From Gaza: Suffering In Stories, Features, Articles and Photos

Why I oppose Palestine Statehood Bid

2011-09-30T07:35:00.000-07:00

Palestine, (Pal Telegraph) - Not accidently, this is the third time we announce a Palestinian state. The first time to have a state announced was on September 1948. It was announced by the commons of Palestine government. The second time was in Algeria in 1987. And here we go, this September we announce it for the third time.

Many Palestinians are cheering up for the Palestinian Authority (PA) Bid. Many of them are well educated and even experts in their fields of law, politics and journalism. Yet, when it comes to the Bid, their knowledge and experience seems narrow. They get very passionate. Indeed, we Palestinians are emotional always and this might be the reason. Protests are taking place in the West Bank, where Fatah movement as well as the PA are asking people to take it into streets. In fact, many are participating zealously. Certainly, the feeling is inexpressible when one gets an independence and freedom. The prospect of it materialising on the ground will be a life-changing experience for all the Palestinians when, we all will be emancipated from the occupier’s oppression. However, this should not be done the way it has been within that Bid.

I simply oppose it because I was never asked what I want as a Palestinian. I was marginalised like millions of Palestinians in the Diaspora and the refugee camps. The PA and Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) do not have the mandate to take such a bid to the UN. PLO created PA long time ago to self-administrate the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. However, PA pretends to represent all the Palestinians either in the occupied territories or in the diaspora. PA and its leadership have been managing the political arena since Oslo. People in the Palestinian territories made it clear in the elections in 2006 that they did not approve PA as their representative. PA is referred to as Fatah here.

Having said that, PLO is another story, it was the legitimate representative of the Palestinians but not anymore. I’m not adopting Hamas stance which calls on reforming the PLO. Rather, I’m suggesting my personal view based on facts. PLO used to be the sole representative of all Palestinians when once; it had its own parliament called “Palestinian National Council”. During that period, refugees’ own voice was heard through their representatives from Chile in Latin America till the refugee camps in Lebanon and Syria. It has been almost 16 years where the last elections of the PNC took place. Does not this put the PLO’s legitimately on the edge?

I think going to the UN without consulting the Palestinian People undermines the right of majority of Palestinians. The majority is being marginalized. It is apparent that a small group of people is monopolising the Palestinian decision. I clearly blame Fatah or call it the PLO or the PA, at the end they are all the same. I also, blame Hamas. Hamas was not clear on the Bid. Many of its senior officials supported the bid while others ignored it. Hamas has given the PA a cover to go for that Bid through the national unity deal signed in Egypt.

The nature of the Bid is really unclear to many people. But what is vivid here is that, Palestinians via PA are officially giving up on many of the principles of an entire nation. The bid adopts 1967 borders as the borders of that state. Why the PLO did not adopt other decisions to base its bid on? The PA /PLO are saying that they are in huge battle with Israel and the US to pass this bid. If it is that case, why cannot the PA base that bid on partition resolution 181? Sadly, the PA is being pushed in the corner for that bid. No one has pushed it. It has pushed itself because of the endless rounds of failure negotiations which have lasted for years. PA went to that Bid after realising that Israel is never ready for peace. The bid step was hasty and not profoundly studied. Even, us, Palestinians we are not familiarized about that Bid. We don’t know its contents, ramifications or its merits if there is any!

Obviously, the bid if passed will create new facts. Palestinians will officially adopt two state solution. Facts on the ground will make it hard to implement it and create that state. Yet, the whole cause will be limited to a dispute on borders. Israel will be asked to withdraw to these borders. Yet, major issues like Right of Return, Jerusalem, Water and other issues will not be addressed. The entire cause of a nation that has been ethnically cleansed will be an issue of a dispute between two people. Even, we will never see Israelis apologizing for us, same as the Germany did with the Jews.
Some experts consider the PA move as an intelligent plan to isolate Israel. They think the Bid will further seclude Israel after it has lost many key allies like Turkey, Egypt, Tunisia among other Arab regimes. Other experts suggest that this Bid is a move from the PA to regain its lost popularity on the Palestinian street. Without a doubt, there are many explanations on the issue. But the key element here is that the Bid does not represent the whole Palestinian nation. No mandate has been granted to the PA who lacks the legitimacy given by people.

PA and its spokespersons are counting on that step to reach peace. Whilst, facts on the ground put forward solid harsh realities. What will be the future of Israeli settlements on that state? Will we have our own real independence from Israel? Will Israel grant us sovereignty on that state? Will I fly one day from London to Gaza airport easily without being scrutinised by Israel? Will I visit the West Bank without any interrogation? All these questions and others will be left for the PA to answer, if the deliberation on the Bid is ever allowed to materialise in UN in the presence of Israel and the supposed peace broker the United States.

By Sameh A. Habeeb

Founder of the Palestine Telegraph Newspaper

Photo by Sameh A. Habeeb

Gaza health conditions in crisis

2011-06-11T07:29:00.000-07:00

The Israeli siege continues to disturb different facets of the living conditions for the entire population of 1.7 million living in the Gaza Strip. With news that Egypt opened the Rafah border permanently, pressure on Gazans increased. The crossing didn't open properly and Israel still control all commercial crossings.

In addition, there are severe security measures that still hinder the process of travelling for thousands of Palestinians. Limited access of food, commodities and medications are still in effect. Further confounding the problems is the fact that Palestinian national unity has not achieved the factual results expected by the besieged people. Official Israeli sources, spokespersons and media outlets are seizing on all what they can to say that there is no siege in Gaza. Whilst, only the population of Gaza suffer the repercussions of the external and internal political problems.

More: http://www.paltelegraph.com/palestine/gaza-strip/9401-gaza-health-conditions-in-crisis.html

Health sector paralyzed!

According to Gaza's health bodies and utilities, severe shortages are hitting the sector due to the continued closure. The shortages have led to a reduction in services, including surgeries. A number of patients are on the waiting list for urgent medical operations. According to Gaza's health ministry, the medical storage will soon be depleted, which further endangers the lives of the innocent population.

Around 187 sort of medications are missed, as well as 190 types of medical requirement. In total, 50% of Gaza's health and medical storage have evaporated. This shortage is endangering many patients especially those of cancer, Kidney diseases, heart, eyes, nerves and psychological diseases.
This problem has been taking place for years now, since the start of the Siege some 4 years ago. Medical convoys and shipments of medications brought by International NGOs have temporarily solved the problem in the past. .

International Investigation

According to the Lancet Magazine, the Norwegian Government sent two doctors on a health mission to Gaza in April 2011 to examine Gaza's chronic shortage of medicines. The same magazine reported of a similar mission sent in 2009, after the war, and concluded similar results to the recent one.

The report says, " The Gaza Strip still has a persistent drug shortage, despite some recent Israeli and Egyptian talks about easing the strict blockade that has left this crowded enclave isolated since July, 2007. A political rift between the Hamas-run Government of Gaza and Fatah officials in the West Bank hinders communication and coordination between the Palestinian health ministries—adding to the hardships already faced by patients in Gaza."

It also added that Norwegian physicians Tone Hegna and Åse Vikanes followed the delivery of 200 pallets of medical supplies from Ramallah to Gaza in early February 2011. They confirmed that many drugs and basic disposables remain in short supply, and that a bad situation is made worse by inadequate storage, transport and incineration facilities.

People close to death

The health crisis in the Strip has increased the suffering of people, with some nearing death.

Anwar Nahid, 18, suffers from early diabetes. Her illness is rare at her age. The prescribed medications are missed such as insulin injections. The absence of the medications is affecting her severely, and blurred her vision.

"I'm sick with this disease for 5 years now. My father is jobless and I have 8 siblings. In many occasions, I find it hard to find the medicines I need. If I do, it is expensive and hard to obtain. My doctors are asking me to go for a specific food for diet purposes. But, I can't afford to bring fruits and some vegetables as the prices are really high. I hope my father works again and I get my medications." Said young Anwar.

Her mother added that Anwar has fainted many times and the doctors said she has entered a dangerous level. Anwar was injured in a car accident and her illness make her treatment harder, as diabetes slow the healing process. Doctors warn her of a potential stroke because of the effect of the diabetes on her blood.

By Sameh A. Habeeb

Palestinian Journalist

Does Israel seek War or Peace?

2011-06-03T00:34:00.000-07:00

Gaza, (Pal Telegraph) - Successive Israeli governments have failed to achieve peace with the Palestinians. The reasons were sometimes vague, while in other times they were crystal clear. It was after the killing of Yitzhak Rabin that a lack of vision became dominant in the Israeli political arena and Israeli erosion of that which he agreed upon in Oslo. Various pretexts were given and responsibility for their failure was placed on the shoulders of Palestinians, while it was Israel who in fact did not choose peace.

The current Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, refused to continue with the peace process when he held the post in 1996. Not surprisingly, he is repeating himself today by burying the two-state solution and any hope for peace.

It is clear that Israel was never interested in peace. When Yassir Arafat was in charge of Palestinian Authority (PA), Israel said he is no partner. America and the EU pressured him to create prime minster post, which he did and appointed Mahmoud Abbas. Abbas became the prime mister, yet they continued to refuse the idea of peace. Yassir Arafat was killed and Abbas became the president. President Abbas negotiated with Israel but, alas, nothing happened. Then, they said that Palestinians were not ready for peace. Hamas came to power in 2006 and Israel again said there was no partner for peace. Hamas and Fatih fought each other and negotiations took place, yet there still was no peace. Now, Hamas and Fatih are united again. Israel and the US say that peace will never happen due to reconciliation.

Each and every time Israel made it clear that peace was not its priority. The intention here is not to attack Israel, but merely to present the facts. The entire time the aforementioned peace process was on-going or there were negotiations regarding the resumption of peace, Israel continued with its settlement expansion. More settlements were built, lands were stolen and a tight apartheid wall was built. People were and continue to be ethnically cleansed from Jerusalem, while the Judisation of the city takes place.

For almost 5 years now, Israel imposes a harsh siege on the population of Gaza. The siege is causing new generations to be raised in poverty, fear and trauma of Israeli warfare. Yet, Israel speaks of peace. What are we expecting from a new traumatized generation in Gaza?

Undoubtedly, the region is nearing a full-scale confrontation and Israel is trying to push the Palestinians into a corner, not leaving anything for them. It has rejected both one and two state solutions; it has refused all solutions that allow Palestinian refugees to return; and, it has besieged the people and launched wars over Gaza and led raids on West Bank cities.

Ironically, Israel sounds happy about the Arab pro-democracy revolutions. Yet it ignores the aspiration of those people. Their aspirations include not only toppling their dictators, but also bringing an end to the injustice suffered by the Palestinians. With the absence of any readiness toward peace from Israel, the scale of confrontation will be far wider than we ever expected.

By Sameh A. Habeeb

Palestinian Journalist from the Gaza Strip and Founder of Palestine Telegraph Journalist

In Israel: Palestinian Prisoners Health conditions deteriorate

2011-05-21T05:55:00.000-07:00

A European Network to Support the Rights of Palestinians Prisoners (UFree) based on Norway, demanded Saturday 21.05.2011, prompt implementation of international treaties and accords that protect rights and health conditions of prisoners in the occupied Palestinian territories. The organization called on an immediate implementation of these accords as health conditions of Palestinian prisoners severely deteriorate in Israeli jails.

In press statements, UFree expressed its deep concerns about the conditions of Palestinian detainees’ health in Israeli prisons, following reports of medical neglect leaving prisoners permanently disabled and sometimes dead. The organization perceived these Israeli measures as direct slow sentences of death against the prisoners.

Recent reports revealed that Israel is deliberately neglecting medical requirements of patients with cancer, diabetes, heart disease and other disabilities such as blindness is a flagrant disregard of rights guaranteed under international law.

At a recent World Health Organisation (WHO) meeting, sixty five countries voted in favour of a resolution condemning the deteriorating health of Palestinian detainees in Israeli jails.

UFree called on international and human rights organisations to intervene against Israel's actions to provide necessary health services to Palestinian prisoners and to preserve their lives and release the sick detainees.

"We support the call by WHO to form an international mission of medical specialists alongside the International Red Cross to monitor the health status of prisoners of patients, especially the provision of immediate treatment." Said the organisation

It has also called that international resolutions related to Palestinian detainees must now be followed by practical steps to save the lives of those with chronic illnesses or injuries.

It is worth to mention that Israel detains around 6000 Palestinian prisoners of different ages and genders. Different sorts of torture and humiliation are exerted against prisoners who lack their basic rights. There is over 1000 prisoners with different diseases, including chronic diseases such as heart. They lack basic health care needs.

UFree is an independent European human rights network based in Europe, Norway. It aims to defend the Rights of Palestinian Prisoners. The network is the only institution in Europe that is specialized in defending the rights of Palestinians prisoners. It is staffed with lawyers, scholars, researchers and human rights activists.

UFree: Human Rights NGOs must access secret Israeli prisons

2011-05-15T07:47:00.000-07:00

An independent European human rights network based in Europe, Norway to defend the Rights of Palestinian Prisoners called on the International community to stop Israeli policy of arrests against Palestinians. The organization known as UFree said that the plight of those prisoners should end as we commemorate the 63rd anniversary of the Palestinian 'Nakba' (catastrophe).

For almost 63 years, since the Nakba in 1948; thousands of Palestinians were forcibly expelled from their homes and lands. Around 531 villages and towns were destroyed. Following the Nakba, hundreds of thousands of Palestinians were arrested either individually or in mass as they resisted Israeli occupiers. Whilst, their plight has been ignored by the international community.

Since then, Israel has honed its policy of detention and torture against Palestinian civilians; it has opened more prisons, used arbitrary detention and internationally banned physical and mental methods of extracting information from prisoners.

According to statistics by International and Palestinian organisations, the number of Palestinian detainees has gone from 800 in 1948 to nearly 5,800 in 2011, including 36 women and 245 innocent children. Israeli policy of arrests commenced in the first days of the occupation of Palestine in 1948 to eliminate the spirit of resistance among the Palestinian people. It aimed and still to force them to accept their de facto.

Yet, Israeli occupation authorities have failed to subjugate them. It has used cruel and inhuman methods of torture and arbitrary arrests. Israeli occupation authorities continue to use tactics of mass arrests, solitary confinement, denial of medical treatment for chronic diseases and even practiced medical testing on Palestinian detainees.

International community must work towards taking actions towards Israel as it continues to violate many accords. Lately, it has kidnapped a Palestinian resident from UKRAINE which is totally illegal and violate the sovereignty of a European country.

Additionally, Israel imprisoned over 1.6 Palestinians in Gaza on what's known the biggest air prison in the world. Israeli's siege on Gaza continues to collectively punish normal civilians were they lack basic necessities, freedom of movement and basic human rights guaranteed by International Humanitarian accords and charters.

" We urge the international community to deal fairly with the issue of Palestinian prisoners. It should take practical steps against Israel’s use of torture and policy of arbitrary arrests and to give Palestinian detainees their full rights under international law. We also call for pressure on Israel to end the siege of Gaza and to fulfill her obligations under the Geneva Convention." Said the organisation

UFree said that there is steady increase in the number of prisoners per prisons, overcrowding women and children, patients and others which is illegal by all laws. Meanwhile, methods of physical and psychological torture against prisoners, violating all aspects of international law have been developed. The organization confirmed that Israel has endangered the lives of prisoners by deliberately refusing to provide medical treatment to those with chronic diseases.

Flagrantly, field tests of for new medicines on Palestinian detainees, uncovered by Israeli human rights organisations. UFree pressed on the fact that Israel should be treated like all other countries that violate international and Human laws. It has called on the European Union and International community to take real actions like suspending joint trade agreements as well as other partnership until Israel is obliged to change its policy.

It is worth mention that Israel has a number of secret prison facilities for Palestinians. It continues to deny these facts neither it allows allow Human Rights organizations to investigate these places. These facilities are distributed across occupied Palestine and lack basic conditions for human habitation.

Continue reading at NowPublic.com: UFree: Human Rights NGOs must access secret Israeli prisons Read | NowPublic News Coverage http://my.nowpublic.com/world/ufree-human-rights-ngos-must-access-secret-israeli-prisons-read#ixzz1MQMHRMis

US Immigration separates Palestinian mother from her 4 children

2011-05-02T16:27:00.000-07:00

London, (Pal Telegraph) - She lived 20 years in USA: US Immigration separates Palestinian mother from her 4 children -- This is a story that embodies the Palestinian plight of the refugees displaced worldwide. Millions of Palestinians are scattered across the world. Huge numbers of them are denied their basic human rights of movement or family unification.

This story started 20 years ago when a female Palestinian refugee claimed a asylum in the US. That female, Faten Al Hakim, remained in the US where she married and gave birth of 4 children. The children were born American but the mother remained stateless Palestinian. The cruel American migration system captured the mother after 20 years, separated her from her kids before they deported her to one of South American countries. The mother was left alone away from her kids. She was like dying flower in a desert!

As a result of this separation Faten started to look for alternatives. She arrived to the UK a few month ago, early in 2011. Then 2 of her kids followed her, Sulaiman and Mohammed 16 and 13. They all claimed a asylum in March. UK Border Agency (UKBA) denied them asylum as Faten had failure case in the US. The family became scattered again. Her 2 kids were sent back to the US and she is due to be sent to South America again. The pain of the family continues with no mercy from either the US or UK.

I contacted Saba, daughter of Faten Haikm, who is in the US. She sounded to be a very American. Saba narrated her family's suffering and plight.

She spoke to me on the details of how American Migration authorities displaced her family:

On Friday April 13, 2010 ICE (US Immigration and Customs Enforcement) invaded my home at about seven thirty in the morning. My mother, Faten Hakim, was preparing her usual work on a normal day in Ramadan. A very loud noise like banging on the door had awoken me. I was surprised at the noise but brushed it off thinking it was one of our neighbors. All of a sudden my mother came into my room to wake me and said “Wake up the police is here to take me.” My heart dropped. What could they want from my mother? I was shocked. My mother had been in the US illegally for about 22 years. I never thought there would be a day where she would be asked to leave. Out of the millions of illegal immigrants in the United States, I never thought my mother would be caught. She gave birth to me and my three siblings in the United States. I, Saba Hakim, am 18 years old, my sister Janna 17, and my two brothers Sulaiman and Mohammed 16 and 13. We are American Citizens by birth.

I left my room to see the officers that had come to take my mother away from me. To my dismay, I discovered 6 ICE officers in my house. Three were in my living room, two in my hallway, and one looking at my younger brothers as they were sleeping. They immediately asked me for my identification card. I asked why they were here, and they stated that there was some immigration business needed to be taken care of with my mother. They said that she would have to accompany them to their offices in Manhattan. They insisted she leave right away, I pleaded for her to at least change into some proper attire. They agreed upon request that an officer of their own accompany my mother while she was changing. The female officer that had accompanied my mom had told her to be calm and she will be home soon because she has young children. As my mother passed me to leave with tears in her eyes she begged me to take care of my younger siblings.

The next time I saw my mother she was behind a glass window wearing a uniform as if she was a criminal. She was detained at Elizabeth Detention Center in Elizabeth, New Jersey. The hardest thing for me to do was see my mother in that condition. My mother was not a criminal. Why was she being treated like one? Because she stayed in a country where she thought she would have better opportunities for herself and her US born children? Last time I checked, that wasn’t a crime. She was in a bad state of mind. She could not eat or sleep. She could only cry, as we all did. For the next three months we would visit our mother as much as we could with hopes that she would be coming home.

We hired a lawyer immediately to take care of our mothers case. See, my mother’s case is not ordinary. She had once lived in Memphis, Tennessee where she was caught for having an expired visa. In 1992, she saw a judge who told her she would have to leave the country. At the time, my mother was pregnant with myself. She agreed to leave but did not. The lawyer we hired, Jennifer Oltarsh, was not very optimistic about my mother’s case. Because the previous judge from Tennessee had ordered my mother to leave the country and she did not, she now had a final order of deportation. The case was to be presented in front of a judge in Tennessee, who would decide the fate of my mother. On October 25, 2010, we received notice that the judge had decided to deny my mother a second chance. The lawyer immediately filed an appeal.

On November 4, 2010, I received a call from my mother’s cell phone. I became ecstatic, had they finally freed my mother? I picked up asking my mother if she had been let out. To my surprise my mother was crying asking me to promise her I would take care of my siblings. I didn’t understand what was going on. She finally told me they were about to put her on a plane and deport her. My heart dropped. Was the United States really going to deport the mother of four US citizens? Were they really going to leave us to be taken care of by our disabled father? I began to cry, I didn’t know what to do. I called the lawyer who was just as shocked as I was. She had promised that something like this would never happen. Even if they were going to deport her, we’d get a heads up. The lawyer tried to get a judge to approve a temporary stay before my mother’s plane had left but there just wasn’t enough time.

The last time I saw my mother was on October 31, 2010. It has been about six months and I miss her. My family misses her. Nothing has been the same. It’s not fair that the government has done this to us. I don’t know when the next time I will see my mother is. Life without her has been hard. We try to take care of each other but our strongest pillar is gone and we keep falling without her.
Story by Saba ends here.

The story of Faten Hakim's family shows how unfair and inhuman is the American migration authorities. It shows how ruthless and heartless is the International community in dealing with the Palestinian refugees. A family like Faten's is representing the whole Palestinian nation which is stateless and homeless.
Please offer any help you can to unite this family again. All you have to do is help bringing the mother back. She has the very human right to be united with her kids. Borders and states barriers shall not destroys our world humanity.

Contact your Member of Parliament or anybody could help in the US or a elsewhere .

Contact Saba directly to help:
sabahakim21@gmail.comThis e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Is Aljazeera English another Fox News? Israeli Civilian or Settler!

2011-04-24T12:59:00.000-07:00

Palestine, (Pal Telegraph) - Media outlets reported the killing of an illegal Israeli settler in the West Bank city of Nablus today morning. The victim was an illegal settler who lives in the occupied cities and towns of the West Bank. He and others stormed the city for praying armed with guns!

Victim Ben-Joseph Livnat, a 25-year-old resident of the Elon Moreh settlement, entered Palestinian towns without any permission dazzling Palestinian security in the area. Normally, Israeli settlers visit the holy Palestinian site of Joseph's Tomb near the West Bank city of Nablus. The visits come with permission of Israeli and Palestinian sides but neither of them have permitted the victim and those accompanying him.

Shockingly, Aljazeera English adopted the account of Israeli media which considered the settler as an Israeli civilian or a Jewish civilian.
A piece of news titled " Israeli civilian killed in West Bank" was reported on their website today.

http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2011/04/20114245826904494.html

Editor of the news piece seems to lack the very basics of editorial experience. He entirely depended on the Israeli account through the military spokesperson. He accepted the facts that settlers are civilians and ignored that nature of those so-called civilians.

Aljazeera English reported that, "The Israeli military is investigating the killing of one Israeli civilian and the injuring of two others near Joseph's Tomb, a Jewish holy site inside the Palestinian city of Nablus, a spokesperson told Al Jazeera."

Later on, the news was amended by writing new lead stating, "A Palestinian policeman opened fire at a group of Israelis who had come to pray at a Jewish holy site in the West Bank without authorisation, killing one and wounding four, the Israeli military told Al Jazeera."

It continues that, "four Israeli civilians were shot at after they entered Nablus, in the West Bank, without authorisation, early on Sunday morning, the military spokesperson said."

It ignores facts by considering armed Israeli settlers as "Jewish worshippers" by saying, "Jewish worshippers often enter the city with a military escort to pray at the tomb of the biblical patriarch, located inside a Palestinian-ruled area." Sadly, this quote is circulated through Associated Press (AP) and nothing is creative for Al Jazeera.

Normal worshippers are civilians who seeks praying or pilgrimage anywhere in the world. Yet, those who stormed that place are armed settlers making it clear that they are not civilians that time!

Indeed, Al Jazeera English is another fox news. It entirely relies on 2 main sources of news. The first, Israeli media outlets and second is International Press Agency like AFP, AP and others. This puts Aljazeera's professionalism on the edge as it fail to report from the ground.

Most of the details written on that news are from AP, AFP and Israeli media. Googling the news and reading it on various website you will come to know that fact. The source was the AP agency and that news was also reported similarly on the fox news: http://www.foxnews.com/world/2011/04/24/israeli-killed-2-wounded-west-bank-shooting/?test=latestnews

Simple facts were ignored and not mentioned in the report. For example, there are more than half a million settlers in the west Bank. Most of them are armed making it very hard to consider them as civilians. It is great bizarre to ignore this fact and say civilian!

Indeed, Media is playing a very dangerous role in Arab-Israeli conflict. It started as colonial, then settler and now civilian!

By

Sameh A. Habeeb

Palestine Telegraph Newspaper

11 Palestinians Killed, 60 Injured as Israel attacks Gaza Strip

2011-04-08T03:51:00.000-07:00

Gaza, (Pal Telegraph) - According to medical sources in the Gaza Strip, Shifa Hospital, a number of Palestinians were either killed or wounded. The recent Israeli escalation claimed the lives of 11 Palestinians in 24 hours while more than 60 people were injured in the direct fresh Israeli attacks.

http://www.paltelegraph.com/palestine/gaza-strip/8875-11-palestinians-killed-60-injured-as-israel-attacks-gaza-strip.html

Today, Friday, 3 Palestinian civilians were killed including a women. Four others were injured as Israeli army attacked Khan Yonis city middle of Gaza Strip.The new round of Israeli violence against Palestinians started last week when it killed more than 7 Palestinians. Naturally Israeli attacks have drawn Palestinian reactions.

A number of Palestinian civilians were killed yesterday. Mohammad Al Mahmoum, 22, Mos’ab Al Soufy, 17, and Khaled Ad-Dabary, 23, were killed when the Israeli air forces bombarded El Jaradat quarter in Rafah city southern Gaza.

Later another man aged 50, Mahmoud Al Manasra was killed, and 5 others injured, including a child, when the army openly fired more than 20 artillery shells into Al Shijojaya neighborhood, east of Gaza City.

The Israeli bombardments of Gaza’s villages and towns continued were 5 Palestinians were wounded as Israeli army shelled the already damaged Gaza International Airport in Rafah.

Israeli air strikes continue to take place in central Gaza where several air raids targeted many homes eastern part of the city.
In the early hours of evening in southern Gaza, Israeli army launched a missile at a local ambulance resulting in limited damage of the vehicle and injuring a paramedic. According to Gaza health sources, another ambulance was hit by the Israeli Air Force in Rafah, and that eight Palestinians, including children, were wounded in new raids.

Israeli air force continues to attack Gaza despite a ceasefire announced by Palestinian factions. A Palestinian child was wounded by an Israeli artillery shell that hit Al-Qarara area, east of Khan Youni central Gaza Strip.

Five Palestinian civilians including a journalist called Mohammad Al Madhoun, were injured as Israeli air force bombarded a Police station base west of Jabalia north of Gaza. Al Madhoun is seriously wounded due to the attack.

According to PNN news network, A Palestinian farmer was also wounded when the Israeli Air Force fired missiles into the Al Waha area, North West of Gaza city. Several Air Strikes also targeted areas east of Dir Al-Balah in the central Gaza Strip, and Al Hawouz area in addition to the Al Rantissi Base, north of Gaza, causing excessive damage.

Yesterday, 5 Israelis were injured when a homemade shell hit their bus. No victims or damages have been reported since then.
Additionally, huge numbers of Palestinians are suffering from Truma especially the children due to heavy sounds of bombings. Families are remaining in their homes fearing further Israeli attacks soon.

Its worth remembering that Israelis have thousands of bunkers to protect them from any possible wars. Yet, Palestinians have nothing that could provide protection.

