News Highlights:

• Israeli PM Ehud Olmert gets mixed and sceptical reaction from Palestinians with his Nov. 27th speech outlining his vision for a future settlement; Palestinian leaders call for real action, not just words.
• Some Palestinian groups say “ceasefire” must include the occupied West Bank, not just Gaza.
• Israeli military kills two Palestinians near Jenin, including an older woman, and in response Palestinian fighters fire two rockets towards Israel.
• U.S. president will arrive in Jordan on Nov. 29th for two days of talks with King Abdullah and Iraqi PM; Condoleeza Rice will also hold meetings regarding Palestine/Israel negotiations.

Feature:

The feature was an instudio discussion about all the latest developments in Palestine, both on the ground and recent diplomatic manoeuvres. The panel talked about the new “ceasefire” and Ehud Olmert’s “new proposals”, all in the context of the ongoing siege on Gaza and continuing Israeli attacks in the West Bank. There was also discussion of the latest American diplomatic moves, including the visits of Dick Cheney and George Bush to the region and the connections between all of this. Finally the panel covered the increasingly pro-Israeli position of the Canadian government and their support for Israeli war crimes.

Focus on Zionism:

Highlights of a Nov. 28th, 2006 report from the Christian Peacemaker Team about the Israeli military’s harassment of the Palestinian mayor of Beit Ummar near Hebron.

Here is an audio file of this show:

News Highlights:

• Nov. 19th – Israel hits U.N. school in Gaza and wounds two children, including a 7-year-old boy hit at his desk.
• Nov. 19th – a 75-year-old Palestinian man killed in Israeli airstrike on Gaza and nine injured, including four children.
• U.N. Human Rights Commissioner visits northern Gaza and tells Palestinians “the world has not abandoned them”.
• Israeli group Peace Now issues new report saying 40% of land on which Jewish settlements are built is private Palestinian land and calls it an “institutional land grab”.
• Palestinian groups agree to a mutual ceasefire if Israel stops attacks.
• Nov. 20th – Israeli newspaper Haaretz estimates Israel dropped 4 million cluster bomblets on Lebanon during the recent war and Israeli commander says the general staff authorized all targets.

Feature:

A live interview with Tom, a member of the Vancouver chapter of the International Solidarity Movement ISM, who went to New York to see the play “My Name is Rachel Corrie”. Tom told us how moving the play was and how well received it was, despite Zionist pressure to first cancel it and then disrupt it. Tom also talked about the situation in Hebron/Alkhalil where he had volunteered earlier this year and updated us on an international volunteer who had just been assaulted there by settlers.

Focus on Zionism:

Highlights of a Nov. 20th, 2006 press release by ISM Palestine about the denial of visa extensions to foreign passport holders living in the occupied Palestinian territories, be they family members of Palestinian ID holders, educators or NGO workers.

Here is an audio file of this show:

News Highlights:

• U.N. top human rights body will hold special session to consider action against the gross Israeli human rights violations in Gaza.
• Nov. 12th – U.S. vetoes a U.N. Security Council condemning Israel’s killing of at least 19 Palestinian civilians as they slept in their Beit Hanoun home, including 7 children.
• Palestinian MP says Israel has increased the number of Palestinian prisoners it is holding; Issa Qaraqe said there are over 10,000 Palestinian political prisoners in Israeli jails.
• Hamas and Fateh continue unity talks and agree on a candidate, Mohammed Shabir, for the next prime minister.
• Nov. 13th – Israeli human rights group Btselem calls for investigation of reports that Israeli army executed wounded and unarmed Palestinians after arresting them in Yamoun.

Feature:

A live interview with Palestinian-American author and activist, Ali Abunimah. Ali is the cofounder of the Electronic Intifada and recently published a book on the Palestinian issue called One Country. He explained that the book details why a single democratic and secular state is the only viable solution to the Palestine/Israel conflict. He also spoke about recent atrocities in Gaza, and the letter he sent to the Swiss government, calling on them to take action under the Geneva Conventions against Israel’s war crimes.

Focus on Zionism:

Excerpts of an article in the Nov. 13th, 2006 Israeli newspaper Haaretz detailing the horrors of the Palestinian family that was shelled in Beit Hanoun by the Israeli military.

Here is an audio file of this show:

News Highlights:

• Israeli troops killed 7 Palestinians, including one woman, after officially ending their offensive on Beit Hanoun; 60 Palestinians killed in six days.
• International Red Cross deplores the Israeli killing of two Palestinian ambulance workers.
• Physicians for Human Rights reports that 1/3 of Palestinian civilians killed during Israeli operations in Gaza since the end of June are underage minors.
• Palestinian media reports that Hamas and Fateh have resolved all outstanding issues with the exception of who will be the next prime minister; government platform will be based on the “Prisoners Document”

Feature:

A live interview from Nablus with two Vancouver members of the International Solidarity Movement currently volunteering in Palestine. Gordon joined us on the phone and talked about their experiences in Nablus, the Israeli raids on the Balata refugee camp and the murder of the Palestinian teenager there. Carel spoke about the checkpoints and the disastrous impact of the apartheid wall. She also detailed the new art installation that she is working on regarding the ancient walls of Nablus.

