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03/12/2020
| | Carmiel is a Jewish city,’ court tells Arab students seeking transportation
Aaron Boxerman - Times of Israel - The city of Carmiel in northern Israel was
originally founded in the 1960s as part of a government attempt to
expand the Jewish presence in the Galilee, where Arabs made up most
of the population. But in recent years the city had seen a growing
influx of upper-middle class Arab professionals, by now making up
about 6% of the city`s population - around 2,760 people. There is,
however, no Arabic-language school inside the city, forcing Arab
parents to send their children to various schools in the
area`s Arab towns. Attorney Nizar Bakri, a Carmiel resident, filed a
lawsuit on behalf of his brother Qassem and his two nephews,
demanding that the Carmiel municipality pay for the children`s
transportation. However, judge Yaniv Luzon of the Krayot
Magistrate’s Court dismissed the appeal out of hand, writing that
"The construction of an Arabic-language school or providing
transportation for Arab students could change the demographic
balance and the character of the city". Judge Luzon cited the
controversial 2018 "Nation-State Law", which says that “the right to
exercise national self-determination in the State of Israel is
unique to the Jewish people” and “advancing Jewish settlement is a
national value, to be encouraged and advanced". Bakri, the attorney who filed the
lawsuit, deemed the judge’s final point “far from the matter at hand
and racist”, and intends to appeal to a higher court. Meanwhile, the
Supreme Court is soon due to hear appeals against the entire "Nation
State Law". Actually, the Carmiel ruling could serve that appeal,
providing proof that the law could be construed as legitimizing the
outright discrimination of Arab citizens, giving to the lie to
apologists for Nation State Law who assert that it is "merely a
symbolic declaration with no practical effect." [ak] | | | App makes killing Palestinians as easy as ordering pizzas
David Cronin - Electronic Intifada - The app would allow a commander to type details about a target on a small electronic device and then troops would open fire on that target swiftly - as easy as ordering a pizza from the smartphone. It has been developed by the Israeli arms maker Elbit Systems.
For several months, Elbit has been the focus of protests organized by the group Palestine Action in Britain.
The protests – which have included temporary shutdowns of an Elbit-owned plant near Birmingham and invasions of the firm’s London offices – have evidently irritated Israel and its lobbyists. An Israeli minister is reported to have asked that the British government suppress them. [bz] | | | Biden’s Opportunity To End The Israeli-Palestinian Conflict
Alon Ben-Meir - For Biden to succeed where his predecessors failed,
he must repair the severe damage that Trump has inflicted on the
entire peace process and restore the Palestinians’ confidence in a
new negotiation that could, in fact, lead to a permanent solution.
Preliminary measures should include reestablish the PLO mission in
Washington, resuming the financial aid that the Palestinians had been
receiving from the US, informing the Israeli government of his total
objection to any further annexation of Palestinian territories and
insist that Israel impose a temporary freeze on the expansion of
settlements. The American embassy should remain in Jerusalem, but
with the firm declaration that Jerusalem`s final status will be
determined in negotiation. Hamas should be formally invited to
participate in the negotiations, jointly with the PA or separately,
but provided they renounce violence and recognize Israel’s right to
exist. Unlike Trump’s envoys who openly supported the settlements
and paid little or no heed to the Palestinians’ aspirations, Biden’s
envoys should be known for their integrity, professionalism, and
understanding of the intricacies of the conflict, and be committed
to a two-state solution. Saudi and German official observers should
be invited to take part, who can render significant help in their
unique capacity as leading Arab and European powers.[ak] | | | Settlers invade Sebastia archeological site
IMEMC - A large number of Israeli religious-nationalist settlers
invaded the archeological site in the Palestinian town of Sebastia,
north of Nablus. The settlers were accompanied by many soldiers, who
closed off the entire area and prevented Palestinians from entering.
According to Sebastia Mayor Mohammad Azem, such settler incursions
are frequent events, greatly disrupting daily
life in the town - especially since soldiers coming to protect the
settlers also often storm homes, abduct Palestinians, and attack
protesters. [The settlers claim the
archeological site as "part of the Jewish historical heritage"
though in fact the Bible describes the place as a sinful city built
by an idolater King, and its inhabitants were definitely NOT
among the ancestors of today`s Jews. [ak] | | | Why would the government of Israel undermine the legacy of Yad Vashem?
Michael Berenbaum - Forward - The proposed nomination of Effie Eitam
to head Yad Vashem would irrevocably wound Israel and the Jewish
people’s memorial to the Holocaust.So why is Mr. Eitam such an
affront to the field? Because soldiers under his command beat and
killed captive Palestinian prisoners. An IDF report wrote: “Eitam’s
violent behavior became the norm [in his brigade] and was taken as an
example by those under his command.” He was reprimanded by the IDF
and denied a promotion. As a National Religious Party MK between 2003
and 2009, Mr. Eitam repeatedly called for the expulsion of the Arabs
of Judea and Samaria. In 2008, he addressed the Arab MKs in Knesset
and said, “Fellow citizens of Israel, the day will come when we will
banish you from this house.” He advocated ethnic cleansing, as did
Meir Kahane, who was expelled from the Knesset for his racism.
Everyone in Holocaust Studies knows ethnic cleansing is one of the
elements of genocide outlawed by the International Convention. (rh) | | | In His Darkest Hour, Netanyahu Is on the Road to His Greatest Victory
Yossi Verter - Haaretz - Benjamin Netanyahu wants the next general
election to happen on June 29. That’s five months before he’d be
evicted from the prime minister’s residence under the agreement with
Benny Gantz to rotate the premiership. Hundreds of thousands of
Israelis will have been vaccinated, hundreds of thousands more will
be on the waiting list, businesses will be reviving and unemployment
will be dropping.This is his dream calendar date. Theoretically, it
will be possible if the Knesset postpones approval of the 2021 state
budget to the latest date possible under the law, March 31. To that
end, Netanyahu needs the consent of his coalition partner. Gantz
might be naive in the good sense of the word, but not to that extent.
His gut is pushing him to break up the game now. Quickly. Next week.
In two weeks. His head – and character – are stopping him.(rh) | | | Yes, the Left Should Talk to Trump Supporters
VINCENT EMANUELE - Counterpunch - If we’re serious about defeating the
dictatorship of capital and the horrors of U.S. empire, left-wing
activists, writers, and organizers should be very clear: there is
absolutely no way to avoid talking and organizing with Trump supporters.
It’s not easy, but in many contexts, it’s already happening.(rh) | | | Inside Trump and Netanyahu’s ‘end of season’ settlement bonanza
Daniel Seidemann - +972mag - The run-up to the inauguration of U.S.
President-elect Joe Biden has witnessed a flurry of non-routine
settlement activity in the occupied territories. These range from a
surge in West Bank settlement announcements, to fast-track eviction
proceedings against the areas targeted by settlers in the East
Jerusalem neighborhoods of Silwan and Sheikh Jarrah, to a spike in
home demolitions. None of this is being done in stealth, as Secretary
of State Mike Pompeo’s highly touted visit to a settlement last week
would indicate. Everything is happening in broad daylight.(rh) | | | ‘Refusing to serve in the army is my small act of making change’
Oren Ziv - +972mag - Hillel Rabin spent 56 days in military prison for
refusing to serve in the IDF. Now she opens up about her time behind
bars, conversations with her fellow inmates, and talking to young
Israelis about the occupation. (rh)
| | | There`s nothing `normal` about this: Even if Trump reluctantly leaves office, immense damage has been done
Chauncey DeVega and Salon - Alternet -
Is Donald Trump still attempting a coup with the intention of
remaining in power indefinitely? Yes. "I quit" is a phrase that does
not appear in the authoritarian`s handbook. Trump has announced his
coup in public, which is a major reason why most people are not
taking it seriously.(rh) | | | For previous articles since 2004 go to respective sections | |
Recommended articles
| | Edo Konrad:How did Israeli pundits become more right-wing than Fox News? | | Gideon Spiro:
Gideon Spiro on looting of Palestinian property
| | Mor Gilboa:Israel’s climate justice movement has a colonialism problem | | Aaron Boxerman:Despite pandemic, East Jerusalem on track for record number of home demolitions | | Meron Rapoport:Netanyahu’s authoritarian rule is turning Israelis against the state | | Nkosi Zwelivelile Mandela:How Israel`s lobbyists occupied Mandela`s legacy | | Suha Arraf:Home gardening plants seeds for Palestinian self-sufficiency | | Mondoweiss:Coronavirus in Palestine: What comes next? |
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