GERMANY 1940 ISRAEL 2009

Warning, the photographs are very graphic
and may upset or trigger bad memories.

GERMANY 1940 ISRAEL 2009

Astonishing juxtaposition of photos. Heartbreaking.

What we cannot forgive, we become.

PNN - Palestine News Network - South Africa will judge Apartheid in Palestine

PNN - Palestine News Network - South Africa will judge Apartheid in Palestine: "The Russell Tribunal on Palestine is an international people’s tribunal to promote peace and justice in Palestine and the Middle East, inspired by 1967’s Russell-Sartre Tribunal, which evaluated American foreign policy and military intervention in Vietnam."

Let's hope this tribunal gets as much publicity as possible. Being known around the world as an apartheid state will not be comfortable for the Israeli Government.

Why Israelis Must Fight Against The Boycott Law
Gideon Levi article in Haaretz.com

"With the new boycott law the meager Israeli discourse will become even more threadbare due to the silencing laws; this may be the last call to boycott those who are boycotting Israeli democracy."

 If there is not outrage expressed all around the world about this suppression of dissent, we face a very bleak future

.http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/opinion/why-israelis-must-fight-against-the-boycott-law-1.373135

MK uses Nazi salute to `warn of fascism' - Haaretz Daily Newspaper | Israel News

MK uses Nazi salute to `warn of fascism' - Haaretz Daily Newspaper | Israel News: "MK Issam Makhoul (Hadash) yesterday gave Likud MKs a Nazi salute,"

A Special Place in Hell-Israel News - Haaretz Israeli News source.

A Special Place in Hell-Israel News - Haaretz Israeli News source.: "At first, it doesn't feel like fascism. That's why it works."

Petition - a call for boycott

Israelis Fight Back to Confront the Boycott Bill

Petition - a call for boycott

Watchdogs slam Israel law making boycott calls illegal

Watchdogs slam Israel law making boycott calls illegal

Israeli Human Rights Watchdogs speak out against this Boycott Bill.

Deported Israel campaigners return to the UK - UK, News - The Independent

"Two British campaigners have arrived back in the UK after they were detained in Israel while trying to visit the West Bank town of Bethlehem.

Mick Napier, 64, chairman of The Scottish Palestine Solidarity Campaign, and retired university lecturer John Lynes, 83, flew back into Luton Airport early this morning after being deported by officials."

Deported Israel campaigners return to the UK - UK, News - The Independent

The Freedom To Take Part in Non-Violent Protest

Non-violent protests are essential to any democracy. A democracy that bans them is by definition not a democracy. But this has happened in many democratic countries around the world who have supported Israel's ban on the Freedom Flotilla 2 to Gaza and the Flytilla to the West Bank.
I would like give an outline of what happened to Flotilla2 and the Flytilla, as many people in the world seem unaware of these non-violent protest actions and how they were stopped. The lack of awareness seems to be because these protests were hardly reported in many countries.
I am not a journalist and before this year's Flotilla was about to set sail had no more interest in the situation in Gaza and the West Bank than any other person with a heart. I cared, but not enough to get involved in protests.
As I found little news about Flotilla 2 in the UK, I started using Twitter (for the first time ever) and found out about the surprising ways being used to stop the Flotilla sailing from Greece. At first, I couldn't understand why the BBC weren't reporting on this. As the week went on, it became obvious that the influence of elements within the Israeli government extended far beyond Israel's borders. That influence led to detaining ships and passengers in Greece, banning passengers from Europe from travelling to the West Bank (before they even set off, in many cases), and my guess is the same influence was behind the under reporting of this news in many countries around the world.
So I've started this Blog to write whatever I can find out about how this lamentable state of affairs has come about. From the tweets I've read, my guess is that the place to start looking is at Israel's 'Hasbara'. This translates as 'explanation'. Wikipedia describes it as 'Public Diplomacy'. I think it is a probably quite special type of propaganda

Israel passes law banning calls for boycott - Haaretz Daily Newspaper | Israel News

Now democracy comes under attack within Israel as well. Boycotting is a well established method of non-violent protest. Are dissenting Israelis going to be banned from speaking out?  Is there to be no freedom of speech within Israel?.

Israel passes law banning calls for boycott - Haaretz Daily Newspaper | Israel News