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How Barack Obama learned to love Israel

Ali Abunimah 4 March 2007


On March 2, Democratic presidential hopeful Senator Barack Obama gave a speech that proved that when it came to supporting Israel he is “as strong as Clinton, as supportive as Bush, as friendly as Giuliani” in the words of one Israeli journalist. Obama blamed Palestinians for the failure of peace efforts and uttered no criticism of Israeli policies. Yet once upon a time Obama supported Palestinian rights and an even-handed US approach to solving the conflict. EI co-founder Ali Abunimah who has met the candidate half a dozen times over a decade analyzes the speech and traces Obama’s path into the hardline pro-Israel camp. 

Weekly Report on Human Rights Violations

2 March 2007


During the reporting period four Palestinian were killed by IOF in the West Bank, three of the victims were extra-judicially executed by IOF in Jenin. Twenty-eight Palestinian civilians, including two journalists, four children and four women, were wounded by IOF gunfire. On Sunday, 25 February the IOF launched a wide scale military campaign on Nablus during which over 150 Palestinians were arrested. On 26 February during the invasion the IOF shot and killed ‘Anan Mohammed al-Teebi and wounded his son, both resident of the Old City of Nablus. 

Sinn Fein leader calls for economic sanctions on Israel after Nablus incursion

1 March 2007


Sinn Fein Justice and International Affairs Spokesperson Aengus O Snodaigh TD has called on the Government to enforce emergency economic sanctions on Isreal after its latest illegal military incursion into Nablus in the West Bank. Deputy O Snodaigh said occupying Israeli forces have killed and wounded Palestinian civilians and forced young Palestinians to act as human shields. Speaking in the Dail today Deputy O Snodaigh said, “There is an urgent need for the government to respond to the latest illegal Israeli military incursion into Nablus in the West Bank by enforcing emergency economic sanctions on Israel.” 

Irish Bishops call for justice in Palestine/Israel

28 February 2007


At a media conference in Dublin yesterday, Bishop Raymond Field, Chair of the Irish Commission for Justice and Social Affairs (ICJSA), Bishop John Kirby, Chair of Trocaire and Rev Dr Eoin Cassidy of the ICJSA, launched a position paper Palestine/Israel, Principles for a Just Peace before a briefing meeting with the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Dermot Ahern TD. Bishop Field said: “Today we shall meet with Minister Ahern and raise with him the issue of the EU-Israel Association agreement.” 

Video: Nablus Invasion, Day 4

Research Journalism Initiative and a-films 1 March 2007


On 25 February 2007 the Israeli Army invaded the West Bank city of Nablus in an operation dubbed “Hot Winter.” Curfew was imposed on Nablus and some surrounding refugee camps and villages and Israeli forces arrested at least 10, injured five and killed one civilian. Palestinian leaders claim this invasion is an attempt to undermine the recent Mecca unity government agreement. This video produced by the Research Journalism Initiative and the Anarchist Film Collective “A-Films” documents the fourth day of the invasion. 

UN official discusses latest situation in southern Lebanon with officials in Beirut

1 March 2007


A senior United Nations official today discussed with Lebanese officials full implementation of the Security Council resolution that ended last summer’s war between Israel and Hizbollah, following similar talks earlier this week with Israeli authorities. “We discussed many issues from the question of prisoners, Israeli prisoners in Lebanon, Lebanese prisoners in Israel — we would like to see more progress on that,” Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s Special Advisor on the situation in the Middle East Michael Williams told reporters after meeting with officials in Beirut. 

Video: Nablus Invasion, Day 2

Research Journalism Initiative and a-films 1 March 2007


On 25 February 2007 the Israeli Army invaded the West Bank city of Nablus in an operation dubbed “Hot Winter.” Curfew was imposed on Nablus and some surrounding refugee camps and villages and Israeli forces arrested at least 10, injured five and killed one civilian. Palestinian leaders claim this invasion is an attempt to undermine the recent Mecca unity government agreement. This video produced by the Research Journalism Initiative and the Anarchist Film Collective “A-Films” documents the second day of the invasion. 

Video: Nablus Invasion, Day 1

Research Journalism Initiative and a-films 1 March 2007


On 25 February 2007 the Israeli Army invaded the West Bank city of Nablus in an operation dubbed “Hot Winter.” Curfew was imposed on Nablus and some surrounding refugee camps and villages and Israeli forces arrested at least 10, injured five and killed one civilian. Palestinian leaders claim this invasion is an attempt to undermine the recent Mecca unity government agreement. This video produced by the Research Journalism Initiative and the Anarchist Film Collective “A-Films” documents the first day of the invasion. 

Activists protest settlement real estate sale in New Jersey

Andrew El-Kadi and Abraham Greenhouse 1 March 2007


On a sunny but chilly Sunday morning, Rabbi Steven Pruzansky of Congregation Bnai Yeshurun was preparing to welcome temple members and other local Jewish families to his synagogue to “strengthen the Zionist dream” by purchasing new houses in the occupied West Bank. The enticement of Jews to move to restricted, Jewish-only enclaves on land seized from Palestinians is nothing new: whether through the lure of cheap housing or the dream of bringing about the coming of the Messiah by “redeeming the land”, religious and secular Jews alike have been drawn to these enclaves since the first settlement Kiryat Arba was established in 1968. 

After Mecca: Engaging Hamas

28 February 2007


The latest report from the International Crisis Group, examines the Saudi-brokered Mecca Agreement between rival Palestinian organisations Hamas and Fatah. Providing a detailed examination of the agreement and an analysis of Hamas based on extensive discussions with the Palestinian Islamist movement and others, it concludes there are significant challenges but also the chance of a fresh start: for the Palestinians to restore law and order and negotiate genuine power-sharing arrangements; for Israelis and Palestinians to establish a comprehensive cessation of hostilities; and for the international community to focus on a credible peace process.