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Thursday, August 18, 2011

Hamas denies Gaza hands in attacks in Israel



English.news.cn   2011-08-18 22:34:26

GAZA, Aug. 18 (Xinhua) -- The Gaza Strip ruler Hamas movement denied Thursday Israeli reports that assailants who struck in the Israeli city of Eilat came from the strip.

"The Israeli accusations against Gaza is an attempt to export Israel's internal crisis to Gaza," said Taher Al-Nounou, spokesman for the Hamas government.

Ahmed Yousef, a former adviser to Hamas, said the attacks in Eilat were "a natural response to the Israeli aggressions and to the stalemate of the peace process in the region."

At least five Israelis were killed and dozens wounded in the attacks in the famous Red Sea city of Eilat Thursday noon, as Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak said that these attacks were plotted in Gaza.
"The attacks demonstrate the weakening of Egypt's control over the Sinai peninsula and the expansion of terrorist activity there, " Barak was quoted as saying. "These attacks originated in Gaza and we will act against them with full force and resolve."

The Gaza Strip is controlled by the Islamic Hamas movement, which said last week that it will tighten security along Gaza- Egypt border to restrict the illegal movement of the people through underground smuggling tunnels.

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/world/2011-08/18/c_131059056.htm

Quartet condemns expansion of Israeli settlements


Palestine, (Pal Telegraph)-The middle east Quartet of the United States, Russia, the European Union, and the United Nation condemned on Wednesday the ongoing construction of Israeli settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.

According to Israeli newspaper "Yedioth Ahronoth", the condemnation came as a formal statement from the Quartet implying great concern over the new decisions issued recently by Israeli government to construct more settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.

Israel has announced the construction of 1600 settlement units in the East Jerusalem, 277 settlement units in Ariel settlement in the southwest of Nablus, and 950 settlement units in Abu Ghnaim mountain in Jerusalem.

The newspaper added that the United States expressed concern over the new Israeli's decisions that will obstacle the peace process in the area.

Israeli new actions were taken as a result of the biggest protests in Israel held against housing shortage and high living costs.

http://www.paltelegraph.com/palestine/west-bank/9879-quartet-condemns-expansion-of-israeli-settlements.html

Army Bombards Rafah Killing Six Palestinians; Child Killed In Gaza City

author Thursday August 18, 2011 20:51author by Saed Bannora & George Rishmawi - IMEMC & Agencies Report post
Palestinian medical sources in the Gaza Strip reported on Thursday evening that six Palestinians, including a senior resistance leader, and a child, were killed when the Israeli Air Force fired missiles into a home in Rafah, in the southern part of the Gaza Strip. A Child was also killed and five residents were injured when the army bombarded Gaza City.
abumujahid.jpg
The sources stated that the Israeli Air Force fired a missile at the house of one of the leaders of the Popular Resistance Committees in Al Sho’outh neighborhood in Rafah, killing six Palestinians.

Three of them are leaders of the Popular Resistance committees, while one of the three was identified as Awad An-Nairab, the Secretary-General of the Committees. Adham Abu Salmiyya, spokesperson of the Emergency and Medical Services in Gaza, reported that the bodies of four of the slain residents were severely mutilated due to the blast, and that one of them is 2-year-old child.

Besides An-Nairab, the slain residents were identified as Imad Hammad, leader of the Salah Ed-Deen Brigades, Khaled Shaath, and his son Malak, 2 years old, Imad Nassr, and Khaled Al Masry.

In another Israeli military escalation, a 13-year-old child was killed, and 18 other civilians were injured when the army bombarded several areas in northern Gaza and in Gaza City.

The child was identified as Mahmoud Abu Samra. Children and women were among the wounded; they were all moved to the Al Shifa Hospital in Gaza.

The large number of casualties came due to Israeli army bombardment of a home in northern Gaza and a home west Gaza City.

Local sources reported that the Israeli Army and Air Force bombarded several targets in the northern and southern parts of the Gaza Strip, including a training site for the Al Qassam Brigades of Hamas west of Khan Younis, in the southern part of the Gaza Strip.

Two more areas were bombarded east of Khan Younis, in addition to a target in Beit Lahia, in the northern part of the Gaza Strip, leading to explosions in Gaza pipelines and destruction to several structures.

On Thursday, Israeli Defense Minister, Ehud Barak, vowed to strike Gaza following attacks that targeted Eilat Coastal city, leading to the death of eight Israelis and the injury of more than twenty, five seriously. Barak said that the attackers came from the Gaza Strip.

Israeli Daily, Haaretz, reported that 15-20 fighters from Gaza managed to cross the border carrying rifles, grenades and explosives.

Haaretz added that the fighters killed eight Israelis and wounded more than 30 others in the attack.

It stated that this attack was planned by the Popular Resistance Committee in the Gaza Strip, and that the fighters managed to infiltrate from the Gaza Strip into the Sinai desert through tunnels, and then travelled nearly 200 kilometers to an area that is only protected with tattered wire fence, 15 kilometers north of Eilat. They then opened fire at a bus carrying Israeli soldiers north of Netafim Crossing.

Haaretz further stated that the soldiers managed to kill five of the fighters while the Egyptian Security Forces killed two of them. Israel believes that at least 15-20 fighters participated in the attack, and that most of them managed to escape.

The army believes that the fighters intended to kidnap an Israeli soldier, and that, due to previous warnings, troops increased their presence in the area.

Israeli Air Strike Kills Six Palestinians In Gaza
George Rishmawi, IMEMC & Agencies, Thu, 18 Aug 2011 20:51:29

Israeli air force bombarded the Gaza Strip killing at least six Palestinians and wounding some others, Thursday evening.

Palestinian medical sources said six were killed, three of which were leaders of the Popular Resistance Committees (PRC) in Al-Shu'outh area in Rafah in the southern part of the Gaza Strip.

The shelling comes hours after a deadly attack that targeted two Israeli buses and two other vehicles in southern Israel killing seven Israelis and wounding around 31 others, one in critical condition.

The Palestine Information Center said the airstrike targeted the house of Abu Awad Al-Nairab, Secretary General of the PRC. He and Imad Hammad leader of Salah Eddin Brigade the armed wing of the Popular Resistance Committees and a third leader of PRC were killed in the strike.

