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Examiner pulls offensive ad, apologizes

Ali Abunimah 28 January 2005


The company that publishes The San Francisco Examiner and Washington Examiner newspapers has pulled an advertisement that demonized Palestinian children and has apologized for causing offense. The advertisement appeared in Media Week, a trade publication, as part of a campaign by The Examiner to sell advertising space in its newspapers. On 25 January, EI asked its readers to The Examiner, to politely request that the company withdraw the ad and apologize. EI welcomes The Examiner’s prompt and responsible action. 

One land two systems announces winners architecture competition

28 January 2005


On 6th February, 2005, One Land Two Systems is presenting the results of its international architecture competition for an alternative to the Israeli government masterplan devised for the ‘unrecognised’ Palestinian village of Ein Hud in Israel. The story of Ein Hud, south of Haifa, is a typical example of the complex reality of ideological planning in Israel – and how such planning contributes to the Israeli-Palestinian tragedy. The competititon has been a huge success, with over 100 entries arriving from more then 30 countries, each one outlining a sustainable and liveable alternative for the Palestininan village, in contrast to the Israeli government’s unworkable plan. 

Adalah critical of Attorney General's response to petition against Jewish-only land sales

26 January 2005


In response to a petition filed by Adalah to the Supreme Court of Israel, Attorney General Menachem Mazuz ruled yesterday, 26 January 2004, that the Israel Lands Administration cannot discriminate against Arab citizens of Israel in the marketing and allocation of the lands it manages, even lands belonging to the Jewish National Fund. The ILA has managed JNF-owned land since 1961. Until now, ILA bids for JNF-owned lands have been open to Jews only. “One the one hand, the decision is positive,” said Adalah’s Attorney Suhad Bishara. The Attorney General also decided whenever a non-Jewish citizen wins an ILA tender for a plot of JNF-owned land, the ILA will compensate the JNF with an equal amount of land. “This allows the JNF to maintain its current hold over 2.5 million dunams of land, or 13% of the total land in Israel,” said Bishara. 

Special Rapporteur: Israel will remain occupier after disengagement

27 January 2005


Israel will remain an occupying power, subject to the Fourth Geneva Convention, wrote UN Special Rapporteur John Dugard in his most recent report to the UN Human Rights Commission. In his report to the Commission, Dugard said that Israel does not plan to relinquish its grasp on the Gaza Strip. “It plans to retain ultimate control over Gaza by controlling its borders, territorial sea and airspace. Consequently, it will in law remain an Occupying Power still subject to obligations under the Fourth Geneva Convention. Dugards report focused upon military incursions into the Gaza Strip, the demolition of homes, violations of human rights and humanitarian law arising from the construction of the Wall and the pervasiveness of restrictions of movement. 

Israeli High Court rejects petition against Israeli general

26 January 2005


The High Court of Justice today rejected a petition by Yesh Gvul, the Public Committee Against Torture in Israel, writers, poets, intellectuals and pilots to block Major General Dan Halutz’s recent appointment as Deputy Chief of Staff. The petitioners argued that Halutz was unfit for the post because of what they called his “brutal violation of the ethical code of war” and a “lack of remorse” over the deaths of Palestinians in extra-judicial executions. In July 2002, the Israeli air force carried out a strike against senior Hamas member Salah Shehadeh in Gaza. Shehadeh was killed, along with 14 others in his immediate vicinity. General Halutz, who was air force commander at the time, told the pilots involved in the mission that “they can sleep soundly, and that their performance was perfect.” 

Israeli human rights groups to Attorney General: "Cancel plans to demolish homes in Rafah"

26 January 2005


Eight human rights organizations today urged Attorney General Meni Mazuz to declare the IDF’s plans to demolish houses along the “Philadelphi” route illegal and order their cancellation. The media recently reported that the IDF requested Mazuz’s opinion on a plan to dig a channel and fill it with water as a way to cope with the tunnels being built to smuggle weapons. According to the reports, the IDF presented three alternative plans for digging the channel. The most extensive plan calls for the destruction of some 3,000 homes, another plan requires the destruction of about 700 homes, and 200 homes will be destroyed according to the “limited” plan. 

Palestinians at World Social Forum: "End the Israeli military occupation"

Arjan El Fassed 27 January 2005


Several Palestinian and Syrian NGO’s based in territories occupied by Israel will join thousands of civil society groups, organizations and people from around the world at the World Social Forum (WSF) in Porto Alegre, Brazil, calling for world leaders to commit to an end of the Israeli military occupation of the West Bank, Gaza Strip and the Golan Heights. The WSF is a unique platform where social movements, networks, NGOs, and individuals come together to debate, analyse and formulate alternatives. They appeal to participants to undertake urgent action so that people living in the region can freely exercise their basic individual and collective rights. 

First meeting of experts on the cultural heritage of the Old City of Jerusalem

26 January 2005


UNESCO Director-General Koïchiro Matsuura today opened the first meeting of a Committee of Experts on the Cultural Heritage of the Old City of Jerusalem, a site inscribed on UNESCO’s World Heritage List in 1981 by virtue of its outstanding cultural value. In his address, the Director-General welcomed the fact that it was now possible for the Organization to start working on the preparation of a “comprehensive proposal in a spirit of cooperation with all the concerned parties” for the safeguarding of the cultural heritage of the Old City of Jerusalem, an issue that has been on the agenda of UNESCO’s governing bodies since 1967. The Committee of Experts numbers 12 internationally renowned architects, archeologists, curators, restorers, architectural historians and structural engineers with professional knowledge of the Old City of Jerusalem. 

"Zionism today is the real enemy of the Jews"

Victor Kattan 26 January 2005


On the eve of the 60th anniversary of the liberation of the former Nazi concentration and extermination camp, Auschwitz-Birkenau, 355 people cast a majority vote in favour of a motion that “Zionism today is the real enemy of the Jews” at a debate that took place on Tuesday 25 January at the Royal Geographical Society in London. The debate was organized by intelligence2 (the London Forum for Live Debate) sponsored by the Evening Standard - a local London newspaper. It was chaired by Richard Lindley, a veteran television reporter for ITN and the BBC. 

Israel's increasing reliance on the "anti-Semitism" defense

Nigel Parry 26 January 2005


A year ago, on 22 January 2004, Israel’s Minister for Jerusalem and Diaspora Affairs, Natan Sharansky, announced that the Israeli Government had designated January 27 as a “National Day to Combat Anti-Semitism”. “Anti-Semitism threatens the Jewish people, the very existence of the State of Israel, and in fact the entire world,” said Sharansky. “We must raise awareness in Israel, strengthen the solidarity between Israel and world Jewry, and increase Israeli citizens’ sense of responsibility regarding events in the Diaspora.” EI’s Nigel Parry notes an increasingly disturbing pattern of linkage.