Aqsa News, Issue 53, October 2013 by Friends of Al Aqsa

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ISSUE 53

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New tunnels

exposed under al-Aqsa

Palestinian

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refugees in Egypt targetted

OCTOBER 2013

Trouble for

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pro-Palestinian activist

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Gaza youth forgotten in Middle East turmoil As the situation in the Middle East has deteriorated severely over the last three years, the living conditions in the Gaza Strip have reached an unprecedented point of crisis. During the military coup in Egypt, the Rafah crossing was closed off and the Egyptian military bombed vital underground tunnels, which are used to smuggle in medicines and food amongst other essential items. 350 tunnels have been destroyed, severely affecting the supply of basic essentials to Gazans. The UN supported Ard al-Insan Child Nutrition Centre in Gaza treats under 5’s and has reported that it receives 20-25 new referrals every single day. In 2012, they cared for 8,500 under 5’s who were malnourished. The Centre reports that 32 per cent of the children at the Centre suffer from second degree malnutrition while a further 16 per cent suffer third degree malnutrition; reflecting the seriousness of the problem. Malnutrition is determined on a scale where first degree consists of 75-89 per cent of normal nutrition levels; second degree is 60-74 per cent and third degree being below 60 per cent. “We give the children nutritious meals here at the center, and also train mothers to feed their children a healthy balanced diet,” says Najah Zohod,

Inside...

Nutritional Director. “We usually serve the children fresh meat, fruit and vegetables. But this week we cannot serve the children any fruit at all, because of the closure.” Many mothers face the impossible situation of seeing their babies and infants stop growing, yet are powerless to do anything due to a lack of supplies. The presence of the Centre means that many mothers can self-refer by taking their children there for medical help and the provision of a balanced diet. However, many more children in Gaza whose parents cannot access this service due to location and other factors, go without vital nutrition. A shocking statistic of 10.7 per cent of the children aged 5 and below in Gaza are reported to suffer from stunted growth due to chronic malnutrition. The closure has affected all areas of life, and where food and essentials are concerned, including fresh water, the situation is dire. Fresh meat has been scarce for weeks and fresh fruit is now also in short supply. Access to clean water relies on access to electricity and frequent blackouts affecting the majority of the population means that there is no clean water security. Continued on page 2

Extremist settlers invade al-Aqsa

Saudi hires G4S Consultant to manage Hajj crowds, despite condemnation for role in Palestine occupation FOA sends Open Letter to Saudi Ambassador to the UK The Hajj trip is a once in a lifetime experience for most Muslims, and they rely on the authorities in Saudi Arabia to make the journey safe and as comRecipe

fortable as possible. Deaths arising from poor crowd control has been a recurrent issue which Saudi authorities have worked tirelessly to address. It was Settlers ruin farmland

recently accounted that the security firm G4S was hired for the Hajj season to ensure that pilgrims were safe during the rituals. This has been met with concern Special Feature

by pro-Palestinian activists due to the role they play in supporting Israeli occupation of Palestine. Continued on page 4

Review The Gatekeepers

The Price of Oslo 2

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INSIDE PALESTINE

Extremist settlers invade al-Aqsa

Continued from front page Numerous charities provide clean water in water tankers to school children to ensure that some basic access to clean water is possible. Gaza has suffered six long years of closure during which everyday life has become unbearable. The youth have suffered

the greatest, and those aged under 25 account for 65 percent of Gaza’s 1.7 million residents. Disease amongst children and young people has become endemic, with malnourishment now affecting tens of thousands. The turmoil in the Middle East has resulted in a worsening situation.

Muslims converge on al-Aqsa in Ramadhan

In the run-up to Yom Kippur on 13/14 September, tensions around the holy al-Aqsa rose with daily threats being made by extremist Israeli Settlers. On countless occasions in 2013, settlers trespassed on to the al-Aqsa grounds and clashed with Palestinian

worshippers and Israeli police. The settlers are given military protection whenever they break into the area, despite their extreme views and behaviour. Whenever the trespasses occur, Israeli police prevent Palestinian worshippers from entering Al-

Aqsa. The developing trend is worrying Palestinians as the number of trespasses have increased significantly in recent times, seemingly under the guise of wider turmoil in the Middle East which is overshadowing threats against al-Aqsa. The Coalition for the Temple,

which is made up of numerous Jewish groups, have increased the number of calls being made to break into the al-Aqsa compound despite ownership and control belonging to Palestinian Muslims.

Israel to demolish 8 West Bank villages, expelling residents

The Israeli army issued an order to demolish 8 Palestinian West Bank villages in Masafer Yatta, south of alKhalil so that the occupation army could use the land for training. Village residents petitioned an Israeli court to overturn the order, but this was rejected. The villagers will be evicted from their homes, their villages demolished and the land used for ‘military purposes’; which is usually reserved to legitimise the theft of Palestinian land. Thus, 500 more Palestinian refugees will be created. The citizens of the village, who live on agricultural land with livestock, have vowed that they will not stand quietly while their homes and livelihoods are stolen by an army which has no right to it.

On the final jummah of Ramadhan, 170,000 Muslims converged in al-Aqsa to perform salaah (prayers) and prostrate themselves within the holy site. During the holy month, Palestinians from the West Bank were unusually given ac-

cess to the Jerusalem and were therefore able to fulfil lifelong ambitions to pray in the sacred Sanctuary. Muslims from all over the world also journeyed there to perform itikaf (spiritual retreat).

New tunnels exposed under al-Aqsa

New reports have emerged of tunnelling beneath the al-Aqsa Sanctuary. It was claimed by the al-Aqsa Waqf Foundation that Israel is expanding a network of existing tunnels by adding two extra corridors. The new excavations are taking place in the Silwan District of Jerusalem and leading into the southern side of the al-Aqsa. At present, an expansive network of tunnels exist under al-Aqsa which have endangered the structural integrity of the buildings upon it.

ISSUE 53 / OCTOBER 2013

are working hard to get an education are left with no prospects at the end of the process. Unemployment rates are high, and the OCHA report indicates that “the seven-year-long block-

AQSA NEWS

INSIDE PALESTINE

Gaza youth face unemployment and bleak future Community development in Gaza has been stifled by the closure, and it is the young men and women in the tiny enclave whose futures look bleaker than ever. Young people who

ade on the coastal enclave led nearly 70 percent of industrial establishments in Gaza to close, while 120,000 private sector jobs were lost in the first two years of closure.” The closure has stifled the economy resulting in bleak prospects and recovery will take years once the borders are re-opened fully and free-movement re-established. However, Israel has shown no intention to lift the blockade. Its bombing campaign in 2012 destroyed the ability of economic recovery in the Gaza Strip. Citizens would usually rely on the government for the creation of jobs, however, in the case of Gaza, the government can barely pay its own staff.

