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Official PA Radio News: Voice of Palestine January 1, 2001

By
​Center for Near East Policy Research
-
Summary and Analysis
VOP ended its holiday schedule following the month of Ramadan and the Festival of the Feast (‘Eid al-Fitr), but it entered into the day of the 36th anniversary of the founding of the Fatah Movement, with calls for increased “struggle” and “escalation” and “rage” against Israel. (Note: although Fatah was actually founded in the late 1950’s, the movement marks today as the anniversary of its first military action: the attack on the Israeli National Water carrier in 1965.) “Thirty six- years ago, the Fatah movement fired its first shots and began its operations with blood, and it continues to pave its way in blood (opening sentence in anniversary report by Nizar al-Ghul 7:50 am).”

VOP focused on PA condemnation of Israel’s “assassination policy,” warning of the consequences of a policy of “state terrorism,” following the killing of Dr. Thabet Thabet (whom the Palestinian Authority called a leader in the Fatah movement and not a “PA health official,” as erroneously reported in The New York Times). The PA Information Ministry called for Israelis leaders to be treated as war criminals.

Several PA spokesmen noted that there was a difference between killing PA military men and killing PA political leaders and hinting that this was new dangerous territory in which Israeli leaders themselves might not be immune from attack. According to Palestinian count -by Dr. Hader Shukeirat of PA Law Committee– there have now been 12 “assassinations.” Shukeirat, in a long morning interview said Israel should be brought up on war crimes charges to the new International War Crimes Tribunal (to whose charter Israel tentatively subscribed yesterday, along with the United States).

VOP referred to the murder of Binyamin and Talia Kahane yesterday as “an armed attack” but did not offer any details as to which organization or units might be responsible or had broadcast claims of responsibility.

VOP reported that PA President Yasser Arafat said he was willing to go to the White House next week to “develop what was concealed” within the American proposals put forward by President Bill Clinton.

Meanwhile, his cabinet secretary Ahmad Abdul-Rahman made light of Barak’s threats to execute a unilateral implementation of Clinton’s proposals, and he and Tawfik Tirawi also called for increased Palestinian organization and self-defense against Israeli “state terrorism.” (see interviews below)

Quotes of the Day

“The Fatah Movement declares that all options are open to our people for the sake of its freedom, self-determination and the establishment of its independent state, and the (artillery) shelling and the continuing barbaric Israeli aggression will not frighten us or prevent from progressing in our just national quest.” (From Fatah Movement statement, read during morning headlines)

“These American ideas do not serve the Palestinian people but rather safeguard the occupation and the settlements..We will not accept any settlers no matter what the pressure and no matter what America says.” (PA Cabinet Secretary Ahmad Abdul-Rahman, prime-time morning interview)

Morning Headlines 7:00/8:00 a.m.

  • “Five citizens, including a 14-year-old child, martyred yesterday evening in shooting and artillery attacks by settlers and occupation forces in a variety of towns and villages (full listing of those martyred, their ages, where martyred, where they lived);
  • Masses will accompany the funeral in Tulkarm today of the martyr Dr. Thabet Thabet, the secretary of the Fatah movement in Tulkarm who was killed by Israeli special forces yesterday. And the National Authority warned Israel of the dangerous consequences of these assassination operations and the continuation of the policy of state terrorism;
  • The Fatah movement declares the continuation of the Intifada until the liberation of Palestine and the realization of the rest of our legitimate rights;
  • Formal casting of blame and condemnation on Israel for escalating the Occupation and strengthening the siege.;
  • Extremist settlers and racist Jewish elements from the racist Right commit evil acts against Palestinian citizens under the gaze of Israeli soldiers and policemen, especially in Jerusalem;
  • His Excellency President Yasser Arafat holds discussions in Cairo today with Egyptian President Husni Mubarak, and His Excellency states his readiness to discuss American ideas;
  • PA Cabinet Secretary Ahmad Abdul-Rahman says the Authority is preparing a formal request to the UN Security Council for an international protection force;
  • General Tawfik Tirawi, director of General Intelligence Forces in the West Bank, announced the arrest of groups of workers in Bethlehem.for helping proved information to Israel that led to assassination of (Palestinian) commanders. And General Tirawi called on our citizens to exercise great caution and to cooperate with the intelligence and security forces;
  • Occupation authorities arrested the youth Ali Khadr al-Ghul from inside Makassid Hospital, and our correspondent says the youth was in treatment in the hospital because his hand had been injured during an explosion at Ras al’Umud. And the occupation forces took him an unknown location for interrogation ((Note: Israeli Police Commander Mickey Ha-Levi, on Israeli Radio, said the youth’s hand was hurt when a bomb he was throwing apparently exploded prematurely));
  • National and Islamic Forces called on citizens to join prominent marches and protests today to mark the Palestinian Revolution.and to protest Israel’s assassination policy and continued siege. And in a statement, the forces urged the organization of the marches for Wednesday to show our refusal to American proposals in their present form.;
  • The special emissary of His Holiness Pope John Paul II reaches the homeland today, carrying a message from His Holiness to His Excellency President Yasser Arafat.”

Interview with Ahmad Abdul-Rahman, PA Cabinet Secretary

Q: “This escalation of a chain of crimes, culminating in the assassination of Dr. Thabet Thabet.This escalation, how can we respond to it?”

A: “Barak, who waxes eloquent about peace, has given the settlers a most dangerous role as well as the special units of ‘arabists’ from the Shin-Bet and the Mossad and units from the Israeli army in order to escalate the military blow against the Palestinian people, against all Palestinians, because this (Palestinian) people has refused the initiative presented by the United States which is in its essence an Israeli initiative.

Barak believes that by pressure and bloodshed will bring the Palestinian people before him to terms of acceptance.

These American ideas do not serve the Palestinian people but rather safeguard the occupation and the settlements..

It is incumbent to organize all the national forces in the cities and villages and camps and neighborhoods and all regions in order to resist and confront the gangs of settlers sent by Mofaz and Barak and others among the Israeli extremists. We have no choice but to organize the Palestinian masses, organize the political entities to supervise what happens in our villages, to supervise what happens in our streets. This is the way to strike (back) at the settlers, and the ‘arabists’ units who now penetrate into our lands.”

Q: “Israeli Prime Minister Barak is threatening implementing unilateral separation if the other side-the Palestinians-refuses the American ideas. What’s your reaction?”

A: “That’s just complacent talk what Barak says. What is one side going to do to separate, set up electrified fences, set up by-pass roads, make permanent the settlements in our land, make permanent the control of the Jordan River, and make permanent the existence of settlements and occupation in Jerusalem and so forth…I say there is only one way for peace and that is or Israel to withdraw from the occupied lands, first of all Jerusalem. These are the lands that were occupied in ’67 and on which must be established a Palestinian state. If Israel withdraws, the door to peace opens. If they try unilateral separation-meaning the deepening of the economic closure, then there will be no stopping an intifida the likes of which they have not seen…

There will be no settlers no matter what pressure from Israel and no matter what pressure from the United States. There is only one way. Israel has only one way: it has to withdraw from the occupied lands and first of all from holy Jerusalem.”

Quotes from Interview with Gen. Tawfiq Tirawi, PA General Intelligence Forces

“These crimes (i.e. assassinations by Israel) are an attempt to change to a level of assassination by those in the government of Israel. It’s an operation of pressure upon the Palestinian Leadership until it is ready to accept what is offered and until it is ready to retreat from Palestinian principles. Really this language Israel is using is an attempt to change level of the dialogue (between Israel and the Palestinians). Dialogue can be by words or by bullets and fire. Now the dialogue is changing to the level of assassinations: a level that did not exist before. This is transition to state terrorism in an official and announced manner with the knowledge of the military and political leadership in Israel.They believe they can terrorize our people, extinguishing its intifada, but not just against our innocent citizens, but also against the pillars of our Authority, assassinating senior Palestinian officers.”

