- November 24, 2024
Palestine/Israel
For Palestinians, Zionism only Means One Thing
By Ramzy Baroud On 12 December, the British government officially adopted a new definition of anti-Semitism that includes legitimate criticism of Israel. The definition was adopted earlier in the year by pro-Israeli group IHRA, although it was considered but abandoned by the European anti-racism agency in 2005. It is a rather dangerous move which will […]
Where is Fatah Headed after Its Seventh Congress?
By Ramzy Baroud After years of holding the Palestinian struggle hostage to their factional-feud, the current enemy of Palestinian unity today is not just the Fatah-Hamas dispute. According to Mouin Rabbani, writing in Al Jazeera, another pressing problem is the power struggle within Fatah itself. It is unfortunate that the Palestinian leadership often substitutes its failure […]
Hold Your Applause, Fatah, the Palestinian Body Politic is Rotten to the Core
By Ramzy Baroud In July 2003, the then Palestinian Authority Chairman, Yasser Arafat, described Mahmoud Abbas as a “traitor” who “betrayed the interests of the Palestinian People.” Arafat loathed Abbas to the very end. This particular outburst was made during a meeting with United Nations envoy Terje Larsen. The meeting took place a few months after […]
Less Symbolism, More Action: Towards Meaningful Solidarity with Palestine
By Ramzy Baroud The Palestine Solidarity Campaign has designated the week, November 25 to December 3, as the ‘biggest-ever campaign’ aimed at boycotting Israeli products and those of companies that contribute to the Israeli military occupation of Palestine. In a recently issued press release, the civil society-led group highlighted “99 actions that will take place […]
Baroud in Al Jazeera: Time to Reclaim International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People
Palestinian author and journalist, Ramzy Baroud argued in a piece published today in Al Jazeera that the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People must be reclaimed by civil society and people everywhere. “Although November 29 has galvanized pro-Palestinian communities around the world for decades, a few facts and problems about this day must […]
On Palestine, Obama and Trump Are All the Same
By Ramzy Baroud There are only a few weeks standing between us and January 20, when United States President-elect Donald Trump becomes ‘President Trump’. But many are still clinging onto some hope, however desperate, that this period of time, albeit rather short, will bring about a sea change. One of these persisting hopes is that […]
What Should Palestinians Expect – Can Trump Be Any Worse?
By Ramzy Baroud Fear and trepidation are slowly building up, as US President-elect, Donald Trump, is fortifying his transitional team with people capable of bringing about a nightmare scenario, not only for Americans but for the rest of the world, as well. For Palestinians, however, the signs are even more ominous. From former New York […]
Israel Cannot Silence Prayer Calls
By Ramzy Baroud In a succession of events that indicated major coordination between various Israeli government offices, Jewish settler groups and the municipality of Jerusalem, Israel recently moved to outlaw the Muslim call for prayer, first in Jerusalem, then in other Arab areas inside Israel. This move was clearly aimed at literally and figuratively silencing […]
Praying for Freedom: Why Is Israel Silencing the Call for Prayer in Jerusalem?
By Ramzy Baroud As I was growing up, I was always reassured by the sound of the ‘Muadhin’ making the call for prayer in our refugee camp’s main mosque in Gaza. Whenever I heard the call very early in the morning, announcing in a melodic voice that the time for the ‘Fajr’ (dawn) prayer was […]
The Infamy of the Palestinian Elites: An Imminent Split within Fatah?
By Ramzy Baroud The Fatah movement is involved in a massive tug-of-war that will ultimately define its future. Though the conflict is between current Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and once Gaza strongman Mohammed Dahlan is in no way motivated by ending the Israeli occupation, their war will likely determine the future political landscape of […]
Ramzy Baroud in Aljazeera: How Britain Destroyed the Palestinian Homeland
Ninety-nine years since Balfour’s “promise”, Palestinians insist that their rights in Palestine cannot be dismissed. By Ramzy Baroud When I was a child growing up in a Gaza refugee camp, I looked forward to November 2. On that day, every year, thousands of students and camp residents would descend upon the main square of the […]
Why Palestinians Want to Sue Britain
By Ramzy Baroud Last July, the Palestinian Authority took the unexpected, although belated step of seeking Arab backing in suing Britain over the Balfour Declaration. That “declaration” was the first ever explicit commitment made by Britain, and the West in general, to establish a Jewish homeland atop an existing Palestinian homeland. It is too early […]
UNESCO. Ramzy Baroud: Gerusalemme Est è occupata illegalmente
Chissà se, prima di lasciarsi andare a un immotivato accesso di rabbia, il Presidente del Consiglio Italiano Matteo Renzi avrà letto il testo integrale della risoluzione UNESCO su Palestina e Israele? E’ questa la domanda dell’analista Ramzy Baroud di Ramzy Baroud* Roma, 27 ottobre 2016, Nena News – Chissà se, prima di lasciarsi andare a […]
Palestina. Divide et impera: le divisioni che uccidono la speranza di libertà
“Non ci sarà mai una Palestina libera se prima i palestinesi non libereranno se stessi dalla repressione delle divisioni e del fazionalismo”: il punto di vista dell’analista palestinese Ramzy Baroud sulle ultime elezioni locali (rimandate). Mentre i palestinesi nei Territori occupati si preparano per le elezioni locali, previste per ottobre, le divisioni e il “fazionalismo” […]
Jerusalem and Its Walls: UNESCO Refuses to Bow to Israeli Pressure
By Ramzy Baroud Despite all the threats and political grandstanding, Unesco’s World Heritage Committee has approved, on October 26, a new resolution that reaffirms the status of occupied Jerusalem’s Old City on the list of endangered world heritage sites. The approval of the resolution, entitled ‘Old City of Jerusalem and Its Walls’ comes only days […]
The War on UNESCO: Al-Aqsa Mosque is Palestinian and East Jerusalem is Illegally Occupied
By Ramzy Baroud Did Italian Prime Minister, Matteo Renzi, actually read the full text of the UNESCO resolution on Palestine and Israel, before he raved with anger? “I think this is a mistaken, inconceivable resolution,” he said. “It is not possible to continue with these resolutions at the UN and UNESCO that aim to attack […]
The Convoluted Discourse: Was The Women’s Boat to Gaza an Existential Threat?
