The strategic value of international solidarity with the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip and West Bank, refugees in the Diaspora and Palestinians in Israel raises some fundamental questions. The most immediate and urgent are: what the nature of international solidarity should be and how it can best support the Palestinian struggle for self-determination? Savera Kalideen and Haidar Eid comment for The Electronic Intifada. Read more about Learning from South Africa
The above slideshow is a selection of images from the month of September 2008. This year, September coincided with the month-long period of Ramadan in the Islamic calendar. This month’s photographs feature Ramadan in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. Read more about Month in pictures: Ramadan in Palestine, September 2008
When the bottom line is threatened, corporations typically show little concern for holding the line on political principles such as freedom of expression. In capitalism, freedom is too often just another word for maximizing profits. Robert Jensen comments. Read more about Canadian media attempt to silence on Israel
The words “Jewish” and “terrorist” are not easily uttered together by Israelis. But just occasionally, such as last week when one of the country’s leading intellectuals was injured by a pipe bomb placed at the front door of his home, they find themselves with little choice. Jonathan Cook reports. Read more about Israel's breeding ground for Jewish terrorism
RAMALLAH/GAZA (IRIN) - Palestinian unions allied with the Fatah movement have extended the strikes in the Gaza Strip’s health and education sectors for another two weeks, prolonging the labor action that has been in effect for about a month, although the numbers taking part are falling. Read more about Gaza strikes losing steam
WASHINGTON (IPS) - In a significant and highly unusual defeat for the so-called “Israel Lobby,” the Democratic leadership of the US House of Representatives has decided to shelve a long-pending, albeit non-binding, resolution that called for President George W. Bush to launch what critics called a blockade against Iran. Read more about Iran resolution shelved in rare defeat for "Israel Lobby"
Israel has always had a master plan and a strategy for achieving it and its plans for us are patently clear. We, too, need a long-term strategy in which we act intelligently and purposefully, not simply reacting ineffectually to the schemes of others. Our strategy must be mindful of our history, the irrefutable justice of our cause, the sacrifices that good and honest people have made in hope of realizing a better future for generations to come, and the considerable assets that we have, marginalized and bombarded and besieged though we are. Ida Audeh comments for The Electronic Intifada. Read more about Identifying Palestinian options
From just outside Jerusalem’s Old City walls, the simple stone and cinder-block homes of Silwan cascade southwards into a valley known as the Holy Basin. The Palestinian residents are used to living in the shadow of history and religion. But of late, history has become a curse for most of Silwan’s residents. Read more about Archaeology used politically to push out Jerusalem Palestinians
WASHINGTON, (IPS) - A new report from several international aid organizations blasts the Quartet, an international group assembled to facilitate the Middle East peace process, for failing to meet their goals in advancing a lasting peace between Israel and Palestinians. Read more about International orgs. give Quartet failing grade
WASHINGTON (IPS) - A group of hard-line United States neo-conservatives and former Israeli diplomats, among others, are behind the mass distribution, ahead of the November US presidential election, of a controversial DVD that critics have denounced as Islamophobic. The group, the Endowment for Middle East Truth, is working with another organization called the Clarion Fund, which produced the 60-minute video and is itself tied closely to an Israeli organization called Aish Hatorah. Read more about Neo-cons, ex-Israeli diplomats push Islamophobic video
