my article in Alquds Alarabi

Lara Fabian was invited to perform in the Casino du Liban. She performed in Israel in 2010, and she sang a piece in Hebrew dedicated to her love for Israel on the 60th anniversary of its creation in Paris in that same year as well. Here's the article.

Gaza 2009 Commemoration

There will be a demonstration on December 27th 2011 in front of the Israeli embassy in Kensington, from 1300-1500. This will mark three years since the Israeli manslaughter in Gaza.
Hope to see all friends and comrades there. According to a facebook comrade "PLease bring an old shoe with you" :)

Arab nationalism

To those who believe that Arab nationalism is dead.

Poverty in Lebanon

"The causes of poverty are because of that – because you are part of a marginalised or excluded group or you live in an excluded or marginalised area."

Demonstration today, Egyptian Embassy, London

It begins at around 1600. There were people on my facebook posting photos of the ongoing massacre against the people demonstrating in Egypt, even this morning. There are witnesses saying that the police is aiming for people's eyes.

Joseph Masaad speaks about the defeat of the Syrian revolution

His article in Alakhbar:

"إنّ من يرى عملية الاختطاف التي تعرض لها النضال الشعبي السوري من أجل الديموقراطية من قبل هذه القوى الإمبريالية والقوى الموالية لها داخل سوريا وخارجها، يدرك أنّ استمرار الانتفاضة السورية بعد اليوم لن يؤدي إلا إلى نتيجة واحدة، وهي نتيجة غير ديموقراطية، تتمثل في نظام بديل أكثر طواعية وقمعاً، ستفرضه الولايات المتحدة على غرار ما فعلت في العراق وليبيا. إذا كان هذا هو ما يناضل المنتفضون السوريون من أجله، فليس عليهم سوى أن يواصلوا انتفاضتهم. أما إذا لم يكن هذا هدفهم، فيتعيّن عليهم مواجهة الحقيقة الشديدة المرارة، وهي أنّهم وانتفاضتهم قد تعرضوا لهزيمة كاسحة، ولكن ليس على يد نظامهم الديكتاتوري وقمعه الوحشي الذي قاوموه ببسالة، بل على أيدي القوى الدولية التي تريد أن تحرم الشعب السوري، شأنها في ذلك شأن النظام السوري نفسه، من الديموقراطية التي يستحقها. فمن غير المستبعد، في ضوء الخطوة الأخيرة التي اتخذتها جامعة الدول العربية والولايات المتحدة وأوروبا، أن ينجح مشروع إسقاط نظام الأسد، ولكن من المؤكد أن النضال من أجل إحلال نظام ديموقراطي مكانه في سوريا قد هُزِم تماماً".
My translation:

Those who have realized that the Syrian people's struggle for democracy has been appropriated by the imperial powers and its allies inside and outside Syria, will come to the conclusion that the continuation of the Syrian Intifada will only reach one result. This result is one where there is no democracy, it is one which will be more lenient [towards the West] and more oppressive. It is one that will be imposed by the US which parallels what it did in Iraq and Libya. If that is what the Syrian demonstrators want, then all they need to do is to continue their demonstrations. However, if that is not what they want, then they will have to face the extremely painful fact that they and their intifada have reached an unwinding defeat. But, this defeat did not come at the hands of their dictatorial regime and its monstrous oppression of which they most courageously defied. Rather, this defeat comes at the hands of the world powers which do not want to see democracy in Syria. In light of the latest decision taken up by the Arab League, Europe and the US, the Asad regime will fall but the struggle for democracy has been defeated as well.

I am sure it is a multimillion industry

The tunnels are Gaza's only survival vessels. Although this article says it is a million dollar industry, when I was in Gaza and with the owners and workers (who are mostly students) it was said to be much more.

Amazing night in Tahrir yesterday continues today

This is a brief account in Arabic on Shorouk News. Two activists were killed, in Tahrir and in Alexandria.

Sectarian Democracy in Lebanon

...at its best. The talk show episode that has made headlines in Lebanon.

More on Normalization

I really apprciate this attempt on behal of comrades in PACBI to define normalization thoroughly:"It is helpful to think of normalization as a “colonization of the mind,” whereby the oppressed subject comes to believe that the oppressor’s reality is the only “normal” reality that must be subscribed to, and that the oppression is a fact of life that must be coped with. Those who engage in normalization either ignore this oppression, or accept it as the status quo that can be lived with. In an attempt to whitewash its violations of international law and human rights, Israel attempts to re-brand [1] itself, or present itself as normal -- even “enlightened” -- through an intricate array of relations and activities encompassing hi-tech, cultural, legal, LGBT and other realms."

Angry Arab writes about the oppositions in the Arab world

"It should be stated at the outset that no Arab regime deserves support – all of them lack electoral legitimacy, and all have violated the rights of their people. And all have failed in the larger issue of standing up to Israel and its occupation and war crimes. Furthermore, not a single Arab regime is free of corruption. But opposition to all Arab regimes without exception, should not lead one to endorse all Arab opposition groups without exception."

Review of Anonymous

This is a review of the 2011 movie Anonymous starring my all time favorite, Vanessa Redgrave. She is unforgettable for her courage against the mainstream Zionist discourse.

