Avigdor Lieberman Threatens to Destroy Palestinian Authority

Ethnic Cleansing Illegal Zionist Squatter Avigdor Lieberman

by Jason Ditz

                 Insists He Will 'Ensure' the PA's Total Collapse


According to Israeli Channel 10 News, Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman has informed the European Union of his intention to destroy the entire Palestinian Authority in retaliation for a successful bid at UN recognition.

 “I will work to ensure the PA will collapse,” Lieberman reportedly told EU Foreign Policy Chief Catherine Ashton, adding that even the effort to obtain such recognition means an end to any possibility of resuming peace talks.

Israel’s far-right government has been talking about the possibility of “punishment” of the Palestinians for seeking UN recognition as a non-member “observer state,” but the destruction of the PA is likely to be controversial even within Israel’s cabinet.

And even moreso with the Israeli election just months away, and opposition parties tapping PA President Abbas as the best chance for peace negotiations, while criticizing Lieberman and his bloc for being unreasonable in their approach.

Lieberman’s threat may reflect his own goals, but it seems extremely impractical, because it leaves Israel to deal with millions of Palestinians and leaves Hamas as the only significant Palestinian faction in the absence of Fatah’s PA.



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Even Netanyahu admits PA is an Israeli interest

By Khalid Amayreh

The fact that Israel, which continues to murder Palestinians nearly on a daily basis, narrows Palestinian horizons and steals Palestinian land is hastening to rescue the Palestinian Authority (PA) from its crushing financial-economic crisis may raise a lot of eyebrows both among Palestinians themselves and others around the world.

After all, millions of people around the world grew up thinking that Palestinian and Israeli interest are inherently paradoxical and contradictory. So the last thing a casual observer would expect with regard to the Palestinian-Israeli strife is a concordance of Palestinian and Israeli interests in the form of a "positive" Israeli intervention to help the PA overcome the current crisis.

The truth of the matter, however, is that Israelis are not being charitable, generous, magnanimous or good neighbors.

In fact, Israel has always been a racist murderer and thief; it continues to be murderer and thief and is not expected to change her skin in the foreseeable future.

To begin with, Israel is the root-cause of all problems and troubles, economic and otherwise, facing the Palestinians. Indeed, one would have to be totally gullible to believe that a real, prosperous economy can be maintained under a sinister foreign military occupation.

This is undoubtedly one of the stupidest blunders committed by the PA leadership which still must go back to Grammar Schools to learn the meanings of such words as freedom, independence and sovereignty.

In the final analysis, Israel tightly and completely controls all Palestinian infrastructures, including water resources, electricity, roads, skies and border crossings. In fact, not a single matchbox or a small sewing needle can get into or out of the occupied territories without Israeli consent.

So, one could imagine the extent to which the Palestinian economy is subservient to the Israeli occupation.

It is also important to keep in mind that whatever money Israel transfers to the PA coffers is actually Palestinian money the occupying power collects on behalf of the PA in accordance with the scandalous Paris protocol which effectively put the entire Palestinian economy under Israel's mercy. 

Israel levies an estimated $100 million per month on commodities imported by Palestinians through Israeli ports. Normally, Israel devours bloated commissions and hefty salaries for Israeli operatives handling clearance operations at border crossings.

Speaking hours after ordering the transfer of some $63 million to the PA last week, Israeli Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu said helping the PA overcome the current economic crisis in the West Bank was an Israeli interest.

He described those Israeli officials objecting to aiding the PA in this regard as "politically myopic and not understanding what they are talking about."

"We are working on several fronts in order to help the Palestinian Authority cope with its economic problems. We have made several agreements in the taxation agreements. We are advancing several transfers. We have also helped with Palestinian workers and with a series of other steps in order to make things easier for them.

"Of course, there is a global reality and it is also related to the internal management of every economy, but for our part we are making efforts to help the Palestinian Authority survive this crisis. I hope they will succeed in doing so, this is in our common interest."

