By Ali Abunimah,

Another staple of Israeli propangada has been busted, as Israeli television has – years late – admitted that claims rockets were fired from UNRWA schools in Gaza were false.

UNRWA, the UN agency for Palestine refugees, issued a statement yesterday, in eastern occupied Jerusalem, that says in part:

Israel’s highest-rating news programme, Channel Two News, has published a statement correcting false claims that rockets were fired from schools operated by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) during the Gaza war in 2008-2009. The statement makes clear that Israeli officials themselves acknowledged that such claims were false and that there was no evidence to support them. “We heard this misinformation during the war when there was shelling on and around the Agency’s schools and our main warehouse in Gaza”, said UNRWA Spokesperson Chris Gunness, “but Israeli officials made it clear to the UN during the war itself that they knew claims about militants in UNRWA installations were completely false. Constant, unchecked repetition of this misinformation has been very damaging to the Agency and has produced some very poor and biased journalism, which I will continue to confront. This is the third time in just a few months that a major news organisation has issued a public retraction because of false information about UNRWA.” Read the rest here.

Land Theft & Destruction / Ethnic Cleansing / Restriction of Movement / Apartheid & Occupation / Refugees

Tel Aviv University to cooperate with settler group on East Jerusalem dig Tel Aviv University’s spokesperson refuses to explain why its archaeologists will work with Elad, an organization notorious for its pursuit of Jewish settlement in East Jerusalem.

Churches condemn Israeli security barrier

The heads of Catholic churches in the Holy Land are condemning the route of Israel’s security barrier near Bethlehem, saying it affects the livelihood of Christian families there.

http://news.yahoo.com/churches-condemn-israeli-security-barrier-172022864.html

Picking olives in a cage I spent Tuesday inside a cage. Not my usual way to spend a sunny Tuesday – but for the Palestinian farmers I was with, this is routine. This is because their land happens to be near the illegal Israeli settlement of Ariel – in fact, it is in the Israeli imposed ‘buffer zone’ between the largest settlement in the West Bank and the surrounding Palestinian villages – of course, the buffer zone is created out of land outside of the settlement, effectively grabbing yet more land from the Palestinians. Many olive trees are trapped in this ‘buffer zone’ between a fence on one side and Ariel on the other. So, during the Palestinian olive harvest, the villagers who own the land must ask for Israeli permission to access their own trees – as is typical across the West Bank. However, they have a second hurdle to cross, as their trees are behind this fence, the soldiers need to let them in and out every morning and evening.

Watch: “We are Palestinians, shout it from the rooftops!” Short film profiles refugees in Lebanon, Ali Abunimah

This new 27-minute video by Chris Den Hond and Mireille Court features the voices and places of Palestinian refugees in Lebanon, who live under some of the harshest conditions that Palestinian refugees face anywhere. The video, Palestinian Refugees: Time to return now, includes interviews with Palestinians young and old and men and women, interspersed with archive footage. They talk about moments in their history, their daily travails such as the plight of young Palestinians legally barred from working, and moments of lightheartedness. The filmmakers spoke to Palestinians in the refugee camps of Shatila, Burj al-Barajneh, Mar Elias, Nahr al-Bared, Ain al-Hilweh and Rachidiyeh.

http://electronicintifada.net/blogs/ali-abunimah/watch-we-are-palestinians-shout-it-rooftops-short-film-profiles-refugees-lebanon Israeli & Egyptian Siege on Gaza PCHR: Closure of Beit Hanoun crossing threatens lives of patients in Gaza

The Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR) warned against the closure of Beit Hanoun crossing (Erez) located in the northern Gaza Strip, threatening the lives of hundreds of patients.

