News Highlights:

• Palestinian foreign minister says Israel’s redeployment from Gaza will not mark the end of occupation, as Israel will still control all air, water and land crossings.
• Israeli army tanks fire on Khan Younis, hitting a Palestinian cemetery and causing damage to the gravesites.
• Palestinian Authority wants to open Gaza to unlimited foreign investment after Israeli redeployment, allowing foreign companies 100% ownership and privatizing all government enterprises.
• Aug. 6th – Presbyterian Church U.S.A. is beginning its process of challenging those companies that are complicit in maintaining the Israeli occupation, possibly leading to divestment.

Feature:

An interview with Professor Jim Graff from Toronto about the upcoming conference in Toronto in later October on the divestment campaign against Israel (details at www.sabeel.ca). Jim, president of the Near East Cultural and Educational Foundation, one of the organizers of the conference, talked about how they wanted to address and discuss many issues regarding economic and other pressures that can be brought to bear on Israel. He explained that many church, social justice and community groups felt that the time had come, especially after the refusal of Israel and the Western powers to implement the International Court of Justice ruling on the wall, to develop new strategies to help push for genuine peace in the region. Jim also updated us on the Patrick Newton Memorial Scholarship Fund, which has already collected enough for two scholarships to send Palestinian students from refugee camps to Bir Zeit University.

Focus on Zionism:

Uri Avnery, the leading peace activist from Gush Shalom, wrote an essay pointing out the failure of the Israeli military and police in preventing the rampage of the AWOL Israeli soldier who killed four Palestinian Israelis in the Galilee. In stark contrast, Haaretz on August 7th, 2005 carried the story that the only investigation launched by Israeli police was to determine who had killed the murderer when an angry crowd managed to stop and disarm him.

Here is an audio file of this show:

News Highlights:

• Peaceful protest against the destruction of Palestinian land for an Israeli-only road in the West Bank was attacked by Israeli soldiers; 5 people, including one child injured and an Austrian peace activist arrested.
• Palestinian Authority announces parliamentary elections will be held in late January 2006.
• Egypt and Israel reach a deal on having 750 Egyptian border police along the border between Egypt and Gaza.
• Palestinian sources report that despite meetings, there is still no progress with Israel on resolving issues to follow the Gaza redeployment, such as border crossings and a link to the West Bank.
• Palestinian security forces are poorly armed, lacking even enough ammunition, but Israel does not want proper supplies to reach them.

Feature:

An instudio discussion about the current situation in Gaza and what will follow the Israeli redeployment in mid-August. The lack of progress on giving Gaza any access to the outside world was discussed, as well as how Israel was using the pullout to cement its hold on the West Bank. An article from July 31st, 2005 Haaretz showed how absurd things had become, when James Wolfensohn advised both the Palestinians and Egyptians to make use of the rubble left from demolishing settler homes, because Israel didn’t want to pay for the cleanup. There was also discussion on the January 2006 Palestinian parliamentary elections, and what the outcome might mean for Palestinian society.

Focus on Zionism:

Highlights of a July 31st, 2005 Haaretz article about how an Israel officer, who was recently reprimanded for his role in the killing of a Palestinian teenager, was just promoted.

Here is an audio file of this show:

News Highlights:

• Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas relocates to Gaza to oversee Israel’s “disengagement”.
• Abbas told U.S. Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice during her visit that there has been no progress with Israel over major issues like Gaza’s airport and the safe passage to the West Bank.
• Israel and Egypt conclude deal allowing Egyptian border police to patrol the southern edge of Gaza Strip.
• Thousands of dunums of Palestinian agricultural land torched near Tulkarem; Israeli forces refuse to allow Palestinian firemen to stop the fires.
• Palestinian Authority sets new dates for completing municipal elections, and agrees to hold legislative elections between Dec. 9th, 2005 and Jan. 19th, 2006.
• Intel has decided to invest over $4 billion in facilities in Israel, the largest single foreign investment in Israel.

Feature:

A live interview from Palestine with Noah, an activist from Vancouver, currently volunteering with the International Solidarity Movement in the West Bank. Noah spoke about his experiences with the Palestinian people, the activities he was involved in, and how the apartheid wall and checkpoints were impacting the civilian population. He also detailed how he, other Israeli and Palestinian activists, and a goat were all arrested by the Israeli military during a non-violent protest.

Focus on Zionism:

Highlights of a press release from the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights in Gaza, about how the Israeli High Court denied a Palestinian detainee access to a lawyer. www.pchrgaza.org

Here is an audio file of this show:

News Highlights:

• July 18th – Palestinian teen shot dead by Israeli forces at checkpoint in Gaza;
  14 year old Ragheb Al Masri was killed by Israeli sniper.
• July 18th – Israeli assassinations in Gaza leave ceasefire in tatters; Israel
  amasses large military force on Gaza border as U.S. Secretary of State flies
  to region.
• July 19th – further clashes erupt between Fateh and Hamas in Gaza
  In Um al-Fahm, more than 40,000 celebrate release of Sheik Raed Salah from
  an Israeli jail; Sheik calls for unity amongst Palestinian factions.
• Canadian Justice Minister Irwin Cotler, member of Liberal Parliamentarians
  for Israel, wants to host summit between ministers of Israel, Egypt, Jordan
  and Palestine after Gaza “pullout”; Cotler in Israel to participate in
  Maccabiah Games.

Feature:

A live interview with Jamal Juma’a from Ramallah, who represents the
Palestinian Campaign against the Apartheid Wall. Jamal spoke of the
incredible hardships the wall has created for Palestinian farmers, and also
gave details of the destruction (trees, crops, homes etc.) that has
resulted. Jamal noted the lack of action of the international community in
implementing the International Court of Justice ruling regarding the wall,
and explained that this is why Palestinians are now calling for a boycott to
divest from Israel and sanction companies maintaining the occupation.
(www.stopthewall.org )

Focus on Zionism:

Excerpts of a statement by three leading Israeli thinkers Uri David, Ilan
Pappe, and Tamar Yaron, expressing their fears that Ariel Sharon’s Gaza
pullout will be followed by a massive attack on the Palestinian population
in Gaza. www.counterpunch.org

Here is an audio file of this show:

News Highlights:

• Palestinians mark first anniversary of International Court ruling against
  the apartheid wall and call for increased protests.
• Israel approves final route of wall around Jerusalem, which will cut off
  tens of thousands of Palestinians and incorporate settlers; Israeli cabinet
  minister admits it serves demographic purposes.
• EU representative criticizes the barrier, saying it cuts into occupied land
  and is illegal.
• Mahmoud Abbas condemns suicide bombing in Netanya, carried out by Islamic
  Jihad “to retaliate for Israeli violations”.
• 160 Canadian Jews emigrate to Israel as a group, and receive Israeli
  citizenship in the air before they even land.
• American Jewish group calls for granting citizenship to diaspora Jews even
  if they remain overseas, as long as they pay $1000 and take a week of
  military training.

Feature:

A live interview with progressive American singer/songwriter David Rovics
about his songs on Palestine and other struggles. David explained how he
grew to understand about the Palestinian situation and talked about the 10
songs he has written for Palestine, covering topics like Jenin and the
desire to return. He also talked about the anti-war movement, and how they
have yet to fully embrace the Palestinian struggle.

Focus on Zionism:

Highlights of a report from ISM Nablus on July 12th, about the deaths of
Palestinian youngsters in Balata refugee camp and how Israel has never
respected the ceasefire.

Here is an audio file of this show: