and other news from Today in Palestine:
Land, property, resources theft & destruction / Ethnic cleansing / Apartheid
Exile-threatened Jerusalem officials mark one year in asylum
OCCUPIED JERUSALEM (PIC) 25 June — A year has passed since Jerusalem’s Palestinian officials first sat down at the Red Cross headquarters seeking asylum after Israeli occupation authorities threatened to exile them from their native city. They marked the anniversary of their refusal to depart the holy city by sending an open message to the world. In it they proposed a new initiative prioritizing Jerusalem and condemned the international silence against their dilemma of being banished.
http://www.palestine-info.co.uk/En/default.aspx?xyz=U6Qq7k%2b
Army stops land reclamation project
RAMALLAH (Ma‘an) 25 June — The committee for the union of agricultural workers said Friday that the Israeli army had prevented work from taking place on land reclamation projects in the villages of Jurish and Aqraba, south of Nablus and Imreiha, west of Jenin. Project coordinator for the union Sa‘ada Abu Sheikha said in a statement that “the Israeli army seized a heavy vehicle that was working on the lands in Aqraba and detained the workers for hours who were building the retaining walls. They prevented them from completing their work as well as stopping work on 20 dunams of land in Jurish, near the illegal settlement of Migdalim. They also stopped work on 50 dunams of land in the village of Imreiha in Ya‘bad.”
Land reclamation projects aim to improve the source of income for families which rely on agriculture and also serve to protect vulnerable land from Israeli confiscation. [The project] is funded by the Dutch government.
http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=399623
Picasso in Ramallah, bulldozers in Bir Al-Ad and the fear of missiles / Adam Keller, Gush Shalom
PNN 25 June — This week there arrived at the International Academy of Art, Palestine – in Ramallah – the painting “Buste de Femme,” which Pablo Picasso painted in 1943 when he lived in Nazi-occupied Paris … Its value is estimated at seven million dollars and it was lent to the Palestinian gallery for one month.
On that same day, at almost exactly the same hour that the valuable painting arrived at the showroom in Ramallah, bulldozers of the Israeli Defense Forces made their way to the tiny village of Bir Al-Ad in the South Hebron Hills, and in less than an hour demolished its miserable huts, destroyed sacks of animal food, uprooted plants and shrubs, leaving behind heaps of rubble and ninety homeless people. The nearby caves, also used for housing, were on this occasion not demolished, but the soldiers made sure to cut and sever the electricity cables which the inhabitants had installed to light them. “You here don’t deserve to have electricity!” said one of the soldiers to a resident who dared to protest. Ezra Nawi and Rabbi Arik Asherman, Israeli peace activists who arrived at the spot after hearing the inhabitants’ desperate pleas for help, were immediately taken off to military detention … Had I wanted, I could have post here every week – and maybe two or three times a week – the story of the latest destruction, and they would all be alike as two peas in a pod (or two drops of blood), different only with changing name of the most currently destroyed village. As usual in such stories, the land of Bir Al-Ad is coveted by settlers.
