Hamas and Hizballah gain, almost hand in handElectronic Intifada - 26 Jun 2008rr r r rr r rr r rr r rr r rr rrr rCAIRO (IPS) – Hizballah’s dramatic seizure of Beirut last month stunned observers and dealt a heavy blow to Washington’s Lebanese allies. In Cairo, analysts compared the episode to last year’s takeover of the Gaza Strip by Palestinian resistance faction Hamas, noting that both actions were pre-emptive—rather than offensive—in nature.
Nonie Darwish and the al-Bureij massacreElectronic Intifada - 26 Jun 2008rr r r r rr r rr r rr r rr rr rrr rStandWithUs is a Zionist advocacy group in Los Angeles. It concentrates on US colleges and universities, offering fellowships, book donations, lectures, training and hands-on activism. EI contributor Jim Holstun analyzes the problematic writing one of StandWithUs’ most energetic speakers, Nonie Darwish, billed as “a Muslim Shahid’s Daughter.”
Occupation by bureaucracyElectronic Intifada - 26 Jun 2008rr r r rr r rr r rr r rr r rr rrr rA ceasefire went into effect in Gaza last week, offering some respite from the violence that has killed hundreds of Palestinians and five Israelis in recent months. It will do nothing, however, to address the underlying cause of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Intermittent spectacular violence may draw the world’s attention to the occupied Palestinian territories, but our obsession with violence actually distracts us from the real nature of Israel’s occupation, which is its smothering bureaucratic control of everyday Palestinian life. Saree Makdisi comments.
Palestine is illegalElectronic Intifada - 26 Jun 2008rr r r rr r rr r rr r rr r rr rrr rThe young, dark-haired woman behind the glass stamped the American passport in front of her. “Welcome to Israel,” she said cheerily. The line in front of me receded quickly as passport after passport was stamped, and traveler after traveler admitted entry. I made my way to the desk and slid my passport under the glass. Sumia Ibrahim writes from Palestine.
Israel, EU and the US disregard international lawElectronic Intifada - 26 Jun 2008rr r r rr r rr r rr r rr r rr rrr rAfter the announcement of the Israeli government to put out new tenders for construction in illegal settlements in East Jerusalem, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon issued a statement expressing his deep concern, stating that “the government of Israel’s continued construction in settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory is contrary to international law and to its commitments under the Road Map and the Annapolis process.”
