Welcome to this Week in Palestine, a service of the International Middle East Media Center, www.imemc.org, for July 31, to August 6, 2016.
This week the Palestinian government welcomed efforts to conduct an international peace conference, meanwhile Israeli troops kill a Palestinian and attack farmers and fishers during attacks targeting Palestinian communities. These stories, and more, coming up, stay tuned.
The Nonviolence Report
Let’s begin our weekly report as usual with the nonviolent activities organized in the West Bank. In Kufer Kadum in northern West Bank many residents were treated for the effects of tear gas inhalation as Israeli troops attacked the weekly protest there. Troops later stormed the village and fired tear gas into residents homes.
Meanwhile in the villages of Bil’in and Ni’lin, in central West Bank, Israeli soldiers attacked the protesters as soon as they reached the gate in the wall that separates local farmers from their lands. Many protesters suffered the effects of tear gas inhalation and were treated by field medics at both locations.
At the nearby al Nabi Saleh village, troops attacked protesters at the village entrance. Israeli soldiers fired several rounds of rubber-coated steel bullets and tear gas at protesters and nearby homes. Many residents suffered effects of tear gas inhalation as a result.
The Political Report
This week, Palestinian Authority says it welcomes an international conference, organized by France. Meanwhile, situation on the ground remains difficult. IMEMC’s Rami al Meghari has more:
Palestinian Authority has asserted acceptance of an international peace conference, organized by France. Top Palestinian negotiator said that any moves that aim to revive the stalled peace process, on basis of legitimacy, are welcomed.
Meanwhile, Israel has already refused the conference idea and insisted that any peace talks should be held directly between Israel and Palestinians, without any outside intervention.
In related news, prominent Palestinian politician , Mustafa Barghouti, accused this week Israel of further going into racist policies, by allowing trial of Palestinian teens, under the age of 14. Barghouthi believed that the only way to bring Israel to justice is boycotting Israel academically and socially , at the international level.
He called for the isolation of Israel, internationally, so that Israel can submit to terms of just and durable peace in the region.
In the Gaza Strip, former prime minister of the Islamist Hamas-led government, demanded erecting a sea port, as one of the items, agreed on, during ceasefire talks between Israel and Hamas that ended Israel’s war on Gaza in 2014.
media reports that Israeli cabinet will discuss the Gaza sea port during a meeting in few weeks to come.
In related remarks, leading Palestinian official, Nabil Sh’ath, believed that erecting a sea port in Gaza should not come at the expense of Palestinian unity.
He called first for realizing unity between Hamas and his Fatah party. He noted that establishing a sea port, before unity is seen, will likely further isolate Gaza from the West Bank.
For IMEMC News , I am Rami Almeghari in Gaza
The West Bank and Gaza Report
this week Israeli soldiers shot and killed a Palestinian civilian and injured more than six others in West Bank attacks, meanwhile in Gaza troops attacked fishermen and farmers. IMEMC’s Eman Abedraboo-Bannoura Reports:
A Palestinian man was shot and killed on Saturday by Israeli forces stationed at Howarah checkpoint, near the northern West Bank city of Nablus.
The Israeli forces claimed that Rami ‘Awertani , 31, attempted to stab a soldier and his corpse was detained and taken to an unknown destination. It should be mentioned that ‘Awertani owns a barber shop on Annajah National University Street and a father of 3 children.
On Monday Undercover Israeli soldiers infiltrated into the Deheishe refugee camp, in Bethlehem, shot and injured three Palestinians, and kidnapped two others.
Local sources said that undercover soldiers infiltrated into the refugee camp using a civilian car with Palestinian license plates, but were soon discovered by many youngsters who hurled stones on them. The soldiers fired many live rounds, wounding three Palestinians.
Moreover, Two Palestinian civilians were injured many others suffered effects of tear gas inhalation as Several Israeli military vehicles invaded, on Tuesday morning, the northern West Bank city of Nablus, and fired live rounds, rubber-coated steel bullets, and gas bombs. Local sources said the army invaded Joseph Tomb area, east of Nablus, and clashed with youngsters who hurled stones and empty bottles at the military vehicles.
Elsewhere, Israeli military forces stormed, on Wednesday at dawn, the house of Hadeel Owda, wife of Mohammad al-Faqeeh, who was killed by Israeli forces last month and proceeded to physically assault her. The family house is located in the town of Surif, near the southern West Bank city of Hebron. female soldiers beat Hadeel on her abdomen with the intent of causing an abortion for her unborn fetus. The family added that the soldiers tried to arrest Owda, while her father subsequently fell into a coma, and was taken to an Israeli hospital.
Also this week, Israeli forces conducted at least 78 military invasions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank and in occupied East Jerusalem During these invasions troops kidnapped 81 Palestinian civilians, including 7 children.
In Gaza, Israeli navy ships attacked Palestinian fishing boats near the Gaza city shoreline on Monday. Local sources said that the fishermen had to sail back to shore fearing from the navy gunfire, damage to the boats were reported.
Also in Gaza, Israeli troops stationed at the southern borders of the coastal enclave, opened fire at Palestinian farmers working on their lands.
The famers were forced to leave the area in fear of being injured. Palestinian human rights groups say that since the beginning of this year, seven Palestinian were killed including two children in addition to 155 injured among them 26 children by army gunfire at border areas of Gaza while working their lands.
For IMEMC news this is Eman Abedraboo-Bannoura.
Conclusion
And that’s all for today from This Week in Palestine. This was the Weekly report for for July 31, to August 6, 2016. From the Occupied Palestinian Territories. For more news and updates please visit our website at www-dot-imemc-dot-org, This week’s report has been brought to you by George Rishmawi and me Ghassan Bannoura.
