30 apr 2014
By KARIN LAUB and MOHAMMED DARAGHMEH Associated Press
The six children of Ahmed and Rokaya Khatib shuttle between two parental homes during the week, spending time with their mother in Jerusalem or with their father in the West Bank.
Theirs is not another story of a family broken up by divorce.
The Khatibs are being kept apart by Israeli restrictions on Palestinian movement in east Jerusalem, including a towering separation barrier of cement slabs that cuts through families and neighborhoods.
Their two homes, built on ancestral lands of their extended family, are just a mile (less than 2 kilometers) apart, but have ended up on opposite sides of the separation barrier. Rokaya and the children have Israeli permits to reach the Jerusalem house through a barrier checkpoint, but Israel has barred her husband on security grounds.
"We cannot live the life we want as a family," said Ahmed Khatib, 45. "It's not a normal life."
The dispute over Jerusalem forms the core of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and hope of finding a way to share the city has faded with the failure of the latest U.S. mediation attempt. A nine-month negotiating period, envisioned by U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry as bringing about a final peace deal, expired Tuesday with no progress on any issue, including the fate of Jerusalem.
The Palestinians seek to establish a capital in east Jerusalem, captured by Israel in 1967, while Israel's center-right government claims the entire city as its undivided capital. The fate of east Jerusalem is especially explosive because it is the home to sensitive Jewish, Muslim and Christian holy sites.
Some warn that the situation in Jerusalem is becoming increasingly unsustainable, particularly for tens of thousands of Palestinians whose daily lives are disrupted by the barrier and by Israel's permit regime, which bars most Palestinians in the West Bank from entering the city. In addition to seeing east Jerusalem as their spiritual capital, many Palestinians rely on the city for jobs, health care and other services.
"Jerusalem has been turned into a corked volcano ... and at some point it will erupt," said Daniel Seidemann, an Israeli lawyer and Jerusalem expert.
Israel says the restrictions are needed to keep out militants who targeted Israeli civilians in Jerusalem during a Palestinian uprising a decade ago.
"Israel wants to see a different reality of peace and co-existence," said government spokesman Mark Regev. Until then, security measures need to stay in place, he said.
The story of the Khatibs begins in the West Bank village of Hizme, near Jerusalem.
After Israel captured east Jerusalem in 1967, it expanded the city limits into the West Bank and took land from more than two dozen villages, including Hizme. Israel then annexed the enlarged Jerusalem to its capital — a move not recognized by most countries in the world.
In all, about one-fourth of Hizme's 4,500 acres (1,800 hectares) ended up within Jerusalem's new boundaries, village officials said. This included 12 acres (5 hectares) owned by the family of Ahmed and Rokaya Khatib, who belong to the same clan. Still, family members were able to move freely between the properties because Jerusalem's new border was just a line on a map.
Ahmed grew up in Hizme, while Rokaya spent her childhood in a house the family built on the Jerusalem land after 1967.
"It was a deserted area," Rokaya's mother, Kifaya, 78, said of the vista around her Jerusalem home.
The six children of Ahmed and Rokaya Khatib shuttle between two parental homes during the week, spending time with their mother in Jerusalem or with their father in the West Bank.
Theirs is not another story of a family broken up by divorce.
The Khatibs are being kept apart by Israeli restrictions on Palestinian movement in east Jerusalem, including a towering separation barrier of cement slabs that cuts through families and neighborhoods.
Their two homes, built on ancestral lands of their extended family, are just a mile (less than 2 kilometers) apart, but have ended up on opposite sides of the separation barrier. Rokaya and the children have Israeli permits to reach the Jerusalem house through a barrier checkpoint, but Israel has barred her husband on security grounds.
"We cannot live the life we want as a family," said Ahmed Khatib, 45. "It's not a normal life."
The dispute over Jerusalem forms the core of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and hope of finding a way to share the city has faded with the failure of the latest U.S. mediation attempt. A nine-month negotiating period, envisioned by U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry as bringing about a final peace deal, expired Tuesday with no progress on any issue, including the fate of Jerusalem.
The Palestinians seek to establish a capital in east Jerusalem, captured by Israel in 1967, while Israel's center-right government claims the entire city as its undivided capital. The fate of east Jerusalem is especially explosive because it is the home to sensitive Jewish, Muslim and Christian holy sites.
Some warn that the situation in Jerusalem is becoming increasingly unsustainable, particularly for tens of thousands of Palestinians whose daily lives are disrupted by the barrier and by Israel's permit regime, which bars most Palestinians in the West Bank from entering the city. In addition to seeing east Jerusalem as their spiritual capital, many Palestinians rely on the city for jobs, health care and other services.
"Jerusalem has been turned into a corked volcano ... and at some point it will erupt," said Daniel Seidemann, an Israeli lawyer and Jerusalem expert.
Israel says the restrictions are needed to keep out militants who targeted Israeli civilians in Jerusalem during a Palestinian uprising a decade ago.