Zionist crimes against humanity 27Oct-2Nov

12 Palestinian resistance activists were killed and 5 others were wounded by Israeli air strikes in the Gaza Strip. 3 Palestinian civilians, including a child, were wounded by IOF in the Gaza Strip. Israeli war planes launched 17 air strikes against targets in the Gaza Strip. A country house, a room and two containers were destroyed and a number of houses, shops and fields were damaged. IOF have continued to use force against peaceful protests in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. A Palestinian civilian was wounded. Dozens of Palestinian civilians and international human rights defenders suffered from tear gas inhalation. The Israeli Navy has continued to attack Palestinian fishermen in the Gaza Strip. Israeli naval troops arrested two Palestinian fishermen. IOF conducted 56 incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank and a limited one into the Gaza Strip. IOF arrested 8 Palestinians. IOF used a dog to attack a Palestinian civilian. Israel has continued to impose a total closure on the OPT and has isolated the Gaza Strip from the outside world.Israeli soldiers arrested 5 Palestinian civilians, including a child, at various checkpoints in the West Bank. Israel has continued measures aimed at creating a Jewish majority in East Jerusalem. The Israeli Municipality of Jerusalem exerts pressure to accelerate the establishment of a biblical park in Silwan village. IOF demolished 3 houses in al-Khan al-Ahmar area.IOF have continued settlement activities in the West Bank and Israeli settlers have continued to attack Palestinian civilians and property. Israeli settlers attacked Palestinian farmers while cropping olives in the West Bank. An old woman was injured near Ramallah.
Source: PCHR week of October 27- November 2 2011

they even appropriated the Oud!

"Despite the peoples’ revolutions that are shaking the thrones of tyranny and striving for democracy, freedom, dignity, and social justice in the Arab World, and in the midst of the hunger strike of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli occupation prisons and detention centers, we are surprised to hear that a number of Palestinian artists are participating in Israel’s “Oud Festival,” a Zionist propaganda festival that embodies what the late Edward Said termed “cultural imperialism” and that aims to appropriate our cultural heritage, just as it has done to our land and history."

Th creative community for occupation and apartheid

"One of CCFP’s founders, Steve Schnur, wants artists to know “what Israel is really about – the freedom, the democracy and equal rights”, but CCFP does not acknowledge that more than 30 laws racially discriminate against Palestinians and anyone the state does not deem to be “Jewish”. CCFP wishes to make the claim that “art transcends politics” but is engaged heavily in political propaganda on behalf of an apartheid state. The only artist known to be included in CCFP’s advisory board is Idan Raichel, a self-proclaimed cultural ambassador who stated: “We certainly see ourselves as ambassadors of Israel in the world, cultural ambassadors, hasbara ambassadors, also in regards to the political conflict.”

9 Palestinians killed on Saturday evening Israeli bombings

1- Ahmed Khalil al-Sheikh Khalil, 36, from Rafah;

2- Mohammed Ahmed ‘Aashour, 26, from Khan Yunis;

3- ‘Abdul Karim Mousa Shatat (al-Masri), 30, from Khan Yunis;

4- Bassem Mohammed Abu al-‘Ata, 33, from Gaza City; and

5- Hassan Mohammed al-Khudari, 27, from Gaza City

6- Suleiman Mahrous Abu Fatma, 21; and

7- Sami Hamad Abu Sabt, 23, both from Rafah.

8- Mardi Nahidh Mohammed Hajjaj, 24; and

9- Suhail Ibrahim Jundiya, 27, both from al-Shuja’iya neighborhood in Gaza City.

Zionist crimes against humanity this week

IOF continued to use force against peaceful protests in the West Bank. Dozens of Palestinian civilians and international human rights defenders suffered from tear gas inhalation. IOF arrested an activist in the campaign against the construction of the annexation wall in Bil’ein village, west of Rammallah. IOF fired at Palestinian workers collecting scraps of construction materials in the northern Gaza Strip. IOF conducted 58 incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank. IOF arrested 8 Palestinians. Israel has continued to impose a total closure on the OPT and has isolated the Gaza Strip from the outside world. Israeli soldiers arrested 4 Palestinian civilians, including a child, at various checkpoints in the West Bank. Israeli has continued to construct the annexation wall inside th West Bank territory. IOF leveled large areas of Palestinian land in al-Walaja village near Bethlehem. Israel has continued measures aimed at creating a Jewish majority in East Jerusalem. A new settlement plan in East Jerusalem was unveiled. The Israeli Municipality of Jerusalem decided to demolish the bridge of Bab al-Maghariba neighborhood. IOF closed offices of a number of NGOs and arrested a staff member. IOF have continued settlement activities in the West Bank and Israeli settlers have continued to attack Palestinian civilians and property. Israeli settlers attacked Palestinian farmers while cropping olives in the West Bank.
Source: PCHR week of 20-26 Oct 2011

why i hate the word 'humanitarianism'!

"One example of how some local Lebanese communities resisted and refused to inscribe by this traumatized subjectivity can be seen in the failure of humanitarian organizations in providing proper psychological interventions for Lebanese Shi‘a, the Lebanese community most affected by the 2006 war. In a public speech delivered during ‘Ashura’ in December 2009, Hizballah’s Secretary General Sayyid Hassan Nasrallah discussed the role of “global organizations studying the psychological effect of the war in South Lebanon” and their failures in detecting signs of trauma among Lebanese Shi‘a. For Nasrallah “this absence of trauma is a special and unique phenomenon in history.”ⁱⁱⁱ His speech can be seen to express a form of counter-humanitarian discourse and challenged universally legitimate forms of suffering that dismiss the political, historical, and cultural contexts of violence and loss"

never to forget: Zionist crimes against humanity week of 13-19 October

IOF continued to use force against peaceful protests in the West Bank.

