Mondoweiss Online Newsletter

NOVANEWS

Funny. Funny haha or funny like fish, as my mother would ask? Like fish, mom

Feb 16, 2011

Philip Weiss

The U.S. is putting “heavy pressure” on the Palestinian Authority not to push a UN resolution that would condemn the settlements, says Haaretz. Emphasis is mine:

The draft uses language that the “Quartet” of Middle East peace negotiators – the United States, Russia, the European Union and the United Nations – have used in previous statements on settlements.

It says that “Israeli settlements established in the Palestinian Territory occupied since 1967, including East Jerusalem, are illegal and constitute a major obstacle to the achievement of a just, lasting and comprehensive peace.”

Diplomats said Washington had attempted to persuade the Palestinian Authority not to go ahead with the resolution because the Obama administration would find it awkward to veto a resolution that it generally agreed with.

Yes and why would you do such a thing? Because of a powerful domestic lobby.

Beinart gave me a headache

Feb 16, 2011

Ira Glunts

My wife heard Oscar nominee Jesse Eisenberg at his press conference on TV, deliver what seems to me to be some refreshingly honest words — and in so doing he jumps feet first into the forbidden territory of Jewish influence in Hollywood. Describing the rounds of meetings for Oscar nominees, he says:

I feel like when I was 13 and I had to go to bar mitzvahs every weekend. This is the same feeling. You have to put on a suit every weekend to go meet with a bunch of Jews. (in People)

Contrast Eisenberg to Peter Beinart’s rather cynical and calculated presentation at a lecture last night at Syracuse University. I got a headache listening to his lecture, which had the same title as his overly praised New York Review of Books article, “The Failure of the American Jewish Establishment.” For a critique of Beinart, I refer you to Mark Braverman’s wonderful post here at Mondoweiss. I also recommend Rabbi Brian Walt’s brief statement in Tikkun, “Reflections on Liberal Zionism” for an activist’s view of the complete inadequacy of the Beinart position. The bottom line for Beinart is that the occupation and the wars of aggression are caused by some tragic accident of history, and the beautiful innocent Israel which many have concluded never existed, can return with a nudge from the liberal American diaspora.

In a significant departure from the tone of his NYRB article, Beinart came to this lecture, organized by the Judaic Studies Program, armed with a battery of stories detailing the oppression of the Palestinians, all of which are familiar to those who follow events in the region. In doing so, he gained a lot of credibility with the members of the audience I spoke with after the lecture, all of whom truly sympathize with the Palestinian cause.

These people almost uniformly overlooked Beinart’s glorification of Ehud Olmert and what Beinart insanely characterized as the ex-Prime Minister’s enlightened and almost successful negotiation with that paragon of realism and diplomacy, Mahmoud Abbas. Also, few seemed to notice the startling statement by this young (although comparatively older than Eisenberg) recently born-again Jew of conscience, that the American media is exemplary in presenting views critical of Israel.

My friends in the audience also ignored the fact that much of the Arab and Palestinian suffering that Beinart was publicly sobbing about was directly caused by this same Olmert he copiously praised. Somehow the fact that as mayor, Olmert built many of the settlements surrounding East Jerusalem, or that as Prime Minister, he was the architect of Israel’s latest wars of aggression in Lebanon and Gaza, did not seem all that relevant.

Beinart also proffered the idiosyncratic analysis that JStreet, whom he of course loves, will be soon faced with a “challenge” of rebuffing its young liberal Jewish constituency which he mistakenly argues is becoming increasingly pro-Palestinian. According to Beinart, these “enlightened youngsters,” seeing Obama’s retreat from the “peace process” will begin to pressure JStreet to support a boycott of the Jewish State. This little gem reflects both Beinart’s distorted view of the commitment of JStreet Jeremy’s digital army, as well as Beinart’s exaggerated fear of truly condemning Israeli actions that a boycott implies.

A young and clever Jewish actor may get away with an honest joke about Jewish influence in Hollywood, but Beinart’s unflinching glorification of his imagined liberal Zionist state, with all its dishonesty, is just not funny.

Is this my ancient homeland or are you just happy to see me?

Feb 16, 2011

Philip Weiss

Two entries from a really good blog Max Blumenthal spotted called Tinfoil Yarmulke. They’re written by a woman on a birthright trip (where Jewish people under 26 get a free trip to Israel in order to fall in love with the country and mate with other Jews) who offers her experience transparently so as to educate the rest of us. You go girl. (Her name is Liz and she also has a really funny post about her big nose on the site, too.) 2 entries.

Entry 1:

“Can you believe? The Jews had to purchase their OWN land. They paid the Turks MONEY to buy their own homeland back. That’s not how it usually works! It’s the newcomers who have to pay. The white faces arrive and buy the land from the natives. How much did the Dutch pay for the island of Manhattan? Twenty four dollars! In wooden beads! Now that’s how you make a bargain! But in Israel, only in Israel, did the native people have to buy their own land from the settlers.”

–Guide at Tel Aviv’s Independence Hall, getting worked up about how the Jews are more indigenous than the Arabs.

Entry 2:

Our security. Avi always walks at the back of the group, always carries the rifle, and always flirts with every girl.

I should note that this photo was taken illicitly – we’re not allowed to photograph the gun.

I think Nir Rosen is jealous of Logan and Cooper’s success

Feb 16, 2011

Philip Weiss

I feel sad about the Nir Rosen case. The guy is a fabulous, independent reporter with great politics. Look at this piece from 2003; he was the first reporter to see that Muqtada al-Sadr was the person to watch in Iraq. He’s a leftwinger, and fearlessly outspoken about the “rogue” state that is Israel. Did his politics play a part in the attack on him for his vicious and unseemly tweets? Sure.

It’s good that he apologized and quickly, with ashes in his mouth, but, Why did he write such mean, idiotic stuff about a victim of sexual assault? He says it was the black humor of war zone reporting. Also he says this about his sexual politics:

So I need to state that my views on women’s rights have always been quite radical (in defense of women). Moreover the last eight years of working in the Middle East, parts of Africa and Asia (like Afghanistan) and in Mexico only further outraged me, because I have seen first hand how brutally women are treated there….

A part of me was bothered by how celebrities, especially white ones, get so much attention, and before I realized it was a sexual assault I was sort of anticipating a return to the old theme about unleashed brown natives attacking a white woman. … I also let my personal dislike of Ms. Logan’s support for wars that have been very costly in terms of human life, which I have seen first hand, make it seem like I somehow actually think she deserved to be attacked.

There’s a lot of emotion about celebrities in those comments– at a time when we should be thinking about Lara Logan as another human being. My own observation is that Rosen is a big swaggery guy; and I sense that he’s jealous of Logan and also Anderson Cooper. One of his tweets said “it would have been funny if it happened to Anderson too.” So that’s not about sexism, that’s about hostility.

If you’re as successful professionally as Nir Rosen has been at a young age, you get a big head; and if you’re as competitive as someone has to be to achieve what he has, you measure yourself against people with higher status than he has (Logan, Cooper) and exclaim about how much less they know about the subject than you do (especially if they supported these outrageous wars). I’m very competitive and when I was young I used to fulminate about people who were doing better than I was: they were stupider, had worse judgment, couldn’t write as well as me, etc. And sometimes I used to express these feelings publicly. That was really stupid. It gets you nowhere in life, it is pure vanity. By the way, Cooper and Logan obviously have better social skills than Rosen, and that matters. Here’s to his rapid rehabilitation. We need the guy.

Welcome to Palestine…now let’s reset the relationship

Feb 16, 2011

Issa Khalaf

Welcome to Palestine, even if it’s a century later. Now let’s reset the relationship. You came from faraway lands claiming an already inhabited one. Oppressed, massacred, and socially separated in Christendom/Europe, you felt as outsiders subject to anti-Semitic threats. Eventually, with the colonial age, a group of you, Eastern Europeans called Zionists argued your right to Palestine, from which ancient Jews were virtually absent from the 1st century and of whom you claimed tenuous descent. You claimed that Jews had a three thousand year cultural and emotional attachment to the holy land; that you are a single group whose roots are to this land and whose heart, spirit, character and center is Jerusalem. That your project wasn’t settler-colonialism, conquest through immigration under the aegis of a colonial power, but return or restoration, rendered moral by your religious roots in the land and in your suffering, hence giving you title to the land that transcends Palestinians rights, claims, attachments, and needs. You insisted that Jews require sovereignty for their safety, protection, and, in the aftermath of the Nazi genocide, survival.

At the time you arose in the late 19th century, the Enlightenment had made great progress and emancipated Jews from ghetto enclaves, accelerating integration and erosion of identity leading some Jews to argue for cultural assimilation and others for distinctiveness and autonomy. Zionism in particular looked on emancipation and cultural integration as a threat, the death of a mythical Jewish nation. You insisted on a “Jewish problem,” a congenital Christian/Western anti-Semitism as natural as darkness in nighttime. As Zionists, you were a part of Judaism gone nationalist, and other Jews saw you as a contradiction to liberal, pluralist tradition that could only cause problems for Jews. Because you organized, politically lobbied and agitated, you, political Zionists, took the stage, getting increasing support among Jews in Europe and the US. Still, Zionism remained a tiny minority and did not significantly spread until the rise of Nazi Germany and the genocidal horrors that followed. At that point, the argument for a Jewish state seemed unassailable and found supporters among many non-Jews.

Of course, the reality from the very beginning was that another people existed in Palestine, becoming alive to its national identity and, by the end of WWI, aspirations for self-determination and independence. They populated villages, towns and cities, cultivated the land, had marvelous citrus groves, owned businesses and shops, traded and built factories. They were naturally everywhere you looked. They were by the end of the Mandate, one of the most prosperous and educated people in the Middle East. This reality, their existence and your determination to ignore it, and the injustice and violence it has caused ever since, is the root of the conflict in Palestine.