"Israel wants to see a different reality of peace and co-existence," said government spokesman Mark Regev. Until then, security measures need to stay in place, he said.
The story of the Khatibs begins in the West Bank village of Hizme, near Jerusalem.
After Israel captured east Jerusalem in 1967, it expanded the city limits into the West Bank and took land from more than two dozen villages, including Hizme. Israel then annexed the enlarged Jerusalem to its capital — a move not recognized by most countries in the world.
In all, about one-fourth of Hizme's 4,500 acres (1,800 hectares) ended up within Jerusalem's new boundaries, village officials said. This included 12 acres (5 hectares) owned by the family of Ahmed and Rokaya Khatib, who belong to the same clan. Still, family members were able to move freely between the properties because Jerusalem's new border was just a line on a map.
Ahmed grew up in Hizme, while Rokaya spent her childhood in a house the family built on the Jerusalem land after 1967.
"It was a deserted area," Rokaya's mother, Kifaya, 78, said of the vista around her Jerusalem home.
29 apr 2014
An improvised cargo ship built by fishermen and international activists was hit by an explosion in Gaza early Tuesday, the Gaza's Ark initiative said in a statement.
At 3:45 a.m., a guard on board the boat received a call that the boat would be attacked, the statement said.
The guard left, but returned after nothing happened. Then an explosion occurred that caused the boat to sink.
No injuries were reported, but the boat was extensively damaged, the statement said. The perpetrators of the attack remain unclear.
The boat, dubbed Gaza's Ark, was set to bring Palestinian products from Gaza to Europe in protest against Israel's economic blockade on the coastal enclave.
"Gaza's Ark and all our partners in the Freedom Flotilla Coalition are considering our next move in response to this cowardly act of terrorism," David Heap of Gaza's Ark Steering Committee said in the statement.
"But our position remains clear: Neither this nor any other attack will stop our efforts to challenge the blockade of Gaza until it ends."
"This attack comes as we were almost ready to sail," said Ehab Lotayef, another member of the Steering Committee. "You can sink a boat but you can't sink a movement."
The boat was set to sail in spring 2014, the organization said in November.
If Gaza's Ark set sail to Europe, it would mark the first time goods from Gaza have been exported by sea since the signing of the 1994 Oslo Accords.
In May 2010, nine Turkish activists were killed during an Israeli raid on a six-ship flotilla trying to reach Gaza in defiance of the blockade.
Although the international outcry which followed the deadly raid forced Israel to significantly ease the terms of its blockade on Gaza, tight curbs remain in place on exports and travel.
Under the terms of the current restrictions, Gaza fishermen are not allowed to enter waters more than three nautical miles from the shore, with naval patrol boats firing at those who enter "unauthorized fishing areas."
The Gaza Strip has been under a severe economic blockade imposed by Israel since 2006. The blockade was imposed following the victory of Hamas in the 2006 Palestinian elections and the subsequent 2007 clashes between Fatah and Hamas, which left Hamas in control of the Strip and Fatah in control of the West Bank.
The blockade has severely limited the imports and exports of the Gaza Strip and has led to frequent humanitarian crises and hardship for Gazans.
At 3:45 a.m., a guard on board the boat received a call that the boat would be attacked, the statement said.
The guard left, but returned after nothing happened. Then an explosion occurred that caused the boat to sink.
No injuries were reported, but the boat was extensively damaged, the statement said. The perpetrators of the attack remain unclear.
The boat, dubbed Gaza's Ark, was set to bring Palestinian products from Gaza to Europe in protest against Israel's economic blockade on the coastal enclave.
"Gaza's Ark and all our partners in the Freedom Flotilla Coalition are considering our next move in response to this cowardly act of terrorism," David Heap of Gaza's Ark Steering Committee said in the statement.
"But our position remains clear: Neither this nor any other attack will stop our efforts to challenge the blockade of Gaza until it ends."
"This attack comes as we were almost ready to sail," said Ehab Lotayef, another member of the Steering Committee. "You can sink a boat but you can't sink a movement."
The boat was set to sail in spring 2014, the organization said in November.
If Gaza's Ark set sail to Europe, it would mark the first time goods from Gaza have been exported by sea since the signing of the 1994 Oslo Accords.
In May 2010, nine Turkish activists were killed during an Israeli raid on a six-ship flotilla trying to reach Gaza in defiance of the blockade.
Although the international outcry which followed the deadly raid forced Israel to significantly ease the terms of its blockade on Gaza, tight curbs remain in place on exports and travel.
Under the terms of the current restrictions, Gaza fishermen are not allowed to enter waters more than three nautical miles from the shore, with naval patrol boats firing at those who enter "unauthorized fishing areas."
The Gaza Strip has been under a severe economic blockade imposed by Israel since 2006. The blockade was imposed following the victory of Hamas in the 2006 Palestinian elections and the subsequent 2007 clashes between Fatah and Hamas, which left Hamas in control of the Strip and Fatah in control of the West Bank.
The blockade has severely limited the imports and exports of the Gaza Strip and has led to frequent humanitarian crises and hardship for Gazans.
28 apr 2014
Egyptian authorities will open Rafah crossing on Tuesday and Wednesday to allow medical and humanitarian cases out of Gaza after President Mahmoud Abbas’ request.
Palestinian Ambassador to Egypt Barakat al-Farra thanked Egypt for its concern and said it reflected the country's desire to ease the suffering of the people in Gaza.
Egyptian authorities have closed the crossing for over a month, and the regime only opens it on Sundays and Mondays for pilgrims and Gazans stranded in the country.
Palestinian Ambassador to Egypt Barakat al-Farra thanked Egypt for its concern and said it reflected the country's desire to ease the suffering of the people in Gaza.
Egyptian authorities have closed the crossing for over a month, and the regime only opens it on Sundays and Mondays for pilgrims and Gazans stranded in the country.
Egyptian authorities have been closing the Rafah crossing with the besieged Gaza Strip for the 28th day in a row. General administration for crossing in the Ministry of Interior in Gaza stated, '' 9500 Palestinians are waiting for the crossing to reopen, so that they can go to follow their study, do medical treatment, and attend their work abroad''.
Rafah crossing is the main border crossing that lies on the 12-km Gaza—Egypt border.
There have been frequent closures of the Rafah terminal in recent months after the ouster of President Mohamed Morsi on July 3, 2013. Egypt has repeatedly closed the Rafah border crossing and destroyed hundreds of tunnels that Gazans used for years to import fuel, building materials, and other goods.
Rafah crossing is the main border crossing that lies on the 12-km Gaza—Egypt border.
There have been frequent closures of the Rafah terminal in recent months after the ouster of President Mohamed Morsi on July 3, 2013. Egypt has repeatedly closed the Rafah border crossing and destroyed hundreds of tunnels that Gazans used for years to import fuel, building materials, and other goods.
Hundreds of Palestinian workers staged a mass sit-in at Jalama checkpoint north of Jenin on Monday morning in protest at Israeli’s debasing practices against them and all other passers-by. Eye-witnesses told PIC correspondent: “Israeli Occupation Authorities (IOA) are deliberately closing off the checkpoint, daily crossed by hundreds of workers heading to their workplaces and hospitals in 1948 occupied Palestine, generating an extreme overcrowding and traffic congestion around and at the checkpoint”.
Israeli occupation forces added fuel to fire as they opened the checkpoint at 5 a.m. and for five minutes only, so as to enrage the Palestinian workers and whip them up.
Hundreds of workers and civilians were brutally assaulted as they voiced their disapprovals of such malevolent Israeli misdemeanors. The Palestinian protestors were heavily beaten with IOF batons as they pushed their way through the checkpoint to reach their workplaces.
A massive sit-in was staged, as a result of the Israeli arbitrary and inconsiderate onslaughts, by the Palestinian workers, who have, unjustifiably, been denied smooth access out of or into their workplaces and other urgent amenities.
The sit-inners called on all responsible authorities to make the necessary steps so as to ensure an immediate and unconditional opening of the crossing, especially when they own all necessary legal documents and access-permits.
Israeli occupation forces added fuel to fire as they opened the checkpoint at 5 a.m. and for five minutes only, so as to enrage the Palestinian workers and whip them up.
Hundreds of workers and civilians were brutally assaulted as they voiced their disapprovals of such malevolent Israeli misdemeanors. The Palestinian protestors were heavily beaten with IOF batons as they pushed their way through the checkpoint to reach their workplaces.
A massive sit-in was staged, as a result of the Israeli arbitrary and inconsiderate onslaughts, by the Palestinian workers, who have, unjustifiably, been denied smooth access out of or into their workplaces and other urgent amenities.
The sit-inners called on all responsible authorities to make the necessary steps so as to ensure an immediate and unconditional opening of the crossing, especially when they own all necessary legal documents and access-permits.
27 apr 2014
A Palestinian human rights organization has warned of an unprecedented economic crisis afflicting the Gaza Strip since 2013. Head of Himaya Center for Human Rights in Gaza, Mohammad Nahal, revealed during a press conference on Saturday the inauspicious upshots of the siege imposed on Gaza especially during 2013.
According to Nahal, poverty rates have gone up to 40% during 2013, including 21% estimated to fall below the poverty line, due to the siege and the closure of border crossings and tunnels by the Israeli occupation authorities and Egyptian authorities.
Nahal further reported that unemployment rates in the Strip reached 40%.
Nahal called on the Arab League to take serious measures so as to lift the siege imposed on Gaza and to smooth the access of all humanitarian aids, passengers and goods out of and into the Strip.
Egyptian authorities continue to close the Rafah crossing, which is only partially opened before some humanitarian cases. This has led to a remarkable decline in the number of passengers from 8,444 travelers per day to 250 only, in the wake of the shutdown decision.
Data revealed Egyptian authorities limited free travel to those with residence permits abroad and foreign passport holders, urgent medical cases, and students.
27% of the essential drug lists in Gaza’s Central Drug Store were reported at zero stock levels while 16% of another 73-essential drug-list has almost reached zero levels. Several patients have also been denied medical treatment abroad.
Nahal called on the Egyptian authorities to take such a critical state of affairs into serious consideration and to open the Rafah crossing with no further delay so as to allow the unconditional access of goods and passengers out of and into the Gaza Strip, as already decreed by the International Law.
Nahal further urged the UN-affiliated Security Council, the General Assembly and Human Rights Council to take the necessary steps to lift the notorious Gaza siege.
According to Nahal the international community has also to assume its responsibility vis-à-vis the siege and the arbitrary mass punishment of civilian Palestinians, in addition to a flagrant violation of the terms of the Fourth Geneva Convention.
According to Nahal, poverty rates have gone up to 40% during 2013, including 21% estimated to fall below the poverty line, due to the siege and the closure of border crossings and tunnels by the Israeli occupation authorities and Egyptian authorities.
Nahal further reported that unemployment rates in the Strip reached 40%.
Nahal called on the Arab League to take serious measures so as to lift the siege imposed on Gaza and to smooth the access of all humanitarian aids, passengers and goods out of and into the Strip.
Egyptian authorities continue to close the Rafah crossing, which is only partially opened before some humanitarian cases. This has led to a remarkable decline in the number of passengers from 8,444 travelers per day to 250 only, in the wake of the shutdown decision.
Data revealed Egyptian authorities limited free travel to those with residence permits abroad and foreign passport holders, urgent medical cases, and students.
27% of the essential drug lists in Gaza’s Central Drug Store were reported at zero stock levels while 16% of another 73-essential drug-list has almost reached zero levels. Several patients have also been denied medical treatment abroad.
Nahal called on the Egyptian authorities to take such a critical state of affairs into serious consideration and to open the Rafah crossing with no further delay so as to allow the unconditional access of goods and passengers out of and into the Gaza Strip, as already decreed by the International Law.
Nahal further urged the UN-affiliated Security Council, the General Assembly and Human Rights Council to take the necessary steps to lift the notorious Gaza siege.
According to Nahal the international community has also to assume its responsibility vis-à-vis the siege and the arbitrary mass punishment of civilian Palestinians, in addition to a flagrant violation of the terms of the Fourth Geneva Convention.
The Israeli occupation authority (IOA) intends on Sunday to open Karam Abu Salem border crossing in the southern Gaza Strip before movement of goods following a nine-day closure. The coordination committee for the movement of goods stated in a press release today that the IOA would allow 420 trucks carrying goods and fuel supplies for the commercial and agricultural sectors to cross into Gaza through Karam Abu Salem terminal.
Head of the committee Ra'ed Fattouh said that shipments of industrial diesel for the Gaza power plant and gas stations as well as cooking gas would enter Gaza.
18 truckloads of building materials for UNRWA-financed projects would also cross into Gaza, Fattouh added.
The IOA had closed the crossing for several days at the pretext of Jewish holidays and the fall of Palestinian rockets in the Negev region.
Karam Abu Salem crossing is now considered the only border terminal through which shipments of goods and fuel are allowed into Gaza. The IOA closes the crossing on Fridays and Saturdays.
Head of the committee Ra'ed Fattouh said that shipments of industrial diesel for the Gaza power plant and gas stations as well as cooking gas would enter Gaza.
18 truckloads of building materials for UNRWA-financed projects would also cross into Gaza, Fattouh added.
The IOA had closed the crossing for several days at the pretext of Jewish holidays and the fall of Palestinian rockets in the Negev region.
Karam Abu Salem crossing is now considered the only border terminal through which shipments of goods and fuel are allowed into Gaza. The IOA closes the crossing on Fridays and Saturdays.
26 apr 2014
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Palestinians and international activists in more than 20 European countries have staged on Saturday protests and awareness campaigns aimed at ending the eight-year-long siege on Gaza.
April 26, 2014 was previously announced as The European Day to End #Gaza #Siege. The importance of the campaign lies with its coming in conjunction with parliamentary elections in a number of EU countries as the organizers called the decision-makers in Europe to mount more pressure to end the Gaza blockade. The "European Day to End #Gaza #Siege activities are scheduled to continue for the whole week.
Protests shall take place in front of the Egyptian and Israeli embassies, the main parties believed to be instigating the blockade of Gaza, and rallies in the central squares of major cities like Paris, London, Vienna, Rome, Geneva and Berlin. |
25 apr 2014
MP Jamal al-Khudari, head of the popular committee against siege, said the Israeli occupation authority (IOA) has seized around 2000 truckloads destined for the besieged Gaza Strip in its border terminals. MP Khudari said in a statement that the seized trucks are laden with different vital needs including food, commercial, industrial and medical supplies as well as humanitarian aid provided by national and international organizations.
