The Alternative Information Center (AIC) is a joint Palestinian - Israeli organization which prioritizes political advocacy, critical analysis and information sharing on the Palestinian and Israeli societies as well as on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. http://www.alternativenews.org Tue, 13 May 2008 13:29:15 +0100 FeedCreator 1.7.2 http://www.alternativenews.org/images/M_images/aic_logo.png http://www.alternativenews.org The Alternative Information Center (AIC) is a joint Palestinian - Israeli organization which prioritizes political advocacy, critical analysis and information sharing on the Palestinian and Israeli societies as well as on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. http://www.alternativenews.org/news/english/please-return-my-smile-the-ngo-campaign-to-save-the-schools-and-orphanages-of-hebron-20080512.html Children demonstrating against the Israeli military's attempt to close schools and orphanages in Hebron, Palestine (photo by Ahmad Jaradat, AIC, 2008). Representatives from the Alternative Information Center (AIC), Christian Peacemakers Team (CPT), UNICEF, OCHA, Save the Children UK, Defence of Children International (DCI), YMCA, Relief International, the Ecumenical Accompanying Program in Palestine and Israel (EAPPI), Terre des Homme-Switzerland, the Michigan Peace Team and other international human rights organizations met in Hebron on 8 May to help Hebron’s orphanages and schools from the Islamic Charitable Society to survive their Israeli military ordered closure. The meeting was held in order to update people on the current situation of the orphanages and schools, and to establish a steering committee of Palestinian and international NGOs, which can take action and determine measures to help 240 orphans, 5000 needy families and 5,700 students directly impacted by the closure. The schools provide libraries, computer laboratories, English and Hebrew classes, and several workshops to teach the children practical skills. Since issuing confiscation orders against all the properties belonging to the Islamic Charitable Society on 26 February, properties which, in addition to the schools, include bakeries, a transportation service, a supermarket, a clinic and residential buildings for poor families, the Israeli military raided the central warehouse, damaging furniture and gates and seizing equipment, food, stationary, clothing, and other supplies which were to be given to the students and their families. The estimated value of the seized goods is US$300,000 and damages to the gate amount to US$2,000,000. The military also ransacked two bakeries of the society that provided bread to the orphanages, removing all their equipment. On 10 April, according to witnesses, soldiers entered the girl’s school and took photographs of a sewing workshop and questioned the staff, ordering the removal of the exhibition and the workshop by Monday, 28 April. Two days later, on 30 April, after breaking down the main gates and doors, Israeli soldiers looted the workshop of all its sewing and processing machines, office equipment, cloths and supplies. The workshop, established in 1985, employed 15 female orphans and produced Islamic outfits for the orphans. News - english Mon, 12 May 2008 16:26:45 +0100 http://www.alternativenews.org/news/english/political-art-workshop-in-hebron-for-palestinian-youth-20080512.html Palestinian artist, Yousef Katalo, giving a workshop to youth in Hebron (photo by the AIC, 2008). Believing strongly in the importance of developing the skills of Palestinian youth, providing them the possibility to express themselves, their feelings and their oppressions in cultural ways, the Alternative Information Center (AIC) is conducting an art workshop in Hebron with the Palestinian political artist Yousef Katalo. The workshop began two weeks ago and will continue throughout the following ten months. The participants are 17 high school and university students, 13 girls and 4 boys from different villages in the Hebron district, including Jatta, Sa’eer, Dora and the Al Aroub refugees’ camp. The workshop takes place every Saturday in the Childhood Development Center in the city of Hebron. According to Katalo, the youths are very excited to participate in order to improve their theoretical and practical knowledge about art in general and drawing in particular. With the support of the AIC, Katalo himself is currently holding exhibitions in Israel and the West Bank in commemoration of the Naqba. In his works, Katalo explores the connections between political issues and personal life, between exile, culture, and right to come home. His exhibition began in Jaffa, and will now move to Tulkarem, Beit Sahour and Hebron during the Naqba activities. Amal Natsha, a participant in the art workshop, said that “I’m very happy to attend this workshop. I’ve been interested in art and in drawing for a long time. We don’t have enough opportunities in Palestine in general, and in Hebron in particular, to follow and improve our passions. This workshop will give me the chance to dedicate to something I love and to improve at the same time my theoretical and practical skills. I’m honoured to have this opportunity.” News - english Mon, 12 May 2008 15:14:26 +0100 http://www.alternativenews.org/projects/settlements-and-settler-violence-project/settler-violence-report-for-march-april-2008-20080508.html Israeli settlers marching toward a hill near the settlement of Efrat in the occupied West Bank, attempting to set up a permanent outpost. Hebron and the Southern of West Bank- On 15 March, settlers from the Carmiel settlement in the southern hills of Hebron, in cooperation with Israeli soldiers, prevented farmers from the Palestinian villages on the area to reach their land to work it. Jaber Humidat, the Mayor of the Palestinian village of Saffa, reports: in the last days we have begun to face more serious and intensive attacks from the settlers. They want us to leave our land next to their settlements, especially around Carmiel. We have approximately 500 dunam of land planted with wheat, and this is the harvest time for us, but the settlers, in cooperation with the soldiers, daily run after us and shoot in the air, in order to scare us and force us to leave. The settlers used to claim that this land is part of their settlements. When we went to the police station there and denounced the settlers' attacks, the policemen advised us to leave the situation like this for a while, to not go to our land and to wait for some positive changes. Months passed by, but attacks are still continuing. It means we are going to lose the wheat crops of this year, the most important source of income for our farmers. - On 21 March, tens of settlers engaged in a march all along the streets of downtown Hebron, beginning to throw stones at the Palestinian residents, and thus forcing many people to close their shops in Wadi Husain, al-Ras, Wadi al-Nasara and other streets in the old city. The attacks happened during the celebration of a Jewish feast. Bassam Ja'bari, one of the victims, reported that the settlers forced him and many others to close their shops in al-Ras, located to the west of the Kiryat Arba settlement. Other shops targeted belong to the Mahdi Ja'bari, Awni Da'na and Jamal Ja'bari families. According to Bassam, such attacks took place in front of the soldiers' eyes. However they didn't do anything to stop the settler violence. Many settlers from several outposts around the city gathered near the Abraham Mosque for a big celebration and began running after the people in order to prevent them from moving or walking in the area around the Mosque. During their gathering, they insulted the residents shouting bad words at them, such as “Death to Arabs...” Projects - Settlements and Settler Violence project Thu, 08 May 2008 21:17:26 +0100 http://www.alternativenews.org/podcasts/_podcasts/_news-from-within-podcast-palestinian-perspective-on-carters-visit-and-the-prospects-of-a-ceasefire-20080502.html On 21 April in Jerusalem, former US President Jimmy Carter delivers a speech during a meeting held by the Israeli Council of Foreign Relations. News from Within Podcast: A Palestinian Perspective on Carter's Visit and the Prospects of an Israeli/Palestinian Ceasefire On Monday the 28th of April, 2008, I spoke with Nassar Ibrahim in the offices of the Alternative Information Center in Beit Sahour. Nassar, a longtime Palestinian writer, journalist and activist, is Policy Director of the AIC. We discussed the implications of the recent visit of former US President Jimmy Carter to the Middle East, the possibility of a long-term ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, the context of recent US and Israeli diplomatic maneuvers in the region, and Palestinian plans for events to commemorate 60 years since the Nakba. Podcasts - Podcasts Fri, 02 May 2008 11:27:05 +0100 http://www.alternativenews.org/news/_english/_sixty-years-of-the-state-of-israel-sixty-years-of-exile-for-jews-from-arab-and-muslim-countries-20080506.html Beginning in May 1949, tens of thousands of Yemenite Jews were brought to Israel on transport planes during Operation Magic Carpet. The Zionist movement, with the assistance of European colonialism, planted a western warship in the very heart of the Arab and Muslim world. This warship is guided by leaders with numerous skills and extensive experience in oppressing and humiliating which they learned in their own countries in Europe. This diseased group took over this area and during 120 years of oppression, we are witness to the Zionist expansion in the region. The Zionist movement in this region was founded on American and European support, and is equipped with the most advanced weaponry in the world, including nuclear weapons. Sixty years ago, following the deportation of the Palestinians from their land, Jews from Arab and Muslim countries were brought to Palestine with the full cooperation of Zionists and leaders from North America and Europe. The Jews from Arab and Muslim countries were slated to act as spare parts in place of the Palestinian deportees following the ethnic cleansing of Palestinian Arabs. This was in order to substantiate the demographics and militarism of the Zionists. These “spare parts” have now arrived at a situation of advanced decay and deep depression following years of humiliation, disinheritance and ethnic discrimination, as the European Jewish Zionists always viewed the Jews from Arab and Muslim countries as potential enemies, due to their proximity to Arab and Muslim culture. News - english Thu, 01 May 2008 14:20:04 +0100 http://www.alternativenews.org/news/_english/_good-morning-jaffa-public-exhibition-of-the-works-of-palestinian-political-artist-yousef-katalo-20080427.html Audience on 29 April, at the exhibition opening night (photos below also from the opening night). Artists and cultural activists play crucial roles within their own societies, generating public discussions and discourses on a variety of topics through the use of their innovative cultural mediums. Although no one doubts the pivotal roles of artists, actors, musicians and cultural creators in fostering social change, these groups have not hitherto been systematically involved in civil society engagement with the Palestinian-Israeli peace process. Their involvement, within and amongst Palestinian, Israeli and international civil societies, can make a potentially strong contribution to the building of a culture of resistance and ending the Israeli-Palestinian conflict while preparing for a future of joint living for Palestinians and Israelis. To commemorate 60 years to the Naqba and within the framework of its Culture of Resistance activities, the Alternative Information Center (AIC) most cordially invites you to an art exhibition that it is holding together with Arabita: The League of the Arabs of Jaffa and the Alon Association. Entitled Good Morning Jaffa, the exhibition explores the connections between exile, culture and right to come home. The exhibition opens on Tuesday night, 29 April, from 7.30 p.m. in the Center of the League of the Arabs of Jaffa, 73 Yefet Street, Jaffa. The opening night will be accompanied by a musical performance - and dare we hope that the artist, Yousef Katalo from Hebron, receives permission to enter Israel and attend? The exhibition runs through 1 May, and is open from 10am to 9pm. Everyone is most invited to attend. News - english Wed, 30 Apr 2008 14:34:58 +0100 http://www.alternativenews.org/news/_english/_palestinian-and-israeli-human-rights-organisations-call-for-end-to-restrictions-on-gaza-fuel-supply-20080429.html A Palestinian loading fuel for Gaza near the Nahal Oz crossing between Israel and the Gaza Strip Al-Haq l Al-Mezan Center for Human Rights l Al Dameer Association for Human Rights – Gaza l Gaza Community Mental Health Programme l Gisha – Legal Center for Freedom of Movementl Hamoked: Center for the Defence of the Individual l Physicians for Human Rights-Israel l The Public Committee Against Torture in Israel l Yesh Din: Volunteers for Human Rights Palestinian and Israeli human rights groups today issued an urgent call to cease restrictions on Gaza's fuel supply and stop the unprecedented harm to Gaza's humanitarian needs. The above-listed rights groups warned: We express concern and outrage at the systematic dismantling of the Gaza Strip's vital systems by preventing the residents of Gaza, a territory under Israel's occupation, from obtaining the fuel they need to generate electricity, power hospitals, run transportation, pump water and sewage, and provide for basic social and economic needs. We call upon Israel, the occupying power in Gaza, immediately to end the six-month long restrictions on fuel supply that have paralyzed Gaza's infrastructure and endangered the health and well-being of Gaza's 1.5 million residents. We call on armed groups in Gaza to refrain from attacking civilians, including at the crossings that channel fuel, food, and other goods into the Gaza Strip. News - english Tue, 29 Apr 2008 21:33:25 +0100 http://www.alternativenews.org/news/_english/_palestinians-finish-week-long-commemorations-for-prisoners-day-20080429.html Public meeting in Hebron on Prisoners Day The 17th of April marked Palestinian Prisoners Day (news/_english/_palestinian-prisoner-day-highlighting-the-ongoing-suffering-of-thousands-20080417.html), commemorated annually as a means for remembering and informing the local and international communities about the ongoing suffering of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails. News - english Tue, 29 Apr 2008 14:19:47 +0100 http://www.alternativenews.org/news/_english/_an-open-letter-to-russell-banks-from-the-british-committee-for-the-universities-of-palestine-20080429.html American author Russell Banks is scheduled to attend the first annual International Writers Festival in Jerusalem. Dear Russell Banks: As people who are aware of your honourable history of activism on the Israel-Palestine issue, we're struggling to understand why you've agreed to take part in the International Writers' Festival in occupied Jerusalem in May this year. It doesn't add up. In July 2002 you signed an international appeal for Israel to stop obstructing the work of Birzeit University in the Palestinian West Bank (illegally colonised by Israel). We know you did, because at least two of us were co-signatories of that appeal. Six years later, are Birzeit and its students any closer to enjoying the right to pursue education free from military incursion, arbitrary arrest, detention without charge or trial, checkpoint, curfew, destruction of equipment?—all the so-called 'security' measures that Israel brings to bear to deny young Palestinians an education, demolish their hopes, and encourage them to leave. You surely know the answer. You, we, and the other signatories to the 2002 appeal called for the international community to 'assume its responsibility under humanitarian law by taking real and concrete steps to provide protection to the Palestinian civilian population'. You must know that today the Palestinian civilian population is more exposed than ever. News - english Tue, 29 Apr 2008 12:36:32 +0100 http://www.alternativenews.org/news/_english/_palestinian-israeli-and-international-activists-take-control-of-an-ilegal-israeli-checkpoint-20080424.html A large green shipping crate, which the Israeli settlers alleged was a synagogue. Today, 24 April, Palestinian and international activists, together with Israeli peace groups, took control of an illegal Israeli checkpoint on a road between the Palestinian city of Ramallah and the village of 'Ain Qenya. This road has been closed since Israeli forces laid down cement blocks at the beginning of the current Intifada, preventing Palestinians from using the road. The Israeli Army also set up a military site near the checkpoint and laid down barbed wire. The military then handed over the area to Israeli settlers, who now maintain a constant presence there while the Palestinians remain unable to use their road for access to the city of Ramallah. All this, despite the fact that these cement blocks and settler caravans are situated in area A (which should mean complete control by the Palestinian Authority according to the Oslo agreement). This injustice was the inspiration to organize this non-violent direct action to open the road and make it accessible to Palestinian residents for travel between Ramallah and 'Ain Qenya. News - english Thu, 24 Apr 2008 14:47:52 +0100