Russia calls it “unlawful”; Syria calls it a “massacre.” Latest US airstrike on Syria

Posted on May 19, 2017

by Richard Edmondson

“Whatever the reason for the US command to make this decision, this strike is illegitimate and unlawful. It’s yet another harsh violation of Syria’s sovereignty,” said Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.

“We discussed the massacre that the US aggressor committed yesterday in our country,” said Bashar Jaafari, Syria’s ambassador to the UN.

Both were talking about yesterday’s air strike carried out by US Coalition forces against Syrian military forces.

It seems every time the media attacks reach a fever pitch, Trump tries to take the heat off by bombing Syria. That is, assuming Trump actually ordered this air strike. And it may well be that he didn’t. So far as I’ve been able to tell, there has been no formal statement from the president.

RT is reporting that the attack was on a “pro-government convoy,” and that seems to be the view that Lavrov is taking, or at least pretending publicly to take. “The American command explained the strike on pro-government Syrian forces, saying that these forces represented a threat to opposition which cooperates with the US-led coalition,” he is quoted as saying.

However, South Front seems pretty adamant that the attack was on the Syrian Arab Army. If you click on the image above it will take you to a South Front video with an analysis to that effect. This is also what’s being reported by SANA, the Syrian government-funded news site:

A military source announced on Friday that the so-called international coalition attacked one of the Syrian army’s military points on al-Tanf road in the Syrian Badia.

The attack, which took place at 16:30 pm on Thursday, left a number of people dead, in addition to causing material damage, the source said

Meanwhile, Press TV has posted the following video purporting to show SAA forces on the outskirts of Al Tanf this morning, one day after the attack. Will the US Coalition carry out another airstrike?

The Syrian Free Press is reporting that yesterday–the same day that the US bombed the Syrian Army–ISIS carried out a massacre in the village of Aqareb, in the Syrian province of Hama:

Local sources said that the terrorist groups killed and mutilated a number of locals in the villages, including children and women, and looted their houses.

Head of Salamiyeh National Hospital Dr. Nofal Safar said that bodies of 52 person arrived at the hospital, including 15 bodies of children aged between 3 to 13 years, adding that more than 100 injured persons have been admitted to the hospital, most of them are children and women.

Odd isn’t it? How US attacks on the Syrian Army often seem to coincide with acts of terrorist aggression?

The attack also coincides with peace talks on Syria that are being held in Geneva. The Syrian delegation to that conference is being headed up by Jaafari. Here is what SANA is reporting on that:

In response to a question about the coincidence of the meeting with an American aggression and ISIS massacre against Syrians in addition to the ambition of achieving better results in this round, al-Jaafari said that the delegation discussed during today’s session the U.S. attack on one of the Syrian Arab Army’s military points on al-Tanf road in the Syrian Badia, which took place Thursday evening.

“Minutes ago, we talked extensively about the massacre committed by the US aggression on Thursday in my country. The important thing is that our political ambition is the highest in terms of concerns within all parties involved. Our ambition is supreme because we want to constantly focus on the fight against terrorism, “he said.

Al-Jaafari pointed out that terrorism, represented by terrorist groups and the terrorism committed by countries and governments against Syria which includes the US, French and British aggression whether against civil or military targets, as what happened in Manbaj city when the French bombed the city and killed 200 civilians or as in Raqqa when the US raided the Deaf and Dumb school and as happened in al-Tharda Mountain in Deir Ezzor or as happened yesterday also.

“At every meeting, we would like to remind the attendees that state terrorism is being practiced against our country,” he added.

So is the US, or at any rate the Deep State, deliberately trying to sabotage the peace talks? We have seen that before as well.

Interestingly, at least one Russian, has no illusions on who was targeted in yesterday’s attack. Deputy Foreign Minister Gennady Gatilov states unequivocally that is was the Syrian Army:

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James Comey Is Losing His Game With Another Non-News Leak

May 17, 2017

This is a short follow up on yesterday’s false news storiestopped with a Comey leak.

1. The New York Times tries to add to the story of the WannaCry ransom virus (which is based on NSA exploits),  hyping the unfounded claim that North Korea is behind it: Focus Turns to North Korea Sleeper Cells as Possible Culprits in Cyberattack. The story curiously does not even mention the nonsensical claim of a Google staffer that points to common code snippets in reused software stacks. Instead we get a long elaboration on how North Korea sends students abroad to be trained in IT and programming. In paragraph 4 the story asserts:

As evidence mounts that North Korean hackers may have links to the ransom assaults …

But no evidence, none at all, is cited in the piece. The “mounting evidence” is a molehill without the hill. Eleven paragraphs later we learn that:

It also is possible that North Korea had no role in the attacks,

Duh. Six NYT reporters collaborated in writing that twenty paragraph story which contains no reasonable news or information. What a waste.

2. The State Department claim that Syria built a crematorium inside a prison to burn executed prisoners saw no follow up. But it had consequences. The presented “evidence” was too thin to make it believable. Even the staunchly anti-Syrian SPIEGEL doubted it: USA bleiben Beweise für Assads Leichenöfen schuldig. Translated: “U.S. fails to give evidence for Assad crematorium claims.”

The State Department claim was presented in a special news conference by Stuart Jones, the acting assistant secretary of state for Near Eastern affairs. A day later Jones announced that he would retire:

Jones, 57, told colleagues the decision was his own and that he had not been pushed out or asked to leave the department.

Ahem. Sure. Maybe. Or Secretary of State Rex Tillerson disliked the lame propaganda shows Jones presented under the official State Department seal.

3. Yesterday’s “Trump revealed critical intelligence to Russia” nonsense is already dying down. Even regular NYT readers criticize their paper’s reporting of it:

It’s quite strange that the media is giving such prominence to and broadcasting so much detail about supposedly highly secret information and its source in order to show how irresponsible President Trump is.
…
It seem that of the two, the media and the President, the media is by far the most at fault for leaking state secrets. Strange indeed: it seems the goal of bringing down Trump overrides all other considerations.”

To recap – in March the U.S. and the UK had issued a ban on laptops for fights from certain Middle Eastern airports:

The U.S. officials said intelligence “indicates terrorist groups continue to target commercial aviation” by “smuggling explosive devices in various consumer items.”

It was known from other reports that the threat was from ISIS. Trump repeated this to the Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov and added that the origin of the treat is the ISIS capital Raqqa. Anyone would have guessed that. It was no secret. But “current and former officials” phoned up reporter after reporter to claim that Trump revealed critical intelligence because the Russians might now guess which country the information was coming from. A few hours later the Washington Post and the New York Times, not Trump, revealed that the original information came from Israel. It will be difficult to blame Trump for “leaking to the Russians” less information than “current and a former American official” leak to mainstream paper.

But as that smear against Trump and Russia has failed a new one is needed.

A week ago Trump unceremoniously fired FBI boss James Comey:

After six months of investigation the FBI had no evidence for any of the rumors about Russian interference [in the U.S.] that were thrown around. It should have closed the case with a clear recommendation not to prosecute the issue. That Comey kept the case open was political interference from his side. Hearings and public rumors about the case blocked the political calendar. Instead of following the facts, and deciding based upon them, he was himself running a political campaign.

Comey had hoped that he would not be fired as long as the investigation was running. Since Trump kicked him out Comey tried to get a public hearing in Congress to spill the beans and get some revenge. The Republican majority leaders smelled the trap and did not invite him. Today he upped his game: Comey Memo Says Trump Asked Him to End Flynn Investigation

President Trump asked the F.B.I. director, James B. Comey, to shut down the federal investigation into Mr. Trump’s former national security adviser, Michael T. Flynn, in an Oval Office meeting in February, according to a memo Mr. Comey wrote shortly after the meeting.“I hope you can let this go,” the president told Mr. Comey, according to the memo.

Comey leaked the memo to raise new allegations against Trump and to finally get his day in Congress. But Trump’s “I hope you can let this go” is not a clear interference in a judicial investigation. Trump just wished that the FBI would use its resources to look into other issues, like the extensive leaking of secret intelligence that occurred during recent months. Nothing nefarious can be constructed from that reasonable explanation. The investigation into Flynn, for violating the Foreign Agent Registration Act with relation to Turkey(!), continues. Trump has had no influence on it. If this talk has been so important as to possibly constitute a breach of law why did Comey wait months, until after he was fired, to leak it?

The Comey claim is another non-issue and non-story. The Republican congress leaders will not jump on Comey’s bandwagon (- or will they?) If this was the worst Comey can present he has lost the fight.

