Tag: israel

Goldstone’s Rethink

Israeli leaders have barely hidden their jubilation at an opinion article in last Friday’s Washington Post by the South African jurist Richard Goldstone reconsidering the findings of his United Nations-appointed inquiry into Israel’s attack on Gaza in winter 2008. For the past 18 months the Goldstone Report had forced Israel on to the defensive by … Continue reading “Goldstone’s Rethink”

Israel Aiming Punitive Measures at Soft Targets

RAMALLAH – As the international community becomes increasingly critical of Israel’s discriminatory treatment of Israeli-Arabs and the brutal occupation in the Palestinian West Bank, the Israeli authorities are venting their anger against soft targets such as Arab-Israeli parliamentarians and Palestinian and Israeli nonviolent peace activists. The majority of Knesset members recently voted in favor of … Continue reading “Israel Aiming Punitive Measures at Soft Targets”

Who Is Annexing Whom?

In a rare late-night session, the Knesset has finally adopted two obnoxious, racist laws. Both are clearly directed against Israel’s Arab citizens, a fifth of the population. The first makes it possible to annul the citizenship of persons found guilty of offenses against the security of the state. Israel prides itself on having a great … Continue reading “Who Is Annexing Whom?”

From Jerusalem to Washington, Myth Disguised as News

After members of Congress and their staffs peruse the newspapers from their home states or districts, they’re likely to take a quick look at the one daily newspaper they all read: the Washington Post. The WaPo shows up on most desks in the executive branch too, from the West Wing on down. But these are … Continue reading “From Jerusalem to Washington, Myth Disguised as News”

West Bank Neighbors: Chronicles of Death

March 11, 2011 On Friday night, two men—presumably Palestinians—entered the West Bank Jewish settlement of Itamar. The settlement of 1,000 was established in 1984, deep in occupied land (28 km from the Green Line). It is named after the son of the biblical Aharon, Itamar, whose grave—according to a 13th-century legend—is located in the adjacent … Continue reading “West Bank Neighbors: Chronicles of Death”

Palestinian Village Under Siege Following Settler Killings

AWARTA, West Bank – Food supplies are running low, ambulances have been detained for hours at checkpoints, and hundreds of young men have been held, interrogated, and beaten up, some requiring hospitalization, in the Palestinian village of Awarta in the northern West Bank. The village has been under continuous curfew for four days. “Please, please … Continue reading “Palestinian Village Under Siege Following Settler Killings”

The Dwarfs of Jerusalem

Jerusalem is abuzz with brilliant new ideas. The brightest minds of our political establishment are grappling with the problems created by the ongoing Arab revolution that is reshaping the landscape around us. Here is the latest crop of mind-bogglingly innovative ideas: Minister of Defense Ehud Barak has announced that he is going to ask the … Continue reading “The Dwarfs of Jerusalem”

J Street Offers Alternative to AIPAC

Hundreds of Jewish activists from J Street visited congressional offices on March 1 to talk about Israel and the settlements and to present a pro-peace agenda against the dominant views of the most powerful lobby in Washington, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC). The visits followed their second major convention with representatives from all … Continue reading “J Street Offers Alternative to AIPAC”