Goodbye Sadiq al-Azm, lone Syrian Marxist against the Assad regime

First posted December 27, 2016 NB: An interesting obituary to a great intellectual. My knowledge of the situation is limited, but as regards this article, I’m uncomfortable with the argument that there should be no objection to the participation of communal parties in a democratic alliance. My views on this are conditioned by the history of religion-based mobilisations in… Read More Goodbye Sadiq al-Azm, lone Syrian Marxist against the Assad regime

South Africa’s case against Israel’s ‘genocidal conduct’ at UN Court of Justice / Worldwide demonstrations in support of Palestine

The International Court of Justice (ICJ), the principal judicial organ of the United Nations, held public hearings on the request for the indication of provisional measures submitted by South Africa in the case South Africa v. Israel on 11 and 12 January 2024, at the Peace Palace in The Hague, the seat of the Court.… Read More South Africa’s case against Israel’s ‘genocidal conduct’ at UN Court of Justice / Worldwide demonstrations in support of Palestine

Press freedom groups urge Biden to hold Israel accountable for killings of journalists

Leading press freedom groups and human rights organisations have called on Joe Biden to do more to pressure Israel to “abide by international law” amid accusations that its military is targeting journalists in the Gaza war, and to hold it to account for the killings of reporters. The Committee to Protect Journalists, Human Rights Watch, Freedom House… Read More Press freedom groups urge Biden to hold Israel accountable for killings of journalists

Danger and dignity in some of the world’s vanishing trades – a photo essay

From Egypt to Bangladesh, photographer Lucien Migné has documented the work of marginalised groups whose livelihoods have remained largely untouched by the modernisation of work by Chloé Farand – All photographs by Lucien Migné For a moment, the workers disappear in the clouds of dust that billow across the white limestone plains as the old circular… Read More Danger and dignity in some of the world’s vanishing trades – a photo essay

The Gaza War and the Rest of the World

Malcolm H. Kerr Carnegie Middle East Center In her evocative book, Drinking the Sea at Gaza, the Israeli journalist Amira Hass writes, “To me, Gaza embodies the entire saga of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict; it represents the central contradiction of the state of Israel—democracy for some, dispossession for others; it is our exposed nerve.” The conflict in… Read More The Gaza War and the Rest of the World

Reading the Bible with the eyes of the Canaanites: Neo-Zionism, political theology and the Land Traditions of the Bible (1967 to Gaza 2009)

NB: If religious texts sanctify hatred and cruelty towards others, there is something wrong with them, and especially with us, for taking such injunctions literally. There is no such thing as my god versus your god, because the creator of the universe cannot possibly have chosen a small fragment of humanity to be regardful of,… Read More Reading the Bible with the eyes of the Canaanites: Neo-Zionism, political theology and the Land Traditions of the Bible (1967 to Gaza 2009)

How apartheid history shaped South Africa’s genocide case against Israel

Jewish groups have accused the ANC of antisemitism, but ICJ case stems from party’s longstanding support for Palestinians Chris McGreal Israel has denounced South Africa’s legal action at the international court of justice accusing Israel of genocide and war crimes in Gaza as amounting to support for Hamas. Israel called the charge that it was intentionally killing… Read More How apartheid history shaped South Africa’s genocide case against Israel

More than 10 children losing legs in Gaza every day as dire health crisis grows

NB: Approximately 90 thousand Palestinians killed, wounded or missing, including nearly ten thousand children. Wounded children with no relatives; children being amputated without anaesthesia. Vast neighbourhoods levelled to the ground. Is this enough for Netanyahu and Biden? Has any part of human cruelty toward subject populations changed for twenty five centuries since thousands of slaves… Read More More than 10 children losing legs in Gaza every day as dire health crisis grows

Support South Africa’s case against Israel at the International Court of Justice

Why this petition matters The signature box may be found on the top of this document. Started by Riyad Tibi We the undersigned applaud and fully support South Africa’s referral of Israel to the ICJ (International Court of Justice) for its genocidal crimes against the Palestinian people in Gaza. We hope that this action will lead… Read More Support South Africa’s case against Israel at the International Court of Justice