Video: Israeli forces violently ethnically cleanse Bedouin homes in Beit Hanina, Ali Abunimah
A video taken today by Palestinian photojournalist Fadi Arouri shows Israeli occupation forces demolishing the homes of Palestinians in the village of Beit Hanina north of occupied Jerusalem, in the West Bank.
http://electronicintifada.net/blog/ali-abunimah/video-israeli-forces-violently-ethnically-cleanse-bedouin-homes-beit-hanina
Demolitions and destruction in the South Hebron hills on November 24th
… And more from Today in Palestine
For the second time in two weeks, an Israeli court has ordered the eviction of another Palestinian family by the end of the month from their home in the Silwan area in occupied Jerusalem.
In bi-annual survey, Mattot Arim ranks Knesset members, ministers, according to number of bills, lobbying they advanced to better lives of West Bank residents.
Report: Authorizing Settlers to Use ‘Absentee’ Land in Jerusalem Increases
NABLUS, November 26, 2011 (WAFA) – The National Bureau for the Defense of Land and Resisting Settlement said in its weekly report published on Saturday that there was a rise in Israeli government authorizing settlers to use Palestinian land in East Jerusalem alleged to be absentee property. The Israeli government authorized and funded settlers groups to use alleged absentee property that included houses and land in the Old City, Silwan and Sheikh Jarrah in East Jerusalem, said the report. It added that Israel also planned to build a Talmudic garden on the east side of Mount Scopus and al-Issawiya in Jerusalem, thus changing the land status from public construction areas to national gardens, where construction is restricted for Palestinians yet expedited for settlement purposes to geographically link settlements around Jerusalem.
The Israeli settlement groups of East Jerusalem are hard at work to establish their “Jewish ring” around Silwan and the Old City of Jerusalem in a bid to establish the “biblical basin” of the region. The plan involves the Judaization of the Old City, making its Palestinian residents a minority. The Israeli police serve as the “muscle” in implenting these plans: the unwarranted arrest of countless Palestinian children; physical assault of residents and close collusion with settlers’ personal guard squads. Guards commonly file false complaints and testimonials against local Palestinian residents, providing police with a pretext to carry out further arrests and intimidation. The most recent such attack took place on November 22, with 15-year old Muhammad Raid Siyam was taken by Israeli forces after settler guards accused him of tampering with one of the vast number of settler surveillance cameras that form a network throughout Wadi Hilweh district of Silwan. On the same day, two 11-year old children were taken by Israeli police on their way home from school.
Dozens of Palestinians and foreign peace activists were wounded on Friday when they were attacked by Israeli soldiers during weekly anti-wall marches in several West Bank villages and towns.
Palestinian sources in the Gaza Strip reported, that Israeli fighter jets fired, on Sunday at dawn, one missile into an area in central Gaza, and two missiles into an area in the southern part of the coastal region. No injuries were reported.
Turkey: Relations Not To Be Normalized until Israel Lifts Gaza Blockade
Turkish Minister of Foreign Affair, Ahmed Dawud Aghlo, reconfirmed that relations between Turkey and Israel won’t be normalized till the latter issues an official statement, apologizing for Israeli attacks on the Turkish “Freedom Flotilla” in bound to Gaza and lifting Israeli blockade on the Gaza Strip, the Maan News Agency reported Friday afternoon.
Israeli navy hunts Gaza fishermen
Video of our international human rights observation boat outrunning the Israeli navy as it attempts to fire a watercannon on Palestinian fishing boats under 3 miles out to sea. Publicly, Israel ‘allows’ fishermen in Gaza 3 miles in which to make a living. Today, as happens on most days they attacked 5 fishing boats at around 2.5 miles out, pursuing them until we were well under 2 miles away from the Gaza shore. For once, this regular occurrence was caught on camera.
IOF troops arrest 60 Palestinians in one week including minors, young women
The Israeli occupation forces (IOF) arrested 60 Palestinians in the West Bank and occupied Jerusalem over the past week including ten minors and two young women, a report by Hamas said on Saturday.
IOA extends administrative detention of Palestinian MP
The Israeli occupation authority extended the administrative detention, without trial or charge, of Palestinian MP Mohammed Bader for four months for the third consecutive time.
The Islamic Jihad Movement said it intends to organize a massive rally next Friday in Gaza city in conjunction with other marches to be held in some Arab countries on that day in support of Jerusalem.
