by Tariq Shadid, source

The essence of the Palestinian struggle is the battle against Zionism. It is a battle against its racism, against its murderous war crimes, against its insatiable territorial hunger, against its disdain for non-Jewish human rights, and against its devoted attempts to destroy Palestinian national identity. As voices of normalization are on the rise, and social media is invaded by paid pro-Zionist bloggers, there is an increased need for anti-Zionists to draw attention to the crimes committed by ‘Israel’, and to speak up against the ongoing media silence and the apologist activities of those misleadingly portraying themselves as ‘peace doves’. Let us first look briefly at the history of the anti-Zionist struggle, and then see where we stand today.

The Ideology of Zionism

Years before the creation of the state of ‘Israel’, there was already a full-blown battle going on against Zionism. On one side, the Palestinians were resisting against the usurpation of their land, having grown aware of the far-stretching implications of the Balfour declaration of 1917, which laid the foundation for the mass-immigration of European Jews into Palestine. In those same decades, there was also an ongoing struggle within the Jewish communities in Europe, where many were opposed to the tenets of Zionism either on a religious basis, or on the realization that colonizing an inhabited land would inevitably cause an injustice that would continue to reverberate for many years to come. A famous example of this in that period of time was the famous genius Albert Einstein, who in 1938 already expressed his opposition to the creation of a ‘Jewish state’, and in a letter to the New York Times that he wrote together with a number of prominent Jews in 1948, strongly denounced the horrendous Deir Yassin massacre.

The ongoing struggle of the Palestinians against Zionism and the continuing expropriation of their land is well-known, but not everyone is aware that within Jewish ranks, true ideological opposition against Zionism still exists. The most well-known group among these is Neturei Karta (‘Guardians of the City’), an organization of international Jews united against Zionism. On another note, within the current framework of the Zionist state, a coalition of groups that call themselves ‘Campus Watchdogs’ recently went as far as labeling 10 % of Israeli academics as ‘anti-Zionist’. It is likely that this number is highly overrated, since this McCarthyism-like approach can be expected to have lumped together a wide variety of people who expressed criticism at their government’s actions. In a similar way that outside criticism of ‘Israel’ quickly gets labeled as ‘anti-Semitism’, many of the one thousand mentioned academics, publicists and journalists are likely to have received the label of ‘anti-Zionist’ despite adhering to many of Zionism’s principles.

Tribal, Religious, or Ideological?

For some, the ongoing misery is a war between two peoples, basically a ‘tribal war’. Others prefer seeing it as a war between religions, with Judaism on one side and Muslims on the other side. Those who adopt this view are ignoring the pluralistic ethnic and religious composition of the Palestinian people, and are for instance ignoring the fact that many Palestinians are Christians, who have not been spared the gruesome fate of their Muslim compatriots. Thirdly, there are those who view the struggle as a battle between ideologies: Zionism on one side, and anti-Zionism on the other.

As the original PLO manifesto (28 May 1964) stated, the organization declared that “Palestine with its boundaries that existed at the time of the British mandate is an integral regional unit” and that it sought to “prohibit the existence and activity of Zionism”. It also contained statements calling for a right of return and self-determination for the Palestinians. When reading the manifesto, it becomes clear that the PLO, the first more officially organized Palestinian movement against the land theft and expulsion committed by the Zionist terrorist organizations that later declared the Zionist state, was an explicitly anti-Zionist movement. The PLO incorporated the various existing political movements in one body, and was declared to be the legitimate representative of the Palestinian people. This was widely accepted by an overwhelming majority of Palestinians.

The Oslo Disaster

As illustrated above, the foundations of the Palestinian struggle were based on the territorial integrity of Palestine (i.e. the one state solution) and the right of return of all expelled Palestinians. These original foundations became embedded in an entire generation of Palestinians worldwide. In 1993, the leadership under Yaser Arafat adopted the two-state solution instead, which largely happened in a top-down manner and led to the Oslo accords, However, it soon became clear to all that the Oslo accords were only accepted by ‘Israel’ as a deceptive method to hypnotize the Palestinians as well as the masses of the world into an illusion of Israeli willingness for territorial concessions, while in truth confiscating huge swathes of land, building a separation wall and almost tripling the settler population (from 250,000 to 700,000). It should be no surprise that even early on, as the scam became blatantly clear to all except seemingly to the leadership of the newly created Palestinian Authority, the original tenets of the struggle were yet again embraced by many Palestinians inside of Palestine as well as in the diaspora.