Focus on Zionism:

Highlights of a Nov. 6th, 2006 report by Dr. Mona AlFaraa in Gaza regarding the atrocities she is seeing on a daily basis in her hospital in Jabalya.

Here is an audio file of this show:

News Highlights:

• Oct. 27th – 3 more Palestinians killed in West Bank, as part of Israel’s ongoing offensive
  Israel says it will expand its military operations in Gaza.
• Israel finally releases Palestinian cameraman arrested and beaten 3 weeks ago.
• Israeli Labour Cabinet Minister resigns in protest at the inclusion of extremist right-wing party in the Israeli government; says Yisrael Biteinu and its leader Avigdor Lieberman are tainted “by racist declarations”.
• Israeli warplanes carry out mock air raids at low altitude over Lebanon, in violation of the UN ceasefire resolution 1701.
• Oct. 30th – Palestinians mark 50 years since the Kfar Kassem massacre, where 49 farmers were killed by Israeli Border Guard officers; an official memorial museum is opened.

Feature:

A live interview with Stephen Aberle, from the Vancouver group Jews for a Just Peace, who is currently on a trip to Palestine/Israel. Stephen explained he had gone as part of a tour organized by the Israeli Committee against Home Demolitions. He spoke about his experiences in Bethlehem and Hebron, as well as being part of the olive harvest with Rabbis for Human Rights. Stephen also criticized the recent inclusion of Avigdor Lieberman in the Israeli cabinet.

Focus on Zionism:

Highlights of an October 30th, 2006 story from the Israeli news service Ynet about pro-Israel comments made by Canada’s Foreign Minister Peter MacKay, who said a threat on Israel means a threat on Canada.

Here is an audio file of this show:

News Highlights:

• At least 8 Palestinians killed on Oct. 23 by Israeli troops and 14 wounded.
• Israeli cabinet ministers call for military reoccupation of southern Gaza.
• Kidnappers release AP photographer just hours after he was seized in Gaza; meanwhile, Reuters cameraman held by Israel still in detention, despite judge’s ruling to release him.
• Members of Israel’s Labor Party threaten to quit if Labor approves extremist right-wing party that has been invited to join the Israeli coalition government.
• UN commander in Lebanon says force should be considered to stop Israeli violations of Lebanese airspace.
• Israel officially acknowledges it used phosphorous weapons during its attacks on Lebanon; media outlets during the invasion showed civilian phosphorous injuries.

Feature:

A special Eyewitness Palestine, highlighting three on-the-ground reports about the difficult daily life Palestinians are facing. The first report was from the United Nations Agency UNRWA and explained the harsh realities for parents in Gaza unable to give their children anything for the Eid holiday. The second was a release issued by the Presidents of Palestinian Universities, detailing the increasing Israeli restrictions on thousands of foreign passport holders who live and work in the occupied territories, many at NGOs and educational institutions. These harsh restrictions are literally emptying Palestine of its educated classes. The last report was written by an Israeli activist and showed Israel’s negligence according to the Geneva Convention for those under its occupation, resulting in a lack of access to health care for many poor Palestinians.

Focus on Zionism:

An Oct. 24th, 2006 report from the Israeli newspaper Haaretz about the revelations of a two-year secret investigation that showed rampant illegal construction in Israeli settlements, often on private Palestinian land.

Here is an audio file of this show:

News Highlights:

• Israeli soldiers kill at least two more Palestinians in Jenin, adding to at least 21 Palestinians including children killed in 5 days.
• UNRWA director appeals for more aid and says “Palestinians .. are living a real humanitarian catastrophe”; he also highlights the deteriorating educational system due to the economic blockade.
• Italian journalists report Israel is using an experimental weapon, thought to be the “DIME” Dense Inert Metal Explosive that contains tungsten, a carcinogenic.
• Israeli forces restrict access to Al Aqsa mosque the last Friday of Ramadan; protests at many checkpoints around Jerusalem.
• Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas pushes for a new Palestinian government of technocrats, and says he might call new elections or a referendum on how to proceed.

Special Feature:

A live interview with Mr. Mona Farra from Gaza, a physician and human rights activist, to talk about the horrific humanitarian situation in Gaza. Dr. Farra, who works with the Palestinian Red Crescent, updated us on the siege of Gaza and the impact on the daily lives of the people. She spoke about the electricity shutdowns, the indiscriminate killings by Israeli forces, the closures on the border crossings and how the hospitals are having difficulty coping, especially with the lack of medicines. Dr. Farra concluded by saying she supported the international Boycott Israel movement and that it was an effective way to bring change.

Focus on Zionism:

This segment was dropped due to the difficulties in connecting with Dr. Farra in Gaza.

Here is an audio file of this show: