Issue No : 82
Palestinian Cultural Organization Malaysia
17th February, 2014
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17th February, 2014
Issue No : 82
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During his meeting with top officials from Fatah Erdogan: No reconciliation with Israel until end of Gaza siege Haneyya: We launched positive initiatives for the national reconciliation P6
FEATURED STORY
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Hamas will treat international forces as occupiers
P10 Settlements give the game away; Israel wants all of the West Bank Bernama hopes to cooperate with AlQuds TV to reach wider audience 2 |
ARTICLE
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Palestinian Cultural Organization Malaysia
Issue No : 82
17th February, 2014
CONTENTS News of Palestine
Haneyya: We launched positive initiatives for the national reconciliation Erdogan: No reconciliation with Israel until end of Gaza siege Hamas will treat international forces as occupiers One Gazan killed, 18 wounded by Israeli gunfire Israel to build high rise settlement in East Jerusalem Hamas: Al-Yarmouk agreement aims to save the Palestinian refugees
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Israel Insider
Israeli army suffers from brain drain
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Malaysia & Palestinian Cause
Bernama hopes to cooperate with AlQuds TV to reach wider audience
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Articles & Analyses
Settlements give the game away; Israel wants all of the West Bank
Palestinian Cultural Organization Malaysia
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17th February, 2014
Issue No : 82
News of Palestine
During his meeting with top officials from Fatah
Haneyya: We launched positive initiatives for the national reconciliation
tions committed by the PalestinPalestinian premier Ismail ian Authority (PA) security appaHaneyya said that the Palestin- ratuses against Hamas members ian reconciliation is a strategic and cadres in the West Bank. decision for his government The premier asserted that the and the Hamas Movement, af- ongoing political arrest and haďŹ rming that his government rassment of Hamas cadres in has made several positive ini- the West Bank, and the security tiatives in this regard. cooperation between the PA and During his meeting on Sunday Israel dissuade the Hamas deciwith a delegation from Fa- sion-makers from any inter-Paltah faction, premier Haneyya estinian political settlement.
10/2/2014
highlighted the daily viola- The Fatah delegation was hand-
ed a letter to PA president Mahmoud Abbas urging him to necessarily take concrete steps to create a positive atmosphere for the national reconciliation. The delegation was also given a list containing the names of Fatah individuals and ofďŹ cials who are allowed to return to the Gaza Strip in the framework of the positive initiatives that have been launched recently by the government in Gaza and Hamas.
Source: PIC 4 |
Palestinian Cultural Organization Malaysia
Issue No : 82
17th February, 2014
Erdogan: No reconciliation with Israel until end of Gaza siege
12/2/2014 Turkish premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Israel answered several Turkish demands in negotiations, but added that Ankara won’t agree to normalization of ties without lifting Gaza blockade, Hebrew media sources said. Speaking at a press conference in Ankara alongside Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy, Erdogan said on Tuesday that he demanded a “written protocol” from Israel pledging it will lift the siege over the Gaza Strip as a condition for signing a reconciliation agreement and normalizing relations between them, Haaretz Hebrew newspaper said on Wednesday. Erdogan said that negotiations with Israel have progressed, but
have not ended. He added that Turkey has received an apology from Israel, and that talks over compensation for the families of those killed and wounded on the Mavi Marmara ship in 2010 are ongoing, according to the newspaper. However, Erdogan said the lifting of the siege on the Gaza Strip has not yet transpired. “Nothing will happen without lifting the siege on Gaza,” he said. For its part, Palestinian government in Gaza Strip praised Erdogan’s demand to lift the siege on Gaza, considering it a courageous position amid the international silence towards the continued Israeli siege for eight years. The government condemned the international passive position towards Israeli violations, praising some countries that chose to stand behind Palestinian people in reference to Qatar’s reconstruction efforts in Gaza. The government called on Arab leaders and international community to emulate Erdogan’s position in support of Palestinian cause, stressing, at the same time, the Palestinian people’s adherence to their legitimate rights and resistance option.
Palestinian Cultural Organization Malaysia
Source: PIC | 5
17th February, 2014
Issue No : 82
15/2/2014
Hamas will treat international forces as occupiers
Hamas announced on Friday that it would deal with any foreign forces deployed in Palestinian territories the same way it is dealing with Israeli occupation, emphasizing its rejection of negotiations between the Palestinian Authority (PA) and Israel. In a speech before a massive march held by Hamas supporters in Rafah against negotiations, Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri said: “There are discussions about accepting the replacement of Israeli occupation forces in the Palestinian territories with international forces…Who has authorised them to speak on behalf of the Palestinians? Today we announce that we will deal with these forces the same way we are dealing with Israeli occupation.”
the PA, the occupation, and Kerry. Hamas will not allow the passing of any agreement that would violate our rights.”
“Regrettably, the Palestinian negotiator took part in negotiations although he recognised very well that they would not Abu Zuhri urged Abbas to with- restore our rights,” the senior draw from negotiations “before Hamas leader said. it’s too late”. Chief Palestinian negotiator “We are here today to say that Saeb Erekat said on Friday that what is going on is a liquidation negotiations gave time to Israel of our remaining rights and prin- to expand settlements. Howciples… Kerry’s plan aims at liq- ever, office of the Israeli Prime uidating the Palestinian cause; it Minister said today that there is has been co-planned by the Amer- almost an agreement to extend icans and Israelis to wipe out the negotiations for an extra year.
Abu Zuhri reiterated his movement’s refusal of the plan proposed by US Secretary of State John Kerry. “We reject negotiations, and we reject any agreement resulting from them. This is our message to rest of our rights.”
Source: MEMO
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Palestinian Cultural Organization Malaysia
Issue No : 82
15/2/2014
17th February, 2014
One Gazan killed, 18 wounded by Israeli gunfire
One Palestinian young man was shot dead and another was moderately wounded Thursday afternoon when the Israeli occupation forces (IOF) opened fire at them near Al-Mintar area to the east of Gaza city. A medical source said that 26-year-old Ibrahim Mansour received a bullet in his head and another young man aged 21 sustained a bullet injury in his right foot. On Friday, Israeli troops fired tear gas and live bullets at Palestinian demonstration near the border fence in northern Gaza, the Palestinian medics said 17 men were wounded. East Jabaliya border has been frequented every Friday by Gaza youths practicing in non-violent protests against the buffer zone that Israel is trying
to impose. The zone extends between 500 meters and 1500 meters into the Strip, effectively turning local farms into no-go zones. According to UNOCHA, 17 percent of Gaza’s total land area and 35 percent of its agricultural land were within the buffer zone as of 2010, directly affecting the lives and livelihoods of more than 100,000 Gazans.
Source: Agencies
Israel to build high rise settlement in East Jerusalem
“It’s not a game changer but it’s on a piece of land Jerusalem’s Israeli planning committee moved in Sheikh Jarrah which has already suffered a lot. forwards on Wednesday with plans to build a nine- It’s a very sensitive area and I think the prime minstory Jewish seminary in the heart of a densely- ister knows it.” populated Palestinian neighbourhood near the Old Sheikh Jarrah is a Palestinian residential neighCity in occupied East Jerusalem. bourhood located to the north of the Old City that Plans for the new tower block, to be built in the has seen repeated attempts by Jewish settlers to Sheikh Jarrah neighbourhood of East Jerusalem, evict local residents.
13/2/2014
were deposited for consultation, giving the pub- The area, which is home to around 2,700 Paleslic 60 days to submit any objections, settlement tinians, includes well-known landmarks, such as watchdog Peace Now said. Orient House, the American Colony Hotel and the “It’s a plan for a nine-story, ultra-Orthodox yeshi- Palestinian National Theatre, as well as many conva in Sheikh Jarrah which was deposited today for sular missions. objections,” spokesman Lior Amihai told AFP.
Located on the road which links the Old City to “The plan was supposed to be discussed and ap- Mount Scopus, the area is considered a strategic proved a few weeks ago, however it was postponed location and settlement groups have made persis-- most probably due to political reasons,” he said. tent efforts to take control of its land.
Source: ALRAY
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Issue No : 82
The agreement included three points
Hamas: Al-Yarmouk agreement aims to save the Palestinian refugees
10/2/2014 Member of Hamas’ political bureau Ezzat Al-Resheq said that the agreement that took place on Sunday in Al-Yarmouk refugee camp was a step in the right direction aimed at neutralizing the camp and sparing it any further deterioration of its humanitarian situation.
was the result of strenuous efforts made by the Hamas Movement in cooperation with other Palestinian factions and the concerned parties.
