I wish she is righteous and will leave israel for ever , israel is a myth not a country!

Israeli lawmaker: No arms on Flotilla

Wed, 02 Jun 2010 14:15:14 GMT

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Haneen Zuabi

A member of the Israeli Parliament (Knesset) who was onboard the Gaza-destined aid convoy when it came under Israeli fire dismisses allegations that the Freedom Flotilla was carrying weapons.

Haneen Zuabi, a senior member of the Balad party, was among hundreds of activist aboard the Freedom Flotilla, which was comprised of nine ships carrying thousand of tons of humanitarian aid for the impoverished people of the Gaza Strip.

In comments following her release in the Ashdod port on Wednesday, Zuabi disputed Israel's claims that the ship was carrying weapons for the Palestinian Resistance Movement of Hamas.

"Our goal was to break the siege. We had no plans for a confrontation. Israel carried out a provocative military operation. Israel is used to doing as it pleases with the Palestinians. The main problem is not the ship, but the siege." She added.

On Monday, commandos acting upon direct orders from Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak stormed the aid convoy, leaving at least 20 people dead and more than 50 others injured.

The member of Knesset also said that Israeli forces were seeking to leave behind a high number of casualties.

"It was clear from the size of the force that boarded the ship that the purpose was not only to stop this sail, but to cause the largest possible number of fatalities in order to stop such initiatives in the future," Zuabi said.

The assault sent shockwaves around the world, prompting two countries to withdraw their ambassadors from Tel Aviv and many others summon Israeli envoys.

The United Nations Security Council held an emergency meeting in which the 15-nation body called for an "impartial, credible and transparent" probe into the incident and condemned "those acts which resulted in the loss of ... civilians and many wounded."

Israeli PM backs attack on Gaza aid (The vampire)

Mon, 31 May 2010 13:41:51 GMT

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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has supported the military action against the Freedom Flotilla, carrying humanitarian supplies to the Gaza Strip.

"The prime minister reiterated his full backing for the IDF and inquired about the well being of the wounded," Netanyahu's office told AFP on Monday.

The Israeli navy killed at least 20 people aboard the ships, mostly Turkish nationals. About 50 others were also injured, according to Palestinian sources.

'Activists refuse to leave Gaza aid ships'

'Activists refuse to leave Gaza aid ships'

Mon, 31 May 2010 12:47:58 GMT

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An Israeli naval vessel (C) arrives at the port of Ashdod.

International activists aboard ships load with humanitarian aid for Gaza which were attacked and rerouted by the Israeli navy have refused to leave the vessels.

All activists on board the vessels have refused to leave the ships at the port of Ashdod because they want to fulfill their mission and deliver supplies to the people of Gaza, a Press TV correspondent reported on Monday.

Some of the injured activists have been transferred to Israeli hospitals, added our correspondent.

Israel stormed the Freedom Flotilla earlier on Monday, killing at least 20 people, mostly Turkish nationals and injuring 50 others, reported al-Aqsa television.

The convoy was intercepted in international waters, some 150km (90 miles) off the coast of the Gaza Strip.

The killing of the international activists by the Israeli military has faced condemnation across the world.

Turkey, which led the nine-vessel convoy, along with several European countries, denounced the Israeli navy's move and called for an emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council over the incident.

Sweden, Greece, Spain, Denmark, Norway, Italy, Belgium, France, Germany, and Ireland have all summoned Israeli envoys to their respective countries.

The convoy was carrying 10,000 tons of supplies and hundreds of politicians, activists and journalists.

The Flotilla was seeking to break Israel's three-year-long blockade of Gaza and deliver basic necessities to the impoverished Palestinians living in the coastal enclave.

apparantly 20 internationals and peace activists no 2010 05:27:14 GMT Font size : [Increase] [Normal] [Decrease] The death toll from the Israeli navy'

apparantly 20 internationals and peace activists no longer between us

Mon, 31 May 2010 05:27:14 GMT

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The death toll from the Israeli navy's takeover of a Gaza aid convoy has risen to 20 while Israel carefully censors reports on the casualties from the attack.