Q: “Do you have information about political assassinations?”..

A: “Our whole society is subject to assassination. The child who was killed yesterday. That wasn’t assassination? That was assassination. Every Palestinian in the homeland-from Gaza to Jenin is subject daily to assassination. The five martyrs yesterday: they aren’t victims of assassination? Only the means are different (i.e. the way they died). The Zionist Enemy by this way or that is trying to inflict maximum losses on our Palestinian people in order to.undermine our steadfastness. We must first of all be steadfast in order to get our lands and to establish our independent Palestinian state.”

Holiday Interview with Sahir Habash, Member Fatah Central Committee
(January 1, 2001, 8:05 a.m.-8:20 am)

Q: “Thirty six years since the founding of Fatah and the unleashing of the Palestinian Revolution. What do you say?”

A: “In the name of God, the compassionate and merciful, after thirty-six years of the quest, we can really say that the revolution continues.. We had three principles: the principle of independence.realization of independence or our people and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with Jerusalem its capital. And the second principle is basic, our principles.no possibility of retreat from any of them under any solution whatsoever, and the struggle goes on, no matter what stage we were at-the stage of armed struggle, the stage of intifada, the stage of negotiations, stage of negotiations without intifada, stage of negotiations with intifada and so forth. The struggle operation goes on for our people.

This long march has cost thousands and tens of thousands of martyrs and wounded (gives list of Palestinian and other Arab nationalists no longer among the living).We live under difficult national conditions, but our linkage to our firm principles is strong. We believe in our ultimate victory.” (He then quickly reviewed the development of Palestinian thought from the refugee problem as a humanitarian issue through the ’67 and ’73 wars, the Arab summit of 1974 and the acceptance of the PLO at the UN.)

“We went to the United Nations and became firmly rooted in the United Nations as a people struggling for its freedom and its self determination. The circumstances were hard, from East and from West. We had to face big conspiracies run by the Zionist Enemy whose ally was imperialist America. We continued in our struggle despite all the conspiracies, all the attempts against us. The Battle of Beirut, our steadfastness, where we were firm. The Battle of Karameh. The Battle of Steadfast Beirut. From where we were released into the homeland. The organization of the Tanzim and the Shabiba (Fatah organziations) and the explosion of the Intifada in ’87. This itiada which shattered the occupation and which led to the historic step in 1988 of the Palestine Liberation Organization declaring independence-not just representing an organization but as a state, the state of Palestine in the United Nations. The struggle continued. The Intifada continued. There were successes and retreats, progress and regression, ups and downs resulting in that the Zionist Enemy could not but be intimidated into the peace process, the peace of the brave which we grasped..We continue.

We are now in the heart of the battle, the battle for the liberation of Jerusalem, the right of return.”

Official PA radio news – the PBC radio Dec. 29th -‘Eid al-Fitr (Feast Ending Ramadan)

By
​Center for Near East Policy Research
-

Summary and Analysis

VOP featured a fiery mosque speech from Sheikh Youssef Abu Sneina at the Al Aqsa Mosque. (see below) NOTE: This is the same Sheikh Abu Sneina who has been regularly featured on Palestinian State Television during Friday Prayers of Assembly and who, in one such PA-televised mosque speech on September 8, called for slaughtering Jews (Three weeks before Ariel Sharon’s controversial visit to Temple Mount/Haram area)

This time Sheikh Abu Sneina rejected any solution for Jerusalem outside of Islam: any settlement involving Israel or even international authorities in any way shape or form would be rejected, he said, in his mosque speech carried live on the Voice of Palestine.

What was most interesting in his speech was his placing of the problem of the Palestinian refugees AHEAD of the problem of Jerusalem.

Sheikh Abu-Sneina said that no Muslim could tolerate any foreign sovereignty anywhere in Jerusalem. Nor would any Muslim tolerate any compromise on the right of return (of Palestinian refugees).

VOP is reporting that the Palestinian Leadership is still considering American ideas and “opinions,” as VOP has taken the cue from Yasser Arafat (during comments to the press yesterday) that the American initiative not be called an “initiative” or even “proposals” but “ideas.”

Morning Headlines-9:00 a.m.

  • His Excellency President Yasser Arafat says that the Palestinian Leadership will continue to discuss the American opinions and ideas in pursuit of a final peace with Israel;
  • Occupation bulldozers took part in a wide-ranging operation of destruction last night in the lands of citizens in Kufr Aqaba;
  • Occupation authorities arrested our citizens in Sinjil after invading the town at dawn today;
  • Five citizens were wounded in operations by occupation troops and settlers in the villages near Nablus;
  • Occupation authorities have spread their siege on many areas in the wake of the eruption of the blessed intifada, in protest at the explosion that killed several from the Army of Occupation yesterday wounding 16

Afternoon Headlines-1 p.m. News Round-Up

  • “The Palestinian Leadership continues its review and discussion of American opinions and ideas on the peace process;
  • Occupation forces continue their siege of Palestinian lands;
  • American Foreign Ministry (i.e. Department of State) earmarks 80-million dollars in aid for Palestinian refugees in the Palestinian lands;
  • Sharon leads Barak in opinion polls for the upcoming election.”

Friday Mosque Address-‘Eid al-Fitr (Feast Ending Ramadan)

“O Ye, Muslims, know that Eid al-Fitr happily is come upon us and the Islamic Nation and our Islamic Palestinian people, which is striving and struggling with difficult circumstances who know that their own only salvation is with God.

Fighting Martyrs have not stopped competing among themselves to reach God, Blessings and Praise be heaped on His Exaltedness (i.e. suicide bombers vie with each other for the chance to become a martyr), and the wounded have reached the thousands, and before God and his mercy, our people are standing in their the heroic stance..

These are difficult days, stressful occurrences requiring deprivation in our efforts, as we operate in martyrdom and purposefulness.united, as one, cohesively against the American-Israeli conspiracy.

And remember, o Ye Muslims, that victory is assured to those who strive and believe.

O ye Muslims, regarding the city of Jerusalem, the capital of Islam and the Muslims.home of our Islamic study, land of the revelation and the mystic night journey, and the blessed Al Aqsa Mosque, symbol of our Islamic perseverance, symbol of the dialogue between infidels and believers, between Unity and Partnership (i.e. the differences in belief between pure monotheism as evinced in Islam and other beliefs holding more than one God or Trinity etc), between what is Islam and what is outside Islam, God knows what is taking place in His land.

Praise be on God that the heart of the Islamic people is with us, and they, wherever they may be, are standing shoulder to shoulder with the Muslim Palestinian people.

O Ye Muslims, no matter where Zionism moves its military bases or its State of Israel, or its neighborhoods and organizations, it has ailed in its efforts to Judaize the city of Jerusalem and to blur its Islamic character since it seized it in ’67-despite all its means, efforts and devices.

O ye Muslims, all these international commission decisions lead to requiring an international solution, to the internationalization of Jerusalem, to the internationalization of the holy city, and this with the dispatch of an international force of various nationalities to the Jerusalem of the Prince of the Faithful ‘Omar (i.e. the Islamic Caliph Omar from the seventh century, who conquered Jerusalem) and the Jerusalem of Sallah-al-Din (Salladin) Al-Ayyubi-and in all this there is a great danger from which we should beware. And we should call on all Arab leaders to reject this idea.

Our Jerusalem is not open for partition or dissection or sharing or having its ground-sanctified with pure culture and the blood of martyrs-defiled (with foreigners). God protect us: the internationalization of Jerusalem is nothing but occupation in another garb from the Israeli garb…All this is a degradation and diminishment of the Islamic quality of Beit al-Maqdas.

(Note: Beit al-Maqdas is the classical name for Jerusalem in Arabic, derived from the Hebrew term Beit ha-Miqdash, the Hebrew term for the Temple. The more modern term for Jerusalem in modern Arabic is al-Quds).

