For the first time since the 1973 Arab-Israeli war (at least), no Palestinians from the Gaza Strip are making the sacred annual pilgrimage to Mecca this year. Saudi Arabia, seeking to bolster the (Fatah) administration on the West Bank, asked… Read moreHajj becomes pawn in struggle for Gaza
On Nov. 23, Israel’s Supreme Court issued a decision to allow the state until May 2009 to implement its ruling of February 2006 concerning the “National Priority Areas” (NPAs). In its 2006 decision, the court ruled that the government’s division… Read moreIsraeli high court extends official discrimination
Israeli police evicted a disabled Palestinian man and his wife from their East Jerusalem home of more than 50 years in a late-night raid early Nov. 9. The eviction followed a July Israeli supreme court order that found the home,… Read moreElderly Palestinian couple evicted from Jerusalem home in night raid
President-elect Barack Obama‘s Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel apologized Nov. 14 for disparaging remarks made by his father about Arabs. Benjamin Emanuel, speaking about his son to an Israeli newspaper last week, said, “Obviously, he will influence the president to… Read moreEmanuel disavows dad’s diss of Arabs
Palestinian security forces arrested 12 followers of Hamas in West Bank Nov. 16, in an ongoing crackdown against the Islamic movement. The arrests, by forces loyal to President Mahmoud Abbas of Fatah, took place in Nablus, Salfeet and Hebron, a… Read morePalestinian forces arrest Hamas militants in West Bank
Speaking before the General Assembly, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon said Israel’s ongoing efforts to build settlements in the West Bank is “illegal,” a breach of the Fourth Geneva Convention, and have lead to widespread human rights abuses against Palestinians. Ban’s… Read moreUN reports condemn West Bank settlement
An explosion in the northern Gaza Strip killed a Palestinian militant and critically wounded another, medical workers reported Nov. 15. The Popular Resistance Committees said an Israeli air-strike targeted a group of its militants as they approached the Israel-Gaza border… Read moreGaza: explosion kills Palestinian militant
Israeli forces detained six Palestinians and stormed one village across the West Bank before daybreak Nov. 14. Israeli sources said that the troops arrested six “wanted” Palestinians from al-Ubeidieh in the Bethlehem governorate, from Hizma and Abu Dis in the… Read moreIsraeli raids continue on West Bank
Israel went back on a pledge to ease its blockade of the Gaza Strip Nov. 13, turning away critical UN deliveries of fuel and food at the borders for the seventh consecutive day. Gaza was plunged into darkness as the… Read moreGaza under siege again, despite Israeli pledge
Greek Orthodox and Armenian worshipers got down to fisticuffs Sunday Nov. 9 in East Jerusalem’s Church of the Holy Sepulchre, where Christian denominations jealously guard their divided areas of the traditional site of the crucifixion. Dozens of worshipers dressed in… Read moreMonastic slugfest rocks Holy Sepulchre —again!
On his Electronic Intifada Nov. 5, Ali Abunimah digs up the hardline pro-Israel dirt on Rahm Israel Emanuel, Barack Obama‘s first appointment, for chief of staff. While Emanuel was doubtless chosen for his “key role in delivering a Democratic majority… Read moreObama’s first appointment: pro-Israel hardliner
Israel launched an air-strike against Islamic Jihad militants in northern Gaza’s Jebaliya refugee camp the night of Nov. 4 after rockets were fired into Israel. Palestinian security sources told CNN there were two Israeli strikes, though the IDF confirmed only… Read moreIsraeli air-strikes follow Gaza rocket attacks
