Israeli and Palestinian leaders have traded pointed barbs at the UN general assembly, in a rhetorical exchange that underlines the deep differences between the two sides – and the dim prospects for meaningful dialogue.
By Palestine Center Interns — Sarah Dickshinski and Mirvat Salameh
In February 2016 there were 438 Palestinian minors being held in Israeli prisons and since this time the number of Palestinian child detainees in Israel has barely decreased. Victims of abuse and subject to harsh Israeli military laws that deprive them of their basic rights, Palestinian children find themselves part of larger system of inequality and oppression imposed by Israel in Palestine. Although Israel has been called out time and time again for violating international conventions protecting minors, its military forces continue to wage war against a defenseless portion of the Palestinian population.
Despite America’s longstanding position considering Israeli settlements illegitimate, successive administrations have done very little to stop the expansion of the settlement enterprise. Israel continues to build these settlements unabatedly, precisely because America’s position is void of any substantive action.
Airbnb, it has come to our attention, enables anyone to rent rooms and vacation homes in Israeli settlements in the West Bank. Anyone who is not of Palestinian descent, of course. Without exception, the listings, some which appear to be luxurious cottages and others that are caravans sitting on barren hilltops, make no mention of the fact that they are in settlements on occupied land. Almost all claim to be in Israel, despite the fact that they lie beyond the country’s borders.
Although the 1994 Oslo Agreement allocated the Jordan Valley for a future Palestinian state, 93.4 percent of the land is in Israeli control, part of Area C. On that land, there are now close to 40 Israeli settlements, deemed illegal under international law, which use twice the amount of arable land available to the Palestinians.
Philip Farah: While the media has mostly focused on the violence, labor and student unions, women’s groups, and village committees have always played a prominent role in the struggle. However, civil society leaders have always had to contend with Israeli repression.
By Yousef Munayyer
The horrific attack which left five Israelis dead in Jerusalem yesterday was the top international news item in the United States and in many places around the globe. On CNN, it was covered in just about every program they had on during the day. As is generally the case when Israelis are victims of Palestinian violence, Western media zooms in. That can not be said for the other way around which is far more prevalent given the ongoing Israeli military occupation of Palestine.
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