From Occupied Palestine

Bethlehem celebrates Christmas, Rafah counts the dead
KRISTIN ESS
Znet, 24 December 2003

Israeli occupation forces left the center of Rafah, although, as is normal, the Israelis remain at the border they have created. The Wall the Israelis are building with armoured machines is overshadowed only by its many sniper posts. Israeli soldiers remain daily to shoot and shell into the homes at whatever is the latest point in the "border." The line changes as the Israelis demolish more houses, turning what once was the center of the city into the border.

Israel dismisses UN condemnation
KRISTIN ESS
Znet, 30 November 2003

Secretary General of the United Nations, Kofi Annan, stated in a report yesterday that Israel is, once again, clearly in direct violation of international law. On 21 October 2003, the UN General Assembly demanded Israel cease construction of its Closure Wall and dismantle what it has built thus far. Although Israel is building this iron giant well within the West Bank alongside its illegal settlements, an Israeli spokesperson claimed in Ha'aretz that the United Nations resolution engages "propaganda."

Un Resolution 1515 to back Roadmap
KRISTEN ESS
Znet, 21 November 2003

"More resolutions is not the solution," said Israel's deputy UN ambassador Aryeh Mekel. They must not be for Israel, considering its history of not honoring them. Since 1967 and the passing of Resolution 242, the UN has passed 130 resolutions against Israel, none of which have been honored.

The 15-member United Nations Security Council voted unanimously yesterday to support Resolution 1515, calling for the implementation of the Road Map. Israel has long spoken against UN intervention. Palestinians have been asking for it for years.

When will reality become newsworthy?
KRISTEN ESS
Znet, 18 November 2003

Israeli soldiers shot and killed a 14 year old boy Saturday night, 15 November 2003 at 7 pm. IOF were invading the boy's village, Beit Forik, near Nablus. As is common in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, Israeli soldiers were randomly firing throughout the village. After Israeli soldiers shot and killed the 14 year old, Ahmed Halani, they ran over his body with their military jeep. A friend comments, "This is normal, the Israelis are always doing this, running over the person after they kill them. Lots of times it's with the tank, especially in Nablus and Hebron." She shrugs and finishes with, "This is the Israelis."

IOF continues brutal attack on Rafah
KRISTEN ESS
Znet, 13 October 2003

For over 36 hours now IOF have ceaselessly attacked the southern Gaza Strip city and camp of Rafah. The number of dead is around eight or nine known, the number of injured, according to Dr. Ali Mousa, director of Rafah's Abu Yousef Najjar Hospital, is 62 as of 10:30 am Saturday. Other reports are higher. At 2 pm the number of injured is approaching 80. Several more people have just been injured in Hi Salaam.

4,200 Palestinians on hunger strike
KRISTEN ESS and NADA KAHIR
ZNET, 2 August 2003

Over 4,000 Palestinian political prisoners have just begun a hunger strike in Israeli jails including Shutah, Askalan, Majido, Ofer, and Nefah. A man being held without charge called yesterday from Nefah saying, "The Israeli Administration is treating us very badly. He details human rights abuses, and adds quietly, And sometimes they aren't letting us go to the bathroom."

The stage is set for ethnic cleansing
KRISTEN ESS
ZNET, 26 July 2003

It seems that for Abu Mazen, talking to George Bush is like trying to nail jello to a tree. Real dialogue is certainly not going to happen, nor does anyone expect it to, this week in Washington, or anywhere else for that matter. Why would Bush, the funder of Israeli atrocities, Sharon's moral support, and international war monger, suddenly become the honest broker he wishes the world believed he was?

All in a days work for a mythical democracy
KRISTEN ESS
ZNET, 22 July 2003

In the mid-Gaza Strip, an old man dressed in white sits on a wooden box, watching an Israeli driven bulldozer destroy his land. The tree leaves are deep green and are crushed and caught in the pusher. This is making the trunks more mangled. He watches. The destruction goes on for hours.

This is the Israeli 'cease-fire'
KRISTEN ESS
ZNET, 6 June 2003

The Palestinian Authority and the Israeli military government have agreed to a 'cease-fire.' The terminology is, of course, misleading. It suggests that there are two equal sides at war. The Israeli government, receiving more than 12 million dollars a day from the US to supplement its arsenal of 'weapons of mass destruction,' has not ended its illegal military occupation of the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Nor has it ceased imposing curfew on West Bank towns, building settlements and checkpoints, or using APCs, Apache helicopters, tanks, jeeps, and ground soldiers throughout the West Bank and Gaza.

Israeli government ignores yet another international law
Targeted killing in Gaza kills 7, injures 50
KRISTEN ESS
ZNET, 9 April 2003

At 8 o'clock last night Israeli flown, US made, F16s swept over Gaza City, shooting more than 40 flares into the night sky as a diversion, while three US donated Apache helicopters fired three missiles into a car, killing Said Arabeed and Ashraf al-Halabi from Hamas. It was a targeted assasination, illegal under the International Covenent on Civil and Political Rights, the UN Principles on Effective Prevention and Investigation of the Extra-Legal, Arbitrary and Summary Executions, and Article 147 of the 4th Geneva Convention. Will the US demand Israeli 'regime change' for this latest grave breach?