May 2007

FAQ on the 1967 war

by Haitham Sabbah May 31, 2007

This June marks the fortieth anniversary of the Israeli occupation of the West Bank, Gaza and East Jerusalem. Four decades of control maintained by force of arms have enabled Israel to impose its will on the occupied territories and to remake them in its own image. Here is FAQ on the 1967 war: 1. How [...]

Read the full article →

Video: Sense and truth on U.S. TV

by Haitham Sabbah May 31, 2007

Don’t miss this one. It just reflects part of the dilemma in the American society under Bush leadership. I really feel sorry for those who are dying in Iraq, Afghanistan and everywhere else to fulfill the Ziocon’s dreams. (Hat tip: Bilal Tarawneh)

Read the full article →

Breaking: UK professors’ union votes to boycott Israel

by Haitham Sabbah May 31, 2007

I’m speechless, but happy. Unlike any other Western country, boycotting Israel seems to be a healthy-contagious among UK organizations these days. After the journalists, doctors and couple of days ago, the top UK architects, UK professors’ union votes to boycott Israel. The general secretary Sally Hunt urged delegates not to support the boycott call because [...]

Read the full article →

Video: Israeli forces invade Balata refugee camp

by Haitham Sabbah May 30, 2007

On 24 May 2007 the Israeli Army invaded the Balata refugee camp outside the West Bank city of Nablus. First entering the camp disguised as Palestinian civilians, and later with a number of armored vehicles, the army arrested camp residents and placed the entire population under curfew. This video produced by the Research Journalism Initiative [...]

Read the full article →

Collage Talk

by Haitham Sabbah May 30, 2007

First of all, please meet Handala: Handala (or Hanzala) is the most famous of the Palestinian cartoonist Naji al-Ali’s cartoon characters. From approximately 1975 through 1987 Naji Al-Ali created cartoons that depict the complexities of the plight of Palestinian refugees. These cartoons are still relevant today and Handala, the refugee child who is present in [...]

Read the full article →

Israeli friends of Bil’in call for international support

by Haitham Sabbah May 29, 2007

Israeli Friends of Bil’in is a group composed of Israeli individuals and organizations who oppose the construction of Israel’s “separation fence” on the land of the Palestinian village of Bil’in, and of the construction of the Israeli settlement of Matityau East, also on the village’s land. They have written a letter addressed to the consulates [...]

Read the full article →

UK top architects slams Israel

by Haitham Sabbah May 28, 2007

boycott_israelAPJP calls on Israeli and international architects, planners and those in the construction industry to express their concern in each and every instance of unjust action in annexing Palestinian land, and the projects to be built on them. The future Security and justice, in both Israel and Palestine, are at stake.

Read the full article →

Israel 2007: worse than apartheid

by Haitham Sabbah May 28, 2007

kasrilsrWe are leaving through Tel Aviv airport and the Israeli official catches my accent. “Are you South African?’ he asks in an unmistakable Gauteng accent. The young man left Benoni as a child in 1985. “How’s Israel?” I ask. “This is a f**ked-up place,” he laughs, “I’m leaving for Australia soon.”

“Down under?” I think. I’ve just been, like Alice, down under into a surreal world that is infinitely worse than apartheid.

Read the full article →

We’re taking a ship

by Haitham Sabbah May 28, 2007

sunset.jpgWe are of all ages and backgrounds. Back home, we are teachers, medics, musicians, secretaries, parents, grandparents, lawyers, students, activists, actors, playwrites, politicians, singer-songwriters, web designers, international training consultants, and even a former Hollywood film industry worker and an aviator. We are South African, Australian, American, English, Israeli, Palestinian, and more. We’ve tried to enter Palestine by land. We’ve tried to arrive by air. Now we’re getting serious. We’re taking a ship.

Read the full article →

Updated (2): Fath al-Islam Reality & Palestinian Refugees Misery

by Haitham Sabbah May 28, 2007

I’ve been watching the latest Palestinian refugees crises for a week now. Thousands of Palestinian refugees fled from Nahr al-Bared refugee camp in northern Lebanon as one week of clashes by the Lebanese army and a militant group known as Fath al-Islam has left dozens of soldiers and fighters (better described as terrorists) and an [...]

Read the full article →

‘Oprah’ supports racism in solidarity with Zionism?

by Haitham Sabbah May 24, 2007

Until couple of days ago, Oprah was one of the favorite show for my family, but it looks like we have to think of that again.

According to the Israeli press, Oprah is going to Israel for a “solidarity” visit. Coming from someone like Oprah, she should be sympathizing with the oppressed and above all, not showing solidarity with a racist state. Most surprising is that the word “apartheid” has no meaning for her or “ethnic cleansing.”

Read the full article →

Israel Leading ‘War Criminals Championship’ in Amnesty Report

by Haitham Sabbah May 23, 2007

(image by Carlos Latuff) The annual global human rights report was released today by Amnesty International. Amnesty International accused both Israel and Hezbollah on Wednesday of committing war crimes during the Second Lebanon War last summer, saying both were guilty of indiscriminate attacks on civilian areas. But this is not why I’m writing tonight. Looking [...]

Read the full article →

Do you BELIEVE Bush should be IMPEACHED?

by Haitham Sabbah May 23, 2007

impeach_bushDo you believe President Bush’s actions justify impeachment? 1) Yes, between the secret spying, the deceptions leading to war and more, there is plenty to justify putting him on trial. 2) No, like any president, he has made a few missteps, but nothing approaching “high crimes and misdemeanors.” 3) No, the man has done absolutely nothing wrong. Impeachment would just be a political lynching. 4) I don’t know.

Read the full article →

Open letter to the Rolling Stones regarding planned gig in Israel

by Haitham Sabbah May 19, 2007

Please circulate and forward widely The following letter is addressed to the Rolling Stones who are planning a concert in Israel. At this point we are soliciting endorsements from artists, cultural figures, intellectuals and cultural organizations, and others who wish to lend their support. Please send endorsements to info@boycottisrael.ps , with your name/name of organization, [...]

Read the full article →

71% of Israelis want U.S. to strike Iran if talks fail

by Haitham Sabbah May 18, 2007

israel_iran_attackFully 71 percent of Israelis believe that the United States should launch a military attack on Iran if diplomatic efforts fail to halt Tehran’s nuclear program, according to a new poll.

The survey, commissioned by Bar-Ilan University’s BESA Center and the Anti-Defamation League, found that 59 percent of Israelis still believe the war in Iraq was justified, while 36 percent take the opposite view.

Read the full article →