Abu Mjuahid, spokesperson of Salah Eddin brigade, the armed wing of the PRC said that Israel opened the door for retaliation by bombarding Rafah.
category gaza strip | israeli attacks | news report author email george at imemc dot org
Rafah - Thursday August 18 - Palestine-Info
Rafah - Thursday August 18 - Palestine-Info

http://www.imemc.org/article/61854

Palestine UN Observer: “Settlements Jeopardize Peace Efforts”

author Thursday August 18, 2011 02:19author by Saed Bannoura - IMEMC & Agencies Report post
Palestinian Permanent Observer to the United Nations, Riyad Mansour, stated Wednesday that Israel’s insistence on constructing and expanding its illegal settlements in the occupied territories jeopardize all efforts to achieve peace in the Middle East.
Illegal Israeli Settlement - File, Image alnaharegypt.com
Illegal Israeli Settlement - File, Image alnaharegypt.com
Mansour said that peace must be based on a full Israeli withdrawal from the occupied Palestinian territories, including occupied East Jerusalem.

He also sent a letter to the UN Secretary General, the head of the UN Security Council and the head of the General Assembly.

In his letter, Mansour stated that Israel recently announced a new plan to build 2500 units for Jewish settlers in two illegal settlements in occupied East Jerusalem.

On August 15, Israel announced it will be constructing 277 units in the Ariel illegal settlement, in the northern part of the occupied West Bank. The announcement followed a previous plan that was approved the Israel government aiming at building 2800 units in the occupied territories.

Mansour strongly denounced the plans and said that they show Israel’s lack of interest in achieving peace with the Palestinians, adding that Israel wants to change the demography of Jerusalem before any peace agreement is reached.

The ambassador further stated that the Palestinian leadership strongly denounces all Israeli settlement activities and the construction of the illegal and internationally outlawed, Annexation Wall, in the West Bank.

He added that the International Community, the Quartet (UN, US, EU and Russia) must act and oblige Israel to stop the construction and expansion of settlements, and that all Israeli measures will not be recognized by the International Community as they are illegitimate.

Mansour said that the idleness of the International community and the Security Council is encouraging Israel to go ahead with its violations aiming at voiding any chances for a real and comprehensive peace agreement based on the two-state solution.

He also denounced the Israeli military escalation against the Gaza Strip, and the ongoing illegal siege. The most recent attack was carried out by the Israeli army on Tuesday, August 16, when the army bombarded civilian areas in Gaza killing a 29-year-old Palestinian, and a 17-year-old mentally challenged youth who was hit by more than 10 rounds of live ammunition.

Also on Tuesday, soldiers rammed their jeep into a Palestinian resident from Sur Baher, east of occupied East Jerusalem, leading to his death.

Mansour concluded by stating that the International Community must provide protection to the Palestinian people, and must hold Israel accountable “for its crimes, acts of terror, and violations of human rights”. 

http://www.imemc.org/article/61851

In a New Crime, Israeli Military Kills Disabled Child in Central Gaza

author Thursday August 18, 2011 00:48author by PCHR Report post
On Tuesday evening, 16 August 2011, the Israeli military killed a Palestinian child from al-Nussairat refugee camp, who was 400 meters from the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel, east of Deir al-Balah in the central Gaza Strip.
pchr.jpg
The victim's family told a PCHR field worker that their child had a mental disability. The victim was in an area that had not been explicitly declared as prohibited.

According to investigations conducted by PCHR, at approximately 18:00 on Tuesday, 16 August 2011, Israeli soldiers stationed at the border northeast of Deir al-Balah opened fire at a Palestinian, who was nearly 400 meters from the border. As a result, he was wounded by 10 bullets in his head and chest.

He was left wounded without being offered any first aid. After coordination was made with IOF, at approximately 19:20, medical crews were able to retrieve the body, which was then transferred to al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir al-Balah.

After four hours later, the child was identified as Sa'd Abdul Rahim Mahmoud al-Majdalwai, 17, from al-Nussairat refugee camp. He was hit by 10 live bullets mostly to the head. In his testimony to PCHR, the victim's father said that his son had been suffering from a mental disability and a speech impairment.

The Israeli radio reported that IOF observed a person approaching the security fence, and shot him. This version of events confirms that IOF could have arrested or used less than lethal force against him, especially as he was wearing civilian clothes and there was nothing to indicate that he was a non-civilian.

It should be noted that on Tuesday morning, the Gaza Strip witnessed several shooting and shelling attacks on civilian areas and military training sites. As a result of this shelling and shooting, a Palestinian resistance man was killed and two others were seriously wounded in Gaza City. A child and another person were wounded in Khan Yunis and Rafah in the south of the Gaza Strip.

PCHR condemns and expresses concerned over this crime, and:

1. Asserts that these crimes are part of a series of war crimes committed by IOF in the oPt, which reflect total disregard for the lives of Palestinian civilians.

2. Calls upon the international community to take immediate action in order to put an end to such crimes. PCHR further renews its demand for the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention to fulfill their obligation under Article 1, which stipulates "the High Contracting Parties undertake to respect and to ensure respect for the present Convention in all circumstances," as well as their obligations under Article 146 which requires that the Contracting Parties prosecute persons alleged to commit grave breaches of the Fourth Geneva Convention. These grave breaches constitute war crimes under Article 147 of the same Convention and under Protocol I Additional to Geneva Conventions. 

http://www.imemc.org/article/61850

Israel had prior warnings of potential terror attacks from Sinai

  • Published 20:37 18.08.11
  • Latest update 20:37 18.08.11

Senior government official says security officials received warning of possible attack, but disagreed about its severity.

By Barak Ravid and Haaretz 

Israel's security services received information about a possible terrorist attack from Sinai, a senior government official told Haaretz on Thursday. As a result, counterterrorism forces in Eilat were put on alert, as well as police forces. However, the official said there were internal arguments concerning the severity of the warning. 

Two people were critically wounded Thursday evening when gunfire erupted close to the site of a deadly series of terror attacks earlier in the day in which eight people had been killed. 

Israel terror - Reuters - August 18, 2011 Israeli security officers patrol at a roadblock near Tzihor junction, about 60km (37 miles) north of the Red Sea resort of Eilat, August 18, 2011.
Photo by: Reuters

The eight were killed and dozens more were wounded in an apparently coordinated series of gun attacks and artillery strikes approximately 20 kilometers north of the southern city of Eilat, close to the border with Egypt.


A short time before the renewed gunfire, IDF aircraft struck targets in the Gaza Strip, killing at least six people, including a senior Palestinian militant. 

http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/israel-had-prior-warnings-of-potential-terror-attacks-from-sinai-1.379411

IDF forces arrest 12 people protesting for social justice in West Bank

  • Published 01:25 15.08.11
  • Latest update 01:25 15.08.11

Arrests occur on lands in the village of Walajeh, which were annexed to Jerusalem in 1967.

By Amira Hass 

An IDF force operating in Jerusalem arrested 12 people protesting for social justice.


