and other news from Today in Palestine:
Land, property theft & destruction / Ethnic cleansing / Apartheid / Palestinian resistance
Negev conference told settlement expansion will follow displacement of Arabs
MEMO 28 May — The Fifth Conference on the Development of the Negev and Galilee has been told that there are plans for 10 new settlements in the Negev Desert. This comes at a time when the Israeli government is moving towards the implementation of the Prawer Plan for uprooting and displacing the indigenous Arab people of the region … Minister Silvan Shalom told the conference that his ministry will continue to establish settlements with the aim of bringing 300,000 Jews to the Negev and housing them in existing and new units. He said that he will continue to work towards changing the Negev into an important economic centre and pointed to the large number of projects for construction, schools and educational and cultural centres in Jewish communities to encourage Jews to settle in the Negev.
http://www.middleeastmonitor.org.uk/news/middle-east/3803-negev-conference-told-settlement-expansion-will-follow-displacement-of-arabs
Israeli soldiers accused of violating status quo by raising flag near Al-Aqsa mosque
OCCUPIED JERUSALEM (AFP) 28 May — Soldiers on Monday violated the status quo on the esplanade of the mosques in east Jerusalem by raising Israel’s flag, the head of the Islamic Waqf organization that oversees the compound charged. “More than 180 soldiers from a special Israeli army unit today raised a large Israeli flag opposite the mosque of the Rock, which is a grave provocation,” Sheikh Azzam al-Khatib told AFP. The sprawling esplanade containing the Al-Aqsa mosque and the adjacent Dome of the Rock in the historic Old City is the third-holiest site in Islam after Saudi Arabia’s Mecca and Medina. [the Dome of the Rock is not a mosque, but a shrine]
http://english.alarabiya.net/articles/2012/05/28/217127.html
Jerusalemites protest the planting of fake Jewish graves around Al-Aqsa
OCCUPIED JERUSALEM (PIC) 28 May — Hundreds of Jerusalemites organized a sit-in at Wadi Rababa neighborhood in Silwan to protest the planting of fake Jewish graves [cenotaphs?] south of Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied Jerusalem. The occupation has planted during the last week fake graves around Al-Aqsa in order to take control of unused lands as a prelude to implement the so called Talmudic gardens plan … The protesters explained that occupation’s bulldozers have removed the Islamic graves in Mamanullah cemetery in Jerusalem then planting fake Jewish graves in Wadi Rababa as a prelude to take over more than 36 dunums of strategic Palestinian lands there in the southern old city and Al-Aqsa mosque. Protesters expressed anger at the deliberate falsification of the Arab-Islamic and Christian history of the city of Jerusalem
http://www.palestine-info.co.uk/En/default.aspx?xyz=U6Qq7k%2bcOd87MDI46m9rUxJEpMO%2bi1s7mA27D2n3J32%2bSGeqIQ3NyAfD88f3UPYoXblgbq%2bUSkRRV6yAPb%2fO3Q7rAmp9DHARoC06hx2HcAWYQ4e9oHxVufqPmqWizlsIw8tguhsN8Sk%3d
Israeli army detonating land mines near the Jordan River
JVS 25 May — On 18th May 2012 Ynet news reported that the Israel Occupation Forces (IOF) have detonated 700 land mines in the Jordan Valley ‘border zone’, stating that these are just some of the 60,000 mines that have already been removed, and the 14,000 more that are still going to be removed. Ynet reported this as if it’s a great humanitarian act on the part of the Israeli Army, and in celebratory language boasted that the “border with Jordan will soon undergo a facelift”. However, for Palestinians living in the area it is clear that the land mines are being removed so that more of the land can be handed over to the settlements.
http://www.jordanvalleysolidarity.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=436
Campaign for the release of Ahmed Abu Hashem and his sons
PSP 28 May — Ahmed Abu Hashem (46 years old), a member of the Beit Ommar Popular Committee, was arrested on May 12th, 2012 from the weekly peaceful demonstration in Beit Ommar against settlements, next to Karmei Tsur settlement. Ahmed is the father of eight children, and is the only source of income for his family. Ahmed has a piece of land, about 3 dunams (3000 square meters), adjacent to Karmei Tsur settlement. The settlement is illegal according to international law under the 4th Geneva Convention. The Palestinian land near the settlement has been planted, uprooted and cut by settlers, and replanted again many times. It is a constant effort for Palestinians to keep their own land
http://palestinesolidarityproject.org/2012/05/28/campaign-for-the-release-of-ahmed-abu-hashem-and-his-sons/
Tent of Nations determined to preach self-sustainability while facing demolition order turmoil
PNN 28 May — On Tuesday, May 21st, 2012, the Israeli Authority posted a demolition order on one of the cisterns in the fields of the Daher Family Farm at 5:30pm. Fortunately, the Nassar family was able to quickly appeal the decision through their lawyers the following morning leading to further court dates surrounding the 100-acre property. Daoud Nassar and his ancestors have held claim to the land situated outside of Bethlehem dating back to the Ottoman occupation. Due to the Israeli occupation and the expansion of illegal settlements, Israel has issued demolition orders to all the structures on the property as well as stop cultivation orders. Since 1991 the Nassar family have been in the courts costing the family over $150,000. The family and the multiple volunteers live in temporary structures such as tents and caves in the colder months. The farm has never had access to electricity or water; instead they have developed a system of self-sufficiency.
