30 April 2011
Following the recent direct action on the University of Arizona (UA) campus — in which an enormous mock wall was constructed to bring attention to Israel’s wall in the West Bank and the wall at the US-Mexico border — legendary intellectual and academic Dr. Read more about Dr. Cornel West endorses BDS, supports Ethnic Studies at University of Arizona
2 May 2011
Grassroots activist Bassem Tamimi was arrested at his West Bank village of Nabi Saleh on 25 March and has been in detention ever since. Last January, The Electronic Intifada contributor Max Blumenthal interviewed Tamimi about the village’s popular struggle against the occupation, of which he and his wife and brother have been central figures. Read more about Bassem Tamimi: "Our destiny is to resist"
30 April 2011
The last paragraph of an article published by Haaretz today on the disappearance of wildlife in Israel reads: “Only 298 winter rain pools remain in the entire country, and other typically Israeli landscapes are also disappearing.” “Typically Israeli” landscapes? Read more about Disappearing Palestine and "typically Israeli" landscapes
30 April 2011
Ma’an News Agency reported today that the Palestinian prisoner rights group Addameer is condemning the extended detention of Palestinian write and political activist Ahmad Qatamesh. The Electronic Intifada published a report on Qatamesh’s arrest yesterday; his wife told EI that Israeli soldiers raided their family home in al-Bireh, near Ramallah in the occupied West Bank, on 21 April. Read more about Qatamesh's detention extended despite insufficient evidence
29 April 2011
Fifty-one Canadian filmmakers issued a letter last week to the co-chairs of the Hot Docs documentary film festival to protest its partnership with the Israeli organization CoPro Documentary Marketing Foundation. According to a press release issued today, “The funders of CoPro include the Israel Film Council, an official part of the Israeli Ministry of Science, Culture and Sports, the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Golan Heights Winery, which operates illegally in the occupied Syrian Golan heights.” Read more about 51 Canadian filmmakers protest festival's normalization with Israel
28 April 2011
The 2011 London Palestine Flim Festival will open tomorrow, Friday, 29 April and will run through 11 May. The opening night will feature Zindeeq to be followed by a q & a with director Michel Khleifi and producer Omar Al-Qattan, chaired by Karma Nabulsi. Read more about London Palestine Film Festival opens tomorrow!
28 April 2011
You may recall that in January the Seattle Mideast Awareness Campaign had contracted with the local bus company to place ads calling for an end to aid to Israel on area public buses. However, under Zionist pressure, King County officials, responsible for the bus system, reneged on the contract and censored the ads before they appeared. This prompted the ACLU to sue the local authorities. Read more about Israel lobby strikes again as Seattle billboards are canceled?
28 April 2011
Elia’s Suleiman’s latest film The Time That Remains set in Nazareth after 1948 is as close to flawless as a film can be. Read more about Elia Suleiman's "The Time That Remains" is a masterpiece of cinema!
29 April 2011
Nidaa Khoury is a widely-known Palestinian poet with seven collections already published in Arabic and translated into multiple languages. Book of Sins is the first time her writing is available in English, and as such marks a significant accomplishment in the effort to bring Arab writers to an English audience. Read more about Poetry review: Plunging humanity's depths in "Book of Sins"
28 April 2011
Last week, Israeli forces raided the West Bank home of Suha Barghouti, arresting her husband, activist and writer Ahmad Qatamesh. Qatamesh was a political prisoner in the 1990s and was the longest-serving prisoner held without charge by Israel under administrative detention orders. Read more about Israel arrests writer, activist Ahmad Qatamesh, again
28 April 2011
EI’s Ali Abunimah, and youth leaders Lina Sharif in Gaza and Fadi Quran in the West Bank analyzed the Hamas-Fatah “unity” deal announced yesterday. The briefing was organized by the Institute for Middle East Understanding, and the guest host was Yousef Munayyer of the Palestine Center. Read more about Listen again: Lina Sharif, Fadi Quran, Ali Abunimah on Palestinian "unity" deal
28 April 2011
The notion that Spain’s government is more favorably disposed to the Palestinians than to the State of Israel falls apart under scrutiny. David Cronin analyzes for The Electronic Intifada. Read more about Spain a bastion of support for Palestine?
