Palestine – Breaking News

MEMORANDUM

ISRAELI MASSACRE IN GAZA

Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma
Minister of Foreign Affairs
Republic of South Africa

We, representatives of various sectors of civil society (including social and religious organizations and labour unions) are gravely concerned about the political, economic and humanitarian crisis that has been imposed on the people of Gaza, which has now been reinforced by the merciless and unceasing bombing, shelling and attacks by Israeli Occupation Forces. Today is the 13th day of the relentless bombardment of Gaza, resulting in the destruction of civilian infrastructure, including mosques, churches, universities and UN Schools, and the massacre of more than 600 people and wounding of more than 3,000. Most of the dead and injured are civilians.
Like President Kgalema Motlanthe, we too are shocked by what he called ‘the sheer savagery’ of the Israeli attacks.

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INTERVIEW WITH KHALED MESHAAL

by Gianni Perrelli

Exclusive: The leader of Hamas in exile speaks. He announces an imminent conflict. That is because he says Tel Aviv is not interested in listening to Palestinians. And from America, the opening with Damascus was nothing but words. Conversation with Khaled Meshaal From the Italian news magazine L’Espresso. Translated by Mary Rizzo.

"In the name of God, the clement, the merciful, I would like to ask the first question. Is it possible that after the war against Gaza and our heroic resistance, Israel still does not understand that the peace process cannot be done without Hamas…?"

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Fatah’s Leadership Crisis Deepens

by Helena Cobban

Fifty years ago, a small group of Palestinian teachers and engineers living in Kuwait founded a secretive movement aimed at liberating those portions of previously British-ruled Palestine that became the State of Israel in 1948.

The group they founded, Fatah, went on to dominate the entire Palestinian political scene. In 1969 it took over the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO), which had been founded by the Arab states — as a counter to Fatah — a few years earlier.

In 1993, it was Fatah/PLO head Yasser Arafat who signed the "Oslo Accord" with Israel; and the following year Arafat became president of the Palestinian Authority (PA) established in occupied Ramallah.

But for several years, Fatah has been in crisis, and now that crisis is coming to a sharp head. Arafat’s successor, Mahmoud Abbas, is planning to convene a meeting of Fatah’s policymaking General Conference Aug. 4. By insisting on holding it in occupied Bethlehem — which will enable Israel’s security forces to completely control who attends and who does not — he has helped split the group’s historic leadership down the middle.

In mid-July, Farouq al-Qaddumi, a longtime Fatah leader who is senior to Abbas within the movement, lashed out at Abbas, accusing him of having conspired with Israel and the U.S. to poison Arafat, who died of unknown causes in late 2004.

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The convoy of the national campaign to break the siege on Gaza returned to Cairo after it was stopped by the security agencies on the entrance of Suez Canal governorate of  Ismailiyya.

The organizers of the convoy held a press conference in which the Chancellor Mahmoud Khudairy, former head of Alexandria Judges Club, and the leader of the Campaign, said the convoy achieved one of its most important goals which is the breaking of the hesitation blockade and reacting to break the siege .

He pointed out that the campaign is one of the most important steps taken by Egyptian opposition and national forces, and that for the first time there is some kind of action to serve the Palestinian cause, adding that we need a lot of practical actions similar to this convoy, to make the government feel that it will not end at this point.

The convoy was launched  at 03:00 pm, on Wednesday Ramadan (September) 10, on its way to Rafah crossing border, but the security agencies intercepted it and prevented its entry to Al-Ismailiyya city, which is the only gateway to Rafah crossing.

(IkhwanWeb – Egypt)

Read More »Breaking Gaza siege convoy returns to cairo after police blockade