http://www.imemc.org/article/48413
Palestinian Child Art center warns of affects of infighting on children
Wednesday May 16, 2007 23:27 by Saed BannouraSaed Shyukhi – IMEMC saed at imemc dot org

Dr. Sameeh Abu Zakia, director of the Palestinian Children Arts Center and an activist in the rights of children, called on all Palestinian political, educational, health and civil institutions to act immediately in order to protect the children in Palestine, and to avoid their participation in any conflict in order to avoid any direct and indirect effects on them and their healthy growth.

Dr. Abu Zakia stated that it is the responsibility of every institution and every resident to protect the children and to provide them with the needed safety and security.

He stated that 25 million children are affected on annual basis by conflicts in the Arab world; these direct and indirect effects are inflicted on them through wars, conflicts, abductions and misplacement, and that they are not receiving the needed food, and the basic health, education and relief services.

Dr. Abu Zakia stated that those children are traumatized by what they witness during conflicts, internal fighting and wars, and added that article number 17 of the Geneva Convention, and the Children Rights Agreement (article 38) state that everyone must protect and take care of the children during wars.

Also, the Arab League approved an action plan that should be implements between the years 2004 and 2015 in order to guarantee the safety of children, and their protection as they are living under occupation, armed conflicts and are being subjected to forced relocation and displacement.

Dr. Abu Zakia said that Palestinian children are facing serious violations to their rights and to their wellbeing due to the Israeli violations, siege, shelling, house demolishing, checkpoints and closures, and that they are living under conditions of war.

He added that the percentage of children in Palestine is 53, which is a large portion of the society that should be protected and provided with a healthy environment, while the Israeli occupation and the internal clashes between the Palestinian gunmen are directly affecting them and affecting their healthy growth.

http://www.imemc.org/article/48412
Dr. Barghouthi slams all attacks against reporters
Wednesday May 16, 2007 22:50 by Naseer Faleh – IMEMC saed at imemc dot org

Palestinian Information Minister, Dr. Mustafa Barghouthi, rejected on Tuesday all attacks against reporters and called for the release of journalists surrounded by gunmen in a building in Gaza, and the release of the abducted BBC reporter Allen Johnston.

Dr. Barghouthi stated that all journalists should be free to move and should not be subjected to any attacks.

The statements of Barghouthi came during a protest for journalists in front of the Ramattan Media Agency in the northern West Bank city of Ramallah.

The journalists were protesting in support of their fellow journalists surrounded by gunmen in Al Johara tower in Gaza city, and in support to the safe and immediate release of Johnston.

The minister of information said that journalists should be protected and should be provided with the needed freedom of movement in order to be able to perform their duties without any obstacles.

He added that the journalists played an important role in exposing the Israeli illegal activities during the current Intifada and exposed the Israeli crimes.

Dr. Barghouthi also said that the Palestinians feel ashamed by the Gaza internal clashes and want these clashes to end immediately since they negatively affect the Palestinian struggle against the occupation and the image of resistance.

He called for an immediate halt of all clashes and all incidents of chaos, and called on the gunmen to respect the ceasefire agreement which was mediated between Fateh and Hamas.

Dr. Barghouthi received confirmations from several factions confirming their commitment to the ceasefire and expressed hopes that these commitments will be translated into actions in order to end the clashes and to concentrate the efforts on aiding the people and lifting the international-Israeli led embargo.

http://www.imemc.org/article/48411
An Israeli air strike kills a Hamas fighter in northern Gaza
Wednesday May 16, 2007 21:08 by Rami Almeghari - IMEMC & Agencies rami at imemc dot org

An Israeli air strike killed on Wednesday a Palestinian resistance fighter of Hamas and wounded three others moderately.

Hospital sources said that Rami aL-Zaqzouq, arrived dead at the Kamal Edwan hospital in the Beit Lahiya town in northern Gaza.

A Hamas source, speaking in a condition of anonymity, said that an Israeli unmanned drone fired a missile on an outpost for the Palestinian national security forces that was seized earlier by the Hamas men.

This attack is the second on Wednesday after the Israeli warplanes bombarded a headquarters of a Hamas-linked executive force in Rafah city, killing three members and wounding about 20 others.

In the meantime, Hamas announced a unilateral ceasefire to stop the ongoing infighting with Fatah over the past three days.

Khalil Alhaiya, an MP of Hamas, told Aljazeera Arab satellite channel that the ceasefire will come to effect by 17:00 GMT tonight and will include withdrawal of gunmen from the streets.

At least 37 people have been killed and about 100 injured due to the infighting, considered the deadliest in two months after the rival parties agreed to a national unity government in March.

The incidents were sparked after a Fatah gunman was killed on Friday by unknown militants. Hamas and Fatah traded accusations over the breakout of violence.

http://www.imemc.org/article/48409
Clashes continue in Gaza despite calls and declared cease-fire
Wednesday May 16, 2007 19:45 by IMEMC - Staff & Agencies rami at imemc dot org

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas ordered all Fatah loyalists to withdraw from the streets after clashes between the two main rival parties, Hamas and Fatah continued in the Gaza Strip despite of a declared cease-fire.

In Ramallah, Palestinians took to the streets of Ramallah demanding the factions to stop their ingihting.

Palestinian Minister of Information, Maustafa Barghouti, told Al-Jazeera International TV that the Hamas movement has agreed to a unilateral ceasefire Wednesday and that Fatah is expected to follow the lead.

Barghouti warned of a disaster in Gaza unless both parties commit to a solid ceasefire that ends fighting once and for all.

Meanwhile, a media building in Gaza has come under fire and about 30 journalists have been stuck in the building for almost 2 hours.

In the meantime, unconfirmed reports said the Israeli warplanes raided northern Gaza. No further details were reported.

http://www.imemc.org/article/48408
Students at Harvard launch a campaign against Israeli General
Wednesday May 16, 2007 18:20 by George Rishmawi - IMEMC & Agencies george at imemc dot org

A group of students and professors at Harvard University in the United States have launched a campaign against the former Israeli Army Chief of Staff, reserve General Dan Halutz.

Halutz, who resigned shortly after the war against Lebanon that he led as chief of staff, left Israel to continue studies in the Harvard Business School.

The campaign, that is organized by many, including Jewish students, describe Halutz as “Wanted War Criminal” and setup posters carrying Halutz picture saying “Wanted for War Crimes” and others saying, “General Dan Halutz was seen at HBS in May 2007.”

The posters also indicate the accusations against Halutz, including ordering Israeli war planes to carry out indiscriminate attacks against Lebanese areas killing more than a thousand civilians.

The campaign, which is organized by the Alliance for Justice in the Middle East (AJME), calls for the campus community to help them find Halutz and demanded those who see him to contact the international criminal court.

The Alliance often chases Israeli general accusing them of committing crimes against the Palestinians and demands their arrest for Human Rights abuses allegations.