Palestine

Rho City Council (Milan) approves resolution condemning Pizzarotti
The Italian company condemned for involvement in the Israeli high-speed railway that crosses the occupied Palestinian territories

  Denying Palestinians Fair Access to Water - by Stephen Lendman

Water is essential to life. Denying it is criminal.

Water and sanitation are recognized as indispensable human rights. In July 2010, the General Assembly's Resolution 64/292 affirmed it. It called on member states and international organizations to:

  Israeli-Style Justice - by Stephen Lendman

Accused Israelis face charges in civil courts. Military tribunals try Palestinians. Virtually everyone is guilty by accusation. A new study says so. More on that below.

  International Solidarity Day with Palestine - by Stephen Lendman

Established by the UN in 1977, International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People is observed on or around November 29.

The date commemorates November 29, 1947, the date UN Resolution 181 was adopted, despite Palestinian opposition. 

  Palestinian Unity: A Threat, Says Israel - by Stephen Lendman

Palestine is sovereign territory. In 1987, Law Professor Francis Boyle drafted its Declaration of Independence. On November 15, 1988, the Palestine National Council (PNC) adopted it, affirming Palestinian statehood.

By Ann Wright

70 delegates from 20 countries, including Parliamentarians from 11 countries, this week have seen the disastrous effects of the 22 day Israeli attack on Gaza two years ago and the five year naval and land blockade on Gaza.  The trip was organized by the Council for European Palestinian Relations (www.cepr.org).

Two members from the European Parliament (one each from Ireland and Portugal), four national Parliamentarians from Chile,  three from Malaysia, two from Ireland and one  Parliamentarian from Scotland, Pakistan, Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay,  Ecuador, Brazil and Morocco, traveled to Gaza. The delegation was led by former British government minister Claire Short.  A retired Ambassador from the Netherlands and a former U.S. diplomat were also on the delegation.

Due to the extreme influence of the pro-Israeli lobby in the United States, no US Congresspersons were on the delegation.

  Gaza: Good News and Bad - by Stephen Lendman

First the good. On November 22, the International Middle East Media Center (IMEMC) said a "Freedom Spring" convoy arrived through Rafah's border terminal, connecting Gaza and Egypt.

  Israeli Settlers Attack Palestinians with Impunity - by Stephen Lendman

Palestinians are doubly cursed. Israel's military attacks them regularly. During the past week alone, Israeli air strikes killed four Gazans, wounding another 14.

Al-Nabi Saleh village residents participating in a peaceful demonstration were assaulted. Two injuries were reported, including a child. Israel's navy arrested three Palestinian fishermen, confiscating their boats.

  Israel Steps Up Police State Crackdowns - by Stephen Lendman

Israel never embraced democratic values. More than ever today that's true. Many Jews understand. As a result, they're voting with their feet and leaving.

Gideon Levy remarked that "(i)t's really an irony of history, because Israel was established to become a shelter to the Jewish people. Now Europe becomes a shelter for the Jews living in Israel."

Council for European Palestinian Relations (CEPR)

Brussels/London – November 18, 2011

The Council for European Palestinian Relations (CEPR) prepares to leave for Gaza with its largest international delegation yet. Delegates include renowned politicians from countries in South America, Asia, Africa and Europe; as well as, two outspoken Members of European Parliament – Ms. Marisa Matias and Mr. Paul Murphy.

On 4 November 2011, Mr. Paul Murphy was detained onboard the Irish boat, MV Saorise, by Israeli authorities in international waters. Along with other activists, he himself was detained for a week for having tried to help break the Gaza blockade.

Retired United States Army Colonel and former U.S. diplomat Ann Wright will accompany the delegation.  She visited Gaza three times in 2009 and was on the 2010 and 2011 Gaza Freedom Flotillas.

  Gaza's Suffocating Siege - by Stephen Lendman

In early November, the Gisha Legal Center for Freedom of Movement published a report titled, "Scale of Control: Israel's Continued Responsibility in the Gaza Strip."  

It explained little changed after its alleged 2005 "disengagement."

From Mazim Qumsiyeh:

I was finally released.  Israeli soldiers abducted me while filming an
attack on villagers of Al-Walaja.  The attack started with dynamiting their village lands near their houses, a process that already shook and cracked houses and injured some residents before (see
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YCDNg_ScDtU).  The villagers were speaking
with soldiers demanding paperwork and telling them that court cases are
pending and to stop blowing up their lands.  Instead the soldiers arrogantly pushed and shoved and as they tried to arrest one young man, a group of Israeli soldiers and native Palestinians fell off the side of the bulldozed area of the route of the apartheid wall.  Outside of camera views, Mustafa was beaten repeatedly in the car (I was hit twice) by a mean young Israeli soldiers who said he hated Arabs.  The video we have of our abduction is at http://youtu.be/v_GE16wmcAo and still pictures can be seen here http://www.flickr.com/photos/activestills and here http://chroniquespalestine.blogspot.com/

After the US government (under the Yolk of the Israel lobby) cut funding for UNESCO, people of the world and other governments should step up to the plate and donate to this institution. You can do so here:
http://www.unesco.org/donate  Or mail your
donation in US dollars or Euro checks to: UNESCO, Treasurer - BOC/TRS - 7
place de Fontenoy - 75352 PARIS 07 SP - France
 
Letter to Mr. Carl Bildt, Swedish Foreign Affairs Minister by Majed
Abusalama (23 y.o. young man from Jabalia Refugee Camp)
http://www.facebook.com/notes/majed-abusalama/letter-to-mr-carl-bildt-swedish-foreign-affairs-minister/10150383295939435 
 
The Lesser of Two Evils - The Catholic Monastery of Cremisan Chooses Not to
Support Villagers
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9YV3s0_I3Tk

  The Russell Tribunal on Palestine: South Africa Session - by Stephen Lendman

Launched on March 4, 2009, "The Russell Tribunal on Palestine (RToP) seeks to reaffirm the primacy of international law (to settle) the Israeli-Palestinian conflict (by focusing on) the enunciation of law by authoritative bodies (and) address(ing) the failure of application of law even though it has been so clearly identified." 

