The Electronic Intifada

Israel targeting fishermen, farmers in Gaza

Eva Bartlett 11 September 2009


On 31 August, Israeli gunboats shot at and shelled the fishing trawler of Khaled al-Habil, destroying it completely and leaving the boat’s 18 fishermen and their families without a source of income. One week earlier, on 24 August, Israeli soldiers along Gaza’s northern border shot dead a young farm worker, Said al-Hussumi. Sixteen-year-old al-Hussumi was killed while working on land a few hundred meters from the border with his cousin Masoud Tanboura, who was seriously wounded. Eva Bartlett reports for The Electronic Intifada. 

My rights, my remedy

Ahmed Moor 11 September 2009


Israel is an apartheid state. It rules over me in Gaza yet does not permit me to vote in an Israeli election. It hoards my resources in the West Bank, it detains me and dictates the terms of my survival. It issues my travel documents and denies me the right to travel. I cannot associate or marry or build or import or consume — in short, I cannot live — without Israel’s permission. Yet, I do not have the right to vote. Ahmed Moor comments for The Electronic Intifada. 

No windows, pens in Gaza's classrooms

10 September 2009


GAZA CITY, occupied Gaza Strip (IRIN) - Some 1,200 students at al-Karmel High School for boys in Gaza City returned to class on 25 August without history and English textbooks, or notebooks and pens — all unavailable on the local market. Severe damage to the school, caused during the 23-day Israeli offensive on the Gaza Strip which ended on 18 January, has yet to be repaired. Al-Karmel’s principal, Majed Yasin, has had to cover scores of broken windows with plastic sheeting. 

Compromising for Gaza without compromising Palestine

Gabriel Ash, Mich Levy and Sara Kershnar 9 September 2009


A call to organize a large march to break the siege of Gaza immediately captured the imagination of many organizers. However, after the initial call, the framework of the march was challenged by highly-respected Palestinian activists. Their criticism, expressed with the utmost respect for the courage and good will of the organizers, challenged the organizers’ decision to delay engaging in a wide conversation with Palestinian civil society and activists until after the call was made and the framework formulated. Gabriel Ash, Mich Levy and Sara Kershnar comment for The Electronic Intifada. 

Palestinians in limbo in occupied East Jerusalem

Jerrold Kessel and Pierre Klochendler 8 September 2009


OCCUPIED EAST JERUSALEM (IPS) - In the early morning sunlight, the smoky window of the plush new apartment reflects back a golden tinge from the Dome of the Rock that stands at the heart of Islam’s third holiest shrine. Down across the valley from the walled Old City, families have already started moving into some of the 91 apartments in this new 240-family compound of Jewish settlers. 

"Scare tactic" campaign aims to bring US Jews to Israel

Jonathan Cook 7 September 2009


The Israeli government has launched a television and Internet advertising campaign urging Israelis to inform on Jewish friends and relatives abroad who may be in danger of marrying non-Jews. The advertisements, employing what the Israeli media described as “scare tactics,” are designed to stop assimilation through intermarriage among young Diaspora Jews by encouraging their move to Israel. Jonathan Cook reports. 

Israel destroys Gaza boats and lives

Eva Bartlett 7 September 2009


GAZA CITY, occupied Gaza Strip (IPS) - Until last Monday, Omar and Khaled al-Habil were the owners of a 20 meter fishing trawler staffed by five or six fishermen at a time, but employing around 18 in cycles. But that morning the vessel came under heavy Israeli navy machine-gun fire, and then shelling. The trawler caught fire. “It’s destroyed, completely destroyed,” says al-Habil. 

Why we back the boycott call

Ken Loach, Rebecca O'Brien and Paul Laverty 7 September 2009


When we decided to pull our film Looking for Eric from the Melbourne International Film festival following our discovery that the festival was part-sponsored by the Israeli state, we wrote to the director, Richard Moore, detailing our reasons. Unfortunately he has misrepresented our position and did so again last week on the Guardian’s Comment is free by stating that “to allow the personal politics of one filmmaker to proscribe a festival position … goes against the grain of what festivals stand for,” and claiming that “Loach’s demands were beyond the pale.” Filmmakers Ken Loach, Rebecca O’Brien and Paul Laverty comment. 

Israel targets medical teams

Mel Frykberg 5 September 2009


JALAZONE, occupied West Bank (IPS) - Fourteen-year-old Muhammad Nayif’s mother broke down as she spoke to IPS. Nayif died after being shot three times in the chest by Israeli soldiers Monday night. Palestinian medical personnel who tried to reach the critically injured boy near the Jalazone refugee camp north of Ramallah were threatened at gunpoint by Israeli soldiers and shot at.