Spring is so short in Israel

Emile Habibi often used the term, al-farj al-arabi, which freely translated means “the Arab life preserver.” When the leaders of Israel were forced into a corner, we would say: “God save us from the Arab life preserver,” lest an action against civilians or verbal vitriol turn things around and engage the world in deploring the…

Barakeh: Glenn Beck rally could spark violence

Far-right Glenn Beck’s Restoring Courage rally at the Southern Wall excavations site next Wednesday could spark a conflagration of violence in Jerusalem, Hadash chairman and activists warned Wednesday. The Jerusalem mass rally will be the central event of the American broadcaster’s three-night attempt to “demonstrate to Israel and the world that the Jewish state does…

From Social Protest to Political Change

Decisions of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Israel August 13, 2011     A huge wave of social protest is sweeping over Israel. The protest, which began with the erection of a tent encampment on Rothschild Boulevard in central Tel Aviv, has spread throughout the country, from Kiryat Shmona in the North…

The social protest: Hundreds marched to the Knesset

Hundreds marched yesterday (Tuesday, August 16) at midday from the Horse Garden’s protest tent city in West Jerusalem to the Knesset, reminding their representatives that the popular protest which broke out throughout the nation last month will not disappear in the near future. Inside Israel’s parliament, the MKs had suspended their vacations for a couple…

A Colonel who justified hitting Palestinian detainees promoted

Former Kfir Brigade Commander Itai Virob, who condoned violence against Palestinians during operational activities in his testimony in military court, will be promoted to the rank of brigadier-general, and will serve as chief officer of the infantry and paratroopers. Israeli soldiers during a protest against the wall in Bil’in, May 2010 (Photo: Activestills)   The…

Counter-Terrorism Bill: Undemocratic emergency regulations could become permanent law

Last week the Counter-Terrorism Bill passed its first reading in the Knesset plenum. The bill’s purpose is to legally anchor the “state of emergency” regulations regarding the fight against terrorism and turn them into permanent legislation. The bill’s means: administrative detentions, control orders, and extremely broad definitions of “terror organizations.” Some of the harmful measures…

Over 80,000 protest in Israel’s periphery

More than 80,000 people on Saturday evening attended protests against the cost of living and soaring housing prices in the southern city of Beersheba, northern cities of Haifa and Afula and many other cities across the country. The rallies’ participants included the leaders of the Tel Aviv protest city, youth movement members, leading members of…

Haaretz: Police may soon evacuate the tent protest

According to Haaretz daily newspaper defense correspondent Amir Oren, “the authorities’ patience with the refugee camp on Rothschild is quickly running out. It is likely that Tel Aviv’s municipality will issue eviction orders (even if as of this moment they deny entertaining such a notion). After giving the residents’ time to pack up, it will…