9 oct 2014
US State Department Spokesperson Jen Psaki
The US State Department asserted, on Thursday, that Israel must contribute to Gaza's reconstruction, following the devastating assault on the besieged coastal enclave, this past summer.
WAFA Palestinian News & Info Agency reports that, in her daily briefing, US State Department Spokesperson Jen Psaki stated to press representatives: “We do think that Israel will need to play a role in Gaza reconstruction. We were pleased to see that the UN, Israel and the Palestinian Authority agreed on procedures aimed at expediting the passage of relief materials into Gaza, while taking into account Israel’s security needs.”
Palestinians will be able to begin importing reconstruction material into the Gaza Strip through Israeli-controlled crossings starting next week, Palestinian Minister of Civil Affairs Hussein al-Sheikh said on Wednesday.
However, Psaki would not be drawn on whether or not US aid should be contingent on guarantees of a lasting ceasefire, to ensure that the money was not wasted in any future armed conflict.
“Ideally we’d like to see an agreement on a way forward for a sustainable ceasefire that addresses the long-term issues so we don’t have the recurring conflict,” she said.
Although the forthcoming conference will primarily focus on Gaza reconstruction, Psaki noted that US Secretary of State John Kerry “will have some sidebar conversations, but it’s not the primary focus. They’ll have to reconvene the parties to have that discussion separately from this conference.”
Psaki confirmed that Kerry would participate in the Gaza reconstruction conference, that would be co-hosted by Cairo on October 12, joining the EU, the UN, the Arab League, and other foreign leaders.
She also mentioned that the US has committed $118 million in humanitarian assistance to Gaza.
The US State Department asserted, on Thursday, that Israel must contribute to Gaza's reconstruction, following the devastating assault on the besieged coastal enclave, this past summer.
WAFA Palestinian News & Info Agency reports that, in her daily briefing, US State Department Spokesperson Jen Psaki stated to press representatives: “We do think that Israel will need to play a role in Gaza reconstruction. We were pleased to see that the UN, Israel and the Palestinian Authority agreed on procedures aimed at expediting the passage of relief materials into Gaza, while taking into account Israel’s security needs.”
Palestinians will be able to begin importing reconstruction material into the Gaza Strip through Israeli-controlled crossings starting next week, Palestinian Minister of Civil Affairs Hussein al-Sheikh said on Wednesday.
However, Psaki would not be drawn on whether or not US aid should be contingent on guarantees of a lasting ceasefire, to ensure that the money was not wasted in any future armed conflict.
“Ideally we’d like to see an agreement on a way forward for a sustainable ceasefire that addresses the long-term issues so we don’t have the recurring conflict,” she said.
Although the forthcoming conference will primarily focus on Gaza reconstruction, Psaki noted that US Secretary of State John Kerry “will have some sidebar conversations, but it’s not the primary focus. They’ll have to reconvene the parties to have that discussion separately from this conference.”
Psaki confirmed that Kerry would participate in the Gaza reconstruction conference, that would be co-hosted by Cairo on October 12, joining the EU, the UN, the Arab League, and other foreign leaders.
She also mentioned that the US has committed $118 million in humanitarian assistance to Gaza.
The Palestinian Health Ministry warned of an imminent health crisis to hit Gaza’s hospitals soon due to the acute shortages in fuel reserves. Spokesman for the Health ministry, Ashraf al-Qudra, launched a distress signal over the looming crisis, urging all concerned parties to immediately intervene so as to restock Gaza’s hospitals with the necessary fuel needed to operate the power generators.
Al-Qudra raised alarm bells over the complex and complicated nature of the crisis after Gaza’s hospitals have run out of fuel.
He further warned that fuel reserves in children’s hospitals are at zero stock, a crisis expected to rock other hospitals within the next few days.
Al-Qudra raised alarm bells over the complex and complicated nature of the crisis after Gaza’s hospitals have run out of fuel.
He further warned that fuel reserves in children’s hospitals are at zero stock, a crisis expected to rock other hospitals within the next few days.
8 oct 2014
The Israeli occupation authorities (IOA) have lifted none of the bans imposed on the access of the Gaza reconstruction materials into the blockaded Strip via the Karem Abu Salem border-crossing, the Popular Committee Against the Siege warned. The committee spoke out in a statement against Israel’s continued denial of entry of the reconstruction materials into the Gaza Strip.
Not even a single room, among the thousands of civilian homes destroyed by the notorious Israeli 51-day-offensive on the besieged enclave, has been built to date, despite the hundreds of homeless families and children who have been forced to wander down and out on Gaza’s streets, without roofs over their heads, the committee charged.
