Suspected torturer gets key police job in Jerusalem9 Aug 2010rr r r rr r rr r rr r rr r rr rrr rA police officer known as “Major George” who is accused of torturing Arab prisoners in his previous role as chief interrogator in a secret military jail has been appointed to oversee relations with Jerusalem’s Palestinian population, it has emerged. Jonathan Cook reports.
New guide puts Palestine history, debates in activists’ hands9 Aug 2010rr r r rr r rr r rr r rr r rr rrr rThe Veritas Handbook, published free online this month, seeks to provide a comprehensive, accessible guide to Palestine’s history and key issues involved activism. Produced independently by activists and students, the book aims to meet a long neglected need.
Uribe’s appointment to flotilla probe guarantees its failure6 Aug 2010rr r r rr r rr r rr r rr r rr rrr rThe appointment of outgoing President of Colombia Álvaro Uribe Vélez to a UN-commissioned inquiry into the massacre by Israel of human rights activists aboard the Gaza Freedom Flotilla makes a mockery of the investigation. José Antonio Gutiérrez and David Landy comment for The Electronic Intifada.
Israel’s siege on freedoms6 Aug 2010rr r r rr r rr r rr r rr r rr rrr rZionist sympathizers and their ilk have been providing us with the same “evidence” that Gaza is burgeoning: the markets are full of produce, fancy restaurants abound, there are pools and parks and malls … all is well in the most isolated place on earth—Gaza, the “prison camp” that is not. However, “prison camp” might be an understatement.
Al-Quds University flouts own academic boycott6 Aug 2010rr r r rr r rr r rr r rr r rr rrr rAl-Quds University is maintaining a joint Israeli-Palestinian master’s degree program with Haifa, Hebrew and Tel Aviv universities, despite a decision taken by its own University Council in February 2009 to distance itself from Israeli academic institutions. Jillian Kestler-D’Amours reports for The Electronic Intifada.
Israel destroys Bedouin village, again5 Aug 2010rr r r r rr r rr r rr r rr rr rrr rBulldozers returned to the village of al-Araqib in the northern Negev on Wednesday, 4 August, and demolished approximately ten new structures residents and supporters had built a week after Israeli forces completely destroyed the village on 27 July.
“Gaza is a man-made crisis”5 Aug 2010rr r r rr r rr r rr r rr r rr rrr rGAZA CITY, occupied Gaza Strip (IRIN) – The quality of life, the economy and food security for Palestinians living in Gaza have been severely impaired by Israel’s strict four-year blockade, according to the UN. Israel says its closure regime is designed to protect Israeli citizens from attacks by militants in Gaza.
Book review: Palestine brought to life in “Behind the Wall”5 Aug 2010rr r r rr r rr r rr r rr r rr rrr rPhotographer Rich Wiles’ Behind the Wall: Life, Love, and Struggle in Palestine is a story about the lives of people the author has encountered over the course of the last seven years living in Palestine. Marcy Newman reviews for The Electronic Intifada.
International solidarity under attack5 Aug 2010rr r r rr r rr r rr r rr r rr rrr rFrom small beginnings and with few resources, the international movement in solidarity with the Palestinians has grown into a force that Israel perceives as a major threat. The assault on the Gaza aid flotilla was a lethal escalation in what has become an increasingly bitter campaign against that movement. Mike Marqusee comments.
Hamas “morality” campaign restricts civil liberties in Gaza4 Aug 2010rr r r rr r rr r rr r rr r rr rrr rRAMALLAH, occupied West Bank (IPS) – Gazans are caught between a rock and a hard place. While Israel continues to apply a crippling siege on the coastal territory, Gaza’s Hamas government is cracking down on civil and political liberties in what appears to be a campaign to slowly Islamicize Gaza.
Why is Obama moving to fund Israel’s Iron Dome project?4 Aug 2010rr r r rr r rr r rr r rr r rr rrr rOn 16 July 2010, US Assistant Secretary of State for Political-Military Affairs Andrew Shapiro laid out the Obama Administration’s policy on strategic cooperation, noting that earlier this year, President Obama “asked Congress to authorize $205 million to support the production of an Israeli-developed short range rocket defense system called Iron Dome.” If approved, these funds would be “above and beyond the $3 billion in Foreign Military Financing that the Administration requested for Israel” for 2011. Jimmy Johnson comments for The Electronic Intifada.
Probe into flotilla killings met with skepticism3 Aug 2010rr r r rr r rr r rr r rr r rr rrr rUNITED NATIONS (IPS) – Despite initial misgivings, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon received the tacit approval of the Israeli government to establish an international panel to probe the widely-condemned killings of nine Turkish civilians onboard a flotilla of ships carrying humanitarian aid to Gaza last May.
UPDATED: Scores injured in explosions, Israeli attacks on Gaza3 Aug 2010rr r r r rr r rr r rr r rr rr rrr rIsraeli airstikes killed a Palestinian resistance activist and wounded another early Wednesday morning 4 August, east of Khan Younis in the occupied Gaza Strip, reports Reuters, citing Palestinian medical sources. This latest attack comes on the heels of five days of Israeli missile strikes, Palestinian rocket fire and other explosions that have injured dozens and killed one leader of the armed wing of Hamas.
Book review: Israel and apartheid S. Africa’s “Unspoken Alliance”2 Aug 2010rr r r r rr r rr r rr r rr rr rrr rIn The Unspoken Alliance: Israel’s Secret Relationship with Apartheid South Africa, historian and Foreign Affairs editor Sasha Polakow-Suransky explores the rise and fall of the Cold War-era alliance between Israel and apartheid South Africa. Jimmy Johnson reviews for The Electronic Intifada.
South Africa’s lessons for Gaza2 Aug 2010rr r r rr r rr r rr r rr r rr rrr rThe Palestinian national movement has overlooked this question: does the Gaza Strip resemble the racist Bantustans of apartheid South Africa? During the apartheid era, South Africa’s black population was kept in isolation and without political and civil rights. Is Gaza similar? The answer is yes and no. Haidar Eid analyzes.
Israeli rabbi preaches slaughter of non-Jews2 Aug 2010rr r r rr r rr r rr r rr r rr rrr rA rabbi from one of the most violent settlements in the West Bank was questioned on suspicion of incitement last week as Israeli police stepped up their investigation into a book in which he sanctions the killing of non-Jews, including children and babies. Jonathan Cook reports.
Activists work to stop tax-exempt donations to Israeli settlements30 Jul 2010rr r r rr r rr r rr r rr r rr rrr rAs Israel’s illegal settlement enterprise in the occupied West Bank continues to be a strain on US-Israel relations, an unflattering light is being shone on US private donations towards the development of the settlements that are increasingly encroaching on Palestinian land. Alice Speri reports for The Electronic Intifada.
US tax-exempt donations fund Israeli settlements30 Jul 2010rr r r rr r rr r rr r rr r rr rrr rRAMALLAH, occupied West Bank (IPS) – Anger has arisen in Palestinian areas over reports that millions of tax-exempt dollars from the US are being funneled towards Israel’s illegal settlement building in the occupied Palestinian West Bank—in flagrant violation of international law.a
Book review: history lesson on the left’s Palestine blind spot30 Jul 2010rr r r r rr r rr r rr r rr rr rrr rIf I am Not For Myself provides fascinating critical insight into Zionism, and amounts to a crucial warning from history on Palestine for the liberal left of today. Asa Winstanley reviews for The Electronic Intifada.
What’s in a name? In a racist society, everything29 Jul 2010rr r r rr r rr r rr r rr r rr rrr rA young Jewish Israeli woman and a young Palestinian Jerusalemite had consensual sex. Afterwards, the Jewish woman discovered that her partner was in fact not Jewish at all, but horror of horror, a Palestinian. But there was more, the Palestinian had called himself “Dudu,” his nickname, but one most often used by Israeli Jews, and from this the young woman concluded she had been deliberately deceived and in fact raped. Richard Irvine comments for The Electronic Intifada.
Don’t deny our rights: open letter to Mahmoud Abbas29 Jul 2010rr r r r rr r rr r rr r rr rr rrr rNo Palestinian institution or leader has ever accepted an exclusive Jewish claim to Palestine, which is irreconcilable with the internationally recognized rights of the Palestinian people. Our rights inhere in us as a people; they are not yours to do with as you please.
Groups urge Clinton to intervene in case of jailed rights defender29 Jul 2010rr r r r rr r rr r rr r rr rr rrr rMadame Secretary, we respectfully request that your office investigate the arrest, unlawful treatment, and detention of Mr. Makhoul and use its considerable diplomatic influence to bring an end to his arbitrary detention and to ensure that Israel, a leading recipient of US military and economic aid, comply with its commitment under US law and international legal norms.
Bedouin village razed in Negev as Israelis cheer on28 Jul 2010rr r r r rr r rr r rr r rr rr rrr rEarly morning on 27 July, Israeli bulldozers, flanked by helicopters and throngs of police, demolished the entire Bedouin village of al-Araqib in the northern Negev desert. Despite their land rights cases still pending in the court system, hundreds of al-Araqib villagers were instantly made homeless a month after Israeli police posted demolition orders.
Dutch Christian Zionists enjoy political clout28 Jul 2010rr r r r rr r rr r rr r rr rr rrr rEven though they are supporting settlement activities that the Dutch government officially considers to be illegal, Christians for Israel and the Christian Friends of Israeli Communities enjoy a cordial relationship with some of the most powerful politicians in the Netherlands.
Electronic Intifada