Thank you, Mitt Romney!

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Written by James Zogby James Zogby

Published: 07 August 2012 07 August 2012

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Thank you, Mitt Romney!

With one factually wrong, decidedly insensitive, and patently biased comment, Republican presidential aspirant, Mitt Romney, did more to focus U.S. media attention on the impact of the Israeli occupation on the Palestinian economy than any other development in the past two decades.

Romney's observation that "culture makes all the difference", which he offered as his explanation for the disparities between the Israeli and Palestinian economies, was so remarkably out of touch with reality that it set off an unprecedented explosion of press commentary in the U.S. and Europe. In the two days that followed these remarks, the "Palestinian economy" received more than 6,700 mentions in the media. Most of the U.S.'s major daily newspapers featured articles, commentary, and even editorials taking issue with the Romney quote - highlighting repressive Israeli policies, and not an "inferior culture" as the reason for the poor performance of the Palestinian economy. Most made this point by including citations from the World Bank ("the government of Israel's security restrictions continue to stymie investment") and the C.I.A. World Factbook ("Israeli closure policies continue to disrupt labor and trade flows, industrial capacity, and basic commerce...[and] have res ulted in high unemployment, elevated poverty rates, and the near collapse of the private sector"). What is striking is that while these assessments were not new, it took Romney's remarks to bring them into the public discourse. In fact, when the most recent World Bank report was published just a few days earlier, it received scant attention. The only take away for many reporters was the Bank's comment that the Palestinian's were too dependent on foreign aid and that their "economy is currently not strong enough to support...a state" - a line latched onto by opponents of the Palestinian's bid for statehood.  

There is no doubt that there are huge disparities between the Israeli and Palestinian economies. In fact, they are significantly greater than Romney stated them to be. While he cited per capita GDP numbers giving Israel a two to one edge over the Palestinians, the World Bank says the gap is more like 10 to one (and according to other sources, it may even be double that). continue reading

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Washington Watch is a weekly column written by AAI President James Zogby, author of Arab Voices: What They Are Saying to Us, and Why it Matters, a book that brings into stark relief the myths, assumptions, and biases that hold us back from understanding the people of the Arab world.

The views expressed within this column do not necessarily reflect those of the Arab American Institute. We invite you to share your views on the topics addressed within Dr. Zogby's weekly Washington Watch by emailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Olympia food co-op defendants awarded $160,000

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Written by JEREMY PAWLOSKI JEREMY PAWLOSKI

Published: 12 July 2012 12 July 2012

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http://mondoweiss.net/2012/02/whos-who-behind-the-olympia-food-co-op-lawsuit-2.html


http://www.theolympian.com/2012/07/12/2171566/olympia-food-co-op-defendants.html

Olympia food co-op defendants awarded $160,000

A group of five Olympia Food Co-op members who had sued to overturn the store's boycott of Israeli goods must pay $160,000 in damages as a result of a judge's prior ruling that the lawsuit was an illegal "Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation," or SLAPP.

SLAPPs are defined as nuisance lawsuits that are designed to stifle free speech and create onerous legal costs for those who choose to exercise their free speech rights. SLAPPs are illegal under a state law that the defendants' attorney, Bruce Johnson and another staff attorney at Davis Wright Tremaine helped draft.
Thurston County Superior Court Judge Thomas McPhee ruled Thursday on the issue of damages that each of the 16 defendants are entitled to under Washington's anti-SLAPP statute. He ruled that each of the 16 defendants - all current or former co-op board members who voted to enact the boycott in July, 2010 - are entitled to $10,000 each.

Olympia Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement member Andrew Meyer said Thursday that McPhee's award recognizes that the Olympia Co-op acted within its rights to boycott Israeli goods until Israel secures "equal, civil and human rights for Palestinians."

Read more: Olympia food co-op defendants awarded $160,000

Tell Congress: Spend Our Money at Home, Not on the Israeli Military

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Written by US Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation US Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation

Published: 04 July 2012 04 July 2012

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The Coalition to Stop $30 Billion to Israel, a member group of the US Campaign, put up 23 billboards like this in the Los Angeles area a few weeks ago.

As you can see, CBS Outdoor, the billboard company, then promptly took them down.

Why? Perhaps it had something to do with Rep. Howard Berman complaining about them in a press release.

Berman was agitated because he “must drive past” the billboards  “every morning.” And, as Berman noted, he believes that he was elected to Congress by his constituents “in large part to fight for a stronger U.S.-Israel relationship. This has been, and will continue to be one [of] my top legislative priorities in Congress.”

Sign this petition to Rep. Berman telling him that you support the message in these billboards. Help us get 10,000 signatures and we'll creatively deliver the petition to him.


Dear Rep. Berman,

I support the message in the Los Angeles billboards about which you recently complained: Spend Our Money at Home, Not on the Israeli Military!

UN OCHA Report: SUSIYA: AT IMMINENT RISK OF FORCED DISPLACEMENT

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Written by UN OCHA UN OCHA

Published: 01 July 2012 01 July 2012

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1. Susiya faces a high risk of forced displacement due to the lack of adequate planning and its close proximity to an Israeli settlement. These characteristics make the community a “high priority” for demolitions, according to the Israeli Civil Administration’s (ICA) criteria applied in Area C. In response to a petition filed by a settler group to the Israeli High Court, the State indicated in March 2012 that it would act soon against outstanding demolition orders in Susiya.

2. Susiya families, who have lived in the community since before 1948, face some of the worst living conditions in Area C. Residents, who own the land in the community, used to live in houses, but these were destroyed by the Israeli authorities. They now live in tents and tin shelters. Residents, who rely on agriculture and herding for their livelihood, depend on rainwater cisterns, as the community is not connected to the water network and there are no nearby filling points.

3. Access to land for residents has been progressively reduced due to settlement construction and settler violence, with a negative impact on livelihoods and security as residents have less space for herding and cultivation.

4. The ICA has carried out multiple waves of demolitions targeting residential and livelihood structures, including water cisterns. Like most Area C communities, the Israeli authorities have never approved a “master plan” for Susiya, without which residents have almost no possibility of obtaining a permit for construction on their land.

5. There is a clear pattern of discrimination between Susiya and the nearby settlements, particularly regarding planning and zoning. Suseya settlement has an approved plan that allows construction. While the structures in the nearby outpost lack a building permit, the ICA has carried out no demolitions and the outpost is connected to the water and electricity networks.

6. Susiya residents are exposed to systematic intimidation and abuse from settlers, in cases triggering forced displacement. Incidents recorded include physical assaults, verbal harassment and prevention of access to land. This phenomenon has had a damaging psycho-social impact on residents, particularly on children.

7. If Palestinian communities in Area C continue to lack access to a fair planning and zoning regime and there is no freeze on demolitions, the situation in these communities will continue to deteriorate, increasing their risk of forced displacement and undermining Palestinian presence in Area C. Central to this risk is ongoing settlement expansion, which runs counter to international humanitarian law, and persistent settler violence, which the Israeli authorities consistently fail to investigate thoroughly or hold those responsible accountable.