Middle East Politics.Net » Palestinians http://middleeastpolitics.net Facts, News, Trends, Analysis Tue, 12 Jan 2010 20:56:32 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 Banking Troubles in Gaza – $25 Million Delivered http://middleeastpolitics.net/2008/12/16/banking-troubles-in-gaza-25-million-delivered/ http://middleeastpolitics.net/2008/12/16/banking-troubles-in-gaza-25-million-delivered/#comments Wed, 17 Dec 2008 06:37:01 +0000 pshapiro http://middleeastpolitics.net/?p=3971 Public sector employees in the Gaza Strip have recently encountered difficulties collecting their salaries due to the severe cash shortage faced by area banks. The shortage is in part a result of the Israeli blockade that has prevented many from traveling freely to and from Gaza – a detrimental effect on business, especially with regard to the Palestinian banking system. In an effort to ease the stress, Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad has requested that the Israeli blockade allow money to enter the Palestinian treasury from outside the borders in hopes of avoiding more widespread financial collapse. Subsequently, Israel allowed an armored truck carrying $25 million in currency to enter from the West Bank. This amount is half of that which Prime Minister Fayyad requested of Israeli officials in order to pay Gaza’s civil servants.

Paul Shapiro

]]> http://middleeastpolitics.net/2008/12/16/banking-troubles-in-gaza-25-million-delivered/feed/ 0 Released Palestinian Prisoners Return to West Bank http://middleeastpolitics.net/2008/12/16/released-palestinian-prisoners-return-to-west-bank/ http://middleeastpolitics.net/2008/12/16/released-palestinian-prisoners-return-to-west-bank/#comments Wed, 17 Dec 2008 06:31:05 +0000 pshapiro http://middleeastpolitics.net/?p=3975 Early Monday morning, December 15, more than 220 Palestinian prisoners freed by Israeli authorities arrived in the West Bank. They were greeted by a crowd that seemed to be overjoyed with the release, a move that Israel has termed a gesture of goodwill towards Mahmoud Abbas, President of the Palestinian Authority. However, comments made by Palestinian prisoners minister Ashraf al-Ajrami seemed to detract from the action, accusing Israel of taking unilateral action with regard to which prisoners were released rather than heeding to Palestinian demands, saying “The Israelis decided to release these prisoners without any negotiation or any connection with the Palestinian side.” Al-Ajrami seemed to be implying that Israel’s true motivation in the release was merely the illusion of diplomatic efforts on an international stage, as opposed to a genuine desire to adhere to Palestinian requests. Such accusations hinge on the estimated 10,000 Palestinian prisoners who remain in Israeli custody.

Paul Shapiro

]]> http://middleeastpolitics.net/2008/12/16/released-palestinian-prisoners-return-to-west-bank/feed/ 0 Israel Released Fewer Palestinian Prisoners http://middleeastpolitics.net/2008/12/16/israel-released-fewer-palestinian-prisoners/ http://middleeastpolitics.net/2008/12/16/israel-released-fewer-palestinian-prisoners/#comments Wed, 17 Dec 2008 06:26:49 +0000 pshapiro http://middleeastpolitics.net/?p=3963

Twenty Palestinian prisoners were removed from the list of prisoners to be released from Israeli custody, Tuesday, December 9. In what they described as a gesture to the Palestinian Authority, the Israeli government had stated that it would release 250 Palestinian prisoners – the list is now down to 230. The move to release these prisoners was intended to honor Eid al-Adha, “…the Muslim festival marking the end of the hajj, the annual pilgrimage to Mecca,” according to the Israeli Ministerial Prisoner Release Committee. All of the prisoners are associated with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas’s secular nationalist Fatah movement rather than Hamas – the organization currently in control of the Gaza Strip territory – which the Israeli government has classified as a terrorist organization.

