IMEMC Weekly Audio Report

This week in Palestine –a service of the International Middle East Media Center IMEMC. Org, for the week of Friday, April15th to Thursday, April21st

IMEMC Weekly Audio Report
April 15-21, 2005

This week in Palestine –a service of the International Middle East Media Center IMEMC. Org, for the week of Friday, April15th to Thursday, April21st

Despite criticism by the United States, the Israeli government moved ahead with expanding settlements and grabbing more lands for the construction of the separation wall.

On Thursday, Israeli Prime minister Ariel Sharon affirmed that a thousand housing units are under construction in the West bnak settlement of Betar Eliet and hundreds more in that of Maalee Adumim.

Earlier in the week, the Israeli cabinet issued tenders seeking bids for construction of 50 new houses in the West Bank settlement of Elkana near the West Bank city of Salfit.

The Palestinian Authority complained to the American Administration, which in turn requested explanations from Israel.

Sharon and the American Administartion agreed that Israel should keep hold of large West Bank settlement blocs in any future agreement, but differ on Israel's intentions to keep expanding settlements contrary to road map obligations.

The Palestinian Information Center issued Tuesday a report on Israeli violation to the Sharm 's truce agreement between Israel and the Palestinian Authority.

The center reported 920 Israeli army incursions into Palestinian territories during the past two months. During the same period, the center monitored 600 cases in which army opened fire or shelled Palestinian populated areas.

The center said that in total Israel has violated the truce agreement in 3854 cases since the signing of the Sharm's understandings on Feb 8.

The Israeli government is leaning to postpone the implementation of the disengagement plan for three weeks for religious reasons.

Israeli vice-premier Shimon Peres from the Israeli laborparty expressed surprise that only now the government discovers a Jewish holiday.

Minister Israel Katz from the Israeli Likud party called Tuesday for a further delay up to October 25. The cabinet is expected to make a final decision soon after the defense ministry agreed Friday to the proposed delay.

Saleh Al-Na'aami political analyst from Gaza said Israel's unilateral with drawl from Gaza Strip is meat only to manage the conflict.

Israeli High court ordered Wednesday a halt of the construction of Ariel wall section, but approved the construction of the Bethlehem section. The court injunction followed a petition submitted by Palestinian villagers in the Salfit region.

On the other hand the court allowed the cabinet to resume the construction of the wall near Bethlehem after it was halted by a court injunction on October 2003.

Jamal Daraa'wi member of land defense committee

The Palestinian Authority said Thursday is ready for the Gaza pullout. A Palestinian Authority technical committee has been preparing lists of structures now in Gaza settlements believed to be helpful for the development of the economy of the Gaza strip if remained intact.

Saleh Naa'mi a political specialized in settlements issues said there still debates whether current settlements should be torn down after pull out or remain for reoccupation by Palestinians.

The Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas met on Wednesday in Ramallah with the two U.S. envoys, David Welch, deputy secretary of state, and Elliot Abrams, deputy national security advisor.

Both sides focused talks on the intended Israeli unilateral disengagement plan and preparations for the next month visit of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to Washington.

Also on Wednesday Palestinian legislators approved the election bill without modifications, paving the way for elections to take place on July 17.

The PLC decision ended a crisis between Fatah legislators and the Islamic opposition groups over fulfillment of commitments signed during the March 15 Cairo talks.

8000 Palestinian prisoners held a two days hunger strike starting Sunday to commemorate Palestinian Prisoners Day.

Palestinian prisoners expressed hopes that the PA would show more urgency and seriousness to the prisoners' file in the renewed Palestinian-Israeli negotiations.

Israel imposed an entire closure over the occupied Palestinian territories during Jewish holidays. The closure went in effect starting Thursday night and would last until Monday morning. As Jewish holydays coincides with Christian Easter, Palestinian Christians are expected to suffer the most.

Samer Kokali from Alternative Tourism Group Beit- Sahour wondered why the Jewish people celebrate their holidays while the Palestinians do not have the same right.

For the International middle East media Center IMEMC I'm Manar Jibrin in Beit Sahour , Palestine.