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Ehud Olmert's "convergence plan"

Angela Godfrey-Goldstein 29 May 2006


Of the 250,000 Israeli citizens living in over a hundred West Bank settlements, (not counting 200,000 settlers in occupied East Jerusalem), only one-third will face evacuation, says Leggett. “Many may be offered relocation to the large settlement blocs Israel plans to retain. … Perhaps the most sensitive issue will be the question of Jerusalem. Palestinians claim the city as their future capital and say that must be reflected in any resolution to the Mideast’s core conflict. The U.S. has generally supported the Palestinian position during previous peace negotiations.” 

Hamas's militant arm turns to fighting internal chaos

Yasser Abu Moailek 29 May 2006


20 May 2006- For many months now, people assumed that the militant arm of the Islamist movement Hamas, the Ezzeddin Al Qassam Brigades, had stopped its operations by orders of the political echelons of the movement. But recent events in Gaza City demonstrate that, in fact, this militant group is more active than ever. Its agenda, however, has changed. On 23 April, several Brigade members intervened to protect Palestinian Health Minister Basem Naim, from the Hamas-led government, when he was assaulted by several gunmen at his office in Gaza City. 

'TV on demand' all the rage in West Bank

Yasser Abu Moailek 29 May 2006


The Abu Kmail family sat in their modest living room in the heart of Hebron city watching their favourite local TV station - their only pastime on a quiet evening, free of Israeli raids. The documentary being shown did not quite appeal to the taste of the two teenage sons, who wanted to watch an action movie instead. The father, municipal health inspector Awni Abu Kmail, quickly dialed a number and spoke briefly on the phone. Suddenly, the documentary was interrupted and an action movie began instead. 

PCHR Condemns the Attempted Abduction of Ashraf Nasrallah in Gaza

29 May 2006


The Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR) strongly condemns the attempted abduction of its employee Ashraf Nasrallah (lawyer) by gunmen near the court compound in Gaza City. PCHR’s preliminary investigation indicates that at approximately 12:15 on Sunday, 28 May 2006, a number of gunmen traveling in a white car intercepted Ashraf, a 34-year-old resident of the Rimal area of Gaza City and a lawyer at the Centre, as he was leaving the court compound in Wahda Street, Gaza City. Three gunmen walked up to Ashraf and, at gunpoint, told him to come with them. 

Internal Violence Continues in the Gaza Strip

29 May 2006


On Sunday, 28 May 2006, a number of attacks occurred in the Gaza Strip, as the security chaos in the area continues. One citizen was kidnapped in Khan Yunis, another was injured by gunfire in Gaza, and armed clashes broke out between members of the same clan in Greater Abasan. PCHR’s preliminary investigation indicates that at approximately 13:00 on Sunday, gunmen kidnapped Naser Zere’i S’laiyeh (30), while he and his wife were about to take a taxi in Khan Yunis. He was brought to an undisclosed location. 

CUPE Ontario votes in Support of Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions Against Israeli Apartheid

29 May 2006


27 May 2006 - The Coalition Against Israeli Apartheid (CAIA) congratulates CUPE Ontario (Canadian Union of Public Employees) for passing Resolution 50 in support of the global campaign against Israeli Apartheid. The resolution passed with overwhelming support at the largest provincial convention in the union’s history, held May 24-27 in Ottawa, Canada. Over 900 delegates from CUPE locals across Ontario attended the convention. CUPE represents about 200,000 public sector workers in Ontario and is the largest public sector union in the province. 

British human rights lawyer denied entry to Israel

29 May 2006


26 May 2005 - British human rights lawyer, Kate Maynard, has been denied entry to Israel - faced with a claim that she presents a security threat to the state. Despite a court ruling Ms. Maynard has been deported and future access to her clients remains in the hands of the Israeli security establishment. Kate Maynard, a UK based lawyer with London solicitors and human rights specialists Hickman & Rose (H&R), was invited to speak at an international legal conference organised by Avocats Sans Frontières (ASF) in al Ram, near Jerusalem. 

Palestinians welcome UK vote for Israel academic boycott

29 May 2006


On 29 May 2006, “British academics proved once again that they are up to the challenge of meeting injustice with the powerful message of civil resistance.” So said the Palestinian Academic Campaign for the Boycott of Israel (PACBI) in response to a vote by the UK’s National Association of Teachers in Further and Higher Education (NATFHE) to impose an academic boycott of Israel in response to its “apartheid policies.” PACBI added that, “Just as in the South African case, a comprehensive regime of sanctions and boycotts remains … the most morally sound strategy in bringing about Israel’s compliance with international law and universal principles of human rights.” 

Ehud Olmert, Unreasonably Reasonable?

Eugene Bird 27 May 2006


The Palestinian ambassador Afif Safieh, since his arrival in Washington several months ago, has often used the line “We Palestinians have been unreasonably reasonable” in the approach to retrieving their land for achieving peace. Was Prime Minister Ehud Olmert in his appearance before a joint session of Congress unreasonably reasonable in suggesting that negotiations could go forward because he was willing to give up some of his dream of having all of the Holy Land? Well, maybe. Yesterday’s speech by Olmert was the sixth time that an Israeli head of government has been given the honor of appearing before a joint session of Congress in the last thirty years. 

Countdown to Apartheid

Jeff Halper 27 May 2006


Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert’s address to both houses of Congress was perhaps the most skilled use of Newspeak since George Orwell invented the term in his novel 1984. Just as Orwell’s totalitarian propagandists proclaimed WAR IS PEACE and Israeli government signs placed at the Wall (sorry, fence) at the entrance to Bethlehem greet Palestinians with the blessing PEACE BE UNTO YOU, so Olmert declared in Washington: UNILATERAL REALIGNMENT IS PEACE.