While Hamas-Fatah reconciliation takes headlines, Israel continues its slow war to take over Palestinian Land

On Friday, May 6, the Israeli military declared the area of Amniyr, a Palestinian village south of Yatta, a closed military zone and chased away the families who own the land, after demolishing structures and trees on the land the day before. 　The demolitions occurred at 5 a.m. on Thursday, May 5, when the military destroyed six shacks and uprooted 150 olive trees in Amniyr.

On Friday, the Palestinians of Amniyr had returned to the land and hung six tarps to create makeshift tents.

The Israeli army issued a "closed military zone" order on the area at 9:00 a.m. At 2:00 p.m. seven military jeeps arrived, including police and border police. The commanders showed the order and gave the people one minute to leave.

Using sound bombs and tear gas, the soldiers and police forced off the land all the Palestinians present—about thirty adults, many of them elderly, and ten children—as well as accompanying internationals. 　One woman, Fatmi Mahmoud Jaboor, passed out due to the bombs and required medical attention. The Palestinian Red Cross evacuated her to the hospital, and she was dismissed in the evening.

At 7 p.m. four military jeeps returned to Amniyr and destroyed the

tarps and what had been left standing in the area.

This is the third time in ten weeks that the military has destroyed trees, tents, dwellings and other structures on the land of Amniyr, effectively demolishing the entire village and affecting six families.

Although Amniyr is Palestinian-owned private property, Israel has declared it “state land” and prohibits the people of Amniyr from building any structures or using the land.

A local Palestinian leader has told CPT that he believes Israel is trying to confiscate the land of Amniyr because of its proximity to the Israeli settlement of Susiya.

Christian Peacemaker Teams and Operation Dove have maintained an international presence in At-Tuwani and South Hebron Hills since 2004.

Here is the link to the full report and photos from the Christian Peacemakers Team:

http://cpt.org/index.php?q=gallery&g2_itemId=22860

Daniel Barenboim and orchestra perform Mozart in Gaza

By The Associated Press 

Famed Israeli conductor Daniel Barenboim and a European orchestra performed Tuesday in the al-Madha centre in northern Gaza to show solidarity with its Palestinian residents.

Israel and Egypt imposed a blockade on Gaza in 2007 after Islamic Hamas militants seized control from the Western-backed Fatah.

Barenboim briefly entered Gaza through the Egyptian border crossing and conducted two pieces by Mozart before a small audience. International performances are rare in Gaza.

	Daniel Barenboim performs with musicians from some of Europe's top orchestras, during a concert at al-Madha centre, north of Gaza, May 3, 2011.
	Photo by: Reuters

Israel imposed a blockade on Gaza in 2007 after Islamic Hamas militants seized control from the Western-backed Fatah but eased the blockade last year.

His visit to the Gaza Strip was in violation of an Israeli law which bans its citizens from entering the coastal enclave.

Barenboim, born in Argentina, grew up in Israel. The conductor is a controversial figure in Israel, both for his promotion of 19th-century composer Richard Wagner - whose music and anti-Semitic writings influenced Adolf Hitler - and vocal opposition to Israeli policies in the Palestinian territories.

In 2008 Barenboim took Palestinian citizenship and said he believed his rare new status could serve a model for peace between the two peoples.

For more information, see a full article in "The Independent"

http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/classical/news/barenboim-strikes-a-divisive-note-once-more-2278521.html