The Only Democracy? » Discrimination
“Jews Only” housing project in Ajami
The neighborhood made famous in Israel’s nominee for Best Foreign Film Oscar is now home to a “Jews Only” housing project. The Tel Aviv District Court rejected a petition this week against a decision to lease land in Jaffa’s Ajami neighborhood for the exclusive use of members of the religious Zionist community. “The petition, filed by Jaffa residents and human rights groups, challenged a decision by the Israel Lands Administration and the Tel Aviv municipality to lease … Read entire article »
Filed under: Discrimination
Harvard law student deported and barred from Israel for life
Hebah Ismail, an hijab-wearing Harvard 3rd year law student, was detained and then barred from Israel for life on a routine research trip to the country apparently because she refused to give access to her personal emails. Harvard Law Record reports: A warm smile and easy laugh reveal Hebah Ismail’s unthreatening, gentle personality. An American citizen, this 3L of Egyptian descent works with the International Human Rights Clinic on projects related to Bedouin land rights. Hebah … Read entire article »
Filed under: Discrimination
Hard to run a democracy without electricity
This story about Israel allowing some goods to enter Gaza reveals just how much is not being allowed in. “Between 90 and 100 truckloads of commercial merchandize and humanitarian aid will enter through Gaza’s southern border crossing, including two trucks of fuel, Fattouh said. Additionally, two trucks of cut carnations and one truck of Gaza strawberries will exit also via Kerem Shalom for export. According to the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, since 10 December … Read entire article »
Filed under: Discrimination
Israeli Supreme Court celebrates Tu Bishvat by ruling for trees over people
As an environmentalist, I am often told I care more about trees than people. It seems the Israeli Supreme Court not only values forests over people, but unnatural, politically motivated, man-made forests! “In its ruling on 4 January 2010 , the Supreme Court of Israel rejected the appeal of 486 Arab families who demanded that land in the destroyed village of Lajoun confiscated from them in 1953 by Israel for “settlement needs” but used for a … Read entire article »
Filed under: Discrimination
Eldar: “Spitting at the rule of law.”
From Ha’aretz columnist Akiva Eldar, we learn that Israel is ignoring many rulings by its own Supreme Court. “At the offices of the Association for Civil Rights in Israel there is a blacklist of rulings by the High Court of Justice that have not been implemented. The list includes provision of protection for communities bordering the Gaza Strip, which has been delayed endlessly; the cessation of restrictions limiting foreign workers to a single employer; equalization of … Read entire article »
Filed under: Discrimination, Featured
Mandatory Patriotism?
I am amazed at how the Israeli National Anthem only references the experiences of the Jewish citizens of Israel. Given that its lyrics are in Hebrew, and reference Jews and Zion, it seems unlikely to me that it would have much positive meaning for Palestinian citizens of Israel, among others. Not to the Israeli Education Ministry, however. They relieved “Mouad Biadasi of his position as Arab sector youth representative at the National Youth Council Conference because … Read entire article »
Filed under: Discrimination
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.