Gaza Freedom Flotilla came under fire early on Monday by Israeli navy forces in international waters more than 150km (90 miles) off the coast of Gaza.

The six-ship aid fleet was soon stormed by commandos descending from helicopters.

At least 20 people were martyred in the takeover of the Gaza aid convoy, al-Aqsa TV channel reported, saying that more than 50 people, including leader of the Palestinian Islamic Movement Sheikh Raed Salah, were wounded in the attack.

The news trickled through the Israeli military censorship which has sought to block the reporting of any information about the casualties.

A report on the Israeli radio said the censorship was aimed at covering up the number of casualties brought to Israeli hospitals for treatment.

Meanwhile, Israeli Trade and Industry Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer expressed regret for the deaths aboard the Gaza aid ships.

"The images are certainly not pleasant. I can only voice regret at all the fatalities," he told Israel's Army Radio.

The comments come as the first official acknowledgement by Tel Aviv that the attack had turned fatal.

Israel had initially declined to comment on the reports of casualties from the takeover of the aid ships.

Gaza aid flotilla attacked, two Martyred

Gaza aid flotilla attacked, two Martyred

Mon, 31 May 2010 03:06:44 GMT

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Israeli forces have attacked the international aid convoy Freedom Flotilla en route to the besieged Gaza Strip, killing at least two people and leaving more than 50 injured.

The attack came on Monday morning after one of the six ships in the convoy was hit by Israeli navy forces before being stormed by commandos descending from helicopters.

Israel had earlier deployed warships and threatened to stop the flotilla from reaching Gaza.

Israeli navy forces and helicopters have taken over the ships in the humanitarian aid convoy and are using force against those on board, a Press TV correspondent reported.

Israeli soldiers have also reportedly detained activists accompanying the convoy.

In Gaza, Palestine's democratically elected Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh strongly condemned the attack on the flotilla and called on the international community to protect the aid mission.

The convoy carries 10,000 tons of supplies and hundreds of politicians, activists and journalists.

The flotilla was seeking to break Israel's crippling blockade of Gaza and deliver basic necessities to the impoverished Palestinians in the coastal enclave

a report from the Free Gaza flotilla by Press TV

Berlin bars Muslim boy from prayers

Berlin bars Muslim boy from prayers

Fri, 28 May 2010 15:08:54 GMT

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A German court has rejected a legal bid by a 16-year-old Muslim student to have the right to conduct prayers at his school, reports say.

here a report from Press TV in English

here a report from Press TV in English
Free Gaza Flotila

you can watch live broadcast from free gaza flotila (mostly in Turkish languge )

Watch live streaming video from insaniyardim at livestream.com

Turkey / Israeli accession to OECD: IHRC Delegation meets Turkish Prime Minister

Turkey / Israeli accession to OECD:
IHRC Delegation meets Turkish Prime Minister
Friday 14 May 2010 3:02

The delegation of European Muslim dignitaries campaigning for Turkey to veto Israel’s accession to the OECD as well as discussing wider issues concerning the plight of Palestinians, met with Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Monday 10 May in Istanbul.

The delegation’s trip was delayed as a result of the volcanic ash cloud over Europe in April. The trip was the culmination of IHRC’s campaign which saw thousands of campaigners’ world-wide write to the Turkish PM demanding Turkey veto Israel’s accession to the OECD. The accession process however has proceeded in May, with a Turkish led statement from members criticizing inter alia Israel’s human rights record, the continued presence and expansion of settlement.

IHRC Chair and head of the delegation Massoud Shadjareh said:

“The delegation had hoped that Turkey would make a brave and unilateral stance of vetoing Israel’s accession to OECD. Nevertheless unlike other states Turkey highlighted the responsibilities of Israel on the issues of human rights, the siege of Gaza, disfiguration of Jerusalem/al-Quds and concern over the ongoing illegal occupation and settlements as against the stated standards and principles of OECD”

IHRC head of campaigns, Seyfeddin Kara said:

“We are of course disappointed that the OECD member states did not take the difficult but just stance of vetoing Israel’s accession. Nevertheless we note that the statement led by Turkey at the OECD highlighting Israel’s human rights violations is in someway an acknowledgement of the campaign.”