It was not that you were blind to the fact that this place contained, when the World Zionist Organization was formed in 1897, over 95 percent Palestinian Arabs, both Muslim and Christian (12-15 percent of Palestinians) who constituted the overwhelming owners of the country, with the remainder constituting Jews, most of whom were non-Zionist, and others. Nor were you unaware that, by 1917, before the British took over and began to implement their promise to you for a “Jewish national home,” the Jewish colonist population constituted less than 10 percent of the total (50,000 to 60,000) and owned a tiny fraction of the land area. You could not create a viable Jewish state out of thin air, but only at others’ expense and who had nothing to do, and still don’t, with anti-Semitism, who did you no harm. You steadily came to Palestine, though you constituted a tiny fraction of the millions who preferred immigration to the US. By the time of the Nazi ascendance in Germany, immigration to Palestine accelerated as the US and Europe closed their doors. Still, by 1948, at slightly over 600,000, you constituted about 30 or so percent of the population and you owned 7-8 percent of the land surface, despite all your efforts of over fifty years.

So you took Palestine by force and ethnic cleansing, turning over half its population into refugees. Irony of ironies is that those Palestinian villagers whom you cleansed, or those you oppress in the occupied territories, were most likely more Jewish in lineage than you were, many of them descendants of early Jewish converts to Christianity, then to Islam. So are many of the current Palestinian Christians. The UN, after prodigious US arm twisting against its member states, recommended you get 55 percent of the country, gratis. You said you were reasonable and compromising by accepting this, but your argument was devilishly ingenious: you were “giving away” half of a whole you did not own, just as you claim to be compromising today, by merely considering the idea of “giving up” current occupied territory. In any case, your strategy was to wait until an opportune moment to expand. That happened immediately in 1948 as you ended up with 77 percent of Palestine, 22 percent more than was allotted to you by the UN, then again in 1967 when you took the remainder, now the West Bank and Gaza, at which point the Zionist colonial project proceeded in earnest where it left off in 1948.

Your dominant response to Palestinians’ existence was denial and the assertion of a transcendent moral right; the Palestinians after all were part of a larger Arab population of the Middle East, thus justifying exclusive Jewish possession in Palestine. As European colonists, you viewed the Palestinians with a racist lens, as Europeans did peoples of Asia and Africa. Palestine’s colonization was merely a “project” that could be implemented against the wishes of who to you were poor and illiterate people who should make way. Palestine’s Arabs became invisible, non-existent, literally less than human, needing to move over, disappear, for those with superior cultural and intellectual civilization. According to this logic, their resistance then and now is ascribable to their fear and repudiation of the benevolent progress and development Zionists bring with them, not to a natural defense to invasion and oppression.

There was a strong degree of self-delusion in your attitude. The Palestinians were both there and not there: to admit their existence, the reality of “the Arab problem,” was to confront unpleasant truths, to admit that your dream, your colonial project, was unrealizable, to be relinquished. So the Palestinians were imagined, canceled, and interpreted away, denied their humanity, and continue to be relentlessly and violently disbarred from unhindered, unequivocal self-representation. You assumed superiority that emanated in Jewish tradition, exemplified by the biblical phrase, “The voice is the voice of Jacob, but the hands are the hands of Esau.” You, as Jewish Zionists, are a superior, chosen, elevated people, People of the Book, who used your minds in religious, intellectual, and sublime pursuits while the inferior Goyim, the Gentiles, used their hands and muscle in pursuit of brawn, prostitution, and drunkenness. You were pure; the other degraded. Your life in the urban ghetto or rural village (shtetl) exaggerated the psychological differences.

Your superiority masked an equally strong sense of inferiority caused by centuries of humiliation and shame. This may have led you, Zionists, to overcompensate by emphasizing not only a sort of spiritual rebirth and redemption through labor in a hallowed soil, an activity Jews previously despised, but also a drive to unreflective military and material power, to crush opposition to your project and “threats to Jews.” The Palestinian Esau’s intellectual and cultural inferiority also justified the dismissal of his humanity, eliciting the Palestinians’ pounding with merciless violence and rage. European colonial racism was thus overlaid with the psychological complexity of the Jewish experience that has characterized Israeli Jewish attitudes to this day. This psychosis, the need to wish the Palestinians away and the sense of Jewish superiority mixed with humiliation, is at the core of your violence towards Palestine’s indigenous people.

So here you are. You got your state of 1948, including all you took by force, accepted by the international community. You have a prosperous economy, a vital society. You sport the strongest military in the Middle East. You possess ample stockpiles of fearsome WMDs, and not only nuclear, including the means to deliver them to distant cities, and are furtively engaged in advanced research to develop weaponry that annihilates the enemy without hurting the land.You have the West prostrated at your feet, so guilty are they for their inhumanity against the Jewish people. You plumped 500,000 Jews into the West Bank/Palestinian Jerusalem, many of them fanatics hailing from the US, and want the remainder of Palestine, all of it. You war against Palestine and Arabs and you reject all peace overtures and normalization. You energetically work to undermine yourself. You also continue Jewish separation and superiority, socializing a generation of confused young people and racists, insistent that the Palestinians do not share a common humanity with you. The gun falsely empowered and freed you from your historic weakness and humiliation, for you got oppression and chauvinism in return. You deny, with all the psychosis at your disposal, your guilt, unable to reconcile your moral exceptionalism with your tyranny against the Palestinians. How could they possibly be as human with real grievances and needs?

But the world goes around, and our sins catch up with us. You can’t cover the sun with your palm, as an old Arab proverb has it. Your might and power, your clinging to great powers and their elites to protect yourself and maintain your hegemony is beginning to fall apart. Your strategic environment is changing, your great power patron may not be up to the task in the coming decade or two. You’ve exhausted him anyway, cowed his politicians, confused his public, distorted the meaning of right and wrong. Yet, despite all this, all the craziness, you will not let go of your notion of an indivisible Jewish land, the Land of Israel, as if others are mere trespassers. It’s not that there’s only one narrative, that of the Palestinians, it’s that theirs is as truthful as truth gets, and it is logically and epistemologically false to claim the truth is in the middle. You can’t split the truth.

You seem ready to take down the Middle East with you if you have to. You will not leave your tormented victims alone by relinquishing the occupied territories, you will not award them citizenship, you will not establish an authentic peace, you will not accept being a part of the Middle East, your gaze firmly fixed to the west. Your leaders’ imagination is fossilized. Your young people can’t think beyond themselves because they’ve internalized, thanks to your education and socialization, the idea of besieged victims surrounded by violent Arabs ready to take them down. You teach them that the whole world is against them, you take them on trips to concentration camps to bolster the idea of Zionism and justify Israeli might and right, you scare them with the omnipresence of anti-Semitism and that they can exist only by force. What a future you’re constructing for them! Surely, there is a better way, for your young people and for the Palestinian young people. There is sharing. There is forgiveness. The Palestinians are the door to your redemption, the revivification of ethical Judaism. But you won’t grasp any of this.

Still, Palestinians and Arabs, Muslims and Christians, Palestinian children, welcome you. Let’s reset the past, yours and ours. Pretend you just arrived in the Middle East. Start anew. Take justice and peace, take reconciliation, take compassion, acknowledge your sins against the Palestinian refugees and the Palestinian people generally, embrace their humanity, live with them in peace, security, and coexistence. This is all possible even at this moment, but you must make “radical” decisions, transcend your psychosis. Most of all you must look deep inside yourself. There is no other way, except the way of destruction.

(14 February 2011)

Issa Khalaf (Ph.D. Oxford University) is author of Politics in Palestine, Arab Factionalism and Social Disintegration, 1939-1948.

While the rest of the Arab world is waking to protests, in Al Arakib Palestinians are awakening to the sound of bulldozers (destroying their village for the 17th time)

Feb 16, 2011

Seham

And other news from Today in Palestine:

Land, property, resources theft and destruction/Ethnic cleansing/Settlers

Al Arakib update: Four consecutive days of demolitions
From the Negev Coexistence Forum (NCF). Last week brought four consecutive days of demolitions in Al Arakib. For the first time on February 9 we witnessed bulldozers clearly marked as belonging to the Jewish National Fund (JNF-KKL), destroying tents that had been erected overnight by the residents. The JNF can no longer claim to have no involvement in the repeated destruction of Al Arakib.
http://theonlydemocracy.org/2011/02/al-arakib-update-four-consecutive-days-of-demolitions/
Bedouins Barricaded in Cemetery as Israel Demolishes Village for 17th Time, Injuring Children
The residents of the Bedouin village Al Araqib were forced from their land for the 17th time Wednesday (16/2) and barricaded inside the village cemetery, as Israel continues its ethnic cleansing efforts in the Negev.
http://www.alternativenews.org/english/index.php/topics/israeli-society/3305-bedouins-barricaded-in-cemetery-as-israel-demolishes-village-for-17th-time-injuring-children-
A House Surrounded on all Sides
After the Israeli Courts ruled against the demolition of Omar Hajaj’s home in Al Walajah, the Ministry of Defense ordered to surround his home with an electronic fence. If the plans are implemented, Omar and his family will be virtually entirely cut off from his village and surrounding land.
http://www.palestinemonitor.org/spip/spip.php?article1688
Please Help Rebuild 13 Water Cisterns Destroyed by the Israeli Army
The situation of the Palestinian cave-dwellers in South Hebron Hills continues to be difficult. They suffer from permanent harassment carried out by the military and settlers. This year, however, has been even more difficult, due to a severe drought.
http://theonlydemocracy.org/2011/02/please-help-rebuild-13-water-cisterns-destroyed-by-the-israeli-army/
Violence and Aggression

Palestinian Youth Injured By Settlers Fire Near Nablus
Palestinian medical sources reported on Tuesday evening that a Palestinian youth was shot and wounded by settlers fire near Jaloud village, south of Nablus, in the northern part of the West Bank.
http://www.imemc.org/article/60654
Settlers shoot teenager south-west of Nablus
Settlers shot and wounded a boy of 18 whilst he was farming on his father’s land at 1400hrs today, in the village of Jaloud, south-west of Nablus. Wael Mahmoud Tobase Ayad was planting trees together with his brother. As they were finishing, three settlers from a nearby illegal settlement, armed with handguns and a rifle, appeared from amongst some trees between 50 – 100m away. One of the settlers shot and wounded him in his right side with a hand gun.
http://palsolidarity.org/2011/02/16676/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+palsolidarity+%28International+Solidarity+Movement%29
Report: Settler violence not probed
Yesh Din issues report showing 91% of Palestinian complaints end without indictments. ‘Data show that people who lack rights under our rule are abandoned to their fates, and this has both moral and legal consequences,’ says Attorney Michael Sfard. Police: We’re looking into report’s findings.
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4029576,00.html
Detainees

