The upcoming OECD tourism summit in Jerusalem will test its member countries’ commitment to international law. Sam Bahour and Charles Shamas comment. Read more about Will the OECD stand up to Israel?
Rather than investing wasted energy in doomed talks, Israeli and Palestinian negotiators appear to be adopting the same alternative strategy: cutting a deal directly with Washington that circumvents the other party. Jonathan Cook analyzes. Read more about Israel's other "peace" plan: arm-twisting Obama
Last month, Professor John Dugard, former UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, chaired a meeting on universal Jurisdiction in the Hague. Adri Nieuwhof interviewed Dugard about means of bringing Israel to account for its human rights violations, particularly the legal mechanism of universal jurisdiction. Read more about Towards accountability: John Dugard interviewed
As Israel’s self-imposed and largely irrelevant settlement freeze ends, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has asked settlers to show “restraint.” It is an interesting choice of adjective, for people who show restraint are the injured and outraged; they are victims who although entitled to a full measure of justice settle for less to maintain good will and harmony. Richard Irvine comments. Read more about The mendacity of "restraint"
The disclosure of the details of a letter reportedly sent by US President Barack Obama last week to Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, will cause Palestinians to be even more skeptical about US and Israeli roles in the current peace talks. Jonathan Cook reports. Read more about Obama letter confirms Palestinian fears
The National Committee for the Protection of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People is a newly-formed body that upholds the red lines of the Palestinian struggle. Hazem Jamjoum interviews committee co-founder Bilal al-Hassan for The Electronic Intifada. Read more about Interview: Palestine's red lines of struggle
The Association of Netherlands Municipalities (VNG) canceled a 19 September visit by Israeli mayors because the delegation included leaders of illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, igniting a firestorm in the Dutch parliament centered at foreign affairs minister Maxime Verhagen. Read more about Israeli mayors' visit runs aground in Spain, Netherlands
When African National Congress leader Chief Albert Luthuli made a call for the international community to support a boycott of apartheid South Africa in 1958, the response was a widespread and dedicated movement that played a significant role in ending apartheid. Ronnie Kasrils comments a new petition by South African academics aimed at supporting the boycott call of Israel. Read more about In defense of South African academics' boycott call
SILWAN, occupied East Jerusalem (IPS) - Tension, the twisted carcasses of gutted vehicles, buses with smashed windows, smoldering dumpsters, streets riddled with rubber-coated steel bullets and empty cartridge cases, tear gas and air thickened with black soot from burning tires marked the beginning of the fifth day Monday of continuous demonstrations in East Jerusalem. Read more about Unrest continues after East Jerusalem killing
BRUSSELS (IPS) - Organizations raising funds to benefit the Israeli army and illegal settlements in the occupied West Bank enjoy tax-exempt status in Europe, an IPS investigation has shown. The Sar-El Foundation is one of several groups working in the Netherlands dedicated to supporting the Israeli military. Read more about EU offers tax benefits for Israeli settlements