Haniyeh has yet to condemn Qassam attacks in public, and until today the Palestinian government has taken no measures to stop the attacks, but to the contrary, Hamas spokesmen said repeatedly that "Qassam attacks are a natural response to Israeli aggressions."

Should the Ashkelon power station suffer a direct Qassam hit, Israel will likely launch a large-scale offensive in the Gaza Strip.

The Palestinians have been warned several times through various intermediaries that such scenario could prove costly for the Palestinians. The IDF's intelligence assessment is that terror groups have their eyes set on hitting the power station, which will be seen as a big victory.

On Monday, 8 Qassam rockets were fired at south Ashkelon where the power station lies. The Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility for the attack.

The groups issued a statement claiming that three of the rockets were of the Quds 3 series, missiles with an improved fire range.

The IDF responded to the attack by firing artillery rounds at the northern Gaza Strip.

And yet this is what the so-called "international community," a few powerful governments, feel entitled to do to Palestinians because those governments disagree with the policies of the elected Hamas authority. Ha'aretz reported on May 9 that "At least four people suffering from kidney diseases died in the Gaza Strip in April, after the cash-strapped Palestinian Authority Health Ministry cut the Shifa Hospital's budget for the necessary dialysis treatments." The Palestinian Authority is near to collapse due to a decision by the European Union, the largest donor to Palestinians under occupation, to cutoff vital aid. At the same time, the United States has moved aggressively to threaten anyone who tries to render assistance to suffering Palestinians, scaring banks from allowing cash transfers to the Palestinian Authority.

According to Dr. Juma al-Saka, 300 of Gaza's 650 kidney patients are treated at al-Shifa hospital in Gaza, and due to the sanctions, their treatments were cut from a required three per week to just two. Four have already died, others are sure to follow unless the EU-US sanctions against the Palestinian people end.

Ha'aretz adds that, "Kidney ailments are not the only diseases going untreated, according to the doctor, who said that some cancer patients have stopped receiving chemotherapy and other vital drugs due to money and equipment shortages."

All of this is a flashback to the years after the 1991 Iraq war, when international sanctions killed hundreds of thousands of Iraqis, starting with the oldest, the youngest and the sickest. In US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright's immortal words, this holocaust was "worth it" if it helped the US achieve its policy objectives. I naively thought the lesson had been learned. Now the Palestinians are to have their turn.

Meanwhile, Israel continues to build a comprehensive system of apartheid, to kill Palestinian civilians and to steal their land with total impunity. On Saturday, May 6, 65-year-old Mousa Salim Mousa al-Sawarka, was killed by shrapnel to the head, when Israel shelled the area in the northern Gaza Strip where he was grazing his animals. The next morning, Hassan Hussein Khader al-Shaf'ei, 55, was killed by shrapnel throughout the body, while he was farming his land near the same area, and a woman, Fatima Mohammed Sahweel, 59, was wounded with shrapnel to right the eye. Israeli prime minister Ehud Olmert announced ("Olmert: Settler blocs to be part of Israel forever," Ha'aretz, May 4, 2006). Within Israeli society, the dehumanization of Palestinians continues to advance: a new poll by the Israel Democracy Institute found that 62 percent of Israelis support "government-backed Arab emigration" -- in other words ethnic cleansing of Palestinians. ("More than half of Israelis want gov't to help Arabs emigrate," Ha'aretz, 9 May 2006)

As Israel's onslaught goes unchallenged by the US, the UN leadership, European and Arab governments, it is encouraging to see that the UK's largest university and college lecturers union, the National Association of Teachers in Further and Higher Education (NATFHE), is about to vote again on a resolution to recommend that its 67,000 members boycott Israeli lecturers and academic institutions that do not publicly declare their opposition to Israeli policy in the occupied territories. (Ha'aretz, May 9).

Ronnie Fraser, a NAFTHE delegate who heads a group called Academic Friends of Israel, objected that "Academic work should not be blocked on political grounds." The UK Ambassador to Israel, Simon McDonald, reacted to the boycott plan saying, "we do not believe that such academic boycotts are productive - far more can be obtained through dialogue and academic cooperation." Would that the British government was so willing to defend Palestinians' rights as it is to protect the privileges of Israelis. It seems that Israeli professors should never be deprived of their ability to enjoy conferences in Oslo, London or Florence no matter how bad things get in Palestine, no matter how imprisoned Palestinians are in their ghettos and no matter how complicit major Israeli institutions are with the apartheid system.

The EU is now trying to deflect criticism by putting together a plan to channel aid to the Palestinians without going through Hamas. Desperate for any relief, many Palestinians have welcomed this, though the aid seems a long way from flowing as the EU has no idea how to achieve it. This palliative is merely another example of the EU stepping in to subsidize the occupation and mitigate its most pernicious effects so as to avoid actually having to do the hard work of confronting Israel and rolling back its colonialism.

29 percent of Israelis think crucial decisions concerning Israel's future should be decided by a Jewish majority, and only 14 percent feel that relations between Jews and Arabs are stable.

The study also shows a decline in public disapproval of Israel Defense Forces soldiers refusing orders due to personal morals or ideology, especially regarding refusal to evacuate settlements. 58 percent disapprove refusal of orders in the military, as opposed to 70 percent last year.

Tuesday's poll, the Democracy Index 2006, was conducted in the Gutman Center under the direction of Professor Asher Arian.

The poll focused this year on public interest in political parties. The study shows that despite a growing interest in current affairs, confidence in politicians has declined.

82 percent of respondents believe that democracy is the ideal form of government for Israel, a 5 percent increase from the previous poll. 77 percent believe that democracy is the ideal form of government for any country.

27 percent feel that they can influence their government's policies, while only 17 percent think elected officials fulfill their campaign promises. 25 percent believe that Knesset members are concerned with what the public thinks.

Israelis place less trust in political parties than in any other government or public institution. Only 22 percent trust the parties, compared with the 33 percent that place their trust in the Knesset, 44 that trust the media, 68 percent that trust the supreme court and 79 percent the trust the IDF.

"There is no doubt that the government's escape, capitulation and convergence policy caused a public feeling of a comprehensive disengagement and escape from anything, including the Arab public," Hasson said in response to the survey findings.

"Israel Our Home raised the banner of revoking the citizenship of residents who refuse to express their loyalty to the State, while the general public, which is subjected to an ongoing propaganda campaign in favor of unilateral moves, does not know where to stop anymore," he added.

"Instead of encouraging emigration, we have been suggesting for years now setting a borderline separating the populations without any need for emigration of populations," he said.

One person who does see a connection between Israel Our Home's success and the survey findings is MK Ahmad Tibi (United Arab List-Ta'al).

"Racism became the main characteristic of Israeli society a long time ago," he said. "Racism and fascism moved from impassioned marketplaces to the Knesset and the government seats. This is mainly expressed in the rise of an Israeli fascist party in the elections."

"There is no doubt that the ongoing occupation, dominating another people, and the confrontation have brought about the rise of racism in Israel. This scary phenomenon must be seriously dealt with by the government through education and with the help of the media," he added.

MK Talab El-Sana (United Arab List-Ta'al) called on Zionism to "conduct a profound self-examination and check where it failed."

He called to appoint an Arab deputy to the president and wondered "how the people that was supposed to serve as a shining example and a light unto the nations turned its country into the most racist state in the universe."

'Israeli Arabs can play key role'

United Arab List-Ta'al Chairman MK Ibrahim Sarsur, leader of the Islamic Movement in Israel, was not surprised by the survey's findings.

"Unfortunately, I was not surprised at all by the survey. However, it is unfortunate and shocking that there is still such a large percentage among the Jewish people who do not believe in full partnership between the Jewish majority and the Arab minority," he said.

