Quasi tre mesi dopo i fatti accaduti sulla Navi Marmara, sembrerebbe fallita ancora prima di iniziare anche l’avventura della Mariam, Flotilla libanese organizzata da un drappello di organizzazioni filo-palestinesi con l’intento di rompere il blocco navale israeliano e giungere al porto di Gaza per fornire prodotti alimentari e medicinali alla popolazione locale. La scorsa settimana la delegazione israeliana all’ONU si è lamentata direttamente con il Segretario Generale delle Nazioni Unite Ban Ki-moon per il disinteresse internazionale nei confronti della proliferazione del fenomeno delle ‘Freedom Flotillas’ ed in particolare della possibile imminente partenza di una Flotilla libanese diretta a Gaza.

For a few months now, Israeli public opinion has been divided on one of the most discussed issues in recent years—the future of 400 children that were born and bred in Israel and speak perfect Hebrew, but they are still not considered Israeli citizens. Over 6,000 people took to the streets of Tel Aviv on August 14 to protest against the Israeli government’s decision to deport 400 children of foreign workers. The march, organized by the NGO ‘Israeli Children’, saw the participation of many Israeli politicians from different political parties as well as families and children in danger of being expelled next month.

The first Friday prayers of the Muslim holy month ended uneventfully today. Although more than 90,000 Muslims participated in the religious event in the Old City of Jerusalem, the crowds dispersed as soon as the prayers were over. Since early this morning, Jerusalem has been witnessing intense religious activity. While Jews were preparing for Sabbath and Christians were praying the Friday prayers, the local Muslim community was woken up by sounds of calls to pray issued by several minarets and speakers all around the walled Jerusalem.

Just after the sun set and three stars appeared in the sky above the Holy Land, Ramadan began and many Muslims families started praying and reading the Koran in a festive atmosphere. Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar. It is the holiest month for Muslims as it`s when the first verse of the Koran was revealed to the Islamic Prophet Muhammad. During Ramadan, Muslims ask for forgiveness for past sins, pray for help in refraining from everyday evils and try to purify themselves by refraining from eating, drinking and practicing sexual activities from dawn until sunset.

Over a thousand people took to the streets of Tel Aviv last Friday Aug. 6 to protest against the evictions of Arab families from a predominantly Arab neighbourhood in East Jerusalem known as Sheikh Jarrah. Organised by Israelis representing the Sheikh Jarrah Solidarity Movement and representatives from Israeli leftist political parties and Palestinians residing in East Jerusalem, the march took place in big cities all over the country as well as in Tel Aviv, Haifa, Be’er Sheva and West Jerusalem. Students from universities all over joined the rally.

Lo scorso venerdì 6 Agosto le strade di Tel Aviv si sono colorate di rosso e verde ancora una volta. Le bandiere dei partiti e dei movimenti pacifisti e di sinistra hanno attraversato i grattacieli e le case in stile coloniale del centro di Tel Aviv. Questa volta per una manifestazione organizzata in protesta alla possibile espulsione di famiglie Arabe palestinesi dal quartiere di Sheikh Jarrah, a Gerusalemme Est. Organizzata da un gruppo di cittadini israeliani riuniti nel “Movimento di Solidarietà con Sheikh Jarrah”, e con l’appoggio di studenti, arabi-israeliani e partiti e movimenti israeliani di sinistra radicale, la marcia ha avuto luogo non solo a Tel Aviv, ma anche ad Haifa, Be’er Sheva e Gerusalemme Ovest.