Politics in Palestine in 2006
The year 2006 was one of the most dramatic in the internal Palestinian arena in recent history. Amid a rash of political and economic transformations of most aspects of Palestinian…
Abbas arrives in Gaza for Eid celebrations
Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas arrived on Saturday afternoon in Gaza to celebrate the Eid Al Adha Muslim feast, Abbas’ office reported. The visit is considered the first to the Gaza…
Special Report: “2006, a year of elections, invasions, chaos and “Shalit”
2006 is one of the most dramatic years that greatly affected the Palestinian arena and left its permanent marks and effects in the minds of the Palestinian people since it…
Al Quds Brigades fires shells into Israeli settlements and military camps
The Al Quds Brigades, the armed wing of the Islamic Jihad, claimed responsibility for firing seven homemade shells into Israeli military camps and settlements adjacent to the Gaza Strip. The…
Interrogators torture and attack a detainee with metal chains
Palestinian human rights organizations reported on Saturday that Israeli interrogators at the Maali Adumim interrogation center, near Jerusalem, tortured a Palestinian detainee and hit him with metal chains. The center…
Reactions to Saddam Hussein’s execution
Saddam Hussein's execution is being widely condemned by Palestinians, with this considered a “black day.” The decision of the "American client government in Iraq to execute the Iraqi President is…
Leftist women’s nonviolent resistance for Eid Al Adha
All Palestinians participate in the resistance in some form or another, even if it means going to the market or refusing to leave their home under threat of demolition. Children…
Israeli Army Abducts Two Men From Al Showawra Village Near Bethlehem
The Israeli army abducted two men during a morning invasion in the village of Al Showawra east of the southern West Bank city of Bethlehem on Saturday. Several army vehicles…
Israeli Navy Boats Abduct Three Palestinian Men Near Rafah Beach
Palestinian sources reported that Israeli army navel boats have abducted three Palestinian brothers near Rafah beach south of the Gaza strip on Saturday. Majied Farahat, his two brothers Mohamed and…
Palestinians Condemn Saddam’s Execution
Saddam Hussein's execution is being widely condemned by Palestinians, with this considered a “Black Day.” The decision of the "American client government in Iraq to execute the Iraqi President is…
Israel announces new restrictions on foreigners in West Bank
Foreigners are now going to be required to apply to Israeli authorities in advance in order to travel to the West Bank. In addition to the visa generally received at…
Israeli journalist: “Sharon planned the assassination of Arafat”
Uri Dan, an Israeli journalist who died recently, and was close to the former Israeli Prime Minister, Ariel Sharon, published, before his death, a book in which he accuses Sharon…
With bridges out due to Israeli bombing, flooding in Gaza has split the Strip in two
The Gaza Strip, home to 1.2 million Palestinians, has faced an unprecedented rainfall this week that has resulting in flooding in many places. With all major bridges having been obliterated…
Army installs a roadblock in Qabatia
Israeli soldiers installed on Saturday evening a roadblock at the southern entrance of Qabatia town, south-east of Jenin in the northern part of the West Bank. Local sources reported that…
Mashal: “Fateh and Hamas talks are the only way out of the current crisis”
Hamas political bureau chief, Khalid Mashal, stated on Saturday that the only way to end the current Palestinian crisis is to return to a direct and unconditional dialogue between all…
The Rafah border crossing to open nine hours on Saturday
Palestinian security sources in the Gaza Strip reported on Friday evening that the Rafah terminal, between the Gaza Strip and Egypt, will be opened on Saturday on both directions from…
Two Qassam Engineers killed during “work accident” in Gaza
Abu Obaida, spokesperson of the Al Qassam brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, stated on Friday that two engineers, members of the “manufacturing division” of the brigades were killed while…
Palestinian Family, including 4 children and pregnant mother, held in U.S. immigration prison