This is not the opening to some futuristic piece about an open military takeover of Israel. It happened last Wednesday in the southeastern part of the city, on lands in the village of Walajeh, which were annexed to Jerusalem in 1967.

IDF Walajeh Soldiers arresting a protester in Walajeh.
Photo by: Emil Salman

The Etzion brigade commander, Col. Yaniv Alalouf, had earlier signed an order declaring a closed military zone, seemingly giving him a basis to arrest the protesters.

Hagit Ofran of Peace Now and Sarit Michaeli of B'Tselem checked and found that the map attached to the order also includes area within Jerusalem's boundaries, and that the arrests occurred there.


Consequently, Col. Alalouf and his soldiers apparently committed a double violation: sealing an area inside Jerusalem, where they do not have jurisdiction, and arresting citizens inside the capital. The IDF spokesman: "The claim is being reviewed."

About 25 protesters came from Tel Aviv and Jerusalem to Walajeh at 9 A.M. Wednesday and joined a similar number of protesters from the village, who were demonstrating against the separation fence, which is actually more of a wall there.

The visiting protesters are already familiar with the anomaly: Somehow, in 1967, some of the village lands were annexed to Jerusalem, though their owners remained West Bank residents.

In the 1990s they were designated illegal residents in Israel, because they lived in their homes or went to their fields. This absurdity was corrected in a lengthy legal battle, but now there are new absurdities.

The Jerusalem demonstrators came with their drums and pounded them, in the hope of waking someone up. Perhaps their mates in the Rothschild tents or the High Court of Justice judges, who had already reviewed the petitions against the route of the wall in Walajeh.

When construction is completed, the village and its 2,500 residents will be surrounded on all sides by an eight-meter high concrete wall. The only access to the road connecting them to Beit Jala will probably be through a gate manned by soldiers.


The village will be separated from most of its agricultural plots. People will get up in the morning and instead of olive trees and fields and the sunrise, they will see a wall. Instead of stone terraces along the ridge, deemed architectural-agricultural gems, they will see concrete. Instead of a village, they will be living in a pen.

Beyond the pen, on the village's lands, neighborhoods for Jews only will rise and prosper.

The High Court of Justice still has not made a final decision regarding a route that even the Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel opposes for severely impinging on the natural environment and the landscape.

At a November 2010 hearing, the judges "recorded" that the state promised to freeze work along the eastern edge of the route "until the question of narrowing the width of the route that harms the vista" is decided on.

For a few months, there was a break in the work, but recently the bulldozers and the private security firm have returned to the site and the yellowish wound in the green mountain is stretching longer and longer. With the return of the bulldozers, the social justice protesters also returned.

The soldiers arresting them within the municipal borders of Jerusalem were from the Dukhifat (Hoopoe ) battalion in the Kfir Brigade. At least one protester tried to argue and explain to them that they were outside their jurisdiction.

"It was a violent and illegal violation of public order," the IDF Spokesman's written response to Haaretz stated. "The rioters threw stones at IDF forces and refused to obey the security forces' directives. Some 11 protesters leading the rioting were arrested and charged with throwing stones, and they were taken away to be dealt with by the Israel Police and the Border Police."

Not true: Several of the youths began throwing stones only after 11 Israeli protesters were arrested. Then the Israeli soldiers arrested a village resident standing by the entrance of his house. The soldiers claim he threw stones. He and protesters not arrested deny this.

The detainees were gathered together and placed handcuffed in an archaeological excavation there. After a few hours they were taken to the military base at the entrance to Beit Jala. They were blindfolded and then taken in a single large armored vehicle to the Etzion Police Station.

They were left outside it for a few hours, in the armored vehicle, some with blindfolds, and some without; a few with handcuffs and a few without. On the way to the Etzion station, one of the arrestees heard an IDF soldier tell another soldier about others in their division who "were AWOL at that time."
Newspapers reported that the 11 absentee soldiers were protesting against the humiliating attitude they faced in their battalion and their commanders' lack of consideration.


The detained protester heard one of the soldiers say: "We turned out to be the pussies" (for failing to do what the AWOL soldiers did ).

According to the protesters, a few of the soldiers did not make do with arrests and also heckled: "Son of bitch"; "If only your family were to be killed in a terrorist attack and then you'd learn"; "You're lucky I'm in uniform now, otherwise I'd kill you; you transvestite."


One soldier tightened, instead of loosening the plastic handcuffs around the hands of the youngest protester, causing the youth to cry out in pain.

The soldiers lingered for an hour and a half until they allowed one of the handcuffed women to take an anti-epilepsy pill that was in her bag. According to the detained women, several soldiers pushed them gruffly while touching them in the chest and buttocks.

The IDF Spokesman's response: "The claims are being examined. The complainants are invited to submit a formal complaint to the relevant enforcement agents."

But the soldiers did provide water and allow the detainees to use the toilets.

In the evening, around 10 hours after they were arrested, soldiers from the Dukhifat battalion led them to the Border Police checkpoint at the northern exit of Bethlehem. A police interrogator saw them.
Arrest notices were shown to them (which they refused to sign ): The 11 Israelis were arrested for "rioting and violating a closed military zone order" (and without stone-throwing being attributed to them, contrary to the IDF spokesman's response ).

The Palestinian arrested at the entrance to his home was charged with stone throwing. Unlike protests in other villages, where Israeli detainees are released after a few hours and Palestinians kept longer for the same alleged offense, he was at least released with the rest at around 9:00 P.M. They have been summoned for questioning on Tuesday.

http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/features/idf-forces-arrest-12-people-protesting-for-social-justice-in-west-bank-1.378662

Netanyahu: We will respond firmly when Israelis are hurt

  • Published 15:25 18.08.11
  • Latest update 15:25 18.08.11

PM thanks IDF, Shin Bet for preventing an 'even bigger catastrophe'; Defense Minister Barak stresses Israel will act against terror attacks with full force.

By Haaretz, Anshel Pfeffer and Revital Levy-Stein 

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu responded Thursday evening to a series of deadly terror attacks that left eight dead and dozens wounded in southern Israel, saying Israel will respond firmly “when Israeli lives are hurt.”
In a press conference to the Israeli public, Netanyahu stated that the Israeli public has witnessed an attempt to upgrade terror attacks from Sinai, and thanked the Shin Bet as well as the Israel Defense Forces for “wiping out the leaders” of the organization behind the attacks in the Gaza Strip and preventing an “even bigger catastrophe”.
Netanyahu - Daniel Bar-On - June 29 2011 Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
Photo by: Daniel Bar-On

Netanyahu also sent his condolences to the grieving families and hoped for a speedy recovery for the wounded.
Meanwhile, opposition leader Tzipi Livni (Kadima) stated that the attacks require an Israeli response, and that Kadima will support the government's actions.
 
