NEWS: News Updates

 

NWLA puts off decision on Veolia until March 2013

December 2nd, 2012

Surprise Update: NWLA announces won't decide on contract until next March, no reason given. The North London Waste Authority is considering tenders for the massive job of waste disposal in North London. People who are concerned about the responsible disposal of waste are equally concerned about respect for international law and human rights. As Veolia flouts these laws in Israeli settlements local campaigns against Veolia getting this contract have become intense. UPDATES: Richard Falk adds voice to campaign. Hackney resident prevented from speaking to Council about contract. Jonathan Hoffman of the Zionist Federation claims denying Veolia a contract would be illegal.

Religion and violence fill the political vacuum

December 1st, 2012

In this long, densely illustrated blog, film-maker Adam Curtis offers a fresh take on the history of deteriorating relations between Israelis and Palestinians; it is a story of the failure of politics, or the loss of hope in any politicians or political process on both, once Utopian, sides. It has not been possible to transfer the many film clips to this posting, for which you can go the original where indicated.

Fans who mock ‘the Yids’, players who say no to Israel hosting UEFA Under-21 contest

November 30th, 2012

Football is the common ground for these three postings - but not for those fans who enjoy mindless antisemitic chants (1) in contrast with those who have followed the Kanouté foundation's lead in expressing solidarity with the people of Gaza (2).and opposing Israel hosting the next Under-21 championship (2 and 3).

Bibi’s response to UNGA vote: build more settlements!

November 30th, 2012

“Revenge time" tweets Ha'aretz editor Aluf Benn; the Palestinians are being punished because Obama failed to make European countries vote with Israel at the UNGA session. Reports of Israel's reactions from Al-Monitor, Mondoweiss and Ynet news.

‘This is one of the world’s most fundamental wrongs’

November 30th, 2012

Two speeches on 29 November,International Day of Solidarity with Palestinians, one in New York, one in Cairo, both defining the day as marking one of the world's great wrongs - the dispossession of the Palestinian people - and possibly a small step in the direction of redressing the wrong.

Nations vote to bring Palestinians into the edges of the fold

November 30th, 2012

The UN General Assembly vote on granting observer status to Palestine was overwhelming and unconditional. The USA joined Micronesia and Palau in the 9 nations voting against, the UK and Germany were among the 41 which abstained. While the UK overestimates its importance, Germany struggles to recognise its own.

Dynamic of land seizure overcomes inertia of peace movement

November 29th, 2012

Cynthia Cockburn follows the work of Bat Shalom in northern Israel/Palestine, impressed in 1997 by its commitment to equality. And returns in 2012 to find Bat Shalom has gone, along with the peace movement. Judaisation has sped ahead but the status of women in Israel and of Palestinians remains the same - low.

Neither of us can win this battle — there will just be more broken hearts

November 29th, 2012

The voice of self-righteousness is the loudest in the lands of Israel/Palestine; more truthful is the quiet grieving of the thousands of bereaved people who have lost those they loved to the conflict. Here an Israeli and a Palestinian, meeting in the Parents Circle Families Forum, find their pain gives them more in common with each other than with their 'sides' battles.

Perils of partisanship

November 29th, 2012

Operation Pillar of Defence pulled British Jews into supporting Israel, or at least gave an impression of unified support, writes Keith Kahn-Harris; it's a pathology which affects pro-Palestinians as well, to the detriment of both peoples. Jonathan Freedland deplores the righteous vindication and point-scoring of the two sides.

France, UK ready to back Palestinians at UN this week

November 27th, 2012

The governments of France and the UK will back the PA in its bid for UN observer status later this week, although for the UK this is conditional on the PA agreeing not to pursue Israel for war crimes. Campaigns to get the UK to recognise its historic responsibility for Palestine, and the need to boost Abbas's status after the gains for Hamas in the Gaza war may have led to this change. Hamas now also supports the bid.

Conservative Friends of Israel biggest group in parliament

November 27th, 2012

The interest group CFI is the biggest group of Conservative MPs and thus, through the Tory majority, in parliament. It is the only one of the major parties to have no Friends of Palestine group. Reports from Conservative Home, Independent, Huffington Post, plus lists (only Labour Party; others have to be inferred, see original, item 1.

Christians and Jews: where elite speaks only to elite

November 27th, 2012

This is the latest episode in a long-running story (see post for links) about the Anglican Church's support for the Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme and the dismal views of the right-wing Jewish establishment that any support for the EAPPI is anti-Israel is anti-Jewish, and that only they speak for UK Jews. Groan

IDF breaks ceasefire, kills young Gazan

November 26th, 2012

At best it was a misunderstanding; Gazans thought the ceasefire agreement meant they were free to go into the border zone, and celebrated by entering it; the border guards thought they were trying to breach the fence, and shot at them. Pragmatically, IDF soldiers had no idea of the conditions of the ceasefire agreement and by training shoot Palestinians who are, to them, out of order. Result 1 dead, 19 injured Palestinians. No IDF hurt.

Arabs (and Turk) do what Americans never can: act for the common good

November 26th, 2012

Special Rapporteur Richard Falk peers though the fog of truce, and though it's still blurry he discerns how much Hamas has gained from surviving the intense bombardment, and how much the array of Arab emissaries achieved in actuality and in status.

The West’s illusion: Netanyahu wants peace

November 26th, 2012

Robert Fisk interviews Uri Avnery, founder of Gush Shalom (whose blogs are often posted here). Avnery retains hope but warns that the dominant Israeli right want conquest, not peace. 2nd, in his latest column he points out that blocking the PA's peaceful strategy for UN membership, confirms Hamas' hero status.

Don’t blame Hamas for starting it: JfJfP to William Hague

November 26th, 2012

On behalf of JfJfP Diana Neslen and Arthur Goodman write to Foreign Secretary William Hague objecting to his assertion that Hamas bears the main responsibility for the current crisis and citing the many Israeli assaults on Palestinian life and the truce potential preceding the barrage on Gaza.