30 November 2010
More than three years after Nahr al-Bared refugee camp in the north of Lebanon was destroyed, its reconstruction is finally under way. However, the process runs at a slow pace and remains only partially funded as further political obstacles appear on the horizon. Read more about Nahr al-Bared reconstruction delay throws civil rights into spotlight
30 November 2010
In his new book Hidden Histories: Palestine and the Eastern Mediterranean, Basem Ra’ad unearths new renderings of religious, historical and cultural material and offers readers a direction for thinking about research and activism alike. Read more about Book review: excavating Palestine's "Hidden Histories"
29 November 2010
It was a bright, warm morning in the occupied West Bank’s Saffa Valley Thursday, 18 November when, without warning, the Israeli occupation forces were upon us. Within moments, five Israeli soldiers were shouting in Hebrew. “You have one minute to leave the area!” they said, before shooting stun grenades at our feet. Moments later, we were told to sit quietly and hand over our passports. A six-hour detention was to follow. Read more about Arrested while helping farmers in Saffa Valley
Gilboa Prison 29 November 2010
The following is an excerpt from a letter by Palestinian political prisoner and civil society leader Ameer Makhoul, written in response to a postcard featuring an image of a lighthouse sent by The Electronic Intifada contributor Adri Nieuwhof: “The lighthouse, al-fanar in Arabic, is an inspiration. I have built a lighthouse here in jail. It has been built in my mind because I am not allowed to use the space, but my mind is totally mine.” Read more about Letter from prison: I have a lot of energy to struggle
29 November 2010
Scottish artist Jane Frere’s exhibition In the Shadow of the Wall reminds us that the plight of the Palestinian people is not just confined to periods of overt conflict, but is an ongoing, everyday experience. Stephen Fiddes reviews for The Electronic Intifada. Read more about Review: paintings scream to break walls of silence
25 November 2010
An Israeli military judge extended the jail term for Abdallah Abu Rahme, a well-known Palestinian activist who was due to be released on 18 November. Meanwhile, in New York City, students created a mock Israeli checkpoint in the middle of Columbia University and in Scotland Edinburgh-based activists worked with one of the country’s top law firms to advise the city council not to contract with Veolia. Read more about Activism roundup: Abu Rahme sentence extended, students stage mock checkpoint
Aida refugee camp 25 November 2010
The holiday of Eid al-Ahda — the Feast of the Sacrifice — is celebrated by Muslims across the world to commemorate the prophet Abraham’s sacrifice of a sheep in the place of his son Ishmael. Palestine is no different than most countries where the holiday is observed, but with one notable exception: the Israeli occupation. Photographer Sanne Winderickx documents the Eid al-Adha holiday under occupation in the West Bank. Read more about Photostory: somber holiday under occupation
24 November 2010
Volvo prides itself on being a byword for sturdiness, safety and reliability. After a careful examination of the vehicle-maker’s investment in Israel, perhaps it should also become synonymous with enabling torture. Read more about Volvo equipment enabling torture, facilitating occupation
24 November 2010
To accuse Hamas of marketing fundamentalism and extremism in the Gaza Strip is false and inaccurate. There is no “Talibanization” of Gaza. Such a claim is based on Israeli propaganda and the deliberately distorted accounts of those in Gaza who are politically and ideologically opposed to the government of Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh. Ahmed Yousef, Deputy of the Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, comments for The Electronic Intifada. Read more about There is no "Talibanization" of Gaza
23 November 2010
Any major film addressing the Israel-Palestine conflict can expect to court a measure of controversy, but American artist and filmmaker Julian Schnabel’s intervention is unlikely to cause much consternation among a mainstream cinema audience. Omar El-Khairy reviews Schnabel’s film Miral for The Electronic Intifada. Read more about Film review: Palestine as Hollywood fantasy in "Miral"