On Monday, Israeli commandos boarded ships in the “Freedom Flotilla” attempting to bring humanitarian aid to residents of still-blockaded Gaza. The aggressive response by Israel turned deadly, with at least nine activists killed. The international community has reacted with shock and outrage; protests have erupted around the world outside Israeli embassies, with protesters even teargassed in Paris. Benjamin Netanyahu has canceled a long awaited meeting surrounding peace talks with President Obama and headed back to Israel to do damage control, and Turkey, from where the flotilla departed, has recalled its ambassador and issued a travel warning to its citizens.
Huwaida Arraf was on one of the ships; she joins us via phone from Ramallah, along with Norman Finkelstein, to tell us what happened to her and offer some analysis on the situation.
(Via GRITtv)
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)
As proximity talks started this week Israeli leaders continued to authorize more settlements in the West Bank putting a doubt over those talks, whilst Palestinians marked the 62nd anniversary of the Nakba this weekend. These stories and more in this week’s update.
This program was produced by the International Middle East Media Center for May 14, 2010.
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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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Phyllis Bennis from the Institute for Policy Studies interviewed by Joy leClaire. Bennis comments on recent events in Palestine and the suggestions of a new non-violent “intifada”. She also discusses other news across the Middle East and the release of her new book, Ending the US War in Afghanistan: A Primer.
This program was produced by ForthRight Radio for March 17, 2010.
For more information, visit:
http://ips-dc.org/staff/phyllis
In this week’s report, Israeli attacks escalate in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, while US efforts to re-start Israeli-Palestinian peace talks are ineffective. These stories and more in this week’s update.
This program was produced by the International Middle East Media Center for March 26, 2010.
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George Galloway, long-term member of the British Parliament, and outspoken and well-recognized defender of human rights and supporter of Palestine, speaks in New York City.
Galloway called to action the world community to organize convoys to distribute aid, to highlight the inhumanity of the continued siege on the devastated area of Gaza, and amplify the shift in public policy and growing solidarity of people around the world towards greater support of the Palestinian struggle. Galloway speaks about the blockade and prepares for his latest mission to send a flotilla of boats to Gaza to break the blockade by sea.
This program was produced by Building Bridges for February 10, 2010.
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http://www.buildingbridgesonline.org
Michael Ratner reports on his recent visit to the West Bank. Ratner is President of the Center for Constitutional Rights (CCR) in New York. He has taught at Yale Law School, lectured at Columbia Law School, and was President of the National Lawyers Guild.
This program was produced by The Real News for February 16, 2010.
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http://therealnews.com
A high-ranking Fatah official visited the Gaza Strip this week, as the Israeli siege and continued attacks claim the lives two Palestinians. These stories and more in this week’s update.
This program was produced by the International Middle East Media Center for February 5, 2010.
For more information, visit:
http://imemc.org
Daniel C. Kurtzer, former US Ambassador to Israel and professor at Princeton University, was a key influence in Barack Obama’s Middle East policy.
This program was produced by France24 for December 1, 2009.
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http://www.france24.com