http://english.pnn.ps/index.php/national/1762-tent-of-nations-determined-to-preach-self-sustainability-while-facing-demolition-order-turmoil
VIDEO: Al-Mufaqarah R-Exist 26.05.2012 / Haitham al-Khatib
[3 minutes] Support this community in its legitimate struggle to keep living in its land.The Popular Struggle Coordination Committee is launching a campaign to support the community of al Mufaqarah in its legitimate struggle to keep living in its land through the construction of brick houses in order to stress the permanent character of their presence in the area and opposed Israeli policies of displacement. The PSCC will also provide legal support and a long term monitoring of the situation. The purpose is to repeat the successful story of al-Tuwani, a 300 resident’s village that faced the same situation but that is now recognized by the Israeli Occupation Authority, and to create a precedent for the communities of the firing zone.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LBkwi_G91wA&feature=youtu.be
PSP activists join building project again in Um Faqara
PSP 27 May — On Saturday, May 26th, 2012, locals together with more than 35 Palestinian, Israeli and international activists (from the USA, Canada, Britain, France, Italy, and Chile, amongst others) built a third single story prefabricated building in the village of Um Faqara (Al Mufaqara, South Hebron Hills). Most of the walls of the new house were finished. The event in Um Faqara has become a weekly occurrence following the erecting of a new mosque and a house in previous weeks. The construction of the three new structures was organized by the Popular Struggle Coordination Committee of Al-Tuwani with the aim of peacefully resisting the Israeli occupation by affirming the right to live of the community of Um Faqara.
http://palestinesolidarityproject.org/2012/05/27/psp-activists-join-building-project-again-in-um-fagara/
PHOTOS: A weekend of direct actions to protect Palestinian lands
972mag 28 May — Over the weekend Palestinians went on three direct actions to establish and maintain their hold on West Bank lands. Farmers in Tuqu’ returned to lands they have been banned from farming, residents of Mufagarah built a new home after a series of demolitions, and the women of Nabi Saleh marched to the village spring for the second time in a month.
http://972mag.com/photos-a-weekend-of-direct-actions-to-protect-palestinian-lands/47033/
Violence / Raids / Arrests
Settlers attack mosque imam, IOF arrest a boy
AL-KHALIL (PIC) 27 May — A number of Jewish settlers attacked on Saturday the imam of Ain Silwan mosque in Silwan town in Jerusalem after storming the neighboring area. Jerusalemite sources stated that the settlers attacked the seventy-year-old imam of Ain Silwan mosque, Adam Samreen, under the pretext of enabling tourists to enter the place. Meanwhile, the Zionist settlers raided the neighboring area, and attacked the guard causing him injuries.
http://www.palestine-info.co.uk/En/default.aspx?xyz=U6Qq7k%2bcOd87MDI46m9rUxJEpMO%2bi1s7mMnL0aJrVhbRlvtUjBQLdmAJLcxDo3qRZWeKyvZA6DTyERxuvzUCtcdm8d5Eej8Ud4oCIFMnCnc9PuwKKfJbbu%2fzThAccVaf8sd9dE60%2b80%3d
Settlers assault Palestinian youth in East Jerusalem
JERUSALEM (WAFA) 28 May — A group of extremist settlers Monday assaulted a Palestinian youth in Wadi Hilweh area in the East Jerusalem neighborhood of Silwan, according to witnesses. They said confrontations erupted between Wadi Hilweh residents and the settlers as the residents tried to help the boy …
Meanwhile, Israeli police arrested four Palestinians after raiding a number of houses in Silwan. They were transferred to the Russian compound for interrogation.
http://english.wafa.ps/index.php?action=detail&id=19909
Israeli soldiers kidnap children in East Jerusalem
PNN 28 May — On Sunday evening, Israeli soldiers kidnapped four Palestinian children in Sheikh Jarrah Arab neighbourhood, East Jerusalem. The four children, who were identified by Wafa news agency as Amir Maher Hajeej, 15, Firas Maher Hajeej, 16, Ahmad Ghaleb As-Sabbagh, 15, and Najaty Qawwas, 14, were taken by the Israeli Occupying Force to an interrogation facility in Salah Ed-Deen Street. This is not an isolated incident
http://english.pnn.ps/index.php/human-rights/1761-israeli-soldiers-kidnap-children-in-east-jerusalem
Two Palestinians arrested as Israeli settlers forcefully enter their property
ISM 28 May — On Friday, May 25, illegal Israeli settlers drove into the village Lubban ash-Sharqiya where they attempted to forcefully enter a family’s home. When Israeli soldiers and policemen arrived at the scene they joined the settlers, supporting’ them whilst they tried to enter the house. Men of the Palestinian family, together with International Solidarity Movement (ISM) volunteers and other internationals, stood at the gate of the house to prevent the settlers from entering. The father of the household, Khaled Daraghmeh, and his son were then beaten and arrested.
