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Palestine's Defeat?

Sousan Hammad East Jerusalem 7 June 2006


In his book Memory for Forgetfulness, Mahmud Darwish, the eloquent Palestinian poet says, “I bring my search for meaning to a complete stop because the essence of war is to degrade symbols and bring human relations, space, time and the elements back to a state of nature, making us rejoice over water gushing on the road from a broken pipe”. This was written during the Israeli invasion of Beirut in 1982, a time that was very similar to the current situation in Palestine. 

The Right to Live Without Fear

Am Johal 7 June 2006


Lost in the discussion of peace processes, military raids, Qassam rocket fire and unilateralism carried out by the Israeli government for ‘security purposes,’ is the climate of fear that is the defining feature of Israeli and Palestinian life. It does more damage than anything else. The threat of coercion, of bureaucratic reprimand, the hold up of paperwork, the threat of home demolitions and a myriad of other policies force normal people in to silence even when their rights are violated. 

EI speaks about Internal Palestinian Strife on Flashpoints Radio

7 June 2006


Flashpoints Radio hosts Ali Abunimah of electronicIntifada.net for a discussion of “Internal Strife and Continued Attacks in Occupied Palestine.” The referendum called by Palestinian Authority (PA) chairman and Fatah leader Mahmoud Abbas is supposedly meant to gain public endorsement for the creation of a Palestinian state alongside Israel in all the territories occupied in 1967, as set out in a plan agreed by senior Hamas and Fatah leaders held in Israeli prisons. 

Arab and Jewish Organizations Call on Knesset to Impose Fair Budget

6 June 2006


Today over 30 Arab and Jewish organizations called on all Knesset members to impose a fair budget for Arab Citizens in Israel. The demands included requisitions of 3.5 billion NIS for the Arab Community to be included in 2006 budget. The Mossawa Center for the Rights of Arab Citizens prepared the stipulations of this request, which were also included in a report presented to the Knesset describing the social, financial, and economic realities of the Arab community. 

Nine Injured in Attacks Targeting the Preventive Security Compound and Preventive Security Personnel in the Gaza Strip

6 June 2006


Over the past 24 hours, nine people were injured, including three members of the Preventive Security Apparatus and six civilians, in two separate armed attacks in Khan Yunis and Gaza. At approximately 12:00 on Tuesday, 6 June 2006, unknown assailants fired three rockets at the headquarters of the Preventive Security in the Tal El-Hawa area of Gaza City. Six members of the Preventive Security were injured and were taken to Shifa Hospital for treatment. Information released by the Preventive Security about the incident stated that a number of gunmen fired three 60 millimeter mortars at the headquarters from the east, injuring two Preventive Security personnel and four maintenance workers in the compound. 

One Killed and Five Injured, including Three Children, in Incidents involving the Misuse of Weapons in the Gaza Strip

6 June 2006


Over the past two days in the Gaza Strip, Ahmad Thari from Jabalia town was killed and five civilians were injured, including three children, in incidents involving the misuse of weapons. PCHR’s preliminary investigation indicates that at approximately 11:25 on Monday, 5 June 2006, Ahmad Ibrahim Mohammad Thari (33), a senior member in the Izzedeen El-Qassam Brigades, was killed by an explosive device he had been preparing in a room on the roof of his house, located in Haifa Street in Jabalia. 

Palestinian Television Studio Attacked in Gaza, Causing Major Damage

6 June 2006


On Monday afternoon, scores of Hamas supporters and members, some of them armed, attacked the offices of Palestine TV in the Ma’an area, east of Khan Yunis. The attack took place during the burial of Atteya and Reem El-Ghalban, who had been killed by gunfire in Khan Yunis a day earlier. Extensive damage was caused to the studio and equipment. PCHR’s preliminary investigation indicates that at approximately 14:00 on Monday, 5 June 2006, scores of Hamas members and supporters attacked the studio of Palestine TV in the Ma’an area. 

A Stinging Tribute to an Apartheid State: An Open Letter to Sting Urging him to Cancel his Israel Gig

6 June 2006


Today, Palestinians commemorate the 39th anniversary of Israel’s illegal occupation. At a time of unprecedented Israeli repression and violations of human rights, when Israel is relentlessly pursuing the construction of its colonial Wall and settlements, both declared illegal by the International Court of Justice at the Hague in July 2004, we, representatives of Palestinian civil society, urge you to cancel your planned performance in Israel. We feel particularly disappointed because of your otherwise bright record of supporting just peace and human rights in our region and in other conflicts. 

Dangerous dirty tricks in Palestine

Ali Abunimah 6 June 2006


The referendum called by Palestinian Authority (PA) chairman and Fatah leader Mahmoud Abbas is supposedly meant to gain public endorsement for the creation of a Palestinian state alongside Israel in all the territories occupied in 1967, as set out in a plan agreed by senior Hamas and Fatah leaders held in Israeli prisons. But Abbas’ ploy has nothing to do with hastening the creation of such a state, and everything to do with Fatah’s inability to come to terms with its defeat in last January’s legislative elections. It is, says EI co-founder Ali Abunimah, another sordid attempt to use “democracy” not to reveal the will of the people, but to frustrate it. 

Palestinian blacksmith dreams of returning to job in Israel

Yasser Abu Moailek Gaza Strip 5 June 2006


On a sunny Friday afternoon, Tawfiq Saad sits in front of his house, drinking tea and watching his four children play in a small patch of land right across the house, near the northern border of the Gaza Strip, in the small town of Beit Lahiya. Suddenly, a thunderous sound echoes throughout the area, and clouds of smoke rise less than a hundred metres from his house. The terrified children dash to the house screaming. The youngest of them, five-year-old Najat, jumps into her father’s arms and starts crying.