Israeli forces detain 18 Palestinians overnight
http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=360260
Hamas: PA arrests 8 party members
BETHLEHEM (Ma’an) — Palestinian security forces arrested eight Hamas affiliates in the West Bank. Hamas said Palestinian Authority security forces arrested the party members in Nablus and Hebron.
http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=360431
Israeli forces detain Palestinian at Erez crossing
GAZA CITY (Ma’an) — Israeli security forces on Tuesday detained a Palestinian from an ambulance at the Erez crossing on the Israel-Gaza border, Palestinian sources said. Muhammad Mussa Zu’rub, 38, was traveling with his brother, who suffers from cancer, to the Israeli Bilson Hospital, local sources said. Israeli security officials detained Zu’rub from the ambulance, sources added. An spokeswoman for Israel’s District Coordination Office said the crossing was manned by a civilian security company, but that she would look into the report.
http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=360274
IOF troops kidnap patient’s escort
Family of Mohammed Zo’rub appealed to human rights groups to pressure the IOF into releasing their son who was kidnapped by those troops at Erez (Beit Hanun) crossing north of the Gaza Strip.
http://www.palestine-info.co.uk/En/default.aspx?xyz=U6Qq7k%
Ex-detainees: Prisoners in PA jails held in grave-like cells
A number of Palestinian ex-detainees released from West Bank jails said that the Palestinian authority security militias lock up prisoners in very small cells like “graves.”
http://www.palestine-info.co.uk/En/default.aspx?xyz=
Siege/Humanitarian Issues/Racism and Discrimination

Industrial Fuel – Needs Vs. Supply – Jan 16 – Feb 12
http://www.gazagateway.org/2011/02/industrial-fuel-%e2%80%93-needs-vs-supply-%e2%80%93-jan-16-%e2%80%93-feb-12/
Goods – Needs Vs. Supply – Jan 16 – Feb 12
http://www.gazagateway.org/2011/02/goods-%e2%80%93-needs-vs-supply-%e2%80%93-jan-16-%e2%80%93-feb-12/
Tell Egypt: Open the Rafah Crossing Now!
The situation for the hundreds of Palestinian men, women and children in Egypt who have been trapped at the airport since 25 January 2011, the beginning of the Egyptian Revolution, is dreadful and getting worse each day.
http://www.alternativenews.org/english/index.php/topics/news/3304-tell-egypt-open-the-rafah-crossing-now-
The Egyptian Blockade of Gaza – February 26, 2011 March to Gaza
To join the March to Gaza click here. There is much talk about who and what is behind the popular revolts in the Arab world and I find such talk as interesting as anyone. But more than talk I am interested in action. Indeed that is why tears of joy streamed down my face as I watched the Egyptian people cleansing themselves of the shame brought upon them by Mubarak and his fellow thieves and traitors. Clearly however, the job is far from complete.
http://vineyardsaker.blogspot.com/2011/02/egyptian-blockade-of-gaza-february-26.html
Egyptian officer: Rafah crossing to be opened regularly following arrangements
Senior Egyptian officer said that the Rafah border crossing with the besieged Gaza Strip will be soon opened on a regular basis after making security arrangements for that.
http://www.palestine-info.co.uk/En/default.aspx?xyz=U6Qq7k%2bcOd87M
Police revoke charges against East Jerusalem teen allegedly beaten by police during detainment
Murad Banna, 19, was arrested and held over seven months for allegedly throwing stones; he claimed he was forced to give false confession.
http://www.haaretz.com/news/national/police-revoke-charges-against-east-jerusalem-teen-allegedly-beaten-by-police-during-detainment-1.343577?localLinksEnabled=false
A Palestinian boy’s Kafkaesque trial in Israel’s military court, Joseph Dana
On a sunny day people usually stand outside or sit in the direct sun in the waiting area at the Ofer military court. To observe a trail at Ofer, one must enter the facilities and, in a way, become a prisoner. Visiting diplomats and human rights officials alike, are allowed to bring only money and cigarettes into the court area. Trials are given times in two vague categories – before the lunch break and after. Often a trial is listed for ‘before the lunch break’ and so observers will arrive at the court around 9 a.m., only to find that it has been postponed until after the break, leaving the unlucky observers with five to six hours to kill in what is basically a large prison yard – buckled asphalt surrounded by watchtowers shaped like World War Two-era pillboxes, and chain link fences topped with rolls of barbed wire.
http://josephdana.com/2011/02/a-palestinian-boy%E2%80%99s-kafkaesque-trial-in-israel%E2%80%99s-military-court/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=a-palestinian-boy%25e2%2580%2599s-kafkaesque-trial-in-israel%25e2%2580%2599s-military-court
16 Feb. 2011: In Silwan, like in Tel Aviv, Youth Law not enforced
On 4 February 2011, Ha’aretz published an article on the police’s handling of central-region youth suspected of drug use. According to the article, all the minors questioned in the matter, most of whom were about 17 years old, were interrogated without their parents present, although some parents requested they be allowed into the interrogation room. One of the young girls was informed by the “intelligence officer” that the interrogation was not even being recorded.
http://www.btselem.org/English/Detainees_and_Prisoners/20110216_Minors_Interrogattions_Silwan_and_Gush_Dan.asp
URGENT APPEAL – Children of Silwan
An appeal to end the use of violence by the Israeli army and police during the arrest of children from Silwan in occupied East Jerusalem.
http://www.dci-pal.org/english/doc/press/UA_2_11_SILWAN_16_Feb_2011.pdf
Activism/Solidarity/Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions

Action around the globe for Jawaher
Feb 16, 2011– More than a dozen protests, vigils and other actions were staged on the 10th and after in honor of Jawaher Abu Rahmah and in conjunction with the commemoration in Bil’in. Check out photos and reports from actions across the globe.
http://stopthewall.org/worldwideactivism/2480.shtml
Contest Winner: Confronting the Wall
Feb 16, 2011– We wish to present the third winning video, “Confronting the Wall” This video won the Palestine Jury Prize. Watch the video here and learn more about Israeli Apartheid.
http://stopthewall.org/latestnews/2481.shtml
Solidarity visit to striking municipal employees in Jenin
Feb 15, 2011– Stop the Wall organized a solidarity visit to municipal workers in the Jenin governorate who have been on strike for the past consecutive weeks, and on hunger strike for the past three days. Workers are demanding that the Ministry of Local Government, along with the head and the council of the Jenin Municipality commit an interpretation of the law governing local bodies that guarantees employees and workers stable employment and dignified living.
http://stopthewall.org/latestnews/2479.shtml
The doves return to Al-Arakib / Adam Keller
15 Feb – “Just like the demonstrators in Egypt were not deterred by the police violence, never left the square, so will we stick to Al-Arakib. This is the Negev’s Tahrir Square. Just like the demonstrators in Cairo won in the end, so will we win” said the young man who greeted us when the activist convoy – a full bus and a string of private cars – reached the hills northwest of Be’ersheba.
http://adam-keller2.blogspot.com/2011/02/doves-return-to-al-arakib.html
#BDS: Action Alert: Ban Ahava from Professional Beauty 2011
“We, the undersigned, are aware that Ahava have a stand at Professional Beauty 2011 ExCel 27-28 February. We urge Professional Beauty to reconsider granting Ahava a stand for the following reasons.
http://youthanormalization.blogspot.com/2011/02/bds-action-alert-ban-ahava-from.html
Knesset committee approves bill allowing Israel boycotters to be fined
Bill calls for heavy fines to be imposed on Israeli citizens who initiate or incite boycotts against Israeli individuals, companies, factories, and organizations.
http://www.haaretz.com/news/national/knesset-committee-approves-bill-allowing-israel-boycotters-to-be-fined-1.343596?localLinksEnabled=false
Illegal for Israelis to support BDS?, Joseph Dana
The Boycott, Divestment and Sanction (BDS) movement endorsed by Palestinian civil society organizations in 2005 has become one of the most controversial issues surrounding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. In the spirit of the boycott movement against Apartheid South Africa, BDS activists have racked up a number of successful cultural, academic and economic boycotts of Israel over the country’s treatment of Palestinians under occupation in the West Bank and Gaza. This afternoon, the state of Israel took steps towards criminalizing support of BDS by Israeli citizens.
http://josephdana.com/2011/02/illegal-for-israelis-to-support-bds/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=illegal-for-israelis-to-support-bds
Political Developments/News

The Palestine Papers – a matter of public interest
Following the leak of some 1600 documents a selection known as the Palestine Papers were released by Al Jazeera and the Guardian newspaper; they highlight previously unknown details relating to the peace negotiations between Israel and Palestine.
http://www.middleeastmonitor.org.uk/resources/briefing-papers/2057-the-palestine-papers-a-matter-of-public-interest
Abbas: Israel has no vision for peace
RAMALLAH (Ma’an) — President Mahmoud Abbas said Monday that the current Israeli government had no vision for an end to the occupation. Addressing Palestinians released from Israeli detention at his Ramallah headquarters, the president said Israel continued to shut down all avenues to peace.
http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=360208
UN eyes vote on resolution against Israel (AFP)
AFP – The UN Security Council is likely to vote this week on a resolution filed by Arab countries condemning Israeli settlements in Palestinian territories, according to a Palestinian diplomat.
http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/mideast/http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20110216/wl_mideast_afp/israelpalestiniansunsettlementsrights
EU’s Ashton targets Palestinian state by September (AFP)
AFP – EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton on Tuesday said the international community still sought to achieve a peace deal and a Palestinian state by September, despite the region’s political turmoil.
http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/mideast/http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20110215/wl_afp/israelpalestinianspeaceeu
Envoy to UN says US will continue “frontal opposition” to attempts to “chip away at Israel’s legitimacy.”
NEW YORK – In an address given at the World Affairs Council in Portland, Oregon, on Friday evening, US Ambassador to the United Nations Susan Rice pledged American loyalty to Israel at the UN, saying that “efforts to chip away at Israel’s legitimacy will continue to be met by the frontal opposition of the United States.”
http://endtheoccupationblog.blogspot.com/2011/02/rice-israels-legitimacy-beyond-dispute.html
Congress prepares “Middle East Stability” funding package
There’s a raging debate on Capitol Hill surrounding huge cuts to foreign aid funding proposed in the House Republicans’ latest spending bill. But several senators are looking to add a generous foreign aid package for Israel, Egypt, Jordan, and other Middle Eastern countries when the bill comes over from the House.
http://thecable.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2011/02/15/congress_prepares_middle_east_stability_funding_package
Turkey wants Israel raid apology, regardless of UN
Turkey will insist on an apology from Israel for its bloody raid on a Gaza-bound Turkish aid ship as a condition for mending ties, regardless of the findings of a UN investigation, a Turkish diplomatic official said. “We expect the UN investigation to be balanced so we won’t get what we want and Israel won’t get what it wants, but apology and compensation are a red line for us,” the official told a group of reporters in Ankara on condition of anonymity. (Reuters)
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4029221,00.html
Palestine Analysis/Op-ed

