Day: 10 July 2023

The United Arab Emirates has promised $15 million in aid to support United Nations relief operations in Jenin after deadly violence turned the refugee camp’s streets and houses into rubble and cut off power and water.

U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres urged Israel to abide by its international legal obligations, saying that “escalation is not the solution,” warning that violence “simply bolsters radicalization.”

Israel maintains that it was uprooting radical militants and weapons caches in the West Bank camp.

Observers like Jordanian independent analyst Osama Al Sharif see Israel’s military incursion as encouraging more Palestinian youth to join militant groups. That’s because, he told VOA, there are no tangible results from a moribund peace process, while many reject the aging and ineffective leadership in the Palestinian Authority.

“It’s a generation in despair. There hasn’t been any kind of genuine attempt to create hope for the majority of Palestinians in the occupied territories. This Palestinian Authority is incapable of protecting the Palestinians in the areas it controls. The only thing that the Israelis want from the Palestinian Authority is security coordination. They’re not talking to the PA over a peace process. They are not in favor of an independent Palestinian state. They are against a two-state solution. So, what else is there for especially those young Palestinians increasingly seeing what is left of the West Bank being colonized by Jewish settlers?” said Al Sharif.

Washington Post columnist David Ignatius blames both Israel and the Palestinians for the worrying developments.

“The Palestinian Authority’s security forces,” he said, “have lacked the firepower or will to challenge the growing presence of Hamas and Islamic Jihad” in Jenin, both militant groups backed by Iran.

Others, like the Jenin Brigades, have risen to confront violence by Jewish settlers. The group reported that eight of the 12 dead were its members, while hundreds of others were wounded.

Ignatius also criticized Israel’s “refusal to control and discipline the ever-expanding [Jewish] settlements in the West Bank” undertaken by its current hardline nationalist government, pointing out that even if both sides really wanted a Palestinian state to materialize now, “there is simply not enough land left in a small territory dotted with Israeli settlements and ‘outposts.’”

Michael Milstein, a former adviser to the Israeli agency overseeing Palestinian affairs in the West Bank, told London’s Financial Times that Jenin is a wake-up call.

“The basic problems in the West Bank are much deeper than terror or military or security problems. You also need to take care of political and social and economic problems,” Milstein said, pointing to the apparent disintegration of the Palestinian Authority.

Jordanian analyst Al Sharif said there doesn’t appear to be an endgame.

“We are reaching the point of truth. When you are talking about a second or third intifada, an implosion. All negative scenarios are there waiting to happen because simply there is no alternative, no political process,” said Al Sharif.

He said that inside Israel, there also seems to be no answer to what is next.

Source: Voice of America

Palestine, yesterday, called on U.S. President, Joe Biden, to interpret his words criticising the Israeli government, into practical measures, that protect the Palestinian people.

In a statement, the Palestinian Foreign Ministry urged Biden to “stop the expansion of Israeli settlement” and “to compel the Israeli government to engage in a political track of negotiations to resolve the conflict.”

“The Israeli government’s continuation in its illegal settlement will expose it not only to accountability, in accordance with the rules of international law and UN resolutions, but also to UN sanctions,” it said.

Biden said yesterday that, the current Israeli government has some “of the most extreme members” he’s seen in Israel, according to “The Times of Israel” news website.

“The Israeli cabinet ministers, who back settling anywhere they want in the West Bank are part of the problem in the conflict,” Biden added.

The statement welcomed what it described as “the unprecedented slap that President Biden has dealt to the Israeli government for the first time.”

It also called on Biden’s administration “to fulfill its announced commitments to the Palestinian cause and to support the legal approaches of Palestine in international forums.”

In 2013, the United States sponsored direct peace talks between Israel and Palestine for nine months. However, the talks stopped in late Mar, 2014, following deep disputes on settlements and the border of the Palestinian state.

