Israeli Military Destroys Wells Near Hebron

Thursday November 24, 2011 15:25 by Adam Kerry - IMEMC & Agencies

Israeli forces have used a bulldozer to destroy three wells and part of a home in the village of al-Bass, west of Hebron.

Source: presstv.ir

The Ma'an News agency reported that three rooms of of local farmer Abdul Awwad's house were destroyed in addition to three drinking wells close by. The wells were located just inside the separation wall, an area where Israel has confiscated water from the natural springs to be used by Israeli citizens.

In the village of al-Mafqara, Israeli authorities demolished solar panels and water pipes that were used to supply electricity and drinking water to the local community. Local resident Nasr al-Nawaja told Ma'an “"By canceling the project, the Israeli occupation is confiscating people’s basic human rights,"

http://www.imemc.org/article/62555

Israel Won't Release Funds To Fateh-Hamas Unity Government

 Thursday November 24, 2011 11:30 by Adam Kerry 

Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman, has said that his government will not transfer any Palestinian tax revenue to a Fateh-Hamas Unity Government, as reported by Haaretz.

Israel Foreign Minister Source: digitaljournal.com

During a meeting with the Foreign Minister of Montenegro, Lieberman stated that "Israel will not recognize it, will not negotiate with it, and will not transfer it even one dime," if the Unity government doesn't accept the principles outlined by the Middle East Peace Quartet. The principles in question state that any Palestinian government respect any past peace agreements and recognise Israel's right to exist, reports Haaretz.

Liberman's comments appear to pre-empt the upcoming meeting between Palestinian President, Mahmoud Abbas and Khalid Mashal, the head of the Hamas political bureau in Cairo. The purpose of the meeting is to implement the Unity agreement that was signed in May this year.

In recent days Israel has felt pressure from both the United States and the United Nations to release the funds, including being urged by Tony Blair, the Quartet's envoy to the Middle East. He called on Israel to transfer the money without any further delay saying that withholding the funds benefits “only those who oppose peace.”

Following the Oslo Accords and the establishment of the Palestinian Authority, some taxes in the Palestinian Territories are paid directly to the P.A., where as some, such as V.A.T. on Israeli products are paid to the State of Israel before these funds are released, in part, to the P.A..

Prior to this arrangement, all tax revenue was paid to Israel. The amendment to this arrangement was intended to aid state building efforts set forth in the Oslo Accords, but also removed the possibility of a total tax resistance such as that initiated during the First Intifada in the town of Beit Sahour, near Bethlehem.

http://www.imemc.org/article/62553

Tunisian Medical Convoy Arrives In Gaza

Wednesday November 23, 2011 07:44 by Saed Bannoura

A Tunisian convoy, loaded with medical supplies and equipment, was allowed into the Gaza Strip, on Tuesday evening, via the Rafah Border Terminal, between Gaza and Egypt.

Aid Convoy - Gaza, Palestine-Info

Convoy members carried tons of medical supplies that will be handed to several hospitals, and medical centers in the coastal region.

Dr. Jalal Ayyad, head of the Tunisian Al Amal (Hope) Society for Social Development, stated that this visit comes in solidarity with the people of Gaza, and to challenge the illegal Israeli siege.

Convoy members will remain in Gaza for a week, and will be touring several areas heavily affected by Israeli bombardment and shelling. On Monday evening, the Freedom Spring solidarity convoy made it into the Gaza Strip through the Rafah Border Terminal. Convoy members will be holding meetings with political and social figures in Gaza.

http://www.imemc.org/article/62546

Siegel files harassment charge against local rabbi

 Wednesday, November 23, 2011    Last updated: Thursday November 24, 2011, 1:50 AM

 

BY HOWARD PROSNITZ

 

STAFF WRITER

 

Teaneck Suburbanite

 

A well-known local activist for Palestinian causes has filed harassment charges against a River Road rabbi, who allegedly stood in front of his Elm Avenue home shouting obscenities.

The complaint filed by Rich Siegel against Rabbi David B. Schwartz is scheduled for a probable cause hearing in Teaneck Municipal Court on Dec. 7 at 9:30 a.m.

Police responded to a call from Siegel at 7:55 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 5 complaining that a man in his 60s, walking a large grey dog, was standing in front of his house yelling at him.

Police stopped a man, later identified as Schwartz. who matched the description. According to the police report, Schwartz acknowledged that he had been yelling at Siegel's home, but said he was exercising his right of free speech. He said he has the same right to yell at Siegel's home as Siegel has to display pro-Palestinian bumper stickers on his car.

Siegel's car has two rear bumper stickers: "Free Palestine: End the Occupation" and "Stop US Aid to Israel."

In an interview, Siegel said after receiving the police report, he did an Internet search of Schwartz and discovered that he is a rabbi who serves on the board of directors of the Union for Traditional Judaism located on American Legion Drive.

Reached by phone on Sunday, Schwartz declined to comment. Rabbi David Bauman, executive director of the Union for Traditional Judaism, did not return a voicemail message seeking comment.
Siegel said that he has frequently observed Schwartz standing outside his house.

"It became clear that he was coming to stare at the house and the bumper stickers," he said.

On one occasion, Siegel's wife and 6-year-old daughter were outside when Schwartz walked by with his dog.

"My daughter asked if she could pet the dog. He stood there and glared at them," Siegel said. "There is a segment of the Jewish community that is simply unwilling to tolerate free speech on the Palestinian issue," Siegel said said, noting that his car has been vandalized on numerous occasions and hostile notes have left on it. "Obviously these people disagree with me, but they use violent means to attempt to stop me from expressing my point of view."

Email: prosnitz@northjersey.com

http://www.northjersey.com/news/134442983_Siegel_files_harassment_complaint_against_local_rabbi_.html

Israeli Government Starts Huge Silwan Tax Collection Campaign

 22.11.11 - 21:40

PNN

On Tuesday the Israeli Jerusalem Municipality began a widespread campaign in the East Jerusalem neighborhood of Silwan designed to collect outstanding property and income taxes, a move Palestinians have denounced as "a campaign of revenge."

Palestinians pray in the East Jerusalem neighborhood of Silwan before a weekly protest against settlements (Brendan Work, PNN).

Fakhri Abu Diyab, a member of the Committee to Defend Silwan, described told Palestinian government news wire Wafa that the tax collectors had been accompanied by Israeli soldiers and police officers who closed the entrances to Silwan with military checkpoints and issued high-priced tickets to outgoing vehicles.

 

"If they find someone with debt to the Israeli government, they will check his car and find any way to punish him," Abu Diyab told PNN. "Even if he doesn't owe a debt, they will punish him by detaining him for a few hours. It's part of a plan to humiliate Arab Jerusalemites and strangle them economically."

Abu Diyab said that the timing of the campaign was not coincidental: it comes as Israel continues to evacuate Palestinians from their houses to make room for Israeli settlers. He said the tax collection campaign was an operation to keep the citizens distracted.

Abu Diyab warned that Silwan specifically and Jerusalem generally would be targeted by the Israeli government in the next few days and asked citizens to pay careful attention.

http://english.pnn.ps/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=10892&Itemid=64