Delegation member Said Ferjani from Muslim Association of Britain said:

“We can only hope that the people of Palestine know that world-wide ordinary people love and support them, and their involvement in this campaign has been a testimony to that.”

The delegation continues in its meetings with government officials this week, and will continue to make the case for a more pro-active strategy for justice for Palestinians on the international stage.

Details of all delegation members can be found at:

IHRC Delegation meets Turkish Prime Minister

For further comment and information please call 905442311645 or 44 7958 522196 or 447947127974 .

Aid flotilla sets sail for Gaza Strip

Aid flotilla sets sail for Gaza Strip

Mon, 24 May 2010 15:22:53 GMT

A flotilla of humanitarian aid ships is heading toward the Gaza Strip with the aim of breaking the Israeli blockade of the coastal sliver.

A Turkish charity group announced Monday that nine cargo vessels, called the Freedom Flotilla, is participating in the mission.

The Foundation of Humanitarian Relief said the ships, from Turkey, Ireland, Britain and Greece, are set to reach Gaza on Wednesday evening.

The Freedom Flotilla convoy is carrying 10,000 tons of construction material, medical equipment and school supplies, as well as around 750 activists from 40 countries.

The Israeli navy, which has prevented many ships carrying humanitarian aid for the people of Gaza from entering the coastal region, has told the aid vessels not to near the strip.

However, campaign members said they were determined to deliver their humanitarian aid to Gazans.

Since 2007, the siege of Gaza has deprived 1.5 million Palestinians of fuel, food, and other necessities.

Hamas rules out recognition of Israel

Hamas rules out recognition of Israel

Thu, 20 May 2010 06:44:50 GMT

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Senior Hamas official Khalil al-Hayya (R)

Hamas has proposed a phased establishment of a Palestinian state, insisting its acceptance of the 1967 borders will not involve the recognition of Israel.

The proposal would see the acceptance of a Palestinian state "in stages" on the 1967 armistice line, with the currently Israeli occupied East al-Quds (Jerusalem) as its capital, Ma'an news agency quoted senior Hamas official Khalil al-Hayya as saying on Wednesday.

It also requires "the return of all refugees without recognizing Israel in exchange for a 10-year truce," Hayya told a Hamas conference in Gaza City's al-Shujaiyeh neighborhood.

"This means that if the international community grants the right of return to the six million Palestinian refugees across the world to their homes in Haifa, Yaffa, and Akko [Acre], then there will no longer be an occupying state," he noted.

The Hamas official said the return of Palestinian refugees was "the cornerstone of the Palestinian cause" and would signal the end of Israeli occupation, what he said was paramount to the movement's 1967 border proposal.

Accusing Israel of waging a "fierce war" against the Palestinians' rights, Hayya highlighted resistance as the only way for the Palestinians to regain their rights and called on the nation to be "prepared with culture, faith, weapons and unity among each other."

He said the movement's border proposal "differs greatly from that of Fatah" on the creation of a Palestinian state on 1967 borders, calling on the rival faction consider other options put forward by Palestinian groups regarding the peace process.

"Come, let us have unity among our people on Palestinian principles. Why should we deprive our people of open options?"

The remarks come weeks after Israeli media said the Gaza-based Hamas government had written letters to US President Barack Obama, saying they were ready to "recognize Israel within the 1967 borders in exchange for a ceasefire agreement."

Hamas confirmed sending letters, but stressed they contained nothing against the movement's policy which reserves Hamas the right to resist Israeli forces until they withdraw from areas occupied in 1967.

The letter simply "included a request for Obama to change his policy towards the Palestinian people and their rights," said Taher al-Nunu, a spokesman for the Hamas government.

'Israel is the West's tool'

Wed, 19 May 2010 02:44:38 GMT

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Hezbollah Deputy Secretary General Sheikh Naim Qassem (Getty Images)

Israel has been planted in the Middle East to serve the policies of the Western powers, an official of the Lebanese resistance movement Hezbollah says.

