Netanyahu is poised to deport 38,000 African refugees, claiming they are merely “infiltrators.” Some agree; others want a more compassionate approach – one that says, “never again means never again.” And what is the next logical step?
Ahed Tamimi trial begins. The charge: making IDF look weak, Israel look like a bully
Ahed Tamimi is on trial to show that Israel is tough; but what they don’t want to show is the cruelty of the occupation – especially toward children – and the wild disproportion of punishment to “crime.”
Israeli forces shut down event honoring Palestinian teachers in East Jerusalem
The Palestinian Directorate of Education organized a celebration to honor retired Palestinian teachers, but Israeli forces raided the event and sent everyone home.
Notorious’ Israeli settlers attempt to kidnap Palestinian children
Israeli settlers from the fanatical Yitzhar settlement allegedly attempted to kidnap two Palestinian children as they raided the nearby village of Madma.
Michael Oren’s Conspiratorial Hasbara Is More Common Than You Think
Michael Oren is currently known for his conspiracy theory that Ahed Tamimi might be a “plant” sent to Nabi Saleh to make Israel look bad. Oren has a history of spouting such theories – and he is just one of many who would rather believe far-fetched fantasies about Palestinians rather than face the truth that Israel has blood on its hands.
Like a Safari: Israeli Troops in Jeeps Hunt a Palestinian Teen and Shoot Him in the Head
A boy who threw stones at IDF jeeps suffered the punishment of execution by a soldier; it was the third time in recent weeks that soldiers aimed at stone-throwers’ heads.
Wilkerson says ‘Israel’s security’ was motive for Iraq war– though not in NYT op-ed
Retired Colonel Lawrence Wilkerson had a piece in the New York Times on Monday, in which he discussed the parallels between the runup to the Iraq war and the direction things are going with Iran. He identified the source of pro-war analysis as the Foundation for Defense of Democracies – but stopped short of explaining that this organization is “the neoconservative wing of the Israel lobby.” The next day, in another interview, he was eager to talk about this connection. Does NYT self-censor?
Santa Claus in Palestine
A Palestinian woman who now lives in the US recalls growing up in simpler times, without an awareness of the differences in religions. Christmastime – and Santa – were for everyone. But times have changed, and Jerusalem has changed, especially since Trump’s announcement.
Associated Press Double Standard in Israel-Palestine Reporting
A study of AP’s 2018 reports on Palestinians and Israelis killed found that AP headlines reported on Israeli deaths at a rate four times greater than on Palestinian deaths, and that articles were almost three times longer. Essential information was often missing; never once, for example, did AP use the term “occupied” or “occupation”…
I Helped Sell the False Choice of War Once. It’s Happening Again.
Lawrence Wilkerson, former chief of staff to Colin Powell, recalls his work to invent a case for “pre-emptive” war against Iraq. It worked like a charm – ultimately at a high cost in lives, financially, and in destabilization of the whole region. Wilkerson argues that Nikki Haley and the Trump administration are doing the same thing today, only with even weaker evidence. The result could be “10 to 15 times worse than the Iraq war in terms of casualties and costs.”