Soon to be launched Elan: a magazine of contemporary Muslim culture, is on the lookout for talented journalists! Our start-up four-color glossy magazine is scheduled to launch Fall 2007, and we need a few good writers to work on short topical pieces 200-300 words) as well as longer, investigative features (2,000-3,000 words). The topics range from Music and Fashion to Media and Culture—all with an American Muslim focus.
Elan is dedicated to quality reporting on the current trends in the arts, business and contemporary Muslim lifestyle. We will also provide a public forum for the young professional community in print and on the web. Elan represents, embraces and commemorates the unique and distinct lifestyles of American Muslim, making Elsan a handbook for the chic Muslim. Our cosmopolitan publication is committed to incorporating all interpretations of Islam, realizing unity within our diversity.
For more information, please submit a resume and writing samples (pasted into the body of the e-mail---no attachments, please!) to: elan@elanthemag.com
Sunday, February 25, 2007
Thursday, February 22, 2007
Ambassador al-Jubeir presents credentials to State Department
Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia
Washington, DC
www.saudiembassy.net
Ambassador Al-Jubeir presents a copy of his credentials to the State Department
WASHINGTON, DC [February, 21, 2007] - Saudi Ambassador to the United States Adel A. Al-Jubeir presented a copy of his credentials to Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte at the State Department in Washington today.
Al-Jubeir was appointed to the post by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz on January 29, 2007. He succeeds Prince Turki Al-Faisal, who resigned last year for personal reasons.
Washington, DC
www.saudiembassy.net
Ambassador Al-Jubeir presents a copy of his credentials to the State Department
WASHINGTON, DC [February, 21, 2007] - Saudi Ambassador to the United States Adel A. Al-Jubeir presented a copy of his credentials to Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte at the State Department in Washington today.
Al-Jubeir was appointed to the post by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz on January 29, 2007. He succeeds Prince Turki Al-Faisal, who resigned last year for personal reasons.
NEWS: Mohammed Mar'i's columns, features and analysis now moved to Arabisto.com
Mohammed Mar'i, a member of the National Arab American Journalists Association and a journalist based in Ramallah, Palestine, is now writing for the popular Arab American/Arab World blog "Arabisto.com."
Arabisto is considered "The Arab Street" when it comes to diversity of Arab World and Arab American opinion, one of the most read Arab blogs on the Internet.
Mar'i's columns are now being featured on the Arabisto site at www.Arabisto.com
# # #
Arabisto is considered "The Arab Street" when it comes to diversity of Arab World and Arab American opinion, one of the most read Arab blogs on the Internet.
Mar'i's columns are now being featured on the Arabisto site at www.Arabisto.com
# # #
Tuesday, February 13, 2007
FEATURE: 10,400 Palestinian prisoners face inhumane treatment in Israeli jails, By Mohammed Mar'i
10400 Palestinian Prisoners live inhumanly in Israeli Jails
By Mohammed Mar'i*
(Ramallah, Occupied Palestine)--The family of Palestinian prisoner Ismail Al Jamal of West Bank reugee camp of Balata appealed in a letter directed to international human rights organizations, especially the International Red Cross, Doctors without Borders and the Palestinian Ministry of Prisoners Affaires to pressure Israel Occupation Forces (IOF) for the release of their son.
The family said that Jamal, who has been sentenced to10 and half years, suffers from thrombosis and sclerosis of the arteries, after being shot by Israeli forces, during his arrest on 30th of January 2004.
Yahya Al Jamal, brother of Ismail, said that his brother's health is severely deteriorating since the Israeli prisoners' authority refused his treatment, despite his increasing suffering and his need of an urgent medical operation
The Palestinian Ministry of Prisoners Affaires (MPA) revealed in its report, published Tuesday, February 13, 2007, that around 10400 Palestinian Prisoners live inhuman circumstances in 30 Israeli Jails, including Women and Children. The MPA said that most of prisoners suffer various physical and psychological diseases as a result of the inhuman circumstances of living. It added that 118 female prisoners and 330 children are still detained in Israeli jails facing daily Israeli torture and provocation. MPA mentioned that hundreds of children became more than 18 year-old inside prisons. It affirmed that at least 1000 prisoners suffer chronic diseases like pain of cartilage, cardiac diseases, diabetes and rheumatism, including 150 prisoners in critical case as a result of cancer, paralysis and kidney failure.
The report stated that the IOF have arrested 600 women and 6000 children during al-Aqsa Intifada which erupted in September 2000 . It mentioned that 553 prisoners have been detained before al-Aqsa Intifada, including 367 who have been detained before the Oslo Accord in 1993 .
In a recent development concerning the prisoners exchange deal, spokesman of the Popular Resistance Committees, Abu Mujahid, announced that the new Egyptian offer to release captured Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, will be conducted in three stages.
He said that "the man (Shalit) will be transported to Egypt before being handed over to Israel when the three stages are completed." Abu Mujahid said that the factions that captured Shalit had formed a joint intelligence body to deal with the case. He added that the factions adopted an antiquated system for contact between the faction leaders which cannot be traced by the Israeli intelligence. He refused to reveal this technique of communication but confirmed that "Shalit is now in good health and treated in a humanitarian way, he was not tortured." He also confirmed that the factions "will keep him until Israel complies with our demands."
Abu Mujahid denied that Shalit was being held at the Islamic University in Gaza, stating that the resistance cannot "hold him in such an open space, where anybody can enter and survey the area."
He clarified that the Egyptian offer comprises of "three stages, through which he (Shalit) is going to be sent to Egypt and they will hand him over to Israel, but only after the three stages are completed."
Abu Mujahid said that the factions have not yet confirmed their response to the offer but that the reply "will be made, after we hear the Israeli response." He blamed the Israeli government for the failure of all the four previous offers and he said "we prefer not to disclose the details of the offer and not to speak about it, as this may jeopardize the deal."
He said the Egyptians are playing an important role in the issue and have put in a lot of effort to arrange the exchange.
*Mohammed Mar'i is a freelance Palestinian journalist based in Ramallah, Occupied Palestine. He can be reached at mmaree63@gmail.com
By Mohammed Mar'i*
(Ramallah, Occupied Palestine)--The family of Palestinian prisoner Ismail Al Jamal of West Bank reugee camp of Balata appealed in a letter directed to international human rights organizations, especially the International Red Cross, Doctors without Borders and the Palestinian Ministry of Prisoners Affaires to pressure Israel Occupation Forces (IOF) for the release of their son.
The family said that Jamal, who has been sentenced to10 and half years, suffers from thrombosis and sclerosis of the arteries, after being shot by Israeli forces, during his arrest on 30th of January 2004.
Yahya Al Jamal, brother of Ismail, said that his brother's health is severely deteriorating since the Israeli prisoners' authority refused his treatment, despite his increasing suffering and his need of an urgent medical operation
The Palestinian Ministry of Prisoners Affaires (MPA) revealed in its report, published Tuesday, February 13, 2007, that around 10400 Palestinian Prisoners live inhuman circumstances in 30 Israeli Jails, including Women and Children. The MPA said that most of prisoners suffer various physical and psychological diseases as a result of the inhuman circumstances of living. It added that 118 female prisoners and 330 children are still detained in Israeli jails facing daily Israeli torture and provocation. MPA mentioned that hundreds of children became more than 18 year-old inside prisons. It affirmed that at least 1000 prisoners suffer chronic diseases like pain of cartilage, cardiac diseases, diabetes and rheumatism, including 150 prisoners in critical case as a result of cancer, paralysis and kidney failure.
The report stated that the IOF have arrested 600 women and 6000 children during al-Aqsa Intifada which erupted in September 2000 . It mentioned that 553 prisoners have been detained before al-Aqsa Intifada, including 367 who have been detained before the Oslo Accord in 1993 .
In a recent development concerning the prisoners exchange deal, spokesman of the Popular Resistance Committees, Abu Mujahid, announced that the new Egyptian offer to release captured Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, will be conducted in three stages.
He said that "the man (Shalit) will be transported to Egypt before being handed over to Israel when the three stages are completed." Abu Mujahid said that the factions that captured Shalit had formed a joint intelligence body to deal with the case. He added that the factions adopted an antiquated system for contact between the faction leaders which cannot be traced by the Israeli intelligence. He refused to reveal this technique of communication but confirmed that "Shalit is now in good health and treated in a humanitarian way, he was not tortured." He also confirmed that the factions "will keep him until Israel complies with our demands."
