2 Palestinians killed.
In an apparent IDF assassination, Osama Jawabiri, a mbr. of the
al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade (AMB) and on Israel's wanted list, is killed by a
bomb planted in a public phone in Nablus; 2 children are wounded. Israel
complains that none of the wanted Palestinians on the list given to the PSF
on 6/22 have been arrested, but Arafat says he has arrested a number of
militants in recent days, including Fatah mbrs. A 2d Palestinian
dies of injuries received earlier. (MM, NYT, WP, WT 6/25; AYM 6/25 in WNC 6/26;
DUS 6/25 in WNC 6/27; NYT 6/26; WJW 6/28; MEI 6/29)
7 Palestinians killed.
Before dawn, the IDF reoccupies Amari r.c., al-Bireh, Qadura r.c., and
Ramallah, surrounding Arafat's offices (placing Arafat under de facto
house arrest), arresting 13 PSF officers, meeting no resistance; imposes
24-hr. curfews on Aqaba, Dura, Iktaba, Tamun, Taysir, Tubas, Yatta; fires shells
at residential areas of Khan Yunis; continues operations in Bethlehem, Jenin,
Nablus (fatally shooting 1 Palestinian), Qalqilya, Tulkarm areas; lifts
curfews in Jenin, Nablus, Qalqilya for 3 hrs. The IDF assassinates 2
Izzeddine al-Qassam Brigades leaders, Yasir Raziq and `Amr Kufa, in Rafah,
firing missiles at their taxis, also killing 2 passengers, 2 drivers,
injuring 13 bystanders. Jewish settlers stone an ambulance nr. Tulkarm.
(BBC, MM, NYT, PRCS press release, WP, WT 6/24; XIN 6/24 in WNC 6/25; MM, NYT, WP, WT
6/25; LAW 6/26; PCHR, WJW 6/27; MEI 6/28)
Israeli atty. gen. Elyakim Rubinstein says he will not take legal action
against those calling for the "voluntary transfer" of Arabs fr. Israel, saying
"voluntary transfer" is "immoral" not illegal. (The 13 Palestinians deported to
Cyprus in 5/02 were "voluntarily exiled" as part of a deal brokered by Israel
and the PA; see 5/22) (HA 6/24; MM 6/27)
In response to Israeli appeals to local satellite channels to drop
coverage of BBC World and CNN International because of their
"pro-Palestinian bias" (1 channel replaced CNN with Fox News coverage on 6/20),
CNN chief news exec. Eason Jordan arrives in Israel to apologize publicly
on behalf of the network, to unveil a special 5-part series on Israeli victims
of violence (aired 6/24+n28) and a Web "memorial" to Israeli victims of
Palestinian violence. (WT 6/24; NYT 6/25; WJW 6/27; MEI 6/2; see also JTA 6/20,
MSNBC 6/21)
After a wk.'s delay, Bush gives a major speech outlining the new U.S.
policy toward the peace process. Without mentioning Israel's military
escalations, Bush says in effect that the Palestinians must remove
Arafat and create a Western-style democracy before the peace process can
move forward. The U.S. halts direct dealings with Arafat. Bush's decision
to call for Arafat's ouster was reportedly influenced heavily by an Israeli
intelligence report he received last wk. (uncorroborated by the CIA)
claiming that Arafat authorized a $20,000 payment to the AMB, which
carried out the 6/19 suicide bombing. (AP, MM, NYT, WP 6/24; MA 6/24 in WNC
6/25; GS, MM, NYT, WP, WT, YA 6/25; AFP, ATL, Interfax, ITAR-TASS, MENA 6/25 in
WNC 6/26; MM, NYT, WP, WT 6/26; AFP, JT, Le Monde 6/26 in WNC 6/27; NYT,
WJW, WP 6/27; JT, al-Nahar 6/27 in WNC 6/28; MEI, MM 6/28; NYT, USIS
Washington File 6/30; WP, WT 7/1; AN 7/1 in WNC 7/2; JPI 7/5)
Arafat sends the U.S., Arab states a 6-page memorandum
outlining an ambitious 100-day reform plan, including plans for presidential and
legislative elections in 1/03 and municipal elections in 3/03. (MM 6/24; NYT
6/25; MM 6/26; El Pais 6/26 in WNC 6/27;NYT, WP, WT 6/27; XIN 6/27 in WNC
6/28; AYM 7/1 in WNC 7/3; AYM 7/10, 7/17, 7/21 in WNC 7/23)
In Gaza, Hamas supporters clash with PSF officers enforcing
Shaykh Yasin's house arrest, leaving 1 Hamas supporter dead.