By Ramzy Baroud The Israeli official narrative regarding its conflict with the Palestinians is deliberately confounded because a muddled up discourse is a convenient one. It allows the narrator to pick and choose half-truths at will, in order to create a falsified version of reality. For instance, this is part of what Israeli Prime Minister […]
Shimon Peres, An Israeli Brand without Substance
By Ramzy Baroud Former Israeli Prime Minister and President, Shimon Peres, was a very successful brand. He was presented to the world as stately, wise, a relentless advocate of peace, and a sane voice amidst a conflict deemed senseless and unending. Now that he is dead at 93, international media are rife with touching tributes […]
Ban Ki-moon’s Legacy in Palestine: Failure in Words and Deeds
By Ramzy Baroud Ban Ki-moon’s second term as UN secretary-general is ending this December, he was the most ideal man for the job as far as the United States and its allies are concerned. Of course, there will always be other Ban Ki-moons. In fact, the man himself was a modified version of his predecessor, […]
The Native American, the Palestinian: A Spirited Fight for Justice
By Ramzy Baroud Thousands of Native Americans resurrected the fighting spirit of their forefathers as they stood in unprecedented unity to contest an oil company’s desecration of their sacred land in North Dakota. Considering its burdened historical context, this has been one of the most moving events in recent memory. The standoff, involving 5,000-strong Native […]
Is Israel Pushing for a Palestinian Civil War?
By Ramzy Baroud Division within Palestinian society has reached unprecedented levels, becoming a major hurdle on the path of any unified strategy to end Israel’s violent occupation or to rally Palestinians behind a single objective. Newly-appointed Israeli ultra-nationalist Defence Minister Avigdor Lieberman understands this too well. His tactic since his ascension to office last May is centered […]
Lieberman’s War on Everything Palestinian – and Why He Will Fail
By Ramzy Baroud Division within Palestinian society has reached unprecedented levels, becoming a major hurdle in the path of any unified strategy to end Israel’s violent occupation, or to rally Palestinians behind a single objective. Newly-appointed Israeli ultranationalist Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman understands this too well. His tactic since his ascension to office last May […]
Punishing the Messenger: Israel’s War on NGOs Takes a Worrying Turn
By Ramzy Baroud “You deserve to see your loved ones suffer and die. But, maybe, you would be hurt before them,” was part of a threatening message received by a staff member at ‘Al-Mezan’, a Gaza-based human rights group. The photo attached to the email was of the exterior of the activist’s home. The gist […]
Libya’s ‘Operation Odyssey Lightning’ – The Obama Doctrine is Ravaging the Middle East
By Ramzy Baroud Everyone seems to have a theory on how to obliterate ISIS, or ‘Daesh’. However, two points are rarely raised: one, concerning the origins of the group and the second, on whether there are genuine intentions to defeat it, in the first place. We must boldly address the first to unravel the enigma […]
Divide and Rule: How Factionalism in Palestine is Killing Prospects for Freedom
By Ramzy Baroud As Palestinians in the Occupied Territories begin preparations for local elections which are scheduled for October, division and factionalism are rearing their ugly head. Palestinian political platforms and social media are abuzz with self-defeating propaganda: Fatah supporters attacking Hamas’ alleged failures, and Hamas’ supporters doing the same. What is conveniently overlooked by […]
Of Hajah Zainab – Is Palestine still the central issue for Arabs?
By Ramzy Baroud Palestine is increasingly absent from Arab consciousness, at least at the official and media levels. For years, the discussion has veered elsewhere, to other regions and various other concerns, as Arab regional alliances are no longer driven by the ‘question of Palestine.’ Whether one blames that neglect on the so-called Arab Spring, […]
Farewell to Yarmouk: A Palestinian Refugee’s Journey from Izmir to Greece
By Ramzy Baroud (Based on interviews with Palestinian refugees from Syria.) The refugee camp of Yarmouk was ever present in his being, pulling him in and out of an abyss of persistent fears that urged him to never return. But what was this refugee without Yarmouk, his first haven, his last earth? How could any […]
People above Politics: Political Deal will not Hamper the Turkish-Palestinian Bond
By Ramzy Baroud Hyped emotions, and political opportunism aside, the Israel-Turkey normalization deal, signed on June 27 is unfavorable for Palestinians – and for Gazans, in particular. There is much that is being said to blame Turkey or placate the damage of seeing Turkey – which has for years been one of the most visible […]
Ramzy Baroud: Thanks, Turkey – but it’s freedom, not charity, that Gaza seeks (ALJAZEERA)
When Israeli commandos violently raided the Freedom Flotilla in May 2010, something extraordinary happened in Gaza: a deep sense of loss, but also pride. It was the first time that this generation experienced real solidarity emanating from a Muslim country, exhibited with such resolution and willingness to sacrifice. Many Palestinians had finally renewed their faith, […]
Will Brexit Help the Palestinian Cause in the EU?
By Ramzy Baroud After months of anticipation, the United Kingdom has decided to leave the European Union (EU). Although, the results were fairly close – 51.9% voted to ‘Leave’ vs. 48.1% elected to ‘Remain’ – the consequences of the decision will be far-reaching. Not only will the Brits negotiate their exit from the EU (thus, […]