Hezbollah Deputy Secretary General Sheikh Naim Qassem said Israel is being used to establish hegemony over the region, the Press TV correspondent in Beirut, Ali Rizk, reported on Tuesday.

Israel previously planned to use Lebanon as an intelligence base, Qassem added.

Should Israel renew its attacks, Qassem said, there would be serious consequences for Israel and Lebanon.

Lebanon, though, would emerge victorious and be able to rebuild, the Hezbollah official added.

In late April, Israel and the United States accused Syria of supplying Hezbollah with Russian-made Scud missiles. Israel also recently sent its forces into Lebanon's border town of Abbassiyeh, fired flares over southern parts of the country, and violated Lebanese airspace.

Damascus, Beirut, and the Hezbollah movement itself have rejected the claims about arms transfers.

Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri and Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Muallem have drawn a parallel between the accusations and Washington's claim that Iraq possessed weapons of mass destruction, used as the main pretext for the US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003.

Israel blasts Russian talks with Hamas

Israel blasts Russian talks with Hamas
Thursday 13 May 2010 10:09


Israel on Tuesday sharply criticized Russian President Dmitry Medvedev for having met with the exiled Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal in Damascus.The Israeli foreign ministry also rejected what it said was a call from the presidents of Russia and Turkey to include Hamas in the peace process."There is no difference between Hamas actions against Israel and Chechen terror against Russia," a ministry statement said."The foreign ministry vehemently rejects the call from the presidents of Russia and Turkey to include Hamas in the peace processes and expresses deep disappointment over the meeting between the president of Russia and Khaled Meshaal in Damascus."

Israeli forces invade N Gaza Strip

Israeli forces invade N Gaza Strip

Thu, 13 May 2010 05:11:44 GMT

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Palestinian resistance fighters in the Gaza Strip have clashed with Israeli forces upon a fresh incursion into the north of the Palestinian coastal enclave.

The confrontation occurred on Wednesday when a number of Israeli armored vehicles and bulldozers briefly crossed into an area east of al-Shujaiyeh, Ma'an news agency quoted witnesses as saying.

They said Israeli artillery also shelled the area, which is close to the now defunct Nahal Oz fuel pipeline along the Gaza-Israel border.

The al-Quds Brigades, the military wing of Islamic Jihad, said its fighters fired a rocket-propelled grenade toward the Israeli military convoy entering Gaza, the movement said in a statement.

The statement said the Israeli attack was a further proof of Israeli aggression towards the Palestinians and highlighted the significance of resistance against Israel's violations.

An Israeli military spokesman said he would look into the report.

Israeli artillery and tanks have been regularly shelling Palestinian residential areas and farmlands close to the border with the Gaza Strip.

The attacks culminated in late December 2008 when the Israeli army launched a deadly offensive on the Hamas-run territory, which left more than 1,400 people -- mostly civilians -- killed.

The 22-day onslaught also leveled scores of houses and devastated a noticeable portion of Gaza's infrastructure.

Published on Friday, May 7, 2010 by CommonDreams.org

Published on Friday, May 7, 2010 by CommonDreams.org
We're Almost Ready to Sail to Gaza

by Greta Berlin
We're almost ready. Our vessels are being loaded with construction materials, specialized medical equipment, generators, pre-fab homes, water filtration units, and school supplies for the children. Israel allows only 81 items into Gaza, forcing the people to use tunnels to bring in supplies, barely keeping their economy at subsistence level.
When asked why they refuse to allow supplies into Gaza, Israeli authorities stated, "If we disclose what is allowed in and why... it would damage our national security and harm foreign relations." BBC, May 3, 2010
Therefore, we intend to open a sea route that will belong to the Palestinians. Gaza is the only territory on the Mediterranean that has no right to its sea, no right to fish more than a mile off its coast, no right to send out its flowers, vegetables and fruit for trade to other nations. Israel's cruel blockade has shut 1.5 million Palestinians into an open-air prison, allowing only a trickle of aid through.
We cannot stand by and watch the people slowly starve and lose hope. Since our governments appear to be impotent, we civilians from around the world are stepping up instead. We carry the hopes and dreams and prayers of thousands who have supported us over these past ten months, and we take those well wishes with us to the people of Gaza.