Paul Shapiro

]]> http://middleeastpolitics.net/2008/12/16/israel-released-fewer-palestinian-prisoners/feed/ 0 Poll Shows Palestinians Oppose Extended Abbas Term http://middleeastpolitics.net/2008/12/16/poll-shows-palestinians-oppose-extended-abbas-term/ http://middleeastpolitics.net/2008/12/16/poll-shows-palestinians-oppose-extended-abbas-term/#comments Wed, 17 Dec 2008 06:19:28 +0000 pshapiro http://middleeastpolitics.net/?p=3961

Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas has garnered little support for his rumored plan to extend his term in office by an additional year. A recent poll conducted by the Palestinian Centre for Policy and Survey Research indicates that almost two-thirds of Palestinians believe that Abbas’s term should end in January, rather than be extended without new elections, as some have suggested he may do. However, the same poll shows that Abbas’s secular nationalist Fatah party is enjoying a slight lead in popular support over rival organization Hamas.

Paul Shapiro

]]> http://middleeastpolitics.net/2008/12/16/poll-shows-palestinians-oppose-extended-abbas-term/feed/ 0 Israeli Military Raids Kill Three http://middleeastpolitics.net/2008/12/03/israeli-military-raids-kill-three/ http://middleeastpolitics.net/2008/12/03/israeli-military-raids-kill-three/#comments Thu, 04 Dec 2008 05:02:43 +0000 jbhughes http://middleeastpolitics.net/?p=3430 Two Palestinians were killed in an airstrike in southern Gazan town of Rafah, while a third Palestinian was killed by Israeli forces in the West Bank. The Israeli army said six mortar bombs had been launched by militants in Gaza. The man killed in the West Bank had been pardoned by Israel as part of an amnesty deal for former militants and was described as a wanted terror operative. Officials say that the man was shot on Monday when trying to escape, but witnesses say he was killed in an ambush by plain clothes officers.

The man, Abu Dhara, was said to be a former member of the al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, who  are participating in amnesty programs with Israel. They can be removed from Israel’s wanted list, by renouncing violence and completing a specified period of detention or probation. For this reason, he should not have been targeted and the Israelis have breached their agreement.

Jamie Hughes

]]> http://middleeastpolitics.net/2008/12/03/israeli-military-raids-kill-three/feed/ 0 Israel Convicts Top Palestinian http://middleeastpolitics.net/2008/12/03/israel-convicts-top-palestinian/ http://middleeastpolitics.net/2008/12/03/israel-convicts-top-palestinian/#comments Thu, 04 Dec 2008 01:17:40 +0000 jbhughes http://middleeastpolitics.net/?p=3423 Abdel Aziz Dweik, the Speaker of the Palestinian parliament, has been convicted by an Israeli military court of being a member and an officer of an illegal organization, Hamas.  He has been in prison since his arrest in 2006 and is awaiting sentencing. He and many other Palestinian legislators were detained after Hamas-allied militants captured an Israeli soldier, Gilad Shalit. Shalit still remains in the militants’ custody.

Jamie Hughes

]]> http://middleeastpolitics.net/2008/12/03/israel-convicts-top-palestinian/feed/ 0 Riots in Hebron over Eviction Rumors http://middleeastpolitics.net/2008/12/02/riots-in-hebron-over-eviction-rumors/ http://middleeastpolitics.net/2008/12/02/riots-in-hebron-over-eviction-rumors/#comments Wed, 03 Dec 2008 06:19:58 +0000 jbhughes http://middleeastpolitics.net/?p=3286 Several Palestinians were injured as Jewish settlers in the West Bank city of Hebron rioted for several hours. The riots started as rumors spread that Israeli forces were going to evict the settlers from a building in the mainly Palestinian city. Settlers and supporters threw stones at Palestinians and Israeli police, causing damage to homes and cars.

The eviction was ordered in November and settlers have rioted several times over the issue. There were also riots in the Northern West Bank in support of the settlers in Hebron. The dispute is between the Israelis who claim that they legally bought the building from a Palestinian who pulled out of the deal. The Israeli courts have yet to decide the matter, but say the building must be vacated while they decide.

