Gay rights, Israel’s new cudgel for beating Palestinians
June 9th, 2012
Richard Silverstein analyses how Israel
and its advocate groups are presenting the country as the only gay-friendly
state in the Middle East, and notes Michael Oren's making of myths and weird
friends in Israel's
cause. An account of their political journey to its current focus on
patriarchal institutions from Palestinian LGBTQ group Al Qaws.
UN to blame for keeping Palestinians as refugees
June 8th, 2012
Einat Wilf (2) is a sophisticated and combative MK; as a
Harvard graduate, with further degrees from French and British universities,
she talks the talk. But listen carefully, and the talk is always that on every
issue the Arabs are wrong - which goes down well (1). They are most wrong on
refugees on which the 'self-serving' UNRWA supports them. But in actuality an
interview with Hazem Jamjoum on a visit to South Africa reveals how realistic
Palestinians are about right of return. (3)
Protests at G4S, profiting from policing people, from Palestinians to Olympics
June 8th, 2012
G4S is the 2nd largest private employer in the world,
making its money from public sectors contracting out 'security' operations -
such as the Olympics this summer. Services to Israeli settlements are one its
most profitable and controversial operations. JfJfP actively supports the
campaign to stop UK
state agencies giving contracts to G4S.
Toxic marriage between European and Israeli (and Jewish) far right
June 7th, 2012
The growing phenomenon of Islamophobes cozying up to Jews
in Western Europe has long been noted with disquiet.
Now Rachel Shabi reports that Israel's
right wing is welcoming some of Europe's most
racist bigots. 2, the English Defence League welcomes the new head of its
Jewish section. Islamophobia is not the only common cause - add nation, family,
security.
A Rabbi tells how he came to see his zionism as racist nationalism
June 7th, 2012
In a slow and painful account Rabbi Brian Walt describes
his journey from being a keen zionist in apartheid South Africa to
understanding, via a visit to the West Bank, that the democratic Jewish state
is an illusion and zionism - the 'religion of American Jews' - a discriminatory
ethno-nationalist system. Now he works to separate Judaism, with its central
tenet of justice, from zionism.
‘Longest military occupation in the world is entering its 46th year amidst deafening silence’
June 6th, 2012
Noam Sheizaf writes a powerful indictment of the occupation
under which 'a Palestinian man my age has not been free for a single day in his
life'. The Israeli occupation is unique for the extent of the control the
military exercises over Palestinian lives. The status quo will not change, he
concludes, unless there is international political will to change it - which
means recognising the deep inequality which that control enforces.
Prisoners from Gaza still denied family visits; hunger strikes continue
June 6th, 2012
Last May, the Israeli Prison Service agreed to, amongst
other thngs, allow the resumption of visits by families from Gazza to relatives
imprisoned in Israel.
B'Tselem's attempts to unravel IPS thinking belong in a Kafka novel. Electronic
Intifada on the situation today - where revenge and collective punishment are
the terms used by those involved.
Ten helpful arguments for squashing pesky boycotters
June 6th, 2012
Robert Cohen takes on the guise of one of those 'community
leaders' who confidently tells JfJfP-types why they are so wrong about BDS -
and everything Israeli. Laugh or cry.
Fight for life of Mahmoud al-Sarsak: Friday demonstration
June 5th, 2012
Demonstration on Friday 8th June for Mahmoud Al Sarsak,
Palestinian footballer. He was arrested on his way to a match from his home in Gaza 3 years ago. He was
illegally moved to a prison in Israel
where he has since been held as an 'unlawful combatant'. He has been on a
protest hunger strike since some date between 15th and 24th March and is now
gravely ill. Physicians for Human Rights have been denied access to him.
Ulpana settlers frantic at steps to move them – and to end settler immunity
June 5th, 2012
While the rest of the world is clear about the status of
settlements - they are all illegal - the Israeli state is trying to draw a fine
distinction. And Ulpana is on the 'wrong' side. Residents are reacting
hysterically - it “would be equal in magnitude and enormity to the Expulsion
from Spain”
said one. What's so unsettling them is that their pro-settler government is
moving against them. 6 items updating previous post this week.
Emails of pro-Palestinians illegally checked by Ben Gurion security staff
June 5th, 2012
Americans with Arab surnames have been instructed to open
their private emails for checking by security staff at Ben Gurion airport - and
deported if they reveal pro-Palestinian links or if they refuse to log-on. Such
a practice is illegal without a named search warrant. LOL or be befuddled at
the transcript of AP questioning a State department official. AP and
Mondoweiss.
Right-wing figures stoke spread of racist violence in Israeli cities
June 5th, 2012
Unlike EU countries and the USA,
it appears quite OK for political figures in Israel to issue hate speech against
black people and Muslims. The violent attacks on a poor district in Tel Aviv
last month broke out in Jerusalem
this week with an arson attack on Eritreans. Quotes from +972, Ynet on
Ministerial incitement, Netanyahu's plan for mass expulsions, Harriet Sherwood
on growing intolerance
Turkish court indicts IDF Generals for Mavi Marmara killings
June 4th, 2012
In an historic and popular, if symbolic, act, a Turkish
court has indicted four Israeli military commanders for the killing of nine
people on the Mavi Marmara in 2010. It is rare for anyone in power in Israel to be
held to account for any illegal act they commit. Arutz Sheva (1) and Israel Matzav
(3) are bewildered by such defence of 'terrorists', Haaretz (2) is measured,
Sarah Colbourne of PSC was there (4).
‘Democratization of the PLO is a long overdue, essential political reform’
June 4th, 2012
Caught up in factional battles and resistance to the
occupation, the PLO is neither democratic nor subject to internal pressure for
democracy. Toufic Haddad argues it is the Palestinian disapora which should
press for reform - while asking what sort of democracy in what arena is most
desirable.
Settlers disturb laws of property and peace
June 4th, 2012
The Israeli government has ruled that the Ulpana outpost -
a state enterprise to boost settlements - has to be evacuated because it
infringes Palestinian property rights. This idea has no weight with
right-wingers or the Ulpana settlers, from whom the IDF expects violence.
Should the establishment support the rule of the state or the rule of settling
on all Palestinian land? Jpost reports and deliberates, plus Ynet and +972.
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