So for the next few weeks as we finish loading supplies and passengers, we will upload messages and well wishes like this one. Watch for them and send your own wish to us. Become a part of this citizen's initiative by joining our Newslist, TWITTER account, Facebook page and YouTube list, all on the front page of our website.
Write to your representatives demanding they put Israel on notice for our safety and the safety of our cargo. Then watch our journey from the live feed on our website at www.freegaza.org beginning soon.
Greta Berlin is a member of the Free Gaza Movement.

ISM;Israeli Bulldozers Destroy Palestinian Children’s Playground near Bethlehem

Israeli bulldozers today destroyed a garden and children’s playground in Beit Jala, and 100 fruit and olive trees in Al Walaja, both in the Bethlehem district, to make way for the continued construction of their illegal apartheid wall. Soldiers present used violent force to remove Palestinian, Israeli and international activists who attempted to prevent the destruction. Two Israelis were arrested immediately, and six internationals were later arrested.

In Beit Jala, this is the second time that this particular garden and playground has been bulldozed. A legal injunction preventing further destruction expired this week. Following the previous demolition, in early March, local Palestinian residents and international supporters rebuilt the playground and planted new olive trees in the garden. All these were today destroyed.

Twelve people, representing six different nationalities, sat in front of the Caterpillar bulldozer as it moved up to the garden. Soldiers forcefully removed all twelve, several of whom sustained minor injuries, and one of whom was hospitalised with suspected broken ribs after his stomach was repeatedly stamped upon by one of the soldiers.

After soldiers forced everyone but the owners of the garden up to the road above, they joined approximately 50 other internationals and local residents to hold a demonstration which lasted into the evening. Overlooking the wreckage of the morning’s destruction, the protesters chanted and sang, asking only to be allowed back down to the house, where bulldozing had finished, to speak with the family there. Late in the afternoon, six activists, from the USA, Italy, Spain, Germany and France, managed to access the house via a back route, bringing food in to the family, before being arrested by Israeli Border Police, accused of illegally entering a Closed Military Zone.

In Al Walaja, Israeli military prevented any internationals or journalists from accessing the area to observe the uprooting of approximately 40 olive trees.

The International Court of Justice has ruled that the building of Israel’s apartheid wall is in violation of international law. When complete, the wall will run for over 700km, the vast majority of it passing through and effectively annexing Palestinian land in the West Bank.

The Freedom Flotilla Sails to Gaza in May
Written by Free Gaza Team 28 April 2010 Posted in News
(London, UK) On May 24, 2010, the Freedom Flotilla sets sail for Gaza determined to, once again, challenge Israel’s blockade of 1.5 million Palestinians trapped in an open-air prison. Under the coordination of the Free Gaza Movement, numerous human rights organizations, including the Turkish Relief Foundation (IHH), the Perdana Global Peace Organization from Malaysia, the European Campaign to End the Siege of Gaza, and the Swedish and Greek Boat to Gaza initiatives will send three cargo ships loaded with reconstruction, medical and educational supplies. At least five passenger boats with over 600 people on board will accompany the cargo ships.
These passengers include members of Parliament from around the world, U.N., human rights and trade union activists, as well as journalists who will document the largest coordinated effort to directly confront Israel’s illegal blockade of Gaza and take in basic supplies.
Said Mary Hughes Thompson, one of Free Gaza’s co-founders, “Although we were happy with the first trips, it was bitter-sweet, knowing that our small boats and symbolic amounts of relief paled in comparison to what was really needed in Gaza. Now, we finally feel we are helping to organize a powerful action, one with the potential to translate into a sustained campaign of much more effective challenges to Israel's brutal siege.”
In the past three months, Israel has limited fuel to run the power station. Much of Gaza is often in darkness. There are just enough trucks coming in to barely prevent total starvation, and Egypt, complicit with the Israeli-US policy of blockading Palestinians, is building an underground steel wall to prevent people in Gaza from bringing in vitally needed supplies through tunnels.