Gaza isolated by Egyptian military

Israel steals $300 million each year from Palestine A UN report had revealed that Israel fails to hand over $300 million in revenue from customs, purchases and VAT owed to the Palestinian Authority each year. The report was presented at the UN Conference on Trade and Development earlier in 2013. This estimate is considered to be lower than the actual figure as other sources of income are not included here such as tax from Palestinians working in Israeli settlements, revenue from natural resources, etc. Israel collects customs and tax revenues on behalf of the PA. This arrangement gives Israel complete control over the revenue.

Illegal Settlers ruin farmland by releasing boars Palestinian farmers in the region of Salfit have accused settlers of releasing wild boars onto Palestinian land. The boars have been responsible for damaging the farmers’ crops, including plum and fig trees, and vineyards. Settler communities, who live on settlements that are considered to be illegal under international law, often harass local Palestinian farmers using violence and intimidation. This is not the first time that boars have been used to destroy Palestinian land and crops.

Following the coup in Egypt during which the military dictatorship of General Abdel Fattah alSisi took illegitimate control, the Egyptian ties with Gaza have been cut off and the consequences for the people of Gaza are severe. Gazan’s have relied heavily on tunnels between Egypt and Gaza for essential supplies, food and medicines which have become inaccessible following the closure of the Gaza Strip by Israel in 2006. The Egyptian military has bombed 350 tunnels and closed the Rafah crossing. This has created a desperate situation in the

Gaza Strip, which is overshadowed by the greater turmoil within the region. Attacks against Egyptian military in the Sinai Peninsula have been carried out by independent factions and the military has announced that Hamas is responsible, a claim which spokesperson Fawzi Barhoum strenuously denies, stating that they are intended to demonise Hamas. Other restrictions imposed have included a ban on fishing in the sea near the town of Rafah and Egypt has also deployed warships along the coast. A further military buffer zone

has been created along the Rafah border, with Egyptian families being forces out of their homes. In a landmark move, the Egyptian military also escalated its confrontation with Gaza by moving tanks across the border on 13 September. This act reflected the seriousness of the conflict between the army and Hamas who are pro-Muslim Brotherhood. The people of Gaza have faced untold misery for the past 7 years, and the turmoil in Egypt has resulted in a new force for oppression against them.

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GLOBAL NEWS

Continued from front page “Saudi Arabia has a very big responsibility and we appreciate all efforts they make during Hajj season, however, the use of G4S is something intolerable. This is a company with low ethics where human rights and people’s freedoms are concerned. In Palestine, they have been involved for years in helping Israel to entrench its occupation. They are profitting from the occupation, which makes every day life a misery and they administer a deeply oppressive prison system,” stated Ismail Patel, Chair of Friends of Al-Aqsa. FOA has sent an open letter to the Saudi Arabian Ambassador to the UK, His Excellency HRH Prince Mohammed bin Nawaf Al Saud, asking for the issue to be discussed by the relevant authorities in Saudi Arabia, encouraging a boycott of G4S and the hiring of a new contractor to manage the Hajj pilgrims.

MEPs stand up to Israeli lobby groups A group of 51 MEPs have written to EU Policy Chief Catherine Ashton, demanding that the EU not succumb to pressure from pro-Israeli lobby groups. The lobby groups have tried to force the EU to relax its tough position on settlement building. The new EU guidelines state that the EU will not award any grants to projects in Israel which fall in territory occupied by Israel since 1967 - this excludes Israeli businesses and institutions from accessing EU loans. Israel has continued to build illegal settlements on Palestinian land in the West Bank, leading to more and more land being stolen from Palestinians. The effort by the 51 MEPs is therefore hugely significant as pressure from Israel, the US and various Israeli lobby groups continues to mount. In the letter to Ms Ashton, MEPs stated that they “feel strongly that Israeli settlements should not benefit from European taxpayers’ money.” Previous to the letter sent by the MEPs, a group of around 500 European academics also wrote to Ms Ashton explaining that they disagreed with the

Palestinian refugees in Egypt targeted

OPEN LETTER HRH Prince Mohammed bin Nawaf Al Saud Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia 30-32 Charles Street London W1X 7PM Your Excellency, We write this letter with concern following reports that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is using the global security company G4S to manage the annual Hajj crowds. This letter intends to draw your attention to some of G4S's activities, which we hope will make you reconsider working with them. Primarily, G4S has for many years been profiting from the Israeli occupation of Palestinian land. G4S provides a number of services to Israel including managing military checkpoints and the detention and imprisonment of Palestinians. Checkpoints are a daily misery for Palestinians, and these are intended to oppress them, denying them free movement including access to schools, hospitals and places of worships. It also helps provide Israel with complete power and control over the population. By providing such services, G4S is directly complicit in the oppression and subjugation of the Palestinian people and has been the target of global boycott campaigns as a result. G4S claims it intends to end these contracts in the West Bank however, as confirmed by the UN Rapporteur for Human Rights in the OPT Richard Falk, G4S will remain complicit in the oppression of Palestinians for its role in running Israeli jails where Palestinians are held, some without charge or trial; while others face torture. In effect G4S is the instrument through which Israel routinely breaks international laws and Conventions where Palestinian detainees are concerned. One especially disturbing aspect of the Israeli prison system managed by G4S is the high numbers of Palestinian child prisoners held in adult prisons. These facts cannot be ignored and by continuing with this contract with G4S, Saudi Arabia will be sending a message that it is indifference to the plight of the Palestinians. It would also mean that international calls being made to boycott G4S are being ignored by Saudi and thus raise questions about the seriousness with which Saudi views the Israeli occupation of the Holy Al-Aqsa and Palestine. Across the world, G4S has been the target of boycott campaigns for its role in sustaining the Israeli occupation and a number of entities have taken the principled action of ended their contracts with G4S, including the European Union and the University of Oslo, among others. We hope that you will heed the call being made in this letter, and take the case up within the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia with the appropriate authorities. For those who are guardians of the Haram al-Sharif in Makkah and Masjid An-Nabawi in Medina; I'm sure you will agree that granting G4S a contract to manage one of the most spiritual journeys that Muslims undertake is unacceptable We therefore call for Saudi Arabia to immediately end its contracts with G4S and send a strong message that it will not work with companies directly complicit in the occupation.

nine were arrested (including four children) and then released after eight hours of interrogation. Women, children and the elderly have not been excused from the heavy handed treatment. UFree Network has called on Egyptian authorities to respect the rights of refugees and asylum seekers in Egypt, according them their right as stated in the 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees and the 1969 Convention Governing the Aspects of Refugee Problems in Africa.

