This week, March 28th-April 3rd, the website buzzes with activity (other people’s). Tair Kaminer, the young Israeli CO (conscientious objector) has been released after serving 20 days in prison – but is subject to prison recall throughout her years of eligibility for military service: Defiant CO goes to gaol Palestinian women however have become more […]

In the view of the Jewish Chronicle Britain has ‘a Jewish community’ which is pretty much of one mind. Green mayoral candidate Sian Berry is not what that mind wants (she’s for smart boycotts of Israeli products, against faith schools…) London’s mayoral and assembly elections and the Welsh, N. Irish and Scottish parliament elections are on 5 May 2016.

Hebron and Tel Rumeida have been sliced into sections by Israeli security, designated a closed military zone with the twin aims of protecting settlers and ensuring total control by armed forces. Here, at a checkpoint, a soldier casually shoots dead a wounded Palestinian. He never imagined there would be a fuss about it.

Alon Ben-David sees a new generation of Palestinians and of Israeli Jews who have no respect for political or parental authority. Although the Pew survey found that most placed themselves at the centre of politics there is no sign that the youth are going to follow their parents.

A hallmark of Israel was that all its citizens willingly did a period of military service – an idealised citizen army. In fact many Israelis do not want to police Palestinians – the main job of the IDF. Conscientious objector (CO) Tair Kaminer gained publicity because she had the extra courage to denounce the role of the IDF in Palestine.

Analysts have stopped arguing over whether this is the Third Intifada. There is no mass movement but many young Palestinians are ready to use violence in the name of liberation, and they have been joined by many women.

Gush Shalom has started a website, Settlement Products Wiki. On one page it lists the companies that have decided profits from their plants in a settlement are not worth costs of reputation and getting its workforce through checkpoints. Then there are the firms that finagle their location. Akiva Eldar on Israel’s loss of standing.

For the fourth year running, thousands of people took part in the Palestine marathon, starting from Bethlehem. All names had to be submitted to COGAT and the 103 applicants from Gaza were barred because their application arrived ‘late’. Israeli bureaucracy installs as many blocks to freedom as do its barriers and checkpoints.

There is something quite remarkable about the Land Day commemoration on March 30. It involved all Palestinians, young and old, men and women, Hamas and Fatah, West Bank and Gaza, PNA officials and dissidents. Why does this day in particular draw everyone together, in peace?

Ynet did not invite any supporters of BDS to their Stop the Boycott conference on March 28th. They did invite ambassadors and they said, as diplomats always do, that if Israel ‘solves the Palestinian issue’, BDS will wither away.

Exactly how those who attended Yedioth Ahronoth’s BDS conference this week will ‘Stop BDS’ is unclear. Will they take up Israel Katz’s urging of targeted killings of BDS leaders asks Richard Silverstein. BDS is effective enough to kill for – and attract big names to the conference says +972.

It is unlikely that a loyal Israeli who has always opposed BDS by booking musicians to perform in Tel Aviv would invent a story about Elton John having to sign a loyalty oath, a demand that the Interior Ministry then dropped.

The most hated NGO in Israel is Breaking the Silence. Denunciation by Likud ministers is not working. Spies from the mysterious group Ad Kan have failed to find any evidence of malfeasance. The attacks probably reinforce the spirit of BtS.

Gentiles are allowed to live in Israel. But if the Chief Sephardic Rabbi, son of the previous Chief Sephardic Rabbi, had his way they would be expelled if they didn’t obey the Noahide laws (“If our hand were firm, if we had the power to rule, that’s what we should do”). Unfortunately, not having the power they will have to wait until the Messiah arrives.

On March 28 a conference was held in Jerusalem on “Stop the Boycott”. It was organised by Ynet/Yedioth Ahronoth (Latest News). It chose former comic actor Roseanne Barr as its chief speaker. Lars Faaborg-Andersen represented the EU despite appeals from European Jewish groups, including JfJfP, not to attend. Tzipi Livni was the most prominent speaker to say if the conflict was stopped BDS would be too.

We’re sorry to say that this week, March 21st-27th, 2016, Donald Trump has pushed his way – has been pushed – to the front. He is inescapable. The first to attack is Richard Silverstein who says there was not the promised mass walk-out when he spoke at AIPAC – although there was a noted walk-out […]

There was not the mass walk-out predicted or hoped-for. But there were lively protests and what was called the ‘If Not Now’ demonstration outside. Those cheering him on can form a bloc with the apocalyptic Christians. Trump is a Presbyterian, but pretty apocalyptic.

Some Jews did walk out, and protest outside, when Trump addressed the AIPAC conference. The large majority didn’t. They may have been excessively polite, they may not have wanted to put their attendance at this high profile event at risk. They may have agreed with him. Lisa Goldman sees a schism between them and Liberal Jews.

The stabbings by Palestinians of Israelis are illegal; if they kill the person, they are murder. The stabbers and those suspected of preparing to stab, are invariably shot dead on the street. Unless the shooter is in fear of his life, these killings are also murder and illegal. Here is a video of one such murder.

Mohammad Abu Sakha is a well-known and much-loved circus performer. He teaches his skills to children with learning difficulties. For no known reason he was arrested in December and has been held in administrative detention since then. There is a petition to sign.