For his part, senior Hamas official Osama Hamdan said the agreement includes three points, the first one calling for In a press statement to the Palestin- neutralizing the camp, espeian information center (PIC), Resheq cially since the Palestinians are called for executing the agreement no party to the conflict in Syria. fully in response to the humanitarian The second point, Hamdan initiative of some Palestinian fac- added, is to get the armed men tions in order to completely end the out of the camp and settle the blockade on the camp. issue of the militants from the He affirmed that the agreement camp financially, and the third
point is to allow in humanitarian aid and restore the life in the camp to normal. The Hamas official asserted that a civilian committee would enter the camp on Monday to make sure it is free from the militants, and simultaneously the relief efforts would continue more widely in the camp. He noted that the most important thing now is to provide all the refugees with food and medical aid, especially after they had suffered from inhumane conditions for about eight months.
Source: PIC 8 |
Palestinian Cultural Organization Malaysia
Issue No : 82
17th February, 2014
Israel Insider
Israeli army suffers from brain drain
14/2/2014 The Israeli army suffers from brain drain as many young officers prefer taking civilian jobs to extending their military service, Israel’s Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper reported on Friday. According to the newspaper, the trend has doubled over the past two years, especially among officers in technological units who quit their army service to take attractive offers in high-tech civilian industries. The newspaper quoted an official at the 8200 unit, an intelligence unit responsible for collecting signal intelligence and decrypting code, as saying that “the unit will not be able to fulfil its obligations as many outstanding officers leave once they complete their service.” The newspaper also pointed out that, “the combat units suffer from a similar case where nearly forty percent of the outstanding officers decide not to extend their service period.”
Source: MEMO
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17th February, 2014
Issue No : 82
Malaysia & Palestinian Cause
Bernama hopes to cooperate with AlQuds TV to reach wider audience 12/2/2014 The Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama) hoped to work together with the popular Beirut-based Arab television channel AlQuds to enable Malaysians to know more about issues in the Middle East, said its general manager Datuk Yong Soo Heong. Referring to Palestine, he said that apart from news on the conflict between that state and Israel, there was also a need to know more about the Palestinian economy, culture and their achievements. “I think a very good example is to show the perseverance and the dynamism of the Palestinian people despite all the major challenges,” he said after meeting a delegation from AlQuds led by its head of New Media, Nayef M. Shehadeh, to discuss the TV channel’s possible tie-up with Bernama. Yong said that being a television channel, which had a wide following in the Middle East, AlQuds could give a better perspective of what was taking place in Palestine compared to some other Western media channels. “Through you, Malaysians will know more about Palestine and the Middle East in general,” he said. Shehadeh, who said that his visit to Malaysia was to find ways to cooperate with Bernama, hoped the meeting would be the first step in establishing such a cooperation. He also said that AlQuds was con10 |
templating to set up an office in Malaysia apart from Turkey and South Africa as part of the TV channel’s move to expand and gain more audience on the Palestinian issue. Launched in November 2008, AlQuds is an Arab television channel dealing with the Palestinian issue and has offices in the Gaza Strip, West Bank, Beirut and Damascus. It is owned by AlQuds Radio and Television and broadcasts round-the-clock in Arabic. Meanwhile, AlQuds TV copywriter and presenter Dr Omar Jayyosi, said that 85 per cent of the satellite TV’s coverage was on Palestinian issues and 15 per cent on international issues. As such, he hoped that if cooperation with Bernama was established, it could help increase the scope of the station’s international news and foreign issue coverage, besides exposing Malaysia to more people in the Middle East. Describing Malaysia as “truly Asia”, he said the country also played a leading role in the Muslim world and was regarded as a role model for other Muslim nations in terms of its economy and stability. “A tie-up with Bernama will enable these aspects to reach out to a wider audience in the Middle East,” he said. The AlQuds delegation included the chairman of the Palestinian Cultural Organisation Malaysia (PCOM) Muslim Imran, PCOM media director Mohamed Alherbawi and PCOM media advisor Mahmoud Al-Adam.
