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Crossing the Line interviews EI co-founder Ali Abunimah

27 February 2008


This week on Crossing The Line: Presidential hopefulls are traveling across the US addressing issues like the economy, abortion, taxes and the war on Iraq. While John McCain is running on a platform similar to the policies of the Bush administration, the biggest issue for the democratic candidates is change. But when it comes to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, are any of the candidates addressing the offering a solution that is any different from recent White House administrations? Host Naji Ali* speaks with EI co-founder Ali Abunimah about the US presidential candidates and their views on the conflict in the Middle East. 

Isolated by the wall: The case of Nu'man village

26 February 2008


The village of Nu’man lies at the southeast edge of the Jerusalem Municipality, a few hundred meters north of Beit Sahour, a Palestinian town near Bethlehem. Northwest of Nu’man, in East Jerusalem, lie the villages of Umm Tuba and Sur Baher and the Har Homa settlement. Nu’man’s 170 residents live in almost total isolation from Jerusalem and the West Bank. 

Looking for a new Palestinian partner

Hasan Abu Nimah 28 February 2008


At Annapolis, just like on so many occasions before, it was proclaimed that a “window of opportunity” had opened. Since the meeting, Israel’s military attacks have killed nearly 150 Palestinians in the occupied territories and Israel has escalated the construction of new settlements, increased the number of roadblocks and tightened its siege of Gaza. But for Israeli leaders it is always the Palestinians who are to blame for missing any “opportunities.” EI contributor Hasan Abu Nimah comments. 

Gaza flower producers watch their industry die

26 February 2008


When Hassan Sheikh Hijazi first opened his flower farm in 1991, it flourished. “We had a very good family business,” he says. “We exported hundreds of thousands of flowers to Holland and from there our flowers were sold across Europe. The traders knew our flowers were good quality — and Gaza was open for business.” With its mild coastal weather and well-drained soil, the Gaza Strip is an ideal location for commercial flower farming. There are more than a hundred small flowers farms across the Gaza Strip, and they employ some 7,000 farm workers between them. 

Palestine and the Kosovo analogy

Benton Williams 26 February 2008


Dear Ali Abunimah: I have long been and continue to be an ardent admirer of your work, particularly your forceful, unflinching regard for truth and justice, no matter who agrees or disagrees. Based on that virtue of yours, I trust you will take my concern over your characterization of the Serbia/Kosovo question with proportionate seriousness. You respond to the Haaretz columns about whether Kosovo is Palestine or Israel by engaging in their debate which is, literally, nonsense. That is, Kosovo is Kosovo and Serbia is Serbia. 

Yes, Canada, there is torture in Israel

Louis Frankenthaler 26 February 2008


Israeli Ambassador Alan Baker recently expressed his indignation over Canada’s listing of Israel as a state that engages in torture in a training manual for diplomats. The ambassador asserts that torture is not practiced by Israel and based on this it seems that the Canadian Foreign Ministry will reevaluate this manual and “correct” it. The problem, however, is not the manual but the fact that Israel continues to regularly practice torture. Louis Frankenthaler comments. 

EU considers strengthening "security" research with Israel

David Cronin 26 February 2008


BRUSSELS, 22 February (IPS) - The European Union is considering new steps to deepen its cooperation on scientific research with Israel, despite admitting that previous funds earmarked for that purpose have gone to firms operating illegally in the Palestinian territories. Between now and 2013, the Israeli government is to contribute 440 million euros (652 million dollars) per year so that it can participate in the EU’s so-called framework program for research. 

Death of PA detainee raises suspicions of torture

26 February 2008


On 22 February 2008, the death of 44-year-old Majd Abdul-Aziz al-Barghouti was announced. He was a resident of Kobar village, located near the town of Ramallah, West Bank. Al-Barghouti was arrested on 14 February 2008, at the hands of the Palestinian General Intelligence in the West Bank. According to the information retrieved by Al Mezan, al-Barghouti was arrested for political reasons and without observance of the legal process.