http://www.aljazeerah.info/

Jewish member of Israeli parliament says the Wall was built for political purposes of colonization, not for security

Jewish member of Knesset: Wall built for political purposes of colonization, not for security

Al-Sharq Al-Awsat Wednesday, 14 March 2007

During a field tour passing through a number of areas afflicted by the Wall in the West Bank, Jewish member of the Israeli Parliament (Knesset in Hebrew), Dov Hanin, said the Wall was built for the political purposes of colonization.

Hanin agreed with what Palestinians have said for years. The real aim of the Wall is to divide the West Bank into cantons and abort the Palestinian state, replacing it with the “State of Nablus and Ramallah,” and the “State of Hebron and Bethlehem.”

The leader of the Democratic Front for Peace and Equality in the Knesset and its Chairperson of the Parliamentary Committee on Environmental Affairs, said it is unwarranted to suggest the Wall was built for security or military purposes.

After the day's tour which included meetings with dozens of environmental activists and representatives in the media, Hanin said that the Wall does not cease to double the suffering of the Palestinians in general, and to destroy the environment.

He added that the Wall not only takes the settlement of Ma'ale Adumim into Israeli boundaries, but includes some 65,000 acres in addition to what was already confiscated from Palestinian lands in the past. The Wall plans are doing tremendous environmental damage to the region as well, said Hanin, which will be the second unjustifiable outcome as the government claimed the Wall was temporary and for security. After the removal of the Wall the damage will remain.

Hanin expressed his hope that environmental movements will join in efforts to confront the Wall and its impact on the environment.

Hanin visited other parts of the Wall three weeks ago, including the area from which the Israeli government intends to expel approximately 35,000 Palestinians, Samaria and the Bedouin tribes in the region in order to attach the Wall to Jerusalem.

http://www.aljazeerah.info/

Mosque demolition orders in Naqab, six destroyed in just a few years

Naqab, Palestine News Network Thursday, 15 March 2007

The Religious Affairs and Waqf spokesperson expressed serious concern on Thursday regarding the Israeli targeting of mosques in the Naqab (Negev) Desert. Among the “unrecognized villages” of the Negev is Umm Ratam, which has received demolition orders for seven of its homes and the village mosque.

The Israeli government is in the process of “developing the Negev” which translates into expelling its native population. Israeli forces have destroyed six mosques in the area in recent years.

Sheikh Ibrahim Sarsour said the destruction is being undertaken rapidly in several villages. As the President of the Islamic Movement there, he is working to stop the Israeli authorities.

Sheikh Khalid Muhanna commented, “Israel is working on the eradication of mosques because mosques are evidence of a Muslim presence in Arab villages. Israel wants to demolish the mosque in order to create an emptiness in the Negev that they can say they are simply filling in. This goes hand in hand with the excavations at Al-Aqsa Mosque, which these actions detract from, and the ongoing Judaization of Jerusalem and the Negev

http://www.aljazeerah.info/
Jerusalem home demolitions: By 2020, 240,000 Palestinians will be 40,000

PNN, (Jerusalem) Maisa Abu Ghazaleh Wednesday, 14 March 2007

The wintry weather did not prevent the Israeli-controlled Jerusalem Municipality bulldozers from traveling to the Hummos Valley in the village of Sur Baher. They demolished two of the homes in southeastern Jerusalem under the pretext of not being licensed.

Since this morning the bulldozers have been active, demolishing the house belonging to Ali Abu Sarhan where he and his 10 member family have lived since 2002. The home is approximately 100 square meters with a construction cost of approximately 130,000 shekels, in addition to the 50,000 shekels given to the Israelis for the Municipal Court to issue a license.

Abu Sarhan said he was surprised to find a large presence of police and border guards, along with the municipal crews who began removing furniture from the house while the bulldozers got started on the other side.

A residential building not yet inhabited belonging to the Tun family was also destroyed. The house was constructed, but Tun was awaiting a building permit to move in since 2003 from the Jerusalem municipality which refused to grant it.

He said, “When I saw the police and bulldozers I went to the Jerusalem municipality to again postpone, but they would not. I spent half a million shekels building this home.” He noted that he and his children all must rent.