http://palsolidarity.org/2012/05/two-palestinians-arrested-as-israeli-settlers-forcefully-enter-their-property/
Urif: Israeli settlers attack village, Palestinian shot in abdomen
ISM posted 28 May — On May 26, the village of Urif, south of Nablus, was attacked by Israeli settlers from the illegal Yitzhar settlement. Extensive amounts of agricultural land belonging to Urif were burned and settlers threw stones and shot live ammunition at civilians from the village. A Palestinian man was shot with live ammunition in the abdomen and a Franco-British volunteer with the International Solidarity Movement was injured by a tear gas canister. The attack began around 1p.m. with shooting coming from a hill east to the village, nearby to a Palestinian secondary school. After one and a half hours the settlers appeared on the opposite side of the valley and began again to fire. It was during this attack that a young Palestinian man was shot and seriously injured.
http://palsolidarity.org/2012/05/urif-israeli-settlers-attack-village-palestinian-shot-in-abdomen/
IOF soldiers break into, search school
QALQILIA (PIC) 27 May — Israeli occupation forces (IOF) broke into a high school in Kufr Qaddoum village to the east of Qalqilia and prevented students and teachers from entering it, local sources said. Murad Eshtiwe, the coordinator of the village’s weekly march, said that the soldiers searched the school provoking the schoolchildren into clashing with them. He noted that a group of settlers tried to enter the town and assault civilian property during the IOF presence in the school, but the inhabitants confronted them and forced them to retreat. Eshtiwe charged that the IOF storming of the school and the settlers’ attack fell in line with the recent targeting of the village after the inhabitants’ insistence on their weekly march demanding the opening of its main road that has been closed for years.
http://www.palestine-info.co.uk/En/default.aspx?xyz=U6Qq7k%2bcOd87MDI46m9rUxJEpMO%2bi1s78kqehaRjLNPFUY1HFMPEny9ijhdHsnrYa5Wii8u7QILK2gjIaYS3qc3ZFdoeNQrECU3jlCcXgrPql5%2bv6nB1MgVtkaCfn0pEvTaUTepMPyE%3d
IOF soldiers fire at young woman, arrest her
AL-KHALIL (PIC) 27 May — Israeli occupation forces (IOF) fired at a Palestinian young woman, claiming she tried to storm a Jewish settlement near Beit Awa, south west of Al-Khalil, on Sunday. Local sources told the PIC that the soldiers fired at Arwa Salame, a university student, but did not hit her, adding that the young woman was suffering from depression.
Other sources said that IOF soldiers stormed six villages in Al-Khalil province at dawn Sunday and installed roadblocks.
The soldiers on Saturday night arrested Obaid Abu Snene in Al-Khalil city and took him to Kiryat Arba settlement for questioning.
http://www.palestine-info.co.uk/En/default.aspx?xyz=U6Qq7k%2bcOd87MDI46m9rUxJEpMO%2bi1s7XNz49VsPGwRJYxNXXTQJDyFgPMRWYfQX3E3XTsLlSj%2bAOmDkDsGOSiYndaBT32RlS67xzKrmkz8iPg2bDV9dykT0LatNn5aIeMBXQEOZ%2bgs%3d
Bethlehem: 18 year old Palestinian stabbed
ISM 27 May — 18 year old Saleh al-Zoghayer, who was recently stabbed by Israeli soldiers in Bethlehem, has been at the centre of the media recently. Several contradicting and false reports surfaced along with a shocking photograph of Saleh following the stabbing … According to Israeli media sources such as Ynet and Hareetz, Saleh attempted to stab an IOF soldier and instead harmed himself … Saleh’s father, Nidal Mohamad al-Zoghayer, was interviewed by International Solidarity Movement (ISM) volunteers on May 23 and an entirely different story emerged. Nidal says his son is not the “Palestinian terrorist” that Itamar Fleishman of Ynet baselessly suggests. Saleh was on the receiving end of criminal violence, said Nidal, and not from IOF soldiers but from the illegal settlers.
http://palsolidarity.org/2012/05/bethlehem-18-year-old-palestinian-stabbed/
Palestinians urged to protect themselves against armed settlers
PNN 2 May — The Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine (DFLP) has urged Palestinians to protect themselves by forming popular watch committees following the injuries of two Palestinian men after they were shot at by armed Israeli settlers. The DFLP leader Qais Abed al-Karim, issued a statement on Sunday stressing the importance of protecting Palestinians and their properties by reactivating popular watch groups and for the international community to protect Palestinian civilians from settler violence.
http://english.pnn.ps/index.php/human-rights/1770-palestinians-urged-to-protect-themselves-against-armed-settlers
Report: Israeli officers convicted of negligent homicide
TEL AVIV, Israel (Ma‘an) 28 May — An Israeli court on Monday convicted two police officers of negligent homicide, after they left an injured Palestinian man for dead at the side of a road in 2008, the Israeli daily Haaretz reported. Senior police officer Baruch Peretz had ordered a lower ranking policeman, Assaf Yakutieli, to throw Omar Abu Jariban out of a police vehicle onto the side of a West Bank road, a Jerusalem court heard. He died of dehydration and his body was discovered two days later. He was dressed in hospital pajamas, had no shoes, and was still connected to a urinary catheter at the time of the incident … The two’s sentences will be ruled upon at a later date. The maximum sentence for negligent homicide is three years in prison.
http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=489944
Confrontations between IOF soldiers and young men in Saeer village
AL-KHALIL (PIC) 28 May — Israeli occupation forces (IOF) stormed Saeer village, north of Al-Khalil, on Monday morning and clashed with young men who protested the storming of their village. Eyewitnesses told the Palestinian news agency WAFA that the IOF soldiers fired teargas at the citizens, adding that a number of young men were treated on the field for breathing problems. They said that the soldiers provocatively impeded movement of citizens inside their village.