The brother of a jailed Palestinian man whose children and pregnant wife are being held in a Texas jail says he will stage a small protest with his 3-year-old niece…
Two Qassam Engineers killed during “work accident” in Gaza
Abu Obaida, spokesperson of the Al Qassam brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, stated on Friday that two engineers, members of the “manufacturing division” of the brigades were killed while…
Israel decides not release detainees before Eid Al Adha
Israeli Ynetnews reported on Friday that the office of the Israel’s Prime Minister, Ehud Olmert, has not yet set date to discuss release of Palestinian detainees, despite Olmert’s suggestion at…
THIS WEEK IN PALESTINE – DECEMBER WEEK 4
Listen to the audio from the MP3 Player on the right column. || Click here to Download MP3 file 16.5 MB || 18m3s This Week in Palestine, a service of…
Local anti-Wall organizers shot with rubber-coated bullets and beaten in Bil’in protest
Around 200 hundred people, including international and Israeli activists joined together in Bil'in village near the city of Ramallah in the West Bank for the weekly demonstration against the illegal…
Despite promises to ease passage, Israeli military increases restrictions on travel in the West Bank
Palestinian residents of the West Bank reported on Friday that the Israeli troops stationed at the checkpoints which separate West Bank cities from each other, have tightened searches and inspections…
Five Palestinians abducted by Israeli Army from West Bank
On Friday morning raids in various parts of the West Bank, Israeli forces abducted five Palestinian men, according to local sources. One was abducted from the village of Beit Oniah,…
Pakistan announces intentions to build a barrier on its disputed border with Afghanistan
Pakistan announced Tuesday its intention to build a wall of landmines and security fencing along its disputed 2,500km-long border with Afghanistan, in order to curb the flow of militants between…
Palestinian resistance shells Askalan in Israel
A group of Palestinian fighters fired one home made Qassam shell at the town of Asqalan North West Israeli on Friday midday. Al Qudes Brigades the armed wing of the…
Israel refuses to release Palestinian detainees
Israeli sources reported on Friday that the Israeli government will not release any Palestinian detainees being help in Israeli detention camps during the Muslim holiday of Eid Al Adha. Israeli…
Two Israeli police injured near Ramallah
Israeli media sources reported that two Israeli border police officers were injured near the illegal Israeli wall surrounding the northern West Bank city of Ramallah Friday morning. Apparently the two…
Israeli troops abduct two Palestinian men from Bethlehem
The Israeli army abducted two Palestinian men during pre dawn invasions in villages around the southern West Bank city of Bethlehem on Friday. Mohamed Khamis, 60, from in the Al…
Hamas: “We will not remain idle as Israel constructs a new settlement in the Jordan Valley”
Islamic Resistance Movement, Hamas, warned on Thursday that it cannot stand idle as Israel continues its settlement activities in the West Bank and Jerusalem, adding that the new approval of…
Despite Israeli assurances, illegal settlements continue to grow
In the month of December alone, 90 new Israeli trailers were placed on illegally-seized Palestinian land in the West Bank. The trailers are the first stage of expanding existing Israeli…
Israeli sources: “Egypt transferred large amounts of weapons to Palestinian Security Forces”
Israeli sources reported on Thursday that Egypt transferred to Palestinian Authority security forces, under the direct control of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas of the Fateh party, large amounts of weapons…
B’tselem Report: Deterioration of Human Rights in Palestine during 2006
The Israeli Center for Human Rights in the occupied Palestinian territories (B’TSELEM), reported Thursday that the year 2006 saw an obvious deterioration of human rights in the occupied Palestinian territories,…
Palestine Today – December 28, 2006
Palestine Today, a service of the International Middle East Media Centre, www.imemc.org, for Thursday December 28th 2006.|| Click here to Download MP3 file 4.41MB|| time:4m495s Israeli activists blocked the central…
Minister of Planning: “I have no problem in meeting with my Israeli counterpart”
Palestinian Minister of Planning, Samir Abu Aisha, stated on Thursday that he is willing to meet with his Israeli counterpart Abraham Hertzishon, to discuss financial issues with him. In an…
140 residents transferred to Egypt for treatment
The Palestinian Ministry of Health reported on Thursday that 140 residents suffering from heart problems and cancer were allowed through the Rafah border crossing on their way to Egyptian hospitals…
Mandela Institute: Palestinians taken to Israeli prison hospital are not given medical treatment
There are 28 Palestinian political prisoners in the Israeli Ramle Prison Hospital. But they are not receiving medical treatment. Thousands of Palestinians go without the basic necessities of health care…
EU monitors shut down Rafah Crossing after Palestinian PM Haniyeh crosses to Egypt in car
The Rafah Border Crossing, in southern Gaza Strip connecting Gaza to Egypt, was shut down by European monitors on Thursday midday after Palestinian Prime Minister Isma'el Haniyeh passed through the…
Israeli forces expanding Wall in West Bank’s Jordan Valley
Residents of the northern Jordan Valley in the West Bank are living in state of fear and anxiety as Israeli forces overtake more land. The Wall is being built on…
Israeli forces detain scores of Palestinians at Al Karamah border crossing
Israeli forces detained scores of Palestinians in a waiting hall at the Karameh "Allenby" crossing located at the West Bank – Jordanian border for a long period of time without…
Israeli activists against the Wall block downtown Tel Aviv
Israeli activists blocked central downtown of the Israeli city of Tel Aviv with razor wire from the illegal Wall on Thursday afternoon. The activists stretched the razor wire across Basel…
Palestinian presidential guards receive 2000 machineguns from Egypt
Palestinian security forces under the command of President Mahmoud Abbas, known as the presidential guards, working in the Gaza Strip received 2000 machineguns, twenty thousand gun chargers and one million…
Hamas Denies Hawtama Claims on a Hamas-Israeli Document
In a televised interview with the Aljazeera Channle’s show ‘Without Frontiers”, Naeyf Hawatma, senior member of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), revealed that Israelis and a number of Hamas officials…
President Mubarak: Solving the Palestinian Question Key to Middle East Stability
Egyptian President Husni Mubarak stressed that a fair solution to the Palestinian question would lead to stability in the Middle East. In a speech to the Arab League yesterday, delivered…
Two Palestinian prisoners escape from an Israeli detention camp and were caught shortly after
Israeli media sources reported that two Palestinian prisoners managed to escape on Thursday morning from the Israeli Katziot detention camp located in the Nigev desert in northern Israeli. One of…
Rafah border crossing Re-opened
The Rafah border crossing in the southern Gaza Strip, which is the only way in or out of the Strip, was reopened on Thursday morning from both sides. Palestinian Sources…
Hamas fighter injured by unknown gunmen near Jenin
Palestinian sources reported on Wednesday that an unknown armed group fired rounds of live ammunition at a member of Hamas near Borqeen village, west of Jenin in the northern part…
New Israeli settlement approved for Jews evacuated from Gaza last year
The Israeli government has approved the construction of a new Israeli settlement on Palestinian land in the West Bank to house Israeli settlers who moved out of settlements in the…
Palestine Today – December 27, 2006
Palestine Today, a service of the International Middle East Media Centre, www.imemc.org, for Wednesday December 27th 2006.|| Click here to Download MP3 file 4.81MB|| time:5m15s The Israeli army abducts 17…
Israeli FM: “We can negotiate under fire”
Israeli Foreign Minister, Tzipi Livni, said during an interview with the Israeli online daily, Haaretz, that it is possible to hold peace talks with the Palestinians even if there was…
United Nations Report: Increasing numbers of Palestinian refugees fleeing Baghdad
As the civil war in Iraq increases, sparked by the three-year U.S. military occupation of that country, Palestinian refugees that had been living in Iraq are fleeing in increasing numbers,…
‘I was born here 80 years ago. I prefer death than to see the Wall eat my home.’
