Israel begins to make concessions..

[selfishone]

The suprise suprise was sarcasm, I'm done arguing,and no more accusations.

This is a heated subject to some people.I'll check the old threads. And I'll just post news I feel is relevant to this thread.

[Air_Support]

 

Settlements from the air: Alfei Menashe

Alfei Menashe is a rather large settlement (we see only part of it here) on the western slopes of the mountains of Samaria. In the centre of the image you can see a field not built on. Often Palestinian land is 'trapped' inside settlements. Construction on these islands is not allowed - they still legally belong to the Palestinian owner, who however most often has no access to it. Also note how, on the right and top of the settlement, pine forest meets an olive grove. Planting has become an intensely political act. Palestinians are continuously planting olive groves to secure ownership of land not built on; Israel does the same, but with faster growing pine trees. These kinds of trees became undeclared symbols of the two national groups ownership claimn. In both cases planting is replaced by construction when time allows for it.

[selfishone]

Sharon postpones Gaza pullout by three weeks

 

JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said on Monday he would postpone Israel's withdrawal from the Gaza Strip by three weeks, to mid-August, to avoid conflicting with a traditional Jewish period of mourning.

 

With an Israeli-Palestinian ceasefire in place, U.S.-led mediators count on the pullout to help revive Middle East peace talks. But the truce has been shaky and many of the 8,500 rightist Jewish settlers in Gaza vow to resist removal.

 

"The evacuation will be carried out in consideration of the (mourning period), that is, immediately after Tisha B'av, apparently the 15th or 16th or 17th of August," Sharon said in an excerpt of a television interview aired on Israel Radio.

 

Sharon had said three weeks ago he was leaning toward a delay, citing Jewish religious sensibilities during the mourning spell that marks the destruction during biblical times of two Jerusalem temples. The observance ends on Aug. 14.

 

Devout Jews do not move house during this period.

 

Sharon had earlier ruled out a delay and commentators said his change of mind may have been driven by concern that preparations would not be completed by late July to provide new homes and work in Israel for settlers due to be uprooted.

 

The delay could give settlers and far-rightist supporters, now waving a protest campaign, more time to organize resistance to Sharon's plan of "disengagement" from conflict with the Palestinians in occupied territory they want for a state.

 

Rebellious ministers in Sharon's right-wing Likud party who earlier failed to torpedo the plan in parliament argued for a longer delay until after annual Jewish High Holidays in October.

 

Sharon rejected the idea and his center-left Labor coalition ally had called for no delay at all, arguing that any shading of the original timetable could convey lack of resolve to settlers and other opponents.

 

 

 

I'm sure there will be a new exuse for delaying the withrawal once the actual time comes.

[selfishone]

Palestinians, Israeli police clash in Jerusalem

 

 

Israeli police and Palestinians clashed in Jerusalem, Monday following reports that a right-wing fundamentalist Jewish group, Revava, was planning on storming into al-Aqsa mosque.

 

Some seven police were injured by stone throwers and 11 protesters were hurt in beatings by police using batons.

 

The mufti of Jerusalem, Ekremah Sabri, accused the Israeli authorities of "deliberately stoking tension" around the site.

 

"The police should be acting against the troublemakers who are Jewish extremists, not against Muslims," the Sunni Muslim religious leader said.

 

"The police have no right to limit access to the mosque and prevent thousands of Muslims from going to pray."

 

Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qorei also warned of the consequences of "any threat by extremist Israeli groups against Al-Aqsa".

 

Muslims had gathered at the Haram al-Sharif to prevent the protest by right-wing Jews.

 

In anticipation of possible violence between Muslims and members of the right-wing Revava group, Israeli police barred Arabs under the age of 45 from going to the mosque because of fears of unrest.

 

Revava has called on supporters to try to enter the shrine at the start of each Jewish calendar month in protest at the Israeli government's plans to withdraw from Gaza.

 

The first day of the Jewish month of Iyar begins on Monday evening, but as yet there has been no such attempt by Revava members.

 

About 5,000 Muslims from the West Bank, Arab east Jerusalem and Palestinians living in Israel came to the mosque compound.

 

Many declared themselves willing to lay down their lives to defend the site against any intrusion by right-wing Jews, witnesses are quoted as saying.

 

Although east Jerusalem is occupied by Israel since the 1967 war, the Islamic site has remained in Muslim hands.

 

Muslim leaders in al-Quds are appealing to Muslims around the world to "defend and protect" al-Aqsa Mosque, one of Islam's holiest shrines.

 

"We are here to defend the al-Aqsa Mosque, the soul of Islam in this part of the world, some people outside Palestine might think we are taking the matter too seriously, but I tell you, the Aqsa mosque is facing a very real danger" said Sheikh Muhammed Hussein, a high-ranking Wakf (Islamic trust) official.

 

"It would be a grave mistake not to take these threats seriously; they (Jewish groups) say day and night they want to destroy our holy places, so what are we supposed to do when we hear this, a nation that fails to protect its holy places is doomed."

 

Hussein criticized "the secular rulers" of the Arab world for paying only "token attention" to the dangers facing the Aqsa Mosque.

