If Hamas murders innocents, we’ll say so

Some pro-Israeli Palestinians (yes, they exist) are accusing the Western media of ignoring human rights abuses committed by Hamas. Maybe some are but I seriously question the claim that Israeli violence is somehow more news-worthy. Hamas atrocities are regularly slammed in the Western media, as they should be. Take this (though the alleged source, Fatah,…

Singing the futile Fatah blues

Who are they kidding? The Palestinian Authority intends to establish a de-facto state within the next two years, despite failing peace talks, Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad said on Tuesday. “We have decided to be proactive, to expedite the end of the occupation by working very hard to build positive facts on the ground, consistent…

With mates like this, being enemies is maybe more honest

A relationship between “friends” in the Middle East is predictably contemptible. I remember speaking to countless Egyptians during my visit there in 2007 and hearing support for cutting off any relationship with Israel. This story is therefore unsurprising: To say that Farouk Hosni doesn’t much like Israel is putting it lightly. According to the Anti-Defamation…

Israel has utterly no self-control over colonies

Der Spiegel grills Israeli Deputy Prime Minister and Intelligence Minister Dan Meridor in ways that most Western journalists do not. When Israeli officials lie, call them on it: SPIEGEL: You blame Palestinian intransigence. Western leaders are, of course, demanding that the Arab side compromise on some issues. But they are also putting pressure on Israel…

What lies beneath Israel’s surface

Jewish-American writer and provocateur Max Blumenthal (and some mutual Israeli friends) are keen to tell the world about Israel’s increasing crack-down on dissent and blatant hatred of Arabs. A reality that remains hidden in much of the West. I posted in July a trailer for their forthcoming documentary by The Daily Nuisance. Now, a full-length…

Freedom of speech either exists in Israel or it doesn’t

The fallout over Israeli academic Neve Gordon’s call for a boycott against his country gathers pace. It’s a position I share with him and we’ve exchanged communication in the last days about this. Israel treats the Palestinians like rabid dogs; the state must be forced to understand that its behaviour is totally unacceptable. Here’s an…

Would the world like to condemn this Israeli violence?

The Palestinian Centre for Human Rights, based in Gaza, issues a press release about Israeli terrorism: The Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR) strongly condemns attacks perpetrated by Israeli forces in the evening of 24 August, and the morning of 25 August 2009. Three Palestinians were killed while a fourth is missing consequent to Israeli…

If the occupation stays, cinema tickets are meaningless

Efforts by eager Western journalists and Zionist officials to praise the supposedly positive economic signs in the West Bank are thankfully challenged by the Independent. Less checkpoints have undoubtedly brought more freedom for some Palestinians but here’s the rub: Critics say Mr Netanyahu’s approach is aimed at evading the broad political concessions needed to really…

Huckabee is the worst friend Jews could have

Mike Huckabee’s recent visit to Israel and Palestine generated predictable headlines. He certainly didn’t disappoint his Fox News constituents. Helen Freedman, Executive Director of Americans For a Safe Israel, accompanied Huckabee throughout his trip and loved the experience. Her report includes this revealing section: Huckabee’s remarks to the press have been well-recorded, but there were…

The price of being a Gazan

The following story contains little concrete information but I heard during my time in Gaza that Palestinian civilians living near the border with Israel were routinely shot and attacked by Israeli troops: One Palestinian was killed and another wounded on Monday evening by Israeli soldiers’ gunfire in northern Gaza Strip, Palestinian medics and witnesses said.…

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