The current Israeli government is headed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who won 64 seats with his far-right allies in the 2022 elections. His government was sworn in on Dec 29, 2022

Source: Nam News Network

The Israeli occupation forces today notified Palestinians in the village of Bardala in the northern Jordan Valley to stop work on building residential structures and on land reclamation. Human rights activist Aref Daraghmeh said that the occupation forces issued these orders against three residential facilities under the pretext of not being licensed, and to reclaim a privately owned plot of land in Bardala.

Source: En – Palestine news & Information Agency – WAFA

The Third Military Region forces and Al-Hasm Brigades carried out today a military maneuver in Serwah district of Marib province, under the title “Wilayah Day”.

Participated in the maneuver, which was attended by a member of the Political Council, Muhammad Saleh Al-Nuaimi, and a member of the Supreme Politics – Commander of the Third Military Region, Lieutenant General Mubarak Al-Mishn Al-Zaidi, Minister of Defense, Major General Muhammad Al-Atifi, Chief of the General Staff, Major General Muhammad Abdul-Karim Al-Ghamari, infantry units, vehicles, snipers, artillery, and an anti-armor and drone unit.

The helicopter gunship launched the maneuver with its intense bombardment of the supposed enemy positions, with great support from the artillery.

The forces participating in the military maneuver took control of all the planned targets, assuming the presence of warplanes and hostile warplanes.

The military maneuver reflected the advanced level reached by the types and formations of the Yemeni armed forces in terms of capabilities, high combat skills and outstanding competence in waging battles against the invaders and occupiers.

The participating forces confirmed, in warning messages, their readiness and combat readiness to carry out and engage in any military operations required by the stage in confronting the aggression forces mercenaries and defeating them from every inch they defiled in the land of Yemen.

The maneuver was attended by the governors of Marib, Ali Taiman and Al-Jawf, Faisal bin Haidar, the deputy chief of the General Staff, Major General Ali Al-Moshki, the commander of the sixth military region, Major General Jamil Zaraa, the commander of the decisive brigades, Brigadier General Abu Yusuf Hamdan, and a number of civil and military officials.

Source: Yemen News Agency

The Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs and Minister of Finance, Dr. Rashid Abboud Abu Lahoum, met today with the Governor of Al-Mahwit, Hanin Quttina.

During the meeting, they discussed the level of implementation of service projects in the province within the framework of the approved plans, as well as projects of community initiatives.

The meeting touched on aspects related to the completion of a number of stalled school projects in a number of the governorate’s districts, stressing the need to start completing the implementation of these projects according to the priorities of need, especially in the most deprived districts and those in need of these schools.

Dr. Abu Lahoum affirmed keenness to implement the directives of the Revolution Leader , Sayyed Abdulmalik Badr al-Din al-Houthi, and the President of the Supreme Political Council, Field Marshal Mahdi al-Mashat, in supporting all societal initiatives as the cornerstone of the development process.

The meeting also discussed the level of implementation of Cleaning and Improvement Fund activities in the province, and the expansion project of Souq Al-Khamis to enable it to serve the people of the surrounding districts.

Source: Yemen News Agency

On this day, July 10, the US-Saudi-Emirati aggression had launched dozens of air raids, targeting citizens and their property and infrastructure, killing many and injuring others and causing massive destruction of public and private property in Yemen.

On July 10, 2015, four citizens were killed in the the aggression’s bombing of a car transporting goods belonging to Bajmal in Naqil al-Sala’a on the public road between Ataq and al-Naqba areas in Shabwa province, and al-Salam Bridge linking Shabwa and Abyan provinces was destroyed.

Eight citizens were killed and others were injured in the aggression’s bombing on a school housing displaced persons in al-Hamra district in Lahj province, causing a complete destruction of the school and damaging a number of nearby buildings.

Seven citizens were killed, all of them women and children, and others were injured in the aggression’s raid on the homes of citizens of Bait Majali people in al-Hadeerah village, Wadi Al-Ajbar area, Sanhan and Bani Bahloul district in Sana’a province, destroying two houses and damaging a number of others.

The aggression warplanes targeted houses with a number of raids in Artel area of the same province, causing complete destruction.

In Ibb province, four citizens were killed and four others were injured in four raids by the aggression’s warplanes on the security department of al-Radhmah district, which led to the complete destruction of the building.

The aggression warplanes launched two raids on al-Hafa and Jabal Noqm, and other raids on the air defense in capital Sana’a, and targeted with two raids al-Lewa al-Akhdaer and Bahrain hotels in Haradh district, and with two other raids al-Qimma area in Kuhlan Afar district in Hajjah province .

The hostile aircraft launched a series of raids on al-Ashraf area and Serwah district in Marib province, and 15 raids on Sa’ada province, most of them on Dahyan, al-Maqash, al-Anad, Baqim, Juma bin Fadel, and al-Sha’af areas.

In Aden province , the aggression warplanes targeted the port of Aden with two raids, including a raid on Crater district.

In 2016, four citizens were injured in a US drone strike on the farm of the citizen Saeed al-Hijrah in al-Khasha’a area, southern Marib city.

The aggression warplanes launched five raids on al-Qamoa area in Ketaf district of Sa’ada province, causing great damage to the property and farms of the citizens.

The hostile aircraft also launched a raid on al-Manara area in Nehm district of Sana’a province, and two raids on Midi district in Hajjah province .

In Taiz Province , a woman was wounded in the head when the mercenaries of the aggression opened fire on the areas of al-Shuaiba, al-Jura and al-Hiyar, while they bombed with heavy and medium weapons the homes of citizens in areas of Dhi al-Barh, al-Nidani and al-Sarari in Sabr al-Mawadim district.

On July 10, 2017, the aggression warplanes launched three raids on the security department of Rima Humaid area in Sanhan and Bani Bahloul districts in Sana’a province, leading to its destruction and casing great damage to citizens’ homes and their property.

The aggression warplanes launched six raids on the areas of al-Rabiah, al-Makhdara and al-Mahdaza in Serwah district of Marib province, and two raids on al-Baqa’ and Umm Al-Rih in Ketaf district in Sa’ada province, and a raid on the Jizan region.

On this day in the year 2018, four citizens were killed and more than seven were injured in the aggression’s raids targeting two cars in Zabid city of Hodeida Province.

Two citizens were killed and a child and a woman were injured in a raid by the aggression’s warplanes on a citizen’s house in al Qahr area of Baqim district of Sa’ada province .

A citizen from the border district of Sheda was also killed after being shot by Saudi border guards, while several areas of Razih district were hit by dozens of Saudi rocket and artillery shells, which caused significant material damage to the citizens’ homes and farms.

The > Hail: aggression warplanes launched seven raids on separate areas in Khadir district of Taiz province .

On July 10, 2019, the mercenaries of the aggression targeted, with ten artillery shells, the homes and property of citizens in al-Duraihim city and with medium machine guns al-Halaqa market and its vicinity in the 7th of July area in the city of Hodeida.

Saudi missile and artillery bombardment targeted populated villages in the border district of Munabeh of Sa’ada province .

In 2020, the aggression warplanes launched 24 raids on the districts of Majzar and Serwah, and six raids on Mahlia district in Marib province, and targeted with 14 raids al-Aqsha’ area in al-Hazm desert and Khab Washa’af district in Jawf province .

The hostile aircraft launched eight raids on al-Dhaher district, four raids on Sheda district in Sa’ada province, and two raids on al-Arush area in Khawlan district in Sana’a province .

In Hodeida province, the mercenaries’ rocket and artillery hit with 115 missiles many areas in the province and they also bombed with artillery and machine-guns the 7th of July area and the 50th Street in Hodeida city, and they targeted with nine artillery shells Muthalath al-Adain in Hays district. They also hit al-Jabalia area in al-Tuhaita district with more than 14 artillery shells.

On July 10, 2021, the aggression warplanes launched four raids on al-Dhaher district in Bayda province, and a raid on Ketaf district in Sa’ada province .

The aggression warplanes targeted Ragwan district with eight raids and five raids Serwah district, and launched a raid on Madghal district in Marib province, which caused damage to public and private property.