But of all the problems we discuss, the (most important is) the right of return for the Palestinian refugees. The problem of the Arab-Israeli conflict is not Jerusalem because Jerusalem represents the dialogue of conviction (between religious points of view), but the case of the return of the refugees is the central case..

And from this sacred pulpit, we say to the Islamic peoples that the case of the displaced and the refugees is the first priority, the most important case which causes the continuation of strife in the region in the Middle East as a whole..

And from here we say, too, to all our friends that Al Aqsa and all its grounds-what are underground and those above ground.east or west are Islamic by divine decree..

So let us say finally that Jerusalem can only exist under Islamic sovereignty, God, His Exaltedness, Willing.

And there will only be peace with the return of the refugees to their homes.”

NOTE: There was no disclaimer by VOP before or after broadcast, regarding the Palestinian Authority’s consent or agreement with the the Sheikh’s mosque speech, and the fact that he is often featured on VOP and the televised broadcasts of the PBC.

Official PA radio news – the PBC radio Dec. 30-31

By
​Center for Near East Policy Research
-

Summary and Analysis

Officials of the PA took a hard line during VOP broadcasts Saturday and Sunday, explicitly toughening negotiating positions publicly while also promising an intensification of para-military activities against Israelis.

Prominent hard-liners – e.g., Marwan Barghouti and Farouk Qaddoumi– were featured throughout the day on both Saturday and Sunday on different subjects, but always pushing the continuation of the “intifada” and offering a skeptical view of prospects for any deal with Israel. Barghouti specifically called for escalating attacks on Israel (see Barghouti Saturday interview below, day before Kahane deaths) and threatened reprisals (see Sunday remarks after Thabit death). Barghouti said the Fatah Movement would spur its operational activities for two weeks to mark the official founding of the Fatah (January 1, 1965).

The thrust of remarks by Qaddoumi and Saeb Erikat was that the Palestinian Authority was not being subjected to Arab pressure to accede to American ideas and that the PA would work through the upcoming Arab summit (now projected for Thursday) to achieve an Arab consensus on American ideas.

Sunday Morning Headlines-Dec. 31, 8:00 a.m.

  • “In the flurry of diplomatic activity, His Excellency President Yasser Arafat holds talks in the Tunisian capital today with the President of Tunisia Zaid Abdeen Ibn Ali, about the latest aggressions committed against the Palestinian people by Israel and also about the Palestinian view concerning the American ideas and opinions offered recently by the American Administration;
  • Dr. Saeb Erikat, Local Rule Minister, is in Amman today for talks with Jordanian Foreign Minister Abdel-Hillal al-Khatib about the latest developments in the Palestinian lands and about the Palestinian view concerning American ideas and opinions; And Dr. Erikat told us in a statement this morning that the American Administration was requiring a response in principle to its ideas before responding to Palestinian questions regarding them. And Dr Erikat said that it was impossible to talk about fateful issues such as the refugees and Jerusalem and security and water and so forth in a pompous way, and that the Palestinian Authority was demanding the American administration clear responses on these matters..And Dr. Erikat denied that the Palestinian Authority had been subjected to pressures from any Arab parties..;
  • Mr. Farouk Qaddoumi, the head of the PLO Political Department asserts that the American ideas do not differ markedly from the ideas offered at Camp David;
  • Israeli broadcasts say this morning that one settler was killed not far from the settlement of Ofra built on our citizens’ lands, and one report from the French news agency says that the settler was Binyamin Ze’ev Kahane, son of the extremist Rabbi Meir Kahane;
  • Israeli occupation forces continued their aggression against the sons of our people in a variety of districts in the homeland, strengthening the closure on several cities, towns and (refugee) camps, involving 18 citizens in injuries in Gaza and Rafah.;
  • A special Papal representative from His Holiness Pope John Paul II will reach His Excellency President Yasser Arafat tomorrow..;
  • Iraqi Health Ministry Director Zuheir Sa’id announced the dispatch of an Iraqi medical team to Amman-the fourth of its kind– to help wounded from the Intifada in Jordanian hospitals.sent by direction of Iraqi President Saddam Hussein to help those hurt in the Intifada;
  • Saudi Regent Prince Abdullah Ibb Abdel-Aziz said that it was incumbent to execute the dispatch of an international protection force for protecting the Palestinian people.;

Sunday Afternoon-1 p.m.
(headlines added or changed since the morning newsreel)

  • “The Palestinian Authority puts responsibility on Israel for the assassination Dr. Thabit Thabit, Fatah secretary in Tulkarm
  • Marwan Barghouti said the people would avenge the act of assassination.”

Saturday Morning Headlines, Dec. 30

  • “Masses in Gaza will accompany today the exalted martyr Mahmoud Ali Nseir, 26 years old, who was martyred when the security forces were subjected to Israeli artillery fire in the Beit Hanoun Crossing Point.;
  • The Leadership again renewed its demand to implement decisions of international legitimacy (i.e. resolutions 242, 338 and 194) in connection with the occupied Palestinian lands, saying we will cling to every grain of our land and to the right of return for the refugees to their homes. The Leadership, in a statement issued after its weekly meeting in Gaza last night, said there could be no solution whatsoever in which our people and our Leadership retreat under military pressure, forsaking in a humiliating way even one grain of our holy land, our Jerusalem and our holy places-Christian and Islamic. The Leadership declared that it clings completely to the right of return for the refugees to their homes and residences according to Resolution 194. The Leadership said it was patiently trying to get out of the present situation–replete with siege and aggression-in the negotiations…It said the Israeli positions were the same positions as in Camp David..The Leadership declared its willingness to enter serious and final talks under international aegis without a fixed and short timetable based on international legitimacy;
  • Nabil Abu-Irdeineh, President Yasser Arafat’s advisor, said the Palestinians would not accept any agreement that did not safeguard complete Palestinian sovereignty over East Jerusalem and the holy Jerusalem Shrine (Haram al-Sharif);
  • The National and Islamic forces and units of the PLO expressed their confidence in President Yasser Arafat and the Leadership’s stance of refusal to the American proposals in their present form.It stressed the necessity of continuing the Intifada until occupation is defeated and independence flourishes.”

Interview with Fatah Secretary, Marwan Barghouti
7:45 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 30:

Q: “What is the stance of the Fatah movement regarding the American proposals?”

A: “It is a clear position which the Fatah movement has enunciated, and that is that any proposal, unless it is based on the core Palestinian principles, will not be accepted by the Fatah Movement..Any proposal and any agreement must be based on complete Palestinian Arab sovereignty on the city of Jerusalem and the Right of Return for the Palestinian refugees to their homes and residences according to Resolution 194, as well as the removal and termination of the settlements and the return to the June 4, 1967 borders. (Anything Else) will not be acceptable and refused conmpletely by the Palestinian people and not just by the Fatah Movement.

And in this sphere we are completely as one with the President, Yasser Arafat who expressed his complete refusal to the American proposals which are nothing but Israeli ideas.”

Q: “What do you say about Israeli statements refusing Palestinian sovereignty over Haram al-Sharif?”

A: “Barak is not serious when he talks about peace and about seeking agreement. The only thing that moves him is winning the election, and not (also: rather than) executing the peace process. The other thin is that the national rights of the Palestinians do not figure in his time frame-neither for Barak nor for anyone else (i.e. the other Israeli candidate). Therefore, we believe without Arab sovereignty not only over Al Aqsa but over the city of Jerusalem in its entirety as being part of the Palestinian Arab lands captured in ’67, there will be no success for any agreement or for any peace. And it would be wise for the rulers from Tel Aviv (i.e. the Israeli government) to understand the winds of history and the message of this Intifada and resign themselves to the firm rights of the Palestinian people. Without them there will be no peace, no security and no stability in this region.”

Q: “What is the future program of the Fatah Movement (on the occasion of its 36th anniversary)?”

