Israel passes law banning calls for boycott

The “Boycott Bill” was approved in its final reading in the Knesset on Monday night (July 11), after a plenum discussion that lasted nearly six hours and uncertainty throughout the day as to whether a vote would take place.   A poster by Peace Now: “Arrested me” The bill passed with 47 in favor and…

Jerusalem: A demonstration against the Boycott Bill

A coalition of peace, human rights and left groups and movements, among them Hadash (the Democratic Front for Peace and Equality – Communist Party of Israel) will demonstrate today (Sunday, July 10) outside the Justice Ministry in Jerusalem, in an effort to prevent the passage of the “Boycott Bill,” which is expected to be voted…

50 ‘flotilla’ activists enter Palestinian territories

After hundreds of peace and anti-occupation activists blocked at European airports,124 detained in Israel and face deportation. But, dozens have managed to reach Palestinian Authority territories. The Israeli police arrested dozens, yesterday at Ben-Gurion Airport.     Salah Hawaja, one of the leaders of the solidarity activity, said that some 1,000 international activists were scheduled…

Boycott Law against Democracy

Israeli rightwing parties and leaders once more destroy Israeli democracy. Once more they reject Voltaire’s words: “I wholly disapprove of what you say, but will defend to the death your right to say it” The proposal for the “boycott law”, currently placed before the Knesset, contradicts the meaning of freedom of speech – i.e. political…

Open letter to the Minister of Internal Security, Yitzhak Aharonowitz

  According to reports in the media, the Prime Minister has entrusted you with handling what is known as the “Fly-In,” i.e. hundreds of peace activists from abroad who are scheduled to land at Ben-Gurion Airport this Friday (8.7.11). You have been quoted as saying that you consider these people to be ‘law-breaking hooligans,’ without…

Palestinians in Israel jails start hunger strike

Palestinian detainees in Israeli jails start a hunger strike yesterday (Sunday) to protest the prison administration’s crackdown, the Palestinian prisoners’ society said. According to Al Ittihad daily newspaper, the society said prisoners were at risk since Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered the prison service to toughen conditions for Palestinian detainees.  “The party’s over” for…