Palestinian youth group to perform at Royal Albert Hall, London

Yours faithfully, Ismail Patel Chair, Friends of Al-Aqsa

EU-Israel collaboration that had resulted in links being set up between educational

The UFree Network campaign group has raised concerns about Palestinian refugees who fled from Syria to Egypt to escape the violence, who now face persecution and arrest. Reports have surfaced that these refugees are facing a campaign of arrests taking place across Egypt. Those detained are given little or no access to legal representation and inadequate access to healthcare and education. One report documents how a Palestinian family of

institutions in the EU and Israel, which supported companies such as Ahava

that operate in illegal Israeli settlements.

A group of 17 youngsters from the Palestine Strings group will be appearing in the Royal Albert Hall in London to perform to an audience of 3,500 people and millions of television viewers. The stringed instrument group will be performing and representing Palestine at the event. They are considering wearing the black and white chequered scarf known as the keffiyah - a symbol of Palestinian resistance in the face of Israeli occupation. Palestine Strings will be led by violinist Nigel Ken-

nedy, who stated that he wishes for Palestinians to be seen in a more positive light. “They don’t have to be only portrayed in the way that Fox News and even CNN sometimes portray them,” he said. “ One concert can’t change everyone’s perception, but it’s vitally important that Palestinian people are seen in the rest of the world as creative, positive, artistic, soulful people. This group is perfectly equipped to represent their people and their culture in a positive way.”

ISSUE 53 / OCTOBER 2013

A group of diplomats travelled to the Palestinian village of Khirbet Makhoul where homes were recently demolished by Israel, in order to deliver aid. They were met with hostility from Israeli soldiers when they attempted to set up tents in the area, and the soldiers also refused to allow them to off-load the aid. Khirbet Makhoul was previously home to around 120 people. The Israeli court ruled that the homes should be demolished as they were built without permits, despite the fact that families have been living there with the flocks of sheep for several generations. The families, despite not having any possessions, refuse to move on from the land which is theirs. French diplomat Marion Castaing was man-handled by soldiers during the incident and said this: “They dragged me out of the truck and forced me to the ground with no regard for my diplo-

AQSA NEWS

GLOBAL NEWS

Israel prevents diplomats US citizens’ data from delivering aid shared with Israel

matic immunity. This is how international law is being respected here.” Diplomats from Ireland, Spain, France, Australia and Britain returned to the area some days later with more supplies, but again were

prevented from offloading the resources to families. One diplomat states, “It’s shocking and outrageous. We will report these actions to our governments. (Our presence here) is a clear matter of interna-

Trouble for pro-Palestinian activists at Toronto university

tional humanitarian law. By the Geneva Convention, an occupying power needs to see to the needs of people under occupation. These people aren’t being protected.”

A top-secret document leaked to The Guardian, revealed an intelligencesharing agreement between Israel and the United States. The memorandum shows details of US citizens to have been handed over to Israel, with no safeguards in place limiting the use of such details. This comes despite claims from the Obama

administration that privacy of US citizens would be ensured. The revelation has been damaging for US public relations and is testament to the existence of a close relationship that remains strong between the US and Israel, which in this case undermines the rights of Americans.

Israel’s changes Jerusalem history in curriculum

In an attempt to assert greater Israeli claim over Jerusalem, Israeli authorities have started to introduce a new ‘Israeli’ curriculum to be taught in schools. The new curriculum includes Hebrew, and teaches that Jerusalem is the capital of Israel. The move has been met with anger and frustration by teachers and students, many of whom are continuing with their original syllabus and refuse to adopt the Israeli syllabus. The Palestinian Authority have criticised Israel for undermin-

ing the Palestinian identity in East Jerusalem and many others have criticised Israel for trying to erase Palestinian history and heritage. “It is part of the attempt to totally de-Arabize and de-Palestinize Jerusalem, including our heritage,” said Nabil Shaath, Palestinian Commissioner for Foreign Relations. A young boy in the tenth grade from one particular school stated, “This is my country and the book should teach that what’s occupied is occupied.”

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Students at York University in Toronto have criticised the educational institution for trying to prevent and curb Palestinian solidarity activism. The university’s Students Against Israeli Apartheid group (SAIA) has had its club status revoked by the university. The SAIA has managed to pass several boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) motions at the university at both the York University Graduate Students’ Association as well as the York Federation of Students - the undergrad-

uate students’ union. Hammam Farah, an alumus of the university was given a trespassing order for taking part in oncampus demonstrations and using an “amplification device”. Farah responded by explaining that this is only a continuation of a long-standing attempt to silence Palestine solidarity activists at York and other Canadian universities. Farah says that he and the SAIA have been researching the university ties with Israeli institutions and corporations. They have drafted peti-

tions in support of BDS and presented in front of the union, which was passed on the spot. The group remain positive, and state: “the draconian and punitive measures of the York University administration will not stop students from organizing and participating in actions designed to educate the York University community about the unethical investments of university funds. We refuse to be silenced and we refuse to be complicit.” They have criticised the university for failing to uphold democratic values.

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SPECIAL FEATURE

The Price of Oslo It has been 20 years since the historic Oslo Accords signed by the late Yitzhak Rabin and Yasser Arafat, and overseen by President Bill Clinton. The signing of the accords was presented to the world as a new leaf in Israel/Palestine relations. However, 20 years later, it has been revealed as hollow promises which in fact further entrenched the occupation. Aqsa News reviews the documentary ‘The Price of Oslo’.

Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and Yasser Arafat shake hands after signing the peace accord between Israel and the PLO

By Louise Pyne Jones

Part Two Chief Negotiator Uri Savir stressed three deal-breaking conditions at his first meeting with the Palestinians: 1. No negotiations over Jerusalem or the return of refugees.

2. No UN involvement or international arbitration. ‘The Price of Oslo’ is a thought-provoking documentary by Rawan Damen which looks at the secret negotiations that took place behind the accords.

Part One Norway was the main intermediary during the Oslo negotiations, and the connections between Israel and Norway is key to understanding the significance of their role. Norway was the biggest supporter of Zionism in Europe at the time, with 87 out of its 157 members of Norwegian parliament being pro-Israel. This was of course an advantage to Israel, but Yasser Arafat was aware of this allegiance. The Norwegian Labour Party and the Israeli Labour Party were also known to be on the same page ideologically. Also, Norway was out

of the EU at the time, which meant that it had free reign when it came to foreign policy, and did not have to follow the line of other European states. The opening of the film looks back at the Camp David Accords of 1978 and draws parallels between Camp David and Oslo. The film highlights the demand from Israel that all peace talks happen within the parameters of UN Resolutions 242 and 348, which called for Palestinian autonomy, as opposed to a Palestinian state. This demand is seen again 15 years later in Oslo.