The deep-state, which opposes any collaboration with Russia and wants Trump impeached (RealNews vid), will now have to find a new angle for its attack.

Posted by b on May 17, 2017 at 05:17 AM | Permalink

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REPORT on U.S.-led coalition airstrike targets pro-govt convoy in Syria + Alaa Ibrahim Syrian journalist statement

REPORTS and STATEMENTS by Syrian based journalist Alaa Ibrahim on the U.S.-led coalition bombing raid against Syrian government forces fighting against Daesh (ISIS, ISIL, IS), in the south of the country.

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The Impeachment of Donald Trump

May 17, 2017

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Washington & Riyadh: Sudan instead of Syria نقاط على الحروف - واشنطن والرياض: - السودان بدلاً من سورية؟

Washington & Riyadh: Sudan instead of Syria

مايو 19, 2017

Written by Nasser Kandil,

The relationship between Riyadh and Washington is developing after choosing Riyadh as the first destination of the visit of the US President to the region from the Saudi gate which hosts for the meeting of the US President a gathering of Washington’s allies in devotion to its position on one hand, and the guests’ loyalty to Washington on the other hand. The visit will include the occupied Palestinian territories and will be culminated with US-Palestinian-Israeli tripartite meeting that aims to launch the negotiating process; it will be coincided with indicators of calming the US rough rhetoric which biases to Israel, hoping to create the appropriate conditions which are desired by Washington for the negotiating choice. The most prominent here is the US announcement of an implicit postponement of the decision of transferring the US embassy to Jerusalem according to what the US President has already promised, and the talk that the matter is under consideration and it will be postponed for six months followed by another six months, and so on through linking with the negotiating course.

There will be a quiet negotiating path under the sponsorship of America for the Palestinian cause that relieves Saudi Arabia, and a US hostile rhetoric against Iran as the first engagement front in the region that meets the aspirations of Riyadh, in addition to US initiative to approach the situations of the region where Saudi Arabia seems the first involved in them, this initiative will affect the arrangements of the region’s files and will draw a plan to deal with its problems, alliances, battles, and the mechanisms of its management, the Saudi inner position especially the balances of the royal family has role in it as well as costs in its accounts in exchange of the Saudi malleability which will have a prominent role in the escalation front against Iran and in the Palestinian-Israeli negotiation file.

Syria and Libya files are of direct US interest in the war on ISIS, after the projects of changing the regimes have ended, and where the seeking to besiege Iran and Hezbollah is US interest as the war on ISIS. The Saudi role is predicative where the matter requires that, and where the regional roles in it are desired by America but not for Saudi Arabia. In exchange of its sticking to the Kurdish privacy in Syria, it wants to compensate Turkey by devoting its reference role devotion in the solution in Syria with the participation of Russia. In Libya where the most important title is the war on ISIS, the Saudi contribution serves the US visions, but the regional sponsorship of the war and settlements will be Egyptian with the partnership of Algeria when necessary. The facts provided by the situation in Syria and Libya show the weakness of the direct Saudi presence and the inability to offer anything other than money, whether to sabotage the settlements or to enhance the status of the forces which are joined by Washington for the settlement paths, both of them are directed by Washington but this does not justify any Saudi role.

In the Yemeni file, the international concern is focused on the catastrophic health situation and the urgent need to stop the war, in the light of the Saudi inability to make progress in the course of war militarily. The emergence of the Southern Movement as a direct party in the political process that suggests the separation from the north, and announces the transitional ruling council seems as an indicator that is added to the development of the media disagreements between the two partners of the war against Saudi Arabia; Ansar Alllah and the General People’s Congress to crystallize a political Yemeni quartet that consists of the government of Mansour Hadi, Ansar Allah, the General People’s Congress, and the Southern Movement . This seems a matter of US interest to discuss a federal constitutional formula that is similar to what the Americans want for Syria, in order to devote the security and the military Kurdish privacy. The Americans present the Yemeni pluralism as a source of change that relieves Saudi Arabia in a way that is different from the exclusive Saudi-Iranian bilateral, and as a source to alienate the Southern strategic areas as Bab Al Mandab and Aden away from the threats of the dominance of Al Houthis later on.

The Saudi exit without achieving Yemeni profits and without incurring losses is a US equation that coincides with a Saudi exit quietly from the Libyan and the Syrian files, this happens while the Americans decide to lift the sanctions on Sudan; the country which positioned politically and security under the Saudi auspices, and which has an African, demographical, and geographic importance, it locates off the Saudi coasts on the Red Sea, according to the US-Saudi relationships this will compensate Saudi Arabia after its exit from Syria, Libya, and Iraq to draw a new regional geography by transferring the Saudi leadership from the Arab and the Islamic wide range to the direct neighborhood, in a way that surpasses the traditional Gulf borders . In Yemen the endeavors to separate the Southern Movement and the General People’s Congress from Ansar Allah will increase in order to make them close to Saudi Arabia through promises and temptations, therefore the solution will be devotion for the important Saudi role in Yemen along with Sudan and Djibouti and perhaps tomorrow Somalia, a west range for the Saudi leadership versus in the East a financial, political and security distinctive situation in Pakistan, while the Arab east and west is left for the other balances. According to the US perspective the relationship with Iran in the East seems a partnership relation that is limited with the red line which is the security of Israel, while according to the Saudi vital range it seems from the taboos.

Translated by Lina Shehadeh,

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– واشنطن والرياض:

– السودان بدلاً من سورية؟

ناصر قنديل

– تتقدّم علاقة الرياض بواشنطن من اختيار جعل الرياض الوجهة الأولى لزيارة الرئيس الأميركي للمنطقة من البوابة السعودية التي تستضيف للقاء الرئيس الأميركي حشداً من حلفاء واشنطن تكريساً لمكانتها من جهة وللولاء الذي يقدّمه المدعوّون لواشنطن من جهة مقابلة. والزيارة التي ستشمل الأراضي الفلسطينية المحتلة وتتوّج بلقاء ثلاثي أميركي فلسطيني «إسرائيلي» بهدف إطلاق المسار التفاوضي، تترافق مع مؤشرات تبريد للخطاب الأميركي الفظّ في الانحياز لـ»إسرائيل» أملاً بتلطيف مناخ الرعاية الذي تريد واشنطن منحه للخيار التفاوضي. والأبرز هنا هو الإعلان الأميركي عن تأجيل ضمني لقرار نقل السفارة الأميركية إلى القدس، وفقاً لما وعد به الرئيس الأميركي سابقاً، والقول إنّ الأمر لا يزال قيد الدرس، وسيؤجّل لستة شهور تتبعها ستة أخرى، وهكذا ربطاً بالمسار التفاوضي.

– مسار تفاوضي هادئ برعاية أميركية للقضية الفلسطينية يريح السعودية، وخطاب عدائي أميركي لإيران بصفتها جبهة الاشتباك الأولى في المنطقة يلبّي تطلّعات الرياض، وما بينهما سلة أميركية لمقاربة أوضاع المنطقة تبدو السعودية المعني الأول بها، تطال ترتيبات إدارة ملفات المنطقة ورسم خريطة التعامل مع مشكلاتها وتحالفاتها ومعاركها وآليات إدارتها، ويبدو للوضع السعودي الداخلي، خصوصاً توازنات العائلة المالكة دوره ضمنها وأثمان تسدّد في حساباته لقاء الطواعية السعودية، التي ستنال دوراً بارزاً في جبهة التصعيد على إيران، وفي ملف التفاوض الفلسطيني «الإسرائيلي».

– تحضر ملفات سورية وليبيا كمحاور اهتمام أميركي مباشر في الحرب على داعش، حيث مشاريع تغيير الأنظمة قد انتهى زمانها، وحيث السعي لمحاصرة إيران وحزب الله مسؤولية أميركية كما الحرب على داعش، والدور السعودي إسنادي، حيث يتطلّب الأمر ذلك، وحيث الأدوار الإقليمية فيهما تريدها واشنطن لغير السعودية، فمقابل تمسكها بالخصوصية الكردية في سورية تريد تعويض تركيا بمنحها تكريساً لدورها المرجعي في الحلّ في سورية بالتشارك مع روسيا، وفي ليبيا حيث العنوان الأهمّ هو الحرب على داعش، يحضر الإسهام السعودي حيث يخدم الرؤية الأميركية لكن الرعاية الإقليمية للحرب والتسويات ستكون مصرية بشراكة جزائرية حيث الضرورة. والوقائع التي يقدّمها الوضع في سورية وليبيا يظهر هزال الحضور السعودي المباشر والعجز عن تقديم شيء آخر غير المال، سواء لتخريب التسويات، أو لتعزيز وضع قوى تضمّها واشنطن لمسارت التسوية، وكليهما يُدار عبر واشنطن ولا يبرّر للسعودية دوراً.