According to MP Khudari, the fact that the crossing had been, in some way, opened so as to allow limited access of fuel and food aid into the besieged Gaza Strip, does not imply that the humanitarian crisis has reached its final stages in the Strip.
MP Khudari called for the immediate and unconditional opening of Karam Abu Salem crossing before movement of goods.
According to MP Khudari, the fact that the crossing had been, in some way, opened so as to allow limited access of fuel and food aid into the besieged Gaza Strip, does not imply that the humanitarian crisis has reached its final stages in the Strip.
MP Khudari called for the immediate and unconditional opening of Karam Abu Salem crossing before movement of goods.
24 apr 2014
Israeli occupation authorities refused to allow four members of the Palestine Liberation Organization central committee from Gaza from entering the West Bank on Thursday.
The four members were part of a delegation of 17 members of the PLO central committee traveling to take part in committee meetings starting next Saturday in Ramallah.
The members blocked from traveling by Israel were identified as: Walid al-Awad, member of the Palestinian People Party politburo, Saleh Zeidan, member of Democratic Front politburo, and two leaders of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, Kayid al-Ghoul and Rabah Muhanna.
Al-Awad told Ma'an that the 17 members of the central committee were traveling through the Beit Hanoun in order to continue on into the West Bank when the four were blocked.
The four members were part of a delegation of 17 members of the PLO central committee traveling to take part in committee meetings starting next Saturday in Ramallah.
The members blocked from traveling by Israel were identified as: Walid al-Awad, member of the Palestinian People Party politburo, Saleh Zeidan, member of Democratic Front politburo, and two leaders of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, Kayid al-Ghoul and Rabah Muhanna.
Al-Awad told Ma'an that the 17 members of the central committee were traveling through the Beit Hanoun in order to continue on into the West Bank when the four were blocked.
Abdula'al's glass industry
The industrial sector in Gaza Strip witnesses its worst days since years due to the tightening Israeli siege on Gaza Strip which prevented the entry of raw materials needed to run the factories. The production wheel of most factories in the enclave stopped , forcing its owners to discharge their workers until the crisis is over, to avoid more financial losses. Coloring glass industry has been affected significantly as the Israeli occupation has the right , under Gaza-Jericho Agreement Annex IV-Economic Protocol, to control the kind of industrial and economical projects in Gaza and its finance.
ALRY made an interview with Al-Haj Musalam Abdula'al the owner of a glass factory about this issue.
Abdula'al defined glass as colorless materials made by melting together several minerals at a very high temperatures. Silica, in the form of sand, is the main ingredient and this is combined with soda ash and limestone then melted in a furnace at temperatures of 1700°C. Other materials can be added to produce different colors or properties.
Abdulaal said that the history of glassmaking can be traced back to 2000 BC since then it entered in many aspects of human life where it uses in producing utensils and decorative materials including jewelry.
He continued " in the past the glass was used for architectural and industrial uses as the oldest glass materials were beads; the hallow pots weren’t recognized until 1500 BC."
He explained that the basic components of the glass are silica which derived from sand, flint and quartz that are melted down in very high temperatures to produce molten silica glass.
He told ALRAY that they use modern techniques in forming and coloring glass like drawing by laser, drilling by sand, and manual and automatic, pointing out that he has the first and only laser drawing machine in the Gaza Strip.
The process of glass digging made by putting a layer of jelly on the glass to make an insulating layer and then they choose the painting they want among huge number of available graphics then hey design it carefully according to the needed size, Abdulaal said.
He added " we enter the glass into a digital machine CNC and then give the order for computer to start the process and empty the painting to the required form and then enter the painting into the automatic sand machine then we remove the jelly layer to enter the glass into the heat glass washing machine."
Abdulaal explained that to draw and color by laser they cut the glass by glass cutter then they enter the glass into specialist machine to clean off the edges of the glass to remove any sharp points.
The second phase is entering the glass to the drawing machine and give it an implementation order to obtain the final form of the required precision and the size.
Abdulal said that the industry of the forming and coloring glass was greatly affected by the Israeli occupation siege imposed on Gaza Strip, indicating that the blockade prevents the exporting and importing of many materials they need to produce glass such as mirrors glass, the reinforced glass machine "Sikorit" and the materials needed for the industry of double glazing.
He explained that the continued of power cut affects the glass industry "the electricity cut off cripples the factories."
