News Highlights:

• Tulkarem begins its Land Day demos, a national Palestinian event held every March 30th to commemorate the killing of 7 Palestinian citizens of Israel by Israeli soldiers in 1976.
• Palestinian Israeli leaders gather to mark the 32nd Land Day to protest Israeli government discrimination and the “rising fascism of Israeli society”.
• Israel announces plans to build more illegal settler housing, just after U.S. Secretary of State finishes her meetings with Israeli officials.
• Palestinian man killed by Israeli settler gunfire near Ramallah.
• Israeli army raids Palestinian orphanage in Hebron/Alkhalil.
• Palestinians NGOs organize collective boycott in the occupied West Bank, calling on people to buy local products, in an effort to thwart the Israeli government policies that are destroying Palestiniain agriculture.

Feature:

The feature was a conversation with Jef Keighley, co-chair of the newly formed Seriously Free Speech Committee, that is challenging the legitimacy of the CanWest lawsuit against long-time activist Mordecai Briemberg. Jef explained how the lawsuit originated over a satirical edition of the Vancouver Sun in June 2007, critical of CanWest’s biased reporting on the Middle East. Even though CanWest’s lawyers were not able to produce any evidence against Mordecai to link him with the production of the parody edition, they were still insisting on proceeding with their lawsuit against him. There was discussion about the context in which this is happening and the intended chill on both pro-Palestinian activities and more open debate on the Israel/Palestinian issue. (For further info, see www.seriouslyfreespeech.ca)

Focus on Zionism:

Excerpts of a March 31st, 2008 Amnesty International release that criticizes the expansion of illegal settlement in the occupied Palestinian territories and says they are in violation of international law.

Here is an audio file of this show:

News Highlights:

• Israeli forces besiege the Arab American University near Jenin, arresting and threatening students and reporters.
• Palestinian negotiator Saab Erekat says failure to reach a settlement this year could lead to collapse of the Palestinian Authority in Ramallah.
• Israel threatens to sever negotiations with Mahmoud Abbas if any unity agreement is reached with Hamas in talks in Yemen.
• Palestinian official Ahmed Qureia said Fateh representatives signed a unity proposal in Yemen by mistake, due to a “mixup”.
• U.S. Vice-President Dick Cheney says the U.S. would never pressure Israel and then later, when meeting with Palestinian leaders, calls for “painful concessions”.

Feature:

A conversation with America activist Blake Murphy, who recently was deported by Israeli authorities after a week in detention. Blake had been volunteering with the International Solidarity Movement in Palestine for 8 months and was arrested at a non-violent protest at Bilin village. He told us about the activities of ISM and there was discussion of what message Israeli authorities are sending by violently suppressing peaceful demonstrations, and by targeting international volunteers.

Focus on Zionism:

Excerpts of a statement by the Seriously Free Speech Committee www.seriouslyfreespeech.ca about the lawsuit against Mordecai Briemberg by media giant Canwest.

Here is an audio file of this show:

News Highlights:

• Israeli/Palestinian negotiations overshadowed by new announcements by Israeli government to build more settlement housing.
• Israeli military forces attack Nablus and its surrounding refugee camps, kidnapping five Palestinians including two juveniles.
• New polls show that Hamas’ popularity is rising amongst Palestinians due to recent Israeli military strikes and the inability of Mahmoud Abbas to produce any results.
• Palestinian human rights groups criticize the storming of the Ramattan press agency in Ramallah by Palestinian Authority security forces.
• Delegations from Hamas and Fateh will visit Yemen in an effort to resume unity talks.

Feature:

The feature was a tribute to American student Rachel Corrie, who was killed five years ago by an Israeli military bulldozer. Both songs and words were brought forward to honor her memory and the feature began with a short interview with Carel, a Vancouver volunteer with the International Solidarity Movement, who was in Palestine when Rachel was murdered and went to Gaza the day after to be part of the memorial services. Musical selections by various artists, including Jim Page and Maryam Tollar, honouring Rachel’s legacy, were presented. There was also highlights of an article posted on the ISM website www.palsolidarity.org talking about the feelings of Rachel’s family, especially her parents, Cindy and Craig.

Focus on Zionism:

Due to the length and importance of the special feature, Focus was postponed for this one show.

Here is an audio file of this show:

News Highlights:

• Israeli government allows more settlement construction, drawing international criticism including from the U.N. and the EU.
• Israeli army carries out large-scale invasion of Nablus area, and abducts 20 Palestinians from the surrounding refugee camps.
• Palestinian leader and former PA cabinet minister says Mahmoud Abbas’ decision to resume negotiations with Israel is “wrong” unless the Israeli government meets certain conditions, including stopping attacks and ending the siege on Gaza.
• Britain bans Israeli Likud leader Moshe Feiglin from entering the country due to his “fostering hatred”; Feiglin is about to come to Canada for a speaking engagement and groups here have called on the Canadian government to follow Britain’s example.

Feature:

A conversation with indigenous writer and activist Lee Maracle, in the second of our shows honouring International Womens Day. Lee spoke about how she had always felt close to the Palestinian people and their struggle and mentioned past solidarity actions that she and her children had participated in. She also emphasized how indigenous women were on the frontlines of struggles here, particularly in the Six Nations land claims, and there was discussion of how women around the world are targeted by imperial powers and often carry the heaviest burden, usually silently.

Focus on Zionism:

Excerpts of a statement released at an Ottawa press conference on March 9th, 2008 by the Alliance of Concerned Jewish Canadians, denouncing the Israeli government’s war crimes and atrocities against the Palestinian people, especially in Gaza.

Here is an audio file of this show:

News Highlights:

• A 14-year-old Palestinian teen shot dead by Israeli forces in Hebron/AlKhalil.
• Israeli human rights group Btselem releases report saying at least half of the casualties killed by the Israeli army in Gaza are civilians, including many children.
• Physicians for Human Rights – Israel also report on the destruction of medical facilities in Gaza.
• Legal Center for Arab Minority Rights in Israel sends letter to Israeli cabinet ministers, criticizing the Israeli military operation in Gaza and stating it violates international law.

Feature:

Another in the series of Eyewitness Palestine, Eyewitness Gaza with two testimonial reports of some of the civilian casualties in the latest Israeli attack on Gaza. The first report was from the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights and told the story of Jacqueline and Iyad Abu Shebak from Jabaliya, 14 and 16 years old, who were murdered in their own livingroom by Israeli soldiers who had occupied a neighbouring house. Jacqueline was killed immediately and Iyad died on the way to hospital. The second report, from the Electronic Intifada, again from Jabaliya, is about six-month-old Mohammed al Bori, who died from an Israeli missile attack.

Focus on Zionism:

Excerpts of a March 3rd, 2008 press release from the Scottish Palestine Solidarity Campaign condemning Edinburgh University for inviting the Israeli ambassador to speak. (The ambassador later cancelled his visit)

Here is an audio file of this show:

News Highlights:

• Palestinian NGOs report that 51 Palestinians have been killed to date in February, including 7 children and 2 women.
• Palestinian Centre for Human Rights condemns the siege on Gaza, and says ambulances have been forced to stop working due to fuel shortages.
• Palestinians attending the funeral of Imam Majed Bargouthi near Ramallah say he was tortured to death by PA security forces.
• Israeli media reports that Knesset Committees are attempting to grant licenses to the illegal settlement outposts in the occupied West Bank.

Feature:

A conversation with Eva Bartlett from Ontario, who just returned from 8 months in Palestine volunteering with the International Solidarity Movement ISM. Eva told us about what motivated her to go to Palestine and the experiences she had there all over the West Bank, including in Azzun village, around Hebron/AlKhalil, and during the olive harvest. Eva spoke movingly of the suffering of the Palestinian population and described her own two days in an Israeli jail for being part of a non-violent protest. She concluded by calling on people to go visit and to educate themselves and others on what is really happening.

Focus on Zionism:

Highlights of a February 25th, 2008 editorial from the Israeli newspaper Haaretz about the abusive behaviour of Israeli soldiers in Hebron towards the Palestinian population.

Here is an audio file of this show:

News Highlights:

• Ambulance service in the Gaza Strip grinds to a complete halt from a lack of fuel due to the Israeli siege.
• A 10-year-old Palestinian boy is killed when the Israeli army opened fire at Palestinian homes in Dier al Balah in central Gaza.
• Israeli forces kidnap a Palestinian woman engineering student in Nablus, the latest of 6 Palestinian women to be abducted recently by the Israeli military; there are at least 110 Palestinian female political prisoners in Israeli jails.
• Israeli PM Ehud Olmert says Mahmoud Abbas has agreed to postpone any discussions on Jerusalem, something Abbas’ office has denied.
• Ehud Olmert also said he is only hoping to reach an understanding on “basic principles” by the end of 2008, and appointed Palestinian PM Salam Fayyad also expresses doubts over any progress in reaching a peace deal this year.
• London School of Economics Students Union votes for divestment from companies that provide support to the Israeli occupation of Palestinian land.

Feature:

The feature was an in-depth conversation with Jamila Ghaddar from United for Students Rights at McMaster University in Hamilton. Jamila spoke about recent moves at McMaster by both the administration and the McMaster Student Union MSU to suppress free speech and open debate around the Palestinian issue, particularly as regards Israeli apartheid. There was discussion about how the issue had developed, actions by the Israel lobby on other campuses across Canada, as well as late breaking news of statements by MSU officials denying any intention to “shutdown …discussion relating to the Israel-Palestine conflict”. Jamila explained how the student groups were receiving very conflicting signals and also that they were planning a public forum at the end of February to insist on transparency and accountability from the McMaster administration.