Are we too critical of Israel? Exposing Douglas Murray

2011-03-27T04:30:00.000-07:00

Full link: http://www.paltelegraph.com/world/uk-news/8772-are-we-too-critical-of-israel-exposing-douglas-murray.html

London, (Pal Telegraph) - On the 23rd of March, 2011, I was invited by the Royal Holloway Student body to debate whether we are too critical of Israel? The other participants included Douglas Murray, Director of the Centre for Social Cohesion, Mark Macdonald from the Labour Friends of Palestine, and Sam Wetsrop, a young pro-Israeli activist.The heart of what we were debating was the role of the media, as mainstream media has consistently been targeted for its biased treatment of the Israeli-Palestine conflict. Moreover, the dominant historical narrative adopted by many public officials is one closely aligned with the Israeli government. This debate and the exchange with Mr. Murray is particularly reflective of the debate was seeking to address.

Douglas Murray frequently appears on British main stream media and is steadfast in his support for Israel and its policies of apartheid practiced against Palestinian children, elderly and women. Israel’s policies of apartheid are well documented by intergovernmental organizations such as the UN and non-governmental organizations around the world such as Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International. Israel has been charged with arresting, detaining and torturing Palestinian children and adults, irrespective of gender. Targeted assassination of members of political parties and others are also systematic practices engaged in since its creation in 1948. Finally, its collective punishment and crimes against humanity are well known to the International Community following the release of Judge Goldstone’scomprehensive and thorough report on so-called “Operation Cast Lead.” A campaign of genocide is the more apt appellation of that which was experienced by Palestinians between December 2009 and January 2010.

Mr. Murray made it clear that he was not well-informed about the conflict, its history or current affairs.In his opening speech, which can be found on the following link: http://www.youtube.com/user/samakhab#p/u/4/aE4G0ELa2os, Mr. Murray said that Israel is the only country in the middle East that secures the freedom of worship. He failed, however, to inform the audience that Palestinians from Gaza and the West Bank are banned from reaching Jerusalem to pray. Also negligently ignored was the treatment received for those wishing to pray at Al-Aqsa Mosque, as reported on CNN on 13 August 2010. The Israeli army places restrictions for those wishing to pray in Jerusalem. “The restrictions apply to all men younger than 50 and all women younger than 45,” Rosenfeld and the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said. The full link to the story is as follows: http://articles.cnn.com/2010-08-13/world/israel.friday.prayers_1_israeli-police-holy-site-temple-mount?_s=PM:WORLD). It should also be noted that restrictions are also imposed on Palestinian Christians. Another link discussing the conditions on the right to practice religion, especially in Jerusalem, is: http://www.imemc.org/article/49305). There are many such stories that one can find on the internet and via social media sites. Articles and new stories not often found on covered out-of-context by mainstream media.

The right to practice religion is not the only right infringed upon by Israel. Israel killed dozens of Palestinians in Jerusalem during Tunnels uprising; and, it failed to protect Palestinians targeted by a settler named Baroch Goldsteinin Hebron, who killed dozens of Palestinians while praying in 1994. These are just two examples of a multitude of others that could be given as examples. Despite all these examples, Mr. Murray defended Israel’s right to self-defense, which is based on the killing of Palestinians.

Mr. Murray lamented on the issue of so-called Palestinian rockets that have no real effect compared to those fatal bombs used by Israel. He cited thousands of rockets being fired from Gaza, but never mentioned the number of victims on the Israeli side. From 2005 till now, less than 30 Israelis were killed. On the Palestinian side, thousands have been killed. In the last Gaza onslaught of 2009, there were 1400 killed in 3 weeks, most of whom were children, women and the elderly. When addressing this, he stated: Israel destroyed schools and hospitals because Hamas used them to fire rockets. According to UNRWA, schools were never used as military positions by Hamas. UNRWA itself refused any Israeli allegation that its compound was used by Hams in 2009. He also failed to mention that UN premises were destroyed and drivers were killed in Operation Cast Lead. While justifying Israeli attacks against Palestinians, overlooked was the fact that the Goldstone Report Israel found Israel in violation of using indiscriminate force, collective punishment and other crimes that are considered war crimes under international law.

Insult was added to injury when Mr. Murray claimed that Hamas, who was not even in power before 2006,was an obstacle for peace. He further stated that Arafat was offered 98% of the land in Oslo, which is a historical mistake that even the Israelis do not utter. (http://www.youtube.com/user/samakhab#p/u/1/HOj9UtwmWC8). Hamas and Palestinians are not to blame. Rather,Israel and its policies of aggression and apartheid are the root cause of the lack of peace and an end to the conflict. According to Israel, Arafat was offered this percentage in Camp David I in 2000, via negotiating with Bill Clinton and Ehud Barak. However, the Oslo agreement was one part of a transitional agreement, before the final solution of peace.

His lack of knowledge regarding the history of the conflict was quite evident throughout the entire debate. When asked whether Israel has recognized Palestinians, Mr. Murray answered affirmatively. Israel has only recognizedthe Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) as the sole representative for Palestinians. It has not recognized the Palestinians as a people or a nation. The last two examples to be cited in this article, as readers can watch the debate for themselves, are where reference was made to the presence of checkpoints in and out of Gaza, and that freedom of movement inside Gaza results in suicide attacks inside Israel. There have neither been checkpoints inside Gaza since 2005 nor suicide attacks coming from Gaza.

While this article may appear to be a personal attack on Mr. Murray, it is not. He and the position represented by him are reflective of a larger problem witnessed in the public sphere concerning the Israeli-Palestine conflict. A young student at the debate read some UN facts from a newspaper article and queried Mr. Murray on where he received his information. While not answering the young man, he asked if that which was read came from the Palestine Telegraph Newspaper (PT). Of course it was not, as the PT is not a printed but an online newspaper. Still the whole incident raises an important issue pertaining to the existing bias of the reporting done in mainstream media and the dominance of the Israeli narrative in the public sphere. The recent attacks on Gaza are definitely reflective of this bias and propaganda utilized to justify Israeli acts of aggression and apartheid.

Watch Full Debate: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FbjVoi5-dL4

By Sameh A. Habeeb

A Palestinian Journalist based in the UK

Review/ Readings on Channel 4 - The Promise

2011-02-28T11:03:00.000-08:00

London, (Pal Telegraph) - British Media outlets are busy analyzing “The Promise,” which is Peter Kosminsky's new four-part drama about British involvement in Palestine and the establishment of the Israeli state. The serial indeed shapes a new era in British mainstream media and their coverage. To show such drama that stands by justice is a turning point in educating the British public about their history and the great mistake committed by their ancestors.

See it on PT Newspaper http://paltelegraph.com

Without a doubt, Channel 4’s coverage on the Palestinian-Israeli conflict has been the best when compared with the biases of the BBC. Maybe this small space of freedom in Channel 4 allowed such event to be made. This reflects the lack of censorship unlike BBC, Sky and others. Yet we should not be 100% optimistic about this series given that many of the ideas justified the Jewish migration to Palestine.

The Telegraph published a preview on 4th of Feb 2011 by Michael Hogan. The subtitle mentioned the great historical mistake by stating, " Peter Kosminsky's new four-part drama about the British peacekeeping force in 1940s Palestine. " The Telegraph’s writer Michael Hogan seemed to have ignored many chapters in the history of Palestine and the newly established Israel. Michael Deacon from the Telegraph also references the British peacekeeping campaign.

Britain never came to Palestine as peacekeeping force; it did go, however, as a colonial power that helped in the establishment of Israel on the land of Palestine. By referencing the "British peacekeeping force," readers are given the impression that there was a civil war between Jews and Arabs in Palestine, where in Great Britain benevolently provided forces to end the conflict and maintain peace.

Indeed such a headline manipulates the readers’ minds. Britain was an occupier and its forces were for the maintenance of its occupation of the Middle East. Britain not only helped in the creation of Israel, but also aided in Jewish immigration from Europe and other places in the world to Israel and with the implementation of the unlawful Belfour declaration. If British forces played a peacekeeping role, then why were Jewish gangs permitted to be armed? Why were those gangs allowed to commit massacres against Palestinians? If it is peacekeeping, why were those forces pulled out of Palestine in the absence of peace? Why were Jews permitted to remain armed, while Palestinians are not?

The Jewish Chronicle Newspaper published an article on the 24th of Feb 2011 titled, " The Promise has an 'anti-Israel premise',” and included an interview with Amir Ofek, the press attaché at the Israeli embassy in London. Mr. Ofek considered The Promise series as "anti-Israel propaganda." He added that, "In my 15-year career, I have never seen anything like it in the western media. I'm aware of artistic freedom, but nevertheless I feel this is worse than anything I've seen."

It is worthwhile to stop on this comment and make some clarifications. It seems Mr. Ofek is very upset over the series, which is balanced in comparison to what has been previously done by mainstream media. Yet, as previously mentioned, the series could be construed as being biased toward Israel. This is very clear in the statement made by Channel 4, which was cited by the article. The article states:

A Channel 4 representative said the central characters "consistently and sympathetically present a contemporary Israeli perspective," and the Holocaust was "powerfully evoked" to explain the longing for a Jewish homeland. "To do justice to such a complex and sensitive subject, Mr. Kosminsky and his team spoke to hundreds of people from all sides in the conflict.

It is very upsetting to hear such statements by Mr. Ofek. People should be encouraged to learn and seek more information on what happened in Palestine and is currently happening now. People in Britain should learn that their government was the key reason for the plight of Palestinians prior to and after the Nakba (Catastrophe). Britons should know the daily practices of racism and apartheid committed by the Israeli army at the checkpoints and occupied Palestinian cities. The promise is indeed one-step in the direction toward the mainstream public become more informed and knowledgeable about facts that have for far too long been ignored in mainstream education and media. Mainstream education and media have for far too long perpetuated the dogma and narrative articulated by the Israeli government, ignoring the facts and historical accounts that were not in line with political agendas and interests.

The Promise brings to the attention historical facts that are true and still taking place in Palestine. Checkpoints in West Bank still hinder the life of Palestinians daily with great humiliation. The very solid aspect is the lack of fictional and imaginative scenes in the promise. All what we have seen are true things like the stoning of Palestinian school kids by the settlers in Hebron. The same scene had been taken two years ago and is available on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3dYl-ZiLIhs

Terrorism was present in the series. It was brought in many times; yet this time Palestinians were not accused of doing it alone as always Media show them. Jewish gangs were shown exploding and carrying out various terrorist attacks against British army. It provided the image, which is correct, that the Israeli state itself is built based on terrorism.

Israeli state terrorism commenced in 1948 was factually portrayed in The Promise. It has shown how Palestinians were ethnically cleansed and massacred by Jewish gangs and, in many occasions, under the eyes of British soldiers. The complicity of the British army was clear in allowing Jewish gangs to be armed in face of the innocent and defenseless Palestinians. Such actions have been documented by new Israeli historians like Ilan Pappe and others. Through The Promise, Israeli terrorism stretches from 1948 to 2005 where Israeli soldiers stormed houses, arrested, killed people and used them as human shields.

Loyalty is also present in Peter Kosminsky's four-part drama serial. Jewish loyalty to the dogma of Israel is strongly defended through many characters like Eliza, Paul, Len's girl friend and some of his comrades in the British army, who appeared to work for the Jewish gangs at that time. Yet focus on loyalty should shift on Eliza's character, which represents a very factual/ contemporary and true issue of Britons serving in the Israeli army.

British Jews should specify their position in the Middle East conflict by abstaining at least from fighting in and with the Israeli army in occupied Palestine. They should determine whether they are Israelis or Britons; and, they should realize that participating in a war with other states against a country, which is at peace with Britain, is great crime of British civil laws.

All organizations and media outlets should strive to maintain independence from the political agenda of governments and the states the government officials represent. At a very minimal, especially for those outlets that do intend to represent a political perspective or narrative, biases ought to be presented so that opinions and interpretations can be understood as one of many that exist. While facts are unbiased and speak for themselves, it is the way they are selected, presented, and interpreted that lead to the perpetuation of biases. The Promise is one-step in the direction to overcoming the one-sided narrative that has been for far too long put forward as the only one that is accepted, legitimate and unquestionable. It is time for an end to the blind acceptance of the Israeli government’s narrative that omits the Palestinian facts and narrative.

By Sameh A. Habeeb

A Palestinian Journalist based in London

2011-02-26T13:35:00.001-08:00

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Understanding the Issue of Palestinian Prisoners in Israel

2011-02-25T00:45:00.000-08:00

Gaza, (Pal Telegraph) - Journalists, newspapers, editors and mainstream media outlets differ in their definition of the term "Palestinian prisoners." Some in Israel and the United States consider them killers with blood on their hands; while others consider them terrorists best kept in jails under Israeli monitoring, in case they leave they will attack again! Yet, others perceive them as freedom fighters. Fighters who fought in the quest of freedom and emancipation from the manacles of Israeli occupation and organized state terrorism.

Examining the issue of Palestinian refugees, we could easily come to know that they are freedom fighters regardless of accusations or reasons for imprisonment. Most of these prisoners are captives for expressing their views, obviously for political reasons.

But there are some prisoners who were jailed for opening fire on Israeli soldiers when those soldiers invaded their towns and villages, and storm their homes. Those Palestinian prisoners open fire when their brothers, sisters and families are attacked, wounded or killed by Israeli soldiers or radical Jewish settlers. Apparently, the feeling of oppression and injustice are the key motives for those prisoners to resist and fight back. They were not only victims of those Israeli soldiers, but a legacy of a history in which their fathers and grandfathers were killed or kicked out by force from their own homeland to replace them with European Jewish Migrants!

Palestinian prisoners are imprisoned for other reasons like stone throwing or participating in peaceful protests like what's happening in West Bank villages. They are jailed as they try to fight non violently the theft of land and illegal settlement buildings.

Prisoners vary in age and gender. Some women deliver their babies in their prison, making their new babies new prisoners.
The Palestinian human rights organization Ansar al-Asra said in October 2010 that the Israel occupation forces detain about 500 Palestinian children every year, and currently hold more than 310 Palestinians under the age of 18, and on occasion severely violate their rights. Those child detainees are persecuted without accusations in Israeli courts, which is a blatant violation of international law.

Last year a video was released, showing the immoral treatment of a Palestinian female who was jailed by Israeli soldiers. The video shows an Israeli soldier dancing and trying to harass the captive sexually. Here is the video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eIB-pugRS90&feature=related

According to the BBC, Israel uses administrative detention, which is a system revived from British Mandate times (before Israel was established in 1948) and has drawn harsh condemnation from human rights watchdogs who say it is illegal and arbitrarily applied. It also mentions in a report published in 2003 that those prisoners have living conditions that are generally described by observers as extremely harsh and difficult.

The BBC also says, "According to human rights groups, these include beating, leaving prisoners in uncomfortable postures, interrogation sessions which last 24 or 48 hours, depriving prisoners of sleep, depriving them of human dignity and making threats against the lives and property of their relatives. But Israel defends its interrogation techniques - as it defends the whole edifice of legal and penal mechanisms it uses in relation to the Palestinians - as a legitimate way of combating terrorism faced by its citizens."

According to the organization, authorities place 8-10 children in a four-square-meter room, verbally abuse them and put them under psychological pressure at every turn, and even molest some of the children. Many reports appeared recently that those children were sexually assaulted.

There are a number of detention and interrogation centers in Israel, like Ramon, Shatta, Galboa, Asqalan, Hadarim, Al-Damoun, Be'er Sheva, Ofer, Majoddo, and the Negev detention camp. Israel allows human rights organizations to investigate some of these utilities, however there are other countless secret places where Palestinians are placed. And there are other places where dead Palestinians fighters are still kept.

Israeli newspapers published many articles on 19 Feb 2011 crying about Gilad Shalit, saying he has spent 1,700 days as a captive. Their reporting was very obviously bias-based reports. They totally ignored the fact that there are more than 10 thousand Palestinians in Israeli jails. Some of those prisoners spent more than 23 years, not only 1,700 days! The reporting ignored the fact that this solider was in an occupied land near Gaza borders firing at the people there not for any other purpose.

The inhuman treatment is not limited to prisoners in Jails. Their families are prevented from paying regular visits. For more than 4 years now, Israel prevents families like mothers, children and others from visiting their beloved ones especially those from Gaza. Within their visit if it happens, families go under humiliating security checks.

On occasion, Israel releases some of those prisoners. However, it continues to capture thousands of Palestinians in the West Bank and dozens in Gaza to fill its prisons with detainees who lack basic human rights.

By Sameh A. Habeeb
A Palestinian Journalist and Writer from occupied territories

Exclusive: Video on the Deportation of Palestinians in Egypt

2011-02-05T15:00:00.000-08:00

http://www.paltelegraph.com/palestine/gaza-strip/8400-exclusive-video-on-the-deportation-of-palestinians-in-egypt.html

Cairo, (Pal Telegraph) - The Palestine Telegraph (PT) obtained a very exclusive video, which is the first of its kind, covering the inhumane treatment that Palestinians encounter in Egypt. The short film shows the Mubarak regime's policy for those seeking to cross the Rafah Border into the Gaza Strip.

The footage in the video was taken secretly by one of the Palestinians who recently traveled to Gaza. The video was taken after the Egyptian decision to open the Rafah Crossing. It documents a trip of humiliation and suffering that Palestinians encounter.

See Part 1

See Part 2

It narrates the story of more than 70 Palestinian children, women, men and the elderly that are held in jail-like confinement in the basement of the Cairo airport before being deported to Gaza.

The lucky were those that only had to wait 24 hours; others had to wait for 48 hours before waiting to being sent to Gaza. Many Palestinians since that time are not allowed to travel for so called Egyptian security reasons. Some manage to travel as pay bribes for some Egyptian security members.

For security reasons PT can't release the name of the Palestinian filming the video. Palestinians are treated by the Egyptian government as criminals when they cross to Gaza. This system of deportation has been taking place for more than 10 years now. Since the start of the Egyptian Revolution, there have been more than 60 Palestinians held at the Cairo airport.

Palestine Telegraph

Israel is never ready for peace

2011-02-03T00:30:00.000-08:00

http://www.paltelegraph.com/columnists/sameh-a-habeeb/8380-israel-is-never-ready-for-peace.html

Gaza, (Pal Telegraph) - It has been more than 63 years now since the Nakba. Palestinians have gone through and still have many dilemmas in their political, social and economic life. Peace seems to be as far as the sun. It’s entirely out of reach. The Middle East is one or two steps away from great instability. Israeli manipulations in the Peace process are a key aspect for this upcoming instability.

Arab regimes allied with Israel in the Middle East are collapsing. It’s a matter of time before we see new leaderships that will be closer to the people’s aspirations and views; People who perceives Israel as their great enemy. Time is not in Israel favor; Israel should act quickly and adopt the choice of peace in the region. Rights should be given back to Palestinians before the zero minute comes. Arab populations believe that Israel is their greater enemy, which is an idea that backed by Israeli actions against Palestinians.

Israeli practices of apartheid, segregation, siege, killing and land theft are only enflaming those people. These actions give us signal that Israel is working towards its ultimate goals of a pure Jewish state based on racism and segregation. It tries to make it hard for Palestinians to live in their land.

Those who oppose my views in this article might reckon it is biased. However, it is not. It is only based on facts. If we read the disclosed documents leaked by AlJazeera we will come to solid facts that Israeli is not interested in peace. Some of the documents revealed, tell us how Palestinians gave up on Jerusalem and its borders. Yet, Israelis didn’t accept. They didn’t accept the offer of the Palestinian negotiators, bearing in mind Jerusalem was occupied in 1967 and should be returned to Palestinians by UN resolutions.

Jerusalem was not the only signal. Offers from Palestinian negotiators appear to be of the minimal that Palestinian aspires regarding Palestinian refugees. Those negotiators offered the return of tens of thousands of Palestinians in 10 years time. Such numbers represent a very tiny percent of the Palestinian refugees; the actual number is estimated in the millions. Yet, Israel refused! Does this tell us that Israel is interested in peace?

One other clear message from these leaked documents is the land exchange. This tells us about Israeil racism. The intention of Israel was clear that they wanted to get the road of the Arab population inside “Israel”. Is this a sign that Israeli seeks peace?

By Sameh A. Habeeb

A Palestinian Journalist and Writer

Opinion: Peace failure in Middle East, who's to blame?

2010-12-29T16:58:00.000-08:00

By Sameh A. Habeeb http://www.paltelegraph.com/

If Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu ever thinks of freezing settlement building or cutting the budget for settlements, the parties of his coalition like SHAS and Israel Bietuna will certainly leave his government. These parties didn't join his government.

It's crystal clear that attempts to make peace in the Middle East has totally failed. The entire Israeli refusal of basic peace principles has led to this failure. The Israeli government led by the current rightist Israeli leader of the Likud Party, Primer Netanyahu, gave no chance for even talking about peace.

Netanyahu's government and since its coming into power didn't show a single sign of its openness towards peace. His government even refused to freeze the so-called settlements (colonies) in the West Bank. The freeze it had made for a few months didn't include Jerusalem and the building continued secretly in most of the settlements. Netanyahu's refusal of any peace solutions is based on a few elements. The first,is his great fear of his government’s collapse.

If Netanyahu ever thinks of freezing settlement building or cutting the budget for settlements, the parties of his coalition like SHAS and Israel Bietuna will certainly leave his government. These parties didn't join his government - until many concessions were made by Netanyahu-like offering more budget for the settlements and offering the sensitive Foreign Affairs Ministry position to Avigdgor Liberman who is considered in Israel as a Mafia leader.

The other reason is the legacy being undertaken by this recent government. Successive Israeli governments from the far rights to the far left didn't make real concessions regarding settlements or made any real compromise. All of the previous governments continued to build settlements although they are all illegal - based on 1967 UN resolution. They adopted the same strategies. Even the previous government of Olmert only offered the idea of land swap to keep settlements as they are. The USA which plays a key one sided role in favor of Israel is to be blamed here.

The USA and its leadership didn't act as a neutral peace mediator. It has/had only pressured Palestinians to come for Negotiations. It has even failed to discontinue the so called settlement freeze. This so-called mediator offered Israel deals of weapons - estimated to be millions of dollars, and the American taxpayers will be the ones to pay We also got to know from one of Wiklieaks cables - that touched upon the American-Israeli hidden deals - to continue building settlements.

In a leaked document, Israeli Defense minister Ehud Barak told a French official that there is a deal between Israel and the US to continue the so-called natural growth of the settlements.

On the other side, we can clearly see a failed Palestinian leadership. A leadership of old-new and new-old faces led by Mahmoud Abbas and his PLO members. Those officials are blinded to their failure. Their strategies for peace have failed. Palestinians are fed up of seeing Saeb Erekat speaking about hopes and peace aspirations. They are also fed up of seeing their leadership adopting the choice of negotiating while the siege is suffocating Gaza.

The current leadership has failed completely and in some people’s mind they have no choice but to leave office. Solving the Palestinian Authority (PA) problem is the ideal choice at the moment for Israel - as Israel Is obviously still manipulating and is escaping any real attempts - to making real peace. This choice will be vital because solving the PA will bring back the reasonability of control - on the shoulder of the occupier, Israel. After the Oslo accord, Israel managed to put this responsibility on the PA. Israel should face the facts on the ground. Since it is not interested in peace it has to deal with the facts that West Bank and Gaza are under occupation and they are responsible for the welfare/well-being of these places and their people.

Read more:http://www.paltelegraph.com/

Gaza: Two Years after the Horror

2010-12-28T03:22:00.000-08:00

By dr. Haider Eid

http://www.paltelegraph.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=7847:gaza-two-years-after-the-horror&catid=58:gaza-strip-news&Itemid=134

Gaza, December 28, (Pal Telegraph) - This week marks the second anniversary of the horror inflicted on the people of the Gaza Strip. Nothing has changed! Gaza has returned to its pre-invasion state of siege, confronted with the usual international indifference. Two years after the Israeli assault that lasted 22 long days and dark nights, during which its brave people were left alone to face one of the strongest armies in the world, Gaza no longer makes the news. Its people die slowly, its children are malnourished, its water contaminated, and yet it is deprived even of a word of sympathy from the President the United States and the leaders of Europe.

The dehumanization of the Palestinians of Gaza continues unabated. But now the urgent question is how to hold Israel accountable to international law and basic principles of human rights in order to forestall further escalation.

One way to begin holding Israel accountable is through direct witness and citizen solidarity. For example, on December 27, an Asian aid convoy comprising of politicians and activists from 18 countries will arrive in Gaza in an attempt to break Israel's four year siege and to remind the world of the cruel consequences of the siege and the massacre. It is one f the remarkable undertakings by international Civil Society organizations that have decided to take action into their own hand after the miserable failure of the “International Community.” Some of those activists experienced first hand what it means to show true solidarity with the Palestinians of Gaza when nine Turkish activist were brutally murdered in broad-day light on Mavi Marmara.

While in Gaza, the convoy's activists will undoubtedly hear stories that will curdle the blood. During the massacre, one Israeli soldier commented, "That's what is so nice, supposedly, about Gaza: You see a person on a road, walking along a path. He doesn't have to be with a weapon, you don't have to identify him with anything and you can just shoot him."

Israel could not have carried out its brutal assault, preceded and followed by a punishing siege, without a green light from leading world powers. When Israel attacked Gaza in February/March 2008, Matan Vilnai, then-deputy minister of defense (a misnomer for an aggressive, occupying power), threatened a "greater Shoah" (Holocaust). Some 102 Palestinians, including 21 children, were killed.

The reaction of the international community? Absolutely nothing substantive. On the contrary, the EU decided to reward the aggressor by upgrading its trade agreements with Israel. This upgrade in early December 2008 gave the go-ahead for the larger Gaza massacre of 2009 in which more than 1,400 Palestinians were killed: the majority of them civilians. But now, in spite of Israeli war crimes, both the US and the EU continue to strengthen ties with Israel.

The resemblance of Israel's violent campaign of domination to that of the apartheid South African regime has recently been articulated by the anti-Apartheid freedom fighter and former South African government minister Ronnie Kasrils: “[It] is not difficult for anyone acquainted with colonial history to understand the way in which deliberately cultivated race hate inculcates a justification for the most atrocious and inhumane actions against even defenseless civilians - women, children, the elderly amongst them.”

The South African apartheid regime came under repeated pressure as the United Nations Security Council passed one resolution after another condemning its inhumane treatment of blacks. This gave much-needed succor to the oppressed, while we Palestinians, today, are bereft of even this tiny comfort because the United States continues to use its veto to ensure that Israel escapes censure.

Today, there is a growing grassroots struggle inside Palestine, much as there was inside apartheid South Africa. An intensified international solidarity movement with a common agenda can make the struggle for Palestine resonate in every country in the world. Our goal now, as civil society organizations, is to lift the siege against Gaza. To accomplish this, many activists, Palestinian and international, have launched a boycott campaign modeled on the global South African anti-apartheid campaign. This campaign is a democratic movement based on the struggle for human rights and the implementation of international law. Our struggle is not religious, ethnic, nor racial, but rather universalist; it is a struggle that guarantees the humanization of our people in the face of a dreadful Israeli war machine.

Archbishop Desmond Tutu of South Africa, a staunch supporter of Palestinian rights, has said, "If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor." While the Israeli armed forces were bombing my neighborhood, the UN, EU, Arab League and the international community remained silent in the face of atrocities. Hundreds of corpses of children and women failed to convince them to intervene.

