And more news from Today in Palestine:

Land and property theft & destruction / Ethnic cleansing / Apartheid / Settlers

Jerusalem

Report: Gov’t to approve 3,000 housing units in J’lem

JPost 28 Mar — The government will approve 3,800 new housing units in Jerusalem outside of the 1967 borders, Channel Two reported on Monday. According to the report, the move is an initiative of Interior Minister Eli Yishai.

http://www.jpost.com/Headlines/Article.aspx?id=214186

Palestinian man shot in eye by troops while driving home in Silwan

Silwan, Jerusalem (SILWANIC) 28 Mar 23:56 — 24-year-old Mohamad Hani Siyam sustained severe injuries today when shot by Israeli forces in his car in Silwan. Siyam was driving home when he was shot directly in his eye by armed forces in his home village of Silwan. He was immediately transferred to the Eye Hospital in Sheikh Jarrah.

http://silwanic.net/?p=14116

Courts extend detention of youth arrested in Silwan clashes

Silwan, Jerusalem (SILWANIC) 29 Mar — The detentions of two youth arrested from Silwan during clashes were extended by the Israeli courts yesterday. Ahmed al-Ghoul, 22, and Islam Ouda, 18, were ordered to remain in detention until 17 April and face charges of involvement in clashes in Silwan. The detention of a third boy, Mohammed Musa Ouda, was also extended until 15 May. Further details to follow

http://silwanic.net/?p=14168

Live ammunition fired wantonly in Bir Ayyub

Silwan, Jerusalem (SILWANIC) 29 Mar — Armed settler guards in Bir Ayyub responded to a Molotov cocktail thrown at the building with a heavy spray of live ammunition in the built-up neighborhood. No injuries have been reported thus far. Israeli troops on the scene also fired heavy amounts of live ammunition and tear gas, causing widespread asphyxiation amongst Palestinian residents due to gas inhalation.

http://silwanic.net/?p=14143

A cameraman inside a settlement in Wadi Hilweh provoked the citizens

Silwan, Jerusalem (SILWANIC) 29 Mar — A cameraman inside a settlement in Silwan ,Wadi Hilweh provoked the citizens when he started to direct his camera towards Palestinian houses. The cameraman , who seems to work for the settlers , was directing his camera towards Jawad Siyam’s house the director of Wadi Hulwa information centre who is still under house arrest. He was recording on camera who gets in or out Siyam’s house. Later on, the same cameraman directed his camera toward a Palestinian family who were in their house which outraged them.

http://silwanic.net/?p=14154

Abu Tor: a story of neglect

Abu Tor, a neighbourhood in the Silwan area of East Jerusalem, suffers acutely from state neglect, visible in the cycle of poverty from which its residents are unable to break free. The area is exemplary of the socio-economic depression afflicting most of East Jerusalem, brought on by the municipality’s manifest failure to provide adequate funding, despite its legal obligation to do so. At the core of Abu Tor’s ills is the quality of its educational resources, among the worst in the city … ‘Sometimes whole chapters are ripped out of history books or the books are simply not accessible,’ [Abeer Zayyad] reveals … Recently, a new class was introduced to Abu Tor’s schools on “how to be a good Israeli”, which follows a book specially designed for Arab students.

http://palestinemonitor.org/spip/spip.php?article1732

Education crisis in East Jerusalem

23 Mar — While the state is legally obligated to provide free education to all its citizens, it has neglected to provide enough schools to cater for residents of annexed East Jerusalem. ‘One thousand five hundred new schoolrooms need to be built’, explains Balad chairman Jamal Zahalka, who is active in the Knesset on this matter … Over the past twenty years the socio-economic threads of East Jerusalem have been deteriorating, with its people becoming less educated and thus less affluent. The shambolic education system only perpetuates the community’s poverty and encumbers chances for social mobility. By keeping Palestinian standards of education down, the state can slow the pace of organised political resistance, or better yet, stifle it altogether.

