24 October 2012 — VTJP
News
International Middle East Media Center
Closure of Beit Hanoun Crossing Threatens the Lives of Hundreds of Patients in the Gaza Strip
IMEMC – The Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR) condemns the targeting of the Palestinian customs checkpoint, near Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing, by Israeli warplanes. As a result of the attack, a Palestinian policeman sustained serious wounds, and damage was caused to surrounding facilities in the area. …
Nonviolent Protesters Conduct a Sit-in at Rami Levy Store near Ramallah
IMEMC – Israeli troops arrested four protesters near the central West Bank city of Ramallah on Wednesday when a group of Palestinians and their international supporters conducted a sit-in at the settlers’ supermarket near Ramallah. …
Death Toll In Gaza due to Israeli Attacks Reaches Four
IMEMC – Four Palestinian men were reported killed, five injured, on Wednesday as Israel’s aerial bombardment of Gaza continued until the early morning hours. …
“Al-Aqsa”: Occupation To Destroy Islamic Symbols In Al-wad Street In Jerusalem.
IMEMC – Jerusalem – Al-Quds. The “Al-Aqsa Foundation for Waqf and Heritage” assured that the Israeli occupation and all its executive organizations and companies are striving to destroy the historical Islamic sites located in ancient Al-Wad Street. …
Four Foreign Workers Injured In Eshkol
IMEMC – Israel medical sources reported Wednesday that four foreign workers were injured, two seriously, by Palestinian shells fired from Gaza into Eshkol. One Israeli woman was injured by shells targeting the Asqalan (Ashkelon) coast. …
After 115 Days Of Hunger Strike, Palestinian Detainee Stops Water Intake
IMEMC – Palestinian detainee, Ayman Ash-Sharawna, has been on hunger strike for 115 days, and stopped drinking water on Wednesday, escalating his strike as Israel still refuses to release him, and due to pressures practiced against him by the Prison Administration. …
Prince Of Qatar: “Gaza Steadfastness Helped Launch The Arab Spring”
IMEMC – Talking from Gaza, the Prince of Qatar, Hamad Bin Khalifa Al-Thani, stated that the Palestinians need to end all internal divisions and achieve comprehensive unity, adding that the steadfastness of the Palestinian people in Gaza, living under constant Israeli attacks and siege, helped launch the Arab Spring. …
Two Fighters Killed In Gaza, 6 Palestinian Killed Since Monday
IMEMC – Palestinian medical sources in the Gaza Strip reported that two Palestinian fighters were killed, earlier on Wednesday, and at least five residents were wounded, in Israeli attacks targeting the coastal region. Six Palestinians have been killed since Monday and at least 12 have been injured. …
Israeli airstrikes kill 4, injure 8 in Gaza
10/24/2012 – GAZA CITY (Ma’an) –Multiple Israeli airstrikes on the Gaza Strip have killed four people and injured eight since late Tuesday, medics said. Israeli warplanes struck a target in Rafah early Wednesday, killing Muhammad al-Sheikh, 32, a member of the PRC’s military wing the Nasser Saladin Brigades. One other person was also….
Local official: Israel destroys 5 water wells in Jenin
10/24/2012 – JENIN (Ma’an) — Israeli forces destroyed five water wells in a Jenin village on Wednesday, claiming the structures were unlicensed, a local official said. Muhammad Fahmi Maree, head of a local agricultural association, told Ma’an that an Israeli bulldozer, accompanied by military vehicles, destroyed the wells in Kafr Dan village. Israeli authorities….
Israel closes Gaza crossings
10/24/2012 – GAZA CITY (Ma’an) — Israel on Wednesday closed two crossings on its border with the Gaza Strip, Israeli and Palestinian officials said. Officials in the Palestinian liaison office told Ma’an the Kerem Shalom and the Erez crossings were closed in both directions. An Israeli liaison official told Ma’an the crossings….
Miles of Smiles convoy heads to Gaza
10/24/2012 – El-ARISH, Egypt (Ma’an) — A Gaza-bound Miles of Smiles aid convoy arrived in Egypt late Tuesday, Egyptian authorities said. The convoy is due to arrive in Gaza on Wednesday carrying 23 cars adapted for people with disabilities. Over 80 solidarity activists are traveling with the convoy from Jordan, Indonesia, Turkey, Algeria, Qatar, Egypt, Kuwait….
4 arrested, several injured in Israeli boycott protest
10/24/2012 – RAMALLAH (Ma’an) — Around 150 protestors demonstrated on Wednesday in front of an Israeli chain store east of Ramallah, the Popular Struggle Committee said. Four activists were detained and several injured as Israeli police and soldiers broke up the demonstration, a statement said. Palestinian, international and Israeli protesters gathered outside of a branch of….
‘No reason’ to shoot Gaza fisherman, family says
10/24/2012 – GAZA CITY (Ma’an) — The family of a 22-year-old fisherman killed by Israeli forces says soldiers had no reason to kill him. Fahmi Abu Riash, father of a one-year-old son, was fatally shot by Israeli soldiers while fishing at the beach in Beit Lahiya in northern Gaza in late September. His brother Youssef….
Prison guards ‘abused hunger striker’ in Nafha jail
10/24/2012 – JERUSALEM (Ma’an) — Israeli prison guards physically and verbally abused a long-term hunger striker at Nafha jail on Monday, witnesses said. Samer al-Issawi, who has been on hunger strike for 85 days, was attacked, pushed to the ground and insulted by guards on his return to Nafha jail from Ofer military court Monday, prisoners….
Militants join forces as Israel warns of ‘extensive’ action in Gaza
10/24/2012 – BETHLEHEM (Ma’an) — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday warned of “extensive and deeper action” in Gaza as militant groups announced a joint operation room in the enclave.” We neither chose nor initiated this escalation but if it continues we are prepared for much more extensive and deeper action,” Netanyahu said during a….
Sudan accuses Israel of airstrike on arms factory
10/24/2012 – KHARTOUM (Reuters) — Sudan on Wednesday accused Israel of carrying out an air strike on a large arms factory in Khartoum, its capital, that killed two people, but Israel’s defense and foreign ministry declined to comment. Sudan, which analysts say is used as an arms smuggling route to the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip via neighboring….
Israel court reduces prison sentence of Fatah detainee
10/24/2012 – RAMALLAH (Ma’an) — Israel’s Ofer military court on Wednesday reduced the prison sentence of a Fatah detainee, the Palestinian Authority Ministry of Prisoners said. Iyad Mousa al-Froukh, a member of Fatah’s Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade, was originally charged with four life sentences but his term was reduced to 10 years imprisonment….
Qaraqe: Gaza deportees to return to West Bank on Nov. 18
10/24/2012 – RAMALLAH (Ma’an) — Eighteen former prisoners who Israel deported to the Gaza Strip will return to their homes in the West Bank in November, the minister of detainee affairs said Wednesday. Issa Qaraqe said the exiled former detainees, who were released in Israel’s October 2011 prisoner swap with Hamas, would return to….
Israel says Palestinian carrying pipe bombs arrested
10/24/2012 – BETHLEHEM (Ma’an) — Israeli forces arrested a man found with eight pipe bombs at Qalandiya checkpoint on Tuesday, Israel’s army said. An Israeli army spokeswoman told Ma’an that the pipe bombs were uncovered during a routine inspection and the man was taken into the custody of security forces. [END]
Erekat hopes emir of Qatar’s visit will aid reconciliation
10/24/2012 – BETHLEHEM (Ma’an) — PLO official Saeb Erekat said Wednesday that he hopes the emir of Qatar‘s Gaza visit will help efforts for reconciliation between the rival political factions.” We support helping the people of Gaza and providing humanitarian aid. We appreciate Qatari help in lifting the blockade on the Gaza people,” Erekat….
PLO officials condemn Israeli escalation in Gaza
10/24/2012 – BETHLEHEM (Ma’an) — Top PLO officials condemned Israel’s escalation in the Gaza Strip on Wednesday, after four Palestinians died in airstrikes and rockets pounded southern Israel. Hanan Ashrawi called the attacks on Gaza premeditated, criminal and politically motivated ahead of Israeli elections in January.”The Israeli government is trying to gain votes….
PLO briefs Europeans on plan to upgrade UN status
10/24/2012 – BETHLEHEM (Ma’an) — The PLO began distributing a position paper to European governments on Wednesday, detailing plans to seek an upgrade of Palestine’s status at the United Nations in November. The document, obtained by Ma’an, emphasizes that membership in the UN is no substitute for negotiations with Israel. But it….
Hamas to complain to UN over Israeli airstrikes
10/24/2012 – GAZA CITY (Ma’an) — The government in Gaza will file a complaint with the United Nations over Israel’s airstrikes, ministers said Wednesday, after a week of bombing left at least six Palestinians dead. At a weekly cabinet meeting, ministers urged the international community to intervene and stop the airstrikes, and announced they….
PRC militants: No truce reached yet
10/24/2012 – GAZA CITY (Ma’an) — The armed wing of the Popular Resistance Committees said Wednesday that no truce had been reached yet with Israel after days of intensified cross-border violence. Al-Nasser Salah al-Din brigades spokesman Abu Mujahed told Ma’an the group had not been informed of a ceasefire and would respond immediately to….
University staff call off strike in West Bank
10/24/2012 – HEBRON (Ma’an) — University workers will return to work on Wednesday but Palestinian Authority employees will strike for a second day, union officials said Tuesday. Amjad Barham, head of the union for professors and staff, told Ma’an that university officials met with the higher education council and agreed to return to work….
PhD graduates protest unemployment in Ramallah
10/24/2012 – RAMALAH (Ma’an) — Three Palestinians with doctorates who have been unemployed for over five years have been protesting for over three weeks at the Palestinian Authority cabinet building in Ramallah. Saed Nazzal, who has a PhD in agricultural engineering; Hussain al-Yamani, who has a PhD in international economic relations; and Ashraf Hammad, who has….
Child dies after being hit by truck in Hebron village
10/24/2012 – HEBRON (Ma’an) — A child was killed in a Hebron village on Wednesday after being knocked down by a vehicle, medics said. Muhammad Fawaz Barqan, 8, was hit by a truck in Beit Einun and later died at hospital, a Red Crescent official told Ma’an. [END]
Hajj pilgrimage starts in Mecca
10/24/2012 – MECCA (Reuters) — Nearly 3 million Muslim pilgrims started the first phase of the annual hajj on Wednesday, traveling through packed streets from Mecca’s Grand Mosque to the enormous camp at Mina just outside the Saudi Arabian city. In a dense sea of humanity, all clad in the same simple white robes, the pilgrims….
Syrian bombardments create new refugee wave
10/24/2012 – ATIMA, Syria (Reuters) — Hundreds of Syrian refugees have poured into a makeshift refugee camp overlooking the Turkish border, fleeing a week of what they say are the most intense army bombardments since the uprising began 19 months ago. In the past two days, 700 tents have been erected in a sprawling olive grove on a….
Brahimi: Syria agrees to ceasefire during Eid holiday
10/24/2012 – CAIRO (Reuters) — International mediator Lakhdar Brahimi said on Wednesday the Syrian government has agreed to a ceasefire during the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha and that Damascus would announce the decision shortly. The holiday starts on Thursday and lasts three or four days. Brahimi, a mediator appointed by the United Nations and Arab League, said….
Israel and Gazans in tit-for-tat attacks
AlJazeera 24 Oct 2012 – Rounds of air strikes into Gaza kill four, while rockets fired into Israel injure six.
PNN Reporter: Three Palestinians Killed in Gaza, Resistance Hit 52 Rockets at Israel
Palestine News Network
Israel’s Grand Illusion on Palestinian UN Recognition
Palestine News Network
Dr. Erekat Holds Israel Responsible for Attacks against Gaza
Palestine News Network
Local EU Statement on the Holding of Palestinian Local Elections
Palestine News Network
Democracy Now: 3rd Party Candidates Discuss U.S Middle East Policy in Expanded Debate
Palestine News Network
In Israel.. Carter Says Two State Solution in “Death Throes”
Palestine News Network
Catholic Leaders in the Holy Land Call on Israel to Restrain from its Plan to Separate Cremisan Valley from Bethlehem
Palestine News Network
National Struggle and Personal Forgiveness
Palestine News Network
Palestinian Center for Human Rights
Occupied Lives: There was no reason for my son’s death
Palestinian Center for Human Rights
Al-Sourani meets with a number of visiting figures and delegations
Palestinian Center for Human Rights
Closure of Beit Hanoun Crossing Threatens the Lives of Hundreds of Patients in the Gaza Strip
Palestinian Center for Human Rights
012)
Palestinian Center for Human Rights
International Solidarity Movement
Bassem Tamimi injured and arrested with 3 others at Boycott Israel protest
10/24/2012 – International Solidarity Movement – 24 October 2012, International Solidarity Movement, West Bank – Four people, including Bassem Tamimi, the head of the Popular Committee of Nabi Saleh, were arrested by Israeli police today as Palestinians staged a peaceful direct action in an Israeli supermarket near the illegal settlement of Shaar Binyamin, north of Ramallah, calling for a boycott of Israeli….
Pakistan: Regional training workshop on improving the management of severe acute malnutrition and nutrition surveillance
Relief Web 23 Oct 2012 – Source: World Health Organization Country: Pakistan 18 October 2012, Islamabad – A regional training workshop on improving the management of severe acute malnutrition and nutrition surveillance was organized by the Planning and Development Division of the Government of Pakistan, in…
Four Palestinians die as Israel retaliates after Gaza mortars
The National 24 Oct 2012 – Rockets and mortars traded with Israeli airstrikes flare only hours after Qatari emir departs.
Syrians face six-month wait for passport to freedom
The National 24 Oct 2012 – Syrians trying to get passports are being told to wait up to six months for their travel documents to be issued, as increasing numbers of people plan to flee the country. Phil Sands reports from Damascus
Eid truce declared in Syria but rebels say they ‘don’t trust the regime’
The National 24 Oct 2012 – Peace envoy Lakhdar Brahimi says Syria and ‘most’ rebel factions have agreed to a truce over Eid Al Adha but a top opposition leader says they ‘don’t trust the regime’.
ASEAN chief rejects Australian opposition leader’s policy to turn back asylum boats
The National 24 Oct 2012 – ASEAN Secretary General Surin Pitsuwan has labelled as “counterproductive” the controversial policy of the Australian opposition party to turn back asylum-seeker boats, a report said yesterday.
Europe set for closer trade ties with Israel
The National 24 Oct 2012 – EU condemns moves for yet more settler communities in the Palestinian territories but agrees to deal over pharmaceuticals.
Sudan accuses Israel of bombing, threatens to retaliate
The National 24 Oct 2012 – Sudan yesterday accused Israel of carrying out air strikes against a military factory that killed two people in south Khartoum overnight, and threatened to retaliate.
Libya fighters seize ex-Qaddafi bastion
The National 24 Oct 2012 – Libyan pro-government forces have seized control of Bani Walid, one of the last bastions of Muammar Qaddafis regime.
Mubarak’s Egypt, where everything was for sale
The National 24 Oct 2012 – Egypt corruption: Prolific acts of graft and double-dealing have spread like a noxious weed throughout everyday life in Egypt. The final in Bradley Hope’s special corruption series from Cairo.
Low-level corruption ‘rife’ in Egypt
The National 24 Oct 2012 – Experts define Egypt as a “soft state”, saying that although it has laws to put a stop to graft and corruption it fails to enforce them.
Want something done? Get your hand in your pocket and offer a bribe
The National 24 Oct 2012 – From jumping a queue to keeping a factory open, a few Egyptian pounds always helps.
Palestinians: Egypt trying to mediate Hamas-Israel truce
Ha’aretz – 24 Oct 2012
Netanyahu vows to reinforce defense of homes near Gaza border
Ha’aretz – 24 Oct 2012
Arab MKs: Israeli Jews’ support of apartheid is not surprising
Ha’aretz – 24 Oct 2012
Pollution from offshore drill sites, facilities could paralyze Israel
Ha’aretz – 24 Oct 2012
Abbas: Palestinians ready for peace talks with Israel if UN bid succeeds
Ha’aretz – 24 Oct 2012
More than 70 rockets and mortars hit south Israel, three wounded
Ha’aretz – 24 Oct 2012
Israeli space center to commemorate late astronaut Ilan Ramon, but not be named after him
Ha’aretz – 24 Oct 2012
WATCH: Palestinian protesters block entrance to West Bank grocery store
Ha’aretz – 24 Oct 2012
Charges against Israeli social activists out of proportion, says judge
Ha’aretz – 24 Oct 2012
Hamas policy on attacking Israel has changed
Ha’aretz – 24 Oct 2012
Palestinians seek to enhance UN status to observer state
Ha’aretz – 24 Oct 2012
Diplomatic cables show Labor chief has adopted Netanyahu’s rhetoric on peace process
Ha’aretz – 24 Oct 2012
Peres pays condolence call to Majdi Halabi’s family
Jerusalem Post 24 Oct 2012 – Peres visits family of missing Druse soldier, says that “Druse and Jews in Israel are brothers in arms and brothers in peace.”
‘Give priority to health issues in election’
Jerusalem Post 24 Oct 2012 – Social activists call running parties to address the financial burdens of the public health system.
Tal Law expired, leaves haredim out of civil service
Jerusalem Post 24 Oct 2012 – Since the expiration of the Tal Law, the civilian service has been legally unable to accept new yeshiva students.
Iran: Private sector exports over 20m oil barrels
Jerusalem Post 24 Oct 2012 – Non-state mediated Iranian oil exports to Europe, Asia increase over past 4 months, said to “completely neutralized sanctions.”
Bracing for a quake
Jerusalem Post 24 Oct 2012 – Urgently needed is a publicly-financed, disinterested, broad and universally available framework that would objectively survey all pre-1980 buildings and suggest to residents what can plausibly be done to quake-proof them.
Turkey: Another emerging Islamist autocracy
Jerusalem Post 24 Oct 2012 – Candidly Speaking: Bernard Lewis predicted that Turkey would evolve into an aggressive Islamist dictatorship and could become the greatest threat to Israel. Alas, his prediction about Turkey is being realized.
Media Comment: God in the newsroom
Jerusalem Post 24 Oct 2012 – There still remain too many impediments for an ethical and fair representation of religious issues in the media.
Changing Israel’s test scores
Jerusalem Post 24 Oct 2012 – The money that could be saved by abolishing the modular system could then be devoted to raising teachers’ salaries, while at the same time ensuring a higher quality of teaching.
What we need to tell our teachers
Jerusalem Post 24 Oct 2012 – The way you approach the teacher can have a significant effect on the result of the conversation.
Fundamentally Freund: Zionism’s Sephardi father
Jerusalem Post 24 Oct 2012 – For even after more than a century, Rabbi Alkalai’s words have the power to guide and inspire us in our national mission.
Dealing with postnatal depression
Jerusalem Post 24 Oct 2012 – Postnatal depression, like split personality and nervous breakdown, is a catch-all lay term that obscures diagnosis more than it clarifies it.
What does it mean to be a Palestinian?
Jerusalem Post 24 Oct 2012 – If you ever go to an Israeli mall, all you have to do is to show your green ID and the place is full of love for you.
Washington Watch: Another new Mitt Romney emerges
Jerusalem Post 24 Oct 2012 – In running away from the far-right Tea Partiers, religious extremists and neocons, Romney tried to portray himself as a moderate who seeks world peace through prosperity.
Brokering votes in lead up to Jordan’s elections
Jerusalem Post 24 Oct 2012 – Palestinians in Jordanian Camps object to being seen as “vote troves” as refugee camps are seen as gold mines for votes.
Hamas to complain to UN against Israel
Jerusalem Post 24 Oct 2012 – Hamas seeks to explain nature of Israel’s “new aggression.”
Analysis: Why Hamas feels confident enough
Jerusalem Post 24 Oct 2012 – Recent rocket attacks on south Israel are a sign of Hamas‘s growing confidence in wake of emir of Qatar visit, Morsi support.
Palestinian activists raise their flags in Rami Levi
Jerusalem Post 24 Oct 2012 – Popular Struggle Coordination C’tee storm West Bank supermarket in Sha’ar Binyamin hold signs saying “boycott occupation, products.”
Haj pilgrimage starts in Mecca
Jerusalem Post 24 Oct 2012 – Nearly 3 million pilgrims are expected to make the haj to Mecca, in Saudi Arabia this year.
Nat’l religious rabbi: Women shouldn’t be MKs
Jerusalem Post 24 Oct 2012 – Rabbi Shlomo Aviner says in lecture that women involved in politics is not modest, later says comments were taken out of context.
In spite of Iron Dome, residents remain on edge
Jerusalem Post 24 Oct 2012 – As 117,000 locals awake to sound of sirens, Ashkelon man says: “We don’t want war. But we’ve been under attack for years.”
Abbas: UN bid not a substitute for negotiations
Jerusalem Post 24 Oct 2012 – PA president ready for peace talks “straightaway” if UN recognizes Palestine; Erekat: Determined to change status quo.
Iran arrests 50 in connection with rial crash
Jerusalem Post 24 Oct 2012 – Tehran accuses arrested of conspiring with Iran’s enemies to instigate economic instability and disrupt the currency market.
Sudan blames Israel for Khartoum arms fire
Jerusalem Post 24 Oct 2012 – Ammunition factory attacked by 4 military planes overnight; minister says Sudan “reserves right to strike back at Israel.”
US Senators, German Jews slam politicians’ Iran trip
Jerusalem Post 24 Oct 2012 – German deputies are set to meet with a Holocaust denier and business group in their upcoming trip to Iran.
