Israeli forces have attacked a flotilla of aid-carrying ships aiming to break the country’s siege on Gaza. More than 19 people were killed and dozens injured when troops intercepted the convoy of ships dubbed the Freedom Flotilla early on Monday. The Israeli Army Radio had earlier said that up to 16 people had been killed. With world wide condemnations after Israeli commando operation, is Israel already paying too high a price for enforcing the siege? What are the likely ramifications of this incident?
(Via Al Jazeera)
While boats battle to get through the siege of Gaza, Gazans can eat out in fancy restaurants and have no need of aid. That’s what Israel has been telling journalists, at least. Sherine Tadros picks apart the media campaign.
(Via Al Jazeera)
This is an interesting short discussion between writer Mark Perry who broke the story on General Petraeus asking that the West Bank and Gaza be part of the Central Command’s territory. Petraeus denied the report, but as Al Jazeera’s Gregg Carlstrom writes, this triggered an important debate about the military’s view of the costs of the US-Israel-Palestine standoff.
This short clip covers Perry’s views on the Israeli/Palestinian conflict and the prospects of engagement by the Obama administration with Hamas and Hizballah. Interestingly, he notes that we are beginning to engage the Taliban who are killing Americans while not yet engaging Hamas and Hizballah who are not. His treatment of National Security Council Counter-Terrorism Adviser to the President on dealing with “moderate Hizballah” is worth hearing.
Mark Perry met with Gregg Carlstrom at the 5th Al Jazeera Forum.
(Via Steve Clemons)
Noam Chomsky, a renowned Jewish-American scholar and political activist, has been barred from entering Israel to deliver a speech at Bir Zeit University in the West Bank.
He spoke to Al Jazeera about his hours-long wait at the Israeli border, and the explanation he was given for being denied entry.
(Via Al Jazeera)
Despite escalating provocations by the Israeli hard-right settlement movement, indirect talks begin this week between the Israeli and Palestinian leaderships. On Friday, U.S. envoy to the Middle East, George Mitchell, will begin shuttling between the two parties in an attempt to build confidence and create the environment for direct talks. Palestinian public opinion is very divided over the start of the negotiations and prominent officials from both sides have suggested it may be too late to create two states, instead opting for one democratic state where all members are equal.
This program was produced by The Real News for May 7, 2010.
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Annemie Neyts-Uyttebroeck, Member of the European Parliament, makes remarks about the Goldstone Report.
This program was produced by the European Parliament.
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http://www.annemie.eu
Ali Abunimah is one of the most dynamic and well-informed speakers on Palestine. He is the Executive Director of The Electronic Intifada and a writer and commentator on Middle East and Arab-American affairs.
This program was produced by The University of Texas Palestine Solidarity Committee.
For more information, visit:
http://mideastsolidarity.wordpress.com
http://electronicintifada.net
http://twitter.com/avinunu
Bassem Khoury, the former Minister of National Economy for the Palestinian Authority (PA) spoke at the Palestine Center in Washington, DC on the current and future economic conditions in Palestine.
This program was produced by the Palestine Center.
For more information, visit:
http://www.thejerusalemfund.org/ht/d/sp/i/223/pid/223
David Barsamian offers a look at the maps of Palestine over the decades, providing insight into the conflict that has roiled the Middle East for more than sixty years. “Imperial Geography – Palestine and Israel” examines the role of imperial cartographers – the European and American map makers – in setting up the horrors that have unfolded in the anything but holy “Holy Land.”
This program was produced by Free Speech TV.
For more information, visit:
http://www.freespeech.org
Doha Debates features Fatah and Hamas debating reconciliation and the future of the resistance.
This program was produced by The Qatar Foundation for March 26, 2010.
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