You could probably forge a good, absurdist, dark comedy out of a government where racial identity can be declared and reversed by official decree, and white parents whose child’s skin is, because of a genetic quirk, darker than theirs struggle to get their kid designated Caucasian. I can imagine Terry Gilliam going to town on something like that, or maybe even Kevin Smith in a more thoughtful mode. But this isn’t absurdist comedy, this was South Africa in the throes of apartheid, and the story told in Anthony Fabian’s debut feature, SKIN, turns out to have been all too real.
The actual person, Sandra Laing, suffered through a kind of industrial-strength crisis of identity, with her parents determined to ensure that her privileges be protected via that all-important white designation, and her own growing awareness that, whatever the government stamped on a piece of paper, she would have no shortage of difficulty in finding a place in so divided a society. Director Fabian shot the film in South Africa, and brought together a strong cast, including Sophie Okonedo as Sandra and Sam Neill and Alice Krige as her parents. The result is quite moving — a human and unusual perspective on the insanity of institutionalized racism.
Anthony Fabian and I got a chance to talk about his motivation for taking on this project, and how the dictates of apartheid could twist the motives of even the best-intentioned of parents. Click on the link to hear the interview.
Unseen writings of Nelson Mandela which are being sold this week show the anti-apartheid leader at his most candid.Unseen writings of Nelson Mandela which are being sold this week show the... more
On 11th October 2009, activists protested inside Sainsbury’s on Cromwell Street, West London to highlight the sale of Israeli and illegal Settlement produce by both Sainsbury’s and other major supermarket chains across the UK.On 11th October 2009, activists protested inside Sainsbury’s on Cromwell Street,... more
UK, September 17, 2009 (Pal Telegraph)- Could anyone imagine as a result of your own actions you are killing your own troops and your own population? This is now the case in Israel.
Many weapons used by the IDF in Gaza contained uranium components and upon impact set off huge volumes of aerosol particles that then drifted back over the border into Israel with devastating results.
It has been some time since the Israelis bombed Lebanon and the Gaza Strip and in both cases the weapons used left behind a trial of misery for all those that lived downwind. We can now start to see the results of those actions and I must say the term "What goes around comes around" rings true in the ears of the residents of Israel. Some interesting health statements have been released that prove when you play with dirty weapons it can all come back to you. It would now appear that we have a situation whereby Israelis are killing Israelis.
In May this year we saw the following headline appear in the Haaretz:
"Quality of Israeli sperm down 40% in past decade" The quality of Israeli sperm has declined alarmingly in the last decade, according to recent research conducted at Jerusalem's Hadassah University Hospital, Mount Scopus. The cause for the decline is not known, but it's believed by some researchers to be connected to the exposure of children and pregnant women to hormones and other contaminants in food and water.
This month started to see some more statistics appear out of Israel which again indicates that contamination by DU may well be the cause. The next headline was even more alarming: "More women diagnosed with cancer in Israel than in Europe" Israel's health ranking is dropping compared to those of developed European nations, the Israel Medical Association said yesterday. Israel lags behind the European average in disease prevention.
The report gave a clear message that something in the environment may be causing these dramatic increases. The comparison gave the number of new female cancer patients as follows: 290 per 100,000 compared to an average of 179 in Europe. The report went of the say that for men the average was much the same but again was showing a steady rise since 2005.
When you think you have heard the last of the bad news you are then confronted with another shocking headline from the IMA: Hodgkin's lymphoma is a distinct primary solid tumour of the immune system that shows wide variation in incidence among different geographic regions and among various races. It was previously suggested that susceptible people living in certain parts of Israel had a higher risk of HL because of exposure to unidentified environmental factors in these regions. Compared with other parts of Israel, these regions were characterized by a higher proportion of Israeli-born Jews.
A total of 4812 Jewish cases of HL were reported to the Israel Cancer Registry during the study period 1960-2005. There has been a persistent increase in the age-standardized incidence rate of HL, all subtypes pooled, in Israeli-born Jews in both men and women. The age distribution pattern in both genders was bimodal in all periods. The highest incidence was observed in the 20-24 year age group: for women (9.13 per 100,000 per year) during the period 1988-1996, and for men (6.60 per 100,000 per year) during the period 1997-2005.UK, September 17, 2009 (Pal Telegraph)- Could anyone imagine as a result of your own... more
I write to you, America, as a Muslim-American who is frustrated at seeing both sides of my identity spreading myths about each other. In part one of this two part article, I address America from a Muslim perspective. In part two, which will follow in the coming weeks, I shall write to the Muslim community, from an American perspective.