Gaza 2009, like the Sharpeville 1960 massacre, cannot be ignored. It demands a response from all who believe in a common humanity. Nelson Mandela pointed the way to this shared humanity when years ago he stated, “But we know too well that our freedom is incomplete without the freedom of the Palestinians.”

Now is the time to boycott the Apartheid Israeli state, to divest from its economy and to impose sanctions against it. This is the only way to ensure the creation of a secular, democratic state for all its inhabitants in historic Palestine regardless of race, creed, or ethnicity.

- Haidar Eid is Associate Professor of Postcolonial and Postmodern Literature at Gaza's al-Aqsa University and a policy advisor with Al-Shabaka, the Palestinian Policy Network. (This article was first published in ZNet.)

Photograph: Fadi Adwan /Getty Images

The Palestine Telegraph Newspaper

2010-12-26T16:12:00.000-08:00

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Gaza Siege, “Endless Closure”

2010-12-02T02:22:00.000-08:00

UK, December 2, (Pal Telegraph – Sameh Habeeb) Successive Israeli governments imposed a tight siege on the costal enclave Gaza Strip 4 years ago. The siege continues but with different facets. Israeli propaganda machines help their leadership by recommending new strategies in every new stage. Mid of Gaza war, Israelis allowed extra trucks of food into Gaza. The maximum number was 150 to 200. Then it dropped down to less than 100. A partial lifting of the siege is a strategy adopted by Israel, but never a final strategy to end the siege and ease the suffering of the population.

Upon the deadly Israeli attacks on the aid flotilla and the killing of 9 activists, Israel then, eased the siege by allowing similar quantities to that allowed mid of the war. More goods were allowed into Gaza for the first time in 4 years. However, the siege is still there.

A report issued by 22 organisations, entitled "Dashed Hopes: Continuation of the Gaza Blockade," points out that recent ease is not for the populations. It’s to import of materials for UN and other international building projects. They called on Israel to lift it siege factually.

Israeli propaganda is not a lone here. Media outlets seem to support Israeli account. A report published by AFP news agency on 30th of November 2010, the reporter, Hazel Ward, shows explicit bias and hides the truth behind her words. She says, “For 18 months afterwards, Israel banned the import of cement and other construction materials, saying that it was likely to be used by the militant Islamist Hamas group to fix bunkers, tunnels and other fortifications.”

She only used the Israeli view point that cement is used for Hamas or Palestinian militants for military goals. Indeed, it’s not. She didn’t speak about the ramifications of the War and why cement is needed in Gaza. She didn’t mention that cement is needed for rebuilding the destroyed strip. There are more than 50.000 buildings and utilities that either partially or entirely damaged. Hundreds of industrial units were destroyed. Whilst, populations who lost their homes still homeless living in tents across Gaza. Hamas will not wait Israel to bring in cement to use for bunkers. Hamas which is bringing weapons to Gaza is certainly able to bring cement through Egypt. And it’s happening; smuggled cement is coming through Egypt but with high prices and limited quantities.

She also mentioned that, “The blockade policy was first adopted in June 2006 after Gaza militants snatched Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit during a cross-border raid. He is still being held somewhere in Gaza.”

This statement is untrue, Israeli siege has begun as a reaction of having Hamas in power. The siege initiated by Israel and was supported by International community directly after the elections. The siege started as Hamas refused to recognize the right of Israel to exist. Salaries for employees were not sent to the Palestinian Authority. Tax revenues were not given to the PA.

According to Raed Fatooh, head of crossing commercial committee, Israel will allow 220 of food and other products. Some other trucks will be allowed into Gaza for some International NGOs for building and other purposes. All this sound to be an ease for the siege, but in fact the siege is still imposed. Israel should lift the siege entirely and allow unconditional movement of goods and people from and to Gaza.
According to Raed Fatooh, head of crossing commercial committee, Israel will allow 220 of food and other products. Some other trucks will be allowed into Gaza for some International NGOs for building and other purposes.

All this sound to be an ease for the siege, but in fact the siege is still imposed. Israel should lift the siege entirely and allow unconditional movement of goods and people from and to Gaza.
Israel is not trying to pressure Hamas or other factions in Gaza. Israel knows that all leaders and other members are not affected by the siege. They have their new cars and homes beside all kind of food they want. Indeed, Israel knows and tries to found a gap between normal populations in Gaza and factions’ leaders.

The policy of Israel failed in the past few years to bring down the Palestinian will and determination as they people still adamant and endure the suffering. Siege resulted in only bringing some radicals to public and this will harm Israel on the long term!

The policy of Israel is a new copy of the practices being carried out against the Jews in Europe. Israel which is acting on behalf of the Jews didn’t learn from the history. They are only victimizing us they way their fathers and mothers were victimized under the Nazis regime!

How Palestinians and Israelis view peace

2010-09-28T01:30:00.000-07:00

Refugees in Jabalia Camp, Photo by Sameh Habeeb

Gaza, September 28, (Pal Telegraph - Sameh.A.Habeeb) -All of us have followed the latest round of negotiations in the U.S. All of us are aspiring for a peace agreement that ends the conflict in the region. All of us affirm the issue of ending the conflict, but we have never asked how and what is the mechanism. As far as we get to the details, obstacles appear. There is a saying that states, "Satan is in the details"

There have only been a few cases when an occupier desired to give up land or peace; in which they know they are getting weaker or they are losing the battles. Obviously, it's not the case with Israel. Israel is still strong, as is demonstrated by its bloody forces. The Palestinian side has not become stronger. It can also be said that with the lack of unity, it has only become weaker. It was weakness that resulted in the Palestinian leadership being dragged into negotiating over that which is left of Palestine. Further complicating the issue is the lack of clarity in the Palestinian leadership’s lack of clarity in its position. Looking at President's Abbas positions and his team, there is great deviation from the main issues and rights of the Palestinian people. Yet, the leadership claims it has never given up Palestinian rights now or in the future.

This is not the case. Since the arrival of Obama, Palestinians and the International Community have continued to witness the failure of Madrid Peace Talks that began in 1990. Obama is no different than Bush, as Bush was no different than past presidents. Obama and his predecessors continue with another failed American policy, and the region continues to be plagued by an American foreign policy that only serves the interest of its one so-called true ally Israel.

Obama promised Palestinians an independent, sovereign and viable Palestinian state. Many thought that he would be the change the world, region and Palestinians were looking for, especially when he called upon Israel to halt the building of its illegal settlements. The language was then changed from calling for a halt to a freeze. The final call was for a delay so that negotiations could restart. Finally, the Obama administration applied pressure on Palestinians for them to enter into direct talks with Israelis. All the while Israel continued with its secret building settlements! Obama, unfortunately, is no different.

Whether Obama succumbed to pressure from the Israeli lobby, or because of the upcoming mid-term elections, or some combination thereof, a lack of leadership is evident in the case of the American. America is not entirely to blame for the failure of the current round of so-called peace talks, as the Palestinian leadership or the lack thereof is also to blame. The current Palestinian leadership gave a very cheap gift to Israel and Obama.

The gift was delivered by Abbas speech, with leader of AIPAC and Jewish community in the U.S. Without applying pressure or even blinking an eye, Abbas showed his readiness to recognize Israel as a Jewish state. He stated this indirectly when said Israel is free to name itself whatever it wants, even the empire of the Jewish state of Israel. Such recognition should have never been given. Free positions should not be given, as it will encourage them more and more towards huge concessions from the Palestinians. Israel has got enough concessions from Palestinians since 1948. But in all fairness to Abbas, he merely is representative of and reflects a failed, immoral and bankrupt policy of the past.

Rather than lamenting on the failed policy of the past, a reflection on what Palestinians do want is necessary. Rather than dialogue between failed leaders claiming to represent the people in the international community, maybe direct and public dialogue between Palestinians and international community is necessary for real peace. If the international community, represented by the people, can come together to break the Siege on Gaza and call for holding Israel accountable for its crimes against humanity, then maybe together a real peace can be achieved.

The following are issues of primary importance that need to be included, talked about and solved immediately.

-The Right of Return needs to be implemented. This right was set forth in UN Resolution 194 and guaranteed by many International accords. It gives Palestinian refugees the right plus compensation. Palestinians also seek a formal apology from Israel for the loss and damage experienced as a result of the ethnic cleansing and ongoing one-sided massacres in Gaza and West Bank. Palestinians should be allowed back to their homes and towns. If you ask any refugee, they will clearly state, " We want to go back".

The Israeli position to this is outright refusal. Israel views the right of return as a demographic threat and has only accepted that around 20.000 Palestinian refugees can return to the occupied territories. America backs this position and offered support by hosting more than 100.000 refugees in their land. They also offered $50 Billion for Palestinians if any agreement was made. They also want to settle the current Palestinian refugees living in Syria, Jordan, Lebanon and elsewhere through large amounts of financial and development support.

-Settlements should be dissolved. For a two state solution to work based on 1967 borders, all settlements should be left by the Israeli side. They are built in an occupied land according to UN resolutions and are illegal. They hinder the contiguity and viability of the Palestinian state. It will be unreasonable within the future Palestinian state to move from Nablus to Bethlehem by passing through a number of checkpoints. It's as if you are travelling to the USA from the Middle East, or travelling from Manchester to London through checkpoints manned by soldiers.

Israelis don't want to give up Palestinian land. They always state, “Peace in Return for Security, but not Land.” They want to keep settlements, which is part of their dogma. They view it as the land of the ancients, "Judia and Samira" which was given to Abraham and Moses a long time ago! Leaving this land will be very difficult due to them being occupied by both Jewish settlements and some Jewish terrorist groups. Leaving settlements will not be made by this or any future Israeli government. The government will collapse if even full freeze will be made.

-Jerusalem is the core of the issues. Palestinians view it as our capital. From the religious perspective, it is a sacred place where Prophet Muhammad ascended to heaven. We also believe its our lands as Canaanites, "Our ancestors who lived in Palestine even before the Jews." Jerusalem was always the capital of Palestine. What is left from this city now is the old city and a few other neighborhood. The whole city was divided by Israel into an eastern and western part.

Israelis do not want to share the city or give it to the Palestinians. Israel wants full control of the city, while only granting Palestinians partial rights to pray. It wants the city as a capital for the Jewish state of Israel. Israelis want the demolition of the Dome of the Rock down to build mount temple.

Israel has been engaged in a demographic war against Palestinians since 1967. They are ethnically cleansing Palestinians and replacing them by migrant Jews. Thousands of Palestinian houses where confiscated and given to Israel settlers. Many synagogues were opened. An Apartheid Wall was built to occupy part of the city and to exclude a few quarters. Many tunnels were dug to bring down the Islamic sites in the city. Americans indirectly support the Israeli stance. A few years ago Hillary Clinton announced many times that she agrees to move the American Embassy from Tel-Aviv to Jerusalem. This gives direct recognition and approval of Israeli intentions by the Americans.

-Borders and security mean sovereignty and contiguity for our promised future state. We are seeking full control of our borders with an army to protect us like all other free nations. The borders could be within a one or two state solution but with Palestinians being given their full rights. This also means direct supervision of our borders and crossing points.

Israel does not agree. It does not accept Palestinians having an army or controlling their borders. Israel want control over the borders and crossings so that it can continue to subjugate Palestinians living in a so-called state. Israel claims its control and supervision of the borders and crossings is necessary for security reasons. However, there are only security threats to Israel because it continues denying a Palestinian state and its policies of occupation, repression and subjugation of the Palestinian people.

-Palestinian prisoners detained, and often tortured, in Israeli jails are estimated around 8 to 10 thousand, many of whom were jailed during the First and Second Intifada and have spent more than 25 years in detention. Israel has not released them. Palestinians seek the full release of all the political prisoners; beginning first with the release of all the children, women and sick.

Israel does not want their release. It views them as criminals who threaten the security of Israel and its future. Despite promises and assurances made following Oslo, Israel failed to release many Palestinian prisoners.

-The water issue is a key in to the conflict. The Middle East suffers from shortages in water that might lead to some future wars on the regional level. What is happening now between Egypt and some African countries is a direct indicator. Palestinians seek to have their share of the water as part of any solution.

The Israeli side of course does not agree. Israel does not want Palestinians to have control over their own water supply because it will be a way to continue to oppress and subjugate any Palestinian state. The dispute taking place between Israel and Lebanon continues because of Israeli theft and control of water resources on Lebanese territory. There are similar issues with the Golan Heights and the Jordan River. Israel controls water wells and resources in the West Bank through the settlements, hence it not wanting to dismantle settlements or halt settlement policy. Israel even created barriers to prevent water from flowing into the Gaza Strip.

All of these issues must be addressed at once and not put off for future rounds of talks, as they are interdependent. Their interdependence and failure to address them simultaneously continues to ensure that peace will not be possible and is currently out of reach.

Palestinians will not accept any peace that will not give us our rights. Abbas will not be able to sign a deal without consulting his people. If he attempts to do as Arafat did by signing a peace without the approval of the people, he will be assassinated or deposed. At the same time, the Israeli government will never accept the Palestinian conditions. Peace, unfortunately, continues to remain out of reach.

Contact Sameh: 00447949725139
or Sameh.habeeb at gmail.com

IOF shoots 2 Palestinian workers in Gaza

2010-07-31T06:14:00.000-07:00

Gaza, July 31, (Pal Telegraph) Two Palestinian workers were Wounded today morning after they were shot by Israeli occupation forces at the northern town of “Beit Hanoun” in the northern to the Gaza Strip.

The Director of Emergency unit in Gaza’s Ministry of Health, Dr. Muawiya Hassanein, said that Khalid Mahdi Alhmadden (16 years) and Mohamed Shalabi (25 years) were wounded by Israeli fire in the lower limbs.

Hassanein added that ambulance crews rushed the injured to Kamal Adwan Hospital north of the Gaza Strip, describing their condition as moderate.

Dozens of workers go to areas near the border to collect aggregate and work in cracking the stones to provide a livelihood for their families, despite being targeted repeatedly by the Israeli occupation forces or the armed towers that were placed by Israel throughout Gaza’s borderlines.

Source: http://www.paltelegraph.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=6820:iof-shoots-2-palestinian-workers-in-gaza&catid=58:gaza-strip&Itemid=134

Back Home: Realties in Gaza‏

2010-06-22T05:11:00.000-07:00

Gaza, June 21 (Pal Telegraph – By Sameh A. Habeeb) It has been over a year and 4 months since I left Gaza early in 2009. I’m back today. Nothing has changed on the ground. Destroyed houses, roads, basic utilities and lack of infrastructure are still existing or “implanted” on Gaza roads. Your way to central Gaza city from Rafah is a bit strange as it’s very dusty and smelly from Egyptian fuel and oils. It is a pity that the roads of Gaza are the same as busy and environmentally contaminated roads in Cairo or China.

More:www.paltelegraph.com

I just left London 2 days ago. I made all the efforts to get to Gaza. I was between two choices that every Palestinian trying to cross to Gaza has to face. I reached London Heathrow airport midday to catch the 3pm flight to Cairo. Egypt airways staff refused to let me board the airplanes saying that I will be deported back to London. I negotiated with them for some time until they told me, “you can leave but you will be responsible for a new ticket”. It was strange to know that I could be deported back to London because I desired to go to Gaza. What does /did this mean?

I managed at the end to reach Cairo. I thought I would be able to get out of this ‘bad’, questionable’ situation so I made a few phone calls to the Egyptian authorities but alas no ‘good’ thing resulted. I was promised that I would be allowed to stay in Egypt for a few days after that, I will be able to go back to Gaza.

In Cairo, I was detained with a number of Palestinians, (in one of the rooms for 9 hours). We were not allowed to leave the airport. More than 35 people were lying on the ground. Some were sleeping while other children were either crying or playing. After 9 hours we were deported to Gaza. It was a very bitter experience to be deported as an illegal migrant with no rights. As far as International law is concerned it states that, you can be deported if you illegally enter a country.

Added to that, while you are staying there, the country which desires to deport you should secure/provide all kinds of comfort for you! What is the use of International laws if we are not held accountable when we do not uphold it?

We left Cairo 7:30 am, reached Rafah crossing by 5pm. We managed to cross to Gaza easily, something that was never expected before.

At the Palestinian side of Rafah crossing I saw what I expected and spoke out about before (about double standards and Fatah‘s tactics). Hamas security persons were using double standards. Many ‘normal /regular’ people were inside the crossing waiting their beloved ones. However, those people were not allowed to get in. I wondered how they managed to get.

At the crossing, I said to one of the security guards, “I have some heavy bags here. I want my dad to come through to collect them and me”. He answered,

“He can’t, this is closed area”.

I enquired, “But why, I see other people here collecting their relatives and friends. Why can’t I have the same right? Can I call my dad? Can he come here?”

The guard replied, “He can’t, he should have coordinated to get into the crossing”.

Coordinating means, if you know someone in the Rafah crossing, then you can call them to gain an access. Well, this is just another sign of corruption and nepotism that we had also experienced during the Fatah times!

As I entered Gaza, an overwhelming feeling of happiness and joy went through me. I realized the smell of Gaza which is a unique one. The pale faces of the exhausted people are the same. My father collected me from the crossing to Gaza city, where my house is located.

"Israel right to self defense"

2010-06-14T05:29:00.000-07:00

Israel right to self defense

London, June 10, (Pal Telegraph- by Sameh A. Habeeb) Israel has been pursuing its cry-wolf policy since its inception. Successive Israeli regimes have followed the same tactic of presenting their own nation as the victim of aggression. All the major news firms and corporations have taken the same line. “Israel as victim’, has filled the headlines. These days there are more examples than ever.

Israel has been justifying its attacks and deadly wars against Palestinians and Arabs in terms of their right to self-defense. Here are some of the messages we hear from the Israelis over and over again:

“We are encircled by the Arabs.”

“We are encircled by terrorists.”

“We are living in the tough area of the Middle East.”

“We are fighting for our existence.”

“Our nukes are for the purpose of protection.”

“The Gaza siege is a legal means to stop rocket attack.”

“Settlements are a legal means to protect our Jewish Identity.”

Any audience worldwide hearing only this account might believe what they hear. It is normal for any body and everybody to seek safety and security as a basic need. People worldwide and specifically in America, which is the foremost supporter of Israel, will be convinced. For as long as these fictions are promulgated along media wires and echoed by reputable institutions, Israel will continue to defy international law and humanitarian charters. More human rights will be violated.

In the 1967 war, Israel captured hundreds of Egyptian soldiers. According to international law, Israel should have protected them before taking them to court or banishing them to prison. But Israel massacred them in the desert. We never heard of any subsequent investigation by the international community. Whose rights of self defense were infringed on that occasion?

Massacres, like Sabra and Shatila, have been perpetrated in Lebanon. The Israeli version of this story is that, “we invaded Lebanon to kick out Palestinian fighters. Or to protect our borders. It’s all about self defense.” But disproportionate force was used by Israel: thousands of Palestinians/Lebanese were killed in such massacres. In 1996 and 2006 in its wars on Lebanon, Israel bombarded the UN compounds and killed hundreds of civilians and UN forces. All this was on the grounds of self defense.

The siege of Gaza and the one-sided war was part of Israeli self defense strategy. Very limited attacks have been launched against Israel but the Israeli response has always been deadly. The useless rockets of Hamas have been used as a pretext by Israel to launch its attacks. They are the reason given for imposing the siege. However, the facts on the ground are different.

Israeli self-defense

The legal dictionary of Gerald N. Hill and Kathleen T. Hill (1981-2005 by) defines self-defense as,” self-defense n. the use of reasonable force to protect oneself or members of the family from bodily harm from the attack of an aggressor, if the defender has reason to believe he/she/they is/are in danger. Self-defense is a common defense by a person accused of assault, battery, or homicide. The force used in self-defense may be sufficient for protection from apparent harm (not just an empty verbal threat) or to halt any danger from attack, but cannot be an excuse to continue the attack or use excessive force.”

You only have to look at the last six decades. Before its establishment; Israel ethnically cleansed more than 800,000 Palestinians. More than 530 villages were viciously destroyed before it even existed. Wars then were launched against Syria, Egypt, Lebanon and Jordan. Attacks and military operations of Israel in the name of self defense reached Tunisia, Iraq, Algeria and Morocco. Add to that, a hundred or more operations that took place across Asia, Africa, Europe and North America.

From 1967 to 2008 more than 800.000 Palestinians were imprisoned by Israel.

From 29/9/200 to 31/12/2008 more than 5901 Palestinians were killed. The same period witnessed up to 40,000 injured people. On the other side, around 1000 Israeli were killed. There is a huge and vast gap between the numbers. Additionally, 1440 Palestinians were killed in Gaza. The ratio is around 8 Palestinians killed for each Israeli.

Rockets Issue and Self-defense

The official website of the Israeli Foreign Affairs ministry states that 1,750 rockets and 1,528 mortar bombs fired from the Gaza Strip struck southern Israel in 2008. This is understandably shocking for anyone who reads this. The term rocket or mortar or missile induces fear in any ordinary onlooker. Israel uses such statistics and numbers to deflect the attention of the international mainstream media and those who consume it. If we suppose Israel is right about this, then why don’t we see Israel giving more details about these rockets? Why does Israel not show the pictures of the victims of these rockets? Why don’t we see the damaged cities, town, and village?

Clearly these rockets are ineffective and useless. According to the BBC, since 2001, when the rockets were first fired, more than 8,600 have hit southern Israel, nearly 6,000 of them since Israel withdrew from Gaza in August 2005. The rockets have killed 28 people and injured hundreds more.

This is 28 people killed and hundreds injured too many. But note that there is a huge gap between the number of victims and the number of rockets. If this leads us to any conclusion, it must be that these rockets are primitive, inexact and ineffective. The rockets are just another scapegoat that Israel uses to justify its ongoing attacks against Palestinian civilians.

Some Palestinian factions have now stopped firing these rockets as Hamas did, from June to December 2009. What happened? A full- scale war was launched in late 2009 that took the lives of more than 1440 Palestinians, mostly civilians. The arithmetic is like this: 28 Israelis killed by rocket attacks in nine years while 1440 Palestinians were killed in only 3 weeks in the last war on Gaza. There is no way to compare the two sides. The self defense argument deployed by Israel should be renamed its policy of aggression. Self defense empowers victims to use sufficient power to defend themselves. But from the Israeli government we only see excessive force used against civilians.

By Sameh A. Habeeb

The Palestine Telegraph Newspaper

"Dissolve/Change Hamas Government in Gaza‏"

2010-06-08T04:39:00.000-07:00

Dissolve/Change Hamas Government in Gaza‏

June 8, (Pal Telegraph – By Sameh Habeeb) Palestinians voted for Hamas in 2006 looking for a change - instead of voting for the corrupted Fatah movement. Hamas’s slogan was “change” and “reform”, a change that has been adopted by Obama later on but came to an end. The siege which has been imposed by Israel, America, Quartet Committee and the entire international committee made Hamas more than paralyzed as a government. An entire closure of the borders, shortage of food, imprisoning of people and their freedom of movement were the main signatures of at least 4 years. Hamas and the people of Gaza are alike. Both are exhausted people.

The Palestinian people in Gaza are scattered, tired -where 67% of them are unemployed while more than 80% live under the poverty line. They lack the basic necessities. More than 510 of them died due to the inability to either get treatment in Gaza or leave –for abroad. Hamas’s government, like the people of Gaza, is imprisoned, The government is boycotted and their finances are suffering and scarce. All these elements create - massive humanitarian disaster in Gaza, added to this the national division with Fatah did/does not help.

Is Hamas going through a political ordeal?

A video of the prisoner Gilad Shalit was released by Hamas. Some people considered it as a breakthrough and will bring a psychological war against Israel. However, in my own view it is a hit for Hamas. The video by all measurements represents a failure. In my mind is shows how desperate Hamas was - Hamas thought it would be a good political move. I feel the massage of the video didn’t achieve what was required. Easily we can read that Hamas needs to solve the problem of Shalit. It needs the deal to be an accomplishment -then we can be aware of the fact that a political achievement was made - with the absence of national reconciliation and with the continuation of the siege.

It seems that Hamas never learned from Hezbollah. For years the Lebanese faction of Hezbollah never released information about the captive soldiers. A surprise happened. The faction handed the soldiers dead - while everyone reckoned they were alive! But in Hamas’s case you find dozens of spokespersons saying contradictory views/news about Shalit. This show how fragile is the systemic Media and propaganda within Hamas. The massage of the video that Hamas made will never shake the radical government of Israel nor will it affect the mainstream in Israel, the mainstream which is shifting radically to the right - represented by the radical government of Netanyahu and the rest of rightist parties.

Taxes in the Besieged Gaza

Long ago when Islam appeared - ups and downs took place in that history. Many sieges had been imposed on Muslims and their prophet Muhammad. At other times natural disasters happened but Muslims survived these ‘problems’.

During the era of Omar Bin Al Khatab the second caliph of the Muslims there had been a period where poor rain took place followed by hunger and lack of basics. Taxes were never paid that time. Even the sinners as those who steal were never punished because their acts were justified due to hunger. It seems that Hamas government never looked at this incident to implement it on the starved Gazans.

Hamas government should really never think about imposing taxes on the people of Gaza even though the Hamas spokespersons are saying all the time that people are supporting this government. If Hamas is sure - is adamant and determined on this point- and insists- then it has to have the people on its side. But is this the case? If not, such measures for sure will never help!

Hamas has started to impose taxes on power engines - which is really questionable. People in Gaza use these engines as an alternative due to constant power outages. Hamas as a government should help the people to have proper electricity systems before thinking of imposing taxes on these alternatives. More taxes are planned to be imposed - like fees on those who wish to visit patients at the hospitals. News reports stated that fees must be paid to meet the mayor of Gaza to discuss any domestic matter with any residents. Incidentally, cigarettes are being taxed -with 1 dollar per packet. According, to the economy minster, Mr. Zeyad Al Zaza rationalized -the taxes are less than the West Bank - he justifies the taxes by saying –it was to protect the health of the people. While some others In Hamas say it is Makrooh (Islamic wise its not desirable and even prohibited to smoke). If all this is true, a question should be directed to Hamas as this, as to why have you allowed the cigarettes to enter via the tunnels in the first place?

According to the financial times the Hamas government is becoming unable to fulfill its financial commitments - most of the 25,000-30,000 Gazans employed by the local government, received their wages for the past two months, either late or only partially.

Hamas Government should not consider, taxing the people of Gaza - impose such taxes on them. The people in Gaza need more support from the government. Indeed Hamas is the one who should pay taxes for the people of Gaza – because they are still adamant and defiant on facing the Israeli occupation and the siege. Hamas should find other ways to get out of its financial problems - either by dissolving this government or forming a new government or finding other ways to get money into Gaza.

Wrong Polices of Hamas

In addition- the news coming out of Gaza is very discouraging –for example, Hamas is either closing civil society organizations or controlling them. A policy of replacement of employees is taking place, (it’s the same policy adopted by Fatah governments years ago). Looking at the media of Hamas- we can see wrong approaches - destructive news and accusations - here and there. The media of Hamas should adhere to the ethics adopted by journalists.

The problem between Hamas and Fatah should be treated within the political circles privately - not publicly, this is the wrong way. If Hamas is keen to continue its governance over Gaza, and stretch it to the West Bank - then major changes should be done on/to its charter -keeping in mind - protecting the rights of the Palestinians – to having their own state and the right of return.

Looking at Gaza’s De facto Government of Hamas we can’t sense real changes. The recent government in Gaza should be dissolved; a new government should be made that includes independent personalities with no political belonging. There are tens of well-qualified academics, thinkers and politicians who are smarter and better than Hamas’s ministers!