In a move that Israel claims will save the road map, the IDF
arrests more than 130 alleged Hamas mbrs. and supporters in Hebron
(including women, elderly men, and 1 pregnant woman, who collapses, is taken to
the hospital), 30 Palestinian “terror suspects and their helpers” in
Nablus. In its deepest incursion into PA areas in Gaza in recent wks., the
IDF sends bulldozers into Khan Yunis and Rafah, firing on residential areas,
demolishing 5 Palestinian homes in Rafah, 2 in Khan Yunis, also razing 13
dunams of land. The IDF also finds, disables a booby-trapped bicycle nr.
a s. Gaza settlement, a bomb in a car in Ramallah; conducts arrest raids in
Bethlehem, Nablus. The IDF removes 2 tents comprising an unauthorized outpost erected in
recent days; meanwhile, Jewish settlers set up 2 new unauthorized
outposts elsewhere in the West Bank. (BBC, HA, MM 6/24; HA, NYT, WP, WT 6/25; PCHR, Palestine
Information Center 6/26)
Israeli police charge 5 Islamic Movement leaders with
“service to an outlawed organization, holding funds belonging to an outlawed
organization, and money-laundering,” for funneling some $10 m. to Hamas charity
groups in the occupied territories fr. abroad. At least 2 of the mbrs.,
including Islamic Movement leader Ra`ad Salah, are charged with
membership in a terrorist organization and contact with a foreign agent (Nabil
Mahzomah, an Israeli Arab who was deported to Lebanon in the mid-1980s and
allegedly has worked as an agent for Iranian, Lebanese intelligence). The groups
they reportedly had contact with were Charity Coalition (outlawed in
2/02), the al-Aqsa Fund (outlawed in 1992), Interpal (outlawed in
1997), the Holy Land Fund (outlawed in 1997). (HA, MM 6/24; HA, NYT, WT
6/25)
Palestinians fire 4 mortars at Gaza settlements
and 1 Qassam rocket toward the Negev, causing no damage or injuries. A PA general intelligence unit
raids, closes the Voice of al-Aqsa radio station in Gaza city. The move
apparently aims to curb incitement, though the PA says the station was set up
without a permit.
2 Palestinians killed.
The IDF fatally shoots 2 armed Palestinians who allegedly
attempt to attack an IDF post nr. Gaza’s Dugit settlement; imposes an
around-the-clock curfew on Palestinian areas of Hebron; arrests an ambulance
driver transporting an ailing child at a checkpoint nr. Qalqilya; fires on,
shells residential areas of Khan Yunis, Rafah. The IDF also launches a
major raid on Nablus to “clear the casbah of Palestinian fugitives,” surrounding
refugee camps in search of 7 wanted AMB mbrs., sending in 100s of troops,
taking over more than 12 buildings; conducts house searches, arrest raids in
Dayr al-Balah, Hebron and nr. Tulkarm; evacuates an apartment building in
Bethlehem, then blows up 1 unit, severely damaging several others; bulldozes 1
Palestinian home, some olive trees in the n. Gaza Strip. (VOI, VOP 6/24 in WNC
6/26; MM, NYT 6/25; NYT 6/26; PR 6/30; PCHR 7/1)
Homeless
Palestinians end their sit-in strike (begun 6/19) after the PC
announces plans to build some homes for the homeless.
