While nowhere in his invaluable diplomatic history of eight presidencies, A World of Trouble: America in the Middle East, does Patrick E. Tyler use the phrase “the Israel lobby,” it nevertheless looms largest among the reasons why all US efforts to feign balance between the competing concerns of good relations with Arab-Muslim states and unwavering allegiance to Israel have foundered. Muhammad Idrees Ahmad reviews for The Electronic Intifada. Read more about Empire and agency: "A World of Trouble: America in the Middle East"
RAMALLAH, occupied West Bank (IPS) - John Ging, head of the UN agency for Palestine refugees (UNRWA) in Gaza, has urged Israel to ease aid flow restrictions that are having a devastating effect on the 1.5 million inhabitants. Ging says the amount of aid being allowed into Gaza at present is “wholly and totally inadequate. It’s having a very devastating impact on the physical circumstances and also the mindset of people on the ground,” Ging told IPS. Read more about Gaza needs more aid
Obstacles to Israel’s Arab minority (Palestinian citizens of Israel) participating in higher education have resulted in a record number of Arab students taking up places at universities in neighboring Jordan, a new report reveals. Jonathan Cook reports. Read more about Israel's Arab students cross to Jordan
GAZACITY, occupied Gaza Strip (IRIN) - Over 150,000 Palestinians in Gaza (around 10 percent of the population) are struggling without tap water as a result of the damage caused to wells, pipes and waste water facilities during the recent 22-day Israeli offensive that ended on 18 January. Read more about More than 150,000 Gazans still without tap water
KHANYOUNIS, occupied Gaza Strip (IPS) - “They’re always shooting at us. Every day they shoot at us,” says Alaa Samour, 19, pulling aside his shirt to show a scar on his shoulder. Samour said he was shot on 28 December last year by Israeli soldiers positioned along the border fence near New Abassan village, east of Khan Younis in the south of the Gaza Strip. Read more about In Gaza, farming under fire
BRUSSELS (IPS) - European Union officials are seeking evidence to support claims that fruit and vegetables from Israeli settlements in the Palestinian territories are being exported under false pretense. In a note circulated to its fellow EU governments in late 2008, Britain expressed concern that goods from Israeli settlements in the West Bank may be entering the Union without paying the legally required duties. Read more about Israeli settlement produce may be enjoying EU privileges
A decision by Israel’s state-owned railway company to sack 150 Arab workers because they have not served in the army has been denounced as “unlawful” and “racist” this week by Arab legal and workers’ rights groups. Jonathan Cook reports. Read more about "Hebrew labor" lives on as Israel Railways fires Arab guards
The Palestinian people’s unique determination and resistance to Israel’s military occupation was most recently exhibited during the very successful and well-attended second national fair trade conference in Palestine, which coincided with the inauguration of the Palestinian Fair Trade Network. Gen Sander comments for The Electronic Intifada. Read more about Creative resistance in fair trade conferencing
GAZACITY, occupied Gaza Strip (IRIN) - An estimated 1,346 children were left without one or more of their parents as a result of the recent 22-day Israeli assault on Gaza, according to Islamic Relief in Gaza. An orphan is defined by Islamic Relief as a child under 18 who has lost the parent considered the head of the household, most often the father, according to Mahmoud Abudraz, a child welfare program manager, for Islamic Relief in Gaza. Read more about Aid groups work to care for Gaza orphans
“People who were not that open to the boycott campaign previously [are now] willing to support the international boycott campaign against Israel.” The Electronic Intifada contributor Stefan Christoff interviewed Canadian filmmaker Malcolm Guy about a Quebec film festival’s recent decision to cancel a “tolerance award” and the growing movement for a cultural boycott of Israel. Read more about Cultural solidarity in Quebec: An interview with filmmaker Malcolm Guy
