Category: Israel

Israel

When will the Israeli Left accept the occupation started in ’48, not ’67? | +972 Magazine

 

Only when the Israeli Left accepts that the occupation began in 1948 — and remains an open wound for Palestinians — can Arabs and Jews truly refuse to be enemies. One of the negative characteristics of the Israeli “Left” is how it terms the military rule over the West Bank and Gaza “The Occupation.” Part of the Left even accuses Palestinians who claim there is no difference between Petah Tikva and Ariel of being like the Right, because “that’s what the Israeli Right claims.” For most Palestinians, however, this exaggerated and Orwellian talk of “The Occupation” blurs Israel’s real shame, and…

Source: When will the Israeli Left accept the occupation started in ’48, not ’67? | +972 Magazine

Israel

Video: Let Palestine be “wiped out,” sings Jerusalem Day mob | The Electronic Intifada

Extreme racist groups more visible than ever in annual “flag parade.”

Source: Video: Let Palestine be “wiped out,” sings Jerusalem Day mob | The Electronic Intifada

Israel

Two Palestinian children die by Israeli fire | The Electronic Intifada

Several others injured by live bullets.

Source: Two Palestinian children die by Israeli fire | The Electronic Intifada

Israel

The Six Day War has endured for 50 years

A week today the world will note the 50th anniversary of the start of the most enduring conflict of the modern era, and one which has caused untold misery for those living with the consequences.

Source: The Six Day War has endured for 50 years

Israel

Why Jerusalem is not the capital of Israel | Middle East | Al Jazeera

No country in the world recognises Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, with the exception of Russia.

Source: Why Jerusalem is not the capital of Israel | Middle East | Al Jazeera

Israel

Israeli cops assault American Jewish activists in Jerusalem Day protest | +972 Magazine

Israeli police forcefully dispersed American Jewish anti-occupation activists, who had gathered in the Old City to protest Jerusalem Day and the March of the Flags. Israeli police broke the arm of an American Jewish activist and injured several other anti-occupation demonstrators while forcefully dispersing a Jerusalem Day protest in the Old City on Wednesday. [tmwinpost] The demonstration, held at Damascus Gate by American and Israeli Jewish activists with IfNotNow, Free Jerusalem and All That’s Left, took place during the March of the Flags, an annual right-wing parade that habitually results in violence against Palestinians from both its participants and the Israeli police units…

Source: Israeli cops assault American Jewish activists in Jerusalem Day protest | +972 Magazine

Israel

Anti-Trump protests greet U.S. president in Israel | +972 Magazine

A slew of protests against Donald Trump and American policy await the U.S. president, who visits Israel as the Palestinian prisoners’ hunger strike reaches its 36th day. By Yael Marom Donald Trump’s visit to Israel on Monday is already generating the expected smiles, celebrations and tensions, and disputes between Israeli ministers over who gets to press the flesh with the president of the United States. But there are also some who will be using Trump’s visit to send a message to the controversial president, in support of the Palestinian prisoners currently on hunger strike. [tmwinpost] The first protesters to receive Trump…

Source: Anti-Trump protests greet U.S. president in Israel | +972 Magazine

Israel

Trump Embarrasses Nation: ‘I Never Said Word ‘Israel’ To Russians’ | Crooks and Liars

This will go down as one of the biggest gaffes in world history. Bigly.

Source: Trump Embarrasses Nation: ‘I Never Said Word ‘Israel’ To Russians’ | Crooks and Liars

Israel

Stop calling it ‘Jewish terror’ | +972 Magazine

Let’s stop calling those who have bombed, shot, or burned Palestinians ‘Jewish.’ Let’s call them what they really are: Israeli. By Yonatan Englender Israel is a country that is quick to appropriate every phenomenon or activity that takes place within it, from the success of its tech entrepreneurs (in whom the state did not invest even a single shekel) to the successes of its athletes (for whom the state did not provide even the most basic conditions for adequate practice). Even environmental disasters and car crashes are quickly turned into national events. [tmwinpost] Therefore, it is a bit strange that we refrain from referring…