Twenty Israeli military vehicles stormed Umm Salamuna Village south of Bethlehem to protect four military bulldozers. The bulldozers were massive and there to bulldoze Palestinian land for Wall construction. What…
Army detains international volunteers in Hebron
Two international volunteers working with International Solidarity Movement teams in the West Bank city of Hebron were detained by the Israeli army for more than four hours on Wednesday afternoon.…
Israeli PM orders Israeli army to resume ‘pinpoint attacks’ against ‘Qassam launching cells’
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert on Wednesday authorized the Israeli army to resume a policy of targeted assassinations against what he called 'rocket-launching cells' of Palestinian resistance fighters. Although he…
Jewish immigration into Israel on the rise
Today, about 40 British Jews will arrive in Israel, bringing the number of British Jewish émigrés this year up to 700, according to the Jewish Agency, a group responsible for…
Israeli army demolish one Palestinian house in Shu’fat refugee camp in Jerusalem
The Israeli army bulldozers demolished one Palestinian house in Shu'fat refugee camp in Jerusalem city on Wednesday midday. Israeli soldiers and police surrounded the camp and closed it totally while…
Israeli army demolishes one Palestinian house in Shu’fat refugee camp in Jerusalem
The Israeli army bulldozers demolished a Palestinian house in Shu'fat refugee camp in Jerusalem city on Wednesday midday. Israeli soldiers and police surrounded the camp and closed it totally while…
Army abducts at least 17 Palestinian men from several parts of the West Bank
Palestinian sources reported that the Israeli army has abducted at least 17 Palestinian men from several parts of the West Bank in pre dawn invasions on Wednesday morning. In the…
Abbas arrives in Cairo for one-day visit
Palestinian sources reported on Tuesday that president Mahmoud Abbas arrived in Egypt for talks with his Egyptian counterpart Hosny Mubarak. The visit came as the Palestinian Prime Minister, Ismail Haniyya,…
Israel: “Two Israeli youth injured by Qasam shell in Sderot”
Israeli sources reported on Tuesday evening that two Israeli youth were injured, one seriously, after Palestinian fighters fired homemade shells into the Israeli Negev town of Sderot. The two…
Palestine Today – December 26, 2006
Palestine Today, a service of the International Middle East Media Centre, www.imemc.org, for Tuesday December 26th 2006.|| Click here to Download MP3 file 4.95MB|| time:5m24s One Palestinian farmer injured by…
Unknown gunmen attack a trading company in Beit lahyia
On Tuesday Morning unknown gunmen detonated a bomb in the Madhoun trading company based in the town of Beit Lahyia in the northern Gaza Strip. Eyewitnesses said that the gunmen…
Palestinians nonviolently block Israeli bulldozers from devastating their lands near Bethlehem
Palestinians from Um Salamunah village, south of the West Bank city of Bethlehem, nonviolently tried to block Israeli army bulldozers from destroying their lands on Tuesday afternoon. Residents reported that…
Hebron: Israeli army attacks medical center, abducting residents,while settlers destroy farm lands
The Israeli army attacked a medical center and abducted two Palestinian men and Israeli settlers destroyed Palestinian farm lands in three separate attacks in the southern West Bank city of…
Israeli troops abduct six Palestinian men during morning invasions across the West Bank
On Tuesday morning the Israeli army invaded several cities, villages and refugee camps across the West Bank and abducted six Palestinian men Troops invaded Al Khader village south of Bethlehem…
