Nova Newsletter

NOVANEWS Dear Friends, 8 items below tonight, most on events here and in the OPT the past 2-3 days, mostly on Palestinian political prisoners in Israel. Item 1 is on a slightly different note—a UN official slams Israel’s treatment of Eritrean refugees—their choice being either a lengthy stay in prison or return back to where they came from.  For a country in which many of its older community were themselves refugees, and had difficulty in finding a refuge from the Nazis, Israel’s treatment of Eritreans and others seeking safety, is appalling! Actually, it’s appalling on any count, but made worse by Jewish past history. In item 2 Amira Hass insists that it is ‘time to question Israeli interrogations.’  Indeed!  Has been time long since! Item 3 reveals how Israel legitimizes torturing Palest...

NOVANEWS ’5 Broken Cameras’ loses out to ‘Searching for Sugar Man’ for best doc Oscar Autopsy reveals Arafat Jaradat died of extreme torture in Israeli custody Wait, why would a liberal Democrat line up with Dick Cheney? The Israel Project– and Chris Matthews– say you can’t make deals with Palestinians In pictures: Thousands in Gaza protest the prison death of Arafat Jaradat ’ 5 Broken Cameras’ loses out to ‘Searching for Sugar Man’ for best doc Oscar   staff Emad and Soraya Burnat with their son Jibreel on the red carpet entering the Academy Awards. (Photo: 5 Broken Cameras) Congratulations to "Searching for Sugar Man".....And to all other documentaries and films recognized at this years Academy Awards! — 5 Broken Cameras (@5brokencameras) February 25, 2013 The awards have be...

 NOVANEWS Bloomberg backs Brooklyn College over BDS event as another official withdraws funding threat CalPERS requests UN roundtable on ‘responsible investing in the Middle East’ as it begins to engage Veolia and Elbit over ties to occupation Israel holds Palestinian activist in solitary confinement to interrogate him about Facebook activity following ‘Real Democracy’ election campaign Life under the F16s in Gaza Israeli police give Jerusalem family 10 minutes to evacuate before demolishing their home Bloomberg backs Brooklyn College over BDS event as another official withdraws funding threat Feb 06, 2013 Alex Kane Supporters of Brooklyn College's Students for Justice in Palestine held a press conference yesterday to speak out against the attacks on the group's panel (Photo via @...

NOVANEWS Dear Friends, 7 items this evening in addition to the message that I sent separately earlier from Professor Nurit Peled-Elhanan, and which I hope that you will (or have) read. Item 1 is on the same subject—the textbook case, which Larry Derfner claims is closed (I am not so sure. D) .  But, Defner assures us, other cases will follow, and on this I agree.  Israel’s governments will continue to lay the blame for failed talks on the Palestinians. Item 2 is a thank you from the Rabbis for Human Rights for the many letters that were sent to President Shimon Peres asking him to intervene in the case of Susya. Item 3 is also from the RHR, but this time in an informative note on “Who is really taking over the Negev.” Item 4 reports that the tide has turned against opponents for the e...

Dear Friends, Only 5 items this evening, but of course if you read through item 5, Today in Palestine for February 5, 2013, you will have more.  So many demolitions in this issue.  So many things that Israel does which it shouldn’t. In item 1 Ahmadinejad declares that (a) Iran already is a nuclear power (but does not in this article elaborate), and (b) that Iran has no intention of attacking Israel.  I can not say that Ahmadinejad is a big favorite of mine, but then neither is Netanyahu.  I am willing to take A at his word (but not Netanyahu).  Taking on Israel would necessitate Iran to fight also others, maybe even the United States.  I doubt that this is something that Iran wants or needs. Item 2 are suggestions by the Turkel Committee, the committee appointed to investigate the Mavi ...

NOVANEWS               Official who threatened Brooklyn College funding calls BDS speakers ‘anti-  Semitic fools’ An unpleasant conversation with a staffer to Brooklyn congresswoman Yvette Clarke about her BDS letter Brooklyn College president: ‘There is no academic obligation to present’ a pro-Israel perspective at boycott event ADL’s pro-Israel mindset leads it to perpetuate anti-Muslim worldview Chomsky: Obama strongly supported Israel’s 2006 Lebanon invasion Hillary Clinton showed more spine with Netanyahu than Obama has ‘NYU’ business school and ‘Think Progress’ endorse businesses that operate in occupied West Bank MSNBC host calls push to shut down boycott discussion at Brooklyn College ‘outrageous and outright chilling’ Al-Manatir: the protest village in occupied terri...

NOVANEWS NLG to Brooklyn College: Criticism of BDS event mischaracterizes advocacy for equal rights for Palestinians as anti-Semitism Lawsuit filed against NYPD wants restrictions on surveillance targeting Muslims ‘NYT’ connects the dots on the Israel ‘litmus test’ (or how the Dersh jumped the shark) Unilever shuts down Ariel settlement factory, moves production west of the Green Line Obama set to visit Israel this spring Samer Issawi is like an olive tree; his head reaches the sky and nobody can uproot him 10 questions to ask John Brennan at his CIA confirmation hearing Why I’m for boycott Pro-Israel thinktanks comprise Congressional panel on Palestinian politics ‘Time’ embarrasses Hagel’s Senate questioners for Israel focus NLG to Brooklyn College: Criticism of BDS event misc...

NOVANEWS Dear Friends, 9 items below. Two subjects came up more than others in my reading today: the controversy about academic freedom at Brooklyn College, and the study of Israeli and Palestinian textbooks.  The first 4 items deal with the academic freedom, the next two with the report of the textbook study. Item 1 is a petition that centers on academic freedom rather than on taking sides on the issue of bds.  I believe that it is an important document—though a bit on the long side.  I signed it, and hope that you will too. If you wish to know more about the issue before deciding whether or not to sign, the next 2 items will fill you in.  The NY Times in item 2 informs us that the event at issue will go on notwithstanding the criticism.  Item 3 from the LA Times, “A free speech contr...

NOVANEWS SodaStream’s Superbowl ad brings spotlight on Palestine and the Occupation Report: Hillary pushed for Middle East peace deal, Obama wasn’t interested Is Ed Koch’s passing another sign of lobby’s generational fade? Emad Burnat in LATimes– will he be the first Palestinian to win an Oscar? Hagel’s ‘caged animals’ line echoes Israeli soldier at checkpoint– ‘the animals are locked’ The liberal publicity line on ‘Zero Dark Thirty’ SodaStream’s Superbowl ad brings spotlight on Palestine and the Occupation Annie Robbins Superbowl SodaSteam Spoof Ad (VOTE NOW) "Priceless" by John Dworkin Hoping to maximize publicity surrounding its Superbowl ad, SodaStream released a video previously rejected last week by CBS on the grounds that the ad challenged two other major sponso...

NOVANEWS Dear Friends, Just 6 items today—partly because we were again without electricity for several hours, and after we had it back, it went out again for another hour—all thanks to the work that the city is doing in modernizing our street.  But I haven’t included more views on yesterday’s elections  partly because I agree thoroughly with Hanan Ashrawi (item 1, at the end) and also with Ben White (item 2).  As concerns Palestinians, not this election nor the next one will bring about change for the better, sad to say. Item 1 has BBC comments on yesterday’s election in Israel. In item 2 Ben White explains why for the Palestinians this election will not bring change. In item 3 the Rabbis for Human Rights reveal the Israeli government’s new building plans for more Jews in the West Bank...