Palestinian unity government to be formed by June 6th

Monday May 30, 2011 11:08 by Saed Bannoura - IMEMC News

The two major Palestinian political parties, Fateh and Hamas, have announced that they are in the final stages of negotiation on a national unity agreement, and will formally institute the unity government on June 6th.

Israel and the US have both expressed discomfort with the idea of a national unity government, and the Israeli Prime Minister and other officials have stated that they will not negotiate with any Palestinian national government, as they consider Hamas to be a terrorist organization due to the group's previous involvement in attacks against Israeli civilians.

Hamas has not been involved in attacks on Israeli civilians since 2005, and in 2006 was elected in democratic elections to lead the Palestinian government. Although they formed a government in the Gaza Strip, they were prevented from doing the same in the West Bank, where the Israeli-supported Fateh government took power.

Since that time, the two parties have been at odds, with in-fighting claiming some 200 lives over the last four years. Several previous attempts at national unity governments, including a call by political prisoners led by Fateh activist Marwan Barghouthi, were unsuccessful at bringing about a unity government.

Now, officials from both major parties say that the leadership for the new government has been selected, and will be submitted to the Palestinian Legislative Council. After a two hour meeting in Gaza City, at the house of Hamas leader and elected Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh, representatives from the two parties said the new government will be made up of representatives from both parties, serving a term of one year.

Nabil Sha'ath, of the Fateh party, called the agreement a “good and positive sign”, and Haniyeh of Hamas agreed, telling reporters after the meeting that he believed the national unity government was a “strategic option and a national necessity”.

Israeli government officials withheld some of the Palestinian Authority's funds, which the Israeli government controls, upon the announcement of a national unity government. The funds have since been released, but Israeli officials say they will again withhold the money if the government is put in place.

The Palestinian government, regardless of its makeup, does not control any actual nation, but two distinct territories, the West Bank and Gaza Strip, which remain under Israeli military occupation. The Israeli military controls all aspects of life in the Occupied Territories, including birth and death certification, marriage, vehicle registration, courts, passport issuance, border control, control of movement within the Territories, which is severely restricted, and virtually every other aspect of governance.

Rafah Crossing Opens Allowing Hundreds Travel, Many For Fist Time In 4 Years.

Monday May 30, 2011 11:23 by Kevin Murphy - IMEMC and Agencies

After four years of closure the Rafah border crossing between Egypt and the Gaza strip was opened on Saturday allowing hundreds of Gazans to travel into Egypt

There were joyous scenes at Rafah over the weekend as hundreds of Gazans took advantage of the relaxed restrictions on movement previously imposed at the behest of Israel by Egypt’s ousted Mubarak government. The new Egyptian interim government has allowed women and men aged under 18 and over 40 unrestricted travel between Egypt and the besieged Palestinian hamlet for the first time in four years.

The opening of Rafah was one of the incentives posed by the Egyptian government to Hamas in return for signing the recent reconciliation deal with Fatah. It was announced in April that the border was to be opened.

Talking to al-Jazeera, many undertaking the crossing spoke of how it was the first time they have been able to see family in Egypt or travel abroad since the siege was tightened four years ago in response to the capture of Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit by Hamas.

The opening was warmly welcomed by Gaza citizens, business men and its de facto ruling government party Hamas.

Member of the Hamas political bureau Ezzet al Rasheq commented on his twitter feed that “the Egyptian decision to open the Rafah crossing permanently is a brave initiative and a new success for the Egyptian revolution after its success in effecting the Palestinian reconciliation”. According to Hareetz, Hamas also held a festive ceremony to celebrate Egypt’s decision.

The Gazan Federation of Businessman, speaking to Maan news agency, welcomed the opening of the crossing saying it would aid attempts to renew civilian infrastructure destroyed during Israel’s Operation Cast Lead in Gaza in 2008/09. A 1 $Billion investment package has been announced by the Palestinian Investment Fund to help undertake the reconstruction.

Israel has expressed concern at the opening of the border and has charged Egypt with responsibility for preventing the smuggling of weapons in and out of the area which is controlled by Hamas. In a statement to reporters in Jerusalem Israeli Home Front Defence Minister Matan Vilnai said that “the moment the Egyptians opened, they are responsible”.

Israel has called for international observers and Israeli camera monitoring to return to monitoring the border however Hamas has said they are not needed at this time, according to Hareetz. "The Palestinians have proved their ability to operate the Rafah crossing," said Hamas Foreign Minister Ghazi Hamad.

A 2005 agreement between the PA and Israel established a European Border Monitoring group at the Rafah border. However the group stopped its work after Hamas took control of the area in 2007.