Defense Minister Ehud Barak said Thursday that the source of combined terrorist attacks that took place earlier in the day was the Gaza Strip.

"This is a serious terror attack that took place in several locations," Barak said during a situation assessment following the terrorist attacks. "The incident shows the weakening Egyptian grip on Sinai and the widening operation of terrorists there. The source of these terror acts is in Gaza and we will act against them with full force."

IDF Chief of Staff Benny Gantz arrived at the Division Headquarters earlier on Thursday and conducted an initial situation assessment. Shortly afterward, Barak and the Police Chief Yohanan Danino left for the scene of the attacks.

Since Friday, Egyptian military and police forces have been deployed in the Sinai Peninsula in an attempt to restore central government control and track down those behind attacks on police stations and on a pipeline transporting gas to Israel.


Meanwhile, Egypt's South Sinai governor Khaled Fouda denied on Thursday reports that gunmen had opened fire on Israeli vehicles from Sinai in which several people were killed, state television said.

"The South Sinai governor denied there was any gunfire from Taba towards Eilat port," state television reported, referring to the Egyptian Red Sea resort across the border from the Israeli port city of Eilat.

In response to Barak, Hamas leader Salah al-Bardawil stated Thursday that his party and the Palestinian people are not afraid of “Zionist threats” and will not “stand idly by if the enemy attacks”.


Al-Bardawil further stated that Hamas relies on a strategy of resisting "the occupation of Palestinian lands from within, rather than from outside".

http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/netanyahu-we-will-respond-firmly-when-israelis-are-hurt-1.379340

Pemukiman Yahudi Merajalela, Palestina Desak PBB Tindak Tegas Israel


Kamis, 18/08/2011 22:26 WIB

Pemantau Permanen Palestina di PBB Riyad Mansour mengirim surat pada Sekretaris Jenderal PBB, Dewan Keamanan PBB dan ketua Dewan Umum PBB terkait tindakan rezim zionis Israel yang masih melakukan perluasan pemukiman Yahudi di wilayah Palestina di Tepi Barat.

Dalam surat itu Mansour melaporkan bahwa Israel kembali mengumumkan rencana pembangunan 2.500 unit rumah baru bagi pemukim Yahudi di dua pemukiman ilegal yang dibangun Israel di wilayah pendudukan Yerusalem Timur.

Mansour mengecam keras rencana Israel itu dan mengatakan bahwa tindakan Israel itu membuktikan bahwa rezim zionis tidak berniat baik untuk menciptakan perdamaian dengan Palestina. Israel, tambah Mansour, ingin mengubah demografi di Yerusalem sebelum tercapai kesepakatan perdamaian apapun.
"Sikap Israel yang terus memaksakan pembangunan dan perluasan pemukiman ilegal di wilayah-wilayah pendudukan, telah merusak semua upaya perdamain di Timur Tengah. Karena perdamaian yang ingin dicapai haruslah berdasarkan pada penarikan penuh Israel dari wilayah Palestina yang didudukinya, termasuk dari Yerusalem Timur," tukas Mansour.

Dalam suratnya, Masnsour kembali menyampaikan bahwa Palestina mengecam semua kegiatan pembangunan pemukiman Yahudi di wilayah Palestina serta pembangunan dinding pemisah di Tepi Barat, yang oleh dunia internasional sudah dinyatakan melanggar hukum internasional.

Mansour meminta masyarakat internasional termasuk Tim Kwartet (tim mediator upaya perdamaian Israel-Paletsina yang terdiri dari AS, Rusia, Uni Eropa dan PBB) untuk segera bertindak dan menekan Israel agar menghentikan semua pembangunan dan perluasan pemukiman Yahudi di wilayah Palestina. Ia mendesak dunia internasional mengeluarkan pernyataan tegas bahwa tindakan Israel itu adalah tindakan ilegal.

Seperti diberitakan pada 15 Agustus kemarin, rezim zionis kembali mengumumkan rencana pembangunan 277 unit rumah baru di pemukiman ilegal Ariel di utara Tepi Barat. Sebelumnya, rezim zionis Israel juga menyatakan sudah mengesahkan rencana pembangunan 2.800 unit rumah baru di sejumlah wilayah pendudukan lainnya.

Mansour mengungkapkan, ketidaktegasan dunia internasional dan Dewan Keamanan terhadap Israel yang menyebabkan Israel berani untuk terus melakukan perluasan pemukiman Yahudi meski melanggar hukum internasional.

Pada bagian lain suratnya, Mansour juga mengecam eskalasi serangan Israel ke Jalur Gaza belakangan ini dan masih diberlakukannya blokade bagi warga Gaza. Ia menegaskan bahwa dunia internasional harus memberikan perlindungan bagi rakyat Palestina dan harus menuntut Israel mempertanggungjawabkan "kejahatan, aksi teror dan pelanggaran hak asasi manusia" yang dilakukannya. Beranikah PBB? (aisyah/im)

http://knrp.or.id/berita/aktual/pemukiman-yahudi-makin-merajalela-utusan-palestina-kirim-surat-kecaman-ke-pbb.htm

299 Warga Palestina Masih Mendekam di Sel Israel lebih dari 20 Tahun

Rabu, 17/08/2011 21:57 WIB
KNRP - Data yang baru dirilis mengungkapkan tercatat 299 tahanan Palestina yang ditahan di penjara-penjara Israel telah mendekam lebih dari 20 tahun. Laporan itu mencuat di tengah laporan adanya kesepakatan pertukaran tahanan yang diinisiasi oleh Hamas.

Menurut biro statistik dari Kementerian Urusan Tahanan Palestina, 299 tahanan Palestina yang mendekam itu dipenjarakan sebelum Persetujuan Oslo, dan Tel Aviv menolak untuk melepaskan mereka setelah pembentukan Otoritas Palestina (PA), demikian menurut koresponden Press TV, Rabu hari ini.

Isu ini kembali mencuat sebagai babak baru pembicaraan tentang kesepakatan pertukaran tawanan antara Hamas dan pejabat Israel yang akan dimulai di ibukota Mesir, Kairo.

Kepala Biro Politik Hamas, Khaled Meshaal sudah tiba di Kairo pada hari Selasa kemarin bersama dengan delegasi untuk mendiskusikan kesepakatan pertukaran itu dengan mediasi pejabat keamanan Mesir, demikian menurut seorang pejabat senior keamanan Mesir.

Mesir telah menengahi pembicaraan antara Israel dan Hamas atas kesepakatan tahanan yang akan melihat peluang pembebasan prajurit Israel, Gilad Shalit yang ditangkap pada Juni 2006, dimana ia akan ditukar dengan hampir 1.000 warga Palestina yang ditahan di penjara Israel.

Negosiasi serius terakhir terkait pertukaran tahanan antara faksi Palestina yang menangkap Shalit dan Tel Aviv terjadi pada Desember 2009, tetapi tidak ada kesepakatan yang berhasil tercapai.

"Menurut faksi yang menangkap Gilad Shalit, dari saat itu di sudah ditangkap dimana mereka mengumumkan daftar ini dan daftar itu yang termasuk kelompok tahanan yang telah menghabiskan lebih dari 20 tahun di balik jeruji besi. Mereka adalah prioritas," kata Ketua Tahanan Palestina, Qadoura Fares.

Beberapa keluarga tahanan Palestina di penjara Israel lagi-lagi berharap bahwa perundingan di Kairo akan membuahkan hasil dan bahwa orang yang mereka cintai dapat kembali pulang.

"Kami selalu berharap dan berdoa kepada Allah. Mudah-mudahan, kali ini kesepakatan itu akan berhasil dan tahanan sebanyak mungkin akan dilepaskan," kata adik seorang tahanan Palestina, Abu Abdallah Shalbak.

Menurut laporan terbaru dari PA, 6.000 warga Palestina saat ini ditahan di penjara Israel, termasuk 219 yang ditahan tanpa ada tuduhan apapun. Dari warga Palestina yang ditahan tercatat 44 tahanan telah menghabiskan lebih dari seperempat abad di balik jeruji Israel.

Banyak warga Palestina yakin, bahwa baik perjanjian maupun tekanan internasional dapat melepaskan tahanan Palestina dari penjara-penjara Israel, dan bahwa kebebasan para pejuang kemerdekaan dipenjara adalah tugas yang hanya dapat dicapai dengan perlawanan.(milyas/presstv)
 
http://knrp.or.id/berita/aktual/299-warga-palestina-masih-mendekam-di-sel-israel-lebih-dari-20-tahun.htm

Lantaran Anggaran akan Disunat, Militer Israel Berang


Rabu, 17/08/2011 21:43 WIB

KNRP - Departemen Urusan Militer Israel melakukan serangan atas Departemen Keuangan Israel setelah departemen tersebut mengusulkan PHK dan pemotongan anggaran yang cukup besar di bidang militer.

Departemen Keuangan telah menyarankan untuk mengurangi personel Angkatan Darat dan pemotongan 570 juta dollar dari anggaran Departemen Urusan Militer untuk pendanaan tahunannya, demikian surat kabar Israel Haaretz melaporkan pada hari Rabu.

"Tindakan Departemen Keuangan selama beberapa minggu terakhir telah membuktikan bahwa mereka tidak tahu apa-apa tentang ekonomi, masyarakat atau keamanan," kata pihak militer dalam sebuah pernyataan seperti dikutip presstv.

"Histeria mereka telah mencoba untuk mempengaruhi wacana publik dari memperdebatkan kebijakan keuangan beberapa tahun terakhir," tambah mereka.

Tanggapan Militer Israel itu mencuat ke permukaan meskipun Knesset (parlemen Israel) baru-baru ini menyetujui alokasi anggaran sekitar 190 juta dollar untuk militer Israel.

Pada bulan Juni, Tel Aviv mengatakan keuntungan dari penjualan senjatanya telah meningkat pada tahun 2010, meskipun terjadi krisis keuangan dunia.

Militer adalah sektor sangat penting di Israel, yang akan menjamin keberadaannya dan ekspansinya atas wilayah pendudukannya di Arab.

Amerika Serikat sendiri menyumbang sejumlah dana setiap tahunnya sebesar 3 miliar dollar AS untuk militer Israel.(milyas/presstv)
 
http://knrp.or.id/berita/aktual/lantaran-anggaran-akan-disunat-militer-israel-berang.htm

AS-Israel Penyebab Bencana Kelaparan Somalia?


Rabu, 17/08/2011 21:34 WIB

KNRP - Seorang pejabat senior militer Iran mengatakan bahwa kemiskinan, kelaparan dan ketidakamanan di Somalia sekarang ini sebagai hasil konspirasi AS dan Israel.

" AS dan Israel menyulut ketidakamanan dan kekacauan di Somalia serta mencegah pembentukan pemerintahan yang stabil di negara itu," kata Komandan Angkatan Basij Iran, Brigadir Jenderal Mohammad-Reza Naqdi, Rabu (17/8).

Somalia masih tanpa pemerintahan yang berfungsi sejak tahun 1991, ketika panglima perang menggulingkan diktator Mohamed Siad Barre di negara Afrika tersebut.

Brigjen Jenderal Naqdi menyatakan secara pasti bahwa Iran akan bergegas melakukan bantuan terhadap Somalia, yang berada di ambang kelaparan, demikian kantor berita Iran, IRNA melaporkan.
PBB telah memperingatkan bahwa lebih 13 dari 10.000 anak Somalia berada di zona kematian akibat bencana kelaparan di Somalia setiap harinya.

"Ini berarti bahwa 10 persen dari anak balita meninggal setiap 11 minggu. Angka-angka ini benar-benar menyayat hati," kata wakil PBB di Somalia, Agustinus Mahiga menyampaikan hal itu di Dewan Keamanan PBB Rabu lalu.

Kekeringan dan kelaparan telah mempengaruhi lebih dari 11,8 juta orang di seluruh Somalia, Kenya, dan Ethiopia. Somalia telah menjadi negara terparah dalam apa yang digambarkan sebagai kekeringan terburuk di negara Tanduk Afrika itu dalam 60 tahun.

Menurut PBB, diperkirakan bahwa seperempat dari penduduk Somalia yaitu 9,9 juta sekarang ini baik di dalam Somalia atau di luar Somalia bernasib sebagai pengungsi.

PBB telah menyatakan terjadinya kelaparan di lima wilayah di Somalia dan mengatakan bahwa respon kemanusiaan internasional terhadap krisis telah cukup.

Sebelumnya pada hari Rabu, Kepala Penyelamat dan Organisasi Bantuan dari Bulan Sabit Merah Iran, Mahmoud Masyarakat Mozaffar mengatakan kepada IRNA bahwa pesawat terbang yang dipenuhi bantuan IRCS ketiga telah dikirim ke Somalia.

