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IN THE Old City of Jerusalem sits one of the most sacred places of worship for Christians. Not far away, near the Mount of Olives, is the Dome of the Rock and the Al-Aqsa Mosque. At the foot of the Dome of the Rock is the Western Wall, where last week hundreds and hundreds of Jews people went came to celebrate Shavuot.
For Jews, Christians and Muslims these few square kilometres surrounded by the ancient yellowing stone walls of the Old City hold are the home of places with deep and layered religious meaning.
It’s also here in this area that a war between Jews and Muslims (or Israelis and Palestinians, if you prefer) has been raging for what to many seems like an eternity. It’s been a brutal war. It’s a war for land, for who can claim this holy city as their own. Read More…
I received this email response from Benjamin Pogrund to my article which appeared in last week’s Sunday Times.
Dear Jackie
You are right to focus on the barrier/wall/fence. It is horrible and the concrete section of it especially is not only an ugly sight but has done enormous harm to Palestinian existence (even though only part of it has been built and it looks as though it will not be completed). But, if I may suggest it, it does need a bit of context. The barrier idea arose during the intifada as a security measure, to keep out suicide bombers. If you lived through that period you would understand how much it resonated with a lot of people. It was a truly terrifying time, especially in Jerusalem. My own view then was that the barrier was an extreme step and I opposed it – but I understood why people were clamouring for it. The actual construction has perverted and manipulated the original aim and it has been used as a land grab. Read More…
You can read my piece here.
Earlier last week COSATU released a statement supporting the Goldstone report, and on Friday the South African government released this statement:
The South African government has noted the reactions to and criticisms of the report compiled by South African Justice Richard Goldstone upon conclusion of his three month long investigation into attacks by Israel on Palestine at the end of December 2008. Justice Goldstone was appointed to head the United Nations fact-finding mission into the Gaza conflict. Read More…
I read Goldstone’s op-ed piece in the NY Times last night. If you haven’t read it, do so.
“But above all, I accepted [my United Nations mandate to investigate alleged violations of the laws of war and international human rights during Israel’s three-week war in Gaza] because I believe deeply in the rule of law and the laws of war, and the principle that in armed conflict civilians should to the greatest extent possible be protected from harm….Pursuing justice in this case is essential because no state or armed group should be above the law. Western governments in particular face a challenge because they have pushed for accountability in places like Darfur, but now must do the same with Israel, an ally and a democratic state.”
A must-watch award-winning animated documentary about one man’s experience of the 1982 Israeli invasion of Lebanon. Here’s a trailer:
Israeli designers created gowns, modelled here, made mostly from toilet paper as part of an advertising campaign for an Israeli toilet paper company to mark September 9, 2009, one of the most popular dates for wedding ceremonies. REUTERS
A Cellcom ad:
