Feature Archives

On November 2, Hebrew University student Ali Bahar was detained for three hours after refusing to shake hands with Israeli president Shimon Peres. Upon approaching Bahar, the student refused to shake Peres' hand and stated "I will not shake hands with murderer of kids." Immediately following the encounter, Bahar was detained by university security personnel and his student ID was confiscated.

On October 17th, seven years ago, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine assassinated Rehavam Zeevi, the Israeli minister of tourism. The assassination was carried out in response to Israel’s killing of Palestinian leaders, among them Abu Ali Mostafa, the head of the PFLP. Zeevi was the head of the Moledet Party that was advocating the expulsion of all Palestinians from occupied Palestine to Arab nations.

In the past few weeks, activists in the UC Berkeley area have engaged in correcting pro-Israel propaganda. On the night of September 18, however, someone added an image of a Swastika, an equal sign and a Star of David, to an already stenciled ad that carried the massage "free Palestine". Zionists groups have seized the moment and used the graffiti for the political agenda of creating an atmosphere of fear, in order to silence critics of Apartheid. Additionally, local media outlets have reported on the hate speech graffiti and some have printed false accusations against Palestinian solidarity groups on Campus.

On September 15th, the Israeli police started an investigation into whether an anti-military organization has violated the law by providing information to teens on how to avoid military service. The investigation was called by Israel’s Military Advocate General, Avichai Mendelblit, who also recommended prosecuting Mohammad Bakri, the maker of “Jenin Jenin” for libel. A few weeks later, Mendeblit was ordered by the Israeli High Court to reconsider a decision to give a light sentence to a General and a soldier who participated in shooting a bound Palestinian.

A new movie called “Z32” started to play last week in selected theaters in Israel. The movie documents the testimony of a soldier who was ordered with his unit to kill innocent Palestinians as revenge for the killing of six Israeli soldiers. Although it contains no violence or sex scenes, the movie has been restricted by the Israeli censor to people over the age of 14. The movie was chosen to compete at the Venice Film Festival.

On On August 25th, Sahar Vardi was sentenced to seven days in jail for refusing to join the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF). Vardi is the first women among a group of Israeli high school seniors who are refusing to join the occupying Israeli military. The group has published and sent a letter to Israel’s Prime Minister, Ehud Olmert, saying, “Our refusal comes first and foremost as a protest on the separation, control, oppression and killing policy held by the state of Israel in the occupied territories, as we understand that this oppression, killing and routing of hatred will never lead us to peace, and they are all contradictory to the basic values a society that pretends to be democratic should have.”

On August 23rd, two small boats carrying 42 human rights activists broke the siege of Gaza. They sailed from Cyprus in defiance of Israeli threats to intercept the boats to enforce its blockade of Gaza. The arriving boats were greeted by thousands of jubilant Gazans and former Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh. Intense international support was crucial in persuading Israel to allow the boats through.