Source: Stop calling it ‘Jewish terror’ | +972 Magazine

Israel

Trump finally drags Israel into his orbit of chaos | +972 Magazine

The litany of scandals affecting the Trump Administration made relatively little impact on Israel — until this week, when the revelation that classified information he leaked to Russian politicians likely came from Israeli intelligence. By Mitchell Plitnick When the history of this chaotic period is written, people will doubtless be amazed that, not even four months into his presidency, Donald Trump could have made so many mistakes, done so much wrong, and acted in such legally questionable ways. It may well be, too, that historians will look back at May 16, 2017 as the day that marked the beginning of…

Source: Trump finally drags Israel into his orbit of chaos | +972 Magazine

Israel

The true price Israel pays for the occupation | +972 Magazine

Both the economic and political elite in Israel benefit from the occupation in different ways. The longer the occupation persists, the wider become the gaps between these two ‘1 percents’ and the rest of the country.  By Shlomo Swirski What is the cost to Israel of the occupation? And who in Israel is paying it? Discussions of Israel’s military rule over the Palestinian territories conquered in 1967 — now marking 50 years — usually revolve around moral, military, diplomatic, and legal matters. [tmwinpost] The impact of the conflict on Israeli society — on the standard of living, economic growth, inter-ethnic…

Source: The true price Israel pays for the occupation | +972 Magazine

Israel

‘Enough is enough’: Norway’s trade unions vote to boycott Israel over Palestine — RT News

Norway’s largest trade union body has voted in favor of economic, cultural, and academic boycott of Israel over its treatment of Palestinians. In response, Tel Aviv said that the union “placed itself shoulder to shoulder with the worst enemies of Israel.”

Source: ‘Enough is enough’: Norway’s trade unions vote to boycott Israel over Palestine — RT News

Israel

Civil society groups join forces to protect freedom of speech | Pro Israel Hypocrite Andrew Bolt Silent

Palestinian Authority diplomat Muhammad Odeh (L) speaks alongside journalist Kholod Massalha at a conference announcing the 'Council for the Protection of Freedoms,' Nazareth, Israel, May 12, 2017. (Courtesy of I'lam)

Dozens of civil society, feminist, and anti-occupation groups form the ‘Council for the Protection of Freedoms’ to fight back against the government’s and public’s attacks against freedom of expression. Representatives from over 30 civil society organizations gathered on Friday in Nazareth for the founding conference of the “Council for the Protection of Freedoms.” The council was established to fight back against the feeling among various organizations that their activities and freedom of expression are at risk. The goal will be to protect these freedoms from both the government as well as various tendencies among both Jewish and Arab society. [tmwinpost] The…

Source: Civil society groups join forces to protect freedom of speech | +972 Magazine

Israel

Israeli sniper shoots dead unarmed Palestinian at West Bank demo | +972 Magazine

Israeli security forces have shot and killed 21 Palestinians with live ammunition so far in 2017; Saba Abu Ubeid, 23, is the latest victim. An Israeli army sniper shot and killed an unarmed Palestinian man on Friday afternoon during a demonstration in the West Bank village of Nabi Saleh, near Ramallah. Saba Abu Ubeid, 23, was hit in his upper body and evacuated to an area hospital, where he was pronounced dead by attending physicians. The cause of death was internal bleeding, according to a spokesperson for the Palestinian Authority’s Ministry of Health. [tmwinpost] The demonstration was organized to express support for the Palestinian…

Source: Israeli sniper shoots dead unarmed Palestinian at West Bank demo | +972 Magazine

Israel

Knesset’s new bill ‘portrays racism as entirely normal’ | Middle East | Al Jazeera

Israel’s Knesset has passed its first vote on a new bill defining Israel as ‘a national home of the Jewish people’.

