UK – Features

Zapiro cartoon…Is it about Prophets or Profits?

By David Bullard

(source: www.newstime.co.za)

The late Steve Irwin, better known as the Crocodile Hunter, made his name and a very good living from taking chances with dangerous animals. His favourite trick would be to get near the snapping jaws of a crocodile while the camera was rolling. His fame spread and he decided to get close to other dangerous animals until he met his untimely end by swimming underwater with a dangerous ray.

Since then virtually every programme on National Geographic or Animal Planet features some whacko getting close to dangerous animals for our pleasure and amusement. Steve Irwin upped the game and these days no television network would pay for a documentary on the life of lions, however well filmed, unless there was some obvious danger to the presenter.

Read More »Mixed grill

No one has the right to Murder

Yusuf Abramjee 

 Anger and emotion is running high following the death of hundreds of Palestinians and the injuring of many more. Israel started a series of air strikes on Gaza more than a week ago and a ground invasion got underway at the weekend. This is in response to rocket attacks from Hamas.

 The majority of those killed by Israel are civilians – men, women and children. Locally, anger is also running high and we have seen a number of protest.

Read More »No one has the right to murder

PRESS RELEASE: Rhodes Vice-Chancellor Adds Weight to Ending UJ-Israel link

Issued By Dasantha Pillay on Behalf of the UJ – Petition Coordination Committee

Disseminated By Media Review Network

Today, amidst growing international attention, the Vice-Chancellor of Rhodes University, Professor Saleem Badat, became signatory to the nationwide academic petition supported by more than 200 of South Africa’s most prominent academics, including Breyten Breytenbach, Antjie Krog and John Dugard (www.ujpetition.com).

Badat is the third Vice-Chancellor who has signed the petition, joining the VC of UNISA, Professor Barney Pityana, and the former Vice Chancellor of Durban University Technology, Prof Dan Ncayiyana, in calling for the termination of an agreement between Ben-Gurion University and the University of Johannesburg (on the grounds of BGU’s direct and indirect support for the Israeli military and occupation). Also announced this morning are two of the most recent significant signatories, Professor of Economics, Sampie Terblanche and Professor Rashida Manjoo, UN Special Rapporteur on Violence against Women.

In response to increasing pressure from the academic community and an open letter of support by Desmond Tutu (http://www.timeslive.co.za/world/article675369.ece/Israeli-ties–a-chance-to-do-the-right-thing), it was reported in the Israeli press that BGU’s leadership have come out as “deeply disturbed” by recent developments in Johannesburg. 

Tomorrow, 29 September 2010, UJ’s Senate will meet at its Soweto campus, where one of the most pressing issues to be decided will be whether to terminate its partnership agreement with Israel’s Ben-Gurion University (BGU.

The outcome of UJ Senate’s decision will be announced tomorrow afternoon and representatives can be contacted on the day to give interviews and comment on the decision.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:

Professor Farid Esack: 083 459 9989; fesack@uj.ac.za

Natasha Vally:  082 660 0723; natasha.vally@gmail.com

Muhammed Desai: 084 211 9988; mdesai.work@gmail.com

www.ujpetition.com

Read More »Rhodes vice chancellor adds weight to ending uj Isarael link

Palestinian and Israeli Human Rights Organisations call for End to International Donor Complicity in Israeli Violations of International Law

JOINT PRESS RELEASE
REF.: 18.2009E
5 May 2009

On 2 March 2009, major international donors convened in Sharm al-Sheikh to collectively respond to the destruction caused by Israel ’s 23 day military offensive on the Gaza Strip (the offensive). During the conference, a total of $4.5 billion was pledged in reconstruction funds for Gaza . In light of the extensive destruction across the Gaza Strip, especially the destruction of civilian homes and infrastructure, reconstruction is urgent.

However, as Palestinian and Israeli human rights organisations, we must note that by agreeing to reconstruction without specific, binding assurances from the State of Israel, international donors are effectively underwriting Israel ’s illegal actions in the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt). International law – including, international human rights law, international humanitarian law (IHL), and the law of state responsibility for wrongful acts – places specific, binding obligations on the State of Israel (based, inter alia, on its duties as an Occupying Power) with respect to the maintenance and development of normal life in occupied territory. By repeatedly restricting their action to providing aid, without holding Israel accountable for its specific obligations, international donors are relieving Israel of its legally binding responsibilities.

Aid must be accompanied by strict assurances that are effectively monitored: Israel must not be allowed to act with impunity. The State of Israel must accept responsibility for its actions, and fulfil all of its legal obligations. By repeatedly covering the cost of the occupation, without insisting that Israel comply with international law, the international community is implicitly encouraging violations of international law – including grave breaches of the Geneva Conventions and war crimes – perpetrated by Israeli forces in the oPt. As High Contracting Parties to the Geneva Conventions of 1949, individual donor States may be in violation of their legally binding obligation “to ensure respect” for the Convention “in all circumstances.” While the international community turns a blind eye and pays the cost of the occupation, Israel is encouraged to continue acting outside the limits of international law.

Read More »Palestinian and Isaraeli human rights organisations call for end to international donor complicity in