– في الملف اليمني يتصدّر الاهتمام الدولي الحديث عن الوضع الصحي الكارثي والحاجة الماسة لوقف الحرب، في ظلّ عجز سعودي عن تحقيق تقدّم في مسار الحرب عسكرياً. ويبدو ظهور الحراك الجنوبي كطرف مباشر في العملية السياسية يطرح الانفصال عن الشمال، ويعلن مجلس حكم انتقالياً، مؤشراً يضاف لتطور الخلافات الإعلامية بين شريكي الحرب بوجه السعودية أنصار الله والمؤتمر الشعبي، ليتبلور رباعي يمني سياسي قوامه، حكومة منصور هادي وأنصار الله والمؤتمر الشعبي والحراك الجنوبي، ويبدو ذلك موضع ترحيب أميركي لبحث صيغة دستورية فدرالية تشبه ما يرغبه الأميركيون لسورية لتكريس الخصوصية الكردية العسكرية والأمنية، ويقدّم الأميركيون التعدّد اليمني كمصدر تحوّل يريح السعودية في تظهير التسوية بمكان مختلف عن ثنائية حصرية سعودية إيرانية، ويأخذ المناطق الاستراتيجية الجنوبية كباب المندب وعدن خارج مخاطر سيطرة الحوثيين لاحقاً.

– الخروج السعودي بعدم تحقيق أرباح يمنية مقابل عدم تكبّد خسائر، معادلة أميركية تتزامن مع خروج سعودي هادئ من الملفين الليبي والسوري، يحدث بينما يقرّر الأميركيون رفع العقوبات عن السودان، الدولة التي تموضعت سياسياً وأمنياً تحت العباءة السعودية، والتي تشكل ثقلاً أفريقياً وسكانياً وجغرافياً وتقع قبالة السواحل السعودية على البحر الأحمر. وسيشكل في العلاقات الأميركية السعودية التعويض الذي ستحصل عليه السعودية عن خروجها من سورية وليبيا بعد خروجها من العراق، لترتسم الجغرافيا الإقليمية الجديدة، بنقل الزعامة السعودية من المجال العربي والإسلامي الواسع إلى الجوار المباشر، ولكن بما يتخطى الحدود الخليجية التقليدية. ففي اليمن ستتزايد مساعي استقطاب الحراك الجنوبي والمؤتمر الشعبي لفصلهما عن أنصار الله، وتقريبهما من السعودية بوعود وإغراءات، ليصير الحلّ تكريساً لدور سعودي وازن في اليمن ومعه السودان ومعهما جيبوتي وربما غداً الصومال، جناح غربي للزعامة السعودية يقابله شرقاً وضع مميّز مالي وسياسي وأمني في باكستان، ويترك المشرق والمغرب العربيان لحسابات وأرصدة أخرى، حيث تبدو العلاقة بإيران في المشرق من الزاوية الأميركية علاقة شراكة يحدّها خط أحمر هو أمن «إسرائيل»، بينما في المدى الحيوي السعودي تبدو من المحرّمات.

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Understanding Brits - A Post-Political Analysis

May 19, 2017  /  Gilad Atzmon

The current election has made understanding Brits pretty easy.

Yesterday The Daily Telegraph published some statistics that suggest that Brits are just ordinary people, not much different from the Americans or the French – they are born communists but die hard-core conservatives.

The above data suggest that British youngsters overwhelmingly supportCorbyn’s dream. But this changes once they hit political puberty which is apparently around the age of 25. Adults seem to run away from Labour and Corbyn.

Why are the Tories leading with each age group over 25?

While youngsters are happy to share other people’s possessions, grownups are reluctant to share the little they have. People become more greedy and possessive of what they have managed to accumulate, however small, as they get older. This tendency is not a ‘British’symptom, it is actually embedded in the human condition.

There is also another reason behind Corbyn unpopularity amongst grownups. Adults understand that politicians’ promises mean little and they are always attached to a tax bill.

.Corbyn has been astonishingly successful in energizing young support.  Theresa May, on the other hand, understands that it is the homeowners, the workers and especially the elders that she has to communicate with. As a calculated populist, she promises to be tough on immigration and protect possessions. Seemingly, this is what most Brits care about.

The outcome should be devastating for the British Left.  In Britain, the Labour Party is primarily a juvenile adventure. The ‘party of the workers’ is led by a person who has not worked a single day in his life (I mean a proper job). People who do not work are often detached from the human experience.  Whether or not we like to admit it, Corbyn is paying for his detachment. Despite his genuine appealing message about a country that delivers “for the many, not the few”, he has somehow failed to buy the necessary trust to make his candidacy a meaningful political event. This is indeed painful to watch.

As the statistics above show, the older Brits get, the less they trust Corbyn and the Labour party.  Labour enthusiasts may tell us that youngsters and sensible people support Corbyn because they dream of a new future, a prospect of change. This is probably true. However, the elder Brits do not support Labour because they have a memory- they just do not trust ‘socialists.’

The Workless Class

If Labour once dominated the worker’s vote, this is clearly not the case anymore.

As the above statistics reveal, even the workers do not trust ‘their’ party.

In contrast, Theresa May has managed to buy herself the name of  ‘Red Tory’ by saying she wants the Conservative party to be the “voice of ordinary working people once again.” The statistics above suggest that many members of the British working class seem to buy into May’s populism. Again, not surprising. The Americans and the French have fallen into the same trap.

Why do the working people prefer to believe bankers, mammonites, and Tories rather than their ‘own’ union leaders? Probably because they are working people rather than Guardian readers.

The working people are dependent upon production, trade and manufacturing. They know that it is the capitalists, the bankers and the mammonites and not the union leaders who put bread and butter on their tables.  This is why they vote for Trump, Macron and May.

The tragedy is that Trump is not going to make America great again. Macron didn’t even intend to make France great and May will forget she was once a ‘Red Tory’ by the early hours of June 9th.

To pre-order Being in Time- A Post Political Manifesto: 

Amazon.co.uk  or Amazon.com

The book is now available on this site

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Towards a « Latino Spring »?

by Thierry Meyssan

Anxiety is growing in Latin America – the United States and the United Kingdom are preparing a « Spring » for them on the model of the « Arab Springs ». Of course, this time, it will not be a case of spreading war and dividing the populations along religious lines – Latino citizens are practically all Christians – but by using elements of their local identities. The objective will, however, be the same – not to replace the governments with other governments, but to destroy the States in order to eradicate any possibility of resistance to imperialism.

VOLTAIRE NETWORK | CARACAS (VENEZUELA) | 16 MAY 2017

With time, many political leaders throughout the world have reinterpreted the « Arab Springs ». What at first seemed to be spontaneous revolutions against authoritarian governements is today perceived for what it is – an Anglo-Saxon plan for the destabilisation of an entire region of the world in order to put the Muslim Brotherhood into power. The memory of the « Arab Revolt of 1916 » – during which Lawrence of Arabia raised the whole region against the Ottoman Empire by feeding the People dreams of liberty in order, finally, to submit them to the British Empire – shows that London has the know-how.

It seems that the Anglo-Saxons are preparing a new wave of pseudo-revolutions in Latin America. Everything began with a decree by Barack Obama, on 9 March 2015, declaring a state of emergency in view of the extraordiary menace that the situation in Venezuela could bring to bear on the United States. This document caused an upsurge of indignation on the continent, forcing the US President to apologise during an international summit. But the decree was not cancelled, and the preparations for a new war continue.

Different from the Syrian Accountabilty Act by George W. Bush (2003), the text by Obama on Venezuela is a presidential decree, not a law. Consequently, the Executive does not need to account for the preparations to the Legislative body. It took eight years for the Anglo-Saxons to pass this act in the Arab world in general, but numerous elements lead us to believe that it will not take them as long to launch a programme for the destruction of Latin America.

At the time of the Olympic Games, trouble broke out in Brazil, aimed against President Dilma Rousseff. She was destituted after a parliamentary procedure which, although it was perfectly legal, was totally contrary to the spirit of the Constitution. This coup d’Etat was carried out under the control of the Central Bank – whose n°2 was a Brazilo-Israëlian – by deputies, many of whom have been shown to be guilty of corruption. The State security services remained curiously passive during the coup. This may be because, during the Olympic Games, they had been placed under the coordination… of Israëli experts. Currently, the new President, Brazilo-Lebanese Michel Temer, is now widely contested.

The situation in Mexico is hardly any better. The country is currently divided, de facto, into four. The North is enjoying strong expansion, while the South is in full recession. The political leaders have sold the national oil company, Pemex, and all its reserves, to the United States, who therefore have no further need of Middle East oil. Only the army seems to persist in believing in their homeland.

Exploiting the economic errors of the government, the Venezuelian opposition has managed to organise a few major peaceful demonstrations. Simultaneously, it also organised some small and extremely violent demonstrations during which several police officers and demonstrators were killed. Creating confusion, the international Press agencies are giving the impression that an anti-Chavez revolution has now begun, which is not the case at all.

Thus, the three main Latin-American states are destabilised at the same time. It seems that the US neoconservatives are anticipating the possibility of peace in Syria, and are pushing forward their Latin-American projects.

On Friday, during a televised speech, Venezuelian President Nicolás Maduro warned his people about the Anglo-Saxon project for a « Latin Spring ». He frequently mentioned and repeated the previous cases of Libya and Syria, speaking before an audience of intellectuals from the region, with whom, Syrian of heart, I was associated.

Thierry Meyssan

Translation
Pete Kimberley

Source
Al-Watan (Syria)

Thierry Meyssan

Political consultant, President-founder of the Réseau Voltaire (Voltaire Network). Latest work in French – Sous nos Yeux. Du 11-Septembre à Donald Trump(Right Before our Eyes. From 9/11 to Donald Trump).

River to Sea Uprooted Palestinian   

The views expressed in this article are the sole responsibility of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the Blog!

LEAKED: Text of Trump’s Peaceful Islam Speech

By davidswanson –

Posted on 18 May 2017

By Donald Trump
Translated into English by David Swanson

I am very honored to have been invited here to tell you about Islam. King Salman invited me, and I said you know I really need to go to Israel first because I have a connection to any chosen people. I was chosen by the majority of Americans last November, of electoral Americans. They love me. But King Salman — great guy, really great guy, and such beautiful houses — King Salman told me what he wanted me to talk about, and then I had to say yes. I had to. There was no question.

King Salman — and you know people in the United States are thinking of giving me that same title, King, they’re thinking about it, I won’t say they’re going to do it, but they really really want to — King Salman said to me, “Donald,” he said, “do you remember when I closed that nude beach in France so that we could have a little party, just a simple private party? Do you remember,” he said, “how the French were upset and claimed I was against nude beaches?”

That was a misunderstanding, not true at all, completely fake news of the worst sort. And I remember that the King kept the beach nude for the entire party. No question. Never any question about that. And I remembered it perfectly — I’ve been told I have one of the best memories ever found in recent years — so there was no need for the King to lift up his robes to remind me. But he’s a great kidder, King Salmon.

Now, here’s the point, King Salman, not Salmon which I do love, not Salmon but Salman, the King and not the fish, he said that what he wanted me to talk about was clearing up misunderstandings about Islam. So that’s what I’m here to do.

People back in the United States like to say that Islam is violent and barbaric. And I see what they mean. I really do. There are some nasty Islamical dudes out there. That’s the problem. They’re giving Islam a bad name. Now, let me give you the facts. In Saudi Arabia, executions use swords. They’re fast and pain-free. In Arkansas, executions use chemical injections. The victim writhes in pain for a while before dying. One way is not more barbaric than another. It’s just a cultural variation, like a style of clothing. There’s not an Islamic or a Christian way of torturing a prisoner, there’s just torturing. These things connect us all as human beings, not as religions.

When Islamic Saudi airplanes — made in the USA! — bomb Yemen and blockade that place to protect the world from the extremists that are there, and people say oh that’s so Islamic to kill so many people and starve so many children to death. And I say, look at who’s providing the airplanes, and the targeting — only the United States can provide targeting like that, let me tell you — and who’s refueling the airplanes mid-air? Have you ever seen the Chinese try to do that? It’s like watching monkeys trying to mate hanging from vines. Ugly. Sad. No, really, it’s sad.

Islamic countries are violent, it’s true. But almost all of the weapons you find there are Christian weapons. And it was a Christian weapons company that paid for that little beach party, remember, King?

So, one religion is not more advanced and powerful than another. That’s a lie. As you may know, though people back in the United States like to deny it, before I was elected with such a huge majority, the United States had a Muslim president. And he invaded Iraq, which I said no, I said yes invade Iraq but I didn’t mean that, and boom — look at the hornet’s nest he created. And now that Muslim attack on Muslims created extremist Muslims.

What we need are peaceful Muslims willing to fight the extremists. We need peaceful Muslims to say, you know, enough is finally enough, and begin killing more families. That’s why every nation that the United States bombs under my command is a Muslim nation. Because I am focused on stomping out the extremist Islamicism and replacing it with a peace-loving Islam.

I’ll tell you my vision. I won’t say I’m a visionary, but there are people, many many people who say that, and I won’t say they’re wrong. In my vision there is nothing wrong with a religion in which the women walk around prepared with sheets, you know what I mean. They just need to loosen up a little about people ripping those sheets off them. That’s how you improve relations, how you improve respect between our two peoples.

So, I stand here today, and I say to you, Mr. King, tear down those sheets! Thank you. God Bless you. And God Bless the United States of America.

River to Sea Uprooted Palestinian   

The views expressed in this article are the sole responsibility of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the Blog!

Weekly report on israel's terrorism against the State of Palestine (11-17 May 2017)

Weekly Report On Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestine

Israeli forces continue systematic crimes in the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt) 

(11-17 May 2017) 

• Israeli forces killed a Palestinian civilian in al-Nabi Saleh village weekly protest and another Jordanian in occupied Jerusalem.
• Palestinian fisherman was killed, and his cousin was wounded in the Gaza Sea.
• 40 Palestinian civilians, including 13 children and 2 women, were wounded in the West Bank.
• 3 ambulances were directly targeted and sustained damage.

• Israeli forces conducted 62 incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank and 2 limited ones in the Gaza Strip.
• 79 civilians, including 9 children and 2 women, were arrested in the West Bank. Thirteen of them, including 3 children a woman, were arrested in occupied Jerusalem.

• Israeli forces continued to target the Palestinian fishermen in the Gaza Strip Sea.
• 6 fishermen, including 2 children, were arrested. A fishing boat was confiscated and another one was damaged.

• Israeli forces turned the West Bank into cantons and continued to impose the illegal closure on the Gaza Strip for the 10^th
• Dozens of temporary checkpoints were established in the West Bank and others were re-established to obstruct the movement of Palestinian civilians.
• 3 civilians were arrested at military checkpoints in the West Bank.
• A patient was arrested at Beit Hanoun “Erez” crossing, north of the Gaza Strip.

 Summary

Israeli violations of international law and international humanitarian law in the oPt continued during the reporting period (11-17 May 2017).

Shooting:

During the reporting period, Israeli forces killed a Palestinian civilian while participating in al-Nabi Saleh weekly demonstration; a Jordanian civilian in occupied Jerusalem and a fisherman in the Gaza Strip Sea. They wounded 41 Palestinian civilians, including 13 children and 2 women. One of them was wounded in the Gaza Strip, while the others were wounded in the West Bank. In the Gaza Strip, the Israeli naval forces continued to chase the Palestinian fishermen in the sea and opened fire at them.

In the West Bank, in new crime of the excessive use of force, on 13 May 2017, Israeli forces stationed at the main entrance to al-Nabi Saleh village, northwest of Ramallah, killed Saba’ ‘Obaidi (23), from Salfit, while participating in a weekly demonstration organized at the village entrance. Saba’ was hit with a Two-Two bullet, which penetrated his abdomen and waist from his heart side. Eyewitnesses confirmed that shooting was from a distance of less than 20 meters, and the Israeli soldier directly opened fire. According to PCHR’s investigations, the Israeli soldiers could have used less lethal force against demonstrators, who did not pose any threat to the life of the Israeli soldiers.

On 13 May 2017, Israeli forces killed a Jordanian civilian, Mohamed al-Kasaji (57), after he carried out a stabbing attack against an Israeli officer near al-Silsilah Gate in occupied East Jerusalem’s Old City. According to PCHR’s investigations, the Israeli forces could have arrested the abovementioned civilian; especially that he was wounded and could not move. However, one of the settlers’ guards fired another bullet at him and finished him off.

