Madison Rafah Journal

From: Professor Said Abdelwahed [abdelwahed_prof (at) yahoo.com]
Subject: Fishing in Gaza
Date: Friday, June 20, 2008

Palestinian fishermen re-asserted their right to fish and their right to live, demonstrating on June 16th with their boats against the Israeli siege

Luisa Morgantini, Il Manifesto, June 18, 2008

IN THE GAZA STRIP THE SEA IS A HUGE ISRAELI CHECK POINT

The sea in Gaza is blue, but also green due to pollution because in many sites sewage waters run freely into the waters after passing visibly through the streets of Gaza city and other cities in the Strip and ending up in the sea. No waste water decontamination treatment systems exist because they have been destroyed by the Israeli raids or are out of use because spare parts cannot get through the embargo decided by the Israeli Authorities, resulting in serious consequences for the environment and the local economy.

But the sea in Gaza has always been a great natural resource and could also become a resource for tourism. After the Oslo Agreement, Palestinians hoped that Gaza beaches would be crowded, many hotels have been built, and restaurants and cafes opened. But these expectations were short-lived: hotels have been almost abandoned and tourists cannot of course travel to Gaza. Palestinian citizens in Israel, who the Palestinian tourism targeted, are prevented from entering Gaza since the borders are in the sole hands of the Israeli government and all Israeli citizens are prohibited from traveling to the Strip or to the West Bank. (Read on …)

Palestinian farmers work on a field near the Sufa crossing, between Israel and the
southern Gaza Strip, on June 19

Joseph Krauss, AFP, Jun 20, 2008 (Read on …)

Associated Press, Jun 17, 2008

Details of a truce that Hamas says it worked out with Israel, halting rocket and mortar attacks from Gaza and Israeli reprisal raids:

• The truce takes effect at 6 a.m. Thursday (11 p.m. EDT Wednesday).

• All Gaza-Israel violence stops. After three days, Israel eases its blockade on Gaza, allowing more vital supplies in.

• A week later, Israel further eases restrictions at cargo crossings.

• In the final stage, talks are conducted about opening the Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt and a prisoner exchange to free Cpl. Gilad Schalit, held by Hamas-affiliated groups for two years. (Read on …)

Reuters, Jun 15, 2008

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said on Sunday it was “extremely important” Israel allow three Palestinians to leave the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip to take up prestigious U.S. fellowships.

Earlier this year the U.S. government was embarrassed when it became public it had withdrawn Fulbright fellowships for seven Gaza students because Israel had not granted them exit permits from the blockaded territory.

Israel tightened its cordon of the Gaza Strip after the Hamas Islamist group took control there nearly a year ago. Israel gives few Palestinians, other than some who are gravely ill, permission to leave.

Israel has also tightened rules for Palestinian staff of the United Nations who travel in and out of the occupied West Bank, internal U.N. emails and aid workers say.

After media reports about the students’ case, the United States restored the fellowships and formally asked Israel to allow them to leave Gaza. (Read on …)

Ms. Homeland Security: Illegal Entry Dress Tent, 40" x 50", 2005
by Robin Lasser and Adrienne Pao

Uri Avnery, Gush Shalom, 07 June 08

Obama’s declarations at the AIPAC conference are very, very bad for peace. And what is bad for peace is bad for Israel, bad for the world and bad for the Palestinian people

AFTER MONTHS of a tough and bitter race, a merciless struggle, Barack Obama has defeated his formidable opponent, Hillary Clinton. He has wrought a miracle: for the first time in history a black person has become a credible candidate for the presidency of the most powerful country in the world.

And what was the first thing he did after his astounding victory? He ran to the conference of the Israel lobby, AIPAC, and made a speech that broke all records for obsequiousness and fawning.

That is shocking enough. Even more shocking is the fact that nobody was shocked.

IT WAS a triumphalist conference. Even this powerful organization had never seen anything like it. 7000 Jewish functionaries from all over the United States came together to accept the obeisance of the entire Washington elite, which came to kowtow at their feet. All the three presidential hopefuls made speeches, trying to outdo each other in flattery. 300 Senators and Members of Congress crowded the hallways. Everybody who wants to be elected or reelected to any office, indeed everybody who has any political ambitions at all, came to see and be seen. (Read on …)