West Bank tourists can get visas if they visit Israel, too

The Interior Ministry promised the Tourism Ministry last week that tourists who declare that they intend to enter only the Palestinian Authority will have their passports stamped “Palestinian Authority only,” while tourists who declare they intend to visit both Israel and the Palestinian Authority will have their passports stamped with a regular B2 tourist visa, according to an internal memo from a senior Tourism Ministry official.

The memo, written in English, was circulated on August 20 by Tourism Ministry senior deputy director general Raphael Ben-Hur to senior ministry officials.

For full article, visit http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1109608.html

Amira Hass: Fatah’s gauntlet

If the results have been so disastrous, why are they not discussed openly? It is hard to hold a debate on the weapons fantasy when thousands of families have lost loved ones because of it. It is hard to hold such a debate when thousands of Palestinians have paid with their freedom, including many who never held a gun. It is hard to hold such a debate when people who participated in this fantasy have been elected to Fatah’s central committee. Moreover, such a debate might have addressed the way senior Fatah members used the “armed struggle” to divert public criticism of the PA and its failures, and salvage Fatah’s prestige as a liberation movement.

For full article, visit http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1108571.html

Hamas agrees to probe deaths of alleged Israel collaborators

On March 16, the family was informed that Jaradat had died. According to a human rights council field worker and a lawyer, the body had bruises on the head, neck and limbs. A week later, the authorities announced the death of another detainee: 19-years-old Gameel Nassar Asaaf, arrested on suspicion of theft by Gaza City police on March 9. He was detained at the Tufach police station for three days, and then transferred to Shifa hospital in a comatose state and suffering kidney failure. A human rights council field worker visited him before his death and found bruises on him as well.

For full article, visit http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1078388.html

UNRWA threatens to fire Gaza employees with declared Hamas, Fatah loyalties

Following an internal election within UNRWA, the agency’s management has warned it may fire employees who violated the organization’s nonpartisan policy by affiliating with political factions in Gaza – namely Fatah and Hamas.

The warning came as the election for the chairmanship of UNRWA trade union ended Monday. The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East is a major source of employment in Gaza.

For full article, visit http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1075344.html

Amira Hass: Rule now, liberate later

If they really aspired to liberation, the two Palestinian leaderships would break a few rules in the Oslo game. They would give up the process of Western-style elections, which is essentially divisive. They would find other means of expressing differences and consensus, and also of encouraging public discourse concerning all the methods of liberation that have failed so far.

For full article, visit http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1074827.html

Amira Hass: Time to believe Gaza war crimes allegations

“Ashkenazi, like other Israelis, could have read the Red Cross’ protest during the offensive, that the IDF prevented medical teams from reaching wounded Palestinians by shooting at them. He or his aides could have gone to the Web site set up by Israeli human rights organizations, which was full of reports and testimonies. “

Source: http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1073469.html

Rights group: IDF killed 16 medical workers during Gaza op

“It said Israel attacked 34 medical care facilities, including eight hospitals. The report also raises questions of whether IDF soldiers violated the IDF’s own ethical code and basic humanitarian values, when they prevented treatment and the evacuation of the wounded and fired at emergency rescue teams and Palestinian medical facilities.”

Source: http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1073191.html

IDF soldiers ordered to shoot at Gaza rescuers, note says

“Rules of Engagement: Open fire also upon rescue,” was handwritten in Hebrew on a sheet of paper found in one of the Palestinian homes the Israel Defense Forces took over during Operation Cast Lead. A reservist officer who did not take part in the Gaza offensive believes that the note is part of orders a low-level commander wrote before giving his soldiers their daily briefing.”

Source: http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1072830.html