Dear America,
Our world today is assaulted with myriad headlines describing rising extremism and terrorism, and political instability in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and the Middle East. Despite the plethora of bad news, most recently we have seen a day of hope marked by the end of Ramadan, where Muslims from all nations, social classes, and sects openly united in the spirit of humility, brotherhood, thankfulness, and peace.
As human beings, you and me have a tendency to let the negative marginalize the good and the true. But in this Ramadan the unity and the message of peace and humility that nearly a billion Muslims have exhibited should not go unnoticed, nor should it be underestimated.
America, even though you are part of us (Muslims) and we are a part of you, you often fear and misunderstand the one thing that unites the billion of us around the world is peace, love, and spiritual strength. You fear our religion, Islam. I write the following to not accuse anyone or apologize on behalf of any group. In part one of this article, I speak to you America, as one Muslim who is part of the majority of Muslims standing against the Ahmedinijads, Bin Ladens, and Taliban and Al Qaeda. These men have stolen my voice... our voice. The actions of a violent minority have for too long trumped the selfless and righteous actions of the moderate majority who do good in the name of Islam.
Firstly, Muslims are not a violent people and Islam is not a violent religion. I fear you overlook the fact that the faith of Muslims has been monopolized by the corrupt despots of Muslim countries and Muslim extremists. And it is the extremists whose power is bolstered by a media that has paralyzed the voice of the Muslim majority, who in fact abhor violence and terrorism.
It can be confusing even to me because on one side we only see Muslim extremists on the TV preaching hate in the name of Islam and we barely hear the majority. As I will touch on in part two of this article, Muslims have even marginalized themselves. But America, Muslims are a community of over a billion people, most of whom live in poverty within developing countries governed by oppressive, abusive, authoritarian regimes. These very regimes remain bunkered against an alienated group of extremists who are taking to the gun instead of a potentially rigged ballot. It is our mothers and daughters and sons who are being killed on a daily basis by either violent extremists or botched missile attacks by NATO. We are against violence and terrorism America, be it from Muslim extremists or NATO bombs. We are against violence because it is we who are the primary target of most terrorist attacks today. And while we may disagree with your military actions and policies, we look up to the principles that make up America... I speak of the freedom to be critical of yourself as a society and government; the opportunities awarded by the most comprehensive education system in the world; and your effortless ability to adapt in an ever transforming world.
The report from the CIA says 20 years for the fall of Israel while yet another (below the article at the link) gives it maybe 5 years. I say hooooray for the fall of Israel, while at the same time I say the Jews DO deserve a place to live. But living under a government that is full of greed and blood soaked hands is not what the Jews deserve. Like any human being on this planet, they deserve a decent and peace loving government, with a humanitarian mind instead of the KILL KILL KILL for MORE MONEY MONEY MONEY and MORE LAND LAND LAND.
Tho Albert Einstein was asked to be the first president, he had some major reservations, and finally an ultimatum, to wit:
“The undersigned therefore take this means of publicly presenting a few salient facts concerning Begin and his party; and of urging all concerned not to support this latest manifestation of fascism.” – Albert Einstein, signatory, Letters to the Editor, New York Times, Dec. 4, 1948
"... latest manifestation of fascism." He couldn't have said it better over 60 years ago.
read about Fascism here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fascism
The article and Study is at the link. And to the vocal RIGHT: You can say all you want to defend this ruthless and blood soaked government, but you cannot change the minds of most of the world about Israel. And you are not truthful when you use the argument that these people, including myself, are hateful, antisemitic, and terrorists, because the truth of the matter is the Israel governments actions and non actions as well as the deception and lies coming from their mouths. For the most part, we and myself love ALL people and the ONLY hate we have is violence-and thats from either side, but Israel has shown that it precipitates and perpetuates much and most of this violence.
When a REAL and HUMANE Israel is formed, then the world will accept Israel. And we would say Hoooray for that!
------------The article and Study is at the linkThe report from the CIA says 20 years for the fall of Israel while yet another (below... more
“So why did the Israeli government boycott the commission? The real answer is quite simple: they knew full well that the commission, any commission, would have to reach the conclusions it did reach.”
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The important points come near the end: that the rather conservative findings of the report (and its acceptance of Israel’s dubious right to self-defense–dubious because Gaza is effectively occupied), have acted as a "bombshell" in Israel because Goldstone calls for action, and because the report contributes to the fraying of Jewish support for Israel and to the "Legitimacy War" that Israel has been losing in the eyes of the world. "A historic contribution" to the Palestinian struggle for justice, Falk concludes.