http://www.palestine-info.co.uk/En/default.aspx?xyz=U6Qq7k%2bcOd87MDI46m9rUxJEpMO%2bi1s7zOikp6Pmbj1XG7gN52Ba%2b5C3B7t8lZYGTqoHE5STnoPILu5LboAR9x3MIFTjW7cLqN112uLsfsAFgDmB8HECWTJWXX6y5A6VOXIwCI%2fVhcE%3d
Six Palestinians arrested by Israel at dawn
IMEMC 28 May — PNN has reported an Israeli army spokesman as saying that several Palestinians were arrested in various Palestinian cities at dawn this morning. The source added that the six detainees were from Nablus, Bethlehem and Hebron and were arrested and taken to detention centres for questioning.
http://www.imemc.org/article/63592
Israeli forces arrest former prisoner in East Jerusalem
JERUSALEM (Ma‘an) 26 May — Israeli forces raided the East Jerusalem neighborhood of al-Isawiya on Thursday evening and arrested a former prisoner released in last year’s swap deal, witnesses said. Samer Issawi was detained by Israeli forces and taken to the Russian Compound for interrogation, locals told Ma‘an. Issawi was released in the prisoner exchange deal between Israel and Hamas on Oct. 18, 2011.
http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=489274
Barhoum: IOF re-arrest of liberated prisoners kind of revenge
GAZA (PIC) 27 May — The Israeli occupation forces’ re-arrest of prisoners released in the exchange deal is a kind of revenge on them after success of the deal with hunger striking prisoners, Fawzi Barhoum, a Hamas spokesman, said on Sunday. He said in a statement on his Facebook page that the IOF arrest of liberated prisoner Samer Al-Aisawi in occupied Jerusalem was a clear targeting of those ex-prisoners.
http://www.palestine-info.co.uk/En/default.aspx?xyz=U6Qq7k%2bcOd87MDI46m9rUxJEpMO%2bi1s7w2uYoZ1WkeqrZ0w1eJh8Dkk8dCn%2f%2f9k3Z51yvy%2f6BhcJwoU%2bPoUN4vuuVVy7RLUT9L1fImPQ5pjvdFW1b%2bm5JOUo98MEsmhtjKVKhujslAQ%3d
Mother presents son’s MA project after he is detained by soldiers
BETHLEHEM (Ma‘an) 27 May — At around 2 a.m on May 23, Nidal Izziden Fattash finally finished preparing all of the necessary papers to present his MA degree project in front of the An-Najah University committee. Hours before the presentation was due, Israeli forces stormed the dormitories of the Nablus university and arrested Nidal … Nidal’s mother, a school principal, had helped her son throughout his MA degree, and knew the subject of his research well … After consulting with the university administration and several teachers, she made up her mind to represent her son in the presentation of his final MA project in front of the university committee … Nidal is still being held by Israeli forces. The charges against him are unknown.
http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=489730
Court: Jewish terrorist Jack Teitel committed offenses
Ynet 28 May — The Jerusalem District Court approved a plea bargain with the attorneys of Jewish terrorist Jack Teitel and ruled that he did in fact commit the crimes he is accused of: Two counts of murder, two counts of attempted murder, assault and additional violent offences.
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4235134,00.html
Birzeit bloc: We received guarantees so we halted the sit-in
RAMALLAH (PIC) 28 May — The Islamic bloc at Birzeit University declared on Monday that it ended its sit-in in the university campus after it had received guarantees to stop political arrests against its members. The protestors’ representative, Said Kasrawi, said, in an exclusive statement to PIC, that the bloc has decided to suspend the sit-in, which lasted nearly a month when PM of West Bank’s government, Salam Fayyad, his interior minister and the leadership of the security services had promised the bloc, before the Legislative Council and the public freedoms’ Committee, to stop arresting, prosecuting and pursuing the students.
http://www.palestine-info.co.uk/En/default.aspx?xyz=U6Qq7k%2bcOd87MDI46m9rUxJEpMO%2bi1s7%2bE6ONlEFBTw8vgNMlChqc%2bUjqIkJPYk2N9cSE5j6%2bD6SnP69Gl93BdNbBi56uyiHuVOE%2b%2btl%2fVdLC%2fh9EO8b4ipMzRNSCX9i9sJ2HeSt1QQ%3d
Prisoners
Ashqar warns of escalation in administrative detention
GAZA (PIC) 28 May — The Israeli military prosecution’s claim that it has no knowledge of an agreement with Palestinian prisoners to end the arbitrary policy of administrative detention was opening the door wide open for escalation in this policy … Ashqar said that the prosecution’s denial of such an agreement and claiming the presence of secret files against the administrative detainees open the door wide open before the occupation authorities to impose and extend administrative detention against Palestinians, especially MPs. He charged that the Israelis were playing with words, and urged the Egyptian patron of the agreement, which ended four weeks of massive hunger strike in Israeli jails, to intervene and seek a clear-cut pledge on the part of the Israelis to halt the policy of administrative detention.
