Tag: palestine

Israel’s War on Protest

The Israeli courts ordered the release this week of two foreign women arrested by the army in the West Bank in what human-rights lawyers warn has become a wide-ranging clampdown by Israel on non-violent protest from international, Israeli and Palestinian activists.  The arrest of the two women during a nighttime raid on the Palestinian city … Continue reading “Israel’s War on Protest”

Gazans Denied Justice as Rights Take a Beating

RAMALLAH — Gazans hoping for a modicum of justice following Israel’s indiscriminate military assault on the coastal territory during December 2008 and January 2009 — which left 1,400 Palestinians, mostly civilians, dead — could be waiting in vain. The Israeli government has taken the offensive in the propaganda battle and attacked United Nations-appointed Justice Richard … Continue reading “Gazans Denied Justice as Rights Take a Beating”

Report: Israel Stole $2B from Palestinian Workers

Over the past four decades Israel has defrauded Palestinians working inside Israel of more than $2 billion by deducting from their salaries contributions for welfare benefits to which they were never entitled, Israeli economists have revealed.  A new report, “State Robbery”, to be published later this month, says the “theft” continued even after the Palestinian … Continue reading “Report: Israel Stole $2B from Palestinian Workers”

Raze Illegal Buildings — Unless They Are Jewish

SILWAN, East Jerusalem — Backed by armed security men, the municipal inspectors race their jeeps through the narrow alleyways and up a hillside crowded with buildings. Some of the homes are well-faced with stone; the naked concrete of others gives off something of a temporary air. One block of flats stands out for its unusual … Continue reading “Raze Illegal Buildings — Unless They Are Jewish”

‘Hamas Accepts Existence of Israel Within 1967 Borders’

Mel Frykberg interviews MAHMOUDI RAMAHI, secretary-general of the Palestinian Legislative Council RAMALLAH – Palestinian politics are at an impasse. The four-year term of the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC) ended on Jan. 25 with no new elections planned. Presidential elections, meant to be held last year, were also postponed indefinitely. IPS spoke with Dr. Mahmoud Ramahi, … Continue reading “‘Hamas Accepts Existence of Israel Within 1967 Borders’”

US Policy in Gaza Remains Unchanged

One year ago Thursday, the last Israeli tanks were lumbering out of the Gaza Strip, ending the 22-day Gaza War and leaving in their wake a decimated landscape and population. A year later, the humanitarian and security situation in the devastated coastal enclave remains dire, yet the Barack Obama administration continues to overlook the crisis … Continue reading “US Policy in Gaza Remains Unchanged”

Israel Crushes Local Dissent, Attacks Global Criticism

RAMALLAH – Israel is lashing out at international criticism and attempting to crush local dissent in what appears to be growing sensitivity to reproach of its policies. Several recent incidents have dominated media headlines, including the arrest of a Jewish-American journalist on the grounds of security, threats by an Israeli minister against international diplomats and … Continue reading “Israel Crushes Local Dissent, Attacks Global Criticism”

Israel Declares War on Peace NGOs

JERUSALEM – One year after the devastating attack on Hamas in Gaza a new wave of reports castigating Israel for war crimes has emerged. Now, Israel is fighting back with a report on the reports, picking on international NGOs such as Amnesty, Christian Aid, Oxfam, Trocaire, Finn Church Aid, Diakonia and Cordaid. The immediate target … Continue reading “Israel Declares War on Peace NGOs”

Israel’s Rocket Defense System Tightens Screws on Gaza

Israel unveiled “Iron Dome” last week, a missile-defense system that is designed to strike a knock-out blow against short-range rockets of the variety fired into Israel by Hamas and Hezbollah. In the short term, Iron Dome is supposed to herald the demise of the rocket threat to Israeli communities near Gaza four years after Hamas … Continue reading “Israel’s Rocket Defense System Tightens Screws on Gaza”

‘Israeli Settlements Killing Two-State Solution’

JERUSALEM — In the absence of any progress towards peace between Israelis and Palestinians, leaders of the Palestinian Authority (PA) are adopting a reasonable approach as a way of building up international pressure on Israel to get it back to the negotiating table. Ghassan Khatib, an influential former PA cabinet minister and co-editor of the … Continue reading “‘Israeli Settlements Killing Two-State Solution’”