27 April 2011
Earlier this month, activists with the St. Louis Palestine Solidarity Committee scored an important victory in the cultural and academic boycott movement. Hip-hop artist Marvin Casey from Universal Beatz was disinvited to perform at Washington University in St. Louis, following revelations that his dance troupe is sponsored by the Jewish Agency for Israel. From their press release: Read more about Cultural boycott success in St. Louis
Gilboa Prison 27 April 2011
Palestinian Prisoners Day was marked on 17 April, an annual day to contemplate the individual and collective suffering and impossible pain of political prisoners and their families. Ameer Makhoul writes from Gilboa prison. Read more about Remembering Palestinian prisoners, renewing our struggle
27 April 2011
The London Palestine Film Festival, opening on 29 April, features thirty works ranging from documentary to fiction and animation. Four very different works typify the breadth of the program. Naira Antoun reviews for The Electronic Intifada. Read more about London festival expands view of films about Palestine
27 April 2011
Big news today about a reported “Hamas-Fatah reconciliation” deal. What does it mean? First, here’s what we know from Reuters: Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas’s Fatah movement has struck an agreement with bitter rival Hamas on forming an interim government and fixing a date for a general election, officials said Wednesday. Read more about Questions about "Hamas-Fatah reconciliation"
27 April 2011
In recent months, Israeli religious and political leaders have become more and more open about their anti-Arab and anti-Muslim racism. The Israeli press is full of it. The Jerusalem Post for example reports on a conference of Israeli Jewish religious leaders and municipal officials at which Rabbi Dov Lior, a prominent settler leader from Kiryat Arba near Hebron makes this outright call for ethnic cleansing: Read more about At officially sponsored meeting, Israel's racist rabbis say ethnic cleansing working, call for more
26 April 2011
The Alternative Information Center reports that writer Ahmad Qatamesh was arrested in his family’s Ramallah home by Israeli occupation forces and transferred to the Ofer detention center in Beitunia in the occupied West Bank: Read more about Will political arrest of Palestinian writer Ahmad Qatamesh be protested?
26 April 2011
Recent divestment campaigns across Canadian university campuses — specifically at Carleton and several universities in Toronto — have gained ground after strategic initiatives were launched and as more students, faculty and staff sign on to petitions of support. Read more about After rally at Board of Governors, Carleton University one step closer to divestment
Nablus 26 April 2011
Few visitors make it to the city of Nablus in the occupied West Bank, causing the city’s tourism sector to suffer. Read more about Nablus, beautiful and unvisited
26 April 2011
As the Cairo-based Arab League continues to back western military intervention in support of the popular rebellion in Libya, the League’s failure to back similar uprisings in other Arab countries — most notably Bahrain — has led to charges of double standards. Read more about Arab League's double standard
25 April 2011
Israel may be forgiven for failing to realize the current fiscal woes of the United States. After all, US military aid to Israel not only sailed unscathed through this month’s passage of the 2011 budget, but reached the record level of $3 billion. Josh Reubner comments. Read more about Costs of arming Israel can no longer be ignored
26 April 2011
Earlier, I blogged about how Students for Justice in Palestine activists at Yale delivered mock eviction notices to dormitory residents, in an effort to highlight the ongoing home demolitions in Palestine. Read more about Yale SJP activists on the real-life rights violations that inspired their mock eviction notice action
25 April 2011
More than half of Egyptians want their country’s peace treaty with Israel annulled. That is the finding of a new poll by the Pew Research Center’s Pew Global Attitudes Project. This will be a bitter disappointment for those who have been saying that the Arab uprisings have ‘nothing to do with Israel’ or would even be to the advantage of Israel. Read more about Pew poll: Majority of Egyptians want peace treaty with Israel canceled
25 April 2011
The Electronic Intifada contributor Ray Smith interviews Raja Khalidi, a senior economist with the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, about the PA’s economic policies and its implications for statehood. Read more about Interview: Raja Khalidi on the neoliberal consensus in Palestine
25 April 2011
On Tuesday, April 26, Adam Horowitz, co-editor of Mondoweiss and co-editor of the book The Goldstone Report: The Legacy of the Investigation of the Gaza Conflict and The Electronic Intifada’s Ali Abunimah, who is a contributor to the book, will speak jointly at The University of Chicago, followed by a Q&A. The event is cosponsored by Students for Justice in Palestine and the American Friends Service Committee. Read more about Chicago event on Gaza & Goldstone with EI's Ali Abunimah, Mondoweiss' Adam Horowitz
25 April 2011
A remarkable editorial in The New York Times this morning calling on President Obama to resume the “peace process” between Israelis and Palestinians (President Obama and the Peace Process). It’s remarkable for how detached it is from reality. It is time for Mr. Obama — alone or, better yet, in concert with Europe, Russia and the United Nations — to put a map and a deal on the table. Read more about New York Times delusional call for resumption of dead "peace process"
26 April 2011
Since being interviewed by The Electronic Intifada in 2009, Auschwitz survivor Hajo Meyer has toured numerous countries to speak about his efforts to combat Zionism and his support for the struggle of the Palestinian people for freedom and equality. Read more about "For as long as I can, I will continue": Hajo Meyer interviewed
22 April 2011
“Our South Africa moment has finally arrived,” said Palestinian author-activist Omar Barghouti in a series of speeches delivered in 2010. With the publication of BDS: The Global Struggle for Palestinian Rights, the first book dedicated to the game-changing boycott, divestment and sanctions movement — known by the initials BDS — has itself finally arrived. Read more about "Hypocrisy-seeking missile": Omar Barghouti's "BDS" reviewed
22 April 2011
The Electronic Intifada contributor Adri Nieuwhof interviewed Mireille Fanon-Mendes France, an activist and daughter of the celebrated anti-colonialist thinker Frantz Fanon, about her involvement in the Palestinian struggle for liberation. Read more about Interview: daughter of Frantz Fanon on Palestine solidarity
22 April 2011
The following is a press release from the Seattle Mideast Awareness Campaign (SeaMAC). The photo is by Peter Lippman. For more information about this campaign, visit www.stop30billion-Seattle.org Read more about Seattle billboard campaign calls to an end to US aid to Israel
22 April 2011
Earlier today, Jewish Voice for Peace responded to retirement giant TIAA-CREF’s efforts to thwart a shareholder resolution asking it to engage with companies in its portfolio that profit from Israel’s illegal occupation of the Palestinian territories. Read more about JVP challenges attempts to keep BDS resolution off TIAA-CREF shareholder ballot
22 April 2011
Here’s the Yale Daily News’ report on the Students for Justice in Palestine action: Many students were surprised to wake up Wednesday to fliers warning that their suites would be demolished within three days. Read more about Yale SJP issues mock eviction notices to dorm residents to highlight house demolitions
22 April 2011
The Palestinian human rights group Al-Haq released a report today examining the measures taken by the Israeli army in ‘Awarta under international humanitarian and human rights law, on the basis of the documentation collected by Al-Haq’s field researchers. Read more about New report by Al-Haq documents collective punishment in Awarta village
21 April 2011
Marred though it might have been by the paparazzi and diplomatic fiasco, Benjamin Netanyahu probably couldn’t be happier with how pop star Justin Bieber’s visit to Israel went. Read more about Bieber's empty pop can't drown out Palestine's cry
21 April 2011
The one-room school building in a Palestinian village on the “wrong” side of Israel’s wall is facing demolition orders as Israel refuses to grant permits to build extra classrooms. Read more about Israel issues demolition orders for Jerusalem school
20 April 2011
The Electronic Intifada contributor Jillian Kestler-D’Amours spoke with Muhammad Totah on the 289th day of his refugee at the Red Cross headquarters in East Jerusalem about why he has refused Israel’s orders to leave the city. Read more about Interview: Hamas lawmaker defies order to leave Jerusalem
19 April 2011
The Palestinian Authority is preparing to establish a state in the near future. But the Palestinian economy remains strongly tied to Israel, and manufacturers are struggling to recover from the second Palestinian intifada. Read more about Boom times in the West Bank?