Man dies in Gaza tunnel collapse, 2 missing GAZA CITY (Ma’an) — The body of 23-year-old Palestinian man was recovered after he was killed in a tunnel collapse in the southern Gaza Strip, civil defense teams said Thursday. Walid Nasser Marouf, from Beit Lahiya, died in a tunnel under Gaza’s border with Egypt near Rafah, officials said. Two other Palestinians are missing after the tunnel fell in on Wednesday evening, they said. Medics say over 160 Palestinians have died in the network of underground tunnels since Israel imposed a siege on the Gaza Strip in 2006. Egypt started closing the tunnels after an Aug. 5 attack in Sinai when gunmen killed 16 Egyptian soldiers. Egypt suspects the tunnels were used by some of the militants. Hamas says no one from Gaza was involved in the attack. The tunnels have been used to import anything from food to construction materials, fuel and cars, and militants have also used them to import munitions used to attack Israel, which has targeted some of the tunnels with air strikes.

Workers trapped in tunnel collapse

Three Palestinian workers were trapped at a late night hour on Wednesday when a tunnel they were digging at the Egyptian borders collapsed. Three Palestinian workers were trapped at a late night hour on Wednesday when a tunnel they were digging at the Egyptian borders collapsed.

http://www.imemc.org/article/64462

Truths and lies behind Israel’s attacks on Gaza and its whining about rockets, Ali Abunimah

Isn’t this is the sort of “preemptive” logic that led so many to accept the US invasion of Iraq? Isn’t this is the sort of “preemptive” logic that led so many to accept the US invasion of Iraq?

IOF soldiers advance in southern Gaza

Israeli occupation forces (IOF) advanced 500 meters into eastern Khan Younis, south of the Gaza Strip, on Wednesday night, local sources said. Israeli occupation forces (IOF) advanced 500 meters into eastern Khan Younis, south of the Gaza Strip, on Wednesday night, local sources said. http://www.palestine-info.co.uk/En/default.aspx?xyz=U6Qq7k%2bcOd87MDI46m9rUxJEpMO%2bi1s7jtSLc2rHDKTIjTxvd%2fai80jc1w5DlI99fjRL58Km%2fLT8rdoYK0oT4%2f3WZ%2f5vtWNi4h5yCMNX9ikCify8FbiKnQ96hy8k7DKdDy0Hqz7RyRI%3d IOF launches military surveillance zeppelin over the Beit Hanoun crossing

Israeli occupation forces (IOF) on Wednesday, launched a military surveillance zeppelin over the Beit Hanoun town in the northern Gaza Strip, in order to detect a large area. Israeli occupation forces (IOF) on Wednesday, launched a military surveillance zeppelin over the Beit Hanoun town in the northern Gaza Strip, in order to detect a large area. http://www.palestine-info.co.uk/En/default.aspx?xyz=U6Qq7k%2bcOd87MDI46m9rUxJEpMO%2bi1s7njvfN9ZgmDYH7DqlwZmCSWDha%2bA9ANMy8dmDjT4NhSM3%2bTPFbZsugmW3saJUSep1zbpPbItrxAZVgy462z%2b6XPtzpOvM1x7i3gdaFeotbYc%3d 13 Palestinian martyrs since the beginning of the month The Palestinian Ministry of Health in Gaza announced that 13 Palestinians were martyred during the continued Israeli aggression on Gaza since the beginning of this month.

GAZA CITY (Ma’an) — A 24-year-old Palestinian died Thursday from injuries sustained in an Israeli air strike a day earlier, Gaza’s health ministry said. Mohammad Hirzallah had been injured when Israeli warplanes bombed Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip early Wednesday morning. He died in hospital Thursday, the ministry said in a statement. Muhammad al-Sheikh, 32, a member of the Popular Resistance Committee’s military wing the Nasser Saladin Brigades, was killed immediately in the same strike. Israel’s army said it was targeting a launching squad which moments earlier had fired a rocket at southern Israel. At least seven Palestinians have been killed in Israeli airstrikes on Gaza since Monday and militants groups have fired a barrage of rockets at Israeli military sites and across the border.

http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=532076 Occupied Lives: There Was No Reason For My Son’s Death On 28 September 2012, Israel’s forces shot and killed Fahmi Abu Riash (22), a Palestinian fisherman, and wounded his brother Youssef (19), while they and a group of other fishermen were pulling out their fishing nets a few meters from the shore in the northern Gaza Strip. According to investigations conducted by the Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR), an Israeli infantry unit crossed the northwestern border between the Gaza Strip and Israel , and moved nearly 20 meters into Palestinian territory, along the beach area of the northwestern town of Beit Lahia. Israeli soldiers took position behind a hill at the beach, facing a number of Palestinian fishermen who were fishing a few meters offshore, and opened fire at the fishermen. http://www.imemc.org/article/64457 IOF storms the abducted MP Ahmed Mubarak’s home

Israeli occupation forces (IOF) stormed on Tuesday the house of abducted MP Ahmed Abdul Aziz Mubarak, searched his house and damaged its contents and confiscated some of them. http://www.palestine-info.co.uk/En/default.aspx?xyz=U6Qq7k%2bcOd87MDI46m9rUxJEpMO%2bi1s7%2fD48fQGll2XsbsYl5Xptn5OUlX9KYl6cyqkvnqqO%2fKi%2bfDBXVFfP6McvA20F23gTWAMyivsL%2f1wwlu3fIW69W%2byoDFzr02lLXpLdSb%2fLiZc%3d Israeli soldiers storm Al-Aqsa Mosque in their military uniforms

A group of 75 Israeli officers, in their military uniforms, stormed Al-Aqsa Mosque on Wednesday morning from the Mughrabi Gate, Al-Aqsa Foundation for Waqf and Heritage confirmed in a statement.

‘By God’s promise this land is ours!’ Settlers attack Palestinian oliver-pickers, Badia Dwaik The film shows a settler attack on the Palestinian citizens of Tel Rumeida, and how the attacking settlers are guarded, aided and abetted by the soldiers of the Israeli occupation forces. The film shows how the soldiers, rather than deter the criminal actions of the settlers, actually defend them. The film also shows how the occupation soldiers treat the Palestinians and foreign activists who are there to protect the citizens. Also the film documents the arrest of a 50 year old foreign activist, while settlers stand by insulting the Palestinians. According to Engineer Issa Amr, Coordinator of Youth Against the Settlements, the settlers and the IOF appear to coordinate attacks on the population in the area of Tel Rumeida.

“Constant, unchecked repetition of this misinformation has been very damaging.” http://electronicintifada.net/blogs/ali-abunimah/israeli-tv-admits-no-rockets-were-ever-fired-unrwa-schools-gaza-during-cast-lead Illegal Arrests Israel: 9 Palestinians arrested overnight BETHLEHEM (Ma’an) — Israeli forces detained nine Palestinians overnight in the occupied West Bank, the Israeli military said. An army spokesman told Ma’an that the Palestinians were arrested in raids across the West Bank. Soldiers detained one Palestinian in Jenin, one in Tulkarem, two each from Nablus and Hebron, three in Ramallah, and one in Tubas, the spokesman said. http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=532058

