Ramallah Online Archive

Apartheid: Ancient, Past, and Present (New Study)

Vienna, April 10, 2007

Researcher Says Israel Responsible for at least 97.8 Percent of Serious Human Rights Abuses in Conflict

As Israel comes under increasing pressure over its policies against Palestinians, an independent Swedish researcher today releases an extensive analysis of the Middle Eastern conflict since the formation of the state of Israel in 1948. According to Dr. Anthony Löwstedt, the vast majority of grave violations of human rights falls under the responsibility of the Jewish state.

Film Review: Make A Wish

By Sonia Nettnin, Ramallah Online Contributor

“Make a Wish” (Itmanna) is about a Palestinian girl named Mariam who lives in Ramallah – a city in the West Bank. She wants to buy a birthday cake from Sanabee’s Bakery, but she does not have enough shekels (money).

For a day she looks for ways to earn ten more shekels so she can buy the cake. Who is the birthday cake for?

PLO: Hopes Deferred, Hopes Renewed

By Sonia Nettnin

(Chicago) – The Palestine Liberation Organization’s Representative to the US, Afif Safieh spoke about “Hopes Deferred, Hopes Renewed” as part of a benefit dinner for North Park University’s Center for Middle Eastern Studies.

Jimmy Carter Tells Truth about Palestine but Lies about Israel

By Genevieve Cora Fraser

Jimmy Carter tells the truth about the impact of the Israeli Occupation on Palestine in "Palestine: Peace not Apartheid." In Gaza, Israel is practicing a slow form of genocide where the people are sealed off from the world and encounter non-stop military assaults, he points out. And the Wall Israel is erecting separates Palestinians from Palestinians. The Wall steals Palestinian land just as the illegal settlements do, and is creating a prison. But Carter is far from candid about the crisis in Israel itself, claiming that Arab Israelis enjoy full rights as citizens and that it is a wonderful and open society.

Israeli Ship of State Speeds toward Self-Destruction

By Genevieve Cora Fraser

Out to sea in a ship called Security
The Israeli Ship of State plows
Towards the rocks
Dead-reckoning
Apprehends danger
Spurs on to fight
Oblivious to their plight

Future for Palestinian Christians
By Sonia Nettnin

(Chicago) – Dr. Munib A. Younan spoke about the future for Palestinian Christians and the prospects for justice, peace and reconciliation in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Nightmare Israel

By, Noala Guerra

Whenever I move to a new place I remember my dreams better. This morning I had a dream that I was on the beach in the summer in my city of Boston with my family in the future. Suddenly, a bunch of helicopters came & started dropping bombs on us, I was wounded in the back, covering my family, who thankfully were spared, I survived, but dozens perished, like on the attack on civilians in the beach in Gaza, this was not like the attack on the USS Liberty off the coast of Egypt in 1967 by Israel, this was a deliberate attack on civilians like Israel has done so many times with our weapons on their Arab neighbors & those that defend them, the attack on our ship was to make it look like the Egyptians did it, to prevent peace like always, shooting at our sailors as they swam in the Mare Nostrum, many of them perished or wounded, as they were stranded. Soon after it was covered up by our government, like by Senator McCain who continues to block investigations all these years later, who called it a accident. Attacks by Israel on civilians are far greater.

A Universal Human Cause
A Universal Human Cause
By, Noala Guerra

This is a semi-response to a article from my friend in Ramallah, Sam Bahour, who shared the views of Israeli Arabs, but there was no mention of the reality of the refugees in & outside of Palestine/Israel, which I want to address here & also directly & most clearly the cause we share in resistance to occupation & for peace & prosperity in the Middle East, the heart of our culture.

Scumbags, Measured Response, Terrorist Organization. From Afghanistan to Palestine!
Brady R. Long, RamallahOnline

As a former teacher and headmaster, I believe communication through common language and the associated nuances is vital for successful outcomes. The Waco fiasco in the USA occurred when the FBI and the DEA chose to storm the compound instead of bringing in a negotiator, who could have dialogued with the leader of the sect with similar Christian fundamentalist nuances. Research has shown that this type of dialogue may have prevented the deaths at Waco of scores of persons including women and children.

Divide and Conquer Implied in Proposed Map of the New Middle East

By Genevieve Cora Fraser

It was meant to be a joke and it got a big laugh from TV host Tavis Smiley when his guest, political pundit Andy Borowitz quipped, “George Bush plans to withdraw all his troops from Iraq – to Iran. That’s the plan - the exit strategy.”