Occupation Magazine: Voices of Resistance from Israel

2014: The Political Year in Review
Rami G. Khouri – This Week in Palestine – This year may a historic shift away from the two dominant failed legacies – American-mediated peace negotiations and armed-struggle resistance leading to savage Israeli attacks, primarily against Gaza – towards a new and potentially more effective diplomatic strategy. This combines the use of international organisations and the power of European recognition to achieve meaningful Palestinian statehood, together with bottom-up activism such as the BDS movement. ak

These famous Israeli authors want Europe to recognize a Palestinian state!
Albawaba – Three famous authors – Amos Oz, David Grossman and A.B. Yehoshua – signed their names to a public petition with 878 signatures of Israelis that calls on European nations to recognize “Palestine” as a state. Among earlier signatories are Nobel Laureate Daniel Kahneman, former Knesset Speaker Avraham Burg and former Minister Yossi Sarid. The petition, along with a letter, was sent on Sunday to members of Ireland’s House of Commons, which is scheduled to vote on Wednesday on a nonbinding motion, already approved by its upper house, in favor of a Palestinian state. The same letter was also sent to members of the Danish parliament, which is scheduled to hold a similar vote on Thursday of this week. Letters will also be sent to the Belgian parliament and the European Union Parliament, which are also voting on the matter this month. The letter states: “We citizens of Israel who wish it to be a safe and thriving country are worried by the continued political stalemate and by the occupation and settlements activities which lead to further confrontations with the Palestinians and torpedo the chances for a compromise. (…) Your initiative for recognizing the state of Palestine will advance the prospects of peace and will encourage Israelis and Palestinians to bring an end to their conflict.” ak

A new wave of East Jerusalem house demolition orders
Ma`an – Israeli authorities delivered demolition orders for residential homes and commercial stores in various East Jerusalem neighborhoods including Silwan, al-Tur, al-Isawiya, and Jabal al- Mukabbir. The Eweisat, Abu al-Jamal, and Elayyan families were issued demolition orders for their homes in Jabal al-Mukabbir. The Elayyan family home was built 10 years ago while the other two properties were built in the 1970s. A total of 25 people live in the three homes. Nader al-Rashq of Isawiya managed to gain a court order preventing for the time being the demolition of his family`s home. Since the beginning of 2014 Israeli bulldozers have demolished at least 359 Palestinian structures in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. ak

Palestinian stabbed by a settler and injured east of Hebron
IMEMC – An Israeli settler attacked the 18-year old Moath Noah ar- Rajabi near Bani Neim town, east of Hebron, stabbing him in the shoulder and thigh. The young Palestinian, moderately wounded, was moved to the Hebron Governmental Hospital. Israeli soldiers who arrived at the scene did not attempt to locate the assailant. ak

Israel tested in balancing faith and democracy
Jodi Rudoren – New York Times – New bill emphasizing state`s Jewishness – last act of the government before parliament dissolved. Israelis from across the political spectrum and leaders of the Jewish diaspora have denounced such proposals as superfluous, redundant, embarrassing, dangerous and ill timed. Palestinians within Israel and outside it are also virulently opposed, but they say it unmasks what they call a facade of a democracy that has long been discriminatory.[bz]

IDF earmarking West Bank firing zones for settler expansion, figures show
Chaim Levinson – Haaretz – The state’s official position is that the firing zones are used for operational purposes only, in keeping with international law, but are actually being used to keep the Palestinians out. Dror Etkes has analyzed the extensive geographical information in the hands of the Civil Administration and says it shows that the administration has been surveying and mapping the old state lands recently, although these are firing zones, and (…) in 2012, 900 dunams were taken from a firing zone and given to the settlement of Sha’arei Tikva, additional uses being planned including construction of an industrial zone. [bz]

Hebron: Settlers Vandalize Property, Israeli Police Let Them Go Free
Saed Bannoura – IMEMC – “There is a nearby military roadblock, regularly manned by the soldiers, and about 200 meters away is a police station. A settler from Kiryat Arba settlement, who also works as a security officer in the settlement, a police car and an army vehicle are visible in the video.” In its report, B`Tselem added that neither the police, the soldiers nor the security officer, bothered to stop the assailing settlers, or even ask for their ID cards. “Two settlers responsible for destroying property were never detained or questioned, they were just allowed to drive away without any delay,” B’Tselem said, “Later on, the Palestinians filed a complaint with the Israeli Police in Hebron.” A recent report by another Israeli human rights organization found that over 95% of complaints filed by Palestinians against Israeli settlers go uninvestigated. In addition, Palestinians who file complaints against settlers often face reprisals and further assaults. [bz]

