Beograd - The political situation in Serbia has not changed much yet. There has been passed a special law in the Serbian parliament about accepting the results of election - which was the main cause for beginning the protests. Now the opposition and the people are waiting to see if the law will be promptly implemented, in the meantime :
Huge crowds are on the streets of Belgrade, celebrating what appears to be the overthrow of President Milosevic after a day of mass protests.
The new political situation appeared to be confirmed shortly before midnight local time (2200 GMT) when Vojislav Kostunica appeared on state television described as the new president.
What happened in the nine days for the students of Tarbiatmoalem University who took sanctuary in an inviolable place?
The refuge of the students of Tarbiatmoallem University goes on to its ninth day. What has happened during this time? More than 125 persons are on hunger strike, an increase from the original 50 who began their hunger strikes. As students begin their ninth day of refuge:
Hundreds of Palestinians demonstrated Wednesday afternoon at the Huwara Checkpoint in eastern Nablus for the sixtieth memorial of the Palestinian plight.
The solidarity march of 200 began in the city center with Palestinian flags waving in the breeze and banners condemning “Israeli crimes,” and what “Israel is doing to the Palestinian people.”
Various institutions were represented, as were national and governmental bodies, and all those working in the field of refugee affairs.
Director of the Center for Youth Development, Medical Relief and others said that they were marching to express the refusal of the practices of Israeli forces on the occasion of Al Nakba.
The Youth Director pointed out that upon arrival at the Huwara Checkpoint, Israeli forces prevented demonstrators from moving forward or standing still by firing gas and concussion grenades.
One nonviolent demonstrator was seriously injured when a concussion grenade hit him directly. Three others were also injured.
Even more Israeli soldiers arrived to the scene and added roadblocks to the existing checkpoint.
The demonstration was not only for Al Nakba, but also part of the Nablus campaign to break the siege and dismantle the checkpoints which hem in this northern West Bank city.
The National Campaign to Implement the Right of Return organized nonviolent marches throughout the West Bank on Wednesday in memorial of Al Nakba. All began in the morning and headed for the demarcation lines.
Beit Sourik, Qalandiya Refugee Camp, Al Eizariya, Shufat Refugee Camp were all points for this morning’s Jerusalem marches which flew Palestinian and United Nations flags.
In the northern West Bank’s governorate of Jenin, the march began in the camp of the same name and headed toward Jalama. Nablus’ three camps converged on Huwara Checkpoint.
In the Tulkarem governorate residents walked to the road leading to Netanya. A second march is planned for 5:00 pm. Qalqilia also marched. Bethlehem went to the Wall at Rachel’s Tomb in the northern part of the city.
Jericho marched, as did Ramallah and Al Bireh, and Hebron in the south. As most of these cities are surrounded by checkpoints or the Wall, they did not have far to go. But a massive demonstration taking place throughout the entire West Bank at the same time sends a message. “It is our right and we will not give it up, nor will we be deterred,” the organizers wrote.
A Jewish-Palestinian advocacy group held a thank-you rally outside the UAE’s representative office in New York on Tuesday over the country’s stand on not allowing a controversial Israeli businessman from opening a store in Dubai.
The Coalition for Justice in the Middle East (Adalah) gathered on Tuesday outside the UAE representative office in New York city to thank the UAE for not allowing Israeli diamond magnate Lev Leviev from opening his self titled diamond boutique in Dubai, and deliver a letter on behalf of Palestinian children.
Leviev’s companies are alleged to be involved in the construction of at least four major colonies in the West Bank, built on confiscated Palestinian land for the exclusive settlement of Jews.
“Our primary reason for going to the UAE consulate was to present them with the letter from [Palestinian] students [from villages where Leviev’s companies operate], and to thank the UAE for its decision to boycott Leviev,” said David Bloom, spokesperson for Adalah.
Adalah has been leading an international campaign against Leviev for his practices in Israeli colonies on the occupied West Bank.
Leviev diamonds had issued a press release announcing plans to open two boutiques in Dubai, prompting an outcry from Palestinian rights groups. A Gulf News report on April 30 however quoted Ali Ebrahim, Deputy Director General for Executive Affairs at the Department of Economic Development saying that no business of that name had been registered.
Leviev has since removed the Dubai stores from its website, but the boutique has told a number of Jewish and diamond magazines that it has not cancelled plans to open in the UAE. Dubai-based Levant Jewellery, owned by Leviev’s Palestinain-Moroccan agent Arif Bin Khadra continues to list the Dubai Leviev stores on its web site.
“We also wanted to express our concern that Leviev still intends to open his stores and sell diamonds in Dubai. We wanted to make sure [people were] aware that Arif Bin Khadra is selling Leviev's diamonds in his Levant store at the al-Qasr hotel,” said Bloom.
Letter from the children of Jayyous to the UAE
Below are excerpts from the letter sent by the children of the Palestinian town of Jayyous to the UAE, handed to the UAE representative office in New York by Adalah:
“We, high school students of English in the Israeli-occupied West Bank village of Jayyous, declare our complete opposition to the Israeli businessman Mr. Lev Leviev who is destroying our olive groves that have sustained our village for centuries. Many of our families are not allowed permits by the Israeli occupying forces to work our own lands that Israel's Wall is stealing for Mr. Leviev so he may expand his settlement "Zufim" onto our village's farmlands.”
“We hope for all students to live in peace, justice, freedom and love. Every Leviev diamond bought… pays for our oppression and dispossession. Give our proud village the chance to feed itself and grow again -- boycott Mr. Lev Leviev, in Dubai and all over the world”
What happened in the nine days for the students of Tarbiatmoalem University who took sanctuary in an inviolable place?