According to the statement, the situation has remarkably gone downhill as the IOA has deliberately tightened grips on the border-crossings, Gaza’s key and sole entryway.
The anti-siege committee launched distress signals over the tragic state of affairs in the Gaza Strip, warning that things have gone from bad to worse after the Israeli occupation reneged on its promises to smooth the access of reconstruction items and stabbed Gazans in the back.
A ferocious Israeli military operation rocked the Gaza Strip for 51 days, starting from July 7, and took away the lives of at least 2159 Palestinians. Thousands of innocent citizens have been left wounded while thousands of family homes and civilian structures were wiped out in the process.
Not even a single room, among the thousands of civilian homes destroyed by the notorious Israeli 51-day-offensive on the besieged enclave, has been built to date, despite the hundreds of homeless families and children who have been forced to wander down and out on Gaza’s streets, without roofs over their heads, the committee charged.
According to the statement, the situation has remarkably gone downhill as the IOA has deliberately tightened grips on the border-crossings, Gaza’s key and sole entryway.
The anti-siege committee launched distress signals over the tragic state of affairs in the Gaza Strip, warning that things have gone from bad to worse after the Israeli occupation reneged on its promises to smooth the access of reconstruction items and stabbed Gazans in the back.
A ferocious Israeli military operation rocked the Gaza Strip for 51 days, starting from July 7, and took away the lives of at least 2159 Palestinians. Thousands of innocent citizens have been left wounded while thousands of family homes and civilian structures were wiped out in the process.
7 oct 2014
Israeli authorities have approved the entry of construction materials into Gaza Strip on Tuesday, director of the Palestinian side of Karm Abu Salem crossing Munir Ghalban said. Ghalban told Anadolu News Agency that the Ramallah-based Palestinian National Company reported the Israeli approval for the building materials’ access to Gaza.
Nearly 60 trucks loaded with cement are expected to enter Gaza via Karm Abu Salem crossing on Tuesday, he added.
Israel has banned construction materials’ access to Gaza since it started its 51-day aggression on the Strip, with the exception of consignments destined for UNRWA.
Meanwhile, the US State department said on Monday that US Secretary of State John Kerry is expected to arrive in Cairo Sunday to take part in the upcoming international donors conference on the reconstruction of Gaza.
On Monday, a US State Department delegation arrived from Germany to Cairo to arrange for Kerry’s expected visit to Egypt, a diplomatic official told Anadolu news agency.
The international donors conference will meet in Cairo to pledge funds for the reconstruction of Gaza on October 12. The Palestinian Authority had earlier declared that the cost of the reconstruction process of Gaza is estimated at four billion dollars at least.
Nearly 60 trucks loaded with cement are expected to enter Gaza via Karm Abu Salem crossing on Tuesday, he added.
Israel has banned construction materials’ access to Gaza since it started its 51-day aggression on the Strip, with the exception of consignments destined for UNRWA.
Meanwhile, the US State department said on Monday that US Secretary of State John Kerry is expected to arrive in Cairo Sunday to take part in the upcoming international donors conference on the reconstruction of Gaza.
On Monday, a US State Department delegation arrived from Germany to Cairo to arrange for Kerry’s expected visit to Egypt, a diplomatic official told Anadolu news agency.
The international donors conference will meet in Cairo to pledge funds for the reconstruction of Gaza on October 12. The Palestinian Authority had earlier declared that the cost of the reconstruction process of Gaza is estimated at four billion dollars at least.
1 oct 2014
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon pressed Israeli premier Benjamin Netanyahu, during a meeting held at the UN headquarters in New York on Tuesday, to lift the Gaza siege as the only way out of the potential outburst of fighting in Gaza anew. According to a statement issued by the Secretary General’s Spokesperson, Moon received Netanyahu in a behind-closed-doors meeting, during which he stressed the need to “lift the enforced Gaza blockade and meet Israel’s legitimate security concerns.”
Moon voiced deep concern at continued Israeli settlement activity at the expense of Palestinians’ occupied territories and reiterated that a political horizon must be restored without further procrastination.
A return to the status quo is not an option, UN Secretary General further stated as he stressed the urgent need to address the underlying causes of the crisis.
He welcomed the tripartite agreement between the government of Israel, the Palestinian Authority and the United Nations on the secure entry of reconstruction materials into Gaza and hoped for its swift implementation.
UN Middle East Envoy, Robert Serry, announced in mid September that the PA, UN, and Israel had struck a deal on the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip, enabling the PA to take a leading role in the reconstruction process and the UN to monitor the construction materials.
Israel has tightened military air and sea grips on Gaza ever since Hamas swept Palestinian legislative elections in January 2006 and won a landslide victory.
