The Only Democracy? » On The Ground Reports
A Closed Street Opens a Door to a Global Movement
-By Avital Aboody On the afternoon of February 25, 2010, diverse groups of activists around the world took to the streets to protest the official policy of separation in Hebron that has severely restricted Palestinian freedom of movement in the area around the Jewish settlement, and effectively turned a once vibrant city center into a virtual ghost town. Armed only with the support and encouragement of these fellow activists, a group of approximately 300 Palestinians, Israelis, … Read entire article »
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Open Shuhada Street Action in Hebron
Here is a short summary of today’s protest in Hebron, longer first person account to follow! This afternoon about 300 Palestinian, Israeli, and International activists met at the Hebron municipality where they made posters, distributed t-shirts and hats, and spoke with media personnel before they began the march towards Shuhada Street in Hebron. The protesters marched in the rain waving flags, linking arms, and chanting slogans in Arabic, Hebrew, and English. … Read entire article »
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Purim is Bad for Palestinians (and a positive update)
By Ofer Neiman. Last night, three miles from my house, a settler Purim-fest which led to more violence against the Palestinian residents of Sheikh Jarrah. Here’s a short video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ImVh2Uyiu4 The border policeman surely had no reason to hold his gun like that. He is facing women, children and some youths, all unarmed in the middle of Jerusalem. Not likely to happen in the western part of our “united” capital. Today in Hebron: two Israeli peace activists arrested (unconfirmed … Read entire article »
Filed under: On The Ground Reports, Victories for Democracy
Villages Group: Yasmin Opens the Braille Little Oxford Dictionary
by Assaf Oron. Yasmin Gebara is a very special young woman from the village of Salem near Nablus. Yasmin is blind from birth. In September 2004, Yasmin’s father Saael, a taxi driver, was killed in cold blood by a settler who later managed to escape the country before going to prison. Last month as Yasmin graduated from Nablus University with an English major, we sent an email asking for donations of English literature CD’s, and possibly a … Read entire article »
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On February 25th, World Says Open Shuhada Street
By Rebecca Kirzner Few will have the greatness to bend history itself; but each of us can work to change a small portion of events, and in the total; of all those acts will be written the history of this generation.” – Robert Kennedy, address delivered at the University of Capetown, South Africa, June 6, 1966. What will be the history of this generation, and which small acts carried out by which individuals, groups, governments, and campaigns … Read entire article »
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People Are Talking About BDS
People are talking about Boycott Divestment and Sanctions (BDS). People should be talking about BDS. If you’re not talking about BDS in the context of Israel\Palestine, you should be thinking about it. And here is why. When I was a little girl, I sent my allowance to the Jewish National Fund to plant trees in Israel in the name of family members. I was told and passed on stories about an underdog that after centuries of … Read entire article »
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Response from Physicians for Human Rights-Israel
I wrote Physicians for Human Rights-Israel about the case of Maria Amen we covered previously and the issue of Palestinians getting access to medical treatment. Here is their response, reprinted with permission. Dear Jesse, Thanks for approaching us on the issue of the Israeli policy at Erez Crossing. Unfortunately, Maria Amn’s case about which you wrote was one of the very few cases of Palestinians who were accidentally injured during Israeli attacks and were eventually recognized … Read entire article »
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A Personal Report: Bil’in Marks 5 Years of Struggle, UPDATED with Video
Amir Terkel, is a longtime JVP member who now lives in Ramat Gan, Israel with his wife and 2 children. After attending the Bil’in 5th anniversary demonstration on Friday, he sent this message: An Uplifting Day An account of the March in Bili’in marking 5 years of joint struggle. I’ll admit things were not looking (or smelling) so hot when we were being sprayed by the Skunk Canon, an indescribably nauseating combination of liquid smelling like a cross between raw sewage and decomposing animals that almost instantly induces your vomit instinct; this immediately followed by barrages of aluminum tear gas canisters fired 40 or 60 at a time. Having these burning hot projectiles rain down on you while you are temporarily blinded and choking from the tear gas was quite terrifying for me. one of many … Read entire article »
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Abdallah Abu Rahmah’s Letter from Ofer Jail
The Popular Struggle Coordination Committee released this letter from Bil’in protest leader Abdallah Abu Rahmah. This letter from Abu Rahmah was conveyed from his prison cell by his lawyers. For information on his case and actions to take for his release see here Dear Friends and Supporters, It has been two months now since I was handcuffed, blindfolded and taken from my home. Today news has reached Ofer Military Prison that the … Read entire article »
Filed under: Human Rights Activists in the Crosshairs, On The Ground Reports
Villages Group Finds A Local Hero in Umm Daraj
With all the bad news about the fierce apparatus of “Separation” in the West Bank, it is inspiring to learn about the work of the Villages Group –a small group of Israelis who have regularly traveled to cut-off villages in the West Bank since 2002. With their Palestinian partners, they seek to renew direct interaction between the two peoples, with frequent, open, and mutually respectful contact. Recently the group visited the Beduin village of Umm Daraj in the Judean desert, where … Read entire article »
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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.