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Uncertain times

Atef Saad 25 November 2004


Many believe that no leader can ever take the place of Yasser Arafat or cross the red lines that he drew: East Jerusalem, the refugee issue, holding armed militias accountable or halting armed resistance under American or Israeli conditions. Palestinians are in agreement, however, that the passing of their legendary leader will leave behind major changes on the political scene and also influence the work of institutions. And even if the Palestinians - whether those in the Authority, official or national institutions or political parties and factions, were able to smoothly get past the first phase, the fact still remains that they all have many difficult and unpredictable challenges ahead. 

HRW: "Caterpillar Should Suspend Bulldozer Sales"

23 November 2004


Caterpillar Inc., the U.S.-based heavy-equipment company, should immediately suspend sales of its powerful D9 bulldozer to the Israeli army, Human Rights Watch said today. As Human Rights Watch documented in a recent report, the Israeli military uses the D9 as its primary weapon to raze Palestinian homes, destroy agriculture and shred roads in violation of the laws of war. “Caterpillar betrays its stated values when it sells bulldozers to Israel knowing that they are being used to illegally destroy Palestinian homes,” said Sarah Leah Whitson, Middle East director at Human Rights Watch. “Until Israel stops these practices, Caterpillar’s continued sales will make the company complicit in human rights abuses.” 

Israeli rights group: "Trigger-happy attitude among Israeli soldiers"

24 November 2004


The circumstances surrounding the killing of Iman al-Hams are grave. However, the large number of Palestinian civilians killed indicate that her death is not unusual. What is unusual about this case, however, is the fact that the IDF initiated a Military Police investigation that led to an indictment. There is no such accountability for the vast majority of Palestinian civilian deaths. The combination of rules of engagement that encourage a trigger-happy attitude among soldiers together with the climate of impunity results in a clear and very troubling message about the value the IDF places on Palestinian life. 

Crowded field for Palestinian election

Khalid Amayreh 24 November 2004


After days of internal haggling, Fatah has decided unanimously to nominate Mahmud Abbas as its candidate for the forthcoming Palestinian Authority presidential election scheduled for 9 January. The nomination is expected to be approved by Fatah’s revolutionary council and other relevant bodies later this week. It is unclear, though, if the nomination of Abbas, also known as Abu Mazin, was coordinated with Marwan al-Barghuthi, the less experienced but more popular Fatah’s secretary-general who is serving five consecutive life imprisonment terms in Israel for masterminding the Palestinian intifada against the Israeli occupation. 

UN calls upon Israel not to exploit natural resources in occupied territory

23 November 2004


Expressing concern over Israel’s extensive destruction of agricultural land and orchards in occupied Arab territories, the General Assembly would call on that country not to exploit, damage, cause loss, deplete or endanger natural resources in those territories, according to one of six draft resolutions approved today by the Second Committee. Approving that draft by a recorded 144 votes in favour, the Committee recommended that the Assembly reaffirm the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people and the population of the occupied Syrian Golan over their natural resources, including land and water. 

Support UK protestors of Caterpillar and EDO/MBM

24 November 2004


In May 2004, a group of activists blockaded EDO/MBM technology on the Home Farm Industrial Estate, Mouslecoomb, Brighton. EDO/MBM is an arms factory manufacturing bomb release mechanisms for F-16, Hawk Hurricane and Tornado fighter jets, tank diagnostic systems and the controversial Paveway IV precison guidance system used in the invasion and occupation of Iraq. The factory supplies equipment to Lockheed Martin in the USA who equip human rights abusers like Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, Israel and Turkey. On June 25th a group of activists including campaigners from the Palestine Solidarity Campaign were arrested for protesting outside CATerpillar Financial HQ, Solihull. Support the defendents in both cases. 

Take action against the deportation of Ahmad Nafaa

24 November 2004


Ahmad Nafaa, a Palestinian refugee from Ein el-Hilweh refugee camp in south Lebanon and active member of the Coalition Against the Deportation of Palestinian Refugees, was forcibly detained Tuesday evening around 9 PM, by Citizenship & Immigration Canada (CIC) at Metro-McGill. Ahmad is now facing deportation to the U.S, where he will be held in detention indefinately, before he is ultimately deported back to Ein el-Hilweh camp. 

Adalah: Muslim sites need to be protected

23 November 2004


On 21 November 2004, Adalah submitted a petition to the Supreme Court of Israel to compel the Minister of Religious Affairs to issue regulations for the protection of Muslim holy sites in Israel, after consultation with Muslim religious leaders, as has been done for Jewish holy sites. The Minister of Religious Affairs has used his powers in a discriminatory manner by setting forth regulations which specify only Jewish holy places. The Protection of Holy Sites Law requires the Minister of Religious Affairs to regulate holy sites in general, and not selectively on the basis of religious grouping. Thus far, however, the Minister has only used his powers to promulgate regulations for Jewish holy sites. A petition was filed by Adalah Attorney Adel Bader. 

Worldbank: "Nearly half of Palestinian population lives in poverty"

22 November 2004


Four years since the outbreak of the intifada in September 2000, the Palestinian economy continues to be mired in deep recession, according to a World Bank report released today. The third in a series of reports that examine the impact of the socio-economic crisis in the West Bank and Gaza reveals that although the Palestinian economy recovered in 2003, this upturn is short-lived. The economy remains severely depressed compared with the pre-intifada period, with closures stifling economic activity and restricting the movement of people and goods. 

Annan voices hope for movement in Middle East peace process

22 November 2004


United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan today met with fellow members of the so-called diplomatic Quartet seeking to bring peace to the Middle East and told reporters afterwards he believed the time was now ripe to move ahead with a settlement of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict after four years of violence in the region.”We are all encouraged by what is happening,” Mr. Annan said in Sharm-el-Sheikh, Egypt, after talks with top officials of the European Union, Russia and the United States, the three other sponsors of the Road Map plan calling for parallel and reciprocal steps by both sides leading to two States living in peace by the end of 2005.