The siege had grown even tougher despite the fact that Hamas stepped down from Gaza government and made concessions to beef up the unity government formed in June.
The situation has remarkably gone downhill in the wake of the notorious 51-day Israeli offensive that rocked the blockaded enclave. At least 2159 Palestinians, mostly innocent children and women, were mass-murdered while 11,000 others sustained critical wounds in the process.
Moon voiced deep concern at continued Israeli settlement activity at the expense of Palestinians’ occupied territories and reiterated that a political horizon must be restored without further procrastination.
A return to the status quo is not an option, UN Secretary General further stated as he stressed the urgent need to address the underlying causes of the crisis.
He welcomed the tripartite agreement between the government of Israel, the Palestinian Authority and the United Nations on the secure entry of reconstruction materials into Gaza and hoped for its swift implementation.
UN Middle East Envoy, Robert Serry, announced in mid September that the PA, UN, and Israel had struck a deal on the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip, enabling the PA to take a leading role in the reconstruction process and the UN to monitor the construction materials.
Israel has tightened military air and sea grips on Gaza ever since Hamas swept Palestinian legislative elections in January 2006 and won a landslide victory.
The siege had grown even tougher despite the fact that Hamas stepped down from Gaza government and made concessions to beef up the unity government formed in June.
The situation has remarkably gone downhill in the wake of the notorious 51-day Israeli offensive that rocked the blockaded enclave. At least 2159 Palestinians, mostly innocent children and women, were mass-murdered while 11,000 others sustained critical wounds in the process.
27 sept 2014
By Tamar Fleishman
The girl with the doll, her mother and her two sisters, one of which was burning up with fever and kept crying each time she saw a soldier, weren’t permitted to pass through the checkpoint and head home to Abu- Gosh.
Everything was done according to the regulations and everything was done according to the orders, there were no irregularities.
That is what they teach them and that is what they are trained to do, to obey with full compliance without taking responsibility or acting according to their own judgment.
Because this way is better for them and this way is better for the system, and this is how generations of children turn into obedient adults who follow their orders without second guessing the actions they perform and their consequences.
The mother of the girl with the doll, who was born and raised in Ramallah and has a Palestinian ID, married an Israeli citizen from the village Abu Gosh.
The Citizenship and Entry into Israel Law is in essence a racist law, and no other country in the world has anything like it. This law determines that all the Palestinians are a threat to the security of the Israeli state, and is intended to prevent legal status to Palestinian couples. It was designed in 2002 as a Temporal Order but has been renewed over and over again each time it was supposed to expire. This law prevents the mother of the girl with the doll from permanently living in the house where she shares her life with her husband and children, and forces her to always have a: “Temporary Permit for Family Reunification”, which as is evident from the title, is a temporary permit that might be taken away from her at any given moment.
But on that morning the woman who was visiting her family in Ramallah with her children, had possibly taken a different bag or perhaps forgot to make sure or maybe…
Either way, it was only in the afternoon at the checkpoint, as they were heading back, that she learned that she only had a copy of the passage permit. But a copy is never good enough, when you are a Palestinian you must have the original document.
And even if she had the original document, she also didn’t have her ID with her, now that is really bad. However, it’s not as though the inspecting soldier and the policeman who was summoned, couldn’t verify her identity. The computer is able to verify anyone’s identity using their ID number or by comparing their finger prints with the biometric database, and they could have even used both methods.
But where there is a will there is a way, and there was no will so they didn’t check and following the orders they got by phone from the high and mighty, they cleared that hazard away and sent away the girl with the doll, her mother and her two sisters, one of which was burning up with fever and kept crying each time she saw a soldier.
That’s it. And no one can tell me this occupation doesn’t stink.
- As a member of Machsomwatch, once a week Tamar Fleishman heads out to document the checkpoints between Jerusalem and Ramallah. This documentation (reports, photos and videos) can be found on the organization’s site: www.machsomwatch.org. The majority of the Spotlights (an opinion page) that are published on the site had been written by her. She is also a member of the Coalition of Women for Peace and volunteer in Breaking the Silence. She contributed this article to PalestineChronicle.com.
The girl with the doll, her mother and her two sisters, one of which was burning up with fever and kept crying each time she saw a soldier, weren’t permitted to pass through the checkpoint and head home to Abu- Gosh.
Everything was done according to the regulations and everything was done according to the orders, there were no irregularities.
That is what they teach them and that is what they are trained to do, to obey with full compliance without taking responsibility or acting according to their own judgment.
Because this way is better for them and this way is better for the system, and this is how generations of children turn into obedient adults who follow their orders without second guessing the actions they perform and their consequences.
