Articles Comments

The Only Democracy? » Archive

Protest around the world today for Ziad Jilani

Protest around the world today for Ziad Jilani

I have written early in an attempt to draw parallels between Trayvon Martin and the killing of Palestinian youths by settler vigilantes. Today we are protesting a killing done by “Border Police” in Israel. The name suggest an obvious link to police brutality in the United States: with an added twist, the people killed do not have full citizenship that their surviving loved ones can use to fight on their behalf. So it’s up to … Read entire article »

Filed under: Human Rights Activists in the Crosshairs, On The Ground Reports

Video: Israeli Army Invades and Closes University Community Media Center

Video: Israeli Army Invades and Closes University Community Media Center

Sent to us by a reader. Click here for the Facebook page of Al Quds educational TV (mostly in Arabic.) Dr. Jamal Nusseibeh Vice President for Jerusalem Affairs Al-Quds University April 2, 2012 For the second time in two months, the Israeli authorities have invaded, searched and prevented the functioning of Al-Quds University’s Institute of Modern Media. This time, they prevented skype contact for an event taking place simultaneously in Jerusalem and Ramallah. Today, at 12:55 pm local time, plain clothes police arrived at … Read entire article »

Filed under: Human Rights Activists in the Crosshairs

Iz al-deen and Trayvon

Iz al-deen and Trayvon

Two young men, a few weeks apart, attacked by adult men. Both names exotic to white American ears.  Iz al-deen Tamemi was not killed, “only” shot in the face. His attackers wore uniforms, while Trayvon Martin’s murderer was vigilante acting alone, though his behavior was sanctioned by law and he was not arrested. Iz al-deen was at a protest, Trayvon was returning home from an errand. Differences aside, I only hope the confluence of these … Read entire article »

Filed under: On The Ground Reports

Help save solar and wind power in the West Bank

Help save solar and wind power in the West Bank

Ed’s Note: The Only Democracy? does not usually feature action alerts, but we have highlighted work of Comet-ME in the past and are proud to come to their defense. Watch Elad’s action alert Israel is threatening to demolish solar and wind power systems in rural communities in the West Bank. These systems are the only source of energy for more than 500 people. Located in area C under full Israeli control, these remote shepherd communities have no … Read entire article »

Filed under: On The Ground Reports

Updated: A year bookended by the death of unarmed activists

Updated: A year bookended by the death of unarmed activists

On January 3rd, 2011 protester Jawaher Abu Rahmah was killed by a tear gas inhalation at an earlier march in Bil’in. At the time, the Israeli Army made some bizarre claims that her death was caused by cancer, which they later retracted. Now almost a year later on December 9th, another nonviolent marcher has been killed in their own village, this time Mustafa Tamimi. You can read eyewitness testimony of his shooting here. The short version … Read entire article »

Filed under: Human Rights Activists in the Crosshairs

Statement of the Palestinian Freedom Riders

Statement of the Palestinian Freedom Riders

As of now, 6 Palestinian Freedom Riders are about to be arrested just inside Jerusalem. Read why the Palestinian human rights activists boarded segregated buses below. My name is Hurriyeh Ziadah. I am the media spokeswomen for the Palestinian Freedom Rides campaign. Thank you all for being here today. Fifty years ago brave African American civil rights activists challenged the racist and unjust laws of Jim Crow by boarding buses to the segregated South, thereby embarking on … Read entire article »

Filed under: Human Rights Activists in the Crosshairs, On The Ground Reports

New Sheikh Jarrah Video from Just Vision

New Sheikh Jarrah Video from Just Vision

Just Vision, the folks I interned for last spring, are out with, “Home Front is a new series of four video portraits chronicling the resolve of a neighborhood, and the support it receives from the most unexpected of places.” It documents different Israelis and Palestinians involved in the Sheikh Jarrah movement, including a Palestinian teenager whose family who was evicted. TOD’s own Amir Terkel worked on the film. It is a wonderful primer on the … Read entire article »

Filed under: On The Ground Reports

Video: Democracy Now! footage from Freedom Waves Flotilla

Israel has boarded and detained the latest Freedom Flotilla heading for Gaza. See the last footage they were able to transmit from on board the boat here. If you are in New York City, there will be an emergency action. TODAY, November 4 5 – 6:30pm across the street from the Israeli Consulate (800 2nd Ave, between 42nd and 43rd Sts, Manhattan) … Read entire article »

Filed under: Human Rights Activists in the Crosshairs

Freedom Theatre attacked yet again

Freedom Theatre attacked yet again

Missed this item last week because of earthquake/hurricane, but the Freedom Theatre was attacked again on August 22nd:   Freedom Theatre targeted again After the Israeli army targeted the theatre twice during the last month, arresting three of its members, today at approximately 02:00 in the morning of the 22nd August the Israeli army again surrounded The Freedom Theatre and the Nagnaghiya family home. Jacob Gough, the Acting General Manager at The Freedom Theatre left the office at about … Read entire article »

Filed under: Human Rights Activists in the Crosshairs

Freedom Theatre Update: First rule about being arrested by Israel is..

Freedom Theatre Update: First rule about being arrested by Israel is..

 `Let the jury consider their verdict,’ the King said, for about the twentieth time that day. `No, no!’ said the Queen. `Sentence first–verdict afterwards.’ Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll. Here’s an update about the latest arrest at the Freedom Theatre in Jenin Refugee Camp. The previous arrests were covered here, but you can’t read about the latest on in Israel. The democracy has forbidden reporting on it within the country. Acting Student Rami Hwayel Taken By Israeli Army by: The … Read entire article »

Filed under: Human Rights Activists in the Crosshairs