11/04/2010
UK Foreign Secretary meets with Palestinian activists, when will the US follow suit?
Nov 03, 2010
Adam Horowitz
The Popular Struggle Coordination Committee is reporting that William Hague,
the British Foreign Secretary, met with leading Palestinian grassroots activists in
Ramallah. The meeting serves as a subtle show of support as Israel continues to crack
down on the spreading nonviolent resistance to the Wall. From the Committee’s website:
In line with the European Union and Britain‘s denouncements of the recent conviction
and sentencing of Bil’in protest leader, Abdallah Abu Rahmah, the British Foreign
Secretary, William Hague, met with Palestinian grassroots organizers.
Hague held the Ramallah talks with activists from the villages of al-Ma’asara
and Ni’ilin, whose residents hold regular protests against Israel’s separation
barrier and settlements, and with a representative of the Holy Land Trust, a
Bethlehem organization that promotes the use of non-violent strategies by
Palestinians.
Palestinian civil resistance movement by Israel. In the past two years, faced by
the steady growth of the movement and its growing importance in Palestinian
political discourse, Israeli forces have killed at least ten unarmed demonstrators,
six of them in anti-wall protests. The Israeli military has also detained and
imprisoned hundreds and hundreds of people for their part in protesting the
construction of Separation Barrier, mostly apprehending them from their
homes in nighttime raids – especially targeting the villages of Bil’in, Ni’ilin,
Budrus and Jayyous.
During the meeting Hague voiced his and Britain’s support to Palestinian nonviolence,
saying that it is this kind of resistance that can gain Palestinians the insistent support
of the international community.
This meeting raises the question – when will the US show a similar sign of support?
Representative from four US-based human rights organizations met with the State
Department two weeks ago to ask them to take such a stand. Adalah-NY, CODEPINK,
Jewish Voice for Peace and the US Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation delivered
a letter for Secretary of State Clinton signed by over 35 organizations and 5,000 people
asking the US to demand that Israel free Abdallah Abu Rahmah.
Rob Mosrie, Executive Director of the US Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation,
pointed to the hypocrisy of US policy in a press release about the meeting, “Israel’s arrest
of non-violent activists like Abdallah Abu Rahmah mocks President Obama’s call in his
Cairo speech for Palestinians to use only nonviolent means to gain their freedom.
What kind of message does it send to a community when their nonviolent leadership is jailed?”
BREAKING NEWS: Benjamin Netanyahu retains control of U.S. Congress
Nov 03, 2010
Adam Horowitz
Foreign Policy on The Israel Project’s victory lap:
One prominent pro-Israel lobbying group in Washington is already praising the
GOP takeover of the House of Representatives as a net benefit for Israel.
“While Democrats are likely to keep control of the U.S. Senate, Republicans will
take over the U.S. House of Representatives following Tuesday’s elections.
This is likely to have implications for Israel-related issues such as Israel’s
relationship with the United States and the push for sanctions against Iran,”
said an e-mail blasted out by The Israel Project only minutes after news stations
called the turnover of House control a certainty.
“The takeover of the House by Republicans is great news for Israel and her supporters,”
the email quotes Ari Fleischer, White House spokesman under President George W. Bush,
as saying. “The House leadership and almost every single GOP member is rock-solid behind
Israel. At times like this, Israel needs friends everywhere.”
But the Israel Project’s e-mail then quickly turns on its head and praises Congressional
Democrats in the House and Senate for their staunch support of Israel.
“The House Democratic leadership has been powerfully supportive of Israel, and
Speaker Pelosi has been nothing short of passionate in her successful pursuit of
biting sanctions against Iran – a key interest of the pro-Israel community,”
The Israel Project quotes David Harris, president and CEO of the National Jewish
Democratic Council, as saying.
So which is it? Is The Israel Project saying that Republicans or Democrats are
better for Israel?
