Author Archives: Tom Suarez

From the back of the bus at Allenby to Jakarta’s symphony hall

Posted on April 12, 2013 by Tom Suarez

The Palestine National Orchestra is welcomed in Indonesia. The yoke of occupation and oppression that Palestinians know today, Indonesians, historically, have known all too well.

Posted in Israel/Palestine | 1 Comment

Report from Bethlehem: Obama exploits the messenger of peace for a photo-op

Posted on March 24, 2013 by Tom Suarez
suarez1

US President Obama’s hurried appearances in two West Bank towns provided the desired imagery for his ‘listening’ trip to the Middle East. In both Ramallah and Bethlehem, he was well-insulated from the Palestinians themselves. His arrival in Bethlehem was like a surreal wake following some natural calamity or apocalypse. Above, Obama’s fleet exits through the locked-down streets of Bethlehem.

Posted in Israel/Palestine, Occupation, On the ground reports, US Policy in the Middle East, US Politics | Tagged | 58 Comments

Google and the eternal, undivided capital of the Jewish people

Posted on January 10, 2013 by Tom Suarez

Israel has violated international legal rulings by stating that an undivided Jerusalem is its capital as it occupies East Jerusalem. Even the United States does not recognize this landgrab. So why are Google Earth and Google Maps recognizing Jerusalem as Israel’s capital? And why does Google chairman Eric Schmidt butter up Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu?

Posted in Israel/Palestine | Tagged | 57 Comments

The (what about) China syndrome

Posted on July 16, 2012 by Tom Suarez
Sino-Israel-

It’s probably a good sign that Israel’s apologists are increasingly resorting to a sideways defense: “I don’t hear you complaining about China or Syria or North Korea.” It’s time to expose the ‘What about’ it for what it is—a cynical attempt to keep eyes from noticing that the Emperor has no clothes.

Posted in Israel/Palestine, US Politics | 125 Comments

Ramallah Orchestra’s performance of ‘Eroica’ in Jerusalem is cancelled due to Israeli interference

Posted on July 2, 2012 by Tom Suarez

Israel denies permission to Palestinian musicians to play Mozart and Beethoven symphonies in East Jerusalem church

Posted in Israel/Palestine, Israeli Government, Occupation, On the ground reports | 11 Comments

The Palestine National Orchestra: a view from the violin section

Posted on March 31, 2012 by Tom Suarez

Violinist Tom Suarez recounts his March 2012 performances in Amman and Ramallah as a guest performer with the Palestine National Orchestra, a project of Edward Said National Conservatory of Music.

Posted in Activism, Israel/Palestine, Israeli Government, Occupation, On the ground reports | Tagged | 24 Comments