Interestingly, the PA leadership doesn't deny that the survival of the Ramallah regime is a paramount Israeli interest.

Last week, a high-ranking PA official told reporters in Hebron that Israel was interested in weakening the PA regime, but never in destroying it.

"Israel wants to weaken the Palestinian Authority to a certain point which would enable the Jewish state to impose its will and conditions on the Palestinians."

The official added that Israel wants to see the PA perpetually busy and occupied with its internal political and economic problems which would give Israel a sort of carte blanche to pursue its settlement scheme.

He disclosed that at least some of the protesters who assaulted and vandalized the main police station at al-Haras in Hebron last week were saboteurs and provocateurs working for the Israeli intelligence.

If indeed the survival and "prosperity" of the PA is a mutual Palestinian-Israeli interest, then there must be a huge flaw in the relations between the Palestinian victims and their Israeli victimizers.

It is lamentable that the PA leadership is oblivious of this flaw. It is also a real calamity that the PA is willing to function and operate under crippling Israeli constraints. In this case, the PA behaves and acts as a collaborator and colluder with the occupying power, rather than a national authority aspiring to become an independent state.

PA leaders had argued ad nauseam that the creation of the autonomous authority was a step toward the creation of a fully-independent and completely sovereign Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital.
Now, almost everyone, including some PA officials, realizes that the PA is probably the biggest obstacle impeding the establishment of a viable Palestinian state worthy of the name, after the Israeli occupation.

There is no doubt that the scandalous Oslo Accords put the Palestinians, including the PLO itself, the so-called sole and legitimate representative of the Palestinian people, in a lose-lose situation whereby they will have to choose between two unattractive choices: Direct Israeli occupation on the one hand or indirect but equally sinister Israeli domination on the other.

The PA regime has given Israel unconditional recognition without receiving a reciprocal Israeli recognition of a putative Palestinian state. 

The Palestinian harrowing toward the political and moral abyss reasserted itself earlier this month when Chairman Abbas told a visiting Israeli delegation, which included some rabbis, in Ramallah that "Israel was created to last forever."

Unfortunately, virtually all Fatah leaders were mum, fearing Abbas's fury and reprisals.

There is no doubt that the Palestinian cause is being gradually and quietly liquidated while PA leaders keep babbling about a state that seems ever more unlikely to see the light of the day with the passage of everyday.

Is there an exit out of this political labyrinth? Of course there is, provided we put our national interests before the immediate and precarious interests of maintaining the status quo.

This necessarily requires the liquidation of the Oslo Accords. I realize that exiting the Oslo Accords, or more correctly delivering our people from its clutches, wouldn't be easy or safe. But it can be done and it must be done. 

Otherwise, we sacrifice Palestine for the sake of maintaining an authority that has no future if only because that authority is inherently subservient to and dependent upon Israel. 

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MADA: More Than 100 Media Freedom Violations in the First Six Months of 2012

While new figures show a slight decrease in the number of attacks against journalists and media organizations in the year to-date, the status of media freedoms in the occupied Palestinian territories remains under serious threat, the Palestinian Center for Development and Media Freedoms (MADA) said on Wednesday 8th August.

MADA General Director Mousa Rimawi said that in the first half of 2012 the Center monitored 102 violations against journalists and media institutions. Sixty per cent of these violations were carried out by Israeli forces, and the remainder were committed by various Palestinian parties in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
The high overall number of violations is the result of of Israel's continued occupation of the Palestinian territories, and on-going internal divisions within Palestine.

These latest results are a small improvement on the 113 violations recorded by MADA in the same period in 2011, but the nature of the violations has changed. For example, in 2011 the violations by Palestinian perpetrators outnumbered those by Israeli forces, although MADA found the Israeli violations posed a greater physical risk to journalists.