http://english.pnn.ps/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=10323&Itemid=58
Activism / Solidarity
Among tear gas and injuries, Bil‘in celebrates victory / Noam Sheizaf
[photos and videos] 978mag 25 June — Hundreds gathered in the West bank village to witness the removal of the Separation Wall after more than six years of protest, but the IDF was in vindictive mood — Some context: Instead of having its separation wall on the Green Line — the internationally recognized border until 1967 — Israel decided to have it run deep into the Palestinian territory, cutting through villages and neighborhoods, separating farmers from their lands and families from their loved ones, and most important, annexing to Israel lands which had excellent market value, for their proximity to the Israeli cities along the Mediterranean coastline. Under the pretext of “security concerns,” communities like Bil‘in, Ni‘lin and Budrus saw their fields being taken away, olive trees uprooted, and valuable land annexed to nearby settlements. Palestinian residents of these villages made two important choices: To fight for their lands — the source of most of their livelihood — and in doing so, to use popular, unarmed resistance … Around the time the protest began, the people of Bil’in filed a petition to the Israeli high court, demanding the barrier be removed and their land returned to them. It was not an easy decision on their part: Petitioning to court is seen as recognition of the Israeli occupation and the authority of its institutions over the lives of Palestinians in the West Bank, who have no civil rights or representation in those institutions. But the need to get even some of the land back overcame this argument. [long and informative article with links to others]
http://972mag.com/bilin2462011/
Video: 6-year-old girl from Nabi Saleh explains
24 June — 6 years old girl, Jana, from Nabi Saleh explains what happens in her home town every Friday. This interview took place on the Friday of “Freedom in Colors” that was organized to draw a smile on the children’s faces. It included kite-making workshop and face paintings. As the children moved to fly their kites on the hill, the army attacked them with gas and stun grenades. [See Photos from Palestine Youth Voice – Nabi Saleh’s Freedom in Colors Friday]
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fmRs-xRzaic
IOF closes Nablus village, rounds up six Palestinians
NABLUS (PIC) 25 June — Israeli occupation forces (IOF) on Saturday morning closed off the Iraq Burin village, south of Nablus city, declaring it a closed military zone to prevent its weekly protest march against confiscation of land. Local sources said that IOF soldiers installed a roadblock at the entrance to the village and blocked traffic in and out of it and examined IDs of youth at the pretext of looking for wanted persons. They said that the soldiers were also deployed in the vicinity of the village to bar entry of foreign activists or media reporters across the nearby mountains.
Meanwhile, Palestinian sources said that IOF soldiers rounded up six citizens in various west Bank areas at dawn Saturday. They said that the soldiers broke into homes in Tobas, Jenin, and Al-Khalil amidst heavy shooting.
http://www.palestine-info.co.uk/En/default.aspx?xyz=U6Qq7k%2
Restriction of movement
Israeli prosecutor bans academic travel of West Bank professor
NABLUS (PIC) 25 June – The Israeli Public Prosecutor has informed the HaMoked rights group that a West Bank professor has been denied permission to leave the occupied Palestinian territories to join a media conference in Qatar. Al-Najah University professor Dr. Farid Abu Dhaheir said in a statement after HaMoked informed him of the decision that he was said to have “posed a threat” to Israeli security, adding that the grounds for the decision were “laughable.” The professor explained that he planned on travelling to Qatar to join a conference staged by UNESCO and the World Conference of Science Journalism on June 26 to share the Palestinians’ experience in science journalism.
http://www.palestine-info.co.uk/En/default.aspx?xyz=U6Qq7k%2b
Gaza
Video: Gaza summer games kick off with Olympic-style torch festival / Annie
Mondo 25 June — The 2011 Gaza Summer Games opened on Thursday with an Olympic-style torch relay through the Strip. 57 kids carried the flame thru Gaza and finished the marathon with a ceremony lighting a huge torch placed on the top of UNRWA’s Headquarters, ushering in six weeks of sports, swimming, arts and drama.
https://mondoweiss.net/2011/06/gaza-summer-games-kick-off-with-olympic-style-torch-festival.html
PWA welcomes UFM desalination plant in Gaza
RAMALLAH (WAFA) 25 June — Head of the Palestinian Water Authority (PWA), Shaddad Attili, in a press release Saturday welcomed the Union for the Mediterranean’s (UfM) formal adoption of a proposal to construct a desalination plant for Gaza on Friday … WA said that the proposal put forward by the Palestinian Authority includes the construction of a desalination plant capable of generating up to 100 million cubic metres (MCM) of water a year, as well as the development of a North-South carrier system designed to transport fresh water throughout Gaza … The press release said that the water crisis facing Gaza continues to worsen as the coastal aquifer that runs mainly beneath Gaza remains the only source of fresh water available to Gaza’s 1.6 million residents.
http://english.wafa.ps/index.php?action=detail&id=16536
Gaza government releases 25 prisoners
GAZA CITY (Ma‘an) 25 June — The Hamas-run government in Gaza released 25 detainees Saturday in honor of the recent arrival of a European aid convoy Miles of Smiles. The detainees were released from Al-Katiba prison in Gaza City in the presence of activists from the convoy, a Ma‘an reporter said. [why? Criminal or political prisoners?]
