NEWS: News Updates

 

 JfJfP DVD – A Heartfelt Wish, discussing Peter Kosminsky’s “The Promise” 

October 14th, 2012 

We are delighted to offer a unique new DVD resource for stimulating discussion in schools, faith and community groups about the Israel-Palestine conflict. A Heartfelt Wish is a short documentary recording what happened when leading film maker Peter Kosminsky joined a rabbi, a bishop and 300 sixth form students in Sherborne, Dorset in November 2011, exploring Israel and Palestine through discussions based on his drama The Promise.

Israel threatens violence as Estelle reaches Med

October 14th, 2012

The Swedish ship Estelle, sailing under a Finnish flag and carrying a load of 18 well-wishers and humanitarian aid for Gaza has been informed by Israeli authorities that she will be prevented by force from reaching Gaza. Report from Al Akhbar and two updates from Ship to Gaza.

Corrupt politics

October 14th, 2012

All political systems have corruption of some sort but not all of the same sort or to the same degree. Looking at the coming American and Israeli elections Uri Avnery judges the American to be the more financially corrupt while Israel has a corruption of courage and candour as shown by the inability of any political leaders to acknowledge openly the costs of suppressing the Palestinians at the heart of the system.

Gaza blockade has created conditions for handful of extremists

October 12th, 2012

Jared Malsin, former English editor at Ma'an, guides readers through the Salafist groups in Gaza. The blockade, he says, created the extremists. (Though small in number, they issue such violence, antisemitism and hostility to democracy they have given all Palestinians a bad name internationally.) But Salafist intransigence attracts some young men. Hamas has been cracking down on them since 2009.

What the Jewish safe haven has lost on its way to becoming ‘the Jewish state’

October 12th, 2012

Benjamin Netanyahu's recent insistence that Israel be described and universally recognised as 'the Jewish state' has won him applause in Congress and left the PA indifferent. Colin Shindler traces the journey from Jewish 'homeland' through binational state to Jewish 'state' and asks what Netanyahu might expect to gain from the re-designation.

The early desire of Jews to settle in Palestine has to be accepted

October 12th, 2012

Matthew Graber interviews Jeff Halper, founder of the Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions about his views on one state. In the excerpt here, Halper draws a clear distinction between the early desire of Jews to settle safely in Palestine and what then became the ethnocratic system in full denial of Palestinians. It is not colonial, he says, because colonists, unlike Israeli Jews, had a 'home' they could and did return to.

Likud calls early poll, banking on hopeless opposition

October 11th, 2012

PM Netanyahu announced elections will be held early in 2013, claiming budget squabbles (1) and security and economic turmoil (5). No-one believes him. With a fragmented opposition, lacking hope or strategy, it seems the energy of the forces for more settlements and war-cries about Iran will carry his party to an election victory - with no mention of Palestine. But if Arabs could be persuaded to vote, the result might be different.

High Court affirms Palestinian lives governed by “separation” policies

October 11th, 2012

Apartheid is the Afrikaans word for 'separateness'. Even 'liberal' Israelis protest if critics say Israel has apartheid policies. Yet, as Ben White writes, the High Court has recently upheld a decision not to allow four young women from Gaza to study in the West Bank because this would breach the lawful 'separation policy'. Given how many decisions inimical to Palestinian rights the Court has made, why is it regarded as leftist?

Is granting citizenship to Palestinians in Jerusalem a Pyrrhic victory for Israel?

October 10th, 2012

A quiet trend of Palestinians in East Jerusalem applying for, and getting, Israeli citizenship has been noted by Riman Barakat. Such Palestinians hope to achieve protection from harassment and sudden loss of home or job. There are several gains for Israel - in its reputation, in lessening Palestinian dissent and dividing Palestinians by status. But if these new citizens use their civic rights, the sums may be different.

Vicious attack on helpless 15-year-old hailed as heroic act by Rabbis and settlers

October 9th, 2012

Viewing the photos of a 15-year-old youth after he was attacked by a settler the judge spoke of his shock and dismay at the trauma caused. Five years later the assailant, Zvi Struck, is sent off to serve his 30 month prison term by a supportive, applauding crowd, to whom he is a hero. Rabbis led the celebrations for this sadistic thug.

State and settlers’ illegal economic war against Palestinian olive farming

October 9th, 2012

The olive harvest, principal source of income and way of life for many Palestinians, begins this week. It galvanises the IOF into checking the IDs of Palestinians returning to help with the harvest and settlers into cutting down olive trees in a drive to destroy the Palestinian economy and land ownership, And then there's the wall, reports JK D'Amours,1st, which Israel plans to drive through the lands of Battir. The Advisory Opinion of the International Court of Justice on the illegality of the Wall is given 3rd.

Why USA should – and will – ignore Bibi’s red flag

October 9th, 2012

Shlomo Ben-Ami, former Israeli foreign minister, wonders at the energy Netanyahu is putting into waving a warning flag about Iran. He considers one aim is to divert attention from the Palestinians - which he could do something about - while trying to tempt the USA into attacking Iran - which is certainly not in the Americans' interest, or capability, and is certainly winning Netanyahu no friends.

The movie that shows that non-violence is not an option for Palestinians

October 8th, 2012

A documentary film about the village of Bil'in, long famed for its determination to use only non-violent resistance in its determination to preserve itself -- undivided by the Israeli Wall -- as a Palestinian village shocks even the knowledgeable journalist Gideon Levy. The IDF's violence is forced on the villagers. Perhaps the film might even alert Israelis to what is being done in their name, however much they prefer not to know.

Target Al Aqsa: settler incursions into Muslim shrine

October 8th, 2012

There has been a mosque on Temple Mount since the eighth century. It is the third holiest centre in Islam, as well as having religious significance for Jews and Christians. For the last month it has been under attack by Jewish zealots who claim the right to pray and practise Jewish rituals there - endorsed last week by a Jerusalem magistrate. Calls are growing for an Arab summit to protect the Muslim site.

Former CIA man says Israel is a rogue and criminal regime

October 8th, 2012

In the judgment of former CIA operative Philip Giraldi, the Israeli regime is guilty of crimes against its own people, the American government, American civilians and above all Palestinians. His country's massive political and financial support for Israel does not serve America's own interests. It is time the USA had a policy which did he writes here.