Protesters hold pictures of Palestinian prisoner Hana al-Shalabi, on hunger strike for three weeks [EPA] Ramallah, West Bank - It began with Khader Adnan’s sudden and bold declaration: “My dignity is more important than my life.”And with that he refused food for the next 66 days. With each day he persisted, more and more people around [...]
Redefining Our Relationship to A People’s Struggle Hana Shalabi is every Palestinian woman. (Alternative News) By Ramzy Baroud (Based on talks delivered by Ramzy Baroud at Israeli Apartheid Week conferences in Edmonton and Calgary, Alberta, Canada – March 5, 6 2012) In the Winter 2012 Edition of Palestine News – published by the Palestine [...]
RAMALLAH (Ma’an) — A constitutional court in Ramallah on Tuesday postponed a hearing on the legality of President Mahmoud Abbas‘ appointment as prime minister of a unity government to March 20. Abbas and Hamas chief Khalid Mashaal agreed that the president will lead a unity government in Doha in February. PLO central council member Abdul-Jawwad [...]
by Stuart Rees ABC – The Drum 6 March 2012 In the Khan Younis area of southern Gaza, the Qdeh family’s modest rabbit farm is one of several Australian trade union humanitarian aid (Apheda) projects which is bolstering food security for poor families. On a Spring evening in April 2011, Najah Qdeh and [...]
Since then, nothing … (UN) By John V. WhitbeckDear President Abbas, There was visible and audible euphoria at the UN General Assembly in September when you announced Palestine’s application for UN membership, at UNESCO’s Paris headquarters in October when Palestine was admitted as a member state and at UNESCO again in December when the [...]
The Present Stands No Chance Against the Past By Robert Fisk January 28, 2012 “The Independent” – -The Palestinians are not only, it seems, an “invented people” – courtesy of Newt Gingrich – but the only Arabs on the Mediterranean not to enjoy a Spring or [...]
Abbas Confirms: Israel Peace Talks Over No Progress in Latest Round of Negotiations by Jason Ditz, January 25, 2012 | Print This | Share This | Antiwar Forum The latest round of peace talks between Israel and the Palestinian Authority, kickstarted by [...]
Palestinians survey damage after Israeli authorities destroyed ancient water wells and natural reservoirs used by Bedouins southeast of Bethlehem in March 2011. (MaanImages/HO) BETHLEHEM (Ma’an) — The Ramallah-based cabinet on Monday welcomed a French parliamentary report that said Israel’s control of Palestinian water resources broke international law. The document published by French parliament’s Foreign Affairs [...]
RAMALLAH (Ma’an) — Palestinians rallied Saturday against steps toward renewing negotiations with Israel, gathering outside the presidential headquarters in Ramallah. “If you’re against negotiations, honk your car’s horn,” protesters chanted. Sympathetic drivers joined the demonstrators calling for the PLO to cease involvement in bilateral meetings in Jordan. A gathering of young men and women also [...]
(IRIN/Erica Silverman) RAMALLAH (IRIN) — Izz Tawil draws a black circle on the flip-chart in his office in Ramallah, capital of the West Bank in the occupied Palestinian territory. “The Palestinian economy is a closed cash-circle,” the general manager of the Palestinian microfinance network Sharakeh explains. He goes on to draw several small arrows on [...]
Popular, Peaceful Demonstrations Peace Camps Tent of Nations Other Nonviolent Resistance Click thumbnails to see more. The thumbnails lead to a great many excellent photos Like many Americans and many Jews, I grew up with a positive view of Israel as a peace-seeking democracy. Israel symbolized to me the one protection that Jews had [...]
CAIRO (Ma’an) — Hamas has agreed to join the Palestine Liberation Organization in a move intended to bolster Palestinian reconciliation, The Associated Press reported Thursday. The report comes as President Mahmoud Abbas met Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal in Cairo to put “final touches” on an agreement to reconcile the leaders’ rival factions. Fatah leader in [...]
By Sam Bahour – The West Bank Some Palestinians refuse to just sit still and accept their fate as a permanently, militarily occupied people. One would think by now that Palestinians would have received the message loud and clear – the world couldn’t care less about their fate. But no, these Palestinians just [...]
