.:: Agreement signed to end hunger strike by Palestinians

Palestinian prisoners in Israel and the Israeli Prison 

Authority on Monday signed an agreement under Egyptian 

mediation to end the hunger strike of more than 1,000 Palestinian

prisoners, in an unprecedented step that threatened to lead to 

widespread violence in the occupied territories.

Palestinian women hold prisoner's pictures 

Israel has acceded to the three main strikers' demands: 

lifting of administrative detention, ending solitary confinement

 and allowing family visits to prisoners from Gaza, in

exchange for a signed commitment to "refrain from any act 

of terrorism" and any new hunger strike.

"All Palestinian factions signed an agreement in Ashkelon 

prison (southern Israel) to stop the hunger strike," said 

the president of the Palestinian Prisoners' Club, Qaddoura Fares.

"The main differences were regarding administrative detention,

 solitary confinement and visits from Gaza," he said, adding 

that a "senior Egyptian military official had been

involved" in negotiations.

A Palestinian source familiar with the matter said on Sunday 

night that an agreement was concluded in Cairo, saying he 

had yet to be ratified by the inmates.

At least a third of some 4,700 Palestinian prisoners in Israel 

(including nearly 310 in administrative detention) were on

hunger strike as a result of a collective measure

launched on April 17.

The spokesman for the Israeli Prison Authority, Sivan Weizman, 

confirmed the conclusion of an agreement " as a result of 

negotiations made in recent days."

The internal security service, Shin Bet, said in a statement that 

"all administrative detainees stopped their hunger strike." 

"All administrative detainees will be released at the end of

their period of detention, unless new evidence is presented against them," 

the statement said.

Delegates of the prisoners signed a pledge to "refrain from any 

activity constituting an effective support to terrorism," including 

financing operations.

"In response to the request by Palestinian President Mahmoud 

Abbas, Israel has negotiated to stop the hunger strike," the spokesman 

for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu,

Mark Regev, said. "Hopefully this action will serve to build 

trust between the parties and lead to peace. "

The fate of prisoners has dominated the meeting Saturday 

night between the Palestinian President and Yitzhak Molcho, 

the personal emissary of Netanyahu.

Abbas warned Sunday against "a huge disaster" if one of

the hunger strikers dies.

A leader of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), 

Hanan Ashrawi, praised "the victory of the hunger strikers" 

in a statement, saying it showed that "nonviolent

resistance is an essential tool in our struggle for freedom."

.:: Palestinian prisoners end hunger strike

Israel says inmates have signed deal that should allow them 

more visiting rights and better conditions in jails

Israel delivered significant concessions to end a mass hunger strike by around 2,000 Palestinian prisoners on Monday, in a deal that was hailed as a victory by Palestinian leaders on the eve of the most symbolic day in their calendar.

Palestinian women hold pictures of imprisoned relatives at a protest supporting the hunger strikers, in Gaza City.

Under the agreement, which was signed following mediation by Egypt and Jordan, Israel will end solitary confinement for all prisoners and allow around 400 prisoners from Gaza to receive family visits. It agreed to discuss improvements to prison conditions, such as access to televisions and telephone calls.

Prisoners on administrative detention orders – Israel's term for imprisonment without charge or trial, the key issue behind the hunger strike – will not have their terms renewed without fresh information or evidence being brought before a military judge.

In return, Palestinian prisoners' leaders have "signed a commitment to completely halt terrorist activity inside Israeli prisons", including recruitment, practical support, funding and co-ordination of operations, according to a statement released by the Israeli security agency, Shin Bet.

An Israeli government official acknowledged that Israel had "gone the extra mile" in agreeing the terms to end the protest, but added the deal was intended to be an "inducement" to the Palestinian leadership to return to peace talks.

Veteran Palestinian politician Hanan Ashrawi applauded the deal. "The hunger strikers' courage is magnificently inspiring, and their selflessness deeply humbling. They have truly demonstrated that non-violent resistance is an essential tool in our struggle for freedom," she said in a statement.

Mark Regev, a spokesman for the Israeli government, said: "In response to a request by [the Palestinian president, Mahmoud Abbas], Israel has negotiated the end of the strike. It is our hope that this gesture by Israel will serve to build confidence between the parties and further peace."

The deal comes a week after the realignment of the Israeli coalition government towards the political centre, which has prompted speculation that Israel's prime minister, Binyamin Netanyahu, may be more open to serious peace talks with the Palestinians. The record of his government for the past three years has been to talk about negotiations without making any recent gestures to advance them. The agreement to end the hunger strike was cast by Israeli officials as a confidence-building gesture.

Around 2,500 prisoners joined the hunger strike after it began as a mass protest on 17 April, according to Palestinian human rights groups. A handful of prisoners had been refusing food for a longer period. Two, who had been on hunger strike for 77 days, were believed to be close to death, and six others were in a critical condition.

