Archive for the 'Israel' Category

For my friends in Toronto: Yalla Journal talks at “Talk” March 20


I have an emotional connection to Yalla, so to speak.
Not only was I an early fan of their project and contributor, but someone special to me is on their editorial board. Yalla began as a literary journal where both Jewish and Arab youth could express the full spectrum of feelings about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. And when [...]


Why I don’t think a one-state solution is a solution


From a comment on  Jewschool thread, I thought I’d harvest this thought I have whenever I’m talking to advocates of a one-state solution:
A one-state solution would still be a two-state solution: the Jewish Israelis have all the wealth and representation in every national governing body. The Palestinians would continue as second-class citizens facing entrenched discrimination. [...]


Articles will not save Israelis and Palestinians


I say this as a blogger — obviously someone well aware of the power of words — that articles will not save Israelis and Palestinians from death. Even as someone who finds something new and cogent to say about the Middle East frequently, I find most articles about the region repetitive. Yet why is one [...]


I and all the things I stand for are under attack


I am under attack. I and all the things I stand for are under attack. Im Tirtzu has launched a campaign against the New Israel Fund, blaming it for the Goldstone report. “Without NIF, there would be no Goldstone report” they are claiming. Which is to say, without the Jews who support the New Israel [...]


Public Committee Against Torture in Israel: Report on IDF changes in policy during Gaza operation


The Public Committee Against Torture in Israel released a report “No Second Thoughts: Changes in the IDF’s Combat Doctrine In Light of Operation Cast Lead.” The report explains how the IDF’s shift of priority from minimizing civilian casualties to minimizing IDF casualties constitutes deliberate harm to civilians and civilian infrastructure — in violation of international [...]


B’Tselem’s animated short on why Israel’s Gaza seige strengthens Hamas


Pretty straight forward to me.

And take a look at the real tunnels via cameras B’Tselem gave to Gazan youth to document their lives.


Obama left peace out of the State of the Union, but he talked about it today


Obama addressed a question about Middle East peace at a town hall in Tampa, Florida, today (emphases mine). Transcript courtesy of the Jewish liaison from the office of the Vice President, whom I met in DC and who always sends me Presidential quotations she thinks I want to hear.
In a marked difference from the Bush [...]


Notes for Israel advocates: Negativity


A colleague in the Israel advocacy field (on the right from me…far right) complained that negativity about Israel will drive young Jews away from caring about Israel. Meaning progressive Israel advocacy is bad for Jews, bad for the Jewish state.
Dude, the negativity is already there! The news is full of negative stuff regarding Israel — [...]


“With God on Our Side”: Christian progressives tackle Christian Zionists


Awesomeness. With Jewish progressives tackling the right-wing in our own camp, it is high time progressive folks in the Christian community stopped targeting Jews for outreach and went after their own flock. Check it out: www.withgodonourside.com.


Erev Hadash TV interview: Breaking the Silence supporter creams Im Tirtzu sloganeer


Rami Hoyberger debating the Im Tirtzu supporter here is like sandblasting a Saltine. Rami Hoyberger is an Israeli actor who’s signed onto the Rabbis for Human Rights petition for an independent investigation into the Cast Lead war in Gaza, as suggested is necessary by testimonies collected by Breaking the Silence.
Im Tirtzu is a self-declared [...]