'Settlers' invade al-Aqsa Mosque

Tension is running high in the holy Aqsa Mosque in occupied Jerusalem after Jewish colonists stormed and roamed the plazas of the holy site at the early morning hours on Monday. Report by Voice of Palestine

The Aqsa guards said that Israeli occupation police escorted the groups of colonists who were roaming the mosque in provocative tours.

Jewish settlers storm the Aqsa Mosque

Palestine - ancient but the newest nation yet?

Over 120 countries have endorsed Palestine's right to be recognised by the UN as a legitimate nation, with key countries such as the USA abstaining. Much of Europe is yet to join the group too. here is a PETITION you can sign to push this forward.

DrDavid Halpin: new interview - 'Blair is a psychopath'

http://youtu.be/P_JujCkrcXo

Laura Emmett talks to leading UK anti-war activist Dr David Halpin. He describes Israel as the de-stabilising eement in the Middle East, repeats the assertion that David Kelly was killed and his accusation that Tony Blair is a psychopath and a war criminal. When America got its oblique hold on Palestine, the ancient country must have looked like the major prize in the nascent US empire, but there can be no doubt that, to mix a metaphor, the tail is wagging the dog.

New Flotilla under threat (Updated)

Kathy Kelly, vcnv.org
Coordinator of Voices for Creative Nonviolence, Kelly just wrote the piece “Staying Human: Preparing to Sail to Gaza,” which states: “Last week, newly-arrived in Athens as part of the U.S. Boat to Gaza project, our team of activists gathered for nonviolence training. We are here to sail to Gaza, in defiance of an Israeli naval blockade, in our ship, ‘The Audacity of Hope.’ Our team, and nine other ships’ crews from countries around the world, want Israel to end its lethal blockade of Gaza by letting our crews through to shore to meet with Gazans. The U.S. ship will bring over 3,000 letters of support to a population suffering its fifth continuous decade of de facto occupation, now in the form of a military blockade controlling Gaza’s sea and sky, punctuated by frequent deadly military incursions, that has starved Gaza’s economy and people to the exact level of cruelty considered acceptable to the domestic population of our own United States, Israel’s staunchest ally. …
“Israel Defense Forces are reportedly training for a fierce assault intended to ‘secure’ each boat in the flotilla, the ‘Freedom Flotilla 2.’ As passengers specifically on the U.S. boat, we may be spared the most violent responses, although Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has not ruled out such violent responses and has preemptively certified any response we may ‘provoke’ (in sailing from international waters to a coastline that is not part of Israel) is an expression of Israel’s ‘right to defend themselves.’ Israel says it is prepared for a number of scenarios, ranging ‘from no violence’ (which it knows full well to expect) to “extreme violence.” We are preparing ourselves not to panic, and to practice disciplined nonviolence whatever scenario Israel decides to enact.”
AMJAD SHAWA, pngo at palnet.com
Coordinator of PNGO, the Palestinian Non-Governmental Organizations Network, Shawa said today: “We had a demonstration of several hundred people in front of the UN headquarters here, civil society groups in Gaza calling for the protection of the flotilla and action for an immediate end of the siege and suffering of people in Gaza.”

update 2nd July: click here to help the boats sail!

Picture: One previous Gaza sailing - the Jewish Boat To Gaza

Soldiers order Palestinian farmers to stop work

28 June

NABLUS (Ma'an News Agency) -- Israeli forces on Monday stopped Palestinian farmers working on their land in villages in the northern West Bank, a local agricultural committee reports.

Farmers were working in Jurish and Aqraba villages as part of a land reclamation project but soldiers said the farmland had been confiscated and now belonged to Israel, committee coordinator Yousif Deiriyya said.While active,members of the forces stole a backhoe.

The committee for the union of agricultural workers said Friday that Israeli forces stole a vehicle from farmers and ordered them to stop work in the same area.

Land reclamation projects aim to improve the source of income for families which rely on agriculture and also serve to protect vulnerable land from Israeli confiscation.

The project is carried out by the committee for the union of agricultural workers in partnership with Palestinian non-governmental organizations under the management of agricultural relief committees. It is funded by the Dutch government.

Freedom For Palestine!

Listen to this truly excellent new single!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V28HnPTYz-I&feature=player_embedded

Zionist rebuilding destroys economy and tourism in Jerusalem

The Jerusalem Centre for Social and Economic Rights has declared a "disaster" in the Old City's commercial and tourism sectors after Israel used hefty taxes and other pressures to shut down 250 shops in the past few years. JCSER director Ziyad al-Hammouri expected the situation to worsen as the campaign to Judaize the Old City thrives. "What is taking place is designed to promote the presence of Jewish settlements inside the city walls and the entire area surrounding the Old City, especially in Silwan, Ras al-Amud, and Sheikh Jarrah, which are neighbourhoods geographically connected to the Old City. There is also a plan to erect shopping centres and hotels in the area similar to those built near the Gate of Al-Khalil," Hammouri added.

Jerusalem On Tuesday 31st May, Mayor Nir Barakat on said the municipality would continue to build Jewish-only housing in the occupied city. he told Israel Radio that all construction plans would be completed regardless of "political issues."