Meanwhile, photos of Palestinian children who have been living off Israeli trash were captured by the New York Times earlier this week.

Photo by: SAIDAWI

With all seriousness…

From DesertPeace, did Wikipedia join the censorship club?

Ben Heine, one of our resident artists, my Associate and dear friend has again been chosen to ‘lead the way', so to speak… He was one of the first anti zionists that was censored and eventually banned from Daily Kos a few months ago merely for his honesty and refusal to compromise his principles.
It seems that Wikipedia has followed suit and has deleted his entry from their pages. The entry looked like this….more

Decentering Damascus announces the launch of the first issue of A-Rab Magazine.

From Annie's Letters this week, a reblogging of a news story published in The Jordan Times says Queen Rania of Jordan urges international community to use ‘moral language of the conscience’:

“…the West just sees terrorist attacks against Israelis, while the enduring image in Arab minds is one of generations of Palestinian boys and girls growing up with no country, no rights, and no future - an image that has not changed for 50 years”…more

Another sad reality of the Palestinian children was captured by the New York Times‘ camera and blogged about by KABOBfest, this time it's living off Israeli trash:

This is an awful sight. Yet, I must give kudos to the New York Times for capturing and reporting on this tragedy. It carried an article and showed a series of photographs with sad captions…
The Palestinians have become so dependent, a pragmatist would welcome US aid to Israel. Enough of the billions of dollars a year that goes to Israel must indirectly subsidize the wasteful lifestyles of Israeli settlers…more

Haitham Sabbah blogs about a tragedy of an American-Palestinian family who was separated by force at Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv, Israel, because of the father's Palestinian heritage:

On Aug. 18, as they tried to return home, Israeli security officials told the children their father’s Palestinian heritage disqualified them from traveling as American citizens, Wedad Yacoub said.

They would not allow Wedad Yacoub (the mother) and 10 of her children to board the flight.

She was forced to choose between remaining in Palestine with the children or return with the three youngest, leaving the other seven behind. more…

But there is good news…

The new 2008 calendar “Colors from Palestine” is now available, says umkahlil:

The 2008 “Colors from Palestine” calendar is dedicated to the great Palestinian artist, Naji Al-Ali., and features some of his well known cartoons.

Photo Credit: a bLoGgEr FrOm GaZa

This week in the Palestinian blogosphere, bloggers tackled serious issues such as the academical boycott of Israel, checkpoints and Edward Said’s mural in San Francisco as well as lighter topics such as a Palestinian swimmer participating in a regional competition in Beit Sahour and other personal stories.

Politics politics:

Umkhalil expressed disappointment with San Francisco's State University's General Union of Palestine Students for reaching a compromise with the Jewish community and agreeing to exclude Handala and his key (the key of return) from Edward Said's mural:

Dear Members of SFGUPS:
I strongly disagree with the compromise you've reached with the Jewish community which means that Handala with the house key is excluded from the mural. Evidently, in order to appease the Zionists, GUPS has foolishly agreed to a mural which is useless since the heart and soul of Palestine, the sacred and inalienable right to return, symbolized by Handala holding a key, will not be depicted on the mural. Instead of compromising, I wish that GUPS had carefully explained that the Palestinians' right of return is part of international law, as stated in Article 13, Section 2, of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

From Occupied Palestine, With Love talks about a day at Beit Furik checkpoint:

Today, after many had been waiting for over four and a half hours, a group of men ran through the crossing, and did not turn back when the soldiers saw them. As punishment, the soldiers completely closed the crossing to the remaining four hundred people. Because we argued with them, called the Israeli authorities in control of the area and other such things they had to reopen. By the time we left, a few Palestinians took over our job, locating those who needed to cross quickly, and advocating for them with the soldiers. We are growing….

The Fanonite writes about a new campaign by the Israel Lobby to destroy the career of an academic:

Is it not amusing that the same people who have been stifling free speech of academics even mildly critical of the US should cry ‘censorship’ when British academics propose a highly nuanced boycott of Israel? Only months after the disgraced charlatan Alan Dershowitz who has been accused of plagiarism both on the Left and the Right, leading a campaign to deny tenure to Norman Finkelstein, we have a new campaign by the Israel Lobby to destroy the career of another academic, Nadia Abu El-Haj, who was unwise enough to write research critical of Israel.

Layla from Raising Yousuf, Unplugged, wrote about her personal/political dilemma as a Palestinian:

I'm not sure what it will take anymore for people to realize the absurdity of it all. I mean, sanctioning an occupied people for God's sake? Demanding an end to “violence” by those occupied people all while the US shells out another $30 billion in military aid to the world's third strongest army?

And I'm not talking about the US only here. I'm talking about our very own Arab governments who, from day one, bowed in submission to US commands to freeze financial transactions to Hamas. Yes, the world, including the Arab world, has been complicit in the destruction of a society.

…and more politics

KABOBfest's Will wrote an article about the boycott movement targeting Israel:

When does a citizen-led boycott of a state become morally justified?

That question is raised by an expanding academic, cultural and economic boycott of Israel. The movement joins churches, unions, professional societies and other groups based in the United States, Canada, Europe and South Africa. It has elicited dramatic reactions from Israel 's supporters. U.S. labor leaders have condemned British unions, representing millions of workers, for supporting the Israel boycott. American academics have been frantically gathering signatures against the boycott, and have mounted a prominent advertising campaign in American newspapers - unwittingly elevating the controversy further in the public eye.