Source: BERNAM
Palestinian Cultural Organization Malaysia
Issue No : 82
17th February, 2014
Articles & Analyses
Settlements give the game away; Israel wants all of the West Bank By: Dr. Daud Abdullah Soon after the signing of the Wye River Agreement in 1998 Israel’s minister of infrastructure in the first Netanyahu government, the late, unlamented Ariel Sharon, urged settlers to “seize the hilltops”. What followed was an explosion of Israeli settlements across the occupied West Bank. Sixteen years on, as US Secretary of State John Kerry makes another push for an agreement on his peace plan, Israel has again ratcheted up its land-grabbing campaign. The political and humanitarian consequences are countless and far-reaching. Politically, Secretary Kerry’s ambition to have a final agreement within nine months was, from the very beginning, unrealistic. Now in the wake of Israel’s continued pillage of Palestinian land he is said to be considering a deferral until the end of 2014. Fixing ad hoc dates that are divorced from reality can, however, be dangerously deceptive and misleading. It is one thing to “mediate” from the comfort zone of a hotel in Jerusalem or an office in Ramallah; it is quite a different matter to experience first-hand what it means to be a Palestinian in a village
wrecked by Israeli demolitions. Thus, it seems quite reasonable that Mr Kerry should, on his next visit to the occupied territories, trek to the outskirts of Ramallah, Hebron and Bethlehem and witness for himself the damage done to Palestinian agricultural land by the settlers in their hideous race against the agreement clock.
destruction in Palestinian villages.
Such a direct encounter with the “facts on the ground” would, within minutes, confirm that peace cannot be imposed from above, especially in this poisoned climate. Indeed, in the same way that the secretary state had the vision to send his assistant, Victoria Nuland, to Kiev’s Independence Square to show solidarity with protesters, he could also ask her to visit the occupied territories and accompany the US-made bulldozers as they wreak havoc and
For the hundreds of victims who spent years working and saving to provide homes for their loved ones, the impact of their demolition in unimaginable. Spare a thought for their wellbeing and the future of their children. In many cases they have suffered multiple evictions and displacements. Inevitably, the convenient official explanation is always that the Palestinians had no licence to build or that the demolition was
Palestinian Cultural Organization Malaysia
The obvious difference between the two scenarios is that whereas the protesters who brave the cold in Kiev chose to do so, the Palestinians who sleep out in parts of Jerusalem do not do so voluntarily. They were evicted forcibly from their homes.
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17th February, 2014
Issue No : 82
Line inside Israel. At present, Israel accesses 90 per cent of the water from the West Bank.
done to protect Israel’s security and the security of its citizens.
Like ostriches with their heads buried in the sand, none of the parties involved in the current “negotiations” are willing to admit that Israel does not recognise the Palestinian people or their rights. In fact, most members of the present Israeli government believe that all of the land, from the river to the sea, is the Land of Israel. Furthermore, they view the West Bank as a crucial source of water. That is why, throughout all negotiations, including Camp David with the Egyptians, they have always insisted that no agreement should enable the Palestinians to dig wells in the western, northern and eastern slopes of the West Bank because it will impact negatively on the Israeli wells along the Green 12 |
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northern and eastern slopes of the West Bank because it will impact negatively on the Israeli wells along the Green Line inside Israel.
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Of course, this systematic destruction of homes could not take place without the approval of the Israeli government and by association the indifference of the US. In 2013 there was a 127 per cent increase in the number of demolitions in the Jordan Valley compared to 2012 (from 172 demolished structures to 390); the Bedouin and herding communities in the Negev and Jordan Valley were the worst affected. Already, the pattern has continued into 2014 with demolitions taking place at an alarming rate in Al-Jiftlik Al-Mustafa (Jericho), Ein El-Hilweh in the northern Jordan Valley and Jabal Al-Mukabbir in Jerusalem.
Since the French Socialist Jean Glavany MP published his report on the theft of Palestinian water two years ago nothing has changed. If anything, they have got worse. Back then Glaveny pointed out that water had become “a weapon serving the new apartheid”. To illustrate his view he noted that, “Some 450,000 Israeli settlers on the West Bank use more water than the 2.3 million Palestinians that live there.” While in Israel the consumption is 266 litres per person per day, in the occupied territories the average is no more than 15 litres per person per day. Despite the reports in the Israeli media that Mr Kerry has accepted most of Netanyahu’s demands, the latter is still stuck in the past, pursuing the same policy that he endorsed through Sharon in 1998. The proliferation of settlements and attendant destruction of Palestinian homes is simply his way for sabotaging Kerry’s efforts. The latter must surely be asking himself: what do the Israelis really want? The truth is that many of them don’t know themselves. What is well known, though, is that they don’t want to withdraw from the land they acquired by force in 1967 and have occupied and colonised ever since. The settlements give the game away; Israel wants all of the West Bank. If Mahmoud Abbas hasn’t smelt the coffee by now, he never will.
Palestinian Cultural Organization Malaysia
Issue No : 82
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