Ali Abunimah on electronic journalism and Palestine

Ali Abuminah asserted that there is often a lack of context in most reporting of Israel- Palestinian conflict. For example, major news agencies tend to become less personal when reporting Palestinian casualties while Israelis harmed in the cross fire are often reported as helpless victims.

At the public forum ‘Electronic journalism on the path to peace with justice in Palestine’, which was held at the UTS building on 13 May, the writer and commentator of Middle Eastern affairs, also traced the origins and development of the website he co-founded, Electronic Intifada. Today, the website received, on average, 2,500 - 5000 hits on a daily basis and has grown from mainly reporting against unfair media news on Palestinian issues to include a more comprehensive coverage that includes investigative stories and contemporary analysis.

During the lecture, he also dismissed the myths that are associated with the Palestinian struggle for independence. The Palestinian’s struggle for peace, he argued, has been unfairly portrayed by the media and mainstream politicians, as part of the global Islamic jihad; and which Bush, has declared, as part of the ‘war against terror’.

During the question and answer session, Ali also answered questions about his new book, ‘One Country: A bold proposal to end the Israeli- Palestinian Impasse’. He opined that a one-state solution is the only possible solution to the current conflict and that it is impossible to divide Israel and the Occupied Territories as this would only lead to more coercive population transfers. While the Israel lobby is financially powerful and wields considerable influence in the corridors of power in Washington, he argued that independent journalism is still crucial to reach the masses and change opinions. Israel has tried to curb such objective reporting by denying independent journalists their work visas or pressurising major news agency journalists to ‘toe the line’.

Marking the 200th post…

To commemorate having reached the 200th mark, we have compiled a list of our 20 most favourite posts (not in any order) which you should read (if you haven’t).

1. Nakba Day, 15 May - this post was made last year to remind us of the continuing sufferings of the Palestinians in the Occupied Territories. While Israel will be celebrating its 60th anniversary this year, Gazans continue to live under the shadow of the economic blockade…

2. Situation in Darfur worsened for second half of 2007 - Given that the situation in Darfur has yet to improve, we should pay special attention to the humanitarian crisis in the region.

3. Failure of US- Iraq Invasion - two recommended books on current American’s foreign policy. Bob Woodward’s State of Denial provides an insight on the Bush Administration while Patrick Cockburn’s The Occupation details the failure of the Iraqi invasion at ground zero.

4. I think you should have a speedy Gonzales departure! - Torture American style and its Australian detainee, David Hicks…

5. May Day Rallies around the World in 2007 - Workers around the world celebrate May Day…

6. Suu Kyi “cannot stop her calls for sanctions” - a posting on the Burma uprising last year and why the Nobel Peace Prize Laureate is caught between a rock and a hard place. To date, the military regime continues to adopt a ‘close- door’ policy against international organisations. This is despite the current humanitarian crisis which is causing thousands of deaths.

7. Liberal Upbringing = Happy Children - an earlier post on why a liberal atmosphere might be conducive to bringing up happy kids.

8. Americans want change… so does the world… - Given the American Presidential elections are coming in a few month’s time, this post reveals how Americans yearn for change. Who would the Americans vote for? Will there be any differences in American’s foreign policy if a Democrat were to be voted into office?

9. Dennis Kucinich - The Most Progressive Democratic Presidential Candidate - America loses a potential president who could possibly made a difference.

10. Time to boycott the China Olympics - The idea of a boycott has been raised by fringe groups. Should sports have a priority over human rights? Given that China has steadfastedly refuse to improve its human rights record, what can human rights organisations do?

11. Repealing Death Penalty is not imposing post-colonial will - Asian autocrats claim that the death penalty is congruent with its Confucian values. This posting exposes the oft-repeated myth.

12. How Asians Commemorate Human Rights Day 2007 - The peoples of Asia desire and fight for human rights and democracy too.

13. Law Society, Mas Selemat and the ISA - The escape of Mas Selemat, a detainee who was arrested under the Internal Security Act (ISA) in Singapore, opens up a window of debate for the repeal of the legislation. The ISA is a piece of draconian legislation in Singapore and Malaysia which allows detention without trial.

14. The relationship between Human Rights and Democracy - Democracy is not just about conducting periodic elections. Human Rights Watch exposes this misconception and the West’s implicit endorsement of authoritarian regimes.

15. More by Tariq Ali - Excerpts and Links - Tariq Ali remains one of the generation’s most vocal and sharpest critics against Western hypocrisy especially with regards to Pakistan and Palestinian issues.

16. War on Democracy reveals sinister US administration - Watch ‘War on Democracy’, award- winning journalist, John Pilger’s first made for movie documentary which documents the US administration’s history in undermining Latin America’s democracy.

17. Panel agrees Howard government has managed to silence dissent in Australia - Howard might be gone but the damage he has done could outlast his legacy. This is an event review of a forum whereby politicians, academics and media commentators criticizes his government for censoring free speech.

18. Taiwan commemorates 20th anniversary lifting of martial law - Taiwan has become a member of the democratic club with a successful and mainly peaceful transition. Yet, it has been rejected by the UN as a qualifying member state. As Allison Hsieh who was quoted in this posting remarked, “Western countries that claim to support democracy and freedom must be much more assertive in their support for Taiwan’s right to self-determination…”

19. Amnesty (for) American Abductions - The current neo-conservative American Administration conducts illegal abductions under the banner of ‘war on terror’…

20. Sorry - The Australian government has apologised to the Indigenious community for its Stolen Generations policy but stops short of monetary compensation. This is in tune with the advancement of indigenious rights which has recently been recognised on the UN level when the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples was adopted by the General Assembly September last year.

May Day Rally 2008 @ Darling Harbour

This is the blog’s 200th post and also the first online video that we have produced.

This clip is a recording of the protest against the Labor State government for privatising electricity in New South Wales (NSW). Held on 3 May 2008 outside the Darling Harbour Convention Centre, the speakers of the rally included politicians such as John Kayes of the Greens who is a Member of the Legislative Council (MLC).

Earlier this year in February, about 12,000 people are reported to have protested outside the State Parliament House against the state’s decision to do so (ABC news, 2008). Despite being voted against the sell-off of 702 to 107, NSW Morris Iemma has went ahead with his plans (Carty, L 2008). Treasurer Michael Costa is also at the centre of the storm of controversy for convincing ‘Iemma that privatising power is the way to go’ (Sydney Morning Herald, 2008).

The Greens have criticized against this privatization effort because private power can contribute to global warming, cause lost of jobs due to restructuring and increase costs of electricity to consumers (Kaye, J 2008).

- Works Cited -

1. ‘Thousands protest outside NSW Parliament’, ABC News, 26 February 2008, accessed 10 May 2008.

2. Carty, L 2008, ‘Lights out for Labor faithful in power debate’, Sydney Morning Herald, 4 May, accessed 10 May 2008.

3. ‘Iemma loses privatization vote’, Sydney Morning Herald, 3 May 2008, accessed 10 May 2008.

4. Kaye, J 2008, Background to Electricity Privatisation, John Kaye’s MLC homepage, accessed 10 May 2008.