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Email from Saffuriyya: "Where are you from?"

Jonathan Cook Nazareth, the Galilee 12 January 2003

“It is a reflex question for Palestinians, always posed early in the Arab greeting ritual, to ask a stranger, even another Palestinian, ‘Where are you from?’ before enquiring: ‘Where do you live?’ Few Palestinians live where they feel they belong. ” Jonathan Cook introduces us to a new generation of Saffuriyeen who are keeping their ties to the destroyed town of Saffuriyya strong and vibrant. 

U.S. pressures Israel to probe crimes against Palestinians

Philip Jacobson 12 January 2003

Israel’s military authorities have approached human rights organisations operating in the West Bank and Gaza to help with investigations into crimes committed by their troops against Palestinian civilians. Philip Jacobson reports on some unprecedented developments, due in no small part to the efforts of the family of Shaden Abu Hijleh, murdered by the IDF last fall. 

Children shot in Askar Refugee Camp

Anne Gwynne Nablus, Palestine 11 January 2003

Oshan Abdul Aziz Shanier was shot by a single bullet to the heart and died instantly. He was 22 years old, born in a refugee camp in his own land, died in a refugee camp in his own land, killed by a soldier who is illegally in his country contravening all the relevant International Laws and Conventions. No warnings here, no mercy. No normal human decency. Shoot to kill. Anne Gwynn writes from Nablus. 

IDF's murder of Palestinian grandmother tests Israeli justice system

Nicole Gaouette 10 January 2003

“In Nablus, where the Abu Hijleh house echoes with a new emptiness, the family is determined that Shaden not become another nameless statistic. For some of her children, this means resisting the Palestinian glorification of martyrdom. For her family and friends, it means pursuing some measure of justice. That mission began minutes after the bullets flew.” The Christian Science Monitor’s Nicole Gaouette reports on one family’s attempts to challenge Israeli impunity in the international media—and at the International Criminal Court. 

Potential "Free Jaggi" Campaign thankfully averted

10 January 2003

As pro-Palestinian activists weighed how they should spend their coming weekend — writing to Congress to note the over 50 Palestinians killed in December, faxing the UN to protest the lack of action over the Israeli murder of aid worker Iain Hook with sniper scopes in broad daylight, or holding felafel bake sales to raise money to feed the Gazan children because of the Israeli starvers — many breathed a silent ‘thank fuck’ as Canadian activist Jaggi Singh was released from Israeli detention. BNN’s Najeeb Al-Anbarri reports from Qatar. 

Israel's academic freedom defended, while Palestine's is destroyed

Ali Abunimah 10 January 2003

Following the January 5 suicide attacks, which killed over twenty people in Tel Aviv, Ariel Sharon’s spokesman, Raanan Gissin announced that Israel would shut down three Palestinian universities. Meanwhile, a mere statement by the administrative council of the prestigious University of Paris-VI has caused an uproar in Europe over alleged “boycotts” of Israeli academics. EI’s Ali Abunimah examines the controversy.