In the same context, the majority of the West Bank cities witnessed protests in solidarity with the Palestinian prisoners on hunger strike in the Israeli jails. Israeli forces used force against these protests, wounding 40 Palestinian civilians, including 13 children and 2 women. Twenty four of them sustained live bullet wounds, 15 sustained rubber-coated metal bullet wounds and another one sustained shrapnel wounds. The injuries ocurred as follows:

• Protests in solidarity with the prisoners: 33 civilians were wounded, including 12 children and 2 women. Twenty two of them were wounded with live bullets, 10 others were wounded with metal bullets and another one sustained shrapnel wounds.
• Weekly protests against the annexation wall and settlement activities: 3 civilians were wounded with metal bullets.
• Incursions: 4 civilians, including a child, were wounded. Two of them were hit with live bullets and 2 others were hit with rubber-coated metal bullets.

 Israeli forces directly targeted ambulances, 3 of them sustained damage at the western entrance to Foreek village, east of Nablus.

In the Gaza Strip, concerning Israeli attacks on fishermen in the Gaza Sea, Israeli naval forces killed a fisherman, Mohamed Baker, and wounded his cousin after opening fire at a fishing boat. This crime confirms the continuation of the Israeli policy to target the life and safety of Palestinian fishermen, depriving them of freely sailing, even in the allowed areas to fish, and targeting their livelihood.

On 12 May 2017, Israeli gunboats stationed off al-Sundaniyia shore, north of the Gaza Strip, heavily opened fire at fishing boats and chased them.

On 14 May 2017, the Israeli gunboats stationed off shore heavily opened fire at fishing boats sailing within the allowed area off Khan Yuins shore, south of the Gaza Strip, north of Gaza City and northwest of Beit Lahia. As a result, 6 fishermen, including 2 children, were arrested and a fishing boat was confiscated.

Incursions:

During the reporting period, Israeli forces conducted at least 62 military incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank, and 4 others into Jerusalem and its suburbs.  During these incursions, Israeli forces arrested at least 79 Palestinian civilians, including 9 children and 2 women. Thirteen of them, including 3 children and a woman, were arrested in occupied Jerusalem and its suburbs, while another civilian was arrested while participating in a protest supporting the Palestinian prisoners.

Among the arrested in this week, were ‘Isaa al-Ja’bari (51), a leader in Hamas Movement and former Minister of Local Government in the 10th Palestinian Government; and Ahmed Qatamish (67), political writer and researcher in the Palestinian cause affairs.

In the Gaza Strip, on 14 May 2017, Israeli forces moved into the east of Wadi al-Salqah village, east of Deir al-Balah, where they levelled lands along the border fence between the Gaza Strip and Israel. On the same day, these forces also moved into the east of al-Qararah village, northeast of Khan Yunis, south of the Gaza Strip, and levelled lands as well.

Restrictions on movement:

Israel continued to impose a tight closure of the oPt, imposing severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including occupied East Jerusalem.

The illegal closure of the Gaza Strip, which has been steadily tightened since June 2007 has had a disastrous impact on the humanitarian and economic situation in the Gaza Strip.  The Israeli authorities impose measures to undermine the freedom of trade, including the basic needs for the Gaza Strip population and the agricultural and industrial products to be exported. For 9 consecutive years, Israel has tightened the land and naval closure to isolate the Gaza Strip from the West Bank, including occupied Jerusalem, and other countries around the world. This resulted in grave violations of the economic, social and cultural rights and a deterioration of living conditions for 2 million people.  The Israeli authorities have established Karm Abu Salem (Kerem Shaloum) as the sole crossing for imports and exports in order to exercise its control over the Gaza Strip’s economy.  They also aim at imposing a complete ban on the Gaza Strip’s exports. The Israeli closure raised the rate of poverty to 65%. Moreover, the rate of unemployment increased up to 47% and youth constitutes 65% of the unemployed persons.  Moreover, 80% of the Gaza Strip population depends on international aid to secure their minimum daily needs. These rates indicate the unprecedented economic deterioration in the Gaza Strip.

In the West Bank, Israeli forces continued to suffocate the Palestinian cities and village by imposing military checkpoints around and/or between them. This created “cantons” isolated from each other that hinders the movement of civilians. Moreover, the Palestinian civilians suffering aggravated because of the annexation wall and checkpoints erected on daily basis to catch Palestinians.

 Details

1. Incursions into Palestinian Areas, and Attacks on Palestinian Civilians and Property in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip

Thursday, 11 May 2017

• At approximately 01:00, Israeli forces moved into Bethlehem and stationed in al-Saf Street in the center of the city. They raided and searched a house belonging to Jadallha Shoukah and then arrested his son Abdul Rahman (19). 

• At approximately 02:00, Israeli forces moved into al-Khader village, south of Bethlehem. They raided and searched several houses after which they arrested Feras (30) and his brother Mohammed Khader Mousa (27). 

• At approximately 03:00, Israeli forces moved into Wad Rehal village, south of Bethlehem. They raided and searched a house belonging to Ashraf Mousa Thiyab (30) and then arrested him. 

• Around the same time, Israeli forces moved into Nour Shams refugee camp, north of Tulkarm. They raided and searched a number of houses after which they arrested Liath Abdul Fattah Isamil ‘Enayah (37) and Ahmed Abdul Qader Nasrallah (30). 

• At approximately 03:30, Israeli forces moved into Husan village, west of Bethlehem. They raided and searched a house belonging to Yazan Manwar Sebatin (21) and then arrested him. 

• At approximately 04:30, Israeli forces moved into Beit Fajjar village, south of Bethlehem. They raided and searched a number of houses after which they arrested ‘Alaa’ Nasri Taqatqa (24) and Mahdi Salah Taqatqa (22). 

• At approximately 09:00, Israeli forces moved into Rantees village, west of Ramallah. They raided and searched a grocery shop belonging to the family of Mo’taz Samih Wahdan, a prisoner in the Israeli jails. They then closed the abovementioned shop with a steel plate and withdrew, but no arrests were reported. 

• At approximately 13:30, Israeli forces moved into Wad Abu al-Samn area, south of Hebron. They raided and searched a house belonging to Husam Hasan Abu Husain (23) and then arrested him. 

Note: During the aforementioned day, Israeli forces conducted (3) incursions in the following areas and no arrests were reported: Beit Ummer, Ethna and Beit Oula villages in Hebron.

Friday, 12 May 2017

• At approximately 12:50, Israeli gunboats stationed offshore, west of al-Sudaniya area, west of Jabalia village in the northern Gaza Strip, opened fire heavily at Palestinian fishing boats sailing within 3 nautical miles and chased them. As a result, the fishermen were forced to flee for fear of their lives, but neither casualties no material damages were reported. 

• At approximately 01:00, Israeli forces moved into al-‘Obaidiah village, east of Bethlehem. They raided and searched a house belonging to Nadim Ahmed al-‘Asa (25) and then handed him a summons to refer to the Israeli Intelligence Service in “Gush Etzion” settlement, south of the city. 

• At approximately 03:00, Israeli forces moved into Nour Shams refugee camp, east of Tulkarm. They raided and searched a number of houses and then arrested Taha Salah Sadeq Erani (42). 

• At approximately 21:00, Israeli forces moved into Um al-Daliah area, south of Hebron. They interrupted a wedding party belonging to Abu Turki Family and then arrested Fehmi Abu Turki (28) and took him to an unknown destination.

Note: During the aforementioned day, Israeli forces conducted (4) incursions in the following areas and no arrests were reported: Yatta, al-Thaheriyah, Sa’ir and Emrish villages in Hebron.

Sunday, 14 May 2017

• At approximately 02:00, Israeli forces moved into Jenin refugee camp, west of Jenin. They raided and searched a number of houses. In the meantime, a number of Palestinian young men gathered and threw stones at the Israeli soldiers, who immediately opened fire at them. As a result, a 20-year-old civilian sustained a live bullet wound to the left leg and a 15-year-old child sustained a live bullet wound to the left leg. They wounded civilians were transferred to Dr. Khalil Suleiman Hospital in Jenin to receive medical treatment. They then arrested 2 civilians, including a child namely Mohammed Mahmoud ‘Ar’arawi (17) and Yaseen ‘Ali ‘Amouri (18). 

• At approximately 02:00, Israeli forces moved into Qalqiliyah. They raided and searched a number of houses after which they arrested Hasan Yasser Harb (19) and Bara’ Ghassan Mohammed al-Hendi (20). 

• At approximately 03:00, Israeli forces moved into Nahalin village, west of Bethlehem. They raided and searched a house belonging to Mohammed ‘Ezzat Shakarnah and then arrested ‘Alaa’ (18) and Bahaa. 