3. That the public-facing Washington talks continue in parallel with the secret negotiations.

The Palestinians represented by the PLO, agreed to these terms and with that, Palestinian concerns became irrelevant, as they were not even on the table for discussion. This, along with the internal weaknesses inside the PLO, gave Israel the green line to push ahead with its demands. Joel Singer, Legal Advisor to the Israeli Ministry of Defence said to Shimon Peres, ‘If we don’t make an immediate deal with these people, we are complete idiots.’

Norwegian researcher Arne Orum, reflecting on this situation, quotes Edward Said who said: ‘The PLO has reduced itself from a national liberation movement to a small municipality. It is the decay of the PLO leadership against the cunning of Israel.’

The film goes on to highlight the imbalance of power in negotiations between Israel and the PLO, though the Palestinian side shows a genuine spirit of hope for peace. However, Arafat’s knowledge of the pro-Zionist Norwegian government calls into question his expectations of the negotiations. His speeches calling for a stronger Palestinian identity seem muted as though Arafat felt some sort of disillusionment about the strength of the Palestinian position in negotiations.

ISSUE 53 / OCTOBER 2013

AQSA NEWS

SPECIAL FEATURE

The expansion of an Israeli settlement in the Ras al-Amud neighborhood, occupied East Jerusalem

The Declaration of Principles

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what he thought were secret discussions with Norway, asking them to resolve this situation. After a 7-hour telephone call between Yasser Arafat and Johan Holst, 6 out of 7 terms were agreed, and an agreement was signed. This was considered the decisive, historic moment in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. The film’s narrator reads an excerpt from Mahmoud Abbas’ book,

A 7-hour phone call ended the conflict of the 20th Century. The Palestinian people took their first steps towards freedom and emancipation. That call achieved what couldn’t be done in 20 months of futile negotiations in Washington.

After Oslo The film concludes effectively, focussing on the issue of settlements. The commitment to the continual building of settlements on occupied land, which is considered illegal under international law, seems like evidence that Israel does not seek peace but rather to fulfil its own objectives. As stated very clearly by Yossi Beillin from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, who played a key role in the Oslo process,

‘Jews should have the right to enter Israel and become citizens. This is my view as a Zionist. Now, if there is a majority of Palestinians under our rule, this is the end of this Zionist idea.’ His positive tone was far from the feelings felt by ordinary Palestinians who did not feel that any gains had been made. It calls into question the extent to which the PLO, and later the Palestinian Authority, really understood the conditions

“

under which these negotiations were made. The film infers that they were simply grateful for any small tokens of cooperation. Interviewee Mustafa Barghouti of the Palestinian National Initiative concludes,

Oslo was the greatest idea Israel ever had, it let them continue with the occupation, without paying any of the costs.

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A document called the Declaration of Principles, set out details of Palestinian autonomy. Settlements, military zones or the issue of Jerusalem were not part of what Palestinians had control over, and in fact, ‘Israel would remain in charge of security and the protection of settlers.’ Seeing the words clear in print, created an issue for the PLO. Yasser Arafat subsequently spent time in

Johan Holst died four months after the accords, and the other remaining key members of the Norwegian foreign Ministry involved in the agreement, were reassigned. This meant that the terms of the Declaration were now under the direction of the Israeli army.

This film quickly dispels any remaining traces of the urban myth that diplomacy within democratic systems is equal to transparency and legitimacy. It also reveals Israel’s overarching strategy of the last 40 years: the rhetoric of peace contrasted and rendered insincere by an undying policy of settlement.

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AQSA NEWS

ISSUE 53 / OCTOBER 2013

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UPDATES FROM FRIENDS OF AL-AQSA

FOA Glasgow has been focusing on educating people about Palestine. Many of the branch members have been lucky enough to travel to Palestine and as eyewitnesses; they have been invited to speak at numerous events to tell the story of their journeys. The main aim is to

ues unabated. The closure of Gaza and the continuing incursions into the West Bank make everyday life unbearable. While these attacks are not as apparent as the attacks on civilians in Syria, the end result are just as devastating. Palestinian society, especially in Gaza, is being slowly eroded so that all that is left is misery, ill-health, no hope and a lost generation who is severely malnourished and psychologically scarred. The events within the Middle East should not overshadow our campaigns on behalf of the Palestinian people - and now is the time to exert extra efforts for Syrian, Egypt and Palestine. Ismail Patel

Follow on Twitter: @Ismailadampatel

Welcome to FOA Leeds!

FOA are delighted to welcome our newest Branch - FOA Leeds! A great bunch of activists have come together to highlight the Palestinian cause in their area. The branch launched with an event attended by dozens of people from the community and was addressed by Ismail Patel, Chair of FOA.

Become a member - Join today! For just £10 a year, support the Free Palestine campaign. Send an email to info@aqsa.org.uk and we will send you a direct debit form to set up your membership.

Donate

You can make one-off donations:

1. Online - through Paypal to payments@aqsa.org.uk (via our web-site) 2. By cheque, made payable to ‘Friends of Al-Aqsa’, to PO BOX 5127, Leicester, LE2 0DT 3. By direct bank transfer: Friends of Al-Aqsa, Sort Code 08-92-99, Account No. 65158078, The Cooperative Bank, Southway, WN8 6VT

Education Focus

Boycott Action!

spread awareness and encourage others to also undertake the special journey to Palestine. One way of facilitating that trip has been to organise an annual visit to Masjid Al-Aqsa to perform Itikaaf on last ten days of Ramadhan. Numerous travel agents now cater for such journeys.

Bradford

The Glasgow branch has been as active, vocal and present as ever! Protests are being held outside Sainsbury’s supermarkets, in conjunction with the Scottish Palestine Solidarity Campaign. Sainsbury’s was targeted for boycott action following revelations that they are working with suppliers who are accused of supplying produce from illegal settlements. Such com-

panies are viewed as being complicit in the occupation. The pickets take place on the first Saturday of every month, from 12-2pm all around Scotland outside different stores. The aim is to get customers to sign a petition telling Sainsbury’s that they are unhappy with the supermarket trading with companies which work with settlements.