2010-06-05T00:40:00.000-07:00

Israel broke international laws when attacked Gaza's flotilla

June 4, (Pal Telegraph - By Lynda Brayer) During the pre-dawn hours of May 31, 2010, the Israeli Navy attacked the six civilian vessels of the Gaza Freedom Flotilla. The attack took place in international waters against ships flying under national flags of countries with which Israel is not at war, namely Turkey, Greece and the United States.

The ships were carrying civilians from more than sixteen countries.

Salient points:

Since no state of war existed at the time, the attack on these vessels constitutes an act of war against those governments under whose flags the vessels were sailing.

The attack falls within the purview of the ius ad bellum, those laws which govern the resort to armed conflict. Israel’s action does not fall into the category of the ius in bello or the laws which govern the actual conduct of war.

Because this attack was carried out in international waters, the status of the relationship between Hamas, or any other Palestinian body, and the state of Israel is of no relevance whatsoever. Likewise, neither the blockade of Gaza nor Israel’s claims and legal interpretations regarding it has any bearing on its acts of aggression in international waters.

This is not an act of piracy. Piracy is an act of aggression carried out in international waters by individuals and not by states.

The following internationally binding treaties, charters, and agreements are relevant to the attack by Israel:

1. Article 6 of the Charter Provisions of the Nuremburg Trials

(a) Crimes against Peace: namely, planning, preparation, initiation, or waging of a war of aggression, or a war in violation of international treaties, agreements or assurances, or participation in a common plan or conspiracy for the accomplishment of any of the foregoing;

(3) Crimes against Humanity: namely murder…deportation, and any other inhumane acts committed against any civilian population, before or during the war...in execution of or in connection with any crime…whether or not in violation of the domestic law of the country where perpetrated.

2. 1907 Hague Regulation Convention (XI) Relative to Certain Restrictions with Regard to the Exercise of the Right of Capture in Naval War

Chapter II – The Exemption from Capture of Certain Vessels

Article 4. Vessels charged with religious, scientific, or philanthropic missions are likewise exempt from capture.

Salient points:

The standard for judging the Israeli acts is objective and not subjective. It is irrelevant what Israeli ministers, generals, admirals, or soldiers thought or intended. The test is in what they did.

What they did was engage in acts of war using weapons of war in international waters against vessels that are protected not only in peacetime but also in times of war.

Israel has therefore committed both crimes against the peace and crimes against humanity.

These are crimes that have international jurisdiction. Israeli political and military personnel can be named in trials held in any and all countries of the world. If the Israelis do not attend the trials, they can be tried in abstentia, and those decisions in which the Israelis are found guilty can be executed anywhere in the world.

Because unarmed civilians were murdered by a preplanned military attack, capital crimes have been committed. While it would appear that the international community no longer finds capital punishment civilized, the punishments for these capital crimes can be multiple life sentences.

These crimes give rise to damage claims for huge sums of money and Israeli accounts can be blocked using decisions finding them guilty.

The unarmed vessels were on a philanthropic mission, carrying civilians and humanitarian supplies. Even if Israel were in a state of war with any of these countries, it would be prohibited from capturing the vessels according to the terms of the Hague Convention of 1907.

Conclusion:

It follows, therefore, that Israel was first of all not allowed to attack these vessels militarily, and then not to board these vessels by force, capture these vessels, attack the passengers, imprison them on the vessels, forcibly remove them from the vessels, and steal their private property in the form of cameras, computers, clothes, etc.

Every single act carried out by the Israeli military forces in international waters no May 31, 2010, are unqualifiedly and absolutely violations of international law.

Lynda Brayer is a human rights lawyer who specialized in the laws of war and international law in representing Palestinians. She lives in Haifa. She can be reached at lyndabrayer@yahoo.com

Appendix:

The Gaza Freedom Flotilla included six vessels on May 31, 2010

1. Mavi Marmara, passenger boat, Turkey

2. Sofia, cargo ship, Greece

3. Gaza I, cargo ship, Turkey

4. Gaza II, cargo ship, Turkey

5. Spendoni, passenger ship, Greece

6. Challenger I, passenger ship, United States

The majority of the passengers aboard the ships were Turkish citizens. There were also nationals from Britain, Australia, Greece, Canada, Malaysia, Algeria, Serbia, Belgium, Ireland, Norway, Sweden, Kuwait and the United States.

Three German parliamentarians were aboard the Turkish boat that was stormed. There were also two Palestinian Members of the Knesset. Swedish author Henning Mankell was also on board the flotilla.

Update: Israeli Navy to storm aid "Freedom Flotilla" ships

2010-05-30T14:00:00.001-07:00

Update: Israeli Navy to storm aid "Freedom Flotilla" ships

Gaza, May 31, (Pal Telegraph – By Sameh Habeeb)A number of Israeli naval ships is approaching the “Freedom Flotilla” sea aid convoys near Gaza shores. The boats which is carrying thousands of tones of aid and food stuff sailed to Gaza from Cyprus after launching the flotilla a few days ago.

Tweeting from the sear, Freegaza is saying that signals are going up and down. Israel is doing its best to block the satellite.

According to Lubna Masarwa, member of Freegaza Movement on board of one of the ships. The Israeli army has sent 2 ships and started to issue threats against the civilians on these boats.

Maarwa said, “ they contacted the ship asking who we are. They are getting closer to the ship. We can see them, 3 boats are coming not we are still 78 mile away from Israeli waters.”

More than 750 international peace activists are aiming at arriving to within Monday by sea to the besieged Gaza Strip. The boats carry more than 10,000 tonnes of humanitarian aid and building materials are loaded on these boats.

Hundred housing units are onboard and more than 500 wheelchairs for handicap children as well.

2010-05-28T07:04:00.000-07:00

Israel goes PR through Propaganda

May 28, (Pal Telegraph – By Sameh Habeeb)- Maariv, Haaretz, Yedot Ahronot, Jerusalem Post, Israeli TVs and tens of other Israeli media outlets seem to be recruited by the government of Israel now.

As the aid convoys approach Gaza by the Mediterranean, the media outlets step up its propaganda and PR campaign. The propaganda portrayed in these media outlets will never succeed to changing the damaged image of Israel.

The whole world knows the concrete facts about the state of Israel. The state of Israel has been built through blood, violence, ethnic cleansing, political betrayal and guerrilla wars against the unarmed Palestinians in 1948 and prior to that. More than 7 wars have been launched by Israel against their Arab neighbors in Syria, Lebanon, Palestine, Jordan and Egypt. Even, the attacks of Israel reached Tunisia and Iraq thousands of miles from that state!

Observers could easily notice an entire integration between Israeli media and the official stance of the government. Israel’s official stance is trying to tell the international mainstream that there is no siege in Gaza. This totally contradicts the facts being said repeatedly not by Palestinians but by Amnesty, Human Rights Watch, OXFAM, USAID, CHF, UNRWA and tens of other organizations. These organizations clearly stated in their reports that Gaza is in Plight, crisis and inhuman living conditions. An example can be found in a report issued a few months ago by OXFAM.

Haaretz and Yediot Ahronot circulated a very piece of propaganda regarding the Israeli soldier detained in Gaza, Gilad Shalit. Both of them, cried on Gilad Shalit as if he was an innocent civilian captured from inside Israel. They didn’t show the way he was detained or why. Shalit was in the front, inside his tank firing at the borders of Gaza in Rafah. Shalit might kill few Palestinians in his short time with the army. Sadly, the newspapers tried to bring his issue ahead to the Freedom Flotilla which is carrying thousands of tonnes of aid to Gaza.

Both of the papers published articles stated that “organizers decline carrying a package to Gilad shalit” However, this turned untrue. I spoke with a number of organizers like ECESG and people from the Free Gaza Movement. They both said, “No one contacted us”. We are ready to take this package to Shalit. But in return, we need a commitment from Israel to allow Palestinian families to visit their sons, brothers, sisters, children, women in the dozens of Israeli jails.

Both of the papers are trying to draw the attention on the suffering of Gilad Shalit and his family. They aim at keeping the spotlight on him so less attention can be given to the Freedom Flotila. More importantly, by saying organizers decline to send this package; those organizers can be seen as inhuman, hypocrites and liars. Normal readers will think how come those organizers are going for a human aim to Gaza whilst they refuse to have this human package to captive fighting solider, Gilad!

The media in Israel tries hard to neglect the issue of Palestinian prisoners. There are 8.000 Palestinians in Israeli jails. They live under hard living conditions while their families are denied visits since 4 years especially those from Gaza.

The other part of PR-Propaganda campaign has been adopted by the Israeli government and backed by Israeli media outlets. The government mandated the foreign affairs ministry to explain with photos, statistics and numbers that there is no siege in Gaza. Even the Prime Minister of Israel himself, Binyamin Netanyahu, announced a list of luxurious restaurants that journalists should visit in Gaza. He tried to say that these places are running there is no siege. But the fact is that these restaurants are running because of the tunnels.

Defense Minister Ehud Barak insisted that there is no humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip.
Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs Spokesman Yigal Palmor, said that “In a typical week, 15,000 tons of supplies enter Gaza. Truckloads of meat, poultry, fish, dairy products, fruits, vegetables, milk powder, baby food, wheat and other staples arrive in Gaza on a daily basis. Building materials are also shipped in, when monitored by International organization so as not to be commandeered by Hamas for the fortification of bunkers.”

The statements of Palmor are mere falsehoods. He said a typical week. The typical week of crossing in Gaza before the siege was allowed more than 700 trucks of food and basics necessities into Gaza daily. This means Gaza strip requires at least 10,000 tonnes a day the overall would be at least 70,000 tonnes. Palmor continues to spread the Israeli propaganda by Saying, “Building materials are also shipped in”

The International community promised to rebuild Gaza and dedicated hundreds of millions of dollars for this aim. But Israel has denied and still the construction materials to get into Gaza. There is no doubt that aid convoy coming by sea will help the people of Gaza. If Israel cares about its image, then it has to adopt peace as a choice. It has to end occupation and lift siege. It has to give life to the children of Gaza. Israel should meet its so-called morals as an independent state. The actions of Israel are slow holocaust like and partly are genocidal towards the people of Gaza.

Israel will only get good PR when it gives the children of Gaza new life. Baby Feras, 6 months, who died a few months ago, will always chase those were behind the reason of his death.

By Sameh A. Habeeb

Palestine Telegraph Newspaper

2010-05-27T06:09:00.000-07:00

ECESG: Haaretz lies regarding Gilad Shalit

In response to an article published a few minutes ago on Haaretz, regarding handing a letter to Gilad Shalit. European Campaign to End Siege on Gaza (ECESG) expressed its deep shock as Haretz failed to maintain any kind of objectivity.

According to Arafat Madi, spokesperson of ECESG, no one rejected the offer of Noam Shalit to send a letter to solider Gilad Shalit.

Madi told the Palestine Telegraph that ECESG is ready to carry the letter to captive Gilad Shalit. He also added that no one from the organizers were contacted to explore the possibilities of taking that letter.

“We are shocked of the claims published on Haaretz. The newspaper said that Gaza aid convoy refuses to deliver a letter to Gilad Shalit. This is mere Israeli propaganda. We are ready to send this massage or package. In return, we ask Israelis to allow Palestinian families to visit their 8.000 prisoners. We seek a committment from the Israeli goverment to allow Palestinians to send letters too” Said Madi

There are more than 8.000 Palestinians imprisoned Israel. Since the start of siege, Palestinian families in Gaza are deprived to visit their prisoners inside Israel. Even a number of prisoners died due to Israeli illegal medical treatment.

2010-05-21T03:06:00.000-07:00

Insight on Gaza’s Infrastructure

Gaza, May 21, (Pal Telegraph – By Sameh A. Habeeb)The media outlets give considerable coverage for the continued flaming situation in Palestine, Gaza in particular. The issue of the two balanced battling powers of Israel and “Hamas” are all over the place . All facts show that Israeli is the super power and in no way can it be compared with any Middle East country. Other key issues are being touched upon not boldly and indirectly.

Infrastructure in Gaza has been on the media for shortwhile -when Israel bombarded with millions of rockets using its entire military arsenal - the densely populated area where over 1.7 resides. This last Genocide or Holocaust perpetrated in Gaza 2008-2009 resulted in serious problems and has direct ramifications on Gaza. We have seen the direct ramification of the bombing on the infrastructure in Gaza.

Real Infrastructure never happened

With the Oslo Accord a bunch of infrastructure projects took Place. The money donated or borrowed by Palestinian Authority (PA) via USA, European Union, Japan and other Arab countries was used for building more new roads, sanitation and water network, bridges and electricity lines. Many other projects took place like building universities, colleges, schools and hospitals. Sadly, it is undeniable that some of the money has been stolen by corrupted Palestinians or has been shifted to other projects in other areas.

The total projects and money allotted for infrastructure and rehabilitation. was not enough for Gaza. According to the Gaza municipality, Gaza city requires 65% of the city to be rehabilitated if not more.

As for Rafah city, more than 70% of the city needs to be rebuilt or rehabilitated - including the refugee camps, which are not suitable for human habitation. Same applies to all refugee camps and the small cities of Gaza like Jabalia, Beit Lahia and the middle areas till Khanyonis, city central Gaza.

Sewage Water Network Bombed by Israel in 2009

Israel’s Role - And Infrastructure

I’m not here preparing to accuse Israel of hindering the process of rebuilding Gaza, but it is clear that Israel is the key reason for the plight in Gaza,since after the last war and since Hamas came to power. Israel has been and should still be held responsible to the crises in Gaza as it is the occupying power.

Between the year 1994 to 2000, Israel made it very difficult for PA to build a number of projects in Gaza. With Intifada breaking out in 2000, Israel made it clear that it was the key and chief reason for Gaza’s plight. As the Intifada escalated Israel started to use its heavy military machines to target people and their infrastructure. Roads had been bombarded, schools were attacked and police stations that had kept the security was also targeted. Systematic targeting took place from that moment - till now. (The PA reached the stage -where it had lost real power over Gaza). In addition, Ministry premises and even resorts, off Gaza shore were destroyed.

As Hamas came to power the attacks intensified - more places were attacked. –including ,mosques, schools, police stations, ministry buildings, road networks, sanitation and drinking water utilities were bombarded too.

Some Facts -Systematic Policy and Full-Scale Attacks

In June 2006 Israel launched massive attacks on Gaza’s infrastructure because it’s solider; Gilad Shalit was captured by Palestinian factions. The key bridge which links the southern and northern areas of Gaza had been totally decimated. The same day witnessed heavy F16 air raids which destroyed the sole key power plant. The Salah el Din, which is the sole key motorway in Gaza, was bombarded on the same day. This same road has been bulldozed by Israel many times - starting from the first invasion it has carried out in 2003 in north of Gaza.

Inspite of the seige in Gaza -Salah el din motorway was planned to be renovated by the Japanese government, but Israel never allowed this. According to UNRWA, projects of rebuilding houses for homeless Palestinians issue – is still suspended- since 4 years - estimated of $300 millions (permission has not ,still ,been given by Israel ).How is Israel helping?

Most of the projects designed to repair and rebuild infrastructure are being funded by EU and other countries. EU asked Israel a few times to avoid targeting civilians and their infrasctucre, Some of EU officials asked Israel for guarantees it will not attack what they fund. What does this imply?

"The infrastructure of water and sanitation is in a state of collapse," said John Ging, Director of Operations in Gaza for the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), just last April. According to Ging UNRWA have not been allowed to build a school in Gaza for three years," said Ging.Who is responsible?

More than 21,000 homes were destroyed or badly damaged, and more than 50,000 people were displaced into temporary UN shelters due to the last onslaught lunched against the civilians of Gaza.Who should be held accountable?

The official Israeli stance regarding the above mentioned incidents –are repeatedly justified by Israel like this.Once they say “We are targeting terrorists and their infrastructure,” then they say, “We are working to secure our civilians,” then they say, “Palestinians use these places for weapons-manufacturing. But really and far from being bias, what’s being done is smart policy. Israel is working on destroying the life of civilians, on the pretext that the Gaza people brought the trouble on themselves (by electing Hamas- is just absurd). It is absurd because most of the people in Gaza are not pro Hamas .in addition, Hamas lost- a great majority of the popular support. Is this not reason enough to lift the siege?

Destroying aspects of life by having the siege and indulging in questionable deeds, will never help Israel in bringing peace -if it’s ever interested in this outcome. People should have the basics - some examples being- having a good infrastructure - freedom of movement -and having a right to good medical treatment. When these basic needs are met and if the siege is lifted -Israel will have her peace.

By Sameh A. Habeeb

Palestine Telegraph Newspaper

2010-05-19T03:48:00.000-07:00

Gazan plea to be allowed to attend IYL conference in Prague

Gaza, May 17, (Pal telegraph) My name is Refaat Abd Elaal, and I am currently a student in the Gaza Strip. I have recently been the recipient of an invite to the International Youth Leadership Conference in Prague (11th-16th July), but am currently unable to procure a visa to attend, due to the political situation here. As the first Palestinian student to attend this prestigious conference, which is backed by such prestigious partners as the Czech government, the EU, the UN and Price Waterhouse Cooper, I’m sure you can understand the importance of my presence at this event.

I want to mention that I have received an invite since the last January and due to the siege imposed on Gaza I couldn’t attend to the conference at that time, so I asked the management of the conference to give me another chance to attend with the next conference in July and they gave me what I asked for.

I would appreciate any accommodation you can give me in the visa application process, as it is particularly difficult applying from my part. While I am aware that countries such as the US and the UK are able to mediate applications through telephone or video conferencing, I don’t know if that can help in my situation but I’m opened to all options that enable me to personally attend the conference.

Having contacted the Czech Consulate by telephone, I was recommended to apply via email to request a Visa without interview, due to the severity of my situation. But now my problem is in leaving Gaza, the borders are rarely opened and when opened only a certain number of people pass. My dream is to be able to attend this conference and my question is: Will my dream come true?

Yours faithfully,

Refaat Abd Elaal

Gaza Strip

Palestine

Email:Rifat.pal@gmail.com

2010-05-06T06:25:00.000-07:00

Israel, Judaism, and Anti-Semitism by Sameh A. Habeeb

May 6, (Pal Telegraph)-Unlike children worldwide, Palestinians, including myself, growing up in Gaza, the West Bank or East Jerusalem never had a normal childhood. My friend and I would play with sand rather than toys. There are no playgrounds and amusement parks as there are in the west. Palestinian children growing up today inside Gaza and the West Bank also lack toys, amusement parks and playgrounds to exert their energies. The difference between my generation and those growing up now is the level of brutality and number massacred.

There are moments when I remember the Israeli soldiers storming my home in 1992; they hit my mother and beat my 10-year old cousin. Although I was only 7, I still remember every single detail as if happened yesterday. During the Second Intifada, Israel bombed my neighbourhood several times. Many of my friends were killed. Death, blood and violence fill the memories of all Palestinian children. Can you imagine what the children of Israel’s massacre of Gaza are going to remember? The memories they have will plague them until the day they depart this world.

Death, blood and violence does not make one turn to violence or even a hater of those who engage in violence. Violence is a means to an end that is chosen by some because they believe it is necessary. Many others choose nonviolence as a means to an end. It is the non-violent means that I chose. The end we all seek, however, is the same. We all seek the establishment of a Palestinian State along the 1967 borders, which encompasses Gaza, the West Bank and East Jerusalem. The border recognized by the international community and in United Nations Resolutions; the same border that the United States recognizes as belonging to a Palestinian state.

It is for the creation of a Palestinian state and awareness of Palestinians due to the misconception many in the international community have that made me become a Peace Activist and later journalist. As a peace activist, I worked closely with the Israeli peace movement and Israeli peace organizations that advocate for the creation of a Palestinian state and want an end to the conflict.

Since coming to the UK, I have continued working as an activist to lobby and raise awareness for Palestine. It is through the Palestine Telegraph that I seek to bring awareness to the West about Palestinians and bringing the voice of them to a western audience. The purpose of the paper is not to be Anti-semitic or to spread hatred as some pro-Israeli personalities and outlets such as Harry’s Place accuse.

The website Harry’s place is based in London and has no contact details. Writers are masked behind their nicknames like Lucy lips, Habbi, Gene and others. Their task is to attack and describe anyone critical of Israel as being anti-Semitic. For them, anyone who criticizes Israel is perceived as being anti-Jewish. While they juxtapose the two, any informed readers know that the two are completely separate. Clearly, they have linked the two terms together.

Everyone is entitled to their opinion and the free expression thereof, but the personal and vindictive attacks of outlets such as Harry’s Place is undemocratic. They have not only attacked the Palestine Telegraph and me personally, but also British politicians that show support for or sympathy toward Paletinians. For example, they attacked Martin Linton, Jeremy Corbyn, Bob Marshall-Andrews, George Galloway and many others. They also attacked Jenny Tonge for her support for Palestine and being a patron of the Palestine Telegraph.

Being critical of Israel is not anti-Semitic; criticism of Israel and its policies does not mean someone or even an outlet is anti-Jewish. Following the Gaza war, a Jewish journalist from New York, Janet Zimmerman, visited Gaza. She lived in my house for almost 2 weeks. Even Jews are critical of Israel and its policies. Are they too anti-Semitic? Are they too Jew haters?

They are not anti-Semitic or Jew haters. The Palestine Telegraph allows writers from all backgrounds and views to have their articles published. Our policy is freedom of expression for all and every viewpoint irrespective of race, ethnicity or religion. Articles and the viewpoints expressed therein are those of the writers and not those of the paper. Despite this, Harry’s place is trying to make it as if the views expressed are those of my own and the paper. To properly quote the interview that Harry’s Place recently published and used as evidence of my so-called anti-semitism:

The interviewer asked Mr Habeeb: “Do you believe mainstream media organizations have a hidden agenda?”
Sameh Habeeb: “They are certainly pro-Israeli. I think you have to ask yourself who controls the media.

Despite claims made by Harry’s Place, Leeds University denied publishing the university magazine in which I said the above. There are some media outlets controlled by pro-Israeli individuals. This statement does not imply that ALL media outlets are or that one is anti-Jewish for stating the fact. Anti-semitism is being anti-Jewish and not anti-Israel policies. Shouldn’t the media be informative, critical and offer differing viewpoints and not the place for personal attacks against personalities?

Sadly, we found Jewish Chronicle (JC), one of the leading Newspapers speaking on behalf of Jews, sorting my words as anti Semitism. Not in this incident even, the paper believed in what Harry’s place said many times. JC should be careful while dealing with such claims. A leading newspaper should deal with a source that has credibility and identity. With Harry’s place certainly we can neither find credibility nor identity as in this photo. The photo could show you how those guys are hiding themselves. Every reader should wonder why?

By Sameh A. Habeeb

Founder of The Palestine Telegraph Newspaper

sameh.habeeb at gmail . com

"Labour leader Gordon Brown’s speech to the RCN Conference"

2010-04-26T08:09:00.000-07:00

Labour leader Gordon Brown’s speech to the RCN Conference

UK, April 26, (Pal Telegraph – Agencies) Gordon Brown, Prime Minister and Leader of the Labour Party, speaking today at the RCN Conference in Bournemouth, said:

“Last summer, a campaign built up in response to comments by a member of the European Parliament who said the NHS was a sixty year mistake.

"The response was as impassioned as it was immediate: across the web first hundreds, then thousands, then hundreds of thousands, than, literally, millions of messages said – we love the NHS.

"What they were actually saying was – we love the staff of the NHS.

"And most particularly of all you know we the country were saying -- we love the nurses of the NHS.

"It was a spontaneous national outpouring of gratitude and g oodwill for the nursing staff of the NHS, which I want to endorse and reiterate today on behalf of the entire country.

"Let me express the NHS simply.

"Our commitment is national.

"Health is a fundamental human right.

"And we believe in a service free for all, no ifs, no buts, no maybes about it.

"And it is your care and healing that makes the NHS not an impersonal organisation, but a personal service valued by all.

"And the NHS achievement I am most proud of is not mine but yours – because the achievement which I think has done most to reassure patients and to improve the experience of those families who rely on the NHS, is that you are a force now of almost half a million nurses – 80,000 more than since 1997.

"Now the largest ever nursing profession in the history of our country, you are the greatest force for compassion our country has ever seen.

"And the progress is your achievement: shorter waiting times, a million m ore operations, greatly improved infection control, far better survival rates for cancer and heart disease, none of them possible without the care and healing of nurses and midwives …..so from the British people thank you.

"So I am here with Sarah, to say not just thank you from our family, but thank you from millions upon millions of families.

"Because, rich and poor, there is barely a family in Britain who does not depend upon our NHS and your care.

"As I found when I, myself, was cared for by great nurses, you make the difference not just between sickness and health but also between pain and comfort, between loneliness and friendship, sometimes, between despair and hope and often, for so many patients, between life and death.

"Like every other family in our country, Sarah and I know the benefits of your care, and life is such that none of us knows what fate may befall each of our families.

"Who of us knows what costly treatments we may need?

"Who of us knows what days and months of tender care we may need from nursing and the NHS?

"In other countries, people have to fear the costs -and cannot afford the treatment.

"Even in America and even after all their health care reforms, millions still fear the escalating health costs of health care. And in Africa sometimes mothers incarcerated in hospital after their baby is born because they cannot pay the bills for their maternity care, and mothers often say goodbye to their family and friends before childbirth, because what should be the happiest day in your life – the day your child is born – is also the most dangerous day in these countries, because in some countries one in seven mothers die.

"But in Britain – because we have a service free at the point of need – the British people know that the NHS is there for us, when we need it.

"Because we don't have to rely upon private health paid for by private health insurance, but have a National Health Service, paid for by national insurance, people know that when they are sick, they can receive treatment free of charge.

"And that is why, there for everyone who needs it, the NHS is the best insurance policy in the world and I am here today to say to you: I am determined to work with you day after day, week after week, month after month, year after year, to make the NHS even better.

"Every family has its own story to tell.

"I myself feel fortunate that apart from a few operations on my eyesight, for which I am grateful for the skilful and loving care of the nursing staff, I have had a life free of ill health.

"But we also know what you and the NHS achieved for us, when our son has had to undergo treatment and when our daughter was born prematurely and was with us for all too short a time.

"So we feel like parents who have been in the presence of angels dressed in nurses’ uniforms, performing the most amazing works of mercy and care. And I will never forget seeing in real time every minute of the day that idea of service and selflessness summed up by the great poet William Blake;

"Can I not see another's woe?
And not be in sorrow too?
Can I see another's grief?
And not seek for kind relief?

"That is the spirit of nursing – and so I see my mission in government as to support your mission in the wards.

"This is who I am; my passion is to support your compassion, improving the NHS every year makes the job I do worth doing.

"For I know the NHS will be safe for our nation and safe for our children, only as long as with the investment you receive and the support you are given you can say as nurses that the NHS is safe in your hands.

"To make the NHS safe I made the decision as Chancellor to double investment in the NHS.

"I asked the country to increase National Insurance by one penny to fund the renewal of the National Health Service.

"And from 2011, I am ensuring the same way that the NHS does even better for you and your families.

"For me, brought up in the NHS, this is matter of what you believe in and what being in this job is all about.

"You know, a few months ago, in Westminster Abbey, the nation held a commemorative service to mark the success of 60 years of the NHS.

"And of all the speeches, the greatest speech came from a nurse who told us of the joy she had at the foundation of the NHS, and her observation that over sixty years the practises of doctors, not least their writing, hadn’t changed, but nursing had been totally transformed.

"That day, I asked Lesley Garratt to Downing Street and on that evening in front of nurses who had served the NHS all their lives, she chose the song we should associate most with the NHS.

