April 1st, 2002
Media compilation #60: Ethnically Cleansing Palestine?
Dear journalist
The situation in the Middle East is getting more and more serious and requires our urgent attention. Just as much as the suicide bombings with their horrific consequences for innocent Israeli civilians must be vigorously denounced, what the Israeli army is doing under Sharon's leadership is utterly inhumane and unacceptable and must be immediately stopped.
I believe the following information deserves to be widely exposed so that world public opinion can be brought to bear upon the Israeli government to immediately withdraw its forces from all Palestinian cities and territories and stop this insane mass retaliation policy that now looks more and more like a deliberate ethnic cleansing policy.
Praying that peace, compassion and sanity will prevail...
Jean Hudon
Earth Rainbow Network Coordinator
http://www.cybernaute.com/earthconcert2000
"It is the Palestinian people who are facing a looming holocaust, not the Jews. The inescapable truth now is Israel in 2002 is acting like Nazi Germany in the 1940s, and the Palestinians are the victims, very much like the Jews of Europe were more than 50 years ago."
- Khalid Amayreh - See #10 below.
CONTENTS
1. Even War has Limits
2. Ramallah: Without mercy: Israelis execute Arafat's elite guards
3. The not-so-lone "Suicide Bomber" in Netanya
4. 34 Internationals in Arafat compound call for their Ambassadors
5. Porn upsets Palestinians
6. LATEST UPDATES FROM INDY MEDIA - PALESTINE
7. Mass massacres with American approval
8. Israel Inflicts Substantial Losses on Palestinian Economy
9. Blatant violations of the 4th Geneva Convention
10. Palestinians: "We are facing genocide and have to defend ourselves"
SEE ALSO:
BBC Report showing Internationals And BBC Reporter Being Fired On http://news.bbc.co.uk/olmedia/1905000/video/_1905587_mideast17_guerin_vi.ram
This BBC report records the shooting of "live rounds" on peaceful demonstrators and BBC Crew. 1:41 mins
Medical Relief and Other Civilian Buildings Under Attack http://www.jerusalem.indymedia.org/news/2002/04/2281.php
Anti-Israel protests intensify across Arab world http://www.jerusalem.indymedia.org/news/2002/04/2278.php
Israel Chases Independent Observers
Israel refuses and threatens Independent Belgian observers.
MUCH MUCH MORE AT http://www.jerusalem.indymedia.org
1.
Sent by <Miri@phr.org.il>
Date: Sun, 31 Mar 2002
PHYSICIANS FOR HUMAN RIGHTS-ISRAEL
Even War has Limits
We are told that this is a war against terror, and that war on terror knows no geographical or other constraints. The facts tell us that this is a war against civilians, and that red lines have been crossed:
At this very moment the hospitals in Ramallah are suffering from a shortage in medical supplies. Pregnant women, the chronically ill, wounded and bleeding lie waiting for ambulances to take them to hospital, while ambulances are prevented passage, their crews are detained and humiliated and their vehicles confiscated. The emergency services of the Palestine Red Crescent Society and Medical Relief are frequently attacked by Israeli forces and prevented from fulfilling their humanitarian duty.
At this very moment, tens of thousands of civilians are under military seige and curfew, and suffering from a shortage of basic provisions.
Physicians for Human Rights-Israel calls upon the Israeli government to put an end to the occupation and the resultant severe and systematic violations of human rights. However, as long as the attack on Palestinian society continues, Israel must adhere to International Humanitarian Law - designed precisely for times of occupation and armed conflict - to avoid harming civilians, and allow free and safe passage of medical personnel, ambulances, patients, food and medical supplies.
The principles of protection of medical personnel, allowing the treatment of the sick and wounded, are among the most basic foundations of International Humanitarian Law, the violation of which is crossing a dangerous red line. In the face of these severe abuses of medical neutrality and attacks on the fabric of Palestinian civil society, we call for immediate international intervention.
For details-
Hadas Ziv: +972-3-687-3718, +972-50-228-599
Noam Lubell: +972-3-687-3718, +972-67-322-007
2.
From: http://www.observer.co.uk/international/story/0,6903,676624,00.html
The Observer (london) Sunday March 31, 2002
Peter Beaumont, foreign affairs editor
Ramallah: Without mercy: Israelis execute Arafat's elite guards
The ambulancemen were carrying the first body out of the Cairo-Amman bank in the centre of Ramallah when I came across them.
His knees were doubled up in rigor mortis. One of the legs of his green parachute jumpsuit had been burned through to the skin by a round fired at such close quarters that the muzzle flash had ignited the fabric. A gaping wound was visible in his chest - also apparently from a burst of fire from close range. What killed him, however, was the gunshot to his temple.
A few minutes later, the paramedics brought the second body, that of a young man, also in Yasser Arafat's elite guard unit, Force 17.
Someone had taken off his boots, revealing his blue socks. The wounds that he had obviously been clutching when he died were also to his upper body. But what must have killed him, like his colleague, was a shot fired at close range to his temple that had demolished the back of his head.
The third body was of an older man, in his forties, grey-haired with a moustache. Someone had pulled his parachute suit above his head to hide the wound. When the stretcher-bearers put him down, the covering was pulled back. The wound was to the head.
What happened on the third floor of the Cairo-Amman bank at midnight on Friday during Israel's occupation of the Palestinian city of Ramallah can only be surmised. But in the few minutes after Israeli soldiers stormed the Palestinian position, five men were wounded and five men were put to death by the Israelis, each with a single coup de grace administered to the head or throat.
Maher Shalabi, bureau chief of Abu Dhabi television in Ramallah, was in his office in the same building when he heard several bursts of heavy shooting on the floors below. 'I heard heavy shooting; maybe it was an exchange of fire. But I believe this was an execution.'
Hassan Asfour, a senior Palestinian negotiator, added: 'They were executed in cold blood. This is a clear example of the collective execution policy adopted by the Israeli government against the Palestinian people.'
According to local residents, the dead men were part of a large group of Palestinian policemen who had taken shelter in the building, which also houses the offices of the British council, when the Israeli army entered Ramallah.
The men had taken shelter in the foyer area on the third floor next to a dentist's surgery. Yesterday bullet holes spattered the walls and the floor was flecked with blood. On one wall were large splashes of blood. Elsewhere several bloody trails had been marked along the floor where someone had pulled the bodies towards the lift.
An Israeli army spokesman said soldiers entered the building after Palestinians opened fire from inside and threw a grenade at the force outside.
The coups de grace administered for these five men are a metaphor for what the Israeli incursion is hoping to achieve inside Ramallah. By isolating Arafat within his headquarters, Sharon hopes to decapitate the Palestinian Authority.
Yesterday, inside Arafat's compound, it was clear that, for all the claims of Ariel Sharon, Arafat was neither under threat nor under arrest. Arafat, simply, was surrounded by the Israelis.
As we approached the compound we could see the tanks and armoured personnel carriers ringing his sprawl of offices and barracks. On every side were soldiers taking positions and aiming their weapons.
Approaching closer the Israeli army tried to prevent us following a delegation from the Palestinian solidarity movement into the compound, led by Jose Bove, the French farmers leader and anti-globalisation protester.
In a surreal touch Bove and his colleagues had marched through the ruins of the town, even as fighting continued. With hands above their heads, and carrying palm fronds as Easter symbols of peace, they approached Arafat's compound with two columns of heavily armed Israeli infantry jogging the last few hundred metres behind.
Seeing Bove, who had marched through the town with a small group of fellow protesters bearing a tray of medicines for those still injured inside Arafat's compound, the soldiers relented and let us enter with him and approach the offices where Arafat was holed up.
Crossing a large car park we could see a three-storey block, its walls splattered with tank fire, two windows blackened by fire with sheets hanging where the occupants had tried to escape the flames.