Palestinian industries are still affected by the Israeli occupation siege which is imposed on the Gaza Strip for 8 years
The industrial sector in Gaza Strip witnesses its worst days since years due to the tightening Israeli siege on Gaza Strip which prevented the entry of raw materials needed to run the factories. The production wheel of most factories in the enclave stopped , forcing its owners to discharge their workers until the crisis is over, to avoid more financial losses. Coloring glass industry has been affected significantly as the Israeli occupation has the right , under Gaza-Jericho Agreement Annex IV-Economic Protocol, to control the kind of industrial and economical projects in Gaza and its finance.
ALRY made an interview with Al-Haj Musalam Abdula'al the owner of a glass factory about this issue.
Abdula'al defined glass as colorless materials made by melting together several minerals at a very high temperatures. Silica, in the form of sand, is the main ingredient and this is combined with soda ash and limestone then melted in a furnace at temperatures of 1700°C. Other materials can be added to produce different colors or properties.
Abdulaal said that the history of glassmaking can be traced back to 2000 BC since then it entered in many aspects of human life where it uses in producing utensils and decorative materials including jewelry.
He continued " in the past the glass was used for architectural and industrial uses as the oldest glass materials were beads; the hallow pots weren’t recognized until 1500 BC."
He explained that the basic components of the glass are silica which derived from sand, flint and quartz that are melted down in very high temperatures to produce molten silica glass.
He told ALRAY that they use modern techniques in forming and coloring glass like drawing by laser, drilling by sand, and manual and automatic, pointing out that he has the first and only laser drawing machine in the Gaza Strip.
The process of glass digging made by putting a layer of jelly on the glass to make an insulating layer and then they choose the painting they want among huge number of available graphics then hey design it carefully according to the needed size, Abdulaal said.
He added " we enter the glass into a digital machine CNC and then give the order for computer to start the process and empty the painting to the required form and then enter the painting into the automatic sand machine then we remove the jelly layer to enter the glass into the heat glass washing machine."
Abdulaal explained that to draw and color by laser they cut the glass by glass cutter then they enter the glass into specialist machine to clean off the edges of the glass to remove any sharp points.
The second phase is entering the glass to the drawing machine and give it an implementation order to obtain the final form of the required precision and the size.
Abdulal said that the industry of the forming and coloring glass was greatly affected by the Israeli occupation siege imposed on Gaza Strip, indicating that the blockade prevents the exporting and importing of many materials they need to produce glass such as mirrors glass, the reinforced glass machine "Sikorit" and the materials needed for the industry of double glazing.
He explained that the continued of power cut affects the glass industry "the electricity cut off cripples the factories."
Palestinian industries are still affected by the Israeli occupation siege which is imposed on the Gaza Strip for 8 years
23 apr 2014
Ayman al-A'lool ,42, journalist and comic from Gaza
Fedaa al- Qedraa
The hard political, economical and social situations the Palestinians have been facing since 2007, in the Gaza Strip due to the Israeli occupation siege and internal Palestinian division push a lot of Gazan youth to express themselves by making funny critiques to their reality, exploited the wide spread of new media like Facebook and twitter.
Stand-up comedy is one of the famous satire program in the Gaza Strip produced by Gaza youth groups in an attempt to express their hopes, desires, life's concerns and to reduce the life stress. They use wit as a weapon and as a tool to draw attention to some political issues .
Ayman al-A'lool ,42, journalist and comic from Gaza said that he tried to make televised shows that reflects the real life in the Gaza Strip. "I made stand-up of a half minute criticizes Egyptian authorities' restricting of Palestinians movement through Rafah crossing in the same time they facilitate Israelis movement through Taba crossing, my message was to consider us Israelis and open Rfah crossing." The video spread widely on facebook pages what encouraged me to talk about other interesting issues for Palestinians by using very simple words in a very short time in try to affect the general attitude of the people.
Mohammed al-Khalidy ,24, Palestinian comedian who produced the ironic program Maaqol "Really!" said to ALRAY that " Maqoal is an ironic political program aims to rise the Palestinians awareness over their political issues by revealing what behind scenes."
He explained that " we interested in this idea because the satire media proved that it has a great impact on audience more than serious media and touch their hearts smoothly and simply.
He said that they face many difficulties and obstacles while making and producing such programmes, such as frequent electricity cut which obstruct filming process and also the absence of official support. He called for adopting and developing such programs which will see a great demand in the coming period.
Artist Aisa al-Khateeb said that " these programs do not cost highly and we adopt this kind of arts because the high demand on it especially among youth and people who love comedies."
Ahmed Khalil Gaza resident said that such programs break the routine as it reproduce the events in different manner in an entertaining way so the audience do not get bored even of the time it may take.
For his part, Sa'id Haj expressed his delight of such programs, hoping that it may developed and spread more .
The assistant professor in the Department of Journalism and Media at the Islamic University Ameen Wafi considered the existence of such programs in Gaza Strip a good start and it needs more efforts and research.
Wafi said to ALRAY that "comic satire programs are very important especially in the Gaza Strip, which becomes an square of events during the Israeli occupation blockade. It aims to reduce the people worries and provide them information in a simplified manner, but what is need from these programs is to respect the Palestinian habits and traditions.