http://palestinemonitor.org/spip/spip.php?article1724

Amos Oz, David Grossman join East Jerusalem bookshop owner’s fight for residency

Haaretz 29 Mar — Leading Israeli authors Amos Oz and David Grossman have added their support to efforts to head off the deportation of an East Jerusalem bookstore owner whose shop at the American Colony Hotel specializes in works about the Arab-Israeli conflict and has been a major destination over the years for diplomats and foreign journalists … the bookshop owner, Munther Fahmi, who was born in East Jerusalem, became subject to deportation after his status as an Israeli resident ended because he had spent about 20 years living in the United States and received American citizenship.

http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/news/amos-oz-david-grossman-join-east-jerusalem-bookshop-owner-s-fight-for-residency-1.352436

Jordan Valley

Youth movement to settle in Jordan Valley

29 Mar — The Jordan Valley Regional Council, a settler-run body, recently stated that it is offering the abandoned Gadi military base, in the Jiftlick area of the Jordan Valley, to the Bnei Hamoshavim youth movement. Leaders of the movement say they intend to use the base as accommodation for its graduates. For Jordan Valley Solidarity, this is yet another indication that Israel has no intention of giving up the valuable land … The Gadi base also sits between two Palestinian communities, which now face demolition orders … The valley is crucial for a two-state solution for several reasons. It makes up 30% of the West Bank and would serve as a gateway for Palestinians to the Arab world and the international community. Further, it contains the main water source for the West Bank, and is the most fertile agricultural region.

http://www.palestinemonitor.org/spip/spip.php?article1733

Clashes as Bedouin homes taken down, again

HEBRON (Ma‘an) 29 Mar — Seven Bedouin were beaten by Israeli border police Tuesday morning, as Israeli officials from the Civil Administration office carried out a demolition order on 12 tents in a tiny herding hamlet in the southern West Bank. The twelve families of Khirbet Amniyr, a Bedouin encampment southeast of Yatta, were ordered out of their tent homes earlier in the year, but remained, saying they had little choice but to stay and had nowhere else to go … According to observers with the Christian Peacemaker Teams, villagers said the military attempted to confiscate a tractor as well, but residents surrounded it and refused to leave. On 22 February, the Israeli military buried homes and water wells in the hamlet. The military later prevented ICRC workers from delivering aid equipment to the families.

http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=373361

IOF assaults six senior citizens during demolitions east of Yatta, raids Gaza

AL-KHALIL, (PIC) 29 Mar — The Israeli occupation forces used sticks and fired tear gas during clashes with senior citizens as they rushed in to demolish makeshift homes owned by the Al-Jabour family in the village of Um Neir east of Yatta. The IOF rushed in Tuesday morning to tear down 12 tents and shacks used by locals when clashes erupted and the soldiers assaulted at least six men in their sixties, according to witnesses.

http://www.palestine-info.co.uk/En/default.aspx?xyz=U6Qq7

Elsewhere

Sparse funeral highlights village’s isolation

QALQILIYA (Ma‘an) 29 Mar — A sparsely attended funeral on Sunday in a village surrounded by Israel’s separation wall highlighted the isolation of communities cut off from their neighbors and relatives. When Sheikh ‘Atta Ash-Shu‘ur, an elderly resident of Arab Ar-Ramadin Al-Janubi, passed away Sunday morning, village representative Kassab Ash-Shu‘ur requested permission from the Israeli authorities for family members to attend the funeral. According to the representative, 70 percent of the deceased’s relatives live in the West Bank district of Hebron, on the other side of the wall… Only thirty relatives were permitted entry to the funeral later on Sunday.

http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=372916

Doctors refuse to refer injured Palestinian girl to hospital

28 Mar 18:02 Ramallah: Israeli doctors refused to refer a five-year-old Palestinian girl to Isreali hospitals after she was run over by a colonist in the village of Turamah in Hebron, Gulf News has learnt. Sources said the Israeli motorist who ran over the girl reported the accident to Israeli medics but fled the scene immediately. The victim, Shahd Mohammad Ghannam, was crossing the street to her school when the colonist hit her and knocked her down … When the Israeli medics arrived they administered first aid to the girl but refused to refer her to an Israeli hospital for treatment though she had suffered serious injuries and was in need of hospitalisation. The ambulance, with the medics, left suddenly and the victim’s family called for a Palestinian ambulance to rush the girl to Hebron Public Hospital where she landed in the ICU. The victim’s family has said they will sue the driver, and the Israeli medical authorities for refusing to refer the girl to a hospital for treatment.

http://gulfnews.com/news/region/palestinian-territories/doctors-refuse-to-refer-injured-palestinian-girl-to-hospital-1.784195

Settlers’ sewage plant puts Palestinians in lose-lose situation

Haaretz 29 Mar — … So why should we complain about the settlers whose handiwork is drowning in sewage? The main responsibility remains that of the state, which came to their rescue after providing “a certain amount of funding,” as the State Prosecutor’s Office defined it, to build the plant. Now the Palestinian villagers who saw Ofra take over their lands are supposed to rely on the settlement to solve their sewage problem, by means of an additional piece of land it stole from them. If they don’t accept the solution, they will be forced to continue to deal with the sewage problem that makes their lives difficult too and endangers the environment. If they accept the solution, they will help to perpetuate the settlement enterprise and even grant it environmental approval.

http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/opinion/settlers-sewage-plant-puts-palestinians-in-lose-lose-situation-1.352470

Violence / Incursions

IOF aggression on Gaza killed 14 and wounded 48 in ten days

GAZA, (PIC) 29 Mar — The Israeli occupation forces’ aggression on the Gaza Strip over the past ten days killed 14 people including five children and wounded 48, medical sources said on Monday evening. Adham Abu Salmiya, the spokesman for medical services, said in a statement that six children and six women were among the wounded … The IOF raids and bombardment also destroyed a clinic, a factory for soft drinks, a foundry, a bricks factory, a shop for car tires, a warehouse, and the former intelligence headquarters.

http://www.palestine-info.co.uk/En/default.aspx?xyz=U6Qq7k%2bcOd87MDI46m9rU

Gaza emergency services on high alert from Israeli attack

MEMO 29 Mar — …Ambulance crews from the Health Ministry and the Red Cross, the civil defence and the medical services are all at the highest level of alert in readiness should forces of the occupation escalate their aggression against the Gaza Strip. The Zionist Occupation targeted the besieged Gaza Strip in its recent aggression which began on 16 March 2011 through to 26 March, with more than 30 air raids against civilian targets and 85 artillery shells being fired. Similarly, forces of the Zionist occupation have mounted 14 limited incursions and fired in the vicinity of fisherman on 10 occasions.

http://www.middleeastmonitor.org.uk/news/middle-east/2184-gaza-emergency-services-on-high-alert-from-israeli-attack

Israeli tanks accompany bulldozers into Gaza

GAZA CITY ( Ma‘an) 29 Mar — Several Israeli military tanks crossed the border into the Gaza Strip on Tuesday morning near the Kissufim military post north of Khan Younis. Witnesses northeast of the town of Qarara, close to where the military action was reported, said three tanks and four bulldozers were operating inside the coastal enclave. Gunfire was reported, but no injuries, and onlookers said the bulldozers began leveling agricultural areas around the Kissufim military base.

http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=373354

Medics suspect teen beaten by soldiers

QALQILIYA (Ma‘an) 29 Mar — Palestinian medical crews were summoned to a checkpoint in the northern West Bank Monday night and told that a Palestinian youth had been involved in a car accident there. When crews arrived, however, they said there was no sign of a car accident, and 16-year-old Omar Omran Hussein from the nearby village of Azzun was suffering from severe bruising. He was being treated by an Israeli medical team. Palestinian officials said Red Crescent medics were dismissed with no explanation as to how the teenager sustained his injuries, and said they believed he had been badly beaten. A report in the Israeli press Tuesday morning said a teenager was detained throwing stones on the main road between Qalqiliya and Nablus.

http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=373317

Detention / Harassment / International kidnapping

Awarta residents’ DNA tested in Itamar case

NABLUS (Ma‘an) — The deputy mayor of Awarta and two of his brothers were detained along with dozens of others Tuesday morning by Israeli forces. Officials say the detained men are being given DNA tests and questioned by soldiers … Awarta, the closest Palestinian village to the illegal Israeli settlement of Itamar, where the murders occurred, has been the center of the investigation. It was placed under military curfew twice, the first time for five days. While a third curfew was not imposed overnight, Israeli troops forcibly entered homes, detaining an unknown number of residents estimated to be in the dozens. Forty had already been detained during earlier arrest raids, including a Voice of Palestine radio journalist.