Palestinian Revolution by Default, Mel Frykberg
RAMALLAH, Feb 16, 2011 (IPS) – The Egyptian revolution, and the threat to autocratic Arab regimes all over the region, have forced rapid changes on the Palestinian political scene – with major players Hamas and Fatah scrambling to catch up.
http://ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=54495
Upheavals highlight tension between Jordan’s Palestinians and ‘East Bankers’
AMMAN // Like Yemen and Bahrain, Jordan recently has been shaken by popular protests stemming from rising food prices and high unemployment, especially among the young. Yet the upheaval in Jordan also reflects a factor peculiar to the country – namely, its delicate demographic balance between indigenous tribes, known as “East Bankers”, and Palestinians who have emigrated to Jordan in the past six decades and have received Jordanian citizenship.
http://www.thenational.ae/news/worldwide/middle-east/upheavals-highlight-tension-between-jordans-palestinians-and-east-bankers
‘Israeli filter’ colors U.S. response to Egyptian revolution, Alex Kane
Hosni Mubarak’s former regime got many things wrong, but Egyptian officials sure knew how to accurately read at least some parts of U.S. foreign policy. A State Department cable written in December 2007 recently released by WikiLeaks describes how the Egyptian government believed that “their discussions with the United States” passed “through a perceived ‘Israeli filter.’” It’s fair to assume that Egypt was referring to how, as Helena Cobban writes in Salon, “pro-Israeli groups and individuals in Congress and the rest of the American political elite” have enormous influence on how Washington conducts foreign policy.
http://alexbkane.wordpress.com/2011/02/15/israeli-filter-colors-u-s-response-to-egyptian-revolution/
Only in Palestine, Amra Amra
Those brave people who firmly stood up and fought for their freedom and independence against whatever type of inhumanity or injustice that was prevalent in their time. Reading about these infamous leaders in history inevitably has planted a seed of persistence and determination in us, yet we may not recognize it. As a Palestinian having spent most of my life abroad, I remember clearly my continual participation in Palestinian protests against the ongoing Israeli occupation in Palestine. Having lived in the US, I found myself struggling to firmly hold on to my ancestral Palestinian roots. Despite this, I fortunately managed to voice and express my beliefs and opinions with many other Palestinian solidarity activists by holding a megaphone, carrying a poster with pictures of innocent victims that have fallen as a result of the Israeli occupation, with the famous traditional Palestinian kuffiyeh wrapped around my neck. Yet no amount of protests, activities, or events could have prepared me, either physically and emotionally, for the reality of Palestine.
http://www.palestinemonitor.org/spip/spip.php?article1685
Revolt in the Middle East

Slideshow: Protests Sweep Bahrain, Iran And Yemen
Following uprisings that deposed leaders in both Egypt and Tunisia, a wave of protest movements have engulfed the Middle East in recent days. Protests have shaken the regimes in Bahrian, Iran and Yemen. Iran has arrested 1,500 demonstrators and two people were killed in protests in the capital, Tehran. There have also been violent clashes between pro and anti-government factions in Yemen and the Kingdom of Bahrain, two protesters have been killed in clashes with the security forces.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/02/15/middle-east-protests-iran-bahrain-yemen_n_823503.html
Riz Khan – The Egypt effect
Thousands of people are taking to streets across the region demanding political and social reform.

The US Department of State: explaining its own hypocrisy (it is good)
“QUESTION: How about other countries – Bahrain, Yemen, or Algeria, or Jordan? Why you are not talking about those countries and you are condemning what is happening in Iran?
MR. CROWLEY: Well, actually, in the other countries there is greater respect for the rights of the citizens. I mean, we are watching developments in other countries, including Yemen, including Algeria, including Bahrain. And our advice is the same. As the Secretary made clear in her Doha speech, there’s a significant need for political, social, and economic reform across the region, and we encourage governments to respect their citizen’s right to protest peacefully, respect their right to freedom of expression and assembly, and hope that there will be an ongoing engagement, a dialogue between people in governments, and they can work together on the necessary forms.”
http://angryarab.blogspot.com/2011/02/us-department-of-state-explaining-its.html
Jordan’s reforms
“Srour said Tuesday that protesters would still have to inform authorities of any gathering two days in advance to “ensure public safety” and that they would have to observe public order. However, he stressed that the government would no longer interfere in such matters.”
http://angryarab.blogspot.com/2011/02/jordans-reforms.html
Jordan’s King is desperate
His Minister of Justice demonstrated yesterday calling for the release of the Jordanian soldier who shot at Israeli students. He even called him a hero. The minister does not know of the services by his King to Israel, it seems.
http://angryarab.blogspot.com/2011/02/jordans-king-is-desperate.html
Obama reassures Jordan king of U.S. support
The president made a weekend call to Jordanian King Abdullah II to assure him of U.S. support, but also to say that Washington wants Jordan to move toward reform. With protests rocking the Middle East, the Obama administration is reaching out to King Abdullah II of Jordan, trying to reassure a badly shaken ally of its support even as it calls for greater political freedom across the Arab world.
http://feeds.latimes.com/%7Er/latimes/middleeast/%7E3/NqiObpboV90/la-fg-obama-mideast-20110216,0,216248.story
Mufti warns of revolution in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabian Mufti Sheikh Yusof al-Ahmad has warned that unless the government fights poverty and unemployment, it will face a revolution like those in Egypt and Tunisia.
http://presstv.com/detail/165211.html
Egypt

Tariq Al-Bishri
The man who is assigned to head the committee to revise the constitution of Egypt is a supporter of the struggle of the Palestinians and a foe of Israel. Please tweet that, o Zionists.
http://angryarab.blogspot.com/2011/02/tariq-al-bishri.html
Tariq Al-Bishri: the man leading the committee to revise the Egyptian constitution
Jamal sent me this: “You may want to point readers to a few items on Tariq al-Bishri. Egyptian English-language blogger Baheyya referenced him several times in recent years as can be seen in these two posts on her blog:
In this piece from 2009 she wrote about how he had critiqued Sadat’s constitution in the early 70s for the powers it gave an unaccountable presidency:
In this piece from 2007 she highlights how back in 2004 he had put out a piece defending precisely the types of non-violent resistance that just succeeded in overthrowing Mubarak (needless to say, more meaningful than anything Gene “who’s that guy” Sharp):
Finally, regarding your totally correct point about al-Bishri being an enemy of US and Zionist imperialism, point your readers to his roughly decade-old book “al-3arab fi muwajahat al-3udwan”/”The Arabs in the Face of Aggression”. I read it many years ago, so I might be slightly off here, but his main thesis as I recall was that in the face of dead subservient regimes, the only places that effective resistance to imperialism has arisen has been where the state is weak: i.e., the Lebanese resistance for example. He did have some kooky 9/11 ideas of the “we don’t even know Bin Laden did this” variety, but it didn’t take away from his core point. The entire book can be found online here.
http://angryarab.blogspot.com/2011/02/tariq-al-bishri-man-leading-committee.html
Ashkenazi: Israel ready for collapse of peace with Egypt
In his first appearance as a civilian, former IDF chief of staff says “there is a weakening of the moderate camp” in Egypt.
http://www.jpost.com/VideoArticles/Video/Article.aspx?id=208215
Egypt junta names panel to reform constitution
CAIRO – Egypt’s military regime warned on Tuesday that a wave of strikes sweeping the country was “disastrous,” as it gave a panel of civilian experts 10 days to revise the constitution. Against a backdrop of persistent nationwide walk-walkouts and street protests, the junta promised to rapidly restore constitutional rule following the overthrow of Hosni Mubarak’s regime.
http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2011/02/15/egypt-junta-names-panel-to-reform-constitution/
Egypt labor not resting after Mubarak’s ouster
CAIRO (IPS) – Before his ouster on Friday, toppled Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak had made one of the biggest mistakes of his reign: not learning from the lessons of hundreds of small labor and professional strikes that littered the country since 2005.
http://electronicintifada.net/v2/article11804.shtml?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+electronicIntifadaPalestine+%28Electronic+Intifada+%3A+Palestine+News%29
Sinai Bedouin and the revolution

Egypt’s Copts hope for bright future
As the country emerges from Hosni Mubarak’s rule, civil society is being opened to change. Al Jazeera’s Jamal Elshayyal reports from Alexandria on the historic union between Coptic Christians and Muslims in Egypt – and their aspirations for the years ahead