Popular Resistance in Palestine – Book Review By Ludwig Watzal (Mazin B. Qumsiyeh, Popular Resistance in Palestine. A History of Hope and Empowerment, Pluto, London-New York 2011.) Palestinian resistance against an Israeli ‘belligerent occupation‘ is mostly viewed as terrorism and rocket attacks. The brutal violence that was inflicted upon the Palestinian people by the Israeli [...]
President Abbas gestures during a meeting of the Fatah revolutionary council in the West Bank city of Ramallah Oct. 26, 2011. (Reuters/Mohamad Torokman) By Dan Williams JERUSALEM (Reuters) — Arabs made a “mistake” by rejecting a 1947 UN proposal that would have created a Palestinian state alongside the nascent Israel, President Mahmoud Abbas said [...]
President Abbas gestures during a meeting of the Fatah revolutionary council in the West Bank city of Ramallah Oct. 26, 2011. (Reuters/Mohamad Torokman) By Tom Perry RAMALLAH (Reuters) — President Mahmoud Abbas plans to discuss the fate of the Palestinian Authority with his rivals Hamas next month, raising questions over its future with the [...]
Reem el-Hamed Ahmed was a founding member of perhaps the only support group for Palestinians of African descent in Israel/Palestine. By Arthur Neslen Minorities can easily be overlooked in the heat of national struggle. No-one knows exactly how many Palestinians of African descent exist in Palestine. But they have lived on the land since [...]
Imprisoned Fatah leader Marwan Barghouti (MaanImages, File) BETHLEHEM (Ma’an) — Detained Fatah leader Marwan Barghouti said Sunday that Hamas did not consult detainees over its prisoner swap deal with Israel. Hamas has agreed to free Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit in exchange for the release of 1,027 Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails. Several prominent political [...]
Locals: Israeli forces detain 6 in dawn raids Published yesterday (updated) 14/10/2011 09:59 JENIN (Ma’an) — Six people were detained by Israeli forces in dawn raids in the West Bank on Thursday, witnesses said. Shadi Talal, Samer Zakarneh and Rami Abdul Latif were detained from Qabatiya village south of Jenin, locals told Ma’an. Israeli [...]
Palestinians hold signs calling for the release of prisoners in Israeli jails including cancer sufferer Akram Mansour, at a protest in front of the International Red Cross headquarters in the West Bank city of Qalqiliya, on April 7, 2011. (MaanImages/Khaleel Reash) BETHLEHEM (Ma’an) — Israel is to release more than 27 female detainees under [...]
Palestinian woman walks next to photos of Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails, at al-Amari refugee camp in Ramallah, Oct. 12. (Reuters/Mohamad Torokman) BETHLEHEM (Ma’an) — Turkey will take in the 40 Palestinian prisoners set for exile abroad as part of an exchange deal between Hamas and Israel, Turkish media reported on Friday. Israel [...]
A boy sits on a curb outside his school in Gaza City. (MaanImages/Mohamed Al-Zanon, File) By Daoud Kuttab Haroon Abu Araa has come a long way. In the 15 years I have known him, I have seen the transformation and maturity, from a radical university student activist to his present day position as director [...]
President Mahmoud Abbas holds up a copy of the letter that he had just delivered to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon requesting full UN representation for a Palestinian state, during his address before the 66th UN General Assembly at UN headquarters in New York, Sept. 23. (Reuters/Mike Segar) By John Quigley and Gabi Fahel [...]
Abbas met Chavez in Caracas on Wednesday. CARACAS, Venezuela (Ma’an) — Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez on Tuesday welcomed his counterpart Mahmoud Abbas in the capital. The leftist Chavez has long championed the Palestinian cause and has hosted Abbas on previous occasions. Before meeting Abbas at the presidential palace in Caracas, Chavez reiterated his support [...]
A Palestinian boy holds a flag in front of members of the Palestinian Authority security forces in Ramallah, before a celebration upon President Mahmoud Abbas’ return from New York, Sept. 25, 2011. (Reuters/Darren Whiteside) As the Security Council considers Palestine’s application for full membership of the United Nations, Palestinian lawyers, jurists and legal scholars [...]