http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=399601
Flotilla
Latest: Passengers on the Audacity of Hope prepare for the journey to Gaza
Photos from the orientation and nonviolence training everyone has just completed in Athens. More updates coming soon. [much else at this site]
http://ustogaza.org/latest/passengers-on-the-audacity-of-hope-prepare-for-the-journey-to-gaza/
Video: Yonatan Shapira, U.S. Boat to Gaza crew
25 June – Crew member Yonatan Shapira talks about why he is going aboard the US Boat to Gaza with the Stay Human Flotilla at the end of the month. I was a captain in the Israeli Air Force and a Black-Hawk Pilot until 2003 when together with other pilots I initiated the pilots’ letter and refused to take part in the crimes of the occupation.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=efLbthGLggM&feature=BFa&list=PL5F70010FC2A94EB9&index=20
Hedy Epstein, U.S. Boat to Gaza passenger
14 June — Passenger Hedy Epstein talks about why she is going aboard the US Boat to Gaza with the Stay Human Flotilla at the end of the month. Bio: Hedy Epstein was born in Germany in 1924. She was 8 years old when Hitler came to power in 1933. In 1939, she left on a Kindertransport (children’s transport) for England. Her parents and other family members perished during the Holocaust.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FLZx5NULSzo&feature=related
Complaint against US boat threatens Gaza voyage / Mya Guarnieri
ATHENS, Greece (Ma‘an) 25 June — Organizers of the second Freedom Flotilla say that an administrative complaint has been filed against the US Boat to Gaza, claiming that the vessel is not seaworthy. This could delay or altogether prevent the “Audacity of Hope” from leaving Athens. The harbor master received notification of the complaint Thursday afternoon, two days after a group of suspicious persons showed up at the ship and began asking questions of the crew members, at one point offering money for the members to leave the ship unattended. The complainant is unknown and a Greek lawyer representing the flotilla is working to obtain more details. Israel has been open about its intentions to stop the flotilla using any means possible — including diplomatic avenues, lawsuits, and a media smear campaign … The one-two punch of the US government’s attempts to distance itself from its citizens, and the administrative complaint filed against the US Boat to Gaza, spurred American participants to pay a visit to their embassy in Athens on Thursday afternoon.
http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=399764
Suspected Israeli agents try to sabotage Freedom Flotilla II ship’s engine
ATHENS (PIC) 25 June — A group suspected of being linked with the Israeli foreign intelligence agency the Mossad was reported to have tried to thwart the sailing of a Greek ship slated to join the Gaza-bound Freedom Flotilla II due to set sail sometime next week. The elements tried to sabotage the ship’s engine, but a crew discovered the men while checking the equipment, Quds Press said, quoting sources from the flotilla’s organizing body, on Saturday. The sources added that the men fled the scene. Since the incident, participants have been taking turns watching guard in anticipation of another shot at foiling the mission to deliver much needed humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip.
http://www.palestine-info.co.uk/En/default.aspx?xyz=U6Qq7k%2bcOd
Arab ship to participate in Gaza Freedom Flotilla II
AMMAN (KUNA) 25 June — The participation in the Freedom Flotilla II is widening and diversifying day after a day despite the pro-Israeli lobby efforts to scare international activists away from joining it. The latest of these gains is the announcement of the Jordanian Lifeline Committee on Saturday that an Arab-owned ship would participate in the second flotilla. In statements to reporters, Head of JLC Wael Sakka said that the Committee has signed an agreement to purchase a ship worth 560,000 euros to participate in the flotilla II expected to sail to Gaza Strip from several European ports late this month.
