Monday 21 February 2011

Abbas keen on relations with the US despite its bias in favor of Israel - PA arrests Hamas man, transfers others to be sentenced

[ 20/02/2011 - 11:27 AM ]

RAMALLAH, (PIC)-- De facto president Mahmoud Abbas insisted on his relations with the US despite the blow dealt to him by Washington last night, when the latter used the right of veto over a UN security council's resolution against Israel's settlement expansion in the occupied Palestinian lands.

Abbas said his authority would never boycott the American administration despite its bias in favor of Israel.

The resolution garnered 14 votes in the 15-member council.

In another context, director of the chamber of commerce and industry in occupied Jerusalem Azzam Abu Assaud said the Fatah-controlled Palestinian authority (PA) and its de facto government did not give due importance to Jerusalem and the Aqsa Mosque.

Abu Assaud affirmed that in a speech during a symposium on Jerusalem held Saturday in the Jordanian capital, Amman.

He stressed that the PA and successive government had provided the Palestinian institutions in Jerusalem with only four percent of the budgets allocated for them so far.

The Palestinian official also noted that the PA ministry of religious affairs does not take care at all of the Aqsa Mosque, especially the Dome of Rock, while the Jews are embarking on Judaizing the holy city through a number of steps including the seizure of Palestinian property and real estate.

PA arrests Hamas man, transfers others to be sentenced
[ 20/02/2011 - 04:40 PM ]

WEST BANK, (PIC)-- In a continuation of a political campaign targeting Hamas in the West Bank, the Palestinian Authority security agencies arrested Sunday a man from Hamas and transferred four others to military courts to be sentenced.

According to other reports, the same agencies have been daily summoning hundreds of civilians formerly held in Israeli prisons.

The security militia arrested Sunday ex-prisoner Mohammed Misbah Najjar of Burin after storming his work place in Ramallah.

Four other Hamas men were transferred to the military courts the same day for sentencing.

They were identified as Abdurrahman Ishtiah, a Nablus student at Al-Najah University; Ala Al-Aaraj, who is from Anabata in the district of Tulkarem and also studies there; Samir al-Masri, an Al-Khalil student at Beirzeit; and Mohammed Badran, who resides at the Askar refugee camp near Nablus.

Reports say hundreds of civilians across the West Bank are summoned for questioning daily by the Palestinian Authority. Victims believe there are alterior motive.

Several Palestinians previously detained by Israeli forces said they were interrogated by the PA over cases already investigated by Israeli intelligence. The agencies ask them about family matters, work and other details in their lives, they added.

One of those questioned said the summonses were aimed at wearing them out, waging psychological warfare and harming them financially.

Dozens of Hamas supporters are being held and tortured by the PA despite court decision favoring their release. They are detained at the disposal of military rule although they are civilians.


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