Mubarak given up, wants to die in Sharm-Saudi official
SHARM EL-SHEIKH, Egypt, Feb 16 (Reuters) – Egypt’s ousted president has given up and wants to die in the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh where he has been living since a popular uprising ended his rule, a Saudi official said on Wednesday.
http://www.trust.org/alertnet/news/mubarak-given-up-wants-to-die-in-sharm-saudi-official
Egypt’s Mubarak taking phone calls in Sharm-source
CAIRO, Feb 15 (Reuters) – Egypt’s deposed President Hosni Mubarak is in the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh and taking telephone calls, said a source who spoke to him on Tuesday. “He’s fine,” the source said. “He is at his residence in Sharm el-Sheikh with his family. He is receiving telephone calls. I spoke to him at 3 o’clock (1300 GMT) this afternoon.”
http://www.trust.org/alertnet/news/egypts-mubarak-taking-phone-calls-in-sharm-source
Report: Hosni Mubarak is in Israel
JERUSALEM (Ma’an) — Ousted Egyptian leader Hosni Mubarak is in a luxury hotel in the Israeli city of Eilat, the Israel-based news site Al-Arab reported Tuesday. Locals said there was a huge presence of Israeli security forces surrounding the hotel, and airplanes were hovering above monitoring activity in the area, the Arabic-language report said. A hotel employee revealed that Mubarak was a guest at the hotel, according to the news site. The hotel declined to comment.
http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=360317
Mubarak’s residence in Sharm
Officially former president Mubarak has not left the country , he said it clearly that he would live in Egypt till the end of his life and will be buried in it after his death. Officially former president Mubarak is in Sharm El-Sheikh. Some sources say that he is so sick to the level of being currently in coma , other sources say that he is fine but he is deeply depressed, while other sources like the Times says that he eats Caviar and Swiss chocolate in his self-exile at the Red Sea. Der Spiegel shared with us the location of Mubarak’s palaces or rather villas at Sharm El-Sheikh Maritime peninsula hotel & resort. Mubarak and his sons got three villas or rather palaces in an excellent location there.
http://egyptianchronicles.blogspot.com/2011/02/mubaraks-residence-in-sharm.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+EgyptianChronicles+%28Egyptian+chronicles%29
Mubarak’s friends
The gallery.
http://angryarab.blogspot.com/2011/02/mubaraks-friends.html
The Mubarak grand kid was even being prepared for succession
http://angryarab.blogspot.com/2011/02/mubarak-grand-kid-was-even-being.html
Mohamed ElFarmawy Assaulted by Police in #Tahrir
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=DPBFIoJ1Reo
Bahrain

Bahrain protesters keep up pressure
Protesters demanding sweeping political reforms from Bahrain’s rulers held their ground in an Egypt-style occupation of the capital’s landmark square today, calling for a third day of demonstrations.
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/bahrain-protesters-keep-up-pressure-2216370.html
Update: Clashes in Bahrain
Thousands have taken to the streets in Bahrain, as a second protester is laid to rest on Tuesday. For two days, demonstrators have been demanding government reform. Al Jazeera’s correspondent in Manama, who we are not naming for safety reasons, has the latest.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XYaFh4CHaq4&feature=youtube_gdata
Protesters occupy Bahrain square
Anti-government protests continue in tiny kingdom, despite apology by king for the deaths of two demonstrators.
http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2011/02/201121635518925202.html
Deaths stoke Bahrain tension
Offering apology, king says incidents will be investigated, but opposition group suspends parliamentary participation.
http://english.aljazeera.net//news/middleeast/2011/02/2011215194859291708.html

US is freaking out over Bahrain
“The home of the U.S. Navy’s 5th Fleet — and a recently-launched $580 million U.S. expansion effort slated to double the U.S. Navy’s acreage there — could be in jeopardy if Bahrain’s monarchy falls.”
http://angryarab.blogspot.com/2011/02/us-is-freaking-out-over-bahrain.html
From Bahrain
K. sent me this: “Tomorrow Bahrain will definitely face even more media restriction than those seen in Cairo. The counter-revolution has already started with ‘Day of Happiness’ parades held on Saturday, (staged, perhaps to celebrate the promise of BD 1,000 (around $2650) handouts announced) and set to continue tomorrow, a Ministry of Interior twitter account – who knows which unfortunate has been given the honour of tweeting “Illegal rally in Karzakan 3 policemen attacked, Police had to fire 2 rubber buttons 1st as warning shot 2nd bounced & hit a demonstrator” on behalf of possibly the least respected and most notorious, corrupt, and brutal institution in the country. [continues]
http://angryarab.blogspot.com/2011/02/from-bahrain.html
Comrades from Bahrain
Bahraini people, the Bahraini King kills three protestors in the day to celebrate the national charter I just got home from the protests and have heard the news that it has been confirmed that three protestors were killed today, including an eight year old boy. I am absolutely fuming. In the protest that I was in which lasted about 20 minutes, the police arrived and started attacking us (mostly old women and children) with rubber bullets and tear gas aimed directly at as and at close range. I haven’t been through this before and I can tell you it was bloody scary. All we could do was dive to the ground and find somewhere to hide. The unfortunate thing is, that the police, mostly Pakistani, Syrian and Yemeni (many of them were out today) are completely irresponsible and trained to do one thing, to shoot at protestors and wave guns at you.
Two issues seriously p***ing me off:

1. Where is the media? The BBC is still reporting a minor skirmish in Karzakan village last night, when in fact thousands across the country protested resulting in 3 deaths. Aljazeera is reporting the deaths in its rolling text pane. Why aren’t they using all the footage on youtube like they did in Egypt showing peaceful protests being attacked? Bahrain is a Gulf state, is it too close to home for the Qataris to give a shit?

2. Three deaths in ONE day is the highest death toll that Alkhalifa’s thugs have been responsible for in the history of modern Bahrain. This is big. When two men were killed by the police in the nineties, it took five years to quell the uprising. This time, it might be much worse.
After the incident last night, our buffon royal foreign minister, tweeted that the photo being circulated was an old photo. Can you ask him if this photo is also old? Tweet about this you buffoonr, you have blood on your hands, and your obnoxious remarks are no longer tolerated.”
http://angryarab.blogspot.com/2011/02/comrades-from-bahrain.html
From Bahrain
“One demonstrator killed already, Ali Abdulhadi Al Mushaima in his 20s has died in hospital as a result of being shot being in the back http://yfrog.com/h4k6gqtj, and Mohammed, both from Sitra critically injured http://yfrog.com/h3gyerrj.
Woke up this morning to the sound of helicopters; driving to work there were massive deployments of riot police stationed at the roads leading from the main highway of Budaiya; up to 8 police jeeps and a bus of riot police ready for unarmed people protesting peacefully (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R3LazFJ0wa4).
I witnessed myself, and according to reports from other gatherings around the country, demonstrators have deliberately taken a nonviolent approach; example, some 200+ people, men, women, children holding a sit-in at the sehla junction.
one demonstrator killed already, Abdulhadi Al Mushaima in his 20s has died in hospital as a result of being shot being in the back http://yfrog.com/h4k6gqtj, and Mohammed, both from Sitra critically injured http://yfrog.com/h3gyerrj.
Woke up this morning to the sound of helicopters; driving to work there were massive deployments of riot police stationed at the roads leading from the main highway of Budaiya ready for unarmed protestors (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R3LazFJ0wa4). I witnessed myself (and according to reports from other gatherings around the country, demonstrators have deliberately taken a nonviolent approach). Several tweeters reported the blockage of internet sites, particularly videos showing police attacking demonstrators on youtube.
To keep track of events in English, http://twitter.com/maryamalkhawaja and in Arabic http://twitter.com/Nabeelrajab
For photos, pls see http://www.facebook.com/album.php?id=687160937&aid=274586”
http://angryarab.blogspot.com/2011/02/from-bahrain_15.html
More from Bahrain
http://angryarab.blogspot.com/2011/02/bahrain-today.html
Live Broadcast
http://bambuser.com/channel/alaali/broadcast/1417785
Bahrain Protest Videos

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nsn4A-orHxo&feature=youtu.be

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qw_1w1RI_eg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DYWruCI13rE&feature=player_embedded
http://mrzine.monthlyreview.org/2011/aj150211.html
Pictures from Bahrain
http://wattani.in/forum/showpost.php?p=1509291&postcount=2
http://twitpic.com/3zu7ag
S E C R E T MANAMA FOR DNI BLAIR FROM AMBASSADOR ERELIE.O.
SUBJECT: SCENESETTER FOR MANAMA DIALOGUE, ….
12. (C) King Hamad is personable and engaging. He rules as something of a “corporate king,” giving direction and letting his top people manage the government. He has overseen the development of strong institutions with the restoration of parliament, the formation of a legal political opposition, and a dynamic press. He is gradually shifting power from his uncle, Prime Minister Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa, who remains the head of the government, to his son, the Crown Prince. Crown Prince Salman received his high school education at the DOD school in Bahrain and earned a BA from American University in 1985. He is very Western in his approach and is closely identified with the reformist camp within the ruling family – particularly with respect to economic and labor reforms designed to combat corruption and modernize Bahrain’s economic base.
http://friday-lunch-club.blogspot.com/2011/02/wikileaks-bahrain-sheikh-khalifa.html
Yemen

Yemenis protest amid crackdown
Violence escalates between government supporters and protesters calling for the president’s ouster.
http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2011/02/201121611012256401.html
Tensions rise between sides in Yemen
In Yemen, thousands of people returned to the steets for a fifth day demanding President Ali Abdullah Saleh steps down. At the same time, swelling numbers of government loyalists occupied strategic locations in the capital, chanting slogans and saying they won’t allow pro-democracy protesters to drive the country towards instability and chaos. Al Jazeera’s Hashem Ahelbarra reports.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GqwASfQYc4E&feature=youtube_gdata
Fresh clashes in Yemeni capital
Security forces in Yemen’s capital Sanaa use tear gas and batons to disperse thousands of anti-government protesters.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/world-middle-east-12476469
Yemeni protest chants
http://angryarab.blogspot.com/2011/02/yemeni-protest-chants.html
Yemen Video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5bdEW0LgJ4E&feature=email
U.S. to spend $75 million on new Yemen military training
The United States aims to spend $75 million to double the size of a special Yemeni counter-terrorism unit, a U.S. official said on Monday.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/02/14/us-usa-yemen-idUSTRE71D7AQ20110214
Libya

