Targeting Britain’s war industry15 Sep 2009rr r r r rr r rr r rr r rr rr rrr r”Warfighters around the world rely on Brimar products every day,” a small company from Manchester in northwest England boasts on its publicity material. Brimar makes screens and viewfinders which allow helicopter pilots and tank gunners to carry out their bloody jobs in Gaza, Iraq and Afghanistan. But a new local campaign is looking to turn Brimar’s boast on its head, and it’s just one of a number of British campaigns confronting the companies which arm the Israeli military. Sarah Irving reports for The Electronic Intifada.
Palestinian village calls for Swedish divestment from occupation14 Sep 2009rr r r r rr r rr r rr r rr rr rrr rWe have learned with dismay that Sweden, a great supporter of human rights worldwide, has invested its pension fund AP1 in at least ten companies that support Israel’s human rights abuses and violations of international law. One of those companies, Israel Discount Bank, is directly involved in settlements on Bilin’s stolen land, and all the companies are involved in destroying hopes for justice and peace in Palestine.
Gaza’s conflicting casualty counts14 Sep 2009rr r r rr r rr r rr r rr r rr rrr rWASHINGTON (IPS) – This week, two respected human rights organizations—one Palestinian, one Israeli—each came out with very full reports into the extent of the damage caused by the assault Israel waged against Gaza last winter. According to PCHR 1,419 Palestinians were killed during the fighting, of whom 252 were combatants and the rest noncombatants. Three hundred and eighteen of those killed were, it said, children.
The Elders’ visit to Bilin11 Sep 2009rr r r r rr r rr r rr r rr rr rrr rThursday, 27 August was a special day in Bilin. Dozens of blacked-out SUVs approached the village, disturbing the quiet of a usually peaceful morning. However, unlike the Israeli occupation forces who come at night to arrest boys from the village, this arrival was extremely welcome. The SUV passengers were a truly respected group of international diplomats, known as the Elders. Jody McIntyre writes from Bilin, occupied West Bank.
Gaza’s disabled cut off from payments11 Sep 2009rr r r r rr r rr r rr r rr rr rrr rYunis al-Masri was severely injured in a car wreck as he and his brothers traveled to work in Israel 24 years ago. He is entitled to a monthly allowance of $800 from Israel’s National Insurance Institute, out of which he has supported his wife and 10 children in their home in Gaza. In early January, however, the transfers of disability benefits stopped arriving in his bank account in Gaza. About 700 other injured workers are in the same situation. Jonathan Cook reports.
Israel targeting fishermen, farmers in Gaza11 Sep 2009rr r r r rr r rr r rr r rr rr rrr rOn 31 August, Israeli gunboats shot at and shelled the fishing trawler of Khaled al-Habil, destroying it completely and leaving the boat’s 18 fishermen and their families without a source of income. One week earlier, on 24 August, Israeli soldiers along Gaza’s northern border shot dead a young farm worker, Said al-Hussumi. Sixteen-year-old al-Hussumi was killed while working on land a few hundred meters from the border with his cousin Masoud Tanboura, who was seriously wounded. Eva Bartlett reports for The Electronic Intifada.
Shebaa Farms “real issue” is water11 Sep 2009BEIRUT (IRIN) – The politics of the Israeli-occupied Shebaa Farms, a rugged sliver of mountainside wedged between Lebanon, Israel and Syria, have long overshadowed what some Lebanese environmentalists call “the real issue” of the disputed area: its water resources. Now activists are calling for hydro-diplomacy to take precedence over political maneuvering as the most effective solution to one of the key stumbling blocks to Middle East peace.
My rights, my remedy11 Sep 2009rr r r r rr r rr r rr r rr rr rrr rIsrael is an apartheid state. It rules over me in Gaza yet does not permit me to vote in an Israeli election. It hoards my resources in the West Bank, it detains me and dictates the terms of my survival. It issues my travel documents and denies me the right to travel. I cannot associate or marry or build or import or consume—in short, I cannot live—without Israel’s permission. Yet, I do not have the right to vote. Ahmed Moor comments for The Electronic Intifada.
Protesters of Toronto festival’s Tel Aviv spotlight saluted10 Sep 2009rr r r r rr r rr r rr r rr rr rrr rThe Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel (PACBI) salutes the filmmakers, artists and cultural workers who drafted and endorsed the Toronto Declaration: No Celebration of Occupation protesting the Toronto International Film Festival’s City to City Spotlight on Tel Aviv. The impressive list of signatories includes long-time supporters of a just peace and Palestinian rights and newer friends, all of whom we sincerely thank.
Action alert: Kick Dayton and his mercenaries out of Palestine10 Sep 2009rr r r r rr r rr r rr r rr rr rrr rThe US Palestinian Community Network is appalled that the government of the United States not only continues its unconditional support for Israel, but has engaged in establishing Palestinian contra forces in the West Bank, aimed at deepening Palestinian internal division and engaging in arbitrary arrests and assassinations of political activists. We demand an immediate end to all such programs and the immediate withdrawal of US Lt. Gen. Keith Dayton and his mercenaries from Palestine!
No windows, pens in Gaza’s classrooms10 Sep 2009rr r r r rr r rr r rr r rr rr rrr rGAZA CITY, occupied Gaza Strip (IRIN) – Some 1,200 students at al-Karmel High School for boys in Gaza City returned to class on 25 August without history and English textbooks, or notebooks and pens—all unavailable on the local market. Severe damage to the school, caused during the 23-day Israeli offensive on the Gaza Strip which ended on 18 January, has yet to be repaired. Al-Karmel’s principal, Majed Yasin, has had to cover scores of broken windows with plastic sheeting.
Compromising for Gaza without compromising Palestine9 Sep 2009rr r r r rr r rr r rr r rr rr rrr rA call to organize a large march to break the siege of Gaza immediately captured the imagination of many organizers. However, after the initial call, the framework of the march was challenged by highly-respected Palestinian activists. Their criticism, expressed with the utmost respect for the courage and good will of the organizers, challenged the organizers’ decision to delay engaging in a wide conversation with Palestinian civil society and activists until after the call was made and the framework formulated. Gabriel Ash, Mich Levy and Sara Kershnar comment for The Electronic Intifada.
Racist measures against Palestinians in Israel lead to strike call9 Sep 2009rr r r r rr r rr r rr r rr rr rrr rThe increasingly harsh political climate in Israel under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s right-wing government has prompted the leadership of the country’s 1.3 million Arab citizens to call for the first general strike in several years. Jonathan Cook reports.
Palestinians in limbo in occupied East Jerusalem8 Sep 2009rr r r rr r rr r rr r rr r rr rrr rOCCUPIED EAST JERUSALEM (IPS) – In the early morning sunlight, the smoky window of the plush new apartment reflects back a golden tinge from the Dome of the Rock that stands at the heart of Islam’s third holiest shrine. Down across the valley from the walled Old City, families have already started moving into some of the 91 apartments in this new 240-family compound of Jewish settlers.
“Scare tactic” campaign aims to bring US Jews to Israel7 Sep 2009rr r r r rr r rr r rr r rr rr rrr rThe Israeli government has launched a television and Internet advertising campaign urging Israelis to inform on Jewish friends and relatives abroad who may be in danger of marrying non-Jews. The advertisements, employing what the Israeli media described as “scare tactics,” are designed to stop assimilation through intermarriage among young Diaspora Jews by encouraging their move to Israel. Jonathan Cook reports.
Israel destroys Gaza boats and lives7 Sep 2009rr r r rr r rr r rr r rr r rr rrr rGAZA CITY, occupied Gaza Strip (IPS) – Until last Monday, Omar and Khaled al-Habil were the owners of a 20 meter fishing trawler staffed by five or six fishermen at a time, but employing around 18 in cycles. But that morning the vessel came under heavy Israeli navy machine-gun fire, and then shelling. The trawler caught fire. “It’s destroyed, completely destroyed,” says al-Habil.
Why we back the boycott call7 Sep 2009rr r r rr r rr r rr r rr r rr rrr rWhen we decided to pull our film Looking for Eric from the Melbourne International Film festival following our discovery that the festival was part-sponsored by the Israeli state, we wrote to the director, Richard Moore, detailing our reasons. Unfortunately he has misrepresented our position and did so again last week on the Guardian’s Comment is free by stating that “to allow the personal politics of one filmmaker to proscribe a festival position … goes against the grain of what festivals stand for,” and claiming that “Loach’s demands were beyond the pale.” Filmmakers Ken Loach, Rebecca O’Brien and Paul Laverty comment.
Accountability and the organ theft controversy5 Sep 2009rr r r r rr r rr r rr r rr rr rrr rThe hyperventilating by Israel’s leaders over a story published in a Swedish newspaper last month suggesting that the Israeli army assisted in organ theft from Palestinians has distracted attention from the disturbing allegations made by Palestinian families that were the basis of the article’s central claim. Jonathan Cook comments.
Israel targets medical teams5 Sep 2009rr r r r rr r rr r rr r rr rr rrr rJALAZONE, occupied West Bank (IPS) – Fourteen-year-old Muhammad Nayif’s mother broke down as she spoke to IPS. Nayif died after being shot three times in the chest by Israeli soldiers Monday night. Palestinian medical personnel who tried to reach the critically injured boy near the Jalazone refugee camp north of Ramallah were threatened at gunpoint by Israeli soldiers and shot at.
“Sense of duty”: interview with Bilin journalist4 Sep 2009rr r r r rr r rr r rr r rr rr rrr rHaitham al-Katib is a journalist living in the occupied West Bank village of Bilin. During the last few months, village residents have been the victims of constant night invasions by the Israeli military. Al-Katib films the night raids, as well as the weekly nonviolent demonstrations against the wall, and has become a well-known figure for his brave attempts to document the struggle. The Electronic Intifada contributor Jody McIntyre, currently based in Bilin, interviewed him about his work.
A big thank you4 Sep 2009rr r r rr r rr r rr r rr r rr rrr rThe significance of this—alas short lived—exposure of what lies behind the apartheid wall and the fences that encircle the West Bank and the Gaza Strip stems from the seniority of Kristin Halvorsen, the Norwegian finance minister who herself announced the decision to divest. It is the first official act of such a kind by a Western government. It is reminiscent of the first day when governments heeded the pressures of their societies in the West to act against apartheid South Africa. Ilan Pappe comments for The Electronic Intifada.
Why Israel is after my son3 Sep 2009rr r r rr r rr r rr r rr r rr rrr rThe persecution of Palestinian citizens inside Israel is not a new phenomenon. Yet, for me, this time it hit home. The Israeli intelligence agency Shabak, also known as the Shin Bet, accuses my son Rawi Sultani of “contact with a foreign agent” and “delivering information to the enemy.” Both are grave security offenses in Israeli law. Fouad Sultani comments for The Electronic Intifada.
Faithful warned against buying “occupation dates” this Ramadan2 Sep 2009rr r r rr r rr r rr r rr r rr rrr rIsrael’s largest produce exporter, Agrexco, is once again under fire because of its dates produced in illegal settlements in the occupied West Bank. This year, the company’s dates arrived in time for the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, during which faithful Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset and traditionally break their fast by eating a date. Adri Nieuwhof reports for The Electronic Intifada.
Liberation, not a fictitious Palestinian “state”2 Sep 2009rr r r rr r rr r rr r rr r rr rrr rFrom 1994 to 2006, more than eight billion US dollars were pumped into the Palestinian economy, making Palestinians the most aid-dependent people on earth. The PA received this aid ostensibly to build Palestinian institutions, improve socioeconomic development and support the creation of an independent state. The result however is that Palestinians are more destitute and aid-dependent than ever before, their institutions are totally dysfunctional, and their state remains a distant fantasy.
In Jerusalem, separate and unequal1 Sep 2009rr r r rr r rr r rr r rr r rr rrr rOCCUPIED EAST JERUSALEM (IPS) – Israel says “united” Jerusalem will be the eternal capital of the Jewish state. However, a quick walk across the Green Line which marks the international boundary dividing the two parts of the city reveals a city very much divided. Most of West Jerusalem is clean, well cared for and far more opulent than the poorer east. The streets of East Jerusalem are filled with litter, piles of uncollected garbage, potholes and vermin.
Electronic Intifada