Vera Macht: MEETING WITH THE FOUNDERS OF GYBO (Gaza Youth Breaks Out)

Abu Yazen is nervous, he hasn’t slept for a while. That everything would become so big, go so fast, that he had no idea of. His name also isn’t Abu Yazen, but giving his real name, is no longer an option. Too great is the danger you face when you put your frustration into words at a place like Gaza, your anger at everything and everyone, the governments and the world, which seems to have forgotten young people like him. He is just one of 800,000 young people in Gaza, over half of the population in the small sealed-off coastal strip is under 18. He is one of those born during the first intifada, spending their childhood under Israeli occupation, in the midst of a second intifada, a civil war, and finally the Israeli attack on Gaza in winter 2008 / 9, in which over 1400 people were killed, about 400 of them children. And since 2007 he lives like all adults and children here under a total siege, imposed by Israel, tacitly accepted by the world. His home is a prison in the middle of the daily terror of a now 60-year old conflict. "I'm young, I want to live my life, but where is my freedom," says Abu Yazen quietly. "Above me is the noise of the F16, a few kilometers in each direction I meet borders guarded by snipers, and on the sea I see the Israeli warships." But usually Abu Yazen doesn’t speak quietly. Now, perhaps, now he is tired and exhausted, and you never know who is listening, at the next table. But generally Abu Yazen speaks very loud, about what it is that frustrates him here so much, and makes him so desperate. He is a member of Gaza Youth Breaks Out, a group of five young men and three young women who have written a sensational Manifesto. Their Facebook page accumulated 15,000 members within a few days, and the press of the world is standing in line to get an interview with them. But Abu Yazen and his group are cautious, their Facebook page has been temporarily closed for comments, and these days you’d better not criticize those in power in Gaza so openly.

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Paul J. Balles: Grains of sand: perspectives on roles of Israel and USA in Middle East

In an article entitled "Weapons of mass deception", I suggested that there has been too much control of the mainstream media by too few people.

The result? Much gets left out, covered up or distorted to suit special interests like those of Rupert Murdoch.

In a subsequent article, I suggested reading writers in the alternative media, a facility that has grown significantly on the internet.

As might be expected, a few knowledgeable commentators suggested that they had better choices of both websites and authors than those I offered. No doubt.

My pick of both writers and venues is based on several criteria: (1) they're honest and reliable, (2) they often provide information unavailable in the mainstream media and (3) they focus on political, social, environmental, aesthetic or educational issues that concern me.

Thus, other readers' different interests will naturally lead to different writers in different places.

In my article “Grains of sand: highlights from the alternative media”, I quoted a number of my favourite authors on a variety of issues coming through my lens: the establishment press, international relations, wars and threats of war, Palestine and Israel, American weaknesses and WikiLeaks.

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Vera Macht Reports from Gaza

The air is filled with the noise of the Israeli F-16s, which are flying so low that it's almost like the air is trembling. You can positively feel the bombs before they fall, before they explode with a horrendous bang, that is unmistakable, with a pressure wave that breaks the windows of the houses in the whole surrounding area, and makes the walls shake miles away.

And even if you know rationally that you are not in an immediate danger, this bang triggers a primal fear, the feeling of vulnerability, of being absolutely exposed. "We people of Gaza die hundreds of times", a young Palestinian woman said. "In our thoughts, we are buried every night under the rubble of our crumbling house, we are shot every morning by a sniper on a carelessly chosen path, we may starve to death every day, because no more food is coming in."

This night four bombs fall, three in the middle area of Gaza Strip, one in Khan Younis. All places have been declared "terrorist targets" in the official statement of the Israeli military, including a Navy police building.

They fly overhead for about an hour, and you try to ignore the noise by focusing on something else, on your laptop, the text before you. The people of Gaza might watch TV, but the images are constantly disturbed by dozens of drones in the sky above. Their pervasive, never-ending buzz can drive you crazy, not to mention the prospect of how they record every single detail of each house, each car and each movement of the people, of yourself. Always aware of how they can transform into a deadly weapon at any moment. And perhaps their bombs aren’t aimed at yourself, but at the car next to you, the person behind you, or at the friend on the motorcycle seat in front of you. This happened yesterday afternoon in Khan Younis, as a resistance fighter was executed in broad daylight as he rode his motorcycle with a friend.

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Gilad Atzmon: And What About the Sperm?

The Jewish state has decided; we let you be a Jew as long as you are willing to kill for us.

The Knesset recently passed a bill allowing the State to approve IDF conversions without the permission of the Chief Rabbinate.

Apparently this law has been approved today by Shas' spiritual leader Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, who has decided to legitimize all conversions performed in the Israel Defense Forces in recent years.

I guess that for some, it is much easier to become a Jew riding a Merkava Tank over a Palestinian village than learning Halakha law for seven years. 

Yet I am slightly confused. I also learned this week that  ‪‪Rabbi Dov Lior, another genius Talmud scholar,  announced that Jewish Law prohibits sterile couples from conceiving using non-Jew's sperm, as it causes adverse traits. According to Rabbi  Lior, a baby born through such an insemination will have the "negative genetic traits that characterize non-Jews.