Erekat condemns Israeli threat to deport Jerusalemite MPs
Ma`an – Erekat`s statement came as the Israeli Supreme Court was preparing to issue a ruling on whether to deport four members of the Palestinian Legislative Council on Tuesday, but the hearing was postponed to a later date. In a joint statement, Palestinian lawyers Hassan Jabarin, Usama al-Saadi, and Fadi al-Qawasmi condemned the Israeli decision to postpone the hearing. The lawyers said that case did not depend on Israeli laws, but that it contradicted international law. They feared that if the court chose to deport the MPs Abu Teir, Ahmad Attun, Muhammad Tutah, and Khalid Abu Arafeh, the case might be used to deport any Jerusalemite without consideration of legal grounds. [bz]

Palestinians gain observer status at ICC Assembly of State Parties
Tovah Lazaroff – Jpost – The International Criminal Court’s organizational body of 122 nations in New York on Monday unanimously recognized Palestine as an observer state for the first time, a move which Palestinians hailed as an important step in achieving their final goal of formal membership. Palestinians want to sue Israel for war crimes before the ICC, but it is unclear if they can do so, because the ICC’s judicial body has not recognized them as a state. In addition, the Palestinians have not finalized their application to the court, but they have threatened to do so, should they fail in their pursuit for a UN Security Council resolution calling for an Israeli withdrawal to the pre-1967 lines. [bz]

Wireless in Gaza: the young entrepreneurs beating the blockades
Patrick Kingsley – The Guardian – With few goods, or people, allowed to cross the border, the pool of customers and employees in Gaza is small. Web-based startups are giving those with bright ideas a chance to expand their horizons and their businesses [ry]

Palestinians ruled by secret regulations even the army can`t explain
Maayan Niezna – +972 – Whether they want to attend family gatherings, open a business or visit sick relatives, Palestinians under occupation must adhere to military regulations, the vast majority of which are hidden from public scrutiny [ry]

Army Kidnaps 16 Palestinians In The West Bank
IMEMC & Agencies – “Israeli soldiers kidnapped, on Monday at dawn, at least sixteen Palestinians in different parts of the occupied West Bank, including a woman who was kidnapped in the yards of the Al-Aqsa Mosque, in occupied Jerusalem” [ry]

Leave or let live? Arabs move in to Jewish settlements
Dan Williams – Reuters – “Little noticed amid the furore over one of Israel`s most contentious policies, a small but growing number of Arabs are moving into Jewish settlements on occupied land in East Jerusalem, drawn by cheaper rent and better services” [ry]

Occupation and deportation policy
Rasem Obeidat – AIC – Israel commenced a policy of deportation against leaders and activists within the Palestinian political and social communities immediately following the occupation of 1967. This policy, however, didn`t end in the immediate post-war period, but continued due to the lack of international will to prevent such a practice, which contravenes Article 49 of the Fourth Geneva Convention. Protection and immunity were provided to Israel in international institutions and by the United States and western Europe, thus encouraging it to continue the policy and practice of deportation [ry]

Facing Rights Accusations, Israel Opens Gaza Inquiries
JODI RUDORENDEC–JERUSALEM — The Israeli military announced Saturday that it had ordered criminal investigations of its own actions in eight additional incidents in the Gaza Strip during the war this summer, and provided unusually detailed justifications for seven other operations that had prompted complaints from human rights groups. dn

Israel`s Druze ambassador can`t defend the nation-state law
Bahij Mansour–Jerusalem`s envoy to the Dominican Republic says the Jewish nation-state bill sends a clear message to the Druze of Israel: You are not our allies. Last May Israel celebrated its 66th Independence Day. For all those years the Druze community struggled and strived for full equality and for full integration into Israeli society. Now, the government intends to pass a bill that would ignore the existence of our community and its contributions and sacrifices towards the vision of establishing the nation-state of the Jewish people as a Jewish, democratic and equitable state. dn

Indyk tells Bennett: You are living in a different reality
Yitzhak Benhorin–Economy minister criticizes `peace-making industry` for trying to solve an `unsolvable problem,` as interviewer Indyk accuses Israeli right of treating US officials with lack of respect without having to pay a price. dn

Poll: Marked rise in American support for bi-national state
Ynetnews–A survey conducted by the Brookings Institute ahead of the 11th annual Saban Forum showed a marked rise in American support for a bi-national state with equal rights, if the two-state solution is unattainable. dn

Gov`t plans to cut welfare budget, push through extra funds for IDF
Yuval Karni–While Israel prepares for elections, Netanyahu`s government plans to use opportunity to pass massive changes in defense spending, taking 200 million from education, 40 million from Holocaust survivors. dn

Hamas leader Mashal blames Netanyahu for recent bout of terror attacks
Ynet–`For every action there’s a reaction,` says Khaled Mashal in interview, saying terror fueled by Palestinian despair: We warn against stripping Palestinian people of hope. dn

