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Orthodox Jews and Palestinians join forces to protest over Gaza blockade - Scotsman.com News : "ORTHODOX Jews joined Gazans and international activists at a border crossing yesterday to protest against the blockade of the Gaza Strip imposed by Israel and Egypt. About 600 people gathered on the Gazan side of the border, chanting slogans and carrying signs condemning the blockade. Among them were a small number of Jews from the small Neturei Karta sect, which denounces Israel's existence."

15 Horrifying Reasons to Never Let Anyone You Love Near a McDonald's | Health and Wellness | AlterNet : "The Golden Arches: the ultimate American icon. Super Size Me taught us that fast food culture brings obesity, heart disease, hypertension and a whole slew of other problems. How bad do you really want that Big Mac? Here are 15 reasons you’ll never let anyone you love get near those Golden Arches. 1. Real food is perishable. With time, it begins to decay. It’s a natural process, it just happens. Beef will rot, bread will mold. But what about a McDonald’s burger? Karen Hanrahan saved a McDonald’s burger from 1996 and, oddly enough, it looks just as “appetizing” and “fresh” as a burger you might buy today. Is this real food?"

What's Next: Muslim-Only Lines At Airports? | Rights and Liberties | AlterNet : "Are Muslim-only lines at airports next? The thought is offensive, disgusting, and blatantly unconstitutional. But it’s hardly far-fetched. Three years before suspected Nigerian airline terrorist Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab was hauled off a Northwest Airlines flight from Amsterdam to Detroit with a powder and liquid explosive device stuffed in his underwear, British Department of Transportation officials openly discussed corralling men of South Asian or Middle Eastern appearance at airports for intense questioning, checks and searches. The plan outraged Muslim leaders and British officials backed off the systematic profiling of Muslims."

ei: Targeting human rights defenders : "In the United States, Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP) took up Othman's case. Its members sent some 10,000 letters to Barack Obama asking him to live up to his Cairo speech, which called on Palestinians to use nonviolence. JVP had already been supporting the Shministim, the young Israeli Jewish conscripts refusing to serve in the army of occupation. They took up Othman's case because 'We wanted to show the Palestinian side,' JVP campaigns director Sydney Levy explained. Of course it's much harder -- US audiences assume that if a Palestinian is arrested they must have done something wrong. With Mohammad, you have a young man with a friendly smile, a Palestinian partner for peace committed to nonviolence.'"

NOAM CHOMSKY: "Gaza: One Year Later" : "On December 27, 2008, Israel began one of the bloodiest attacks on Gaza Since 1948. The three week assault killed some 1400 Palestinians and 13 Israelis. One year later, little to no rebuilding has taken place and the siege in Gaza continues. Speaking in Watertown, Massachusetts on December 6, 2009, linguist and social critic Noam Chomsky delivered a talk entitled “Gaza: One Year Later.” Thanks to Robbie Leppzer for filming this event."

Daniel Ellsberg on Mordechai Vanunu’s Arrest « Antiwar.com Blog : "I just learned, late this New Year’s Eve, of my friend Mordechai Vanunu’s outrageous arrest, facing further imprisonment, for “meeting with foreigners” (of which I have quite openly been one, on several occasions). I plan to do whatever I can to bring international pressure to bear on the Israeli government to free him. My views about him are expressed adequately in the op-ed below which appeared in the LA Times (and elsewhere, including Common Dreams) on the day of his release having served 18 years in prison, five years ago. Mordechai Vanunu–my friend, my hero, my brother–has again been arrested in Israel on “suspicion” of the “crime” of “meeting with foreigners.” I myself have been complicit in this offense, traveling twice to Israel for the express purpose of meeting with him, openly, and expressing support for the actions for which he was imprisoned for over eighteen years. His offense has been to defy openly ...