This news story will not be news to anyone bothering to read the Israeli papers as Israel was attacking Gaza last winter. IDF spokespeople made it very clear Israel was going to privilege Jewish soldiers’ lives over any concerns about war crimes. This argument is, in fact, part of the Goldstone report’s case [...]
After months of dawdling, Israel finally completed its UN assignment right at the deadline. Well, not really. As the UN mandated timeframe for investigating IDF crimes in Gaza was coming to a close, the Israeli government handed over a partially finished document that summarized the homework already done and the homework it intends [...]
One terrible consequence of Israeli (and Western) racism toward Arabs is that a number of what should be unnecessary defenses of Arab behavior must be made. I don’t want to be in the position of defending Hamas, for example, and yet the absurd caricature of that complex organization must be countered.
Ditto on the recent [...]
Sitting in my hand is Alan Dershowitz’s official critique of the Goldstone Report. I am going to devote time in the near future to rebutting some of the ridiculous claims he makes. To foreshadow my criticisms, Dershowitz’s primary tactic is to exaggerate willfully the claims made by the Goldstone report so he can [...]
In today’s Ha’aretz, Bradley Burnston writes an op-ed in which he fulminates against the critics of Israel’s current mission in Haiti. He starts by saying “thank you” to the IDF medical team, continues by saying “That’s it”, suggesting that’s all he wants to say, and then launches into a tirade against “Israel bashers.” [...]
Dear Haitians, forgive me for using your current and historical suffering to make a political point about a distant land. Nothing I say is intended to diminish your real suffering and remarkable steadfastness in the face of often externally created adversity. Given your history, there is a strong comparison to be made with [...]
Sisters Reem (15) and Ameera (10) are two of seven children living in a small house close to the Israeli border in northern Gaza. Their mother Naema was five months pregnant with their baby sister Habiba when she had to flee during the Israeli offensive. Her children talk about how the military operation affected them [...]
Meet Mohammed, a twelve-year old Palestinian boy struggling to cope with his fears imprinted during last year’s Israel assault on Gaza. It will require exactly four minutes of your time.
Child's Eye: One year on with the children of Gaza
From The Guardian (UK).
When the pimply-faced Israeli teenager is staring at the computer screens linked to the drones’ cameras, it is far too easy to forget what are the colored pixels on the screen.
We must never allow ourselves to disconnect ourselves from the human tragedies associated with the policies we advocate.
Hammad, 24, recalls the [...]
When Israel was destroying Gaza in December 2008, Obama was preparing to take office as president. Progressives around the world turned to him to use his surging diplomatic power to pressure Israel to end the massacre. He stayed silent, for days and weeks, the negative space created by his newfound lack of words [...]