Hospital: 38 injured in Libya clashes
TRIPOLI (AFP) — Thirty-eight people were injured in clashes between Libyan security forces and demonstrators in Benghazi overnight, the director of Al-Jala hospital in the eastern city told AFP on Wednesday.
http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=360552
Hundreds of Libyans demand the government’s ouster
Reports say they are calling for removal of the prime minister and strongman Moammar Kadafi, who has ruled for decades. Hundreds of Libyans calling for the government’s ouster took to the streets Wednesday in the country’s second-largest city as Egypt-inspired unrest spread to the country long ruled by Moammar Kadafi.
http://feeds.latimes.com/%7Er/latimes/middleeast/%7E3/bnFQ7vaw-8g/la-fgw-libya-riots-20110216,0,5114233.story
Libya: Video from protests
http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=111774312231462
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aojjN96r2dk
SNAP ANALYSIS-Riots break out in Libyan city of Benghazi
ALGIERS, Feb 16 (Reuters) – Several hundred people clashed overnight with police and government supporters in the eastern Libyan city of Benghazi, a witness and local media said.
http://www.trust.org/alertnet/news/snap-analysis-riots-break-out-in-libyan-city-of-benghazi
Iraq

Teen killed as Iraq guards fire into demo (AFP)
AFP – A teenager was killed Wednesday when private guards shot at protesters who set fire to several Iraqi government offices, in the country’s most violent demonstrations since uprisings in Egypt and Tunisia.
http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/iraq/*http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20110216/wl_mideast_afp/iraqpoliticsdemosecurity
Three killed in Iraq protests as guards fire into demo
Three people were killed and dozens wounded in the southern Iraqi city of Kut on Wednesday in clashes between security forces and protesters demanding better basic services, police and hospital sources said.
http://www.alarabiya.net/articles/2011/02/16/137896.html
Iraq activists storm public offices
At least one person killed in clashes with security forces after protesters break into council building.
http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2011/02/2011216114058147154.html
Falluja citizens protest against Iraq government
Demonstrators called to stop arbitrary arrests, to resume conscription and to dismiss any foreign nationality holder from the government. They called as well to end the US deal. Protestors give voice to their daily concerns as well evoking the electricity crisis, lack of ration cards and unemployment. Demonstrators accused Iraqi officials of corruption. Local officials in the city of Falluja joined demonstrators in their rally calling for essential services and blaming the central government for not having spent the budget of Anbar Province. Falluja rally is a continuity of protests all over Iraq showing the same denunciation to lack of services in the country.
http://www.alsumaria.tv/en/Iraq-News/1-60425-Falluja-citizens-protest-against-Iraq-government.html
Tuesday: 8 Iraqis Killed, 12 Wounded
At least eight Iraqis were killed and 12 more were wounded in new violence, while two mass graves were discovered in Diyala province. Back in Germany, an Iraqi defector codenamed Curveball has admitted to lying about weapons of mass destruction. A lie that lead to the Iraq war.
http://original.antiwar.com/updates/2011/02/15/tuesday-8-iraqis-killed-12-wounded/
Recalling the Slaughter of Innocents
Twenty years ago, as Americans were celebrating Valentine’s Day, Iraqi husbands and fathers in the Amiriyah section of Baghdad were peeling the remains of their wives and children off the walls and floor of a large neighborhood bomb shelter.
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article27479.htm
Iran

Iran funeral triggers new clashes
Government supporters and opposition activists clash at funeral procession for student killed in Tehran.
http://english.aljazeera.net//news/middleeast/2011/02/20112169518348693.html
Iran confirms deaths in protest
Iran’s MPs call for the execution of the opposition leaders who called for demonstrations in several cities.
http://english.aljazeera.net//news/middleeast/2011/02/2011215205829237551.html
Iran’s protests: What follows?
Following Monday’s protests, in which at least two protesters died, the Iranian government is moving to hold the two opposition leaders who called for the demonstration to be held accountable.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TefcEE3aboc&feature=youtube_gdata
Other Mideast News

Origin: Embassy Cairo — Classification: CONFIDENTIAL : LEBANON
4.(C) Afifi said that Saad Hariri was in Cairo, and had seen FM Aboul Gheit, and was scheduled to see President Mubarak that day (June 23). “He is in great spirits and is now a statesman,” Afifi said. From Cairo, Hariri will go to Riyadh, where Afifi said he expects Hariri will receive “guidance” on formation of a Lebanese government. Hariri told the Egyptians he did not foresee too much difficulty in government formation. Afifi assessed that the Lebanese opposition (of 2009′) “may not get the blocking third in the way that they want it,” and that Hizballah was focused on a compromise position that would keep the issue of Hizballah arms out of the national dialogue and obtain some kind of assurance that some executive and judicial positions would be designated for opposition members.
http://friday-lunch-club.blogspot.com/2011/02/wikileaks-egyptians-have-been-wrong-on.html
Analysis/Op-ed

Inside Story – Can Egyptians forgive and forget?
Egypt’s police took to the street to show solidarity with protesters who toppled president Mubarak. Shouting they are hand in hand with the people, they said were following orders. Can the police force wipe out its bloody history with the people of Egypt? Will the Egyptians forgive and forget?

