and human rights that apply to everyone
(beginning with the 7 million Palestinian refugees and displaced people) OR
a law of the jungle where "might makes right." The latter choice is a
lose-lose scenario since we are in an era where biological, nuclear and
chemical weapons are easy to come by and can destroy civilization. The
former choice requires we begin by educating our selves on our own civil
society power. Simon Bolivar, the visionary revolutionary who pushed for
independence and unity of countries in South America once said: "They have
succeeded in dominating us more through ignorance, than through force".
Indeed. La Luta Continua.
References
http://www.ajtransparency.com/
http://english.aljazeera.net/palestinepapers/
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/jan/23/palestine-papers-power-weakness-
negotiations
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2011/jan/23/middle-east-peace-proces
s-over-palestinians?CMP=twt_gu
Mazin Qumsiyeh
http://qumsiyeh.org
Dedicated to our friend Anna Aschenbach who died shortly after suffering a
stroke while receiving an award from the International League for Peace and
Freedom (WILPF) yesterday. Antizionist feminist and humanist from
Connecticut.
Al-Jazeera just announced the release of 1600 internal and classified
documents that reveal devastating information on the nature and scale of
concessions offered by Palestinian negotiators. The Guardian reported that
" The overwhelming impression that emerges from the confidential records of
a decade of Middle East peace talks is of the weakness and desperation of
Palestinian leaders, the unyielding correctness of Israeli negotiators and
the often contemptuous attitude towards the Palestinian side shown by US
politicians and officials. " I think that it spells the end of the peace
process industry an 18 year sham that facilitated colonization and enriched
a few individuals while destroying our lives.
Prime Minister Salam Fayyad maybe the guy salvaged from the process as he
can claim only overseeing the institutions to serve the Palestinian
population in the ghettos and concentration camps in the rest of the West
Bank. The gates to areas like what remains of Bethlehem district (13%) are
for now open (yes there are literal gates). The message sent over the past
few years is that life is bad for those who resist, easier for quiet
Palestinians, and very good for collaborating Palestinians. There are
thousands of "general managers" and other office holders in the Palestinian
authority. There are tens of thousands of uneducated individuals (selected
for being uneducated and for passing security clearance by Israeli and
American officials) who serve in the many security divisions of the
Palestinian Authority. The rich get richer and the poor get poorer here but
this still meant that on average the GDP is higher in the Palustans today
than 8 years ago (though per capita not higher than 1999). In Gaza the
situation is worse economically as the whole pie is smaller (mostly
humanitarian aid and tunnel trade) and thus while the rich there are still
rich and the poor poor, their poor are far poorer than our poor.
I as a Palestinian and millions of other fellow Palestinians are denied the
right to enter Jerusalem whose character is being transformed as the talk
about more talks goes on! I managed to enter Jerusalem many times like
thousands of Palestinians do without seeking permission from the occupying
army. Years ago, I taught high school in Jerusalem and I know the city very
well. This youtube from a recent visit gives you a glimpse
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3RbhpyDGIac I was both saddened and yet
strangely energized by the visit. The relentless effort to transform the
city to make it "Jewish" (whatever that means) involved relentless efforts
at ethnic cleansing. Just in the past two years, over 10,000 Palestinians
from East Jerusalem had their residency rights revoked. This is done under
101 pretexts ranging from marrying someone from outside the city to getting
a job in another city or renting or buying a peace of real estate outside
the city. The latest bizarre situation is ruling that four elected members
of the Palestinian Legislative Council must renounce their election or face
deportation. One was already deported (for not showing allegiance to the
Jewish state that illegally occupied annexed, and colonized his city).
Three others have spent 205 days now in a tent in the yard of the Red Cross
Building in Silwan. Yes, as I saw the amazing popular resistance carried out
by all natives of Jerusalem against the colonial occupiers, I was uplifted
in my spirits. It is just sad that many world governments continue to be
silent on this.
There is a clear diplomatic impasse here which will get exacerbated now that
the papers on the negotiations have been revealed. Everyone had a "plan"
before and the question is will these plans change:
1) The Zionist leaders have a plan to recognize Palestine as a state in
so-called "provisional borders" which will become permanent borders but
without recognizing any of the basic Palestinian rights (right to return,
self determination, freedom etc). The discussion between extremists like
Lieberman and more moderates like Kadima is what are the dimensions of the
Palestinian population warehouses (as a friend calls them). This is
intended to solve the demographic problem for the state of Israel and get
the pressure off for Israel to take care of millions of unwanted non-Jews in
the Jewish state. The size of these warehouses range from Lieberman's 42% of
the West Bank (itself with Gaza are 22% of historic Palestine) to 60%
(Netanyahu's maximum) to 92% (some Labor and Kadima ideas). In other words
will the Bantustans end-up occupying 9% or 18% (at best) of historic
Palestine? It will of course have no control over its borders or its air
space or its natural resources or its tourism industry. But the right-wing
racist government in Israel is ultimately self-destructive. The world is
wising up.
2) Mr. Mahmoud Abbas plans to continue down the line of working with Western
governments and Western-backed Arab leaders to maybe have them apply just a
little bit of pressure on Israel to end its settlement activity. After
dropping the ball on the International court of Justice ruling on the wall
and dropping the ball on the Goldstone report, the leadership introduced via
to the UN Security Council and the US may or may not veto it. Abbas says
publicly that there may be more "initiatives" coming but ultimately he is
tied by Oslo agreements and the maximum he could ask for is 1967 borders
with some 3-5% territorial swap (which happen to be the best areas of the
West Bank) and certainly he is not going to be allowed to demand the
internationally recognized rights of refugees to return to their homes and
lands. The leaked documents at best weaken that branch of Fatah led by
Abbas that compromised basic Palestinian rights. They could even lead to
the demise of this authority whose terms had expired anyway. Of course there
is a remote possibility that Abbas will manage to avoid both assassination
and irrelevancy by coming clean with his people and offering a new real
innovative approach (like dissolve the PA and call for an anti-Apartheid
struggle led by new leaders).
3) Hamas has a plan to essentially hold on to Gaza and hope the now clear
failure of the "peace process" gives them more popular support among
Palestinians. By controlling the launch of home-made projectiles from Gaza,
they could hold on for years waiting for change in powers. Iran and
Hezbollah are also hoping the continued disregard for international law by
the world powers validates the strategy of relying on military strength and
"resisting" to get rights. Their arguments in the absence of meaningful
enforcement of international law vis a vis Israel is difficult for others to
refute. But many moderate and secular people here wonder what kind of a
future will unfold under regimes that do not separate state power from
religious authority. And even in Gaza, people would not vote for a party
that will offer only vague notions about "Islam is the solution" without a
clear strategy or vision for the future.
4) Left Parties have partial and unformulated plans. Many still cling to
old rhetoric and old divisions and are not able to think innovatively to
design a strategy to recapture their popular support that declined in the
past few decades let alone articulate a clear unified vision for goals and
ways to get to these goals.
5) The US (and by extension subservient EU) have a plan to support the
compromising section of the Palestinian authority but only to the extent
that the strong AIPAC (Israel lobby) approve of. The leaked documents show
that the ceiling for the PA demands must always be continuously lowered to
accommodate Israeli society's increasingly fascist government demands.
Recognizing Israel is not enough anymore, the PA must also recognize the
racist NATURE of Israel (as a JEWISH ZIONIST state) and renounce
internationally recognized rights like the right of refugees to return. If
they do that, will they be then required to recognize that God is indeed a
tribal God with his chosen people and that the Goyim are sub-human and not
deserving of even the Bantustans that they are allowed now to live on?
6) The Civil Society around the world which supports human rights has a plan
of Popular Resistance, Media work, boycotts, divestments, and sanctions to
arrive at justice and ending apartheid. As the pressure builds to isolate
the apartheid (aka Hafrada in Hebrew) regime, these activists believe more
Israelis and others around the world will come around to see that giving
back what was stolen is the only real road to peace (at least partial
restorative justice). It is an uphill battle because of all the brainwashing
that goes on by subservient media and essentially a populace around the
world that is largely apathetic. But the vocal minority that always changes
things is getting more vocal.
As I say in my lectures: collectively all humanity has a choice and it is
not between one-state or two-states, colonialism or an Fundamentalist state
structure (whether Islamic Jewish, or Christian). The choice is between
having a set of International laws and human rights that apply to everyone
(beginning with the 7 million Palestinian refugees and displaced people) OR
a law of the jungle where "might makes right." The latter choice is a
lose-lose scenario since we are in an era where biological, nuclear and
chemical weapons are easy to come by and can destroy civilization. The
former choice requires we begin by educating our selves on our own civil
society power. Simon Bolivar, the visionary revolutionary who pushed for
independence and unity of countries in South America once said: "They have
succeeded in dominating us more through ignorance, than through force".
Indeed. La Luta Continua.
References
http://www.ajtransparency.com/
http://english.aljazeera.net/palestinepapers/
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/jan/23/palestine-papers-power-weakness-
negotiations
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2011/jan/23/middle-east-peace-proces
s-over-palestinians?CMP=twt_gu
Mazin Qumsiyeh
http://qumsiyeh.org
The Palestine Papers "Shocking revelations" on Jerusalem
The chief Palestinian negotiator appears disconnected from his own people and his wider Arab and Muslim constituency.
Aljazeera
Daud Abdullah
Last Modified: 23 Jan 2011 14:36 GMT
One of the most shocking revelations of The Palestine Papers obtained by Al Jazeera relates to the demographic and territorial concessions that the Palestinian Authority was willing to give on Jerusalem.
The papers show that not only did PA negotiators demonstrate a willingness to accept Israel’s annexation of all the settlements in Jerusalem, except Jabal Abu Ghneim (Har Homa), but that they were also willing to disown parts of the besieged Arab neighbourhoods in the city. Worse still, Saeb Erekat, the chief negotiator, displayed clear "flexibility" regarding the sovereignty on the Haram al-Sharif.
