Israeli Apartheid Week Beirut 2010 أسبوع الفصل العنصري الاسرائيلي في بيروت

Along with 40 cities around the globe, Israeli Apartheid Week is taking place for the first time in Beirut city. Since it was first launched in 2005, IAW has grown to become one of the most important global events in the Palestine solidarity calendar. It includes lectures, film screenings, student round tables, workshops and music in response to the call of Palestinian civil society for Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) against Israel. March 1-6, 2010.

جنباً الى جنب 40 مدينة في مختلف أنحاء العالم، اسبوع الفصل العنصري الاسرائيلي لأول مرة في مدينة بيروت. منذ اطلاق الأسبوع للمرة الأولى في عام 2005 نمت الحملة لتصبح واحدة من أهم الأحداث العالمية في التضامن مع فلسطين. و يشمل الأسبوع محاضرات و عروض أفلام و طاولات مستديرة للطلاب و ورش عمل و حفلات موسيقية استجابة لدعوة من المجتمع المدني الفلسطيني للمقاطعة و سحب الاستثمارات و فرض العقوبات ضد اسرائيل. 1-6 اذار 2010.

beirut.apartheidweek.org/

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=485071050369&index=1

فلسطين حرّة: بيان ودعوة للتحرك

تدعوكم حملة فلسطين حرة الى التظاهر يوم السبت ١٣ شباط ٢٠١٠ احتجاجاً على قرار السلطة المصرية في بناء الجدار الفولاذي على الحدود مع غزة.
الزمان: السبت ١٣ شباط ٢٠١٠، الساعة: ١١.٠٠ صباحاً
التجمع: امام مقبرة الشهداء في مخيم شاتيلا
والانطلاق بعدها كمسيرة الى السفارة المصرية

ندعو الجميع الى الحضور والى ابقاء الصوت عالياً لسحب الشرعية من النظام المصري في قراره في بناء الجدار
تضامناً مع فلسطين
من اجل كسر الحصار عن غزة

In a protest against Egypt’s siege on Gaza, Lebanon proves to be an ARAB regime

Another time, Lebanon proves to be just like any other Arab regime, where civilians are oppressed, attacked and their freedoms taken away from them by the state authorities. Today, more than 200 protesters from leftist political parties and independent activists were demonstrating at the Egyptian Embassy in Beirut against the “Wall of Shame” built by the Egyptian authorities at the Gaza Strip. The demonstration was a peaceful one for almost an hour. The whole time, Lebanese Internal Security Forces (ISF), Army and riot police (قوى مكافحة الشغب) were gathered up around the embassy to stop the protesters from getting near it. After an hour, clashes broke between the soldiers and the protesters. When the protesters tried to spread away, soldiers of the ISF, riot police and the army ran towards the protesters attacking, chasing and beating them up. Many of the protesters were injured and severely hurt. They were attacking everyone violently, and specifically three girls. They arrested 2 guys from the Lebanese Communist Party but then let them go in an hour or so.
This was not the first time this happens in Lebanon. Last year, most protests were faced with water cannons and tear gas bombs. And this is fine, but what is unacceptable is when the protesters are chased and beaten up by these soldiers. And since when does the army interfere with civilian protests?! The faces of the Lebanese army soldiers were scary. They used extreme violence. Maybe it is time the army uses this violence against the real enemy, Israel, instead of the civilians who are supposed to be protected by the state authorities!
A letter has been written and is to be submitted to Lebanese minister Baroud by few independent Lebanese activists petitioning the army attack on the civilian protesters.
Respects to comrades,
Farah Kobaissi who was attacked by an army soldier and hit on her head while she was trying to take a video of the attacks on the protesters.
Nadine Beckdash who was trying to get a way from the army soldier who was chasing her trying to get his hands on her.
Two comrades from the Lebanese Communist Party who were badly beaten up, while bleeding, by numerous army soldiers.

Lebanon’s New Year’s Resolution

It seems like the New Year’s Resolution of the Lebanese is PALESTINE. Since the beginning of this year and all has been going on in Beirut are conferences for Palestine. Last Week there was a conference about the book and Palestine in Gefinor Hotel. Today, there is a conference about AlQuds, Jerusalem, in Assafir Hotel. The big surprise among these is Wednesday’s conference on the “Civil Rights of Palestinian Refugees in Lebanon” organized by Walid Junblat at the Bristol Hotel. On the same Wednesday too, there’s a lecture by Assaad Abu Khalil about “Palestine in the Lebanese context” in the American University of Beirut (AUB). And during the weekend, from 15th to 17th of January, the “Supporting the resistance” conference will be held in Beirut.

I am really interested in what is going on in Beirut since the beginning of 2010, but I am just worried that it is happening for specific purposes and by the end of the month people will forget that the Egyptian and Lebanese authorities are besieging Palestinians in Gaza and Nahr ElBared Refugee Camp!

