Summary and Analysis

The Palestinian Authority is charging Israel with “unprecedented escalations,” even as its broadcast arm, V.O.P., appears to be readying the Palestinian population for a still-worse escalation, perhaps even Israeli invasion.

In one of the tragic-comic interludes of Palestinian radio, the Voice of Palestine turned over its microphones and headlines for several hours Tuesday and Wednesday to the anti-Zionist Hasidic advertisers in The New York Times.

Palestinian National Congress speaker Salim Za’anoun (who recently raised hackles with Arafat by asking for more power sharing) returned to the headlines and news items again Wednesday, holding a limited session of the PNC.

Why is Arafat allowing the appearance (in public and in the state-run media) of Za’anoun, always viewed as a hard-liner and someone who has recently reiterated that the PNC never actually repealed the Palestinian Covenant? Possible Answer: Arafat supports the hard line, but, as is often the case, would prefer that someone else get the blame if the hard line elicits a harsh American and/or Israeli response. Another possible answer: Arafat is actually acceding-at least in appearance-to the power-sharing demands of some of his critics, and he is allowing a more public face to younger generation (home-grown) leaders such as Marwan Barghouti. But if experience is any guide, Arafat will let out the leash for a while, and then pull it back in when he thinks Za’anoun, Barghouti and others have over-stepped the line.

V.O.P. largely downplayed the three sniping attacks on four Israeli civilians at the northern approaches to Jerusalem on Tuesday evening February 27. The events were treated as an after-word to various Israeli attacks and search procedures, some of which were prompted by the sniping attacks.

Tuesday Evening Headlines, February 27

  • “Israeli occupation forces are currently bombarding inhabited residences in Mount Tawil (jabal Tawil) in El-Bireh, and sources tell us that occupation forces in the colony of Psagot, built on the land of (Palestinian) citizens opened heavy automatic weapons fire on residential neighborhoods in Mount Tawil;
  • In addition, Israeli occupation forces are currently shelling the northern approaches and inhabited neighborhoods of El-Bireh using heavy automatic fire concentrated from the colony of Beit El;
  • The youngster Muhammad Mahmoud Hilis, 13 years old from Gaza, was very seriously wounded by israeli fire concentrated from the Mintar Crossing in eastern Gaza. And our correspondent says that the youth, who was taken to Shifa Hospital, was hit by an explosive bullet in the head (Note: this would be an illegal “dum-dum”-like bullet);
  • And in a new confrontations, five citizens in Kalandia Camp were wounded by live bullets and suffocation, after protests to mark the martyring of Hussan al-Disi who was felled by occupation bullets yesterday;
  • Occupation authorities have imposed a curfew on the town of Rafat near Ramallah, and occupation soldiers have invaded some of the citizens’ houses, bringing armored personnel carriers into the center of the town…and opening fire in the vicinity of the Palestine Broadcasting Service;
  • Occupation forces have stopped for search about 20 cars on the approach to Bani Zeideh;
  • This afternoon, three settlers were wounded when their car was subjected to fire near the colony of Giv’at Ze’ev, which was built on land of citizens from south of Betunia. And Israeli sources say the wounded are one man and two women, all in serious condition;
  • At this moment in Amman his excellency President yaser Arafat is conducting talks with the Jordanian monarch King Abdullah, and talks are revolving around recent political developments and the visit of American Secretary of State Colin Powell, as well as civilian matters and the continuation of Israeli military aggression. In addition, the are discussing the upcoming Arab summit on March 27. And Jordan is the first stop on an international swing for President Arafat that will take him to Egypt and to Libya;
  • Jordanian Foreign Minister Abdul-Hilal al-Khatib said today that talks between King Abdullah and Egyptian President Husni Mubarak dealt with preparations for the summit…;
  • The Central Rabbinical organization of Jews of the United States condemned Israel’s destructive polices against the Arab peoples, especially the Palestinian people. And the statement which was published in the New York Times said ‘the existence of Zionism and Israel was an affront to the will of God who stripped the Jews of the control of the dejected Temple and the Holy Land, and decreed upon them “exile” and revulsion among the peoples of the world.And the Central Rabbinical Organization concluded that Zionism is against the Torah and the will of God'”

Note: despite the relatively short nature of the bulletin, V.O.P. went on to quote the anti-Israeli advertisement at length and with great relish concerning the guilt of Israel in committing many massacres and other great transgressions. One may ask why did V.O.P. bother with this item, reaching into the New York Times for an advertisement? Answer: this is a wonderful opportunity for the V.O.P. to tell its listeners what it really thinks about Israel and Zionism without facing the risk of violating the Oslo accords, which prohibit such comments, by simply quoting a Jewish group.

The translator does not know which rabbinical organization took out this advertisement in the NYT, but it sounds like Satmer Hassidim or Neturei Karta, rather than a major American Jewish group. Nevertheless, V.O.P. and the PA can almost never resist grabbing a criticism of Israel out of the mouths of Jews-sometimes distorting and exaggerating the criticism-to build a case against Jewish control of Jerusalem. V.O.P. did something similar in October when it distorted the findings of a Tel Aviv University professor of archeology, claiming his findings showed there had never been a Temple of Solomon where the Islamic shrines currently stand]

  • United Nations settlement authorities say the Israeli settlements on Palestinian lands are illegitimate and illegal…The comments came in its 18th annual gathering in Kenya; (Here, too, the provenance of this item is not clear, or for that matter which UN body is being quoted)
  • Minister of the (Israeli) Labor Party are meeting to determine the portfolios in the Sharon Government.And Yossi Beilin of the Labor Party said that Sharon has committed some of the worst political transactions.”