http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=373340

Palestinian ‘abducted’ in Ukraine due in Israeli court

BBC 29 Mar — A Palestinian engineer is due in court on Thursday after he was allegedly detained in Ukraine and taken to Israel by force. Dirar Abu Sisi, a director of a Gaza power plant, is accused of anti-Israeli activity, his lawyer in Tel Aviv says …His friends and relatives reject Israeli reports that the engineer is affiliated to militant groups in the Gaza Strip and are calling on the Ukraine authorities to intervene.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-12894182

One tree for every prisoner

MEMO 28 Mar — EXCLUSIVE PICTURES – A tree planting campaign was launched on Sunday, 27 March, in Nablus’ Samaa Gardens under the auspices of the Ministry of Prisoners’ Affairs to support Palestinian prisoners and former detainees in Israeli jails. The ceremony was presided over by the Minister for Prisoners’ Affairs in the West Bank, Mr Eesa Qaraqa‘a, in the presence of a number of political figures, parliamentarians and family members of serving and former prisoners.

http://www.middleeastmonitor.org.uk/news/middle-east/2178-one-tree-for-every-prisoner

Hamas: PA detained 2 members in West Bank

BETHLEHEM (Ma‘an) 29 Mar — Hamas officials in the West Bank on Tuesday accused Palestinian Authority forces of detaining two party members from the Salfit and Nablus regions.

http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=373362

It’s time to end the anonymity of Palestinian prisoners

MEMO 28 Mar — …there is near silence from the international community on the 133 Palestinian political prisoners who have been held in Israeli jails for two decades or more. They have endured unjust trials and harsh prison conditions; they receive inadequate medical and psychological care, and many are in solitary confinement. Most of these prisoners were detained as young boys and young men and have reached their late 30s and 40s having spent their entire adult life in prison, with little or no contact with their loved ones and the outside world. The Middle East Monitor will be profiling 25 of these Palestinian prisoners over the coming weeks, bringing an end to their anonymity and highlighting the injustices that these men and their families face at the hands of the state of Israel.

http://www.middleeastmonitor.org.uk/resources/reports-and-publications/2167-its-time-to-end-the-anonymity-of-palestinian-political-prisoners

Israeli court illegally extends detention of lawyer Issawi and her brothers

OCCUPIED JERUSALEM, (PIC) 29 Mar — The Israeli high court of justice in the occupied Palestinian city of Jerusalem on Monday decided, at the behest of the Israeli prosecutor, to extend the detention of lawyer Shirin Al-Issawi and her brothers, Medhat and Ra‘fat … Head of Mandela institute for human rights lawyer Buthaina Duqmaq said the extension decision was arbitrary and a blatant violation of all norms and laws because their detention has no legal basis. Duqmaq stressed that there is a clear and serious violation of law in the file of Al-Issawi siblings who have been in jail for about one year without any guilt or crime.

http://www.palestine-info.co.uk/En/default.aspx?xyz=U6Qq7k%2bc

Prisoners Center: Jailed Bethlehem woman was tortured

BETHLEHEM (Ma‘an) 28 Mar — Israeli authorities tortured a 42-year-old Palestinian woman after she was detained at a checkpoint in October, a prisoners’ center said Monday. Hanan Hamouz was detained in Beit Jala, near her home in Bethlehem’s Al-Azza refugee camp in the southern West Bank. On Monday, an Israeli court sentenced Hamouz to two years and a half years in prison and ordered her to pay a 3,000 shekel ($850) fine. The Prisoners Society in Bethlehem said in a statement that she was charged with trying to stab an Israeli soldier, and had been tortured in detention.

http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=373181

Provocative search of Palestinian young women at IOF roadblock

RAMALLAH, (PIC) 28 Mar — Israeli occupation forces (IOF) manning a roadblock in central West Bank ordered all young women boarding a bus to step out of it and subjected them to provocative search on Monday morning. Eyewitnesses told the PIC that the young women were planning to reach Ramallah when they were ordered out of the bus and searched in what they described as an attempt to abuse them.