Others:

From KABOBfest, a post about moderate Muslim voices:

A common refrain in the media, and a question among some of my friends, is where are the moderate Muslim voices? I hope it does not surprise anyone, but just because you don't see it in English does not mean it does not exist (MEMRI is shall we say, a tad selective).

Arabesque Rhapsody wrote about the recent Jordanian-Iraqi condition in the Arabian blogosphere:

I kind of came to a conclusion, well it's more of a thought actually.

People, human beings, the living have something in them. I guess its what's called an instinct and that is that whenever you get attacked you get defensive and throw sentences that might not really “commit to reality” but is a kind of “reflex”…

Soul Blossom wrote about the deceased The Palestinian journalist, author, and artist Ghassan Kanafani:

I love how Kanafani summed the hardships all Palestinians endeavor -not only physically, but emotionally for the most part- and the fate awaiting everyone who fought against Israel. It makes you shed tears as you feel the events taking place.

The Fanonite wrote about his meeting with travel writer Sven Lindqvist:

On Tuesday I had the pleasure of meeting Sven Lindqvist at the Edinburgh Book Festival. Described by George Monbiot as a ‘world changing’ author, Lindqvist is an author of many books which chronicle the murderous history of European colonialism, the intellectual impostures that accompanied it, and its enduring effects on the various parts of the world he has visited. A self-proclaimed travel writer, Lindqvist’s journeys effortlessly traverse the geographical as well as the temporal dimension of travel.

In 1976, Israeli policy of expropriating Palestinian land in northern Israel to build Jewish settlements provoked Palestinian residents in the Galilee town of Sakhnin to protest on March 30. Six Palestinians were killed during the demonstration. Since then, Palestinians inside Israel and the West Bank have commemorated March 30 as “Land Day” and turned the day into a general protest against what they view as discriminatory practices by the government.

freckle attended a demonstration in Rafat village in the West Bank where 3000 Dunam were taking out of 3500 by the Annexation Barrier.

The 30th of March 2006 marks the thirtieth anniversary of Land Day in Palestine. Umkahlil posts the declaration made by the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine on the occasion. al-falasteeniya posts a picture by Ismail Shammout.

Springtime in Gaza. Photo credit: Raising Yousuf

News of the blogosphere…

On Friday Gaza City has undergone aerial and sea shelling. Laila of Raising Yousuf said it was unlike anything the city has seen in recent years:

As I write this, F-16 warplanes-not Apaches or tanks-are bombarding Gaza City, where I live, just a few roads away from my house

On the 31st of March 2006 in the West Bank, 37 Palestinians were abducted by Israeli occupational forces according to PalestineFreeVoice.

Laila el-Haddad of Raising Yousuf calls all diaspora Palestinians to make themselves heard and have a say on recognizing Israel and Palestinian politics in general. Check out her first post featuring a voice from Gaza speaking about her hopes and fears.

News roundup from my occupied territory covers the latest and hottest news of the Middle East.

What we talk about…

moomin13 of Postcards from Palestine, talks about his own experience with Kach's leader and blogs a story by Al-Jazeera about Israeli anti-Arab parties. moomin13 says:

He is the leader of Kach, a far right wing Israeli political party designated as a terrorist organization by the US State Department. I'd see him walking around Tel Rumeida often, his children were particularly nasty, they threw rocks at me and spit at me quite any number of times

Haitham Sabbah spreads the story of Samia, a Palestinian who was denied entrance to her homeland:

This is a true story. Samia, my 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 her.

The Black Iris of Jordan talks about Akaber Adbelrahman Zaid, just another Palestinian child killed by Israelis:

she was on her way to a doctor’s clinic to have stitches removed from her chin. Instead she received a barrage of bullets to the head

On the Israeli elections…

Ramallah Online blogs the speech of Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh talking about the double standards of the US and Europe; when they've demanded from the Palestinian groups and authorities to recognize Israel, call off resistance and commit themselves to past deals and treaties in order for them to be legitimized while on the other demanded nothing from Israeli political parties in a similar regard. He continues to give Kadima as an example of a leading Israeli group which instead of committing itself to peace with the Palestinians ran its programme on defying UN security council resolutions and violations of International laws.

On KABOBfest, an opinion by Saree Makdisi who says that the real winner of the Israeli elections is not Ehud Olmert and his Kadima but rather it was Avigdor Lieberman leader of Yisrael Beiteinu whose goal is basically to finally have Israel

cleansed of the remainder of the indigenous Palestinian population.

Another blogged story by KABOBfest is about Israeli soldiers faking it. After photos have spread showing two of the Israeli Army voting two days before the real thing on Tuesday, the army had to send a written apology for not telling journalist that the ballot they've used was a dummy.

To lighten up…

A fashion post by FAYYAD of KABOBfest, highlighting Mr. Haniyeh's latest fashion during his swear-in day. Very interesting view.

Amal of meiroun has drawn a picture of Maryam Nour.

The little things that matter…

From Palestinian Solidarity Community's Journal, Imagine Life is seeing success in highlighting issues about Palestine:

I am quite impressed and I think the approach they are taking is a good one because they are finally highlighting they sorts of issues that may actually make Americans care about Palestine, issues like the persecution of Christians, the death of children and perhaps the most important (sadly): the wasting of our hard earned money by the government.

Laila el-Haddad from Raising Yousuf took some pictures of Palestinian security forces made to strip down to their underwear by Israeli troops and captivated.

