News Highlights:

• 40 Israeli activists injured in an anti-wall protest in Budrus.
• Nov. 30th – Palestinian female political prisoners go on hunger strike due to maltreatment.
• PLO chairperson Mahmud Abbas and jailed Fateh leader Marwan Bargouthi in close race for Palestinian presidential elections, according to polls
  released Dec. 6th.
• Egypt claims there is understanding on a new peace deal in the Middle East, and Egypt may soon return their ambassador to Israel.
• Association for Civil Rights in Israel accuses Israeli government of
  systematically violating the rights of non-Jews in Israel; says most
  persecuted group is Palestinians.
• Dec. 3th – B.C. Federation of Labour passes resolution calling on Canadian government to help dismantle Israeli separation wall.

Feature:

A live interview with Tom, an ISM volunteer from Vancouver, who recently
returned from a solidarity tour of the West Bank. Tom spoke about his
experiences in the occupied Palestine, what he saw at checkpoints, and the
effects of the apartheid wall. He also talked about what international
volunteers do in the refugee camps to try and help the civilian Palestinian
population, especially when the Israeli army launches incursions into the
overcrowded camps. Tom finished by emphasizing the importance of getting
the word out regarding the situation of the Palestinians.

Focus on Zionism:

Highlights of a Dec. 6th Btselem report about the Dec. 3rd execution of an
injured and unarmed Palestinian by Israeli soldiers. Btselem, an Israeli
human rights group, had investigated the incident and was calling for an
immediate inquiry by Israeli authorities.

News Highlights:

• Israeli army forces Palestinian to play his violin at checkpoint and then later claims he volunteered to play.
• Israeli soldiers admitting publicly that they are given orders to shoot Palestinian civilians after Btselem, Israeli human rights group, accuses the army of killing civilians and then covering it up.
• Jailed Fateh leader Marwan Bargouthi reportedly decides not to run in
  upcoming Palestinian elections.
• Hamas officials say they will join a unity Palestinian government and agree to a limited ceasefire.
• Vancouver celebrates International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinians with films and speakers, including MP Libby Davies.
• Fallujah refugees report U.S. is using poison gas and other banned weapons in the Iraqi city.

Feature:

The first part of the feature was a dedication to Patrick Newton, a founding
member of the Voice of Palestine Collective and its technical operator. Pat
passed away on November 25th, 2004 after a difficult battle with cancer. A
poem by Mahmoud Darweesh was read and it was also announced that a Patrick
Newton memorial scholarship fund has been set up to assist Palestinian
students in refugee camps in the West Bank (see our website for details).

The second part of the feature was in studio discussion about the January 9th Palestinian elections, who was running, what was the mood on the Palestinian street, and whether or not a free and fair election was possible. The candidacy of Marwan Bargouthi was discussed as well as the growing impatience in some Palestinian sectors with corruption in parts of the traditional leadership.

Focus on Zionism:

Excerpts of an urgent release from the Israeli Committee against Home
Demolitions, issued November 29th, were read. The release talked about two
homes demolished in Anata, despite the protests of Israeli and international
activists, and the trauma for the now homeless families and children.

News Highlights:

• Israeli commander who killed 13 year old Palestinian girl last month in Gaza finally indicted; tapes showed him saying he “confirmed the kill”, meaning he emptied his weapon into her already prone body. Shooting wounded combatants, let alone children, is against the Geneva conventions.
• The nephew of Yasser Arafat received documents from the French hospital where he died; al-Kidwa said he could not say for sure if Arafat was poisoned or not.
• Nov. 22nd – U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell meets with Israelis and Palestinians, does not get Israeli commitment for full withdrawal from
  Palestinians cities for January elections.
• New PLO leader Mahmoud Abbas says he will continue to demand the right of return for Palestinian refugees; he has been chosen as Fateh’s candidate in the upcoming Palestinian elections.
• Some Fateh members are pushing for Marwan Bargouthi to run, the jailed Fateh leader; he will decide by next week.
• Dr. Mustafa Bargouthi, head of the Union of Palestinian Medical Committees, will run in the elections as candidate for five opposition parties.

