[Peace-discuss] Fwd: Events in Palestine - 6 May

[Al Kagan]

>Delivered-To: akagan at alexia.lis.uiuc.edu
>From: "PMC" <pr at palestine-pmc.com>
>To: <Undisclosed-Recipient:@linux.palestine-pmc.com;>
>Subject: Events in Palestine - 6  May
>Date: Mon, 6 May 2002 18:34:56 +0200
>X-Priority: 3
>Status:  
>
>The News in Brief
>
>
>06 May 2002
>Palestine Media Center - PMC
><http://www.palestine-pmc.com>http://www.palestine-pmc.com 
>
>
>
>
>
>247 Israeli University Lecturers Support Reservists Refusing To 
>Serve in Occupied Palestinian Territory  
>
>The Israeli media is reporting, with some astonishment, that 247 
>faculty members of universities in Israel have signed a statement 
>supporting Israeli students who refuse to serve in the Occupied 
>Palestinian Territory as part of their reserve duty. The professors 
>said they would help students who encounter academic, 
>administrative, and financial problems, which may happen as a result 
>of their refusal.
>
>Forty professors at the Hebrew University began the courageous 
>initiative. It did not take much time for an additional 200 faculty 
>members from other universities to sign the statement. Reports 
>confirm that there are additional signatories every day.
>
>The organizers of the statement, including Prof. Motty Perry from 
>the Hebrew University and Prof. Anat Biletzki from Tel Aviv 
>University, emphasized that help and support for objectors in no way 
>contradicts support for reservist students. "We value the courage, 
>the integrity, and the sacrifice of the conscientious objectors, and 
>we're willing to display equal courage, integrity and sacrifice - in 
>order to support and defend them", say the organizers.
>
>Following is a script of the letter:
>
>"We, faculty members from a number of Israeli universities, wish to 
>express our appreciation and support for those of our students and 
>lecturers who refuse to serve as soldiers in the occupied 
>territories. Such service too often involves carrying out orders 
>that have no place in a democratic society founded on the sanctity 
>of human life.
>
>For thirty-five years an entire people, some three and a half 
>million in number, have been held without basic human rights. The 
>occupation and oppression of another people have brought the State 
>of Israel to where it is today.
>
>Without an Israeli declaration of an end to the occupation, 
>accompanied by appropriate action--unilateral, if necessary--the 
>present war is not being fought for our home but for the settlements 
>beyond the green line and for the continued oppression of another 
>people.
>
>We hereby express our readiness to do everything in our power to 
>help students who encounter academic, administrative, or economic 
>difficulties as a result of their refusal to serve in the 
>territories. We call on the University community at large to support 
>them".
>
>
>
>Vienna's Head of Parliament Condemns Israeli State Terror
>
>Mr. Yohan Hautsel's, Head of Vienna's local Parliament, condemned 
>the Israeli aggression against the Palestinian People describing it 
>as a "state terror". Mr. Hautsel's remarks came in a letter, which 
>he sent to an Israeli organization that wanted to organize a 
>celebration in the City's Municipality Building to mark the 100th 
>anniversary for the establishment of the 'Israeli National Fund- 
>Keren Kemet'.
>
>"I can't, in theses conditions, organize such a celebration at a 
>time when Sharon's government has given up all the rules and 
>fundamentals of a civilized society's conduct and launched an 
>unmerciful war against another People", Mr. Huastel stressed.
>
>The Austrian European Parliament Member for the Socialist Party had 
>previously condemned the constant Israeli aggression against 
>Palestinian civilians, calling on the European Union to impose stiff 
>sanctions on the Occupying Power.
>
>
>Erekat Condemns Rice's Remarks
>
>Dr. Saeb Erikat criticized the statements made by American National 
>Security Advisor, Condoleezza Rice, in which she said that the 
>Palestinian leadership is not capable of leading a Palestinian 
>state. Dr. Erekat also stressed that it was the Palestinian People 
>who chose the Palestinian leadership, not Ms. Rice.
>
>In an interview with the American cable news network Fox Channel 
>yesterday, Rice stated, "The Palestinian leadership that is there 
>now, the Authority, is not the kind of leadership that can lead to 
>the kind of Palestinian state that we need".
>
>"This is unacceptable and delinquent intervention in the affairs of 
>the Palestinian People", responded Minister Erekat
>
>Minister Erekat also said that Rice's statements "makes one ask what 
>us the nature and kind of State she wants for the Palestinian 
>people". He added, "It is certainly not the kind of State that 
>president Arafat wants: that is an independent state within the 1967 
>borders with East Jerusalem as its capital. The state that Rice 
>wants is the one that goes along with the ideas of Israeli Prime 
>Minister Ariel Sharon".
>
>Rice's comments were met with revulsion by the Palestinian street, 
>which rejected the National Security's Advisor's assumption that the 
>state they sought had to be what the American Administration "needs".
>
>
>
>Egyptian Foreign Minister: No Success For Middle East Conference 
>Without President Arafat
>
>Egyptian Foreign Minister, Mr. Ahmed Maher ruled out a US-proposed 
>Middle East peace conference without President Arafat's 
>participation. Mr. Maher also pointed out that his talks yesterday 
>with President Yasser Arafat in Ramallah showed "identical views 
>(between Egypt and the Palestinians) on the issue of this 
>conference".
>
>The Minister also reiterated that Egypt's condition for holding the 
>conference was an Israeli withdrawal from Palestinian areas 
>re-occupied in the West Bank offensive, launched on March 29. He 
>stated, "The Palestinian Authority and its President must not be 
>excluded from this conference, in which all the Arab countries 
>concerned -- Egypt, Jordan, Syria and Lebanon -- must take part".
>
>Maher, who stressed that "nobody can put in doubt the legitimacy of 
>the Palestinian Authority or that of Mr. Arafat as an elected 
>President at the head of this authority", emphasized his country's 
>conviction that the Palestinian People and its leadership are 
>"determined to follow the path of peace, leading to the 
>establishment of a Palestinian state with [East] Jerusalem as 
>capital".
>
>
>PRESS CONFERENCE SUMMARY
>
>  Israeli Violations of Human Rights Were Rampant in 2001
>
>
>
>06 May 2002
>Palestine Media Center - PMC
><http://www.palestine-pmc.com>http://www.palestine-pmc.com  
>
>
>
>"Israeli violations of residents' rights escalated at an 
>unprecedented rate during the last yearŠ these abuses included 
>violations of the rights of life" - PICCR 2001 Report
>
>Dr. Sa'id Zeidani, General Director of the Palestinian Independent 
>Commission For Citizens' Rights (PICCR), expressed his deepest 
>concern about the horrific human rights conditions in the Occupied 
>Palestinian Territory as a result of systematic Israeli abuses. Mr. 
>Zeidani pointed out the continuous suffering of Palestinian 
>civilians as a result of the ongoing Israeli military assaults 
>against Palestinian cities, towns, and villages. 
>
>In a press conference, held today at the Palestine Media Center 
>(PMC), Dr. Zeidani presented PICCR's seventh annual report regarding 
>human rights conditions in Palestine. According to the four-chapter 
>report, Palestinian citizens rights' suffered direct and negative 
>consequences as a result of the continuous Israeli violations and 
>assaults through out the year 2001. Dr. Zeidani stated, "Israeli 
>violations of Palestinian citizens' rights escalated at an 
>unprecedented rate during last year. The apex of the these 
>violations was the invasion of Palestinian towns, villages, and 
>refugee campsŠ these abuses also included violations of the right to 
>life, large scale attacks on public and private property, and 
>restriction on the freedom of movement".
>
>According to the report, Israeli occupation forces used excessive 
>force against peaceful Palestinian protests. Consequently, 535 
>Palestinians were killed and 4,000 others were also injured. 
>"[Israeli] occupation forces utilized various methods of killing and 
>destruction. The assassination of Palestinian activists increased, 
>reaching a total of 54. The Israeli army and its agents carried out 
>assassinations by firing missiles, detonating explosive devices near 
>targets, and shooting live bullets. Several assassinations led to 
>the death or injury of others who were nearby, including several 
>children", Dr. Zidani pointed out.
>
>PICCR's director also pointed out the continuous suffering of the 
>Palestinian citizens as a result of the Israeli siege and closure 
>imposed on all Palestinian cities, towns, and villages. He 
>emphasized, "During 2001, Israeli occupation authorities imposed a 
>siege on the Palestinian cities, towns, and villages, unprecedented 
>since the beginning of the Israeli occupation of the West Bank and 
>Gaza in 1967". He added, "the Israeli-imposed siege had distressing 
>effects on most aspects of Palestinian life, such as preventing the 
>students and teachers from reaching schools and universities, 
>preventing Palestinians from entering Jerusalem or Bethlehem for 
>worship. The siege also had a devastated effect on the Palestinian 
>economy, which led to a severe deficit in the public budget and a 
>sharp increase in unemployment".
>
>On the other hand, Dr. Zidani said that PICCR has not witnessed any 
>"tangible positive improvements" of the citizens' rights in the 
>PNA-controlled areas. According to the report, "The rule of law 
>remained weak, and the work of public institutions continued to 
>decline. No serious steps were taken towards the realization of the 
>separation of powers, and the performance of the Palestinian 
>Legislative Council suffered noticeable setbacks. The judiciary's 
>work and influence waned, and the Executive continued to dominate 
>the other two branches of the government".
>