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Rana Shubair: Yes, I Can Dare to Dream in My Gaza

http://www.paltelegraph.com

 Although I'm not a fervent advocate of using technology in every aspect of our lives, I have chosen to open my laptop and type this piece instead of writing it in  my notebook first, just for a change, and may be to please my ears with the clicking sound of my fingers striking the keyboard. I guess this shows that I'm in continuous pursuit for change even in the tiny aspects of life. Change; something referred to as being healthy nowadays is, by all means, a vital part of life for all those living in the tremendously stressful life of the 21st Century. 

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Palestinian Memorial Week for Palestine to begin in London

The Palestinian Return Centre (PRC) is putting the final touches on its 2nd memorial week and International conference. PRC’s Palestinian Memorial Week will commence on Saturday 15th Jan till 22nd of Jan 2011. Workshops, Galleries, Film screening, discussions and awareness sessions will take place.

 To read more:

http://www.paltelegraph.com/palestine/palestinian-refugees/8191-memorial-week-for-palestine-to-begin-in-london.html

Muhannad Othman Alazzeh

 
Muhannad is a Palestinian artist who resides in Alazzeh refugee camp in occupied Palestine. However, he originates from the southern Palestinian village of Biet Jibrin, which has been ethnically cleansed by the Israeli Zionist troops in 1948. “Don’t beautify the Apartheid wall”, a quote by Alazzeh for an interview on the role of Palestinian and international artists and his views on the segregation wall built around the West Bank. Al Azzeh was born in September of 1981 to Othman Alazzeh, an Arabic literature teacher and Amal Alazzeh.

Since he’s shown an interest in Art and painting at the age of 10, his parents got him to participate in ‘Alwan’ (meaning colours in Arabic) workshop in Jerusalem, where he learnt and developed his talent at a young age and then published some of his work at the workshop’s magazine.

Watch video: http://www.metacafe.com/watch/bg-6003896/bomb_it_2_muhnned_alazzh_the_west_bank/

In year 2003 Muhannad started his studies at Abu Dis University in occupied Palestine doing a BA in fine Art. However, before completing his first year, Alazzeh was arrested from his home by Israeli Occupation Forces for allegations of in-campus ‘student activism’.  Although this period of his life remains a tough one, yet the experience has not put him down but enriched his artistic talent and made him more determent to express and utilise his ability for the benefit of the people of Palestine.

His most recent participation in an exhibition entitled “Not Politics” was about his 3-year time in Israeli jails. The work, which he referred to as “April the 15th” (the day he was arrested) included some abstract paintings representing life outside the jail as seen from the inside. “A cell’s window was the only hope left, through its bars you could glimpse the ray

A UK  exhibition is due in March  (5th- 13th, Israeli Apartheid Week) at the  Duke of York Picture House, Brighton.

You can contact Muhannad on: muhannad194@gmail.com

The Incredible Ken O’keefe Reports from Gaza

The Samouni Family Children – Survivors of the Israeli Massacre

http://kenokeefe.wordpress.com/2011/01/13/335/

January 12, 2011 is a day I will never forget, visiting the Samouni family could not possibly be anything but a life-changing event.  Words simply cannot describe the devastation wrought upon this family by a marauding band of Israeli psychopaths, otherwise known as the Givati Brigade of the Israeli Defence Forces.

Little Ahmed, shot twice in the chest, died after days without medical care as the Israeli's would not allow it.

Today my team heard from mothers and fathers and children the story of the hell on Earth created by Operation Cast Lead.  Forty-eight people were killed in this family, children shot in front of parents, parents shot in front of children, a group of 97 in one home blasted to bits by rockets and mortars.  Made to live amongst the mutilated and dead for several days, ambulances were kept away and some died slowly over hours and even days.

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Gilad Atzmon: The Last Days of the Jewish State

A few minutes ago, I came across a press release written by Left Israeli MK Nitzan Horowitz.

Horowitz, a member of  Mertz Party, disclosed the new suggestions made by the McCarthyite Knesset Commission of Inquiry into Human Rights Organizations.

According to Horowitz, the commission is now considering the following measures:

· New bills and regulations restricting the entry to Israel of anyone who may be affiliated with left activity. This may take place without the need for court.

· Putting an end to foreign citizens status, including parents who are married to Israelis

· Reducing drastically the rights of prisoners and detainees - along with new initiatives of minimum prison terms, increased enforcement, penalties and so forth

· Denial of Israeli citizenship from an increasing numbers of Israelis convicted of various offences

· Stripping Knesset members of their rights.

· Giving judicial powers to administrative proceedings; for example,  the establishment of a clerical tribunal for foreigners

· Preventing the entry of Arab communities

· Seize funding to cultural institutions that are promoting  ‘leftist materials’

· Eliminating tax exemption on donations to human rights organizations

· Cancellation of contracts with  public bodies associated with human rights organizations.

· Allocated assigning  posts for civil service volunteers to human right associations will be cancelled.

· Restricting access to the websites of human rights organizations and public institutions

· Preventing the entry of  representatives  of human rights organizations to educational institutions

I guess that the picture is clear.

Israel turns against itself. Its days are numbered.

Press TV: J'lem Shepherd Hotel demolition (must see)

Listen to these incredible speakers talkiing on behalf of the Palestinian people:

PhD  Nada Haswi -Human Right Activist

Sameh Habeeb – Journalist (The Palestine Telegraph)

Ken O’keefe – Activist

God bless Press TV, Nada, Sameh and Ken