- Dozens of Palestinian civilians and international human rights defenders suffered from tear gas inhalation.

- 6 Palestinian civilians, including 3 children, sustained bruises in Hebron.

· IOF conducted 47 incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank.

- IOF arrested 12 Palestinians, including two children.

· Israel has continued to impose a total closure on the OPT and has isolated the Gaza Strip from the outside world.

- Israeli soldiers arrested 3 Palestinian civilians, including a child, at various checkpoints in the West Bank

· Israel has continued measures aimed at creating a Jewish majority in East Jerusalem.

- The Israeli government plans to establish a new settlement neighborhood between Jerusalem and Bethlehem, and 950 dunums[1] of Palestinian land will be confiscated for this purpose.

· IOF have continued settlement activities in the West Bank and Israeli settlers have continued to attack Palestinian civilians and property.

- IOF razed 30 dunums of agricultural land to the east of Salfit.

- Israeli settlers attacked Palestinian civilians and property in Hebron.

- Israeli settlers attacked Palestinian farmers while cropping olives in the West Bank

Source: PCHR week of October 13-19, 2011

cleaners at SOAS

Cleaners at the university I am doing my PhD in, SOAS, are paid less than the minimal wage in the UK, because they are not citizens of the UK. SOAS as an amazing student political activism, that supports these workers' rights against the unjust rules of the administration. Ghazzawiyya supports them too and has the privilege of joining them in the strike.

not human beings

"Kuntar refuses to use the word “deal” to describe the recent prisoners exchange between Israel and Hamas, because that word is used when speaking about business, and not about human beings"

14th of March and the Syrian uprising

" it was ironic that the movement known for racist mobilization against Syrians, which resulted in the murder of hundreds of Syrian workers and attacks on hundreds of others, suddenly started to champion Syrian people and their cause."

Nour Merheb

A name and a human that touched me so much. I went to his facebook page and he had written this statement on the day of his suicide "I die, as I have lived, a free spirit, an Anarchist, owing no allegiance to rulers, heavenly or earthly."
This is his blog. And he writes on the very headline of the page that he writes (Arabic) in feminine because he refuses to use the masculine: one male replaces a thousand females, and he won't be part of it.
Nour probably planned this suicide to shed light on his situation and the extreme injustice of the military court. But, it still is a huge loss, Nour.

Zionist crimes against humanity week of Sept 8-14

IOF continued to attack Palestinian fishermen in the Gaza Strip.

- Two fishermen were wounded.

- IOF arrested and interrogated 8 fishermen, including two children, but released later.



· IOF continued to use force against peaceful protests in the West Bank.

- Dozens of demonstrators suffered from tear gas inhalation.



· IOF conducted 51 incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank.

- IOF arrested 23 Palestinians, including 10 children.

- IOF arrested and interrogated 3 Palestinian children in the Gaza Strip, but released them later.



· Israel has continued to impose a total siege on the OPT and has isolated the Gaza Strip from the outside world.

- IOF arrested at least 3 Palestinian civilians at military checkpoints and border crossings in the West Bank.



· IOF have continued settlement activities in the West Bank and Israeli settlers have continued to attack Palestinian civilians and property.

- IOF demolished an under-construction house and shop of car parts in Beit Ummar town, north of Hebron.

- IOF handed notices to 8 Palestinian families ordering them to evacuate their farms in Hebron.

- Israeli settlers attacked Palestinian civilian vehicles traveling on the main roads, and a Palestinian civilian was injured.

- Israeli settlers uprooted 222 trees.

- Israeli settlers attempted to burn two cars in Burqa village, east of Ramallah.

Source: PCHR, week of Sept. 8-14, 2011

Another black day for activists who fight or social justice

A young Lebanese activist of 25 years old, Nour Merheb, committed suicide in a Chalet in the North. He was dedicated to fighting for social justice and freedom of expression. It is a huge loss. I will post more on the matter once there is more information.

About the Hezbollah interview in the Time

"This is not the first time that coverage of the Middle East has been associated with scandals and propaganda. Western media have served as government tools since the US war on Iraq in 1990. It only got worse over time, especially since Sep. 11."

Lebanese nationalism between romanticism and liberalism

A review on the works of Michael Johnson about Lebanon, it's classes, civil war and nationalism.

the faceless numbers

"The cumulative effect of sparsely reported carnages immunised us against sympathy with their many faceless and speechless victims in the wider world. We were hardly aware, let alone troubled, when entire cities and ways of lives were destroyed. More than 30,000 people, nearly 10 times the number of those killed on 9/11, have died, and many centres of folk Islam destroyed, in Pakistan" (read from a facebook post)

Feminist theory website

This is an extensive website on feminist theory, and it contains the major fields within the discipline. A great resource on books and activism for those interested.

The Syrian Social Nationalists divided

"Members of these executive bodies are divided today. Some have protested in support of the regime and some have protested demanding its overthrow. Still others, fearful for the ‘nation’, remain silent. There are also those who prepare themselves to split away from the party or to establish a new party. But most prefer that Bashar al-Assad embarks on reforming his regime before it is too late."

Ali Farzat

" Farzat has always reminded me of Michel Foucault: Both study power not in its centralization or as a formal structure but in its diffusion and emanations. Farzat studies and mocks power in all aspects of our lives. People who think that Farzat attacks only the state or government have not seen his work. One of his most memorable works is a sketch of a man behind bars. But the bars are broken and the man does not leap to freedom."

