26 june 2013
Dr. Ahmed Abdul Hadi, deputy political official of Hamas movement in Lebanon, denied rumors which claim that Taamir district in Ein al-Hilweh camp has been exposed to sniper attacks and raids by the army. Abdul Hadi described the news as "tendentious rumors", and said "some suspicious bodies are spreading these rumors in an attempt to create tension in Taamir, terrorize its residents and push them to leave their homes."
He revealed in remarks to Quds Press that Hamas has been contacting all parties in the region, including the leadership of the army, to put an end to the rumors and to maintain a calm atmosphere.
Abdul Hadi asserted that such rumors are detrimental to the interests of the Palestinian people.
He revealed in remarks to Quds Press that Hamas has been contacting all parties in the region, including the leadership of the army, to put an end to the rumors and to maintain a calm atmosphere.
Abdul Hadi asserted that such rumors are detrimental to the interests of the Palestinian people.
25 june 2013
Khaled Mishaal, political bureau chairman of Hamas, received a phone call on Tuesday from Lebanese premier Najib Mikati. Mikati, according to a Hamas statement, thanked Mishaal for his efforts to neutralize Palestinian refugee camps in Lebanon from events going on in that country.
The premier hailed Mishaal’s efforts in stabilizing a ceasefire in the vicinity of Ein El-Hilweh refugee camp and for his efforts to preserve security and stability.
For his part, Mishaal affirmed to Mikati the Palestinians’ keenness on social peace in Lebanon and on neutralizing Palestinian refugee camps in addition to the importance of maintaining Lebanese-Palestinian relations in the best possible shape.
The premier hailed Mishaal’s efforts in stabilizing a ceasefire in the vicinity of Ein El-Hilweh refugee camp and for his efforts to preserve security and stability.
For his part, Mishaal affirmed to Mikati the Palestinians’ keenness on social peace in Lebanon and on neutralizing Palestinian refugee camps in addition to the importance of maintaining Lebanese-Palestinian relations in the best possible shape.
24 june 2013
The Hamas Movement said on Sunday that it made contacts with Lebanese and Palestinian parties to neutralize the Palestinian refugee camps in the deadly events taking place in Sidon district. Its representative in Lebanon Ali Baraka made contacts in this regard with leaders of Amal movement, Hezbollah, the Islamic group, and the Lebanese army as well as leaders of the Islamic factions in Ein Hilwa refugee camp.
Baraka highlighted in his contacts the need for not implicating the Palestinian refugees in the armed conflict taking place in Sidon.
The Hamas official stressed the good relationship between the Palestinian refugee camps and their vicinity, especially with the Lebanese army and warned of believing the media incitement campaign against the Palestinian refugees and their camps in Lebanon.
For its part, the Palestinian anti-incitement campaign appealed to the Lebanese media outlets to stop accusing the Palestinian refugees of participating in the armed clashes that took place on Sunday in Sidon.
"Some Lebanese media outlets started to accuse directly some Palestinian parties of being involved in these clashes, and we noticed that some of the broadcasters, who were inside studios, and some reporters, who were far away from the scene, were accusing Palestinians of fighting in the events or propagating news about the participation of refugees from Ein Hilwa camp in the clashes without taking it upon themselves to verify the information or state their sources, coordinator of the campaign Ra'fat Mura stated.
Baraka highlighted in his contacts the need for not implicating the Palestinian refugees in the armed conflict taking place in Sidon.
The Hamas official stressed the good relationship between the Palestinian refugee camps and their vicinity, especially with the Lebanese army and warned of believing the media incitement campaign against the Palestinian refugees and their camps in Lebanon.
For its part, the Palestinian anti-incitement campaign appealed to the Lebanese media outlets to stop accusing the Palestinian refugees of participating in the armed clashes that took place on Sunday in Sidon.
"Some Lebanese media outlets started to accuse directly some Palestinian parties of being involved in these clashes, and we noticed that some of the broadcasters, who were inside studios, and some reporters, who were far away from the scene, were accusing Palestinians of fighting in the events or propagating news about the participation of refugees from Ein Hilwa camp in the clashes without taking it upon themselves to verify the information or state their sources, coordinator of the campaign Ra'fat Mura stated.
On Tuesday 25th June, 2013, at 7:30 PM, AICafe invite you to attend a presentation on Forcing the Right of Return as a Possibility: Toward an 'Other Geography' of the World with Linda Quiquivix.
The presentation will make a conceptual intervention on how we understand Palestine by situating it globally, connecting it specifically to the places we inhabit. The goal is to spark a critical discussion on how internationals must begin relating to Palestinians as a people we come not to save, but to learn from, taking these lessons back home where a new world, or an 'Other Geography,' must then be created by us all.
Linda Quiquivix is a geographer, recently post-doctoral fellow in Critical Global Humanities at Brown University's Cogut Center. She is a student of movements "from below and to the left" in the Middle East, Latin America, and the United States. Her interests focus on how everyday people in struggle exercise capacities to create the world anew.
The AIC is a joint Palestinian-Israeli activist organization engaged in dissemination of information, political advocacy and grassroots activism. The AICafè is a political and cultural café open on Tuesday and Saturday night from 7pm until 10.30 pm. The AIC is located in the Alternative Information Center in Beit Sahour, close to Suq Sha'ab (follow the sign to Jadal Center). We have a small library with novels, political books and magazines. We also have a number of films in DVD copies and AIC publications which are aimed to critically analyze both Palestinian and Israeli societies, as well as the conflict itself.
The presentation will make a conceptual intervention on how we understand Palestine by situating it globally, connecting it specifically to the places we inhabit. The goal is to spark a critical discussion on how internationals must begin relating to Palestinians as a people we come not to save, but to learn from, taking these lessons back home where a new world, or an 'Other Geography,' must then be created by us all.
Linda Quiquivix is a geographer, recently post-doctoral fellow in Critical Global Humanities at Brown University's Cogut Center. She is a student of movements "from below and to the left" in the Middle East, Latin America, and the United States. Her interests focus on how everyday people in struggle exercise capacities to create the world anew.
The AIC is a joint Palestinian-Israeli activist organization engaged in dissemination of information, political advocacy and grassroots activism. The AICafè is a political and cultural café open on Tuesday and Saturday night from 7pm until 10.30 pm. The AIC is located in the Alternative Information Center in Beit Sahour, close to Suq Sha'ab (follow the sign to Jadal Center). We have a small library with novels, political books and magazines. We also have a number of films in DVD copies and AIC publications which are aimed to critically analyze both Palestinian and Israeli societies, as well as the conflict itself.
21 june 2013
The Department of Refugees Affairs in Hamas movement (DRAH) sent on Thursday a letter to the general secretary of the United Nations, Ban Ki moon, calling on him to reconsider situation of Palestinian Refugees on the World Refugee Day.
The letter included several terms and Hamas movement said it was "a reminder to the international community about the reality of the Palestinian refugees."
It referred to the Resolution No. 194 issued by the United Nations on November 12, 1948, "which Israel had never committed to. Moreover, the UN as well as the international community did not guarantee the right of return for millions of Palestinian refugees, who were expelled out of their land by Israel."
“It's your humanitarian responsibility as well as the United Nations' responsibility, which accepted Israel's membership at condition of implementation of international resolutions especially 194, to enable those refugees to get back to their homeland,” DRAH said addressing Ban Ki moon.
DRAH's letter emphasized the humanitarian and legal responsibility of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) toward all Palestinian refugees wherever they are.
It condemned UNRWA's actions to reduce their services and not to provide services to the displaced refugees in areas outside its operation territories, and urged Ki moon to immediately intervene to provide refugees with their rights.
