Following our publication of the special report, “NPR’s Linda Gradstein takes cash payments from pro-Israeli groups” (19 February 2002), and several follow-up reports, NPR Ombudsman Jeffrey Dvorkin responded to our concerns on 25 February 2002 and the March 11th issue of the Current, a public broadcasting trade publication ran an in-depth story on the revelations, NPR Mideast correspondent broke ban on speaker fees, by Mike Janssen. Meanwhile, Gradstein’s unchecked bias continues to surface. EI’s Ali Abunimah and Nigel Parry report. Read more about Follow up: Gradstein's unethical payments make public broadcasting headlines -- NPR's Drake avoids making Gradstein accountable
Ali Abunimah, Nigel Parry and Laurie King4 April 2002
Israel has failed to prove a credible direct link between Arafat and acts of terrorism. It pursues and promotes this myth to delegitimise the Palestinian national cause and demonise the Palestinian people as a whole. In truth, this smear tactic is effective, as Arafat has no more capacity to prevent suicide attacks than the Israelis were able to when they controlled 100% of the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Read more about Israel's 'smoking gun': A damp firecracker
Michael F. Brown, Ali Abunimah and Nigel Parry24 June 2002
Bowing to strong Israeli pressure, CNN is to broadcast a special series profiling Israeli victims of terror. Astonishingly, neither the website nor the planned series profile any of the more than 1,000 unarmed Palestinian civilians—one quarter of them children—killed or any of the 19,452 Palestinians injured in the past 21 months by Israeli occupation forces. Read more about CNN negates Palestinian victims and international law
Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions24 August 2002
Stones and rocks from adjacent hills were laid in courses on top of one another and concrete was poured between the stones and behind them to bind everything together. It was an ideal construction method for unskilled labor. Read more about At Work - Global Campaign To Rebuild Palestinian Homes
The New York Times’ editorial praises the Israeli Labor party’s decision to join a “national unity” government on the grounds that it could exert a “moderating influence” on the new government’s approach “on issues like military tactics against Palestinian unrest.” EI notes that if the outgoing Labor government has been “moderate” in its response, Palestinians could well be forgiven for wondering what a harsh response would look like. Read more about New York Times editorial praises "moderate" Israeli Labour party
The Palestinian Environment NGO Network (PENGON)21 August 2002
Under difficult conditions, which have inhibited national preparations and frustrated momentum, Palestinians coming from Palestine are still pushing matters forward in hopes that the massive crimes of the past two years, and beyond, are not forgotten within this large-scale event. Read more about Palestine NGO Delegation Arrives at the WSSD
Faculty at UC Berkeley have initiated a petition for divestment from Israel that includes all of the University of California campuses. The campaign for divestment from Israel follows the precedent set by the anti-apartheid campaign of the 1980’s, when students, professors, and employees called for an end to university investment in South Africa. Read more about UC Berkeley faculty launch divestment petition
Queers Undermining Israeli Terrorism20 August 2002
About 25 queer settlers descended on a downtown Berkeley Starbucks on Saturday, August 17, claiming Berkeley as “a city without people for people without a city.” The group, organized by Queers Undermining Israeli Terrorism (QUIT!), posted a banner proclaiming the reclaimed café “Queerkeley – A Prophecy Fulfilled.” Read more about Queer 'Settlers' colonize Berkeley Starbucks