http://www.kuna.net.kw/NewsAgenciesPublicSite/ArticleDetails.aspx?id=2176268&Language=en
Italian activists ask Frattini to guarantee their safety aboard Freedom Flotilla
ROME (PIC) 25 June — Italian activists taking part in the Freedom Flotilla II have announced their insistence on going ahead in their plan to join the humanitarian fleet. They asked Italian foreign minister Franco Frattini to provide protection for them in face of Israeli threats to attack the fleet on its siege-busting mission … The activists published their demand on the Facebook three days before the scheduled date for their sail to Gaza
http://www.palestine-info.co.uk/En/default.aspx?xyz=U6Qq7k%2b
Blog: Of course the flotilla is a political provocation / Joe Catron
PNN 25 June — As the launch of the Freedom Flotilla – Stay Human approaches, increasing numbers of Zionist officials and commentators illuminate the depths of their moral and intellectual bankruptcy by arguing that it is a political — not humanitarian — project … The Freedom Flotilla is indeed “a political provocation.” Why shouldn’t it be? And when has it pretended to be anything else? Like its predecessors, from the successful Free Gaza boats of 2008 to the Freedom Flotilla that suffered lethal violence by Israeli commandos in international waters last year, this Flotilla is an unabashed act of solidarity with a people fighting colonialism, ethnic cleansing, and apartheid.The Flotilla targets the denial of Palestinian self-determination, not a humanitarian crisis.
http://english.pnn.ps/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=10322&Itemid=56
Video: US Dept of State Daily Press briefing June 24 2011
June 24, 2011: U.S. Department of State Spokesperson Victoria Nuland squirms as she is grilled by Matt Lee on the subject of US attempts to stop the flotilla. See transcript on Mondoweiss here
http://video.state.gov/en/video/1020891811001
Detention
Hamas: Only a prisoner swap can release Shalit
DAMASCUS (PIC) 25 June — Hamas has reiterated that captured Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit would only be released in a prisoner exchange deal, holding Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu responsible for failures in the swap. The statement comes as some 350 Israelis rally in southern 1948 occupied Palestine to mark five years since Shalit’s capture and as Netanyahu threatens to toughen conditions of Palestinians detained in Israeli prisons. In the fresh statement released Saturday, Hamas called on rights organizations to urgently mobilize to protect the Palestinian prisoners in Israeli custody and to pressure the occupying government to release them immediately.
http://www.palestine-info.co.uk/En/default.aspx?xyz=U6Qq7k%2
PRC: Netanyahu stalled Shalit’s release
GAZA CITY (Ma‘an) 25 June — …PRC spokesman Abu Mujahid said Netanyahu was fully responsible for stalling a deal to release Palestinian prisoners in exchange for Shalit. The prime minister created obstacles to the exchange which showed he had no intention of implementing the swap deal, Abu Mujahid said … Protesters in Gaza City organized an event to mark the anniversary, setting up a fake jail cell. A banner over the cell said: “The Red Cross asked for the release of Shalit, but we are asking the Red Cross if it has heard of the 7,000 Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails.”
http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=399667
Israeli, Palestinian rights groups unite for Shalit
JERUSALEM (AFP) 25 June — Israeli, Palestinian and international human rights groups issued a joint statement on Friday calling on Gaza militants to end “inhumane” treatment of an Israeli soldier they hold captive. The declaration comes as Israel marks the fifth anniversary of the capture of Gilad Shalit by three groups, including the Islamist Hamas. It was signed by Israeli group B’Tselem, the Gaza-based Palestinian Centre for Human Rights, Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and eight others.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20110624/wl_mideast_afp/israelpalestiniansprisonershalitanniversaryrights_20110624202136
Hasbara / Pinkwashing / Dirty tricks / Israeli pressure on companies
Israel lobby group outlines dirty tricks against campus Palestine activists / Ali Abunimah
EI blog 24 June — What is the best way to smear Palestinians and Palestine solidarity activists and get away with it? That is the question David Bernstein, Executive Director of the pro-Israel propaganda group, The David Project, asks in a surprisingly frank article titled “How to ‘Name-And-Shame’ Without Looking Like a Jerk” posted on Israel Campus Beat, a website sponsored by the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations.