The victory of ….. has reinvigorated Palestinian civil society in general and the women's movement in particular. This year's pro-women march in Ramallah, which ended with a meeting with President Mahmoud Abbas, was well attended, by nearly a thousand women, interestingly many of them with headscarves.

See pictures on the soul unfolds itself.

“Amdist the decay, there is always beauty lurking not far behind.”
Photo Credit: Raising Yousuf

News of the blogosphere

Little Yousuf (Laila el-Haddad of Raising Yousuf's son) has just turned two last week on the 5 March 2006. Watch him help making his birthday cake before he finally eats it.

Yesterday in Gaza and according to Laila of Raising Yousuf, dozens of taxi drivers protested to the hike in fuel prices. They have announced a strike, burned tires, blocked roads and refused to transport people to jobs and schools.

From International Solidarity Movement, Palestinian activist and non-violent protests organizer, Mohammed Mansour faces his 11th tiral after being accused of throwing stones, encouraging others to throw stones and involving in illegal demonstrations inside the West Bank back in 2004. Mansour suffered from heart attack only one week ago due to repeated harassments and court appearances.

His trial which was scheduled on the 21st of March had been changed to 8th of March without any reason.

From Sabbah's Blog, Israeli political party Kadima has recently converted a part of the Ahmar Mosuque in Safad into a center for the group. Al Aqsa Society strongly condemns the take over of the mosque which was built by Thaher Pepers in 1275.

Also from Sabbah's Blog, “My name is Rachel Corrie” which was scheduled to open on the 22 March 2006 was postponed indefinitely sparking much debate. Haitham Sabbah echoes Rache's mother question: Why are people so afraid of Rachel Corrie’s words?

What we talk about

Laila el-Haddad of Raising Yousuf has met Palestinian Prime Minister Mr. Ismail Haniyah talking about her first impression she says:

My first impression of Haniya (besides his towering height) was his warmth and casual demeanor. I also couldn’t help noticing his eyes….They are these soft emerald-grey-green colour that somehow leave you at ease when you talk to him

thecutter from peacepalestine says pro-Israeli bias in Italy is a program.

From Sugar Cubes, a UN expert says Jewish settlers terrorize Palestinians.

From Raising Yousuf, Laila vents out her frustration and exhaustion of being there:

It’s not so much one single event, but rather the sum total of a series of every day seemingly insignificant incidents that make up the occupation in all its ugliness and brutality and take their insidious toll on you

On the horrific incident of the two children killed in the attack by an unmanned Israeli drone Laila says:

It killed the intended “targets”…But it also killed three others. Including two children-brothers, 8-year-old Raed Al-Batch and his 15-year-old brother Ala. They were with their mother at the time. She lived, only to learn that she lost two boys. At once.

On the same news Naseem Tarawnah of the Black Iris of Jordan says:

As for these kids they just murdered, I guess this is what Mofaz meant when he told army radio: “No one is immune”

And Will of KABOBfest says:

This shows the claim that Israel never targets civilians to be utter propaganda. It fired rockets at an ice cream truck, for crying out loud

Earlier and as reported by Sugar Cubes and KABOBfest, Isreali defence minister Mofaz threatened to assassinate Palestinian prime minister Ismail Haniyeh .

nasrawi talks about the attack on the Basilica of the Annunciation in Al-Naserah (Nazareth):

To treat Druze as non-Arab, to inflame tensions over the Sha'ab il-Diin square in Nazareth so as to pit Christian against Muslim, to portray Muslims as barbarians and Christians as being more peace-loving; this has always been official policy of the State so as to weaken a popular movement against the State's discriminatory strategies and to lower the voice of a united Arab people. However, no one is fooled.

On Sunday the 4th of March and as re-reported by The Black Iris of Jordan, Palestinian Christians marched the streets of Al-Naserah in protests demanding the protection of holy sites. According to nasrawi, Muslim inhibitants of the Biblical city were among the protesters.

Welcome to Baqa'a Refugee Camp reports that a child detainee Qassam Abu Baker, 15 year-old had one of his fingers cut off during interrogation to make him admit that he threw stones at soldiers according to his family.

karmalised says Jerry Falwell claimed Jews can get to heaven only if they believe in Jesus. karmalised wonders how will Televangelist John Hagee and Rabbi Aryeh Scheinberg will spin Falwell's revelation after he denied to have accepted and adopted the “dual covenant” theology as Hagee had previously claimed:

How will Hagee and his good friend Bibi Netanyahu spin that revelation?…Will Hagee and the other theme park entrepreneurs lose their permit to build and be maligned by the press?
Probably not. Only Christians who've co-existed with Muslims for 14 centuries get that treatment.

From Raising Yousuf, a new video by B'Tselem (The Israeli Information Center for Human Rights in the Occupied Territories), testimonies of Israeli soldiers talking about open fire regulations show that:

soldiers receive intentitonaly ambiguous orders about when and how they are to use their weapons, giving the soldiers flexiblity, a high civlian death toll, and immunity from responsiblity. It is a policy Btselem calls “lethal ambiguity”.

From the Black Iris of Jordan, a February story for you:

One day before Valentine’s Day, ‘Annan’s father went to his 13-year-old son’s school…and only found his…jacket and backpack on the school grounds. Along with four other boys ranging from the ages of 11 to 14, ‘Annan had been arrested by Israeli soldiers…

The blogosphere is also talking about Sharon Stone's visit to Israel to sponsor peace and celebrate International Women's Day by setting a feminist example.

umkahlil talks about how the cultural boycott of Israel might earn you an anti-semitic smear:

Boycott Israel and brace for the anti-Semitic smear. That's what happened to personnel at this Dance Magazine.

