Benjamin Doherty’s blog

Open Letter from Gaza: Three Years after the Massacre, Justice or Nothing!

The One Democratic State Group in Gaza has issued this statement: We, Palestinians of Gaza, 3 years on from the 22-day long massacre in Israel’s operation ‘Cast Lead’, are calling on international civil society to make 2012 the year when solidarity with us in Palestine captures the spark of the revolutions around the Arab world and never looks back. On this anniversary we demand an international liberation movement that eventually leads to just that, liberation for us Palestinians from 63 years of brutal military occupation and ethnic cleansing that pours shame on any organisation or government claiming to endorse universal human rights. 

In name of "freedom," University of Chicago threatens Condoleezza Rice protestors

In an Orwellian move, the Provost of the University of Chicago sent an email to the entire campus titled “Freedom of Expression” to announce the university’s intention to crack down on any protestors of tomorrow’s event with former Bush administration officials Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson. Provost Thomas Rosenbaum wrote: 

Video: Brief documentary highlights "stunning" BDS actions in France

Belgian journalist and filmmaker Chris den Hond has released a brief documentary about the boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) movement. The video explains the justifications for consumer and academic boycott and features stunning footage of non-violent confrontational actions taken by French solidarity activists. It also discusses the repression activists face in France for their activities and the government’s efforts to criminalize Palestine solidarity. 

Doc on manipulation on the Internet begins with anti-flotilla hoax busted by EI

Welsh journalist and author Jon Ronson has begun a documentary project called “Esc & Ctrl” on The Guardian’s Comment is Free blog about efforts to control people and influence opinion online. In the introduction to the series, he explains his vision and methods for the series: Escape and Control: Stories About People Trying To Control The Internet 

Wikileaks: Harvard protest against Israeli war crime suspect caught US government attention

In Spring 2007, Dan Halutz, former chief of staff of the Israeli military, participated in an exclusive 8 week managmeent course at Harvard Business School. Halutz oversaw the 2006 Lebanon war during which he ordered Israeli pilots to bomb 10 multistory buildings in the Dahiya district of Beirut as a response to Hezbollah’s rocket fire on Haifa.