A: “We during these days will commemorate and reinforce the martyrdom of the heroes of our movement, who struggled and strove in heroism, who fell in heroic operations, and we send our good health and greetings to the prisoners and to its Leadership and its commanders, its members, and its formations and to its wounded and to all its strivers and to all its institutions.above all to the Brother, the President, the Leader, Abu Amar (nickname of Arafat). And we are armed with our blessed intifada which will terminate the Israeli occupation. And the year 2001 will be the year of independence and the year of Return and the year of sovereignty..”

Q: “Any special programs or celebrations?”

A: “Fatah movement will celebrate in its own special way, in the way of struggle (i.e. operations), and there will operations that will be unleashed tomorrow, Sunday, the 31st, and a popular march through the communities of the Homeland in various towns, villages and cities..

And on the first of the first (January 1) all the Palestinian lands and prefectures will see military marches and demonstrations, and the coming two weeks will be days of escalation and Fatah rage against the Occupation.”

Coverage of Terror

The deaths of two Israelis-Binyamin Kahane and his wife-was covered quite differently than the death of Fatah Secretary in Tulkarm Thabit Thabit:

  • In the former, there was no mention made of the fact that an entire civilian family was attacked–father and mother killed, five children wounded, one gravely. VOP did not report the fact that the passengers were children ranging in age from two months to ten years. There was no condemnation of the attack. Rather, Kahane was called a settler from Ofra (incorrect) which VOP stressed was a settlement built on citizens’ lands (also incorrect, since Ofra was built on public state lands, not privately owned). In addition, VOP emphasized in several of its broadcasts that Binyamin Kahane was the sone of the “extremist rabbi” Meir Kahane (not mentioning that he, too, was murdered, by an Arab assassin in New York);
  • In the latter death, VOP carried PA condemnations of the “assassination policy” of Israel, not mentioning that Thabit Thabit, as Fatah secretary of Tulkarm, had had a strong hand in planning and executing attacks on Israeli settlers and civilian vehicles

Quotes from Interview with Ziad Abu-Ziad, PA Jerusalem Minister
Sunday (7:40 a.m.)

“The Wailing Wall-what is the Burak Wall-is part of the Al Aqsa Mosque. The American ideas are nothing but Israeli ideas. The American ideas are nothing but Israeli ideas in American cloaking. We are thinking not only of the Palestinians who are here now, but also the Palestinians who will be here in the future-the refugees.”

Official Palestinian Authority Voice of Palestine Radio: Dec. 25

By
​Center for Near East Policy Research
-

Summary and Analysis

Christmas morning on the Voice of Palestine was marked by three key items:

  • Holiday comments of Latin Patriarch Michel Sabah;
  • Palestinian protest at the retention of “the bodies of two exalted martyrs” (including the man who set off a car-bomb in Mehola on Friday);
  • Continued calls by “nationalist and Islamic forces” to continue the intifada and for Palestinians to refuse to accept anything less than the full control of Jerusalem and the complete right of return for refugees.

  • VOP’s broadcasts were also unusual in two ways: the news was somewhat haltingly broadcast over the FM lines at 91.5 and then 103.4 with large dollops of classical music, Western-style Christmas-“Muzak” with heaping helpings of, believe it or not, jingle bells.

    In the evening hours of Dec. 24 and in the morning Dec. 25, VOP (which lost its AM-675 signal for unknown reasons) focused on the Israeli capture of 13 or 14 Fatah agents in the village of Asira al-Shamaliyya, referring to it as “another example of Israeli escalation”.

    VOP also featured lengthy quotations from interviews with and/or statements by negotiators Yasser Abd-Rabbo and Saeb Erikat, both of whom said deep differences remained with Israel. Erikat and PA leader Yasser Arafat also said Israeli press statements were designed to cause confusion (Arafat) and unrest (Erikat) among the Palestinians.

    Erikat said PA leaders were waiting for responses from other Arab leaders before formalizing a response to the talks in Washington.

    In a morning interview, PLO representative to Washington Hassan Abdel-Rahman said the proposals plan offered by PresIdent Bill Clinton were totally different from the earlier proposals at Camp David.

    VOP featured (and embellished) Israeli reports that the Israeli tourism industry has been significantly hurt by the Intifada.

    Christmas Morning Headlines

    • “Latin Patriarch Michel Sabah says Christians are full members of Palestinian society and deserve equal treatment and freedom: His comments came in the Mass at Bethelehm attended by His excellency President Yasser Arafat;
    • Pope John Paul II, in a letter to believers, expresses concern for dangerous situation in the Middle East, the status of the holy places-especially Bethlehem– and his concern about continued bloodshed in Holy Land;
    • Occupation forces continue to retain the bodies of two exalted martyrs who were martyred (as many as) four days ago: one of the martyrs exploded himself near the colony of Mehola which was built on our citizens’ land, as well as the body of Nejib Muhammad Abdo who was martyred four days ago;
    • Occupation forces extend their aggression in Gaza and Betunia;
    • In Dir al-Balah, occupation forces attacked populated houses with heavy artillery;
    • The nationalist and Islamic forces asserted that the unification and integration of Palestinian Jerusalem-its people and its land-is the basis of a just and lasting peace. And in a communique issued last night it said that any attempt at partial solutions undermines the principles of the (Palestinian) revolution: the right of return, the right of self-determination and the building of an independent Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital—(and such an attempt) is repudiated and declared null and void. And in its communque, the national and Islamic forces sent their congratulations to the people on the occasion of the Feast (‘Id al-Fitr, ending Ramadan)..and Christmas and the Christian New Year, for continuing the revolution,calling for visits to the (graves of) the martyrs and their families,in keeping with national solidarity and the continuing Al-Aqsa Intifada.
    • His Excellency President Yasser Arafat meets Egyptian President Husni Mubarak in Cairo today to discuss developments in the area as Israel continues its aggression against our people in the wake of the Palestinian-Israeli talks in Washington under American sponsorship;
    • The Israeli Bureau of Central Statistics said there was a sharp drop in Israeli tourism in recent months under the pressure of the blessed intifada of our people.”

Official Palestinian Authority Voice of Palestine Radio Broadcasts: Dec. 26

By
​Center for Near East Policy Research
-

Summary and Analysis

VOP returned Tuesday to very careful coverage of the Clinton proposals to the Palestinians and Israel in Washington. VOP is trying to navigate between the hard line of Abu Ala (PA Speaker Ahmad Qreia who largely dismissed the ideas) and the softer line of PLO representative in Washington Hassan Abdul-Rahman (who saw significant changes from Camp David).

The bottom line of Yasser Arafat’s spokesman, Nabil Abu-Irdeineh, was “yes, but” to the Clinton ideas. (His remarks followed-by about 10 hours-the TV interview of Ehud Barak in which the Israeli prime minister said thatIsrael would have a difficult time refusing Clinton’s ideas, if the ideas were accepted by Arafat.)

At the same time, VOP continues to feature quasi-legal commentaries on the importance of “the right of return” and its basis in UN resolutions 194 and 181.

VOP reported that the PA Leadership spent much of yesterday reviewing the negotiations and “continue to study American initiatives” for several hours again today.

VOP accused Israel of planning-with extremist settlers-provocative acts in Jerusalem, and it interviewed both Feisal Husseini (PLO Executive member, responsible for Jerusalem) and MK Muhammad Barakeh on what it said were strong rumors that Mayor Ehud Olmert would move his municipal offices to the Old City tomorrow. Husseini said the Palestinians were preparing for this possibility, and would respond with force to any attempt to change the “Arabness” of Jerusalem.

Elsewhere in the news programs, VOP featured Jerusalem Mufti Ikrema al-Sabry in a call to prayer and to visits to the burial plots of the martyrs and to visits to the martyrs’ families. There was also an interview with ‘Isa Karaka, representative of the Palestinian prisoners, who described the difficult conditions of the prisoners and detainees, especially during the holiday period.