Arab League warns against holding a European conference in occupied Jerusalem
Officials suspect French megabank BNP Parisbas pulled out of Israel due to boycott pressure, Ali Abunimah
Israeli officials suspect that France-based megabank BNP Parisbas has pulled out of Israel due to pressure from Palestine solidarity groups, even though the bank itself has denied this.
Rep. John Lewis, join the freedom ride to end discrimination in Israel/Palestine, Josh Ruebner
Fifty years ago, Freedom Riders braved beatings and arson by supremacists intent on maintaining apartheid in the Jim Crow South. By challenging segregated transportation through nonviolent action, these African American and white activists set in motion a process that ultimately dismantled segregation. While the struggle for racial justice continues, at least this shameful chapter of formal racial discrimination is history.
In an action inspired by a British artist and a United Nations Agency, a thousand Palestinian refugee youth gathered beneath the Mount of Temptation near Jericho to create an image with their bodies of Pablo Picasso’s ‘Peace Dove’ and spell out the words ‘Love All’.
Why the Palestinians might reject U.S. aid, Daoud Kuttab
Few in Washington may realize that the issue of U.S. funding for Palestine is the talk of the town in Ramallah and other Palestinian cities. And the talk is not pleasant. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has been telling aides that he plans to reject some $150 million in federal money earmarked for Palestinian security. Abbas’s opposition is principled. The funds are part of an $800 million grant from the U.S. Agency for International Development that Congress appropriated in June 2009. Shortly before the funds were disbursed this summer, however, the larger grant was held up by Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen. A Republican from Florida, Ros-Lehtinen, now chairman of the House Foreign Relations Committee, placed an informational hold on this budgetary line item in August. It is her prerogative to do so as a member of Congress. But rather than delay the funds to investigate a concern, the hold was meant as punishment — a warning to the Palestinian Authority not to seek recognition as an independent state at the United Nations General Assembly meeting the following month.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/why-the-palestinians-might-reject-us-aid/2011/11/23/gIQALVWhtN_story.html
Egypt Protests: Security Forces Clash With Protesters, Killing One
CAIRO — Egyptian security forces clashed with protesters camped outside the Cabinet building Saturday, leaving one man dead, as tensions rose two days ahead of parliamentary elections being held despite mass demonstrations against military rule. The violence occurred as a wave of protests against military rule was given extra impetus by the Egyptian military’s decision on Friday to appoint a Prime Minister Kamal el-Ganzouri who served under deposed President Hosni Mubarak.
Renewed Calls for Mass Protests Sunday
Egyptian Youth Coalitions are calling for another “ Million Man March” Sunday prior to Monday’s first round of parliamentary elections. Protesters continued to amass Saturday in Tahrir for another night after the crackdown by Egyptian security forces against protesters left one dead outside the government’s headquarters in Cairo. In hopes of preventing newly appointed PM Kamal Ganzouri from entering government offices protesters remained camped in front of the building chanting “Tantawi and Ganzouri are choking me.” until the early morning when security forces moved in killing a protester, later identified as Ahmed Serour. Protests in Tahrir and across Egypt had voiced immediate opposition to Ganzouri, who served as PM under Mubarak, upon SCAF’s choice for an interim PM. At least 41 people have been killed so far between protesters and police, and over 2,000 injured since clashes erupted last Saturday, according to official health ministry sources. Medical sources in Cairo’s hospitals say the number of dead exceeds 90.
Cairo calm after mass rally as elections loom
Military council says elections to go ahead from Monday as protesters in Tahrir Square reject army’s newly appointed PM.
EGYPT: Citizens take up arms amid insecurity
CAIRO 25 November 2011 (IRIN) – It took Ahmed Fawzi, a College of Islamic Studies graduate, only a few hours after seeing a man robbed and killed by a group of criminals to buy a gun.
Former Prime Minister Kamal al-Ganzouri accepts a request from Egypt’s ruling generals to form a new government as protesters have mixed reactions to the appointment. Al Jazeera’s Sherine Tadros has been among the crowds in Cairo’s Tahrir Square to get reactions to the appointment of Ganzouri.
Assassinating Egyptian Dreams, Ahmed Amr – Cairo
Nostalgia for more innocent times is a comforting refuge when hope is scarce. This week, as we inhaled a toxic dose of tear gas in Tahrir Square, we were all gasping for a resurrection of the spirit of the January uprising that led to the spectacular fall of the House of Mubarak. Many Egyptians would give their right arm to relive the spirit of the 18 glorious days that dazzled our collective imagination and filled our hearts with hopes and dreams of a new dawn for young and old.
Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood continues to alienate itself from the people, Amira Nowaira
As Egyptians lie dying, the Brotherhood’s blatant self-interest and arrogance is exposing them to public scrutiny and scorn. As the brutal crackdown against peaceful protesters in Cairo and several other Egyptian cities continued unabated for six days running, the Muslim Brotherhood stayed out of the fray, declaring clearly that it would not join the protests.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2011/nov/25/egypt-muslim-brotherhood-alienate-people
Egypt’s desperate military and Muslim Brotherhood are trying everything to strangle our revolutionary vigour. They will fail. For five days a battle has raged across downtown Cairo between the central security forces (CSF) and unarmed protesters. At least 40 people are dead. Thousands are injured. There are seven field hospitals and hundreds of doctors at work in Tahrir Square.
Bahrain: Report Confirms Punitive Campaign Against Protesters
The report of the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry released on November 23, 2011, confirms the systematic and egregious rights violations by the Bahraini government in suppressing pro-democracy protests earlier this year. The report concluded that a lack of accountability by Bahraini authorities led to a “culture of impunity” and systematic violations of international human rights law as well as Bahraini law. (Manama) – The report of the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry released on November 23, 2011, confirms the systematic and egregious rights violations by the Bahraini government in suppressing pro-democracy protests earlier this year, Human Rights Watch said today.
Bahrain creates panel to study unrest report
King Hamad announces national commission to “follow up and implement” policy after BICI report on crackdown on protests.
Thousands in Bahrain’s Shia village of Muqasha have marched in protest following the release of a report slamming the government for its use of torture to crush protests. The protesters are saying the report fell short of the mark. Al Jazeera’s Mohammed Vall reports from the capital Manama.
More analysis on the Bahrain royal dependent commission report
A tank tries to run over protesters in Saudi Arabia
“Amateur footage shows a tank deliberately trying to hit protesters in the eastern Saudi Arabian city of Qatif on Wednesday. Our Observer told us that this kind of violence is unprecedented in Saudi Arabia. Similar incidents have, however, recently taken place in Bahrain and Egypt. The demonstrators had gathered in the city centre for the funerals of two people killed during rallies last week. Security forces cracked down on protesters once again; two people were killed and nine injured. In a statement, the Interior Ministry said “these losses took place during an exchange of gunfire with unidentified criminals who infiltrated the population and opened fire from residential areas.” According to the Interior Ministry, two of the injured were policemen.”
Deadly clash hits Saudi province
Two people have been killed and six others wounded in an exchange of gunfire between security forces and what the Saudi interior ministry called criminals serving a foreign power in the country’s oil-producing Eastern Province. Wednesday’s deaths brought the toll to four people dead, with nine others wounded, since unrest erupted in in the region last week. Al Jazeera’s Khadija Magardie reports.
5 Protesters Die In New Violence in Yemen
The violence indicated that President Ali Abdullah Saleh, who handed power to his deputy the day before, intended to keep his hand in the affairs of state.
Yemen: Spate of Killings Defy UN Order
Yemeni troops appear to have unlawfully killed as many as 35 civilians in the city of Taizz since a United Nations Security Council resolution demanded on October 21, 2011 that Yemen stop attacks on civilians. (New York) – Yemeni troops appear to have unlawfully killed as many as 35 civilians in the city of Taizz since a United Nations Security Council resolution demanded on October 21, 2011 that Yemen stop attacks on civilians, Human Rights Watch said today.
Mahdi Army’s Secret Deal Filling Iraq’s Security Forces With Ex-militiamen; 30 Killed in Attacks
A secret deal may be filling Iraq’s security forces with former Mahdi Army militiamen. Meanwhile, the uptick in violence continues. At least 30 Iraqis were killed and 54 more were wounded in attacks that focused on central Iraq.
Baghdad Journal: Iraqi Widows’ Numbers Have Grown, but Aid Lags
Iraq faces a gender imbalance, with decades of conflict leaving an estimated one million widows. Many hope, against the odds, to marry again.