The New York Times story yesterday about the origins of the Egyptian and Tunisian revolutions
That story is still bothering me (see yesterday). I have received many links and articles from colleagues and people in Latin America in particular about the role of Gene Sharp or AEI or the Einstein Foundation. But all this is so irrelevant. Even if US foundations brought youths from Egypt and even if they distributed translated works about non-violence, and even if some attended workshops all this affect a dozen or so of those youths. This is a movement by hundreds of thousands of people and would not have succeeded if people who are NOT facebook or twitter generation did not join in. And I still argue: the notion that people in Egypt know who Gene Sharp is is rather funny and crazy. I mean, who buys that except Sharp himself to flatter himself? Or those who believe those claims in the New York Times. I want to also say this: the thesis of the article yesterday conforms with the thesis of the Mubarak regime itself: they for days in their official media peddled that thesis and argued that those youths had attended workshops by US foundations to do all that. They had one disguised Youth member on TV one day: and it was so crazy. He said: yes, they took us to a workshop and we stayed at a hotel and we attended lectures. The anchorwoman said: and you got paid, right? He said: yes, we were paid. She asked: what was the amount? He said: we were paid good money. I got paid $500 for the leadership training program. So $500 can buy a revolution? Against a puppet regime that you were desperate to keep? But you know what it is? The White Man can’t leave the natives alone. No matter what they do, he has to take credit for their actions–if they are not violent. But if the natives engage in violence, Islam and culture are responsible, and the White Man washes his hands of the natives. And now there is a new ridiculous claim: that this comic book about Martin Luther King inspired the Egyptian Revolution. It is only going to get worse once the book are written (and articles appear in the New York Times magazine). But what do I expect when I read that a speech by Condoleezza Rice (who is hated throughout the region) actually inspired the uprisings.
http://angryarab.blogspot.com/2011/02/new-york-times-story-yesterday-about.html
Thomas Friedman on the Nile (still)
Just read the opening lines of this piece of…material from Friedman. His writing style is so simplistic that it is jarring. Only the Economist of mainstream press pointed out the obvious: that he is a lousy writer. Notice how he is at pains to reassure Israel–and Zionists like himself–that Egyptians don’t dislike Israel and that their opposition and overthrow of the regime would not change Egyptian foreign policy. Dream on, Friedman. You think that a democratically elected foreign minister of Egypt would dare hold hands with Israeli foreign minister days before assault on Gaza? But if you reach–with great difficulty–the end of the article you realize what was going on (in Arabic, there is a proverb: once the cause is known, surprise goes away): the only Egyptian that Friedman cites in this lousy article is none other than `Ali Salim: an untalented Egyptian playwright who specializes in the sleazy and crude humor. But Salim is a shunned man who lives in isolation because out of a population of 85 million Egyptians he is the only one who openly calls for normalization with Israel (although the opportunist attacks Israel AND Jews when he appears on Aljazeera–almost all friends of Israel in the Arab world (a handful plus tyrants) are notorious anti-Semities, just as Sadat was). He writes a column for the mouthpiece of Prince Salman (Ash-Sharq Al-Awsat) and is a clown for House of Saud. Salim was expelled from professional associations because he had visited Israel. So to represent Egyptians, Friedman talks to this guy. This is like taking Mithal Allusi in Iraq as the representative of Iraqis. Oh, and Friedman says this:”The Arab tyrants, precisely because they were illegitimate, were the ones who fed their people hatred of Israel as a diversion.” Of course, it is the other day round. Arab tyrants are friends of Israel and the bit of anti-Israel rhetoric that comes out of them is forced by the people on them.
http://angryarab.blogspot.com/2011/02/thomas-friedman-on-nile-still.html
Robert Fisk: Three weeks in Egypt show the power of brutality – and its limits
After three weeks of watching the greatest Arab nation hurling a preposterous old man from power, I’m struck by something very odd. We have been informing the world that the infection of Tunisia’s revolution spread to Egypt – and that near-identical democracy protests have broken out in Yemen, Bahrain and in Algeria – but we’ve all missed the most salient contamination of all: that the state security police who prop up the power of the Arab world’s autocrats have used the same hopeless tactics of savagery to crush demonstrators in Sanaa, Bahrain and Algiers as the Tunisian and Egyptian dictators tried so vainly to employ against their own pro-democracy protestors.
http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/fisk/robert-fisk-three-weeks-in-egypt-show-the-power-of-brutality-ndash-and-its-limits-2216121.html
Egypt’s reform process: What, who, and how?, Helena Cobban
I am trying to follow– from the very great distance of central Virginia, USA, what is happening regarding the very necessary and WAYS overdue process of political/constitutional reform and rebuilding that Egypt so desperately needs if the democracy revolution of the past few weeks is to be able to survive and thrive.
http://justworldnews.org/archives/004164.html
Seventeen Days That Shook The World
The astonishing Egyptian uprising that toppled Hosni Mubarak in two-and-a-half weeks of immense popular struggle has sent shock waves reverberating throughout the Middle East, putting Washington’s imperial clients on notice that their days of impunity are now numbered. Close to two million flooded into Cairo’s Tahir Square. One million assembled in Martyr’s Square in Alexandria. 750,000 gathered in downtown Mansoura. A quarter of a million came together in Suez.
http://dissidentvoice.org/2011/02/seventeen-days-that-shook-the-world/
Why Tahrir Infuriates the Neo-Cons, Shiva Balaghi
Everywhere you turn, Niall Ferguson is berating Obama’s “muddling” of Egypt. He’s blogging on The Daily Beast, spewing angrily on MSNBC’s Morning Joe, and inaugurating his new column in Newsweek with a cover story blasting Obama. Tahrir Square is the neo-cons’ worst nightmare… And Ferguson is one of the scribes who helped globalize and legitimize the neo-cons’ ideas. Since 9/11, Ferguson’s books on empire have become airport bestsellers, and he’s gone from Oxford to NYU to Harvard.
http://www.jadaliyya.com/pages/index/647/why-tahrir-infuriates-the-neo-cons
Tunisia, Egypt, Lebanon?
We are living in extraordinary times. 2011 Egypt, in hindsight, will be seen as just as, if not more, “historic” as the 1952 coup. This precedent and others should that this revolution is not the instantiation of thepolitical awakening of a “stagnant” part of the world, and nor was it brought to you (only) by Facebook or twitter. For now, the 2011 people’s uprising in Egypt and in Tunis resists categorization, and cannot be contained or explained by adjectives that Middle East “experts” have used to shape the dominant discourse on the Arab world such as Islamist, communist, liberal, pro-American, anti-American, fundamentalist, or feminist. We should cherish these moments of discursive resistance because they paint an image of life as it is lived, messy and contradictory.
http://www.jadaliyya.com/pages/index/648/tunisia-egypt-lebanon
Civic Institutions Essential for Egypt’s Democracy, Ralph Nader
Colman McCarthy, a former Washington Post writer and founder of the Center for Teaching Peace, must be very happy with the news from Egypt. For twenty-five years, McCarthy has been persuading high schools and colleges to adopt peace studies in their curriculum (for more information, contact him at cmccarthy@starpower.net). Now he has another example of a largely non-violent revolution—led by young people of all backgrounds—successfully ousting a dictatorial regime
http://palestinechronicle.com/view_article_details.php?id=16656
Egypt: Social Movements, the CIA and the Mossad, James Petras
The mass movements which forced the removal of Mubarak reveal both the strength and weaknesses of spontaneous uprisings. On the one hand, the social movements demonstrated their capacity to mobilize hundreds of thousands, if not millions, in a successful sustained struggle culminating in the overthrow of the dictator in a way that pre-existent opposition parties and personalities were unable or unwilling to do.
http://palestinechronicle.com/view_article_details.php?id=16653
The Revolutionary Rebellion in Egypt, FIDEL CASTRO
Several days ago I said that Mubarak’s fate was sealed and that not even Obama was able to save him. The world knows about what is happening in the Middle East. News spreads at mind-boggling speed. Politicians barely have enough time to read the dispatches arriving hour after hour. Everyone is aware of the importance of what is happening over there.
http://www.counterpunch.com/castro02152011.html
Samir Amin, “What Is Happening in Egypt”
The plan of the ruling system, supported by the United States of course, is not to allow that — it’s to make minimal concessions in order to safeguard the essentials of the system: that is, neoliberal capitalist integration into the global system, which is at the root of all these social devastations of course; but simultaneously a system aligned with US policy on the world and the region, which means also tolerating, allowing de facto, Israel to continue the devastation in occupied Palestine. . . .
http://mrzine.monthlyreview.org/2011/amin150211.html
Why Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood Isn’t The Islamic Bogeyman
Western fears of Islamist takeover in post-Mubarak Egypt are unfounded. During recent protests, the Muslim Brotherhood has demonstrated a commitment to peaceful political participation. The US now has an opportunity to support a truly democratic Egypt, including the Brotherhood.
http://www.csmonitor.com/layout/set/print/content/view/print/363223
The Egyptian Revolution and Democracy, Brian Napoletano
Imperial conquests have always had their ideological justifications. Even in earlier ages, exterminating a people, exploiting their resources, stealing their lands, and enslaving their children were generally non-starters when it came to firing up the local populace for another military campaign. Accordingly, the Romans “civilized” the barbarians, the Spanish conquistadores “brought the gospel” to the “New World,” and the English were “shining the light of civilization” on the Indian subcontinent. Although most history books tend to minimize the genocide and slavery that accompanied Europe’s string of conquests (including North America), few have any illusions about the true objectives of Rome, Spain, Portugal, Great Britain, and other countries’ imperial adventures.
http://palestinechronicle.com/view_article_details.php?id=16654
Revolution and counter-revolution in the Egyptian media / Ursula Lindsey
MERO 15 Feb – …And while social media and online communities did much of the spadework for the success of the protests — fashioning a new political consensus among hundreds of thousands of middle-class Egyptians and functioning as organizing tools — the revolution included many, many people, maybe a majority, who do not have Internet access at home, let alone Facebook accounts.
http://www.merip.org/mero/mero021511.html
Mahfouz’s Prophesy, RAOUF J. HALABY
During the past sixty years US politicians have convinced Americans citizens that some of the world’s tyrants and dictators are “strong and dependable allies of the US.” To wit the State Department’s official statements about Egypt’s Hosni Mubarak during the first few days of the uprising that has swept Egypt like a firestorm.
http://www.counterpunch.com/halaby02152011.html
Egypt, Tunisia, and ‘The Resumption of Arab History’
The recent popular uprisings in Tunisia and Egypt attest above all to the indomitability of the human spirit, and the extraordinary capacity of collective action to bring out the very best in humanity. In these respects the daring, creativity, discipline, resolve, perseverance and euphoria of the people of Egypt and Tunisia – while primarily theirs – belongs to us all, joining as they do an endless caravan of successful, aborted, hijacked and failed challenges to illegitimate authority across the globe since the dawn of time.
http://www.jadaliyya.com/pages/index/653/egypt-tunisia-and-the-resumption-of-arab-history
The US Versus the Egyptian People
The last thing the U.S. policy elite wants is real democracy in Egypt. That country has been a linchpin of American foreign policy for more than 30 years precisely because its government has been able to defy the will of the Egyptian people.
http://original.antiwar.com/srichman/2011/02/15/the-us-versus-the-egyptian-people/
In Bahrain, protesters bridge Sunni-Shiite divide to challenge monarchy
Protesters in Bahrain, inspired by Egypt, face a stern test in the monarchy of King Hamad bin Isa, whose family has ruled the country for more than two centuries.
http://rss.csmonitor.com/%7Er/feeds/world/%7E3/JGpUj0z6viQ/In-Bahrain-protesters-bridge-Sunni-Shiite-divide-to-challenge-monarchy
Bahrain Rising, Robin Yassin-Kassab
On the tiny island state of Bahrain an intelligent, highly politicised Shia majority is ruled by an actively sectarian Sunni ‘king’ and his mercenary police force. To ensure minimum fraternisation, and to shrink the Shia majority, Sunni Arabs from such countries as Syria, Jordan and Yemen are awarded citizenship after loyal service in the police.
http://pulsemedia.org/2011/02/15/bahrain-rising/
Overcoming Israel’s attempts to discredit protest
In recent months, Israel’s tactics to discredit legitimate protestors have become increasingly Orwellian as it steps up its campaign against human rights activists within the country and abroad, especially in the United Kingdom. Ismail Patel comments for The Electronic Intifada.
http://electronicintifada.net/v2/article11805.shtml?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+electronicIntifadaPalestine+%28Electronic+Intifada+%3A+Palestine+News%29
The Long Arab Revolution, VIJAY PRASHAD
The Arab Revolt of 2011 is unabated. Protests continue in such unlikely places as Bahrain. On Valentine’s Day, a protest march in Manama had no love for the al-Khalifah royals. It wanted to deliver its message. “Our demand is a constitution written by the people,” the protestors chanted. Opposition leader Abdul Wahab Hussain told the press, “The number of riot police is huge, but we have shown using violence against us only makes us stronger.” The police fired rubber bullets and dispersed the as yet small crowd. “This is just the beginning,” Hussain said after he had been beaten off the streets.
http://www.counterpunch.com/prashad02152011.html
Racist Subjectivity and Intellectual Dishonesty, Mohamed El Mokhtar
It felt sometimes quite depressing, and indeed demeaning, to be an Arab, living or going to school in America, during the Second Intifada, and hear ad nauseum the same old refrain chanted every minute in every media, at work, on campus: “Israel is the only democracy in the Middle East, Israel this, Israel that..!”. It is all the more insulting that, besides being quite inaccurate to a large extent, it is, inherently, dishonest to say the least. It is, also, primarily meant to hurt some more than to extol others. This is certainly the case when coming out of the mouth of openly racist and cynically biased pundits like the O’Reillys, the Cavutos, or the Blitzers of this world, and the many spins doctors to whom they give, on a daily basis, a free platform to air their one-sided and unchallenged view of the Arab-Israeli conflict or the Muslim world.
http://palestinechronicle.com/view_article_details.php?id=16655

Palestinian queer activists challenge the ‘pinkwashing’ of the Israeli occupation

Feb 16, 2011

Maggie Sager

On February 16th, 2011 I attended a public forum entitled “Palestinian Queer Activists Talk Politics” in San Francisco’s Mission District. More than 20 groups including the National Center for Lesbian Rights, Jewish Voice for Peace and the Middle East Children’s Alliance sponsored the forum, moderated by lesbian Chicana activist and writer Cherríe Moraga. The discussion featured three speakers:

· Abeer Mansour works for Aswat, a feminist queer Palestinian women’s group dedicating to “generat[ing] social change in order to meet the needs of one of the most silenced and oppressed communities in Israel.

· Sami Shamali, who resides in the West Bank, represents Al Qaws, which aims to develop a “Palestinian civil society that respects and adheres to human and civil rights and allows individuals to live openly and equally, regardless of their sexuality, sexual orientation and gender identity.”

· Haneen Maikey, based in Jerusalem, is Al Qaws’ director.

I found the panel particularly compelling in light of its location, just outside of Dolores Park –a popular go-to spot for queer women in the Bay Area, in one of the most gay-friendly cities in the entire world. Because of San Francisco’s internationally known gay community, it has been a primary target of Israel’s re-branding campaign aimed at improving the country’s image through the use of “Pinkwashing.” Pinkwashing is the attempt to justify Israel’s occupation of Palestine by portraying it as a progressive and democratic haven for LGBT individuals in direct contrast with the rest of the Middle East. It plays into a larger effort that aims to disparage Israel’s neighbors in order to justify the country’s existence as necessary by any means, relying on the image of a lone democracy barely surviving surrounded by violent, intolerant, women-hating, and generally backward societies.