In the meantime, Israeli forces imposed a closed military zone on the Hummos Valley while distributing demolition orders to approximately 50 families under the pretext of licensing. The demolitions are slated for June, although the Israelis generally accept large sums of money to postpone.

Director of the Jerusalem Center for Economic and Social Rights, Ziad Al-Hamori, said that demolition in Jerusalem for this year has been extensive and brutal, pointing out that during the first three months of 2007, Jerusalem Municipality bulldozers demolished 20 houses.

Al-Hamori told PNN, “The continuation of the campaign to demolish homes aims to drive the people from the city, in addition to solving the Israeli concern over demographics.” He pointed out the ease with which Jewish builders are granted permits in settlements or in other parts of Jerusalem. “Israel is distorting and changing the features and history of the Old City and its surroundings.” According to the Israeli plan for 2020, 240,000 Palestinians in Jerusalem must be reduced to 40 or 50 thousand, concluded Al-Hamori

How Zionists in Congress Serve Israel: The Nelson-Ensign Letter to Secretary Rice http://www.aljazeerah.info/
How Zionists in Congress Serve Israel: The Nelson-Ensign Letter to Secretary Rice

Don’t Let Your Senators Be Fooled!

Nelson-Ensign Letter Is Not About Limiting Foreign Aid, It's About Limiting Diplomacy

The Issue:
Senators Bill Nelson (D-FL) and John Ensign (R-NV) are seeking their colleagues support for a dangerous and misleading sign-on letter to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. According to a Dear Colleague letter being circulated by the senators, as Rice "seeks to reinvigorate the Israeli-Palestinian peace process," the sign-on urges her to "continue to hold firm and insist on the three basic obligations outlined by the Quartet that the Palestinian Authority must meet before receiving direct aid…"
The actual letter, however, goes well beyond the issue of aid, urging "no direct aid and no contacts with any members of a Palestinian Authority that does not explicitly and unequivocally recognize Israel's right to exist, renounce terror, and accept previous agreements." The key words are no contacts and any members. The new prohibition would direct the secretary to sever contact with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and any other member of a future Palestinian unity government. This is not about foreign assistance or the Quartet's obligations. It is, once again, an example of US leaders giving lip service to Palestinian leaders like Abbas while cutting them off at the knees. The letter also repeats tired assertions that while Israel has done everything in its power to achieve peace, it has somehow been rebuffed by unwilling Palestinians.

The full text of the sign-on letter is included below.

Take Action!
It is critically important that your senators hear from Arab Americans and all those who support a just peace.

For your senators office numbers, click here: http://capwiz.com/arab/callalert/index.tt?alertid=9493911&type=CO

Call and tell your senators:

1) As a constituent and a member of the Arab American Institute, I urge you not to sign the Nelson-Ensign letter to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice;

2) This letter goes beyond the issue of foreign aid and urges Secretary Rice to sever contact with any member of a future Palestinian unity government, including Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas;

3) I hope that you will use your leadership role in the US Senate to advocate for US diplomacy to solve the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and a foreign policy that projects American values abroad.

Call us at (202) 429-9210 and let us know about your success!

If you live in: California, Iowa, Maryland, or Michigan ask for Valerie Smith, vsmith@aaiusa.org

Illinois, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, or Virginia ask for Maram Abdelhamid, mabdelhamid@aaiusa.org

Arizona, Florida, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, or any other state, ask for Jason Assir, jassir@aaiusa.org

To complete AAI's other action alerts, click here: http://capwiz.com/arab/home/

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Honorable Condoleezza Rice
Secretary
United States Department of State
2201 C Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20003



Dear Madam Secretary:

Securing peace in the Middle East between Israel and all of her neighbors has been a long-term goal of the United States—long before and quite apart from the current conflict in Iraq—and we support your efforts to advance that important goal.

We know how deeply the people of Israel long for peace, and we are mindful of all the avenues successive Israeli governments have pursued to achieve it: bilateral negotiations, multilateral negotiations, and unilateral actions. Unfortunately, those efforts have yet to bring a lasting peace, largely because there has been no viable Palestinian leader ready to negotiate an end to the conflict who has the strength and conviction to compromise and then to implement an agreement. This sad fact remains as true today as it has ever been.