The aggression’s spy planes dropped bombs on the 50th Street in Hodeida city, while the mercenaries bombed separate areas in the coastal province with artillery and various bullets.

On this day in the year 2022, 17 people were killed or injured by the fire of the Saudi border guards in Sa’ada province .

Source: Yemen News Agency

President Mahmoud Abbas today congratulated the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Pierbattista Pizzaballa, on the occasion of his appointment to the rank of Cardinal in the Catholic Church. “We received with joy the announcement of the Supreme Pontiff, His Holiness Pope Francis, appointing you to the rank of Cardinal in the Catholic Church. It shows high confidence from His Holiness in you and a message that the Holy City occupies a special place in the heart and mind of His Holiness, which is what we have seen whenever we meet him. This is an additional responsibility you are to undertake at the time the Israeli occupation policies are accelerating, especially in the Holy City,’ said President Abbas in his congratulatory telegram. The President added: ‘We and the Christian world, as is the Islamic world, will never accept, nor accede to the continuation of the occupation and its unilateral policies and measures that try .to change the character and identity of the city of Jerusalem, and we will work to restore all the legitimate rights to their rightful people so that peace, security and stability prevail in our region and the world.’ The President expressed his confidence that Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa will continue to safeguard the holy places and their historical and legal status, and ‘work with us to protect and strengthen the authentic Christian presence in Palestine,’ stressing that ‘we will continue to work in accordance with international law and the resolutions of the international legitimacy to achieve justice, freedom and dignity for our Palestinian people and rout out the Israeli occupation from the land of the State of Palestine with East Jerusalem as its capital.’