1 Israeli killed.
The IDF imposes a closure on Palestinian sections of Hebron and
surrounding areas (still in place as of 7/6), conducts arrest raids, house
searches targeting Islamic Jihad; also conducts arrest raids, house
searches nr. Ramallah. (AFP, IMEMC, JTA
6/24; NYT, WP 6/25; HA, XIN 6/26; PRCS 6/27; JP 6/27 in WNC 6/28; OCHA, PR 6/29;
PHRC 6/30)
Palestinian gunmen fire on a group of Jewish
settlers at a hitchhiking post outside Beit Haggai settlement nr. Hebron,
killing 1 Jewish settler, wounding 3. Despite the PA's
attempt to ban the gatherings, 100s of Islamic Jihad mbrs. rally in
Ramallah and nearly 1,000 rally in n. Gaza, protesting the IDF's recent
crackdown on its mbrs. and stating that it has no intention of abandoning the
unofficial cease-fire. In Gaza, Islamic Jihad fires mortars at
several Jewish settlements, causing damage but no injuries.
In Nottingham, England, the Anglican Consultative Council, the global
policy-making arm of the 77 million–mbr. Anglican Church, unanimously approves a
statement urging the church's 38 "provinces" to consider divestment fr.
companies that bolster the Israeli occupation, as well as "investment strategies
that support the infrastructure of a future Palestinian state." (Religion News
Service 6/24; NYT, WT 6/25; JP 6/26 in WNC 6/27; PR 6/29)
The IDF conducts arrest raids, house searches in and around Nablus (firing on
residential areas and stone-throwing youths who confront the troops, seriously
wounding 1), in Hebron, and nr. Bethlehem, Jenin. (HA, XIN 6/24; VOI 6/24 in WNC 6/25;
OCHA 6/28; PCHR 6/29)
Palestinians fire a rocket fr.
Gaza into Israel, causing no damage or injuries. Abbas deploys mbrs of Force
17 (under his command) to Qarni crossing to take over security responsibility
fr. security forces under Interior M Siyam’s control.
Unidentified gunmen kidnap, shoot and wound a PA intelligence service officer
nr. Gaza City. Following the ESF attack on 6/23, ESF, PSF mbrs. exchange fire in
Khan Yunis, leaving 1 PSF mbr. wounded.
1 Palestinian killed.
In the West Bank, the IDF conducts arrest raids, house
searches nr. Bethlehem, Hebron, Ramallah; patrols in, fires on residential
areas of Nablus for a night, causing no injuries. Inside Israel, Israeli security forces demolish several bedouin
homes in Um al-Hiram in the Negev. A Palestinian dies of injuries received in interfactional violence in Gaza
City on 6/13. (WP 6/25; OCHA 6/27; PCHR 6/28)
Outside Metula in s. Lebanon, unidentified assailants detonate a car bomb as a UN Interim Force in Lebanon
(UNIFIL)
convoy passes, killing 6 UNIFIL soldiers (3 Columbians, 3 Spaniards),
wounding 2 in the 1st targeted attack on the international mission since the
2006 Lebanon war. Amal, Hizballah denounce the attack, deny
involvement. (NYT, WP, WT 6/25; NYT 7/7)
After Islamic Jihad
fires several rockets fr. Gaza into Israel (causing no reported
injuries), the IDF makes an air strike on a car in Gaza City assassinating Islamic Jihad mbr. Hussam Harb,
wounding a 2d Islamic Jihad mbr., 3
bystanders.
2 Palestinians killed.
Israeli troops killed two Palestinians in Nablus at dawn. Palestinian medics and security sources identified the dead
as Tareq Abu Ghali, 24, and Iyad Khanfar, a 21-year-old university student. An Israeli military spokesman said troops
had killed the two in an "exchange of fire," saying both were armed and that Mr. Abu Ghali was an Islamic Jihad
militant wanted for carrying out attacks against Israel. Islamic Jihad confirmed Mr. Abu Ghali had been one of its
senior members and vowed revenge. (AFP)
Israeli forces detained a 38-year-old Palestinian in the Dheisheh refugee camp in Bethlehem, a 22-year-old university
student in Yatta, south of Hebron, and two men from Silat Al-Harthiyah. (Ma'an News Agency)
Hamas leader Khalil al-Haya said Hamas remained committed to a ceasefire with Israel, but would not act as Israel's
"police force" in confronting militants who breached the truce. Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh called for an end to
"Israeli atrocities" while urging armed Palestinian groups to exercise restraint. (AP, Ma'an News Agency)
The Berlin Conference in Support of Palestinian Civil Security and the Rule of Law secured commitments of $242 million
for specific projects, German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said. The one-day conference brought together
representatives from more than 40 countries. Participants included PA Prime Minister Salam Fayyad, Israeli Foreign
Minister Tzipi Livni, US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Quartet
Representative Tony Blair. Officials said that the bulk of the funding being committed was expected to come out of the
$7.4 billion pledged at the Paris donor's conference. Secretary Rice said, "Security and the rule of law represent the
foundations of any successful, responsible State." EU High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy
Javier Solana said in his remarks: "We are interested in creating security forces accountable to the law, neither to a
faction nor a party." Israeli Foreign Minister Livni said in her address: "Israel has already made it clear that it is
willing to accept territorial compromise in return for peace. I believe that the majority of the Israeli public is
willing to accept this, provided actual territorial concessions will occur only when we are certain of what will happen
on the other side of the border. We cannot simply determine the border of the Palestinian State, without being able to
hand over the keys to an effective and responsible Government able to restore law and order … on the other side." PA
Prime Minister Fayyad pointed to Israel's raid in Nablus earlier in the day as an example of persisting difficulties,
saying, "[The raid is] an example of the kind of activity that has to stop, and stop immediately and promptly, if, in
fact, we are going to succeed in the provision of security to our people. … The morale of our troops is at stake here,
the credibility of the effort is at stake, and our own political credibility will continue to be at stake so long as
those kinds of incursions continue." (AP, www.consilium.europa.eu, www.mfa.gov.il, www.state.gov)
The following is the Quartet statement issued after its meeting held on the sidelines of the Berlin Conference:
Representatives of the Quartet – UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, US
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, High Representative for European Common Foreign and Security Policy Javier Solana,
European Commissioner for External Relations Benita Ferrero-Waldner, and Slovenian Foreign Minister Dimitrij Rupel –
met today in Berlin to discuss the situation in the Middle East. They were joined by Quartet Representative Tony Blair.
The Quartet reaffirmed its support for ongoing Israeli-Palestinian negotiations and stressed the urgent need for
tangible progress towards the shared goal of an agreement by the end of 2008 on the establishment of an independent and
viable Palestinian State in the West Bank and Gaza, and an end to the conflict. The Quartet expressed its commitment to
support the parties in taking and implementing the difficult decisions required in order to achieve these outcomes.
The Quartet underscored the urgent need for more visible progress on the ground in order to build confidence and
support progress in the negotiations launched at Annapolis. Israel's removal of some significant West Bank checkpoints
and the opening of a number of Palestinian police stations in Area B represent good steps. Greater efforts are required
now to project a new reality, including through further urgent steps to improve access and movement. Likewise,
Palestinian security performance has improved, including recent efforts in Jenin. Continued Palestinian efforts to
fight terrorism and to implement a more comprehensive security strategy are necessary for sustainable long-term
improvement. The Quartet urged the parties to build upon these efforts, fulfilling all of their obligations under the
road map and refraining from any steps that undermine confidence or could prejudice the outcome of negotiations. In
particular, the Quartet reiterated its deep concern at continuing settlement activity and called on Israel to freeze
all settlement activity including natural growth, and to dismantle outposts erected since March 2001.
The Quartet voiced its support for the outcomes of the "Berlin Conference in Support of Palestinian Civil
Security and the Rule of Law". With its focus on the Palestinian police and justice sector the conference provided a
timely forum to refocus and direct international support efforts towards two key sectors of Palestinian state-building.
The Quartet called for speedy implementation of projects agreed and robust donor support in order to build the capacity
of the Palestinian police and justice sector. The Quartet urged Israeli-Palestinian cooperation in that respect and
emphasized the importance of unobstructed delivery of security assistance to the Palestinian Authority.
Noting the dire budget situation facing the Palestinian Authority, the Quartet urged all donors who have not
fulfilled their pledges, especially the key regional partners, to fulfil their pledges from the December 2007 Paris
donors' conference and to urgently provide budgetary support to meet the requirements of the Palestinian Authority
Government. It looked to the next Ad Hoc Liaison Committee meeting on 22 September to take stock of progress.
Recalling the centrality of economic development and institutional reform to the success of a future Palestinian
State, the Quartet reaffirmed its support for Quartet Representative Tony Blair's efforts, and congratulated the
Palestinian Authority on the success of the 21-23 May Palestine Investment Conference in Bethlehem. Commending the
close cooperation between Israel and the Palestinian Authority on this initiative, the Quartet encouraged similar
cooperation to break ground on short- and medium-term projects and to make progress in private sector activities that
will create jobs for Palestinians and help change the conditions of life. The Quartet underscored the importance of
uninterrupted transfers of Palestinian tax and customs revenues to the Palestinian Authority.
The Quartet noted that a lasting solution to the situation in Gaza can only be achieved through peaceful means.
The Quartet expressed its continuing support for Egyptian efforts to restore calm to Gaza and southern Israel and
welcomed the period of calm that began on 19 June. The Quartet urged that the calm be respected in full and expressed
the hope that it would endure, and lead to improved security for Palestinians and Israelis alike, and a return to
normal civilian life in Gaza. In this respect, the Quartet looked forward to increased humanitarian and commercial
flows through the Gaza crossings under the management of the Palestinian Authority, consistent with the November 2005
Agreement on Movement and Access, and welcomed the European Union's offer to resume its monitoring mission at the Rafah
crossing point. The Quartet expressed its strong support for the steady and sufficient supplies of fuel to Gaza and for
the immediate resumption of stalled United Nations and other donor projects there. It further tasked the Quartet
Representative to develop and promote implementation of measures, in coordination with Israel and the Palestinian
Authority, to improve conditions in Gaza, as a matter of urgency.
The Quartet welcomed the 21 May announcement by Syria, Israel and Turkey that indirect talks have been launched,
with Turkey's facilitation, aimed at achieving peace in accordance with the Madrid terms of reference, and hopes that
progress is made in this direction.
The Quartet principals looked forward to meeting again in September at the United Nations General Assembly. On
that occasion the Quartet will consider, after further consultations with the parties, the timing and agenda of an
international meeting in Moscow to lend support to the process launched in Annapolis. Quartet Principals will also
continue their dialogue with members of the Arab League Follow-Up Committee.
The Quartet reaffirmed its commitment to a just, lasting, and comprehensive peace in the Middle East based on
Security Council resolutions 242 (1967), 338 (1973), 1397 (2002) and 1515 (2003). (UN News Centre)
Four Qassam rockets fired from the Gaza Strip landed in the southern Israeli town of Sderot and a nearby area. One of
the rockets struck a vacant house in Sderot. Two people were slightly wounded and two others were treated for shock.
Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility.
