This week …

News Highlights:

  • A new report from the Land Research Centre in Jerusalem says Israeli authorities destroyed 14 Palestinian homes in November and issued demolition orders for another 170 homes.
  • EU ministers pass a resolution saying Jerusalem should be the capital of two states, but Palestinian officials are sceptical; Dr. Mustafa Bargouthi says the final draft was watered down and others point out this may be an excuse for some countries to move their embassies to Jerusalem.
  • Human Rights Watch calls on the Israeli government to immediately release Mohammed Othman, a Palestinian rights activist being held under administrative detention without trial or charge.
  • Palestinian Bedouins in the Negev are denied the right to local elections by the Israeli government.

Feature:

A live interview with Naji Mujahid, an African American student activist and journalist, who was arbitrarily detained and deported by Israeli authorities. Naji was on his way to a political prisoners conference in Jericho with Dhoruba bin Wahad, a former Black Panthers leader and U.S. political prisoner, when they were singled out by Israeli border officials for extensive interrogation and then refused entry to be able to attend the conference. Naji told us about the harrowing experience they underwent and also emphasized why he felt the issue of political prisoners in general is so important to progressive struggles.

Focus on Zionism:

Highlights of a December 8th, 2009 article in the Guardian newspaper about U.S. tax-exempt contributions going to Israeli settlement groups.

Here is an audio file of this show: