A Palestinian/Canadian refugee maps his lifelong struggle to return to Palestine

Salman-Abu-Sitta

Salman Abu Sitta was ten years old when his Palestinian village was overrun by Zionist forces and his family forced to take refuge in Gaza. His life in exile took him to many countries, including Canada where he became a citizen, taught at UWO and even helped found the Canadian Arab Federation. But he never gave up thinking about and planning for the day when he and his family would return to the land from which he was expelled. A new memoir sheds light on the drama of his expulsion, and the struggle to regain justice for Palestinian refugees. Read more. (more…)

Israel lobby launches fierce attack on CBC’s Michael Enright over Erakat interview

CBC journalist Michael Enright’s 30 minute interview on November 10th with Palestinian/American lawyer, author and human rights activist Noura Erakat has incensed the pro-Israel lobby group “Honest Reporting Canada”. They have complained to the CBC and to its ombudsman that the segment was “biased” and full of “anti-Israel and anti-Zionist” invective. Why are they attacking Enright, who defends the idea of a “Jewish State”? What is it that has so upset them? Read more.

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“There is no political split in Israel, they are all right of centre”, Israeli scholar tells Ottawa U group

cips panel

Michael Koplow, (centre) of the Israel Policy Forum, had some shocking words about Israel for a group of students and professors at the University of Ottawa on October 24th. Other panelists included Professors Costanza Musu (l) and Peter Jones (r). The event was organized by the UofO’s Centre for International Policy Studies (CIPS) and was sponsored by the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA). Read more. (more…)

Famed Canadian-Israeli architect appalled at plans to “Disneyfy” Jerusalem with proposed cable-car

cable car jerusalem

“A total outrage against a fragile city,” says Haifa-born architect Moshe Safdie, of a proposed cable-car for Jerusalem.  The cable car project is promoted by Israeli settler groups who want to reinforce the Jewish presence in East Jerusalem. It would allow visitors to visit Jewish sites without encountering Arabs. It has faced opposition not only from Palestinians whose neighbourhoods will be defaced, but also from many Jews both inside and outside Israel. Read more. (more…)