The opening of the border does signal an end to the siege on the Gaza strip. The Rafah crossing remains to be closed to trade. The main crossing for commercial goods remains to be through the Israeli crossing at Eratz. Israel maintains control over electricity and water in the area.

The UN and International Red Cross have deemed the blockade of Gaza to be illegal under international law and called for its ending.

Model Bangunan dari Pencungkil gigi ( sangat kreatif! )

"Toothpick-architecture"

Kamera Paling Mahal di dunia ( $1.9 juta )

Jangan tak percaya inilah kamera yang paling mahal di jual di dunia. Leica 0-serie Nr. 107 dikeluarkan pada 1923. Ia dijual dengan harga $1.9 juta kepada seorang individu yang suka kumpul harta. Bidaan selama 20 minit dengan harga buka EUR200,000.

Sebelum ini model yang sama pernah dijual pada Dis 2010 dengan harga EUR402,000.

Keterangan mengenai kamera tersebut:

"This is the 7th camera of the Leica 0-series. Only approximately 25 of these cameras were produced to test the market in 1923, 2 years before the commercial introduction of the Leica A. It is the only camera known with “Germany” engraving on the top plate. The factory record indicates delivery to New York for patent applies. This means that this camera is not only one of the major existing rarities, it is also the first Leica being exported. It is the unique chance to buy the most important collectible Leica camera.

Leica-built replica of the 1923 prototype by Oskar Barnack that led to the first practical 35mm camera. Being a prototype, it has a few quirks..."

"This is a scale focus camera with a collapsible Anastigmat 50mm f/3.5 lens. It doesn't have a self-capping shutter so the lens must be covered when winding. Exposure time can only be set when the film is partially advanced. In other words, this is an extreme exercise in patience - even loading film involves a template and a pair of scissors!"

Masyaallah, moga kalau Allah izinkan kita jadi jutawan pun, moga Allah tak izinkan kita gila harta sampai membeli perkara yang hanya sekadar memenuhi keinginan, sedangkan di luar sana masih terlalu ramai yang tidak berupaya memenuhi KEPERLUAN untuk hidup.

p/s: Kamera Hasselblad H4D-200MS model terbaru ni pun kalah dengan harga ni... sedangkan ia paling canggih dan tak mampu milik dah tu!!! :D Tapi sesuai dengan teknologinya...

Kamera Hasselblad H4D-200MS

FREEDOM FLOTILLA 2

KILASAN FAKTA

1)Menteri Perhubungan Luar Turki, Ahmet Davutoglu mengingatkan Zionis agar jangan sekali-kali menggangu Freedom Flotilla 2 sambil memberi amaran kepada Zionis untuk tidak mengulang kembali peristiwa Marmara yang telah mencederakan dan membunuh beberapa warga Turki.(26 April)

2) Pihak pertahanan Zionis meminta Kesatuan Eropah, Amerika Syarikat dan PBB untuk menghalang flotilla kali ini.

3) ZIONIS juga merayu kepada Turki agar tidak melepaskan flotilla ini dari pelabuhannya, dan rayuan ini ditolak oleh Menteri Luar Turki dalam kenyataannya, “Turki tidak akan menghalang flotilla ini keluar dari pelabuhannya, dan kami juga akan sentiasa memantau sebarang kemungkinan perkara berbahaya yang mungkin akan berlaku di sepanjang pelayaran ini.”

4)...

Nato air strikes rock Tripoli again, France upbeat

Six loud explosions rocked Tripoli late on Tuesday within 10 minutes, following powerful strikes 24 hours earlier, including one on Gaddafi's compound - AP Photo

TRIPOLI: Nato has carried out its heaviest air strikes against Libya’s capital in more than two months of bombing, amid upbeat comments from France and the United States on progress towards ending Muammar Gaddafi’s rule.

Six loud explosions rocked Tripoli late on Tuesday within 10 minutes, following powerful strikes 24 hours earlier, including one on Gaddafi’s compound, that Libyan officials said killed 19 people and state television blamed on “colonialist crusaders”.

French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe said on Tuesday that the Nato bombing campaign was making progress and should achieve its objectives within months. An alliance official said Tuesday’s early strike was “the most concentrated to date”.

France, Britain and the United States are leading the air strikes, which started on March 19 after the United Nations Security Council authorised “all necessary measures” to protect civilians from Gaddafi’s forces as he sought to crush an uprising against his 41-year rule.

The three countries have declared they will keep up the campaign until Gaddafi leaves power. Juppe’s upbeat assessment came after the United States said the Libyan leader’s departure was inevitable.

