Dorothy Online Newsletter

NOVANEWS

Dear All,

This evening’s message begins with a petition, which I hope that you will consider signing in support of bds.

Item 2 gives me great pleasure to introduce.  It is a film, available on DVD.  The material was gathered last year when an American group, DAM (Dialogues Against Militarism) visited Israel and Palestine.  The director/producer, David Zlutnick, accompanied the group and beautifully documented the subjects of Israeli militarism, the cost of occupation to soldiers, refusal, and life for Palestinians under occupation.  The link to the trailer, and details of its cost and how to purchase below.  I highly recommend that you purchase it and invite your neighbors and friends to view it.

In item 3 PA president Mahmoud Abbas deplores Israel’s assumption that Palestinians murdered the family in the Itamar colony.

Item 4 reports an event in which the Hebrew University enacted the contrary of academic freedom regarding a screening of ‘Jenin, Jenin’ and a performance by Mohammad Bakri.

Item 5 somehow or other gives me great pleasure to include.  Bibi Netanyahu and his crew wanted to display the arms they caught being transported by ship.  Not only has Bibi not yet woken up to the fact that he cannot compete with the unhappy events now taking place in Japan, but also his crew screwed up the affair so that international reporters instead of writing about the arms, walked out.  Keep it up guys!  Well done!

That’s it for tonight folks, except I join all of you in hoping that Japan gets out of this tragic period without the added problem of intense radiation.

Dorothy

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1.  If you have not yet signed this petition supporting bds, you might consider doing so now.  It is a response to a petition opposing bds. You need not be Jewish to sign.

http://www.ijsn.net/657/

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2. A dvd 84 minutes well worth your time.

$15 including shipping and handling.

Trailer and background

www.UpheavalProductions.com/occupation-has-no-future

Details about purchasing it http://www.upheavalproductions.com/articles/5/purchase-dvds

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3.  Jerusalem Post

March 16, 2011

Photo by: Reuters

Abbas: Palestinians unfairly accused for Itamar deaths

http://www.jpost.com/MiddleEast/Article.aspx?id=212456

By KHALED ABU TOAMEH

16/03/2011

PA president tells Fatah leaders Israel insists on accusing Palestinians for murder of Fogel family members before investigation finished.

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas said on Wednesday he did not know why the Israeli government was insisting on accusing Palestinians of involvement in last Friday’s killings in Itamar before the investigation is over.

Abbas told Fatah leaders in Ramallah that Israel was insisting on accusing the Palestinian people “before the investigation revealed the identity of the killer.”

His remarks came as PA-controlled media outlets continued to cast doubt about the identity of the perpetrators, one hinting that it could have been foreign workers employed in the settlement and one saying it could have been an “inside job.”

He said he informed Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu that the PA was prepared to help in the investigation into the killing of the five members of the Fogel family.

“They [Israel] are now investigating and there’s no news about who perpetrated this crime,” Abbas said. “I don’t know why they are insisting on accusing the Palestinian people.”

Abbas reiterated his condemnation of the killings, dubbing it “inhuman and immoral.”

He added that settlers were carrying out “daily crimes” against Palestinians, “but this does not justify that. This means that if there are crimes that there should be crimes in return.”

The international community must know that settlers are targeting villages, mosques, houses and olive trees every day, Abbas said.

“The international community and Israeli society need to know about these crimes because this is a crime and that is a crime too,” he said. “We are waiting impatiently to know who committed this crime so that he would receive a deterring punishment for his inhuman and immoral crime.”

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4.  Haaretz,

March 16, 2011


‘Jenin, Jenin’ gets Hebrew U. campus screening despite ban

Bakri made “Jenin, Jenin” in 2003 about an Israeli offensive in Jenin during Operation Defensive Shield. Five Israeli reservists who participated in the battle sued Bakri in 2005.

http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/news/jenin-jenin-gets-hebrew-u-campus-screening-despite-ban-1.349442

By Asaf Shtull-Trauring

Organizers of students’ Hadash party branch at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem screened the controversial film “Jenin, Jenin” at a Hadash-sponsored event on the university’s Mount Scopus campus last night, although the university had prohibited the screening.

However, 10 minutes before the end of the film, university security personnel cut the electricity to the hall.

After the film, its director, the actor Mohammed Bakri, was to have presented his one-man play “The Pessoptimist,” based on the novel by Emile Habibi, in a nearby hall; however, security personnel locked all the halls. Some 200 students saw the play at the entrance to the building instead.

The halls were locked because the Hadash activists had refused to pay the university NIS 2,500 for security, which they said was unprecedented, unjustified, and intended to prevent them from showing the play.

