JAI: Eye on Palestine–November 2014

by Middle East and Europe | published on Dec 18, 2014

News from the Joint Advocacy Initiative of the YMCA and YWCA in #Palestine

Israel to vote on partitioning Al-Aqsa Mosque between Muslims and Jews

An Arab Knesset member has revealed that there will be a vote in the next month on a law drafted by an Israeli committee regarding the partition of Al-Aqsa Mosque between Muslims and Jews. Arab MK Masoud Ghanayim was quoted on Monday by Palestinian newspaper Felesteen as saying that “the draft law, which has been prepared by the interior parliamentary committee in the Knesset, stipulates that Jews can perform prayers in Al-Aqsa Mosque.” He continued: “This is based on a proposal that gives Muslims and Jews equal rights in their access and use of the holy site. It also specifies certain locations where Jews can perform their prayers.” Read more

U.S. vetoes U.N. resolution declaring Israeli settlements illegal

The United States vetoed Friday a U.N. Security Council resolution that would have declared Israeli settlements in the West Bank illegal. U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Susan Rice said that while the United States agrees about “the folly and illegitimacy of continued Israeli settlement activity, we think it unwise for this council to attempt to resolve the core issues that divide Israelis and Palestinians.” Read more

Activists Welcome SodaStream Decision to Shut Down Settlement Factory

Palestinian rights activists are welcoming today’s announcement by SodaStream that it will be relocating its factory currently based in an illegal Israeli settlement in the occupied West Bank. SodaStream, which manufactures home carbonating devices, has been the target of boycott campaigns worldwide due to the location of its main production site in the Mishor Adumim Industrial Zone and concealing the fact that its products are manufactured in a settlement by using “Made in Israel” labels. Read more

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