That is why, as you seek to reinvigorate the peace process we believe it important to reinforce certain basic principles that have guided US Middle East policy that we know you share. First among these principles is securing the three very basic obligations put forward by the quartet that the Palestinian Authority must meet in order to receive direct aid from the international community: recognition of Israel's right to exist, a renunciation of violence and terror, and acceptance of previous Israeli – Palestinian agreements. So far, as a result of the international community's firm unity on these obligations, this policy has had real impact, with pressure mounting on the Hamas-led PA to do what is necessary in order for international assistance to resume.

The pressure to form a Palestinian unity government is a manifestation of that impact. We were deeply disappointed, however, that last month's Mecca agreement negotiated between leaders of Hamas and Fatah failed to meet or even address the obligations of the Quartet. Statements by Hamas leaders since the agreement was signed only reinforce that fact. While the agreement might have brought a temporary peace between Hamas and Fatah, it had little to do with making peace with Israel and ultimately does not serve the interests of the Palestinian people.

We know that there are already some in the Quartet who are pressing for direct aid to resume. That would be a huge step back from the peace process you seek to invigorate. We urge you to continue to hold firm and insist that these very basic international principles not change – no direct aid and no contacts with any members of a Palestinian Authority that does not explicitly and unequivocally recognize Israel's right to exist, renounce terror, and accept previous agreements.

We know that these are the principles that you helped develop and certainly share. It is our strong hope that they remain central to your efforts and to those of the Quarter as the peace process moves forward.

Sincerely,



Bill Nelson John Ensign

http://www.maannews.net/en/index.php?opr=ShowDetails&ID=20354
United Nations Convention on Racial Discrimination issues a number of recommendations to Israel
Date: 15 / 03 / 2007 Time: 15:38

Bethlehem - Ma'an - On 9 March, the United Nations International Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD) issued its observations regarding Israel's compliance, and non-compliance, with its convention, particularly in regards to its institutionalised discrimination of Palestinians inside Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories.

On 22-23 February 2007, after nearly 10 years of evading its responsibility, Israel finally met with ICERD to discuss the Convention. A number of Palestinian, Israeli and international NGOs attended, including Adalah, ACRI, Al Haq, Amnesty International, Badil, B'Tselem, Habitat Coalition International, National Lawyers Guild and the International Association of Democratic Lawyers.

ICERD, established in 1996, was one of the first human rights treaties to be adopted by the UN. It commits members, of which there are 173 state parties, including Israel, to amend or cancel national laws and policies that create or perpetuate any form of racial discrimination and aims, among other things, to promote racial equality.

Following the meeting, ICERD issued a number of observations and recommendations. First, it says it regrets that Israel's report did not provide any information on the occupied Palestinian territories, due to Israel's position that the Convention does not apply to these territories. Secondly, ICERD was concerned about the discrepancy in regards to implementation of the Convention between Israel's report and that of the NGOs. ICERD also urged Israel to respect deadlines in the future regarding its reports.

Amongst its specific recommendations, ICERD said that:

1) Israel should "provide information on the ethnic composition of the Jewish population of Israel, in order to enable a full understanding of the implementation of the Convention in the State party’s jurisdiction."

2) Israel should "ensure that the prohibition of racial discrimination and the principle of equality be enacted as general norms of high status in domestic law."

3) Israel should ensure that the definition of Israel as a Jewish nation state "does not result, in any systemic distinction, exclusion, restriction or preference based on race, colour, descent, or national or ethnic origin in the enjoyment of human rights. The Committee would welcome receiving more information on how the State party envisages the development of the national identity of all its citizens."

4) Israel should "assure equality in the right to return to one’s country and in the possession of property."

5) Israel must ensure that the World Zionist Organization, the Jewish Agency and the Jewish National Fund are "bound by the principle of non-discrimination in the exercise of their functions."

6) In regards to Israeli citizenship and residency, Israel should "revoke the Citizenship and Entry into Israel Law (Temporary Order), and reconsider its policy with a view to facilitating family reunification on a non-discriminatory basis." The Committee demanded that Israel "ensure that restrictions on family reunification are strictly necessary and limited in scope, and are not applied on the basis of nationality, residency or membership of a particular community."

