Knesset to discuss bill calling for regarding Jordan as Palestinian state

[19/05/2009 - 11:08 AM ]

OCCUPIED JERUSALEM, (PIC)--

The Hebrew radio on Monday revealed that the Israeli Knesset will discuss soon a draft law introduced by member of the Zionist national union party Aryeh Eldad calling for considering Jordan the Palestinian state.

The radio quoted Eldad as saying that this law would ensure Israel’s security and meet the international community’s calls for giving the Palestinians a state.

The Zionist national union party, which is considered one of the most ultra-extremist Israeli parties, had distributed in December 2002 leaflets among Palestinian passengers traveling across Al-Karama bridge on the Jordanian borders urging them to stay in Jordan as their existing state in which they could live away from the occupation.

The leaflet, written in Arabic and Hebrew, read: “We wish you a safe trip to the existing Palestinian state where the Palestinians constitute 75 percent of its population. You have taken the right step when you decided to join your brothers; in your new state, you will not suffer from the occupation, and you will be able to nominate yourselves and elect your own parliament…As part of a regional plan, your economy, agricultural, infrastructure and waters will be developed with international assistance.”

In another context, Yemeni MP Abdullah Khairan on Sunday stated that the Arab peace initiative did not receive any positive response from the Israeli occupation, but rather it responded with more killings and violations against the Palestinians.

During the Palestinian cultural days held in Sana’a in the framework of the Yemeni popular campaign to celebrate Jerusalem as the capital of Arab culture for 2009, MP Khairan strongly denounced some Arab leaders for receiving Israeli officials in their countries while Gaza still suffers from the repercussions of the unjust Israeli war.

The Yemeni lawmaker stressed that the Palestinian right of return is a legitimate right guaranteed by all international conventions and laws, calling on Muslims to help the Palestinians to return to their usurped land by all means possible.

Israeli Tourism Ministry wipes Palestinian of the Map

Tuesday May 19, 2009 13:45 by Saed Bannoura - IMEMC & Agencies

The Israeli Tourism Ministry is using an advertising campaign, which it calls “Experience Israel”, in an attempt to draw tourists attention to visit the country. But the ministry totally wiped out Palestine of the map by removing any referral to the Palestinian territories.

The Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC) reported that the removal of the Palestinian Territories from a map used in the promotion of Israel as a tourist destination has been brought to the attention of the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA).

The PSC sent a strong-worded letter, and asked that display the incorrect and misleading map to be removed from their display locations on the London Underground.

 The “Experience Israel” advertisement was produced by Longwood Holidays, in coordination with the ThinkIsrael.com and Israel’s Tourism Ministry.

 The PSC said should its complaint be approved, this would be the second time in less than two years that the ASA has issued a ruling against ThinkIsrael.com for producing false maps in its advertisements.

 The illusive map shows the occupied West Bank, the Gaza Strip and the occupied Golan Heights as part of the State of Israel, although the forth mentioned areas are under occupation.

 In this regard it is important to note that UN Resolution 242 calls on Israel to withdraw from the West Bank, the Gaza Strip and East Jerusalem, which are Palestinian territories.

Yet, Israel chose to violate international legitimacy resolutions, and maintained its occupation of the Palestinian territories and the Syrian Golan Heights.

The Israeli policy of wiping Palestine of the map is not something new, as it has been going on since decades, as all advertisement from Israel do not mention the Palestinian territories. One of the main examples of this violation is referring to Bethlehem, the birth place of Jesus, as part of Israel.