Stories about Israel from April, 2009
Israel: Responding to Upswing of World Antisemitism
“It’s no secret that antisemitism around the world is on an upswing,” writes Occidental Israeli, who suggests possibilities for its mitigation.
Israel: West Bank Mosque Contains Weapons Lab
Lirun of East Med Sea Peace reflects on the fact that a mosque based in the West Bank was recently found to harbor a weapons lab: “i think these sorts of things have contributed to the devaluation of muslim holy place sanctity in the eyes of the average israeli.. and...
Israel: Sandstorm Hits Israel
A sandstorm enveloped Israel last night, whipping branches off trees and sluicing clothing from lines. Yudit of Occupied reports: “After a hot dry Khamsin day, the wind is picking up like crazy, howling around my home and blowing ultra-fine dust into and onto everything and i can hear the sea...
Lebanon: Academics and Bloggers Call for Israel Boycott
Lebanese academics and bloggers are lending their voice and support to the Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel. Antoun Issa sums up reactions from Lebanese and Palestinian blogs in this post.
Palestine: A Visit To The West Bank
Intern in Israel has made a trip to the West Bank: “I think what shocked me most was how heavy the Israeli military influence was inside of the West Bank and how large some of the Jewish settlements are. The areas where Palestinians actually have “full” control are very small.”
Jerusalem: Palm Sunday Procession
Intern in Israel describes attending the Palm Sunday procession in Jerusalem: “My husband and I participated in the procession from Bethphage to St. Anne’s Church just inside the city gates on Palm Sunday. It was the most fun I’ve ever had on a Palm Sunday… But it was truly sobering...
Egypt: Mystery surrounds Sudan airstrike
“About two weeks have elapsed, a bunch of fanciful reports have come out, but we still don’t know much more about the airstrike in North Sudan that Israel, or possible the United States, allegedly carried out,” writes The Arabist from Egypt.
Global Job Losses and Returning Migrant Workers
This post focuses on the stories of the unemployed and migrant workers who are returning home to their countries. Job layoffs are perceived by most people as the primary and most recognizable indicator of the global economic recession. How has unemployment affected individuals around the world? In what ways the reverse migration of workers creating problems for developing nations?
Israel: Teen Killed, Child Hurt in Terror Attack
Breaking news in Israel – Two boys were attacked with an ax yesterday (April 2) in the West Bank community of Bat Ayin. Thirteen year old Shlomo Nativ died from his injuries, while 7 year old Yair Gamliel was rushed to the hospital with a fractured skull. The incident, deemed to be a terrorist attack, lead the Israel Defense Forces to the nearby town of Khirbet Safa, where the attacker is believed to be hiding. In the Jewish tradition of burying the dead, Nativ's funeral was held on the same evening.
Israel: Palestinian Youth Orchestra Disbanded for Israeli Performance
In honor of Good Deeds Day in Israel, a Palestinian youth orchestra performed for a group of Holocaust survivors. Known as the “Strings of Freedom,” the group was composed of 13 children, ages 11 to 18, from the Jenin refugee camp in the West Bank. Find out what happens next to them in this post.
Palestine/Israel: Palestinian Support on U.S. Campuses
“What is happening on the U.S. campuses is not about supporting the Palestinians as much as it is about promoting hatred for the Jewish state. It is not really about ending the ‘occupation’ as much as it is about ending the existence of Israel,” observes journalist Khaled Abu Toameh, a...
Israel: Searching for a Peace Prophet in Palestine
“If Palestinians adopted a Gandhian nonviolent strategy, could they reshape the entire conflict with Israel and finally realize a two-state solution?” asks Israeli journalist Gershom Gorenberg in an entry entitled, “The Missing Mahatma: Searching for a Palestinian Ghandi.”
Israel: Political History of Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu
False Dichotomies blogger, Alex Stein reflects on the political history of Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, who took his oath of office today. Netanyahu served his first term as prime minister from 1996– 1999.
Israel: Survey Finds Happiness Linked to Wealth, Immigration
A survey conducted by the Jerusalem Institute for Market Studies found that wealth, marriage, and immigration to Israel were the greatest indicators of happiness. Immigrants who arrived in Israel voluntarily, specifically those from Western countries, were found to be 13.5% happier than native born Israelis, Israelity reports.
Egypt: Schizophrenia Towards Israel
Mo-ha-med, an Egyptian blogger who is based in Ramallah, outlines the schizophrenia he feels Egypt has towards Israel: “We can summarise this attitude as follows: economic and political accords, smiling handshakes on the one hand, with constant expressions of dislike, defiance and distrust on the other.”
