Creating new perspectives since 2009
Items by Dr Fayez Abu Shamaleh
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Jerusalem is not an internal Israel affair to be discussed before the judiciary
The Israeli government took note of the statement issued by the Jordanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriate Affairs, which condemned an Israeli court’s decision to allow extremists to perform rites in the courtyards of the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque. The Israeli government gave attention to the statement issued by...
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Border closures are part of Israel’s war of attrition against the people of Gaza
When the Israeli army advises its political leadership to resort to economic punishment in response to rockets fired from the Gaza Strip, it means that the military has lost its deterrence factor. The so-called Israel Defence Forces now understand that low-flying aircraft dropping bombs on some sites here and...
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What are the Palestinian organisations and political parties waiting for?
The situation inside the Palestinian arena is more dangerous than the Palestinian people think. The sense of being lost that the Palestinian cause is experiencing is likely to escalate, and the Israeli ambitions to achieve more political gains and achievements do not stop. Moreover, the removal of the Palestinian...
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As Abbas seeks a safe exit, who’s waiting in the wings?
In January last year, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas refused to issue a decree to hold legislative and presidential elections. He argued that he would not do so until he could guarantee Israel’s approval for Palestinians in occupied Jerusalem to participate. Has that guarantee now been given, allowing him...
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Attacks on the Palestinian cause are spearheaded by collaborators
I have been following the language used in attacks on the Palestinian issue, and believe that those responsible are not individuals acting alone, but are part of a political approach that goes beyond attacking Palestinian decisions, politics and leaders. The attacks cover all Palestinian issues: the land, the people...
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The meeting between Abbas and Olmert harms the Palestinian cause
The meeting of Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert in New York will harm the Palestinian cause; it will be of no benefit. There is no validity to claims that the meeting will mobilise the international community against Olmert’s successor, Benjamin Netanyahu; that...
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Three elements of Palestinian national unity
There are three elements around which all Palestinians can rally if we are to have national unity. Without such unity, we are going nowhere in our efforts for freedom. The first is related to the lives of Palestinian prisoners being held in Israel’s prisons. They are urging all Palestinians...
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Who is responsible for annexing the West Bank to Israel?
Downplaying catastrophes is a catastrophe in itself; dwarfing concerns is a serious delusion; and jumping over reality is a deep canyon that will break the necks of the people who are silent regarding their seized rights. Those who have seized the Palestinians’ rights are not only the Israelis, but...
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Who will stop the Israeli settlements?
The Palestinian reaction to the decision of the Israeli defence minister to grant 800 settlers in the centre of Hebron independence from the municipality of Hebron was weak and did not match the action taken by the Israelis. The Ramallah government warned against the fierce settlement attack waged by...
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From Bobby Sands to Marwan Barghouti
After a 66-day open hunger strike, the Irish fighter Bobby Sands passed away, along with ten of his comrades. They challenged the British prime minister, the “Iron Lady” Margaret Thatcher, who refused to make any concessions to the prisoners on strike. When he started his strike, Bobby Sands was...
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Rima Khalaf is an Arab upholding freedom
The UN-ESCWA report did not mention anything new or different from the situation on the ground in Palestine. The report, which was supervised by human rights experts – headed by Jewish activist Dr Richard Falk – concludes that Israel is a racist state that established an Apartheid regime, which...
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Why did Mahmoud Abbas turn against Hamas?
On the anniversary of Palestine’s political division, all fingers are being pointed at Hamas, by those writing for the first time as well as the veterans who know the ins and outs of the issue. The common ground for everyone is spreading lies under the pretext that Hamas is...
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The Rafah crossing: between logic and interest
Many of Gaza’s inhabitants have taken interest in the meeting that took place in the Gaza Strip between Hamas and a committee of multiple Palestinian factions. The goal of the meeting was to propose ways in which the Rafah crisis could be resolved. It is important to know that...
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UNRWA’s crisis is not really about employee salaries
When the UNRWA Commissioner-General threatened the reduction of services and the postponement of the school year, he aimed to pressure donor countries to fulfil their obligations towards the aid organisation. He also wanted to warn against the danger of leaving over half a million Palestinian school children in the...
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Give Israel a 10-year ceasefire
It will be difficult for Israel to acknowledge the resistance’s conditions and agree to them because that would mean admitting military defeat. Israel wants to evade Palestinian demands and prolong the truce without any obligation to completely lift the siege imposed on Gaza. Israel will object to a seaport...
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Are the coup supporters against Morsi or democracy itself?
It doesn’t really matter if you are for or against Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi; nor is it important for you to be convinced of the integrity of the Muslim Brotherhood and its government. What is important, though, is for you to determine whether you are for or against democracy....
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Dissolve the Palestinian Authority to be debt-free
If Ismail Pasha brought foreign occupation onto Egypt after drowning it in debt, then what will Salam Fayyad and Mahmoud Abbas bring onto the Palestinians who are already under direct occupation, after they have drowned them with a $4 billion debt? Ismail Pasha was sure he could count on...
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Palestinian political blunder
Statements by chief negotiator Saeb Erekat have revealed the political blunder in Palestine. The man admitted that since the resumption of negotiations in July 2013, Israel has killed 31 Palestinians in cold blood and announced several tenders for the construction of 5,992 settlement housing units ( three times the...