http://electronicintifada.net/blog/ali-abunimah/israel-lobby-group-outlines-dirty-tricks-against-campus-palestine-activists
Israeli actor in anti-Gaza pinkwashing video identified / Benjamin Doherty
EI 25 June — The disillusioned “gay activist” called “Marc” who appeared in a YouTube video condemning the Gaza Freedom Flotilla for alleged homophobia, that was tweeted by the Israeli Government Press Office, has been identified as an Israeli called Omer Gershon. This definitely proves that the video is either a hoax or a piece of propaganda designed to discredit the flotilla and use a mask of concern for gay rights to pinkwash Israel and justify the persecution of Palestinians in Gaza. Last night The Electronic Intifada confirmed that one of the first people to tweet the video was Guy Seeman, a staffer in the office of the Israeli prime minister. The following images clearly identify Gershon by his face and tattoo.
http://electronicintifada.net/blog/benjamin-doherty/israeli-actor-anti-gaza-flotilla-pinkwashing-video-identified/
Apple bans Palestinian activist app from iTunes, but allows Israeli government propaganda app / Zaid Jilani
TP 24 June — …The “Israel MFA” app features a newsroom, YouTube videos, and photos that portray the Palestinians as obstinate and violent, and convey the message that Israel is committed to peace. In the newsroom section, there are links to stories such as “Palestinian incitement distances peace” and praising the supposed “Israeli humanitarian lifeline to Gaza”:
http://thinkprogress.org/security/2011/06/24/252884/apple-bans-palestinian-app/
Racism / Incitement
WAFA monitors incitement and racism in Israeli media June 9-18
RAMALLAH (WAFA) 25 June — Boaz Shapira published an instigating article against the Palestinian President Abbas on ‘NFC’ website, in which he said … “Abbas’ stance regarding Israel and Zionism was made clear through his PHD thesis, which undermined the holocaust and through his role in Munich brutal massacre.” … ‘Makor Rishon’ newspaper published a racist editorial by Ariel Kahana, in which he said that, “Arabs are only being Arabs! They kill and slaughter their own people, and they honor killing and butchering Jews. They are simply not ready to establish a stable government.” … ‘NFC’ published a racist article written by Nurit Greenberg, in which she described the Palestinians as ‘Devils’ … She added,”“If Israel cut the gas, water, electricity and medicine of the PA, they will collapse without firing one bullet.” Nurit said, “We must ask UN to find a country that will accept to host the Palestinians. They can stay in Israel if they want, but they must follow the Israeli law.” [etc.]
http://english.wafa.ps/index.php?action=detail&id=16539
Political / Diplomatic / International news
Erekat outlines demands to Quartet
RAMALLAH (Ma‘an) 25 June — The Palestinian Authority passed on four official demands to the Mideast Quartet for discussion in upcoming meetings, PLO official Saeb Erekat told Saudi newspaper Al-Watan on Friday … Erekat said the demands included a complete halt to all Israeli settlement activity, 1967 borders as the basis for peace negotiations with mutually agreed land swaps, EU support for reconciliation talks “which will strengthen peace opportunities” and EU support for a Palestinian UN statehood bid in September. He also wanted EU acknowledgment that a UN statehood bid does not contradict peace negotiations.
http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=399646
US threat to cut cash over Palestinian vote
24 June — The U.S. could withdraw funding from the United Nations if its members decide to recognize an independent Palestinian state, a close ally of President Barack Obama has warned. Susan Rice, the American ambassador to the UN, said there was “no greater threat” to U.S. support and funding of the UN than the prospect of Palestinian statehood being endorsed by member states … Two congressmen have already vowed to initiate bills to withdraw UN funding in the House of Representatives.Such a development could be devastating to the UN. The U.S. provides almost a quarter of its $2.5 billion annual budget.
http://www.canada.com/news/threat+cash+over+Palestinian+vote/5002979/story.html
Other news
Khater: No Arab support for Jerusalem
OCCUPIED JERUSALEM (PIC) 25 June — The Islamic-Christian commission in support of Jerusalem has regretted the minimal Arab support for the occupied city and its holy shrines. Hassan Khater, the commission’s secretary general, said that millions of dollars that had been allocated for the holy city in the last Arab summit conference did not reach the city or its inhabitants. He said in a press release on Saturday that the summit held last year in Sirte, Libya earmarked 500 million dollars for the support of Jerusalem but nothing was collected.