As Ahmed Qurei described the PA's concessions on East Jerusalem settlements, this was “the first time in history that we make such a proposition; we refused to do so in Camp David.”
For their part, the Israelis, during negotiations in 2008, refused to return to the point at which the Camp David talks collapsed in July 2000. Udi Dekel, the head of the Israeli team, pointed this out in a May 29, 2008 meeting with Samih al-Abid, the PA's map expert:
“Since 2000, something happened in those 8 years. So we are not at the same starting point. You started a terror war on us and we created facts on the ground. This is the reality that we live in today, so we can’t go back to Camp David. Circumstances changed considerably since then.”
"I will not betray my people"
The first time the two sides ever discussed the status of occupied East Jerusalem - and, in particular, its holy sites - was at Camp David in 2000. Under international law, Jerusalem (including the Haram al-Sharif/Temple Mount) is regarded as part of the illegally occupied Palestinian territories. Notwithstanding, Israeli prime minister Ehud Barak and Palestinian president Yasser Arafat attempted to negotiate the issue during their Camp David summit. Several participants in the controversial talks confirm that their failure to resolve the status of the Old City's holy sites contributed to its acrimonious collapse.
At Camp David, the Clinton administration’s proposal was premised on a general principle that "Arab areas are Palestinian and Jewish areas are Israeli." However, the proposals on the Haram were exceedingly problematic: They seemed to recognize Israel’s sovereignty under the Haram. Other aspects of the proposal seemed to prepare the conditions for Palestinian enclaves within the city, all separated from each other. But the Israelis, unlike the Palestinians, seemed set to maintain contiguity.
Hence, while in theory the Clinton proposal called for "maximum contiguity for both," in practice it translated into "maximum contiguity for Israel."
Realizing the dire consequences of such an outcome, Arafat rejected the offer and defended the Palestine Liberation Organization’s unwillingness to compromise on the sovereignty of the Haram. His was a principled position that quickly earned him the scorn of Israelis and Americans alike - though universal support at home, and throughout the Islamic world.
In what was by all accounts a bruising encounter, Arafat told Clinton, "The Palestinian leader who will give up Jerusalem has not yet been born. I will not betray my people or the trust they have placed in me. Do not look to me to legitimize the occupation! Of course, it can continue longer, but it cannot last forever."
Newfound "flexibility"
The Palestine Papers show that ten years later the leadership of PLO, now substantially weakened and fragmented, was prepared to deviate from the red line laid down by Arafat. At least one member of its executive committee, Saeb Erekat, has demonstrated this willingness to show “flexibility” on the Haram.
Related
Erekat's solution for the Haram al-Sharif
Saeb Erekat, the chief negotiator of the Palestinian Authority, has suggested unprecedented compromises on the division of Jerusalem and its holy sites, The Palestine Papers show.
Whether he made the following overtures to win the admiration of his American counterparts, or merely to break the deadlock created by the extremist Netanyahu government, it is not clear; what is absolutely clear, though, is that the proposed tinkering with the legal status of the Haram al-Sharif is dangerous and unprecedented. Despite the obvious the risks entailed, Erekat nonetheless, made this "creative" suggestion on October 21st 2009 during a meeting in Washington. He told Obama adviser David Hale and State Department legal adviser Jonathan Schwartz:
“Even the Old City can be worked out except for the Haram and what they call Temple Mount. There you need the creativity of people like me…”
When Schwartz asked whether they were to discuss Jerusalem with the borders or separately, Erekat replied:
“It’s solved. You have the Clinton Parameters formula. For the Old City sovereignty for Palestine, except the Jewish quarter and part of the Armenian quarter…the Haram can be left to be discussed – there are creative ways, having a body or a committee, having undertakings for example not to dig.”
It is evident from this exchange that; whereas Arafat had rejected the Clinton parameters, the current Palestinian team (led by Erekat) is prepared to accept it.
Furthermore, he conceded that the Jewish Quarter and part of the Armenian Quarter would be under Israeli sovereignty. By so doing, Erekat was, in effect, moving the current Armistice ["Green"] Line, which is currently far away from the Haram al-Sharif and outside the Old City, to rest exactly at the Haram's walls. (It must be recalled that when the Jewish Quarter was confiscated by the Israelis on 18 April 1968, only 105 of the 595 houses were owned by Jews.)
More alarmingly, Erekat’s suggestion of "a body or a committee" to solve the issue of the Haram demonstrated his unreserved flexibility over the sovereignty of the Haram itself. It indicates it is not a red line any more.
To highlight the extent of the PA's offer on Jerusalem, Erekat on January 15, 2010 told George Mitchell’s staff: “What is in that paper gives them the biggest Yerushalaim in Jewish history…”
From the beginning, Erekat was well aware of the acute sensitivity of the issue of the Haram to Arabs and Muslims. He confirmed this to US assistant secretary of state David Welch after the Annapolis meeting on 2 December 2008, when he said that, to the Saudis, “Jerusalem is the Haram."
It is notable in The Palestine Papers that even Condoleezza Rice realised the extreme sensitivity of the Haram, telling the Palestinian and Israeli negotiators in a July 29, 2008 meeting that on the Haram "your children’s children will not have an agreement." She called on both sides to" leave it unresolved."
But the chief Palestinian negotiator appeared totally disconnected from his own people, as well as his wider Arab and Muslim constituency, when he made this "creative" overture about Old City and the Haram. He apparently, was so consumed by the negotiations that he became oblivious of the import of his remarks among Arabs, Muslims and - most of all - his own people. Even among some Israelis this seemed infantile; as Israeli lawyer Daniel Seidemann observed in a recent article, “any attempt to construe the API (Arab Palestine Initiative) in a manner that falls short of "full-stop" Palestinian or Arab sovereignty on the Haram/Mount would be an exercise in self-delusion.”
Dr Daud Abdullah is the director of the Middle East Monitor - an independent media research institution founded in the United Kingdom to foster a fair and accurate coverage in the Western media of Middle Eastern issues and in particular the Palestine question.
Friday, January 21, 2011
French foreign minister gets hostile reception in Gaza
BBC
21 January 2011
Last updated at 05:51 ET
The French foreign minister has been mobbed by Palestinian protesters on her arrival in Gaza.
They were angry at reports that Michele Alliot-Marie had said the five-year captivity of Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit by Hamas was a war crime.
But other news reports from her meeting with the soldier's father on Thursday suggested she had said Sgt Shalit should receive Red Cross visits.
The Israeli-French dual national was captured by militants in June 2006.
A small crowd of protesters - many of them relatives of Palestinians held in Israeli prisons - tried to block Ms Alliot-Marie's car after it went through the Erez crossing into Gaza.
Some held pictures of Palestinian prisoners and banners saying "Get out of Gaza". Other protesters banged on the bonnet and threw shoes at the vehicle.
Later, as the French minister left a hospital she had been visiting, her car was pelted with eggs.
Impassioned appeal
Ms Alliot-Marie is on her first trip to the Middle East since her appointment to the post last November.
In Jerusalem she met Sgt Shalit's father, Noam Shalit. Afterwards he said the minister had promised to speak to the European Union and "to pass on the message that the prisoner should receive visits from the Red Cross".
Mr Shalit then told reporters: "Holding a hostage without allowing him to meet representatives of the Red Cross is a war crime."
Some news reports, including Israeli radio, attributed the comment to Ms Alliot-Marie.
Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri said her comments reflected a "total bias toward Israel" and ignored the thousands of Palestinians held by Israel.
"They are the true prisoners of war," he said.
While in Gaza, the French minister issued an impassioned call for an end to Israel's blockade of the impoverished Palestinian territory, according to AFP news agency.
"The blockade of Gaza breeds poverty and fuels violence. In the spirit of the values of freedom and dignity that we share, France calls on Israel to stop it," Ms Alliot-Marie is quoted as saying.
21 January 2011
Last updated at 05:51 ET
The French foreign minister has been mobbed by Palestinian protesters on her arrival in Gaza.
They were angry at reports that Michele Alliot-Marie had said the five-year captivity of Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit by Hamas was a war crime.
But other news reports from her meeting with the soldier's father on Thursday suggested she had said Sgt Shalit should receive Red Cross visits.
The Israeli-French dual national was captured by militants in June 2006.
A small crowd of protesters - many of them relatives of Palestinians held in Israeli prisons - tried to block Ms Alliot-Marie's car after it went through the Erez crossing into Gaza.
Some held pictures of Palestinian prisoners and banners saying "Get out of Gaza". Other protesters banged on the bonnet and threw shoes at the vehicle.
Later, as the French minister left a hospital she had been visiting, her car was pelted with eggs.
Impassioned appeal
Ms Alliot-Marie is on her first trip to the Middle East since her appointment to the post last November.
In Jerusalem she met Sgt Shalit's father, Noam Shalit. Afterwards he said the minister had promised to speak to the European Union and "to pass on the message that the prisoner should receive visits from the Red Cross".
Mr Shalit then told reporters: "Holding a hostage without allowing him to meet representatives of the Red Cross is a war crime."
Some news reports, including Israeli radio, attributed the comment to Ms Alliot-Marie.
Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri said her comments reflected a "total bias toward Israel" and ignored the thousands of Palestinians held by Israel.
"They are the true prisoners of war," he said.
While in Gaza, the French minister issued an impassioned call for an end to Israel's blockade of the impoverished Palestinian territory, according to AFP news agency.
"The blockade of Gaza breeds poverty and fuels violence. In the spirit of the values of freedom and dignity that we share, France calls on Israel to stop it," Ms Alliot-Marie is quoted as saying.
Obama must call Israeli settlements illegal
US support for a UN resolution on the settlements would remind Netanyahu that there are consequences for breaking the law
Ian Williams
Guardian.co.uk,
Friday 21 January 2011 11.59 GMT
"To veto or not to veto?" That is the agonising question that has President Barack Obama pacing the battlements of the White House waiting to dodge the slings and arrows of outraged Aipac. Provoked by the latest demolition in East Jerusalem, no fewer than 120 countries have sponsored a UN resolution condemning Israeli settlement activity. Hillary Clinton has also condemned it as "illegitimate", but the resolution introduces precision by terming the settlements as "illegal".