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Uri Avnery (Israeli peace activist, and former Knesset member), “On the Goldstone Report” 19 Sept 2009
Richard Goldstone, former judge of South Aftica’s Constitutional Court, the first prosecutor at The Hague on behalf of the International Criminal Court for Former Yugolavia, and anti-apartheid campaigner reports that he was most reluctant to take on the job of chairing the UN fact-finding mission charged with investigating allegations of war crimes committed by Israel and Hamas during the three week Gaza War of last winter. Goldstone explains that his reluctance was due to the issue being “deeply charged and politically loaded,” and was overcome because he and his fellow commissioners were “professionals committed to an objective, fact-based investigation,” adding that “above all, I accepted because I believe deeply in the rule of law and the laws of war,” as well as the duty to protect civilians to the extent possible in combat zones. The four-person fact-finding mission was composed of widely respected and highly qualified individuals, including the distinguished international law scholar, Christine Chinkin, a professor at the London School of Economics. Undoubtedly adding complexity to Goldstone’s decision is the fact that he is Jewish, with deep emotional and family ties to Israel and Zionism, bonds solidified by his long association with several organizations active in Israel.
Despite the impeccable credentials of the commission members, and the worldwide reputation of Richard Goldstone as a person of integrity and political balance, Israel refused cooperation from the outset. It did not even allow the UN undertaking to enter Israel or the Palestinian Territories, forcing reliance on the Egyptian government to facilitate entry at Rafah to Gaza. As Uri Avnery observes, however much Israel may attack the commission report as one-sided and unfair, the only plausible explanation of its refusal to cooperate with fact-finding and taking the opportunity to tell its side of the story was that it had nothing to tell that could hope to overcome the overwhelming evidence of the Israeli failure to carry out its attacks on Gaza last winter in accordance with the international law of war. No credible international commission could reach any set of conclusions other than those reached by the Goldstone Report on the central allegations.
In substantive respects the Goldstone Report adds nothing new. Its main contribution is to confirm widely reported and analyzed Israeli military practices during the Gaza War. There had been several reliable reports already issued, condemning Israel’s tactics as violations of the laws of war and international humanitarian law, including by Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, and a variety of respected Israeli human rights groups. Journalists and senior United Nations civil servants had reached similar conclusions. Perhaps, most damning of all the material available before the Goldstone Report was the publication of a document entitled “Breaking the Silence,” containing commentaries by thirty members of the Israel Defense Forces---continued below“So why did the Israeli government boycott the commission? The real answer is quite... more
One of the summer's biggest blockbusters — a sci-fi morality tale about aliens and apartheid — is not welcome in Nigeria because of its portrayal of Nigerians as gangsters and cannibals, Nigeria's information minister said Saturday.
Information Minister Dora Akunyili has asked movie houses in the capital of Abuja to stop screening "District 9" because the South Africa-based sci-fi movie about aliens and discrimination makes Nigerians look bad.
"We have directed that they should stop public screening of the film," she said. "We are not happy about it because it portrays Nigeria in bad light."
Akunyili said she has asked Sony for an apology and wants them to edit out references to Nigeria and to the name of the main Nigerian gangster Obesandjo, whose name closely resembles that of former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo.
"We have written to the producer and distributor of the film, Sony Entertainment, expressing our displeasure and demanded an apology," she said. "We have asked that the areas where Nigeria and Obasanjo are mentioned should be edited from the film."
She and other government officials first saw the movie Wednesday during a private screening.
In one scene, Obesandjo tries to cut off and eat the arm of the film's protagonist, in an attempt to gain his supernatural powers. In others, Nigerian prostitutes are seen courting alien customers.
The film's portrayal of Nigerians has also drawn the ire of critics and bloggers, and has spawned a Facebook page called "Nigerians Offended by 'District 9,'" which had 57 members on Saturday.
Corlize Luttig, marketing manager for the South African cinema chain Ster-Kinekor, who represent Sony in South Africa, said they had no comment on the request by Akunyili. Ster-Kinekor does not distribute to Nigeria, she said.
Luttig said they were still waiting for comment from Sony's head office in Los Angeles.