I followed Bove to the entrance to the offices where Arafat was hiding but was grabbed from behind by an Israeli soldier and pulled away. Arafat may not be a prisoner but it is the Israelis who choose who goes to see the Palestinian chairman.
On every corner yesterday stood Israeli tanks. The devastation that these tanks have wrought inside the Palestinians' most attractive city has to be seen to be believed.
Roads have been dynamited or torn up by tanks. Buildings are burned and shattered. Everywhere there is rubble, spent ammunition and broken glass.
A little later, I met Hossam Sharkawi and Mohamed Awad, two senior officials in the Palestinian Red Crescent who I had met before.
Sharkawi, a co-ordinator for emergency services, told me the Israelis had arrested five of his drivers.
'They have them blindfolded and handcuffed. I cannot understand what the Israelis are thinking. They also used one of our ambulances today as a human shield. They sandwiched it inside a convoy.'
Sharkawi was able to reveal something of life inside Arafat's compound. 'We know there are injured inside,' he said. 'But they have been blocking ambulances entering to give treatment.' How many injured he could not say.
'All that we hear is that there may be between 50 and 100 people trapped with Arafat inside the building, without food, or water or any electricity and no telephone communication.' He shook his head and walked away.
3.
THERE IS NO WAY FOR ME TO VERIFY IF THIS IS TRUE BUT IT SHOULD BE INDEPENDENTLY INVESTIGATED
From: http://www.rumormillnews.net/cgi-bin/config.pl?read=18481
The not-so-lone "Suicide Bomber" in Netanya
Are 'suicide bombers' really an inside job?
Posted By: JoeVialls <homestead@bluemail.ch>
Date: Thursday, 28 March 2002
The massive damage to the Park Hotel in Netanya indicates that Shin Bet or the revitalized Stern Gang have been at it again. Fox News put it this way:
'The explosion at the Park Hotel was large enough to cause major structural damage, hampering the efforts of emergency crews.' … 'The Islamic military group Hamas claimed responsibility for the attack in a phone call to the Arab TV station Al-Jazeera, identifying the bomber as Abdel Baset Odeh, from the West Bank town of Tulkarem. The 25-year-old Palestinian had worked in Netanya hotels in the past.'
Well, not exactly. The damage bit is almost an understatement of course, with conservative expert estimates of charge weight (HE) ranging from 80 to 150 pounds, supplemented by 200 pounds or more of shrapnel. In total this would be a respectable load for a small wheelie-bin. Have you noticed how incredibly strong the 'suicide bombers' are getting nowadays?
When Hamas genuinely claims responsibility, it is through the local media, which is always provided with the last speech of the Martyr in question on video tape. This exact process is designed to prevent anyone taking the Hamas name in vain.
Like now, for example.
This time there was no video, and the only tenuous links to Hamas were two still photos of Abdel Baset Odeh at a rally three months ago, plus a brief glimpse of the founder of Hamas, Sheikh Ahmad Yasin, filmed two years ago during an interview.
Since Odeh was actually a hotel worker in Netanya, and Shin Bet knew about his "secret" membership of Hamas, it would not be very difficult to kill him in the hotel kitchen, then name him as the suicide bomber afterwards. This is a critical point the mainstream nedia seems unwilling to publicise.
But what timing, what wonderful timing! Just when Ariel Sharon needed a major atrocity in order to launch World War Three 'big time', bits and pieces of various Jews start flying around Netanya at 12,000 feet per second.
This appears to be the fourth 'insider' terrorist job in nine months. The others are listed below:-
Terror Bombing at Pacha‚s Disco, 2 June 2001
http://geocities.com/vialls2/nightclub1.html
Bombing Ben Yehudah Mall, 1 December 2001
http://geocities.com/vialls2/zion.html
Synagogue Bombed in Beit Israel, 3 March 2002
http://geocities.com/jewishterrorists/black.html
4.
FRENCH FARMER AND ANTI-GLOBALISATION ADVOCATE JOSE BOVE WAS AMONG THIS GROUP OF COURAGEOUS PACIFISTS. HE IS NOW BEING DEPORTED BY THE ISRAELIS. OTHER INTERNATIONALISTS ARE BEING ATTACKED WITH LIVE GUNFIRE - See http://jerusalem.indymedia.org/news/2002/04/2271.php
34 Internationals in Arafat compound call for their Ambassadors
Sunday, March 31, 2002
***Press Release***
INTERNATIONALS IN WITH ARAFAT CALL FOR THEIR AMBASSADORS
[RAMALLAH] 50 International civilians entered Yasser Arafat's Presidential Compound today, which is under continuous siege by the Israeli Forces. The group of Internationals is comprised of civilian volunteers from France, Brazil, Canada, Belgium, Britain, Ireland, Germany, and Israel who are here on a humanitarian mission. Thirty-four (34) international civilians remain inside. The group has stated that they will remain inside of the Presidential Compound until the siege is lifted; they remain in solidarity with all Palestinian people who are now under occupation and extend their demands to include the end of Israel's occupation of the entire West Bank and Gaza Strip. The Israeli's have cut power, phone lines and water supply to the compound. Food is also in short supply.
The 34 foreign civilians are asking for their respective ambassadors to urgently come to President Arafat's compound.
The city of Ramallah, where the group of internationals is currently based, is under closure and violent occupation by Israeli Forces. Power has been cut in most neighborhoods of Ramallah and water and food is in short supply in many homes, hospitals have had to resort to back-up generators and the transport of medicine and medical supplies has been disrupted. International witnesses have reported Israeli forces breaking in doors of homes and conducting mass arrests, where Palestinian's have been bound and placed in torturous positions for extended periods, there have also been at least 14 extra-judicial executions performed by the Israeli Forces in the last 2 days. Medical personnel have been arrested by the Israeli's and several ambulances have been confiscated, Israeli Forces also attempted to enter Ramallah Hospital earlier today but were kept out by a human blockade of conducted by the Internationals.
For more information call:
Adam 972 52 481 261
Huwaida 972 52 642-709
972 55 851 896
972 55 975 374
For information on Israeli: Allegra: 972 50 387 570
For statement from Israeli see http://www.jerusalem.indymedia.org
For information in Egypt: ism_egypt@yahoo.com
5.
From: http://www.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,4057,4049446^1702,00.html
Porn upsets Palestinians
Agence France-Presse
31 march 02
PORN movies and programs in Hebrew are being broadcast by Israeli troops who have taken over three Palestinian television stations of Ramallah, irate residents of the besieged West Bank town have told AFP.
The offices of three local television and radio stations were occupied by soldiers yesterday morning, a few hours after tanks and hundreds of troops stormed the town in Israel's biggest offensive against the Palestinian Authority and its leader Yasser Arafat. The soldiers started broadcasting the porn clips -- considered extremely offensive by most Muslims -- intermittently this afternoon from the Al-Watan, Ammwaj, and Al-Sharaq channels, the residents said. "The pornographic movies started on Al-Watan television at around 3:30 pm," one 34-year-old Palestinian mother named Reema told AFP. "I have six children at home, they have nowhere to go with what is going on here and can't even watch TV," she said angrily.
"It's not healthy really. I think the Israelis want to mess with our young men's heads," she said. Anita, a 52-year-old mother of three children, complained about "the deliberate psychological damage caused by these broadcasts". "I am furious, these are the people who are shooting at us that also play this disgusting trick on us," she said.
"We are desperate for news and constantly flipping channels and get these terrible pictures instead," adding that videos of the intifada were also shown backwards with "ideal terrorism" written in red across the screen.
"Luckily, there is no electricity in half of Ramallah," she said from her house in east Jerusalem where the channels are also available. A fourth local station, whose premises were not seized by the army, ran a written message across its screen letting people know it was the Israelis who were behind the graphic scenes.
"Anything currently shown on Al-Watan and other local TV channels has nothing to do with Palestinian programs but is being broadcast by the Israeli occupation forces, we urge parents to take precautions," the message said.
The Israeli military denied that it had anything to do with the pornographic programming and instead blamed the Palestinian leaders.