In a country where "all politics is local", and in the face of the economic crisis, Obama could almost be forgiven for dropping the ball in the Middle East game. But his response to the current resolution could well determine whether there is any wind left in the sails of the peace flotilla he launched with his speeches in Egypt and Turkey directed at the Muslim world.
Every other member of the UN security council agrees that settlements are illegal, including Britain and France. The international court of justice has affirmed their illegality. The US once called them illegal, then termed them unhelpful, and currently regards them as "unhelpful" and "illegitimate". Under the road map of 2003, Israel agreed to stop them, but it has ignored the rest of the world and its best friend, the US, and continued to build. Even President Bill Clinton officially reduced the amount of US loan guarantees by the sum spent on settlements.
In the face of Binyamin Netanyahu's defiance, so far the US response, engineered by Dennis Ross – who seems to have frozen out the official peace negotiator, George Mitchell – has been to attempt to bribe Israel with billions of dollars, free jet fighters and a free "get out of the security council" card in the form of a veto. The handsome offer was for a temporary moratorium.
Washington's line is to ignore UN decisions and international law and say that it is up to the parties to negotiate such "permanent-status issues". The state department itself is clearer on the issues. After years of congressional votes, it still balks at moving the US embassy to Jerusalem (which hosts not a single foreign embassy) because, regardless of eventual negotiations, Israel does not have internationally recognised title to the city.
It is as if you have caught someone stealing your car and the police decide to overlook technical issues like the law and ownership and instead tell you to negotiate with the thief to get occasional access to the back seat.
In this week's security council debate on the resolution, deputy US ambassador Rosemary DiCarlo used theological nicety to explain Washington's difficulty in supporting a resolution that, on the face of it, reflects US official policy. "We believe that continued settlement expansion is corrosive – not only to peace efforts and the two-state solution – but to Israel's future itself. The fate of existing settlements is an issue that must be dealt with by the parties, along with the other permanent-status issues – but, like every US administration for decades, we do not accept the legitimacy of continued Israeli settlement activity."
However, she added: "Permanent-status issues can be resolved only through negotiations between the parties – and not by recourse to the security council. We therefore consistently oppose attempts to take these issues to this council and will continue to do so."
The US ambassador to the UN, Susan Rice, is usually tactfully absent during such debates, keeping her credibility by allowing deputies to intone the weaselly formulas that disguise the stark truth. Annexation and settlement building are illegal.
Of course, Obama has other problems, such as the economy and healthcare, and on the Middle East must face not only a rabidly pro-Israeli Republican party but also a majority of his own party that would sign up to a resolution declaring the moon to be made of blue cheese if the Israeli lobby demanded it.
Nonetheless, his credibility as president is at stake here. The Republicans do control the House of Representatives, and indeed the chair of the foreign affairs committee is now Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, who outflanks the Israeli government on the right. (She has been trying to de-fund UNRWA, the UN's agency that provides basic services in the occupied territories, even though the Israeli government, which would have to pay if the UN didn't, opposes her.) But Congress cannot control the US delegation to the UN.
It is surely time for Obama "to take arms against a sea of troubles, and by opposing end them". This week, a letter landed on the White House doormat from a phalanx of foreign policy and government professionals urging him to support the resolution. He should take their advice.
The public exasperation implied by support for the security council resolution sends a signal to Netanyahu that there are indeed consequences for ignoring the advice of your best friend, let alone breaking the law. It might make the Israeli prime minister more amenable, and it would certainly send a signal to the Israeli electorate that Netanyahu had terminally alienated the White House.
It would not alienate the American electorate, not even American Jews. Those who support Netanyahu tend to be those who think the president is a foreign-born crypto-Muslim anyway. It would bring cheer to the J-Street movement, whose peacenik views more closely reflect those of most American Jews than Likud does.
And it would do more than any other single act to demonstrate respect for international law and restore the credibility of American diplomacy.
Indeed, Obama could follow up and demand the IRS check on the tax deductibility of American "charities" and foundations that bankroll settlement building, including Irving Moskowitz, who recycles the proceeds of inner-city gambling in the US to buy and demolish property in East Jerusalem, such as the Shepherd Hotel, with the conscious aim of frustrating the declared policy of every US government since 1967. Some of the money, however, he sends as donations to politicians like Ileana Ros-Lehtinen.
Ian Williams
Guardian.co.uk,
Friday 21 January 2011 11.59 GMT
"To veto or not to veto?" That is the agonising question that has President Barack Obama pacing the battlements of the White House waiting to dodge the slings and arrows of outraged Aipac. Provoked by the latest demolition in East Jerusalem, no fewer than 120 countries have sponsored a UN resolution condemning Israeli settlement activity. Hillary Clinton has also condemned it as "illegitimate", but the resolution introduces precision by terming the settlements as "illegal".
In a country where "all politics is local", and in the face of the economic crisis, Obama could almost be forgiven for dropping the ball in the Middle East game. But his response to the current resolution could well determine whether there is any wind left in the sails of the peace flotilla he launched with his speeches in Egypt and Turkey directed at the Muslim world.
Every other member of the UN security council agrees that settlements are illegal, including Britain and France. The international court of justice has affirmed their illegality. The US once called them illegal, then termed them unhelpful, and currently regards them as "unhelpful" and "illegitimate". Under the road map of 2003, Israel agreed to stop them, but it has ignored the rest of the world and its best friend, the US, and continued to build. Even President Bill Clinton officially reduced the amount of US loan guarantees by the sum spent on settlements.
In the face of Binyamin Netanyahu's defiance, so far the US response, engineered by Dennis Ross – who seems to have frozen out the official peace negotiator, George Mitchell – has been to attempt to bribe Israel with billions of dollars, free jet fighters and a free "get out of the security council" card in the form of a veto. The handsome offer was for a temporary moratorium.
Washington's line is to ignore UN decisions and international law and say that it is up to the parties to negotiate such "permanent-status issues". The state department itself is clearer on the issues. After years of congressional votes, it still balks at moving the US embassy to Jerusalem (which hosts not a single foreign embassy) because, regardless of eventual negotiations, Israel does not have internationally recognised title to the city.
It is as if you have caught someone stealing your car and the police decide to overlook technical issues like the law and ownership and instead tell you to negotiate with the thief to get occasional access to the back seat.
In this week's security council debate on the resolution, deputy US ambassador Rosemary DiCarlo used theological nicety to explain Washington's difficulty in supporting a resolution that, on the face of it, reflects US official policy. "We believe that continued settlement expansion is corrosive – not only to peace efforts and the two-state solution – but to Israel's future itself. The fate of existing settlements is an issue that must be dealt with by the parties, along with the other permanent-status issues – but, like every US administration for decades, we do not accept the legitimacy of continued Israeli settlement activity."
However, she added: "Permanent-status issues can be resolved only through negotiations between the parties – and not by recourse to the security council. We therefore consistently oppose attempts to take these issues to this council and will continue to do so."
The US ambassador to the UN, Susan Rice, is usually tactfully absent during such debates, keeping her credibility by allowing deputies to intone the weaselly formulas that disguise the stark truth. Annexation and settlement building are illegal.
Of course, Obama has other problems, such as the economy and healthcare, and on the Middle East must face not only a rabidly pro-Israeli Republican party but also a majority of his own party that would sign up to a resolution declaring the moon to be made of blue cheese if the Israeli lobby demanded it.
Nonetheless, his credibility as president is at stake here. The Republicans do control the House of Representatives, and indeed the chair of the foreign affairs committee is now Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, who outflanks the Israeli government on the right. (She has been trying to de-fund UNRWA, the UN's agency that provides basic services in the occupied territories, even though the Israeli government, which would have to pay if the UN didn't, opposes her.) But Congress cannot control the US delegation to the UN.
It is surely time for Obama "to take arms against a sea of troubles, and by opposing end them". This week, a letter landed on the White House doormat from a phalanx of foreign policy and government professionals urging him to support the resolution. He should take their advice.
The public exasperation implied by support for the security council resolution sends a signal to Netanyahu that there are indeed consequences for ignoring the advice of your best friend, let alone breaking the law. It might make the Israeli prime minister more amenable, and it would certainly send a signal to the Israeli electorate that Netanyahu had terminally alienated the White House.
It would not alienate the American electorate, not even American Jews. Those who support Netanyahu tend to be those who think the president is a foreign-born crypto-Muslim anyway. It would bring cheer to the J-Street movement, whose peacenik views more closely reflect those of most American Jews than Likud does.
And it would do more than any other single act to demonstrate respect for international law and restore the credibility of American diplomacy.
Indeed, Obama could follow up and demand the IRS check on the tax deductibility of American "charities" and foundations that bankroll settlement building, including Irving Moskowitz, who recycles the proceeds of inner-city gambling in the US to buy and demolish property in East Jerusalem, such as the Shepherd Hotel, with the conscious aim of frustrating the declared policy of every US government since 1967. Some of the money, however, he sends as donations to politicians like Ileana Ros-Lehtinen.
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
WikiLeaks: US advised to sabotage Iran nuclear sites by German thinktank
As Stuxnet cyber attack pinned on US and Israel, US embassy cable reveals advice to use undercover operations
Josh Halliday
Guardian.co.uk,
Tuesday 18 January 2011 19.26 GMT
The Iranian president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, inspecting the Natanz nuclear plant, the target of the Stuxnet worm. Photograph: Handout/EPA
The United States was advised to adopt a policy of "covert sabotage" of Iran's clandestine nuclear facilities, including computer hacking and "unexplained explosions", by an influential German thinktank, a leaked US embassy cable reveals.
Volker Perthes, director of Germany's government-funded Institute for Security and International Affairs, told US officials in Berlin that undercover operations would be "more effective than a military strike" in curtailing Iran's nuclear ambitions.
