Tag: palestinians

The Last Summit?

The Israeli-Palestinian talks recently convened by President Barack Obama may or may not lead to a peace agreement. But the negotiations could mark the last serious attempt by a U.S. president to invest his or her own political capital and American diplomatic prestige in resolving the conflict based on a two-state solution. An international consensus … Continue reading “The Last Summit?”

Israeli-Palestinian Accommodation: A Circle Not Easily Squared

JERUSALEM – Security first or borders first: security says Israel, borders retort the Palestinians. Israeli-Palestinian peace talks are finally again getting under way. Israel, though, remains adamant that the only chance the talks have to make headway is for its security concerns to be satisfactorily addressed. A report by an international think-tank propitiously timed for … Continue reading “Israeli-Palestinian Accommodation: A Circle Not Easily Squared”

Lights Out in Gaza

GAZA CITY – The Muslim festival Eid approaches, but not the end to power cuts that have darkened the month-long Ramadan fasting leading up to the festival. Or to the agony of Gazans, made worse by the reminder that it’s approaching a festive time. The prolonged electricity cuts, lasting from 12 to 16 hours daily, … Continue reading “Lights Out in Gaza”

Media New Battleground for Palestinians and Israelis

RAMALLAH – Palestinians and Israelis are using the media as a new battleground in their war to win hearts and minds across the globe, even as the protracted conflict in the Mideast drags on with no apparent end in sight. Israel has led the way for decades with its slick and professional hasbara, or propaganda … Continue reading “Media New Battleground for Palestinians and Israelis”

Palestinian Patients Suffer From Hamas-Fatah Rivalry

RAMALLAH – Cancer patient Ahmed Abu Fuad needs chemotherapy to survive. Muhammad Subeh needs an eye transplant, while paramedic Alaa Sarhan desperately needs surgery to remove shrapnel from his body. But these Gazans are unable to leave the area to seek the required medical treatment elsewhere, and it is not because of the Israeli siege. … Continue reading “Palestinian Patients Suffer From Hamas-Fatah Rivalry”

Work Permits and Ramadan in the West Bank

HIRBET DEIR, Occupied West Bank – For Muhammad el-Baradiyeh, 38, the Muslim holy month of Ramadan is always a blessing. In fact, every day of the month-and-a-half prior to Ramadan has been good for Muhammad. Thanks to a permit granted by the Israeli authorities, he’s been able to work inside Israel and save extra money … Continue reading “Work Permits and Ramadan in the West Bank”

Israeli Settlers Step Up ‘Price-Tag’ Policy

A rabbi from one of the most violent settlements in the West Bank was questioned on suspicion of incitement last week as Israeli police stepped up their investigation into a book in which he sanctions the killing of non-Jews, including children and babies. Rabbi Yitzhak Shapira is one of the leading ideologues of the extreme … Continue reading “Israeli Settlers Step Up ‘Price-Tag’ Policy”

All Quiet on the Eastern Front

People endowed with sensitive political ears were startled this week by two words, which, so it seemed, escaped from the mouth of Benjamin Netanyahu by accident: “Eastern front.” Once upon a time these words were part of the everyday vocabulary of the occupation. In recent years they have been gathering dust in the political junkyard. … Continue reading “All Quiet on the Eastern Front”

Rape, Deception, or Racism?

JERUSALEM – “It was consensual, I owe an apology to no one other than my wife and two children. They’re the ones who’ve suffered from this. And myself.” Sabbar Kashur, 30, is a Palestinian Arab resident of the Shuafat neighborhood in occupied East Jerusalem. He’s just been convicted by an Israeli court of “rape by … Continue reading “Rape, Deception, or Racism?”

Egypt Punishes Gaza More

CAIRO – Almost two months since Egypt announced it would reopen its Rafah border terminal with the Gaza Strip, operation of the crossing remains sorely limited. “Rafah has only been opened to passengers and some medical supplies,” Hatem al-Buluk, journalist and resident of al-Arish, located some 25 miles west of Rafah, told IPS. “Everything else, … Continue reading “Egypt Punishes Gaza More”