WELL-PROTECTED Israeli soldiers were surprised this week when they entered six Palestinian cities that there was no organized Palestinian resistance, as had been the case with earlier incursions. The Israeli military entered six Palestinian cities two days after gunmen assassinated a right-wing Israeli cabinet minister in an Israeli hotel built on expropriated Palestinian lands in East Jerusalem. Palestinians were also surprised to hear after a meeting of the supreme Palestinian military council of the decision that considers all military wings of Palestinian factions to be illegal. This Palestinian decision was followed by a series of arrests of Palestinian activists that has netted 30, mostly from the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, as well as from Islamic groups. Sixty others are reported hiding from attempts to arrest them by the Palestinian security. Those arrested included a spokesman for the PFLP and a member of this organization’s politburo. Continue Reading »

Ramallah — When Israeli tanks rolled into Ramallah, on Thursday morning (October 18), they expected stiff resistance. They drove in from the northern side of the city near the Best Western Hotel and from the West near the Jawwal building. To reduce casualties the Israelis chose the early morning hour of 6:30, using only tanks and armored personnel carriers, and entered only two kilometers into Palestinian “A” areas. Palestinian national security forces were poised for battle and ready to attack the invading Israelis. But the Israelis were surprised as to what awaited them. No resistance. Continue Reading »

The quest for a free and independent Palestinian state is a just and noble cause. This cause must not be defiled by the evil actions of international terrorists. Palestinians eject the attempts by Osama Ben Laden to link his case with Palestine nor do they support his oath that America will not witness peace until their is peace in Palestine.

It is true that for years America has bowed to domestic pressure and has obstructed the implementation of this internationally legitimate cause of a people wishing to be relived of an unjust Israeli occupation of their land. But the path of killing innocent people in New York and Washington is not the path of justice for Palestine. Continue Reading »

The invitation by the German representative office for a celebration at a Ramallah restaurant on the occasion of “German Unity” was normal. An addendum to the invitation was not normal. It expressed understanding by the Germans if the invited Palestinian guests couldn’t make it because of the difficulties in movement in the Palestinian areas. Continue Reading »