Subscribe to Print Edition | Fri., December 14, 2007 Tevet 5, 5768 | | Israel Time: 14:37 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Rosner's Domain Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Advertising Books Arts & Leisure Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File Hanukkah

Palestinian women supporters of Hamas protesting Saturday for the release of loyalists from the militant group. (AP) del.icio.us Digg It!  new Last update - 18:19 22/09/2007 PA: Gazans who paid hajj fee to Hamas won't travel to Mecca By News Agencies Tags: Palestinian Authority, Fatah  Thousands of Gazans hoping to make a pilgrimage to Mecca got caught between rival Palestinian governments Saturday, with the West Bank administration announcing that those who registered for the trip with the Hamas rulers of Gaza won't be able to travel. The pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi Arabia, known as the hajj, is a once-in-a-lifetime duty for Muslims, and around four million make the trip annually. The hajj will take place in December this year. Hamas and its Fatah rival have accused each other of politicizing religion. Hamas seized Gaza by force in June, prompting Fatah's leader, moderate Palestinian Auhority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas to dismiss the Islamic militant group and set up a rival government in the West Bank. Advertisement Saudi Arabia assigns a quota for the number of pilgrims that can attend from each country. Gaza's quota is around 2,100 and so far, about 11,000 Gazans have registered. Pilgrims are chosen randomly from registration lists. The Palestinian Authority in the West Bank said only it is authorized by Saudi Arabia to charge the $420 pilgrim registration fee, to be paid into a Gaza bank account. Those not chosen can get their money back or stay on the list for another year. But after the June takeover, Hamas ordered pilgrims to pay their fees to a bank under its control. "Those pilgrims will not undertake the pilgrimage," said Ziad Rajoub, head of the Hajj Authority in the West Bank. Rajoub said the Palestinian Authority needs to use the pilgrims' fees to start booking hotels and transportation to Saudi Arabia. "That's why we've asked our brothers in Hamas to return the money," Rajoub told a news conference. Previously, the Hajj Authority had said it would accept Gaza pilgrims regardless of where they paid their cash. He said he would give Hamas two weeks to return the fees. A senior Hamas official said the Gaza government would not back down, and it's unlikely most pilgrims can afford to pay the hefty registration fee twice - most Gaza residents live on less than $2 a day. Saudi officials were not available for comment. Hamas women protest to free loyalists from Palestinian jails Hundreds of female Hamas supporters, some fully veiled, marched Saturday to demand the release of members of the Islamic militant group from Palestinian jails. The protest was the first during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan held by Hamas loyalists in the West Bank. Palestinian police formed a chain to prevent the women, some covering their faces and others wearing headscarves and long coats, from gathering in Ramallah's main square, where protests traditionally converge. Protesters gathered in a side street, chanting "God is great" and "Yes to Palestinian unity," and waving Palestinian flags. They also heaped verbal abuse at police, which included a contingent morality police, newly formed to ensure public observance of the dawn-to-dusk fast during Ramadan. Police said one of the women also attacked a security official, sending him to a hospital. Police said they tried to disperse the protest because it was not licensed. Sabah Katalouni, 41, said her husband, a 50-year-old municipal official, was arrested Friday after security officials broke into their house and fired in the air. Katalouni said pro-Fatah officials beat her husband and her son. "They are oppressors," she said of Fatah. "It is Ramadan and our brothers and fathers are in Abbas's jails," said a woman who gave her name only as Rula. "We are one Palestinian people in Gaza and the West Bank... Abbas is helping the Israelis by jailing his own people." The women said some 700 Hamas loyalists have been arrested in the West Bank since Hamas took control of Gaza by force in June, and that some 150 still remain in jail without charge. Palestinian human rights groups have said some Hamas loyalists were harshly beaten during arrests. Ashraf Ajrami, a minister in the Fatah-led Palestinian Authority, which controls the West Bank, said the numbers of arrested were exaggerated but declined to provide specific numbers. Bookmark to del.icio.us Humanitarian Crisis The Red Cross says conditions have worsened in Palestinian areas. 'Sacred basin' At Camp David, Israel pushed for a body to ensure religious freedom in J'lem for all.   1.   Go Hamas women,go!Particularly liked the part where one of the 17:42  |  lakshmi 22/09/07   2.   7th century lovers 18:18  |  GZLives 22/09/07   3.   HOW COME 18:45  |  TOBIA 22/09/07   4.   Islamapoli 18:47  |  mary 22/09/07   5.   even Haaretz knows that 19:15  |  observer 22/09/07   6.   Forced religious observance? 19:16  |  israeli 22/09/07   7.   EVEN MECCA HAS QUOTAS 20:22  |  Nephtaly 22/09/07   8.   abbas won`t allow Palestinians from Gaza 20:26  |  lakshmi 22/09/07   9.   HAMAS` Actions Created This! What Do They Expect? 20:39  |  Proud Pal Defender 22/09/07   10.   Who said Fatah was good for all Palestinians? 21:13  |  John 22/09/07   11.   Too funny 21:30  |  Nemesis 22/09/07   12.   Lakshmi, The Haj and The Quisling Cabal 21:33  |  Eli 22/09/07   13.   Pal supporters, come here 21:55  |  KUTW 22/09/07   14.   Hajj travel to Makkah(mecca) 22:04  |  Cristo 22/09/07   15.   Travel to makkah (mecca) 22:29  |  Cristo 22/09/07   16.   I told you so, many times 22:49  |  * BEN JABO 22/09/07   17.   How can anyone sympathize 22:53  |  Yonatan 22/09/07   18.   Face the facts 22:57  |  maoriboy 22/09/07   19.   #11 KUTW 23:08  |  maoriboy 22/09/07   20.   #10 john and his allegiances? why arent you blaming israel? 23:30  |  victor hardman 22/09/07   21.   #14 maoriboy 23:31  |  *BEN JABO 22/09/07   22.   Curioser and Curioser - no more Arabs buyPalestinians 23:40  |  Dagma 22/09/07   23.   The so poor Palestinians. 00:01  |  Ami 23/09/07   24.   What could you expect from the Palestinians? 00:06  |  Pathfinder. 23/09/07   25.   #11. KUTW 00:17  |  Angel 23/09/07   26.   19. Angel 01:24  |  KUTW 23/09/07   27.   Religion 01:24  |  Paul 23/09/07   28.   Abbas 01:28  |  Paul 23/09/07   29.   Shaul /Apostle Paul 01:33  |  Paul 23/09/07   30.   maoriboy # 19 01:51  |  ChanahS 23/09/07   31.   #25 Angel - Mexico 05:46  |  * BEN JABO 23/09/07   32.   Imagine uproar if Israel prevented Hamas members attending Hajj! 00:24  |  Genuine Tosefta 24/09/07   33.   Lakshmi Convert would you cheer Fatah women doing same in Gaza? 00:29  |  Genuine Tosefta 24/09/07   34.   cristo 14:25  |  chanah 14/12/07