“American voters on both sides of the aisle support Israel,” Jennifer Laszlo Mizrahi,
founder and president of The Israel Project, says in the e-mail.
I guess in the end Netanyahu couldn’t lose.
The Israel Project identifies several key Congressional changes that could impact
the Israel debate on Capitol Hill. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL)
House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-OH), who the Project calls “staunchly pro-Israel,”
will likely be the next Speaker of the House and Minority Whip Eric Cantor (R-VA) could
become Majority Leader, “the highest-ranking post a Jew has ever held in Congress,”
the e-mail points out.
The Project also points toward Rep. Ed Royce (R-CA), who could become the new head
of the Foreign Affairs subcommittee on terrorism, non-proliferation, and trade, and
whoever will replace Barney Frank (D-MA) as head of the Finance Committee, “a key
avenue for sanctions against Iran.” The top three contenders for chairman are Spencer
Bachus, (R-AL), Pete King (R-NY), and Royce.
Is Lev Leviev out of the settlement building business?
Nov 03, 2010
Adam Horowitz
Adalah-NY is claiming victory in helping to force Israeli industrialist Lev Leviev
against Leviev, including some very creative protests outside his flagship Manhattan boutique.
From an Adalah-NY press release:
Africa Israel, the flagship company of Israeli billionaire Lev Leviev, announced this
week that it is no longer involved in Israeli settlement projects and that it has no plans
for future settlement activities. Africa Israel subsequently denied that this was a political
decision. However, in the last few years numerous organizations, firms, governments and
celebrities have exerted pressure and severed their relationships with Leviev and his
companies over their involvement in settlement construction and other human rights
abuses, in response to a boycott campaign initiated by Adalah-NY.
Israel’s Coalition of Women for Peace disclosed on Monday that in an official letter to
the Coalition, Africa Israel stated, “Neither the company nor any of its subsidiaries
and/or other companies controlled by the company are presently involved in or has
any plans for future involvement in development, construction or building of real estate
in settlements in the West Bank.” In follow-up articles in the Israeli media on Monday,
Africa Israel said that the statement was “a description of the business today” and that
“Africa Israel builds for all the public in Israel, and does not deal in politics or any other
policy.”
Ethan Heitner from Adalah-NY explained, “Following years of settlement construction,
and pro-settlement statements and activities by Lev Leviev, the public announcement
by Africa Israel that it has no plans to build Israeli settlements is clearly a result of
pressure from the growing Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement.
This provides concrete evidence of the way in which the BDS movement can change
companies’ behavior. But Africa Israel can’t speak out of both sides of its mouth and
expect a clean bill of health. Africa Israel must unambiguously renounce settlement
activity, and all other involvement in violations of Palestinian rights. And Lev Leviev
needs to end his involvement in settlement construction through other companies like
Leader Management and Development, as well as his support for human rights abuses in
the diamond industry in countries like Angola and Namibia.
There are more than just Palestinian refugees in Israel
Nov 03, 2010
Adam Horowitz
The Israeli activist who goes by the name gangreentv has sent us the video above.
It’s the second video we’ve posted from them. They also sent this explanation below:
While much media attention is focused on Israel’s treatment of the Palestinian
population, and rightfully so, most English-speakers don’t know about Israel’s asylum
seekers and foreign workers, two other marginalized groups that are constantly being
harassed and threatened with deportation.
Many of them are refugees of armed conflicts in Africa — conflicts that the Israeli
government indirectly contributes to by selling weapons on the continent.
But instead of granting these people status, it considers them a ‘demographic threat’
and orders its immigration people to round them up for expulsion.
After Israel began to phase out the use of Palestinian laborers, deeming them a security
risk, the government began to ‘import’ foreign workers, mainly from East Asia, to do dirty work.
But these people are relegated to serf status, and are deported and replaced if they try to form
families, a basic human right.
This 4-minute video puts a human face on the people of color that have migrated to
Israel over the last few years. Israelis of conscience are starting to rally for their right
to stay in the country, but the government is determined to grant that privilege to Jews only.
