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A Closer Look at New Gaza Conflict
The new round of violence between Israel and Palestinians in Gaza is receiving the typical U.S. media treatment, blaming Hamas and absolving Israel. But the origins of the latest clashes are much more complex than that simplistic and one-sided version, writes ex-CIA analyst Paul R. Pillar.
Gaza vs. Israel: Legitimate and Illegitimate Use of Violence in the Western Discourse
We hear news that the Israeli state has called up 75,000 reserves and is planning for a ground invasion. I continue to hear loud explosions of air raids surround our home in Saftawi, Gaza. The constant buzzing of the Israeli drone has become part of the backdrop of this weapons battle. I hear news that Hamas shot down two Israeli F-16s. I hear news that an Israeli drone was shot down late last night. I hear the rockets continue to be launched from locations around Gaza and reach the outskirts of Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. The shape of these two forms of violence shows how a state is able to launch a war and how a non-state movement is able to resist it. As bombs continue to rain down on Gaza and rockets continue to break the Iron Dome and make it into Israel, a review of dominant mainstream media sites in the West and Western governments reveals a very skewed understanding on the (il)-legitimate use of violence.
Israel's Terror in Gaza
In honour of the latest installment of homicidal Israeli behaviour in Gaza, the Twitter account of the Israel Defence Forces (@IDFSpokesperson) has played host to a flurry of activity.
Women Peace Activists Demand an End to Attacks in Gaza and Israel
MADRE, an international women’s human rights organization, condemns the growing violence that has killed at least 18 people in the past days: 15 in Gaza and three in Israel. We assert that all attacks against civilians must end immediately.
Egyptian PM Visits Gaza, Condemns Israeli Assault
In a symbolic show of support for Palestinians under assault by the Israeli military and with hopes of brokering a possible ceasefire, Egypt's prime minister, Hisham Kandil, arrived in Gaza on Friday following nearly a week of escalating violence in the battered enclave.
Rolling Jubilee: Over $5 Million of Debt Erased, and Counting
Successful kickoff for 'People's Bailout' campaign
How The Tragic Death Of A Woman Denied An Abortion In Ireland Could Become The Norm In America
Savita Halappanavar, a 31-year-old Indian woman living in Ireland, went to the hospital when she first began to miscarry — but thanks to Ireland’s stringent abortion ban, medical professionals
denied her repeated requests to quickly terminate the pregnancy because they could still detect a fetal heartbeat.
When Does Israel/Palestine Violence Start?
Military attacks and other violence in the Gaza Strip and Israel have resulted at this point in over a dozen deaths, most of them Palestinians, and sparked fears of an Israeli ground invasion similar to the 2008-09 assault that claimed over 1,000 Palestinian lives.
Who Started Gaza Conflict? Well, the U.S. Says…
Who started the latest round of violence in the Middle East? This pretty remarkable exchange between the host and a reporter on CNN's Piers Morgan Tonight show (11/15/12) tells us that no one can really say for sure, but the U.S government will tell you what they think:
There Are Significant Business Costs to Replacing Employees
The cost of employee turnover for businesses is high, regardless of the level of wages being paid to the departing or incoming employees. Workplace policies that improve employee retention can help companies reduce their turnover costs.
Congress Should Extend Emergency Unemployment Benefits
For months politicians and economists have warned us about the fiscal cliff—the combination of tax increases and government spending cuts threatening economic chaos scheduled to occur at the end of the year. But few are talking about the fiscal cliff that faces millions of unemployed Americans who will suddenly lose unemployment benefits on January 3, 2013, if Congress fails to act.
Inciting War Crimes: Israel Minister Says: Force Gaza Population Into Egypt, Cut Off Water, Electricity
An Israeli minister has called for the army to bomb Gaza until the population flees en masse into Egypt’s Sinai peninsula, and for water and electricity supplies to be cut, a clear case of incitement to war crimes.
http://www.countercurrents.org/abunimah161112.htm
The Life & Debt Of Capitalism
Building on the deep community connections forged by standing alongside (among others) rent strikers, immigrant workers, and those impacted by Hurricane Sandy, one faction of Occupy Wall Street (OWS) has conjured up an innovative new outreach idea:
A Rolling Debt Jubilee.
http://www.countercurrents.org/mickeyz161112.htm
ACLU files class action lawsuit over mandatory immigrant detention
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) [advocacy website] filed a class action lawsuit [complaint, PDF; press release] Thursday on behalf of New Jersey immigrants challenging mandatory detention procedures. The policy in question is 8 USC § 1226(c) [text], which mandates the detention of noncitizens during deportation proceedings, and such noncitizens are not entitled to a bond hearing, even if they pose no danger or flight risk.
http://jurist.org/paperchase/2012/11/aclu-files-class-action-lawsuit-over-mandatory-immigrant-detention.php
Continuing Devastating U.S. War Crimes
During the tumultuous months of the presidential campaign, most Americans heard nothing of this report in the (Minneapolis-St. Paul) Star Tribune (that originally appeared in The Los Angeles Times): "To live under drones is to live in terror." Based on a study by Stanford University and New York University, it was written by Jennifer Gibson, who was one of the on-site researchers of this startling account of the CIA pilotless drones' killings in Pakistan under the enthusiastic authority of President Barack Obama.
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article33051.htm
If There Needs To Be An Investigation, It Should Be About Why The FBI Was Reading Certain Emails
While some have noted the irony of General Petreaus being taken down due to online surveillance methods that he should have been aware of, the case is bringing growing attention to an issue many of us have been discussing for a while: how easy it is for law enforcement to snoop through your email. We raised the question already, but as more info comes out, the whole thing is looking that much more questionable.
Nearly 50 million living in poverty in US
The number of people living in poverty in the United States rose last year to 49.7 million, based on a new measure that provides a fuller picture of poverty than that previously reported by U.S. Census Bureau data. The revised poverty rate of 16.1 percent is up more than a percentage point from the 15 percent figure reported by the government in September.
The Katrina Myth
“I Think it Has Got to do With Iran, Actually.”Chief Rabbi Caught Off Guard With Comment on Israel's Attack On Gaza
Walmart workers speak out
Breaking Truce, Israeli Strikes Kill Hamas Military Chief, Palestinian Civilians in Gaza
BP to Pay US Billions for Gulf Spill
Naomi Klein: Sandy's Devastation Opens Space for Climate Change Action, Progressive Reform
"Climate dialogue runs aground"
(Al Jazeera, "Inside Story: US 2012")
Israel’s War Crimes: Completely Burnt Palestinian Child
"Nowhere to Run": Israel Fires Over 500 Strikes On Gaza, Civilian Toll Grows in Humanitarian Crisis
DOCUMENTARY OF THE WEEK:
ONE OF AMERICA’S MOST NOTORIOUS MILITIAS
Study: "Spiritual" People More Likely to Commit Crimes than Atheists