According to Mousa Rimawi: "The number of violations committed against journalists and media institutions in Palestine remains high overall, which indicates the on-going deterioration in media freedoms and the oppressive working atmosphere for journalists. This encourages self-censorship among journalists, who wish to avoid being subjected to violations, including being detained. Sadly Palestine's ranking will fell in Press Freedom Index by Reporters Without Borders.

"We are concerned about the continuing Israeli attacks on journalists who are simply doing their jobs, and the on-going detention of a number of journalists. Israel continues to defy the international community through its disregard for international conventions that guarantee freedom of expression. The international community must immediately intervene."

Mr. Rimawi said MADA Center, journalists and civil society orgnizations worked this year to take action against a number of media violations, including the prosecution of some journalists and bloggers, and the closure of a number of websites by Palestinian parties with the assistance of civil society organisations, this policy was temporarily stopped through the issuance of a Presidential decision to reopen blocked websites.

However, widespread attacks against journalists in June and early July re-ignited tensions and required another serious push by all institutions and individuals who defend freedom of expression in Palestine.

Mr. Rimawi expressed his appreciation for Palestinian journalists who, despite the risks and difficulties, continue to perform their work and report on the facts for the Palestinian community and others around the globe.

Violations by Israeli occupation forces:

MADA recorded 61 violations committed by Israeli occupation forces against journalists and Palestinian media institutions during the first six months of the 2012. This was an increase of 17 violations on the same period last year. Israeli forces have jeopardized the lives of journalists who were targeted directly with rubber bullets and tear gas, particularly in February, when MADA recorded 19 violations for that month alone. Most journalists were covering various public events related to the hunger strike of Palestinian prisoners in protest against poor conditions in Israeli jails.

Israeli violations against journalists over the same six month period in recent years:

Year	Number of violations
2008	87
2009	54
2010	79
2011	45
2012	61

Physical attack: the most common violation by Israeli forces

As with previous years, physical attacks against journalists accounted for around half the Israeli forces violations recorded by MADA. Most of the 31 physical attacks recorded were committed against journalists who were covering the weekly marches and public events relating to the hunger strike of Palestinian prisoners in the West Bank.

In the same period, an additional eight journalists were injured with Israeli bullets. The most serious injury was sustained by Alhayat Aljadedeh newspaper photographer Muheb Barghouti, who was shot in both legs while covering a weekly march in Bil'in on 27 January 2012.

MADA was also told that Israeli forces opened fire on six journalists in the Gaza Strip on 1 May 2012, while they were reporting on bulldozed land belonging to farmers in the Farrahin area, east of Khan Younis. The journalists sought refuge in a neighboring house.

In addition, four journalists remain in administrative detention. They are: correspondent with Palestine News Network and Emirates newspaper AlKhaleej, Amin Abu Warda; director of Alresaleh newspaper West Bank office Walid Khalid; Shehab news agency correspondent Amer Abu Arafa; and Aqsa Radio correspondent Sharif Rajoub.

Israeli forces continue to arrest journalists and to extend the detention of those already arrested without charge, which is illegal and breaches international conventions. Since the beginning of the year, MADA has recorded a total of 12 arrests and administrative arrest extensions against journalists, by Israeli forces.

Violations by Israeli forces against Palestinian media outlets:

Israeli attacks are not limited to the targeting of journalists as they perform their professional duties. MADA has also received reports of attempts to paralyse the work of media institutions through raids and the confiscation or destruction of their equipment, which affects journalists' work and causes substantial financial losses.

MADA figures show that Israeli forces have stepped up these practices against Palestinian media organisations, with four institutions raided and equipment confiscated from them. In response, MADA Center issued a special report on the targeting of Palestinian media organisations by Israeli forces since 2008.

The most prominent Israeli attacks against media outlets in the first half of 2012 were the February raids on Watan TV, inluding the confiscation of equipment and archives dating back ten years, and on the headquarters of Quds Educational TV, including the confiscation of broadcasting equipment and tampering with their contents which prevented television broadcast.