One Palestinian farmer injured by army in Northern Gaza
A Palestinian farmer was shot and injured by the Israeli army in the northern Gaza Strip town of Beit Lahiya on Tuesday morning. Palestinian medical sources in the town reported…
Candle Light Procession calling for the end of Infighting
At least 2000 Palestinians and Internationals joined the Candle Light procession in the town of Beit Sahour on Christmas Day to light a candle for the End of Violence, Unity…
Near Jenin, Israeli troops abduct ten Palestinians, including a senior fighter
Palestinian medical sources reported on Monday at night that Israeli soldiers took prisoner ten residents including a senior fighter of the popular Resistance Committees in Qabatia town, near Jenin in…
Israel deports a detainee from Jenin to the Gaza Strip
Palestinian sources reported on Monday that the Israeli Prison authorities deported a Palestinian detainee from Jenin, in the northern part of the West Bank, to the Gaza Strip. The detainee,…
Olmert: “We will negotiate with Syria if it cuts its ties with Iran”
Israeli Prime Minister, Ehud Olmert, said on Monday that Israel will negotiate with Syria over a peaceful settlement to the conflict if it cuts its ties with Iran. The statements…
Peretz: “We will remove 59 out of 400 checkpoints in the West Bank”
Israeli Defense Minister, Amir Peretz, claimed on Monday during his security cabinet session that he will instruct the army to remove 59 out of 400 checkpoints installed by the army…
Israel threatens a large operation in the Gaza strip if Qassams continue
During a session for Israel’s “security Cabinet” on Sunday, several Israeli ministers warned that Israeli would carry a large military offensive in the Gaza Strip if Palestinian fighters continue to…
Eid Al Adha preparations underway with eyes toward national unity
Shoppers crowded the market place in Nablus Monday for Eid Al Adha. The Muslim holiday was called for 30 December this year and people in the streets said they were…
Midnight Mass in Bethlehem: Patriarch calls to end internal fighting which strengthens occupation
Latin Patriarch of the Holy Lands, Michel Sabbah, reached Bethlehem on Christmas Eve day, the most celebratory time that the West Bank city sees all year. Thousands of people crowded…
Diskin: ‘Fateh chances of winning new elections, close to zero’
Head of the Israeli Security Agency, Shabak, Yuval Diskin, said during a cabinet session on Sunday that if Palestinian general elections are to be held today, the chances of the…
UN Security Council Votes on a Resolution Preventing Violence against Journalists
The United Nations Security Council is expected to vote Saturday on a bill that condemns all forms of violence against journalists in areas of armed conflict, calling for the respect…
Israeli Army Tightens Military Measures Ahead of Holidays in Palestine
The Israeli army tightened military measures on Sunday in different areas of the West Bank, ahead of the Muslim holiday Aladha Eid and the Christian holiday Christmas. In Tulkarem city,…
UN General Assembly Reiterates Palestinian Sovereignty over OPT
The United Nations General Assembly endorsed unanimously Wednesday a resolution that acknowledges the Palestinian people’s permanent sovereignty over the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPT) including the Gaza Strip, West Bank, and…
Bethlehem on Christmas Eve: Where are all the Christians?
Local scouting troops paraded through Nativity Square in the West Bank city of Bethlehem on Sunday, playing drums and bagpipes to a crowd of a few thousand Palestinian and international…
Bethlehem on Christmas Eve: Where are all the Christians?
