2009 Video Selections – updated 31 Dec 2009

A selection of video clips: 2009 – news, history, and more. Read more »

Josh Stump: Gaza Freedom March Madness – Day Three

Cairo is currently experiencing civil disobedience, Western style… The fight is now with the Egyptian government and, according to Code Pink, their own embassies’ intransigence. Read more »

Tom Segev: The Makings of History / Names befitting the stations

Like many of the names that Israel assigned to the new streets in the eastern part of [Jerusalem], the militaristic names that the rapid-transit stops are supposed to bear reflect the situation accurately: occupation.

IOA Editor: As Segev points out, the renaming of streets and transit stops reflects the Occupation. But he leaves a great deal out: The Renaming of Palestine is an important last part of a process, specifically designed to erase the past, thus enabling the re-Making of History as the victor would like future generations to know it. The current story is only the latest example. After 1948, nearly 500 Palestinian villages were removed: not only were they physically obliterated by the then-young State of Israel, but their names were either erased (from all maps and road signs) or “Hebraized” – turned into Hebrew. This is an important, and sinister, element in the historical process generally known as Ethnic Cleansing. For Israel it means This land is ours, and ours alone. Read more »

Hamas leader to Israeli activists: You strengthen us

Ismail Haniyeh: “The Palestinian nation will never give up its national aspirations or its right to Jerusalem, the capital of Palestine and the Islamic people,” [speaking] to the 300 Israeli activists positioned at the Erez crossing via Israeli Arab MK Taleb A-Sana’s mobile phone. On the Gazan side of the border, nearly 100 international activists joined about 500 Palestinians, chanting and carrying signs denouncing the blockade.

IOA Editor: Shame on the Egyptian government for collaborating with Israel and with the Obama Administration, severely limiting the non-violent Gaza protest which drew wide international support.

More on the Gaza protest: Boycott / Protest / Resistance Read more »

Protests held against Gaza siege

Activists, both from Gaza and abroad, have held demonstrations on either side of an Israeli border crossing to the Palestinian territory, protesting against its continued siege by Israel. Read more »

Israeli Government supports Kiryat Netafim houses built without permits

The state on Wednesday asked the High Court of Justice to reject a petition filed by Peace Now against construction of 15 houses in the West Bank settlement of Kiryat Netafim and said it would complete detailed planning which would pave the way for the authorities to grant building permits for the homes. Read more »

Jerusalem Mayor: US criticism won’t halt construction in city

[A]ccording to a senior official in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s bureau, “everything was carried out with transparency vis-a-vis the Americans, even if there are disagreements.”

IOA Editor: Indeed. The Obama Administration is well aware of Israeli development activities in Jerusalem and the Occupied Territories and is not doing what it can, and should, do to stop it. Read more »

Larry Derfner: Rattling the Cage – A taboo question for Israelis

It’s not that we can’t imagine life in Gaza. It’s that we are determined not to try to imagine. If we did, we might not stop there. Next we might try to imagine what it would be like if our country were in the condition in which we left Gaza. And sooner or later we might try to imagine what we would do if we were living over here like they’re living over there. Or not even what we would do, just what we would think – about the people, about the country, that did that to us and that wouldn’t even allow us to begin to recover after the war was over. Read more »

Khaled Amayreh: Awaiting a miracle from Washington

The Palestinian Authority may be seeking renewed talks with Israel even in the absence of an Israeli freeze on settlements. Read more »

Shin Bet: 2009 had lowest terror levels in Israel this decade

The Shin Bet credits the low number on the ability of Israeli security forces to thwart attacks, as well as efforts by Palestinian security organizations… The report also noted that Hamas was reigning in activities of the Islamic Jihad terrorist organization in Gaza. Read more »