How Holocaust survivor Yevgeny Bistrizky ended up on Israel’s streets

More than 50,000 Holocaust survivors live below the poverty line in Israel. Mr Bistrizky’s is the only known case of a survivor who became homeless.

The Latet organisation, which provides aid to the needy, discovered him after concerned residents contacted the group. They were astonished to learn that he had been living in the dog park for eight months, cleaning himself with a garden hose inside the rubbish room of a building, and hoping that the faeces-littered park would deter people from trying to attack him in his sleep.

For full article, visit http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/middle_east/article6821008.ece

Palestinian woman collapses as Israeli soldiers attempted to strip-search her

A Palestinian woman was to the Hebron Governmental Hospital, in the southern West Bank city of Hebron, on Friday after she collapsed when Israeli soldiers attempted to strip-search her.

The woman was identified as Wisal Al Rajabi, 35. She was hospitalized after suffering a nervous breakdown, when the soldiers took her to a tent in order to strip search her.

The incident took place at the entrance of the Ibrahimi Mosque (The Cave of the Patriarchs) in Hebron. 

For full article, visit http://www.imemc.org/article/61582

Ilan Pappe: A big thank you

Today was a unique day in the history of media coverage and discussion in Israel. All the electronic agencies, radio and television alike, discussed the occupation and the oppression of the Palestinians and more importantly, the possible price tag attached to it. It lasted only for 12 hours and tomorrow the obedient Israeli media will return to parrot the governmental new message to the masses that the “conflict” has ended and is about to be solved. On the one hand, you already have happy-go-lucky Palestinians in the West Bank (see the latest reports by Thomas Friedman in The New York Times and Ari Shavit in Haaretz). And on the other, alas, those who opted out from the blissful new reality: the oppressed Palestinians who still live under Hamas’ dictatorship in the Gaza Strip.

For full article, visit http://electronicintifada.net/v2/article10752.shtml

Swedish FM cancels Israel trip amid tensions between nations

Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt has cancelled a planned trip to Israel this Friday, against the background of Israeli anger at the Swedish government’s refusal to condemn an article in a Swedish newspaper accusing IDF soldiers of killing Palestinians and harvesting their organs.

For full article, visit http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull&cid=1251804496582

Jonathan Cook: Accountability and the organ theft controversy

Given the facts that are known, there must be at least a very strong suspicion that Hiss removed organs without authorization from some Palestinians he autopsied. Both this issue, and the army’s possible role in supplying him with corpses, needs investigation.

Hiss is also implicated in another long-running and unresolved scandal from Israel’s early years, in the 1950s, when the children of recent Jewish immigrants to Israel from Yemen were adopted by Ashkenazi couples after the Yeminite parents had been told that their child had died, usually after admission to hospital.

For full article, visit http://electronicintifada.net/v2/article10753.shtml

Settlers uproot olive groves near Ramallah

Local sources reported that fundamental Israeli settlers of the Neve Yarden illegal settlement outpost, uprooted on Friday olive groves that belong to residents of Al Mghayyir Palestinian village, near the central West Bank city of Ramallah.

The settlers carried their attack out while Israeli soldiers just stood idle and watched them, the sources added.

Several Palestinian residents tried to stop the settlers but the army intercepted them, and barred them from protecting their orchards. 

Clashes were reported as a number of Palestinians hurled stones at the army who protected the settlers instead of removing them out of the Palestinian orchards. 

Source: http://www.imemc.org/article/61584

“Terrorist” targets popular at West Bank gun range

“The most shocking part was when they had us shout ‘terrorist’ before getting into shooting position,” he said.

He enjoyed the course and felt it was safe but morally questionable. “It could indoctrinate children with racist beliefs. It was sad to hear young kids express such racism. It makes the likelihood or reaching a peaceful settlement to the (Middle East) crisis seem more difficult.” In the group before his, James said, excited children shouted to their parents about being able to “shoot the Arabs.”

For full article, visit http://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSTRE57K1BC20090821?rpc=60

Robert Fisk’s World: Lessons in justice and fairness from a no-nonsense historian

But to Avi. He recalls arguing with the late Edward Said – and there is a titanic voice to be ever missed, irreplaceable is the only word – over the Oslo agreement. Here is what Avi writes: “In the years since 1993, I have often asked myself: who was right and who was wrong? When things were going well, when progress was being made, when Oslo II was signed, for example, I thought that I was right and that Edward was wrong.

For full article, visit http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/fisk/robert-fiskrsquos-world-lessons-in-justice-and-fairness-from-a-nononsense-historian-1760726.html

Settlers attack Palestinian homes in Hebron

A group of fundamental Israeli settlers attacked on Friday evening a number of Palestinian homes in Tal Romedia neighborhood, in the southern West bank city of Hebron.

For full article, visit http://www.imemc.org/article/61587

Qassam fighter killed in Gaza

The Al Qassam brigades, the armed wing of Hamas movement, reported Saturday that one of its fighters was killed in what it called a jihad mission in Gaza City.

The fighter, Sameh Al Beitar, was killed in Al Sabra neighborhood.

The Brigades did not reveal information on how the fighter was killed and what type of mission he was conducting.

The Israeli army appears to have no relation to the incident.

For full article, visit http://www.imemc.org/article/61588