The young members of FOA Bradford undertook a highly successful street collection, which was intended to draw attention to the issue of Gaza while also raising funds. The youngsters raised £720 by giving up a Saturday afternoon and spending time talking to people about the issues. Some of the volunteers shared a few words: Sarah

“I loved it! It was an experience that I would really like

to repeat as I enjoyed being there, and it also gave me a sense of being a part of something special. I appreciate the opportunity! Aishah

“The atmosphere was fantastic and the donations that were given were in healthy amounts. I enjoyed sharing my knowledge on why I know about the Palestinian/Israeli conflict and those who asked were rather intrigued with the information given. Overall, I found it was a fantastic experience and as well as sharing information it also enhanced my communication skills.

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The events in Egypt and Syria over the past few months have been cataclysmic. The effects of the continuing violence in Syria and the military coup in Egypt have been devastating for their own people, yet further afield, they have also impacted severely on Palestinians. In particular the situation in Gaza has deteriorated to such an extent that mothers cannot feed their babies, families struggle to find basic essentials and the young are left with no prospects for a career and a path out of the endemic poverty they face. The borders have been sealed since the Egyptian coup, and diseases that shouldn’t kill now routinely do. The greater death toll and violence faced by people outside of Palestine’s borders without doubt require priority, but the Palestinian struggle cannot be forgotten as it contin-

Glasgow

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“It is Allah that takes the souls (of men) at death; and those that die not (He takes) during their sleep: those on whom He has passed the decree of death, He keeps back (from returning to life), but the rest He sends (to their bodies) for a term appointed verily in this are Signs for those who reflect.”

Branch updates

Abdullah

“The atmosphere was great and I thoroughly enjoyed

collecting donations. It was an excellent way to collect money and I can’t wait to do something like this again.

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ISSUE 53 / OCTOBER 2013

London Check the Label!

AQSA NEWS

UPDATES FROM FRIENDS OF AL-AQSA

FOA at the Labour Party Conference, Brighton

Reaching new communities During Ramadhan, FOA was also invited to a number of mosques to speak before the Tarawih prayers.

This gave us the opportunity to engage with hundreds of new people and spread awareness far and wide.

FOA hosted a joint fringe event with the New Statesman, at the Conservative Party Conference in Manchester. The event was an opportunity to present ideas to a party which is traditionally expected to be pro-Zionist. However, it was clear that many more MPs

were looking beyond the rhetoric and really trying to understand the complexities of the conflict, making it possible to engage them on a range of issues. The event was titled: Is aid the solution to achieving peace in Palestine?

FOA at the Conservative Party Conference, Manchester

FOAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Check The Label campaign was successfully launched by the London branch. We had a recordbreaking 100 mosques and volunteers participate in pushing the campaign out into the hearts of their communities. The campaign

will raise awareness all year round about the stocking of produce in our supermarkets which originate in illegal Israeli settlements built on stolen Palestinian land. We hope many more of you will join the campaign!

FOA was at the annual Labour Party Conference and met with a number of prominent politicians including the leader of the op-

position, Ed Miliband. This was a fantastic opportunity to introduce the work of FOA to more MPs.

AQSA NEWS

ISSUE 53 / OCTOBER 2013

Ramadhan Appeal Update Hifz Sponsorship Programme

During Ramadhan 2013, FOA held a Pledge Day to raise money for various aid projects in Palestine. Many of you made kind donations to sponsor Hifz students in Gaza. Many of the children at the schools are orphans or come from poverty stricken families. Your sponsorship has enabled 150 students to continue with their studies. The Hifz course usually lasts a maximum of 5 years, with most students completing their memorisation within 4 years. Students also study mainstream subjects so that they leave school with a well-grounded education.

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Palestinian Youth Camps re-connect with lost heritage A new grass-roots youth movement is helping to reassert the Right of Return for Palestinian refugees. Activities taking place throughout the Gaililee region of present-day Israel are being arranged in order for Palestinians to reconnect with their ancestral villages from which they were evicted during the Nakba or ‘Catastrophe’ of 1948, which saw the forced eviction of approximately 800,000 Palestinians and the destruction of countless villages. One particular group of youth, from the village of Iqrit, had approximately 200 young people aged between 8-16 attending camp this summer. The camp aimed to reconnect young Palestinians with their identity and teach them of their rich history and heritage pre-1948. The work to re-connect young Palestinians with their homes has not been without challenges. One youth camp was told by Israel that they

had to leave within one week or they would be forcibly removed. Iqrit, Ghabisiya and Malul are just three of the Palestinian towns that were destroyed and emptied of their Palestinian occupants in the 1948 Nakba. Yet the combined youth activities

of several youth camps over the summer has symbolised a youthful movement back towards recognising the Right of Return for young Palestinans back to their homeland. The energy and courage of this young movement shows signs of a bright future to come.

Israeli university in partnership with NYC University despite links to arms development A lease to build a major applied sciences and engineering campus has been approved by New York City Council. The new build – a joint project between Cornell University in the US and Haifa-based Israel Institute of Technology, more commonly known as Technion, has been met with controversy as the Israeli educational institution plays a key role in developing

arms technology utilised by the Israeli military. The project, branded ‘Cornell NYC Tech’ was pushed through the council despite complaints and concerns aired by residents who maintained that the clauses of the agreement remained hazy, and there was little clarity over who would be responsible for damage caused in the construction

process. The construction has been branded as a project seeking to create a hub similar to Silicon Valley in New York City, though the precise technology to be developed remains hidden. Technion has in the past, developed weapons and surveillance technology used by the Israeli military against Palestinians.

Canadian-Palestinian to speak at Labour Party Conference Canadian-Palestinian engineer and founder and President of MENA Geothermal and TABO Palestine Khaled Sabawi was been invited to speak at the Labour Party Conference in Brighton, UK on the topic of the two-state solution. Sabawi would speak in front of members of the British Parliament as well as well-known writers, academics and economists about his experience as a social entrepreneur in Palestine and the challenges he faced,

reflecting the reality on the ground for most Palestinians. He was invited by the Labour Friends of Palestine and the Middle East (LFPME) in a move to highlight and introduce the role played by young Palestinians. Sabawi studied in Canada but returned home to Palestine to serve his country. He has been named “One of the World’s Top Energy Entrepreneurs” in 2010, by Global Post. His parents are from Gaza.

ISSUE 53 / OCTOBER 2013

AQSA NEWS

i Qurban from

LAST YEAR, YOUR QURBANI BENEFITED ,000 PEOPLE IN NEED. MORE THAN JUST A SACRIFICE.

Order your Qurbani now. Call 0161 225 0225 or visit humanappeal.org.uk

Charity Registration Number 1005733

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FUN AND GAMES

WORDS

COMPETITION Enter now for your chance to win a £20 voucher!

