Palestine | openDemocracy

“Do not fear to be eccentric in opinion, for every opinion now accepted was once eccentric.”

- Bertrand Russell

War of words: social media activists in Operation ‘Pillar of Defence’

Rebecca Greig 5 December 2012

What advocates of both sides share, however, is a desire to present the truth as they see it and a mistrust of the mainstream media.

From periphery to centre: Israel's legitimacy, Palestine's UN bid, and the ICC

Valentina Azarov 30 November 2012

Palestine's newly accorded observer status at the UN General Assembly is only the latest move in an ambitious gamble to maneuver the ICC in the quest for statehood.

Drone wars: the new blowback

Paul Rogers 29 November 2012

The United States and Israel see armed drones as a valuable tool of "remote control". But Iran, China and Russia - and non-state actors - are working to achieve their own capacity. The emerging era is one of drone proliferation.

Israel and Hamas: momentum of war

Martin Shaw 26 November 2012

The latest war over Gaza leaves unchanged the underlying roots of conflict, even as regional changes are narrowing the potential for a long-term settlement.

Israeli-Palestinian ceasefire seems to be holding

Rob Prince 25 November 2012

Calls for comprehensive peace negotiations abound given the inability of conventional western military tactics to deal with the increasing effectiveness of asymmetrical warfare, and the need to compel all parties to forge a solution that recognizes the necessity of all sides to be secure in their homes.

Hamas-Israel ceasefire: a real victory?

Mohammed S. AlNadi 24 November 2012

The agreement has left out some issues essential for ending the suffering of the Palestinians.

Real justice, not ephemeral ceasefires

Mohammed Suliman 22 November 2012

Mohammed Suliman's interview on CNN was abruptly interrupted by an Israeli missile exploding nearby. In a piece originally published in Ceasefire, he reflects on the experience and analyses the continuity of violence before and after last week's aerial bombardment.

Israel and Gaza: from war to politics

Paul Rogers 22 November 2012

A short armed conflict highlights vital longer-term shifts both in the military confrontation between Israel and Hamas, and in the balance of forces in the wider region.

Israel and Gaza: the way ahead

Eóin Murray 21 November 2012

The latest Israeli-Palestinian conflict can be traced to decisions made since 2004. Its solution lies in a recognition of strategic reality, says Eóin Murray.

Why do Arab rulers want a ceasefire in Gaza but not in Syria?

Ahmed E. Souaiaia 19 November 2012

The rulers of Saudi Arabia and Qatar insist that Bashar Assad step down or be removed by force because the Syrian people want him gone. Yet, they ignore the fact that the Arab peoples want them all gone, not just Assad.

Mr. President, Why are you silent?

Jacqueline O'Rourke 15 November 2012

An open letter to President Barack Obama as “Pillar of defense” gets under way.

The creation of Palestinian citizenship under an international mandate: 1918-1925

Lauren Banko 6 November 2012

An internationally-recognised citizenship of the Arab Middle East designed during the era of mandates by the British came out of exclusively colonial processes, despite the fact that the British were meant to be an international trustee in Palestine. This article explores what happened.

Citizen diplomacy: a balance between leading and following

Pam Bailey 3 November 2012

In a reply to Meredith Tax, Pam Bailey argues that 'citizen diplomacy' protesting the use of drones is essential in order to better understand the impact of U.S. foreign policy, both abroad and in the U.S.

Occupied Palestine: humiliation and human rights

Michael Croydon 18 October 2012

UN, international, Palestinian, and Israeli human rights organisations do important work in Palestine. But the magic 'national security' argument is always available as a tool for the government of Israel.

'We have no Israeli partners' - Jeff Halper on the Israeli Left and the non-existence of the occupation

Chris Cox 8 October 2012

The Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions is well respected outside Israel, but barely known in Tel Aviv. Jeff Halper gives a critical perspective on the Israeli Left and the difficulties of strategically opposing the occupation from within.

This week's editor

Heather McRobie is a regular contributor to 50.50

Europe from the bottom up

European Union stars in Paris. Flickr/notarim. Some rights reserved.

A new Europe can only come from the bottom up
Etienne Balibar

A social Europe must be a political Europe
Bo Stråth

As Europe is provincialized: a reply to Etienne Balibar
Sandro Mezzadra

European debate

A republican call for a basic income
Daniel Raventos and Julie Wark

Nuclear non-proliferation

Women and the Arab Spring

oDRussia at journalismfestival .com

Mali - the plot thickens

Remote control war

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