Local boyscout groups paraded through Nativity Square in the West Bank city of Bethlehem on Sunday, playing drums and bagpipes to a crowd of a few thousand Palestinian and international…
Israeli army erects military checkpoints around Tubas
The Israeli army erected several military checkpoints around the northern West Bank city of Tubas on Sunday morning. Residents said that soldiers stopped and searched them for several hours at…
Palestinian resistance fires two homemade shells at Sederot
A group of Palestinian resistance fighters fired two home made Qassam shells at the northern Israeli city of Sederot on Sunday morning. The Al Qudes brigade, the armed wing of…
Hamas downplays Abbas-Olmert meeting
Palestinian Islamic Resistance movement, Hamas, said that the Friday meeting between the Palestinian President, Mahmoud Abbas, and the Israeli Prime Minister, Ehud Olmert, did not achieve any positive results. Hamas…
Abbas, Olmert meet in Jerusalem; agree to release of some frozen tax funds
Palestinian President, Mahmoud Abbas, and the Israeli Prime Minister, Ehud Olmert, met on Saturday at Olmert’s residence in Jerusalem and agreed that Israel would transfer $100 million of Tax revenue…
Fateh, Hamas met on Friday, confirmed commitment to end violence
The special committee formed by the Fateh and Hamas movements met in Gaza on Friday evening and confirmed that all Palestinian factions, especially Fateh and Hamas, are committed to end…
UK Church leaders pledge to be the ‘voice for the voiceless’ of Bethlehem
Leaving Bethlehem this morning after a three-day pilgrimage, the UK's church leaders pledged themselves to continue to be a "voice for the voiceless" on behalf of the beleaguered people of…
Wall gate delays transfer of body of a deceased resident for three hours
Even the dead cannot cross through this gate installed in the Annexation Wall section leading to Barta'a village, south-west of Jenin in the northern part of the West Bank. As…
Abbas: “Five years truce, temporal borders, deception to the people”
Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas, said on Saturday that the truce and temporal borders offer, proposed by Hamas movement, are considered as means of deception to the Palestinian people. Hamas renewed…
30 village councils in Bethlehem voice appeal for ceasefire
Thirty village councils in Bethlehem voiced an appeal to all Palestinian factions in order to stop the internal clashes and solidify the ceasefire between the armed groups, especially Fateh and…
Minister of Justice: early elections contravene Basic Law, being used to solve political
When President Abbas announced he would commence early elections, some say he was breaking the law. Palestinian Minister of Justice and Professor of Constitutional Law at An Najah University, Dr.…
Americans back Bethlehem – but not sure where it is
Two Nation survey: America vs Bethlehem. Most Americans believe Bethlehem is an Israeli town inhabited by a mixture of Jews and Muslims, a pre-Christmas survey of US perceptions of the…
Israeli military court sentences a Palestinian man to 21 years in detention camps
The Israeli military court of Salem, north of the West Bank, sentenced on Saturday a Palestinian detainee to 21 years in military detention camps. Mohamed Taha, 23, was sentenced based…
Unknown gunmen open fire at a PA official, critically wounding him
Unknown gunmen opened fire on Saturday morning at a Palestinian Authority Security Forces official in Rafah city south of the Gaza strip, critically wounding him and injuring his bodyguard. Major…
Peretz approves Wall route around Maali Adumim
Israeli Defense Minister, Amir Peretz, approved the original route of the Annexation Wall that will surround Maali Adumim settlement by annexing more Palestinian lands and placing them inside the settlement’s…
Fateh, Hamas fighters engage in renewed clashes
Palestinian sources in Nablus, in the northern part of the West Bank, reported on Friday afternoon that Fateh and Hamas gunmen engaged in renewed armed clashes in the city. The…
Haniyya: “We are ready to start talks on unity government”
Palestinian sources reported that Palestinian Prime Minister, Ismail Haniyya, said that his movement, Hamas, is willing to start new talks on a national unity government, based on Palestinian requirements and…
THIS WEEK IN PALESTINE – DECEMBER WEEK 3
Listen to the audio from the MP3 Player on the right column. || Click here to Download MP3 file 10.4 MB || 11m23s This Week in Palestine, a service of…
Be’lin Weekly Demonstration Against Illegal Israeli Seperation Wall
Today, like the past 2 years, the demonstrations in Be'lin started after Friday prayers with participants including residents of the village, Internationals and Israeli activists participating. This week there was…
PCHR Weekly Report on Israeli Violations in the Occupied Territories
The Palestinian Center For Human Rights in Gaza published its weekly report on the Israeli violations in the occupied Palestinian territories. Nine Palestinians, including one child, were killed, and twelve,…
Palestinians Rally for Peace in Gaza Outside Parliament Building
Hundreds of Palestinians gathered outside the Parliament Building in Gaza to protest the ongoing violence and infighting which was initiated after President Abbas called for new Presidential and Parliamentary elections. …