Ibrahim Festival

UNDER 12’s

Commandment

The word search on the right is based on the story of Ibrahim, find the words and send us your entry for a chance to win!

Hajar

(Tip: Ask a grown up to take a picture of the puzzle when you have completed it and email the entry to us at info@foa.org.uk)

Sara

Sacrifice Ismaeel Idol

13 – 18 YEAR OLDS

Test

Test your knowledge! Do you know the answer to these questions? All answers can be found in the last edition of Aqsa News (available online www.foa.org.uk/publications/term/newspaper)

Miracle Prophet

1) Which large international fast-food recently refused to open an outlet in the West Bank settlement of Ariel?

Eid

2) In our last edition of Aqsa News, we reviewed a fantastic new film called ‘5 Broken Cameras’. The film tells the story of a Palestinian cameraman as he documents countless Israeli human rights abuses. Which well-known town is the film based in, where human right activists regularly hold demonstrations? 3) Which famous international scientist decided to boycott the Israeli President’s conference? 4) Israel has been accused of slowly erasing Palestinian culture and heritage. A special UN body called UNESCO was supposed to visit the area to investigate heritage sites in the Old City in Jerusalem where Israel has been conducting many excavations. What does UNESCO stand for? 5) Every year, FOA arranges a sponsored walk for all our supporters to join in on, in different parts of England. Where did we go to this year?

Enter the competitions by emailing the answers to info@foa.org.uk Don’t forget to include your name and address! Deadline: 31 October 2013

Prophets IN Palestine As Eid al-Adha approaches, let’s remind ourselves of the sacrifice of Prophet Ibrahim (AS) One day, when all the people in the village went away for a festival, Ibrahim decided to stay behind and teach the people through a very clever technique. He went to the area where all the idols were kept, and began to break all of the idols and when he came to the very last idol, he stopped. He placed an axe on the neck of the biggest idol and left. When the people came back and found that all their idols had been destroyed, they were fuming! They wanted to know who had done this, and Ibrahim suggested that they should ask the biggest idol. Of course he knew that idols were made of stone, so they cannot speak – and they certainly could not be God! This is how Ibrahim tried to teach his people to go back to worshipping Allah alone – the only one that deserves to be worshipped.

The Prophet Ibrahim was a very special prophet, chosen by Allah to teach and guide people to worship Allah alone. He grew up in a community of people who had forgotten about Allah, and had started to worship idols instead of Allah! Ibrahim knew that this was wrong, and that an idol could not help a human being at all. An idol cannot eat, speak, hear or see – in fact it could not do anything! He knew then, that worshipping idols was not something that would make Allah happy. So, he set about trying to tell his people that what they were doing was wrong.

Ibrahim was married to a special lady called Sara. Ibrahim had reached 80 years old and still did not have any children – so his wife Sara told him that he could marry another woman so that he might be able to have a child. So Ibrahim then married a lady called Hajar and they had a son called, Isma’eel, who was also a Prophet of Allah.

Many years later when Isma’eel had grown to be a young boy, Ibrahim had a dream where he saw himself sacrificing his beautiful son Isma’eel! Isma’eel was very close and very special to Ibrahim, but Allah was testing Ibrahim with something that he loved dearly. Ibrahim called his son Isma’eel and told him about the dream. Isma’eel replied with a very strange comment…. He said that he was happy, as long as his dad Ibrahim was following Allah’s commandments, so agreed that his father should sacrifice him.

What happened next was a miracle. Just at the moment when Ibrahim went to sacrifice his son Ism’aeel, Allah ordered that a sheep be sacrificed instead, and Isma’eel was saved! Allah was giving Ibrahim a very difficult test by asking him to sacrifice his son, but Ibrahim passed the test. Today, we do not have sacrifices like this, but we remember the story of Ibrahim’s sacrifice every year at Eid al-Adha when we sacrifice an animal. You might know of this as qurbani. You can learn more about the life of Prophet Ibrahim (as) from the book shown above. To purchase this, and others in the set, please visit: www.foa.org.uk and click on shop

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AQSA NEWS

MERCHANDISE

AQSA NEWS

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RECIPES

Stuffed Eggplant | INGREDIENTS 6 (5- to 6-inch long) bambino eggplants 1/4 cup olive oil 1 large onion, finely chopped 2 garlic cloves, finely chopped 2 cups chicken stock 1 can chopped tomatoes in juice ¾ tsp salt Pepper to taste 1 teaspoon ground allspice 1/2 lemon 3 tablespoons chopped flat-leaf parsley METHOD ● Wash the eggplants and cut away the top stem. Working from the top, hollow out the centre of each of the eggplants using an apple corer – this should remove the seeds from the

try this delicious Palestinian recipe

centre. Be careful not to cut all the way through or the stuffing will escape from the bottom of the eggplant. Rinse the eggplants again and use your fingers to remove any remaining seeds from the centre. ● Heat the olive oil in a deep saucepan. When hot, add the onion and chopped garlic and fry until golden. Add the chicken stock, chopped tomatoes, salt, pepper, allspice and a little sugar if needed to take away from the sourness of the tomato. Simmer uncovered on a medium heat for 7 minutes. ● Meanwhile, make the filling by combining all the stuffing ingredients together. Stuff the eggplants with the meat mixture by taking small amounts in a teaspoon and dropping into the hollowed out centre. Avoid packing the eggplants too tightly, to allow the rice to cook thoroughly (rice will expand during cooking).

● Transfer stuffed eggplants to saucepan with tomato sauce and simmer covered, carefully turning once until rice is cooked through - 50 minutes to one hour (cut one in half to test). If sauce is watery, transfer eggplant to a plate and boil sauce, stirring occasionally, until thickened slightly, (3 to 5 minutes) then adjust seasoning if necessary. Return stuffed eggplant to sauce. Squeeze lemon over dish and sprinkle with parsley before serving. VARIATION: Why not try stuffing a variety of different vegetables such as tomatoes, peppers and zucchini? STUFFING ¾ cup washed, drained rice 200g minced lamb or beef 1 small onion, finely diced 2 tbsp chopped parsley

Aubergine festival celebrates construction halt

Construction of the apartheid wall in Battir has been stopped following a high court ruling. Battir, a small village south of Jerusalem is rich in Palestinian heritage, with its ancient terraces, fertile land and beautiful terrain. Battir uses an age old method of irrigation to grow a wide range of vegetables, including peppers, olives and aubergines. The village council hopes to preserve the land by gaining UNESCO recognition as a World Heritage Site. Protection of the environment was cited by the court as the rea-

son for the decision to halt further works on the wall. To celebrate the ruling the village held an aubergine festival, the first in over ten years. Battir is famous in Palestine for growing a particular variety of aubergine for almost 2,500 years. However, production of the vegetable has declined in recent years as farmers feared their crops would be destroyed in the building work. With the help of the Palestinian Authority, farmers in Battir have restarted harvest of aubergines. It is hoped this move to promote

agriculture will help boost the local economy and reduce unemployment. In a statement regarding the festival Hamdallah Hamdallah of the Ministry of Agriculture said: “We want to focus on supporting Palestinian farmers, which will better our society overall and enhance the steadfastness of the people on their land.” The village hopes the festival will attract tourists, from Palestine and abroad to visit the spectacular land and appreciate its beauty.