• Around the same time, Israeli forces moved into al-Birah. They raided and searched a house belonging to Ahmed Suleiman Qatamesh (67), political writer and researcher in the Palestinian cause affairs, and then arrested him. It should be noted that Qatamesh served more than 12 years in the Israeli jails during several arrests. 

• At approximately 07:00, Israeli forces accompanied with 4 military bulldozers moved about 100 meters into the west of the border fence between the Gaza Strip and Israel, east of Wadi al-Salqa village, east of Deir al-Balah in the central Gaza Strip. The bulldozers levelled the lands adjacent to the abovementioned border. The incursion continued for hours before the Israeli forces redeployed along the abovementioned border fence. 

• At approximately 09:30, Israeli forces accompanied with several military bulldozers moved about 100 meters into the east of al-Qararah village, northeast of Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip. They levelled the lands along the border fence between the Gaza Strip and Israel. The incursion continued for hours before the Israeli forces redeployed along the abovementioned border fence. 

• At approximately 18:50, Israeli gunboats stationed offshore heavily opened fire in the vicinity of Palestinian fishing boats sailing within the allowed fishing area adjacent to Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip. As a result, the fishermen were forced to flee for fear of their lives, but neither casualties nor material damages were reported. 

• At approximately 20:30, Israeli gunboats stationed offshore in the northern Gaza Strip opened fire at Palestinian fishing boats. The Israeli gunboats surrounded a fishing boat belonging to ‘Ashour Shamalakh. The boat was manned by 3 fishermen namely Mohammed Sa’id Abdul Razeq Baker (17), Mohammed Tareq Abdul Razeq Baker (22) and Abdullah Sabri Mahmoud Baker (19). The soldiers ordered the fishermen to take off their clothes, jump into the water and swim towards the boat. They were then taken to an unknown destination. 

• At approximately 23:45, Israeli gunboats stationed offshore, northwest of Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip, opened fire at Palestinian fishing boats. The Israeli gunboats surrounded a fishing boat belonging to Amin Rushdi Saleh Abu Wardah (49) from Jabalia. The boat was manned by Amin’s sons namely Yusuf (27), Mohammed (24) and Husain (13) and sailing within 2 nautical miles. The soldiers ordered the fishermen to take off their clothes, jump into the water and swim towards their boat. They also confiscated the boat and 10 pieces of fishing net and took the fishermen to an unknown destination.

Note: During the aforementioned day, Israeli forces conducted (3) incursions in the following areas and no arrests were reported: Sa’ir village and Yatta in and Hebron and Howarah village, south of Nablus.

Monday, 15 May 2017

• At approximately 01:00, Israeli forces moved into Nemrah neighborhood in Hebron. They raided and searched a house belonging to Essa Khairi Essa al-Ja’bari (51), a leader in Hamas movement and former Minister of Local Government in the 10th Palestinian Government. They then arrested him and confiscated his car.

‘Essa’s wife said to PCHR’s fieldworker that:

“We woke up on sounds of movement and knocks on the door. When my husband opened the door, there were a number of Israeli soldiers along with his relative, who was brought by them to guide them to our home. They then locked us in a room as 2 soldiers stood near me and my 3 daughters pointing their weapons at us. A female soldier asked my husband if he has something to do with elections. The soldiers then ordered him to bring his car key. After that, they violently searched the house and then took my husband to a room and questioned him for an hour and a half. They then ordered him to come with them to his car. My neighbors later informed me that the soldiers thoroughly searched the car. The soldiers then brought my husband home, allowed him to wear his clothes in order to arrest him and confiscated our car.”  

• Around the same time, Israeli forces moved into Beit Ummer village, north of Hebron, and stationed in ‘Asidah area. They raided and searched a house belonging to Khalil Abdul Fattah Sabe’i Sabarnah (40) using police dogs. They later withdrew and no arrests were reported. In the meantime, another Israeli force raided and searched a house belonging to Mohammed Salem Sabarnah and arrested his son Ramzi (22). They withdrew and headed towards “Karmi Tsur” settlement, south of the city. 

• Around the same time, Israeli forces moved into Nahalin village, west of Bethlehem. They raided and searched a house belonging to Mohammed Na’im Funoun (23) and then arrested him. 

• At approximately 02:00, Israeli forces moved into the southern area in Hebron. They raided and searched a house belonging to Yusuf ‘Omran Abu Husain (30) and then arrested him. 

• At approximately 02:20, Israeli forces moved into Jayous village, northeast of Qalqiliyah. They raided and searched a house belonging to Ahmed ‘Adel Hazahzah (16) and then arrested him. 

• In a new crime of extreme use of force and continuation of Israel’s policy to target the fishermen and their safety and deny them from freely sailing and fishing within the allowed fishing area, Israeli naval forces killed the fisherman Mohammed Baker after they opened fire at the boat manned by him and his cousin, who was wounded. According to PCHR’s investigation, at approximately 08:30 on Monday, 15 May 2017, an Israeli gunboat accompanied with a rubber boat opened fire at a Palestinian fishing boat sailing within 3 nautical miles off al-Wahah shore, northwest of Gaza City.  The boat was manned by 4 fishermen namely ‘Omran Majed Baker (33), his two brothers; Fadi (32) and Mohammed (25), and their cousin Mohammed Zeyad Hasan Baker (32), and all of them are from Gaza. The fishermen fled by their boat to the south, but the Israeli gunboat manned by 8 soldiers armed with automatic rifles chased the boat and were able to target directly its engine. As a result, the boat stopped off shore in front of the Intelligence Service office, west of Gaza, and ‘Omran was hit with 2 metal bullets to the leg and abdomen. After that, a soldier opened fire from a 3-meter distance at the fishermen, wounding Mohammed Baker with a live bullet to the upper side of abdomen.  Mohammed then fell down as part of his bowels got out. However, the soldiers forced the fishermen to move Mohammed to their boat and then sailed towards Ashqelon. At approximately 16:30 on the same day, Mohammed was announced dead succumbing to his wounds in Barzilai Hospital. His body was then transferred to al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza after coordinating with the Palestinian Liaison office.

“At approximately 08:00, I sailed with my cousins ‘Omran, Fadi and Mohammed Majed Baker from Gaza Seaport along with another fishing boat manned by 4 fishermen. After 15 minutes, We arrived at al-Sudaniya area sailing within 3 nautical miles off al-Waha shore about 1.5 miles off the allowed fishing area. When we started fishing, I saw an Israeli gunboat accompanied with a rubber boat coming from the north and speeding towards us. ‘Omran turned on the engine, headed to the south and stationed off the Intelligence Service office. I then saw the rubber boat speeding towards us and arrived in less than 2 minutes. There were 8 navy soldiers, 4 of whom were masked. The distance between us was about two meters when 2 soldiers randomly opened fire at us while we were trying to avoid being shot. Ten minutes later, the soldiers directly opened fire at us from a 3-meter distance. As a result, Fadi Majed Baker (32) sustained 2 rubber-coated metal bullets to the leg and abdomen. The Israeli gunboat continued chasing us, but suddenly appeared in front of our boat and the soldiers directly opened fire at the boat engine.  As a result, the boat stopped, and Mohammed was wounded and fell down. We shouted to inform the soldiers that Mohammed is wounded.  One of the soldiers then ordered us to come to the boat front while the other soldiers kept shooting above our heads. I carried Mohammed, who was wounded and part of his bowels were out.  He was foaming and then went into coma. The soldier, who was driving the gunboat, ordered me to carry Mohammed while 2 other soldiers took him to the gunboat, sailing towards Ashkelon. Furthermore, the other Israeli boat dragged our boat, which was hit with 6 live bullets, to the Gaza Seaport after an hour, but we lost the fishing net.”

Note: During the aforementioned day, Israeli forces conducted (6) incursions in the following areas and no arrests were reported: al-Shyoukh, Beit Kahel, al-Raihiyah and Karma villages in Hebron; Jayous and ‘Ezbet al-Tabib villages, east of Qalqiliyah.

Tuesday, 16 May 2017

• At approximately 00:00, Israeli forces moved into al-Dheisheh refugee camp, south of Bethlehem. They raided and searched a number of houses, shops and petrol station and then confiscated a number of surveillance cameras. In the meantime, dozens of Palestinian young men gathered in the outskirts of the abovementioned camp and threw stones and Molotov Cocktails at the soldiers. The soldiers fired metal bullets, rubber-coated metal bullets and tear gas canisters at them in response.  As a result, 2 young men sustained metal bullet wounds and received medical treatment in the spot. Moreover, the Israeli forces arrested 3 civilians namely Mohammed Zeyad ‘Arafah (19), the brothers Raslan (18) and Majd Abu Quaier (19). 

