Meanwhile in Palestine

Occupied Gaza: 3 Children Killed: Mourners storm Gaza parliament : The children, sons of a Palestinian intelligence official loyal to Mahmoud Abbas, the president, were shot dead in a car outside their school in occupied Gaza on Monday.

Saudi Arabia refuses to host Palestinian Prime Minister: Well-informed Palestinian sources have confirmed that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has refused to officially receive Palestinian Prime Minister Ismael Haniyeh, who was supposed to be on an official visit to the kingdom.

Uri Avnery's: Baker's Cake : Baker says simply: In order to stop the war in Iraq and start a reconciliation with the Arab world, the US must bring about the end of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. He does not say explicitly that peace must be imposed on Israel, but that is the obvious implication.

A rogue 51st state: Israel already looks to be intent on scuppering the Iraq Study Group plan for Middle East peace

Tough times in birthplace of Jesus as Christmas nears: Israel's separation barrier ruins joy of Christmas for West Bank town of Bethlehem, reduces tourists.

Israeli Army bulldozes Palestinian vinyards south of Bethlehem: Salah Shahin, the owner of the land, said that the bulldozers have so far destroyed 85 grapevines - used to produce grapes that are sold in local markets. Shahin added that the army often attacks his land in order to force him to leave, so that his land could then be annexed to the nearby illegal Israeli settlement known as 'Kfar Atzion'.

Jimmy Carter: Israel's 'apartheid' policies worse than South Africa's: "When Israel does occupy this territory deep within the West Bank, and connects the 200-or-so settlements with each other, with a road, and then prohibits the Palestinians from using that road, or in many cases even crossing the road, this perpetrates even worse instances of apartness, or apartheid, than we witnessed even in South Africa."


Bethlehem mayor calls on world Christians to visit his town this Christmas: "With the closure of Jerusalem to Palestinians and the limitation of permits granted by the Israeli authorities, unemployment has soared to 65 percent, which simply means that 65 percent of the people of Bethlehem live under the poverty line," he said. Israel says the wall, which blocks the main entrance to Bethlehem from the north, is necessary.


Fatah official’s sons shot dead in Gaza: Palestinian gunmen killed the three young sons of a senior intelligence official close to President Mahmoud Abbas in the Gaza Strip on Monday, reigniting fears of an escalation in factional clashes.

Israel blocks UN mission to Beit Hanoun: The Israeli government has blocked a UN human rights fact-finding mission led by South African Nobel Laureate Desmond Tutu that was formed last month to investigate Israel’s killing of 19 Palestinian civilians in the northern Gaza town of Beit Hanoun.

Palestinian political prisoners taking Israeli government to the International Court of Justice: In light of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, 11,000 political prisoners in Israeli jails are filing a suit against the Israeli government at the International Court of Justice in the Hague. They are calling for an official investigation into “abuse and serious violations in Israeli prisons against life and humanity.”

Checkpoints in the West Bank: This is the day of Women: Israeli forces demanded that women leave cars to have their identities checked. Driver Firas Mahmoud described what happened. “They drew their weapons in our direction when one of the young men went to the soldiers and told them that they could not treat his wife in such a way after a group of women had been held in the cold for two hours.”

Palestinian shot, seriously wounded by Israeli military east of Gaza City: The man was shot when Israeli forces began firing randomly at Palestinian homes and farmland, according to eyewitnesses.

Israeli soldiers attack barber shop in Yatta village, beat three Palestinian brothers badly: Israeli forces attacked a barber shop and assaulted three men who were inside the shop on Monday morning. The attack occurred during an Israeli military invasion of Yatta village, south of the West Bank city of Hebron.

Four schoolboys injured in Israeli invasion of Tubas: Soldiers apparently opened fire at a group of schoolboys leaving school, injuring four, one seriously. Ibrahim Shoubaki, 17, was taken to the hospital in critical condition after being shot with live ammunition by the invading Israeli troops. The names of the three other injured boys have not yet been released.

One Hebron resident abducted by Israeli army: Israeli forces abducted a Palestinian resident of the southern West Bank city of Hebron after attacking his home on Monday. Al Qudsi is the 26th Hebron resident to be abducted by the Israeli army since December 1st, according to the Hebron Prisoner Support Society.

