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Football Star Ronaldo to Visit UNDP Anti-poverty Projects in the West Bank

15 May 2005


Ronaldo, the Brazilian soccer star, in his capacity as Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), will visit the West Bank city of Ramallah on 16 May for a first-hand look at UNDP youth and anti-poverty projects in the occupied Palestinian territory, announced UNDP’s Programme of Assistance to the Palestinian People (PAPP). During his visit to Ramallah, Ronaldo will inaugurate a new Centre for Disadvantaged Youth and will visit several anti-poverty UNDP projects, including UNDP’s “Football Workshops,” which have been designed to promote sport as a forum to teach leadership, confidence, and discipline, based on core principles of tolerance, cooperation, and respect. 

"Key of Return", a Marriage Gift in Gaza

Sami Abu Salem Gaza, Palestine 15 May 2005


“I was 17-year-old when I was arrested, I spent four years and a half in Israeli prisons, on the charge of fighting Israeli occupation. Through making keys, I feel as I am still fighting for my rights.” He said that his “biggest dream” is to return to his grandfather’s house. “I hope the UN resolution 194 will be implemented, to be able to return to our home and to be a warded compensation for tens of years living as a refugee.” Nasser Flaifel tells about his own way of commemorating the 57th anniversary of Nakba, his adherence to the right of return, and how he makes keys to remind us and the world that Palestinians will never forget their right to return. 

Time to confront reality: Nakba Day speech in Oak Park

Ali Abunimah 15 May 2005


In a speech at the Fourth Annual Walk for a Just Peace in Israel and Palestine, at Oak Park, Illinois, EI co-founder Ali Abunimah said: “Today we have a proliferation of fake peace plans, from the Road Map to the Geneva Initiative, which seem to be designed for one purpose: to absolve those who advocate them from the moral responsibility of confronting the reality that they have allowed to develop. Peace plans and endless process have become little more than therapy for guilty consciences.” He also called on those engaged in divestment campaigns not to shy away from their calling, even in the face of unscrupulous pressure. 

Palestinian community in Europe adopts Vienna Declaration

11 May 2005


Palestinian Return Centre, London, the Palestinian Association in Austria and the Expatriate Society in Austria organized a well attended conference of Palestinian communities in Europe under the title ‘‘Palestine: Land and People - an integral and indivisible unit. No to the racist wall in Palestine’. Representatives and delegations of Palestinian communities from 21 European countries participated in the conference. Several members of the Arab diplomatic corps in Austria, officials from the Austrian government, as well as prominent members of Arab and Muslim communities participated. 

Weekly report on human rights violations

12 May 2005


This week, one Palestinian died from a previous wound inflicted by the Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF). A number of Palestinian civilians were injured by IOF. IOF have continued to construct the ‘Annexation Wall in the West Bank; IOF fired at Palestinian civilians demonstrating in protest to the construction of the Wall. IOF beat Palestinian civilians whose land had been confiscated resulting in Palestinian pregnant woman miscarrying. IOF conducted a series of incursions into Palestinian areas. Palestinian houses were raided resulting in the arrest of 20 Palestinian civilians. Israeli settlers have continued to attack Palestinian civilians and property in the West Bank; Israeli settlers seized 18 donums in al-Mawasi area in the southern Gaza Strip and IOF seized at least 800 donums of land in Bethlehem and Nablus. 

US Gays Launch Boycott of Jerusalem Gay Pride

13 May 2005


A vote by the San Francisco Board of Supervisors to support a Gay Pride celebration in Jerusalem, Israel, has sparked criticism from gay groups that oppose Israel’s policies in the Palestinian territories. They have announced a boycott of the celebration, slated to take place in the contested city of Jerusalem on August 18-20, saying Israel’s policies toward the Palestinians make a mockery of the theme of the event, “love without borders?”. “No city in the world could have more borders than Jerusalem,” said Kate Raphael-Bender of San Francisco-based QUIT. She said that those borders are constantly encroaching further and further into Palestinian territory, and are enforced by military checkpoints and cement walls. 

Birzeit University International Work camp: Volunteer in Palestine this summer

13 May 2005


Since 1981, Birzeit University has organized this two-week camp which gives
international students and others an opportunity to work side by side with
Palestinian students on community-oriented volunteer projects in schools,
municipalities, civil society organizations and more. Participants are also
given an opportunity to visit areas in the West Bank. The camp from 28th July - 7th August 2005 will include voluntary work, visits to Palestinian villages, cities, and refugee camps, opportunities to meet with Palestinian families, political and community leaders, and academics as well as exchange experiences with Palestinian university students. 

Gaza Strip access deteriorates

11 May 2005


During March and the first half of April movement in and out of the Gaza Strip steadily improved. However, the situation detriorated during the latter part of April following restrictions on Palestinian movement through Erez and periodic closing of Abu Houli junction. Access problems remain with the internal Gaza Strip enclaves, most notably Al Mawasi and As Siafa while a fourth enclave has now been created at Abu Nahiya. In the last four weeks, the Israeli authorities have not allowed United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) to import petrol into the Gaza Strip. 

UN Committee on Palestine considers concrete action by international community

11 May 2005


Incessant human rights violations by the occupying forces; Israel’s continued illegal policies aimed at changing the legal status, demographic composition and character of occupied East Jerusalem; the dire socio-economic situation in Palestine; and the need to put an end to Israel’s colonization of Palestinian land were highlighted as critical issues that required concrete action by the international community, as the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People met this morning. Palestine’s Chargée d’Affaires Somaia S. Barghouti said that the situation remained very critical, for improvements on the ground had only been minor. 

Villagers Open Main Street Near Nablus

Ray Smith Nablus, Palestine 12 May 2005


What was planned as a demonstration became a direct action against the Israeli occupation: Hundreds of villagers and activists from Israel and abroad opened the main street from Nablus to Asira ash-Shamaliya, which has been blocked for many years. After the outbreak of the second Intifada the Israeli Occupation Forces blocked the main street leading from Nablus to the nearby village of Asira. This street connected more than 10’000 people from this town as well as villagers from Talluza, Far’a, Yasid etc. with Nablus. Besides that, this passage – also called “Saba’atash” (“17”) – is part of the route to the bigger towns in the north, Tubas and Jenin.