>PICCR is an independent Palestinian committee, established by a 
>presidential decree in 1993, with the aim of monitoring human rights 
>conditions and violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, 
>including monitoring the PNA's performance with relations to human 
>rights.
>
>To view PICCR's seventh annual report, visit: 
><http://www.piccr.org>http://www.piccr.org
>
>
>
>
>Sharon's War on Palestine
>
>Days 39
>
>  Renewed Invasions and Assaults
>
>
>06 May 2002
>Palestine Media Center - PMC
><http://www.palestine-pmc.com>http://www.palestine-pmc.com 
>
>
>As Ariel Sharon begins to market his new/old "vision" for what he 
>purports to be peace, his occupation troops continue to invade 
>Palestinian towns and villages and destroy innocent lives. 
>Meanwhile, the American Administration, which is hailing Sharon as 
>"a man of peace", is turning a blind eye to the renewed invasions 
>and assaults, which have paralyzed normal life throughout the 
>Palestinian Territory.
>
>Today's events in Palestine can be summarized as follows:
>
>
>
>Church of Nativity Standoff Nears End 
>
>Palestinian and Israeli negotiators continued high-level 
>negotiations regarding the standoff inside of the besieged Church of 
>Nativity, with reported American and European engagement. Earlier 
>reports had indicated that progress was reached between the two 
>sides in the past few hours.
>
>Yesterday, Palestinian Christians in the Bethlehem were unable to 
>hold Easter mass in the Church of Nativity for the first time since 
>its erection, after having been denied access to the holy Church.
>
>At least 180 people, including priests, nuns, and a number of 
>international peace activists, are still inside the Church, which 
>marked today the thirty-fifth day of continuous Israeli besiegement.
>
>
>Israeli Occupation Forces Attack Jabalia Residents
>
>Israeli occupation forces carried out a number of incursions into 
>Palestinian-controlled areas in the Gaza Strip this morning. 
>Eyewitnesses reported that Israeli occupation forces, which 
>reoccupied several areas in Jabalia, opened fire towards the 
>residents, killing one civilian and critically inuring another.
>
>Medical sources identified the victim as 27 year-old Suheil Ziadah 
>and reported that 24 year-old Marwan Al-Hussni is being treated from 
>severe injuries.
>
>Moreover, medical sources announced that another Palestinian 
>civilian died today in Rafah as a result of the severe injury, which 
>he received during last week's Israeli attack against Al-Barahmah 
>neighborhood. The sources identified the victim as 55 year-old 
>Hassan Abu Jazar adding that the victim suffered severe head injury 
>from a single bullet, apparently shot by an Israeli sniper.
>
>Also today, Israeli bulldozers uprooted at least 400 olive trees, 
>which belong to Palestinian farmers living in Deir Al-Ballah area. 
>According to eyewitnesses, Israeli occupation forces imposed a 
>curfew on the area, close to which an ever-bloating illegal Israeli 
>settlement stands.
>
>
>Palestinian Boy Murdered During Sixth Tulkarem Invasion
>
>Nine year-old Tamer Abu Sariah was killed yesterday when Israeli 
>occupation forces invaded Tulkarem for the sixth time in less than a 
>month. According to reports from the reoccupied town, Israeli 
>occupation forces invaded and reoccupied several parts of Tulkarem 
>City this dawn, using tens of tanks and armored vehicles. Residents 
>report that a strict curfew has been imposed on the entire town and 
>its refugee camp while Israeli forces have begun raiding a number of 
>homes and detaining various residents.
>
>Young Tamer was playing with a number of his friends near his home, 
>which is close to the town's northern entrance when Israeli soldiers 
>opened fire at him, killing him immediately.
>
>Ambulance movement has been severely curtailed by the occupation 
>forces, thus making information ever so difficult to obtain.
>
>
>Israeli Authorities Demolish Two Homes in Jerusalem
>
>Israeli occupation authorities demolished two Palestinian family 
>homes in Occupied East Jerusalem today. According to eyewitnesses, 
>Israeli bulldozers demolished the homes, which belong to the Abu Nab 
>and Abu Subeih families, in Silwan, an East Jerusalem neighborhood.
>
>
>Even the Freedom of Worship Is Curtailed
>
>On the other hand and for the fifteenth day, Israeli occupation 
>forces prevented Hebron's residents from praying inside the 
>historical Al-Ibrahimi Mosque in Hebron City. Palestinian officials 
>condemned the Israeli procedures, describing it as a new "Israeli 
>aggression" against the Palestinian civilians and their rights. The 
>mosque, where an Israeli settler had previously massacred 29 
>Palestinian worshipers in 1994, is in the center of Hebron city.
>


-- 


Al Kagan
African Studies Bibliographer and Professor of Library Administration
Africana Unit, Room 328
University of Illinois Library
1408 W. Gregory Drive
Urbana, IL 61801, USA

tel. 217-333-6519
fax. 217-333-2214
e-mail. akagan at uiuc.edu
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