A sophisticated computer worm, Stuxnet, infiltrated the Natanz nuclear facility last year, delaying Iran's programme by some months. The New York Times said this week that Stuxnet was a joint US-Israeli operation.
On Monday, Iran's top nuclear negotiator blamed the US for the cyber-attack. Saeed Jalili told NBC News an investigation had found the US was involved in the attack that apparently shut down a fifth of Iran's nuclear centrifuges in November. "I have witnessed some documents that show [US participation]," he said.
A diplomatic cable sent by the US ambassador to Germany, Philip Murphy, in January 2010, records that Perthes said a policy of "covert sabotage (unexplained explosions, accidents, computer hacking etc) would be more effective than a military strike, whose effects in the region could be devastating".
Perthes is a leading western expert on Iran. An earlier diplomatic cable, sent by Murphy on 14 December 2009 showed that his advice was heeded by politicians and officials - including Condoleezza Rice, the former US secretary of state.
"The majority of the guests at the table distinctly deferred to Perthes for guidance on where the Iran issue might be headed or should be headed," Murphy wrote. "This was striking amongst such a high ranking group of people operationally involved with the Iran issue."
In an interview with the Guardian, Perthes said the ambassador accurately reflected his view "that 'unexplained accidents' or 'computer failures' etc are certainly better than military strikes. And that military strikes – a military escalation with Iran – must be avoided.
"Compared to military action, such acts have the advantage that the leadership of a country that is affected wouldn't need to respond – everybody can agree that there was a technical failure, no one needs to shoot or bomb. And at the same time, everybody has understood the message – about what developments are unacceptable to the other side.
"My sense at the beginning of 2010 was – without having any specific knowledge – that some countries were indeed preparing to slow down the Iranian nuclear programme by acts of sabotage, or computer hacking."
US and Israeli officials refused to comment on their reported involvement with Stuxnet yesterday. However, the leaked cables show that more covert methods of infiltrating Iran's nuclear programme – including powerful cyber attacks – was a proposal gaining traction inside US diplomatic circles last year.
President George Bush approved $300m (£189m) on joint covert projects aimed at Iran, understood to have included Stuxnet, before leaving office in 2009.
The chances of a military strike against Iran are now understood to be receding, in part because of the success of the Stuxnet cyberattack, but also due to the assassination last year of two Iranian nuclear scientists, which was attributed to Israel.
Stuxnet wiped out roughly a fifth of the centrifuges used to enrich uranium at Iran's Natanz base around August last year. Security experts told the Guardian at the time that Stuxnet was "the most refined piece of malware ever discovered", raising suspicion that it was a well-funded and potentially state-sponsored operation. According to the New York Times, the Stuxnet worm was tested at a secret Israeli bunker at Dimano, near the Negev desert.
Josh Halliday
Guardian.co.uk,
Tuesday 18 January 2011 19.26 GMT
The Iranian president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, inspecting the Natanz nuclear plant, the target of the Stuxnet worm. Photograph: Handout/EPA
The United States was advised to adopt a policy of "covert sabotage" of Iran's clandestine nuclear facilities, including computer hacking and "unexplained explosions", by an influential German thinktank, a leaked US embassy cable reveals.
Volker Perthes, director of Germany's government-funded Institute for Security and International Affairs, told US officials in Berlin that undercover operations would be "more effective than a military strike" in curtailing Iran's nuclear ambitions.
A sophisticated computer worm, Stuxnet, infiltrated the Natanz nuclear facility last year, delaying Iran's programme by some months. The New York Times said this week that Stuxnet was a joint US-Israeli operation.
On Monday, Iran's top nuclear negotiator blamed the US for the cyber-attack. Saeed Jalili told NBC News an investigation had found the US was involved in the attack that apparently shut down a fifth of Iran's nuclear centrifuges in November. "I have witnessed some documents that show [US participation]," he said.
A diplomatic cable sent by the US ambassador to Germany, Philip Murphy, in January 2010, records that Perthes said a policy of "covert sabotage (unexplained explosions, accidents, computer hacking etc) would be more effective than a military strike, whose effects in the region could be devastating".
Perthes is a leading western expert on Iran. An earlier diplomatic cable, sent by Murphy on 14 December 2009 showed that his advice was heeded by politicians and officials - including Condoleezza Rice, the former US secretary of state.
"The majority of the guests at the table distinctly deferred to Perthes for guidance on where the Iran issue might be headed or should be headed," Murphy wrote. "This was striking amongst such a high ranking group of people operationally involved with the Iran issue."
In an interview with the Guardian, Perthes said the ambassador accurately reflected his view "that 'unexplained accidents' or 'computer failures' etc are certainly better than military strikes. And that military strikes – a military escalation with Iran – must be avoided.
"Compared to military action, such acts have the advantage that the leadership of a country that is affected wouldn't need to respond – everybody can agree that there was a technical failure, no one needs to shoot or bomb. And at the same time, everybody has understood the message – about what developments are unacceptable to the other side.
"My sense at the beginning of 2010 was – without having any specific knowledge – that some countries were indeed preparing to slow down the Iranian nuclear programme by acts of sabotage, or computer hacking."
US and Israeli officials refused to comment on their reported involvement with Stuxnet yesterday. However, the leaked cables show that more covert methods of infiltrating Iran's nuclear programme – including powerful cyber attacks – was a proposal gaining traction inside US diplomatic circles last year.
President George Bush approved $300m (£189m) on joint covert projects aimed at Iran, understood to have included Stuxnet, before leaving office in 2009.
The chances of a military strike against Iran are now understood to be receding, in part because of the success of the Stuxnet cyberattack, but also due to the assassination last year of two Iranian nuclear scientists, which was attributed to Israel.
Stuxnet wiped out roughly a fifth of the centrifuges used to enrich uranium at Iran's Natanz base around August last year. Security experts told the Guardian at the time that Stuxnet was "the most refined piece of malware ever discovered", raising suspicion that it was a well-funded and potentially state-sponsored operation. According to the New York Times, the Stuxnet worm was tested at a secret Israeli bunker at Dimano, near the Negev desert.
Thursday, January 13, 2011
From Mazin's Journal: The last step in liberation of Palestine and the rest of humanity: Developing a winning attitude
http://www.qumsiyeh.org/thelaststepinliberation/
After I finished my last book on popular resistance in Palestine over the
past 130 years, I became 100% sure that political Zionism will fail and that
Palestinian refugees will return to their homes and lands. My certainty is
based on the lessons of history in Palestine and lessons from similar
struggles like South Africa, Vietnam, and Algeria. Some of the peculiarities
that will be critical for our success are:
- The incredible and inspiring history of the local popular resistance: The
subtitle of my book is "A history of hope and empowerment". Over 200 forms
of popular resistance are practiced including a wide spectrum of what we
call in Arabic Sumud. Resistance is the main thing that stood in the way of
the Zionist project. Five and a half million Palestinians still live in the
dreamed of "Eretz Yisrael".
- The logarithmic growth of the boycotts, divestments and sanctions
movement. In five years alone (2005-2010), we achieved more than what we
were able to achieve in BDS movements in South Africa from the 1950s to the
1980s.
- The unrest in in Algeria and Tunisia tell us that the era of backward
selfish undemocratic Arab leadership will (and must) come to an end. There
are tremendous intellectual resources in the Arab world that can then be
unleashed to build a vibrant society (at levels of culture, economics,
scientific, etc.)
- Despite the heavily censored/controlled mainstream media, people of good
conscience were and are able to get the truth out and many of the myths of
Zionism were demolished. The internet only accelerated this.
- The publication of the civil society call to action in 2005 and the
Palestine Kairos document in 2009 has given tremendous push to activism
around the world including in mainstream churches.
- The growth of International solidarity was unparalleled in history.
Despite the attempts by the Israeli authorities to stop this international
support by many methods (including refusing entry to many activists), the
movement only grows stronger. We went from few hundreds to tens of
thousands and from one ship to seven; and as many as 60 ships are coming to
break the siege on Gaza later this year.
- We are very proud and persistent people. The thriving art and culture
scene in Palestine and among Palestinian community in exile are a testament
to this spirit of a people who seek life and refuse to be dehumanized. We
do not and will not resort to the tactics of those who chose to be our
enemies. From Dabka to good food to other cultural traditions, Palestine
remained not only physically in our surroundings but deep in our hearts. We
developed the most educated populace in the region.
In Palestine, these and many other reasons increase our certainty in the
inevitability of a successful end to our decades of repression, colonization
and occupation. We faced, almost alone, the best-organized, best-financed,
most western-supported colonial enterprise in history. Rational human
beings see that the spread of fundamentalism is only fostered when Israel is
made an exception and is funded and protected while it flouts human rights
and International law. Zionists act to control and manipulate and we must
continue to calmly resist and refuse to be enslaved. We tell our stories
with dignity and we explain why this racist/tribalistic system is harmful to
all of humanity. We do it without hatred to any person but with anger and
hatred at the inhuman actions of a deluded few who think they can get away
with war crimes and crimes against humanity forever. People around the
world increasingly see the reality and join our struggle. I talk and show
reality in Bethlehem area to groups of visitors almost every day in
Palestine. I get invitations to speak abroad frequently but I chose to
limit such trips abroad because there is so much to do at home.
