After much speculations whether the International Court would exercise its advisory function in the legal consequences of the construction of the wall by Israel, the court finally issued a detailed opinion. Azem Bishara looks at the possible consequences of this advisory opinion and actions that might be taken as a result of this opinion. He reviews comments made by various states, and the legal consequences for Israel, as a result of its violations of international law. He also looks at the course to be taken within the United Nations system and how the international community can deal with a possible US veto in the Security Council. Read more about The Court has spoken: What's Next?
Waleed Zuaiter, a professional actor in his early thirties now living in Brooklyn Heights, New York, never thought his life would change the way it has after reading a book. While taking part in the US West coast premier of Homebody/Kabul, a play by the Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award winning playwright Tony Kushner, Zuaiter’s wife Joana came across On the Hills of God, a novel by Ibrahim Fawal, a Palestinian writer and filmmaker now residing in Birmingham, Alabama. Although he was preoccupied with acting at night while living in Berkley, California, Zuaiter’s captivation with the 450-page book sparked him into action. Read more about Palestinian film-maker, novelist hope to make award winning book into a movie
USCST, 9PM, 8 JULY 2004 — On 8 December 2003, the General Assembly of the United Nations adopted a resolution (A/RES/ES-10/14) in which it requested the International Court of Justice to “urgently render an advisory opinion on the legal consequences arising from the construction of the wall being built by Israel, in the occupied Palestinian territories, including in and around East Jerusalem, considering the rules and principles of international law.” EI has today (8 July 2004) obtained a copy of the ruling of the International Court of Justice, the contents of which were to be officially released tomorrow. While the source of the document remains unconfirmed at this stage, the contents and format of the document appear to be genuine and the ruling is a shocking blow to Israel. Read more about Exclusive: EI publishes leaked ICJ Advisory Ruling on Israel's West Bank Barrier
One of the biggest challenges amongst activists concerned with the Palestinian-Israeli conflict is a growing divide in the perspectives of peace advocates on one side and human rights advocates on the other. In attempting to explain or justify the use of violence, one can easily forget that that one party has a heavily fortified military with nuclear weapons capability; the other a population so oppressed and desperate, that some are willing to sacrifice their lives in order to claim casualties on the other side. Jeff Handmaker and Adri Nieuwhof critically examine whether these perspectives are reconcilable through promoting participation of Palestinian refugees. Read more about Israel as the powerful party should take the first clear step towards peace
Recently Israeli President Moshe Katsav publicly stated that human rights are basic rights and cannot be based on obligations set by the state — in other words, these rights are inherent to being human and cannot be taken away or limited by the state. In Israel where the desire for the security of the state and its citizens is used as a pretext to limit the advancement of human and civil rights both in Israel and the Occupied Territories, this is enlightened thinking coming from the head of state. Am Johal reports. Read more about The State Cannot Legislate On Matters Of Love
“Israel simultaneously extends its protective wall outwards so as to encompass and protect all the members of a globally distributed ethno-religious population that it views as its ‘concern.’ Like the United States, which, with the demise of the Soviet Union, is able to celebrate its power to defend its citizens and its interests everywhere, Israel has, with its victories over the antagonisms against which it established itself, become unrestrained in its will to sovereign power both within and beyond its borders.” Anthropologist Glenn Bowman of the University of Kent examines the socioeconomic contexts and the cultural underpinnings of Israel’s Apartheid Wall. Read more about About A Wall
As the International Court of Justice will render its advisory opinion in the case concerning the legal consequences of the construction of the Wall in the occupied Palestinian territory on July 9, 2004, EI’s Arjan El Fassed visited Bethlehem, Beit Jala and Beit Sahour where Israel continues the construction of the Wall. Ironically, the meaning of the Hebrew name of the settlement built on Jabel Abu Ghneim, separating the Bethlehem district from Jerusalem, “Har Homa” literally means “Mountain of the Wall”. Israel’s Apartheid Wall will completely separate Beit Sahour, Beit Jala and Bethlehem from the northern parts of the West Bank. Read more about Photostory: The Wall in Bethlehem
As the International Court of Justice will render its advisory opinion in the case concerning the legal consequences of the construction of the Wall in the occupied Palestinian territory on July 9, 2004, EI’s Arjan El Fassed visited ar-Ram where Israel continues the construction of the Wall. This week, Knesset member, Azmi Bishara, went on hunger strike in protest against the wall. Dozens of protesters joined the lawmaker in a tent at ar-Ram, which is located between Kalandia and Beit Hanina. Despite a ruling of the Israeli High Court, construction of the wall in ar-Ram continues. Read more about Photostory: The Wall in ar-Ram
As the International Court of Justice will render its advisory opinion in the case concerning the legal consequences of the construction of the Wall in the occupied Palestinian territory on July 9, 2004, EI’s Arjan El Fassed visited various sites where Israel continues the construction of the Wall. On 8 December 2003, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution, in which, it requested the International Court of Justice to “urgently render an advisory opinion”. UN member states filed written statements and subsequently, public hearings were held from 23 to 25 February 2004. Read more about Photostory: The Wall in Abu Dis and 'Azariya
“Every time I visit Amman,” writes EI co-founder Ali Abunimah, “the US embassy here seems to have around it more high walls, concrete barricades and armored cars with menacing machine guns mounted atop.” Abunimah says this symbolizes the growing gulf between ordinary Jordanians and the US, even as Jordan’s government is seen as increasingly “pro-American.” He examines the growing opposition among Jordanians to US policies in Palestine and Iraq and explains why US policies actually help stifle full democracy in Jordan, rather than encouraging it. Read more about US policies in Iraq, Palestine, fuel Jordanians' discontent