"She sang the impossible dream.

"And why?

"Because the very existence of the NHS has taught us that even things thought impossible and unachievable – and beyond our grasp and reach – can be realised if we have the vision and the will to reach for them.

"Because as the words go – we can fight the unbeatable foe. Right the unrightable wrong. Reach the unreachable star.

"The very existence of the NHS has taught us that we should never accept that the status quo is the final word.

"Never resign ourselves to injustice as a permanent and unalterable condition, never believe that where we stand today is a determinant of what we are capable of tomorrow, never accept that there is an immovable fate that imprisons our future.

"Because what the NHS proves is that it is what we do ourselves and not just for ourselves that matters.

"The achievement of the NHS teaches us something even bigger: that the truest measure of the character of a society is not the size of its wealth but the width of its generosity, the breadth of its humanity and the depths of its compassion.

"And so, the new test of our society must be how we strengthen the work of care and compassion you do everyday and ensure that the standing, the reach and the invaluable contribution of the nursing profession grows every year to meet old and new needs.

"You know better than anyone that you can’t talk about the future of the NHS without talking about nursing. And in the last few weeks we have had the publication of the report of the Nursing Commission - so that we can listen to you, the professionals, on how we should be making investments and how we should be changing services.

"I just want to say this about its recommendations and its proposals for the future of the NHS:

"When we rightly talk of the future of the NHS as more personal care, we mean more focus on nursing. When we rightly talk of the future of the NHS as more care in people's own homes, we mean more attention to nursing. When we rightly talk of the future of the NHS as offering preventive treatme nt, that means more of a role for nursing. When we rightly talk of the future of the NHS in social care for the elderly, that means more need for nursing. When we talk of the NHS as more than a universal service but also a personal service meeting more individualised needs too, we mean more power for nursing. So what we are talking about is the nursing profession rightly taking more day to day control of our NHS.

"So just as the NHS tackled infections in the NHS, with more matrons, with more control for ward sisters, we know that with more power for nurses to report directly to boards that whenever and wherever we give nurses real control, real influence, you have been the force for progress and for the better, safer, more patient-focused NHS we are creating.

"And today, because of your skills, nurses are undertaking work unimaginable even a few years ago. So I conclude that we need more specialist nurses, not fewer. We need to invest not only in developing your ski lls but in ensuring you have greater autonomy in making referrals, prescribing and work to extend the nurse consultants, the nurse practitioners, the nurse specialists and we now have and we need to support you financially. That means protecting and in fact growing frontline investment in the NHS, making efficiencies, and cutting management costs by a third, but reinvesting these savings in frontline care.

"But it also means protecting pensions, because you can’t protect the NHS and not protect those who work in it. And look, there has been a lot of speculation about all this, so let me be clear where I stand and where this government stands.

"You work hard for your pensions and you deserve a good one. And the reforms already agreed make the pensions sustainable in the long-term and we will stick to those. Your pensions are safe with us. And while on pay, with the next few years tighter, we will be looking for restraint across public sector pay, but we don't believe a pay freeze is the way to a better NHS.

"Yes, with your support we have built more than 100 new hospitals and we have built hundreds upon hundreds of new health centres and walk-in clinics.

"And now, because of these achievements we want to work with you to extend to patients guarantees of service:

- Operation waiting times less than 18 weeks
- A&E less than four hours
- Cancer specialist seen within two weeks
- Cancer diagnosis within one week

"I know this is a big issue of controversy, but we have worked together so hard for so long to ensure that cancer patients get the best treatment and I am not prepared to go backwards. I am not prepared to see removed the life-saving guarantee that a cancer patient will see a specialist within two weeks and that if they need an operation it will be done well within the 18 weeks that is the maximum wait.

"And today because too many currently wait more than a month for cancer tests and because w e know that with cancer speed is so important, we are publishing plans to ensure 1.5million people will get their cancer tests more quickly and no-one will wait longer than a week.

"And for those who are diagnosed with cancer we will invest in more specialist nursing, so that everyone can have the reassurance of dedicated nursing.

"Across our NHS we want to support you in providing a more personal service to patients, when they are vulnerable and particularly when they are elderly. So today we have also set out our plans to help services change and offer more patients a choice of care in their homes, new choices to have the personal care that makes a difference to so many families when it is offered at the moment - the 'NHS in your home' - there when you need it.

"You know every single thing that we have achieved - all of it would have been worth it, if we'd saved just one life. Because anyone who has ever lost someone knows that every single person is precious, every single person is unique, and every single person, once they are gone, leaves a hole that no other person can fill.

"And so if we had kept just one person alive to see their grandchild's first day at school, or attend their nephew's graduation, or have just one more family Christmas - then everything we have done would have been worth it. Because if you save one life, you change the world.

"But today let us be proud, because we have changed the world not once, but millions upon millions of times. And these are not my achievements, but yours - the achievements of nurses whose work is compassion in action.

"I said the NHS was a dream that once seemed impossible but did come true and it teaches us one more thing: to never stop believing in the best in people - that human caring reaches beyond self, that aspirations reach higher than self interest and the human endeavour transcends self advancement.

"Because the NHS shows that there is something greater even than value and price - there is the equal worth of every person - and the moral sense we share when we refuse to pass by on the other side. You never pass by on the other side. You are the guardians of the British people's most treasured institution and most precious values. And that is why you are our country’s heroes – and mine."

Source: www.labour.org.uk

Promoting Human Rights Law and International Humanitarian Law Promoting Humanity through Dignity, Respect, Friendship and Co Living

2010-04-22T14:16:00.000-07:00

Promoting Human Rights Law and International Humanitarian Law
Promoting Humanity through Dignity, Respect, Friendship and Co Living

Facilitate Global Cordially Invites You To A Benefit Evening Three Course Dinner on Monday 10^th May from 7 to 11.30pm

Our most distinguished guest speakers Ms Clare Short MP and Sir Geoffrey Bindman will address the theme of ‘State Impunity And The Rule Of Law’ in view of the last decade’s increased lawlessness. Speeches will be followed by a discussion, so there will be an opportunity for asking questions from our guest speakers.

The benefit dinner will be held at Belgravia’s famed Lebanese restaurant

Noura Lounge - 17 Hobart Place - London SW1W OHH

T: 020 7235 9696 - W: http://www.nouralounge.com

Musical entertainment provided by the incredible band BrickWorkLizards
http://www.myspace.com/brickworklizards.

There will also be a raffle, courtesy of the following businesses:
AmatllerChocolates: http://www.chocolates-amatller.com

Body Care Clinic: http://www.bodycarelondon.com

Hala Shakarchi Art

Nayrouz Tatanaki Photography: http://www.nftat.com

Santo Restaurant: http://www.santovillage.com

Scrumptious Cupcakes: http://www.ilovescrumptious.com

Simon Coll Chocolates: http://www.simoncoll.com/simoncoll_en.html

Proceeds will be donated to the Lajee Centre in Bethlehem: http://www.lajee.org/english/display.cfm?DocId=22&CategoryId=26

To avoid disappointment early booking and payment highly recommended. Limited Places. Attendance Strictly By Booking. Please see RSVP for further information on how to book and pay. No bookings or payments will be accepted after the 8^th May. There will be no admission at the door on the night, sorry.

Dress code: Lounge suit or Traditional

Please bring this invitation with you

Early bookings and payments (before 28^th April): cost £40 per person

Late bookings and payments (after 28^th April but before 4^th May): cost £50 per person

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2010-04-20T15:16:00.000-07:00

Harry’s Place is an empty shell

April 20, (Pal Telegraph- by Peter Eyre) - Sometimes we come across those “copy and paste bloggers” who are always critical of anyone who appear to be against Israel’s policy, Zionist or Pro Israeli Lobby Groups. Unfortunately apart from repeating something that has already been printed they never appear to come out with anything intelligent or give a more in depth constructive response i.e. their own thoughts on a particular subject.

As we know when one writes an article, the paper allows the reader to respond in the comments section. However, in this case Harry Who? Always hides his true identity and goes on the attack via his own blog. I use the term blog because it is nothing more than that. One can see the level of intelligence when you read the following statement “Harry’s Place is an amateur blog”. This clearly shows a man (or maybe a woman) who is frightened to engage in any dialog concerning the topic on hand…….as they say everyone to their own.

Such a blogger is Harry Who, or maybe his real name is Doctor Who, and operates from a “Navy Blue Phone Box” somewhere in the London area? This unidentifiable person uses the tag “Harry’s Place” and has been in hot pursuit of the Palestine Telegraph and staff for some considerable time. We believe it is good healthy business to have someone that may be critical of you from time to time but when that person infers that you are Anti-Semitic then this becomes a more serious matter. It is like saying that if you are seen with anyone who may be considered controversial that you are of the same opinion……even Harry (what do you call it) would surely understand that everyone is an individual.

Harry is British and thus comes under the law concerning racism. Everyone in the UK understands the sensitivity of racist remarks and one would be foolish to even attempt to go down this road. One could interpret some of Harry’s comments towards the owner of the Palestine Telegraph, Sameh Habeeb or to myself, for example, as also having strong racial overtones and could be considered libelistic.

To accuse anyone of being “Anti Semitic” when they are clearly not certainly fits into this category. In the same way that if someone from the Jewish community goes on the attack against Islam or a Palestinian for instance this must surely fit into the same category as being Anti Islamic or Anti Palestinian. My question would therefore be where do you draw the line?

The Palestine Telegraph always prides itself in telling the truth or telling things as they are and therefore if such people as Harry, who feel compelled to be critical, then why do they not join the papers comment section and bring things out into the open, which in turn allows other people to respond to their comments.

The Palestine Telegraph is not racist and no member of its staff are Anti-Semitic and if one wishes to get on a soapbox and make such a statement then I would suggest they back it up with evidence. On the other hand if Harry Houdini wishes to reveal his true identity then we would be more than happy to accommodate his criticism and racial comments…….it is obvious that he may be part of that regime that existed in South Africa called “Apartheid” as he clearly supports the same regime that exists within the Israeli Government.

Let’s just take a brief look as the how this copy and paste guy operates and see the level of his intellect, which is obviously somewhat restricted.

Here is such an example (that I will now copy and paste) from his blog which formed part of one of my articles

Harry said: Eyre didn’t fall for the Pentagon 9/11 trick, that’s for sure:

“It has been some considerable time since this sad event and many experts have had the time to evaluate all of the evidence. Experts from all sectors within the aviation industry have looked into this possible conspiracy and indications suggest it certainly wasn’t a very large airliner such as the Boeing 757 that hit the Pentagon.” Harry, I would like to add to my statement and go as far as saying the entire 9/11 was a total “False Flag” operation; with Mossad at its heart……I bet that will get you going Harry?

I myself worked in the aviation industry over a very long period of time, covering both military and civilian aviation. As a senior executive in airline operations, I can say with great confidence that what the authorities are telling you and what actually happened is certainly not authentic. The Pentagon aspect of 9/11 I believe was certainly a conspiracy that deserves re-examination under an independent enquiry. It is clear that a 757 did not hit the Pentagon so what was it? A military aircraft or a missile? There was CCTV footage at other locations but none were made available.

Harry must have extended his vocabulary when his response to this was simply “Ah Hah!”

If Harry or any of his followers would like to engage in debating this issue then please come forward……write your comments out in the open on the Palestine Telegraph webpage…….obviously this is not going to happen because your range and scope of coverage is somewhat limited. I never hide behind a tree….you know my name….you know what I do…but who are you Mr. Harry Houdini?

I have my own column and I would love for you to take up the gauntlet and test my knowledge base. Surely one would expect such people as “Harry” to have the courage to counter respond in the newspaper concerned. Harry unfortunately continues to hide behind his copy and paste blog and will not come out fighting.

So “Harry” we at the Palestine Telegraph would like to invite you to challenge our current stories and state your reasons for not believing or agreeing with our factual news items.

With your vast experience on worldly matters perhaps you would like to pass your own technical experience or advice on matters relating to 9/11 or any other topic we cover? No doubt with your aviation background and immense understand of Aeronautics and Aerodynamics you could explain to the public how a Boeing 757 managed to fly into the Pentagon on the flight path officially declared by the US NTSB when its actual physical path was elsewhere? Perhaps with your own air accident investigative qualities you would like to explain how a huge 757 can crash into a field without leaving any wreckage? Perhaps you can explain why one of the aircraft that hit the twin tower was in actual fact many miles away at another location being tracked by their own airline staff? Oh I forgot you are pals with Mossad so maybe you can consult them for a suitable response….nice one Harry!

Harry Who, your blog certainly fits into the correct category of “Amateur Journalism” and I again repeat that under the guidelines of racism one could also infer that if person such as yourself accused someone of being anti-Semitic falsely then you yourself must also be breaking the racial laws of the United Kingdom. You cannot just go mouthing off with such a statement that is not true.

So lets look into the interpretation of anti-Semitism which means basically being prejudice against or hostility towards Jews, often rooted in hatred of their ethnic background, culture, or religion. Therefore, does it mean the same if you incorrectly accuse anyone from the Islamic World of being anti – Semitic….that you are anti-Islamic and therefore you are in breach of the Racial Equality Act of 2006 where it clearly states:

The Commission shall exercise its functions under this Part with a view to

encouraging and supporting the development of a society in which—

(a) people’s ability to achieve their potential is not limited by prejudice or

discrimination,

(b) there is respect for and protection of each individual’s human rights,

(d) each individual has an equal opportunity to participate in society, and

(e) there is mutual respect between groups based on understanding and

valuing of diversity and on shared respect for equality and human rights.

I would therefore again suggest that you stop hiding behind your false façade and allow the public to know who you really are and come out into the open. Nobody at the Palestine Telegraph uses false names and we always leave ourselves open to discussion or criticism…..but not your unfounded comments.

For my part you have also attacked me and I am perfectly ok with that but remember if you are going to be critical please explain as to why. If on the other hand you have reason to believe my articles are wrong or incorrect then I ask you to give your own expert opinion and allow me the opportunity to respond….that is democracy.

I again repeat that no one at the Palestine Telegraph is anti-Semitic and if we happen to share the same stage with questionable speakers then so be it….that all brings colour to any debate. Jenny Tonge is an extremely well respected person and again you had no right to be critical of someone with such high ethical and moral values. As an example if many outlets released stories accusing people of trading in body parts and if that government had admitted on one occasion that this was a fact then this would then surely spread unsavory gossip.

What Jenny Tonge was trying to say was if you are accused, and you are not guilty, you have nothing to fear and can thus open yourself up for investigation. For that simple statement she was pulled from office…….maybe the leaders of her party were receiving political funds and had to carry out the wishes of their donors……now that is more like the truth….but then Harry, you would not know what that is would you?

It is obvious that you only have a one sided opinion that supports Israel no matter what war crimes have taken place. You would also not be aware that the IDF violated every regulation in their rules of engagement during Cast Lead…..but then again you would not know anything about such matters as it is beyond your level of knowledge or understanding. You would also not agree that the IDF used WMD’s on Gaza (as it did in Lebanon 2006) and at the same time nuked itself…..I bet you will not write about this in your blog will you?

Oh I forgot to tell you that I am a Middle East Consultant having worked in Iraq, UAE, Jordan and Sudan. I had membership with the Iraqi – British Chamber of Commerce in Amman and visited the British Embassy a couple of times so it’s easy to track via any of those outlets. I even came across one of your Mossad agents in Iraq and stole his name tag and then followed him to his private address in Iraq. So again your statement infers that I may not be what I say I am i.e. Peter Eyre, who styles himself a “Middle East Consultant”…..what do you style yourself as and who are you?

I look forward to your response…I am sure it will not be in the Palestine Telegraph comment section as you are afraid to debate openly. I will not hold my breath Mr Harry Who or whoever you are. Maybe you should ask your counterparts in Israel how they became involved in assisting South Africa to make nuclear weapons and how some of those weapons went missing. Oh sorry I forgot you are a freelance blogger and wouldn’t understand these things!

Peter Eyre – Middle East Consultant – 20/4/2010

Volcanic ash: Gaza and freedom of movement

2010-04-20T06:25:00.000-07:00

by Sameh A.Habeeb

http://www.paltelegraph.com/administrator/index.php?option=com_content&sectionid=18&task=edit&cid[]=5586

Gaza, April 20, 2010 (Pal Telegraph) –It’s been over a week since the environmental crisis began in Europe and other parts of the world such as the Middle East, North Africa Canada the US. A cloud of volcanic ash drifting from Iceland's Eyjafjallajokull volcano continues to keep airspace shut down; affecting millions of travelers around the world and causing a tremendous crisis in the aviation industry.

The ash drifting from the volcano is formed from dust, small atoms of glass, crushed rock, sand and other components. The plumes of dusty materials become stuck in the airspace and it makes aviation risky and dangerous since it could cause great damage by paralyzing aircraft engines thus risking people's safety and lives.

Hundreds of thousands of flights have been cancelled; millions of passengers are trapped and stranded. People are deprived of the freedom of movement. A loss of billions of dollars has been documented due to flight cancelations and the resultant consequences of shortages delivered by air as well as the losses from air travel.

Politicians are seeking a way out.

A meeting of European Union ministers met to discuss the issue as part of their moral and legal responsibility. The whole international community is troubled over the disaster. Even presidents and high profile politicians are trapped in their offices. They have turned to other means of transportation until the volcano stabilizes.

Not far from this crisis, another disaster has been taking place in the Middle East for the past 4 years. It’s an Israeli-made disaster against the people of Palestine, both in Gaza and in the West Bank.

At Rafah Crossing photo by Sameh Habeeb

Tens of thousands of normal civilians are being seized and imprisoned in an open jail called Gaza. These people have never tasted the meaning of freedom. Whenever they try to travel - they can’t. Not because of a volcanic ash crisis, but simply because Israel says NO. Families are shattered in Gaza and abroad they never get united. It's as if your family is being separated, you can’t see your dad, sister, brother or mother for years! Israel violates all human basic rights by preventing people from traveling.

In a phone call with one of the trapped people in Gaza, Ahmed Abu Ali, age 24, I heard frustration, sadness and despair.

Abu Ali said: “I have been trying to attend my college in Egypt but I can’t travel. Its 2 years now! I have no freedom at all. Very strange to see how the world upset about the crisis of volcanic ashes while they are silent about our imprisonment. Europe, America, Britain are all partners in depriving us the freedom of movement. People who are trapped could feel us now, but their government could never.”

It’s shameful that the European Union is participating indirectly in imposing the siege on Gaza. The USA is backing and partially funding the Israeli siege as well, due to political reasons (collective punishment, which is illegal according to the Geneva Convention as well as unethical by all human standards). Innocent civilians are trapped, hungry and in need of life's basic, essential necessities.

Angry People

People trying to travel photo by Sameh Habeeb

Muneer Al Rifi, age 34, a teacher in Gaza, mockingly commented on the issue of volcanic ash. “People in Europe are confused just because they can’t travel as the airlines are suspended. They are lucky enough! They share us the feeling of imprisonment now - but they are lucky as they still have enough food, fuel, power, internet and all basics while we barely have these things."

Clarifying more of what he means as lucky, Muneer said, “They are lucky because they are granted food, education, freedom, and relaxation. But, we are unlucky as we live in fear, hunger and constant Israeli bombings.”

More than 10 thousand people who wish to travel and have visas are trapped in Gaza. The siege and closure of crossings and passenger terminals in Rafah and Iretz are forcing them to 'live' in an open air prison. A great number of them are students while the rest are families’ employers.

Harsh Siege

In addition to the infringement on freedom of movement, people in Gaza are barely getting goods and food. The Israeli army only allows a few trucks to get into Gaza now, in contrast to the 700 trucks per day that were streaming into Gaza prior the siege.

Around 505 people died in Gaza because they were denied freedom of movement for treatment. Some of them died due to lack of medicines. EU, US, Britain and other countries are calling on Israel to end the siege, however, it's only lip service since no actual pressure has ever been made.

In the case of Iceland, the cause of the disaster is from a natural source: the earth's fluctuating lava flow which is making the volcano spew plumes of toxic smoke and ash, whereas in Gaza, the disaster is man-made by Israel and its allies, and thus, reversible immediately. If only the world were to demand a stop to the desperate, humanitarian crisis.

Sameh A. Habeeb

Founder of Palestine Telegraph Newspaper.

"What is democracy, Australian style, Sameh A. Habeeb

2010-03-31T16:14:00.000-07:00

Australia, March 31, (Pal Telegraph) Some people do reckon that democracy is electing a government through votes or gaining a majority. Electoral politics, however, do not necessarily guarantee equal opportunity and access to political participation, racial equality or protection against discrimination. In many countries around the world there exists inequality and discrimination. Australia is one such example.

I arrived at Bribane International Airport on the 23^rd of March. It had been a long 23 hour flight to the country. I longed for nothing more than rest, especially after the additional security checks in London and Singapore. Standing in the queue for international travelers arriving in Australia, I watched men, women and families having their passports stamped. The travelers passed through the line one-by-one having their passports stamped. Given the speed in which everyone passed, it was not long before I arrived at the counter to have my own passport inspected and stamped with the entry visa.

My passport was stamped, but unlike my fellow travelers I was prohibited from moving on. I was asked to step aside. At this point, I became confused because none of those who had gone before me had been asked to do the same. It was not long, however, before I found out why I had been asked to step aside.

Two security officers approached to welcome me to Australia. The first security officer, who seemed to be an Arab-looking gentleman, said “Oh, hello Mr. Habeeb. We have been waiting for you.” I replied, “thanks a lot, hopefully I will enjoy it.” Cynicism from deep within me began bubbling to the surface. It was the comment that they had been waiting that resulted in a feeling of uneasiness.They have even told me manythings about me. It seems a file of informatin has been sent to those guys. All my activties in Gaza and London were known by those guys!

The second security officer queried, “Mr. Habeeb, you were denied a visa to the UK in December 2008?” While answering yes to his question, I was thinking to myself what the hell is going on here. There is something wired going on. Maybe it was just the lack of sleep and long flight that were playing with my mind. Their purpose and the intent were still unclear at this point, however.

After claiming my bags, I was asked to go to a special corner for an additional security scan. The scan was particularly irritating given that there were two similar scans conducted in London and then Singapore. My bags were opened and every item was inspected. There was not an article of clothing left untouched by the inspectors. If it had only been this, then maybe I could chalk the whole incident up to being nothing more than a lack of sleep and the long flight. Was it my color, ethnicity and Palestinian background that prompted these “extra security measures?”

While my clothing was individually inspected, I was bombarded with loads of questions. They questioned my ideological, political and journalistic involvement regarding Palestine. “You are a journalist. You come from Gaza. Where are you going in Australia? What are you doing in Australia? Who is receiving you? How long do you plan to stay? Are you coming for a conference? Can I see any materials in regards to the conference? When are you leaving Australia? Show me your tickets? How is your newspaper going? Do you get funds for your paper? What do you think of the Israeli conflict? How is life in the UK? How did you become a journalist? Tell me about the life in Gaza? Tell me about your family?” These were the questioned the officers asked.

I had to answer most of the questions. For those that related to Palestine, I embedded my own view. I said every Palestinian is tired from Israeli torture and the horror inflicted over the years, especially during the Gaza war. Palestinians aspire to peace. I lived the genocide in Gaza, the unjust siege and even witnessed the killing of my friends. Despite this, I chose to nonviolently struggle through journalism. I explained that I wished for Israel to come to an understanding of our suffering and torture. At the same, I do not think they want to understand.

While I did not say it to my inquisitors, I thought Israel will never come to understand because to do so would mean it cannot continue its systematic oppression of Palestinians. The questioning abruptly came to a halt due to something another officer found in my bags. Those checking my bags found CDs, materials on Palestine, photo galleries on the Gaza siege, and my own personal USB flash. This prompted the two security men, who had been waiting for me when I arrived, to summons another officer. The third man took my CDs and USB flash drive. He was gone for 15 minutes. While I had nothing to hide or even of great importance on the USB, it was the unashamed violation of my privacy that bothered me about their search, especially given that no one before me had received similar treatment.

My irritation began to surface at the treatment, which led me to question the officers regarding the inequality and discrimination that persists in Australia despite it being a democracy. I questioned them regarding the treatment of minorities, the living conditions among the migrant communities, and the status of immigrants. They responded by stating that immigrants and minorities in Australia are treated well. The questioning, however, seemed to have irritated the officers. Despite noticing their anger, I asked whether anything had been done regarding Israel’s use of the Australian passport. The officers replied that the situation was difficult.

As the interrogation was coming to an end, I offered to allow them to make copies of the CDs, and the Gaza photos; I even offered one of them a Palestinian flag. The officers of course declined, but thanked me nonetheless. They thoroughly looked over my passport once more and commented on my extensive travel. The interrogation by my inquisitors ended with a congratulatory remark regarding my travel.

Whether it was my lack of sleep and long flight or whether the extra security measures were taken due to my color, ethnicity and Palestinian background, one can only wonder how the minorities and aboriginals are treated in Australia if visitors are treated in this manner upon arrival and on invitation. In Australia there exists inequality in dealing with residence; there are greater opportunities afforded to the white population over the non-white minorities; and, there is unequal treatment among immigrants. Some even mentioned that there are jails set up in remote islands where unlucky migrants die secretly. Moreover, the Aboriginals in Australia have been displaced and discriminated against for more than 200 years. The Aboriginals, like Palestinians, have been fighting systematic oppression. Could this be the reason for the Australian governments unwavering support for Israel?

Politics aside and the unpleasant and discriminatory treatment at the airport upon arrival, the trip has been pleasant. Driving in the street of Sydney reminds me of home in many ways. Many of the roads have similar styles and the old utility poles adorn the streets. The weather was warm and the sun filled the sky. I inhaled the humid air, closed my eyes and allowed the smell of green to fill my nostrils. For the first time since I left Gaza more than one year ago, I felt close to my homeland, Palestine.

--
Sameh A. Habeeb,

is a Palestinian Jorunalist, Peace Activist & Founder of The Palestine Telegraph Newspaper
he currently resides in the UK, you can reach him via sameh.habeeb@gmail.com

Gaza Australian Speaking Tour : Sameh Habeeb

2010-03-16T04:04:00.001-07:00

Australian Speaking Tour : Sameh Habeeb

World, March 16, 2010 (Pal Telegraph) -
Socialist Alternative is very proud to announce a speaking tour of Australia by Gaza photo-journalist and founder-editor of the Palestine Telegraph, Sameh Habeeb.

Sameh covered the brutal Israeli assault of Gaza in January 2009 which killed 1,400 Palestinians and will be reporting on the atrocities that he witnessed and the international campaign to lift the Israeli siege of his homeland.

All supporters of Palestine are welcome to any of these meetings which will be accompanied by pictorial displays of relevant material. There will be an opportunity for questions and discussion at every meeting.

Tuesday 23 March at 6.30pm: ‘Eyewitness from Gaza'

Queensland University of Technology, Gardens Point campus, O Block, Room 520 (Brisbane).

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=294206434631#!/event.php?eid=10150114742070145

Thursday 25 March at 1pm: ‘Gaza: The Reality of Israeli Apartheid Today'

University of Western Sydney, Bankstown campus, BA 1.1.090 (LR16)

Monday 29 March at 1pm: ‘Gaza: The Reality of Israeli Apartheid Today'

University of New South Wales, Matthews Building room 310

Tuesday 30 March at 1pm: ‘Gaza: The Reality of Israeli Apartheid Today'

Macquarie University, Drysdale Room, Level 3 U@MQ Building (Sydney)

Tuesday 30 March at 7pm: ‘Eyewitness from Palestine'

Newtown Neighbourhood Centre, King Street, Newtown (opposite Newtown station) (Sydney)

Wednesday 31 March at 3pm: ‘Gaza: The Reality of Israeli Apartheid Today'

University of Sydney, New Law Lecture Theatre 106 (tbc: please contact the number below closer to the date)

Friday 2 April at 4pm: ‘Imperialism and the struggle for a free Palestine'

Sameh Habeeb will be speaking as part of the Marxism 2010 conference, University of Melbourne Student Union.

