In the wake of Egypt’s revolution, Israeli and Western commentators have called the 1979 Egypt-Israel peace treaty “cornerstone” of regional peace and stability. That Israel always viewed the treaty as a blank check for war, however, is evident both in its behavior and in fears that the abrogation of the treaty might mean Israel will have to curtail its military interventions. Richard Irvine comments for The Electronic Intifada. Read more about Egypt-Israel "peace treaty" brought more war than peace
The Electronic Intifada brings you this roundup of recent activism news from across the globe, including disruptions by university students of speeches by an Israeli soldier and a politician in Massachusetts and in Scotland, a move to challenge Seattle’s violations of free speech rights and a Palestinian youth group’s demonstration against a settler-only marathon in the occupied West Bank. Read more about Activism roundup: Bilin commemorates six years of protest
For at least five months, Israeli military has been stationed on the roof of Abid Abu Ramuz’s building — which houses a total of 69 persons from seven separate families, as well as a mosque — in the heart of Silwan’s Baten al-Hawa neighborhood. Read more about Families forced out as army occupies Jerusalem rooftop
One year after Hampshire College in Massachusetts became the first university to divest from the Israeli occupation, student Will Delphia was hard at work completing a short documentary film exploring the events surrounding the historic decision. Read more about Film review: Hampshire's divestment victory documented
CAIRO (IPS) - The iron fist that has kept a tight grip on Egypt’s labor movements for nearly six decades relaxed this week, unleashing a wave of wildcat strikes that is testing the resolve of the country’s new military rulers. Read more about Workers challenge Egypt's military rule
Demonstrations are continuing uninterrupted across the Middle East and North Africa, where protesters remain steadfast in their demands for democracy. Meanwhile, the Palestinian Authority’s leadership in Ramallah has announced that it will hold municipal, presidential and legislative elections within the year. Read more about PA elections announced, but democracy a long way off
Today, the American arena of the human rights struggle exemplified by Martin Luther King, Jr. has arguably shifted from Birmingham to Arizona, but the greatest worldwide arena is undoubtedly Cairo. And as in Dr. King’s time, the greatest stumbling block is the “moderates.” Paula Rosine Long comments for The Electronic Intifada. Read more about The moderate obstacle
In recent months, Israel’s tactics to discredit legitimate protestors have become increasingly Orwellian as it steps up its campaign against human rights activists within the country and abroad, especially in the United Kingdom. Ismail Patel comments for The Electronic Intifada. Read more about Overcoming Israel's attempts to discredit protest
CAIRO (IPS) - Before his ouster on Friday, toppled Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak had made one of the biggest mistakes of his reign: not learning from the lessons of hundreds of small labor and professional strikes that littered the country since 2005. Read more about Egypt labor not resting after Mubarak's ouster
The view from Israel is that if they indeed succeed, the Tunisian and Egyptian revolutions are very bad. They make the Israeli occupation and apartheid policies in Palestine look like the acts of a typical “Arab” regime. Ilan Pappe examines how the Israeli establishment sees regional events and argues that the Arab uprisings offer hope for reconciliation built on the Palestinian right of return and universal principles. Read more about Egypt's revolution and Israel: "Bad for the Jews"
