Menachem Zivotofsky was born in Jerusalem in 2002 to American parents. His lawyers are currently arguing before the U.S. Supreme Court that his passport should designate “Israel” as his place of birth, but Supreme Court Justice Elena Kagan responds that’s absurd. Zivotofsky’s case has received much attention and several stalwarts of the Israel lobby are hoping for a ruling that essentially grants Congress the authority to overrule the White House when setting policy on Jerusalem. Described as both “a proxy war for U.S. foreign policy toward Israel” and “foreign policy minefield,” the implications of the Supreme Court’s decision could have lasting repercussions not just to US politics and national interest, but for the Middle East.

Alia Alrosan’s parents were once PFLP fighters for Palestine in Lebanon. They came back to Palestine because they believed in Oslo. The young actress relates how living under occupation, she felt herself “a fighter for freedom who loses the war,” till she found the Jenin Freedom Theatre.

Lena Dunham had lifechanging experience in Israel, and David Mamet’s embrace of Asperger’s as an example of Jewish supremacy

Struggles in Gaza continue although it seems to many Gazans that much of the international community, including activists, have moved on to other issues.

About 80 Israelis rallied last Wednesday night outside of Jerusalem mayor Nir Barkat’s house, chanting and banging drums in protest against the intensified attack on East Jerusalem that has taken place over the last week and to demand an end to what they call the policy of collective punishment toward the residents of East Jerusalem. Protesters chanted “There’s no such thing as illegal houses, there is such thing as racist laws,” and “Arresting children does not bring security,” and held signs such as “Discrimination and marginalization in East Jerusalem = Apartheid.”

The growing momentum of the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions movement since last year has drawn a great deal of media attention to the issue of Israel-Palestine, and the cause of Palestinian rights. Unfortunately, this often has produced more confusion and obfuscation than illumination and clarity. Even one of the mainstay journals of American academia, the Chronicle of Higher Education, is not immune from inaccuracies and misstatements. Even when it claims to be setting the record straight. This points to an inability, and perhaps unwillingness, of the mainstream media to treat the issue of the academic boycott of Israel in a fair-handed manner.

“Friends” of Palestine – the churches, NGOS and the UN – will go out on the Palestinian limb – up to a point. The dance that follows is what Marc Ellis calls “ritualized solidarity.” Is BDS any different? At this point, he believes it is – to some extent. But there are unexpected dangers ahead. In the end, BDS supporters may have no choice in the matter. Those driving the peace train are much more powerful than movements of dissent, including BDS.

Samantha Power showed leadership on Ebola by traveling thru Africa. She capitulates to rightwing Israel lobby by backing Boteach event on ‘never ending genocide’ of the Jews.

Jerusalem at a boiling point: The “Zionist endeavor” is “the strengthening of the Jewish presence.” And clashes with Palestinian demonstrators have injured 28 over the weekend

As tensions rise in Jerusalem right-wing Israelis are demanding that police increase the already brutal level of state violence inflicted exclusively against Palestinians. Numerous Israelis Dan Cohen has spoken to demanded police implement shoot-to-kill tactics in East Jerusalem on any Palestinian who throws a rock — which would effectively expand the tactics used against Palestinians living on the other side of Israel’s separation wall in the occupied West Bank. But, contrary to popular sentiment, police repression against Palestinians in East Jerusalem has been anything but soft. As police operate with total impunity, a climate of fear exists that has led some Palestinians to avoid publicizing information about other beatings due to fear of police reprisals like the punishment the Abu Khdeir family received this summer.