Zygmunt Bauman on Ghettoization in Palestine

""Israeli politicians are terrified of peace, they tremble with fear from the possibility of peace, because without war and without general mobilization they don't know how to live," he said."

Interview with Gilbert Achcar about growing impact of Chinese economy

Interview in Alakhbar could be read here. It is in Arabic.

Ghadhafi's out

One of the longest to occur till now, and with western (unfavoured and unwanted intervention). A report in Arabic from Lebanon's Assafir. And these are constant updates from the Guardian.

Zionism

"In fact, Israel never needed a pretext to start bombing Gaza. Israel’s warplanes do every day shell the hell out of Gaza. This was a pretext for exercising extrajudicial execution the outcome of which is still on the rise. And yes, it didn’t take long for the aerial, ground and naval operation to get under way. You can’t tell me Israel would miss this chance"

Zionist crimes against humanity 11-17 August

·       IOF killed two Palestinians, including a mentally disabled child in the Gaza Strip.
-        4 Palestinians, including a child, were wounded by IOF in the Gaza Strip.
-        A Palestinian child was injured by the explosion of a suspicious object in the West Bank.
 
·       Israeli warplanes bombarded a number of targets in the Gaza Strip.
 
·       IOF continued to attack Palestinian fishermen and fishing boats in the Gaza Strip.
-        A Palestinian fisherman was wounded in the northern Gaza Strip.
 
·       IOF continued to use force against peaceful protests in the West Bank.
-        Dozens of demonstrators suffered from tear gas inhalation.
 
·       IOF conducted 27 incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank.   
-        IOF arrested 10 Palestinian civilians.
 
·       Israel has continued to impose a total siege on the OPT and has isolated the Gaza Strip from the outside world.
-        IOF arrested 7 Palestinian civilians, including a woman and her baby, at military checkpoints in the West Bank.
 
·       IOF have continued settlement activities in the West Bank and Israeli settlers have continued to attack Palestinian civilians and property.
-        Israeli settler guards fired at Palestinian farmers north of Hebron.

Source: PCHR, week of 11-17 August, 2011

An excellent read on events in Syria

This article has been very well translated into English by Jadaliyya, originally published in Aladab academic journal that is edited by leftist activist and writer Samah Idriss. "The Syrian 'Common': The Uprising of the Working Society" Despite the fact that it has been circulating for a while now, it is very important and worth the(late) posting!

Sex according to the Lebanese state

" As citizens, our bodies are the stuff of politics and the target of law because it is through our bodies that we produce the next generation of citizens and thus ensure the longevity of the state."

Think 'consciousness industry'

"The most amazing aspect of JK Rowling's achievement and that of the Harry Potter marketing machine is that they have produced so much stuff for so long – kept the profile so high, the advertising so pervasive – and yet somehow contrived to leave a huge section of their audience still wanting more. They've given Harry the attributes of pistachio nuts and crack cocaine without the health risks."
This is what the culture industry is about profit, money making, and how to make people consume more of the product. Think mass astrology, music, films, ideas and food that'll fit well into the global market and the transnational elite class that dominates it. I like Harry Potter and think the themes are very important and politically relevant (Lord of the Rings on that note as well) as emphasized in the book, particualry at the beginning (anti-racism) but the more it has been commercialized and marketed in the aim to sell, it has lost much of it's thematic significance and molded to selling much of the toys, and sweets associated with it.

Ahmad al Shahaat

The age of heroes. This is a video of the demonstration yesterday in front of the Israeli embassy in Cairo and how Ahmad al Shahaat, a demonstrator,, climbed the building, removed the Israeli flag which was later burnt, and replaced it with an Egyptian flag. Inspiring!
Every time there is a remarkably powerful protest against the usurping entity in our part of the world I get a flashback to when Walid Jumblat said, 'eventually we will have to recognize israel's existence.... So, why not contemplate the possibility of peace." How embarrassed and delegitimized must he be feeling. Mind you, this was also after the 2006 war on Lebanon!

Resuming

Dear followers, I apologize for the inconsistent blogging. For the last few months I have been traveling extensively. I will resume normal activity on the blog starting September first.
Many events I have not been able to cover on this blog since May, including the courageous and daring protests in Syria, the escalation of usurping Zionist entity's violence and terrorism against Palestinian civilians in the West Bank and Gaza including the illegal settlement expansions, the protests (and I insist in calling them protests as opposed to "riots") in Britain, following up also on European and North American imperialist practices in Libya and their destruction of the country, their ever ending greed for the resources in the region and will to (so-called 'third world') domination. That includes the latest opinion, criticisms and op-eds by prominent activists and political analysts from the region and elsewhere (I would really hate to call them intellectual, as that, I believe, creates a gap between them and the people they are speaking about, who they are part of!) on the new Arab world and its intifadas.
All coming soon, and of course, we are witnessing the end of an era...after all J.K.Rowling ended her Harry Potter series, no?

Zionist crimes against humanity, week of July 21-27

 
 
·       IOF continued to use force against peaceful protests in the West Bank.
-        A Palestinian civilian was wounded.
-        IOF arrested 8 Palestinian demonstrators.
 
·       IOF conducted 24 incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank and a limited one into the Gaza Strip.   
-        IOF arrested 9 Palestinian civilians, including two children.
 
·       Israel has continued to impose a total siege on the OPT and has isolated the Gaza Strip from the outside world.
-        IOF arrested 3 Palestinian civilians at military checkpoints in the West Bank.
-        IOF harassed 5 Palestinian children in Hebron.
 