"The great majority has not reached the maturity and understanding that Israeli Arabs are an integral part of this land, even before the state's inception. The Israeli Arab public wants and can play a key role in building this country and bringing peace between Israelis and Palestinians - this is our duty and we will fight for it using any legitimate way," he added.

Talking to Ynet, Sarsur expressed his hope that the percentage of those who hold the aforementioned beliefs will gradually decrease, "otherwise the future of all of us does not bear good news."


"I am not sure Israel should build itself out of racism. The responsibility to repair the situation lies upon the Israeli government, which must apply a different kind of education for future generations - and the government is the one which has to turn us, the Israeli Arabs, from an enemy to a partner," he added

Members of ruling party Kadima also expressed their concern over the survey's findings. MK Menahem Ben-Sasson, a history professor, said that "the attitude toward minorities is worrying and requires turning the attention and resources to understanding their life, culture and history as a step for developing mutual relations based on respect."

"The public's representatives must be attentive to criticism and work to repair the image and perception regarding minorities," he added.

Jahanbegloo also has dual Iranian-Canadian nationality, and the hardline paper argued that he had "obtained this Canadian citizenship to use in times of danger".

Iran's Intelligence Minister Gholam Hossein Mohseni Ejeie said on Saturday that Jahanbegloo, reportedly arrested a week ago while trying to leave the country, was held on charges of ties with foreigners.

Hardline newspapers in the Islamic republic have also accused him of being linked to exiled monarchists.

Sweden and 14 other European countries have agreed, under the so-called Schengen accord, that a visa delivered by any of them is valid for all others.

The other Schengen countries are Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Italy, Greece, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal and Spain.

Edwane declined to say which four countries he was planning to visit before his visa expires on May 16.

The granting of a Swedish visa to Edwane sparked a strong protest from Israel, which said the decision "helped legitimize a terrorist organization."

On Tuesday Israeli embassy spokeswoman Ann Ringart told AFP that the Swedish stance was damaging the Middle East peace process.

"Granting a visa to a minister in the Hamas government is bringing us 20 years back in the peace process instead of furthering it," she said.

Hamas is listed as a terrorist organization by the EU and the United States, which have suspended direct aid to the government.

France has also implicitly criticized the decision to grant a visa to the Hamas minister, saying it would have intervened with the Swedish government if it had had advance notice of Edwane's application.

But Edwane said on Tuesday that his successful visa application meant that EU countries had "started to actually change" their hardline position towards Hamas.

"Because when they allowed me to come, they gave me a Schengen visa. According to this visa I am allowed to go through all the European countries. This is what I will do. I will visit many countries, some of them invited me semi-officially, and that's good news," he said.

Speaking at a later press conference, he said: "It is in my interest not to say which other European countries I plan to visit".

Since his arrival in Sweden, Edwane has thanked Sweden for allowing him into the country, and emphasized his hope for dialogue with EU countries.

The Swedish government has said none of its members would meet with Hamas representatives.

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said the European Union would take the lead in the new effort. The United Nations and Russia, the other partners in the Quartet peacemaking group along with the U.S., also endorsed the program.

"The thrust of this is the international community is still trying to respond to the needs of the Palestinian people," Rice said.

The U.S. and European Union have cut off much of the aid that had flowed in the past to Palestinian programs, working to prevent any of it from helping Hamas, the militant Islamic group that has conducted numerous terrorist attacks.

The cutoff has left the Palestinian government virtually broke and increasingly unable to provide basic services. Some 165,000 government workers, whose incomes had supported one-third of Palestinian families, have not been paid for the past two months.

Going into Tuesday's meetings at the United Nations, Rice said she was urging the allies to retain a hard-line approach toward aid that could end up benefiting Hamas.

After a second session, the diplomats produced a statement expressing their willingness "to endorse a temporary international mechanism that is limited in scope and duration, operates with full transparency and accountability, and ensures direct delivery of any assistance to the Palestinian people."

