“Private Jessica Lynch went to Iraq as a soldier loyal to her government. Ms. Corrie went to Gaza to oppose the actions of her government. As a U.S. citizen, she believed she had a special responsibility to defend Palestinians against U.S.-built weapons, purchased with U.S. aid to Israel. In letters home, she described how fresh water was being diverted from Gaza to Israeli settlements, and how death was more normal than life.” Naomi Klein examines the different fates of two young American women who went to war zones in the Middle East, and wonders what it says about the US that one is viewed as a hero while the other is not. Read more about Why two women went to war: Private Lynch and Rachel Corrie 

Although Divine Intervention has been draped with awards at film festivals, including the Jury Prize at Cannes last May, it is not eligible for consideration in the Oscar’s best-foreign-film category because Palestine is not a country. Michael Posner reports for the Globe and Mail. Read more about Oscar draws ire for snubbing Palestinian film 

The police and Concordia University left us no choice in how we confronted Benjamin Netanyahu, writes social justice activist Jaggi Singh. Read more about Day of broken glass