Palestinian prisoner beaten to death

Fri, 23 Apr 2010 01:23:28 GMT
Israeli soldiers take a Palestinian prisoner out of an armored personnel carrier.
The Palestinian Authority's (PA) Minister of Prisoners Affairs, Issa Qaraqi, holds Israel responsible for the death of Raed Abu Hammad, 27, who was in an Israeli jail for 18 months. Hammad was reportedly beaten by Israeli prison guards to death. He was found dead in his solitary confinement cell. Qaraqi said on Thursday that the cause of death was from "a blow to the lower spinal cord with a direct hit." The minister added that based on reports he had received, the detainee had been kicked strongly in the lower back. The PA will, in the beginning of next week, request from the Magistrate court in Beer Sheva, to investigate the cause of death based on available reports. Israeli authorities have dismissed the allegations as unfounded and declined to give any details. More than 7,000 Palestinians are currently held in Israeli jails.

______________________________

Note: more than 7000 apparantly is the number of Palestinian Political prisoners in israel's jails but the total number of Palestinians in israel's prisons is more than 11000 as I know

15 palestinians detained on one day , israeli tanks destroyed Gaza farms

Israeli tanks had enterned Gaza strip in support of israeli buldozers to destroy Gaza's cultivated farms
Israeli tanks destroy Gaza farm lands
Fri, 23 Apr 2010 01:04:54 GMT

Israeli tanks frequently invade border areas in the Gaza Strip.
Israeli tanks and bulldozers have invaded the Abassan al-Mubra village in the southern district of Gaza Strip, destroying a number of Palestinian farm lands. The tanks also opened fire at residential homes on Thursday as bulldozers uprooted trees and destroyed farm lands owned by local Palestinian farmers, witnesses told Palestine's Maan news agency. Israeli tanks frequently invade border areas in the Gaza Strip and destroy lands with the aim to create a security buffer zone along the Israeli-Gaza border. Meanwhile, in yet another invasion of the northern West Bank, Israeli troops entered the region and detained fifteen Palestinian civilians in the early hours of Thursday. Local sources reported that in Jenin, a villager sustained light injuries after soldiers attacked him while on his way to work. In the city of Jenin, Israeli troops detained three men. Another six teenagers were taken away by soldiers during house-to-house search, targeting the village of Azon near Qalqilia. Three men and three teenagers were also detained from the village of Taqua near Beit Lahm (Bethlehem). The Israeli army radio announced that all the 15 detained on Thursday were taken to military detention camps for questioning.

Iran Navy rescues tanker in Somalia
Thu, 22 Apr 2010 12:33:07 GMT
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A US Military handout picture dated April 10, 2010 shows a burning pirate skiff that was hit after opening fire on a US Navy ship.
Iran's anti-piracy naval forces have rescued an Iranian oil supertanker following a Somali pirate attack in the dangerous waters of the Gulf of Aden. The oil tanker was sailing from the southern Iranian Island of Khark to Egypt with a 300,000-ton cargo of crude oil worth USD 150 million, IRNA cited a navy statement. The supertanker was reportedly attacked by a fleet of 15 pirate boats as soon as it entered the Gulf of Aden “a few days ago”, but the hijacking attempt was thwarted after the Iranian Navy exchanged fire with the sea bandits. The vessel is now en route to its original destination with a naval escort. Since November 2008, the Iranian Navy has dispatched seven naval vessels to patrol the pirate-infested waters of Somalia. Despite an internationally-backed EU anti-piracy mission, heavily-armed bandits have become increasingly emboldened over the past few years and are spreading piracy further into the Indian Ocean. Earlier this month, the Iranian Navy prevented a similar attack on another Iranian tanker bound for Turkey. Last month, a group of Iranian fishermen were rescued by a Spanish frigate working under the European Union's NAVFOR Somalia. Pirates had left the tied-up fishermen for dead after looting their goods and emptying their oil.