Active within the Bay Area LGBT community, I have personally witnessed attempted pinkwashes. In one particular instance, a protest erupted after the California Supreme Court issued its ruling that Proposition 8 (the initiative defining marriage as between one man and one woman) was constitutional despite its prior decision legalizing same-sex unions. Within hours thousands of people took to the streets in protest. After a procession of speakers demanding equal rights for gay and lesbian couples, the rally closed with a rabbi who took the microphone in order to emphasize Israel’s commitment to gay rights and opposition to Prop 8, and to ask us to support the Jewish State because of it. A few activists including myself were disgusted and immediately left. However the majority stayed, and later that year I found myself hearing the same sentiments repeated by prominent LGBT figures.

Queer Palestinians, like Afghan and Iraqi women, have consistently found their discourse co-opted by neo-conservative hawks and progressives alike in order to justify war and occupation under the assumption that such actions will ‘liberate’ the oppressed. It is this cynical manipulation that the forum’s speakers work to disparage. Claiming their own voices and movement, queer Palestinian activists are clamoring to be heard and wish for their American brothers and sisters to spread their message. So what is it they have to say?

The clearest message resounding from all three speakers was that if one actually cares about LGBT rights within Palestine, one should be working to end the occupation. That Israel has cultivated a vibrant and open gay enclave is laudable, yet such accomplishments do not give the ‘Jewish State’ a free pass to violate human rights, including the rights of the gay Palestinians they allegedly care for. As Haneen dryly explained, “It doesn’t matter what the sexual orientation of the Soldier at a checkpoint is, whether he can serve openly or not. What matters is that he’s there at all.” Sami echoed the same sentiment, jibing that “the apartheid wall was not created to keep Palestinian homophobes out of Gay Israel, and there is no magic door for gay Palestinians to pass through.”

When pressed by an audience member as to which situation they would prefer, a perfectly egalitarian, queer-friendly society still under occupation or a free Palestine that still suffers from sexism, patriarchy and homophobia, the three became visibly angry. Abeer looked to the audience and asked, “Please raise your hand if you’d like to live one day under occupation,” before saying that occupied people cannot adequately address civil rights issues as they struggle for their very means of survival. Sami went on to contend that freedom transforms the mind, giving people the best opportunity to examine their previously held attitudes. Drawing on recent events in Egypt, he related that while sexual harassment is rampant within the country, in Tahrir square women remarked an utter absence of abuse during the mass protests. At the same time, if one does not wish to see the correlation between the unacceptably slow pace of social change and the increasing weight of the occupation, one cannot honestly contend that Israel’s actions do anything to help the plight of Palestinian women/LGBT individials.

Each had their own story to tell about the intersection of queer identity and Palestinian identity, agreeing that Palestinian homosexuality had its own unique experiences. Yet for all three, the liberation of their country reigned supreme in their minds. The meeting ended with a standing ovation as the moderator boomed, “Clap if you understand that queers will never be free until Palestine is free.”

While their discussion did not focus solely on Israel’s abuse of LGBT liberation struggles in perpetuating conflict, I took away from it a deepened understanding of just how much more the West unfairly expects of Palestinians than anyone else. We expect Palestinians to not throw stones at the IDF jeeps who come to teargas their protestations against the illegal confiscation of their entire villages while we wouldn’t bat an eyelash at a man who shot a robber attempting to take his television set; We expect them to not elect representatives that reflect their religious sentiments though no one is surprised when the Christian Right attempts to influence our political system and we ally ourselves with the likes of Saudi Arabia; and we expect Palestinian society to wholly unshackle itself from the bonds of misogyny, racism and bigotry before we acknowledge their entitlement to basic human rights, despite our own shortcomings, including the reality that the realization of LGBT equality within the United States itself is relatively new and still imperfect. In all of the struggles for liberation many Americans support, including civil rights for African Americans, we have never required such a high standard of “goodness” before acknowledging a group’s basic humanity.

Abeer, Haneen and Sami represent a growing coalition of brave Palestinian youth focused on transforming entrenched attitudes from within while simultaneously undermining the imposed constraints of colonialism. Their work is an invaluable contribution to ending the occupation and transforming our understanding of Palestinian society. The message of these activists and their organizations deserves to be heard widely. Please do your part in spreading it to those who claim to care about gay rights. If you would like to attend one of their panels, you can find information for the remaining tour dates here.

Maggie Sager is an American college student and activist in San Francisco. You can find her work at http//:www.resistingoccupation.com

We need to give more money to Israel

Feb 16, 2011

Philip Weiss

From Bruce Wolman: Your American tax dollars at work. While Americans lose their homes, jobs, unemployment benefits, winter heating subsidies, college grants, etc., aid to Israel is substantially increased. This is how Israel spends its money:

According to the document, “Tiberias is an ancient city more than 2,000 years old …. In Tiberias there are cemeteries that cover most of the area around the old city. So Cohanim do not use the roads in the center of Tiberias. The Israeli government decided to fund a project for making halakhic roads that would enable the passage of Cohanim.”

How Israel lost its soul during Gaza, and how Egypt has restored a vital principle of resistance

Feb 16, 2011

Philip Weiss

It’s a crazed day for me. Running. Chomsky, Bayoumi and Blumenthal are speaking in the city tonight, and last night I went to an event for ourGoldstone Report book at Alwan for the Arts and didn’t get home till 1.

I need to register two moving statements from the panel last night that resonate this morning. First, Rebecca Vilkomerson of Jewish Voice for Peacetalked about being in Israel during the Gaza onslaught, and how lonely it felt to be against the horrors taking place just 40 miles away.

“It was the worst month of my life…. Sitting in Israel and not being able to do anything about it…. and a lot of activists felt the same way.”

During the Lebanon war of 2006, Israelis had been afraid, tense, Vilkomerson said. The entire country was caught up in the war, worried for their soldiers, and Israel evacuated the north. But there was none of that fear this time, complete indifference to what was going on. “The cafes were full, life went on entirely the same.”

Vilkomerson was shocked. She knew the West Bank, she went there to demonstrations all the time; but the level of the ferocity of the war was at a new level that she had not seen before, and that was evident from Day 1. They knew that 200 were dead at the end of Day 1, but Israel was unified.

The best example of the people’s indifference was that she would go to get her children from school and– “It was just like any other day. Hey, how are you doing, what’s up?” a friend would say. “I’d say, ‘I’m not good.’ ‘Oh why, what’s wrong?’ And when I told them, if they were on the liberal side, they would rearrange their features to look concerned.” And if they were on the right, they’d look at her like, what a stupid American.

She knew some Israeli activists who were so disturbed by the national mood that they did not leave their homes except to go to demonstrations. And they would go in groups to these demonstrations so as to be safe. And at these demonstrations, police barriers were set up from which war supporters threw rotten eggs at the demonstrators, and she would see people in business clothing, respectable people, literally trying to hurl themselves over the barrier to get at her to kill her.

“There was a sense of nationalism, we’re doing the right thing, how dare you criticize us.”

But she had to go to the demonstrations, she said, because she would have gone crazy sitting in her place, thinking she was the only person who was appalled. And let me remind you, our valiant president-elect, who only got by Hillary Clinton by opposing the Iraq war disaster, said not one word about the slaughter in Gaza.

Now here is the good news. Gaza catalyzed the people who were alone and enraged, it ruptured a significant part of the American Jewish community that had supported Israel without question. Rupture was her word. “Irreparable rupture in some portion of the Jewish community.” Yes.

And Jewish Voice for Peace was empowered. And the civil society coalition of Palestinians and Jews; and the demonstrations in the West Bank were enlarged. And Boycott From Within grew as a movement inside Israel.

What an amazing testimony.

The second statement I need to document for history was Felice Gelman’s very important comment from her visit to Egypt. By the way, we had a panel of four women and one man. Pretty good on gender diversity (and I speak as a reformed sexist pig).

Gelman was in Cairo for the worst days, the violence, and she said that when the Obama administration didn’t come out strongly in favor of the protesters, and when they were being attacked on that Wednesday of camels and horses, there was a feeling among the protesters, “they had to win their own revolution.”

The Egyptian government thugs were using everything that the Israelis use against demonstrations on the West Bank. Teargas, rubber bullets, batons. And what did the demonstrators do: They threw stones. And they covered their heads in blankets– as helmets. My god, what bravery. But: they threw stones, and the world honored them for doing so.

“The Egyptian revolution has legitimized the right of nonviolent protesters to defend themselves,” Gelman said. “Which I believe the Israelis have taken away from us.”

She explained that in South Africa, there was some violence on the part of the anti-apartheid demonstrators, in India too. As historically there has always been, by resisters who are being crushed.

“The Israeli suppression of the intifadah [second] took away the right of nonviolent protesters to defend themselves. The Egyptian revolution has restored that right, in my mind. Palestinian deserve equal treatment to other protesters seeking exactly the same rights.”

Wow. I think of how brainwashed I have been by the debates over the nonviolent protests. By the insistence on the part of our media/officials that people on a boat attacked by commandos from helicopters in the middle of the night in international waters shouldn’t lift a stick to defend themselves as nine are mowed down dead. Now I am nonviolent (and afraid, not willing to die for please fill in the blank); but Gelman and Egypt have swept my thinking. And I urge the mainstream media to reflect this wisdom when they begin their wall-to-wall coverage of the surging West Bank protests.

There were other great statements last night, by Alia Malek on how wonderful it is to have good news at last; by Jamil Dakwar on how many reporters got into Cairo, but “Not a single reporter, not even Anderson Cooper, was able to get into the Gaza Strip, and that was not seen as a big deal”– that sweeps my thinking, too; and by my co-editor Lizzy Ratner on Desmond Tutu warning her not to be jaded about the importance of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, it is vital to hundreds of millions of people around the world as an aspirational document.

And which, as Malek told us last night, 7-year-old Palestinian children can recite to you from memory. Yes: why?

(Goldstone book link at right; please buy it; I sold 9 copies at the table at the back of Alwan last night; then please write scathing/gossamer reviews of the book at Amzn or another vendor.)