Important Articles on the Gaza Assault

compiled by Sheila Musaji

These are the articles that I believe will help anyone attempting to understand the current crisis.  These have been compiled from my Twitter and Facebook pages during the past week.  I selected those that were shared by many individuals.  Social media has been incredibly active this past week, and a number of hashtags have trended, e.g. #hasbarafail, #freePalestine, #GazaUnderAttack, #notinmyname, #JewsAndArabsRefuseToBeEnemies, #Werefusetobeenemies.  There was also a flurry of hateful tweets and Facebook posts, but it was encouraging to see how many people responded and spoke out against those.

STANDING FOR JUSTICE & PEACE & AGAINST EXTREMISTS

- 7,000 Israeli’s protest Gaza war in Tel Aviv http://m.forward.com/articles/202897/thousands-of-israelis-protest-gaza-war-in-rare-out/#.U9VVbIJdiWQ.twitter (Quran 3:113-115 ... These are among the righteous ... )
- An Open Letter To Young Canadian Jews http://ijvcanada.org/2014/an-open-letter-to-young-canadian-jews/#.U9aR6xETYZk.twitter
- Anti-Semitism has no place in Palestine advocacy, Jasmeen Serhan   http://972mag.com/anti-semitism-has-no-place-in-palestine-advocacy/94201/
- As Israel’s assault on Gaza intensifies, it is not anti-Semitic to say: not in my name, Laurie Penny http://www.newstatesman.com/world-affairs/2014/07/israel-s-assault-gaza-intensifies-it-not-anti-semitic-say-not-my-name
- For the honor of Torah: A rabbinic response to Rabbi Dov Lior, Rabbi Aryeh Cohenhttp://http://truah.org/19-who-we-are/585-for-the-honor-of-torah-a-rabbinic-response-to-rabbi-dov-lior.html
- Haaretz editorial, “Israelis must speak out” = “Govt ministers + MKs are taking part” in incitement + suppression… http://www.haaretz.com/opinion/1.607142
- ISNA Statement on Mounting Civilian Deaths in Gaza http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/isna-statement-on-mounting-civilian-deaths-in-gaza/0020221
- Israel is not my birthright, Shira Lipkin http://www.salon.com/2014/07/26/israel_is_not_my_birthright/
- Israel, Palestine, and Us: The Peace That Passeth All Understanding, Arlene Goldbard http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/israel-palestine-and-us-the-peace-that-passeth-all-understanding/0020236
- Israel: Stop the invasion of Gaza, stop the bombing of Gaza, free the Palestinian prisoners, Rabbi Michael Lerner http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/israel-stop-the-invasion-of-gaza-stop-the-bombing-of-gaza-free-the-palestin/0020223
- Israeli & Palestinian voices of reason amidst violence and despair http://euphratesinstitute.cmail2.com/t/ViewEmail/r/9BCD65190C54D8852540EF23F30FEDED/1D57F3251EE2AA7340EE66FE10287772
- #JewsAndArabsRefuseToBeEnemies movement keeps going http://huff.to/WenxQb 
- Joint Statement on Israel/Gaza, Imam Mohamed Magid & Rabbi Michael G. Holzman http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/joint-statement-on-israel-gaza/0020235
- Nobel peace laureates and celebrities call for military embargo on Israel http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/nobel-peace-laureates-and-celebrities-call-for-military-embargo-on-israel/0020222
- Parliament of Religions Calls Faith Communities to Actively Oppose War, Blockade of Gaza, Anti-Semitism & Islamophobia to Protect Israeli and Palestinian Lives http://www.parliamentofreligions.org/news/index.php/2014/07/parliament-of-the-worlds-religions-stands-with-peace-and-justice-in-the-holy-lands/?utm_medium=twitter
- This Ramadan of Tears, Noor-Malika Chishti http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/this-ramadan-of-tears/0020232
- Time to stand in solidarity with Britain’s Jewish community, Nick Lowles of Hope Not Hate http://www.hopenothate.org.uk/blog/nick/time-to-stand-in-solidarity-with-britain-s-jewish-community-3910
- “We cannot punish all the population because you do not agree with Hamas” - Jerusalem Patriarch Fouad Twal http://huff.to/1kYHXSY 
- Why Jerusalem?: Two bereaved fathers give hope for the Israeli & Palestinian people http://rhr.org.il/eng/2014/07/two-bereaved-fathers-give-hope-for-the-jewish-and-palestinian-peoples/


CONTEXT & HISTORICAL & CURRENT REALITIES

- Armed robbery in Gaza - Israel, US, UK carve up the spoils of Palestine’s stolen gas, Nafeez Ahmed http://www.theecologist.org/News/news_analysis/2489992/armed_robbery_in_gaza_israel_us_uk_carve_up_the_spoils_of_palestines_stolen_gas.html
- Beautiful dream of Israel has become a nightmare, Gabor Mate http://www.thestar.com/opinion/commentary/2014/07/22/beautiful_dream_of_israel_has_become_a_nightmare.html
- Death in Gaza, ambivalence and anger in Cairo, Abdallah Schleifer http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/death-in-gaza-ambivalence-and-anger-in-cairo/0020220
- The enemy below: Why Hamas tunnels scare Israel so much, Gerard DeGroot http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/the-enemy-below-why-hamas-tunnels-scare-israel-so-much/2014/07/25/c7ef0902-1281-11e4-9285-4243a40ddc97_story.html
- Gaza: The Makings of a Modern Day Dystopia, Queen Rania of Jordan http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rania-al-abdullah/gaza-the-makings-of-a-mod_b_5615260.html?utm_hp_ref=tw
- Gaza: is this a war on children?, Jon Snow http://blogs.channel4.com/snowblog/watch-channel-4-news-live-gaza/24260
- Gaza’s resistance will not be crushed, Ramzy Baroud http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/gazas-resistance-will-not-be-crushed/0020227
- Informative graphic showing Israeli & Palestinian ceasefire violations, Ali Abunimah http://electronicintifada.net/blogs/ali-abunimah/infographic-who-violates-ceasefires-more-israelis-or-palestinians
- Israel’s argument for war against Palestine ignores the context, Dahlia Sheindlin http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/jul/26/israel-palestine-context-of-war-israeli-view?utm_content=buffer2e8b0&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer
- Israel’s attack on Gaza is revenge for the Palestinians’ refusal to accept occupation, Amira Hass http://www.haaretz.com/mobile/.premium-1.606645
- Israel’s best weapon against Hamas: Giving the Palestinians hope, Peter Beinart http://www.haaretz.com/opinion/.premium-1.606791#.U9V5MSxZ08k.twitter 
- Israel’s Conflict Has a Past — and a Future: Before Gaza War, There Were Roads Not Taken, Dahlia Schleindlin http://m.forward.com/articles/202759/israels-conflict-has-a-past-and-a-future/
- Israel’s goal is not peace, Robert Fantina http://www.counterpunch.org/2014/07/25/israels-goal-is-not-peace/#.U9MuLRSSI8c.twitter
- On stupidity and war (What lessons has Netanyahu learnt, if any?),  Marwan Bishara http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/2014/07/stupidity-war-2014723141941986238.html 
- Proxy Punishment in the West Bank (collective punishment), Jason Lee Steorts http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/383670/proxy-punishment-west-bank-jason-lee-steorts
- This Is Your Brain on War: A Dispatch From Jerusalem - Why both sides in the Gaza conflict saw irrational decisions as reasonable, Gershom Gorenberg http://prospect.org/article/your-brain-war-dispatch-jerusalem#.U9MWGeaESYQ.twitter
- U.N.: 1 child killed in Gaza every hour http://www.cbsnews.com/news/palestinian-child-killed-every-2-hours-in-gaza-un-israel-hamas/
- Unless Israel lifts its blockade of Gaza, no ceasefire can work, Chris Doyle http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/10988692/Unless-Israel-lifts-its-blockade-of-Gaza-no-ceasefire-can-work.html
- When Israel Remembers Their Covenant, They Will Change The World, Dr. David Liepert http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/when-israel-remembers-their-covenant-they-will-change-the-world/0020233