Return to the Struggle

As the state of confusion created by the Oslo accords lingered on, some defeatist voices however also turned to normalization, instead of returning to the basics of the struggle. It is not to be wondered at that disillusion and opportunism play their role in such a complex situation, wherein many lose hope when faced with the overwhelming military, economical and strategic dominance of the Zionist state. Nevertheless, youth movements that are currently active in keeping the struggle for Palestinian rights alive, predominantly see anti-normalization as one of their main strategic goals. They adhere to the above-mentioned basic tenets of the struggle, and reject the failed formula of negotiations that is still pursued by the Palestinian Authority, despite its lack of popular mandate for it. For most Palestinians it is blatantly clear, that the so-called ‘Peace Process’ has only caused damage to their cause and has not brought even the slightest prospects of a better future, let alone of self-determination or independence.

Internationally, pro-Palestinian activists also largely adhere to the basic tenets of the Palestinian struggle, namely the one-state solution and the right of return of the Palestinian refugees. There are other issues as well that are deemed non-negotiable to the majority of Palestinians, such as strong opposition against the Judaization of Jerusalem (Al Quds) which is projected as the future capital of liberated Palestine, and the release of all thousands of Palestinian political prisoners.

There is definitely also a group of ‘two-staters’, but their numbers are dwindling fast, and they rarely engage in activism since their views are largely represented by the Palestinian Authority. The strongest cure for the fallacy of the two-state solution was seeing the Palestinian side of that solution being gobbled up by the Zionist state over the years, faster than one could issue statements of protest against them.

New Shape of the Struggle: Back to Anti-Zionism

It is clear nowadays that the Palestinian Authority is not a useful apparatus for waging any form of struggle, but an administrative body that functions mainly as an extension of the Israeli security apparatus, in a framework inherited directly from the Oslo agreements. This does not mean that the people have stopped struggling. The modern Palestinian struggle has moved towards preferring popular resistance over armed struggle, and employing BDS (Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions) as a main strategy of generating pressure against the Zionist state. What has also changed, is that this struggle has gained large numbers of international supporters all over the world, who support the Palestinians in their pursuit of freedom from Zionist oppression.

These changes have also brought anti-Zionism back to the forefront, and this has far-reaching implications. Whereas a two-state solution almost automatically implies the undertaking of steps towards normalization, since it implies an acceptance of Zionism and relinquishing the claim of 78 % of Palestinian territory to it, a one-state solution which aims to create a state for all of its inhabitants that does not discriminate on the basis of race of religion, requires a strong and uncompromising return to anti-Zionism as a unifying strategy.

Anti-Zionism versus Normalization

In a struggle that aims to achieve this, normalization is an extremely damaging concession that can never be combined with the dismantling of Zionism, which is the ultimate goal of its strategy. After all, a struggle against racism cannot be successful if the inherently racist tenets of Zionism are accepted. The ‘Oslo-period’ has however sown its sorrowful seeds in more places than may directly become apparent. The vast majority of the Arab masses have not accepted Zionism in their midst, but there are stubborn strands of normalization that seem to be enjoying an increasing momentum within ‘progressive’ ranks of various Arab communities.

Two Egyptian examples can be mentioned in this context. One is Mona Eltahawy, who seems to consider ‘Israel’ to be a civilized state and refused to condemn the genocidal massacre in Gaza that claimed the lives of 1,400 Palestinians (including at least 300 children) by massive attacks from drones, tanks, Apaches and F-16′s – on a population that possesses no bombing shelters or anti-aircraft artillery. Another even more mind-blowing example is Maikel Nabil, an Egyptian blogger who enjoyed wide campaigns for his release when he was arrested for criticizing the SCAF military junta of post-Mubarak Egypt. He expressed his love for Israel on his blog and in Israeli media with an enthusiasm rarely ever seen before in the Arab world. There are other examples too, such as Arab-American comedian Ray Hanania of Palestinian origin, who proclaimed himself a candidate for Palestinian presidency in a video that he posted on Youtube, wherein he called for an acceptance of Israeli settlements, and an end to the Right of Return.

The Only Ziocracy in the Middle East

It is true that these examples do not represent the sentiments of the majority of Palestinians and other Arabs, whether in the Arab world or outside of it, but these voices cannot be ignored either. The main reason for this is that voices of normalization like the ones mentioned above often receive disproportionate attention in Western-dominated mass-media, and thereby have a number of insidious destructive effects upon the struggle.

First of all, they make those who are true to the anti-racist struggle against Zionism seem extremist, by offering alternatives that at first sight strike the general public as being more inspired by peaceful motives. This is a distortion of reality: support for ‘Israel’, the most belligerent state in the Middle East, the only state in the region in possession of (over 300) nuclear arms, and the only ‘Ziocracy’ where ones ethnic background automatically categorizes one as having less rights than others, can never be truthfully designated as ‘peace-loving’.

Secondly, the apparently human inclination of the masses to flock around the famous without delving deeply into their philosophies, brings multitudes of people close to positive truth-distorting evaluations of the Zionist state. For example, progressive Arabs who embrace Mona Eltahawy’s feminist activities, are inclined to also automatically defend their idol’s views on ‘Israel’, simply because they are already in a state of adoration of her person. Another example involves Maikel Nabil: when progressive activists rallied for him due to his unjust incarceration by SCAF, his shocking pro-Israel views seemed to be lumped together with his anti-SCAF views under the label of ‘freedom of speech’, effectively paving the way for the perceived ‘right’ of Egyptians to view ‘Israel’ in an undeservingly positive and gruesomely distorted loving manner.

The Struggle Goes on

The true and original struggle of the Palestinians is a struggle against Zionism, and this is entirely incompatible with the views mentioned above. Normalization must therefore be opposed, vocally, directly, loudly and clearly. There is definitely a need for increased activity on this front, since anti-normalization and BDS do not enjoy the support of mass media, unlike the voices of normalization.

If this means that these voices need to be confronted even on a personal level, then so be it. It may not be a pleasant thing to do, and some might argue that it distracts from calling attention to the continuing atrocities that the Zionist state is inflicting on a daily basis upon the defenseless Palestinians living under Israeli occupation. However, as has been argued in the article “Anti-normalization: an necessary part of BDS campaigning”, calling attention to these injustices will remain highly ineffective if the public is simultaneously exposed by mass media to Arab voices that aim to paint a misleading image of ‘Israel’ as if it were a beacon of civilization, and a saviour for mankind.

In other words: if you value BDS and wish it to be effective, and if you believe in opposing the racist ideology of Zionism, one of your tasks is also to confront those who suck up to power for their own personal gain. And since their number is increasing, it looks like you have work to do.

- Tariq Shadid is a Palestinian surgeon living in the Middle East, and has written numerous essays about the Palestinian issue over the years.

by Franklin Lamb, Al Manar

We all know it is not just American and Lebanese politicians who use Palestinian refugees as political footballs during electoral campaigns. But they are currently the two most egregious apart from most Zionist politicians in temporarily occupied Palestine.

In the US, it would not be a difficult task to find even more revolting and groveling intellectual “half-men” to borrow a phrase from Syria’s beleaguered President Bashar Assad than Mitt Romney and Newt Gingrich during their recent “debate” in Jacksonville Florida.

While a high percentage of Republican Jewish voters will go to the polls in this winner take all primary, Mitt and Newt are also pondering their national fundraising networks as they gratuitously misrepresented history and betrayed their claimed religious and moral beliefs.

Romney repeated his screed that President Obama “threw Israel under the bus” by following international law, seven UN Security Council Resolution and World opinion by designating the pre-1967 borders as the starting point for peace talks. He also complained that America’s President “disrespected” Israel’s Prime Minister Netanyahu when Obama spoke recently at the UN and mentioned in passing illegal Israeli settlement building but did not discuss retaliatory rockets being fired from Gaza into occupied Palestinian territory.

Genuflecting just as obsequiously to the Zionist lobby, Gingrich insisted to Florida voters once again that “Palestinians are an ‘invented people who historically were considered Jordanians and Syrians.” No one in the audience was so impolite as to remind the claimed student of history that Jordan did not even exist until created by the pro-Zionist British occupiers of Palestine, well into the 20th Century, while Palestinians have lived in Palestine for more than 3000 years. While more than 95% of Zionist colonists have zero historical links to Palestine and their genealogical roots are in Europe, Russia and elsewhere, despite the fact that millions have invaded Palestine seeking free land and US government funded cash and housing handouts. Morally and legally these colonists have no right to even one grain of sand in Palestine.

Approximate population growth in Mandatory Palestine

Newt again promised his audience that on his first day as President, he will for sure issue an Executive Order moving the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, another violation of International law.

Florida’s nearly 640,000 Jews are just 3.4 percent of Florida’s population. But because they vote in extraordinarily high numbers, they are 6 to 8 percent of Florida’s general election turnout but not of course when it comes to Republican primaries. Yet one recent poll estimates that 52% of the state’s registered Jewish voters would support a Republican presidential ticket such is their mistrust of Obama and what he might do in a second term with respect to occupied Palestine.

As with his rival Mitt, President Newt’s first foreign trip will be to Israel. With these latter two pledges Newt joins 19 Presidential primary aspirants who since 1967 have made similar promises. Fortunately, for what is left of American Humanitarian values, not one has been elected President.

Lebanese style anti-Palestinian political speech is more sophisticated and subtle, like the Lebanese people themselves, and nearly always devolves to the gut wrenching warning, delivered with a straight face, that “if we allow Palestinian refugees the right to work or to own a home (as required by International Law and currently enjoyed by refugees in 192 other countries) it might encourage them to get lazy and become too comfortable in Lebanon and they might, God save us all, seek naturalization. And this could interfere with the Palestinian refugees internationally guaranteed Right to Return to their homes in occupied Palestine which Lebanese strongly support for their brotherly and sisterly guests.

Lebanese politicians, including every party and religious grouping bar none, except the Druze and the National Syrian Socialist Party, use voter’s fear of naturalization (in American think immigration) to undercut growing human rights pressure for Lebanon to give Palestinians elementary human rights.

A rare exception for a Lebanese politician shocked many here when earlier this month, to his eternal credit and honor, Social Affairs Minister Wael Abu Faour became the first Lebanese Cabinet member to make an official visit to a Palestinian refugee camp in six years when he toured south Beirut’s Burj al-Barajneh camp before signing a memorandum of understanding with the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNWRA). The agreement will enable UNRWA for the first time to work in coordination with the Social Affairs Ministry to provide some services to some of the most vulnerable people in the camps.

The lack of employment opportunities for Palestine refugee prolong and intensify their hardship and poverty. In the five Southern Lebanon camps, according to a recent Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) and UN International Labor Organization study, more than 81 per cent of all refugees are living in abject poverty. Young people are particularly affected, with unemployment for Palestinians between 15 and 24 reaching 60%. The employments figures are not must better in the northern camps.

Speaking at the event, Faour called on his fellow politicians to follow his lead and experience firsthand conditions in Lebanon’s 12 Refugee camps. “Whoever wants to rediscover his humanity has to see the living conditions in Palestinian camps in Lebanon” Minister Faour told Lebanon’s Parliament. “We are used to bringing Palestinians to discussions in fancy hotels and then sending them back to the misery in the camps. We decided to invert these traditions by coming to the camps.”

Unfortunately Minister Abu Faour undercut some of the positive contribution of his visit by emphasizing to the media “the difficult relationship between Lebanon and the Palestinian population. The Lebanese government has consistently declined to grant rights to Palestinian refugees for fear that it would pave the way to naturalization, which it argues would diminish their right to return to Palestine.”

It would be difficult to find one Palestinian in Lebanon, or any advocate of human rights here, who truly believes the Lebanese politicians claimed notion of concern for the sanctity of the Palestinians Right of Return justifies keeping a quarter million human being in the most degrading squalor while outlawing even the right to work or to own a home out of an altruistic concern to keep hallow some of the refugees other international rights. Palestinian refugees in Lebanon reject more than any of the politicians here any form of settlement, naturalization, implantation or tawtin. They have a county just across the southern Lebanese border and their goal, now in its 64th year, is to return without more delay.

Many Palestinians in Lebanon’s camp mention a new energy among their fellow refugees as a result of the continuing, broadening and deepening Arab and Islamic Awakening which erupted one year ago in Tunisia and whose spread continues.

The swelling bud of intifada! is also being observed by foreigners here and as Palestinian camp residents invite Pope Benedict to visit their camps in the Spring during his reported visit to Lebanon, one idea from kids at Ramallah school in Shatila Camp is for the Vicar of Christ to hold a Mass for tens of thousands in the new Cite Sportiff, on the edge this Camp. For it was at this sports center 30 years ago that part two of the Massacre at Sabra-Shatilla was organized by Israeli and Phalange troops on September 18th and for which, like the other 43 hours of uninterrupted slaughter, no one person has ever been held accountable.

