November 2011

UK student body slams university's Ahava link

Ben White 30 November 2011

A collaboration between King’s College London (KCL) and an Israeli company located in an illegal West Bank settlement has been condemned by the UK’s National Union of Students (NUS), in a significant boost for campaigners. In a meeting Monday night of the NUS’ National Executive Council (NEC), a motion demanding the “immediate end” of KCL’s research project with Ahava was passed with no votes against. 

Student tells EI about Sabra hummus boycott victory at her high school

Maureen Clare Murphy 29 November 2011

Today Nadine Darwish, a sophomore at Lincoln-Way High School in the Chicago suburbs, tweeted the news that her school will no longer serve Sabra brand hummus. This afternoon she told me more about what happened, and that others concerned with human rights shouldn’t be intimidated from speaking up. 

Private security guards kill with impunity in East Jerusalem

Jillian Kestler-D'Amours Silwan 28 November 2011

According to the Association for Civil Rights in Israel, 350 private Israeli security guards are currently employed in East Jerusalem by private security firm Modi’in Ezrahi, which is subcontracted by the Israeli Ministry of Housing and Construction, to protect 2,000 settlers living illegally in the occupied territory. 

The Electronic Intifada barred from reporting inside UK “delegitimization” conference

Asa Winstanley 26 November 2011

An anti-Palestinian conference due to take place in the UK tomorrow has barred The Electronic Intifada from attending the event, despite admitting other journalists will be given free entry. “The Big Tent For Israel” in Manchester will bring together an alliance of pro-Israel groups specifically to combat the increasingly successful Palestinian campaign of boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS). New Israeli ambassador Daniel Tuab is due to address the conference as keynote speaker, according to its program. The event is focused on a 2010 report by influential Israeli think tank the Reut Institute, which named London as the “hub of hubs of delegitimization”. 

Officials suspect French megabank BNP Parisbas pulled out of Israel due to boycott pressure

Ali Abunimah 25 November 2011

Israeli officials suspect that France-based megabank BNP Parisbas has pulled out of Israel due to pressure from Palestine solidarity groups, even though the bank itself has denied this. Haaretz reported on 24 November: The powers that be are furious at BNP Paribas for shuttering its operations in Israel, and suspect it is acting due to Arab and anti-Israeli pressure in France, the bank’s home base. 

In new pinkwashing recruitment campaign, Israel offers free travel for propaganda services

Asa Winstanley 24 November 2011

The story of the floundering “Brand Israel” advertising campaign continues. An Israeli government ministry has established a propaganda website called Hasbara.gov.il – a Hebrew word often translated as “propaganda”. A notice was recently published on the site asking for volunteer “candidates eligible to conduct public diplomacy activities abroad”. The volunteers “will not be eligible for any remuneration” apart from “costs of travel, daily expenses and insurance”. The advert is also the latest episode in Israel’s cynical “pinkwashing” strategy. The ministry’s advert says it is looking particularly for “minority members” and “representatives of the gay community” to argue Israel’s case abroad. 

Are the Freedom Rides a detour for the struggle?

Linah Alsaafin 23 November 2011

Last week, six courageous Palestinians attempted to defy racism, segregation and apartheid by boarding Jewish settler-only buses in the hopes of reaching Jerusalem, a city off limits to Palestinians in the West Bank. However, the symbolic, media-friendly act — and its debatable relevance to the average Palestinian — begs some important questions. 

Boycott activists to US hip-hop artist MF Doom: "Don't entertain a doomed apartheid regime!"

Nora Barrows-Friedman 21 November 2011

Boycott campaigners call on MF Doom and French singer Mireille Mathieu to cancel their upcoming performances in Tel Aviv, and activists in Ireland demand that a film forum refuse to host the Israeli embassy for a de-politicized “celebration of Israeli cinema.” 

Zionist tourists harass Palestinian residents in Hebron

Rana Baker 21 November 2011

If you’re beaten up, harassed, or verbally attacked for no reason, know that you’re in an area under Israeli colonial control. Indeed, one must find this irrational. Physics suggest that “to every action there is always an equal and opposite reaction.” This could apply to most life cases too. When you’re in the Occupied Palestinian Territories or Israel, however, you obviously “provoke” a reaction by simply being Palestinian. 

Video: Donald Rumsfeld confronted for "illegal wars" at Texas college speech

Ali Abunimah 20 November 2011

Former US Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, key planner and executor of the invasions and occupations of Afghanistan, Iraq, the “War on Terror” and torture and human rights abuses at Guantanamo Bay, Abu Ghraib and other suspected secret prisons around the world, was disrupted and confronted by protestors as he spoke at Collin County Community College near Dallas, Texas on 18 November. 

New video shows Israeli forces dragging Palestinian Freedom Riders from settler bus

Maureen Clare Murphy 17 November 2011

“It’s just because I’m Palestinian” shouts a young woman toward the Israeli soldiers dragging her from a bus that serves Israel’s settler population and travels its segregated roads. Video shot by Anne Paq with the ActiveStills collective shows activists boarding the bus and Israeli forces asking them in broken Arabic for their travel permits. The soldiers then drag the activists from their seats. 