UNDERSTANDING & DEBUNKING HASBARA PROPAGANDA, MEDIA SPIN, & LIES

-  5 Israeli Talking Points on Gaza—Debunked, Noura ERakat http://www.thenation.com/article/180783/five-israeli-talking-points-gaza-debunked#
- 10 Controversial, illegal, and documented: Israeli military strategies in Gaza, Sami Kishawi http://mondoweiss.net/2014/07/controversial-documented-strategies.html
- A moment of moral clarity, Rev. Vicki Gray (response to Charles Krauthammer article) http://www.timesheraldonline.com/letterstotheeditor/ci_26216737/moment-moral-clarity
- The American Jewish Cocoon (maintaining a unified narrative), Peter Beinart http://www.nybooks.com/articles/archives/2013/sep/26/american-jewish-cocoon/
- Announcement by University of Haifa of academic course: University of Haifa’s ‘Cyber Warriors’ will help fight the delegitimization of Israel using new media http://newmedia-eng.haifa.ac.il/?p=6614
- #askDermer a colossal social media #Hasbarafail, Sheila Musaji http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/askdermer/0020219
- Claim that Hamas killed 3 teens is turning out to be the WMD of Gaza onslaught, Adam Horowitz and Phil Weiss http://mondoweiss.net/2014/07/killed-turning-onslaught.html
- Debunking Israeli #propaganda - top 10 myths about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Jeremy R. Hammond http://www.foreignpolicyjournal.com/2010/06/17/top-ten-myths-about-the-israeli-palestinian-conflict/view-all/
- Egypt flooded Gaza tunnels in 2013 (not one individual was injured or killed) http://uk.reuters.com/article/2013/02/13/us-palestinians-egypt-tunnels-idUSBRE91C0RF20130213
- Gaza rockets don’t halt free Birthright tours for young adult US Jews to tour Israel with peers in the Israeli army. http://bit.ly/WLci1Q 
- Hasbara and the Control of Narrative as an Element of Strategy, Ambassador Chas W. Freeman, Jr. (USFS, Ret.) http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article33770.htm
- How Israel Uses Twitter, Facebook & Tinder to Legitimize Murder | Brainwash Update, Abby Martin http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lsunQGmGeJ8&feature=youtu.be
- In the age of social media: Israel getting more resistance online than on ground. It’s not used to it and can’t cope, Mira Bar Hillel http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/comment/israel-has-discovered-that-its-no-longer-so-easy-to-get-away-with-murder-in-the-age-of-social-media-9621379.html 
- The Israel Project’s 2009 global language dictionary (basically a Hasbara ‘how to’) http://embed.docstoc.com/docs/document-preview.aspx?doc_id=8303274
- The Israel Project’s 2009 global language dictionary (basically a Hasbara ‘how to’) http://embed.docstoc.com/docs/document-preview.aspx?doc_id=8303274
- Israel offers students grants if they tweet pro-Israeli propaganda http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/students-offered-grants-if-they-tweet-proisraeli-propaganda-8760142.html
- Israel provoked this war, Henry Seigman http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2014/07/israel-provoked-this-war-109229.html#.U9VyHptfU1F
- Israel Student Union Set Up “War Room” to Sell Gaza Massacre on Facebook (organized lying), Ali Abunimah http://www.globalresearch.ca/israel-student-union-set-up-war-room-to-sell-gaza-massacre-on-facebook/5392888
- Israel Struggles to Win “Hearts and Minds” in Media War on Palestine http://advocacy.globalvoicesonline.org/2014/07/24/israel-struggles-to-win-hearts-and-minds-in-media-war-on-palestine/
