Bedouins are famous for their generosity. It is well known that Bedouins will graciously host strangers for days without asking their name, the reason for their visit, or the length of their stay. Today, Bedouins of the Negev, who have experienced 50 years of systematic human rights abuses, threats of transfer, land confiscations, and house demolitions, are facing renewed pressures from discriminatory planning maps and Israel’s Green Patrol — which Bedouins call the “Black Patrol.” A community many had forgotten is growing angrier and more vocal. Maha Qupty reports on the challenges confronting Bedouin Palestinian citizens of Israel. Read more about Bedouins of the Negev: Israeli ctizens or punishable trespassers?
“Mr Hook suffered a single gunshot wound to his abdomen and died in an ambulance on his way to hospital. A new UN report, handed to the New York Times, claims he was shot in the back from at most 30 yards away. Peter Hansen, commissioner general of UNRWA, said the UN report also found that contrary to some claims by the Israeli government, no Palestinian militants were in the UN compound at the time of the shooting.” The latest news on the investigation of the killing of Iain Hook in the pages of The Evening Star. Read more about UN worker Iain Hook shot in back, autopsy shows
“As Minister of Foreign Affairs of Israel, you should not accuse the Belgian Supreme Court of legitimizing terrorism simply because it accepts the principle that Belgian courts have universal jurisdiction over perpetrators of war crimes, genocide, and crimes against humanity. Your country was the very first country in the world to endorse universal jurisdiction for such crimes in its national legislation.” Lawyers representing survivors of the Sabra and Shatila massacre, who received a positive — and landmark — ruling from the Belgian Supreme Court yesterday, issue a public demand that Israeli Foreign Minister Binyamin Netanyahu apologize for his statements yesterday. Read more about Open letter to Netanyahu from massacre survivors' legal team
On almost any given day, somewhere in the West Bank or Gaza Strip, the ritual begins with Israeli soldiers knocking on the door. A Palestinian family snatches up a few possessions before being herded out into the predawn chill, then sappers painstakingly fit explosives to walls and foundations. The Los Angeles Times’ Laura King investigates Israel policy of house demolition in the Occupied Territories. Read more about Israel's demolition policy strikes hard
“Today’s ruling clears the way for Sharon to be tried once he ceases to be prime minister, regardless of whether he is in Belgium or not. It also enables a war crimes trial of Israeli General Amos Yaron, who oversaw the Beirut sector in 1982.” Fabrice Randoux reports for Australia’s Sunday Times from Belgium, a country that has given teeth to the legal principle of Universal Jurisdiction. Read more about Belgium's landmark ruling: Sharon to be sued for war crimes
Belgium’s supreme appeals court has ruled that a genocide lawsuit against Ariel Sharon could go ahead once his term as prime minister of Israel ends. The ruling opens the way for survivors of a 1982 massacre of Palestinian refugees to press their case against the Israeli leader, who they hold responsible for the deaths of hundreds of their kin in Israeli-occupied Beirut. Breaking news from ITV. Read more about Belgium Supreme Court rules that Ariel Sharon can be tried for genocide
Israeli security forces in Hebron have allegedly forced Palestinians to submit to a macabre “lottery”, in which the victim had to choose their own “punishment” by picking a slip of paper out of a pile. On the pieces of paper were written various acts of violence, including having a hand or leg broken, and, Palestinians say, being beaten to death. The Independent’s Justin Huggler reports. Read more about Palestinians subject to Israeli 'torture lottery'
Survivors of the 1982 Sabra and Shatila massacre won’t be able to testify against Israeli Prime Minister Sharon at the Belgium Supreme Court on Wednesday, as the Belgian Embassy didn’t grant them “emergency” visas. The embassy told the victims’ lawyer, Chibli Mallat, that there “wasn’t enough time” to get the visas ready before their date of departure. The Beirut Daily Star’s Hala Kilani reports on the good news and the bad news about the case against Sharon and others in Belgium. Read more about Visa delay will prevent massacre survivors from testifying before Belgian court
“The Bush administration has been seeking Israel’s counsel on creating a legal justification for the assassination of terrorism suspects, the Forward has learned. Legal experts from the United States and Israel have met in recent months to discuss the issue, and are considering widening the consultation circle to include representatives of America’s closest allies in the war against terrorism.” Ori Nir reports on some chilling examples of US-Israel bi-lateral cooperation in the pages of New York’s The Forward. Read more about Bush seeks Israeli advice on "targeted killings"
