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Nablus Invasion Diary III: Resistance, Hypocrisy, and Dead Men Walking

Anna Baltzer Nablus, Palestine 14 March 2007


13 March 2007: What most struck me about the Nablus invasion wasn’t the killing of unarmed civilians. It wasn’t the obstruction of medical workers and ambulances, or the indiscriminate detention of males, or the occupied houses and curfews. What I will remember for the rest of my life is the steadfast resistance of the people of Nablus. I came to Palestine to document and intervene in human rights abuses and to support nonviolent resistance to the Occupation. As I delivered bread and medicine with medical relief workers throughout the invasion, I wondered if I was really fulfilling my mission. 

Haifa Planning Committee rules against confiscation of Arab land

12 March 2007


The decision of the Haifa District Planning and Building Committee prevented gross violations of Arab landowners rights to property and safeguarded their basic source of livelihood. It also removed all the limitations on land use proposed by the plan. On 8 March 2007, Adalah received the decision of the Sub-Committee for Objections within the Haifa District Planning and Building Committee to accept the objection of Adalah against plans to earmark an area of land cultivated by Arab farmers in the north of Israel as forested land. 

One Killed, 14 Wounded in Gaza Strip internal violence

14 March 2007


On Tuesday evening, 13 March 2007, a member of the ‘Izziddin al-Qassam Brigades (the armed wing of Hamas) was killed and 10 other persons, including three members of the ‘Izziddin al-Qassam Brigades, were wounded in Gaza City in an incident related to the clashes that took place last month in the Gaza Strip. Additionally, four persons, including a child, were wounded in clashes between members of Hamas and those of Fatah movement in the northern Gaza Strip. 

Obama loses ground in vital campaign rally

Ewen MacAskill 13 March 2007


A week ago they were competing for African-American votes in the Deep South. But late on Monday Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama went head to head for another key demographic group: Jewish voters. In one of the most important campaign stops yet, supporters from the Clinton and Obama camps, as well as other presidential hopefuls, flooded the hallways of the Washington Convention Centre distributing fliers and shouting through loudhailers in their bid to draw people in. Mr Obama made his pitch in room 150, and a few minutes later, in room 152, it was the turn of Mrs Clinton. 

The UN Anti-Racism Committee questions Israel's policy of apartheid

13 March 2007


On 22-23 February 2007, after nearly 10 years of evading its responsibility, Israel finally met with the Committee for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) to discuss its report on the implementation of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination. A number of Palestinian, Israeli and international NGOs attended, including Adalah, ACRI, Al Haq, Amnesty International, Badil, B’Tselem, Habitat Coalition International, and National Lawyers Guild. Summarized are some of the issues raised by the members of the Committee during their discussion with the Israeli delegation and in their Concluding Observations. 

Palo Dutch Concept Factory returns to Ramallah

Arjan El Fassed 13 March 2007


The Palo-Dutch Concept Factory has a clear core business: generating ideas, for campaigning in the broadest sense. These ideas are born in Ramallah, Palestine. Generating ideas such as “Send a Friend” (connecting schoolkids in Palestine and the Netherlands), “Sell the Wall” (how to create awareness and involvement of mainstream Dutch with the Wall) and “Palovision”, the Palestinian entry for the Eurovision Song Competition in 2008, a mix of humor, irony, implicit politics and smart use of Dutch media, the Palo Dutch Concept Factory organizes its next workshop in Ramallah on May 4, 5 and 6, 2007. For this workshop PDCF is looking for Palestinian creative minds. 

Audio Download: "Palestine" from rapper Patriarch's debut album

13 March 2007


As an Arab-American rap artist living in a post 9-11 world, Patriarch speaks to the masses about the stereotypes, fear and anger towards the Arab world. He flawlessly delivers his message of political activism to relatively untouched US market of over four million Arab-Americans. With a blend of massive beats, politically charged lyrics, and a gift of determination, Son of a Refugee is sure to grab your attention, as well as make you think twice about the world you live in. 

Al Mezan condemns the kidnapping of BBC journalist

13 March 2007


Unknown persons kidnapped the BBC’s correspondent in the Gaza Strip. This incident brings to the fore the issue of the kidnapping of foreigners in Gaza and exerts a negative impact on the freedom of speech and access to information. According to Al Mezan’s field information, at approximately 14.45pm on 12 March 2007, four gunmen in a white Subaru blocked the way of the British journalist Alan Johnston, while he was driving down in Al Wehda Street, and forced him out of his car. No information on his whereabouts has yet been released. 

Olmert's leaked testimony reveals real goal of summer war

Jonathan Cook 13 March 2007


Israel’s supposedly “defensive” assault on Hizbullah last summer, in which more than 1,000 Lebanese civilians were killed in a massive aerial bombardment that ended with Israel littering the country’s south with cluster bombs, was cast in a definitively different light last week by Israeli prime minister Ehud Olmert. His leaked testimony to the Winograd Committee — investigating the government’s failures during the month-long attack — suggests that he had been preparing for such a war at least four months before the official casus belli: the capture by Hizbullah of two Israeli soldiers from a border post on 12 July 2006. 

BBC's Alan Johnston second reporter kidnapped in Gaza this year

12 March 2007


Reporters Without Borders voiced concern today after British journalist Alan Johnston, who has been the BBC’s correspondent in Gaza for more than three years, was kidnapped by gunmen near his office this afternoon as he was returning from the Erez Crossing between the Gaza Strip and Israel. “We call for the immediate release of this journalist, who has lived and worked in the Palestinian territories for years,” the press freedom organisation said. “We urge both President Mahmoud Abbas and Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh to react at once to speed up his release. A response from all of us is essential.”