Stuart Hanlon, attorney for Herman Bell, writes to the SF Chronicle regarding its 24 May 2009 publication of “Idealist’s slaying in ’71 still haunts today” by John Koopman:

I am one of the attorneys for the seven former Black Panthers charged with the 1971 murder of a S.F. police officer. Your article “Idealist Slaying Still Haunts Today,” not only is misleading , but contains outright lies and is based on nothing but the speculation of your writer or others who know nothing about this case

We have received hundred of thousands of pages of evidence and there is no evidence whatsoever that links this young woman to the killing of Sgt Young, or her killing to those seven men facing charges, or the Black Panther Party or any other organization connected in any way to the case. Yet your article says she was likely involved and that the seven men facing charges are responsible for her death.

Read Hanlon’s complete letter and others / Free the San Francisco 8!

Slava Youssim
againstwall
25 May 2009

PLEASE CIRCULATE THE MESSAGE WIDELY!

Following our joint efforts, an article with some information about the Al Khatib family was published on the Ynet, one of the most popular in Israel internet newspapers. Please read my reservations below!

DESPITE THIS FACT, YOUR IMMEDIATE CONTRIBUTION IS STILL CRUCIAL TO PROVIDE THE AL KHATIB FAMILY WITH URGENTLY NEEDED MEDICAL AND HUMANITARIAN AID! On the second week of June we plan a huge joint humanitarian mission in the vicinity of the family’s home: planting olive trees, etc. Please come to help us and document the event!!!

Unfortunately (and although I appreciate very much Anat Shalev’s efforts!), the article is written in a too restrained tone vis-à-vis the gravity of humanitarian sufferings the family is subject to Therefore, I should make a few reservations:

Continue reading →

By Josh Ruebner, The Detroit Free Press, 22 May 2009

This article was originally published by The Detroit Free Press and is republished with permission.

In pledging to trim ineffective spending, President Obama declared that “there will be no sacred cows and no pet projects. All across America, families are making hard choices, and it’s time their government did the same.”

By asking earlier this month for $2.775 billion in military aid to Israel in his FY2010 budget request, it would seem that on this important policy issue President Obama’s commitment is more rhetorical than substantive. Since 1949, according to the Congressional Research Service, the United States has provided to Israel more than $100 billion in military and economic assistance. In 2007, the United States and Israel signed an agreement for $30 billion in additional military aid through FY2018.

Continue reading →

Eva Bartlett, The Electronic Intifada, 22 May 2009

On the morning of 4 May 2009, Israeli troops set fire to Palestinian crops along Gaza’s eastern border with Israel. The Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR) reported that 200,000 square meters of crops were destroyed, including wheat and barley ready for harvest, as well as vegetables, olive and pomegranate trees.

Local farmers report that the blaze carried over a four-kilometer stretch on the Palestinian side of the eastern border land. Ibrahim Hassan Safadi, 49, from one of the farming families whose crops were destroyed by the blaze, said that the fires were smoldering until early evening, despite efforts by the fire brigades to extinguish them.

[Read the report]

According to the UN, Israel destroyed 3,500 homes in the Gaza Strip during Operation Cast Lead. Some of the displaced persons now live in tents, in harsh conditions. Participants in B’Tselem’s video project documented life in one encampment.

Length: 03:34 mins

Filmed by Rif’at Hamdiya & Nidal Yasin

Edited by Fadi a l -Ghorah

video link / hat tip