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Civilians bear brunt of abuses, UN rights chief says

23 November 2006


Wrapping up a visit to the Middle East, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour said today that Palestinian and Israeli civilians were the primary victims of the alarming deprivation of human rights in the region. Speaking at the end of a five-day visit to the occupied Palestinian territory and Israel, the High Commissioner said her talks with both civilians on both sides affected by the violence made apparent “their profound sense of frustration and abandonment, including a perception that the international community is not doing enough to protect them.” 

Chaos Appears On the Horizon

Jacques N. Couvas 22 November 2006


(IPS) - The assassination of Pierre Gemayel in Beirut on Tuesday has interrupted an 18-month relative safety for anti-Syrian Lebanese politicians and intellectuals, and signals the kick-off of a series of events aiming at totally destabilising the ailing national government and dividing the Christian community in the country — and possibly plunging the entire region into chaos.
The murder of the minister of industry, shot in his car while returning from a suburban church, is very much in line with the recent killings of 15 political leaders and journalists, which culminated with the death of former prime minister Rafik Hariri in February 2005. 

Assassination Leaves Government Gasping

Hilmi Toros 23 November 2006


IPS - The assassination of Christian Maronite leader Pierre Gemayel does more than strike a blow to a fragile Lebanese government just trying to survive: it raises fears of sectarian violence with painful memories of a devastating 15-year civil war still fresh. And, on a regional scale, it does nothing to advance new thinking to involve Syria and Iran in search for an end to spiralling violence in Iraq. If normalcy can be restored in Lebanon after the shock, anger and unease in the aftermath of the slaying, it may be thanks to a sense of national identity. 

Artist Suzanne Klotz's Indispensable Guide to the Holy Land

Mulham Assir 24 November 2006


Suzanne Klotz is the creator of Thy Kingdom Come — Pocket Guide to the Holy Land, a vividly coloured book of captioned drawings that portray Israeli-occupied Palestine as she saw it between 1990 and 1995. To describe this work is in a sense to add a fourth lens to the view of the Israeli occupation and the associated war crimes being committed to perpetuate it, because the book is the artist’s vision of images seen through the naive eyes of an imaginary American tourist woman and her little daughter who arrive in the Holy Land excited to explore it. 

Gemayel's assassination: What do Lebanon's Shi'ite think?

Ramsay Short Beirut 24 November 2006


In the wake of Lebanese anti-Syrian Industry Minister Pierre Gemayel’s assassination on Tuesday the debate is raging on who was behind the killing and why. Thursday saw hundreds of thousands of Lebanese from all sects on the streets turn out for his funeral. They were there in genuine sadness at the murder of an elected cabinet minister and to show their disgust at the continued way violent killings are being used to conduct politics in Lebanon. The protest also saw calls for pro-Syrian President Emile Lahoud to resign and much anger directed against the also pro-Syrian Shi’ite group Hizbullah - whose supporters stayed away from the proceedings. 

Plays on Palestine sought for new Nibras theater project

23 November 2006


IBRAS Arab American Theater Collective is preparing for an event at the New York Theatre Workshop featuring plays and playwrights focusing on Palestine, and is seeking plays and playwrights to contribute to this event. Founded in June 2001, Nibras is an Arab-American theater collective built upon a shared passion and united by a common heritage. Our mission is to create a network for Arab-American theater artists to share their talent, experience and passion by staging imaginative and articulate productions that increase the positive visibility and creative expression of Arabs and Arab-Americans. 

Al-Awda/Alternate Focus Annual Worldwide Video Contest

23 November 2006


Al-Awda, The Palestine Right of Return Coalition, and Alternate Focus are dedicated to presenting the unheard voice of the Palestinian people to the American public. This is an opportunity for videographer activists to see their work on television and distributed on DVD’s worldwide, while advancing the cause of Palestinian return and self-determination. Last year we were privileged to view video film submissions by videographer activists exploring the lives of the Palestinian people, their heroism and their resistance under the Zionist occupation of their land. By popular demand, we are now instituting the second annual call for submissions. 

Weekly Report of Human Rights Violations

22 November 2006


During the reported period, IOF killed 17 Palestinians, including 5 children, two women and an old man. Two other Palestinians died from previous wounds in the Gaza Strip. In addition, IOF wounded 92 Palestinians, including 41 children. In the Gaza Strip, IOF killed 13 Palestinians, including 7 civilians. The victims include 3 children, two women and an old man. Two Palestinians also died from previous wounds. On 18 November 2006, IOF moved into the northern Gaza Strip. IOF military vehicles and helicopter gunships opened fire, killing 3 Palestinian civilians, including two children, and wounding 5 Palestinians, including two children and two members of the Palestinian resistance. 

Unity or Solidarity in Lebanon?

Marcy Newman Beirut 23 November 2006


It was 4:30 PM when my students’ cell phones began receiving SMS messages. We had fifteen minutes left of class. They told me that Industry Minister Pierre Gemayel had been assassinated. One of my students fled the room in tears. I could hear students amassing outside in front of the AUB student union building just outside our window. The mood was tense. Students began with their theories of who was responsible: Mossad, Syria, the CIA. The usual suspects. The story was, of course, confirmed as I listened to the news reports in the office. Just a few hours before in front of AUB’s student union there was a display of national unity as people celebrated Lebanon’s Flag Day. 

Israel issues last permits to foreigners, splitting families

22 November 2006


All foreign passports of spouses and children of Palestinian ID-holders who had applied for visa extensions were marked recently as “last permit” by the Israeli authorities. 105 passport holders are required to exit from Israeli controlled entry/exit points before the end of the year. The Israeli Ministry of Interior (MoI) office at Beit El began returning the passports on November 19 after a six-week strike by Israeli MoI employees. Those who overstay their allotted time will be considered “illegal” and are subject to immediate deportation from the Israeli occupied Palestinian territory (oPt).