• At approximately 01:55, Israeli forces moved into Qarawet Bani Zaid village, northwest of Ramallah. They raided and searched a number of houses and then arrested Ahlam Hmazah Mustafa al-Maloukh (16). Ahlam’s father said to PCHR’s fieldworker that 20 Israeli soldiers surrounded the house from all sides while some of them raided and searched the house. They then took Ahlam, who was sleeping in her room. One of the soldiers ordered Ahlam to approach him and then handcuffed her. The soldiers took her to a military jeep that was stationed in the center of the village. It should be noted that Ahlam is a 10-grade student in Qarawa Secondary School for Girls. 

• At approximately 02:00, Israeli forces moved into Tal village, southwest of Nablus,. They raided and searched a number of houses and then arrested Hamzah Ahmed Sa’id Ramadan (26) and Taleb Samir Taleb Seldawi (21). 

• At around the same time, Israeli forces moved into Dura, southwest of Hebron, and stationed in the schools area. They raided and searched a house belonging to Salamah Mohammed Salamah ‘Arjan (30) and then arrested him. 

• Around the same time, Israeli forces moved into Yatta, south of Hebron, and stationed in the eastern area. They raided and searched a house belonging to Eshaq Mohammed Naji Hureizat (40) and then arrested him and his wife Suzan Ahmed Mohammed Abu Qabitah (32). They claimed that they found a weapon in the house while searching. 

• At approximately 02:30, Israeli forces moved into ‘Azoun village, east of Qalqiliyah. They raided and searched several houses after which they arrested 4 civilians, including a child, namely Karim ‘Omran Abdullah Husain (14), Nidal Safwan Salim (15), Abdul ‘Aziz Farid Husain (20) and ‘Omran Abdullah ‘Omran Husain (43). 

• Around the same time, Israeli forces moved into Beit Jala. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of the former prisoner Mo’tasem Ayoub Jaber and then handed him a summons to refer to the Israeli Intelligence Service in “Gush Etzion” settlement complex, south of the city. 

• At approximately 03:00, Israeli forces moved into ‘Aydah refugee camp, north of Bethlehem. They raided and searched a house belonging to Khalil ‘Arafah Abu Sorour (25) and then arrested him. 

• Around the same time, Israeli forces moved into Deir Abu Mash’al village, northwest of Ramallah. They raided and searched a number of houses and then arrested Mousa Khaled Abdul Mo’ti (18) and Ibrahim ‘Adel Zahran (18). 

• Around the same time, Israeli forces moved into Beit Ummer village, north of Hebron, and stationed in ‘Asidah area and the Industrial Area. They raided and searched a number of houses after which they arrested ‘Aziz Mahmou Ekleil (26) and Mohammed No’man Za’aqiq (23). They also handed a summons to Mohammed Zuhair al-‘Alami (22) to refer to the Israeli Intelligence Service in “Gush Etzion” settlement, south of Bethlehem. 

• At approximately 03:30, Israeli forces moved into ‘Aqabet Jaber refugee camp in the southwestern area in Jericho. They raided and searched a number of houses and then arrested Na’el Jehad Abu al-‘Asal (47).

 Note: During the aforementioned day, Israeli forces conducted (4) incursions in the following areas and no arrests were reported: Balatah refugee camp, southeast of Nablus; Dura, Abu al-‘Asja and al-Thaheriyah villages in Hebron.

Wednesday, 17 May 2017

• At approximately 01:00, Israeli forces moved into ‘Asker refugee camp, northeast of Nablus. They raided and searched a number of houses and then arrested 6 civilians namely Husain Zaki al-Ashqar (27), Morad Abdullah Masimi (18), Nehad Abu Keshek (25), Ahmed Jaser al-Shubaki (33), Thaer Zahi Shalabi (29) and ‘Adnan Naief Bashkar (32). 

• Around the same time, Israeli forces accompanied with military jeeps and an armored personnel carrier moved into Dura, southwest of Hebron, and stationed in Karisah neighborhood, east of the city. They surrounded Khelet Msalam area, totally closed it, established a checkpoint on the road and prevented civilians’ vehicles from moving. The soldiers raided and searched a house belonging to Rezeq Abdullah al-Rjoub (55), who served 15 years in the Israeli jails. They detained the family members outside the house and confiscated their cell phones. They then thoroughly searched the house until 13:00 after damaging its contents. Rezeq was questioned and informed to choose which country he wants to travel to as the Israeli forces will offer him facilitations. After 12 hours of searching, the Israeli forces withdrew, but no arrests were reported. It should be noted the Israeli forces confiscated the car of the abovementioned civilian 3 months ago. 

• Around the same time, Israeli forces moved into Husan village, west of Bethlehem. they raided and searched a house belonging to Zeyad Eyad Hamamrah (19) and then arrested him. 

• Around the same time, Israeli forces moved into al-Thaheriyah village, south of Hebron, and stationed in Wad al-Ghamari area. They raided and searched a house belonging to Mohammed Kayed Qaysieh (38) and then withdrew, but no arrests were reported. At approximately 03:00, Israeli forces moved into ‘Azoun village, east of Qalqiliyah. They raided and searched a house belonging to Qusai Abdul ‘Aziz Salim (20) in the northern neighborhood and then arrested him. 

• Around the same time, Israeli forces moved into Bethlehem and stationed in al-Kakafah neighborhood in the center of the city. they raided and searched a number of houses after which they arrested 4 civilians, including a child, namely Mohammed Khader al-‘amour (16), Mo’taz Khader al-‘Amour (20), ‘Asef ‘Amer al-‘Amour (19) and ‘Abas Mohammed Shuhadah (19). 

• Around the same time, Israeli forces moved into Bani Na’im village, east of Hebron. They raided and searched a house belonging to Suheib Abdul Hamid Abu Jawour (28) and then arrested him.

Note: During the aforementioned day, Israeli forces conducted (4) incursions in the following areas and no arrests were reported: al-‘Aroub refugee camp, Sa’ir, Beit Marsam and Wad al-Shajnah villages in Hebron.

• Use of excessive force against peaceful demonstrations protesting settlement activities and the construction of the annexation wall

Demonstrations in Protest against the Annexation Wall and Settlement Activities

In a new crime of excessive use of force, Israeli forces stationed at the main entrance to al-Nabi Saleh village, northwest of Ramallah, killed a Palestinian Civilian and wounded 3 others while participating in the weekly protest organized at the aforementioned entrance.  The Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR) strongly condemns this new crime.  PCHR hereby stresses this crime was committed after the Israeli political and military leaders gave the Israeli soldiers the green light to shed the Palestinian blood in light of the international community’s policy to tolerate Israel for crimes committed by the Israeli soldiers against Palestinian civilians.

According to PCHR’s investigations and eyewitnesses’ testimonies, at approximately 13:30 on Friday, 13 May 2017, dozens of Palestinian civilians from different areas organized the weekly protest at the main entrance to al-Nabi Saleh village, northwest of Ramallah. The protest was in solidarity with the Palestinian prisoners on an open hunger strike in the Israeli jails.  A number of youngsters threw stones and empty bottles at the Israeli soldiers stationed there.  The Israeli soldiers immediately fired live and rubber-coated metal bullets in addition to Two-Two bullets at the stone-throwers.  At approximately 14:30, a number of Palestinian youngsters approached and threw Molotov Cocktails at the Israeli soldiers stationed at the main entrance to the village.  Meanwhile, 3 soldiers were on the roof of an uninhabited house, so they opened fire at the youngsters.  As a result, four of them were wounded.  One of them was identified as Saba’ Nidal ‘Abeidi (20), from Salfit, who was hit with a two-two bullet that penetrated his abdomen and waist from the heart side.  Saba’ had run about 20 meters screaming before he fell on his face.  Meanwhile, the three other wounded civilians, whom PCHR keeps their names for fear of being arrested, were hit with metal bullets to the head.   A number of youngsters rushed to save the four wounded persons and directly took them to an ambulance belonging to the Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS), which transferred them to Martyr Yasser ‘Arafat Hospital in Salfit.  Doctors there then declared death of Sabaa’ after he underwent an urgent surgery.  Doctors added that the other wounded civilians were admitted to the Emergency Department for medical treatment, and their condition was described as moderate.  Eyewitnesses said to PCHR’s fieldworker that  Israeli forces directly opened fire at the four civilians from a distance of 20 meters.  PCHR’s investigations emphasize that Israeli forces could have used less lethal force against the protestors who approached the soldiers as the latter were not posing threat to lives of the soldiers. Moreover, PCHR’s previous investigations showed that many Palestinian civilians who were hit with metal bullets from a close distance were killed, indicating Israeli forces’ premeditated intention to claim as many victims as they could among the Palestinian protestors.

