Israel, free speech, and the Oxford Union18 Nov 2007rr r r rr r rr r rr r rr r rr rrr rThe Oxford Union is one of the world’s most illustrious debating chambers and a bastion of free speech. It was founded in the nineteenth century to uphold the principle of free speech and debate in England at a time when they were being severely curtailed. Recently, however, the Union failed to live up to its lofty ideals. Professor Avi Shlaim recounts how the Union crumbled under pressure from Israel’s kneejerk supporters.
After 20 years, freedom is sweet18 Nov 2007rr r r rr r rr r rr r rr r rr rrr rFor the last 20 years, the US government has accused me of being a terrorist. Along with six other Palestinians and a Kenyan, we were dubbed the “Los Angeles Eight” by the media. Our case even made it to the US Supreme Court. On 30 October—20 grueling years after the early morning raid in which armed federal agents barged into my apartment, brutally arrested me before my three-year-old son’s eyes, incarcerated me in maximum security cells in San Pedro State Prison for 23 days without bond, and attempted to deport me—the government dropped all charges fabricated against me. Michel Shehade reflects on his case.
Meet the Lebanese Press: Eleventh hour politics and social malaise18 Nov 2007rr r r rr r rr r rr r rr r rr rrr rConfused last ditch efforts to “elect” a president by local, regional, and international consensus has thrown Lebanon into new uncertainty with only a few days left before the current president’s term expires. International brokers and kingpins are busy making the rounds domestically and regionally to resolve the deadlock. Following futile attempts to reach a deal amongst the different political leaders, an uneasy consensus relegated the duty of choosing a list of candidates to the Maronite Christian Patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir.
Photostory: Bil’in, the art of shaking off18 Nov 2007rr r r rr r rr r rr r rr r rr rrr rIn January 2005 the people of the West Bank village of Bil’in began holding weekly demonstrations demanding access to their farmlands that had been cut off by the Israeli separation barrier. During that time of popular and nonviolent struggle the response by the Israeli army intensified and grew increasingly violent. The separation barrier has stagnated the agriculturally-based economy in Bil’in and has become a symbol of Israeli oppression and colonization in the West Bank. Photographer Adam Beach documented the Bil’in demonstrations.
Israeli closure claims cancer victim17 Nov 2007rr r r rr r rr r rr r rr r rr rrr rOn the morning of Saturday, 17 November 2007, Na’el Abd al-Rahman Khamis al-Kordi (21), from Sheikh Radwan Quarter in Gaza City, died when his health condition deteriorated after IOF banned him from obtaining a permit for treatment in an Israeli hospital. The victim’s brother, Rami, stated that his brother was diagnosed with cancer about a year and half ago. At the time, the family applied for a permit to treat Na’el in an Israeli hospital. However, the request was denied.
Visiting Palestine14 Nov 2007rr r r rr r rr r rr r rr r rr rrr rYacoub Odeh was the guide for Middle East Children’s Alliance’s twelve-day tour through Palestine/Israel. He became a friend who told me and showed me things I know I will never forget. At age 67, Yacoub seems to carry with him the whole history of modern Palestine. And that is above all a history—and ongoing experience—of terrible loss. Deborah Agre writes about his story.
EI reader survey: Please take five minutes to help us improve electronicIntifada.net13 Nov 2007rr r r rr r rr r rr r rr r rr rrr rThe Electronic Intifada is conducting a very brief reader survey in order to help us improve our coverage as well as the usefulness and design of our website. Participating is easy and will take only about five minutes. Your answers remain completely anonymous and no information you provide will be shared with other organizations or used to contact you for any purpose.
Israel detains physician to extract information on his patients13 Nov 2007rr r r rr r rr r rr r rr r rr rrr rThe Palestinian Centre for Human Rights condemns Israeli Occupation Forces for detaining Dr. Nabih Abu Sha’ban last Tuesday as he was accompanying his son seeking medical treatment in Jordan, going through Beit Hanoun (Erez) checkpoint. PCHR calls upon the international community and relevant international organizations in the Occupied Palestinian Territories to intervene and pressure IOF to immediately release Dr. Abu Shaban, who himself is suffering from illness.
New York activists crash settler funder’s Madison Avenue gala13 Nov 2007rr r r rr r rr r rr r rr r rr rrr rOver 100 well-dressed, well-heeled New Yorkers attending the invitation-only opening of diamond mogul Lev Leviev’s Madison Avenue jewelry store this evening appeared stunned and aghast to find their evening derailed by a noisy protest against Leviev’s construction of illegal West Bank settlements. Gala attendees set down their champagne glasses and gathered by windows to view the signs and Palestinian flags, and hear protesters’ chants.