Source: Knesset’s new bill ‘portrays racism as entirely normal’ | Middle East | Al Jazeera

Israel

The destructive potential of Israel’s nation-state bill | +972 Magazine

The newest version of the nation-state bill, which effectively pulls Israel’s apartheid regime out of the closet, could potentially lead to massive violence against its weakest population. By Marzuq Al-Halabi The “nation-state bill,” which was approved by the Ministerial Committee for Legislation on Sunday, is no different from the day-to-day political discourse taking place in Israel these over the last years. By revoking Arabic as an official language of the state, and maintaining that “the right to realize self-determination in the State of Israel is unique to the Jewish people,” the bill enshrines the ideas, desires, ideology, and actions of Israel’s political leaders…

Source: The destructive potential of Israel’s nation-state bill | +972 Magazine

Israel

Israel to vote on Bill making it a “Jewish State,” demoting Arabic

Ma’an News Agency | – – BETHLEHEM (Ma’an) — An Israeli cabinet committee approved a contested bill on Sunday seeking …

Source: Israel to vote on Bill making it a “Jewish State,” demoting Arabic

Israel

Netanyahu’s cabinet seeks to downgrade status of Arabic | Israel News | Al Jazeera

Proposed law to strip Arabic of official-language status and define Israel as ‘the national home of the Jewish people’.

Source: Netanyahu’s cabinet seeks to downgrade status of Arabic | Israel News | Al Jazeera

Israel

Israelis, Palestinians are ready to accept international consensus | +972 Magazine

For the first time since 1967, both the Israeli public and the Palestinians are likely to accept an outline for a final-status agreement based on international law. By Shmuel Lederman A recent poll conducted by the The Tami Steinmetz Center for Peace Research and the Palestinian Center for Public Opinion on an outline for a final-status agreement. The poll presented a “permanent agreement package” based on previous rounds of negotiation between Israelis and Palestinians, based on mutual recognition between Israel and Palestine, establishing a demilitarized Palestinian state within 1967 borders, annexing a number of settlement blocs to Israel in exchange…

Source: Israelis, Palestinians are ready to accept international consensus | +972 Magazine

Israel

Israel expels reporter from leading Dutch newspaper | The Electronic Intifada

Refusal to renew visa of NRC’s Handelsblad’s Derk Walters comes after months of harassment.

Source: Israel expels reporter from leading Dutch newspaper | The Electronic Intifada

Israel

Two in five Americans back sanctions on Israel — poll | The Electronic Intifada

US public strongly supports single democratic state if two-state solution fails, survey shows.

Source: Two in five Americans back sanctions on Israel — poll | The Electronic Intifada

Israel

How Israeli police solved a case of suspected ‘terrorism’ in record time | +972 Magazine

An initial police report on an attempted stabbing in the West Bank uses the word ‘terrorist’ to describe the suspect. Only when it transpires that the would-be attacker is Jewish does the word ‘terrorist’ vanish. It’s amazing to watch terminology change in realtime. At 4.19 p.m. on Tuesday, the Israel Police released a statement saying that a “suspected terrorist,” who they claimed had tried to stab a soldier at the Hizma checkpoint in the West Bank, had been “neutralized” and was in serious condition. [tmwinpost] Eight minutes later, the following update came out: “After an initial assessment, the suspect appears…

Source: How Israeli police solved a case of suspected ‘terrorism’ in record time | +972 Magazine

Israel

Why I’m going on hunger strike on Israeli Independence Day | +972 Magazine

As Israelis go out to enjoy barbecues and fireworks, I will be fasting in solidarity with the Palestinian prisoners on hunger strike, and the millions of Palestinians who live under occupation. By Adi Golan Bikhnafo On Tuesday, as the smell of barbecued meat and fireworks envelops Tel Aviv, I will be fasting in Jaffa’s Clock Square, drinking only salt water. I’m taking this action in solidarity with the Palestinian prisoners who have been on hunger strike for the last two weeks, and with the millions of Palestinians who live under occupation in the West Bank, East Jerusalem and Gaza. [tmwinpost]…

Source: Why I’m going on hunger strike on Israeli Independence Day | +972 Magazine

Israel

How Israel’s violent birth destroyed Palestine | Palestine | Al Jazeera

Nearly 70 years after the founding of Israel, the past is still looming large.

Source: How Israel’s violent birth destroyed Palestine | Palestine | Al Jazeera

Israel

Leaked report highlights Israel lobby’s failures | The Electronic Intifada

BDS has scored “significant successes” and “impressive growth,” Israel lobby groups concede.

Source: Leaked report highlights Israel lobby’s failures | The Electronic Intifada

Israel

In Israel’s official portrait, only Jewish lives matter | +972 Magazine

A new government report published on the eve of Israel’s Independence Day only concerns itself with infant mortality statistics and life expectancy of Jewish citizens. What does that say about Israel’s attitude towards non-Jews? It is not all that uncommon for nationalist Israelis to accuse anybody politically to the left of them of supporting, or attempting to transform Israeli into “a state of all its citizens.” The idea being that a state which sees, counts, serves, and protects all of its citizens equally, irrespective of ethnicity or creed, would destroy Israel as we know it — Israel the Jewish state, which…

Source: In Israel’s official portrait, only Jewish lives matter | +972 Magazine

Israel

Guess which of these human rights Israel guarantees to Palestinians | +972 Magazine

The right to equality? The right to free movement in and out of the country? How about the right to freedom from arbitrary arrest and exile? Or the right to marriage and family? By Fady Khoury Everyone on Facebook is playing a game where they post nine concerts they’ve been to and one they haven’t. The idea is your friends have to guess which band you haven’t seen. [tmwinpost] I want to play too, but I’ve been to only two concerts in my life, both of which were Mashrou’ Leila’s. So I thought of a different way to play. Here…

Source: Guess which of these human rights Israel guarantees to Palestinians | +972 Magazine

Israel, Uncategorized

Israel/USA History and it’s worse now

Israel

Israel Has Interfered More in U.S. Politics Than Russia, but Don’t Expect a Probe of Israelgate – Truthdig

As Official Washington fumes over Russiagate, Israel’s more significant political-influence-and-propaganda campaigns are ignored.

Source: Israel Has Interfered More in U.S. Politics Than Russia, but Don’t Expect a Probe of Israelgate – Truthdig

Israel

Lonely Planet erases Israeli occupation of Syrian Golan | The Electronic Intifada

Travel guide company recommends settlement hotel built on ethnically cleansed village.

Source: Lonely Planet erases Israeli occupation of Syrian Golan | The Electronic Intifada

Israel

‘Israeli strikes’ hit arms depot in Damascus | Syria News | Al Jazeera

Arms depot near Damascus International airport goes up in flames after series of overnight strikes blamed on Israel.

Source: ‘Israeli strikes’ hit arms depot in Damascus | Syria News | Al Jazeera

Israel

Critics blast US shipment of fighter jets to Israel | | Al Jazeera

Israel is the first country outside the US to get access to the F-35 warplane, the most expensive ever developed.

Source: Critics blast US shipment of fighter jets to Israel | | Al Jazeera

Israel

Netanyahu looks like a bully, but he doesn’t care | +972 Magazine

Any blowback Netanyahu receives after snubbing the German foreign minister will be short-lived: his base is behind him, he has the patronage of the U.S., and the status quo will remain exactly as it is. This week Netanyahu gave the world another lesson in how authoritarianism disguised as democracy works. Upon learning that the visiting German foreign minister, Sigmar Gabriel, refused to accede to his demand that he cancel his meetings with two NGOs that document human rights violations in territories controlled by Israel, the Israeli prime minister went ahead and canceled their own scheduled meeting as a punitive measure. Haaretz, Israel’s lone liberal…

Source: Netanyahu looks like a bully, but he doesn’t care | +972 Magazine

Israel

BDS is winning, admits top Israeli “sabotage” strategist | The Electronic Intifada

Reut Institute founder says millions of anti-BDS dollars have made little impact.