·       IOF resumed the construction of the annexation wall inside the West Bank territory.
-        IOF razed large areas of Palestinian agricultural land in Bethlehem and uprooted at least 22 pine and olive trees.
 
·       IOF have continued settlement activities in the West Bank and Israeli settlers have continued to attack Palestinian civilians and property.
Source: PCHR, week of July 21-27, 2011

Right wing extremism in Europe

"I was among those who first thought, in the first 24 hours after the attack, that it was a jihadist or a al-Qaeda-inspired attack. And there were a few reasons why that might be plausible. And I think that was really the only scope of threat that was considered by the Norwegian Security Services. So now that we find out that it’s a right-wing extremist, we’re all the more surprised. And I think that the Security Services were even more surprised. There was nothing—the statements from the Security Service are that there was nothing about this man which came up—which should have come up on the security intelligence radar. Everything he was doing was within the realm of legality. There was really no reason to suspect him. And yet, there was every reason to suspect him."
http://www.democracynow.org/2011/7/27/before_death_acclaimed_girl_with_dragon

Zionist crimes against humanity week of 7-13 July 2011

 

·       A Palestinian civilian was killed by IOF in the north of the West Bank.

 

·       A Palestinian woman was wounded by IOF the northern Gaza Strip.

 

·       Israeli warplanes attacked a number of civilian facilities in the Gaza Strip.

-        Two industrial workshops and a warehouse of fodders were destroyed and a number of civilian facilities and houses were damaged.

-        A Palestinian woman was injured.  

 

·       IOF continued to use force against peaceful protests in the West Bank.

-        A Palestinian child was wounded.

-        Dozens of demonstrators suffered from tear Gas inhalation.

 

·       Israeli gunboats opened fire at Palestinian fishing boats in the Gaza Strip.

 

·       IOF conducted 47 incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank and a limited incursion into the Gaza Strip.   

-        IOF arrested 12 Palestinian civilians, including a child.

 

·       Israel has continued to impose a total siege on the OPT and has isolated the Gaza Strip from the outside world.

-        IOF arrested 4 Palestinian civilians at military checkpoints in the West Bank.

 

·       IOF have continued settlement activities in the West Bank and Israeli settlers have continued to attack Palestinian civilians and property.

-       IOF demolished a workshop, an animal farm and a garage in al-Jeeb village near Jerusalem.

-       IOF uprooted and confiscated 600 olive trees in Deir Estia village in the north of the West Bank.

Source: PCHR, week of 7-13 July, 2011

The Egyptian army was and is against the people from the start of the intifada

"Only a short while ago, the spokesman of the Military Council, Major General Fangari, saluted the martyrs of the revolution and melted Egyptians’ hearts with the memories of the days they spent chanting that the army and the people were “one hand”. Today he delivered another kind of message to the revolutionaries: threats to “take all necessary measures to confront the threats which encircle the homeland unless this questioning of the ongoing process ceases… as do the rumours and misconceptions which lead to discord and rebellion and the promotion of the interests of a narrow minority over those of the country as a whole.”
http://www.socialistworker.co.uk/art.php?id=25418

Egyptian socialist revolutionary website

www.e-socialists.net/node/7123

"anarchy in paint pot, mutiny in brush"

"According to Winston Churchill, “Accounts from Liverpool show that the situation there is more like revolution than a strike.”
http://www.socialistworker.co.uk/art.php?id=25357

Murdoch sexism and homophobia

"he imposed his views on other things too. Subeditors were ordered not to wear coloured shirts or suede shoes (to fit in with Murdoch’s bigoted view that only “homos” wore suede shoes). And he didn’t like women who wore trousers."http://www.socialistworker.co.uk/art.php?id=25370

when we stop dreaming, we die

This song by the genius, Mohammad Munir.

If we stop dreaming, we die
If we insist, we can get through
If we make through, that's it
If we answer back to them, it's gone
Some patience, some excitement
The dream will vivid in sound and sight

I love it when he sings as if he predicts the events to come

Sa'id Akl; the Zionist

"شجبت مجموعة «شباب ضد التطبيع» التكريم الرسمي الذي أقيم منذ أيام للشاعر سعيد عقل احتفاءً ببلوغه المئة. وفي بيان أصدرته أمس، ذكّرت المجموعة بـ«مواقف سعيد عقل اللاوطنية التي عبّر عنها في مقابلة أجراها معه التلفزيون الإسرائيلي عام 1982». وطالبت المجموعة الدولة اللبنانية بـ«التراجع عن إنتاج الطوابع التي تحمل صورة هذا الشاعر العنصري اللاوطني» في إشارة إلى الطوابع التي أصدرتها وزارة الاتصالات منذ فترة وتحمل صور أعلام لبنانيين من بينهم صاحب «رندلى». وتنوي المجموعة إقامة وقفة احتجاجية بعد غد الاثنين في مكان سيحدد لاحقاً، يتخللها بث فيديو المقابلة التي أجراها صاحب «لبنان إن حكى» مع التلفزيون الإسرائيلي عام 1982"

the upcoming war, if it happens

"Lebanese citizens will begin stocking up on what they need to survive another war. Overnight, the country will experience shortages of cigarettes, vodka, whiskey, and other intoxicants."

on the origins of racism

"Forms of slavery had existed in medieval societies all over the world. Between the 10th and 16th centuries, the chief source of slaves in western Europe was eastern Europe—the word “slave” comes from the word “Slav”." How predictable. Just another illness attributed to capitalism and the White man

discrimination against...war criminals

"The International Criminal Court has now officially made Qaddafi an internationally wanted felon, for Crimes Against Humanity" O really? What about NATO generals, Bush, Blair... and, o, yes, the British Empire of Terrorism? and lest we forget... the most dangerous of all...the Israeli Nazi state and its war mongers

how ordinary people can change the face of world politics

AN excellent read!

the american ambassador and the French one too

Protestors in Syria should have jammed their convoys with rotten eggs and tomatoes (and shoes as well, why not)

youth subcultures in North Africa

, “Mohammed Bouazizi did not have to sacrifice his life to force the world to finally listen to us. We have been screaming exclusion all along … people do not grow ears overnight.”