- Israel’s Dublin Embassy Warns: Muslim Hordes Conquering Europe (@IslaminIreland their twitter address tweeted an offensive photo montage), Richard Silverstein http://www.richardsilverstein.com/2014/07/25/israels-dublin-embassy-warns-islam-taking-over-europe/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+richardsilverstein%2FZOfh+%28+Tikun+Olam-%D7%AA%D7%A7%D7%95%D7%9F+%D7%A2%D7%95%D7%9C%D7%9D%3A+Make+the+World+a+Better+Place%29 — Note:  @IslaminIreland has deleted the offensive photo montage, possibly after social media fought back https://twitter.com/israelinireland/status/492792530300567552
- Israel’s divide-and-conquer tactic: define Palestinian Christians as ‘non-Arabs’ - Arab Christians condemn the tactic http://english.al-akhbar.com/node/18719
- Israel’s other war (controlling the narrative), Etgar Keret http://www.newyorker.com/books/page-turner/israels-other-war
- Look Carefully at Who Started the Current Israel-Hamas Conflict, Ghada Ageel http://www.nytimes.com/roomfordebate/2014/07/22/self-defense-or-atrocties-in-gaza/look-carefully-at-who-started-the-current-israel-hamas-conflict?smid=tw-share
- Netanyahu government knew teens were dead as it whipped up racist frenzy, Max Blumenthal http://electronicintifada.net/content/netanyahu-government-knew-teens-were-dead-it-whipped-racist-frenzy/13533
- Palestine and Israel – arsenals of swords and words (changing media landscape undermining #Israel’s #propaganda machine), Hisham Melhem http://english.alarabiya.net/en/views/2014/07/26/Palestine-and-Israel-arsenals-of-swords-and-words-.html 
- The perils of getting news from corporate media, Omid Safi http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/the-perils-of-getting-news-from-corporate-media/0020225
- Report that allows Israelis to hide facts (Hasbara 2.0),Patrick Cockburn http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/comment/israelgaza-conflict-the-secret-report-that-helps-israelis-to-hide-facts-9630765.html 
- Jeremy Scahill On U.S. Media Coverage Of Israel-Gaza Conflict: ‘We’ve Hit All-Time Lows’ http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/07/24/jeremy-scahill-us-media-coverage-gaza-israel_n_5617248.html
- Some truths you are not going to hear on American corporate media on #Gaza, Omid Safi http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/some-truths-you-are-not-going-to-hear-on-american-corporate-media-on-gaza/0020224
- Telegenically dead: Israel’s crumbling media war, Deepa Kumar http://dissidentvoice.org/2014/07/telegenically-dead-israels-crumbling-media-war/
- Netanyahu government knew teens were dead as it whipped up racist frenzy, Max Blumenthal http://electronicintifada.net/content/netanyahu-government-knew-teens-were-dead-it-whipped-racist-frenzy/13533
- On Gaza, genocide, and impunity, Abukar Arman http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/2014/07/gaza-genocide-impunity-2014726165648879608.html
- Palestine and Israel – arsenals of swords and words, Hisham Melhem http://english.alarabiya.net/en/views/2014/07/26/Palestine-and-Israel-arsenals-of-swords-and-words-.html
- U.N. report accuses Israeli forces of using Palestinian children as human shields, abusing children in custody http://www.cbsnews.com/news/un-report-accuses-israeli-forces-of-using-palestinian-children-as-human-shields-abusing-children-in-custody/
- Where’s BBC scoop on Netanyahu’s big lie? (there are no grounds for believing Hamas ordered the abduction of three Israeli teens on June 12), Jonathan Cook http://www.jonathan-cook.net/blog/2014-07-26/wheres-bbc-scoop-on-netanyahus-big-lie/
- Why Israel is losing the social media war over Gaza , Juan Cole http://www.juancole.com/2014/07/israel-losing-social.html
- Why Israel won’t sign any ceasefire that’s fair, Larry Derfner http://972mag.com/why-israel-wont-sign-any-ceasefire-thats-fair/94372/