http://www.palestine-info.co.uk/En/default.aspx?xyz=U6Qq7k%2
Andrew Gilligan facing defamation claim in High Court
MEMO 24 June — Farooq Bajwa & Co, solicitors acting on behalf of Shaykh Raed Salah, head of the Islamic movement, have confirmed that a formal letter has been sent to the Daily Telegraph journalist Andrew Gilligan regarding false and defamatory statements he published about their client. The letter stated that Gilligan made no attempt to contact their client before publishing the article which ‘demonstrates a recklessness and lack of concern to our client’s reputation.’ Failure to apologise and retract the article concerned would result in legal proceedings in the High Court. Gilligan has 14 days to reply to Salah’s solicitor. A similar letter has also been sent to Ms Robyn Rosen of The Jewish Chronicle
http://www.middleeastmonitor.org.uk/news/europe/2516-andrew-gilligan-facing-defamation-claim-in-high-court
Palestinian youth perform at William Paterson University
WAYNE, New Jersey USA 24 June — Young Palestinian musicians and dancers will celebrate their cultural heritage in a performance at William Paterson University in Wayne on Thursday, June 30, at 7 p.m. in Shea Center on campus. The event is the culmination of a six-city Palestinian Youth Cultural tour. The Palestine Strings of the Edward Said National Conservatory of Music will perform both classical and folkloric music. The Danadeesh Dance Group presents modern and folkloric dance routines inspired by Palestinian cultural heritage.
http://www.northjersey.com/arts_entertainment/124474124_Palestinian_youth_perform_.html
Video: Palestine Strings performing Sagolandet in Birzeit
from the Edward Said National Conservatory of Music
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ymPiOjieIGE
Analysis / Opinion
Endemic pro-Israel coverage in UK TV coverage, new book finds / Asa Winstanley
EI 25 June — Glasgow University Media Group’s ambitious new study of British TV’s coverage of Israel and the Palestinians, More Bad News from Israel, is the second edition of 2004’s Bad News From Israel. Led by academics Greg Philo and Mike Berry, this work is precise, fair-minded and detailed. It constitutes irrefutable evidence of endemic pro-Israel bias. Those of us regularly subjected to BBC and ITV news won’t exactly find this conclusion surprising but the importance of detailed documentary evidence like this book provides cannot be overstated.
http://electronicintifada.net/content/endemic-pro-israel-bias-uk-tv-coverage-new-book-finds/10110
Sacred mantras / Uri Avnery
Gush Shalom 25 June — THE PALESTINIANS are planning something thoroughly obnoxious: they intend to apply to the UN for statehood. Why obnoxious? Any Israeli spokesman (not to mention spokeswoman) will tell you readily: because it is a “unilateral” move. How dare they proclaim a state unilaterally? How dare they do so without the consent of the other party to the conflict – us? A stickler for detail might ask at this point: “But was the State of Israel not proclaimed unilaterally?” Our state, it may be remembered, was declared by David Ben-Gurion and his colleagues on May 14, 1948, without asking anyone. But who would dare to compare?
http://zope.gush-shalom.org/home/en/channels/avnery/1308952216/
Why is Israel conducting unprecedented drills? / Nasser Laham
Ma‘an 26 June — …Over the past few days, Israel has conducted unprecedented major military and home front drills. The immediate question that pops in is what exactly is Israel doing and why? The drills are all about the home front, not the army, and Israel seeks to achieve three goals: The first goal is to maintain a small and smart army instead of a large and heavily armed one. This army will operate in the future inside Arab cities rather than in the Negev desert, the Golan Heights, or the Jordan Valley. This is to keep the home front and the Jewish people steadfast. The battle inside the enemy’s land will be fought only by the air force, the navy, the submarines, and long-range missiles. Secondly, Israel wants to train the home front and the different cities to remain steadfast and to stop complaining as they used to do.
http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=399700
groups.yahoo.com/group/f_shadi (listserv)
www.theheadlines.org (archive)