7) Recognizing the discrimination against Israeli citizens who do not complete military service – such as the Israeli Arab population – ICERD recommended that Israel "adopt measures to ensure that access to public services is ensured to all without discrimination, whether direct or indirect, based on race, colour, descent, or national or ethnic origin."

8) Recognizing that Israel differentiates between the 'Arab' and 'Jewish' sectors, the Committee recommended that Israel "assess the extent to which the maintenance of separate Arab and Jewish “sectors” may amount to racial segregation". Israel should "develop and implement policies and projects aimed at avoiding separation of communities, in particular in the areas of housing and education", ICERD recommended. "Mixed Arab-Jewish communities and schools should be promoted and strong action taken to promote intercultural education."

9) Recognizing that Israel discriminates in its allocation of land, ICERD recommended that Israel "take all measures to ensure that State land is allocated without discrimination, direct or indirect, based on race, colour, descent, or national or ethnic origin."

10) The Committee also recommended that Israel increase its efforts to ensure the equal enjoyment of economic, social and cultural rights by Arab Israeli citizens, in particular their right to work, health and education. Israel should "assess the extent to which the alleged discriminatory attitudes by employers against Arabs, scarcity of jobs near Arab communities, and lack of daycare centers in Arab villages are a cause of high unemployment rates among Arabs," ICERD states. ICERD also recommended that Israel pay particular attention to the situation of Arab women in this regard.

11) On the subject of the Arab Bedouin population in the Negev/Naqab desert in southern Israel, one of the NGOs present at the discussion reported: "The Israeli delegation said that the state has adopted a policy of encouraging the Bedouin to move to planned towns because it was unable to provide all services to isolated and scattered communities. Israel said it provides land free of charge and compensation to the Bedouin for those who move into the planned towns." On this basis, ICERD recommended that Israel "enquire into possible alternatives to the relocation of inhabitants of unrecognized Bedouin villages in the Negev/Naqab to planned towns, in particular through the recognition of these villages and the recognition of the rights of the Bedouins to own, develop, control and use their communal lands, territories and resources traditionally owned or otherwise inhabited or used by them." It also recommended that Israel should "obtain the free and informed consent of affected communities prior to such relocation."

12) Israel should ensure that "access to higher education is ensured to all without discrimination, whether direct or indirect, based on race, colour, descent, or national or ethnic origin," ICERD asserts.

13) Israel should ensure that "laws and programmes be equally devoted to the promotion of cultural institutions and the protection of holy sites of both Jewish and other religious communities."

14) ICERD also recommended that Israel take "resolute action to counter any tendency to target, stigmatize, stereotype or profile people on the basis of race, colour, descent, and national or ethnic origin, especially by politicians."

In terms of the Palestinians in the occupied Palestinian territories, ICERD had the following recommendations:

1) That Israel "ensures that Palestinians enjoy full rights under the Convention without discrimination based on citizenship and national origin."

2) That Israel "cease the construction of the wall in the occupied Palestinian territories, including in and around East Jerusalem; dismantle the structure therein situated and make reparation for all damage caused by the construction of the wall."

3) In regards to the severe restrictions placed on the Palestinians in the occupied territories, ICERD said that Israel should ensure that "Palestinians enjoy their human rights, in particular their rights to freedom of movement, family life, work, education and health."

4) Israel should "ensure equal access to water resources to all without any discrimination." ICERD also reiterated its call for a "halt to the demolition of Arab properties particular in East Jerusalem and for respect for property rights irrespective of the ethnic or national origin of the owner." Also, ICERD noted that although different legal regimes may apply to Israeli citizens living in the occupied Palestinian territories and Palestinians, "Israel should ensure that the same crime is judged equally not taking into consideration the citizenship of the perpetrator."

5) That Israel ensures that its excavations in no way endanger the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem and impede access to it.

6) Regarding violence committed by Israeli settlers against Palestinians in the occupied territories, particularly in Hebron, ICERD recommended that Israel increase its efforts to protect Palestinians against such violence. "Israel should ensure that such incidents are investigated in a prompt, transparent and independent manner, are prosecuted and sentenced, and that avenues for redress are offered to the victims," ICERD recommended.

Israel was asked by ICERD to provide, within one year, information on the way it has followed up on ICERD's recommendations.