We speak to diverse groups sometimes to the consternation of puritans on all
sides. I spoke for example at colleges and schools in the US where the
majority of students and faculty were Jewish (e.g. Brandeis,
Manhattenville), I spoke at NATO defense college, at conservative Churches,
at synagogues and Jewish community centers, at editorial board meetings of
influential papers largely owned by Zionists, and we even spoke at a US
Naval Academy. In the West Bank I spoke to visitors ranging from Church
leaders, to US congressmen, to British Parliamentarians, to the US consular
officers, and even to Israeli academics. Some people especially on the left
balk at these events and some even openly criticized us for these kinds of
engagements. But if we are willing to speak to Israeli soldiers telling
them how they are committing war crimes by obeying orders and we manage to
occasionally (though rarely) touch a cord in the heart of our direct
oppressors, why can't we talk to all other human beings regardless of their
background. It is counterproductive to imagine the worst in humanity;
misjudge the trends in history; and insist that we can only talk to those we
agree with or go with the flow. This is a losing attitude that relegates
many on the left to holding signs at street corners without creatively
thinking how do we get power. It also relegates those in power to
complacency and corruption and mistrust of people. Many develop their
diagnostic language (the corporate media is controlled, the Zionist lobby is
too strong, the politics cannot change, power structures are what they are
etc) but are not willing to seriously take action to make this world a
better place.
In this year, we will be seven billion human beings on this earth. The
distortions in many countries (including Italy and Israel/Palestine) of the
rich getting richer and the poor getting poorer cannot and will not
continue. Fear of change is what paralyzes many people. As others have
pointed out, our biggest fear is not that we will fail but that for many
human beings, the biggest fear is that we can be more successful than our
wildest dreams. I believe indeed it is fear of success that keeps most
people complacent. After all, for many if they really go seriously after
their dreams (personal or collective) and succeed then it will show that the
years they spent worrying and being afraid have indeed been only because of
their lack of courage to change themselves.
Neurobiologists tell us that we humans only use a tiny fraction of our brain
(we are told that geniuses use 1-2%). In the 1950s civil rights movement in
the US, a common saying was "free your mind and your ass will follow". I
think positive change always comes after people changed attitude in life to
a positive direction. This is not only possible but it is imperative and
inevitable. The more people realize this, the quicker we will get there.
And we should all be working on the nature of the society to follow our
inevitable win: one based on human rights and the rule of law not of
military might and repression.
Mazin Qumsiyeh, PhD
http://qumsiyeh.org
(from Italy)
Friday, January 07, 2011
West Bank civilian dies in Israeli army raid in Hebron
BBC
7 January 2011
Last updated at 05:19 ET
Israeli troops have shot dead a 67-year-old Palestinian man by mistake in an operation to arrest members of the Islamist militant organisation, Hamas.
The pre-dawn raid happened in Hebron, in the West Bank, a day after six supporters of Hamas had been released from jail by the Palestinian Authority.
The man who died was a neighbour of one of the Hamas men.
Hamas has said it holds the Palestinian Authority and Israel responsible.
Reports from the scene of the shooting said it took place in a bedroom on the building's first floor.
The Reuters news agency has reported that the man, Amr Qawasme, was shot and killed in his bed when soldiers broke into his home before dawn.
His wife, Sobheye, said she heard several shots fired and later saw her husband lying in a pool of blood.
"I was praying when they entered. I do not know how they opened the door. They put their hand to my mouth and a rifle to my head," she told Reuters.
"I was shocked. They did not allow me to talk. I asked them, "What did you do?" They asked me to shut up."
The IDF said in a statement: "A Palestinian man who was present in one of the terrorist's homes was killed. The IDF regrets the outcome of the incident." The army has ordered an investigation.
Reports say Israeli forces carried out a number of raids across the city, rounding up five men.
On Thursday Palestinian Authority President Mahmud Abbas ordered the release of six Hamas prisoners who had been on hunger strike. Five were being held in a Hebron jail, while the sixth was imprisoned in Bethlehem.
The Palestinian Authority exercises limited control over parts of the West Bank. The territory is under overall Israeli security control.
Israel has occupied the West Bank since 1967, settling close to 500,000 Jews in more than 100 settlements. There are about 2.5 million Palestinians living in the West Bank.
IDF assassination of anyone who resists Israeli occupation and not a peep out of Washington. This is our handiwork, the creation of the rogue state of Israel that continually breaks international laws yet because of America's support, gets a pass from world condemnation.
7 January 2011
Last updated at 05:19 ET
Israeli troops have shot dead a 67-year-old Palestinian man by mistake in an operation to arrest members of the Islamist militant organisation, Hamas.
The pre-dawn raid happened in Hebron, in the West Bank, a day after six supporters of Hamas had been released from jail by the Palestinian Authority.
The man who died was a neighbour of one of the Hamas men.
Hamas has said it holds the Palestinian Authority and Israel responsible.
Reports from the scene of the shooting said it took place in a bedroom on the building's first floor.
The Reuters news agency has reported that the man, Amr Qawasme, was shot and killed in his bed when soldiers broke into his home before dawn.
His wife, Sobheye, said she heard several shots fired and later saw her husband lying in a pool of blood.
"I was praying when they entered. I do not know how they opened the door. They put their hand to my mouth and a rifle to my head," she told Reuters.
"I was shocked. They did not allow me to talk. I asked them, "What did you do?" They asked me to shut up."
The IDF said in a statement: "A Palestinian man who was present in one of the terrorist's homes was killed. The IDF regrets the outcome of the incident." The army has ordered an investigation.
Reports say Israeli forces carried out a number of raids across the city, rounding up five men.
On Thursday Palestinian Authority President Mahmud Abbas ordered the release of six Hamas prisoners who had been on hunger strike. Five were being held in a Hebron jail, while the sixth was imprisoned in Bethlehem.
The Palestinian Authority exercises limited control over parts of the West Bank. The territory is under overall Israeli security control.
Israel has occupied the West Bank since 1967, settling close to 500,000 Jews in more than 100 settlements. There are about 2.5 million Palestinians living in the West Bank.
IDF assassination of anyone who resists Israeli occupation and not a peep out of Washington. This is our handiwork, the creation of the rogue state of Israel that continually breaks international laws yet because of America's support, gets a pass from world condemnation.
Tuesday, January 04, 2011
Substantial evidence contradicts the army's version of the events surrounding the death of Jawaher Abu Rahmah
Press Release
Tuesday, 04 Januray 2010
The evidence surrounding the events leading to the death of Bil’in resident Jawaher Abu Rahmah disproves completely the army spokesperson’s version, to the point of putting the army in a ridiculous light. The army’s version is based on claims made anonymously, without any supporting evidence – unlike the version of the Abu Rahmah family and the Popular Coordinating Committee of Bil’in, which is detailed below.
For additional information: Jonathan Pollak 054-632-7736
Since yesterday, the army has been promoting in the Israeli media a mendacious version regarding the events that led to the death of Jawaher Abu Rahmah of Bil’in on Friday, 31 December 2010. According to the army’s version, Jawaher was not injured by tear gas and was possibly not even present at the demonstration. The army spokesperson did not see fit to publish an official statement on the matter, instead passing the information to the media in the name of anonymous “army sources.”
The facts of the matter, which are supported by the testimony of eyewitness who were present at the demonstration, as well as by the ambulance driver who evacuated her to the hospital, contradict completely the army’s version:
Soubhiya Abu Rahmah, mother of Jawaher: “I was standing beside Jawaher on the hill that is near the place where the demonstration took place, when we were injured by a cloud of tear gas. Jawaher began to feel unwell from inhaling the gas and started to move back from the place; soon after that she vomited and collapsed. We took her to the nearest road, and from there she was evacuated by ambulance to the hospital, where she remained until her death. She was not sick with cancer, nor did she have any other illness; and she was not asthmatic.”
Ilham Fathi: I was on the roof of my house, which is located a few meters from where Jawaher stood. When the cloud of tear gas moved in our direction, I went downstairs in order to close the windows. While I was closing one of the windows, I saw her lose consciousness from the gas and ran over to her, together with Islam Abu Rahmah, in order to pull her away. We picked her up together and carried her to my garden. We called for help and she began to vomit and foam at the mouth. Phone: 059-5127887
Islam Abu Rahmah: “I was standing with Jawaher, her mother and my grandmother in order to watch the confrontation that was going on just in front of us, in the area of the fence. The wind moved the gas in our direction, making our eyes itch and tear up. After that she (Jawaher) began to cough and foam at the mouth. Soon after that she became weak and lay down on the ground. I succeeded in carrying her as far as the Abu Khamis home, about 40 meters in the direction of her house, but then she became terribly weak, vomited violently and foamed at the mouth. She was having difficult breathing and lost her sense of direction. We got a few women to help her by waving a paper fan over her face in order to provide some oxygen. After that she was taken to the hospital.”
Saher Bisharat, the ambulance who evacuated Jawaher: “We received Jawaher near the entrance that is parallel to the fence, which is where the demonstration was taking place. She was still partially conscious, answered questions, and said that she had choked on gas. I took her straight to the hospital.” (Click here to view the Red Crescent report). Phone: 059-9374348
The army has also claimed that the reports about Abu Rahmeh’s injuries started to arrive only several hours after the incident, in the evening. That claim is contradicted by a tweet sent by the NGO Jewish Voices for Peace (JVP), which reports the injury of Jawaher, including her name, in real time (click here to view). The tweet was sent at 2:36 pm (4:36 am on the West Coast of the United States). Wafa, the Palestinian news service, published a report that includes the injury of Jawaher Abu Rahmah shortly after the event (click here to view).
Also according to “army sources,” which remain anonymous, Jawaher Abu Rahmah suffered from a serious illness, possibly leukemia; the “sources” postulate that she died from a pre-existing condition rather than tear gas inhalation. Several sources reject that claim.
Dr. Uday Abu Nahlah: “Jawaher Abu Rahmah was employed in my home on a regular basis. On Thursday she was at work as usual, healthy, only one day before her death.” Phone: 059-9796827 (English and Arabic).
Jawaher had an inner ear infection, which affected her balance, for which she was recently given a CT scan. The radiologist who performed the CT scan, Dr. Hamis Al Sahfi’i, confirmed that the brain scan was normal (for the CT scan results click here). Jawaher had a minor health issue involving fluids in her inner ear. Her physicians insist that she did not suffer from any illness or from any symptoms that might, if combined with tear gas, lead to her death.
