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A Nakba inherited

Rami Almeghari Gaza Strip 21 May 2008


At the southernmost area of the Gaza Strip, where the Philadelphia route separates the coastal enclave from Egypt, there are scores of knocked down buildings. The destruction dates back to 2002, when Israeli army bulldozers demolished the houses of the Palestinian inhabitants of this border line. Among the houses that used to stand here was that of Ali Shaath, a 75-year-old Palestinian refugee from the Beer al-Saba’ village of historical Palestine. Rami Almeghari writes from the occupied Gaza Strip. 

New report critiques West Bank development projects

21 May 2008


With the Palestine Investment Conference (PIC) underway in Bethlehem and the celebrated reforms and development projects proposed last year by the Salam Fayyad appointed government, understanding development in Palestine is more important than ever. Both the PIC and the Fayyad development programs have already elicited severe criticism from Palestinian civil society, political opposition and local communities. 

Investors warned about access to occupied Palestine

20 May 2008


As hundreds of international investors begin arriving in Bethlehem for the Palestine Investment Conference scheduled for 21-23 May, the threat of being barred from entering the occupied West Bank by Israeli officials is likely to be foremost on everyone’s mind. Those hoping to actually invest in Palestine will be looking for answers regarding who will guarantee unhindered access in the future for themselves, their staff and the suppliers needed for investments to succeed in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. 

Rights group calls for law banning sectarian incitement

20 May 2008


BEIRUT, 20 May (IRIN) - Lebanon needs a new law banning sectarian prejudice and incitement, to help heal rifts that widened after last week’s fighting between opposition and pro-government forces, the Beirut-based Khiam Rehabilitation Centre said. The Khiam Centre’s call for such a law was made against a backdrop of fears among citizens that, unless checked, sectarian incitement might unleash another wave of killings as in the 1975-1990 civil war which had serious humanitarian consequences. 

Acknowledging the tragedy

Raja Shehadeh 21 May 2008


I grew up hearing about what my own family lost in Jaffa, the coastal city from which Jewish militias drove them in 1948. There were occasional references to Deir Yassin — where more than 100 unarmed Palestinian villagers were massacred — and the role it played in the psychological war against the Palestinians, who fled fearing for their lives. Raja Shehadeh writes from Ramallah. 

Refugees are the key

Sam Bahour 20 May 2008


Today there are over 5.5 million Palestinian refugees and displaced persons who have never been allowed the choice to return to their homes or given redress for their losses. The continued denial of their rights encapsulates the decades-long strife, disenfranchisement and dispossession the Palestinians have suffered. EI contributor Sam Bahour comments. 

Why an absolute boycott?

Jerry Roseman and Alia Banna 19 May 2008


As regular readers and supporters of The Electronic Intifada and in concert with much of the positions articulated by writers and contributers to EI, we have a question related to the 1 May Adalah-NY press release “Dubai begins to comply with calls to boycott settlement financier,” published in EI’s Activism news section and which seems to call for an absolute boycott of Israelis in Dubai. 

Israeli siege hits Gaza's special needs children

19 May 2008


Every day parents call the Atfaluna Society for Deaf Children in Gaza City and ask Suad Lubbad when the school will re-open. Suad is the Administrative Director of the school, which has 275 pupils aged 4-17, and was forced to close without notice in mid-April. Because of chronic fuel shortages, the buses that normally transport the pupils to school were suddenly grounded. 

In the wake of the Doha truce

Karim Makdisi 19 May 2008


With the army deployed throughout key areas, Lebanese citizens once again resumed their everyday activities under the more familiar conditions of a devastated environment, massive traffic jams, unregulated construction and urban planning, electricity and water shortages, state-sponsored theft or abuse of public lands and resources, rising poverty, inflation and unemployment, and one of the worst budget deficits per capita in the world. The illusion of normalcy has returned for the time being but the real question is: for how long? Karim Makdisi comments from Beirut. 

Film review: "Territories"

Stefan Christoff 19 May 2008


Territory is a central theme in all political conflicts in the world, as national borders across the globe have consistently shifted. EI contributor Stefan Christoff reviews Territories, a new feature documentary by Montreal filmmaker Mary Ellen Davis that explores the photographic work and global journeys of Larry Towell, of the world-renowned photo agency Magnum, who travels along the world’s most conflicted border zones, from Latin America to the Middle East.