Status of the changes in the Palestinian leadership
The past few weeks have shown that Palestinian president Yaser Arafat can’t be put into a predictable box. Just when it was thought that Arafat was on the ropes and going down, he emerged stronger than before. And just when people thought that the up and coming Mohammad Dahlan was down and out (some even […]
Respect for basic human rights
The hunger strike initiated by thousands of Palestinian prisoners on Aug. 15 is a powerful non-violent act. While no one expects Israeli officials to welcome this act of protest, the utterances of senior Israeli officials wishing the Palestinian prisoners to starve to death and stating that they will refrain from providing hospitalization to the prisoners […]
AL JAZEERA `IS RUN BY ARAB PATRIOTS’
No one is indifferent to Al Jazeera, the Qatari-based Arab satellite television station. You can sense the blood of U.S. officials boil when they discuss it. To be sure, in the context of the dream of all Arabs being united and independent of foreign control, Al Jazeera is undeniably partial to Arab aspirations. But that […]
The need to know the truth
What happened in Gaza and Ramallah during the past few weeks has left many people perplexed. How much was genuine and how much was contrived? And if it was set up, who set it up? For what reason? And for whose benefit? Who are the key players in this political play?
It’s time for reform
Like many other Palestinians, I was glad to hear the news that Ghazi Jabali, director of the Palestinian police, was fired on Saturday. I never met the man, but I did speak to him by phone, and it was not a pleasant conversation. He wanted to talk to me as I was being released in […]
PALESTINIAN MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS A MUST
It seems, more and more now, that Palestinian municipal elections will take place some time this fall. This was the conclusion stated by Amal Khreisheh, one of the members of the independent elections commission. The press in Palestine this week was full of reports about the postponement of municipal elections. Khreisheh insists that this is […]
Summer Bridge Blues Again
It can be predicted as accurately the Jordan Valley’s summer heat. Every year the Jordan River crossing point turns into one big human tragedy. And families with children are at the center of this suffering. My 15 year old son and his cousin spent 11 hours this week just trying to cross into Palestine with […]
Hunger Strike Against the Wall
The Jerusalem-Ramallah road is no longer the same once you get to Dahiyat Al Barid. The return lane is all dug up and huge cement slabs fill the area. For the people of the East Jerusalem suburbs of Al Ram and Dahiyat Al Barid the reality of the Wall has become very concrete. The 30,000 […]
Putting Palestinian Needs First
The latest World Bank report about the situation in Gaza is worthy of close attention and scrutiny. While the concentration has been correctly focused on the importance of the Israeli withdrawal and dismantlement of their illegal settlements, many more issues are clearly in need of attention. A World Bank official once told me that the […]
Time for Palestinians to take the initiative
The determined decision by Prime Minister Ariel Sharon to go through with his plans to withdraw from the Gaza Strip mandates a second look at the concept of “unilateral.” Unilateralism has properly been painted in a negative light. Negotiations between enemies should lead the way out of conflict. However, if either party refuses to negotiate, […]