9:00 p.m. Evening News, Tuesday February 27

  • “Israeli occupation forces escalate their aggression in the Ramallah district, bombarding residential neighborhoods with artillery and automatic fire;
  • Several citizens wounded by occupation bullet fire;
  • Three settlers and two soldiers from occupation army in shooting incidents near Rafat south west of Ramallah;
  • His Excellency President Yasser Arafat pursues talks in Amman that will also take him to Egypt and Libya;
  • Central Rabbis of Jews in the United States and Canada condemn the policies of Israel against Arab peoples, especially our Palestinian people;
  • Sources in the Likud Party say it intends to bring in an additional 17 Knesset members from the extreme Right;
  • The Israeli police are investigating moral charges againt Member of Knesset Ayyoub Kara, acused of molesting a woman in his office;
  • Jordanian Foreign Minister Abdul-Hilal al-Khatib says the Arab summit will concentrate on issues relating to the peace process;
  • Iraq and the United Nations agree to hold a third session (of talks) in New York in three weeks.”

Wednesday Morning Headlines. 7 a.m. / 8 a.m. / 9 a.m.

  • “The martyring of Na’im Ahmad Baddabin, 50 years old after a tank attacked his house in el-Bireh;
  • Occupation bombardments and automatic fire on our citizens in various parts of the homeland, wounding 15, three of them classified as serious;
  • His Excellency President Yasser Arafat holds talks in Cairo today with Egyptian President Husni Mubarak…discussing current political developments and to prepare for the coming Arab summit;
  • Members of the Palestinian National Congress in Gaza held a session yesterday headed by Salim Za’anoun, the speaker of the Congress, discussing the political developments in the shadow of continuing Israeli aggression, the continuing siege and political developments in Israel;
  • The Ministry of Health denies reports in the Israeli media that 15 new ambulances were allowed to enter (PA territory) as part of easing up in the health sphere;
  • The Central Rabbis of the United States and Canada condemn Israel for attacks on the Arabs, particularly the Palestinians [NOTE: this item began as an advertisement in the NYTimes by some extremist fringe Hasidic group, but it became a major V.O.P. headline for more than 12 hours straight. >

Wednesday February 28th Morning News Round-Up

  • “Haphazard Occupation bombardment of residential neighborhoods in El-Bireh and other areas, leading to the martyring of citizen Na’im Ahmad Baddadin, 50 years old, and the clinical death of the child Muhammad Mahmoud Ishil in Gaza;
  • A dangerous Israeli escalation of its military and occupation measures involving widespread attacks and incursions in the village of Rafat near Ramallah [Note: V.O.P. does not mention that this was location of sniping attacks on Israelis the day before];
  • Palestinian refusal to resume security contacts (with Israel) at this time under the present political and security climate and unless it is done with American participation;
  • General Amin al-Hindi, director of General Intelligence will discuss this subject with us…;
  • The siege and the Israeli aggression are turning lies of citizens nto an endless nightmare full of economic worry, and the authorities are demanding international assistance for thousands on the edge of poverty and the inability to live;
  • Israeli Labor Party heads to government with the Likud…”

Quote of the Day

“The greatest danger to the Palestinians is colonization and settlers, and they are nothing but a gang, and (note: as in gang of robbers, or band as in band of robbers) even as Israel talks about civilians… these settlers are nothing more than an armed militia.”
PA Cabinet Secretary Ahmad Abdul-Rahman, Wednesday February 28 7:30 a.m. See also comments from February 27 on PA consigning “outlaw” or “bounty” status to settlers.

Quotes from Interview with Ahmad Abd-alRahman, PA Cabinet Secretary, 7:25 a.m.

Question: Direct artillery bombardment of houses. What do yousay about this escalation and arbitrary use of force ?”

Answer: “Israeli forces, under direct orders from Barak and Sharon, have for about the last ten days have carried out an unprecedented escalation on Palestinian territory. In response to rocks, we receive bullets and poison gas, and in response to demonstrations, we get explosive bullets. And from any point that they feel confrontation with youths, they open up with direct artillery shelling. So it is now, whether in Beit Jallah or El-Bireh or in Khan Yunis or in Rafah and also in Hebron. It is an escalation whose only goal is to send a message to the Palestinian people, and to the Palestinian Intifada, that Israel has no answer to the Intifada, for the Palestinian people and its demand to liberate its land, except for power, military power, more killing, more law of destruction of Palestinians and their land.

This is a danger for which Israel must take full blame-before our people and the international community. That is why voices have been raised throughout the world against this wanton use of military force by Israel and the assassinations and so forth along with other Israeli crimes. As well the American State Department published a report and condemnation of this wanton use of force and the policy of assassinations. And Human Rights report in New York also commented on the deliberate blind use of force against Palestinian houses.”

Question: “The Settlement Council in the West Bank speaks of liquidating President Yasser Arafat. What do you say to that and how do maneuver… in response to such threats?”

Answer: “These threats are the best indication that the greatest danger to the Palestinians is colonization and settlers, and they are nothing but a gang, and (note: as in gang of robbers, or band as in band of robbers) even as Israel talks about civilians, these settlers are nothing more than an armed militia serving the army, and the army serves them. What does the army do in Palestinian lands except serving the settlers, closing roads for the Palestinians and opening roads for the settlers. They enable the settlers to cut down the trees and seize control of the land. This settlement existence has reached a level where it directs Israeli policy and demands from Sharon the liquidation of President Yasser Arafat. These dangerous words published by the settlers and the settlement council are like a big placard showing the voices of the international community that the settlers have no place in Palestinian territory. They have to leave this land for the Palestinian people and return to their homes inside Israel.”

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