“Democracy is more than simply paying taxes and having the vote. It requires the state to ensure that every citizen enjoys equal rights and access to justice — something Arab citizens of Israel clearly do not enjoy. Until early 2002, out of 3,000 Bedouin cases brought before Israeli courts, not one had been decided in favour of the Bedouins. Not one! For the Bedouin of Israel, democracy is a myth, as it is for the rest of the 20+ percent of Israel’s population that is not Jewish.” Nick Pretzlik reports on a new house demolition campaign — inside the Green Line. Read more about "Go to the West Bank!" yelled the soldier
In a recent visit to Luxembourg, Foreign Minister Marwan Muasher voiced his grave concern over the fading promise of a Palestinian-Israeli settlement, based on two-state solution. What he said sounds more like a recognition of a harsh reality than what may otherwise be viewed as a warning to avoid the worst. Warnings of this kind were heard before, from prominent Arabs, Israelis and others. They were hardly heeded, or even taken seriously. Most of us assumed that such warnings were no more than good efforts to expose the dangers of Israeli procrastination, with the positive intent of urging parties to work harder for peace. Read more about One State: threat or promise of peace?
The Arab news channel Al-Jazeera reported that Israeli forces have launched a major raid on Ramallah. Israeli forces entered the city shortly after 16.30 GMT and imposed a curfew on residents of the center of the city. They surrounded the Abd al-Nasir Mosque and people inside were told to leave in groups of four and present identity papers, the Arab news channel reported. Read more about Israeli forces raid mosque and Al-Jazeera office in Ramallah
A concert memorial celebrating the life and work of Edward Said, performed by Daniel Barenboim and other musicians involved with their West-Eastern Divan workshop, which gathers outstanding young musicians from Israel and Arab countries, and puts them together into one orchestra, demonstrated that music offers a space for fundamental human connection. Baremboim also emphasized to the audience that they must carry on Said’s fight for social justice in Palestine and elsewhere. Maureen Clare Murphy reports. Read more about Said's work towards artistic cooperation celebrated in music performance memorial
Peace in Palestine through territorial partition is a doomed fantasy and the time has come to discard it, writes EI co-founder Ali Abunimah. It is the moment, therefore, for us to declare the era of partition over and commit to a moral, just and realisable vision in which Israelis and Palestinians build a future as partners in a single state which guarantees freedom, equality and cultural self-determination to all its citizens. Read more about Palestine/Israel: One state for all its citizens
Israel’s flagrant violations of international law, and the United States’ use of its veto to block any action to restrain Israel and resolve its conflicts with its neighbors, is leading to the wholesale destruction of the UN system and a return of the law of the jungle, writes regular EI contributor Hasan Abu Nimah. Read more about US, Israel destroying the UN system
“Despite being the architect of the horrible tragedies at Qibya as well as Sabra and Shatila, Ariel Sharon is, for the most part, strangely immune from criticism for these incidents. A man with Mr. Sharon’s bloody record should not enjoy impunity. After he leaves office, Ariel Sharon should finally be held accountable for his sordid past. Justice 50 years late is better than no justice at all.” Eric Ridenour revisits a war crime committed half a century ago. Read more about Qibya: 50 years of injustice and impunity
EI’s Arjan El Fassed visited Rafah, which is located on the southern border of the Gaza Strip. Repeatedly, Israeli occupying forces have demolished hundreds of homes in this area. This has been the scene of killings, large destruction and razing of lands and the place where Israeli forces killed American peace activist Rachel Corrie and journalist James Miller. Read more about Rafah demolished
Responding to a column written by Thomas Friedman as a mock memo in the name of George Bush to Yasser Arafat, EI’s Arjan El Fassed, in the ‘mock memo’ style that Friedman himself likes to use, imagines what Nelson Mandela would have responded. Read more about Mandela's First Memo to Thomas Friedman
“ ‘Joseph, are you still sleeping, it’s 8am already?’ These are the first words I would hear upon picking up the phone three, four times a week,” writes Joseph Massad. The powerful teasing voice on the other side was that of Edward Said. Massad remembers his dear friend and teacher, and contemplates how the legacy of this exemplary scholar and public intellectual can teach us how to continue our journey. Read more about Edward Said's journey to Ithaka
