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UNESCO: Israel must stop work near Al-Aqsa Mosque pending agreed plan

14 March 2007


Although Israeli archaeological work for an access pathway in Jerusalem’s Old City does not threaten the Al-Aqsa Mosque and complies with professional standards, Israel should at once stop excavations and consult on a final plan with Muslim religious authorities and other parties, according to a United Nations experts’ report. The report, drafted by a technical mission sent by UNESCO amid international concerns over the excavations, said Israel “should be asked to stop immediately” since work already undertaken was deemed sufficient to assess structural conditions for the pathway to the Mughrabi Gate after a partial collapse in 2004 due to heavy rain and snow. 

Legal action in France against Veolia and Alstom

Adri Nieuwhof and Maria Lherm 14 March 2007


Last week the Association France Palestine Solidarite (AFPS) has taken legal action in France against Veolia and Alstom because both companies are involved in the Israeli light rail or tramway project that will run on occupied East Jerusalem. The National Collective for Peace [1] gives full support to the legal steps taken by AFPS. Veolia and Alstom have closed their ears to widely voiced criticism that the Israeli tramway project is in violation with international law. Just like Israel the companies act as if they stand above the law. The aim of the action is the annulment of the contracts and to stop the construction activities. 

"New Territories" curator not transparent regarding Israeli government sponsorship

Alexandra Handal 21 March 2007


The week before the opening of the ‘New Territories’ exhibition in which she was to participate, artist Alexandra Handal writes, “I went to Brugges to install my work, and there I met the artists who were able to attend. … I was walking with two artists in the city and as we approached a big poster in front of the DeHallen Belfort, where the show was to take place, we noticed that there was an Israeli government seal on it. We were in complete disbelief. What was the Israeli government seal doing on the poster?” 

Nablus Invasion Diary I: Occupied Homes and Minds

Anna Baltzer Nablus, Palestine 14 March 2007


6 March 2007: We arrived on Sunday to help volunteers from the UPMRC (Union of Palestinian Medical Relief Committees) deliver food and medical services. Dozens of jeeps and hundreds of soldiers had surrounded the Old City and declared curfew on all of Nablus. Their stated mission was to capture or assassinate eight fighters from Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigade, the armed wing of the Fatah movement. Meanwhile, the 40,000 residents of Nablus Old City were trapped in their homes, inside a war zone, unable to go to work or school, or even to buy food for their families. 

Nablus Invasion Diary II: Human Shields and Medical Obstruction

Anna Baltzer Nablus, Palestine 14 March 2007


7 March 2007: Most of the jeeps pulled out late Monday night, but we all knew they would be back. Israeli officials announced that the operation was not over, as they had not yet achieved their objectives. Typically, the army will withdraw for several hours or a whole day, hoping the wanted men will move around and be spotted by a collaborator working with Israel, and then the army can pounce. Soldiers also remained in occupied houses, where they typically set up hidden sniper nests. 

UN Committee urges Israel to abandon racist practices

10 March 2007


On 9 March 2007, the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination issued its Concluding Observations, following its review last month of Israels implementation of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD or the Convention). In its Concluding Observations, the Committee emphasized 25 areas of concern and recommendations regarding Israels compliance with the Convention concerning the rights of Palestinian Arab citizens of Israel and Palestinians living in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT). 

Nablus Invasion Diary III: Resistance, Hypocrisy, and Dead Men Walking

Anna Baltzer Nablus, Palestine 14 March 2007


13 March 2007: What most struck me about the Nablus invasion wasn’t the killing of unarmed civilians. It wasn’t the obstruction of medical workers and ambulances, or the indiscriminate detention of males, or the occupied houses and curfews. What I will remember for the rest of my life is the steadfast resistance of the people of Nablus. I came to Palestine to document and intervene in human rights abuses and to support nonviolent resistance to the Occupation. As I delivered bread and medicine with medical relief workers throughout the invasion, I wondered if I was really fulfilling my mission. 

Haifa Planning Committee rules against confiscation of Arab land

12 March 2007


The decision of the Haifa District Planning and Building Committee prevented gross violations of Arab landowners rights to property and safeguarded their basic source of livelihood. It also removed all the limitations on land use proposed by the plan. On 8 March 2007, Adalah received the decision of the Sub-Committee for Objections within the Haifa District Planning and Building Committee to accept the objection of Adalah against plans to earmark an area of land cultivated by Arab farmers in the north of Israel as forested land. 

One Killed, 14 Wounded in Gaza Strip internal violence

14 March 2007


On Tuesday evening, 13 March 2007, a member of the ‘Izziddin al-Qassam Brigades (the armed wing of Hamas) was killed and 10 other persons, including three members of the ‘Izziddin al-Qassam Brigades, were wounded in Gaza City in an incident related to the clashes that took place last month in the Gaza Strip. Additionally, four persons, including a child, were wounded in clashes between members of Hamas and those of Fatah movement in the northern Gaza Strip. 

Obama loses ground in vital campaign rally

Ewen MacAskill 13 March 2007


A week ago they were competing for African-American votes in the Deep South. But late on Monday Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama went head to head for another key demographic group: Jewish voters. In one of the most important campaign stops yet, supporters from the Clinton and Obama camps, as well as other presidential hopefuls, flooded the hallways of the Washington Convention Centre distributing fliers and shouting through loudhailers in their bid to draw people in. Mr Obama made his pitch in room 150, and a few minutes later, in room 152, it was the turn of Mrs Clinton.