Maqol program introduces two episodes Uncle's Sons which talk about people in Gaza Strip who are suffering of continuing closing Rafah crossing and the second one is State of Kerry which discussed the promised Palestinian state in an ironic comedies way.
Stand-up comedy is a comic style in which a comedian performs in front of a live audience, usually speaking directly to them. The performer is commonly known as a comic, stand-up comic, stand-up comedian or simply a stand-up.
Fedaa al- Qedraa
The hard political, economical and social situations the Palestinians have been facing since 2007, in the Gaza Strip due to the Israeli occupation siege and internal Palestinian division push a lot of Gazan youth to express themselves by making funny critiques to their reality, exploited the wide spread of new media like Facebook and twitter.
Stand-up comedy is one of the famous satire program in the Gaza Strip produced by Gaza youth groups in an attempt to express their hopes, desires, life's concerns and to reduce the life stress. They use wit as a weapon and as a tool to draw attention to some political issues .
Ayman al-A'lool ,42, journalist and comic from Gaza said that he tried to make televised shows that reflects the real life in the Gaza Strip. "I made stand-up of a half minute criticizes Egyptian authorities' restricting of Palestinians movement through Rafah crossing in the same time they facilitate Israelis movement through Taba crossing, my message was to consider us Israelis and open Rfah crossing." The video spread widely on facebook pages what encouraged me to talk about other interesting issues for Palestinians by using very simple words in a very short time in try to affect the general attitude of the people.
Mohammed al-Khalidy ,24, Palestinian comedian who produced the ironic program Maaqol "Really!" said to ALRAY that " Maqoal is an ironic political program aims to rise the Palestinians awareness over their political issues by revealing what behind scenes."
He explained that " we interested in this idea because the satire media proved that it has a great impact on audience more than serious media and touch their hearts smoothly and simply.
He said that they face many difficulties and obstacles while making and producing such programmes, such as frequent electricity cut which obstruct filming process and also the absence of official support. He called for adopting and developing such programs which will see a great demand in the coming period.
Artist Aisa al-Khateeb said that " these programs do not cost highly and we adopt this kind of arts because the high demand on it especially among youth and people who love comedies."
Ahmed Khalil Gaza resident said that such programs break the routine as it reproduce the events in different manner in an entertaining way so the audience do not get bored even of the time it may take.
For his part, Sa'id Haj expressed his delight of such programs, hoping that it may developed and spread more .
The assistant professor in the Department of Journalism and Media at the Islamic University Ameen Wafi considered the existence of such programs in Gaza Strip a good start and it needs more efforts and research.
Wafi said to ALRAY that "comic satire programs are very important especially in the Gaza Strip, which becomes an square of events during the Israeli occupation blockade. It aims to reduce the people worries and provide them information in a simplified manner, but what is need from these programs is to respect the Palestinian habits and traditions.
Maqol program introduces two episodes Uncle's Sons which talk about people in Gaza Strip who are suffering of continuing closing Rafah crossing and the second one is State of Kerry which discussed the promised Palestinian state in an ironic comedies way.
Stand-up comedy is a comic style in which a comedian performs in front of a live audience, usually speaking directly to them. The performer is commonly known as a comic, stand-up comic, stand-up comedian or simply a stand-up.
22 apr 2014
MP Jamal Al-Khudari, head of the popular committee against the siege, deplored Israel's decision to close Karam Abu Salem crossing in the south of the Gaza Strip for the fifth consecutive day and said that its closure would exacerbate the humanitarian suffering of the population. In a press release on Monday, MP Khudari said that the closure of Karam Abu Salem crossing means that the relief groups would be unable to send aid shipments to Gaza and vital construction projects, which need building materials, would stop.
He added that different commercial and industrial sectors would be affected as well after the movement of goods at the crossing came to a halt.
The head of the anti-siege committee called on Israel as an occupying power to spare the Gaza crossings under its control any political conflicts or field developments, affirming that the closure of crossings before movement of goods and individuals violates the international law and human rights.
"The crossings have been found to facilitate the lives of individuals and are considered a natural right for the delivery of their needs and the operation of factories, projects and different businesses. Israel must not use these crossings as a sword hanging over the necks of the Palestinians," he highlighted.
The Israeli occupation authority (IOA) decided on Monday to extend the closure of Karam Abu Salem crossing until further notice and only allow in fuel shipments for gas stations and the power plant in Gaza.
The IOA last Friday had closed the crossing for several days at the pretext of Jewish Passover celebrations and extended its closure this time after the alleged fall of Palestinian rockets in empty areas in the Negev region.
He added that different commercial and industrial sectors would be affected as well after the movement of goods at the crossing came to a halt.
The head of the anti-siege committee called on Israel as an occupying power to spare the Gaza crossings under its control any political conflicts or field developments, affirming that the closure of crossings before movement of goods and individuals violates the international law and human rights.