http://www.palestine-info.co.uk/En/default.aspx?xyz=U6Qq7k%2BcO

Siege

Egypt considers changed to Gaza blockade in meeting with Hamas

M&C 29 Mar — Cairo – Egypt said Tuesday it was reconsidering its policies towards the blockade on the Gaza Strip in order to ‘alleviate the suffering’ of local Palestinians, according to an official. ‘Egypt is conducting a review of the Rafah crossing to take all necessary action to achieve greater convenience and alleviate the suffering of Gaza residents,’ said Minha Bakhoum, spokeswoman for the Egyptian Foreign Ministry. The statement came after a senior Hamas official said Egypt had changed its policy towards Israel. The comments by Hamas Foreign Minister Mahmoud el-Zahar followed a meeting with Egyptian Foreign Minister Nabil el-Arabi.

http://www.monstersandcritics.com/news/middleeast/news/article_1629472.php/Egypt-considers-changes-to-Gaza-blockade-in-meeting-with-Hamas

Sole remaining Gaza crossing delivers supplies

GAZA CITY (Ma‘an) 29 Mar — Palestinian liaison officers were informed Tuesday morning that 230-240 trucks of goods would be permitted to enter the Gaza Strip, via the only open crossing terminal.

http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=373331

Hajj pilgrims in Gaza receive 900 delayed bags

GAZA CITY (Ma‘an) 29 Mar — After eight months of waiting, half of the luggage of Palestinian pilgrims to Saudi Arabia was delivered to the Rafah crossing on Tuesday, officials reported. An estimated 900 bags and packages arrived at the Gaza-Egypt crossing, the Ministry of Waqf and Religious Affairs in Gaza reported, a portion of the thousands of tons of bags held up for unknown reasons by Saudi and Egyptian officials.

http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=373378

Activism / Solidarity

Ajuad Zidan imprisoned for seventh time in a row

Conscientious objector Ajuad Zidan was sent to prison again, for the seventh time in a row. [He] was sentenced to 20 more days of imprisonment on 21 Mar. for his refusal to enlist … Ajuad Zidan is due to be released from prison on 7 April, and is likely to be imprisoned again afterwards … Since the prison authorities often block mail from reaching imprisoned objectors, we also recommend you to send them your letters of support and encouragement via e-mail to: messages2prison@newprofile.org

http://www.newprofile.org/english/?p=349

Facebook removes page calling for a third Palestinian intifada

Haaretz 29 Mar — The Facebook page calling for a third Palestinian intifada was taken down on Tuesday, after widespread calls for it to be removed.

http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/facebook-removes-page-calling-for-a-third-palestinian-intifada-1.352623

UK: Festival rejects grants amid threats from anti-Israel groups

Ynet 29 Mar — Organizers of ‘Arts Music of Israel’ at SOAS say won’t accept $2,400 grant from BI-ARTS after pro-Palestinian groups calling to boycott Jewish state threaten to protest against event. Israeli embassy: Art is made to build bridges

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4049190,00.html

European initiative against settlements and wall launched in The Hague

AMSTERDAM, (PIC) 29 Mar — Pro-Palestinian organizations in Europe declared the launch of the European initiative for removing the wall and settlements in The Hague, Netherlands. This came during “Palestina Festival 2011…No occupation, no blockade” that was held earlier this week in Zazat Blaine hall in Rotterdam city. The initiative is a consortium of many human rights organizations operating throughout the European continent

http://occupiedpalestine.wordpress.com/2011/03/29/european-initiative-against-settlement-and-wall-launched-in-the-hague/

Extrajudicial assassinations / War crimes/criminals

Mofaz calls for resumption of targeted assassinations in Gaza

MEMO 29 Mar — Israel’s Foreign Affairs and Defence Committee chairman in the Knesset has said that Israel must return to the policy of targeted assassinations in the Gaza Strip, stressing that “anyone who harms the Israelis must be held personally responsible.” During a meeting held at the municipality of occupied Bir Saba‘a, MK Shaul Mofaz, who previously served as Defence Minister, said, “Israel cannot hide behind the Iron Dome defence system while life goes on in Gaza.”

http://www.middleeastmonitor.org.uk/news/middle-east/2182-mofaz-calls-for-resumption-of-targeted-assassinations-in-gaza