There is not, nor could there be, any indication that Abu Rahmah had cancer; in fact, she was in good health. The director of the hospital refutes the claim that she died from a pre-existing condition:
Mohammed Aida, director of the Ramallah health center where Abu Rahmah received her care: “Jawaher Abu Rahmah died from lung failure that was caused by tear gas inhalation, leading to a heart attack. She arrived at the hospital only partly conscious, and then lost consciousness completely.” Click here for the hospital’s official medical report.
Mohammed Khatib, a member of Bil’in’s Popular Coordinating Committee: “The army is trying to evade its responsibility for Jawaher’s death with lies and invented narratives that have no basis. They are spreading these lies and invented narratives via the media, which is not bothering to do basic fact checking. Our version is supported by named sources and with medical documents. In a properly functioning society, the army’s version, which has been spread by anonymous sources, would not be considered worthy of publication.”
Bil'in Popular committee
Iyad Burnat
0598403676
Ibel3in@yahoo.com
www.bilin-ffj.org
Tuesday, 04 Januray 2010
The evidence surrounding the events leading to the death of Bil’in resident Jawaher Abu Rahmah disproves completely the army spokesperson’s version, to the point of putting the army in a ridiculous light. The army’s version is based on claims made anonymously, without any supporting evidence – unlike the version of the Abu Rahmah family and the Popular Coordinating Committee of Bil’in, which is detailed below.
For additional information: Jonathan Pollak 054-632-7736
Since yesterday, the army has been promoting in the Israeli media a mendacious version regarding the events that led to the death of Jawaher Abu Rahmah of Bil’in on Friday, 31 December 2010. According to the army’s version, Jawaher was not injured by tear gas and was possibly not even present at the demonstration. The army spokesperson did not see fit to publish an official statement on the matter, instead passing the information to the media in the name of anonymous “army sources.”
The facts of the matter, which are supported by the testimony of eyewitness who were present at the demonstration, as well as by the ambulance driver who evacuated her to the hospital, contradict completely the army’s version:
Soubhiya Abu Rahmah, mother of Jawaher: “I was standing beside Jawaher on the hill that is near the place where the demonstration took place, when we were injured by a cloud of tear gas. Jawaher began to feel unwell from inhaling the gas and started to move back from the place; soon after that she vomited and collapsed. We took her to the nearest road, and from there she was evacuated by ambulance to the hospital, where she remained until her death. She was not sick with cancer, nor did she have any other illness; and she was not asthmatic.”
Ilham Fathi: I was on the roof of my house, which is located a few meters from where Jawaher stood. When the cloud of tear gas moved in our direction, I went downstairs in order to close the windows. While I was closing one of the windows, I saw her lose consciousness from the gas and ran over to her, together with Islam Abu Rahmah, in order to pull her away. We picked her up together and carried her to my garden. We called for help and she began to vomit and foam at the mouth. Phone: 059-5127887
Islam Abu Rahmah: “I was standing with Jawaher, her mother and my grandmother in order to watch the confrontation that was going on just in front of us, in the area of the fence. The wind moved the gas in our direction, making our eyes itch and tear up. After that she (Jawaher) began to cough and foam at the mouth. Soon after that she became weak and lay down on the ground. I succeeded in carrying her as far as the Abu Khamis home, about 40 meters in the direction of her house, but then she became terribly weak, vomited violently and foamed at the mouth. She was having difficult breathing and lost her sense of direction. We got a few women to help her by waving a paper fan over her face in order to provide some oxygen. After that she was taken to the hospital.”
Saher Bisharat, the ambulance who evacuated Jawaher: “We received Jawaher near the entrance that is parallel to the fence, which is where the demonstration was taking place. She was still partially conscious, answered questions, and said that she had choked on gas. I took her straight to the hospital.” (Click here to view the Red Crescent report). Phone: 059-9374348
The army has also claimed that the reports about Abu Rahmeh’s injuries started to arrive only several hours after the incident, in the evening. That claim is contradicted by a tweet sent by the NGO Jewish Voices for Peace (JVP), which reports the injury of Jawaher, including her name, in real time (click here to view). The tweet was sent at 2:36 pm (4:36 am on the West Coast of the United States). Wafa, the Palestinian news service, published a report that includes the injury of Jawaher Abu Rahmah shortly after the event (click here to view).
Also according to “army sources,” which remain anonymous, Jawaher Abu Rahmah suffered from a serious illness, possibly leukemia; the “sources” postulate that she died from a pre-existing condition rather than tear gas inhalation. Several sources reject that claim.
Dr. Uday Abu Nahlah: “Jawaher Abu Rahmah was employed in my home on a regular basis. On Thursday she was at work as usual, healthy, only one day before her death.” Phone: 059-9796827 (English and Arabic).
Jawaher had an inner ear infection, which affected her balance, for which she was recently given a CT scan. The radiologist who performed the CT scan, Dr. Hamis Al Sahfi’i, confirmed that the brain scan was normal (for the CT scan results click here). Jawaher had a minor health issue involving fluids in her inner ear. Her physicians insist that she did not suffer from any illness or from any symptoms that might, if combined with tear gas, lead to her death.
There is not, nor could there be, any indication that Abu Rahmah had cancer; in fact, she was in good health. The director of the hospital refutes the claim that she died from a pre-existing condition:
Mohammed Aida, director of the Ramallah health center where Abu Rahmah received her care: “Jawaher Abu Rahmah died from lung failure that was caused by tear gas inhalation, leading to a heart attack. She arrived at the hospital only partly conscious, and then lost consciousness completely.” Click here for the hospital’s official medical report.
Mohammed Khatib, a member of Bil’in’s Popular Coordinating Committee: “The army is trying to evade its responsibility for Jawaher’s death with lies and invented narratives that have no basis. They are spreading these lies and invented narratives via the media, which is not bothering to do basic fact checking. Our version is supported by named sources and with medical documents. In a properly functioning society, the army’s version, which has been spread by anonymous sources, would not be considered worthy of publication.”
Bil'in Popular committee
Iyad Burnat
0598403676
Ibel3in@yahoo.com
www.bilin-ffj.org
Sunday, January 02, 2011
From Mazin's Journal
Dear friends:
We were devastated to hear the news of the first martyr in 2011 being none
other than Jawaher, the sister of the martyr Bassem Abu Rahma from Bil'in.
Jawaher fainted in yesterday's demonstration but died apparently of this
toxic tear gas (a much stronger version with unknown chemicals than used in
the West). Here is a video of the demonstration where Jawaher was injured
(she was martyred in hospital the next day)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FErDPdMzWjY
Here is a video of the murder of her brother Bassem over a year ago
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5yM9U2y-op4
To keep up to date on developments in Bil'in, visit
http://www.bilin-ffj.org/
Those of you in Bethlehem area and want to get together to collect our
thoughts, share our feelings etc, are welcome to come to my house tonight
(Saturday until midnight). I will still go ahead and post my reflection
that I wrote last night on the ending year for my thoughts are only deepened
by this tragedy. You can also send condolence email to Dr. Rateb Abu Rahma
saborahmeh42@yahoo.com
-----
Many writers came up with many ideas about 2010 and even occasionally
predictions about 2011. Perhaps the most common theme among rational
commentators is that this was the year were truth began to come out in such
a large dose that it was hard to sustain mythology and the most common hope
for 2011 is to see peace and justice prevail (no more ethnic cleansing, no
more killing etc). When we mention truth we are not talking here merely
about wikileaks (what is released here still remains the tip of the
iceberg). We are talking about a number of studies, reports, slips, and
scandals that came out that shook those in power. Gideon Levy said in
Haaretz that we may reflect on it as a year of truth for Israel, a year
where the fog of mythologies cleared away and the world saw reality for what
it is, that Israel is a society that does not desire peace but that is a
racist society interested in more land grabs from native Palestinians. He
concludes that "There is nothing like sunshine for disinfecting, so this was
a relatively good year." Others brought out the Goldstone report about
Israeli massacres in Gaza. Others mentioned the smuggling of a long tape
(out of thousands of cameras, computers, photos, and documents) and the
testimony of survivors that showed the true nature of the criminal Israeli
attack on humanitarian ships in International waters (not the manufactured
tapes of the Israeli military). Palestinians talked about the scandals in
the Palestinian authority and now the beginning of eth fall of corruption
like with the Husseini and Dahlan affairs (both of them trying to protect
themselves by threatening to expose other corruption).
In 2010, a number of events on the personal level were meaningful:
- The death of both my brothers-in-laws leaving both of my sisters widows at
a young age (both younger than me).
- The death of other friends and inspiring personalities from Howard Zinn
- We had many run-ins with Israeli occupation authorities. Arrested twice,
detained twice, charged with non-existent "traffic' violation once, gassed
and pushed and harassed several times, soldiers invaded our neighborhood
looking for me once.
- Took trips to Italy (twice in January and June), to the US (in March), to
Turkey (in July), and to Germany (November) speaking about realities under
occupation (over 30 talks in total on these trips)
- I gave over 50 other talks to visiting groups in Palestine (delegations
from over 20 countries). I also helped put together four national and
international conferences.
- We finally got my book completed and published; this took much work during
the year. "Popular Resistance in Palestine: A History of Hope and
Empowerment" is already selling well and will be out in the US this week.
- Participated in over 100 events of resistance some like our march through
the wall from Bethlehem to Jerusalem during Palm Sunday (when even our
Donkey and mules were arrested) and our actions in the last week of the year
with over 80 activists from euro-Palestine were truly inspiring and highly
successful events
- We started offering services in our new clinical laboratory
- I provided consulting for laboratory in the US in clinical cytogenetics
- Taught courses at Birzeit and Bethlehem Universities
- We did field trips and research on aspects of biodiversity and chromosomes
of animals in Palestine
- Supervized research by masters students some of it yielded significant and
meaningful results that are of use in Palestine
- Our son visited us from the US during olive harvest and we had a great
harvest, twice the output of last year.
