The Only Democracy? » Archive
Who’s Who of Banned Israeli Visitors
From Right To Enter: At this point, you could have quite the dinner party with the folks Israel leaves out! How do I get on that guest list? UPDATE: Eitan Bronner has an article on the dustup inside Israel over whether it was such a great idea to ban Noam Chomsky, after doing likewise to Jewish American journalist Jared Maslin, Falk, and Goldstone as well as my personal favorite, Spain’s most famous clown Ivan Prado. Maybe if … Read entire article »
Filed under: Human Rights Activists in the Crosshairs
What’s So Funny ‘Bout Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions: Elvis Costello’s Beautiful Message
By Jesse Bacon , I was a little young to get Elvis Costello, as opposed to the Pixies. He was well on his way to the iconic status, vaguely sterotypical rabbi look, dorky glasses and angst that made him a kind of hipster patriarch and unfortuantely led to a cameo in the hideous would-be 80’s epic 200 Cigarettes. But I was always amazed at how much yearning he worked into pop songs, made them carry … Read entire article »
Filed under: Featured, Victories for Democracy
The Only Democracy Wishes You Knowledge and Power This Shavuot
By Jesse Bacon The Jewish Holiday Shavuot, which begins tonight, commemorates the giving of Torah at Mt. Sinai. It is the very epitome of revelation from on high. But this holiday, revelation is not from a mountaintop. It is cumulative, from a thousand different places.. It is cumulative, dare I say it, open source. And what have we learned? We have learned that Israeli Democracy is being withdrawn bit by bit, even from its Jewish citizens. … Read entire article »
Filed under: Featured
Bereaved Families for Peace Shut Out of Israeli High School
by Jesse Bacon One of the most inspiring groups working to end the conflict is the Bereaved Families for Peace, which as their name implies is made up of Israelis and Palestinians who have lost their children to violence and who work together to end the conflict. As a parent, their work hits me extra hard I hope I will have their courage and that I will never need it. I was excited to read they … Read entire article »
Filed under: Human Rights Activists in the Crosshairs
Chomsky Denied Entry
By Rebecca Vilkomerson Well, it seems the fact that it was Noam Chomsky (who is on JVP’s advisory board) who got denied entry to the West Bank because of his politics, the story has broken through to the mainstream media (though not to the New York Times ). Yet again, we have to say: “the only democracy in the Middle East?” UPDATE: Ethan Bronner has now posted an article, which also lists several examples of similar … Read entire article »
Filed under: Human Rights Activists in the Crosshairs
Israeli Govt. Criminalizes Its Arab-Citizen Leaders: May 14 Update
(crossposted on Daily Kos) On Monday I reported here the arrest of two prominent Palestinian citizens of Israel – Dr. Omar Saeed and Ameer Makhoul – at a time when these news still banned from publication in Israel. The ban was partially lifted a few hours later, crumbling under the pressure of both the Israeli-Palestinian public openly protesting the arrests, and the Israeli blogosphere ignoring the gag. I suggested that the arrests signify a step up in the ongoing government campaign to criminalize politically legitimate activities of Israeli-Palestinians. Shin Bet secret-police chief Yuval Diskin has repeatedly expressed his eagerness to do this, with respect to leaders supporting the one-state concept (such as the above two). Since Monday, Palestinian and Israeli commentators voiced concerns similar to mine; most prominently perhaps Gideon Levy, whose … Read entire article »
Filed under: Discrimination, Human Rights Activists in the Crosshairs
Israeli Writer Michal Peleg Calls Out Her Government for Arrest of Dr. Omar Said
by Michal Peleg Dr. Omar Said from Kafr Kana, Israel, was arrested on April 24, at a border crossing between Israel and Jordan, and is held since in prison for investigation, without trial. Dr. Said is a pharmacologist, an expert of academic and international fame in the medical use of herbs. He specializes in innovations in traditional Middle East medicine based on local flora. … Read entire article »
Filed under: On The Ground Reports
Palestinian Teenager Shot, Apparently By Settler
From the Popular Struggle Coordination Committee. Aysar Yasser a-Zaben, 16 years old, was shot in his back yesterday evening in his family’s lands in Mazra’a al-Sharqiya, east of Ramallah, apparently by a settler. Aysar al-Zaben’s body was found in his plot by family members only hours after he was shot. He was found lying dead on the ground, face down, with a bullet hole in his back after being missing since the … Read entire article »
Filed under: On The Ground Reports
About the Secret Empire that has decided to Criminalize Minority Dissent in Israel
No, this story does not come from the Occupied Territories, where residents are under a 43-year military rule and where wee-hour arrest raids are a routine occurrence. This comes from right inside Israel. Dr. Omar Sa’id, A Palestinian citizen of Israel and resident of Kafr Kana near Nazareth, was arrested by Israel’s secret police (known in English as Shin Bet and in Israel as Shabaak) two weeks ago. He is still in custody without access to … Read entire article »
Filed under: Discrimination, Human Rights Activists in the Crosshairs
What if Tea Partiers were Palestinians?
By Jesse Bacon The Congresswoman from my neck of the Big Woods, Michele Bachmann (R-Parallel Earth) made headlines when she compared the census to WWII Japanese internment camps. It seems to be a common belief in the Tea Party movement that the government is planning to round up its supporters; their fears of persecution are driving them to ever more fanciful beliefs. I thought of the Tea Party when reading accounts of the protest, (well promoted by … Read entire article »
Filed under: Featured, Human Rights Activists in the Crosshairs
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.