Heated Facebook discussions often end badly, sometimes involving a Hitler comparison or two. Recently I had one that ended surprisingly well, with all the parties friending each other. But it was quite heated nonetheless. The subject was some recent comments by Norman Finkelstein. read more
Our Articles
January 13th, 2010 - 1:39 pm § by tom § in Uncategorized
Privileged Pessimism: On the Israeli Mainstream
Contrary to popular belief, Marx never used the term “false consciousness”. He assumed that what prevented the disadvantaged from revolting was usually the “dull compulsion of economic relations” – the simple need to make a living (quoted in Scott’s fascinating Domination and the Arts [...]
January 8th, 2010 - 5:01 pm § by tom § in Uncategorized
The Israeli Experience Mystique
Here we go again: a Jewish American friend of mine posted a critique of Israeli policy in Gaza on her Facebook profile. Immediately, she got bullied: “I’m there right now and it’s very easy to post things on your facebook without having any first hand encounters. Rather than copyin[...]
Imagining Return
Dedicated to my comrades in Students for Justice in Palestine I should have taken your email! People were all around us at the rally, shouting and singing, I really wanted to talk to someone but I didn’t notice how well you were listening, how you had patience to talk to me and read t[...]
Turning Banners Into Flags: Thoughts from Palestine/Israel on Solidarity and Exclusion
This post comes to us from our activist friend Lior Hadar, who is currently in Israel/Palestine doing justice work with different organizations and groups. In this post he reflects on the borders people place on themselves, from the UC colleges to Israel/Palestine. A man once walked into a Black Lau[...]
Learning About 1948
I remember when I bought my first copy of Benny Morris’ book on the Birth of the Refugee Problem. It was book-week in Rabin Square, Tel Aviv, over ten years ago, all lit up and bustling with crowds of people. I didn’t know what to expect: a part of me didn’t want to know, really [.[...]
Bookmarks
Robert Fisk: In the West Bank’s stony hills, Palestine is slowly dying | Israeli Occupation Archive
the result is simple: even without demolition orders, Palestinians cannot build in 70 per cent of Area C.Along one road, I discovered a series of large concrete blocks erected by the Israeli army in front of Palestinian shacks. “Danger – Firing Area” was printed on each in Hebrew, Arabic and E[...]
Female soldiers break their silence | Israeli Occupation Archive
“A female combat soldier needs to prove more…a female soldier who beats up others is a serious fighter…when I arrived there was another female there with me, she was there before me…everyone spoke of how impressive she is because she humiliates Arabs without any problem. That was the indicat[...]
Meron Benvenisti: The Inevitable Bi-national Regime | Israeli Occupation Archive
It is no longer arguable; the question is not if a binational entity be established but rather what kind of entity will it be. The historical process that began in the aftermath of the 1967 War brought about the gradual abrogation of the partition option, if it ever existed. Hence, bi-nationalism is[...]
The Zionization of Disaster Relief | Tikun Olam-תקון עולם: Make the World a Better Place
Didn’t know there was anything particularly Zionist about providing disaster relief? You learn something new every day. This is a story of exploiting the suffering of poor, defenseless Haitians on behalf of Israeli triumphalism. via The Zionization of Disaster Relief | Tikun Olam-תקון עול[...]
ei: Villages challenge occupation on human rights day
These actions — intended to harass and disrupt the education of children — expose the true nature of Israel's occupation. Schoolchildren under the age of 12 and their teachers are not a security threat to Israel and the reason that they are harassed by the army has nothing to do wit[...]
Neve Gordon: Breaking Palestine’s peaceful protest | Israeli Occupation Archive
Thus, my answer to those who ask about a Palestinian “Peace Now” is that a peaceful grassroots movement has always existed. At Abdallah Abu Rahmah’s trial next Tuesday one will be able to witness some of the legal methods that have consistently been deployed to destroy it. via Neve Gordon: Bre[...]
ei: Gaza Freedom March less than one month away
We also have families of three generations, doctors, lawyers, diplomats, 70 students, an interfaith group that includes rabbis, priests and imams, a women's delegation, a Jewish contingent, a veterans group and Palestinians born overseas who have never seen their families in Gaza. via ei: Gaza [...]
Nepal: Land of the Landless, Government of Non-Governments
In Hebrew, Nepal is still referred to as a “poor country,” but in English development practitioners have long ago adopted the much nicer sounding term “impoverished.” Progress seems to have come to the very discourse of progress itself. But in my bilingual program Tevel Be’Tzedek (The Eart[...]