 

Meanwhile, Hamas has called for a massive rally at the Haram al-Sherif and is arranging transportation for demonstrators from across Palestine. The Al-Aqsa Association for the Construction of Islamic Holy Places, acting with the approval of Hamas' northern branch, announced that the worshippers have been called to to go to the mosque "to defend it from the Revava organization's threats to forcefully enter and pray inside it".

 

The Israeli authorities are becoming increasingly concerned about right-wing opposition to the Gaza pullout.

 

A Jewish settler suspected of planning attacks to sabotage the evacuation was on Sunday placed under a detention order until after the operation planned for this summer is over, Israeli police said.

 

Israel's military command put Nevo Ofran, 34, from Yitzhar, near the West Bank town of Nablus, under administrative detention until September 30, in the first such case linked to the withdrawal.

[selfishone]

I love how Bush is all about spreading Democracy throughout the world, but yet we support countries that suppress democracy!.............see below

 

 

 

ISRAELI POLICE RAIDS, CLOSES PALESTINIAN VOTE OFFICES IN JERUSALEM

 

 

Israeli police attacked and shut down two Palestinian vote offices in Arab East Jerusalem that were registering voters for a July parliamentary ballot, claiming that they are operating illegally.

 

Commenting on the closure, Ammar Dwaik, Palestinian elections chief, said it was a "serious incident" in which Israel violated an agreement to sign up Arab voters in the holy city.

 

Three election officials were arrested in Tuesday raids, also election materials were seized from the centers, Israeli and Palestinian sources said.

 

"I think they should explain what happened," Dwaik said of Israel. "It is a bad indication about the Israeli attitude towards Palestinian elections in general."

 

Israel captured the Arab eastern part of Jerusalem in the 1967 Middle East war.

 

Israel refuses to allow any activity that could be seen as challenging its claim to sovereignty over all Jerusalem.

 

Palestinians hope to have East Jerusalem as a capital of their future Palestinian state in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

 

Dwaik said that an agreement was previously reached with Israel to register voters in Jerusalem.

 

"We don't know about such an agreement," an Israeli police spokesman claimed.

 

The Israeli police also closed East Jerusalem election centers in a similar Palestinian vote drive in September.

 

On Monday, Israeli occupation forces attacked residents of the West Bank village of Deir El-Assal, causing a Palestinian pregnant woman to abort and wounding a man.

 

Local sources and medics confirmed that the Israeli soldiers clashed with several of the village residents.

 

The Israeli soldiers were trying to keep the Palestinians away from the Apartheid Wall, at the western parts of the Deir El-Assal village, by beating them severely.

 

Seham Abu Askar,30, and 9-month pregnant, aborted and an unknown resident was wounded in the clashes, while several others were arrested by the Israeli troops.

 

Meanwhile, the Israeli occupation forces built a new bypass road at the expense of the Wad Elhesain area, close to the Israeli settlement of Kiryat Arba', east of the West Bank city of Hebron.

 

According to local sources, the Israeli soldiers uprooted hundreds of fruitful trees southwest of Hebron.

 

Also it has been reported that the Israeli forces set a military checkpoint at the crossroad of the Aseera Alshamiliya village, north of the West Bank city of Nablus.

[serum]

bbc

Gaza settlers face uneasy future

By Alan Johnston

BBC News, Gaza

 

The hotels at Gush Katif settlement closed a long time ago

In the ruins of the Palm Beach Hotel, you get a sense that an era is drawing to an end, that Israel's settlement project in Gaza is entering its last days.

 

Since the outbreak of the Palestinian uprising, Gaza has become a violent, dangerous place.

 

People don't come on holiday anymore.

 

The Palm Beach resort complex, in the southern Gush Katif settlement bloc, was abandoned years ago.

 

And everything that the Israelis have built here - nearly 20 settlements housing several thousand people - will be abandoned if Ariel Sharon's plan to withdraw from Gaza goes ahead in August.

 

Squatters

 

The Palm Beach's reception and dining room have been stripped of fixtures and furniture. The wind off the sea blows in across floors strewn with broken glass.

 

I love Gush Katif. Great beaches. Good surf. Good fishing. It will be very difficult to leave

 

Elazaar Elchiam, surfer

 

A surfer called Elazaar Elchiam is among a handful of young Israelis who live in the decaying hotel, squatting in an apartment. He grew up in a nearby settlement, but he knows that this may well be his last summer on Gaza's beach.

 

"Since I was little, I've been coming down to the sea," he says. "I love Gush Katif. Great beaches. Good surf. Good fishing. It will be very difficult to leave."

 

The settlers have been outraged by the disengagement plan from the outset - and many are determined to resist it to the end.

 

Action planned

 

In recent weeks, empty apartments in the Palm Beach complex have begun filling up with what are being described as reinforcements.

 

These are supporters of the settlement movement from the West Bank or Israel itself who will be here for any showdown with the army when the evacuation begins.

 

It is too hard to think that they are going to give it to terrorists

 

Debbie Rosen, settler

 

The settlers are appalled by the possibility that their homes may be taken over by Palestinian militants who have been attacking Gush Katif for years.