No solutions for newly homeless: The F-16 fighters and Apache gunships may now be absent from the Gaza skies - but that doesn't help Omar Mohammed Mamlouk and his 18-strong family, living in a tent amid the rubble of their home. The Israeli military destroyed 251 homes in Gaza between July and November 15 this year, leaving 1,577 people homeless, according to the Israeli human rights organisation B'tselem.

High Court to rule on petitions demanding Intifada Law annulled: Nine human rights organizations, spearheaded by the Adalah Center, submitted petitions to the court in September 2005. The petition calls the law, which has absolved the state of financial responsibiliy in nearly all "non warlike" instances of personal and property damages since 2000, "racist and immoral."

Abbas condemns killing of PA official 3 children at Gaza school: Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas condemned as an "ugly and inhuman crime" the killing of three young children of a senior PA intelligence official outside their school in Gaza City Monday morning.

Desmond Tutu: Israel refused fact-finding mission to Gaza: "We find the lack of cooperation by the Israeli government very distressing, as well as its failure to allow the missing timely passage to Israel," Tutu told reporters after UN officials said Israel had blocked his UN fact-finding mission to the Gaza Strip. Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman Mark Regev said Monday that no final decision has been made.

Dahlan may return to PA nat'l security post: Palestinian sources told Haaretz that while Dahlan had not yet officially accepted the appointment, he was already receiving security-related authority and dealing with security issues. Dahlan is also under pressure by some of his associates who have called on him to reject the offer.

Palestinian PM says Iran has pledged $250 million in aid to PA: Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh said Iran had pledged about $250 million in financial aid to Palestinians for 2007 to help ease the economic crisis caused by a Western aid boycott.


Gazans speak out on early poll: "At the same time, Fatah should not impose its opinions on Hamas since it is, after all, in the minority now. "I oppose the idea that the government is somehow responsible for the situation we're in - it's clearly collective punishment by the West. "At the same time, Hamas should be flexible. The ministry of the interior and finance should be run independent of any faction. I voted for Hamas in January's elections to punish Fatah because of its corruption, but I'm not sure how I would vote again."

End the boycott of Arab parties: The issue of the Arab citizens of Israel has returned to the headlines. This is partly due to the release of the book "Whose Country is This?", which chronicles the failed attempt to develop a new pact between Jews and Arabs, and even more so to a series of new documents setting forth demands formulated by various Arab groups.

Mashaal offers 10-year cease-fire deal: Hamas political leader Khaled Mashaal has said he would be willing to set up a Palestinian state based on the 1967 borders side-by-side with Israel. In an interview published Monday in the Italian newspaper Republica, Mashaal also offered Israel a 10-year cease-fire deal.

Former President Talks About his Controversial New Book, ‘Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid' In "Palestine: Carter says the United States, along with Russia, the United Nations, and the European Union, must implement the Bush administration's so-called "Roadmap for Peace." Former President Carter, now 82, is determined to continue making an impact on the world stage in the cause of peace. He plans to write two more books to be released next year.

Peretz: Saudi initiative must serve as basis for talks with Palestinians: Israel has thus far avoided official consideration - at least publicly - of the 2002 initiative which calls on Israel to withdraw to the 1967 borders in return for a comprehensive peace agreement with the Palestinians and other Arab states.

Settlements further encroaching into Tubas; major loss imminent: It is clear, as reported by the local community, that the Israeli policy is to eliminate any Palestinian presence in the Jordan Valley area, including confiscating the fertile land, building the Wall, and expanding existing settlements while building new ones.

Elbow to elbow, like cattle: These people want to return home. Israel does not even allow them this. They are human beings with families, plans and commitments, longings and dignity, but who cares. In recent weeks, even the Palestinian Minister of the Environment, Yusuf Abu Safiya, was stuck there. El-Haddad tells of how the minister could be seen one evening collecting twigs on the beach of El Arish to light a bonfire. During the summer, at least seven people died of heat and dehydration while waiting at the border. For many of those who are ill, the wait is a nightmare that threatens their lives.

ONE VILLAGE, TWO BUILDINGS AND A TOP FLOOR: THOUGHTS FOR HUMAN RIGHTS DAY: While the vast destruction in Gaza seems to be on hold, the incremental destruction of Palestine continues apace. Just the last few days have seen a large number of demolitions in Israel and East Jerusalem. On 5 December an entire Bedouin village, Abu Twail, was demolished in the Negev, plus one house in A-Tur and a business in Ras Al Amud. Then on 6 December, the top floor of a house in Jerusalem’s Old City was destroyed. Each of these 20 buildings was demolished for lack of a building license.

Hamas minister target of attempted assassination in Gaza: Unidentified gunmen opened fire Sunday afternoon on the motorcade of Palestinian Interior Minister Said Siyam of Hamas, causing no injuries, in an apparent assassination attempt.

Gunmen who fired at convoy of Palestinian Interior Minister arrested: Spokesperson of the Palestinian Ministry of Interior, Khalid Abu Hilal, stated on Sunday that that ministry arrested gunmen who reportedly fired at the convoy of the Palestinian Minister of Interior Sa'id Siyam on Sunday noon in Gaza City. Abu Hilal refused to reveal the identity of the assailant or whether they belong to a certain Palestinian faction.

Former President Carter's Dangerous New Book: Many of you may have seen former President Carter's media interviews of late. While I admire many of Carter's significant contributions, his new book, Palestine Peace Not Apartheid, has many serious factual errors and his opinions in several cases do not reflect the current reality of Israel's security concerns and commitment to peace.

Issa Qaraqa': Israeli prison system funded by imposing fines on political prisoners Palestinian Legislative Council member Issa Qaraqa' reports that the Israeli Prison Commission intends to increase the sentences between six months to one year for 41 Palestinian political prisoners. Their families are unable to pay the financial penalties imposed upon them by Israeli courts.

Abed-Rabbo appointed as PLO Secretary General: Sources at the Executive Committee reported that Abed-Rabbo will also be in charge of reactivating the role of the PLO and will be in charge of directing its activities.

Haniyeh: This generation will liberate Palestine: Haniyeh chose his words carefully, both in the political aspect and the religious one. Haniyeh told Khamenei that he would "continue in the path of Imam Khumaini, you have always supported the Palestinian people and I hope to meet you at al-Aqsa mosque in the near future."

Palestinian PM: Early election in Palestine to trigger chaos: The Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh said here Sunday that the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO)'s recommendation to the President of the Palestinian Authority Mahmoud Abbas for holding early election is considered as the `beginning of chaos in Palestine'.

Hawking says Mideast situation has deteriorated since last visit: Renowned physicist Stephen Hawking on Sunday told Prime Minister Ehud Olmert that he has noticed a marked deterioration in the situation in the Middle East since he last visited the region in 1990.

PCBS: 23.2% of Tree Horticulture Holdings Subjected to Damage by Israeli Measures: According to the main findings of the tree horticulture survey, 2006, PCBS said in a press release that 23.2% of the tree horticulture holdings were subjected to damage due to Israeli measures in the Palestinian Territory, in the West Bank(WB) the percentage was 22.5% and in Gaza Strip(GS), 33.7%.

Peretz: War lessons internalized: Peretz also said during the conference that "we must relate to the Saudi initiative as a basis for negotiation." According to the Saudi peace plan, Israel will withdraw to the '67 borders in exchange for peace accords with the Palestinians and the Arab states.


Carter: Race relations in Palestine are worse than apartheid: In this he compares the building of the barrier in the West Bank to the policy of apartheid (apartness) in South Africa from 1948 to 1994. There, the policy legalized the separation of races and ensured the domination of whites over all others. Carter gave as examples of the ways in which the peoples of the territory are divided. He cited the concrete walls, fences and electronic devices erected by Isael to contain the Arab peoples.

Film director: What about civil rights for Arab minority?: October's Cry, a documentary that explores the killing of 13 young Israeli Arabs by Israeli security forces during the 2000 riots and their aftermath, is scheduled to be aired on Channel One this Sunday night.

Ottoman Headquarters in Palestine Becomes Turkish Cultural Center: An Ottoman headquarters in Al-Halil, Palestine has recently been transformed in to a cultural center and opened for public use. With the efforts of Dahriye Mayor Sami Isneevir, who completed his college education in Turkey, the palace was restored according to its original architecture.

Record Israeli arms sales irk US: "The ability of the Israeli Military Industry annoys certain US administration officials," said a source from within the security industry on Saturday. He claims that these officials are making allegations that Israel has sold technological information to 'problematic' countries like China.