The Only Democracy? » Discrimination
Photo Quiz: Can you identify the military prison?
Last week as I drove to Ofer Military Prison in the West Bank to attend a hearing of Abdallah Abu Rahma from Bili’in, it struck me that most people driving past these huge walls on their commute to Jerusalem don’t realize they are driving past a prison. That’s actually not surprising considering the concrete landscape of the west bank. Take the quiz for yourself and see how you do: Which of these photos is the a Military Prison in the Occupied Territories? … Read entire article »
Filed under: Discrimination, On The Ground Reports
Palestinian Child Released on Bail After Nine Days in Military Prison
Earlier we posted an article about a 12-year old Palestinian boy who was to be tried as adult by the Israeli military court. Up until recently, Palestinian children could be tried as adults as young as 12 years of age. However, in July of 2009, a military order was issued changing the age to 16 years of age. Settler children cannot be tried as adults prior to the age of 18. Amira Hass reports in Haaretz that on March 7, an Israel Defense Forces court agreed to release from custody the boy (now identified as 13 years of age), who had been held for nine days on suspicion of throwing stones at soldiers. An Israel Defense Forces soldier detained the boy and his 11-year-old brother in Hebron’s Old City, on the afternoon of February 27. … Read entire article »
Filed under: Discrimination
At the Waldorf, Helmet in Hand
By Rela Mazali & Diana Dolev Israeli generals live a life of luxury and extravagance, mostly shaded from public scrutiny, while their soldiers enforce a brutal and criminal occupation upon the Palestinian people. Now they appropriately choose the Waldorf Astoria in New York to solicit more American money. New Profile, an Israeli feminist movement for the civil-zation of Israeli society, asks US citizens to just say NO. On Tuesday March 9 the US-based non-profit “Friends of the … Read entire article »
Filed under: Discrimination
How to Build the Home of Your Dreams in Gaza
From Gisha’s Gaza Gateway. Building the “perfect home” is a dream shared by many people, especially if you are one of the tenants of the 3,500 homes that were destroyed or of the 56,000 homes that were damaged in last year’s military operation in the Gaza Strip. This week, we’ve pulled together some instructions to help you build your dream house in Gaza. Make sure to keep these useful tips handy! First of all, because of … Read entire article »
Filed under: Discrimination, Featured
Palestinian Child, 12 years old, To Be Tried as Adult By Israeli Military Court
The International Middle East Media Center (IMEMC) reports that Israeli Authorities have decided to file charges against al-Hasan al-Mohtasib, a 12-year-old Palestinian child from the southern West Bank city of Hebron, who was arrested and charged with throwing stones at the Israeli military. The boy’s seven-year-old brother was also detained and released after 10 hours. As the boys’ father, Faydel, frantically searched for his sons after witnesses told him they were kidnapped by soldiers, the children were moved from … Read entire article »
Filed under: Discrimination, Featured
Activists Calling On the Pixies to Cancel Their Concert
By Jesse Bacon Full disclosure: I have been a Pixies fan since 8th Grade. Their final album had just came out, and it was a blast of noise that sounded like the tunes emanating from an alien spaceship, a particular obsession of the band. Their reunion tour made me feel I had become an adult, at the same time that my childhood was weirdly coming to life. 1989, the year of their last album, was also the … Read entire article »
Filed under: Discrimination
Hass: Quietest Year for Israelis, Worst Year for Palestinians
By Jesse Bacon. Amira Hass quotes Palestinian Agriculture Minister Ismail Daiq as saying that “The year 2009 was the quietest for Israelis from the security point of view and the most violent for the Palestinians from the point of view of attacks by settlers in the West Bank.” This simple equation shows us that the Palestinians are not being punished for their own actions, rather for their simple existence. Hass backs up Daiq’s quote with … Read entire article »
Filed under: Discrimination
Al Tuwani schoolchildren chased by settlers, then detained by Israeli military
The Christian Peacemaker Team reports on the repeated failure of the Israeli military police to escort Palestinian schoolchildren in the Al Tuwani area from school back to their villages to protect them from settler violence, and a recent incident where, after waiting an hour for the escort, the children attempted to make their way home themselves, were assailed by the settlers, and then detained by the military. … Read entire article »
Filed under: Discrimination
Israeli Activist Reacts to UC Irvine Protest
By Ofer Neiman. Today I read the following article by University of California-Irvine professor Marc LeVine, about the events surrounding Michael Oren’s speech there two weeks ago, which you can watch here. Here’s a key quote from LeVine : “Ambassador Oren’s appearance at UCI was part of an extremely sophisticated, well funded and self-described “propaganda” campaign–known by the Hebrew term “hasbara”–directed by the Israeli government and major American Jewish organizations with the goal of presenting Israel in the … Read entire article »
Filed under: Discrimination
Burston: Israel is De-legitimizing Itself
Bradley Burston was never one of the Ha’aretz columnist I read regularly, like Gideon Levy, Akiva Eldar, or Amira Hass. I certainly did not expect to be featuring his work on this blog. But I noticed that his recent column was circulating widely among my friends, including those who care about Israel but are not involved in opposing Israel’s policy. I can see why this column, about envying the people who “hate Israel.” touched a … 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.