Archive: palestine

30th July 2014
By: Brian Whitaker
The big picture is very clear. Israel's onslaught against Gaza is killing large numbers of civilians, including many children. Nobody can seriously dispute that. When the big picture is so clear it's easy to slip into the habit of seeing every new incident as further confirmation, but war is rarely… Read more
24th July 2014
By: Brian Whitaker
Yesterday, I got into a Twitter conversation with Benjamin Weinthal, a Europe-based correspondent for the Jerusalem Post. Weinthal asked: "How does one explain that 1,700 people died in Syria over last seven days and zero protests in Europe. Hardly any media coverage." It's an interesting question… Read more
21st July 2014
By: Brian Whitaker
"The number of UK citizens and westerners travelling to fight in foreign conflicts has reached alarming levels unlike anything seen in recent years. We require an immediate response targeted at dissuading and preventing those who wish to go to fight from going."  These were the words of a British … Read more
20th March 2013
By: Brian Whitaker
As Barack Obama begins his first presidential visit to Israel, it's worth recalling the words of a veteran British diplomat who warned, just a couple of months ago, that Israel is on "a pathway to assisted suicide" – "suicide assisted by the Congress of the United States".  In January, Sir Sherard… Read more
21st January 2013
By: Brian Whitaker
Two British MPs have raised concerns in parliament about taxpayer subsidies for charities that support settlement activity in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. Charities registered in Britain are entitled to various tax benefits regardless of where they operate, provided their activities are entirely… Read more
1st January 2013
By: Brian Whitaker
A vociferous campaigner against NGOs that criticise Israel is appealing for money following a disastrous legal action in the European Court of Justice. His supporters in Britain are being urged to make donations through a registered charity – in effect, with a subsidy from taxpayers. Gerald… Read more
25th November 2010
By: Brian Whitaker
I received an email the other day from MEMRI, the translation and "media research" outfit founded by former Israeli intelligence officer Yigal Carmon. It was appealing for money. Considering all the critical things I have said about MEMRI over the years (here, here, here, here, here, and here), I… Read more
12th November 2010
By: Brian Whitaker
The extraordinary tale of Walid Husayin, a quiet barber from the West Bank who dutifully went with his family to the mosque every Friday – while secretly posting atheist rants on Facebook – is reported by various news websites this morning, including al-Arabiya. Among other things, he is said to… Read more
30th October 2010
By: Brian Whitaker
An intriguing report in Asharq Alawsat says the US and Israel have been quietly exploring the possibility of a land-lease option for parts of the West Bank.  The proposal is that under a peace deal, Israel would lease some land (including "land in occupied eastern Jerusalem and the Jordan Valley")… Read more
21st July 2010
By: Brian Whitaker
Several papers are reporting the case of Sabbar Kashur, a 30-year-old Arab from East Jerusalem, who has been sentencedto 18 months in jail after having sex with a Jewish woman. An Israeli court convicted Kashur of "rape by deception" because although the sex was consensual he had misled the woman… Read more