The rocket fire constituted a "blatant violation of the ceasefire on the part of the Palestinian groups in the Strip,"
said Prime Minister Olmert upon his return from Egypt. (Haaretz)
After talks with PA President Abbas in Bethlehem, French President Nicolas Sarkozy said at a joint news conference:
"The security of Israel is non-negotiable for France, but the creation of a viable, democratic, modern State for the
Palestinians is a priority for France.… We will work towards the creation of your State. We will use the same strength,
the same commitment we used in ensuring Israel's security." He reiterated his call for Israel to freeze settlement
activity in the West Bank. "I told our Israeli friends the injustice done to the Jewish people can't be resolved by
creating conditions of injustice for the Palestinian people," Mr. Sarkozy said, adding, "It was a pleasure to come here
to Bethlehem to see what the checkpoints were like, the wall, the misunderstandings on either side. This must stop." On
Jerusalem, he said, "It's a holy city for three faiths, Jews, Christians and Muslims. … Can Jerusalem be for one side
and not the other? I don't think so." (AFP, AP)
French President Sarkozy and PA President Abbas signed an agreement to establish an industrial zone in the Bethlehem
area during Mr. Sarkozy's visit to the city, where he also met other PA leaders. Mr. Abbas thanked Mr. Sarkozy for
agreeing to fund the $21 million project, which is expected to provide thousands of jobs. (The Jerusalem Post)
The Israeli army damaged three houses during a large-scale pre-dawn incursion into the village of Awarta near Nablus. (IMEMC, Ma’an News Agency)
Speaking to reporters after a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi gave his backing to Israel’s plan for a demilitarized Palestinian State as part of a solution to the Middle East conflict. He also supported the requirement that the new country recognize Israel as a Jewish State, a move that implicitly renounces claims to any return of refugees to land lost at the founding of Israel in 1948. After a two-hour meeting, the Italian Prime Minister said that he had “drawn the [Israeli] Prime Minister’s attention to the need to send signals about stopping the establishment of settlements, which would otherwise be a hindrance to peace”. Italy’s Foreign Minister Franco Frattini told reporters that Italy “would very much appreciate a gesture on the Israeli side announcing a moratorium on the expansion of existing settlements”, adding that it was not a problem for Italy if Israeli settlements internally expand, but “expanding settlements like wildfire, that is a problem.” Mr. Netanyahu is said to have emerged upbeat from his meeting with Mr. Berlusconi, saying that the Italian leader had accepted the conditions he had laid out in his speech at Bar-Ilan University on 14 June regarding any final status agreement and that “it would be hard to find a better friend”. (AP, euobserver.com, The Jerusalem Post)
Two Gaza border terminals had been opened partially for transit of supplies. The Karni crossing remained closed while 100 to 116 trucks carrying humanitarian aid and commercial goods had been allowed through the Kerem Shalom crossing and limited quantities of cooking gas and industrial diesel for the Gaza power plant had been shipped through the Nahal Oz crossing. (Ma’an News Agency)
Israeli settlers from the “Halamish” settlement near Ramallah set fire to olive trees near the village of Deir Nidham. According to the villagers, the fire burned 120 olive trees on 15 dunums of land. (Ma’an News Agency)
Settlers from the “Yizhar” settlement located south of Nablus raided a Palestinian construction staging area for the third time. The settlers destroyed water wells and smashed wood and other materials at the site. (Ma’an News Agency)
Israeli governmental sources told Haaretz that Israel was considering enacting a temporary freeze in the construction of settlements, excluding projects already under way, if the United States were to agree for Israel to continue the expansion of existing settlements for so-called “natural growth” purposes. The report was made public after US Middle East Envoy George Mitchell cancelled a meeting with Prime Minister Netanyahu that was to have taken place this week. According to Haaretz, Israel and the United States had agreed that, for now, no new settlements would be built and no Palestinian land would be confiscated. The parameters of the settlement construction freeze continued to be negotiated. However, the two countries disagree on the duration of the purported settlement freeze, with Israel saying it would be for six months while the US wants the freeze to last for a longer period. (Haaretz, IMEMC, The Jerusalem Post)
Official Israeli media sources and the offices of the Prime Minister and Defense Minister denied reports, which had claimed that the captured Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, who has now spent three years in captivity, had been moved to Egypt in preparation for a prisoner swap deal. The Israeli Prime Minister’s office said that progress had been made but that no deal had been reached. The previous day, Prime Minister Netanyahu said that he would not rule out the renewal of negotiations with Hamas in an attempt to secure Shalit’s release, but denied Arab media reports about a transfer to Egypt. According to earlier Palestinian reports, Israel had conveyed a message to Hamas through former US President Jimmy Carter, expressing willingness to release most of the prisoners Hamas had been demanding in exchange for Shalit. (DPA, Haaretz, IMEMC, The Jerusalem Post)
