http://www.bruisedearth.org focused on the occupation Sun, 12 Apr 2009 09:09:49 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en Over the past several weeks, the rumblings from the new Foreign Minister of Israel, the right-wing idealogist Avigdor Lieberman, has met with predictable and justified derision from Palestinians and Westerners alike who see the aftermath of the new ruling-right coalition spelling almost certain disaster to any prospects of a two-state ... http://www.bruisedearth.org/?p=390 It is difficult to avoid obvious cliches when contemplating recent actions taken by the Israeli police on Saturday to silence a small crowd of Palestinians in East Jerusalem from celebrating the city's new designation as 'capital of Arab culture' for 2009.  According to Al Jazeera, about 20 Palestinians in occupied East ... http://www.bruisedearth.org/?p=385 As reported in yesterday's Al Jazeera, President Barack Obama's selection for the Head of the US National Intelligence Council, Charles "Chas" Freeman, has resigned from his appointment accusing the Israel Lobby in the United States of plumbing "the depths of dishonour and indecency" in its all-out character assassination campaign launched ... http://www.bruisedearth.org/?p=378 Prime Minister-designate Benyamin Netanyahu, while experiencing a difficult path to his future leadership in a series of failed coalition talks with the likes of Kadima and Labour, has revealed a glimpse into his future policy this past weekend by warning the International Aid community that no money or aid will ... http://www.bruisedearth.org/?p=371 Looking through the latest news reports from Israel this morning, I am reminded of a few lines from Samuel Beckett's Waiting for Godot that seem especially poignant. In the opening scene of Beckett's most famous play the two protagonists, Vladimir and Estragon, appear lost, mercurial and wholly unaware of their ... http://www.bruisedearth.org/?p=366 With roughly 48 hours to go until President Shimon Peres formally selects either Kadima Party leader Tzipi Livni or Likud head Benjamin Netanyahu to form a coalition government, the Knesset 'horse-trading' is well underway, with both parties working hard to secure the support of perhaps the election's biggest winner, Israel ... http://www.bruisedearth.org/?p=342 It is a pity Forrest Gump was never asked to elaborate on his views of Israeli politics. Had Robert Zemeckis added that dimension to his 1994 pseudo-epic, we might have been treated to yet another analogy featuring the now famous 'box of chocolates'. Indeed when it comes to Israeli politics and its ... http://www.bruisedearth.org/?p=335 As the world prepares for the outcome of tomorrow's crucial parliamentary elections in Israel, most experts remain divided on its likely outcome. While the spotlight has predominantly focused on the next Prime Minister -  with headlines shifting the momentum between Tzipi Livni's Kadima Party and Benyamin Netanyahu's Likud, little has ... http://www.bruisedearth.org/?p=329 On Monday Defense Minister Ehud Barak reassured the Israeli public that Operation ‘Cast Lead’ had been successful in curbing Hamas rocket attacks and dealing a fatal blow to the belligerent regime that continues to stand in defiance of both Israeli and PLO governments. Speaking on Israeli Army Radio, Barak hinted ... http://www.bruisedearth.org/?p=325 Now that we have reached the month 'anniversary' of the bloodshed in Gaza, let us review the political implications of the now (failed) attempt of Israel to depose Hamas in the disputed region. Not only has the death count exceeded 1,200 Palestinians (an enormous percentage of which have been confirmed ... http://www.bruisedearth.org/?p=316