Middle East

 NOVANEWS 16th of Tevet 5771 23rd of December, 2010 Eight Times El-Arakib has Fallen, and it will Arise Eight Times - Rabbis 4 Human Rights Rabbis For Human Rights protests the insensitivity and violence of Israeli authorities in demolishing the homes of the residents of the "unrecognized" Bedouin Negev village El-Arakib again and again, while not making the effort to work with the residents to find a compromise solution. We are terribly saddened that the State of Israel ignores hundreds of building violations in the Occupied Territories and inside the Green Line, but has adopted a hard line policy towards peaceful Israeli Bedouin citizens.This latest demolition was carried out with tens of troops and bulldozers, just a day before the beginning of a two week vacation for now homeless...

NOVANEWS 25 December 2010 Upper Nazareth Mayor Outlaws Christmas Trees as 'Provocative' 22 DECEMBER 2010 Al-Arabiya, Nazareth Illit, ISRAEL (AFP) 
 The mayor of a Jewish suburb of Nazareth sparked outrage on Wednesday after refusing to allow Christmas trees to be placed in town squares, calling them provocative. Predominantly Jewish Nazareth Illit, or Upper Nazareth, is adjacent to Nazareth, where Jesus is said to have spent much of his life. It has a sizable Arab Christian minority, as does mostly Muslim Nazareth itself. "The request of the Arabs to put Christmas trees in the squares in the Arab quarter of Nazareth Illit is provocative," Mayor Shimon Gapso told AFP. "Nazareth Illit is a Jewish city and it will not happen -- not this year and not next year, so long as I am a mayor," he...

NOVANEWS 23 December 2010     The Subouh family took apart their home to avoid the municipal demolition fee   The UN relief agency UNRWA has condemned Zio=Nazi's demolition of homes in East Jerusalem, up 45% this year. It said 396 buildings were razed in 2010, compared with 275 last year, in occupied East Jerusalem and other West Bank areas under Zionist control. As a result, 561 Palestinians - including 280 children - were displaced, it said. Zionist's interior ministry says it has the right to demolish homes that are built without Zionist permission. Zionist has occupied East Jerusalem since 1967. An estimated 200,000 settlers live there, alongside 250,000 Palestinians. Peace talks between Zionist and the Palestinians collapsed this month over Zionist's refusal to stop building homes fo...

NOVANEWS December 22, 2010 by Michael Leon Human Being in Palestine Veterans Today salutes the Electronic Intifada. The Electronic Intifada has achieved a status of highly effective anecdote to the American corporate media and the relentless propaganda of the ‘state’ of Israel. Via mal contends—Here are The Electronic Intifada’s most read stories published in 2010. They are just a few of the hundreds of original stories published this year that have educated people all around the world as a people struggle for dignity and democracy against a militaristic, bigoted state that may yet drag America into an international crisis not seen in almost a century. The stakes are high, as the international community works to contain the rogue state of Israel. Please consider showing  your support an...

NOVANEWS Israeli air strikes pound Palestinians in Gaza—Happy Holidays from Israel December 23, 2010 by Michael Leon  In an ongoing assault on the occupied Gaza Strip, Israeli fighter jets struck the southern city of Rafah early this morning, injuring four. The IMEMC reported that four Palestinians were wounded in the attack, which destroyed an alleged “training base” for the armed wing of the Hamas party (“Army bombards Rafah,” 22 December 2010). Via The Electronic Intifada Today’s air strikes come after Israeli fighter jets attacked the Gaza Strip early morning yesterday in a coordinated assault on Khan Younis in the south and Beit Lahiya, Beit Hanoun, Jabaliya refugee camp and Zeitoun in the north, according to a report from Al-Jazeera English (“Israeli fighter jets attack Gaza,” 21 ...

NOVANEWS Nazareth suburb's mayor: Christmas trees 'provocative' 23/12/2010 Palestinian scouts perform during the lighting ceremony of the main Christmas tree in the West Bank town of Beit Sahour near Bethlehem on December 18, 2010, six days before the Christmas. Scores of Christian pilgrims are preparing to gather in the traditional birthplace of Jesus Christ in Bethlehem to celebrate Christmas. [MaanImages/Luay Sababa] NAZARETH ILLIT, Israel (AFP) -- The mayor of a Jewish suburb of Nazareth sparked outrage on Wednesday after refusing to allow Christmas trees to be placed in town squares, calling them provocative. Predominantly Jewish Nazareth Illit, or Upper Nazareth, is adjacent to Nazareth, where Christians believe Jesus spent much of his life. It has a sizable Arab Christian minority,...

NOVANEWS 23.12.10 IDF soldier charged with killing Gaza civilian: My commander told me I was 'cold-blooded murderer' Givati soldier who allegedly shot a woman during Operation Cast Lead says he was following his commander's orders. By Haaretz Staff The day after ground troops entered the Gaza Strip during Operation Cast Lead two years ago, S., a soldier in the Givati Brigade, allegedly shot a woman in her upper body while she was carrying a white flag. About half an hour later, S. subsequently told the Military Police, the company commander arrived and S. was stunned by his response. IDF soldiers during Operation Cast Lead. Photo by: AP "He told me, in front of everyone, 'You're a cold-blooded murderer, you'll go to hell,'" S. said. "When I tried to tell him, 'But those we...

NOVANEWS   “Public atmosphere is approaching panic, breeding xenophobia and violence. A few African men barely escaped when their Ashdod apartment was torched recently. A group of teenage girls -- Israeli-born with African parents -- were beaten up on their way home from a Scouts activity.” [item 3]   “ Bat Yam rally: Death to Jewish women who date Arabs” [item 2]   Dear Friends,   Spouse and I returned from Vienna Monday.  The trip was a family reunion in honor of a book that a cousin (my spouse’s side of the family) wrote about his mother, and which was published in Vienna.  For those of you who read German and might be interested, it is called ‘Mignon.’  She sent her 4 year old son (the author) and 6 year old daughter to her sister in the U.S. but stayed behind to tend to her ill parent...

NOVANEWS   Dear, I know the Occupation in and out - I lived under it my entire life, but even I cannot imagine being in Adnan Gheith's position. I don't want to believe that something like this is possible, and I want to do all I can to stop what israel is trying to do to him. On November 28th, Adnan, a Silwan grassroots organizer, received written notification that Israel intends to issue an order expelling him for a four months period from his city - Jerusalem. Adnan is a resident of Silwan, and a member of the al-Bustan Neighborhood's committee, which was formed to oppose plans for massive house demolitions. In a reality where Palestinians' right for freedom of expression in not even lip service, organizing your community against its impending destruction is reason enough to be ripped f...

EXPELLED FROM JERUSALEM FOR OPPOSING HOME DEMOLITIONS! WATCH THE VIDEO. EMAIL THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE and ASK THEM TO INTERVENE. NOT in the U.S.? Follow this link to take action via the Popular Struggle Coordination Committee. NOVANEWS Dear Friends,Imagine being expelled from your city--the city where you were born, the city where you grew up, the city where you started a family and where you are raising your four children, the city where you have always lived. This horrible expulsion edict has been issued by the Israeli authorities against Adnan Gheith, a Palestinian political organizer. The Israeli authorities have served him notice that they intend to banish him for four months from Jerusalem , his city. His crime? You can watch the video and listen to Adnan himself expl...