Feature:

A live interview with MP Carolyn Parrish, from Mississauga, about her recent
trip to Holland for a Palestinian conference and her conflicts with the
Liberal Party over its policies. Ms. Parrish had just returned from
attending a conference in Holland, which was looking at Palestinian rights
and how the international community could help in their implementation. She
also spoke about her struggle within the Liberal Party over its increasingly
pro-American and pro-Israeli policies, and how that had culminated in her
being forced out of the Party last week.

Focus on Zionism:

Highlights of an article carried in the Halifax Herald on Nov. 18th, 2004,
taken from AP, about how Israeli soldiers regularly desecrate the bodies of
Palestinians. The story had been carried by the Israeli newspaper Yediot
Ahronot, which gave several examples of what it called “systematic”
desecration and photography of dead bodies of Palestinians.

News Highlights:

• Palestinian PM Ahmed Qorei asks for full report from French hospital on the
  death of President Yasser Arafat.
  Many Palestinians suspect poisoning, especially since no definitive cause of
  death has been announced.
• Two bodyguards killed in Gaza mourning tent, during armed scuffle.
• Nov. 11th – Israeli PM Ariel Sharon says he will launch propaganda campaign
  against the legacy of Yasser Arafat.
• Israeli officials say East Jerusalem Palestinians will not be permitted to
  vote there.
• Marwan Bargouthi, the jailed Palestinian parliamentarian, is urged to run in
  the upcoming Palestinian elections.

Feature:

A discussion with the in studio panel about the passing of Palestinian
President Yasser Arafat and the possible scenarios of what will follow. The
panel talked about Arafat’s legacy amongst the Palestinian people, and how
most Palestinians, even those who opposed him, regarded him as being
responsible for bringing the Palestinian struggle to the world stage. There
was also discussion about the January elections in the occupied territories,
and if there could even be free and fair elections under occupation given
the checkpoints and curfews. Finally, part of a tribute was read by Mahmoud
Darwish, Palestine’s most famous poet, which said in part – “he was
victorious in the battle for national existence…creating an identity for the
forgotten Palestinian refugee”.

Focus on Zionism:

Excerpts of an article in the Nov. 12th Globe and Mail, about the results of a
survey conducted by Canadian Zionist groups. The survey showed that most
Canadians want the government to remain neutral in the Israeli/Palestinian
conflict, and many have a negative view of Israel.

News Highlights:

• Nov. 7th – Palestinian villagers in Kufr Thulth hold peaceful march against Israeli confiscation of their land; Israeli soldiers beat an Israeli journalist and arrest an international activist.
• Palestinian officials struggle for stability, as President Yasser Arafat is close to death.
• Many Palestinians calling for elections in 60 days, as dictated by constitution.
• Jordanian and Israeli tourism ministers to hold meetings, for the first time since 2000.
• Nov. 6th – U.S. forces in Iraq launching a huge offensive on Fallujah have destroyed the Nazzal Hospital in the centre of the city.

Feature:

A live interview with Erica Lamcraft about an upcoming forum in Vancouver that is part of the international week against the apartheid wall. This year marks the 2nd international week of protest against Israeli’s separation barrier built on Palestinian land, and there will be 70 events in over 20 countries worldwide. The protest this year takes on added impetus with the ruling of the International Court of Justice calling on Israeli to dismantle the wall and compensate the victims.

Focus on Zionism:

Highlights of a Nov. 8th urgent alert from the Palestinian Medical Relief Society about the behaviour of Israeli soldiers towards a PMRS doctor near Bethlehem. Soldiers stopped the car of Dr. Mohamed Odeh, forced him out and made him strip down to his underwear in a public street, all simply for purposes of humiliation. Dr. Odeh confirmed that such incidents had also happened to other Palestinians in the area.