Solidarity with AlBared تضامناً مع البارد

It has been a while and there has not been any signs of reconstruction of Nahr ElBared Refugee Camp. It even seems like it is not that much of an attractive topic for people to discuss in Lebanon. Residents of Nahr ElBared Refugee Camp has been waiting for the reconstruction to take place since more than 2 years now. And out of a sudden, they were told that the camp will not be reconstructed since it is suspected that there are “ancient ruins” under the camp site. I wonder if we dig under one of the illegal Israeli settlements and found “ancient Palestinian ruins”, would we be able to do something about it?!!

This is a call for a demonstration on Monday 12th of October 2009 @ 11:00 am in martyrs square in Beirut to push for the reconstruction of Nahr el Bared Refugee Camp.

Reconstructing AlBared Now! اعمار البارد الآن

After two years of destroying Nahr ElBared refugee camp, its residents were delighted to hear that the reconstruction plan was about to become a reality. However, once it was launched, the Lebanese government has suspended the reconstruction of Nahr ElBared, AGAIN!!!

Support Nahr ElBared’s refugees right to return to their camp and houses and end the siege of the camp by the Lebanese army.

http://albared.wordpress.com/

For Reconstructing Bared Immediately!

A call for a civil demonstration in solidarity with the residents of Nahr el Bared after the halting of the reconstruction of their camp
Wednesday September 16, 2009/ 11:00 a.m.
Gathering at al-Nour Plazza/ Tripoli

Organized by: The Civil Advocacy Committee for Nahr el Bared

A Jordanian Victory انتصار أردني

تنص معاهدة السلام بين الأردن و دولة اسرائيل على “تعزيز التعاون الاقتصادي” و “انهاء المقاطعة الاقتصادية”. بالطبع يرفض كثير من الأردنيين و المقيمين في الأردن شراء البضاعة المستوردة من دولة اسرائيل كجزء من الحملة الشعبية للمقاطعة. و لكن للأسف لم يكن من السهل على المواطن أن يميز الخضار و الفواكه المستوردة من الدولة الاسرائيلية، اذ أنّها لم يكن عليها اي ملصق لتصنيفها على انها “صنعت في اسرائيل”.

بعد العديد من الاحتجاجات و المظاهرات ضد التطبيع السياسي و الاقتصادي بين الأردن و دولة اسرائيل، وصلنا الى انجاز متواضع. و أخيراً وافقت وزارة الزراعة في الأردن على الزام التجار بتدوين كلمة “منتج إسرائيلي” على المحاصيل الزراعية المستوردة من الدولة الصهيونية. و بهذا الشكل يترك الخيار للمواطن الأردني بمقاطعة المنتجات “الاسرائيلية”.

مبروك لكل مواطن أردني لأول انتصار على التطبيع و لأول خطوة في دعم المقاطعة للكيان الصهيوني!

The peace treaty between Jordan and the State of Israel requires “to promote economic cooperation” and “to end the economic boycott.” Of course, many of Jordanians and others living in Jordan reject to purchase the goods imported from the State of Israel as part of the boycott campaign. Unfortunately, it was not easy for citizens to recognize the vegetables and fruits imported from the State of Israel, because it did not have any label to be classified as “made in Israel.”
After many protests and demonstrations against the political and economic normalization between Jordan and the State of Israel, we have reached a modest accomplishment. Finally, the Ministry of Agriculture in Jordan agreed to bind traders to note the word “Israeli product” on agricultural crops imported from the zionist state. And in this way, Jordanian citizens have the choice to boycott “Israeli” Products.

Mabrouk to every Jordanian citizen, for the first victory against the normalization and the first step in supporting the boycott of the Zionist entity!

“The Fruits of Israel Taste Bitter

Refuse the Occupation of Palestine:

Don’t Buy Israeli Fruits or Vegetables”

http://jazeeranews.net/news/local/3628-2009-09-08-21-41-23.html

http://bodyontheline.wordpress.com/2009/09/12/on-labeling-food/

http://www.jordanzad.com/jordan/news/117/ARTICLE/23040/2009-09-12.html

Amman like never before!

So I have finally started this blog. I am not sure why I want to have one, but I felt that I have so much to tell the world. And in a country like the one I am currently a citizen of, Jordan, one has no freedom to express their concerns, especially if these concerns were related to the state policies. Something that I have never worried about while living in Lebanon, but remembering the fact that I am a citizen of that state makes me worry again. Now, things are different.

I came back to Jordan around a month ago. Amman seemed different this time. Jordanian citizens are still talking about the recent war on Gaza. There are boycott posters and leaflets in some places. And there many people criticizing the current Jordanian government and can not wait the next elections so they can make change. Yes, there are young people who believe they want to make a change! Surprising, isn’t it?!

A year ago, we were not able to talk about boycotting Israeli products while our phones were in our pockets. Not because the Mukhabarat were more strict a year ago, but because people are fed up and they do not have the fear they used to have before. I noticed that the world of blogging has influenced the youth here a lot. I was shocked when I met a group of students who follow up highly political Lebanese and one Syrian blog. They do it because they refuse to be passive citizens anymore. They are hopeful for change. And this gives me hope!

Even if it is a slow process, it has started. And change is to come…