"Syria and Hezbollah"

This is a translated article for Khaled Saghiyyeh (alakhbar) translated by Assaf Khoury for Jadaliyya's website.

to know more about the intifada in Syria

Great interviews with Syrian novelist Rosa Yasseen Hassan

An incomplete revolution?

"Facile anti-Mubarakism should not be mistaken for democratization. On the contrary, selective populism without popular sovereignty is a quick route to post-Mubarak authoritarianism."

Zionist crimes against humanity week of 30 June- 6July

Two Palestinians were killed by an Israeli air strike in the central Gaza Strip.
- A third Palestinian was wounded in the same attack.
· A Palestinian civilian died of a previous wound in the West Bank.
· Israeli warplanes attacked a number of civilian facilities in the Gaza Strip.
- A store of fodders was bombarded and a number of civilian facilities were damaged.
· IOF continued to use force against peaceful protests in the West Bank.
- Dozens of demonstrators suffered from tear Gas inhalation.
- IOF arrested 4 international human rights defenders.
· Israeli gunboats opened fire at Palestinian fishing boats in the Gaza Strip.
- A fishing boat was damaged.
· IOF conducted 32 incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank.
- IOF arrested 6 Palestinian civilians, including a child.
· Israel has continued to impose a total siege on the OPT and has isolated the Gaza Strip from the outside world.
- IOF arrested two Palestinian civilians, at military checkpoints in the West Bank.
· IOF have continued settlement activities in the West Bank and Israeli settlers have continued to attack Palestinian civilians and property.
- IOF cut 11 olive trees in Kufor al-Dik village, west of Salfit.

- IOF prevented Palestinian farmers from working on their lands near “Sousia” settlement, south of Hebron.

Source: PCHR week of June 30- July 6, 2011

what world do these people live in?

Shakira goes to Israel. There are F16s "don't lie" there and she wants to promote their usage well on Palestinian and Lebanese children.

siege and blockade of Gaza entering 5th year

"In the years he has been unable to work, Ramzi has noticed a big difference in his health. He says it used to keep him strong and happy because his job was physical. Now he doesn't get any activity. "If I went back to work now I know that I would feel younger again."

"a vehicle for freedom"

"Dozens of women have now got behind the wheel to drive forward reforms. Organisers claim inspiration from the uprisings across the region."

Zionist crimes against humanity, week of 16-22 June

Again, nowhere will you find these atrocities in newspapers near you

. A Palestinian was wounded and arrested by IOF in Qalqilya.
· Israeli warplanes bombarded a chicken farm in the central Gaza Strip, killing 3,500 chicks.
· IOF continued to use force against peaceful protests in the West Bank.
- 4 Palestinian civilians, including a child, were wounded.
- IOF arrested 6 international human rights defenders.
· Israeli gunboats opened fire at Palestinian fishing boats in the Gaza Strip.
- Two fishing boats were damaged.
· IOF conducted 38 incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank and two limited ones into the Gaza Strip.
- IOF arrested 12 Palestinian civilians, including two children.
· Israel has continued to impose a total siege on the OPT and has isolated the Gaza Strip from the outside world.
- IOF arrested two Palestinian civilians, at military checkpoints in the West Bank.
· IOF have continued settlement activities in the West Bank and Israeli settlers have continued to attack Palestinian civilians and property.
- IOF demolished 8 houses to the south of Hebron.
- At least 30 dunums of agricultural land planted with olives were burnt.
- Israeli settlers damaged two houses and a car in Kufor Hares village, north of Salfit.
- Israeli settlers violently beat a Palestinian civilian in Hebron

Source: PCHR, week of 16-22 June, 2011

neoliberal policies and farmers in Egypt

"before 1999, if landowners wanted to evict farmers from their land, they had to compensate the tenants with half the land's value. When Egyptian authorities implemented this new land law nearly one million farmers became landless and left their farming practices completely."

