March 2006

Refugee Number xxxxxx Million

by Haitham Sabbah March 31, 2006

This is an update email from Samia (pseudonym) Nadia Hasan. After she was denied entry her homeland, Palestine, she came back to Jordan, spent couple of days at Aqaba, and now she is in Amman. On her first day there, she wrote: March 30, 2006 Today is my first day in Amman, well, today its [...]

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Wanted Eye Witness Testimony To Israeli War Crimes

by Haitham Sabbah March 30, 2006

In a continuing effort to obtain the arrest of high-ranking Israeli officers, when they travel outside of Israel, several legal organisations are looking to receive testimonies from internationals who witnessed war crimes, whilst in the West Bank or Gaza. These organisations are aware that every international who has travelled to Palestine will have witnessed the [...]

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Palestinian Going Home

by Haitham Sabbah March 30, 2006

This is a true story. Samia, a Palestinian friend who lives in Brazil send me her story about her experience while crossing the borders from Jordan to Palestine. It is touching true story that kept me sleepless last night, that’s why I decided to share it here. Ahlen , first of all, sorry for my [...]

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Arabisc: Moderate Muslim Voices

by Haitham Sabbah March 28, 2006

This is a cross-posting. It was initially published at Global Voices! The following is an abbreviated translation from some of the Arabic-language blogsphere. It’s not only the English language bloggers from Middle East who are continuously trying to bridge the cultural gaps, but Arabic language bloggers are facing similar tough battle at home, within the [...]

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The “Dream Deferred” Essay Contest

by Haitham Sabbah March 27, 2006

Only few days left to enter the Civil Rights in the Middle East essay contest! The contest is seeking young Middle Easterners to write brief essays (600-2,000 words) about their vision for the future of the region. Winners can receive up to $2,000! I encourage you to enter the contest if you are eligible.

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?????? ??? ???? ????? ??????? STOP!

by Haitham Sabbah March 27, 2006

????? ?? ????? ?? ???. ????? ?????? ?????? ??? ????? ?? ???. ????? ???? ?? ?????? ????? ?? ???. ????? ??????? ?????? ?? ????? ????? (??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ?????). ?????? ????? ????? ?????? ?????? ?????? ?????? ?????? ?????? ????? ???????? ?????? ????? ????? ??????? ?????? ?????? ????? ?????? ??? ?????? ??? ?????? ?????? [...]

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The Logic of Freedom: Torture them!

by Haitham Sabbah March 23, 2006

“I stand for 8-10 hours a day. Why is standing limited to four hours?” At the entrance to the Guantanamo detention camp, a wooden sign reads: “Honor Bound to Defend Freedom.” Ironically, this is where freedom starts, this is where it ends!! You go there to stay and the little cottage you stay in is [...]

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Captain ‘R’ is compensated, Iman is still dead

by Haitham Sabbah March 23, 2006

You may remember when I first posted this story when it happen. This officer’s peers, turned him in when he murdered poor Imam, but the state found him free. Now they are rewarding him! IDF officer cleared in death of Gaza girl to receive compensation from state By Amos Harel, Haaretz correspondent http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/697464.html A Givati [...]

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To Hell With All of You!

by Haitham Sabbah March 21, 2006

From Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions (ICAHD): The Power of Saying No By Jeff Halper As the new Hamas government is sworn into power in the Palestinian Authority, we might ask: What would bring a people, the most secular of Arab populations with little history of religious fundamentalism, to vote Hamas? Mere protest at Fatah [...]

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Free my colleague: Hao Wu detained without charge

by Haitham Sabbah March 20, 2006

On March 22nd it will be one month since filmmaker and Global Voices Northeast Asia Editor Hao Wu was detained without charge. We appeal to the Chinese government for Hao Wu’s immediate release! [By Rebecca MacKinnon] What happened to Hao? Hao Wu (Chinese name: ??), a Chinese documentary filmmaker who lived in the U.S. between [...]

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30 Israeli Soldiers Killed 8-Year-Old Palestinian Girl

by Haitham Sabbah March 19, 2006

Nothing new… Just one more! “They (the soldiers) have no idea how much I love her,” the father said, chain-smoking and wiping away his tears. “How can I enter the house and never see her again?” 30 Israeli Soldiers Killed 8-Year-Old Palestinian Girl Associated Press YAMOUN, West Bank, 19 March 2006 – Eight-year-old Akbar Zayed [...]

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AP Erases Video of Israeli Soldier Shooting Palestinian Boy

by Alison Weir March 19, 2006

“The trend toward secrecy is the greatest threat to democracy.” – Associated Press CEO, in a speech about the importance of openness “The official response is we decline to respond.” – Associated Press Director of Media Relations, replying to questions about AP In the midst of journalism’s “Sunshine Week”–during which the Associated Press and other [...]

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The Israel Lobby – Unparalleled Influence

by Haitham Sabbah March 18, 2006

Example: Pro-Israel activists block travel reform By Ori Nir, The Forward, March 17, 2006 Jewish organizations played a leading role in defeating the effort, launched in response to the Jack Abramoff lobbying scandal, to ban privately funded trips for members of Congress…[Complete article] “What is this?” you are asking. Ok, bear with me a little [...]

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Naji Al Ali – Palestine’s greatest cartoonist

by Haitham Sabbah March 17, 2006
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Arab internet woes

by Haitham Sabbah March 17, 2006

Some sad facts: Middle Eastern audiences are literally disconnected from the rest of the world and the rest of their countrymen. Less than four per cent of people in the Arab world are internet users, according to ITU data. The penetration rate is just 3.7% – in a region with an 8.59% penetration in landline [...]

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