Gaza Strip 18 April 2011
Palestinians in Gaza have reacted to the kidnapping and murder of Vittorio Arrigoni, a prominent Italian solidarity activist, with profound sadness. Read more about Gaza protests murder of Italian activist
18 April 2011
Land Week 2011 was kicked off with a massive demonstration of approximately 2,000 protesters in the southern city of Lydd on 29 March. Read more about Palestinian citizens call for their rights during Land Week
19 April 2011
The Israeli government has been increasingly revoking Jerusalem residency IDs and using tax collection as a means of forcing Palestinians out of the city. Jillian Kestler-D’Amours reports. Read more about Palestinians silently transferred from East Jerusalem
18 April 2011
Moves by the Israeli government and settler movement to appropriate historical sites undermine Palestinian cultural rights and highlight how Israel exploits archaeological claims for colonial ends. Read more about Israel appropriating historical sites for colonial ends
15 April 2011
Broadcasters across Europe are facing a storm of protests from pro-Israel groups over the screening of a TV drama about Palestine past and present. Neville Rigby asks if the controversy over The Promise is really because the program confronts some uncomfortable truths. Read more about Epic series "The Promise" dramatizes Palestine, past and present
15 April 2011
Palestinians and international solidarity activists around the world are collectively mourning the shocking death of Vittorio Arrigoni, an Italian journalist and solidarity activist. Arrigoni was also an occasional contributor to The Electronic Intifada. Read more about Vittorio Arrigoni, "hero of Palestine"
20 April 2011
In an effort to connect human rights struggles, students at the University of Arizona constructed a mock wall representing both Israel’s wall in the occupied West Bank and the wall on the US-Mexico border. Student groups at several other US campuses are now following suit. Read more about US students erect mock walls to connect struggles
14 April 2011
Jihad al-Qarra was eagerly anticipating his wedding to Nidal Qdieh later this month. But those plans were destroyed when an Israeli missile hit the Qdieh family home. Read more about Woman killed in Gaza air strike was anticipating wedding
14 April 2011
The Electronic Intifada attended a demonstration against home demolitions in Lydd on Tuesday night, 12 April. The demonstration was part of regular weekly protests against the increasing ghettoization of the heavily-segregated Palestinian areas of the city, which is located southeast of Tel Aviv. Read more about Lydd residents protest home demolitions
13 April 2011
Comedian Mark Thomas walked the full 723 kilometer route of Israel’s wall in the occupied West Bank, encountering Palestinians and settlers and getting detained along the way. Read more about Walking the wall: Comedian Mark Thomas interviewed
13 April 2011
A recent incident of repression of free speech at the University of Southern California is only one of many examples of the discrimination faced by Arab, Muslim and pro-Palestinian students at campuses around the United States. Read more about US campus activists facing increased repression
Gaza Strip 13 April 2011
The buzzing “insect” that disturbs any moment of peace in Gaza is the really the sound of the Israeli spy drones that constantly hover overhead. Read more about Insects in disguise
13 April 2011
Educators and students who took part in annual Land Day commemorations on 30 March are being investigated by the Israeli Education Ministry, which sent letters to Palestinian schools inside Israel demanding to see attendance reports. Read more about Israeli education ministry launches Land Day witch hunt
13 April 2011
Students at a historically Jewish university in the US disrupted a speech by Avi Dichter, calling him a torturer and war criminal. Read more about Video: Brandeis students disrupt speech of former Shin Bet chief
12 April 2011
CAIRO (IPS) - Two months since the ouster of longstanding president Hosni Mubarak, Egypt’s new transitional government is turning its attention to unpopular Mubarak-era foreign policies — with the ongoing Israeli-Egyptian blockade of the Gaza Strip top of the list. Read more about Post-Mubarak Egypt may end Gaza closure
12 April 2011
The EU’s unwillingness to address the treatment of Palestinians within Israel was exposed in a February report published by Adalah, a human rights organization based in Haifa, and the Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Network. Read more about EU turns blind eye to Palestinian citizens in Israel