Jamie Hughes

]]> http://middleeastpolitics.net/2008/12/02/riots-in-hebron-over-eviction-rumors/feed/ 0 Trouble Brewing at Lebanon’s Ain al-Hilweh Refugee Camp http://middleeastpolitics.net/2008/12/01/trouble-brewing-at-ain-al-hilweh-refugee-camp/ http://middleeastpolitics.net/2008/12/01/trouble-brewing-at-ain-al-hilweh-refugee-camp/#comments Mon, 01 Dec 2008 22:11:57 +0000 yerxa http://middleeastpolitics.net/?p=3234 Palestinian figures have urged Lebanon to be cautious in dealing with fugitive militant Abdel-Rahman Awad. Awad is thought to be hiding in Ain al-Hilweh, on the outskirts of Sidon, Lebanon. A PLO official in Lebanon and a Fatah official warned against actions that may “destabilize the volatile camp.”

Awad is a senior member of the radical group Fatah al-Islam, which has been accused of attacks against Lebanese soldiers, in addition to a suicide bombing in Syria. In 2007, Fatah al-Islam was involved in a showdown with Lebanese security forces at Nahr al-Bared refugee camp that left more than 400 people dead. Officials are hoping to avoid a repeat of this situation, which resulted in the evacuation of the camp and the destabilization of the local economy. Said PLO official Abbas Zaki, “All the meetings that have taken place regarding the security situation in Ain al-Hilweh are aimed at avoiding a repetition of Nahr al-Bared”

Those familiar with the al-Hilweh Camp say military operations by Lebanese forces would be “unthinkable ” due to its size and layout, but with the 2007 debacle looming large in the rear view mirror, those in charge don’t want to take any chances

Gavin Yerxa

]]> http://middleeastpolitics.net/2008/12/01/trouble-brewing-at-ain-al-hilweh-refugee-camp/feed/ 0 More on Lebanon Recognizing Palestinian State http://middleeastpolitics.net/2008/11/30/lebanon-to-recognize-palestinian-state/ http://middleeastpolitics.net/2008/11/30/lebanon-to-recognize-palestinian-state/#comments Sun, 30 Nov 2008 21:22:11 +0000 sdemetri http://middleeastpolitics.net/?p=3091 As noted recently, the government of Lebanon has announced plans to officially recognize a “state of Palestine.” The move would establish full diplomatic relations and make the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) in Beirut an embassy. As of yet, however, the decision has not been approved by the cabinet, and no date has been set for its implementation. Lebanon is home to roughly 400,000 Palestinian refugees, who frequently complain of official discrimination by the Lebanese government, including stringent limitations on employment opportunities.  Professor Hilal Khashan of the American University of Beirut echoed the sentiment, saying, “The Palestinians are treated as non entities in Lebanon and have no rights whatsoever. I believe there is a deliberate effort by the Lebanese government to keep their situation sub-human so they will never contemplate seeking permanent residency in the country.” This kind of dynamic has led to speculation that the move to recognize a Palestinian state is an attempt to placate and demonstrate support for the PLO authority under Mahmoud Abbas.

Stefanie Demetriades

]]> http://middleeastpolitics.net/2008/11/30/lebanon-to-recognize-palestinian-state/feed/ 0 Jordan, Israel and Gaza http://middleeastpolitics.net/2008/11/23/king-abdullah-on-israel/ http://middleeastpolitics.net/2008/11/23/king-abdullah-on-israel/#comments Sun, 23 Nov 2008 17:46:57 +0000 malcoun http://middleeastpolitics.net/?p=2760 King Abdullah II of Jordan has strongly recommended that Israel stop its raids on the Gaza Strip to prevent an escalating military operation. This was discussed when the King spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak. Abdullah is concerned that any major action or operation taking place in Gaza will have significant effects on Jordan. The Israeli side has made it clear that if there are attacks on communities near Gaza, Israel would have no choice but to respond.

According to the Jerusalem Post, the pan-Arab newspaper Al-Hayat reported that King Abdullah discussed the need to continue in the effort for a two-state solution between the Israelis and the Palestinians. The King also said, “The establishment of a Palestinian state is a strategic interest of Jordan and a precondition for regional peace.”

Kasey Malcoun

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