Steinitz: Sanctions on Iran are insufficient
Jerusalem Post 24 Oct 2012 – Finance minister says sanctions alone aren’t a “big enough stick,” must be combined with strong military threat or clear ultimatum.
PM calls critically injured officer’s mom
Jerusalem Post 24 Oct 2012 – Netanyahu: State will do everything to assist rehabilitation.
Erekat: Palestinian UN bid seeks to jolt peace talks
Jerusalem Post 24 Oct 2012 – Chief Palestinian negotiator says PLO is determined to change the status quo, UN will be “a moment of truth.”
Video: Americans in Israel cast their ballots
Jerusalem Post 24 Oct 2012 – As election day nears, Americans living in Israel are encouraged to vote.
Articles of Clothing: Allenby’s brightest biker
Jerusalem Post 24 Oct 2012 – Documenting women in Israel and their knack for looking fantastic, no matter what the occasion.
Brahimi: Syria agrees to Eid holiday ceasefire
Jerusalem Post 24 Oct 2012 – UN-Arab League envoy to Syria says the Syrian government and several rebel groups have agreed to hold fire starting Thursday.
Syrian bombardments create new refugee wave
Jerusalem Post 24 Oct 2012 – Army assaults most intense of war; no shelter for new refugees; Russia says Syrian rebels have shoulder-fired missiles.
Liberman vows to emphasize Jewish refugee issue
Jerusalem Post 24 Oct 2012 – FM says he’ll raise issue of Jewish refugees from Arab countries, Iran whenever Palestinians demand repatriation of refugees.
FSU immigrant group withdraws from Labor Party
Jerusalem Post 23 Oct 2012 – “Yacimovich ignores us and our issues,” says Labor Immigrants’ Organization, which is composed of Russian olim.
Taiba inaugurates Ilan Ramon space center
Jerusalem Post 23 Oct 2012 – Herschkowitz hints at criticism from MK Ahmed Tibi and others over the center in Taiba being named for a Jewish hero.
Holyland witness’ sickness upsets trial
Jerusalem Post 23 Oct 2012 – Holyland trial against Olmert “turned upside down” as prosecutor announces new list of witnesses.
Sudan threatens retaliation over alleged Israeli air strike
The Guardian 24 Oct 2012 – Minister warns that Khartoum ‘reserves the right to strike back’ after blaming Israel for attack on Yarmouk arms complex Sudan has warned that it has the right to retaliate after accusing Israel of carrying out an…
Sudan claims Israeli jets blew up arms factory
The Guardian 24 Oct 2012 – Khartoum says four planes bombed the Yarmouk facility, sending exploding munitions into nearby residential areas Sudan has that Israeli air strikes caused an explosion and fire at a military factory south of the capital, Khartoum, killing…
Gaza militants buried after Israeli air strikes – video
The Guardian 24 Oct 2012 – A Palestinian militant wrapped in a green Hamas flag is buried in Gaza on Wednesday after being killed by Israeli air strikes
Gaza-Israel shelling resumes after departure of Qatari emir
The Guardian 24 Oct 2012 – Israel carries out targeted air strikes in response to sustained rocket fire following brief lull during visit of Sheikh Hamad More than 70 rockets have been fired into southern Israel from Gaza since the departure on…
Khartoum Fire Blamed on Israeli Bombing
IPS Sudan has accused Israel of bombing a military arms factory, threatening retaliation after a resulting fire killed two people and injured a third. “We think Israel did the bombing,” Culture and Information Minister Ahmed Bilal Osman told a news conference. “We reserve the right to react at a place and…
The starvation diet for Gaza shows the blockade will fall
Uruknet
012.
Uruknet
Bad News for Africa: 3,000 More U.S. Soldiers are on the Way
Uruknet
Afghan schools and clinics built by British military to be closed down
Uruknet
Manipulating History: The Different Faces of ‘Popular Resistance’ in Palestine
Uruknet
3 Arrested as Palestinians attacked by settlers and soldiers in Tel Rumeida
Uruknet
Poll: Israelis support discrimination against Arabs, embrace the term apartheid
Uruknet
Strikes paralyze West Bank
Uruknet
Joe Klein’s sociopathic defense of drone killings of children
Uruknet
White House told of Libyan attack claim Sept. 11
Daily Star 24 Oct 2012 Two hours after the U.S. Consulate came under attack in Benghazi, Libya, the White House was told that a militant group was claiming responsibility for the violence that killed the U.S. ambassador and three other Americans.
Israel says 79 rockets fired at it from Gaza
Daily Star 24 Oct 2012 Palestinians fired dozens of rockets into Israel from Gaza and an Israeli air strike killed a militant, a day after the Emir of Qatar made a rare visit to the enclave’s Hamas leadership.
Tunisia: Reported consulate suspect arrested
Daily Star 24 Oct 2012 A Tunisian man who was arrested in Turkey earlier this month with reported links to the attack on a U.S. consulate in Libya has been returned to Tunisia and is facing terrorism charges.
Russia wants UN reporters ousted over leaks: diplomats
Daily Star 24 Oct 2012 Russia’s UN envoy demanded Wednesday the expulsion from the UN press corps of journalists who reported leaked accounts of a closed UN Security Council meeting on Syria, diplomats said.
Iran judiciary vetoes Ahmadinejad prison visit again
Daily Star 24 Oct 2012 Iran’s judicial authorities have again denied a request by President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to visit Evin prison where his top media advisor is serving time, Iranian media reported on Wednesday.
Islamic militant group in Syria rejects truce
Daily Star 24 Oct 2012 The current international peace plan seeking to stop Syria‘s civil war suffered a major setback when an al-Qaida-inspired militant group rejected a cease-fire proposed by the international envoy.
Iraq attacks kill 15 in deadliest day this month
Daily Star 24 Oct 2012 Attacks mostly targeting government officials and security forces in central and north Iraq killed 15 people in the run-up to the Muslim Eid holiday on Wednesday, Iraq’s deadliest day this month.
Iraq to pay $500 mn airline settlement by mid-2013: Kuwait
Daily Star 24 Oct 2012 Kuwait said on Wednesday that Iraq will complete payment of a $500 million settlement of an airline dispute between the two nations by the middle of next year.
Israel vows to punish Hamas as Gaza unrest spikes
Daily Star 24 Oct 2012 Tensions were high around Gaza after Israeli raids killed four militants and two Thai workers were seriously wounded by rocket fire, with Israel’s defence minister vowing to punish Hamas.
Jordan’s king steers nation through turbulence
Daily Star 24 Oct 2012 The foiling of a planned al-Qaida terror plot in Jordan underscores a new subplot in the story of the Arab Spring: Things are heating up for King Abdullah II, a Western-oriented monarch who has run a…
Words better than missiles
YNet News, 24 Oct 2012 – Op-ed: 100 meetings between US, Iranian officials in suits better than 100 missiles on Tel Aviv ….
UN expert says Iran human rights disturbing
YNet News, 24 Oct 2012 – ….
Trump offers $5 million if Obama releases records
YNet News, 24 Oct 2012 – ….
UN Security Council endorses Syria holiday truce
YNet News, 24 Oct 2012 – ….
Sudan asks UN to censure Israel
YNet News, 24 Oct 2012 – ….
Orlev: Postpone Habayit Hayehudi primaries
YNet News, 24 Oct 2012 – Officials at Zvulon Orlev’s campaign HQ appeal to postpone primaries, change registered voters list; party opposition slams move as ‘act of fear’ ….
Report: Israel, Hamas agree on ceasefire
YNet News, 24 Oct 2012 – Cairo’s efforts to bring current round of escalation to its end, broker truce between Hamas, Gaza groups and Israel said to be successful; lull to take effect at midnight Wednesday ….
Migrant denied treatment, gives birth to dead baby
YNet News, 24 Oct 2012 – Illegal Darfur migrant suffers stillbirth after her pleas for medical attentions were denied. IPS says woman didn’t complain; judge order her release, says ‘Israel has moral obligation towards her’ ….
South’s communities try to resume normalcy
YNet News, 24 Oct 2012 – Schools across Gaza vicinity communities to open doors Thursday amid security concerns over rocket fire. Students ordered to remain close to shelters ….
Iran weighs tougher line in stalled nuclear talks
YNet News, 24 Oct 2012 – Islamic Republic said to be mulling tougher position in atom negotiations. ‘Sanctions have been harmful but will never make us give up our nuclear activities,’ Tehran official says ….
The ‘write’ choice for president
YNet News, 24 Oct 2012 – Analysis: Graphologist says Obama, Romney relatively narrow-minded, prejudiced against new ideas ….
Sderot mayor launches hunger strike
YNet News, 24 Oct 2012 – David Buskila to camp outside Prime Minister’s Office in Jerusalem in protest of rocket-riddled city’s dire financial situation. ‘I hope gov’t will come to its senses before I reach my limit,’ he says ….
Netanyahu vows to complete fortification of south
YNet News, 24 Oct 2012 – After years of neglect and ahead of upcoming elections, prime minister, defense minister pledge to fortify 1,700 homes near Gaza border ….
Lesson in arrogance
YNet News, 24 Oct 2012 – Op-ed: Bibi brags about no-war term, but Grad missile on kindergarten can change everything ….
Palestinian Information Center
AOHR calls on EU to retreat from drugs convention with Israel
PIC – The Arab Organization for Human Rights (AOHR) based in Britain has criticized the European drug convention with Israel that opens the door to the Israeli medicines without conditions.
Jewish settlers pump wastewater into Palestinian farmland
PIC – Jewish settlers pumped wastewater into Palestinian farmland in Nahalin village to the west of Bethlehem on Wednesday.
Israeli MP calls for liquidating Hamas leaders in Gaza
PIC – An Israeli parliament member from the ruling Likud party has called for liquidating Hamas leaders in the Gaza Strip.
Israeli forces round up three Jerusalemites of one family
PIC – Israeli occupation soldiers rounded up three Palestinians in Silwan town, south of the Aqsa mosque, at dawn Wednesday, Wadi Halwa information center said.
Two casualties including old woman in IOF shelling
PIC – Two Palestinian citizens including a 72-year-old woman were wounded in the Israeli artillery shelling to the east of Khan Younis on Wednesday.
Haneyya: Sheikh Hamad Al Thani raised the budget of projects
PIC – Palestinian premier Ismail Haneyya said during the signing ceremony on Tuesday that Emir of Qatar Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani raised the budget of aid projects in the Gaza Strip.
IOF kidnap two university students at behest of PA
PIC – The Israeli occupation forces (IOF) kidnapped on Tuesday evening two students of Al-Khalil university in the context of its security cooperation with the Palestinian authority.
Hamas: Israel aims to kill the Palestinian joy for the Qatari support
PIC – The Hamas Movement said the new spate of Israel’s military attacks is aimed to kill the Palestinian joy for the landmark visit of his highness Sheikh Hamad Al Thani to the Gaza Strip.
Israeli Forces Demolish Agricultural Facilities, Well near Hebron
WAFA – 24 Oct 2012
Israeli Forces Use Force to Disperse Protesters at Supermarket
WAFA – 24 Oct 2012
UN Official Calls for Calm in Gaza
WAFA – 24 Oct 2012
PLO Official Condemns Israeli Attacks on Gaza
WAFA – 24 Oct 2012
One Killed, another Died of Wounds in Strike on Gaza
WAFA – 24 Oct 2012
Abbas says Talks with Israel can Resume after UN Bid
WAFA – 24 Oct 2012
Israeli Forces Destroy 5 Wells near Jenin
WAFA – 24 Oct 2012
Price Index Up in September
WAFA – 24 Oct 2012
EU Missions say Elections Contribute to State-Building
WAFA – 24 Oct 2012
Envoy Announces Tentative Cease-Fire in Syria, but Doubts Remain
New York Times 24 Oct 2012 – Lakhdar Brahimi’s plan calls for guns to be silent on the main Muslim holiday of the year, but numerous aspects of the plan immediately called its effectiveness into question.
Israel-Hamas Tensions Escalate Over Gaza Border Attacks
New York Times 24 Oct 2012 – Four Palestinian militants in rocket-launching squads were killed in Israeli airstrikes, according to Palestinian officials, hours after a visit to Gaza by the emir of Qatar.
‘Millennium Bomber’ Sentenced to 37 Years in Prison
New York Times 24 Oct 2012 – Ahmed Ressam, the man known as the Millennium Bomber, got 37 years for his plot to set off explosives at Los Angeles International Airport on New Year’s Eve in 1999.
Guantánamo Detainee Protests Use of Chains as a Condition of Coming to Court
New York Times 24 Oct 2012 – Abd al-Rahim al-Nashiri said belly chains hurt his back and that if the guards didn’t treat him better he could refuse to appear at hearings.
New Details in Lebanese General’s Death
New York Times 24 Oct 2012 – Brigadier General Wissam al-Hassan was killed Friday by a car bomb in a residential Beirut neighborhood; an inside job is suspected by many opponents of the Hezbollah-led government.
Using Cheese to Bridge the Turkey-Armenia Gap
New York Times 24 Oct 2012 – Across a border that has been closed for almost two decades, cheese makers in Gyumri and Kars produce and market a “Caucasian cheese,” invented in 2008 to foster cross-border cooperation.
Gasoline prices to fall next week
Globes Energy & Water – The price of self-service 95 octane gasoline could fall to around NIS 7.70 per liter from the current price of NIS 7.94 per liter.
EZ Energy jumps as controlling shareholder raises stake
Globes Energy & Water – EZ Energy has an option to acquire 5% of the Neta and Roy exploration licenses, in the Gal offshore exploration permit, from Ratio.
Energy Ministry proposes 2 gas terminal sites
Globes Energy & Water – The ministry recommends two locations on the northern coastal plain for the construction of an onshore natural gas terminal.
BoI seen imposing further mortgage restrictions
Globes Main News – One measure under consideration by the central bank is capping mortgages at a loan-to-value of 50%.
Shufersal escalates price war
Globes Main News – The supermarket chain is widening the front against independent retailers to Migdal Ha’Emek, Holon, and Bat Yam.
Wed: Mellanox, EZchip lead gains
Globes Main News – Mellanox rose 2.1% on the day’s biggest turnover, EZchip had the biggest gain on the Tel Aviv 25 but the Leviathan partners and telcos slipped.
Dankner in talks with KKR about IDB loan
Globes Main News – IDB: A loan from a foreign investment institution could be part of a merger of Discount Investment and its subsidiary Koor.
Gad Zeevi forfeits stake in Grand Canyon mall
Globes Main News – Zeevi defaulted on a loan from his partner in the mall, British Israel.
Shekel loses ground
Globes Main News – The shekel is weakening against the dollar and euro in inter-bank trading today.
2,300 manufacturing employees fired over summer
Globes Macro Economics – Manufacturers Association: The job losses continued in August and September.
Mortgage debt reached NIS 272b in August
Globes Macro Economics – 71.3% of household debt is mortgage debt.
Industry Ministry budgets NIS 20m for India, China exports
Globes Macro Economics – The program aims to increase the number of Israeli exporters to China and India.
Elbit Systems wins $25m Brazilian order
Globes Aerospace & Defense – Brazilian subsidiary Ares will supply its Remax remote controlled weapons stations to the Brazilian Army over two years.
Israeli Arms Exports Fuel Armenian-Azeri Conflict, Could Foment Major Regional War
Tikun Olam – Israeli-made Azeri drone shot down over Nagorno Karabakh Global Post has published an important overview of Israel’s role as major arms exporter fueling the Armenian-Azeri conflict. Recently Azerbaijan announced a $1.6-billion arms deal with Israel that would bring its drone fleet to 60 including Israel’s most…
Survey of Israeli Racism: 58% of Jews Label Their State ‘Apartheid’
Tikun Olam – Yesterday, I wrote a post about an Israeli survey by Prof. Camil Fuchs, one of Israel’s leading pollsters, that examined Israeli Jewish attitudes toward ethnic and religious identity, racism and other forms of discrimination. The survey was commissioned by the Yisraela Goldblum Fund and the results…
A meeting with the spokesman of the Jewish settlers in Hebron
Mondoweiss – Alice Rothchild is currently traveling on the Dorothy Cotton Institute delegation to Israel/Palestine. For her last post from the delegation see here . The day starts grey and edgy for me, not only because we are going to visit the alternative universe of Hebron, but also because…
‘By God’s promise this land is ours!’ Settlers attack Palestinian oliver-pickers
Mondoweiss – The film shows a settler attack on the Palestinian citizens of Tel Rumeida, and how the attacking settlers are guarded, aided and abetted by the soldiers of the Israeli occupation forces. The film shows how the soldiers, rather than deter the criminal actions of the settlers,…
Episcopalian bishop’s appeal to presidential candidates ignored her church’s call to review US aid to Israel
Mondoweiss – On October 12, presiding Episcopalian Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori wrote a letter to the two major presidential candidates urging them to support resumption of negotiations to create a “viable” Palestinian state. In reporting at our site on the letter, Mark Braverman said the statement ran roughshod…
Another liberal runs with Obama to right of Romney on Israel
Mondoweiss – Even liberal Zionists are angry at Obama for throwing the two-state solution under the bus the other night, but the liberal press doesn’t seem to care. Here’s another liberal columnist running to the right of Romney on Israel in order to take Obama’s side. In “Obama’s…
Washington Post front page: Adelson demanded that Romney ‘join him in steadfast support of Israel’
Mondoweiss – On its front page today, the Washington Post has a personality profile of Sheldon Adelson that follows the money, and dispenses with the usual horse-manure that Adelson thinks Romney will be better on labor issues in his casinos. Nope, it’s all about Israel, and they cut…
Watch Obama surrogate justify the drone killing of a 16-year-old American
Mondoweiss – From Conor Friedersdorf at the Atlantic : The second notable statement concerns the killing of 16-year-old American citizen Abdulrahman al-Awlaki. Tom Junod gives the back story: He was the son of Anwar al-Awlaki, who was also born in America, who was also an American citizen, and who…
Occupation Corrupts Soul of Israel
The Forward Leonard Fein 24 Oct 2012 – Ad: New Product – Privacy War! Huge Niche With Plenty Of Buyers. – New Product In A New Niche. Get 75% Per Sale – 1 Click Upsells And Backend Offers Included. Go To: www.privacywar.org/affiliates
Israeli Astronaut’s Name Dumped at Space Center
The Foward Breaking News 24 Oct 2012 – A space center that opened in the Arab-Israeli city of Taybeh was not named for the late Israeli astronaut Ilan Ramon following opposition from city residents. Click here for the rest of the article…
Terror Victims File $1B Suit Over Bank Transfers
The Foward Breaking News 24 Oct 2012 – The families of five of the students killed in the 2008 terrorist attack on the Mercaz Harav Yeshiva in Jerusalem have filed a $1 billion lawsuit against the Bank of China for making money transfers to Hamas. Click here for the rest of the article…
Seeing Little Choice, Arabs Back Obama
The Foward Breaking News 24 Oct 2012 – Many in the Middle East believe Barack Obama failed to deliver on promises of a new U.S. approach in the region but still prefer him to presidential rival Mitt Romney, who they see as too close to Israel and too keen to project U.S. military might….
60 Rockets Rain Down on Southern Israel
The Foward Breaking News 24 Oct 2012 – More than 60 rockets and mortar shells fired from Gaza have hit southern Israel in the last 24 hours, striking several homes and injuring three. Click here for the rest of the article…
ZOA Cancels Annual Fundraising Dinner
The Forward New 24 Oct 2012 – UPDATED : The Zionist Organization of America has been rocked by revelations that it lost its tax-exempt status. Now it’s cutting costs and cancelled an annual fundraising gala. Click here for the rest of the article…
Fresh Israeli Face Pushes Economic Message
The Forward New 21 Oct 2012 – Benjamin Netanyahu wants the Israeli election to be all about Iran. One leader of last summer’s protest movement is pushing a message of economic inclusion. Click here for the rest of the article…
Egypt: Egyptian-Qatari Summit in Cairo
allAfrica.com 24 Oct 2012 – [Egypt Online]President Mohamed Morsi receives on Wednesday 24/10/2012 the Emir of Qatar Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa al-Thani and his accompanying delegation.
Egypt: Timetable for Exempting Agricultural-Products From Turkish Customs Duties
allAfrica.com 24 Oct 2012 – [Egypt Online]Minister of Industry and Trade Hatem Saleh said on Monday 22/10/2012 that teams of experts representing the Egyptian and Turkish ministries of foreign trade will meet, later this month, to work out a timetable according to which exchanged agricultural commodities and manufactured agricultural products will…
Africa: Final Presidential Debate Keeps Some Focus On U.S. Economy
allAfrica.com 24 Oct 2012 – [State Department]Washington -In their last debate before the November 6 election, President Obama and former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney agreed on the goal of transferring full security responsibility in Afghanistan to Afghan forces by 2014 and on continuing international sanctions against Iran in response to its…
Egypt: Mursi, Emir of Qatar Discuss Bilateral Relations
allAfrica.com 24 Oct 2012 – [Egypt Online]President Mohamed Morsi and Emir of Qatar Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa al-Thani discussed on a telephone call on Monday 22/10/2012 bilateral relations and issues of common concern.
Four of five speakers pull out of UNESCO conference honoring Israel’s Peres at University of Connecticut
Global BDS 24 Oct 2012 – A “human rights” conference at the University of Connecticut was in disarray after almost all the speakers pulled out. The Hartford Courant reports today: Four of the five speakers scheduled to address a conference on human rights scheduled for [today] Tuesday at the University of Connecticut…
The risky business of profiting from occupation
Global BDS 24 Oct 2012 – Stock market analysis website Seeking Alpha published an article last week blaming the recent decline in the stock price of SodaStream (SODA) on the boycott, divestment, and sanctions (BDS) campaigns targeting the carbonation equipment manufacturer, which maintains facilities in West Bank settlements, considered illegal under international…
Assad ‘agrees to Eid ceasefire’
BBC 24 Oct 2012 – UN envoy Lakhdar Brahimi says the Syrian government and most rebel leaders agree to a ceasefire during the holiday of Eid al-Adha.
Militants killed in Gaza strikes
BBC 24 Oct 2012 – Israel carries out air strikes in the Gaza Strip, killing four Hamas militants, after rocket and mortar-fire wounds five people in southern Israel.
Libya forces ‘capture Bani Walid’
BBC 24 Oct 2012 – The Libyan government says it has captured the western town of Bani Walid, a former stronghold of Col Gaddafi, after days of fighting.
Sudan accuses Israel over blast
BBC 24 Oct 2012 – The Sudanese government says it believes an Israeli air strike was responsible for explosions and fire at a military factory in the capital, Khartoum, overnight.
The name of the game: erasing Palestine (Miko Peled)
Sabbah report 24 Oct 2012 – By 1993 the Israel knew for certain that a Palestinian state could not be established in the West Bank. That is when they said, OK, we’ll begin negotiation. The name of the game: erasing Palestine (Miko Peled) was published by Sabbah Report . Get Daily Newsletter , follow…
Should Palestinians boycott international aid?
Sabbah report 24 Oct 2012 – Why do donors fund our schools and do nothing when Israel bombs them? Why do donors punish Palestinians for pursuing their legal rights through the UN? Should Palestinians boycott international aid? was published by Sabbah Report . Get Daily Newsletter , follow on Twitter . Support through Sabbah Store…
Survey: Most Israeli Jews would support apartheid regime in Israel
Sabbah report 24 Oct 2012 – The survey indicates that a third to half of Israeli Jews want open discrimination against its Arab citizens. The large majority wants an apartheid state. Survey: Most Israeli Jews would support apartheid regime in Israel was published by Sabbah Report . Get Daily Newsletter , follow on Twitter ….
012 Tree of Life Conference
US Campaign to End the Occupation 24 Oct 2012 – Our member groups Friends of Sabeel of North America and The Tree of Life Educational Fund are pleased to offer this series of conferences on Israel and Palestine. Their special focus will be on “Education: How Can We Embrace Our Common Humanity.” In both Israel and…
Pro-Israel Groups React to Church Letter Challenging US Military Aid
US Campaign to End the Occupation 24 Oct 2012 – Our National Advocacy Director Josh Ruebner was interviewed about the recent letter sent by 15 prominent church leaders to Members of Congress regarding U.S. military aid to Israel. The letter decried “widespread Israeli human rights violations committed against Palestinians” and called for “an immediate investigation into…
A Roadmap to Kuwait’s Dignity March
Al-Akhbar Blogs 24 Oct 2012 – After the biggest march in Kuwait’s history on Sunday, people from different countries asked me through my blog or twitter for explanations of this demonstration and that’s why I’m writing this brief post explaining the story behind it and other relevant issues. As reported in the…
Thank You, Qatar!
Al-Akhbar Opinion 24 Oct 2012 – Palestinians hold the Qatari flag near the Rafah border crossing with Egypt prior to the arrival of Qatari Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani to the Gaza Strip on 23 October 2012. (Photo: Said Khatib) Palestinians hold the Qatari flag near the Rafah border crossing with…
Mikati Sidesteps Another Toppling Attempt
Al-Akhbar Opinion 23 Oct 2012 – Mikati did not inform Suleiman that he might be considering resignation, nor did he seem to be ready for such an option. (Photo: AFP – Joseph Eid) Mikati did not inform Suleiman that he might be considering resignation, nor did he seem to be ready for…
Achrafieh Bombing: Lines of Inquiry
Al-Akhbar News 24 Oct 2012 – Active investigations are evidently proceeding along three tracks. (Photo: Haytham alMoussawi) Active investigations are evidently proceeding along three tracks. (Photo: Haytham alMoussawi) Investigators are currently following three main tracks of inquiry as they attempt to discover the perpetrators behind Friday’s assassination of Wissam al-Hassan. Any headway…
Future Blunders are Boost for Mikati
Al-Akhbar News 24 Oct 2012 – Tripoli – Sources close to Prime Minister Najib Mikati say the Sunni politician has not only deflected an ouster attempt, but may have gained political ground following last Friday’s assassination of security chief Wissam al-Hassan, as well as the ensuing clashes. Related Articles: Mikati Sidesteps Another…
Kuwait frees opposition MPs
Al-Akhbar News 24 Oct 2012 – Kuwait have freed on bail three former opposition lawmakers accused of criticising the emir and four people arrested for taking part in protests last week, local activists said on Wednesday. Former Islamist MPs Falah al-Sawwagh and Bader al-Dahum, and Khaled al-Tahus, a member of the nationalist…
Spinneys Union Leader Assaulted
Al-Akhbar News 24 Oct 2012 – The attack was the latest in a series of incidents aimed at sabotaging union activity in the retail giant (Photo: Marwan Tahtah) The attack was the latest in a series of incidents aimed at sabotaging union activity in the retail giant (Photo: Marwan Tahtah) Moukheiber Habshi,…
Most Israeli Jews want Apartheid state
Al-Akhbar News 24 Oct 2012 – The majority of Israeli Jews say they want the establishment of an apartheid regime if the West Bank is formally annexed to Israel, according to the results of a survey published by Israeli daily Haaretz on Tuesday. Between a third and one half of participants in…
Amid Hammoud: An Officer Defying the State
Al-Akhbar News 24 Oct 2012 – A week ago, Hammoud decided to relocate his activities to the capital. (Photo: Marwan tahtah) A week ago, Hammoud decided to relocate his activities to the capital. (Photo: Marwan Tahtah) Amid Hammoud, a retired Lebanese Army colonel, has emerged as the driving force behind some of…
A Lebanese Forest Menagerie
Al-Akhbar Series and Features 23 Oct 2012 – Maiki has dedicated his life to collecting animals, especially birds. (Photo: Marwan Tahtah) Maiki has dedicated his life to collecting animals, especially birds. (Photo: Marwan Tahtah) Rizkallah Maiki’s Bird and Poultry Farm is somewhere between a sanctuary and a petting zoo, a place where local schoolchildren,…
Assad ‘agrees to Eid ceasefire’
BBC 24 Oct 2012 – UN envoy Lakhdar Brahimi says the Syrian government and most rebel leaders agree to a ceasefire during the holiday of Eid al-Adha.
Militants killed in Gaza strikes
BBC 24 Oct 2012 – Israel carries out air strikes in the Gaza Strip, killing four Hamas militants, after rocket and mortar-fire wounds five people in southern Israel.
‘Benghazi suspect’ dies in Cairo
BBC 24 Oct 2012 – A suspect in the attack on the US consulate in the Libyan city of Benghazi dies after a firefight with security services in Cairo, officials say.
Libya forces ‘capture Bani Walid’
BBC 24 Oct 2012 – The Libyan government says it has captured the western town of Bani Walid, a former stronghold of Col Gaddafi, after days of fighting.
Sudan accuses Israel over blast
BBC 24 Oct 2012 – The Sudanese government says it believes an Israeli air strike was responsible for explosions and fire at a military factory in the capital, Khartoum, overnight.
US calls for Lebanon stability
BBC 24 Oct 2012 – The US voices its support for Lebanese efforts to form a new government as tensions escalate over the killing of a senior security official.
Articles
The starvation diet for Gaza shows the blockade will fall
Jonathan Cook, The National 10/24/2012
Six and a half years ago, shortly after Hamas won the Palestinian national elections and took control of Gaza, a senior Israeli official described Israel’s planned response. “The idea,” he said, “is to put the Palestinians on a diet, but not to make them die of hunger.”
Although Dov Weisglass was an adviser to Ehud Olmert, the prime minister of the day, few observers treated his comment as more than hyperbole, a supposedly droll characterisation of the blockade Israel was about to impose on the tiny enclave.
Last week, however, evidence finally emerged to prove that indeed this did become Israeli policy. After a three-year legal battle by an Israeli human rights group, Gisha, Israel was forced to disclose its so-called “Red Lines” document. Drafted in early 2008, the defence ministry paper set forth proposals on how to treat Hamas-ruled Gaza.
Health officials provided calculations of the minimum number of calories needed by Gaza’s 1.5 million inhabitants to avoid malnutrition. Those figures were then translated into truckloads of food Israel was supposed to allow in each day.
The Israeli media has tried to present these chilling discussions, held in secret, in the best light possible. Even the liberal Haaretz newspaper euphemistically described this extreme form of calorie-counting as designed to “make sure Gaza didn’t starve”.
But a rather different picture emerges as one reads the fine print. While the health ministry determined that Gazans needed a daily average of 2,279 calories each to avoid malnutrition – requiring 170 lorries a day – military officials then found a host of pretexts to whittle the number down to a fraction of the original figure. more.. e-mail
The economic prelude to the third Palestinian intifada
Nabil al Sahli, Middle East Monitor (MEMO) 10/24/2012
In recent weeks the Palestinian territories have witnessed a wave of demonstrations by citizens demanding better living conditions. The worsening economic crisis has had a serious impact on the lives of Palestinian families and society in terms of health, education, food security and social welfare. Economic analysts acknowledge that Israel’s economic policies during its decades-long occupation have resulted in its near total dominance of the means of Palestinian economic production.
Evidence of Israel’s control of the most important facets of the Palestinian economy and its resources has been especially illustrated by restrictions on the movement of workers and the import-export market, as well as access to water resources. The Oslo Accords and subsequent economic agreements facilitated Israel’s complete control of the Palestinian economy. This has led the Palestinian Authority (PA), established in 1994, to fall into the trap of accepting conditional international aid. Its performance and continuity has become dependent on such aid, from which ordinary Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza benefit little.
Indicators of Israeli dominance
Land is a vital economic component but the Israeli authorities have seized the most important agricultural land for illegal settlement activity since 1967. From the beginning of the occupation, Israel has also taken control of most of the available Palestinian water resources, estimated at 750 million cubic metres. This has marginalised Palestinian agriculture, forcing thousands of Palestinian farmers from the West Bank and Gaza to seek employment in Israel. There they were forced to work under demeaning conditions, despite calls to boycott such employment. more.. e-mail
Destination Palestine
Omayma Abdel-Latif, Al-Ahram Weekly 10/18/2012
Flying an unmanned spy drone over Israel-occupied Palestine is sending a clear message that the Islamic resistance movement has its priorities sorted out.
What does sending a spy drone over Israeli airspace mean in terms of regional politics and the possible confrontation with Israel? In a break with a long tradition of shrouding its military and logistical capabilities in complete ambiguity, Hizbullah’s Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah disclosed — partly — the truth behind the mysterious spy drone which flew over occupied Palestine for three hours on 8 October before Israeli air defences shot it down.
A day of silence following the incident was broken by Nasrallah’s disclosure that the drone was Hizbullah’s, leaving the Israeli military and political establishment in a state of utter embarrassment. “This was not the first time, neither will it be the last time,” said Nasrallah in a speech on Thursday. “The resistance in Lebanon sent an advanced surveillance drone towards the sea. It flew hundreds of kilometres over the sea and then penetrated the enemy’s new measures, entering south Palestine before being spotted by the Israeli air force, Nasrallah said.
It was the first time ever that Nasrallah delved into a detailed account of how the surveillance robotic weapon came into the hands of Hizbullah fighters. The Apabeel drone codenamed “Ayyoub” after one of Hizbullah’s fighters was manufactured in Tehran and assembled by Hizbullah’s young men, explained Nasrallah.
In previous speeches Nasrallah spoke of a “surprise weapon” in the possession of the resistance movement which was likely “to change the balance of power”. Speculations had been awash as to what would be the nature of such a weapon. Some even suggested it was nuclear. But military analysts suggested it was air defences or anti-craft missiles. more.. e-mail
Israel’s starvation diet for Gaza
Electronic Intifada: 24 Oct 2012 – Jonathan Cook Nazareth 24 October 2012 Recently released documents reveal that Israel deliberately allowed much less food than was previously thought to have been imported into Gaza.more
As Holy Land 5 appeal begins, Palestinians in Gaza praise charity closed by Bush
Electronic Intifada: 24 Oct 2012 – Joe Catron Gaza Strip 24 October 2012 Going to university has become more difficult for Palestinians in Gaza since George W. Bush shut down a charity that helps underprivileged students with fees.more
“Let us not be brought down”: Last legal recourse for Holy Land Five
Electronic Intifada: 24 Oct 2012 – Noor Elashi New York City 24 October 2012 Noor Elashi anticipates this week’s decision by the US Supreme Court whether or not to hear the Holy Land Foundation case, in which her father is a defendant.more
“Six Flowers” help keep Palestinian handicraft tradition alive, adding modern twist
Electronic Intifada: 23 Oct 2012 – Rami Almeghari Gaza City 23 October 2012 A group of six sisters in Gaza have started their own business selling embroidery that combines traditional Palestinian patterns with modern trends.more
Israel‘s Formula for a Starvation Diet
Dissident Voice: 24 Oct 2012 – Six and a half years go, shortly after Hamas won the Palestinian national elections and took charge of Gaza, a senior Israeli official described Israel’s planned response. “The idea,” he said, “is to put the Palestinians on a diet, but not to make them die of hunger.” Although Dov Weisglass was adviser to Ehud Olmert, the prime minister of the day, few observers treated his comment as more than hyperbole, a supposedly droll characterisation of the blockade Israel was about to impose on the tiny enclave. Last week, however, the evidence finally emerged to prove that this did indeed become Israeli policy. After a three-year legal battle by an Israeli human rights group, Israel was forced to disclose its so-called “Red Lines” document. Drafted in early 2008, as the blockade was tightened still further, the defence ministry paper set forth proposals on how to treat Hamas-ruled Gaza. Health officials provided…more
More material available from Vermonters for a Just Peace in Palestine/Israel – www.vtjp.org
To subscribe, please write to OccupationNews-subscribe@yahoogroups.com or visithttp://groups.yahoo.com/group/OccupationNews/join
The New Dark Age 