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Pope visit to boost Palestinian calls for statehood
By Daoud Kuttab Political analyst Rami Khouri gives two main causes for the anger that has brought Arabs to the streets: humiliation and the search of legitimacy. These sources are clear as Palestinians prepare for the visit of Pope Francis to Palestine as part of his Holy Land visit that also includes Jordan and Israel. The Palestinians are looking to Pope Francis to help legitimize their aspirations of…
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Divide grows between Israeli, Palestinian journalists
By Daoud Kuttab Journalists are supposed to cover the news, not become the subject of it. This was the case, however, with two Israeli journalists who defied a request by Palestinian demonstrators not to film their bare faces. Most journalists in the field, especially photographers, know the feeling of angry demonstrators approaching a camera crew asking…
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Consensus grows on Palestinian ICC membership
Daoud Kuttab Since the breakdown of Palestinian-Israeli negotiations and the reconciliation agreement between the West Bank and Gaza leaderships, Palestinians have been considering an important question: Will the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) apply to join the International Criminal Court (ICC), and when would be the right time to do so? Luis Moreno-Ocampo, former chief ICC prosecutor, has said that UN recognition of Palestine as…
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Marwan Barghouti joins latest hunger strike
By Daoud Kuttab Mahmoud al-Ramahi is secretary-general of the Palestinian Legislative Council, an Italian-educated doctor and the father of five. Ever since taking this position after the Hamas electoral victory in 2006, he has suffered continued detention at the hands of Israeli occupation forces. He was last re-arrested in Nov. 12, 2012. He had been released five months earlier after…
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Israel Continues Imprisoning Palestinians Without Charge or Trial
By Daoud Kuttab Imagine being stopped at an Israeli checkpoint and being taken into custody. Then finding yourself in an Israeli jail for six months without charge or trial. After six months, the administrative order signed by a military commander is renewed. An Israeli military judge is presented a secret file which neither you nor…
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Israel underestimates Palestinian leadership
By Daoud Kuttab A review of statements by Israeli officials and pundits in response to the Palestinian unity agreement suggests a sense of surprise at the Palestinians’ audacity. Israel’s underestimation of the Palestinian leadership is reflected in an arrogant attitude reminiscent of a colonizer-colonized relationship. Nearly five decades of occupation and colonization have left Israelis shocked when Palestinians take action…