2 tbsp vegetable oil ½ tbsp salt ½ tbsp curry powder ½ tbsp allspice 1 tsp turmeric 1 tsp ginger powder 1 tsp coriander powder 1 tsp cumin powder black pepper to taste METHOD ● Mix all the above ingredients together. *You can always add more or less of any of the spices above, based on your personal preference.

ISSUE 53 / OCTOBER 2013

AQSA NEWS

TRAVEL TO PALESTINE

Spiritual retreat at Masjid Al-Aqsa

Jerusalem is a magical city and it becomes even more magical in Ramadan. I had the opportunity to spend the last 10 days of Ramadan in Masjid Al Aqsa and it was an experience I will never forget. I was part of a group of 26 from the UK who joined thousands of other Muslims from all over the world to spend time in the mosque described as the first qibla, and we were all occupied with looking for the night of power (Laylat al Qadr).

By Irshad Patel

Ramadan for me in Masjid Al Aqsa was a spiritual, political and social experience. To pray each prayer in the mosque where the prophet led all the messengers was an honour. To listen to the stories of the Palestinians and their struggle was an eye opener and to share iftaar with Muslims from around the world was incredible.

We travelled together from Amman and made a few ziyarat trips en route to Jerusalem. As expected we spent a few hours at the border crossing but this enabled the bond of the group to strengthen. My first thought on entering the Al Aqsa compound was awe at the sheer size of it. In the centre of the compound stands the majestic Qubbat As-Sakhrah (Dome of the Rock) but it was the mosque at the far end of the compound which was to be my abode for the last 10 days of Ramadan.

The message that was repeated to me on my trip was that it is easier for me as an international living 2000 miles away to visit Al Aqsa then it is for a Palestinian living 200 metres away. Thus there is a duty on us as non-Palestinian Muslims to show solidarity with the Palestinian people and their struggle to protect the mosque by visiting it as much as possible. It is not a difficult trip to make, and with certain low-cost airlines flying into Amman, it has now become relatively inexpensive.

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udhiyYah 1434

QURBANI 2013

Charity Reg. No. 1000851

follow the sunnah of ibrahim ‘alayhis-salaam COUNTRY

Afghanistan Albania Bangladesh Burma Burma (Arakan) Chechnya Gambia India Iraq Kashmir Malawi Pakistan Palestine Philippines Senegal Somalia Sudan Syria Most Needy

SMALL ANIMAL

£60 £65 £65 £80 £175 £60 £30 £60 £195 £80 £80 £55 £120 £170 £60

LARGE ANIMAL

1/7th SHARE

£245 £345 £175 £245 £940 £350 £65 £1000 £245 £245 £1600 £350 £600 £800 £245

£35 £50 £25 £35 £135 £50 £10 £145 £35 £35 £230 £50 £85 £115 £35

‘And for every nation We have appointed religious ceremonies, that they may mention the Name of Allah over the beast of cattle that He has given them for food.’ - Al-Hajj, Verse 34

Give a child a gift for Eid ul Adha

• Deadline for Qurbani donations is 08/10/2013 - subject to quotas being filled (except for Pakistan, Afghanistan & Kashmir). • Cheques and postal orders should be sent no later than 04/10/2013. • A small animal counts as one share. A large animal counts as 7 shares.

Donation Line

0800 4 0800 11 01204 661 030

www.uwt.org

£10

ISSUE 53 / OCTOBER 2013

AQSA NEWS

In history... The Yom Kippur War 1973

For this edition of Aqsa News, we look back at the Yom Kippur war, which took place in October of 1973. This year marks 40 years since the incident. Following the Six Day War in 1967 in which large swathes of land were stolen by Israel, Israel’s Arab neighbours including Egypt, sought to reclaim the land that had been taken from them. In fact, Egypt made many attempts to negotiate the return of the Sinai Peninsula from Israel, with no progress. The failure to return the stolen land by Israel began the Yom Kippur war on 6 October 1973. Both Egypt and Syria launched an offensive to reclaim their land. Israel was not prepared for such a well-planned offensive and underestimated the Arab fighting forces. It clamoured to quickly mobilise its reserve forces and with the support of the US it launched a counter

attack against Egypt and Syria. Saudi Arabia then got involved and led the way for an oil embargo imposed on the US. The US supporting Israel and the Soviet Union supporting the Arab states were drawn into this conflict which threatened to escalate into a nuclear conflict between the two superpowers of the time. The military hostilities came to an end on 22 October, although some offensives continued. The UN Security Council passed Resolution 338 calling on all parties to the conflict to implement Resolution 242. This reduced the tension between the superpowers. Both sides suffered heavy losses, with 6,000 Israeli deaths and approximately 8,500 Egyptian and Syrian deaths. A partial peace was achieved by US mediation between Israel, Egypt and Syria in 1974. In January, Israel agreed to withdraw from parts of

Sinai and exchanged prisoners with the Egyptians. In May, Israel withdrew from the 165 square miles of Syrian land it occupied during the Yom Kippur War, and some of the Golan Heights. Following these agreements, the Arab oil embargo came to an end. This led to the Camp David Accords between Israel and Egypt which were signed by President Anwar Sadat and Prime Minister Menachem Begin on 17 September 1978. These Accords led to the final Israel-Egypt Peace Treaty of 1979, officiated by US President Jimmy Carter - the first time an Arab state recognised Israel. This created a great deal of tension between Egypt and Arab states, as Egypt had failed to bring the issue of Palestinians onto the negotiating table and this was seen as a betrayal of their cause.

Palestinians reclaim their land In a landmark victory, the village of Burqa has been reclaimed by Palestinians after it was confiscated by Israel 35 years ago to make way for a settlement. The military made the announcement of the return of the land to its rightful owners after residents petitioned the Israeli Supreme Court. The land was originally used as an army encampment, after which it became a government authorised civilian settlement. However, residents say that armed settlers are gradually trickling back in to re-establish their presence in the area, contrary to the law. Israeli NGO Yesh Din, who supported the residents petition to reclaim their land stated: “To our regret, we are well aware of the permanent and illegal presence of Israelis at the site. We hope...that the law will be enforced and the Israelis staying there will be removed and the Palestinian owners can return safely to their lands.”

