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EU: Resumption of aid depends on new cabinet's acceptance of Quartet demands

17 March 2007


Responding to the formation of the Palestinian Unity Government and its program, the European Union welcomed the establishment of the eleventh Palestinian cabinet and stated in a declaration released through the EU’s Presidency that the resumption of aid will depend on an assessment of the cabinet’s acceptance of the demands stated by the Middle East Quartet. “The Presidency of the EU recalls the readiness of the EU to work with and to resume its assistance to a legitimate Palestinian government adopting a platform reflecting the Quartet principles. The EU will carefully assess the platform and actions of the new government and its ministers.” 

Norway normalises relations with Palestinian Unity Government

17 March 2007


“Norway welcomes the formation of the Palestinian Unity Government,” said Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre. “In its programme, the Unity Government is taking important steps towards complying with the international community’s demands. Norway will thus on this basis re-establish political and economic relations with the Palestinian Government,” said Mr Støre. “On the basis of the new government’s political platform, Norway expects the Palestinian authorities to respect basic international standards as regards compliance with previously concluded agreements, renunciation of violence and recognition of Israel’s right to exist.” 

Weekly Report on Human Rights Violations

16 March 2007


During the reporting period a Palestinian boy was killed by IOF when he attempted to infiltrate into Israel to search for a job. The Israeli police beat a Palestinian to death in occupied East Jerusalem. 15 Palestinian civilians, including three children, and an Israeli solidarity activist were wounded by IOF gunfire. The IOF conducted 40 incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank. And land confiscation in Qalqilya continues as the IOF confiscated another 17 donums of agricultural land. 

Palestinian refugee killed in Iraq raid

16 March 2007


In the latest of a long series of expressions of alarm over the fate of Palestinian refugees in Iraq after the ouster of Saddam Hussein, the United Nations refugee agency today voiced deep concern over a raid by Iraqi security forces this week in Baghdad, which left at least one Palestinian dead and nine others reportedly still in detention. “The violence reportedly broke out when the Palestinians tried to resist the raid,” UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) spokesman Ron Redmond told a news briefing in Geneva. 

Bush's Book List Gets More Islamophobic

Jim Lobe 16 March 2007


WASHINGTON, Mar 16 (IPS) - Accounts of a Feb. 28 “literary luncheon” at the White House suggest that President George W. Bush’s reading tastes — until now a remarkably good predictor of his policy views — are moving ever rightward, even apocalyptic, despite his administration’s recent suggestions that it is more disposed to engage Washington’s foes, even in the Middle East. The luncheon, attended as well by Vice President Dick Cheney and a dozen hard-line neo-conservatives, was held in honour of visiting British historian Andrew Roberts whose latest work, A History of the English-Speaking Peoples Since 1900, Bush reportedly read late last year and subsequently sent to Prime Minister Tony Blair. 

Rachel Corrie's Voice

Bessy Reyna 16 March 2007


Rachel Corrie was a 23-year-old peace activist killed by a bulldozer driven by an Israeli army soldier. The time, day and place of her death are known, but, the question of whether she was murdered or whether her death was an accident continues to be as controversial today as it was when it happened March 16, 2003. With her death Corrie became an international symbol in the struggle against the Israeli occupation of Palestinian lands. Today, the anniversary of her death, she is being remembered with vigils and readings of her writings in many cities. 

Gaza children commemorate fourth anniversary of Rachel Corrie's death

Mohammad Al-Jamal 16 March 2007


Children from the Mini Palestinian Parliament commemorated the fourth anniversary of the loss of the American solidarity activist Rachel Corrie by enacting a permanent exhibit for her that includes pictures and personal belongings at the parliament site in the center of Rafah governorate. The exhibit, which was attended by a large number of children and others concerned, included pictures of Rachel and statements and other documents released upon her loss, as well as some personal belongings and a symbolic coffin covered by the Palestinian flag. 

UN Secretary-General welcomes news of Palestinian unity government

15 March 2007


Welcoming reports that negotiations for a Palestinian national unity government have been completed, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said today he hoped the new administration would respect existing agreements and reflect widely held principles on the conflict in the Middle East. United Nations spokesperson Michele Montas told journalists at the daily briefing, in response to questions on the intra-Palestinian talks, that Mr. Ban is now looking forward to the formation of both the Government and its programme. She said he hoped that the Palestinian Government would respect all existing agreements and reflect principles outlined by the diplomatic Quartet. 

Audio Interview: Ali Abunimah on the problem of partition

15 March 2007


EI contributor and producer of the weekly podcast Crossing the Line Christopher Brown interviews EI co-founder Ali Abunimah on his new book One Country and the problem of partition as a solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Abunimah explains, “From the very beginning partition was inextricably linked with what we would today call ethnic cleansing, and of course that’s what happened in 1948 in order for the State of Israel to be born.” 

Woman kidnapped and killed in Gaza

15 March 2007


The state of insecurity witnessed serious escalation across the Gaza Strip where killings of women augmented under mysterious conditions and armed clashes renewed. According to Al Mezan’s field investigations, at approximately 6pm on 14 March 2007 a woman was found dead in north Gaza beach. She was identified as a resident of Gaza City who was kidnapped and killed on the same day. The identity of the perpetrators remains unknown. On 12 March 2007, another woman was found on Beit Lahia beach after being shot in her legs. Three women had faced the same fate during March, raising to five the number women who were killed in 2007.