| Date posted: April 03, 2010 By MIFTAH |
| This week marks both Easter and the Jewish holiday of Passover. On these two occasions, thousands of Christian and Jewish worshippers from around the world flocked to Jerusalem to observe the holidays along with an approximate 2,500 Israeli military personnel patrolling the streets. One group that was clearly absent, however, were Palestinian Christians, many of whom were not allowed into the holy city. On March 28, Israeli authorities imposed a closure on the West Bank for a period of eight days, or the entire Passover period. Christian Palestinians, who usually are granted permits into Jerusalem for Easter, were reported to have been turned back at checkpoints when trying to enter. On March 28, a group of Palestinian Christians and Muslims along with international and Israeli peace activists joined in a march demanding freedom of movement for the Palestinians. The march, which took place in Bethlehem, made its way to an army checkpoint on Palm Sunday but were stopped and some arrested by Israeli soldiers after crossing over. While Israel released the foreign and Israeli participants, it held the Palestinians, including Fateh Central Council member Abbas Zaki in custody for four days, charging them with entering a closed military zone. Furthermore, throughout this week, Israel has limited the entry of Palestinians into the Aqsa Mosque, allowing only men above 50 entry into the mosque. Also on April 2 in Ramallah, Jewish settlers attacked an elderly Palestinian and her daughter in Sheikh Jarrah during a protest against settler "provocations" in the neighborhood. The elderly woman, 89-year-old Rifqa Al-Kurd was taken to Al-Maqassed Hospital along with her daughter, 50-year-old Nadiya. On April 1, Israeli settlers and soldiers attacked Palestinians in the east Jerusalem district of Silwan. According to eyewitnesses, settlers broke into the local Ibda and Wad Helwa cultural centers in the neighborhood. Fifteen-year-old Yezen Siam was arrested by Israeli soldiers and taken to an undisclosed location. Several others were injured in the attack. In the West Bank, 21-year-old Samar Radwan was killed when an Israeli settler hit her with his car west of Ramallah. Radwan was killed near Al-Lubban Al-Gharbi, between Israel's separation wall and the settlements of Ofarim and Bet Arye. Unrest was not only in Jerusalem, however, but also in the Gaza Strip, spilling over from the clashes last week. On April 2, Israeli warplanes fired attacks across the Strip, destroying several buildings. The attacks, said Israel, were in response to Palestinian rockets fired into Israeli territory. According to Palestinian press reports, Israeli missiles hit a building housing the Hamas-run Al Aqsa TV network and a cheese and dairy factory in Gaza City. Another two missiles were fired at a police station in the Nusseirat refugee camp including a telecommunications company. Palestinian medical sources reported that at least three children were injured in the attacks. Days earlier, Israeli planes dropped flyers along the Israel-Gaza border warning residents to get ready for a “response” to what Israel says is Hamas’ escalation of violence against Israeli targets. The recent violence has even gotten the US concerned. On April 2, US State Department spokesperson Philip Crowley said that while Israel has a “right to defend itself” his government believed military action would not solve the conflict. “Therefore, Israel and the Palestinian Authority need to engage in direct negotiations.” London also expressed concern with Israel’s air strikes on April 2, saying that it was “concerned with the escalation of violence in Gaza and southern Israel over the past week, “encouraging all parties to show restraint. Meanwhile, Palestinians marked Land Day on March 30, commemorating the killing of six Palestinians inside the Green Line during a demonstration against Israeli land confiscations in 1976. Palestinians across the board marked the day with demonstrations and marches. One Palestinian was killed and 16 injured by Israeli air strikes on that day. Also on the occasion of Land Day, the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics announced that Israel controls over 85% of the area of historical Palestine, with Jewish settlements in the West Bank focused in and around Jerusalem where 55% of the settlers live. On that note, Israel received some tough love from US President Barak Obama. On March 31, Obama said in an interview with MSNBC that “I think Prime Minister Netanyahu intellectually understands that he has got to take some bold steps. I think politically he feels it” adding that the Palestinians also had to take steps in return. The US has reportedly demanded that Israel freeze settlements in east Jerusalem for a period of four months so indirect negotiations could resume. This demand is supposedly among 10 others Obama wants Israel to meet including opening a Palestinian commercial interests’ office in east Jerusalem and ending the razing of Palestinian homes in the city. Prime Minister Salam Fayyad seems to have a plan of his own, describing it in a detailed interview with Haaretz on April 2. Fayyad, who has marketed his two-year plan for establishing a Palestinian state seems to be undeterred by the failed diplomatic attempts at peace. “The birth of a Palestinian state will be celebrated as a day of joy by the entire community of nations," Fayyad said in the interview. “The time for this baby to be born will come," he said, "and we estimate it will come around 2011. That is our vision, and a reflection of our will to exercise our right to live in freedom and dignity in the country [where] we are born, alongside the State of Israel in complete harmony." Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, said Fayyad, “has succumbed to the settlers,” stressing that "peace will be made between equals, not between masters and slaves." "It is the right of an oppressed nation to say 'enough'," said Fayyad. "No one should be expected to stand for injustice, not least the Palestinians.” Finally, the 22nd Arab Summit was held in the Libyan city of Serte from March 27 to March 28. President Abbas, who attended the summit and who also met on the margins with Libyan President Muammar Qaddaffi, said he was “satisfied” with the summits results and hoped to see them implemented, especially those concerning Jerusalem and Palestine. Arab foreign ministers had previously pledged $500 million to Al Aqsa and Arab leaders said they would not back a return to negotiations without a freeze of settlements. |
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