Uri Avnery, a Jewish immigrant from Germany to Israel, worked alone most of his life – not by choice, but because of his insistence on reconciliation with a people that no one else cared to reconcile with.
Israel has discerning taste in news: it prefers headlines that make Palestinians sound like instigators and terrorists – and when they don’t, a few well-placed phone calls or tweets will usually do the trick. Mainstream media lives in Israel’s pocket. Alternative news sources are the lifeblood of truth, especially when it comes to the Israel/Palestine issue.
Israeli water policy is diabolical: the water table beneath the West Bank is being siphoned off by Israel and rationed to Palestinian farmers, sold at exorbitant prices; Israeli soldiers destroy water pipes and greenhouses; Israel walls off the Jordan River itself from Palestinian use; and water is piped away from refugee camps into illegal settlements.
Amid all this injustice, Palestinians carry on with patience and dignity. To exist is to resist.
Evacuation is another form of Jewish Israeli privilege, based on the myth of vulnerability (Israel’s borders are secure) and existential threat (Israel has one of the most powerful armies in the world, and is in no danger of annihilation).
Overnight on August 8-9, Israeli warplanes bombed the Water and Sanitation system for al-Mughraqa City in Gaza.
In recent weeks, Israel has targeted unarmed protesters, medics, journalists, & children, but also symbols of Palestinian art and culture, incl. 5-story Al-Meshal Cultural Center.
Though in the past 4 months Israel has killed over 160 Palestinians & Hamas has killed 2 Israelis, Israel felt it was time for an all-out airstrike against Gaza. At least 140 bombs were dropped, killing a pregnant mother, 23, and her 18 month old daughter…
Israeli settlers – protected by military – demolished 2 homes on a church compound, although the owner had a court order protecting the property, & his belongings were still inside.
Water and freedom are commodities that Palestinians are sorely lacking. Israel is building barricades in the sea, shooting at fishermen, and denying access to fresh water.
Israel’s government is withholding medical exit permits from Gazans as a bargaining chip to get IDF soldier Hadar Goldin’s remains back from Hamas.