Jews sans frontieres talk about Roger Waters's (artist Pink Floyd) refusal to call off his concernt in Tel Aviv saying:

Roger: I would not rule out going to Israel because I disapprove of the foreign policy any more than I would refuse to play in the UK because I disapprove of Tony Blair's foreign policy.

Levi: A. This is isn't just about foreign policy. B. Who asked him to call off UK gigs?

On the same issue, umkahlil says in a post titled “Another Brick in the Monstrous Wall”:

no walls will be tumbling down any time soon unless world class artists take a principled stand as they did for apartheid South Africa.

On everything else

KABOBfest blogs the story of a successful operation in the land of “death and courage” (Iraq) called Ofti:

acclaimed ABC News blogger Jake Tapper reported today that Operation Ofti was a major success! For those unaware, Ofti is “the skankiest bazzoona from the backalleys of Baghdad” – in other words, a stray cat.

karmalised talks about the state-sponsored terrorism in Iraq. Quoting Stephen Zunes:

there is little evidence to suggest that US trainers have actively encouraged death squad activity.

From Sabbah's Blog, The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) protects torture in Abu Gharib, Guantanamo Bay’s Camp X-Ray, and many Israeli detention centers with its confidentiality policy:

The policy, in effect, allows ICRC to politely ask torturers to stop torturing, while promising not to tell the rest of the world

The little things that matter

The Black Iris of Jordan says students at Birzeit and Al-Najah Universities came togther to find the Right to Education Photography Project. The photographs which they have taken aiming at visualizing and documenting Palestinian students' life under occupation, have become now an exhibition and a book touring Palestinian and international venues.

By The Black Iris of Jordan too, Made in Palestine:

is the first museum-quality exhibition devoted to the contemporary art of Palestine to be held in the United States.

To visit the exhibition from 14-23 March 2006, contact the visiting artist Zuhdi al-Adawi through email or call 646-584-9098

Haitham Sabbah of Sabbah's Blog and following up on the pledge to add Palestine to different blogging services, Haitham says that blogger.com has kept its promise and finally added Palestine to its country drop down list.

From KABOBfest, KABOBfashion presents the latest of Nemi Jamal's designs, in which she takes the traditional hutta beyond gas masks making it the bandanna of today.

In sad breaking news from A STAND FOR JUSTICE, an Israeli sniper killed a 15-year-old Palestinian during a raid on West Bank:

Amer Bassyouni, 15, was shot in the neck and died from his wounds as Israeli forces searched for militants in the Alamin refugee camp in the West Bank city of Nablus.

Palestinian security srouces said:

the youth had been seen next to his house as Israeli forces raided the area.

The Black Iris of Jordan, reports that three Israelis attacked Basilica of Annunciation, one of the holiest Christian places located in Al-Nasserah (Nazareth) wounding several congregants. Naseem condemns the attack saying:

Attack on holy sites, be they Islamic or Christian, are nothing new really. But I wonder if the world will pay more attention now after a major church is attacked?
I wonder if all the Israeli attackers are mentally ill?

More on the horrific incident and the Main Stream Media bias in coverage, Haitham Sabbah says:

I went digging for more details in the MSM, unfortunately I could not find much worth mentioning. However, I noticed what we call biased story coverage.

From Raising Yousuf, the final part of the separating Israeli wall will be finished in few days declaring the holy Christian city of Bethlehem officially a closed ghetto:

The wall…will not only sever the connection between the region’s most holy Christian sites ,but will also herald the creation of a new ‘fact on the ground’ - an illegal Jewish settlement which will be home to some of Israel’s most extremist religious groups.

Paradise Now under fire-still according to al-falasteenyia. By means of Sugar Cubes, Ari Lives in Israel provides a Jewish perspective on the film and the petition created by supporters of Israel in which they ask to get it off the Oscars. On the other hand, another petition was created in solidarity with the Palestinians.

In KABOBfest, Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas prays for divine intervention to stop the US from sending its advocates around the World in an attempt to spread the Israeli's stance about the PA (Palestinian Authority) and Palestinians. Abbas is, in parallel, seeking to secure financial backing for the cash-strapped Palestinian Authority.

What we talk about…

Bethlehem Bloggers says they are starting a Jewish settlement in Bethlehem and that in the last three weeks the Main Stream Media failed to report the arrest of sixty three Palestinians of which twenty one are children.

From Raising Yousuf, the ongoing closure of al-Mintar (Karni) crossing has resutled with $10.5 million loss and the depletion of Gaza's main food staples according to a report by the UN's Office for the Coordination of Humantarian Affairs (OCHA).

In a counting game, Laila el-Haddad of Raising Yousuf, kept track of the shelling on Gaza where she lives. From 6:14 PM to 6:18 PM thirteen shells, and she lost count after that. Yousuf, her little son succeeded in distracting her. Laila says:

He'll only get as scared as you do, sometimes. And sometimes no amount of re-assurance can convince him that this loud and recurrent thud he hears every day is innocuous (so far).