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=368287823966&ref=mf

All university campus meetings in Sydney are endorsed by Students for Palestine, Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies (University of Sydney), Socialist Alternative and Stop the War Coalition (Sydney). Facebook site: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=392016570820&ref=ts

Entry will be by donation on the door, except for the Marxism 2010 conference where registration and a ticket is necessary. For more information, check out www.marxism2010.com.

For more information on this tour, please contact Patrick on 0422 028113

2010-03-11T04:32:00.000-08:00

Does Israeli really want Peace in Palestine?

Thursday, 11 March 2010 13:17 Added by PT Editor Sameh A. Habeeb

London, March 11, 2010 (Pal Telegraph) - It has been almost 17 years since the Oslo Peace Accord was initiated in order to bring peace between Palestinians and the state of occupation, Israel.

After 17 years the PLO - the sole "representative of the Palestinians" stated that has a Israel right to exit.

Fourteen years ago Clinton visited to Gaza in 1996, when the PLO and Fatah accepted Israel's existence and amended parts of their charter that had aimed at destroying Israel.

For almost 14 years, Israeli governments, now Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel's current Prime Minister have been procrastinating and manipulating Israel's policies towards a Jewish 'only' state which undermines the peace process.

The goal of peace, however, is not attainable within the current paradigm of the Israeli government's policies. Previous Israeli Prime Ministers have exposed this fact unknowingly by their lack of commitment and actions towards a lasting peace.

The problem exists in both the Israeli politicians and Israeli mainstream public opinion.

According to the Oslo charter: Palestinians and Israelis must have a peace curriculum in their schools and carry out joint actions in that regard. However, since that time, few joint actions, peace initiatives for youth and other events have taken place.

Israeli children attacking arab woman

Israel puts 100% of the blame for not having courses about peace on the Palestinian Authority (PA); going so far as to launch a campaign against the PA in order to sway International public opinion in Israel's favor. The campaign included some documentaries and videos that quoted some individuals in the PA who said peace is not attainable until full rights are given to Palestinians.

The accusation was that the Palestinians were 100 & responsible for the failure. However, Israel didn't show any credible and honest interest in peace.

Manipulation began directly after the OSLO accord, Israel began delaying withdrawals from the occupied territories in the West Bank and continued to lie and overstep (thus breaching) the Oslo accords flagrantly blamed the PA saying it doesn't condemn the so-called "terrorism".

Indeed, no clear-cut evidence shows the public that Israel worked on educating its people about peace. Even the education system and books didn't work on promoting peace, instead, radical Jewish religious groups were funded by Netanyahu.

Most importantly, in 1996, provocations were evident when Jerusalem's mayor, Ehud Olmert, decided to open an exit for the Western Wall Tunnel. This resulted in direct confrontation between the Israeli army and unarmed Palestinian civilians who were stoning Israeli soldiers.

Many Palestinians have been killed and the situation deteriorated.
It was clear-cut evidence that Netanyahu had no interest in peace whatsoever and continued accelerating violence.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, a dogma of war

The situation has not changed - Netanyahu, is the same stubborn peace-hater who is being driven by a bunch of hooligan, right-wing Israelis (he is included in that category) and he is still betraying International law.

Logically speaking, the recent Israeli government made it clear that peace will never be made by illegal Israeli settlers occupying parts of the West Bank with "settlements" ("colonies"). While, it's not new for Israeli government who adopted same policy either the right or left governments.

This imperialist, expansionist policy of building outside the 1967 "Green Line" is ongoing with a militia of armed-settlers controlling more parts of land in the West Bank. Obama, was betrayed many times - every time the American administration called for peace, Israelis did not comply. After 5 visits or even more from American peace envoy, George Mitchell, Israel offensively continued building settlements and announced new plans for more colonies.

Not far from the settlements, Israel continues to build its new apartheid wall of "Berlin" where more Palestinian land is stolen, people are assaulted and homes are demolished.

In West Bank, we see the images of racism all over the place, for example, the armed settlers have the right to use "Jewish only" roads while the Palestinians are prohibited from using them and if any Palestinians are found in these roads he/she will be sent to jails.

People in Qalelia city are living in a prison where the Israeli army opens and closes the gates at certain times.

What if Londoners couldn't leave London and would have to go through only one gate and at certain time? It is self-evident that this would not be acceptable since it is not democratic. Does the reality of Israeli checkpoints and the apartheid wall really help bring peace to the troubled region?

Not far from these "Jewish-only" roads, the checkpoints are nearly on every street in the West Bank. If you are a Palestinian living there, then you will have to wait many long hours to get to the hospital, your work, school etc... Again, it's as if you are leaving your house from Camden town in London towards Westminster; alas, you will find at least some 10 checkpoints; you will have to leave your house 5 hours or more to cross - *if* you are even successful - many people are denied access to cross over to the other side of the checkpoints.

This not all of it - you will be intimidated, humiliated and investigated. Does this sound to be a life? Does this really help to bring peace and love between people?

Not far from the West Bank, there is the Gaza; a small coastal strip. Unluckily, the next-door neighbor of the apartheid state of Israel! This small area accommodates over 1.5 million civilians. Israel is starving them, banning medications, food, clothing, stationary and thousands of other needs by preventing these essential supplies to enter and be delivered to Gaza.

Sometimes, the Israeli government allows entry of a small part of these essential needs to fool the International community. However, its been over 4 years now and Gaza remains in a famine while the victims of this siege are up to 500 plus, mostly children and women with diseases. They died as Israel denied them any access and neither allowed medications for them.

There is nothing to compare this with except the black novels of Charles Dickens. The details of misery, hunger and bleakness written in his novels are all there. It's more than the medieval ages of Britain and Europe! Does this racist, inhuman policy really help to bring peace and love between nations?

Paradoxically, Israel still says it seeks full peace with Arab countries, meanwhile, we see Israel in flagrant violation against the sovereignty of Dubai as well as some European countries like Britain, Australia, Ireland, Germany and France. By which law does Israel have the right to do this?

We see Israel violation and implementing hundred of UN resolutions regarding Palestine. We see Israel violates Humanitarian laws and Geneva conventions daily.

If Israel really wants peace with Palestinians, then it has to do this by actions, not mere rhetoric and propaganda.

Peace will never be achieved based on the idea of ethnic cleansing of Palestinians or the idea of transferring them to Arab countries. Peace and love will only be achieved when Israel gives Palestinians their freedom, full rights and dignity.

By
Sameh A. Habeeb
Founder of Palestine Telegraph Newspaper
www.paltelegraph.com

2010-03-05T12:25:00.000-08:00

Palestinian girl missing in Switzerland

World, March 5, 2010 (Pal Telegraph) -In a phone call to the Palestine Telegraph, a Palestinian man told us that he had called Swiss authorities to advise them about the fate of his daughter.

The Palestinian father is very sad and suffering due to his missing daughter - who according to him - has been either kidnapped or killed.

Talal Hasan Ismail Salah, age 54, seemed exhausted and overwhelmed.
He was originally born in Gaza, lived in Iraq and worked for the PLO and Fateh movement before he migrated to Switzerland in 1998 where he sought asylum.

According to Talal, his family was scattered due to his political involvement regarding the Palestinian cause.
The mother left the family and took some of the children with her; whilst the elder daughter remained with her dad where they both worked as Palestinian activists in Geneva.

Talal Salah said: "I was treated badly and it was in a racist way due to my political history. The Swiss authorities are complicit in this crime. My son is in prison for no reason - and I can't see him while my daughter is missing and the authorities are not giving me any help."

The daughter's ordeal began on 31-1-2009, when it became apparent that she was missing since she has not come back to her home. Her name is Neran abu Hamad, she was born on 9-11-1978, pitcured above with her dad Talal.

"My daughter was about to graduate from university where she studied computer science; however, she is missing and her whereabouts are a puzzle for me", the fathers stated.

The background of the story started when Neran suffered from an eye problem; according to her dad, she was very healthy.

The doctor transferred her to the hospital for further investigation. Since then, she started to have severe problems in her immune system and her health deteriorated. He, the dad, assumes she might have been given wrong mecations aiming at killing her.

According to her father, Neran was a very active Palestinian - who worked on fundraising and solidarity events in support of besieged Gaza.

The heart-broken father accused Israeli intelligence and Swiss authorities of knowing the fate of his daughter - who is still missing.

The Palestine Telegraph (PT), tried to contact the Swiss interior Ministry, unfortunately, there was no reply from the Ministry.

PT will try to contact the parties who Talal claims are guilty in the abduction his missing daughter.

Talal Salah, calls on anyone who can help to give a helping hand regarding the fate of his daughter.

He has informed: Amnesty International, the UN, Swiss government, Israeli embassy and many other organizations, but so far, none of the agencies have helped him.

Talal said: "All I need is my daughter; please bring my daughter back to me. She deserves to have a proper life like all other children around the world. I call on individuals to help me: start campaigning and organize and sign petitions."

The father pictured above with his missing daughter, informed many International Humanitarian organizations like the UN, Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and others but none were able to provide him any formation about Neran.

Talal, asks everyone to help by calling the Swiss authorities and Human Rights associations to disclose his daughter's fate - whether she is dead or alive.

According to Talal, he phoned the Red Cross asking for their assistance in finding his missing daughter and the answer was: "this is a hard story and we can't help; we have sent you written letters that point out we can't help."

Please call her dad, Talal, for Information and/or Solidarity:
0041796416193

"CAABU: Britain must not become a safe haven for war criminals"

2010-03-04T15:08:00.000-08:00

CAABU: Britain must not become a safe haven for war criminals

London, March 5, 2010 (Pal Telegraph) -CAABU welcomes the British government's announcement on 4 March that it would hold a consultation on changes to legislation on applying for an arrest warrant for war crimes cases. We will urge the government to reconsider its position rather than rushing to amend the law purely to protect Israeli leaders and soldiers from arrest.

There are very serious charges made by a UN Commission of Inquiry, the International Committee of the Red Cross and the leading human rights agencies that Israel has committed war crimes.

There are two key elements that must be considered.

Firstly, our primary responsibility is to the victims of war crimes and crimes against humanity, to ensure that these end immediately, and that their oppressors are held fully to account. The 1.5 million victims of Israel's policies in Gaza not only cannot travel, but as a matter of Israeli state policy are denied proper access to food, clean water, power, fuel and medicines, a collective punishment that constitutes a war crime.

It would be abhorrent if there was any attempt to prevent or limit the right of these victims to seek justice for what has been done to them. There is a legal and moral responsibility that the British government puts more effort into securing their freedom than protecting that of potential war criminals.

Secondly, Britain must not become a safe haven for war criminals whether from Israel or anywhere else by making it easier for them to avoid arrest, or allowing political interference to give them a get out of jail free card.

The right of a private individual to seek an arrest warrant under the Geneva Conventions Act has worked for decades and there is no reason to change this now.

New birth defects seen in Gaza due to Israeli weapons

2010-03-03T06:47:00.001-08:00

New birth defects seen in Gaza due to Israeli weapons

Gaza, March 3, 2010 (Pal Telegraph) -An increase in birth defects among newborns in the Gaza Strip - first documented in the Palestine Telegraph - has become apparent, despite claims to the contrary by some doctors at Al-Shifa Hospital. Pregnant women say they are living in constant fear.

Noha Abu Laban, 37, a resident of Jabalia camp in the northern Gaza Strip, is in her final month of pregnancy and says: "In the war, I inhaled the smoke of white phosphorus, which was fired on the roof of our house. I have been feeling sick since my pregnancy, and have had heavy bleeding." Noha is currently being treated in the High-Risk Pregnancy Care Unit at Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City.

Alaa Al-Tunp, a 25-year-old resident in the Al-Tofah neighborhood, says: "When I heard the stories of deformed fetuses, I became so worried, especially since I miscarried once before, during the war, when I was in my third month of pregnancy. I had inhaled the smoke of the white phosphorus. There are many pregnant women here in the High=Risk Pregnancy Care Unit who had the same experience." Alaa says she is very worried that she will miscarry once again, or that her baby will be deformed.

More than 20 pregnant women interviewed at the High-Risk Pregnancy Care Unit at Al-Shifa reported suffering intermittent bleeding.

Ahlam, a nurse in the neonatal intensive care unit, indicated that there have been many infants with birth defects, and some die after just a week. Most of the newborns in this condition are not named, since it is believed they will not survive. One of the babies, for example, suffers from deformities in which his head is twice the size of his body, his skin is wrinkled and covered with thick hair, and his respiratory system struggles to function.

Dr. Jehad Hisain, who works at the neonatal intensive care unit at Al-Shifa Hospital, confirmed that these deformities are increasing, adding that the parents often do not visit them in the unit for months, since death is their babies' anticipated fate.

Experts regard the most recent birth defect in Gaza as a result of the last one sided war launched by Israel. The Israeli war "massacre" claimed the lives of thousands while DU weapons and white phosphorous targeted only areas populated by civilians in Gaza.

Mads Gilbert , a Norwegian doctor who worked in Gaza in time of war, revealed that Israel used new close-range explosive (DIME) shells that cause severe injuries and battlefield amputations on the civilians being struck by these weapons.

Previous report of the Palestine Telegraph documented birth defect cases that give strong proofs, that Israel has used such weapons.

or http://www.paltelegraph.com/palestine/gaza-strip/3931

Report/Photos: Eman Jomaa

Five Palestinians injured in tunnel collapse

2010-02-27T03:41:00.000-08:00

Five Palestinians injured in tunnel collapse

Gaza, Feb. 27, 2010 (Pal Telegraph) - Five Palestinians were injured today morning in a tunnel collapse along the Gaza Strip and Egypt border.

Eyewitnesses said the five tunnel workers were slightly injured when a tunnel collapsed while they were working inside it. The five wounded were transferred to Abu Yousef Al Najjar Hospital in Rafah for treatment.

The eyewitnesses said that a number of tunnels collapsed due to the heavy rainfall, but no other injuries have been reported - in part due to many workers who stayed home.

Urgent: Support Baroness Jenny Tonge as she supports Freedom and Justice

2010-02-14T02:21:00.000-08:00

Urgent: Support Baroness Jenny Tonge as she supports Palestine, plz act now and sign

Baroness Jenny Tonge, a member of the House of Lords in the UK, has been under attack for the past few years as she supports freedom and justice for Palestinians. Just this week, she was dismissed from her position as spokesperson for the Liberal Democrats' shadow health minster.

She was fired after she commented on a media report that the Israeli medical team working in Haiti was once again implicated in organ theft. (You may recall that late last year, after widespread media reports exposing the crimes, the Israeli government reversed its earlier denials and admitted that organs had been stolen in the 1990s from dead or wounded Palestinian prisoners.) Baroness Tonge responded in a highly fair and ethical fashion, telling the Jerusalem Chronicle that, "Israel should investigate such claims and clear its reputation."

Plz: sign this Petition and Send it your friends now! Baroness Jenny Tonge, a member of the House of Lords in the UK, has been under attack for the past few years as she supports freedom and justice for Palestinians. Just this week, she was dismissed from her position as spokesperson for the Liberal Democrats' shadow health minster. She was fired after she commented on a media report that the Israeli medical team working in Haiti was once again implicated in organ theft. (You may recall that late last year, after widespread media reports exposing the crimes, the Israeli government reversed its earlier denials and admitted that organs had been stolen in the 1990s from dead or wounded Palestinian prisoners.) Baroness Tonge responded in a highly fair and ethical fashion, telling the Jerusalem Chronicle that, "Israel should investigate such claims and clear its reputation."

How much more measured and impartial could she be? Please demonstrate your support of Baroness Tonge, and insist on an end to the "hands-off" treatment of Israel. Please sign the petion through the link below, forward it to your friends and send a copy to the Leader of the Lib Dem Party Mr. Nick Clegg. Let's stand for justice, freedom and peace!

Please contact Mr. Nick Clegg to protest against his unfair action.
libdemleader@parliament.uk
http://www.gopetition.com/online/34091.html

"Baroness Tonge fired from UK party post for seeking truth"

2010-02-13T20:04:00.000-08:00

Read this and send it out...UK has no more freedom...All is pro Israel with Blind eyes.
http://www.paltelegraph.com/opinions/editorials/4148-baroness-tonge-fired-from-uk-party-post-for-seeking-truth

"Is/was there a genocide in Palestine?"

2010-02-08T08:55:00.000-08:00

Is/was there a genocide in Palestine? www.paltelegraph.com

London, Feb 8, (Pal Telegraph) - Having commemorated Holocaust Memorial Day with Holocaust survivor Hajo Meyer and some Jewish friends, after a talk at Goldsmith University last week, I feel that Palestinians have many common experiences with the survivors of the Holocaust.

The way Meyer was imprisoned in the ghetto and moved across the checkpoints could be a stereotypical image in occupied Palestine. I was personally amazed to hear Hajo Meyer himself saying that the Palestinian suffering is so close to the Holocaust and sometimes it is the same. I was amazed because I heard it not from a Palestinian, but from a Jewish man who has suffered a lot.

For a long time, it has been widely argued that genocide has never been committed in Palestine. Some media outlets close to the Palestinian viewpoint reckon there was genocide, one that is still in progress. The Israeli narrative rejects the use of this term for the Palestinian experience. Without doubt, the Germans perpetrated a heinous crime and genocide against the Jews in World War Two. This should never even be argued. Around 6 million Jews were killed across Europe in an act that can never be tolerated by humanity. It was a huge crime.

There have, however, been genocides against many other peoples such as the American Indians and the Armenians, which must also be remembered. Most of these genocides are on a smaller scale than the Holocaust, but surely the fact that genocide has occurred must be condemned no matter the scale. Indeed, this seems to be the feeling of many Holocaust survivors themselves. They believe it is crucial to recognize, condemn and fight against genocide wherever it is happening no matter whether it is a few thousand or millions.

The core question here is, have the Palestinians suffered genocide by Israel? Has Israel really ethnically cleansed Palestinians? Does the term genocide apply in the Palestinian case? Is it legally applicable? Readers can make their own judgment via this analysis.

In 1944, Polish-Jewish lawyer Raphael Lemkin coined the word "genocide" by combining "geno" from the Greek word for race or tribe, with "cide" from the Latin word for killing. He proposed that genocide consists in "a coordinated plan of different actions aiming at the destruction of essential foundations of the life of national groups, with the aim of annihilating the groups themselves."

Is this really happening; has it happened in Palestine? According to the vivid history of the founding of Israel, thousands of violent actions have been committed against one group of people: Palestinians. Over 535 villages were destroyed, thousands were massacred, and around 800,000 were driven from their homes by force or fear of force. In all, a process referred to by Israeli historian Ilan Pappé and others as ‘ the ethnic cleansing of Palestine'. If genocide is concerned with the annihilation of a group, surely this is genocide.

On December 9, 1948, the United Nations approved the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide. This convention establishes "genocide" as an international crime, which signatory nations "undertake to prevent and punish." It defines genocide as: [G]enocide means any of the following acts committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group, as such:

(a) Killing members of the group;
In 1948, thousands of Palestinians were exterminated as terrorist Jewish groups like the Stern, Haganah and Irgun, launched guerrilla wars against civilians. The attacks amounted to ethnic cleansing with intent as many villagers were told to leave or they would be killed. Deir Yassin massacre took place on April 9, 1948. Over 100 villagers, including women and children, were annihilated. Some were shot by live ammunition while others burned to death as rockets rained down on the village. The prisoners were killed after being paraded through the streets in occupied Jerusalem. In 1956, and after hundreds of massacres committed in 1948, a massacre took place in Khan Younis in the middle of the Gaza Strip. The victims were up to 500 from the normal villagers. Other numbers were from the Egyptians who were policing the area at that time.

(b) Causing serious bodily or mental harm to members of the group;
Nowadays, the deadly siege in Gaza could be considered as genocide under this item. Bodily harm has been caused not only within the time of the siege or the last war on Gaza in December 2008/January 2009, but since the beginning of the Israeli occupation of Palestine.

With the maintenance of the siege, the scale of victims in Gaza is always on the rise. The overwhelming majority of those victimized were civilians, whereas only a small minority was resistance fighters. Some agencies cite that 93% of those victimized were civilian, while only 7% were resistance fighters (See Oxfam Report).

Organized and systematic attacks against civilians in Gaza can also be considered to be part of the genocide. Several months before Operation Cast Lead, an Israeli minister even used the term ‘holocaust' to describe what is planned for the citizens of Gaza. On 28th February 2008, the Guardian, BBC and other media outlets reported the story under the title, "Israeli minister warns of Palestinian 'holocaust'". The Guardian reported that:

"An Israeli minister today warned of increasingly bitter conflict in the Gaza Strip, saying the Palestinians could bring on themselves what he called a "holocaust".
"The more Qassam [rocket] fire intensifies and the rockets reach a longer range, they will bring upon themselves a bigger shoah because we will use all our might to defend ourselves," Matan Vilnai, Israel's deputy defence minister, told army radio.
Shoah is the Hebrew word normally reserved to refer to the Jewish Holocaust. It is rarely used in Israel outside discussions of the Nazi extermination of Jews during the second world war, and many Israelis are loath to countenance its use to describe other events."

Guardian: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/feb/29/israelandthepalestinians1

Another genocidal act, which is causing mental harm, is also applicable. In Gaza, the recent siege is affecting all aspects of life. The children are suffering from severe health problems in terms of malnutrition, anemia and other conditions caused by poor diet. As pointed out in many UN agency reports, all Gazan children suffer with mental and emotional problems. Stress and trauma are leaving the children sick-minded due to constant fear. They have no opportunities for fun and joy, as the Israeli blockade even includes a ban on toys and the conditions of life are so hard. It is not an exaggeration to say that a considerable number of the Gazan population are exhausted and mentally drained, as their life is lifeless. They live with fear, deprivation, war, restriction of freedom and death.

(c) Deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life calculated to bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part;

This has been happening for years since the establishment of the state of Israel. Focusing on the Gaza strip now, the siege has impacted every single corner of life. Living conditions are disastrous at the moment. Factories have stopped operating, while food barely comes in. Add to that, people are trapped in a concentration camp that has two gates that open irregularly.

The Israeli blockade on exports and on all but humanitarian imports has forced 98 percent of Gaza's industry to close. Around 1.5 million Palestinians live in the 360 square km (139 square mile) of Gaza Strip. More than three-quarters of them are refugees whose families were driven from their land in what is now Israel in the 1948 Arab-Israeli war.

The remaining two characteristics of what constitutes genocide include imposing measures intended to prevent births within the group; and, forcibly transferring children of the group to another group. These remaining two characteristics are most evident in the 1948 Arab-Israeli war and the 1967 war.

By Sameh A. Habeeb
The Palestine Telegraph

Exclusive: Saif al-Islam Alqadhafi, accuses Germany of supporting Human Rights violations

2010-01-27T14:22:00.000-08:00

London, January 27, 2010 (Pal Telegraph)- In a letter sent to The Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany, Angela Merkel, Saif al-Islam Alqadhafi, and chief proponent of the "Tomorrow's Libya" project criticized the upcoming free weapons deal between Germany and Israel. The letter below indicated that Germany is supporting Israel which violates Human rights in the occupied Palestine via granting it sophisticated submarine and two Missile boats.

Saif al-Islam Alqadhafi counted the Israeli crimes perpetrated against Palestinian people over the past years especially last onslaught in Gaza.

The letter added that German people are not supporting Israel and its offensive, "I do not think that the German tax-payers seek the enhancement of the offensive capacity of the world's greatest human rights violating State in the world." Said the letter

Dr. Saif. He has been working on a variety of reform and opening up initiatives in Libya, primarily as a chief proponent of the "Tomorrow's Libya" project, an ambitious scheme with a patriotic vision, message, and identity.It includes political, economic, and social development, addressing the issues of economic development, health, education, the courts, human rights, and liberties.

He recently spearheaded an initiative to reform imprisoned Libyan militants (members of the LIFG), who have since published a paper renouncing the use of violence and militancy by radicals
He has also been working with Human Rights Watch to hold a recent press conference in the country on the human rights progress being made in Libya, and has been working to open and reform Libya's media. Also, he is widely believed to be in line to take over for his father, Col. Muammar Gaddafi, although he formally stepped down from political activity in 2009

See the letter:

Her Excellency Dr. Angela Merkel
The Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany

Excellency,

We have read with great surprise news reports indicating that the German Government will support the State of Israel by offering gifts in the form of a sophisticated submarine and two Missile boats to be added to the five submarines which have already been provided to Israel, the price of which was paid by the German tax-payers.

Since I am not objecting or protesting against the German government decision for as it is an internal affair, but what I would like to underscore is that there are certain points and remarks to be clarified to the German government and people as well as the international public opinion.
I do not think that the German people who have suffered from dictatorship, suppression and terrorism either during the Nazis era or the communist reign, which are well known to Her Excellency Dr. Angela Merkel agree to the money of tax-payers being spent to purchase offensive non-defensive weapons and submarines on which long-range ballistic missiles capable of carrying nuclear war heads will be mounted as per reports.

I do not think that the German tax-payers seek the enhancement of the offensive capacity of the world's greatest human rights violating State in the world.

Ironically, when German Parliament held a special session to investigate the topic of training Libyan police elements by the German police, there was a big uproar in protest to the German police undertaking the training of elements belong to a State in which human rights allegedly violated, although Libya's record in the field of Human rights is the best in the Middle East after having achieved a great deal of reform, we have not yet seen this very parliament or even the German press protesting against these lethal gifts donated by the German government to Israel; the greatest violator of human rights in the world, which launched thirteen months ago a war on Gaza leading to the killing of more than (2500) Palestinian citizens (257) of whom are children and (56) women, furthermore wounding of (1080) children and (452) women. Prior to this war Israel launched an aggression on Lebanon in 2006 which killed (1100) civilians, (400) of whom were children. In which Israel targeted and struck hospitals and schools.

International organizations estimated that (50) schools were completely destroyed and (400) schools sustained different damages in a flagrant and blatant violation of international law.
Likewise, Israel throughout its history has launched three wars on Egypt, Jordan, and Lebanon. It is worth noting that in Israel the prime Minister sings orders of assassinating of non-Israelis and it is the state which has been and still violating the sovereignty of other sovereign states by bombing their lands and assassinating their citizens and it is the entity which has overseen the massacre of Sabra and Shatila, Deir al-Balah and Yassin and others.

All of this has made Israel the biggest human rights violating state in the eyes of the world.
The money which financed the deal estimated at more than one billion Euros was disbursed to build and enhance Israeli offensive capabilities. It would be better ethically, humanly and politically if this amount had been spent on (1.5) Million people, namely the population of Gaza which has been transformed into "the biggest prison in the world", where scores of people perish due to the siege, medical negligence, disease, hunger and poverty.

Peace and co-existence in the Middle-East can neither be achieved through supplying of missile submarines nor through the stealth destroyers but rather through prevailing justice, equity and fairness.

Finally, today you are thoughtful towards Israel to atone for the mistakes of the past, but I assure you that one day you will be thoughtful towards us to atone for today's mistake.

I wish all the best

Saif al-Islam Alqadhafi

"BARACK OBAMA, a year of Silence and Failure!", by Sameh A. Habeeb

2009-12-31T09:42:00.000-08:00

Thursday, 31 December 2009 02:34 London,December 31, (Pal Telegraph) - It has been one year since the start of the one-sided Israeli war on the people of Gaza, including its women and children. The previous US administration expressed their agreement and satisfaction with every single Israeli policy toward the Palestinians.

Israeli policies such of the expansion and building of new settlements in the West Bank, the siege on Gaza, and, last but not least, the killing of 1450 civilians in Gaza, beside injuring thousands, were accepted and endorsed. Sadly, there has been no change in US policy since Obama came to power almost one year ago. The only change is the worsening of the conditions of the besieged children of Gaza.

The so-called "world hero," Barak Obama, announced his intention to actively engage the Arab-Israeli conflict, claiming to be different from his predecessors. Despite the promise of pursuing a different approach toward the conflict, Obama continues the position of his predecessors by showing blind and unwavering support for the state of Israel and its policies toward the Palestinians. Should we have really expected something different?

One year ago, thousands in Gaza including children, elderly men and women were awaiting their death, one tacitly designed by the government of the United States of America. Some of the children in Gaza were burned to death by the phosphorous bombs, while others were killed "by Israel," via the American-made equipment such as the F16 and Apache. One fact often ignored by US policymakers and the media is that the intentional use of US military armaments sold to a foreign entity is in violation of US law.

Looking back to the period prior to Obama taking office should have been an indicator of the type of policy Obama would pursue. At the start of the Gaza War, Obama was completely silent. He claimed that any position taken prior to assuming office would diminish the role of Bush's foreign policy prerogative. Yet he uttered his condemnation of the attacks in India prior to assuming the office of the presidency.

Obama's dead silence implied his blind and unwavering support for the government of Israel and its deadly policies of besieging, killing and starving the people of Gaza.

Obama was an idol for millions worldwide. Being Black running for the American presidency, having superb public speaking abilities, being outspoken, and having a charismatic personality gave hope to many. With his growing support due to these qualities, he made many promises. The promises of change in all sectors from the environment to health care to foreign policy and on specific issues such as abortion, global warming, Afghanistan, Iraq and Palestine. Promises and personal characteristics are not sufficient qualities alone for a good leader. In the absence of action, these qualities are mere rhetoric. Excellent rhetoric can be claimed as the only achievement thus far in the Obama administration. He could be a good example of a leader who always play with emotions and feelings of his followers!

From the delivery of speeches to states in the US prior to the elections to Cairo, "our hero's" words were well received. Indeed he spoke of a Palestinian state and the plight of Palestinian refugees. His words in the Cairo speech were a salvation to many, with some reckoning that this man was like the messiah. Despite the promises made and rhetoric uttered, Obama has achieved nothing solid in any of above mentioned areas in his first year.

Guantanamo was not closed; however, there were some symbolic measures taken in this regard. American troops are still in Iraq and more are being sent to hills of Afghanistan. In the area of Middle East, the "Glorious" President opened his term by calling for Israel to give up building settlements; and, dispatching Gorge Mitchell to the Middle East to restart the peace process and implement the call for an end to settlement.

All of these efforts were in vain, for Israel gave a cold shoulder to the Obama administration and refused to cooperate. His response to Israel's response was just additional rhetoric. His policy was merely words lacking action. Obama has thus far proved a failure. Those who thought things would be different were blinded by the words of a master orator and lack of knowledge of the American politics.

Presidents do not have the power or authority to make significant change, especially in regard to policy toward Israel and Palestinians. American administrations past and present, as well as US politicians are beholden to the political elite within the US and money of US interest groups. Therefore, policy will be made in consultation and approval of those who provide the money for political campaigns.

There will be no policy change toward Israel and Palestinians. Obama, like his predecessors, will bow to the dictates of the AIPAC-the American-Israeli Policy Action Committee. One ponders whether this position is due to Obama's eye on the next presidential election, as history demonstrates that US presidents cannot survive a second term without the support of the well-entrenched Israeli lobby. Douglas Little in American Orientalism provides an excellent survey of the US foreign policy toward Israel and the Middle East.

Obama's failure will only increase over time. The troops in Afghanistan will be doubled, as well as the loss of lives of Americans due to this carless policy. The American-made Iraq will never exist. Palestinians will continue to be denied their inalienable rights granted by International law and a Palestinian state will not be realized in the near future.

Gazans will remain suffering under the internationally endorsed siege, with its children continuing to be killed and starved. All of this is due to American foreign policy, which is concerned with economic and material self-interest rather than humanitarian concerns. Indeed, neither Barack Obama nor the American government will solve such problems as they remain bias and supporters of the victimizers against the victims.

By Sameh A. Habeeb
Founder and Editor of the Palestine Telegraph

"Is Al Jazeera English, Another Fox News?"

2009-12-28T18:04:00.000-08:00

Is Al Jazeera English, Another Fox News?

London, December 28, 2009 (Pal Telegraph) - Al Jazeera English broadcasted a news report yesterday, 27th December 2009, on the first anniversary of Gaza War. Ayman Mohye El Din, Al Jazeera reporter in the Gaza Strip who covered the last war and worked there over the past 2 years, prepared a news report from Gaza.

The report done by Mohye El Din focused on the Palestinian military factions and their ability to face the Israeli army a year after the War.

Shockingly, the report seemed to me to be very "FOX NEWS" in its style. Ayman put much emphasis on the Palestinian military group Hamas and its military wing, Ez Eldin Al Qasam brigades in terms of rockets made in Gaza.

The report showed some men manufacturing home-made rockets. It showed a factory-like space with some missile heads lying around the place while some turning machines operate. If one has no idea about what is going on in Palestine, from this report you might think we are a real state that has military bodies and establishments that could prepare an army for a war.

The report was lacking some aspects of professionalism to the point it could be considered misleading. This is due to the deliberate ignoring of facts that could clarify the ramifications and repercussions of these rockets. In addition, El Din didn't even refer to them as home-made but only as rockets. This will of course give people a mistaken impression about the nature and results of these rockets.

The report should have mentioned the outcomes of these rockets over the past 5 years, especially the last war. The reporter should have said that these rockets are ineffective by the military definition as they don't have destructive power. Israeli security services issued a report after the war saying that 4 Israelis killed since 2005 by thousands of these home-made rockets.

Sadly, the reporter failed to mention that from 2001 through to this moment, Qassam rockets have claimed the lives of 13 Israelis. In the past war in Gaza thousands of these "play" fire, so-called Qassam rockets, injured few people in Israel. While in Gaza, more than 1445 mostly civilian Palestinians were killed and 5000 injured by the deadly military attacks launched by Israel.

Meanwhile, only a few Israelis were killed, mostly 15 soldiers while few Israeli civilian, 3, killed by thousands of these s-called rockets.

The Qasam rocket is between 79 cm to 200 cm. long with a diameter between 6 cm to 7 cm. The explosives payload could be 500G to 7 Kilograms. Such small technicality should have been mentioned by the report. Otherwise, the audience will think these rockets are the same as the American weapons used in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Al jazeera should have said clearly that these rockets are useless and virtually meaningless. When Al Jazeera describes such rockets in every report as relentless, that is the kind of reporting that has brought death to thousands of Palestinians while it has achieved nothing on the political arena.
Although we can't be cynical about the professionalism of the reporter, we should be aware of the negative impact of such a one-sided report. It has unthinkingly portrayed the Palestinians as busy people who are well-experienced of manufacturing arms, while flagrantly failing to mention that Gazans are living under harsh siege where basics of life unavailable.

The report indeed gave the impression that Palestinians don't suffer from siege every day and night, while showing the factories of weapons operating 24 hours in every day. Besides, it emphasized and supported the false Israeli narrative published in the media that Palestinians massively smuggle weapons through Rafah tunnels.

Many Palestinians oppose these rockets as they are considered to be a pretext to Israeli army to keep on its attacks against Gaza.

Indeed such reports, can mainly be found on FOX NEWS, which all the time tries to depict Palestinian factions as organized army. It's the same FOX which always portrays Israel as a victim of the massive Palestinian rockets. This kind of reporting helps FOX a lot, and goes right along with serving the Israeli interest on the rocket issue. Israelis repeatedly use this issue in the media saying Palestinians used thousands of rockets against civilians. The Israelis never talk about the real effects and ramifications of these rockets and neither does Fox News and now Al Jazeera English.

Truly, it will not be difficult for expert and journalists to classify Al jazeera along with the rest of controlled Media. Al jazeera performance and staff is a new copy of CNN, FOX, BBC, and Sky News.

By Sameh Habeeb

Founder and Editor of The Palestine Telegraph Newspaper

"International Conference on Palestinian Refugees: Change of Event Venue"

2009-12-05T16:03:00.000-08:00

Gaza, December 5, 2009 ( Pal Telegraph ) -Due to the growing number of participants and many distinguished guests taking part in the International event. The Palestinian Return Center (PRC) has decided to change the venue of the conference from Friends house in London Euston to the Congress Centre, 28 Great Russell Street, London WC1B3LS near Totenham Court Road station. The conference is still scheduled for Wednesday, 16th of December 2009. The key aim of the event is to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency UNRWA. It will provide a detailed and comprehensive analysis of the terrible situation facing the Palestinian Refugees and UNRWA within a regional and international context.

Prominent personalities will open the conference which will include four sessions. Academics from USA, UK and the Middle East plus Politicians from Asia and other Arab countries will participate in the event.

It is an open conference and the audience will be served light refreshments and lunch in the afternoon.

This is a rare and great opportunity for Researchers and students to engage in discussion which would take place within the sessions.

Keynote speaker Norman Finkelstein will give a lengthy presentation entitled "What's Preventing Peace?" Renowned Palestinian Researcher, Professor Salaman Abu Sitta is taking part in the conference with a unique topic "UNRWA! The unsung Hero"

Claire Short - MP, Geremy Corybon MP and Baroness Jenny Tonge are amongst the many politicians taking part in the event where each will deliver a speech on the Palestinian cause and in particular the refugees.

More importantly, a survey compiled in refugee camps across the Middle East showed many interesting views on the performance and services of UNRWA which will be presented in the conference. The results of the survey and the discussions taking place will be used to produce many recommendations.

The Conference is open for all interested people and the admission is free. No pre-registration required.

For a map of the location follow this link
http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=WC1B3LS&sll=53.800651,-4.064941&sspn=8.57166,24.609375&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=London+WC1B3LS,+United+Kingdom&z=15

For more information visit: http://www.prc.org.uk

"International Conference on Palestinian Refugees: Change of Event Venue"

2009-12-05T16:02:00.000-08:00

International Conference on Palestinian Refugees: Change of Event Venue

Saturday, 05 December 2009 17:08 Added by PT Editor Sameh A. Habeeb

"Locked in: Life in Gaza"

2009-10-19T15:47:00.000-07:00

(Pal Telegraph) - Munzer al-Dayyeh is a 40-year-old mechanic living in Gaza. In a land of ruin and disrepair, Munzer is kept busy fixing generators and repairing motorbikes. In June 2007, Israel placed Gaza under siege and imposed an unprecedented blockade on nearly all movement and supplies in and out of the Gaza Strip.

Munzer is a traditional man from a conservative society where inter-marriage is common.

In Munzer's case, inter-breeding has brought hereditary problems - most of his children are either visually impaired or physically handicapped.

Munzer can not find any way to get his children out of Gaza to get medical treatment.

Petrol is increasingly expensive, motorbikes not cars are becoming popular. Electricity is sporadic and infrequent, generators are becoming popular. Munzer fixes both.

But while the effects of war and ongoing siege may be good for his business, it has frustrated his attempts to secure medical treatment for his disabled children.

His eldest daughter is blind and clings to the hope of travelling to London for specialist treatment. His eldest son is suffering from muscular disorder.

Besieged in Gaza, neither has the hope of medical treatment abroad.

This film offers an insight into an everyday man struggling to make a living and to find a solution for his family in the unique difficulties of the Gaza Strip.

Al Jazeera spoke to some Gazans about their daily lives, their hopes and dreams for the future, and how the siege affected them:

Doctor Mustafa Al-Hawi, 50, lecturer at al-Aqsa university

Mustafa al-Hawi, holds a PhD in environmental management and he currently works as a lecturer at al-Aqsa university.

He lost a job opportunity in Spain due to the blockade.

"I feel very traumatised, pissed off and very sad for not being able to travel and to have the freedom to do whatever I like," he says.

Fadi Bakheet, 27, Hip hop group manager

Fadi Bakheet is the manager of a hip hop group called "darasheen, the Arabian revolutionary guys."

His group missed out on an opportunity to represent Palestine in a festival in Copenhagen due to the siege.

"I don't think I would leave Gaza if things were better because this is my home, the worst thing about being here is being trapped and not be part of the world community," he says.

Iman Salem, 22, Medical student

Iman Salem is a medical student at the faculty of medicine at al-Azhar university.

She lost her scholarship in Jordan university because she could not leave Gaza.

"In these circumstances that we live under now, I would leave Gaza to pursue my dream to become a doctor," she says.

Ahmed abu-Hamda, 39, TV producer

Ahmed abu-Hamda is a TV producer, he feels paralysed under the siege because he does not have the freedom to leave whenever he wants.

Due to the siege he has not been able to see his parents who live outside Gaza, and they have not seen their grand child.

"it is an awful feeling to be under the siege, you feel paralysed," he says.

Mohammed el-Sharif, 39, Executive director

Mohammed el-Sharif is the executive director of the society for deaf children.

He is a Palestinian-American, but he is unable to get his daughters their US citizenship because they can't get out to start the process.

"Living in Gaza means that you can not exercise your right, everything is out of reach," he says.

Watch it on Al jazeera TV

Locked in Gaza can be seen from Monday, October 19, 2009 at the following times GMT: Monday: 1230; Tuesday: 0600, 1930; Wednesday: 0830; Thursday: 0330; Friday: 1630; Saturday: 2330; and Sunday: 1030.

Al Jazeera

"Legal Action to enforce Human Rights Conditions in EU-Israel Association Agreement"

2009-09-03T05:47:00.000-07:00

Gaza Strip, September 2, 2009 (PalTelegraph)- Clare Short MP and the European Campaign to End the Siege of Gaza have launched a legal action which require the European Union to uphold the human rights conditions entrenched in the EU-Israel Association Agreement.

The action was launched in a letter sent to President Barroso and Javier Solana, the High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy, spelling out the way in which the Treaty conditions are being breached and the way in which international law applies.

The case is being taken forward on behalf of the complainants by Public Interest Lawyers of 8 Hylton Street, Birmingham.

The Commission has been given 28 days to reply to the detailed case outlined in a 15 page letter which spells out the fact that under the EU-Israel Association Agreement, the EU has clear obligations in the light of Israel's violations of international human rights and humanitarian law in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. The case made is that the EU is failing to meet these obligations.

In the letter it is argued that ‘Palestinian, Israeli and International Human Rights organizations have concluded in numerous reports and studies that Israel's actions in Operation Cast Lead intentionally and systematically disregarded and violated both international humanitarian law and international human rights law'.

Furthermore ‘the combined reports delivered to the UN including that of Richard Falk, charged with investigating the human rights situation in Palestine found several breaches of law in Operation Cast Lead. The Special Rapporteur on Poverty discussed reports that during the military intervention Israel deliberately obstructed the work of humanitarian personnel leaving the poor without basic medical, food and other services in violation of both international humanitarian law and human rights law'

The case presented outlines the position of the International Court of Justice and the UN with respect to the countless violations, amongst which include the acquisition of territory by force, obstructing the self determination of the Palestinian People and many other peremptory norms.

In pointing to EU's obligation in the face of so many reports and statements of the highest authority in international law, it states that ‘Under the Geneva convention The EU must not only insure that its own comply with human rights: it also requires it to base its relations with Israel on the mutual respect for human rights.

Thus where Israel persistently violates human rights and the EU does not take appropriate steps against Israel it will be in breach of article 2 of the Geneva Convention'.

Maintaining the status quo in the EU-Israeli Association Agreement, which makes Israel, EU's biggest trading partner is improper and more importantly it is justiciable. The letter points towards specific steps which the European Community is required to take under the agreement where Israel is in breach of Article 2 of the Geneva Convention.

In recognition of its obligations it calls upon the Commissioner to meet its obligations and further provide detailed description of its actions in fulfilling its obligations.

Clare Short said today "I and many others have tried through our parliaments to require our governments to comply with international law, without success. We now hope legal action will require compliance.

It is my firm belief that the only way to peace is to require Israel to comply with international law and that this is in the interests of all parties. The European Commission and member states are failing in their duty to uphold the conditions of our own treaty with Israel and to use these requirements to obtain long term peace and justice."

Civilians must now ‘take up task’ of breaking Gaza siege

2009-07-29T03:42:00.000-07:00

London, July 29, 2009 (Pal Telegraph) - When governments fail to protect human rights, civilians must step up, human rights group Free Gaza Movement said during a talk at the American University of Beirut on Tuesday.

“Civilians have a very important role to play, especially when government institutions fail to do their job in upholding the law and human rights,” Huwaida Arraf, Chairperson of the Free Gaza Movement (FGM), said.

Delivering a lecture entitled “What we learned from breaking the siege, confronting Israel,” at the American University of Beirut, Arraf recounted how a group of activists from the FGM, herself included, set sail from Larnaca in Cyprus with two fishing boats to deliver aid to Gazans.

“In 2006 when Israel began tightening the siege, we couldn’t even get into Gaza to stand by the Palestinians. So we began to think, what can we do?”

Since the election of Hamas in 2006, Israel has allowed only limited humanitarian supplies into Gaza, causing around half of the 1.5 million population to rely on food aid, according to UN agencies.

The FGM took out loans, sold possessions and borrowed from where they could to raise money for the trip. They filled the boats with medicines, toys, writing equipment and anything that was denied the Palestinian people by the blockade.

“It was the most beautiful and memorable moment of my life when we arrived in Gaza to see thousands of people standing along the shore, fishing boats coming out to meet us and children swimming out,” Arraf said.

The next time the FGM was to return to Gaza, this time on a ferry, they were rammed by Israeli navy boats. This would not deter them from repeating their mission four more times.

“We could not back down. We could not allow violence to triumph. So we went back again,” said Arraf.

The group once again left Larnaca on their vessel named “Spirit of Humanity” to carry more aid to Gazans suffering under the blockade. Accompanying them were former Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney and Nobel Laureate Mairead MaGuire.

A video played at the lecture showed Israeli naval vessels surrounding the boat and demanding they return to Larnaca. "We will be forced to take all necessary action if you do not return to Larnaca immediately," a voice from an Israeli naval vessel said over the boat's radio.

The reply from "Spirit of Humanity" came back: "The Israeli navy is mistaken. Since you occupy Gaza, under international law you are responsible for the safety of Gazans. We are delivering humanitarian aid to Gaza and it is illegal for you to stop us."

"Spirit of Humanity" was boarded and all 20 activists on board were arrested and detained within Israel for seven days, until they were deported.

The group also ran a short film shot by the FGM showing the Israeli navy opening fire on Gazan fishing boats, shooting the water surrounding them and forcing them to return to shore.

Documentary filmmaker and human rights activist Adam Shapiro spoke at the meeting of his motivation for getting involved with the campaign.

"I was quite skeptical at first. I had lots of concerns, especially when I saw the boats. But I went to Gaza in February for the first time in 10 years, and I saw tremendous devastation. I couldn't see anything new being built; I realized that the blockade was stopping people from rebuilding their lives."

Shapiro also added that "Spirit of Humanity" was in international waters when it was boarded by Israeli naval personnel.

Both speakers expressed the need not just for humanitarian aid, but for this action to be undertaken alongside political attempts to end the blockade.

They also described as "complicit" the NGOs who adhere to the blockade by not taking in items which Israel doesn't consider to be "essential humanitarian aid."

"The blockade is collective punishment, it constitutes a war crime under the Geneva Convention. Many organizations have declared the blockade to be illegal including Amnesty International and the International Red Cross. Who is standing up against it? Which state?" Arraf asked.

The FGM is planning another voyage to break the siege on Gaza later this year.

By Richard Hall
Daily Star
Lebanon

"On the Right of Resistance"

2009-07-27T06:05:00.000-07:00

London, July 27, 2009 (Pal Telegraph) - "If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor." - Desmond Tutu

On the Right of Resistance
By Ramzi Kysia

We live in an era defined by its brutality. Our challenge is whether to accept this - or to take the risks necessary to transform our world commons in beloved community.

A year ago this August, forty-four ordinary people from seventeen different countries sailed to Gaza in two, small wooden boats. We did what the world would not do - we broke through the siege of Gaza. Over the last year the Free Gaza Movement has organized seven more voyages, successfully arriving to Gaza on five separate occasions. Ours remain the only international ships to reach the Gaza Strip in over forty-two years.

In the Middle-East, the struggle for justice is an uncertain endeavour in the best of times. On all sides human rights workers are beset with difficulties and distress. The Arab states are tyrannies, their peoples subject to secret police, arbitrary arrest, torture, and oppression. Within their societies, the Arab world is equally fractured by ethnic and class tensions, poverty, and political stagnation. From the outside, from the West, the Middle-East faces both open and covert acts of intimidation, intervention, economic destabilization, and even war, invasion, and mass killings.

Standing astride all these troubles, blocking near every attempt at progress in the region are the twin colossi of big oil and Israel. Seldom have a people been cursed with burdens more bitter, more devastating, and seemingly more intransigent than have the Arabs with oil and Israel.

Nowhere is this truer today than in Gaza. In 1999, British Gas discovered huge natural gas fields, worth billions of dollars, in Palestinian territorial waters off the coast of Gaza. Israel has already built a horizontal pipeline to siphon off gas from at least one of these fields. If there is an unspoken reason for the siege of Gaza - this is it.

Israel maintains effective control of all points of entry and exit to Gaza, as well as de facto control of Gaza's revenues and economy. As such, and despite the closure of settlements in Gaza in 2005, Israel remains an occupying power in Gaza as in the rest of Palestine. As an occupying power, Israel is responsible for the well-being of the people it occupies and cannot legally impose a blockade, particularly one the collectively punishes the entire population of Gaza. These are clear crimes and the Israeli government and military should be prosecuted for them.

For the last three and a half years the Israeli siege has become increasingly ruthless. Less than twenty percent of normal trade is allowed into Gaza today. The siege has caused the local economy to collapse, leading to steep increases in unemployment, poverty and childhood malnutrition rates.

Because of Israel's siege there is little fuel to run Gaza's power plant - so electricity is scarce and intermittent. Without electricity, water and sanitation systems do not function. On March 27, 2008 two elderly women in their 70s, a teenage girl, and two babies were killed by a flood of sewage in Umm Naser. Last year alone, well over 16 billion litres of raw sewage had to be dumped in the sea, turning the Mediterranean into a toilet and creating a public health disaster.

Gaza is a tiny coastal plain, barely twenty-five miles long by four to seven miles wide. It does not have the ability to independently support the one and a half million human beings who live in one of the most densely populated places on the planet. Two-thirds of Gaza's people are refugees, driven out of historical Palestine during Israel's founding war in 1948. Over half the population are children.

Israel has a long history of violence against Palestinian children. A few examples: In December 2004, the IDF shot and killed seven-year old Rana Siyam. Earlier that year, nine-year old Raghda Alassar was shot and killed in her school while she was taking an English test. Thirteen-year old Iman al-Hams was shot seventeen times by the IDF as she was walking home after class in Gaza. An Israeli captain went up to her corpse and shot her again in the head - "dead-checking" the schoolgirl. The IDF prosecuted him, but not for murder. He was charged with "illegal use of his weapon," and - despite admitting that he emptied his entire magazine into a little girl - he was found "not guilty."

Over the summer of 2006, the IDF killed three-year old Bara Habib, three-year old Rajaa Abu Shaban, six-year old Rawan Hajjah, nine-year old Aya Salmeya, and over thirty-five other children just in Gaza alone. On January 16th, 2007, the IDF killed ten-year old Abir Aramin, the daughter of a Palestinian peace activist, as she was walking home from school. These are only a handful of cases. The Israeli human rights organization B'tselem estimates that over 900 Palestinian children were killed by the Israeli military between 2000 and 2008.

Israel has already recreated the worst aspects of the Warsaw Ghetto in Gaza - transforming this small strip of land into the world's largest open-air prison, and the humanitarian condition of the one and a half million men, women, and children illegally incarcerated in Gaza is now at its worst point in the last forty-two years of Israeli occupation.

But there are darker histories waiting to be reborn. The simple and terrifying truth is that Israel is pushing the world on a path towards genocide. We are all en route to the slow-drip destruction of the Palestinian people. This reality must be forcefully confronted and fully overcome before it's too late.

It's now been more than six months since the end of Israel's latest assault on the Gaza Strip, which led to the killing of over 1,400 Palestinians, and the people of Gaza are still living in rubble. Israel's hermetic closure has created a man-made and deliberately-sustained humanitarian catastrophe. The continuing failure of the international community to enforce its own laws and protect the people of Gaza demands that we as private citizens directly intervene to take action commensurate with the crisis. We must act because our governments refuse to do so.

Regardless of Israeli threats or intimidation, Free Gaza volunteers intend to continue sailing unarmed boats to Gaza. Now more than ever - we need the people of the world to join with us.

The siege of Gaza only serves to strengthen authoritarian structures on all sides of this conflict, entrenching centralized control, rallying people against a common enemy. The isolation of Gaza reinforces a belief that the world has forgotten Palestine, and little cares how Palestinians are forced to live or even whether they live or die.

In contrast, civil resistance and citizens' action movements are not only aimed against the injustices that we face - they are also strategies for social change. Nonviolent resistance empowers everyone with the knowledge that any among us can reach out, organize, and act to change the entire world. Time and again, history demonstrates that even the greatest of tyrannies can crumble to the ground when confronted with an organized and determined resistance.

Join us, whether in whole or in part. Join the Free Gaza Movement, the International Solidarity Movement, and the BDS Movement. Join us and other campaigns in the struggle for justice for Palestine. We need volunteers to do research and writing, web updates, translation, graphic design, local organizing in their communities, and much more.

Become part of the resistance.

We are often told that resistance is either unwarranted or impossible. Liberal apologists for Israel, such as Thomas Friedman, are constantly demanding that Palestinians lay down their arms, all the while exhorting Israelis to pick them up in ever increasing acts of violence and degradation.

When faced with violence in our world, our elites tell us that we have two - and only two - choices: capitulate to the violence, or go to war. Of course, which of these two choices is the right and proper course of action depends on who you are. Faced with Palestinian violence, Israelis must, rightly and properly, go to war. Faced with Israeli violence, Palestinians must, rightly and properly, capitulate. In Tel Aviv and Washington D.C. this is called "moral clarity:" the supposed necessity of pursuing Israeli security through deliberately creating massive insecurity among Palestinians. This is lunacy.

But even mainstream "peace" movements in the West try to delegitimize resistance by calling on both Palestinians and Israelis to renounce overt acts of violence, equating Palestinians who commit suicide bombings with Israelis who send F-16s, D9 military bulldozers, and Apache attack helicopters to level entire neighborhoods.

The problem is that the usually random and individual acts of violence by Palestinians against Israelis are not equal to the myriad structural oppressions and cruelties imposed on Palestinians through Israeli government policies. No Palestinian fighter jets bomb Israeli cities - because Palestine has no fighter jets. No Palestinian bulldozers demolish Israeli homes - because Palestine has no military bulldozers. No Palestinian soldiers invade Israeli neighbourhoods, terrorizing the populace - because there is no Palestinian army. The conflict in Palestine is a war of Israeli state terror against a largely unarmed and defenceless civilian population.