Israel: if you are not apartheid state, then start proving it!
More Israeli child abuse… of Palestinian children
Nov 03, 2010
Seham
And other news from Today in Palestine:
Settlers/ Land, Property, Resource Theft & Destruction/Ethnic Cleansing
IOA bulldozes Beit Ummar land to establish 50 new housing units
The Israeli occupation authority is accelerating the bulldozing of Palestinian land in
Bethlehem – PNN – Israeli forces carried out home inspection and demolition operations
on Wednesday in the villages of Kur, south of Tulkarem, and Beit Fajar, south of Bethlehem,
arresting a number of Palestinians. A source told Wafa that the Israeli force that moved into
the village of Beit Fajar was composed of five patrols. The force demolished the homes of Ahmed
Muhammad Taqataqa, Muhammad Kamil, and Waleed Thawabiti, as well a bakery owned by
Muhammad Ali Abyan.
http://english.pnn.ps/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=9065&Itemid=64
Bulldozers, backed by Israeli soldiers and police forces, razed a Bedouin Palestinian
encampment in Isawiya, a village northeast of Jerusalem on Wednesday, 27 October.
Israeli forces destroyed tents and other structures that were home to six families,
according to Ma’an News Agency (“Israel Razes Bedouin Camp,” 27 October 2010).
“Hani al-Eisaway of the Isawiya Land Defense committee said that the Israeli [forces]
bulldozed more than 50 dunams (12.5 acres) of land,” Ma’an reported. The encampment
said Tuesday that his ministry was investigating Israel’s theft of Palestinian heritage.
Palestinian culture must be preserved by organizing exhibitions and festivals to show
that heritage claimed by Israel is actually Palestinian, Bargouthi said in an interview
with Ma’an Radio. A blue version of the keffiyeh, a scarf and a Palestinian national symbol,
could be found in markets with a Star of David used instead of the traditional pattern,
Activism/Solidarity/Boycott, Divestment & Sanctions
Refugees in south protest Balfour declaration
SIDON: Palestinian refugees at the south Lebanon refugee camp of Ain al-Hilweh marked
Tuesday the signing of the Balfour declaration. Camp residents and political factions
marched in the street to protest the declaration, considered as a cornerstone in the
congratulations and blessings did the people of Jerusalem’s Ras al-Umud neighborhood
welcome Mayor Nir Barkat on his Tuesday morning visit to open the “Ras al-Umud
Comprehensive Girls’ School.” Writing on the walls of the school called for Barkat to
get out, next to Palestinian flags and national slogans. On the floor of the school was a
Star of David next to a swastika, surrounded by trash. Fakhry Abu Diab of the Committee
to Defend Silwan said that the people of Ras al-Umud welcomed Barkat as he deserved to be
welcomed, as a mayor in an occupation state. He said they didn’t want to see him in the same
Jewish Voice for Peace and the American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee. One issue
raised by the extremely well-informed director was how similar protests in other villages
have had difficulty duplicating Budrus’s success. A Budrus protest participant told me that
even Budrus itself could see its victory threatened as Israel completes the building of the Wall.
So it is inspiring to me that Ayed Morrar, the Budrus leader, has continued to struggle on behalf
(apparently more “mainstream” outlets passed on it) in support of Abdallah Abu Rahmah,
meet-palestinian-activists-in-east-jerusalem-1.322535?localLinksEnabled=false
reflect the range of academic views on the particular topic; lecturers should not be
discriminated against on the basis of their political views; and academic freedom
should not include the lecturers’ right to advocate boycotts of Israel, whether
-over-teaching-zionism-1.322553?localLinksEnabled=false
book without permission
Though no profits were earned as the novel was published for free, the writer is upset
David Farrell of Linkin Park, We are a group of over 150 Israeli citizens, who support
the Palestinian United Call for Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) against Israel
until it complies with international law and universal principles of human rights1.