Bakri made “Jenin, Jenin” in 2003 about an Israeli offensive in Jenin during Operation Defensive Shield. Five Israeli reservists who participated in the battle sued Bakri in 2005. The judge dismissed the case because, although she agreed that the film slandered Israeli soldiers, the five soldiers were not personally slandered and therefore had no standing. The five have petitioned the High Court of Justice to overturn the ruling.

According to Naji Abbas, secretary of the Hadash university group, the activists were not told why the university had prohibited the film’s screening. “They only said the legal department had prohibited it,” he said.

Abbas said the film was in the central library’s media department and could be seen by any student, so the university’s decision is “at the very least, surprising.”

The Hebrew University said in a statement: “Some years ago the Hebrew University was among the first institutions to allow the screening of “Jenin, Jenin” because it was permissible by law. However, the District Court has recently determined that the film is mendacious and constitutes slander, and therefore the university cannot show it. Otherwise, it will be party to slander.”

The university also said all student groups have to finance their activities on campus, which frequently include security costs.

A spokesperson for the Association for Civil Rights in Israel said: “The university’s claim is mistaken, because the District Court ruled that the film itself is not a cause for a slander suit. While it is now before the High Court of Justice, a ruling has not been issued. The claim is also mistaken because the university is not responsible for the content expressed at activities by various political groups.”

“Clearly there is institutionalized demonization of everything connected to me,” Bakri told Haaretz yesterday. “Unfortunately, it seems the university has joined the chorus. I told the students that for humane reasons “Jenin, Jenin” should not be shown just at this time, after the terrible attack at Itamar. Evil spirits are stirring and things must quieten down rather than add fuel to the fire,” the actor said.

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5.  Haaretz,

March 16, 2011


‘Jenin, Jenin’ gets Hebrew U. campus screening despite ban

Bakri made “Jenin, Jenin” in 2003 about an Israeli offensive in Jenin during Operation Defensive Shield. Five Israeli reservists who participated in the battle sued Bakri in 2005.

http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/news/jenin-jenin-gets-hebrew-u-campus-screening-despite-ban-1.349442

By Asaf Shtull-Trauring

Organizers of students’ Hadash party branch at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem screened the controversial film “Jenin, Jenin” at a Hadash-sponsored event on the university’s Mount Scopus campus last night, although the university had prohibited the screening.

However, 10 minutes before the end of the film, university security personnel cut the electricity to the hall.

After the film, its director, the actor Mohammed Bakri, was to have presented his one-man play “The Pessoptimist,” based on the novel by Emile Habibi, in a nearby hall; however, security personnel locked all the halls. Some 200 students saw the play at the entrance to the building instead.

The halls were locked because the Hadash activists had refused to pay the university NIS 2,500 for security, which they said was unprecedented, unjustified, and intended to prevent them from showing the play.

Bakri made “Jenin, Jenin” in 2003 about an Israeli offensive in Jenin during Operation Defensive Shield. Five Israeli reservists who participated in the battle sued Bakri in 2005. The judge dismissed the case because, although she agreed that the film slandered Israeli soldiers, the five soldiers were not personally slandered and therefore had no standing. The five have petitioned the High Court of Justice to overturn the ruling.

According to Naji Abbas, secretary of the Hadash university group, the activists were not told why the university had prohibited the film’s screening. “They only said the legal department had prohibited it,” he said.

Abbas said the film was in the central library’s media department and could be seen by any student, so the university’s decision is “at the very least, surprising.”

The Hebrew University said in a statement: “Some years ago the Hebrew University was among the first institutions to allow the screening of “Jenin, Jenin” because it was permissible by law. However, the District Court has recently determined that the film is mendacious and constitutes slander, and therefore the university cannot show it. Otherwise, it will be party to slander.”

The university also said all student groups have to finance their activities on campus, which frequently include security costs.

A spokesperson for the Association for Civil Rights in Israel said: “The university’s claim is mistaken, because the District Court ruled that the film itself is not a cause for a slander suit. While it is now before the High Court of Justice, a ruling has not been issued. The claim is also mistaken because the university is not responsible for the content expressed at activities by various political groups.”

“Clearly there is institutionalized demonization of everything connected to me,” Bakri told Haaretz yesterday. “Unfortunately, it seems the university has joined the chorus. I told the students that for humane reasons “Jenin, Jenin” should not be shown just at this time, after the terrible attack at Itamar. Evil spirits are stirring and things must quieten down rather than add fuel to the fire,” the actor said.

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