NEWS: News Updates...

To read more, please click the hyperlink (headings) Israel’s rigged economy and the European parliament September 9th, 2012  The proposed trade agreement between the EU and Israel, known as ACCA, which centres on pharmaceuticals, is coming before the European parliament on September 18. MEPs have the power to give their assent to the new protocol, which would allow Israel free access to the EU single market, or to withhold it. JfJfP endorses the campaign to press MEPs to suspend their vote on the ACAA protocol. Get writing!

80 Palestinian NGOs unite to condemn EU favours to Israel September 6th, 2012  Palestinian anger at the favourable deal offered by the EU to Israel after the EU-Israel Association Council meeting would be less sharp had it not been preceded by many EU Commission and parliament statements supporting Palestinian rights and condemning the illegal settlements and other breaches of international law. Now 80 NGOs have come together to express their hostility to the EU's reneging on its principles.

Why aid workers can’t aid Palestinians September 6th, 2012  Former aid worker Jeremy Wildeman at last speaks out about why NGOs which aim to provide Palestinians with material and educational aid are doomed to be ineffectual. Trapped in the donors' idea that it is a war between two equal forces who are engaged in a 'peace process' the aid workers can't speak out against the Israeli acts which cause Palestinian deprivation. Israel chooses which NGOs can work there.

Pushing Jewish refugees from Arab countries centre stage September 6th, 2012  Three Jewish organisations are holding conferences on the rights of Jews who left Arab countries for Israel in the years after its foundation, an event which broke the Ottoman tradition of peaceful co-existence.. This new campaign appears to be a counter to the issue of Palestinian refugees, an equalisation of victimhood. An account of the 1941 Nazi-inspired pogrom in Baghdad follows the report from JTA.

Palestinian teachers win appeal against discriminatory sacking September 6th, 2012  Struggles for supreme political authority and an uneven judicial system bedevil the practice of civil rights in the Palestinian territories. In 2008, PA security services judged 400 teachers had failed their screening. They were sacked by the PA. Judgment on their first appeal was delayed (1) but this week (2) it succeeded. Now the teachers wait to see if the PA will implement the court's ruling that they were unfairly dismissed.

Nuclear weapons are ‘a great and unforgivable sin’: Ayatollah Khamenei September 5th, 2012  The division between those who are the 'global hegemonisers' and those who are struggling out of their reach was sharply marked last week when the 120 member states of the non-aligned movement (NAM) met at a summit in Tehran. The event was largely ignored by western media - to ostracise Iran, or because they thought it worthless. Netanyahu slammed it as inviting a 2nd genocide of the Jews; Hamas was left out but Palestinians got strong support. Ayatollah Khamenei's speech may be at odds with the Revolutionary Guard, pious hot air -- or the truth.

IDF clearance of South Hebron land for firing zone broke laws of occupation September 5th, 2012  The IDF has been laying claim to a large tract of the South Hebron Hills as a military training firing range for a long time. This is the traditional land for grazing animals, the herders living in temporary shelters. The IDF expelled people and animals from the area. It is now clear the IDF cannot use it for training. ACRI has prepared a new petition for return of the land. B'Tselem argues the IDF action, and claim for the land, are a breach of the laws on occupation - see post below.

What ARE the laws of occupation? September 5th, 2012  It can come as a surprise that occupying another country by force is governed by laws. These come from the 1907 Hague Regulations, 1949 Geneva Conventions and 1977 Additional Protocol. These last 2 make the ICRC the guardian of international humanitarian law. It is the definition of occupation as 'temporary' which allowed the Levy Report in July to judge that Israel was not occupying the West Bank as their rule is permanent. We post here the ICRC's summary of the laws governing occupation. Count how many you think the IDF and settlers have broken.

Respect for rule of law proclaimed as settlers leave Migron September 4th, 2012  Following a supreme court ruling last August that the illegal outpost of Migron be evacuated, the settlers began leaving this week in apparently peaceful respect for the rule of law. In one tiny place. That was before the price-tag attack on a Christian monastery - see post below. Reports from +972 and Al Jazeera

Price-tag settlers scrawl ‘Jesus is a monkey’ on Trappist monastery walls September 4th, 2012  Settlers have torched the doors of a 19th century Trappist monastery at Latrun in the Ayalon valley near Jerusalem. They also scrawled 'Jesus is a monkey' (in Hebrew) on the walls. It is assumed this is a price-tag revenge attack by or for settlers evacuated from the illegal outpost of Migron (see post above).

Dirty, dangerous and intrusive: gov’t warnings about travel to Israel September 4th, 2012  Foreign offices have long warned their citizens about security concerns when travelling in Israel. But a survey by Ha'aretz shows this may be the least of the dangers in a country with many dangerous drivers, poor hygiene and extremely intrusive staff at the borders. Israelis and Palestinians already know this.

EU wants to know your experience of antisemitism in Europe September 4th, 2012  The EU's Fundamental Rights Agency (FRA) has commissioned surveys in nine EU countries as part of its ongoing research into antisemitism today. The questionnaire is online and you can access it through this posting. It is for Jews (by any definition) aged 16 and over.

Feminist philosopher Judith Butler vengefully pursued by Israel’s fans September 3rd, 2012  The Adorno Award, established in 1977 by the City of Frankfurt, is given every 3 years to recognize outstanding achievement in philosophy, theatre, music, and film. This year the City awarded it to Judith Butler, Hannah Arendt Professor of Philosophy at the European Graduate School in Switzerland. Started by Stephan Kramer of Germany's Central Council of Jews and taken up by JPost (1) a hue and cry has ensued, actively amplified by SPME whose actual right-wing, pro-Israel politics are displayed on their website. Judith Butler's measured response to her critics is posted 2nd, a summary of her book Parting Ways, 3rd.

Stuck in Gaza: ‘No-one actually wants to solve our problem’ September 3rd, 2012  Israel has blocked access to Gaza by land, sea and air. There is one way in and out, the Rafah crossing into Egypt. Since President Morsi's election restrictions have eased but Gazans' freedom of movement is vulnerable to any symbolic, and actual, punitive measures against Gaza. The people are helpless, their government Hamas is classed as an enemy terrorist; the Gazans have become the whipping boy for Middle East tensions. Eve Bartlett reports.

To engage with the other does not mean to submit September 3rd, 2012  In 2001, Yossi Alpher and Ghassan Khatib came together to create bitter lemons, a publishing venture to present in the same space the voices of Israelis and Palestinians. It depended on EU funding, hard work and goodwill. Now one of those publications - the online magazine - is to cease. Israeli intransigence has been met with Palestinian withdrawal from joint enterprise. EU funders are stuck in the mould of restarting the 'peace process'. Rosemary Hollis (1) analyses the reasons put forward by editors Yossi Alpher and Ghassan Khatib (2).