The IPS said that 1,550 prisoners were taking part in the protest under medical supervision, and that no life had been in danger.

The hunger strike sparked widespread sympathy protests and demonstrations across the West Bank and Gaza among a population in which most families have direct experience of imprisonment.

Abbas had warned that solidarity action could spiral out of control in the event of a prisoner's death, and Tony Blair, the former British prime minister who is now envoy for the Middle East Quartet, warned of "serious implications for stability and security conditions on the ground".

Without a deal it was feared that protests would escalate on Nakba Day on Tuesday, when Palestinians mourn the loss of their land in 1948.

The two prisoners who had refused food for the longest period, Tha'er Halahleh and Bilal Diab, have been imprisoned for 23 months and nine months respectively on administrative detention orders. Both are members of Islamic Jihad.

United Nations secretary-general Ban Ki-moon had called on Israel to either put administrative detainees on trial or release them.

The maximum period of administrative detention is six months, but that can be renewed indefinitely by a military judge. Under the terms of Monday's deal Israel has agreed that such detentions will not be extended without the submission of additional intelligence. However, all evidence will continue to be secret.

The first prisoner to embark on hunger strike in the current round of protest was Islamic Jihad member Khader Adnan, who was released almost a month ago after 66 days of refusing food.

The hunger strike was one of the biggest prisoners' protests staged by Palestinians

.:: Mass GatHeR!nG [picture] ::.

.. بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم ..

our previous event....~

~..speech from our vice president, sis. Islinda Ibrahim..~

~..special performance from Persatuan Seni Silat Cekak Malaysia..~

~..special Gift for PSSCM..~

~..game time...! ..~

~..take turn to get a food..~

~..divide group for competing games..~

~..make a good decision..~

~..hurry up..! we must settle this puzzle..~

~..peace..~

~..nyum3..~

~..eat together..~

~..post-mortem..~

.:: Causes of Violence Against Women ::.

.. بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم ..

How do we stop violence against women? A lot of people ask this question. Most of us bang our heads against the wall trying to figure out the right answer. But we must analyze where the problem stems from before we can figure out a solution.

Environmental: We live in a world where we always look up to mommy and daddy. The first voice we hear is our mother’s and the first man in our life is our father’s. These two people have a major impact in our lives. What our parents say and do good or bad, leaves a mark in our lives forever.

Children are born with no knowledge, but they are born with emotions and feelings. But for a lot of children, they are faced with fear and anger starting from the time they were born. Our parents teach us right from wrong and they instill good morals and values in us. We only know what we were taught and who we become as adults, depends on how we were raised.

Abuse is learned behavior. Have you ever heard of the expression, “the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree?” When children watch their fathers beat their mothers more than likely the children will grow up and become abusers themselves.

“Children from violent homes are 74% more likely to commit assault.” (Speaking of Women’s Health Brochure) “More than half the children who witness their fathers beating their mothers become batterers or victims too. Boys are more likely to become batterers. Girls frequently date or marry abusers and nearly 80% of girls who have been physically abused by guys they date continue to see them.”(Speaking of Women’s Health Brochure)

Children develop destructive behaviors and attitudes. They become depressed and develop low self-esteem. Many teenagers will abuse drugs and alcohol and become runaways. They grow up believing that abuse is natural and living in fear is normal.

AS A RESULT:

Boys: Boys may have fights at school and develop serious problems with temper tantrums. They might lash out at objects and abuse pets.

Men: On Oprah January 24th, 2003 – men came forward and said that they could only feel and show anger and happiness. They hardly ever show sadness or show signs of being stressed.

Girls: Girls develop a need to please. They will do more than needed to avoid anger. They will cringe if someone raises their arm and is startled when they hear loud voices.

Women: Women are people pleasers and feel obligated to always help others. Women tend to put their needs on the back burner and focus on everyone else’s needs.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Solution 1: Encourage your local schools to have a speaker from local women’s shelter. Although, most schools have D.A.R.E – (a fabulous program about being FREE of drugs and teen violence), the schools should have an awareness program that helps build self-esteem and educate the children about family violence and relationship violence. There should also be a class on Anger Management. Kids must learn how to manage their anger in a non-violent way.

Solution 2: Parents, teachers, and educators should teach their children about “healthy relationships.” We should teach our kids about abusive relationships the same way we teach our kids over and over again about not talking to strangers. We need to focus on self-love and self-respect. We need to teach our daughters that they don’t need to feel complete by having a boy/man in their lives. We need to teach our son’s that showing anger doesn’t make them a “man.”

Solution 3: We should design informational columns that focus on Teen Dating, Teen Abuse, Dating Abuse amongst Teens, and Domestic Violence/Children Victims. We cannot avoid and ignore it and hope it goes away. Your child could be the next victim of domestic violence or your child could be the next abuser in our society.