Popular outcry against British government’s decision to change law on universal jurisdiction

MEMO 29 Mar — A leading campaigns organization in the UK has issued an urgent call to British parliamentarians to protect the principle of universal jurisdiction now under threat by a proposed government bill. Clause 152 of the Police Reform Bill, the Palestinian Solidarity Campaign argues, ‘will restrict the right to justice when seeking a privately prosecuted arrest for war crimes.’ The proposed government change to the law was initiated in response to sustained pressure exerted upon the ruling coalition by the Israeli government and its UK lobby, after a warrant was issued for the arrest of former Israeli foreign minister, Tsipi Livni, for her role in the war on Gaza in 2008-09

http://www.middleeastmonitor.org.uk/news/europe/2183-popular-outcry-against-british-governments-decision-to-change-law-on-universal-jurisdiction

New Shin Bet chief wrote: IDF could’ve destroyed Hamas in Gaza

Ynet WASHINGTON 29 Mar — Yoram Cohen, who was named next director of the Shin Bet security service on Monday, wrote that Israel did not take advantage of its military superiority to destroyed Hamas’ military capabilities during Operation Cast Lead.

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4049267,00.html

Repression

Knesset passes law to strip terrorists of Israeli citizenship

Haaretz 28 Mar — The Knesset plenum on Monday gave its final seal of approval to a law that would enable Israel’s Supreme Court to revoke the citizenship of anyone convicted of espionage, treason or aiding the enemy during war.

http://www.haaretz.com/news/national/knesset-passes-law-to-strip-terrorists-of-israeli-citizenship-1.352412

Politics / International / Unity

‘If Palestinians declare state, Israel weighing annexation’

JPost 29 Mar — Official in Jerusalem tells AP that possible counter-measures include annexation of settlements, restricting water, use of ports … The official said that “adopting unilateral measures is not a one-way street,” and that it was not the only option being considered, according to the report. He cautioned, however, that he was not aware of how seriously the political leadership was considering such a bold move..

http://www.jpost.com/DiplomacyAndPolitics/Article.aspx?id=214279

Israel threatens unilateral steps if UN recognizes Palestinian state

Haaretz 29 Mar — Foreign Ministry instructs envoys in 30 countries to send ‘diplomatic protest’ to host nations over plan for September vote in General Assembly … European diplomats have confirmed to Haaretz that such a message was conveyed several days ago. One diplomat said his country did not receive a serious response when asked what unilateral steps Israel might take. Another diplomat, from a European country, said in light of the current deadlock in negotiations, international recognition of Palestinian statehood appeared unavoidable in September.

http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/news/israel-threatens-unilateral-steps-if-un-recognizes-palestinian-state-1.352423

Detainees join March 15 hunger strike

HEBRON (Ma‘an) 29 Mar — Palestinian detainees in Israeli prisons announced Tuesday that they have joined the March 15 youth hunger strike to demand an end to the national division. Thirty detainees in Israel’s Jalbou‘a, Ramon, Nafha and Beersheba prisons said they would remain on hunger strike until Palestinian reconciliation was achieved, said Raed Al-Atrash, who reports on detainees’ affairs.

http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=373510

Analysts say Hamas demands postponement of Abbas’ Gaza visit to win more time

GAZA, March 29 (Xinhua) — Mahmoud al-Zahar, a senior Hamas leader, on Monday in a press conference held in Cairo called on Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to postpone his Gaza visit till the Fatah and the Hamas settle issues on which the two sides’ views diverge through a new round of dialogues … Khaled Safi, an expert on Islamic movements, told Xinhua that the reason behind Hamas’ demand to postpone Abbas’ visit to Gaza ” is that there are disagreements within the movement itself. Hamas wants to firstly have a unified position of its leadership.”