"The crossings have been found to facilitate the lives of individuals and are considered a natural right for the delivery of their needs and the operation of factories, projects and different businesses. Israel must not use these crossings as a sword hanging over the necks of the Palestinians," he highlighted.
The Israeli occupation authority (IOA) decided on Monday to extend the closure of Karam Abu Salem crossing until further notice and only allow in fuel shipments for gas stations and the power plant in Gaza.
The IOA last Friday had closed the crossing for several days at the pretext of Jewish Passover celebrations and extended its closure this time after the alleged fall of Palestinian rockets in empty areas in the Negev region.
Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) have unexpectedly erected a military checkpoint at Ramallah city’s northern entrance on Monday night. PIC news reporter said, quoting eye-witnesses, that dozens of Palestinian vehicles were intercepted and searched by IOF and passengers’ IDs were meticulously inspected.
According to a PIC correspondent, the military checkpoint is just a few meters away from PA chairman Mahmoud Abbas’s house.
In the same context, Deir Nidham village, west of Ramallah city, has been closed off for three uninterrupted days.
Palestinian native citizens are denied access out of or into the village, which has been declared a closed military zone by IOF, PIC reporter further maintained.
Hebrew sources claimed that cars belonging to Israeli settlers were thrown with stones and Molotov cocktails near the village. There were no reports of casualties in the process.
According to a PIC correspondent, the military checkpoint is just a few meters away from PA chairman Mahmoud Abbas’s house.
In the same context, Deir Nidham village, west of Ramallah city, has been closed off for three uninterrupted days.
Palestinian native citizens are denied access out of or into the village, which has been declared a closed military zone by IOF, PIC reporter further maintained.
Hebrew sources claimed that cars belonging to Israeli settlers were thrown with stones and Molotov cocktails near the village. There were no reports of casualties in the process.
Israeli occupation will shut down Tuesday Karm Abu Salem (Kerem Shalom) commercial crossing, the south-eastern Gaza Strip, but will allow limited amount of fuel to get into the besieged Gaza. Chairman for the Coordination Committee for the Entry of Goods into Gaza, Raed Fattouh said Monday “the occupation is to close the crossing on Tuesday.”
Fattouh pointed out the occupation was supposed to re-open the crossing on Tuesday to let in 400 trucks loaded with fuels, construction, commercial, agricultural and medical materials, and cement and aggregates for international projects.
The occupation will permit a little amount of fuel for the sole power plant, and limited amounts of gasoline, diesel and cooking gas to enter into the besieged enclave, he added
The occupation closed the crossing on Friday and Saturday, because of the Jewish weekend, while the crossing was closed Sunday and Monday under the pretext of the Jewish holidays.
There are three main crossing points out of the Gaza Strip: the northern Erez Crossing and the eastern Karni Crossing used only for cargo into Israel and the southern Rafah Crossing into Egypt. Other cargo crossing points are the Kerem Shalom border crossing on the border with Egypt and the Sufa Crossing further north.
The crossings are crucial to the economy of the Gaza Strip and to the daily needs of the population. Closing the crossings is considered as collective punishment for all who live in the tiny besieged enclave.
Fattouh pointed out the occupation was supposed to re-open the crossing on Tuesday to let in 400 trucks loaded with fuels, construction, commercial, agricultural and medical materials, and cement and aggregates for international projects.
The occupation will permit a little amount of fuel for the sole power plant, and limited amounts of gasoline, diesel and cooking gas to enter into the besieged enclave, he added
The occupation closed the crossing on Friday and Saturday, because of the Jewish weekend, while the crossing was closed Sunday and Monday under the pretext of the Jewish holidays.
There are three main crossing points out of the Gaza Strip: the northern Erez Crossing and the eastern Karni Crossing used only for cargo into Israel and the southern Rafah Crossing into Egypt. Other cargo crossing points are the Kerem Shalom border crossing on the border with Egypt and the Sufa Crossing further north.
The crossings are crucial to the economy of the Gaza Strip and to the daily needs of the population. Closing the crossings is considered as collective punishment for all who live in the tiny besieged enclave.
Israeli occupation forces on Tuesday, raided a house in the village of Tkou', east of Bethlehem.
Security source said that IOF Forces raided the house of Sameer Hassan al-Badan, searched it and withdrew without arresting anyone.
In a separate incident, Israeli forces set a military checkpoint in Hilweh Tomb area in Dar Salah village, east of Bethlehem. The soldiers stopped the vehicles and checked the Palestinian passengers' IDs.
Security source said that IOF Forces raided the house of Sameer Hassan al-Badan, searched it and withdrew without arresting anyone.
In a separate incident, Israeli forces set a military checkpoint in Hilweh Tomb area in Dar Salah village, east of Bethlehem. The soldiers stopped the vehicles and checked the Palestinian passengers' IDs.
