Has Palestine Had Enough of Fayyad?
Salam Fayyad, the western-educated economist/Prime Minister of the West Bank, has been the point man for western backed development efforts throughout Palestine. Fayyad’s institution-based approach to development and his unwavering support for peace with Israel has won over many converts throughout the United States and Europe who have made a habit of promising (and occasionally … Read more
Fayyad unable to pay PA employees because of Israel’s withholding of due funds
It was reported today that Salam Fayyad the Palestinian Prime Minister will be unable to pay the salaries of Palestinian Authority workers (viewed here) at their full wage for this month. This is a result of Israel’s withholding of Palestinian taxes due to them under the conditions of Olso and can be viewed here. As the article explains … Read more
Abbas Warns US About Obstructing UN Statehood Declaration?
It seems Mahmoud Abbas is trying to rally the world behind his unilateral declaration of statehood idea by visiting and discussing the issue with world leaders. He has succeeded in persuading a good amount of countries, including EU countries, to the case for his unilateral decision but the most important state actor the United States … Read more
A Third Palestinian Intifada?
I will be honest, as a Marxist who believes in revolution (not by violent means) my leftist antenna goes up every time I hear the word Intifada not used in a context of ways to achieve some form of parity with the Israelis. Within Hebrew University, and it seems Israel at large, the two Intifadas are treated … Read more
Egyptian Waves in Palestine
The democratic tsunami in the Middle East that started in Tunisia and gained incredible momentum in Egypt is now inundating the cities of Sudan, Algeria, Yemen, Iran, Bahrain, and Jordan. Is it possible that the revolutions and protests that are “plaguing” the Middle East will reach Palestine? The Palestinian Authority, much like Israel, was initially very … Read more
Palestine Papers: Day Two
Last night Al Jazeera released the second batch of leaked documents concerning Israel and Palestine. While the first batch dealt with land concessions – including Jerusalem and Haram al-Sharif, the second concerned Palestinian refugees and their fate under different agreements. The first dose of leaked documents created quite a stir across the globe and the … Read more
The Palestinian Authority and Area C
Recently, the destruction of a road in Palestine by Israel has made the headlines. Interesting, because roads in Palestine (and houses and schools and health clinics and and and) are destroyed by Israel all the time. But the main difference with this road is that it was built by the PA as part of PM … Read more
2011: Preparing a PA Eulogy
It should not be surprising that the Palestinian Authority, led by Fatah, is not terribly popular in Palestine. Dodging elections, cracking down on political expression and agreeing to unpopular negotiations is hardly a way to hold the public opinion. Moreover, it is increasingly clear that the PA’s modus operandi – negotiations with Israel – has … Read more
No Such Thing As Apartheid
Some interestingly opposing headlines for today’s Thanksgiving holiday: Israel Razes Palestinian Home in East Jerusalem and Palestinian Officials Fund Schools, Fill Potholes in East Jerusalem If the headlines are not telling enough, lets take a quick look at the meat and potatoes: Scores of police and a single bulldozer were involved in the operation, which … Read more
Quote of the Day: Jerusalem is like an AIDS Vaccine
Jeffrey Goldberg – who writes for The Atlantic – often expresses what Peter Beinart would call liberal Zionist views. He understands the need for an independent Palestine, but wraps every event in a “existential-threat-to-Israel” kind of wrapping paper. That being said, I usually agree with a lot of what he writes (though not all) and … Read more
Chris Keeler
Chris Whitman