A Palestinian scout marching band plays at Manger Square in front of the Church of the Nativity in the West Bank town of Bethlehem September 18, 2011, as Palestinians begin to celebrate ahead of their bid for statehood at the United Nations on Friday. (Reuters/Ammar Awad) By Tom Perry RAMALLAH (Reuters) — The Palestinians [...]
Palestinian students hold flags as they arrive to deliver letters to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon through the head of the UN office in the West Bank city of Ramallah September 20, 2011. (REUTERS/Mohamad Torokman) BETHLEHEM (Ma’an) — Fatah central committee member Nabil Shaath said Monday that nine countries in the Security Council were committed [...]
Women take part in a protest at the Red Cross headquarters in Gaza City on Oct. 3, 2011, to show their solidarity with prisoners held in Israeli jails. (Reuters/Mohammed Salem) BETHLEHEM (Ma’an) — Israeli prison authorities are cracking down on Palestinians on hunger strike in Israeli jails, a prisoner rights group said Thursday. Strikers [...]
Blair is facing Palestinian calls to step down as Mideast envoy. By Ali Sawafta Abbas aide: PA still working with Blair This war criminal acts for everyone and anyone to pursue his own agenda and to curry favour with any elite position. There seems to be no limit to his unlawful and immoral conduct. George [...]
As well as applying for UN membership, Palestine may also seek to join the International Criminal Court [Reuters] Palestine and Israel: A rights-based approach Calling for negotiations instead of statehood for Palestine “holds justice hostage to the political will of Israel”. Shawan Jabarin Last Modified: 05 Oct 2011 11:0 Some governments have objected to the [...]
Palestinians held a rally outside UNESCO in Gaza City in support of Palestine‘s UN bid last month [Reuters] Palestine has won a first diplomatic victory in its quest for statehood when the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation [UNESCO] executive committee backed its bid to become a member of the cultural body with the rights [...]
Mahmoud Abbas received several standing ovations from many of the assembled delegates [REUTERS] Reflections on the Abbas statehood speech Regional developments that increasingly support Palestine may be Israel‘s historic opportunity for sustainable peace. Richard Falk Last Modified: 04 Oct 2011 08:58 There is a natural disposition for supporters of the Palestinian struggle for self-determination [...]
Abbas’ Dangerous Path to Palestinian Statehood Palestinian President, Mahmud Abbas, whose presidency had expired since early 2009, is treading a dangerous path when submitted a formal bid on Friday September 23rd to the UN to recognize a Palestinian Statelet – on the remaining fragmented and besieged by the separation wall 20% of historical Palestine- [...]
Abbas Well-Deserved UN Applause 24 September 2011 When Binyamin Netanyahu addressed the US Congress some months ago he was given multiple standing ovations by America’s Senators and Congressmen. Yesterday the whole world, represented at the UN by their Ambassadors, sincerely and spontaneously gave Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas a standing ovation – with the exception of [...]
Palestinian leaders renew attack on Tony Blair over Israel Tony Blair in New York. He has lost his credibility as a neutral mediator by ‘parroting’ Israeli demands, say Palestinian leaders. Photograph: Allison Joyce/Reuters The Palestinian leadership has stepped up its attack on Tony Blair in his role as envoy of the Middle East Quartet, saying [...]
Palestine to press for UN vote on full statehood ‘as soon as possible’ Palestinians carry a chair representing their seat at the United Nations during a rally in Ramallah upon Mahmoud Abbas‘s return. Photograph: Darren Whiteside/Reuters President Mahmoud Abbas returns to Ramallah and declares to cheering crowds that the ‘Palestinian Spring’ has begun [...]
AP Photo/Richard Drew LATEST NEWS With UN bid, Abbas rises out of Arafat’s shadowFACT CHECK: Abbas presents disputed narrative Latest developments in Arab world’s unrest Israel’s Labor Party picks ex-journalist as leader TV: Former journalist to lead Israel’s Labor Party PHOTO GALLERY Conflict in the Middle East BUY AP PHOTO REPRINTS UNITED NATIONS [...]