Canada, Hizballah and terrorism: An interview with Tariq Ali13 Nov 2007rr r r rr r rr r rr r rr r rr rrr rIn 2002 Canada unveiled an official list of “terrorist” organizations, strikingly similar to that of the the US government. Today the Lebanese political movement Hizballah—both the military and political wing—is officially considered a “terrorist” organization by the government of Canada, a policy endorsed by only two additional countries internationally—the US and Israel. EI contributor Stefan Christoff interviews novelist and historian Tariq Ali on the Canadian government’s declaration.
Uprooted and displaced13 Nov 2007rr r r rr r rr r rr r rr r rr rrr rStanding on a hill at the edge of Idhna with the displaced farmers Muhammad Talab and Muhammad Ibrahim Natah, the only visible remnants of their destroyed village is a patch of white dust just on the other side of Israel’s wall. Despite being part of the occupied West Bank, the Israeli military destroyed the 267-person farming village of tents and tin houses west of Hebron on 29 October and allegedly ordered villagers to relocate to Idhna. EI contributor Jesse Rosenfeld reports from the occupied West Bank.
Hamas forces kill six during Fatah demonstration in Gaza12 Nov 2007rr r r rr r rr r rr r rr r rr rrr rSix Palestinian citizens were killed and over eighty injured in Gaza yesterday, Monday 12 November 2007, as confrontations erupted in a festival organized by Fatah Movement to commemorate of the third anniversary of the passing of former President Yasser Arafat. According Al Mezan’s fieldworkers, in the early morning hours yesterday, the police deployed thousands of its members and erected checkpoints at the entrances of all towns and camps in the Gaza Strip. Policemen stopped and searched vehicles transporting Fatah supporters to the festival.
The one-state reality12 Nov 2007rr r r rr r rr r rr r rr r rr rrr rThe real paradigmatic shift is not to be found in talking about the “two-state versus one-state” solution or anything else in between, because this debate misses the point. It’s not a question of proposing a “one-state solution,” but of recognizing the “one-state reality.” This has been brought about by Israel’s integration of East Jerusalem and the West Bank into the infrastructure and legal fabric of the Jewish state since 1967, to the extent that there is de facto, if not de jure, annexation. Ben White comments for EI.
Mother dies after being denied access to health care11 Nov 2007rr r r rr r rr r rr r rr r rr rrr rAyda is yet another victim of Israel’s devastating closure of Gaza. While her husband, 37-year-old Zakariya Abdelal from the Gaza City neighborhood of al-Tuffah, was receiving condolences from friends and neighbors, their youngest son, 10-month-old baby Mustafah, lay calmly in the corner. Thirty-one-year-old mother of seven Ayda died after losing her fight with breast cancer, which necessitated chemotherapy treatment currently unavailable in Gaza. EI correspondent Rami Almeghari writes from Gaza.
Audio: Crossing the Line focuses on the right of return11 Nov 2007rr r r rr r rr r rr r rr r rr rrr rThis week on Crossing The Line: Presently there are around seven million Palestinian refugees around the world. Host Christopher Brown speaks first with activist Adam Shapiro, co-founder of the International Solidarity Movement. Next Brown speaks with Diana Buttu, legal adviser, and former spokesperson for the PLO about the most contentious issue with regards to peace between Palestinians and Israelis.
Palestinian, Israeli scholars to advance one-state solution in London11 Nov 2007rr r r rr r rr r rr r rr r rr rrr rLeading Palestinian and Israeli scholars and activists will be among the speakers at an unprecedented conference to explore a one-state solution, at the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) in London on 17-18 November. Organized by the London One State Group and the SOAS Palestine Society, the conference, “Challenging the Boundaries: A Single State in Israel/Palestine,” will explore new models for a just peace including binationalism, secular democracy, a ‘state of all its citizens’ and federalism.
Abed the martyr11 Nov 2007rr r r rr r rr r rr r rr r rr rrr rAbed Shinawi has died. In the words of the Palestinians, among others, he was martyred. Martyr in Palestine refers to anyone who has died as a result of the Israeli occupation, as with the 38-year-old handicapped, wheelchair-bound man killed in an IOF invasion Nablus’ al-Ain refugee camp a month and a half ago. Or it refers into the elderly man shot five times in the chest after he opened his door to IOF assurances of his safety during the same 16 October Israeli invasion that eventually claimed Abed’s life. A friend of Abed’s writes about the young man and resistance fighter who was recently killed in Nablus.
Campaign: End the siege on Gaza9 Nov 2007rr r r rr r rr r rr r rr r rr rrr rOn 25 October, a Palestinian patient died at Erez crossing while awaiting being allowed to cross to an Israeli hospital. A week ago, a woman died in Gaza hospital with her newly born baby, while awaiting a permit to be transferred to Israel for medical treatment. These are not the first victims, and will certainly not be the last should the current situation continue to prevail. A statement from a new Palestinian campaign called, “End the Siege,” calls for Palestinians and internationals to take action against Israel’s blockade of the Gaza Strip.
Petitioners: Cutting Gaza supplies collective punishment9 Nov 2007rr r r rr r rr r rr r rr r rr rrr rJERUSALEM, 8 November (IRIN) – Israel’s highest court on 7 November ordered the state to explain within one week how it planned to ensure that the latest sanctions imposed on Gaza, including fuel and power cuts, would not have a negative humanitarian impact. The court was hearing a petition lodged by 10 Israeli and Palestinian human rights groups, and the deputy-director of the Gaza Coastal Municipalities Water Utility (CMWU), demanding an end to the restrictions.
Israel kills four in Gaza attacks7 Nov 2007rr r r rr r rr r rr r rr r rr rrr rThe Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) have escalated their military operations in the Gaza Strip. IOF have killed four Palestinians, including a father and his son, and injured four others, including a child, since Sunday 4 November 2007. In addition, IOF have also launched an incursion in the eastern part of the mid-Gaza town of Deir al-Balah, carried out several missile attacks, arrested fishermen and razed agricultural land. IOF also bombarded a factory in north Gaza twice, killing three of its workers.
Iraqi refugees face prison and deportation6 Nov 2007rr r r rr r rr r rr r rr r rr rrr rBEIRUT, 6 November (IRIN) – The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) puts the number of Iraqi refugees in Lebanon at 50,000 people, of whom only 8,476 are registered. Another 500 are being held in prison, it says, merely for violating immigration rules. “This is a question of human rights,” said UNHCR regional representative Stéphane Jaquemet.
Gaza’s hard place between Israeli and Palestinian violence6 Nov 2007rr r r rr r rr r rr r rr r rr rrr rSince the Hamas-led government seized control of the Gaza Strip in mid-June, severe Israeli pressure has been imposed on the coastal region’s 1.4-million-strong population. Gaza has been sustaining the effects of such pressure at the same time as it has been absorbing the impact of the seemingly unending inter-Palestinian violence, which has claimed the lives of at least 400 Palestinians and continues to disrupt everyday life inthe already impoverished society. EI correspondent Rami Almeghari writes from Gaza.
Nothing less than our freedom6 Nov 2007rr r r rr r rr r rr r rr r rr rrr rFor the people of our small village of Bil’in, which lies west of Ramallah in the occupied West Bank, the planned negotiations between Palestinian and Israeli leaders in Annapolis, Maryland evoke mixed feelings. Like all Palestinians, we pray that our children will not spend their lives as we did, under Israeli military occupation. But our experience has been that Israel, the stronger party, exploits peace talks as a smokescreen to obscure facts that it is establishing on the ground. EI contributor Mohammed Khatib comments.
West Bankers get some medical care6 Nov 2007rr r r rr r rr r rr r rr r rr rrr rRAMALLAH, 6 November (IPS) – After packing the ambulance with medical equipment and bags full of medicine, Dr. Jameel Mashny, Dr. Rami Habash and their nurse, Maysa Youseff, all from the Palestine Medical Relief Society (PMRS), prepare themselves for the long day ahead. If it is business as usual, it will be a day of organized chaos. Screaming children will hide behind their mothers, elderly men will complain that they do not like the taste of their medicine—and a poor village will get desperately needed medical relief.
Meet the Lebanese Press: Consensus or chaos?5 Nov 2007rr r r rr r rr r rr r rr r rr rrr rAs the constitutional deadline of 12 November to elect a president looms large over Lebanon, the presidential race and the marathon rounds of meetings of political actors remained the overarching concern and topic of discussion in the Lebanese press (despite disturbing revelations about Nahr al-Bared camp in an article by Khaled Saghiyyeh). Marathon rounds of discussion may be a good omen in participatory or even representative democracies. But in a country governed by the necessity of consensus and the reality of sectarianism, seemingly endless talk can mean too little to agree on and a diplomatic denial of an impasse.
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