Demonstrators block major road in protest over home demolition

Thousands of Arab-Palestinians blocked Route 65 in Wadi Ara (Northern Israel) on Friday protesting the demolition  of a house belonging to Abu Sharkiye family which the government claims was built illegally. Protesters hurled stones, while police forces fired  tear gas and shock grenades. The police arrested two demonstrators for allegedly “attacking officers.” The house which…

Israeli shuts down Palestinian children’s theater festival in occupied East Jerusalem

The 19th annual Palestinian children’s theater festival in the East Jerusalem theater of Al-Hakwati, was due to open on Saturday, June 22nd, but was  canceled under a special warrant issued by Public Security Minister Yitzhak Aharonovitch. The festival organizers protested the shutting down of the highly-anticipated eight-day long cultural event, which was  scheduled to feature Palestinian,…

The seventh annual Marx Conference in Tel-Aviv

The sixth annual Marx Conference, devoted to “Left Perspectives on the International Crisis of Capitalism” took place in Tel Aviv on May 2012 under the auspices of Hagada Hasmalit (Left Bank) Alternative Cultural Center. In addition to 25 panelists, approximately three hundred people participated in the meetings and discussions. Summaries of lectures were published in…

Government aims to reduce public housing supply

Housing Minister Uri Ariel on Sunday said that the Housing and Finance ministries aim to significantly reduce the supply of public housing. Earlier Sunday, the Knesset’s Lobby for Public Housing asked the chairman of the Knesset’s Economic Affairs Committee, Avishay Braverman, to convene an urgent meeting saying the proposed measure would lead to “a drastic…

Adva Center: More highways and more congestion

   The budget for the national  transport infrastructure increased by 67% over the last decade – from NIS 5.9 billion in 2000 to NIS 9.88 billion in 2011. This increase stands out against the cuts in other areas in the  budget. Investment in transport infrastructure should indicate that an improvement in transportation is on the…

Int’l expert: Israel should agree to nuclear disarmament for its own sake

Israel should agree to nuclear disarmament for its own sake, International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War co-president Dr. Ira Helfand told the Knesset duringthe Israeli Disarmament Movement’s first-ever conference in the legislature. Several coalition and opposition MKs spoke out against nuclear weapons at the conference with the leader of the Nobel Peace Prize-winning…

Protests against gas exports

Hundreds protested in Tel Aviv against the neo-liberal government’s decision to export 40% of Israel’s natural gas reserves. Protesters blocked Ibn Gavirol Avenue and King George Street and waved signs reading: “Don’t give gas to the tycoons” and “Gas exports = national suicide.” Earlier on Wednesday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced the decision to export…