http://www.palestine-info.co.uk/En/default.aspx?xyz=U6Qq7k%2bcOd87MDI46m9rUxJEpMO%2bi1s7cLNtwputgWvCy%2bxgxilgFLkyd2aYFUarf7XLmPI1GK9UW9yuK6nNsva34Nk8Jrw2U%2bwT2HMWOstW%2b3JqlJXjU6C0vcfAxGdWiEqjDX5iU4A%3d
Israeli prison administration violates deal with prisoners
RAMALLAH (WAFA) 27 May — The Palestinian Prisoner’s Club (PPC) Sunday said punishments are still being taken against Palestinian prisoners detained in Israeli jails contrary to what was agreed upon with the prison administration, following the end of the prisoners’ hunger strike, according to a PPC statement. The Palestinian prisoners on hunger strike agreed on a deal with Israel to end their strike in return for some of their demands, including allowing family visitations, ending of solitary confinement and the imposition of fines on prisoners and other demands. It said the prison administration renewed the administrative custody of a number of prisoners in addition to other punishments, such as imposing fines on prisoners who went on the hunger strike, preventing family visitation and banning prisoners from using the canteen services that were supposed to be cancelled after ending the hunger strike.
http://english.wafa.ps/index.php?action=detail&id=19903
Abu Assabeh slams Israel’s violation of its agreement with hunger strikers.
GAZA (PIC) 28 May — Palestinian minister of prisoners’ affairs Attallah Abu Assabeh deplored the Israeli occupation authority for extending the administrative detention of some prisoners, affirming it is a flagrant violation of its agreement with hunger strikers. Abu Assabeh stated in a press release on Sunday that the agreement stipulated that the Israeli side would not extend the administrative detention of prisoners after they complete their current terms, but the Israeli occupation persistently violated it
http://www.palestine-info.co.uk/En/default.aspx?xyz=U6Qq7k%2bcOd87MDI46m9rUxJEpMO%2bi1s7ylENAzSjDZROQhyxpwjs%2fbn8vy9ieK2VDg5b4gpwlDm38cl%2b9fK6JJSyBUhM4rMRHJamEiqhBmTa9lhejumv8C%2ftspgM1ChYjmgSoG31t04%3d
Annajah University slammed for its passivity toward its detained lecturers
NABLUS (PIC) 28 May — Ahrar center for prisoner studies and human rights called on Annajah university to necessarily move to support the cause of its six lecturers who are locked up administratively in Israeli jails and to highlight their issue in international forums. Director of Ahrar center Fouad Al-Khafsh castigated in a press release the silence of Annajah university on the detention of its lecturers and its indifference to their suffering.
http://www.palestine-info.co.uk/En/default.aspx?xyz=U6Qq7k%2bcOd87MDI46m9rUxJEpMO%2bi1s7Ok0eQl%2bGhqkDZDnEsJ2WeIMSyGTfkBoT6CHmOemTaRXWEfHIcjRJBzTjvqzXCELVzH2tYf06WGho9zt%2bke09cDChHg4Qs3%2fH9knuEyaLuKA%3d
IOA renews administrative detention of MP Natshe for fourth time
AL-KHALIL (PIC) 27 May — …Natshe’s wife told the change and reform parliamentary bloc – Gaza branch in a telephone contact on Sunday that her husband was informed of the extension on 14/5 despite the fact that his former detention was not over yet. Mushir Al-Masri, the spokesman for the bloc, denounced the IOA decision, charging that it was in flagrant violation of the MP’s immunity and rights.
http://www.palestine-info.co.uk/En/default.aspx?xyz=U6Qq7k%2bcOd87MDI46m9rUxJEpMO%2bi1s701NLppl5lTurmO2VeH7jQXddC11Too%2bq8P95LlB818kBQRevkZHd%2f4t9A46kXwo3lDvu3%2ftfBCHKGmWH%2b%2f5srvJqYrzGKBk1TOiAIEKdZCc%3d
Abu Sisi threatens to resume hunger strike
RAMALLAH (PIC) 27 May — Dhirar Abu Sisi has threatened to resume his open hunger strike if the Israeli prison service (IPS) refused to end his solitary confinement. The IPS had ended the isolation of all Palestinian prisoners as part of a deal to end the prisoners’ month long hunger strike but retained Abu Sisi in isolation. Abu Sisi, 42, told the lawyer of the Palestinian Prisoners’ Society, who visited him, that he inquired from the prison administration about his condition but they told him that the Israeli intelligence advice him to keep his mouth shut.
http://www.palestine-info.co.uk/En/default.aspx?xyz=U6Qq7k%2bcOd87MDI46m9rUxJEpMO%2bi1s76X%2fbb9cS77jWdAiNTA%2bqtV78AqE%2bJkGw%2fnQJ9xITP8MyZUFViAqKdQmzi95FNIqNtgcSXlmoJ3stfm7wBGuARuS3X4g7a0VSL2tAH9ITqJ4%3d
Israel reduces number of prison meals for Palestinian children
MEMO 28 May — Child detainees in Israeli jails have accused the prison authorities of implementing a “starvation policy” against them as the number of meals they receive daily has been reduced to two. After meeting with the minors in Telmond “El-Sharon” Prison, the lawyer for the Palestinian Prisoner Society, Anwar Abu Lafi, said, “The situation of Palestinian minors in Israeli jails is very bad due to the policies and procedures adopted by the management which restricts them deliberately and deprives them of their basic rights.” Although the regulations state that prisoners should receive three meals a day, Abu Lafi confirmed that only two are being given to the children Israel is keeping behind bars.
According to the lawyer, the children have complained about the lack of any facilities for heating water. They also noted that assaults on prisoners by the Israeli authorities are ongoing. One detainee, Daud Abu Sbeitan, was beaten severely by security forces while being transferred to Jerusalem Central Court last week.
http://www.middleeastmonitor.org.uk/news/middle-east/3801-israel-reduces-number-of-prison-meals-for-palestinian-children
Gaza families to resume visits to prisoners in Israeli jails but hunger strike goes on
MEMO 28 May — Prisoners’ support groups have said that the families of around 100 prisoners from Gaza in Israeli jails will be able to visit their loved ones from next month. Visits will be arranged by the International Committee of the Red Cross as for the first time in seven years. Such visits for other prisoners may be possible at a later date. This development comes about two weeks after an agreement was signed with the Israeli Prison Service that includes allowing visits, ending the use of solitary confinement and limiting administrative detention. In exchange, Palestinian prisoners agreed to end the open hunger strike, although some have refused to do so and are continuing their struggle. One such prisoner is a member of the national football team; Mahmoud Sarsak, 25, is from Rafah and has been on hunger strike for 73 days.
http://www.middleeastmonitor.org.uk/news/middle-east/3802-gaza-families-resume-visits-to-prisoners-in-israeli-jails-but-hunger-strike-goes-on
IOA transfers Jordanian prisoner to hospital
RAMALLAH (PIC) 28 May — The Israeli occupation authority (IOA) transferred Jordanian detainee Samer Al-Barq to Ramle prison hospital after deterioration of his health condition. Barq resumed his hunger strike six days ago after the Israeli prison service refused to release him as it had initially agreed to release him eight days after the agreement with the Palestinian hunger striking prisoners. However, he was surprised that the IPS renewed his administrative detention for three months.
http://www.palestine-info.co.uk/En/default.aspx?xyz=U6Qq7k%2bcOd87MDI46m9rUxJEpMO%2bi1s7vObuoqVz2bt8R6G9m5IrVYXnw0pu9EEOdDFspnaGXmB25FwiyJVnc7FB17KK3E%2fO%2b6QtNZiLLv%2fnVAHWfcq9%2fthn2HjPfffn677rbUWMI10%3d
Siege of Gaza
Israeli navy arrests Palestinian fishermen at sea
GAZA (PIC) 28 May — Israeli navy boats chased and arrested a Palestinian fisherman while fishing off the coast of Khan Younis, south of the Gaza Strip, at a late hour on Sunday night. Sources in the fishermen syndicate told the PIC reporter that Mohammed Al-Amodi, 58, was working within the allowed range when he was detained. They said that another fisherman, who was with him, was released after a few hours of detention.
http://www.palestine-info.co.uk/En/default.aspx?xyz=U6Qq7k%2bcOd87MDI46m9rUxJEpMO%2bi1s7y7x%2bikcGELoVYNcOlwBULzU9yi7TQDWpT5QpkuX0XFSNLmNEWlJFhsOQYcmHFLAnLqSpS081cRQbZjCq7u5NMZMucmDNp%2bdW2p31VHSfSUY%3d
EMOHR slams Israel for systematic targeting of Gaza fishing sector
GENEVA (PIC) 27 May — The Euro-Mediterranean Observer for Human Rights (EMOHR) said Israel systematically and deliberately targets the fishing sector in the Gaza Strip. In a report on Sunday, the observer warned that the systematic Israeli targeting of the fishing sector in the besieged Gaza Strip led to the depletion and destruction of this important sector. The report stated that the Israeli government has sought in recent years to completely destroy the fishing profession, upon which some 70,000 Gazan citizens live, through a gradual reduction of fishing zones where the fishermen are allowed to sail.
http://www.palestine-info.co.uk/En/default.aspx?xyz=U6Qq7k%2bcOd87MDI46m9rUxJEpMO%2bi1s7265w9mTJ9FkPGeqtBGD4nDujhns%2bKx4cD54PRG2SXFj24IQ55Bg1W2y%2fFmJmeCsxsVFEARpq20QDEYSgUaWeoYJOcVdf27AYZ3FlKPVXQtg%3d
Gaza farmer shot in leg with a targeted bullet
ISM posted 29 May — By Rosa Schiano — 21 May 2012 | il Blog di Oliva On Sunday, May 20, an Israeli soldier shot a young Palestinian farmer while on his land in Al-Quara, north east of Khan Younis in the southern Gaza strip. Waheed Ali Zer, 22 years old, was shot in his left leg and remains hospitalized in Khan Younis’s Nasser hospital. We went to go visit his family and Waheed’s brother Mohammed spoke to us about the events that took place on Sunday … Mohammed told us that Waheed was walking his donkey when he saw a military jeep coming. Mohammed retreated back towards the tent next to his house. An Israeli soldier emerged from the jeep and shot at Mohammed from behind a small hill. There was no warning, no bullet shots into the air. No notice, just one bullet, which was targeted directly at Waheed. “My father carried Waheed in his arms while my mother cried,” one of Waheed’s brothers tells us.
http://palsolidarity.org/2012/05/gaza-farmer-shot-in-the-leg-with-a-targeted-bullet/
Turkish court charges senior IDF officials over Gaza flotilla deaths
AP/Haaretz 28 May — Turkish judges approve demand for a sentence of a combined 18.000 years for former IDF chief of staff and other officers allegedly responsible for deaths aboard the Mavi Marmara cruise ship in 2010 — The court in Istanbul voted unanimously to approve an indictment against Israel’s former military chief Lt. Gen. Gabi Ashkenazi, along with the former heads of its navy, air force intelligence, and military intelligence, Eliezer Marom, Amos Yadlin, and Avishai Levi, the Anadolu Agency said. They face nine consecutive life terms in prison for “inciting to kill monstrously, and by torturing,” the agency added. It is unlikely Israeli military members will be brought before Turkey’s judicial system, since Israel does not regard them as criminals.
http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/turkish-court-charges-senior-idf-officials-over-gaza-flotilla-deaths-1.432983
Israeli official: Turkey ‘killing’ relations with Israel over Gaza flotilla charges
Haaretz 28 May – Though Israel has refrained from issuing an official response to indictments, sources within the foreign ministry say move reflects tailspin in relations between Ankara and Jerusalem.
http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/israeli-official-turkey-killing-relations-with-israel-over-gaza-flotilla-charges-1.433024
Union: Palestinian contractors to boycott UNICEF
GAZA CITY (Ma‘an) 28 May — The union of Palestinian contractors on Monday announced a boycott a UN agency that allows Israeli firms to bid for construction work in the Gaza Strip. The union said contractors would boycott all work for UNICEF “until they backtrack from their decision to take offers from Israeli companies and equate them with Palestinian companies.”
http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=490169
Gaza energy authority: The power crisis is getting worse
GAZA (PIC) 28 May — The authority of energy and natural resources in Gaza warned against the aggravation of the power crisis due to the absence of sufficient fuel supplies needed to operate the power plant generators. The energy authority added that it had to shut down three generators and kept only one running since the forth of April using the available fuel which will soon run out. The authority accused the Egyptian authorities, Israel and the Palestinian authority government in Ramallah of hindering the delivery of the Qatar fuel aid that arrived at Suez port earlier this month.
http://www.palestine-info.co.uk/En/default.aspx?xyz=U6Qq7k%2bcOd87MDI46m9rUxJEpMO%2bi1s74kCeb62kPikEZP15E%2fNllG79%2ffcNhUbZ8dohcQZk5gx%2byLKrTtLtIDOOGSLKJVJpD9ruam8JRGgvXfg5ee2ucTos6stjgRUmlOoP5CPuksI%3d
SA relief agency to join convoy to Gaza
28 May — The Durban-based NGO, South African Relief Agency (Sara), will be flying in aid to help citizens of the besieged Gaza strip in June. The 14-strong convoy, which includes religious leaders, university professors, advocates, lawyers, school principals, doctors, and therapists, will fly to Cairo on June 14, before joining a convoy of trucks carrying aid to Gaza via the Rafah crossing. “We will be taking aid in the form of medical equipment – dental chairs, X-ray machines, 200 wheelchairs, air mattresses, five containers of incontinence pads, milk powder, three truckloads of nappies, three truckloads of stationery, 200 crutches, and clothing,” said the agency’s secretary-general, Sheikh Walid El Saadi.
http://www.iol.co.za/dailynews/news/sa-relief-agency-to-join-convoy-to-gaza-1.1305798
UAE Red Crescent donates $817,000 to Gaza food program
BETHLEHEM (Ma‘an) 28 May — The United Arab Emirates Red Crescent announced Monday that it would donate $817,000 to a UN food program in the Gaza Strip … The donation will support some of the most vulnerable Palestine refugee families requiring assistance. Over the last five years, the UAERC contributed over $5 million for food aid, an UNRWA statement said.
http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=489890
Israel opens border with Gaza for products
RAFAH (WAFA) 28 May — Israel re-opened Karem Abu Salem (Kerem Shalom) crossing with the Gaza Strip on Monday to allow entry of 240 trucks carrying products into Gaza as well as pumping fuel to the power station while allowing only one truck to leave the Strip, according to crossing officials. Raed Fattouh, who heads a committee in charge of entry of products into Gaza, told WAFA that while only one truckload of Gaza tomatoes will be allowed to leave Gaza on its way to Jordan, between 230 and 240 truckloads of aid and various goods will be allowed in … Karem Abu Salem crossing was closed for three days because of Jewish holidays.
http://english.wafa.ps/index.php?action=detail&id=19907
Racism
Case against ‘King’s Torah’ authors closed
Ynet 28 May – Attorney General Yehuda Weinstein decided to close the criminal case against the authors of the King’s Torah and its supporters which include Rabbi Dov Lior — for lack of evidence. The book stated that it was permissible to kill non-Jews when their presence in Israel endangers Jews. The attorney general ruled that it was impossible to determine that the publication of the book was done with the intent of inciting to violence as the law demands.
