The Only Democracy? » Archive
Hass: IDF Preventing Cars of Israeli Activists From Entering West Bank Villages
We have been posting articles about the participation of Israeli human rights activists in protests against the Wall in villages such as Bi’lin and Nai’lin. Today, Amira Hass reports that Israeli Defense Forces have recorded the license plates of these protesters, and are using the information to bar their entry through checkpoints. A document was presented to a number of left-wing activists during the last three demonstrations. The activists were forbidden from crossing the Rantis checkpoint on their way to the two villages. In the document entitled “Data of vehicles used by left-wing Israeli activists and anarchists to reach demonstrations in Na’alin and Bil’in,” registration numbers of 11 vehicles are listed. Advertisement The activists assume that the details were sent to the IDF by police who were present at recent demonstrations. Shai Gorsky, one … Read entire article »
Filed under: Human Rights Activists in the Crosshairs
Palestinian Organizer Assaulted at an Israeli Checkpoint
By the Popular Struggle Coordination Committee 02 March 2010 Mahmoud Zwahre, a prominent member of the Al-Ma’asara Popular Committee Against the Wall and Settlements, was brutally assaulted at the Israeli Container Checkpoint near Bethlehem this morning. Zwahre was on his way to a Ramallah meeting when his car was stopped. Zwahre was detained after a Border Police officer positioned at the checkpoint recognized him from the weekly demonstrations held in Al-Ma’asara … Read entire article »
Filed under: Human Rights Activists in the Crosshairs
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
“Sleepless in Gaza and Jerusalem”: YouTube Series on Palestinian Women
PINA TV Production and Radiant Circle Productions announce the March 1st opening of the premier episode of a 90-part series, “Sleepless in Gaza…and Jerusalem”, that will be launched on YouTube. It will be a video diary about four young Palestinian women, Muslim and Christian, two living in Gaza and two in Arab Jerusalem/West Bank. The series will follow Ashira Ramadan, a broadcast journalist based in Jerusalem; Ashira’s friend in Gaza, the documentary film maker Nagham Mohanna; Donna Maria Mattas, a 17 year-old student at the Holy Family school in Gaza who dreams of growing up to be a journalist, and Ala’ Khayo Mkari who works with Caritas in Jerusalem. The intention of this series is neither rant nor rhetoric. It is rather an opportunity for all of us, who do not live in Gaza, occupied … Read entire article »
Filed under: On The Ground Reports
Letter from New Profile
February 25, 2010 Dear friends and supporters, We would like to begin by letting you know, once again, that we truly appreciate your continuing interest and support. They have been crucial in enabling us at New Profile to withstand extended harassment and to keep up our work. Over the last two years, we have faced a series of direct challenges to our longtime efforts towards demilitarizing state and society in Israel. … Read entire article »
Filed under: Human Rights Activists in the Crosshairs, Victories for Democracy
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 »
Filed under: On The Ground Reports
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 »
Filed under: On The Ground Reports
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 »
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.