Original news, features, opinions from Chicago to Jerusalem
Syrian Refugees face White Hill Nightmare By Abdennour Toumi Akçakale, Turkey — Tel-Abyad, a strategically-placed town on the Syrian-Turkish border under the control of the ISO since 2013, was seized in a brief take-over operation by Kurdish brigades of Burkan el-Furat and the united forces of the YPG-YPJ. This success may well signal a decisive shift in…
Painful Refugee Day, Feverish Year for Ankara By Abdennour Toumi Ankara, Turkey — The Syrian conflict has produced the most compelling humanitarian challenge of the last fifty years. According to the UNHCR (U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees) office, there re 12.2 million people in need of humanitarian assistance including 3.9 million who fled Syria and 7.6 million…
Solidarity Hunger Strikes Continue in Tampa, FL for Khader Adnan By Dezeray Lyn Several organizers of a BDS group in Tampa continue hunger striking as mass action is planned this week at the Red Cross building in Tampa in solidarity with hunger striking Palestinian prisoners. In a Tampa courtroom today, a Palestine solidarity activist made a statement on…
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By Eileen Fleming Israel’s former ambassador to Washington, USA born Michael Oren exemplifies the latter and Kameel Nasr from Lebanon and Boston the former. Oren served as Israel’s ambassador in Washington from 2009 to 2013 and is now a Knesset member in Israel’s center-right Kulanu party. Launching his new book “Ally: My Journey Across the…
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Jordanian Supreme Court imprisons journalist for criticizing corruption By Ali Younes The Jordanian Court of Cassation made legal history yesterday when it reversed itself and convicted Jordanian journalist Husam Abdallat of trying to “ undermine the Jordanian regime” for his criticism of powerful government officials and close friends of King Abdallah II. The court which…
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Two leading Civil Rights organizations in Israel have challenged and condemned an internal investigation by the Israeli military that the killing of four children on a Gaza Beach on July 16, 2014 was not intentional but an “accident.” But eye witnesses say the Israeli soldiers intentionally targeted the four boys, aged 9 to 11 years…
Read More “Israeli report on Children killed at Beach flawed” »
By Eileen Fleming Everything is connected and when it comes to Israel Palestine: America is deeply connected! The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong.-Gandhi Forgiveness is the intentional and voluntary process by which a victim undergoes a change in feelings and attitude regarding an offense and lets go of negative…
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In 1969, two years after Israel invaded and occupied all of Jerusalem and the remaining areas of Palestine, it was clear that the Arab World was incapable of recovering the lands stolen by Israel’s colonization in 1948. The Palestinians stood up on their own and began to defend themselves against Israel’s brutal aggression. To commemorate the event,…
Read More “Al-Fatah Palestine Stamps: remembering the revolution” »
Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates are among the world’s top 10 worst places when it comes to worker’s rights according to a new study released by the International Trade Union Confederation, but Egypt tops the MENA region as 3rd worst in the world. Study shows rights violations in Israel, and that workers…
Read More “Gulf States among worst places for workers rights” »
Turkey’s Democratic elections show that the HDP opposition can win support, but not enough to oust the AKParti, the party President Erdogan founded. But now the HDP is a more formidable voice in defining Turkey’s Democratic future. The vote suggests Turkish voters may want a multi-party coalition leadership By Abbdenour Toumi Ankara, Turkey — In order to…
Read More “In Turkish elections: Ağa Selahattin Dethrones “Sultan” Tayyip” »
Global support for Palestinian prisoner Khader Adnan grows as a Mass Solidarity Hunger Strike is organized to rally against Israeli civil rights violations and civilian abuses. Protestors target illegal policies of administrative detention and urge international support to free dissidents from Israel’s prison Gulag By Dezeray Lyn Members of the Palestine solidarity organization the International Women’s Peace…
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To normalize or not to normalize. How much is too much or too little? There is an in between called compromise.It’s clear that the direction most Israelis and Palestinians are headed is away from peace and actions that might help end the conflict. When the brutality of the Israeli occupation increases, the thought of reaching…
Read More “Peace in Israel, Palestine doesn’t come by building walls” »
By Eileen Fleming USS LIBERTY survivor Joe Meadors is a former U.S. Navy signalman who exemplifies the USS Liberty Survivors’ Creed: I will never quit. My nation expects me to be physically harder and mentally stronger than my enemies. If knocked down I will get back up, every time. I will draw on every remaining ounce of strength…
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The Holy Month of Ramadan for Muslims will begin June 17, or at the first sight of the new moon and will continue for 29-30 days depending on the complete cycle of the moon. It is a time of religious observation, recommitment to faith and a time of fasting for observant Muslims around the world….
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A new documentary by directors Ovidio Salazar and Mazen AlKhayrat explores the cultural and religious practices of women who cover their hair not just in the Middle East but around the world. Titled “The Tainted Veil,” the documentary explores why there is a controversy Anasy Media, a United Arab Emirates production company has completed post-production on…
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Al Jazeera English crowned ‘Outstanding Digital Team’ at Online Media Awards; Palestine Remix project wins outstanding digital team and best technical innovation; and, Al Jazeera wins best photography award for “Portrait of a yogi” Al Jazeera English online has won three awards at the prestigious Online Media Awards in London, for Best Technical Innovation, Best Use of…
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Palestinian artists are helping to send the message that reminds Israel that the World sees Israel’s brutality, its destruction and the human trauma Israel has created in the Gaza Strip. A new generation of Palestine children see Israel for what it really is By Mohammed Asad The artwork of several foreign and local activists/artists who draw…
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Activists spends two months in Palestine struggling against Israeli Apartheid policies to champion the rights of Palestinians, and sees Israeli oppression firsthand By Dezeray Lyn The wholesale occupation and pillaging of the West Bank and what is left of the Palestinian territories has been raging on now for 67 years. There are internationals filing into…
Read More “Two months in Palestine: A Snapshot of oppression” »