The copyright of the article Causes of Violence Against Women in Abuse Against Women is owned by Teresa Brouwer. Permission to republish Causes of Violence Against Women in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

.:: sPiR!TuaL eQuaL!Ty ::.

.. بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم ..

Woman’s spiritual equality with man is repeatedly stressed in the

Holy Quran. For instance it is said:

“For men who submit themselves wholly to Allah, and women

who submit themselves wholly to Him and men who believe and

women who believe, and men who obey Allah and women who

obey Him, and men who are truthful and women who are

truthful, and men who are steadfast and women who are

steadfast, and men who are humble and women who are humble,

and men who give alms and women who give alms, and men who

fast and women who fast, and men who guard their chastity and

women who guard their chastity, and men who remember Allah

much and women who remember Him, Allah has prepared

forgiveness and a great reward.” (33:36)

“Allah will turn in mercy to believing men and believing women;

Allah is Most Forgiving, Ever Merciful.” (33:74)

Men and women are afforded equal protection. For instance:

“Those who malign believing men and believing women for that

which they have not done, shall bear the guilt of a calumny and a

manifest sin.” (33:59)

“Those who persecute the believing men and believing women,

and then do not repent, will surely suffer the chastisement of hell,

and the chastisement of burning.” (85:11)

Concerning the situation that developed at Hudaibiyyah, it is said:

“Had it not been for believing men and believing women of whom

you had no knowledge, who were then in Mecca, whom you might

have trampled down unknowingly and thus incurred blame on

their account, Allah might have let you fight your way into

Mecca; but He held you back that He might admit into His

mercy whom He will. Had those believing men and believing

women drawn apart from the rest, We would surely have

chastised the disbelievers with grievous chastisement.”(48:26)

Women, being more vulnerable than men, are accorded special protection:

“Those who calumniate chaste, unwary, believing women are

cursed in this world and the hereafter; and for them is grievous

chastisement, on the day when their tongues and their hands and

their feet shall bear witness against them as to that which they

used to do.” (24:24-5)

Men and women will be equally rewarded in the hereafter:

“Whoso does good whether male or female, and is a believer, shall

enter Paradise and they shall not be wronged a whit.” (4:125)

“Of the believers whoso acts righteously, whether male or female,

We will surely grant such a one a pure life; and We will certainly

reward them according to the measure of the best of their works.”

(16:98)

“Whoso does good, whether male or female, and is a believer, these

will enter the Garden; they will be provided therein without

measure.” (40:41)

“The believers, men and women, are friends one of another. They

enjoin good and forbid evil and observe Prayer and pay the

Zakat, and obey Allah and His Messenger. It is these on whom

Allah will have mercy. Surely, Allah is Mighty, Wise. Allah has

promised the believers, men and women, Gardens beneath which

rivers flow, wherein they will abide, and delightful dwelling

places in Gardens of Eternity, and the pleasure of Allah, which is

the greatest bounty of all. That is the supreme triumph.” (9:71-72)

“That He may admit the believers, men and women, into

Gardens beneath which rivers flow, wherein they will abide, and

that He may remove their ills from them; that, in the estimation

of Allah, is the supreme triumph.” (48:6)

“Their Lord would answer their supplication. I will not suffer the

work of any worker from among you, male or female, to perish.

You are spiritually akin one to another.” (3:196)

“O My servants, there is no fear for you this day, nor shall you

grieve. Enter the Garden, you and your mates, delighted and

joyful.” (43:69-70)

“The inmates of heaven will be happily occupied that day. They

and their mates will be under the shades of Allah’s mercy

reclining on raised couches. They will be provided therein with

fruits and whatever else they call for.” (36:56-58)

“Keep in mind the day when thou wilt see the believing men and

believing women, their light running before them and on their

right hands, and it will be said to them, ‘Glad tidings for you this

day of Gardens beneath which rivers flow, wherein you will

abide. That is the supreme triumph.” (57:13)

The Holy Prophet was urged to seek forgiveness for believing women

as well as believing men. (47:20)

Key to Success..!

.. بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم ..

Successful indeed are the believers (1)

Who are humble in their prayers, (2)

And who shun vain conversation, (3)

And who are payers of the poor-due; (4)

And who guard their modesty - (5)

Save from their wives or the (slaves) that their right hands possess, for then they are not blameworthy, (6)

But whoso craveth beyond that, such are transgressors - (7)

And who are keepers of their pledge and their covenant, (8)

And who pay heed to their prayers. (9)

through these guidelines that Allah has shown us in the ninth verse of the Qur'an..

do we eligible to become successful in the real sense..?

"IMAN" is Key to Our Success....! ^_^