May 2012

Right of return?

Nidal El-Khairy 27 May 2012

The Wadi Araba “peace” agreement signed by Jordan and Israel in 1994 normalized relations between the countries and was the first official agreement to deny Palestinian refugees’ right of return. 

Footballer's dad asks sports world to speak out for hunger-striking son as Israel violates prisoner deal

Ali Abunimah 24 May 2012

The father of Mahmoud Sarsak, a member of the Palestinian national football team jailed without charge or trial by Israel for almost three years, has called on the sporting world to speak out for his son who remains on hunger strike. Meanwhile Israel already violating deal that ended mass hunger strike. 

Israel will collapse unless Africans and Palestinians are expelled, fenced, says legal advocate

Ali Abunimah 23 May 2012

“The separation fence must be closed and sealed. The Egyptian border fence must be closed and sealed. We must build a fence on the Jordanian border immediately, no one gets in or out! Jews who live in Judea and Samaria [West Bank] may come in and out - Arabs may not come in and out.” 

BDS roundup: 10,000 signatures delivered to Irish corporation demanding divestment from Israeli contracts

Nora Barrows-Friedman 14 May 2012

This week in BDS news around the world: 10,000 signatures delivered to Irish building materials corporation demanding divestment from Israeli business contracts; a call for 24 hours of hunger in solidarity with Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails; and more! 

Thaer Halahleh's letter to his daughter: "My Beloved Lamar...Forgive me"

Linah Alsaafin 12 May 2012

On his 75th day of hunger strike, Thaer Halahleh sends a heartbreaking message to his 2 year old daughter Lamar: “Lamar my love: I know that you are not to be blamed and that you don’t yet understand why your father is going through this battle of the hunger strike for the 75th day, but when you grow up you will understand that the battle of freedom is the battle of going back to you.” 

Palestinians shut down UN building in Ramallah to protest inaction over hunger strikers

Asa Winstanley 9 May 2012

At 7.30 this morning a small group of Palestinian prisoner solidarity activists in Ramallah swooped down on the United Nations compound in Ramallah. They blocked the main gate and doorway, preventing entrance to the UN building. UN employees have been turned away, sent home for the day. I went along a couple of hours later. Activists told me they intend to stay until the end of the working day at 5pm. Family members of prisoners took part in with the action, with more joining as the day went on. 

Football activism group in solidarity with imprisoned Palestinian footballer and all hunger strikers

Nora Barrows-Friedman 9 May 2012

Football Beyond Borders has issued a letter of solidarity with Palestinian prisoners currently on hunger strike. They also officially announced their boycott of the UEFA 2013 Under-21 European football championships, which Israel is set to host. 

New French president says boycott of Israeli goods "illegal," but Paris court acquits more BDS activists

Ali Abunimah 7 May 2012

French president-elect François Hollande has told a Jewish community publication that he opposes the boycott of Israeli goods, even apparently from Israeli settlements in occupied territories, and considers such boycotts “illegal.” Meanwhile a French court disagreed, acquitting another group of BDS activists in a significant legal victory. 

Columbia prof Katherine Franke joins academic boycott of Israel and will not speak at the Equality Forum

Benjamin Doherty 4 May 2012

In a statement and video published on the Gender and Sexuality Law Blog of Columbia Law School, Professor Katherine Franke has made a very public declaration of solidarity with Palestinians and support for the Palestinian call for Boycott Divestment and Sanctions on Israel. 

Hunger strike diaries: the fate of Palestinian political prisoners is "our shared responsibility"

Shahd Abusalama 3 May 2012

An ex-detainee Loai Odeh has taken writing as a way to express himself as one who has had enough of Israel’s brutality. This is my translation of Loai’s diaries of hunger strike that he wrote as Facebook status updates recalling his experience in Israel’s jails. 

Gravely ill Palestinian hunger striker faints in court as Israeli judges sentence him to slow death

Ali Abunimah 3 May 2012

Two days after doctors warned that hunger strikers Bilal Diab and Thaer Halahleh are at immediate risk of death, and being denied necessary medical treatment, the Israeli high court has once again delayed action on an appeal against their prolonged detention without charge. 

Remember when the Church of England voted against divestment from South Africa? A luta continua!

Ali Abunimah 2 May 2012

There will be huge disappointment from supporters of Palestinian rights and relief among supporters of Israel’s violation of those rights at the failure of the measure to divest from companies profiting from Israeli occupation at the United Methodist Church’s General Conference. Perhaps, some may conclude, the battle is too tough and what worked against South Africa can never work against Israel. 

Video: Palestinian woman "takes over" Israeli military vehicle at Ofer protest for hunger strikers

Ali Abunimah 2 May 2012

This video shows a Palestinian woman mounting an Israeli military vehicle amid protests near Ofer Prison in the Israeli-occupied West Bank on 1 May, in solidarity with hunger-striking Palestinian prisoners. The video also shows Israeli occupation forces attacking female protestors with pepper spray directed into their eyes from close range as they lie on the ground. 

Urgent action needed to save lives of Palestinian hunger strikers Bilal Diab and Thaer Halahleh, doctors warn

Ali Abunimah 1 May 2012

Two Palestinian hunger strikers are at grave risk of death unless urgent action is taken, two human rights organization have warned. Even with their grave physical conditions, Bilal Diab and Thaer Halahleh are being denied family and lawyer visits and being subjected to mistreatement and denial of necessary medical care.