Portside

Increasingly, the rabid far-right 'pro-Israel' camp is carrying out repulsive, hate-filled attacks on Jews whose most cherished wish is to see a stronger, more democratic Israel. It is time to take a stand. The celebrated physicist Stephen Hawking became embroiled in a deepening furor today over his decision to boycott a prestigious conference in Israel in protest over the state's occupation of Palestine.

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President Obama said a lot of the things that need to be said in his address to Israeli students last week. For that he is due credit. His description of the cause and aspirations of the Palestinian people was on target. The problem is that the overall effect of his latest trip to the Middle East represented a step backwards.

Every Friday afternoon since 2009, residents of the West Bank town Nabi Saleh have taken part in demonstrations against the Israeli occupation by marching to a spring that has been taken over by the settlers of Halamish but is on Palestinian-owned land.

Thousands of Palestinian prisoners are refusing food for one day in protest at the death of a fellow detainee, Arafat Jaradat. Palestinians said an autopsy performed on Sunday revealed signs of torture. Mr Jaradat's death comes after a week of violent clashes between the Israeli army and Palestinian youths over the continued detention of four hunger strikers. The number of inmates on open-ended hunger strike had climbed to 11 from four.

Emad Burnat, Palestinian director of Oscar nominated "5 Broken Cameras" was held by immigration at LAX as he landed to attend Oscars. He, his wife & 8-yr old son were placed in a holding area and told they didn't have the proper invitation on them to attend the Oscars. "It's nothing I'm not already used to," Emad late said "When you live under occupation, with no rights, this is a daily occurrence." - from Michael Moore (on Twitter)

As soon was announced that the President would be visiting the Middle East, supporters of the policies of the Netanyahu government went into overdrive in an effort to throw cold water on any idea that the diplomatic mission could achieve any breakthrough in the Israeli-Palestinian “peace process.”

"The importance for me is the message the film gives to the Israeli public. The message is that occupation is bad for the future of Israeli society from all aspects - humanistic, economic, moral, etc. I can assure you that all six former heads and some 95% of my colleagues and workers from the Shin Bet from over three decades all agree with the overall conclusions of the film." -- Carmi Gillon Shin Bet Director 1994 - 1996