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Photostory: The Wall in Bethlehem

Arjan El Fassed 6 July 2004


As the International Court of Justice will render its advisory opinion in the case concerning the legal consequences of the construction of the Wall in the occupied Palestinian territory on July 9, 2004, EI’s Arjan El Fassed visited Bethlehem, Beit Jala and Beit Sahour where Israel continues the construction of the Wall. Ironically, the meaning of the Hebrew name of the settlement built on Jabel Abu Ghneim, separating the Bethlehem district from Jerusalem, “Har Homa” literally means “Mountain of the Wall”. Israel’s Apartheid Wall will completely separate Beit Sahour, Beit Jala and Bethlehem from the northern parts of the West Bank. 

Photostory: The Wall in ar-Ram

Arjan El Fassed 6 July 2004


As the International Court of Justice will render its advisory opinion in the case concerning the legal consequences of the construction of the Wall in the occupied Palestinian territory on July 9, 2004, EI’s Arjan El Fassed visited ar-Ram where Israel continues the construction of the Wall. This week, Knesset member, Azmi Bishara, went on hunger strike in protest against the wall. Dozens of protesters joined the lawmaker in a tent at ar-Ram, which is located between Kalandia and Beit Hanina. Despite a ruling of the Israeli High Court, construction of the wall in ar-Ram continues. 

Photostory: The Wall in Abu Dis and 'Azariya

Arjan El Fassed 6 July 2004


As the International Court of Justice will render its advisory opinion in the case concerning the legal consequences of the construction of the Wall in the occupied Palestinian territory on July 9, 2004, EI’s Arjan El Fassed visited various sites where Israel continues the construction of the Wall. On 8 December 2003, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution, in which, it requested the International Court of Justice to “urgently render an advisory opinion”. UN member states filed written statements and subsequently, public hearings were held from 23 to 25 February 2004. 

Nablus: Israeli forces kill university lecturer and his son

6 July 2004


This morning, Israeli forces killed a Palestinian university lecturer and his son in Nablus. Israeli forces killed another two Palestinians in the same city today. The lecturer and the son were killed by live bullets. The other two were killed by shrapnel from a missile launched by an Israeli attack helicopter. Israeli forces moved into Nablus near ‘Ein Beit al-Ma refugee camp. Khaled Salah Mousa Salah is the second university lecturer killed this year. On April 23, Israeli forces killed Yasser Abu Laimoun from Tallouza near Nablus. Israeli officials later admitted they made a mistake killing him. This past month, Israeli forces regularly enter various parts of Nablus, killing Palestinians. 

US policies in Iraq, Palestine, fuel Jordanians' discontent

Ali Abunimah 6 July 2004


“Every time I visit Amman,” writes EI co-founder Ali Abunimah, “the US embassy here seems to have around it more high walls, concrete barricades and armored cars with menacing machine guns mounted atop.” Abunimah says this symbolizes the growing gulf between ordinary Jordanians and the US, even as Jordan’s government is seen as increasingly “pro-American.” He examines the growing opposition among Jordanians to US policies in Palestine and Iraq and explains why US policies actually help stifle full democracy in Jordan, rather than encouraging it. 

Culture for All

Jaideep Mukerji 6 July 2004


Sitting perched on a hill in the suburb of Al-Masyoon, the Ramallah Cultural Palace has an almost conspicuous air of tranquillity to it. Just down the road lie the mangled remains of half a dozen cars destroyed by Israeli tanks as out in the distance one can see the first signs that the separation wall is finally beginning to encroach on the city. The gleaming new building, however, almost seems to rise above these troubling reminders of the enduring Israeli occupation, offering instead a sense of hope and renewal. The grand opening of the West Bank’s first and only Palestinian cultural centre of its kind is generating a great deal of buzz in the occupied territories. From Ramallah, Jaideep Mukerji looks at what the centre means for the Palestinians’ sense of identity. 

Kerry Campaign releases Middle East policy seemingly drafted in Tel Aviv

1 July 2004


The Forward, a Jewish weekly newspaper published in New York, reported on June 25th that: Kerry’s campaign is building national and state Jewish leadership teams “comprised of prominent national and local leaders in our communities,” Kerry’s senior adviser on Middle East and Jewish affairs, Jay Footlik, writes in a letter to supporters. The groups will act as surrogates for the campaign at local events and debates. Attached to Footlik’s letter is a document titled “John Kerry: Strengthening Israel’s Security and Bolstering the U.S.-Israel Special Relationship,” which Footlik asks recipients to e-mail “to friends and neighbors, to synagogues, federations, youth groups, sisterhood and brotherhood groups, study groups, to your personal and professional networks.” Read the text of the position paper here. 

81 British Members of Parliament Expresss Human Rights Concerns With Israel's Citizenship and Family Unification Law

1 July 2004


81 British Members of Parliament representing all the major parties have supported an Early Day Motion expressing grave human rights concerns with Israel’s possible decision to renew Israel’s Citizenship and Family Unification Law. The British MP’s wrote “That this House expresses grave concerns that the Israeli Government is due to renew the Citizenship and Family Unification Law in July; notes that the law clearly discriminates against Israeli citizens of Palestinian origin and their spouses by denying Israeli citizenship or residency status to spouses of Israeli citizens who are residents of the West Bank or Gaza”. 

Israeli soldiers shoot at Christian Aid observers

25 June 2004


A Christian Aid delegation has been fired upon by the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) in the Gaza Strip. The fact-finding team was visiting Rafah in the south to see the extent of the destruction from last month’s military incursions. The fact-finding team was visiting Rafah in the south to see the extent of the destruction from last month’s military incursions. Sarah Malian, communications officer for the Middle East, says she saw the impact of bullets three meters from where she was standing. ‘We were all very shaken,’ she said. ‘I can’t believe they fired at us. We were clearly civilians. We were surrounded by children at the time.’ 

Anatomy of a Home Demolition

Am Johal 1 July 2004


Arriving in al-Bea’neh the next day, I saw the old man whose home had been torn down beginning to replant new olive trees. Despite the beatings, there was this sense of optimism, regeneration and a sense of the community coming together to respond in a productive way. In the village council office, they discussed the brutal Israeli policy of home demolitions over Arabic coffee and Gauloise cigarettes before setting off on a 2,000 person demonstration with the residents. On the table were tear gas canisters used by the police the day before which were clearly marked that they had been manufactured in the United States.