“I am convinced that the loss of legitimacy of the Zionist idea, of the idea of a special state for a special people, is irreversible, that that cannot be resurrected in the 21st century, a time when we at least preach if not practice universal rights and equality,” the writer Ali Abunimah said in a landmark speech ten years ago, and his remarks have proved to be prophetic in describing the anti-Zionist movement inside progressive life.
Chief Rabbi Mirvis, what is the clear and present danger presented by the Labour party to Jews? Perhaps you can give me a rough idea of what I should expect, so I know whether to be ready to pack my bags when the election results come through. You are right when you say “the soul of our nation is at stake.” But you don’t seem to care about how we treat the poorest and most vulnerable, how urgently we tackle climate change, or our attitude towards human rights and international law. From Robert Cohen’s letter to the Jewish leader.
Roger Waters on the importance of international solidarity with Palestinians: “The aim … is to focus world attention on the plight of the Palestinian people in Gaza in the hope that the scales will fall from the eyes of all, ordinary, decent people round the world, that they may see the enormity of the crimes that have been committed, and demand that their governments bring all possible pressure to bear on Israel to lift the siege.”
Karam Qawasmi, a Palestinian man who was recorded last year in a shocking encounter where he was shot in the back while walking away from the camera with his arms stretched above his head, has come forward with new allegations of abuse surrounding the incident.
Sami Abu Diak’s dying request in Israeli prison: “To all people of conscience, I live my last days and hours, and I want to spend them with my mother and beloved family,” he wrote. “I don’t want to leave life with my hands and legs handcuffed in front of jailers who love death and delight in our pain and suffering.”
The Israeli army has come up with story after story to explain away the “mistaken” massacre of a family of nine in Gaza Nov. 14th. Now the army chief of staff sends a pep-talk letter to all soldiers about the two-day assault on Gaza that leaves out the family’s names but assures that the matter is being investigated.
In Hebron last weekend, religious settlers attacked the family of Imad Abu Shamsiyeh, who is famous for filming an Israeli soldier murdering a Palestinian man, and his 1-1/2-year-old grandson was struck in the head with a rock.
Robert Kraft, New England Patriots owner and winner of Israel’s version of the Nobel Prize has revealed how he will spend his million-dollar award: funding groups that portray Israel positively.
Israel would have reached a deal with the Palestinians and allowed a Palestinian state years ago if it did not have blind American support to go on taking more and more Palestinian land. The Israel lobby, which has prevented criticism in both parties in the U.S., is the root cause of the conflict, and the lobby’s role as Israel’s supporter in western capitals is a fundamental principle of Zionism.
“It’s a crime that the Israeli military would pull a gentle soul like Ubai [Aboudi] out of his home in front of his family in the middle of the night,” Noam Chomsky said in a joint statement published by Scientists for Palestine. “They are clearly sending a signal to anyone who works with Palestinian civil society.” The group seeks the release of political economist Aboudi, arrested by Israel on November 13 and held in administrative detention.