If an investigatory committee is formed, the documents offered it by the head of the Shin Bet security services, Yoram Cohen, will support the version that his predecessor Yuval Diskin gave at a meeting in Kfar Sava, in which Netanyahu’s claim that Abbas refuses to make peace is just an old wives’ tale. These frustrating and difficult insights were noted down by participants in the small delegation of Peace NGO Forum representatives who visited Ramallah last Thursday, among them forum co-chairman Dr. Ron Pundak, former ambassador Ilan Baruch, and professors Galia Golan, Dan Jacobson and Daniel Bar-Tal. They heard about a willingness for far-reaching diplomatic compromise from the mouths of senior Fatah officials: from the stretching out of Israeli withdrawal over several years on the basis of a plan suggested by Vice Prime Minister Shaul Mofaz, to an agreement to accept the continuing presence of a number of settlements (under Palestinian sovereignty ).

The guests were shown detailed maps on which the Palestinian negotiating team had marked areas in the south Hebron Hills and Mount Gilboa which the Palestinians would like in return for West Bank territory that Israel would like to annex.

read the whole article at http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/features/netanyahu-s-rejectionism-is-louder-than-his-threats-1.433066

PSCC calls on local, international activists to take an active part in supporting the South Hebron Hills community of Al Mufaqarah, threatened by Israeli displacement policies. Join in building 15 homes for the community’s 15 families. ACTION EVERY SATURDAY!

The Popular Struggle Coordination Committee (PSCC) is launching a campaign to support the community of al Mufaqarah in its legitimate struggle to keep living in its land through the construction of brick houses in order to stress the permanent character of their presence in the area and opposition to Israeli policies of displacement.

The local community is struggling against the daily harassments by settlers and soldiers. The 15 families of Al Mufaqarah are committed to defend their village and build 15 brick houses to legitimize their existence on their land endangered by illegal settlements.The campaign aims to support this local community by sharing their stories and disseminating the action to regain Palestinian rights to live and build in the Area C.

The PSCC will also provide legal support and a long term monitoring of the situation. The purpose is to repeat the successful story of al-Tuwani, a 300 resident’s village that faced the same situation but that is now recognized by the Israeli Occupation Authority, and to create a precedent for the communities of the firing zone.Defying the pending demolition orders and the prohibition to build is a way to stress the legitimate right of the South Hebron Hills residents to remain steadfast on their land.

The PSCC calls for Palestinian, Israeli and International activists to support the campaign that, through non violent actions and legal strategies and support, aims at the construction of permanent houses in Area C.

Additional information may be seen here.

Facebook for the event is here.

Eight structures demolished in the villages of Wedadie, Rahwa and Wadi Jehesh.

May 24^th, 2012

At-Tuwani – On May 23^rd the Israeli Army demolished totallyeight structures in the Palestinian villages of Wedadie, Rahwa and Wadi Jehesh, located in the South Hebron Hills area, West Bank.

Around 10.00 am. Operation Dove volunteers were informed about the Israeli Army’s dismantling operations in the area. Once near Wadi Jehesh the internationals sighted six military vehicles, two cars of DCO (District Coordination Office) and a bulldozer leaving the village.

According to statements of the eyewitnesses, at 9 am the Israeli Army first raided the Palestinian village of Rahwa and demolished two tents and a toilet belonging to Jabareen family, composed by 2 adults and 8 children. One tent was used as a living quarters by the family, the other one as shelter for the sheep. Rahwa village is close to Tene Israeli settlement.

Subsequently, the IDF (Israeli Defense Force) entered in the Palestinian village of Wedadie and demolished four structures – two homes and two animal shelters belonging to Ziyad Shehda. Seven adults and six children were displaced. According to statements of the Palestinians present during the demolition, the soldiers did not allow the inhabitants to remove their personal belongings. “I asked the soldiers to give us some time to take away all our stuff, but they said there was no time because the bulldozer was coming” said one of the women displaced. During the demolitions an old Palestinian woman was hit by a soldier, fell down and collapsed. She was hospitalized in the Hebron Hospital. Wedadie village is close to Shim’a Israeli settlement.

At around 10.00 am the bulldozer, escorted by the army, entered the Palestinian village of Wadi Jehesh, located along the 317 Bypass road, near Suseya settlement. The Israeli Army demolished a dwelling tent owned by Khalil Salame Nawaja. Even in this event the soldiers did not allow the inhabitants to bring out their belongings, including a gas bottle.“It is not the first time they come here demolishing. They can come another two, three or four times; we will not leave this land” said an elderly, immediately after the incident.

The Palestinian inhabitants who suffered for the demolitions yesterday said that in none of the three cases they had received a previous demolition’s notice by IDF (Israeli Defense Force) in order to permit them to remove their property.

Um Fagarah – South Hebron Hills, West Bank

On 19^th May the Popular Struggle Coordination Committee, the South Hebron Hills Popular committee organized the first nonviolent action of the campaign in support of Um Fagarah village, in its legitimate struggle to keep living in its land through the construction of brick houses and in order to stress the permanent character of its presence in the area.

A hundred people attended the event and the whole village involved in the commitment. All day long Palestinians, Israeli and international activists were building the first expected house.

At 18.30 when the walls of the house was completed, all the participants gathered in front of the mosque, where a public meeting took place with the speeches of representatives of the South Hebron Hills Popular Committee and of the Popular Struggle Coordination Committee.

After explaining the history of the village since the early 80’s, a representative for Um Fagarah community, said: “We are here to claim our right to exist on this land. All injustice and suffering of the recent years increased our strength. If the Israeli army continues to destroy, we will continue to build!”

The event ended with the traditional Palestinian dance.

In 1999, Israeli army and Civil Administration expelled the inhabitants of Um Fagarah and other villages in the area. Only severals months later the inhabitants were allowed to return to their homes. In 2011, on November 3^rd the utility poles which should connect the village with the electricity net, were demolished http://www.operationdove.org/?p=650 and on November 24^th the Israeli army arrested two Palestinian girls and demolished several huts including the mosque http://www.operationdove.org/?p=655. The inhabitants of Um Fagarah rebuilt it later http://www.operationdove.org/?p=658, but on May 2^nd the Civil Administration delivered stop working orders to 4 infrastructures, preventing the development and the existence of the Palestinian community .

The event clearly showed how the Palestinian communities in the South Hebron Hills are strongly involved in affirming their rights and resist to the Israeli occupation choosing the nonviolent way.

Operation Dove has maintained an international presence in At-Tuwani and South Hebron Hills since 2004.

Pictures of the event: http://snipurl.com/23lhqt5

HEBRON, May 20, 2012 (WAFA) – Jewish settlers Sunday set fire to Palestinian Agricultural land in an area near Khirbet Susiya, a locale south of Yatta in Hebron, according to a local activist.

Ratib al-Jabour, coordinator of the Popular Committee against the Wall and Settlements in southern Hebron, told WAFA that settlers from the Israeli settlement of Susiya, under Israeli soldiers protection, set fire to the harvested barley crops belonging to several Palestinians in the area.

(Source: english.wafa.ps)