Mohamed ElBaradei has expressed support for Palestinian resistance, calling Gaza the world's largest jail

ElBaradei: Gaza, world's largest jail
Wed, 14 Apr 2010 04:21:02 GMT

Former head of the International Atomic Energy Agency Mohamed ElBaradei has expressed support for Palestinian resistance, calling Gaza the world's largest jail. In a report published by UPI on Tuesday, ElBaradei described resistance the only path open to the Palestinian people, because the Israeli occupation only understands the language of force. "The peace process has become a stupid joke which we talk about without achieving any progress," the Egyptian diplomat reportedly said, adding that the Arabs should back their negotiation option with force and deterrence. He also criticized Cairo's construction of a steel wall along the border with the Gaza Strip, aimed at disrupting Palestinians' "survival" tunnel network, as harmful to Egypt's reputation. He described Egypt's construction of the wall as joining Israel in its closure of the strip, which he said "has become the world's largest prison." "The logical solution to the problem would be to close the tunnels and open border crossings while creating a free trade zone in Rafah where Palestinians can trade and then return to Gaza." More than two years of a crippling Israeli blockade has pushed some 1.5 million Gazans on the verge of starvation and has irreparably hurt Gaza's economy as the siege totally cuts off the territory from the outside world. As Israel refuses to open Gaza border crossings it has closed since 2007, the Rafah crossing — the only terminal not under Tel Aviv's control — is sealed off by Egyptian officials. The 67-year old ElBaradei is largely expected to run in Egypt's 2011 presidential elections, as opposition parties are seeking to pressure President Hosni Mubarak for democratic reforms.

'No trace of Israel will remain if Iran attacked'
Iran's Defense Minister Brigadier General Ahmad Vahidi has lashed out at the United States for its dual-based nuclear policies. "The US is working on a new generation of nuclear bombs. It also defends Israel that has tens of nuclear warheads but it opposes Iran's peaceful use of nuclear energy. This shows a double-standard in their nuclear policies," ISNA quoted Vahidi as saying on Wednesday. The Iranian minister also rejected the possibility of a military strike against Iran's nuclear sites by Israel or the United States. "The Zionist regime of Israel is too weak to attack Iran," he added. "No trace of Israel will remain if the Zionist regime declares a war on Iran," he warned. Tehran has repeatedly dismissed Israeli threats of military strikes against Iran as psychological warfare aimed at pressuring the Islamic Republic to abandon its peaceful nuclear work. ...

Europe holds events in solidarity with Palestinian prisoners

Europe holds events in solidarity with Palestinian prisoners
Saturday 10 April 2010 13:09
A number of European countries has witnessed lately a series of events in solidarity with the Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails organized by different human rights and civil organizations. Palestinian and international institutions in Europe had declared 2010 a year for the defense of the issue of prisoners after the issue of occupied Jerusalem was the center of Palestinian activities in Europe last year. In this context, various popular ceremonies were held during this month in a number of Italian cities including Milan, Turin and Brescia dedicated to highlighting the suffering of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails, where halls and sport stadiums were crowded with thousands of people who attended at the invitation of the Palestinian assembly in Italy. Friends of humanity international and the institution of south house will organize in April 17 a symposium on the occasion of the Palestinian prisoner day in the Austrian capital Vienna. Among the speakers in this symposium will be former Egyptian deputy minister of foreign affairs Abdullah Al-Ash’al and European lawmaker Alexandra Tyne. A documentary film showing the harsh incarceration conditions in Israeli jails will be screened during the event. For its part, Friends of humanity recently issued a comprehensive report on the detention conditions of Palestinian prisoners and the violations committed against them by Israeli jailers during 2009. The issue of Palestinian prisoners will also be high on the agenda of the upcoming Palestinians in Europe conference that is slated to be held in the German capital Berlin.

Gaza in blackout as Israeli blockade continues

Gaza in blackout as Israeli blockade continues
Fri, 09 Apr 2010 11:42:16 GMT
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The only power plant in the blockaded Gaza Strip has shut down as a crippling Israeli closure keeps the impoverished region stripped of much needed fuel.

