News Highlights:

• Hundreds of Israeli settlers attack Palestinian property and set fires, in their “price tag” campaign.
• Many Palestinians from Gaza are still stranded abroad due to restrictions not yet lifted by the new transitional Egyptian regime.
• Arab uprisings continue in Libya to Yemen and Bahrain, as activists in Tunisia and Egypt refuse to settle for anything less than genuine democratic reform.
• US general James Mattis says that enforcing a no-fly zone over Libya is a military action involving bombing areas of Libya.
• Famed folk singer Pete Seeger joins boycott Israel movement.

Feature:

The feature was an instudio discussion and analysis about the uprisings sweeping the Arab world, the hypocrisy of Western governments regarding democracy and human rights in Arab countries and how these changes will impact the Palestinian struggle in the future. The issue of foreign military intervention and how it has never served the interests of the Arab people was discussed; the recent statement by the Canadian Peace Alliance, which brings together leading anti-war groups in the country, came out firmly against any foreign intervention, and also touched on the comparison with Iraq where U.S. intervention started with a no-fly zone. The feature concluded with analysis on the Israeli government position and quoted statements by several Israeli leaders admitting that democracy in the Arab world will impact Israel’s relations with Arab regimes.

Focus on Zionism:

Highlights of a March 1st, 2011 Guardian article about how the tiny Palestinian Bedouin village of al Arakib has been torn down 18 times by Israeli authorities in the last 7 months.

Here is an audio file of this show:

News Highlights:

• U.S. uses its veto in the UN Security Council to squash an otherwise unanimous condemnation of Israeli settlements; earlier, US leaders had tried to pressure Mahmoud Abbas to withdraw the resolution.
• Hundreds of Gazans line up at the Rafah crossing into Egypt, which has been partially reopened for the first time since the Egyptian revolution started.
• Protests continue across the Arab world, in Libya, Yemen and Bahrain.
• Vigils were held outside Canadian diplomatic offices in both Ramallah and Tel Aviv to protest the Jewish National Fund’s charitable status in Canada, and its building of Canada Park on occupied and destroyed Palestinian villages.

Feature:

The feature highlighted the speech of Jenny Peto, delivered to a Feb. 12th meeting in Vancouver on “Speaking up for Palestinian Rights”. Jenny’s Masters thesis was recently the centre of a firestorm generated by pro-Israel groups in Canada. Her talk covered how she was personally attacked in the media and even condemned by some members of the Ontario legislature. Jenny, of Jewish background, works with the Coalition against Israeli Apartheid and emphasized the importance of action, especially in the Boycott Divestment and Sanctions movement.

Focus on Zionism:

Excerpts of a February 22nd, 2011 Guardian article about how an Irish journalist had attempted a citizens arrest of the Israeli foreign minister in Brussels.

Here is an audio file of this show:

News Highlights:

• Israeli officials approve the construction of more settlement housing in occupied East Jerusalem, despite criticism from EU leaders.
• An Israeli military base is also being planned in occupied Jerusalem, according to the Israeli daily Haaretz.
• Top U.S. military commander is dispatched to both Israel and Jordan to reassure them that military ties with the U.S. remain strong after the Egyptian revolution.
• Gazan youth hold a protest, calling on Egyptian military authorities to open the Rafah border.

Feature:

Jase Tanner, a Canadian filmmaker and activist, joined us in the studio to talk about his experiences in Cairo. Jase, who is also on the local committee for the Canadian Boat to Gaza, had been part of a Codepink delegation that was on its way to Gaza through the Rafah crossing. However, due to the closing of the border, he spent time participating in and documenting the protests in Egypt. Jase talked about what he saw in Tahrir Square, and how moved he had been by the Egyptian protestors. There was also discussion of the hardships created by the closing of the Rafah border, both for Palestinians inside Gaza and Gazans abroad, and how the new Egyptian military council had not yet made any move to open the crossing. Jase concluded by talking about upcoming events for the Boat to Gaza project and encouraged listeners to check out their website: www.canadaboatgaza.org.

Focus on Zionism:

Excerpts of a February 14th, 2011 op-ed in The Guardian about how Egyptian workers are not entrusting the transition to democracy to the military generals.

Here is an audio file of this show:

News Highlights:

• Another massive protest in Cairo challenges the corrupt regime of Hosni Mubarak, as young Egyptian Google executive Wael Ghonim is released after 12 days of imprisonment and addresses the huge crowd.
• UN officials document the destruction of Palestinian water cisterns by Israeli forces, as Israel controls 75% of the water resources in the occupied West Bank.
• The next flotilla of ships to break the siege on Gaza will sail at the end of May, marking the 1st anniversary of Israel’s deadly raid on the Mavi Marmara.

Feature:

A live interview with Egyptian Canadian poet and activist Ehab Lotayef from Montreal, about the historic events in Egypt and the Canada Boat to Gaza (CBG) project. Ehab talked about his personal feelings regarding the revolt in Egypt, as well as updating us on what support activities were ongoing in Montreal. He read his new poem on the air and also there was discussion of what could develop next. Finally, Ehab, who is a member of the CBG working group, told us about the conference in Madrid he had just attended to organize the next flotilla and encouraged listeners to support ending the illegal siege on Gaza and to donate by going to the website: www.canadaboatgaza.org.

Focus on Zionism:

Excerpts of a February 4th, 2011 article from the Israeli daily Haaretz about how Birthright Israel is launching a campaign to “Take Back Zionism” and promote its “global humanitarian work”.

News Highlights:

• Egyptian protestors respond to Hosni Mubarak’s latest televised speech with derision as he said he will not run in the September elections but will stay on as president until then; violence used by security forces against the protestors has resulted in several hundred dead and thousands injured in just one week.
• Israeli officials urge Western governments to not criticize Mubarak’s regime.
• Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas tries to suppress Palestinian demos in support of the Egyptian people, as the official Palestinian Authority expresses support for Mubarak.

Feature:

A special expanded feature, highlighting two interviews with Egyptian Canadians from Montreal talking about the situation in Egypt and their own feelings about what is happening. Rachad Antonius, a professor at the University of Quebec in Montreal, is a specialist on the Arab world and he talked about the popular revolt in Egypt and what it could mean for the future of the region. Mohammed Kamel, a human rights activist, talked about the repercussions of the Egyptian protests on other dictatorial Arab governments and how most of them are afraid of true democracy in their countries. He detailed some of the demands of the Egyptian people such as dropping the Emergency Law, releasing political prisoners and other steps to establishing democracy, and talked about the coordinated activities happening on Feb. 5 in Canada (and globally) in support of the Egyptian people. Both guests emphasized that the Mubarak regime was finished, something they had not expected to see this soon, and also that they were proud of the tenacity and determination of the Egyptian people.

Focus on Zionism:

Excerpts of a February 1st, 2011 analysis by Palestinian journalist, Khalid Amayreh, entitled “Mubarak must go”.

Here is an audio file of this show: