After almost two years of attempting to bribe Israel into “restraining” the expansion of its Jewish-only colonies on occupied, stolen land, and its violent Judaization of Jerusalem, the Obama administration concluded that it could do nothing. Of course one thing the administration never tried was real pressure using as leverage the billions in annual no-strings aid the fiscally-bankrupt United States provides to Israel. Read more about Rescuing Zionism at Palestinian expense 

Jews must not rent homes to “gentiles.” That was the religious decree issued this week by at least fifty of Israel’s leading rabbis, many of them employed by the state as municipal religious leaders. Jews should first warn, then “ostracize” fellow Jews who fail to heed the directive, the rabbis declared. Jonathan Cook reports. Read more about Israel turns blind eye to racist state-employed rabbis 

While the goal of developing tourism, in particular rural tourism, may have at its origins socially benevolent intentions, it cannot transcend the same economic barriers that the Israeli occupation creates for all aspects of the Palestinian economy. Charlotte Silver analyzes for The Electronic Intifada. Read more about Sustainable tourism or sustaining Israel's occupation? 

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While the cause of the fire has not been established, it has laid bare the myths of Israel’s foundation. Read more about The Carmel wildfire is burning all illusions in Israel 

Palestinians in the occupied West Bank village of Beit Ommar are returning to older models of organizing against the Israeli occupation. These organizers are employing strategies of resistance made famous during the first intifada in order to overcome stagnation and division within Palestinian society. Mousa Abu Maria of the Palestine Solidarity Project analyzes. Read more about Beit Ommar returns to its roots 

CAIRO, Egypt (IPS) - More than 250,000 classified US diplomatic cables released by online whistle-blower WikiLeaks include statements made behind closed doors that could prove embarrassing for Egypt’s government, say analysts. Read more about WikiLeaks exposes Egypt's duplicity in Gaza siege