Biddu is a beautiful Palestinian village, surrounded with vines and fruit orchards, a few miles to the east of the Israeli border of 1967. In the last couple of months, the village, that has lived in peace with its Israeli neighbors even during the present Intifada, has become yet another symbol in the history of Israel/Palestine. The misfortune of this village is that its lands, as well as the lands of the other small Palestinian villages nearby, border the “Jerusalem corridor” - a sequence of Israeli neighborhoods to the North of Jerusalem. Israeli control of this land would enable territorial continuity “clean of Palestinians” from this corridor to the settlement of Givat Zeev, built deep inside the occupied West Bank, close to Ramallah. Read more about Biddu: The struggle against the Wall
The Peace Cycle will begin at a rally in London’s Trafalgar Square on 14th August 2004. People from all kinds of faiths and backgrounds will come together to begin an amazing journey to Jerusalem. For six weeks they will cycle through France, Switzerland, Italy, Greece, and into Israel. They will ride into the West Bank and cycle through Palestinian towns and villages to Jerusalem, and on to Bethlehem’s Manger Square. Muslims, Jews and Christians, people from all races and religions, will ride side by side to show they believe in peace and justice for all the people of the Middle East. Read more about End the Cycle of Violence - Join the Cycle for Peace
The new appeal for a global concert for the Palestinians - now open for endorsement at concert4palestine.org - has been launched by Gazzella, an Italian NGO that helps rehabilitate Palestinian children wounded in Israeli ground and air attacks on Palestinian cities and villages. The appeal is available at www.concert4palestine.org in English, German, French, Italian, Portuguese and Spanish, and will soon be published on the site in Arabic and Hebrew. Read more about Campaign for a global concert in defense of Palestinian human rights
“Arafat is filthy swine, there is no Palestine,” and “Thank you for killing my cousins in Israel,” were some of the more polite slogans shouted at EI’s Ali Abunimah and Benjamin Doherty and me as we protested silently at the annual “Walk With Israel” on Chicago’s lakefront today on May 6, 2001. Abunimah tells a story of how Chicago’s leading Zionist organization met peaceful free speech with threats of violence, abuse and an effort to limit the constitutional right to free speech on public property. Read more about Spat upon, threatened, we stood for Palestine
Liat Weingart, Valerie Heinonen and Mary Ann McGivern28 April 2004
On April 14, an American corporation was confronted with the choice of whether or not to examine their role in perpetuating the cycle of violence in the Mideast. An alliance of Catholic nuns and Jewish peace activists teamed up to introduce a shareholder resolution asking Caterpillar, Inc. to conduct an internal investigation to determine if the use of their bulldozers to violate human rights laws goes against corporate policies. In fact, it was the first time ever that a shareholder resolution relating to human rights violations in the occupied territories has been brought before a US corporation. Though the odds against the resolution were tremendous, it still garnered 4% of the vote, enough to be re-introduced next year. Read more about Drawing Caterpillar Out Of Its Corporate Cocoon: Company Should Examine Its Role in Mideast Violence
Amnesty International urges the Israeli authorities not to impose any restrictions or conditions on former nuclear technician Mordechai Vanunu upon his release on Wednesday after 18 years in jail. “Mordechai Vanunu should be allowed to exercise his rights to freedom of movement, association and expression in Israel and should be allowed to leave the country if he wishes,” said Amnesty International. “His release is long overdue and Israel must not continue to violate his fundamental human rights once he is released from prison.” Vanunu was sent to jail 18 years ago for exposing secrets relating to Israel’s nuclear capabilities. Read more about Amnesty: No restrictions with Vanunu's release
New York, 16 April 2004 - In a move widely regarded as an anti-dissent crackdown on behalf of the imminent Republican National Convention, the NYC District Attorney has defined protest speech as “criminal”, urging jail time for activists who have a history of dissent. The DA’s office made the statement in a letter outlining sentencing recommendations for 16 activists recently convicted for non-violent civil disobedience. The activists are to be sentenced on Monday. Read more about NYC D.A. calls political protest "a crime," urges jail for organizers
The Student Alliance for Israel at George Washington University have invited a racist Islamophobe to speak on campus on behalf of Israel. Writing in the GW Hatchet, Fadi Kiblawi tells the story and considers how this episode fits in with the broader campaign for Israel on America’s campuses. Read more about Pro-Israel students host racist Islamophobe to speak for Israel
New York City Police were called by McDonald’s Corporation Tuesday, as Florida U.S. Senate candidate Andy Martin launched a worldwide boycott to show solidarity with Palestinians who are being discriminated against by McDonald’s in Israel. Martin held a news conference to ask diners to avoid eating at McDonald’s restaurant to “help fight racism in Israel.” “We heard sirens in the distance, and suddenly two police cars filled with officers showed up and parked in the middle of the street,” said Martin.” People who knew nothing about the boycott suddenly wondered what was going on. Fox 5 New York, as well as a photographer for the Chicago Tribune, captured the event. Read more about New York City Police Have A 'Big Mac Attack' As Florida U.S. Senate Candidate Andy Martin Launches Worldwide McDonald's Boycott
Congress of South African Trade Unions23 March 2004
The Congress of South African Trade Unions condemned the assassination of Sheikh Ahmed Yassin. “This murder of the spiritual leader of Hamas, carried out under the personal order of Prime Minister Sharon, is further proof that the Israeli regime will stop at nothing to deny self-determination, democracy and human rights to the Palestinian people.” COSATU called on governments “to condemn Israel’s act of terrorism” and to withdraw all support from Sharon’s government until “he concedes to the legitimate demands of the Palestinian people. This week, South Africans commemorate the Sharpeville massacre. Read more about Congress of South African Trade Unions condemns assassination Sheikh Ahmad Yassin