Even immoral and self-defeating acts of violence against Israeli civilians (such as some suicide bombings are) cannot be equated with the daily humiliations, terror, and death that Israel inflicts on Palestinians by deliberate policy. Contrary to its presentation in the mainstream media, this conflict is neither a righteous war against evil Arab terrorists, nor a religious or ethnic dispute between two opposing and equally self-justified groups of people. The Israeli/Palestinian conflict is the struggle of two irreconcilable and unequal causes: the struggle of an oppressed people for freedom, justice, and self-determination against their oppressors' struggle to maintain (and even expand) their domination. Under these circumstances resistance is not only a right - it's a moral imperative.

This is not to say that any and all acts of resistance are acceptable. Clearly they are not. But it grows tedious to continually hear well-meaning, but otherwise clueless, Westerners try to equate the two sides of this conflict. I am past tired of hearing white people passively whine, or shrilly demand, "Where is the Palestinian Gandhi?"

With respect, just because some people have chosen to remain ignorant of the long and deep history of Palestinian nonviolent resistance - from the 1936 Boycott to Bil'in today - does not mean that it does not exist. The Free Gaza Movement struggles in solidarity with an already vibrant Palestinian civil resistance.

Similarly, the other criticism of resistance - that it is futile - is equally mistaken. There is a widespread delusion among many that Israel and the Israeli lobby are simply too powerful to be challenged, let alone defeated. This is not the case.

On June 30th 2009 Israeli Occupation Forces forcibly boarded one of our boats, the SPIRIT OF HUMANITY, and kidnapped 21 human rights workers and journalists who were on their way to deliver much needed humanitarian and reconstruction supplies to besieged Gaza, including Nobel peace prize laureate Mairead Maguire and former U.S. Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney. They were held in jail for a week before being deported.

Though we were stopped on this particular voyage, it was not a "failure." In the month after our boat was hijacked, over 100,000 news stories, essays, blog entries, action alerts, and radio and television segments were made on Israel's violent response to our mission. It's true that the ordeal of our 21 volunteers pales in comparison to the 11,000 Palestinian political prisoners held in Israeli prisons. The seizure of our small cargo of 3 tons of medical aid and reconstruction kits is insignificant in light of the $4 billion (USD) of aid promised to Gaza - aid that has not and will not be delivered because of the Israeli blockade.

But that too misses the point. By choosing to violently confront and kidnap unarmed human rights workers on a mission of mercy, Israel publicly demonstrated both the illegality and the absurdity of the Gaza siege. The siege is abjectly not about "security." No one could possibly have believed that our small boat was a physical threat to Israel,

This public demonstration of the siege's illegality resulted in record action at the governmental level as well. Both the Irish and Greek governments formally intervened to protect their citizens and property. Despite having no diplomatic relationship and refusing to recognize the legitimacy of Israel's government - the King of Bahrain personally & successfully intervened to force Israel to immediately release the five Bahraini human rights workers kidnapped from the SPIRIT. The British parliament held a formal debate on the issue, and even the U.S. State Department was forced to hold a national conference call on for family and friends of the kidnap victims, as well as for Arab-American civil rights groups.

This was unprecedented, but it's not enough.

The Free Gaza Movement started our small part in this struggle in 2006. We began on hope alone. Many thought it couldn't be done, yet we did it. We broke through the Israeli blockade. We will sail again, and we are absolutely determined to reach the Gaza Strip on our next voyage. We intend to non-violently escalate our response. By sending a cargo ship, we will escalate the challenge to the blockade by bringing in significant amounts of banned reconstruction materials. By sending more boats on our next mission, we will significantly escalate the logistical difficulties Israel faces should they decide to violently attack us again. By sending even more parliamentarians, dignitaries, journalists, and human rights workers to accompany the boats, we will significantly escalate the political difficulties Israel faces should they decide to violently attack us again.

The journey to Gaza is dangerous. The Israeli navy rammed our flagship, the Dignity, when we attempted to deliver medical supplies to Gaza during their vicious assault in December/January. In June, they hijacked our small boat and kidnapped everyone on board. Israel has even threatened to open fire on our unarmed ships, rather than allow us to deliver humanitarian and reconstruction supplies to the people of Gaza.

But the risks we take on our voyages are insignificant compared to the risks imposed every day upon the people of Gaza.

The purpose of nonviolent direct action and civil resistance is to take risks - to put ourselves "in the way" of injustice. We take these risks well aware of what the possible consequences may be. We do so because the consequences of doing nothing are so much worse. Any time we allow ourselves to be bullied, every time we pass by an evil and ignore it - we lower our standards and allow our world to be made that much harsher and unjust for us all.

Israel can threaten our boats and passengers - we will keep coming. Israel can illegally disrupt our communications and navigation systems - we will keep coming. Israel can open fire around our boats, or attempt to ram and sink them. Israel can choose to forcibly board and highjack our boats, and abduct our volunteers.

It doesn't matter. We will keep coming. Armed only with the love of justice, and in the rite of resistance - we will go to Gaza again and again and again, until this siege is forever shattered and the people of Gaza have free access to the rest of the world.

-----
Ramzi Kysia is an Arab-American essayist and an organizer with the Free Gaza Movement. If you would like to support these efforts, please visit www.FreeGaza.org, or email donations[at]freegaza.org. If you would like to volunteer with Free Gaza, please send an email to volunteer[at]freegaza.org

"Agitating for Freedom: Anniversaries, Dreams and Persistence"

2009-07-21T14:53:00.000-07:00

USA, July 21, (Pal Telegraph) "If we wait for it to work itself out, it will never be worked out! Freedom only comes through persistent revolt, through persistent agitation, through persistently rising up against the system of evil." – Martin Luther King

This July 22, marks the fourth anniversary of my website, but I did not establish the 'blog' until October 8, 2005, when I wrote:

It was about six months ago that I heard Charlie Rose on his PBS show say something like;

"We have yet to begin to imagine the potential of the Internet."

When I began writing for WeAreWideAwake/WAWA about three months ago, I imagined it would be an instrument to provoke thought, engage a dialogue and stimulate American's to do something about the state of our Union and for all our sisters and brothers in Israel Palestine.

I had hoped to be challenged by some conservative and many fundamentalist Christians, but so far, they remain mute. Perhaps, they just haven't read me, so if you know of any right wing neo-con Christian types I would appreciate any connections you can make with WAWA. Debate is great and all opinions are welcome but no mean-spiritedness will be posted.

Imagine the potential of the Internet. [end]

I still am imagining, but have had no luck engaging USA Christians, but have managed to get myself censored/banned/deactivated and deleted from Reverend Jim Wallis's Belief Net blog, Facebook, The Democratic Underground and the DAILY KOS.

Not one of the powers to be of the above sites has bothered to reply to my inquiries as to why was I censored/banned/deactivated and deleted, but I have 'blogged' all about it and the links are accessible through the home page of my site.

I also have a link that tells me daily, what countries are hitting on my site, and the USA Government and Military are considered a country on that link. In the last few months of the Bush Administration, Big Brother dropped out of the top 30 of over 75+ countries that hit on WAWA; but ever since February 2009, when I began contacting President Obama and Secretary of State Clinton to do something to help free Vanunu, Big Brother has hovered in the top twenty [Israel is consistently in the top ten.]

But, after five months of agitating them and never receiving any reply and because this is the 4th anniversary of my membership in the New Fourth Estate-which equates to activist reporters- I established a Soapbox Alert to Obama and Biden @

http://www.congress.org/congressorg/issues/alert/?alertid=13764921&content_dir=ua_congressorg

That link will be alive for thirty days and for every one of them, I will use it to email Obama and Biden and remind them that on April 21, 2004, upon emerging from 18 years in a tomb sized cell, Mordechai Vanunu said:

"I am not harming Israel. I am not interested in Israel. I want to tell you something very important. I suffered here 18 years because I am a Christian, because I was baptized into Christianity. If I was a Jew I wouldn't have all this suffering here in isolation for 18 years. Only because I was a Christian man."

It was in May of 2005, just prior to my first [now 7] trips to Israel Palestine that I phoned Mother Agapia Stephanopolous, a Russian Orthodox nun and the administrator of the Orthodox School of Bethany in Jerusalem. I was inspired by her bold words to Congress about The Wall and also, I wanted to schedule an appointment with her for spiritual direction.

Mother Agapia is the sister of ABC News commentator, George Stephanopolous, and she had passionately informed Congress about the fact that, “Israel is destroying the local Christian community.”

On April 18, 2005, Robert Novak’s article “Walling off Christianity” reported on the nun and how East Jerusalem had been cut off from the rest of the West Bank. Mother Agapia predicted, “It is only a matter of time before Christians and Muslims will be unable to survive culturally and economically.”

Mother Agapia spoke bluntly about the nine yards high wall of Israeli concrete that have “shattered” the Christian communities.

She said, "I witness the strangulation of East Jerusalem, and the deprivation of her non-Jewish residents’ religious rights every day. Even the United States seems to have been taken in by Israeli spin."

On my very first afternoon in Jerusalem, on June 12, 2005, the nun met me at the Ambassador Hotel in East Jerusalem and I told her that I hadn’t been taken in by the spin, but what could I possibly do? She had no answer-but when I returned to USA I established WAWA/WeAreWideAwake.org with hope to raise awareness of what the USA media was not reporting and what the government did not want we the people to know about-such as the Christian EXODUS from the Holy Land and the ongoing persecution of Vanunu-an ex-Orthodox Jew baptized Christian just days before being kidnapped by the Mossad on September 30, 1986.

But, I did not know any of that on the afternoon when I met Mother Agapia on the first day of my first trip to occupied east Jerusalem. The very first thing I told her about was of the surreal experience I had that very morning while wandering around in the Old City.

I had landed in Tel Aviv with ten other members of the interfaith Olive Trees Foundation for Peace just a few hours before dawn on that Sunday morn. We all checked into the Ambassador Hotel, a fifteen minute walk from the Old City and although they all crashed, I was wide awake. As soon as the sun rose I began to explore, and although I have no sense of direction and only understand English, I wandered around the Old City, which was eerily empty the closer I came to site of the Pool of Bethsaida and when I tread upon that ground, I experienced déjà vu, which was more real than imaginary.

Background:

Between 2000 and 2001, I was a first year student in the Episcopal Diocese of Orlando’s Formation Program for Spiritual Directors. I knew going into the program I would never be hanging out a shingle as a Spiritual Director that I was there because of the curriculum; to deepen my prayer life and study the lives of the saints. That is also when I became uncorked as a writer and began going on spiritual retreats.

On the second night of the second retreat in that program, we had a guided meditation on the story of Jesus at the Pool of Bethsaida.

There were seven of us in the class and we were instructed to close our eyes, listen to the story and allow our imagination to lead us to respond to the character that resonated most deeply to us.

Our leader prefaced the story from John 5:1-6, by telling the legend of the angel from heaven who would descend and agitate the waters of the Pool of Bethsaida.

Only the first leper, blind, or invalid who made it into the water would receive a healing. One day while Jesus was there, he walked by a man who had been paralyzed for thirty-eight years.

Jesus asked him, “Do you want to be healed?”

The man answered he had no friends to help him get into the water first.

Jesus asked him again, “Do you want to be healed?”

Our leader then went silent, and in my imagination I was immediately upon the back of that agitating angel.

I hadn’t thought of that experience until I found myself at the site of the Pool of Bethsaida and what triggered the memory of that guided meditation was the recollection of a dream I had had a few weeks after that day we call 9/11.

In my dream I had stood at the edge of a dried up pool where crumbling stone columns were overgrown with vines and weeds and scores of doves and pigeons nested and flew. To my right was a large shade tree, but to my left I saw a few square squat dwellings with large satellite dishes attached to them. I remembered thinking the moment I woke up from that dream what a strange place it was, but then I quickly forgot all about it.

That is, until the afternoon of June 12, 2005, when I found myself standing at the edge of a dried up pool where crumbling stone columns were overgrown with vines and weeds and scores of doves and pigeons nested and flew. To my right was a large shade tree, but to my left I saw a few square squat dwellings with large satellite dishes attached to them. What a strange place I thought, how could it be that I had seen this scene in a dream a few weeks after that day we call 9/11?

On the afternoon of my very first day in Jerusalem, after I told Mother Agapia about my dream and what I had seen at the Pool of Bethsaida, she shrugged and smiled, then told me about the Jerusalem Interfaith Peace Conference with satellite link to the world that was happening the Sunday after the Thursday I was scheduled to return to the USA.

I knew immediately that I needed to attend and after saying goodbye to Mother Agapia, I phoned my husband to get his OK, changed my flight plans and on June 26, 2006, I attended the world wide satellite linked Interfaith Peace Conference at Jerusalem’s Notre Dame Cathedral.

Dan Rather moderated from Washington DC and the Holy Land interfaith panel were all moderates attempting to reclaim the battlefield of ideas from extremists on both sides.

Reverend Theodore Hessburgh, President Emeritus University of Notre Dame began the evening by stating, “The Peace of the world begins in Jerusalem.”

Dr. Tsvia Walden, Board of Director of the Peres Center and Geneva Initiative said, "There is a need for a third party in the negotiations that could enable both sides to trust each other. There are more people in this region interested in making concessions, they all want peace so desperately."

Rania Kharma, Coordinator of World Bank emergency services to the PA, reminded everyone, “We all need to be the bridges to our leaders that justice, equality, and human rights will bring peace. Give people justice and they will reward you with peace.”

Sheik Imad Falouiji warned, “Religions must go back to their origins. God commands us to love each other and live together. This Holy Land was given to all people. This land is on fire. There is an occupation that must be removed. The language of peace cannot succeed without justice for all.”

The Rt. Rev. Bishop Riah Abu Assal affirmed, “Peace is an act. Blessed are the peacemakers not the peace talkers. Peace is possible in the Holy Land. The root cause for the lack of peace since 1967 is the occupation. For peace to make progress in the Middle East we need to deal with the root cause...Religion was not meant to bring death. All those involved in searching for peace should commit themselves to work for justice and truth.”

Throughout the entire evening, I kept remembering what President Bush promised in his Second Inaugural Address: “In the long run, there is no justice without FREEDOM. There can be no human rights without LIBERTY. All who live in tyranny and hopelessness can know the United States will not ignore your oppression or excuse your oppressors. When you stand for liberty, we stand with you.”

I also wondered what Bush would say to the video message Vanunu taped three days prior as to where WMD's could actually be found in the Middle East:

Cut and paste the link to view that Message on YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eKTX3vrHQOE

On 24 April 2004, Uri Avnery wrote:

"This week it became clear that the Americans are full partners in the creation of Israel's "nuclear option". How was this exposed? With the help of Mordecai Vanunu, of course. …The Security Establishment has not stopped harassing him even after he has sat in prison for 18 years, 11 of them in complete solitary confinement – a treatment he himself described on leaving the prison as "cruel and barbaric". After he was "set free", far-reaching restrictions were imposed on him (e.g. he is forbidden to leave the country, is restricted to one town, cannot go near any embassy or consulate, may not talk with foreign citizens). All this under the colonial British emergency regulations that were condemned at the time by the leaders of the Jewish community in Palestine, as "worse then the Nazi laws".

"Everybody understands that he has no more secrets. What can a technician know after 18 years in jail, during which technology has advanced with giant steps?...it becomes clear what the security establishment is really afraid of. Vanunu is in a position to expose the close partnership with the United States in the development of Israel's nuclear armaments.

"This worries Washington so much, that the man responsible in the State Department for "arms control", Under-Secretary John Bolton, has come to Israel in person for the occasion. Vanunu, it appears, can cause severe damage to the mighty super-power…By the way, this John Bolton is an avid supporter of the group of Zionists neo-cons who play a central role in the Bush theater. He opposes arms control for the United States and its satellites, and was installed in the State Department against the wishes of the Secretary of State himself." http://www.fromoccupiedpalestine.org/taxonomy/term/226

"If we wait for it to work itself out, it will never be worked out! Freedom only comes through persistent revolt, through persistent agitation, through persistently rising up against the system of evil." – Martin Luther King

Eileen Fleming, A Feature Correspondent for The Palestine Telegraph and Arabisto.com
Founder of WeAreWideAwake.org
Author of "Keep Hope Alive" and "Memoirs of a Nice Irish American 'Girl's' Life in Occupied Territory"
Producer "30 Minutes with Vanunu" and "13 Minutes with Vanunu"

"Israeli soldiers reveal dreadful war crimes in Gaza"

2009-07-15T02:34:00.000-07:00

Wednesday, 15 July 2009 01:41 Added www.Paltelegraph.com

Gaza, July 15, (Pal Telegraph) - A group of soldiers who took part in Israel's assault in Gaza say widespread abuses were committed against civilians under "permissive" rules of engagement.

The troops said they had been urged to fire on any building or person that seemed suspicious and said civilians were sometimes used as human shields.One soldier said: "You feel like an infantile little kid with a magnifying glass looking at ants, burning them."

Breaking the Silence, a campaign group made up of Israeli soldiers, gathered new anonymous accounts from 26 soldiers.

The picture that emerges from the testimonies, which have been seen by The Independent, is one of massive fire power to cover advances and rules of engagement that were calculated to ensure, in the words attributed to one battalion commander, that "not a hair will fall of a soldier of mine. I am not willing to allow a soldier of mine to risk himself by hesitating. If you are not sure, shoot."

The first eye-witness accounts of the war by serving Israeli reservists and conscripts describes the Israeli use of Palestinian civilians as "human shields". They detail the killing of at least two civilians, the vandalism, looting and wholesale destruction of Palestinian houses, the use of deadly white phosphorus, bellicose religious advice from army rabbis and what another battalion commander described to his troops as "insane firepower with artillery and air force". The reports amount to the most formidable challenge by Israelis since the Gaza war to the military's own considered view that it conducted the operation according to international law and made "an enormous effort to focus its fire only against the terrorists whilst doing the utmost to avoid harming uninvolved civilians".

They are contained in testimonies from about 30 soldiers that were collected by Breaking the Silence, an army veterans organisation that seeks to "expose the Israeli public to the routine situations of everyday life in the occupied territories". Although the organisation has collected hundreds of testimonies from ex-soldiers before, this is the first time that it has done so from serving soldiers so soon after the events they describe.

They tell how:

* Unprecedentedly loose rules of engagement were put in place to protect Israeli troops. One soldier said his brigade commander and other officers made it clear that "any movement must entail gunfire". He added: "I don't remember if the brigade commander said this or someone else. I' m not sure. No one is supposed to be there. If you see any signs of movement at all, you shoot. These, essentially, were the rules of engagement. Shoot if you like if you are afraid or you see someone, shoot." Another soldier said his battalion commander had said the operation was not "a limited confrontation such as in Hebron, and not to hesitate if we suspected someone nor feel bad about destruction because it is all done for the safety of our own soldiers... if we see something suspect and shoot, better hit an innocent than hesitate to target an enemy". One soldier said the "awareness of each soldier going in is simply... a light finger on the trigger. You see something and you're not quite sure? You shoot".

* Houses were systematically demolished. Despite official accounts that homes were only destroyed for strictly "operational" reasons, one reservist, a veteran of the conflict in Gaza since before 2005, said "I never knew such fire power" used by tanks and helicopters for the "constant destruction" of houses. The soldier said that some houses had been destroyed for normal operational reasons, such as because they had been booby trapped or used by militants to fire from, or had contained tunnel openings. But he said others were destroyed for the "day after" - to make a "very large" area "sterile", to allow better "firing capacity, good visibility and control" once the operation was over. This meant, demolishing houses "not implicated in any way, whose single sin is that it is situated on a hill in the Gaza strip" .

* A civilian man between 50 and 60 who was unarmed but carrying a torch was shot dead after the unit's commander ordered his soldiers not to fire warning shots but to hold their fire until he was 50m away. The soldier said the company commander announced over the radio after the incident: "Here's an opener for tonight". The soldier said that the commander was challenged over why he had not authorised deterrent fire when the man was further away: "He didn't agree and couldn't give a damn, and finally the guys felt that even if they could take this up with the higher echelons it wouldn't be effective." Another soldier said his unit commander shot dead an old man hiding with his family under the stairs of a house. While the soldier said that the killing of the man was a mistake, it had happened as the unit entered the house using live fire.

* Palestinian human shields - or "johnnies" as they were termed by soldiers on the ground - were suborned to enter surrounded houses ahead of troops, including houses known to contain armed militants. One account corroborates the story of one such human shield that was exposed in The Independent, that of Majdi Abed Rabbo in Jabalya in northern Gaza, who was ordered three times to enter a house to report on the condition of three armed Hamas militants inside.

* Military rabbis prepared troops for battle. One soldier said an army rabbi had "aimed at inspiring the men with courage, cruelty aggressiveness, expressions as 'no pity. God protects you. Everything you do is sanctified'... there were specific scenarios discussed... but from the context it was pretty obvious he came to tell us how aggressive and determined we need to be, that we must win because this is a holy war". Leaflets distributed at military synagogues had stated that "the Palestinians are like the Philistines of old, newcomers who do not belong in the land, aliens planted on the soil which should clearly return to us".

* Mortars - rarely if ever used in Gaza before - were widely deployed. They included 120mm mortars of the sort that killed up to 40 civilians outside the UN el-Fakhoura school in Jabalya which was being used as a shelter, and in a nearby house. One soldier explained that while "with light arms you've got an 80 per cent chance of hitting the target with your first shot, with mortars it is much less". Another said: "I finally understood. We were firing at launcher crews in open spaces. But it didn't take much to aim at schools, hospitals and such. So I see I'm firing literally into a built-up area. I don't know to what degree it was still inhabited because the army made considerable attempts to get people to leave. But I understand that... [tails off]."

The testimonies appear to reinforce evidence from Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International and journalists who visited battle zones just after the war in January that white phosphorus was used for purposes other than "marking", "range-finding" and "smoke screening". Those purposes included to ignite homes suspected of being booby trapped.

Houses that troops occupied were vandalised. One testimony stated: "One of the soldiers... opened the child's bag... he took out notebooks and ripped them. One guy smashed cupboards for kicks out of boredom. There were guys arguing with the platoon commander before we left the house why he wouldn't let them smash the picture hanging there..." A reservist soldier said that there was a "big difference between the way we treated the contents of the house and the way the regulars did. The regulars wouldn't take care even of the most basic sanitary stuff like going to the toilet, basic hygiene. I mean you could see that they had defecated anywhere and left the stuff lying round".

A spokeswoman for the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF), Lieutenant-Colonel Avital Leibovitz, sought to challenge the motives and credibility of the report. She said "more than a dozen" military police investigations were under way into incidents that took place during Operation Cast Lead. While the IDF continued to operate according to "uncompromising ethical values", it was ready to investigate allegations of misconduct but not on the basis of anonymous testimonies which she could not be sure were from soldiers.

The Israeli human rights lawyer Michael Sfard said the report showed that the Gaza operation violated the "number one principle in international laws of war": that of distinguishing between the civilian population and combatants.

Yehuda Shaul, a founder of Breaking the Silence, said the group had names and details for all the testimonies - all of which had been taped - and that anonymity was to protect the testifiers from any disciplinary or criminal proceedings. The army already knew the name of at least one, he said.

Gaza invasion: Witnesses on the front line

On military briefings ahead of the invasion

"We talked about practical matters... but the basic approach to war was very brutal, that was my impression... He said something along the lines of 'don't let morality become an issue. That will come up later'. He had this strange language: 'Leave the nightmares and horrors that will come up for later, now just shoot'... The basic approach was that there were no chances taken. If you face an area that is hidden by a building, you take down the building. Questions such as 'who lives in the building?' are not asked."

On problems with identifying targets for bombing

"It got to the point where we would try to report to field intelligence about a figure sticking out its head or a rocket being launched, and the girl [at field intelligence] would ask, 'Is it near this or that house?' We'd look at the aerial photo and say, 'Yes, but the house is no longer there'. 'Wait, is it facing a square?' 'No more square.'... Later I went in to the look-out war-room and asked how things worked, and the girl-soldiers there, the look-outs, resented the fact that they had no way to direct the planes, because all their reference points were razed... It's highly possible that now the pilot will bomb the wrong house."

On the rules of engagement

"[The Brigade commander] went so far as to say this was war and in war, no consideration of civilians was to be taken. You shoot anyone you see. I'm paraphrasing here, not literally quoting, but the gist of the matter was very clear."

On the rabbinate's role in the conflict

"The rabbi said we are actually conducting the war of 'the sons of light' against 'the sons of darkness'. This is in fact a statement with highly messianic language... It turns the other side as a generality into 'sons of darkness' while we become 'sons of light'. There is no differentiation which we would expect to find between civilians and others. Here is one people fighting another people, with all the messianic implications. But that's the point: this is also religious propaganda. In other words, the army is not a revival meeting. They do not put on a uniform in order to be Judaized."

On soldiers' responsibility

"Anything we did there, we'd answer ourselves: there's no other choice, but this is how we shirk our responsibility. You bring yourself to this kind of deterministic situation, a moment that I have not chosen, where I no longer have any responsibility for my own actions. Even if your choice is the right one, you must admit you chose it. You have to admit you chose to go into Gaza. As soon as you did, you've brought people into a moral twilight zone, you've forced them to handle dilemmas and part of that confrontation failed. As soon as you say 'there is no other choice', you're shirking your responsibility. Then you don't need to investigate, to look into things."

Independent

Breaking the Silence http://www.shovrimshtika.org/index_e.asp

"Breaking: Demos, actions in support of kidnapped peace activists across Europe"

2009-07-01T16:16:00.000-07:00

Gaza-london, July 2, ( Pal Telegraph) - The European campaign to end the siege on Gaza (ECESG) called today for international human rights organizations and lobbying groups to organize large protests in front of Israeli embassies across Europe in solidarity with activists of Freegaza Movement. Activists onboard the humanitarian boat were kidnapped by Israeli naval forces while they were sailing in a peaceful mission to end the siege. The call aims at creating factual movements on the ground to release "the spirit of humanity" activists

The boat was boarded by highly-profiled people like Mairead Maguire, winner of a Noble Peace Prize and a former U.S. congressperson, Cynthia McKinney. The vessel was forcibly take to one of the Israeli seaports under direct threats from Naval boats.

Maguire, winner of a Noble Peace Prize was taken against her will and isolated from the rest of the team. The Israeli army didn't care about neither her old age nor her position. Two activists were released only while the rest are in Israeli detention of Ramalah. The exemplary punishment against the activists is a small glimpse of what's happening to 12 thousand Palestinians in Israeli jails.

ECESG is organizing today a number of protests in various European countries to call on releasing the kidnapped peace activists. Protests would be held in Demnark, Italy, Holland and Sweeden

Sameh Habeeb, spokesman of (ECESG), said that the issue is not only showing solidarity for the activists but also for 1.5 million Palestinians trapped in the Gaza strip with no basics.

According to Habeeb, the way Israel treated the activists show the confusions and fluctuation of Israeli policies towards facing the non-violent resistance actions. The boat was only carrying humanitarian needs, toys for children and small quantities of cement.

" We are going to start mobilizing the mainstream in Europe on popular and official levels. The campaign would form a front of politicians and MPs to release the activists and ending the siege on Gaza".

Ramy Abdu, member of the campaign said that ECESG is working to lobby European MPs to participate in future trips of Freegaza movement. He revealed that some MPs and politicians would be on board of future boats.

He said that contacts are being made at the moment to urge MPs to participate and some of them expressed readiness towards the idea.