She adds:

I sometimes think of Rafah's children, and how their lives must have been during those night under constant Israeli seige; how their lives will continue now

umkahlil had some interesting comments on her blog related to Laila's post.

al-falasteenyia talks about her zionist ordeal. She has watched a documentary followed by a debate during which Jewish blamed Palestinians for everything, including the holocaust.

umkahlil sheds some light on the Aliyah and how the blogosphere is reacting.

On the issue of US port operations being taken over by Dubai World Ports, Senator Lautenberg said: “We have to stand here together to fight against this occupation that could take place if we don't do something about it.” He continued, “We wouldn't transfer the title to the Devil; we're not going to transfer it to Dubai.”

“In case Apartheid wall-climbing becomes an official sport” says KABOBfest, Palestinians are training for the Olympics and al-falasteeniya predicts: green is the new pink.

On everything else…

Haitham Sabbah wrote about Islam being accused of encouraging violence in the light of the infamous Danish cartoons and what followed. Haitham thinks we all boil at different degrees :

please allow me to take some snapshots on other religions - Christianity and Judaism-, and see how they look at other religions and ethnicities. Then let’s compare that with present and see where all this leads to. Specially that all the present propaganda’s are suggesting that it is only Islam a religion of violence…

Earlier, Sabbah says an article in the Sunday Telegraph calls for Qur’an ban, and a Danish organization wants Islam outlawed. Commenting on the article, he says:

It is important to note that this article represents a new and more sinister development. Previously it was on Prophet Mohamed, this attack is on the revelation itself, and thus indicates a new and more dangerous front opened in the war on Islam and Muslims.

And while the Danish newspapers practice what they call freedom of speech against Islam and the Prophet, Haitham asks the Jews of this world not to be offended when they read this:

You have to admit Germany its clear right to rid itself of its Jews. But one must insist that it happens in a decent manner

On the Danish cartoons incident also, KABOBfest thinks that there's something rotten in Denmark:

Denmark's politicians claimed to worship the freedom of expression when “cartoonists” provoked worldwide unrest with hateful, poorly drawn caricatures of Islam's prophet…
Yet, a tee-shirt company selling clothes with leftist groups insignias is criminal activity?!?

On blogging, Haitham Sabbah writes about the war Main Stream Media has declared on blogging:

…I think it’s simply maturing a littleAnd this is what makes blogging more powerful, to an extant that the MSM is now trying to fightback. Not because they are the goodguys and we are the badguys, but because blogging is not good for their existence in the long run.

Naseem Tarawnah of The Black Iris of Jordan blogs has an article about what Palestinian women think of their future under Hamas leadership. Quoting one a political visionary in the female party's ranks:

There are traditions here that say that a woman should take a secondary role - that she should be at the back. But that is not Islam. Hamas will scrap many of these traditions. You will find women going out and participating

Eman of AquaCool, has been harassed through email, attacked and offended for being a Muslim. She responds by explaining what does the word Islam mean.

LULU of CafeLuLu, saw an Arab in her bathroom mirror. She expresses her frustration and shock as some Americans refer to Arabs as the devil:

Today, at this moment, I feel unwelcome. I feel unwanted and even hated, because of what I represent. It has officially happened; we have reached a time and place in history where Arabs and Muslims (and anyone who has the unfortunate luck of looking Arab and/or Muslim) can no longer be differentiated and seen in a separate light from terrorists and murderers. Our business dealings are viewed as suspicious, as our human, social, and even educational achievements are overlooked and dismissed.
Today it does not pay to be a Good Arab, today it pays to be a Dead Arab.

On the same issue, KABOBfest asks is it xenophobia, racism or zionism?

Sugar Cubes blogs a story by Democracy Now which says the US is expanding a secretive prison in Afghanistan. The secret prison is said to be worse than Guantanamo. Some detainees have been prisoned for three years but have not been charged with any crime.

From Arabesque Rhapsody, the son of Abu Hamza Al Masri, the jailed radical Islamist and imam is embracing rap music to praise Hizbuallah and Hamas.

The little things that matter…

Here's Tomorrow, an ongoing documentary which seeks to capture the reality of living in Baqa’a Refugee Camp, will be shown on Fri 3rd March, 7:30 PM at The McAusland Lounge, Liverpool Guild of Students as part of “Students Under Occupation” conference. The event is organised by the Liverpool University Friends of Palestine. Email: livfop@gmail.com for more details.

PSM (Palestine Solidarity Movement) Fifth Annual Divestment Conferece has taken place from February 17-19 in Washington DC, US attracting more than six hundred student and community activists from ninety different university and organization from across the US as mentioned in a report by The Hatchet.

Witnesses from KABOBfest, said JDL protesters and Israel alliances from Georgetown University failed to provoke conference attendees. Protesters flooded the activists with infamous chants, some of which included insults to Prophet Mohammed (blessings and peace be upon him).

Pro-Israel protester chanting “We love cartoons”. Photo credit: by KABOBfest

In the closing session, PSM Conference concluded by declaring the 30th of March as National Day of Divestment Action.

Summary on the conference can be found here. Full coverage of the confernce was provided on KABOBfest's Blog. Fifth Annual Divestment Conference has seen success on more than one level thanks to Georgetown University's solid efforts.

Dave from davereed.org attended the conference and wrote a comprehensive summary on Saturday's sessions offering his personal observations and opinions.

On the conference, Ramallah Online, blogs an article explaining how divestment can serve as a non-violent reply to oppression.