On April 2, 2012, Israeli forces raided the Jerusalem office of media network Hona Al-Quds (Jerusalem is Here). On May 17, Al-Aseer channel's main transmission device in Jenin was confiscated. The channel was forced to use its back-up transmitter to continue broadcasting, but Israeli forces control these broadcasts and will only publish material they choose via satellite.

Media freedoms violations by Israeli forces in the first half of 2012 – by category

Category	Number
Attacks	31
Arrest	12
Detention	5
Equipment confiscated	4
Raid	4
Preventing media coverage	2
Closure	1
Preventing travel of media staff	1
Bomb attack	1

Recommendations:

MADA once again calls on the international community to place serious and effective pressure on the Israeli Government to stop all practices against journalists and Palestinian media institutions that contravene international conventions and laws, such as Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and the decision of the General Assembly of the United Nations 59 d - 1 from 1946, as well as UNESCO resolutions and other decisions. In particular, MADA calls for:

1. An end to the physical abuse of journalists who put their lives at risk, especially while covering the weekly peaceful marches in the West Bank. In the past decade, Israeli forces have killed 20 journalists

2. The immediate release of four journalists being held without charge in Israeli prisons.

3. The return of all equipment confiscated from Palestinian media organisations so far this year, most of which were financed by internatinal donors. For example, the $300,000 worth of equipment confiscated from Watan TV was funded by the U.S. Agency for Development (USAID).

Violations by Palestinian authorities:

Despite the fall in the number of violations committed by Palestinian authorities in the first half of 2012, compared to the same period last year (from 68 to 41 violations), the overall number of Palestinian violations remains high.

These violations by Palestinian authorities, including the prosecution and monitoring of journalists, indicates the low ceiling of freedom afforded to journalists in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. These violations followed a rise in self-censorship due to the internal Fatah-Hamas split and the near absence of investigative journalism, which led to setback of the the Palestinian media professional level.

Palestinian violations against journalists over the same six month period in recent years:

Year	Number of violations
2008	35
2009	33
2010	19
2011	68
2012	41

The month of March:

The highest number of Palestinian violations against media freedoms came in March. MADA monitored 14 violations in the West Bank and Gaza Strip in March 2012, which is more than one-third of the total Palestinian violations during the first half of the current year.

In the Gaza Strip in March, journalists were subjected to dangerous violations by security services, including at least nine cases of detention, beating and summons for investigation. In the West Bank in March, MADA recorded five serious violations committed by Palestinian authorities, involving the arrest and trial of journalists.

Press freedom and the Internet

With the continuing growth of e-news sites and increased activity by journalists on social networking sites, especially Facebook, MADA noted an increase in the number of violations relating to electronic media.

In recent years, Palestine has enjoyed a relatively free Internet environment without censorship or restrictions on media freedoms. However, MADA monitored seven violations relating to the internet in the first half of this year. A number of these were serious violations, such as the prosecution of journalists for allegedly posting critical comments on Facebook, the blocking of eight news websites, and the arrest and interrogation of a journalist for publishing a critical article on the Internet.

Investigation and detention:

The detention and investigation of journalists accounted for the bulk of Palestinian violations against journalists, with nine violations recorded by MADA in each category. In addition, eight journalists were prevented from covering events.

This is a significant increase in the number of arrests of journalists during the first half of this year, compared to last year when MADA monitored just five arrests in 12 months. Detention is one of the most serious violations against journalists, designed to intimidate them and impede their work.

The nine investigations recorded by MADA represent a significant drop in the first six months of this year, compared with the 16 investigations recorded in the same period last year.

Category	Number
Investigation	9
Arrest	9
Detention	6
Prevent from covering events	8
Raid	1
Attack	3
Closure and blocking (?? Closure of what? Offices?)	1
Trial	2
Threats	1

Recommendations:

MADA demands that relevant authorities in the West Bank and Gaza Strip respect freedom of opinionand expression, especially since these principles are explicitly guaranteed in Article 19 of thePalestinian Basic Law. MADA calls for:

1 – An adherence to the Palestinian Basic Law and the protection of freedom of opinion and expression in any form.