Once again, VOP featured lengthy quotations from a Palestinian leader (this time, PA presidential secretary Ta’ib Abdel-Rahim) to the effect that the “Independence Intifada” (what has become the preferred name for what was once the Al Aqsa Intifada) was a planned program by the Palestinian leadership to achieve specific political goals. Abdel-Rahim’s remarks were first broadcast Monday afternoon and evening, but they were highlighted again-as the top-of-the-hour feature-Tuesday morning.

Tuesday Morning Headlines (7:30-9:00 a.m.)

  • “The Arab and Islamic world tomorrow celebrates Id-al-Fitr;
  • The Leadership wishes holiday greetings to all citizens;
  • Mufti Sheikh Ikrema al-Sabry calls for visits to martyrs and their families and the wounded during the Feast;
  • Feisal Husseini, holder of the Jerusalem portfolio (in the Palestinian cabinet) says our people will respond with force to any attempt by Israel to alter the Arab nature of Jerusalem;
  • Under the leadership of President Yasser Arafat, the High Committee on Negotiations will continue to study the American initiatives;
  • President Yasser Arafat’s advisor Nabil Abu-Irdeineh says that the American ideas are not sufficient;
  • Israeli occupation forces shell with artillery communities in Zababdeh, Nablus, Sinjil, and Turmous Aya, wounding 17 citizens, several of them seriously;
  • Presidential Secretary Taib Abdel-Rahim says the matter of an international force and compulsory implementation of agreements are the only way for the peace process to get out its rut.”

Quotes of the Day

“The Leadership has enough confidence in itself to say ‘no’ to any agreement which does not serve the national interest, but it also has enough confidence in itself and the people to say ‘yes’ if there is a real opportunity and a historical moment a just and comprehensive peace.” (From remarks of Presidential Secretary Taib Abdel Rahim, quoted this morning)

It is clear that the Israeli Right will take any provocation necessary to thwart the peace process.” (Israeli Arab MK Muhammad Barakeh, commenting on reports that Jerusalem Mayor Ehud Olmert was planning to move his offices to the Old City tomorrow)

Interview with Yasser Abd-Rabbo (7:50-8:05am)

Q: “Is there beginning to appear an opinion among the Leadership on the American initiative?”

A: “Yes, we have received ideas from the American president. And these ideas merit deep and extensive study, but they need great examination, and it will be difficult in this short time period to reach final conclusions. As of now, we only have preliminary observations. Part of our initial perceptions is that some of these ideas were in Camp David and some of them replace things that were in Camp David. That’s why we have to consider what are really new ideas..we have to see what about these so-called ‘bridging proposals’ from Camp David. When I was in Washington last week, the Palestinian delegation made it clear that we could not return once again to the same point we were at in Camp David: especially in regards to the Shrine (Haram al-Sharif/Temple Mount) and Jerusalem and regarding other matters such as settlements and the matter of the refugees.

In some of these matters there is new material, and some this serves Israel, especially, for example, the matter of security and the matter of the refugees where Israel wants the nullification of any rights for the Palestinian refugees… There is no balance in these things, and there has to be balance… We also noticed that there is a breach (also tr: transgression) on several main points on which the peace process is linked: the ideas of international legitimacy, Jerusalem and the matters of land and the settlements. Along with the idea of the Shrine there is the firming-up of the settlements around Jerusalem, that is from the West Bank, this ‘settlement Jerusalem’ would become part of Israel (i.e. parts of Jerusalem that were once Jordanian-controlled territory) that’s five or six percent of the homeland territory of the Palestinian people. We, really cannot accept something of this kind. We have said our discussion is based on the return to the June 4 1967lines, not on the existence of settlements or settlement belts built afterwards.”

Q: “Is there something new and positive in the American proposals?”

A: “There are some things that might make a new start, but there are a lot generalities which require clarification. For example, the use of international forces and the implementation of agreements..We need Israel to be required to carry out what it has agreed to..They have used every style of language to get around certain points (on the Haram al-Sharif/ Temple Mount shrine) such as ‘sovereignty on the land’ ‘sovereignty over the land’ for us and ‘sovereignty under the land’ for Israel. And so on. And on this matter, they want matters to go back to the beginning. We warned about this kind of thing…This is part of the Jerusalem problem. This is not part of Christmas gifts..This is five or six percent of the territory, territory of the homeland, which we consider part of our national homeland.

That is why I said it requires more study in the (PLO) Executive Committee, the Palestinian Institutions. There are also security elements to these questions. Also, these are questions that affect the region in its entirety. Such as Jerusalem and the refugees.We cannot accept a solution for the refugees that is not based on international legitimacy.”

Q: “Is it then fair to say that it is very difficult to accept the American ideas?”

A: “I want my words to be understood clearly..These proposals have some good points, but they also have a return to Camp David..That’s why we need more time to study inside the Palestinian institutions and for discussion with Arab parties and concerned parties. The subject is the final solution; the subject is an important regional issue.revolving around the issue of refugees, borders, security, Jerusalem..

The ending of the conflict, the ending of the conflict (he repeated for emphasis) must be based on a general agreement based on these ideas and principles, and every item of it must reach agreement, must be discussed and negotiated. With all these details. Is it possible to find an end to the conflict based on this?

After reaching these agreements, perhaps (can one) include the Arab countries such as fraternal Syria and Lebanon in a regional accord, in a comprehensive solution in which the sponsoring countries (i.e. those giving aid) can participate directly.”

Q: “So we need more time and discussion for a dialogue on the proposals.?”

A: No, it’s not just details.It’s bringing this to th einstitutions of the Palestine Liberation Organization..We need as I s a id deep and extensive study.because this is something that involves our national fate. This is one of the most important pieces of paper in our history. We have to discuss with our fraternal Arab states, because these ideas have regional ramifications, and we cannot surprise our Arab brothers-those close and far geographically-by accepting or not accepting ideas without a complete dialogue with them.”

Official Palestinian Authority Voice of Radio Broadcasts; Dec. 27

By
​Center for Near East Policy Research
-

Summary and Analysis

VOP reported that the Palestinian Leadership-the Executive Committee of the PLO-would discuss the American plan some more this evening, with a view to giving a response soon.

Throughout the day there were hints and nuances which indicated that the PA is facing growing disquiet from the refugee community and the Islamic establishment as well as Arab states.

Chief PA negotiator Saeb Erikat said in a VOP interview that Yasser Arafat would respond with a letter to President Bill Clinton, setting forth Palestinian principles. Erikat said the Palestinians would not be rushed into any agreements by the United States, which, he said, leaned heavily in Israel’s favor. He refused to give a clear indication, in his morning interview, whether Arafat would head to Egypt for a three-way meeting with Egyptian president Husni Mubarak and Israeli prime minister Ehud Barak.

In its morning and noon news shows, VOP did not report or respond to Israeli reports that Clinton planned to get the U.S. plan approved through the UN, as a replacement for resolutions 242 and 338.

Although the news shows carried the sermon of Mufti Ikrema al-Sabry (including veiled criticism of the PA position on Jerusalem), it did not summarize his remarks in the news shows or headlines, beyond saying that the Sheikh called for visits to the martyrs (graves) and their families, as well as the wounded.

Similarly, there was no comment – as of 6p.m.– on news agency reports that the PA was rejecting the American proposal (Reuters) or delaying its decision (AFP).

Morning Headlines (7:30-9:00 a.m.)

  • “Palestine participates with the Arab and Islamic world in the celebration of the Feast in the shade of continuing Israeli aggression;
  • Occupation forces attack parts of Ramallah and Jenin;
  • The (Palestinian) Leadership meets for consultations and deep discussion of the American initiative;
  • The mayor of occupied Jerusalem decides to move his office to the area of the Wall of Burak (i.e. the name of the Prophet Muhammad’s winged steed, who, according to Islamic legend, was tethered to the Western Wall of the Temple Mount).”
  • Feisal Husseini, member of the PLO Executive and holder of the Jerusalem portfolio, warned the Israelis about the danger of this step, saying we would defend the holy Jerusalem shrine (Haram al-Sharif).with a violent popular reaction.”