The letter has also called on the United Nations to adopt a particular budget for UNWRA, which has been depending on donations since it was established in 1949.
Hamas's Department of Refugees Affairs has also dealt in its letter with the miserable situation of Palestinian refugees in Libya and Syria during the revolutions.
It pointed out that half a million Palestinian refugees in Syria are being killed and displaced without mercy, while the world and UNRWA do not respond to their suffering.
"Some 354 Palestinians have been killed in Syria, and 70% of the Palestinians were forced out of the camps, where 65 thousand Palestinians arrived in Lebanon, which increased the suffering of refugees already in Lebanon."
The letter called on Ban Ki moon to support the Palestinian people against the Israeli occupation which continued its aggression and violations against the people, the lands and the captives.
On the world refugee day, there are 8 million Palestinian refugees, many of whom were expelled in 1948, during 1948 War, 1967 war and during the period between 1948 and 1967. Many others lost their residency in the West Bank and Gaza while others got their identity cards withdrawn by the occupation.
The letter included several terms and Hamas movement said it was "a reminder to the international community about the reality of the Palestinian refugees."
It referred to the Resolution No. 194 issued by the United Nations on November 12, 1948, "which Israel had never committed to. Moreover, the UN as well as the international community did not guarantee the right of return for millions of Palestinian refugees, who were expelled out of their land by Israel."
“It's your humanitarian responsibility as well as the United Nations' responsibility, which accepted Israel's membership at condition of implementation of international resolutions especially 194, to enable those refugees to get back to their homeland,” DRAH said addressing Ban Ki moon.
DRAH's letter emphasized the humanitarian and legal responsibility of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) toward all Palestinian refugees wherever they are.
It condemned UNRWA's actions to reduce their services and not to provide services to the displaced refugees in areas outside its operation territories, and urged Ki moon to immediately intervene to provide refugees with their rights.
The letter has also called on the United Nations to adopt a particular budget for UNWRA, which has been depending on donations since it was established in 1949.
Hamas's Department of Refugees Affairs has also dealt in its letter with the miserable situation of Palestinian refugees in Libya and Syria during the revolutions.
It pointed out that half a million Palestinian refugees in Syria are being killed and displaced without mercy, while the world and UNRWA do not respond to their suffering.
"Some 354 Palestinians have been killed in Syria, and 70% of the Palestinians were forced out of the camps, where 65 thousand Palestinians arrived in Lebanon, which increased the suffering of refugees already in Lebanon."
The letter called on Ban Ki moon to support the Palestinian people against the Israeli occupation which continued its aggression and violations against the people, the lands and the captives.
On the world refugee day, there are 8 million Palestinian refugees, many of whom were expelled in 1948, during 1948 War, 1967 war and during the period between 1948 and 1967. Many others lost their residency in the West Bank and Gaza while others got their identity cards withdrawn by the occupation.
12 Palestinians have been killed in Palestinian refugee camps in Syria since Tuesday, including six from Khan Al-Shaikh refugee camp.
Sources said that the Palestinian woman Sawsan Mansour, from al-Yarmouk refugee camp, was killed on Thursday by a sniper's bullet, while the Palestinian Mohammed Aboura was killed after a mortar shell landed on the same camp.
The Palestinian Mohammed Abu Ableh, from Al-Husseiniyeh camp, died from injuries sustained during the bombardment on the camp yesterday.
In Khan Al-Shaikh refugee camp, six Palestinians were killed and 13 wounded after a mortar shell landed on an UNRWA school in the camp, including three children and a woman.
Ma'an Ibrahim was killed after Jordanian army shot him in Tal Shihab area on the Syrian-Jordanian border, while three others were injured. All from the Golan Heights.
On Tuesday 18th June, the Palestinian Mahmoud al-Halaq died from injuries sustained during a bombardment on Al-Husseiniyeh camp, while the Palestinian woman Athan Rayan was also died after being shot in Khan Al-Shaikh neighborhood.
Sources said that the Palestinian woman Sawsan Mansour, from al-Yarmouk refugee camp, was killed on Thursday by a sniper's bullet, while the Palestinian Mohammed Aboura was killed after a mortar shell landed on the same camp.
The Palestinian Mohammed Abu Ableh, from Al-Husseiniyeh camp, died from injuries sustained during the bombardment on the camp yesterday.
In Khan Al-Shaikh refugee camp, six Palestinians were killed and 13 wounded after a mortar shell landed on an UNRWA school in the camp, including three children and a woman.
Ma'an Ibrahim was killed after Jordanian army shot him in Tal Shihab area on the Syrian-Jordanian border, while three others were injured. All from the Golan Heights.
On Tuesday 18th June, the Palestinian Mahmoud al-Halaq died from injuries sustained during a bombardment on Al-Husseiniyeh camp, while the Palestinian woman Athan Rayan was also died after being shot in Khan Al-Shaikh neighborhood.
Catherine Ashton, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy for the European Union, arrived in the Gaza Strip Thursday [June 20 2013], and visited a school run by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA).
Ashton affirmed that the European Union is committed to supporting the UNRWA and its work, and that the EU’s support will remain strong both politically and financially.
“I visited Gaza several times; today I visit Gaza on the Refugees Day to highlight our support to the refugees and the UNRWA”, Ashton said, “What is needed to be done is deeds not words, there are a lot of officials who visit Gaza, but what we need in actual outcomes”
“I am happy to be here, but what is important is what will happen after I leave, we need to develop the economy in Gaza”, she added, “We want to make sure children have better education, and a better future”.
The European Union official further stated that Gaza border terminals must be opened, and thanked the UNRWA for its ongoing work in Gaza despite financial difficulties it faces.
On the political level, Ashton said that the EU supports a just settlement to the conflict, and supports developing the Gaza Strip and advancing its humanitarian conditions.
Commissioner-General of UNRWA, Filippo Grandi, who accompanied Ashton, stated that the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip are facing very difficult conditions, ongoing siege and frustration.
Grandi added that the refugees’ issue is very essential, and that there should be a serious solution to the issue of millions of Palestinian refugees.
He also stressed on the importance of resuming direct peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians.
On his part, Palestinian Legislator, head of the Popular Committee Against the Siege, Jamal El-Khodary, demanded Ashton, and the EU, to practice pressure on Israel to fully lift the siege on the coastal region.
“This siege is illegal and immoral”, El-Khodary said, “This unjust siege must be lifted immediately, the EU must act of obliging Israeli to lift it”.
He also stated that this siege, that entered its seventh years, is directly impacting the Palestinians, and every aspect of their lives, as it is preventing any development, reconstruction and emptied Gaza of basic supplies.
Ashton affirmed that the European Union is committed to supporting the UNRWA and its work, and that the EU’s support will remain strong both politically and financially.
“I visited Gaza several times; today I visit Gaza on the Refugees Day to highlight our support to the refugees and the UNRWA”, Ashton said, “What is needed to be done is deeds not words, there are a lot of officials who visit Gaza, but what we need in actual outcomes”
“I am happy to be here, but what is important is what will happen after I leave, we need to develop the economy in Gaza”, she added, “We want to make sure children have better education, and a better future”.
The European Union official further stated that Gaza border terminals must be opened, and thanked the UNRWA for its ongoing work in Gaza despite financial difficulties it faces.
On the political level, Ashton said that the EU supports a just settlement to the conflict, and supports developing the Gaza Strip and advancing its humanitarian conditions.
Commissioner-General of UNRWA, Filippo Grandi, who accompanied Ashton, stated that the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip are facing very difficult conditions, ongoing siege and frustration.
Grandi added that the refugees’ issue is very essential, and that there should be a serious solution to the issue of millions of Palestinian refugees.
He also stressed on the importance of resuming direct peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians.
On his part, Palestinian Legislator, head of the Popular Committee Against the Siege, Jamal El-Khodary, demanded Ashton, and the EU, to practice pressure on Israel to fully lift the siege on the coastal region.
“This siege is illegal and immoral”, El-Khodary said, “This unjust siege must be lifted immediately, the EU must act of obliging Israeli to lift it”.
He also stated that this siege, that entered its seventh years, is directly impacting the Palestinians, and every aspect of their lives, as it is preventing any development, reconstruction and emptied Gaza of basic supplies.
20 june 2013
A little more than 42% of the Palestinian population of the West Bank, East Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip are refugees and 41% of them are under the age of 15 years, statistics by the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS) showed on Thursday. Marking the International Day of Refugees, the PCBS said that according to figures by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) there are 5.3 million registered refugees by the beginning of this year of whom 40% are in Jordan, 24% in Gaza Strip, 17% in the West Bank, 10% in Syria and 9% in Lebanon.
Data for 2012 showed that the percentage of Palestinian refugees in Palestine was 42.1% of the total population with about 27% of the total population of West Bank were refugees compared to about 67% in Gaza Strip.
The refugees in Palestine are characterized as young population with 41% of them are under the age of 15 years compared to 39.7% for non-refugees. On the other hand, 4.2% of refugees aged 60 years and over compared to 4.6% for the non-refugees in Palestine.
Total fertility rate for refugees in Palestine was 4.4 births per woman in the period between 2008 and 2009.
Percentage of poor households in refugee camps in Palestine is 31.2% in 2011.
Unemployment rate of Palestinian refugees among those of 15 years and over in Palestine in 2012 was 27.9% compared to 19.8% for non-refugees.
Illiteracy rate among Palestinian refugees of 15 years and over in Palestine in 2012 was 3.7% compared to 4.3% for non-refugees.
Percentage of refugee households that own their housing units in Palestine in 2010 was 86%.
Percentage of refugee households that own private cars in Palestine in 2010 was 15.9% compared to 25.6% for non-refugees.
Data for 2012 showed that the percentage of Palestinian refugees in Palestine was 42.1% of the total population with about 27% of the total population of West Bank were refugees compared to about 67% in Gaza Strip.
The refugees in Palestine are characterized as young population with 41% of them are under the age of 15 years compared to 39.7% for non-refugees. On the other hand, 4.2% of refugees aged 60 years and over compared to 4.6% for the non-refugees in Palestine.
Total fertility rate for refugees in Palestine was 4.4 births per woman in the period between 2008 and 2009.
Percentage of poor households in refugee camps in Palestine is 31.2% in 2011.
Unemployment rate of Palestinian refugees among those of 15 years and over in Palestine in 2012 was 27.9% compared to 19.8% for non-refugees.
Illiteracy rate among Palestinian refugees of 15 years and over in Palestine in 2012 was 3.7% compared to 4.3% for non-refugees.
Percentage of refugee households that own their housing units in Palestine in 2010 was 86%.
Percentage of refugee households that own private cars in Palestine in 2010 was 15.9% compared to 25.6% for non-refugees.
The European Union’s foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton visited the Gaza Strip Thursday and took a tour in a UN-affiliated school in Gaza City marking World Refugee Day.
Ashton maintained in a news conference that support to the population of Gaza should not stop and that donor countries should continue to allocate financial aid to the Palestinian refugees in the coastal enclave through UNRWA.
The EU official said she wanted to see Gaza crossings operating, the economy improving and children expecting a promising future. Ashton expressed gratitude to UNRWA for its major role in helping Gaza residents. She pledged the EU would continue to be a major supporter to UNRWA “not only financially, but politically as well.”
“I came back to Gaza because Gaza is important. However, you are concerned more about what will happen after I leave. You want your conditions to improve which means economic support to the people, and education and hope of a better future for children. Most importantly, we need to exert pressure on the EU’s 27 countries to work out a solution.”
Palestinian lawmaker Jamal al-Khudari, who heads a popular committee against the Gaza siege, urged Ashton to take practical moves and to exert pressure on Israel to end the siege. He highlighted that the siege on Gaza entered a seventh year despite many international reports and recommendations asking to end it because it is illegal and immoral.
Ashton maintained in a news conference that support to the population of Gaza should not stop and that donor countries should continue to allocate financial aid to the Palestinian refugees in the coastal enclave through UNRWA.
The EU official said she wanted to see Gaza crossings operating, the economy improving and children expecting a promising future. Ashton expressed gratitude to UNRWA for its major role in helping Gaza residents. She pledged the EU would continue to be a major supporter to UNRWA “not only financially, but politically as well.”
“I came back to Gaza because Gaza is important. However, you are concerned more about what will happen after I leave. You want your conditions to improve which means economic support to the people, and education and hope of a better future for children. Most importantly, we need to exert pressure on the EU’s 27 countries to work out a solution.”
Palestinian lawmaker Jamal al-Khudari, who heads a popular committee against the Gaza siege, urged Ashton to take practical moves and to exert pressure on Israel to end the siege. He highlighted that the siege on Gaza entered a seventh year despite many international reports and recommendations asking to end it because it is illegal and immoral.
19 june 2013
Marking World Refugee Day, the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) Wednesday called on the international community to hold Israel accountable for the Palestinian refugee problem it created in 1948. PLO Executive Committee member and lawmaker Hanan Ashrawi said in a statement that all members of the international community should hold Israel accountable “for its portrayal of our people's loss as anything other than a violent mass expulsion and for the creation and continuation of the tragic refugee situation.”
She said as stipulated in international and humanitarian law, the Palestinian people, whether under occupation or in exile, are entitled to nothing less than their independence, dignity, self-determination, and a just resolution of their tragic plight.
“Sixty-five years ago, the Palestinian people suffered a grave historical injustice with the creation of the state of Israel on their land and the forcible dispossession and expulsion of 750,000 indigenous Palestinians; this is known as ‘al-Nakba,’ the catastrophe,” she said.
“This process of victimization, exclusion and oppression continues until this day— Israel persists in its violations of international law and human rights, acting with impunity and enjoying full immunity. The military occupation of the West Bank and Gaza that began in 1967 is an added form of oppression manifesting itself in the cruel captivity of the people and their land and resources,” said Ashrawi.
She called on Israel “to admit its culpability, and hence its responsibility for the rectification of such an injustice at the human, moral, political, and legal levels.”
“The Palestine case is not a question of a disputed narrative, rights or territory; it remains an issue of indisputable justice and humanity,” said Ashrawi.
She said as stipulated in international and humanitarian law, the Palestinian people, whether under occupation or in exile, are entitled to nothing less than their independence, dignity, self-determination, and a just resolution of their tragic plight.
“Sixty-five years ago, the Palestinian people suffered a grave historical injustice with the creation of the state of Israel on their land and the forcible dispossession and expulsion of 750,000 indigenous Palestinians; this is known as ‘al-Nakba,’ the catastrophe,” she said.
“This process of victimization, exclusion and oppression continues until this day— Israel persists in its violations of international law and human rights, acting with impunity and enjoying full immunity. The military occupation of the West Bank and Gaza that began in 1967 is an added form of oppression manifesting itself in the cruel captivity of the people and their land and resources,” said Ashrawi.
She called on Israel “to admit its culpability, and hence its responsibility for the rectification of such an injustice at the human, moral, political, and legal levels.”
“The Palestine case is not a question of a disputed narrative, rights or territory; it remains an issue of indisputable justice and humanity,” said Ashrawi.
18 june 2013
Director of Hamas information office in Lebanon Ra'fat Murra said that local, regional and international parties have involved themselves in a media campaign targeting the Palestinian presence in Lebanon.
"We have been watching for weeks an incitement campaign against the Palestinian refugees in Lebanon led by some Lebanese media outlets which accuse the refugees of being responsible for certain acts of vandalism and civil disturbance, and accuse some camps of harboring some subversive elements," Murra told Quds Press on Monday.
He underlined that Hamas is aware of the seriousness of this campaign and its damaging impacts on the stability of the camps, so it decided last Thursday to initiate a counter campaign for two weeks to put things in perspective and safeguard the stability and security of the Palestinian camps.
"We have been watching for weeks an incitement campaign against the Palestinian refugees in Lebanon led by some Lebanese media outlets which accuse the refugees of being responsible for certain acts of vandalism and civil disturbance, and accuse some camps of harboring some subversive elements," Murra told Quds Press on Monday.
He underlined that Hamas is aware of the seriousness of this campaign and its damaging impacts on the stability of the camps, so it decided last Thursday to initiate a counter campaign for two weeks to put things in perspective and safeguard the stability and security of the Palestinian camps.
Six Palestinians were killed at dawn on Tuesday in the Yarmouk refugee camp in Syria after a bomb exploded near the local hospital, a statement issued by local group said.
The blast near the Palestine Hospital in the refugee camp killed Ahmad al-Hasan, Fahed Abbas, Yassin al-Khaja, Abdul Rahman Saleh, Ali Qassem and Khatoun Lafi Ahmad, the Association for the Sake of Palestinians in Syria said.
The statement said the Husseiniyeh and Khan Danon refugee camps were being "showered with missiles," leaving residents without electricity, food and gas.
The group also said Syrian security forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad detained local Fatah leader Abu Nasser Qablawi in the Husseiniyeh camp for "helping the injured and taking them to nearby clinics," the statement read.
One Palestinian is also missing from the Yarmouk refugee camp after not returning from work, the statement said, concerned he may possibly have been detained by Syrian forces.
'theaters of war'
The report follows a statement issues by UNRWA's commissioner general said Sunday, describing the camps as "theaters of war."
"Killings, kidnappings, poverty, destruction and fear have become part of daily life," Filippo Grandi said Sunday during a meeting of stakeholders in Amman.
More than half of the 530,000 Palestinian refugees registered in Syria have been displaced and 15 percent have fled abroad, including 60,000 to neighboring Lebanon and over 7,000 to Jordan.
"Even Egypt now hosts many Palestine refugees from Syria, and some have reached Gaza," Grandi said.
"The distress of Palestine refugees in Syria and displaced from Syria has given the lack of progress in the Israeli-Palestinian peace process an added, and very stark dimension.
The loss of camps in Syria and the uncertainty that it has wrought, are suffered by all, just as the bombardments in Gaza."
In March, the Action Group for Palestinians of Syria said that over 1,000 Palestinians have been killed in the ongoing Syria conflict, with that number thought to have increased significantly since then.
The blast near the Palestine Hospital in the refugee camp killed Ahmad al-Hasan, Fahed Abbas, Yassin al-Khaja, Abdul Rahman Saleh, Ali Qassem and Khatoun Lafi Ahmad, the Association for the Sake of Palestinians in Syria said.
The statement said the Husseiniyeh and Khan Danon refugee camps were being "showered with missiles," leaving residents without electricity, food and gas.
The group also said Syrian security forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad detained local Fatah leader Abu Nasser Qablawi in the Husseiniyeh camp for "helping the injured and taking them to nearby clinics," the statement read.
One Palestinian is also missing from the Yarmouk refugee camp after not returning from work, the statement said, concerned he may possibly have been detained by Syrian forces.
'theaters of war'
The report follows a statement issues by UNRWA's commissioner general said Sunday, describing the camps as "theaters of war."
"Killings, kidnappings, poverty, destruction and fear have become part of daily life," Filippo Grandi said Sunday during a meeting of stakeholders in Amman.
More than half of the 530,000 Palestinian refugees registered in Syria have been displaced and 15 percent have fled abroad, including 60,000 to neighboring Lebanon and over 7,000 to Jordan.
"Even Egypt now hosts many Palestine refugees from Syria, and some have reached Gaza," Grandi said.
"The distress of Palestine refugees in Syria and displaced from Syria has given the lack of progress in the Israeli-Palestinian peace process an added, and very stark dimension.
The loss of camps in Syria and the uncertainty that it has wrought, are suffered by all, just as the bombardments in Gaza."
In March, the Action Group for Palestinians of Syria said that over 1,000 Palestinians have been killed in the ongoing Syria conflict, with that number thought to have increased significantly since then.
17 june 2013
UNRWA commissioner-general Filippo Grandi said that seven out of the 12 Palestinian refugee camps in Syria have become "theaters of war" which are often inaccessible to UNRWA. "Killings, kidnappings, poverty, destruction and fear have become part of the daily life in these camps," he said.
Speaking in Amman at the bi-annual meeting of UNRWA's advisory commission, Grandi said that more than half of the 530, 000 Palestinian refugees registered with UNRWA in Syria are believed to be displaced.
15 percent of all refugees have fled abroad, including over 60,000 to overburdened Lebanon, which already hosts hundreds of thousands of Syrian refugees, while over 7,000 fled to Jordan, according to Grandi.
Even Egypt now hosts many Palestinian refugees from Syria, and some have reached Gaza, he noted
He said the UNRWA needs urgent funds to respond to the Syrian crisis for the remainder of the year.
"The agency is asking donors for a total of 200 million dollars for its Syria-related emergency activities," the UNRWA official said, describing the current financial situation as challenging.
Speaking in Amman at the bi-annual meeting of UNRWA's advisory commission, Grandi said that more than half of the 530, 000 Palestinian refugees registered with UNRWA in Syria are believed to be displaced.
15 percent of all refugees have fled abroad, including over 60,000 to overburdened Lebanon, which already hosts hundreds of thousands of Syrian refugees, while over 7,000 fled to Jordan, according to Grandi.
Even Egypt now hosts many Palestinian refugees from Syria, and some have reached Gaza, he noted
He said the UNRWA needs urgent funds to respond to the Syrian crisis for the remainder of the year.
"The agency is asking donors for a total of 200 million dollars for its Syria-related emergency activities," the UNRWA official said, describing the current financial situation as challenging.
14 june 2013
Hamas movement has launched on Thursday a media campaign against the continued incitement against Palestinian refugees in Lebanon. The campaign includes sending letters to Lebanese media organizations, raising awareness through social networking sites, statements, political, popular and solidarity activities, in addition to engaging youths in the campaign.
The movement stressed in its statement that the campaign aims to raise awareness of the seriousness of incitement against Palestinian refugees and inciting sectarian strife.
The statement said that the political situation in the region have been strained due to the social and security conditions and foreign interventions.
The movement pointed to the Lebanese media's escalated and continued incitement against Palestinian refugees in Lebanon where the Palestinian refugee camps were accused of sheltering suspect elements and causing security problems.
Hamas's media campaign against incitement against Palestinian refugees in Lebanon came in the framework of the movement's keenness to defend and protect the Palestinian refugees and to maintain good Palestinian-Lebanese relationship.
The movement stressed in its statement that the campaign aims to raise awareness of the seriousness of incitement against Palestinian refugees and inciting sectarian strife.
The statement said that the political situation in the region have been strained due to the social and security conditions and foreign interventions.
The movement pointed to the Lebanese media's escalated and continued incitement against Palestinian refugees in Lebanon where the Palestinian refugee camps were accused of sheltering suspect elements and causing security problems.
Hamas's media campaign against incitement against Palestinian refugees in Lebanon came in the framework of the movement's keenness to defend and protect the Palestinian refugees and to maintain good Palestinian-Lebanese relationship.
The Palestinian Return Centre (PRC) took part in the 23rd session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva. The session coordinated by the international human rights organization, EAFORD, PRC and sponsored by a number of international NGOs, held a panel discussion on the continued occupation and human rights abuse in Palestine.
The UN special Rapporteur on Palestine, Professor Richard Falk, was joined on the panel by PRCs own representative, Mr. Nasim Ahmed and the activist, Issa Amro, from the West Bank.
Mr. Amro, the first to speak, described in detail the ongoing ethnic cleansing in Hebron.
His visual presentation showed the daily violence perpetrated by Israeli settlers against Palestinian residents. Mr. Amro’s organization, Youth Against Settlements, are on the front line of peaceful protest, he said. They experience the full force of Israeli soldiers and armed settlers in their protest against land grab, material destruction, open segregation and racism.
Mr. Amro showed footages of Israeli soldiers abusing and humiliating Palestinians in Hebron. Children as young as 10 were arrested and abused he said. Soldiers also took no action when settlers physically attacked Palestinians and instead, they operated together, soldiers and settlers, in the slow ethnic cleansing of Hebron.
Mr. Ahmed, senior researcher of the PRC, commented on the plight of Palestinian Refugees fleeing Syria. He described how Palestinians live in a perpetual state of violence and insecurity. Palestinians in the West Bank who endure humiliation, abuse and violence are united with Palestinians in Syria and around the world in grief.
Mr. Ahmed’s presentation focused on the consequences of statelessness, the absence of a fully functioning refugee protection regime for Palestinians and the political failures which continues to blight Palestinian lives all over the world.
In addition to highlighting the humanitarian crises, the discrimination Palestinians face after fleeing Syria, the need to repel any attempts to defund UNRWA, he explained that the regime which continues to terrorize Palestinians in Hebron is the same regime that's blocking the return of Palestinian refugees. “If the great powers had insisted on Israel repatriating the refugees in 1948 as was demanded under international law then: the refugees would not exist, the Middle East would be free from six decades of displacement of Palestinians and the international community would not need to fund institutions to support them.
Mr. Ahmed lamented the daily persecution in Hebron asserting“if Israel is incapable of living in peace with Palestinians already in Palestine, what hope is there for the millions that wish to return".
Mr. Falk shared insight from his latest report presented at the General Human Rights Council session.
He explained how the extreme now exemplifies all aspects of Israeli occupation of Palestine. Summing up the two previous presentations, he said the settler land grab in Hebron and the refusal to address the plight of refugees in a meaningful way are not different in quality. They come from the same taproot which is the desire to colonize and occupy Palestine while denying self determination to the Palestinians.
Essentially the problem isn't just about land but about people. With 7 million refugees hoping to return, the question isn't so much who gets what land but can we live with another people, another human being.
He bemoaned the fact that the media have failed to provide a true picture of the occupation. The so called temporary occupation is now a permanent reality and this fact has been airbrushed by the media. People have to make effort just to learn about the daily humiliation and land grab, it's not news anymore.
The radical denial of Palestinian self determination is another re-emergence of settler colonialism. The post colonial world has found a new way to legitimate colonialism and tolerate this terrible sequence of displacement and denial of human rights.
The UN special Rapporteur on Palestine, Professor Richard Falk, was joined on the panel by PRCs own representative, Mr. Nasim Ahmed and the activist, Issa Amro, from the West Bank.
Mr. Amro, the first to speak, described in detail the ongoing ethnic cleansing in Hebron.
His visual presentation showed the daily violence perpetrated by Israeli settlers against Palestinian residents. Mr. Amro’s organization, Youth Against Settlements, are on the front line of peaceful protest, he said. They experience the full force of Israeli soldiers and armed settlers in their protest against land grab, material destruction, open segregation and racism.
Mr. Amro showed footages of Israeli soldiers abusing and humiliating Palestinians in Hebron. Children as young as 10 were arrested and abused he said. Soldiers also took no action when settlers physically attacked Palestinians and instead, they operated together, soldiers and settlers, in the slow ethnic cleansing of Hebron.
Mr. Ahmed, senior researcher of the PRC, commented on the plight of Palestinian Refugees fleeing Syria. He described how Palestinians live in a perpetual state of violence and insecurity. Palestinians in the West Bank who endure humiliation, abuse and violence are united with Palestinians in Syria and around the world in grief.
Mr. Ahmed’s presentation focused on the consequences of statelessness, the absence of a fully functioning refugee protection regime for Palestinians and the political failures which continues to blight Palestinian lives all over the world.
In addition to highlighting the humanitarian crises, the discrimination Palestinians face after fleeing Syria, the need to repel any attempts to defund UNRWA, he explained that the regime which continues to terrorize Palestinians in Hebron is the same regime that's blocking the return of Palestinian refugees. “If the great powers had insisted on Israel repatriating the refugees in 1948 as was demanded under international law then: the refugees would not exist, the Middle East would be free from six decades of displacement of Palestinians and the international community would not need to fund institutions to support them.
Mr. Ahmed lamented the daily persecution in Hebron asserting“if Israel is incapable of living in peace with Palestinians already in Palestine, what hope is there for the millions that wish to return".
Mr. Falk shared insight from his latest report presented at the General Human Rights Council session.
He explained how the extreme now exemplifies all aspects of Israeli occupation of Palestine. Summing up the two previous presentations, he said the settler land grab in Hebron and the refusal to address the plight of refugees in a meaningful way are not different in quality. They come from the same taproot which is the desire to colonize and occupy Palestine while denying self determination to the Palestinians.
Essentially the problem isn't just about land but about people. With 7 million refugees hoping to return, the question isn't so much who gets what land but can we live with another people, another human being.
He bemoaned the fact that the media have failed to provide a true picture of the occupation. The so called temporary occupation is now a permanent reality and this fact has been airbrushed by the media. People have to make effort just to learn about the daily humiliation and land grab, it's not news anymore.
The radical denial of Palestinian self determination is another re-emergence of settler colonialism. The post colonial world has found a new way to legitimate colonialism and tolerate this terrible sequence of displacement and denial of human rights.
13 june 2013
The representative of the Islamic Resistance Movement “Hamas” in Lebanon Ali Baraka, has visited Ain al-Hilweh refugee camp on Wednesday where he held a meeting with Islamic forces in Ansar League headquarters. Baraka said that this meeting came in light of the movement's keenness to maintain the Palestinian refugee camps' neutrality in the Lebanese and Arab interior conflicts.
We confirmed that the Palestinian refugee camps in Lebanon will not be a mailbox for anybody. Our project in Lebanon is return to Palestine, he stressed.
We are working to unify the Palestinian efforts in order to form a Palestinian united team in Lebanon for the Palestinian-Lebanese dialogue, he added.
We confirmed that the Palestinian refugee camps in Lebanon will not be a mailbox for anybody. Our project in Lebanon is return to Palestine, he stressed.
We are working to unify the Palestinian efforts in order to form a Palestinian united team in Lebanon for the Palestinian-Lebanese dialogue, he added.
12 june 2013
The action group for the Palestinians in Syria said that about 1,354 Palestinian refugees have been killed by the Syrian regime forces and its militias since the outbreak of the revolution. The action group stated on Wednesday that a Palestinian young man named Alaa Abul-Lail and a woman named Hanan Abdullah were killed on Tuesday in a projectile attacks on Husseiniya refugee camp.