"The Israeli security forces have no interest in putting pornographic and racist movies on Palestinian television," an army spokesman told AFP.
"The only reason we are in these buildings and in this city is to fight against terrorists and their infrastructure after giving the Palestinians various chances to it themselves," he said. Palestinian leader Yasser "Arafat is willing to go low in order to make himself look better in this uncomfortable situation", he said.
Israeli foreign ministry spokesman Emmanuel Nachshon said any such broadcasting was "shameful", but said he was not aware of the Israeli army's involvement. "I cannot believe that Israeli soldiers would engage in such despicable behaviour," he said.
6.
From: http://www.jerusalem.indymedia.org
LATEST UPDATES FROM INDY MEDIA - PALESTINE
BBC live interviews with demonstrators and footage showing the attack on the unarmed protestors and BBC reporters.
April 01, 2002 1645: Internationals Attacked with Live Gunfire
Moments ago international civilians and two members of the Palestinian press were wounded by live fire in Beit Jalla.The internationals were attempting to visit the people in homes that have been taken over by the Occupation Forces. Among the wounded are: - British citizen: Aisa Kiysue, Kunle Ibidun, Chris Dunham - Australian citizen: Kate Irving (currently undergoing surgey) - American citizen: Said Khulil Wounded have been taken to Al Huissen Hospital in Bethlehem.
Word from the hospital staff is people were hit in the back of the head, face and one was hit in the upper thigh and knees. The Palestinians were hit in the chest.
UPDATE: RAMALLAH
April 01, 2002 1600: The situation in Ramallah has deteriorated dramatically in the past few hours. Explosions are occurring throughout the city. Israeli soldiers are trying to forcible evict an Italian Peace Delegation headed by MEP Luisa Morgantini from the offices of the Union of Palestinian Medical Relief Committees. The army has destroyed a building next to the UPMRC. Witnesses describe how five Palestinians and two Italians were made to kneel on the ground at gunpoint. Anti-aircraft missiles have been used against buildings. Anti- tank missiles have been used against Palestinian gunman. Red cross ambulances are attempting to deliver food and medical supplies to the Presidential compound they have been denied access for over two hours. The Israeli army has set up equipment around the compound which is interfering with communications from those in the compound to the outside world. There is a dire shortage of food inside the compound and there is no running water. The international civilians have again reiterated their plea for their ambassadors to come to Ramallah immediately.
Twelve international civilians are at the hospital and have been all day to preventing Israeli forces from entering. The three Palestinian medics arrested yesterday were released late in the night in an unknown location. They had to make their way home on foot. The ten French civilians are now in Jerusalem and are being deported. the group includes Jose Bove.
2400: The international civilians and Palestinian Red Crescent Medics that were taken to Ofra settlement have now been removed to Givat Ze'ev and the internationals are being told that they will be taken bake to Jerusalem and the Palestinians will be returned to Ramallah, still under arrest. Currently Ramallah is under martial law. Israeli military has adopted a 'shoot to kill' policy, foreigners are being told to leave as well as press.
2300: Statement from Irish Citizen, Caoimhe Butterly
"I urge all Irish citizens, government officials and diplomats to show courage in standing up against the brutal aggression used by the Israeli military against the Palestinian people and the war policies of the Israeli government. The Palestinian people desperately need our help and protection – I have witnessed the execution-style killings and the house to house searches and destruction the military has carried out in refugee camps and in cities. Only international action and the voices of people working for peace and justice can overcome these criminal Israeli actions."
Statement from Israeli civilian in Palestinian Presidential Compound
"State terrorism and terrorism are two sides of the same coin of occupation. One cannot exist without the other and neither would exist without their foundation, which is occupation. I call on all Israelis to raise their voices and act out against occupation – to stand in solidarity with the Palestinian people and their right to live free." - Neta Golan, Israeli citizen
7.
From: http://www.jerusalem.indymedia.org/news/2002/04/2324.php
Mass massacres with American approval
by omar • Monday April 01, 2002 at 12:06 PM
odahi@hotmail.com
AlJazeera reports mass executions. Abed Raboh states US/Israel both agreed on actions.
Ok, I'm just trying to translate this off of Aljazeera.net. There are reports that 40,000 Palestinian security agents and Police members are targeted for arrest or killing. Yesterday Rajjoub, the Head Of Palestinian Preventive Security stated that 30 police members were executed in a hospital on Irsal street in Ramallah.
Today, (April 1) more of the same. Israeli forces are continuing to prevent ambulances and medical people to rush to the aid of the wounded/or killed, whose bodies fill the streets. On another issue, the Minister of Media/Information Yasser Abed Raboh, said that this Israeli agression is not done just with "US support" but that this is a "US/Israeli conspiracy at the highest level" saying that it was decided on when Cheney was there. Zinni was relayed a bunch of orders for Arafat which would serve as ultimatums, and if not met, Israel would invade.
8.
From: http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2002-04/01/content_340051.htm
Israel Inflicts Substantial Losses on Palestinian Economy: Report
Xinhuanet 2002-04-01 20:53:53
KUALA LUMPUR, April 1 (Xinhuanet) -- Israel has inflicted substantial losses exceeding 8 billion U.S. dollars on the Palestinian economy, according to a report of the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC).
The amount lost was the result of Israel's destruction of the Palestinian economic infrastructure, institutions, agricultural land and services and the stoppage of working facilities and public life, said the report tabled by OIC secretary-general Abdelouahed Belkeziz at the on-going extraordinary session of OIC Foreign Ministers on Terrorism here Monday.
On top of that, Israel continued to hold back around 1 billion dollars in taxes and custom duties due to the Palestinian National Authority, the report said.
The report said that Israel continued to escalate its attacks with its forces deliberately destroying the Palestinian infrastructure, bulldozing and vandalizing water, electricity and drainage networks.
The report said Israel had wrecked the Gaza International Airport runways on several occasions, destroyed private helicopters of Palestinian President Yasser Arafat, bombarding Arafat's offices in Gaza, Nabuls, Bethlehem and Ramallah. The Israelis also interfered in the religious affairs of Palestinian Christian groups including persistent attempts to steal the endowment lands owned by Palestinian Christian churches, it said.
The Israelis' aggression had been waged hand-in-hand with blatant violations of human rights and scandalous breaches of international covenants and agreements, particularly the Fourth Geneva Convention on the Protection of Civilians in Times of War and the Third Geneva Convention on the Rights of Prisoners and Detainees, the report added.
9.
From: http://www.jerusalem.indymedia.org/news/2002/04/2284.php
Blatant violations of the 4th Geneva Convention
1 April 2002 - LAW
On Sunday 31 March 2002, approximately 30 Israeli soldiers raided the Arab Care Hospital in Ramallah. Dr. Odwan Al Bargouthi explained to LAW that Israeli soldiers raided the 3-story-building and held 55 people, including 9 injured men, in hospital wards, their hands were tied and they were forced to lie on the floor. Israeli troops also maltreated those held and cut off all communication with the outside world. Israeli troops also besieged Waleed Al Nathir Maternity Hospital in Ramallah and detained patients and staff. The troops wreaked havoc and fired shots around the hospital. According to nurses, the shooting was extensive after which ambulance sirens were heard.
Israeli occupation forces have continued to prevent ambulances from evacuating the wounded and shoot at paramedics and detain them up for extended periods. Dr. Wael Kadan, from the Palestinian Red Crescent Society (PRCS), told LAW that Israeli troops stopped four PRCS ambulances from evacuating wounded Palestinians at the Daraghmi building. “Israeli troops held the paramedics for 15 minutes and searched ambulances. Paramedics heard shooting at the Daraghmi stores building… but they were stopped from evacuating potential wounded people.” added Dr. Kadan. Later Israeli troops allowed an ambulance belonging to UPMRC to evacuate the bodies of two Palestinians.