The statement said the assistance would begin as soon as possible, with a decision on its continuation coming in three months.

The diplomats expressed "grave concern that the Palestinian government has so far failed to commit itself to the principles of nonviolence, recognition of Israel and the acceptance of previous agreements" to move toward peace. They expressed willingness to restore aid once the Palestinian government accepted those principles.

The allies also said they had "concern about the delivery of humanitarian assistance, economic life, social cohesion and Palestinian institutions," all of which have been deteriorating since the aid suspension.

Meanwhile, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas wrote to Rice and the other international peacemakers asking them to focus on "a way of stopping the economic boycott against the Palestinian people and finding a way to send economic aid," Palestinian U.N. observer Riyad Mansour told reporters.

He did not outline specifically which aid Abbas wanted restored.

Although Abbas' secular Fatah Party was trounced by the better-organized militants, he remains in office. He has been trying to bridge a gap between the West and Hamas that he says will unfairly punish ordinary Palestinians.

The United States announced a $10 million package of medical assistance for the Palestinians on Tuesday. An initial $4 million in medicine and supplies could begin flowing as soon as this week.

The United States and some allies in Europe and elsewhere have differed over tactics to counter Hamas without worsening the Palestinians' humanitarian plight.

The European Union has proposed sending money directly to Abbas to be spent on hospitals, schools and humanitarian needs. While the U.S. says it wants to keep sending humanitarian aid, it has been cool to the European proposal.

Even greater differences exist between the U.S. and Russia.

"We're not for cutting off any aid," Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov told reporters Tuesday.

The international group issued a warning to Hamas three months ago that it risked a loss of international aid if it did not change its policies.

The U.S. says it respects the democratic elections that produced the Hamas victory and has no express policy to oust the militants. Its financial strategy, however, seems aimed at undermining public support for Hamas and making it difficult or impossible for the militants to govern.

Although the E.U. has also cut aid, public opinion in Europe often favors Palestinian causes and governments are leery of looking too harsh.

The shootout took place in Jabal Arish in North Sinai after police surrounded the area. Mallahi was shot dead and his right-hand man Mohammed Abdallah Elian was arrested, the official said.

Both men, whose names appear on a list of 25 wanted suspects issued by Sinai police, belong to the Tawhid wal Jihad (Unification and Holy War) group said to be responsible for attacks on Sinai's tourist packed Red Sea coast.

Mallahi, a 30-year-old father of two, took over the leadership of the Islamist group after its previous leader Khaled Mussaed was killed by police in 2005, security sources said.

Israel's counter-terrorism unit on Monday advised all nationals visiting the Sinai peninsula to "immediately" leave the neighbouring Egyptian territory citing "concrete" threats to kidnap Israelis.

No Israelis were killed in the Dahab attacks, which saw three suicide bombers blow themselves up in one of the busiest areas of the popular diving resort.

The bombings, which also left some 90 people wounded, were followed two days later by two failed suicide attacks targeting security personnel further north in the peninsula.

There was no claim of responsibility but security officials have said they suspect the same group of being responsible for all the attacks in Sinai over the past two years.

Multiple bombings in Sharm el-Sheikh killed about 70 people in July 2005, the deadliest attack to have hit Egypt since a major wave of Islamist violence in the mid-1990s.

At least 34 people were also killed in bombings in and around the resort of Taba further up the Red Sea coast near the Israeli border in October 2004.

Egypt had first announced in March that that Tawhid wal Jihad, which pledges alliegance to Osama bin Laden's Al-Qaeda network, was responsible for the Sinai attacks.

The Islamist group had claimed the Sharm el-Sheikh bombing, saying that the attacks were revenge for the invasions of
Iraq and Afghanistan.

Egyptian police on Sunday said they were awaiting DNA test results to identify at least two suspects believed to have carried out the Dahab attacks.

Security forces have been sweeping Sinai -- a vast mountainous area inhabited mainly by Bedouins -- to hunt for suspects connected to the Dahab attacks.