UNSCO Daily Press Brief
Thursday, 22 May 2014
Thursday, 22 May 2014
Peace Talks:
Abbas says he won’t join more international groups for now: The Palestinian leadership does not intend to seek membership in or help from additional UN and other international organizations in the near future, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas told The Times of Israel on Wednesday. Abbas said the Palestinians are instead currently waiting to see what diplomatic developments will ensue in the aftermath of last month’s collapse of peace negotiations. Abbas also said that his meeting in London last week with Israel’s chief negotiator and Justice Minister Tzipi Livni had been positive. He said it was inconceivable that the meeting could have taken place without the agreement of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Abbas said he stressed to Livni that the new Palestinian government, set to take shape in the coming days, would act according to the principles he abides by. Abbas told The Times of Israel that two days before he applied for membership in 15 international organizations at the start of April — one of the steps that led to the collapse of the talks — he sent a formal letter to Netanyahu’s peace emissary, Yitzhak Molcho, and to the American special envoy, Martin Indyk, in which he warned that if Israel did not free a fourth and final batch of long-term prisoners as promised, he would apply to join the 15 groups. He said he delayed the implementation of what had been a decision by the Palestinian leadership to join the organizations for two days to see if the Israeli government would change its position, but this did not happen.
US - We’re seeking new ideas from Israelis and Palestinians: The United States wants the Israelis and Palestinians to come up with new ideas to arrive a two state solution to the conflict and to refrain from “unhelpful” action in the interim, State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki told reporters in Washington on Wednesday.
It is for this reason, she explained, that when the Middle East Quartet met in Brussels on Monday with the US envoy Martin Indyk it did not publish any statement following the meeting. “This was a regularly scheduled session and provided an opportunity for Ambassador Indyk and other envoys to assess where things stand and consult on the way ahead,” she said. "Obviously, at this stage, we're clearly in a hiatus from the talks," Psaki said. “Consistent with the approach of President [Barack] Obama and [US] Secretary [Secretary of State John] Kerry, the focus of these discussions and of the effort overall is on getting the two sides to come up with new ideas and avoid unhelpful steps. Hence there wasn’t a statement that came out,” Psaki said. Now, Psaki told reporters, “It remains in the hands of the parties to take – make the choices necessary if they want to resume discussions. “There’s a great deal going on in the world, and Secretary Kerry is focused on everything from Ukraine to South Sudan, all the issues we talk about in here every day. But we’re still engaged with the parties,” she said. (The Jerusalem Post)
'Hamas needs to be part of the solution': Turkey’s former foreign minister, Yashar Yakish, said on Wednesday that Hamas must be a part of any agreement between Israel and the Palestinian Authority (PA). Yakish made the remarks during a speech in front of students and guests at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. "Turkey is actively monitoring the situation between Israelis and Palestinians. Contrary to what some say, Turkey is not closer to Hamas than it is to Fatah,” he said. “Turkey will recommend to Hamas to stop the violence - as it has done in the past,” added Yakish. “I believe that Hamas knows that violence will not lead them anywhere. Turkey would be happy to contribute to ending the conflict.” He further said that Turkey hopes that there will be “a new beginning between Israelis and Palestinians” despite the failure of the latest round of peace talks. (Arutz Sheva)
Report - US envoy Indyk to end duties, dissolve negotiating team: Israeli media quoted an unnamed US source as saying that in the coming days Washington's special envoy for Israeli-Palestinian negotiations will end his duties as the negotiating team is dissolved. Israeli news website Maariv quoted a top official on Wednesday as saying that Martin Indyk was ending his duties due to the "failure" of the peace process, for which he held Israel primarily responsible. The official also said that following Indyk's departure, a senior adviser to Secretary of State John Kerry on Middle East issues, Frank Lowenstein, would receive future contacts with the Palestinian Authority. The report added that based on the estimates of the US administration the peace talks are stalled and will not be restarted under current secretary John Kerry, but that there might be attempts to do so under a new secretary of state. (Maan News Agency)
Diplomacy:
Israeli FM rejects criticism over shot Palestinians: Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman on Wednesday brushed off world criticism and demands for an investigation into the deaths of two Palestinian youths killed by Israeli forces last week. "I reject any demand" for an international investigation, he told reporters on a tour of the West Bank settlement of Ariel. "Such an incident will be investigated regardless of any demand," he remarked, denouncing world criticism of the incident as "hypocrisy". His remarks came a day after calls by Washington and a top UN official for an immediate investigation into the circumstances of the two deaths after video footage emerged which appeared to show the shooting was unprovoked. "We don’t need an American demand" to launch an investigation, he said. "We will do it as part our commitment to the Israeli army’s moral code." (AFP)
EADPD makes calls to oblige Israel to respond to hunger-striking prisoners’ demands: The European Alliance in Defense of Palestinian Detainees (EADPD) stated Wednesday that it urged some international and UN figures to pressurize Israel to respond to the Palestinian hunger-striking prisoners’ demands. “EADPD made a series of contacts with UN Secretary General Bani Ki-moon, EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton and several other international human rights organizations, urging them to exert immediate pressure on Israel to respond to the Palestinian hunger-striking prisoners’ legitimate demands and release prisoners from Israeli prisons,” said EADPD in a press release. It called upon all peace-loving countries, human rights organizations and international public opinion to stand with justice, expose the Israeli racial policy against the Palestinian people, and to help release prisoners from Israeli prisons. It further called upon the Palestinian national factions to unite their efforts to defend prisoners and launch an international campaign to oblige Israel to release them. (Wafa News Agency)
EU missions expresses concern over killing of two Palestinians near Offer: The EU missions in Jerusalem and Ramallah, in a statement Wednesday, expressed concern over the death of two youths on 15 May near Ofer prison in the West Bank, in an incident involving recourse by Israeli forces to lethal force. “It is important that any such incidents are investigated thoroughly,” stressed the statement. We reiterate the need for security forces, whether Israeli or Palestinian, to refrain from the use of lethal force, except in cases where there is a real and imminent threat to life, the statement concluded. (Wafa News Agency)
Palestinian Affairs:
Palestinian government to be formed after Egypt poll: The Palestinian national unity government will be formed and officially announced next week once the Egyptian presidential elections are announced, a senior Palestinian official said. According to Hassan Khraishah, the second deputy head of the Palestinian Legislative Council, the lists of nominees submitted separately by Hamas and Fatah are now in the hands of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. “Abbas will choose 15 ministers to lead 19 portfolios in the Palestinian national unity cabinet,” he told Gulf News. “If President Abbas leads this government, it will not need to be approved by the Palestinian Legislative Council, but in the event the government is led by any other independent, the government must be approved by the council.” The PLO Leadership Framework will convene, most probably in Egypt, to complete the re-emergence of the organisation before the Palestinian general elections are conducted six months from the formation of the unity government, he said. “Only when the PLO is revived will Hamas and Islamic Jihad officially be part of the PLO, the Palestinian body fully responsible for the peace process,” he said. Khraishah said that other related issues including security and Hamas’ arms and its militia will be addressed after the Palestinian general elections. “No Palestinian can address the issue of the Palestinian resistance and the Hamas’ arms, in an unacceptable manner,” he said. “The Lebanese model of Hezbollah is ideal to be adopted in Palestine regarding Hamas,” he stressed, adding that Hamas can be a part of the national unity government and reserve its resistance and arms. (Gulf News)
