Israel’s policies of land confiscation, expanding settlement colonies, and discriminatory building permit restrictions are forcing more Palestinians — especially children — into a desperate economic and humanitarian crisis in the occupied West Bank, according to a report by Save the Children UK (STCUK). Read more about Israeli colonization means life of poverty for W. Bank children 

The relentless Israeli blockade of the Gaza Strip has squeezed many things, but it hasn’t robbed people of their ability and desire to innovate and invent. At the Rashad al-Shawa cultural center in heart of Gaza City, dozens of local companies and individuals recently demonstrated hi-tech products and inventions at an exhibition sponsored by government and nongovernmental bodies. Rami Almeghari reports from the occupied Gaza Strip. Read more about Despite Israeli blockade, innovation thrives in Gaza 

Two weeks after the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) in the San Francisco Bay Area joined with activists at the Port of Oakland to block the unloading of an Israeli Zim Lines cargo ship, the union reaffirmed its support of Palestinian rights despite pressure from the Israeli consulate and the Zionist-Israeli organization Stand With Us. Read more about California dockworkers reject meeting with Israeli consul 

GAZA CITY, occupied Gaza Strip (IPS) - More than a year after the Israeli attacks on Gaza, the risk of unexploded ordnance poses as real a threat as the fresh bombings. Read more about Unexploded ordnance poses deadly threat in Gaza 

For the last year Mark Buttle has been the coordinator for the “WASH cluster,” the group of aid organizations working on water, sanitation and hygiene in the Gaza Strip. Sarah Irving interviews for The Electronic Intifada. Read more about Water in Gaza: "it's not a simple problem" 

The Last Queen of the Night is not the name of a mythical character, or even an ancient Oriental queen or goddess. It is not the name of a Parisian perfume or chocolate like “After 8.” It is the name of a flower, one that blooms only during the night. Yasmeen El Khoudary writes from the occupied Gaza Strip. Read more about The Last Queen of the Night 

Israeli police detained residents of Silwan as bulldozers demolished a horse stable in the occupied East Jerusalem neighborhood on 29 June, while other construction vehicles razed a small warehouse to the ground in nearby Abu Tur. These demolitions came after Israeli courts decided that both of the buildings were built “illegally” and against “building codes.” Read more about Home demolitions, arrest raids as Israel implements Jerusalem "Master Plan" 

Seven anti-war activists on trial for entering a Brighton weapons factory and “decommissioning” it were found unanimously “not guilty” last week. On 16 January 2009 six of the defendants broke into the premises of EDO MBM, a supplier of weapons components. According to one of the defendants, Elijah Smith, they “set out to smash it up to the best of our abilities.” Chloe Marsh writes for The Electronic Intifada. Read more about Activists found not guilty for decommissioning weapons factory