It would be an enormously powerful historic event should Pope Benedict fill Cite Sportiff with people of good will, and there are many here like Minister Faour, from all the confessions and political parties, joined by all religious and civil society leaders in Lebanon, and with the Pope’s blessing and admonition for all of us to follow in the path of Mohammad and Jesus and their deciples, that Palestinian refugees in Lebanon might be granted even the most elementary human rights.

Franklin Lamb in doing research in Libya and can be reached c/o fplamb@gmal.com
He is the author of The Price We Pay: A Quarter-Century of Israel’s Use of American Weapons Against Civilians in Lebanon. Dr. Lamb is Director, Americans Concerned for Middle East Peace, Wash.DC-Beirut Board Member, The Sabra Shatila Foundation and the Palestine Civil Rights Campaign, Beirut-Washington DC
Shatila Palestinian Refugee Camp

Press TV

Human rights activists have held a meeting in the besieged Gaza Strip to discuss the ways of countering Israel’s propaganda on a global scale, Press TV reports.

The Palestinian Center for Political and Development Studies (CPDS) organized the meeting on Sunday.

Mahmoud Herthany, a CPDS member, told Press TV that the situation in Palestine must be made clear to the world in order to put an end to Israel’s propaganda that is “controlling many of the media outlets of the world today.”

Huwaida Arraf, the co-founder of the International Solidarity Movement and the chairman of the Free Gaza Movement, also addressed the meeting via video conference, calling for global awareness in countering Israel’s propaganda.

Residents of the Gaza Strip still live in what is known to be the “world’s largest open-air prison” as Israel remains in full control of the airspace, territorial waters and border crossings of Gaza. Israel denies some 1.5 million people in Gaza their basic rights, including the freedom of movement and their rights to appropriate living conditions, work, health and education.

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Tunisian group calls for legislating against relations with “Israel”

TUNISIA, (PIC)– The Tunisian national commission for supporting the Arab resistance and opposing normalization and Zionism stressed the need for enacting a constitutional law clearly prohibiting normalization of ties with the Israeli occupation.

This came in remarks made on Sunday by head of the commission Ahmed Al-Kahlawi in a news conference.

He noted that the commission would stage a sit-in of tents in Bardaw city until its demand in this regard is met.

He also said that the commission would work within workshops to resist the relations with the Israeli occupation in the fields of education, culture and tourism.

Kahlawi stated the success of Arab revolutions lies in severing all kind of ties with the Israeli occupation.

(File photo)

IOA serves demolition orders to three brothers

NABLUS, (PIC)– The Israeli occupation authority (IOA) served demolition orders to three brothers in Lefjin hamlet to the east of Aqraba village south of Nablus.

Ghassan Daghlas, monitoring Israeli settlement activity north of the West Bank, said that the three brothers were handed notifications for the destruction of their homes on Monday.

The IOA served similar notices over the past two weeks in Tawil and Lefjin hamlets near Aqraba village.

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IOA destroys caravan in Beit Hanina, five houses in the Negev

OCCUPIED JERSUALEM, (PIC)– The Israeli-controlled municipality of occupied Jerusalem has sent its bulldozers on Monday in a new destruction mission in Beit Hanina, local sources said.

Mohammed Samara, living in Ashqariya suburb in the village, said that the municipality bulldozers razed his caravan where he lives with his wife and two children.

He said that the municipality had served him a demolition notice three years ago after imposing 13000 shekels fine on him.

The father, a painter, appealed for providing his family with a tent after his wife and children were rendered homeless.

Meanwhile, the Israeli authorities razed five homes in the Negev on Monday owned by Bedouins at the pretext they were not licensed.

The Israeli authorities forced the citizens to raze their homes with their own hands to avoid taxes and heavy financial fines in the event they refused.

Bedouin leaders said that Israel has apparently started its plan of emptying the Negev of its Arab Bedouins in a bid to seize control of their land.

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IOF soldiers arrest Palestinian in front of PA security building

JENIN, (PIC)– Israeli occupation forces (IOF) arrested a Palestinian man from his home in front of the PA security building in Jenin city at dawn Monday.

Local sources said that the IOF soldiers spread in the street in front of the building while the PA security elements rushed inside the building and did nothing to stop the arrest.

They said that the soldiers broke into the home of Saleh Al-Qaisi, 33, and searched it before taking him away.

Other IOF units stormed the Jenin refugee camp at the same time and fired in the air while roaming its alleys but no arrests were reported. A similar raid was reported in Ya’bad village, Jenin province, at dawn Monday that focused on the eastern areas but with no arrests made.

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Israeli soldiers arrest wife of prisoner

RAMALLAH, (PIC)– Israeli soldiers arrested the wife of a Palestinian prisoner who was on her way to visit him on Sunday, the Palestinian prisoner’s association said.

It said in a press release that Samia Mashahra was detained at the Bisan military roadblock while en route to visit her husband in Gilbo’a prison.

The association urged international human rights groups and the Red Cross to assume their responsibility in protecting relatives of Palestinian prisoners and demand whatever necessary measures to guarantee their safety while on their way to and back from visitations.

It expressed absolute concern toward the growing persecution of families of prisoners during visits.

Head of the Arab League’s Observer Mission to Syria Gen. Mohamed al-Dabi announced Monday that “the Syrian opposition did not cooperate with the delegation of observers.”

“We came to watch the actions of both sides (government and opposition), but unfortunately, we found no satisfaction from the opposition as they didn’t want us to perform our duties,” al-Dabi clarified.

In an interview with the pan Arab daily al-Hayat, al-Dabi accused the opposition of working on transferring the Syrian crisis to UN and breaking the current regime.”

Clarifying that “the mission is working in integrity and transparency,” the head of the mission noted that “the Syrian government justified the escalation of the last security campaign by moving according to the last paragraph of the Protocol that permits cessation of violence from whatever source.”

He further believed that the announcement of the mission that “the last two days have witnessed an escalation of violence in Syria reflects an evidence on the credibility of the observers.”

Moqawama

The detained Bahraini opposition idols started a food strike to protest the maltreatment and the arbitrary sentences issued against them.

On this level, The February 14 coalition called for organizing peaceful protests in solidarity with the detainees. In a statement issued, the coalition indicated that the so-called confessions linked to the detainees are either fabricated or were extracted my means of force.

Moreover, head of the Bahrain Youth Society for Human Rights Mohammed al-Maskati clarified that “conducting the strike came after the regime’s Interior Ministry demanded the toughest punishments against those who take part in protests, and called for a 15-year imprisonment on charges of attacking the security forces”.

Meanwhile, the regime forces continue their deadly crackdown against peaceful protesters, attacking unarmed demonstrators and even targeting safe houses with toxic gas.

The country’s Sitra Island held the funeral procession of martyr Mohammad Ibrahim, who was killed earlier last week by Bahraini troops. Forces closed all the entrances and exits of the island, to prevent people from reaching the procession and taking part. However, many Bahrainis were able to reach the region, affirming their determination to continue their peaceful demonstrations until their demands are met.

Iranian Oil Minister Rostam Qassemi announced that Iran will halt oil exports to certain countries soon in reaction to the European Union sanctions on Iranian oil which will take effect from July 1.

The Parliament’s Energy Commission is currently studying to draft a bill to stop oil exports to European countries, IRNA reported.
In the meantime, the EU said that it would examine the market situation in May to decide whether or not to go ahead with the sanctions.

India, the world’s fourth-largest oil consumer, said it would not take steps to cut petroleum imports from Iran despite US and European sanctions.

“It is not possible for India to take any decision to reduce the imports from Iran drastically, because among the countries which can provide the requirement of the emerging economies, Iran is an important country amongst them,” Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee told reporters on a visit to the Unites States.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told reporters in Oakland on Monday that Iran’s decision is a response to the EU’s sanctions, something that Lavrov said Moscow describes as ‘counterproductive’.

Brussels in turn voiced hope that Saudi Arabia, Libya and Iraq will increase oil supplies to EU countries in the immediate future.

(File photo)

Press TV

A dozen protesters in Bahrain have been injured during clashes between regime forces and anti-government demonstrators across the country.

Activists said violence erupted on Saturday after Saudi-backed Bahraini troops attacked the protesters who were attending funeral processions for four demonstrators killed by regime forces on Wednesday.

Thousands of people turned out for the processions, which turned into demonstrations after mourners shouted anti-regime slogans.