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/indepth/2011-03/29/c_13803916.htm

Other news

Two foreign workers and their children nabbed for deportation

Haaretz 28 Mar — Both women came to Israel legally to work, but lost their visas after giving birth; one of the woman’s children is the son of a Turkish asylum seeker living in Israel legally.

http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/news/two-foreign-workers-and-their-children-nabbed-for-deportation-1.352215

Sportscaster penalized for making on-air Anat Kamm tribute

Haaretz 28 Mar — Sports announcer Yoram Arbel is being suspended for two days for dedicating Saturday night’s televised Israel-Latvia soccer game to Anat Kamm, who pleaded guilty last month to delivering classified military documents to Haaretz journalist Uri Blau, Channel 10 announced yesterday.

http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/news/sportscaster-penalized-for-making-on-air-anat-kamm-tribute-1.352221

Analysis / Opinion

The Israeli incitement problem: A personal look at a children’s book / Noam Sheizaf

29 Mar — Israeli leaders and advocacy groups love to complain about Palestinian incitement, but militaristic and nationalistic indoctrination is all too common in Israel itself. Some personal reflection, following a mail from an outraged parent … Danni Din’s war on Arab terrorists is not unique. Almost every adventure book I remember from my childhood featured at least a handful of evil Arabs (never mention the P word), if not full Egyptian military divisions. Some of the Arabs in those books were thieves and kidnappers, but most of them were terrorists. The best known of these books were the “Hassamba” series, featuring a group or kids operating like a secret army unit in the service of Israel’s defense, getting their orders directly from the most senior generals … Whenever I hear Israeli advocacy groups speaking of incitement, I think of Danni Din and Hassamba. I also remember the maps of Israel we use to draw in school: none of them featured the green line, just one big happy Jewish state, from the sea to the Jordan; and we never marked the Palestinian towns on them, only Jewish cities. Does this qualify as incitement?

http://www.promisedlandblog.com/?p=3817

Government must act against ‘price tag’ phenomenon / Alexander Yakobson

28 Mar — The ‘price tag’ people are knowingly playing with matches next to a barrel of explosives in order to threaten the government. They are not only criminals – they are a threat to Israel’s security and must be treated as such … The term ‘price tag’ refers to harm inflicted on Palestinians in response to government actions deemed hazardous to the settlement project. For the most part, this is not revenge for Arab terror, which might be considered legitimate by people who embrace the barbaric principle of taking revenge on innocent bystanders.

http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/opinion/government-must-act-against-price-tag-phenomenon-1.352254

Iraq

Monday: 14 Iraqis killed, 52 wounded

As the prime minister of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, arrived in Baghdad to meet with Iraqi leaders, at least 14 Iraqis were killed and 52 more were wounded in attacks there and across Iraq.

http://original.antiwar.com/updates/2011/03/28/monday-14-iraqis-killed-52-wounded/

Tuesday: 58 Iraqis killed, 104 wounded

At least 58 Iraqis were killed and 104 were wounded today. The worst attack, on the Salah ad Din provincial council, may still be occurring as three lawmakers are missing and thought to be kidnapped. Also, Ninewa province has new leaders and may soon see violence because of it. An attack on a Tikrit building housing the provincial council left as many as 56 dead and 98 wounded. Most of the casualties are government employees, but at least one of the dead was a journalist. Several gunmen stormed the building and took hostages using car bombs, grenades, and explosive bets. Three lawmakers may have been kidnapped.

http://original.antiwar.com/updates/2011/03/29/tuesday-23-iraqis-killed-71-wounded/

U.S.

Constructing the prototypical terrorist in America: Arab, Muslim, and Palestinian / Noura Erakat

26 Mar — On Febuary 13, 2011, hundreds of people descended on the Yorba Linda Community Center in Orange County, California to protest a charity event organized by the Islamic Circle of North America Relief USA (ICNA) [see video] The patriotic, arguably nativist rally, collapses US security concerns, Arab/Muslim distrust, and a reverence for the Israeli state. This collapse reflects a racialization process that constructs the Arab-Muslim-Palestinian as the prototypical terrorist.

http://www.jadaliyya.com/pages/index/1019/constructing-the-prototypical-terrorist-in-america

US Muslims face rising discrimination; official

* Official says US Muslims face growing discrimination * Proceedings quickly take on partisan political edge — WASHINGTON, March 29 (Reuters) – American Muslims face a rising tide of religious discrimination in U.S. communities, workplaces and schools nearly a decade after the Sept. 11 attacks, a senior Justice Department official said on Tuesday.

http://www.trust.org/alertnet/news/us-muslims-face-rising-discrimination-official