The mother of the girl with the doll, who was born and raised in Ramallah and has a Palestinian ID, married an Israeli citizen from the village Abu Gosh.
The Citizenship and Entry into Israel Law is in essence a racist law, and no other country in the world has anything like it. This law determines that all the Palestinians are a threat to the security of the Israeli state, and is intended to prevent legal status to Palestinian couples. It was designed in 2002 as a Temporal Order but has been renewed over and over again each time it was supposed to expire. This law prevents the mother of the girl with the doll from permanently living in the house where she shares her life with her husband and children, and forces her to always have a: “Temporary Permit for Family Reunification”, which as is evident from the title, is a temporary permit that might be taken away from her at any given moment.
But on that morning the woman who was visiting her family in Ramallah with her children, had possibly taken a different bag or perhaps forgot to make sure or maybe…
Either way, it was only in the afternoon at the checkpoint, as they were heading back, that she learned that she only had a copy of the passage permit. But a copy is never good enough, when you are a Palestinian you must have the original document.
And even if she had the original document, she also didn’t have her ID with her, now that is really bad. However, it’s not as though the inspecting soldier and the policeman who was summoned, couldn’t verify her identity. The computer is able to verify anyone’s identity using their ID number or by comparing their finger prints with the biometric database, and they could have even used both methods.
But where there is a will there is a way, and there was no will so they didn’t check and following the orders they got by phone from the high and mighty, they cleared that hazard away and sent away the girl with the doll, her mother and her two sisters, one of which was burning up with fever and kept crying each time she saw a soldier.
That’s it. And no one can tell me this occupation doesn’t stink.
- As a member of Machsomwatch, once a week Tamar Fleishman heads out to document the checkpoints between Jerusalem and Ramallah. This documentation (reports, photos and videos) can be found on the organization’s site: www.machsomwatch.org. The majority of the Spotlights (an opinion page) that are published on the site had been written by her. She is also a member of the Coalition of Women for Peace and volunteer in Breaking the Silence. She contributed this article to PalestineChronicle.com.
25 sept 2014
The director of the border crossings in the Gaza Strip, Maher Abu Sabha, confirmed Thursday that Egyptian authorities retracted promises to facilitate Palestinians' travel via Rafah crossing despite their urgent need for travel. He pointed out that he received on Tuesday Egyptian promises to facilitate work at the crossing, however only sick people and those with foreign residency permits are allowed to pass through the border crossing.
He said that Egyptian authorities are still refusing to deal with student category, where students are allowed to leave the enclave to another country only if it is approved by Egyptian authorities.
He pointed out that only nine buses were allowed to pass through Rafah crossing since Tuesday.
The Rafah crossing is the sole link between Gaza's 1.7 million people and the outside world, but Egypt largely keeps it closed as part of the jointly-enforced Israeli blockade.
He said that Egyptian authorities are still refusing to deal with student category, where students are allowed to leave the enclave to another country only if it is approved by Egyptian authorities.
He pointed out that only nine buses were allowed to pass through Rafah crossing since Tuesday.
The Rafah crossing is the sole link between Gaza's 1.7 million people and the outside world, but Egypt largely keeps it closed as part of the jointly-enforced Israeli blockade.
21 sept 2014
The security situation in Egyptian border areas prevented a Jordanian parliamentary delegation on Saturday from visiting the Gaza Strip, a Jordanian lawmaker said. MP Yehiya Al-Saud, head of the delegation, stated that they had to leave Cairo after they were told that the travel road to Rafah was not safe.
"The Jordanian embassy in Cairo and the Egyptian authorities told members of the delegation about the failure of the security authorities in the country to provide protection for them after the bombing incidents that occurred during the past few days on the same route the delegation was to take," Saud explained.
The Jordanian delegation was planning to visit Gaza through the Rafah border crossing last Wednesday, but the bombings that took place recently in Rafah and Arish areas led the Egyptian army to declare them closed military zones.
"The Jordanian embassy in Cairo and the Egyptian authorities told members of the delegation about the failure of the security authorities in the country to provide protection for them after the bombing incidents that occurred during the past few days on the same route the delegation was to take," Saud explained.
The Jordanian delegation was planning to visit Gaza through the Rafah border crossing last Wednesday, but the bombings that took place recently in Rafah and Arish areas led the Egyptian army to declare them closed military zones.
Information Ministry undersecretary, Ihab al-Ghasin, on Saturday dubbed mounting talks on the entrenchment of an “illegal immigration” phenomenon an overstated fuss, calling instead for the launch of regular follow-ups to keep tabs on the affair. Ghussain said in a press conference held in Gaza on Saturday: “We found out after meticulous scrutiny of the names of “illegal” migrants who arrived in foreign territories that most of the refugees left the Gaza Strip via legal means, using the Rafah crossing.”