Over 5,000 Palestinian prisoners to launch solidarity hunger strike: More than 5,000 Palestinian prisoners being held in Israeli custody will launch a one day hunger strike Thursday in solidarity with around 100 administrative detainees who have been on hunger strike for nearly a month, the Palestinian ministry of prisoners' affairs said. The ministry said in a statement on Wednesday that 5,200 prisoners would engage in the solidarity strike on Thursday in order to pressure the Israeli government to comply with the demands of detainees who have been on hunger strike 28 days in protesting against their administrative detention without trial or charge. The statement also warned that thousands of prisoners would announce an open hunger strike next week, and would make new demands if Israel did not comply with the demands of the group of 100 administrative prisoners. In addition, 40 prisoners held in the Israeli Negev prison of Ktziot started an open hunger strike on Wednesday joining the administrative prisoners. (Maan News Agency)
PNA seeks Geneva Convention application: The Palestinian National Authority (PNA) will seek to have the Geneva Convention applied to Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails. The leadership is set to invite the signatories to the convention to review their conditions. “Such a meeting will seek to force Israel to apply the Geneva Convention to the Palestinian prisoners in the Israeli jails,” Palestinian Minister of Detainees’ Affairs, Essa Qaraqei told Gulf News. “Starting from the beginning of the coming week, thousands of further prisoners will stage hunger strikes where the ceiling of the demands of the prisoners will increase, apart from an end to the suspension of the administrative detention. “We want to listen to what various international states think about prisoner conditions in Israeli prisons,” he said, adding that the PNA already urged the EU to issue a statement on this issue and officially called the various ambassadors and consul generals to Ramallah to ask them to make clear the attitudes of their home countries towards the issue of the treatment of Palestinian prisoners. (Gulf News)
Prisoners' families shut down UNRWA office: Prisoners' families shut down an UNRWA office in Nablus on Wednesday to protest the UN's "silence" amid a Palestinian hunger strike in Israeli jails, an official said. Imad Ishtewy, spokesman of Nablus' higher committee for prisoners, said shutting down the UNRW office sent a clear message to the UN that it should intervene in the hunger strike immediately. Ishtewy highlighted that activists for the prisoners would escalate their plans in the coming days. (Maan News Agency)
Army demolishes mobile homes, displaces dozens in Jordan Valley: Israeli forces demolished on Wednesday around 35 mobile homes and sheds near the village of al-Jiftlik in the northern Jordan Valley, displacing around 67 Palestinians, reported Yousef Bani-Odeh, head of al-Jiftlik club. He told WAFA that army bulldozers demolished 17 mobile homes, in addition to 18 sheds used as animal barns, leaving around 67 Palestinians and 5000 sheep without a shelter. Bani-Odeh noted the Supreme Court of Israel, last week, rejected an appeal by the owners to prevent the demolition and prove their legal ownership of the land. The owners said they re-appealed against the court’s ruling on Tuesday, yet they were surprised to find army bulldozers demolishing the structures without waiting for the court’s next session. (Wafa News Agency)
Dahlan - I will participate in elections despite 'secret trial': Former Fatah leader Mohammad Dahlan said on Wednesday that he was intent on taking part in upcoming elections despite a criminal conviction by a "secret court" the day before. Dahlan, a former security chief who has lived outside of Palestine since he was ousted in 2011, was sentenced by a Ramallah court to two years in jail Tuesday for "libel, slander, and defamation." Dahlan, however, said in a statement that he believes the trial took place in secret, arguing that the case represents a mockery of the law by the president and was politically motivated to exclude him from planned elections. Dahlan said he was not "surprised" by Abbas's decision to hold a "secret trial" as it "utilizes the respected Palestinian judicial system, and turns it into a tool that serves his needs, concerns, and personal grudges." Dahlan explained that he learned from "trusted sources" that Abbas "asked his people to arrange a court sentence" for him on April 3rd, and asked them "to leave the timing of the announcement to him personally." Dahlan said that he took several legal steps to defend himself, pointing out that he has immunity because of his membership in the Palestinian legislative council. The timing aims to impede his participation in the upcoming Fatah conference and his definite participation in the upcoming legislative and presidential elections, Dahlan argued. He concluded that any rulings based on the exclusion of himself or any other leader from the Palestinian political scene would lead to a "distrustful dictatorship." (Maan News Agency)
Fatah official's Gaza visit postponed indefinitely: A visit set for Wednesday by a senior Fatah official to the Hamas-run Gaza Strip to put the finishing touches on a Palestinian unity government has been postponed indefinitely, a Palestinian official said. A Fatah spokesman said the visit by Azzam al-Ahmed "will not take place today but at a later date to be announced, since time is needed to study what has been agreed with Hamas." He did not elaborate. Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri said "contacts are ongoing" between the two parties, without explaining the postponement. (AFP)
Hamdallah is unity government Prime Minister: An informed source told ALRAY news agency on Wednesday that Rami Hamdallah is the head of the coming national reconciliation government. The source confirmed that Hamas and Fatah movements agreed to appoint Hamdallah as the prime minister of the unity government that will consist of 15 ministers. He added that the senior member of Fatah and its reconciliation official Azzam al-Ahmad is heading to Gaza next Saturday in order to finalize forming the national unity government. (Al-Ray)
Gaza:
Gaza youth protest Israeli imprisonment: Dozens of young activists have blocked the entrance to a building containing international organisations' offices in Gaza City to call for immediate action and support for Palestinian prisoners held in administrative detention, who have been on a hunger strike for 28 days in a row. "Those who sacrificed for our freedom expect us to do more," an activist shouted at the demonstration. Protesters repeated his statements, holding brine water bottles to demonstrate the prime meal of the hunger strikers. "This is a letter from the youths to the international organisations and international community that they must act to support the prisoners," Jamal Yaghi, spokesman of the Intifada Youth Coalition, told Al Jazeera. "In their capacity as the guardians of international rights conventions, these organisations must do more." Israa al-Areer, a participant in the protest, said that "nobody has made enough of an effort to garner solidarity with the prisoners on international levels". Al-Areer also blamed the Palestinian authorities in the occupied West Bank and Gaza strip for not making a diplomatic campaign addressing the international community. (Al-Jazeera International)
Syria:
U.N. will weigh asking court to investigate war crimes in Syria: The Security Council is scheduled to vote Thursday on a resolution that would ask the International Criminal Court to investigate war crimes in Syria. Russia is certain to veto the resolution. Its Western rivals are equally certain to seize on that veto in an attempt to isolate the Kremlin diplomatically. Supporters of the resolution, which was drafted by France, have spent days drumming up support from more than 50 countries. Syria has undertaken its own countercampaign, distributing a letter castigating France for promoting what the Syrian ambassador, Bashar Jaafari, called a “biased draft resolution in order to sabotage any chance of peaceful settlement of the Syrian crisis led by the Syrians themselves.” France said the resolution was necessary to send a message to Russia, the Syrian government’s most important backer, even in the face of a veto. The resolution is also calculated to be part of a two-step move. Western diplomats said the Thursday vote is likely to be followed next week by a resolution authorizing United Nations aid convoys to cross into Syria, without government permission, through four border points along the frontiers with Iraq, Jordan and Turkey. The Western envoys said they hoped such a strategy would make it diplomatically harder for Russia to veto two resolutions within days. (The New York Times)
Egypt:
Mubarak gets 3 years for embezzlement, and his sons get 4: A criminal court here convicted former President Hosni Mubarak on Wednesday of embezzling millions of dollars of public money for his personal use in private homes and palaces, in a case that rights advocates say could now implicate the current prime minister and spy chief. After his conviction by the three-judge court, Mr. Mubarak, who is 86 and living in a military hospital overlooking the Nile, was sentenced to three years in prison. His sons, Gamal and Alaa, were each sentenced to four years for their roles in the embezzlement scheme. The court ordered the three to pay penalties and make repayments totaling more than $20 million, apparently in addition to $17 million they have already repaid. Mr. Mubarak “gave himself and his sons license to embezzle public funds, helping themselves without oversight or consideration,” Judge Osama Shaheen said in announcing the verdict on Wednesday. “They deserve to be punished.” (New York Times)
Murad Bakri
Office of the UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process (UNSCO)
Public Information and Media Unit
Tel: +972-2-5687287
Mobile: +972-54-5627815
E-mail: bakri1@un.org
www.unsco.org
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