The facility was forces to close on Friday, following a week of limited fuel imports and Israeli authorities' refusal to open any border-crossings.

Palestinian liaison official Raed Fattouh confirmed the closure of all crossings and that they were expected to remain closed for Saturday as well.

That would mean the populated enclave will dip in a blackout for the next three days until fuel supplies are allowed and transported to the power plant.

Vice President of the Palestinian Energy Authority Kanaan Ubeid said all of the four generators at the facility had ceased to function as fuel supplies had reduced from 2,200 units per day to 750 units. "This is not enough to run even one generator on," Ubeid said.

Gaza's sole power plant has been grappled with fuel shortages since December, when European officials handed over responsibility for fuel transfers to the Palestinian Authority upon a request by Ramallah that the aid from the European Union be channeled into civil servant salaries.

Ubeid blamed the transfer and corresponding closure of the main fuel transfer terminal at Nahal Oz for the shortages, saying imports have fallen by half ever since.

The Gaza Strip has been under a paralyzing Israeli siege since 2007 when the democratically elected Hamas-led Palestinian government had to limit its rule to the coastal sliver, while the Western-backed Fatah mounted its own government in the West Bank.

Israel maintained the blockade during and after its devastating military offensive on the Gaza Strip which left more than 1,400 Palestinians, mostly civilians, killed and thousands of others injured.

Three weeks of relentless aerial bombardments and ground incursions devastated much of the region's infrastructure and leveled scores of residential and office buildings.

Gaza still lies in ruin as Israel prevents the delivery of the materials needed for the reconstruction into the Palestinian territory.

Hamas warns about plight of Palestinian prisoners

Hamas warns about plight of Palestinian prisoners
Fri, 09 Apr 2010 00:25:21 GMT
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File photo of a boy reconstructing the treatment of Palestinian prisoners in a protest calling for the release of Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails.
Hamas spokesperson warns if the international community continues to turn a blind eye on the maltreatment of Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails, the group will take prisoner more Israeli soldiers. Sami Abu Zuhri complained on Thursday in Gaza that the world is only concerned with the release of Israeli prisoner of war Gilad Shalit from Hamas prison, but is was least bothered about the ill-treatment and sufferings of the Palestinians in Israeli jails. If this ill-treatment continues and the world carries on with the same trend, then Hamas will be forced to find "new friends" for the Israeli soldier Shalit, he said. Almost 10,000 Palestinian prisoners are being held in Israeli prisons. Earlier, in retaliation to Israel's six mortar shells that injured six in the beleaguered Gaza Strip, Israeli Army Radio reported that three mortar bombs were fired at a military unit patrolling near the border with Israel. No injures were reported.

Israel launches ground incursion into Gaza Strip

Israel launches ground incursion into Gaza Strip
Thu, 08 Apr 2010 06:36:04 GMT
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Israel has launched a ground incursion into the Gaza Strip with its troops entering the south of the long-blockaded coastal sliver. Israeli tanks and bulldozers advanced about 500 meters into the east of the southern city of Khan Yunis on Wednesday, the Press TV correspondent in Gaza reported. Late in March, Israeli forces crossed into the southern Qarara region and then invaded Dair al-Balah in central Gaza. This was days after Israeli armored vehicles crossed into an area near the southern town of Khan Yunis, leaving one Palestinian dead and several others wounded. Israeli forces have carried out numerous incursions into Gaza since Tel Aviv's 22-day war on the strip at the turn of 2009. The so-called Operation Cast Lead devastated much of the infrastructure in the impoverished Palestinian enclave, killing more than 1,400 Palestinians, mostly civilians.

Israeli occupation troops round up 1,400 Palestinians in 3 months
Monday, April 5
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Palestine Information Center
GAZA — The higher national committee in support of prisoners on Sunday said that the Israeli occupation forces (IOF) had detained more than 1,400 Palestinians in the first quarter of 2010 including 90 from the Gaza Strip.