The University of California, Berkeley’s new chancellor once had his name on a petition calling for divestment from companies doing business with Israel. Now, Berkeley has published a transcript of an interview showing that Dirks disavows the divestment strategy–a clear signal to Israel lobby groups.
Monthly Archives: November 2012
Two Israeli policemen face charges after striking kidney patient with rifles at roadblock
Two Israeli Policemen Face Charges Of Abusing A Kidney Patient Israeli paper, Yedioth Aharonoth, reported that two Israeli Policemen are facing charges after they abused and humiliated a Palestinian kidney patient, including hitting him with their rifles, at a military roadblock in the occupied West Bank. http://www.imemc.org/article/64658 Border Guards indicted for abusing Palestinian Indictment filed […]
Apartheid? Don’t be silly
If it’s not apartheid, then why are Israelis, who can go almost anywhere in the West Bank, advised not to enter Palestinian areas, Area A, approximately 3 percent of the territory?
No balance: CNN slobbers over Peres, grills Meshaal
Blitzer slobbers over Peres: Is there one piece of advice for our viewers who are watching right now that you want to share on how you’ve managed to stay so youthful, so energetic, so alert all these years?
A movement grows at American University
It is truly amazing what can be accomplished these days when the Internet has given students the power to think for themselves and organize like-minded individuals. Two young adults with nothing to lose and everything to gain have embarked on a journey for peace in the Middle East. Joshua Michaels, a Jewish American, and Ibraheem […]
Reactions to UN vote: Livni calls Palestinian move ‘strategic terrorist attack’
AIPAC gives talking points to the Senate to punish Palestinians for upgraded UN status, J Street opposes any retaliation against Palestinians
Israel responds to UN vote by approving 3,000 new settlement units and plans to build in strategic West Bank corridor
The Netanyahu government hasn’t wasted any time issuing its response to yesterday’s vote at the UN. Today, Israel announced 3,000 new illegal housing units in the occupied territories. Plans include building in the “E1 corridor” to connect the Ma’ale Adumim settlement with Jerusalem. This would effectively sever hopes of a contiguous Palestinian state.
Wildman and Jaber to speak at Brooklyn benefit for West Bank oncology clinic
Palestine is the word all over New York. The Palestine Children’s Relief Fund and Brooklyn for Peace will host a benefit for an oncology clinic for children in the West Bank this Sunday in Brooklyn
Exile and the prophetic: Taking the U.N. cure
This post is part of Marc H. Ellis’s “Exile and the Prophetic” feature for Mondoweiss. To read the entire series visit the archive page. Empire Detox – is there a one size cure-all? Where does one go for the cure? Or do Jews retain our singularity even in detox? The United Nations vote yesterday on […]
Israeli Supreme Court set to hear petition against on anti-boycott law
On Wednesday, December 5th 2012, the Israeli Supreme Court will conduct a hearing on the petition filed by the Coalition of Women for Peace against the anti-boycott law, which was passed by the Knesset in July 2011. This anti-democratic law is a blunt violation of political and civil liberties and is clearly a political attempt to violently crush civil protest and legitimate criticism against Israel’s policy in the occupied territories.
Time to call out the campus Israel Lobby
While Hasbara Fellows themselves are concerned that their student groups could be seen as “a façade for multi-million dollar organizations,” the pro-Palestine movement has rarely attempted to call out the Israel Lobby on our campuses. We cannot tell our local AIPAC representatives from the Hasbara Fellows. We do not even know the names of other external advocacy groups. Serious and well-documented research on each school can engender new and creative strategies to challenge these champions of the status quo, who are blocking crucial action to end Israeli apartheid in all its forms. There is no time to waste, especially after the latest slaughter in Gaza. It’s time to call out the campus Israel Lobby.
Reflections on ‘balance’ in media coverage of Israel/Palestine
There is such a great and burning desire for “balance” in Canadian society that I cannot understand that people don’t actually recognise the so apparent lack of balance that they are fed every day.
Director of Israeli human rights group: Ceasefire offers opportunity for easing of closure on Gaza
On a conference call with supporters of Gisha in the United States, director Sari Bashi said that the ceasefire agreement that ended the latest Gaza assault offers some opportunity for change in the Israeli policy of closure towards the Gaza Strip. Bashi said: ‘There’s an opportunity with the ceasefire terms being negotiated in Egypt that could lead to more security for Israel and greater freedom of movement for Palestinians.’
Confirmed: Stevie Wonder pulls out of IDF fundraiser
Friends of the Israeli Defense Force press release confirms Stevie Wonder has pulled out of Los Angeles benefit event.
Don’t ‘target our Israeli ally’– Schumer warns Palestinians
‘We are committed to using every means at our disposal’ to support Israel against the Palestinian statehood initiative, Sen. Chuck Schumer warns Palestinians
If only . . .
The United Nations makes an epic typo on the annual Day of Solidarity with Palestinians.
Ashrawi: statehood is ‘game-changer’ and US is damaging its standing in world by opposing it
“Things will be different,” Hanan Ashrawi of the PLO says of the UN statehood initiative in conversation with Yousef Munayyer of the Jerusalem Fund at the behest of the Institute for Middle East Understanding
On crossing cultures as a western visitor to Palestine
Pamela Olson: Like Abraham Lincoln, I believe people will make pretty good choices when given enough freedom and information.
UN approves Palestinian status upgrade with 138-9 vote (and US Senators threaten to cut aid)
On the 65th anniversary of the UN’s partition resolution calling for two states in Palestine, the Palestine mission is pressing to gain non-member voting status from the UN General Assembly. Above, Palestinians watch Mahmoud Abbas address the United Nations General Assembly in a video broadcast onto the Separation Wall in Bethlehem. (Photo: George Hale)
Video: What if you built a refuge for a persecuted people in a place where another people already lived?
Now it’s the Palestinians’ turn for freedom and justice, says Jewish Voice for Peace
‘We lost Europe,’ says Israeli official
Germany says it will support Palestinian bid for non-member status at UN in backtrack of earlier decision. Jewish Voice for Peace also supports bid
Palestinians under ‘intense pressure’ to commit not to sue Israel
Land, property theft & destruction / Ethnic cleansing Israeli authorities destroy olive groves, wells, barns near Hebron HEBRON (Ma‘an) — Israeli authorities on Wednesday leveled olive groves and demolished irrigation wells and barns near Hebron in the southern West Bank, the Land Research Center said. Israeli forces escorted a civil administration crew with bulldozers to […]
Exile and the prophetic: Empire detoxification
This post is part of Marc H. Ellis’s “Exile and the Prophetic” feature for Mondoweiss. To read the entire series visit the archive page. What kind of future does empire and isolation hold for Jews in Israel and beyond? A question I asked and didn’t answer. Is there an answer? No matter what diverse parts […]
With cynicism and apprehension, West Bank Palestinians support UN bid
Conversations with Palestinians in the West Bank reveal that many believe Thursday’s expected bid as a non-member state to the United Nations (UN) is the best prospect for a better future, despite no immediate benefit, an unknown effect on the political rights of refugees and the possibility of Israeli and American aid sanctions.
‘NYT’ analysis that Gaza assault was ‘test run’ for Iran war is ripped apart
After the assault on Gaza was over, The New York Times printed a story pointing to Iran as a motivation for why Israel waged its assault. But a series of analysts dispute that claim for various reasons.