Iran berencana untuk mengirimkan konvoi bantuan kemanusiaan keempat ke Somalia melalui laut dari kota pelabuhan Bandar Abbas yang terletak 1.563 kilometer (971 mil) selatan Teheran.(milyas/presstv)
 
http://knrp.or.id/berita/aktual/as-israel-penyebab-bencana-kelaparan-somalia.htm

Walah! Israel Isolasi Tahanan Palestina yang Buta


Selasa, 16/08/2011 10:39 WIB

KNRP - Otoritas penjara Israel telah mencapai titik terendah dalam rasa kemanusiannya setelah mengisolasi tahanan yang kehilangan penglihatan setelah mereka mengabaikan tindakan medis atas tahanan itu.

"Isolasi sejumlah (orang) ke kuburan untuk para tahanan saat mereka masih hidup. Semua kebutuhan hidup yang hilang, dan kami sedang dimasukkan perlahan-lahan ke kematian setiap saat," kata pengacara Komunitas Tahanan Palestina, Ahmed al-Maghrabi.

Pernyataan itu mencuat setelah penjara Israel memperpanjang masa isolasi tahanan buta, Obadeh Bilal, sampai 8 Oktober mendatang.

Bilal, warga Nablus, pertama kali ditangkap pada bulan April 2002 dan kehilangan penglihatannya akibat penyakit retina yang tidak terawat di penjara. Sebelum penangkapannya, penghilatannya masih utuh. Pengurus penjara Israel mengisolasi Bilal lantaran Israel mengklaim dia sebagai ancaman terhadap keamanan Negara Israel.

Pusat Palestina untuk Tahanan menambahkan bahwa istri Bilal, 65 tahun, saudara, dan anggota keluarga lainnya juga telah ditangkap dan diinterogasi dalam upaya untuk menekan dirinya. Bilal memiliki dua saudara yang melayaninya selama masa hukumannya di penjara Israel.

Pusat Palestina untuk Tahanan itu mengatakan bahwa total tahanan Palestina yang ditahan di isolasi di penjara-penjara Israel sekarang ini 19 orang.(milyas/PIC)



http://knrp.or.id/berita/aktual/walah-israel-isolasi-tahanan-palestina-yang-buta.htm

Tahanan Palestina di Penjara Israel Diberi Makan Empat Jam Setelah Waktu Berbuka

Senin, 15/08/2011 22:47 WIB

Warga Palestina yang ditahan di penjara-penjara Israel harus berpuasa lebih panjang, karena pihak penjara Israel di Etzion menetapkan jadwal pemberian makanan yang ketat.

Pihak penjara menetapkan jadwal makan malam selama bulan Ramadan pada pukul 10.00 malam. Padahal para tahanan, terutama warga Palestina sudah seharian berpuasa. Karena penetapan jadwal pemberian makanan pukul 10.00 malam, maka mereka harus berpuasa selama hampir 19 jam, atau lebih panjang 4 jam setelah waktu berbuka.

Makanan yang diberikan pun sangat minim, hanya sekerat roti, seiris tomat dan mentimun, serta sekaleng minuman yogurt.

Sementara itu, seorang tahanan bernama Mahmoud Zaa'lol mengatakan bahwa di penjara Etzion ada 25 tahanan anak-anak Palestina. Mereka mengalami pelecehan dan penganiayaan saat ditangkap oleh tentara-tentara zionis.

Tahanan anak-anak itu dipaksa menandatangani surat pernyataan berbahasa Ibrani yang tidak mereka mengerti artinya.

Kebiadaban tentara-tentara zionis terhadap warga Palestina juga berlangsung di luar dinding penjara. Mereka melarang warga Palestina yang tinggal di kamp pengungsi Al-Fawwar, selatan Hebron mengambil air minum dari sumber mata air yang berada dekat kamp pengungsian itu.

Warga Palestina bahkan dilarang mendekat ke sumber air, dan untuk itu militer zionis membangun sebuah pos pemeriksaan di pintu masuk kamp pengungsi agar penghuni kamp pengungsi tidak bisa mengakses sumber air minum tersebut.

Masih di kota Hebron, tentara-tentara zionis juga melakukan penyerbuan ke sejumlah pemukiman warga Palestina di kota itu dan kota-kota lain disekitarnya. Di tempat itu, militer Israel lagi-lagi membuat pos-pos pemeriksaan dengan dalih "keamanan". Di pos-pos itu, tentara-tentara zionis menyetop setiap kendaraan milik warga Palestina yang lewat sehingga ruang gerak warga Palestina sangat terbatas. (aisyah/wf)

http://knrp.or.id/berita/aktual/tahanan-palestina-di-penjara-israel-baru-berbuka-empat-jam-setelah-waktu-berbuka.htm

Pendukung Gilad Shalit Cegat Bis-Bis Rombongan Warga Palestina

Senin, 15/08/2011 22:40 WIB

Belasan orang Israel pembela Gilad Shalit mencegat sebuah bis yang membawa rombongan anggota keluarga warga Palestina yang ditahan di penjara Israel pada Senin (15/8). Rombongan itu berencana menjenguk keluarga mereka yang ditahan Israel di penjara Ramon.

Umi Muhannad, seorang ibu Palestina yang ikut dalam rombongan bis itu mengungkapkan, bis mereka tidak bisa lewat karena dihalang-halangi oleh belasan orang Israel, yang kemudian mengambil alih bis tersebut.

Menurut Umi Muhannad, orang-orang Israel yang melakukan pencegatan mengatakan bahwa kunjungan terhadap para tahanan Palestina di penjara Israel merupakan tindakan ilegal sepanjang Gilad Shalit tidak boleh dikunjungi. Gilad Shalit adalah prajurit Israel yang tertangkap dan ditawan para pejuang Palestina di Gaza pada tahun 2006 hingga sekarang.

Lebih lanjut Umi Muhannad mengatakan bahwa polisi Israel tiba di lokasi kejadian untuk mencegah bentrokan fisik antara pembela Shalit dengan rombongan keluarga Palestina. Tidak korban dalam insiden ini.

Pada saat yang sama, sekitar 20 orang Israel pembela Shalit juga memblokade sebuah bis yang membawa rombongan warga Palestina, yang akan mengunjungi kerabat mereka yang ditahan Israel di penjara Nafha.

Situs berita Israel Ynet melaporkan, diantara 20 orang Israel yang memblokade bis warga Palestina itu adalah tentara-tentara cadangan Israel. Mereka mencegat bis dan menggantungkan sebuah spanduk di badan bis bertuliskan "Siapa yang mengunjungi Shalit?"