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4235096,00.html
Migrant aid groups to shun Knesset session
Ynet 28 May — Heads of six human rights organizations say they will not attend meeting on issue of migrants. ‘These sessions are nothing but a platform to spew inciting statements against asylum seekers, activists,’ they write in letter to Knesset speaker
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4235129,00.html
Video: Israeli hurls egg at African migrant
Ynet 28 May — A [very short] video depicting an Israeli man hurling a raw egg on an African migrant has gone viral after being uploaded on Sunday. The clip, titled “Sagi hits a Sudanese with an egg,” shows the man coming out of his car, approaching the victim and attacking him with the egg. The perpetrator’s friend is heard cheering him on. The video was uploaded on Youtube and was viewed and shared by hundreds of web users before being removed due to the website’s policy against content of bullying nature. It received several comments, some of which were supportive of the attacker’s act.
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4234907,00.html
Political news
Resheq: Unity government to be formed out of independent technocrats
CAIRO (PIC) 28 May — Political bureau member of Hamas Ezzet Al-Resheq has said that his movement would start a series of consultation talks with Fatah faction in Cairo on Monday to discuss the formation of the new unity government. He said in a statement on his Facebook page that the consultations would start on Monday evening at a time a similar meeting in Gaza would have started between premier Ismail Haneyya and the head of the central elections committee Dr. Hanna Nasser. Resheq said that results of the consultations would be tabled with all Palestinian factions for discussion.
http://www.palestine-info.co.uk/En/default.aspx?xyz=U6Qq7k%2bcOd87MDI46m9rUxJEpMO%2bi1s7a7MLKcBh6dnEN%2b2RFSLvNqtxv9Kps9fSewTdm786GZdJ%2f387hXAvaEl5LnYM8xq0GZSU9imT2MnxmOPsbAILsViSbCrTlaqmOBWf5WC2PGw%3d
Attoun and Halaiqa: Liberating prisoners is more important than elections
AL-KHALIL (PIC) 28 May — The two Palestinian Legislative Council’s deputies for the cities of Jerusalem and Al-Khalil, Ahmed Attoun and Samira Halaiqa called on those meeting in Cairo on Monday to end political detention and summonses in the occupied West Bank which ran contrary to the spirit of reconciliation … For her part, MP Samira Halaiqa called on those meeting in Cairo not to end their meeting before [acting] on the immediate release of Palestinian political detainees in PA jails in the West Bank, especially those who have been detained for years with no justification.
http://www.palestine-info.co.uk/En/default.aspx?xyz=U6Qq7k%2bcOd87MDI46m9rUxJEpMO%2bi1s7qcYT9SZhc3R0HDJfP3LOR7CcXSIputlnuNrb3k20WPdjYQy50GEbA0PXrjiR2dquGAgKfQXqFsg42w85bAvIygT38KQvmCirvJeTVWGC3u8%3d
Official: Soldiers bar CEC members from entering Gaza
GAZA CITY (Ma‘an) 28 May — Two members of the Central Elections Commission were denied entry into Gaza on Monday, as a delegation arrived to begin work in the coastal enclave. Ahmad al-Khalidi and Shukri al-Nashashibi were prevented from entering Gaza by Israeli soldiers, executive manager of the delegation Hisham Khail told Ma‘an.
http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=489946
Palestinian National Council committee to convene in Amman
GAZA CITY (Ma‘an) 28 May — An election committee of the Palestinian National Council is scheduled to convene in Amman on Wednesday to prepare for elections in the PLO’s legislative body, officials said.
http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=489863
Other news
Palestinian Authority news agency hacked over ‘spying’
Al-Akhbar 27 May — The website of the Palestinian Authority’s (PA) official news agency was hacked on Sunday over the alleged use of a human rights organization for spying. The state-run Wafa news site was offline on Sunday afternoon but had earlier been linking to a file allegedly leaked from the PA’s general intelligence. The report, originally published on media freedom websites, claimed that a Geneva-based human rights organization was being used as an intelligence gathering organization by the PA.
http://english.al-akhbar.com/content/palestinian-authority-hacked-over-human-rights
Rishq: Obama’s honoring of Shimon Peres reflects America’s bias to occupation
BEIRUT (PIC) 26 May — Izzat Rishq, member of Hamas’s politburo, condemned the decision of US President Barack Obama to give the Presidential “Medal of Freedom,” to the Israeli President, Shimon Peres … He added: “Barak Obama’s decision attempts to gain Zionist support at the expense of our people and our legitimate rights,”
http://www.palestine-info.co.uk/En/default.aspx?xyz=U6Qq7k%2bcOd87MDI46m9rUxJEpMO%2bi1s70ZH76mPgsvFhUIzqP28avpTSUF5Yn3QMTpng%2f2FuUrYBjv7iu1SZEt8UUXoiXiT84QNYmSRdeheypZanQ566qaisy%2btJp4piN%2ffMhRMwXks%3d
Tiny Palestinian Airlines back in the skies, its fortunes ties to statehood dreams
MARKA AIRBASE, Jordan (AP) 27 May — Palestinian Airlines is back in the skies after being grounded for seven years by the deepening enmities of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Once hailed as a symbol of Palestinian statehood dreams, the carrier is a tiny operation, with just two 48-seat turboprop planes, two weekly flights and a borrowed hub in Egypt. But Palestinians say just being on the map again is what matters. “My hands were shaking when I bought the ticket … and it said the name of the carrier is Palestinian Airlines,” said recent passenger Zuhair Mohammed, a 38-year-old teacher from Gaza.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/africa/tiny-palestinian-airlines-back-in-the-skies-its-fortunes-tied-to-statehood-dreams/2012/05/27/gJQAKW9VuU_story.html
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