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Life Story of the Olives

Annie Higgins Jenin, Palestine 7 January 2003


Photo by Musa Al-Shaer. As we are picking, news comes of yet another increase of the attacks on Nablus. An international calls friends there, climbs back into the high branches to pick, but comes down shortly after, resolving to go to friends whose house is in immanent danger of being bulldozed. Everyone understands and bids her a safe journey. I think of the many dunums of olive trees that have been bulldozed, innocent trees wrenched and uprooted from their refuge in the soil. On my first journey to Palestine some years before, I had seen an olive tree claimed to antedate Jesus’ advent on earth. The symbol and the reality of the olive tree made an impression, and I began to name things like my car license “olive/zaytoun.” 

Supreme Court hearings today on appeal against NDA disqualification

Adalah 7 January 2003


Today, an 11-justice panel of the Supreme Court of Israel will hold hearings on an appeal against the decision of the Central Elections Committee (CEC) to disqualify the National Democratic Alliance from running in the Israeli elections. It will also hear concluding arguments submitted by Adalah challenging the CEC’s decision to ban MK Dr. Azmi Bishara, the head of the NDA list, from participating in the Knesset elections. 

Women Rising for Peace and Justice announce campaign and activities

International Solidarity Movement 4 January 2003

“Make January 17th a day to express solidarity with the women of Iraq, Palestine/Israel, Colombia, and other war-torn areas of the world, and call for a shift of national priorities away from war and militarism and toward a national agenda that affirms life. ” A new initiative is announced by members of the International Solidarity Movement. 

Adalah files an appeal to the Supreme Court against the decision to disqualify Palestinian MK's

Adalah 4 January 2003

Tomorrow, January 5, Adalah files an appeal to the Supreme Court of Israel against the CEC’s decision to disqualify the National Democratic Alliance. The CEC’s decision to disqualify MKs Azmi Bishara and Ahmad Tibi as individual candidates requires the Supreme Court’s approval in order to be implemented. 

Six Soldiers

Annie Higgins Jenin, Palestine 3 January 2003

The Israeli Army reported that two soldiers were injured as they attacked Palestinian members of the resistance in Gaza (BBC, 2 January 2003). The reality could be far more severe than they admit. Annie Higgins reports from Jenin. 

Weekly report on human rights violations

Palestinian Center for Human Rights 3 January 2003

This week, Israeli forces killed fifteen Palestinian civilians, including five children. Four Palestinians were killed in extra-judicial executions. Israeli forces conducted a series of incursions into Palestinian areas, accompanied by indiscriminate shelling. The Israeli retaliatory campaign against Palestinian families of wanted Palestinians and those who carried out armed attacks against Israeli targets continued. Israeli forces continued to use Palestinian civilians as human shields during military operations and a number of Palestinians were arrested.