JUAN GONZALEZ: Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is expected to officially submit a statehood request to the United Nations Security Council later today. The United States has vowed to veto the move. PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA: I am convinced that there is no shortcut to the end of a conflict that has endured for decades. Peace is hard work. Peace [...]
The Palestinian people are fed up with symbolic victories. (UN Photo/file) By Ramzy Baroud – Arab News When Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas decided to go to the United Nations to request the admission of Palestine as a full member, he appeared to have had an epiphany. Had he finally realized that for the past [...]
This month marks 18 years since the Oslo Accords and 20 years since the Madrid Conference [GALLO/GETTY] The two state solution is dead Voting on full membership for the PLO in the UN marks the end of the Oslo accords, says writer. Ben White This week should be the end of the so-called [...]
Sandy Tolan, The Occupation That Time Forgot Posted by Sandy Tolan at 9:11am, September 22, 2011. I’m reminded of how Chinese premier Zhou EnLai supposedly answered a question in 1972 about the significance of the French Revolution. “Too early to tell,” was his reputed reply; and though he may never have said it, how true it is [...]
Why Mr. President give new credits to anti-American sentiment? (UN Photo) By Ahmed Yousef – Gaza Mr. President, The Arab world is experiencing a time of epic transformation. Few believed the streets of Tunis would rebel in their lifetimes, let alone simultaneously with Tripoli, Cairo, Damascus, Sana’a and all the smaller cities known more to [...]
Palestinian statehood: plan emerges to avoid UN showdown Mahmoud Abbas: the Palestinian president could claim a victory by saying he had achieved his principal goal of breaking the deadlock. Photograph: Seth Wenig/AP Compromise would see Mahmoud Abbas submit letter to security council, which would then defer vote until further talks reddit this Chris McGreal [...]
Palestinians are fed up with symbolic victories. (UN Photo/file) By Ramzy Baroud When Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas decided to go to the United Nations to request the admission of Palestine as a full member, he appeared to have had an epiphany. Had he finally realized that for the past two decades he and his [...]
Zahalka said he supports the bid but has ‘many questions’ about the PLO’s diplomatic strategy [EPA] Umm al-Fahm, Israel – The Palestine Liberation Organisation‘s bid for full membership at the United Nationshas strong support from Arab political parties in Israel, but many in Israel’s Arab community worry about how the PLO’s plan will affect their future. [...]
Palestinians are divided as to the wisdom of applying for statehood at the UN [GALLO/GETTY] Even if nothing further were to happen, the proposed Palestinian initiative for statehood, combined with the furious negative responses in Tel Aviv and Washington, has given a much-needed visibility to the ongoing daily ordeal of the Palestinian people, whether living [...]
Debating the UN bid for Palestinian statehood Experts discuss what may happen with the Palestinian bid for UN statehood and what it means for all concerned. Roxanne Horesh Last Modified: 19 Sep 2011 15:32 A delegation of Palestinian leaders has flown to New York for the opening of the UN General Assembly, beginning on September 20, [...]
UN bid for Palestine statehood – live coverage Mahmoud Abbas and his delegation and UN secretary-general Ban Ki-moon in negotiations in New York. Photograph: Thaer Ganaim/EPA Rolling coverage from New York as the Palestinians take their demand for statehood to the United Nations You can visit the Guardian UN site at http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/blog/2011/sep/19/palestinian-statehood-united-nations The major difficulty [...]
The U.S. is trying to avoid the vote altogether. (UN photo) By Jim Miles This week at the UN - if the U.S. push to disable the process does not succeed – a vote will be taken on Palestinian statehood. The U.S. has already stated that it will veto any vote that supports Palestinian statehood. [...]
Ambassador: Saudi Arabia supports Palestinian UN bid Published today 16:26 A Palestinian worker inspects a banner as it prints in Ramallah on September 12. The banner reads: “The People want membership of a Palestinian state at the UN”. [Reuters/Mohamad Torokman] RAMALLAH (Ma’an) — Saudi Arabia supports the Palestinian bid for full UN membership, Palestinian [...]