“A large number of migrants have been residing outside of the Strip for several years, particularly in Egypt,” he added.
In Ghussain’s terms, a small number of citizens who left the Gaza Strip through illegal ways did so via tunnels dug up over the past few months, before authorities detected the tunnels and indicted the persons responsible for the affair.
The incident has taken more than its fair share of dramatization, Ghussain said, adding: “This is cheer nonsense. We are talking about a nation that has never left its native soil even during the most atrocious of all wars, compared to the millions who departed their mother lands. The bulk of our diaspora have come back home during the offensive to corroborate their devotion to their land even in the hardest circumstances ever.”
Ghussain held the Israeli occupation and the blockade responsible for Gaza’s economic breakdown and unprecedented upsurge in unemployment rates.
He further slammed the international community for its silence vis-à-vis the siege and its reluctance to impeach Israel’s war criminals.
He called for opening the Rafah crossing as an efficient way-out to smooth the access of passengers and goods out of and into Gaza and enhance the Strip’s work mechanisms.
Ghussain urged the Arab countries to meet Palestinian refugees’ rights to live in safety and open up new prospects before Palestinian graduates as the only way-out of illegal immigration to the West.
The Palestinian official denounced bidding and political exploitation of the cause, calling rather for pulling resources to work out the affair and mitigate Palestinians’ agony.
All of Gaza’s employees have been ready since the first days of the formation of the unity government to carry out their allotted missions and cooperate with it in the very best way possible, Ghussain emphasized.
He hailed Palestinians’ determination to overthrow the Israeli colonizer and cling to every single inch of their lands until their last breath.
“A large number of migrants have been residing outside of the Strip for several years, particularly in Egypt,” he added.
In Ghussain’s terms, a small number of citizens who left the Gaza Strip through illegal ways did so via tunnels dug up over the past few months, before authorities detected the tunnels and indicted the persons responsible for the affair.
The incident has taken more than its fair share of dramatization, Ghussain said, adding: “This is cheer nonsense. We are talking about a nation that has never left its native soil even during the most atrocious of all wars, compared to the millions who departed their mother lands. The bulk of our diaspora have come back home during the offensive to corroborate their devotion to their land even in the hardest circumstances ever.”
Ghussain held the Israeli occupation and the blockade responsible for Gaza’s economic breakdown and unprecedented upsurge in unemployment rates.
He further slammed the international community for its silence vis-à-vis the siege and its reluctance to impeach Israel’s war criminals.
He called for opening the Rafah crossing as an efficient way-out to smooth the access of passengers and goods out of and into Gaza and enhance the Strip’s work mechanisms.
Ghussain urged the Arab countries to meet Palestinian refugees’ rights to live in safety and open up new prospects before Palestinian graduates as the only way-out of illegal immigration to the West.
The Palestinian official denounced bidding and political exploitation of the cause, calling rather for pulling resources to work out the affair and mitigate Palestinians’ agony.
All of Gaza’s employees have been ready since the first days of the formation of the unity government to carry out their allotted missions and cooperate with it in the very best way possible, Ghussain emphasized.
He hailed Palestinians’ determination to overthrow the Israeli colonizer and cling to every single inch of their lands until their last breath.
4 sept 2014
Sami al-Amasi, Head of the Palestinian General Federation of Trade Unions, on Wednesday, dubbed Israel’s violation of the ceasefire agreement and attacks on Palestinian fishermen signs of malevolent schemes to step up Israel’s throttle-hold on Gaza’s sole food entryway. Al-Amasi said in a press release on Wednesday Israel has once again opened fire on Palestinian fishermen in another major violation of the ceasefire agreement. In his view, the situation is already worsened by the tight Gaza blockade and the closed crossings.
“Israel is back to its pre-war terror scenarios, shooting Palestinian fishermen, rounding them up, and confiscating their fishing boats on an almost daily basis,” he charged.
Al-Amasi condemned Israel’s arbitrary abduction of the Palestinian young fishermen Talel al-Sultan, 23, and Muhammad Zayed, 19, along with Israeli gunfire unleashed as early as 6 a.m. on Palestinian fishermen north of the Gaza Strip.
The chief of syndicate called the Palestinian factions and human rights groups to take legal action against such Israeli infringements and disregard for the ceasefire.