EXTREMISM & EXTREMISTS

- Atlanta Pro-Israel Protesters Bring Assault Rifles, Handguns, Call Islam Religion Of Death, Zaid Jilani http://www.balloon-juice.com/2014/07/26/atlanta-pro-israel-protesters-bring-assault-rifles-handguns-call-islam-religion-of-death/
- Far-Right extremism on the rise in Israel as Gaza conflict continues, Innaa Lazareva http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/israel/10992623/Far-Right-extremism-on-the-rise-in-Israel-as-Gaza-conflict-continues.html
- The Gaza assault brings out the Jewish extremists (hateful quotes), Sheila Musaji http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/must-read-articles-on-gaza-assault/0020231
- Israel’s new president, Reuven Rivlin, was sworn into office today. Here he is in his own words, Ben White https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/blogs/politics/12023-israels-president-elect-reuven-rivlin-in-his-own-words
- Mordechai Kedar Israeli academic: raping Palestinian women would deter attacks http://www.alternativenews.org/english/index.php/politics/israeli-sosaciety/8314-israeli-academic-raping-palestinian-women-for-deterrence
- Rabbi Dov Lior: Jewish law permits destruction of Gaza to bring safety to Israel, Jeremy Sharon http://www.jpost.com/Operation-Protective-Edge/Rabbi-Lior-Jewish-law-permits-destruction-of-Gaza-to-bring-safety-to-Israel-368605
- Never again (after just one more time), Sheila Musaji http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/never-again-after-just-one-more-time/0019589

FREEDOM OF SPEECH THREATENED

- When the guns are roaring, Israelis must speak out, http://www.haaretz.com/opinion/1.607142


SATIRE

- ‘Cowardly’ BBC tells comedian Israel’s attack on Gaza is out of bounds for satire, Frankie Boyle http://www.stopwar.org.uk/news/bbc-cowards-tell-comedian-israel-is-out-of-bounds-for-satire#.U9V0CJtfU1H
- Does Reality Even Exist? Asks Israeli Spokesman in Explaining Latest Civilian Deaths, Daniel Haqiqatjou http://islamandevolution.com/reality-even-exist-asks-israeli-spokesman-explaining-latest-civilian-deaths/
- Jon Stewart Captures What It’s Like When You Talk About Israel http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2014/07/22/jon-stewart-israel-gaza-daily-show_n_5610414.html?ncid=tweetlnkushpmg00000067&ncid=tweetlnkushpmg00000067 
- Jon Stewart: We need to talk about Israel http://thedailyshow.cc.com/video-playlists/bmchnh/the-daily-show-19131-highlights/7wnfel
- Jon Stewart Brilliantly Covers The ‘Asymmetrical’ Conflict In Gaza http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2014/07/17/the-daily-show-gaza-jon-stewart_n_5595065.html
- How Jon Stewart Made It Okay to Care About Palestinian Suffering, Dean Obeidallah http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/07/21/how-jon-stewart-made-it-okay-to-care-about-palestinian-suffering.html
- Israel Unveils New Defense System To Deflect Accusations Of Human Rights Violations http://www.theonion.com/video/israel-unveils-new-defense-system-to-deflect-accus,36548/?utm_source=Twitter&utm_medium=SocialMarketing&utm_campaign=Pic💯Default

U.S. FOREIGN POLICY & INTERNATIONAL LAW

- America Complicit in Israeli War Crimes: US Alone in Vote Against UN Inquiry Into Gaza Assault, Sarah Lazare http://www.globalresearch.ca/us-stands-alone-in-vote-against-united-nations-inquiry-into-gaza-assault/5393287
- Israel may have committed war crimes during Gaza offensive, UN says (UN human rights council debates resolution calling for urgent dispatch of ‘independent, international commission of inquiry’) http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jul/23/israel-may-have-committed-war-crimes-in-gaza-un?CMP=twt_gu
- PLO official Hanan Ashrawi: Israel’s assault on Gaza is ‘state terrorism’ and should be referred to the International Criminal Court, Alex B. Kane http://mondoweiss.net/2014/07/terrorism-referred-international.html
- UN rights council to form commission of inquiry over Israeli ‘war crimes’ in Gaza http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/.premium-1.606860