Signs

Signs

Many signs on the roads
Signs pointing to cities
Signs pointing to streets
Signs pointing to factories, institutions, shops, houses
Many signs full of names
He walks
Looking for a sign
That is empty

by Wadih Saadeh translated by Sinan Antoun

The (Death) Crossing (معبر الموت)

"يطلق أهل القطاع لقب (معبر الموت) على ممر رفح, و من المعروف أنه هذا اللقب لم يأت من فراغ أو مداعبة ثقيلة الظل, لا سمح الله, فاهل القطاع معروفون بخفة الظل المشهود لها بسبب اختلاطهم التاريخي مع أهل مصر الحبيبة. بل على العكس, فان السبب يكمن في تلك المعاملة التي خلقها النظام البائد على المعبرو التي يوجد اجماع لدى سكان غزة على أنها (فريدة) من نوعها! فهي مزيج من تعالي شوفيني مخلوط بحقد بيروقراطي لا يمكن الا أن يكون نتاج مؤسسة أمنية تلقت دروسا متقدمة في القمع و نزع انسانية (الأخر). و لكن هل الفلسطيني المضطهد من قبل الاحتلال الصهيوني, و الذي يعتبر رأس حربة النضال العربي في المنطقة, هو (الأخر) لرجل الأمن المصري؟ و هل نجح النظام السابق, و الذي قبله, في تحويل وعي رجل أمن الدولة و اقناعه بأن الفلسطيني هو (العدو؟) و الا فما هو تفسير الادعاء بأن الغزي يشكل خطرا على الأمن القومي المصري الذي صغر ليصبح متمترسا على حدود رفح؟ (لا شك أن جمال عبد الناصر كان يتقلب في قبره!) و ما الذي يبرر أساليب الذل و الهوان التي اتقنها النظام السابق حتى مع مؤيدي القضية الفلسطينية و الساعين لكسر الحصار الجائر؟ و هل قمع مسيرة غزة نحو الحرية و شريان الحياة يمكن تفسيره بشكل مختلف؟ و ان كان من الواجب في هذا السياق الاعتراف بأن بعض القوى الفلسطينية و بعض مؤسسات المجتمع المدني كان لها موقف (يتفهم) ما فعله النظام المصري من اغلاق للمعبر و انه يجب علينا الا (نحرف البوصلة) بالضغط على مصر لفتح المعبر! و كانت نفس هذه القوى و المؤسسات قد باركت اعادة العمل على المعبر ببيانات الشكر للموقف الجديد لحكومة الثورة! و علينا أن نفترض أنها (تتفهم) عدم العمل الان على المعبربطريقة منتظمة"
this is why it is an uprising, and not yet a revolution... a revoluton is an earthquake,or perhaps a volcanic change in social, economic and political structure and one that is defined first and foremost by a shift in consciousness

interview with friend and comrade Lubna Masarwa

Here is a link to the video.

Article by comrade Vik

Resistance : The First and only Fisherwoman of Gaza by Vittorio Arrigoni.

the clashes in Tripoli, Lebanon today

I was watching the coverage of the clashes today in Tripoli (Lebanon) and I came upon the LBC (Lebanese based, Saudi funded and Samir Gaa'gaa' oriented satelite TV with broadcasters like Dolly Ghanem whose facial expressions emanate with racism) and one of the reporters asking Mikati the lousy, newly appointed prime minister, if the clashes that wounded as many as 20 civilians and killed 3 one of whom is a soldier in the Lebanonese tabbouli army, were meant to be a consipiracy against the army. Then I switched onto real life village politics, and I heard liberal Lebanonese feudal warlords-supporters blame Syria and criminal Bashshar Assad.
Looking beyond these pathetic and ignorant analyses, the clashes have a history, one that is embedded in the Salafite Harriri supported militias in Tripoli, in the Jabal Mohsen area. It is actually a street that seperates the armed groups and it is always the Salafis that begin these aggressions and it is always civilians who are caught amidst this sectarian, politically fueled clashes.

Zionist crimes against humanity week of 9-15 June

You will NOT read these in newspapers near you:

A Palestinian died of wounds he had sustained during the wide scale Israeli offensive on the Gaza Strip.
- A Palestinian civilian was wounded by IOF in Salfit.
- An old Palestinian man was wounded by Israeli settlers in the West Bank.
· IOF continued to use force against peaceful protests in the West Bank.
- Two Palestinian civilians were wounded.
- IOF arrested 4 Israeli human rights defenders and two Palestinian civilians.
· IOF conducted 50 incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank and a limited one into the Gaza Strip.
- IOF arrested 21 Palestinian civilians, including 3 children.
- The detainees include former Palestinian Minister of Prisoners’ Affairs, Wasfi Qabaha.
· IOF fired at Palestinian fishing boats in the Gaza Strip.
· Israel has continued to impose a total siege on the OPT and has isolated the Gaza Strip from the outside world.
- IOF arrested two Palestinian civilians, including a woman, at military checkpoints in the West Bank.
- IOF violently beat a Palestinian civilian at a military checkpoint near Hebron.
· IOF have continued settlement activities in the West Bank and Israeli settlers have continued to attack Palestinian civilians and property.
- IOF ordered the demolition of a school and two barracks in Salfit.
- IOF ordered stopping the construction of a mosque in Salfit and demolishing another one in Bethlehem.
- IOF destroyed two wells and ordered the demolition of another 3 ones.
- IOF demolished 3 tents and 10 barnyards in Jericho.
- Israeli settlers attacked 5 houses in Hebron.
- Israeli settlers leveled areas of land they had already seized near Hebron.

Source: PCHR week of 9-15 June, 2011

Mufti of ignorance, sectarianism and racism

the Mufti of garbage in Lebanon

“You are trash. You [Palestinians] will never be victorious. Nor will your cause. I’m no longer afraid of your weapons.” This is the language of racist Lebanonese.