“There are more and more centres of resistance (to Gaddafi), especially in the west,” Juppe said during a question and answer session in the French parliament. “Defections are speeding up.”

“I can assure you that our will is to ensure that the mission in Libya does not last longer than a few months.”

France said this week it would deploy attack helicopters to ensure more precise attacks against Gaddafi forces embedded among the civilian population of Libyan cities. Britain said on Tuesday it was considering doing the same.

Military analysts said these plans and the intensified bombing of Tripoli reflected growing Western worries that Libya’s civil war was dragging on indecisively. But they said the new moves may not be enough to tip the balance quickly.

Boost For Rebels

While critics argue that Nato has overstepped its mandate, rebels have complained Western forces are not doing enough to break Gaddafi’s army.

Gaddafi denies his forces target civilians and says rebels, who control the east of the oil-producing country, are criminals, religious extremists and members of al Qaeda.

The United States bolstered the credentials of the Benghazi-based rebel National Transitional Council as a potential government-in-waiting on Tuesday when a US envoy invited it to set up a representative office in Washington.

Unlike France, Italy and Qatar, the United States has not established formal diplomatic ties with the rebels.

Jordan said on Tuesday it recognised the rebel council as a legitimate representative of Libya’s people and planned to open an office in Benghazi.

Libyan news agency Jana said targets hit by Nato on Tuesday included a Tripoli mosque called Nuri Bani, though this could not be independently verified.

A French newspaper reported that Gaddafi was tired of fighting a civil war under constant pressure from Nato bombs, and would step down if allowed to remain in his country.

France Soir, citing “reliable sources, close to Libyan power”, said people in Gaddafi’s entourage had been holding secret meetings with representatives from Western countries, including France, for weeks.

It said Gaddafi, traumatised by the death of a son and three grandchildren in a Nato raid, was tired of living as a hunted man and spent several hours a day watching Arabic news channels and surfing news on Arab, English and Italian web sites. In his public pronouncements, Gaddafi has vowed to fight to the death.

NAKSA DAY

Tuesday May 24, 2011 11:34The International Solidarity Committee, the international activist organisation for Palestine, has called for solidarity marches around the world with upcoming “Naksa” events in the Middle East.
The group, which maintains a large international activist presence in the West Bank, has called on global demonstrations to Israeli embassies around the world on June 5th, “Naksa Day”, to show solidarity with refugee’s seeking a return to their homes.

Naksa, meaning “setback”, marks the forced exodus of 300,000 Palestinians during the 1967 Six Day War between Israel and the Arab states. While it is normally marked on Nakba Day (May 15th), this year the group for the “Third Palestinian Intifada” has called on Palestinian refugees to mark the day by repeating actions taken during this year’s Nakba Day when they marched to the Israeli border in Lebanon, Syria, and in the Gaza Strip.

Referring to the events on Nakba Day the group noted that “Israeli forces killed at least 15 demonstrators on three borders (with occupied Gaza, Lebanon, and between Syria and the occupied Golan Heights), wounded hundreds more with live gunfire, artillery shells, and tear gas, and unleashed a wave of arrests and repression in the occupied West Bank. This massive violence could only have been planned as a show of brute force”.

In the statement the group said that international law showed clear obligations on Israel to allow Palestinian Refugees to return to their homes.

The International Solidarity Committee engages in peaceful protest and civil disobedience in solidarity with Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza. The group’s notable members have included Rachel Corrie, the American activists crushed under an Israeli bulldozer in Gaza in 2000, and Vittorio Arrigoni, an Italian activist who was killed by Salafist elements in Gaza this year.

The day will be a litmus test as to what extent rumours of a third Palestinian uprising, or Intifada, are based on a reality on the ground. It will also shine a light on the question as to whether the recent events in the region, fuelled by social networking technology, have spread to Palestinians in the Occupied Territories and more broadly in the region.

SALAM FAYYAD DISERANG SAKIT JANTUNG DI A.S

Tuesday May 24, 2011 10:53

Sources report that Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad has suffered heart problems whilst visiting the US.Fayyad was visiting the United States in order to attend his son's graduation from a US college. He was taken to Seton Medical Center in Texas due to 'severe pains in the chest' according to a spokesperson.

Fayyad allegedly suffered a heart attack whilst in hospital where tests indicated a blockage in a coronary artery. A catheterization was performed in order to unblock the artery. Fayyad is a heavy smoker, which may have contributed to his illness. He has been Palestinian PM since 2007, although his political future is unclear in light of the recent Palestinian unity deal.

Source: http://www.imemc.org by David Steele

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