Kahlon: Real Likud concedes territory
Moran Azulay – Ynet – Popular former Likud minister Moshe Kahlon, who will be campaigning for the Knesset with a new party: “Real Likud knew how to make peace, how to concede territory, but on the other hand was responsibly conservative. (…) When we needed to make peace with the largest of Arab states, we did. When we needed to concede – we conceded.” Kahlon criticized the prime minister for damaging Israel`s international reputation. “My friends and I will not miss a chance for peace. I believe we must act on that front. The diplomatic siege is not good for us, and we will act on it.” [bz]

Major BDS Win: Elbit Loses Brazil Deal
Palestinian BDS National Committee – IMEMC “Rio Grande do Sul governor Tarso Genro had signed a research cooperation deal making Elbit the first Israeli military companyto lead Brazilian military projects in April 2013. Elbit was to be provided access to public funding and technologies produced by four local universities. Ongoing protests and lack of federal support had weakened the project. In his open letter, Genro declared the memorandum of understanding to be “void of meaning. A $17m plan to build a military satellite is among the projects cancelled by Tuesday’s announcement.” ca

Israelis, listen to the world
Editorial – Haaretz “The world’s message must become an important issue in the election campaign. Israelis will be required to choose between a government that increases Israel’s isolation and one that brings Israel back to the family of nations.” ca

Gaza engineer develops new technology to replace cement
Mohammed Othman – Al Monitor “Engineer Imad al-Khalidi has developed a replacement for cement to help the Gaza Strip deal with its housing crisis, after the Israeli war left many homes damaged or destroyed and in the face of Israel continuing to prevent the entry of construction materials.” ca

Israeli poverty statistics paint a misleading picture
Dror Etkes – Haaretz “It’s clear that if child poverty statistics in Israel also included those millions of Palestinians – who are paid their wages in Israeli shekels and buy their food in shekels – then based on the situation of the total population living in territory controlled by Israel, the country wouldn’t even make it to the bottom rung of the ladder of developed countries. Almost certainly, it would rank somewhere in the middle of the underdeveloped countries.” ca

Newsletter – November 2014
Military Court Watch – According to the Israeli Prison Service (IPS), as of 31 October 2014, there were 5,447 Palestinians held as “security prisoners” in Israeli detention facilities including 163 children. In the case of children this represents decrease of 10 per cent compared with the previous month and an annual decrease of 2 per cent compared with 2013. According to the IPS, 47 per cent of Palestinian children and 90 per cent of adults continue to be detained in facilities inside Israel, in violation of Article 76 of the Fourth Geneva Convention.-rh

Arab-Israeli school in Jerusalem `set on fire` and walls sprayed with racist graffiti
Lamiat Sabin – The Independent – The school CEO Shuli Dichter said, as reported by the Jewish Press: “This is not the first time that our shared civic endeavor has been targeted. Even when they stain our school walls, they will not succeed in destroying our work.-rh

The Insecurity That Lies Beneath Israel`s `Jewish Nation` Bill : Right Wing Backers Worry About One-State Future
J.J. Goldberg – The Jewish Daily Forward – Holding onto the territories, maintaining a single state between the Jordan and the Mediterranean, means creating a binational state. The advocates face growing pressure — and anger — from the military, academic, arts and legal communities and other sectors, all demanding to know how Israel can absorb two million-plus West Bank Palestinians without losing the Zionist vision of a Jewish state.-rh

Note to Adelson : An occupying regime is neither democratic, nor Jewish, a co-founder of Breaking the Silence writes.
Yehuda Shaul – The Jewish week – While democracy is not an imperative feature of Israel for Adelson, Judaism is. To understand his vision of the Jewish state’s character, there is no need to activate one’s imagination or search in far away places. It is enough to visit Hebron. The importance of the city in Jewish history is undeniable.-rh

NEWSLETTER 02 Dec. 2014
B`Tselem – Newsletter – Recent months have seen many violent clashes in East Jerusalem. They began in July, after 16-year-old Muhammad Abu Khdeir of East Jerusalem was killed, and persisted as tension over the Temple Mount increased and settlers continued to take over houses in Palestinian neighborhoods.-rh

Lieberman outlines his regional peace plan
Ben Caspit – Al Monitor – “I intend to promote this plan with all my might and if I am elected to the premiership, I will take action to implement it.” – id

Israel`s elections: A referendum on Netanyahu
Noam Sheizaf – +972 – “There won’t be any new Bibi. Only the old Bibi, older. Netanyahu is closer than ever to Naftali Bennett and the settlers.” – id

Security Council to Discuss Resolution for Palestinian Statehood
IMEMC News – “Nabil Al-Arabi told reporters that Jordan will table the draft resolution at the Council within the coming days. In November, Jordan tabled another draft resolution that called for an end of the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories by November 2016.” – id

Israeli forces arrested seven Palestinians overnight in East Jerusalem
Ma`an – “In the Jabal al-Mukabbir neighborhood, Israeli forces arrested 15-year-old Muhammad Abdo.” – id

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