Senior Hamas official Salah al-Bardawil said on Wednesday: “Israel’s violation of the Egyptian-brokered ceasefire, stipulating an immediate cessation of Israeli hostility, the unconditional lifting of the Gaza blockade, and the entry of Gaza reconstruction materials, bodes ill for the Israeli occupation.”
Al-Bardawil vowed that Hamas will keep tabs on such truce breaches, expressing wishes that no more violations of this sort would be stepped up.
“We are so sure that the siege will be lifted and the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip will be made true as long as there is a strong-willed nation that shall never throw in the towel,” he pledged.
“Israel is back to its pre-war terror scenarios, shooting Palestinian fishermen, rounding them up, and confiscating their fishing boats on an almost daily basis,” he charged.
Al-Amasi condemned Israel’s arbitrary abduction of the Palestinian young fishermen Talel al-Sultan, 23, and Muhammad Zayed, 19, along with Israeli gunfire unleashed as early as 6 a.m. on Palestinian fishermen north of the Gaza Strip.
The chief of syndicate called the Palestinian factions and human rights groups to take legal action against such Israeli infringements and disregard for the ceasefire.
Senior Hamas official Salah al-Bardawil said on Wednesday: “Israel’s violation of the Egyptian-brokered ceasefire, stipulating an immediate cessation of Israeli hostility, the unconditional lifting of the Gaza blockade, and the entry of Gaza reconstruction materials, bodes ill for the Israeli occupation.”
Al-Bardawil vowed that Hamas will keep tabs on such truce breaches, expressing wishes that no more violations of this sort would be stepped up.
“We are so sure that the siege will be lifted and the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip will be made true as long as there is a strong-willed nation that shall never throw in the towel,” he pledged.
A round of Palestinian-Egyptian talks has been on the move to deliberate over the potential management of the Rafah crossing by a group of Palestinian officials, Hishem Yousef, Assistant Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs for the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), said. Talking during a meeting held by Gaza-based Press House on Wednesday evening, Yousef said the OIC has been in touch with the Egyptian authorities and kept launching appeals to open the Rafah crossing so as to allow humanitarian aid access into the besieged Strip.
“A committee, to be soon running the crossing and smoothing passengers’ movements out of and into Gaza, is currently receiving training in Egypt.” he stated, adding: “More than 1800 tons of aid and medical supplies were allowed entry into the Strip, in coordination with the Egyptian and Palestinian Red Cross last month.”
Yousef confirmed that efforts are underway with the Egyptian authorities and the Palestinian consensus government to reconstruct the Gaza Strip as soon as possible.
He called on the Palestinian leadership to pool resources and uphold a unified political standpoint.
“Initial estimates indicate the needs of the Strip are in the 6 billion dollars as an urgent relief to those who have been affected by the offensive,” he maintained.
Meanwhile, the Egyptian authorities have re-shut down the Rafah crossing on Wednesday after one bus, carrying 75 passengers, was allowed to pass through.
Egypt refused the entry of seven more buses and 41 passengers under pretext of a breakdown in the computer network.
Work mechanisms in the crossing have not been enhanced following the ceasefire agreement brokered by Egypt, sources in Rafah charged
“A committee, to be soon running the crossing and smoothing passengers’ movements out of and into Gaza, is currently receiving training in Egypt.” he stated, adding: “More than 1800 tons of aid and medical supplies were allowed entry into the Strip, in coordination with the Egyptian and Palestinian Red Cross last month.”
Yousef confirmed that efforts are underway with the Egyptian authorities and the Palestinian consensus government to reconstruct the Gaza Strip as soon as possible.
He called on the Palestinian leadership to pool resources and uphold a unified political standpoint.
“Initial estimates indicate the needs of the Strip are in the 6 billion dollars as an urgent relief to those who have been affected by the offensive,” he maintained.
Meanwhile, the Egyptian authorities have re-shut down the Rafah crossing on Wednesday after one bus, carrying 75 passengers, was allowed to pass through.
Egypt refused the entry of seven more buses and 41 passengers under pretext of a breakdown in the computer network.
Work mechanisms in the crossing have not been enhanced following the ceasefire agreement brokered by Egypt, sources in Rafah charged
2 sept 2014
The new Turkish government said it would not restore its relations with Israel to normal if it did not put an end to its violations against the Palestinians and its blockade on the population in the Gaza Strip. Ahmet Davutoglu, Turkey's new premier, stated in a speech to the parliament on Monday that achieving progress in the relations with Israel would be impossible unless Israel decided to end its violations against the Palestinian people and lift its restrictions on them, especially the blockade on Gaza.
Davutoglu stressed that the new Turkey would strengthen its integration with the world and pursue an effective foreign policy that observes human rights and respects dialog.
