The Only Democracy? » Archive
Please report any unattended human rights
I read Neve Gordon’s piece a few months back about human rights websites being banned at Ben Gurion airport, and thought what a perfect microcosm of the front Israel is trying to put up to the world. While they wouldn’t think of banning such websites to their own population, I hope, international travelers are key to the PR efforts that they shouldn’t be allowed to read any such depressing news. Including, presumably, reports on the … Read entire article »
Filed under: Human Rights Activists in the Crosshairs
Israeli solidarity activist interrogated by police for “incitement”
Sara Benninga, whose speech I reposted here on the blog, was interrogated by the police after speaking at the JStreet conference I attended. She provided one of the voices for a new direction for Jewish and Israeli activists working alongside Palestinians for justice. For this she rewarded with an interrogation. From Didi Remez’s facebook page: Sara was interrogated for “incitement” because she made a call for solidarity with the #Jan25 protesters at Tahrir sq. She was also … Read entire article »
Filed under: Human Rights Activists in the Crosshairs, On The Ground Reports
Videos of women protestors and other recommended Egypt sources.
One of my sources sends the following recommendation for on-the-ground reports from Egypt. Here are three of the many women of the Egyptian Revolution – that will counter some of those images of passive Muslim women. Change in the Middle East is being pushed forward by women like Mona, Asma, Sarah, etc., too, and they are not few. There are many more women who are actively shaping the revolution, who are blogging, twittering, writing, vlogging … Read entire article »
Filed under: On The Ground Reports
Meanwhile in Israel..
By Jesse Bacon While their neighbors in Egypt struggled to defend their amazing movement from attack by pro-government goons, Israel used it’s remaining democracy to..further the investigation of NGO’s. The House Committee approved a motion for the first panel to be chaired by MK Fania Kirshenbaum (Yisrael Beiteinu ), who proposed its establishment. Her proposal calls for the panel to examine financial support by foreign governments and organizations for “Israeli organizations taking part in the campaign of delegitimization … Read entire article »
Filed under: Human Rights Activists in the Crosshairs
What will you do?
By Jesse Bacon My friend asked me, only half-jokingly “What if you have to change your name for your blog?” I wish a swift and durable success to the people’s movements in Cairo. I was just coming of age when the Berlin Wall fell (my “camp” was actually a nerdy kids Current Events class in June of 1989.) I was starting to wonder if I would ever see another wave of revolutions like that, sweeping aside … Read entire article »
Filed under: Victories for Democracy
No more cancer: Israeli Army admits Jawaher killed by tear gas
By Jesse Bacon I In a triumph of the obvious truth over incoherent lies, the Israeli Army now admits that Jawaher Abu Rahmah was indeed killed by tear gas at a demo, not as their anonymous speculation would have it by cancer or an honor killing. These tales violated basic plausibility, but they did provide animplausible denial, which is all Israeli government’s supporters need to fan out online with the narrative that there were “doubts about her death.” … Read entire article »
Filed under: On The Ground Reports
When and where will Israel’s Tucson be?
By Jesse Bacon By rights it should have been in 1995, when Yitzhak Rabin was assassinated. But the man who took over for him as Prime Minister after appearing at a rally where he was depicted as a Nazi is Prime Minister again. And Rabin’s party was just split into its final tiny segments. And the current mania doesn’t just target politicians, it targets human rights activists, as in this U.S. comic comparing Palestinians and their … Read entire article »
Filed under: Human Rights Activists in the Crosshairs
Exclusive Interview: Village demolished for the 9th Time for JNF forests
By Jesse Bacon Bulldozers from the Israel Land Administration demolished the Bedouin village for Al-Arakib for the ninth time yesterday and today. They also demolished the village’s olive groves the week of Tu Bshvat, which celebrates the flowering of trees, so the Jewish National Fund can plant a forest named after a Fundamentalist Christian TV channel and some foreign ambassadors. The visitors were held in the village’s graveyard while the demolition took place, with much more … Read entire article »
Filed under: On The Ground Reports
More precious than oil: help rebuild destroyed cisterns in South Hebron Hills
From Ta’ayush’s appeal to help rebuild cisterns destroyed by the Israeli military. Dear Friends and Supporters, The situation of the Palestinian cave-dwellers in South Hebron Hills continues to be difficult. They suffer from permanent harassment carried out by the military and settlers. This year, however, has been even more difficult, due to a severe drought. As if it wanted to capitalize on the harsh conditions, on December 16th, the Israeli military destroyed 13 water cisterns belonging to Palestinian families in South Hebron hills built before Israel’s creation. The military claims that these water cisterns (or reservoirs) were built illegally and therefore must be destroyed. Some were built in recent years with help from the UN Office for the Coordination of … Read entire article »
Filed under: On The Ground Reports
Interactive Video
“You have a choice! Israeli Anti-Militarists Speak”
Four Israelis—Dorothy Naor, Sergeiy Sander and Eli Fabrikant, and Ofer Golani—talking about their personal histories, political views and activism in 132 short films.