File:TWIP - 2010-12-12 An interview with human rights attorney Shawqi Issa.vorb.oga

Good morning everyone, and welcome to 'This Week in Palestine,' a weekly forty-five minute segment of news from Palestine, and discussion of issues relevant to the Palestinians' struggle for freedom from Israel's brutal military occupation and colonization of their homeland. This program presents news and analysis from the Palestinian perspective, a perspective we do not get from the mainstream media.

I am John Roberts and I am joined this morning with my co-host Samer Jaber, a resident of Bethlehem currently working on his Masters Degree at Brandeis University and the JFK School of government.

Now on the phone with us from Bethlehem in the occupied West Bank is Shawqi Issa, who is Director and an attorney with the Ensan Center for Democracy and Human Rights in Bethlehem.

As is well known, the political environment in the occupied Palestinian Territories continues to deteriorate. Closures, blockades, the separation wall and curfews, coupled with ongoing and extensive Israeli military actions, have devastated the Palestinian community in nearly every possible way. A record number of administrative detainees currently languish in Israeli prisons, an unprecedented number of homes have been demolished, and land continues to be confiscated or destroyed at a rate unheard of since the beginning of the occupation.

Shawqi, tell us about your work at the Ensan Center for Democracy and Human Rights. What does the Center do, what is its mission?

What are some of the current challenges you are litigating on behalf of the Palestinian people?

You litigate in Israeli courts where, to say the least, the deck is stacked against you. When we have spoken the past you have said that the mere bringing of the cases, even when precedent law is against you, not only is important, but also is in fact an act of resistance. In this context, how do you measure success?

What do you consider some of your successes?

What can you tell us about the detention of children by the Israeli military. We have seen reports from Defence of Children International that there about 300 children being held in detention in Israeli jails.

You offer free legal services. Where does you funding come from?

Well, that is all the time we have this week. Thank you, Shawqi. We admire what you are doing against great odds in the Israeli courts and we wish you continuing success in your resistence to the occupation. Thank you.

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Now for the news.

On December 6th the Israeli government announced that wild fires in the Haifa area of Israel were brought under control thanks to the response of the international community to provide fire-fighting equipment that Israel had neglected to purchase in order to be prepared to meet just such an emergency.

Among those responding to the international call was Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. Although Israel prevents the majority of the Palestinian population from entering Israel, 3 units of firefighters of the Palestinian Civil Defense unit were sent to help in controlling the fires at the Carmel Mountain area of Haifa, Israel.

The Palestinian News and Information Agency reported that Abbas told Israel Prime Minister Netanyahu that under such conditions and disaster, the Palestinians will not hesitate in lending a helping hand.

However, despite Israel’s international call for equipment and personnel, the Israeli army had plenty of extra soldiers to suppress the weekly unarmed demonstrations in Nabi Saleh, Ni’ilin, and Bil’in. Instead of diverting all available resources to suppressing the fire, the government continued to devote resources to suppressing Palestinian non-violence in the West Bank.

In Nabi Saleh the army used an excessive amount of tear gas to suppress the weekly demonstration, which resulted ironically in starting brush fires throughout the village.

So, on the one hand you had Palestinians volunteering to put out fires in Israel, while the Israelis are attacking Palestinian villages and setting fires in the West Bank.

Samer, it never ends. How has this emergency exposed the Israeli government’s priorities?

Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas has threatened to dissolve the PA if Israel does not stop building settlements on occupied land.

Abbas told Palestinian television, “If Israel does not stop settlement building and if US support for the negotiations collapses, I will strive to end Palestinian self-rule in the occupied territories. I cannot be the president of a non-existent authority as long as Israeli occupation of the West bank continues.”

Samer, this is a very risky threat. Abbas is threatening to dissolve the PA and turn over governing responsibilities to Israel which would have to assume responsibility for the management of the Palestinian society. It makes Palestinians extremely vulnerable because it will bring even more Israeli troops into the West Bank. What is happening here?

Last week Hamas Prime Minister Ismail Haniya reiterated his party’s willingness to establish a Palestinian state within 1967 borders, if approved by a worldwide referendum of Palestinian people (note that the referendum would include those in refugee camps throughout the Middle East as well as the Palestinian Diaspora).

Referring to a peace agreement, Haniya said Hamas would accept the results of a referendum even if it contradicts their current policies. This seems to imply that Hamas would be willing to support a peace agreement that includes recognition of Israeli statehood.

Samer, since the US does not recognize and will not negotiate with Hamas, doesn’t this extension of an olive branch by Hamas put pressure on the rest of the international community to press Israel and the United States to include them in negotiations. In reality it is difficult to see how any agreement can be successful without Hamas’ support, and here they seem to be making a major concession.

(At this point we need to be getting Shawqi on the phone from Bethlehem)

Disturbing reports continue from Gaza concerning the plight of children who are shot whilst collecting building gravel near the border fence between the Gaza Strip and Israel. Due to a severe lack of job opportunities and a shortage of construction material entering Gaza from Israel, hundreds of men and boys scavenge for building gravel amongst the destroyed buildings close to the border fence. 17 children have been shot in the last 9 months. The gravel is collected into sacks, loaded onto donkey drawn carts and sold to builders for use in concrete. Children can earn up to 50 shekels (US $14) per day, which is used to help support, their families. Reports indicate that Israeli soldiers on duty in the observation towers which line the border between Gaza and Israel frequently fire warning shots to scare workers away from the border region. Reports also indicate that these soldiers sometimes shoot and kill the donkeys used by the workers, and also target the workers, usually, but not always, shooting at their legs. In the cases documented by DCI-Palestine, the children report being shot whilst working between 50 to 800 meters from the border fence. These cases have also been reported in Haaretz, The Guardian, The Independent media outlets.

Samer, nowhere in the western media are such incidents reported which is why it falls to us to get this kind of news out.

Finally this from Nabulus: For the second time this year, Israeli soldiers demolished a 3 room school under construction, and 12 hot houses after declaring that the area is a closed military zone. Also destroyed was a tent donated by the International Red Cross. Residents were informed that the destruction was ordered by the Israeli High court. And so the demolition of not only homes, but also infrastructure continues despite the so-called attempts to create a climate where a negotiated peace is even possible.

This is John Roberts and Samer Jabber signing off for This Week In Palestine. Please tune in next Sunday and every Sunday at 8:00 AM to hear the latest news and commentary from the West bank and Gaza.

Thanks for listening. Good morning. from WZBC, 90.3 FM.