Mereka menghalang-halangi bis agar tidak bisa masuk ke halaman parkir penjara sambil meneriakkan kata-kata "Tak ada kunjungan buat Shalit, itu artinya tidak ada kunjungan buat kalian."

Sejak tahun 2007, otorita Israel melarang kunjungan keluarga bagi tahanan yang berasal dari Gaza. Data Palang Merah Internasional menyebutkan, dalam kurun waktu empat tahun belakangan ini, lebih dari 700 keluarga asal Gaza yang dilarang menjenguk kerabat mereka yang ditawan di penjara-penjara Israel.

Data terakhir Otorita Palestina menyebutkan, jumlah warga Palestina yang ditahan di penjara-penjara Israel mencapai 6.000 orang, termasuk diantaranya 219 orang yang ditahan di penjara administratif tanpa dikenai dakwaan hukum. (aisyah/Mn)
 
http://knrp.or.id/berita/aktual/pendukung-gilad-shalit-cegat-bis-bis-rombongan-warga-palestina.htm

Meski Hidup Susah, Warga Gaza Bantu Rakyat Somalia yang Kelaparan

Senin, 15/08/2011 16:40 WIB
Kementerian Wakaf dan Urusan Agama Islam di Jalur Gaza menyerukan penggalangan bantuan dan dukungan terhadap rakyat Somalia yang sedang tertimpa bencana kelaparan.

Seruan penggalangan bantuan itu dimulai pada hari Jumat kemarin sampai hari Minggu (14/8) malam. Kementerian mengatakan, bahwa rakyat Somalia berhak hidup seperti masyarakat dunia lainnya di dunia. Meski warga Gaza sendiri hidup dalam kondisi prihatin akibat blokade rezim Zionis Israel, mereka diingatkan untuk tetap memberikan kontribusi untuk membantu rakyat Somalia yang sedang kelaparan.

Kementerian Wakaf meminta warga Gaza untuk menyebarluaskan seruan itu lewat media apa saja, terutama internet. Bantuan dan dukungan yang ditunjukkan warga Gaza, diharapkan bisa meringankan beban penderitaan rakyat Somalia.

Kementerian Wakaf di Jalur Gaza pada kesempatan itu mengecam dunia Islam yang dianggap cepat tanggap melihat bencana kelaparan yang terjadi Somalia. Rakyat Somalia banyak yang muslim dan dikhawatirkan situasi ini akan dimanfaatkan oleh kelompok misionaris untuk melakukan permurtadan.
Warga Gaza langsung bergerak begitu mendengar seruan untuk membantu rakyat Somalia. Mereka menyumbangkan apa saja yang bisa mereka berikan untuk membantu rakyat Somalia.

Laporan PBB menyebutkan sekira 3,2 juta rakyat Somalia terancam bencana kelaparan akibat kekeringan yang melanda negeri itu. Sementara laporan US Agency for International Development (USAID) menyebutkan, dalam jangka waktu 90 hari terakhir, kelaparan dan kekeringan di Somalia sudah menewaskan 29.000 anak-anak usia di bawah lima tahun. (aisyah/paltel)

http://knrp.or.id/berita/aktual/meski-hidup-susah-warga-gaza-bantu-rakyat-somalia-yang-kelaparan.htm

Remaja Palestina Itu Ditembak Lebih Dari 10 Kali oleh Tentara Zionis


Rabu, 17/08/2011 20:19 WIB

Tentara zionis Israel lagi-lagi menunjukkan kebiadabannya. Kali ini pasukan zionis menembak seorang remaja Palestina di Der Al-Balah, Jalur Gaza hingga remaja Palestina itu meninggal dunia.

Pejabat kementerian kesehatan di Gaza Adham Abu Salmiya mengatakan remaja Palestina yang belum diketahui identitasnya itu oleh petugas ambulan dibawa ke rumah sakit Rumah Sakit Syuhada Al-Aqsa di Gaza Tengah.

Menurut petugas medis, remaja Palestina itu menderita luka-luka akibat "lebih dari 10" tembakan di bagian kepala dan bagian atas tubuhnya. Ia ditembak oleh tentara zionis di kawasan Al-Masdar.
Juru bicara militer Israel mengklaim tentara mereka menembak karena remaja Palestina itu mendekati pagar keamanan, dan tentara zionis yang curiga langsung menembakinya.

Namun sejumlah saksi mata mengatakan bahwa penembakan terjadi ketika remaja Palestina itu mendekati garis perbatasan di dekat kamp pengungsi Maghazi di Gaza Tengah. (aisyah/Mn)

http://knrp.or.id/berita/aktual/remaja-palestina-itu-ditembak-lebih-dari-10-kali-oleh-tentara-zionis.htm

Prospective Labor Party Leader Supports Settlers but No One Else




18.08.11 - 12:50

Candidate for Labor Party leader, Shelly Yachimovich, released a statement saying “I certainly do not see the settlement project as a sin and a crime.” on Friday. Her interview with the Israeli daily, Haaretz, comes in the midst of the largest social protest in Israeli history.

ImageShe defended the settlement movement by calling it “a consensual move” and reminding her constituents that, “it was the Labor Party that founded the settlement enterprise in the territories. That is a fact. A historical fact.”

Yachimovich also spoke up about her opinions concerning the protests and settler participation in the demonstration, “One of the most significant points of strength of this protest is that you don’t see the conventional political posters. There is a new language, a unifying language, a uniting language.”

But Yachimovich has not inspired unity in and of herself. At times making populist votes and then alienating that very same public with a condescending tone, her charisma and tenacity inspire both contempt and respect.

A journalist by profession and self-identified feminist, she is well-known for making searing comments concerning the oligarchic nature and privatization that has denoted Netanyahu’s government. “Both Netanyahu and [former Prime Minister Ehud] Olmert constantly spoke about thinning out the public service. Netanyahu said that the education system is a fat cow that doesn't give milk. When you consider that there is a fat man and a fat cow that doesn't give milk, you don't transfer budgets to them, period, because you think they should be thin or privatized. That is a Thatcherite approach, which has nothing to do with the political right or left. What is happening now is so potent that it is shaking off the old discourse that shackles us to the same dogmas and the same rhetoric, but is finally connecting to the truth. Until now that truth has been kept hidden.”

Despite her vehement criticism and suspicion of Natanyahu’s economic policies Yachimovich does not believe that the tent protestor’s cry for social change and greater financial egalitarianism will be met by pulling funds from the settlement and defense budgets. “I am familiar with that well-known equation: that if there were no settlements there would be a welfare state within Israel’s borders. I am familiar with the worldview that maintains that if we cut the defense budget in half there will be money for education. It’s a worldview with no connection to reality.” When asked if she supported the boycott movement in the far-left she stated unequivocally that she was “not is favor of boycotts.”

