The Only Democracy? » Archive
Exclusive Interview: Village demolished for the 9th Time for JNF forests
By Jesse Bacon Bulldozers from the Israel Land Administration demolished the Bedouin village for Al-Arakib for the ninth time yesterday and today. They also demolished the village’s olive groves the week of Tu Bshvat, which celebrates the flowering of trees, so the Jewish National Fund can plant a forest named after a Fundamentalist Christian TV channel and some foreign ambassadors. The visitors were held in the village’s graveyard while the demolition took place, with much more … Read entire article »
Filed under: On The Ground Reports
More precious than oil: help rebuild destroyed cisterns in South Hebron Hills
From Ta’ayush’s appeal to help rebuild cisterns destroyed by the Israeli military. Dear Friends and Supporters, The situation of the Palestinian cave-dwellers in South Hebron Hills continues to be difficult. They suffer from permanent harassment carried out by the military and settlers. This year, however, has been even more difficult, due to a severe drought. As if it wanted to capitalize on the harsh conditions, on December 16th, the Israeli military destroyed 13 water cisterns belonging to Palestinian families in South Hebron hills built before Israel’s creation. The military claims that these water cisterns (or reservoirs) were built illegally and therefore must be destroyed. Some were built in recent years with help from the UN Office for the Coordination of … Read entire article »
Filed under: On The Ground Reports
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
Horrible start to a new year: Palestinian woman killed by tear gas at protest
from the Popular Struggle Coordination Committee Jawaher Abu Rahmah, 36, was evacuated to the Ramallah hospital yesterday after inhaling massive amounts of tear-gas during the weekly protest in Bil’in, and died of poisoning this morning. Abu Rahmah was the sister of Bassem Abu Rahmah who was also killed during a peaceful protest in Bil’in on April 17th, 2010. Doctors at the Ramallah hospital fought for Jawaher Abu Rahmah’s life all night at the Ramallah Hospital, but were … Read entire article »
Filed under: 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
African Asylum Seekers in Israel
Debbie Herdan is a midwife and former Tel Aviv resident who was very active in the organization Hagar and Miriam, which works with African women in Israel who are either pregnant or have recently given birth. Debbie worked with Eritrean, Sudanese and Darfurian asylum seekers for several years and writes that they became like family to her. She passed on the following messages encouraging people in Israel to come out to a rally on December 24th in Tel Aviv (corner of Rothschild and Sheinkin at 10 am, for those who want to attend). The occasion is the declared intention of the State of Israel to require refugees to live in a refugee camp (run by the Prison Service). From Alma Zohar: Hello everyone, In the Jewish state, they are about to finally establishing … 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.