Quotes from Interview with Saeb Erikat, PA Negotiator

“We believe we will achieve the establishment of an independent Palestinian state over all the desired land with holy Jerusalem as its capital. Well, with regard to the continuing meetings (of the Leadership), as we said, we will not allow time to be used as a sword held over our heads. Our responsibility is great. First Jerusalem, the question of borders, the settlements, the refugees, it revolves around the question of water and other matters. I want to see these are very serious, deep and intensive discussions. Not just inside the (Palestinian) Authority but also between President Arafat and our brother Arabs (states)..What is demanded is a solution that must be based on international legitimacy (i.e. UN resolutions) 242, 338 and 194.

Any final agreement is going to have to be detailed, specific-which does not leave anything out..These are final status talks, not temporary, not with changes. We’re talking about comprehensive peace..We will not allow interim talks. We won’t allow delays.”

Q: “Does this mean refusal of the American ideas”

A: “Refusal or acceptance must be decided by the highest authorities. Based on international legitimacy. We all know the American predilection towards Israel. All these things have to be gone into in great detail. And the whole world has to know the Palestinian position”

Noon Headlines (additional or updated headlines, only)

  • “The Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization, headed by His Excellency President Yasser Arafat, meets this evening for further discussions of the American plan for a final solution in preparation for responding to it;
  • Occupation forces attack two Palestinian Guard positions in Jenin
  • Occupation authorities prevent prayer services for the Feast at the Megiddo Jail.”

Afternoon/Evening Headlines

(2 p.m., 4 p.m. & 6 p.m. largely repeating earlier headlines with some additions, as below)

  • “Extremist Jews try to invade Haram al-Sharif;
  • Israeli jets bomb in Lebanon;

Quotes of the Day

“The American ideas have not reached the level of Palestinian demands, but.they must reach the level of international legitimacy.” (Interview with Saeb Erikat, Chief PA negotiator)

“We wish all our listeners, on the occasion of the Feast, the fulfillment of all their hopes from the Return to the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital.” (Holiday greetings during news shows on December 27)

Rhetorical Elements (from Mosque Sermon)

by Mufti Sheikh Ikrema al-Sabry,
from the Al-Aqsa Mosque,
Wednesday morning
December 27, 2000, 7:30 a.m.)

“o, ye Muslims, this feast comes to us at a time when the case of Jerusalem and the holy places has been stirred to a boil, and our people are witness to the conspiracy hatched against Jerusalem and the holy places. There is no escaping the expression of our firm strategic stance: that the city of Jerusalem in its entirety be an Arab, Islamic city, and that it return to the sphere and sovereignty of the Arabs and the Muslims.

We announce say in your name ‘no’ to the judaization of the city and our refusal also to its internationalization.

(Note: in the background there was some noise as if one or more worshipers called out, perhaps objecting, to the sermon’s content at this point, screaming:

The American initiative to divide al-Aqsa into an upper sovereignty and a lower sovereignty are a conspiracy against al-Aqsa.”

(The Sermon went on to refuse any exchange of sovereignty in Jerusalem in return for the “nullification of the problem of the refugees,”. The sermon did not mention “Palestinian” sovereignty, calling instead for “Islamic sovereignty”)

“We will refuse to recognize any connection of kind of the Jews to the blessed al Aqsa Mosque. They have no trace of a connection to this Islamic mosque. We are its keepers, guardians and servants, and we will pierce any American initiatives and any Israeli statements.”

Official PA radio news – the PBC Voice of Palestine, Dec. 28th

By
​Center for Near East Policy Research
-

Summary and Analysis

The confusion and lack of clear direction at the top of the pyramid of power in the Palestinian Authority emerges clearly in the last two or three days of broadcasts of the Voice Of Palestine.

There has been no clear message from Yasser Arafat or his spokesman Nabil Abu Irdeineh (especially not in their own voices), and none from Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen), the PLO Executive secretary and the man most closely associated with the “Oslo Accords.”

Rather, VOP listeners have been trying to glean indications from sometimes conflicting analyses coming from leading PA officials: Yasser Abd Rabbo, Saeb Erikat, Ahmad Qreia, Taib Abdel-Rahim.

It appears that internal opposition from the refugee constituency and the Islamic clerics-as well as objections from several Arab countries– have stiffened Arafat’s resistance to American ideas, even though there was significant initial willingness to give a “yes, but” response to them (in an effort to gain further concessions and not to appear intransigient). Even now, the PA does not want to appear to be saying a clear ‘NO’ to American ideas.

Instead, the PA reports that it is still studying them, even as VOP reports (accurately and fairly) that the Israeli government has given “a conditional yes response” to the Clinton formula, after a 10-2 cabinet vote with two abstentions.

Morning Headlines (8 a.m.)

  • “Dr. Erikat asserts that the Leadership is awaiting clarifications of the Clinton ideas before responding to them in a final way;
  • The Exectuive Committee (of the PLO), after deep study of the American ideas, asserts the core Palestinian principles;
  • President Arafat states in a letter to Clinton expresses the Palestinian viewpoint on all the issues cast out (on the table);
  • His Excellency (Arafat) will meet with the Egyptian President following the cancellation of the three-way summit;
  • The American president carries out many contacts to some regional in connection with the peace process.”

Quotes of the Day

“The President’s (Arafat’s) advisor, Nabil Abu-Irdeineh stated that the president has sent a letter to President Clinton thanking him, on the part of the Palestinian Leadership, for the great efforts expended by Clinton.” (Morning News broadcast, VOP 8:00 a.m.)

“As of now, the American ideas do NOT meet the needs of international legitimacy.” (Saeb Erikat, 8:10 am, morning interview)

Interview with Saeb Erikat, chief PA negotiator

Q: “We asked Dr. Erikat if this was the final response to the American ideas?”

A: “As you know,the Palestinian Leadership is continuing the study of the American ideas in depth and conducting consultations with fraternal Arab states and friends around the world. We have demanded explanations and clarifications from the Americans side on all things. After all, what makes an agreement in the end is the details. That means the geographical elements, the deails of what happens to control over the land, that means various kinds of relations, that means territorial contiguity, what happens to water, that means security, Jerusalem…. We cannot just give a response to general ideas. We desire a comprehensive agreement on Jerusalem, the borders, settlements, the refugees and water. And that cannot be done without the details….Without clarity there can be no response. “

Q: “Then, the Palestinian response is not final.”

A: “The letter sent by President Arafat to President Clinton clarifies completely that for us the foundations of the peace process must be based on the foundations of the peace process which means that the American ideas at the present time do not meet the decisions of international legitimacy (i.e. UN resolutions 242, 338 and 181 and 194).

We have demanded clarifications based on the same clarifications built on details in the maps….President Arafat says in his letter that finding a basis for the peace process must be the execution of resolutions 242, 338 and 194.”

(Note: If Erikat’s remarks seem a bit confusing and repetitive in syntax and content, that is because they were. Many of his remarks-not offered here–were sentence fragments built on sentence fragments.)

Noon Headlines

  • His Excellency President Yasser Arafat in Egypt for meeting with the Egyptian President about the American initiative Mubarrak;
  • Dr. Saeb Erikat asserts we are awaiting American clarifications;
  • Barak’s advisor says he (Barak) rejects Palestinian sovereignty over the Holy Shrine (Haram al-Sharif/ Temple Mount);
  • Israel announces its conditional yes response to the American initiative.”

When Arafat Says No…

By
​Center for Near East Policy Research
-

When Arafat says ‘No,’ what does he mean? The Rais’s ‘No’ is not an absolute rejection. It is a strategy of brinksmanship, designed to achieve a bit more, to squeeze one more accomplishment.