2 – An end to the detention of journalists and an end to efforts to prevent them from reporting,regardless of the media outlet.

3 - The redistribution of banned newspapers in the West Bank and Gaza Strip immediately andwithout complication.

4 – The abolition of censorship on the Internet, including on social networking sites.

5 – An end to the investigation of journalists who are simply doing their job or expressing their opinion.

6 - The implementation of recommendations of the independent committee established to investigateevents which took place in Ramallah on 30 June and 1 July 2012, which was established following a decision by President Mahmoud Abbas.

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Hamas: PA security forces arrested 72 persons for their political affiliation

RAMALLAH, (PIC)-- PA security forces in the West Bank continued, during the past month, their arrest campaigns against resistance movements' activists and supporters especially Hamas and Islamic Jihad affiliates.

Hamas said in a report on Sunday that those forces arrested 72 persons; most of them were ex-detainees, political activists, and university students.

The movement said that the PA forces jailed hundreds of its activists following summary trials and exercised on them the worst psychological and physical torture.

It noted that the Fayyad government continued freezing salaries of some employees and dismissing others because of their political affiliation.

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Barghouthi Calls For Halting Coordination With Israel

Marwan Barghouthi

by Saed Bannoura

Detained Fatah strongman and legislator, Marwan Barghouthi, sent a letter from his prison cell at the Hadarim Israeli prison, calling on the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank, to stop all forms of security and economic coordination with Israel.

Barghouthi stated that the main task of the P.A. is to protect the Palestinians and their well-being, and not to protect the occupation.

He called on the Palestinian leadership to remain determined on the release of all Palestinian prisoners, without excluding a single detainee.

The Fateh leader said that the P.A. should set the release of all detainees as a legitimate precondition for the resumption of peace talks with Israel, in addition to insisting that Israel halts all of its settlement activities, in addition to insisting on a direct and clear Israeli recognition of an independent Palestinian State, with East Jerusalem as its capital, before resuming peace talks.

Barghouthi added that “illusions that the occupation can only be ended through negotiations must stop”, adding that “the political process must be accompanied by ongoing resistance and popular struggle against the occupation”.

He said that the Palestinian people have the right to choose their form of resistance depending on the situation, adding that, at the current stage, non-violent popular resistance serves the best interests of the Palestinian people.

On internal political level, Barghouthi said that the national leadership must act on ending all forms of corruption, and on prosecuting all persons, and leaders, involved in abusing power.

“Fighting and countering corruption is part of countering the Israeli occupation”, the Fatah leader concluded.

Barghouthi was detained by the Israeli army in the central West Bank city of Ramallah, on April, 15, 2002; Israel claims that he was behind a number of suicide bombings in addition to attacks against the Israeli army and settlers.

He was sentenced to five life-terms, and additional 40 years, after he was indicted by an Israeli court on charges of “murder and attempted murder” carried by fighters of the Tanzim, the al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades of Fatah movement.

The jailed official did not recognize the Israeli court, and declared that this court is run by the occupation, therefore, it is illegitimate and illegal as it only serves the interests of the occupation.

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Abbas Considers Stepping Down, Dissolving PA

Mahmoud Abbas

PNN

Palestinian Executive Committee member Asa'ad Abdul Rahman said that the Palestinian President, Mahmoud Abbas, is considering stepping down as president as one of a several options to protest Israel's freeze of the peace process.

Abdul Rahman told al-Sharq Saudi newspaper that one of the suggested options is to dissolve the Palestinian authority, start a non-violent popular uprising, and cancel economic and security coordination with Israel.

 http://english.pnn.ps/index.php/national/1026-abbas-considers-stepping-down-dissolving-pa