Activists and rights groups say at least 10 protesters have been killed in Bahrain so far this year…

RAMALLAH, (PIC)– Israeli occupation forces (IOF) detained 11 Palestinians in various West Bank areas following a large scale search campaign at dawn Sunday.

Israeli military sources said that the detainees, whose identity was withheld along with their places of arrest, were wanted by the IOF for suspicion of involvement in attacks on Israeli targets.

Palestinian sources said that IOF soldiers stormed many buildings in the West Bank cities and villages, breaking into homes during the sleeping hours and forcing inhabitants out in the cold weather for search before taking away detainees.

They said that the soldiers destroyed doors of those homes and wreaked havoc inside them.

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Inhabitants of hamlet go on hunger strike to protest demolition of their homes

NABLUS, (PIC)– Inhabitants of Khirbat Al-Tawil hamlet south of Nablus city have gone on hunger strike for a single day on Saturday to protest Israeli occupation authority’s practices against them.

Quds Press quoted Hamza Dairiye, member of the popular committee to defend the hamlet land, as saying that the hunger strike, the first of its kind, was in protest against the IOA plan to raze all 17 houses of Khirbat Al-Tawil in addition to a mosque and an electricity network.

He said that the IOA decided to demolish the entire hamlet within a week at the pretext it was built on military land in “C” area in the West Bank, which is under full control of the IOA.

The activist said that Khirbat Al-Tawil and nearby areas are the most fertile lands overlooking the Jordan Valley with 30000 dunums cultivated with wheat, legumes, and vegetables while 10000 others dunums are left for cattle grazing.

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Tadamun: “Israel” detained student because of his graduate project

NABLUS, (PIC)– The international Tadamun (solidarity) society for human rights said the Israeli occupation forces (IOF) detained about one month ago a 20-year old university student from Tulkarem city because of his graduate research project.

Spokesman for the society Ahmed Al-Betawi said the IOF detained earlier this month student Ali Takatika, majoring in computer engineering, at the pretext his graduate research was posing a threat to Israel’s national security.

According to Betawi, the student young man chose a graduate project on the construction of a pilotless plane model and started to make online research on the subject before the IOF detained him.

Israeli interrogators told the student he could not go on with his graduate project for security reasons and should pledge to choose another one of no threat to Israel’s security in order to release him.

The Israeli occupation authority and its forces have imposed a ban on the access to many chemicals, fertilizers, and even lathes to be used in labs and workshops by the Palestinian universities and their students.

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IOA blocks travel of 40 Palestinians in one week

Ramallah, (PIC)– The Israeli occupation authority (IOA) blocked the travel of 40 Palestinians from the West Bank to Jordan over the past week, Palestinian sources said.

They said that the IOA told 40 Palestinians at the Karame crossing that they were banned from travel for alleged “security reasons”.

The IOA controls the crossing between the West Bank and Jordan and bars travel of Palestinian citizens at trivial security pretexts.

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Israeli soldiers attack peaceful marches in W. Bank villages

RAMALLAH, (PIC)– Dozens of Palestinians were reportedly wounded on Friday afternoon during Israeli military attacks on peaceful marches organized weekly in different West Bank villages to protest the expansion of settlements and the segregation wall at the expense of Palestinian lands.

In Masarah village near Bethlehem city, Israeli soldiers attacked foreign activists and Palestinians after they marched towards the Palestinian lands behind the segregation wall. Two of the peaceful protestors sustained injuries after they were severely beaten by soldiers, a spokesman for Masarah popular committee reported.

In addition to the slogans chanted and banners carried against settlement activities, the protestors in Masarah dedicated their weekly march to condemn Israel’s detention of Palestinian lawmakers.

Al-Khalil city also saw a massive rally organized after the Friday prayers to peacefully protest Israel’s annexation of Palestinian lands in Tel Rumeida village.

The Israeli occupation forces also suppressed the weekly march that took place in Kafr Qaddum village.

Despite the soldiers’ attacks, and the rainy and cold weather conditions, the Kafr Qaddum villagers along with foreign activists kept marching and chanting slogans calling for escalating the popular resistance until the liberation of all Palestine.

In another march organized in Bil’in village near Ramallah city, the occupation forces also used tear gas grenades, rubber bullets, and waste water against the protestors causing many injuries among them.

One Palestinian photographer was deliberately shot in his two legs with rubber bullets and many Palestinian and foreign protestors suffocated and puked as a result of the large amount of tear gas and waster water used against Bil’in march.