Year: 2012

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Why the Self-Defense Doctrine Doesn’t Legitimize Israel’s Assault on Gaza

Khamakar News Agency

Supporting all aspects of the Israeli assault on Gaza in November,President Obama gave Israeli forces a green light, saying “We are fully supportive of Israel’s right to defend itself.” Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu defended Israel’s targeting of civilian areas in Gaza saying “it’s our right to defend our people.” Obama and Netenyahu disregarded law and facts: * In 2004, the International Court of Justice rejected Israeli Government arguments and found that as an occupying power, Israel’s right to defend itself under a UN Charter provision does not apply against those living under its rule. * The Court found that the right, and indeed … Continue reading Why the Self-Defense Doctrine Doesn’t Legitimize Israel’s Assault on Gaza

Revolution Palestine4 Comments

‘Save Samer, he is dying’: Samer Issawi and the plight of Palestinian hunger strikers

Khamakar News Agency

Samer’s father Tariq, and sister Shireen, holding a photo of Samer in the family’s East Jerusalem home Today, Wednesday the 26th, I woke up thinking of the last episode in Samer’s story; of his heart; of his mother; and of an innocent family. He has been charged with spurious charges and denied a fair trial in the Israeli military courts. Now, he has been on hunger strike for 152 days, deprived of his freedom and proper medical care. I have lived in Gaza “the biggest prison” since my childhood. Yet I cannot envisage the situation of Samer’s small cell. Indeed, there … Continue reading ‘Save Samer, he is dying’: Samer Issawi and the plight of Palestinian hunger strikers

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In Syria, “father of martyrs” speaks of revenge

Khamakar News Agency

After losing three sons and two grandsons, 70-year-old Abdelhalim Haj Omar has no doubt about the fate he wants for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. “I hope Bashar, God willing, doesn’t die until they slaughter his whole family in front of him and they bring him here so that all of Syria can get their revenge from him,” he says in the Syrian town of Azaz, on the border with Turkey. “He destroyed the country and killed its people,” he adds, speaking in his carpentry workshop where stacks of wood are piled up next to finished wooden door frames. Omar is not … Continue reading In Syria, “father of martyrs” speaks of revenge

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IOF Troops Raid Hebron, Distribute Demolition Warnings

Khamakar News Agency

On Wednesday 26th December, around Israeli forces raided several neighbourhood in Hebron at dawn, and surrounded a house near the Hebron University. Security sources said that around 40 soldiers raided several neighbourhood in Hebron including; Ein Sarah, As-Salam Street, al-Jam’a neighbourhood and Ra’s al-Joura area. The forces also distributed demolition warnings to demolish five houses belonged to Farajallah family in the village of Ethna, west of Hebron. (english.pnn.ps / 26.12.2012) Continue reading IOF Troops Raid Hebron, Distribute Demolition Warnings

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Report: Israel expects more EU pressure in 2013

Khamakar News Agency

A protester holds the Palestinian flag with the settlement Halamish in the background during clashes between protesters and Israeli soldiers in Nabi Saleh on Dec. 21. TEL AVIV, Israel (Ma’an) — Israel fears the European Union will step up efforts to pressure it and the Palestinians into an agreement in 2013, according to a government document quoted Wednesday in Israeli media. Israel’s Haaretz newspaper said the report states that the Europeans may try to promote the establishment of an actual Palestinian state independent of negotiations with Israel. The document was compiled following last month’s UN vote to recognize Palestine as a non-member … Continue reading Report: Israel expects more EU pressure in 2013

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Fatah’s revolutionary council to meet

Khamakar News Agency

RAMALLAH (Ma’an) — Fatah’s revolutionary council will meet in Ramallah on Wednesday to discuss party matters and national issues, the council’s deputy-secretary said. President Mahmoud Abbas and central committee members will join the meeting, Fahmi al-Zarir said, adding that 10 council members from Gaza were prevented from attending by Israel. Al-Zahir said in a statement that the council would discuss the next phase of the national struggle in light of Palestine’s admission to the UN and Israeli settlement expansion, as well as the financial crisis. The council will also discuss internal party matters, al-Zahir said. The senior Fatah official said … Continue reading Fatah’s revolutionary council to meet

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Soennieten Irak protesteren tegen sjiitische regering

Khamakar News Agency

Duizenden soennitische Irakezen zijn woensdag de straat opgegaan in Anbar. Met de betogingen proberen de soennieten druk uit te oefenen op de overwegend sjiitische regering, die hen zou proberen te marginaliseren. Het was het derde grote protest in Anbar in een week. De demonstraties volgen op de arrestatie van tien lijfwachten van minister van financiën Rafia al-Issawi vorige week. Al-Issawi komt uit Anbar en is een van de hoogstgeplaatste soennieten in de Iraakse regering. Volgens de regering heeft het hoofd van de lijfwachten toegegeven betrokken te zijn bij terreuraanvallen. De betogers verzamelden zich langs een snelweg die Bagdad verbindt met … Continue reading Soennieten Irak protesteren tegen sjiitische regering

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PCHR submits an Individual Complaint to the UN Special Rapporteur on Adequate Housing

Khamakar News Agency

On 24 December 2012, the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR) made a written submission, in the form of an Individual Complaint, to Ms. Raquel Rolnik, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Adequate Housing as a component of the right to an adequate standard of living, and on the right to non-discrimination in this context, which draws attention to the case of Mr. Mahmoud Nimee Al Bahtiti (62) from Tel-al-Hawa, Gaza City, Gaza Strip (Palestine). As a part of the Israeli offensive on Gaza Strip, Operation Pillar of Defense, on 16 November 2012 the Israeli Air Force twice bombarded the building … Continue reading PCHR submits an Individual Complaint to the UN Special Rapporteur on Adequate Housing

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The Battle of Algiers: historical truth and filmic representation

Khamakar News Agency

The bitter divisions within the FLN are ignored. Instead, Gillo Pontecorvo, in his 1966 film, The Battle of Algiers, presents the war uniquely in terms of the FLN against the French paratroopers. We begin a new series exploring the many facets of this remarkable film. The ‘Battle of Algiers’ was a pivotal event in the Algerian War of Independence.  Taking place in the tiny backstreets and alleys of the Algiers Casbah from the summer of 1956 through to October 1957, the fighting set the Front de Libération Nationale (FLN) against the elite paratroopers of the French Army. To call it a battle, however, is … Continue reading The Battle of Algiers: historical truth and filmic representation

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Israel approves another 1,200 settlement units around Jerusalem

Khamakar News Agency

Plan brings total approvals to 5,500 in just over a week as right urges Binyamin Netanyahu to drop two-state solution pledge Binyamin Netanyahu, who is said to be under pressure to drop a commitment to a two-state solution from his election platform. Israel has given the green light for the fast-track development of a further 1,200 settlement units around Jerusalem. It brings the total number of new approvals to 5,500 in just over a week, the largest wave of proposed expansion in recent memory. The latest plan, which would see almost 1,000 new apartments built over Jerusalem’s green line in Gilo, … Continue reading Israel approves another 1,200 settlement units around Jerusalem