Arafat’s ‘No’ is designed to show his people that he doesn’t give in easily. This is a ‘No’ that is valid only now, and can change in hours or days. It isn’t a ‘No’ of principles. It is a ‘No’ on the way to a ‘Yes’.

Yesterday Arafat essentially said ‘Yes,’ but with conditions and reservations. Arafat understands that he has not yet reached the limit of Israeli concessions. He has time left before January 10th, the final date set by Clinton. Until then he can squeeze more out of Israel. Yesterday evening he heard that Barak requested from the cabinet approval to transfer 97% to the Palestinians. From his perspective, what is that, if not proof that he shouldn’t be in a hurry to say ‘Yes’?

At Camp David everyone told Arafat: “You will not receive a better offer than this one.” And still he insisted, and backed up his refusal with violence. A few weeks ago, when he felt that the hour had arrived, he returned to the negotiating table, and received a better offer.

Why does he insist so much? Arafat has serious internal problems. The offers are definitely more generous than in the past, but they are still far from the Palestinian strategy. He understands that if he says ‘No’ or a weak ‘Yes,’ he will get a bit more.

At the same time, he understands that he will not be able to dream of a better agreement than this in the future. Thus he prefers at the moment not to give a clear answer. It is more advantageous to him to demand more improvements, concessions, and guarantees. He has not broken all the rules of the game or caused an explosion. He just wants more.

This article appeared in the daily Israeli newspaper on Dec. 28, 2000

Official Palestinian Radio Broadcasts on the Voice of Palestine: December 23-24

By
​Center for Near East Policy Research
-

Summary and Analysis

VOP led its broadcasts Saturday and Sunday with detailed denials by PA President Yasser Arafat that the PA was contemplating acceptance of a “trade of rights” regarding the questions of Jerusalem and the “right of return”.

Arafat escalated his rhetoric Saturday night and Sunday morning, calling Israeli statements “a deliberate effort to confuse the posture of the delegation in Washington.”

To cynics, this may recall a Shakespearean passage-“Methinks the lady doth protest too much”-but, then again, Arafat’s behavior is somewhat unladylike, and, moreover, his pronouncements on the peace process have tended to be more accurate than those coming from the Barak Government.

Arafat and his spokesman Nabil Abu-Irdeina were quoted at length over the broadcasts Friday-Sunday to the effect that Israel had not advanced any new proposals differing significantly from what the Palestinians rejected at Camp David. The reports stressed the view that the Palestinian view contradicted the view of U.S. President Bill Clinton.

Yet Arafat and his spokesman said “the window of opportunity” was still open. (Similarly, Sunday morning included a studio-read report of an interview with Dr. Saeb Erikat [head of the PA team in Washington after Yasser Abd-Rabbo was forced to step aside because of a death in the family] contending that there had been no progress in the talks.)

At the same time that the talks in Washington were winding down, there was a suicide bombing in the Jordan Valley. VOP did not voice any condemnation of the bombing. ((see note on coverage at end of report, which is updated and amended version of Friday afternoon bulletin))

In addition, VOP again featured Marwan Barghouti, the militant Fatah Tanzim leader, in its Saturday night broadcasts. He was quoted as saying that the intifada had established a new basis for the Palestinian struggle. The prominent and favorable way VOP depicted Barghouti-as a leader of the Intifada and the Palstinian struggle-strongly contradicts the view of some pundits that Barghouti is acting against the wishes of Arafat (see textbelow).

In its Friday night and Saturday coverage, VOP went into great detail concerning Israeli security measures in the Old City of Jerusalem and the number and kinds of injuries suffered by Muslim worshipers participating in post-Friday-prayer parades.

Once again Saturday night and Sunday morning, VOP gave prominence to news that Iraqi anti-aircraft gunners had opened fire on British and American overflights of southern Iraq.

Morning Headlines Sunday December 24, 2000 / Saturday Night December 23

  • “Masses of our people will accompany today the exalted martyr Abdullah ‘Issa Kanan who died yesterday of wounds suffered one week ago;
  • Occupation forces continue to retain the bodies of two martyrs from Hebron and Jericho;
  • His excellency President Yasser Arafat denies the existence of any agreement conditioned on sovereingty of Jerusalem in exchange for concessions on the return of the refugees;
  • The President’s advisor, Nabil Abu-Rudeina, says that the talk of (further) bilateral or trilateral negotiations is premature;
  • West Bank Fatah Secretary Mr. Marwan Barghouti says the intrepid Intifada has established a new basis for Palestinian struggle, and Mr. Barghouti in a meeting with news media said our intifada would continue side by side with negotiations until the achievement of our national goals;
  • The (Palestinian) Leadership reviews today the bilateral and trilateral talks that ended in Washington yesterday without noticeable results.
  • Iraqi anti-aircraft batteries opened fire on British and American fighters yesterday, forcing them to retreat.”

Saturday Morning Headlines, December 23

  • “Four martyrs on the final Friday of Ramadan and five wounded Israelis, including a woman soldier in a martyr operation in the nothern part of the (West) Bank;
  • Closure on Jerusalem and artillery shelling on al-Bireh, and tens wounded in confrontations;
  • There is nothing new in Tel Aviv’s position (i.e. position of Israeli government) and our firm principles continue, according to the Leadership, while Israel puts its faith in a military solution;
  • Serious difficulties in the Washington talks as Israel insists on concessions in the matter of the refugees;
  • The European Union sends 100-Euro to the Palestinian Authority to help the deprivations of the Israeli military and economic siege;
  • Prisoners’ Organization says Israeli Death Squads trying to destroy Intifada by liquidating them (prisoners) after their detention.”

Special Addendum From Friday December 22, 4 p.m.

  • “The death of a settler and the wounding of two others in a suicide operation near the settlement of Mehola in the Ghur Valley;
  • Three martyrs to the bullets of the Occupation and the settlers in Gaza and Hebron;
  • Many wounded in incidents throughout the homeland;
  • His excellency President Yasser Arafat asserts that the Palestinian and Israeli negotiators did no reach any final results in talks;
  • Chief of the Occupation forces Shaul Mofaz says he expects the confrontations to continue many years.”

Friday Evening Headlines, December 22 9p.m./10 p.m.

  • “Four martyrs and tens of wounded on the final Friday of Holy Ramadan;
  • Occupation authorities continue their military aggression against the Al-Aqsa Mosque, preventing worshipers’ access;
  • Palestinian affirmation that the Washington talks have notreached any final results;
  • The Leadership is now meeting in Gaza to discuss political developments and internal affairs.
  • Occupation forces close down access to Ibrahimi Mosque (Cave of Patriarchs) in Hebron before Leil al-Qader (“Night of Power”) prayers.”

Details Behind Headlines (Israeli Elections)

VOP has been covering the Israeli election campaign in a careful and restrained manner. In the last few days it has even desisted f rom its usual practice of referring to Ariel Sharon as “the extremist Ariel Sharon” and begun instead to refer to him “the rightist leader” or “the leader of the Israeli Right.” VOP has broadcast several analyses, often out of the mouths of Israeli Arab MK’s.

The bottom line is that Barak is far behind but that he has 50 days left to turn things around, and that he has already successfully blocked the path of his two most potentially powerful opponents: Binyamin Netanyahu and Shimon Peres.

Coverage Analysis

The suicide bombing Friday was covered in a positive light, making no mention that the target was a civilian bus at a roadside restaurant.

In its Friday (December 22) 3 p.m. radio summary in Hebrew, VOP covered the suicide bombing in Mehola in the Jordan valley thus:

“In a suicide operation, one man was martyred and two settlers were killed along with three wounded, apparently seriously.”

In its Arabic summary, VOP made no mention of the event at first, but tagged the item at the end of the broadcast: “The killing of two settlers and three seriously wounded in the explosion of a bomb at the restaurant in front of the settlement of Mehola which was built on land (taken from) of citizens from the northern Ghol (Valley) on the road from Jenin to Beit San (Beit Shan).”

