The Only Democracy? » Archive
Max Blumenthal finds some real terrorist-loving religious leaders
by Jesse Bacon Max Blumenthal exposes some religious leaders calling for the actual killing of babies and other Palestinians, a far worse rehtorical offense then “failing to condemn terrorism.” According to the book’s author, Rabbi Yitzhak Shapira, ‘Non-Jews are “uncompassionate by nature’ and should be killed in order to ‘curb their evil inclinations. If we kill a gentile who has has violated one of the seven commandments… there is nothing wrong with the murder,’ … Read entire article »
Filed under: On The Ground Reports
Songs by Ikhlas (“Yasmin”) Jebara from Salem – Part I
Villages Group friend Ikhlas Jebara from Salem near Nablus, had been mentioned here before under her nickname “Yasmin”. Her father Sa’el was murdered in 2004 by a settler as he was performing his daily work as a van driver (the settler was convicted but escaped justice). Ever since then, we have been in touch with Muna, the widow, and her children. Ikhlas, the second of six Jebara children, is blind from birth and has last year graduated college with an English literature major. She also writes poetry in English. Following is a first sampling of her poems; a second group will be posted later. Feel free to contact Ikhlas directly at ikhlas_soh@hotmail.com. —————————— To say or not to say I wonder whether to say or not to say To be enthusiastic to revolve or to obey For … Read entire article »
Filed under: On The Ground Reports
Major Israeli Theaters Embrace The Settlements (+BIG UPDATE)
Some cultural news from Israel: Several of Israel’s leading theater companies have agreed to perform in the new cultural center in the settlement of Ariel, due to open on November 8. The companies include the Habima National Theater, the Cameri Theater, the Be’er Sheva Theater and Jerusalem’s Khan Theater. Ariel lies 20km inside the West Bank, deeper than any other sizable settlement. The divided highway leading to it – the best road in the West Bank – is open to Israelis only, *and* lacks any signs naming the numerous Palestinian towns and villages flanking the road. According to Peace Now’s 2006 settlement land report, 35% of Ariel’s area was confiscated from private Palestinian owners by military fiat. The rest is public land. No patch of Ariel’s lands was rightfully purchased. Occupied Palestinians … Read entire article »
Filed under: Featured
For Gaza tailors, market is flooded, external markets are (still) banned and 96% of their jobs are lost.
From Gisha’s Gaza Gateway What happens to industry when you open a market to consumer products but restrict raw materials and ban export? What doesn’t happen is economic recovery. The Israeli cabinet decision to ease the closure on the Gaza Strip did not change the sweeping ban on Gaza exports. While industrial raw materials were allowed into Gaza beginning in July, the limited capacity of the crossings meant only small quantities entered … Read entire article »
Filed under: Discrimination
Bil’in’s Abdallah Abu Rahmah Cleared of Stone-Throwing; Convicted of Incitement
From the Popular Struggle Coordination Committee. Protest organizer Abdallah Abu Rahmah from Bil’in was convicted of incitement and organizing illegal demonstrations today, after an eight months long military trial, during which he was kept behind bars. He was acquitted of a stone-throwing charge and a vindictive arms-possession charge. Abdallah Abu Rahmah’s verdict was read today in a packed military court room, concluding an eight months long politically motivated show-trial. Diplomats from … Read entire article »
Filed under: Human Rights Activists in the Crosshairs
Hudson’s co-founder, the Israeli academic purge and the subversion of US Middle East policy
Reposted from Didi Remez’s Coteret blog. Evidence is mounting that the Institute for Zionist Strategies (IZS) — an Israeli NGO at the forefront of an ongoing campaign to purge Israeli Universities of faculty and programs deemed “left-wing” — is a creature of The Hudson Institute, a major Washington based neoconservative think-tank, which played an active role in shaping the Bush administration’s Middle East policies. Hudson is the primary financial backer of the IZS, providing at least … Read entire article »
Filed under: Human Rights Activists in the Crosshairs
Nation of Misguided Teenagers
by Eitan Isaacson, crossposted at his Monotonous.org blog. “I still don’t understand what I did wrong. Seriously, I don’t understand!” Eden said during a morning radio interview after pictures of her posing next to blindfolded Palestinian detainees were found on her Facebook page. Of course she doesn’t understand, she spent “the best years” of her life serving in an army of occupation, immersed in a culture that is blind to the … Read entire article »
Filed under: Discrimination
Massacre, with a smile
A few days ago we learned about Eden Aberjil, an Israeli woman who posted pictures on her Facebook account of her abusing bound Palestinian prisoners at the time of her military service. The picture is captioned ‘Army service, the most wonderful time of my life!’ The controversy reached the New York Times, where Aberjil defended herself. She said that the “pictures were taken in good will, there was no statement in them.” According to the Times, she added that they were not intended to humiliate the prisoners but merely to document her “military experience,” and that she had no idea they “would be problematic.” The IDF response is what you would expect. According to Breaking the Silence, an organization of Israeli veterans that collects testimonies: Unsurprisingly, the I.D.F. spokesman released a ’shocked’ … Read entire article »
Filed under: Featured
Two laws for two people in the same Place: Interview with Jordan Valley protest organizer Fathy Khdirat
By Jesse Bacon Interview with Fathy Khdirat, organizer for Jordan Valley Solidarity. I have just finished reading Grapes of Wrath, this group definitely reminded me of the spirit of Tom Joad. Part I: All his life under occupation, personal and family stories. Part II: A government-made water shortage Part III: What’s so important about the Jordan Valley. Part IV: The destruction of two whole villages. Conclusion: What we can do. … Read entire article »
Filed under: On The Ground Reports
Israel continues efforts to destroy Palestinian village in the Jordan Valley; Interview coming later today
From Jordan Valley Solidarity: Al Farisiya to be razed again In the morning of Sunday 15th August 2010, the Israeli Civil Administration came to Al Farisiya yet again, with two warning documents stating that people have to leave this so-called ”closed area”. The two documents don’t state which family they target, which means that any family in the village can be targeted for home demolition, or confiscation of their vehicles or animals. I … Read entire article »
Filed under: On The Ground Reports
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.