For decades, efforts to create a just peace for Palestinians and Israeli Jews have failed. The current crisis has further set back hopes for a political solution to the conflict. In this context, a group of scholars, journalists and activists met in Madrid, at the invitation of Universidad Complutense de Madrid, for five days of intensive discussion on alternatives to this ongoing impasse, framed by their belief that a democratic state in all of historic Palestine provides the only moral and practical basis for a just, sustainable peace. Read more about Statement: One country, one state
Henry Herskovitz grew up in Pittsburgh as Israel planted its flag of independence in Palestine. Raised to revere Zionism as he did the Israelites of old, Henry heard little of the catastrophe buried beneath the budding Jewish state. Though he “drank the kool-aid for years,” Henry has been making up for lost time. It was the mid-’80s, on the steps of Temple Beth Israel in Ann Arbor, when a fellow congregant told him that Israel had the fourth mightiest air force in the world. He went home, looked into it, and began a journey that would bring him back to the synagogue under different circumstances. Read more about Michigan's vigilant outcasts
More than 50 Palestinians from across the United States gathered in Chicago June 15-17, 2007, for an organizing meeting to prepare for the US Popular Palestinian National Conference, a conference that includes the broadest sectors of the Palestinian community in the US, scheduled to coincide with the 60th anniversary of al-Nakba. The organizing focused on realizing the objectives of establishing a network that will act as an open arena where Palestinians residing in the US will come together, regardless of their organizational or political affiliation. Read more about Declaration from Palestinian Popular Conference preparatory meeting
The automotive manufacturer Volvo writes on its website that is has the vision of being “the most desired and successful premium car brand by creating the safest and most exciting car experience,” and “choosing a car is about the comfort and safety of your passengers, most especially your children.” However, the Palestinian people in Israel, including the Bedouins, and the occupied territories might have another view on Volvo, whose vehicles were used by Israel to destroy the homes of Bedouin villagers in the Naqab (Negev). Adri Nieuwhof reports for EI. Read more about Volvo: Symbol of safety or human rights abuses?
Northern Ireland’s biggest trade union, the Northern Ireland Public Service Alliance, unanimously passed all five motions on Palestinian solidarity discussed at the 2007 annual delegate conference. These motions contained: severe condemnation of Israel, a commitment to boycott and divestment and support for Trade Union Friends of Palestine and the Enough campaign against Israeli Occupation. NIPSA has been at the forefront of the campaign within the trade union movement in Northern Ireland to raise awareness of the Palestinian cause. Read more about Boycott and divestment gains ground in Northern Ireland
From 18 - 20 June in Amman, Jordan, more than 130 representatives from churches and Christian organizations attended a conference entitled “Churches together for peace and justice the Middle East” organized by the World Council of Churches (WCC). The WCC unites more than 340 churches in over a hundred countries and territories, representing about 550 million Christians. “Churches have woken up to the issues in the Middle East like never been before. Another time we woke up is when we fought apartheid in Africa; this is another apartheid,” WCC general secretary Reverend Dr. Sam Kobia told The Jordan Times after the conference. Read more about World Council of Churches intensifies efforts to end occupation
Conference notes that, during 2006, Israel invaded Lebanon and Gaza, withheld tax revenues form the Palestine Authority and refused dialogue with the elected Authority following the democratic elections of January 2006, re-sealed the borders of Gaza, expanded illegal settlements in the West Bank, and continued the construction of the illegal Apartheid Wall. Israeli policy represents a calculated defiance of international law and the United Nations (UN), with the collusion of the United States (US), United Kingdom (UK) and European Union (EU) which cut off aid to the Palestinian Authority. Read more about UNISON supports boycott of Israel
This morning, DePaul University students in Chicago began the third day of their sit-in at DePaul President Fr. Holtschneider’s office. The students have spent two nights sleeping in the office, a rally is to be held today in solidarity with them and it is possible that the DePaul University Faculty Council will pass a vote of no confidence in the president of the school. The students are protesting the denial of tenure to two professors who are critical of the Israeli occupation as their university becomes a battleground for academic freedom. Matt Muchowski writes for EI. Read more about Students sit-in to demand tenure for Palestine supporting professors
In an organic grocery in Amsterdam, Natuurwinkel, which has 70 locations all over Holland, a customer noticed several Israeli fruits and vegetables on the shelves. The customer asked about the exact origin of the fruits and vegetables, but the manager of Natuurwinkel could not give a clear answer. Through the Internet the name of the director and importer to the Natuurwinkel chain, Udea — the leading Dutch wholesaler of organic and frozen products and trades with ten European countries — was found, and in several emails clarification was requested on the origin of the Israeli organic products. Read more about Ban products with a criminal flavour
The story of the village of Budrus is noteworthy because it reminds us that unarmed people are not powerless. Confronted with an Israeli plan to confiscate 1,000 dunums of village lands to erect a wall that would ultimately enclose area villages in a canton, Budrus residents put their bodies in front of the bulldozers that came to raze their farmlands. Unarmed, and abandoned to their fate by the increasingly useless and indifferent Palestinian Authority, the villagers quickly realized that the wall would stifle the area and make their lives unsustainable. EI contributor Ida Audeh interviews Budrus resident and activist Abd al-Nasser Marrar. Read more about A Village Mobilized: Lessons from Budrus
