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Israel to build security fence in the heart of the West Bank

Details: Written by Allison Deger Allison Deger; Published: 21 November 2013 21 November 2013

It’s barely 100 meters, but a fence Israel plans to build through four villages in the heart of the iconic hills of the West Bank shows how deep the occupation reaches into Palestinian life.

Earlier this month, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) ordered the construction of a separation fence in the north central West Bank on agricultural land belonging to four Palestinian villages. The “security fence,” or “security wall,” from the Hebrew and Arabic appropriation orders respectively, will run east-west along highway 5, near Tapuach Junction, a checkpoint between Ramallah and Nablus.

This fence is not an extension of the famous separation barrier. Rather it will be a free-floating chain linked plank in the heart of the West Bank. A miniature version of the wall, it separates nothing and can easily be bypassed on foot. It only stretches 3.8 dunums in length, well under one kilometer. Still this fence is part of a patchwork of barriers in the Nablus district that trace the highway system.

The fence is slated for construction on farms lands belonging to the hillside localities of Beita, Osrain, Qabalan and Yitma. Together the four villages form a square with two to the north and two to the south of an Israeli highway. The planned path of the fence lines the bisecting highway.

Crisis in Syria: Some ways to help . . .

Details: Written by Oxfam, Mercy Corps, MTI, and World Vision Oxfam, Mercy Corps, MTI, and World Vision; Published: 06 November 2013 06 November 2013

Here are several links to organizations helping Syrians face this terrible crisis

Mercy Corps: http://www.mercycorps.org/articles/jordan-lebanon-syria/quick-facts-what-you-need-know-about-syrian-refugee-crisis

Oxfam: http://www.oxfam.org/en/emergencies/syria-crisis

Medical Teams International: http://www.medicalteams.org/donate/syrian-refugees-relief

World Vision: http://www.worldvision.org/news-stories-videos/faqs-war-syria-children-and-refugee-crisis

This from Oxfam:

More than two million refugees have now fled violence in Syria and are in desperate need of shelter, food and water. Over half of them are children.

The scale of the Syria crisis is rapidly deepening, particularly as winter approaches, leaving relief agencies overstretched and struggling to cope with massive numbers of refugees, who are often living in inadequate shelter in neighboring countries.

We've reached more than 220,000 people with aid. Any donation, no matter how small, will help us support more families caught up in this crisis.

The scale of the Syrian crisis

Fighting continues to escalate across northern Syria and its western border. With growing numbers of people fleeing the conflict in Syria, the situation has become critical. Aid agencies and host countries have almost reached their capacity to cope with recent surges.

The UN estimates that almost 7 million Syrians inside of Syria are in need of assistance, including 4.25 million internally displaced.
Thousands continue to flee Syria daily.
The total number of refugees in neighboring countries is now more than 2.1 million.
It is estimated that the population of Lebanon has increased by more than 10% and the population of Jordan by 6%. This is putting extreme pressure on local infrastructure.
Additionally, according to the UN refugee agency, UNHCR, the majority of Syrian refugees in Jordan live in urban areas, outside of formal camp settings. This makes it harder for them to access vital help.

ST. LOUIS DUMPS OCCUPATION PROFITEER VEOLIA!

Details: Written by St. Louis Palestine Solidarity Committee (PSC) St. Louis Palestine Solidarity Committee (PSC); Published: 05 November 2013 05 November 2013

Campaign Shows the Power of Local BDS Efforts

In a dramatic conclusion to nearly one year of effort and vigilance by the St. Louis Palestine Solidarity Committee (PSC) and coalition partners, the St. Louis mayor’s office announced on October 29, 2013 that Veolia Water North America was withdrawing itself from consideration for a contract to consult with the St. Louis Water Division. Veolia is a major, global target of the Boycott, Sanctions and Divestment (BDS) movement because of its complicity in Israeli violations of Palestinian human rights. Veolia profits from Israel’s occupation of the West Bank by providing services, such as trash collection, water services and, until recently, bus lines, to illegal Israeli settlements built on Palestinian land.

When the contract came to light, the PSC helped form a local coalition to “Dump Veolia.” The Coalition included a wide spectrum of the St. Louis community, as well as national organizations. The broad based opposition caused Veolia to withdraw from our city, reportedly deciding St. Louis “is not worth it. It is not worth the damage to [Veolia’s] business.”

Help fund the Gaza Mono-Logues:Children of Gaza tell their stories of war and siege

Details: Written by Deep Dish TV Deep Dish TV; Published: 04 November 2013 04 November 2013

Subject: HELP! GAZA MONO-LOGUES

The Gaza Mono-Logues

Children of Gaza tell their stories of war and siege

A [1]Kickstarter project by Deep Dish TV

[2]

Conditions in Gaza are deteriorating. This morning the power plant forced to
close. New Israeli jet attack. Who is listening to the voices of the people of
Gaza? Please help us let them be heard.

Deep Dish TV's [3]Kickstarter campaign is half over, and we have only 40% of the
$5,000 we need to fund the film version of the Gaza Mono-Logues. These are
really powerful pieces written by 33 young people (ages 13-18) who survived the
2008-2009 Israeli attack on Gaza. Their voices should be heard. I know that you
have donated generously in the past to our film, [4]Where Should the Birds
Fly, but we need your support again. Please go to Deep Dish TV’s [5]Kickstarter
website for a short trailer, more info and to make a tax-deductible donation. We
need 25 people to donate $100 or 50 to donate $50. But every amount counts.

[6] http://kickstarter.com/projects/1767087449/the-gaza-mono-logues

Goliath: Life and Loathing in Greater Israel

Details: Written by Max Blumenthal Max Blumenthal; Published: 31 October 2013 31 October 2013

On October 1st, New York Times bestselling author and journalist Max Blumenthal released his latest book, Goliath: Life and Loathing in Greater Israel. To purchase the book, click here.

Goliath, according to Adam Hochschild, is "brash, gritty, personal and close to the ground...a report from an Israel and a Palestine we seldom see in the mainstream media." Blumenthal takes us on a journey through the badlands and high roads of Israel-Palestine, painting a startling portrait of Israeli society under the siege of increasingly authoritarian politics as the occupation of the Palestinians deepens. The book is already receiving significant attention and has been positively reviewed by Kirkus Reviews: "A rich, roiling examination of 'the State of Israel during a period of deepening political and societal crisis' ... Blumenthal is an enterprising reporter."

In an article for Al-Monitor, Akiva Eldar — a former chief political columnist and editorial writer for the Israeli newspaper Haaretz, where he worked for 35 years — writes,

Unlike most Jews — American or Israeli — Blumenthal chose to leave his comfort zone, go into disputed territory and examine the burning questions for himself. In fact, Blumenthal's greatest strength and interest is in events on the ground and the people who live there, far from the 'peace process' and diplomatic salons.

Read more: Goliath: Life and Loathing in Greater Israel

Americans United for Palestinian Human Rights

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In Focus

Israel to build security fence in the heart of the West Bank

Crisis in Syria: Some ways to help . . .

ST. LOUIS DUMPS OCCUPATION PROFITEER VEOLIA!

Help fund the Gaza Mono-Logues:Children of Gaza tell their stories of war and siege

Goliath: Life and Loathing in Greater Israel

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