Turkey and the US

"استخدمت واشنطن وأنقرة سياسة الانخراط والحوار مع نظام الأسد في محاولة منهما لتغيير سياسته الإقليمية. وبكلام أدق، حاولت العاصمتان أن تقنعا سوريا بالانفصال عن إيران ووقف دعمها لحزب الله.
كذلك سعت الولايات المتحدة وتركيا إلى إعادة الحياة إلى مفاوضات السلام المتوقفة بين إسرائيل وسوريا، التي عقدت آخر مرة تحت رعاية تركية في 2008"

Washington and Ankara have involved themselved in a policy of dialogue with the Assad regime and that was for the purposes of trying to change his regional politics. More specifically, the two capitals have tried to convince Syria of severing ties with Iran and quelling its support of Hezbollah. Also, the US and Turkey have sought to revive the Israeli-Palestinian peace negotiations, the last of which was sponsored by Turkey in 2008.

the Israeli circle of friends

"Clashes began after security officers shoved a pregnant street vendor on Friday of last week in the manufacturing city of Xintang in Guangdong province."

a good account of what happened in Jisr el-Shughour

"It seems that, after being told that they were being sent to fight “terrorists”, the soldiers found themselves facing unarmed demonstrators. Some refused orders to fire on unarmed people, and so their commanders ordered them shot."

the Ba'ath

"Historically the Ba’athists were middle class intellectuals, professionals, students, traders and businessmen who hated what imperialism had done to the region.
But once they came to power, the interests of the ruling class dominated.
Modern Syrian history has seen continuing clashes with Israel—it has been a thorn in the side of Western powers. But for all the talk of solidarity with the Palestinians, it is a history of betrayal."

forced to sign a plegde of dishonour

"Bahraini students studying at British universities have been forced to sign a pledge of allegiance to the King of Bahrain, and promise that they will not take part in any protests against the regime.It follows months of harassment of the students. Some have had their funding withdrawn after attending pro-democracy protests in Britain."

"support means control"

"The cynicism and hypocrisy of Western leaders claiming affinity with Arab demonstrators beggars belief. They conveniently forget that the reason for this late flowering of Arab democracy results directly from Western domination and humiliation of the Arab world throughout the last century."

the new Erdogan government

"The new government will not have a sufficient majority to bring in a new constitution, unless it is supported by the Kurdish MPs. It will have to sit and negotiate with them, and meet many of their demands. The alternative is war, and everyone knows this.
A conservative government will try to slow democratisation down and get away with giving the Kurds as little as possible."

zionist crimes against humanity this week

A Palestinian civilian was wounded in the Gaza Strip

· A Palestinian child was wounded in an attack launched jointly by IOF and Israeli settlers.

· IOF used force to disperse peaceful demonstrations commemorating the Palestinian Naksa.

- Twenty six demonstrators, including 11 children and a woman, were wounded near Qalandya checkpoint, north of Jerusalem.

· IOF continued to use force against peaceful protests in the West Bank.

- Two Palestinians, including a journalist, were wounded

· IOF conducted 38 incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank.

- IOF arrested 14 Palestinian civilians, including 2 children.

- The arrested Palestinians include two PLC members.

· IOF continued settlement activities and Israeli settlers continued their attacks in the West Bank.

- Israeli settlers set fire to wheat farms in Qalqilya.

- Israeli settlers damaged 20 grape trees and set fire to a wheat farm in Beit Ummar village, north of Hebron.

Israel has continued to impose a total siege on the Gaza Strip and tightened the siege on the West Bank.

- IOF held a PCHR fieldworker for several hours in the north of Hebron.

- IOF held a PCHR fieldworker at a military checkpoint in the north of the West Bank and questioned him about PCHR’s annual report.

Israeli violations of international law and humanitarian law in the OPT continued during the reporting period (02 – 08 June 2011):

Week of June 2-8, Source: PCHR

'The Ghetto of Death'

If this regime of children killers supports the resistance in Lebanon, then to hell with it and its support: "To crack down on a revolt that was gaining ground, Bashar Al-Assad's regime wanted to show the country what would happen to those who would resist him. As a result, Al-Balad is suffering under a merciless siege. Electricity, water and phone lines have been cut. Without access to supplies, milk and essential foods have run out. The 15,000 residents under lockdown are facing famine. Everyday, during the evening prayer, thousands of voices rise above the neighborhood for the rest of the city to hear: "Milk! Water!" they scream, their voices barely muted by bursts of gunfire."

Wahabiyyah; the ally of Western missionaries of human rights

"Q: In most Muslim countries, even monarchies like Morocco, women have more social freedom and legal rights than in Saudi Arabia. Why is Saudi Arabia so committed to repressing women?
A: Actually they are committed to repressing everybody—men, women, Saudis, non-Saudis. That’s why religious police are on the streets harassing and arresting people. Young men are beaten just for having long hair. But the police are more brutal with women, because women are half the society, and they raise the other half. So repressing and instilling fear in women is the most effective way to control the whole society.Here is progress, Saudi-style: the Shura has just recommended that women be allowed to vote but not run in local elections, and the king decreed that women and only women can sell women’s lingerie."

Only zionists honour zionists

My former university, American (Zionist) University of Beirut is honouring a Zionist. And why does al'akhbar have a shocked (?!) response to this?!

Newsflash: Chinese weapons of mass destruction against Chinese people and Palestinians too

This is not new. China and Israel cooperating in their defence (against Palestinian children). "There will be a very serious discussion over Chinese weapons over the Middle East."

the crocodile tears of Mona e-Shathely

A video of Mona e-Shathely of 'al 'aashira masaa'an' (the ten o'clock show on Dream, an Egyptian satellite channel) as she cries for Mubarak. She says this is a historical moment of tear drifting for Mubarak, then she pours fountains of thanks for his stepping down.