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Gazan poets gather for reading on eve of Ramadan

Sami Abu Salem 11 October 2005


Lanterns and old-fashioned lamps dangled from the wood ceiling over hundreds of citizens gathered on the eve of Ramadan (the month of fasting for Muslims) to attend night of poetry recitation by young poets. The four young poets were in a semi-competition to win the most applause from the officials and ordinary citizens who were enthusiastic to spend this unique time far from politics. The night of poetry recitation, “There is a Room for Happiness”, was organized by the Rahala Association. 

Israeli High Court bans use of human shields

7 October 2005


Amnesty International welcomes the banning, by Israel’s High Court, of the use of Palestinians as “human shields” by the Israeli army. The long-awaited High Court ruling of 6 October 2005 came in response to a petition filed in May 2002 by several Israeli and Palestinian human rights organizations seeking a ban of the practice, which endangered the lives of the Palestinians who were used as “human shields” and violated international law, notably Article 51 of the Fourth Geneva Convention. In recent years, Amnesty International investigated tens of cases where the Israeli army used Palestinians, children as well as adults, as “human shields” during military operations in towns and refugee camps throughout the Occupied Territories. 

Outgunned: The PA's Security Challenges in Gaza

Peter Muller 9 October 2005


“At least give us enough bullets to protect people and protect our stations,” exclaimed a Palestinian police officer after he stormed the parliament building in Gaza City on the afternoon of October 3rd. He was one of approximately 40 officers from the Shati refugee camp who raided the in-session parliament to protest the Palestinian Authority’s reaction to fierce clashes between PA forces and Hamas militants in Gaza City on the night of October 2nd. One policeman and two bystanders were killed and 43 others were wounding in six hours of intense street fighting throughout the city. 

Hurricane Gaza

Yacov Ben Efrat 9 October 2005


As a unilateral act, Israel’s disengagement from the Gaza Strip raises basic questions for both sides in the conflict. For Israel, there is the question of how to define its deed: “Should we declare that the occupation of Gaza is over?” No less important are the questions Palestinians are asking: “Is this a victory? If so, who should get credit?” When Sharon prefers to speak of an end to Israeli “responsibility” rather than “occupation”, he means, above all, economic responsibility. He will discover, however, that Gaza, for its part, cannot disengage. Gazans cannot survive without access to jobs and export markets in Israel. 

UN Special Representative on human rights defenders to visit Israel and OPT

4 October 2005


The Special Representative of the Secretary-General on the situation of human rights defenders, Hina Jilani, will undertake a fact-finding mission to Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory from 5 to 12 October 2005 at the invitation of the Government of Israel. The Special Representative will assess the situation of human rights defenders, and examine in particular both the legal framework as well as any possible limitations on the right to defend human rights in the country. During the visit, she will meet with Israeli and Palestinian officials, national human rights institutions, non-governmental organizations and individuals engaged in human rights work in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory, as well as United Nations officials. 

EU to double aid to Palestinian Authority

6 October 2005


The European Commission has adopted a Communication to the Council and the European Parliament “EU-Palestinian cooperation beyond disengagement - towards a two-state solution”. The aim is to put in place a comprehensive, medium-term strategy for the EU’s support to the Palestinians. The strategy focuses on the actions required to create a Palestinian state viable both politically and economically. This is a reponse following Israel’s withdrawal from Gaza, and to the needs assessment currently being carried out by the Quartet Special Envoy, James Wolfensohn. 

"Palestinian armed groups must stop endangering civilians"

4 October 2005


Factional fighting by Palestinian armed groups has reached an unprecedented level and is recklessly endangering the lives of Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip. In recent days, shoot outs between armed groups such as Hamas and Palestinian Authority security forces have resulted in civilian bystanders being killed and injured due to high-powered weapons being used in densely populated civilian areas. On Sunday 2 October two Palestinian bystanders were killed and several were injured as a result of armed clashes between Palestinian Authority (PA) security forces and members and supporters of the Palestinian armed group Hamas in Gaza City and in an attack by another armed group reportedly calling itself the “Popular Army” in the southern Gaza Strip town of Khan Younis. 

Rap group DAM to hold first US show October 5!

3 October 2005


On 5 October 2005, history will be made when ‘48 Palestine rap group DAM (Da Arabic MC’s) perform their first concert in the U.S. Celebrate the Palestinian hip hop movement with DAM, with additional performances by Chosan, Invincible, Akil Dasan, La Bruja, Anthony Morales and special guests. The trailer for the new film Slingshot Hip Hop: The Palestinian Lyrical Front by Jackie Salloum will be screened as well. The concert will be held at Climax, 14 Avenue B (between 1st and 2nd) at 9:30, and is presented by: World Up, Nomadic Wax, The Hip Hop Association, and the International Hip Hop Exchange 

EI co-founder responds to defamation by CMU Hillel head

Ali Abunimah 9 February 2005


EI co-founder Ali Abunimah responds to defamatory charges made in The Pitt News that he had advocated the “use of terrorism,” when he spoke at Carnegie Mellon University in February 2005. Abunimah writes, “I am happy to repeat here, as I have many times both in print, on our Web site and in speeches, that I am unequivocally opposed to all violence targeting civilians, regardless of the motive or the identity of the perpetrator or victim.” 

EI co-founder responds to censorship campaign at Carnegie Mellon

Ali Abunimah 3 October 2005


Ever since EI Co-founder Ali Abunimah and DePaul University professor Norman Finkelstein lectured separately at Pittsburgh’s Carnegie Mellon University in the Spring of 2005, pro-Israel groups, who had attempted to block the appearances, have been conducting a campaign to silence free discussion of the Palestine-Israel conflict on campus. Abunimah responds to the latest salvos in the campaign, detailing some of the pro-Israel activist’s disruptive and defamatory tactics, and offering to appear before a university committee to answer any alleged concerns about the views he expressed in his lecture.