Today Online Israel, U.S. to discuss their differerent takes on Iran Responses: 42 No commandment for Jewish sovereignty in Jerusalem Responses: 40 Lisa Goldman: The law is being applied capriciously over my trip to Lebanon Responses: 5 Yossi Sarid: Angela Merkel is the antithesis of Hillary Clinton Responses: 12 Yoel Marcus: There are no Israeli politicians to rely on Responses: 10 Should American Jews have a voice in shaping Israel's policies? Responses: 3 Rosner's Domain Who believes in intelligence reports? American Jews are losing interest in Israel Guest: U.S public doesn't think there is need for or a point to creating a Palestinian state Americans do not believe the NIE report on Iran (What To Read) More Headlines 13:51 At least three dead, 30 wounded in Gaza blast 13:41 Israel, U.S. to meet to discuss differing assessments on Iran 12:18 Top Fatah official abducted by unknown gunmen in Gaza 09:23 Barak to ask cabinet to declare 'special situation' in Sderot 13:56 Abbas to blast Israel for building in settlements, E. Jerusalem 09:02 Criminal charges could topple Ashkenazi chief rabbi from office 13:12 Physical Education teacher dies during Haifa high-school class 13:11 Taxi driver abducted by Palestinians, rescued by IDF 04:34 Government officials: Har Homa row sparked by 'two bureaucrats' Previous Editions Select Day 13 dec 12 dec 11 dec 10 dec 09 dec 07 dec 06 dec 05 dec 04 dec 03 dec 02 dec 30 nov

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