Palestinian films feature in film festivals

The Toronto International Film Festival, the most influential film festival and amongst the most prestigious events of its kind, featured four Palestinian films this year. Amongst the films was Omar, directed by Academy Award nominated Hany Abu-Assad. It was screened in the Special Presentations section, which recognises worldleading filmmakers. Other films included Palestine Stereo, Giraffada and My Love Awaits me by the Sea. Palestinian filmmakers, actors and artists have the

opportunity to showcase their work in several film festivals taking place in the coming months. In Washington, the DC Palestinian Film and Arts Festival is showing a range of films, documentaries and art work produced by Palestinians during the week long event. Later in the year the Boston Palestine Film Festival (BPFF) features artists from around the world. In addition, guest film makers and commentators attend providing context to the films. World-famous Palestin-

ian actress Hiam Abbass’s directorial debut film The Inheritance is set to be screened at the event. The film, set in Galilee illustrates the situation for Palestinians living in Israel. The organisers describe the festival as offering “ refreshingly honest, self-described, and independent views of Palestine and its history, culture, and geographically dispersed society.” These festivals offer a means to highlight Palestinian creativity and provide a platform to openly discuss Palestinian history and politics.

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Review

The Gatekeepers

Oscar Nominated Documentary Directed By: Dror Moreh IMDb rating: 7.4

“You can’t make peace using military means.” The Gatekeepers is an Oscar-nominated documentary featuring exclusive interviews with six former leaders of the notoriously secretive Israeli security agency- the ‘Shin Bet’. The film is divided into seven segments, with each section discussing highly controversial topics such as torture and coercion techniques, collateral damage and the question of ‘morality’. The film highlights two grossly violent acts for which the Shin Bet were responsible. The first being the “Bus 300” affair where two hijackers were captured

and then violently killed. The second is the brutal assassination of Yahya Ayyash- the Shin Bet killed him by placing an explosive device in his cell phone. These events are portrayed via top-secret footage and CGI reconstructions based on photographs and eyewitness reports. The director, Dror Moreh pushes the interviewees by asking probing questions and urges the former leaders to talk about their respective failures and successes over the past 40 years. All six are refreshingly honest as they recall how the majority of their

actions were based on “tactics, not strategy”. The film explores in depth the contentious decisions that each of the former leaders’ had to make on their watch and how this has impacted on them personally. “These moments end up etched deep inside of you, and when you retire, you become a bit of a leftist”, said Yaakov Peri. This statement is one of the few humourous ones in this largely depressing film and reveals to the audience that the leaders are finally realising the terrible truth of their actions. Surprisingly, all six leaders agreed that the only

Review Straight Power Concepts: In the Middle East: US Foreign Policy, Israel, and World History Author: Gregory Harms

Pluto Press (2010)

ISBN 978-0-7453-2709-9 PP 226, RRP £14.99

way to establish some sort of peace is by talking- “You can’t make peace using military means,” says Avi Dichter. This is unforeseen as the motto of the Shin Bet is “Defender that shall not be seen” which refers to their ruthless and efficient tactics. As the film comes to an end, the audience realises that the “tactics” used by the Shin Bet may lead to Israel winning all the battles, but ultimately, they are losing the war.

This documentary features interviews with all surviving former heads of Shin Bet, the Israeli security agency whose activities and membership are closely held state secrets.

Join us for a showing of this film:

The Gatekeepers

6.30pm Wednesday 6 November 2013 The Phoenix

4 Midland Street, Leicester, LE1 1TG Reserve your tickets online at: www.phoenix.org.uk In association with Friends of Al-Aqsa.

Straight Power Concepts: In the Middle East: US Foreign Policy, Israel, and World History

In his book, Harms concisely reviews political development within and between pre-modern, modern and post-national eras. The book begins by covering the inception of the Empire- most notably the Ottoman Empire and from this point forth, he discusses the origin of the United States and later considers the concept of straight power itself. Other topics considered about

the United States include the Cold War and European influence and authority. Harms evaluates the modern Middle East as a European geo-political devise and an invention of modern Israel. He also reviews how the United States handle Israel in a “one-sided relationship”, which is a straight-power concept of the Nixon era. While Harms also examines the role of Clinton, both

Bush presidents and even speculates on the role of Obama, he also focuses on Truman, Nixon-Kissenger, Carter, and Reagan. Straight Power Concepts develops a sophisticated explanation of how the Middle East moved from a modern concept to a real “geopolitical sub-system” consisting of modern Nation-states. He continues to focus on the history of Israel; from its’ entrance

into regional and international politics and then finally a detailed description of the development of the Israeli-Arab conflict. By Dr. Jeanine Pfahlert Michigan, USA

Full review available at www.foa.org.uk/publications/term/book-reviews

ISSUE 53 / OCTOBER 2013

AQSA NEWS

ISSUE 53 / OCTOBER 2013

Toxic fumes from Israeli chemical plants cover Palestinian homes

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A huge explosion within an Israeli chemical plant built on stolen Palestinian land near Tulkarem in the West Bank has led to toxic fumes billowing out across Palestinian homes in the area. Ten days after the initial explosion, small fires were still burning. Following the initial blast, Palestinian youth gathered near the area to see what was happening, and were attacked by Israeli soldiers who fired tear gas. Local Palestinians reported that their farmlands were ruined as Israeli fire-fighters only tackled

the flames on the other side and Palestinian firefighters were prevented from coming into the area until the farmland was already beyond repair. A plot of farmland in front of the factory was left charred and blackened. The factories have been a constant source of pollution in the area and numerous NGOs have reported on the severe damage they cause to the health of local Palestinians and their farmlands. No action has ever been taken by the state of Israel to reduce or prevent such harm.

So far this year, Israel has arrested or abducted 2,436 Palestinians. In total, 5,200 Palestinians have been imprisoned by Israel, of whom 220 are children. Arrest, imprisonment and torture are used routinely by the Israeli army and security forces in an attempt to control the Palestinian population. 146 of these prisoners are being held on Administrative Detention, which

means they have not been charged with any crime and will have no trial. This practice goes against international law. Of the 220 children, 42 are below the age of 16. Often, these children are held simply for throwing stones at Israeli soldiers or army vehicles. They are incarcerated in adult prisons and denied family visits as a matter of course.

220 Palestinian children imprisoned by Israel

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