The Jerusalem Magistrate’s Court acquitted four Border Guard officers accused of assaulting a Palestinian detainee during an incident that took place in 2004. (Ynetnews)
The Public Committee Against Torture in Israel (PCATI) human rights group released a report entitled “Shackling as a Form of Torture and Abuse” based on 547 cases which describes the “pain and humiliation” suffered by Palestinian detainees at the hands of different authorities in Israel, led by the Shin Bet security service and the IDF. PCATI said that these figures were “surely only the tip of the iceberg”. (Haaretz, Ma’an News Agency, Ynetnews)
Arab Foreign Ministers, meeting in Cairo at the Headquarters of the League of Arab States, vowed to support US President Obama’s Middle East peace initiatives but said that normalization with Israel was contingent on a “complete stop to settlement activity, including in East Jerusalem”. They said that Arab countries “were prepared to deal positively with the proposals of President Obama to solve the Arab-Israeli conflict and take the necessary steps to support the American effort, based on achieving comprehensive peace, and the creation of a sovereign, independent Palestinian State, with East Jerusalem as its capital”. Arab League Secretary-General Amre Moussa said that Arabs were prepared to reconsider dealing with Israel “because there is now an American Administration which has, since day one, expressed its seriousness in ending the Arab-Israeli conflict”. They added that they “give importance to the serious and balanced proposal put forward by President Obama” although “we consider statements by [Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu as unacceptable”. The Cairo meeting precedes the forthcoming meeting between the Arab Peace Initiative Committee and the Quartet to review means and ways of pushing the Middle East peace process forward. (AFP, Petra News Agency, Qatar News Agency)
US Middle East Envoy George Mitchell had decided to cancel a meeting with Prime Minister Netanyahu, scheduled to take place in Paris the following day, reportedly because of a serious dispute over West Bank settlements. The Israeli daily Yediot Ahronot quoted an unnamed Israeli official as saying that Washington had issued a “stern” message to Mr. Netanyahu to halt all settlement activity on occupied Palestinian land. An aide to Mr. Netanyahu claimed it was Israel that called off the meeting in order to seek more professional work to be done on issues by staff, including the collecting of data, in order to present it to Mr. Mitchell in an organized manner. US State Department spokesman Ian Kelly said that the meeting had been cancelled in order to allow Mr. Mitchell and Mr. Barak to meet first during the coming week in order to straighten out diverging views on settlements. “I’ll reiterate our – what we always say or what I always say and what others say: We oppose continued settlement activity. All parties have the responsibility to help create the context that will support renewed, meaningful negotiations that can be concluded quickly”, adding that “the bottom line is that we expect all parties to honour their commitments. Our position is that settlement activity has to stop consistent with the Road Map.” A senior official travelling with Mr. Netanyahu said that “a lot of hard work was needed to reach common ground”. (AP, AFP, Haaretz, IMEMC, Ma’an News Agency, Reuters, Ynetnews)
Dutch Foreign Minister Maxime Verhagen said during a visit to the region that the fact that Israel and the Palestinians were exploring a two-State solution mere months after the Gaza crisis was an “unpredictable” occurrence, and that speeches by the Israeli and Palestinian Authority Prime Ministers and US President Obama had created a momentum for peace. He said that it was important that the European Union play a role not only with regard to support for the Palestinians but also that it hold roundtable discussions with Israel. (Haaretz)
Former Israeli negotiator Ron Pundak and current director of The Pres Center for Peace in Tel Aviv said that documents accepted by Israeli leaders during the peace talks with the Palestinians that resulted in the 1993 Oslo accords had said nothing about their country’s status as a Jewish State or homeland, a concept absent as well from other accords negotiated by the two sides as recently as 2007. Mr. Pundak said that “it had never been an Israeli demand”. The issue is seen as a proxy for discussion of the status of millions of Palestinian refugees in the region or as an effort to influence future debate over refugees. (The Los Angeles Times, The Washington Post)
Ninety Palestinians, who had completed medical treatment in Egypt, returned to the Gaza Strip through the Rafah border crossing. (Ma’an News Agency)
Villagers from Nahhalin near Bethlehem managed to stop workers from the Jerusalem Electric Company from destroying their lands in order to build high-voltage electric poles that would supply a nearby settlement with electricity. (IMEMC)
The Amin Media Network launched the Amin Blogging site in partnership with UNESCO. Head of the UNESCO office in Palestine, Louise Haxthausen, said that the project was aimed at encouraging journalism in Palestine and helping create an interactive environment between the Palestinian public and Palestinian decision makers. (WAFA)