Al-Haq is deeply disturbed by reports that the European Union, the United States, Israel and other governments have filed objections to the ICJ, stating that they believe that the ICJ should not issue an Advisory Opinion on the legal consequences of Israel’s construction of the Annexation Wall in the occupied territories. Al Haq urges the ICJ to continue the hearings on the wall. Now is the opportunity for them to intervene so that it’s reviewed on the basis of law, not politics. Read more about ICJ must continue with advisory opinion on wall
Yesterday, an Israeli ministerial committee that prepares Israel’s position for the case before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on Israel’s Separation Wall decided to not appear at oral hearings due to begin on February 23, 2004. The committee, chaired by Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, accepted the recommendations made by a steering committee, made up of Israeli senior advisors, that discussed Israel’s position on Monday, and decided to suffice with the written declaration that Israel submitted on January 30, 2004. Read more about Israel won't appear at ICJ hearing on Israel’s separation wall
The Israeli army has destroyed hundreds of thousands of Palestinian olive and citrus trees throughout the Occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip in recent years. Yet in a startling admission, a staffer at the Jewish National Fund for Israel (JNF) has written that, “it is against Jewish halachic law to uproot fruit bearing trees.” EI’s Ali Abunimah explains how the JNF has been essential to the ethnic cleansing of Palestine, and the destruction of its landscape. Read more about If it's against Jewish law, then why is Israel doing it?
Many of Israel’s apologists, and even former Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, quote Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. declaring, “anti-Zionist is inherently anti-Semitic, and ever will be so.” There’s only one problem with this famous quote: King never said it, because its a hoax. EI contributors Fadi Kiblawi and Will Youmans investigate the use and abuse of Dr. King’s legacy to justify Israeli abuses, and silence criticism of Israel. Read more about Israel's apologists and the Martin Luther King Jr. hoax
Speaking at the third annual Herzliya conference, Israeli Finance Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told his audience: “The most important thing is maintaining the Jewish majority in the country and improving the economy to encourage more Jews from the Diaspora to immigrate.” If the Palestinians in Israel “reach 35 to 40 percent of the Israeli population, Israel will become a state with two nationalities,” he said. Israelis — on both the left and right — will have to make a choice. To solve their “Palestinian problem” Israel can opt for four ‘solutions’ EI’s Arjan El Fassed lays them out. Read more about Racism thrives at Israel's Herzliya conference
People in the Palestinian solidarity community regularly bemoan the fact that pro-Israeli advocacy groups are far more vocal, far more organised, and have far more political influence than their Palestinian counterparts. This is not happening as a result of some strange magic. The simple fact is that pro-Israeli advocacy groups receive far more in donations than do pro-Palestinian advocacy groups. EI’s Nigel Parry visited charitynavigator.org, a website offering financial and other information about charities, and compiled a list of CEO earnings. Read more about Follow the money: CEO salaries of pro-Palestinian and pro-Israeli advocacy groups and charities
After the fourth meeting of the Association Council, the European Union issued a statement, saying its wants Israel to halt the construction of its wall through the West Bank. This statement was issued by the European Union on the fourth meeting of the Association Council EU-Israel, held in Brussels, 17-18 November 2003. The EU is deeply concerned by the situation in the region and has noted that, despite support given by the international community to the quest for a just and lasting solution, insufficient effort has been made by the concerned parties. Read more about EU raises pressure on Israel
Today and tomorrow, members of the Association Council, the 15 members of the European Union and Israel will meet to discuss pending and new issues disrupting EU-Israel relations. This regular bilateral meeting will be used by the EU to express its concern over Israel’s boycott of Marc Otte, the EU envoy, who since his meeting with the Palestinian president could not talk to Israeli officials. According to various sources, the EU will press Israel over the construction of the wall. EI’s Arjan El Fassed reports. Read more about EU and Israel take seats in Association Council
Between 1956 and 2003, Israel has recruited Dutch UN officers to spy in Syria, Jordan and Lebanon. This happened during the peaks of the Dutch-Israeli friendship. In its recruitment of Dutch officers for intelligence gathering, Israel regularly used blackmail. Arthur ten Cate, a researcher affiliated with the Dutch Institute for Military History in The Hague, recently published a book, in which he named two Israeli crimps and Dutch officers who were involved in intelligence gathering for Israel. EI’s Arjan El Fassed scanned the publication. Read more about Israel recruited Dutch UN officers for espionage
Israel’s hard-line supporters in the US Congress have fired the latest volley in their sustained campaign against the rights of Palestinian refugees and against the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) that provides for their basic needs. They have introduced a resolution accusing the UN agency that looks after refugees, and are trying to rewrite the history of the 1948 expulsion of the Palestinian people from its homeland. EI’s Ali Abunimah looks at the latest moves by pro-Israel organizations and their allies in the US Congress. Read more about Hijacking the Palestinian narrative: Israel's friends in Congress
