EI in the Press

EI speaks about developments in Palestine on Flashpoints



Israel continues to pound Palestinians trapped inside the occupied Gaza strip with 300 tank shells a day. Flashpoints speaks with Ali Abunimah of the Electronic Intifada about the current situation in the Gaza Strip and the unraveling disaster in Palestine. Since the beginning of this year, 15 Palestinian children have been killed in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, including eight from the Gaza Strip. Four of the eight were passers by - killed in Israeli extra-judicial assassination attempts against Palestinian activists; two Gaza children were killed by gunfire; one by unexploded ordinance while Hadeel, who was killed on Monday by Israeli artillery fire, is the eighth Gaza child to die so far this year. 

EI speaks about the Palestinian elections on KPFT



The recent Palestinian elections and the victory of Hamas. What does that mean to the “peace process” and the Palestinian people, and how will that impact the Middle East and the relations with the US, European Union and other countries. KPFT speaks with EI’s Ali Abunimah about the significance of the Hamas upset. Palestinians went to the polls to elect 132 members of the Palestinian Legislative Council. Hamas with its list of Change and Reform obtained 74 seats, the Fatah Movement obtained 45 seats. 

Press For The Rest: Reshaping a loaded term for the media



Possibly the best source for finding news and information on the daily effects of Israeli occupation, interpretation of major events happening in the Middle East, and establishment of context for the conflict is alternative media source Electronic Intifada (EI). The term “intifada” is Arabic for “popular uprising,” and the intent of EI is to provide a Palestinian voice of the experience under occupation. When I spoke with EI founder Ali Abunimah, he explained that the name EI came out of the 1990s when Palestinian people from around the world started to use the internet as a tool of self-expression and a response to the mainstream press’s distortion of the conflict. 

EI on CKUT's "Under the Olive Tree"



EI’s Ali Abunimah spoke at McGill this week as part of Social Justice Days, a series of student-organized events that encourage activism. Abunimah is the co-founder of Electronic Intifada, a Web site devoted to covering the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. The writer and commentator discussed media coverage and the future of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict at a tea on Friday at 3 p.m. at First Peoples’ House, 3505 Peel. Under the Olive Tree is a weekly Palestinian affairs radio program on CKUT 90.3fm providing an alternative focus on events, issues, arts and current affairs in the Palestinian communities in Montreal, Canada and beyond. 

The Israeli election and the prospects for peace



Palestinians remain pessimistic that any newly elected government of Israel will increase prospects for peace. The Palestinians held their own election in January, and they voted in the Hamas party. Now observers are concerned that if Kadima, the party originally dreamed up by Ariel Sharon, is voted in, prospects for peace and a viable state will be set back, because of its policy of unilateral disengagement. Ali Abunimah is the co-founder of the Electronic Intifada, an online news site that tells the story from the Palestinian perspective. He gave his response to Kadima policy of unilateral disengagement in an interview with Erica Vowles of The Wire. 

Faith-based coalition explores Israeli-Palestinian issue



The second keynote speaker, Ali Abunimah, compared the current status of Palestinians to the apartheid of South Africa. The writer and commentator on Middle East and Arab-American affairs called for action on the part of Americans. He said, “If you don’t want violence, it’s up to you to provide an alternative.” Abunimah called for boycotts of Israeli products and investments. He also urged those present to contact American legislators who are appropriating funds to the Israeli government. He concluded, “It’s not an option to stay neutral between the strong and the weak because then you are siding with the strong.” 

After Palestinian Vote, U.S. Democracy Campaign Questioned



The United States, declared President Bush in his 2005 inaugural address, seeks to “support the growth of democratic movements and institutions in every nation and culture, with the ultimate goal of ending tyranny in our world.” Later this month the State Department will release it annual report on U.S. efforts to support human rights and democracy. U.S. demands for democratic behavior are inconsistent, according to two journalists of Palestinian descent who run the Electronic Intifada Web site. Ali Abunimah and Arjan El Fassed say democracy cannot take root under Israeli occupation. Palestinians continue to live “under full Israeli military dictatorship.” 

What aid cutoff to Hamas would mean



The US provides about one-third of the nearly $1.1 billion in aid to the Palestinians. The Palestinians are the most foreign-aid dependent society on earth. So the threat by the United States to cut off most aid to Palestine after its 3.6 million people last month elected the militant group Hamas into government, is foreboding. Should Palestinians obtain an independent nation, its economic viability remains an open question. But until then, under the 4th Geneva Convention of 1949, an occupying power is responsible for the welfare of those whose territory is being occupied. Providing no aid, “Israel is not in compliance,” says Mr. Abunimah. 

EI on WBEZ: Israel Should Recognize Moderate Hamas Rhetoric



EI’s Ali Abunimah was a guest on today’s Worldview program on WBEZ, Chicago Public Radio to discuss Israel’s relationship with the newly democratically-elected Palestinian Authority, headed by Hamas. WBEZ is a community-supported, non-commercial public service broadcasting institution, broadcasting throughout Chicago and surrounding regions, reaching 600,000 listeners each week. 

EI speaks about Palestinian elections on Flashpoints



Pacifica Radio’s Flashpoints reports on the global spotlight which is now shining on Hamas as they upstage the Fatah movement and the old guard in occupied Palestine. Flashpoints speaks with its special correspondents in the West Bank and Gaza, and Ali Abunimah of the Electronic Intifada about the significance of the Hamas upset. Yesterday, Palestinians went to the polls to elect 132 members of the Palestinian Legislative Council. Council members will choose a cabinet to serve with Palestinian Authority president Mahmoud Abbas. Hamas with its list of Change and Reform obtained 74 seats, the Fatah Movement obtained 45 seats; PFLP obtained 3 seats and the Alternative, Independent Palestine and the Third Way received each 2 seats and the Independents list obtained 4 seats. 

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