Palestinians express solidarity to NYC 'Occupy' camp before raid; Activist in tweet controversy linked to Israel PR groups

Abraham Greenhouse 14 November 2011

Activists delivered a statement of solidarity from Palestinians to the Occupy Wall Street camp in New York City shortly it was was demolished by police, and an OWS activist who played a role in the deletion of an OWS tweet supporting the aid flotilla to Gaza has ties to a conservative lobbyist and Israel PR groups 

UK regulator rules against deceptive settlement ad in The Jewish Chronicle

Ali Abunimah 14 November 2011

The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA), the UK body that regulates truthfulness in advertising, has ruled against an ad in The Jewish Chronicle for promoting real estate in illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank. The 2 November ASA ruling says that the ad, which appeared in June 2011, was headlined, “Vineyard View EFRAT New Neighbourhood in Dekel UNIQUE DEVLEOPMENT [sic] OF 26 NEW HOUSES.” According to the ASA: 

In name of "freedom," University of Chicago threatens Condoleezza Rice protestors

Benjamin Doherty 14 November 2011

In an Orwellian move, the Provost of the University of Chicago sent an email to the entire campus titled “Freedom of Expression” to announce the university’s intention to crack down on any protestors of tomorrow’s event with former Bush administration officials Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson. Provost Thomas Rosenbaum wrote: 

"I wish Dad was here celebrating Eid with me"

Shahd Abusalama 13 November 2011

Many people in Palestine couldn’t feel the happiness of Eid at its fullest, especially the detainees’ families. Gomana is a ten-year-old girl whose mother died after she delivered her, and whose father has been imprisoned since she was less than two years old, leaving her uncle to look after her. She started calling him Dad till she once came back from her school to discover that he was killed by the IOF leaving her to her 70-year-old grandmother to take care of her. 

Video: Brief documentary highlights "stunning" BDS actions in France

Benjamin Doherty 13 November 2011

Belgian journalist and filmmaker Chris den Hond has released a brief documentary about the boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) movement. The video explains the justifications for consumer and academic boycott and features stunning footage of non-violent confrontational actions taken by French solidarity activists. It also discusses the repression activists face in France for their activities and the government’s efforts to criminalize Palestine solidarity. 

Raed Salah granted permission to appeal UK deportation in higher court

Asa Winstanley 11 November 2011

Leading Palestinian activist Sheikh Raed Salah has been granted permission to appeal deportation from the UK on all six grounds submitted to the judge, his lawyers said today. After losing an initial appeal in the First Tier (Immigration) Tribunal at the end of last month, Salah lodged another appeal in a higher court. In a press release, Salah’s lawyer Tayab Ali said: Being granted permission to appeal on all grounds is highly significant. It is clear that the Home Secretary has repeatedly exercised poor judgment. 

Police forcibly prevent public from attending SJP event at University of Pittsburgh

Ali Abunimah 9 November 2011

Officials at the University of Pittsburgh attempted to shut down a Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) event featuring slam poet Remi Kanazi and journalist Joseph Dana on 2 November, according to student organizers. The university police also forcibly prevented members of the public who had taken part in an Occupy Pittsburgh march from attending the event. 

Professionals said to be behind hack attack on Russell Tribunal website

Asa Winstanley 8 November 2011

As the second day of the Russell Tribunal on Palestine’s South Africa session was underway in Cape Town on Sunday, the tribunal’s website was taken offline by a sophisticated cyber attack. The internet consultant who founded the Russell Tribunal website says the attack was “no amateur attempt”. UPDATE, 9 November: The site is finally back up as of this morning. It took 1&1 four days to restore service. 

Freedom Waves participants still detained in Israeli prison

Jalal Abukhater 7 November 2011

Only six out of the original 27 Freedom Waves participants have been released, twenty-one participants are still detained in Israeli prisons.  Egyptian journalist with Almasry Alyoum, Lina Attalah was the first to be released, she was handed over to officials at the Egyptian Embassy in Israel who later escorted her back home to Egypt through Taba crossing, Lina wrote an eyewitness account which can be found here. 

Actions in support with the FreedomWaves ships

Jalal Abukhater 3 November 2011

Demonstrations were held today in Ramallah and Gaza in support with the Freedom Waves flotilla on it’s way to Gaza. Protesters in Ramallah marched from Manara Square to a UN building to demand protection for the Freedom Waves flotilla. Palestinian youth also submitted a statement demanding UN action to protect the boats and end complicity with the Gaza siege. 

London launch of Russell Tribunal book examining corporate complicity in Israel's occupation

Asa Winstanley 3 November 2011

The South Africa session of the Russell Tribunal on Palestine will be opened by Archbishop Desmond Tutu on Saturday. Two weeks from now on Thursday 17 November there will be a book launch in London to celebrate the publication of my new book: Corporate Complicity in Israel’s Occupation. The book, which I edited along with Frank Barat, is a record of the findings of last year’s London session of the Russell Tribunal on Palestine. 

Olympia Food Co-op fights back against Israel-backed anti-boycott lawsuit

Ali Abunimah 2 November 2011

The Olympia Food Co-op (OFC) is fighting back against an Israel-backed lawsuit aimed at forcing it to end its boycott of Israeli goods. Lawyers from the Center for Constitutional Rights (CCR) and Davis Wright Tremaine LLP, acting on behalf of the OFC, today filed a motion to dismiss the suit on the grounds that it violates a Washington state law to prevent use of the courts to silence free speech and public participation. 

FreedomWaves to Gaza!

Jalal Abukhater 2 November 2011

In the latest attempt to challenge Israel’s heinous, inhumane, and unjustified blockade over the Palestinian Gaza strip, two boats carrying Palestinian and international activists and journalists have set sail towards Gaza. Israel has used filthy tactics to foil last summer’s Gaza-bound flotilla.