Joshua Lapide

For the Israelis, they are "a nice gift for Rosh Hashanah", the Jewish New Year which begins tonight. For the Palestinian Authority this is a "concrete and unilateral precondition", just as Netayahu demands the Palestinians do not put "preconditions on dialogue". Uri Avneri accuses Obama - and his pro-Israeli statements - of wanting to win votes for the next election campaign. Weak statement of "regret" from EU.

According to Israel, the recognition of the UN seat "is a more serious threat than Hamas”. Threats and pressure: taxes paid late and threats of cuts in aid to the Palestinians and the UN; Peres banned from going to New York. The Palestinians have succeeded in gaining recognition from at least 120 countries.

Already 9 000 settlers in Har Homa. With its development, the area of Bethlehem will be cut off from East Jerusalem, making the creation of a Palestinian state even more difficult. There is also environmental damage: Har Homa (Abu Ghnaim) was a wooded area, now destroyed by building development.

Thousands of parents, teachers and students march against the rising cost of education. Taxi drivers block roads over higher fuel prices. In many cities, people set up tent cities to protest against the high cost of living. Born from egalitarian and socialist dreams, Israel now has one of the widest gaps between haves and have-nots.

New colonies announced only hours ahead of the meeting between Netanyahu and Barak Obama. Criticism from Abbas and Israeli organizations like "Peace Now". Increasingly difficult to build a Palestinian state with east Jerusalem as its capital.

Bishop Suheil Dawani, of Nablus, is considered a "foreigner" by Israel and he is forbidden to travel to the cathedral and curia in East Jerusalem. Another prelate threatened with expulsion. The new taxes are an outrage against the tradition of the Ottoman Empire, British rule, that of Jordan and the UN Resolution of '47 that founded the State of Israel. The new taxes puts the churches presence in the Holy Land, their pastoral ministry and care of the needy in education and health, at risk.

Interior Minister Eli Yishai invites the South African judge to Israel to thank him for his “courage” on changing his view on the UN report, clearing Israel of the charge of war crimes. However, the minister’s and Goldstone’s statements over the UN report are at odds.

Richard Goldstone, a South African Jew, retracts his conclusions, saying that Israel’s “possible war crimes” in Gaza were not “intentional. A Palestinian family that had 28 members killed by Israeli soldiers responds to the judge. In the past few years, Goldstone was ostracised by world Jews, banned from praying in his synagogue.

Holy See (the Commission for the relationship with the Jews) and the Chief Rabbinate of Israel affirm the urgent need for a common witness to the presence of God in the world and in man. Secular society, separated from its religious foundation, has produced a modern world, "without a sense of belonging, of meaning and purpose." Hopes to see the negotiations between the Holy See and the State of Israel soon solved. Palestinian Catholics hope for more support for their rights.

Brazil, Argentina and Venezuela have already recognised Palestine. Uruguay is expected to do the same next year. The issue is debated in Chile. The United States warns against unilateral recognition. The European Union is still waiting. Israel orders its diplomatic missions to oppose such initiative around the world.

In the area near the valley of Kidron, there are Israeli settlements obtained by expropriating or demolishing Palestinian homes. The man killed was a 28 year old resident. Palestinian sources have accused the security guards. Police said the guards opened fire to defend themselves from stones and empty cans thrown by the Palestinian people.

Although Netanyahu and Abbas agreed to meet next on Sept. 2, problems seem insurmountable settlements, Jerusalem, return of refugees. Hamas is sceptical, but also moderate Palestinian and Israeli figures. AsiaNews sources: Enough with palliative care. A large international initiative is needed.