On June 1, formal Israeli festivities were held around the country to commemorate 鈥淛erusalem Day鈥. One of the main events of the 鈥淛erusalem Day" celebrations is the 鈥淒ance of Flags鈥. Tens of thousands of people, waving Israeli flags, march through Palestinian parts of the city. This year, the marchers chanted slogans such as 鈥渂utcher the Arabs鈥, 鈥渂urn their villages鈥, and 鈥渄eath to the leftists鈥. The marchers also surrounded a mosque, frantically chanting 鈥淢uhammad is dead鈥 and 鈥淭hey are only Arabs, they are only fleas鈥.
Isaac Shuisha
One of the claims made most often by Israeli officials and supporters is that Israel is the 鈥渙nly democracy in the Middle East鈥. But in recent weeks, media outlets around the world have reported on a string of new laws in the Knesset (the Israeli parliament) meant to curtail the work of human rights non-government organisations (NGOs).
Foreign minister Avigdor Lieberman has even referred to such groups as 鈥渢errorism aids鈥.
The targeted NGOs report on human rights abuses in the entire area under Israeli control: that is, within the state of Israel, as well as the West Bank and Gaza.
Fatah, the dominant party in the Palestinian Liberation Organisation (PLO) and which controls the Palestinian Authority (PA) in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, held its sixth general conference in Bethlehem over August 4-6.
At 10:40pm on August 1, an unidentified man with a ski mask walked into a weekly meeting of Gay Lesbian Bisexual Trangender teenagers in Tel Aviv and shot indiscriminately with an automatic weapon. Two people were killed and a dozen wounded.
The University of Western Sydney Student Association (UWSSA) has launched a new campaign for better quality education, with speak-outs, information stalls and open forums that are drawing many students into action.
The opening night of the first conference of the Aboriginal Rights Coalition (ARC), held in Australia Hall on May 23, drew 170 activists from around Australia.
On February 12 Imad Fayez Mughniyeh, a leader of Hezbollah 聴 which led the successful resistance to Israel聮s July-August 2006 war on Lebanon 聴 was assassinated in Syria.
On January 26, most people around the country celebrated 聯Australia Day聰. Thousands of Australian flags with the British union jack were raised, shrimps rolled on the barbie and beer poured like water.
Starting with Melbourne University and spreading around the country like a fire in a library, universities have announced major cuts in arts and humanities departments.