Focus on Zionism:

Highlights of a Feb. 17th, 2008 article in the Int’l. Herald Tribune about a report from the Israeli media stating that more than 1/3 of Israeli settlements are built on private confiscated Palestinian land.

Here is an audio file of this show:

News Highlights:

• Israeli government preparing for wide-scale attack against the Gaza Strip as vice-premier Haim Ramon recommends more assassinations against Hamas leaders.
• 2 more Palestinian patients die in Gaza due to the Israeli siege; since June 2007, 103 Palestinian patients have died due to lack of medication and no access to specialized facilities and treatments.
• Israeli authorities order the demolition of 15 Palestinian homes and a health clinic near Hebron/AlKhalil.
• Israeli town sues Google because its worldwide map shows that the town was built on the ruins of a Palestinian village.

Feature:

A conversation with Samir Joubran of the Trio Joubran about his musical history and an upcoming North American tour, which will include Vancouver. Samir spoke about the musical roots of his family, both in making music and also in crafting the oud. He now plays with his two brothers and is also a pioneer in helping to develop the Palestinian music industry from Ramallah. Samir explained how, even though he is an Israeli citizen, he had not been allowed to get a visa for his Palestinian wife to come live with him in Nazareth so he had been forced to relocate. The music of the Trio Joubran reflects all of this history and heart-wrenching Palestinian tragedy.

Focus on Zionism:

Highlights of a February 12th, 2008 article from the Israeli newspaper Haaretz about the position paper of top Israeli reserve officers who have stated that the 550 military roadblocks in the West Bank do more harm than good.

Here is an audio file of this show:

News Highlights:

• Israeli airstrike kills 7 in Gaza and a Palestinian suicide bomber kills one person in Dimona, the town where Israel’s nuclear reactor is located.
• Palestinian worker dies of a heart attack at an Israeli army checkpoint near Ramallah.
• Israeli army kills one Lebanese civilian and kidnaps another on Feb. 4th.
• Egypt re-opens the Rafah border crossing after attempts to close it resulted in serious clashes, with one Palestinian killed and over 40 injured.
• Hamas officials say the Rafah border should be under Palestinian-Egyptian control, as Mahmoud Abbas still refuses to open dialogue with Hamas.
• Israeli Apartheid Week, which started in Canada in 2004, is taking place this year in 25 cities around the world, including in Palestine.

Feature:

An in studio conversation with Tom, a volunteer with the International Solidarity Movement – Vancouver, who recently returned from a trip to Palestine. Tom spoke about this trip, his 3rd, and compared it with previous ones and explained why he keeps going back. He noted that the situation was much more desperate for the Palestinian population this time and talked about his experiences in the village of Azzun which was raided several times by Israeli soldiers while he was there. The co-hosts asked about the impact of all of this on the Palestinian children and also how people viewed the visits of western officials, like U.S. President Bush and Canadian FM Bernier.

Focus on Zionism:

Highlights of a February 3rd, 2008 article in the Israeli newspaper Haaretz about how the U.S. Methodist church is continuing its moves for divestment from Israeli occupation.

Here is an audio file of this show:

News Highlights:

• Mahmoud Abbas has the backing of the U.S. and Egypt in his efforts to take over the Rafah border crossing without including Hamas.
• Hamas officials state that the Rafah crossing needs a new security arrangement, that does not involve Israeli control or veto over everything that passes through the border.
• Israeli army prevents aid convoy organized by Israeli human rights groups from entering Gaza with much-needed food supplies.
• Israeli army invades Bethlehem area, leaving one Palestinian civilian dead and 7 injured.
• Israeli Arab Knesset members will attend the funeral for Dr. George Habash in Amman, after he passed away on Feb. 26th; Habash was eulogized as one of the most prominent Palestinian leaders of his generation.

Feature:

The special feature offered various commentaries on the life and legacy of the late George Habash, the founder of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine PFLP and a leading revolutionary thinker. Excerpts of an article published in The Guardian by Karma Nabulsi, entitled “Rebel from a bygone era”, were read, which talked about Habash’s contribution not only to Arab unity and nationalism but also to progressive internationalism. The second commentary was from www.palestinechronicle.com and highlighted the need for leadership like Habash’s during the current difficult times for Palestinians. We concluded with remarks from our in-studio panel, that also emphasized the importance of Habash’s leadership and how it had been undervalued within the Palestinian movement and even within the PFLP.

Focus on Zionism:

Highlights of a January 28th, 2008 article from the Israeli newspaper Haaretz about a general strike and rally in Nazareth over the decision by the Israeli attorney general to not indict police officers involved in the killing of 13 Palestinian Israelis.

Here is an audio file of this show: