| IOP – 12, 13 & 14 October 2012 |
| Monday, 15 October 2012 | |
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While the Occupation is business as usual for Israel, there should be no business with Israel In Occupied Palestine Zionism in practice Israel’s Daily Toll on Palestinian Life, Limb, Liberty and Property (Compiled by Leslie Bravery, Palestine Human Rights Campaign POB 56150, Dominion Rd, Auckland, New Zealand www.palestine.org.nz) 72 hours to 8am 14 October 2012 [Main source of statistics: Palestinian Monitoring Group (PMG).] 6-year-old child critically injured in Israeli air strike – homes damaged Israeli soldiers beat up and hospitalise 9-year-old child Homes damaged in Israeli air strikes on refugee camps Israeli Navy opens fire on Palestinian fishing boats Occupation settler terrorists open fire and plunder olive harvest Israeli Army assists settler mob plunder and violence in another West Bank olive grove Israeli soldiers abduct five minors aged 10 to 17 Israeli Army occupies 3 Hebron homes for military use Israeli Army disrupts olive harvest in 2 other West Bank villages Occupation settlers attack 7 olive harvests – violence including arson Night peace disruption and/or home invasions in refugee camp and 20 towns and villages 3 air strikes – 1 attack – 33 raids – 4 dead – 6 beaten – 9 injured 13 acts of agricultural/economic sabotage 20 taken prisoner – 26 detained – 103 restrictions of movement October 12, 13 & 14 Home invasions & occupations: 12:55, Iraq Burin - 10:20, Khursa - 12:05, Hebron - 15:40, Zif. evening, al-Issawiya - 02:00-06:00, Dura. 01:50, Al-Bireh - 00:40-02:30, Arraba - 09:45, Izbat Salman - 10:10, Deir Razi’ - 01:30, Yatta - 03:15, Beit Ummar. Peace disruption raids: 10:50, Ya’bad - 20:40, Tura Al-Gharbiya - 09:55, Ibziq - dawn, Aqraba - 02:35-04:40, Nablus. 23:10, Um Al-Tut - 01:00, Rumana - dawn, Al-Taybeh - dawn, Zubaba - 22:55, Hebron. 08:50, Burin - 13:45, Beit Furiq - 20:00, Jabalya – Gaza City – dawn, Khan Yunis - 08:00, Meithalun - 16:00, Tayasir - 02:00, Tulkarem - 01:00, Al-Thahiria - 01:00, Al-Samu’ - 01:45, the Al-Fuwar refugee camp. October 12 Palestinian attacks: none Israeli Army violence – child (9) beaten and hospitalised – children abducted: 15:50, Israeli forces manning an observation tower in Bethlehem fired rubber-coated bullets and tear gas grenades at several children, beat up and hospitalised a nine-year-old child, Yazan Al–Kadari, and abducted two 13-year-old boys: Nasser Rumi and Yusef Lutfi. Home invasion and occupation: Hebron – 10:20, Israeli troops occupied the roof of a home in Khursa village for use as a military post. Home invasion and occupation: Hebron – 12:05, the Israeli Army occupied the roof of a home in the Old City for use as a military post. Home invasion and occupation: Hebron – 15:40, Israeli soldiers occupied the roof of a home in Zif village for use as a military post. House demolition order: Jerusalem – the Israeli Occupation issued a demolition order against a home in the suburb of Silwan. Occupation settler agricultural sabotage – plunder – Israeli Army complicity: Qalqilya – 14:35, a Zionist mob, accompanied by the Israeli Army, invaded Kafr Qaddum olive groves, assaulted and injured an olive harvester, Abdel Raziq Al- Qaddumi (who was then detained by Israeli troops), stole several sacks of olives and damaged several olive trees. Occupation settler land theft: Bethlehem – 14:45, Israeli settlers paved a 50-metre road in Al-Khadr on privately-owned Palestinian land. Occupation road casualty: Hebron – morning, a 14-year-old boy, Hatem Da’na, was admitted to hospital after an Israeli settler motorist ran him over in the Old City. Raid – stun grenade assault: Jenin – 20:40, Israeli troops raided Tura Al-Gharbiya and fired stun grenades at several youngsters, detaining one of them, Ahmad Kabha (14), for allegedly throwing stones. Raid – eviction orders: Tubas – 09:55, the Israeli Army raided Ibziq village and left several eviction orders. Raid: Nablus – Occupation troops raided Aqraba and took prisoner a 63-year-old man. Economic sabotage: Gaza – the Israeli Navy continues to enforce a three-nautical-mile fishing zone on the blockaded territory. October 13 Palestinian attack: Gaza – evening, one missile fired towards the Green Line. The Israeli Foreign Ministry has still not updated its reports of Gaza missile strikes in southern Israel. Last update September 19.(See Since the end of Operation Cast Lead ticker). http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/Israel+Ministry+of+Foreign+Affairs.htm Palestinian resistance: Rafah – morning, Palestinian Resistance fighters fired missiles in response to Israeli Army fire from behind the Green Line. Air strike – homes damaged: Gaza – evening, missiles fired from Israeli jet fighters damaged homes in the Al-Sheikh Radwan district. Air strike: Central Gaza – dawn, an Israeli jet fighter fired a missile into the Al-Nassariya refugee camp. Air strike: Central Gaza – dawn, an Israeli jet fighter fired a missile at the Al-Bureij refugee camp. Agricultural sabotage: Qalqilya – 08:35, Israeli soldiers stopped the Kafr Qaddum olive harvest and prohibited residents from harvesting on Fridays and Saturdays in order to accommodate the wishes of local Occupation settlers. Agricultural sabotage: Nablus – 18:35, the Israeli Army took prisoner two Tel village olive harvesters, Musa Ramadan and Imad Hammad, as they were collecting olives. Home invasion – abduction: Jerusalem – evening, Israeli soldiers raided al-Issawiya village, invaded a home and abducted a ten-year-old child, Amin Darwish. Home invasion: Hebron – 02:00-06:00, the Israeli Army raided Dura and invaded a home. Israeli Army violence: Jerusalem – 13:20, Israeli troops manning the Qalandya checkpoint fired tear gas grenades at nearby children. Non-violent resistance – abduction: Jerusalem – 12:30, Israeli forces took six people prisoner and abducted an unnamed child who were protesting against Al Aqsa Mosque violations. Non-violent resistance – injury – tear gas casualties: Ramallah – 12:30, one person was injured and several protesters were overcome by tear gas in Al Nabi Saleh village after being assaulted by Israeli troops firing tear gas grenades. Non-violent resistance – tear gas casualties: Ramallah – 12:40, several anti-annexation Wall protesters were overcome by tear gas in Ni’lin and Bil’in villages after being assaulted by Israeli troops firing tear gas grenades. Non-violent resistance – tear gas casualties: Ramallah – 16:15, several protesters were overcome by tear gas at the entrance to Ofer Prison in Beitunya after being assaulted by Israeli troops firing tear gas grenades. Non-violent resistance – abduction: Qalqilya – 12:30, Israeli forces fired rubber-coated bullets and tear gas grenades at protesters in Kafr Qaddum and abducted a 17-year-old youth: Mohammad Amar. An international peace activist was also taken prisoner. Occupation settler violence – agricultural sabotage: Qalqilya – 15:00, settler militants invaded Kafr Qaddum olive groves and assaulted an olive harvester, Hassan Abu Yassin, while the Israeli Army detained another harvest worker, Mohammad Amar. Occupation settler agricultural sabotage – arson attack: Nablus – 06:20, Zionist fanatics invaded Qarawat village farmland and set fire to ten olive trees. Occupation settler violence – injury – hospitalisation: Jericho – a settler mob assaulted and hospitalised a Jerusalem resident, Ya’cub Al-Nashashibi. Occupation settler violence – agricultural sabotage: Hebron – 11:30, Israeli settlers invaded al-Thahiria olive groves and assaulted several olive harvesters. Occupation settler violence – agricultural sabotage: Hebron – 12:40, settler militants invaded the Old City Tel al-Rumeida neighbourhood and assaulted an olive harvester, Wajid Abu- Aysheh. Occupation settler violence – agricultural sabotage: Hebron – 15:20, Israeli settlers forced several olive harvesters to flee the area between al-Thahiria and al-Samuo’. Occupation settler violence – agricultural sabotage: Hebron – Israeli settlers forced several olive harvesters to flee from the Beit Ummar olive harvest. October 14 Palestinian attacks: none Air strike – child injury – 2 deaths – homes damaged: Northern Gaza – 20:00, Israeli drone-launched missiles in Jabalya critically wounded a six-year-old child, Salah Najjar, and damaged nearby homes, in an air strike that killed two Resistance fighters, Hisham Al-Sa’dani and Ashraf Sabah. Air strike: Gaza – the city came under Israeli jet fighter missile attack. Air strike – death and injury: Khan Yunis – dawn, an Israeli fighter jets fired a missile at a motorcycle near Al-Fajari carrying two Resistance activists, killing one, Yasser Attal, and critically wounding the other. Israeli attack – economic sabotage: Northern Gaza – morning, the Israeli Navy opened fire on Palestinian fishing boats off Beit Lahiya. Death: Gaza – a Palestinian man, Musa Rashwan, died of injuries sustained almost five years ago as a result of Israeli gunfire. Home invasion and abduction: Hebron – 03:15, the Israeli Army raided Beit Ummar, searched a home and abducted a 17-year-old youth: Baha Awad. Home invasions – property violation: Qalqilya – 09:45, Israeli soldiers raided Izbat Salman village, invaded a home, detained a resident and made off with a personal computer. Non-violent resistance – Israeli Army violence – injuries – hospitalisations: Hebron – 15:00, Israeli troops assaulted and hospitalised three peaceful protesters, Ahmad Abu Hisham, Musa Abu Mariya and Yunis Al-Ar, at a demonstration near Beit Ummar. Occupation settler violence – home invasion: Nablus – 08:50, Zionist militants, escorted by the Israeli Army, raided Burin village, invaded a home and assaulted a resident, Hamza Al-Ziben. Occupation settler raid: Nablus – 13:45, settler militants stormed Beit Furiq. Occupation settler armed terrorism – agricultural sabotage – plunder: Nablus – afternoon, Israeli settler terrorists stormed Qarawat village farmland, opened fire on olive harvesters and stole several tons of olives. Raid – military exercises: Tubas – 16:00, Israeli troops raided Tayasir village and conducted military exercises. Recent news updates: UN Protection of Civilians weekly report: www.ochaopt.org/documents/ocha_opt_protection_of_civilians_weekly_report_2012_10_12_english.pdf The Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court brought into UK domestic law by the ICC Act, makes it an offence for UK citizens and residents to act in complicity in war crimes that take place anywhere in the world. In nearly all criminal trials, protesters against EDO MBM have argued that the company is acting unlawfully by assisting war crimes committed by the UK and US forces in Iraq and the Israeli forces in the West Bank and Gaza. Magistrates in Brighton have generally refused to acknowledge the argument, but demonstrators have frequently been acquitted. Growing up in the West. Palestinian writer and lawyer, Raja Shehadeh, discusses the day-to-day hardships of living under Israeli occupation and reflects on episodes from his journal Occupation Diaries, as well as considering the effects of the Arab spring on the region as a whole Two political prisoners in Salfit continue their hunger strike for the 15th day. Sources close to the detainees' families said: "Their sons Saad Youssef Marei, 24, and Suhaib Ahmed Marei, 35, have continued their strike for the 15th day, in protest at the decision of the Magistrate's Court in Salfit to extend their detention, for the second time, for 15 additional days without charge or legal justification." politicalprisoners Occupied lives: no child should have to go through this. On Sunday, 07 October 2012, at approximately 5:30pm, an Israeli strike on a Rafah suburb injured eight bystanders, including four children and a woman. http://www.pchrgaza.org/portal/en/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=8883 Israeli war planes stage simulated raids on Gaza. A local source told Quds Press on Wednesday that Israeli F-16s terrorised Gaza with low altitude flights creating sonic booms. aerialterror Palestinian people will never give up Right of Return. The First Deputy Speaker of the Palestinian legislative council, Dr Ahmed Bahar, insisted that the Palestinian people would never give up the right of return for millions of its refugees. rightofreturn West Bank settlers stealing tons of soil from Palestinian land. http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/west-bank-settlers-stealing-tons-of-soil-from-palestinian-land.premium-1.469522 UNESCO Chief Says US Funding Cuts are "Crippling" Organisation. http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=528127 Weekly report: Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory 04-10 October. Swedish Ship to Gaza now on its way. (Mazin Qumsiyeh: “Please alert the media”) http://shiptogaza.se/en Challenge UEFA acceptance of apartheid. http://www.uefa.com/under21/season=2013/finals/index.html The Zionist destruction of the Iraqi Jewish community. http://azvsas.blogspot.co.uk/2012/09/the-zionist-destruction-of-iraqi-jewish.html NY Times headline reverses chronology, story leaves out important information. CNN seems to consider damaged motorcycle more important than injured Palestinian children. http://alisonweir.org/journal/2012/10/8/ny-times-headline-reverses-chronology-story-leaves-out-impor.html ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ How infiltrated is the movement for justice? By Alison Weir http://alisonweir.org/journal/2012/10/12/how-infiltrated-is-the-movement-for-justice.html Most people are aware (but sometimes forget) that movements are almost always infiltrated by people who wish them to fail. Infiltrators are there to do two things: to monitor what is going on, and to interfere with its effectiveness. Such interference can take several routes. Among these are to promote ineffective, sometimes damaging actions – such people are generally called 'agent provocateurs." The other way they interfere is to promote division. Like many people, I've long suspected that this is increasingly happening in the movement for justice in Palestine. A case in point is the recent controversy over Greta Berlin. A very interesting article now suggests that an infiltrator has played a role in the recent attacks on Greta. Greta is a long time activist on Palestine and was one of the tiny group of people who began the flotilla movement. For years she and her colleagues Mary Hughes and Paul Larudee worked to make these happen when most people thought this was a truly impossible dream. When Greta and others finally managed to obtain a boat and set sail for Gaza, no one knew whether they would return alive. Yet, in the past week or so Greta has been attacked by a handful of fellow activists. They accused her of "anti-Semitism" over a small incident in which an action she took was incorrectly portrayed. While many came to Greta's defence (e.g. here, here, here, here, and here), considerable damage and division were sown. Now an article published in Electronic Intifada suggests that an Israeli provocateur may have been involved in the incident. [This may be incorrect; see update below.] It is sad that a number of people jumped on and sometimes led the inquisition against Greta, despite the fact that she has a long, strong track record of extraordinarily courageous and committed activism. I hope that in the future people will not be so quick to attack committed activists within the movement whom they have been led to believe have strayed from the path they decree, and will instead focus on productive work to bring the change that is so urgently needed. Incidentally, I have long heard of similar attacks against me, though these have been considerably smaller and far less public. For example, a few years ago an activist within the UC Berkeley SJP managed to sidetrack the group from using the If Americans Knew materials that so many people around the country find to be extremely effective. The person did this by telling the group that one of our materials referred people to a book by an allegedly offensive author. When I later heard about this, I was astounded and tried to figure out which of our 50+ materials contained such a reference. I finally figured out that the person was apparently mistakenly referring to our brochure The Catastrophe Al Nakba: How Palestine Became Israel, one of our most popular handouts. On the back of this brochure is a list of 21 excellent books (I'll provide the list at the bottom of this posting). One of the books in the long list was written by Israeli author Israel Shahak, an Israeli peace activist who is particularly despised by Zionists. This was apparently the allegedly "offensive" author. The reality is, however, that Shahak was a brilliant Israeli professor and had been endorsed by such people as Edward Said and Noam Chomsky, who were among his many friends. Two things struck me at the time. First, that one person managed to side-track an entire group with misinformation. Second, I wondered how in the world this person had gone through over 50 detailed materials to find something that he or she was led to believe was offensive? It struck me as most likely that someone else had pointed her/him in this direction. It would be nice to know who this was. And it appears that this activist, or an associate, has continued to attack me venomously to others, though the person has never said anything to me directly. It's important not to allow this type of destructive activity to prevail. There will be differences within this movement for justice, as in all movements; individuals will make mistakes or perceived mistakes; and people will have varying viewpoints and approaches. Rather than allowing this to occupy our time and efforts, it is crucial that we keep our focus on the productive and crucial work so desperately needed to end the oppression, violence, racism, and cruelty we all oppose. The fact is, we're having a real and extremely significant impact. That's why there is such an effort to divide and distract us. Let's not allow this to succeed. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ British politics dogged by lobbying on the Palestinian issue By Eric Willoughby At the end of Britain's annual conference season for the main political parties, it's enlightening to review their policies on the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories. The problem is, none of them see the situation like that. They all sing from the same hymn sheet, that there is a two-way conflict between Israel and Palestine, and all three parties regard Israel's "right to security" as paramount. They conveniently overlook the matter of Israel's security being under no threat, except for what it's brought on itself by illegal and brutal military occupation, but we have to live with that. Perhaps most disturbing is the position of the Labour Party. Traditionally the most left-leaning of the main three parties, and having grown out of the trades union movement, Labour has long been the champion of the oppressed, the poor and needy, the working classes and the underprivileged and downtrodden. A certain A. Blair changed all that. This year the shadow defence spokesman, Douglas Alexander, reaffirmed the party's commitment to the usual "two-state" solution in his speech, whilst reminding everyone of the need for Israel's right to security, and yes, those Palestinians have some rights too. A moment's lapse of attention would have missed this passing aside. The Labour Party is funded in the vast majority by the trades unions. Collectively, as the Trades Union Congress, and individually, as trade unions – notably the GMB – the union movement deplores Israel's atrocities against the Palestinians, and heartily supports the boycotts of Israeli products like SodaStream, which is produced on the Mishor Adumim Industrial Estate, in the illegal West Bank settlement of Ma'aleh Adumim. But the party they support, does not actively condone such boycotting and yet again bites the hand that feeds it. One of the most senior Labour politicians – John Reid, a former Home Secretary, responsible for police and prisons – is a Director of the notorious G4S "security" company, which runs two prisons in the UK, and several in Israel, including the Ofer child "interrogation" facility. So much for concern for the oppressed and needy. For their part, the ruling Tory party (Conservative government, backed by Liberal Democrat lapdogs) trots out the usual two-state solution, but even that is hypocritical. The Tory government of Britain did not support the Palestinian application for UN status last time, and will not do so again this year. So how they support a two-state solution, but prevent two states from actually existing, is an enigma. British politics is dominated by Israeli pressure groups, known collectively as the "lobby". The Friends of Israeli Initiative is the progeny of the Henry Jackson Society, which defends and promotes all aspects of Israel's policies, including child abduction/torture, farm and home destruction and of course the burgeoning settlements. Andrew Percy MP recently explained in a Westminster Hall debate, that Israel has started no new settlements since 1993. He carefully avoided saying how enormously the existing settlements had expanded and swallowed land and homes (demolished in the process, and any survivors transported to camps).The Israeli propagandist organisation BICOM has said it is satisfied that the UK state broadcaster, the BBC, can be relied on to give a positive view of Israel in all its presentations, and runs regular "facility trips" (known as "jollies" within journalism) to Israel. These are VIP freebies, with luxury all the way and pandering to every wish (as long as the "P-word" is avoided, of course). That's Palestinian, in case anyone needs reminding. BICOM also embraces the organisation hilariously named Honest Reporting, which in practice means distorting news to become Israel-positive. All three parties have thriving Friends of Israel groups. The Upper Chamber (House of Lords) is no better. Some of the Lords and Ladies are totally committed to Israel, such as Baroness Deech, a Trustee both of the Jewish National Fund and the Community Security Trust. She can be relied upon to stand up and defend all Israel's atrocities, often by trying to deflect the argument to equivalent atrocities in other parts of the world. The strongest counter-voice is Baroness Jenny Tonge, who speaks up for the Palestinians with courage and daring, and lost her place in the LibDem party because of it. Since the very existence of the state of Israel was only possible by British action – kindly handing over Palestinian land to them – it would be reasonable to think that the UK took more of an interest in Palestinian events. But all three modern parties follow the dreary "two-state" solution mantra, though as accepted world-wide now, such a "solution" is impossible. All three parties also oppose any idea of Iran developing nuclear weapons – a supposition which Iran vehemently denies – whilst making no mention whatsoever of Israel's nuclear weapons stockpile. Yet Britain, along with France and the USA, still has the receipts for the nukes and technology it sold to Israel. As the UK Parliament resumes from its conference holiday, it now also has to ponder the outcome of an Israeli election early next year. It was thought to have been avoided, by Iranian-born Mr. Mofaz accepting the position of Deputy Prime Minster in Netanyahu's government, but the two men could not work together for very long. Presumably the frustration with Netanyahu that President Obama expressed recently, got the better of things. There is also the small matter of the USA Presidential elections. Almost certainly the wish of the UK Parliament is to see President Obama re-elected, if only on the devil-you-know basis. A far-right Mormon would be a new phenomenon in world politics. This is the Presidential candidate who says Palestine doesn't exist, and that the USA is not close enough to Israel. An early decision of the new UK Parliament session is how to vote on recognition of the Palestinian state at the United Nations. The UK abstained last year, and will probably do so again. That makes a mockery of the stated position of supporting a two-state solution, but hypocrisy is no stranger to British politics. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Further news sources Ali Kazak's newsletter Today in Palestine contains many news summaries that include both armed and non-violent methods of resistance to the Occupation. The newsletter also contains much other useful reporting. This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it For more news see: Today in Palestine! groups.yahoo.com/group/f_shadi ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Behind the Wall Rich Wiles is a photographic artist who has been living and working in Palestine for some years. His photographic work has been shown around Europe, the US, Australia and in Palestine itself. Since 2006 he has been writing from Occupied Palestine under the title Behind the Wall. Much of this work is based in and around the refugee camps in Palestine, highlighting daily life and memories of refugees who still live in forced exile for over 60 years since Al Nakba (The Catastrophe). www.richwiles.com ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Visit http://www.sapienspromise.org/ for further news. See this In Occupied Palestine newsletter at: the PHRC website: www.palestine.org.nz - and you can check out previous editions by clicking on In Occupied Palestine listed under Contents ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Stop the Violence Coalition Stop the Violence is a coalition aimed at fighting against Israeli violence and crimes all over the world. The purpose of the coalition is to co-ordinate the efforts of groups and individuals working to protest against the historic and continuing oppression of Palestinian people by the Israeli regime. Our coalition is an independent and non-profit organisation, based in Europe, which was formed as part of a global movement against Israeli apartheid. We can also provide the latest news, articles, photos, events and petitions. Contact: i This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it Website: www.stoptheviolence.eu ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ If you have friends who would also like to receive these newsletters, please ask them to contact us at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it Palestine Human Rights Campaign Aotearoa/New Zealand (PHRC) Declaration We believe that a just peace in Palestine/Israel depends upon the return of Palestinian refugees to their homeland and the dismantling of the Zionist structure of the state of Israel, recognising that the further partitioning of Palestine in order to create the so-called two-state solution would lead only to further injustice and suffering. We advocate the primacy of international law, the acceptance of which by the Israeli regime must be the basis for the ending of Israeli military occupation and all forms of ethnic discrimination. We work to raise awareness of the international community's responsibility for upholding the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the urgent need for the state of Israel to be called to account for its gross abuses of Palestinian human rights. We call for the establishment of a unitary, secular and democratic state in Palestine/Israel, with full and equal citizenship rights for Palestinians, Israeli Jews and all other ethnic communities. The Palestine Human Rights Campaign Aotearoa/New Zealand (PHRC) works to raise public awareness of the Palestinian people's struggle to resist Israeli military occupation and Israel's blockade of the Gaza Strip. PHRC seeks to bring pressure on the New Zealand Government to join the majority of the international community in requiring Israel to:
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