4 arrested, several injured in Israeli boycott protest RAMALLAH (Ma’an) — Around 150 protestors demonstrated on Wednesday in front of an Israeli chain store east of Ramallah, the Popular Struggle Committee said. Four activists were detained and several injured as Israeli police and soldiers broke up the demonstration, a statement said. Palestinian, international and Israeli protesters gathered outside of a branch of the Rami Levi store, chanting slogans and carrying banners calling for a boycott of Israeli products. ”As long as there is no justice to Palestinians, Israeli and settler daily life can’t continue on as normal,” the committee said. Basim Tamimi, the head of the Popular Committee of Nabi Saleh, was beaten and suffered broken ribs and several other people were injured, the popular committee said. The protest took place near the village of Mikhmas, east of Ramallah. There are several Rami Levi stores in the occupied West Bank, which attract both Israeli and Palestinian customers. http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=531835 Other Prisoner News Hamas says prisoner on hunger strike in PA jail BETHLEHEM (Ma’an) — Hamas said on Thursday that one of its members has gone on hunger strike in a Palestinian Authority jail in the West Bank to protest his continued detention. The party said Anas al-Hashlamoun, from Hebron, is being held by security services despite three decisions to release him. A Hamas statement said the detention of Hamas leader Farraj Rumaneh has been repeatedly renewed for 15-day periods. The party also said a Nablus court extended the detention of seven others affiliated to Hamas and has postponed the cases of four student activists from Nablus’ al-Najah University. Hamas seized control of Gaza in a brief civil war in 2007, ushering in a half decade of rivalry with Fatah-dominated authorities in the West Bank, with both sides accusing each other of detaining their supporters. A reconciliation deal signed by Fatah and Hamas in May 2011 entailed pledges to stop politically motivated arrests, but the agreement has not been implemented. http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=532126 After 115 Days Of Hunger Strike, Palestinian Detainee Stops Water Intake

Palestinian detainee, Ayman Ash-Sharawna, has been on hunger strike for 115 days, and stopped drinking water on Wednesday, escalating his strike as Israel still refuses to release him, and due to pressures practiced against him by the Prison Administration.

Ayman Nasser, Addameer researcher, has detention period extended Ramallah, 24 October 2012 – Addameer researcher and human rights defender Ayman Nasser today has had his period of extension extended for a further nine days. Ayman, who was arrested on 15 October 2012, has so far spent 10 days in interrogation. Earlier today Ayman was brought before the Israeli military court in Moskobiyyeh detention center, Jerusalem, where the judge ruled that based on ‘secret evidence’ Ayman’s detention will continue. The prosecution requested that the detention period be extended for 13 days, although following the intervention of Addameer lawyer Mahmoud Hassan, this was reduced to nine days.

Israeli Racism

Migrant denied treatment, gives birth to dead baby

Illegal Darfur migrant suffers stillbirth after her pleas for medical attentions were denied. IPS says woman didn’t complain; judge order her release, says ‘Israel has moral obligation towards her’.

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4296662,00.html

Attend a 2012 Tree of Life Conference

Our member groups Friends of Sabeel of North America and The Tree of Life Educational Fund are pleased to offer this series of conferences on Israel and Palestine. Their special focus will be on “Education: How Can We Embrace Our Common Humanity.” In both Israel and the occupied territories, increasing numbers of Jews, Muslims, and Christians have reached the conclusion that the Land of Promise will be truly promising when those who live there learn to embrace their common humanity and share that sacred and fragile land. In this series of conferences, you will have the opportunity to hear from a number of Palestinian, Israeli, and American voices of conscience, and their hope is that their stories and their compelling visions of a more peaceful world will inspire us to follow their lead. Our member groups Friends of Sabeel of North America and The Tree of Life Educational Fund are pleased to offer this series of conferences on Israel and Palestine. Their special focus will be on “Education: How Can We Embrace Our Common Humanity.” In both Israel and the occupied territories, increasing numbers of Jews, Muslims, and Christians have reached the conclusion that the Land of Promise will be truly promising when those who live there learn to embrace their common humanity and share that sacred and fragile land. In this series of conferences, you will have the opportunity to hear from a number of Palestinian, Israeli, and American voices of conscience, and their hope is that their stories and their compelling visions of a more peaceful world will inspire us to follow their lead.

The Bibi-Lieberman deal: A wake-up call to the world about Israel, Larry Derfner

By unifying himself and the country’s ruling party with an internationally despised neo-fascist, Netanyahu has brought Israel a sizable step closer to the limits of Western tolerance. Ultimately, that’s good news.

http://original.antiwar.com/justin/2012/10/25/israel-the-end-of-the-dream/