On November 15 your band Linkin Park is scheduled to perform in Tel-Aviv, Israel,
thus undermining the most unified Palestinian form of non-violent struggle, which
has already gained substantial recognition across the globe. We therefore urge you
Israel continues to grow, its opponents continue to resort to the same old canards
in trying to defend Israel. In a Jerusalem Post article published on 17 October 2010,
columnist Hannah Brown gives us a good example of some of the Israeli talking points
to Break the Siege on Gaza (people from Britain, Switzerland, Greece, Sweden, Malaysia,
Turkey, United Sates, Norway, the Netherlands, Ireland, Italy, Algeria, Kuwait, Jordan as
well as other Arab countries) have confirmed their determination to break the maritime
blockade imposed by Israel on the population of Gaza. While the Swiss boat was ready as
of August, the departure of the second Freedom Flotilla had to be postponed till next spring
since an increasing number of countries want to join it. The 45 passengers who will leave
aboard the Swiss boat (500 applications have been received) include members of parliament.
from Israel/Palestine has been invaluable. Alex is now raising money to travel to
Israel/Palestine as part of a delegation organized by American Jews for a Just Peace.
Israeli Abuse of Palestinian Children
38 incidents of settlers’ violence against Palestinian children that happened during the
occupied Jerusalem, on Wednesday and arrested five Palestinian children including
on stone-throwing youths in east Jerusalem and hold their parents legally responsible
for their actions. “The police will bring the situation of children throwing stones at the
police and at Jewish cars under control with court orders imposing strict house arrest
on Palestinian children in occupied East Jerusalem to prevent stone-throwing at Israeli
vehicles, the Hebrew-language daily Maariv reported Tuesday. Police have conducted a
trial of the policy for several weeks. A senior Jerusalem District Police officer, quoted in
the newspaper, said three children were arrested in Silwan, but a Magistrates Court refused
Shmulik Ben Ruby, spokesman for the Israeli police, said on Tuesday that Israel was to
issue court orders imposing house arrest on stone-throwing children living in the Arab
neighborhood of Silwan, in East Jerusalem, Agence France-Presse reported.
http://www.imemc.org/article/59812
Israel’s war on Gaza almost two years ago killed at least 1,400 Palestinians – including
more than 300 children according to human rights groups. Many of the children who
witnessed the violence now suffer ongoing psychological damage. Al Jazeera’s Nadim Baba
reports on how residents are trying to restore some normality to the children of Gaza.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EpybxTPbqp4&feature=youtube_gdata
http://angryarab.blogspot.com/2010/11/israeli-military-in-action.html
Racism
Deputy mayor backs anonymous service, saying he wants to ‘maintain Jewish nature’
of northern city.
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3978960,00.html
The elderly apartment owner told reporters that he has also been threatened with violence
by anti-Arab leaders in the town, and was told that his building would be torched if he did not
evict the Arab students.
http://www.imemc.org/article/59810
Other Rights Violations & Discrimination/Restriction of Movement/Siege
a journalist’s ID card on Tuesday. Three army patrols and one intelligence patrol were seen
entering the city and deploying near the agriculture ministry building. Soldiers stopped
passersby and students of Khaddori University, demanding to see their IDs.
Photojournalist Muhammad Al-Ashqar, an employee at the local Ma’an affiliate
As-Salam TV who was covering the incident, said soldiers confiscated his ID and ordered
him and several other reporters to leave the area. An Israeli military spokesman did not
Jerusalem – PNN – A Catholic priest accused Israeli authorities of failing to investigate
complaints of encroachment on Jerusalem churches, such as that regarding the attack
on the Our Father Abraham church in Jerusalem last week.
http://english.pnn.ps/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=9071&Itemid=64
Last week, Israeli soldiers occupied Hayat Mutlak al-Salaymeh’s house for the third
time since August. On October 28, around 25 young soldiers piled into her family’s
small apartment on the third floor of a family-owned complex. For a few days her
house became a fortress: the soldiers erected the Israeli flag on top of the roof,
stationed two men at the bottom entrance, two on roof, and the rest remained inside
her home, supposedly keeping security for a Jewish celebration taking place that weekend.
