News

In the home of Mohammed Ramadan

Jaggi Singh Nablus, Palestine 7 January 2003

Nablus is a city under siege. The West Bank’s largest town is the primary target for the Israeli Occupation Forces’ (IOF) increased campaign against so-called militants and terrorists. It’s a campaign that, in effect, collectively punishes all Palestinians for being Palestinian. Jaggi Singh reports. 

We Are Here; They Are There

Darren Ell Montreal, Canada 7 January 2003


Above: Cover of The New Intifada. Buy this book on Amazon.com Since returning from my November 2002 trip to Palestine, I’ve been reading an illuminating new book on the Israel/Palestine conflict: The New Intifada: Resisting Israel’s Apartheid. Its essays reveal just how seriously the mainstream media has misrepresented the conflict. I recall that in 2000 we heard how former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak was the Palestinians’ best chance for peace and how Arafat ruined it all by turning down Israel’s magnanimous concessions at Camp David. Quite a different story arises in Sara Roy’s essay. Darren Ell writes from Montreal, Canada. 

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. 

Israeli film board bans "Jenin, Jenin"

Joshua Mitnick 1 January 2003

“I was searching for the humane side of people’s dreams, people’s hunger and people’s disappointments. I was not looking for numbers, who is right, or why this happened,” Bakri said. “For me, it’s a prayer to stop this hell we are living in.” Joshua Mitnick of the New Jersey Star Ledger reports on a censorship move that calls Israeli democracy into question.