The Palestine Brief (9)

The Palestine Brief (9)

July 8, 20120 comments

Center for Political and Development Studies (CPDS)
08/07/2012

Israeli Attacks on Palestinian Fishermen in the Gaza Sea
The Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR) documented 92 attacks launched by the Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) against Palestinian fishermen in the first half of this year, including 54 incidents in which the IOF fired at fishermen and 16 incidents that led to the arrest of 43 fishermen, in addition to 18 incidents in which boats were confiscated and four incidents of damaging and confiscating fishing equipment. PCHR documented 38 violations perpetrated by the IOF against Palestinian fishermen, including 23 incidents in which the IOF fired at fishermen. In addition, the IOF arrested 13 fishermen in four incidents and confiscated seven fishing boats and equipment.

Al-Aqsa foundation: Secret excavations underway in Al-Maghariba ramp
The Al-Aqsa foundation for endowment and heritage said the Israeli occupation authority (IOA) is carrying out nowadays secret excavations and demolitions of historical ruins in the area of Al-Maghariba Gate, one of the Al-Aqsa Mosque’s entrances. In a press release on Sunday, the Al-Aqsa foundation accused the IOA of stealing historical stones from Al-Maghariba Gate ramp and the remaining ruins near it.

Another Racist Israeli Move
The Israeli government’s decision to deport 25,000 African migrants, dubbed “illegal infiltrators”, and to detain others without trial for as long as three years has come as a shock to many of Israel’s fans in the West.

The firebombing last Monday of a Jerusalem flat occupied by Eritreans has deepened unease, but this incident was only one in a string of attacks on African homes, shops and schools, the majority in south Tel Aviv where many migrants dwell in poor neighborhoods.

Israeli PM Benjamin Natanyahu has warned that “illegal infiltrators flooding the country” are threatening the Jewish identity of the state, as well as its security. “If we don’t stop their entry, the problem that currently stands at 60,000 could grow to 600,000, and that [would jeopardize] our existence as a Jewish and democratic state,” he asserted.[1]

Knesset moves to force national service on Palestinians in Israel
A draft law set to be enacted at the beginning of next month could make it compulsory for Palestinians living in present-day Israel to undertake national service, despite the state’s system of discrimination against Palestinian citizens.

Under preparation by a committee in Israel’s parliament, the Knesset, the law would introduce penalties for young people holding Israeli citizenship who refuse to comply. The proposed law is the latest in a string of precedent-setting discriminatory legislation passed by the Knesset impacting the rights of Palestinians in Israel, including the Nakba law, which criminalizes commemorations of the 1948 dispossession of historic Palestine, and the Citizenship and Entry into Israel Law, which prevents a Palestinian citizen from living with a spouse from the occupied West Bank or Gaza Strip.[3]

After 90 Days on Hunger Strike, Detainee in Serious Condition
Diabetic Palestinian prisoner Akram Rikhawi has been on a hunger strike for 90 days and is at imminent risk of dying. According to the World Medical Association, in most cases death occurs between 42nd and 72nd days of hunger strike. Rikhawi suffers from various chronic conditions: diabetes, asthma, osteoporosis, kidney problems, deterioration of his eye sight, high cholesterol, and immune deficiency.

Reference
[1] http://electronicintifada.net/content/knesset-moves-force-national-service-palestinians-israel/11458

ENDS

© Scoop Media