There was no condemnation of the attack whatsoever. In fact, the Hebrew reference to “martyrdom” and the Arabic reference to the attack’s having taken place on “land belonging to citizens” is a clear hint that VOP and the PA look favorably on the incident.

Official Palestinian Authority Radio: The Voice of Palestine – Dec. 21/22

By
​Center for Near East Policy Research
-

Summary and Analysis

There is a subtle but definite change in VOP coverage of the American- Palestinian-Israeli talks in Bolling Base in Washington. Although the reporting is very low-key, and although the PA repudiates reports of American initiatives (as did Egyptian Foreign Minister Amr Musa in a VOP report Thursday), it is acknowledging that talks have begun to deal with “the heart of the issues.” In addition, Yasser Arafat’s spokesman, Nabil Abu-Rudeina said all issues were being discussed including “finding a just settlement for the refugees.”

The inclusion of the phrase “finding a just settlement for the refugees” since Wednesday night Dec. 20 and through the broadcasts this Friday Dec. 22 (rather than one of the standard phrases like “the right of return” or “the return of the refugees to their homes” may indicate one or more of several possibilities:

  • that the Palestinian and Israeli sides really are getting to a refugee formula;
  • that the Palestinian side is pleased with progress on the refugee issue, but is not yet ready sign, unless it gets domestic and inter-Arab backing;
  • or that the Palestinian Authority is tentatively sending up some kind of pale trial balloon or perhaps preparing its constituency for something less than a total and immediate return of refugees. VOP featured Yasser Arafat in a stake-out interview Thursday returning from Cairo (Wednesday), in which he said Israel was deliberately escalating violence in order to sabotage the peace process and to torpedo the efforts of Bill Clinton.

VOP also featured at length the comments of Egyptian Foreign Minister Amr Musa who said “the flare-up of the intifada was the result of an accumulation of probems on the path to peace.that had not been overtaken, especially two important causes: the failed summit in Geneva between President Bill Clinton and the Syrian president Hafez al-Assad and the second the Camp David Summit.” (Note: This is an important commentary on the internal Arab dialectical thinking which goes contrary to the cutting edge of conventional wisdom, i.e. that Ariel Sharon provoked the Intifada with Sharon’s visit on September 28.)

VOP has been featuring news items and features discussing “acts of solidarity” by both Iraq and Iran with the Palestinian people, but it has pulled back from publishing stark Iraqi (and other) commentaries that have referred to American Secretary of State-designate Colin Powell as a war criminal along with the Gulf War as an act of aggression against Iraq.

VOP carried a long interview with hard-line PLO “Foreign Minister” Farouk Qaddoumi discussing an Iraqi fund of about one billion dollars to aid Palestinians.

The news programs opened Thursday and Friday again with the martyrs, their funerals and the circumstances of their deaths and other injuries, giving only modest mention to the death of a “Jewish settler” killed on the main northern route from Jerusalem via Modiin to Tel Aviv.

Thursday Morning Headlines Dec 21:

  • “Three martyrs in a wicked massacre in Gaza, with tens wounded, four seriously;
  • His excellency President Yasser Arafat says on his return from Cairo that Tel Aviv wants to destroy the peace process.;
  • Clinton holds a joint session for Erikat and Ben-Ami in the White House.:
  • Meretz votes down the candidacy of Shimon Peres for Prime Minister;
  • The United Nations recognizes the Palestinian right to sovereignty;
  • Moshe Katsav says Barak does not have madate for peace agreement;
  • The Legislature meets today to pass laws to aid workers hurt by Israeli siege;
  • Dr. Azmi Bashara will be with us to discuss the various options in the Israeli election.”

Quote of the Day

“Israel by its actions is trying to sabotage the peace process.” (Yasser Arafat, returning from Cairo Wednesday Dec. 20, quoted Wednesday evening and Thursday throughout the day)

Quotes from Interview with Ahmad Abdul-Rahman, PA Cabinet Secretary

“We will not accept any partial solutions–not on land, and not on international legitimacy, and not in the matter of the refugees and notin the matter of the Holy Jerusalem Shrine..There are many sides and many aspects to the Palestinian-Israeli Conflict, but the conflict on the ground is bloody because there is daily Israeli crime designed to shatter our steadfast desire, the desire of the Palestinian people. But we are steadfast. Our people is steadfast now for three months despite all the sacrifices it has made. And the other front is the negotiations. But in the Arab and international context there is a context to achieve an agreement to prevent a complete explosion which could involve other regions and other interests.”

Q: “There is talk that President Clinton will present a paper to the negotiators.”

A: “We have heard a lot about American ideas but we haven’t received an official American paper-not one from the American side.”

Interview with Dr. Amin Hadad, deputy director PA Central Bank, on the occasion of the closing of only Israeli bank operating in the Palestinian Authority under the terms of the Paris Accords signed between Israel and the Palestinian Authority (Thursday, Dec. 21, 7:50 am)

Q: “What did practices this bank carry out that you want to close it down completely?”

A: “Really, the most important violation is the refusal to accept Palestinian policy, with the Palestinian National Authority, working with the Palestinian National Authority and the liberated Palestinian lands, and (on the other hand) with identifying completely with the Zionist Entity (al-Kiyan al-Sihyouni).” (Note: the term the “Zionist entity” (al-kawn al-sihyouni or al kiyan al-sihyouni has rarely been used by PA officials in public since the Oslo Accords, especially not in broadcasts)

Song of the Day: “He is the Leader”

Here he is-he is the leader
Both Inside (in Palestine) and Out (the Diaspora)
His face is like the sun and the moon
And his name is Abu Amar
God grant him long life
God grant him long life

(Note: This song used to be a staple of PA radio and especially tv before the most recent Intifada/war, but has not been heard much recently on radio. A listener called in on a caller phone-in show, asking for it to be played. Friday, Dec 22, 10:30 AM)

Friday Morning Headlines-Dec 22: (8am, 9am, 10am)

  • “Three exalted martyrs to be brought to burial today: the citizen Ahmad Jamial Awad, 41 years old, from Khirbat Jebara, south of Tulkarm, martyred during anartilery shelling of a populated neighborhood, the youth Ahd Imri, 18 years old, from Shujaiyya Camp in Gaza, martyred when occupation bullets struck his head, and the third martyr is Rashid Barghoum, 25 years old from Rafah;
  • Heavy Israeli artillery attacks on Bitunia, Khan Yunis, Ramllah, Al-Bireh and Jenin.;
  • Since last night heavy Israeli patrols around Jerusalem’s entry points and inside Jerusalem in order to prevent worshipers from reaching Al Aqsa for last Friday prayers of Ramadan;
  • Heavy Israeli searches around vilage of Bir N idam near Ramallah where settlers’ car were fired on;
  • An Israeli settler was killed near the settlement of Givat Ze’ev, and Israeli radio says he died when his car was hit by gunfire;
  • His excellency President Yasser Arafat will meet today in his Gaza headquarters with the German Defense Minister Robert Sharbing and will discuss the continuing Israeli aggression against our people despite continuing international and Arab efforts to continue the peace process;
  • President Arafat’s spokesman Nabil Abu-Irdeina said there were precise American initiatives in the talks at Bolling Base between the Palestinian side and the American side and between the Israeli side and American side..”

Quote of the Day-Friday-Dec 22

“When the Zionist, this dog
Entered Al-Aqsa with his shoes
Protected by a squad of troops of war.
Muhammad will bring you low
Oh soldiers and oh dogs.
Oh you Zionist you are the West.

We will ask Allah to remove you dogs of the Whisperer (i.e. Satan)

(From “Mishwar al-Sabah”, popular call-in show, part of poem-Ode to the Intifada– read by listener Muhammad Fawah Hijawi of Qalqilya to the delight of radio announcer, 10:50 am, shortly before Friday’s Mosque prayers)

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