"District 9" tells the story of an alien ship that mysteriously comes to hover over the South African city of Johannesburg. Its inhabitants are separated from the human population and segregated into a walled area known as District 9. But after nearly 30 years, government officials aim to relocate the extraterrestrials, with disastrous results.One of the summer's biggest blockbusters — a sci-fi morality tale about aliens and... more
The United Nations nuclear assembly voted on Friday to urge Israel to accede to the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and place all atomic sites under the world body's inspections, in a surprise victory for Arab states.
The resolution, passed narrowly for the first time in nearly two decades, expresses concern about "Israeli nuclear capabilities" and calls on the International Atomic Energy Agency chief, Mohamed ElBaradei, to work on the issue.
The Middle East resolution, sponsored by Arab states, was backed by 49 votes to 45 against in a floor vote at the IAEA's annual member states conference. The vote split along Western and developing nation lines. There were 16 abstentions.
-----------------more at the link
Its about time... the worlds starting to wake up to Israels arrogance .The United Nations nuclear assembly voted on Friday to urge Israel to accede to the... more
In a landmark decision, Britain’s trade unions have voted overwhelmingly to commit to build a mass boycott movement, disinvestment and sanctions on Israel for a negotiated settlement based on justice for Palestinians.
The motion was passed at the 2009 TUC Annual Congress in Liverpool today (17 September), by unions representing 6.5 million workers across the UK.
---------------more at link
Its growing every day. Israel needs to change her way, not yesterday-today.
“Non-violence is not inaction. It is not discussion. It is not for the timid or weak… Non-violence is hard work. It is the willingness to sacrifice. It is the patience to win.” César Estrada Chávez (1927 – 1993) was an American labor leader, and civil rights activist.In a landmark decision, Britain’s trade unions have voted overwhelmingly to commit... more
In a document published by The Israel Project entitled “The Israel Project’s 2009 Global Language Dictionary”, Dr Frank Luntz unmasks a modern-day propaganda campaign that would have made Napoleon and Machiavelli proud. He writes:
There is NEVER, EVER, any justification for the deliberate slaughter of innocent women and children. NEVER. The primary Palestinian public relations goal is to demonstrate that the so-called “hopelessness of the oppressed Palestinians” is what causes them to go out and kill children. This must be challenged immediately, aggressively, and directly.
The emotional appeal to saving children works, but the appeal is based on two lies:
(1) that Palestinians generally (not only suicide bomber extremists) are the ones who kill children, while Israelis (not individual extremists, but Israel's armed forces) never slaughter Palestinian children.
(2) The second falsehood is that the Palestinians have a public relations goal that must be challenged when, in fact, the Palestinians have proven to be hopeless and goalless when it comes to public relations. Unlike Frank Luntz, the Palestinians have no effective PR voices. They can't even get their ambassador in the UK to speak out to the British public about Israel’s lies and propaganda.
--------------------story at link
Americans AND the world needs to take note. If we allow this lobby to regain their power in America, the wold loses. Just look at their campaign...excerpts are within this information at the link as well as a rightful and truthful analysts.
Lets do away with the rhetoric and hate towards people. If the right and Israel really wants peace, they would have a better attitude. Peace has always been in Israels hands, but if it is not benefiting Israel, they figure who needs peace when war and killing gives us more.In a document published by The Israel Project entitled “The Israel Project’s 2009... more
Here's the 500 plus page report coming from the United Nations. Skim it and refer to what interests you. You'll find out that Israels indictment here is much more serious than the indictment against Palestine. Israel committed some grave humanitarian crimes, amounting to far more serious war crimes than Palestine is charged with.
Now we know the lobby and the far right will post here and are going to say bias, lies, etc when in fact, the world knows the truth about Israel. Every day more and more people find out and demand justice. Every day more and more corporations and countries and colleges are divesting AWAY from Israel. Its pretty clear who is the evil party.
Israel will face the music in the International Criminal Courts and hopefully pay the ultimate price handed out by justice.
Many more news stories on this, my post is just one example.Here's the 500 plus page report coming from the United Nations. Skim it and refer to... more
Words mean things...What you say can come back and bite you in the ASS OBAMA RACIST AUDIO FOUND!!! Obama admits he thinks different races of people will always be MENACING ALIEN AND APART!!!2 The only thing I post here is Obama talking in his own words....Not a Opinion ...just the facts mam Just the Facts! .....The truth will set you Free!Words mean things...What you say can come back and bite you in the ASS OBAMA RACIST... more
Based in San Francisco, Jews For a Free Palestine (JFFP) is an organization of nominally Jewish activists who support what they call "Palestine liberation solidarity efforts." In conjunction with its partner organization, Renounce Aliyah, JFFP says: "[W]e denounce the continued racist and inhumane policies of the Israeli government. There can be no safety for Jews internationally as the Israeli government continues in the role of occupier and oppressor, while falsely claiming to represent us all."
