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General Assembly underscores need for international support to revitalize Middle East peace process

1 December 2005


The General Assembly today wrapped up its annual consideration of the question of Palestine and the situation in the wider Middle East, adopting six traditional resolutions, underscoring, above all, that sustained international involvement was urgently needed to support both the Palestinian and Israeli sides in revitalizing the peace process and towards the speedy resumption of negotiations leading to a final settlement. Convinced that achieving a final and peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine –- the core of the Arab-Israeli conflict –- was the key to stability in the Middle East, the Assembly adopted, by vote of 156 in favour to 6 against, a text stressing the need for Israel’s withdrawal from the Palestinian territory occupied since 1967. 

UN seeks $215 million in aid for humanitarian aid in Palestine

30 November 2005


For the fourth consecutive year humanitarian agencies are appealing to donors for funding for the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt). The unfortunate need for yet another appeal stems from a largely unchanged humanitarian situation. Poverty rates have increased in 2005 compared to 2004, largely because the quality of work is lower and households’ coping mechanisms are increasingly fragile. Until improvements occur the need for humanitarian assistance remains crucial. Cutting back on assistance will put extreme stress on these already-stretched strategies and increase poverty. The total request to donors in 2006 is US$ 215 million down from US$ 302 million in 2005. 

UN observes day of solidarity with Palestinian People

29 November 2005


As the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People was observed at Headquarters today, Secretary-General Kofi Annan told delegations that, while a solution to the decades-long Israeli-Palestinian conflict had proved elusive, with Palestinians yet to see the beginnings of their own State and Israelis yet to feel secure in theirs, the agreement two weeks ago on the Rafah crossing had created a new opportunity to cooperate and bring tangible benefits for ordinary people — particularly among Palestinians. Committee Chairman, Paul Badji ( Senegal), read out the names of the many Heads of State and Government, ministers and other officials who had sent messages of support and solidarity. 

Statement about kidnapped CPT members by Palestinian political parties (Arabic & English)

Hamas, Palestine People's Party, Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine, Democratic Union of Palestine/FIDA, Fatah, Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, Palestinian Liberation Front and Palestinian Popular Struggle Front 30 November 2005


Following the abduction of four members of the Christian Peacemaker Teams in Iraq, Palestinian political factions gathered in Hebron to issue a statement in Arabic about their experiences of seeing the CPT working in Palestine, and their personal knowledge of the three kidnapped members and their important work on behalf of the Palestinian people. Original Arabic version provided by CPT Hebron. English translation by the Electronic Intifada, posted for informational purposes. 

Palestinian Solidarity Activists Amongst Four Peace Activist Hostages in Iraq

30 November 2005


Three of the four Christian Peacemaker Team (CPT) hostages in Iraq of whom a video was released today have been in Palestine working as Palestinian Solidarity activists. Palestinians in Ramallah will hold a demonstration tomorrow at 3pm in solidarity with all four kidnapped peace activists and to appeal for their release. The demonstration will be attended by notable Palestinian religious and resistance figures. 

URGENT: Update on Four Missing CPT Members in Iraq

29 November 2005


CPT Hebron contacted EI about the four members of the Christian Peacemaker Teams who were abducted in Iraq last Saturday. The four men are two CPTers and two delegates, one American, one British, and two Canadian. One, a CPT staff member, was to have come to work with CPT Hebron after his time in Iraq. Another worked in Palestine last year, and was active in demonstrating against Israel’s West Bank Barrier in Jayyous. The four men were en route to a meeting with members of the Islamic Scholars Association when they were abducted just 100 yards from the mosque where their meeting was scheduled. The full text of CPT’s official press release follows. 

The Coming EI DVD: Call for Content Submission and Financial Support

Nigel Parry 29 November 2005


The Electronic Intifada is currently working on the production of a multimedia DVD for distribution to journalists, editors, producers, politicians, entertainment industry contacts, activists, and others interested in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The EI DVD will include introductions to the history of the conflict and to key aspects of the current situation on the ground, as well as an extensive Arts, Music & Culture section, will offer features, videos, and MP3s showcasing a range of material from Palestinian and Palestine-related artists. EI appeals for content submissions and financial support for the project. 

Marking solidarity with Palestinians, Kofi Annan reiterates call for action

29 November 2005


“A solution to the question of Palestine remains elusive. Palestinians have yet to see the beginnings of the establishment of their own State. Israelis as well are yet to feel secure in their own State. Israel’s disengagement from the Gaza Strip and the Palestinians’ success in ensuring calm during that period had raised hopes for a renewal of the political process. However, the ensuing upsurge in violence seriously undermined the fledgling coordination between the parties, bringing back feelings of frustration and disappointment. Palestinians need to be assured that the future viability of a Palestinian State will not be eroded by settlement expansion and barrier construction.” 

Caritas supports international day of solidarity with Palestinian people

29 November 2005


In partnership with the global community in its annual expression of solidarity with the Palestinian people, the Caritas network of 162 member organisations working in 200 countries and territories worldwide supports the UN-hosted international day of observance on 29 November. Based on our own Caritas campaign that “Peace is Possible” in the Holy Land, we stand in solidarity with all peace-seeking people of good will who recognise and publicly support the basic and inalienable rights of the Palestinian community. We stand in solidarity with all Moslems, Jews, and Christians who sacrifice and work together to build up, restore, and heal the deep wounds that still scar this Middle East society. 

The Choice to be Struck?

Farid Esack 29 November 2005


Palestine/Israel is a strange place; here separateness is valorized by many decent people and presented as the ‘peace option’ and the not-so-nice-ones openly preach ethnic cleansing. Yet those who preach ethnic cleansing are often viewed as persons that ‘we can do business with’. In South Africa, apartheid was regarded by the world as the problem; here in Israel they, and much of the rest of the world, present it as the solution. For many otherwise decent people who do not experience dispossession and discrimination on a daily basis, stability in its preferred and somehow morally elevated package as ‘peace’ becomes the single most important objective that one must yearn for.