In this interview by EI contributor Stefan Christoff, Daoud Hamoudi of the Grassroots Palestinian Anti-Apartheid Wall Campaign discusses how apartheid economics is critical to US and Israeli policy in the region, implemented through neo-liberal bilateral trade accords, or on the ground in Palestine where Israel is pushing a plan to build industrial processing zones. Read more about Hegemony through free trade: Interview with Daoud Hamoudi
JERUSALEM/GAZA, 28 February (IRIN) - A main office of the Palestinian Medical Relief Society (PMRS) was severely damaged in an Israeli air strike late on 27 February. A five-month-old baby was killed, and a mobile clinic unit and other medical supplies were destroyed in the attack. Read more about Gaza medical center damaged in Israeli air strike
This week on Crossing The Line: Presidential hopefulls are traveling across the US addressing issues like the economy, abortion, taxes and the war on Iraq. While John McCain is running on a platform similar to the policies of the Bush administration, the biggest issue for the democratic candidates is change. But when it comes to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, are any of the candidates addressing the offering a solution that is any different from recent White House administrations? Host Naji Ali* speaks with EI co-founder Ali Abunimah about the US presidential candidates and their views on the conflict in the Middle East. Read more about Crossing the Line interviews EI co-founder Ali Abunimah
At Annapolis, just like on so many occasions before, it was proclaimed that a “window of opportunity” had opened. Since the meeting, Israel’s military attacks have killed nearly 150 Palestinians in the occupied territories and Israel has escalated the construction of new settlements, increased the number of roadblocks and tightened its siege of Gaza. But for Israeli leaders it is always the Palestinians who are to blame for missing any “opportunities.” EI contributor Hasan Abu Nimah comments. Read more about Looking for a new Palestinian partner
Dear Ali Abunimah: I have long been and continue to be an ardent admirer of your work, particularly your forceful, unflinching regard for truth and justice, no matter who agrees or disagrees. Based on that virtue of yours, I trust you will take my concern over your characterization of the Serbia/Kosovo question with proportionate seriousness. You respond to the Haaretz columns about whether Kosovo is Palestine or Israel by engaging in their debate which is, literally, nonsense. That is, Kosovo is Kosovo and Serbia is Serbia. Read more about Palestine and the Kosovo analogy
Israeli Ambassador Alan Baker recently expressed his indignation over Canada’s listing of Israel as a state that engages in torture in a training manual for diplomats. The ambassador asserts that torture is not practiced by Israel and based on this it seems that the Canadian Foreign Ministry will reevaluate this manual and “correct” it. The problem, however, is not the manual but the fact that Israel continues to regularly practice torture. Louis Frankenthaler comments. Read more about Yes, Canada, there is torture in Israel
BRUSSELS, 22 February (IPS) - The European Union is considering new steps to deepen its cooperation on scientific research with Israel, despite admitting that previous funds earmarked for that purpose have gone to firms operating illegally in the Palestinian territories. Between now and 2013, the Israeli government is to contribute 440 million euros (652 million dollars) per year so that it can participate in the EU’s so-called framework program for research. Read more about EU considers strengthening "security" research with Israel
This week on Crossing The Line: The ethnic cleansing of Palestine continues. As Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and his government expand settlements in the West Bank while asserting that “painful concessions” are being made, what is really going on behind the scenes? Host Naji Ali* speaks with Ramallah-based activist Neta Golan. Read more about Crossing the Line interviews activist Neta Golan
On 2 October 2000, as the Israeli army was beginning its ruthless crackdown on the second intifada in the occupied territories, 17-year-old Aseel Asleh joined tens of thousands of other Palestinian citizens across Israel in taking to the streets in protest and in a show of solidarity with their kin across the Green Line. Within hours Asleh would be killed. Last week, Asleh’s family and those of another 12 Palestinian demonstrators killed inside Israel at the start of the intifada heard that those responsible would almost certainly never stand trial. Jonathan Cook writes from Nazareth. Read more about Still no justice for October 2000 killings
Kosovo’s unilateral declaration of independence has produced a range of reactions among Israeli and Palestinian observers that reveal their anxieties about their respective situations. However, EI co-founder Ali Abunimah cautions, history should tell us that imposed partitions have only generated new conflict, injustice and ethnic cleansing and have reinforced nationalism and irredentism. Read more about Kosovo and the question of Palestine
