This Week in Palestine Jan. 18-24
HAVANA TIMES — Welcome to this Week in Palestine, a service of the International Middle East Media Center, www.imemc.org, for January 18 to the 24, 2014.
As no progress is made in the Palestinian-Israeli peace talks, army attacks this week leave two Palestinians killed and dozens more injured.
The Nonviolence Report
Let’s begin our weekly report as usual with the nonviolent activities organized in the West Bank. This week many protesters were treated for the effects of tear gas inhalation when Israeli troops used tear gas and chemical water to attack anti wall and settlement protests organized at a number of west Bank communities. IMEMC’s Salam Qumsiya has more:
In central West Bank protests were organized at the village of of Bil’in, Nil’in and Al Nabi saleh. Also protests were organized in southern West Bank village of Al Ma’ssara near Bethlehem.
Israeli soldiers attacked anti wall and settlements protesters in Al Nabi saleh before even leaving the village , troops later invaded the village and fired tear gas at residents homes. Many were treated for the effects of tear gas inhalation.
In the nearby Bil’in, and Nil’in, residents and their Israeli and international supporters reached the Israeli wall built on lands taken from local famers before soldiers stationed their showered them with tear gas and chemical water that generate bad smell. Also there many were treated for the effects of tear gas inhalation.
Elsewhere, at al Ma’ssara village on Friday , Israeli troops stopped the villagers and their supporters at village entrance then forced them back using rifle buts and batons to bush people back, no injuries were reported.
The Political Report
Palestinian Authority and Russia sign three separate agreements in Moscow. Meanwhile, United Sates is heavily involved in peace-making efforts between Palestinians and Israeli. IMEMC’s Rami AL Meghari with the story:
Local media sources reported this week that during a visit by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, Russian President, Vladimir Putin reiterated his country’s friendly ties with the Palestinian people.
Russia and the Palestinian Authority signed three separate accords including an expansion of trade between the two countries.
Palestinian Authority, while maintaining control on parts of the occupied Palestinian territories, has been seeking , through negotiations, a Palestinian state on 1967 borders including the West Bank , East Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip.
Meanwhile, US Secretary of State, John Kerry, met with Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, on the sideline of Davos Economic Forum in Brussels. Kerry was reported to have discussed with Netanyahu, a lates US proposal for a framework agreement between Israel and the Palestinians before April, 2014.
Both Israelis and Palestinians have resumed peace talks under American mediation, since June2013, yet they have not reached any agreement. Israel preserves the right to maintain control over the Jordan Valley, part of the occupied West Bank, and perpetuate sole control over East Jerusalem.
Jordan , which shares borders of the Jordan Valley, rejected this week an Israeli plan to construct an airport on the Israel-controlled part of the area, lest this would preempt any final status solutions between Palestinians and Israelis.
In another news, both major Palestinian political parties, Fatah and Hamas, have not yet reached any agreement over long-waited Palestinian national unity, despite recent direct contacts between them.
The West Bank and Gaza Report
Israeli attacks targeting Palestinians communities in Gaza and the West Bank this week left two men killed and at least 20 others injured. Moreover, the Israeli army conducted 73 invasions targeting Palestinian West Bank communities; during which troops kidnapped at least 35 civilians.
Two Palestinians were killed on Wednesday after Israeli army drone fired a missile at their car driving in Beit Hanoun town in the northern part of the Gaza Strip. According to local sources the two men are fighters from Al-Quds Brigades, the armed wing of the Islamic Jihad.
On Sunday, Israeli drone fired a missile at a motorbike in the northern Gaza Strip town of Jabalya. As a result a man and an 11 year old child were seriously injured. The targeted man was identified as Ahmed Sa’ad, 22, a member of the al-Quds Brigades.
Meanwhile also on Sunday Israeli gunboats opened fire on Palestinian fishermen off the northern Gaza Strip coast line. No injuries were reported.
Later in the week, Israeli military vehicles, stationed across the border fence with Gaza, fired dozens of rounds of live ammunition into Palestinian agricultural lands and homes east of Abasan town, southern Gaza Strip. Damage was reported but no injuries.
In the West Bank, Israeli army invasions and kidnappings were focused this week in the cities of Hebron, Bethlehem, Ramallah, Jerusalem and Nablus.
A Palestinian child suffered serious injuries on Wednesday after a bomb, dropped by Israeli soldiers during training, exploded in his hands, in the Jordan Valley. Local sources said that the child, 12 years of age, found the bomb, and carried it not knowing what it is, and that the bomb detonated in his hands.
Also on Wednesday dozens of students have been injured in the Al-Quds University, in Abu Dis town, in occupied East Jerusalem, after dozens of Israeli soldiers invaded it. The clashes took place between dozens of students and soldiers after the army invaded the university campus to close a gap in the Annexation Wall in the area.
On Tuesday a Palestinian teenager was injured during clashes between local youth and invading Israeli troops at Ayida refugee camp in the southern west Bank city of Bethlehem.
Local sources said that the boy was hit in the head and was moved to a nearby hospital for treatment where his condition was described as moderate. Many others were treated for the effect of tear gas that was fired by Israeli soldiers.
Conclusion
And that’s all for today from This Week in Palestine. This was the Weekly report for January 18, to the 24, 2014 from the Occupied Palestinian Territories. For more news and updates please visit our website at www.imemc.org. This week’s report has been brought to you by George Rishmawi and Ghassan Bannoura.