Middle East
Lakhdar Brahimi recently chaired a panel discussion in London with two members of the Goldstone inquiry, Professor Christine Chinkin and Colonel Desmond Travers, a former member of Israel’s Knesset, Ami Ayalon, and Palestinian lawyer Karma Nabulsi. Here, he answers questions from the Elders’ team on some of the issues raised by the speakers and the audience. More »
February 19th saw a double celebration at the weekly protest that has become the hallmark of the popular struggle against the Wall and the settlements. More »
נרשמה עלייה מדאיגה במעצר פעילים המעורבים במחאה בלתי-אלימה נגד מכשול ההפרדה בין הגדה המערבית לישראל. מאז חודש מאי 2008 נעצרו 140 פעילים בנעלין ובילעין, שני כפרים שהגדר עוברת דרכם. רוב העצורים הם פלסטינים, אבל גם מפגינים ישראלים וזרים נתונים למעשי תגמול ישראליים. More »
شهدت عمليات الاعتقال في صفوف المحتجين المسالمين المعترضين على الجدار الفاصل بين الضفة الغربية وإسرائيل تزايدا مثيرا للقلق، فمنذ شهر مايو من عام 2008 تعرض أكثر من 140 ناشطًا للتوقيف في قريتي نعلين وبلعين اللتين يمر بهما الجدار، وجاءت جل تلك الاعتقالات في صفوف الفلسطينيين، لكن المتظاهرين من الإسرائيليين والأجانب تعرضوا كذلك للتنكيل من جانب السلطات الإسرائيلية. More »
There has been a troubling increase in the detention of those involved in peaceful protests against the separation barrier between the West Bank and Israel. Since May 2008, over 140 activists have been arrested in Ni'ilin and Bil’in, two villages through which the wall is built. Most of the detainees are Palestinians, but Israeli and foreign demonstrators have also been subjected to Israeli reprisals. More »
Immediately following the end of Operation Cast Lead in the Gaza Strip last year, Israeli Human Rights organisation B'Tselem gathered 15 young volunteers, mostly students starting their studies in communication or journalism, gave them video cameras, and asked them to document everyday life around them. More »
Words cannot describe what an honor and pleasure it was for me to accompany the Elders on their visit to Bil'in. More importantly, they had such an impact on the village and on the leaders of its brave non-violent movement to resist the occupation. More »
The Elders' view of the Middle East
A total freeze of settlement expansion is the key to any acceptable peace agreement or any positive responses toward Israel from Arab nations. A two-state solution is clearly preferable and has been embraced at the grass roots.
The Elders' chair, Desmond Tutu, calls for conviction of West Bank activist Abdallah Abu Rahmah to be overturned
Archbishop Desmond Tutu, chair of The Elders, has expressed his concern about the conviction of Palestinian activist Abdallah Abu Rahmah by an Israeli military court. Abu Rahmah was convicted for his involvement in non-violent protests against the separation barrier in the West Bank village of Bil'in.
The Elders condemn Israeli attack on Gaza relief ships
The Elders have condemned the reported killing by Israeli forces of more than a dozen people who were attempting to deliver relief supplies to the Gaza strip by sea. Meeting in Johannesburg, they repeated their call for an end to the blockade on Gaza, called for a full investigation of last night’s incident and urged the UN Security Council to debate the situation with a view to mandating action to end the closure of the Gaza Strip.