Source: BDS is winning, admits top Israeli “sabotage” strategist | The Electronic Intifada

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Israel

Remembering the history Israel swept aside in 1948 | +972 Magazine

In the late 19th century, travelers on the long road from Jaffa to Jerusalem could stop at a rest station to relax and have a cup of (overpriced) coffee. This past, and the story of Jerusalem opening itself to the world, has been lost in the Zionist retelling of history. By Yonathan Mizrachi There is an ongoing debate in Israel over whether an Ottoman-era site along the Jerusalem-Tel Aviv highway should commemorate the actions in 1948 of the late, deeply controversial Rehavam Ze’evi, or the Harel Brigade of the Palmach, the pre-state incarnation of the Israel Defense Forces. But the…

Source: Remembering the history Israel swept aside in 1948 | +972 Magazine

Israel

The Palestinian guide to dealing with racist compliments from Israelis | +972 Magazine

 

Intentions be damned, when many Jewish Israelis meet Palestinians even their compliments come out laced with passive-aggressive racism half the time. A comprehensive guide for Palestinians. There isn’t a single Palestinian citizen of Israel who isn’t familiar with the phenomenon. It can happen in the middle of a conversation, during a cigarette break at work, or in pretty much any interaction in a public place — with a complete stranger: Israelis who feel a little too comfortable giving racist “compliments” to Palestinians. [tmwinpost] As a Palestinian who grew up with and has been friends with Israelis his whole life, I…

Source: The Palestinian guide to dealing with racist compliments from Israelis | +972 Magazine

Israel

When shooting a teen in the back is a ‘professional error’ | +972 Magazine

An IDF brigade commander shot a Palestinian teen who threw a rock at his jeep, while the boy was running away, and then left him bleeding on the road. Initially, the colonel claimed his life was in danger. With each subsequent interrogation, the story changed. The military police determined the incident was a ‘professional error’ –  bad aim – and closed the case despite evidence that tells a very different story. By John Brown* and Noam Rotem On July 3, 2015, Col. Yisrael Shomer, then-commander of the IDF’s Binyamin Brigade, was driving towards the Qalandiya checkpoint in the West Bank.…

Source: When shooting a teen in the back is a ‘professional error’ | +972 Magazine

Israel, Israel Crimes

Israelis must speak up about the injustices here, and the world must listen | +972 Magazine

The world is not against us — rather, it is at best indifferent to the oppression of Palestinians, and at worst colludes in it, which is why Israelis must inform decent people about what is happening here. I was invited to attend a series of meetings organized by French activists that were held this week. The participants were involved in Palestine solidarity work, some of them with longstanding ties to Palestinian communities. Several visit Israel-Palestine on occasion, and assist however they can from afar. [tmwinpost] And yes, they are ardent supporters of all forms of non-violent struggle, particularly boycott. Every year, at…

Source: Israelis must speak up about the injustices here, and the world must listen | +972 Magazine

Israel

Israeli planes spray herbicides inside Gaza for fourth time this year | +972 Magazine

Israeli planes have been reported spraying herbicides over land inside the Gaza Strip on four occasions in 2017, including twice in the last two days. Israeli planes sprayed herbicides inside the Gaza Strip for the second day running on Wednesday and the fourth time this year, according to local farmers and Israeli rights NGO Gisha. A video published on Wednesday, allegedly of the crop-dusting, shows a plane flying low and spraying over farmland. Palestinians who reported the incident said that the planes had dusted near the Gaza border fence, and the Gaza Ministry of Agriculture is investigating the extent of the damage from the…

Source: Israeli planes spray herbicides inside Gaza for fourth time this year | +972 Magazine

Israel

Palestinian woman shot dead in Jerusalem’s Old City | Her son was shot dead months earlier| Andrew Bolt’s Complaint

Israeli police killed Siham al-Nimir months after “accidental” slaying of her son.

Source: Palestinian woman shot dead in Jerusalem’s Old City | The Electronic Intifada

We need to be a lot more careful with headlines that tell the wrong story by telling half the story.

Andrew Bolt Australia declares media distortion. He’s right police shot her son a month before and he omits that. altogether

 

Israel

How Chicago’s Jewish Federation funds anti-Muslim hatred | The Electronic Intifada

Investigation says funding for Islamophobic groups part of effort to bolster US support for Israel.

Source: How Chicago’s Jewish Federation funds anti-Muslim hatred | The Electronic Intifada

Israel

Israel delays cancer treatment for Gaza children | The Electronic Intifada

Travel permits can be stalled for three to four months, according to doctors.