http://www.palestinemonitor.org/spip/spip.php?article1598
overnight, with locals reporting several home invasions, shop closures and what was
described as a sector lockdown. Several shop owners were said to have been forced to
close their stores, while residents said they were threatened by the troops when windows
via the southernmost crossing, Kerem Shalom, the entry of construction materials
“Through education we will become a prosperous nation, and will obtain a life that
allows us to live in freedom. We are a people who can live and learn despite the problems
we encounter. We will continue to improve education, so that future generations can
BDS groups, video conferences bridging Palestine to the outside world, and the struggle
of Palestinian students to access an education continues largely unnoticed by the cameras.
place rich in culture and artistic experience? That’s the opinion of at least some freed
prisoners who spoke about their experiences during a workshop called “Educational
Experiences of Palestinian Detainees,” held at Nablus’ al-Najah University on Tuesday.
Gaza tunnels don’t just run one way
The Gaza tunnels, formerly a way to get Egyptian goods into Gaza, are now making some
of their business sending goods, some of them Israeli, from Gaza to Egypt.
and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East) called Peace Starts Here.
UNRWA is the UN agency established in December, 1949 to work with Palestinian refugee
Violence & Aggression/Detainees
GAZA, Nov 3 (Reuters) – A car exploded outside a Palestinian police headquarters
in the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip on Wednesday, killing a member of a fringe Palestinian
Islamist group, sources in Hamas and other militant movements said.
Hamas blamed the blast, in which a second Palestinian was wounded, on an Israeli
air strike. Israel Radio said it might have been the premature detonation of a car bomb.
http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/LDE6A20TZ.htm
forces east of Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip, medics said. Gaza medical
services spokesman Adham Abu Silmiyya said the 40-year-old man was transferred
to hospital. An Israeli military spokesman said soldiers saw a Palestinian approaching
the security fence in the area, and shot at his lower body after he failed to respond to
warning shots. The army considers the area close to the border to be a combat zone,
of al-Bureij refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip, while he was collecting plastic
Commander of IDF colleges Major-General Gershon Hacohen testifies as character
witness for former battalion commander Omri Borberg convicted of attempted threats
in 2008 shooting incident involving bound Palestinian protestor.
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3979119,00.html
Detainees
On Wednesday, the Israeli army detained four brothers from al-Gayosee family,
from the village of Kor, in the southern part of Tulkarem. Detention was accompanied
with invasion and searching of some houses in the village.
http://www.imemc.org/article/59811
Hebron Governorate in the southern West Bank. Muhammad Awad, spokesman
for the Palestinian Solidarity Campaign, said those apprehended were Saba’ Sabarneh, 17,
and Nidal Husayn Za’qeeq, 20, after their homes were razed in Beit Amer. Ofer Military
Court also handed down the following sentences: 10 months in prison and a 1000 NIS fine
for Yusuf Ahmed Khil Abu Hashem, 18, and 18 months in prison for Husayn Khalil Khalayel,
stone of a Palestinian road paving project in Enata village, occupied Jerusalem, at a
Israel’s Negev prison went on hunger strike Monday, a prisoners support group reported.
Shadi Abu Al-Hussein, 34, from the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis, was due for release
on 31 August but has remained in an isolation cell. An Israeli prison service spokesman
confirmed that Abu Al-Hussein had completed his sentence but “is being held in legal custody
Islamic Jihad: PA arrests West Bank supporter
GAZA CITY (Ma’an) — The Islamic Jihad movement on Tuesday accused Palestinian
http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=330303
Islamic Jihad: The preventive security sill tortures wounded resistance fighter
Islamic Jihad said that the Palestinian authority’s preventive security continues
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