About
Member of the Online News Association
This blog will attempt to analyze and report on the Middle East peace process, as well as on what’s actually happening on the ground.Though this blog will NOT be primarily about history, it hopes to be informed by history. Facts that are being created on the ground now are a continuation of strategies and ambitions forged in the First World War and its aftermath. The Mandatory System that the victorious allies later had endorsed by their own League of Nations set the basis of the foundation of the State of Israel (as well as of modern-day Syria, Lebanon, Jordan and Iraq ). It is also the basis of what Palestinians refer to as “international legitimacy”.
This blog is written by Marian Houk, a writer, reporter, journalist and analyst with experience at the United Nations and in the Middle East, who has followed the peace process from 1967 to the present — presently based in Jerusalem.
Palestine-Mandate is hosted on servers that are set up and maintained by Zero-Analog in San Francisco.
Some recently-published articles by Marian Houk:
U.S. announces new emergency project to shore up sewage containment in Gaza
December 17, 2007
Marian Houk
http://www.americanchronicle.com/articles/viewArticle.asp?articleID=46252
Palestinian Authority struggles with Gaza sanctions
December 10, 2007
by Marian Houk
http://www.americanchronicle.com/articles/viewArticle.asp?articleID=45273
Palestinians asked to acknowledge Israel as a Jewish State
by Marian Houk
http://www.americanchronicle.com/articles/viewArticle.asp?articleID=42748
Stop or step out
One of the UN’s own calls for the UN’s head to stop playing favourites in Israeli-Palestinian affairs, writes Marian Houk in
18 -
http://weekly.ahram.org.eg/2007/867/index.htm
Rice visits the birthplace of Jesus in Bethlehem
by Marian Houk
Shimon Peres says that Israel can now get over being nervous
by Marian Houk
http://www.americanchronicle.com/articles/viewArticle.asp?articleID=38465
Gaza gas talks with Israel, UK firm quietly ongoing
Marian Houk
Middle East Times
June 28, 2007
JERUSALEM — While some Palestinians have angrily said they are prepared to write off Gaza in the wake of Hamas’ recent rout of Fatah forces there, cooler heads are pondering the implications concerning Gaza’s maritime assets - in particular, the natural gas deposits off Gaza’s Mediterranean coast.
http://www.metimes.com/storyview.php?StoryID=20070628-090038-7580r
Analysis: Leaving
Marian Houk
http://www.metimes.com/storyview.php?StoryID=20070622-095230-8134r
Hamas leader pledges
Marian Houk
http://www.metimes.com/storyview.php?StoryID=20070621-084451-2362r
Torment continues at Erez checkpoint, uneasy peace holds in Gaza
Marian Houk
http://www.metimes.com/storyview.php?StoryID=20070620-075400-2326r
Interview: Mustafa Barghouti on Palestinian ‘emergency’
Marian Houk
http://www.metimes.com/storyview.php?StoryID=20070618-010912-9267r
Analysis: Security first priority vows new Abbas cabinet
Marian Houk
JERUSALEM — Recently-appointed Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad - also heading the new Palestinian foreign and finance ministries - has vowed that assuring law and order would be a key priority of the day-old Palestinian emergency cabinet.
http://www.metimes.com/storyview.php?StoryID=20070618-085956-8501r
Hamas attempts
Marian Houk, additional reporting by Raja Mukahal
Middle East Times
As Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas Saturday held consultations in Ramallah, West Bank on the formation of an emergency, Hamas-free government, two days after the Islamist movement’s stunning rout of Fatah fighters in the Gaza Strip, Hamas, itself, was moving to clean up the streets and restore order in Gaza. After its military coup - described as an attempt to restore law and order - Hamas denounced Abbas’ efforts to form a new government as being equivalent to a political coup.
http://www.metimes.com/storyview.php?StoryID=20070616-074001-6435r
Israel continues Palestinian tax fund freeze, Abbas renews calls for
Marian Houk
JERUSALEM — Despite an Israeli cabinet decision that “water and electricity should be kept out of the conflict,” Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has still not agreed to lift a freeze of Palestinian funds to pay for the connection of a northern Gaza electrical substation to Israel’s electrical grid.
http://www.metimes.com/storyview.php?StoryID=20070614-091456-1597r
Lawyers grapple with 40 years of Israeli occupation of Palestinian territory
Marian Houk
TEL AVIV & JERUSALEM — An all-star cast of international law experts pondered Israel’s lengthy occupation of Palestinian territory last week, as the world marked the 40th anniversary of the June 1967 Six-Day war that brought the West Bank, Gaza, and East Jerusalem under Israeli control.
http://www.metimes.com/storyview.php?StoryID=20070611-044656-9455r
Marian Houk
RAMALLAH & JERUSALEM — Nearly a year after an Israeli airstrike, Gaza’s power plant cannot yet resume full operation to supply vitally-needed electricity to one of the most densely populated areas on earth - just as demand is about to peak during the hot summer months.
http://www.metimes.com/storyview.php?StoryID=20070608-063048-6715r
Israel minister, Fatah officer trade views on
Marian Houk
Middle East Times
http://www.metimes.com/storyview.php?StoryID=20070601-074306-9124r
More than a spin doctor - an interview with top Israeli strategist Eyal
Marian Houk
Middle East Times
http://www.metimes.com/storyview.php?StoryID=20070530-041248-9001r
Analysis: Six months of negotiations may open way to long-term Israeli deal to buy Gaza gas
Marian Houk
Middle East Times
May 26, 2007
Jerusalem — Movement was reported this week on an Israeli government decision to authorize a long-term agreement to purchase gas from Gaza’s offshore wells at market price from the Palestinian Authority
http://www.metimes.com/storyview.php?StoryID=20070526-033515-3404r
Abbas says ceasefire holds, praises Swiss peace plan
Marian Houk
Middle East Times
http://www.metimes.com/storyview.php?StoryID=20070427-080405-2453r
Palestinian state legal basis in place say experts
Marian Houk
http://www.metimes.com/storyview.php?StoryID=20070322-113145-3234r
Analysis: UN says
Marian Houk
http://www.metimes.com/storyview.php?StoryID=20070311-014041-3498r
Analysis: UN urges
Marian Houk
http://www.metimes.com/storyview.php?StoryID=20070227-035925-7158r
Outside looking in
The Palestinian Diaspora is gearing up to get more involved in the handling of the cause, reports Marian Houk from
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http://weekly.ahram.org.eg/2005/772/re2.htm