Source: En – Palestine news & Information Agency – WAFA

About 14.5 million Palestinians in the world in mid-2023, of whom about 5.48 million in the State of Palestine; 2.78 million males and 2.70 million females. The estimated population of the West Bank was 3.25 million (1.65 million males and 1.60 million females). While the estimated population of the Gaza Strip was 2.23 million in the same year (1.13 million males and 1.10 million females), according to the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS) presenting the conditions of the Palestinian population on the occasion of World Population Day. The percentage of individuals aged (0-14) years constituted 37% of the total population in mid-2023; of whom 35% in the West Bank and 40% in Gaza Strip. The percentage of the elderly population aged (65 years and above) reached 4% of the total population; of whom 4% in the West Bank and 3% in Gaza Strip, in mid-2023. An estimated 12% of the Palestinian households were headed by females in Palestine (12% in the West Bank and 11% in Gaza Strip). The estimates indicated a decline in the average household size in Palestine compared to 2007. Thus, the average size of the household declined to 5.0 individuals in 2022 compared to 5.8 individuals in 2007. On the other hand, the average household size in the West Bank declined to 4.7 individuals in 2022 compared to 5.5 individuals in 2007. In Gaza Strip, the average household size declined to 5.5 individuals in 2022 compared to 6.5 in 2007. The illiteracy rate among individuals (15 years and above) was 2.2%. The illiteracy gap is significantly noticed among males and females with percentages of 1.1% and 3.3%, respectively. Data for the scholastic year 2021/2022 showed that the participation rate in formal education (one year before enrolling in the official elementary stage) in Palestine is approximately 73% (68% among males, and 78% among females). While the data for 2022 showed that the completion percentages of different educational levels (lower and upper secondary education) were higher among females reaching 97% and 78%, respectively, while the percentages among males were 90% and 53% respectively. As for the percentage of female students enrolled in Palestinian higher education institutions, it reached 62% out of the total number of students enrolled in higher education institutions in 2021-2022, of whom about 10% are enrolled in the ICT major. Women’s participation rate in the labor force increased in 2022 compared to 2021, where it reached about 19% out of the total number of women at work age in 2022. Notably, this percentage was 17% in 2021, knowing that the rate of men’s participation in the labor force reached 71% in 2022, compared to 69% in 2021. On the other hand, the unemployment rate among women participating in the labor force was about 40% compared to 20% among men in 2022. The unemployment rate among the youth (19-29 years) graduates of those who hold an intermediate diploma and higher reached 48% (61% among females compared with 34% among males). About 40% of wage employees in the private sector earn a monthly wage less than the minimum average wage (1,880 NIS), as the percentage was 38% among men, compared to 50% among women. Moreover, 40% of female employees hired in the private sector work without an employment contract, and 44% of them receive a contribution in financing retirement/end of the service package. On the other hand, 46% of female employees in the private sector received paid maternity leave in 2022. According to the data of the General Personnel Council up to February 2023, the percentage of women’s participation in the public sector reached about 48% of the total employees in the public sector. The gap is significant in the percentage of those who hold the rank of director general and higher, where this percentage reached 14% among women compared to 86% among men. The percentage of women elected and appointed in the 2021-2022 local elections was 21% compared to 79% among men. Also, the participation of women in decision-making positions is still limited compared to men’s participation, as data for 2021 showed that women constitute about 23% of the members of the Central Council, 19% of the members of the Palestinian National Council, and 12% of members of the Council of Ministers. Moreover, only one woman holds the position of governor out of 15 governors, and 1% of the heads of local councils in Palestine are women. As for the doard of directors of the Chambers of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture, the percentage of men reached 99% compared to only 1% of women, and about 19% of judges are women, and the percentage of female prosecutors is 18%. In the year 2022, about 92% of households in Palestine stated that they have access to internet service at home or at one of their household members in Palestine for the year 2022, (93% in the West Bank and 92% in Gaza Strip). Meanwhile, the percentage of individuals (10 years and above) who used the internet from anywhere reached 89% in Palestine (92% in the West Bank and 83% in Gaza Strip). 89% among males and 88% among females. The data also showed that the percentage of individuals (10 years and above) who own a cellular phone is 79% (86% in the West Bank and 69% in Gaza Strip). There is a gap in cellular phone ownership between males and females, where the percentage reached 83% among males and 76% among females for the year 2022. The percentage of individuals (10 years and above) who own a smartphone is 73% (83% in the West Bank and 58% in Gaza Strip). 74% among males and 72% among females for the year 2022. Within this context, the data of the Report of the Digital Reality in Palestine by “ipoke” for 2022 indicated that the prevalence rate of social media in Palestine was about 66%, whereas the percentage of using social media by sex was 51% among males and 49% among females. About 10% of currently or ever-married women (15-64 years) in Palestine were exposed to some form of cyber violence through social media networks. Also, 8% of women were exposed to violence through telecommunication (any threatening, blackmailing, or harassment by different people or parties through calls or messages).

Source: En – Palestine news & Information Agency – WAFA

HH the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani sent a cable of congratulations to HE President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev on his re-election as President for a third presidential term, wishing him success in performing his duties and the relations between the two countries continued development and growth.

Source: Qatar News Agency

The aggression forces committed 92 violations of the ceasefire agreement in Hodeida province over the past 24 hours, an official at the operations room to monitor the violations said on Monday.

The official in the operations room told the Yemeni News Agency (Saba) that among the aggression forces violations were four airstrikes by the spy warplanes on Al-Jabalia and Hays, and the creation of combat fortifications in Al-Jabalia and Maqbanah.

He pointed out that the violations also included five spy planes flew over al-Jabaliya and Hays, 11 violations of artillery shell, and 69 violations of various gunshots.

Source: Yemen News Agency

Five Palestinians were injured, one of them by a live bullet, when Israeli soldiers opened fire at Palestinian youths who confronted the soldiers in the village of Shuqba, northwest of Ramallah, according to medics. The Palestinian Red Crescent said that the other four were injured by rubber-coated metal bullets. The confrontations broke out after soldiers raided the village, said Palestinian security sources. A 33-year-old Shuqba resident was earlier shot and killed by Israeli soldiers near a checkpoint at the village of Deir Natham, west of Ramallah.

Source: En – Palestine news & Information Agency – WAFA