• Following the Friday prayer, dozens of Palestinian civilians and Israeli and international human rights defenders organized demonstrations in Bil’in and Nil’in villages, west of Ramallah, protesting against the annexation wall and settlement activities. Israeli forces forcibly dispersed the protests, firing live and metal bullets, tear gas canisters and sound bombs. They also chased the protesters into olive fields and between houses. As a result, many protesters suffered tear gas inhalation while others sustained bruises as Israeli soldiers beat them up.

Demonstrations in Solidarity with Palestinian prisoners in the Israeli jails

• At approximately 13:30 on Thursday, 11 May 2017, dozens of Palestinian civilians organized a protest in solidarity with Palestinian prisoners in the Israeli jails at the northern entrance of al-Birah. The protestors threw stones and empty bottles at the Israeli soldiers stationed at “al-Mahkamah” checkpoint established near “Beit Eil” settlement, north of the city. When the protestors approached the abovementioned checkpoint, the soldiers fired live bullets, tear gas canisters, sound bombs and rubber-coated metal bullets at them. As a result, 13 civilians, including 3 children and 2 women, were wounded. Eight civilians sustained live bullet wounds, 4 others sustained metal bullet wounds and a civilian sustained a live bullet shrapnel wound. The wounded civilians were transferred to Palestine Medical Complex in Ramallah to receive medical treatment. Their injuries were classified as moderate. 

• Following the Friday prayer on 12 May 2017, hundreds of Palestinian civilians performed the prayer at the crossroad of Beta village, south of Nablus upon a call from the National Committee to Support the Prisoners to perform the Friday prayer in the confrontation areas with the Israeli forces to support the prisoners’ legitimate demands. At the end of the prayer, the civilians threw stones and empty bottles at the Israeli soldiers, who fired live and metal bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at them. As a result, an 18-year-old civilian sustained a metal bullet wound to the face. He was then transferred to Rafidia Governmental Hospital in Nablus for medical treatment and later left the hospital. 

• Following the same Friday prayer, hundreds of Palestinian civilians performed prayers at the entrance to Beit Furik village, east of Nablus, upon a call from the National Committee to Support the Prisoners to perform the Friday prayer in the confrontation areas with the Israeli forces to support the prisoners’ legitimate demands. At the end of the prayer, the civilians threw stones and empty bottles at the Israeli soldiers, who fired live and metal bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at them. As a result, a 45-year-old civilian sustained a metal bullet wound to the head. He was then transferred to Rafidia Governmental Hospital in Nablus for medical treatment and later left the hospital.

Israeli forces directly targeted the ambulances the ambulances there that were damaged as follows:

1. A PRCS ambulance: the right-back tire was hit with a live bullet. Paramedic Fawaz al-Betar, was driving the ambulance and offering first aid to a wounded civilian;
2. A PRCS ambulance: the left-rear window was hit with a metal bullet. The ambulance was travelled by officer ‘Alaa’ Mansour; and
3. An ambulance belonging to ‘Aqraba municipality: left-rear window and structure of the ambulance were hit with a metal bullet. The ambulance was travelled by Officer Yusuf Mousa Deriyah.

Officer Yusuf Deriyah said to PCHR’s fieldworker that:

“At approximately 13:00, on Friday, 12 May 2017, 3 other PRCS ambulances and I were stationed at the main entrance to Beit Furik village, east of Nablus. The young men threw stones at the Israeli forces when the distance between us and the soldiers was about 700 meters. The soldiers then targeted my ambulance with a metal bullet, directly hitting the right the door. I stepped out to see the damage, so the soldiers fired another bullet towards me.  That bullet penetrated the front structure of another PRCS ambulance travelled by officer ‘Alaa’ Mansour. We immediately decided to move from the area towards Beit Furik village. When the ambulance travelled by the officer ‘Alaa’ Manour moved, the soldiers fired a metal bullet at the back of it and fired several bullets at my ambulance. We stopped at the entrance to Beit Furik village. Few minutes later, a civilian sustained a metal bullet wound to the head. Officer Fazwaz al-Betar went to the area to evacuate the wounded civilian towards the abovementioned village. The soldiers again fired a live bullet that hit the right-rear window of the ambulance.”

• On Friday afternoon, Palestinian civilians organized a protest in the center of Deir Abu Mash’al village, northwest of Ramallah. They made their way to the main entrance to the village in solidarity with Palestinian prisoners, who went on hunger strike. When the protestors approached the abovementioned entrance, the Israeli forces fired live bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at them. As a result, a 21-year-old civilian sustained a live bullet wound to the right leg. 

• At approximately 12:30 on Monday, 15 May 2017, dozens of Palestinian civilians organized a peaceful protest at the northern entrance to al-Birah in solidarity with the Palestinian prisoners on hunger strike and in commemoration of the 69^thanniversary of Nakba. The protestors threw stones and empty bottles at the soldiers stationed at al-Mahkamah checkpoint near “Beit Eil” settlement, north of the city. When the protestors approached the abovementioned checkpoint, the soldiers fired live bullets, tear gas canisters, sound bombs and rubber-coated metal bullets at them. As a result, 15 civilian, including 9 children, were wounded. Twelve civilians were hit with live bullets and the 3 others were hit with metal bullets. The wounded civilians were transferred to Palestine Medical Complex in Ramallah to receive medical treatment. Their injuries were classified as moderate 

• At approximately 13:30 on the same Friday, dozens of Palestinian civilians gathered in the center of al-Nabi Saleh village, northwest of Ramallah organized a peaceful protest along with civilians from near villages in commemoration of the 69^th anniversary of Nakba. They made their way to the Israeli watchtower established at the main entrance to the village. The protestors threw stones at the Israeli soldiers, who fired rubber-coated metal bullets, tear gas canister and sound bombs at them. As a result, a 45-year-old civilian from Beit Rema village sustained a metal bullet wound to the right leg. He was transferred via a PRCS ambulance to Yasser Arafat Hospital in Salfit to receive medical treatment. 

• On Wednesday morning, 17 May 2017, a number of Palestinian young men gathered at the western entrance to Silwad village, northeast of Ramallah. The protestors closed Street (60) with rocks and set fire to tires in solidarity with the prisoners on hunger strike. The soldiers stationed in the vicinity of “Ofra” settlement, fired live bullets at them in response. As a result, Ibrahim Rasem Hamed (19) was hit with a live bullet and then arrested. Following that, the Israeli forces moved into Silwad village. They raided and searched a number of houses and then closed the main entrance with cement cubes before they withdrew from the village. 

2. Continued closure of the oPt

 Israel continued to impose a tight closure on the oPt, imposing severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including occupied East Jerusalem.

Gaza Strip

Israeli forces continuously tighten the closure of the Gaza Strip and close all commercial crossings, making the Karm Abu Salem crossing the sole commercial crossing of the Gaza Strip, although it is not suitable for commercial purposes in terms of its operational capacity and distance from markets.

Israeli forces have continued to apply the policy, which is aimed to tighten the closure on all commercial crossings, by imposing total control over the flow of imports and exports.

Israeli forces have continued to impose a total ban on the delivery of raw materials to the Gaza Strip, except for very limited items and quantities. The limited quantities of raw materials allowed into Gaza do not meet the minimal needs of the civilian population of the Gaza Strip.

Israeli forces also continued to impose an almost total ban on the Gaza Strip exports, including agricultural and industrial products, except for light-weighted products such as flowers, strawberries, and spices. However, they lately allowed the exportation of some vegetables such as cucumber and tomatoes, furniture and fish.

Israel has continued to close the Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing for the majority of Palestinian citizens from the Gaza Strip. Israel only allows the movement of a limited number of groups, with many hours of waiting in the majority of cases. Israel has continued to adopt a policy aimed at reducing the number of Palestinian patients allowed to move via the Beit Hanoun crossing to receive medical treatment in hospitals in Israel or in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. Israel also continued applying the policy of making certain civilian traveling via the crossing interviewed by the Israeli intelligence service to be questioned, blackmailed or arrested

River to Sea Uprooted Palestinian   

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