In his latest book, Canada and Israel: Building Apartheid, Yves Engler contends that Canada’s lopsided support for Israel is neither a shift nor the product of current government policy but goes as far back as Zionism itself. Hicham Safieddine reviews for The Electronic Intifada. Read more about Book review: pocket-sized volume deflates Canada's "peacemaker" myth
The Last Queen of the Night is not the name of a mythical character, or even an ancient Oriental queen or goddess. It is not the name of a Parisian perfume or chocolate like “After 8.” It is the name of a flower, one that blooms only during the night. Yasmeen El Khoudary writes from the occupied Gaza Strip. Read more about The Last Queen of the Night
Israeli police detained residents of Silwan as bulldozers demolished a horse stable in the occupied East Jerusalem neighborhood on 29 June, while other construction vehicles razed a small warehouse to the ground in nearby Abu Tur. These demolitions came after Israeli courts decided that both of the buildings were built “illegally” and against “building codes.” Read more about Home demolitions, arrest raids as Israel implements Jerusalem "Master Plan"
On the morning of 25 May, the Board of Pride Toronto held a press conference on the lawn outside its offices to announce that the phrase “Israeli Apartheid” would be censored from the upcoming 2010 Pride Parade. The decision, aimed at banning the Toronto-based activist group Queers Against Israeli Apartheid from the parade, set off a firestorm in the community. Savannah Garmon comments for The Electronic Intifada. Read more about Queers Against Israeli Apartheid refuse to be silenced
Seven anti-war activists on trial for entering a Brighton weapons factory and “decommissioning” it were found unanimously “not guilty” last week. On 16 January 2009 six of the defendants broke into the premises of EDOMBM, a supplier of weapons components. According to one of the defendants, Elijah Smith, they “set out to smash it up to the best of our abilities.” Chloe Marsh writes for The Electronic Intifada. Read more about Activists found not guilty for decommissioning weapons factory
BRUSSELS (IPS) - Talks aimed at reaching an intelligence-sharing agreement between the European Union and Israel have skirted around the location of Israel’s national police headquarters in occupied East Jerusalem. In 2005, the EU decided that Europol, its law enforcement office, should negotiate a formal cooperation agreement with Israel. Read more about EU-Israel talks skirt around Jerusalem police headquarters
On 30 June an Israeli military prosecutor demanded two years’ imprisonment for grassroots activist Adeeb Abu Rahmah, at a military court hearing at the Ofer Military Complex in the occupied West Bank. Abu Rahmah already spent 11 months behind bars and his arrest and detention is part of Israel’s repressive efforts to criminalize the grassroots popular resistance to the Israeli occupation. Amy Darwish reports for The Electronic Intifada. Read more about CORRECTION: Military prosecutor demands two-year term for grassroots activist
Basma Fahoum — an activist with the organization Who Profits from the Occupation? — recently sat with The Electronic Intifada contributor Adri Nieuwhof and discussed what it means to be a Palestinian in Israel and her the ongoing efforts for her community to realize their rights. Read more about "Life for Palestinians in Israel is complicated in every respect"
Swedish Radio reported on 23 June that home furnishings retail giant IKEA in Israel discriminately ships to Israel’s illegal settlements but not Palestinian cities in the occupied West Bank. The company’s shipping policies are coming into question following a report by Swedish Radio’s correspondent in Israel. Adri Nieuwhof reports for The Electronic Intifada. Read more about IKEA furnishing the occupation
If international civil society is serious about urgently ending Israel’s violations of Palestinian rights, including ending the occupation, then suspension of SWIFT transactions to and from Israeli banks offers an instrument to help bring about a peaceful resolution of an intractable conflict. Terry Crawford-Browne comments for The Electronic Intifada. Read more about To end the occupation, cripple Israeli banks