JFFP protested side-by-side with such groups as International ANSWER, United For Peace and Justice, Al-Awda, the International Solidarity Movement, If Americans Knew, the Muslim Students' Association of the U.S. and Canada, and the Council on American-Islamic Relations.
Jews for a Free Palestine calls on Jews to actively oppose U.S. economic aid to Israel, and to "affirm the Palestinian Right of Return." JFFP places the number of Arabs who ought to be granted this "Right of Return" to Israel at 5 million.
More pictures at the link.
Couldn't have said it better: FREE PALESTINE!Based in San Francisco, Jews For a Free Palestine (JFFP) is an organization of... more
Just released from prison for being one of the most outspoken critics of US policy and Israel, as well as the big Israeli lobby group AIPAC, former congressman James Traficant discusses how he was able to prove a convicted Holocaust Nazi was in fact innocent of charges, taking this innocent man off death row.
Also, he discusses US Policy with Israel and how he is going to legally fight against Israeli government until his death.
Americans take note.Just released from prison for being one of the most outspoken critics of US policy and... more
Why are we not surprised that the Israeli government would continue to steal land not belonging to them. This was part of the Road Map to Peace-a BIG part that they originally agreed on. It was a lie to not only steal land, but to dupe the American people of the 3 billion dollars a year, PLUS billions of dollars more in aid from unsuspecting and trusting Americans.
Israel will then have an excuse for the violence they themselves will precipitate from this 'Fuck You' attitude and call it Terrorism, when in fact, the Palestinians are defending their property and their lives.
Netanyahu basically says "Fuck You Americans, just give me more money, we have you under our control"
Here's part of the story, more at the link:
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rebuffed U.S. demands for a total West Bank settlement freeze on Monday, digging in his heels before a crucial meeting with Washington's special Mideast envoy.
Netanyahu told parliament's powerful foreign affairs and defense committee that Israel would consider suspending any new plans to build in the West Bank for a limited time, according to a meeting participant.
But Netanyahu said he would allow approved construction plans to go ahead in order to strike a balance between Israel's desire to resume talks with the Palestinians while at the same time enabling "normal life" in the settlements, a euphemism for building to accommodate the growing settler population.
Israel will continue to build some 3,000 apartments that have already been approved, and will also keep building without restrictions in east Jerusalem, Netanyahu said, according to the meeting participant.
He spoke on condition of anonymity because the meeting's contents were not officially made public.Why are we not surprised that the Israeli government would continue to steal land not... more
Al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden has apparently released another message to Americans, rehashing his longstanding grievances against the United States for what he says are US injustices against the Muslim world.
The tape added little to the terrorist leader’s previous addresses, the latest of which came June 3. Mr. bin Laden has released similar statements in previous years during the weeks surrounding 9/11.
Agence France-Presse reported that the tape was released on Sunday by Al-Qaeda’s media group, As-Sahab.
It was translated by the SITE Intelligence Group and IntelCenter, “two groups in the United States that monitor jihadist Web sites,” the New York Times reported.
In it, Mr. bin Laden called US President Barack Obama “powerless” to stop the war in Iraq and Afghanistan because the Israel lobby and corporate interests control US policy. The Associated Press reported:
Bin Laden argued against the claims that the war is necessary for U.S. security, saying current White House officials are merely following the strategy of former President George W. Bush and former Vice President Dick Cheney to “promote the previous policies of fear to market the interests of big companies.”
When Obama became president and retained many of the Bush administration’s military leaders, such as Defense Secretary Robert Gates, “reasonable people knew that Obama is a powerless man who will not be able to end the war as he promised,” bin Laden said.
In another part of the tape, bin Laden reminded Americans of the chief causes of the conflict between Al Qaeda and the US, especially US support for Israel.
-----------more at link
So there it is folks, like I've been and many others have said- the Israeli Lobby (AIPAC). Their work on the US government to pass laws only to help Israel has put the US at odds with the Muslim world causing this confrontation. My suggestion to Mr bin Laden is to turn himself in to US authorities so he can speak more openly about this and have his day in court. It's a valid point he has (and does not annul any other crimes he may have committed) and the fact of the Israel Lobby actions has pissed off many people in the world, besides the Muslim world since Israel indeed mistreats Palestinians (and others) in many criminal ways.
I for one do not condone ANY violence-from his side or Israels side- and if he does turn himself in, he would have to be treated in the most respected way because of the magnitude of such an act and the fact that he did turn himself in. The world would be listening and watching closely.
I also must say, Obama has throttled the Israel lobby, and recently, within the Obama watch, AIPAC has lost much clout in swaying the US congress as illustrated recently in a nuke ban law they tried to pass. So, Obama needs to have some credit on that. Obama is working to make things fair.
So, if he turns himself in, he has the worlds ears and eyes fixed to him. If he has an attorney to negotiate his turning in, he can be assured he will be treated without harm and have some access to the press and attorneys. He will probably live the rest of his life in prison, but at least he was able to have his feelings and reasons broadcast to the world. That in itself can change the landscape of how the world does business with Israel after Israel is further put under the light and microscope.
Meanwhile, the Israel Lobby needs to take a hike! They have cost many lives and are only out for Israel at the cost of those millions of innocent lives. In my opinion, THEY are the ones that should go to prison along with any other guilty party.Al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden has apparently released another message to Americans,... more
This video shot by a credible media outlet shows a Palestinian child in an Israeli court of law being convicted of a juvenile act, one that is questionable. It took less than a minute to convict her. Many children are held indefinitely and for years before they even get the chance for a trial. Remember the White Flag Killings? This story shows what Israel also does with children. Is this Genocide-slow genocide? Whats wrong with this picture?-heres some of the story....
Each year, hundreds or even thousands of Palestinian children are arrested, tortured, interrogated, abused and incarcerated by the criminals of the Israeli military occupation. In many cases the children are abused sexually by the Israeli interrogators. They are also imprisoned together with teenagers, criminals, and drugs dealers, who also attack the children, abused them sexually, and steal their personal belongings. Two children from the Nahalin village near Bethlehem told me how they had been abused sexually at the Israeli jail by criminals detained there.
According to the human rights organization “Defence for Children International” (DCI), many children were jailed under administrative detention without any charge or trial.
Administrative detention is often based on “secret evidence.” Israeli military order 1226 empowers military commanders to detain Palestinians, including Imalb0600children, for up to six months if they have “reasonable grounds to presume that the security of the area or public security require the detention.” The initial six month period can be extended by additional six-month periods, indefinitely.
The DCI confirmed that the Palestinian child detainees routinely face violations of their human rights during arrest, interrogation and imprisonment. They are exposed to physical and psychological abuse, amounting to cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment, and sometimes torture. They are denied prompt access to a lawyer and often denied contact with their families and the outside world. These children face substandard conditions of detention and are denied access to proper education services.
-------------more of this 'horrifying' story at the link
First of all, Israel is breaking (again) International laws by holding and incarcerating children. Any democratic government will tell you this. Torturing and sexually abusing children while incarcerate is horrific and those responsible should be held accountable.
Stand up against this violence, stand up against Israeli government that perpetuates this evil as well as many other evils Israeli government conducts every day.This video shot by a credible media outlet shows a Palestinian child in an Israeli... more
Since Barack Obama took office in January, his administration has been plagued by a number of contentious controversies. From the economic stimulus to health care reform, Obama has had trouble maintaining support among liberals and conservatives alike. But the president's most consistent critics have been Jewish moderates and conservatives worried that Obama is more likely to challenge Israel than past presidents have been.
But surging to power with the most impressive following since Ronald Reagan, Obama is well positioned to challenge the Israel Lobby's hard-line stalwart, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC). In his latest Mother Jones contribution, "Is AIPAC Still the Chosen One?" Richard Dreyfuss attributes the dwindling power of one of DC's most powerful lobbies to the popular new president and the recent rise of dovish advocacy groups such as J Street and Israel Policy Forum.
story at link---------
Pro left is having more power in US Politics, giving AIPAC less clout. AIPAC's waning clout was underscored this past spring, when Rep. Howard Berman, chair of the House foreign affairs committee, stalled one of AIPAC's babies, the Iran Refined Petroleum Sanctions Act.
Little by little, the people that really care about what is happening in Israel and Palestine as a whole, are being listened to. We will see the end of laws and resolutions being passed that only gives Israel more power and confidence to stick their noses up at world laws, and continue their barbaric and inhumane actions against innocent people.
SO, hit the road AIPAC, we know your real agendaSince Barack Obama took office in January, his administration has been plagued by a... more