Haitham Sabbah writes about the new Israeli war crimes in Nablus and Balata Refugee Camp:

On Sunday over 30 Israeli vehicles, supported by encircling Apache helicopters, invaded the camp. They broke into several homes, turning them into military installations

The next morning, children threw stones on the Israeli military vehicles, soldiers returned the assault by shooting them from the very rooftops used to be theirs one day ago.

Sabbah adds:

The cruelest of the killings in this devastating period was that of two teenagers…

In the same post, Haitham says on the 24th of February, twenty Palestinians were injured most of them aged 12-22. Since the start of the incursion, eight Palestinians died. Only two Israeli soldiers reported injury compared to seventy civilians on the Palestinian side.

Ambulances and journalists obviously had no immune against what Sabbah describes by:

the Israeli Occupation Forces did not stop what it practice best; killing.

He then offers a link to last week report on Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.

On the same devastating news:

umkahlil urges you to write to your congressman. karmalised dedicates a post titled: “Israel Has No Shame” . ninathedog says the incursion is the largest and longest since the pullout from Gaza.
moomin13 of Postcards from Palestine, was there during the siege attack, she says:

It was I think I can say the scariest 3 das of my life but it's normal for the people there.

What we talk about…

KABOBfest suggests that we warm up for more dumb moves by the US, who is now supporting Israel in cutting off all aids to Palestinians after seeing the outcome of the Palestinian elections.

Ramallah Online, says act now! stop the hate speech. The Israel Project had launched an Ad campaign ironically named “Mothers of Peace”. The ad contains misleading, erroneous information about Palestinians and their lives. Ramallah Online adds:

Comcast needs to know that you feel this grossly discriminatory ad, sponsored by The Israel Project, depicting an entire race and generation of children as “hateful killing robots”, is a clear form of bigotry and racism! These ads are neither informative nor educational. They are simply promoting racist perceptions rather than facts.

Contact information of Comcast and a sample letter are provided here.

nasrawi talks about the ethnic discrimination and humliating treatment he received at the crossing border between Jordan Valey and Israel:

It was insulting and it stole my dignity. It made me strip my pants to my knees, walk around the building without shoes and jacket when external temperatures stood at 7 degrees, it went through personal messages and contacts on my cellphone unrelated to 'security', it refused to speak with Canadian Foreign Ministry Officials that I was in contact with, it made fun of Arabs, Muslims and the Middle East, and it made it a crime to speak Arabic.

nasrawi though, says he has no biases towards or against Israelis.

Daoud Kuttab talks about democracy in the Middle East and the US policy toward Hamas winning the elections recently.

Sugar Cubes talks about the Israeli soldier who shot 13 year-old Iman Al-Hams. The soldier identified as Captain R, was not only acquitted of all charges but has recently received a promotion to the rank of major. Read full transcript of the conversation between Captain R and the watchtower here.

The little things that matter…

Via KABOBfest, Palestine Remembered has started a project to record and collect stories of Palestinians who witnessed Al-Nakba (foundation of Israel and the dispossion of nearly 750,000 Palestinians on 1948). Its aim is to make an oral history which depicts the memories of Palestinian refugees before, during and after Al-Nakba. The site contains interviews of Palestinians who were only twelve when it all started.

Laila el-Haddad wrote a comprehensive report about the event in addition to her photostory on the views of nine Palestinians and what do they expect from the new government which she did for Al-Jazeera.

On the same subject, Haitham Sabbah writes and responds to some Israeli claims and accusations of Palestinian authorities not declaring the formal creation of Palestine yet.

News of the blogosphere…

From Beit-Sahour, Sami Abu-Zuhri, one of Hamas leaders said talks between Hamas and Russia are expected to take place later this month.

From Raising Yousuf:

One year ago this week, 10-year-old Noran Iyad Deeb was shot dead by an Israeli sniper while singing the national anthem and clapping her hands in her UN flagged school in Rafah.

A memorial to Noran, placed by her classmates last year. Photo credit: Raising Yousuf

From Beit-Sahour, four were arrested and taken to an unknown destination by Israeli soldiers at a permanent checkpoint and gate located at the western entrance of Al Fawwar, Al-Khalil (Hebron). In Beit Awwa village, west of Al-Khalil, hundreds were detained and five children were injured in Doura and Bani Neim by Israeli soldiers.

The church of England has voted for divesting its shares of £2.2 million from bulldozer manufacturer Caterpillar, says Ohoud of Arabesque Rhabsody refering to the news as being great and clearly announces Caterpillar a Caterkillar

What we talk about…

FADI of KABOBfest blogs a report by Israeli journalist Amira Hass in which she says the Israeli has completed the process cutting the eastern sector of the West Bank from the remaider of it during the “disengagement” from Gaza Strip. That part constitutes nearly one-third of the entire land.

Shaden of Sugar Cubes and Dave of davereed.org are outraged by the Israeli-American collaborative work to build “Museum of Tolerance” over an ancient Muslim cemetery in Al-Quds (Jerusalem).

umkahlil writes about CNN's irresponsible reporting. She says that Mark Lavie from AP reported that more than eight hundered Palestinian prisoners:

have been “pacified” in Ketziot prison because they get to watch CNN, a Jordanian channel and some Israeli stations.

Ketziot prison's policy has been set to ensure that prisoners “will not cause trouble and organize terror attacks from inside the prison”.

Haitham Sabbah says that the Israel News Agency decided to hijack Google to prevent:

Islam terrorist groups news Websites (as they claim) from reaching top positions in Google as a part of an SEO (Search Engine Optimization) contest.