It said that several projectiles fell in different areas of Husseiniya refugee camp and caused injuries among many Palestinian civilians, while violent armed clashes broke out between the free army revolutionists and the regime forces at Al-Muatamarat checkpoint.
Other refugee camps including Dara'ah camp also saw the fall of many projectiles with not reported casualties.
The humanitarian situation in the Palestinian refugee camps, especially in Dara'ah camp, is catastrophic and there is no one relief group extending help to them, the action group noted.
It said that several projectiles fell in different areas of Husseiniya refugee camp and caused injuries among many Palestinian civilians, while violent armed clashes broke out between the free army revolutionists and the regime forces at Al-Muatamarat checkpoint.
Other refugee camps including Dara'ah camp also saw the fall of many projectiles with not reported casualties.
The humanitarian situation in the Palestinian refugee camps, especially in Dara'ah camp, is catastrophic and there is no one relief group extending help to them, the action group noted.
11 june 2013
The PLO called for the right of return for Palestinian refugees to Israel during a debate on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict at the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva on Monday.
Israel must "recognize the right of return of refugees to their homeland, without selectivity or conditionality, including to the cities they were ejected from," Imad Zuhairi, the PLO's deputy charge d'affairs of its UN Observer Mission in Geneva, told the UNHRC.
He spoke during Agenda Item 7, in which the UNHRC is mandated at every session to debate Israeli actions against the Palestinians over the pre-1967 lines.
Monday's debate comes in the midst of a renewed effort by US Secretary of State John Kerry to re-kindle direct Israeli-Palestinian talks, which have been largely frozen since 2008.
Kerry had been expected to return to Israel and the Palestinian territories this week, but as of press time, it appeared that his trip had been delayed.
The UNHRC debate showed that wide gaps still remain in the public discourse on conflict.
Israel has cut its ties with the council and was not present at the debate. But it has claimed that the concept of the right of return for Palestinians to the State of Israel undermines the basic principle of a two-state solution.
It has explained that Palestinian refugees should have a right of return only to a newly created Palestinian state, in keeping with the concept that a twostate solution is based on the idea of a Palestinian state as a homeland for Palestinians and Israel as the homeland for the Jewish people.
Similarly, Israel has rejected the idea of a two-state solution on pre-1967 lines or halting settlement activity as a pre-condition for talks.
But Zuhairi told the council that "We call on Israel to stop its occupation of the occupied state of Palestine."
He explained that this meant that Israel must stop settlement activity, the "Judaization" of Jerusalem and the excavation under al-Aksa Mosque.
Israel should return to "direct negotiations that would recognize the borders of '67 as the borders of the sovereign Palestinian state, with al-Quds as its eternal capital," Zuhari said.
He urged Israel to stop "its terrorism as a state, the terrorism of settlers and the terrorism of the occupation army.
"The future of Israel is directly linked to the future of the sovereign independent state of Israel," Zuhari said.
He added that "The Palestinian leadership still believes in the two-state solution. We must give another chance to current international efforts that would lead to achieving aspirations of the Palestinian people in order to exercise its right to an independent state, the return of the refugees and the release of all prisoners."
Many of the 31 countries that followed issued statements that similarly called on Israel to halt settlement activity, lift its military blockade of the Gaza border, release all Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails, and remove the security barrier it had built in the West Bank.
A number of countries, including Syria, also called on Israel to return the Golan Heights to Syria.
On behalf of the IBSA bloc – which also includes India and South Africa – Brazil said that freezing settlement activity was not a pre-condition to talks, but rather an obligation under international law.
It added that it supported a contiguous and democratic Palestinian state. It reminded the UNHRC that IBSA has welcomed the Palestinian request for full UN membership, as a key step toward statehood.
Israel must "recognize the right of return of refugees to their homeland, without selectivity or conditionality, including to the cities they were ejected from," Imad Zuhairi, the PLO's deputy charge d'affairs of its UN Observer Mission in Geneva, told the UNHRC.
He spoke during Agenda Item 7, in which the UNHRC is mandated at every session to debate Israeli actions against the Palestinians over the pre-1967 lines.
Monday's debate comes in the midst of a renewed effort by US Secretary of State John Kerry to re-kindle direct Israeli-Palestinian talks, which have been largely frozen since 2008.
Kerry had been expected to return to Israel and the Palestinian territories this week, but as of press time, it appeared that his trip had been delayed.
The UNHRC debate showed that wide gaps still remain in the public discourse on conflict.
Israel has cut its ties with the council and was not present at the debate. But it has claimed that the concept of the right of return for Palestinians to the State of Israel undermines the basic principle of a two-state solution.
It has explained that Palestinian refugees should have a right of return only to a newly created Palestinian state, in keeping with the concept that a twostate solution is based on the idea of a Palestinian state as a homeland for Palestinians and Israel as the homeland for the Jewish people.
Similarly, Israel has rejected the idea of a two-state solution on pre-1967 lines or halting settlement activity as a pre-condition for talks.
But Zuhairi told the council that "We call on Israel to stop its occupation of the occupied state of Palestine."
He explained that this meant that Israel must stop settlement activity, the "Judaization" of Jerusalem and the excavation under al-Aksa Mosque.
Israel should return to "direct negotiations that would recognize the borders of '67 as the borders of the sovereign Palestinian state, with al-Quds as its eternal capital," Zuhari said.
He urged Israel to stop "its terrorism as a state, the terrorism of settlers and the terrorism of the occupation army.
"The future of Israel is directly linked to the future of the sovereign independent state of Israel," Zuhari said.
He added that "The Palestinian leadership still believes in the two-state solution. We must give another chance to current international efforts that would lead to achieving aspirations of the Palestinian people in order to exercise its right to an independent state, the return of the refugees and the release of all prisoners."
Many of the 31 countries that followed issued statements that similarly called on Israel to halt settlement activity, lift its military blockade of the Gaza border, release all Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails, and remove the security barrier it had built in the West Bank.
A number of countries, including Syria, also called on Israel to return the Golan Heights to Syria.
On behalf of the IBSA bloc – which also includes India and South Africa – Brazil said that freezing settlement activity was not a pre-condition to talks, but rather an obligation under international law.
It added that it supported a contiguous and democratic Palestinian state. It reminded the UNHRC that IBSA has welcomed the Palestinian request for full UN membership, as a key step toward statehood.
6 june 2013
Hamas leadership in Lebanon held a meeting in Beirut on Thursday and discussed the overall political conditions and affairs of Palestinian refugees in Lebanon. Lebanese daily Annahar, which published the news on its website, said that Hamas affirmed the priority of the Palestine cause over all other issues and on its policy of avoiding being dragged into side battles.
It said that the discussions, which also tackled the impact of Syrian crisis on Palestinian presence in Lebanon, affirmed Hamas’s backing for Lebanon’s unity, security, and stability.
Hamas urged the Lebanese to unite their ranks in face of the “Zionist enemy” and its expansionist policies, terrorist practices, and constant aggressions.
The movement stressed that Palestinian refugee camps should be not used as an arena to settle accounts, and denounced, in this respect, the unprecedented media campaign against the Palestinian presence in Lebanon.
Hamas lashed out at those who fabricate news against Palestinian refugees and urged the Lebanese official circles to intervene and curb such “cheap incitement”.
It said that the discussions, which also tackled the impact of Syrian crisis on Palestinian presence in Lebanon, affirmed Hamas’s backing for Lebanon’s unity, security, and stability.
Hamas urged the Lebanese to unite their ranks in face of the “Zionist enemy” and its expansionist policies, terrorist practices, and constant aggressions.
The movement stressed that Palestinian refugee camps should be not used as an arena to settle accounts, and denounced, in this respect, the unprecedented media campaign against the Palestinian presence in Lebanon.
Hamas lashed out at those who fabricate news against Palestinian refugees and urged the Lebanese official circles to intervene and curb such “cheap incitement”.
4 june 2013
The Organization of Islamic Cooperation has called for extending badly needed relief material to Palestinian families who fled Syria and sought refuge in the Gaza Strip. It said in a report on the conditions in Gaza that the Palestinian refugees, who fled the Syrian inferno, were in urgent need of mobile homes and other relief assistance.
The report by the OIC humanitarian affairs department said that around 235,000 Palestinian refugees had left Syria and that more than 200 families had landed in Gaza.
It said that the families escaped because violent skirmishes were raging near their places of residence, adding that they were experiencing difficult living conditions.
Meanwhile, the report charged Israel with violating the calm agreement in the besieged enclave and systematically harassed fishermen at sea and closed the sole commercial crossing on more than one occasion, which negatively affected the supply of basic materials to the inhabitants of the Strip and worsened its local economy.
The report by the OIC humanitarian affairs department said that around 235,000 Palestinian refugees had left Syria and that more than 200 families had landed in Gaza.
It said that the families escaped because violent skirmishes were raging near their places of residence, adding that they were experiencing difficult living conditions.
Meanwhile, the report charged Israel with violating the calm agreement in the besieged enclave and systematically harassed fishermen at sea and closed the sole commercial crossing on more than one occasion, which negatively affected the supply of basic materials to the inhabitants of the Strip and worsened its local economy.
28 may 2013
By Khalid Amayreh
During the recently held World-economic Forum in Amman , U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry revealed that the U.S. would offer the Palestinian Authority (PA) $4 billion dollars for reactivating the Palestinian economy.
However, Kerry made it unmistakably clear that the implementation of the American inducement package was dependent on the resumption of the stalled peace process between an imperial Israel, armed to the teeth and in tight control of the American government. And the PA, a vanquished supplicant whose very survival depends on Israeli good will as well as western handouts.
Some gullible observers have hailed the American "gesture," ignoring the poisoned chalice the Palestinians are being urged to drink as part of the deal. The PA has denied that it would sacrifice Palestinian rights in return for some transient economic benefits. However, from early Palestinian reactions it is noticed that a majority of Palestinians have deep suspicions as to whether Abbas will be able to withstand and resist America's bullying.
It is vital we make things amply clear for our people. The U.S. simply wants to bribe the easy-going easy-coming PA leadership into giving up the paramount right of return for Palestinian refugees, East Jerusalem and accept a deformed state-let on parts of the West Bank, all in order to enable the resumption of the so-called peace process.
In other words, Kerry wants to get Abbas, et al, to agree to liquidate the essence of the Palestinian national cause in return for some financial inducements. They just want to reproduce the same false optimism and euphoria that accompanied all peace conferences ever since the Oslo Accords. And as we all know, all these conferences ended up in a gigantic fiasco, with the main reason being Israel's adamant refusal to give up the spoils of the 1967 war and allow for the repatriation of the refugees to their homes and villages from which they were expelled at gunpoint when Israel was created 65 years ago.
It would be a huge disaster if the Palestinian leadership were to relate seriously to the American proposal. It would amount to a kind of committing an act of lewdness with the enduring national cause, something the Palestinian people would never allow to happen.
In fact, one could claim that the very American offer carries with it a great deal of naivety if only because everyone knows that economic prosperity is impossible under a sinister foreign military occupation. Indeed, one doesn't have to be a great economic expert to realize that in the absence of sovereignty and freedom of movement, there is a little chance for sustained economic development. It would be lamentable if the PA failed to realize this point after all the lessons of the past 20 years.
Peres: notorious liar, war criminal
During the economic conference mentioned above, the elderly Israeli President Shimon Peres, a certified war criminal par excellance, tried to cajole Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas into coming to terms with the fait accompli which Israel created ever since 1967.
Peres, a figurehead head of state, delivered a "moving speech" urging the Palestinians to return to the peace table without conditions. He claimed that a majority of Israelis wanted peace. However, Peres didn't say why Israel was building dozens of colonies in the West Bank and transferring hundreds of thousands of fanatical settlers to live on land that belongs to another people,
Abbas, notoriously known for his complacency, seemed overly eager to respond positively to Peres' tricks and deception. He told reporters in Jordan that there was still a chance for the two state solution.
The Palestinian leader simply didn't know what he was taking about. Well, in order to give Abbas the benefit of the doubt, one would have to disbelieve one's eyes and up all his mental faculties.
This is so because Israel has killed any remaining possibility for the establishment of a viable Palestinian state as dozens of Jewish settlements have been created in and around East Jerusalem, the contemplated capital of the contemplated Palestinian state.
This is not to mention the estimated 150-200 other settlements and settlement outposts which Israel built all over the occupied territories.
In short, the Palestinian people must not be duped into being bitten by the same snake again. Some people learn from other people's mistakes, others learn only from their own mistakes. Unfortunately, there are certain people with the Palestinian leadership in Ramallah who learn neither from their nor from other people's mistake. This is really a disaster.
During the recently held World-economic Forum in Amman , U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry revealed that the U.S. would offer the Palestinian Authority (PA) $4 billion dollars for reactivating the Palestinian economy.
However, Kerry made it unmistakably clear that the implementation of the American inducement package was dependent on the resumption of the stalled peace process between an imperial Israel, armed to the teeth and in tight control of the American government. And the PA, a vanquished supplicant whose very survival depends on Israeli good will as well as western handouts.
Some gullible observers have hailed the American "gesture," ignoring the poisoned chalice the Palestinians are being urged to drink as part of the deal. The PA has denied that it would sacrifice Palestinian rights in return for some transient economic benefits. However, from early Palestinian reactions it is noticed that a majority of Palestinians have deep suspicions as to whether Abbas will be able to withstand and resist America's bullying.
It is vital we make things amply clear for our people. The U.S. simply wants to bribe the easy-going easy-coming PA leadership into giving up the paramount right of return for Palestinian refugees, East Jerusalem and accept a deformed state-let on parts of the West Bank, all in order to enable the resumption of the so-called peace process.
In other words, Kerry wants to get Abbas, et al, to agree to liquidate the essence of the Palestinian national cause in return for some financial inducements. They just want to reproduce the same false optimism and euphoria that accompanied all peace conferences ever since the Oslo Accords. And as we all know, all these conferences ended up in a gigantic fiasco, with the main reason being Israel's adamant refusal to give up the spoils of the 1967 war and allow for the repatriation of the refugees to their homes and villages from which they were expelled at gunpoint when Israel was created 65 years ago.
It would be a huge disaster if the Palestinian leadership were to relate seriously to the American proposal. It would amount to a kind of committing an act of lewdness with the enduring national cause, something the Palestinian people would never allow to happen.
In fact, one could claim that the very American offer carries with it a great deal of naivety if only because everyone knows that economic prosperity is impossible under a sinister foreign military occupation. Indeed, one doesn't have to be a great economic expert to realize that in the absence of sovereignty and freedom of movement, there is a little chance for sustained economic development. It would be lamentable if the PA failed to realize this point after all the lessons of the past 20 years.
Peres: notorious liar, war criminal
During the economic conference mentioned above, the elderly Israeli President Shimon Peres, a certified war criminal par excellance, tried to cajole Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas into coming to terms with the fait accompli which Israel created ever since 1967.
Peres, a figurehead head of state, delivered a "moving speech" urging the Palestinians to return to the peace table without conditions. He claimed that a majority of Israelis wanted peace. However, Peres didn't say why Israel was building dozens of colonies in the West Bank and transferring hundreds of thousands of fanatical settlers to live on land that belongs to another people,
Abbas, notoriously known for his complacency, seemed overly eager to respond positively to Peres' tricks and deception. He told reporters in Jordan that there was still a chance for the two state solution.
The Palestinian leader simply didn't know what he was taking about. Well, in order to give Abbas the benefit of the doubt, one would have to disbelieve one's eyes and up all his mental faculties.
This is so because Israel has killed any remaining possibility for the establishment of a viable Palestinian state as dozens of Jewish settlements have been created in and around East Jerusalem, the contemplated capital of the contemplated Palestinian state.
This is not to mention the estimated 150-200 other settlements and settlement outposts which Israel built all over the occupied territories.
In short, the Palestinian people must not be duped into being bitten by the same snake again. Some people learn from other people's mistakes, others learn only from their own mistakes. Unfortunately, there are certain people with the Palestinian leadership in Ramallah who learn neither from their nor from other people's mistake. This is really a disaster.
26 may 2013
Ra’fat Murra, in charge of political affairs in Hamas’s Beirut office, denied claims that the two rockets fired at the southern suburb of Beirut were fired from Palestinian refugee camps.
Murra said in a press release on Sunday that the allegation by the Al-Jadid TV network was an absolute lie and a clear attempt to smear the refugee camps and Palestinian refugees.
“We are surprised how the TV channel could have published the news without awaiting the official investigation into the incident,” he said, adding that the Lebanese interior minister had announced that the rockets were fired from the southeastern area.
The Hamas official emphasized that the Palestinians in Lebanon are keen on that country’s stability and security and reject violence and sabotage.
Murra said in a press release on Sunday that the allegation by the Al-Jadid TV network was an absolute lie and a clear attempt to smear the refugee camps and Palestinian refugees.
“We are surprised how the TV channel could have published the news without awaiting the official investigation into the incident,” he said, adding that the Lebanese interior minister had announced that the rockets were fired from the southeastern area.
The Hamas official emphasized that the Palestinians in Lebanon are keen on that country’s stability and security and reject violence and sabotage.
25 may 2013
A Palestine Liberation Organization delegation left the West Bank Saturday on its way to Syria to discuss the situation of the Palestinian refugees in that embattled country. Zakaria al-Agha, member of the PLO Executive Committee, said the delegation will meet with all concerned parties in Syria to find a quick solution for the tragic situation of the Palestinian refugee camps in Syria.
He said the camps and the refugees should be left out of the ongoing conflict and that they should be protected to allow the displaced refugees to return to their camps.
This is the second visit for the PLO delegation to Syria. The first was on February 10.
He said the camps and the refugees should be left out of the ongoing conflict and that they should be protected to allow the displaced refugees to return to their camps.
This is the second visit for the PLO delegation to Syria. The first was on February 10.
22 may 2013
Palestinians fleeing from the Yarmouk refugee camp in Damascus are seen at a Lebanese border crossing with Syria on December 19, 2012
The UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) says violence in Syria has displaced over two-thirds of Palestinian refugees living in the Arab country.
“We have registered approximately 530,000 Palestinian refugees. We believe that almost all of them, certainly maybe 70-80 percent, are displaced from their normal homes,” UNRWA Commissioner General Filippo Grandi said in a statement on Wednesday.
The crisis in Syria began in March 2011, and many people, including large numbers of Syrian soldiers and security personnel, have been killed in the violence.
The Syrian government says the chaos is being orchestrated from outside the country, and there are reports that a very large number of the militants are foreign nationals.
Grandi's statement said that 12-15 percent of Palestinian refugees in Syria escaped their camps and went to another country.
“You can say that 12-15 percent of the refugee population in Syria is now (made) refugee again in another country,” the statement said.
The UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) says violence in Syria has displaced over two-thirds of Palestinian refugees living in the Arab country.
“We have registered approximately 530,000 Palestinian refugees. We believe that almost all of them, certainly maybe 70-80 percent, are displaced from their normal homes,” UNRWA Commissioner General Filippo Grandi said in a statement on Wednesday.
The crisis in Syria began in March 2011, and many people, including large numbers of Syrian soldiers and security personnel, have been killed in the violence.
The Syrian government says the chaos is being orchestrated from outside the country, and there are reports that a very large number of the militants are foreign nationals.
Grandi's statement said that 12-15 percent of Palestinian refugees in Syria escaped their camps and went to another country.
“You can say that 12-15 percent of the refugee population in Syria is now (made) refugee again in another country,” the statement said.
21 may 2013
Four Palestinian refugees were killed in Syria on Monday, the Damascus-based task-force for Palestinians in Syria said.
Farid Qasim was "executed" by gunmen affiliated with rebels from the Free Syrian Army in the Sheikh Anbar neighborhood, a statement said, allegedly because he was connected to the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine - General Command, a pro-Assad faction.
Zuheir Talib Mousa, an officer in the PLO's Liberation Army, was killed after being caught in the crossfire during fighting, and Muhammad Atwah died after being tortured by the Syrian regime in jail.
He was detained six months ago and his dead body was returned to his family on Monday.
Muhammad Khair al-Razzaz from Yarmouk refugee camp, also known as Abu Sakhr, was shot dead in clashes on the outskirts of Damascus, the task-force said.
Several people were injured on Monday as Syrian regime forces shelled an area of Yarmouk refugee camp, the working group for Palestine said.
The al-Husayniyah camp on the outskirts of Damascus was also shelled, and Sbeinah refugee camp near Damascus is reportedly being blockaded by Syrian troops.
Despite repeated statements from Palestinian officials that Syria camps are neutral in the internal conflict, Palestinians have been adversely affected by fighting in the two year conflict.
In March, the Action Group for Palestinians of Syria said that over 1,000 Palestinians have been killed in the ongoing Syria conflict, with that number thought to have increased significantly since then.
Syria hosts half a million Palestinian refugees, descendants of those admitted after the creation of Israel in 1948, and has always cast itself as a champion of the Palestinian struggle, sponsoring several guerrilla factions.
Farid Qasim was "executed" by gunmen affiliated with rebels from the Free Syrian Army in the Sheikh Anbar neighborhood, a statement said, allegedly because he was connected to the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine - General Command, a pro-Assad faction.
Zuheir Talib Mousa, an officer in the PLO's Liberation Army, was killed after being caught in the crossfire during fighting, and Muhammad Atwah died after being tortured by the Syrian regime in jail.
He was detained six months ago and his dead body was returned to his family on Monday.
Muhammad Khair al-Razzaz from Yarmouk refugee camp, also known as Abu Sakhr, was shot dead in clashes on the outskirts of Damascus, the task-force said.
Several people were injured on Monday as Syrian regime forces shelled an area of Yarmouk refugee camp, the working group for Palestine said.
The al-Husayniyah camp on the outskirts of Damascus was also shelled, and Sbeinah refugee camp near Damascus is reportedly being blockaded by Syrian troops.
Despite repeated statements from Palestinian officials that Syria camps are neutral in the internal conflict, Palestinians have been adversely affected by fighting in the two year conflict.
In March, the Action Group for Palestinians of Syria said that over 1,000 Palestinians have been killed in the ongoing Syria conflict, with that number thought to have increased significantly since then.
Syria hosts half a million Palestinian refugees, descendants of those admitted after the creation of Israel in 1948, and has always cast itself as a champion of the Palestinian struggle, sponsoring several guerrilla factions.
