“I hope that I die on my land”4 Jan 2010rr r r rr r rr r rr r rr r rr rrr rFatima Mohammed Yassin, 49, is a farmer from the Palestinian village of Bilin in the occupied West Bank. In spite of Israel’s occupation and construction of its wall in the West Bank, including on Bilin’s farm land, Yassin and her husband continue to work their land on a daily basis. Jody McIntyre spoke to her for The Electronic Intifada.
Targeting human rights defenders1 Jan 2010rr r r r rr r rr r rr r rr rr rrr rIsrael still believes it can act with impunity. It will only stop if there is a cost to its human rights violations. Appeals to the Israeli authorities to respect due process are not enough, as Omar Barghouti put it in a call to redouble efforts for boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS). Israel will only change if it “gets the message that its arrest of civil resistance leaders will only intensify the already massive BDS campaigns against it.” Nadia Hijab comments.
Gaza Freedom March activists target Egypt’s complicity31 Dec 2009rr r r r rr r rr r rr r rr rr rrr rWhile it was deeply disappointing for the nearly 1,400 delegates with the Gaza Freedom March who came from 43 countries that they could not physically be in Gaza today, this was a momentous and historic gathering of justice-loving people from every corner of the globe, united by their common desire to see Gaza free. On the eve of a new year, the crowd vowed to do everything in their power to make 2010 the year that the siege of Gaza is finally and forever broken. Sayed Dhansay reports from Cairo.
New year in Gaza reopens wounds of old31 Dec 2009rr r r rr r rr r rr r rr r rr rrr rGAZA CITY, occupied Gaza Strip (IPS) – For many survivors of the last Israeli war on Gaza, time has not healed their wounds, physical or emotional. Halil Amal Samouni, 10, still suffers vision problems in her right eye. The shrapnel remaining in her head causes her constant pain and she is unable to concentrate at school.
Blogging beneath the bombs: An interview with Sharyn Lock30 Dec 2009rr r r r rr r rr r rr r rr rr rrr rActivist Sharyn Lock sailed to Gaza on the first “Break the Siege” boat with the Free Gaza Movement in 2008. During Israel’s winter attacks last year, Lock documented the invasion on her blog “Tales to Tell.” Her writing has recently been published in the short book Gaza: Beneath the Bombs. The Electronic Intifada contributor Arwa Aburawa interviewed lock about her experience in Gaza.
Photostory: Egypt further encaging Gaza30 Dec 2009rr r r rr r rr r rr r rr r rr rrr rWith and the Egyptian government’s new underground wall and the closure of the Rafah crossing—Gaza’s sole exit to the outside world—Egypt’s complicity shines more than ever. The following are exclusive images of Egyptian authorities building the new underground wall on the border with Gaza.
A voice of frustration and hope in Nahr al-Bared30 Dec 2009rr r r rr r rr r rr r rr r rr rrr rNAHR AL-BARED (North Lebanon) (IPS) – The hip-hop beats ringing through the muddy, unlit streets of this burnt-out Palestinian refugee camp seem incongruous. But the rhymes are camp-grown—and courageous. Farhan Abu Siyam, 21, is Nahr al-Bared’s first and only rapper. Going by the name of MC Tamarrod, he grew up in the Palestinian refugee camps of Nahr al-Bared and Burj al-Barajne.
Gaza’s border must be opened NOW29 Dec 2009rr r r rr r rr r rr r rr r rr rrr rToo many months have gone by with no change in the crippling isolation of Gaza imposed by Israel and Egypt, and it was time to risk our privileged access to take our efforts to break the siege up a notch. Our numbers had to be massive enough to threaten the jailers’ growing complacence and broad enough to send the message that this is a global movement that won’t stop until the Palestinian people are given the freedom and justice they deserve. Pam Rasmussen comments for The Electronic Intifada.
No justice, no peace: interview with activist Haidar Eid29 Dec 2009rr r r rr r rr r rr r rr r rr rrr rOn 31 December 2009, one year after Israel’s devastating attacks on the Gaza Strip, activists plan to converge for the Gaza Freedom March. An unprecedented effort, the march draws inspiration from South Africa’s struggle for liberation from apartheid and from Gandhi’s tactics during the campaign for India’s independence. The Electronic Intifada contributor Bianca Zammit recently interviewed the Gaza Freedom March Steering Committee member Dr. Haidar Eid about the effort.
“I live today, but I am afraid of tomorrow”29 Dec 2009rr r r rr r rr r rr r rr r rr rrr rMy name is Sema Onbus. I am 37 years old, from Tulkarem refugee camp. My story starts when my brother was killed, on 6 September 2001, when an Apache [attack helicopter] dropped a bomb on him and his friends. It was the same day that my sister was due to get married, and he was on his way from Ramallah to visit the wedding when he was murdered.
From a tent to a mud house in Gaza29 Dec 2009rr r r rr r rr r rr r rr r rr rrr rMajid al-Athamna, 70, stands next to his new home in Gaza’s Izbet Abed Rabbo neighborhood of Jabaliya. Since the Israeli attack one year ago, which destroyed his family’s three-story building, he and his family lived in a tent. Rami Almeghari reports from the occupied Gaza Strip.
Report: The impact of closure and attacks on the Gaza Strip28 Dec 2009rr r r r rr r rr r rr r rr rr rrr rThe Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR) has released a report highlighting the reality of life in the occupied Gaza Strip, and illustrating the dramatic deterioration in the human rights situation brought about by 928 days of continuous illegal closure, as well as numerous offensives, incursions and attacks.
Egypt blocks travel of Gaza Freedom March activists28 Dec 2009rr r r r rr r rr r rr r rr rr rrr rCAIRO (IRIN) – More than 1,000 persons from 42 countries who have vowed to travel from Cairo to the Gaza Strip on 31 December in a bid to highlight and break the Israeli economic blockade, will be prevented from carrying out their mission, according to the Egyptian authorities. The protesters hope to bring aid to the 1.5 million residents of Gaza a year after Israel’s 23-day offensive ended on 18 January 2009.
Portuguese activists fight state water company deal with Israel’s Mekorot28 Dec 2009rr r r r rr r rr r rr r rr rr rrr rIn October, EPAL, Portugal’s state water company, announced a deal with Mekorot, Israel’s state water company. An intern who responded to the news by informing colleagues of Mekorot’s role in Israel’s discriminatory water policies and assistance in its violation of international law was immediately sacked. News of the firing has inspired Palestine solidarity activists to campaign to end the deal. Similarly, the EPAL workers’ committee has denounced management’s decision.
Israeli forces kill six Palestinians in West Bank, Gaza27 Dec 2009rr r r r rr r rr r rr r rr rr rrr rOn Saturday morning, 26 December 2009, Israeli occupation forces killed six Palestinians in two separate attacks in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. In the northern Gaza Strip, Israeli occupation forces employed excessive lethal force and killed three Palestinians, and Israeli undercover units extrajudicially executed three members of the al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades (the armed wing of Fatah movement) in Nablus.
Israel resembles a failed state27 Dec 2009rr r r r rr r rr r rr r rr rr rrr rA year after Israel’s attack and after more than two-and-a-half years of blockade, the Palestinian people in Gaza have not surrendered. Instead they have offered the world lessons in steadfastness and dignity, even at an appalling, unimaginable cost. Ali Abunimah comments.
Villages challenge occupation on human rights day24 Dec 2009rr r r rr r rr r rr r rr r rr rrr rAs tortuous as the occupation is for the people of al-Tuwani, on 10 December—International Human Rights Day—they decided to offer support to other Palestinians by highlighting the discrimination faced by schoolchildren from the neighboring villages. The focus of Human Rights Day 2009 was on non-discrimination, a topic that is particularly appropriate in occupied Palestine where Palestinians face daily discrimination by Israel. Jo Ehrlich writes for The Electronic Intifada.
US campaign for academic boycott gaining strength24 Dec 2009rr r r r rr r rr r rr r rr rr rrr rThe United States Campaign for an Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel was formed in the immediate aftermath of Operation Cast Lead, bringing together educators of conscience who were unable to stand by and watch in silence Israel’s indiscriminate assault on the Gaza Strip and its educational institutions. Today, over 500 US-based academics, authors, artists, musicians, poets and other arts professionals have endorsed our call.
Labor for Palestine comes under attack24 Dec 2009rr r r r rr r rr r rr r rr rr rrr rLabor for Palestine’s 14 December Open Letter from US Trade Unionists to AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka: Boycott Apartheid Israel has been met with an overwhelmingly positive response. However, it has also become clear that growing support for boycott, divestment and sanctions is seen as a threat by those who would continue US labor officialdom’s support for the apartheid state of Israel, as evidenced by new attacks on Labor for Palestine.
US government’s hard line on Hizballah clashes with political reality24 Dec 2009rr r r rr r rr r rr r rr r rr rrr rWASHINGTON (IPS) – Lebanese President Michel Suleiman visited Washington last week, for his first visit with President Barack Obama. The meeting was a quick one, tucked in amongst the myriad of domestic issues that are demanding Obama’s attention. Yet despite its brevity, the meeting touched upon issues that strike at the heart of the US-Lebanon relationship.
Gaza march puts spotlight on ongoing siege23 Dec 2009rr r r rr r rr r rr r rr r rr rrr rUNITED NATIONS (IPS) – More than 50,000 people are expected to take to the streets of Gaza on 31 December for a mass march designed to send a message to the United States, a key supporter of Israel’s army, that the situation in Gaza violates international human rights laws. The idea behind the “Gaza Freedom March” comes from CODEPINK, a women’s peace group committed to drawing attention to the humanitarian crisis in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, among other campaigns.
Why I want to march in Gaza23 Dec 2009rr r r rr r rr r rr r rr r rr rrr rOn 29 December, I will attempt to cross into the Gaza Strip along with 1,300 other peace and justice activists from 43 countries. Some of us have traveled to Gaza previously. It will be my third visit since the Israeli invasion, which destroyed or damaged more than 50,000 homes and 90 percent of private industry. Pam Rasmussen comments for The Electronic Intifada.
Palestinians celebrate Arab film at Gaza festival23 Dec 2009rr r r rr r rr r rr r rr r rr rrr rLast Thursday marked the end of a one-week film festival in Gaza City. The Palestinian Film Forum, an independent Palestinian community organization, sponsored the event with 33 films produced in six Arab Gulf states. Rami Almeghari reports from the occupied Gaza Strip.
Humanitarian, rights orgs. decry “international community’s betrayal” of Gaza22 Dec 2009rr r r r rr r rr r rr r rr rr rrr rThe international community has betrayed the people of Gaza by failing to back their words with effective action to secure the ending of the Israeli blockade which is preventing reconstruction and recovery, say a group of 16 leading humanitarian and human rights groups in a new report released today.
Palestinian refugees in Jordan stuck in a no man’s land22 Dec 2009rr r r r rr r rr r rr r rr rr rrr rAMMAN (IPS) – According to the records of the UN agency for Palestine refugees (UNRWA), Jordan is home to 1.9 million displaced Palestinians. “Jordan hosts about 42 percent of the total refugee population,” says Mattar Sakr, director of public relations for UNRWA in Jordan. Sakr adds that most refugees reside in 13 camps, three of them considered unofficial dwellings because they were not assigned by the government.
Electronic Intifada