Abu Mujahid denied that Shalit was being held at the Islamic University in Gaza, stating that the resistance cannot "hold him in such an open space, where anybody can enter and survey the area."
He clarified that the Egyptian offer comprises of "three stages, through which he (Shalit) is going to be sent to Egypt and they will hand him over to Israel, but only after the three stages are completed."
Abu Mujahid said that the factions have not yet confirmed their response to the offer but that the reply "will be made, after we hear the Israeli response." He blamed the Israeli government for the failure of all the four previous offers and he said "we prefer not to disclose the details of the offer and not to speak about it, as this may jeopardize the deal."
He said the Egyptians are playing an important role in the issue and have put in a lot of effort to arrange the exchange.
*Mohammed Mar'i is a freelance Palestinian journalist based in Ramallah, Occupied Palestine. He can be reached at mmaree63@gmail.com
NEWS: Palestinian Youth barred from Ramallah, By Mohammed Mar'i
Israel Barred Palestinian Youth from Interring Ramallah
By Mohammed Mar'i*
The Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) for the second day barred all Palestinians under the age of 30 from the West Bank cities of Nablus and Tulkarm from passing the Israeli checkpoints on their way to Ramallah under the pretext of "security alerts". Israeli security sources pretended that Palestinians intend to carry out "terrorist attacks" in respond to the Israeli excavation at Al Aqsa Mosque.
The IOF tightened its suppressive measures exerted on Palestinians at the checkpoints that block all the entrances of Nablus. The Huwwara, Beit Eiba, Al Bathan Valley, Yitzhar, and Za'tara checkpoints which surround the city from all directions prevented university students, civil servants, and teachers under the age of 30 from passing through.
The Palestinians of same age and same area were also not allowed to pass the Atara checkpoint, north of West Bank city of Ramallah. They were forced to use bypass roads through the mountains and hills to pass the Israeli checkpoints in an attempt to reach their places of work or study.
As a good-will gesture toward the Palestinian people following the meeting between Israeli Prime Minster Ehud Olmert and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas last year, Israeli Occupation forces were supposed to remove some of the roadblocks and checkpoints that surround the Palestinian cities and converting the life of Palestinians willing to leave or to inter any city in the West Bank to a real hill.
Palestinians who travel through the West Bank cities didn't notice any change in the (IOF)'s policy at the checkpoints. They have horrible experience with them. They have to wait in long lines, under the burning sun or the freezing wind, alone or with their wives and kids, sick or healthy, young or old. Many Palestinian pregnant women deliver at these roadblocks, many sick Palestinians died while waiting the Israeli soldier to let them pass to the ambulance in the other side of the checkpoint or due to heart attack. Many Palestinians were beaten in the witness of their kids. Many Palestinians were obliged to sing songs, to dance, to give the Israeli soldiers cigarettes just to BASS. And other Palestinians were obliged to drink their urine just to cross the checkpoint. Israeli good-will steps no more than a mere illusion for them .
Mohammed Samaheh, a taxi driver from Salfeet area goes to Nablus every day. He said that the rainy weather did not encourage the Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) to ease their inspections, but instead, they forced passengers out of their cars into the rain for "extra screening". Khalid Saleem, an employee, travels from his hometown Jenin to Ramallah almost every day. He passes Za'tara checkpoint, south of Nablus. This checkpoint controls all Palestinians who travel from the West Bank northern cities to its center or southern ones. He said that the (IOF) serving at the checkpoint stop every car or bus, force passengers out of them into the rain or freezing wind, check their identity cards in search for wanted activists, the vehicles are checked by trained dogs in search for weapons. Ayman Adam, a student at An Najjah National University in Nablus said the same notice about Huwarra checkpoint, just south of Nablus. He goes ever day from his village Kafr el Dick, south of Nablus to the university to obtain his B.A in Business Administration. He said that "the Israeli soldiers oblige all passengers to stand in strait and long rows. They check every one, his identity card, his books' bag, and his body by electronic equipments before he allowed entering or leaving Nablus through revolving doors usually used for cows". "This is a collective punishment" he added. I can't usually attend the lectures at 8 o'clock in the morning because I arrive late. He accused the (IOF) policy as "it aims to increase ignorance in the Palestinian society". Salam Rimawee, an employee from Beit Reema village north of Ramallah, faced similar (IOF) measures at Atarah checkpoint, north of Ramallah and the only entrance for Palestinians who reside in West Bank northern cities. He said that "a unit from the Israeli Borders Police serves in the place humiliates Palestinians of who pass through this checkpoint". "The Israeli soldiers force the Palestinian drivers to stand in long rows; the soldiers don't allow any passenger to leave the car, and we have to stay for hours to pass ".
Usually, the Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) and right wing politicians oppose any comprehensive plan to ease restrictions on the Palestinians and prefer gradual and cautious measures toward the Palestinian population to prevent the so called Palestinian "terrorists" from taking advantage of these measures to carry out "terrorist attacks" against Israeli civilian targets in the heart of Israel .
It is well known that this usual security pretext of (IOF) has no reality on ground. The (IOF) and other Israeli security apparatus know that any supposed Palestinian "terrorist" will not seek to pass through Israeli roadblocks but he will look for bypass roads .
It is clear for all observers and even to the Israeli organization "Machsom Watch" which supervises the (IOF) checkpoints that the decision to keep or remove these roadblocks, checkpoints is political rather than for security reasons. The Israeli Politicians used the checkpoints as suppressive measures against the Palestinian people to enforce them either to accept its plans for a Palestinian state with temporary boundaries, or Olmerts "convergence" plan, or to pressure the Palestinian leadership for some Political concessions. Since two years, the (IOF) checkpoint in the Jordan Valley doesn't allow any Palestinian from outside the area to enter. This means that the Palestinian must be living there, and that must be printed on his identity card to be allowed entry. This Israeli policy is part of its plan to isolate the Jordan Valley from the surrounding Palestinian neighborhood, to build further settlements in it so as to ease its annexation to Israel. Israel will continue with its de facto policy waiting a moderate Palestinian peace partner, at this point the cantons will not be negotiable .
When he was asked: "As someone who is familiar with the conditions of the Palestinians in Gaza, do you feel empathy toward them?" Nissim Levy who served in the Israeli intelligence service "Shin Bet" for 20 years answered Israeli journalist Uri Blau in an interview published in Haaretz on Jan. 6th 2007, saying: "Let's forget our patriotism for a moment. If a boy in Be'er Sheva falls in love with a girl in Haifa, what does he do? He picks up the phone, makes a date and drives to see her. If a boy from Bethlehem falls in love with a girl from Nablus, what does he do? He has to cross checkpoints, he needs a 1,001 permits. The moment that you reach the conclusion that you have nothing to live for, you immediately find that you have something to die for ."
*Mohammed Mar'i is a freelance Palestinian journalist based in Ramallah, Occupied Palestine. He can be reached at mmaree63@gmail.com
By Mohammed Mar'i*
The Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) for the second day barred all Palestinians under the age of 30 from the West Bank cities of Nablus and Tulkarm from passing the Israeli checkpoints on their way to Ramallah under the pretext of "security alerts". Israeli security sources pretended that Palestinians intend to carry out "terrorist attacks" in respond to the Israeli excavation at Al Aqsa Mosque.
The IOF tightened its suppressive measures exerted on Palestinians at the checkpoints that block all the entrances of Nablus. The Huwwara, Beit Eiba, Al Bathan Valley, Yitzhar, and Za'tara checkpoints which surround the city from all directions prevented university students, civil servants, and teachers under the age of 30 from passing through.
The Palestinians of same age and same area were also not allowed to pass the Atara checkpoint, north of West Bank city of Ramallah. They were forced to use bypass roads through the mountains and hills to pass the Israeli checkpoints in an attempt to reach their places of work or study.
As a good-will gesture toward the Palestinian people following the meeting between Israeli Prime Minster Ehud Olmert and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas last year, Israeli Occupation forces were supposed to remove some of the roadblocks and checkpoints that surround the Palestinian cities and converting the life of Palestinians willing to leave or to inter any city in the West Bank to a real hill.
Palestinians who travel through the West Bank cities didn't notice any change in the (IOF)'s policy at the checkpoints. They have horrible experience with them. They have to wait in long lines, under the burning sun or the freezing wind, alone or with their wives and kids, sick or healthy, young or old. Many Palestinian pregnant women deliver at these roadblocks, many sick Palestinians died while waiting the Israeli soldier to let them pass to the ambulance in the other side of the checkpoint or due to heart attack. Many Palestinians were beaten in the witness of their kids. Many Palestinians were obliged to sing songs, to dance, to give the Israeli soldiers cigarettes just to BASS. And other Palestinians were obliged to drink their urine just to cross the checkpoint. Israeli good-will steps no more than a mere illusion for them .
Mohammed Samaheh, a taxi driver from Salfeet area goes to Nablus every day. He said that the rainy weather did not encourage the Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) to ease their inspections, but instead, they forced passengers out of their cars into the rain for "extra screening". Khalid Saleem, an employee, travels from his hometown Jenin to Ramallah almost every day. He passes Za'tara checkpoint, south of Nablus. This checkpoint controls all Palestinians who travel from the West Bank northern cities to its center or southern ones. He said that the (IOF) serving at the checkpoint stop every car or bus, force passengers out of them into the rain or freezing wind, check their identity cards in search for wanted activists, the vehicles are checked by trained dogs in search for weapons. Ayman Adam, a student at An Najjah National University in Nablus said the same notice about Huwarra checkpoint, just south of Nablus. He goes ever day from his village Kafr el Dick, south of Nablus to the university to obtain his B.A in Business Administration. He said that "the Israeli soldiers oblige all passengers to stand in strait and long rows. They check every one, his identity card, his books' bag, and his body by electronic equipments before he allowed entering or leaving Nablus through revolving doors usually used for cows". "This is a collective punishment" he added. I can't usually attend the lectures at 8 o'clock in the morning because I arrive late. He accused the (IOF) policy as "it aims to increase ignorance in the Palestinian society". Salam Rimawee, an employee from Beit Reema village north of Ramallah, faced similar (IOF) measures at Atarah checkpoint, north of Ramallah and the only entrance for Palestinians who reside in West Bank northern cities. He said that "a unit from the Israeli Borders Police serves in the place humiliates Palestinians of who pass through this checkpoint". "The Israeli soldiers force the Palestinian drivers to stand in long rows; the soldiers don't allow any passenger to leave the car, and we have to stay for hours to pass ".
Usually, the Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) and right wing politicians oppose any comprehensive plan to ease restrictions on the Palestinians and prefer gradual and cautious measures toward the Palestinian population to prevent the so called Palestinian "terrorists" from taking advantage of these measures to carry out "terrorist attacks" against Israeli civilian targets in the heart of Israel .
It is well known that this usual security pretext of (IOF) has no reality on ground. The (IOF) and other Israeli security apparatus know that any supposed Palestinian "terrorist" will not seek to pass through Israeli roadblocks but he will look for bypass roads .
It is clear for all observers and even to the Israeli organization "Machsom Watch" which supervises the (IOF) checkpoints that the decision to keep or remove these roadblocks, checkpoints is political rather than for security reasons. The Israeli Politicians used the checkpoints as suppressive measures against the Palestinian people to enforce them either to accept its plans for a Palestinian state with temporary boundaries, or Olmerts "convergence" plan, or to pressure the Palestinian leadership for some Political concessions. Since two years, the (IOF) checkpoint in the Jordan Valley doesn't allow any Palestinian from outside the area to enter. This means that the Palestinian must be living there, and that must be printed on his identity card to be allowed entry. This Israeli policy is part of its plan to isolate the Jordan Valley from the surrounding Palestinian neighborhood, to build further settlements in it so as to ease its annexation to Israel. Israel will continue with its de facto policy waiting a moderate Palestinian peace partner, at this point the cantons will not be negotiable .
When he was asked: "As someone who is familiar with the conditions of the Palestinians in Gaza, do you feel empathy toward them?" Nissim Levy who served in the Israeli intelligence service "Shin Bet" for 20 years answered Israeli journalist Uri Blau in an interview published in Haaretz on Jan. 6th 2007, saying: "Let's forget our patriotism for a moment. If a boy in Be'er Sheva falls in love with a girl in Haifa, what does he do? He picks up the phone, makes a date and drives to see her. If a boy from Bethlehem falls in love with a girl from Nablus, what does he do? He has to cross checkpoints, he needs a 1,001 permits. The moment that you reach the conclusion that you have nothing to live for, you immediately find that you have something to die for ."
*Mohammed Mar'i is a freelance Palestinian journalist based in Ramallah, Occupied Palestine. He can be reached at mmaree63@gmail.com
Monday, February 12, 2007
ANALYSIS: Mecca Agreement refreshes hope for Palestinian Securities Exchange
Mecca Agreement Refreshes Palestine Securities Exchange
By Mohammed Mar'i*
(Ramallah, Occupied Palestine)-- As a first sign of economic improvement following the Mecca Agreement between Fatah and Hamas, the Palestine Securities Exchange (PSE) "Al-Quds Index" increased by ( 4.26%) compared with the last trading session.
Dr. Hassan Abu Libdeh , PSE Chairman, said in a special interview that " the results of today's session is due to the fact that the investors were encouraged by the Mecca Agreement so they returned back to invest in shares". "As we emphasized all the time, the PSE in Palestine is highly influenced by the current political situations. The evaluation of listed companies in PSE was usually beyond the real value due to political developments. Even with the start of Mecca meeting last week, "Al Quds Index" closed at an increasing by ( 2.61%) compared with the last trade session" he added.
Abu Libdeh hoped that the Mecca Agreement between the Palestinian rivals is a beginning to freeze the international political and financial siege imposed on the Hamas-led government. "An agreement with this size at the place where it was held must be internationally endorsed. We hope that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia play the needed role to insure it (endorsement) especially with the United States", he said. "This international endorsement will lead to drop economic siege and resumption of financial aid and accordingly the Palestinian Authority will be devoted to the national cause and to administer the economic affair. This will enable the public sector establishments from extending their services to the public", Abu Libdeh added.
He highly evaluated the generous donation of Saudi Arabia to the Palestinian people saying that "the initiative reveal genuine Arab morals of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and the Saudi leadership. It (the financial donation) has a strategic influence on the Palestinian Authority. It will enable the Authority from extending its services to the Palestinian public; activate the stalled economic situation, to reduce the unemployment within the Palestinian society, to implement frozen infrastructure projects after the formation of Hamas-led government".
As for the ability of Saudi Arabia to transfer the donation to the new Palestinian government which is a step in breaking the financial siege Abu Libdeh said that" I think that Kingdom which succeeded in ending the Palestinian crisis has the considerable regional and international role to insure international acceptance of the financial transfer mechanism". "We notice good signs on the Mecca Agreement from the European Union. Although the European Union reaffirmed the Quartet preconditions, but I think there is a possibility to renew the financial aid. What is more important more than the donations is the Palestinian welcome of the Mecca Agreement which means that the Palestinian factions understood the danger of internal strife", he added.
Abu Libdeh declined the influence of financial grants that the Palestinian civil servants get from the European Union and the down payments from the President's office or the Government on the economic situation. He considered that there must be "an official treatment to the financial crisis which began since a year". He said that the importance of Mecca Agreement is not that it will solve the issue of Palestinian civil servants salaries but it will enable the Palestinian Authority from extending its services to the public with responsibility and respect. "It isn't enough to ensure the salaries. There are frozen infrastructure projects. The Palestinian Ministries can't extend basic services to the Palestinian public which badly affected the health, education, and social services", he clarified.
He considers that the implementation of Mecca Agreement depends on the behavior of Palestinian factions which is the only factor to torpedo any procedures. "We are now in a critical stage and we have the Mecca Agreement as a base to go back to the political track. If the Palestinian factions abide by the Agreement we can success, otherwise it a matter of time to return to the field language (internal strife)" Abu Libdeh estimated.
*Mohammed Mar'i is a freelance Palestinian journalist based in Ramallah, Occupied Palestine. He can be reached at mmaree63@gmail.com
By Mohammed Mar'i*
(Ramallah, Occupied Palestine)-- As a first sign of economic improvement following the Mecca Agreement between Fatah and Hamas, the Palestine Securities Exchange (PSE) "Al-Quds Index" increased by ( 4.26%) compared with the last trading session.
Dr. Hassan Abu Libdeh , PSE Chairman, said in a special interview that " the results of today's session is due to the fact that the investors were encouraged by the Mecca Agreement so they returned back to invest in shares". "As we emphasized all the time, the PSE in Palestine is highly influenced by the current political situations. The evaluation of listed companies in PSE was usually beyond the real value due to political developments. Even with the start of Mecca meeting last week, "Al Quds Index" closed at an increasing by ( 2.61%) compared with the last trade session" he added.
Abu Libdeh hoped that the Mecca Agreement between the Palestinian rivals is a beginning to freeze the international political and financial siege imposed on the Hamas-led government. "An agreement with this size at the place where it was held must be internationally endorsed. We hope that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia play the needed role to insure it (endorsement) especially with the United States", he said. "This international endorsement will lead to drop economic siege and resumption of financial aid and accordingly the Palestinian Authority will be devoted to the national cause and to administer the economic affair. This will enable the public sector establishments from extending their services to the public", Abu Libdeh added.
He highly evaluated the generous donation of Saudi Arabia to the Palestinian people saying that "the initiative reveal genuine Arab morals of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and the Saudi leadership. It (the financial donation) has a strategic influence on the Palestinian Authority. It will enable the Authority from extending its services to the Palestinian public; activate the stalled economic situation, to reduce the unemployment within the Palestinian society, to implement frozen infrastructure projects after the formation of Hamas-led government".
As for the ability of Saudi Arabia to transfer the donation to the new Palestinian government which is a step in breaking the financial siege Abu Libdeh said that" I think that Kingdom which succeeded in ending the Palestinian crisis has the considerable regional and international role to insure international acceptance of the financial transfer mechanism". "We notice good signs on the Mecca Agreement from the European Union. Although the European Union reaffirmed the Quartet preconditions, but I think there is a possibility to renew the financial aid. What is more important more than the donations is the Palestinian welcome of the Mecca Agreement which means that the Palestinian factions understood the danger of internal strife", he added.
Abu Libdeh declined the influence of financial grants that the Palestinian civil servants get from the European Union and the down payments from the President's office or the Government on the economic situation. He considered that there must be "an official treatment to the financial crisis which began since a year". He said that the importance of Mecca Agreement is not that it will solve the issue of Palestinian civil servants salaries but it will enable the Palestinian Authority from extending its services to the public with responsibility and respect. "It isn't enough to ensure the salaries. There are frozen infrastructure projects. The Palestinian Ministries can't extend basic services to the Palestinian public which badly affected the health, education, and social services", he clarified.
He considers that the implementation of Mecca Agreement depends on the behavior of Palestinian factions which is the only factor to torpedo any procedures. "We are now in a critical stage and we have the Mecca Agreement as a base to go back to the political track. If the Palestinian factions abide by the Agreement we can success, otherwise it a matter of time to return to the field language (internal strife)" Abu Libdeh estimated.
*Mohammed Mar'i is a freelance Palestinian journalist based in Ramallah, Occupied Palestine. He can be reached at mmaree63@gmail.com
RELEASE: Arab Jewish cooperation continues at Neve Shalom
For Immediate Release: February 12, 2007
Contact: Deanna Armbruster 818-325-8884,
deanna@oasisofpeace.org
Promoting, Supporting and Demonstrating Jewish-Arab Cooperation and Equality in IsraelNeve Shalom/Wahat al-Salam, Israel - Major Jewish-American organization have been discussing, recently, the reality of Jewish citizens in Israel living together with the State's Arab citizens. The Israeli Democracy Institute, United Jewish Community, Jewish Funders Network, American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee, the Anti-Defamation League, Conference of Presidents of Major Jewish Organizations, UJA-Federation of New York, New Israel Fund, Alfred and Hanna Fromm Fund, and the Andrea and Charles Bronfman Philanthropies, and even AIPAC, have all formed task forces, held conferences and panels or are planning events addressing this issue.All of these efforts reflect a growing trend and understanding of the importance of addressing the issue of Israeli-Arabs, citizens of the State of Israel, who often experience discrimination in various spheres - national, economic, social, cultural, etc. Arab citizens make up 18% of Israel's total population and their demographic is growing rapidly.
The community of Neve Shalom/Wahat al-Salam ("Oasis of Peace" in Hebrew and Arabic) has been focusing its efforts on promoting equality and understanding between Jewish and Arab citizens for nearly thirty-five years. 26 Jewish families and 26 Arab families - all citizens of Israel - live together and raise their children together in this unique community. The village offers experience and expertise in leading programs that promote Jewish-Arab interactions and understanding. Its bilingual, binational Primary School was the first such school in Israel when it was founded nearly twenty-five years ago. Arab and Jewish students learn each other's languages, cultures, histories and traditions and breakthrough many of the stereotypes and barriers that separate them. The majority of the students come from around the "Oasis of Peace" expanding the school's reach to parents and friends as well.
"It is important that the discussion is turning to this issue, but it will be critical that genuine equality for all peoples of Israel is central. The example of the "Oasis of Peace" is a key place to turn to in order to understand the challenges, and opportunities, to create such a state." explains Deanna Armbruster, the Executive Director of the American Friends of Neve Shalom/Wahat al-Salam (www.oasisofpeace.org), a U.S. based 501c3 not-for-profit organization working to support and publicize the work of the "Oasis of Peace."
Neve Shalom/Wahat al-Salam is also home to the School for Peace, a conflict management institute that also works to build positive relationships between Jews and Arabs, Israelis and Palestinians. Its workshops bring together Arab and Jewish citizens of Israel, as well as Palestinians living in the West Bank, for important dialogue workshops and conflict management training to promote equality.The "Oasis of Peace" has been bridging the gap between Arabs and Jews living in Israel for more than three decades and has been a pioneering voice in this area.
Its workshops and school often offer participants their first opportunities to meet someone from the other side. Its residents demonstrate daily that Arabs and Jews can live together with equality, understanding and peace. As attention in the U.S. turns toward the improvement of Jewish-Arab relations and the plight of Arab-Israelis, the model and programs of Neve Shalom/Wahat al-Salam can provide insight and guidance.##
American Friends of Neve Shalom/Wahat Al-Salam
12925 Riverside Drive, 3rd Floor
Sherman Oaks, CA 91423
Tel. 818-325-8884, Fax 856-325-8983
Email afnswas@oasisofpeace.org
www.oasisofpeace.org ;
Contact: Deanna Armbruster 818-325-8884,
deanna@oasisofpeace.org
Promoting, Supporting and Demonstrating Jewish-Arab Cooperation and Equality in IsraelNeve Shalom/Wahat al-Salam, Israel - Major Jewish-American organization have been discussing, recently, the reality of Jewish citizens in Israel living together with the State's Arab citizens. The Israeli Democracy Institute, United Jewish Community, Jewish Funders Network, American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee, the Anti-Defamation League, Conference of Presidents of Major Jewish Organizations, UJA-Federation of New York, New Israel Fund, Alfred and Hanna Fromm Fund, and the Andrea and Charles Bronfman Philanthropies, and even AIPAC, have all formed task forces, held conferences and panels or are planning events addressing this issue.All of these efforts reflect a growing trend and understanding of the importance of addressing the issue of Israeli-Arabs, citizens of the State of Israel, who often experience discrimination in various spheres - national, economic, social, cultural, etc. Arab citizens make up 18% of Israel's total population and their demographic is growing rapidly.
The community of Neve Shalom/Wahat al-Salam ("Oasis of Peace" in Hebrew and Arabic) has been focusing its efforts on promoting equality and understanding between Jewish and Arab citizens for nearly thirty-five years. 26 Jewish families and 26 Arab families - all citizens of Israel - live together and raise their children together in this unique community. The village offers experience and expertise in leading programs that promote Jewish-Arab interactions and understanding. Its bilingual, binational Primary School was the first such school in Israel when it was founded nearly twenty-five years ago. Arab and Jewish students learn each other's languages, cultures, histories and traditions and breakthrough many of the stereotypes and barriers that separate them. The majority of the students come from around the "Oasis of Peace" expanding the school's reach to parents and friends as well.
"It is important that the discussion is turning to this issue, but it will be critical that genuine equality for all peoples of Israel is central. The example of the "Oasis of Peace" is a key place to turn to in order to understand the challenges, and opportunities, to create such a state." explains Deanna Armbruster, the Executive Director of the American Friends of Neve Shalom/Wahat al-Salam (www.oasisofpeace.org), a U.S. based 501c3 not-for-profit organization working to support and publicize the work of the "Oasis of Peace."
Neve Shalom/Wahat al-Salam is also home to the School for Peace, a conflict management institute that also works to build positive relationships between Jews and Arabs, Israelis and Palestinians. Its workshops bring together Arab and Jewish citizens of Israel, as well as Palestinians living in the West Bank, for important dialogue workshops and conflict management training to promote equality.The "Oasis of Peace" has been bridging the gap between Arabs and Jews living in Israel for more than three decades and has been a pioneering voice in this area.
Its workshops and school often offer participants their first opportunities to meet someone from the other side. Its residents demonstrate daily that Arabs and Jews can live together with equality, understanding and peace. As attention in the U.S. turns toward the improvement of Jewish-Arab relations and the plight of Arab-Israelis, the model and programs of Neve Shalom/Wahat al-Salam can provide insight and guidance.##
American Friends of Neve Shalom/Wahat Al-Salam
12925 Riverside Drive, 3rd Floor
Sherman Oaks, CA 91423
Tel. 818-325-8884, Fax 856-325-8983
Email afnswas@oasisofpeace.org
www.oasisofpeace.org ;
Monday, February 05, 2007
ANALYSIS: Mecca Meeting puts Saudi Leadership on challenge, By Mohammed Mar'i
Mecca Meeting Puts Saudi Leadership on Challenge
By Mohammed Mar'i
(Arab American Media Services. Permission granted to republish.)
(Ramallah, Occupied Palestine)--The Palestinians, who their faces and hearts directed towards Mecca five times a day in prayers, questioned what the Mecca meeting between Palestinian rivals will conclude on Tuesday after the Quartet meeting and previous Arab mediations failed to end the Palestinian strife.
The Palestinians expressed their depression from the results of Quartet's meeting in Washington. The Quartet, as the Palestinians expected, was supposed to intervene in the fierce infighting in Gaza and to end the financial and political boycott of the Hamas-led Palestinian government. Contrarily, the Quartet reaffirmed the international aid embargo against the Hamas-led Palestinian government unless it renounces violence, recognizes Israel and accepts past peace agreements signed between the PLO and Israel. Hamas has refused to meet those terms up to now, leading to a cutoff of direct international aid and a breakdown of services and order in the Palestinian Authority. Political and financial sanctions imposed by the international community have failed to bring down the Hamas-led government. Many observers today admit that they were mistaken in their earlier assessments that Haniyeh's government would collapse as a result of the local and international pressure. Their predictions that Hamas's popularity would drop have also proven to be wrong.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas hopes that replacing the current Hamas-led government with a more moderate national unity government would be enough to persuade the West and Israel to lift crippling sanctions imposed on the Palestinian government to pressure it to abandon its militantly anti-Israel stand. But previous rounds of coalition talks between Abbas and Hamas leaders to convince Hamas to change its positions in order to save the Palestinian Authority from government, social and economic collapse, as well as from catastrophic anarchy have ended in failure and often led to new bloodletting. The last round of talks for forming a national unity government was held between Abbas and Hamas leader Khalid Mashaal in Damascus last month. They failed to reach an agreement over the distribution of cabinet portfolios in the proposed unity government, mainly the Interior Ministry, which is formally responsible for the PA security forces, and the political platform of the government.
King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia invited Abbas, Mashaal, and Prime Minster Ismail Haniyeh to meet in the holy city of Mecca in a step to end the mutual slaughter taking place between Fatah and Hamas, and to solve the internal conflict which lies in the formation of a Palestinian national unity government. Saudi Arabia is trying by this political maneuver to succeed where Egypt, Qatar, Jordan and Syria have failed.
Observers see that what Saudi Arabia needs is to find a foreign-policy compromise that would free the Palestinian Authority from the international political and financial siege imposed on them. Once a compromise is found, the obstacles of distributing ministerial portfolios will be secondary if the two sides have the real intention to resolve the crises.
It would appear that there is a chance for Saudi Arabia to recognize the real stands of the two Palestinian sides. It can clarify if there is a diplomatic or political solution with Hamas, or that the internecine fighting between Fatah and Hamas no more than a struggle for power and domination of the Palestinian Authority and the PLO. Saudi Arabia has the chance to bring the two Palestinian factions back to the rationale that no one can eliminate the other. It seems that reviving the Arab Peace Initiative of 2002 of Saudi King Abdullah will be of great interest at this time. The initiative "called for full Israeli withdrawal from all the Arab territories occupied since June 1967, in implementation of Security Council Resolutions 242 and 338, reaffirmed by the Madrid Conference of 1991 and the land-for-peace principle, and Israel's acceptance of an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital, in return for the establishment of normal relations in the context of a comprehensive peace with Israel". For Hamas, the initiative can be a suitable approach towards Israel in light of Mashal's last month statement recognizing Israel as a "fact" and calling for long Hudna (cease-fire) with Israel in exchange of a Palestinian state within the 1967 borders and by implicitly presenting its recognition of Israel as a condition for Israel's recognition of it. Hamas can put the initiative pack on track as a basis for future peace negotiation with Israel remembering Israeli defense Minister Amir Peretz saying last year that Israel "must deal with the Saudi initiative as a basis for negotiations".
Saudi Arabia , once Hamas and Fatah accepted this compromise, can adopt this political step and formed a Palestinian national unity government without previous US consultation. Saudi Arabia can acquire recognition from the Quartet, mainly the US which benefit from the regional role of Saudi Arabia in dealing with Iran's Nukes and against its activities in Iraq. Moreover, the moderate policy of Saudi Arabia enabled the Kingdom to resolve Arab disputes in the last century. In 1973, Saudi Arabia ended the crisis between Iraq and Kuwait when Iraq infiltrated the Kuwaiti boundaries. In 1989, Saudi Arabia succeeded in putting an end to the Lebanese civil war by concluding the Taif Agreement.
An agreement in Mecca, on the basis of Arab Peace Initiative, or on the basis of Hamas "respecting" the Quartet preconditions, is of high significance for the Palestinians and Saudi Arabia. For Palestinians, it seems that it will be the last chance before sliding to a civil war taking into consideration the rising military forces and arsenal in both sides. The Mecca meeting will be the last chance for the Palestinians before moving to the second phase of confrontation backed by the US and Iran after the phase of financial siege failed. For Saudi Arabia, it is a chance to prove its leading regional role despite the fact that the Quartet's reaffirmation of its January 30, 2006 preconditions minimized the chance of Saudi Arabia to success. Besides it will be a step for Saudi Arabia to regain consideration for its peace initiative which was rejected and humiliated by Israel. The Initiative was adopted by the Arab League in its summit at Beirut on March 28, 2002. Ariel Sharon, then Israeli Prime Minster, launched in the next day the "Operation Defensive Shield" where he reoccupied all major West Bank cities. Failing to achieve an agreement, the regional leadership will be dominated by Iran.
*(Mohammed Mar'i is a freelance Palestinian journalist based in Ramallah, Occupied Palestine. He can be reached at mmaree63@gmail.com.)
By Mohammed Mar'i
(Arab American Media Services. Permission granted to republish.)
(Ramallah, Occupied Palestine)--The Palestinians, who their faces and hearts directed towards Mecca five times a day in prayers, questioned what the Mecca meeting between Palestinian rivals will conclude on Tuesday after the Quartet meeting and previous Arab mediations failed to end the Palestinian strife.
The Palestinians expressed their depression from the results of Quartet's meeting in Washington. The Quartet, as the Palestinians expected, was supposed to intervene in the fierce infighting in Gaza and to end the financial and political boycott of the Hamas-led Palestinian government. Contrarily, the Quartet reaffirmed the international aid embargo against the Hamas-led Palestinian government unless it renounces violence, recognizes Israel and accepts past peace agreements signed between the PLO and Israel. Hamas has refused to meet those terms up to now, leading to a cutoff of direct international aid and a breakdown of services and order in the Palestinian Authority. Political and financial sanctions imposed by the international community have failed to bring down the Hamas-led government. Many observers today admit that they were mistaken in their earlier assessments that Haniyeh's government would collapse as a result of the local and international pressure. Their predictions that Hamas's popularity would drop have also proven to be wrong.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas hopes that replacing the current Hamas-led government with a more moderate national unity government would be enough to persuade the West and Israel to lift crippling sanctions imposed on the Palestinian government to pressure it to abandon its militantly anti-Israel stand. But previous rounds of coalition talks between Abbas and Hamas leaders to convince Hamas to change its positions in order to save the Palestinian Authority from government, social and economic collapse, as well as from catastrophic anarchy have ended in failure and often led to new bloodletting. The last round of talks for forming a national unity government was held between Abbas and Hamas leader Khalid Mashaal in Damascus last month. They failed to reach an agreement over the distribution of cabinet portfolios in the proposed unity government, mainly the Interior Ministry, which is formally responsible for the PA security forces, and the political platform of the government.
King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia invited Abbas, Mashaal, and Prime Minster Ismail Haniyeh to meet in the holy city of Mecca in a step to end the mutual slaughter taking place between Fatah and Hamas, and to solve the internal conflict which lies in the formation of a Palestinian national unity government. Saudi Arabia is trying by this political maneuver to succeed where Egypt, Qatar, Jordan and Syria have failed.
Observers see that what Saudi Arabia needs is to find a foreign-policy compromise that would free the Palestinian Authority from the international political and financial siege imposed on them. Once a compromise is found, the obstacles of distributing ministerial portfolios will be secondary if the two sides have the real intention to resolve the crises.
It would appear that there is a chance for Saudi Arabia to recognize the real stands of the two Palestinian sides. It can clarify if there is a diplomatic or political solution with Hamas, or that the internecine fighting between Fatah and Hamas no more than a struggle for power and domination of the Palestinian Authority and the PLO. Saudi Arabia has the chance to bring the two Palestinian factions back to the rationale that no one can eliminate the other. It seems that reviving the Arab Peace Initiative of 2002 of Saudi King Abdullah will be of great interest at this time. The initiative "called for full Israeli withdrawal from all the Arab territories occupied since June 1967, in implementation of Security Council Resolutions 242 and 338, reaffirmed by the Madrid Conference of 1991 and the land-for-peace principle, and Israel's acceptance of an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital, in return for the establishment of normal relations in the context of a comprehensive peace with Israel". For Hamas, the initiative can be a suitable approach towards Israel in light of Mashal's last month statement recognizing Israel as a "fact" and calling for long Hudna (cease-fire) with Israel in exchange of a Palestinian state within the 1967 borders and by implicitly presenting its recognition of Israel as a condition for Israel's recognition of it. Hamas can put the initiative pack on track as a basis for future peace negotiation with Israel remembering Israeli defense Minister Amir Peretz saying last year that Israel "must deal with the Saudi initiative as a basis for negotiations".
Saudi Arabia , once Hamas and Fatah accepted this compromise, can adopt this political step and formed a Palestinian national unity government without previous US consultation. Saudi Arabia can acquire recognition from the Quartet, mainly the US which benefit from the regional role of Saudi Arabia in dealing with Iran's Nukes and against its activities in Iraq. Moreover, the moderate policy of Saudi Arabia enabled the Kingdom to resolve Arab disputes in the last century. In 1973, Saudi Arabia ended the crisis between Iraq and Kuwait when Iraq infiltrated the Kuwaiti boundaries. In 1989, Saudi Arabia succeeded in putting an end to the Lebanese civil war by concluding the Taif Agreement.
An agreement in Mecca, on the basis of Arab Peace Initiative, or on the basis of Hamas "respecting" the Quartet preconditions, is of high significance for the Palestinians and Saudi Arabia. For Palestinians, it seems that it will be the last chance before sliding to a civil war taking into consideration the rising military forces and arsenal in both sides. The Mecca meeting will be the last chance for the Palestinians before moving to the second phase of confrontation backed by the US and Iran after the phase of financial siege failed. For Saudi Arabia, it is a chance to prove its leading regional role despite the fact that the Quartet's reaffirmation of its January 30, 2006 preconditions minimized the chance of Saudi Arabia to success. Besides it will be a step for Saudi Arabia to regain consideration for its peace initiative which was rejected and humiliated by Israel. The Initiative was adopted by the Arab League in its summit at Beirut on March 28, 2002. Ariel Sharon, then Israeli Prime Minster, launched in the next day the "Operation Defensive Shield" where he reoccupied all major West Bank cities. Failing to achieve an agreement, the regional leadership will be dominated by Iran.
*(Mohammed Mar'i is a freelance Palestinian journalist based in Ramallah, Occupied Palestine. He can be reached at mmaree63@gmail.com.)
ANALYSIS: Mecca Meeting puts Saudi Leadership on challenge, By Mohammed Mar'i
Mecca Meeting Puts Saudi Leadership on Challenge
By Mohammed Mar'i
(Arab American Media Services. Permission granted to republish.)
(Ramallah, Occupied Palestine)--The Palestinians, who their faces and hearts directed towards Mecca five times a day in prayers, questioned what the Mecca meeting between Palestinian rivals will conclude on Tuesday after the Quartet meeting and previous Arab mediations failed to end the Palestinian strife.
The Palestinians expressed their depression from the results of Quartet's meeting in Washington. The Quartet, as the Palestinians expected, was supposed to intervene in the fierce infighting in Gaza and to end the financial and political boycott of the Hamas-led Palestinian government. Contrarily, the Quartet reaffirmed the international aid embargo against the Hamas-led Palestinian government unless it renounces violence, recognizes Israel and accepts past peace agreements signed between the PLO and Israel. Hamas has refused to meet those terms up to now, leading to a cutoff of direct international aid and a breakdown of services and order in the Palestinian Authority. Political and financial sanctions imposed by the international community have failed to bring down the Hamas-led government. Many observers today admit that they were mistaken in their earlier assessments that Haniyeh's government would collapse as a result of the local and international pressure. Their predictions that Hamas's popularity would drop have also proven to be wrong.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas hopes that replacing the current Hamas-led government with a more moderate national unity government would be enough to persuade the West and Israel to lift crippling sanctions imposed on the Palestinian government to pressure it to abandon its militantly anti-Israel stand. But previous rounds of coalition talks between Abbas and Hamas leaders to convince Hamas to change its positions in order to save the Palestinian Authority from government, social and economic collapse, as well as from catastrophic anarchy have ended in failure and often led to new bloodletting. The last round of talks for forming a national unity government was held between Abbas and Hamas leader Khalid Mashaal in Damascus last month. They failed to reach an agreement over the distribution of cabinet portfolios in the proposed unity government, mainly the Interior Ministry, which is formally responsible for the PA security forces, and the political platform of the government.
King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia invited Abbas, Mashaal, and Prime Minster Ismail Haniyeh to meet in the holy city of Mecca in a step to end the mutual slaughter taking place between Fatah and Hamas, and to solve the internal conflict which lies in the formation of a Palestinian national unity government. Saudi Arabia is trying by this political maneuver to succeed where Egypt, Qatar, Jordan and Syria have failed.
Observers see that what Saudi Arabia needs is to find a foreign-policy compromise that would free the Palestinian Authority from the international political and financial siege imposed on them. Once a compromise is found, the obstacles of distributing ministerial portfolios will be secondary if the two sides have the real intention to resolve the crises.
It would appear that there is a chance for Saudi Arabia to recognize the real stands of the two Palestinian sides. It can clarify if there is a diplomatic or political solution with Hamas, or that the internecine fighting between Fatah and Hamas no more than a struggle for power and domination of the Palestinian Authority and the PLO. Saudi Arabia has the chance to bring the two Palestinian factions back to the rationale that no one can eliminate the other. It seems that reviving the Arab Peace Initiative of 2002 of Saudi King Abdullah will be of great interest at this time. The initiative "called for full Israeli withdrawal from all the Arab territories occupied since June 1967, in implementation of Security Council Resolutions 242 and 338, reaffirmed by the Madrid Conference of 1991 and the land-for-peace principle, and Israel's acceptance of an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital, in return for the establishment of normal relations in the context of a comprehensive peace with Israel". For Hamas, the initiative can be a suitable approach towards Israel in light of Mashal's last month statement recognizing Israel as a "fact" and calling for long Hudna (cease-fire) with Israel in exchange of a Palestinian state within the 1967 borders and by implicitly presenting its recognition of Israel as a condition for Israel's recognition of it. Hamas can put the initiative pack on track as a basis for future peace negotiation with Israel remembering Israeli defense Minister Amir Peretz saying last year that Israel "must deal with the Saudi initiative as a basis for negotiations".
Saudi Arabia , once Hamas and Fatah accepted this compromise, can adopt this political step and formed a Palestinian national unity government without previous US consultation. Saudi Arabia can acquire recognition from the Quartet, mainly the US which benefit from the regional role of Saudi Arabia in dealing with Iran's Nukes and against its activities in Iraq. Moreover, the moderate policy of Saudi Arabia enabled the Kingdom to resolve Arab disputes in the last century. In 1973, Saudi Arabia ended the crisis between Iraq and Kuwait when Iraq infiltrated the Kuwaiti boundaries. In 1989, Saudi Arabia succeeded in putting an end to the Lebanese civil war by concluding the Taif Agreement.
An agreement in Mecca, on the basis of Arab Peace Initiative, or on the basis of Hamas "respecting" the Quartet preconditions, is of high significance for the Palestinians and Saudi Arabia. For Palestinians, it seems that it will be the last chance before sliding to a civil war taking into consideration the rising military forces and arsenal in both sides. The Mecca meeting will be the last chance for the Palestinians before moving to the second phase of confrontation backed by the US and Iran after the phase of financial siege failed. For Saudi Arabia, it is a chance to prove its leading regional role despite the fact that the Quartet's reaffirmation of its January 30, 2006 preconditions minimized the chance of Saudi Arabia to success. Besides it will be a step for Saudi Arabia to regain consideration for its peace initiative which was rejected and humiliated by Israel. The Initiative was adopted by the Arab League in its summit at Beirut on March 28, 2002. Ariel Sharon, then Israeli Prime Minster, launched in the next day the "Operation Defensive Shield" where he reoccupied all major West Bank cities. Failing to achieve an agreement, the regional leadership will be dominated by Iran.
*(Mohammed Mar'i is a freelance Palestinian journalist based in Ramallah, Occupied Palestine. He can be reached at mmaree63@gmail.com.)
By Mohammed Mar'i
(Arab American Media Services. Permission granted to republish.)
(Ramallah, Occupied Palestine)--The Palestinians, who their faces and hearts directed towards Mecca five times a day in prayers, questioned what the Mecca meeting between Palestinian rivals will conclude on Tuesday after the Quartet meeting and previous Arab mediations failed to end the Palestinian strife.
The Palestinians expressed their depression from the results of Quartet's meeting in Washington. The Quartet, as the Palestinians expected, was supposed to intervene in the fierce infighting in Gaza and to end the financial and political boycott of the Hamas-led Palestinian government. Contrarily, the Quartet reaffirmed the international aid embargo against the Hamas-led Palestinian government unless it renounces violence, recognizes Israel and accepts past peace agreements signed between the PLO and Israel. Hamas has refused to meet those terms up to now, leading to a cutoff of direct international aid and a breakdown of services and order in the Palestinian Authority. Political and financial sanctions imposed by the international community have failed to bring down the Hamas-led government. Many observers today admit that they were mistaken in their earlier assessments that Haniyeh's government would collapse as a result of the local and international pressure. Their predictions that Hamas's popularity would drop have also proven to be wrong.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas hopes that replacing the current Hamas-led government with a more moderate national unity government would be enough to persuade the West and Israel to lift crippling sanctions imposed on the Palestinian government to pressure it to abandon its militantly anti-Israel stand. But previous rounds of coalition talks between Abbas and Hamas leaders to convince Hamas to change its positions in order to save the Palestinian Authority from government, social and economic collapse, as well as from catastrophic anarchy have ended in failure and often led to new bloodletting. The last round of talks for forming a national unity government was held between Abbas and Hamas leader Khalid Mashaal in Damascus last month. They failed to reach an agreement over the distribution of cabinet portfolios in the proposed unity government, mainly the Interior Ministry, which is formally responsible for the PA security forces, and the political platform of the government.
King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia invited Abbas, Mashaal, and Prime Minster Ismail Haniyeh to meet in the holy city of Mecca in a step to end the mutual slaughter taking place between Fatah and Hamas, and to solve the internal conflict which lies in the formation of a Palestinian national unity government. Saudi Arabia is trying by this political maneuver to succeed where Egypt, Qatar, Jordan and Syria have failed.
Observers see that what Saudi Arabia needs is to find a foreign-policy compromise that would free the Palestinian Authority from the international political and financial siege imposed on them. Once a compromise is found, the obstacles of distributing ministerial portfolios will be secondary if the two sides have the real intention to resolve the crises.
It would appear that there is a chance for Saudi Arabia to recognize the real stands of the two Palestinian sides. It can clarify if there is a diplomatic or political solution with Hamas, or that the internecine fighting between Fatah and Hamas no more than a struggle for power and domination of the Palestinian Authority and the PLO. Saudi Arabia has the chance to bring the two Palestinian factions back to the rationale that no one can eliminate the other. It seems that reviving the Arab Peace Initiative of 2002 of Saudi King Abdullah will be of great interest at this time. The initiative "called for full Israeli withdrawal from all the Arab territories occupied since June 1967, in implementation of Security Council Resolutions 242 and 338, reaffirmed by the Madrid Conference of 1991 and the land-for-peace principle, and Israel's acceptance of an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital, in return for the establishment of normal relations in the context of a comprehensive peace with Israel". For Hamas, the initiative can be a suitable approach towards Israel in light of Mashal's last month statement recognizing Israel as a "fact" and calling for long Hudna (cease-fire) with Israel in exchange of a Palestinian state within the 1967 borders and by implicitly presenting its recognition of Israel as a condition for Israel's recognition of it. Hamas can put the initiative pack on track as a basis for future peace negotiation with Israel remembering Israeli defense Minister Amir Peretz saying last year that Israel "must deal with the Saudi initiative as a basis for negotiations".
Saudi Arabia , once Hamas and Fatah accepted this compromise, can adopt this political step and formed a Palestinian national unity government without previous US consultation. Saudi Arabia can acquire recognition from the Quartet, mainly the US which benefit from the regional role of Saudi Arabia in dealing with Iran's Nukes and against its activities in Iraq. Moreover, the moderate policy of Saudi Arabia enabled the Kingdom to resolve Arab disputes in the last century. In 1973, Saudi Arabia ended the crisis between Iraq and Kuwait when Iraq infiltrated the Kuwaiti boundaries. In 1989, Saudi Arabia succeeded in putting an end to the Lebanese civil war by concluding the Taif Agreement.
An agreement in Mecca, on the basis of Arab Peace Initiative, or on the basis of Hamas "respecting" the Quartet preconditions, is of high significance for the Palestinians and Saudi Arabia. For Palestinians, it seems that it will be the last chance before sliding to a civil war taking into consideration the rising military forces and arsenal in both sides. The Mecca meeting will be the last chance for the Palestinians before moving to the second phase of confrontation backed by the US and Iran after the phase of financial siege failed. For Saudi Arabia, it is a chance to prove its leading regional role despite the fact that the Quartet's reaffirmation of its January 30, 2006 preconditions minimized the chance of Saudi Arabia to success. Besides it will be a step for Saudi Arabia to regain consideration for its peace initiative which was rejected and humiliated by Israel. The Initiative was adopted by the Arab League in its summit at Beirut on March 28, 2002. Ariel Sharon, then Israeli Prime Minster, launched in the next day the "Operation Defensive Shield" where he reoccupied all major West Bank cities. Failing to achieve an agreement, the regional leadership will be dominated by Iran.
*(Mohammed Mar'i is a freelance Palestinian journalist based in Ramallah, Occupied Palestine. He can be reached at mmaree63@gmail.com.)
Sunday, February 04, 2007
Israel builds a bridge under al-Aqsa Mosque, By Mohammed Mar'i
Israel Builds a Bridge under Al Aqsa Mosque
By Mohammed Mar'i
(Arab American Media Services. Permission granted to republish.)
(Ramallah, Occupied Palestine)-- While severe fighting continues between Fatah and Hamas in Gaza Strip, Israel will start constructing a bridge At Al Aqsa Mosque Sunday. The director of the cartographic department in the society for Arab Studies, Khalil Toufakji, has warned of an ethnic cleansing operation against some 24,000 Palestinians in the old city of Jerusalem.
