Meanwhile in Palestine

Supporters Call for the Recall of South African Ambassador From Tel Aviv and Sanctions Against Israel: At a press conference held today in South Africa the Palestine Solidarity Committee, COSATU (the Congress of South African Trade Unions representing 1.2 million workers) and the South African Council of Churches called on the South African government to recall the ambassador to Israel and to implement sanctions against Israel.

Israeli Wall Condemned by Non-Aligned Movement: Nunez said Israel has already erected 209 miles of wall, which represents 42 percent of the project. Another 63 miles remain under construction. The Non-Aligned Movement called for sanctions against companies participating in building the wall. Over two million Palestinians living to the east of wall will be separated from East Jerusalem and another 230,000 Palestinians in Jerusalem will be isolated from the rest of the West Bank.

Forty settlers freely trespass Palestinian property, Australian human rights volunteer arrested: At 11am, human rights workers in the Tel Rumeida district of Hebron were alerted that 40 Israeli settlers, one of whom was armed, had invaded the Abu Haikal's property and were having a picnic and campfire in their olive groves. The settlers were accompanied by 15 soldiers. The settlers and soldiers refused to let Palestinian schoolchildren enter their houses after school although this is against even Israeli law.

Faith leaders' appeal to US government over Israel-Palestine conflict: As Jewish, Christian and Muslim religious leaders, our shared Abrahamic faith compels us to work together for peace with justice for Israelis, Palestinians and all peoples in the Middle East. As Americans, we again ask the United States to make peace in the Middle East an urgent priority. Our nation has an inescapable responsibility and an indispensable role to provide creative, determined leadership for building a just peace for all in the Middle East.

Mortars fired at Abbas' office; Hamas accuses Fatah of coup: Palestinian security sources reported that several mortar shells were fired at the offices in the Gaza Strip and that six people were injured – five security officers and a 45-year-old passer-by. The Palestinian president was in Ramallah at the time and was not hurt.

Atmosphere of civil war hangs over Gaza as Fateh forces overtake ministry buildings: Several gunmen opened fire from a rooftop near the Foreign Ministry building on Foreign Minister and Hamas member Mahmoud Az Zahar's convoy. It was stressed that there were no injuries. The guards exchanged fire with the shooters long after Az Zahar was gone.

Ceasefire in Gaza after inter-Palestinian violence escalates: "There is an agreement between all armed Palestinian groups for a ceasefire and to end the violence," Ibrahim Abu Najja said after a day of unrest in Gaza in which at least three Palestinians were killed. The accord was confirmed by Hamas spokesman Ismail Radwan, who told AFP that the ceasefire pact stipulates that "armed men must stop circulating on the streets".

Palestinian PM: Hamas will not participate in elections: Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh vowed Sunday that his Hamas party will not participate in fresh elections, and branded Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas' remarks on the matter "inflammatory."

IRAQ: Palestinian refugees fear for their lives after recent attack: On 13 December, local militia attacked the al-Baladiya district of the capital, where hundreds of Palestinians have lived for years. No attempt was made by the Iraqi police or multinational forces to halt the three-hour attack, Muffitlak said, adding that the militia stopped ambulances entering the area and attacked anyone who tried to enter or leave without their authorisation.

Carter wants to finish job creating peace in Mideast; Ex-president says he's disappointed by U.S. inaction: As a matter of fact, a lot of the territory I was in was the Palestinian territories -- all down the Jordan River Valley and a good portion up around Golan Heights. Those were Israeli-occupied territories. At that time, everyone expected the Israeli forces to withdraw from the occupied territories. ... Nobody dreamed that there would be a massive escalation of the Israelis to colonize, you might say, the entire area of the West Bank.

An enlightened occupier: The juggler from the palace of justice has struck again. In a single week, retired Supreme Court president Justice Aharon Barak proved his impressive acrobatic talents. In his last rulings, all of them having to do with the occupation, the outgoing Supreme Court president seems to have wanted, as he has during the 11 years of his presidency, to have his cake and eat it, too. Barak wants to appear as though he is both upholding justice and not harming security - the unofficial religion of a state that shoots, then cries. What an enlightened occupier!

Ex-soldiers break `silence' on Israeli excesses: In them, soldiers talk about the total power of the occupiers over the occupied — throwing Palestinians out of their homes; making them stand for hours for disobeying the curfew or trying to bypass a checkpoint or even smiling or arguing at the wrong time, Shaul said. "We can play with them. This is the mindset from which everything flows."

Palestinians say French journalist lightly wounded by Gaza City gunfire: Didier Francois, a reporter for the French daily Liberation, was hit in the leg by gunfire, said Raja Abu Daka, a Palestinian translator who accompanied the French journalist. Clashes have been raging in Gaza between Fatah and Hamas, rival factions vying for control over the Palestinian government.

President Abbas meets the Central Election Commission: Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas met with the Central Election Commission in Ramallah to discuss legal steps and logistics for holding the elections. Dr. Hanna Nasser chair of the commission that they need at least four months to prepare for elections. Dr. Nasser added that if there are any objections against holding the elections they have to go to court.

Bedouin, police clash over renewed Negev demolition orders: A week and a half ago the Israel Lands Authority and the Interior Ministry demolished 17 of the 50 structures that make up the village - caravans, shacks and tents - leaving 12 families homeless. The Israel Lands Authority views them as squatters and therefore refuses to help them find housing.

Palestinian professor calls for dissolution of security forces: A professor of political science at the Al-Najah National University, Dr Abdus-Sattar Qasim, on Saturday called for breaking up all the Palestinian security services and the Executive Force of the ministry of interior except the police as a solution to the current state of chaos in the Palestinian Territories. Qasim also called for the substitution of the leaderships of the police department and declared illegal every weapon that appears publicly.

Strike by Palestinian workers near end -official: Under the deal, which is expected to be signed later on Sunday, workers will be given assurances from Abbas and the Hamas-led government that they will receive partial salary payments within days and full wages starting next month.

Gaza, West Bank close to civil war, Hamas leader warns: Exiled leader Khaled Meshal made his comments after the main Palestinian factions, Hamas and Fatah, accused each other of carrying out deadly attacks. Egyptian diplomats have begun attempts to mediate between the two sides. The move follows days of rising tensions between Hamas, the largest faction, and the Fatah group headed by Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas.

Human Rights NGOs Calls for Dialogue and Referring to the Law to End Tension in the OPT: The undersigned Palestinian human rights NGOs express their grave concerns over the deterioration in the internal security situation, which has mounted to the peak in the past few days due to the political tension between Hamas and Fatah movements resulted from the failure of the two movements to agree on the formation of a national unity government.

Abbas' dangerous gamble: The head of the PLO negotiating team, Saeb Erekat, was first to jump to his feet in enthusiasm during yesterday's speech by Mahmoud Abbas at the Muqata in Ramallah. But Abbas held up his hand. Not so fast. "I have spoken with the Central Election Committee on a date for the elections," Abbas said, "and I am still negotiating over a unity government." It sounded like the old Abbas.

Hamas: Call for vote is coup attempt: Abbas said mockingly that every time Hamas leaders held talks with unofficial European figures, they claimed they were negotiating with European states. He mentioned former British intelligence agent Alastair Crooke, who held ongoing contacts with Hamas. "He's out on pension already, and they say they have a new British initiative. Every time they talk to a local councillor from a little town in the U.S., they report contact with an American delegation."

Sheikhs, rabbis and priests battle together in fight against the same demons: The Holocaust-denial theories aired last week in Iran were denounced Friday from an unexpected source - in a statement released by sheikhs of the Islamic Movement in Israel. Simultaneously, Religious Zionist rabbis issued a statement denouncing damage done to the Muslim cemetery in the center of Jerusalem in the construction of the Museum of Tolerance.

Gaza goods cost up to a million shekels more a day: In order to sell goods in the Gaza Strip, merchants have to pay over half a million shekels in "protection money" to drivers and shippers, TheMarker has learned. The payments are for transfer of goods from Israel to Gaza through the Karni crossing point.

First woman appointed to Higher Arab Monitoring Committee: The Hadash Party has appointed a woman to represent it in the the Higher Arab Monitoring Committee, it was revealed Sunday, becoming the first Arab party to send a woman to the body.

Women's soccer finding its niche in Arab world: No field, no money, no wins -- it has been tough going for the fledgling Palestinian women's national soccer team. Yet the players, some competing in headscarves and extra long shorts for modesty, shrug off their setbacks. They say they love the sense of strength and confidence they get from the game, as well as the rush of claiming a once forbidden place in a society largely run by men.

Woman, Abbas guard killed in escalating Fatah-Hamas clashes: "Hamas gunmen" opened fire at a large political rally by the rival Fatah movement Sunday, wounding three people, Palestinian security officials said. An estimated 100,000 Fatah supporters were participating in the rally.

Rice to seek additional funds to boost Abbas' security forces: United States Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said on Friday she would ask the U.S. Congress for tens of millions of dollars to strengthen the security forces of Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas.

Congress extends Israel loan guarantees: The new aid package comes on top of the annual US aid package for Israel, as well as special packages, such as for the Arrow anti-ballistic missile program.

What Are You Going to Do Now, Israel?: Have you thought about what you are you going to do, if Palestinian leadership you despise finally disintegrates?

We must speak out: Today we are launching an appeal for a world-wide cultural boycott against the Israeli state.

Gideon Levy: The High Court's blessing for IDF assassinations: At the end of this productive judicial week, the Israeli occupation won significant power.

Jimmy Carter: Revisiting 'Apartheid': "You and I both know the powerful influence of AIPAC [the American Israel Public Affairs Committee], which is not designed to promote peace. I'm not criticizing them, they have a perfect right to lobby, but their purpose in life is to protect and defend the policies of the Israeli government and to make sure those policies are approved in the United States"