11 April 2011
Rather than engage with Sami Al-Jundi’s actual experience and narrative, Raymond Deane uses his review for a cliched critique of Israeli-Palestinian dialogue. Deane’s account misrepresents the book, as well as Al-Jundi’s character, work and vision. Read more about Memoir a microcosm of the Palestinian experience
11 April 2011
A visit to Khuzaa village in the Gaza Strip is a lesson in Palestinian sumoud or steadfastness. Read more about Resilience in the green fields of Gaza
8 April 2011
Several Israeli soldiers testified at the witness stand in the Haifa district court earlier this week, as trial hearings continued in the case of Corrie vs. the State of Israel. As the trial drags on, years after Rachel Corrie’s killing, Israel’s impunity is being challenged and carefully cross-examined. Read more about Corrie lawsuit challenging Israeli impunity
8 April 2011
Under the guise of an investigation into the murders of the Fogel family in a nearby settlement, Israel laid siege to Awarta village though the identity of the perpetrator of the attack is unknown. Read more about Village remains under siege weeks after settlement murders
7 April 2011
As Palestinians were preparing for their weekend this Thursday afternoon, all of a sudden barrages of Israeli artillery fire and air raids by warplanes struck several regions of the Gaza Strip. Read more about Israeli attacks on Gaza kill 5, injure 30
7 April 2011
The racism of the American “war on drugs,” especially in the south, is notorious. So is the racism faced daily by Palestinians. In Atlanta, a university program allows these two manifestations of racism to feed off each other and community activists are organizing to shut the program down. Read more about Police training programs twin US-Israeli racism
6 April 2011
Israeli leaders have barely hidden their jubilation at an opinion article in last Friday’s Washington Post by the South African jurist Richard Goldstone reconsidering the findings of his United Nations-appointed inquiry into Israel’s attack on Gaza in winter 2008-09. In reality, however, he offered far less consolation to Israel than its supporters claim. Read more about Goldstone reconsideration undermines justice for Gaza
5 April 2011
Actor-director Juliano Mer-Khamis was shot dead by a masked gunman yesterday outside the Freedom Theatre that he co-founded in the Israeli-occupied West Bank city of Jenin. Maryam Monalisa Gharavi reflects on Mer-Khamis’ art and excerpts from a previously unpublished interview she did with the artist in 2006. Read more about Interview with the late Juliano Mer-Khamis: "We are freedom fighters"
4 April 2011
Until now, there have been good reasons to believe Israel would hesitate to launch a new major military assault on Gaza. But EI’s Ali Abunimah sees warning signs Israel could be laying the ground for another big attack. Read more about Another war on Gaza?
4 April 2011
Richard Goldstone’s shameful U-turn did not happen this week. It comes after more than a year and a half of a sustained campaign of intimidation and character assassination against the judge. Ilan Pappe comments for The Electronic Intifada. Read more about Goldstone's shameful U-turn
4 April 2011
Palestinian activist Jawad Siyam has been under house arrest for nearly three months after being accused of attacking a Palestinian neighbor in the occupied East Jerusalem village of Silwan. Jillian Kestler-D’Amours spoke to Siyam about his recent arrest, what life is like for Palestinians in Silwan, and what he thinks will happen in the future. Read more about Despite house arrest, Jerusalem activist will fight for Silwan
1 April 2011
Direct actions, rallies and protests took place across Palestine and in numerous cities across the world on 30 March to commemorate the 35th annual Land Day, an important day of remembrance for six Palestinians with Israeli citizenship gunned down by Israeli forces in 1976 during a general strike in protest of expanded land confiscation inside the state. Read more about Global actions mark Palestine's Land Day
1 April 2011
On 30 March 1976, while thousands of Palestinian citizens of Israel were protesting against the expropriation of their lands, Israeli security forces shot and killed six of them and injured many. Thirty-five years later, Mohammed Rabah Suliman writes about the significance of Land Day for Palestinians. Read more about In Palestine, curse anything but the land