Events at the personal level as can be seen above are not
disconnected/separate from the bigger picture of happenings around us:
-The Israelis constructed a watch tower at Ush Ghrab and we protested but
those in power structures in the town wanted no protests
-There were over 100 meaningful actions of Boycotts, Divestments, and
Sanctions around the world
-Palestinian school students invent a seeing walking stick for the blind
-Hundreds of internationals attempt to get into Gaza with a freedom flotilla
of ships. Israeli criminal gangs (pirates) attack them in International
waters and murder 9 and kidnap all others. They finally released them after
mistreatment and after stealing all their cameras, videos, and photos
(trying to suppress the story). One video smuggled out showed Israeli
commandoes executing human rights activists
- The Haifa conference and the Houston conference and the Stuttgart and
other conferences around the world emphasized a one state scenario with the
right of return
- Israel attacks the Goldstone report and refuses an international
independent investigation of its breeches of International law
-The charade of a peace process was reignited for a while but then quickly
extinguished by continued Israeli colonial settlement activities
-Israel's government and public continue to support open racism in both laws
proposed and passed in the Knesset and those rulings in certain
municipalities and in edicts issued by prominent Rabbis. From laws to
demand loyalty from non-Jews to a "Jewish state" to demanding no dating or
marriage between Jews and non-Jews, to denial of right to rent in cities
like Safad (used to be Arab city and now Judaicized).
I send an email once a week summarizing events here in Palestine especially
on popular resistance and our own thoughts and experiences and these are
archived at http://www.qumsiyeh.org/rightsblog2010/
So we look with pride and sadness at the year that passed and look forward
to a better year to come. Like life in general, 2010 had lots of tragedies
and setbacks but also lots of successes and meaningful moments. I
especially appreciate that we met hundreds of new people during the year;
some have become very good friends. He last week for example, we traveled
around with nearly a hundred internationals to places like Al-Walaja and
Bil'in that so much suffering. We were energized by the actions even though
some of us were injured, some of us arrested. So we look for 2011 as
hopefully a year of peace and justice. This can only happen if enough
people get around ACTIONS (not mere talks), actions like popular resistance,
actions like media work, and actions like boycotts, divestments, and
sanctions.
Here are 50 actions you can do for Palestine in 2011
http://www.palestinejn.org/resources/resources-for-activism-
Update: The teargas grenades that killed Jawaher Abu Rahmah were most likely made in
the USA. So 11 people were arrested by Israeli police as they protested in
front of the residence of the US Ambassador to Israel. Demonstrations and
vigils were held in many cities and towns around the world. We had a small
but meaningful gathering here in Bethlehem last night. The second
Palestinian killed by Israeli soldiers was a 21 year old Mohammad Djarma
shot at a checkpoint with soldiers claiming he did not obey orders. There is
a lot that we can all do to end this mindless colonial structure and finally
bring peace and justice to this troubled Holy Land.
Mazin Qumsiyeh, PhD
http://qumsiyeh.org
We were devastated to hear the news of the first martyr in 2011 being none
other than Jawaher, the sister of the martyr Bassem Abu Rahma from Bil'in.
Jawaher fainted in yesterday's demonstration but died apparently of this
toxic tear gas (a much stronger version with unknown chemicals than used in
the West). Here is a video of the demonstration where Jawaher was injured
(she was martyred in hospital the next day)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FErDPdMzWjY
Here is a video of the murder of her brother Bassem over a year ago
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5yM9U2y-op4
To keep up to date on developments in Bil'in, visit
http://www.bilin-ffj.org/
Those of you in Bethlehem area and want to get together to collect our
thoughts, share our feelings etc, are welcome to come to my house tonight
(Saturday until midnight). I will still go ahead and post my reflection
that I wrote last night on the ending year for my thoughts are only deepened
by this tragedy. You can also send condolence email to Dr. Rateb Abu Rahma
saborahmeh42@yahoo.com
-----
Many writers came up with many ideas about 2010 and even occasionally
predictions about 2011. Perhaps the most common theme among rational
commentators is that this was the year were truth began to come out in such
a large dose that it was hard to sustain mythology and the most common hope
for 2011 is to see peace and justice prevail (no more ethnic cleansing, no
more killing etc). When we mention truth we are not talking here merely
about wikileaks (what is released here still remains the tip of the
iceberg). We are talking about a number of studies, reports, slips, and
scandals that came out that shook those in power. Gideon Levy said in
Haaretz that we may reflect on it as a year of truth for Israel, a year
where the fog of mythologies cleared away and the world saw reality for what
it is, that Israel is a society that does not desire peace but that is a
racist society interested in more land grabs from native Palestinians. He
concludes that "There is nothing like sunshine for disinfecting, so this was
a relatively good year." Others brought out the Goldstone report about
Israeli massacres in Gaza. Others mentioned the smuggling of a long tape
(out of thousands of cameras, computers, photos, and documents) and the
testimony of survivors that showed the true nature of the criminal Israeli
attack on humanitarian ships in International waters (not the manufactured
tapes of the Israeli military). Palestinians talked about the scandals in
the Palestinian authority and now the beginning of eth fall of corruption
like with the Husseini and Dahlan affairs (both of them trying to protect
themselves by threatening to expose other corruption).
In 2010, a number of events on the personal level were meaningful:
- The death of both my brothers-in-laws leaving both of my sisters widows at
a young age (both younger than me).
- The death of other friends and inspiring personalities from Howard Zinn
- We had many run-ins with Israeli occupation authorities. Arrested twice,
detained twice, charged with non-existent "traffic' violation once, gassed
and pushed and harassed several times, soldiers invaded our neighborhood
looking for me once.
- Took trips to Italy (twice in January and June), to the US (in March), to
Turkey (in July), and to Germany (November) speaking about realities under
occupation (over 30 talks in total on these trips)
- I gave over 50 other talks to visiting groups in Palestine (delegations
from over 20 countries). I also helped put together four national and
international conferences.
- We finally got my book completed and published; this took much work during
the year. "Popular Resistance in Palestine: A History of Hope and
Empowerment" is already selling well and will be out in the US this week.
- Participated in over 100 events of resistance some like our march through
the wall from Bethlehem to Jerusalem during Palm Sunday (when even our
Donkey and mules were arrested) and our actions in the last week of the year
with over 80 activists from euro-Palestine were truly inspiring and highly
successful events
- We started offering services in our new clinical laboratory
- I provided consulting for laboratory in the US in clinical cytogenetics
- Taught courses at Birzeit and Bethlehem Universities
- We did field trips and research on aspects of biodiversity and chromosomes
of animals in Palestine
- Supervized research by masters students some of it yielded significant and
meaningful results that are of use in Palestine
- Our son visited us from the US during olive harvest and we had a great
harvest, twice the output of last year.
Events at the personal level as can be seen above are not
disconnected/separate from the bigger picture of happenings around us:
-The Israelis constructed a watch tower at Ush Ghrab and we protested but
those in power structures in the town wanted no protests
-There were over 100 meaningful actions of Boycotts, Divestments, and
Sanctions around the world
-Palestinian school students invent a seeing walking stick for the blind
-Hundreds of internationals attempt to get into Gaza with a freedom flotilla
of ships. Israeli criminal gangs (pirates) attack them in International
waters and murder 9 and kidnap all others. They finally released them after
mistreatment and after stealing all their cameras, videos, and photos
(trying to suppress the story). One video smuggled out showed Israeli
commandoes executing human rights activists
- The Haifa conference and the Houston conference and the Stuttgart and
other conferences around the world emphasized a one state scenario with the
right of return
- Israel attacks the Goldstone report and refuses an international
independent investigation of its breeches of International law
-The charade of a peace process was reignited for a while but then quickly
extinguished by continued Israeli colonial settlement activities
-Israel's government and public continue to support open racism in both laws
proposed and passed in the Knesset and those rulings in certain
municipalities and in edicts issued by prominent Rabbis. From laws to
demand loyalty from non-Jews to a "Jewish state" to demanding no dating or
marriage between Jews and non-Jews, to denial of right to rent in cities
like Safad (used to be Arab city and now Judaicized).
I send an email once a week summarizing events here in Palestine especially
on popular resistance and our own thoughts and experiences and these are
archived at http://www.qumsiyeh.org/rightsblog2010/
So we look with pride and sadness at the year that passed and look forward
to a better year to come. Like life in general, 2010 had lots of tragedies
and setbacks but also lots of successes and meaningful moments. I
especially appreciate that we met hundreds of new people during the year;
some have become very good friends. He last week for example, we traveled
around with nearly a hundred internationals to places like Al-Walaja and
Bil'in that so much suffering. We were energized by the actions even though
some of us were injured, some of us arrested. So we look for 2011 as
hopefully a year of peace and justice. This can only happen if enough
people get around ACTIONS (not mere talks), actions like popular resistance,
actions like media work, and actions like boycotts, divestments, and
sanctions.
Here are 50 actions you can do for Palestine in 2011
http://www.palestinejn.org/resources/resources-for-activism-
Update: The teargas grenades that killed Jawaher Abu Rahmah were most likely made in
the USA. So 11 people were arrested by Israeli police as they protested in
front of the residence of the US Ambassador to Israel. Demonstrations and
vigils were held in many cities and towns around the world. We had a small
but meaningful gathering here in Bethlehem last night. The second
Palestinian killed by Israeli soldiers was a 21 year old Mohammad Djarma
shot at a checkpoint with soldiers claiming he did not obey orders. There is
a lot that we can all do to end this mindless colonial structure and finally
bring peace and justice to this troubled Holy Land.
Mazin Qumsiyeh, PhD
http://qumsiyeh.org
Israeli Forces Kill Female Protester in Bil'in
http://www.bilin-ffj.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=338&Itemid= 1
Jan 01, 2011-Jawaher Abu Rahmah, 36, was evacuated to the Ramallah hospital yesterday after inhaling massive amounts of tear-gas during the weekly protest in Bil'in, and died of poisoning this morning. Abu Rahmah was the sister of Bassem Abu Rahmah who was also killed during a peaceful protest in Bil'in on April 17th, 2010.