UAE: Investigate Threats against ‘UAE 5’
Authorities have failed to investigate a campaign of death threats, slander and intimidation against five jailed Emirati activists, says an independent report released today. The report, written on behalf of the Gulf Centre for Human Rights (GCHR) with research assistance from Human Rights Watch, documents the threats, including death threats, by government sympathizers and the atmosphere of impunity in which they have been made.
Morocco: Stop Harassing Election Boycott Advocates
Moroccan authorities should stop harassing people campaigning to boycott the November 25, 2011 parliamentary elections. Since October 20, police around the country have brought in more than 100 Moroccans to police stations to question them about the distribution of pro-boycott leaflets or other efforts to urge voters not to cast a ballot. (Rabat) – Moroccan authorities should stop harassing people campaigning to boycott the November 25, 2011 parliamentary elections, Human Rights Watch said today. Since October 20, police around the country have brought in more than 100 Moroccans to police stations to question them about the distribution of pro-boycott leaflets or other efforts to urge voters not to cast a ballot.
Moroccans see limits of reform in rapper’s case
Moroccan protesters rally round arrested musician.
Iran lawmaker says 12 CIA agents arrested
An influential Iranian lawmaker claimed 12 CIA agents were arrested in the country, according to the country’s official IRNA news agency. Parviz Sorouri, who sits on the powerful committee of foreign policy and national security, alleged that the agents were operating in coordination with the Israeli Mossad, targeting Iran’s military and nuclear facilities. ”The US and Zionist regime’s espionage apparatuses were trying to damage Iran both from inside and outside with a heavy blow, using regional intelligence services,” Sorouri was quoted as having said on Wednesday.
France to put unilateral ban on Iranian oil imports
Unclear whether France will act immediately or wait for common position with its European partners.
Six Afghan Children Are Killed in NATO Airstrike
Six children were among seven civilians killed in a NATO airstrike in southern Afghanistan on Wednesday, Afghan officials said.
Pakistan: US must vacate base following deadly air raid
The Pakistani government has told the US it must leave the Shamsi airbase, in Balochistan province, within 15 days following a NATO air strike that killed 24 Pakistani soldiers and injured 13 others, according to Pakistan’s military. Protests erupted across Pakistan after the cross-border strike prompted the government to close a vital supply route to US-led occupation forces in Afghanistan and summon the US ambassador in Islamabad. “ Cross-border raids have happened before and everything returns to normal, what the military should do is listen to the people and stop all involvement with the Americans. No one in Pakistan supports this military cooperation,” said novelist and political analyst of central asia Tariq Mehmood Ali.
Pakistan blocks NATO supply route
There has been a furious response from Pakistan after an air attack by fighter jets and helicopters killed at least 24 of its soldiers. After NATO admitted that it was probably responsible, Pakistan shut NATO supply routes into Afghanistan, and ordered the US to leave an airbase in the southwest of the country. Pakistan also says it is reviewing its relations with NATO and the US. Al Jazeera’s Imtiaz Tyab reports from Islamabad.
After the Arab League hypocritically suspended the membership of Syria amid the mounting pressures of NATO and the United States, the resurgence of violence in Egypt and the increasing use of excessive force in Bahrain and Yemen, and the unrelenting massacre of innocent civilians by the barbaric regime of Al Khalifa and Ali Abdullah Saleh once again attracted the attention of conscientious observers in the international community.
Is Britain Plotting with Israel to Attack Iran?, Jonathan Cook
Last February Britain’s then defense minister Liam Fox attended a dinner in Tel Aviv with a group described as senior Israelis. Alongside him sat Adam Werritty, a lobbyist whose “improper relations” with the minister would lead eight months later to Fox’s hurried resignation. According to several reports in the British media the Israelis in attendance at the dinner were representatives of the Mossad, Israel’s spy agency, while Fox and Werritty were accompanied by Matthew Gould, Britain’s ambassador to Israel. A former British diplomat has now claimed that the topic of discussion that evening was a secret plot to attack Iran.
Is the “devilish diva” Barbra Streisand going to sing a song for those families deprived of the most basic homes they had??
Are those evangelical Zionists, straight from the gates of Hell, going to send some money to those families, that have no place to put their heads for the night???
Are the congressmen ,who take frequent trips to Israeli’s kahunas pockets ,
going to share some of the newest , completely useless, nonchalant, corrupted ideas on what to do with “the problem”??????
“their” Thanksgiving?
Only Americans have Thanksgiving.
I was going to make a rude suggestion about what Canadians have to be thankful for, but I’ll refrain.