Davutoglu stressed that the new Turkey would strengthen its integration with the world and pursue an effective foreign policy that observes human rights and respects dialog.
Haaretz Hebrew newspaper stated that lifting the siege on Gaza and opening all the border crossings would achieve a permanent ceasefire and a durable peace in Gaza Strip especially that "it is proven that the blockade merely foments violence." The newspaper addressed, in its report titled “There's no whitewashing the Gaza blockade” on Monday, the 8-year Israeli siege on Gaza Strip. “The Gaza Strip doesn’t need generosity or favors. Netanyahu must end the blockade; fully open the crossings between Gaza and Israel.”
Haaretz quoted a senior military officer as saying that it is in Israel’s interest to avoid intense social and economic pressure on Gaza.
According to the newspaper, this statement raises three questions: Why did the defense establishment remember to examine the ramifications of the Gaza blockade on its residents only after the war? Why is the Israeli army suggesting that the politicians ease the blockade, instead of the politicians initiating this crucial step on their own? And what is the practical meaning of this generosity?
Haaretz considered that even this positive suggestion, if adopted, cannot whitewash the perverse blockade. “Easing its terms alone, as we’ve seen in the past, doesn’t create conditions for normal life, doesn’t offer any economic or diplomatic horizon, and at best serves as insufficient cover for the government’s claim that it has no dispute with the people of Gaza, but only with Hamas.”
“Moreover, the version of relief the IDF is suggesting has in the past been no more than symbolic gestures, like allowing in equipment to finish building a new hospital in Gaza, or worse, took the form of an inhumane calculation of how many calories each resident needed, which was used to derive what products would be allowed into the Strip.”
The Gaza Strip, with its 1.8 million people, according to the newspaper, doesn’t need generosity or favors. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who speaks vaguely of a “diplomatic horizon,” must end the blockade, fully open the crossings between Gaza and Israel and give a real chance for development to bring quiet, after it has been proven that the blockade merely foments violent rebellions against Israel.
The Israeli newspaper concluded by saying that “this doesn’t mean that Israel must give up the close inspection of the goods that enter or leave the Strip. But there is a big difference between security checks and even a minimum security prison. Israel has the power to close that gap and work on behalf of its mutual interests with the residents of Gaza.”
Haaretz quoted a senior military officer as saying that it is in Israel’s interest to avoid intense social and economic pressure on Gaza.
According to the newspaper, this statement raises three questions: Why did the defense establishment remember to examine the ramifications of the Gaza blockade on its residents only after the war? Why is the Israeli army suggesting that the politicians ease the blockade, instead of the politicians initiating this crucial step on their own? And what is the practical meaning of this generosity?
Haaretz considered that even this positive suggestion, if adopted, cannot whitewash the perverse blockade. “Easing its terms alone, as we’ve seen in the past, doesn’t create conditions for normal life, doesn’t offer any economic or diplomatic horizon, and at best serves as insufficient cover for the government’s claim that it has no dispute with the people of Gaza, but only with Hamas.”
“Moreover, the version of relief the IDF is suggesting has in the past been no more than symbolic gestures, like allowing in equipment to finish building a new hospital in Gaza, or worse, took the form of an inhumane calculation of how many calories each resident needed, which was used to derive what products would be allowed into the Strip.”
The Gaza Strip, with its 1.8 million people, according to the newspaper, doesn’t need generosity or favors. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who speaks vaguely of a “diplomatic horizon,” must end the blockade, fully open the crossings between Gaza and Israel and give a real chance for development to bring quiet, after it has been proven that the blockade merely foments violent rebellions against Israel.
The Israeli newspaper concluded by saying that “this doesn’t mean that Israel must give up the close inspection of the goods that enter or leave the Strip. But there is a big difference between security checks and even a minimum security prison. Israel has the power to close that gap and work on behalf of its mutual interests with the residents of Gaza.”
11 aug 2014
The Humanitarian Coordinator of the United Nations in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, James Rowley, has warned of the outbreak of a new confrontation in Gaza in case the Israeli siege on the enclave was not lifted. According to Yediot Aharanot newspaper on Monday, Rowley called on the Israeli government to lift the siege on Gaza in order to restore normal life and the trade with the outside world that was prevailing in the Strip ten years ago.
The Palestinian negotiating team to Cairo had declared a set of fair demands mainly lifting the siege on the Strip and the establishment of seaport in order to accept a durable ceasefire agreement with Israelis under Egyptian mediation.
Gaza Strip has been suffering its worst living conditions along the past 8 years due to the tight siege imposed by Israel in 2006 amid world-wide condemnation
The Palestinian negotiating team to Cairo had declared a set of fair demands mainly lifting the siege on the Strip and the establishment of seaport in order to accept a durable ceasefire agreement with Israelis under Egyptian mediation.
