Search

The article focuses on the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) collection of images of post-Nakba Palestinian history. Topics discussed include an exhibition entitled "The Long Journey" organized by UNRWA in Gaza on November 29, 2014, discussion on the Government of Palestine and the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court (ICC), and lecture by author Tariq Ali of a book "Conversations with Edward Said," on the Palestinian struggle for liberation.

This section offers news briefs in the U.S. as of January 1, 2014. The film "Omar," written and directed by Hany Abu-Assad and which examines the taboo subject of collaborators within Palestinian society was screened at New York Film Festival. Two events were held at Columbia University to honor professor Edward Said. Security was tight at the appearance of authors Joshua Ruebner and Ben White at two presentations sponsored by Students for Justice in Palestine(SJP) at Brooklyn College.

The article offers updates on Israel-Palestine. It cites the film "The Other Son," directed by Lorraine Levy Cohen that highlights Israeli and Palestinian identity. It notes the publication of the book "After Zionism: One State for Israel and Palestine," following discussions by Philip Weiss and Adam Horowitz a two-state solution to solve Israel-Palestine conflict. A panel discussion on Egypt after its presidential election was hosted by New School in New York on September 19, 2012.

The article offers update of concern to the Arab community in New York. A discussion was led by activist Lynn Gottlieb on April 29, 2010, wherein she condemned Israeli attacks against Palestinians, and proposed support to the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) against the Israeli campaign. At a May 2, 2010 discussion panel, Catalan musician Jordi Savall cited the 1492 expulsion of Muslims and Jews from Spain and compared it to the present Middle East situation. A protest was staged in New York City in response to the Gaza Freedom Flotilla assault.

This article reports that director of the Ramallah-based Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research, Khalil Shikaki has conducted more than 100 surveys of Palestinian public opinion since 1995. Discussing "Palestinians in the Post-Arafat Era: What Direction?" at Princeton on April 7, he said that most recent polls, conducted in December and March, reveal significant positive changes: 70 percent of Palestinians support an end to the conflict, up from 42 percent a year and a half ago; two-thirds of the public are now opposed to violence; support for the Jewish nature of Israel has increased from 52 percent to 63 percent; and there is a new expectation that reconciliation will take place soon. In terms of governance, he said, Palestinians are readying for real democratic change.

The article offers information on Professor Rashid Khalidi of Columbia University which has described the desperate situation of Palestinians before the Balfour Declaration. It mentions that Khalidi observed that wartime conditions in Greater Syria, which then included Palestine, caused intense suffering: grinding battles between Great Britain and Ottoman forces. It also mentions that non-Jewish communities in Palestine were concerned about increasing Zionist immigration and land acquisition.

The article focuses on the message given by Jeff Halper, co-founder and director of the Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions (ICAHD), during Israel's Operations Brother's Keeper at Alwan for the Arts in Manhattan, New York City on June 24, 2014. Topics discussed include the impact of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict on the U.S., the end of the two-state solution after Israel imposed control over the occupied territories and the result of the U.S.-led peace talks for Palestinians.

The article discusses the Russell Tribunal on Palestine's investigation of the roles of the United Nations (UN) and the U.S. Although the Russell Tribunals have no official status, they aim to increase the public's awareness on human rights violations. The Russell Tribunal examined the role of the U.S. in supporting violations of the human rights of Palestinians. A member of the tribunal urged the world to reclaim the UN from U.S. domination.

The article discusses the Hebron Protocol of 1997 dividing the southern West Bank city into two parts. With the separation almost complete, 80% of the city was designated H1 under the Palestinian Authority, while H2 includes the Old City and is under Israeli military control. Life for Palestinians in H1 is said to be normal, compared to Palestinian life in H2 where roads connecting the colonies and settlements are off-limits to Palestinians. Relations between Palestinians and Israeli soldiers is discussed.

The article features the call of Israeli journalist Akiva Eldar for forming a security and human rights check and balance system to maintain a working coexistence between Israelis and Palestinians. According to him, Israelis should realize that the price for occupying the Golan Heights is increased security measures which violate human rights and undermine democracy. It is stated that human rights organizations are the only ones somehow checking the Israeli government.

The article presents information on the panel discussion on "The Final Hurdle for Mideast Peace? Negotiating Solutions for the Palestinian Refugee Question" held on September 23. 2009, hosted by Princeton University's Woodrow Wilson School and the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) for Palestine Refugees in the Near East. The discussion centered on Palestinian refugees' Right of Return to Israel. Doctor Karma Nabulsi of Oxford University argued on why the central issue of refugee rights was excluded from the Oslo peace process.

The article highlights the topics discussed by Hanan Ashrawi, member of the Palestine Legislative Assembly and president of the human rights organization Miftah, in a keynote speech he delivered at the 20th anniversary banquet of the Palestinian Heritage Foundation (PHF) held in New Jersey on April 15, 2007. Ashrawi described the efforts of the founders of PHF as an affirmation which captured the essence of Palestinian identity and represented a continuum of legitimacy and authenticity.

Reports findings of an examination carried out by attorney Audrey Bomse on how the Israeli criminal justice system deals with Israeli settlers in the occupied territories of Palestine as compared to Palestinians living in the same area. Explanation of how Israeli and Palestinian lawbreakers are tried under the system; Differences in the sentencing structure of the legal systems; Crimes against the Palestinian.

The article focuses on the community-based Project Hope, whose mission is to provide normal activities for young people living in an abnormal situation in the Palestine. The project, founded by Canadian teacher Jeremy Wildeman, is led by Palestinians with support from international volunteers. Hakim Sabah, director of the main office in Nablus, and his staff oversee projects in partnership with local organizations, in the Old City and in Balata, Askar and Al-Ain refugee camps. These include English and French classes as well as art and drama therapy.

The article presents Professor of Jewish Civilization Abraham Udovitch's views on post Yassir Arafat Palestine. He lamented the absence within Israel of someone of Arafat's stature. He identified Arafat's biggest achievement as unifying the Palestine Liberation Organization, thereby transforming the Palestinian issue from a refugee problem in need of humanitarian assistance to a people struggling for their rights. To accomplish this, Udovitch explained, Arafat had to thread his way through both Zionist and Arab nationalisms. Udovitch described Palestine's 1988 Declaration of Independence as a huge turning point in which Palestinians accepted the legality of partition by opting for a two-state solution rather than a single secular and democratic state.