From KABOBfest, Lee Kaplan, a zionist gone wild and launched a Website to:

launch his oft-fabricated accounts of PSM events and activists

The little things that matter…

From Sabbah's Blog, starting Mrach 1st a new Website called FriendWise will be indexing blogs in Palestine. FriendWise is a social networking community site which aims at staying a head of other newly coming out Websites like myspace.com.

Bil'in, which has been struggling non-violently for almost one year now, continues to be robbed by the Israeli occupational forces as the first anniversary of it's non-violent weekly protests (and another sad day) is fast approaching on the 20th of this month Februray, 2006.

Photo credit: International Solidarity Movement

News of the blogosphere…

Paradise Now is nominated for the Oscar, proudly has made it to be the first Palestinian film to ever be nominated for an Oscar in the best foreign film category.

Haitham Sabbah and Shaden were invited as delegates as well as panelists to Al-Jazeera Second Annual Forum held under the slogan “Defending Freedom, Defining Responsibility”. Haitham wrote about blogging and the focus it has gained in all the sessions, whereas Shaden posted pictures of her tour inside Al-Jazeera offices. Haitham has also wrote a very interesting post summerizing what happened and providing his thoughts.

Bil'in conference on Joint Nonviolent Struggle will take place in Bil'in, Al-Khalil (Hebron) on the 20 & 21 of Februray, 2006.

ISM asks, why did the state of Israel chose this specific route for the wall just near the Palestinian village of Bil’in, and why not move it westward closer to the nearby Jewish settlement of Modi’in Illit? People of Bil'in (Palestinians, Israeli and Internationals) demand an answer.

ISM coordinator in Al-Khalil (Hebron), asks that the Israeli government respects their commitment to Palestinians in Al-Khalil:

Since Hammas won in the Palestinian elections the entire world is putting conditions for dealing with the Hammas government. Here in Hebron we want to know why no one puts conditions on dealing with the Israeli Likud government?

From Ramallah Online, Israel to deport 40,000 in an attempt to judaize an-Naqab (the Negev).

What we talk about…

Ohoud of Arabesque Rhabsody like always has something artsy to blog, check out her Weekly Art Musing. Ohoud is a big fan of Iraqi art.

The Black Iris posts an intersting story about corrupted Palestinian officials who stole $700 million from the PA.

Palestine, Jordan and Israel, the crazy triangle?

… And I feel like that’s not really showing you the true madness of the situation. The “Holy Land” is so screwed up, so essentially weird, that there might as well be BBC journalists coming to checkpoints in the form of angels to abduct foreigners and take them on rides.

From ISM, filming settlers is provocative but how do Palestinians feel when being cut off by armed soldiers?

From KABOBfest, NABEEL reviews Looking For Comedy in the Muslim World suggesting that:

Just like the fact that the US should work on practicing democracy on the homefront before attempting to “export” it, Brooks should try working on actually being funny before going abroad looking for laughs from Muslims.

Jews sans frontiers posts an article from an American newspaper which says that:

Israel has worked for decades to drum into our consciousness the notion that “there is no partner for peace.”

The newspaper continues :

This places the blame for its military occupation on the shoulders of the very people it occupies

The little things that matter…

moomin13 is a Palestinian artist, moomin has made some postcards especially for:

Americans whose tax dollars are supporting the occupation

Photo credit: moomin13

He tells the story of the above postcard as follows:

Dear America, this is an illustration of something that happened to two friends of mine, Raad and Fadi as we were all trying to cross through Tayaseer checkpoint in the Jenin region of the West Bank. They were detained for about an hour, threatened with a beating and accused of being Hizballah terrorists. One of the soldiers told them they were “disgusting Arabs who deserve to be beaten and stay in jail.” You can read about this whole story here

Rachel Corrie An American Conscience is a film directed by Yahya Barakat. It's about the death of Rachel Corrie, who was killed on March 16 2003 by the Israeli occupational forces in Rafah. The film will be screened for the Bil’in Conference.

It's Laila el-Haddad's birthday! She spent a day full of surprises with her son Yousuf.

Sabbah is one of the finalists on Bloggies 2005 Weblog Awards.

Promises of Arabesque Rhapsody has suggested JordanPlanet's citizens form their own Book Club.
She's come up with another idea too, lets not buy the cockroaches shoes!

What we talk about…

On the elections

Laila el-Haddad of Raising Yousuf is reporting from Gaza on the approaching legislative Palestinian elections, in a series of posts for Guardian Unlimited, Laila described the situation in Gaza last week by being unusually quite.

This week, Laila said posters enveloped Gaza City as everyone has become a national hero while some marched down the streets shouting: “Thieves, thieves, you're all thieves” in reference to the ruling party.”Laila gave Fatah (Arabic) party a call to find some answers.

Three days ago, Laila updated saying that the situation is getting heated between Hamas and Fatah. She further talked about the recent bombing in Tel Aviv and its effect on the elections. She has estimated Hamas audience with no less than 50,000 whilst Fatah (Arabic) enjoyed only 20,000 Gazzan in the northern district.

While the 7,000 Palestinian prsioners forms a major group of interest to the different political parties, refugees who make up nearly two thirds of Gaza are being neglected, waiting for their 58-year-old problem to be solved and those who have rotten in camps outside of Israel can not vote. Laila's husband for instance, can not vote either because he holds a refugee permit. Palestinians with refugee permits are not allowed to enter Palestine in the first place.