Source: Israel delays cancer treatment for Gaza children | The Electronic Intifada

Israel, Israel Crimes

As an Israeli soldier, I played God with Palestinians | +972 Magazine

The occupation allows us to demand Palestinians show their identification cards at a whim. It allows us to slap, shove, or shoot them if necessary — even if they are the same age as our fathers or young enough to be our children. By Alon Mizrahi Only last night, once I sat down after a long day, did the memories come flooding back. It was probably a video of a police officer beating a middle-aged Palestinian truck driver in East Jerusalem, which had gone viral, that triggered it. A reminder of just one story — one out of millions that reflect the absurdity of the occupation. [tmwinpost]…

Source: As an Israeli soldier, I played God with Palestinians | +972 Magazine

Israel

Political poetry as a crime: Inside the surreal trial of Dareen Tatour |  Israel’s Fear, When Poetry is not Speech.

Arresting a Palestinian for publishing a political poem is extraordinary. Having to prove at trial that police mistranslated her poem is nothing short of surreal. By Yoav Haifawi It has been nearly a year and a half since Palestinian poet Dareen Tatour was arrested in her home in northern Israel for writing a poem. She spent three months in various prisons, including half a year under house arrest in the town of Kiryat Ono in central Israel. Although she was able to return to her home village of Reineh, she remains under house arrest as the trial comes to an end. [tmwinpost] Tatour, 34, was arrested by…

Source: Political poetry as a crime: Inside the surreal trial of Dareen Tatour | +972 Magazine

Israel

Video shows Israeli soldiers terrorizing child | The Electronic Intifada

Sufian Abu Hita was dragged around by armed men until village women rescued him.

Source: Video shows Israeli soldiers terrorizing child | The Electronic Intifada

Israel

Israel kills three Palestinian children in one week | The Electronic Intifada

Muhammad al-Hattab is among several boys from Jalazone refugee camp killed by soldiers guarding Beit El settlement.

Source: Israel kills three Palestinian children in one week | The Electronic Intifada

Israel

Assault on Palestinian man shows violent effects of police impunity | +972 Magazine

Even when brutality is documented, Palestinians must live with the knowledge that they are unlikely to receive truth, justice, or respect from the authorities that claim to serve them. In the wake of a video released last Thursday showing an Israeli police officer assaulting a Palestinian truck driver in East Jerusalem, Police Commissioner Roni Alsheikh stated that it was “difficult to find any justification whatsoever” for the policeman’s behavior, and assured the public that the officer would be dismissed. “This is an irregular incident that has no place in the Israel Police,” he insisted. [tmwinpost] Alsheikh’s attempt to portray the…

Source: Assault on Palestinian man shows violent effects of police impunity | +972 Magazine

Israel

Blacklists and travel bans aren’t new in Israel — the targets are | +972 Magazine

Palestinian activists and others have long faced actual travel bans, blacklists, and political persecution. Nevertheless, that some of the same methods are now being used against Israeli and American Jews is a worrying sign. One of the Israel government’s senior-most ministers said last year that Israeli BDS advocates must be made to pay a price for their political activism. A series of developments over the past month or so seem to demonstrate that he was completely serious, and that government efforts to target nonviolent political dissidents are escalating to worrying levels. [tmwinpost] First came the law banning entry into Israel…

Source: Blacklists and travel bans aren’t new in Israel — the targets are | +972 Magazine

Israel

In bid to expel Arab MK, Israel manages to break its own record | +972 Magazine

MK Basel Ghattas will serve two years for smuggling cellphones to Palestinian security prisoners. That’s a longer sentence than the one handed down to an Elor Azaria, who executed an incapacitated Palestinian in the middle of the street.  Congratulations are in order to the attorney general and the Knesset for the latest Arab they managed be put up on the cross. Palestinian MK Basel Ghattas (Balad), who was accused of smuggling cellphones to Palestinian security prisoners, agreed to sign a plea bargain according to which he will admit to committing an act that could lead either directly or indirectly to…

Source: In bid to expel Arab MK, Israel manages to break its own record | +972 Magazine

Israel

Why the UN branded Israel an Apartheid state | Informed Comment

By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | – – A shouting match has been provoked this week by the United …

Source: Why the UN branded Israel an Apartheid state | Informed Comment