News Highlights:
- August 16th – four Palestinians killed by Israeli forces in the West Bank and Gaza.
- August 15th – Palestinian teenager Mohammed Al Fayoumi wounded in Nablus during raid on Balata refugee camp.
- Palestinian prisoners start massive hunger strike on August 15th, to draw attention to the appalling conditions in the Israeli jails. Their demands include an end to strip searches and isolation, more family visits, improved health facilities.
- Families of the prisoners set up solidarity tents in major Palestinian cities and in Red Cross Centres.
- Israel launches a psychological war against the prisoners by using barbecues and eating in front of the prisoners.
- Israel’s security minister says the Palestinian prisoners on hunger strike can starve “until death”.
Feature:
The feature was a cultural tribute to the martyrs of the Tel AlZaatar refugee camp in Beirut, Lebanon, which was overrun in August 1976 by Lebanese fascist forces. The feature highlighted the famous poem by Mahmoud Darweesh, Ahmed Zaatar, which represented the perpetual exile and betrayal of the Palestinian people by forces from within and outside the Arab world. Excerpts of an open letter from the people of Zaatar themselves, sent in July 1976 while the camp was under siege, were also presented.
Focus on Zionism:
Excerpts of an article from the Haaretz Israeli newspaper, detailing the construction of a 1000 new housing units in settlements on the West Bank. Peace Now was quoted as saying – “The boss has gone mad. Sharon … is carrying out massive occupation.”