As the global community approaches the anniversary of Operation Cast Lead, commentators, bloggers and analysts reflect on the year gone; events in the Middle East were played out before an international audience, who have been vociferous on several issues throughout the year. In this edition the Middle East Monitor (MEMO) focuses on the key issues that caught our attention this month. They include; the continuous settler violence in the West Bank, the EU discussion on the future of East Jerusalem, Israel-UK relationship after Britain demanded clearer labelling of goods produced in the Occupied West Bank and the issue of an arrest warrant for the former Israeli foreign minister, Tzipi Livni. We also focus the spotlight on Egypt’s construction of an underground steel wall on its border with the Gaza Strip and the progress of the Viva Palestina convoy on its way to the besieged territory.
As the month draws to an end the issue of the prisoners exchange is still being debated. Their release hangs delicately in the balance, with many political analysts and those involved in the negotiations, suggesting Christmas weekend will see the release of Gilad Shalit and hundreds of Palestinian prisoners. The tensions between new right wing recruits and the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) continue, with high ranking rabbis and Israeli officials in constant discussion over the Zionist authenticity and future of the IDF.
Settler violence has continued unabated with their attacks culminating this month in the burning of a new mosque complex in the city of Yasuf. The violence has not been limited to Palestinians, although they bear the brunt on most occasions. These past few months have seen right wing extremists turn on their Israeli Zionist counterparts, with reports of attacks against housing inspectors and IDF soldiers.
What continues to be a source of unbelievable exasperation are the sinister attacks against dispossessed Palestinians who have tried to make good with whatever resources and land begrudgingly left to them by the Israeli local authorities. Measures such as the use of dogs, or physically attacking Palestinian farmers and preventing them from farming their lands, as well as systematic damage to crops, olive trees and public places continue on a day-to-day basis, with no proper legal recourse made available to the victims.
Although hardly mentioned in the British media, being a domestic issue, the Israeli media have written extensively on the growing problem of right wing extremists and settlers in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. This month has seen settlers come out in direct defiance of the new 10-month moratorium set by the Netanyahu government, stating they will continue obstructing inspectors and soldiers who try to stop them from their illegal construction.
In direct response to the moratorium, Israeli extremists have gone on a rampage of sorts, attacking people, police and places of worship. The arson attack on Al-Kabir mosque in Yasuf, located east of Salfit and South of Nablus City, drew heavy criticism for its dangerous implications on the ‘peace process’ with one commentator suggesting that although he did not agree with the settlement freeze, ‘the despicable act they committed’ would not help the settlers in their cause. The arsonists caused extensive damage to the carpet and library, where several hundreds of copies of the Qur’an and other Islamic literature were destroyed. Furthermore, the mosque entrance was completely burnt with the settlers leaving their slogan ‘price tag’ and other threatening references on the walls outside.
These are just examples of some of the attacks inflicted on the Palestinians. The free reign of violence continues, and with no way for the Palestinians to protect themselves, the Jewish settlers continue to torment their everyday lives with terror.
Jerusalem debated in the EU
For a brief period early this month Jerusalem took center stage courtesy the European Union. Following a proposal by the Swedish presidency that the EU explicitly acknowledge the city as the capital of a future Palestinian state, the foreign ministers adopted a text on 8th December agreeing that Jerusalem should provide "the future capital of the two states."
The foreign ministers decision was a classic European fudge. By agreeing that Jerusalem should become the shared capital of Israel and Palestine the EU had effectually legitimized Israel’s forced annexation of the city, still deemed illegal by the UN Security Council.
Despite its pretentious objections Israel has been the real beneficiary. It still managed to win the support, tacit and otherwise, of its traditional allies Britain, France Germany and Spain. Apart from these, it is clear a growing number of European countries are prepared to uphold the principle that “the acquisition territory by force is unacceptable,” even in the case of Israel.
Labelling settler goods in UK/ Israeli MPs discuss boycott of British goods
The UK have certainly rocked the boat this month in Israel. The British government called for clearer labeling of goods produced in Israeli settlements in the West Bank. The recommendation was put forward by the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) in a report reiterating that the government did not support settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territories with a Foreign Office spokesperson commenting in the Guardian: ‘We believe consumers should be able to choose for themselves what produce they buy. We have been very clear both in public and in private that settlements are illegal and an obstacle to peace.’
The UK government were applauded by several humanitarian organisations, although many believe the government should go further and ensure that it is enforced in UK supermarkets rather than a mere ‘recommendation’.
As predicted, on the whole part, the Israeli government and media were incensed at the report and claimed it was promoting a boycott of Israeli goods in general. In reaction, Israeli MPs came out calling for a boycott of all British goods. According to The Daily Telegraph, the boycott was called for by members of the opposition Kadima party led by Tzipi Livni. Some MPs went further and compared Defra’s actions to those of the Nazi Germany, with one MP, who is leading the campaign, stating: ‘We intend to protest anything that singles out Jews as this kind of method brings back very bad memories’. But as one bemused commentator in the Financial Times reminded, while Israel is the 23rd highest importer of British goods – the UK are the 3rd most important importers of Israeli goods. Any boycott threats of British goods would hardly be worth it.
Egypt’s underground impenetrable steel wall
Egypt has started constructing a huge metal wall along its border with the Gaza Strip, in an attempt to cut off the tunnels through which food supplies, vital medicine and livestock are transported into Gaza. The wall will be 10-11km long and will extend 18 metres below the surface. The aim of the wall is to monitor smuggling. Surely, “smuggling” should be legitimate in order to exercise the universally acclaimed fundamental right to life. 
Arrest warrant against Tzipi Livni and surrounding issues
Following the issue of a warrant by Westminster magistrates’ court for the arrest of Tzipi Livni, the former Israeli foreign minister, on Saturday 12th December, the British government said they were urgently looking into its universal jurisdiction laws. The warrant was later withdrawn after it appeared that Livni was not in the UK, with Benjamin Netenyahu declaring he completely “rejects[s] this absurdity taking place in Britain”.
On 13th December, Foreign Secretary David Miliband stated that the government would be reviewing and seeking to amend the law to ensure that visiting foreign dignitaries were immune from any action undertaken by the courts.
Miliband’s remarks and his promise to Israel to “fix” the law to guarantee immunity for Israeli officers constituted an affront to the independence of the British judiciary. The move by the government to review restricting the magistrates’ power was condemned by various politicians and human rights lawyers, including Kate Allen (Director of Amnesty International), Geoffrey Bindman, Sarah Mc Sherry, Baroness Jenny Tonge and Martin Linton MP.
Despite the attempts of the Israeli media to dismiss this small, albeit crucial legal effort, the principles of universal jurisdiction and their longstanding tradition in the English legal system seem to have overridden Israel’s apologetic remarks and Britain’s puerile expiation. After all, this arrest warrant has been the highest-profile case since Britain arrested General Augusto Pinochet more than a decade ago. 
MEMO on the Viva Palestina Convoy
Follow MEMO researchers on their journey Gaza. A day-by-day account with riveting picture. Share the Palestinian experience through their eyes and feel free to add supporting messages to those on the convoy.
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