The Only Democracy? » Archive
Targetted professor stands up for human rights in Israel
By Jesse Bacon Neve Gordon, whose own academic freedom was threatened after his support for the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions movement, writes in the Nation on the continued slide of human rights in Israel. This time at Ben Gurion Airport the site of much harassment of democracy activists as well as ethnic profiling. Neve Gordon points out that human rights websites are blocked there by filters. I am reading a book about the rise of Nixon, … Read entire article »
Filed under: Human Rights Activists in the Crosshairs
A year in jail not enough punishment for protesting
Israel’s military went to court for the right to keep holding in jail Palestinian organizer Abdallah Abu Rahmah, the cousin of slain protester Jawaher Abu Rahmah. Happily for the Israeli Army, it’s a military court so they complied. Abdallah is now to serve an additional 2-3 months. Presumably they believe that’s enough that when Abdallah is released, Palestinians won’t mind having their land stolen or their political and human rights denied. I wouldn’t bet on … Read entire article »
Filed under: Human Rights Activists in the Crosshairs
East Jerusalem update: 1 Palestinian organizer drops his appeal, another arrested
By Jesse Bacon Adnan Gheith, whose plight we mentioned earlier, dropped his appeal with the Israeli Supreme Court and will be expelled for four months from East Jerusalem. Ha’aretz reporter Mairav Zonszein linked to that of Jonathan Pollak refusing to plead for mercy in his own case. While it is a travesty that he will have to leave, I am happy he is able to do it on his terms, which should make us all reflect … Read entire article »
Filed under: Human Rights Activists in the Crosshairs
Israeli Army’s anonymous version of Jawaher’s death contradicted by everyone
By Jesse Bacon One of the proudest moments on this blog for me came when we were among the people covering the Rachel Corrie’s attempt to bring desperately needed supplies to Gaza in the aftermath of the 9 killings aboard the Mavi Marmara. Covering the event live on twitter as the Israeli army jammed all communications gave me a clear sense of who was trying to get the truth out as best we could, and who … Read entire article »
Filed under: Featured, Human Rights Activists in the Crosshairs
Keep the fight for democracy going
Support peace with your tax-deductible year-end gift today. Donate by December 31st and your gift will help The Only Democracy’s sponsor Jewish Voice for Peace meet a $100,000 matching gift. Your gift helps us keep bringing on the ground reports, commentary, and interviews from Israeli, Palestinian, and international democracy activists. Thanks for your readership and your gift! Thanks and Happy New Year, Jesse Bacon, Editor The Only Democracy? … Read entire article »
Filed under: Featured, On The Ground Reports
Four cases against Israeli democracy
By Jesse Bacon While I was away on vacation, four cases of the continuing slow death of Israeli democracy occurred. Taken together, they represent a good spectrum of the responses to democracy activists by Israel, all negative. First, Matan Cohen, Israeli-American activist, member of Young, Jewish, and Proud, and one of the people behind the push for divestment at Hampshire College. He attempted to return home as he often does. He was taken aside on December 17 … Read entire article »
Filed under: Featured, Human Rights Activists in the Crosshairs
Israeli government thanks Palestinians for help with the fires…
By Jesse Bacon ..By not recognizing their names and refusing them entry for award ceremony in their honor. . This should remind us just how arbitrary the whole edifice of permits and checkpoints is that it can keep out people who helped contain the horrible fires and prevent worse disaster. I am also reminded of the U.S. soldier who was the first to die in the Iraq War and was posthumously awarded the citizenship he was … Read entire article »
Filed under: Discrimination
Letter from an Israeli military prison
from Abdallah Abu Rahmah. Ed’s Note: As I participated in the December 10th TIAA-CREF Day of Action on Human Rights Day, I felt I had gained a new holiday to my calendar. At the end of the day, as I was unwinding, I received this letter from imprisoned leader Abdallah Abu Rahmah over email, and saw it posted at sites such as Huffington Post. It is a common observation among those of us who work for … Read entire article »
Filed under: Human Rights Activists in the Crosshairs
Strawberry Fields Forever
From Gisha’s Gaza Gateway This week the Israeli Ministry of Defense announced the “beginning of the export season” in the Gaza Strip. “The export season” entails the continuation of a short-term program, sponsored – from planting through to distribution – by the Dutch government. The program allows a few farmers in Gaza to sell strawberries and flowers in European markets. So far this week, 7 trucks have left the Strip. As has been the case in every … Read entire article »
Filed under: Discrimination
Correction to the disclaimer, and Happy Hanukkah
By Jesse Bacon On Tuesday, I posted about a free documentary screening. I then edited that post when I learned that the film received Israeli government funding. I provided the disclaimer for folks who are observing the full cultural boycott of Israel, (which my sponsor Jewish Voice for Peace is not). However, it turns out that the actual call for cultural boycott does not demand the boycott of films simply for receiving government funding, only those … Read entire article »
Filed under: Featured
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.