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Palestine – Features
French fm mideast peace unlikely by year end
Picture: (AFP/Gali Tibbon)
Tzipi Livni (R) shakes hands with French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner prior to their meeting in Jerusalem. Kouchner warned that Israel would strike archfoe Iran before it was able to develop nuclear weapons, in comments published today.
French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner says she doesn’t expect an Israeli-Palestinian peace agreement by the end of the year.
U.S. President George W. Bush hosted high-profile peace talks last November in Annapolis, Maryland, and has expressed hope for an agreement by the end of the year. But progress has been limited.
Kouchner urged the international community today to keep pressure on both sides after meeting with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak.
Sapa-AP
Palestinian olives
(source: Human Rights Newsletter)
Photo above is of Mahfoutha Shtaya, 65 year old who “inspired us when she stood up to Israeli soldiers and settlers in 2004 when they were uprooting hundreds of olive trees in her village-the source of her community’s livelihood. Alone and defenseless, she clung to one of the few trees left standing. Her action spoke out powerfully against the wanton destruction and its disastrous effects for an already suffering people”
My mother says I should have worn long sleeves for the Palestinian olive trees sometimes do not want to part with their fruits without a bit of resistance. But somehow I feel the few minor scratches are a badge of honor and the least I owe our beloved trees.
The whole year, we look forward to these days. My sister, wife, mother, and I harvested the olive trees sometimes silently, sometimes talking about mundane things, and rarely speaking of things of consequence. But thoughts are another story. My thoughts wonder to the Palestinians who lost their olive groves to the colonial settlement activity (over 1 million trees have been uprooted). The picture of the old women hugging her tree that was being cut by the Israeli occupiers flashes through my mind (above). I am reminded of my deceased father during such time. I feel at peace with the sorrow and anger overwhelmed by emotions of gratitude and serenity under the old olive trees. The olive harvest is after all a ritual that borders on an act of worship (and maybe it is).
Joint press release
South Africa’s Condemnation of Israeli Air Strikes on Gaza
The Media Review Network (MRN) and The Muslim Judicial Council (MJC) acknowledges Government’s condemnation of the latest air strikes by the Israeli defence force on the desperate and destitute people of Gaza.
This statement is a step in the right direction towards restoring the inalienable right of the Palestinian people to self determination and independence The severity of the seige imposed upon the Gazan people is such that mere political rhetoric and lip service cannot bring about the much needed relief to end the tragic unfolding of this humanitarian crisis of unimaginable proportions. In addition the illegal Zionist regime in occupied Palestine will be building another wall, this time along the border with Egypt, to ensure that no African illegal work or asylum seekers enter the Zionist entity. This is clearly discriminatory and racist.
We believe that it is time the South African Government steps in line with the Tripartite Alliance, who have been supporting the campaign for boycotts, divestment and sanctions against the racist, illegal Zionist regime.
We sadly note the perilous position of the Palestinian people is rapidly deteriorating as a result of the inhuman siege imposed by the Occupying Force. Short of some decisive action by the our Government, the dangers faced by the beleaguered Palestinians will be compounded beyond measure.
Ibrahim Vawda
Senior Researcher,
Media Review Network
Tell: 012 374 6987
Cell: 072 295 0088
E-mail: webmaster@mediareviewnet.com
Nabeweya Malick
Public Affairs & Media,
Muslim Judicial Council
Cape Town
Cell: 083 408 1157
E-mail: pro@mjc.org.za