Report from the screening of the film Rachel at the The San Francisco Jewish Film Festival this past Saturday: The fact that the vast majority of people in the crowd at the Castro Theatre would not let the Voice of Israel representative speak his mind without interruption reflects growing frustration with the use of pubic slander, character assassination, cancellation of speakers, firing of faculty and demand for resignations by the so-called defenders of Israel. The representative of Voice of Israel was not there to dialogue. Only to chastise. The crowd refused to be chastised. The crowd at the Castro represents a growing movement of individuals and groups who believe that peace between Israelis and Palestinians can never be achieved without addressing and redressing the issue of Palestinian human rights.
Eight congresspeople are reported to have entered Gaza today. When they see endless scenes like this wantonly-demolished factory, the sum of a man’s life work, they can’t help but wonder, What’s wrong with this picture? What do I owe the Israel lobby?
The drive from Gaza City to Khan Younis takes around 40 minutes. The roads are rocky and the landscape barren, with destroyed houses and factories along the way. Cars and donkey-drawn carts populate the road. Last Friday I rode in a battered taxi towards the city to hear Hamas Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh address Friday prayers at the main mosque. Palm trees refused to sway. It was one of Haniyeh’s first public appearances since the end of Israel’s December/January bombardment . . .
There has been something bizarre about the turn in Israeli/Zionist rhetoric in recent months, particularly…
Israelis and African refugees protest the expulsion. Photo: Daniel Cherrin This past weekend, a couple…