How real is the threat of population transfer in Palestine-Israel today, asks Terry Rempel, the research coordinator at BADIL Resource Center for Palestinian Residency and Refugee Rights in this contribution to EI? The fact is that population transfer is ongoing, with or without a US-led war against Iraq, through the revocation of residency rights, destruction of thousands of Palestinian homes over the past two years among other measures. As pro-transfer rhetoric heats up in Israel and the US heads towards war what are the prospects for outright ethnic cleansing? Read more about Of war and population transfer 

National Public Radio’s Morning Edition Host Bob Edwards says that the United States has been “encouraging democratic reforms” in the Middle East, but EI’s Ali Abunimah asks, where’s the evidence? Read more about NPR claims nonexistent US support for Middle East democracy 

The world is being deceived into believing that political reforms can happen in the Israeli-occupied territories of the West Bank, Gaza Strip and East Jerusalem. As the Bush Administration continues to call for regime change in the Palestinian Authority, Israel is silently pursuing a violent strategy of establishing internment camps that imprison Palestinians from all walks of life. Sam Bahour writes from Ramallah/Al-Bireh. Read more about Reform by Imprisonment 

At the end of the day, Haytham is just one of 5,000 Palestinians Israel has detained after rounding up more than 12,000 Palestinians over the last few months. Nevertheless, I refuse to just keep adding up numbers. We must stop and put faces and families to the names of those illegally detained and tortured. Read more about My friend is being tortured! 

Writing for EI, Hasan Abu Nimah says that the fact that an Arab country is targeted for destruction by the US, and that Jerusalem is granted to Israel as its capital is directly and closely linked to the sad reality of incompetence, loss of willpower, paralysis and defeatism that prevails in the Arab world. Read more about The Jerusalem blow -- another reminder of need for urgent change 

As the world looks on, Israel continues its violent campaign against the Palestinians with a bloody new attack in Gaza which killed thirteen people, four of them children. EI’s Ali Abunimah argues that as long as the UN and the international community react to Israel’s crimes only with words, they are in no position to make any demands of the Palestinian people. Read more about Please, spare us your lectures 

EI’s Ali Abunimah finds that an installment of National Public Radio’s special series on the history of Palestine gets it largely right, but misses a major point about the expulsion of the Palestinians. Read more about Support and criticism for NPR's series on the history of the Palestine-Israel conflict 

Today, October 3rd, Israel’s trial against Marwan Barghouti — member of the Palestinian Legislative Council and alleged head of the Fatah Tanziim militia — resumes at the Tel Aviv District Court. At the trial, Barghouti presented a 54-count indictment against the State of Israel. The Electronic Intifada obtained a copy of his charge sheet (part 2 of 2). Read more about Marwan Barghouti presents charge sheet against State of Israel (part 2 of 2)