Toufakji added that Israel has built "the Jewish neighborhood" in the city, which contains around 70 settlement units.
Speaking in a press conference in Ramallah on Saturday, Toufakji spoke about the holy city, "and the dangers it faces in the shadow of the Israeli government policy of Judaizing the city". He added that "anyone who is watching the Israeli strategy in the city will find that it has reached a dangerous stage, and is now in the last steps of its demographic Judaization."
Operating on the demographic level, the policy aims to reduce the number of Palestinian citizens in the city, so the Israelis will form a significant majority in the future.
Toufakji drew attention to the tunnels and bridges which Israel is currently constructing. The Israeli authorities are attempting to build a link between the Western wall complex by opening a tunnel from Magharbah Gate. It is understood that this tunnel will be opened on Sunday.
Toufakji declared "there is nothing left of the Magharbah neighborhood… the goal of all these excavations is an attempt to find the temple although there isn't proven sign of its existence in the place."
Toufakji criticized the Palestinian, Arab and Islamic neglect of Jerusalem saying "as all parties are ignoring the issue of Jerusalem… we speak on every occasion about the dangers facing the city but we do nothing". He also mentioned the change in the Israeli prime minister's convergence plans, stating that "there will be streets for Jews only, and other streets for Palestinians."
*(Mohammed Mar'i is a freelance Palestinian journalist based in Ramallah, Occupied Palestine. He can be reached at mmaree63@gmail.com.)
By Mohammed Mar'i
(Arab American Media Services. Permission granted to republish.)
(Ramallah, Occupied Palestine)-- While severe fighting continues between Fatah and Hamas in Gaza Strip, Israel will start constructing a bridge At Al Aqsa Mosque Sunday. The director of the cartographic department in the society for Arab Studies, Khalil Toufakji, has warned of an ethnic cleansing operation against some 24,000 Palestinians in the old city of Jerusalem.
Toufakji added that Israel has built "the Jewish neighborhood" in the city, which contains around 70 settlement units.
Speaking in a press conference in Ramallah on Saturday, Toufakji spoke about the holy city, "and the dangers it faces in the shadow of the Israeli government policy of Judaizing the city". He added that "anyone who is watching the Israeli strategy in the city will find that it has reached a dangerous stage, and is now in the last steps of its demographic Judaization."
Operating on the demographic level, the policy aims to reduce the number of Palestinian citizens in the city, so the Israelis will form a significant majority in the future.
Toufakji drew attention to the tunnels and bridges which Israel is currently constructing. The Israeli authorities are attempting to build a link between the Western wall complex by opening a tunnel from Magharbah Gate. It is understood that this tunnel will be opened on Sunday.
Toufakji declared "there is nothing left of the Magharbah neighborhood… the goal of all these excavations is an attempt to find the temple although there isn't proven sign of its existence in the place."
Toufakji criticized the Palestinian, Arab and Islamic neglect of Jerusalem saying "as all parties are ignoring the issue of Jerusalem… we speak on every occasion about the dangers facing the city but we do nothing". He also mentioned the change in the Israeli prime minister's convergence plans, stating that "there will be streets for Jews only, and other streets for Palestinians."
*(Mohammed Mar'i is a freelance Palestinian journalist based in Ramallah, Occupied Palestine. He can be reached at mmaree63@gmail.com.)
Thursday, February 01, 2007
NEWS: 3 Palestinians killed in West Bank, By Mohammed Mar'i
Israel Killed Three Palestinians in the West Bank
The non-violent resistance of Martin Luther King in Hebron
By Mohammed Mar'i
(Arab American Media Services. Permission granted to republish or distribute.)
(Ramallah, Occupied Palestine)-- Amid tense cease fire between the Palestinian rivals Fatah and Hamas and an accusation to the US of promoting civil war among the Palestinians by transferring $86 million to strengthen security forces loyal to Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas, Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) killed three Palestinians in the West Bank on Thursday.
The IOF troops killed Taha Mohammed, from the old city in Jerusalem, who tried to infiltrate Israel through the Separation Wall near the Kalandiya refugee camp, north of Jerusalem, on Thursday morning.
In Nablus, the IOF killed Amer Kalbouneh and Wael Awad during a predawn raid in the city. Dr Ghassan Hamdan who works for the Palestinian Medical Relief Committees said "that two were killed several IOF jeeps and bulldozers opened fire on Palestinian crowds and houses in the Old city of Nablus". He added that "the Israeli Forces prevented medical teams from rescuing and left them bleeding from their wounds until they died". The IOF accused Kalbouneh and Awad of belonging to al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades, military wing of Fatah.
On separate Palestinian peaceful activity to protest the Israeli apartheid policy in Hebron city, Palestinian, Israeli and international peace activists, held Thursday a teach-in in front of the Tel Rumeida checkpoint in the city of Hebron. The theme of the action is the non-violent resistance promoted by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
The International Solidarity Movement said in a press release that "Dr. King was one of the pioneers of the civil rights movement in the United States in the early 60s and was the youngest person ever to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize".
The children of Tel Rumeida gathered together for their weekly art lesson at the checkpoint where they learned about the work of Dr. King and created a T-shirt with Dr. King's famous quote: "Freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor; it must be demanded by the oppressed" in Arabic, English and Hebrew.
Last Thursday local residents and community representatives rallied at the Tel Rumeida checkpoint to demonstrate against settlers' violence and the closure of Shuhada Street which cuts through the centre of Hebron. Shuhada Street has been closed to Palestinians for six years, although the Israeli High Court recently ruled that this had been a 'mistake' and Palestinians had the right of access. Despite this ruling the Israeli authorities continue to deny passage to Palestinians along Shuhada Street. The residents of Hebron and Tel Rumeida demand the right to access freely all parts of their city.
(Mohammed Mar'i is a freelance Palestinian journalist based in Ramallah, Occupied Palestine. He can be reached at mmaree63@gmail.com.)
The non-violent resistance of Martin Luther King in Hebron
By Mohammed Mar'i
(Arab American Media Services. Permission granted to republish or distribute.)
(Ramallah, Occupied Palestine)-- Amid tense cease fire between the Palestinian rivals Fatah and Hamas and an accusation to the US of promoting civil war among the Palestinians by transferring $86 million to strengthen security forces loyal to Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas, Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) killed three Palestinians in the West Bank on Thursday.
The IOF troops killed Taha Mohammed, from the old city in Jerusalem, who tried to infiltrate Israel through the Separation Wall near the Kalandiya refugee camp, north of Jerusalem, on Thursday morning.
In Nablus, the IOF killed Amer Kalbouneh and Wael Awad during a predawn raid in the city. Dr Ghassan Hamdan who works for the Palestinian Medical Relief Committees said "that two were killed several IOF jeeps and bulldozers opened fire on Palestinian crowds and houses in the Old city of Nablus". He added that "the Israeli Forces prevented medical teams from rescuing and left them bleeding from their wounds until they died". The IOF accused Kalbouneh and Awad of belonging to al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades, military wing of Fatah.
On separate Palestinian peaceful activity to protest the Israeli apartheid policy in Hebron city, Palestinian, Israeli and international peace activists, held Thursday a teach-in in front of the Tel Rumeida checkpoint in the city of Hebron. The theme of the action is the non-violent resistance promoted by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
The International Solidarity Movement said in a press release that "Dr. King was one of the pioneers of the civil rights movement in the United States in the early 60s and was the youngest person ever to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize".
The children of Tel Rumeida gathered together for their weekly art lesson at the checkpoint where they learned about the work of Dr. King and created a T-shirt with Dr. King's famous quote: "Freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor; it must be demanded by the oppressed" in Arabic, English and Hebrew.
Last Thursday local residents and community representatives rallied at the Tel Rumeida checkpoint to demonstrate against settlers' violence and the closure of Shuhada Street which cuts through the centre of Hebron. Shuhada Street has been closed to Palestinians for six years, although the Israeli High Court recently ruled that this had been a 'mistake' and Palestinians had the right of access. Despite this ruling the Israeli authorities continue to deny passage to Palestinians along Shuhada Street. The residents of Hebron and Tel Rumeida demand the right to access freely all parts of their city.
(Mohammed Mar'i is a freelance Palestinian journalist based in Ramallah, Occupied Palestine. He can be reached at mmaree63@gmail.com.)
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