 

To prevent that happening, the Israelis may demolish all their property before they leave.

 

"You don't want to destroy what you built," says Debbie Rosen, who raised her six children in Gush Katif. "It's home with all the memories that you grew up with... It's my kids, it's my garden, my flowers that I just planted. It's home.

 

"On the other hand, it is too hard to think that they are going to give it to terrorists. Terrorists that killed my best friends - and they are going to celebrate in my home. It's too hard."

 

Loathing

 

Under international law, Gaza has been occupied territory since Israeli troops captured it in 1967.

 

By establishing civilian settlements here, Israel breached the Geneva Conventions - the rules of warfare. But for the settlers, this is meaningless.

 

"I never relate to my home as occupied territory," says Debbie Rosen, who thinks of Gaza as part of Israel - part of the land that God promised the Jews.

 

Israeli settler

 

But just a few kilometres away, in the Palestinian town of Khan Younis, the occupation is far from meaningless. It is hated, and the settlements - and the soldiers who protect them - are regarded as its purest form.

 

For decades the Israeli presence has twisted and restricted and endangered Palestinian lives in many ways.

 

For the people of Khan Younis, the beach at Gush Katif used to be an escape from the summer heat in their poverty-stricken alleyways.

 

But since the outbreak of the Palestinian intifada (uprising), the army has blocked their route to the sea. Khan Younis has lost its beach.

 

And nobody has lost more than Mohammad Shaath. He used to operate a cafe on the beach - the Cafe El Andalus. But the army's restrictions have meant that he has not been able to see it for years.

 

As a foreigner, I could make the short trip easily. And I found the cafe - gone to ruin.

 

The sands of the beach have invaded the terrace, where Palestinians used to enjoy fresh fish, drink coffee and sit and watch the sea.

 

While his cafe has rotted, Mr Shaath, up in Khan Younis, has been unemployed - sinking gradually into poverty. He says that if the Israelis go, he'll take out a loan and bring the El Andalus back to life.

 

Differing views

 

The settlers would certainly say that Mr Shaath should blame his troubles on the militants who launched the intifada and began attacking the settlers.

 

The army only blocked the Palestinian road to the beach because it would have been very dangerous to allow easy access to the settlement area.

 

But there was a voice of dissent among the settlers.

 

A young man on the beach said he understood what drove the Palestinian militants.

 

He said that when Israelis were fighting to establish an independent state in the 1940s, they resorted to violence.

 

The young settler clearly felt that the Palestinians had endured injustice at Israel's hands. "We are guilty," he said. "They want a country."

 

finally an israeli i agree with

[selfishone]

Wow what a heartbreaking story above about how the settlers will lose the land that was never theirs in the first place!! :)

 

Yeah, that last part was shocking to me to read. An Israeli who accepts the truth behind the injustices. Very rare.....

 

once again another international organization is holding Israel accountable for crimes against Humanity. This must be the 10th time this year a human rights group has accused Israel of theses crimes. But it will be swept under the rug and ignored by the media and our Presidential body as always. Story Below

 

 

 

Israel accused of war crimes against Palestinians

5/25/2005 3:40:00 PM GMT

 

 

 

Amnesty accused the Israeli occupation forces of committing “war crimes” against the Palestinians

 

The human rights organization Amnesty International accused the Israeli occupation forces of committing “war crimes” and “crimes against humanity” in the occupied Palestinian territories.

 

In its annual report, Amnesty said that the Israeli army and the armed Jewish settlers killed as many as 700 Palestinians in 2004, including more than 150 children.

 

The London-based group also said that most of the Palestinian casualties were caused by shootings, bombings and aerial strikes against residential areas. It also condemned the demolition of Palestinian homes, as well as the use of Palestinian civilians as “human shields” by Israeli soldiers during military operations.

 

The report also criticized the construction of the illegal separation barrier, Israeli incursions into Palestinian towns and villages, and imposing movement restrictions on Palestinian civilians and security forces.

 

Amnesty also condemned the Israeli occupation authorities for banning many human rights groups from entering the occupied territories.

 

An Israeli spokesperson faulted the Amnesty report, claiming that the Israeli army doesn’t target Palestinian civilians.

 

However, a Palestinian official dismissed the Israeli denial, saying that "The Israelis murder children and then lie about the murder.

 

“The disproportionately high number of Palestinian children killed by the Israeli army leaves no doubt as to the fact that Israeli soldiers target Palestinian children deliberately and premeditatedly," said Ya'cob Shahin, from the Palestinian Ministry of information.

 

"A mistake happens once or twice or ten times, when it happens every day, and in some instances several times on the same day, it means it is policy," he added. :

[selfishone]

I watched all 3 of the 6:30 nightly news broadcasts last night and all of them had stories on Amnesty criticising a list of nations for crimes against humanity. The list included.........Sudan,Russia,and The United States for our Gitmo prisoners.There was no mention of Israel whatso-ever. Then I tuned in to BBC and sawthe same story and list with Israel mentioned first at the top of the list.

You gotta love the American Media!! :huh2:

[serum]

as a side note. i love BBC. great journalism. i especially like hard talk. i really hate CNN and fox news. sorry carry on.