Israeli actions are blatant violations of Articles 16-20 of the 4th Geneva Convention of 1949 and Articles 9-11 of the Protocols Additional to the Geneva Conventions.
In light of the above, LAW:
- Demands the Israeli government to immediately stop its crimes and collective punishment against Palestinians;
- Calls upon the international community to stop subordinating their political and economic interests to their moral and legal obligations and to take effective measures in order to protect the rights and lives of Palestinians in the Occupied Palestinian Territories including East Jerusalem;
- Calls upon the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention to comply with their obligations to ensure respect of the Convention;
- Calls upon the European Union, a vital trading partner for Israel, to suspend its Association Agreement with Israel as a means of pressuring Israel into compliance with basic norms of international law;
- Demands the UN Security Council to establish a war crime tribunal and bring Israeli war criminals to justice;
- Demands international protection for Palestinians in the occupied territories;
- Demands immediate humanitarian aid for besieged Palestinian people;
- Demands international intervention, especially of the ICRC to ensure that medical supplies reach those in need of them;
- Demands ICRC to exert pressure on the international community to end Israeli attacks on Palestinian paramedics and ambulances evacuating the wounded and taking pregnant women to hospitals;
Islamic Association for Palestine (IAP) 10661 South Roberts Rd, Suite 202 Palos Hills, IL 60465 Tel: 708 974 3380 / Fax: 708 974 3389 /Pager: 1 800 916 8286 http://www.iap.org E-mails: iapinfo@iap.org OR iapinfo@yahoo.com
10.
From: http://www.jerusalem.indymedia.org/news/2002/04/2275.php
Palestinians: "We are facing genocide and have to defend ourselves"
Hebron: West Bank, 1 April, 2002
by Khalid Amayreh
Palestinians from disparate political and ideological orientations have strongly rejected remarks by Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres condemning "suicide bomb attacks" as immoral.
"Instead of blaming the defenseless victims for defending themselves he should ask his Nazi-like army to stop its genocide of a people who are struggling for freedom from occupation," said M. Natshe, a Fatah leader in the West Bank town of Hebron.
On Sunday, Peres condemned "suicide bombers" as "human sacrifices to the altar of political ambitions."
"The idea to return to human sacrifices to the altar of political ambitions is barbaric and dangerous," Peres was quoted as saying by the Jerusalem Post Monday.
Natshe accused Israel of pursuing a policy based on genocide and ethnic cleansing towards the Palestinian people.
"Peres and his criminal cohorts are offering us either annihilation or perpetual enslavement and occupation, we shall not accept either, we insist on freedom and we are willing to sacrifice our souls for it."
"People fight and die for their freedom, don't they? I don't understand why (US President George) Bush can't understand this?"
Ahmed Hassan, a local Islamic leader in the town of Dura, 13 kilometers south west of Hebron, also blamed Israel for "pushing the Palestinians to the martyr-bombing phenomenon."
"Martyr-bombing is not our strategy; it is not our goal, our strategy is freedom from this diabolic military occupation, no nation on the face of earth can accept perpetual rape and domination by another nation."
He pointed out that the Palestinian people who, he said, were going through a situation similar to that which the Jews faced during WWII, had no choice but defend themselves with their bodies.
"We don't have an army, we don't have an air-force, we don't have tanks, we don't have anything. The Arab world is totally powerless and impotent, and the United States is telling Israel 'keep up the killing.' So, what are we supposed to under these circumstances?
Abed Da'ana, an activist affiliated with the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) described Israeli officials remarks about suicidal bombings as "misleading and mendacious."
"It is the Palestinian people who are facing a looming holocaust, not the Jews. The inescapable truth now is Israel in 2002 is acting like Nazi Germany in the 1940s, and the Palestinians are the victims, very much like the Jews of Europe were more than 50 years ago."
On Sunday, Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat yesterday compare the Israeli blitz against Palestinian population centers to the Nazi atrocities against Jews.
Some Jewish intellectuals agreed with Arafat, citing moral degeneration among Jews, especially in Israel.