Gaza Strip has been suffering its worst living conditions along the past 8 years due to the tight siege imposed by Israel in 2006 amid world-wide condemnation
10 aug 2014
The Israeli occupation authorities (IOA) closed the Karm Abu Salem crossing, to the south of the Gaza Strip, on Sunday before fuel and other basic materials.
Radio Israel claimed that the closure was because the crossing came under gunfire from the besieged enclave that has been the target of a ferocious Israeli onslaught for the past 35 days.
Dozens of trucks are awaiting permission to enter the Strip via the crossing to ferry badly needed humanitarian and relief materials in light of the worsening conditions in the beleaguered enclave.
Karm Abu Salem crossing is the only crossing through which fuel and other commodities are allowed into the Strip. It is closed by Israel two days, Friday and Saturday, each week
Radio Israel claimed that the closure was because the crossing came under gunfire from the besieged enclave that has been the target of a ferocious Israeli onslaught for the past 35 days.
Dozens of trucks are awaiting permission to enter the Strip via the crossing to ferry badly needed humanitarian and relief materials in light of the worsening conditions in the beleaguered enclave.
Karm Abu Salem crossing is the only crossing through which fuel and other commodities are allowed into the Strip. It is closed by Israel two days, Friday and Saturday, each week
6 aug 2014
Excessive Israeli restrictions on Palestinian territories cannot be justified on the grounds they protect Israel, a British parliamentary committee said on Wednesday.
"We challenge the assertion that restrictions which curtail economic development in the Occupied Palestinian Territories are based on Israel's security needs and can be justified on security grounds," the report by the International Development Committee said.
The paper expressed particular concern about the situation in Hebron, the Palestinian city in the southern West Bank.
"We were shocked by what we saw during our visit to Hebron. While we fully appreciate Israel's security concerns, these in no way justify the present restrictions on Palestinians in Hebron, which affect their livelihoods, economic development, and security," the report said.
The group, which monitors the British government's ministry of international development, called for London and Europe to speak out against restrictions that prevent economic development "as a matter of urgency."
The call comes a day after Baroness Sayeeda Warsi resigned as a government minister in protest at what she said was a "morally indefensible" failure by the government to condemn Israel's killing of civilians in Gaza.
The lifting of an eight-year blockade of Gaza has been a key demand of all Palestinian factions.
But West Bank restrictions in particular, such as the prevention of Palestinian businesses investing in the Israeli-controlled zone, should be opposed by Britain and other European countries, the report said.
It added that issues such as greater access to water and construction permits should be addressed regardless of the current conflict, which has killed 1,875 Palestinians including 430 children, 64 Israeli soldiers and three civilians in Israel.
The committee said it was "extremely concerned" that Israel could further expand settlements, and said Britain and other European countries should "stress to the Israeli authorities the unacceptability of the present situation."
The British government should also examine whether guidelines on the labeling of produce made in Israeli settlements to allow consumers to avoid buying them has been implemented by retailers, the report said.
"We challenge the assertion that restrictions which curtail economic development in the Occupied Palestinian Territories are based on Israel's security needs and can be justified on security grounds," the report by the International Development Committee said.
The paper expressed particular concern about the situation in Hebron, the Palestinian city in the southern West Bank.
"We were shocked by what we saw during our visit to Hebron. While we fully appreciate Israel's security concerns, these in no way justify the present restrictions on Palestinians in Hebron, which affect their livelihoods, economic development, and security," the report said.
The group, which monitors the British government's ministry of international development, called for London and Europe to speak out against restrictions that prevent economic development "as a matter of urgency."
The call comes a day after Baroness Sayeeda Warsi resigned as a government minister in protest at what she said was a "morally indefensible" failure by the government to condemn Israel's killing of civilians in Gaza.
The lifting of an eight-year blockade of Gaza has been a key demand of all Palestinian factions.
But West Bank restrictions in particular, such as the prevention of Palestinian businesses investing in the Israeli-controlled zone, should be opposed by Britain and other European countries, the report said.
It added that issues such as greater access to water and construction permits should be addressed regardless of the current conflict, which has killed 1,875 Palestinians including 430 children, 64 Israeli soldiers and three civilians in Israel.
The committee said it was "extremely concerned" that Israel could further expand settlements, and said Britain and other European countries should "stress to the Israeli authorities the unacceptability of the present situation."
The British government should also examine whether guidelines on the labeling of produce made in Israeli settlements to allow consumers to avoid buying them has been implemented by retailers, the report said.