On elections too, Daoud Kuttab wrote a very informative post describing the situation in Palestine.

Everything else

From umkahlil, Multi-millionaire owner of a chain of hair salons and founder of “Friends of the Israel Defense Forces” have raised 4 million dollars till the day to benefit the “IDF” (Isreali military forces). By the way, Israel's prime minister bureau chief Dov Weisglass plans to ask the US for a 10 billion dollars aid.

umkahlil has something to say to Zionists both the religious and secular of them, and tells the story of young beautiful Fatima who struggled with chemotherapy under occupation.

FADI blogger of KABOBfest sent a letter to Georgetown student newspaper the Hoya in response to the fabrications and lies of Bill Levinson in regard of the ISM and PSM being the same organization, claiming that the PSM is advocating violence and terrorism. FADI added that Levinson had previously written that “Israel should expel the two-legged locusts and annex all the occupied territory. To hell with these vermin.”

From KABOBfest aslo, an article about the economical boycott of Israel which has and continues to spread in Europe despite of the pressure and threats activists are getting from the United States administration and the possibility of being tried in the UK just like these protesters.

The little things that matter…

Here's Tomorrow is part one of a continuing documentary project which focuses on the issue of the Palestinian refugees living in the largest refugee camp in Jordan: Baqa’a Refugee Camp. The documentary is an introductory film which shows the life, hopes and views of those who fleed to Jordan in 1967 (the year of Naksa).

Abu Assad and Abu Sitta, two men with so much pain resorted to beauty in fighting the beast.

Last week Haitham Sabbah started a pledge to request some blog services add Palestine to their country list. Two blog services have responded positively until the day.

From KABOBfest, some cool PFLP (Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine) T-shirt are available here, get yours now.

This week, Laila says posters enveloped Gaza City as everyone has become a national hero while some marched down the streets shouting: “Thieves, thieves, you're all thieves” in reference to the ruling party.”. Laila gave Fatah (Arabic) party a call to find some answers, read her full story here

Laila from Raising Yousuf reports that the big day of elections is less than two weeks away. She has been recruited by the Guardians Unlimited to write about the elections in a series of posts.

From Ramallah Online, in Palestinian village of Al-Walaja people still live under the same conditions caused by Al-Nakba nearly 54 years ago. The Isreali military forces attackd the village and bulldozed Palestinians properties declaring the area to be a closed military zone.

From KABOBfest, the Palestine Solidarity Movement will hold its fifth annual conference at Georgetown University, Washington, DC from the 17th - 19th of Febreuary, 2006. The spokesperson of PSM, Nadeem Muaddi said the divestment from Israel has become a national concern.

Norwegians activists are under attack from Israel's supporters in the US and Condoleeza Rice threatens with serious political consequences.

What we talk about…

On Ariel Sharon's health condition:

SteamedPenguin at the beginning, was afraid Sharon would die quickly, then he was afraid Sharon would live.

KABOBfest's blogger Will's post number 400 was also about Sharon, Will says he was surprised not to see any news about Sharon's health on Yahoo frontpage sidebar.

Laila of Raising Yousuf wonders what will Sharon say when he meets all his peaces on his final day, what will he say to his Maker?

Sugar Cubes compared the poor media coverage of Arafat's sickness and death to the excessive focus of MSM on Sharon's health and hospitalization. From Arafat to Sharon and recently Abramoff, who decides what's a top story?

Photo Credit: Raising Yousuf

From peacepalestine, in a letter from Al Jazeera camerman who is improsined in Guantanamo, Sami Al-Hajj, he asks a question which he can not get out of his mind, why are they punishing him?. Sami was tied to a wire out in the cold, standing all day on his feet just because he asked to go to the bathroom, feeling desperate he eventually soiled his trousers “to the enjoynment of the soldiers and whores watching“.

SteamedPenguin, thinks that Taliban = USA : “So I figure a dark hegemonical backwards empire beating up against misogynist, homophobic, anti-education, anti-progress goat-fucking clowns equals itself out.”

Sugar Cubes tried to shed some light on blogging in Arabic.

Read nasrawi talking about his date with Kamanche.

The little things that matter…

Haitham Sabbah has started a campaign to ask blog services to recognize and list Palestine in their countries category. If a blog service does not recognize Palestine intentionally the pledge states that its supporters will not use it.

From Sugar Cubes, Arab-American author and radio show host Samar Jarrah appeared on a Fox News‘ segment called “Your Turn” as a special guest on “Dialogue Between Arabs and Americans” to talk about her book “Arab Voices Speak to American Hearts”, you can read a review of her book here. Samar did a fabulous job tackling different controversial topics of interest to the average American when it comes to Islam and the Arab World. She explained the difference between Islam and culture and talked about women in Islam. About Palestine, Samar says that Arabs still have the question of Palestine in their hearts even after september 11, the Afghanistan and war on Iraq, and they are still looking for a peacefull solution for the Palestine-Isreal conflict. Read the written interview here

From Sabbah's Blog, a member of the US Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation are trying to educate the U.S. public by airing Public Service Announcements (PSA’s) on several TV stations. The campaign aims at educating the American public on the human rights conditions in the holy land of Palestine and the daily misfortune Palestinians are going through. Imagine Life, as a Palestinian Campain has also made a complimentary film called Peace, Propaganda and the Promised Land.