Surprisingly, Yachimovich (typically a prolific bill proposer) has yet to respond to the situation with anything more than nay saying but continues to widen her circles of criticism to include the likes of Kadima leader Tzipi Livni. “Kadima is now in large measure a more economically neoliberal party than Likud. The dominant economic voice in Kadima is a privatizing one, a voice that protects the owners of capital. Take note that even on the natural gas issue, there was authentic opposition in Kadima to a redistribution of the profits from the gas.”

But if she wishes to gain enough public and internal support for her push for the chairmanship Yachimovich will have to do more than rain on other people’s parades.

http://english.pnn.ps/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=10607&Itemid=62

Israel threatens 384 Jerusalemite figures with exile


[ 18/08/2011 - 11:45 AM ]


OCCUPIED JERUSALEM, (PIC)-- Palestinian lawmakers and activists in the occupied city of Jerusalem revealed Israeli intents to exile 384 Jerusalemite figures at the pretext of their activities against the occupation in the holy city. 

The Israeli intelligence summoned lately those figures in different times and threatened them with expulsion from Jerusalem next September if they did not change their positions and stop their political activities against the occupation.

Foreign diplomats and human rights activists in the holy city affirmed that the Israeli occupation authority (IOA) prepared a list of 384 noted names from Jerusalem.

They also said that the Israeli minister of internal security blessed this move and ordered the security apparatuses and the intelligence to determine the way to expel them from the city.

http://www.palestine-info.co.uk/

Report says that Palestinian prisoners endure "very harsh" conditions in Israeli prisons


Report says that Palestinian prisoners endure "very harsh" conditions in Israeli prisonsPalestinian woman prisoner suffered gastrointestinal disease for three weeks and did not see a specialist doctor.
A report issued by the Public Defender's Office at the Israeli Justice Ministry has described the conditions endured by Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails as "very harsh". The issues mentioned by the report include severe overcrowding, which could cause suffocation, facilities which don't meet even basic standards, excessive punitive measures, a lack of resources and inadequate access to medical care. Access to relatives and lawyers is also a cause for concern for prisoners, it is claimed. The Ministry's report is the first of its kind and it was prepared by a number of lawyers. It covered 26 sites (prisons and detention centres) which fall under the responsibility of the Israeli Prison Service, 13 facilities which are the responsibility of the court, and 10 managed by the police.

Sharon Prison was given as an example where 10 Palestinian women prisoners are held and complaints have been made about medical care and the severe punishments inmates receive. The latter includes collective punishment and the use of very tight restraints. Employee shortages, unbearable overcrowding and extremes of temperature in summer and winter were also highlighted by the report, as were prisoners' complaints about food and a shortage of basic equipment.

One Palestinian woman prisoner, the report claims, suffered from gastrointestinal disease for three weeks and did not see a specialist doctor; she was restrained to her bed for a long period instead, during which time she was not even able to go to the toilet.

http://www.middleeastmonitor.org.uk/news/middle-east/2735-report-says-that-palestinian-prisoners-endure-qvery-harshq-conditions-in-israeli-prisons

Palestinian prisoner Zakariya Isa in critical condition


Palestinian prisoner Zakariya Isa in critical conditionIsrael has refused to release Zakaria Isa to allow him to see his family and say his last farewells. It insists that he remains a prisoner despite his condition.

The 43 year old prisoner, Zakaria Daoud Hassan Isa, from the town of al-Khader in Bethlehem who is currently serving a fifteen and a half year sentence went into a coma a few days ago after which he was rushed from the Negev Desert Prison to the Soroka Hospital in Be'ere Sheva.


Over the last four months, Mr Isa had been suffering from pains in his chest and stomach and he was unable to eat any food. However, his doctors and the clinic at the Negev Desert Prison did not give him with the necessary treatment nor would they provide a clear diagnosis of his condition aggravating the problem. On Thursday, 4/8/2011 he lost consciousness after his weight plummeted and he lost the ability to speak.

It has been discovered that Mr Isa had been suffering from blood and liver cancer which eventually reached his brain causing his memory and speech loss and finally causing him to fall into a near completely unresponsive coma. His body is not responding to the treatment he is now being given as a result of the policy of deliberate medical negligence pursued by the Israeli government and which has resulted in the aggravation of the illness.

Muhammad al-Abed, the lawyer who visited Mr Isa in hospital, confirmed that the prisoner's condition was critical. He recommended that his family arrange for his burial and await news of his martyrdom.
During the nineties, Zakaria Isa was one of the best players in Bethlehem and was part of the Palestinian team which took part in the 1993 international match against France held in Jericho. The French team was headed by the well-known international player, Platini.

Zakaria Isa is married with a son and three daughters. His mother died about a month ago.
It is worth mentioning that illness among prisoners has become aggravated in recent years due to the policy of deliberate medical negligence by Israeli authorities.

Israel has refused to release Zakaria Isa to allow him to see his family and say his last farewells. It insists that he remains a prisoner despite his condition.

http://www.middleeastmonitor.org.uk/news/middle-east/2737-palestinian-prisoner-zakariya-isa-in-critical-condition

Five killed, 25 injured in multiple attacks on Israeli targets


[ 18/08/2011 - 12:54 PM ]


EILAT, (PIC)-- Five were killed and 25 injured in two attacks on Israeli buses carrying soldiers near the southern occupied city of Um al-Rashrash (Eilat) on Thursday, Hebrew media reported.

They said that the Egged buses were mainly carrying soldiers and were heading from Beer Sheba to Eilat when they came under fire but continued their ride until they reached an Israeli military barrier. 
Reports indicated that a projectile was fired at the second bus which caused the deaths.

Reuters said that the attack took place 30 kilometers north of Eilat.

A big number of Israeli occupation troops backed by army choppers rushed to the scene amid reports of a clash with the attackers.

http://www.palestine-info.co.ukd
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Hamas rejects role in Israel bus attacks



Thu Aug 18, 2011 1:18PM GMT

Hamas has dismissed allegations by Israel's minister of military affairs accusing the resistance movement of involvement in Thursday's deadly attacks in southern Israel.

MRS/MGH

ASK A CHILD IN GAZA ‘WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GROW UP?’

The answer can be found in the following video produced by UNICEF…
*
In Gaza, poverty forces children to choose between survival and school UNICEF correspondent Catherine Weibel reports on children in Gaza who risk their lives to feed their families and help them survive.

  

http://desertpeace.wordpress.com/2011/08/18/ask-a-child-in-gaza-what-do-you-want-to-be-when-you-grow-up/