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Happy Independence Day

Rima Merriman 15 November 2006


The rate of unemployment in the occupied Palestinian territories has reached through the roof - 31.1% in the first quarter of 2006. Palestinian academics are concerned, even as they quibble over methodologies and exact figures. The Palestinian Economic Policy Research Institute (MAS) held its annual conference on the 13th of November at Birzeit University to discuss this problem. Unfortunately, very little by way of original ideas came out of this conference. What is sorely needed is consensus over a bold governmental policy that deals squarely with the current major cause of unemployment - Israel’s closing of its labor market, which at one time absorbed as many as 200,000 Palestinian workers. 

A Tale of Two Sisters: Witnessing an Undercover Israeli Operation in Ramallah (2)

Emily Jacir Ramallah, Palestine 15 November 2006


Today is November 15th. Today is our supposed “Independence Day”. A joke. Was almost killed today. This will be brief and inarticulate. I am still in shock…I peeked again, to see some Israelis beating the shit out of a Palestinian man and throwing him into their van. The mustarabeen next to us got back into their van. As we were in their way they smashed into our car and sped off. Meanwhile in front of us and to the right, the Israelis started to pull back. Kids started throwing stones. They shot at us again. They started pulling back again. 

A Tale of Two Sisters: Witnessing an Undercover Israeli Operation in Ramallah (1)

Annemarie Jacir Ramallah, Palestine 15 November 2006


Four hours ago my sister Emily, her curator Carolyn and I were shot at by the Israeli army. My nerves are still shaky. We’ve been drinking ever since. My legs are weak. I feel I can’t stand on them…I was alone in the front seat. Emily and Carolyn were in the back. Suddenly, there was a van directly in front of our car. He veered a bit towards our car. I slowed down, wondering how I was going to pass him. And then he emerged from his window… pointing an M-16 across the street and spraying bullets. The three of us hit the floor of the car. All around us… shooting, shooting, shooting. So close. So close. 

Lieberman: Vocalizing Israel's Apartheid Reality

Saree Makdisi 15 November 2006


Former President Jimmy Carter’s new book, which slaps the “apartheid” label on Israel, comes out this week. Before the book hit the stands though, members of his own party rushed to distance themselves from his allegations. While the label makes supporters of Israel uncomfortable, there is ample evidence that Israel practices institutionalized discrimination against its non-Jewish citizens. Israel, in fact, goes further than South Africa. While whites in South Africa sought to control non-whites, Israel has since its establishment pursued various means of getting rid of its non-Jewish population altogether. 

Palestinian Reporter Wins the Ethnic Media Award in Washington DC

Sami Abu Salem 15 November 2006


Palestinian reporter Mohammed Omar, 22, won the best Ethnic Media Award, organized by New America Media in Washington DC. Omar won the award for his story “”Sharon, Why Did You Destroy My House?”: Operation Rainbow a Year Later” published by Washington Report on Middle East Affairs and the Norwegian “Morgenebladet” last year. Omar, who is heading to attend the “New America Media’s First National Ethnic Media Awards” in Washington DC told WAFA that he is the first journalist from the Middle East to win this award.His story sheds the light on the daily suffer and human details of Palestinian family who was turned to homeless as Israeli Occupation Forces destroyed their home in the refugee camp of Rafah, south of Gaza, last year. 

In Beit Lahia, 2 women killed in an armed clan dispute

15 November 2006


On Monday, 13 November 2006, two women from Juha clan were killed and a child from the same clan was injured by gunmen in the town of Beit Lahia in the north of the Gaza Strip, in yet another incident of security chaos. PCHR’s preliminary investigation indicates that at approximately 16:30 on Monday, three gunmen got out of a car and stormed the house of Zeinat Faris Juha (45) located near the compound of the Preventive Security Apparatus in the Mansheyya area in Beit Lahia. At gunpoint, the gunmen requested that the woman accompany them. The household confronted the gunmen, who fired at the people in the house, and fled. 

Grave suspicion of extrajudicial execution of two wounded Palestinians

13 November 2006


During the early hours of Wednesday, November 8, Israeli soldiers killed five Palestinians in the village of Al-Yamun , in the Jenin district. B’Tselem’s investigation into the killing of two of the men reveals a very different picture than that suggested by the Spokesperson. Salim Abu al-Heijah and Mahmoud Abu Hassan, who were wanted by Israeli security forces, were wounded, but managed to escape from the initial encounter with the soldiers, and sought refuge in the home of the Kabala family. While they awaited an ambulance, three soldiers arrived in a jeep. The soldiers ordered the family to gather in the courtyard. 

Human Rights Council to hold special session on Israeli attacks

13 November 2006


The Human Rights Council will hold its third special session on Wednesday, 15 November, to consider and take action on the gross human rights violations emanating from Israeli military incursions in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including the recent one in Northern Gaza and the assault on Beit Hanoun. The special session is being convened following a request by the Ambassador of Bahrain on behalf of the Group of Arab States and the Ambassador of Pakistan on behalf of the Organization of the Islamic Conference. The first special session of the Human Rights Council was held in July on the situation in the occupied Palestinian territory. 

Women demand an end to attacks on Gaza civilians

11 November 2006


As Israeli, Palestinian and international women leaders and activists, members of the International Women’s Commission dedicated to the goal of ending the occupation and achieving a just and sustainable Palestinian-Israeli peace based on a two-state solution, committed to the respect of international law, including relevant UN resolutions, human rights, and equality, we are outraged at the horrifying Israeli carnage against the Beit Hanoun civilians in Gaza Strip. The dawn bombardment of houses on November 8 in Beit Hanoun cost the lives of 19 civilians, among them 7 children and 6 women, and left dozens of innocents injured. Since the end of June, Israeli military assaults on civilians in Gaza have resulted in the killing of 383 Palestinians, including 68 children and 14 women. 

Palestinians doubtful of camp improvement initiatives

14 November 2006


BEIRUT - Residents of overcrowded Palestinian refugee camps in Lebanon have told IRIN that they were doubtful that a government and United Nations joint Camps Improvement Initiative to improve their living conditions will bring them any benefits. “None of this will happen. No one here helps the Palestinians,” said Ahmed Hassan, an unemployed Palestinian refugee who lives in Chatila camp on the outskirts of Beirut. Hassan is one of more than 400,000 Palestinian refugees officially registered with the UN agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) in Lebanon. Just over half of the Palestinian refugees live in 12 ‘camps’ - specially set up residential areas that are controlled by Palestinian authorities.