The Electronic Intifada

Bombs and Wreaths

Ali Abunimah Chicago, Illinois 1 December 2001

I wonder why I am so rarely asked by the same media how I feel when Palestinians are killed. No one asked how I felt last week when five Palestinian schoolboys were killed by a bomb planted by the Israeli occupation forces in their refugee camp in Gaza. 

It's the Occupation

Sam Bahour and Michael Dahan Jerusalem, al-Bireh 2 December 2001

In the wake of the horrific suicide bombings in Israel over the last 48 hours hawkish Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon made his address to the nation as he simultaneously increased, by yet another step, Israel’s part of the violence in the ensuing conflict between Israelis and Palestinians. 

From Nazareth to Bethlehem, anno 2001

Arjan El Fassed and Annet Meeuws Jerusalem 16 December 2001

This week, people around the world will sing “O little town of Bethlehem” and say “peace on earth, goodwill to all people.” However, in the land where Jesus was born, there is no peace and people suffer daily violence. Imagine if today, Joseph and Mary needed to travel from Nazareth to Bethlehem. Would they manage to arrive in time for their son’s birth? Would they be allowed to pass through various checkpoints and roadblocks? 

Response to 'Playing into Sharon's hands' by Robert Malley, The New York Times, 25 January 2002.

Nigel Parry St. Paul, Minnesota 24 January 2002

While reading “Playing Into Sharon’s Hands” (Jan 25th), one should bear in mind that writer Robert Malley was an advisor on this very conflict in an administration described by more than one Israeli official as the ‘most pro-Israeli in history’. For him to be berating Bush for a lack of even handedness and decisive action is high irony. 

Letter from Palestine

Issa Sarras Ramallah, Palestine 12 February 2002

Clouds and rain. Lovely low clouds which hide plenty of things, including the mountains, the settlements and the tanks. For a moment you feel as if you are drinking your morning coffee on a piece of isolated, or liberated, dreamland where peace and harmony prevail. 

Israel's choice

Ali Abunimah Chicago, Illinois 6 March 2002

The Israeli gangster regime is continuing Sharon’s declared campaign to kill Palestinians deliberately and cause them as much pain as possible in order to force them to submit quietly to Israel’s military rule.