Palestinians set date for mass demonstrations

Palestinian officials say they plan to begin mass marches against Israel’s occupation of the West Bank on September 20, the eve of a largely symbolic UN vote expected to recognise their independence, the Associated Press reported. Palestinian official Yasser Abed Rabbo said leaders hope to draw millions of people into the streets, adding that the day will be the beginning of prolonged demonstrations. He says the marches will be peaceful. But Israeli leaders fear any unrest could easily spin out of control. Meanwhile, an Israeli TV station has disclosed that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has agreed to negotiate a border with a Palestinian state based on the pre-1967 ceasefire lines that mark off the West Bank. A senior Israeli official said he would not deny the report. Up to now, Netanyahu refused to accept the formula, insisting that Israel would not withdraw from all of the West Bank. The report said Netanyahu agrees to use the ceasefire line as a basis, while trading territory with the Palestinians to allow Israel to keep its main West Bank settlements, in line with a proposal by President Barack Obama. The official spoke Monday on condition of anonymity because contacts are ongoing. The official said Netanyahu insists the Palestinians recognise Israel as a “Jewish state”. With peace talks stalled, the Palestinians have decided to ask the UN to endorse their independence. The vote will likely be largely symbolic, but the Palestinians believe any international endorsement will isolate Israel. Palestinian leaders approved the protest plan at a meeting in the West Bank on Monday. Also yesterday, Abed Rabbo said Netanyahu scuttled a secret meeting last week meant to head off the looming diplomatic showdown at the United Nations. He added that Israeli President Shimon Peres asked his Palestinian counterpart, Mahmoud Abbas, to meet to discuss the Palestinians’ plan to seek UN recognition of their independence in September. Abed Rabbo noted that Peres promised to bring creative ideas for defusing the crisis, explaining that Abbas travelled to Jordan for the secret meeting last Thursday, but at the last minute Peres called to cancel, saying Netanyahu opposed the meeting. Both Peres’ and Netanyahu’s offices declined comment. Meanwhile, Agence France-Presse quoted Palestinian medics and security officials as saying that two Palestinians were shot dead overnight by Israeli soldiers in the Qalandia refugee camp in the West Bank on Monday. Moatassem Adwan, 22, and 23-year-old Ali Khalifa, were killed by soldiers as they carried out arrests in the camp on the road from Ramallah to Jerusalem. An official from the Fateh movement told AFP that Israeli troops entered the camp at around 3:30am (0030 GMT) and arrested one youth before clashes broke out, with young men throwing stones at soldiers. The soldiers then opened fire on the stone-throwers, killing two, the official said on condition of anonymity. Palestinian intelligence sources said the two “were taken to the Ramallah hospital at dawn. One of them was shot in the head and was martyred immediately. The second was martyred shortly afterwards”. An Israeli military spokesperson confirmed clashes between Palestinians and Israeli troops carrying out an arrest operation in Qalandia refugee camp. She said five soldiers were injured in the confrontations but could not confirm that any Palestinians had been killed in the incident, according to AFP. Hours after the deaths, thousands of mourners packed into Qalandia for the funerals of the two men. Condemnation Palestinian officials harshly criticised the Israeli military and called for an immediate investigation. “Residents of Qalandia camp were preparing themselves for the first day of Ramadan and going to the dawn prayers, when they were met by Israeli forces which violently stormed the camp to conduct illegal arrests and kidnapping of residents,” a statement by the Palestinian Government Media Centre said. “Yesterday, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu sent a message of greetings to the Arab and Muslim world on the start of the holy month of Ramadan. His greetings were shortly followed by a deadly attack against Palestinians.” Palestinian presidency spokesperson Nabil Abu Rudeina condemned the killings in a statement to government news agency WAFA, calling them “an Israeli attempt to escalate the situation before September”. Meanwhile the UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East, Robert Serry, expressed concern over the killings and urged Israel to investigate the incident, AFP reported. “The Special Coordinator calls upon the Israeli authorities to exercise maximum restraint and thoroughly investigate the incident,” a statement said. “He also emphasises the need for calm from all sides.”