Doctors at the Ramallah hospital fought for Jawaher Abu Rahmah's life all night at the Ramallah Hospital, but were unable to save her life. Abu Rahmah suffered from severe asphyxiation caused by tear-gas inhalation yesterday in Bil'in, and was evacuated to the Ramallah hospital unconscious. She was diagnosed as suffering from poisoning caused by the active ingredient in the tear-gas, and did not respond to treatment.
Jawaher Abu Rahmah was the sister of Bil'in activist, Bassem Abu Rahmah, who was shot dead with a high velocity tear-gas projectile during a demonstration in the village on April 17th, 2009.
Iyad Burnat
Ibel3in@yahoo.com
0598403676
Jan 01, 2011-Jawaher Abu Rahmah, 36, was evacuated to the Ramallah hospital yesterday after inhaling massive amounts of tear-gas during the weekly protest in Bil'in, and died of poisoning this morning. Abu Rahmah was the sister of Bassem Abu Rahmah who was also killed during a peaceful protest in Bil'in on April 17th, 2010.
Doctors at the Ramallah hospital fought for Jawaher Abu Rahmah's life all night at the Ramallah Hospital, but were unable to save her life. Abu Rahmah suffered from severe asphyxiation caused by tear-gas inhalation yesterday in Bil'in, and was evacuated to the Ramallah hospital unconscious. She was diagnosed as suffering from poisoning caused by the active ingredient in the tear-gas, and did not respond to treatment.
Jawaher Abu Rahmah was the sister of Bil'in activist, Bassem Abu Rahmah, who was shot dead with a high velocity tear-gas projectile during a demonstration in the village on April 17th, 2009.
Iyad Burnat
Ibel3in@yahoo.com
0598403676
Protesters Breached the Wall in Bil'in 2-Bil'in Female Protester in Critical Condition from Tear-Gas inhalation
Friends-of-freedom-and-justice-Bilin
1-Protesters Breached the Wall in Bil'in
http://www.bilin-ffj.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=337&Itemid= 1
Over a thousand protesters responded to the Bil'in Popular Committee's call to march on the Wall in the village today, in what they announced to be "the last day of the Wall". Two protesters were hospitalized for their injuries.
Over a thousand people heeded to the call issued by the Bil'in Popular Committee Against the Wall and Settlements today, and joined the weekly demonstration. Despite the siege laid on the village by the Israeli army, activists - Palestinians, Israelis and internationals - swarmed the hills and valleys surrounding Bil'in by the hundreds and managed to join those already in the village.
Among those giving speeches before the demonstration were local leaders, as well as Palestinian Prime Minister, Salam Fayyad, who voiced his support for Bil'in and the popular struggle. The march then proceeded towards the Wall, where it was barraged with tear-gas on sight.
Small organized groups of protesters then spread across the Wall to try and implement the popular committee's announcement that he last day of the decade will indeed also be the last day of the Wall on Bil'in's land. An overwhelming number of Israeli soldiers and Border Police officers spread along the path of the Wall, but were not able to stop demonstrators equipped with bolt-cutters from breaching through the Wall in three places.
In one place, the protesters actually managed to carry a rather significant chunk of the Wall back to the village.
One protester was hit in the face with a tear-gas projectile shot directly at him, and required hospitalization. Another female protester suffered such degree of asphyxiation from the tear-gas that she had to be evacuated to the Ramallah ICU, where she is still under observation.
2-Bil'in Female Protester in Critical Condition from Tear-Gas inhalation
Jawaher Abu Rahmah, 36, was evacuated to the Ramallah hospital after inhaling massive amounts of tear-gas towards protesters in Bil'in earlier today. She is currently in critical condition and is not responding to treatment. Another protester required hospitalization after being hit in the face with a tear-gas projectile shot directly at him.
Doctors at the Ramallah hospital are currently fighting for Jawaher Abu Rahmah's life, after an acute deterioration in her condition this evening. Abu Rahmah suffered from severe asphyxiation during today's demonstration in Bil'in as a result of tear-gas inhalation, and was evacuated to the Ramallah hospital. She is currently diagnosed as suffering from poisoning caused by the active ingredient in the tear-gas, and is not responding to treatment.
Jawaher Abu Rahmah is the sister of Bassem Abu Rahmah, who was shot dead with a high velocity tear-gas projectile during a demonstration in Bil'in on April 17th, 2009.
1-Protesters Breached the Wall in Bil'in
http://www.bilin-ffj.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=337&Itemid= 1
Over a thousand protesters responded to the Bil'in Popular Committee's call to march on the Wall in the village today, in what they announced to be "the last day of the Wall". Two protesters were hospitalized for their injuries.
Over a thousand people heeded to the call issued by the Bil'in Popular Committee Against the Wall and Settlements today, and joined the weekly demonstration. Despite the siege laid on the village by the Israeli army, activists - Palestinians, Israelis and internationals - swarmed the hills and valleys surrounding Bil'in by the hundreds and managed to join those already in the village.
Among those giving speeches before the demonstration were local leaders, as well as Palestinian Prime Minister, Salam Fayyad, who voiced his support for Bil'in and the popular struggle. The march then proceeded towards the Wall, where it was barraged with tear-gas on sight.
Small organized groups of protesters then spread across the Wall to try and implement the popular committee's announcement that he last day of the decade will indeed also be the last day of the Wall on Bil'in's land. An overwhelming number of Israeli soldiers and Border Police officers spread along the path of the Wall, but were not able to stop demonstrators equipped with bolt-cutters from breaching through the Wall in three places.
In one place, the protesters actually managed to carry a rather significant chunk of the Wall back to the village.
One protester was hit in the face with a tear-gas projectile shot directly at him, and required hospitalization. Another female protester suffered such degree of asphyxiation from the tear-gas that she had to be evacuated to the Ramallah ICU, where she is still under observation.
2-Bil'in Female Protester in Critical Condition from Tear-Gas inhalation
Jawaher Abu Rahmah, 36, was evacuated to the Ramallah hospital after inhaling massive amounts of tear-gas towards protesters in Bil'in earlier today. She is currently in critical condition and is not responding to treatment. Another protester required hospitalization after being hit in the face with a tear-gas projectile shot directly at him.
Doctors at the Ramallah hospital are currently fighting for Jawaher Abu Rahmah's life, after an acute deterioration in her condition this evening. Abu Rahmah suffered from severe asphyxiation during today's demonstration in Bil'in as a result of tear-gas inhalation, and was evacuated to the Ramallah hospital. She is currently diagnosed as suffering from poisoning caused by the active ingredient in the tear-gas, and is not responding to treatment.
Jawaher Abu Rahmah is the sister of Bassem Abu Rahmah, who was shot dead with a high velocity tear-gas projectile during a demonstration in Bil'in on April 17th, 2009.
Palestinian shot by Israelis at West Bank checkpoint
BBC
2 January 2011
Last updated at 06:38 ET
West Bank map
A Palestinian man has been shot dead after trying to attack Israeli troops at a checkpoint near the West Bank city of Nablus, the Israeli army and Palestinian officials say.
The man, in his 20s, tried to attack troops with a bottle when he was refused permission to pass through the checkpoint, they said.
The incident happened early on Sunday.
On Friday, a Palestinian woman died after inhaling gas fired by Israeli troops at a protest in Bilin.
An Israeli army spokeswoman said the contents of the glass bottle were not known.
"The soldiers apparently felt threatened," she added.
'Cover-up'
The lawyer of the woman who died on Friday has accused the military of a cover-up.
"Once again the army is covering up the actions of its men, instead of apologising and conducting a serious inquiry," Michael Sfard told Israel's army radio after the military announced an investigation into the death of Jawaher Abu Rahmeh.
It is not clear how Ms Abu Rahmeh died as tear gas is not meant to be lethal.
Doctors say the gas can kill on rare occasions if a victim has a pre-existing condition.
Although some reports said Ms Abu Rahmeh had suffered from asthma since childhood, her parents are reported to have said she was healthy and did not have the respiratory condition.
Rateb Abu Rahmeh, a doctor and a spokesman for the Bilin protesters, said she had a "weak immune system", the Associated Press news agency reports.
Dr Mohammed Eideh, who treated Ms Abu Rahmeh in the Palestinian city of Ramallah, said she died of "respiratory failure and then cardiac arrest" caused by tear gas inhalation. He said he did not know if she had a pre-existing condition.
2 January 2011
Last updated at 06:38 ET
West Bank map
A Palestinian man has been shot dead after trying to attack Israeli troops at a checkpoint near the West Bank city of Nablus, the Israeli army and Palestinian officials say.
The man, in his 20s, tried to attack troops with a bottle when he was refused permission to pass through the checkpoint, they said.
The incident happened early on Sunday.
On Friday, a Palestinian woman died after inhaling gas fired by Israeli troops at a protest in Bilin.
An Israeli army spokeswoman said the contents of the glass bottle were not known.
"The soldiers apparently felt threatened," she added.
'Cover-up'
The lawyer of the woman who died on Friday has accused the military of a cover-up.
"Once again the army is covering up the actions of its men, instead of apologising and conducting a serious inquiry," Michael Sfard told Israel's army radio after the military announced an investigation into the death of Jawaher Abu Rahmeh.
It is not clear how Ms Abu Rahmeh died as tear gas is not meant to be lethal.
Doctors say the gas can kill on rare occasions if a victim has a pre-existing condition.
Although some reports said Ms Abu Rahmeh had suffered from asthma since childhood, her parents are reported to have said she was healthy and did not have the respiratory condition.
Rateb Abu Rahmeh, a doctor and a spokesman for the Bilin protesters, said she had a "weak immune system", the Associated Press news agency reports.
Dr Mohammed Eideh, who treated Ms Abu Rahmeh in the Palestinian city of Ramallah, said she died of "respiratory failure and then cardiac arrest" caused by tear gas inhalation. He said he did not know if she had a pre-existing condition.
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