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NPR: Linda Gradstein and The Thing

Ali Abunimah 28 July 2003


This morning’s performance by Gradstein was almost as ridiculous as my little joke above. When speaking on Weekend Edition Sunday about the thing that Israel is building through the West Bank to physically divide the land and annex vast swathes of the occupied territories to Israel, Gradstein said that Israel calls it a “fence” while Palestinians call it “the wall, with echoes of the Berlin wall.” EI’s Ali Abunimah calls NPR on Gradstein’s latest misrepresentations. 

Does the road map for peace have a chance?

Ali Abunimah 28 July 2003


The road map for Palestinian-Israeli peace is in trouble. With the Palestinian and Israeli leaders visiting Washington in quick succession, the Bush administration has a chance to stop it from running into a ditch. Palestinians have made significant progress toward fulfilling their commitments. Yet Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon shows little sign of reciprocating. The respected Association of Civil Rights in Israel has just issued its annual report condemning the army for abuses of Palestinians. “Most of the abuses,” the report states, “occur not as a result of operational necessity on the part of the army, but from vindictiveness on the part of soldiers, who receive implicit approval to denigrate the dignity, life and liberty of innocent Palestinians.” All of this goes on today. At the Aqaba summit in June, President Bush promised he would “ride herd” to keep the peace process on course. This is the time to show that wasn’t just Texas tough talk, and ensure that this rare opening is not lost. 

Should a university silence voices calling for peace and justice?

Fairn Herising 26 July 2003

The University of Victoria and the School of Social Work should be places where we openly challenge, discuss and debate a wide range of ideas and perspectives. Moreover, the call to pay attention to issues of human rights and the imperative to voice demands for peace and social justice cannot be practices that are merely “reserved” for particular places or occasions. The responsibility to speak out against injustice, both locally and globally, is a responsibility incumbent upon all individuals, groups and institutions, at all moments, and in every domain of life — there are no “inappropriate” places or times for this sort of endeavour.” Fairn Herising, a Ph.D. candidate at the Univeristy of Victoria and a member of the University’s Anti-Racist Action Coalition, reflects on a recent act of censorship and the dangers of shutting out dissenting voices. 

BADIL on the PRS Refugee Poll

Badil 25 July 2003

BADIL comments on the responses to and debate of the recent survey released by Dr. Khalil Shekaki on Palestinian refugees’ choice to not return. BADIL notes that “These comments were triggered mainly by a piece of commentary written by Jehudith Harel (14 July), who touches on many important points.” 

Refugee Poll Confusion

Casey Patrick Reilly 25 July 2003

Palestinian Academic Khalil Shikaki, in consultation with the Palestinian Authority (PA), set out to gauge Palestinian refugees’ reactions to the solutions to the refugee problem offered at the Taba talks in 2001. The idea, most likely, was to give the PA a sense of their bargaining position. Unfortunately, many people have taken the results of this poll out of context, and deemed it the final judgement on what Palestinian refugees want. It is no such thing and was never meant to be. 

Divine Intervention now available on VHS/DVD for universites and organisations

25 July 2003


Avatar Films is continuing its release of Divine Intervention, the first Palestinian-made film ever to be widely distributed in the United States. Divine Intervention is available for screenings at universities, organizations and institutions, and is available on 35mm film, DVD, Digital Betacam, and VHS. Divine Intervention will be not released on home video and DVD until well into 2004. 

Weekly report on human rights violations

24 July 2003

This week, Israeli forces wounded five Palestinians while shelling indiscriminately Palestinian residential areas. Israeli forces annexed large areas of Palestinian land to the Israeli colony “Morag”, southeast of Khan Yunis. Israeli forces continued invading Palestinian areas and demolished a home in Rafah and seized another home in Deir al-Balah. Israeli forces demolished two homes in Beit Reema, near Ramallah. Israeli forces continued the siege on Palestinian communities in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.