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Interview: AAPER, America's Pro-Palestine, Pro-Peace Lobby

14 June 2003

The American Association for Palestinian Equal Rights (AAPER) is one of the newest organizations in Washington, DC. Launched this week as America’s pro-Palestine, pro-peace, pro-human rights lobby, AAPER’s mission is to educate the American public about Palestinians’ human and national rights, as well as the US government’s role in the Arab-Israeli relationship. Electronic Intifada co-founder Laurie King-Irani recently interviewed AAPER’s founder, George Naggiar, about his formative influences, guiding visions, and ultimate goals for this new and unique lobbying organization. 

The Sabra and Shatila Case in Belgium: A Guide for the Perplexed

Laurie King 16 June 2003

“Reports announcing the death of the case lodged by survivors of the Sabra and Shatila massacre in Belgium have been greatly exaggerated and persistent, but to date, categorically false. For supporters of the growing global campaign against impunity for war crimes and crimes against humanity, the good news is that this case is still very much alive, although it has been affected by rulings of the International Court of Justice, wear and tear on Belgium’s bi-lateral ties with the US and Israel, and a global political context that has sharpened debate about war crimes, impunity, and the limitations and requirements of international criminal prosecution.” Laurie King-Irani, North American Coordinator for the International Campaign for Justice for the Victims of Sabra and Shatila, explains recent political and legal twists and turns in the landmark war crimes case in Belgium. 

Weekly report on human rights violations

Palestinian Center for Human Rights 5 June 2003

This week, Israeli forces killed 6 Palestinians, including a child and one killed in another extra-judicial execution in Khan Yunis. Israeli forces conducted a number of raids on Palestinian areas, demolished 17 Palestinian homes and razed more than 80 dunums of agricultural land in the Gaza Strip. Israeli forces continued to shell indiscriminately at residential areas and destroyed four homes in its retaliatory campaign against Palestinian families of wanted persons. Israeli forces continued to arbitrarily detain Palestinians and continued its siege on Palestinian towns, villages and refugee camps. 

This is the Israeli 'cease fire,' the Israeli 'goodwill'

Kristen Ess Bethlehem 6 June 2003


I ask him why the Israelis are building more checkpoints at a time when they should be dismantling them. He replies, “When they want to show the would that they are implementing the Road Map, they will show pictures of themselves on the news removing these new checkpoints and the regular ones will remain. They want to trick the world as usual.” Kristen Ess writes from Bethlehem. 

Rafah, home of the strongest people in the world

Lora Gordon Rafah, Gaza 6 June 2003


“It’s past midnight and the only sound is the ceiling fan pushing the muggy summer air around and around, while no matter how hard I wash my skin still retains a faint layer of dirt, dust, and sweat. The fan drowns out the sound of bullets, mostly, so you can sleep in our apartment now cloaked is some illusion of normalcy. We got the fans a couple of weeks ago, when the heat became unbearable and we were feeling rich.” ISM activist Laura Gordon writes from Rafah. 

Thirty-six years of silence

Gordon Murray 6 June 2003


The occupation of Palestine has festered for thirty-six years too long. Despite Canada’s official position that Israel must withdraw from all the land it occupied in 1967, the Canadian government has done nothing as Israel illegally installed entire cities on the territory it stole by force. Now, under the guise of security, the Israeli government is building a multi-billion dollar prison wall that will effectively annex up to 40 per cent of the West Bank, yet Canada remains silent. Gordon Murray from ISM Canada comments.