STAY HUMAN - The Reading Movie - A Warning and Instructions for use from Restiamo Umani | Stay Human on Vimeo.

  Israel Assaults Freedom Waves to Gaza Activists - by Stephen Lendman

A previous article explained the following:

On November 2, two vessels blocked last summer from reaching Gaza sailed again from Fethiye, Turkey.

Freedom Waves to Gaza
Palestine Office @PALWaves
7 November 2011 

[RAMALLAH] Of the 27 human rights defenders captured during Israel’s illegal takeover of the Freedom Waves to Gaza vessels on Friday, 4 November, 20 remain in Givon prison and the whereabouts of one is unknown.

Israeli officials have been claiming that all 27 people aboard the MV Tahrir and MV Saoirse have been released or are awaiting deportation. This is not true. Freedom Waves can confirm that six people have been released or deported. These are Majd Kayyal (Palestinian from Haifa), Lina Attalah (Journalist from Egypt), Casey James (Journalist from the US), Aimane Zoubir (Journalist from Morocco), Captain George Klontzas (Greece) and Captain Zacharias Stylianakis.

Activists Badly Treated by Israeli Authorities
By Ann Wright

A press release from Irish Ship to Gaza (www.irishshiptogaza.org) reported that National Coordinator Fintan Lane was able to make a phone call Sunday afternoon, November 6, 2011, from the Israeli prison in which he and 13 other Irish citizens are being held.

Israeli attack on freedom waves ships “violent and dangerous”

Lane told the Irish Ship to Gaza team in Dublin that “the takeover of the MV Saoirse was violent and dangerous. Despite very clear protests from the occupants of the two boats that they did not want to be taken to Israel, they were forcibly removed from the boats in a violent manner. The whole takeover took about three hours.”

Date: Friday, November 4, 2011, 9:01 AM

Israel and the US outsourced the siege of Gaza to Athens last summer by preventing 8 boats in the Freedom Flotilla 2-Stay Human from sailing from Greek ports to Gaza. Despite this we were able to bring world-wide attention to the blockade of the Gaza Strip. Our efforts in Greece only fueled our determination to challenge the imprisonment of the people of Gaza. We said we would continue to sail and so we are!!!
 

Below is a letter sent by BDS Italy to Malian singer and women's rights advocate Oumou Sangaré. 

  Out-of-Control Israeli State Terror - by Stephen Lendman

Having friends in high places in Washington lets Israel get away with murder. 

On October 31, Ma'an News said continued Israeli air strikes so far killed 12 Gazans. Others were wounded, some severely.

  Netanyahu Threatens Gazans with Death - by Stephen Lendman

Throughout its history, Israel had belligerent, racist prime ministers, none worse than Netanyahu. He talks peace but mocks and spurns it. 

His extremism heads Israel toward the brink. His worst ever government enrages global millions. Eventually, Israel may end up isolated and universally vilified as a pariah state. 

  Living Under Israel's Boot - by Stephen Lendman

Like occupied people everywhere, Palestinians understand oppression better than experts. Ask them. They'll explain.

In Gaza, it means living under siege and Israeli air, land and sea attacks. West Bank communities face day and night incursions. 

  Israeli Settlement Construction Jeopardizes Palestinian Statehood Plans - by Stephen Lendman

Palestinians want and deserve long denied full UN de jure membership and official statehood recognition, including all rights granted other members.

On September 23, Abbas formally petitioned the Security Council. Normally it reviews applications for a maximum 35 days. Whether or not America vetos Palestine's bid is irrelevant. It solely recommends. Only the General Assembly admits new members.

  Israel Arrests Palestinians While Releasing Others - by Stephen Lendman

In mid-October, Netanyahu's cabinet agreed to free 1,027 Palestinian political prisoners in two waves (including 27 women and nearly 300 children) in return for Hamas releasing Gilad Shalit after over five years in captivity.

Wave one is completed, freeing 477 Palestinians. In two months, phase two will release another 550. According to terms, 203 will be deported, 40 exiled overseas, and 163 expelled to Gaza.

  Life in East Jerusalem - by Stephen Lendman

Palestinians suffer grievously under occupation, including in East Jerusalem. Israel wants it entirely Judaized as its capital even though legally it's an international city under UN trusteeship.

No matter. Palestinians face daily hardships and abuses, including its elected officials.

  Israeli/Palestinian Prisoner Swap - by Stephen Lendman

Since Hamas captured Gilad Shalit on June 25, 2006, on and off talks negotiated his release. 

Hamas took him captive, responding to repeated Israeli attacks, including a widely reported beach shelling. It killed eight Palestinians, injuring 32 others, including 13 children. Israel denied responsibility, falsely blaming a Hamas mine despite forensic evidence proving otherwise.

  Abbas, UN Membership and Peace Talks - by Stephen Lendman

Globetrotting to enlist UN membership support, Abbas told Time magazine in Columbia on October 11 that he'll resume talks if Israel accepts the Quartet's proposal.